All English Editorial 20.09.2021.

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@UPSC_THOUGHT
Everyone wants to live in a peaceful world, but it’s necessary
to understand that what destroys peace is anger and hatred.
The long term goal is to create inner peace within individuals, Dalai
so contributing to a more compassionate humanity Lama
06 HYDERABAD MONDAY 20 09 2021

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Unless the Sinhalese start speaking of democracy with

INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN respect for diversity and power-sharing, India-Lanka
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. relations would be subjected to severe stresses and strains
A SIGNIFICANT
— Ramnath Goenka
TALE OF POWER OMISSION IN LANKA

TRANSFERS IN TWO ENVOY’S DOCUMENT
IMPORTANT STATES
L
ast week, power transfer happened in con-
trasting styles in a couple of states ruled by
two different parties. While Gujarat’s light- V SURYANARAYAN Senior Professor (Retd), Centre for South and
weight CM Vijay Rupani quietly walked Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras
into the sunset after suddenly putting in his AMIT BANDRE
papers, powerful Punjab CM Amarinder Singh
M
left kicking and screaming, intending to give his ilinda Moragoda arrived in New and challenging” and China’s ex- nomic resources, military strength, should not be solved by military and the Sri Lankan armed forces,
nemesis Navjot Singh Sidhu a hard time. The Delhi on August 31. More than two tensive involvement in Sri Lanka and the big power-small power syn- means; New Delhi would adhere to came together. Premadasa gave a
weeks have elapsed, but the Sri has become a matter of serious drome. It may be recalled that in asymmetric reciprocity in its rela- “second life” to the Tigers by pro-
wheel of fate turned 180 degrees with the dis-
Lankan High Commissioner has concern for New Delhi. the perception of the majority Sin- tions with smaller neighbours; and viding finance and arms.
senting faction getting to rule in just about six yet to present his credentials to the Before he came to India as High halese, J N Dixit, then Indian High the problems relating to ethnicity It is a strange paradox, but true,
months and the ruler becoming the vocal rebel President of India. Commissioner, he took the initia- Commissioner (in the post-1987 pe- and nation-building could be that Prof G L Pieris and Milinda
indulging in name-calling, labelling Sidhu in- Moragoda has served Sri Lanka tive and with the assistance of his riod), was viewed as the “Viceroy solved, not by imposition of ma- Moragoda have undergone a meta-
competent and a national security threat. Juxta- with distinction—as a cabinet min- colleagues in the Foreign Office of India”. There are inherent fears joritarian rule, but by participa- morphosis in the reverse direction.
pose this with the new government in Gujarat ister, as one of the chief negotiators and “India watchers” in Sri Lanka, and misgivings about India’s long- tory democracy. Sri Lanka has to Both were great champions of the
with the Tigers, as a brilliant econo- prepared a document entitled Inte- term intentions and capabilities. work out a political system where 13th Amendment and devolution of
where the entire Rupani ministry was dropped
mist, and as the founder of Path- grated Country Strategy for Sri India, in turn, believes that its a Tamil could be a proud Tamil, powers to provinces. But today they
and a bunch of nobodies installed as ministers finder Foundation, one of the lead- Lankan Diplomatic Missions in In- neighbours are getting close to Chi- while, at the same time, be a loyal want the provincial councils to be
with another faceless person as CM. As many as ing think tanks in Colombo. As the dia, 2021-2023. The report contains na to “cut India to size”. Sri Lankan citizen. abolished because to quote Mora-
21 of the 24 ministers in Gujarat had no previous principal negotiator with the Ti- recommendations for improving Adding complexity to the situa- Two illustrations bring out the goda, they “are expensive, divisive
ministerial experience. The grumbling of the gers, he was more than a match to trade and investment; promoting tion, the historical bonds of com- legacy of mistrust, what I call and fraught with inefficiency”. If a
sacked ministers was not loud enough to disturb Anton Balasingham. Moragoda educational, religious, and cultur- mon cultural heritage and the “love-hate syndrome”. In April hospital does not function properly,
the leadership in Delhi. For, they owe their pres- told me that Sri Lanka was very al exchanges; finding a solution to spread of India’s ethno-cultural 1971, faced with an internal revolt the solution is not to shut down the
keen to prolong the ceasefire, be- the fisheries problem in the Palk reach naturally raise fears of get- posed by the JVP, PM Sirimavo hospital but remove the causes of
ence in the Assembly to the vote-catching ability cause all the contradictions within Bay; facilitating the return of the ting swamped. The overlap of a Bandaranaike requested Indian inefficiency. Moragoda also wants
of PM Narendra Modi. the LTTE—the differences between refugees from Tamil Nadu; and large number of ethno-religious- military assistance, which was democracy to be extended to
In both the states, the logic behind change in the northern leadership that was giving a fillip to people-to-people linguistic groups across India’s po- spontaneously given. How did Sri Pradeshiya Sabhas and villages;
leadership was that anti-incumbency had dan- using the eastern guerrillas as the cooperation. rous borders generates stresses and Lanka reciprocate India’s good- this could be done only if a consti-
gerously built up against the dispensations in cannon fodder and the loss of revo- When I read the report, I was strains in bilateral relations by way will? Six months later, when the tutional amendment is passed. Oth-
power ahead of polls though the ruling parties lutionary fervour among the guer- shocked. There was no mention as of movement of refugees, illegal East Pakistan crisis deteriorated erwise, it would turn out to be mere
rillas when they were allowed to get to how Colombo would find a solu- migration, large-scale poaching by and India had banned overflight of decentralisation of powers, powers
themselves had public acceptability. The ease
married and have children—would tion to the ethnic problem and how fishermen and spread of narcotics. Pakistani planes, Colombo permit- that could be changed according to
with which Modi did it in Gujarat showed his come out into the open. These con- to introduce participatory democ- I use the term Siamese twins to de- ted Pakistani Air Force planes to the whims of the ruling clique.
stranglehold over the party. In Punjab, party tradictions were exploited by the racy in the predominantly Tamil scribe the close nexus between In- have transit and refuelling facili- It is a difficult pill to swallow, but
lawmakers took months to rally around Sidhu armed forces and they finally elimi- areas. The implication is very dia and Sri Lanka. What afflicts one ties; the planes were meant for let me underline the truth. By de-
despite the Congress high command indicating nated the Tigers in 2009. What is clear—India has no role in this cru- will affect the other. putting down the democratic aspi- mocracy today, we mean inclusive-
its preference for him, suggesting the tenuous more, the members of the EU want- cial matter and as a sovereign Three guiding principles of In- rations of East Pakistanis. ness and participation of every
ed to censure Sri Lanka for human country, Sri Lanka would find a so- dia’s neighbourhood policy require The induction of the Indian ethnic group on equal terms. The
hold of the Gandhis on them and Amarinder’s
rights violations that took place lution on its own. reiteration. The ethnic tensions Peace Keeping Force, on the invita- Indian academic, Mukul Kesavan,
towering stature. By becoming a party to engi- during the Fourth Eelam War; the A country’s foreign policy is not tion of President Jayewardene, and has repeatedly underlined that ma-
neering defection, the Gandhis possibly created Indian delegation took the initia- static, it is subject to constant the subsequent marginalisation of joritarian democracies would turn
a Frankenstein in Amarinder. tive and a resolution was passed change, according to the needs of the Tigers enabled the Sri Lankan out to be “murderous majorities”.
Just the other day, agitating farmers in Pun- congratulating Colombo for elimi- the changing world and the coun- armed forces to withdraw from the Unless the Sinhalese start speak-
jab had urged parties to stay off electioneering nating one of the most ruthless ter- try’s requirements. The personali- north and the east and tackle the ing of democracy with respect for
till state polls are notified, so as not to weaken rorist organisations in the world. ties at the helm of government and The new Sri Lankan High Commissioner problems posed by the second JVP diversity, pluralism and power-
India, as Moragoda has written, their peculiar mindsets also shape has undergone a metamorphosis in the revolt. In the natural course, it sharing, India-Sri Lanka relations
their protest against the three farm laws. Yet, is the “cornerstone” of Sri Lanka’s the process of continuity and should have earned for India the would be subjected to severe stress-
the Congress mishandling has taken the focus reverse direction. A great champion of
foreign policy. And he has come to change. But all these have to work gratitude of the Sinhalese; on the es and strains.
off farmers, and made the state elections a high- India at a time when Colombo is be- within the fundamental realities of the 13th Amendment and devolution of contrary, it was explained away as (The author was the Founding
voltage Amarinder versus Sidhu contest. The ing isolated in the Western world— the region. There is no way of get- powers to provinces, today he wants the an illustration of India’s hegemon- Director of the Centre in
final outcome will depend on whichever way when the Indian Ocean region is ting away from the fact that India provincial councils to be abolished istic designs. What is more, the two the University of Madras)
Amarinder swings. Opposition parties in the becoming increasingly “complex is looming large with its size, eco- antagonistic entities, the Tigers (suryageeth@gmail.com)
state are already salivating at the bundle of op-
tions on the table. Given Sidhu’s inexperience
in statecraft, if the Congress were to lose Pun-
jab, it would have nowhere to hide.
BREACHING QUOTA CEILING & NEED FOR CASTE CENSUS
TN’S RESET TOWARDS es’. In the judgment, there is no silent on the ‘how many’ question. of 2011 used for estimating the
SOCIAL JUSTICE clear rationale as to how the court
arrived at the quantification of
This ambiguity can be removed
only if there is data that reflects
number of beneficiaries under
various schemes of the govern-
T
50%, aside from the iteration that the percentage of people that need ment relating to food security,
he death of a Scheduled Caste temple AMAR BJD Rajya Sabha MP, ex-CAG bureaucrat with
it was a “reasonable and fair” fig- this reservation as was also noted housing, health, etc., often com-
priest in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai dis- PATNAIK a PhD in management and now an advocate
ure considering the aim of ade- by the courts. It is only then that pels states to demand additional
trict a month ago has barely affected the quate representation and not pro- one can assess if the 50% ceiling is quota requirements from the Cen-
collective consciousness of the state. The portional representation based on required to be breached in order to tre since the 2011 data is old and
T
cold-blooded murder allegedly by a group he latest constitutional amend- then it is required to base its deci- caste. The court also did not lay out formulate a rational reservation leaves out many eligible benefici-
of Caste Hindus is already a forgotten story. The ment restoring the power of the sion on quantifiable data.” Earlier, the rationale behind the primacy policy based on the doctrine of ad- aries. The latter leads to a lot of
states to identify Socially and Eco- in the M Nagaraj case, the court of the doctrine of adequacy over equacy, if not proportionality. In- avoidable politicking based on
probe is still on, though.
nomically Backward Castes (SE- had laid down that the “... the state the doctrine of proportionality. dia last witnessed a comprehen- which party is in power at the Cen-
This is not an isolated case of a caste-related BCs) and Other Backward Castes has to collect quantifiable data Policy rationale behind caste- sive caste census last in 1931. tre vis-a-vis the demanding state.
atrocity. There has been an unusual spike in (OBCs) continues to create a lot of showing backwardness of the class based enumeration in Census: No Focusing on the need for such a Conclusion: The jurisprudence
such cases over the last few years. RTI-based buzz across the nation much be- and inadequacy of representation legislation can bring actual sub- census purely from a public policy of reservation is in the nature of
data collection by an NGO recently revealed yond the simple clarifications in- of that class in public employment stantive benefits to the OBCs and imperative, the Cabinet of Odisha affirmative action. First, it aims
that 300 people from SC/ST communities were serted through the amendment. in addition to compliance of Arti- the SEBCs unless we ascertain passed a resolution on 11 January to abolish the past inhuman dis-
The ceiling limit issue: However, cle 335”. Therefore, if we want to ‘who’ (identify) these benefits will 2020 for the conduct of a socio-eco- crimination and second, it aims
killed in caste murders across the state during
the amendment is silent on breach- get the ceiling limit increased be- accrue to and ‘how many’ (total nomic caste enumeration simulta- to mitigate suffering and mend
2016-2020. What is shocking is the abysmal con- ing the cap of 50% on reservations yond 50% through a judicial order, number) of them will need to be neously with the General Census the generational damage to these
viction rate, which stands at 4.3%. The recent as was laid down in the landmark it can be done only through a sci- covered under its ambit. The latest 2021 by adding extra columns to communities. The extent to which
national crime report paints another gloomy case of Indra Sawhney and others entifically designed survey; every amendment answers the ‘who’ the existing format. The state also reservations will be excessive so
picture: the rate of crime against women has vs Union of India and others in other argument has no evidentiary part of the question as the states approached the Centre with this as to render them adverse must
gone up in the state, to 17.4% in 2020 from 15.6% 1992. The amendment was neces- value in the eyes of the courts. will identify the castes to be treat- demand, which it refused. How- depend on the adequacy of repre-
in 2019. Crimes against children too have shown sitated after the judgment of the Lacunae in the Indra Sawhney ed as OBC/SEBC. However, it is ever, Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik be- sentation in a particular case.
Supreme Court in the Maratha res- judgment: Many have argued that came the first CM in the country This could be different in differ-
a steady increase. These are indeed worrying ervation case on Maharashtra SE- the judgment of the Supreme to go ahead with such an enumera- ent states. Hence, fixing an upper
signs for a state that is striving to bring in social BCs Reservation Act, 2018 (May Court in the Indra Sawhney case is tion from 1 May 2021, committed limit of 50% for all states across
justice to all. The state government seems to 2021). However, even in this judg- inherently contradictory. The in his resolve to not only use such the country is untenable. It is
have realised urgency of the matter. With an ment, the Supreme Court re-em- court held that Article 16(1) and data for possibly breaching the equally untenable to demand re-
aim to break the caste barriers, it recently ap- phasised the need for scientifically Article 16(4) of the Constitution No legislation can bring substantive benefits 50% ceiling in reservations by sub- laxation of this limit without col-
pointed two dozen non-Brahmin priests in tem- collected quantifiable data to con- were facets of the same principle to the OBCs and the SEBCs unless we ascertain stantially complying with the judi- lection of scientific, ground-level
sider revisiting the ceiling issue. guaranteeing ‘substantive equali- who these benefits will accrue to and how cial order, but also ensuring that quantifiable data. Therefore, the
ples under its management. Five of them be-
The court, referring to the judg- ty’, which includes existing struc- the benefits from government government must heed Odisha’s
longed to SC communities, making it another many of them will need to be covered under
ments in M Nagaraj v. UoI (2006) tural and institutional disadvan- schemes actually reach the intend- demand and incorporate a sepa-
first for TN. The government also appointed a and Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. UoI tages. However, the court also its ambit. ... The government must incorporate ed beneficiaries from the OBC and rate column for enumeration of
woman as an odhuvar, who renders hymns in (2008), interpreted the ratio of affirmed the rule that there must a separate column for enumeration of OBCs SEBC categories in a more target- OBCs and SEBCs in the forthcom-
temples. Recently, it announced that a panel these cases to imply, “If a state be a 50% cap on reservation sub- and SEBCs in the forthcoming Census ed and focused manner. The cur- ing Census.
would be formed to monitor the implementa- wants to exceed 50% reservation, ject to ‘extraordinary circumstanc- rent reliance on the SEBC survey (amar_patnaik @yahoo.com)
tion of social justice in education, employment,
promotions and appointments. The panel, com-
prising government officials, educationists and
legal experts, will recommend an action plan to
ensure social justice is delivered the right way. Continuous humiliation the polls then, Punjab was the saving Transfers of power article has been scripted immaculately Adhyathma Ramayana in the form
The fact is many issues still remain unre- It is sad that the Congress high grace for the party thanks to Amarinder, In recent times, the chief ministers and shows the author’s skill, wisdom of kilippattu . Rama considered all as
solved. Just observing the birth anniversary of command has continuously humiliated who was hailed as its saviour. The of Karnataka and Gujarat have been and far-sighted vision. God’s reply equal. But what about the rulers now?
and forced Capt. Amarinder Singh to Congress leadership has again bungled replaced without much hullabaloo by to Narendra Modi was brilliant. Hats What type of Sanatana Dharma are they
Periyar E V Ramasamy on September 17 as so- resign as Punjab chief minister. Navjot in handling the situation by handing the BJP and differences were ironed off to the author. spreading?
cial justice day is unlikely to herald any change. Singh Sidhu was made PCC President over the state leadership to a maverick out for a smooth transfer of power. Sathyam N, Tiruchanur Neeraja S, Alappuzha
Are we anywhere closer to the world envisioned even though there was opposition like Sidhu, whose gift of the gab is his On the other hand, Amarinder’s
by him? The answer is no. If alive, the social from the chief minister and others. only strength. His style of functioning resignation shows irremediable Politics in Rama’s name Kashmir’s links with TN
reformer, , who vehemently fought against Now Congress has to face the Assembly somehow seems to have impressed intra-party conflicts in the Congress. The author has analysed the It is interesting to know about
Brahminical dominance and gender and caste elections without a popular face. the brother-sister duo at the top. The Venkat Desikan, Chennai culture that existed in the time of the forgotten history of Kashmir
S Ravindranath, Bengaluru fact that Amarinder has stated in no Rama and the politics in his name. (Sep 15). In fact Kashmir is the
inequality, would have been completely deject- Hats off to author
uncertain terms that he will oppose the There are different versions of crown of Indian civilisation. It also
ed. Having walked backwards for a while, TN High command bungled it elevation of Sidhu tooth and nail does This is with reference to the article Ramanyana— Valmiki Ramayana , has many links with Tamil Nadu,
seems to have now begun a long, arduous trek In 2017, when the Congress had to bite not augur well for the grand old party. Happenings after Kamba Ramayanam Ramcharitmanas and in the south, including Kanchi.
towards equality. the dust in most states that went to C M Umanath, Kozhikode (Sep 19). Every line of the four-column Kamba Ramayanam and S A Srinivasa Sarma, Kanchipuram
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

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@UPSC_THOUGHT HYDERABAD
4 THINK BusinessLine
MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 20 • 2021
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xyz
monday, september 20, 2021

Feasible fiscal strategies for India
Government spending, both Centre and States, must focus on raising capacity and lowering costs
No surprises tion could reduce States’ tax base. monetisation can help transform
Stabilisation should also be with the expenditure profile to support
GST Council showed resolve on inverted duty. There the Centre. When the Centre uncon ing quality public goods and ser
were no surprises on fuel, compensation cess ditionally bailed out States, they vices. This is part of arriving at intel
overborrowed. Macroeconomic ligent combinations of public and
T
outcomes were very poor, for ex private effort that can improve gov
he 45th GST Council meeting on Friday ample, periods of hyperinflation in ernance as well as delivery. Limits
proceeded along expected lines. It was Argentina and Brazil. Therefore lim on state capacity have been a major
obvious at the outset that the inclusion of ASHIMA GOYAL its are required on States ability to cause of privatisation, but are rarely
borrow. Market discipline also recognised.
petrol and diesel in the GST framework works to improve finances if state Indirect taxes are regressive. In
I
and the extension of compensation cess payouts to n India demands for govern risk premiums are allowed to rise put taxes raise costs. Therefore, the
the States beyond July 2022 were not going to hap ment spending are much with higher debt, which is not the share of direct taxes has to rise but
pen. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman indic higher than its ability to raise case for India at present. in a fair way. Better coordination
revenue. As a result, public Redistribution should be shared through the GST Council would
ated, the issue of fuel being included in GST came
debt has risen steadily. Covid19 has by the Centre and States. In India help. Income tax payers are still dis
up for discussion only at the behest of a recent Ker aggravated the issue, with calls for Finance Commission awards are proportionately low, comprising
ala High Court ruling. She observed, and not much higher spending even from constitutionally mandated to en largely of the salaried, but even so
without basis, that the time was not right. The inclu hitherto conservative voices. sure uniformity in basic public ser the share of households in direct
sion of petrol and diesel under GST would entail the Central direct taxes peaked at 6 vices through the country. taxes has risen to 75 per cent.
per cent of GDP in 201819. The aver Greater international mobility of
loss of an option for States to raise revenues in age over the last decade was 5.5 per Past choices capital has reduced its contribution
straitened times. The issue of including fuel is also cent — it rose to 6 then fell. Buoy But the choice of building capital in Public health and education are vital cogs of redistribution D GOPALAKRISHNAN to taxes. But the movement to lower
bound up with the compensation cess question. ancy was low partly because growth tensive industry in the public sector base erosion and profit shifting is
The GST law mandates that States be compensated stagnated. Indirect taxes peaked at and welfarism at low per capita in centralisation to and capacity build ity to borrow is constrained since a producing results and should even
5.6 per cent in 201617 and after im comes vitiated government fin ing in the 3rd Tier. Research shows large share of revenue already goes tually allow taxing of MNC profits
to the extent of their shortfall visavis an annual plementation of GST fell to a low of ances. Enterprises made losses and transfers to States, even after con for interest payments. where they are earned. Technology
revenue increase of 14 per cent in the wake of the 4.7 per cent, then rose to in 5 per pervasive recurring subsidies for a trolling for tax capacity and other High interest rates crowd out and databases can be used to in
shift to GST, for five years ending June 2022. With the cent in 202021. The 15th Finance one billion plus population proved variables, reduced tax effort of private sector activity. Since infla crease the tax base, while keeping
onset of Covid, State revenues declined while collec Commission (FC) estimates the feas very costly. States. The 15th FC has made some tion is still volatile, the income of rates reasonable, even as taxpayer
ible improvement of tax/GDP ratio As a result expenditure on health, conditional transfers that can im the poor is not indexed and in an compliance costs, harassment and
tions including the cess corpus dwindled – as a res
is 0.7 percentage points each for the education, physical and social infra prove incentives. open economy rating downgrades litigation are reduced.
ult the GST Council decided to fork out the swelling Union and the States by 202526. structure was inadequate. This hurt As capital expenditure fell to ac can raise all borrowing costs, mon Industrial policy that uses taxes/
compensation amount with This will still keep the overall tax ra the poor more. India had political commodate higher current trans etisation of deficits also has its tariffs/subsidies to promote activity
the Centre borrowing from the tio for India at 21 compared to above but not economic inclusion. Hu fers and revenue deficits, bottle dangers. Raising direct taxes would must be timebarred and condi
Scan & Share
market on the States’ behalf 30 for AEs. man development in necks intensified and pushed up weaken the effort to raise private in tional with strict sunset clauses.
In comparison, ex Scan & Share dices remained low. Cost costs of production. First, admin vestment and create more jobs. No Local taxes and user charges have to
and paying them. This sum is penditure of the Centre shocks that were not istered prices and now indirect one wants again the economic stag rise as part of empowering the 3rd
estimated to work out to ₹2.69 alone is estimated at 15.6 passed on in higher taxes on oil kept domestic prices nation high prereform marginal Tier and will be more acceptable to
lakh crore by the end of this per cent of GDP in the prices further reduced much above international, further rates of taxation contributed to. the extent they are linked to clear
fiscal. The Centre has done well Budget estimates for 20 the quality of public ser increasing costs and inflation. Moreover, when government stim benefits.
21, of which interest pay vices. East Asia that was Policy tightening to reduce infla ulus is required to raise demand, In an active democracy where
to continue this cess till March ments at 3.6 per cent are careful to invest in raising tion largely reduced output raising taxes has the opposite effect. multiple interest groups are con
2026 on a clutch of ‘sin’ goods to raise this amount. the highest component. productivity and keep growth, while supplyside aggrava testing to increase their share of
Compensation cess payments to States can be re Subsidies are at 1.5 per cent; educa food prices stable, as long as the tions keep inflation high. Feasible options government spending, while pay
considered if the postpandemic recovery hits a tion at 0.4 per cent; health at 0.3 per share of agriculture was high, did In the Covid19 context demands The quality and composition of ing less taxes, relatively conservat
cent. With a nearly $3 trillion eco much better. for higher government spending Centre and State spending can be ive fiscal policy focused on reducing
roadblock. In this situation of revenue shortfall, a
nomy, however, absolute revenue is Good local public goods such as suggest either higher deficits, fin improved by restructuring ex supplyside costs works better. It al
shift to GST on fuel is simply off the table. quite large at ₹35 lakh crore. But it health and education are one of the anced by borrowing or monetisa penditure towards raising capacity lows monetary policy to be growth
As for the ways of the fitment panel, it has done needs to be carefully spent. most sustainable ways to redistrib tion, or higher taxes on the rich. and lowering costs. Direct benefit supportive, even as central bank in
well to bring services — such as ecommerce trans The literature on fiscal federation ute. In addition to central transfers Urban employment support could transfers are reducing leakages. dependence keeps inflation expect
port and food delivery services, OTT platforms and suggests it is efficient for elastic these can be financed through user have been higher but only margin Since past decisions have left the ations wellanchored.
taxes such as income tax to be col charges and benefit taxation such ally, since there are real limits on government with large resources
icecream parlours — that were hitherto operating lected by the Centre, since migra as on property, but this requires de borrowing and monetisation. Abil that are poorly monetised, asset The writer is Emeritus Professor, IGIDR.
below the radar into the GST fold. But the overall fo
cus smacks of adhocism. The increase in rates of
ores, renewable energy components, paper pack
aging and railway parts is baffling. In view of the in
verted duty problem in many goods sectors that use
services inputs (all rated at 18 per cent), there
should have been some deliberations on aligning
NMP — Unlocking the hidden fortune
the two. In this respect, some essential services
could be shifted to the 12 per cent bracket. GST rates Exploiting the business potential of existing government assets will be a win-win for private entities
need to be rationalised anyway — more so in a scen K SRINIVASA RAO expected to create new jobs. The infrastructure identified for oring of the asset monetisation pro
ario where services account for a rising share of This is a winwin proposition to monetisation includes Railways, gramme has been institutionalised.
T
costs on account of digitisation, rentals and he National Monetisation the lessor (the government depart airports, ports, roads, shipping, NMP creates an opportunity for
Pipeline (NMP) was un ment) that lets the use of the prop telecom, warehousing, realty, ho budding entrepreneurs to build a
transport. veiled in this year’s erty and lessee (the entrepreneurs) tels, sports stadiums, power trans business ecosystem in the existing
The Group of Ministers set up to look into inver Budget, which was later who gets temporary right to use the mission, and gas pipeline. The Na government owned facilities. Ex
ted duty structure should sort out the matter soon, designed by the NITI Aayog. The property for a lawful business. The tional Highway authority (NHAI) amples could be building an insti
in view of problems of working capital blockage policy envisages the Centre enter entrepreneurs using these existing will unlock ₹1.6 lakh crore while tute of higher education in the pre
ing into a structured contractual facilities will have clear advantage Railways can obtain ₹1.52 lakh cincts of stateowned enterprise by
and interest costs as a result of unutilised input partnership with private sector to as a brownfield investment crore. sharing the building/freehold
credit. Rule 89 (5) of the GST law, which rules out re unlock an estimated ₹6 lakh crore strategy. The government owns For NMP to succeed, the regulat space.
funds of unutilised services inputs in an inverted of wealth that can be ploughed large network of properties with ex ory aspects will have to tweaked. Hiring space in a Railway office/
Harnessing existing assets ISTOCK.COM
duty situation (restricting this to goods input), back into the economy in the next cess space, which are often not in The Financial Stability and Develop railway station building to start
four years. productive use. But maintaining ment Council (FSDC) will soon be private enterprise will be now pos
should be reexamined. The apex court has said in
The NMP will be coterminus with such unused properties add to the is concerned and the lessee will working out a roadmap with the sible.
the VKC Footwear case that it is for the lawmakers to the balance period of four years of government’s expenses. Thus the maintain the property better and financial sector regulators for bal NMP is an innovative way to look
address this problem, as the law was amended in National Infrastructure Pipeline NMP enables the turning of idle as will get it modified to suit his inten ancing risks and return on newer beyond banks and capital markets
2018 to exclude services inputs. GST cannot be al (NIP) – 202025. The NMP will be a sets’ into productive commercial ded activity. opportunities created through the for funding infrastructure develop
lowed to fall victim to tax and legal wrangles, rais roadmap for the asset monetisa activity. A well laid out pipeline hence NMP. ment. It will ease access and encour
tion of various brownfield infra The costs and time of starting gives an opportunity to investors The FSDC will corodinate with age investments.
ing costs along the value chain. structure assets. It paves a way for new economic activities by the and developers of brownfield in RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA, to en More than the flow of funds, it
leasing out various stateowned lessee will be reduced as the assets vestment in infrastructure. The sure that the potential investors are will create an opportunity to boost
infrastructure. have already been created and can NMP will also form a baseline for able to take appropriate wellmeas economic activities to fuel growth
Under NMP, the unused part of be readily used with slight modific the asset owning ministries for ured risks but at the same time en and employment. It is up to the
the government asset (building, ations. They will also be free from monitoring and tracking perform sure realisation of NMP’s goals. At business community to tap the op
OTHER VOICES land, property) will be leased out on the hassles of obtaining clearances ance of the potential assets. the same time, government has portunities provided by NMP to
a long term basis to private entities and permissions for construction/ formed an apex monitoring com share resources and create a new
to start commercial activity. The occupation of the buildings/spaces. The target groups mittee to oversee the progress of wave of momentum to move to
longterm lease charges under The government in turn gets The NITI Aayog has made an assess NMP to ensure that the benefit of it wards a $5trillion economy.
structured contracts will be securit quick cash flows by securitising the ment of the total asset base avail is ultimately realised well within
Afghanistan is in a critical state ised and funds will flow to govern future rent receivables. Such lease able and worked out the detailed the timelines. The author is Adjunct Professor,
It is a month now since the Taliban regained control of ment. These funds will be reinves rental funds will be unlocked plan of NMP. It targeted 13 sectors to A multilayer institutional mech Institute of Insurance and Risk
Afghanistan, creating a socioeconomic crisis that compounds a ted for creating new infrastructure without selling the property. There realise the target of ₹6 lakh crore in anism with suitable dashboards for Management –IIRM, Hyderabad. The
tenuous situation in one of the world poorest countries during or for capital expenditure. This also is no change as far as the ownership the next four years. overall implementation and monit views are his own
and after four decades of incessant conflict. Before the Taliban’s
sweep to power, some 14 million people across the country
were already dependent on aid and food programmes —
humanitarian relief that flowed with the support of
international governments and refugee agencies. DUBAI, SEPT 19
BELOW THE LINE
What’s in Zomato’s kitchen? personnel under the Companies May be as first line regulators time among the public abated once a sistance to CPSUs such as BSNL and
Zomato has never failed to deliver Act, 20I3 and the Listing Regula has come for exchanges to be more negative report from the labs came MTNL?
on a market buzz ever since it initi tions. He was neither a promoter vigilant. in.
Reading between the lines
LDP presidential candidates must present strategies ated plans to hit capital market. nor was holding any equity shares
After Nipah search... Clap your hands
However, this time around the in the company.” Zomato further The CA Institute seems to have
Japan is currently facing difficult situations, both at home and company did not disclose the added, “Therefore, his exit from the Sometimes people’s searches on Railways and IT Minister Ashwini worked hard on its pointbypoint
abroad. Concrete strategies for overcoming this crisis and resignation of Gaurav Gupta, co Company does not warrant any the web also create fear among the Vaishnaw, in his media briefing to response to the NFRA consultation
securing the national interest must be discussed. Taro Kono, founder of Zo disclosure under the Listing public. Coastal Karnataka faced announce relief package for the paper on ‘Enhancing Engagement
minister in charge of administrative and regulatory reform; mato, on Regulations”. one such scare last week. One per telecom industry did something with Stakeholders’. The 120page
former Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council
September 14, to But marketmen point out that son from Karwar in Uttara Kan unusual and novel. response was the longest and the
Chairperson Fumio Kishida; former Internal Affairs and
the exchanges. the DRHP filed by the company has nada district, who works in Goa, He started the briefing by ac most detailed among all the 17 re
Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi; and LDP Executive
But what sur clearly stated him as one of the key developed a fever and headache knowledging the tireless work spondents on the consultation pa
Acting Secretary General TOKYO, SEPT 19
prised many is managerial personnel. after getting drenched in rain. done by all the supporting staff of per. However, given the hostilities
the lethargic at SEBI chief Ajay Tyagi recently ex After searching the internet, he telecom companies during two between the two regulators, the CA
titude of exchanges, which did not pressed displeasure over compan feared he had contracted Nipah phases of pandemic and asked Institute’s comments were listed
seek clarification from the com ies treating the disclosure require and approached a hospital in Kar everyone including all the media as the last entry by NFRA while
pany immediately. According to ments just as a checkbox exercise war. However, the medical author persons to clap for them. Of making the respondents’ re
Widening protection for gig workers market watchers, exchanges in their annual reports and added ities there referred him to a private course, stating that the Prime Min sponses public. This prompted a
which send notices to many com that their disclosures on material hospital in Udupi district. From ister Narendra Modi desired so. CA Institute member to cheekily
The advisory committee on platform workers met for the first
time last week and said it does not rule out making legislative panies even on price rises for a events were inadequate. there, he was sent to the Dakshina Normally during such an tell a hack that this fact showed
changes to protect gig workers. This should be a welcome couple days were quiet for four “In several cases, articles appear Kannada district hospital in nouncements, focus is more on where ICAI stood in the scheme of
assurance to such workers who need better safety nets. The days and sent notice only on in the media which are followed by Mangaluru. Though he showed no sector/companies, its contribution things for NFRA! Now, chartered
committee's three priority areas retirement and housing September 17. stock exchanges seeking clarifica symptoms of Nipah infection, the to the economy, but acknow accountants, adept at uncovering
adequacy, workplace injury compensation, and addressing the But the response from the com tion on the same from the compan health authorities decided to send ledging the workers’ efforts has financial statements gaps, seemed
power imbalance between gig workers and the platforms they pany was even more bizarre. The ies and the companies then reply his blood, urine and nasal swab been appreciated by one and all. to have also gained expertise in
work for rightly address the main concerns. SINGAPORE, SEPT 19 clarification said: “Gaurav Gupta is ing to the exchanges. This is surely samples to Pune and Kozhikode However, one grouse remains. Why reading between the NFRA lines,
not designated as a key managerial not the right way,” Tyagi had said. labs to rule out doubts. The scare isn’t the Centre providing direct as remarked this hack. Our Bureaus
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by T. Ravi at Plot No. Z-6 to 8, IDA Uppal, Hyderabad-500007 – 06, 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 . ..... .. . ...HY-HYE
YK
HYDERABAD
@UPSC_THOUGHT
BusinessLine
MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 20 • 2021 THINK 5
BOOK REVIEW BOOK EXTRACT
Building your personal brand

Your brand is also about how the world perceives you
The life and times of JRD Tata
JRD was admired and respected because he treated all people equally, with courtesy and kindness
AKSHAYA CHANDRASEKARAN to engage in some degree of selfpromotion
J
to be noticed. But nobody teaches you how to. RD was only 22 and was still to find been registered against him for speed whose memorable campaigns sold the
T
he custom of exchanging business While it makes some uncomfortable, know his feet in India when RD Tata died ing his blue Bugatti along Peddar Road airline brand very successfully, even if
cards is practically obsolete. We fol ing how to do it tastefully, is definitely a skill. of a heart attack in Paris. He dis and causing an accident. He had been his irreverent humour tended to in
low each other on LinkedIn and “Reframe it in your mind and think of it as a covered that his spendthrift advised to consult Jack Vicaji, a top furiate some straitlaced Indian
stay connected forever. Learning mutually beneficial conversation that not father, unlike the thrifty Dorabji, was criminal lawyer. There he met Vicaji’s parliamentarians.
how to narrate your story succinctly gives only helps you gain recognition but also heavily in debt. Dorabji, by this time niece Thelly, who was halfParsi, half One reason why JRD was so admired
you a leading edge, given the abundant reach equips your senior or colleague with data old, crabby and suffering from severe English. Her Parsi ancestors were pion and respected was because he treated
of social media. points that could enable them to make better diabetes, insisted that JRD pay off his eers in banking in India and were in all people equally, with courtesy, kind
These new realities are captured in HR con decisions if it comes to it,” says Sabnavis. father’s debts to him, though the debts charge of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s ness and consideration. He hated re
sultant Charu Sabnavis’ book #You: Build Your to Tata Sons were waived in view of mint. The family later became bank ceiving special treatment, was humil
Personal Brand. Online presence RD’s lifelong services to the company. rupt after differences with the Nizam, ity personified, modest about his
Sabnavis, who has been in the HR domain The book makes for a compelling read for JRD was forced to sell the family house, since the ruler borrowed Rs 41 lakhs abilities and loyal and supportive to
for over 30 years, explores all dimensions of anyone wanting to build an online presence Soonita, named after his late mother, from them and refused to pay it back. wards all who worked in the group. He
personal branding — identifying strengths, as well. It aptly recognises the pull of social in Bombay as well as the estate in Har In 1840, a silver coin was minted with might have flared up on occasion but
communicating with credibility, and attract media in gaining visibility and expanding delot and the Poona house. After he the initials ‘PV’ and was called the ‘Pest was quick to offer profuse apologies.
ing the right kind of audience and reaction. networks. She offers useful strategies that had cleared his father’s debts, all that anshah sikka’ — the only time a coin Sudha Murthy, author, chairperson
She coaches one through the fundamentals find applications across different platforms. was left were the shares in Tata Sons. was named after a Parsi and not some of the philanthropic Infosys Founda
of getting your brand, your story, right. The “People perceive who you are based on how According to Russi Lala, ‘This was a member of a royal house. tion and wife of Infosys founder NR
book is a bit of a mixed bag though — even as you present yourself in the virtual world. third of the total.’ Although RD’s will When Saklatwala died in Europe six Narayana Murthy, recalls that after her
it offers some interesting insights, there are Your brand is not just about who you are but had left JRD the bulk of the money years after he took over as chairperson, Title: The Tatas, Freddie Mercury & graduation from IISc Bangalore, she
some aspects the author leaves untouched. equally about how the world perceives you,” from dividends, the fairminded JRD JRD was only thirtyfour. Other than Other Bawas: An Intimate History of saw an advertisement for engineers in
However, Sabnavis brings a fresh writes Sabnavis. The author has insisted on dividing it equally between Navajbai, he was the only surviving the Parsis TELCO which specified that only male
take to some old management con done a lot of legwork for her book himself and his siblings. JRD did, how permanent director on the board. The Author: Coomi Kapoor engineers could apply. She wrote a
cepts. For instance, she handles the and interviewed CEOs, COOs, and ever, take his father’s place as a director other directors were impressed with Publisher: Westland Nonfiction postcard to JRD protesting this re
subject of navigating through of leading HR pros across the spec of Tata Sons and also took Indian his sincerity, dedication and team Price: ₹699 quirement, pointing to its retrogress
fice politics innovatively. Instead of trum. It has reams of anecdotes, citizenship. spirit, with Ardeshir Dalal, the first In ive nature, especially unexpected from
taking the clichéd approach of sug stories, case studies, and has His siblings were only marginally in dian to be municipal commissioner of a firm founded by Jamsetji Tata.
gesting avoiding all of it, she takeaways for all. In some places, volved in the family firm. The eldest, Bombay, as the only sceptic. A severe grounds and temperaments. Dr John At JRD’s immediate intervention,
provides an interesting framework it tends to feel ‘overexplained’ Sylla, was a keen tennis player and man, Dalal feared that India’s largest Mathai, who was a minister in the in she received a telegram calling her for
to help one engage constructively. and interferes with the flow, but JRD’s favourite. She married Fali Petit industrial empire would be run by a terim government under Jawaharlal the interview. She became the first wo
Understanding where power mostly it adds richness and sub who inherited the Petit baronetcy. playboy interested in fast cars and Nehru, was a very respected economist man engineer to work on the Tata shop
resides and how decisions are stance to the book. Darab, the second son, was friendly planes. Within a year, he admitted and was one of the main authors of the floor. Eight years later, when she was
made is important to succeed, she The relationship between en and popular but had no head for busi privately that he was completely Bombay Plan. He had famously dis leaving the Tatas, Sudha bumped into
says. Relationships act as social lub trepreneurs and personal brand ness, though he was a director at Tatas. wrong in his assessment. JRD made agreed with Nehru about establishing JRD on the steps of Bombay House. He
ricants to elicit faster responses ing, and the lessons one can learn ‘He suffered from a nervous disorder two important decisions on taking the Planning Commission. was concerned that her husband had
and to get things done. Knowing how to from it, is absent in the book. Influencers, typ and JRD was rather unsympathetic,’ over: he formed a talented, brainy ad Sir Homi Mody, a selfmade man, not arrived to pick her up as it was late
leverage your social skills to build such rela ically oneperson startups, bag huge en Mithoo Coorlawla, a friend of the fam visory group and delegated authority. was chairperson of numerous prestigi and she was alone, and so kept her
tionships makes a huge difference. dorsement deals with major brands, mainly ily, told me. Rodabeh, JRD’s younger He joked that he did not want to end ous bodies, and served on the Viceroy’s company and inquired about her fu
In the chapter about networking a room, by monetising their personal brand. This is a sister, married Colonel Leslie Sawhny, up like his predecessor, Saklatwala, Executive Council. Sumant Mool ture plans. She disclosed that she was
she quashes many outdated ideas about mak missed opportunity. who worked at the Tata group and was rushing from one board meeting to gaokar, a visionary, and the father of In leaving the group to help her husband
ing connections. If you feel big conferences If personal branding is all about percep JRD’s executive assistant. Sawhny, the next. dia’s heavy engineering industry and start a new software company and ex
and parties deplete your energy, she says, go tion, then there is a wealth of research that Ratan Tata says, was once perceived as a JRD persuaded leading luminaries architect of TELCO (later Tata Motors), pressed her fears about its future. He
ahead and skip it. There are many ways to shows that toplevel women pros are per possible head of the group by JRD. Un of the era to join the company, either was a key executive at Tata and a power assured her the company would do
build rapport, and some prefer to connect ceived a lot differently than their male coun fortunately, Sawhny died fairly young on the board of Tata Sons, or as senior in his own right. The colourful Russi well, and said that if she made money,
with select people over a quiet dinner at terparts. of a heart attack on the golf course. executives. J.D. Choksi, John Mathai, Sir Mody, Sir Homi Mody’s son, was chair she must be sure to give some back to
home to develop some longterm, meaning One wishes the book had explored per Rodabeh became a respected interior Jehangir Ghandy, Kish Naoroji, person of Tata Steel and in his time re society. Murthy still keeps a picture of
ful, relationships. And if you’re excited at the sonal branding through a gender lens. Sab decorator. The youngest son, Jimmy, a Sumant Moolgaokar, P.A. Narialwala, garded as the emperor of the steel JRD in her office as a reminder of a man
thought of meeting new people, but are at an navis brings up a personal example in the trainee fighter pilot died tragically in Nani Palkhivala, Shahrukh Sabhawala, town, Jamshedpur. Brilliant at labour who had time and concern for every
event where everyone seems to know every book where she receives the feedback of be an air crash when he was only twenty. Bobby Kooka and Sir Homi Mody were relations, he developed close links employee in his company. In fact,
one else, embroiled in conversations that are ing “unapproachable” from her manager in a JRD met his wife Thelly because of some of his notable appointees. The with several Indian politicians, which many retired employees still display a
impossible to join, then she has solutions for meeting. I expected helpful advice based on his love of fast cars. A police case had top men in the group had varied back stood the company in good stead. photograph of JRD in their homes as a
that, too. How one likes to network is often her firsthand experience, or at the very least, MEET THE AUTHOR Minoo Masani, JRD’s former chief exec mark of admiration and respect.
rooted in their personality, and there is a a witty comeback. But it ended just as a moral utive assistant, was for a time an MP
Coomi Kapoor has been a journalist for nearly five decades, and has
takeaway for everyone, no matter where you lesson on the importance of feedback. from the Swatantra Party and the Extracted with permission from The Tatas,
worked with The Indian Express, India Today, The Sunday Mail, The Indian
stand on the introvertextrovert spectrum. leader of the Opposition in Parlia Freddie Mercury & Other Bawas by Coomi
Post, The Illustrated Weekly of India and The Motherland. She is at present
She talks about effective selfpromotion. https://www.amazon.in/ ment. Bobby Kooka was the witty, off Kapoor published by Westland Non-Fiction,
consulting editor at The Indian Express.
Everyone on social media and in real life has YOU-Build-Your-Personal-Brand beat advertising head of Air India July 2021
BusinessLine
Cracking the Indian auto market: Why Ford lost and Hyundai won TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
MADHURI SARIPALLE/ ket share. Hyundai gained by lever the first to exit Indian market be turing aspirations contributing to
VIJAYA C. SUBRAMANIAN September 20, 2001
aging on technology, customer cause of falling profitability. Gen employment, revenue and foreign
T
hough Ford’s exit from service, price sensitivity and ag eral Motors, Fiat India Limited and exchange. In turn, it expects major Judicial probe into all aspects of Enron deal
the Indian market has gressive marketing. By commit Eicher Polaris, also could not sur policy measures to increase The Maharashtra Government today ordered a judicial
not come as a surprise, it ting to volumes of 50,000 cars per vive the competitive landscape of vehicle penetration. probe into all aspects of the controversial Enron's Dabhol
has certainly thrown annum, it secured appropriate the Indian market. Big players However, with the threat of cli power project. The commission of inquiry will be headed
into spotlight the ongoing issues prices and quality from reliable such as Daimler India Commercial mate change, increasing urban by a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Minister, Mr
of sustainability and strategy in and dedicated vendors. Unlike Vehicles, backed by its parent com congestion, sustainability and the Vilasrao Deshmukh, told newspersons here. The
the Indian auto industry. Ford, Hyundai invested right at the pany have survived despite persist push towards electric vehicles, the investigations are to be carried out on an urgent basis and
While poor product line up, fail beginning, in a completely integ ent losses by aggressive sales and traditional auto industry is in a reports to be submitted to the State Government. It will
ure of strategic partnerships and rated facility which included en increase in market share. state of flux. Electric vehicles too investigate the validity of approvals, sanctions,
overcapacity are being cited as gine machining, automated weld reeling with car sales dipping to a face their share of issues including permissions, procured by DPC with other “involved
some reasons for Ford’s declining shop, captive foundry and heat 20year low between 20152020, Wanted: Policy support cost and supply chain hurdles. parties” and the State Government at the time of signing of
profitability, a comparison with treatment facility. further compounded by the pan The industry has been long de In this fastchanging scenario, the PPA for the 2,184MW project.
Hyundai Motor, which entered In Ford entered the Indian market demic. Slow economic growth, manding concrete policy meas what is needed is a holistic vision Development banks' credit profile under strain: S&P
dia at around the same time (1998) in 1995 as a joint venture with rising fuel costs, growing cost of ures from the government. This de and some farreaching decisions International rating agency, Standard & Poor's, has rung
as Ford, reveals some interesting Mahindra, eventually rebranding ownership and regulatory norms mand on the other hand also from the policy makers chalking alarm bells that India's development banks are “under
insights on the entry and invest as Ford India Limited in 1999. are reasons impacting sales. High demonstrates the need for contin the road map for the overall auto pressure as they move toward universal banking” while it
ment strategy of the American While making safety as its prerog royalty payments by car manufac ued economic growth, job cre industry and clarity on its role in has affirmed 'BB' long term and 'B' short term credit rating
versus the Korean giant. ative, Ford did not commit to high turers to their parent companies is ation and a raise in income levels the economy. on allIndia development financial institutions (DFI) with
Hyundai created a niche and volumes from the beginning and a further drain. Despite this, the In to sustain various sectors. This must be framed within the negative outlook. The negative outlook is also reflective of
was able to compete with Maruti could not compete on the pricing dian market remains one of the Industry veteran RC Bhargava, context of the future of transporta the negative outlook on India's foreign currency sovereign
in the small car segment initially game or scale up its export few big auto markets and has seen speaking at the SIAM’s 61st annual tion, mobility and changing popu rating. “IDBI's rating outlook is reflective of the negative
using a combination of aggressive volumes. This also shows that the many new players in the recent convention, said that the auto in lation needs in India. In the ab outlook on the longterm foreign currency sovereign
marketing and flexibility. Termed Indian market is still in a nascent times including Kia Motors and dustry growth in India was driven sence of this, the auto industry will rating of the Republic of India,” S&P said in a statement
as Judo entry strategy in game the stage with the consumer leaning MG Motors, each eyeing for a share by customer aspirations to own a continue to face the consequences issued on Wednesday.
ory, entrants can capture a signific more towards featureladen in an already saturated, yet unsat car rather than policy planning. of policy decisions and be driven Daewoo's engine plant closed
ant market share from the incum vehicles which may lead manufac isfied market. Demand projections Recent developments and demand by customer trends. Daewoo Motors India Ltd (DMIL) today formally
bent players by being flexible, fast turers to cut costs at the expense of have not been realised whereas trends show that customer beha announced the closing of its engine and transmission
and converting the strength of the safety and quality. So stringent competition has intensified, res viour still continues to be a major The writers are faculty members in plant at Surajpur, which has been lying idle since October
opponent into its weakness. safety norms are much needed to ulting in falling profitability. influencer. the economics and operations last, forcing it to scout for a buyer. In a statement, DMIL
Maruti’s dependence on its achieve parity across manufactur If one looks at the past data, it is The auto industry wants to be in management areas respectively at said it had also signed an agreement with the workers
entry level car and a smaller ers. obvious that Ford was in the red the driving seat of the economic IFMR Graduate School of Business, union for a separation programme for the 237 workers
product line up did impact its mar The auto industry was already for the past five years. Ford is not engine leading India’s manufac Krea University, Sri City, AP affected by the closure of the plant.
SHORT TAKE easy not so easy

bl two-way crossword 1961
UAE central bank ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
sees Covid-induced 01. Entrance opener (8) 01. Small (6)
02. Relating to time (8)
01. Perhaps they lack the means of
opening doors (8)
01. There's not much to go with
preliminary examination (6)
07. Wait momentarily (5)
money-laundering 08. Fell, as an acrobat (7)
03. A moiety (4)
04. Put up with, last (6)
07. Public address can take
advantage of a
02. About time standin office worker
took it by mouth (8)
09. Dig out of the ground (7) 05. Cat sound of contentment breathingspace (5) 03. A term for fiftypercent (4)
T he United Arab Emirates
central bank sees increased
risks of illicit financial flows
10. Be a searcher (4)
12. Green precious stone (7)
(4)
06. Way, system (6)
08. Stomach showed it was hurt
when one took a fall (7)
04. Manage to last out under
arrangement with the English (6)
07. The current time (7) 09. Dig it out near the hut that 05. Seem happy to pour nothing out
emerging from the Covid19 pan 14. Losing shape with heat (7) was built around it (7) right (4)
11. One of refined, fastidious
demic, including moneylaun 17. Prove tedious (4) taste (7) 10. Its appearance in Waterloo 06. Way to do them out of it (6)
dering and terrorism financing,
18. Hippy group living together 13. One who sailed with Jason (8) kept occurring (4) 07. Right now it's a gift to put on in
it said in a report published on
(7) 14. Gayplumaged parrots (6) 12. The green pound is needed in the theatre (7)
Sunday.
15. Lubricant (6) dream the East shatters (7) 11. He has the good taste to make pie
The use of unlicensed money 21. Make some commotion (7)
16. Fight back, resist attack (6) 14. Losing form when the heat is serve as remedy (7)
service providers for money 22. Corresponded (5)
laundering has increased during 19. Tie up craft (4) on? (7) 13. One of Jason's crew ran out with
23. Unaccepted, discarded (8) 20. Dismiss; shoot (4) 17. Carried it along to make a hole silver compound (8)
the coronavirus crisis last year,
the report said, as well as the use (4) 14. Birds sound like crows when
of ecommerce to launder 18. Hold a conversation with mothers are around (6)
SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 1960
money. territorial division in France 15. Agrees to distribute the palmoil
“Widespread lockdowns have ACROSS 7. Safety curtain 8. Gin and tonic 12. Posset 14. Nurses (7) (6)
resulted in a significant surge in 16. Swings 18. Cellar 19. Keelhauling 23. Philanthropic 21. Create a stir with it in a street 16. After a loss the unhearing
ecommerce. Due to limited abil DOWN 1. Tang 2. Fern 3. Cygnet 4. Mutton 5. Stun 6. Zinc 9. Inspire in Scotland (7) conclude one will be protective
ity to move funds and goods dur 10. Insulin 11. Tsar 12. Push 13. Egg 15. Ule 17. Sphinx 18. Caught 22. We swallowed the rubbish as (6)
ing the pandemic, illicit actors 19. Kohl 20. Eels 21. Iron 22. Grin author produced it (5) 19. A Mauretanian may get a line
are turning to ecommerce as a 23. Would not accept the Right ashore (4)
money laundering tool,” it said. and got thrown out (8) 20. Give one sack to shoot (4)
REUTERS
CM .. .... .. .....HY-HYE
YK
@UPSC_THOUGHT
14 MONDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2021
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW THEIR VIEW

