All English Editorial 05.07.2021

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Access to a secure and sufficient source of fresh
water is a fundamental requirement for the survival
and development of humanity. Yet, we act as if fresh Kofi
water were a perpetually abundant resource. It is not Annan
06 BENGALURU MONDAY 05 07 2021

� �
The social and economic coordinates of pre-Covid times are

no longer valid. So legislations designed with those inputs
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. cannot be expected to achieve the desired objectives
REVISITING POLICIES
— Ramnath Goenka
GREENHORN DHAMI’S
AND PROGRAMMES
CROWN OF THORNS IS NO WEAKNESS
IN UTTARAKHAND
U
ttarakhand got its third chief minister
in four months with two-term legislator K JAYAKUMAR Former Kerala chief secretary and ex-VC,
Pushkar Singh Dhami occupying the hot Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam Varsity
seat replacing Tirath Singh Rawat. At 45, SOUMYADIP SINHA
age is on Dhami’s side as he begins with
T
a clean slate. Ironically, that’s where his prob- he recent initiative taken by the impact unless accompanied by a the changed rural socio-economic vaccine production in the public It is alarming that in one year,
lems begin, since he has no ministerial experi- prime minister to meet political new willingness on the part of the life, characterised by mounting sector (along with private firms), 27% of Indian households have
leaders from Jammu and Kash- banks to lend to the needy and indebtedness and deprivation. the situation would have been to- slipped into the ‘no income’ group
ence. Leading a team of ambitious netas to run
mir was widely acclaimed. The powerless. The Covid-impacted The privatisation agenda of the tally different with the govern- and 24% into the ‘income-reduced-
a ministry that is on its last legs is like swim- meeting may not have had any nation cannot afford anything Union government is another area ment in a position of commanding by-half ’ group. The unemploy-
ming in piranha-infested waters. The closest he spectacular outcome; yet it was that drains political and adminis- where the show cannot and should strength. That would have scripted ment rate has touched an all-time-
was to the seat of power earlier was as an OSD refreshing for its implicit prom- trative energy. It is a time that not go on as planned. The current an entirely different people-friend- high and prices of all essential
to Bhagat Singh Koshiyari during his stint as ise of dialogue and flexibility. does not justify an edgy and un- approach to privatisation, aimed ly narrative of vaccination. Perti- commodities have spiralled. It is
chief minister. Now, Dhami’s every nuance will However, the same spirit of ac- easy Centre-states relationship, at generating revenue to bring nently, states that can claim better imperative that governments, pol-
commodation is missing in other policy obduracy, intimidating and down fiscal deficits, is guided by Covid management and lesser icymakers and law enforcers ac-
be under the microscope as he hits the road
areas of national life ravaged by selective law enforcement, and short-term interests at the expense mortality are those with a sturdy knowledge the defining change in
running to repair the badly mauled image of the pandemic. The tremors of the hyper-sensitivity to criticism. The of long-term strategic value. It be- public health system and not those national mood and recognise the
the party that has never retained power in suc- economic cataclysm are felt social and economic coordinates trays a sense of disinterest in even where private hospitals control ordinary citizens’ desperate en-
cessive elections in the state. across the sectors and have left a of pre-Covid times are no longer profit-making government-owned public health. The experience of gagement with livelihood issues.
Dhami can perhaps take inspiration from trail of visible and invisible de- valid. The key assumptions and enterprises in core sectors. It may dealing with the second wave of A refusal to admit this recent met-
Yogi Adityanath in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, struction, requiring unprecedent- roadmaps of the period prior to be useful to realise that this obses- Covid makes it self-evident that a amorphosis of society and pro-
who was a ministerial greenhorn when he took ed determination to rebuild. It is January 2020 have lost their rele- sive commitment to the neo-liberal robust public health infrastruc- ceeding with earlier policies and
an ominous period in our history vance. Therefore the policies and ideology of privatisation stands ture cannot be substituted with decisions with stubbornness will
over as CM, but consolidated his position quick- where the single-point attention legislations designed with those discredited with the present expe- any borrowed models of private be an expensive luxury. Expend-
ly. Whatever the Yogi’s downside, he is a self- of the nation needs to be on reha- inputs cannot be expected to rience of vaccination and Covid healthcare. If even this national ing valuable time and resources
made politician with the guts to stand up to bilitation, revival and reassur- achieve the desired objectives. management. The whole nation is disaster does not spur us to revise on misplaced priorities divorced
bullying, making himself the third most power- ance. That is where today’s na- The empty schools and colleges at the mercy of two private sector the policy of overzealous depend- from the new reality is as much a
ful leader in the national BJP. As for the Uttara- tional atmosphere is sadly found and stuttering online classes have vaccine manufacturers and the ence on the private sector, what moral issue as an economic one.
khand unit of the BJP, it has so far been unable wanting. India, which has the altered the context in which the government policy itself is under else would? This unprecedented crisis
most Covid-19 victims in the ambitious National Education heavy strain owing to supply con- The recent spurt in cases regis- should force Central and state gov-
to produce leaders of substance who can tran-
world today, cannot afford the lux- Policy (NEP) was formulated with straints. If only there had been tered under the UAPA and sedi- ernments to boldly and unreserv-
scend intra-party factions and inspire confi- ury of old habits. its bold suggestions for overhaul- tion laws, many of which could edly review, revise and (if neces-
dence. The Maha Kumbh Covid mess is of re- Political dialogue, public poli- ing the educational structure of not stand judicial scrutiny, has s a r y ) re p e a l t h e p o l i c i e s,
cent vintage, which happened under the watch cies and welfare administration the country. Pursuing the NEP as also vitiated the national mood. programmes, practices and con-
of Tirath Singh. But the party government led have to be necessarily retuned to if nothing has changed can have The impression gaining ground tentious legislations of another
by his predecessor Trivendra Singh Rawat was alleviate the real agony of the only tragic consequences. Simi- that central agencies are being clime. Revisiting and recalibrating
times. In a milieu continually as- larly, the three agricultural laws This unprecedented crisis should force used for targeted investigation governments’ initiatives to har-
already going downhill, which was why the Lok
sailed by uncertainties, govern- that have pushed the farmers to Central and state governments to boldly and makes people more helpless, fear- monise with the stark reality of
Sabha MP was given the leadership mantle on ance as usual will not only be bar- an ongoing agitation cannot ful and resentful. At a time when pandemic-ravaged society can nev-
March 10. Tirath Singh took it up not knowing unreservedly review, revise and, if necessary,
ren but also counterproductive. achieve the economic spin-offs the beleaguered citizens expect er be a sign of weakness but a hall-
he had the impossible task of getting elected to repeal the policies of another clime. Revisiting
Effective governance is neither that its protagonists passionately solace and support from govern- mark of wisdom. An African prov-
the Assembly in 13 days, by March 23, to escape static nor inflexible; it calls for claim. The premises on which the initiatives to harmonise with the stark reality ments, this atmosphere of intimi- erb says: “You cannot turn the
continuous introspection and ad- farm laws were drafted are no of pandemic-ravaged society is not a sign of dation and intolerance vitiates wind; so turn the sail.” A refusal to
the disqualification clause of not holding the
aptation. The credit-linked stimu- longer valid. They cannot have weakness but a hallmark of wisdom the nation’s psyche, debilitating do so could be calamitous.
seat for at least one year. For, the term of the
lus packages will be of limited the expected beneficial impact in its resilience and rejuvenation. (k.jayakumar123@gmail.com)
current Assembly ends on March 23 next year.
How the party, with its battery of legal eagles
and a helpful Election Commission, missed the
PRICING WATER, A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW?

point boggles the mind.
As for Dhami, if he even partially restores
people’s faith despite his predecessors’
non-performance and puts up a decent show in
the state polls, he could emerge as the redeem- of obtaining water. This includes al practices should be of essence. constraints on their ability to in-
er. Else, the dustbin of history would not be cities such as Delhi and/or rural Yet, this is a politically sensitive vest for wastewater treatment and
far away. urban regions of Punjab, Harya- issue, which is why it has been extend their service.
na and several other parts of the ignored by the political establish- There is a silver lining though,
country. The only cost associated ment even as it will eventually with the Pradhan Mantri Jal
ODISHA OUT OF SYNC
SOMYA LUTHRA KARAN BHASIN
with this is that of digging deeper have devastating consequences Jeevan Mission aimed at providing
New Delhi-based New Delhi-based economist
wells or of use of electricity to op- for the state. piped water connection across the
WITH ITS FARMERS? legal scholar and policy researcher
erate electric pumps. The icing on
the cake is the extensive power
In theory, the government should
provide for connections with me-
country. The mission was launched
in August 2019 when only 16.86%
O T
he finance minister recently re- economy. Prices tend to carry in- subsidies that are often granted to ters that would provide free water of Indian households had access to
n Saturday, Odisha’s Cooperative Minis- vealed another series of announce- formational value and play an im- the agricultural sector for using up to a certain limit. The limits piped water. On June 28, 39.67%
ter Ranendra Pratap Swain announced ments that included relief for sec- portant role in the distribution of these pumps. and connections should be differ- had access to piped water. The rap-
that the government will not procure tors affected by Covid along with goods or services. The problems in A consequence of this is a wa- ent for residential, commercial id expansion in terms of access to
paddy beyond June 30—the last date plans to assist the revival of In- India’s power sector were largely ter-intensive and inefficient pro- and agricultural purposes, but the piped water has the potential to
scheduled by the Food Corporation of dia’s economic growth. an outcome of a disregard for the duction process along with the general idea is to subsidise or even create a robust framework for re-
India for rabi season—since over 90% of the One such announcement per- role of prices, which led to system- distortion of cropping patterns provide water as a resource free of visiting how we manage our water
tained to India’s power sector, atic inefficiencies that crept in across states. Further, the state of cost up to a particular limit. How- bodies and other resources. With
registered farmers were done with selling their
which has witnessed significant and eventually created several Punjab has witnessed a depletion ever, beyond that point, it must be the Central government focusing
produce. The declaration came amidst a spate challenges due to various reasons. problems that spilled over to the of groundwater that should be priced at an appropriate market on creation of an extensive water
of intense agitations across the state, with the One of them includes the inability overall economy. available at the depth of 50 to 60 determined rate. distribution system, state govern-
BJP in the lead, over alleged gross irregulari- to allow price mechanisms to A similar tragedy could follow ft but has now dropped to any- This will automatically restrict ments must revisit the extent of
ties in mandis as rice farmers claimed they guide power tariffs and excessive due to our disregard for the pric- where between 150 ft to 200 ft the use of water-intensive produc- their water subsidies and the use
have been left high and dry with too much un- subsidies to consumers. The cost ing of water. To be fair, water is es- across the state. This should raise tion practices in areas where it is of groundwater in various parts of
of this is that discoms become too sential for survival, which makes red flags as agriculture is the not commercially viable while the state.
sold paddy. Farmers are a very crucial constitu-
dependent on state revenues to it slightly different from electrici- prime source of income for most also resulting in a broader recog- Eventually, we will have to
ent in the voters’ mix in Odisha and with pan- meet the production costs. Thus, ty (although some may even argue households in the state and thus, nition of the fact that water itself make a choice—whether to price
chayat polls due next year, no party wants to there are limited investments in that electricity is a necessity to ensuring sustainable agricultur- is a scarce commodity. Further, water appropriately to better
lose sight of them. The BJP knows that the terms of augmenting the existing sustain life in the 21st century). this will result in the promotion of distribute the resource or to sim-
BJD’s Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and infrastructure, which is critical However, the question is not about practices such as rainwater har- ply allow further exploitation of
Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, un- for improving distributional effi- the pricing of the minimum vesting and other related projects the resource, which only accentu-
veiled before the 2019 polls, turned out to be a ciency. The focus of the recently amount of water needed by an in- to conserve our urban and rural ates the scarcity that will ulti-
announced interventions is to dividual. Instead, it pertains to the water bodies. mately hurt the poor and vulner-
game-changer of sorts. Caught in the political change the state of the sector, pricing of water consumed in ex- Eventually, we will have to make a It is important that we recognise able the most. By providing free
crosshairs are farmers, but their problems thereby ensuring that we can gen- cess of this. choice—whether to price water appropriately to that water, including urban water, water to a certain limit and high
seem to be far from over. When kharif procure- erate and distribute electricity in But even before we get to the better distribute the resource or to simply allow is heavily subsidised. This does prices beyond it, state govern-
ment ended earlier this year, farmers were out an efficient manner. This is essen- pricing issues pertaining to water
further exploitation. By providing free water to
have environmental implications, ments can ensure not just judi-
dumping their produce onto the streets with the tial for manufacturing activity to supply by state governments, the but it also restricts the ability of cious use of water but also its eq-
pick up in India. more challenging issue is regard- a certain limit and high prices beyond it, state water supply and sewage boards to uitable distribution.
same complaints—a flawed system that keeps governments can ensure not just judicious use
This discussion is important to ing the use of groundwater. Indeed, invest in repairs or maintenance (Views are personal)
them at the mercy of primary cooperative soci- of water but also its equitable distribution
better understand the role of pric- in several parts of the country, of existing water supply infra- (somyaluthra@gmail.com,
eties. The government has time and again come es in the functioning of an overall groundwater is the de-facto mode structure. This further extends to karanbhasin95@gmail.com)
up with the same answer—procurement target
has been reached, which turns out to be more
than the previous year. If everything is hunky-
dory with the system, why are farmers up in
arms every year? Paddy procurement in Odisha New CM has task cut out Kitex exit a loss to Kerala
that there has been no wrongdoing. blindly following leaders, become more the column. The BJP seems to have learnt
is a massive `14,000 crore annual business. A The BJP rang the curtain down on the The SC had dismissed a batch of review intelligent and have to learn to It will be a great loss to Kerala if the its lesson from the West Bengal debacle
large chunk of the farming community is stuck political drama in Uttarakhand by petitions in this regard already. Since question the government. Kitex group goes ahead with its decision and has also started campaigning much
to it because it has an MSP attached, unlike the naming Pushkar Singh Dhami the new France has ordered a judicial probe Sathyam N, Tiruchanur to scrap the `3,500 crore project that before the polls. As the article says,
larger basket of commodities for which the chief minister. Dhami has earned the into allegations of corruption and would have provided job opportunities Modi and the UP CM will steer the
distinction of becoming the state’s favouritism in the Rafale fighter jet deal He is not a king to the unemployed youth of the campaign with the likely slogan “ Modi ke
Centre offers support price.
At least four departments—Agriculture, Co- youngest CM. However, he has his task with India based on a complaint by a Narendra Modi is not a king with a most literate state in India. Political naam par, Yogi ke kaam par ”.
cut out. He has to improve the image French NGO, it is time the Government of dynasty. He is a democratically elected organisations should not intervene in K Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam
operation, Civil Supplies and Revenue—deal of the government that has taken a India comes out with all relevant details people’s representative who cannot do labour problems. The Kerala government
with it at different stages, but farmers have beating under the previous regime of the deal, which have been given to what he wants with India’s economic should take the necessary steps to make Swiss legend’s smooth wins
none to vent their grievances to. District Collec- helmed by Tirath Singh Rawat and move the Supreme Court in a sealed cover, in resources. People know his commitment the state investment-friendly and Roger Federer, who is gunning for
tors do not meet them; farmers cannot access towards the development path. order to put the matter to rest. towards the nation’s growth and even avoid narrow-mindedness. a record 21st Grand Slam title, has
the bureaucratic top brass; systems designed N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru K V Raghuram, Wayanad today, his popularity among the masses K Deviprasad, Koduvally been sailing smoothly in the current
for them are too one-way in nature. What is surpasses that of any contemporary Wimbledon. At 39, when many
Open Rafale sealed cover Marvellous comparison political leader. We get the leaders Has BJP learnt its lesson? professionals would have long retired
more baffling is no attempt is being made to
This is with reference to France begins This is with reference to the article we deserve; the changing times will This is with reference to the article Of from the game, the Swiss legend is still
understand if their complaints are genuine or judicial probe into corruption claims in That tear-drop of love matters throw up new leaders and none can be poll fever, high teas and resourceful playing top-flight tennis and has the
driven by vested interests. Those who feed mil- Rafale deal (July 4). The BJP-led NDA (July 4). It was a marvellous historical permanent at the helm, not even Modi. babus (July 4). The author has summed hunger to win a few more Slam titles.
lions deserve that much attention at least. government has time and again averred comparison. Voters need to stop Parthasarathy Mandadi, Tirupati up the UP election scenario succinctly in R Sivakumar, Chennai
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: G S Vasu
Resident Editor (Karnataka) : Santwana Bhattacharya* Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited, at No. 1, Queen’s Road, Bengaluru - 560 001 and printed by him at Express Press, Plot No. 2A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, 4th Phase, Survey No. 46, Part Yarandahalli Village, Jigani Hobli,
Anekal Taluk. Bengaluru - 560 099. Bengaluru. Vol. 57, No. 158 RNI Reg. No. 3457/1960. Phone: 080-22866893. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | MONDAY | 5 JULY 2021
Biden’s India policy takes shape

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
Appointment of Atul Keshap as US Chargé d’affaires a significant step
New Delhi, gets a new occupant: in all
probability, Keshap will stay on as
DCM. Because of Keshap’s wide-rang-
Theaterisation pangs ing experience in India and South

Asia, which has been widely written
about since his latest posting to New
Consensus eludes plan to integrate theatre commands Delhi, he will be in the same class as
the longest-serving Chargé to India in
H
KP NAYAR
ALFWAY into the three-year time span granted to implement the history, Kenneth C Brill.
biggest military reform in independent India, it is clear that the STRATEGIC ANALYST When Brill became Chargé in March
stakeholders are far from reaching a consensus on the creation of 1993, he expected to hold fort only for
T
integrated theatre commands. In early 2020, soon after taking over as the HE appointment of Atul a few months. But it took a year and a
first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat had stated that the Indian Keshap as the US Chargé half for President Clinton to find a
armed forces would complete the theaterisation process — integration of d’affaires ad interim in new ambassador to India, have him
the capabilities of the Army, Air Force and Navy — by January 2021. But the New Delhi last week is the confirmed by the Senate and sworn
clearest signal yet of where the Joe in. Brill was Consul General in Calcut-
process is not moving smoothly, as is clear from the protracted delibera-
Biden administration’s India poli- ta before he became Chargé in New
tions and comments by the parties involved. On Friday, Gen Rawat said:
cy is headed. For four years under NEW INNINGS: Atul Keshap (left) with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. TWITTER Delhi. His experience was that on a
‘Air Force is required to provide support to the ground forces... Do not for- Trump, the US had no India policy, posting in India, there are more
get that Air Force continues to remain a supporting arm to the armed only knee-jerk reactions. Keshap, things that count in order to be effec-
forces...’ Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, speaking at the same seminar, who air-dashed to New Delhi within Biden and Blinken did not want their outpost in tive than foreign policy expertise.
said: ‘It is not a supporting role alone. The airpower has a huge role to play. three days of his appointment and New Delhi to be undermanned even for a few weeks One of the things that helped Brill in
In any of the integrated battle areas, it’s not an issue of support alone.’ took charge of the US mission in the Indo-US engagement in that difficult
The Indian military has 17 single-service commands across the national capital’s diplomatic enclave because they have a vision for India in the making. period was his close association with
country — the Army and Air Force have seven each, and the Navy has of Chanakyapuri on Friday, will be a Mother Teresa from his three years in
three commands. The Andaman and Nicobar command, based in Port stable hand at the large outpost and Calcutta in the 1980s.
Blair, is the sole tri-service command. The theaterisation model being work on a road map for the future. a career diplomat to next door Cana- that ‘Smith’s appointment under- Mother Teresa once went to Wash-
considered involves setting up of at least six new integrated commands, Most US embassies in the world are da, arguably the most important bilat- scores the strong US commitment to ington and on the spur of the moment
after the merger of the existing commands. However, sharp differences now without ambassadors and are eral relationship for Washington our partnership with the Govern- called the White House switchboard
run by Chargé d’affaires. Abbreviat- because the US and Canada are con- ment of India and the Indian people. one morning from a public telephone,
have emerged — the Army and Navy are in favour of the theaterisation
ed in colloquial diplomatic parlance joined twins. Blinken has sent back He will spearhead close cooperation asking if she could meet the US Pres-
model but the Air Force has concerns over the division of its air assets
as Chargé, they will hold fort for many as Chargé to El Salvador a diplomat with India to ensure that our coun- ident. That very afternoon, the Presi-
and the nomenclature and leadership of the commands. There are con- more months since Biden is yet to who was ambassador there for three tries continue to advance our shared dent met her. Brill recalled once that
cerns also about the reduction of the powers of the Chiefs of Staff. nominate most of his ambassadors of years until 2019. Since this is a deci- priorities, including overcoming the when he was head of Egyptian affairs
Even as the deliberations continue, it is evident that concerns over one’s choice. The US Senate may then take sion with few precedents, he made a global pandemic,’ the State Depart- at the State Department, it took him
turf are hampering progress. The Air Force’s anxieties would not have been its own sweet time to confirm these public statement. ment said at that time. two months to convince the White
soothed by Gen Rawat terming it a ‘supporting arm’, which seems ill- nominees before they can proceed to It is not a coincidence that the other Smith was on the verge of retire- House that the President should
advised because air power is the primary tool to achieve tactical gains in war- their respective embassies. two announcements had to do with ment when he was appointed in New meet Hosni Mubarak during the
fare. The existence of inter-services competition can’t be denied; due to this Assumption of office by a Chargé is India. Exactly two months before Delhi. It was Biden’s calculation Egyptian President’s travel to Wash-
reason, the massive project of theaterisation should not have been left only usually a routine change of chairs, an Keshap’s appointment, the State that in less than two months that ington. Brill’s association with Moth-
to the three services — a more holistic approach, with involvement of Par- internal affair at an embassy in most Department made public the choice of were left of Smith’s foreign service, er Teresa meant a higher profile for
liament and relevant ministries, was needed. What we are witnessing is a cases because a Chargé is usually no his predecessor, Daniel Smith. During the White House would be in a posi- him back home too.
public clash of ideas, which must be avoided at all costs. more than a stand-in for the perma- his short stint in New Delhi, every tion to have a permanent head of Keshap will easily find doors in India
nent head of mission. Most often it is door that Smith knocked on, opened mission in New Delhi cleared by opening for him, not because he is
the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), for him because he was acting US Sec- the Senate and sworn in. But that Indian American, but because of his
the serving number two in an retary of State while Blinken was did not happen. Biden and Blinken professional record. One disservice
embassy, who fulfils the role of a awaiting his Senate hearings and con- did not want their outpost in that Indians could do to him is in over-
Tirath yatra ends Chargé in the absence of an ambassa-
dor. Therefore, such an elevation is
firmation in the job. As soon as Biden
was sworn in as President, he appoint-
Chanakyapuri to be undermanned
even for a few weeks because they
emphasising Keshap’s Indian her-
itage. He is a quintessential American,
rarely a matter of any public interest. ed Smith as acting Secretary of State. have a vision for India in the mak- who considers Virginia as his home
BJP halts experiment of picking MP as Uttarakhand CM The well-publicised announcement Never before has the US sent some- ing: knee-jerk reactions have put and the Indianness in him is only an
in Washington that Keshap will go to one as senior as Smith in the State the relationship on a plateau for far accident of his birth. As much as being
I
N a damage-control exercise to contain discontent against the then New Delhi as Chargé, therefore, Department’s professional hierarchy too long. Therefore, Keshap was American, Keshap is an international-
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat with just a year stands out. Since Antony Blinken as a diplomat to India. In sending an picked to replace Smith. ist born in Nigeria. He and his three
to go for the Assembly elections, the BJP had sprung a surprise by became US Secretary of State five acting Secretary of State as Chargé to Like many of his predecessors who siblings grew up in Lesotho, Zambia,
picking the Lok Sabha MP from Pauri-Garhwal, Tirath Singh Rawat, months ago, the State Department New Delhi, the Biden administration were Chargés or DCMs, Keshap will be Afghanistan and Austria. The appoint-
as his replacement in March. Now, nearly four months into the job, he’s has publicly announced the appoint- signalled the importance it wants to the bedrock of the Biden administra- ment to New Delhi came as a birthday
out as well. The prospect of his not being able to fulfil the constitution- ment of Chargés only on four occa- accord India in its scheme of things. tion’s India policy even after Roosevelt gift because it was announced on
al requirement of becoming an MLA within six months is being cited sions. One was the stand in posting of Hence a public acknowledgement House, the ambassador’s residence in June 29, the day he turned 50.
as the reason for the state getting its third CM — Pushkar Singh Dha-
mi — within one term. That, however, could just be a convenient alibi
for the party high command to spare itself the blushes and correct the
mistake of para-dropping an MP, who has proven to be quite an unpop-
ular one, instead of banking on established or promising legislators.
If Tirath Rawat distinguished himself in any way during his 114-day
Politicians’ whims & ‘security’ lapses
term, it was in generating controversies by the dozen, be it criticising pol- Rajbir Deswal Another very simple but popular seeds in the same plate he took them day, most of the smell had gone and
icy decisions of his predecessor, his pronouncements and his remarks politician of Haryana had double- from. Another, as chief guest, had got the VVIP accommodated.
N
— like contending that women wearing ripped jeans send out a wrong O, I am not complaining like beds of all VVIP suites of govern- the director, students' welfare of a At one of the Surajkund melas,
message. When several states were exploring containment measures Param Bir Singh, Mumbai’s ment rest houses increased in length. university suspended, since the latter when a twig from a tree fell on the
after a surge in Covid-19 cases indicated the beginning of the second former Police Commissioner, With his simple ways, he wouldn't could not arrange for a matchbox to VVIP, it was considered to be a securi-
wave, he insisted that the Kumbh Mela in Hardwar should be ‘open for but just making a statement that we wait to reach a rest house for going light the traditional lamp. ty lapse. Amusingly, a pigeon couple
all’. The repercussions have been devastating. The fake Covid testing in the police know the politicians a lit- round the corner; instead, he had the In one district, an NSG protectee above him cooed, while intelligence
scam during the pilgrimage has harmed the government’s image. tle more than what’s hidden from the entire convoy stopped en route while was to be housed when a team arrived sleuths around exchanged glances. A
Three CMs in the final year of the term is a huge embarrassment for public eye. Readying for sleep, a he eased himself. Yet another CM to inspect the arrangements. An offi- politician of Haryana, who had a self-
Haryana CM had to pass a painful was allergic to flowers. Once, an cer who began sniffing a tad vigorous- conferred ‘doctorate’ in politics, how-
any party. For the BJP, which prides itself on discipline and timely man-
night having hurt his knee that hit enthusiastic DC offered him a bou- ly detected the smell of fresh paint. ever, was a jolly man, who would
agement, all the more, though it would like to portray its decision as a
the corner of a table. The next day saw quet of plastic flowers, whose hand He told local officers that the smell laugh away minor slips. To someone
quick-fix solution to retain power in Uttarakhand, where elections are due the sharp corners of tables rounded he knocked sideways with a jerk, out needed to go before the VVIP who had gone to complain about a
early next year. What the state government has done or not done are sec- off in all government rest houses, dak of a natural reflex action. checked in. At the suggestion of a jun- revenue clerk asking for bribe, he wit-
ondary issues for now. Stemming infighting and presenting a united face bungalows and tourism complexes. A politician, who held a constitu- ior engineer, all through the night, tily suggested that rather than spend-
have become a far bigger challenge for the ruling party. At some places, the sharp-cornered tional post in the state, would invari- four farrataas — jumbo-sized fans — ing the fare up to Chandigarh, he
tables were replaced with oval or ably stop on a businessman’s premis- used to separate grain from the chaff, could have paid the amount to the
round-shaped ones. es and eat jamuns by spitting out the were pressed into service. By the next patwari and got his work done.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Successful diplomacy is an alignment of objectives Restore statehood their state is a separate nation. Till IAF independent arm supply water for paddy transplan-
and means. — Dennis Ross Apropos of ‘Next step — J&K the secessionist elements and ter- Refer to Gen Bipin Rawat calling tation. This worst power situation
statehood’ (Nous Indica), J&K has ror apparatus are fully decimated, Air Force a supporting arm; the Air could be avoided had the govern-
been historically viewed in the J&K must continue with the sta- Force is an independent arm. Air ment and the PSPCL planned for
vortex of politics of subcontinen- tus of a ‘UT with legislative operations to gain a favourable air the excessive demand due to paddy
on this day...100 years ago tal power games. This has Assembly’. It would be a folly to situation over a theatre are sine qua plantation and summer season by
adversely affected the develop- succumb to any threat smacking non for the ground forces to oper- purchasing power from the open
ment of the state and its people. A of vested interests — even to boy- ate. In the absence of it, the ground market and by doing preventive
lesson needs to be learnt from cott elections till the demand for forces will suffer a lot of damage maintenance of all power plants in
this past mistake. The road to statehood is met. Nonetheless, and destruction. Every Army offi- advance to avoid outages during
recovery lies in J&K’s assimila- early elections to restore public cer is trained to ask for air strikes the peak demand period.
lahore,tuesday, july 5, 1921
tion. Granting statehood would rule, for which the UT status is no on the enemy target to soften it SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI
make democracy more vibrant by impediment, should be the top pri- before launching an attack. It is
THE TILAK SWARAJ FUND. active participation of all parties ority for the government, which only a matter of semantics that Not in an instant
THE success of Mahatma Gandhi in raising, within the prescribed time, the crore in this process. Inclusiveness, not entails fast conclusion of the such strikes are called ‘air sup- Two types of industries are flour-
of rupees he had undertaken to raise by the 30th June may be said to constitute exclusiveness, is the need of the delimitation exercise. port’ in the Army’s tactical parl- ishing — one that makes people
the country’s first great victory in the battle for constructive Swaraj. The financial hour. The people of J&K have LALIT BHARADWAJ, PANCHKULA ance. To extend such semantics to overwhelmed with the thoughts of
test, they say, is the crucial test. There is, at any rate, no other objective test by already suffered during the past calling the Air Force a support competition, comparison, hate and
which the country’s determination either to win Swaraj or to maintain it when it decades due to political and ideo- Protests a waste of time arm is misplaced. Dividing our inhumanity; and the second,
has been won can be better or more suitably judged than by this test. Next to the logical differences among their The call given by the Samyukt limited military assets and allo- which provides impermanent but
actual physical suffering such as is involved in undergoing imprisonment in the leaders. Now, it is time for peace- Kisan Morcha to hold a protest cating them piecemeal to various hasty solutions to the repercus-
cause of freedom, self-taxation is naturally the most effective method of ful living and development. against the fuel price hike on July 8 theatre commands will prove our sions of the first (‘Age of instant
improving our resolve to win it, and imprisonment, after all, where a whole body GURPREET SINGH, MOHALI is an absolute waste of time. When greatest undoing. The nation enlightenment’). These both sec-
of determined and non-violent people are concerned, must depend at last partially their own protests against farm must listen to the Air Chief. tors have the primary concern of
upon officials’ lack of imagination and statesmanship, the extent to which they Polls top priority laws have failed to influence the LT COL GS BEDI, (RETD), MOHALI earning maximum profit. There-
are prepared to play into the hands of their political opponents. In spite of Early Assembly elections are government, the protest against fore, people, especially young-
aberrations, neither few nor far between, it is almost unbelievable that members imperative, but why hasten state- fuel hike will not yield any result. Power crisis sters, need to understand the urge
of a governing body such as we have in this country will send even a hundred hood? (‘Next step — J&K state- The only way out is to vote against Apropos of ‘Power pangs’, (July 2), of connecting their souls to their
thousand men to prison for their participation in the battle, for constitutional hood’). The Gandhian nationalism the ruling party during elections. Punjab, reeling under unprece- roots, which of course demands
freedom, and yet according to both Mahatma Gandhi and the All-India Congress of assimilation cannot be legislated Every day, protests are held at vari- dented power shortage amid an time and patience in this rapidly
Committee, not a hundred thousand but as many as ten million men and women but it is a slow and steady panacea. ous places in India, be it by teach- intense heat wave, is facing growing world of technology. They
in India must give evidence of their earnestness to win Swaraj. Even where the The ‘melting snow’ ought to be ers, farmers, doctors, bank employ- unbearably long electricity out- should spend their precious time
battle is physical, the actual participants in it are never more than a fraction of channelled with caution. In border ees, traders, women, unions, Dalits, ages. The pressure on the power amid nature rather than searching
those who participate in it indirectly by means of their share in making the states, regional satraps coming to etc. Protests have lost their impact generation system is unprecedent- for ways of instant enlightenment
munitions. There never was a war in which a larger number of men took part than power exploiting local issues and in the present times. ed, with farmers needing uninter- on the Internet.
in the great European War, and even in that war the number of combatants was sentiments cannot behave as if VIKRAMJIT SINGH, AMRITSAR rupted electricity to run pumps to AMRITPAL SINGH, BATHINDA
much smaller, taking all belligerent countries into consideration than the number
of those who taxed themselves, both as regards money and otherwise. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | MONDAY | 5 JULY 2021 OPED 07
‘Tyranny of the elected’ in a democracy slowly executed beheading was pure

spectacle; an unadulterated blood sport. The mediatory institutions have been
Thomas More, the great intellectual
and the author of Utopia, was killed in a rendered toothless. Citizens in the
similar manner because he refused to
accept Henry VIII as the Head of the
modern state are as vulnerable to the
Church of England. Just like the diktats of the authoritarian ruler as the
Duchess said to Alice in Alice’s Adven-
NEERA CHANDHOKE
tures in Wonderland, a tyrannical subjects were in times of the tyrant. They
POLITICAL SCIENTIST monarch is likely to say: ‘Talking of
axes, off with her head.’
are, probably, more vulnerable because
S
HAKESPEARE, writes Stephen Our worlds are, and should be, differ- the modern state possesses the kind of
Greenblatt in the opening ent. In a democracy, citizens have the
paragraph of Tyrant: Shake- right to hold their representatives power that Henry VII, who is reported to
speare on Power, grappled responsible for acts of omission and
with a deeply unsettling question: commission. The institutional struc-
have said, ‘I am the state’, would have
How can a whole country fall into the ture of a democracy is designed to con- envied. Innovative ways of exercising
hands of a tyrant? Under what cir- trol exercise of unmitigated power. Ille-
cumstances do cherished, deep-root- gitimate assertions of political power power have been invented with the
ed and impregnable institutions sud-
denly prove fragile?
are supposed to be monitored and reg-
ulated by citizens. This is democracy.
help of new technologies.
The Bard, suggests Greenblatt, knew But when the Chief Justice of India,
tyranny could not happen without the NV Ramana, while delivering the 17th IRONIC: Democracy transforms subjects into citizens,
readiness of a nation to abandon its Justice PD Desai Memorial Trust lecture, but elected leaders have reversed the process. PTI
ideals. People can be attracted to men- suggested that the mere right of people
dacity, crudeness and cruelty. ‘Why do to change rulers through elections was
otherwise a proud and self-respecting no guarantee against ‘the tyranny of the credited politicians, accept their lies, from citizens’ groups in civil society. ry and the clever mining of aphorisms. ice domestic, foreign levy nothing.” He
people submit to the sheer effrontery of elected’, we are forced to sit up and disregard their past, overlook their But mediatory institutions have been Why should we hesitate to call them envies the dead! We almost feel sorry for
the tyrant, his sense that he can get away think. Perhaps, electoral authoritarian- misdemeanours, specifically their rendered toothless. Citizens in the tyrants just because they formally abide Macbeth, till we recollect that his path to
with saying and doing anything he likes, ism is not an oxymoron after all! failure to govern the country, and modern state are as vulnerable to the by hollowed-out institutional and consti- power is strewn with corpses.
his spectacular indecency?’ We have seen political leaders, bloated pay little attention to intolerance of diktats of the authoritarian ruler as tutional conventions? Perhaps, democracy, when pushed to its
We hesitate to use the term tyrant in with power, misbehave with the very peo- the slightest criticism. the subjects were in the times of the I doubt whether tyrants or aspiring limits, extracts revenge. At some point,
the times of democracy because tyrants ple who voted them to power in the first Witness the paradox. Leaders come to tyrant. They are, probably, more vul- tyrants read at all, but if they do, they the wheel of fortune, in the words of the
are wholly illegitimate. They grab pow- place. We have seen elected leaders power through elections and swear alle- nerable because the modern state pos- should read Macbeth to understand the philosopher Boethius, will turn. A stu-
er by force, they rule for their own good, downgrading citizens into subjects. giance to the Constitution. And then, sesses the kind of power that Henry futility of power gained at any cost. Once dent will stand up, a poet will write, a
and they show no mercy to dissidents. The situation is rich in irony. Democra- some of them ruthlessly proceed to VII, who is reported to have said, ‘I he ascends the throne of Scotland after movement will coalesce, or someone will
Hilary Mantel’s three wonderful nov- cy transforms subjects into citizens, but demolish or subvert every provision of am the state’, would have envied. killing Duncan, Macbeth is edgy and retell the political message of Shake-
els describe in meticulous detail the elected leaders have reversed the the political contract that creates a bond Innovative ways of exercising power fearful, wracked by ‘restless ecstasy’. speare that “Life’s but a walking shadow;
inhuman punishment meted out to process. Still, a politically aware elec- between the people and their rulers. have been invented with the help of new “We eat our meals in fear, and sleep to a poor player/ That struts and frets his
courtiers who fall out of favour of King torate continues to vote for a party Citizens are rendered vulnerable. technologies. Rulers throughout history terrible dreams,” he tells his wife. “Bet- hour upon the stage/And then is heard no
Henry VIII. Take the execution of Anne whose agenda is not circumscribed by They can, of course, invoke the rule of have played to the gallery. Today, they ter be with the dead/Whom we, to gain more: it is a tale/ Told by an idiot, full of
Boleyn, a woman who at one point could the Constitution, no matter how ignoble law, appeal to the judiciary, write letters intrude into the minds of people our peace, have sent to peace… Duncan sound and fury/ Signifying nothing.’
twirl the king around her bejewelled fin- the agenda might be. to the government, hope that the media through social media and television is in his grave; after life’s fitful fever he An elected tyrant might learn some
gers. For the assembled crowds, the Indians continue to vote for dis- takes up their cause, or hope for support appearances, through thunderous orato- sleeps well… nor steel nor poison/ Mal- lessons. Perhaps.
China-Pak footprint may increase in Afghanistan

T
WENTY years of the unfinished developmental engagement and soft a stronger position to contain the influ-
Afghan war have seen frequent power in Afghanistan. Pakistan remains ence of the adversarial powers/competi-
phases of despair, occasional deeply insecure of New Delhi’s presence tion — the US, Russia and India.
optimism and development of a in Afghanistan and feels India’s role in Despite apprehensions regarding the
civil society which started to ascertain its Afghanistan is ‘larger than it ought to future of Afghanistan, China has the
political and civil rights, the inspiring be’, as Qureshi told TOLO News. ambition and political will to expand its
voices of the liberated Afghan women, China, on the other hand, would want role in Afghanistan. Given the deep Chi-
and on the other hand, expanding Tal- to expand its engagement in na-Pakistan alliance, it is realistic to
SHALINI CHAWLA
iban influence, its growing legitimacy Afghanistan to pursue its security, eco- assume that the two major facilitators for
DISTINGUISHED FELLOW, CENTRE with the major regional powers and the nomic and strategic interests. Unrest in Chinese ambitions in Afghanistan are
FOR AIR POWER STUDIES
group’s deepening confidence in its abil- Xinjiang and the support the Uyghur likely to be China’s astounding potential
ity to dominate Afghanistan and run it on Muslims draw from the extremist forces to continue investments despite frequent
its ideological terms and conditions. in Afghanistan has persistently both- reports of its economic challenges and its
China has the ambition and Ironically, all the major regional powers ered the Chinese. Beijing established consistently growing alliance with Pak-
political will to expand its and the United States have had channels contacts with the Taliban in the 1990s to istan. China also initiated a tri-lateral dia-
of communication open with the Taliban, try and seek assurances from the group logue with Afghanistan and Pakistan in
role in Afghanistan. Given except the Afghan government. As the about not supporting the Uyghur mili- 2017. China will expect Pakistan to facili-
the deep China-Pakistan timeline for the complete US withdrawal
from Afghanistan is approaching, there REALITY: US withdrawal from Afghanistan may lead to Taliban dominance. REUTERS
tants to create unrest in the Chinese ter-
ritory. China is facing international reac-
tate its efforts to convince the Taliban of
non-violent positioning and assist its
alliance, it is realistic to are serious concerns and apprehensions tions and punitive actions on account of strategic presence, which will be built
regarding the future of Afghanistan as Pakistan did project itself as the facilita- since the late 1980s through the 1990s, its repressive policies in Xinjiang and at around infrastructure investments,
assume that the two major the developments on ground are indica- tor of the US-Taliban deal, its commit- when it strongly backed the Taliban. this point of time, Beijing possibly can- extended military assistance and soft
facilitators for Chinese tive of nothing less than the probability of
a civil war, unless there is rethinking and
ment to peace and stability in Kabul
remains questionable. Islamabad cher-
Although Pakistan denies the concept of
strategic depth, its actions and apparent
not afford additional spillover impact of
the Afghan instability in Xinjiang.
power expansion in Afghanistan.
Pakistan will be a cooperative partner
ambitions in Afghanistan are initiatives from the US and the interna- ished its much applauded role (for some objectives in Afghanistan belie the There has been expression of China’s for Beijing and will leverage Chinese
tional community to exercise control on time) in the US-Taliban negotiations but denial. Islamabad would want to have a policies against Muslims in the global presence in Kabul to expand its connec-
likely to be China’s Taliban’s relentless moves. failed to garner the desired brownie dominant position in Afghanistan with a jihadi discourse and this is something tions and influence not only with
astounding potential to Looking at the current realities, the
post withdrawal scenario indicates Tal-
points for itself from the West. The Finan-
cial Action Task Force (FATF) was not
pro-Pakistan regime. In Pakistan’s view,
a Pakistan-friendly Taliban rule would
China would want to guard against in
order to secure its presence not only in
Afghanistan, but with Iran and Central
Asia. Turkey, which is evolving as an
continue investments iban dominance and the growing engage- convinced of Pakistan’s actions/moves to assist Islamabad in catering to the chal- Afghanistan, but in the neighbouring ideological and military ally of Pakistan
ment of two major regional powers in fulfil the FATF conditionalities and lenges of the lingering Afghanistan-Pak- region — Central Asia, Iran and Pak- and also has Chinese support, has
despite frequent reports of Afghanistan — Pakistan and China. Pak- decided to retain Pakistan on the grey list istan border issue based on the Durand istan. Also, from an economic point of already expressed its willingness to
its economic challenges and istan, that shares a strategic partnership
with the Taliban, is trying to shift the
in the recent meeting. Even though Pak-
istan’s projected posture has been that it
Line. Extending its position on the issue,
the fencing of the 2,640-km border with
view, Afghanistan’s inclusion into the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
extend its cooperation in Afghanistan.
While both China and Pakistan have
its consistently growing blame for the violence in Afghanistan on wants a stable, democratic and sovereign Afghanistan, which began in March 2017, (CPEC) would facilitate China’s region- hitherto been keen for the US and
ISIS. In a recent interview to TOLO Afghanistan, its actions present dis- has progressed rapidly despite a backlash al economic portfolio. Options, includ- NATO forces to leave Afghanistan, they
alliance with Pakistan. China News, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah cernible contradictions and indicate little from both sides of the border. For Pak- ing connecting CPEC via railway to Kan- are now uncomfortable regarding the
also initiated a trilateral Mahmood Qureshi said, “If you try and
create this impression that the violence is
change in its true objectives in
Afghanistan. Pakistan has been overly
istan, having a favourable position in
Afghanistan would help it control the
dahar and the Kabul-Peshawar
motorway, have been discussed. The
possibly severe security fallouts of the
emerging situation in Afghanistan. The
dialogue with Afghanistan high because of Taliban again, that would obsessed with the desire to gain strategic mutinous Pashtun voices within. And, untapped mineral wealth in fund- China-Pakistan nexus is likely to cau-
be an exaggeration. Why do I say that? depth in Afghanistan. The military and most importantly, Pakistan’s strategic starved Afghanistan has attracted Chi- tiously expand in Afghanistan, raising
and Pakistan in 2017. Aren’t other elements over there who are the intelligence agency, the ISI, authored interests have little tolerance for New nese companies since 2007. A strong challenges for India’s engagement
playing the role of a spoiler?” Although and executed the policy of strategic depth Delhi’s commended (by the Afghans) foothold in Afghanistan places China in built over the past few decades.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS JULY 5, 2021, MONDAY SUNSET: MONDAY 19:28 HRS
1 Grow less intense (5)
8 Most up-to-date 7 4 9 5 8 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2078
SUNRISE: TUESDAY 05:27 HRS
example (4,4) ■ Shaka Samvat 1943

