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4
mail us at >> desk@thegoan.net
log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Tuesday January 17, 2023
The good old bad days

Even while we need more realistic understandings of the past, we
The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed. can’t a�ord to go in for a wholesale blackening of our yesteryears
Nicolas Chamfort
>Frederick Noronha
Why did Mhadei issue

(FN) is a journalist
and columnist, and
publisher of books.
�nd no mention in
Governor’s speech? FREDERICK NORONHA
T I
t’s easy to lapse into nostalgia. We in
he 4-day Assembly session got o� to an acrimonious Goa are great at this. Just the other
start, with the Opposition demanding that Governor day, I saw a photo on the cover of a
Konkani magazine (this is not a person-
Sreedharan Pillai address the government’s plan of ac- al criticism of the mag), which showed
tion on Mhadei in his opening speech. The Opposition, a family standing before an old-style So why do we have this tendency glasses. “Rosy retrospection” is the
sporting black attire, went on a premeditated o�en- carreira (traditional Goan bus). The ti- to see the past as a better place than term given to describe why we might
tle above it read: “Adlea Goykaranchem now? There was a lack of infrastruc- judge the past as being far more pos-
sive, shouting slogans when Governor began his speech and later Susegad Jivit”. Or, the relaxed life of the ture, of facilities, of jobs. In the 1960s itive than the present. “Declinism” is
walked out of the House. The Opposition action certainly was bad Goans of the yesteryears. and 1970s, even food and basics were the tendency to believe that “things
Now, this might sound convinc- sometimes hard to come by. Parts of were better in the old days” or to use
behaviour, given that the address had just started. ing. The family of four seems equally India had then recently gone through terms like “back in my day”.
On the �ip side, the government lost a golden opportunity to relaxed, and not part of the rat race. famine. For food, the country depend- Of course, this does not imply that
address the issue and the initiatives taken to defend Mhadei. In- There’s even a khaki-clad driver, obvi- ed on imports from abroad. We con- we are all moving towards some gold-
ously waiting and posing for a photo sidered ourselves lucky if we got the en dawn. Maybe the simpler, satis�ed
terestingly, on the eve of the meeting at Virdi-Sanquelim, Advo- between trips. There are coconut trees ration supplies (rice, oil, sugar) on lifestyles of the past are a thing we can
cate General Devidas Pangam gave a comprehensive presentation in the background, adding to the scenic time. People heaved a sigh of relief never hope to achieve again. Villages
clarifying key issues on Mhadei and Goa government’s position. picture of the Goa in the 1970s. if they procured all their “rations” at could sustain lifestyles; now these
A picture postcard image, right? one lot, and didn’t have to make an- have become mass dormitories. Our
He pointed out that there is a misconception that the main Mha- Wrong. other trip to the ‘fair price’ shop. clean, if simple, environments seem
dei stream is being diverted when Karnataka seeks to divert water And how could I be so con�dent to Education was not as widespread. to have given us less cancers and
from the tributaries of Kalasa, Bhandura and Hartal. that answer? Because I myself am the Till roughly 1970, much of rural Goa illnesses of a�uence (though many
smaller boy in the photo. The photo did not have electricity power sup- more succumbed to shortages).
The AG �rmly stated that the law does not permit water diversion happens to be of my family (shot by an ply. Roads were limited in reach and Human relations were probably of
because it �ows through Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa and uncle, visiting from Southampton, and quality. Water supply didn’t reach a di�erent quality, and what we didn’t
using a Polaroid camera) around 1973 or one’s home, though there were wells have in material terms, we probably
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. The point that was be- 1974. It was clicked in Colvale, Bardez, in many areas to depend on. made up for through quality of rela-
ing made was that the government would not allow any diversion, while on a family visit to an elder rela- Even the earlier decade had been tionships. Before our rivers and seas
even if it were from the tributaries. To justify this, he said letters tive there. tough. The Indian blockade of Goa got over-mechanised, our seas were
At the time we were supposed to be had put the region to hardship. Some plentiful in �sh in the markets. Our
had been dashed to the Environment Ministry and other Central living the “peaceful life”, things were students remember how they would tougher lifestyles simply made us
departments cautioning about the legal implications. In addition, actually quite tough in Goa. Jobs were go for their SSC exams to Poona in the healthier.
there is an interlocutory petition in the hard to come by and so was trans- north via the Karwar border in south Today, dismissing the past and rub-
Speeches read out by Supreme Court asking for directions to
port (in a way, it is the same now too).
Today,
Goa. The Portuguese attempted to bishing it has also become a political
Health facilities were limited, though shore up local essential supplies by tool. By pointing repeatedly to the
Governors are prepared Karnataka against proceeding with con- some doctors were skilled and perhaps dismissing importing the same from Europe and “bad old days”, an attempt is made to
by the governments. less money-minded then. Education fa- the past and elsewhere. justify whatever is done in our times.
struction based on the CWC clearance.
However, there are cilities were limited; even if our youth
rubbishing Goa was still a migration driven For instance, the slaughter of the envi-
several instances where The Governor’s speech completely still lack what they need. Children of- economy. Its best and the brightest ronment, controversial projects, over-
it has also
governors have deviated skipped the all-important Mhadei issue, ten stayed in boarding school in those
times. Homes were available on rent, become a
le� its shores. Those le� behind of-
ten depended on remittances (and the
spending, creating debt for unborn
generations, and so on.
from the government’s and Pillai spelt out the government’s but things changed a�er the tenancy Money Order economy, as it has been Even while we need more realis-
success stories, from hosting the wom- political tool.
narrative. In this case, laws upset that equation.
By pointing
sometimes described). Of course, this tic understandings of the past, we
Pillai could have advised en’s World Cup to holding panchayat In the throes of the end of Portuguese still continues, though in a changed can’t a�ord to go in for a wholesale
rule in Goa, there was still a lot of un- repeatedly way. Goa became a “fashionable” ad- blackening of our yesteryears. Every
the government on the elections, besides various other initia- certainty prevailing. The political situ- to the “bad dress to live in, sometimes a�er the new regime wants to show that it is a
issue tives and programmes. Unfortunately, ation was at times chaotic. Merger and
old days”, 1990s. This was the case both among marked improvement on the past. But
it appeared that the government chose language were being fought over. Life- people from other States, and expat we know this is simply not true.
styles that people had become used to an attempt is Goans (even those in Bombay) who To overcome excessive nostalgia, or
to run away from accountability for Mhadei, thereby giving more for long were getting unsettled. In the made to justify thought of a return. In a word, life was needlessly creating Black Legends, it
ammo to those who were gearing up for the Virdi rally. The need 1960s too, many Portuguese-speaking whatever is not easy at that time. is time to be more balanced in under-
Goan Catholics particularly were still There are other reasons given for standing our past and present. By be-
of the hour was for the government to be sensitive to the burning leaving Goa amidst the political and
done in our why we might prefer to remember the ing less than honest, we risk blu�ng
issue and start explaining. other uncertainty. times “good old” bad days, with rose tinted only ourselves.
A governor’s speech highlights the State policies and govern-
ment’s initiatives. Article 163 of the Constitution binds the Gover-
nor to take action on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. THE INBOX >> I
Speeches read out by Governors are prepared by the governments.
However, there are several instances where governors have deviat- Prudent State spending dra� which is supposed to have been
ed from the government’s narrative. In this case, Pillai could have is need of the hour Study of turtle nesting sites in Odisha needed pre-approved by him and then walking
out of a convened Assembly session.
It has come as a shocker and a matter of concern to environ- In another instance he has gone and
advised the government on the issue. The government should focus on �nding mentalists and animal lovers that an Olive Ridley sea turtle suggested that Tamil Nadu’s name
Pillai has struck a chord with the Goan populace since he was solutions and resolving public issues arrived at Ashwem beach on Friday a�ernoon, only to return to be changed to Tamizhagam and even
rather than wasting time on needless the sea without laying her eggs. Loud noise and rampant tour- used it in the Governor’s invitation for
sworn in on July 15, 2021. His numerous outreach programmes and functions. Applications under various ism is believed to have compelled the turtle to leave the beach the Pongal function. Now this is an
aid to the needy are testimony to his deep engagement with the government schemes should be pro- even though the area has been designated as a turtle conser- overreach. In a similar manner at Delhi,
cessed and handled e�ciently and
people of Goa. His visit to coastal Salcete in August last year ampli- without unnecessary delay solely by the
vation site. It is learnt that some tourists and citizens disturbed the Lt Governor does not give quickly
the sea turtle as it was in the process of digging a hole in the an appointment to the Chief Minister
�es how people see him as a mediator. Pillai had rekindled hope concerned departments. Now we see sand to lay the eggs. . If these turtles are disturbed during the for a meeting with him. There was also
when there was an apparent trust de�cit against the government an absurd trend of Ministers and ruling nesting period they may go to another beach in another State a news report a few days ago that said
party MLAs handing over approval let- and in the process Goan beaches could be abandoned by
of the day. ters to the bene�ciaries. What a cheap
that the Delhi Lt Governor had refused
these majestic sea animals. It is pertinent to note that the Olive permission for some teachers who had
While the entire Goa watched Pillai on their TV sets and social photo-op. Now even work orders are Ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the been sponsored for training to Finland.
media feed, there was a massive wave of expectation that His Ex- being handed over by Ministers with Odisha coast every year. It would be desirable for a team from Governors should understand that they
the Chief Minister handing over the one the forest department to undertake a study tour to the turtle hold a titular position while the Chief
cellency would feel the pulse of Goa and address an issue that for the proposed Convention Center nesting sites in Odisha. Ministers are elected representatives of
Goans are considering their ‘mother’ and ‘lifeline’. Instead, what at Dona Paula. State organized public the people and thus should get prece-
functions should only be where abso- ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
followed was a huge letdown, disappointment and bitterness in lutely required with expenses curtailed
dence on matters.
some measure. wherever possible. The government S KAMAT, Alto Santa Cruz
has to go a long way to deliver on the
promised good governance as every What about potholes, stray dogs, etc?
Railways must try to resolve
step it takes is in the wrong direction.
Rationalizing the functioning of the
Are we next going to put collars on problems in Velsao swiftly
dogs? And how about illuminating pot The Railways authority along with the
government and the need for prudent
OPEN SPACE >> State spending is need of the hour. The
holes and speed breakers? I have a
novel idea. Maybe we put these things
government of Goa are harassing the
priority for the Government must always people of Velsao again by forcefully
Another power tari� hike

called street lights everywhere. Then laying down the second railway track in
be to act on its primary responsibility we will be able to see and avoid the
which is to look a�er the welfare, health the private property of the owners. The
cows, dogs, potholes and other dan-
awaits burdened residents and security of its people. toughest collector has been brought to
gers that we are expected to live with. go against the people by using police
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar What next? Illuminated collars for drunk force by �lling FIRs against the people
T
he state government’s proposal to hike power tari� by 6 per cent for the New short-sighted solution tourists mostly in Miramar beach is not
a bad idea. Our youth will be happy to
who raise their voice to protect their own
�nancial year 2023-24 would be utter disgusting. The government has rec-
ommended a hike in the power tari� between 15 paisa to 60 paisa per Kilo- to Panaji’s numerous woes play on this beach sans these drunk
rights. How can the people stay in their
own houses when the railway tracks
watt for domestic low-tension consumers and 70 paise per Kwh for high-tension A news report appeared recently with visitors. are laid in front and back of their home.
domestic consumers. If it is approved, it would be the third hike within one year a number of Corporators and other CCP STEPHEN DIAS, Dona Paula They will destroy the common man’s
and it would take e�ect from April 2023. The prices of essential items, including sta� standing alongwith the present Send your peace. The government of Goa is all sold
rice and pulses, are increasing and in�ation is increasing to an extreme level. Mayor of CCP displaying reflective col- Governor, CM tussles not letters to us out to the Central top leaders and busi-
The NITI Aayog past had cautioned the Goa government over its “high” power lars in their hand which is their latest
healthy development at editor@ nessmen who are only thinking about
tari�, which is Rs 5.80 per kWh for the industry. The consumer has to pay more short-sighted “solution” to the prob- their business by going against the
but �ght frequent power disruptions. Family budgets have already collapsed lems of residents of Panaji, Taleigao, The Governors of Tamil Nadu and
thegoan.net. people of Goa. This is the main issue
as living costs are increasing day by day. If such is the power tari� situation, St Inez and Campal. They say lives will Delhi are yet again at loggerheads with Letters must which the people of Goa are facing and
though it is under government control, imagine what will happen if it is pri- be saved as accidents are caused on their respective Chief Ministers. While be 150-200 the work of the railway tracks is going on
vatised. The government should roll back the power tari� hike to prevent the account of cows walking on roads and R N Ravi in Tamil Nadu seems to be words and by force in Goa. Hope the Railways au-
existing situation from going bad to worse. footpaths and people running into them disregarding all conventions that are thority solves the issue with the people
because they can’t be seen. So instead required to be followed by the Governor mention the of Velsao at the earliest.
KG VILOP, Chorao of illuminating our streets our wise men like in the instance of delivering a writer’s name
RONNIE DSOUZA, Chandor
have decided to illuminate the cows. speech in line with the government’s and location
Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
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Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. Editorial O�ce: Third Floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panaji 403 001, Goa. Publisher and Owners.
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>
OPINION 9
STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM
VOLUME XXVII NUMBER 111