PTI
The case for cryptocurrency to

be outlawed until we regulate it
It’s a concept that holds undeniable appeal but poses a variety of threats that cannot be overlooked
goods and services domestically with which there are no fundamentals driv-
dollars or euros. This is the edifice of a ing the price. The argument here can be
currency system, which provides the that if we permit these currencies as
basis for monetary policy. But today, investment avenues, then all activities
interestingly, one can pay for hotels in of this nature should be made legitimate
Thailand or insurance in Switzerland (and taxed). Even betting on Indian Pre-
with Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency is being mier League matches can be seen as an
used as a medium of exchange. This is investment. What’s important is that tax
bad news for central banks. If everyone authorities should be aware of such
MADAN SABNAVIS uses cryptos for transactions, monetary transactions, lest they become ‘hawala’
is chief economist, Care Ratings and author policy would become superfluous. deals where the gains escape taxation.
of ‘Hits & Misses: The Indian Banking Story’ The genesis of such currencies lay in There is already a lot of scepticism over
the perception that central banks and participatory notes floated by foreign
governments had mismanaged econo- portfolio investors on concerns that
The food tax that points

mies by printing too much currency, Indians could be rerouting foreign
which was what the US Federal Reserve exchange through them.
G
old has no intrinsic value, but its did through quantitative easing, later There is a strong case for banning
scarcity and acceptability have followed by other central banks. The cryptocurrencies, though tracking their
created a pricing mechanism for roll-back of all this easy money is now a activity could be a challenge. Or, if we
to a loss of clarity on GST it. Theoretically, any stone of any colour

found only in select regions that can be
used as an ornament will gather value
from scarcity and acceptability. The
problem, as it can generate turbulence
in financial markets.
The concept of cryptocurrency seeks
to overcome such a problem by gener-
allow them as investment avenues,
investors should make full disclosures
so that all transactions are taxed—under
GST as well as capital gains.
same is true of cryptocurrency. There ating a finite—yet infinite—stream of There are two major threats for gov-
are willing buyers and sellers of some- coins through blockchain technology. ernments and central banks. First, while
Food-delivery apps must pay GST owed by eateries. This makes practical sense. But, in our thing that has come from out of the It’s finite because there is typically a cap such transactions operate outside the
blue. The idea has gained strength on final currency units, but it’s infinite financial system, all these currencies are
high-frequency tweaks, we must not lose sight of what this tax system was meant to reform with the government of El Salvador as the new coins generated would be at denoted in dollars. This means that
announcing that it holds Bitcoin. a proportion of the remaining balance, investors are using formal channels to
The corollary is that if a government and this never changes. But their ano- gather dollars to pay for these crypto-
believes in it, no one can be left out nymity of use creates a conundrum, as currencies. Therefore, any shock in the
A
t its meeting on Friday, India’s for real-estate developers, too, this time as an and its use may become a habit. the antecedents of a payment-maker Bitcoin market can seriously disrupt the
GST Council decided among option. Both cases revealed the complexity Bitcoin, created by Satoshi Naka- can’t be known. Because identity gets formal financial system.
moto, who has not yet been identified, concealed, such currencies serve as use- The second is even more serious. If
other things to shift the point at of taxing services that straddle our formality is the most popular cryptocurrency. ful conduits for drug money. Therefore, cryptos are legitimized, there is nothing
which goods and service tax divide. While the motives to fine-tune our GST Despite its cryptic origin, Bitcoin is it would be injudicious for governments to stop entities from starting a parallel
(GST) would be levied on restau- system may be pragmatic, must we depart from widely traded and a force to reckon with to legitimize cryptocurrency as a crypto-banking system, where they
rants fulfilling food-delivery its original reformist thrust quite so often? in financial markets. Other currencies medium of exchange. accept deposits from holders and pay an
orders via aggregator apps such as Zomato and It may be worth recalling why GST was hailed have emerged with fancy names such as An interesting implication of this was interest rate which is higher than what
Ethereum, Litecoin and Dogecoin. that there was nothing sacrosanct about one gets from a bank and use the same
Swiggy. Starting next calendar year, e-com as a big reform in the first place. By design, While we may have to accept this wave, Bitcoin, and so came a plethora of other as a peer-to-peer lending platform. This
operators ferrying orders from eateries to GST’s superiority as an indirect-tax system was the broader question is whether they cryptocurrencies. There are around can go on without authorities noticing.
homes will have to collect this charge for our tax its promise of equitable levies that would also should be allowed to circulate. 6,000 of them presently, although The government of India has been
authorities, rather than food-suppliers doing it. enhance economic growth by virtue of its key The main purpose of a currency is to probably not more than 10 are actively relentlessly going after black money
This is not a new levy, just a tweak of tax inci- attributes: stable uniformity and value-addition serve as a medium of exchange for being followed and traded. with measures like demonetization,
transactions. Logically, the reins of such How about crypto as an investment? which proved unsuccessful despite its
dence, brought on by a gap found in its actual applicability. On the first, while it did subsume a an instrument must be with a country’s If one can invest in stocks, race-horses boldness. Allowing cryptos would only
mop-up from restaurants and what should have messy bunch of old taxes, what began as a valid central bank as we cannot have multiple and gaming, then why not in such cur- encourage black money to be generated
reached official coffers, going by at-source GST division of merit versus non-merit rates has currencies operating within a jurisdic- rencies? Many things hold value that and stashed away from the regulatory
deductions made by food-delivery apps, taken turned into yet another jumble. Rate brackets tion. In India, we must surrender for- aren’t backed by anything but market system’s reach. Good reasons exist to
as a sign of rampant tax evasion. The pandemic have multiplied, and with continual rejigs, GST eign exchange beyond a limit to the perception. This is not too different ban them until we can put in place an
Reserve Bank of India and cannot buy from betting on sports or elections, in appropriate regulatory framework.
not only boosted demand for online services, it today appears no less lobby-resistant than pre-
saw a proliferation of mom-and-pop ‘cloud vious taxes, reducing its appeal to prospective
kitchens’ sending food home and set off a dash investors and stirring doubts over rate fairness.
for survival among small units like roadside While GST may still be “good” and reformist, it
kiosks to enlist with apps. Not all of them had is no longer as “simple” as it was touted to be. Its
taxable turnovers, some ran on daily cash-flows other big attraction, that it applies as a value-
without annual accounts, and many must have added tax (VAT), gets nullified wherever input www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Vol.5 No.224 `3.00 32
24 PAGES
+ 4 MARKETS PAGES
been in the grey zone of tax liability. As Friday’s credits get axed. The benefits of taxing only the WSJ: Fed ponders jobs,
inflation targets >19
LEGAL: Karnataka Lokayukta
Shivaraj Patil resigns >7
move will enhance collections by drafting apps difference between an offering’s final worth EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
POLITICS: Finance ministry forms branches
under CBDT to check poll financing, donations >3
MARKETS: Sensex mirrors European
weakness, declines 1.1% >15
as agents of formalization, it offers a practical and its input value, done by crediting taxpayers
SENSEX 16,745.35 æ 188.48 NIFTY 5,031.95 æ 52.30 DOLLAR `47.80 Æ `0.54 EURO `65.03 æ `0.27 GOLD `28,160 Æ `360 OIL $109.18 æ $3.04
HINDUSTAN TIMES
UNDER SCANNER
2G court allows QUICK EDIT
CBI may file law ministry An oily
way out. In the frequency of our GST tweaks, with GST paid on inputs by suppliers, are case against
opinion on Shylock
‘associate’ cos F orcing public sector
firms to shell out
GST is a tribute to
B Y N IKHIL K ANEKAL & more money seems to be
A PPU E STHOSE S URESH a strange way to reduce
························· the government’s fiscal
Reliance
NEW DELHI
deficit. If reports are to
however, let’s not lose sight of its basic aims. abstract but significant. Conceptually, a VAT is T he special court hearing be believed, that is what
the 2G (second-genera- the Union government
tion) telecom spectrum alloca- plans to do.
tion case on Monday directed A Bloomberg story
the Central Bureau of Investi- on Monday said ONGC
gation (CBI) to place on record may be asked to fork out
Move considered over istry declined to comment. the recent opinion of the min- `470 billion this fiscal as
alleged irregularities in “The preliminary inquiry istry of law and justice on “as- compared with `248.9
As of now, most standalone restaurants are not just about relieving us of a tax cascade from the maturity and wisdom
against RIL and others is in fi- sociate companies”, a decision billion the year before.
KG basin operations; oil nal stages and very soon a case that is likely to bolster the de- This massive rise is due
ministry, DGH officials will be registered,” said one of fence and weaken the prosecu- to its share in bearing
the CBI officials cited above. tion. the subsidy burden.
may also be named The second official cited “The report (of the law min- In India’s oil politics,
above said: “We have evidence istry) is largely legalistic in na- this is the path of least
B Y S AHIL M AKKAR & against the company (RIL) and ture clarifying a law point only. resistance for those who
U TPAL B HASKAR DGH officials. It is a matter of The prosecution is not likely to take such decisions in
························· time (before) we register a fresh suffer any prejudice by its pro- New Delhi. It is also
liable to pay 5% GST on dine-in services and one stage of production to another. As with the
NEW DELHI case (on the basis of the prelim- duction. Accordingly, in the damaging to ONGC’s
I ndia’s federal investigating inary inquiry). The last-minute interest of fairness of trial and financial health.
of India’s democracy.
agency is considering regis- vetting is being carried out.” its transparency, I deem it It is hardly surprising
tration of a case or multiple The third CBI official con- proper that a copy of the said then that the government
cases against Reliance Indus- firmed this. All three officials report be placed on record by is unable to rustle up
tries Ltd (RIL) for alleged irreg- spoke independently of each CBI,” judge O.P. Saini ruled on investor interest in the
ularities in the operation of the other. Monday. company. A follow-on
firm’s block in the Krishna-Go- Some of the issues CBI is in- Shahid Balwa, promoter of public offer had to be
davari (KG) basin, said three vestigating in its preliminary Etisalat DB Telecom India Pvt. deferred. One does not
home dispatches of their kitchen output, but ‘pin factory’ in Adam Smith’s The Wealth of
officials at the Central Bureau inquiry are: Ltd and an accused in the case, have to think hard why.
of Investigation (CBI), who de- a) DGH significantly reduc- had moved the court last week Either way, the only
clined to be named. ing the penalty amount for RIL seeking that the document be thing that seems to
“The matter is at the inquiry for not sticking to work com- interest the government
stage and no information can mitments, a leniency that was TURN TO PAGE 3® is how to lay its hands
be shared with the media,” denied to some state-owned Run out: Kochi Tuskers Kerala players during an IPL match in 2011. on the biggest pile of
said Dharini Mishra, spokes- companies. BCCI on Monday terminated the franchise’s contract after it ALSO SEE cash in front of its eyes.
woman for the agency. A b) DGH forcing state-owned defaulted on a `156 crore annual payment. See Page 4 >OurView: A definitional problem >P22
spokesperson for RIL declined firms to form an alliance with
cannot claim input tax credit. This was a revi- Nations, it is equally about task specialization,
to comment. RIL for rig sharing in an ar-
The three CBI officials, none rangement that largely benefit-
of whom wanted to be identi-
fied given the nature of the is-
ed RIL.
c) DGH and petroleum min- Fortis India to DEBT CRISIS
sue and the allegations, also istry officials favouring RIL by
consolidate Zoellick warns Europe not to
PR A N A B MU K HE R JE E
said that the case will name of- allowing the company to raise
ficials belonging to the Direc- capital expenditure in the KG
torate General of Hydrocar-
bons (DGH) and the petro-
D6 block.
CAG, interestingly, did not
with merger depend on emerging nations
sion made in late-2017; the rate was lowered which it promotes across an economy by killing
leum ministry. specifically comment on gold-
CBI has been conducting a plating, or overstating, of costs B Y M OULISHREE S RIVASTAVA BLOOMBERG
preliminary inquiry into the is- by RIL—a charge levied by Re- & C .H . U NNIKRISHNAN B Y S UDEEP R EDDY He didn’t specifically men-
sue that’s now bolstered by the liance Natural Resources Ltd ························· The Wall Street Journal tion a break-up of the euro
findings of a report by the when it was engaged in a bitter NEW DELHI/MUMBAI ························· zone as a possibility, but that
Comptroller and Auditor Gen-
eral of India (CAG), that high-
lighted improprieties in RIL’s
battle with RIL over the supply
of gas, before eventually arriv-
ing at a compromise in May
F ortis Healthcare (India)
Ltd, the country’s second
largest hospital chain, is set to
W orld Bank president Rob-
ert Zoellick warned that
Europe can’t count on cash-
could be a possible outcome,
too. “These are European deci-
sions,” Zoellick said. “You can
operation of the KG-DWN-98/ 2010. But it did comment on become Asia’s top healthcare rich emerging nations such as go either way, but you need to
and input credits were dropped after they tax-burden disincentives to outsource what’s
3 block and raised questions the cost escalations in the provider with a total revenue China and Brazil to come to decide where you want to go.
about its operation of the lu- company’s D6 block, particu- of at least `4,800 crore and an the euro zone’s aid and said At a minimum, you need to
crative KG D6 block. larly on the practice of RIL im- integrated network of hospi- European leaders needed to know so that if you find your-
Director general of hydro- plementing the work pro- tals, and diagnostic and dental take fundamental decisions self in a true crisis, you know
carbons S.K. Srivastava did not gramme even before obtaining clinics spread across 10 coun- about the direction of the cur- where you want to steer”
respond to phone calls or to a approval for the increase in the tries by absorbing the promot- rency union. policymaking.
message on his cellphone cost of the project. ers’ privately held Fortis “There’s no silver bullet. Last week’s joint action by
seeking comment. A spokes- The second CBI official add- Healthcare International Pte There’s no panacea,” Zoellick five central banks addressed li-
person for the petroleum min- ed that the agency could also Ltd. said in an interview on Friday quidity issues, but European
argued that since raw ingredients were mostly better done by others. This non-revenue goal
register a separate case entire- The Indian firm will buy the while European finance minis- leaders still need to address
ly on the basis of the CAG re- entire stake of Singapore- ters were meeting in Poland. underlying problems, he said.
port pertaining to the issue of based Fortis Internation- “Nobody is going to come in “I’m not denigrating buying
allowing RIL to retain the en- al—currently held by the Del- with a big bag of money to buy Charting a course: Robert Zoellick. time,” he said. “But I’m sug-
tire D6 area off the Andhra hi-based Singh family through out the problem.” gesting that when you buy the
Pradesh coast. holding company RHC Finan- European officials have vide financing in exchange for time, that you then use the
In its Performance Audit of cial Services (Mauritius) looked to Brazil, China and trade concessions. time.”
Hydrocarbon Production-shar- Ltd—in an all-cash deal, it another big emerging markets, International Monetary The euro zone crisis is
ing Contracts report, CAG said nounced on Monday. which together have trillions of Fund chief Christine Lagarde weighing increasingly on
sourced from the informal sector, they had few of efficiency must never lose policy emphasis.
the explorer was allowed to re- The merged entity will be re- dollars in reserves, as places to last week called the idea of economies outside Europe.
tain the entire 7,645 sq. km named Fortis Healthcare Ltd sell large amounts of sovereign joint BRICS aid an “interesting The developing world, Zoellick
area and was permitted to en- after an independent agency debt. development”. said, is already facing higher
ter the second and third phase works out the details of the Some of the big markets But Zoellick suggested such bond spreads and weaker eq-
without “relinquishing 25% transaction, including the val- have played along, at least rhe- speculation was largely a side- uity markets as developing na-
each of the total contract area uation of the foreign company, torically. Brazil has publicized show. Instead, he said in the tions prepare for a drop in ex-
at the end of phase-I and by December. a meeting of the so-called interview, European leaders port-led demand. In addition,
phase-II in June 2004 and BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, must decide what kind of mon- events in the US and Europe
2005, respectively”, in contra- TURN TO PAGE 2® India, China and South Af- etary union they want, by ei- may be starting to filter
supply invoices to claim any tax already paid by For GST coherence and definitional clarity,
vention of the production- rica—this week in Washington, ther forming a stronger fiscal through to emerging market
sharing contract. The report ALSO SEE which it said would discuss union or facing the conse- consumers and businesses in a
Mint is also available for R6 with >MARK TO MARKET: Fortis becomes euro zone problems. China quences when weaker mem-
Hindustan Times under a combo offer TURN TO PAGE 2® international again >P14 also has hinted it could pro- bers falter. TURN TO PAGE 2®
suppliers. A similar exception was later made input credits should invariably be allowed.
MY VIEW | MODERN TIMES
Many women don’t adore the idea of men: Now what?

know, and always end in a warm apprecia- women for being men is a bit like mid-air tur- a general aversion to a class of people can be, under attack for being Caucasian and male.
MANU JOSEPH tion of Indian women, their poise and beauty bulence. It’s funny at first, but as its intensity as they themselves abhor communities and The overt scorn for men, or at least the
and intelligence, and how undeserving rises, the faces around slowly turn serious. races. So to realize that they, too, can attract overt articulation of this scorn for men,
Indian men are. These days, the only time I Men who are easily hurt by the general similar emotions is humiliating. This is the which is slightly more than a lament but less
see love in a woman’s eyes is when she talks insults of women are usually the provincial same reason why so many Indians living in than a desire to see men harmed, is part of an
of women. who cannot accept a fundamental principle the West are hypersensitive to racism—they ongoing attempt to reform men. But the ref-
A
fter the death of some elderly Indian It is hard to defend Indian men. Men in in storytelling—that the underdog has spe- know exactly what it is. ormation of men occurs because of a very
men, their widows grow healthier, other cultures have reputations. They are cial rights to make mali- Men do not feel they are different force.
their eyes flaunt life and their skin cool, or hot or stylish or brave or great pas- cious fun of the privileged. part of a single collective The new men who are a lot better than
glow. The signs were always there, but until sionate cooks, or they are tall or dashing, or Also, they do not under- Men are mostly male organism. Despite their fathers, the young men who are fond of
now it was rare to hear women state clearly dance using calisthenics or sing haunting stand why they are being the term, there is no women the way women are fond of women,
how much they despised men. But now, songs on the streets. Indian men, on the cursed for the banal privi- amused but in ‘brotherhood’ that gender and who can be nice without the farce of
wherever I go, I hear women say they “hate” other hand, are not famous for anything lege of walking fearlessly bestows. But there is a political correctness, got here not because
men, Indian men in particular, also the very except coding—and even that is branding on the streets. But there is
some situations global phenomenon that is activists reformed them. These are men
is a journalist, and a novelist,

idea of men, the smallest things about them,
how they stand, how they behave on dates.
more than truth. But when women start
explaining their disenchantment with
another type of hurt which
is more substantial. Most
they feel hurt. underway that may train
men to feel something of
who observed their fathers and decided
they do not want to be like them; they saw
most recently of ‘Miss Laila,
Armed And Dangerous’
Even “the sound of their footsteps at home.”
Sometimes, I wonder if they know I am a man.
Indian men, they usually then extend their
sentiments to all men, everywhere, includ-
Indian men have had fewer
opportunities than women
What it certainly the sort. Across the world,
the tactics of social activ-
the generation before them and decided
they need to be better. To know that you do
The way women express their dislike for ing those who notice upholstery and know who use words like ‘patri- does not do is ists are being copied by not want to be your father—that is clarity.
men is somewhat similar to how a typical colours like ‘salmon’ and ‘mauve’. archy’. those who have been tradi- The notion that the new generation of
street boy in Chennai starts a brawl. He But women do like men. Barack Obama, In essence, the call for reform men tionally dominant in soci- urban men is somewhat better is often held
begins in a jovial way, in the mirth of friend- Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, for instance. And equality is a battle of the ety, like upper castes in by mothers who are probably influenced by
ship. He wrestles laughing, but then as his some men they actually know, but who are top 2% against the top 1%. India and Caucasian men their estimation of their sons. If you ask
arm is twisted, his face slowly turns serious sexually innocuous like their granddads, Most Indian men would readily give up their in the United States—they are recognizing girls, they scoff at the idea that their male
as though in a sudden painful memory; he dads and sons. It is as though maleness is an privilege of walking down streets at night in the power of lament, vulnerability and vic- peers are not despicable. It is a generaliza-
stiffens, snarls, folds his tongue into the floor evil spirit in an otherwise fine human. exchange for the opportunities that most timhood. For instance, upper castes in India tion, as many observations are, but it is made
of his mouth, and then lashes out. What are the consequences of this vast elite feminists have had. are increasingly demanding quotas, and often.
Monologues of women about the disap- disenchantment? A darker reason why some men have a low Donald Trump effectively used a wide- A 13-year-old told me that the boys in her
pointing nature of Indian men usually lead Men react to it in different ways, but threshold of tolerance for being despised by spread sentiment among Caucasian men class rate girls. “These boys are so low, they
to specific details of the unnamed men they mostly they are amused. Being roasted by women could be that they know how severe when Me-Too was at its peak that they were must have been raised by boys.”
@UPSC_THOUGHT
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS MONDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2021
NEW DELHI 15
THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
A signal to China from America Starvation is the other serious

threat to Afghanistan’s women
and two of its oldest major allies Taliban misogyny has worsened a hunger crisis we mustn’t ignore
US commitment to Asia-Pacific security is evident in the ‘Aukus pact’ that will see it share nuclear technology with Australia
AP
RUTH POLLARD &

DAVID FICKLING
are columnists with Bloomberg Opinion.
HARSH V. PANT
is professor of international relations, King’s
College London
O
ne of the Taliban’s first acts after
they swept to power in Afghanistan
a month ago was to force most
I
n less than six months, the Quadrilateral working women out of jobs and into their Many Afghan households face starvation
Security Dialogue—the Quad—is back in homes. That adds to the risk of starvation while foreign aid remains cut off REUTERS
action. After its virtual summit in March, this facing the country after years of crop fail-
month end will see the leaders of four major ures, including this year’s wheat harvest. In significant: Malnutrition among children
Indo-Pacific nations converge in Washington an aid-dependent economy that’s in deep falls about 43% when women are in control
to deliberate on matters of common concern trouble, the removal of tens of thousands of of any income rise, and the improvement is
and also signal to China that the platform that wage earners only adds to the numbers greater if they have better access to educa-
Beijing once described as “sea foam” is not only who face hunger in a country where 47.3% tion. For that advancement to happen,
not dissipating, but also gearing up to play a more live below the poverty line. What happens though, there must first be surplus income.
ambitious role. If the March summit was about outside the could be even worse. Women With the Taliban removing women’s ability
laying out an expansive agenda for a still-nascent make up nearly a third of the rural labour to earn money and food prices surging, the
grouping, the September summit is likely to be force. Without them, the problems of a chances of that are dim. About 53% of rural
about operationalizing the common vision of country that’s barely able to feed itself will Afghan household spending is on food
the four like-minded democracies as they chart only be compounded. alone, by a 2014 study, and likely hasn’t got-
their policy priorities in an ever-so-turbulent Afghan women’s top fear is not being able ten better. With expenditure largely going
Indo-Pacific region. to work, and losing access to education is a to raw commodities, it’s also much more
Last week’s landmark security pact involving close second, says Heather Barr, associate exposed to market price movements.
the UK, US and Australia that will allow Australia director of women’s rights at Human Rights Thanks to drought and pandemic effects,
to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first Watch. With so many men killed in the con- wheat flour prices in Kabul have been about
time with technology provided by the US under- flict, or fleeing the country, a significant 20% above historical averages for most of
scores the rapidly shifting realities of the Indo- number of women have been left as both the year. That’s likely to get worse: If you
Pacific. Australia will be joining a select group of single parents and sole breadwinners sup- think supply-chain problems in rich coun-
countries, including the US, UK, France, China, porting their parents and other relatives. tries are leading to shortages and inflation,
India and Russia, that operate nuclear-powered “The Taliban cutting off women’s ability to it’s nothing compared to the sort of civil
submarines. It will also be only the second nation work is not about their feelings of empower- chaos and uncertainty that’s descended on
after the UK with which the US will be sharing its ment—though this is important—it is about Afghanistan.
submarine technology. losing any ability to feed themselves and Add to that a banking sector in crisis, with
In an extraordinary move, the US and UK are will- their family,” Barr notes. long queues for what little cash is left in the
ing to export nuclear technology to a non-nuclear According to the research group Afghan- country. The US and international bodies,
powered nation. Regional security concerns have istan Analysts Network, the price of essen- including the World Bank and the Interna-
been the main driver behind this ‘Aukus pact’ that is tial items, from flour to cooking oil, has risen tional Monetary Fund, have blocked foreign
being touted as Canberra’s biggest defence partner- the credibility of American commitments in the Strengthening British ties with traditional partners while the afghani currency depreciates. In reserves and stopped their regular money
ship in decades, involving artificial intelligence, region. Washington’s latest move will go some way like Australia and working in concert with the US is a second-hand market in Kabul, desperate transfers. A United Nations conference in
cyber and other cutting-edge defence technologies. in assuaging these concerns, as it ties America even one way of getting a greater voice in the region. families are selling household goods to buy Geneva last week pledged more than $1 bil-
This was made clear in the joint statement that was more closely to Australia’s security mapping. It also Given the historic nature of the pact, it was not food. Even before this year’s crisis, Afghani- lion in emergency aid. But the question for
issued. It described the pact as a “historic opportu- highlights an American willingness to take a strate- surprising that Beijing responded loudly. In its stan was stalked by hunger because of a dev- donors is how to provide assistance quickly,
nity for the three nations, with like-minded allies gic approach in working collectively with its allies in official denouncement, China argued that the astating drought in 2018 and 2019. Only before winter, without inadvertently fund-
and partners, to protect shared values and promote the Indo-Pacific, as it seems more willing than ever three countries “should abandon the obsolete cold North Korea and six nations in sub-Saharan ing the Taliban’s vicious crackdown on
security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.” to enhance their defence potential through the war zero sum mentality and narrow-minded geo- Africa were making do with fewer daily cal- women, the media, religious minorities and
For US President Joe Biden, this pact “is about sharing of highly-sensitive defence technology, political concepts and respect regional people’s ories, according to the United Nations’ Food other key parts of civil society.
investing in our greatest source of strength, our alli- something the US had been reluctant to do in the aspirations and do more that is conducive to and Agriculture Organization. Behind the scenes, there’s an ugly disa-
ances and updating them to better meet the threats past. There seems to be a realistic appraisal in regional peace and stability and development— The Taliban’s takeover will make all these greement playing out among aid organiza-
of today and tomorrow.” The UK has been more cat- Washington now about the abilities of its partners otherwise they will only end up hurting their own problems more acute, because poverty, tions, including the United Nations, Barr
egorical in its response, with British defence secre- and the help they need in standing up to their interests.” Everything that China is telling other undernourishment and gender inequality notes. Some agencies are saying if the Tali-
tary Ben Wallace making a case that with China growing regional challenges. nations today, had it implemented all that in its go hand-in-hand. Although women and ban won’t allow female relief workers, they
“embarking on one of the biggest military spends in This dovetails with the British desire to play a own policies, the regional environment would not girls tend to be more resilient in the face of should go on and deliver the aid regardless,
history” and “engaged in some disputed areas”, the larger role in the Indo-Pacific, especially after its have changed this dramatically so soon. malnutrition, in patriarchal societies they given the need is so great. Others say having
UK’s regional partners “want to be able to stand exit from the European Union. The Boris Johnson The latest developments are largely favourable also suffer the worst deprivation and long- female workers is the only way of ensuring
their own ground.” administration is keen on projecting the idea of a from an Indian viewpoint and as our focus now term side-effects, as more food is allocated aid reaches women—an assertion proven
For Washington and its allies in the Pacific, a new ‘Global Britain’ as the central narrative of British shifts to the Quad meeting, it is clear that like- to the males of the household. time and again.
class of nuclear-powered submarines can be of criti- foreign policy after Brexit, and greater engagement minded regional powers are trying to evolve a part- Living on the edge of hunger can be both Whatever happens, it needs to happen
cal value in challenging Chinese military expan- in the Indo-Pacific with like-minded nations is a nership that will see closer alignment of regional a cause and effect of women’s reduced sta- fast. As much as 97% of the population may
sionism. It would also allow the three nations to natural corollary to that. In July, the UK’s new air- policies and actions as well as greater integration of tus. Economic empowerment typically sink below the poverty line by the middle of
operate more effectively together undersea across craft carrier, Queen Elizabeth, sailed through the their defence forces. begins with control over at least some part next year without an urgent response to the
the Pacific. South China Sea waters despite denunciations from The message from Aukus is that while the of the household finances. Even in patriar- twin political and economic crises, the
The announcement of this major pact comes Beijing. More recently, China’s envoy to the UK was current churn in the Indo-Pacific may have begun chal societies, there’s evidence that relin- United Nations Development Programme
against the backdrop of a disastrous withdrawal of barred from coming to its parliament in response to with Chinese actions, it is now other regional quishing men’s grip over money can lead to warned last week. Hunger may prove as
American forces from Afghanistan that had raised travel bans imposed by Beijing on British lawmak- players that are willing to set new terms of engage- a virtuous circle of increasing equality, devastating to Afghanistan’s women as the
widespread doubts across the Indo-Pacific about ers upset about human rights abuses in Xinjiang. ment with Beijing. earnings and well-being. The effects can be Taliban itself. ©BLOOMBERG
GUEST VIEW
Equitable access will help improve reproductive health

grow even if its fertility rate declines. Some rates among all religious groups are declining Population Myth, takes apart popular myths a bigger basket of contraceptive choices have
FAUZIA KHAN modelling studies (bit.ly/2XAEJVu) project steadily. The decline has been sharper among around the Muslim fertility rate, tracing made all the difference.
that India will reach a peak population of 1.6 Muslims than Hindus over the last three dec- Islamic tenets that are pro-family planning Key steps to ensure that more women in
billion by 2048 and it will then decline steeply ades, at 4.7% and 3.1% respectively between and those that encourage smaller families in India have access to family planning services
to 1.12 billion by 2065. 2001 and 2011 (bit.ly/3nPjLNv). During 2001- the religious discourse. include highlighting the gains they contrib-
According to data, while women may want 2011, a steep decline was noted in the popula- For a large proportion of India’s backward ute to, empowering frontline workers to
I
magine a world where you lacked the right fewer than two children, many cannot access tion growth rate for Jains (20.5 percentage communities, social development pro- increase women’s access to contraceptives,
to take decisions about your own health the family planning methods that allow them points), Buddhists (16.7), grammes remain out of especially spacing methods, and introducing
and well-being, where choices about your to limit pregnancies. NFHS-4 showed that in Sikhs (8.5) and Christians reach. There is an urgent a wider range of contraceptive methods for
health depended on someone else’s idea of 2015-16, nearly 13% women in the reproduc- (7). The share of Hindus in Equity and need for universal and equi- women to choose from, based on their per-
what’s right for you and access to care was tive age group (15-49 years) had an unmet India’s population reduced table access to quality sonal choice. Engaging religious leaders in
beyond your reach. Unfortunately, this is the need for family planning, including 6% of marginally, from 80.5% in inclusivity hold health services, including family planning and reproductive healthcare
reality for a number of people in India today, women who had an unmet need for spacing 2001 to 79.8% in 2011, while family planning. Ensuring advocacy is an important way to encourage
especially women (bit.ly/3lu5nak). The devas- methods (bit.ly/3tNCQjU). the Muslim population reg-
the key to access to education, social public acceptance. This practice has been
is a member of Parliament
tating impact (bit.ly/3zi4IOd) of the covid
pandemic on essential services, especially
Further, contraceptive use is the lowest
(bit.ly/3CnvKFP ) among women from Sched-
istered a slight increase,
from 13.4% in 2001 to 14.2%.
empowering security and health services,
especially sexual and repro-
implemented across many programmes in
other countries, with great success.
of the Nationalist Congress
Party
family planning and sexual and reproductive
health, has worsened access to healthcare,
ule Tribes, at 48%, followed by Other Back-
ward Classes, at 54%, and Schedule Castes, at
In terms of absolute num-
bers, the Hindu population
women and ductive services, is key to
improving birth outcomes.
Behaviour-change communication and
development interventions should be geared
putting millions of women at high risk of 55%. The situation has probably worsened increased by 139 million achieving better States like Kerala, which towards education, with a focus on gender
unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, due to covid-related restrictions. These during 2001-2011, while the has a high Muslim popula- equity. Inclusivity and equity are key when it
illnesses and even death. trends indicate that inequities in access to Muslim population grew by outcomes tion, and Tamil Nadu and comes to the distribution and delivery of ser-
Phase-1 data from the fifth National Family family planning have translated into poor 34 million. Contrary to Andhra Pradesh, have vices, information and commodities across
Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows an impressive health and development outcomes. popular belief, the steepest shown us that there is a communities and geographies. Governments
decline in the fertility rate in almost all states. More damaging are prevalent myths and decline in total fertility rate (TFR) was strong link between development and at the national and state levels must ensure
Despite this, overall population growth still misconceptions about demographic trends observed among Muslims (0.8%) followed by decline in TFR. Indonesia and Bangladesh, that appropriate measures are put in place so
appears high because of a demographic tran- in the country, including fertility rates and Hindus (0.5%), Sikhs (0.4%), and Christians both Muslim-dominated countries, have out- that people’s well-being remains at the heart
sition: India has a high proportion—about population growth. Many believe that certain (0.3%), between 2005-06 and 2015-16. performed India in terms of decreasing fertil- of all policies, including family planning and
30%—of young people and adolescents who religious minorities contribute greatly to These figures belie popular notions of the ity rates. Higher levels of female education, reproductive health. This is critical to achieve
are either of reproductive age or will soon be. India’s population growth, a notion that is not minority community’s aversion to family greater employment opportunities for our sustainable development goals, leaving
This explains why a population continues to supported by data. In fact, decadal growth planning. S.Y. Quraishi, in his book titled The women, delayed age at marriage and access to no one behind.
>
@UPSC_THOUGHT OPINION 9
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ILLUSTRATION: AJAY MOHANTY

VOLUME XXVII NUMBER 265
NEW DELHI | MONDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 UNDER IMPLEMENTATION
Private investment — Apr-Jun 2021: 39.58 (~ trillion)
50
Structural changes in GST 48
Correction to revenue-neutral rate must not be delayed 46

42
T
he Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s 45th meeting in Lucknow
last week took several important decisions and set the ball rolling for 40
two structural changes. The council extended concessional rates for sev-
eral drugs, such as Remdesivir, used to treat Covid-19. It also reduced 38
duty on some other drugs like Itolizumab and Posaconazole till December. Since 2018 2019 2019 2020 2021 2021
the pandemic is unlikely to end by December, the council could have easily Q3 Q1 Q4 Q2 Q1 Q3
extended the concession at least till the end of this fiscal year. It further decided to limited, so the state-led strategy has limited head-
correct the inverted duty structure in textile and footwear, which was discussed room. From 2018 onwards, the stock of government
in earlier meetings. Additionally, the council decided to form two groups of min-
isters to examine the issue of inverted duty structure in different sectors and using
technology to improve compliance. The findings of these groups should help
streamline the GST structure and improve compliance, resulting in higher revenue
New hope in private “under implementation” projects has declined in
real terms by ~7 trillion. As a consequence, the total
infrastructure projects “under implementation”
declined from ~70 trillion in 2018 to ~63 trillion today.
investment?
This change in infrastructure investment from 2018
collection over time. However, making online food-delivery firms pay GST on onwards, and its consequences for the demand side
behalf of restaurants will end up increasing the compliance burden and should of the economy, have not been widely recognised.
have been avoided. To return to private “under implementation” proj-
Apart from operational matters, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ects, the most recent data is shown in the graph.
talked about two important structural issues. First, the minister said the com- Perhaps we've just experienced a turning point in private investment From a bottom of about ~38 trillion, there has been a
pensation to states would not be extended beyond June 2022. At the time of recovery to ~39.58 trillion in the April-June 2021
P
implementation of GST, it was decided that states would be compensated for rivate investment is the most important source In Service of the Republic: The art and science of eco- quarter. Is this just a flash in the pan? There are three
shortfall in revenue collection with an annual growth rate of 14 per cent for five of economic and cultural dynamism in a coun- nomic policy, Penguin Allen Lane, November 2019. elements at work.
try. This has been a long winter from 2011 There is much joy in the success of technology 1. In the pandemic, some firms faced radical
years. Some non-National Democratic Alliance-ruled states have argued in favour
onwards. One part of this story is the sharp decline companies in the last two years. But we must temper uncertainty, had little management bandwidth left
of an extension. A guaranteed compensation factoring in 14 per cent revenue in private participation in infrastructure and the our excitement, owing to the magnitudes involved. after dousing numerous fires, and had put invest-
growth per year was an impractical idea from the beginning. The assumption enhanced role of the state in infrastructure. There is Moving the needle of this large economy is not easy. ment activities on hold. By 2021, uncertainty had
was that GST would boost revenue, which has not materialised. States are being a small recovery in recent months. In a GDP of about $3 trillion per year, 1 per cent of the declined and fire-fighting had declined. These firms
compensated for the shortfall by market borrowing for the second consecutive Most gross domestic product (GDP) and most jobs GDP is $30 billion per year. Similarly, a million new are going back to normalcy in investment.
year, which will be repaid by cess collection beyond June 2022. Extending the are made by the private sector. The greatness of a jobs is not large when compared with the overall 2. Vaccination in developed countries took off,
compensation mechanism beyond June 2022 will further complicate the GST country is about the freedom, energy, creativity, and workforce of 400 million people and 800 million non- developed countries used fiscal policy to restart
system since compensation cess collection will be used to repay debt. Any exten- optimism of private persons. When employed people. Information their economies on a gigantic scale, and an export
private firms build fixed assets, this technology is India’s greatest boom from India started. This was assisted by
sion in the collection of the compensation cess itself will affect items on which
generates a long-term stream of out- industry and the source of a lot of nationalism in China, which led many in the world
it is levied and firms will have to alter business plans. put and a long-term stream of wage human-interest stories, but the to shift business to India. Many Indian firms shifted
The basic structural problem is lower revenue collection, and this is where payments. An investment project developments there are not large resources to emphasise export- or export-adjacent
the second issue underlined by the finance minister becomes important. Ms plays out for a short period of time enough to offset the underlying activities, and have harnessed the export boom.
Sitharaman noted the revenue-neutral position at the time of implementation and then kicks off output and wages problems of the economy. Through these developments, many firms in the
was about 15 per cent. However, the rate has come down to 11.6 per cent. Clearly, for a sustained period. One part of the problem is export sector are investing.
premature rate reduction, largely because of political reasons, has resulted in India got good growth in the 1991- infrastructure. Private “under 3. Finally, the structure of consumption in the
lower revenue collection. As the Fifteenth Finance Commission report showed, 2011 period, and after that private implementation” infrastructure pandemic shifted. Some industries did badly (e.g.
revenue from GST was lower by well over 1 per cent of gross domestic product investment has faltered. One way to projects (expressed in 2021 commercial real estate), but some industries did well
measure private investment is the rupees) peaked in 2011/12 at about (e.g. broadband telecom). Firms in the right indus-
in 2019-20, compared to the collection from taxes subsumed into GST in 2016-
17. Thus, the council should target reverting to the revenue-neutral rate as soon
year-on-year growth of net fixed
assets as seen in the (annual) balance
SNAKES & LADDERS ~36 trillion and now stand at ~10
trillion. A decline of ~26 trillion in
tries saw high growth and are back to investing.
As of yet, the observed change of about ~2 trillion
as possible, along with reducing the number of slabs. Extending compensation sheets of non-financial firms. Another AJAY SHAH private projects “under imple- is not large in absolute terms. The recent data will
for revenue shortfall is not a lasting solution. Lower collection also affects the way to see this is through the CMIE mentation” is on account of the be important if they are a turning point, as opposed
central government finances and has an additional indirect impact on states in Capex database, which chronicles investment proj- problems of infrastructure. There is thus a roughly to the long history of declines. The next data point,
terms of lower transfers. Thus, the council should now work on strengthening ects. Expressed in 2021 rupees, the peak value of the 50-50 split in the decline: About half of the decline for July-August-September 2021, which will be
the GST system. Lower overall GST collection is one of the reasons why depend- stock of private “under implementation” projects in private sector investment has happened in infras- released on October 1, is an important fact that we
ence on petroleum products for revenue has increased and they cannot be was near ~90 trillion in 2011/12. There has been a tructure and the other half in everything else. should watch for. Potentially by that time, the mag-
brought under GST. decline in the following years of about ~50 trillion. When we look more carefully at the field of infras- nitudes may start adding up. A rise of ~5 trillion (to
On average, this is a decline of ~5 trillion or about tructure, for some time, expansion in government ~43 trillion) would offset the decline of the average
$70 billion per year. infrastructure projects compensated. From 2011 to year of the last decade.
This is the most important phenomenon of 2018, the overall “under implementation” infrastruc- A recovery in private investment yields greater
Own goal in Punjab Indian economics of the last decade. In every coun-
try, the construction of the state shapes the freedom
and optimism of private people, which in turn
ture projects remained at about ~70 trillion, with the
decline in private spending being offset by an
increase in government spending. But there are inev-
demand for industries such as finance, consulting,
research, construction, and capital goods. All these
industries have had a difficult time in the last decade,
Another example of mismanagement by the grand old party determines the willingness of people to commit, to itable difficulties in the strategy of emphasising gov- and could witness a change in their fortunes.
invest, and to build organisations. Vijay Kelkar and ernment infrastructure investment. Fiscal capacity
T
he Congress party appears to have developed a talent for shooting itself I wrote a book-length treatment on these questions, and project management in government are quite The writer is a researcher at Pune International Centre
in the foot, and the latest leadership crisis in Punjab offers a fresh
example. This was a state in which the next elections, due
February/March 2022, appeared to be a done deal, not least because of
the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal’s earlier close association with the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP), which had passed unpopular agri-reform Bills in Parliament.
What is more, recently deposed chief minister Amarinder Singh had delivered
Nutrition through biofortification
for the party a brute majority in the Assembly of 80 seats out of 117; the party
S
tark hunger, as manifested in starvation deaths, the “Poshan week” every year. But these initiatives developed under the all-India coordinated research
has, in fact, not lost a single election, not even a by-election, during his tenure. may be a thing of the past but malnutrition is are augmenting the consumption of belly-filling sta- programmes for different crops, provide enough
The showdown between him and maverick cricketer-turned-comedian-turned- still rampant. This is despite India being now ples rather than wholesome foods. India’s mid-day calories, as also essential nutrients, for healthy
politician and fellow Patiala local Navjot Sidhu had been brewing since 2019, the world’s top or second-largest producer of most meal scheme for school children, one of the world’s growth,” maintain ICAR Director-General T
when the latter resigned as tourism minister. food items, such as staple cereals, pulses, fruit, vege- largest programmes of its kind, is no exception. This, Mohapatra and Deputy Director-General D K Yadav
This incident morphed into growing party dissatisfaction with, among other tables, and milk. The diet of a sizable section of the as also similar other nutrition-oriented schemes being in a paper “Biofortification of Crops for Food and
things, Mr Singh’s increasingly imperious style of governance, his failure to deal population is neither sufficient nor nutritionally bal- implemented through institutions like Anganwadis, Nutritional Security”. More than 70 biofortified food
with the state’s burgeoning illicit drug trade, and accusations that he was too anced. The deficiency of protein, vitamins, minerals, suffers from the same flaw. They lack the required crops have already been evolved and released for
or other major or micro-nutrients is widely prevalent. emphasis on balanced nourishment. As a result, these cultivation, they point out.
accommodative of the Badal family, which dominates the Akali Dal. This growing
Particularly worrisome is the paucity of initiatives have reduced the incidence of underfeeding The benefits of the biofortified crops have been cor-
discontent prompted Congress President Sonia Gandhi to set up a committee to nutrients like iron and zinc, and vitamins like A and but without denting malnutrition, which can be roborated even by the actual impact assessment studies
examine the problems with the state unit in May this year. The committee rec- C, which are vital for growth and tissue curbed only by boosting the intake on children and women. In one such study, children
ommended that Mr Sidhu be given a role and the party structure reorganised. In repair, and preventing diseases. It of wholesome food. 12-16 years old were fed with “Bhakri” — a round, flat
June, in a personal coup, Mr Sidhu was appointed head of the party’s state unit, retards physical and mental develop- The poor nutritional profile of unleavened bread — made from iron-doped bioforti-
a decision Mr Singh categorically declined to accept. ment of children and causes ill-health average Indians can, in fact, partly fied pearl millet (bajra). They showed a substantial
What followed is a saga of mismanagement that highlights the predicament among adults, especially women and be attributed to the fact that most improvement in their health. Iron, whose deficiency is
of the Congress party, in which the Gandhi siblings appear to play some sort of lactating mothers. of the available and mass-con- quite common in India, is vital for proper functioning
freelance problem-solving role. Rahul Gandhi, who resigned as party president Little wonder, therefore, that India sumed foods are inherently low in of muscles and brain tissues. Another study, involving
was ranked 94th among 107 countries nutrition. Most of the crop varieties feeding zinc-enriched wheat to children four-six years
after the general election debacle of 2019, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi have
on the Global Hunger Index 2020, fall- developed by the country’s vast old, found perceptible reduction in the incidence of
since met Mr Sidhu to hear his grievances, a move that escalated the crisis. ing behind its smaller neighbours like farm research network in the past pneumonia and vomiting among them.
Though it is possible to argue that a change of leadership was overdue, given the Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This were bred with an eye on enhanc- The government is implementing a ~174-crore pilot
deep discontent against Mr Singh, the manner in which it was handled leaves index is essentially an indicator of poor ing yield and resistance against dis- scheme to distribute iron-fortified rice in select areas
much to be desired. The picture that emerges is of a rudderless party with a high nutrition and its ill-effects. The perva-
sive nutritional inadequacy had, in fact,
FARM VIEW eases and pests than upgrading
their nutrient content. This anom-
over the next three years. This programme is planned
to be expanded substantially by 2024. The greater use
command that is unable to draw red lines in a crisis.
The party brass has been in a constant state of fire-fighting since the setback been highlighted even earlier by the SURINDER SUD aly is now sought to be rectified by of biofortified rice can go a long way in meeting the
in the five Assembly polls earlier this year. While desertion by young leaders National Family Health Survey-4, con- incorporating nutrient-enriching universally agreed and United Nations-backed goal
ducted in 2016. It had found that as many as 38.4 per genes in select crop varieties, using conventional or of zero hunger by 2030. This would require a big push
continues to jolt the leadership, Mr Gandhi’s own enigmatic position within the
cent kids below five had low height for their age (tech- modern plant-breeding tools. Such genetically altered to the consumption of biofortified crops. Besides, it
party has caused more worry. In Madhya Pradesh, his apparent ennui in dealing nically called “stunted”) and about 21 per cent had and nutrition-augmented crops, termed aptly as “bio- would also need incentivising farmers to grow bio-
with the rebellion of close ally Jyotiraditya Scindia cost the party a state it had low weight for their height (dubbed as “wasted”). logically fortified” or “biofortified” crops, differ from fortified crops and making consumers aware of their
won against the odds in 2018. In Rajasthan, the fallout of the discontent of Worse still, it showed that more than half of all women the commercially available fortified foods as these health benefits. The most important thing is to ensure
another ally Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (nearly 53 per cent) were anaemic. have genetically ingrained, rather than artificially that biofortified produce is traded separately in man-
cost him his post as deputy chief minister, has been festering for months and is The government, no doubt, is attempting to com- added, additional nutrients. dis and growers get premium prices for that. Once
yet to be addressed. And in Chhattisgarh, where Mr Gandhi appears to have bat disguised hunger (read undernourishment) by Biofortification is the most sustainable and cost- these products get the label of healthy foods, their
promised a rotation of chief ministers, another bout of party infighting has offering highly subsidised or free foodgrains to the effective means to provide the needed nutrition production as well as consumption would automati-
begun. All of these controversies amount to own goals, and they have come at a poor and the needy through various welfare pro- through food rather than food supplements, assert cally get the needed shot in the arm.
grammes. The month of September is observed as the senior officials of the Indian Council of Agricultural
critical time in the electoral calendar.
“Poshan Mah” (nutrition month) and its first week as Research (ICAR). “The nutrient-doped varieties, surinder.sud@gmail.com
A chaotic transfer of power