9 Fashionable (5)
10 Superficial (4-4)
11 Indistinct (5)
5 2 ■ Aashadh Shaka
■ Aashadh Parvishte
14
21
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
12 Secret agent (3) ■ Hijari 1442 Chandigarh 38 30

16 King of the Huns (6)
17 Amplify (6)
9 6 ■ Krishna Paksha Tithi 11, up to 10.31 pm New Delhi 40 27
18 Soaked with liquid (3) ■ Dhriti Yoga up to 1.29 pm Amritsar 37 29
7 6 9
23 Take pleasure in (5) ■ Bharni Nakshatra up to 12.12 pm Bathinda 43 26
24 Accomplish (5,3)
25 Feeble-minded (5) ■ Moon enters Taurus sign 6.59 pm Jalandhar 37 29
26 Elaborately planned Ludhiana 37 29
display (3,5)
27 Ponder resentfully (5)
9 8 3 4 2
SATURDAY’S SOLUTION
9 1 3 5 6 8 7 4
Bhiwani 40 27
Hisar 40 27
DOWN
2 Meet by chance (4,4) 3 4 8 8 6 4 1 7 9 2 5 3 Sirsa
Dharamsala
42
28
27
18
3 Run away (4,4) 3 7 5 2 4 8 9 6 1
4 A price increase (4-2) Manali 23 13
5 Tolerate (5)
6 Ancient Greek poet (5)
8 4 1 8 2 9 6 3 5 4 7
Shimla 24 16
7 Take up and use (5) 6 5 9 7 2 4 1 3 8 Srinagar 30 16
12 Proverb (3)
13 Up to now (3) 7 6 4 3 7 5 8 1 6 9 2 Jammu
Kargil
38
26
25
12
14 Unrestricted admission (4,4)
SATURDAY’S sOLUTION 15 A few (3,2,3)
7 1 3 8 9 5 4 2 6
Leh 17 08
Across: 1 Right of way, 6 Blow, 10 Crown, 11 Cathedral, 12 Insecure, 13 Teens, 15 Initial, 17 Swelter,
19 Haggard, 21 Disease, 22 Awash, 24 Lifetime, 27 Middleman, 28 Baton, 29 Nook, 30 Make tracks.
19 Result of an action (6)
20 Embarrass (5)
6 5 8 1 9 5 4 8 6 3 2 7 1 9 Dehradun 35 24
Down: 1 Rock, 2 Grounding, 3 Tense, 4 Factual, 5 Aptness, 7 Large, 8 Wall Street, 9 Feathers, 14 21 Dishonourable (5) 9 2 6 4 1 7 3 8 5 Mussoorie 25 16
Highwayman, 16 In a while, 18 Traumatic, 20 Dilemma, 21 Defence, 23 Audio, 25 Tiber, 26 Onus. 22 Once more (5) V. HARD TEMPERATURE IN OC
10 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
JULY 05, 2021
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
The grim world of
A national UP’s district politics
security knot As a ruling party, the
BJP’s win in UP local
block and district council. While the this seat for the second time is
ward members at all three levels are Mulayam Singh Yadav’s grand-
directly elected, as is the pradhan/ sar- nephew and the Etawah ZPA seat has
panch, the block pramukh (BP) and remained with the Yadav family since
polls isn’t surprising, and
On theatre commands, the way to win over ZPA are elected indirectly, i.e., only 1990.
reflects the distortions in council members vote. Political party Third, the sheer money and muscle
the IAF may be to not call it a support force symbols are not used during local power deployed during these elections
local politics. body elections in UP. is phenomenal. During my doctoral This is a power-begets-power story in rural India. A decentralised
I
ndia is currently witnessing an unprecedented The 73rd and 74th constitutional dissertation fieldwork in 2015 (and tel- governance system has brought marginalised groups into power
T
controversy at the apex of its national security he Bharatiya Janata Party amendments instituted provisions of ephone conversations during this hierarchies, yet it is also becoming an enabler of political entrenchment HT
(BJP) has won 67 of the 75 reservations for lower castes and round), it emerged that the expendi-
apparatus, with the public airing of differences district council presiden- women. In UP, half the seats at all lev- ture incurred by successful candidates Within months of the BJP’s win in kilns, petrol pumps, transport, or
over the issue of creating integrated tri-service cies (zilla panchayat els are in the open category, ranged from ₹5-10 crore for a 2017, the presidents in one in every sand mining. A large portion of dis-
military theatres. It has been an open secret that the adkhyaksh or ZPA) in Uttar in which anyone can con- ZPA seat and ₹1-3 crore for a four district and block councils got trict council budgets gets spent on
Pradesh (UP). While the test. However, each category BP seat. In comparative changed. For example, the wife of late construction-related activities (build-
Indian Air Force (IAF) has serious concerns over party is celebrating its win with great of reservation has a 33% terms, a ZPA candidate often Vinod Singh (a minister in Akhilesh ing or repair of roads, government
the current theaterisation model. On Friday, chief gusto, it is important to place it in quota for women. The posi- spends more than a Lok Yadav’s cabinet) was elected president offices, schools, bridges, among oth-
of defence staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, at a context. tion nomenclatures, election Sabha election candidate, of the Gonda district council in 2015 ers). Connect the two dots. The tender
The results follow the usual pat- rules, and reservation pro- Rahul and a BP more than a legisla- and his two nephews became block is issued and awarded to the machine
seminar, provided the contours of the new terns of local body elections in the portions differ widely across tive assembly candidate. The pramukhs. With the change of guard owned by the same network.
structure but added, when asked about these state in which the ruling party virtu- states. For example, some
Verma expenditure was largely in 2017, they had to resign from their This is a power-begets-power story
apprehensions, that the IAF was a “supporting arm ally sweeps district and block council states have reservations for driven by the district coun- posts, and the wife of BJP MP Braj- in rural India. A decentralised govern-
presidencies. The state machinery Muslims, and in some other cil’s annual budget (propor- bhusan Singh was elected ZPA and his ance system has indeed opened up
to the armed forces” just like artillery support or gets deployed to its fullest and council states, women’s reservation is 50%. tionate rent-seeking possibilities) and two relatives became block pramukhs. many spaces and brought margina-
engineers support for combatant arms in the Army. members are wooed, often with finan- Second, indirect elections of district the amount the competitor was offer- Similar proportions of leadership lised groups into power hierarchies,
Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, cial inducements, to swing their vote. and block council presidents have ing to council members. Winning positions changed when the BSP and yet it is also becoming an enabler of
They, or even their family members created a system in which large num- these elections is important for the the SP were elected in 2007 and 2012 political entrenchment.
was quick to react and categorically said the service get harassed, or worse, abducted to bers, mostly candidates supported by politically ambitious as a ZPA and BP respectively. It is puzzling that India, which pri-
did not have a “supportive role”, and airpower had ensure they vote in a certain way. It is the ruling party, get elected unop- become claimants to party nomina- Fifth, in many cases, especially des itself on maintaining a high stan-
a “huge role” to play. not surprising then that during the posed. In 2021 and 2015, 22 and 38 tions for the Lok Sabha and assembly when the seat gets reserved for a caste dard of conducting elections during
2015 local body polls, the Samajwadi ZPAs were elected unopposed respec- elections respectively. which is not the same as a senior poli- national and state polls, has not seri-
While open discussions are welcome in all Party (SP) won more than 60 ZPAs tively. Similarly, one-third of 820 Fourth, the main contestants for tician interested in the position, the ously debated the electoral process
domains of public policy, a public confrontation and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) block pramukhs in 2015 were also the council presidency are mostly rel- politicians in question get their loyal- for rural local bodies. India must
between CDS, who is widely seen as speaking for won similar numbers in 2010 when it elected unopposed. The proportions atives of sitting Members of Parlia- ists or employees elected to these think of a new set of reforms to realise
was in power in Lucknow. may vary, but this trend has persisted ment (MP), Members of Legislative posts. While it helps to share power the revolutionary potential of the 73rd
the political establishment, and a service chief is What are the political-economy in UP‘s local body elections since 1995. Assembly (MLA), and ministers, and with politically ambitious family and 74th constitutional amendments
deeply distressing and unfortunate. India needs to reasons that have sustained this sys- This doesn’t mean there aren’t figures from the ruling party in the members, there is a deeper political recognising and empowering local
modernise its higher defence management tem? competitive candidates; rather, it is a state. In fact, as soon as a change in economy reason that helps in the governments.
First, it is important to understand function of de facto influence of a ZPA the ruling regime in the state capital local entrenchment of political power.
structure, theatre commands are long overdue, and the institutional set-up as the current hopeful. For example, the Etawah ZPA takes place, successful no-confidence During my fieldwork, I found that Rahul Verma is fellow, Centre for Policy
as CDS, it is General Rawat’s job to implement the morass flows from it. The panchayati is the only seat in 2021 that the SP won motions are brought against many sit- most mid-level politicians in rural Research (CPR), New Delhi.
mandate he has been given. In the true tradition of raj system has three layers – village, unopposed. Anshul Yadav who won ting ZPAs and BPs. India own businesses such as brick The views expressed are personal
civilian control over the military, once the decision

to create theatre commands has been taken at a
political level, all services will have to fall in line. { STRAIGHTFORWARD } { ARVIND KEJRIWAL } DELHI CHIEF MINISTER
But this cannot mean pushing through a process
Shashi Shekhar
without winning the confidence of all stakeholders
or making statements perceived as insulting by one
P
of the armed services. This year “Indian doctor” should
It is ironic that while the objective of the exercise
is to create jointness and synergy, what it has
An opportunity and a get Bharat Ratna. “Indian Doctor”
means all doctors, nurses and
exposed are deep fractures. General Rawat’s
statement reflected the Army’s sense of itself as the challenge for the Congress paramedics. This will be a true
primary leader of the armed forces. This goes
he Lok Sabha elections are still three The interest in the meeting seems to have
tribute to the martyred doctors...
against the self-image of other forces, especially the
IAF, which has been playing a critical role in
T years away, but many political heavy- ended when it got over. The whole country will be
A
weights have already become active. On June 25, Pawar issued a political state-
operations and has built up capabilities and reach. For instance, Aam Admi Party (AAP) ment in Mumbai saying, “No alternative happy with this.
leader and Delhi chief minister (CM), Arvind political force, in this country, is possible
IAF’s concerns on division of assets, structure, Kejriwal, recently visited Punjab, and several without the participation of Congress”. Rash-
nomenclature of commands, leadership may or Opposition political leaders met at the home triya Janata Dal leader, Tejashwi Yadav,
may not be valid, but the fact that the service, of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief endorsed this, saying, “Without Congress, the
Sharad Pawar on June 22, a day after his alternative cannot be imagined, it has to be
institutionally, is apprehensive about the current
plans needs to be taken into account. Revise
timelines and plans, be more consultative, and win
meeting with star political strategist Pra-
shant Kishor.
Kejriwal’s brand of “alternative politics”
has been successful enough to win him two
the basis of (the) force. But I would like to
add this also that in the states wherever the
regional parties are strong, they should be
kept in the driving seat.” But given Pawar’s
Regulating e-commerce
over IAF before proceeding. General Rawat is a
political appointee and a former Army chief, but he
must not let those identities come in the way of his
assembly elections in Delhi. The Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) which swept the last gen-
eral elections in Delhi, found its numbers in
reputation for never doing anything without
a purpose, could it be that he was trying to
test the waters about the public acceptance
should not involve
spying on consumers
the assembly whittled down to eight seats. of the idea of a third front?
primary identity, as the leader of all, not one, of In the last Punjab assembly elections, the In the last Lok Sabha elections, there was
India’s armed services. AAP was all set to win, or at least put up a a direct contest between the BJP and the Con-
strong showing, when it made a strategic gress on 192 seats. Apart from these, there
blunder. At a rally in Malwa, the AAP projec- were around 70 seats where the Congress he proposed amendments to the Con- with what is sought to be done through the
In Uttarakhand, BJP’s
ted Kejriwal as the future CM of Punjab. The
prospect of a non-Sikh resident, originally
from Haryana, becoming the CM of the state
was unacceptable to the powerful Jat lobby
emerged as a key challenger. For the remain-
ing 281 seats, there is scope for a grand alli-
ance of regional parties. The Bengal election
showed the power of these parties to unite
T sumer Protection (E-Commerce) amendment, i.e. amplifying the government’s
Rules, 2020, have proved controver- powers to acquire data for broad purposes
sial, with new statements of concern beyond specific consumer law grievance
coming in every day. However, one issue that redressal. It reflects executive overreach and
mismanagement in Punjab.
This time around, Kejriwal has been care-
ful and has declared that his party will opt
and stop the BJP juggernaut. The Congress
and the Left parties, both through their cam-
paign and the absence of it, removed many
has garnered less attention is how it would fails the legality test, not to mention con-
expand the government’s powers to access tempt for parliamentary scrutiny.
data of consumers, raising fears regarding It is far from clear that this intrusive
for a Sikh CM after the next assembly elec- obstacles in Mamata Banerjee’s path even expanded surveillance intruding into con- measure of mandating disclosure of con-
ttarakhand has its third chief minister (CM) in tion in the state. He has also thrown the though they gained nothing. Will she repay sumer data and the right to privacy. sumers’ data to the government by e-com-
U four years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

high command first picked Trivendra Rawat in
2017. He was replaced earlier this year because of a
AAP’s “alternative politics” into the mix and
promised free electricity and better school
education at a press conference at Chandi-
garh, stopping short of calling it the “Delhi
this favour in 2024?
The Congress can draw some hope from
the fact that even today, in Bengal, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Arunachal and Mani-
Rule 5(18) in the amendments would merce entities is necessary to achieve any
require any e-commerce entity to provide legitimate aim. The provision fails to limit
information under its control or
possession to a requesting govern-
the nature of the information that
may be sought, nor does it require
reported backlash from the conservative religious model”. pur, there are CMs who were trained and ment agency within 72 hours of that the consumer be notified and
AAP also wants to replicate its success nurtured in the Congress. There are new alli- receipt of an order. Agencies can provided an opportunity to be
establishment, given Mr Rawat’s position on story in Gujarat, Goa, Uttarakhand and Uttar ances in states such as Jharkhand and Maha- make this demand for over-broad heard. The absence of any safe-
government control of temples and caution over Pradesh. But, in the manner of Asaduddin rashtra. If regional parties in these states col- purposes devoid of any limita- guards against arbitrary govern-
holding the Kumbh Mela, and internal dissent. Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittihad ul-Mus- laborate with the Congress under a common tions. The proposed grounds Namrata ment action (for example, requir-
lemeen, AAP hopes to tread cautiously and minimum programme, they can give the BJP include the prevention, detection, ing judicial oversight of orders)
Tirath Singh Rawat was picked next. He resigned increase its presence in these regions slowly. a run for its money. investigation, or prosecution of Maheshwari raises a red flag of unwarranted
last week, reportedly to avert a constitutional crisis. Sharad Pawar is one of the country’s most However, CMs of Andhra and Telangana any offence, or identity verifica- surveillance.
The second CM claimed that he had been unable to wily politicians, so there was bound to be a have gone the way of the Biju Janata Dal’s tion, or cybersecurity. These developments are made
buzz around the meeting in his house. But at Naveen Patnaik. They have moved away from The information under the “con- worse by the context within which
get elected to the assembly since bypolls were not the end of it all, what was the result? Barring the Congress in their respective states. They trol or possession” of many e-com- they are triggered. India does not
scheduled; assembly elections are to be held early National Conference leader Omar Abdullah’s feel that as long as the BJP and Congress are merce platforms is not merely have a data protection law; the Per-
next year. Other reports, however, suggest that the attendance, the presence of the others, many at each other’s throats, they can benefit. This information that is willingly sub- sonal Data Protection Bill is pend-
of them outside the arena of formal politics, is why they are not very aggressive towards mitted in the form of names, ing and requires significant
party leadership acted because Tirath Rawat had did not generate much political excitement. the central government. They are fence-sit- addresses, payment details and Raman Jit improvements in order to make it
been unable to manage either intra-party dynamics ters who will wait to see which way the wind order histories. It includes data Singh Chima an effective law. At present, more
or governance. Some of his comments were will blow. gleaned by tracking our browsing needs to be done to restrict the col-
If any real anti-incumbency sets in against habits, even beyond the e-com- lection and retention of data,
insensitive and outlandish; and his government the BJP, they will not hesitate to move over to merce website itself, and data including by e-commerce entities.
mismanaged the Kumbh. And so the crown has the Congress or join any front if it benefits inferred about personal characteristics and However, the proposed amendment serves
fallen on Pushkar Singh Dhami. them. But, as of now, the strategy of not tak- preferences based on what we search for, to further open channels for unchecked
ing sides will prevail. In 2022, elections will click on or purchase and when, where and flows of personal data in a way that is detri-
In Uttarakhand, the BJP was first unable to be held in seven states, including Uttar Pra- how we do it. mental to privacy and unduly expands the
manage its own ideological constituencies and desh and Gujarat, giving enough time to Under the rules, the definition of “e-com- surveillance powers of the government.
dropped a CM who had taken a sound position on these regional satraps to gauge the political merce entities” is broad and includes entities To enact a provision enabling untram-
mood before the general elections. engaged for fulfilment of orders. This could melled government access to data before the
the Kumbh. The party then, if the official explanation All this provides the Congress with an mean payment portals, delivery agents or country has a data protection law in place is
is true, did not think through the constitutional opportunity and a challenge. The Congress even social media applications over which to place the cart before the horse. The gov-
process by which Tirath Rawat would get elected. has been failing to settle its internal disputes. orders and payments are processed. There- ernment appears keen on securing access to
From 1989, its voter base has been steadily fore, consumers’ data with any of the wide the data that e-commerce players have on
And now it has picked Mr Dhami, who does not eroding but, despite all this, by virtue of range of entities that fall in this broad bucket Indians, rather than regulating the data
seem to have the requisite administrative experience being the main national Opposition party, it would be up for grabs. obsession in this sector. The provision does
to manage a state that has confronted both natural still seems an obvious choice to hold together This proposed amendment fails to meet not lawfully belong in the proposed amend-
an alternative front. the standards of legality, necessity and pro- ments to the e-commerce rules, and should
disasters and a public health crisis this year. What But for this, it will have to be seen how portionality recognised by the Indian be withdrawn.
this will mean for the BJP’s poll prospects next year successfully Rahul Gandhi can discard his Supreme Court’s right to privacy judgments.
is relevant, but what is more relevant is that the party Despite the erosion of its voter base, by old way of functioning. The relevant section in the consumer protec- Namrata Maheshwari is policy fellow and Raman
virtue of being the main Opposition party, tion Act empowers the government to make Jit Singh Chima is Asia Pacific policy director,
has let down the state electorate with its internal the Congress still seems an obvious choice Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan rules to prevent unfair trade practices and Access Now.
mismanagement and poor political decisions. to hold together an alternative front PTI The views expressed are personal direct selling. This objective has no nexus The views expressed are personal
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Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

4 EDIT DELHI MONDAY 5 JULY 2021
Padayatras to electoral victory!

C AN padayatras bring victory to the
parties in elections? Padayatras in
undivided Andhra Pradesh and later in
Congress party to catapult to power a
decade after it was routed by TDP. In
2012, TDP president N Chandrababu
garjuan Sagar byelection.
On the other hand KCR has been on
a spree announcing several sops to dif-
and expose the ‘omissions’ and ‘com-
missions’ of the state government. his
main line of campaign is going to be
the residuary state helped three leaders Naidu went on a 208-day padayatra ferent sections of people and is focus- end dictatorial rule in Telangana. Bandi
to come to power. Perhaps taking that covering 2,800 km. Naidu who till then ing more on BCs and farmers and has attaches sentimental value to Bhagya
as inspiration and with the belief that was known as a nine-year chief minis- now once again raked up the water sen- laxmi temple as he started his cam-
padayatra could be better tool to con- ter who used virtual connect with rank timent among people. There are also paign for GhMC polls from here and
nect with people, the Telangana BJP and file used the padayatra to recon- speculations that he would go in for the performance has been encouraging.
too seems to have decided in favour of nect with the people and even apolo- early general elections. he may opt for This also has similarities with Y.S. Ra-
its state president to take up padayatra gised for the mistakes he made. This assembly polls towards the end of 2023 jasekhara Reddy’s padayatra. It now re-
starting from Bhagyanagar temple in helped him come back to power after or early 2024. he has also started tak- mains to be seen if this experiment of
hyderabad to huzurabad. The BJP the bifurcation of the state. The race ing up visits to districts. BJP would help the party to win the
feels that this apart from helping them for covering longer distances continued In the backdrop of all this, the BJP hearts of the people and also
to connect with people, would help and YSRCP leader Y S Jaganmohan felt that it would be a loser if it does not strengthen its cadre. In fact the Con-
them win the byelection to huzurabad Reddy too launched his padyatra on do something new. The accusations and gress circles are abuzz with specula-
assembly constituency. Winning this November 6, 2017 and went on a 14- allegations made at different meetings tions that even the new TPCC presi-
seat has become a highly prestigious is- month-long Praja Sankalpa yatra, cov- or press conferences do not seem to dent designate A Revanth Reddy would
sue for the BJP since its candidate for-
mer minister eatala Rajender recently
migrated from the pink party to saffron
ering 3,648 km. he went across 130 of
the 175 assembly constituencies and
came to power in 2019.
have cut much ice with the voters.
hence state BJP president Bandi San-
jay has decided to launch his padayatra
take up padayatra across the state. The
positive side of all this is that the op-
position parties which were dormant
Deforestation
party after a clash with Chief Minister
K Chandrasekhar Rao.
looking back, we have seen Y S Ra-
The BJP which was buoyed by its by-
poll victory in Dubbaka and later dis-
played a good performance in the
on August 9 coinciding with Quit India
movement. It will end on October 2.
The 55-day padayatra has shades of
till now have started opening and
thinking in different direction to take
on the TRS. People certainly have a impacts rainfall
jasekhara Reddy taking up a 64-day
1,470- km-long padayatra in the undi-
vided Andhra Pradesh. This helped the
GhMC elections, however, failed to
make further inroads into Telangana
and did not make any impact in the Na-
YSR’s walkathon. he would be covering
hyderabad, Ranga Reddy district,
Medak and Nizamabad districts to try
chance to assess all the parties before
they get the chance to cast their vote
in 2024. pattern
T he world has seen the impact of the corona virus pandemic re-
sulting in loss of life, trillions of dollars of economic damage, job
Bring e-commerce under RTI Act

losses etc. The virus was transmitted from animals to human and
change in strategy is required for preventing the interaction between
the two. This means ending our destruction of nature and protection
and restoration of wildlife habitats.
The exploitation of nature results in wild animals straying into hu-
e
THE WAY AHEAD -commerce ernment of India do not prohibit an e- man habitats and transmitting virus. Deforestation is one of the key
has provided portal from manufacturing and selling factors that have caused other pandemics and will cause them in
a huge relief own goods. Such activity must be prohib- future as well. Our leaders need to realize that we cannot have healthy
to the consumers ited as proposed in the United States. economics without healthy ecology and environment.
in the time of the The Government of India wants that Creation of coal corridor is planned in Sagarmala’s Mormugao port
pandemic. The domestic goods be produced and sold development project in Goa. The port presently handles 10 million
consumer has been more than imported ones. Atma Nirbhar metric tons per annum (MMTA) of coal and is being upgraded to 50
able to have the re- is the catch word. however, e-portals of- MMTA by 2030. Up-gradation of infrastructures for transporting it
quired goods deliv- ten display foreign goods with greater to hinterland is the reason for road widening and rail line doubling.
ered at his prominence. The government has pro- Proposals to widen the width of Nh 4A from Belgavi to Panjim and
Dr Bharat doorstep. The posed rules that would require the e-por- doubling the rail track through Castle Rock- Kullem-Madgaon are al-
Jhunjhunwala choice of the con- tals to compulsorily display domestic ready approved by both States -- Karnataka and Goa. The projects
sumer has also goods along with foreign goods. Flash involve the destruction of pristine forests of Western Ghats and
been expanded. I needed a book that was sales promoting specific goods are also wildlife habitats in Mollem National Park and Mahaveer Wildlife
not available in India. I placed an order proposed to be banned. The e-portals Sanctuary of Goa and forest areas through Anshi National Park (Kali
with an international e-portal and the push the sales of their preferred produc- Tiger Reserve) of Karnataka. Third linear project of 400 KV trans-
book was delivered in 15 days. It so hap- ers under the flash sales putting other mission line for evacuation of power from Kaiga (Karwar) to Goa is
pened that the book came in a damaged sellers at a disadvantage. These steps are also in the pipeline. Amidst the protests, the widening of the road in
condition. The e-portal replaced it within welcome. The government needs to do Karnataka is completed, while the work is not yet started in Goa. Rail
three weeks. It would not have been pos- more though. They can sell goods that are projects in both the States are in advance stage of completion in non
sible for me to obtain the book with such expiring in, say, two months without dis- forest areas. even forests have already been cleared for the sub-sta-
ease sitting before my computer had it closing this to the buyer. The e-portals tions relating to transmission line projects in Goa. Totally 379 ha
not been for e-portal. It has also become should also be required to display the “ex- forests in Goa and 220 ha in Karnataka are to be sacrificed for the
possible to compare the prices. The con- piry date” of the goods offered for sale so three projects. Recently, the Government of Karnataka has ordered
sumer can, for example, search for a par- that the customer can make an informed felling of 5,500 trees in forests and a tiger reserve and allowed con-
ticular brand of a mobile phone on two choice. E-portals often promote the sale of goods produced by struction of a rail line. Central empowered Committee (CeC) of
or three e-portals and order the cheapest The e-portals often “manipulate” a Supreme Court of India has inspected all three projects of both the
available one. e-portals are, therefore, consumer. They know of a consumer’s
their own subsidiaries. Say, an e-portal has established States and recommended shelving of the rail line doubling as well as
here to stay and so it must be. however, past search history. They identify and dis- a factory to make mustard oil. The e-portal displays the transmission line projects. They have advised to utilize the corridor
the emerging problems need to be ad- play goods that the e-portal thinks you already created for old transmission line for evacuation of power. Na-
dressed. may be interested in buying even though oil produced by itself upfront even though it may be of tional Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has not favoured the
e-portals often promote the sale of you may not have a need for the same at projects for the integrity of tiger landscape. environment Impact As-
goods produced by their own sub- the present time. This is called “cus- substandard quality and of a higher price. This puts sessment for the projects is insisted by both CeC and NTCA.
sidiaries. Say, an e-portal has established tomization” of a display for each cus- Karnataka has many more projects proposing to sacrifice Western
a factory to make mustard oil. The e-por- tomer. In this way they surreptitiously other sellers at a disadvantage and imposes Ghats forests. 800 ha forests of Uttara Kannada district are proposed
tal displays the oil produced by itself up- lead the customer to buy a product that unnecessary cost on the consumer while the e-portal to be sacrificed for a rail project between hubbali and Ankola; 200 ha
front even though it may be of substan- he/she may not be wanting to buy. forests of Saravathy valley lion tailed macaque sanctuary are to be
dard quality and of a higher price. This There is a need to go further though. makes hefty profits. destroyed for pump storage hydroelectric project. Of course, the high
puts other sellers at a disadvantage and The government must bring large e-por- Court of Karnataka has granted stay on these two for the time being,
imposes unnecessary cost on the con- tals under the Right to Information (RTI) have been covered under the RTI Act. number of smaller independent e-por- but survey on another rail project between Talguppa and havery via
sumer while the e-portal makes hefty Act. The present RTI Act is applicable The government must similarly bring e- tals. That will make space available for Sirsi through dense forests is in progress. Many road widening projects
profits. Drivers of Ola and Uber say that only to the government departments and portals under the RTI Act. Then, the con- home-grown e-portals. The competition in Western Ghats areas are in the pipeline.
the e-portals give more traffic to the ve- public sector undertakings (PSU). even sumer would be able to ask them various between the e-portals will put a limit on This leads to fragmentation and degradation of ecologically sensi-
hicles owned by the e-portal and less traf- here, any information that could affect questions. They could, for example, ask their manipulations etc. Indeed such a tive Western Ghats forests. The forests are mothers of rivers. And are
fic to cars taken from private taxi owners the commercial interests of a PSU are not e-portals for the list of mustard oil sellers break-up will lead to higher price of cer- also the catchments for several east flowing and west flowing rivers
on contract. The e-portals do the same. required to be disclosed. I once made a listed with them and the margins they are tain goods. Certain suppliers may not be providing a range of ecological services. The roots of the trees act like
They hide cheaper alternatives and dis- request to the Geological Survey of India offering. The availability of such infor- able to offer their goods on a number of sponge and store rain water. It is slowly released in summer months
play their own products and befool the (GSI) to provide copies of geological in- mation will empower the customer to e-portals simultaneously. At the same making the flow of water in streams, tributaries and rivers perennial.
customer. The european Union has, vestigation reports relating to a particular peer behind the screen and take an in- time, competition among the e-portals If the forests are lost the flow of water becomes seasonal impacting
therefore, made rules that e-portals will hydropower project. GSI refused saying formed decision. Certainly, e-portals will will open up the e-market to a number of the life of millions of people not only in Goa and Karnataka but also
have to display the goods produced by that such disclosure will affect hits com- balk at such a suggestion but they will fall new sellers. My firm assessment is that in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
themselves and those of other manufac- mercial interests. GSI will not be able to in line given the large market available in the benefits will be much greater than the The forests along the coast also perform an important role of bring-
turers with equal visibility. The United obtain contracts for geological surveys if India. cost. In the result, the rules proposed by ing rains on hinterlands. Deforestation is linked to declining precip-
States has proposed that an e-portal will it disclosed the report because hy- The government must also ask the the government are in the right direction itation.
be prohibited from establishing its own dropower companies would then give the Competition Commission of India to fix but grossly inadequate given the vast Two physicists, named A M Makarieva and V G Gorshkov from St
factories. A company may decide to run contracts to private investigators who the highest numbers of customers that power of and the manipulations being Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Russia have studied and brought
an e-portal or a factory to manufacture were not covered under the RTI Act. an e-portal can enroll. let us say there done by the e-portals. There is an urgent out a paper titled “Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of
mustard oil. It cannot do both just like a There is a need to remove this clause for are 10 crore persons that are buying need to bring them under RTI Act and the hydrological cycle on land”, which was published in “hydrology
government doctor cannot undertake e-portals because “public welfare” is in- goods on e-portals in India. The Compe- break up large e-portals to establish a and earth System Sciences” on 27th March 2007. Water from the
private practice. In other words, there volved. The e-portals must be placed at tition Commission can stipulate that any level playing field and promote Atma land flows in oceans under gravity and the loss of water from land is
will be a strict separation between the ag- par with private infrastructure compa- e-portal will not enroll more than, say, 33 Nirbhar e-portals. continuously compensated by atmospheric transport of moisture
gregating activity of the e-portal and the nies. Private companies that are engaged percent of the total e-customers. e-por- from ocean to land. The physicists have found that air fluxes can trans-
manufacturing and selling activities. The in building infrastructure, such as private tals having more that 33 percent cus- (The author is former professor of port moisture over non forested areas for few hundred kilometers;
e-commerce rules proposed by the Gov- hydropower developers in Uttarakhand, tomers must be forcibly broken up into a Economics at IIM, Bengaluru) precipitation decreases exponentially with distance from ocean. In
contrast precipitation over extensive natural forests is independent
of distance from ocean for several thousand kilometers. This explains
LETTERS with scores of 72, 59 and 75 n.o. Carry on Mithali, we are

proud of you!
Rafale deal probe the existence of an active biotic pump transporting atmospheric mois-
ture inland from the ocean.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
F rance’s Parquet National Financier (PNF, national
financial prosecutor’s office) has ordered a judicial
Due to high leaf area index, tropical evergreen forests of Western
Ghats maintain high evaporation fluxes, which “suck in” moist air
Include calendar of annual Indian team for Sri Lanka
probe into allegations of corruption and favouritism
in the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal with India,
from the ocean, causing enhanced precipitation at any distance from
the coastline. The evidences testify that an intense terrestrial water
general meetings in CDSL, NSDL not second-string based on a complaint of alleged wrongdoings and a
complaint by French NGO Sherpa. Congress has been
cycle is unachievable without extensive forests.
This way hydrological cycle drives mass circulation of air, and can
N ATIONAl Securities Depository limited and Cen-

tral Depository Services ltd hold Demat accounts
of shareholders through online mode. The shareholders
F ormer Sri lanka Cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s
comment that Sri lanka should not have agreed to
take part in the oncoming series against team India call-
crying foul from day one, after the Rafale deal between
India and France was agreed, as per the modified con-
cepts and innovations proposed by India. This inter-
be understood to be driven by processes of convection that takes place
over extensive forests. The ‘fuel’ for the convection being high rate of
water vapor pumping from closed canopy vegetation. If the forests
can view the list of holdings through a shareholding state- ing it a B team is definitely uncalled for. governmental deal signed in 2016 was formally opened are to disappear or fragment, then moisture would no longer be sucked
ment through NSDl's IdeaS facility and CDSl's eASI fa- An Indian team under Virat Kohli is at present in eng- on June 14. in, the land would dry out and turn into desert. hinterlands without
cility. Both NSDl and CDSl also facilitate e-voting facil- land for a long series and the team led by Shikar Dhawan Rafale maker Dassault Aviation has time and again vast forests from coastline are deserts; west Asian countries are the
ities for the respective companies that have opted to with many experienced players and six uncapped players averred that there has been no wrong-doing. It must examples.
provide online voting facilities to shareholders. are in the island nation to play three T20s and three one be understood that the NGO complaint was based on We are fortunate to have good quality forests along the coast and
It is also requested to include the calendar of annual dayers against Sri lanka. An arrangement of sending an- a petition filed by former Union minister Yeshwant also in interiors, generally supporting good amount of rainfall in the
general meetings in both the CDSl and NSDl portals other team was wisely made as the international crick- Singh and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, country.
along with the existing facility of shareholding statements eting schedule activities for the year can get through with the Central Bureau of Investigation. Sherpa had Youths of Goa have come on streets to protest against sacrificing
and e-voting facility. The annual general meetings cal- smoothly, without any disruption, as the pandemic crisis denounced the fact that Dassault chose a leading In- forests for the said projects. Political parties have also blamed each
endar will provide seamless access to view the list of an- has not come to an end. What irked Ranatunge is the ab- dian conglomerate with no experience in aeronautics, other for approval of the projects. The Goa government has conceded
nual general meeting events through a single online in- sence of some of the key players in the visiting Indian as its Indian partner instead of hindustan Aeronautic to protesters and has written to the Center to bring down the import
terface. It will also enable the companies to inch closer squad. The veteran went on to say that the cricket team limited, alleged by the complainants. of the coal. Moreover coal bearing areas are generally thickly wooded;
to achieving transparency and fairness under the ambit India sent is a second-string and their coming to play the The Supreme Court had dismissed a batch of review import of coal is better than extracting our own coal, as we do not
of corporate governance. tournament is an insult to Sri lankan cricket. even the petitions seeking a probe into the government’s 2016 have to destroy our carbon sink.
Varun Dambal, Bengaluru SlC had to step into correct him by saying that despite purchase of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, in 2019, saying The country is on green energy trajectory and PM has committed
claims by various parties as reported in the media, the that there was no ground to order an FIR in the case. for a capacity of 175 Giga Watt solar power projects by 2024 and 450
national white-ball team of India currently touring Sri It must be recalled that the Centre gave the Supreme Giga Watt by 2030. There is no need of expanding the infrastructure
Mithali Raj deserves laurels lanka is a strong squad. Court special bench, a sealed cover, containing all rel- for coal powered projects, when Coal India and NTPC themselves are
I NDIAN captain Mithali Raj deserves laurels on be-