MUMBAI | TUESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2023
Balance of powers
2022: A very unusual year in which the classic 60/40 portfolio was ineffective,
The constitutional bedrock should stay untouched Last year was a nightmare best forgotten. This year started on a delivering double-digit negative returns for the first
time. Truly, a once in a lifetime wipeout in the fixed-
strong note for investors, but private markets are still due for
T
he executive and the legislative branches of the Indian state appear income markets, which will have longer-term conse-
to be in conflict, which does not bode well for the country. A long- a further shakeout quences on asset allocation and risk appetite.
When we look at equities, things were not much
lasting disagreement on who gets to appoint senior judges has now ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA better. This was the fourth worst performance for
expanded into a disagreement over the very separation of powers the S&P 500 since World War II, after the GFC, (2008),
and the final word on the constitutionality of legislation. The latest salvo in the dot-com bust (2002), and the oil shock of 1973/74.
this conflict was fired by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who declared This was not a trivial correction.
that the “basic structure” doctrine, which limits the powers of Parliament to Value stocks were down only 5 per cent, com-
amend the Constitution, was itself an infringement of democracy. In 1973, in pared to a 30 per cent decline for growth stocks,
the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court noted there delivering a relative outperformance of 25 per cent,
were specific basic features of the Constitution of India that Parliament could the biggest positive value delta since the dot-com
not amend at will. Legal scholars have debated the outline of this “basic bust of 2000. At that time, this marked the beginning
of the revival of value strategies, and they continued
structure” ever since, given that neither the Kesavananda Bharati judgement
to outperform in five out of the six subsequent years.
nor those that have come after have provided a consistent view on what fea- Many allocators are betting that value will see a sim-
tures this basic structure might have. Even so, subsequent judgements have ilar revival in the coming years.
relied heavily on this doctrine and it is now part of settled law. One keeps getting asked the question, why for-
It is hard to see, therefore, what Mr Dhankhar imagines will be the out- eign capital continues to sell and exit India, with
come of his sequence of statements attacking the basic structure other than selling continuing unabated in 2023 as well? I think
a broader destabilisation of the delicate separation of powers. What is worrying most people do not realise the damage global
is that this does not appear to be a one-off incident. Not only has Mr Dhankhar investors have sustained in their portfolios in 2022.
spoken on this subject before since taking over as vice-president relatively India has had a very good run compared to most
other emerging markets (EMs) in the last few years.
recently, this particular intervention came at the 83rd All India Presiding
India’s valuations remain at an extreme premium.
Officers’ Conference. In other words, the impression was given that this was
Most global allocators have a need for liquidity as
both the executive and the legislature arrayed against the judiciary. Such an
W
hile investors in India have heard how happened before. In the two most recent episodes distributions from their private funds have slowed
impression was underlined by the fact that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla used tough 2022 was for global investors, most of the S&P 500 declining by more than 20 per cent, down with declining capital markets activity and
the same conference to say that the judiciary should “confine [itself] to its do not fully appreciate the extent of global 2002 and 2008, bonds delivered positive returns of new fund commitments furiously drawing down
limits prescribed in the Constitution”, clearly implying that in the opinion of wealth destruction. India, after all, had its seventh more than 15 per cent in each year. They balanced capital to capitalise on falling valuations. In times
the presiding officer of the House of the People, the Supreme Court was also year of positive equity market returns in local cur- the equity losses and provided liquidity and gains of need, you will sell whatever is expensive and
overstepping itself habitually. rency terms (though it had negative 8.6 per cent for rebalancing. Bonds have been in a 30-year bull saleable. India fits both criteria.
There is no question that the Supreme Court and some of the high courts returns in dollar terms). Indian markets are also not market and have helped smoothen portfolio returns. You also have the dynamic of China re-opening
had in the past strayed into the realm of issues that might more properly be that far from their all-time highs. Most investors in The US 10-year treasury bonds had their worst and its markets surging. Caught underweight, most
Indian stocks are still in the money as we speak. performance since 1788, declining more than 15 per investors are scrambling to catch up and neutralise
decided by the legislature or the executive. This must, however, be corrected
However, for global investors, 2022 was a night- cent. European sovereign bonds did even worse, with their underweights. They cannot afford another year
on a case-by-case basis, and can quite often be the simple result of legislation mare best forgotten. Just for context, gilts declining by more than 30 per of China being the cause of their underperformance.
that is outdated or insufficiently detailed. There is a vast difference between global equities, bonds and crypto cent. This was simply reflecting the India is a funding source to raise China weights.
addressing such examples of judicial overreach and seeking to overturn a assets combined have seen a draw- fact that investors were caught com- Last year, also marked the end of an era. The
doctrine that has served the Republic of India well for half a century. What is down of $26 trillion from their peak. placent on inflation, believing the biggest combined monetary and fiscal stimulus
even worse is if this destabilisation of the balance of powers is being conducted This is 26 per cent of the global gross transitory argument for too long. At experiment in history (except wartime) has come
merely in order to ensure the executive wins the current disagreement over domestic product or GDP, and the the beginning of 2022, Fed fund to an end globally. All investors have to adjust to a
judicial appointments. Many Indians, including Supreme Court judges, are bulk of this decline took place in futures were predicting a Fed funds normalisation in policy settings. It will change mar-
aware that the collegium system, which oversees appointments at the higher 2022. Tesla, Bitcoin, Meta and the rate of 1 per cent by June 2023, this ket leadership and we are currently in the midst of
ARKK innovation fund were all number today is 5 per cent, highlight- a valuation adjustment. We have to go back to first
judiciary, has problems of opacity and lack of accountability. Replacing it
down about 65 per cent, with ing how much expectations have principles on why and what you will be willing to
with a system that allows the executive a whip hand over the judiciary — the unprofitable technology companies changed. The yields for 10-year pay for financial assets.
law minister’s reported suggestion of including a government nominee in down even more. It was such a tough bonds had their biggest absolute rise 2023 has started on a strong note, led by China,
the decision-making process of shortlisting judges — would, however, render AKASH PRAKASH
year that the only sector actually up ever, surging by over 200 basis points Europe and North Asia. Let’s hope the momentum
the current problems even worse. Thus, the question of judicial appointments even 5 per cent for the year in the in calendar 2022. Long duration can be maintained. However, I doubt that we have
needs to be approached with greater sensitivity and not precipitately. US was energy (65 per cent gain). Every other major assets, be they bonds or growth equities, got clobbered. seen the back of enhanced volatility. Price adjust-
Statements that seek to reduce the role of the judiciary in protecting India’s sector was down for the year. With rising real yields, the markets’ willingness to ments are still incomplete in most private markets
constitutional norms will not hasten a just and sustainable solution. We have seen these types of wipeouts before. value profit-less innovation was tested. The Austrian globally, more so than in the public markets where
Following the global financial crisis in 2008 and the 100-year bond issued in 2020 was down more than the brutal correction in the erstwhile high flyers has
dot-com bust in 2000, we saw similar levels of 60 per cent from its peak. Another consequence of taken us much closer to the end of their valuation
declines for the financials and technology stocks. rising yields has been the extinction of negative yield- correction. In my opinion, private markets are still
The growing divide However, what made 2022 unique was the simulta- ing debt. In 2021, we had almost $18 trillion worth of
neous decline in both bond and equity markets. This debt with negative yields. Even at the start of 2022,
due for a further shakeout. The bid offer spread is
still quite wide in new funding rounds, especially
Oxfam study points to sharpening inequality is the only year ever in which the S&P 500 and 10- this number was in excess of $8 trillion, today it is in late stage transactions.
year US treasuries both delivered negative returns zero. It is unlikely that we will ever see this phe-
I
f more compelling evidence is needed of widening inequality in India, of over 10 per cent (total return terms). This has never nomenon at this scale again. This was also the year The writer is with Amansa Capital
the latest global wealth report of Oxfam, a non-government organisation,
offers some compelling proof. Released on the opening day of the World
Economic Forum in Davos, that annual celebration of wealth, the report,
titled “Survival of the Richest: The India Story”, shows that just 5 per cent of the
Indians own more than 60 per cent of the country’s wealth and the bottom 50
per cent share just 3 per cent. India’s rich appear to have done well for themselves
When shareholders don’t buy the numbers
during the Covid years, the study found, with the number of billionaires increas-
I
ndian regulations give limited discretion to the bly mean having to restate the accounts, before in the case of a power-utility controlled non-bank
ing from 102 in 2020 to 166 in 2022. In that period, the study calculates that board for decision-making. This is seen from the approaching the shareholders again for approval. finance company most investors argued that they
India’s billionaires saw their wealth surge 121 per cent, or about ~2.5 crore every list of items on which shareholders are expected Let us take the example of a company having large voted for the accounts because they believed that it
minute. This is a remarkable increase in wealth at the top of the pyramid at a to vote — from director appointments, to raising mon- receivables that the management believes are recov- would have jeopardised their receiving a dividend.
time when the economy has suffered and unemployment remains rife. ey, to allowing companies to send documents to share- erable and the auditors do not. The auditors decide Although the resolution to payout dividend is a sep-
Such skewed patterns are echoed in corporate India. A recent Business holders using a courier. How does this translate into to qualify the accounts. At this stage, one approach arate one, needing separate approval, in a somewhat
practice? Once a resolution is placed before share- where auditors have given a qualified opinion is for pure sense, dividends can be paid provided the
Standard analysis from PRIME Infobase shows the average top executive in
holders, apart from a few voicing their dissent, it is the board to respond to the qualifications by explain- accounts are approved. But this payout can always
India — that is, chief operating officers, managing directors, and senior honchos
usually approved, with the execution left to the dis- ing its stance in the director’s report. be treated as an interim dividend, so investors might
— now earns 241 times more than the median employee compensation. What cretion of company management. The management may agree that the recoverable be overthinking it.
is more, this figure is significantly higher than the already high 191 times in What if a resolution is not approved? If indepen- needs to be written off. They can make changes citing The Companies Act has half the solution; it says
the pre-pandemic year of 2018-19. Average top executive compensation has dent directors do not find support, conditions that existed but could not that where the accounts are not adopted by the share-
also crossed FY19 levels as well, touching ~12.7 crore as against ~10.3 crore. they do not join the board. If an exec- be recognised, or quantified, at the holders, they should still be filed with the registrar
This imbalance should come as no surprise, given that corporate India remains utive director fails to get shareholder time of preparing the accounts. Or who should take them on record as “provisional” till
largely promoter-driven, with top jobs usually reserved for family members support, they are expected to move conditions that did not exist at the the adopted accounts are filed. This suggests making
and relatives of promoters. Though there has been some shareholder protest on — but usually companies time of filing the financial results and the regulatory filings, stating that the financial state-
against promoter-chief executive officers’ (promoter-CEOs’) pay package, approach shareholders again. If an only surfaced later. ments have been audited and approved by the board,
executive director’s salary is not It will be for the shareholders to but not adopted by the shareholders. Sai
Indian companies, with their docile boards, are unlikely to see the kind of
approved, companies either revise decide how convincing the manage- Venkateshwaran, partner assurance, KPMG, is of the
massive 40 per cent pay cut that Apple CEO Tim Cook will take in 2023 after a the salary or go back to shareholders ment’s argument is. Once presented opinion that “where the accounts are not adopted, a
shareholder vote following a sharp fall in the value of the company’s shares in with more clarity. If a merger does to the shareholders, if they decide definite and binding process to have these provisional
2022. The culture of enthusiastic self-reward among India’s senior management not pass muster, companies can call not to approve the financial state- accounts adopted needs to be spelt out, so that it’s
represents a moral problem in a country that still has an uncomfortably large
number of poor people. As prime minister, Manmohan Singh had referred to
off the transaction, modify the terms
of the deal or return to investors with
THE OCCASIONAL ments, what next?
If the accounts are qualified, the
not a permanent impasse.”
Having the accounts adopted is important as one
this issue, urging CEOs and senior executives to exercise restraint. additional details. But when ASIDE management can write-down the year’s accounts are the base for the subsequent year.
The Oxfam study has chosen to suggest the re-imposition of a wealth tax, accounts are not approved, one receivables, make the appropriate The closing balances for one year are the opening
AMIT TANDON
chalking out the scope for social investment that such “unrealised gains” could wades into uncharted territory, as adjustments and re-present the balances for the next. “Ensuring the accuracy of a
regulations are silent. accounts to shareholders. If there is prior period is vital. The entire edifice risks collapsing
bring. The study refers — though not by name — to the wealth of India’s richest
The accounts are prepared by the company man- new material information, that too can serve as a trig- if the opening balance is being disputed or there is
man and the potential benefits of financing primary education in India from agement, audited by statutory auditors, signed by its ger to restate the accounts. uncertainty around it,” Mr Sai argues.
taxing just 20 per cent of his wealth between 2017 and 2021. Though the solution board members and the auditors before they are final- It may be appropriate to mention that in the US Getting the shareholders to sign-off on the finan-
sounds logical, India’s experience with wealth tax, which was introduced in ly presented to the shareholders for approval. Once accounts carrying audit qualifications cannot be cial statements is crucial for a company’s continuing
1957, has been an unhappy one with large-scale evasion and little diminution rejected, seeking shareholder approval for the same presented to shareholders, or filed with the regula- operations. These are the basis on which bankers
in inequality. In the 2016-17 Budget, then finance minister Arun Jaitley scrapped set of financial accounts for a second time serves lim- tors. The company and the auditors are expected to lend, suppliers extend credit, distributors agree to
it on the grounds that the cost of collecting it far exceeded the accruals from it. ited purpose. The recent examples of a direct-to-home resolve all issues and differences at the time of final- carry the product and investors buy equity. Having
The common sense but tougher solution to gross imbalances in incomes and service provider, where the accounts were presented ising the audit. the process and regulatory framework in place to
wealth lies in the nuts and bolts of a country’s socio-economic policy — such in three different meetings, and an airline, where There are other twists. The shareholders may vote deal with contingencies when accounts are not
as privileging investment in education and health and infrastructure — rather accounts were presented twice, are both proof. Doing against the approval of accounts even if these are approved is imperative.
the same thing, over and over again, but expecting unqualified — bankers find it to be the more prudent
than heavy taxes that the rich in India will work hard not to pay.
different outcomes serves no purpose. Companies way forward. It can be the other way around, when The writer works for Institutional Investor Advisory Services
need to address investor concerns, which may possi- shareholders approve qualified accounts. Recently, India Limited. The views are personal. @AmitTandon_in
A spook reminisces leading to a period of sustained peace.