participants and witnesses, though none Woodward and Costa write, in a rare bit of pacing standards — to behind-the-
Books in this genre like to make news, Woodward had noted that Giuliani was are named. Quotation marks are deadpan: “Pence finally agreed acting to scenes negotiations for President Biden’s
and this one doesn’t waste any time. Its the only Trump campaigner to appear apparently used around words they’re overturn the election would be $1.9 trillion stimulus package.
opening pages recount how last October on a prominent Sunday morning talk more sure of, but there’s a seemingly antithetical to his traditional view of The book mounts a final rally, helped
and again in January, after the riot, Gen show to support his candidate the week arbitrary pattern to the way those marks conservatism.” by circumstance. A late section closely
Mark A Milley, chairman of the Joint that the notorious “Access Hollywood” are used and not used even within the Trump tweeted about the election recounting Biden’s decision to end the
Chiefs of Staff, had secret conversations tape was leaked. He actually went on same brief conversations. ballots on the morning they were to be American war in Afghanistan is plenty
with his Chinese counterparts to assure five shows, a rare feat. And as usual, though the sources certified: “All Mike Pence has to do is send absorbing. The authors recount Biden’s
BOOK REVIEW them that the United States was “100 At the end, Woodward wrote, he was aren’t named, some people get the type of them back to the States, AND WE WIN. resistance to the war when he was vice
percent steady,” despite what they might “exhausted, practically bled out,” but had soft-glow light that suggests they were Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme president under Obama. Biden was long
JOHN WILLIAMS be seeing and hearing. “proved his devotion and friendship.” It especially useful to the authors. In this courage!” “Extreme courage” is not the insistent that the point of American
The Chinese were concerned that will be left to psychologists, not book, much of that first phrase one engagement in the country was to
PERIL
T
he titles of Bob Woodward’s three Trump might lash out on a global scale in historians, to write the definitive account light falls on Milley reaches for to diminish the threat of Al Qaeda and not to
books about the Trump a desperate attempt to secure his power. of why Giuliani remained so steadfast to and William P Barr, Author: Bob describe Pence after crush the Taliban. He held to his strategy
administration — Fear, Rage and Milley went over the process for nuclear the president, but in Peril he’s portrayed Trump’s attorney Woodward and reading Peril. despite advisers who presented him with
now Peril — are appropriately blunt. The strikes and other acts of war with his as the prime force behind Trump’s refusal general from Robert Costa On his way to the a “stunning list of possible human
books, about the staccato stream of colleagues, to make sure nothing was to let the election go. November 2018 to Publisher: Capitol on January 6, disaster and political consequences.”
events that accompanied Donald instigated without his awareness. He “I have eight affidavits,” Giuliani December 2020. Simon & Pence released a As Peril” nears its close, the Delta
Trump’s time in office, are written at a was, Woodward and Costa write, said in a room of friends and campaign In addition to Schuster letter saying that he variant is muddying the pandemic
mostly staccato clip. “overseeing the mobilization of officials three days after the election, Milley’s actions, the Pages: 482 did not have the picture, and that’s not the only detail that
The frantic pace is redoubled in Peril, America’s national security state hinting at the scope of the alleged book has gotten “unilateral authority” makes it read like a cliffhanger. “Trump
written with Robert Costa, Woodward’s without the knowledge of the American voting fraud. Later the same day, in front attention for a scene
Price: ~799 to decide which was not dormant,” the authors write. He
colleague at The Washington Post. people or the rest of the world.” of Trump and others: “I have 27 in which — read this electoral votes got was staging rallies for supporters, and
Broken up into 72 short chapters, it The day after the election, speaking to affidavits!” And yet again the same day, next part slowly — the former Vice counted. His reward? About an hour later, getting good news about his place in very
hurtles through the past two years of Kellyanne Conway, Trump “seemed he urged Trump to put him in charge. President Dan Quayle talks sense into protesters inside the Capitol chanted for early polls for 2024. Like an instalment of
dizzying news. The book’s centrepiece is ready, at least privately, to acknowledge “I have 80 affidavits.” Pence. Trump had suggested to Pence him to be hanged. a deathless Marvel franchise, for all its
the riot at the Capitol on January 6, and defeat.” Enter Rudy Giuliani. The note about this book’s sources is that he had the power to essentially In the wake of the riot,Peril loses force. spectacle Peril ends with a dismaying
its primary concern is how President The former New York mayor nearly identical to the notes in the rejigger the electoral outcome as head of Even more fatally for the book’s sense of prologue.
Trump behaved in the lead-up to and the becomes a more prominent player here previous two books. The authors the Senate, an idea that Quayle told Pence momentum, Woodward and Costa
aftermath of that crisis. than in the previous books. In Fear, interviewed more than 200 first-hand was “preposterous and dangerous.” devote 20 pages — a lifetime by their ©2021 The New York Times News Service
06 OPINION @UPSC_THOUGHT THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | MONDAY | 20 SEPTEMBER 2021
Quad gets a stepbrother

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
US has now formed AUKUS to energise regional connectivity to counter China
September 1 justifying the rationale
behind his decision to end the ‘forev-
er war’ — have presented new mark-
Congress fiasco ers in the US foreign policy. Delhi

should prepare for the upcoming
Quad summit by rigorously applying
Captain’s exit as CM leaves party on sticky wicket in Punjab these guiding principles that Biden
outlined, and by eschewing any false
C
MK BHADRAKUMAR
APT Amarinder Singh’s unceremonious exit as the Punjab notions of a ‘defining partnership’.
Chief Minister is a new low for the self-destructive Congress. FORMER AMBASSADOR This summit should be a sobering
It’s inexplicable that a party with an ever-dwindling national moment. Fundamentally, Indians
T
footprint is bent on frittering away its few gains in the states. Sheer HE leak by the Financial must come to terms with the reality
mishandling of the situation by the high command has destabilised the Times that Chinese presi- that the ‘unipolar moment’ has
state government and triggered chaos in Punjab, which will go to the dent Xi Jinping parried an become history. The toolkit of mili-
polls in barely five months. The gross failure to tackle the crisis and invite to a summit from US tary-political instruments used in that
President Joe Biden has produced an bygone era for achieving foreign poli-
take timely remedial action has severely dented the party’s electoral
ugly reaction by the White House. cy goals (from armed intervention to
prospects, and that too at a time when the main Opposition parties —
Coincidence or not, a week later, the ‘colour revolutions’) are being put
the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party — are desperately try- US has announced a ‘new trilateral CONSOLIDATION: The US is resorting to artificial insemination with ideological away in the attic. Superficially, this
ing to regroup and regain the electorate’s trust. security partnership’ in the Indo- content — democracy versus autocracy — to ease the formation of blocs. REUTERS may appear to be a positive shift. But
The party stirred a hornets’ nest two months ago when it elevated Pacific against China with two ‘mar- what is about to follow is a brutal
Navjot Singh Sidhu as the PPCC chief, overruling objections by Capt
Amarinder. If the top brass had wanted Sidhu to be the CM face, it
itime democracies’ Britain and Aus- India should steer clear of the US rites of passage, and geopolitical competition. The US is
tralia, called AUKUS. resorting to artificial insemination of
should have made things clear right from the outset. Giving Sidhu Quad is getting a stepbrother nearly realise that the ‘unipolar moment’ has become history. an unyielding world order with an ide-
carte blanche to take potshots at the CM was an invitation to disaster. 15 years younger. It already has an ological content — democracy versus
The feeble, unconvincing attempts to bring about a patch-up between Asian half-brother who is hardly autocracy — in order to ease the for-
Capt Amarinder and Sidhu only made things worse. talked about, born out of an improba- sive Economic Partnership (RCEP). this tempestuous era becomes the mation of blocs and the restructuring
The high command’s lackadaisical approach can be gauged from the ble relationship between the US, While the RCEP is an Asia-centric moot point. Europeans seem to be of international politics. India should
fact that it set up the election manifesto implementation committee in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan pact, the CPTPP is geographically adjusting to the reality that America steer clear of the US’ rites of passage.
— the quadrilateral diplomatic plat- more far-reaching and a high-stan- cannot reclaim its leading role on the Biden basically announced that
Punjab as late as January 2020, almost three years after Capt Amarinder
form to energise regional connectivity dard trade deal that would cement world stage until it heals its internal America would focus on itself and its
led the party to a thumping victory in 2017. If misgovernance and the
to counter China. But that was just China’s pivotal role in regional and wounds. But in India, an influential sec- problems to ensure its own security
failure to fulfil poll promises were the all-important issues, course cor- before the Taliban came and spoiled global trade integration. It will further tion of opinion is still full of nostalgia for and fight strategic rivals (China and
rection should have been done much earlier, not at the eleventh hour the party. Thus, Uncle Sam now has a hollow out the US domestic industries the ‘unipolar moment’. They refuse to Russia), and has no more use for a
when the party needs all hands on deck. Now, it would be naive of the menagerie of three Asian children, and erode economic strength. see the bold writing on the wall that the transformational approach to change
Congress to consider Punjab as a low-hanging fruit. The party will have albeit by different mothers. While The geopolitics of Asia-Pacific is Biden administration is pursuing a the world on a global scale. Indian
to go back to the drawing board to gear up for the 2022 elections. The Quad is an unemployed youth looking becoming zestful. Something funda- ‘foreign policy for the middle class’, policymakers and strategic commu-
state leaders have already expended too much time and energy on polit- for business opportunities, Quad. 2 mentally changed in the co-relation of firmly anchored in a deeply divided nity must understand that the US is
ical intrigue and one-upmanship. With the Congress’ credibility in tat- was conceived with dreams of compet- forces following the US’ defeat and exit domestic sphere — and the ranks advo- switching to openly selfish policies
ters, it will be an uphill task for the grand old party to retain power. ing with China’s Silk Road ambitions from Afghanistan. The domestic mood cating increased international engage- geared exclusively to itself with rules
in Inner Asia, whilst the AUKUS plans in America has radically changed in ment are depleting rapidly. being pushed aside.
to equip Australia with nuclear-pow- favour of withdrawal from foreign Of course, the end of the ‘forever Thus, AUKUS enables the US to
ered submarines that can be used as entanglements. Americans no longer war’ in Afghanistan will not mean steal France’s whopping $90 billion
No rush to recognise Taliban

platform for second strike capability in accept spending blood and treasure on that the US intervention in that submarine deal with Australia.
the event of a nuclear war. distant missions when the home front unhappy land has concluded. The US France is livid. Foreign minister
The triad’s similarities in DNA are is beset with acute problems. is retooling in order to re-establish its Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned
India makes stance clear, wants visible change first no secret. Obviously, Beijing isn’t We are at the threshold of a new era say over Afghanistan. This time Australia’s passive acquiescence
amused. Late at night on Thursday, where the textbook definition of war around, it will be by manipulating to America’s pitiless break-in and
P
Beijing announced that it has official- becomes archaic, as vindictive geopo- frozen funds, aid flows and access to the burglary as a ‘stab in the back.’
RIME MINISTER Modi’s appeal to the global community to not
ly applied to join the Comprehensive litical partners turn to trade, finance, the dollar. Surely, the confrontation He said, ‘This brutal, unilateral
rush into recognising the Taliban government in Afghanistan,
and Progressive Agreement for Trans- migration, pandemics, climate between the great powers is going to and unpredictable decision
which he said was not inclusive enough and was formed with- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the change, and the Internet. This is not be the main point of US policies. reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump
out negotiations, has lifted the ambiguity around India’s stand on revised version of a regional trade pact war as we knew it nor is it the peace The two speeches by Biden — on used to do. I am angry and bitter.
the new regime. Sticking to the policy of wait and watch as events originally initiated by President Oba- we long for. Alas, the world has August 16, where he commented on This isn’t done between allies.’
unfold in the neighbourhood reflects the mounting concerns over ma aimed at containing China’s rise. entered an age of perpetual competi- the circumstances surrounding the Indeed, if this can be done to allies,
the Taliban unwilling to unglue themselves from the brutish and vio- China is taking a giant step after the tion among powerful states. completion of the US mission in what awaits ‘partners’ like India
lent blueprint that defined their rule 20 years ago. The PM’s address signing of the Regional Comprehen- How far India is equipped to navigate Afghanistan, and his statement on shouldn’t be hard to divine.
at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit sends a strong
message that expecting a hand of friendship should be commensu-
Easing into a life of retirement

rate with visible change on the ground that shows Kabul’s commit-
ment to peace and basic human rights.
The call to member-countries for a code of conduct to stop terror
financing and cross-border terrorism is a timely reminder of what
an unstable Afghanistan and a fiddling Pakistan could portend for
Rama Kashyap of the college, my classes, and my stu- Whatever urge I had to go out was lifestyle. I feel sad to see small chil-
not only the region, but also countries across the world. The sug- dents. I realised that not just my compulsorily put to rest by Covid dren pinned down in front of the
F
gestion to formulate a collective template to deal with the chal- OUR years ago, when I was books, but also saris, my prized pos- restrictions. Staying at home became a screen for their classes. When they
lenges of extremism and radicalisation may not find ready accept- dressing up to go to the college, session collected so lovingly over the habit. But one routine that I followed should be playing out with their
ance, but the need to confront the trust deficit could, and that’s my workplace for one last time, years, had become worthless. religiously was my evening walk to the peers, attending school, they are
where India must pull out all stops. The assurance to increase con- I could feel a tightening in my stom- For the initial few months, I was neighbourhood park which has helped confined within the four walls of
nectivity with Central Asia is an encouraging step on the journey, ach. I had a sinking feeling as I bid bewildered, but then began the peri- me maintain my physical and mental their homes. For the youngsters, the
and needs to be pursued with renewed vigour. adieu to the institution where I spent od of reconciliation with the new well-being. I try to engage myself in excitement of college life has been
The fallout of the uncontrolled flow of drugs, illegal weapons and more than three-and-a-half decades reality. Applying brakes to a fast- pursuits and hobbies that keep me replaced by the monotony of online
human trafficking as a consequence of the deepening economic of my life in a profession that I loved. paced life was not easy, but I made a pepped up and happy. lectures. Those at the threshold of
woes of the Afghan people poses another serious challenge. India After D-day, the prefix ‘retired’ conscious effort to shift from high Covid has drastically changed career face uncertainty. As I com-
has expressed commitment to be a part of any global effort to pro- became a reality, though not palat- speed to slow motion. With no everyone’s life, but I am thankful pare myself to others, I realise how
vide urgent humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, but in an unhindered able. It was not easy to deal with the urgency to rush, I started doing my life hasn’t changed much as a much better placed I am.
upheaval in life — no monthly salary, things at my own time and pace. retiree. When I look around, I find Covid has taught me to count my
manner, and for that, it has reiterated support for a central role of the
loss of position and change in routine. Like air that fills the available space, distress everywhere. Business is blessings, and be grateful to the
United Nations. Not only for ensuring that the assistance reaches all
All dressed up but nowhere to go I tried to reschedule my activities to down, the working class is haunted Almighty for small mercies. What-
sections of Afghan society without any discrimination, but also for became a norm. Suddenly, there was fill the time at my disposal. by job loss and salary cut. With ever retirement blues I had four
global deliberation regarding the current system in Afghanistan. plenty of time, but I didn't know what At a time when I was learning to cope ‘work from home’ becoming a new years ago are gone. Now, I am at
to do with it. I was confused and with the change, the pandemic hit, norm, the office has intruded into ease with the retired and relaxed
dazed, missing the hustle and bustle hastening the process of adjustment. people’s homes, upsetting their phase of life and I love it.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is Telecom mess this unless the solution offered is finan- ests. The new alliances like Quad cy of the incompetent bureaucracy
progress, and working together is success. — Henry Ford Reference to ‘Telecom reforms’; these cially attractive and viable. No doubt, and AUKUS have been tailored to known for messing up public issues.
are not reforms but an effort to bail out the cost of burning the stubble is much suit the sensitivities of various VIRENDER SINGH LATHER, KARNAL
private telecom companies at any cost more than treating it. However, most of interested parties. Being shy of mil-
and continue to kill both BSNL/MTNL. this cost is invisible — in the form of itary alliances, New Zealand is part Earmark protest site
on this day...100 years ago The Supreme Court thrice rejected an loss of nutrients, or in the form of loss of the intelligence-sharing alliance Over the past many days, Jalandhar
SLP filed by all private operators to the environment, health issues and called ‘Five Eyes’. Similarly, India has been witnessing a blockade of
against the telecom policy decision to depletion of the water table. Attractive having the stated policy of not join- roads and railway lines by one com-
pay licence fees and inter-usage MSP causes these losses to become ing any military alliances is part of munity and union or the other. This
charges on Aggregate Gross Revenues, obscure. The solution is replacing pad- Quad and the countries who don’t is discomforting to the public and cit-
and not on revenues from operations dy with other crops like pulses and oil share land borders with China izens of different areas. Patients are
lahore,tuesday, september 20, 1921
alone, as contended by private opera- seeds. The main argument against this have become part of AUKUS. The not able to visit hospitals, students
tors. This is unambiguously mentioned suggestion is high cost. It is forgotten US strategy has sprung a big sur- are not able to take exams, office-
THE ARRESTS. in the telecom policy to which private that it will save cost of MSP on paddy, prise on Beijing, leaving it fuming. goers are not able to attend office in
THE country generally and the non-co-operators in particular are to be operators are legally bound. BSNL in and invisible and indirect costs. It will Effective containment of the Drag- time, and so many other problems
congratulated on the manner in which they have received the news of the contrast paid on AGR. Now, the govern- also save the import costs on pulses on will be a respite for the neigh- people are facing. The government
arrest of the Ali brothers, Dr. Kitchlew, Swami Sankaracharya and three other ment is changing the definition of AGR and oil seeds. Further the loss of grain bouring countries of the Indo- should provide open spaces for such
gentlemen in connection with Karachi speeches. With the merits of the to bail out private operators. This crisis due to faulty and inadequate storage Pacific, including India. agitations. Like Hyde Park in Lon-
prosecutions, on which the Bombay Government has entered, we are not way is a consequence of illegitimate preda- facilities too will be checked. In the PANKAJ, KALKA don, here also similar grounds
concerned. Not only are we precluded from expressing any opinion on cases tory pricing that RJio was allowed to meanwhile, there is a need to find uses should be allocated for the protests in
which are to all intents and purposes sub judice but the data before us is indulge in since 2015, impacting the of paddy straw. It can be used as fuel in Property tax illegal different cities to save the public
insufficient for our forming any opinion. What does concern us is to point out revenues of private operators. All pri- boilers, brick-kilns and the dyeing Refer to ‘29 govt depts owe Rs 150 cr from any inconvenience.
that while the subject fills the public mind, the political atmosphere is free vate operators (not BSNL/ MTNL) were industry; as feed of non-milch animals to KMC’; the claim of property tax JS WADHWA, KAPURTHALA
from excitement. At least four of the seven gentlemen are men of all-India given 4G spectrum and freedom to bor- and making fuel pellets. on government-owned properties by
reputation. Two are among the foremost leaders of the Mussalman community, row from financial institutions, despite RAVINDER MITTAL, LUDHIANA the MC is illegal, as per the various Fanning hatred
and one is perhaps the most popular leader of the community in this province. having incredible debts from public decisions of the apex court since Refer to ‘Polarisation at work in
It is easy to imagine how the arrests of such men would have affected the sector banks. Strategic alignment these institutions or departments UP’; CM Yogi Adityanath is catering
country two years ago. We know how the turning back of Mahatma Gandhi ARVIND PAL DAHIYA, ROHTAK Apropos of ‘The AUKUS deal’; the are not the owner of any personal to the majority community through
from the Punjab in April 1919 and the deportation of two gentlemen in our own US is consolidating its power in the properties, but are working in the the cow card, religious intolerance
Province threw large numbers of people into a fit of excitement which, helped Practical solution Indo-Pacific region and leaving the overall interests of the public, on the and bigotry. The minority communi-
by official provocation and bungling, for a time carried some of them literally There is a lot of discussion on the men- strategic space in Asia to its allies lands owned by the state. Can the ties, especially Muslims, have been
off their feet. To-day the arrest of one of the very gentlemen, whose deportation ace caused by the burning of paddy like Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Delhi Municipal Corporation claim hit hard by the loss of livelihoods.
caused a sensation two years ago, coupled with the arrests of others, has caused stubble. A number of measures are EU countries that have been bur- property taxes on lands on which the The ‘abba jaan’ narrative is meant
no visible excitement. Something of the attitude of Mahatma Gandhi seems to being suggested, including persuasive dening the US for securing their Supreme Court or Parliament or for fanning the fire of fanaticism in
pervade the whole country. Of that remarkable man it is said that he and Mr. as well as regulatory. No amount of per- borders against Russia would need Tihar Jail are working? This whole UP in the election year.
Mahomed Ali were proceeding to a public meeting when the latter was arrested suasion, incentives or threat can stop to step up and protect their inter- episode only shows the legal illitera- ABHIMANYU MALIK, JIND
and that so little was his equanimity disturbed that he coolly proceeded to the
meeting, without a moment’s pause or hesitation. 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 | 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 OPED @UPSC_THOUGHT
07
China’s gain could prove to be India’s loss

with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
becoming the self-styled prime minis- China has big plans to co-opt the Taliban in
ter of a new caretaker government.
The envoy opened a new rail line from its design to securitise the Badakshan
Chengdu to Lincaing as part of the
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
border, insulating it from ETIM which the
to the Indian Ocean overcoming its Taliban say has exited from Afghanistan.
Malacca dilemma. China is helping
MAJ GEN ASHOK K MEHTA (RETD)
the ‘usurpers’ to obtain a seat at the China will have two strategic corridors to
MILITARY COMMENTATOR UN realising their quest for recogni-
tion. Both China and Russia (Moscow
the Indian Ocean, one through Af-Pak and
I
NITIALLY, it was the military is now the main arms supplier and the other via Myanmar, ironically both astride
coup in Myanmar in February. Six only foreign country Hlaing has visit-
months later, Kabul fell to the Tal- ed after the coup) will provide it cov- India’s flanks. It is not inconceivable that it
iban, aided by Pakistan. A fait er in the UN through its veto.
accompli was presented in both cases Although there is considerable anti-
could have a third avenue, this to the
to the international community as the China sentiment in Myanmar — peo- Indo-Gangetic heartland through the
UN watched helplessly, legitimate ple believe China was behind the
governments yield to military force in coup — and the military genuinely proposed China-Nepal Economic Corridor.
violation of international law and wanting to keep Beijing at a safe dis-
GUARDED IN APPROACH: India will need to re-craft its Afghan
tenets of democracy. These illegal and tance, its post-coup influence is ris-
policy, while keeping a vigil on Chinese designs. REUTERS
violent impositions will have far-reaching. China has discreetly kept a back
ing impact on India’s security and poli- channel open with Aung San Suu
ty. First, these events have played out Kyi’s National League for Democracy
along India’s strategic frontiers — east- (NLD). India will play ‘third fiddle’ in ed from Afghanistan. This is the same and is poised to relocate military most powerful military in the world Unity Government of NLD not con-
ern and western flanks. These have the Myanmar, not for want of trying but China which was free-riding in assets deployed in the west towards could not make Pakistan do its bidding trolling any territory is a big disadvan-
potential to open a Pandora’s box for for want of succeeding. Afghanistan, making pious state- the border with India. But the Taliban on the Taliban even after US threats to tage. Ghulam M Isckzai is holding the
resurgence of insurgency in the east China was the first mover inviting ments on aid and development invest- may not be easy meat given the legacy reduce it to Stone Age. It must be said Afghan seat at the UN and the Taliban
and spurring cross-border terrorism in the Taliban leaders even before their ments in that country but doing pre- of the Durand Line, issue of Pash- — as Lt Gen Hamid Khan used to say will send the name of its own nominee
the west. Red alerts have been issued take-over, declaring them important cious little. China will have two tunistan and its thirst for strategic openly during our Track-II India-Pak- shortly. Recognition of a regime which
over new threats to J&K. Challenges in political players and responsible strategic corridors to the Indian autonomy. The Pashtuns in istan dialogue — that Pakistan will use has come to power through illegiti-
the west are more strategic than the stakeholders in Afghanistan. It has Ocean, one through Af-Pak and other Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunhwa its nuclear weapons against the US if mate means is key leverage the UN
ones from the east. donated $31 million as humanitarian via Myanmar, ironically both astride in Pakistan dislike the Punjabi army required — that the US was deterred possesses to civilise such regimes.
Second, India’s key adversary Chi- aid with its envoy in Kabul being the India’s flanks. It is not inconceivable and elite. A free run to Pakistan Tal- by Pakistan’s nuclear capability in its Fifth, India will need to re-craft its
na is the principal beneficiary from first to contact the new regime. It eyes that it could have a third avenue, this iban from Afghanistan is a real fear for failed attempt to change Pakistani Afghan policy, jettisoning the wait-and-
these developments. China has pene- the exaggerated mineral resources of to the Indo-Gangetic heartland Rawalpindi. But the ultimate fear of army behaviour in Afghanistan. watch approach, for converting the
trated South Asia to challenge India Afghanistan, wants to connect it with through the proposed China-Nepal the West is Pakistan’s nuclear Fourth, the nine-member UN Cre- goodwill of Afghans into strategic clout.
in its own backyard. Coupled with its the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Economic Corridor. So on India’s weapons falling into hands of the Tal- dentials Committee is meeting short- For this selective engagement of the new
aggression in east Ladakh and asser- secure a vital flank of its China-Pak- strategic flanks, China will be the key iban or the al-Qaeda or any of its affil- ly to decide on the eligibility and legit- regime is essential as also creative sup-
tions in Myanmar and Afghanistan, it istan Economic Corridor to the Indian partner with local governments. iates. Pakistan’s ISI must be credited imacy of Myanmar and Afghanistan to port for any likely resistance. Addition-
will undermine India’s image and Ocean. It is early days in Afghanistan Third, Pakistan is the real victor in with Taliban’s re-conquest of the seat in the UN. Myanmar has ally, India’s red lines require to be enun-
clout. Last month, China’s special but China has big plans to co-opt the Afghanistan. It has made India quit Afghanistan. Its aim is to prove that sought to replace Kyaw Moe Tun with ciated: Chinese crossing the Irrawady
envoy to Myanmar spent a week there Taliban in its design to securitise the Kabul for the third time, secure strate- the Taliban are a better bet for Army veteran Aung Thurien after river in Myanmar and Pakistan held for
meeting military leaders. It has Badakshan border insulating it from gic depth, neutralise Afghanistan- Afghanistan than corrupt Afghan allegedly failed attempts to have Tun attack on India/Kashmir from Af-Pak.
recognised the military government ETIM which the Taliban say has exit- India’s combined subversive threats regimes propped up by the US. The assassinated. The resistance National India has to mind its flanks.
Opposition bets on Hindutva to counter BJP

R
AHUL GANDHI said recently ity). The AAP has also begun an extraor- that the BJP unleashes. Even the SP,
in Jammu that he identified dinary campaign in Uttar Pradesh, kick- now the principal opposition to the BJP
with the pain of Kashmiri pan- ing it off symbolically with Delhi’s in Uttar Pradesh, uses Hindu symbol-
dits as he came from the same deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia ism that has up to a point been par for
community. This was not the first and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Azad Singh the course. But what is somewhat trag-
time he had declared his Hindu and (UP in-charge), offering special prayers ic is the dilution and co-option of the
Brahminical antecedents: during the at the Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanu- BSP that once spoke so strongly for
2017 Gujarat elections, Rahul and the man Garhi temples at Ayodhya. The Dalit and subaltern rights. Today, the
SABA NAQVI
party stressed that he was a janeo- AAP is not a big player in UP and would BSP rarely speaks for anything and is
SENIOR JOURNALIST dhari Brahmin which means he wears have possibly liked an alliance with the accused of playing a supportive role to
the sacred thread. Clearly, the scion of SP that does not seem to have materi- the BJP in UP. It is now seeking to cre-
the Nehru-Gandhi family occasional- alised. In the meantime, they are trying ate a coalition of extremes, combining
The RSS can today sit back ly feels pressured by the prevailing
socio-political ecosystem. It sounds
to make a mark on their own and cer-
tainly got attention for beginning the
Dalit support with that of Brahmins.
Satish Chandra Mishra, the right hand
rather pleased that almost lame for anyone to say that I too am a campaign at Ayodhya. The AAP likes to of party chief Mayawati, has said that
Hindu and/or a Brahmin but many believe that it annoys the BJP when they the BSP will expedite the construction
all the parties that operate Opposition figures are doing so. It’s say they are Hindus too. of the Ram temple at Ayodhya if voted
in the Hindi belt now go not in keeping with Nehruvian secu-
larism but a reflection of the times.
MASTER PLAN: Not to be outdone by BJP, Rahul Gandhi has pedalled soft Hindutva. PTI Howsoever we may interpret the AAP’s
position, they aren’t coy about making a
to power, as if the BJP were not doing
enough for the mandir to begin with.
some distance to prove their Indeed, the RSS can today sit back seem to feel no pressure at any point BJP in two tough elections in Delhi in display of Hindu-ness today just as the It’s a strange agenda for a party rooted
rather pleased that almost all the parties about proving credentials as Hindus. an era of a shift in national conscious- Congress also increasingly does so. The in social justice that could have talked of
so-called Hindu-ness. AAP that operate in the Hindi belt now go The Left that rules Kerala and the DMK ness, the AAP now apparently believes difference perhaps is that the AAP has economic and social justice, unemploy-
is highlighting its Hindu some distance to prove their so-called
Hindu-ness. Take the case of what is hap-
in Tamil Nadu that just passed a resolu-
tion in the assembly against the CAA.
that they can survive and expand in pol-
itics only by beating the national party
with clarity decided to go down this path
in all states where they have ambitions
ment, hunger and despair. But clearly, the
BSP has travelled some distance from
credentials, with Kejriwal pening in the tiny election-bound state of Meanwhile, one could explore the Hin- at their own game which involves play- with the exception of Punjab that has a the ideas of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and
Uttarakhand to understand this phenom- dutva lite of AAP. First, it must be stating the Hindu card. This also extends to different demographics. The Congress by the principles of the Constitution that
promising that his party enon. The ruling BJP is of course the ed that the architect of the party, Arvind evading Muslim issues, not stepping contrast does so almost defensively, zon- lays out a clear separation of religion and
would make Uttarakhand WWF heavyweight champion of being
Hindu as a political strategy. But the AAP
Kejriwal, was always comfortable with
Hindu symbolism that he used freely
out to defend the minorities, but not
attacking them as the BJP does.
ing in and out of soft Hindutva symbol-
ism and statements, struggling at being
state. Mass politics is now moving in a
direction where several non-BJP parties
the global spiritual capital too has entered the arena highlighting its in the 2011 Anna movement, that Hence, just as they ducked the anti- all things to all people. Indeed, one must seem to believe they must be part of the
Hindu credentials with party chief came before the formation of a politi- CAA protests issue during the charged note that confronted with a pitched BJP Hindutva discourse to fight their battles.
of Hindus. The Congress is Arvind Kejriwal promising that if voted cal party and in which the RSS and Delhi election in February 2020 that they campaign earlier this year, even Mamata The RSS should have no com-
stating that Hindutva does to power, they would make Uttarakhand
the global spiritual capital of the Hindus.
VHP also participated. The motifs,
idioms and language of the Anna
won, the AAP intends to go on evading
issues that they believe are a trap in an
Banerjee had declared before the voting
day in Nandigram that “I am a Hindu”
plaints as the larger goal is the trans-
formation of India. The BJP may
not belong to the BJP and Not to be left behind, the Congress that is movement that began under an image era where binaries constitute a debate and went on to recite the Chandipath and have a quibble over being more-Hin-
taking out parivartan yatras in the state of Bharat Mata were a mish-mash of and the BJP grabs every chance to pres- said she does so daily, before leaving her du-than-thou but it must know that
if they say Ram, we will is emphatically stating that Hindutva hyper patriotism with notions of pub- ent the rivals as anti-Hindu. Therefore, home. She had added with her typical imitation is the best form of flattery.
say Bholenath. does not belong to the BJP and if they say
Ram, we will say Bholenath.
lic service and rooting out corruption.
It’s been a journey since the party was
its not just in Uttarakhand that Hindu
credentials are being stressed (along
feistiness that “the BJP better not play a
Hindu card with me”.
Either way, Opposition parties now
strategically use the language of Hin-
In India today, one could argue that it founded in November 2012, less than with the template rhetoric about rooting All these parties are struggling to sur- dutva in their politics although it’s
is only two parties in the deep south that nine years ago. Having defeated the out corruption and offering free electric- vive in the face of mighty campaigns unclear whether this works or not.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS SEPTEMBER 20, 2021, MONDAY SUNSET: MONDAY 18:23 HRS
1
4
9
Highly seasoned sausage (6)
Strong adverse reaction (8)
Available if requested (2,4)
8 6 3 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2078
SUNRISE: TUESDAY 06:09 HRS
■ Shaka Samvat 1943

10 Ultimate (8)
12
13
Boring (4)
Intended (5)
7 3 ■ Bhadrapad Shaka
■ Ashwin Parvishte
29
5
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
14 The figure 0 (4)

■ Hijari 1443 Chandigarh 32 26
17
20
In moderation (6,6)
Awkward state of 1 2 7 6 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 15, up to 5:25 am New Delhi 35 27
affairs (6,2,4)
23 Moral obligation (4) ■ Shoola Yoga up to 3:23 pm Amritsar 32 26
24
25
Spurious (5)
Indication (4) 3 7 6 ■ Purvabhadrapad Nakshatra up to 4:02 am
■ Moon enters Pisces sign 9:51pm

Bathinda
Jalandhar
33
32
26
26
28 A fine translucent muslin (8)
29 Distant (3-3) ■ Bhadrapad Purnima Ludhiana 32 26
30 Scene of great disorder (8)
Bhiwani 33 26
31 Gain (6) SATURDAY’S SOLUTION
DOWN Hisar 33 26
8 1 6 7 3 2 4 9 5
1
2
Decisive confrontation (8)
Neighbourhood (8) 1 5 8 2 3 5 6 9 4 1 8 7
Sirsa 33 26
3 Gentle in nature (4) Dharamsala 28 19
5 Beneficial (12) 7 9 4 1 8 5 3 6 2 Manali 25 16
6
7
Sort (4)
Mental acuteness (6) 2 6 4 9 9 8 7 5 1 3 6 2 4 Shimla 23 17
8 Consecrate (6) Srinagar 27 18
3 4 1 8 2 6 5 7 9
9 8
11 KGB for example (6,6)
15 Adder (5) Jammu 33 25
16 At ease (5) 5 6 2 9 4 7 8 1 3 Kargil 21 13 11
SATURDAY’S sOLUTION 18 Get along well (3,2,3)
4 2 9 3 6 1 7 5 8
Across: 1 Bliss, 4 Dress up, 8 Cut, 9 On the rack, 10 Chronic, 11 Tower, 13 Eulogy, 15
19
21
Consider proper (5,3)
Hateful (6) 5 1 2 6 7 8 4 5 9 2 3 1
Leh
Dehradun
20
32
09
23
Arrant, 18 Plato, 19 Finesse, 21 In concert, 23 Hoe, 24 Steeple, 25 Dotty. 22 Mark of disgrace (6)
Down: 1 Bicycle, 2 Inter alia, 3 Sworn, 4 Detect, 5 Elector, 6 Sea, 7 Poker, 12 What’s 26 Humiliating rebuff (4) 1 5 3 2 7 8 9 4 6 Mussoorie 22 15
what, 14 Grownup, 16 Thereby, 17 Effete, 18 Pains, 20 Noted, 22 Cue. 27 Passable (4) V. HARD TEMPERATURE IN OC
@UPSC_THOUGHT
��
www.sanmarglive.com
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Kolkata, Monday
20 September 2021
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K RAVEENDRAN Sitharaman even clarified that the
meeting took up the issue purely at
E
arning cash through fuel the 'behest of the court' and that the
taxes has become an decision would now be reported back
addiction for our govern- to the court.
ments. Like any addiction, It is a different matter that oppo-
this one is also not sition political parties have been
amenable to any easy shedding crocodile tears about the
cure. Only shock treatments can do high fuel prices, which are at record
that. levels despite a recent softening and
Bothe the Centre and the states using the problem to score brownie
have been playing hide and seek points in their political campaigns
with the people on the highly sensi- against the BJP. But even these par-
tive issue of moving petroleum prod- ties, when they are in the govern-
ucts into the GST system. When the ment, close their ranks against any
Modi government adopted the new move to cut fuel taxes. The states are
tax regime in the most dramatic asking the Centre to reduce its excise
fashion through a midnight parlia- duty, which of course accounts for a
ment session, with the golden prom- very high component of the high
ise of 'one nation, one tax', every- prices. The state governments have
thing was moved to the new system, been laughing away to glory every
but the petroleum products were left time petrol and diesel prices because
out, primarily because it would have it brings them more revenue, irre-
robed the government of a tax spective of the pain it causes to their
resource that helped to mop up any own people.
amount of money at will. The decisions of the latest GST
The run-up to the 45th GST council meeting have positive take-
Council meeting, concluded the other aways for the Modi government,
day in Lucknow, had raised fond which is bound to put the blame on
hopes among people about a likely the state governments, particularly in G KISHAN REDDY sity. To strengthen understanding of geographies, coalesce and interact izens explore the beautiful destina-
shift for the petroleum products, and view of the crucial round of assembly each other, it is proposed to create a with each other, further allowing the tions within the nation and first-
W
as a result a possible steep reduction elections that lies ahead. That the e Indians have closer engagement between differ- heterogeneous and the cosmopoli- hand experience the natural beauty
in the fuel prices, which currently Uttar Pradesh government also always looked upon ent States and Districts in a struc- tan society to imbibe the innate and rich cultural heritage India has
are a heavy load on household budg- opposed the move is not likely to act our motherland as tured manner. Ek Bharat Shreshtha chord of binding and brotherhood. It to offer. The Prime Minister’s vision
ets. It is not just the public that is as a deterrent for the BJP in this a civilizational Bharat programme will be launched induces a sense of responsibility and and leadership has led to the build-
complaining about this, even the regard. state. The civiliza- to link states and districts in an ownership for the nation as a whole ing of deep synergies and conver-
Reserve Bank of India has expressed Fossil fuels have been a signifi- tional boundaries annual programme that connects through these close cross cultural gence between programs such as
concern over the high prices of petrol cant contributor to the overall rev- of such a state are decided by the people through exchanges in areas interactions. This is vital for the “Dekho Apna Desh'' initiative of the
and diesel and the inflationary pres- enue of central and state govern- reach of its culture, its ethos and the of language, trade, culture, travel spirit of nation building and to Ministry of Tourism and Ek Bharat
sure that these exerted on the ments, which have traditionally prevalence of a common unifying and tourism. We will do this through ensure benefit to one and all. The Shreshtha Bharat. WIth more and
national economy, apart from throw- depended heavily on taxes from spiritual quotient. As a result our mutual agreement with participat- idea is to create a learning ecosys- more vaccination doses being
ing household budgets out of gear. petrol and diesel, as demonstrated by concept of nationalism is not limited ing states and districts”. tem between the various stakehold- administered, the tourism sector
But as both the Centre and state the recent increases in excise and by geographical boundaries. Our would be able to operate in full
governments knew pretty well and in VAT. As on January 1, 2021, 62 per- sanatan dharma views the entire capacity from January 2022 and the
world as one family - Vasudaiva �� inherent strength of ‘Incredible
advance, the council meeting decided cent and 58 percent of the final ��
to put off the discussion to a future prices of petrol and diesel respective- Kutumbukam. On the other hand, India’ will be able to tap the founda-
Europe and the west gave primacy to �� tion that Ek Bharat Shreshtha
date, on which there is no clarity ly are made up of taxes in Delhi. ��
now, just as it won't be there for any A summary of the public revenue national boundaries defined by terri- Bharat has laid out and reap rich
torial limits, maps and the ability to �� dividends. The very first Article 1 of
time in future. accruing from the energy sector to ��
Finance minister Nirmala the Centre and states in FY2018-19 enforce the law of the land within the Constitution of India describes
these territories. If there was one �� India as a Union of States. This
Sitharaman appeared to particularly and FY2019-20. Showed the total ��
happy to announce that the meeting earnings from the energy sector at person whose contributions are means that the Union is indestructi-
unparalleled in ensuring that India’s �� ble. This unique Union is a diverse
felt that the time was not yet ripe for around Rs 6.6 lakh crores, which ��
bringing petroleum products under represented 14.8 percent and 13.4 territorial boundaries and its civiliza- combination of religions, cultures,
tional boundaries closely aligned to �� tribes, languages, cuisines and
GST as both the Centre and the percent of the total government rev-
states, including Karnataka and enue in 2018-19 and 2019-20 the maximum extent possible, then it therefore its people.
Uttar Pradesh ruled by BJP, opposed respectively. The Centre was more was Sardar Vallabhai Patel. There is no country like India,
such an action as it would lead to dependent on these revenues than Thus, it was only apt for Prime quite as diverse, multilingual and
huge revenue losses. Opposition- states, as the share of the energy Minister Narendra Modi to launch The programme fosters unity in ers of the partnering states so that multicultural, yet bound together by
ruled states like Kerala had anyway sector to its revenues over the two Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat on 31st India by celebrating its diversity by they benefit from the best practices the ancient bounds of shared tradi-
declared before hand that there was years was 20.3 percent and 18.8 per- October 2015 - on the occasion of promoting a structured engagement of one another by establishing a tions, cultures and values. The
no way they could agree to such a cent respectively. The corresponding the 140th birth anniversary of between different States and Union state to state connect. immense sacrifices rendered by our
decision. While the need to bring values for states over the two years Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While Territories. With the programme The enhanced understanding forefathers to protect and preserve
petroleum products under the GST were 11 percent and 9.8 percent addressing the audience during the every State and Union Territory in that the Ek Bharat Sreshta Bharat the diversity of our country is
regime has dominated the public respectively. Mann Ki Baat program prior to the the country will experience a single initiative brings amongst fellow beyond imagination. Ek Bharat
debate over quite some time, there The petroleum sector is by far the Sardar’s birth anniversary, the composite mosaic of a national iden- Indians creates a curiosity to visit Shreshtha Bharat aims to do justice
was no move to bring the issue up largest contributor to the overall tax Prime Minister remarked “Sardar tity through enhanced mutual other diverse cultures in their own to one such towering figure who
out of turn, but for the fact that a revenue, with the Centre depending Patel gave us Ek Bharat and It is understanding and by sharing facets settings and is a positive contributor went about the huge task of inte-
directive by the Kerala High Court on it for 21 percent of its tax revenue now the solemn duty of 125 crore of their diverse cultures.They are to tourism and the communities that grating the 565 odd princely states
had forced the subject on the coun- and many states being dependent on Indians to collectively make paired with each other for a year, benefit from tourism. In fact, we all to the Union of India seamlessly.
cil's agenda. In fact, Nirmala it to a significant extent. Shreshtha Bharat”. during which they carry out a regu- remember, the Prime Minister
Subsequently, the Finance lar engagement with one another in exhorting fellow Indians to visit at (The writer is the Union
Minister Arun Jaitley while the spheres of language, literature, least 15 tourist destinations within Minister for Tourism, Culture and
announcing the initiative in his cuisine, festivals, cultural events, India by 2022. The Prime Minister Development of Northeastern
��
budget speech for 2016-17 said “For tourism etc. Ek Bharat Shreshtha felt it would automatically lead to Region and represents the
good governance we have to capi- Bharat is an emotion wherein differ- development of tourism across the Secunderabad Parliamentary
talise on the country’s unity in diver- ent cultural units access varied nation and at the same time help cit- Constituency)
��
��
��
��
HARIHAR SWARUP will pay. Unlike Vietnam, what hap- �� Development Goals passes through
pens in Afghanistan in the currency �� this fundamental spirit of accommo-
A
s the world observed of Islamic jihad doesn't stay in �� dation, inherent to the idea of democ-
September 15 as World Afghanistan." �� racy.
Democracy Day, India has In the light of these serious inter- �� Third, the new rulers in
rightly advocated the need national dimensions, the global com- �� Afghanistan must be made to realise
for an inclusive govern- munity would do well to first mount �� that the country's Gen-Next desper-
ment in Afghanistan. Delhi also pressure on the Taliban to ensure �� ately want freedom of choice. There
voiced its genuine concerns and spiritual democracy, an antidote to �� are scores of examples to suggest that
clearly outlined its expectations that the jihadi mindset. This is urgently �� a reasonable code of conduct may be
the Taliban doesn't allow the use of needed for at least three reasons. �� accepted, rules and regulations may
Afghan soil for terrorism. The global First, spiritual democracy has been a �� be honoured but straitjacketing will
community would concur with such part of Afghanistan's ancient tradi- �� be opposed tooth and nail by millen-
expectations. tions. Without understanding these �� nials of all types. The new rulers in
This is important as no one knows multi-religious traditions of the past, �� Kabul must be compelled to appreci-
what policy Afghanistan's new the gravity of the damage done by �� ate that only adherence to a true spir-
Taliban government will adopt - offi- spiritual monopolists of the Taliban it of "accommodation" will get them
cially and in practice - in so far as the kind cannot be fully grasped. global legitimacy. There are enough
�� country's non-Islamist traditions are Afghanistan is the land of the the land of the infidels - as people early warnings to the new rulers sug-
�� concerned. Given the Taliban's obscu- Gandharas. One comes across several there practised animism or ancient gesting that the war-ravaged country
�� rantist and exclusivist background, it references to the tribe in ancient lit- Hinduism. Afghanistan needs to be may face serious challenges to its ter-
�� is hard to imagine that they will adopt erature, especially the Rigveda. taken back to its roots, its pluralistic ritorial integrity if a monopolist per-
�� an inclusive approach of their own References to Gandharas are also ancient history that rejects a spiritual spective is mindlessly thrust upon this
�� accord. Besides their impact on the found in other literary works such as monopolist approach fundamentally pluralistic society.
�� fate of Afghanistan's non-Muslims, the Atharvaveda and Aitareya Secondly, spiritual democracy has The global community would do
�� Taliban's policies will have wider Brahmana. the strength to serve as the fountain- well to first realise and then impress
�� ramifications in other Islamic coun- Before the advent of Islam, south- head of the revival of other variants upon the new Afghan leadership that
�� tries in Central Asia. ern Afghanistan was home to of democratic traditions. "Ekam sat in the name of accommodation, one
�� A brilliant article in The New Zoroastrians. Zoroastrianism origi- vipra bahuda vadanti (truth is one, cannot accommodate doctrines that
�� Yorker on August 31 has quoted Ryan nated here between 1800 and 800 wise men describe it differently)" is have thrived, in the first place, on
�� Crocker, former US ambassador to BC, and Zoroaster lived and died in the foundational principle of spiritual intolerance. No aspirational commu-
�� Afghanistan and several other Islamic Afghanistan's Balkh province. The democracy. Without spiritual free- nity can accept straitjacketing in mat-
�� countries. He says, "We left behind remains of the monumental statues in dom, political democracy will remain ters of belief systems. Humanity has
�� the gift - to them - of a much rein- Bamiyan are a testimony to questionable. Gender justice and paid a heavy price for monopolist
�� forced and revived Islamic militancy. Afghanistan's rich Buddhist tradi- equal economic opportunities for all approaches when it comes to spiritu-
�� We left behind a restored Al Qaeda- tions. Buddhism here dates to 305 cannot be ensured without the free- ality. Now, in the lure of re-establish-
�� Taliban axis that brought us 9/11." BC, much before the advent of Islam. dom of belief systems. The global ing democratic credentials, it would
�� Crocker also says, "That is a gift for As recently as 1890, the Nuristan leadership must realise that the path be foolhardy to recognise those who
�� which our children and grandchildren region was referred to as Kafiristan - towards achieving most Sustainable refuse to recognise others.
MYK
@UPSC_THOUGHT 4
mail us at >> desk@thegoan.net
log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Monday September 20, 2021
No room for complacency