coming the highest run-getter in women’s cricket
across formats. On Saturday the run-machine made a
In the present situation what the BCCI has done is
right. With the pandemic still holding sway international
tournaments are getting disrupted due to quarantining,
evant information for the cost escalations for the pur-
chase of these advanced jets; with a view to manufac-
ture them in India, with latest and advanced
planning for green energy and are committing to become carbon neu-
tral within next few years.
There are enough signals like current heat waves in Delhi, haryana,
glorious, unconquered 75 against the Poms in the third players becoming positive and other matters related to technology incorporated that France was unwilling to and Rajasthan etc in our own country and also in western Canada
ODI at Worcester to surpass former england skipper Covid-19. The opportunity gives immense chance to part with. and north western United States where there is unprecedented rise
Charlotte edwards and help her side win by four wickets. young players who can showcase their potential at the S Lakshmi, hyderabad in temperature; we must stop destruction of nature.
Mithali now has 10,337 runs under her belt against ed- highest level and also can groom future players. (The author is retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
wards’ 10,273. She has been on a roll in the ODI series M Pradyu, Kannur (head of forest force) Karnataka)
thehansreader@gmail.com
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I Indian relations are, one
wishes the Communist
Party of China (CPC) many
happy returns of the day on its
centenary birthday. Ironically,
the CPC’s continuing life bene-
LQJEXWDUHQRWSHHUUHYLHZHG%KDUDW%LRWHFKVKRXOGLQIRUPE\ZKHQWKHH[HUFLVHZRXOG fits India. The CPC owns its
EHFRPSOHWHGEHFDXVHWKDWDORQHZRXOGUHPRYHDOOOLQ country’s army, like the Congress
JHULQJGRXEWVDERXWWKHYDFFLQH7KH&RYD[LQWULDOFRY employs the Seva Dal. That
HUHG SDUWLFLSDQWV DQG WKDW LV JRRG HQRXJK Army last fought a war in 1979.
The CPC has huge share hold-
0RGHUQDKDGSDUWLFLSDQWVDQG3IL]HUDURXQG ings in many large corporations;
7KHWULDOUHVXOWVIROORZDSURFHVVRIUHYLHZ³ for example, it has its grip on Jack
SHHUDQGVWDWLVWLFDOUHYLHZVFLHQWLILFDQGPDQXDOHGLW Ma’s Alibaba. Yet, in its centenary
LQJ )LQDOO\ WKH GDWD LQ UHDOZRUOG VHWWLQJV DUH DOVR celebrations, the Party and its
president-for-life — we may
DQDO\VHG6RPHRIWKHGDWDUHODWHGWRWKH$PHULFDQYDF more appropriately call him
FLQHVZHUHVRVWURQJWKDWWKH\REYLDWHGWKHQHHGIRUVWD Emperor Xi Jinping —betray
WLVWLFDODQDO\VLV+RZHYHUWKH-RKQVRQ -RKQVRQYDF some nervousness. In the very
FLQHGRVHVZHUHVWRSSHGEULHIO\LQ$SULOIROORZLQJUHSRUWV first session of the centenary cel-
ebrations, Xi warned that “for-
RIEORRGFORWV7KHYDFFLQHZDVDOORZHGWREHUHVXPHG eign powers will have their heads
EHFDXVHLWVEHQHILWVRXWZHLJKHGWKHULVNV bashed if they try to bully China”.
$OO WKHVH YDFFLQHV DOVR KDYH WKHLU VLGHHIIHFWV ZKLFK DUH PHQWLRQHG LQ WKH UHYLHZ Hardly a confident messaging of
&RQVLGHULQJWKDWLWZDVSURGXFHGLQUHDOWLPHGXULQJWKH&29,'SDQGHPLFWKHWULDOUHVXOWV a country that desires to be the Tiananmen was a warning — Buddhists at breakfast, out any inhibition. Scholars of
world’s numero uno. Why this more tensions as income dif- Confucians at lunch and ethics do sometimes talk of
ZHUHQRWSHHUUHYLHZHGEXWUHOHDVHGDVDSUHSULQWYHUVLRQ,QWKHGHIHQFHRI%KDUDW%LRWHFK nervousness? ferences widened, between Taoists at dinner. We are conscience as an important
LWPXVWEHVDLGWKDWHYHQWKRXJKWKHYDFFLQHFDPHRXWLQDVKRUWWLPHLWLVDSURGXFWRI With development and pros- people, between the prosper- very different from you factor. That may be, but for
ORQJSUHFOLQLFDOUHVHDUFK+RZHYHUWKDWGRHVQRWUHGXFHWKHLPSRUWDQFHRIDVWULQJHQW perity, the class profile of the peo- ous coastal and riverine Hindus and Muslims.” This comparatively fewer persons.
SHHUUHYLHZ,Q&RYD[LQ·VFDVHLWEHFRPHVDOOWKHPRUHLPSRUWDQWIRUWZRUHDVRQV,WPD\ ple will change. As citizens provinces and the poorer difference is probably the The Hindu faith depends so
become richer and more aware, inland ones, as well as between reason why the Chinese much on karma that in Hindi
EHUHFDOOHGWKDWLQ-DQXDU\LWZDVDSSURYHGIRUÚHVWULFWHGXVHLQHPHUJHQF\VLWXDWLRQVLQ they will want to have their say. Han China, Mongolia, Tibet appear to be deceptive, from and many Indian languages
WKHSXEOLFLQWHUHVWDVDQDEXQGDQWSUHFDXWLRQLQFOLQLFDOWULDOPRGHHVSHFLDOO\LQWKHFRQ Dictatorship will not be tolerat- and the Uygurs. the smallest questions to the there is no precise word for
WH[WRILQIHFWLRQE\PXWDQWVWUDLQVµ7KHDSSURYDOZDVPHWZLWKFRQVWHUQDWLRQDQGWKHFRP ed forever; power has to be With more economic biggest issues. They do not conscience. There is one in
SDQ\VDLGWKDWWKHYDFFLQHZDVVDIHDQGWKHWKLUGSKDVHRIWKHWULDOUHVXOWVZRXOGEHUHOHDVHG shared with the people. modernisation, there may well really realise that they have Urdu, namely, zameer. I won-
Therefore, the CPC has itself be a breakdown in the bank- surprised and upset others. der if there is any equivalent
LQ-XO\6HFRQGO\%KDUDW%LRWHFKZDVLQWKHQHZVODVWZHHNZKHQ%UD]LOVXVSHQGHGD become a large investor. No one ing system and large-scale The loud signs that they in the Chinese language.
PLOOLRQFRQWUDFWWREX\PLOOLRQGRVHVRI&RYD[LQ7KHSUREHLVLQWRDFFXVDWLRQVRILUUHJ is a bigger businessperson in unemployment following F8C7 have antagonised most In short, the Chinese obey
XODULWLHVDJDLQVW3UHVLGHQW-DLU%ROVRQDUREXWWKHLVVXHRI,QGLD·VFRQFHUQLVWKDWWKH%UD]LOLDQ China than the CPC. If there is reform of State enterprises — nations of the world are the law when they must; that’s
GUXJUHJXODWRUUHMHFWHGWKHUHTXHVWIRU&RYD[LQ·VFHUWLILFDWLRQWKDWLVDSSURYDOIRULWVSXE any rebellion, the People’s if the CPC ever allows it. 34E4;>?<4=C0=3 noticeable today, particular- all. Other than that, the ques-
OLFXVH7KHTXHVWLRQVUDLVHGE\WKHPDERXWWKHYDFFLQHUHODWHWRLWVSRWHQF\YLUDOLQDFWL
Liberation Army (PLA) cannot
be a part of it because it is
Corruption is a pernicious
disease, although it may not ?A>B?4A8CHC74 ly after the devastation of
COVID-19. The Chinese
tion of right and wrong, the
issue of moral and immoral
YDWLRQVWHULOLVDWLRQRIWKHYDFFLQHDQGLWVSXULW\ employed by the Party. seem obvious today. The 2;0BB?A>58;4>5 probably expect to push does not arise for an average
The Tiananmen Square biggest challenge will be to through with their econom- Chinese. When a Chinese,
episode in 1989 was a severe les- adjust to the shift from a ?4>?;4F8;; ic muscle. But economic glit- whether individually or collec-
?82D1<; son. The PLA had mown down controlled or planned econo- 270=640B ter cannot exist in an isolat- tively, resorts to anything
thousands of young men and my to a market one; also ed space. unethical, it is because he is
women. Singapore’s then Prime from a communist society to 28C8I4=B142><4 Morality and ethics are innocent about morality. Their
Minister, who watched the events
on television, wrote: “It was
a free one. The Chinese rulers
have been aware that this
A8274A0=3<>A4 sophisticated expressions but
without the fear of punish-
food habits too are reflective
of this; over the ages, they have
unbelievable.” The PLA had evolution could cause serious 0F0A4C74HF8;; ment, they are likely to be hol- been eating just about every
turned its guns on its own peo-
ple. Tanks and armoured person-
dislocations and even end the
CPC’s rule, possibly setting off
F0=CC>70E4 low. Be it the fear of society,
law or God, or for example
bird or animal they can lay
their hands on. To sum it up,
nel carriers stormed into the disintegrative forces. C748AB0H the Hindu fear that his the Yellow Kingdom’s people
streets leading to the Square to Therefore, the party has to dushkarma (bad deeds) will place a great deal of stress on
shoot dead protestors who had own the Army. 382C0C>AB78? result in durbhagya (ill fate). the efficacy of force and vio-
raised the voice against corrup- Internationally, China F8;;=>C14 To an extent, Indian Muslims lence. In his concluding advice
tion, nepotism and inflation and will have to adjust with other and Christians, at least some to the party, the late Mao
demanded political reform. countries which have differ- C>;4A0C43 of them, also believe in karma. Zedong asserted that “power
In his autobiography, ent values and moral stan- 5>A4E4A This is perhaps a throwback to flows from the barrel of a gun”.
Singapore’s architect Lee Kwan dards. The Chinese people the period when their forefa- (The writer is a well-
Yew pointed out four great chal- have never been very reli- thers were Hindus. But when known columnist, an author
lenges in China’s future; demand gious. As a wag told us in none of these factors operate, and a former member of the
for more active participation in Hong Kong, “We are not like most individuals are likely to Rajya Sabha. The views
the affairs of the State — you Indians. We are indulge in selfish actions with- expressed are personal.)
;4CC4AB C>C
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spotlight, thanks to the launch of a judi-
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worth investigating by a judge. The BJP RT]cPaTPccT]SX]V[XeT^][X]TR[PbbTb
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,
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LWEDJJHGRIWKHVHDWVRQRIIHULQFOXGLQJ/XFNQRZZKHUH$UWL5DZDWZRQZKLOH Disclosures made so far sustain a lin- aT[TPbTS aTRT]c[h \PZTb Uâ SXbcdaQX]V cWT]PcX^]P[PeTaPVT c^Z]^fcWPcXc
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Sometimes influence peddlers, money 8] 6êTa]\T]c bRW^^[b cWT bXcdPcX^] Xb T]WP]RX]V SXVXcP[ X]UaPbcadRcdaT P]S SXVXcP[
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accountability, cannot run away from dis- SXVXcP[ SXeXST X] 8]SXP³b TSdRPcX^] bTRcâ WPb ET]d6B| :^[[P\
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The Government can and should take care The season will commence on September 1aXcXbWU^^cQP[[Ta
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subsequent to the French probe. A JPC can of the orphans who are physically and 21, 2021, with the senior women’s one-day
IRUPVSHFWDFXODUO\DQGVWDJHDFRPHEDFNLQWKHGLV conduct a thorough probe by virtue of the mentally challenged. People with sound league and will be followed by senior 8SâTPScWPccWT
WULFWSDQFKD\DWFKDLUSHUVRQSROOV powers vested in it to obtain, peruse and health and physique can work. But the women’s one-day Challenger Trophy, to RaXcXRXb\XbPQ^dc
7KRXJKWKHSDQFKD\DWHOHFWLRQVRUWKRVHIRUWKHGLVWULFWSDQFKD\DWFKLHIVDUHQRW scrutinise all relevant documents and files. question is: Can the Government provide take place from October 27, 2021. \hbcaXZTaPcTQdc
The Government cannot turn down the employment? Food security has been The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will Pb8WPeTbPXSTPa
KHOGRQSDUW\V\PEROVWKHFDQGLGDWHVHQMR\WKHWDFLWEDFNLQJRIWKHSDUWLHVWKH\DUH given to people living below the poverty kickstart on October 20, 2021, with the [XTaP[b^8S^]³c
JPC probe demand saying that the defence
DIILOLDWHGWR7KHGLVWULFWSDQFKD\DWFKDLUSHUVRQVDUHHOHFWHGIURPDPRQJWKHHOHFWHG deal information was classified. line. With or without ration cards, it is final to be played on November 12. The bTTZeP[XSPcX^]
PHPEHUVRI]LOD SDQFKD\DWVRIYDULRXVGLVWULFWV$VWKH%-3·VMXJJHUQDXWUROOHGRQWRZDUGV G David Milton | Tamil Nadu unfair to leave the beggars hungry. coveted Ranji Trophy, which was cancelled Ua^\_T^_[T
DODQGVOLGHYLFWRU\VHYHUDOELJQDPHVDQGWUDGLWLRQVIHOOE\WKHZD\VLGH,Q0XOD\DP Beggary cannot be eliminated unless the last season due to the COVID-19 pandem-
Government rounds them up, assigns ic, will be played in a three-month win- 8]SXP]f^\T]´b>38RP_cPX]
6LQJK<DGDY·VKRPHWXUIRI0DLQSXULWKHVDIIURQSDUW\GHIHDWHGWKH63DIWHUDORQJ 25771BCD?G?B;*2?=21I83 some work to them and provides ration dow from November 16, 2021, to February ¯<XcWP[XAPY
ZDLWRI\HDUV6LPLODUO\WKH&RQJUHVVEDVWLRQVRI5DH%DUHOLDQG$PHWKLYRWHGIRU Sir — The Bombay High Court has made to them. The Bombay High Court’s 19, 2022. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will
WKH%-3IRUWKHILUVWWLPHHYHU3HUKDSVWKLVLVZK\&KLHI0LQLVWHU<RJL$GLW\DQDWKWRRN
an oral observation that homeless persons observation must engage the attention of take place from February 23, 2022, to <23³bbRW^^[bPaT
and beggars should also work for the the Centre and State Governments. March 26, 2022. The BCCI is confident of ]^cX]V^^SR^]SX
WKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRGHVHUYHGO\ERDVWWKDWWKHUHVXOWVUHIOHFWHGSXEOLFFRQILGHQFHLQWKH nation. This observation has come in KV Seetharamaiah | Hassan hosting the domestic season with the cX^]P]SPaT
6WDWH·VJRRGJRYHUQDQFH,QDUHODWHGGHYHORSPHQWWKH&KLHI0LQLVWHUKLWEDFNDW$,0,0 response to a Public Interest Litigation health and safety of players and others R^d]cTSP\^]Vbc
SUHVLGHQW$VDGXGGLQ2ZDLVLZKRKDGUHFHQWO\SURFODLPHGWKDWKLVSDUW\ZRQ·WOHWWKH (PIL) petition filed by Brijesh Aarya, who involved being paramount. The BCCI is cWT[^fTbcRPcTV^
sought a directive from the Brihanmumbai 23392B9>7C4?=5CD933855B213; ahbRW^^[bCWTbT
LQFXPEHQWUHPDLQLQWKHWRSVHDWDIWHUWKH$VVHPEO\HOHFWLRQV5HDFWLQJWRKLV Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide Sir — The Board of Control for Cricket
thus bringing back home cheer for both
bRW^^[bPaTcPa]XbWX]VcWTX\PVT
men’s and women’s cricket fans.
VWDWHPHQWIUHVKO\DIWHUWKHGLVWULFWSDQFKD\DWFKDLUSHUVRQUHVXOWVZHUHRXW$GLW\DQDWK nutritious meals thrice a day, potable water, in India (BCCI) has announced the CKR Nathan | Ghaziabad
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VDLGWKHVDIIURQSDUW\DFFHSWV2ZDLVL·VFKDOOHQJHDQGWKDWLWZRXOGVWRUPEDFNWRSRZHU shelter and clean toilets to beggars and the return of domestic cricket for the upcom-
LQWKHQH[W$VVHPEO\HOHFWLRQV´ZLWKPRUHWKDQVHDWVµ homeless. The High Court has observed ing 2021-22 season. It is indeed a welcome BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) 3T[WX3T_dch2WXTU<X]XbcTa
that everyone is working; beggars and move and a step in the right direction for [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯<P]XbWBXb^SXP
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he hard-hitting statements and
89=129>4E:>C0
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nary celebrations of the Chinese
7
Communist Party (CCP) were in
KH GHYDVWDWLQJ VHFRQG ZDYH RI &RYLG LURQLFDOO\ VDZ DQ sync with Xi Jinping's domestic image. 'Xi
XQSUHFHGHQWHGULVHLQWKHQXPEHURIVWDUWXSVLQWKHILUVWIRXUPRQWKV Dada' or 'big uncle Xi' spoke about China's
RIWKLV\HDU7KH\UDLVHGLQYHVWPHQWVZRUWKELOOLRQQHDUO\ history like it was never a hegemonand
SHUFHQWRIWKHRYHUDOOFRUSXVRIELOOLRQUDLVHGLQWKH about the repercussions if its sovereignty
ILQDQFLDO\HDU were ever to be threatened.
7KH\HDUKDVVRIDUDOVRREVHUYHGDQLQFUHDVHLQWKHDYHUDJH For President Xi Jinping, July 1,
IXQGLQJVL]HRIPLOOLRQXSIURPPLOOLRQLQDQG 2021, was an important milestone; one
that he hoped would be commemorated
PLOOLRQLQPDNLQJLWRQHRIWKHKLJKHVWDYHUDJHGHDOVLQWKHODVWILYH for China becoming more powerful and
\HDUV,QWKHEDFNGURSRIWKHSDQGHPLFWKHZRUOGLVWDNLQJJLDQWOHDSVWRZDUGV less isolated. It is for this reason that he
WKHGLJLWDOHFRQRP\DQGKXJHLQWHUHVWLQIXQGLQJGLJLWDOVWDUWXSVLVHYL had advanced the deadline for China
GHQW7KHJOREDODYDLODELOLW\RIIXQGLQJZLWKYHQWXUHFDSLWDOLVWVDQGWKHRYHU becoming a fully developed country
DOORSWLPLVPDQGEXR\DQF\LQWKHGLJLWDOWHFKQRORJ\LQGXVWU\KDYHIXUWKHU from 2050 -- set by Deng Xiaoping -- to
IDVWWUDFNHGWKHSDFHRILQYHVWPHQWV 2035. However, 18 months before the
6RZKDWGULYHVIRXQGHUVWRVHWXSVWDUWXSV")LUVWREYLRXVO\LVWKH 2021 milestone, the coronavirus outbreak
halted China's plans and ambitions as it
VHQVHRIIUHHGRPDQGLQGHSHQGHQFHWKH\HQMR\LQSHUVRQDORZQHUVKLS exposed the country's faultlines the com-
DQGPDQDJHPHQWRIWKHEXVLQHVVZKLFKLQFUHDVHVWKHLUFRPPLWPHQWDJLOL munist party had hitherto successfully
exploited.
The pandemic exposed the extent of
the world's vulnerabilities and its 'China
dependence'. China flexed its economic
muscle against Australia by banning
exports worth $3 billion after its legitimate China is a superpower in a Hambantota port in Sri Lanka in Beijing is also closing in militari-
request for an inquiry into the origins of hurry. It wants to 'fundamentally the Indian Ocean providing it with ly. China is expected to surpass the
the coronavirus. It was not the first time revise the world order', both on the ability to create maritime choke- US as the world's largest economy
such a thing happened. In 2017, Seoul 8=3800=390?0= land and on the sea, to serve points in times of conflict. possibly by 2028, ahead of earlier
faced similar economic retribution for 0;>=6F8C7 'Beijing's authoritarian goals and Wishing China away is neither predictions.
deploying the American missile defence 5A0=24F8;; hegemonic ambitions'. It is in a possible nor desirable. What is Only multi-polar solidarity
system. So did Norway when Chinese dis- hurry to alter the global gover- needed is a clear plan of action to will counter the challenge that
sident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the ?;0H0E8C0; nance landscape by getting sweep- ensure China's imperialistic efforts China poses,economically, politi-
Nobel Peace Prize. A>;48=2742:8=6 ing powers to formulate norms on are defeated and to identify a cally, militarily, and in new
W\SDVVLRQIRULQQRYDWLRQDQGULVNWDNLQJDELOLWLHV)RUPDQ\IRXQGHUV However, unlike previous instances, ?A4B834=C vital issues like health, IPR, cyber- roadmap that is in sync with the domains like information and bio-
PRQH\LVQRWDVPXFKDPRWLYDWLQJIDFWRUDVWKHTXDOLW\RIOLIHWKH 2020 made nations fully cognizant of G898=?8=60=3 security, and food security. These challenges of the 21st Century. It logical warfare. India and Japan,
IUHHGRPSURYLGHV China's ability to wage economic warfare. 0E4ACC74 are matters that affect entire is not enough to just match frigates along with France, will play a vital
2WKHUH[WHUQDOIDFWRUVDUHXQHPSOR\PHQWDQHFRQRPLFVORZGRZQDQG And Beijing's response only deepened the 2>=B4@D4=24B humanity and overtime, China and submarines but to defeat role in checking President Xi
GHOD\VLQWKHLUFDUHHUJURZWK7KHOHYHORIHGXFDWLRQSOD\VDQLPSRUWDQW world's mistrust against the CCP and its >5278=0³B gained disproportionate influence China's plans to weaponise trade, Jinping and avert the consequences
UROHLQFKRRVLQJHQWUHSUHQHXUVKLS5HVHDUFKVKRZVWKDWWKHODVWFRPSD supreme leader Xi Jinping. Xi's strong- in global bodies to bend the rules. information and its global clout of China's 'century of humiliation'.
arm tactics were not just restricted to ²24=CDAH>5 Beijing's strategy is not limited to which has turned even UN bod- President Joe Biden does not have
Q\WKH\ZRUNHGIRU³ NQRZQDVWKHLQFXEDWRUFRPSDQ\³ SOD\VDFUX trade but manifested most in its aggres- 7D<8;80C8>=³ planting its proxies in key UN ies into its proxies. the luxury of his predecessor
FLDOUROHLQODXQFKLQJDVWDUWXSGHFLGLQJRQWKHW\SHDQGORFDWLRQRIEXVL sive military posturing against its tradi- ?A4B834=C organizations. Instead, it wants its The start of Biden's term coin- Barack Obama to respond to
QHVVE\SURYLGLQJWKHQHWZRUNPDUNHWDQGLQGXVWU\NQRZOHGJHDQGUHTXLUHG tional rivals and historical adversaries. In 9>41834=3>4B own versions of human rights to cided with the historic Alaska China's unprecedented island-
VNLOOVHW fact, China's belligerence grew as it faced =>C70E4C74 be normalized by these interna- meet which saw tough posturing building activity with mere public
$OWKRXJKVHYHUDOSXVKDQGSXOOIDFWRUVLQIOXHQFHEXVLQHVVHVLWLVD an unprecedented global backlash. ;DGDAH>578B tional agencies. It is also in a hurry by America to back the world's statements. Instead, Biden will
ZHOONQRZQIDFWWKDWDQDYHUDJHRIQLQHRXWRIVWDUWXSVIDLO7KHVXF Beijing's response to this was intimida- ?A43424BB>A to get hold of as many natural Chinachallenge. However, the have to act fast and in tandem with
FHVVRIDVWDUWXSLVQHYHUJXDUDQWHHG,WLVDQLQWULFDWHQHWZRUNRILQWHU tion of and thinly-veiled threats to India, resources as possible. United States' current economic India's Narendra Modi and Japan's
Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 10A02:>10<0 The hunger for mineral and geopolitical stature is not suf- Yoshihide Suga.
FRQQHFWHGIDFWRUVWKDWHLWKHUHQKDQFHVRUUHGXFHVWKHSRVVLELOLW\RIVXF As China dropped its carefully craft- C>A4B?>=3 resources is one of the principal rea- ficient to continue with its hard- Xi Jinping has whipped up the
FHVV RI D VWDUWXS 6XFFHVV LW KDV EHHQ VHHQ UHVXOWV IURP WKUHH ed image of being a benevolent savior via C>278=0B sons for China's desire to be a mod- ened stance. In fact, the US is not domestic sentiment on an ancient
IDFWRUV4XDOLW\H[SHULHQFHDQGVNLOOVHW its mask diplomacy in the early days of D=?A42434=C43 ern-day colonial power. In the as powerful as it was at the peak and vague concept of Tianxia,
,QDGGLWLRQWKHIDPLO\VXSSRUWIRXQGHUVHQMR\LPSDFWVWKHLUDELOLW\WR the pandemic, its naked ambition to grab 8B;0=31D8;38=6 process, China pushed small, of the Cold War to handle the geo- translated as 'all under the heav-
EHVXFFHVVIXO$VHFXUHHQFRXUDJLQJDQGKHOSIXOIDPLO\VWUXFWXUHJRHV sovereign territory became clear. The 02C8E8CHF8C7 resource-rich, and strategically strategic and geo-economic chal- en'. In Ancient China, this meant
DORQJZD\LQKHOSLQJIRXQGHUVFRSHZLWKWKHSUHVVXUHVDQGGHPDQGVRI façade of a 'superpower willing to step up <4A4?D1;82 located nations into huge debt lenges that a rising China presents the world was divinely bestowed
DQHZYHQWXUH7KHUHLVDQRWKHUYLHZKRZHYHUWKDWIRFXVHVRQWKHVWUHQJWK during a global crisis' fell. And with it fell traps. China's acts to undermine the to the world. This means it is the upon the emperor, who as the 'son
all the romantic American assumptions BC0C4<4=CB world order pose a greater global collective response of the liberal of heaven' had 'heaven's decree'
RIWKHEXVLQHVVFRQFHSWDQGWKHDELOLW\WRUDLVHIXQGVWRLPSOHPHQWWKH that had, for decades, promoted closer ties threat than the former USSR world --the US and its allies -- and was at the epicentre of the
EXVLQHVVLGHDLQVWHDGRIKLJKOLJKWLQJRQO\WKHHQWUHSUHQHXU
VFKDUDFWHULV with Beijing on the premise that prosper- because due to its economic might, which will decide the fate of the world. The rest of the world was
WLFVDQGFRPSHWHQF\,QWKLVFRQWH[WLWLVDGYLVDEOHWRVWDUWDEXVLQHVV ity will usher in political and social military capabilities, and vast influ- post-pandemic world order. divided into tributaries and vassal
WKDWKDVDQDPLFDEOHEXVLQHVVHQYLURQPHQWSURYLGHVSURGXFWVDQGVHU reforms in China. ence across Asia, Europe, and Besides having an exhaustive mil- states. The CCP is trying to create
YLFHVEHQHILFLDOWRFXVWRPHUVDYRLGVPRQRSROLVWLFRUROLJRSROLVWLFPDU After allowing China to successfully Africa. China has amplified its itary and strategic infrastructure, the same imagery, with the BRI
NHWVDQGSURYLGHVDVXVWDLQHGVWUHDPRIFDVKIORZV subvert the rules-based world order for clout also through the Belt and Beijing is also economically much expected to create vassal states all
*HQHUDOO\QHZVWDUWXSVH[SHULHQFHSUREOHPVLQSUDFWLFDOO\DOOFULWLFDO at least two decades, the world is now in Road Initiative (BRI) in terms of bigger than Moscow ever was. over the globe, and Jinping as the
a precarious phase. The geopolitical expanding the market for its tangi- China's GDP is over 65 percent of 'legitimate sovereign in the world'.
DVSHFWVRIEXVLQHVVOLNHWKHDUHDVRIDFFRXQWLQJDQGILQDQFHPDUNHWLQJ headwinds - which became more pro- (The writer is a senior ble infrastructure and area of influ- the US GDP; in comparison,the The world map would be just one
DQGKXPDQUHVRXUFHPDQDJHPHQW,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHRUJDQLVDWLRQDOGLIIL nounced post-pandemic - have manifest- journalist and Visiting ence of intangible political influ- USSR at its peak had 40 percent of of the casualties for such a vision
FXOWLHVSHUVRQDOJOLWFKHVOLNHKLJKZRUNORDGLVRODWLRQIURPRUJDQLVHGELJ Fellow at the United
ed themselves in all aspects of the glob- Services Institution of ence. China's maritime infrastruc- the US GDP. Not only is the eco- to be fulfilled.
JHUFRPSDQLHVDQGDQRYHUDOODPELJXLW\DOVRLPSDFWRQWKHHQGSURGXFW alized world, namely, trade, military, India. The views ture today spans from its military nomic gap between the United The next decade will decide
)LQDQFHZKLFKLVWKHOLIHOLQHRIDQ\YHQWXUHQHZRUROGLVKDUGWRFRPH cyberspace, and new-age technology like expressed are personal.) base in Djibouti in Africa to its civil- States and China lesser than the how far Xi Jinping will go to ful-
E\IRUDQHZVWDUWXS$ERYHDOORYHUDOOEDGPDQDJHPHQWFDQVSHOODVWDUW outer space. ian ports near Israel's Haifa and the gap between the US and the USSR, fill this imagery.
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he roller coaster Indian Iran is a critical example of 20-21 from 7.7 per cent in the The revival may not be It is an indirect criticism of The CII prescription is
T economic journey is
likely to continue. It was
recovering at 11.5 per cent in
how years of good work and
relations could be lost under
western sanctions to China.
second quarter, after econom-
ic activity resumed a bit. The
household debt-to-GDP ratio
that easy, perhaps. The
Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) finds 79 per
the post-demonetisation fad
for the electronic transaction
that keeps most money locked
not easy. It is proven by Oberoi
group CEO Vikram Vohra
who says that he has been
the April-June quarter, says Iran was critical for India in has been increasing since the cent of the respondents of a in banks and increases hunger approached by hotel owners
National Council for Applied terms of petroleum imports at end-March 2019. survey expect production, sup- for cash flow. The CII view is who want to sell their proper-
Economic Research (NCAER) rupee-rial terms. That has This could hold back ply, and sales to be adversely contrary to its previous opin- ties in the post-Covid-19 sce-
C89F1:9B0A:0A ion that supporting the poor nario. The combined debt in
but the State Bank of India says come down to zero. India also expenditure on consumption affected and consumption
the second wave has hit the lost the initiative in the as the economy reopens demands depressed in the with doles increases the crowd- the hotel sector is estimated at
economy. Chabahar port project and a because of the concern of coming period. It is concerned ing of cities and raises costs of Rs 50,000 crore and most
The result, however, is trade corridor deal involving households to rebuild their about people losing jobs and the industry and creates "irre- owners and investors are in
mixed because while the SBI India, Iran, and Afghanistan. of higher crude oil import savings in a country where livelihood, impacting demand sponsible" governance through severe stress.
knows the reality from up Disagreements with Russia costs leading to a severe infla- social security is at its lowest and growth. It says GDP severe deficits. Its support for The NCAER says though
close, NCAER has taken a neg- are rising and it begins to lean tionary situation. and job losses continuous. growth depends on fresh stim- printing money is to keep the there could be some modera-
ative base of 2020-21 to mea- more towards China as the In the midst of all this S&P The second phase lockdown ulus, new reforms, and the lending rates low as the gov- tion in inflation for a month or
sure activities. In this debate, Russia-US confrontation Global says that India's eco- reduced mobility by 60 per state of the global economy. It ernment's extra borrowing so it will rebound beyond
people have overlooked the grows. This has an impact on nomic recovery is expected to cent and disrupted the services has asked the government to from the market would August with a rise in farm
fact that amid clashes with relations in and around the be "less steep" than the bounce- the most (though manufactur- inject Rs 3 lakh crore spend- increase competition between wages, crude oil prices, and
China, the country is ceding its sub-continent. Increasing back in 2020 and early 2021. ing and exports were hit less). ing through printing of curren- the government and the pri- other factors adding to the rise
economic interests in exports to Bangladesh may be The reason is households are The problem is manifested in cy notes and direct cash trans- vate sector will drive up inter- in prices. Like the CII, it also
Afghanistan, a long-time a silver lining, but much of it having a tough time with the reduced consumption. S&P fers, rural job schemes and est rates. The flip side is that calls for an expansionary pol-
friend, to China which is try- (The writer is a senior journal- is "re-exported" to the North- erosion of their savings. The says a gradual revival is under- reducing GST rates. In other more money circulation would icy. The situation remains dif-
ist. The views expressed are
ing to make ingress into personal.) East. India's $500-billion forex rate of household bank way and the economy may words, CII has suggested high- further increase prices and ficult despite the government
Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, kitty overflow is linked to it. deposits declined to three per grow at 9.5 per cent which the er money circulation and cash hit the poor more. Interest spending Rs 67,000 crore on
and the Indian Ocean region. India is also facing the impact cent in the third quarter of FY RBI also predicts. flow to speed up the economy. rates would also rise. free food policy.
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THE AVENUE MAIL, Jamshedpur COMMENT Monday, July 05, 2021 4
Pandemic tests organisational leadership

By D. C. Pathak
'9W' the fortune number!
shift is required to the
T
he global health crisis created by Covid-19 has predictably put in focus the role of railway management
political rulers of nations across the world but in an all-permeating manner it has also mindset. Aviation, on the
tested leadership in different spheres -- businesses, organisations and institutions in other hand, needs a
terms of setting apart the brilliant from the ordinary. A true leader not only faces a crisis commercial tax
competently but 'rides the challenge' to take the organisation forward through the difficulty restructuring to make its
and put it on the path of progress. The first requirement of this role is for the leader to have business model sustainable.
the combination of 'insight' and 'vision' in order to see the roots of the crisis and determine It will be a potential
how to reset the goal through necessary course corrections. The leader has to be business opportunity
comprehensively well-informed about the various facets of the problem and their impact on segment to attract many
the business at hand and be in possession of 'business intelligence' about demand, logistics business leaders to invest.
of supply and delivery as well as the new technology that might have become available at The failure of Sahara,
that moment. Kingfisher & Jet was not
The pandemic did not represent a challenge of 'competition' that was the feature of normal their mistake alone.
times and instead came as a big 'equaliser' in as much as it caused the ultimate These companies were
organisational 'disruption' for all entities and set off a new quest for technological solutions. pursuing the government to
In a competitive world of globalised norms, the successful leader would retain the By SK Nag restructure fuel costs hitting
organisational loyalty of the best of his or her human assets, study the rivals and keep track
W
their bottom line. Flights
of the external environ affecting business. In the beginning of the Nineties, Delta in the US hen the Indian were hovering above the
overtook the PanAm as the world's largest airline primarily because, it is said, six of the sky got periled destination airport, wasting
latter's top leaders parted company with their CEO to join the new rival. In the context of the with financial costly fuel need be
pandemic the crisis enveloped individuals and organisations across the board and the threat injury due to inefficient addressed during peak hour.
of competition gave way to the challenge of restoration, innovative management and aviation operation leading Now the reappearance of
adoption of new technology for enhancing the 'outreach'. In the period of recovery, quality of to bleeding of the balance old aviation partners with
product and service will become doubly important because the customer wading through the sheet of all companies, it the number 9W is bringing
crisis would become far more sensitive to 'reliability' of what was being offered. Failure in was thought to be recovered a turnaround sentiment in
this regard will make the customer permanently hostile to the business concerned. with Govt intervention with decades, we lost many above destination runway, exception suffering from the Indian economy.
An intelligent leader would realise that the pandemic had produced three distinct some significant policy airlines from Vayudoot, exorbitant parking fees, and service quality and It seems the fate of the
consequences. First, it had 'flattened' the organisations by making excessive vertical change. Alas, the sector hits Damania airways, King so on. All put together; it commercial viability. Even Indian economy is coming
hierarchy redundant, legitimised the concept of working from home and altered the another roadblock of Fisher, Sahara, Jet, Deccan, was never a good business AC first-class coaches are back with a good fortune
methodology of internal communication. Secondly, it had revolutionised the human resource pandemics, making it more Paramount, East-West. The opportunity. The passenger, way behind people's with two positive news
development by recognising the fact that the individual was at the centre of all productivity, challenging to come back list is too long if we include on the other hand, is very expectations. Sometimes which is coming back of
that teamwork had emerged as the prime instrument for recovery replacing the top-down soon. This aviation industry many other small regional price sensitive. The fares corporate honchos prefer 9W & PMC bank.
directives and that the crisis demanded a new sense of camaraderie overcoming physical was neglected for a long players too. are constantly under the overnight travel by rail to (Author is Industrial
distances. And finally, the new management framework enjoined upon the leadership to time, and many business The reason for failure pressure of losing save on hotel Engineer, Fellow Valuer,
revisit the earlier norms of performance evaluation, take to practices that encouraged innovations could not give was never reconciled by the customers. Airline service accommodation costs. But Chartered Engineer, BEE
members down below to develop a sense of 'ownership' towards the organisation and make the required fillip. Class to ministry of aviation in being an intangible product, the unacceptable service approved Energy Expert
the pay packet look like a compensation for work done for a 'cause'. the mass transformation of India. It was always service quality is quality makes it less and Industry Mentor.
A learning forced by the pandemic is that organisations must be able to work with fewer this segment increased the thought to be a cash cow, paramount and therefore preferred than air travel. The views expressed are
hands horizontally spread out without compromising on productivity or quality of output -- traffic, though, but the and therefore this sector is provides less elbow room Adequate government personal opinion of the
this is different from trying to be cost effective by laying off people. Heavy vertical hierarchy balance sheet did not heavily burdened with for reducing cost. intervention for service author. He can be
has to give way to multiple leaders working with compact teams, some of whose members recover and rather became operational costs, right An Alternate parallel quality improvement may reached at
would be operating out of home. Home as the new workplace is going to become part of the further worse. from fuel, lease rental, mode of transport is the bring in some positive saibal.iim@gmail.com)
new normal in the post-Covid times as the corporate head office will not be a crowded place In the last couple of unnecessary hovering railway that too, without movement, but a paradigm
anymore and a certain proportion of employees will not be required to report there everyday.
Theatre Commands: Is India on right path, at right time?

In this scenario, a leader would have to learn to decentralise decision-making. Reluctance
of a leader to delegate authority often arises from the fear that this will add to the
accountability of the former -- a leader must know the people working for him or her well
enough and have a grid of confidence with them. This is a sign of success even in the
normal times. In the new normal, the leader will have to be far more communicative and be
available for any guidance urgently required, even from a distance. A blend of centralised By Major General S.B. for long and short range interdiction,
working with decentralisation of operational decisions is needed for the future. Asthana creating favourable air situation,
For this to happen, the leader will be required to know the members of the organisation a degradation, offensive air missions
I
lot more closely than was the case before. Covid has stressed every one's life and made it n a major restructuring like and strategic national missions.
vital for the leader to have a developed Emotional Quotient -- this means a capacity to reorganising the Indian Indianised model
understand that the responses of a person are shaped also by his or her emotional state of Military into Theatre The US and China have laid down
mind. The leader must have a pretty good idea of the life of the employee outside of the Commands, there will be variation expeditionary role for their military
workplace, including any major problem at home, since an entirely impersonal relationship of views between stakeholders and away from mainland; hence their
limits the willingness of the person to work for the 'boss'. In fact, the boss-subordinate many rounds of discussions on Theatre Commands like Indo-
relationship will change in favour of the Indian concept of management that prescribed a merits and demerits of the existing Pacific Command can't be supported
'paternal nurtural' leadership. In the post-Covid world the modern leadership will have to Force Structure vis-a-vis the from air assets from mainland,
become 'nurtural', the paternal component would not be mandatory. proposed one; hence it may not be which justifies separate allocation of
In the backdrop of several alterations in the management practices becoming the order of appropriate to call it a 'Turf War' as air assets. Both these countries have
the day for the future, the system of performance evaluation would also have to be reformed. has been referred in some media done so after reaching self-reliance
This is the call of leadership. Assessment of an individual in the rushed corporate life has reports. Indian model of Theatre Commands priority of India should be to do in defence production. In case of
mostly been a 'third party' affair with the senior acting on behalf of the organisation and at Is the timing Right? I endorse Air Defence Command, capability development over India, expeditionary role doesn't
the back of the employee being reported on. Working during Covid from home, everyone -- Today India is facing a 'Two Defence Space Agency (DSA), restructuring of Apex level hold good for considerable period,
left to one's own devices -- would become aware of the 'self' and cognisant of his or her Front Threat' in real terms, in a Armed Forces Special Operations restructuring. when it finds raising of much
contribution to the organisation in realistic terms. This makes it possible for the employee to manner that it is already in standoff Division (AFSOD), integration in The air power debate! needed mountain strike corps to
improve the output and warrants introduction of 'self-assessment' as a uniform practice in with the largest military in the logistics and recommend up The Indian Air Force is an threaten immediate adversary too
performance evaluation. Moreover, in the new environ the organisation will benefit from the world, and the other adversary is gradation of Defence Cyber Agency offensive component of Indian costly.
internal 'feedback' that was more or less neglected so far. 'Nobody knows everything but also devising new ways to disturb (DCA) to "Information Warfare Military. It has national role besides India must first bring up its asset
everybody knows something' -- it will be good for the organisation to remember this for its peace through drones/terror attacks. Command" as explained in my synergising with other services to availability up to a point that they
own betterment. A better planning for re-skilling and upskilling is going to become essential Irrespective of merits and demerits detailed analysis. The critical contribute to National Combat can be distributed as first priority,
and an improved performance evaluation system will help in that plan. of Theaterisation, strategically, it is shortage of air and other assets is a Power. For comprehensive air battle, with indigenous technology and
On the whole, the expected changes in the old practices of running businesses, not the right time to go through such concern, too serious to be with inadequate air resources, hardware by self-reliance, which is a
institutions and organisations can be described as an evolution of management marking an a major apex level restructuring, overlooked. The Maritime switching assets between work in progress.
advance over the past. Some of this will rub on the governance too -- bureaucracy would when the largest military force is Command accruing advantage of operational commands of same Everyone needs focus on capacity
become more adept in micromanagement and the government machinery will be drawn knocking at LAC. Such major unity of command, will have to be service is much more effective than building at this time under
closer to the people which is a gain for democracy. Prime Minister Modi had set an example restructuring takes at least few years weighed against manageability of trying to do so between integrated discernible 'Two Front Threat',
in focusing on a pro-people agenda and guiding its comprehensive execution, ranging from of teething problems; hence it will increased span of control, as Indian theatre commands with dedicated rather than igniting debates on Apex
vaccine policy to the direct transfer of money to the poor and the weak during the crisis. bring turbulence in time tested definition of Indo-Pacific and area resources, through CDS/ COSC level Restructuring, which doesn't
Personal integrity of rulers is tested in times of a crisis like pandemic which allowed power command structure during the of maritime interest has grown from Committee System. It also needs to improve combat capability very
to be used for one's own benefit -- many lesser 'leaders' did get exposed. Fraudulent intervening period, a risk which the eastern coasts of Africa to northern be noted that with the current speed much at cutting edge, where we
vaccination programmes, black marketing of essential equipment and downright cheating of country must avoid. In an overdrive Pacific, up to Japan. With tri-service of fighter aircrafts and high intensity need more military assets like
innocent citizens in distress did occur but only on a limited scale because the strong Modi to minimise cost of Defence, or structure, reporting to single Service of lethal air defence systems, aircrafts and drones.
government at the Centre acted as a deterrent. Prime Minister Modi has personally meet certain personality oriented Chief has its own problems. globally, the close air support role is (Major General S.B. Asthana is
monitored the pace of economic revival 'from below' that is suited to Indian conditions. His deadlines, the restructuring should Reporting to CDS may be difficult being performed better by Attack a strategic and security analyst, a
visibility in this crisis has given confidence to the people and made him a leader who would not compromise operational for him to manage them in Helicopters and variety of artillery veteran Infantry General. He is
'ride the challenge' of pandemic and take the nation through it successfully towards a new effectiveness of Indian Military. operations, (unmanageable span of assets due to safety concerns. New the Chief Instructor, United
path of progress. What needs to be restructured? control), and he not being tasked generation aircrafts are mostly Service Institution of India. The
(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau) Regarding implementation of and organised for it. The first multi-role, increasingly employed views expressed are personal)
Legally insufficient: US FB critics In a first, trout reared in Himachal warm waters

get preview of long slog ahead By Vishal Gulati maximum weight of one kg.
Out of the total fish
T
he trout, both brown and rainbow, found produced, 224 kg has been
By Nikhila Natarajan cent)". in rivers and streams in higher reaches sold in the market so far.
"The FTC's Complaint says almost nothing of Himachal Pradesh has been reared for The department has total
C
ritics of Big Tech market power got concrete on the key question of how much the first time in warm waters of state's Gobind stock of 26,794 fishes,
a preview of the long slog likely power Facebook actually had, and still has, in Sagar and Kol Dam reservoir too, Fisheries weighing around 8,000 kg, at
ahead in US courts after a federal a properly defined antitrust product market," Minister Virender Kanwar said here on Saturday. the Kol Dam reservoir ready
judge this week dismissed anti-trust lawsuits the ruling reads. He said 500 fingerlings of rainbow trout, a for harvesting.
against Facebook by the Federal Trade "It is almost as if the agency expects the coldwater game-fish species, were stocked in the The department has offered
Commission and a phalanx of state attorneys Court to simply nod to the conventional high-density polyethylene (HDPE) floating fish- one-time relaxation for sale of
general, landing a blow to regulators hoping wisdom that Facebook is a monopolist." culture cages in Gobind Sagar reservoir in trout fish at discounted price
to rein in the world's largest social networking The complaint has been struck out but the Bilaspur district in 2019 on an experimental of around Rs 350 per kg
platform. case stays put. The FTC, which now has a basis for diversification of trout culture in warm instead of the market price of
Facebook counts 3.45 billion monthly strident Big Tech critic - Lina Khan - as its waters of the state. Rs 550 per kg to boost the
active users across its family of products - chief, could refile another complaint. The results were highly encouraging and trout fish sale in the state and
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and/or "These allegations, which do not even worth emulation in other parts of the state. This The history of trout in Himachal Pradesh dates metropolitan cities, said the
WhatsApp - as per its first quarter data for provide an estimated actual figure or range paved the way for culturing the trout fish in back to the colonial rule. The British introduced minister.
2021. for Facebook's market share at any point warm districts during a span of five-nine months trout in 1909 to promote game fishing. Approximately 850 metric tonnes trout fish
In a 53-page opinion, US District Judge over the past 10 years, ultimately fall short when the water temperature is congenial for its The trout -- mainly the brown ones -- is will be harvested in the state, both in private and
James Boasberg ruled that the lawsuits were of plausibly establishing that Facebook culture, the minister explained. currently found in a 600-km stretch on the Beas, government sector, out of which 100 metric
"legally insufficient" and did not provide holds market power," the judge said. Accordingly, the state Fisheries Department Sutlej and Ravi rivers in the upper Himalayas tonnes will be harvested in the newly created
enough evidence to prove that Facebook was "Anyone who thought this was going to installed 24 fish cages in the Kol Dam reservoir where no other fish species survive because of raceways in coming years.
a monopoly. be easy and quick should probably step in Bilaspur district for the culture of the rainbow the extreme cold climate. The state has recorded 688.05 metric tonnes
"Although the Court does not agree with all backathe law is tough, the politics are trout on a pilot basis under the Central The Pabbar stream in upper Shimla, the Baspa trout production, valuing Rs 3,096.22 lakh, in
of Facebook's contentions here, it ultimately tough," Harry First, an anti-trust-law government's Blue Revolution scheme in 2020. in Kinnaur district, the Uhl in Mandi district as 2020-2021, while a target has been set to harvest
concurs that the agency's Complaint is legally professor at the New York University, told Around 30,000 fingerlings of the average well as the Beas river and its tributaries in Kullu 849.70 metric tonnes trout during 2021-22, said
insufficient and must therefore be dismissed," Wall Street Journal. The latest court ruling weight of 10-12 grams were stocked in the cages district support good populations of trout. Kanwar.There is 3,000 km riverine length in the
he wrote. The ruling goes on to say that the comes at a time when, in parallel, a clutch of in September and October last year. According to the fisheries department, the state out of which 600 km riverine is utilized for
FTC has failed to "plausibly establish" that landmark bills are hurtling forward in the "The results were encouraging as the fish entire Kullu Valley offers one of the best spots the trout fish production.
Facebook has monopoly power. US Congress - all of which want to slam the gained a weight of almost one kg in just eight for trout fishing in the Beas and its tributaries -- At present 606 families are associated with the
"The Complaint contains nothing on that brakes on Facebook, Google, Amazon and months. Normally it takes two and a half years Sarveri, Parbati, Sajoin and Phojal. trout fish farming and its production is being
score save the naked allegation that the Apple. If these six bills gain momentum, the for a trout fingerling to gain such weight in As per the department, eight metric tonnes of done in total 1,198 raceways.
company has had and still has a "dominant US could see landmark changes in the tech coldwater regions, thus showing accelerated trout was harvested from the Kol Dam reservoir (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at
share of that market (in excess of 60 per industry. growth," said Kanwar. with average weight of 300 grams and the vishal.g@ians.in)
06 NEW DELHI, MONDAY 05 JULY 2021 Vol. CXXXXX 156
Incorporating and directly descended