In describing these turbulent years,
Mr Dulat does not hide his affection
for the Kashmiri people. During the
Geelani and Yasin Malik, both of whom
commanded large followings in the
Valley; and without whom no peace set-
tlement could have stuck.
“Wilderness of Mirrors”, describes the
confusing, deceptive world in which
intelligence agencies operate, at the
heart of which “there is crookery, dou-
who shaped history”). There are also
well written descriptions of people
who the author regarded as close
friends: Rajesh Pilot, Madhavrao
This is Mr Dulat’s third book. The last three decades of insurgency, many One wonders whether the short ble-dealing and cold transactions, Scindia, Giani Zail Singh and Farooq
first one, The Vajpayee Years was pub- Kashmiris have accused “India” (since shrift Mr Dulat gives the hard-line sepa- even if and when it is all done with a Abdullah, who rates an entire chapter.
lished in 2015 and the second, co- they don’t consider the state as Indian) ratists is due to the Abdul Majeed Dar smile.” The author provocatively poses Also held in the highest esteem is
authored in 2018 with Asad Durrani, with wanting only the land that is debacle. Dar, who was the Hizbul the question: Which country has the M K Narayanan, the former IB chief
the former director-general of Kashmir, while regarding its inhabi- Mujahideen (HM) chief commander in best intelligence service? Answering it who served as Prime Minister
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence tants as a dispensable nuisance. The Jammu & Kashmir, was negotiating to himself, he says: “I would say we are Manmohan Singh’s National Security
(ISI), was the eminently readable: The author, in contrast, flaunts his close lay down the gun and pretty good, better Advisor (NSA) and who the author sev-
BOOK REVIEW Spy Chronicles: R&AW, ISI and the relationships with Kashmiris of all return to the main-
A life in the
shadows: A
than the ISI, with eral times refers to as “the great
Illusion of Peace. stripes, from the man on the street to stream along with a which we are con- M K Narayanan.”
AJAI SHUKLA memoir
Mr Dulat is no ordinary author- leaders such as Farooq Abdullah, who large number of HM stantly compared as The book closes with a fascinating
spook. In a country full of self-styled Mr Dulat regards as an Indian patriot. cadres. However, New Author: A S professionals. As description of the former IB chief and
Dulat
I
n countries like India, where Kashmir and Pakistan experts, he can New Delhi, the author argues, has Delhi took too long to much has been con- current NSA Ajit Doval, who Mr Dulat
archives remain classified and inac- genuinely claim to be one. In 2000, passed up the opportunity provided by react and HM fighters Publisher: ceded even by my rates as “the better spook of the both of
cessible for years, even decades; after his retirement from the post of Dr Abdullah and his considerable who remained loyal to Harper Collins friend, the former us”. This includes Mr Doval’s’ climb up
memoirs, biographies and autobiogra- R&AW chief, he was recalled to service political clout in the Valley. Pakistan were induced Pages: 255 ISI chief, General the ladder of Prime Minister Narendra
phies of decision-makers are often the as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Mr Dulat appears to believe that, by the ISI to scuttle the Price: ~699 Asad Durrani.” Modi’s affections, even though he
only window into important events. Vajpayee’s special advisor on Kashmir. while operating as the prime minister’s plan. A HM hit team Another enjoyable began his rapid ascent as a trusted offi-
Such publications, therefore, are to be During this five-year period, Mr Dulat special advisor, it was sufficient to build gunned down Mr Dar chapter in the book cial of L K Advani.
welcomed, especially when the author ranged far and wide in Kashmir, hold- close relationships with mainstream in 2003, registering a body blow to New describes the author’s dealing with The book is well produced and is
has been the country’s top spy — the ing informal discussions with sepa- political parties such as the National Delhi’s influence in the Valley. various characters that the author had indexed and bookmarked in detail.
chief of the Research and Analysis ratist leaders and militant comman- Conference and the People’s The book starts with a description the privilege of dealing with. These Mr Dulat’s light and self-effacing writ-
Wing (R&AW) — at an important junc- ders, and building the trust that Democratic Party, and their leaders like of Mr Dulat’s family, and his school include Ashwini Kumar (“a legend and ing style offers a welcome change from
ture; and an officer in the Intelligence eventually transitioned Kashmir from the Abdullahs and the Muftis; and, to a and college days in the easy-paced inspiration”), Yasser Arafat (“No airs the turgid prose that too often charac-
Bureau for three decades preceding the bloody era of the 1999 Kargil con- lesser extent, with the so-called “soft 1950s and 1960s. Eventually he joined and graces”), Prince Charles (“gave me terises biographies by senior officials.
that. Sharpening A S Dulat’s profes- flict to the Line of Control (LoC) separatists” such as Shabir Shah. Mr the police and, early in his career, a pair of cufflinks”), Margaret Thatcher The book will find a place in the book-
sional perspective is a wicked sense of ceasefire that Prime Minister Dulat is dismissive of the most influen- sidestepped to the IB. One of the most (“There’s something about the shelves of those who follow Indian pol-
humour, which suffuses his writing. Vajpayee offered Pakistan in 2003, tial separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah interesting chapters in the book, titled British”) and Lee Kuan Yew (“a leader itics, security and intelligence.
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TUESDAY JANUARY 17, 2023