If festivals are to be celebrated with full fervour during the pandemic,
You can �nd peace amidst the storms that threaten you prudence demands the compliance of all precautions by the public
Joseph B. Wirthlin
> The writer is a
Curtains up for Goa’s

resident of Margao
who strongly
desires to bring
about some
tourism, but caution

socially relevant
changes with his
musings
is need of the hour PACHU MENON
T I
he surprise announcement by Goa Chief Minister Pramod n the a�ermath of the Taliban resur-
Sawant that Goa would further relax Covid restrictions and gence in Afghanistan where reports
of their violent success has shocked
allow more economic activity to resume but with “ade- the civilized world, global attention has
quate precautions” is a double-edged sword for the state. thankfully shi�ed from the pandemic
On one hand, the activity that continued to remain shut and its drastic e�ects which has le� the tions. Even the social media has not scourge of the disease.
entire world shell shocked by its sever- been all that merciful and continues Even as the nation is yet to come
-- like nightclubs, casinos, river cruises, water sports, etc are a huge ity. to feed a daily overdose of the pan- to terms with the devastating second
draw for tourists to come to the state. On the other hand, the decision The extensive coverage of the territo- demic mayhem. wave, serious threats of an equally po-
rial gains the Taliban has been making Maybe the media’s attention on the tent third one already looms large over
comes just as the state is emerging from the currently ongoing Ganesh in the land of Pashtuns and the political Afghan-a�airs has palpably brought the country.
festivities -- the results of which could take more than two weeks to implications of such a dominance that about a hiatus on COVID-tidings in With high caseloads reported in
become apparent. is yet to transform from an insurgency the country for now. But it would be states like Kerala and Maharashtra,
to a sensible rule has had the world me- foolhardy to nurture the notion that strict compliance of the pandemic
Though Goa has been doing vaccinations at a fast pace -- with the dia in a state of speculation. the world is on the verge of ushering norms will but be expected from the
percentage of the population that has been fully vaccinated just shy Day in and day out, for the last eight- in a corona-free ambience. Far from public.
of 50% -- perhaps the Goa government could have chosen to wait at een months it has been only news of the that! While the reach of the vaccine has
dreaded virus and reports of the shock- With COVID it has been a see-saw increased considerably, it would how-
least for another two weeks to understand the e�ects of increased in- ing rise in infections and the number of battle so far with the virus getting the ever be sensible for the public to con-
teractions on account of the festival that would have become more ap- deaths caused by it that invariably fea- better of the comprehensive e�orts of tinue maintaining COVID appropriate
parent. Also, a marginally higher percentage of the population would tured as topics for media discussion. the governments and the global fra- behaviour. Coronavirus is mutating,
So, was it the daily bombardment of ternity of scientists who have, thus and mutating fast!
have been fully vaccinated by then. the second and third-wave predictions far, fought on valiantly to restrain the With the season of festivals under-
Further, if one considered how casually organisers of events and by the press and media that had the marauding virus. way in the country, it calls for a lot
public in a hyper-ventilated state with It is quite easy to be lulled into a of restraint by the public to celebrate
owners of event venues take the government’s directive of “stringent regard to the pandemic! The panicked false sense of security. The intermit- them in a safe mode. Of course the
protocols”, then it is apparent that no response is undoubtedly an o�shoot of tent respites from the rigours of an in- pandemic induced restrictions and
sooner an activity is allowed to resume the this trend. fection spree that the virus has been challenges should not dampen the
The Goa government Even otherwise, it has been a con- indulging in with a promptness that spirits of the people.
could have chosen to “with adequate precaution” part is well tradiction galore when it comes to re- is damning could well be the results With massive crowds thronging
wait at least for another and truly consigned to the dustbin and porting the SOPs put in place in various of the sustained e�orts by the admin- marketplaces violating the norms of
two weeks to understand things quickly descend into a free-for-all. states to counter the threats of the virus The istration and doctors to curb the dis- social distancing, a steady rise in cas-
infection. Especially the tests mandated ease. es is but a natural consequence. The
the e�ects of increased Goa experienced this very situation at this for entry into their territories!
intermittent It is however these short breathers family gatherings during these festi-
interactions on account time last year when September onwards Quite contrary to news reports which respites from which have been confused for victo- vals only add to the risks.
of the festival that would tourism activity was allowed to resume state that there are strict checking and the rigours of ries against the invisible villain and While the vehement opposition by
have become more and tourism began to peak in Decem-
tests done by authorities at the borders an infection which has further emboldened mem- people to any sort of bindings and lim-
of various states, people traveling to- bers of the public to move out with itations on the celebrations imposed
apparent ber-January leading to jam-packed ven- and-fro refute such claims. spree that the self-assurance that the worst is be- by the government is understandable,
We are in an age where the news re- the virus has hind them. it is the manner in which the senti-
ues. porting has scaled new heights with been indulging With reports of another spike in in- ments of the locals have swayed gov-
What is happening in the West should give us a glimpse of what media houses believing in widespread in with a fections reported across the country, ernment decisions in such instances
we can expect going forward. Much of the western world reopened coverage of the topics that have the po- the delusion should make people re- that has been incomprehensible.
tential to fetch them maximum TRP rat- promptness alize the enormity of the situation. It Considering that the public furore
over the summer and has since then seen a resurgence in cases. For- ings or increase their circulation. that is damning is akin to the feeling of building sand over the strictures imposed dissipates
tunately for them, much of the country were vaccinated before they Yet, in the haste to achieve this ‘dis- could well be castles at the edge of the waves only no sooner the government dilutes its
reopened which has allowed them to keep severe cases and hospital- tinction’ they forget that by persistent- the results of to see them being swept away by the earlier orders, it is pertinent to have
ly delving into as sensitive a subject as incoming tide. the government in turn ascertaining
izations low and avoid running out of beds. the harshness of the pandemic, they are the sustained With the Centre insisting that there the strict enforcement of the safety
While Goa may show seemingly good numbers on paper, two things only abetting the escalation of ‘Coro- efforts by the can be no room for complacency with guidelines laid down!
need to be watched out for. Firstly, the rest of the country has very na-phobia’ amongst the masses. administration regard to the COVID situation in the If at all festivals are to be celebrated
While the fascination for ‘building country, it becomes all the more im- with full fervour during the pandemic,
poor vaccination rates and haven’t even completed vaccinating half up’ on stories is what keeps the media
and doctors portant that corrective steps are taken prudence demands the compliance of
their populations with even one dose. Secondly, Goa’s �gures being ticking, the pandemic coverage by the to curb the and people realize the importance of all necessary precautions by the pub-
touted by the government appear dubious.
press has assumed apocalyptic propor- disease safeguarding themselves against the lic. But will that ever be in evidence!
While on paper Goa may have a population of 15.5 lakh, in reali-

ty the number of people residing in the state at any given time is far
more than the reported �gure, given that there are at least 2-3 lakh
THE INBOX >> I
migrant labourers as well as others who make Goa their home, as was a conference by the name ‘Dismantling
O�cials who can’t ensure Global Hindutva Conference’ was held
evidenced by the number of people who were sent back by Shramik
fair polls must move on Pay road tax and repair roads too in America. Eradicating Hindutva means
special trains last year. In reality, Goa’s vaccination �gures will be far Of late one comes across several videos and photos on social destroying moral, cultural, family, politi-
In a democracy free and fair elections media of citizens �lling up potholes on the roads in their locality cal, historical, and geographical values.
less than what is projected by the government. are fundamental, as otherwise it would with stones and rubble. This is a sorry state of a�airs as citizens British attacked the Sanskrit language
The least the government can do, for now, is to strictly enforce the be an exercise in futility. Politicians in are forced to act when the elected representatives of the constit- and Sanskrit universities.
power must not manipulate and dictate
protocol without fear or favour, and those establishments which are terms to o�cials whose mandate is to
uencies seem least bothered about the condition of the roads. They interfered with India’s history
In the past citizens used to symbolically plant saplings in the pot and caused a major loss for India. ‘Dis-
found violating the protocol should be promptly shuttered to send a ensure free and fair polls. holes to draw the attention of the authorities. But this has not mantling Global Hindutva’ conference
message to others that any laxity will not be tolerated. Anything short IAS o�cers are transferred within achieved the results. The authorities concerned should at least is not the �rst conference of its kind for
three years but strangely Goa’s Chief now open their eyes as citizens are doing the repair work which defaming Hindu dharma; even earlier,
of that, and we will be playing with �re. Electoral O�cer (CEO) Kunal has been is the duty of the government. Several accidents, some fatal, conferences were held in di�erent coun-
here for almost six years, from Novem- have taken place due to the potholes and one cannot allow more tries for a similar purpose. The persons
ber16, 2015. He conducted the 2017 precious lives to be lost. It is ironic that road users are made to might have changed as per the times but
Assembly elections with allegations of pay road tax and are forced to �ll up the potholes. This repair the agenda of false propaganda against
being very partisan in not acting against work should be considered as a symbolic gesture in order to
gross election malpractices by the ruling
Hindu dharma is carried on even now.
draw the attention of the authorities to the pathetic condition of
OPEN SPACE >> party. the roads.
Hindus must strongly oppose it at intel-
lectual level because it creates social
The last no nonsense CEO was S. ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
Govt can’t turn blind eye Kumarswamy who was shunted out of
Goa in May 2012 for rightly refusing to
unrest in the society.
ABHIJIT NADKARNI, Ponda
to problems of bakers bow down to the pressure of then Chief

Minister Manohar Parrikar who was
ard. In the interest of the residents a
representation was made to the Village
Goa’s destiny seems to
be hijacked by traders
T
attempting to induct Alina Saldanha as Panchayat of Pomburpa and Health
he Goan ‘pao’ is a minister even before that by-election
a common man’s O�cer, Aldona, but there is nothing There are distinct signals showing that
to �ll the vacancy created by the death positive till date.
food. A little re- Goa’s destiny is not in the hands of locals.
of Matanhy Saldanha. Health hazard happens not when
membered fact is that, The current CEO Kunal has clearly Putting all eggs in one basket was disas-
unlike other places, authorities have no information about trous for Goa but we do not learn. First it
overstayed in Goa and must move on. it, but when the concerned o�cials
Goan bakers make 10 And this must be ensured by the Elec- was mining and then tourism during the
types of bread : ‘for- are noti�ed and still no action is taken pandemic which proved this.
tion Commission which should bear in
mache’, round, ‘ka- and then authorities are solely to be The Entertainment City at Pernem,
mind the words of the former Albanian
treache’, ‘unddo’, blamed. In this hour of crisis, the said 5 Km from Mopa airport, is a replica of
prime minister Fatos Nano “organizing
‘kakonn’, mini sand- authority should look into the matter on Genting, Malaysia. Note how land has
free and fair elections is more important
wich bread, sliced bread, bun,toast and that unique, much in demand and no- priority. Just coming out with slogans been acquired by the Govt and given to
than the result itself”.
where to be found ‘polli’ or ‘poyi’. like Swachh Bharat, Nithol Goem will a single casino owner with no tendering.
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
The bakers do have a sustenance problem as the production cost has consid- not make Goa clean. Then we see the loans being given to
erably increased. The labour in particular has gone up not only to make bread No action from authorities BABLUIS PEREIRA, Pomburpa
Send your
start hinterland tourism.. Now, despite
but to deliver it at the doorsteps of the consumers. The people would not mind
paying the extra charge they demand for a good bread but that in itself will not
on Pomburpa health hazard Don’t let religion create letters to us
evidence that the vax wanes in 6 months,
with even health workers in Maharashtra
provide a lasting solution to the many problems of bread making. The govern- A stone throw away from the Pombur- unrest in the society at editor@ resorting illegally to booster doses, Goa
ment has dragged its feet on this issue for long. It cannot continue to turn a pa ferry wharf there is a traditional rain is opening, based solely on the vax dose.
blind eye to the problems of the Goan bakers as one of the oldest and traditional drain which was flowing through the
Hindu culture and traditions are the thegoan.net. The message being sent is that tourism
most ancient and have survived the test Letters must
occupations in Goa is in peril. residential houses into the river. and Goa will always be open at any cost. A
of time. Hindu dharma has given many
On their part, the Goan bakers will have to assure the people that the weight Some years back due to its dilapidat-
things to the world for the bene�t of all be 150-200 viral video of what happened in the CM’s
of the bread and hygiene in making it will be maintained, not forgetting of ed condition it collapsed and got buried words and constituency is another signal of what is to
beings. Now, a conspiracy is hatched
course the taste for which Goan bread, particularly the poyi, has become world in the dumps and overgrown vegetation. come. The favoured traders of the BJP are
famous. The water has now stagnated and the
to defame Hindutva with the help of mention the being given Goa to be turned into another
mass media and few people from the
RODNEY DE SOUZA, Assagao stink is unbearable for the residents
education �eld. Just a few days back
writer’s name Pattaya.
around which may cause a health haz- and location R FERNANDES, Margao
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
Printed at: Elegant O�set Printers Pvt Ltd, Plot No 2/3/4, Thivim Industrial Estate, All Rights Reserved. concerned authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Goan Everyday’s Editor,
Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. Editorial O�ce: Third Floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panaji 403 001, Goa. Publisher and Owners.
Published at: Villa Flores da Silva, Erasmo Carvalho Street, PO Box 31, Margao 403 601, Goa. Ph: (0832) 240 5950 or mail us at editor@thegoan.net For circulation issues, please call (0832) 2450000 or mail: circulation@thegoan.net
For advertising related queries, please call: 2405988 or mail: advertising@thegoan.net
��
�� @UPSC_THOUGHT
��
��
FREE PRESS
��
Two CM’s, Two Cheers, Two reasons gal are ahead of Telangana when cent to the GSDP. In Telangana marketing, Mission Kakatiya, free with each other for speedy growth
How far can the PM carry on it comes to NSVA.

The State’s NSVA in agriculture
was to the tune of over 1.76 lakh
state agriculture and allied sec-
tors provide large number of em-
ployment. Telangana state be-
power supply and a host of other
decisions.
Mining and Quarrying sectors
by recording 9 percent average
growth. Real estate sector seems
to be doing a share better that the
with an Indira Gandhi act crore followed by real estate, own-
ership of dwelling and profession-
al services (Rs 1.59 lakh crore),
came largest producer of Paddy
and Cotton. There marked in-
crease in the employment in the
have also registered 12.51 percent
growth showing that the state
owned Singareni Collieries is
IT in Telangana. The contribution
of Dharani Portal cannot be un-
der played. Real estate sector’s
T
he defection of Babul Supriyo from the BJP to the growth is a very good indicator of
TMC is in stark contrast with events in Gujarat. the State’s economy and the fu-
O
While Supriyo was miffed because he was dropped n Sept 15, Wednesday, ture growth can be predicted from
as a Union minister in the cabinet reshuffle, Vijay Ru- Chief Ministers of Telan- the performance of this sector.All
pani swallowed his sacking as CM with a smile. Except gana State and Andhra credit should be given to CM KCR
for his deputy, Nitin Patel, there was not a murmur from Pradesh K Chandrasekhar Rao for making Telangana State,
any of his cabinet which was sacked en masse. Even and YS Jaganmohan Reddy had a which is only 7 year old to be in
more surprising is the choice of relative juniors as re- mutually exclusive reason to feel the league of bigger states like
placements. Coming on the heels of the change of guard cheer about. On Wednesday, The Maharashtra, West Bengal, Kar-
in Uttarakhand and Karnataka, this set in motion spec- Reserve Bank of India’s Hand- nataka and Tamil Nadu. KCR also
ulation about the fate of the CMs of Haryana and Hi- book of Statistics on the Indian made the Telangana State Eco-
machal Pradesh, reminding one of the days of the Con- Economy 2020-21 was released. nomically a productive state.
gress under Indira Gandhi who ignored stalwarts and el- The report stated that the Net But as per the RBI Report, the
evated lightweights. The question now is whether Modi State Value Added (NSVA) by State’s spending on medical and
can continue like this and yet pull it off. Telangana to the country in- health sector is not par with the ir-
There has been muted dissent in the BJP about the con- creased from Rs 4,16,930 crore at rigation, power and agriculture
sensual character of the party having been destroyed but the time of Statehood in 2014-15 to sectors. May be taking cue from
nothing more than that with leaders of the stature of L Rs 8,10,503 crore in 2020-21, a dou- the report, CM KCR in his Cabinet
K Advani being treated so shabbily. It has been said that ble increase that is commendable meeting on Sept 16 spent several
just two-and-a-half persons run the country. Modi’s for- given the fact that it was achieved hours discussion about the med-
mula can work only as long as he continues his winning in a short span of just seven ical and health sectors specially
streak, as long as people vote for him rather than the can- years.This phenomenal growth is construction of new multi spe-
didate, as long as the opposition cannot get its act to- achived despite 18 months of Co- ciality hospitals, strengthening
gether and as long as his magic spell does not break. rona pandemic’s adverse impact the hospital network, expanding
There have been instances where Modi’s hype, hoopla on economy countrywide. The Net the diagnostic labs etc., He also in-
and histrionics have failed to carry the day. Maharash- State Value Added is a measure structed the medical and health
tra, where the BJP’s tally came down to 105 seats from 122 that reflects the State’s GSDP/Fi- officials to come put with a com-
seats, shows that the magic may be fading. West Bengal,
where Modi pitted himself against Mamata and lost, is
nancial growth. For state which �� prehensive report and action
another example although he managed to make BJP the
was formed about 7 years ago this
achievement is laudable and due �� plant to totally revamp the med-
ical and health network in the
principal opposition party. In his own party, Modi lost to
Yogi whom he wanted to replace. If he could not trounce
credit should be given to Chief
Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. �� State.
As far as APCM YS Jagan is con-
the opposition at the height of his popularity, will he be
able to work the electoral math when there is an anti-in-
Telangana is the 11th largest
State in terms of geographical
�� cerned, a special CBI court in Hy-
derabad dismissed a petition seek-
cumbency sentiment.
Perhaps, this show of strength in Gujarat is to shore up
area and 12th in terms of popula-
tion in the country. But it is placed
�� ing cancellation of bail of YS Ja-
gan Mohan Reddy in connection
his image. And perhaps the same logic explains the drop-
ping of senior ministers such as Ravishankar Prasad
in the fourth position when it
comes to contributing to the econ-
�� with the alleged quid pro quo case
pending against him. The petition
and Prakash Jawadekar. Even RSS boss Mohan Bhagwat
had to assert himself by ticking off the government for
omy of the country. The contribu-
tion of Telangana in several areas
�� was filed by rebel YSRCP MP K
Raghurama Krishnam Raju, a
letting its guard down on Covid. Nitin Gadkari, the blue- particularly in the fields of agri- rebel Lok Sabha member. Raju re-
eyed boy of the RSS,managed to survive the reshuffle but culture, forestry and fishing, man- trade, repairs, hotels and restau- agriculture and allied sectors in working well and the sand policy quested the CBI court to cancel
lost the key shipping ministry. He hit back with a glanc- ufacturing, mining and quarry- rants (Rs 1.32 lakh crore).For the the last four years and it is at- of the state government had given the bail granted to Jagan on the
ing blow. In stark contrast to the PM’s focus on `positivi- ing, construction, financial serv- last four years Telangana state’s tracting workers from Bihar, fruits. grounds that the latter had violat-
ty’, he instructed office-bearers in a virtual interaction ices, real estate, transport, com- GSDP increased by 50 per cent de- Chattisgarh and Orissa to come to Power sector has registered a ed the bail conditions and was try-
from Nagpur, his hometown and constituency to work munication and services related spite the Covid adverse impact all the state for employment. The re- phenomenal growth of 24 percent. ing to influence the witnesses in
selflessly instead of putting up hoarding publicizing to broadcasting, hotels and restau- over the country. Every year the markable performance of the sec- It is amazing that the state is able the CBI case against him.The CBI
their work. rants, among other sectors. This growth rate was 10.7 per cent. tor was possible due to the pro ac- to supply uninterrupted and qual- court also dismissed a separate
Of late, Modi seems to have antagonised several sup- aside, Telangana is also in the This is commendable. tive and productive policies of the ity power to all the sectors besides petition filed by Raju seeking can-
porters. One of them, Vamsi Juluri, Professor of Media fourth place in per capita net state This growth came from the fol- state government such as Rythu giving free of cost to the farm sec- cellation of bail of Jagan’s close
Studies, University of San Francisco, wrote about ``the domestic product. The State’s per- lowing sectors: Bhima, completion of major Irri- tor and giving several concessions aide and YSRCP parliamentary
lie of delusion, vanity, the avalanche of denial and de- formance was far better than the Agriculture and allied sectors gation projects like Kaleswaram, to other sectors. The RBI data party leader V Vijay Sai Reddy,
ception...’’ in an essay urging Modi to wake up and listen, national average. Only Tamil have grown on an average 20.65 Rythu Bandhu, strengthening of shows that Information Technolo- who is the second accused in the
learn, lead. Anupam Kher, a 24-carat Modi `bhakt’ also Nadu, Karnataka and West Ben- percent and contributed 21.77 per- the Public Distribution System, gy and Real estate sector are vying alleged case.
criticized Modi during the oxygen crisis which was de-
nied by the BJP. He let out his feelings in an interview
��
with the news agency, PTI: "Somewhere they have
slipped. It is time for them to understand that there is ��
much more to life than just image building maybe." He
followed it up with a prime time interview on NDTV, re- ��
viled by Modi supporters as a `sickular’ TV channel. "We
should as people... Get angry...It is important to hold the
��
��
government responsible for what has happened." ��
There is subterranean dissent which will spout out like ��
��
molten lava when it finds an outlet. The revolt by people A good step is taken in Indore, of
like Supriyo is a small example. It remains to be seen if ��
spreading awareness to children
this `My way or the highway’ approach of the PM will be ��
about good touch and bad touch.
helpful or harmful to the party. The forthcoming UP elec- ��
They were also informed about
tion will be the acid test. ��
crimes against women and children
�� and were asked to remember
Covid origins probe:

�� emergency numbers. I hope that this
�� campaign will be conducted in
�� villages and rural areas. Everyone
The Lancet does U-turn

must be aware of their rights. And I
hope this campaign will spread
over lab leak theory The Slide into Illiteracy – The awareness in society and reduce the
number of crimes against women
and children. I think children should
know about the importance of
Covid assault on Education

women in building a better family,
LONDON: After facing backlash for its coverage of ori- community and nation.
gins of the Covid pandemic, the much acclaimed scien- ��
tific journal -- The Lancet has now published an 'alter-
native view' from 16 scientists. risk. The American Academy of mid-day meal for nutrition. Many middle class. And, today, that en-
The international team of health experts, in the open Paediatrics (AAP)raises a flag on don’t have the luxury of separate tire section of people who moved ��
letter, make an appeal for "objective, open, and trans- the ‘exponential growth’ in rooms, smartphones or other con- from poverty to the lower rungs
parent scientific debate about the origin of SARS-CoV- COVID cases amongst children. nected devices, or internet con- of the middle class, see them- ��
2". Scientists "need to evaluate all hypotheses on a ra- According to them, children nections. Over half of all the stu- selves slipping back into poverty. It’s a pity that after every
tional basis, and to weigh their likelihood based on facts made up over 25% of all cases re- dents in India study in Govern- As jobs disappear, and new jobs Independence Day and Republic Day
and evidence, devoid of speculation concerning possi- ported in the last week of August ment Schools. And it is these stu- seem difficult if not impossible, celebrations, the country’s national
ble political impacts", the authors wrote. – 250,000 school going children re- dents most impacted by the this class is seeing their dreams flag is strewn on the streets and
The Lancet, had in February last year, published an ported infected in just a week. In COVID lockdowns. Over 80% of of their children making some- people irrespective of caste, creed
A
open letter that "strongly condemned conspiracy theo- s the world locked down the month of August over 750,000 students said there were ‘lower thing of their life disappearing and colour blithely walk over them.
ries" surrounding the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, last year in the face of the too. Even when the national anthem is
suggesting that Covid-19 does not COVID-19 virus, millions A recent report, Locked Out: played on radio or telecast on
have a natural origin. of children were sent home from Emergency Report on School Ed- television, people don’t respect it by
Earlier this year, it was re- school. And, at home they stayed ucation, by School Children’s standing to attention and singing it.
vealed earlier that Peter for 18 months – trying to learn on- Online and Offline Learning They are busy talking to people on
Daszak -- a British scien- line. Trying to substitute real life (SCHOOL), among underprivi- their mobile phones or chatting with
tist and president of the experiences with virtual experi- leged households sheds light on their friends who are standing beside
US-based non-profit Eco- ences. And failing. António the extent of the problem. them. As Indians, we should show
Health Alliance that has Guterres, the Secretary-General And, that is why we need to fo- respect for our country’s national
a direct connection with of the United Nations has called cus on reopening schools in the flag, national anthem and national
China -- had secretly or- it an “an education crisis”. safest way possible. Remote learn- song. It is only through the sacrifices
chestrated the now-infa- 18 months later there is fero- ing is not working for most Indian made by our freedom fighters that we
mous letter. The firm has also cious debate on whether schools students. And we are seeing an have managed to gain independence;
funded research at the Wuhan In- should reopen now or later. There ever-widening gap in disparities otherwise we would’ve still been
stitute of Virology (WIV). are those who fear for children’s in education and learning, that is living under the British dominion.
In the new open letter, the scientists discuss the possi- safety if schools reopen without just likely to grow over time. ��
bility that laboratory research might have played a role students being fully inoculated. While technology is a great tool
in the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. And, right now there are few vac- for enhancing learning, face to
"We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy cines aimed at the young. On the face learning still works the best ��
theories suggesting that Covid-19 does not have a natu- other hand, there are those who for the largest cohort of students.
ral origin", they said, in a statement that "imparted a si- worry about children losing on For students who are first genera- ��
lencing effect on the wider scientific debate". valuable socialisation, education, tion learners, the need for a The only captain who has got India
However, "there is no direct support for the natural and nutrition, in the face of shut- teacher is far higher, than those all the cups – T20 World Cup; ODI
origin of SARS-CoV-2, and a laboratory-related accident tered schools. And, both views students who have a legacy of for- World Cup, Champions Trophy and
is plausible", the authors stated. are valid. mal learning in their families. Best Test Team is back in action.
"It might seem small, but after 18 months of complete In those states in India, where Also, for technology to work best And in a role into which he fits like a
denial, the very act of [The] Lancet agreeing to publish schools have reopened, there has – people need access. Ownership glove. As the Mentor for the Captain
this letter acknowledging the origins of Covid-19 re- been a surge in COVID cases of devices, and access to connec- of India’s T20 squad, if anyone can
mains an open verdict, is a very big deal," Professor among children. In Punjab, for tivity. With employment and in- lead India to victory it is MSD. And
Nikolai Petrovsky of Flinders University in example, there has been a spike come at an all time low, access to the wonderful news is that Virat
Adelaide, Australia, one of the signatories, told Daily of COVID infections amongst the devices and connectivity is a lux- Kohli has announced his resignation
Mail on Sunday. "For a leading medical journal like school going age. Schools have �� ury most can’t afford. If it is a just after the T-20 world cup. Surely
Lancet to agree to finally open its doors to a letter from been open since early August, choice between food and internet because he thought he was the
scientists highlighting the ongoing uncertain and this period has seen a 9.6% cases of kids with COVID were levels of learning than when connection, nourishment will greatest captain and could not
origins of Covid-19, indicates how far we have come in rise in cases amongst students. added. Other countries show sim- physically at school’ take priority. tolerate anyone guiding him.
18 months in requesting an open scientific debate on the Similar stories are heard from ilar trends. The dream that you can study The Indian states, worried as Because, the current Coach was
topic, but also indicates just how far we still have to go," other states that have reopened Keeping children safe from and overcome the disparities in they are about COVID and the fa- constantly sizzled to interfere with
he added. schools – MP, Bihar, Gujarat. COVID has its own set of unin- class and even caste – is a long talities, need to take a calculated the captain. And he knows that
Further, the new letter also implored China to open up India is not the only country to tended consequences. In India, held and cherished one. For the risk to reopen schools. While the Dhoni will not be a silent observer
and allow access to proper investigation. While the first face this. In the United States in there are over 264 million stu- twenty years since liberalisation, risk to some students of contact- but a person who would push
joint World Health Organisation-China Study conclud- addition to the heated debate dents of the school going age. many families could hope for a ing COVID is high, the risk to the towards victory. And he cannot
ed that the laboratory origin was "extremely unlikely", around whether or not to reopen Many of these students are first better tomorrow for their chil- future of all students is even tolerate any oversight. So he quits.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus schools, there are also violent de- generation learners. Many are dren. Children from deprived so- higher. We cannot afford a lost Now, I am more confident of India
has declared that all hypotheses remained on the table bates around whether or not to the children of daily wage work- cio economic backgrounds began generation of learners. Schools reaching the last four of the series, if
including that of a laboratory leak. mandate masks. In such a sce- ers, migrant labour, farm labour climbing up the education and in- have to reopen. not win it outright.
nario, children are even more at – and many rely on the school come ladder, creating a thriving ��
��
@UPSC_THOUGHT
14 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
Opinion
{ STRAIGHTFORWARD }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Shashi Shekhar
{ OUR TAKE }
Punjab: The The centrality of

Congress gamble
While picking a Dalit CM may work, the party
has mismanaged the state, and erred on Captain
Narendra Modi
His ability to dream, experience. The rest of India’s PMs — payee during a live transmission. It is
Lal Bahadur Shastri, Gulzari Lal also true that Gujarat has been riot- The revocation of Article 370 and the separation of Ladakh from Jammu
translate dreams into
B
y making it untenable for Captain Amarinder Nanda, Charan Singh, Chandrashe- free since 2001, and there has been an and Kashmir have happened during Modi’s time. Efforts are on to complete
Singh to continue as Punjab’s chief minister reality through courage khar, HD Deve Gowda, and IK Gujral increase in its prosperity. the Ram temple by 2023. All this is attractive to the majority community PTI
— were the product of equations of At the Goa convention organised
(CM), and now picking Charanjeet Singh and persistence, and that era. Modi is the only one who subsequently, an attempt was made to searcher, Vivan Marwah, found in an the PM was informed, late at night,
Channi as the next CM, the Congress leader- reached this destination, step by step, remove Modi. However, due to vocif- in-depth survey that many young vot- about an outbreak of influenza in Tri-
engage with the masses
ship appears to believe it has warded off anti-incum- on his own, without any godfather. erous protests, Vajpayee and his sup- ers were drawn to Modi’s personality, pura. He called up CM Biplab Kumar
bency, ended the internal factional battle between is key to his success His success is an example of dreams, porters had to maintain their silence. speaking of him in almost reverential Deb and ordered him to send a com-
courage, dialogue, and a composed It is a coincidence that a decade later, father-like terms, as a guardian who plete action plan by noon the follow-
Mr Singh and state party president Navjot Singh
L
ast Friday, workers of the attitude. in 2013, it was in Goa again that the will take care of them in an otherwise ing day. Even during the Covid-19 pan-
Sidhu, and strengthened the party in the run-up to Bharatiya Janata Party All this reminds me of Napoleon party chose Modi as the PM face. volatile world. demic, he maintained a constant dia-
(BJP) celebrated Prime Bonaparte. During the French Revolu- There were already many veterans in The Ram Mandir and Kashmir logue with all the CMs and even
the 2022 polls. Appointing Mr Channi, a Dalit leader, Minister (PM) Narendra tion of 1789, he was an officer in the the race when he became CM, and issues have also played a major role in telecast these meetings. He knows
as CM is indeed smart political symbolism — he will Modi’s 71st birthday with artillery. He had neither stature nor this time also, tall leaders such as LK maintaining trust in him. At one that politics is a game of perception.
be the first Dalit CM in a state with 31% Dalits. But fanfare. Modi’s critics may lineage, but he had a keen eye for the Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Mano- point, Modi was a prominent partici- In politics, not everything always
have termed it a sponsored display of changing situation. At the same time, har Joshi were in the queue. Modi got pant of Advani’s Ram Rath and Murli goes in one’s favour. In the assembly
this does not take away from the Congress’s poor sycophancy, but the political equa- he nurtured the dream of becoming through without any trouble. Manohar Joshi’s Ekta Yatra. The BJP elections of Delhi, West Bengal and
management of the Punjab crisis, which has tions are not so simple. Hasn’t his an emperor and began to make it Modi knows that there is only one came to power earlier too, but the rev- southern states, the overall vote per-
potentially jeopardised its electoral prospects and birthday been used by the BJP to come true. He became the emperor of way to better his achievements — con- ocation of Article 370 from Kashmir centage of the BJP increased, but it
re-energise its workers, who were in a France in just 16 years. Modi also stant dialogue with the masses. and the separation of Ladakh from couldn’t form the government. Apart
enhanced the trust deficit between senior party state of dismay because of Covid-19? observed political processes, changes Though the media and the Opposition Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have hap- from these defeats, the government is
leaders and the Nehru-Gandhi family nationally. How did PM Modi singlehandedly and conspiracies while working for have complained that he doesn’t talk, pened during Modi’s time. Efforts are also facing the challenges of inflation
Captain Amarinder Singh led the party to a win in reinvigorate the party? While looking the organisation for 15 years. in the last seven years, he has made 27 being made to complete the Ram tem- and unemployment. However, India’s
for the answer, let’s compare Modi Dreams need courage to reach visits to his constituency Kashi. He ple in Ayodhya by 2023. economy is coming back on track
Punjab in 2017. He is also a rare national figure in with his predecessors. their destination. For example, when also keeps in constant communica- All this is attractive to the majority after Covid-19. This gives some hope.
the party who is respected for his military service, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, the then PM Vajpayee was in Ahmed- tion with the country. The 80 episodes community. The Opposition calls it Modi’s opponents believe that
politics of moderation, and personal temperament. and Rajiv Gandhi were symbols of a abad after the Gujarat riots, there of Mann Ki Baat are examples of this. the politics of divide and rule, but in every Napoleon has his “Waterloo”,
lineage. PV Narasimha Rao and Man- came a live feed in which he was say- With this art of communication politics, some allegations act as a but the lionhearted does not give up
It is indeed true that his popularity had dipped in mohan Singh were products of coinci- ing that the government should fol- and continuous use of the latest tech- feather in the cap. You will find two fighting for fear of defeat. This is what
recent years, and this needed correction. But work- dences. Political movements and agi- low raj dharma. His sentence was just nology, Modi has managed to instill types of people in every discussion: the last two decades of the Narendra
ing with the CM, rather than against him, would tations handed over power to Morarji completed when Modi, sitting next to confidence in the minds of voters. The strong anti-Modi individual and Modi era tell us.
Desai and Vishwanath Pratap Singh, him, replied, “Wahi toh kar kar hoon This is why, despite demonetisation, the staunch fan. Despite this unprece-
have been far more productive. After all, the Cong- but they did not live up to expecta- sahib,” (I have been doing that). No the pandemic, and inflation, people dented divide, he is a successful politi- Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief,
ress has lived with CMs with a less-than-impressive tions. Atal Bihari Vajpayee reached chief minister (CM) of that time had still have faith in him. cian. Why? Hindustan
track record, and allowed them the opportunity to this position due to seniority and the courage to say this in front of Vaj- Recently, a young author-re- Modi works hard at this. In August, The views expressed are personal
test their credentials in elections. But the fact that
the leadership did not do so stems from Captain
being far more autonomous than the party
leadership in Delhi (particularly Rahul and Priyanka
Gandhi) was comfortable with. Instead, the
If Tatas win the AI bid, { JEAN-PIERRE THEBAULT } FRANCE’S AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA
P
encouragement to Mr Sidhu, a recent recruit to the
party who was openly undermining a party leader;
his elevation as party president; and possible signals
it will be poetic justice I’ve seen and learned how deep for
an Australian it is when you commit
to party legislators against Mr Singh contributed to he news that Tatas have put in a bid great airline with a huge national and inter-
undermining the CM’s authority.
As the Bharatiya Janata Party showed in Uttarak-
hand, Karnataka and Gujarat, it has the ability to
T to acquire Air India brings much national network.
cheer. Jawaharlal Nehru nationa- JRD was India’s first licensed pilot in
lised the airline in 1953 without any 1929. He also flew the first commercial flight
dialogue or notice to the Tatas. It bewil- in 1932 that was carrying airmail from Kara-
dered many as to why the government chi to Chennai (then, Madras) via Ahmeda-
to watch each other’s back. What
makes me sad is that we thought we
were mates and we were stabbed in
change CMs without a major backlash — largely due
to Narendra Modi’s authority and a culture of
would take over a well-run private enter- bad, Mumbai (then, Bombay), Pune, Kolha- the back [in the $90 billion
A
prise and run it into the ground. pur, Bellary and Bengaluru (then, Banga-
organisational discipline. The Congress is attem- JRD Tata was heartbroken. He rued this, lore), in a single-engine three-seater submarine deal].
and he was deeply hurt that the government unpressurised de Havilland Puss Moth.
pting to replicate the same pattern of control, except took over the airline through the backdoor. This was the beginning of Tata Airlines
that its party leadership does not carry the same He was retained as chairman of Air India till which was eventually renamed Air India in
credibility, given its depleted ability to win votes. 1978, and took it to great heights. It was a 1946 when it became a public limited com-
much-loved airline globally. pany. Air India is still a jewel, though jaded.
Mr Singh’s sense of hurt, and fierce criticism of both
Rape in India: Women

Can you believe that Singapore Airlines — It has an enviable national and global route
Delhi and Mr Sidhu, will cost the Congress in terms considered the world’s best airline — was network, invaluable bilateral rights with
of both optics and votes in Punjab; it will also lead to set up by Air India at the invitation of the foreign countries, prime slots and aviation
Singapore government? And what a fall infrastructure in Indian airports as well as
deeper unease among other senior leaders about the
direction of the party; and Mr Channi’s elevation
could well sow the seeds of a new power conflict for
from grace it has been for our
national carrier, in its service stan-
dards and operational efficiency.
Though Nehru erred in national-
in the airports of overseas capitals
and key cities of strategic and com-
mercial importance.
It has many highly qualified and
are vulnerable, unsafe,
and deprived of agency
leadership in the state unit. Instead of resolving a ising the airline, he and his succes- trained pilots, engineers and crew,
crisis, the Congress may have created another one. sors gave autonomy to JRD to run though burdened with redundant
Air India without interference. Captain staff who are deadwood put in
After JRD’s exit, the decline began. Gopinath there by many ruling parties and
Successive governments treated bureaucrats over the last few years. f a girl goes out alone at night, is she State. This is not to say that women are not
FB: Broken policies,

tech and management
the airline as their private carrier.
Political and bureaucratic interfer-
ence without accountability turned the
This can be dealt with, with a help-
ing hand from the government.
It is probably late now, but the bidding
iconic airline into a loss-making decrepit should have been through an open and
carrier. And stiff competition from the pri- transparent electronic tender, instead of
I inviting people to take advantage of raped by men they know or are related to,
her? Unfortunately, even on an issue for that is the dominant grim reality in
where women’s agency must be priori- India.
tised and there must be no victim-shaming, The National Crime Records Bureau
opinion seems to be divided in India. Many (NCRB) states that 77 rapes were reported
vate sector reduced it to irrelevance. The sealed, opaque covers. The shortlisted bid- make statements about the victim being every day on an average in 2020. While this
airline haemorrhaged cash at an alarming ders must first deposit the reserve price in responsible for her fate, which are retracted is a drop from 88 rape cases a year in 2018,
ast week, a series of stories by Wall Street rate. an escrow account and the bid must close after some outcry, but still remains part of India still has a long way to go. A total of
L Journal gave yet more evidence of the broken

policies, technology, and management at
Facebook. The company is selective in how its rules
The current debts and accumulated within six to eight hours of commencing.
losses are an astronomical ₹1 lakh crore. The auction should be open, where each
And the question arises that if Air India can bidder can increase the bid price after view-
be saved, why were Kingfisher Airlines with ing the offer prices of other bidders. That’s
the discourse around rape. 371,503 cases of crime against women were
In a society where girls and women have reported across the country in 2020, com-
the same rights as men, gender roles that pared to 405,326 in 2019, and 378,236 in
subjugate women remain unchanged. The 2018. Crimes against women in cities were
apply to users, letting celebrities and politicians get ₹6,000 crore of debt, and Jet Airways with how the Tatas won the Corus Steel bid. As “collective conscience” of society down by 8.3%, but a “majority of
₹8,000 crore of debt, not rescued, when Air India is not listed, this is also the best restricts women from absolute cases under crime against women
away with violations such as hate speech. It rolled their bank debts were minuscule in compar- way for price discovery for the government freedom. The right to choose a were registered under ‘Cruelty by
out new algorithms that rewarded outrage and ison to Air India? The promoters could have to realise the highest value from the sale. partner and think independently is Husband or his Relatives’ (30.2%)
anger, and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg shot down been prosecuted for recovery of dues, but The acquisition of Air India is fraught still forbidden. followed by assault on women with
why punish the airline and its employees for with huge risks. The Tatas already have two The recent gang rape of a intent to outrage her modesty’
attempts to address these because it could reduce the the sins of the promoters? airlines — Air Asia and Vistara — that are 22-year-old girl student in Mysuru, (19.7%), kidnapping and abduction
Vineeta
amount of time people spent on the service. It dragg- They may be in the private sector, but bleeding cash. There are problems in those when she went out with her class- of women (19.0%) and rape (7.2%),”
their assets are national assets. The blood partnerships. Tony Fernades, the mercurial mate to a secluded spot, reeks of Dwivedi the report said.
ed its feet in tackling abuse even when it realised that
that runs in the veins of the private sector is entrepreneur who still holds some stake, the same apathy. The 2012 Delhi In August, the Chhattisgarh
drug cartels and traffickers were using Facebook for not different — or less red — from that of and is in trouble with his other airlines in gang rape brought the rape epi- High Court discharged a man from
their goals. Its other main product, Instagram, has the public sector employees. Asia, has dissociated himself from the demic into public discourse. Despite the facing trial for allegedly raping his wife. The
turned into a source of mental harm for a sizable It is only befitting that the great airline, Indian airline that he floated with Tatas. He conviction of the perpetrators, and overhaul judge relied on an exception under Section
now run down, may go back into the hands is under investigation by the Central Bureau of laws, such cases continue unabated. 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which
part of its population (teenagers). of the business house that founded and nur- of Investigation. Some make headlines, others find a a men- states that “sexual intercourse or sexual act
Increasingly, Facebook and its products have been tured it in its formative years. The govern- But the Tatas may succeed if they can tion in the inside pages of newspapers. by a man with his own wife, the wife not
upheld as examples of harmful technology. It began ment cannot unilaterally hand Air India merge all three airlines into a single entity, Many researchers argue that sexual vio- being under fifteen years of age, is not
back to them for a negotiated price. The with a new vision and a dynamic leadership lence occurs when we consider the victim rape.”
five years ago when the abuse was so formidable that Tatas have to participate in a bid to earn team to steer it. They have the management as less than a human being, with no agency It should, therefore, not come as a sur-
it influenced an election in the United States and a back what was taken away from them. That depth, skills and wherewithal along with the of their own. The demand for equality by prise that in the recent United Nations (UN)
referendum in the United Kingdom. In tech, five is a cruel irony. capacity to raise that kind of capital to com- women creates insecurity in a patriarchal, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
JRD was respected as a visionary and was pete with the likes of Emirates, Singapore conservative, male-dominated society and Report, India slipped two places from 115 in
years is long enough for not one but several revered for his charitable work through the Airlines, British Airways, Air France and can result in the expression of violence 2019 to 117 in 2020. Growing gender ine-
generational shifts. And yet, the harms from Tata Trusts. He was also looked up to as an Lufthansa and others. against the same women who do not con- quality remains a grave area of concern in
Facebook have kept coming: January 6, when hordes intrepid aviator, and as the man who built a Tatas have the global exposure and appe- form. Women come to be defined in relation this context.
tite for this kind of entrepreneurial risk. to men. Perhaps the root of the problem lies in
of misinformed Americans turned against their own AIR INDIA IS STILL And with Ratan Tata, a keen aviator, who is Is it, then, a punishment meted out to the assimilation of the rape culture in daily
institutions, was only the latest. A JEWEL, THOUGH JADED. still active in the conglomerate and at the these “bold” women? Mukesh Singh, the discourse. This cruelty against girls should
The company has repeatedly demonstrated a helm of the group, the stars are aligned to driver of the bus on which the Delhi gan- not be normalised, forgotten, or relegated to
IT HAS AN ENVIABLE bring Air India back into the family. Such an grape occurred, told an interviewer from another news story of the day. Traditional
knack for making the wrong choice when faced with NATIONAL AND GLOBAL acquisition is full of challenges, but it’s a Tihar jail that “people had a right to teach gender roles and rape culture need to give
hard decisions. WSJ’s recent reporting now makes it ROUTE NETWORK, worthy effort. That will be good for Air them a lesson”. He added, “The woman way to an open and honest conversation
clear the problem begins at the top. Mr Zuckerberg, India, its employees and consumers. The should have put up with it.” There was no about this epidemic, to which half of the
INVALUABLE BILATERAL government will be able to redeem itself. remorse. population of this country remains vulnera-
whose vision for social media began with a website RIGHTS WITH FOREIGN It will be crowning glory and a fitting trib- Shakti Mills (2014), Badaun (2017), ble.
meant to rate the appearance of women, famously COUNTRIES, PRIME ute to JRD, who can at last smile down from Kathua (2018), Hyderabad (2019), Hathras
said: Move fast and break things. It is increasingly the heavens. (2020) — these horrifying gangrapes have Vineeta Dwivedi is a faculty member at Bhavan’s
SLOTS AND AVIATION eerie similarities. The rapists were stran- SP Jain Institute of Management and
clear that his company has broken many important INFRASTRUCTURE Captain Gopinath is founder, Air Deccan gers to the victim, and acted with complete Research (SPJIMR)
things, and it is beyond its ability to fix them. The views expressed are personal nonchalance. No fear of the law or the The views expressed are personal
R. N. I. No. 503/1957 ● Postal Reg. No. DL(ND)-11/6058/2018-19-20 ‘Licensed to post without prepayment’ LICENCE No. U(C)-113/2006-08, Air surcharge: Raipur and beyond by Rail or Road - Re 5/-, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Hyderabad, Khajuraho, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and beyond by Rail or Road - Rs. 10/-;
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Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