CCP at 100~II A MEMBER
OF THE
from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818

Economic compulsions have led to increasing codification and introduction of the rule ASIAN VOICES
Irrelevance of SSC of law without which a market economy would be unable to function efficiently. This
Kingdoms Covid
W hile extending the stay on recruitment of has significantly reduced the power of the political elite and led to important political
teachers at the upper primary level on Fri- reforms like limiting the terms of office holders to two terms of five years each situation at red line
day, Calcutta High Court (coram: Abhijit
Ganguly, J) has advanced a searing indictment of
the West Bengal School Service Commission, lam-
pooning the entity as worthless, one “whose offi-
cers should immediately be removed”. The court
M inister of Health Mam Bun
Heng raised fresh concerns
about the community out-
break of Covid-19 in Cambodia, espe-
cially the new Delta variant also
has moved ahead from the interim stay that it had known as B.1.617.2, warning that the
directed last Wednesday. Not to put too fine a point situation has now reached a red line.
on it, the Bench has reduced the SSC to irrelevance. The warning comes as the govern-
And yet from one dispensation to another, it con- ment tightens control of border cross-
tinues to be the overarching authority in the matter ings, especially with Thailand. “To pre-
of recruiting school teachers. vent further spread, the health min-
It reflects poorly on the functioning of the istry is increasing Covid-19 testing and
enforcing quarantine measures, par-
SSC that it has been directed to upload on its ticularly for people returning from
website a merit list with marks against the name of Thailand and Vietnam. “Those infect-
each candidate. Central to the raging controversy ed with the Delta variant have to stay
must be the manipulative marking, allegedly to away from other patients whose cases
favour the ruling party’s footsoldiers. “Why was are linked to the February 20 out-
the order of the court passed in 2019 not carried break,” Bun Heng said during a visit
out by the commission?” the Bench asked. “The to the construction site of the Cambo-
court has framed guidelines for selection of candi- dia-China Preah Kosamak Friendship
dates and preparing a list on its basis.” The indict- Hospital on June 29. As of June 29,
O
from Mao to Deng and the capacity to incor- strong middle class of 400 million have Cambodia has recorded 22 Delta vari-
ment and the very system of evaluation have ne of the first important acts of porate significant changes which has led to strengthened critical reasoning and led to sig- ant cases, all of them imported via
suffered a stinging reprisal with the observation ~ Deng Xiaoping in 1977 was to resto- unprecedented continuous economic growth nificant advancements in scientific enquiry, Cambodian migrant workers return-
“The court feels there is lack of transparency and re the entrance examination for ad- and poverty alleviation of 800 million people artificial intelligence and space explorations. ing from Thailand through border
there are irregularities in drawing up the merit list.” missions to centres of higher learn- has enhanced the legitimacy of the CCP. Depoliticization is pursued with vigour. It checkpoints.
The court did not concur with the argument of the ing, discontinued during the Cultural Revolu- China for all practical purposes has become a is similar to the debate on the end of ideology The Kingdom reached a record
secretary, school education department, that suc- tion, in a fair and free manner. This one single successful and developed state. Behind the in the mid-1950s in the West that asserted the for daily transmissions on June 29,
cessive legal tangles had been holding up the act greatly restored the confidence of the economic success there are also important end of ideology in both advanced capitalism with the health ministry announcing
appointment of hundreds of thousands of school average Chinese in an ancient practice pur- indicators of limited political changes at the and developed socialism because of the com- on June 30 that another 1,130 Covid-
teachers. sued since Confucius’ time and regarded as local levels. pulsions of managing a modern complex soci- 19 cases had been recorded, with 139
one of the major pillars of the Chinese state. In the Deng period a number of reforms ety dominated by science and technology. of them imported. The ministry also
It bears recall that on 3 October 2019, the
In 1979, Deng led the country to a border like introduction of competitive electoral pol- Deng’s slogan that it is good to be rich has reported 27 more deaths. The new
Bench had instructed SSC to prepare the merit list war with Vietnam which had joined the Soviet itics in the rural areas and even in mayoral become the accepted ideal. Deng died in 1997 cases brought the total cases in Cam-
on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the led Comecon and the gamble paid off as the elections was initiated. Correspondingly, as a private citizen, an exemplary act unthink- bodia to 50,385 ~ with 44,143 recover-
Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET), his or her academ- Soviets did not intervene, which further bol- reforms in the civil services, initiation of able in Mao’s time. He donated his eyes and ies and 602 fatalities to date. “We are
ic eligibility, and success in B.Ed or D.Led (diploma stered his image within China. In 1989, he structured decentralization and limited acti- body for medical use. enlarging our hospitals in all places,
in elementary education training). Quashed on 11 ended the two-month long student protest vation of representative bodies have led to a In sharp contrast to the Western democ- especially those in the provinces along
December 2020 was the SSC’s process to recruit for greater freedom by force, reiterating CCP’s Chinese assertion of a blending of election racies which are mostly ruled by lawyers, the the borders in order to be able to pro-
teachers to fill 15,000 vacancies. The commission continuing grip of the nation that continues with selection. Economic compulsions have top brass of the CCP is highly technocratic and tect the health of our people and to
was directed to start the recruitment process on even today. Deng’s action was approved of by led to increasing codification and introduc- dominated by engineers. The Chinese hard increase vaccinations. Vaccination is
the basis of the guidelines framed by the National Henry Kissinger stating that no country tion of the rule of law without which a market state exists in policy formulation and execu-
would have tolerated such open defiance. economy would be unable to function effi- tion of policies like population and migration
Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). It stipulat-
Meanwhile Deng visited the USA, Japan ciently. This has significantly reduced the but other areas like moral policing - of drinking
ed that candidates with a B.Ed degree should be and other Asian countries including Singa- a can of beer in public which is taken seriously important to reduce the spread and
accorded “first preference”. pore. He consulted the maker of modern Sin- in the USA ~ is left to the choice of citizens. severity of the disease,” Bun Heng
Going by the terms of engagement formulated gapore Lee Kaun Yew and a host of others and Since Mao’s death and the elimination of the said. Health ministry spokeswoman
last December, the merit list was scheduled to be initiated a process of sectoral liberalization Gang of Four, China has overwhelmingly Or Vandine said the Covid-19 situation
prepared by May 31. Three petitions were filed on in Shenzhen unleashing unprecedented accepted the reformist model assuring for- in Cambodia has now reached a red
June 24, mentioning gross irregularities and seek- economic growth as he believed that the eigners and overseas Chinese (the largest line for community transmission,
ing a stay on the process of recruitment. Suspi- colour of the cat is immaterial as long as it investors) of continuity with enough institu- which was a great concern that need-
cions that the School Service Commission tends catches mice. tional checks and balances making invested to be addressed. “We don’t want the
Unlike Western liberal democracies that ments absolutely secure. spread of Covid-19 to go beyond the
to follow the dictates of its political masters are not
believe in incremental change, in China there The Deng doctrine of peaceful succession red line because when it crosses the
wholly unfounded. is greater autonomy which allowed Deng to has worked till now. In 2018, Xi Jinping red line, the situation becomes miser-
In the net, recruitment of teachers has hit the succeed Mao and initiate radical reforms. removed the term limit for the President and able. It will lead to large-scale trans-
reefs once again. While adults play footsie, it is the SUBRATA SUSHILA
When communism collapsed in the rest of RAMASWAMY
has introduced an element of uncertainty by mission throughout our community,”
MUKHERJEE
taught who are the worst sufferers of this imbroglio. the world it continued well in China with sup- amending the constitution. In this he follows she said.
The children deserve better at a vital stage of learn- port from 93 per cent of people; the latter The writers are, respectively, a retired Professor of
Political Science, University of Delhi and Associate
Vladimir Putin more than Deng. He defends it When the transmission reaches a
ing, specifically the upper primary level or, in a regarding politics as an exclusive activity of Professor in Political Science, as an essential step to providing guidance to large enough scale within the commu-
sense, the transition stage. Far from it. The School the specialists and the elite. A paternalistic Jesus and Mary College the party’s grand vision for restoring the Mid- nity, public health facilities and hos-
Service Commission’s process of recruitment wal- state is accepted not only in China but also in dle Kingdom by 2049. A century of humilia- pitals will not have the capacity to
lows in the mire of irregularities and worse. More’s Japan, the Koreas, Vietnam and Singapore. power of the political elite and led to impor- tion, 1842-1949 would be avenged with China accommodate all of the patients in
National sovereignty with an overemphasis tant political reforms like limiting the terms of emerging as the largest economy in the world need of treatment as there is not
the pity. on unity does not translate into popular office holders to two terms of five years each. by 2049. It already surpassed the USA in PPP enough space for them in such a sce-
sovereignty. In 2013, the idea of professional revolu- terms in 2014 and is slated to overtake the US nario, she added. Thus, Vandine
Martin Jacques observes the Chinese tionaries was abandoned and the member- in actual GDP terms by 2028. explained, large-scale community
“state has consistently been seen as the apo- ship of the party was broadened to make it a The grandeur of the Beijing Olympics in transmission will cause many deaths
Foreign service gee of society, enjoying sovereignty with an
over-all else”. This Chinese-ness does not
more balanced coalition. With a doctrine of
extreme cautiousness and care this process of
2008, its ability to avert the 2008 financial crisis,
the impressive scientific progress and with 10
and interrupt the daily lives and busi-
nesses of the people. “When the dis-
N ow for India’s Test matches in England this

time around. There are five of them and the
first one, to be hosted at Trent Bridge, does
not start before the first week of August. The previ-
leave any space for the right of self- determi-
nation for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Unity and stability are two non-nego-
tiable bases of the state and since the CPC
visibly guarantees both, it is firmly in the sad-
limited democratization has been both gradual
and incremental.
In a significant White Paper on Democra-
cy (2005) it is analysed as a functional tool
rather than a desired ideal. Modernization and
per cent of its universities being in the first
hundred in the world have added to the CCP’s
legitimacy. It is widely believed that the deci-
sion to go ahead with the Tokyo Olympics
amidst this pandemic despite opposition from
ease reaches too large a scale, it will
be necessary to go into lockdown
again in order to prevent the disease
from spreading out of control. “We are
now at a red line for Covid-19 virus
ous game India played was the ill-fated World Test
dle. One of the major reasons that Mao is still efficiency are the overriding considerations. a majority of Japanese is because the Japan- transmission in our country.
Championship final, which began on 18 June. Time respected and continues to be a national hero The aim of rural elections is not a movement ese government thinks that the winter Everyone must act responsibly
enough, perhaps, here for a lot of things to be got is because of his success in maintaining Chi- towards strengthening grass root participatory Olympics scheduled later in the year in China together in order to suppress virus
done and reviewed and then, done all over again. nese unity and enhancing China’s interna- democracy but better governance and effi- would be held. China’s rise, according to Me- transmission, please, if we do not want
Scheduling wonders thus never cease but we know tional prestige by defeating the USA in the ciency. Martin Jacques comments that in con- arsheimer, is very likely to be the most impor- to pass this red line which will require
that India, Australia and England happen to make Korean War (1950-53). In the latter he lost his trast to this purely functionalist attitude to tant event of the twenty-first century. At the lockdowns again,” Vandine tweeted on
up the global game’s elite, with more money com- son. It is also realized that in 1978 reforms democracy, “there has been a major expansion centenary of the CCP it has many impressive June 29. To attempt to guard against
ing into it as a result of the frequency of the match- could take off because Mao had created a of civil liberties and human rights”. Except for achievements to its credit. However, it has to the importation of the Delta variant
es they play among themselves, never mind the highly educated labour force with reasonable sensitive and non-negotiable issues like Tibet, solve the question of political succession from abroad, Minister of Economy
others. healthcare. Taiwan, Hong Kong and most importantly the smoothly and also demonstrate that it can live and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth ~ who
Democracy and the multiparty system communist party, all other issues could be dis- peacefully with its neighbours, despite its com- is also acting head of the National
Word is that captain Virat Kohli had wanted
are not immediate concerns as economic cussed freely and openly without any fear of mitment to the Westphalian state system and Commission for Combating Covid-19
some customary tour games ahead of the first take-off did not require it. It was further rein- state retribution. A great deal of effort exists to principle of national sovereignty. ~ wrote a three-page letter providing
Test but the England and Wales Cricket Board, forced by the track record of Japan and the ensure strict discipline, accountability and a updated instructions to all relevant
so pally otherwise, was reported to have said no. NICs of East Asia. The peaceful transition corruption free system. The internet and a (Concluded) authorities.
Why? Unofficial nuggets of information suggest -
and you are free to laugh out loud ~ that the fact
that England’s domestic cricketers are not
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
being forced into bio-secure bubbles nullifies the
idea.
This, of course, gets you thinking about con- Solution to save Sunderbans ence, woes of Sunderbans
people can never be miti-
gated and the threat to
tricity supply to the state’s
rural areas has been
restricted and farmers are
THIRD WAVE
SIR, The second wave of
sensually determined itineraries but this is also SIR, This is with reference Kolkata will persist and ulti- among the worst hit during Covid-19 has already claimed
part of those no-go areas in cricket which fact-find- to the article ‘If the Sunder- mately become a reality. the paddy transplantation many lives. After nearly two
ing people skirt adroitly and fact-hiding ones, bans fall, Kolkata will be Yours, etc., Tarun Kumar season. months of fighting, the con-
imperiously nowadays. So two intra-squad prac- next’ (June 24) on your Per- Chaudhury, Under fire for not mak- dition of Odisha as well as the
tice matches in Durham had been spoken of before spective page, with a warn- Kolkata, 1 July. ing adequate arrangements country is now quite stable.
vague assurances of a game with a combined XI of ing that “if Sunderbans suc- for peak power consump- The citizens have worked
county players came to be made. cumb, doomsday for Kol- PUNJAB'S WOES tion, the Amarinder Singh hard to reduce the number of
Not that it persuaded everyone that two intra- kata won’t be far away”. The SIR, It has been really a government pressed the cases every day. But the dev-
squad exchanges would suffice ~ with Sunil primary step to save the nightmare for the residents panic button on Thursday astating news is that the
Sunderbans is to provide of Punjab including and restricted electricity to country needs to be prepared
Gavaskar, among others, saying that they would
protective breach-resistant Chandigarh and Mohali to industry and changed for a third wave. Odisha
not ~ but a certain English inflexibility was being embankments to thwart face unscheduled and long working hours in govern- Health Minister Keshav
detected even in the altered arrangement, such as devastation by storms and power cuts during the last ment offices from 8 am to 2 Mahanta on June 20 inform-
it was. That spawned a kind of anticipatory dis- floods. week forcing residents to pm. ed that the state is fully pre-
comfort. When storm ‘Alia’ come out on streets and The pressure on Pun- pared to face the consequen-
And recollections of England’s 1-3 defeat struck the Sunderbans in protest at various power jab’s power generation sys- ces of a third wave. A few hos-
earlier this year in India, with its associated mem- 2009 with devastating ment. The alumnus, a KoPT IIT for its ability to be sub stations in the state and tem is unprecedented at pitals have pediatric ICUs.
ories of the visitors being somewhat controversial- effect, the government app- river Engineer pioneered to joined with each other end- UT. Punjab, reeling under this time, with farmers But the time between the end
ly licked to a splinter on spin-friendly wickets, had roached IIT, Kharagpur for develop the innovative lessly to form into chains is unprecedented power needing uninterrupted of the second wave and the
everything to do with it. Quite amusingly, the remedial measures. The material and successfully of 40 kg weight and hence shortage amid an intense electricity to run pumps to arrival of the third wave is
Water Resources Wing of used the same in projects can be handled by local vil- heatwave, is facing unbear- supply water during paddy very sensitive. Since preven-
cerebral discomfiture, within the Indian team and IIT ’s Civil Engineering for draft improvement and lagers. This indigenous ably long electricity outages transplantation. To add to tion is better than cure, this
outside, was not even a tiny speck over the distant Department suggested to stabilisation of ship chan- technology uses rural as the demand reached a problems, temperatures time the government should
horizon when Kohli and his peers set out for Eng- provide protective breach nel of a port. labour and is hence high of 14,500 MW, result- have been steadily climbing be careful not to allow crowds
land with victory in the WTC final their initial resistant reinforced earthen The innovation was br- employment-oriented as ing in a shortfall of 1,330 with unbearable humidity. to gather. Secondly, children
objective. embankments and later, on ought to public notice in an well as cost effective. It was MW in supply. This situation could in particular should be vacci-
The air was vibrant with optimism and the request, offered technology article titled “Use of unco- also tested in IIT’s Oceanol- Reminiscent of the have been avoided had the nated. Therefore, through the
mood, unmistakably cheerful. India, now under- for the same that was devel- nventional materials in the ogy laboratory successfully time when Punjab was yet government planned for columns of your respected
standably anxious to get used to English condi- oped in collaboration with construction of Nurpur but still need pilot projects to claim ‘power surplus’ tag, the excess power demand daily, I would like to request
tions, chose to bypass Hanuma Vihari when decid- this octogenarian alumnus. Spurs, River Hooghly’” at site to test its efficacy in there have been long cuts in by purchasing power and the health department as well
The technology used pre- published in Govt. of India’s totality. If local technology electricity supply across the by adopting preventive as other officials to take up
ing on their playing 11 for the match against New
cast concrete materials to Irrigation & Power Journal, offered with a request for state in the last couple of maintenance of all the these suggestions.
Zealand. Vihari, though, had been there construct a sand filled con- Vol 36, No.2 April 1979 testing in pilot projects by a days. Many areas in Mohali power plants in advance. Yours, etc., Swagatika
since before the team’s arrival, playing for War- crete wall inside the issue. The reinforcement reputed institute like IIT faced cuts of over 14 hours. Yours, etc., Sanjay Chopra, Pradhan, Cuttack, 3 July.
wickshire. embankments as reinforce- material, named ‘Spider’ at can be treated with indiffer- For over a week, the elec- Mohali, 3 July.
NEW DELHI, MONDAY 05 JULY 2021 07
DEBAPRIYA MUKHERJEE
Vital to prepare before 100 YEARS AGO
C
yclones Tauktae and Yaas left
trails of destruction after OCCASIONAL NOTE
next cyclone strikes

sweeping in from the Arabi-
an sea on May 14 and from The reports of the India Committee of the
the Bay of Bengal on May 26 respec- Imperial Institute on the possibility of
tively and brought heavy rainfall and increasing the utilisation of Indian timbers
flash floods to areas along the coasts in Britain, and of using Indian paper-mak-
of different states. Apart from causing materials, would appear, according to
ing caused widespread infrastructure Reuter’s summary, to support views which
and agricultural damages, the storms mated 1.33 million deaths since the are already tolerably obvious. Whether the
killed many and displaced many oth- beginning of the 20th century and reports do anything more in the direction
ers along the eastern and western affected more than 629 million peo- of showing practicable ways in which such
coasts. Cities experienced their high- ple in this timeframe. views can be carried into effect may be
est ever recorded wind gust. A tropical cyclone is an intense disclosed when the full texts of the docu-
The cyclones made landfall as circular storm that originates over ments are available. We scarcely needed a
India was in the grip of a devastating warm tropical oceans and is charac- committee to formulate an opinion that
second wave of the coronavirus pan- terised by low atmospheric pressure there will be, or should be, an opening for
demic which claimed thousands of and strong winds followed by heavy the extension of the export to Britain of
lives. Millions worldwide watched rainfall. Tropical cyclones always certain Indian hard woods for decorative
tragedy unfold on their television have an eye, a central region of clear and other purposes. It is not a new
screens and realising the humanitar- skies and warm temperatures. The “thought” that Indian bamboo and savan-
ian cost of the disaster, were obvious- proportion of severe tropical nah grasses will be valuable for paper
ly in search of the causes of frequent cyclones (category 4 & 5) has making, nor is it a novel idea that the Gov-
tropical cyclones because these two increased, possibly due to anthro- ernment of India should in every way
provided a flashback of the 2020 pogenic climate change. The influ- encourage the paper-pulp industry;
cyclone (Amphan) that devastated ence of climate change on cyclones though the endorsement of these ideas by
West Bengal. The accounts of wide- has been notoriously difficult to sep- so influential a committee may be of value.
spread damage to property and loss arate from natural variability. But an It is not enough to show where paper-
of life have made this season one that increasingly consistent picture is making materials can be found without
we will forget. emerging that suggests human activ- also showing how they can be brought to
As global warming gathers pace, ities are probably influencing some the mills or the docks at a cost of transit
intense cyclones from the Bay of Ben- aspects of these extreme weather low enough to make their utilisation prof-
gal and the Arabian Sea are making events, although the exact extent of itable as a business proposition. This ques-
landfall with greater frequency every the human influence is still difficult tion can be determined better in India
year. Almost exactly a year ago, to determine in today's observations. than in London.
cyclone Amphan formed over the Bay Many of the observed trends in trop-
of Bengal and travelled at great speed ical cyclones are at least qualitatively NEWS ITEMS
towards the Bengal coast, turning consistent with expectations from a
into a super cyclone in 24 hours. It
was supercharged by gathering ener-
warming climate. If the globe warms
by 2 degrees Celsius, it will cause a
are caused by warm moist air over
the rising seas. As the air rises it
unique identifier to these cyclones
and makes it easier for the media and
existing communication infrastruc-
ture, finding new sources of fresh GOOD SCHOOLS
gy from the anomalously high sea
surface temperatures in the Bay of
roughly 5 per cent increase in maxi-
mum wind speeds.
draws in more warm air which feeds
the storm. As the hot air rises it also
various authorities to disseminate
information on them.
water, promoting and subsidising the
proliferation of renewable energy, THREATENED BY
Bengal. About a week after Amphan
caused widespread havoc in West
Since satellite records began in
India in 1980, this is the first time that
cools and condenses. When it con-
denses it gives up the latent heat of
Cyclone Tauktae (pronounced as
Tau’Te) that intensified into an
improving irrigation techniques to
promote sustainable agriculture,
NON-COOPERATION
Bengal, cyclone Nisarga formed over pre-monsoon cyclones have been vaporisation which gives more ener- "extremely severe cyclonic storm" increasing public education efforts At yesterday’s meeting of the Bengal Leg-
the Arabian Sea and struck the Maha- recorded in the Arabian Sea for four gy to the storm. When storms reach made a landfall on Gujarat coast late on sustainable measures, and lobby- islative Council Maulvi Fazlal Karim asked
rashtra coast as a destructive storm consecutive years. It is now a well land, or cold water, they lose energy on 14 May 2021 with windspeed ing internationally for the increased the Minister for Education the number of
front. In the post-monsoon season, known fact that the global ocean has due to friction and also because between 150 kmph and 160 kmph use of renewable energy sources. aided and unaided high English schools
cyclone Nivar hit the Coromandel absorbed 90 per cent of the excess heat warm, moist air supply from the leaving a trail of destruction behind. In addition to these, some which could not meet their monthly
coast at Puducherry. generated by greenhouse gas (GHG) oceans is cut off. The western tropical The cyclone had been given the name ecosystems, such as marshes, man- expenses from their usual income on
Tropical cyclones can have dev- emissions since 1970. This has led to Indian Ocean has been warming for by Myanmar. The name comes from groves and coral reefs, must be pre- account of the non-cooperation move-
astating economic consequences. anomalous ocean warming, which in more than a century, at a rate faster the Burmese language and means a served as these serve as a natural ment, also what steps the Government
Globally they are among the most turn makes cyclones intensify rapidly. than any other region of the tropical ‘gecko’ or a very hitch-pitched lizard. obstacle to coastal erosion, storm were taking to enable those schools to
destructive natural hazards. From This proportion of intense tropical oceans, and turns out to be the The cyclone in the Bay of Bengal was surges and wind damage caused by continue to impart education to boys who
1980 to 2018, tropical cyclones were cyclones is projected to increase fur- largest contributor to the overall called 'Yaas', a name given by Oman hurricanes. These natural habitats were willing to proceed with their studies?
responsible for nearly half of all nat- ther, bringing a greater proportion of trend in the global mean sea surface meaning Jasmin in English, while next are seen to be more cost-effective as The Hon. Mr. P.C. Mitter replied that the
ural disaster losses worldwide, with storms having more damaging wind temperature (SST). cyclone will be called 'Gulab' as rec- they serve as a carbon sink and sup- number of schools was not available. Rep-
damage amounting to an aggregate speeds, higher storm surges, and more A panel comprising 13 countries, ommended by Pakistan. At present port biodiversity of a region. resentations had been received from the
of US$ 2111 billion. The overall dam- extreme rainfall rates. including India, Bangladesh, Myan- the first list is in use. Once the names Although there is substantial evi- Inspectors of Schools of the Dacca,
age and the number of people affect- According to researchers, mar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, in the first list are exhausted, the sec- dence of natural habitats being the Rajshahi and Chittagong Divisions, and
ed by tropical cyclones has been cyclones are also intensifying so Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, ond list of names in the table will be more beneficial barrier for tropical the Director of Public Instruction had
increasing since the 1970s. The vul- rapidly because of unprecedented Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emi- used, and so on. cyclones, built defenses are often the placed Rs 10,000 at the disposal of each
nerability to cyclones has been high temperatures over the Indian rates and Yemen, name cyclones in In this piquant situation there is primary solution for government Inspector for the purpose of saving good
increased due to factors including Ocean (Bay of Bengal and the Arabi- the region. In 2020, a new list of emergent need to identify the most agencies and decision makers. schools threatened by the non-coopera-
population growth, urbanisation, an Sea). It is explained in the way names was released that had 169 vulnerable areas of our nation and If the people of the coastal and tion movement.
increasing coastal settlement, defor- that heat is energy, and cyclones names of cyclones, having 13 sug- prepare a national policy with inter- mangrove areas were more aware of
estation, destruction of mangrove
forest and global warming. Also non-
intensify rapidly by turning the
potential energy stored in the ocean
gested names each from 13 coun-
tries. The cyclones are named to
national support for implementa-
tion. The nation must provide specif-
the ocean's vulnerability and ecolog-
ical fragility of their coastal homes,
MIDNAPORE
compliance of Coastal Regulation to kinetic energy. The energy of a identify the storms to send out warn- ic goals and timelines to achieve they would surely force more com- STRONG AGAINST
Zone notifications is one of the caus-
es for damages of natural resources
cyclone is proportional to the mass
of the air and its velocity squared. An
ing notifications about their develop-
ment. As the technical names could
these goal. The actions to be imple-
mented include reforestation,
pliance of laws and regulations to
protect it. PARTITION
in the Coastal zone. Tropical index of the cyclone energy, known be difficult for common people to preparing local emergency shelters, To protest against the partition of Midna-
cyclones, also known as typhoons as the Accumulated Cyclone Energy remember and in order to spread building of levees and dams, creation The writer is former Senior Scientist, Central pore a representative public meeting
and hurricanes, have caused an esti- has been developed. Tropical storms awareness, naming them gives a of early warning systems, reinforcing Pollution Control Board. attended by about 1,000 people was held
this evening in the Hardinge School com-
IT CAME TO MIND | MANISH NANDY pound under the presidency of Dr.
Bhuwaneshvar Mitra. Mr. Sarat Chandra
A friend in the airport gious principles. My father was a

scholar, whose judgments about the
foolishness of what people in the
Jana in explaining the object of the meet-
ing pointed out that the question of the
partition of the district first arose in 1913.
It was held in suspense during the war. He
“I see from your face that you society were doing were severe. They ing. denied the statement that lawyers, zamin-
don’t recognize me,” Hardik said, weighed heavily on the world. They “I wanted to both care and not dars and similar classes of the people were
and, before I could apologize, added, were hard-boiled critics. They saw care. I wanted to care for the things interested in opposing the partition. He
“I don’t expect you to. You had spo- few silver linings.” that touched me. I loved the sea; I pointed out that one district magistrate
ken at a conference in Singapore “How did you react to that?” wanted to be near it whenever I could easily efficiently manage the whole
some years ago, and I had a brief chat “I saw them weighed down by could. I loved reggae music; I listened of the district especially when he had been
with you afterward.” their beliefs. It was not a happy to it. I also wanted to care for things relieved of the major portion of his work
As I frowned, trying to recall the prospect, and I wondered what alter- beyond me. I supported poor stu- by having a non-official chairman of the
talk, he remarked, “It was all about natives existed. That is what led to dents who needed help. When flood District Board, a separate District Regis-
anticipating the future and develop- my interest in studying the future affected two villages that I knew, I trar, additional Magistrate and other offi-
ing a strategy.” and my attendance at your talk. Can volunteered as a helper and worked cers.
I had the blurriest recollection we develop a strategy to get out of the hard at it. But I didn’t want to be
and I said, “I was a more optimistic
person then. I am afraid I am less so
present mess?
“Most people quickly embrace a
enmeshed in political campaigns; the
mutual hate turned me off. Religious
BENGAL
now.” convenient solution. They just take it fervor, when it included loathing of CO-OPERATIVE
He laughed, “So are we all. Don’t
forget I have lived much longer than
from their parents or their communi-
ty or their country. For many, it is a
other faiths, I found hateful.”
I had to ask, “Doesn’t that sound FEDERATION
you.” heavenly god, for which there is not a little colourless, dispassionate?” A working Committee meeting of the Ben-
I said, in all honesty, “Clearly, the slightest evidence. For many oth- “Maybe. Remember what Yeats gal Provincial Co-operative Federation,
those years have weighed very lightly ers, it is their country or their govern- warned: while the best lack all con- was held yesterday in the room of the Reg-
on you.” ment, which can do no wrong, except viction, ‘the worst are full of passion- istrar of Co-operative Societies, Bengal.
“And I will tell you why,” he that it does all the time. For others, it ate intensity.’ I have tried not to lose Mr. J.T. Donovan, Rai Bahadur Indu Bhu-
responded, thoughtfully and myste- is a dogma of some kind, liberalism all conviction, but avoid the passion san Bhaduri, Mr. I.B. Dutt and Babu
riously, “I have weighed, tried to or communism, that will emancipate of causes and campaigns. I have tried Bireswar Lahiri attended. There was a live-
weigh, lightly on the world.” us, except that it always places new to weigh lightly on the world, by liv- ly discussion lasting about two hours
That hooked me. How does one shackles on us.” ing quietly, cultivating friends, con- regarding the financial condition of sever-
Illustration: Debabrata Chakrabarty weigh lightly on the world? I asked Hardik sipped his coffee and tributing to communities, helping al Co-operative central banks of Bengal
I
rushed to the airport only to find wait. Care for a cup of coffee?” him. continued. the people whom I meet on the way.” and the borrowing capacity of some of
that my flight was delayed. I set- An invitation from a total I added, “Everybody wants to be “The other option a huge num- I knew I was not like Hardik. But them was decided on. Loans amounting
tled down for a long wait in the stranger was a double-edged sword. happy, at least peaceful. If you do that ber choose is to burrow into a small I liked his special view of life. I lifted to more than a lakh of rupees were
lounge. Could be an insufferable bore who by weighing lightly, we would all like groove of private life, with at best a my cup of coffee and said, “Hardik, approved for issue to some central banks
Scarcely a minute later there was goes on about his business problems. to know how. How did you do it?” few friends or relations, and ignore my friend, I am glad I am on your whose business is mainly confined to rural
a tap on my shoulder. An older man Could also be good company and Hardik smiled, “I had examples the world. This is the lightness of way.” banks of unlimited liability. It was decided
in a pinstriped suit, a sharp nose sup- help pass the time in diverting con- close at hand, contrary examples. My being Milan Kundera talked about. to invest a lakh of rupees in the new war
porting heavy glasses, stood behind versation. I took the chance. mother was very religious, very I found it unbearable. I didn’t like The writer is a Washington-based bonds in order to increase the cash credit
international development advisor and had
me. A coffee shop was close by. offended by what everybody was the idea of floating over the world, worked with the World Bank. He can be of the Bank.
“Looks like we are in for a long Hardik introduced himself. doing all the time to violate her reli- like a bird, watching and not bother- reached at mnandy@gmail.com
CROSSWORD
DROWNING
NO 28963
FATALITIES AT
JUBBULPORE
Jubbulpore, July 4
ACROSS 15 Stop heroin without husband's mud? (5) changed (9)
support (7) 28 Sorry Republican felt urge for 8 Most violent end (7) Rivers and tanks are in flood in and
1 Save dose if arm wobbles about around Jubbulpore and there have been
17 Top record in the charts by revolution! (9) 14 Old sort of French-style boarding
(5,4)
6 Wanting bit of rumpy-pumpy?
foremost of tenors (7)
DOWN
house on Exeter's outskirts (9) several cases of drowning. Two European
19 Parents down, having half usual 16 Police officer in bust making fellow boys, George Shield, aged 14, and Fred
Pester Mark! (5)
amount of energy (7) 1 A spanner or clip? (7) tense initially (9)
9 Logic helping the French to accept
21 Big cheese in cafe hit, surprisingly 2 Dope popular with half-cut teller (5) 17 Hide classified file at base (7) Wilmer, aged 10, were drowned while play-
answer (9) ing on a raft in the railway tank on Sunday.
(9) 3 I'm one mixed up with a lot of 18 Sprint to catch red coach? (7)
10 Dope and rests taken regularly can
be a help (5)
23 Her Maj put on crown for a bit of a passion (9) 19 Position of Lord's okay with Both boys were unable to swim. Wilmer’s
laugh (5) 4 Absolute ecstasy drinking a large member (4,3) body was found a few hours after the
11 City were ahead, flipping Hearts
25 Boredom leads to earl's now cask-fermented beer (4,3) 20 A ruler's working like a dream (7)
pitiful essentially (5)
nightly upper intake (5) 5 One known to question seriousness 22 Trust porky husband to eat last of occurrence and Shield’s body was recov-
12 English staff in a foreign capital's ered the next morning. Indian divers and
26 A shot sunk in a single stroke of court official? (7) chilli (5)
airfield (9)
13 Outgoing old coppers brought into
(4,2,3) 6 Flat British countryside (5) 24 Academic must collect old Nerbudda fishermen were employed in
27 Want to get rid of bit of dirty 7 Conversation is crude so must be evidence (5) the recovery of the bodies. At the inquest a
hearing (7)
verdict of accidental death was returned. A
man was drowned recently, while attempt-
ing to cross the Nerbudda, and two Indian
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) boys were drowned while fishing in the
Oomtee river.
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2021 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL Boost to economy?
The ‘real’ relief Various relief measures announced by the government are
P expected to support the pandemic-hit stressed sectors