Pakistan’s economy in dire straits
GLOOMY SCENE. Even as the floods have deepened the economic crisis, Pakistan’s faceoff with the Taliban is intensifying
Fresh blood G Parthasarathy
T
he year 2022 is one most
New MF sponsors a good idea, but with checks Pakistanis would look back
on as an unprecedented
ith private sector mutual funds
W
economic nightmare, with
completing 25 years and scaling up to its economy in the
doldrums. Pakistan was also hit by
₹40lakh crore in assets, it is only catastrophic floods, even as political
appropriate that the Securities and Exchange Board rivalries were rendering the government
of India (SEBI) revisits some ground rules. SEBI’s virtually dysfunctional. Monsoon rains
poured on the country, seriously
consultation paper, which takes a fundamental affecting the lives of 33 million people,
relook at the concept of ‘sponsors’ for Asset while leaving 1,730 dead.
Management Companies (AMCs), is thus welcome. Floodwaters drenched onethird of
the country, washing away more than
While the proposed changes may allow two million houses, and displacing eight
new players with innovative business million people. There has naturally been
aspread of waterborne diseases, and
models to enter the industry, SEBI may need serious damage to 13,000 kmof roads.
to consider more guardrails to ensure that International studies have indicated that
unitholders continue to enjoy stability and the floods have inflicted damages
good governance. The mutual fund space is amounting to an estimated $30 billion.
According to recent World Bank
today dominated by bank and financial reports, Pakistan’s economy is expected
institutionsponsored players who follow to grow at around 2 per cent in the
undifferentiated business models. current financial year, ending June 2023. ON HIGH ALERT. Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban are becoming uncertain and tense AP
Therefore, there’s merit in SEBI trying to Moreover, the recovery rate will be
gradual, with real GDP growth donor countries’ contributions will be on cadres based in Afghanistanand in the TehriqeTaliban members resident in its
induct fresh blood by allowing sponsors anticipated to touch 3.2 per cent, in fiscal concessional terms, financial Pashtun tribal areas of Pakistan. Pashtun dominated tribal areas, and
without a financial services background. 2024. institutions would charge their normal Virtually mocking at Pakistan, across the border in Afghanistan,
Presently, apart from meeting Amidst all these complexities, there rates. Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister obviously with US encouragement and
fitandproper criteria, sponsors need a also appear to be differences between While large sums are said to have been Ahmed Yasir warned Pakistan of the support. This would well result in uniting
5year track record in financial services and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar pledged to Pakistan by Prime Minister serious consequences of attacking Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand
and donors like World Bank and the IMF. Nawaz Sharif, the actual disbursement Afghanistan. He simultaneously tweeted Line, to take on the Pakistan armyin a
minimum net worth of ₹50100 crore at the However, after meetings with officials of can commence only after the IMF clears aphotograph of General AAK Niazi messy, bloody and unwinnable conflict.
AMC level. SEBI is proposing that the two entities in an ‘International the measuresthe government has signing Pakistan’s document of It has been indicated that an estimated
nonfinancial players can sponsor MFs too, Donors Conference’ in Geneva, Prime proposed. On January 11, Finance surrender in Bangladesh, on December 374 Pakistani security personnel and 365
provided they contribute ₹150 crore in net Minister Shahbaz Sharif claimed the Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that 90 per 17, 1971. Pakistan has only itself to blame TTP fighters were killed in combat in the
meetings were extremely successful. cent of pledges made by international for the rise of TehriqeTaliban, as it last year.
worth locked in for five years. Private Equity He noted: “At the conference, pledges donors were project loans, which will be looked the other way while playing host It is now emerging that there have
(PE) investors are today ubiquitous across worth $9.7 billion were announced for rolled out over the next three years. toTaliban leaders and cadres on its soil. been deep divisions within Pakistan on
lending, fintech, ARCs, REITs et al, and are the Pakistan flood victims.” He added: Most importantly, Crown Prince Some of these leaders have assumed how to deal with India. Pakistan’s former
all set to enter insurance. “Islamic Development Bank promised Salman of Saudi Arabia has now important Ministerial positions in Kabul Army Chief General Bajwa, who had a
$4.2 billion, World Bank $2 billion, Saudi indicated his readiness to help Pakistan. after US forces withdrew from close relationship with the US, was
They have disrupted many consumer Arabia $1 billion, Asian Infrastructure He received Pakistan’s new Army Chief, Afghanistan. arguing that it was important to take
businesses by providing capital and Development Bank $1 billion, Asian General Syed Asim Munir, in Riyadh. It is measures to cool tensions with Indiafor
technology to scale lossmaking ventures. Development Bank $500 million, USAID now clear that in keeping with their close SUPPORT JUSTIFIED cashstrapped Pakistan to recover from
But a key issue with allowing PE investors to $100 million, China $100 million, Italy relations with the Sharif family, Saudi Pakistan had justified its earlier support the current economic disaster.
sponsor MFs is the risk of relatedparty €23 million, Japan $77 million, Qatar $25 Arabia is ending its virtual boycott of for the Taliban, claiming that a Taliban Moreover, realists in Pakistan
million, UK £36 million, and France $10 Pakistan, imposed during the Imran presence in Kabul gave it strategic “depth recognise that tensions on its borders
transactions, where subpar private million.” Khan years, and returning to the days of against” India. This, after the Taliban with India can have disastrous
investments could be offloaded to public The UAE subsequently announced its close cooperation with the Nawaz Sharif colluded with Pakistan’s ISIduring the consequences on the national effort
MF investors. SEBI suggests safeguards to readiness to contribute $2 billion as family. While the Biden Administration hijacking of IC 814, to Kabul. While New needed to restore a measure of political
prevent this, by barring PEsponsored MFs economic assistance to Pakistan. It is, has agreed to provide $450 million to Delhi has not yet formally recognised the normalcyand a climate conducive to
however, clear that donor countries will Pakistan to maintain its fleet of US Taliban, it has established a correct economic growth. It is also clear now
from undertaking offmarket deals with formally move ahead only after Pakistan supplied F16 fighters, there is no sign working relationship with it, while that Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban
associate companies or participating in their completes its negotiations with the IMF, that the Administration will bear the providing wheat, medical and other are becoming uncertain and tense.
IPOs. But with ‘associates’ defined as which should under normal costs of these arms transferfor the assistancefor the people of Afghanistan Pakistan’s threats of military action
entities where the PE holds a 10 per cent circumstancestake a few weeks. While virtually bankrupt Pakistan. and maintaining an Office in Kabul. against its own Pashtuns in the
In a recent TV Interview, Pakistan’s Like Russia and China, India has TehriqeTaliban, both within the
stake or a Board seat, there could still be
room for conflicted transactions where PEs Like Russia and China, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah avoided taking an adversarialor country and across the border with
proclaimed that Pakistan could target judgemental positionon its relations Afghanistan, will inevitably lead to
own lower stakes. The relatively short India has avoided taking TTP (TehriqeTaliban Pakistan) with the Taliban. India’s food, medical tensions and conflict not just with the
investing horizons of PE funds (78 years) an adversarial or militants in Afghanistan, if the Afghan and economic assistance for the people TehriqeTaliban, but also with the
authorities in Kabul did not take action of Afghanistan will hopefully continuein Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.
could lead to frequent churn in MF judgemental position on its against them. The Pakistan Government ameasured manner. Pakistan is now
sponsors, leading to instability for relations with the Taliban. believes that the TTP has 7,00010,000 threatening to attack the The writer is a former High Commissioner to Pakistan
unitholders. High shareholder returns
sought by PE funds can lead to compromises
on unitholder interests.
SEBI is also considering if AMCs, once
they scale up, must allow sponsors to dilute
their holdings. Having sponsors with
multiple business interests does lead to
Transition to green tech must be speeded up
conflicts of interest for AMCs, with some The upcoming Budget should provide the impetus as it will help India tap the rising global demand for green energy products
instances of MFs taking exposures to
doubtful bonds or IPOs from group entities. compelling reasons for doing so. cent and 18 per cent, respectively. Until
Sumant Sinha The government can quickly provide a sufficient domestic capacity is available,
The paper moots allowing sponsors to dilute
their 40 per cent stake to 26 per cent or boost to major infrastructures under the implementation of BESS projects
T
he world is shifting towards clean this theme, thereby generating jobs. should be encouraged by lowering the
below, after five years. This may allow AMCs energy sources. Electric vehicles, These include energy infrastructure, BCD and GST to 5 per cent.
to transition into widelyheld entities. But solar energy, and other green transportation, industrial productivity Third, the cost of financing RE
the scams and controversies surrounding technologies are becoming increasingly and efficiency upgrades, agricultural projects comprises more than 50 per
widelyheld institutions such as NSE and popular as people realise that excessive logistics and supply chains, etc. cent of the RE tariff, and there should be
dependence on fossil fuels is not Investing in this now will help boost efforts to lower this cost through green
IL&FS suggest that the lack of a controlling sustainable for the future. India is doing exports. Demand for cleanenergy bonds or other innovative financial
promoter (sponsor) is no guarantee of good its part to reduce reliance on fossil fuels products such as solar panels, instruments. Four, a fund may be
governance. SEBI must vest AMCs with the and boost green energy output, electrolysers, green hydrogen, electric established (worth around ₹2,000 crore)
responsibilities and fiduciary duties of the launching projects to tap into the power vehicles, and green steel is increasing CLEAN ENERGY. Investments in green to support green innovation
of the wind, sun and water. The previous around the world, and we should strive infrastructure must go up technologies such as CCUS,
sponsor, in cases where investors need to be Union Budget placed emphasis on to capture some of that market. electrolysers, green hydrogen, battery
compensated for mismanagement or SEBI growth, welfare provisions, technology A lot is already being done in the form chemistries, and more. This could be
levies penalties for regulatory infractions. development, energy transition, climate of the Performance Linked Incentive changes in taxes and duties that have modelled after similar programmes
action, and public capital investments to schemes and the recently announced recently slowed capacity addition in initiated by the US and Germany.
stimulate private investments — all of Green Hydrogen Mission. However, renewables . Finally, to achieve the objectives of
which were right steps. there’s a need to build on these Second, there must be stronger focus the Green Hydrogen Mission, waiver of
In the year of G20 presidency and in initiatives. on enabling flexibility, to balance the import duties and GST on imported
FROM THE VIEWSROOM. line with the theme of ‘One Earth, One
Family, One Future’, India should
First, the volume of new bids for solar,
wind, storage and hybrid projects needs
grid and roundtheclock supply of
renewable energy to effectively replace
equipment for exportoriented projects
may be considered for green
double down on efforts to make the to be increased to meet the 2030 coal power. Both of these need storage, hydrogen/green ammonia projects and
Stop creating tax vivads country a green economy.
The government’s focus in the
renewable energy (RE) targets. At least
30 GW of bids would need to be released
and that needs economies of scale to
bring down the costs. The tax/duty
renewable power projects dedicated to
them. This will make Indian exports
tax demands are being raised upcoming Budget should be to annually. The government must include incidence on any project is currently as competitive.
without proper due diligence. The strengthen India’s credentials for green/ mechanisms to address issues such as high as 31 per cent, due to the applicable
Lokeshwarri SK climate action. There are two PPA backlogs, infrastructural delays, and Basic Customs Duty and GST of 11 per The writer is President, ASSOCHAM
CAG in a report in December 2017
One section of the Union Budget had noted that the “arrears of tax
which always elicits surprise from demand in FY 201617 was of
all those scrutinising the Budget ₹10.4lakh crore, of which, 98.6
documents is: ‘Tax revenue raised per cent would be difficult to LETTERS TO EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
but not realised’. Sample this, the recover.” It further rapped the
total amount of tax revenue which Income Tax department on the
has not been realised despite tax knuckles for raising exaggerated Tech eating up jobs Budgets ahead must be tailored to small and marginal farmers? global level and think outofthebox environmental impact assessment
demand being raised amounted to demands which resulted in Inflation can be a passing glitch and promote sectors that create jobs. Economic inequality impacts GDP to achieve inclusive growth would (EIA) has looked into all aspects of
a whopping ₹16.19lakh crore as of refunds and payment of interest to growth could be sustained by Nations will take long to understand per capita. It gives rise to poorer not have come at a better time. The the impact of the project. However,
March 31, 2021. The Centre’s net the taxpayers. channelling resources. Technology the rate of fall of conventional jobs public health and illiteracy, thus private sector is already there. The there is another area of concern
tax revenue was only ₹14.26lakh Use of automation to pick was expected open up newer and with it the skilling required for increasing crime rates, fuelling public sector has also developed a which requires large expanse of land
crore in FY21. errant taxpayers is probably avenues of human engagement and the foreseeable future. political instability, and eventually competitive spirit in recent years, and is not even required to have an
But before one gets carried increasing these frivolous tax create jobs beyond the agrarian R Narayanan destabilising the society. thanks to the fear of privatisation. In EIA — solar and wind projects. If
away with visions of large inflows demands and bloating the economy. But it is seen to be getting Navi Mumbai Citizens also become pessimistic and this atmosphere, it will not be looked at objectively, these projects
by realising these dues, it needs to outstanding amount further. It disruptive, creating a divide between lose faith in the government and difficult for the country to take on come with their own set of problems
be realised that a large part of this may be good if tax officials take a the highly skilled and the semiskilled. Income inequality each other. the global headwinds with ease. India and sometimes even require clearing
is unlikely to be recovered. Tax closer look at these dues and write The likes of robot worker and 3D This refers to ‘India’s richest 1 per However, as long as corruption, is poised for higher level economic of forest land.
demands of around ₹12.13lakh off those which are unrecoverable printing will take away core job cent own more than 40 per cent of crony capitalism and nepotism thrive growth. Large scale solar projects lead to
crore, or 75 per cent of total sum, so that a humongous number does engagement in mass manufacture. total wealth: Oxfam’ (January 16). in society, efforts to reduce S Ramakrishnasayee damage to forest lands, huge water
is currently under dispute in not keep popping out every Mobile data grid, cloud technology, India’s per capita gross domestic inequality will remain elusive. Chennai requirements in water stressed areas
various courts; of these, more than Budget. The Revenue also needs to Big Data analytics and the Internet of product increased five times N Sadhasiva Reddy and loss of animal habitat. Similarly,
42 per cent is due for more than go slow with frivolous tax Things would render the lower strata between 2000 and 2022. The Bengaluru Notsogreen energy wind projects, especially in hilly
two years. The sum not under demands. Dispute resolution of interactive management income, however, is concentrated This refers to ‘‘Development’ sinks areas, can lead to landslides and soil
dispute are not being paid because schemes such as Vivad Se Viswas superfluous. only in a few hands. Seize the opportunity Joshimath’ (January 14). It asks erosion. However, the label of ‘green’
the assessees are not traceable or and Sabka Vishwas Legacy Construction, entertainment, travel, There are many positive changes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pertinent questions about whether energy has made us turn a blind eye
there are inadequate assets to Dispute Resolution will work only healthcare and exclusive agri that one may observe in the last 20 exhortation to both public and basic studies to ascertain the towards the impact of such projects.
back the demand. if the underlying tax demand has products will now onwards provide years. But has there been any private sectors to seize the new and feasibility of such a project in the Shino Shibu
The crux of the problem is that any merit. larger scope for employment. The significant change in the income of diverse opportunities offered at the area were done and whether Neyveli, TN
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai600002 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No. 22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai400701 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 7528
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India’s start-up saga