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T October 24, 1945, was an
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limited to rote learning and (Satya) was always considered accepts the need to relate its edu-
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truth, is just not possible unless the learning for examinations, and in Indian philosophy as the cation system to homegrown
WKHRWKHUKDQGWKRVHZKRKDYHWKHVHDELOLWLHVPDNH&KLHI0LQLVWHUVRIDGLIIHUHQWNLQG other four of the five values men- marks were the only measure of highest human goal. The aim philosophy and practices that, in
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lence. It has to be replaced by acquisition of knowledge as “Aparigraha”, re-articulated by
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conceptual understanding and preparation for life in this Mahatma Gandhi as an eternal
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lence, terrorism, fundamentalism, The National Education C7408<>5 strength of the Indian tradition Wars begin in the minds of
Policy (NEP-2020) in the third and unique to it in several ways, human beings; the initiatives
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distrust and a vulgar pursuit of
destructive weaponry all around. decade of the 21st century 43D20C8>= is being viewed with consider- for “constructing the defence of
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philosophical ideas that have
8=0=284=C able awe by those willing to find
solutions to global concerns like
peace” must begin in the early
years and continue all along.
SRZHUIXORUG\QDVWLFWKDQWKHLUIRUPHU´KLJKFRPPDQGVµ ied seriously by modern sciences;
it has its intuitional comprehen- deep roots in India, and stand 8=380F0B pollution, climate change and The realisation of this aspect is
dynamically enriched by the the impending water crisis. one of the most outstanding
sions contained in ancient treatis- =>C9DBCC74
?82D1<; es. Swami Vivekananda was per-
fectly logical and scientifically
great tradition of knowledge
quest that evolved in the 02@D8B8C8>=
The symphony of the process
of education, creation and gen-
inclusions in NEP-2020. For
the first time in contemporary
Gurukul system and led to the eration of knowledge and its education, the importance of
accurate when he mentioned:
“The true basis of education is the creation of institutions like >5:=>F;4364 use were so established that the the first eight years in schools
study of the human mind — Taxila, Vikramshila and Nalanda.
These could set the highest
0B?A4?0A0C8>= essence of it reached everybody
in society. At the highest level
beginning from 3+ has been
acknowledged, and the entire
infant, adolescent and adult. Any
system of education founded on standards of multidisciplinary 5>A;8548= of intellectual effort, the school system shall be reorgan-
theories of academic perfection, teaching and research which
attracted seekers of knowledge C78BF>A;3>A knowledge on trees and plants
was created, keeping in view its
ised accordingly. India shall
prepare a generation of young
which ignores the instrument of
study, is more likely to hamper and from various countries. ;85414H>=3 utility in public welfare. Even persons whose mind “would
Effortlessly, though very clear- today, one can see how people not be a dustbin to keep anger,
impair intellectual growth than to
produce a perfect and perfectly ly and from the beginning, the B27>>;8=61DC are conscious of such classifi- hatred and jealousy”. It would
equipped mind.” Obviously, the Indian tradition of education 5>A2><?;4C4 cations. And all this is found be filled with love, nonviolence,
and learning entrenched the scientifically accurate! empathy, compassion and
damage has been inflicted on
generations that have been educat- importance of man-nature A40;8B0C8>= The challenge emerges dharma. That could attract
ed and evaluated on much sought mutuality in the mind of the
learner. The rich heritage of
0=3;814A0C8>= from the realisation that the tra-
ditional knowledge transfer was
the whole world towards
Indian institutions once again.
after academic excellence, confined
to a curriculum, textbooks and ancient and eternal Indian >5C74B4;5 disturbed for various reasons, (The author works in
examinations that expect repro- knowledge has been the guid- coupled with the shameless education, social cohesion and
duction of the answer as “given in ing light for this policy. The plundering of natural resources. religious amity. The views
the textbook”. The pragmatic pursuit of knowledge (Jnan), The globalised world is now expressed are personal.)
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is questionable in geopolitical relevance.
France is also one among the major coun-
tries who strictly took actions against ter-
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UHVLJQKLV3DUOLDPHQWVHDW7KLVKRZHYHUZDVDYHUW and open Indo-Pacific. The US must _aTbXST]c P]S UaTTS^\ VXeT] c^ WX\ c^ câPcT Xb b^ R^\_[TcT ?TaWP_b cWT 00? :^[ZPcPWPbP]^[S
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PD\KDYHRYHUVKRWKLVSROLWLFDOH[SLU\+HORVWE\RYHU bing an ally. It is welcoming that new part- unfair practice to lure voters. Indian team win most of the home 0Rcâ
nerships are being created for internation- It is unfair that people with large fam- series. And, his overseas performance ¯HP\X6PdcP\
YRWHVLQWKHUHFHQW%HQJDOHOHFWLRQVZKHQ al development, but geopolitical rift must ilies take advantage of free medicines in improved a lot in recent years. He
KHIRXJKWRQWKH%-3·VWLFNHW1HYHUWKHOHVVWKH70& also be avoided for sustainable develop- hospitals of Delhi Government while mid- remains unperturbed during tight situa- 3XbP__^X]cTSfPZ
PLJKWEHWKLQNLQJRIVHQGLQJKLPWRWKH5DM\D6DEKD ment for all. dle-income small families bear addition- tions and played his role as a cool coach. X]Vd_c^cWT]Tfb
$USLWD*KRVKD5DM\D6DEKDPHPEHURIWKH70&KDVEHHQPDGHWRUHVLJQE\WKH Kirti Wadhawan | Kanpur al tax-burden because of such freebies Watching Shastri grow from a lanky ÛcWTRP]RT[[PcX^]
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Instead, social and religious organisations opened the innings for India in Tests and
$IWHUDVSHFWDFXODUYLFWRU\LQWKH$VVHPEO\HOHFWLRQVWKH70&·VDPELWLRQVDUH Sir — It refers to pre-poll announcements like the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management then crowned as Champion of =TfITP[P]SbTaXTb
VRDULQJDQGLWLVVSUHDGLQJLWVZLQJVWRIO\KLJKHU2QWKHRQHKDQGLWLVWU\LQJWR about free electricity upto 300 units, can- Committee, Rotary Clubs etc. should be Champions was a stunning transforma- QTRPdbTÛbTRdaXchXbbdTb
PDNHDPDUNLQQDWLRQDOSROLWLFVE\FRXUWLQJYDULRXVQDWLRQDOSDUWLHVDQGRQWKHRWKHU cellation of all pending electricity bills and provided space to open shops of generic tion. Ravi Shastri is surely one of the most
free electricity for agriculture in Uttar medicines to be sold at a no-profit, no- successful cricketer-cum-coaches who 5â\TaFTbc8]SXTbRP_cPX]
LWLVPDNLQJLQURDGVLQWRQHDUE\6WDWHVOLNH$VVDPDQG7ULSXUD%DEXO6XSUL\RPD\ Pradesh and some other States by the ¯3PaaT]BP\\h
loss basis. If the Government is unable to set higher standards for himself and play-
QRWEHLPSRUWDQWIRUWKH70&LQWKHE\HOHFWLRQVIRUYRWHFDWFKLQJZKHUH0DPDWD Aam Aadmi Party. But in practice, this stop such freebies, it is for the Supreme ers around him. During Shastri’s tenure,
%DQHUMHHZRXOGEHVHHNLQJSHRSOH·VPDQGDWHEXWKHFDQFHUWDLQO\EHDWULJJHUIRU results in heavy electricity bills for others Court to stop such schemes. India also recorded T20 series wins in FXcWP]P]]dP[
RWKHUVWROHDYHWKHLUSDUW\DQGMRLQWKH70&)RXU0/$VKDYHDOUHDG\OHIWWKH%-3 out of which the worst sufferer is the mute Subhash Chandra Agrawal | Delhi South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and _a^SdRcX^]Û"'
category of honest middle-income taxpay- England. In his last assignment in \X[[X^]c^]]TbÛ
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tricity bill does not affect the affluent sec- Sir — Hats off to RJ Shastri for his role pandemic and some of his partial acts like Xb]^c^][hX]cWT
70&ZDQWVWRIDQRXW$QDGGLWLRQDODGYDQWDJHLV%DEXO·V$VDQVROSDUOLDPHQWDU\VHDW tion of society. On the contrary, many take as India’s chief cricket coach as he helped dropping Ashwin hastened his exit after aTP[\ÛU^^SbTRdaXchQdc
ZKLFKDIWHUKLVUHVLJQDWLRQLVJRLQJWRIDOOLQWRWKHODSRIWKH7ULQDPRRO&RQJUHVV different electricity connections in the improve the attitude and performance of a successful stint as a coach. XbP[b^RPcTaX]Vc^cWT]TTSbÛ
name of different members of the fami- MR Jayanthi | Mumbai ^cWTaR^d]caXTb
+RZHYHUWKLV¶VKLIWLQJOR\DOW\V\QGURPH·GRHVQRJRRGWRWKHSHRSOHRUWKHFDXVH ly to get free electricity in multiples of 300
Indian players and turned them into a
world-class team. He made the likes of R
RIGHPRFUDF\,WVKRZVWKHOHDGHUVLQSRRUOLJKWDFWXDOO\LWLVWDQWDPRXQWWRFKHDW units. The Election Commission should Ashwin work hard in multiple home series BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) D]X^]0VaXRd[cdaT<X]XbcTa
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T Minister Narendra Modi meet-
ing in person with the leaders of
Australia and Japan, apart from
the US, a move that holds significant
importance and may perhaps change
WKDQSHUFHQWIRUWKHODVWILYHPRQWKV India's foreign policy contours. The
7KHLQWHUQDWLRQDOFUXGHRLOSULFHKRZHYHUUHYHDOVDGLIIHUHQWSLF meeting comes in the backdrop of
WXUH%UHQWFUXGHRLOSULFHVIHOOIURPWREHWZHHQ-XO\ Australia's alliance with the UK and the
DQG$XJDUHGXFWLRQRIRYHUSHUFHQW,QOD\PDQ
VWHUPVWKH US - AUKUS -- which aims to provide
nuclear submarines to Canberra.
SULFHRISHWUROLQ,QGLDFRXOGKDYHEHHQGHFUHDVHGWRC Quad and AUKUS objectively over-
%DFNLQWKH2LO0DUNHWLQJ&RPSDQLHV20&VZHUHJLYHQ lap with India's maritime security inter-
DIUHHKDQGWRIROORZG\QDPLFIXHOSULFLQJWRPDNHWKHLURSHUDWLRQV ests in the South China Sea (SCS).
PRUHHIILFLHQW:K\WKH20&VKDYHVWRSSHGGDLO\SULFHUHYLVLRQVLV Almost 50 per cent of India's global
DP\VWHU\,VLWEHFDXVHWKH\DUHVWLOOFRQWUROOHGE\WKHJRYHUQPHQW trade transits through the SCS region.
ZKLFKKDVDPDMRULW\VWDNHLQWKHP" The governments of Quad focus on the
freedom of navigation on high seas as
a legitimate right.Beijing has actively
adopted a “cabbage tactic”, which is
multi-layered, to increase its leverage by
capturing the SCS. This vital trade
route also happens to be a potential
source of natural resources such as
hydrocarbons. For this purpose, it hinting towards its future expansionism. Further, Article 11 of the same law asserts that
builds artificial islands by claiming its Later, in 2011, China submitted in the UN a "Non-military vessels of foreign nationality may not
“historic rights” and then legislate- Note Verbale on the SCS speaking about its “indis- enter the internal waters". Additionally, the “mili-
unusual domestic laws on it to exercise 278=03454=3B putable sovereignty over the islands in the South tary vessels of foreign nationality may not enter the
its "sovereignty" over them. The “cab- 8CB?A4B4=24 China Sea and the adjacent waters”. Nonetheless, territorial waters”. Thepertinent question that aris-
bage tactic” is used to take control of an the terms “historic rights” and “adjacent waters” do es is what are the limits of its "territorial waters"?
island by surrounding it in multiple lay- 8=C748=380= not appear in UNCLOS, and there is no recogni- As per the UNCLOS, itextends upto 12 nautical
ers of fishing boats, coast guard ships >240=A468>= tion. Further, the use of illegal terms serves the pur- miles from the baseline of a coastal state. In the case
and Chinese naval and military ships to F8C70;0<4 pose of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by of Beijing, will it start measuringsuch limits from
7KH5%,KDVDOVRZDUQHGWKDWKLJKSULFHVZRXOGWULJJHUKLJKHULQIOD
cut off the island from outside support. 4G2DB4>5 expanding the scope of its 'grey zone tactics' and the artificial islands that it has builtin the SCS? Then
The more significant motive, of course, 2>D=C4A8=6 hence are a distraction to the well-established inter- in such a case, the Spratly and Paracel
WLRQZKLFKZRXOGDIIHFWJURZWK%XWLWVHHPVWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDVGHFLG is occupying as much space as possible national norms and principles. China zealously Islandsrepresent a “sea grab”, similar to a land grab.
HGWRFRQWLQXHPLONLQJWKHFDVKFRZV³ WKHFRQVXPHUV by threatening other countries. ?8A02H8=C74 guards the SCS, which was recently evident when Does it not then amount to infringing the freedom
:KLOHSURWHFWLRQRIFRQVXPHUV
LQWHUHVWVQHFHVVLWDWHVJRYHUQPHQW The UN Convention on the Law of 6D;5>5034= China illegally stopped a German warship from of navigation of other states? Such illegal occupa-
LQWHUYHQWLRQV D UHGXFWLRQ RI WKH KLJK SULFHV VHHPV WR EH IDU IURP the Sea (UNCLOS) does not have a pro- F78;48=C74 entering it. tion affects the trade routes and supply chain lines.
UHDOLW\,Q0D\ODVW\HDUWKHJRYHUQPHQWLPSRVHGDGGLWLRQDOH[FLVH vision to address the issues regarding B>DC7278=0B40 Accompanied by the regularisation of such Such dual standards need to be exposed and at var-
GXW\RQERWKSHWURODQGGLHVHOZKLFKLQFOXGHGURDGDQGLQIUDVWUXF construction, maintenance and milita- 8C4G?;828C;H words, its mention of phrases like ‘offshore defence’, ious regional and multilateral levels.
rization of artificial islands beyond ta 'distant sea defence' and its 'interests aboard' truly China's land reclamation activities in Feydhoo
WXUHFHVVDQDGGLWLRQDOUHYHQXHZRUWKCODNKFURUH6LQFHWKH state's “territorial waters”. Article 60 (1) <08=C08=BC70C reflect its hegemonic behaviour that is set to expand Finolhu Island leased out to Beijing by the Maldives
FRXQWU\ZDVIRUFHGLQWRDSDQGHPLFLQGXFHGORFNGRZQLWPDGHFRP of the UNCLOS allow for artificial 0;;C74=0E0; to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Its nuclear sub- in 2016 are China's emerging footprints in the
PRQVHQVHDVZHOODVHFRQRPLFVHQVHWKHQ7KHILVFDOVLWXDWLRQZDV islands only in the Exclusive Economic E4BB4;B>5 marines are regularly sighted in the IOR and the IOR.This comes in addition to its military intelli-
H[SHFWHGWREHWLJKW Zone. Artificial islands of China beyond C74>C74A Arabian Sea by the Indian Navy. The presence of gence and surveillance activities in the Coco
+RZHYHUVLQFH0D\WKHWRWDOWD[HVRQSHWUROKDYHFURVVHG its territorial waters are thus farcing. 2>D=CA84B Chinese submersibles is a clear-cut violation of Islands and Greater Coco islands of the Eastern
CSHUOLWUH,WZDVDSDOWU\CSHUOLWUHZKHQWKH%-3JRYHUQ The International Court of Justice Article 20 of UNCLOS, which states that “in the ter- Indian Ocean.The existing geostrategic realities of
asserted the same in its 2016 arbitration, <DBCB44: ritorial sea, submarines and other underwater vehi- Chinese hegemonic intentions in the IOR are vis-
PHQWUHSODFHG83$,,LQ,VWKHJRYHUQPHQWVWLOOH[SHFWLQJWKH ?A8>A
which Beijing refuted. The Chinese cles are required to navigate on the surface and show ible through China's OBOR and its attempts to
ILVFDOVLWXDWLRQWREHVLPLODUWRODVW\HDU
V"/HW
VORRNDWWKH*67GDWD maritime domestic laws conflict with the ?4A<8BB8>= their flag”. China may be collecting critical under- remould the Asian security order in its favour.
ZKLFKPLJKWJLYHDFOXHLQVXSSRUWRIWKLV UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 145>A4 sea hydrological data from the IOR to plan action China's recent outreach to the Taliban in
%DFNLQ$SULOZKHQ,QGLDZDVXQGHUDFRPSOHWHVKXWGRZQ and sharply violate the maritime rights in case of a limited conflict or a full-blown open Afghanistan can increase its tactical manoeuvra-
4=C4A8=6C74
WKH*67UHYHQXHFROOHFWLRQVIHOOWRCFURUHVIURPCFURUHV of the other states. The UNCLOS pro- war with India. Such moves are a detriment to bilityon land. On the other hand, Chinese nuclear
F0C4AB
+RZHYHUIURP0DUFKWR$XJXVWWKH*67FROOHFWHGKDVEHHQ vides the vital 'freedom of 'navigation' India's core security objectives. China counters its submarines, illegal fishing, and surveillance activ-
CFURUHV7KLVZDVDMXPSRIPRUHWKDQSHUFHQWFRP and 'right to innocent passage' on the presence by putting forward a lame excuse with its ities in the IOR are set to become a significant threat
SDUHGWRWKHVDPHSHULRGLQWKHSUHYLRXV\HDU high sea, i.e., area outside internal nuclear submarines to counter the piracy in the Gulf to Indian security interests.
waters, the territorial sea, the contigu- of Aden. One can only wonder how a nuclear sub- Suppose China would be successful in having
7KH86',15H[FKDQJHUDWHDOVRKDVEHHQIDYRXUDEOHWRLPSRUW ous zone, the exclusive economic zone marine can counter piracy. land-sea dominance encircling India, in such a case,
ELOOVRIFUXGHRLO7KHH[FKDQJHUDWHFRUUHFWHGIURPDSHDNRIC and the continental shelf of a state to On the contrary, in the SCS, China explicitly it will not only threaten India's immediate and long-
86'LQ$SULOWRC86'LQ0DUFK,WQRZLVUDQJLQJ regulate their maritime trade and move- maintains that all the naval vessels of the other term security interests, but it will also adversely
EHWZHHQCWRC ment for peaceful purposes such as help- countries and research ships seek prior permission affect India's economic and cyber security. China
$UHGXFWLRQLQUHWDLOSULFHVLVXQTXHVWLRQDEO\SRVVLEOH$OOWKDWQHHGV ing the other states in distress, scientif- before they enter the territorial waters of China. The might use the “cabbage tactic” in the Indian
WREHGRQHLVWRUROOEDFNDGGLWLRQDOH[FLVHGXWLHV$WSUHVHQWWKHWRWDO ic exploration, etc. same duplicity has been evident in its recent amend- Ocean Region in the same way as in the South
H[FLVHGXW\RQSHWUROH[FHHGVCSHUOLWUH7KHRWKHUDOWHUQDWLYHLV Chinese intentions can be ascer- ment to China's Maritime Traffic Safety Law. It now China Sea. In this direction, the nation should
tained by examining its 1992 Law of the includes five types of vessels- "submersibles, appreciate the establishment of the Andaman
WREULQJWKHSHWUROHXPSURGXFWVXQGHU*67 PRC. Article 14 emphasized the option nuclear-powered vessels, ships carrying radioactive Nicobar Command and the re-orientation of the
6LQFHWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDVUHPDLQHGVWXEERUQDIWHUQXPHURXVSOHDV of using a “hot pursuit” against a foreign (The writer is an Assistant
materials, ships carrying bulk oil, chemicals, liq- battle commands, which will have joint operabil-
Professor at Central
IRUDUHGXFWLRQLQWKHSHWURODQGGLHVHOSULFHVDVHWRIQHZTXHVWLRQV ship if it enters its territorial waters or University of Punjab, uefied gas or other toxic substances" that need to ity of the Army, Navy and the Air Force. In the pre-
DULVH,VWKHJRYHUQPHQWSODQQLQJWRSXWXSDVXUSOXVEXGJHWLQ)HEUXDU\ the contiguous zone. Further, Article 15 Bathinda. The views report minute details to the Chinese authorities. The sent circumstances, India's further shift towards
",VLWDQWLFLSDWLQJDVHYHUHWKLUGZDYHDQGORFNGRZQVLPLODUWR insists that baseline of its territorial sea expressed are personal.) cargo ships are thus now questionable and more QUAD and AUKUS shouldn't be a surprising devel-
ODVW\HDU"/DUJHUVXEVLG\DPRXQWVDUHOLNHO\WREHJLYHQWRWKHSRRU" would be “established” by itself, a move prone to sabotage through "hot pursuits". opment and should be welcomed by the nation.
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rom this year onwards, Persons with Disabilities Act Convention on the Rights of cent, INC's counterpart has myth has been refuted in 2014 illness or disability. They adapt
F B.Sc.(Nursing) admis-
sions will be made
through NEET, which were
(RPDA), but INC has pub-
lished a gazette notice
announcing this clause as well
Persons with Disabilities,
which India has ratified, and
in the preamble of the RPDA,
accepted disabilities other than
lower limb and surely those
above 50 per cent (INC's
by the American Association
of Colleges of Nursing's white
paper which identified outdat-
in unconventional ways, they
demonstrate empathy and are
brilliant co-workers. We may
conducted last Sunday. I as revising its nursing curricu- dignity is a key component. benchmark). ed admission standards; mis- be rejecting many brilliant
received a panic call from the lum for the first time since Learning disability is now In a recent SC decision on conceptions about the capac- applicants who could be out-
father of a young girl who was 1947. It will be implemented a specified disability under the reasonable accommodation in ity of students with disabilities standing nurses like the
considering nursing admis- C1D5>4B1B8=67 beginning with the new batch. new law, and it is included in the instance of a doctor with to function effectively in the renowned Florence
sion but she had three missing Unfortunately, the dis- the 5 per cent reservation in dysgraphia, Dr Vikash Kumar clinical components of nursing Nightingale if we limit our pro-
fingers in her non-dominant criminatory National Medical higher education. But where v. UPSC, the highest court crit- education; and, lack of a com- fession to those without dis-
hand and a curvature in her Commission (NMC) stan- College, causing her to lose an are the dyslexic doctors and icised an earlier order that prehensive understanding of abilities. I hope the INC will
spine. The father was con- dards for applicants with dis- academic year. Thankfully, the nurses in India? In India, you barred blind and deaf candi- issues related to patient safety look into the representation of
cerned about the National abilities were framed by a sin- Supreme Court and the Goa will only see nurses who are dates with a disability of more as barriers that deter applicants health professionals with dis-
Testing Agency's urgent pub- gle, non-disabled expert from High Court have already “one-legged” or “both legs dis- than 50 per cent from becom- with disabilities. The Royal abilities which are endorsed by
lic notice for B.Sc. (Nursing) this subject from a premier granted MBBS admission to abled.” Yes, this is the vocabu- ing judges. The statutory College of Nursing in the UK 22 nurses with disabilities
course aspirants in NEET institution in India, who decid- girls with an amputated arm in lary used by the Ministry of Councils are still unaware of too also issued a range of from AIIMS New Delhi,
2021, which cited an Indian ed the ablest requirement of Gujarat and Goa, respectively. Social Justice and this historical judgment on employment options for nurs- Bhopal, Jodhpur, Jhajjar,
Nursing Council (INC) letter “both hands intact” as a must- The INC does not need to Empowerment and the substantive equality in the es with severe ill health or dis- NIMHANS and Delhi
stating that disability reserva- have for MBBS admission. repeat NMC's embarrassing Ministry of Health to identify, RPDA era. abilities in 2020. Government hospitals. If INC
tion is only allowed for phys- (The writer teaches at The Delhi High Court will be gaffes. The INC's new curricu- stereotype, and ‘otherize’ us in Leslie Neal-Boylan who We don't need superhu- is serious about implementing
ical disabilities of 40-50 per University College of hearing a case of a girl with an lum mentions the keyword employment. has written multiple books man robots in health care; the high pedestal ethos of
cent and of the lower extrem- Medical Sciences, Delhi, amputated arm who passed "dignity" six times, whereas After my litigation in the and journal articles on nurses instead, we need compassion- diversity indicated in their
ity. It is strange, because how and is a disability rights the NEET exam last year but NMC's patented competency- Delhi HC, which pushed with disabilities has defied the ate and caring nurses with dis- new curriculum, they must act
could this be possible after the activist. The views was denied MBBS admission NMC to allow persons with myth that there are patient abilities who understand what and collaborate with nurses
expressed are personal.) based Medical Education
enactment of the Rights of to Lady Hardinge Medical Curriculum does not. In the disabilities of more than 80 per safety concerns. The same it is like to live with a chronic with disabilities.
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@UPSC_THOUGHT
06 NEW DELHI, MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 Vol. CXXXXXV 221
Incorporating and directly descended

Minds in danger A MEMBER
OF THE
from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818

The lack of recognition of mental ill-health propels families to seek support from a range ASIAN VOICES
Socialism redux of stakeholders before they reach professional care. Most seek help from faith healers
or try alternative therapies. When that yields no improvement, they approach the local Impartial
T he signals are clear. The Chinese are looking to
pivot towards socialism with, well, socialist
characteristics. Now that the risk-reward ratio
doctor. The medicines prescribed cost them the rest of their savings with no noticeable
effect. It is only then that they are guided to a specialist
probe needed
T
in terms of the benefits of state-controlled capitalism he controversy concerns elec-
~ rather disingenuously termed ‘socialism with Chi-
A
tion-meddling allegations in-
nese characteristics’ ~ has tilted in favour of the for- mong the many chal- of community mental health pro- volving Yoon Seok-youl, a lead-
mer with growing inequality, cronyism, and the con- lenges India faces, the grammes in central India. ing presidential contender affiliated
centration of wealth, opportunity, and access to most underappreciated The programme is designed with the main opposition People
goods and services in the hands of the top one-third is the ongoing mental to establish sustainable rural Power Party.
of the population, the potential for social unrest in health crisis. Mental illness is mental health support to address On Sept. 2, online news outlet
China has been recognised by the leadership. Course India’s ticking bomb. An estimat- issues relating to stress and ten- Newsverse revealed anonymous alle-
ed 56 million Indians suffer from sion that abet suicide, alcohol gations that prosecutor Son Jun-sung,
correction has begun under the aegis of the ‘com-
depression and 38 million from abuse, and depression in the who at the time was an investigative
mon prosperity’ concept headlined by President Xi anxiety disorders. For those who rural community. intelligence policy officer under then-
Jinping in his comments to the Chinese Communist suffer from mental illness, life It deploys health workers Prosecutor General Yoon, prepared
Party Central Committee for Financial and Econom- can seem like a terrible prison from within the community, indictments to be filed if the People
ic Affairs last month, suggesting that “common pros- from which there is no hope of some with no background in Power Party made accusations against
perity is a fundamental requirement of socialism” escape; they are left forlorn and mental health. These workers are pro-government figures. Son allegedly
and is necessary to “balance growth and financial abandoned, stigmatized, shun- trained to raise mental health sent them to Kim Woong, then a pros-
stability”. Following his lead, the Committee called ned, and misunderstood. awareness and provide “psycho- ecutor-turned-opposition party can-
for “reasonably adjusting excess incomes” and en- India accounts for more logical first-aid.” The programme didate, ahead of the April 2020 general
couraging high-income individuals and businesses than a third of the female sui- also includes counselors who are elections in an apparent bid to put the
cides globally, about a fourth of imparted mental health literacy. ruling Democratic Party of Korea at a
to “give back more to society.” That’s the thing about
all male suicides and suicide The third line of workers consists disadvantage. Newsverse says Yoon is
the Chinese absolutist governance model ~ its leaders remains the second leading of expert psychiatrists, who are suspected of ordering Son to do so, an
can adopt utilitarian approaches sans any ideological cause of death among young qualified to provide medications allegation Yoon denies.
interference depending on their perception of what is Indians, creating as many casu- for more serious mental health Son denies writing the indict-
in the common good because daddy does know best. alties as road traffic accidents disorders. ments in question and sending them
This is quite unlike the erstwhile Soviet system or and deaths through childbirth. The programme uses Prima- to Kim. Kim says he doesn’t remember
even communist parties in the West or closer home in Yet, the government has spent ry Health Centres for screening receiving the indictments from Son.
the sub-continent which placed a premium on less than one per cent of the and feeding people with mental The anonymous informant turn-
notions of ideological purity. The Chinese pivot to health budget on mental health- illnesses. Such programmes aim ed out to be Cho Sung-eun, a 33-year-
what is effectively a redistribution of wealth model care (0.06 per cent to be precise, to provide more counseling and old politician-turned-business-
falling short of the lowest OECD other services, the way some woman. To the party’s surprise, she
albeit updated to factor in contemporary realities is country’s share by a factor of 10). stakeholders before they reach by emphasising the provision of urban-based programmes do. was vice chair of the United Future
breath-taking in its sweep; and it’s been made possi- This expenditure has been professional care. Most seek help affordable and quality care, But time is limited for both out- Party campaign committee for the
ble only because policy is unapologetically formu- almost entirely on doctors, drugs, from faith healers or try alterna- financed by the government, reach workers and the patients April 15 general elections. The United
lated and ruthlessly implemented from the top. The and hospitals in urban areas. tive therapies. When that yields through the primary care system they serve. People are more Future Party was the predecessor of
first signs that the CCP was on the path to asserting Unsurprisingly, between 70 to 92 no improvement, they approach for the mentally ill. receptive to these community the People Power Party.
greater control over the economy and society came in per cent of those affected by the local doctor. The medicines India has interplay between workers than they might be to a The country’s spy chief gained the
November 2020 with Beijing’s decision to block Aliba- mental health issues have prescribed cost them the rest of poverty, gender insensitivity licensed doctor from the city, public’s attention after it came out
ba’s Ant Group from listing on the Shanghai and received no care from any source, their savings with no noticeable stress and discrimination, and especially when discussing sen- that he and Cho had lunch together
Hong Kong stock exchanges. In subsequent months, of any kind. effect. It is only then that they are mental health. People living with sitive subjects. "In some families, one on one on Aug. 11, about three
There are only 43 mental guided to a specialist. Many valu- a mental illness face many we get attached,” says one of
Chinese authorities have launched a widening series
hospitals in the country, and able years of intervention time impediments to their recovery them. “People talk to me like
of crackdowns on technology giants, wealthy indi- most of them are in disarray. Six are lost in the process. and restoration to full function- family." They share a lot of per-
viduals, education services providers, celebrities, and states, mainly in the northern Although mental illness is ing. Medication appears an easy sonal stories with me.” weeks before the Newsverse report
even youth video gamers. Over $1 trillion in market and eastern regions with a com- experienced by a significant por- option. But more important is to The organisations run by was published, at a hotel restaurant
value for China-listed firms has been wiped out in bined population of 56 million tion of the population, it is still solve the psychological problems Patel and those by others with in Seoul. Cho denies discussing her
the process, but the leadership is clearly focussed on people, do not have a single seen as a taboo. and the cultural similar objectives are filling the allegations with Park over lunch, but
its domestic audience amid whom these harsh mea- mental hospital. Depression is so issues. The Banyan Indian "treatment gap" in psy- the opposition party doubts her
sures have apparently met with widespread approval. Most government-run men- deeply stigmatised ~ a Chennai-based chiatry not with more doctors, denial. About a month before that
According to business and technology reporter tal hospitals lack essential infra- that people adopt mental health orga- but with new technology and lunch meeting with Park, she talked
structure, treatment facilities and enforced silence nization that pro- community training. Telepsychi- to Newsverse.
Chang Che, China has 14 “crackdowns” simultane-
have a sickening ambience. Visit- and social isolation. vides comprehen- atry connects hard-to-reach Cho catapulted Park into a
ously underway on business sectors and individuals ing private clinics and sustaining In villages, there are sive services for the patients with psychiatrists and brighter spotlight with her remarks.
and most if not all of them could be included under the treatment, which is usually a dreadful recorded mentally ill living in medicines delivered through When she was asked in a TV interview
the ‘common prosperity’ umbrella. China expert long-drawn-out affair, is an cases of patients poverty and home- mobile units of voluntary organi- on Sept. 12 about the timing of the
Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institute points to a pre- expensive proposition for most being locked up in lessness ~ has rep- zations. By reimagining what it Newsverse report, she said it was “not
viously low-profile blogger, Li Guangman, whose families. homes during the orted one in every means to provide mental health a date that my director (Park) and I
essay calling for a “profound revolution to correct Most government-run hos- day, being tied to three homeless in- care, advocates like Patel may wanted nor a date that I discussed
pitals do not have psychiatric trees, or even being MOIN dividuals suffers end up creating a model for the after being kindly allowed to.”
the inequalities that capitalism has wrought” went QAZI
viral and was republished online by party and state- drugs and visiting a private coun- flogged to exorcise from a mental ill- rest of the world to follow. She also said Newsverse publish-
controlled media. There is some pushback from more selor and sustaining the treat- evil spirits. Stories The writer is the author of ness. Poverty and Training for health workers er Lee Jin-dong had decided on the
Village Diary of a Heretic
ment ~ usually a long-drawn-out of extreme barbari- mental illness are to enable them to detect and publication date. Cho’s words, which
moderate voices who eschew calls for revolution and affair ~ is an expensive proposi- ty abound in tribal
Banker. He can be reached at
moinqazi123@gmail.com thus interlinked in manage mental health disorders she seems to have uttered carelessly,
the turmoil it suggests, but those looking for a gen- tion for most families. The igno- cultures. In some a vicious and self- can be put in place, improved, or could be interpreted to mean that she
uine debate on the way forward are likely to be dis- rance and the callous attitude of societies, family honour is so fortifying cycle: poverty increases expanded. Such programmes and Park hoped the report would be
appointed. ‘Common prosperity’ is a concept that the government towards psychi- paramount that the notion of the risk of mental health condi- should also cover peers, parents, published on a different date, but it
evokes strong emotions in the CCP, ever since the atric ailments, coupled with seeking psychiatric help is anath- tions and conversely, those living and teachers so that they know came out early. Though she argues
party mouthpiece People’s Daily first used the term in social stigma, dissuade most ema. with mental health conditions how to support their friends, that the inference is unwarranted, say-
a headline in 1953 to bolster the case for socialism from seeking help. Many a time, mental health are more likely to slide into children, and students in over- ing the timing of the news report was
over capitalism. These factors are comp- problems are either looked down poverty. India needs to take a coming mental stress and neu- a coincidence, the circumstances
ounded by the existing treatment upon or trivialized. These man- broader view for addressing the rotic problems. There is a need would seem to suggest otherwise.
VB rapped services. India has 0.3 psychia-
trists and two mental health
made barriers deprive people of problems of the mentally ill.
their dignity. We need to shift the Social exclusion, unequal oppor-
for more open discussion and
dialogue on this subject with the
Park denies trying to intervene in
politics. But his conduct as head of the
T
workers for every 100,000 indi- paradigm of how we view and tunity, and income disparity public and not just experts. This country’s intelligence agency deserves
he poet must be spinning in his grave. Tagore's viduals. The “treatment gap” of address mental illness at a sys- could aggravate mental illness, can help create a more inclusive criticism. He said in July that he and
creation has been rapped on the knuckles by medical professionals remains temic level. Tragically, support especially for vulnerable groups, environment for people with all NIS agents would keep their dis-
Calcutta High Court in the immediate after- one of the largest in the world. If networks for the mentally ill as like poor, homeless women. mental illness. tance from politics, but it is question-
math of the “rustication" of three students and the someone must travel to a govern- well as their caregivers are woe- Mental healthcare initiatives India's community pro- able whether he has kept that vow. It
somewhat unilateral closure of Visva-Bharati Univer- ment facility, it requires taking fully inadequate. There is an are presently focused on a nar- grammes can enable the country was revealed recently that he met with
sity... without the mandatory authorisation of the time away from work. Then there urgent need for an ambience of row biomedical approach that to ‘scale up’ its delivery of mental Cho and former lawmakers at the NIS
Centre, the overarching authority. Thursday’s order of is the cost of transportation, empathy, awareness, and accep- tends to ignore socio-cultural health care. With its formal men- director’s official residence in Febru-
the court (coram: Rajsekhar Mantha, J) has set aside food, accommodation, the treat- tance of these people so that contexts. Community mental tal health system and its certified ary. That too invites suspicion.
the expulsion. Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellor, ments and medication, and fol- prejudices dissipate, and patients health services can offer a mix of mental health specialists over- A country’s spy chief needs to
low-up care. It is not something can overcome the stigma and clinical, psychological, and social burdened, these programmes refrain from holding private meetings.
Bidyut Chakraborty, and the university administra-
the average Indian can afford. shame. services to people with severe, can develop ‘community capacity They can lead to the disclosure of sen-
tion have been directed to be more “inclusive", The fact is that poor mental India’s Mental Healthcare moderate, and mild mental ill- in treatment and counseling fos- sitive information or to unnecessary
indeed to avoid what the court has called “unneces- health is just as bad as or even Act 2017 that replaced the archa- nesses. Also, counseling can tering rich, bottom-up cadres of misunderstandings about the agency.
sary confrontation". It is pretty obvious that the court worse than any kind of physical ic Mental Health Act 1987 is a make a profound difference and community-based counselors for It is ridiculous that Park’s movements
order is remarkably sweeping. Altogether, seldom has injury. Left untreated, it can lead piece of very progressive legisla- build resilience to cope with more systematized approaches were made public through Cho’s social
Visva-Bharati suffered so severe a setback in the to debilitating, life-altering con- tion for people with mental dis- despair. Providing psychoeduca- with deeper and better outreach. media posts about her two meetings
court, one that is a reflection too on the performance ditions. Medical science has pro- orders and sensitive to the social tion to the patients’ families can However, promising they may with Park. He frequently had open
of the VC. The order dwells on the conduct of the gressed enough to be able to impact of mental illness, like stig- also help. look, community mental health conversations with her on social
Vice-Chancellor and the university management ~ cure, or at least control, most ma and poverty. There have been some programmes’ success will hinge media.
“Both should take a more convivial approach in deal- mental-health problems with a Fundamentally, the Act encouraging innovations in India on India’s approach across the When Cho’s allegations were
combination of drugs, therapy, treats mental disorders on the in community-oriented mental board. reported, the Corruption Investigation
ing with the affairs of the university. Unnecessary and community support. Indi- same plane as physical health healthcare led by voluntary At the same, there is enough Office for High-ranking Officials
confrontation should be avoided". The Bench has dividuals can lead fulfilling and problems thus stripping them of organisations that are both hope that with simple yet effec- quickly embarked on investigations.
rected the VC to abide by the observation in "letter productive lives while perform- all stigmatizations. It mandates impactful and replicable. Dr. tive steps, we can turn the situa- It booked Yoon on four charges,
and spirit". Indeed, Justice Mantha has ordered the ing day-to-day activities such as that every citizen has the right to Vikram Patel, who is a professor tion around and build a more though without evidence linking him
university administration to adopt what he calls a going to school, raising a family, adequate treatment and says at the London School of Hygiene accommodating environment to the allegation that he abetted accu-
“pragmatic view" in reviewing the suspension in re- and pursuing a career. insurance companies must cover and Tropical Medicine and co- for those struggling with mental sations. It also searched the parlia-
cent years of at least 70 teachers and staff. The court The lack of recognition of mental health services. Concep- founder of the Goa-based men- distress and expand access to mentary office of Rep. Kim Woong.
has conveyed the assurance that the suspension mental ill-health propels families tually, the Act transforms the tal health research non-profit mental health and psychosocial The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office
orders would be reviewed in accordance with the to seek support from a range of focus of mental health legislation Sangath has been at the forefront services. launched an internal inspection.
statute of the university. The subtext of the judiciary's
directive to Visva-Bharati must be that there is con- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
siderable murk that must of necessity be cleansed. It
Resolution in thrust areas

is a reflection too on the conduct of the university The banking sector is in dire need
that the court has stumped the authorities with the now of fresh capital in any form, QUAD MEETING
perfectly rational observation that three students be it private equity, infrastructure SIR, This refers to the editorial “Quad quotient” (17 September). It is
could not have caused “mayhem” on the campus. SIR, Apropos your report, “Bad liquidity, investment remains in- investment trust, or ARC or all of encouraging to note that leaders of the Quad nations ~ USA, Japan,
The university authorities have been generally muted Bank, Govt OK’s Rs 30k Cr guaran- different. them. India and Australia are taking part in a physical meeting at the White
in their response to the charge that “political parties tee” (The Statesman, 17 Septem- Whereas, the PSBs account for Ideally, the bad bank ought to House on 24 September at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, cli-
ber), the crux of our economy to- around 75 per cent of loans dis- have been set up 3-4 years ago, just mate change and the Afghan disaster. It would be pertinent if the
and outsiders” are misusing educational institutions
day lies in activating financial bursed in the system they have after banks' Asset Quality Review Quad countries reinvigorate themselves and cooperate to discuss
and the students could have been used “as a front to mediation where despite enough created 80 per cent of the NPAs. or when stress was building on humanitarian aid for the poor Afghan people.
bring the institution to a standstill”. As regards Visva- outstandings and the banks were Yours, etc., Dilip Kumar Dutta, Midnapore, 17 September.
Bharati, the High Court has hit the bull’s eye. The delaying recognition. Having now
unplanned erection of walls, to bar outsiders, has installed an institution by design
made confusion worse confounded. And then the or default, we need to leverage it the thrust areas, rather than follow est bankers don't need to fear the
punchline ~ “It is sad to note that the noble cause of with greater innovation, decisive- a generic approach. '3 Cs' must sound infinitely more
education has been slaughtered at the altar of politics ness and expedition. Bad bank is an attempt at earnest, in letter and spirit. Audi-
and a political slugfest”. Denuded too is the security Given a dozen Asset Recon- recouping slippages from past tors ought to regain their primacy
cover of the Vice-Chancellor. Overall, the legal indict- struction Management companies neglect. Wisdom lies in not perpet- in oversight. Suspicion is a blunt
for recovery of chronic NPAs with uating acquired weaknesses but in tool as opposed to diligent gather-
ment has been severely damning. It is now squarely their specialised personnel and forestalling them from now on- ing of financial intelligence. This
up to those responsible for running the university to domain expertise, we have the wards. government, sadly, was remiss in
decide if they wish to return to the path of educa- needed tools. Our bank NPAs Empowerment, discipline and adding such sophisticatication and
tion, or seek fresh ways to create disruptions. The being endemic to specific sectors accountability of top echelons of maturity to its tool kit.
university's theme song, Amader Santiniketan, as steel and infrastructure, we the banks need to be laid down. Yours, etc., R. Narayanan,
sounds jarring in context, if not a mite hypocritical. must hyper activate resolution in The assurance of the FM that hon- Navi Mumbai, 17 September.
@UPSC_THOUGHT
NEW DELHI, MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 07