etrol and diesel prices have touched the century
mark in nearly half of the Indian states and it is
F
stinging the middle classes the most. Sikkim and
Madhya Pradesh are the new entrants to the list of inance Minister Nir- Account (NEIA) and will also
states where petrol and diesel prices have gone higher than mala Sitharaman provide export insurance cover
Rs 100. Certainly, it is not just about these petroleum prod- announced a slew of of Rs 88,000 crore to accelerate
ucts — the ripple has had a fluctuating influence on the relief measures for exports. About 30 per cent of
prices of all the daily utility material. The increased trans- SATISH SINGH pandemic-hit businesses and the country will benefit from
portation cost on account of the fuel price hike is deeply the public on June 28. Apart this provision.
costing the pockets of people. At a time when the entire from expanding some old Under the Bharatnet
nation — with an overwhelming number of middle and schemes, newer ones have also Broadband Scheme, Rs 19,041
low-income groups — is struggling to come out of the rav- been added. The relief package crore will be spent to provide
ages of the pandemic, the obvious course of measure that amounts to Rs 6,28,993 crore. internet to every village. The
was expected was financial support to the millions. The fail- The government has objective of this scheme is to
ure of both the Centre and state governments to address, announced a guarantee cover provide the facility of broad-
or even acknowledge, the shortcoming on the policy front of Rs 50,000 crore out of Rs band connectivity to all the vil-
stands contrary to the need of the hour. As the pockets of 1.1 lakh crore to strengthen lages of the country. It is worth
common masses are burdened on a daily basis, no scale of the health infrastructure, and noting that till May 31, 2021,
other monetary support could ease their pain; it will nul- a provision of Rs 60,000 crore out of 2.50 lakh gram panchay-
lify any government effort to aid its distressed citizens. The has been made for other pan- ats, the facility of broadband
resolving of the issue must be seen in the light of urgency demic-affected areas. A maxi- connectivity has been pro-
as the rising numbers are badly hitting people on a daily mum loan of Rs 100 crore is vided to 1,56,223 villages.
basis. The Finance Minister has almost expressed the gov- permissible under the scheme. Rs 3.03 lakh crore will be
ernment’s helplessness in the matter as she clarified that the Interest will be charged at the given for reforms in the power
price hikes are mainly on account of rising international rate of 7.95 per cent on loans sector to strengthen power dis-
oil prices that have touched around USD 75 per barrel. She related to the health sector, and tribution-related infrastruc-
cleared the Centre’s involvement by saying that the vary- The government 8.25 per cent for other sectors. ture. Under this scheme, 25
ing prices in the states are a result of the Value Added Tax will aid Rs The government will spend Rs crore smart meters, 10 thou-
imposed by the states. The rise of fuel prices can roughly 23,220 crore on health services sand feeders and LT over-
be related to certain factors including — the rise of inter- 33,000 crore related to children by March
A large part of the total MSME units across the country was left out of ECLGS
head lines will be installed for
national oil prices, VAT imposed by the states, excise duty to exporters 31, 2022. The availability of three years and the govern- affected by the pandemic. 100 ernment had announced smooth transmission of elec-
imposed by the Centre and the value of rupee against the oxygen cylinders at the dis- ment will give a guarantee of per cent guarantee will also be the Pradhan Mantri Garib tricity to up to four lakh km.
dollar. While the international prices and the value of rupee
through NEIA trict and sub-district level and 75 per cent on it. Borrowers, given on loans up to Rs one Kalyan Anna scheme on 26 The government will come
remain beyond the control of the governments, the other and will also facilities like testing capacity who have not paid their loan lakh to 10,700 licensed tourist March 2020 last year and out with a new policy for Pub-
two factors can be considered given the extraordinary situ- provide export and teleconsultation will also instalment and interest for 89 guides. In order to boost for- its benefit was given to the lic-Private Partnership (PPP)
ation we are in. The excise duty for petrol stands today at be amplified. days, will also be eligible to eign tourism, one-time visas poor for the first time from projects and asset monetiza-
Rs 32.98 per litre and that for diesel is Rs 31.8 per litre. insurance The Emergency Credit Line take advantage of this scheme. will be issued free of cost to April to June 2020. Later the tion, which will expedite the
These numbers have come a long way since 2014 when the cover of Rs Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Twenty-five lakh people are the first five lakh foreign tour- duration of this scheme was implementation of PPP proj-
excise duty on petrol was 9.48 per litre and that on die- — launched in May last year — expected to benefit from this ists till March 31, 2022. extended till November 2020. ects. The current process is
sel was Rs 3.56 per litre. Between the years 2014 and 2016, 88,000 crore has met 90 per cent of its target scheme. The government has The validity of the Self-reli- In the financial year 2020-21, very lengthy and requires mul-
excise duty was raised to take advantage of the plummet- to accelerate of providing a loan of Rs three made a provision of Rs 75,00 ant India Employment Scheme Rs.1,33,972 crore was spent tiple levels of approvals. Asset
ing international oil prices — this effectively means at that lakh crore to MSMEs, cover- crore for this scheme, the ben- — launched last year — has on this scheme. The scheme monetization policy will help
time the consumers were not getting affected adversely as exports ing 1.1 crore units. As there are efit of which can be availed till been extended till March 31, was restarted in May 2021. to sell off various properties
the prices were low and the government was making good about 6.3 crore MSME units March 31, 2022. 2022. Under this scheme, the Under this scheme, about 80 which are kept idle for a long
money at that time. But, as the prices rose again, deduc- across the country, many units According to the data of government pays the provi- crore people will be given 5 time.
tion in excise duty didn’t come in. This means that the Cen- were left out. Therefore, an World Travel and Tourism, dent fund of employees and kg foodgrains free of cost till The second wave of the pan-
tral Government is still mopping up the same revenue it additional loan of Rs 1.5 lakh the contribution of travel companies earning less than November 2021, which will demic hit even before the full
used to do when the international oil prices were low, but crore under ECLGS has been and tourism to GDP was Rs 15,000 salary. The govern- cost around Rs.93,869 crore recovery from the first wave,
the effect of increased prices is being mostly braced by the announced further. 6.9 per cent in 2019, which ment has set a target of spend- this year. About Rs 2,27,841 affecting the ongoing correc-
people. In 2019-20, the revenue mopped by the government Small business, non- decreased to 4.7 per cent in ing Rs 22,810 crore on this crore will be spent on this tive measures in the econ-
from taxes on petrol and diesel was around Rs 2,13,000 banking financial companies 2020. Employment in this sec- scheme to benefit about 58.5 scheme together last year and omy and bringing economic
and which reached close to Rs three lakhs in the next fiscal. (NBFC) and Micro Finance tor has come down from 4.01 lakh people. this year. activities to a standstill. Also,
The revenue figures are about 4-5 times of what used to be Institutions (MFI) will be crore to 3.18 crore. Identifying The government has given Exports have also been many employment opportu-
before the increase in excise duty before 2014. It has been given an assistance of up to Rs the need to provide immediate an additional subsidy of Rs negatively affected due to the nities were reduced. Health,
observed in the past few years that the revenues from petrol 1.25 lakh crore in the form of relief to strengthen this sector, 14,775 crore to farmers, out pandemic, registering a decline tourism, MSMEs, farmers etc.
and diesel have risen despite the reduced sale of the fuels. loan, on which interest will be the government announced to of which a subsidy of Rs 9,125 of 7.3 per cent during FY 2020- were most affected by the sec-
While the increase in revenue is a good and important charged by adding a maximum provide a 100 per cent guaran- crore has been given on DAP 21, amounting to a loss of USD ond wave. The announced
thing as more money in governments’ coffers could mean of two per cent on the Bank’s tee on loans up to Rs 10 lakh fertilizers, while a subsidy of Rs 290.6 billion. Therefore, the relief package is expected to
more support for citizens, but that support will make little Marginal Cost of Funds-Based which will be given to 904 5,650 crore has been given on government will aid Rs 33,000 improve the economic condi-
sense if they are forced into distress from the other side. It is Lending Rates (MCLR). The registered tourist guides and NPK fertilizers. crore to exporters through tion of affected sectors.
time when Central and state governments must forgo their tenure of such a loan will be travel tourism stakeholders To help the poor, the gov- National Export Insurance Views expressed are personal
revenues and consider subsidising the fuels. This would
Flattering tone
mean some real, direct and meaningful relief for the dis-
tressed millions. It will also help the governments perform
their responsibility of tackling the pandemic in a smoother
way. For the time being, the government may consider rais-
ing revenues from corporate taxes and other alternatives.
The Central government must take on board all the state
governments and come out with a comprehensive solution.
This issue should not be left to linger for long.
The flourishing Sino-Pak relations call for a cautious approach on part of India
DearEditor
P
akistan’s Prime Min- stan will come down heavily
ister Imran Khan on PMIK for such statements
(PMIK) has unabash- and apathy shown towards the
edly admitted to have Chinese Muslims.
USE OR ABUSE? concurred in letter and in Meanwhile, President
spirit with China’s stand on Xi Jinping shot out a seri-
The NIA special court’s latest order clearing Akhil the treatment of Uighurs — ous warning to all the foreign
Gogoi, the anti-CAA crusader and currently MLA the Chinese Muslims living in forces that China would not
from Sibsagar constituency, of sedition and other the western Chinese province allow itself to be bullied and
charges is a damning indictment of the country’s
SHANTANU
MUKHARJI of Xinjiang. Speaking to Chi- protect its territorial integ-
premier investigation agency. Mr Gogoi and others nese journalists on the occa- rity and sovereignty. Address-
were arrested at the peak of the anti-CAA protests in sion of centenary celebrations ing thousands of people at the
Assam in December 2019. He was accused of several of the Chinese Communist centurion event of the CCP,
charges including UAPA, association with Maoist groups, Party (CCP), he even went on Xi hailed China’s much-hyped
terrorism and so on. Mr Gogoi was held in prison for to say that the Chinese ver- “national rejuvenation” theme.
19 months and contested the Assam assembly elections sion of alleged mistreatment of At the celebrations, there was
from jail. The court said that there was no “prima facie Uighurs was strikingly differ- also a massive show of mili-
materials to frame charges against the accused persons” ent from other Muslims settled tary strength when military
and found the “conduct and approach of the investigating across the world. In a blistering helicopters presented a fly-past
authority/ prosecution, in this case, to be discouraging, attack, he charged the western followed by 15 J-20 stealth Air
to say the least”. Unfortunately, in India Mr Gogoi’s case media for being grossly erro- Force fighters. Utilising this
is not exceptional but points to a pattern where anti- neous in reporting the excesses opportunity to reach out to the
terror and sedition laws are abused by state agencies to against the Uighur minority. Chinese masses, Xi praised the
crack down on legitimate forms of dissent and protests In a glaring display of CCP’s concept of socialism and
flattery towards China — pointed towards the charac-
by civil society groups and non-mainstream political On the one exceeding all diplomatic At the centurion event of the CCP, Xi hailed China’s much-hyped “national rejuvenation” theme teristics that are expected to
activists. Since UAPA has stringent bail conditions, the
accused, in most cases, end up spending a long time in
hand, Imran norms — Imran Khan said: transform the country from
“because of our extreme prox- He further proceeded to praise in China. Besides the inflated the Chinese system of gover- a highly centralised planned
prison awaiting trial. It is welcome that courts across the Khan is critical imity and relationship with the “flexibility” of the Chinese praise for China, Imran Khan nance is interpreted by experts economy to a socialist market
country are now raising the bar on sedition and UAPA of the Israeli China, we accept the Chinese system, arguing that in Paki- stated that India was supposed as flattery. The sources feel that economy.
and have asked state agencies to be sensitive to the letter version”. Without losing the stani society and in western to act as a counter-balance to PMIK’s pro-China statements Chinese President’s warn-
and spirit of the law as well as the rights of citizens. In excesses against slightest opportunity of crit- democracies, it is difficult to China but that could be det- were possibly based on a script ing shots apart from its flex-
this context, the NIA court’s observation that “if the the Palestinians icising Kashmir, he alleged bring changes due to bindings rimental. Such unwarranted written in Beijing and deliv- ing of muscles to demonstrate
criminal justice system, for some reason, is unable to that it was hypocritical that of rules and regulations. In an comments show that Imran ered to Imran Khan for par- its military, political and social
give bail to an accused, his trial should preferably be
but, on the other, while the Uighur situation apparent move to please the was in a mode to articulate his roting. For whatever he said power cautioned the world
completed within a year, so that his constitutional and he is openly and Hong Kong were being Chinese President Xi Jinping, pro-China views. Further, he on July 1, it is difficult to con- powers not to underestimate
human rights of presumption of innocence and speedy supportive of highlighted, attention was not Imran underlined that one emphasised that China was ceive that he would escape the the resolve, the will, and the
trial is not violated” calls for serious deliberation. being accorded to the alleged can only become a leader after too strong and India needed criticism of the US and other ability of the Chinese peo-
the Chinese human rights violations in going through a long struggle; to engage with it in activities Western countries for his anti- ple to defend their unity and
— KHOKAN DAS, KOLKATA via email Kashmir. Such an irresponsi- his comment was noteworthy of trade rather than militar- West rhetoric to mollycoddle sovereignty. In light of these
government in ble and irrelevant statement is as he said that the US Presi- ily. He opined, rather uncon- China. As PMIK chose to developments, China’s self-
millenniumpost.in
its crackdown on unbecoming of the stature of dents did not go through this vincingly, that if anyone was name India while raising the confidence and self-perceived
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to

the Uighurs a Head of Government. The
detractors of Imran, accused
rigorous process at all.
It is pertinent to point out
going to lose out, it could only
be India.
Kashmir issue to the Chinese
media persons and justified
impression of military superi-
ority calls for a close watch on
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, him for shedding crocodile here that such an uncharitable PMIK claimed that Sino- Chinese aggressive persecu- its emerging bonhomie with
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 tears as he lamented that west- remark on the election process Pak relations were very strong tion of the Uighurs, he bla- Pakistan. It is imperative there-
ern media was conspicuously of the US President is unlikely and they had nothing to do tantly stood exposed amongst fore to exercise more caution
silent on the “high handedness to augur well with the US Pres- with India. Coming in fierce the Muslims. This act of indif- on the deepening of Sino-Pak
in Kashmir”. idency and its ilk. This apart, defence of China, he described ference towards a section of relations. India’s military pre-
Tweet of the day In the meantime, keep-

ing Pakistan’s all-weather ally
China in good humour, osten-
Imran Khan’s overwhelming
praise for China in describing
its polity as unique and cred-
the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) project as
very exciting and disclosed
Muslims exposes Imran’s dubi-
ous role. On the one hand, he
is critical of the Israeli excesses
paredness and timely intel-
ligence assessment need to
be the top priority to thwart
sibly at Beijing’s prompting, iting the Chinese President Pakistani plans for attracting against the Palestinians but, threats emanating from the
This year “Indian doctor” should get Bharat PMIK averred that CCP has for getting rid of the malaise Chinese investment for spe- on the other, he is openly sup- Sino-Pak military axis amid a
Ratna. “Indian Doctor” means all doctors, achieved much better results of corruption and eradica- cial economic zones in Paki- portive of the Chinese govern- self-created euphoria.
nurses and paramedics. This will be a true without even a democracy. tion of poverty is not palat- stan as the labour was much ment in its crackdown on the The writer is a retired
tribute to the martyred doctors. This will be an Most laughably, he stressed able by the China watchers. cheaper there. Uighurs. Muslims, the world IPS officer, a security
honour to those who serve without worrying that the Chinese system for On the other hand, Imran has PMIK’s forthright and carte over, are unlikely to spare analyst and a former
ARVIND KEJRIWAL
about their life and family. The whole country @ArvindKejriwal sifting through talents and deliberately chosen to main- blanche support to the Chi- Imran for this diabolical step. National Security Advisor to
bringing those up was better tain silence over the continued nese president on the issues of It is also assessed that radical the PM of Mauritius. Views
will be happy with this than in any democratic system. oppression of the dissenters bilateral ties, the CPEC, and Islamic groups within Paki- expressed are personal
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 5 JULY 2021 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
5 JULY 2021
Change of CM exposes Subhani

deeper malaise in BJP
T
he BJP’s decision on Saturday to change its chief minister in Uttarakhand,
where Assembly election is due early next year, speaks of a wider malaise
on view in several states ruled by the saffron party, perhaps most notably
Uttar Pradesh where, too, state polls will be held along with Uttarakhand.
Indeed, the disease has hit even states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
where the party is in the Opposition.
The name of that malady is imposition of state leaders from above. This has come
to the fore in the Modi era in conspicuous ways. The political sickness is the more
visible because the BJP has come to run the show in more states than it has ever
done — partly through genuine electoral triumphs (riding on the runaway popu-
larity of the Prime Minister in the early stages) but also through widely-noted
skullduggery.
The failure of the BJP to manage the corona pandemic overall presented anti-CM
factions in the states the opportunity to try and assert themselves — and they did,
sometimes prodded by the central leadership. In early March, then Uttarakhand
CM Trivendra Singh Rawat was forced by Delhi to resign for no apparent reason.
His party MLA also accused him of corruption and
Last month, for ineffectiveness. At any rate, his term had been
U’khand trouble spells LETTERS

lacklustre.
reasons not The CM was changed just a year short of the
dissimilar to that of next election. It was presumed that his succes-
Uttarakhand, the BJP sor would last the remainder of the term of the MUSICAL CHAIRS
and RSS leadership legislature. But he has been asked to go in less
evidently considered than four months, highlighting arbitrary deci-
been handed the crown of thorns.

sion-making at the level of the central leader-
replacing UP CM ship and its utter disregard of the legislature
Adityanath party. Evidently, there is panic in the party
about poll prospects. Pushkar Singh Dhami has
In part, a technicality was used to jettison Tirath Singh who is not a member of
end of Modi’s free run to expose the false certi- Pradesh, which is also
Uttarakhand is a rare politi-
cal arena where CMs have
been playing musical
chairs for a long while now.
If Congress had its prob-
the state legislature. He can’t get elected to the Assembly by early September when
the required six months end for the leader to enter the legislature. The Election Parsa fication
Kumbh Mela.
during the set to go to the polls next
March. UP chief minis- lems, the BJPis worse off.
Commission hasn’t called a by-election since Assembly polls are round the corner.
But it is noteworthy that neither the Centre nor the state government urge the poll Venkateshwar There was of course the
issue of a by-election
ter Yogi Adityanath is
proving to be a tough
Multiple faultlines in the
state polity keep forcing
body to do so. Ergo, it appears that the BJP headquarters wanted Tirath Singh out
in any case. Rao Jr which was necessary for
Tirath Singh Rawat to
nut. He is unpopular in
the state party unit, and frequent changeovers.
Last month, for reasons not dissimilar to that of Uttarakhand, the BJP and RSS cross in order to contin- his government has lost
leadership evidently considered replacing UP CM Adityanath. BJP had fared poor- ue as chief minister till much ground because There are regional divi-
ly in the recent panchayat polls. Mishandling the pandemic was a key reason, but election time. It is possi- people are angry with sions of Garhwal and Kum-
there were other factors, too. The CM was called to Delhi. In the end the Centre ble that the BJP’s cen- the shoddy Covid-19
aon, topographical divide
T
developed cold feet. The UP leader heads a Hindutva far right group, more extreme he shuffling of Nadu, West Bengal and tral leadership did not management by the state
than RSS. If he revolted, he is likely to damage BJP in the state polls. chief ministers Assam. The first Rawat anticipate the difficulty government. The central between hills and plains
So, the man has been directed to patch up with the warring factions, starting in Uttara- tried to defend the state of the Election leadership would have and caste divisions bet-
with the deputy CM. For good measure, to spruce up his image months before the khand — three government’s decision to Commission’s inability liked to replace him as
next Assembly election and to infuse confidence in supporters, he has also ensured in a four-and-a- allow the Kumbh Mela, to hold a by-election, and they did Tirath Nath ween Thakurs and Brahm-
the victory of a large number of district council chairmen in the face of strong alle- half-year span — cer- saying this was an open the prospect was further Singh Rawat and Triv- ins, to add to the complex
gations by political opponents that the state machinery was misused to secure this tainly reveals that there air gathering and there- hobbled by the norm endra Singh Rawat in
result. In the interest of transparency, the state election commission should seri- is a problem in the rul- fore less problematic. that if the Assembly elec- Uttarakhand. But Yogi matrix. For all its centalised
ously examine the allegation instead of casting it aside. ing BJP’s structure in But it would be naïve to tion was less than a year Adityanath is extremely power structure, the BJP
In Uttarakhand and many other states, the BJP leadership appears to have opted the two-decade-old state. believe that the BJP’s away, then a by-election unlikely to give up with- has to change its CM annu-
for leaders who have had a long run with the RSS, without regard to their ability, The party has a com- central leadership rep- should not be held. The out a fight. The party’s
experience and capacity to manage factions. This is a major part of the problem. manding majority — 57 laced him because of the BJP leaders at the central leadership must ally. The party that has
out of 70 seats — in the Covid-19 sin of allowing Centre appeared to have have realised the futility leveraged polarisation now
state Assembly, and yet the Kumbh Mela. There tied themselves up into of stirring the pot as it
finds the genie refusing to
Expanding the Covid safety net stability seems to elude
it. The party seems
unable to find a leader.
were pressures from the
state party unit. His
replacement, the second
knots. There were also
the internal party mur-
murs of disaffection with
were in the state. The
writ of Mr Modi and Mr
Shah, ironically, does
go back inside the bottle.
R. Narayanan
T
he decision of the Union government to allow pregnant women to vaccinate Trivendra Singh Rawat Rawat, did not seem to Tirath Singh Rawat. The not run in Uttar
themselves against pandemic Covid-19 is welcome. As per the recommenda- gave way to Tirath Singh be particularly skilled to BJP could not have gone Pradesh. Navi Mumbai
tions of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Rawat, and just four hold the party together into the Assembly elec- There is room for the
months later he is and lead it into the election with its members speculation that the
RAFALE RUMBLINGS
pregnant women can take the jab at any point in their pregnancy. Studies have
found that the vaccine is not only safe for pregnant women but it will also be able replaced by Pushkar tions early next year. disgruntled. Whether stranglehold Mr Modi
to save them and the newborns from potential health issues. It could also prevent Singh Dhami, a party But there was enough the new chief minister, and Mr Shah have over
deterioration of other health conditions should they catch Covid-19. While strong- member who has never rivalry and spite Pushkar Singh Dhami, the BJP appears to have THE CONTROVERSIAL `59,000
ly recommending vaccination, the government insists that the guidelines it has been in the government. between the two Rawats will be able to carry loosened a bit after the crore Rafale fighter jet deal is in the
issued is only to help women take an informed decision. The government also Even a centralised party because the inquiry into through is not much of a party’s decisive defeat in news for the wrong reasons yet
appears to have leaned on the reports that the pandemic affected pregnant and like the BJP, where the the medical clearance question as there was no West Bengal, and its fail- again, with France ordering a judi-
postpartum women more severely during the second wave than the first. lines of command are for those participating in option but to replace ure to make headway in cial probe into allegations of corrup-
The decision covers a hitherto uncovered segment of the population and makes clearly drawn — the the Kumbh Mela has Tirath Singh Rawat. The Tamil Nadu and in tion and favouritism. The deal had
every person aged above 18 now eligible for vaccination. India as of now has given Rashtriya Swayamsevak revealed a racket of false speculation that the ploy Kerala. It has shown that whipped up a political storm with the
35 crore doses but has fully vaccinated only 4.5 per cent of the population; the gov- Sangh (RSS) directs the permissions. But the of sacrificing Tirath the BJP can’t always Opposition Congress accusing the
ernment has declared its intention to vaccinate every eligible person by December central leadership of the problem was not square- Singh Rawat is to create assume it will win elec- Modi government of nudging Rafale
31, 2021. In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court recently, the government gave BJP, and the central ly nailed, because there a dead-end situation for tions in the name of Mr manufacturer Dassault to choose
its vaccine procurement plan, too. While the experts are predicting in unison the leadership calls the was no tracking of the a by-election in West Modi. The Assembly Reliance Defence as its offset part-
arrival of a third wave of the pandemic and differ only on the timing, it is impera- shots in the state — thousands who poured Bengal, which is needed elections in April-May ner, brushing aside state-owned
tive that the governments at the Centre and the states redouble their efforts to vac- power politics and the into Haridwar for the for chief minister Mam- have shown that there Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. In
cinate people and strictly implement social distancing norms to stop the virus clash of interest groups Kumbh Mela. ata Banerjee to remain are limits to the Prime April, French online journal Media-
from wreaking havoc. assert themselves. The false certification in office, looks plausible Minister’s charisma. So, part claimed that millions of euros
The government had recently done away with the mandatory e-registration on There is the additional showed the cavalier enough given the desire Mr Modi and Mr Shah changed hands to seal the deal.
the CoWin portal and allowed anyone to walk into a vaccination centre and get factor in the inner party manner in which the of Prime Minister Nar- are facing hurdles inside N.J. Ravi Chander
jabbed. It may now consider launching a pro-active programme and take the vac- dynamics of the BJP — Covid-19 pandemic was endra Modi and Union the party as well as in Bengaluru
cine to the doorsteps of the people in a massive way. It’s worthwhile to remember the streak of Hindutva treated by the BJP state home minister Amit the state electoral battle-
that prevention is several times better than cure in pandemic times. which each leader wants government. And the Shah to checkmate her. fields. It may not be the
to flaunt to show that he government at the Cen- But the immediate chal-
lenge for the BJP in
end of the road for Mr
Modi and Mr Shah. But
TWO KIDS ARE ENOUGH
is true-blue ideological tre cannot pretend that it
soldier. This could be was unaware about it. Uttarakhand is the dis- they can’t any more FOR INDIA, the two-child policy is a
seen in Trivendra Singh Trivendra Singh Rawat array in the party. have a free run. They necessity rather than a fanatical
allowing the untram- was also pushing to turn The BJP’s central lead- must learn to navigate obsession. Our natural resources,
melled Kumbh Mela at the “Char Dham”, com- ers are not exactly in a through political pot- the prime mover for earnings,
Haridwar to take place at prising the Kedarnath, comfortable position in holes. After the impres- employment and economy, is minis-
the beginning of the Badrinath, Gangotri and neighbouring Uttar sive second victory in cule per capita than most other
year, when Covid-19 was Yamunotri shrines, into the 2019 Lok Sabha elec- countries. Here, there is no dearth of
yet to be controlled and a pilgrim circuit under tions, Mr Modi appeared individuals of working age but not
the rollout of the Covid- an administrative autho- The speculation invincible and Mr Shah enough jobs generated by the econo-
THE ASIAN AGE 19 vaccine still remained rity called the Char that the ploy of a successful Man Friday. my. Increment in life expectancy and
a vague programme. But Dham Devasthanam sacrificing Tirath The good times for the downward mortality will make us
as the fury of the second Board. The Brahmins in Narendra Modi govern- overtake China soon. We need quali-
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR wave of the pandemic these pilgrim centres Singh Rawat is to ment appear to have ty rather than quantity in human
Editor Printer & Publisher
was unleashed in April- resented this as it would create a dead-end ended with the onset of resources.
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: May, the Kumbh Mela take away their private situation for a by- the Covid-19 pandemic at Chanchal Nandy
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: was seen as the culprit monopoly in dealing election in West the beginning of 2020. Durgapur
super-spreader, along with the pilgrims. Tirath `500 for the best letter of the
(011) 23211124.
Published and Printed on behalf of and for with the farmers’ agita- Singh Rawat was trying
Bengal, needed for The writer is a
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
tion and the state Ass- to roll back the decision Mamata Banerjee Delhi-based
week goes to Sravana
New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. embly elections in Ker- on the Char Dham even to remain in office, commentator and Ramachandran (July 4). Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 ala, Puducherry, Tamil as he allowed an inquiry looks plausible analyst asianage.letters@gmail.com.
I
guess we will continue to create three children — representative of US makes the statues of those repre- father, William the Duke of sister (sounds familiar?). Among the
statues as they will, hopefully, her impact on future generations. senting the controversial past easy Cambridge, who is the Royal Patron election tactics employed, the
outlive us and tell the future The two princes did not quite bury targets. Of course, the indigenous for the English league, was seen leap- Labour Party put out a leaflet with a
world who our icons were. And, the hatchet but were nonetheless children were studying in Church ing up when Harry Keane scored the picture of Boris Johnson and
Kishwar Desai despite the recent protests, during
Black Lives Matter, we still feel that
cordial to each other and while peace
did not break out — the statue
run schools — and apologies are
being demanded from the Church.
second goal.
Then there was the second come-
Narendra Modi implying that
Muslim voters should not vote
it is a means of honouring those who brought new discussions to this back of Andy Murray at Wimbledon, Conservative because of Modi. There
London Diary
I
contributed something valuable. But beleaguered nation. Most important- t has been a nostalgia week in as well. The poor man had to drop was a huge controversy about this
just last week, while the statues of ly — did it really look like her? other ways too. After 55 years of out due to medical problems but has leaflet. George Galloway, formerly a
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth In any case the sculptor Ian Rank heartache and humiliation, battled to get back. The English don’t Labour MP, ran on a third party tick-
II were being yanked down and Broadley said he had worked England finally beat Germany at soc- have many Wimbledon champions et. He took 8,264 votes but came
decapitated in Canada by angry through anecdotes, photographs and cer. It was way back in the summer so although he is Scottish — all of third. As it was said that there were
crowds — a brand new statue of documents with both the Princes, of 1966 that England had beaten London turned up to cheer him play- 8,600 Muslim votes in the constituen-
another Royal icon, Princess Diana, and had tried to capture her warmth. Germany in the World Cup. In those ing and winning at Wimbledon. cy, it would seem the Muslim voters
came up in the UK, to almost-adula- In front of the statue, on the days the shadows of the Second Looking at the crowds turning up for did not vote Conservative but they
Nostalgia week: tion. To be honest, it did not quite
look like her — (and for many she
resembled the former Prime
grounds, are words carved out which
are based on “The Measure Of A
Man”: “These are the units to mea-
World War still lingered, and the vic-
tory at Wembley with England
becoming World champions had
soccer and tennis, no one would have
guessed there had been (and contin-
ues to be) a pandemic.
did not vote Labour either. The
Conservative candidate Ryan
Stephenson came second with 12,973
England settle Minister, Theresa May) — but hey, sure the worth of this woman as a meant a lot. Since then, there had and Kim won with 13,298. The
I
the sculpture supposedly represent- woman regardless of birth. Not been repeated humiliations for the ndia was part of the battle in a by- Labour majority fell to a tiny 323 as
ed the more charity-oriented Diana. ‘What was her station?’ but ‘Had she English side. At last there was the election at Batley and Spens in its vote share fell from 42.7 in the
The Diana of the later years. Yet, let a heart? How did she play her God- taste of sweet victory — and that, too, West Yorkshire. This seat was 2020 election to 35.3 now. I guess the
score; but Di not us not forget that she died when she
was just 36, after a very tumultuous
and troubled life.
given part?”’
But meanwhile, in Canada — the
statues of Queens Victoria and Eliz-
in the year after Brexit, and during
the relaxation of the lockdown with
live spectators at Wembley. The
held by Labour traditionally. This
was where Jo Cox ,MP, was brutally
murdered by a Right Wing terrorist
one consolation is that a woman
came ahead of the men candidates!
And she may have saved Keir
looking herself Her sons who unveiled her sculp-

ture are older now than she was
when breathed her last following a
abeth II were pulled down because
graves of more than 1,000 indigenous
children were found within schools
which had been run by the Church.
thousands of fans at Wembley sang
“Sweet Caroline”, Neil Diamond’s
classic song, leaving everyone over
five years ago. The person who suc-
ceeded Jo Cox, Tracy Brabin, got
elected as Mayor of West Yorkshire.
Starmer, the precariously placed
Labour Party leader!
car crash in France, and no doubt it fifty with a smile on their lips. And, So she resigned her seat as being the Kishwar Desai is an award winning
was for them a very poignant tribute Though neither Victoria nor Eliza- of course, all below fifty as well. mayor of a region is much more pow- author and playwright, whose new
to a mother who could not really beth possibly knew anything about Indeed, among the younger genera- erful than being a backbench MP. book The Longest Kiss: The Life And
achieve her true potential. In the these mass graves — the bitter colo- tion was Prince George watching his The Labour candidate chosen to Times Of Devika Rani has just been
sculpture, she is surrounded by nial history of both Canada and the first big game at Wembley. Even his replace her was Kim Leadbetter, Jo’s published
MUMBAI
4 THINK BusinessLine
MONDAY • JULY 5 • 2021
0
xyz
monday, july 5, 2021

Prime Minister’s luck, Modi’s alibi
Forget luck; PMs over time have never been held accountable. Both, Congress and the BJP are equally responsible for this mess
Saving grace CHITRAGUPTA is the truth. For Mr Modi, this was a
far more important objective. In
T
The Finance Ministry has done well not to pare here has been a lot of talk achieving that limited objective,
in recent weeks that he has succeeded. So luck is a
small savings rate in these times Prime Minister Narendra nonstarter.
Modi has run, or is run But if 8590 was the aim, why did
T
he Centre has done well to preserve the ning, out of luck. Well, the Prime he not stop his party from boasting
Minister may have but in the case that it would win 200 seats? 200?
status quo on small savings schemes in
of Narendra Modi, it could be a dif Out of 294? Seriously? And that too
a time of rising inflation and pressure ferent reason altogether why he is when it had won only three seats in
on incomes. Interest rates on post office doing so badly. the 2016 election?
schemes favoured by retail savers, senior citizens There are two bits of supporting That was not luck, either. It was
and monthly income seekers have been left un evidence for the bad luck lament. just plain old stupidity. Seen in this
One is the BJP’s defeat in the Bengal light, Mr Modi has only himself to
changed for the fifth consecutive quarter. While election and the other is the vi blame for his loss of credibility.
purists may argue that it is anomalous for sover cious spread of the second wave of He should have cautioned his
eignbacked instruments to offer higher rates the Corona virus during AprilJune. party to stop talking nonsense, an
than bank deposits, there was limited logic for How else, except for bad luck, activity in which it runs a close
could things have gone so badly second to Rahul Gandhi, the aston
trimming these rates now. Amidst the global de for Mr Modi? ishingly strange president of the
bate on resurgent inflation, India’s CPI and WPI But while bad luck can be ad Congress party.
prints have surprised on the upside and yields on duced as a defence of the Prime Mr Modi might also like to intro
the 5year government security to which small Minister, what about Mr Modi? For spect on whether it was worth
the latter, luck has nothing to do spending all that much money —
savings rates are supposed to be pegged, have
wit h it. one estimate says ₹200 crore — for
risen about 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent, mak Indeed, luck is just a way of ex just 90 seats which, in the event,
ing it imperative to protect real returns for savers. plaining to yourself why your own turned out to be just 75. It was a
Traditionally, India’s net household savings preconceived notions were belied. clear case of much ‘So much ado
have been positive, in the process funding the But the question arises: precon over very little’. The devastating second wave of the pandemic and the Bengal election loss are a double whammy for the PM PTI
ceived notions about whom? The Then there is the second wave. If
negative savings of the government sector (the Prime Minister or Mr Modi? the failure to carry out the 170200 never happened in India. Neither Atal Bihari Vajpayee to explain how cause both parties have tended not
Centre, States and public sector) without creating seat boast caused Mr Modi’s credib the Congress nor the BJP has even Kargil was allowed to happen or to make a distinction between the
any serious macroeconomic imbalance, post 1991. Bengal, virus etc ility to take a huge hit, his own fail dreamed of asking a Prime Minis the attack on Parliament. LK Ad person and the office. If it is out of
However, gross household sav The fact is that Mr Modi did not ure to anticipate the second wave ter to explain why he or she made vani was never asked to explain the respect for the person in one case,
‘lose’ Bengal. What he lost was has pretty much decimated it. such a mess of things. 2009 defeat in an election that was it is because of a fear of the PM’s of
Scan & Share ings (a trend level of about 15 credibility because, in order to en None but the most fanatical sup Thus the Congress never asked the BJP’s to win. fice in the other. So the parties
per cent of GDP) constitutes thuse the troops, the BJP porters believe anything Jawaharlal Nehru to explain the Nor, it must be added, is anyone grumble privately but grovel
about half the total savings leadership started boast he says now. 1962 defeat at the hands of China. in the Congress party, which still publicly.
Scan & Share
now, while this proportion was ing that they would win So all in all, luck is the It never asked Indira Gandhi to has a 20 per cent vote share, asking It is the same with the regional
170 around seats. Some easy explanation and is explain the Emergency and Opera the Gandhi family to step aside. parties. No one has ever asked any
closer to two thirds about a dec
even said 200. applicable to the Prime tion Bluestar. They may write letters and quit the of the regional bosses to give what
ade back. Given the need to But that was never on Minister. Not so Mr Modi, It never asked Rajiv Gandhi to ex party but accountability? Never. in north India is called a
boost growth and physical and the cards. Indeed, it was however. He goofed up plain either the Bofors payoffs or And so it is wholly unlikely that ‘fullandfinal’.
social infrastructure, it is crucial that net house not the plan, either. badly. the IPKF misadventure in Sri Lanka. anyone will ask Mr Modi to explain In other words, lack of account
hold savings pick up from the current level of The party, while plan Manmohan Singh also got off the debacle over the second wave, ability is inherent in our culture.
ning its strategy, had not aimed at Parties and PMs lightly over the 26/11 attack on although it is clear to all that none And that’s why, regardless of the
about 10 per cent of GDP. Debtfinanced growth winning the election. It had a But then so do other prime minis Mumbai. but he was to blame for the unpar constitutional and institutional ar
will lead to rising market interest rates and cur much more modest aim: to get ters. When that happens in other Narasimha Rao was not asked donable negligence. rangements, when it comes to
rency volatility. The RBI cannot sustain its uncon around 90 seats so that it could in countries, the party calls the prime what he was doing while the Babri Everyone is hoping it will soon political arrangements, we remain
ventional monetary policies to keep rates in check crease its strength in the Rajya ministers to account. Masjid was being demolished. become water under the bridge. stuck in a feudal mindset and keep
Sabha. And mind, this is not spin; it But this calling to account has Likewise, the BJP never asked This sort of thing happens be paying the price for it.
for borrowers for all time to come; the interest
rate must reflect the current account deficit or
savingsinvestment gap.
A sustained regime of real negative interest
MFIs need bold policy support

rates via a suppressed yield curve will spur disin
termediation into physical assets or in risky in
vestments, creating an asset bubble that has been
associated with over two decades of loose monet
ary policy worldwide. Former RBI Governor
Raghuram Rajan had mooted a real interest rate The sector is in dire need of liquidity, especially for the small and medium sized institutions
of 1.52 per cent as the benchmark (calculated as
ALOK MISRA microfinance institutions depend MFIs. AIFIs and lenders remained suring AIFIs and lenders lend to
the difference between the oneyear Gsec yield heavily on client repayments for li cautious and unfortunately adop small and midsized MFIs lowering
M
and retail inflation). The present oneyear GSec icrofinance is perhaps quidity. Still, going with the RBI an ted a risk matrix of normal times to their risk lens; (b) restarting of
yield converges with the repo rate of 4 per cent, the only industry of nouncement, the industry exten screen eligible institutions. PCGS PCGC and also covering term loans
whereas it was about 4050 basis points higher a similar vintage in In ded moratorium to its clients but was a great help but again sub from banks and AIFIs under it, this
dia whose historical did not get any moratorium from scribers remained wary of going will give comfort to the risk averse
few years ago. At present a real interest rate of
journey is dotted with repeated its lenders, it is estimated that below A rated papers. lenders; (c) inclusion of small and
minus 2 per cent thus calculated, which has been crisis, testing its business model about 40 per cent lenders agreed to The experience of last year with medium sized NBFCMFIs under
around for a year, does not augur well for savers. time and again. But the sector has partial moratorium. This double economic shock showed that for Resolution Framework, so that
While in the short term, they may continue to save shown resilience, which is predic whammy of no client repayments such short term shocks, ensuring lenders provide short term relief to
more to offset the low returns, or consume more, ated on two major pillars – its abil but the imperative to repay the liquidity to institutions and in turn cash starved MFIs.
ity to meet the bytesized financial lenders led to a serious issue for the to clients is the key. The microfinance sector requires
net savings in the medium term will suffer. Mon needs of low income women cli MFIs. Acknowledging this RBI ₹15,000 crore of liquidity flow for
etary Policy Committee member Mridul Saggar ents at their doorstep and the provided ₹50,000 crore to Nabard the next three months to bounce
has observed that “not all savers may necessarily proven link with development. RBI, govt measures in April, 2021 to support NBFCMFIs back. This amount seems negli
be worse off when central banks push down the FINDEX, 2017 of the World Bank But help for the sector came with and NBFCs. RBI also issued Resolu gible in the face of 60 million wo
showed that while India has made the RBI announcing Targeted Wanted Cash injectionI STOCK.COM tion Framework 2 guidelines on men clients.
interest rates”, which is perhaps true only in the significant progress in opening of LongerTerm Refinancing Opera May 5 which enables Financial In To the credit of the microfinance
short run. Without being persuaded by bond vigil bank accounts, credit penetration tions (TLTRO 2.0) for NBFCs and enabled the sector to get some li stitutions to provide relief to cli sector, it has done its part — adop
antes who overreact to accommodative policies, it remains low; only 7 per cent adult MFIs. Simultaneously, leveraging quidity and by July 2020, client ents in stress. ted digital, provided relief to cli
is important to recognise that interest rates must Indians borrowed from a formal in the AllIndia Financial Institutions level repayments also started re ents as per regulatory framework,
stitution in last one year. Microfin (AIFIs) infrastructure within the suming. A combination of cash at Liquidity concerns not shed its field workforce in the
take savers’ interests into account.
ance fills this credit gap for most country, refinance facilities of hand, liquidity support and lower Liquidity continues to remain a face of severe cash crunch and
lowincome clients. Microfinance ₹25,000 crorre was given to disbursements saw the MFIs scrape concern as field repayments have spread Covid protocols to
grew at a CAGR of 24 per cent over Nabard and ₹15,000 crore to SIDBI through the first wave – and to the dipped due to lockdowns and fresh hinterland.
the last five years and as of March for onlending/refinancing. Fur credit of the sector, there were no lending is still skewed towards lar Unprecedented times call for
FROM THE VIEWSROOM 31, 2021 catered to nearly 60 million ther, considering that small MFIs defaults despite only partial ger players — as there has been no bold policy steps to mitigate the
low income clients with loan out faced difficulties in availing these moratorium by lenders. relaxation in eligibility conditions. risks as microfinance is integral to
A tale of two States standing of ₹2,59,377 crore.
Last year, when the national lock
funds, the RBI allocated ₹5,000
crore to Nabard for refinancing
But just as the sector started re
viving the second wave hit the
Smaller MFIs are struggling to stay
afloat and meet their debt repay
the vision of an Inclusive India.
If ever, there was a time to
down happened, questions on the them under ASLF. The government country. The spate of Statelevel ment conditions. demonstrate policy intent and ac
Differing visions mark Himachal, Uttarakhand’s trajectories ability of contact intensive mi backed it up Partial Credit Guaran lockdowns have hit the economic Policy makers must sustain the tion, the time is now.
crofinance industry to survive sur tee Scheme which enabled 14 NBFC activities of clients. momentum and not hold back
T he unseemly spectacle of a third Chief Minister being
sworn within four months in Uttarakhand, a State that is
still reeling from the incalculable damage inflicted by the out
faced again. RBI’s moratorium ag
gravated the concern as
MFIs to raise ₹4,011 crore through
Bonds/CPs/NCDs. These measures
The RBI and government meas
ures were confined to larger NBFC
now.
The measures neede are: (a) en
The writer is CEO & Director - MFIN, the
industry association for Microfinance
going CM, Tirath Singh Rawat, is only matched by BJP’s open
factionalism and absurdities mouthed by the newlyappoin
ted Pushkar Singh Dhami. In circulation are the new CM’s vari
ous faux pas on social media and in public forums. This is a
State that has 3,40,646 Covid19 cases and a death ratio of 2.15
per cent, largely owing to the superspreader event of Kumbh BELOW THE LINE
which the new CM’s predecessor, Rawat, allowed saying “faith
of devotees will overcome the fear of Covid19”. ing issues. KCR has started this when it came to the criteria for on social media for his call to “take attempted to buy them?”
The joke being played on a people who fought so strenu again, having failed to protect the qualifying as Accounting Members Congress MLAs who sold them
Special ‘guests’
ously for a separate hill State is morbid. water rights of Telangana.” in various tribunals, including In selves to other parties (read, Telan
This is especially given the impressive come Tax Appellate Tribunal. Their gana Rasthhra Samithi) to task”. Unlike in other cases where politi
In search of EDs
performance of Uttarakhand’s neigh plea before the apex court is that They have a reason. Revanth Reddy, cians take the lead in inaugurating
bour, Himachal Pradesh, where the All eyes are now on the Banks Board they be considered on the same a former Telugu Desam leader, faces projects, a remote village in
Covid19 vaccination cover is among the Bureau: The reason: The govern footing as advocates appointed as charges for his alleged role in the Karnataka had invited some special
highest in the country with a whopping ment headhunter for banks/finan judicial members on tribunals. So cashforvote case that rocked Telan ‘guests’ for the inauguration of a
over 95 per cent of its eligible popula cial institutions has started virtual where is the pain point? After a re gana six years ago. The case had footbridge. Mogra — a village with a
tion having already been vaccinated. Hi interviews for several posts of Exec cent SC intervention, the Finance damaged the image of the TDP and population of around 1,500 in the
machal did suffer the impact of the utive Directors in various public Ministry has lowered the experi put its President and then AP Chief foothills of Western Ghats in Sullia
second surge and its death ratio shot up Water politics sector banks. Some 40 Chief Gen ence criteria for advocates to 10 Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, in taluk of Karnataka — had recently
to 1.7 per cent but its overall performance, in terms of health Even after over seven years of bifurc eral Managers and General Man years from 25 years. For CAs, the ex a spot. In a sting operation, Revanth shown to the world that it can be
indices, education and governance has remained at par with ation, there continue to be many is agers of various PSBs are in the fray. perience criteria to serve as Ac was caught approaching an MLC to come ‘aatmanirbhar’ in construct
the top States such as Kerala. Though the “massive gap sues that are yet to be fully resolved This time the criteria for interviews counting Members remains at 25 seek his vote for a TDPbacked can ing a footbridge across the stream
between two States in the development growth” is attributed between the two Telugu States. As has been tightened. Only officers years. Now, the question is if CA didate and allegedly offered a bribe in the village.
to Himachal’s integration in planned policy process much Telangana Chief Minister K who have completed at least two members will be able to convince of ₹5 crore. Apart from an AntiCor The repeated appeals by the villa
earlier than Uttarakhand, the basic problem in the latter is Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra years as General Managers or/and the apex court, or will they have to ruption Bureau case, he also faces gers for this basic infrastructure
one of lack of political vision and leadership. Pradesh counterpart, YS Jagan Mo Chief General Manager and have grin and bear the higher bar. Re an Enforcement Directorate probe. failed to get any positive response
Himachal owes its sound foundation to its visionary han Reddy, spar over Krishna river three years of residual service as on miniscent of when service tax was He later joined the Congress and from elected representatives, lead
founder and first CM, Yashwant Singh Parmar, who promoted water share, BJP Telangana chief April 1,2020 are being considered introduced — CAs were required to was elected to the Lok Sabha in ing them towards the path of ‘aat
a distinct development paradigm, focusing on horticulture and MP Bandi Sanjay says, “Both for an ED slot. pay while advocates were exempt. 2019. He was picked up for the TPCC manirbharata’. The villagers, who
growth, marketing and tourism. So sound was this founda KCR and Jaganmohan Reddy are top post last week. Ridiculing Rev built the ‘Grama Setu’, made it a
Keeping fingers crossed Pot calling kettle black
tion that even today, political stewardship in Himachal never handinglove on all these matters anth Reddy’s criticism, a person point to have it inaugurated by
dips to the subterranean levels it has sunk in Uttarakhand. and are only trying to make polit The Chartered Accountants fratern The newlyappointed Telangana commented on Facebook: “While some special ‘guests’ — The chil
ical mileage out of these issues. ity is very hopeful that the Supreme Pradesh Congress Committee pres punishing those who sold them dren.
Poornima Joshi They are not bothered about solv Court will hand out justice for them ident, Revanth Reddy, was trolled selves, should we spare those who Our Bureaus
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No. 22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Group Editorial Officer: Krishna Prasad. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528
CM . ..... .. . ...BM-BME
YK
MUMBAI
BusinessLine
MONDAY • JULY 5 • 2021 THINK 5
Rushdie’s trysts with truth BOOK REVIEW
Essays in meditation on story, storytelling and storytellers