Startups are making a mark across sectors
Farm sector’s pesticide dilemma
ECO MATTERS. Greater pesticide use may boost shortterm farm output. But sustainability demands more regulation
Milind Kumar Sharma
recognising contaminated food
O
ver the past 30 Kushankur Dey products without a robust traceability
years, there has Sukriti Tripathi system.
been significant
T
proliferation of he government recently POLICY SUGGESTIONS
new and emerging made a bold decision to First, agripolicies should consider ESG
enterprises driving innovation allow online sales of dimensions embracing circular
and creating employment insecticides. initiatives in food and biomass. For this,
opportunities, thus expediting This decision harnessing the Pesticide Management Bill 2020
socioeconomic development. the benefits of digitalisation in should be implemented to address the
Recognising their disruptive PAYING OFF. The startup sector agriculture would perhaps inspire existing shortcomings of existing laws
potential in taking India’s growth is helping boost jobs as well policymakers’ confidence in zeroing in concerning pesticide registration,
trajectory to new horizons, the on priorities in agripolicymaking — worker and end users’ protection, and
government launched its flagship productivity, food security, or immunity to pesticide business and
‘Startup India’ scheme on January revolutionised the digital sustainability. promotion.
16, 2016, to create an ecosystem payment ecosystem and have What impact will online pesticide As the Bill emphasised banning
for startups. contributed immensely in making sales have on the food ecology, farmers, extremely and highly hazardous,
A host of other initiatives such a lesscash economy a reality. and pesticide manufacturing firms? Will especially Class 1a & 1b chemical
as Standup India, ASPIRE, Tax Through fintech startups, the emarketplacedriven pesticide sales pesticides, the government should
Breaks, Atal Innovation Mission government can realise the goal of jeopardise the natural farming objective promote nonhazardous formulations of
and the like have been introduced financial inclusion and for 7.5 lakh farmers? Will the pesticides. It is worth noting that the
to raise the entrepreneurial spirit empowerment of the vulnerable commercial motive of agrochemical Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’
in today’s youth. with digital transfers. firms subside the organic farming Welfare banned 18 pesticides following
India is the world’s third largest Startups can power the gig landscape? Verma Committee’s recommendation in
ecosystem for startups after the economy, that is characterised by The pesticide market in India is 2018. However, two heavily used Class 1
US and China. In 2022, it had contractual, parttime and expected to touch ₹316 billion in 2024, pesticides, Monocrotophos and
around 70,000 registered freelance workforce in sectors growing at 8.1 per cent a year between Carbofuram, are yet to be banned. Also,
startups (from 471 in 2016), of such as food delivery, urban taxi 2019 and 2024. Its consumption per the pesticide industry should follow a
which, 100 startups acquired services, healthcare. Companies hectare is reported at 0.25 kg, and responsible business protocol by
‘unicorn’ status having a valuation such as Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, insecticides among fungicides and examining the longterm impact of
of $1 billion and above. The Uber, etc., have made it easier for herbicides account for a maximum active ingredients of pesticides on the
Department for Promotion of people to access goods and market share with 292 registered environment.
Industry and Internal Trade services with the click of the pesticides. Second, social and economic
(DPIIT) has recognised that button. By 2024, the gig sector is There is a silver lining: chemical dimensions are also key to sustainability.
startups have created of over expected to account for about 4 pesticide consumption growth has The government can broaden and
nine lakh direct jobs from 2016 to per cent of India’s total contracted (0.6 per cent), while deepen integrated pest and weed
2022. Today, startups in India are workforce, as per a report. The biopesticide consumption grew 6.12 management technologies and practices
making their mark in key strategic sector is expected to employ as per cent a year between 201617 and in line with the national mission on
sectors such as space and defence. many as 2.35 crore workers by 202021. However, biopesticide natural farming.
2024. consumption accounts for 811 per cent States can augment the sales of
IN STRATEGIC SECTORS Through ecommerce and of India’s total pesticide consumption biopesticide and plant growth
With the liberalisation of the mcommerce, emerging startups during the reported periods (see Chart). pesticides produce “quick results” for leaching, vaporisation, and spray drifts. regulators for organic farming, extend
space sector, startups can pave have contributed immensely in farmers. About onethird of agricultural These particles make the air toxic and grants and concessional loans to MSMEs
the way for robust space tourism bringing about “ease of living” for THE CONSEQUENCES products depend on the application of enter the food chains, posing a threat to and cooperatives/producer companies,
and exploration, cooperating with people whilst providing economic The government’s decision has some pesticides. Studies have shown that consumers. and agribusiness incubators for
Indian Space Research succour to the many lowskilled positives. Farmer producer there would be a 78 per cent loss of fruit Second, the Insecticides Act 1968 and innovative circular initiatives in
Organisation (ISRO). India youth. Similarly, many agritech organisations (FPOs) through online output, 54 per cent loss of vegetable and Insecticides Rules 1971 regulate the agririsk management, and promote
witnessed a new beginning in startups are helping to buying can cut transaction cost and 32 per cent loss of cereal production. endtoend supply chain of insecticides evidencebased research on pesticides
November, when Skyroot ameliorate the problems farmers share their feedback to improve user Despite shortterm productivity (pesticides) to prevent hazards and impact on farming communities and
Aerospace, a space startup in the hinterland face. experience with the multistored brands gains, the toxicity associated with exposure, including human and animal public health, nutrition.
launched the first private rocket According to a report by Stride and compare the price points of applying “excessive” dosage harms the lives. However, this legislation does not In sum, ICARfunded agriresearch
‘VikramS’. Another startup, One, startups have the potential available pesticide brands. As a result, soil, water, air, flora, fauna, and so on. have adequate regulatory provisions to institutions need to provide an enabling
‘Agnikul Cosmos’, is developing a to contribute 45 percent to spurious or fake pesticide sales will be For example, pesticide residues avoid deaths, minimise farm workers’ environment for scientists or
first of its kind launch vehicle. country’s GDP over the next 35 arrested significantly. accumulate in the plant, enter the soil, health hazards, or prevent researchers to invent and register
In the defence sector, startups years. Similarly, they will be Agritech startups and pesticide and contaminate groundwater due to environmental and food contamination. patents of products enabling
manufacturing military playing a critical role in realising firms can strengthen their upstream There is no mechanism for periodic climatesmart sustainable farming.
equipment will go a long way in India’s goal of becoming a $5 marketplace model by leveraging digital checks on the registered pesticides as Demonstrating their efficacy in the
reducing import dependence for trillion economy. platforms’ direct and indirect network Despite shortterm per toxicology guidelines. farmer field is critical for farmer
arms and pave the way for It has to, however, overcome effects. Investors may be attracted to productivity gains, the Third, emarketplacedriven pesticide adoption and scaling up the
selfreliance for maintaining challenges such as complex invest in new pesticide technical, and sales would increase the tolerance of commercialisation of such technologies
strategic autonomy. Startups are regulatory environment, lack of agrochemical firms can take the IPO toxicity associated with maximum residue limits supported by a and products.
also leading the way in developing trained/skilled workforce, route to mop up funds. applying “excessive” dosage cartel of technology and pesticide
drones, precision artillery and challenging macroeconomic However, there are some pitfalls. manufacturing firms in an oligopolistic Dey is faculty member of Agribusiness Management,
other technical equipment environment, market risks due to First, online pesticide sales can impact harms the soil, water, air, agrochemicals market. A participatory and Tripathi is an EFPM Scholar, IIM Lucknow. Views are
through innovative technologies economic uncertainty, inadequate biopesticide consumption as chemical flora and fauna. guarantee system may be ineffective in personal
like Internet of Things, artificial mentoring, lack of infrastructure
intelligence, machine learning, in tier2 cities, digital inequality
etc. Edtech startups such as and ruralurban divide.
Byjus, Unacademy, etc., have A StartUp20 engagement
played a key role in making digital
education accessible during the
Covid19 lockdown period.
group has been created to enable
startup participation in setting
the global agenda.
Has Twitter hastened Musk’s fall from grace?
Fintech startups such as
PayTM, MobiKwik, etc., have The writer teaches at MBM University, Jodhpur Atanu Biswas was the bluebird’s primary feeder for BankmanFried, and Elon Musk have
many years. He purchased Twitter for a recently been depicted as the monsters
E
lon Musk was consulted by whopping $44 billion, possibly because of American capitalism by American
Robert Downey Jr. before he he wanted to be the “Chief Twit”! That political pundit Robert Reich. “For
businessline. took on the role of Tony Stark,
the Iron Man, in the Marvel Cinematic
would undoubtedly be a risky step in
the aftermath of a pandemic. Within
them, and for everyone who still
regards them as heroes, there is no
Universe movies because it was days, 3,700 workers lost their jobs. morality in business or economics. The
TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY. thought that Musk could provide Other significant tech firms followed winnings go to the most ruthless,”
“some insight into what it’d really be suit, but Musk undoubtedly led the thought Reich.
January 17, 2003 like to be Tony Stark.” Such has been show. Twitter’s new boss, Elon Musk,
Musk’s presence and influence in the TWEETING. Beginning of the decline posted a poll asking users whether he
TRAI slaps notice on cell cos tech industry over the years. LOSING ADVERTISERS should resign as CEO amid the
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued showcause In her 2022 book, Elon Musk: Risking his Neuralink. According to Forbes “Watching Musk run Twitter over the company’s upheaval and a significant
notices to private cellular operators for defying its directive to provide It All, journalist and author Michael magazine, Elon Musk saw a 10fold last couple of months has been like backlash to Twitter’s abrupt
interconnectivity to the basic telecom operators offering limited mobile Vlismas followed the remarkable life of increase in his wealth to $294.2 billion watching a toddler trying to drive a suspension of numerous journalists
services. It has given them 72 hours to present their case before it. Musk from his South African in the first 20 months of the pandemic, train — “chaotic” doesn’t even begin to who cover Musk, as well as its move to
upbringing to his move to Canada at up from $24.6 billion in March 2020. In cover it,” journalist Arwa Mahdawi ban, and then unban, links to other
Retail trading in GSecs takes off the age of 17, and finally to the US, November 2021, the Tesla CEO recently wrote in an essay for The social media platforms. Well, nearly 58
On the maiden day of trading on the stock exchange today, government where he made millions from PayPal became the first person in history to Guardian. He lost 50 of the top 100 per cent of respondents said “yes.” As
securities worth ₹1.89 crore changed hands on the National Stock Exchange and created two of the most amass a $300 billion fortune. advertisers on Twitter. Additionally, soon as he finds “someone foolish
and the Bombay Stock Exchange. The trading was inaugurated by the Finance wellknown companies in the world, Since then, a lot has transpired. After Tesla’s stock price has plummeted enough to take the job!,” Musk tweeted
Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, with the purchase of 10 units of 11.10 per cent Tesla and SpaceX. a bizarre 2022, he is no longer the along with Musk’s personal wealth as a that he would step down. The sooner
government bonds for a value of ₹1,044 in his personal account. By 2026, SpaceX hopes to put people richest man on the planet. Worse, in result of the instability at Twitter. he gets one, the better for him as well.
on Mars, where Musk has had the idea 2022, the myth around Musk will have Musk claimed that Twitter For the time being, it appears that the
Special bonds to bring ₹700 cr into UTI of “actually building a city” since 2016. significantly diminished and observers employees must work 80 hours per myth around Musk may be finally
With hardly a fortnight to go for the “appointed day”, when Unit Trust of He, in fact, changed his Twitter bio to are speculating as to whether he will week. Even Jack Ma, who propagated crumbling.
India’s formal split takes effect, the Government has infused an additional ₹700 read “Technoking of Tesla, Imperator turn into the sort of joke that Donald the infamous 996 work culture in 2019
crore to help the beleaguered institution to bridge the deficit in its assured of Mars” earlier. Musk wishes to Trump has. (9 am to 9 pm, six days a week), would The writer is Professor of Statistics, Indian Statistical
return schemes. But unlike the previous fund infusions there will be no explicit implant brain chips in humans through It’s mostly due to Twitter Inc. Musk sound lenient! Trump, Sam Institute, Kolkata
cash outflow this time for the Government.
BL TWOWAY CROSSWORD 2200 EASY NOT SO EASY

ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
01. Stationary, stable (6) 02. Flashlight (5) 01. Though stationary, it may interfere with reception (6) 02. In TocH regulars began to see the light (5)
08. Sound (5) 03. Comrade (Russian) (8) 08. One is so upset by what one hears (5) 03. Ivor changes hats with comrade in Russia (8)
09. College head (7) 04. Those taking part in play (4) 09. Cathedral church dignitary gets troops out around five (7) 04. Those in play who behave like bellfounders (4)
11. Showy and worthless stuff 05. Dwarf, goblin (5) 11. Worthless stuff produced by twothirds of 10 on the 05. Pithy saying from a model standing in the garden (5)
(8) 06. Smooth nails, etc (4) railway (8) 06. If it's up to the French, they'll produce a dossier (4)
07. Gainsay, declare not to be 07. Say one didn't die: one would have to leave New York (4)
12. Allotted part (5) 12. Have a part of this index of trade on the Stock Exchange
true (4) 10. Swan not the mute might give one a blast (9)
15. Girl (4) (5)
10. Wind instrumentalist (9) 12. Flatfish comes between one and the ground one walks on
16. Espionage agent (3) 15. Girl hasn't begun to show form (4)
12. Undersurface of foot (4) (4)
17. Again, afresh (4) 16. Mole finishes his crop early (3)
13. Bread snack (8) 13. Snack course between work and study (8)
19. Improve one's mind (5) 17. If oldfashioned, we get backing afresh (4)
14. Swing side to side (4) 14. Influence, for argument's sake, around the West (4)
21. Think, deliberate on (8) 18. 45 degree joint (5) 19. Deify in order to improve the mind of one (5) 18. Joint episcopal dignity (5)
24. Renewed performance of 20. Intuitive discernment (5) 21. Think it legally placed on football field and in credit (8) 20. Faculty for nosing out sudden blaze, by the sound of it (5)
play (7) 21. Character on stave (mus) (4) 24. Another showing of Ravel perhaps around six (7) 21. Musical symbol used in songcycle frequently (4)
25. Northern seaduck (5) 22. Knot, swelling (4) 25. Duck one found in broken reed (5) 22. A swelling running ABCFGH? (4)
26. Different people from us (6) 23. Do it again (4) 26. Different ones from sort he makes up (6) 23. Embarrassed, having nothing to work at it again (4)
SOLUTION: BL TWOWAY CROSSWORD 2199
ACROSS 1. Instruction 8. Emporium 9. Same 10. Idols 13. Emit 16. Oral 17. Soon 18. Moor 20. Derby 24. Need 25. Thankyou 26. Spoilsports DOWN 2. Nape 3. Tired 4. Usual 5. Issue 6. Development 7.
Sententious 11. Oread 12. Sever 14. Moot 15. Sago 19. Radio 21. Ethos 22. Banjo 23. Ryot
This PDF was originally

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12 Tuesday, 17 January 2023
MuMbai VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW THEIR VIEW

MINT
We should temper expectations

of any big surprise in the budget
Limited scope to cut spending or boost revenue imparts inflexibility but prudence is what matters
one likes it. Interest payments and pen- as corporate tax will not be replicated
sions are items which cannot be cut and in 2023-24. Lower global commodity
only tend to increase. Our defence outlay prices will also come in the way of cus-
will probably increase in line with India’s toms collections. Hence, there is little
ongoing border issues. Subsidies are space on the revenue front. If at all some
necessary and the challenge is to roll- populism has to be brought in, the gov-
back what was provided as contingency ernment could consider lowering excise
in the last few years. Covid and the war in on fuels, probably in the beginning of
Ukraine had necessitated higher outlays 2024, to placate the electorate. Or oil
MADAN SABNAVIS that are not required now. This would be marketing companies may be asked to
is chief economist, Bank of Baroda, and one of the challenges this time round. trim their profits with crude remaining
author of ‘Lockdown or Economic The budget for 2022-23 had allocated stable in global markets.
Destruction?’ almost half its total outlay of ₹39.44 On the non-tax front, there would be
trillion for these purposes. some conundrums. The disinvestment
Scotch speculation over

After meeting these fixed commit- target has not been met for several years
ments, there are allocations to be made and a more realistic number could be
E
lections and budgets elicit the same for other essentials like health, educa- around ₹40,000 crore. Further, a sur-
amount of media attention, often tion and administration. Add to this plus from the banking system will be
even public interest. The differ- transfers to states as grants for imple- hard to count on this time. The Reserve
RBI’s letter on inflation ence, however, is that while the former

take place every five years, the budget
is an annual affair and sees repeated
debates. Now that the Union budget of
menting centrally-sponsored schemes,
and there is not much flexibility left.
There are overhangs in the form of the
PM-Kisan scheme, under which cash
Bank of India (RBI) may not be able to
transfer a larger amount, given that sys-
temic liquidity was in surplus this year
and RBI made higher interest payments
1 February will be the last one before transfers were given to farmers, as well to banks. Unless adjustments are made
general elections in 2024, discussions as the NREGA programme, whose outlay in the reserves to transfer funds, this part
Neither RBI nor the Centre has found it proper to disclose the former’s failure note. Yet, it is are around whether populism will had to be upped from the ₹73,000 crore would require some working.
dominate its proceedings. initially budgeted. Therefore, once the Markets would be interested in gov-
unclear in what scenario any valid worry could outweigh the benefits of public disclosure What should be remembered is that fiscal deficit level has been fixed, there is ernment borrowings, which New Delhi
the government is responsible for and little room for bringing in any big-bang may keep within range so as to not spook
has committed itself to a path of fiscal programme that involves a significant rates as liquidity is already tight. Greater
prudence by which its budget deficit will outlay. The production linked incentive recourse to the National Social Security
N
either the Reserve Bank of India markets clued in and armed with a clearer view reduce to reach 4.5% of gross domestic scheme’s outlay can be increased, and fund looks likely, to ensure that net
(RBI) nor government has found of conditions ahead. Given these benefits of product (GDP) by 2025-26. Considering will probably be done, but will turn into a market borrowings as a proportion of the
that the deficit was budgeted at 6.4% for big expense only when industry meets fiscal deficit stays at around 67-70%.
it proper so far to reveal the law- openness, what made our policymakers place a 2022-23, it stands to reason that there large targets. There can, hence, be some All this means that while there will be
required letter sent by RBI to shroud over RBI’s delayed hardening of lending will be a staggered reduction of around tweaking of numbers, and the priority several discussions on trade-offs and
the latter in November with an rates for the sake of price stability? The oddness 0.5-0.75% of GDP in the next three years. will be on increasing capital expenditure populist measures that will form the core
explanation for last year’s infla- of it has created space for speculation. Nothing Therefore, any conjecture on what the to the extent feasible. The 2022-23 out- of the budget, practically speaking,
tion overshoot, together with a plan to get it in the nature of a major national threat can offer government will announce would be lay was ₹6.5 trillion (excluding a ₹1 tril- nothing significantly different is likely to
within this perimeter. lion transfer to states), which can be materialize. Programme names can be
back under control and a timeline for this. On a credible answer. Nor can we plausibly ascribe It must be reiterated that budgets can increased by not more than 10-15%. changed or combined, or new schemes
its part, the Centre has stated in Parliament that it to other valid criteria under the law, except never be precise because they are based The secondary part of the story is with low outlays announced, to create
no provision under the RBI Act, which it revised perhaps economic risks. Even here, our price on assumptions of growth which can revenue. The fiscal deficit ratio will be the necessary optics. There will be the
in 2016 for inflation targeting, demands the dis- surge was not unique in a world hit by an oil never be gauged with full accuracy defined by the GDP growth assumed, standard achievements of the year laid
closure of its docket on why the central bank shock soon after dramatic fiscal and monetary before the year begins. Hence invariably, and it looks like 11-12% would be it. This out with some innovative acronyms for
fine-tuning of expenditures is required, will shape other assumptions made on thrust areas in 2023-24. A target for farm
failed to satisfy the 4% target that was set for it, injections of stimulus in the wake of covid. With which then becomes the fulcrum. line items, which get linked to the abso- credit is a necessity, while there could be
give or take 2 percentage points, for three quar- supply and demand thrown apart amid erratic That said, expenditure outlays always lute nominal GDP figure of ₹305 trillion. a new theme taken up, like logistics was
ters at a stretch—the show-cause letter’s trigger waves of uncertainty, keeping prices stable was generate primary interest. Here, inter- Next year, two handicaps will be a lower last year. It will be a prudent statement,
point. As the country has no earlier precedent difficult for most economies. Indeed, the gap by estingly, a large part is what can be called real GDP growth number of 6-6.5% and with public money well spent. This we
and today’s secrecy could set the tone for future which RBI missed its goal was small in contrast committed expenditure, or expenses lower inflation of 5.5%. The bounty of can reasonably expect and that is what
that have to be incurred whether or not 2022-23 in India’s GST mop-up as well matters at the end of the day.
compliance, the choices made by authorities with what the West has suffered. This not only
deserve scrutiny. While the Centre saw no legal makes Indian secrecy odder still, it also fans
need to disclose RBI’s note, the central bank’s the suspicion that unease over a structural RBI
reason for keeping it confidential is a little more conflict of objectives might have been the key
specific. In a Right-To-Information response cause. As the Centre’s debt manager, the central
to a query by Mint, RBI had cited Section 8(1)(a) bank must keep the treasury’s interest burden
of the RTI Act, under which it can keep privy low to the extent possible, but capping inflation www.livemint.com
New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Thursday, January 17, 2013 Vol.7 No.15 `3.00 in DelhiNCR/`4.00 outside DelhiNCR 24 PAGES
+ 4 MARKETS PAGES
material that may injure India’s sovereignty and often requires pushing rates up. Should the
MINT METRIC
POLICY: Newplan of action
on GST likely in budget >3
AVIATION: Kingfisher may go for limited
relaunch in February with seven aircraft >4
integrity, hurt the country’s security, strategic, fiscal agenda dominate policy coordination, a EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
MARKETS: Sebi mulls new
routes to raise public holding >4
EARNINGS: Other income to aid RIL
net profit in December quarter >7
scientific or economic interests, or worsen our spurt in prices could result. And given the sensi- SENSEX 19,817.63 æ 169.19
STABILITY ASSESSMENT UPDATE