The farce of a recall vote
100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
The Simla communiqué on the subject
ASHFAQUE SWAPAN of the Calcutta and Bombay Commit-
tees’ reports regarding the methods to
I
t was a political circus almost as be adopted to rehabilitate the older Gov-
outsized as America’s largest ernment securities has apparently failed
state: California. to produce a flutter in the market for
This was a recall election where Government paper. The reports are,
the result should have been a fore- indeed, not of the heroic character
gone conclusion - and in the end, it expected in some quarters. The poor
was. California Governor Gavin New- holder of 3 and half per cent Govern-
som, a Democrat, ran a robust cam- ment paper standing at 60 is not to
paign to turn the election into a cake- receive a present of Rs 40 at the expense
walk in this overwhelmingly Democ- of the taxpayer. One of the committees,
ratic state. it is true, recommends conversion into
But not before he spent some five per cents but the poor holder would
sleepless nights, and the state went have to find further capital to enable
through the sort of drama that would him to take advantage of the offer.
make a soap opera screenwriter According to the other proposal the old
blush. rupee debt would be amortized year by
First, let’s have a quick primer on year but only by very small instalments.
that odd political confection: the Cal- The majority of the present holders
ifornia recall system. A legacy of the would be lucky if they witnessed their
progressive tradition of direct democ- own escape from the predicament in
racy, California has a relatively low which, regarded as owners of capital,
threshold of petitioners that can trig- they have been placed by depreciation.
ger a vote to recall a governor. Even these proposals the Government is
A lofty idea, perhaps, but it has prepared to consider only in the light of
more holes than a piece of Swiss essential capital expenditure - and
cheese. Take this year’s gubernatorial hence of the new loans which may
recall election. A voter had to make become necessary - during the next
two choices. The first was whether decade. Such expenditure is hardly likely
you want to recall (read “sack”) the to be small or the loans negligible to
current governor. If you don’t, then judge from the needs and projects which
the governor gets to keep his job. End Like most of the awful things Republicans likely wistfully a doomed strategy in a state where a Trump clone that helped galvanise the Reforms are bringing to light.
of story. that are happening around the world looked back at the last time California Republicans are so outnumbered. Democratic voters. The lopsided
But if you do, then things get during this terrible time, it was the tried to recall a governor and suc- CNN reports that Elder has said Democratic advantage did the rest. NEWS ITEMS
weird. In that case, anyone who wins pandemic that almost cost Newsom ceeded. In 2003, just like in one of his that “the ideal minimum wage is USD In the end, voters backed New-
a plurality among a colourful assort-
ment of candidates - this year there
his job. California was hit hard by the
pandemic, and Newsom’s tough
“Terminator” movies, macho movie
star Arnold Schwarzenegger
0.00.” He once called climate change
“a crock,” argued slave owners should
som for stoutly defending robust
measures to battle Covid-19. More INDIAN LEGISLATIVE
were 46 - wins. I am not joking. So
hypothetically, even if 49 per cent
restrictive mandates made many vot-
ers chafe. What’s worse, while he
appeared to come out of nowhere
and beat sitting Democratic Gover-
receive reparations, and opposed
mandating masks or vaccines during
than 67,000 Californians have died in
the pandemic, and despite the ASSEMBLY
voters vote for keeping the governor imposed draconian restrictions, he nor Gray Davis. the Covid-19 pandemic. He has also Republican attacks, Newsom has Simla, Sept 19
(which means 51 per cent don’t and was caught schmoozing – maskless - Things have changed since then. written that “women know less than stood firm, and California has one of When the Legislature Assembly met this
he/she has to go), anybody among in a party in one of the most expen- The state is far more Democratic, and men.” Good luck winning California the nation’s highest vaccination rates morning Mr. Townshend and Maham-
her/his opponents with a plurality - sive restaurants in California named while Davis was very unpopular, with that. and lowest rate of new virus cases. mad Husan Khan took the oath of alle-
Newsom’s opponent Larry Elder won French Laundry (I’m still scratching Newsom is not. The key difference, Yet, the fact of the matter is that “It appears that we are enjoying giance as new members. The latter was
38 per cent at last count - gets to oust my head about that name). however, is the diametrically oppo- in the summer, polls did show that an overwhelmingly ‘no’ vote tonight dressed in khaddar and a Gandhi cap
him. Angry voters organised, and con- site political strategy to unseat the the recall vote could be close. New- here in the state of California, but ‘no’ and is the first member of the Assembly
Another wrinkle in the mix - servative media and the Republican governor. In 2003, Schwarzenegger som hauled in a torrent of campaign is not the only thing that was to appear in this costume. At question
which gave the Democrats a real Party were only too happy to egg hewed to a moderate, localised polit- cash and simply drowned the air- expressed tonight,” a jubilant New- time Sir William Vincent, answering a
fright this time around - is that a them on. ical message - his focus was on a waves. Republicans, for all the noise som told reporters on September 14. question by an absentee member, said
recall election is often a one-off effort At first glance, you may be won- widely loathed vehicle tax. (The fact they made, failed to convince donors “We said yes to science. We said the speeches of the Viceroy delivered at
with very low turnout. Important dering: What on earth were Republi- that he was a celebrity didn’t hurt - with deep pockets to back them. yes to vaccines. We said yes to ending the dinner given by the Chelmsford Club
Democratic constituents like the cans thinking? In California, Democ- this is, after all, the land of Holly- There is also a rather Trumpian this pandemic. We said yes to peo- and in answer to an address given by the
minorities and young people are rats outnumber Republicans by a wood.) twist in all this. The former president ple’s right to vote without fear of fake Liberal League or records of them were
notoriously inconsistent voters. margin of 2-1; Democrats have a The Republican strategy this continues to cast a long shadow on fraud and voter suppression. We said not public documents within the mean-
In the end, however, the Repub- supermajority in the legislature, and time around was the exact opposite - the party, which is utterly in thrall yes to women’s fundamental consti- ing of Section 74, Indian Evidence Act.
lican-fevered dreams never did pan the last time Republicans won a with catastrophic electoral results. with his brand of toxic, take-no-pris- tutional right to decide for herself They were public in the sense that they
out - to nobody’s surprise. But before state-wide race was over a decade Their frontrunner, conservative radio oners, own-the-libs politics. In Cali- what she does with her body, her fate, had been made known to the public. The
I elaborate on that, let’s take a quick ago. President Joe Biden trounced talk show host Larry Elder, is a hard- fornia, that’s poison. her future. We said yes to diversity.” Government did not propose to take any
recap on how this recall circus came former President Donald Trump last core unabashed Trump-like candi- Elder helped Newsom frame the action with regard to their further circu-
about. year by a whopping 29 points. date who basks in riling up the base: election as a choice between him and The Daily Star/ANN. lation.
IT CAME TO MIND | MANISH NANDY DEMANDS OF

UNEMPLOYED IN
A father and a son has found a way to get rid of them,
one by one. My deputy, Arvind, who
should have been invaluable to him,
LONDON
he chose to retire early. “Right, but they are not ready for Pressed by organised bodies of unem-
“In fact, Udayan has rebuffed it.” ployed, several of the London Boards of
any attempt to broach a discussion “What then is the solution?” Guardians have agreed to increase the
about the company for which I prac- “The solution, if they are pre- scale of outdoor relief to as much as
tically gave my life. I don’t know what pared to consider it, is to start by talk- pound 4-13-6 per family. This amount is
kind of hubris it is. Why does he resist ing about a different thing: how they far more than many of the ratepayers are
me, his own father, who only wishes are going to talk about the company. receiving in wages or salary and who will
his success?” They must both realize that, even have to contribute towards this relief in
Udayan was not just polite but with the best of intentions, they have rates. In Islington the amount spent in
extremely gracious when I men- reached a roadblock. So, they need to Poor Law relief during the first six months
tioned that I had met his father and talk about the roadblock. Udayan can of the year was pound 200,000 and under
found him rather unhappy. say: What kind of discussion will be the new scale it is admitted that an addi-
“Father accomplished a lot with helpful for him and what kind will tional pound 500 per week will be spent.
the little that he got from my grand- not be. Narayan can say: I will not The result will be that trades people and
father. I admire that. But he does not recommend actions, I will only sug- others, who feel the pressure of high rates,
seem to realize that things have gest some perspectives and say why will remove to other boroughs and the
changed. Nor did his friends on the those may be useful to consider. They boroughs that adopt the “better than
board. We needed a new direction, a can agree at the start on a specific work” scale of relief will soon find them-
new kind of leadership. I had to slice of time, say a half-hour, and see selves bankrupt.
change the board. We are doing bet- how it goes.”
ter, though we are not out of the
woods yet.
Mandira thought about my idea
and said, “Perhaps that could be a
MADRAS LABOUR
“I can’t talk with father because
he won’t help me to weigh options.
beginning. Perhaps I could mediate it.”
I was amazed, weeks later, when
DISTURBANCES
He wants to make recommendations Udayan talked about his father with The following is the text of the commu-
and then he gets hurt if I can’t use or heart-warming candor, “It has taken niqué issued today by the Government
accept them. I don’t need that kind me time to realize that my father can with regard to the disturbances in the mill
of backseat driving.” be many things at the same time. He area:- In a previous communiqué the Gov-
Illustration: Debabrata Chakrabarty I was sad to hear the two sides can be tough and warm, stubborn ernment announced their intention to
N
arayan Gupta had taken a apartment. father. and was impressed when Mandira and flexible, adversarial and loving. quarter additional police in the disturbed
small workshop his father It did not work out that way. Not I had known the family for a long spoke in her husband’s absence. We couldn’t talk about the company area in the city, but explained that the cost
had started late in his life once did Udayan seek his father’s time, for my mother had been in col- “They both want to break the without friction. Now, somehow, we incurred would depend on the future
and turned it into a suc- advice on any problem. Nor did he lege with Mandira and I met Narayan ice,” she said, “but they don’t know have learned to discuss quietly. I behaviour of inhabitants of the area. There
cessful engineering company by forty consult his father on any key issue. in a management association. They how. Every time they talk about the think he understands the new prob- have been numerous acts of violence in
years of unremitting work. He hand- His father’s role as a board member knew Udayan had been briefly my company, they get impatient or lems I have. I also think he has some the area during the last fortnight culmi-
ed over the reins to his son, who had became insignificant, for Udayan student in Manila, and they felt com- unhappy. Yet that is what they really insights I can use. I was wrong to nating this morning in the throwing of sev-
graduated from a reputed technology soon ejected the old-timers and fortable talking about him. want to talk about but can’t. Udayan imagine he was a spent force.” eral bombs of a crude nature, one of which
institute and interned under his dad’s packed the board with his hand- “Udayan,” Narayan said over tea, naturally wants to avoid unpleasant- I was happy to hear him say so. I seriously injured a sergeant of the police.
watchful eye for fifteen years. The picked people. Udayan had always “is a kind of a schizoid personality. ness, and resists going in that direc- had to restrain myself, however, from The Government have therefore decided
idea was that Udayan now knew how been attentive to his parents and He is very polite and deferential in tion.” telling him that nobody, absolutely that the cost of the additional police shall
to run the company the way his close to his mother, Mandira. He vis- person. Not just with me and his I agreed with her that they are no human being, is ever really a spent be recovered from the inhabitants of the
father wanted it run and could always ited them regularly, asked them mother. I have noticed how courte- likely to disagree, and even become force. disturbed area in proportion to their
take his advice in case of a problem. about health issues and brought ous he is with you and his other pro- disagreeable, if they talk about the means.
After all, his father still served on the them gifts. But the visits became fessors. But he has run roughshod company. The writer is a Washington-based
company board and lived in the same
elite edifice, though in a different
intermittent and their duration short-
er when he sensed a frostiness in his
over my colleagues and friends who
served on the company board. He
“But that is what they would
really like to talk about,” she said.
international development advisor and had
worked with the World Bank. He can be
reached at mnandy@gmail.com
BOMBAY MILL
EMPLOYEES ON
CROSSWORD NO 29039
STRIKE
This morning Tardeo was the scene of a
disturbance. At about 9 o’clock the work-
ACROSS 16 Wasn't mad about type of string 28 Leave (or again join) regime 8 Supervision (or neglect) of men of the Alliance Mill, mostly
sounds from banjo, maybe (6) restricting society (6) deliveries, given stated location (9)
1 Split, or stick together, being
17 After a short time, gained back 14 Parisian can work before I briefly Mahomedans, abruptly struck work and
caught with time off (6)
unimpressive catch (6) DOWN return (9) forced their Hindu employees to join
5 Radar perhaps surprisingly
protected after power cut (8)
19 Member wearing man's clothes (8) 2 In Mali, a natural climber (5) 15 Against hollow man and Tory them. They then went to the Motilal Pitty
21 Look for someone at one's own 3 Sent up a Roman Catholic to state cavorting? That's self-contradictory (9) Mill close by, entered the departments
9 Permit, or penalise, criminal actions?
level, or higher? (4) capital (5) 18 Become worn down, or endure topic
Not at first (8)
22 Skill of crew aboard the 4 Teaches nonsense if ideas only of desultory conversation (7) on the ground floor and stopped the
10 Hide, or show, Native American workmen from working. In order to avert
Hindenburg? (10) partly recalled (7) 19 Add or take away new gaudy
between two poles (6)
11 Rifle protecting a revolutionary, or
25 Husband follows peculiar scent or 5 Stupidly refuse to accept covering (7) any trouble the workmen quietly left the
horrible smell (6) bottomless ego (7) 20 Nuclear device's designer about to place. They then moved towards the
an officer (10)
26 Bold, or at first lost in terrible 6 Suggest, or reject, flip of coin be demoted (7)
12 Moving rapidly, or stuck when
perdition (8) elsewhere (4,3) 23 Removes or supplies kernels (5) Maneckjee Petit and Jivraj Baloo Mills,
grabbed by foot (4) which adjoin the above mills, but the
27 It has the same shape as Moorish 7 One of the limits of canteen: very 24 Seeing all but not the top of the
13 Sides with, or switches before
saying cheerio (6,2)
palace's first construction (8) small plate for breakfast cereal (9) cake (5) management of both mills, seeking the
mob coming, closed the gates and thus
frustrated the object of the strikers. The
police were communicated with and
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) arrived on the scene and maintained
order.
@UPSC_THOUGHT
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | MONDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 2021 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL Small beginnings
Walking the tightrope This is a battle that has raged on for 4,000 years, since the world’s first king
E
xternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar negated the
ruled in Mesopotamia. But this first happened in India. And this is happening
statement of Chief of Defence Staff ’s reiteration of
Samuel Huntington’s principle of clash of civilisation yet again today, as we now have a revolution in the making
H
theory while explaining China’s growing rapport
with Islamic nations vis-à-vis the West. Jaishankar’s outright istory has taught That is an eye-opening tale in
denial of India subscribing to any clash of civilisations theory us an important itself, underscoring the fact
at Dushanbe appears to be reflective of India’s effort to build and ingratiating that we are losing the plot. We
a broad-based consensus in the geopolitical landscape rather RAJEEV NARAYAN lesson, one that are thumbing our nose at those
than looking at nations as adversaries. It is important to warns us that even the small- people who took care of us
look at the SCO meet in the context of the upcoming Quad est of sparks can lead to the through the pandemic – agri-
summit. The fact that India is meeting two contradictory most devastating of fires, infer- culture – the only sector of the
groups in such a short interval of time may partly explain nos that can mature and con- economy that kept India’s GDP
the balancing posture taken by the minister. While Quad is sume everything in their path, going through the lockdowns.
a pro-NATO group focussing on rules-based order in the obliterating and annihilat- This particularly makes the fact
Indo-Pacific and primarily countering China’s aggressiveness, ing the most powerful of vis- that we have been paying them
SCO is a forum where China is not just an important mem- ible forces. Thus it is that the Rs 27 per day for their efforts
ber but has also improved its ties to a great extent with the world has got new beginnings very nice.
other like-minded members. This situation translates into a over the eons, time and again. It is all about Yoga
tough challenge of maintaining a balance for India between Mahatma Gandhi showcased Yoga is the way out, we are
Quad and SCO, more specifically between the US and China. this in South Africa, as a young told each year on International
Though tough, the task is achievable as it is gradually becom- Indian lawyer who refused to It is important to stoke a nation’s soporific conscience and yank it out of mindless sobriety Yoga Day, when we spend hun-
ing a norm among nations to align with a varied set of blocs comply with the sadistic rules dreds of crores to celebrate a
and countries in pursuance of their national interests. It was of racial segregation on a train, battle, which has been rag- prices. And reduce the prices mentioned in last week’s writ- legacy that shall solve all our
visible recently during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a protest that led him to be ing since time immemorial, of diesel. But, lo and behold eup? Will our authorities at problems. I admit that I adore
when the United States turned towards countries like Paki- ejected from a railway car at started 4,000 years ago, when and oops; nothing has hap- least now wake up from their Shilpa Shetty – who doesn’t
stan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan for resolution of Afghan Pietermaritzburg. the world’s first ‘real global’ pened since. And let’s forget stupor and step up to the plate and wouldn’t? But today, my
turmoil, leaving India side-lined. The Afghanistan episode, it It happened in the Amer- empire was established in Mes- what he said about electric- and they revisit the whiplash real India is facing some grim
seems, has given fresh lessons to India in terms of overdepen- icas of yore too, where sub- opotamia by King Sargon of ity prices. they faced in West Bengal? We lessons of lost jobs and slim-
dence on a major nation like the US, and complete ignorance jugated Red Indians defied Akkad. Is this now happening For a small beginning has can only wonder. mer salaries. A wispy waistline
of the players whom it saw as hostile to its ideological stand. insurmountable odds and in India and do we have visibil- been made. Pandora’s Box is pretty low on the wish-list
The External Affairs Minister has now come to understand I don’t know finally emerged independent. ity into our very own ‘new and Time for a deep breath Clearly, the Pandora’s Box now, unfortunately. In this new
the nature of the multi-polar globalised world in a much bet- about tomorrow. And it happened in Japan, small’ beginnings? Time shall Anyhow, this SDM alleg- has been opened. The authori- India, one of my friends spoke
ter manner. The geopolitics of all the nations are interrelated which became a technologi- tell. I apologize to my coun- edly issued orders, in the ties, facing an unseasonable to me recently of very long offi-
to each other, and the process of decision-making around But yesteryears cal superpower just a few trymen who may take affront presence of live TV cameras, depletion in their seemingly cial WFH (work from home)
global issues is carried out efficiently only through consensus. teach me a decades after being the only and remind me that India cre- instructing police personnel, indeterminable might, are hours. I wryly reminded him
So, countries that have good relations with most of the other unfortunate nation in the his- ated the first true civilization men and women, to redesign now suddenly lacking in both that long hours are better than
countries, have the advantage of pushing forward their con- tough lesson, tory of the world to face the – vide Mohenjodaro, Harappa the heads of protestors who the gumption and temerity to no hours at all, and he imme-
cerns more efficiently at the global stage. It is a welcome sign warning me wrath of A-bombs and mass and Indus Valley. Mind you, dared to cross the ‘Laksh- tackle this unexpected reversal, diately acquiesced. This is our
that India seems to be adopting a path of peace rather than destruction. America’s pluto- despite my teenage trots along man Rekha’, as advised by his one that has been triggered by new India. How did we get to
war. Peace, however, is a language of strength. India’s bid for
that even the nium-enriched ‘Fat Man’ and Delhi’s railway lines and mid- Government. When all hell their own mask-less statements this?
peaceful resolution of conflict with China has to be backed smallest spark uranium-based ‘Little Boy’ dle-aged rants from the rus- broke loose, he was punished and careless innuendos. Over At the end of the day, a
by strategic finesse and firmness. S Jaishankar also talked can cause a hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. ticity of Himachal Pradesh, I by means of being granted a the last few days, we have seen small revolt or rebellion once
about Asian solidarity being dependent on the example set A country was brought to its know my history too. fruitful posting in Chandigarh. India’s hottest leaders being in a while is good, for it stokes
by India-China relations, which is largely missing at pres- gutting fire that knees and the Second World So what is happening That only stoked the fire some belligerent and vociferous at a nation’s soporific conscience
ent as both the nations are at loggerheads with each other. may consume, War ended in a horrific man- today, on my streets and in more, inspiring the farmers to rallies in cities and towns in and yanks it out of mindless
It is a fact that the present state of affairs in the region is not ner. History is witness to the our towns? Is India making get angrier, agitate some more India’s election tipoff spots, oft sobriety. Exercise and Yoga
so conducive towards Asian solidarity. History is witness obliterate and aftermath, good and bad, the a new and belligerent begin- and cry foul. Et tu, Brutus, they getting booed off the dais. It are good, but not when deal-
that China has not responded well to India’s quest for peace annihilate all apologetic and the apoplec- ning? One would like to believe screamed. has happened in Muzzafarpur, ing with souls devolved of
over the time. The country has tried to establish dominance tic, and despite the repeated so, for a beginning of sorts is The history of just the last Ghazipur, Tikri, Karnal and even the most basic of emo-
over India on each possible occasion. Even as the External and sundry. Is apologies of subsequent and finally being made. 10 months tells us that almost Aligarh. tional and mental prowess. It
Affairs Minister said that China should not view its relation- that dreadful future American Presidents, I For a little bit, let’s focus on everyone is now really torn The greatest vacillation lies is far mightier to get food into
ship with India through the lens of other countries, one can’t clearly have no plans to go to our farmers, who have been apart. By its very definition, in the numbers released last hungry Indian bellies than to
ignore that China has been strategically trying to counter truth finally the Americas anytime soon. agitating for nearly a year, history runs deeper. Hitler, week by the authorities them- heave chants and rant verses
India by using the territories of other neighbouring nations. hitting home? It happened in South Africa beginning with Delhi-NCR’s Mussolini, Genghis Khan and selves, which proffer that the into debilitated and depraved
It is in this context that General Bipin Rawat’s theory can- as well, where Nelson Mandela borders. They have been called Napoleon Bonaparte come average Indian farmer earns minds. A full happy stomach
not be ignored completely. Peaceful resolution of the conflict spent 27 years in jail, between many names – ‘annadaatas’, to mind as examples. Let me Rs 27 per day; a ludicrous and shall always be more humane
between India and China is possible only if all the harsh real- Robben Island, Pollsmoor ‘khaalistaanis’, terrorists, anar- close a poignant case. At the preposterous grand total of Rs than a hundred empty minds,
ities are accepted and countered with strength. Furthermore, Prison and Victor Verster chists, anti-nationals, politi- risk of rubbing some people 810 a month. That is food for says an ancient saying.
the denial of clash of civilisations theory is being read in two Prison. Ultimately, amid cally-motivated activists and the wrong way, let me bla- thought, reminding us how When he found America,
possible contexts — it may be a statement for China that it domestic and international mawalis, yet they have per- tantly state that what is being much you and I pay for a cup of Christopher Columbus said,
should not see India-US relations as an obstructing factor in pressure and fears of impend- sisted, They have been placated touted as a little victory for the coffee or a loaf of bread or for “The Sea will grant each man
the Sino-India ties, or it can also mean that China’s bonho- ing civil war, President Frank- since justice has to be seen to farmers is actually a massive an N95 mask to protect our- new hope, as sleep brings him
mie with the Taliban-led Afghanistan should be framed as lin Willem de Klerk released have prevailed, and deprived. step in a very optical state of selves from COVID-19. Yet, home to his own people.” Share
countering Indian interests. Eventually, it can be said that Mandela in 1990, after which Finally, our farmers’ scented affairs. we have the spleen to question this thought with those who
India is on the right track as it reiterates the approach of rec- he rose to become the country’s their first minor victory last Is this route right or wrong? why they are protesting, not are sleeping on the roads on
onciliation rather than confrontation. India chose peace over first black President. This hap- week, when former SDM I am no expert, and time shall wearing masks in public, fol- our Capital’s borders, far from
war but, as peace is the language of empowered and embold- pened in the United States too, Ayush Sinha was ‘sent on leave’ tell. What I do know is that a lowing COVID-19 protocols, their homes and loved ones.
ened, the country should back its quest for peace with stra- when Barack Obama became after the Karnal standoff and beginning has been made by et al. They are the only ones who
tegic finesse. Diplomatically, S Jaishankar’s statement at the the first African American the ‘gherao’ (surrounding of an a very persistent set of our Let’s not even go into what can tell us how it really feels.
sidelines of the SCO meet, to offer a balancing approach President in 2009, defying cen- institution). Ironically, it took populace. A telling indicator some of some chosen Corpo- This, after all, is just a small
before the Prime Minister flies to Washington to address the turies-old nepotism and dust- a Gandhi – Varun Gandhi, on is that the powers-that-be are rates have brought to the table, beginning.
Quad summit, appears to be a calculated move. ing off ill-assumed might of September 11, 2021 – to write a now not being allowed to enter for that is something they treat The writer is a communica-
the Whites. Small beginnings letter to bring about some sen- villages in districts and teh- as stubble. They are offering tions consultant and a
do work. sibility into the decision-mak- sils that are soon going to polls a pittance even for premium clinical analyst. narayanra-
DearEditor Long-drawn battle

This ‘small-beginnings’
ing process. He beseeched the
Government to raise sugarcane
in Utttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Is this the divine justice that I
agri-products; apples, orchids,
lichchis, plums and peaches.
jeev2006@gmail.com
Views expressed are personal
Boom and bust

PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION
With the paddy harvesting season beginning shortly,
it is time for north Indian states like Punjab, Haryana
and Uttar Pradesh to take stock of the measures taken
to prevent the burning of crop residue, the main reason
behind the rising air pollution in the National Capital
Region (NCR) during the winter months. Perhaps
the respective states have taken steps to deal with the A dichotomy was visible as the Telecom Minister introduced a slew of measures to
problem, including punitive measures, but dealing with
violations will be a challenge, especially for Punjab
and Uttar Pradesh, in view of the ensuing Assembly
augment the beleaguered sector, contrasted by an apparent ignorance around MTNL
T
elections. Thus, the governments of Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi should meet at the earliest he Union Govern- and elsewhere began to suf- area locations is left unguarded
to chalk out a strategy to avoid stubble burning. That the ment’s generous fer sharp deterioration. Tele- without any protection from
problem is acute in the region has been pointed out by shower of goodies phone and internet services vandalism. In Sarva Priya
several studies conducted over the years which confirm for the national tele- began to suffer badly. Visits Vihar, not far from the local
the impact of burning crop residue and solid biomass on com sector has been greeted to the area headquarters near shopping market, the doors
air quality. Checking air pollution should be a priority SUBHASH CHOPRA with big applause by the the IIT flyover bridge (toward of the telephone equipment
because stubble burning leads to a host of respiratory industry. The four-year mor- Yoosof Serai and AIIMS) for box have been missing for
ailments, a fatal combination in times of Covid-19, when atorium on all spectrum and complaints began to be treated several months now. Proba-
AGR ( adjusted gross revenue) very unprofessionally. The staff bly some scrap dealer has col-
many patients have died because of a crippling shortage
dues is indeed a timely life- response became increas- lected them!
of oxygen. Using technology to harness agricultural waste line to the beleaguered indus- ingly casual. Complaints suf- Visits to the huge office
can be a good start. Delhi has installed smog towers and try in the pandemic era that fered long delays before being complex and complaints
is pitching for the use of electric vehicles, considering has virtually knocked the hell attended to. Worse, the staff are met with the standard
that construction activities and vehicular emissions are out of the entire gamut of the The relief package for the sector includes a moratorium on AGR payments don’t pick up the phone to response: yes, the complaint
a major factor behind pollution there. The Commission business sector. But the good avoid answering calls. Pay- has been received and will be
for Air Quality has asked Delhi and other neighbouring news is accompanied by a rude are being given the option of directed at countering the duo- ment (cash) of bills can be attended to soon. But as usual,
states to adopt satellite data from ISRO to chalk out The new policy reminder for another part of doing it through equity. Voda- poly fears, the market being made only at far-flung loca- nothing happens. The customer
an action plan in this regard. More such application of aims at opening the telecom sector. To put it fone Idea and Bharti Airtel, dominated currently by just tions like Nehru Place and Bhi- is left in the lurch. The Area
technology should be undertaken to reduce pollution. bluntly, the once-great MTNL for instance, could be big ben- two big players, namely Reli- kaji Kama offices. Manager, ever so polite and
the field to (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam eficiaries. Vodafone Idea owes ance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The trouble seems to once helpful, is no longer able
— KHOKAN DAS, KOLKATA via email more players Ltd.) is dying a slow death. the government around Re All told the new measures have started with the sud- to rectify the situation. He and
with consumers Nay, it is being strangulated 50,000 crore while Bharti Air- are expected to pave the way den onrush of linemen and his staff are helpless yet always
TACKLING CYBERCRIMES ever so slowly and strategically tel owes Re 26,000 crore, both for large investments in 5G other staff being told to col- promising to do the needful.
According to NCRB data, there has been an 11.8 per getting wider by the powers that be. Or is it a big potential beneficiaries. technology and generate more lect their pensions with several The most serious aspect of
cent increase in cybercrimes in the past year. Due to the choices. It is case of what ‘the Government The other big opening for jobs. The policy changes were staff members being retired this sorry state of MTNL oper-
pandemic, resorting to online means for most of our day- giveth with one hand, it taketh the sector comes with the lib- hailed by the industry with at the beginning of this year. ation, or disfunction, is the
to-day activities has been inevitable. However, increased also directed at away with the other hand?’ eralization of FDI (Foreign Aditya Birla Group chairman No arrangements were made widespread talk or allegation
accessibility, tied with a lack of awareness, has led to countering the But first, let us sing the Direct Investment) rules. The Kumar Mangalam Birla call- to replace the retiring staff, that the entire MTNL busi-
this surge in cybercrimes. To tackle this, people must be praises of the policy announced new policy allows 100 per cent ing them as ‘pathbreaking according to the grapevine. ness is being rundown deliber-
informed about their rights and the various laws that exist
duopoly fears, last midweek (September 15) foreign investment through reforms’ that could unshackle Linemen became ever so rare ately with a view to its eventual
the market being by Telecom Minister Ashwini an automatic route. Until the industry by tackling long- to find. Their numbers had sell-off to a private business
to protect them. Empowering them with cybersecurity
Vaishnaw with an array of new now, 100 per cent of FDI was standing issues. Vodafone fallen so sharply that service conglomerate at knockdown
education and encouraging them to report such crimes dominated telecom incentives. Spectrum allowed in the telecom sec- Group CEO Nick Read called was left to chance and mercy. prices. Nearly three acres of
is also necessary. In a world that is rapidly becoming
digitalized, such reforms are the need of the hour. currently by just user charges are being rational- tor but only 49 per cent was it a ‘constructive initiative’ after Even extra polite gestures prime land housing the com-
ized. More importantly, spec- allowed through the automatic the sector ‘has struggled for towards the linemen failed to plex seem to be up for grabs.
— NIVEDITHA MENON, BANGALORE via email two big players trum can now be shared, not route. Earlier, investment many years.’ work. The truth is that that Privatization of public assets
just surrendered if needed. It above that limit required gov- Now to the other half of there are only the barest num- at throwaway prices seems to
millenniumpost.in encourages investors to put ernment approval. Now that the sector — the Mahanagar ber of linemen left who can just be the name of the game in
money into customer services restraint is done away with. Telecom Nigam Ltd. saga. about serve the office staff and India today!
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to and new technology. To ease The new policy aims at Somewhere around the begin- their immediate associates. The writer is a freelance writer
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, the burden of interest pay- opening the field to more ning of this current year, the Not just the neglect and and author of ‘India and Bri-
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 ment on the dues during the players with consumers get- MTNL service in the Sarva abdication of service, the tannia’ and other writings.
moratorium, the companies ting wider choices. It is also Priya Vihar area of South Delhi equipment at various sub- Views expressed are personal
2 AHMEDABAD MONDAY 20/9/2021 @UPSC_THOUGHT
From Rights proceeds to fund
Editor’s growth, cut debt: Airtel
Desk....... New Delhi: Sunil Mittal,
promoter and chairman, at-
homepass and data centre.
Investment in India entity
tending investor call to in- of OneWeb will be limited
teract with investors is a big to $7-8 mn. Additional 5%
confidence booster. Bharti equity stake in Indus Tow-
sees huge opportunities, ers has given Bharti more
and fresh capital infusion control over Indus Towers,
will support company’s bal- which is a critical asset for
ance sheet in investment to mobile business.
Bad bank will help clean up accelerate growth. It does Capex in mobile busi-
balance sheets, but credit culture not see any capital alloca-
tion in non-core business.
ness to be stable to slightly
higher: The company be-
must change for healthier Capex investment in 5G lieves 5G auction will hap-
financial system
spectrum which the com- pen early next year with
pany believes will happen rollout starting H2CY22 on-
On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman early next year, fibre and wards in large cities and
announced that the government had approved ex- data centre are its priorities. towns. However, excluding
tending a guarantee of Rs 30,600 crore to the National It does not spectrum,
Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) — collo- see any re- company does
quially referred to as the bad bank — to help clear quirement of not see much
stressed loans worth Rs 2 lakh crore from the balance The Vice President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, the Prime Minister, Shri spectrum af- rise in network
sheets of banks. As the buyer of these bad loans, ter 5G pro- capex due to
Narendra Modi and the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla jointly launching the Sansad TV, on the vides long- completion of
NARCL, through its operational entity, India Debt Reso- occasion of the International Day of Democracy, in New Delhi.
lution Company, will be tasked with the resolution of term FCF vis- 4G capex and
these assets. This may perhaps lead to better outcomes ibility. Digital modular BTS
Govt likely to extend incentive scheme

as consolidating loans from multiple banks into a single investment rollout and in-
entity may lead to a more effective, and timely resolu- has been vestments in
tion process. slow, but is core. It sees fi-
for leather industry till 2025-26

Under this framework, Rs 90,000 crore of loans, shaping good; bre invest-
which banks have fully provided for, will be transferred monetization ment to accel-
in the first phase. NARCL will purchase these loans in will be only at erate for
an 15:85 format — 15 per cent of the value will be Bharti Airtel level, which strengthening backhaul
paid in cash, while security receipts will be issued for New Delhi: The com- Sector (proposed outlay Rs isting campuses of Foot- diture of Rs 2,600 crore for could lead to value and support FTTH business.
the balance amount. The upfront cash payment will merce and industry minis- 500 crore); Establishment wear Design and Develop- three financial years 2017- maximisation, in our view. Digital investment slow,
aid cash flows of banks. But the process of price dis- try has submitted a proof Institutional Facilities (Rs ment Institute (FDDI). 18 to 2019-20. It was also Rights proceeds to fund but progressing well: Bharti
covery — the price at which NARCL buys these loans posal for the implementa- 200 crore); Mega Leather Under the ‘Mega aimed at the development future growth and believes businesses have
from the banks — might prove to be challenging even tion of IFLADP with an out- Footwear and Accessories Leather Footwear and Ac- of infrastructure and facili- deleverage: Bharti has an- shaped well, such as Wynk,
though the transaction involves the public sector as lay of Rs 1,700 crore, to be Cluster Development (Rs cessories Cluster Develop- tate additional investments, nounced rights issue of Rs Airtel IQ etc. The restructuri
both buyer and seller. Banks though will have the free- incurred during 2021-22 to 300 crore); Brand Promo- ment’ sub-scheme, graded increasing production and 210 bn. Issue is priced at as it has committed sepa-
dom to sell the security receipts. From the perspective 2025-26. For brand promotion of Indian Brands in assistance is proposed for employment generation. Rs535 10% discount to Fri- rate digital revenue disclo-
of investors, to the extent that the receipts are guaran- tion, support could be pro- Leather and Footwear Sec- land development, social in- The Council for Leather day before last’s closing sure in the future. Bharti
teed by the government, their downside is protected. vided to promote at least tor (Rs 100 crore); and De- frastructure, production fa- Exports (CLE) has also sug- price and rights entitle- does not want to divest
But to what extent a secondary market for such secu- 10 Indian brands in the in- velopment of Design Stu- cilities, and R&D (research gested the ministry for fur- ment of 1 share for every stake only in digital entity,
rities evolves is debatable. On its part, the government ternational market. dios (Rs 100 crore). and development) sup- ther extension of the 14 shares held on record and any strategic invest-
is pushing for a time-bound resolution of the assets by The government is The expenditure fi- port. scheme as it helps in update. It said the fund will be ment will have exposure to
giving a five-year period for the invocation of the guar- likely to extend an incen- nance committee, under For brand promotion, grading infrastructure, utilized to grab ‘once in a all businesses, which we
antee. But considering that these loans have been tive scheme for leather and the finance ministry, has al- support could be provided boosting domestic manu- life time opportunities’ in believe could lead to value
written down by banks, it is difficult to gauge what this footwear industries, IFLADP, ready approved the com- to promote at least 10 In- facturing and increasing mobile business (5G and fi- maximisation for share-
will yield. The absence of buyers as reflected in the IBC till 2025-26 with an outlay merce ministry’s proposal, dian brands in the interna- the country’s exports. bre), FTTH expand holders.
process, the extent to which financial creditors have of Rs 1,700 crore, to further the official added. Under tional market. CLE Chairman Sanjay
had to take haircuts on their admitted claims, all raise boost manufacturing, ex- the ‘Sustainable Technol- Further, under the com- Leekha said the scheme
questions over the market appetite on both sides of
the transaction. To be effective, the resolution process
ports and job creation, an
official said.
ogy and Environmental
Promotion’ component, as-
ponent of ‘Development of
Design Studios’, assistance
was extremely beneficial
for the sector. It helped the
Dr.Reddy’s inks pact with Citius Pharma to
will need to be managed in a timely manner by ca-
pable personnel as delays will only lead to value de-
Govt's excise collection
jumps 48% in Apr-July; al-
sistance could be provided
for setting up a common
could be given for devel-
oping 10 studios.
sector in registering
healthy growth rates. If the
sell all rights to anti-cancer agent E7777
struction. Resolution is after all preferable to liquida- ready 3x of full fiscal oil effluent treatment plant; The studios will pro- government extends it, the New Delhi: Dr. Reddy’s ment of up to USD 40 mil-
tion. From the government’s perspective, the security bond liability take advan- and support could be ex- mote design innovation, leather industry would get Laboratories said it has lion related to the CTCL (cu-
receipts guaranteed by it are a contingent liability. If tage of Rs 50,000-crore tended for modernisation/ promote market and export a significant filip, he said. inked a pact with US-based taneous T-cell lymphoma)
the proceeds from resolution of these bad loans ex- loan guarantee scheme: capacity expansion/ tech- linkages, facilitate buyer- Components like brand Citius Pharmaceuticals to indication approval and up
ceed the guaranteed amount, then there will be no MoS Finance Karad to nology up-gradation under seller meets, display de- building and setting up of sell its rights to an anti-can- to USD 70 million for addi-
outflow from its side. healthcare sector the ‘Integrated Develop- signs to international buy- design studios are key for cer agent.The drug firm tional indication approvals,
The creation of a bad bank could help clean up The Union Cabinet ment of Leather Sector’ ers and work as interfaces the sector’s growth and en- said it has entered into a de- the Hyderabad-based drug
bank balance sheets — though in the absence of a might approve it soon, the component. for the trade fairs. hancing competitiveness finitive agreement with maker said.Further, the
successful resolution it may end up being a repository official added. The Similarly, under the ‘Es- These studios would in both domestic and inter- Citius to sell all of its rights company would receive
for bad loans. But it does not in any way address the programme has six compo- tablishment of Institutional provide services such as national markets, Leekha to E7777 (an engineered certain sales-based mile-
underlying cause of the bad loan problem in India — nents Sustainable Technol- Facilities’ component, sup- technical support, and qual- added. IL-2-diphtheria toxin fusion stones and tiered earn-out
the credit culture that exists at public sector banks. ogy and Environmental port could be provided for ity control,” the official He said that under the protein) and certain related payments, it added.In
Only by reforming the banking system in India, espe- Promotion (proposed out- the setting up of new infra- added. Integrated Development of assets.Under the terms of March 2016, Dr. Raddy’s had
cially the public sector banks, can the financial system lay Rs 500 crore); Integrated structure and up-gradation Earlier, the IFLADP was Leather Sector component, agreement, Dr. Reddy’s will acquired the exclusive glo-
be made more efficient. Development of Leather of requisite infra of the ex- announced with an expen- norms should be easy so receive USD 40 million bal rights (excluding Japan
that the industry can avail upfront upon the closing of and Asia) to the investiga-
of its benefits. the transaction, followed tional anti-cancer agent
by approval milestone pay- E7777 from Eisai Co Ltd.
India imports 7,500 tonnes of GM
soyameal mainly from Bangladesh
FPIs net buyers in Aug;
New Delhi: India im-
ported 7,500 tonnes of ge-
netically modified (GM)
soyameal, used as a raw
expected to come from
Bangladesh, while
75,000 tonnes from Bra-
zil and the rest 2.5 lakh
invest Rs 16,459 cr
New Delhi: Foreign tions regarding exchange both equity and debt.
material in the poultry feed tonnes from the US, he portfolio investors (FPIs) rate also are favourable. At Shrikant Chouhan, ex-
industry, from added.According to the were net buyers to the tune these high valuations in ecutive vice president, eq-
neighbouring Bangladesh official, imports are tak- of Rs 16,459 crore in Indian equity risk-reward favour uity technical research at
in the last few weeks, a se- ing place and should markets in August, with debt, said V K Vijayakumar, Kotak Securities, added that
nior Government official help arrest prices of majority of investment chief investment strategist the rising pace of domestic
said. soyameal in the domes- coming in the debt seg- at Geojit Financial Services. vaccinations, a decent GST
To boost domestic sup- tic market. In the domes- ment. In equities, they in- For equities, he said the print for July and a sharp in-
ply and arrest skyrocketing tic market, soyameal vested just Rs 2,082.94 momentum in the market crease in August merchan-
prices, the crore while debt segment and the fear of missing the dise trade contributed to
govern- saw inflow of Rs 14,376.2 momentum might have market sentiment even as
ment had crore between August 2- brought FPIs back to equity PMI for August weakened.
in early 31, depositories data in August. On future of FPI flows,
August showed. The global scenario also he said India cannot be ig-
permitted The quantum of invest- turned favourable with the nored by global investors The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the Plenary Ses-
import of ment in the debt segment Fed sending a dovish mes- considering higher growth sion of the 21st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, through video
12 lakh is highest in this calender sage that the economy has opportunities. conferencing, in New Delhi.
tonnes of year so far. a lot more ground to cover In the remaining 2021,
G M The main reason for FPI and rate hikes are far away. the global investment con-
soyameal
after the
environ-
buying debt is the rising
spread between the bond
yields in US and India. The
The investment came
after the FPIs remained net
sellers in July to the tune of
tinues to remain challeng-
ing.
Market is focusing on
M-cap of 9 of top-10 most-valued
m e n t
ministry
and Di-
US 10-year is below 1.30
per cent and the Indian 10-
year has risen above 6.2 per
Rs 7,273 crore.
Besides, in the first
three trading sessions of
sustenance of growth in
developed economies. As
a result, global investors are
cos jumps Rs 2.93 lakh cr: RIL
rector General of Foreign rates in the last few cent. Also, the stability in September, FPIs have looking on emerging mar- New Delhi: Nine of the lakh crore becoming the Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
Trade (DGFT) cleared the air months had risen from Rs INR has brought down the pumped in Rs 7,768.32 kets to diversify risks, top-10 most-valued com- first domestic company to went up by Rs 20,712.29
on the GM issue.ater, DGFT 35 per kg up to Rs 100 cost of hedging. Expecta- crore in Indian markets Chauhan said. panies together added Rs attain this historic feat.The crore to Rs 6,49,943.93
also issued necessary noti- per cent. However with 2,93,804.34 crore in mar- market capitalisation (m- crore, and that of ICICI Bank
fication for import of GM the imports taking place, ket valuation in line with a cap) of Tata Consultancy gained Rs 17,373.55 crore
soyameal on August 24.
“According to traders, about
7,500 tonnes of GM
prices have softened a bit
to Rs 85 per kg now, he
added. Initially, the Govt
Infosys Foundation inaugurates record-breaking rally in eq-
uities, with Reliance Indus-
tries Ltd. emerging as the
Services jumped
44,832.5 crore to Rs
14,20,935.10 crore.
Rs to Rs 5,02,232.46 crore.
State Bank of India
added Rs 17,001.38 crore
soyameal has been im-
ported so far mainly from
Bangladesh, the official said.
had permitted import of
GM soyameal only via
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Silver Jubilee Block biggest gainer.The BSE 30-
share benchmark zoomed
2,005.23 points or 3.57 per
Bharti Airtel's valuation taking its valuation to Rs
3,85,007.74
crore. The
Traders have contracted (JNPT), but later permit- New Delhi: Infosys Foun- patients, according to a state- grant was also used to pro- cent last week. It scaled the valuation of
another 4.5 lakh tonnes of ted Mumbai Port and dation announced the inau- ment. cure necessary medical 58,000-mark for the first HDFC Bank
GM soyameal from Tuticorin ports. However, guration of the Silver Jubilee The block was inaugu- equipment, furniture, com- time on Friday. The Sensex jumped Rs
Bangladesh, Brazil and the industry experts believe Block at Sri Ramakrishna rated virtually by Vice-Presi- puters, and air conditioners last week only went be- 14,954.74
US, the official said. Out of it would be very difficult Sevashrama, Pavagada, in dent M Venkaiah Naidu. The required for operation the- yond the 57,000-level. The crore to Rs
4.5 lakh tonnes of orders to achieve 12 lakh tonnes Karnataka. grant from Infosys Founda- atres, it added.Infosys Foun- BSE benchmark soared 8,72,362.42
placed, about 1.25 lakh of GM soymeal imports as The philanthropic arm of tion was utilised to construct dation always tries to do its over nine per cent last crore, and
tonnes of GM soyameal is the window for import- Infosys provided a grant of this block, which will accom- best towards those who are month. that of
ing is only till October 31. Rs 5.5 crore towards the con- modate special units for eye in need. This hospital and its From the top-10 list, HDFC rose
struction and development care, two operating theatres services will aim to help Infosys was the only lag- by Rs
of this block, which will aim for surgical procedures, a thousands of underprivi- gard. The market valuation rallied Rs 35,342.16 crore 7,298.81 crore to Rs
Modi, Mamata, Adar among to provide ophthalmology high-tech diagnostic centre, leged patients in the coun- of Reliance Industries Ltd. to Rs 3,61,540.16 crore and 4,98,290.05 crore.
and ENT services, among an ENT centre and a cancer try, Infosys Foundation Chair- zoomed Rs 1,02,382 crore that of Bajaj Finance rose by In contrast, the valua-
Time’s ‘most influential people’ other healthcare facilities, to clinic.In addition, part of the person Sudha Murty said. to reach Rs 15,14,017.50
crore.RIL's market valuation
Rs 33,906.91 crore to Rs
4,54,207.76 crore.
tion of Infosys declined Rs
3,457.12 crore to Rs
New York: Prime Min- nation, India has had jumped to a record Rs 15 The m-cap of 7,21,244.78 crore.
ister Narendra Modi, Bengal three pivotal leaders
Chief Minister Mamata Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira
Banerjee and Serum Insti-
tute of India CEO Adar
Poonawalla have been
named among the world’s
Gandhi and Modi.
“Narendra Modi is the
third, dominating the
country’s politics like no
India for early outcome of
100 most influential
people of 2021 by TIME
magazine.TIME on
one since them.” The
profile written by noted
CNN journalist Fareed
TRIPS waiver for Covid vax
Wednesday unveiled its Zakaria alleges that Mod New Delhi: India has the public stock holding the Public Stock Holding
‘The 100 Most Influential has pushed the country pitched for an early out- programmes for food secu- programmes for food secu-
People of 2021’, a global list away from secularism come of the TRIPS waiver rity purposes. rity purposes; early out-
that includes US President cuses the 69-year-old proposal for Covid-19 vac- He also asked for adop- come of the TRIPS Waiver
Joe Biden, Vice President leader of “eroding the cines, therapeutics and di- tion of emerging ld while proposal for vaccines.
Kamala Harris, Chinese rights” of India’s Muslim agnostics in the World finding solutions to the chal- The agreement on
President Xi Jinping, Duke minority and imprisoning Trade Organisation (WTO). lenges of data protection Trade-Related Aspects of
and Duchess of Sussex and intimidating A meeting, which was and cyber security; and en- Intellectual Property Rights
Prince Harry and Meghan, journalists.On Banerjee, attended by trade and eco- suring sustainable con- or TRIPs came into effect in
former US President her profile for the 100 nomic ministers of BRICS sumption and production January 1995. It is a multi-
Donald Trump and co- most influential list says countries, Commerce and patterns. The Minister lateral agreement on intel-
founder of the Taliban that the 66-year-old Industry Minister Piyush emphasised, amongst lectual property (IP) rights
Mullah Baradar.TIME’s pro- leader has become the The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women, Australia, Ms. Marise Payne Goyal also stressed on find- other things, on the need such as copyright, industrial
file of Modi says that in its face of fierceness in In- and the Minister for Defence of Australia, Mr. Peter Dutton meeting the ing a permanent, adequate for a permanent, adequate designs, patents and pro-
74 years as an independent dian politics. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. and equitable solution to and equitable solution to tection of undisclosed.
@UPSC_THOUGHT
THE AVENUE MAIL, Jamshedpur COMMENT Monday, September 20, 2021 6
China's charm offensive in SE Asia aimed Caste Census is inevitable for country's inclusive growth
at countering US & Indo-Pacific Quad
By SPS Pannu
C
hina has mounted a fresh diplomatic offensive among neighbouring South-east
Asian countries to counter US influence in the region and the growing Indo-Pacific
Quad initiative. "Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
commenced a week-long official tour in four neighbouring countries on Friday with the first
stop in Vietnam, aiming to boost bilateral ties and cooperation in a wide range of areas, as
the US continues efforts to destabilize the region," the Chinese Communist Party
mouthpiece Global Times said in a report.
After Vietnam, Wang is scheduled to visit Cambodia, Singapore and South Korea. By Prabhat Kishore
"Wang's trip shows that China and the neighbouring countries are determined to enhance
P
diplomatic relations, despite external interference," the Global Times article said in a eople's voice for
reference to the US. complete Caste-
Wang's visit comes merely two weeks after US Vice President Kamala Harris toured the based Census is
region as part of Washington's move to strengthen a US alliance against an increasingly gaining momentum in
belligerent China. various corners of the
Her visit took place in the backdrop of US credibility in the region being questioned country. In absence of caste
following the abrupt collapse of the Afghanistan government just days after American troops census, the country is
were pulled out. The manner in which American troops were withdrawn has raised concerns relying upon a 90-year old
over how sincere Washington is to its commitments in the Indo-Pacific region. The Vice data to formulate its holistic
President's trip was aimed at allaying those fears. developmental policies and
China has been bullying its smaller South-east Asian neighbours over territorial limits and schemes for backward and
flexing its military muscle in the South China Sea. However, with its new charm offensive it deprived sections of the
is now dangling the trade and vaccine carrots to make amends. society. Caste and social
"China and Vietnam should refrain from unilateral actions regarding the South China Sea justice are interlinked to
that could complicate the situation and magnify disputes," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi each other and Caste
told the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh on Saturday. census will help the
"Wang said the two countries should cherish the hard-won peace and stability achieved government to implement today. Systematic caste- to 79.30%, whereas that of upper castes, who are particular caste. So, the
in the South China Sea and be vigilant to resist the intervention of extraterritorial forces," a welfare schemes, with wise enumeration of Muslim has increased from dominating the power share State government decided
Chinese foreign ministry statement said. pious motto of ' Jiski Jitni population was introduced 9.8% to 14.23%. Similarly, despite having nominal to conduct the caste census
China says it has historical sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, but its Bhagidari , Uski Utni by the Registrar General of the population of SC and ST population share and are to know the current status
neighbours and the United States have made it clear that the claim has no basis in Hissedari ". India in 1881 under British has increased from 14% to afraid of loosing their age- of various castes in the
international law. They cite the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to For a welfare Rule, which continued till 16.63% and 6.23% to long monopoly. state. The Maharashtra
which China is a signatory. government, it is a 1931. In 1941 census too, 8.61% respectively. Bihar Chief Minister State Commission for
While the South-east Asian countries are wary and distinctly uncomfortable with China, constitutional obligation the caste-wise figures were Obviously, the assumption Nitish Kumar is leading the Backward Classes
they are hesitant to take a stand that would antagonise a powerful neighbour. and commitment for collected, but the exercise of constant decadal growth chorus for Caste Census (MSCBC) has
On Friday, Vietnam said China will donate 3 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccine to inclusive growth of the was curtailed due to World of all communities is farce. and all political as well as recommended for Socio
Vietnam this year, raising China's total vaccine donations to the Southeast Asian country to weaker sections of the War-II and final data could In December 1996, the H. social institutions are in its Economic and Caste
5.7 million doses. society. So, Caste Census is not be published. In 1951, D. Deve Gowda Cabinet has favour. The proposal for Census by the State
The Global Times also reported that "highlighting growing ties between China and vital for social equity. A Census exercise was taken decision for caste- caste census in 2021 was government.
Southeast Asian countries, prior to his week-long journey, Wang on Thursday met with Laos section of people argue that revamped drastically and wise enumeration in Census unanimously passed by Caste Census is the need
Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith via video link, during which Wang stressed the it may allow social tension recording of caste, except 2001. But in 2001, Vajpayee Bihar Vidhan Sabha on of the hour, as the
need to boost China-Laos relations." to develop between SCs and STs, was led NDA government 17th February 2019 and unavailability of reliable
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) communities in the country. abandoned. Thus 1931 scuttled the decision on the again on 27th February and authentic data
Such fictional argument of Census, which included plead of so-called caste- 2020. Such resolution has regarding the exact
a handful casteist forces is Pakistan and Bangla Desh biases. In June 2010, The also been passed in population of each segment
Is Pakistan really the winner in Afghanistan? creating hurdles in way of