P ANIMA critic Christopher Hitchens shines with
gratitude for his vociferous defence of Rush
How individuals shape institutions
T
he boy born at the midnight hour die during his troubled fatwa years. RK Talwar, SBI’s legendary Chairman, inspired an entire generation of bankers
of Indian independence lan Split into four, most pieces in Languages of
guished in an unpublished text Truth are either adapted from lectures or re S ADIKESAVAN the firstever organisational restructur to be dismissed. And Talwar had built a
U
before Salman Rushdie brought vised from previously published essays. nique among developing ing exercise of the State Bank in 1971, formidable reputation as a person of
Saleem Sinai back to life and placed him at Among the few originally published in the countries, India has thrived which withstood the test of time for high integrity. So the FM tried again say
the heart of a new novel he was preparing to volume is ‘Pandemic’, which captures Rush as a democracy with a con well over three decades. The current ing if he were to step aside, he would be
write. Rushdie, then almost 30, was a strug die’s personal battle with the virus, and writ tinuous trackrecord of Corporate Centre of SBI, State Bank made Chairman of a proposed Banking
gling writer in London and working part ing in fraught times. openness, transparency, equal rights Bhavan in Mumbai, was built during his Commission. Talwar politely declined
time as an advertising copywriter. His then Languages of Truth defies chronology or a and Constitutionally established prin tenure. the offer.
literary oeuvre comprised four unpub binding theme. Yet, Rushdie emerges, fight ciples of governance. Values in Leadership, a biographic trib The Government then amended the
lished texts, and the novel Grimus, which, by ing for a school of writing — the exponents Apart from the aberration of the ute to Talwar by Narayanan Vaghul, SBI Act and then on August 4, 1976, he re
the author’s own admission, revealed a of ‘wonder tales’. He is a decorated veteran Emergency years, our nation has de Chairman Emeritus of the ICICI Bank ceived a message sanctioning him 13
writer who hadn’t “fully worked himself of this subgenre, the practitioners of which veloped as a democracy due to the and an exState Banker too, is an exem months leave (unasked for and cover
out”. currently find themselves “out of fashion”. strength, resilience, valuesystems and plary rendition of the ethics of Talwar, ing his remaining tenure!) and asking
Armed with the advance for his first Fiction itself has fervently turned to realism independence of its institutions too. who inspired an entire generation of him to hand over charge to the Man
novel, Rushdie had set out, travelling in In in the era of nonfiction, and novelists In the financial sector, SBI — one of In bankers to raise their standards of con aging Director.
dia, before returning to Britain with the whose works are illuminated by the magical dia’s most respected institutions — has duct. Vaghul was junior to Talwar in SBI Vaghul’s description of the Bank’s top
framework of a new book in his head. The and the fantastic have found themselves out reflected values and ethics which and became Chairman of Bank of India boss leaving State Bank Bhawan that
protagonist of the yettobe born novel had of favour. would probably be evaluated and ap at age 44. day is poignant. “Talwar left the Bank
been identified, as well the ideas that would Realistic fiction, forte of newer writers preciated better only through the per The 86page book, into its second Title: Values in Leadership promptly at 5.30 pm which was his
anchor his most ambitious work thus far. Elena Ferrante and Karl Ove Knausgård and, spective of history. State Bank has had print now, is enriching in content. It is a Author: Narayanan Vaghul usual time of departure. There was
Rushdie began writing in the third per other descendants of Clarissa Harlowe, an array of individuals at the top who tiny volume where the author and the Publisher: N Vaghul hardly anybody to see him off. Everyone
son, and to his frustration felt it fall limply comes from “a place very close to if not have remained uncompromised in core “authored” speak together to us. Vaghul Price: ₹250 was scared even to be associated with
on page. “There was a host of identical to the author’s personal values which is what sustains this na himself is seen as a rolemodel by those him.” That day, the great man left in the
good stories waiting to be told, experience”. Rushdie has cast tional icon. SBI bosses of both the past who cut their teeth in ICICI Bank like KV classical Walter Scottian mode — un
but the writing was falling short himself as the writer of “weirder and the present are hugely respected in Kamath who went on to head the BRICS Talwar’s approach and inner strength wept, unhonoured and unsung.
of what the stories needed,” he books”, a tradition just as long, their field for both their knowledge and Bank. Recently, while delivering the 11th was conditioned by his spiritual beliefs. In the evening, Vaghul, his neighbour
recalls. but not as populated as realistic adherence to certain principles. RK Talwar Memorial Lecture, Chief Eco The most important incident which and former junior colleague, went to
Then, as an experiment, he lent fiction. “The Western writers I But no SBI boss is as legendary as RK nomic Advisor to the Government of In bears repetition is the incident relating meet and said something along these
Saleem Sinai the right to tell his have most admired, writers such Talwar, who became its Chairman at age dia, KV Subramanian referred to Tal to Sanjay Gandhi, Mrs Indira Gandhi’s lines with suitable opening gambits:
story — the narrator of Midnight’s as Italo Calvino and Günter Grass, 47, in 1969. He dominated the Indian war’s “spiritually motivated leadership second son, who wielded extraconsti “We have to accept the Divine Will with
Children. It proved epiphanic. “I Mikhail Bulgakov and Isaac banking scene for close to two decades as an inspiration for public servants” tutional authority during the Emer humility,” by way of commiseration.
have always thought of that day Bashevis Singer, have all feasted in the Sixties and up to the midSeven and further said that his karma (duty) gency (197577). “Where is the question of accepting or
as the day I became a writer, be richly on their various wonder ties, being also the first career banker was driven by his dharma (sense of On a restructuring proposal of a ce not accepting? You have to learn to en
cause what came out of me, tale traditions and found ways of from SBI to head the institution. ethics). ment company borrower, SBI had in joy all the time the Divine play,” came
somehow, was what I at once re injecting the fabulous into the He joined the Imperial Bank of India, sisted on a change in promoters as a the reply from the topmost banker of
cognised as the best page I had ever written, real to make it more vivid and, strangely, the forerunner to SBI, in 1943 as a Proba Power of truth condition for further financial support. the day. That was quintessential Talwar.
in a voice that was not my own and yet gave more truthful,” he observes. tionary Assistant (Officer) soon after his Talwar was valuebound and bold It was not Talwar’s decision. The pro He was echoing the immortal spirit of
me voice.” He returns to the dichotomic traditions post graduate degree in Mathematics enough to speak truth to power. This moters tried through Sanjay Gandhi to the Uttarpara speech of Aurobindo
Languages of Truth, Rushdie’s new collec in ‘Gabo and I’, an essay on Gabriel Garcia from Lahore University. was not dependent on his interlocutor. get this condition waived. When the Ghosh, the great revolutionarymystic
tion of essays, is endowed with insights into Márquez, ruminating on fickle literary fash As Chairman, Talwar pioneered sim For instance, he took a stand on the files were perused, Talwar was con who, later in life, collaborated with
a writer at work, the recurring trials till he ions, and insists magic realism is not a plification of procedures for financing nature of financing of the jute industry vinced that the Bank’s decision was the Parisborn Mirra Alfassa (the Mother) to
finds the proverbial wings. “But once you passing fad. There is resignation, and also of smallscale industries and launched as Superintendent, Advances Depart right thing to do. set up a spiritual community in
have found those wings, however long it hope when he claims becoming unfashion new schemes for the benefit of smaller ment, in Kolkata. It is stated that Ram Union Finance Minister, C. Sub Pondicherry.
takes, however many times you have failed able is not such a bad thing after all. “It re entrepreneurs, small businessmen and nath Goenka (one of the most powerful ramanian, called Talwar to tell him that Talwar had come under Aurobindo
before you found them, once you have moves the work from the glare of the agriculturists. He also put in place sys media owners that time and himself a he had instructions from “the highest Mother influence much earlier. After
found your wings, you fly,” he says. The world’s attention and allows it simply to be tems to ensure comprehensive analysis great crusader against the Emergency) authority in the land” to change SBI’s life at the top in SBI, at age 54, he retired
volume is a hat tip to literary mentors, some there, greeting what readers do come, and of corporate balance sheets much be who had interests in the jute industry stance. Talwar was unmoved. Sanjay to the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondich
long gone, others active till the recent past. waiting for the great wheel to turn, as it fore the Reserve Bank prescribed norms had a longstanding grudge against Tal Gandhi was amused because he had not erry and except for a brief stint as Chair
The revelatory personal essays are the must, as it always does”. Rushdie’s essays are for credit analysis of large advances. It war. But the banker was not in the least come across anyone who dared to dis man of IDBI in 197980, he was not active
high points of this collection, nearly 40 of meditations on the story and storytelling, was again his foresight that initiated affected by this. obey him. He sent word to Talwar to in public service. He died in 2002, at 80.
them written over 17 years (20032020), habits that precede the written word, are meet him. The SBI Chairman refused Values in Leadership is “must” read
which is otherwise a rumination on story, nourished by imagination, and which, often MEET THE AUTHOR saying he had no constitutional author ing for anyone managing people or
storytelling and storytellers. His subjects dip into the wondrous, fantastic and the ma ity and he was “accountable” only to the situations.
N Vaghul started his banking career in the State Bank of India. In 1981,
span the spectrum: Carrie Fisher and Osama gical, yet speak the truth, albeit differently. Government.
at the age of 44, he became the youngest Chairman and Managing
Bin Laden, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Languages of Truth is a writer’s diary and also Sanjay Gandhi instructed the FM to The reviewer is a top public sector bank
Director of Bank of India. In 1985, he was appointed CMD of ICICI, which
Philip Roth, truth, courage and liberty in a handbook on storytelling. It is Rushdie’s sack the SBI Chairman. But the SBI Act of executive
he transformed into India’s largest private bank.
modern times. The obituary of friend and dissection of the storyteller he came to be. 1955 had no provision for the Chairman
SHORT TAKE
BusinessLine
Uncertainty Satellite Broadband: A faster way to connect India TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
looms over A conducive policy and regulatory environment is of vital need to tap the space sector’s potential July 5, 2001
UTI chief quits. Vassal in charge
Afghans SUBBA RAO PAVULURI market opportunity. However, this is
possible only if there is a conducive
formation to further sophisticated
innovation, where the cost of realisa
The Government on Wednesday set in motion a series of
damagecontrol measures, following the US64 fiasco by
A
O
s American troops left ver the past few months, policy environment. tion of satellite to the cost per Bit is forcing the exit of the UTI Chairman, Mr P.S. Subramanyam,
their main military there has been a sudden way less. With right policy interven followed up by a directive to the UTI management to work
base in Afghanistan on Fri rise in the interest of satel Cost advantage tion SatCom [Direct and Indirect sec out a scheme to provide liquidity to retail investors, during
day, marking a symbolic lite communications in Satellite broadband provides instant tors] has a tremendous scope to con the sixmonth period when the sales and repurchase
end to the longest war in US India. The debate gained mo aneous service. To beam into house tribute a sizeable chunk to the GDP window will be closed. The Government then moved swiftly
history, locals living in the mentum when telcos asked for a pie holds, commercial establishments growth, with the potential to open to install the seniormost Executive Director of the UTI, Mr
shadow of the base and in in the 27.5 Ghz – 29.5 Ghz frequency, including machine to machine and floodgates for greater innovation, K.G. Vassal, to head the country's biggest mutual fund in the
nearby Kabul were left ru which globally is earmarked for satel IoT, satellite broadband does not re R&D, employment, investment and near term.
ing the past and bracing for lite communications. Sharing of this quire laying cable. Let us for a mo connectivity. Punching errors: SEBI for new checking system
Untapped potential /ISTOCKPHOTO
what comes next. frequency will prevent India from ment consider this – Space India 2.0 However, an urgent relook at de Reacting sharply to 'punching errors' in various stocks over
Violence has been raging achieving the true potential of satel indicates that the cost to cover one sq regulation and privatisation is re the past two days, the Securities and Exchange Board of India
throughout Afghanistan in lite communications. km from space varies between $1.5 servation missions and emergence quired. Advanced spacefaring na (SEBI) today called for the immediate introduction of an
the weeks since US Presid Globally, companies are striving to and $6, visavis $3,000 to $30,000 re of GEO/MEO/LEO HTS offerings will tions have privatised most of these order verification system by the bourses. "The system should
ent Joe Biden announced build and deploy “megaconstella quired by ground infrastructure to augment growth. However, to blocks in the value chain. There is a verify quantity and price beyond certain limits. However, the
troops would withdraw tions” of hundreds or thousands of cover the same area. Such drastic cost achieve success, India needs to have need for building systems to help limits for this may be prescribed by the stock exchanges," Mr
unconditionally by satellites to bring affordable high reduction will benefit consumers. As conducive regulations and policy nurture the industry and create an D.R. Mehta, Chairman, SEBI, said in an informal chat with the
September 11. speed internet services to businesses, there are no cables involved, con along with sufficient spectrum alloc extensive ecosystem to generate a media. After ACC at Re 1, Zee at 50 paise, it was Reliance Petro
With peace talks in Qatar governments, schools, and individu sumers be it in B2B or B2C space will ation, ease of doing business, drop ‘Space 2.0’ in India. being traded at Rs 300 and ACC at Rs 209.15 on the NSE, this
stuttering, and roughly a als. Despite India’s impressive have unhindered connectivity. OTT ping capacity prices, etc. There is massive potential for the time.
quarter of the country’s achievements in the space sector, services, high speed seamless inter The Indian satellites are still using space sector in replicating the suc Universal Studios plans theme park in India
districts having fallen to growth has been at snail’s pace. net access, rapid adoption of media the conventional satellites despite cess of the IT sector, whereby a struc Hollywood has finally woken up to Bollywood. After the
the Taliban in recent weeks As per ISRO studies, India currently streaming, connecting underserved the proliferation of high throughput tured operating system offers oppor Bollywood inspired Moulin Rouge set the screens in the West
according to one study, holds a mere 3 per cent share in the areas, eSims and trunking techno satellites worldover: There is a lack of tunities created by the government afire, it is now the turn of the Los Angelesbased Universal
many are concerned that $360billion global space market. logy are just a few sectors that will domestic participation for building for larger private sector participa Studios to set its sights on Indian soil. The studio is planning
chaos looms. Satellite broadband services in India witness phenomenal growth. space infrastructuredespite ‘Make in tion. Armed with a strong regulator to invest over $500 million to set up a theme park in India
Malek Mir, a mechanic in remains primarily for the B2B sector Various companies have set up India’ mission. The use of traditional and arbitrator, the sector will evolve and is scouting for a joint venture partner. Industry sources,
Bagram who saw the Soviet with a market size of roughly $100 space stations that can cater to In satellites technology in India makes into a revenue and employment gen who were part of the highprofile delegation which visited
Army and then the Americ million. SpaceCom experts predict dia’s requirements. Proliferation of it unfeasible for satellite broadband erating behemoth. the US along with Information and Broadcasting Minister,
ans come and go, said he that with the upcoming ‘Open new constellation types, High to be commercially viable. Globally, Ms Sushma Swaraj, said, "Universal Studios is keen on
was left with a deep sense Space’, satellite broadband services Throughput Tech, large number of the use of high throughput [HTS] The writer is President SIA-India and investing in India and have indicated that they were open to
of sadness at the futility of a can be a $500 millionplus nearterm innovative broadband and earth ob satellite has seen significant trans Chairman & MD – Ananth Technologies making investments to the tune of over $500 million."
foreign presence.
“They came with bomb
ing the Taliban and got rid
of their regime — but now
they have left when the easy bl two-way crossword 1916 not so easy
Taliban are so empowered
ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
that they will take over any
01. Fly grub (6) 02. Swiftly (5) 01. Grub mother prepared included 02. Take a step – quickly! (5)
time soon,” he said. “What
08. Paramour (5) 03. Made hand movements (8) egg finally (6) 03. Made signs that urged set to change
was the point of all the de
struction, killing and 09. Naval vessel (7) 04. Labour hard (4) 08. He has a mistress of fifty and (8)
misery they brought us? I 11. N American team game (8) 05. Writer, accountkeeper (5) above (5) 04. To the Italian it may be hard work (4)
wish they had never come.” 12. Follows (mus) (5) 06. Birds as a class of vertebrates (4) 09. Fighting craft whips are 05. He's an office worker, unless he's a
More than 3,500 foreign 07. Gratis (4) endlessly used for (7) priest (5)
15. Stake put down before deal (4)
troops have been killed in a 10. Eulogy, laudation (9) 11. Game, like this clue, among the 06. To save the first to the last is for the
16. Turkish commander, chief
twodecade war, which has 12. Mount high in the air (4) French (8) birds (4)
officer (3)
claimed over 100,000 civil 13. Ludicrous, ridiculous (8) 07. Professional charge is about right if
17. Female relative (4) 12. It follows on some of those guests
ians since 2009 alone, ac 14. Heavenly body (4) it's for nothing (4)
19. Thespian (5) in music (5)
cording to United Nations 18. Quick drink; sound through the
21. Schoolmasterly; fussy as to 15. The stake put up coming back 10. Eulogy written for ape crying out for
records. nose (5)
speech (8) from volcano (4) revision (9)
Some, however, say the 20. Last Greek letter (5)
24. Domestic fowl (7) 16. Turkish commander needs to get 12. Sound angry to be a highflier (4)
presence of foreign troops 21. Front of hand (4)
distorted Afghanistan’s 25. Not so elevated (5) in once more (3) 13. Going round half of California with
22. First light (4)
economy and that it is time 17. Didn't start the pleasuretrip with car is ludicrous (8)
26. Tall upright rock (6) 23. Skin fissure caused by cold (4)
for the country to stand on parent's sister (4) 14. Top 19 indicated by an asterisk (4)
its own. “The Americans 19. One taking the part of Croat 18. Inhale cocaine of the kind that
leave a legacy of failure, perhaps (5) includes nitrogen (5)
they’ve failed in containing SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 1915 21. Schoolmasterly pen, and cad it 20. Give me a go at this character in
the Taliban or corruption,” converted (8) Greek (5)
said Sayed Naqibullah, a ACROSS 1. Pipes 4. Horatio 8. In the mean time 10. Evade 11. 21. Token of victory to secrete in one's
24. To be so fainthearted sounds foul
shop owner in Bagram. “A Name 12. Omen 16. Overt 17. Eats humble pie 19. Steered 20. hand (4)
Night DOWN 1. Printingpress 2. Pat 3. Swedes 4. Hiema1 5. Ru 6.
(7)
small percentage of 25. In both sides, to be in debt will let 22. It will suddenly occur to one at
Afghans got so rich, while Thingummy 7. Overconfident 9. Committee 13. Bother 14. Dee
15. Stolen 18. Pig one down (5) daybreak (4)
the vast majority still live 23. A fellow to give one a bit of cheek (4)
with extreme poverty.” RE 26. Column with a box for posters (6)
UTERS
CM .. .... .. . ...BM-BME
YK
12 MONDAY, 5 JULY 2021
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW MYVIEW | THE INTERSECTION

REUTERS
Why liberal democracies have a

distinct edge on cyber capability
They don’t have to expend resources on controlling their own people like authoritarian regimes do
offensive cyber is its ability to employ a information is unlikely to disturb Joe

sophisticated, surgical capability at Biden’s hold on power as much as Xi
scale”. One instance of this was the Jinping’s or Vladimir Putin’s. Open
Stuxnet attack that stymied Iran’s societies are vulnerable to disinforma-
uranium-enrichment programme last tion campaigns by their adversaries, but
decade. For China and Russia, though, at a fundamental level, they do not have
offensive cyber “is just the technical to fear sunlight. This confers on them a
component of a wider information-op- fundamental advantage.
erations capability... of controlling their Unlike authoritarian states, liberal
NITIN PAI own information space, and subverting democracies do not have to expend
is co-founder and director of The Takshashila those of their adversaries, in what they resources on controlling what their citi-
Institution, an independent centre for see as an ongoing conflict of ideas with zens think. This allows them to focus on
research and education in public policy. the West.” To put it simply, America offensive capabilities to achieve the
mostly hacks networks. China and desired effect in a sharp and surgical
Three economic risks in

Russia hack minds. manner. The report claims it is hard for
Some analysts might attribute these China, Russia and the others to match
A
ccording to a recent report on the differences in doctrine to astute Chi- the US given their preoccupation with
cyber capabilities of 15 countries, nese and Russian wisdom. After all, ideological defences. Estimates are not
the US is the world’s only cyber cyber war is politics by other means, available, but Beijing likely spends a lot
need of mitigation plans superpower. China is the leading power

in the next tier, along with Russia, the
UK, Israel, France, Australia and
Canada. India is placed in the third tier,
and politics is ultimately a contest for
the mind. Information operations—
well, propaganda—aim for psychologi-
cal and cognitive effects bypassing
more on its Great Firewall than on its
offensive cyber units. The opportunity
cost of information censorship mani-
fests as a structural disadvantage in
alongside Iran, Japan, Malaysia, North physical battlefields and computer net- cyber capability. Of course, the US—like
Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia. The works. Some ancient text can be mined other liberal democracies—does foreign
RBI’s Financial Stability Report outlines inflation, a reversal of capital inflows and lenders’ International Institute of Strategic Stud- to argue that information operations are propaganda, and well. But its resources
ies net assessment of Cyber Capabilities the acme of strategy, for they enable are not drained by censorship costs.
rising bad assets as potential hazards. Mitigate all three. And don’t rush to privatize banks and National Power compares countries you to defeat the adversary without Further, hacking minds is a superior
across seven dimensions ranging from having to fight a single battle. approach to the extent that the psycho-
doctrines to offensive capabilities, and Perhaps there is something to the logical effects are effective and durable.
concludes that China and Russia are argument. But what is clear is that While they can interfere in elections
I
n recent times, many central banks across risk has been festering at home: the deepening much farther behind the US than regimes that depend on hiding informa- or exacerbate civil unrest, Russian or
the world have redone their internal wiring fault lines of our domestic banking sector. popular media reports would suggest. tion for their survival will want to build Chinese information operations are
The rankings do not come as a sur- walls, moats or even isolate themselves unlikely to remould liberal democracies
as they abandoned traditional parsimony to There is no clear risk-mitigation strategy in prise, but serve as a reminder to our from the rest of the world. Not only do in their image. Unfashionable as it is
tackle economic exigencies. Their attempts sight yet, though some disparate voices have domestically preoccupied political they need to protect their citizens from now, a longer view of history suggests
to marshal growth in output through emerged that could exacerbate the risks we establishment of the reality that India foreign ideas, but erect psychological that Francis Fukuyama is right, and
extended periods of low interest rates and face. One of them relates to using RBI’s swelling punches far below its weight in the barriers in their minds. China’s elabo- given a choice, people will prefer
liquidity infusion, without a clear sunset clause, reserves of foreign exchange for infrastructure cyber power domain. If the report had rate system of censorship, coercion and openness and freedom. The erosion
included other technologically information control exists to protect its of liberty around the world has more to
has finally got markets edgy. The nervousness investment, which is decidedly inadvisable; our advanced European and Indo-Pacific Communist Party regime from being do with the political consequences of
started showing after a nascent revival of chest of foreign currency will be required to countries, India’s ranking might have threatened by Chinese citizens. As social media than anything Beijing or
economic growth collided with impaired counter any ‘taper tantrum’ if and when capital dipped even further. Unless India’s the report says, cyber capabilities are Moscow planned.
capacities, resulting in incipient inflationary inflows reverse. The second risk of ‘imported’ leaders realize that having a big tech- “just as much an arm of those states’ This is not an argument for dropping
tendencies. With the US Federal Reserve commodity inflation will need close monitoring nology industry is not the same as being propaganda machines, and a means of our guard. Open societies need to be
a cyber power, we are likely to become a creating and delivering ‘fake news’, as it vigilant against technology becoming a
recently indicating that it might start raising and more adept handling; our surveys already big poorly-defended target. is a means of penetrating an adversary’s Trojan horse for both cyber attackers
interest rates some time in 2023, the matrix of indicate rising inflationary expectations among One of the most significant findings critical infrastructure.” and illiberal values. The answer, how-
risks washing up on Indian shores suddenly households, and RBI should be flexible on its hidden in the report is a doctrinal differ- So far, liberal democracies did not ever, is not to build walls that create
looks much more complex and ominous. rate policy. Protracted low interest rates have ence between liberal democracies and have to worry about defending their shadows where nasty things can lurk. It
Looking out from his 18th floor perch, Reserve helped secure neither capital expansion nor authoritarian regimes. According to the ideological frontiers to the same extent is to draw up the curtains, open the
report, “What sets the US apart on as authoritarian states. A freer flow of doors and let more sunlight in.
Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das economic growth, but aided indebted whole-
has to watch out for risks transmitted from sale borrowers. The main worry, though, is the
overseas markets as well as keep an eye out for banking sector’s health and the balance-sheet
those developing in the domestic economy. damage that lurks behind extended regulatory
The central bank’s latest Financial Stability forbearance. RBI’s stress tests on banks’ non-
Report (FSR) tries to acknowledge all of them. performing assets and capital backing seem to
Some are easily recognizable. As the Indian exude a degree of misplaced confidence. Capi- www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Vol.5 No.159 `3.00 32
24 PAGES
PAGES
+ 4 MARKETS PAGES
Q&A: Chandy on development,
economy picks up slowly and unevenly, in step tal will be key to riding out a bad-loan crisis; if governance plans for Kerala >24
BANKING: RBI breather for Catholic
Syrian Bank to trim promoter stake >7
with the fluctuating pace of covid vaccination credit demand picks up in tandem with our eco-
LEGAL: Supreme Court says Salwa Judum
unconstitutional, orders CBI probe >3
EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
WSJ: China’s export curbs
violate trade rules, says WTO >19
and the asymmetric opening up across regions, nomic opening up, there are doubts whether
SENSEX 18,744.56 æ 69.92 NIFTY 5,632.10 æ 18.40 DOLLAR `44.43 ® EURO `64.27 æ `0.16 GOLD `21,720 Æ `105 OIL $113.34 Æ $1.96
DEVENDER TIWARI/HINDUSTAN TIMES

SUBSIDY REGIME QUICK EDIT
UPA a step Dangerous

disease
it is clear that a return to pre-pandemic levels of banks will have adequate capital to not just back closertocash I t could well be the stuff
of a science fiction plot:
a group of men with a
deadly disease are slowly
infecting a population.
transfers
The nature of the disease
economic activity will take longer than earlier new lending, but also cover a rising tide of bad
is such that detection is
difficult. You could well
say that doomsday was
Censorship is to art as
not far.
Union health minister
Phased roll-out seen in CASH Ghulam Nabi Azad
kerosene, cooking gas, TRANSFERS Grassroots campaign: Rahul Gandhi during his padyatra in Uttar Pradesh. It will be the first time after the
conjured up one such
health disaster on
fertilizer that accounted DEBATE 2009 general election that Gandhi is directly taking charge of a party poll campaign. See story on Page 4 Monday. The difference
thought. Dented supply-side capacities will loans. The government, the sector’s main pro- for a little over half being that his “disease”
is not one caused by
of 2010-11 subsidy bill DEVELOPMENT HURDLES pathogens and nor is
move in the supply chain at it communicable. It’s
B Y U TPAL B HASKAR & market prices can minimize
Govt’s plans to upgrade Indian merely that of sexual
lynching is to justice.
A MAN M ALIK the incentives for diversion,” preferences the minister
························· the report said. does not approve of.
airports hit an air pocket

NEW DELHI Accordingly, it has recom- Azad labelled
T
require time to rebuild and reactivate. The vider of capital, has limited resources that are
he government moved a mended the creation of a Core homosexuality unnatural
step closer towards ef- Subsidy Management System and said “even though it
fecting a radical over- that will serve as the central (homosexuality among
haul of the present subsidy re- repository of information and B Y P .R . S ANJAI are non-starters and airlines modernization of Chennai air- men) is unnatural, it exists
gime by replacing it with direct bookkeeping for pilot projects. pr.sanjai@livemint.com are blaming difficulties in ac- port because of (problems in) in our country and is now
cash transfers after a task force “It will help in real-time trans- ························· quiring land, raising money land acquisition. The work will fast spreading, making it
MUMBAI
created to implement the fer of funds to the bank ac- and lack of clarity in guidelines start soon as it (this hurdle) is tough for its detection”.
change submitted a blueprint
for a phased roll-out.
counts of the targeted benefi-
ciaries and integration of all I ndia’s plans to develop and
modernize airports in 35 cit-
for the stalemate that has hit
the world’s ninth largest avia-
cleared. The Kolkata airport
modernization is also taking
He denied it a day later.
One can only say that
demand side is dependent on rising employ- being pulled in different directions. The near-
Initially, direct cash transfers form of subsidies,” it added. ies other than the four metros tion market. off,” Ravi said. the minister should be
will be restricted to kerosene, Direct cash transfers have has hit an air pocket even as Union civil aviation minister The deadline for the launch better informed. His
fertilizer and cooking gas, been recommended by differ- domestic airlines continue to Vayalar Ravi said the develop- of the refurbished Chennai air- political intolerance is,
which together accounted for a ent government panels over buy more planes. And even the ment of 35 non-metro airports port was June; that for Kolkata of course, quite clear.
little over half of the govern- the years to remove price dis- modernization programme of will happen, but in phases. is August. Both shortcomings
ment’s annual subsidy bill of tortions, get more for the poor two metro airports, in Chennai “The modernization of non- As for the other 35, the pro- militate against India as a
`1.64 trillion crore in 2010-11. out of every rupee spent and and Kolkata, is incomplete. metro airports is happening. civil and humane society.
The report was formally ac- control government spending, Some of the other projects There were some issues in TURN TO PAGE 2®
cepted by finance minister even as India moves towards
ment rates and households finding the confi- term solution, therefore, is perhaps not outright
Pranab Mukherjee, clearing an era of greater redistribution
HE N RY LOU I S GATE S
the way for the roll-out of pilot and entitlements. In the five
projects, learnings from which
will serve as inputs in the final
years ended 2010-11, the cost
of major subsidies (excluding Coach sacked
report to be readied by De-
cember. This will set the stage
for a possible roll-out of cash
oil) rose by 245% to `1.09 tril-
lion. The report has also sug-
gested that the finance ministry
after athletes
transfers in the Union budget
for 2012-13.
“fund the subsidies in advance
to the implementing minis-
fail dope test
dence to convert precautionary savings into bank privatization—which seems unfeasible at

Analysts point out that the tries” for real-time transfers.
big challenge for the govern- In the case of fertilizers, the B Y M ANOJ V ATSYAYANA
ment will be to summon the report has proposed direct feedback@livemint.com
political will to push through subsidy transfer to the farmers, ·························
such a radical makeover of the bypassing the manufacturers. NEW DELHI
subsidy regime. Mukherjee

had announced the creation of
the task force in his last budget
In the present structure, subsi-
dy is given by the government
directly to fertilizer manufac-
I ndia’s sports minister Ajay
Maken on Tuesday sacked
the Ukrainian coach of the
speech. turers and importers, who in country’s top female 400m
consumption. But three risks stand out in the this juncture—but the sale of small parcels of
Significantly, the task force turn sell the product to the runners after six of them tested
headed by Nandan Nilekani, farmers at subsidized rates. positive for banned steroids in
chairman of the Unique Iden- The road map has three a major doping scandal.
tification Authority of India, phases. In the first phase, the “I have asked for his remov-
admitted as much: “Eventual government will map the al. He has already been re-
success will hinge upon politi- movement of fertilizers along moved,” Maken told a news
cal will, good governance, in- the supply chain—from the conference in New Delhi, re-
centive-compatible solution manufacturer to the retailer by ferring to Yuri Ogrodnik, who
design, judicious use of tech- December. In the next phase, coached three of the six to gold
report that impinge on systemic and financial fresh equity to retail and institutional investors.
nology, a structured transition it will transfer subsidy to the medals at the Commonwealth
plan, meticulous project man- bank accounts of 230,000 re- and Asian Games last year.
agement, effective supervision, tailers. In the final phase, to be Late on Monday, one of In-
audit and execution.” implemented by June 2012, the dia’s brightest female track
The core of the strategy pro- subsidy will be transferred di- stars, Ashwini Akkunji, joined
posed by the task force sug- rectly to the bank accounts of her 4x400m relay teammates
gests doing away with the pres- farmers. However, only those Sini Jose and Mandeep Kaur in
ent system of dual pricing and farmers deemed eligible for re- failing a drug test because of
pressing for financial inclu- ceiving subsidy will be reim- traces of a banned anabolic
stability, and need some attention. Two ema- This way, state-held banks can shore up capital
sion, which will allow for cash bursed, as against the present steroid in her urine.
transfers directly to the bank system where all farmers buy- Akkunji, Jose and Kaur were
accounts of the beneficiaries. ing fertilizers are subsidized. part of India’s Commonwealth
“A subsidy, by its very na- In the case of domestic liq- and Asian Games-winning
ture, introduces two or more uefied petroleum gas (LPG) team in New Delhi and Guang-
prices for the same good, and cylinders, the report has sug- zhou, China, last year. Akkunji
creates incentives for pilferage gested the politically sensitive also took the 400m hurdles
and diversion. As a result, the decision to cap the number of Asiad title in a personal best
underprivileged suffer the cylinders per customer in the time.
nate from overseas: commodity inflation and and the government’s stake in them would get a
most. Ensuring that goods first phase followed by the di- The three are among eight
rect subsidy transfer. In the athletes—six female 400m run-
Mint is also available for R5.50 with
Hindustan Times under a combo offer TURN TO PAGE 3® TURN TO PAGE 3®
retrenchment of global capital flows. The third better valuation. It’s a win-win option.
MY VIEW | MODERN TIMES
A better way to ask the government to keep off cinema

It is apparent that the government wants lic support. Indians in general do not rate the actor Siddharth have been very critical of also do the government a favour with their
MANU JOSEPH to control everything. In response, the way artistic freedom very highly as they do not the government and the Bharatiya Janata fame. They unknowingly overshadow and
our artists protest against an impending pub- fully realize how they are beneficiaries of this Party. If the proposal becomes law, they may eclipse more potent forms of dissent. Just as
lic policy, however, you would think they are liberty. They would prefer that uncomforta- find it hard to attract work. Modern India has in the material world the lucky few on top
talking to Nani Palkhivala. They are not up ble things are not said about their religion not eliminated free speech; it has eliminated block the progress of geniuses at the bottom,
against a constitutional expert. While fine and caste, for example, and so would like all the space for high rewards from free speech. so too in activism, the top rung suppresses
S
ome adults actually put heads together points of principle may have some effect in religions and castes to be considered sacred. If the proposal goes through, the entire the rise of dangerous activists. If successful
to draft this proposal, and it is not worth courts, they need a different set of arguments Also, an unknowably large mainstream film industry people are muzzled, expressions of dissent
the sweet tea they may have had during to persuade the government. number of Indians seem to would suffer collateral could move from people who have much to
their meetings. Their plan is to amend an Imagine you are talking to a shrewd Indian assign a high value to sex by Artists should damage. A smart govern- lose to those who have nothing to lose.
existing law so that if anyone objects to a film merchant about why you deserve a fair deal— making everything about ment that seeks control The proposal could also wreck the film
that has been cleared for public viewing, its what will you say? it, including its portrayals, not argue about should realize that too industry’s economics. What will happen if it
certification issued by the censor board You will build a non-ethical argument in very difficult for everyone. much of it with no pressure becomes law is this: Unsure of what is safe for
would be put to a review, maybe even can- your favour. You will not use words like The existence of a minor
free speech but valves could prove coun- release, every film will be self-censored;
is a journalist, and a novelist,

celled, making the film unworthy for public
consumption overnight. If you want any jus-
‘institution’ or ‘principles’. But before that,
you would want to understand, clearly, what
moral reason is very advan-
tageous for the state’s
explain how stiff terproductive. Filmmakers
tweeting their dissent is
many things that make a film delightful may
go, all risky topics will vanish. As things
most recently of ‘Miss Laila,
Armed And Dangerous’
tice in this country, you have to suffer long
years in court, but if you are offended by a
your interlocutor wants.
Why is the government investing so much
larger hidden motive.
What are the potential
controls hurt among the most benign
forms of it for any govern-
stand, most films fail. It is very difficult to get
people to go to theatres. They stay home and
film, you get express service—you don’t have effort in controlling cinema and other forms consequences of this pro- the regime’s ment. It satisfies an urge wait for a film to ‘drop’ free. Everyone today
to go to court, just say you’re offended and of entertainment? Just a few months ago, it posal becoming law? Film- and a market for it without is like that character in an R.K. Narayan story
the government will step in. had expressed a wish to regulate streaming makers who are critical of own interests shaking the foundations of who wonders why people climb a mountain
Why is the Indian government doing stuff channels. Now this. the government could be official control. to see a waterfall when the benevolent river
like this? With so many real problems that The government has justified its cinema harassed and its supporters Successful people, like takes the trouble of tumbling down.
need to be solved in this nation, even within proposal by saying that the Constitution favoured. Eventually, critical voices would filmmakers and actors, have much to lose. So Any further strangulation could kill com-
the entertainment industry, why devote “imposes reasonable restrictions upon the be too risky for big investments, inspiring their dissent is indeed brave, but they rarely mercial cinema. India should not take its film
resources to what films contain? Why create freedom of speech and expression in the everyone to keep shut. ever cross a line. There is a limit to how much industry for granted. Many nations do not
suffocating rules? Why ruin the industry interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Over the past few years, most popular film- they are willing to lose. By virtue of being have their own cinema, at least as a modern
with all this uncertainty over the fate of India…public order, decency or morality…” makers and actors have either stayed away successful in the material world, they are mainstream cultural force. Hollywood impe-
every film? But this is exactly how you must This official reason may be just a secondary from politics or aligned themselves with the beneficiaries of a stable order, of systems, rialism has killed them, just as Hindi cinema
not argue with this government. motivation, but it is sufficient to obtain pub- powers. But a few, like Anurag Kashyap and and they operate within its bounds. But they had once killed Pakistan’s film industry.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS MONDAY, 5 JULY 2021
NEW DELHI 13
THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
A stagflationary debt crisis like The gap between Amazon and