NIFTY 6,001.85 æ 54.75 DOLLAR `54.69 Æ `0.07
RECOVERY PATH
EURO `72.60 æ `0.22
Pollready
GOLD `30,540 Æ `100 OIL $110.73 æ 0.44
QUICK EDIT by Bibek Debroy

IMF sounds Congress for A rosy
The World Bank on Wednesday said the Indian economy will recover in
calendar year 2013 and grow at 6.1%, up a full percentage point from a
foreign relations, or lead to an offence being tivity of debt markets to such dynamics in the
projected 5.1% growth rate in 2012. In its Global Economic Prospects report, the
World Bank said that four years after the onset of the global financial crisis, the
global economy remains fragile and growth in high-income countries is weak, improving forecast
and called on developing countries to focus on raising the growth potential of
warning on RTE record F

their economies, while strengthening buffers to deal with risks from the euro orecasts by two in-
area and fiscal policy in the US. vestment banks, Mac-
(Year-on-year)
quarie and Nomura,
2012 5.1% B Y A NUJA & project a sensational
2013 6.1% P RASHANT K . N ANDA turnaround in the Sensex
incited. So, to RBI, it’s about national interest. context of RBI autonomy, policymakers might banklicences
2014 ························· this year. While the
6.8% NEW DELHI
India 2015
former has forecast the
7%
7.9% I n yet another signal that the

ruling Congress party is get-
ting ready for the next general
Sensex logging 22,200
points, Nomura is only a
tad less optimistic and ex-
8.4%
election, the National Advisory pects the index to touch
8% Council (NAC), which sets the 21,700. For those seeking
Says risks associated groups in the majority of juris- China 7.9% social agenda for the Union their fortunes in the stock
Typically, transparency in the realm of policy have chosen discretion over publication. So
with allowing entry of
corporate entities could
outweigh benefits of
creating more banks
B Y R EMYA N AIR &
A SIT R ANJAN M ISHRA
·························
dictions assessed...and frame-
works for the oversight of fi-
nancial conglomerates contin-
ue to be a ‘work in progress’ at
the international level,” it said.
A senior finance ministry of-
ficial said sufficient safeguards
would be put in place to en-
sure that the new banks don’t
lend to group companies.
Brazil
0.9%
3.4%
4.1%
4%
3.5%
3.6%
3.9%
government, has sought an in-
stitutional audit of the imple-
mentation of the government’s
marquee Right to Education
(RTE) programme. NAC is
headed by Congress party
president Sonia Gandhi.
The move, which comes
barely 10 weeks before the 31
March deadline for achieving
markets and for the fi-
nance minister, these are
wonderful tidings. But be
careful what you wish for.
Both investment banks
have presaged their rosy
forecast on potential rate
cuts, easier domestic li-
quidity and reform mo-
mentum. None of this is
Abhinav Prakash made a fake bomb call,
is crucial because top-level moves that impact goes some of the more plausible analysis.
NEW DELHI
“The new banks will not be Russia 3.8% RTE metrics, calls for a review guaranteed. Not with the
T he International Mone-
tary fund (IMF) has
warned India against li-
censing corporate entities to
step into the business of com-
mercial banking, saying the
risks associated with such a
move potentially outweigh the
allowed to lend to group com-
panies. Because of this, we
have written to the Reserve
Bank of India that even com-
panies with exposure to real
estate and stock broking could
also be considered,” the offi-
cial said on condition of ano-
South Africa
2.4%
2.2%
2.7%
3.2%
3.3%
-0.4%
of the parameters including
enrolment, education infra-
structure, filling up vacant
teachers’ posts, and training
teachers already in the system.
While the record on enrolment
is very impressive, there have
been shortcomings on other
Reserve Bank of India
governor signalling, as
recently as Tuesday, that
inflation continues to be
its top concern. Not
when the government is
yet to provide credible
proof that it is curbing
The reason sufficient to appall.
our economy also influence the calls taken by Onlookers will not know what really kept
1.9% -0.1%
benefits of creating more nymity. Euro parameters. fiscal profligacy. And not
banks. The ministry expressed its 2.8% area 0.91% Analysts believe the adverse when political support
US 3% 1.4%
IMF’s Financial System Sta- views to RBI ahead of the regu- findings may result in the gov- for tough reforms is less
His friends in love-lorn plight,

bility Assessment Update said lator issuing final guidelines India's projected real GDP growth rates at factor cost for fiscal years starting with 2012-13 as usually ernment deciding to extend likely with a general elec-
it would be prudent for India for new bank licences. The reported by the government are 5.4%, 6.4%, 7.1% and 7.3%. the tenure of the programme, tion due in little over a
Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects
to first put in place and gain central bank, however, in the enabling the Congress party to year. What happens to
PARAS JAIN/MINT
sufficient experience in imple- first round of granting licences the Sensex then?
menting a comprehensive may favour non-banking fi- ALSO SEE >Mark To Market: Global projections and capital markets in 2013 >P14 TURN TO BACK PAGE ®
economic agents all across. The better they RBI’s compliance note under wraps until it’s
framework for the purpose be- nancial companies rather than
fore considering the entry of large industrial conglomer-
conglomerates into banking.
“The legal, operational and
ates.
“There are serious areas of Want to be
regulatory framework for con-
solidated supervision of both
concern with family-controlled
banks. The managerial team CEO? What’s
He sought to delay the girls’ flight.

bank-led groups and financial will have ‘high-powered incen-
conglomerates is still missing
some important elements,” it
tives’ that come with high
shareholding. Their super-in-
your BMI?
understand how and why policy tools like RBI’s officially made public. This should be done
said, while also flagging con- centivized staff will be energet-
cerns about the lack of total in- ic in dodging regulation; our B Y L ESLIE K WOH
dependence for the Reserve financial regulatory agencies The Wall Street Journal
Bank of India (RBI) from gov- will not be able to rein them ·························
ernment influence.
This warning precedes the
expected release of the final
in,” said Ajay Shah, a professor
at the National Institute of
Public Finance and Policy.
B eing fit matters.
New research suggests
that a few extra pounds or a
set of bank licensing guide- “There is tension between slightly larger waistline affects
A silly mistake and a trainee’s downfall.

lines by RBI later this month, the need for greater competi- an executive’s perceived lead-
are used, the higher their user’s credibility and soon—perhaps in the next Economic Survey.
expected to kick-start the proc- tion in banking and the entry ership ability as well as stami-
ess of new private sector enti- of family-controlled banks. na on the job.
ties getting licences to open Luckily, there are two path- While marathon training and
commercial banks. ways through which we can pre-dawn workouts aren’t ex-
Last month, Parliament avoid these complexities,” he plicitly part of a senior manag-
passed the Banking Laws said. “The first is to have entry er’s job description, leadership
(Amendment) Bill, 2011, em- by dispersed-shareholding experts and executive recruit-
powering the central bank to banks, controlled by no family, ers say that staying trim is now
supersede bank boards and and the second is to have entry virtually required for anyone
lower the overall risk of instability arising from As wide awareness is better than narrow, the
scrutinize associate companies by foreign banks.” on track for the corner office.
of bank promoters. The pas- IMF’s concern also stems “Because the demands of
sage of the Bill had been a key from the fact that several legal leadership can be quite strenu-
precondition set by RBI to start provisions, including those in ous, the physical aspects are
issuing new bank licences. the Banking Regulation Act, just as important as everything
RBI had been reluctant to limit the independence of the else,” says Sharon McDowell-
give banking licences to com- central bank. Larsen, an exercise physiolo-
panies that could use the lend- “Some legal provisions in gist who runs an executive fit-
er’s funds for the benefit of the Banking Regulation Act al- ness programme for the not-
confusion and/or nasty surprises. Globally, gains in terms of market clarity will probably
other group units and deny low the central government to for-profit Center for Creative
funds to rivals, and had sought give directions to RBI, require Leadership (CCL).
the power to supersede boards RBI to perform an inspection, Executives with larger waist-
of potential rogue banks. overrule RBI’s decisions, and lines and higher body mass in-
International experience supersede the RBI central dex (BMI) readings tend to be
supports disallowing industrial board,” the report pointed out. perceived as less effective in
houses from promoting and “Removing these provisions the workplace, both in per-
owning banks, IMF said. and specifying in law the rea- formance and interpersonal
“Consolidated supervision relationships, according to
opaque regimes are likelier than open ones to outweigh whatever qualms are held by those
frameworks and capabilities TURN TO PAGE 3® data compiled by CCL. BMI, a
are weak even for bank-led common measure of body fat,
ALSO SEE is based on height and weight.
Mint is also available for R7 with
Hindustan Times in Delhi-NCR only >OurView: IMF’s warning on banks >P22 TURN TO PAGE 2®
lose the policy-efficacy that comes with keeping who would rather keep it for their eyes only.
MY VIEW | TRuTH, LIES AND STATISTICS
What data tells us about the great Indian middle class