all-round development with
social justice. If religion-
territories too, became the
last caste-based census in
India.
UPA government had made
commitment for caste
census after discussion in
Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha
on 8th January 2021. Last
year Odisha became third
of the society, geographical
area of their spread &
density is posing a huge
L
ieutenant General Faiz Hameed, the based and language-based The first Backward both Houses of Parliament. state to urge the centre for challenge in ensuring
Director General of the Inter- census had not created Classes Commission, But instead of adding a holding enumeration of focused and outcome-
Services Intelligence (ISI) in division and hatred in the headed by Kaka Kalelkar, column in the main decadal Socially and Educationally specific planning. The
Pakistan, was in Kabul briefly at the society as per their claim, has recommended in its Census of 2011, separate Backward Classes along latest data and statistics are
beginning of September to get all the Taliban how a complete caste based report of 1955 for Socio Economic Caste with general census in the essential tool for
factions to agree on the formation of an census can create undertaking caste-wise Census (SECC) was 2021. The National policy-making and
interim government. differences in the society ? enumeration of population initiated, whose final report Commission for Backward research, as it helps the
Politics apart, Pakistan is clear that it Actually the various in Census 1961. The second was neither concluded and Classes has also urged the policy-makers to determine
wants a hand in the till on all aspects of census, conducted after Backward Classes nor made public. On 31st government for the same. the target and direct the
Afghanistan's future course. Thus, while the independence , can not be Commission, i.e. Mandal August 2018, after But, as Central course of policies &
ISI watched the government formation in termed as casteless, since Commission has reviewing progress for Government has not actions. With fresh
Afghanistan with a keen eye to ensure its not only castes of Schedule highlighted that the report is Census 2021, the then accepted the proposal, the assessment of the caste-
chosen nominees are in the right positions, spokesperson of Iran's Foreign Ministry has Caste and Schedule Tribes based on 1931 Census data, Home Minister has various State Government wise population, the
the Imran Khan government has announced asked for an investigation into what he are being recorded, but which is not adequate and promised for collecting data should come forward to economic deprivation
its economic plans for Afghanistan. called the interference of foreign jets. religion-based census too is hence next, i.e. 2001, on OBCs first time, but the conduct the exercise on its levels of different castes in
The first and foremost is the revelation Reports suggest that Pakistan Air Force had being conducted. It is Census should be caste- Government took U-turn in own resources on the various states could be
that bilateral trade between the two countries used drones to drop bombs on the Northern beyond the perceive of the based. The commission had Lok Sabha in 2021 saying pattern of Karnataka. determined and it would
will henceforth take place in Pakistani Resistance Front fighters who were resisting people that why the Centre no way other than to assume No to it. It may be noted that the help to tailor reservation
rupees. Pakistan is thus eyeing to gain an a Taliban takeover in Panjshir. is hesitating on a complete inter se rate of population The demand for complete Karnataka High Court and policy to ensure equitable
entry and eventual control over In Kabul, the protesters had gathered at Caste-based Census, growth of various caste-based census emerges the Supreme Court had representation of all of
Afghanistan's economy. the gate of the Pakistan embassy and said enumerating OBCs too. communities & religious every time in Parliament, directed the Karnataka them.
Pak currency to be used in Afghanistan that they did not want a puppet government The reference to Caste groups over the last half a when it is due. Usually, State government to (Author is a technocrat
While bilateral trade between the two in Afghanistan. Protesters chanted "death to Census is found in the century to be remaining such demand comes from provide the latest & academician. The views
countries earlier used to take place using US Pakistan" and asked the Pakistan embassy to Rigveda and Kautilya's same. But this was far from OBCs and other deprived percentage of a particular expressed are personal
dollar, it will now be in Pakistani rupees. leave Afghanistan. Artha Shastra; although reality. The census record of sections of the society and caste in the total population opinion of the author. He
After this move, Pakistan's currency will "Freedom", "Allah Akbar", "we do not Caste or Class year 1951 and 2011 reveals it is constantly & of the state, whenever the can be reached at
have a hold over traders and the business want captivity" were among the other categorisation was not so that the population of Hindu aggressively opposed by government plans to extend prabhatkishore65
community in Afghanistan. slogans raised by the protesters. Meanwhile, nasty as are being seen has decreased from 84.1% the representatives from reservation facility to a @gmail.com )
The introduction of Pakistan's currency is people in Balkh and Daikundi provinces
likely to further de-value the Afghan also took to the streets and chanted slogans
currency, following which all trade and
business will be dependent on Pakistan. The
current challenge is that Afghanistan is
undergoing an economic meltdown and the
against Pakistan.
Journalists in Afghanistan under the
Taliban have also been vulnerable. Recently,
two Afghanistan journalists covering the
RaGa's Kashmiri Pandit solidarity may be an assertion for electoral gain
Taliban do not have the financial women's protests in Kabul were allegedly By Deepika Bhan
wherewithal to govern the country. detained and severely beaten by the Taliban.
T
Pertinently, more than 70 per cent of Taqi Daryabi and Nemat Naqdi from Kabul- hirty-one years
Afghanistan's budget comes from grants and based media house Etilaat-e Roz, were after the exodus of
aid from the international community. detained and attacked. Kashmiri Pandits
The Taliban have announced the The reporters had been covering protests from Kashmir, the Nehru-
formation of an all-male interim by women in Kabul demanding an end to Gandhi family has for the
government. However, they put off their Taliban violations of the rights of women first time unambiguously
planned inauguration ceremony on and girls. Etilaat-e Roz reported that spoken up for the
September 11, which marked the 20th authorities took the two men to a police community. In a Facebook
anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in station in Kabul, placed them in separate post on Tuesday, Rahul
the US. cells, and severely beat them with cables. Gandhi wrote in Hindi
Domestically, there is popular resistance Both men were released on September 8 and saying that the nation
within Afghanistan from journalists, women received medical care at a hospital for cannot forget the pain that
and activists, including university students. injuries to their backs and faces. the families had undergone.
Demonstrations have been held against the Humanitarian crisis in the offing? He also posted a picture
Taliban for the 'new government' imposing A UN humanitarian organisation has of a lighted earthen lamp
restrictions to curb the voices rising against recently warned that basic services in with 'bow to the martyrdom
it. Afghanistan were on the point of collapse of Kashmiri Pandits' trying to identify himself promise to my Kashmiri Brahmins in the state. forgotten that the woes of
Also, as of now, the international and food and other aid was starting to run written across. with them -- a community Pandit brothers that I will For the Congress here, the Kashmiri Pandit were
community has shown no inclination to out, following the Taliban's takeover of The day is observed by which has faced the brunt do something for them," Rahul's Kashmiri Pandit because of the politics of
recognise the Taliban's interim government. Afghanistan. the Kashmiri Pandits (KP) of terrorism in Kashmir and Rahul Gandhi said this caste card assertion is appeasement of Congress
More importantly, the people of Afghanistan According to the International Federation as Martyr's Day in memory was forced to flee the during his address to party aimed at influencing the and like-minded parties.
have realised that Pakistan is playing a of the Red Cross and Red Crescent of Tikalal Taploo, a Hindu Valley in early Nineties. workers. Brahmin community in the While the BJP, Congress
double game in Afghanistan and its actions Societies, more than 18 million people leader who was In the past few weeks, While the Kashmiri state to cut into the BJP's or others tussle over caste-
will be detrimental in the long run. currently need aid. The UN Office for the assassinated on this day in Rahul Gandhi has visited Pandit community could be vote bank. Sources in the politics, the Kashmiri
Therefore, a number of limited but Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has 1989 in Srinagar. Taploo Jammu and Kashmir twice. amused at these Congress said that the party Pandit community is
significant street protests have occurred in urged donors to give more ahead of an was the state vice president His first tour to Kashmir, developments, the is mulling changing its suddenly finding its
Kabul and other provincial capitals against International Aid Conference for of BJP and was associated after the abrogation of Congress leader could well chief in UP and replacing political relevance. And
Pakistan. Afghanistan. The agency has released an with the RSS. Article 370, was on August be hoping that the the current one, who is Rahul Gandhi's repeated
Popular protests against Pakistan appeal for around $600 million to meet Rahul Gandhi's 10 when he prayed at one of community tag would help from the OBC community, assertion of being a
Just recently, an incident was reported humanitarian needs for 11 million people for expression of solidarity the most revered temples him in the upcoming with a Brahmin leader. Kashmiri Pandit is being
where Taliban gunmen fired in the air to the remainder of the year. with the Kashmiri Pandit for Kashmiri Pandits, Mata elections in several states, It was at Pushkar Sarovar seen as a politically correct
disperse anti-Pakistan protesters in Kabul. Thus, the situation in Afghanistan is dire community and the homage Kheer Bhawani. particularly in Uttar in Rajasthan in November move.
Video clips showed people running as and efforts by Pakistan to get things moving to a fallen BJP leader could A month later, he visited Pradesh. 2018 that Rahul Gandhi His electoral win in the
gunfire was heard. There were no immediate with the Taliban's interim government are well have come as a Mata Vaishno Devi temple The Uttar Pradesh had first declared himself a Muslim majority Wayanad
reports of injuries. People protested (on not succeeding. This is partly because of the surprise to the community in Jammu and met a Assembly polls are crucial Datattreya Brahmin and a had painted him in a certain
September 8) against the Taliban and economic situation and the lack of resources as also the BJP. Kashmiri Pandit delegation for both the Congress and Kashmiri Pandit, his priest colour and the right wing
Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan's to govern. Rahul Gandhi's post is there where he said, "I am a the BJP. Since Priyanka who carried out the rituals has often called him 'anti-
affairs, with the Islamist group calling the The other reason is that the Afghans really more than Kashmiri Pandit. My Gandhi Vadra is handling had informed. Hindu'. To counter this the
neighbouring nation its "second home". themselves, who have seen years of change, recognising the pain of the family is Kashmiri Pandit". the party in the state herself, By repeatedly Congress leader began
Marchers raised slogans such as "long live especially among the women, do not want to Kashmiri Pandit families. It He said that the delegation a lot is at stake. In the caste- highlighting his caste, frequenting temples and
the resistance" and "death to Pakistan". A go back to the dark ages under the Taliban. is being regarded as a smart of Kashmiri Pandits met ridden politics of UP, 12-13 Rahul Gandhi may be recently started
number of men and women took to the That is why Kabul has witnessed protests by move to counter the BJP on him and said that the per cent of the Brahmin trying to woo highlighting his Kashmir
streets of Kabul chanting slogans against women, who do not want to be suppressed playing the Hindu card. Congress party had population can be crucial constituencies, but the BJP Pandit connection.
Pakistan. They claimed that Pakistani Air by the Taliban and prevented from stepping Rahul, for some time now, implemented many welfare for electoral success. And has been quick in slamming (Deepika Bhan can be
Force jets had conducted airstrikes in out of their homes without a male has been describing himself schemes for them but the this time all the political him. It said that Rahul had reached at
Panjshir province. In this context, the companion. as a Kashmiri Pandit and BJP had done nothing. "I parties are trying to woo the "very conveniently" deepika.b@ians.in)
@UPSC_THOUGHT
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
20 SEPTEMBER 2021
Channi a ‘proxy CM’ or Subhani

can he hold his own?
T
he new Punjab chief minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, who succeeds the
redoubtable “Captain” Amarinder Singh in circumstances that can hard-
ly be called auspicious, is an experienced politician, having been Leader of
the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and a minister in the Captain’s outgo-
ing government. However, with friends like Punjab PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu,
with whom Mr Channi sided to ensure the eventual ouster of Mr Singh, it is hard
to say how the incoming CM will fare.
Mr Sidhu is fiercely ambitious, lacks political maturity, and is an import from
the BJP — on the whole an uncertain quantity in whom Rahul and Priyanka
Gandhi (and through them the Congress) ended up placing their trust, whatever
their reasons. Having torpedoed his own party’s government led by Mr Singh, it is
to be seen how the PCC chief will set his dynamics with the new CM. But there is
all too little time before the next Assembly election is announced early next year.
Mr Channi’s name was announced on Sunday evening after another name did
the rounds on Sunday afternoon. But, evidently stymied by Mr Sidhu, that effort
of the Congress so-called high command did not go far. It won’t be a surprise if Mr
Sidhu sees Mr Channi as a stand-in for himself. The latter may do well to remem-
ber that his benefactor eyes the CM’s job for himself,
If the SC community the position of PCC chief being nothing more than a
LETTERS
backs him and the stepping stone.
It is up to the CM to get a hang of the overall picture
CM-designate plays and play his cards — in his own interest and his
his hand well, the party’s — in full realisation of the tricky circum-
Congress may well stances in which he has reached his present posi-
do better than many tion. When he takes his vote of confidence, what will
India’s ‘multi-alignment’ DON’T BUY BIGOTRY
and the Jaishankar Way

Narendra Modi's “kabras-
might expect be the attitude of his predecessor who was ignomin-
iously ousted through chicanery and virtual con- tan” comment had paid
spiracy, with the brother and the sister Gandhi play-
ing footsie with a character with flimsy political antecedents and burning the BJP electoral divi-
ambition? dends in Uttar Pradesh in
Mr Singh had announced he would oppose Mr Sidhu if his name was proposed ing to the temptation of Other powers also have
for CM, calling him, among other things, “anti-national”, a serious indictment. temporary or transient complex relations with the
2017. Therefore, the
Would this attitude extend to Mr Channi as well, if the latter is seen as a proxy for gains. US and China. However, “Abbajaan” comment this
the PCC president? Were this to happen, then nothing can be ruled out, including
President’s rule, depending on how many MLAs still support Captain.
Sanjaya Baru Many foreign policy
wonks have been vocifer-
what they as a group will
certainly prevent is the
time was made with
Mr Channi is the first Scheduled Caste Sikh of Punjab to be named CM. This ously advocating that return to another “bipo- expectations of the same
result. There has always
Sanjayovacha
community is said to be nearly one-third of the voting strength of the state. If the India should in fact lar” era, like the “old” Cold
community as a whole backs him and the CM-designate plays his hand well, the become a full member of War. While the US and
Congress may well do better than many might expect. If not, then the Congress an American-led alliance. China are creating their existed a Hindu-Muslim
high command may live to rue the day when it chose to go the whole hog with Mr Their visible, often spon- own group of friends, and divide and the BJP is hell
I
Sidhu, dynamiting a safe pair of hands like the Captain, whatever the anti-incum- f America’s President nation. By responding to sored, enthusiasm is igno- may at times force the bent on deepening and
bency that may have gathered around his government. Joe Biden arrives at AUKUS with CPTPP, rant of the self-image of the “middle powers” to choose
Since the PCC chief and his cohorts — and that includes Mr Channi — said atro- the first summit China has underscored the Indian State and polity. sides, not all would fall in widening it. Religion has
cious things about their own government led by the Captain, the Congress has meeting of the fact that the game in Asia India will always have a line. If “non-alignment” become a political tool in
only itself to blame if those things come back to haunt the party’s election effort. Quadrilateral Sec- is still predominantly geo- mind of its own even when defined the “old” Cold
With the AAP having taken advantage of the intense intra-party tussle in the urity Dialogue (Quad) at economic. it chooses to work closely War, “multi-alignment” the hands of politicians
Congress and grown, and the Akali Dal teaming up with Mayawati’s BSP in the White House later this In this fast-changing with other nations. In that will shape the “new” Cold and gullible Indians are
Punjab, voting constituencies may have already been unsettled in the state. week, having created a world of multiple and sense, there has been more War. easy prey to exploit. If
new trilateral security changing alliances, India continuity than change in That is why I have
grouping with two mem- has finally come around to Indian foreign policy. argued in a paper I wrote only those who complain
bers of the Common- the view articulated by However, in a rapidly for the Institute of Defence about other religions, fol-
‘Bad bank’ a good idea wealth, Australia and
Britain, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi will be
external affairs minister S.
Jaishankar in his book,
The India Way: Strategies
changing world every
nation, big and small, has
to remain alive to change
Studies and Analysis
(https://idsa.in/system/fil
es/book/asia-multipolar-
lowed their own in letter
and spirit, India would be
J
ust a day after laying out the contours of a bailout package for the telecom sec- attending the in-person for an Uncertain World and respond accordingly. ism-book.pdf) that the em-
tor, the government announced that it would set up the long-awaited bad bank summit after having virtu- (2020), that it should spread The world may well be erging world order would
a better place. The BJP
to take over non-performing assets of commercial banks. While there have ally participated in a Brics its risks and not place all moving in the direction of be defined by “bi-multipo- may well win the election,
been bad banks in the private sector, National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. as well as an SCO summit. its eggs, so to speak, in any another bipolarity, with larity” rather than bipolar- but the price will be paid
(NARCL) would be the first bad bank that would be collectively owned by public His external affairs minis- one basket. The essence of the United States leading ity. The concept is a varia-
sector banks. Unlike the private asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), NARCL ter, Subrahmanyam Jaish- Mr Jaishankar’s argument what has been dubbed the tion on a theme proposed by future generations.
would be backstopped by the government guaranteed security receipts worth over ankar, has been busy meet- is that with the changing “Anglosphere” and China by Harvard historian Sa- Anthony Henriques
`30,000 crore. ing his counterparts from global balance of power at the head of a “Sinos- muel Huntington who had
While the price discovery of bad debts was a stumbling block for private ARCs, Iran, Russia and China. and faced with major secu- phere”, but for now global argued in the 1990s that the
Mumbai
PSB-led NARCL would acquire bad debts at book value, making the process easi- It would appear that rity and economic chal- power equations are in post-Cold War balance of
er. The transfer of bad debt would release the management bandwidth of the pub-
lic sector banks and allow officials to focus their energy on their core activity —
America’s ignominious
retreat from Kabul and its
lenges, India would have to
advance its “national
flux. Even if the US and
China get some countries
power system was not
“unipolar” but in fact “uni-
CONG’S OWN GOAL
lending. consequences constitute interests by identifying to rally behind them there multipolar”, with the US at AMARINDER SINGH stepping down
By March 31, 2021, the Indian banking industry was saddled with `8.3 lakh the backdrop to both the and exploiting opportuni- will remain many others the top and a group of fair- as Punjab chief minister on Saturday
crores. According to an estimate, NARCL could acquire `2 lakh crore worth of bad geopolitical activism of the ties created by global con- willing and capable of ly powerful countries that is nothing short of dramatic. The
loans. Though the bank may not get back the entire money due, the sale of bad United States in the Indo- tradictions”, extracting as retaining some strategic would not toe the “people’s maharaja” cited continued
loans would release some part of the money lent and also allow it to write back Pacific region and to many gains from as many space. Such a group of American line. Hunting- humiliation by the Congress’ high
funds, which were used to make provision for loans in default. This money would Indian engagement of the relationships as possible. countries, best described ton included in the group command over the past two months
be available for the banks to use for lending and earn profits thereon, Eurasian nations. The US Mr Jaishankar hypothe- as the Middle Powers, China, Russia, India, for his decision. The writing was on
The sale of bad debts to NARCL could make the resolution of insolvent compa- is emphasising its contin- sised that in a world in would include Brazil, France, among others. the wall when the Gandhis appointed
nies quite easy. Unlike multiple lenders whose concurrence is required to resolve ued relevance to the Indo- which it was likely that France, Germany, India, The change since the Navjot Singh Sidhu as the state party
a bankrupt company, the ARC does not have to consult anyone and that makes the Pacific and India is hedg- “there will be convergence Japan, Russia and Viet- 1990s has been the rise of chief. Amarinder declared he would-
decision-making process easier. NARCL will also help public sector banks have a ing against future US with many but congruence nam. Other potential “mid- China and the relative n’t quit politics but would wait to
cleaner balance sheet, and facilitate the privatisation of a few state-run banks at a unpredictability. Apolog- with none” Indian diplo- dle powers” would be Iran, decline of the US. The US exercise his future options when the
fairly higher price. The overall success of this new bank would hinge upon how ists for the United States macy would have to be Turkey, Nigeria and has had to come to terms time comes. The developments in
quickly it could resolve the corporate bankruptcies while the health of the banks have been busy tweeting swift-footed and flexible Egypt. with the rise of China just Punjab must make the BJP rub its
would be dependent on how thorough they are in vetting loans before sanctioning assurances that AUKUS and its “grand strategy” The middle powers group as China has had to con- hands in glee and make matters
them. (Australia-UK-US) is a would perforce be defined would neither be static nor cede primacy to the US for worse for the Congress party.
building block of the Quad, by “multi-alignment”. like-minded on every the foreseeable future. N.J. Ravi Chander
and not a diversion from it, Mr Jaishankar’s much issue. There would be However, even as the Big Bengaluru
while France has been quoted conclusion that this sharp differences on a Two sort out their equa-
bemoaning a weakening of
the trans-Atlantic alliance.
is a time for India “to
engage America, manage
range of issues including
nuclear proliferation,
tion, the middle powers
will seek to widen the
RECYCLE BOOKS
Perhaps Japan too feels China, cultivate Europe, trade and climate change. strategic space available to ALL SCHOOLS provide new text-
left out of AUKUS consid- reassure Russia, bring Russia would certainly tilt each of them and to groups books every year. And at the end of
ering that it too would Japan into play, draw more to China and India of them. The European each year, most of these books are
want to have nuclear sub- neighbours in, extend the would tilt more to the US. Union and Asean are two thrown away. This is very bad for the
marines. neighbourhood, and such groups. In this world environment as millions of trees are
As if to make the point expand traditional con- of complex relationships cut down to make these books.
that the US is playing the stituencies of support” is and multiple multi-align- Schools should not make it compul-
wrong game, China sent in easier said than done in a The change since ments, India can only walk sory to buy textbooks. Those who
an application for member- world of an increasingly the 1990s has down Jaishankar’s Way. want to borrow books from their
THE ASIAN AGE ship of the Comprehensive complex web of “multi- been the rise of senior batches can certainly do so. If
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR
and Progressive Agree- alignments” pursued by China and the The writer is an econo- possible, they can even conduct dri-
ment for Trans-Pacific other powers as well. mist, a former newspaper ves to collect notebooks at the end of
Editor Printer & Publisher
Partnership (CPTPP), a 11- India’s limited and
relative decline of editor and was an adviser each year so they can recycle them.
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: member Indo-Pacific free stretched domestic and the US... However, to former Prime Minister Kashvi N.
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: trade grouping that the US diplomatic capabilities as the Big Two sort Manmohan Singh. His Salem, Tamil Nadu
(011) 23211124.
Published and Printed on behalf of and for
had walked out of. The and capacities make the out their equation, most recent book is New `500 for the best letter of the
group is now divided on challenge even more the middle powers Cold War: Henry
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
China’s application, with daunting. Nevertheless, Kissinger and the Rise of
week goes to Tejal Kumar
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. some willing to admit the this is the path that India will seek to widen China. (Sep. 16). Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 world’s largest trading must now walk, not yield- strategic space... asianage.letters@gmail.com.
F
actionalism and the Congress are Congress closed their ranks to present a Kashmir were being seen as an effort to the Congress president herself.
synonymous. The more the party united face before Mr Gandhi. Besides him, bring the warring factions together ahead of The Rahul Gandhi meeting was held in
high command tries to cap the feud, the other centre of attraction was the rebel the Assembly elections. However, the man- the backdrop of a significant development
the more it sprouts anew, with new Group 23 leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who ner in which Ms Patil poured scorn on Mr that went unnoticed, primarily due to the
vigour and in newer forms. The phenome- had, of late, been on a course of reconcilia- Azad not only has the potential to increase J&K Congress factionalism casting its long
non was in full display during former party tion at Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s the chasm between the AICC and the PCC, shadow. Despite all-out efforts by the ruling
president Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to suggestion. but is itself a bad omen. dispensation led by the BJP-RSS, a person
Anil Anand Jammu on the pretext of a well-publicised
Vaishno Devi Yatra, as also later in the
No one knows how and in what form fac-
tionalism rears its head within the
Ms Patil’s address to the capacity crowd of
Congresspersons left many flabbergasted.
with Congress affiliation, who contested on
the basis of his own stature and became a
neighbouring state of Punjab that saw a sud- Congress. But that is what occurred when She launched a no-holds-barred attack focal point of all secular and progressive
den change of guard. Mr Azad was assailed upon, in the presence against “those leaders” who were “manag- forces, won the Jammu and Kashmir High
Punjab and the Union Territory of Jammu of the Wayanad MP, by none other than the ing a show of strength” with the help of the Court Bar Association election and became
and Kashmir are both poll-bound. Removing AICC in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, sloganeering of their supporters, so as to be its president for the third time.
chief minister “Captain” Amarinder Singh Rajni Patil. noticed by Mr Gandhi, she alleged. She went While Mr Azad felt it could have positive
five months before the Assembly elections Sitting next to Mr Gandhi, both leaders ini- on to detail on her own contributions ramifications for the Congress in the days
Pushback against does not augur well for the Congress. It is

unlikely that he would take his “humilia-
tion” lying low, and that in itself should give
tially appeared to be in a mood of bonhomie.
Mr Gandhi was seen hearing out the former
J&K chief minister on the significance of the
towards strengthening the party during the
last one year of her role as in-charge, men-
tioning that she even contracted the coron-
to come, local Congress leaders thought oth-
erwise. Not only did they back another can-
didate with a Congress background who
Azad casts cloud the party sleepless nights.

Even before Mr Gandhi embarked on his
trip to Vaishno Devi, parallels were being
drawn between a similar visit to the hill
Muslim practice of gazing at one’s hands
during prayers. This, Mr Azad felt, was a
sign of courage. He may have been drawing
a tacit parallel of the gesture to his own
avirus in so doing. Her obvious target was
Mr Azad as the show had his stamp.
Ms Patil used the presence of the former
Congress president to emphasise that she
came last in the contest, but they also
refused to acknowledge the victory of one of
their own. This had left a bad taste in Mr
Azad’s mouth. He felt that the party should
on Cong unity in shrine by Indira Gandhi, former Prime

Minister and his grandmother. Immediately
after she bounced back to power in 1979, she
party symbol.
It is surprising that the said atmosphere of
bonhomie, the result of painstaking efforts
had been drafted in J&K by no other than
him and the Congress president, and that
she was doing what was expected of her.
have duly registered Mohinder Bhardwaj’s
presence in the meeting with Mr Gandhi.
The incident has given a fresh trigger to
poll-bound J-K had traversed the path to the shrine bare- at reconciliation by the Congress president Does that mean that her tirade against Mr the factional fighting as well as the old
foot. Enthusiastic Congresspersons saw in — she accommodated Mr Azad in a few Azad had the sanction of the party high guard versus young leadership tug-of-war
the grandson’s visit the dream of history important committees and he duly accepted command? This question will certainly currently ongoing in the Congress.
repeating itself, and hence the resultant her offer — would be rent within moments haunt the top leadership in the times to
euphoria. and by one of Ms Gandhi’s own representa- come. It is certainly a mystery as to what Anil Anand is a senior journalist
The sparkle of euphoria was clearly visi- tives at that. prompted the AICC in-charge to undermine and a specialist on Jammu and
ble when the rival factions in the UT Mr Gandhi’s twin visits to Jammu and an initiative of unity that had blessings of Kashmir affairs
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
News International Pvt. Ltd. PERSPECTIVE
@UPSC_THOUGHT
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JAIPUR | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

04
SIDHU HAD DESCENDED ON CRICKET GROUND TWICE ON CAPT’S CALL

SHARAT K VERMA
THE WRITER IS NEWS EDITOR
LOVE & HATE
T RELATIONS
he recent turn of events in the
sweet and sour relationship of
outgoing Punjab Chief Minister
Capt Amarinder Singh and crick-
eter-turned-politician Navjot Sid-
hu is not new. There are numer-
ous such instances in their topsy-
BETWEEN CAPT AMARINDER AND SIDHU

turvy relations. During these
years, Sidhu twice descended on
the cricket ground on the invite of
Capt Amarinder Singh. And it
was during these years that an was Capt Amarinder’s first ten- that time an FIR in this matter Sidhu’s purview (as the Local
FIR was registered against Capt ure as Punjab CM. Though Sidhu was registered in March 2007. Bodies minister) to exonerate
in the infamous multi-crore Lu- did not play in that match, he The Ludhiana City Centre case Capt Amarinder in this case, he
dhiana City Centre scam and came on the special invite of Capt pertains to Capt Amarinder’s proved lucky for the latter the
Sidhu was somehow to blame for Amarinder and was the biggest first tenure as Punjab CM from second time, the first time was
getting that FIR registered against attraction during the match. 2002 to 2007. The Punjab Vigilance when Sidhu’s absence from elec-
Capt, his son Raninder Singh It was the time when Sidhu was Bureau had filed a charge sheet tioneering ensured Capt Ama-
along with others. And, Capt’s ex- trying to get a foothold in politics in this case in December 2007. rinder’s easy win from Amritsar
oneration in this scam also came after joining the Bharatiya Janata Things kept moving fast, and Lok Sabha seat.
when Sidhu was Punjab Cabinet Party. It wasn’t Sidhu’s entry into after BJP denied party ticket to Sidhu’s relations with Capt
Minister of Local Bodies Depart- politics that surprised many but Sidhu from Amritsar Lok Sabha Amarinder started turning sour
ment under whose purview Lu- his joining the BJP did so because seat in 2014, from where was twice when the former went for Imran
dhiana City Centre Project falls. Sidhu’s father Late Bhagwant MP and made Arun Jaitley its Khan’s swearing-in ceremony as
Navjot Sidhu, who had retired Singh Sidhu was a Congressman candidate, Sidhu kept away from Pakistan Prime Minister. It was
from all forms of cricket in the and was the Patiala District Con- electioneering though he used to on this occasion that Sidhu had
late 1990s, had made a special ap- gress Committee (DCC) Presi- consider Jaitley his political that infamous hug with Pakistan
pearance twice on cricket ground dent. At that time there were talks guru. It was Sidhu’s staying away Army Chief General Bajwa. And
on the invite of Capt Amarinder in the political circles that the from that election that made Capt when Sidhu played a vital role in
Singh who organized two exhibi- BJP may field Sidhu against Capt Amarinder’s victory easy. Yes, the opening of the Kartarpur Sa-
tion matches, once as Maharaja Amarinder in the next Assembly Sidhu’s relations with Congress had fielded Capt Ama- hib Corridor, Capt Amarinder
of Patiala in 2000 and then as Pun- elections (which were to be held rinder Singh as its Lok Sabha can- rightly sensed that Sidhu was go-
jab CM in 2004. Sidhu obliged in 2007) but, the saffron party Capt Amarinder started didate from Amritsar against ing to overshadow him sooner or
Things kept moving fast,
and after BJP denied
Capt on both occasions. In March made him its candidate in 2004 turning sour when the Jaitley. And Capt Amarinder won later, and it did happen eventually.
2000, as the Maharaja of erst- General Elections from Amritsar easily with a good margin. Sidhu is a former cricketer and
party ticket to Sidhu from while Royal State Patiala, Capt Lok Sabha seat which he won and former went for Imran After parting ways with the now he has learned the art of
Amritsar Lok Sabha seat Amarinder Singh had organized his likely clash with Capt Ama- Khan’s swearing-in BJP, Sidhu joined the Congress politics also. He knows well that
in 2014, from where was a series of cricket matches be- rinder did not take place. just before 2017 Punjab Assembly both in cricket and politics it is
twice MP and made Arun tween Stragglers of Asia Cricket Then in 2006, the multi-crore
ceremony as Pakistan elections and he entered Punjab the timing that matters most. In
Jaitley its candidate, Club and Maharaja Eleven. In the infamous Ludhiana City Centre Prime Minister. It was on this Vidhan Sabha for the first time his playing days, Sidhu initially
Sidhu kept away from second match of that series, on scam was reported by media occasion that Sidhu had that after winning from Amritsar East used to play the role of a sheet-
electioneering though he March 9, 2000, Sidhu appeared at which alleged the involvement of Assembly constituency. When anchor and then used to up the
used to consider Jaitley Patiala’s Dhruv Pandove Cricket the then CM Capt Amarinder infamous hug with Pakistan Capt Amarinder Singh was sworn- momentum in the slog overs. In
his political guru. It was Stadium. It was probably for the Singh, his son Raninder Singh Army Chief General Bajwa in for the second time as Punjab politics too, Sidhu kept a low pro-
Sidhu’s staying away first time after his retirement along with the then Punjab Local CM in February 2017, Sidhu was file ever since he resigned as the
that Sidhu had taken to cricket Bodies Minister Chaudhary Jag- made a Cabinet minister and was Punjab Cabinet minister, and
from that election that
field that too on Capt’s invitation. jit Singh and others. That time, –under whose jurisdiction Ludhi- given the important Local Bodies now when Punjab Assembly elec-
made Capt Amarinder’s
Then, on February 19, 2004, again Navjot Sidhu along with senior ana City Centre project was to Department though he was nur- tions are not very far away, he has
victory easy. Yes, Navjot Sidhu made a special ap- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader come up– demanding registration turing ambitions of becoming the accelerated his tempo and seems
Congress had fielded Capt pearance at Patiala’s cricket sta- Sukhbir Singh Badal (yes, you of an FIR against Capt Amarinder Deputy Chief Minister. to be ready for the final on-
Amarinder Singh as its dium during a match between read it correct Sidhu with Sukh- and others. Though the FIR wasn’t In August 2017, the VB moved slaught. But then, Capt is a real
Lok Sabha candidate Punjab (India) CM’s XI and an bir Badal, because there was an lodged that time but when the a closure report in the case and Captain, a former Army man. He
from Amritsar against invitation team from Pakistan. SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab and SAD-BJP alliance formed govern- gave a sort of clean chit to Capt too won’t give in easily. Now, it is
Jaitley. And Capt That exhibition match had been Sidhu was in the saffron party) ment in Punjab in February 2007 Amarinder. Two of the 35 per- to be seen that Capt Amarinder
Amarinder won easily organized as a part of the Patiala gave a complaint to the Sarabha with Sukhbir’s father Parkash sons booked in the case have Singh and Navjot Sidhu’s rela-
with a good margin Heritage Week celebrations. It Nagar Police Station in Ludhiana Singh Badal as the chief minister, since died. Though it wasn’t in tions take what turn.
Vol 3 Issue No. 105

Dharmendra Pradhan From promoting export Piyush Goyal Had an engaging discussion
@dpradhanbjp of agricultural products @PiyushGoyal with the members of SPIRITUAL SPEAK RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.
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MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post P6
FOCUS GEOPOLITICS
All desires and egoism will have
to be banished from the being.
LIMITS OF POWER
SRI AUROBINDO
W
hat could possibly US, Ron Dermer, has urged Israel
AUKUS Focus be common between

the Taliban bran-
dishing their
weapons in Kabul and Palestinians
to prioritise maintaining the sup-
port of the American evangelical
Christian. It must be assiduously
wooed. “People must understand
A
virtual diplomatic war has broken out between France on one hand twirling their spoons (yes, tea- that the backbone of support for
and the AUKUS (Australia-UK-USA) combine on the other over the new spoons) with a flourish? Well, the Israel in the US is the evangelical
alliance among the three latter countries September 16 and its fallout latter were celebrating because Christian.” The quote is from The
- a nuclear-powered submarine deal clinched between Australia and the six Palestinian prisoners had Palestinian Policy Network, Al-
USA. The alliance has been forged to checkmate China in the Indo-Pacific pulled off a seemingly impossi- Shabaka. Israel can breathe easy
region giving far more power and confidence to the earlier Quad grouping ble escape from the high security because there is no indication of
comprising Australia, Japan, USA and India formed with the same intent Gilboa prison in Northern Israel. Biden distancing himself from
to frustrate China’s maritime designs in the region. Seemingly, India and Japan Clearly, an embarrassment for a this line of thinking.
have been kept out of the new arrangement which adds a new dimension state which flaunts national se- US thinning out from the re-
to the united efforts to thwart China’s ambitions in the common sphere of curity as a marketable commodity. gion will accentuate popular per-
activities. The initial reaction of China to the AUKUS was predictably bel- The spoon has become an emblem ception of Israel’s exclusive sup-
ligerent and it issued an official statement terming the new grouping ‘ir- because the six used it as an import base inside the US. As Israel
responsible’ and an attempt to revive the ‘Cold War’ that would trigger an plement to dig a hole in the toilet Is a phase of imperialism coming full circle? One rolls its eyes around to size up the
arms race threatening the stability of the region. This is only natural, since attached to their cell. cannot expect US President Joe Biden to say it in neighbourhood for subtle adjust-
China will now have to confront nuclear-powered submarines and also a US The prisoners, according to ments, it will find to its chagrin,
nuclear power base in Australia. So long it has been pursuing its goal of con- Israeli authorities, were affiliated quite that language, but what else does one Iran undiminished. Houthis in
trolling the Indo-Pacific region with its dominance over the South China Sea Saeed Naqvi with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. make of his promise to end “never ending” wars Yemen, Hashd al Shaabi in Iraq,
without any deterrence of the caliber of the AUKUS. According to the Times of Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, groups sup-
But when many countries of the region, including India, Japan and the leader of the group, Zakaria portive of President Assad in Syria
Australia, feeling threatened by China’s unchallenged aggression in the ISRAEL, WHICH Zubeidi, was “a former commander is now under house arrest. Bush the President? Those days seem like and increasing reports of Iranian
Indo-Pacific region, were joyous following the new development, France in Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs gloats “Terrorists who once oc- ancient history, days when Israel role in Afghanistan, initiated by
fired September 18 a diplomatic missile on AUKUS that may well sound like
IS BUSY Brigade.” That Zubeidi and three cupied Afghanistan now occupy and Saudi Arabia were equally the late Quds Commander, Qasem
music to China’s ears. France has called the new alliance “a stab in the back.” ADJUSTING TO others (at the time of writing) have cells at Guantanamo Bay.” There sacrosanct. Both had to be pro- Soleimani -- all of these enhance
It accused Australia and the USA of lying over a contract Australia had en- been arrested is a separate chapter. is a disconcerting update on this tected from bad copy. Iran’s position in the region. The
tered into with France to buy French conventional submarines worth Aus$50 LIMITS ON ITS Kabul and Gilboa establish without too. Not only have the Taliban re- And now even military protec- cookie in Afghanistan having
billion (US$36.5 billion, 31 billion euros) when signed in 2016. This makes it POWER AS A any shadow of a doubt a reality turned to power in Kabul, at least tion is being withdrawn. In re- crumbled the way it has, Iran’s
clear that the AUKUS grouping too, like all modern military operations, im- all too common in history: limits five in the new Kabul power struc- cent weeks the US removed its role in this theatre may in the fu-
plies plain simple big business deals. CONCEPT, MUST to power. In this instance, the US ture were released from most advanced missile defence ture be of interest to the US.
France has warned a grave crisis is going to engulf its allies and the PLACE IN ITS globally and its ally Israel, re- Guantanamo Bay in 2015. system, and Patriot batteries from T he launch of AUKUS
NATO as a whole. The sudden cancellation of the Australia-French submarine gionally -- particularly consider- What does all this portend? Is a the Kingdom which faces attacks (Australia, UK and US), an idea bor-
deal and the inking of the Australia-US new deal is a huge setback for CALCULUS THE ing its stalemate with Arab militias phase of imperialism coming full from, say, Houthis in Yemen. Troop rowed conceptually from ANZUS
French President Emmanuel Macron not only because of its impact on like Hezbollah. circle? One cannot expect US reductions from Iraq, Kuwait, (Australia, New Zealand and US)
business and job loss for France, but also on the fate of his electoral battle US DISTANCING Massive intelligence failure at- President Joe Biden to say it in Jordan have also been confirmed against the Soviet Union, shows the
as he is soon going to face the French voter for a second term in office. His ITSELF FROM tended both the events. True, a quite that language, but what else by the Pentagon. Departure from urgency Biden accords to what
immediate reaction has been the symbolic protest by way of recalling jailbreak cannot be compared with does one make of his promise to Afghanistan will remain vivid in Barack Obama called ‘pivot to
French ambassadors from Canberra and Washington. The diplomatic row THE ARAB the re-conquest of a country but end “never ending” wars. our minds for years. Despite these Asia.’ The pivot was of much
has also queered the pitch for a post-Donald Trump rapprochement be-
tween France and the USA.
THEATRE that is not the way Palestinians see American youth, who are now 20 stories every American strategist greater saliency. West Asia, though
it. The Times of Israel reports: years of age, have never seen will tell you “the Middle East is not still important, had placed a dis-
In fact, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian used the most undiplo- “The escape is considered a highly “America at peace.” Suicide rate being abandoned.” There is that propor tionate demand on
matic language towards Australia, the United States and Britain to term the symbolic success for the terror among military veterans as high ‘over the horizon’ capability which Washington’s attention. The nu-
deal an outcome of “lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt.” groups. It is being celebrated with as 18 per day? Biden clearly ab- includes updated drones. British clear deal conferred on Tehran
He simply brushed aside the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ‘euphoria’ among Palestinians.” hors this data. premier Boris Johnson calls it the kind of legitimacy that was to
plea that he had informed France beforehand about the new arrange- The Taliban, likewise, in the The problem, of course is, that “outside-in” ability. have enabled it to balance power
ment. The “information,” Le Drian insisted, was conveyed to France only initial flush are folk heroes in Biden is only the President, not the Israel, which is busy adjusting in the region. This would be in
an hour before the announcement was made about the formation of the Afghanistan and beyond having system. Even so he is proceeding to limits on its power as a con- concert with Saudi Arabia, Israel,
alliance and the submarine deal with the USA. This, according to him, is done a David on Goliath. To bring with some sense of the consen- cept, must place in its calculus Egypt, Turkey. The regional balance
very humiliating. out the irony in sharp focus on sus he has forged around him. For the US distancing itself from the of power would then require less
Le Drian described the withdrawal of the ambassadors for the first time the US debacle in Afghanistan, him to declassify the secret FBI re- Arab theatre. Yes, support for day-to-day attention, freeing
in the history of relations with the countries as a “very symbolic” act that recall the January 29, 2002, State port which reveals the connection Israel in the US remains durable Washington to pay greater atten-
aimed “to show how unhappy we are and that there is a serious crisis be- of the Union address by then of Saudi Nationals to 9/11, indicates -- Jewish control of banks, media, tion to the pivot. That appears to
tween us.” He reserved his invectives for the UK describing its role as that President George W Bush. The a sharp departure from past prac- institutes of learning, election, be the route on Biden’s GPS.
of a rank “opportunist.” “We know their constant opportunism. So there is President sketched in bold colours tice. Remember the days of George finance. What is not so well known
no need to bring our ambassador (from London) back,” Le Drian said.
Immediately thereafter the USA and Australia have gone about mollify-
ing France, but the wounds are too deep to heal any time soon. Biden sought
to underscore the dire necessity of extending American nuclear submarine
technology to Australia and cyber-defence, applied artificial intelligence and
@Shakti Rath the ‘Axis of Evil.’ Ironies upon
ironies attend that speech. Bush
welcomes Hamid Karzai as “leader
of liberated Afghanistan.” Karzai
W Bush and his buddy Saudi
Ambassador Bandar bin Sultan,
or Bandar Bush as he was called
because of his chumminess with
is what Noam Chomsky describes
as much the most powerful support
for Israel -- Christian Zionism.
Former Israeli Ambassador in the
The writer is a senior
commentator on political
and diplomatic issues.
IANS
undersea capabilities to counter the rise of China. A White House official

expressed “regret” over the French envoy’s recall and exuded confidence that
the USA would continue to be engaged with France in the coming days to
resolve their differences.
SPECTRUM CLIMATE ACTION
To assuage France’s feeling of betrayal Australia has fielded its Finance
Norway’s sovereign duty