Microsoft on work-from-home
no other is not against the odds Flexible terms on remote work could play out in the latter’s favour
The stagflation of the 1970s may soon meet the debt crises of the post-2008 period to push central banks into a paralytic trap
GETTY IMAGES
JONI BALTER
is a multi-media journalist and lecturer.
NOURIEL ROUBINI
is CEO of Roubini Macro Associates and
chief economist at Atlas Capital Team.
W
hen Amazon said in March that
most of its 60,000 workers in the
Seattle area would return to the
I
n April, I warned that today’s extremely loose office by fall, some employees were infuri- The offer of flexible work is a recruitment
monetary and fiscal policies, when combined ated. A few threatened to quit for reasons advantage now in the US MINT
with a number of negative supply shocks, both substantial and otherwise, including
could result in 1970s-style stagflation (high one who said post-pandemic rules would the deciding factor for me,’’ said Brecia
inflation alongside a recession). In fact, the interrupt his regularly scheduled kayaking. Young, a recently-hired data scientist at Zil-
risk today is even bigger than it was then. At the same time, Microsoft, at Redmond, low. Young lives in Chicago and didn’t want
After all, debt ratios in advanced economies and said employees could work from home, the to relocate. She picked Zillow over others
most emerging markets were much lower in the office or in a hybrid arrangement. Covid because the other companies were less spe-
1970s, which is why stagflation has not been associ- has compounded the impression that while cific about remote work. To be clear, remote
ated with debt crises historically. If anything, un- Microsoft is often more enlightened, Ama- work is unavailable for Zillow home evalua-
expected inflation in the 1970s wiped out the real zon is harder driving and more old school. tors and, for regulatory reasons, some who
value of nominal debts at fixed rates, thus reducing As employers compete for prized workers, work in home loans.
many advanced economies’ public-debt burdens. demand for remote or hybrid work is fast After a year of working remotely, many
Conversely, during the 2007-08 financial crisis, becoming a part of hiring negotiations and workers understandably grew accustomed
high debt ratios (private and public) caused a compensation packages. Work flexibility to it. One financial analyst whose Amazon
severe debt crisis—as housing bubbles burst—but may be even more important than pay. work was linked to a fulfillment centre, Gri-
the ensuing recession led to low inflation, if not “I think the job market has changed for- gory Lukin, left in May, because he said
outright deflation. Owing to the credit crunch, ever,” said Chris Bloomquist, co-founder of Amazon wanted him back there and he
there was a macro shock to aggregate demand, Talent Mine, a tech recruiting startup. Years couldn’t face the commute. He now lives in
whereas the risks today are on the supply side. ago, he said he could have counted on one Canada. You may be able to explain Ama-
We are thus left with the worst of both the hand the number of prospective employees zon’s approach by taking a quick look at its
stagflationary 1970s and the 2007-10 period. Debt seeking remote work. Now, seven of 10 can- many new office buildings; the company
ratios are much higher than in the 1970s, and a mix didates mention it off the top. And many, has invested heavily in real estate.
of loose economic policies and negative supply several recruiters say, insist on 100% remote. But this is a new work universe. Wages
shocks threatens to fuel inflation rather than Making matters worse, central banks have effec- and private interest-rate spreads. Second, rising Amazon has clarified its rules, likely are rising in many fields and workers are
deflation, setting the stage for the mother of all tively lost their independence, because they have inflation and deepening uncertainty will drive up shamed into it by corporate peer pressure. quitting in big numbers. How do you keep
stagflationary debt crises over the next few years. been given little choice but to monetize massive inflation risk premia. And, third, a rising misery It now plans to allow two days of remote them in office after they’ve experienced the
For now, loose monetary and fiscal policies will fiscal deficits to forestall a debt crisis. With both index—the sum of the inflation and unemployment work. This beats its earlier “office-centric freedom of remote or hybrid work?
continue to fuel asset and credit bubbles, propel- public and private debts having soared, they are in a rate—eventually will demand a ‘Volcker Moment’. culture as our baseline”, but maybe not by A Microsoft study found that 73% of
ling a slow-motion train wreck. The warning signs debt trap. As inflation rises over the next few years, When former US Fed chair Paul Volcker hiked enough. “People can be wooed away by 30,000 people in 31 countries want flexible,
are apparent in today’s high price-to-earning central banks will face a dilemma. If they start rates to tackle inflation in 1980-82, the result was a other companies,” said an Amazon software remote work to stay. Paradoxically, 67% also
ratios, low equity risk premia, inflated housing phasing out unconventional policies and raising severe double-dip recession in the United States engineer who requested anonymity. “I am want more in-person time. The companies
and tech assets, and the irrational exuberance sur- policy rates to fight inflation, they’ll risk triggering and a debt crisis and lost decade for Latin America. jealous of Microsoft. There is implicit trust most likely to win the talent war, therefore,
rounding special purpose acquisition companies, a massive debt crisis and severe recession; but if But now that global debt ratios are almost three in its policy, that trust is meaningful.” A self- will offer a mix. “There is a pretty firmly held
the crypto sector, high-yield corporate debt, col- they maintain a loose monetary policy, they will times higher than in the early 1970s, any anti-infla- described introvert, she feels the office belief this is a very big change... everybody
lateralized loan obligations, private equity, meme risk double-digit inflation—and deep stagflation tionary policy would lead to a depression, rather reduces her productivity, which flourished around the world wants more flexible work
stocks, and runaway retail day trading. At some when the next negative supply shocks emerge. than a severe recession. under stay-home rules, partly because she options,’’ said Jared Spataro, corporate vice
point, this boom will culminate in a Minsky But even in the second scenario, policymakers Under these conditions, central banks will be said she recharged after a daily siesta. president of Microsoft 365. “Don’t tell me
moment (a sudden loss of confidence), and tighter would not be able to prevent a debt crisis. While damned if they do and damned if they don’t, and As of now, Microsoft says when offices we are an in-the-office culture. We’ve just
monetary policies will trigger a bust and crash. nominal government fixed-rate debt in advanced many governments will be semi-insolvent and thus fully open in September, employees can done this. I’m hearing anecdotally, ‘Man, for
But in the meantime, the same loose policies economies can be partly wiped out by unexpected unable to bail out banks, corporations and house- work from home half the time, no questions the first time in my career, I am having
that are feeding asset bubbles will continue to inflation (as happened in the 1970s), emerging- holds. The doom loop of sovereigns and banks in asked. Additional time can be arranged with breakfast with my kids. I didn’t know what
drive consumer price inflation, creating conditions market debts denominated in foreign currency the eurozone after the global financial crisis will a manager, which is also true at Amazon. I was missing.’”
for stagflation whenever the next negative supply would not be. Many of these governments would be repeated worldwide, sucking in households, Even after Amazon’s policy upgrade, a big The rivalry between Amazon and Micro-
shocks arrive. Such shocks could follow from need to default and restructure their debts. corporations and shadow banks as well. difference remains. Remote days at Micro- soft isn’t new: Both consider themselves
renewed protectionism; demographic ageing in At the same time, private debts in advanced As matters stand, this slow-motion train wreck soft are employee determined, Amazon’s, workplace pioneers. Amazon, don’t forget,
advanced and emerging economies; immigration economies would become unsustainable (as they looks unavoidable. The Fed’s recent pivot from an by management. Flexible work at such com- lets workers bring half a kennel to the office.
restrictions in advanced economies; the re-shoring did after the global financial crisis), and their ultra-dovish to a mostly dovish stance changes panies is mostly available to a privileged And over many years, locals have asked
of manufacturing to high-cost regions; or the spreads relative to safer government bonds would nothing. The Fed has been in a debt trap at least group of information workers, software which company better connects with the
balkanization of global supply chains. spike, triggering a chain reaction of defaults. since December 2018, when a stock- and credit- engineers, software architects, data scien- community? Which is more philanthropic?
More broadly, the Sino-American decoupling Highly leveraged corporations and their reckless market crash forced it to reverse its tightening tists, folks in artificial intelligence, and some More socially responsible?
threatens to fragment the global economy at a time shadow-bank creditors would be the first to fall, of policy a full year before covid struck. With sales and customer service workers who The cultural change of the last 16 months
when climate change and the covid pandemic are soon followed by indebted households and the inflation rising and stagflationary shocks looming, worked remotely before covid. On-site is bigger than any single company or class
pushing national governments toward deeper self- banks that financed them. it is now even more ensnared. workers include hardware engineers, for of workers. Even some terminology has
reliance. Add to this the impact on production of To be sure, real long-term borrowing costs may So, too, are the European Central Bank, the Bank example, and frontline interface workers. turned upside down. The phrase ‘phoning
increasingly frequent cyber-attacks on critical initially fall if inflation rises unexpectedly and cen- of Japan and the Bank of England. The stagflation Some small companies like the Seattle- it in’— okay, zooming it in—is no longer
infrastructure and a social and political backlash tral banks are still behind the curve. But, over time, of the 1970s will soon meet the debt crises of the based realty website Zillow have one-upped pejorative. It is an increasingly respected
against inequality, and a recipe for macroeco- these costs will be pushed up by three factors. First, post-2008 period. The question is not if, really, competitors with their fully-flexible policy feature of the workplace of the future,
nomic disruption is complete. higher public and private debts will widen sovereign but when. ©2021/PROJECT SYNDICATE on work location, a hiring advantage. “It was wherever that may be. ©BLOOMBERG
MY VIEW | GENERAL DISEQUILIBRIUM
Three public policy cues that point to nearing UP polls

senior BJP members who had retweeted polarizing messages or phony facts (a la West Goyal’s outbursts are not random; they sugarcane and another 700,000 people
RAJRISHI SINGHAL this. This resulted in the Delhi Police land- Bengal). Twitter’s activism over fake messa- look aimed at placating owners of mom-and- employed in the industry. Consequently,
ing up at Twitter’s office. The war of words ges could possibly blunt a key electoral pop stores. It is almost ritualistic how every sugar plays a pivotal role in UP’s electoral pol-
intensified over the next few weeks, with weapon. election season the BJP tries to mollycoddle itics. Typically, sugar mills do not pay farmers
ministers and sundry party functionaries Another minister seems to have borrowed this constituency. Shopkeepers have tradi- cane dues for two-three years and then
even accusing Twitter of subverting the from the same script. Commerce and indus- tionally been part of its core support base, release arrears in an election year. This year
I
magine you’ve just returned from an “laws of the land”, especially rules for “inter- try minister Piyush Goyal has been publicly especially in many parts of UP. Before every too, UP ministers have issued statements
extended holiday on Mars. You open the mediaries” under the Information Technol- raging against multina- election, there are routine about cane dues reducing over the past three-
morning newspapers, scan the stories and ogy Act. In the interim, Twitter’s pointless tional e-commerce compa- noises made which fade four months, apart from the government
it suddenly dawns on you that elections to provocations (deactivating Prasad’s Twitter nies, namely Amazon and Recent policy once the votes are counted. approving additional sugar crushing capaci-
the Uttar Pradesh (UP) legislative assembly account) and silly missteps (such allowing a Walmart. Predictably, It can be argued that the ties that is likely to increase cane offtake from
are around the corner. Three political-econ- wrong map of India on its platform), pro- Goyal has also evoked moves reveal a government’s actions farmers. In parallel, on 5 June, Prime Minister
omy developments offer pointers to the poll vided BJP functionaries with additional fuel. slights to Indian sover- against Twitter, WhatsApp Narendra Modi advanced the target of 20%
season coming up. At a policy level, the issue highlights flaws eignty. Again, chronology
familiar pattern or e-commerce giants like ethanol blended petrol (it’s 8.5% currently) by
is a policy consultant, journalist

The first one is the ongoing unseemly spat
between social media platform Twitter and
in India’s IT rules, specifically the govern-
ment applying a one-size-fits-all policy for
is important. First, the
US-based e-com compa-
of the BJP’s Amazon and Flipkart are
aligned with those of other
five years to 2025, triggering a rush to
increase ethanol distilling capacities. As a
and author. His Twitter handle
is @rajrishisinghal.
the Indian government, specifically minister
for law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad, who
“intermediaries” to all internet service pro-
viders (bit.ly/3dpp4go). But, bizarre as it may
nies have been trying to
obtain a court order staying
approach as governments across the
world trying to curtail Big
result, stocks of many UP-based sugar com-
panies are close to their 52-week highs. There
also holds the portfolio of communications, sound, a government obsessed with blue a year-long Competition it gears up for Tech’s extra-constitutional is also speculation that the government will
electronics and information technology. ticks on Twitter handles in the midst of a rag- Commission of India inves- powers. That is a fair claim. soon announce an increase in cane prices and
Almost everyday, Twitter is accused of vio- ing second wave, marked by accelerating tigation, which seems to UP elections But, the poor drafting of minimum selling prices for sugar to keep
lating Indian laws. But the daily barrage of fatality rates, could be aiming not just to have incensed the minis- rules, the confusing and farmers and mills happy.
allegations and counter-claims obfuscates divert attention from lack of oxygen or hospi- ter. Second, the ministry of contesting overlaps The UP polls will probably be held next
some of the core issues. A look at the chro- tal beds, but also to prime its core constitu- consumer affairs, food and public distribu- between regulating ministries and the over- January or February, and the BJP is likely to
nology shows the spat intensified after Twit- ency for the approaching UP elections. The tion (which too is helmed by Goyal) has blown reasons for vilification actually penal- keep this pot on the boil. In a recent speech,
ter called out a document, tweeted by a playbook is smudged with familiar BJP fin- issued new draft rules under the Consumer ize consumers without achieving any of the Supreme Court Chief Justice N.V. Ramana
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member claim- gerprints: when all else (including govern- Protection Act. If finalized, these will not stated objectives. alluded to the unfortunate practice of recur-
ing it was circulated by the Congress party ance) fails, try patriotism or religion. Plus, only skew the playing field, but further The third pointer to UP elections is sugar rent electoral cycles determining public
with malicious intent, as allegedly ‘manipu- Twitter has become a handy electoral muddy the existing regulatory overlaps politics. There are about 120 sugar mills in policy, disconnected from a truly demo-
lated’. The platform also tagged many other weapon, useful for spreading propaganda, between various ministries. UP, with nearly 5 million farmers cultivating cratic and participative process.
New Delhi, Monday, 5 J uly, 2021
EDITORIAL THE SIKH TIMES 6
Letters to the editor: Indian Ocean: India's pond, troubled waters for all
Congress-AAP war of words
Why blame China and Sri Lanka, when western friends have ceased to consider South Asia and its waters, India’s ‘traditional sphere of influence?
in Punjab, BCCI payment gap
Looked at from this side of the Palk Strait the Chinese the 1971 Bangladesh war when the US Seventh
for women cricketers threat looms large in Sri Lanka. Most recently, the Fleet was despatched to arm-twist India and
Sri Lankan parliament passed the Colombo Port prevent us from over-running the erstwhile East
City Commission Bill with a nearly two-thirds Pakistan. The tables are turned now, and
majority in the 225-member house. Land Indians are not talking about the Cold War past
reclamation work on what will be the Chinese-built and the accompanying American interest in Sri
$15-billion mega-special economic zone began in Lanka. Ever since the post-Pokhran II (1998)
2018. The passing of the bill revived India’s Vajpayee government, New Delhi has been
concerns about Chinese domination of the island bending backward to accommodate the US and
nation. But the real game is being played beyond its allies, leading up to the Quad strategic-
Sri Lanka in the shared waters of the Indian Ocean military arrangement, also involving Australia
where the Chinese and other global powers all want and Japan. But India’s ‘Malabar Exercises’,
to fish in troubled waters. since expanded to include all Quad members is
Over the past decade and more, China has become not the only one. India has the ‘Varuna’
India’s main irritant on the Indian Ocean front, just exercises with the French, a quiet but
Sir — With the Punjab assembly elections around as it has been along our land border. If the Indian dependable military supplier for decades. New
the corner — they are slated to be held in 2022 — a 1987-89. It was the first militant uprising in the post-
Navy began receiving more funding in recent years, it’s Independence era, after which independent Tamil youth Delhi is also on record that it was working on similar but
war of words has broken out between the
because of what an American scholar identified as groups took to guns in the North and the East. This separate military exercises with Russia and the UK, as
Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party about giving
free electricity units to the people of the state. The China’s ‘String of Pearls’tactics. Sri Lanka, the turned into the LTTE. For Colombo, the Chinese are with other nations, before Covid intervened. France
AAP leader and chief minister of Delhi, Arvind teardrop-shaped island has become the pendant in that important in two ways. First, they provide funding for also has greater legitimacy to access the Indian Ocean,
Kejriwal, in a bid to come to power in Punjab, has string when looked at from India. The Port City which growth and development. Colombo also wants given that it has greater territorial interests in the region
promised 300 free units of electricity to all aims to be an international financial enclave with Beijing’s backing to block Western criticism than any other erstwhile colonial power, including the
households in Punjab if his party wins. Why is he Chinese funding and participation, has been in the news particularly at the UNHRC for the way it put down the UK with islands of what is residual BIOT (British
making false promises to the people of Punjab for close to a decade. Only the bill part is new and is LTTE insurgency. India doesn’t fulfil these needs for Indian Overseas Territory) in the Indian Ocean Region,
when he cannot even manage Delhi properly? He aimed at putting a management scheme in place, and, in the Sri Lankans. We concluded it wasn’t an still under the control of the UK. Lately, Germany
has even promised a waiver on previous power the process, legitimise Chinese ‘occupation’. The economically viable project, that too when India was another aspiring European nation too has crafted an
bills. His claims are not to be trusted. provision for co-opting ‘foreigners’ on the board and still coming out of the massive cash-crunch of the ’90s. Indian Ocean doctrine. Maybe, the European nations
It must be remembered that Punjab is reeling under a sanctioning payments in foreign currency are expected At a different level, India is not a P-5 member in the UN will take their time to venture out, either under the EU
debt of nearly Rs 3 lakh crore. Any party that talks to work in China’s favour, to the near-exclusion of other Security Council with a veto, which is what Sri Lanka flag, or as individual nations, but may wait for others to
about giving free electricity units is opportunistic nations, most of which are unlikely to be interested needs if there are any moves against it. The ‘national fight their Neo-Cold War before entering big time, if at
and power hungry. If it wins, it will most certainly anyway just for the very same reason. From a Sri consensus’ has thus worked to China’s favour. The ‘Big all.
betray the people’s trust by not following up on its Lankan point of view, the Port City promises tens of Two’ political parties of the majority Sinhala Russian roulette
promises. Such claims by political parties and thousands of jobs for the locals – though it remains to be community seem to have an unwritten understanding to From an Indian perspective, our enduring strategic
their leaders amount to nothing. They are merely seen whether these will be at the top or bottom-end. But have India as their security guarantor, but accept connection with Moscow suffered after President Boris
made to influence voters. Worryingly, the even this will be a departure from the norm. For all other developmental funding from wherever it came. If the Yeltsin, under American pressure, held back cryogenic
Congress is going through a crisis in Punjab, and Chinese-funded projects, all the labour and the material ruling Rajapaksas thus launched the unviable engines for ISRO’s space programme, and also
this may affect the morale of the party’s units in needed are sent from the Middle Kingdom. But Hambantota project, their political Opposition helped impeded India’s military preparedness in other ways,
other states. The Bharatiya Janata Party is always following that model in Covid-ridden Sri Lanka could convert it into a debt-equity ‘swap deal’, handing over during the nineties. Yet, Russian diplomats across India
waiting for the opportunity to resort to easily have led to social unrest and political instability, Sri Lankan ‘territory’ on a 99-year lease to China. The were rattled when India signed the precedent-setting
unscrupulous means to bring down state which the ruling Rajapaksas cannot afford. Leaving out Opposition voted recently against the Port City Bill on defence cooperation agreement with the US in 2005.
governments. This was witnessed in Madhya the divided Tamil polity, there is a ‘national consensus’ specific aspects but the fact was that the government did Russia began taking interest in India’s neighbours,
Pradesh and Karnataka where members of in Sri Lanka, when it comes to working with China on not require their support. They still welcome the project including Sri Lanka, then, but seemingly slowed down
legislative assemblies from the Congress were the so-called development front. Sri Lanka has always because it is expected to help to revive the Sri Lankan in between, possibly owing to President Vladimir
seen joining the BJP. Well-known Congress faced the danger of being an economically unviable economy. Putin’s strategy to strengthen the home front. Delhi thus
leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin nation, depending exclusively on a traditional Predators, all got a breather on the Russian front at the time. Yet,
Prasada also switched sides. India’s Grand Old agriculture and tourism economy. But that cannot Thus far, the Chinese have tried to package their presence Moscow began dabbling with Islamabad, supplying
Party is going through rough weather owing to address the economic aspirations of the citizenry. In in Sri Lanka and around the region as benign and them with weapons that they had denied in the Cold War
infighting. Punjab is an important state for the turn, the elimination of the LTTE more than a decade development-driven. That is obviously not enough to past and later. Is that a tit-for-tat, or the Russian way of
party. The farmers’ agitation against the three ago too has deprived the rationale for the majority ease Indian anxieties. India’s strategic interests have protecting their own strategic interests in South Asia?
controversial farm laws passed by the Centre has
Sinhala people and polity to remain united. Nor can the changed sharply in recent years. Step back many India’s relations with Moscow, especially on the geo-
had an impact on the state. The Shiromani Akali
Sri Lankan state and the Sinhala polity afford a social decades and our concern was over the US base at Diego strategic front, are not as unshakeable as they were in
Dal, which is in the Opposition in the assembly,
will take advantage of this situation. Moreover, struggle like the two 'JVP insurgencies’ of 1971 and Garcia. This became particularly acute in the wake of earlier decades.
the open fight between the chief minister,
Amarinder Singh, and Navjot Singh Sidhu does
not bode well for the state government. It is high
time the Congress high command took the matter
Special Mr Thick, Ms Thin
seriously. If it does not do so, it may lose yet
another state to the saffron camp and its Kim Jong-un’s sudden weight loss has got the world worried; would it care if this were happening to a woman?
communal forces. Sir — The situation in the Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean’ reject women candidates for being overweight.
Punjab Congress is getting worse. There seems to — or so goes a popular nursery rhyme. In reality, Closer home, while campaigning for the Rajasthan
be no immediate solution to the rift between though, Jack Sprat can eat all the fat he wants since assembly elections, Sharad Yadav suggested that the
Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is the Potbellied Man, a species created by the labour former chief minister of the state, Vasundhara Raje,
keen to replace the former as chief minister. and love of women, is a figure of cultural should retire since she had put on weight. Politics is
Ironically, the Gandhi family appears to be giving veneration. Be it in India or North Korea, the not the only sphere where women are not expected to
more importance to Sidhu than to Amarinder protruding male belly — Bengal’s beloved bhnuri throw their weight around. Two independent studies
Singh, even though the latter has proven to be a — is supposed to be a signifier of abundance and not conducted by different NGOs showed that women
successful chief minister who reflects well on the excess. Little wonder then that in a perfectly who are overweight have slimmer chances of being
party. If the feud is not resolved soon, the outcome Kafkaesque moment, North Koreans are reported to employed and heavier chances of being underpaid
will not be palatable for the Congress. The Aam be shedding copious amounts of tears at the sight of than their male counterparts. This selective shaming
Aadmi Party may crush the dreams of both the a relatively sprightly Kim Jong-un emerging after a has resulted in the genesis of a troubling set of
Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Sir — It hiatus in the shadows. The absence of the Supreme aesthetics and ethics. From being forced to wear the
was interesting to read that the Board of Control Leader from the public eye is as strange as his corset that irreversibly damages internal organs to
for Cricket in India will recommend both the ace altered form in that country and around the world. going under the knife to excise the excess from their
Indian cricketers, Mithali Raj and Ravichandran Foreign correspondents are apparently buried in midriffs, women have been coerced or conditioned
Ashwin, for the prestigious Khel Ratna award. their notebooks, taking note of such critical foreign policy discriminatory cultural rhetoric on weight. A podgy to keep their waistlines in check. The mind suffers as much
However, in its own annual contracts with players, issues as the comparative tightness of the strap of the authoritarian leader can be foisted upon a nation as an as the body in the process. Research by the National
the BCCI ensures that women cricketers are paid a swanky watch on Mr Kim’s slimmer wrist. Pyongyang is ideal. But no such licences are available for a woman Bureau of Economic Research shows that being
mere fraction of what the men are paid. In the beside itself with worry that a lighter leader is indicative of leader. Ladies, Gentlemen seem to be of the opinion, need overweight produces higher dissatisfaction among
contracts announced in May, the highest grade for diminished political clout. to be lithe. A study published in the journal, Equality, women. Anorexia, an eating disorder that is the result of a
That weight loss can be a weighty issue in a gender-stratified Diversity and Inclusion, found that the electorate that distorted comprehension of the idealized, but problematic,
women cricketers has a retainer of Rs 50 lakh
world is best understood by examining the differential and voted the portly Donald Trump to power would likely body shape, is not known to be common in men.
while the lowest grade for male players.
Tribute gone wrong: 'Circle of Heroes'

American Diaries: The rise of ‘critical race theory’; US celebrates Juneteenth
The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, 6 in the morning, he ordered his final two The US celebrated Juneteenth, also known as Liberation
announced a new monument in Manhattan’s waffles and was able to leave at 7 am. Day or Emancipation Day, on June 19. On this date in
Battery Park to honour the essential workers “This was horrible and I recommend no 1865, the last few enslaved people were freed. While
who went beyond the call of duty during the one ever do this,” he said in his final most gained their freedom owing to the Emancipation
coronavirus pandemic. It was unveiled just tweet. Proclamation put forth by Abraham Lincoln in 1863,
two weeks ago after Cuomo announced the Uncomfortable truths those in Texas were not made aware of the decree until
termination of the city’s Covid-19 restrictions Confronting the US’s social justice issues, 1865. This year marked the 156th celebration of the
and the state of emergency. especially those about race, have always momentous day. On June 17th, the US president, Joe
The gesture, however, is receiving criticism. been a struggle for some people in the Biden, signed a law making this day a federal holiday —
The ‘Circle of Heroes’ monument consists of country. Now, that struggle is showing up a huge milestone for many Black Americans. After the
19 maple trees planted in a circle around an more explicitly in the American signing, the vice-president, Kamala Harris, made a
eternal flame symbol. The trees each education system as lawmakers, social public statement drawing attention to the importance of
represent the 19 groups of essential workers, justice activists and school education the context of the moment. “We are gathered here, in a
including doctors, nurses, paramedics, boards battle one another on what is house built by enslaved people,” Harris said. “We are
firefighters, teachers, National Guard troops, ‘okay’ and ‘not okay’ to teach to kids in footsteps away from where President Abraham Lincoln
sanitation workers, food service workers and high school when it comes to the nation’s signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and we are here
delivery drivers. The structure cost about $3 racist past. The term that has been to witness President Joe Biden establish Juneteenth as a
million to put together; moreover, it is in an extensively used is ‘critical race theory’, national holiday.”
area that is not much travelled. There is an which refers to how racism has played a Juneteenth celebrations involve cookouts, barbecues and
online petition signed by over 4,700 people role in the creation of the US’s legal fireworks. It is also common for people to drink red
pushing the governor to relocate the systems and policies, and how white beverages such as red soda pop, where the colour
monument. Some essential workers in Mississippi had to face after losing a Fantasy Football supremacy and privilege came into being represents the struggle the enslaved people endured and
themselves said they used the area as an escape during league. As punishment, Lee Sanderlin, a journalist, was and led to the ongoing oppression of people of colour. the perseverance they showed. Some sources have also
stressful times. The monument occupies about two per required to spend 24 hours in a Waffle House in Brandon, Critical race theory is a very academic concept; it has linked the tradition to a reference to the bloodshed that
cent of the total green area. Essential workers expressed Mississippi. With each waffle he consumed, an hour was been around for 40 years, started by a Harvard Law took place. People are also encouraged to shop at black
their dismay on social media as well as in a shaved off the timer. He live-tweeted the whole School professor in the 1970s. Today, there is ongoing owned-businesses and take the time to educate
www.change.org petition. The House Representative, experience, which started a little past 4 in the evening. He debate regarding teaching such a concept in high school. themselves on the historic significance of the day.
Jerry Nadler, tweeted, “New York’s essential workers spent a total of 15 hours at the Waffle House, which is a Nine US states have already banned it. Naysayers say it Footnote
deserve our honor and respect — and we can well-known national food chain in the United States of teaches children to feel guilty for being white and that it
commemorate them with a memorial. But bulldozing America, with 2,100 locations mostly concentrated in the actually encourages discrimination against white people. A study by a popular dog services site has revealed the most
vital open space in lower Manhattan isn’t the way to do South. Sanderlin’s live tweets quickly gained traction on In Florida, a school curriculum banned critical race preferred dog breeds in the US. After mixed breeds,
it”. Others pointed out that it would be better for the social media. “Waffle number 6 and I’m eagerly staring theory and focused on teachings about “patriotism and Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German
money to be used to set up a fund for essential workers or into the abyss, hoping for it all to end. Also, 4 hours down love of country, citizenship, the US form of government Shepherds and the Goldendoodle are most popular.
raise their pay instead of building a monument in a space now,” he tweeted at one point. In another post, he said: and the Constitution”. No matter which side of the aisle According to the survey, more than half of American dog
that they love. “Hello. It is hour 7. Where we stand: 6 waffles consumed. one is on, it is clear that these actions will spark debate owners got a new dog during the pandemic. Cockapoos
Man versus food 11 hours remain. Insides are in shambles, but two kind around free speech as well. It remains to be seen how the are the number one dog breed in New York City this year.
If you take part in a bet, be careful what you put on the line. Mississippians came in and gave me some Rolaids. courts will ultimately rule on the matter. They are a cocker spaniel-poodle mix and are known for
Unless you live to eat waffles. That is exactly what a man Shoutout those people. Yr boy is in PAIN [sic].” Around Momentous day their gentle nature.
4
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Emerging from the disastrous pandemic

For a state hit by severe economic setbacks, it is essential that the Goa
government envisages ways and means to augment its �nancial resources
What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
>The writer is a
resident of Margao
who strongly
desires to bring
Coastal inventory
about some
socially relevant
changes with his
futile if GCZMA
musing
PACHU MENON
has no will to act S

taring at bankruptcies, closure of
T
business and mass unemployment,
Indian tourism has been one of the
he National Green Tribunal has ‘asked’ the Goa Coastal worst victims of the pandemic.
Zone Management Authority to prepare an inventory of all In order to ensure the survival of the
Covid-ravaged tourism sector as part of imposed by the administration on un- So far it is only through taxations on
coastal structures to be updated every year to keep track an economic package, the Union Finance checked movement during the various various services o�ered that the state
of illegal structures on a real-time basis rather than acting Minister announced a slew of economic phases of lockdown, the ‘sociability’ has been able to sustain itself. The hike
only based on complaints as is currently the practice. While relief measures to help the industry. factor had its own role to play in the in fuel prices is a stark reality that one
The issue of free �ve lakh tourist visas propagation of the disease among the cannot deny!
the GCZMA has said that they would place the order of the NGT be- and making loans available to govern- people. It is in this context that reports in a
fore a meeting of the body to decide how to act on it, don’t hold your ment-recognized travel agents and tour- When they themselves are so �ippant section of the press about the decision
breath. ist guides are some of the proposals ap- towards the devastation all around, by the state cabinet to hand over unused
proved as the ‘revival tourism’ package. there is not much the government can school buildings and land to non-pro�t
If the conduct of the GCZMA is anything to go by, it appears that the It is not that the Centre is insensitive to do to alleviate the situation. making institutions and social groups
statutory regulator is acting only very reluctantly against illegalities the plight of its citizens and has reserva- Thankfully, there is a drastic drop in for a nominal fee should be seen.
tions about bringing about semblances the positivity rate reported. But as the With large numbers of such buildings
and that too only a�er complainants are asked to make repeated vis- of normalcy to a COVID-ravaged scenario virus continues to mutate, the risks are at its disposal, similar ‘leasing plans’
its to the o�ce. More o�en they are le� to approach either the High that has not only disturbed the daily lives only increasing with every passing day. could bode well for the state!
Court or the National Green Tribunal to get the body to act against of its people but has also decimated the For a state that continues to reel un- Although the ‘revival tourism’ pack-
national economy. der severe economic setbacks, it is es- age comes as a shot in the arm for Goa,
violators. It has been a virtual �ght for survival, sential that the Goa government envis- the government will also have to make
On the other side, violators are given several opportunities to be but the government’s exceptional e�orts ages ways and means to augment its plans to lessen the hardships of the
heard and chances to produce documents without any action being at clawing back from the depths of despair �nancial resources. common man.
is worthy of appreciation. In the last few decades, besides min- Amid skyrocketing prices of fuel, veg-
initiated against them until they exhaust all legal options to save their It is now becoming increasingly evident ing and tourism, Goa hasn’t had much etables and other essential commodities
structures which are quite patently illegal even to the naked eye. De- that unwanted criticism from the country- to show by way of revenue-generating during the Covid-19 pandemic, there is
men has to an extent impeded the ‘com- strengths. With mining already in the another blow of in�ation to the mid-
cisions are taken and then reviewed, vi- bative’ measures adopted by the govern- doldrums, it is tourism that the state has dle-class people as they will have to pay
If activists wish to olators are heard and then heard again, ment to safeguard its populace against the been looking up to for ‘salvation’. more for milk. With Amul leading the
remedy this, they will and inspections are conducted and then blight of coronavirus. Despite several agitations, when ca- pack, other milk producers are likely to go
have to �le cases and Even ba�ing the scienti�c fraternity, it
A constipa- sino operations in the state have been for a proportionate increase. It is this im-
hope for a quick hearing
conducted again. Even in cases where the is but natural that many of the steps taken tion of ideas touted as an inevitable aspect of tourism minent threat of skyrocketing prices that
and disposal by which Supreme Court has dismissed appeals initially to control the devastation caused will only push in Goa, one can well gauge the state’s is breaking the back of the common man.
time the violations will against demolition, the GCZMA thinks it by the virus may not have been e�ective. Goa further over-dependency on tourism industry. With lockdowns having become a
It is only through a process of trial and But the pandemic situation in Goa de- perennial feature of the anti-pandemic
continue and no adverse �t to reexamine the matter. error that the �ght against COVID could
into a state of nies the government the luxury of li�ing measures adopted by various countries
action will be taken This takes years -- cases that have been have brought about e�ective results. And hopelessness. all curbs imposed on unrestricted move- in an attempt to stop the spread of COV-
against the o�cials �led back in 2007 and perhaps even ear- the government went about this task very So far it is only ment within the state. ID-19, e�orts will have to be made soon-
who violate the law with lier are allowed to remain standing while
diligently! through taxa- Moreover, with the threat of the ‘Delta er rather than later by the concerned
It would however be foolish to expect Plus’ variant of COVID-19 looming large governments to erase memories of the
impunity the cases continue and the violators are an immediate solution to the pandemic
tions on var- over the neighbouring states, Goa can- horri�c past, overcome apprehensions
problems. ious services not but fortify its borders by enforcing of the worst yet to come and forge ahead
allowed to pro�t from their structures Considering that even the government o�ered that the stringent measures at the checkposts, with single-minded devotion to rebuild
for the entire duration that the case is pending making a complete with all the resources at its disposal failed state has been which will further dwindle the tourist their nations.
mockery of the law. Files go missing, survey plans are manipulated miserably to contain the threat of the vi- footfalls in the state. The government, at least in India,
rus, people should have realized the se- able to sustain Hence it is of utmost importance �nds itself bearing this onus all by itself.
and documents forged and certi�cates doctored all in a bid to save riousness of the situation and refrained itself. The hike that the state government shows the re- The citizens have an equal responsibil-
structures that shouldn’t have been allowed to come up in the �rst themselves from behaving irresponsibly. in fuel prices is sourcefulness to capitalize on the oppor- ity of complementing the hard work of
place. But unfortunately it was in these peril- a stark reality tunities presented to rake in the neces- their government through sensible be-
ous situations that their ‘social attributes’ sary moolah to strengthen its economy. haviour and staying safe from virulent
Rather than become a body of environmental protection, the GCZ- became more de�ned, so to speak. that one cannot A constipation of ideas will only push attacks.
MA has become a bureaucratic body -- in no small measure because Even when stringent measures were deny Goa further into a state of hopelessness. Let better sense prevail!
both the chairman and the member secretary are bureaucrats -- and
the environmentalists are relegated to two posts of expert members
who are appointed on the body. With the chairman and the member THE INBOX >> I
secretary having disproportionate power over the functioning of the
body and interference from MLAs, ministers and revenue o�cials in Bars, restaurants could the peak to match international players.
its functioning, it is no surprise that the body has utterly failed in its be allowed to reopen Govt must rehabilitate displaced traders India has the potential to be a great
soccer nation having a vast pool of great
mission to do what it is set up to do -- protect the coast. It was to some extent a Black Thursday at GMC, Bambolim. talented sportsmen and the government
The Goa government has reportedly Based on an old order of 2018, this government took the heart-
Let’s also not forget that the entire exercise of conducting a beach extended the ongoing Covid related of the day needs to spend more and
less action of razing down all establishments and minor stalls get in the rich private entities to create
carrying capacity study was undertaken and the National Centre curfew till July 12. The curfew was �rst standing in front of GMC on comunidade land. Overnight these
imposed on May 9 this year and has been football academies with foreign coaches,
for Sustainable Coastal Management gave its report suggesting how poor traders were inflicted a deadly blow. dietary requirements physical training and
extended several times. It is understood Around 10,000 jobs whether direct or indirect operating in this experienced medical sta� etc.to produce
many shacks and other structures can be allowed along a stretch of that shops can remain open from 7am to locality were destroyed..No previous rehabilitation programme quality players. It has been 70 plus years
6 pm. Saloons and outdoor sports-com-
beach. Yet the GCZMA now chooses to ignore the report and will wil- plex/ stadiums may also open.
was in motion to provide an alternative site for these fellow of independence and by now Indian soc-
fully allow more than the mandated structures. citizens to conduct their businesses. The government’s con- cer should have been in the level of world
It must be said that most of the owners of tention was that local Goans were subletting their business to class teams but for the negligence of the
If activists wish to remedy this, they will have to �le cases and hope bars and restaurants are Goans and have non-Goans which cannot be allowed. When the economy is in past governments and the AIFF. I will not
been running the business for decades.
for a quick hearing and disposal by which time the violations will When wholesale wine shops are allowed
doldrums , national GDP in last quarter was negative (-7.3%) hesitate in calling the attention of the PM
steps should have been taken to avoid such destruction of jobs Narendra Modi to look into the matter.
continue and no adverse action will be taken against the o�cials to function, bars and restaurants could and businesses. These a�ected people were conducting their
who violate the law with impunity. There is little hope then, that the also be allowed to open by following the businesses for decades . Generating GDP through unorganized ANTONIO AA PINTO, Benaulim
pandemic related protocol. These bars sector helps alleviate the overall statistics of the nation which
NGT’s directions for an annually updated inventory of structures
amount to anything concrete much less an honest appraisal exercise
and restaurants could be allowed to func-
tion with ��y percent sitting capacity in
should have been nurtured and not destroyed .I request the vari- There is urgent need for
to protect the vulnerable coast. order to maintain social distancing.
ous governmental organizations to lend a helping hand to these
displaced folk by rehabilitating them and helping them run their empowering Lokayukta
No restaurant can function in Goa without businesses at the earliest.. The government has made the Lokayukta
a bar being opened as people are used Act toothless. Why should public money
to visiting restaurants for food as well as ASHLEY NORONHA, Fatorda be spent for nothing? If the Lokayukta
for responsible drinking. Bars are also Act is being thrown into the dustbin,
the backbone of the tourism industry. then it’s better to abolish the Lokayukta.
The government needs to look into the Government can shield any misconduct,
OPEN SPACE >> demands of the owners of bar and restau- However, the practice of halal may go be- and it does so as a matter of routine.
rant favourably and allow them to open There is a need to empower the Lokayukta
yond religious beliefs. It is considered by
up by following all the Covid related SOPs. by making its functioning independent
More vigilance needed over drones
many to be a healthy way of eating meat
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco since it is not red meat as would result of the government of the day. The only
from non-halal slaughtering methods. good thing that has happened is that
T Another healthy way

he investigation into the drone strike at Air We should not evaluate and condemn the weakness of the institution has got
Force Station, Jammu has been handed over all religious practices based only on our exposed and the government has been
to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The of consuming meat hatred of other beliefs. forced to face embarrassment. Moreover
development comes a�er the elite counter-terrorism Halal versus non-halal meat has recently the state government has till date not
unit submitted a preliminary report of the incident
S RAGHU KUMAR, Dona Paula executed a single Lokayukta report. It is
become a bone of contention, the for-
to the ministry. in the interest of the politicians and bu-
In a �rst of its kind attack, low-�ying drones were used to airdrop explosive
mer being the proscribed way in Islam
and Judaism of slaughtering animals Indian football team Send your reaucrats to make sure that the institution
devices on the air force station in a high security area.
Two low-intensity blasts were triggered. The �rst ripped o� the roof of a sin-
for food. Unfortunately, of late, those is getting better letters to us becomes totally useless. Critics say the
proposed amendments will only end up
recommending or exporting halal meat I am happy to see resurgent energetic In- at editor@
gle-storey building while the second was on the ground in an open area. The are portrayed as those promoting Islam helping the corrupt rather than punishing
NIA is expected to lodge a case to begin the probe o�cially. It is suspected that by certain extremist groups. The principal
dian football team much superior to the thegoan.net. them. Goa Lokayukta act is “too so�”
lack lustre teams of the past. I wouldn’t
a Pakistan-based terror group was behind the attack . Ministry of Home A�airs of an educational institution in Dehra agree more in thanking the ISL organiz-
Letters must on public functionaries and there are no
personnel were at the scene of the twin blasts in the high security area of the provisions to take penal action against
Jammu airport in the wee hours of Sunday. India needs to be vigilant and has
Dun has recently been such a target for ers who are very instrumental to start this be 150-200 errant MLAs. The government has to be
ordering halal meat for their canteen. The
to deploy high security to prevent any such attacks. More intelligence teams food export authority of India (APEDA)
ISL tournament that has �nally brought a words and blamed for crippling the institution with
from the defence sector need to be deployed to prevent such attacks in future.
has been brow-beaten to drop the halal
change in the quality of Indian football. mention the inadequate investigating o�cers to carry
There is no doubt that a lot more hard out its functions.
RAJU RAMAMURTHY, Vasco
labeling of meat by such groups, thus work is needed from the players to reach writer’s name
leaving no choice for consumers abroad. and location KG VILOP, Chorao
Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
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t h e da ily gua r dia n
m o n day | 0 5 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i comment & analysis 5
EDUCATION
Why CONTINUOUS FACULTy