Minister Simon Birmingham who iterated Australia doesn’t underesti-
mate the importance of France as its ally in their ongoing engagement in
the region.
The AUKUS alliance is also likely to have important implications for
Southeast Asia and the role of the ASEAN. Obviously, some of the nations
R
in South East Asia, concerned over China’s growing military power in the ecent developments in counted in the domestic inventory. Norway has a proud history of ac- to mitigate climate change not only
South China Sea, will be quietly supportive of the move, which will impose Norway could have momen- Thus, while governments have scru- tivist international diplomacy. Its within their borders but across all
higher costs on any military adventurism by the Chinese. tous implications for climate- tinised their economies for emissions highly capable foreign service has assets that they own and are able to
However, mere strategic alliances are not enough to contain China which related commitments at the UN cuts, they have tended to leave their played a central role in mediating influence. For Norway and several
has deep economic ties with many countries in the region. Significantly enough, climate-change conference (COP26) countries’ SWFs on the sideline. an end to armed conflicts around the Gulf countries whose SWFs’ asset
two days after the AUKUS was formed, China filed an application to join the in Glasgow this November. As a result, only one sovereign fund, world. Moreover, its sovereign-fund holdings amount to multiples of
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
Christiana Figueres, In August, a government-ap- Germany’s KENFO, has signed on manager, Norges Bank Investment their domestic economy’s GDP, the
which had been signed by 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Håvard Halland, & pointed committee recommended to the United Nations-convened Net- Management, is a sophisticated and largest potential climate gains can
Japan and New Zealand in 2018. The move evinces Beijing’s keenness to deepen Knut Anton Mork that Norway put its sovereign wealth Zero Asset Owner Alliance, which globally respected investor. Together, be found in SWF portfolios.
its economic integration with the region so as to pull these nations to its orbit fund (SWF) on track for net-zero represents some $6.7 trillion in as- these attributes place Norway in a Countries with SWFs should
by sheer economic gravity. greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by sets under management, and counts strong position to mobilise others recognise that accounting for cli-
The new alignment of AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific region has at least AS THE COUNTRY 2050, and that the fund’s activities 46 pension funds and insurance within a sovereign-fund coalition to- mate risk and climate-related in-
given a strong signal that the USA is not going to withdraw into a shell fol- be made consistent with Norway’s companies among its members. ward net-zero targets. vestment opportunities is no longer
lowing its pullout from Afghanistan, leaving its allies and partners in Asia WITH THE commitments under international Given that Norway’s massive Fortunately, some SWFs have sufficient.
high and dry. climate agreements. Soon there- SWF owns 1.4 per cent of all the already demonstrated burgeoning Norway, a star of international
WORLD’S LARGEST after, the Norwegian Labour Party’s world’s listed companies, on aver- climate ambitions. Norway can peace negotiations, should seize
SOVEREIGN candidate for prime minister, Jonas age, the country’s apparent change look to countries like France, the opportunity to lead a global
Gahr Støre, confirmed that, if of heart is important both sym- Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, sovereign-fund movement. Doing
WISDOM CORNER WEALTH FUND, elected, he would introduce a net- bolically and as a practical mat- and the United Arab Emirates for so would establish it as a cham-
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the
NORWAY SHOULD zero target for the fund. Now that ter. The new Norwegian govern- potential partners. These coun- pion of international climate diplo-
Støre has emerged victorious in ment is backed up by the recent tries’ sovereign funds have so- macy and leadership. For a coun-
darknesses of other people. CARL JUNG SPEARHEAD A this month’s parliamentary elec- recommendation from Olivier phisticated investment teams that try that built its wealth by pumping
tions, his challenge is to form a Blanchard, a former chief econo- would be perfectly capable of im- hydrocarbons out of the seabed
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them DIPLOMATIC coalition that will allow him to fol- mist at the International Monetary plementing net-zero targets. And one and exporting them along with
humanity cannot survive. DALAI LAMA
EFFORT FOR low through on his conviction. Fund, and others recommending it hopes that when they do, SWFs at their inherent GHG emissions, it
Norway’s $1.4 trillion Government to sign up its SWF for the Net-Zero an earlier stage of their climate is the right thing to do.
I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections, and A GLOBAL Pension Fund Global is the world’s Alliance at COP26. commitments, or that have more
the truth of imagination. JOHN KEATS
MOVEMENT OF largest SWF. But the country has But Norway should not stop there. limited resources, will join the new Figueres is former executive
been hesitant to put the weight of its All told, sovereign funds represent global consensus. secretary of the UN
SOVEREIGN FUNDS fund behind its own international some $10 trillion in assets under As the most recent report from Framework Convention on
WORDSWORTH TOWARD NET-ZERO climate commitments. It is not alone.
Under existing international agree-
management, or about seven times
that of Norway’s SWF alone. As
the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change reminds us, the
Climate Change. Halland is
Senior Economist at OECD
COMMITMENTS ments, climate commitments are the country with the world’s largest window for averting catastrophic Development Centre. Mork is
Peradventure AT COP26 based on emissions originating SWF, Norway should spearhead a climate change is closing quickly. Professor at the
within each country’s physical bor- diplomatic effort for a global move- Under these fraught conditions, Norwegian University of
T he online Oxford English Dictionary has added a note to each entry

showing how often it appears in current use. Peradventure appears in
band 2, which the dictionary says contains “terms which are not part of
ders. Emissions resulting from coun-
tries’ foreign asset holdings are not
ment of sovereign funds toward
net-zero commitments at COP26.
governments with large foreign
asset holdings should look for ways
Science and Technology.
©PROJECT SYNDICATE
normal discourse and would be unknown to most people.” The Times

mocked Labour MP Harriet Harman in April 2015 for using it on a BBC
Endemic COVID Vaccine hesitancy
L
television discussion programme (“if I make it absolutely clear, beyond
peradventure ...”). The Times writer admitted he had to look it up.
Sir, As India gets ready to face a possible third wave of Sir, This refers to the news report “Many shy away from second jab,”
etters
Peradventure means “uncertainty” or “chance”. Beyond peradventure
(sometimes as beyond a peradventure) is a fixed phrase that can pop up COVID-19, WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan Orissa POST, September 19. It is disturbing that certain sections of the
from the subconscious of a well-read but stressed person without allowing has said: “India seems to be entering some stage of COVID- population have developed vaccine hesitancy. The latest data and pattern
its owner time to think about whether it would be understood. It may be 19 endemicity where there is low- to moderate-level trans- indicate that vaccination has been effective in slowing down the spread
rendered in everyday English as “beyond question” or “without doubt”. It mission.” Earlier this year, scientists had indicated in a of the infection and has considerably brought down the need to hospitalise
may be adventurous to use it but where’s the adventure in it? Historically, TO THE EDITOR survey carried out by the journal Nature that the SARS- those that have been infected. As per a recent report of the Centres of Disease
there is none. It comes to us from Old French per aventure, by chance. Readers of Orissa POST CoV-2 virus is set to become endemic and would continue Control and Prevention in the US, unvaccinated people are 10 times more
Aventure has had a mildly exotic history. We can trace it back to Latin are most welcome to contribute letters to circulate in pockets of the global population. So now we likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19 and 11 times more likely to die from
adventura, a future form of the verb advenire, to happen — so something (200 words), articles and have to take precautionary measures against this virus. the disease. As of now, India has fully vaccinated around 20 per cent of
columns (between 750-1250
that may occur. By the time it reached Old French it could variously mean words). Contributors are All healthcare facilities, from rural to urban, should be its eligible population, while 62 per cent have received at least one dose.
destiny or fate, a chance event, an accident, fortune or luck. The sense of requested to send their available at affordable prices. The availability of oxygen This appears as a rosy picture, but the experiences of the United States
aventure that was first taken into English was that of a chance event or contact numbers and full is still expected at all primary health centres and community and Britain tell us a different story as the infection spread virulently, mainly
postal address/email ID. They may also
accident. The French word also came to be used in English as adventure, also
send in their valuable comments, opinion
health centres. Special attention is needed in rural areas, in unvaccinated regions. Given that the efficacy of the vaccine is only
at first for some chance event, but then for a risk of danger or loss. (Marine and suggestions, preferably by email, as thousands of people lost their lives in the second wave 70-90 per cent, and that breakthrough infections are reported among 10
insurers still sometimes use adventure to mean the time during which to: edit@orissapost.com without access to healthcare. We have learned from the to 25 per cent, the unvaccinated segment is also highly likely to be the
insured goods are at risk.) Its sense shifted to a hazardous undertaking or first and second waves of the pandemic that the lives of trigger for, and victim of, the next wave. In this context, one can draw the
audacious exploit — especially the sort carried out by medieval knights — millions of people in the country have been lost due to the inference that India is not out of woods yet, and inoculation of all with
but much more recently softened to sometimes mean merely a novel or B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate,
neglect of the health system. two doses is imperative.
exciting experience. Bhubaneswar-751010 Asit Mohanty, JAJPUR N Sadhasiva Reddy, BANGALORE
@UPSC_THOUGHT
t h e da ily gua r dia n
m o n day | 2 0 se p t e m b e r 2 0 2 1
new de l h i comment & analysis 5
Dealing with China
India urgently needs a

thorough Himalayan policy
The time for philosophy and romanticism is over; the Chinese have built more than
600 villages near India’s borders. Something needs to be done, and done now.
ing transgressions by the of the local population; this
Chinese troops. …Basically would include measures
the border areas remained to stop the migration of the
backward owing to topo- local populations towards
graphical factors and inac- the big cities; the building of
opinion cessibility.”
Unfortunately (or fortu-
infrastructure, the relations
between the defence forces
nately) India is not China, and the local population, the
CLAUDE ARPI where a word from the border trade and eventually
Emperor suffices to put a trans-border pilgrimages.
scheme on rail; India never- The DHA could be sup-
theless badly needs a Hima- ported by an Indian Fron-
their villages (not to return), laya Policy, based on a close tier Administrative Service
while 3,83,726 people, who collaboration between the (IFAS). In the 1950s, IFAS
have left in search of work Center and the States bor- officers did a great job on
and a better life, keep visit- dering China. India’s northern borders
ing their native places. The Twelve years ago, on Octo- and in Tibet; most of them
RTI also mentions 3,946 ber 30, 2009, the Himachal had sacrificed their careers
villages from where people Pradesh Government organ- to join the Service; all were
have ‘permanently’ left land ized the first ever Himalayan remarkable personalities.
and home; these villages are Chief Ministers Conclave on Even though the cadre does
being termed ‘ghost villages’. ‘’Indian Himalaya: Glaciers, not exist anymore, their
Arunachal Pradesh is fac- Climate Change & Liveli- lives should be role models
ing a similar situation. hoods’’ in Simla. for young officers posted on
S
ince a few years, the au- Following a meeting of The main objective was to the borders. Detailed studies
thorities in Tibet have several legislators in Itana- discuss the issues of environ- should be undertaken about
started implementing gar, an Indo-China Border ment degradation, climate the fascinating achievements
Xi Jinping’s theory: “To gov- Development Legislators Fo- change and its impact on the of those daring IFAS officers;
ern the nation, govern the rum of Arunachal Pradesh livelihood of local inhabit- A Department of Himalayan Affairs needs to be created.In view of the a similar Service needs to be
borders; to govern the bor- (ICBDLFAP) has recently ants of Himalayan region. recreated for the welfare of
ders, strengthen the devel- been constituted to formu- The Chief Ministers’ Con- individualistic tendencies of the Indian bureaucracy, coordination the Himalayan population
opment of border regions.” late plans and strategies to clave, attended amongst and a sound strategic devel-
The formula can be found curb the migration of people others by Jairam Ramesh,
will be a crucial element; it will need to be manned with (or in opment of India’s Northern
in every speech of the local from the border villages to the Minister of State for En- coordination with) officers of the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence, borders.
satraps posted in Tibet; they urban areas. vironment and Forests, the The DHA will also have
repeat parrot-like that the India.com reported that Chief Ministers of Uttara- Education, Home, Culture, Environment as well as officers of the the responsibility to write
inhabitants of China’s bor- MLAs representing con- khand, Himachal Pradesh the History of the Indian
ders (with India) should be stituencies along the India- and representatives of other Indian Army, other border defence forces and intelligence agencies. Borders, this will be impor-
“the protectors of the sacred
homeland and the builders
China border have started
this forum to prevent the
Himalayan States, took place
and a ‘Simla Declaration’
Without proper coordination, it will be just one more futile policy. tant to lay the foundation of a
solid long-term policy for the
of happy homes.” exodus of border residents was agreed upon. Himalaya.
The slogan has taken a con- by speeding up the develop- Unfortunately, ‘migration’ Finally, let us not deny that
crete shape with the building ment of the 1,080 km fron- was not specifically men- the Chinese President has a
of 604 ‘model’ villages on tier with China. tioned and in any case, there valid point: “to govern a na-
the Tibetan side of the In- State Assembly Speaker was no follow up; this is hap- conclude with a roundta- than 600 villages at India’s Education, Home, Culture, preferably with an Army/ tion, it is necessary to govern
dian border, mainly north of PD Sona, who represents the pening all too often in India. ble discussion on the way doors. Something needs to Environment as well as of- Security background. the borders…”
Arunachal Pradesh, but also Mechuka assembly constitu- In Spring 2022, a national ahead.” be done, and done now. ficers of the Indian Army, In the 1950s and 1960s, an The Government will have
in Himachal and Ladakh. ency, observed: “The villag- workshop is to be organ- Once again something What is today required is a other border defense forces officer category called SOFA to be bold to bypass the ba-
Officially, the scheme is ers along the international ized by NITI Aayog on the more holistic and radical is coordinated policy between and intelligence agencies. (Special Officer of Frontiers bus, but it is the pressing
linked with ‘poverty allevia- borders are still lacking ba- development of the Indian required, because in most the different stakeholders, Without proper coordina- Affairs) existed; the scope of need of the hour; China is
tion’ and the ‘defence of the sic amenities due to which Himalayan region; it has of these cases, the security including the defence forces. tion, it will be just one more the SOFA’s responsibilities often moving its pawns fast-
borders’. they migrate to urban areas been announced: “Central issues so crucial today, are A Department of Himala- futile policy. was limited due to the fact it er; but with the right moves,
In the meanwhile, on the in search of better life and Ministries, State Govern- omitted, like it was decades yan Affairs (DHA) needs to The DHA should work was functioning under the Delhi could win a great
Indian side, the border vil- livelihoods.” ment agencies, research in- ago, when Verrier Elwin’s be created. under the Prime Minister’s MEA only; it was however Himalayan battle, and show
lages are quickly getting The Forum suggested stitutions, NGOs, and other romantic ‘Philosophy of In view of the individualis- Office because if a ‘coordina- manned by (excellent) offic- Xi Jinping the advantages of
empty. modifying the guidelines of stakeholders will be part of NEFA’, became the Gospel tic tendencies of the Indian tor’ were to work under one ers, who were professionally democracy over totalitarian-
According to a RTI, more the existing Border Areas the workshop. It will pro- for those dealing the bor- bureaucracy, coordination of the above agencies only, looking after border areas. ism.
than 5 lakh people have mi- Development Plan: “The in- vide a national platform for ders. It resulted in a War will be a crucial element; it he/she will not be in a posi- It needs not being repli-
grated from Uttarakhand habitants of the border vil- sharing best practices on with China. will need to be manned with tion to coordinate and im- cated as the situation has The writer is a noted author,
in the last 10 years. It is said lages are considered India’s the science, governance, and The times for philosophy (or in coordination with) plement the holistic Govern- changed, though the DHA journalist, historian, Tibetolo-
that more than one lakh has first line of defence. They field-work aspects of spring and romanticism are over; officers of the Ministries of ment policy. A DHA should would have to keep in mind gist and China expert. The views
permanently migrated out of have never failed in report- revival. The workshop will the Chinese have built more External Affairs, Defence, be headed by a Secretary, the welfare and the customs expressed are personal.
PERSPECTIVE
PUNJAB POLITICS
Congress gambles on siDhu-Channi Combination in Punjab

By naming Charanjit Singh support for her candidacy Captain, the former Chief Sidhu and Channi. The legations.
Channi, a third time MLA as did Sidhu subsequently. Minister is unlikely to put flip side of the Jat Sikhs be- A senior Congress leader
from Chamkaur Saheb and However, resisting tempta- up any resistance to his ap- ing denied the position is said that it was below their
a former minister as the tion and holding on to her pointment. that one of them or more dignity to respond to the
first Dalit Chief Minister of conviction, Ambika de- Had Sidhu been named, can switch to AAP which BJP. With Amarinder de-
Punjab, the Congress High clined the offer and stated Amarinder would have desperately needs a face in claring that he was keeping
Command has got into a that only a Sikh should be stepped out openly to op- Punjab. The Captain who all his options open, there
damage control exercise the State’s Chief Minister. pose him tooth and nail. had in the most unchar- is speculation that he could
following the dramatic res- Taken aback by her polite There are 32 percent Dalit acteristic manner granted float his own party. This
ignation of Captain Ama- no to the Central leader- votes in Punjab and the interviews to TV channels appears unlikely at this
rinder Singh on Saturday. ship, Rahul Gandhi appar- Congress decision has at- to hit out at Sidhu, seemed juncture since the Captain
In fact, the central leader- ently commented that she tempted to factor the Jat to have mellowed down spoke to Sonia multiple
ship arrived at the decision was perhaps the first lead- Sikh-Dalit combination on Sunday. Many of his times since Saturday. His
after examining the claims er in the party who had de- to win the Assembly polls detractors accused him decision to quit seemed
of several top leaders in- clined a powerful position. next year. The move is also of using the BJP political to have been taken on an
cluding Sukhjinder Singh Being the senior most to counter the Akali Dal idiom to attack Sidhu and impulse as undoubtedly,
Randhawa, Partap Singh politician from Punjab by tie up with the Bahujan the Pradesh president’s he continues to be a leader
Bajwa, Sunil Jakhar and virtue of being elected to Samaj Party. However, in strategic adviser, Mo- whose stature was above
also Navjot Singh Sidhu. the Rajya Sabha for the the process, the day wit- hammad Mustafa took to the rest. Senior leaders in-
Late last night, the High first time in 1976 during nessed many squabbles twitter to warn the Cap- cluding Salman Khurshid,
Command appeared to the tenure of Giani Zail amongst the Jat Sikhs, tain that his description his friend is now trying to
have made up its mind to Singh, the only non Jat Punjab CM-designate Charanjit Singh Channi speaks to the media after meeting Governor who seemed uncomfort- of anti-national against pacify him and the Con-
send Ambika Soni as Ama- CM since reorganization Banwarilal Purohit, in Chandigarh on Sunday. (ANI) able if anyone other than Sidhu was uncalled for gress general secretary,
rinder’s successor after as- of the State, she decided to accept the coveted posi- mand. Charanjit Singh Singh Randhawa. Al- themselves was promoted. and he should desist from Harish Rawat has praised
certaining that she was the to withdraw from the tion which should go to a Channi’s name cropped up though, Channi was one There were reports that using such language since his tenure as the CM in
only one who enjoyed the race of which she never Sikh. Throughout Sunday, and he was finally chosen of the four senior leaders Sidhu felt peeved and there would be retaliation. order to placate him. Pun-
support of every faction in was a part. She informed the Central party observ- to head the government (others being Tript Bajwa, insecure if Randhawa, The BJP attempted to drag jab politics may see many
the party. The Captain is the Interim president, So- ers obtained the views which would also have Randhawa and Sidhu) his close friend was pro- in the Gandhis by asking more developments in the
understood to have called nia Gandhi that her con- of MLAs and gave their two deputy CMs in Brahm from the state who started moted. The two faces of them as to why were they next few months.
her twice to express his science did not permit her report to the High Com- Mohindra and Sukhjinder the uprising against the the party would now be silent on Amarinder’s al- Pankaj Vohra
@UPSC_THOUGHT
6 legally speaking the daily guardian
monday | 20 s ep tember 2021
new delhi
Law & Society
ReFoRMatioN iN iNDia’S PUNiSHMeNt

aND SeNteNciNG PoLicy: a SiNe QUa NoN ment where primary aim and maximum penalty for many instances, the deci- nism. In general, commit- stated that Government of is important to have a look
of law is to promote reha- a particular sort of offence. sion is delivered after only tees have pointed out the India is in a stage of prepa- on a larger picture which
bilitation, re-educate and Due to this, a wide gap is considering aggravating need to adopt such system ration where it is planning will improve our justice
reshape the personality of generated which majorly factors because of the sim- that will ensure certainty to establish ‘a uniform sen- system and a major method
analysis the criminal. Despite of such
an inspiring approach, still,
affects the administration
of sentencing. Exactly-
ple reason that the defence
have not produce sentenc-
during the whole process
of giving sentences. Let’s
tencing policy’ similar to the
policy of that USA and UK.
through which same can
be achieved is the develop-
there exists no strict set of what sentence should be ing material on mitigating briefly take alook on the re- However, even after all such ment and implementation of
HRITIKA SINGH guidelines for regulating given from this gap to the circumstances with respect port published by various recommendations, no effort a uniform sentencing policy.
the sentencing policy in offender solely depends to the accused. committees – has been taken towards its
India. This is considered on the judge’s discretion. • Ambiguity in the quan- In 2000, the Ministry of creation. CONCLUSION
as a major lacuna, which Thus, judge while deciding tum of sentences: In hierar- Home Affairs established the Indian criminal justice
“Giving punishment to the changeably which lead to not only hampers the basic the cases and awarding the chy of the judicial system, Committee on Reforms of Crim- JUDICIAL VIEWS ON has no doubt adopted the
wrongdoer is at the heart of contradictions and confu- purpose of criminal justice punishments enjoys the lati- the quantum of sentences inal Justice System, popularly SENTENCING POLICY mechanism of sentencing
the criminal justice delivery sions. That’s why, here, it delivery system but also give tude of power. entirely changes from up known as the Malimath Com- While the legislature has not as a restorative justice. But
system, but in our country, it is becomes essential to know rise to numerous violations • Discretion of Judge: In and down. In absence of mittee for giving recommen- given any particular guide- it is not considered much
the weakest part of the admin- what exactly punishment of various fundamental and India, no doubt several gen- any proper guidelines, the dations on the prevalent lines regarding the sentenc- by the judges. Indian sys-
istration of criminal justice.” and sentencing constitutes human rights. As said by the eral factors such as severity, Trial Court, the High Court system of criminal justice. ing and punishment, the tem, depending upon its
- Soman v. State of Kerala and how they differ from prominent judge D.P. Wad- liability, guilty mind, etc. and the Supreme Court In March 2003, Committee higher Courts from time- convenience often fluctu-
each other. hva J, “Reformative theory must be taken into account mostly differ in awarding issued the report which is of to-time have enunciated atesbetween the three theo-
T
he above mentioned According to Britannica, is certainly important but too by judges while concluding sentences, thereby causing the view that despite of hav- certain principles regarding ries of punishment, namely,
lines are very well “Punishment is the infliction of much stress to my mind cannot cases. However, final deci- confusion. ing provisions of maximum this. The Indian Courts, over deterrence, retributive and
depicting the sig- some kind of pain or loss upon be laid down on it that the basic sion is based on the judge’s These challenges throw a and minimum punishment the period of time, through reformative. This itself
nificance of awarding pro- a person for a misdeed (i.e., the tenets of punishment altogether personal experience, preju- serious concern on the part in the Indian Penal Code, inconstant and faulty deci- shows that justice system,
portionate punishments transgression of a law or com- vanish.” However, the main dice and considerations. of the Indian legislature. the judge enjoys the wide sion making process have particularly criminal, is in
in the domain of criminal mand). Punishment may take legislations in India gov- Here, it is not wrong to re- This gives a red signal to discretion within the statu- indirectly pointed out the a state of ambiguity and is
justice system. At the same different forms ranging from erning the sentencing and fer judge as a king because the Parliament and other tory limit while inflicting need for a sentencing policy. also directionless. There is a
instance, it is showing its capital punishment, forced la- punishment system as well the ultimate discretion lies authorities to formulate a sentences. With regard to The Courts recognizing the huge docket explosion in the
current situation. Nowa- bour, flogging, imprisonment as criminal law are The In- in his hand only. well-structured sentenc- selecting the most appro- absence of any such regulat- statistics of the crime rate all
days, the problem that is and fines.” dian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), • Lack of consistency and ing policy to safeguard the priate sentence, there is no edpolicy have provided judi- over the world and India is
underlying in the criminal Macmillan Dictionary de- The Indian Evidence Act, 1872, faulty rationales: Due to the rights of the parties involved proper guidance provided cial guidance by setting out no exception. Apart from
law is that the very purpose fines the term Sentencing The Code of Criminal Proce- lack of structured guide- in a particular case. anywhere for the judges. certain factors that courts this, India has also been ex-
of punishment is not being as “an occasion when someone dure, 1973 (CrPC), Probation lines, many times conflicts The members of commit- must look into while decid- periencing an alarming in-
fulfilled. Most often, Pun- who has been found guilty in a of Offenders Act, 1958. Some and contradictions arises NEED FOR tee went on to criticize this ing punishments. crease in delay and arrears
ishment is considered as the court of law is told what their provisions relating to Indian when the courts awards STRUCTURED unguided power and felt In Soman v. State of Kerala of pending cases. There are
stage where all functionar- punishment will be.” punishment and sentencing different sentences in cases SENTENCING POLICY the need to minimize it to the Court put emphasis on many reasons responsible
ies as defined by the Crimi- In general parlance, ‘Pun- are described below- having almost same cir- From the above presented the some extent by using the principles such as pro- for this problem. One of the
nal Procedure Code, 1973 (2 ishment’ is a method which Section 53, Chapter III cumstances, using different material, it can rightly be the law force and author- portionality, deterrence major concerns is require-
of 1974) as well as the victim is legally approved to control of The Indian Penal Code, reasoning. This leads to the inferred that in India, there ity. Further, the Committee and rehabilitation that need ment of a fixed sentencing
and the convict acquired the the task of crime. ‘Sentences’ 1860 specifically states the inconsistency. lies a huge disparity, incon- also noticed the fact that not to be taken into considera- and punishment policy, a
central position. It serves as are statements contained in different kinds of punish- • Lack of binding force: sistency, arbitrariness and every judge has the same set tion while giving judgment. concept on which this whole
a link between the criminal the judgments which lay out ments which can be given While the court from case unguided discretionary of mind and attitude while Here, proportionality factor article is based.
justice system and the soci- the punishments for a par- by the Criminal Court to the to case attempt to create a power when it comes to de- deciding the sentences, for also contains the mitigating, As we have already dis-
ety as “Justice must not only be ticular offence according to offenders liable for various framework to limit discre- ciding the punishment and instance, something may aggravating and such other cussed, in detail, the num-
done, but must also be seen to the law. And, when the sen- offences. The six mentioned tion of judges and prevent awarding a sentence for a be grave for one judge but factor. Also,the Court noted ber of infirmities faced by
be done”. Punishments play tences get operationalized, it punishments are– arbitrary award of sentenc- particular offence. It is an at the same time may not be that it is not good that our the current sentencing and
a guiding role in avoiding is known as ‘punishment’. 1) Death es but the larger bench ob- undisputable fact that there as grave for other one. For criminal legislation has no punishment policy. There
harm to our society, in prop- The term ‘Punishment’ can 2) Imprisonment for life served that guidelines man- is a dire need of regulated the depth study of this mat- legislative or judicially laid exists an exigency to fix
er implementation of morals be considered as the way 3) Imprisonment – Rigorous dated by judiciary would go sentencing policy for cur- ter, committee asserted that down regulations to guide those shortcomings to get
and values and in attaining a of not only penalizing the with hard labour or Simple against the intent of legisla- tailing number of lacunas there is a requirement of an the court trial. an effective policy. There is
peaceful society. one who commits any guilt 4) Forfeiture of property ture. This is the reason why, that are already discussed expert committee, which Further, most importantly a need for a policy which
This is not something but also a process to pre- 5) Fine the apex Court highlighted above. There exist the need will evaluate the whole the court in the State of M.P strikes balance between the
that is recently developed. vent the offender repeating According to the Section that guidelines are indica- of well-defined policy for concern. This committee v. Bablu Natt said that the rights of an accused and the
From ancient times, the further commission of hei- 60 of the IPC, it is the discre- tive rather than exhaustive sentencing and punishment consisted of experts pointed imposition of the principles rights of the citizens. So this
concept of punishing the nous crimes. Thus, it can be tion on the part of the com- in nature. Therefore, courts even after the completion of out the need for a new code laid down in the above case is the high time that legis-
person who breaches the rightly said that both sen- petent court to decide the have not followed their the trial while determin- which classify the offences vary from case to case and lature must come forward
rules and regulations were tences and punishments are description of the sentences own sentencing guidelines ing the probation period other than the parameters depend on facts and circum- to prepare a road map and
in existence. Since then, this closely interlinked, where to which an offender is strictly. of offenders. Section 360 of cognizable and non- cog- stances of each case. take vital steps to draft a
mechanism was used in or- former one is said to be the punishable. Further, it lays • Immense Disparity and and section 361 governs the nizable and a policy having Moreover, the apex court systematic and clear policy.
der to regulate the social or- predecessor in order to actu- down the following types- Discrepancy: It has been principle of releasing the the goal of social welfare in the Rajendra Pralhadrao While formulating a policy,
der and maintain harmony ally inflicting the latter one. 1) Wholly or partly rigor- noticed that in many cases convicts on the basis of good should be adopted. Wasnik v. the State of Maha- the legislature should also
and peace in the society. ous; or judges imposes the differ- behaviour and conduct and The Law Commission of rashtra acknowledge these take aid from the success-
Back then, the provisions of SENTENCING AND 2) Wholly or partly simple; ent type of sentence on of- also states that special rea- India in its 47th report by above mentioned principles ful policies of various other
punishment and sentences PUNISHMENT POLICY: or fenders while being tried sons must be recorded for reasserting the same states but at the same time held jurisdictions such as US,
were more stringent so as to FRAMEWORK 3) Any part to be rigorous under the same offence. the same. Here again, there that an appropriate sen- that since they are not abso- UK and embed it in India
set the example, giving it the Every country has a differ- and the rest are simple. This is because of the fact is noclear-cut definition tence is a culmination of lute rules, the judiciary can- according to the Indian
deterrence effect. With the ent set up of criminal jus- Section 235 of CrPC talks that every judge has their of ‘good conduct’, it varies different numerous factors not be restrained with them. needs. It is also mandated
change in the perspective tice system. Some are more about judgment of acquittal own considerations and from one jail authority to the such as the nature and cir- In the case of State of Punjab that this draft must be in
of the society and develop- focused towards harsh or conviction under which reasons to believe whether a other and also depends on cumstances under which of- v. Prem Sagar,it was pointed the line to the proposals and
ment, this notion of pun- punishment that should be it ensures that first accused particular factor constitutes the circumstances and type fence is committed; the age, out by Justice S.B. Sinha work done by the Malimath
ishment became rational inflicted to the perpetrators will have an opportunity of aggravating or mitigating of offence committed by the background, mental health, that our legal system has so Committee, the Madhava
and tilted more towards the of the crime where as some last say then the judge after circumstances for a partic- offender. The implementa- character, education, etc. of far not been able to develop Menon Committee and the
concept of reforming the nations are concerned about adjudicating upon relevant ular case. Thus, due to the tion of the same legislation the offender; prior criminal certain principles as regards Law Commission of India
convict rather than deter- rehabilitating or reforming mitigating and aggravating discrepancy and disparity, over two persons resulting record of the offender; proof sentencing and even the in this regard. It is impor-
ring them. Punishments the convict. Some nations factors shall pass sentence there exists an imbalance in in the different consequenc- spective of rehabilitation, apex Court just made obser- tant to note that legislature
can be divided into various are more concerned about on him. the criminal justice system es despite of having same set training or treatment and vations to this regard and cannot do this task in isola-
types such as deterrent, re- the victims whereas some Section 354(1)(b) of the which is highly undesirable. of circumstances violates so forth. Further, the com- left the matter untouched tion. The judiciary would
habilitative, restorative and are concerned about the CrPC impose duty on judges As a result of it, offenders the right to equality defined mission recommended for a whereas other developed also play an important role
retributive. The purpose of offenders. However, sen- to record the reasons for the spend unnecessary time in under article 14 of Indian committee that must be stat- countries have done so. in this exercise by ensuring
each type of punishment is tencing and punishing the decision of awarding a par- prison. Constitution. When the utory in origin, to lay out the In the famous case of that discretion power vested
different but the ultimate criminal is most important ticular sentence and clause • Indefinite and Scattered person detained in the cus- regulation under the Chair- Bachan Singh v. State of Pun- with them must be used in
goal is same, that is, to safe- component of any criminal (3) of the same section states procedure: In India, the pro- tody for a longer term than manship of a former judge jab, the Hon’ble Supreme the interest of justice and
guard the society. All this justice process. For impos- that whenever the convic- cedure of criminal law is required, it violates another of Supreme Court or a for- Court apart from the con- should not be misused.
will become crystal clear ing accurate, just and pro- tion is for an offence punish- disintegrated into enormous constitutional right. Thus, mer Chief Justice of a High stitutionality of death pen- The criminal law mostly
when in the initial section portionate punishment, able with life imprisonment sections such as CrPC has here, it becomes important Court, whosoever experi- alty also addressed on the contemplated as an ex-
of this article, we will care- a systematic procedure is or death penalty, special 484 sections, 2 schedules to implement the policy enced in criminal law and issue of lack of sentencing pression of the relation-
fully analyze the meaning something must that should reasons must be recorded which in turn contains 56 which is well regulated, for- with such other member as guidelines. The majority is ship between the society
of sentence and punish- be formulated. This struc- for passing such sentence. forms and IPC has more mulated and structured. necessary. The summary of of the opinion that it is upon and its subjects. Therefore,
ment and policies, thereof, tured process adopted by a than 500 sections which the report states that there the legislation to standard- it becomes necessary to
prevalent in India. This will specific country commonly SENTENCING POLICY: increase the burden that COMMITTEES’ should be a punishment ize the sentencing discre- revise this law through
pave the way for the discus- known as ‘sentencing policy’. CHALLENGES AND is already present on the REPORTS harsher than imprisonment tion if it deems fit. However the principled and guided
sion of major challenges The sentencing policy is the ISSUES judges due to vast range of Apart from the members of for life but at the same time the Court went ahead and amendments. As said by
faced by current sentencing culmination of many things Prima Facie, the existing pending cases. legal fraternity such as law- it must kept in mind that it formulated the guidelines Justice Chandrachud, “The
policy and the need for well- like it contains the formula sentencing policy does not • Not defined reliable yers, advocates, judges, ac- should be lenient than capi- for imposing death penalty need of the hour to mitigate
defined sentencing policy in order to calculate the seem to contain any flaws in standards of proof: When it tivists, various committees tal punishment. and specifically defining the the problem of pendency is to
as in England, Whales and right or appropriate pun- it. However, a careful study comes to produce sentenc- also recognized the need for Later, the Committee on term ‘special reasons’ in Sec- think out of the box”. Thus,
America. The concluding ishment for a particular of- shows that there are many ing material upon which a statutory sentencing pol- Draft National Policy on tion 354(3) of CrPC thus set policy makers must take
section of this write-up will fence. Also, it reflects certain challenges faced by this Court will rely for giving icy. On various occasions, Criminal Justice, popularly forth the doctrine of ‘rarest immediate steps to counter
talk about the measures en- principles and other factors unregulated policy of sen- the sentence to the accused several committees have known as the Madhava of rare case’. the problems arising from
shrined by the legislature, which must be taken into tencing. Let’s throw some still the Courts in India have emphasized on the need of Menon Committee also rec- Later, the court in the case indefinite punishment and
the judiciary and the com- account by the court while light on the issues faced due not well established reliable well-regulated policy for ognized the need to have a of State of Madhya Pradesh sentencing system so that
mittees also focusing upon deciding punishment. Thus, to the lack of pronounced standards of proof. governing the sentencing radical change in the law of v.Mehtab, pointed that there the people of the nation
their suggestions. the prime objective of the sentencing policy in India. • Extracting sentencing and punishment system in sentencing. The committee is a development of guide- don’t lose their faith in the
justice system of any nation The defects can be broadly material: Indian Courts have India. The committees also in its report states that there lines by judiciary, but the judiciary and also judici-
PUNISHMENT & is to adopt a fixed regime of categorized into following placed the whole burden of stated that punishment is a need to re-think on the implementation is so far ary serve justice properly.
SENTENCING: sentencing policy which, in heads - producing the sentencing should not be harsh rather philosophy of sentencing in from reality which raises the With the help of this arti-
MEANING turn, regulates all the inhu- • Absence of fixed punish- material on the parties. If it must be moderate enough the criminal justice admin- major concern regarding the cle, an endeavour is made
Punishment and Sentenc- mane activities happening ment: Under the Indian any of the party is not able to be effective. The reports istration. Equality in every methodology of sentencing to build a proper legislation
ing, though, two distinct in the society. Criminal Law, the pattern to produce the sentencing of the committees suggest aspects of sentencing must in India. Also,it stated that for executing just and fair
entities but at the end, they Indian justice system stick that is prescribed for the material then the Court various other aspects which be pursued vigorously. In the development of a strict sentence and removing any
both form the union. Most towards the reformative punishments of all crimes without any hesitation take will improve the sentencing news report of October policy would lead to an kind of disparity before, af-
often, they are used inter- approach of giving punish- contains only minimum the ex-parte decision. In and punishment mecha- 2010, the Law Minister obstruction of justice. So it ter and during the trial.
@UPSC_THOUGHT
8 policy & politics the daily guardian
monday | 20 s ep tember 2021
new delhi
HealtH & tecHnology
Impact of artIfIcal IntellIgence

In trackIng and combatIng
coronavIrus pandemIc
analysis
TRIPTI BHUSHAN
and ought to guarantee that

scientists approach the fun-
damental processing limit.
The initial not many long
stretches of 2020 have sig-
nificantly changed the way
we carry on with our lives
and do our day by day exer-
cises. Albeit the far reach-
ing utilization of modern
robot pivot and self-driving
business vehicles has not
A
rtificial Intelligence yet turned into a reality,
can be a very pow- the Coronavirus pandemic
erful tool in regard has drastically sped up the
to monitoring and con- reception of Man-made
trolling Covid-19 situation brainpower (artificial intel-
across the country .Man- ligence) in various fields.
made brainpower (artificial We have seen what could
intelligence) is an inventive be compared to two years
innovation which is useful of advanced change com-
to battle the Coronavirus pacted into only a couple
pandemic. This innovation of months. Regardless of
is useful for appropriate whether it is in following
screening, following, and epidemiological pinnacles
foreseeing the current and or in executing contactless
future patients. The signifi- installments, the effect of sively to stay away from locales and give valuable
cant uses of this man-made these improvements has Medical care associations are in dire need for dynamic advancements its spread. Artificial intel- data about the weak dis-
intelligence are intended been practically prompt, ligence works in a capable tricts and for forecast of
for early identification and and a window has opened to deal with this infection and help them in getting legitimate ideas manner to impersonate like bleakness and mortality.
conclusion of the infection.
AI is utilized for the ad-
up on what is to come. Here
we examine and talk about
progressively to stay away from its spread. Artificial intelligence works in human insight. It might
likewise assume an essential
Bluedot distinguished a
bunch of pneumonia cases
vancement of medications how man-made intelligence a capable manner to impersonate human insight. It might likewise assume part in comprehension and and anticipated the episode
and antibodies, and the can uphold us in confront- proposing the advancement and topographical area of
decrease of the responsi- ing the continuous pandem- an essential part in comprehension and proposing the advancement of an of an antibody for Corona- the Coronavirus flare-up
bility of medical services ic. In spite of the various virus. This outcome driven dependent on accessible
laborers. Today, man-made and evident commitments antibody for coronavirus. This outcome-driven innovation is utilised for innovation is utilized for le- information utilizing AI.
intelligence advancements
and devices assume a vi-
of man-made intelligence,
clinical preliminaries and
legitimate screening, breaking down, forecast and following of current gitimate screening, break-
ing down, forecast and fol-
HealthMap gathers the
openly accessible infor-
tal part in each part of the human abilities are as yet patients and logical future patients. The huge applications applied to lowing of current patients mation on Coronavirus
Coronavirus emergency required. Regardless of and logical future patients. and makes it promptly ac-
response:understanding whether various proce- track information have affirmed, recuperated, and demise cases. The huge applications are cessible to work with the
the infection and speeding dures have been created in applied to tracks informa- powerful following of its
up clinical examination on various states around the tion have affirmed, recuper- spread. As of late, the job
medications and medicines world, the battle against the ated, and demise cases. of artificial intelligence
identifying and diagnosing pandemic appears to have The extraordinary speed in ID and determining of
the infection, and foresee- discovered wherever a sig- tiple million passings in 235 a progressive achievement old and new medications simulated intelligence for of endeavors to address Coronavirus episodes by
ing its evolution,assisting in nificant partner in artificial unique nations, as revealed in the advancement of the or medicines that may Wellbeing. the Coronavirus pandemic utilizing multitudinal and
forestalling or easing back intelligence, a worldwide by the World Association world in confronting these treat Coronavirus. A few Inventive methodologies circumstance is utilized by multimodal information
the virus\’ spread through and open-source instru- Wellbeing (WHO) toward sensational occasions. organizations are utilizing including prizes, open- large information and man- was underscored.
reconnaissance and con- ment equipped for giving the finish of February 2021. Before the world was even artificial intelligence to rec- source coordinated efforts, made consciousness (artifi-
tact tracing,responding to help with this wellbeing Genuine worries about mindful of the danger pre- ognize medicines and foster and hackathons, are speed- cial intelligence). Different ARTIFICIAL
the wellbeing emergency crisis. medical care frameworks’ sented by the Covid (Coro- model vaccines.Dedicated ing up research on artificial branches of artificial intelli- INTELLIGENCE IN
through customized data Coronavirus might be ability have emerged be- navirus), computerized stages or fora permit the so- intelligence driven answers gence have been utilized in CONTACT FOLLOWING
and learning,monitoring viewed as the primary flu cause of the extraordinary reasoning (artificial intel- lidification and sharing of for the pandemic. For in- a few illness flare-ups prior. Computer based intelli-
the recuperation and work- pandemic to be spread in interest for wellbeing ad- ligence) frameworks had multidisciplinary mastery stance, the Unified Realm’s Artificial intelligence can gence can increase versatile
ing on early notice appara- our hyper-associated world. ministrations, particularly identified the flare-up of an on artificial intelligence, “CoronaHack – computer assume a fundamental part heath applications where
tuses. It has demonstrated to be a concerning distraught obscure kind of pneumonia including globally. The US based intelligence versus in the battle against Corona- keen gadgets like watches,
To assist with working wonder that fundamen- states. In this situation, in Individuals’ Republic of government for instance Coronavirus” looks for virus. cell phones, cameras, and
with the utilization of artifi- tally and quickly impacts techniques ready to accel- China (in the future “Chi- has started a discourse with thoughts from organiza- Computer based intelli- a scope of wearable gadget
cial intelligence all through many layers of our general erate demonstrative meth- na”). As the episode has worldwide government sci- tions, information research- gence is in effect effectively can be utilized for determi-
the emergency, strategy public. In spite of the nu- odology, improve observ- now turned into a world- ence pioneers that incor- ers and biomedical analysts utilized in the recognizable nation, contact following
producers ought to ener- merous control measures ing and following abilities, wide pandemic, computer porates utilizing computer on utilizing simulated intel- proof of illness bunches, and proficient observing in
gize the sharing of clinical, embraced to restrict Coro- foresee the transformative based intelligence devices based intelligence to speed ligence to control and deal observing of cases, forecast Coronavirus.
atomic, and logical datasets navirus transmissions, like phases of the virus just as and advancements can be up examination of Covid with the pandemic. of things to come flare-ups,
and models on collective the end of boundaries and its consequences for society, utilized to help endeavors writing made accessible uti- To battle falsehood – the mortality hazard, analysis ARTIFICIAL
stages to help artificial in- the presentation of times and reproduce the afteref- of strategy producers, the lizing the Kaggle stage. Coronavirus “infodemic” – of Coronavirus, sickness INTELLIGENCE IN
telligence specialists con- of lockdown, we are see- fects of a regulation system, clinical local area, and soci- Admittance to datasets in interpersonal organizations the executives by asset as- OBSERVING OF
struct viable instruments ing upwards of 116 million a clinical convention, or an- ety everywhere to deal with the study of disease trans- and web search tools are signment, working with CORONAVIRUS CASES
for the clinical local area affirmed cases and mul- other particle, can address each phase of the emergency mission, bioinformatics utilizing customized man- preparing, record support, Artificial intelligence pro-
and its outcome: location, and atomic demonstrating made intelligence data and and example acknowledg- cedures are applied for ob-
anticipation, reaction, re- is being given, for example instruments and depending ment for concentrating on serving patients in clinical
cuperation, and to speed through the Coronavirus on calculations to discover the infection pattern. A few settings and expectation
up research.AI devices and Open Exploration Dataset and eliminate tricky mate- utilizations of simulated in- obviously of treatment. In
procedures can help policy- Challenge by the US gov- rial on their foundation. telligence that are accumu- light of the information got
makers and the clinical local ernment and accomplice Menial helpers and chat- lating a ton of interest and from fundamental insights
area comprehend the Coro- associations that makes ac- bots have been conveyed bringing trusts up in the and clinical boundaries,
navirus infection and speed cessible more than 29 000 to help medical services battle against Coronavirus computer based intelligence
up research on medicines scholastic examination ar- associations, for instance are as per the following: might give basic data to as-
by quickly breaking down ticles for Covid and Coro- in Canada, France, Fin- set designation and dynam-
huge volumes of explora- navirus. land, Italy, the US, and by MAN-MADE ic by focusing on the need of
tion information. Computer Registering power for arti- the American Red Cross. INTELLIGENCE IN ventilators and respiratory
based intelligence text and ficial intelligence is likewise These instruments help to EXPECTATION AND backings in the Emergency
information mining instru- being made accessible by in- emergency individuals re- FOLLOWING unit. Artificial intelligence
ments can uncover the innovation organizations like lying upon the presence of Computer based intelli- can likewise be utilised for
fection’s set of experiences, IBM, Amazon, Google and manifestations. gence can be saddled for anticipating the odds of
transmission, and diagnos- Microsoft; people giving PC Medical care associations guaging the spread of the recuperation or mortality
tics, the board measures, preparing power (for exam- are in a dire requirement infection and growing in Coronavirus and to give
and examples from past ple Folding@home); and by for dynamic advancements early admonition frame- day by day updates, stock-
pestilences. open private endeavors like to deal with this infection works by separating data piling and pattern examina-
Profound learning models the Coronavirus Elite Reg- and help them in getting from web-based media tion and diagramming the
can assist with anticipating istering Consortium and legitimate ideas progres- stages, calls, and news course of treatment.

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06 HYDERABAD MONDAY 20 09 2021

Unless the Sinhalese start speaking of democracy with

TALE OF POWER OMISSION IN LANKA

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

monday, september 20, 2021

Building your personal brand

SHORT TAKE easy not so easy

OUR VIEW THEIR VIEW

The case for cryptocurrency to

The food tax that points

to a loss of clarity on GST it. Theoretically, any stone of any colour

MY VIEW | MODERN TIMES

Many women don’t adore the idea of men: Now what?

is a journalist, and a novelist,

A signal to China from America Starvation is the other serious

RUTH POLLARD &

Equitable access will help improve reproductive health

ILLUSTRATION: AJAY MOHANTY

Correction to revenue-neutral rate must not be delayed 46

A chaotic transfer of power

Quad gets a stepbrother

Congress fiasco ers in the US foreign policy. Delhi

No rush to recognise Taliban

Easing into a life of retirement

China’s gain could prove to be India’s loss

Opposition bets on Hindutva to counter BJP

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

■ Shaka Samvat 1943

14 The figure 0 (4)

■ Moon enters Pisces sign 9:51pm

No room for complacency

Curtains up for Goa’s

tourism, but caution

is need of the hour PACHU MENON

While on paper Goa may have a population of 15.5 lakh, in reali-

to problems of bakers bow down to the pressure of then Chief

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How far can the PM carry on it comes to NSVA.

Covid origins probe:

The Lancet does U-turn

Covid assault on Education

Punjab: The The centrality of

Rape in India: Women

FB: Broken policies,

L Journal gave yet more evidence of the broken

Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

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Vol 3 Issue No. 105