DEVELOPMENT IS A PRIORITy CONCERN
In a system as gigantic as ours, there is a need to strengthen both the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National
Mission on Teachers and Teaching and Human Resource Development Centres, with the provision for a
periodic review. These schemes should not be allowed to cease or languish for want of resources.
requisite qualifications and children still staying outside their academic programmes. with great success in online
experience, or the one who the four walls of educational Considering the massive as well as offline modes. It
is competent enough to institutions. demand for complementary signifies that the scheme has
produce intended learning Although all the Commis- training of 1.5 million uni- the potential and might even
amongst all the learners, sions, Policies, and Com- versity teachers, the MHRD work better provided it is
opinion or the one who can set the
highest standards of teach-
mittees have unequivocally
underlined the necessity of
launched Pandit Madan
Mohan Malviya National
implemented with the help
of tech-savvy teams of sub-
ing and learning, or the one faculty development pro- Mission on Teachers and ject experts backed by more
PROF. VED PRAKASH who can prepare students grams in improving teach- Teaching (PMMMNMTT) favourable circumstances.
well for an unknown future ing and learning, the net out- scheme in 2015 with a sense It is clear that continuous
or the one who is ever ready comes of various initiatives of renewed vigour to cover all faculty development, which
to learn new and more mod- undertaken thus far remain the teachers in a time-bound is of paramount significance
the far side of the profession. ern ways of doing the job, or far from satisfactory. Under manner. Special provisions in improving the qual-
The main lines of argument the one who takes personal the recommendations of the were made under the scheme ity of teaching and learning,
were that teaching does not initiatives to upgrade skills NPE, 1986, the UGC set up as through many newly created leaves a great deal to be de-
have a monopoly of essen- and continues professional many as 48 Academic Staff facilities like 25 Teaching sired. But it is important to
tial knowledge like lawyers, development throughout Colleges (ASCs) in 1987-88 Learning Centres, 20 Fac- learn and gain just as much
doctors, and engineers nor the career, or the one who cumstances the outcomes ing of knowledge and skills to organise orientation and ulty Development Centers, from the failure as from
teachers undergo a lengthy possesses all the qualities of of teaching can neither be through continuous faculty refresher programmes for 30 schools of Education, 5 success stories. The time
period of education and in- an ideal teacher? This high- predicted nor maintained development programs as it the members of the faculty. Centers of Excellence in Sci- has come when universi-
ternship, nor they have pro- lights the significance of con- at a constant level. Another is a career-long obligation for These programmes were ence and Mathematics Edu- ties should use a bottom-up
fessional autonomy of self- tinuous faculty development concerning issue is about the professional teachers. Teach- strategically linked with cation, 1 National Resource approach in tackling issues
supervision and governance programmes in teaching and certification of knowledge. ers have unprecedented op- career development so that Center for Education, and of faculty development, for
like other professions. Since learning. Thus far the system has not portunities to enhance their more and more teachers can 2 Inter-University Center every member of the fac-
many things have changed Time and again, concerns been able to evolve tools that professional standing by get the double benefit. Ow- for Teacher Education. The ulty, which is more intuitive,
over the years in teaching, have been expressed to iden- can certify what students way of participating in con- ing to increased demands, plan was further augmented relevant, needs-led, easy to
I
n the traditional Indian the initial impression about tify a significant proportion have learnt as a result of be- tinuous faculty development the number of ASCs was in- by the addition of an on- implement, and less error-
cultures, the teacher had it has also changed. Teaching of talented men and women ing taught. Yet another limi- programmes and faculty creased to 66. But after about line professional develop- prone than the top-down
been eulogised as ‘Guru has now been highly regard- for the teaching profession tation is the ability of the pro- workshops. Those who do two decades when the func- ment programme in 2018 approach. Besides, the focus
Ideal’, which meant a person ed as a profession in every and help them become real fessional teacher to influence not maximise such opportu- tioning of the ASCs was re- known as Annual Refresher of professional development
who was enlightened enough document brought out dur- professionals. It is possible students’ overall conduct. nities raise serious questions viewed by a committee of ex- Programme in Teaching programs should be more on
to enlighten the minds of oth- ing the post-Independence only when they are made to There are different kinds for learners and remain be- perts, the results were quite (ARPIT). It was a unique curriculum development,
ers by sharing his knowledge, period. So much so that the participate in a series of well- of learners. Each learner hind in the fast-changing shocking, as only 17 of them initiative wherein 75 disci- subject-specific benchmark-
wisdom, and art of searching National Policy on Educa- structured and rigorous fac- has his or her own style of world. And, those who take were found to have a satisfac- pline-specific National Re- ing of learning outcomes,
the truth. The guru ideal was tion,1986 mentioned that ulty development programs. learning as well as liking the fullest advantage of such tory level of performance. source Centres (NRCs) were pedagogical processes, inter-
not merely seen as the mas- “no people can rise above the In such programmes, they and disliking. Every profes- opportunities not only make The ASCs were renamed authorised to organise online disciplinary research, social
ter of the subject but also as a level of its teachers”. may be guided by a specific sional teacher must know an edge over their counter- as Human Resource Devel- professional development engagement, and integration
guiding spirit, a bearer of the In earlier times, the guru set of values with deep and that some common sense parts but also enhance their opment Centres (HRDCs) programmes as MOOCs on of values in a structured and
traditions and ideals of the ideal was considered to be lasting commitments to learners believe more in relevance and credibility in in 2015 with the hope that the SWAYAM Platform. systematic manner without
society, an innovator, and a the sole repository of knowl- professional ethics which, hands-on experience and their workplace. It highlights they would relinquish their These schemes were re- which it would not be pos-
nation builder. Guru ideal edge. It implied that knowl- among others, should in- dislike memorisation and the sheer centrality of contin- archaic model and develop a ceived with great enthusi- sible to improve the quality
was supposed to be a path- edge would always flow from clude the three most sig- writing assignments as uous faculty development as contemporary roadmap that asm. But some of the centers of teaching and learning.
breaker— showing light to a better known, the guru ide- nificant aspects of teaching against innovative learn- a priority concern. would go far beyond the con- fell short of quality require- In a system as gigantic
others in every sphere of hu- al, to a lesser-known, the stu- and learning. Of them, one ers who enjoy group work Continuous faculty devel- fines of career advancement ments due to a lack of expe- as ours, there is a need to
man endeavour. In some of dent. But in modern times, it relates to having profound and group grading and do opment is a very important and empower the faculty rience among existing staff strengthen both the PM-
our writings, the guru ideal is difficult to visualise this knowledge and understand- not like mundane tasks and success factor in educational in its truest sense. Despite as well as outside experts in MMNMTT and the HRDCs
has been positioned a step concept because knowledge ing of the subject, another is activities. There are others effectiveness. It becomes sincere efforts from the top, the proper use of ICT tools equally well, with the provi-
higher than God himself. now exists in numerous the capacity to provide dif- like dynamic learners who all the more necessary for it did not make much of a and their integration. They sion for a periodic review.
Such narratives can also be forms and at multiple places. ferential treatment to indi- relish the interdisciplinary a multicultural, multilin- difference in terms of both were those which somehow These exemplary schemes
traced to other cultures as Therefore, the title of guru vidual learners keeping in approach and open-ended guistic, multiethnic, and as quality and coverage due could not get out of the con- should not be allowed to
well. Eminent philosophers ideal is not at all applicable to view their uniqueness and questions as against analytic gigantic a system as ours. to the ineptness of the en- ventional mode of faculty de- cease or languish for want
like Plato, Aristotle, Confu- a modern-day teacher. Amid styles of learning and think- learners who are more fasci- There are about 11.7 mil- trenched bureaucracy. The velopment. It is understood of resources. The govern-
cius and Socrates also put the changing circumstances, the ing and the third one relates nated in drawing inferences lion teachers in India. Of programs that they offer in that in such centres the video ment should do everything
teacher at the top of the ped- modern-day teacher at best to having a good deal of ap- from facts and figures rather them, 8.1 million are in the the form of Faculty Induc- lectures were delivered with- possible to support them
estal. Indeed, the guru ideal can be called a professional preciation for basic realities than looking forward for elementary sector, 2.1 mil- tion Programmes (FIPs) and out caring for the integration rather than slashing their
was considered a person of teacher like any other pro- of teaching. role playing and group grad- lion in the secondary sector, the Faculty Development of appropriate ICT tools and budgets or asking the centres
incomparable brilliance. fessional who not only has a A professional teacher ing. Teachers would require and 1.5 million in the post- Programmes (FDPs) con- pedagogies commensurate to become self-sustaining. It
It is worth mentioning that deep knowledge and under- has to be realistic enough utmost caution and real pro- secondary sector. They have tinued to be out-of-step with with subject-specific re- would be naïve to presume
teaching was not recognised standing of the subject but to know about the basic re- fessionalism whilst dealing the responsibility of nurtur- basic realities of present-day quirements. But, some cen- such schemes to become self-
as a profession like theology, also continuously endeavor alities of teaching to ward with these different kinds of ing about 200 million chil- requirements. The crux of ters have made praisewor- sustaining and self-support-
medicine, and law in olden to keep abreast with the lat- off unnecessary threats and learners, and more so when dren in elementary schools, the problem lies in the lack thy efforts in terms of both ing as it has never happened
times. Even when some est and the best. remain focused on her mis- they are going to be part of 65 million in secondary of expert knowledge and quality and coverage like in other public service train-
more areas like engineering, The question of prime sion. Of them, the first and the same class. On-the-job schools, and 37 million in permanency of occupation GAD-TLC of Khalsa college ing academies.
architecture, dentistry, nurs- importance is what truly foremost reality is about training is not adequate post-secondary institutions. at HRDCs which are at vari- from the University of Delhi
ing, journalism were recog- constitutes a professional the outcomes of teaching. enough to deal with this sort These numbers will keep ance with the very original and CESME from the Indian The writer is former Chairman,
nised as professions, teach- teacher? Is the professional One needs to understand of situation. rising from year to year on concept of the scheme. They Institute of Science, Banga- UGC. The views expressed are
ing was still considered on teacher one who possesses that even in the best of cir- It requires constant updat- account of a large number of need a complete revamp of lore. Such centers performed personal.
PERSPECTIVE
CHANGING SCENARIOS
COVID, CLOUD, NEW MARKETS AND DIGITAL PARADIGMS

The Covid-19 pandemic 22% of Indian Startups Due to the pandemic, creasing their investment more people increase their various video content for- and chatbots will acceler- tent Platforms like Net-
has adversely disrupted and MSMEs have over c o r r e s p o n d i n g l o c k- in content marketing in time online, including how mats that fit your brand, ate content creation and flix and Amazon Prime,
all the sheen our Micro, 3-months of sustenance. downs, and virtual ways 2020. Hence, it has be- they researched products, niche, and industry and delivery strategies and be- hoardings hold minimalis-
Small & Medium Enter- Small businesses have of working, a new kind of come very critical for the brands, and organiza- optimize them through- come inextricable parts of tic value if you have people
prises (MSME) sector an inherent advantage of market and segments with MSMEs today to get inside tions. Organizations have out the customer’s jour- the global user experience. working from home, and
had amassed in the last agility which helps them altogether varied demo- this arena. Today there are seen a saving of more than ney. As per global sources, AI can be the game-chang- kids studying online at
few years. Almost 82% create a market space for graphics have emerged as over 8 million active ad- 30% on the cost of reach- almost 93% of brands got er in the current matrix. home, other BTL adver-
of small businesses have themselves, but the chal- a bigger cloud community, vertisers on Facebook, the ing customers and with a new customer because Chatbots fuelled by AI are tising now competes with
been impacted due to this lenges are dependence on hence the ways of reaching vast majority of which are more geographical cover- of a video on social media predicted to handle over e-commerce and online
pandemic. It is common manpower and tight cash and influencing have to be small and medium-sized age as a bonus. You will and over 84% of people 88% of customer service marketplaces. Hence, to
in today’s time that you flows. new and digital. Digital businesses. Also, to talk be surprised to know that say that they’ve been con- by 2021. conclude, it would be fair
read about the havoc this India has taken a sizable marketing is the solution. about Instagram, it is the in April 2020, WhatsApp vinced to buy a product The digital marketing to say that since markets
pandemic has wreaked brunt of this Pandemic. Digital marketing has social channel with the was the top messaging app or service by watching a landscape is ever-expand- have evolved so the mar-
everywhere, but its impact Small businesses like drastically changed the second-highest Return of in terms of monthly active brand’s video. Moreover, ing, it is estimated that keting has to evolve, adapt
on the small businesses is shops, restaurants, stores, way businesses operate Investment (ROI) among users globally. In the same almost 87% of video mar- by 2023 the number of and innovate. Technology
very difficult to build back, boutiques, salons, and today. More than 100 mil- marketers globally. context, Influencer Mar- keters say that video has global social media users is taking the centrepiece in
looking at the sheer time many more have been go- lion people use Facebook Let’s discuss some easy keting is very effective and increased traffic to their is expected to reach al- this evolution and throw-
and impact. This is the ing through a tough time. Watch every day and there and key elements which highly result-oriented. Al- website and around 80% most 3.43 billion. Moving ing a new challenge to the
global story today as more Times for sure is challeng- are over 280 million Face- can do the magic. most 97% of top searches of video marketers glob- ahead in time, you will not marketing fraternity glob-
than 200 countries have ing but it is for everyone, book users in India only. on Pinterest are unbrand- ally claim that video has be surprised to know that ally.
been impacted. which is the saving grace. Globally it’s not just the SOCIAL MEDIA AND ed, hence there is so much directly increased sales. big and small, all kinds of There is one silver lin-
More than 50% of the Hence, firm resolve, and a big businesses and brands SOCIAL MESSAGING scope for small and medi- companies spend more on ing in all of this and that is
MSMEs in India are ex- smart approach will hold who benefit from digi- PLATFORMS um-sized businesses. ASSISTING CONTENT digital marketing than on early adaption. The faster
pected to cut down, shut the key here. The solution tal marketing, but small Increased use of social C R E AT I O N A N D traditional marketing. adaptation will be the key
down or sell this year due must be affordable, easy to businesses benefit more media and social messag- DEVELOP MORE DELIVERY THROUGH The trend today is news- to survival and your ticket
to the disastrous impact use, time-tested, proven with very low costs. 24% ing apps can help retain VIDEO CONTENT CHATBOTS AND AI papers to e-papers, radios to growth..
of the second wave. Only method and tool. of marketers plan on in- and engage. 2020 saw In 2021 it is crucial to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to music apps, TV to Con- – Meghna Peer
6 legally speaking the daily guardian
monday | 05 july 2021
new delhi
In court
telangana HIgH court Issues PractIce

DIrectIons Pursuant to suPreme court
orDer on cHeque BouncIng cases Damodar S.Prabhu Vs.
Sayed Babalal H., (2010) 5
SCC 663).
analysis 9) If all the above are duly
complied, the Magistrates
shall take cognizance of the
SANJEEV SIROHI offence on the date of filing
itself without any delay
and shall invariably regis-
ter· the case. (As Summary
Trial Cases - Negotiable In-
struments (STC-NI) (vide
Indian Banks Association
I
n keeping with the of the Apex Court in Indian Vs. Union of India, (2014) 5
requirements of the Banks Association Vs. Un- SCC 590.)
changing circumstanc- ion of India, (2014) 5 SCC 10) The summons shall
es, the Telangana High 590. be issued to the accused by
Court has issued practice 3) The Magistrate Courts registered post/approved
directions to Magistrates need not insist for the per- courier agency. e-Mail
and Trial Courts having sonal presence of the com- and other approved digi-
jurisdiction to try offences plainant for registration of tal/electronic mode in the
under the Negotiable In- the Complaint. (vide A.C. prescribed format. (vide
struments Act pursuant Narayanan Vs. State of Ma- Indian Banks Association
to the directions issued by harashtra, AIR 2014 SC Vs. Union of India, (2014)
the Supreme Court (In Re 360). SCC 590).
Expeditious Trial Of Cases 4) The power of attorney 11) While issuing sum-
Under Section 138 of NI holder may be allowed to mons, the Courts shall see
Act) regarding the trial of file the complaint, appear that the summons are prop-
Cheque bouncing cases. We and depose for the purpose erly addressed and sent by
had seen how a Constitu- of issue of process for the post and also to the e-mail
tion Bench of the Supreme offence under Section 138 address of the accused fur-
Court had in April 2021 is- of the N.I.Act (vide A.C. nished by the complainant.
sued a set of directions to Narayanan Vs. State of The Court, shall also con-
expedite the trial of cheque Maharashtra, AIR 2014 sider to take the assistance
dishonor cases under Sec- SC 630 and Sk. Tamisud- of the Police or the nearby
tion 138 of the Negotiable din Vs. Joy Joseph Creado. Court to serve summons Act, 1987 by way of filing ments Act and Subrama- shall consider awarding ferring to the directions of the witnesses, instead of
Instruments Act. The Court Criminal Appeal No. 237 or warrants to the accused. Execution Application, nium Sethuraman Vs State the compensation to the the Apex Court also men- examining them in Court.
had requested the High of 2012, dated 25.09.2018). For appearance of the ac- while treating that award of Maharashtra, AIR 2004 complainant party in view tions that, Witnesses to the complaint
Courts to issue practice di- An exception to the above cused, a short date shall be as a decree (vide K.N. Go- SC 4711. It shall be kept in of the provisions under “Annexure-A and accused must be availa-
rections to the Magistrates is when the power of at- fixed. If the summons is re- vindan Kutty Menon Vs. mind that as held in In Re: 138, 143 of Negotiable In- Directions of the Hon’ble ble for cross examination as
to record reasons before torney holder of the com- ceived back un-served, im- C.D. Shaji, (2012) 2 SCC 51). Expeditious Trial of Case struments Act and Section Supreme Court in Indian and when there is direction
converting trial of complainant does not have a mediate follow up action be 15) In case of not settling Under Section 138 Nego- 357 Cr.P.C. The Court must Banks Association Vs. Un- to this effect by the Court.”
plaints under Section 138 of personal knowledge about taken. The courts shall treat the issue before the Lok tiable Instruments Act, the exercise the power and dis- ion of India. (2014) 5 SCC It is then also further
the Act from summary trial the transaction, then he the service of summons in Adalat or the Mediation, Section 258 of the Cr.P.C. is cretion to compensate the 590. stated that, “ Therefore, all
to summons trial. We shall cannot be examined (vide one complaint under Sec- the case shall be posted for not applicable to the com- injury suffered by the com- (1)Metropolitan Magis- the Judicial Officers in the
discuss these directions lat- Janki Vashdeo Bhojwani tion 138 forming part of framing notice or the ex- plaints under Section 138 plainant (vide Hari Kishan trate/Judicial Magistrate State are hereby directed
er as stated in Annexure-A Vs. Indusind Bank Ltd., a translation, as deemed amination of the accused of the N.I. Act and the judg- Vs. Sukhbir Singh, (1988) ( M M / J M ) , o n t h e d ay to follow the above practice
of this circular. (2005) 2 SCC 217). service in respect of all the under Section 251 of Cr.P.C. ment in Meters and Instru- 4 SCC 551). The Court when the complaint under directions scrupulously,
At the outset, it must be 5) Recording of com- complaints filed before the about the accusation lev- ments Private Limited Vs. shall also keep in mind the Section 138 of the Act is while dealing with cases
stated that the Telanga- plainant’s sworn statement same court relating to dis- elled against him. In case Kanchan Mehta, AIR 2017 decisions of the Hon’ble presented, shall scrutinize under Section 138 of Ne-
na High Court in ROC under Sec. 200 Cr.P.C. is honor of cheques issued of denial of the accusation, SC 4594 is not approved to Apex Court in this regard the complaint and, if the gotiable Instruments Act,
NO.1608/SO/2020 dated not mandatory in view of as part of the said transac- the accused shall be called that extent. rendered in R. Vijayan Vs complaint is accompanied 1881. The receipt of the
21.06.2021 in its Circular the provisions under Sec- tions. (vide Directions of upon to file a defence state- 18) The Magistrate Courts Baby, AIR 2012 SC 528 and by the affidavit, and the af- circular may be acknowl-
No. 11/2021 pointed out tion 145 of Negotiable In- the Hon’ble Supreme Court ment in writing with sup- shall make every endeav- Suganthi Suresh Kumar fidavit and the documents, edged.”
first and foremost that, struments Act. (vide A.C. in its Constitutional Bench porting reasons. Then the our to complete the trial Vs. Jagdeeshan (2002) 2 if any, are found to be in or- In essence, all the Mag-
“Attention is invited to the Narayanan Vs. State of decision, dated 16.04.2021 Court shall consider the of these cases within the SCC 420. The Court may der, take cognizance and di- istrates and Trial Courts
Orders dated 16.04.2021 Maharashtra, AIR 2014 in Suo Motu Writ Petition scope of calling the com- statutory prescribed time consider granting of install- rect issuance of summons. in Telangana are bound to
of Hon’ble Supreme Court SC 630). The sworn affida- (Crl.) No.2 of 2020 titled plainant for further chief limit of six (6) months. ments or time to pay such (2) MM/JM should adopt implement these landmark
of India in Suo Motu Writ vit filed under Section 145 In Re: Expeditious Trial of examination for making 19) After closure of the compensation amount. The a pragmatic and realistic practice directions issued
Petition (Crl.) No.2 of 2020 Negotiable Instrument Act Case Under Section 138 Ne- documents and for cross- complainant side evidence, Court may also consider to approach while issuing by the Telangana High
titled In Re: Expeditious can be considered in lieu gotiable Instruments Act.) examination on behalf of the accused shall be called impose in default sentence summons. Summons must Court having jurisdiction
Trial of Cases Under Sec- of the sworn statement in 12)The Courts shall di- the accused. upon to answer the incrim- on the accused in case of be properly addressed and to try offences under the
tion 138 Negotiable Instru- view of said provision. rect the accused, when he 16)Till this stage, the case inate material available in failure to pay the compen- sent by post by e-mail ad- Negotiable Instruments
ments Act, wherein the 6) In the cases where the appears to furnish a bail shall be treated as Summa- the case of the complainant sation. (vide K.A. Abbas Vs dress got from the com- Act pursuant to the direc-
High Courts have been place of residence of the bond, to ensure his appear- ry Trial Case, but not as a against him under Section Sabu Joseph (2010) 6 SCC plainant. Court, in appro- tions issued by the Apex
requested to issue prac- accused is situated outside ance during trial. Here the regular Summons or Calen- 313 Cr.P.C and his detailed 230 and R. Mohan Vs. A.K. priate cases, may take the Court which we have just
tice directions to all the the territorial limits of the Court shall consider the dar Case. After examining answers for the said ques- Vijaya Kumar, (2012) 8 SCC assistance of the police or discussed above pertain-
Courts under their control Court, the Courts shall request of the accused to the above aspects the Court tions shall be recorded. The 721.). the nearby Court to serve ing to the trial of cheque
to streamline the procedure follow Section 202 Cr.P.C. grant time for production shall consider the scope of accused shall be permitted 23) Sec. 143-A: In all trials notice to the accused. For bouncing cases and the
being adopted in the cases which mandates the in- of such bail bonds. converting the case as a reg- to file a defence statement under Sec. 138 of Negotia- notice of appearance, a request made by the Apex
instituted for the offence quiry by the Court. How- 13) On the date of first ap- ular Summons/Calendar in view of the provisions ble Instruments Act, when short date be fixed. If the Court to the High Courts to
under Section 138 of Nego- ever, the said provision is pearance of the accused or case. If the Court is of the under Section 313 Cr.P.C. at the accused is claiming for summons is received back issue practice directions to
tiable Instruments Act.” not a hurdle or barrier in on the date to which the ap- view that the case requires this stage. a regular trial, the Court un-served, immediate fol- the Magistrates to record
Most remarkably and also respect of the cases under pearance of the accused is a through and detailed trial 20) In case the accused may order to direct the ac- low up action be taken. reasons before converting
most significantly, it is then Section 138 of Negotiable scheduled, the Magistrate or where the case warrants chooses to adduce evi- cused to pay the interim (3) Court may indicate in trial of complaints under
pointed out in this circu- Instruments Act in view Court shall furnish the cop- imposition of grave pun- dence, the accused shall compensation to the com- the summon that if the ac- Section 138 of the Act from
lar that, “Pursuant to the of the Constitution Bench ies of complaint and docu- ishment or where multiple not be permitted to file his plainant which shall not cused makes an application summary trial to summons
directions of the Hon’ble decision dated 16.04.2021 ments to the Accused, en- connected civil/criminal chief examination evidence exceed 20% of the amount for compounding of offenc- trial. It is good to note that
Supreme Court of India, of the Hon’ble Supreme quire about his capacity to cases are pending, it shall in the form of affidavit in of cheque (Section 143-A). es at the first hearing of the according to the practice
the following Practice Di- Court in Suo Motu Writ engage counsel (or appoint record the reasons for con- view of the law in Mandvi Such interim compensa- case and, if such an appli- directions, it has been
rections are issued to all Petition (Crl.) No.2 of 2020 a legal aid counsel for the verting the case into a regu- Co-operative Bank Ltd. Vs. tion shall be paid within 60 cation is made, Court may stated that the Magistrate
the Courts dealing with the titled In Re: Expeditious accused having no capacity lar Summons or Calendar Nimesh B. Thakore, (2010) days from the date of order pass appropriate orders at Courts need not insist for
cases under Section 138 of Trial of Cases Under Sec- to engage counsel) and then Case (CC-NI). The record- 3 SCC 83. However, the ac- and the Court is compe- the earliest. personal presence of com-
Negotiable Instruments tion 138 Negotiable Instru- shall inform him about the ing of reasons at this stage cused can be permitted to tent to extend that time for (4) Court should direct plainant for registration of
Act, in the State. ments Act). However, the guidelines in Damodar shall always be mandatory enter into the witness box further 30 days. In case of the accused, when he ap- the complaint. It is also a
Courts shall look into and S.Prabhu Vs. Sayed Babalal in view of the decision of after obtaining necessary acquittal, the Court shall pears to furnish a bail bond, step in the right direction
PRACTICE DIRECTIONS consider the affidavit of H., (2010) 5 SCC 663 and the Hon’ble Apex Court permission from the Court direct the complainant to to ensure his appearance that the recording of com-
1) All the Magistrate Courts the Complainant which Madhya Pradesh State Le- in Suo Motu Writ Petition under Section 315 Cr.P.C. repay the interim compen- during trial and ask him to plainant’s sworn statement
trying the cases under Sec- may be filed under Sec- gal Services Authority Vs. (Crl.) No.2 of 2020 titled However, this permission sation amount with the take notice under Section under Section 200 Cr.P.C.
tion 138 of Negotiable In- tion 145 of N.I. Act and the Prateek Jain, (2014) 10 SCC In Re: Expeditious Trial of from the Court is not man- bank interest rate to the ac- I25 Cr.P.C. to enable him is not mandatory in view
struments Act shall invari- documents filed in support! 690. If the Court is satisfied Case Under Section 138 Ne- datory when the accused cused within 60 days from to enter his plea of defence of the provisions under
ably follow the directions of his case to arrive at suf- that there is an element of gotiable Instruments Act. intends to examine any the date of judgment and and fix the case for defence Section 145 of the Negotia-
of the Hon’ble Supreme ficient grounds to proceed settlement of the case, then 17) The Magistrates shall other person as his witness. this time can also be ex- evidence, unless an appli- ble Instruments Act. All the
Court in Indian Banks against the accused and to it shall refer the case to Lok- not entertain any miscel- 21) After recording the tended for further 30 days. cation is made by the ac- High Courts must emulate
Association Vs. Union of issue the process. Adalat or Mediation in ac- laneous application for evidence of both parties, Interim compensation may cused under Section 145(2) the worthy example of Tel-
India, (2014) 5 SCC 590 as 7) The complaint shall cordance with the scheme discharge of the accused the arguments shall be be recovered as if it were a for recalling a witness for angana High Court and
appended to this Practice contain a statement as to prepared by NALSA. as there is no provision heard by the Court and the fine under Sec. 421 Cr.P.C. cross examination. issue practice directions
Guidelines vide ‘Annexure- computation of the amount 14) In case of settlement in Cr.P.C. for discharge of Court shall pronounce the This interim compensation (5) The Court concerned on cheque bouncing cases
A’. 2) All the Magistrate claimed, e-Mail ID of the of the case in any of these an accused in a Summary judgment within three days amount shall be adjusted must ensure that examina- similarly as has been com-
Courts shall invariably complainant/accused, two modes, the award shall Trial Case or a Summons (excluding the day of hear- against the final compen- tion-in-chief, cross exami- mendably directed also by
register the cases under bank particulars of the be drawn. In case of settle- Case in view of the law as ing the final arguments.). sation ordered by the Court nation and re-examination a Constitution Bench of the
Section 138 of Negotiable complainant. ment before Lok Adalat, the settled in Suo Motu Writ 22) In all the cases where under Sec. 357 Cr.P.C. at the of the complainant must Apex Court headed by the
Instruments Act initially as 8) The Courts shall insist parties shall be informed Petition (Crl.) No.2 of 2020 the accused is found guilty time of judgment.” be conducted within three then CJI Sharad Arvind
Summary Trial Cases - Ne- for filing the verification about the mode of execu- titled In Re: Expeditious of the offence under Sec- Going ahead, the Telanga- months of assigning the Bobde in its April 2021 or-
gotiable Instruments (STC- affidavit as to the correct- tion of the award as per the Trial of Case Under Sec- tion 138 of Negotiable In- na High Court then further case. The Court has option der.
NI) in view of the directions ness of pleadings. (vide Legal Services Authorities tion 138 Negotiable Instru- struments Act, the Court in its Annexure-A while re- of accepting affidavits of The write is an Advocate.
t h e da ily gua r dia n
m o nday | 0 5 j u ly 2 0 2 1
new de l h i defence guardian 7
AnAlysis
ARE WE AiMinG WiTHOUT ARMinG?

We have come to a stage where the government will have to take the call that it will do the
needful to stem the China-Pakistan tide. To ‘aim’ high, we need to ‘arm’ accordingly.
er in 2014. It was hoped
that we would finally be
‘Armed’ to achieve our
‘Aim’. Furthermore, the
present government prom-
ised us growth rates where
our economy would hit the
5tn USD mark. Consistent
with this ideal, our defence
modernisation was put on
track in the initial period
till Manohar Parrikar was
the RM. When he moved
LT GEN P.R. SHANKAR (RETD) to Goa things slowed down
considerably. Thereafter
I
ndia was a poor coun- three things have now
try in the decade before changed the equations
1971. Two debilitating completely: abrogation of
wars with China (1962) Article 370, the coronavi-
and Pakistan (1965), truant rus with its accompanying
monsoons, high inflation, economic havoc, and Chi-
food shortages and imports nese aggression in Eastern
dominated headlines. Five- Ladakh. Our threat ma-
year plans were suspended trix and global strategic
from 1966 to 1969 due to a posture have completely
lack of resources. Prime transformed. If one adds
Ministers Nehru and Shas- the technological disrup-
tri died in quick succession tions, the situation is more
to cause political instabil- complex and dark than
ity. Rupee devaluation ever before. In all this,
(1966) triggered huge price our ‘aim’ as a nation has
rises. Banks were nation- not wavered, in fact, it has
alised in 1969. There was gone up. Our sights are
a huge refugee problem set higher. We seek global
throughout 71. The econ- leadership. However, are
omy was in complete tat- we arming accordingly?
ters. Despite all this India We seem to be heading into
did not flinch when it came a state of ‘aiming without
to funding for defence. arming’.
Post-1962, we started to The Chinese threat and
arm to defend ourselves. hostility are now palpable
Indian politico-military through their military ac-
leadership prioritised the tivity and build up across ness has not progressed to tions with words. Power
integrity of the nation ir- the LAC. Infrastructure The overview is that as a nation we are aiming high. No harm. We must. build a formal base to pave still flows from the barrel
respective of the cost. The for the PLA and PLAAF the way for theatrisation. of a gun! Unfortunately, we
outlook came good in 1965. is being put in place at a However, we have to match actions with words. Power still flows from the One cannot go without the fall short there. There are
Our historical GDP and frenetic pace. Express- other. a lot of talks and no action.
defence spending tell their ways and roads are being barrel of a gun! Unfortunately, we fall short there. There are a lot of talks and Overall our ability to Overall what is coming
own story (see graphs). In built. The PLA has even meet the long term threats through is that the Politi-
1971, India could ill-afford turned over two divisions
no action. Overall, what is coming through is that the Political-Bureaucratic- hinges on our capabil- cal-Bureaucratic-Military
a war. However, it deliber- in Eastern Ladakh indicat- Military leadership is not on the same page. Each segment of our military ity to be Atmanirbhar leadership is not on the
ately prepared for a war ing permanence in deploy- in weapon procurement same page. Each segment
thrust on it by Pakistan ment. Long-range missiles leadership seems to be driven by an agenda of its own. It is also clear that and transform into a joint of our military leadership
to create Bangladesh. The have been deployed in system based on theatre seems to be driven by an
two decades that followed Tibet. Border villages are we do not have a national strategy or a capability development plan which commands. However, the agenda of its own. It is also
were very difficult eco- being deliberately set up. evidence is that we are still clear that we do not have a
nomically but still saw the Locals are being hired to is unfolding since prevarication and debate remains very high on issues looking to meet our imme- national strategy or a ca-
military continue to mod-
ernise unabatedly. Our
form militias. The Brah-
maputra is being dammed
that we thought were settled. To match all this, our economy is getting hit diate requirements and
not investing in long term
pability development plan
which is unfolding since
leaders realised that every-
thing could wait, but not
in Tibet. Nepal has been
compromised in every
badly by the coronavirus pandemic. Very soon we will be facing the evolving solutions. Where we have
opted for the long term
prevarication and debate
remains very high on is-
the defence of the country. respect to do China’s bid- situation with our residual military power without adding on to it. solution we do not seem sues that we thought were
The trend reversed in the ding. The day is not far to have the teamwork and settled. To match all this,
90s as our economy grew when PLA appears in the determination to take it to our economy is getting hit
by leaps and bounds. Our Terai region along the UP its logical conclusion. The badly by the coronavirus
leaders tightened purse and Bihar borders. Bhutan cannot be ignored. Against continue to import. A cou- ready started looking ac- rines through a strategic present requirement is be- pandemic. Very soon we
strings for the defence is being pressurised to part this steady threat enhance- ple of years back, Artillery tively at Russia for a light partnership with a foreign ing met through ‘urgent’ will be facing the evolving
of the nation. However, with Doklam completely. ment, we need to examine modernisation was touted tank. Have we considered OEM even though we have imports and even worse, situation with our residu-
under the then prevalent In essence, The LAC is be- what our response is. as a success with an in- the bad experience of the built Scorpene submarines through leasing. Leasing al military power without
conditions, it was strange- ing solidified as per a plan Atmanirbharta was an- digenous gun that passed AK 203 rifle from Rus- through a similar arrange- represents the worst of all adding on to it. Overall
ly considered appropriate. laid out by the CMC and nounced formally last all trials (Dhanush) and sia? Have we factored in ment earlier and are build- evils. That is worryingly we are in the situation in
The trend line has contin- enunciated by Xi Jinping. year, though the concept one in an advanced stage the fallout and effect of ing a nuclear submarine increasing in scope. The which we were in 1971. At
ued into present times. The Chinese threat and of achieving self-suffi- of development (ATAGS). continuing to buy Russian indigenously. We have requirement is to put in that time the Politico-Mili-
Post-Kargil War, we re- preparation have height- ciency had been initiated If that be so, why do we arms when our strategic finally designed Tejas but hard work for the future tary resolve bailed us out. I
assessed our threats and ened significantly. Chinese in 2014 itself. However, have to import 400 guns partnership with the US is are unable to ramp up pro- in core weapons systems. do not have the confidence
our national capabilities economic and military it is floundering already. from Israel? The face-off already under strain due to duction. Overall we might However, a lot of effort to say so now since the
to embark on a military stamina pose great chal- The AK 203 Rifle Factory in Eastern Ladakh clearly the S400 deal? When will have had some success in seems to be going into the general systemic failure
modernisation drive. In lenges to India. The threat based on Russian technol- indicated that we need a we get off the Russian feed- building platforms but are peripherals. The 20-point during the second wave
2010, Stephen Cohen’s gets further elevated if one ogy is stalled due to pric- tank for high altitudes. We ing bottle? In my opinion, unable to arm them. Get- reforms of the MOD do is stark and fresh in my
book ‘Arming Without considers the collusion ing issues. There is no have a possible indigenous it is ‘Godi Procurement’. ting the drift? I can go on. not add up to combat en- mind. The challenge to the
Aiming’ described India’s from Pakistan. This factor alternative created. So we solution. Yet we have al- We want to build subma- The CDS was appointed hancement or efficiency current Political-Bureau-
military modernisation early last year with the unless executed. The pur- cratic-Military leadership
as a haphazard military task of synergising the ported transformation is is to infuse confidence in
change that lacks politi- Armed Forces. It was vi- driven by officials who the people that they mean
cal direction, suffers from sualised that it will lead to cannot differentiate be- business and are doing
balkanisation of military jointness and setting up of tween combat engineers enough. As a nation, we
organisation and doctrine, Theatre Commands. The and MES. Individuals are have to hunker down and
remains limited by narrow experience of the high- being christened as ‘Chota meet the challenge. In my
prospective planning, and level faceoffs with China Kalams’ for non-military opinion, we have come to
is driven by the pursuit of should have helped us in achievements that will not a stage where the govern-
technology free from mil- taking forward our vi- enable the armed forces to ment will have to take the
itary-strategic objectives. sion. However what is the take the technological leap call that it will do the need-
It also pointed out the dys- result? Initially, the Navy for future battlefields. The ful to stem the Sino-Pak
function in the political- had issues with the con- ideological thrust of in- tide. To ‘aim’ high, we need
military establishment cept and even leaked out digenisation of military to ‘arm’ accordingly.
DEFENSE EXPENDITURE
concerning procurement. an official document into tunes will not improve
While issues raised by him social media. Now the Air our combat ability. Indis- Lt Gen P.R. Shankar was
had merit, not everything Force has aired reserva- criminate utilisation of India’s DG Artillery. He is
he said was correct. In the tions about theatre com- war fighting material or highly decorated and quali-
period 2000 to 2010, we mands which never went arbitrary sacking of senior fied with vast operational
were ‘arming with an aim’. away in the first place. officers is detrimental to experience. He contributed
We were seeking a place in Their apprehensions are morale. An opaque infra- significantly to the moderni-
the world order and power also out on the street. A structure plan does not in- sation and indigenisation of
structure. We knew that to committee is now set up stil confidence. Hence all Artillery. He is now a Profes-
become a relevant power to chart the way forward transformation plans are sor in the Aerospace Dept of
we had to be armed. How- which should have been suspect. IIT Madras and is involved
ever, we lost steam by 2014. done at the beginning it- The overview is that as a in applied research for de-
‘Change’ was expected and self. Theatrisation is on a nation we are aiming high. fence technology. His other
indicated when the present rocky road. What is more No harm. We must. How- articles can be read on www.
Government came to pow- GDP GRAPH worrying is that joint- ever, we have to match ac- gunnersshot.com

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All English Editorial 05.07.2021

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06 BENGALURU MONDAY 05 07 2021

The social and economic coordinates of pre-Covid times are

PRICING WATER, A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW?

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Biden’s India policy takes shape

Theaterisation pangs ing experience in India and South

‘Tyranny of the elected’ in a democracy slowly executed beheading was pure

China-Pak footprint may increase in Afghanistan

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

example (4,4) ■ Shaka Samvat 1943

12 Secret agent (3) ■ Hijari 1442 Chandigarh 38 30

civilian control over the military, once the decision

U four years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

Padayatras to electoral victory!

Bring e-commerce under RTI Act

LETTERS with scores of 72, 59 and 75 n.o. Carry on Mithali, we are

N ATIONAl Securities Depository limited and Cen-

I NDIAN captain Mithali Raj deserves laurels on be-

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Pandemic tests organisational leadership

Theatre Commands: Is India on right path, at right time?

Legally insufficient: US FB critics In a first, trout reared in Himachal warm waters

Incorporating and directly descended

from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818

N ow for India’s Test matches in England this

next cyclone strikes

A friend in the airport gious principles. My father was a

P expected to support the pandemic-hit stressed sectors

Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to

Tweet of the day In the meantime, keep-

Change of CM exposes Subhani

U’khand trouble spells LETTERS

been handed the crown of thorns.

looking herself Her sons who unveiled her sculp-

monday, july 5, 2021

MFIs need bold policy support

Rushdie’s trysts with truth BOOK REVIEW

Essays in meditation on story, storytelling and storytellers

OUR VIEW MYVIEW | THE INTERSECTION

Why liberal democracies have a

offensive cyber is its ability to employ a information is unlikely to disturb Joe

Three economic risks in

need of mitigation plans superpower. China is the leading power

Q&A: Chandy on development,

DEVENDER TIWARI/HINDUSTAN TIMES

UPA a step Dangerous

airports hit an air pocket

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