ownership of these assets can provide a Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines. The peer set. In the 10 years till 2017-18, the share over 10 years to reach 79% in 2017. The pen-
PRAMIT BHATTACHARYA rough idea of how the middle class is evolv- growth of India’s upper middle class (as of car-owners in Bangladesh rose only 0.3 etration of two-wheelers and four-wheelers
ing in the country. Ideally, Census data measured by car-ownership) and lower mid- percentage points to 0.8%. Bangladesh is in India today is roughly at the level where
should be used for this exercise. But given dle class (as measured by ownership of also an outlier in this group when it comes to Indonesia was in 2007. This is not very sur-
the uncertainty over when that may arrive, motorcycles or scooters) does not appear out two-wheeler ownership, with less than a prising since India’s per capita income today
I have used the next best resource: the of sync with these countries. The rise in tenth of households having a two-wheeler. is roughly where Indonesia’s per capita
A
t a time when India finds itself in a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). India’s middle-class has been nearly as fast— On average, penetration of two-wheelers income was in 2007 (in purchasing power
sweet geopolitical spot, interest in Partly funded by the USAID, DHS surveys or nearly as slow—as most has been faster than that of parity terms).
India’s middle class has grown. Yet, canvass a wide range of information on of these countries. four-wheelers across the The hype around India’s middle class
assessments about India’s middle class often socioeconomic characteristics, and follow The share of households It’s hardly an developing world, which appears as unjustified as the despair around
arrive at wildly different conclusions. Some a common template that allows compara- owning a four-wheeler in suggests that the ranks of it. Writing in these pages nearly ten years
conclude that India’s economic growth over bility across countries. Using the DHS India rose 4.8 percentage outperformer the lower middle classes ago, economist Niranjan Rajadhyaksha had
the past three decades has led to a middle- allows us to compare the rise in India’s points over 15 years to 7.5% have swelled rapidly over argued that India’s economic performance
class boom. Others suggest that growth has asset-ownership with peers. in 2020 (an annual rise of
but a huge the past one-and-a-half tends to disappoint habitual optimists as
is a Chennai-based journalist.
only benefited a tiny sliver of India’s vast
population, and kept the rest of the country
In India, the DHS was last conducted dur-
ing 2019-21. The two previous rounds of the
0.3 percentage points). In
Pakistan, the same share
population does decade.
In India, the share of
well as perennial pessimists. That still rings
true today.
His Twitter handle is pramit_b abjectly poor.
One way to gain some clarity on this issue
DHS, known in India as the National Family
Health Survey (NFHS), were in 2015-16 and
rose 3.1 percentage points
over 11 years to 9.8% in
lend India an households owning a two-
wheeler rose 33 percentage
If there is any reason to be excited about
India’s middle class, it lies in the sheer size of
is to examine changes in household assets 2005-06. To select peer countries, three fil- 2017-18 (an annual rise of advantage that points over 15 years to 50% the country’s population. Even though India
over time. While income levels tend to be ters are applied. First, these countries should 0.3 percentage points). in 2020. For the first time is a decade and a half behind Indonesia in
significantly understated in surveys, asset have a reasonably large economy (at least Among India’s peers, car- is hard to beat in India’s history, a near- income levels and vehicle ownership, the
data tend to be more accurate. The owner- $100 billion at current prices). Second, these ownership has grown fast- majority of households in total number of car-owning households in
ship of durable goods and vehicles is often countries should have had a DHS survey in est in Indonesia in the the country possess a India is two and a half times larger than
considered a signifier of middle class status the recent past (post 2015). Third, these recent past. The share of car-owning house- motorcycle or scooter. Crisis-struck Paki- Indonesia’s. The gap in the absolute number
globally. In the developing world, we can countries should have had a previous round holds in Indonesia rose 6.1 percentage points stan had a faster trajectory. The share of two- of two-wheeler owners is even bigger.
think of four-wheeler ownership as a proxy of the DHS at least 8-10 years before the lat- over 10 years to 12.6% in 2017 (an annual rise wheeler owners rose 36 percentage points India’s huge population confers a hard-to-
for upper middle class status and two- est round so that one is able to make long- of 0.6 percentage points). over 11 years to 54% in 2017-18. beat size advantage upon the country. Unless
wheeler ownership as a proxy for lower mid- term comparisons. With the lone exception of Bangladesh, The penetration of two-wheelers has been India’s economy enters a deep recession, it
dle class status. Applying these filters leaves us with only car-owners roughly correspond to the top the fastest in Indonesia. The share of two- will continue to be an attractive market for
Examining the changes in household five peer countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, decile (or top 10% of households) in India’s wheeler owners rose 34 percentage points global brands.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS TueSdAy, 17 JAnuAry 2023
MuMbAi 13
guEst VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
Five priorities for India Inc could Saudi Arabia’s got money but
can it also lure foreign capital?
help us reach ahead of the curve Riyadh has an ambitious China-plus-one plan for manufacturing
A world in flux offers an opportunity to make this ‘India’s century’ by working on five themes that’ll prepare us for the future
MINT
ANJANI TRIVEDI
is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering
industrials including policies and firms in the
machinery, automobile, electric vehicle and
RAJAT DHAWAN battery sectors across Asia Pacific.
is McKinsey & Company’s managing partner in
India
A
s countries and companies rush to
get their hands on critical raw mate-
N
o, this isn’t just another business rials to bolster supply chains and
cycle. The world is changing—and deal with a rocky energy transition, Saudi The kingdom’s FDI invitation has attracted
India more than most places. As in Arabia is staking its claim. It stands a real little interest so far REUTERS
previous periods of great change, chance, especially with growing discomfort
such as the oil crisis of the 70s, and around reliance on China. But are investors tensions. In emerging markets, capital
the breakup of the Soviet Union and willing to trust it yet? Its sovereign wealth intensive FDI comes with years of contrac-
India’s economic liberalization in the early 1990s, fund and state miner are ploughing $3.2 tual cash commitments and borrowings,
this time feels different. The spread of technology, billion into a fund that will invest across the adding layers of costs and complexities. Can
climate change, and the rise of Asia are just three of world in resources like copper, nickel and the returns on investment in Saudi Arabia
the forces that are re-shaping the global economy. lithium, as a non-operating partner with a make up for the risks businesses are taking?
India is well placed not only to adapt to these minority stake. The company’s formation And could the rules change before they reap
changes, but to use them to catalyse truly was announced at Saudi Arabia’s annual the upside? Multi-billion-dollar mining
sustainable and inclusive growth. This could be Future Minerals Forum, where giants like projects require stakeholder approvals and
‘India’s Century’. There is potential to create 600 BHP, Rio Tinto, Ivanhoe Mines and US and are harder to commit to; public sharehold-
million new jobs and increase per capita incomes UK officials convened last week. ers don’t necessarily want to wait for long-
sixfold by 2047. The new entity will invest up to $15 billion term returns and are less enthusiastic about
To get there, effective government action is in companies and assets to secure supply for big spending. At its peak over a decade ago,
required, in the form of improving our human local use. Riyadh has been pushing non-oil expenditure in the sector totalled almost
capital and physical infrastructure. But the private businesses like manufacturing and its focus $150 billion, but it’s expected to fall by $11
sector also has a massive role to play. India Inc has on raw materials is well-timed and targeted, billion this year globally.
come into its own over the past 30 years; that said, especially with supply chains in disarray Attracting FDI eventually becomes a self-
it can still raise its game. and climate regulatory pressures rising. fulfilling cycle: once a country or province
Here are five priorities. China’s vital yet tenuous role in the global hits a critical mass, it’s easier to bring in
Take sustainability seriously: According to a economy has forced companies to look for more. Preferential policies like tax incen-
recent McKinsey report, securing effective decar- alternatives, even as shortages of critical tives and free trade zones help—for both
bonization (to 1.9 GtCO2e by 2070) would require minerals loom. Big industrial undertakings domestic and foreign firms. Economies of
India to spend $7.2 trillion on green initiatives. that are key for the energy transition, like scale kick in and efficiencies rise. Getting to
That is an enormous sum, but it also implies for even more improvement. Indian companies talent, both to re-skill workers in traditional tech solar plants, electrolytic hydrogen facilities, that level of investment, though, is a must.
enormous potential. About 75% of the industrial account for less than 40% of total research and services, which are expected to decline, and to take EV batteries and carbon capture and stor- Even as the world’s top miners and com-
capacity that will exist in India in 2050 is not yet development (R&D) spending, compared to more advantage of new opportunities. One promising age, require heaps of metals. Despite the US panies flocked to Riyadh, few talked about
built; that offers a chance to build sustainably from than 65% in other large economies. For a start, approach is to create industry-wide skilling and Inflation Reduction Act that tries to boost breaking ground on huge projects that min-
the start. For business, the opportunity to become companies can examine themselves and learn of certification mandates, working with industry American manufacturing, resource links ing requires. Barrick Gold Corp and Saudi
global leaders in areas such as green steel, hydro- their ‘innovation quotient’ (IQ), which evaluates groups such as Nasscom and SaaSBOOMi, in high- haven’t attracted actual hard dollars yet. Arabian Mining— nown as Maaden—
gen, carbon capture and clean tech is very real, as their readiness, strengths and execution capabili- growth digital areas such as artificial intelligence, While Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed announced they were setting up two explo-
these are all nascent industries. In the automotive ties. Large manufacturers could incentivize inno- machine learning and product management. bin Salman (MBS) is on to an opportunity, it ration joint ventures. Maaden will initially
sector, for example, India is a major exporter of vation among their suppliers by offering grants for Recognize that resilience and growth go together: won’t be easy to execute. This isn’t the usual contribute $7.6 million. The Saudi miner
two- and three-wheeled vehicles. It could use this breakthrough innovations. In the near term, Indian companies can strengthen scepticism around a lofty vision; it’s more also announced a $126 million deal with
position to lead the change to electric vehicles The greater potential, however, may be in their resilience by building stronger relationships about jaded corporate executives and their Ivanhoe Electric. Meanwhile, the UK didn’t
(EVs), particularly in markets similar to its own, collective action. Companies could work together with suppliers and localizing operations. They risk-taking ability. And here’s the rub: No go much beyond a loose commitment; its
such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast to create innovation clusters—economic hubs need to get agile in their working approach and matter how deep-pocketed or well-en- secretary for business, energy and industrial
Asia. Experience around the world shows that where capital, expertise and talent collaborate build partnerships that prepare them to address dowed the kingdom is, it will need foreign strategy, Grant Shapps, noted that it can
companies that set decarbonization targets can on new or nascent technologies. Clean energy, disruptions, such as energy security, cyber shocks investors and capital to help with technol- never be too reliant on any one nation and
mobilize their organizations and act on value- smart mobility and water adequacy are three high- and weather events. ogy transfers, business strategy and produc- why it needs partners like Saudi Arabia.
creating opportunities. potential areas. Over the medium to longer term, business tivity. While they’re watching, no one has China’s experience with attracting FDI
Re-ignite capital spending strategies: In recent Build digital technology capabilities: The global leaders can build positions that would enable hit the ground in a big way yet. shows that domestic-focused investment is
years, most capital expenditure (capex) in India tech services market is expected to grow about 5% them to take advantage of new and emerging Bringing in foreign direct investment largely driven by the size and growth of the
has been driven by government spending and by annually in the coming years: Cloud and digital opportunities. As global supply chains shift, India (FDI) could be the biggest challenge. MBS’s economy. Other factors like labour costs
public-sector companies. Moreover, growth in net services alone represent a $600-700 billion could use its low labour costs and manufacturing Vision 2030 economic blueprint hopes to and infrastructure are also crucial determi-
fixed assets has been low, and the productive base opportunity by 2025. expertise to capture up to $1.2 trillion in global up the FDI contribution to gross domestic nants. The country remains one of the big-
of many large companies has grown little, if at all, With low-cost data and more than 800 million trade flows by 2030. Promising sectors include product from 0.7% to 5.7%. Foreign capital gest recipients despite questions around
in real terms. Companies that stitch together internet users, India’s digital consumer sector is automotive, electronics, semiconductors, into Saudi Arabia grew sharply in 2021, governance structures and legal frame-
defensible plans can execute capex projects faster growing fast: India’s consumer digital economy chemicals and medical devices. largely because of a $12.4 billion pipeline works. However, it had built itself out as the
and more cost-effectively, positioning themselves could be a $1 trillion market in just a few years. The With India’s growing workforce, relatively deal by the state-run Saudi Arabian Oil Co, factory floor of the world and had its deep
for sustained growth. Given rising interest rates, government’s Open Network for Digital Com- strong fiscal position, deep capital markets or Aramco. But big undertakings remain manufacturing prowess on offer.
this won’t be easy, but high asset-utilization rates merce effort may help, by cutting costs and and ever more confident business sector, the missing. Multinational firms are hovering, For Saudi Arabia, opening up is a big step
make it urgent. enhancing interoperability. But it will be up to country today may be in its best position ever to signing memorandums of understanding as are welcoming invitations to foreign
Accelerate the innovation engine: India jumped business to make e-commerce and digitization a deliver the broad-based prosperity our founders and visiting, but that’s all. businesses, but it will have to figure out
from 81st in the 2015 Global Innovation Index to reality for most Indians. In 2022, e-commerce dreamt of 75 years ago. Success, however, is not Companies must mull the risks of piling whether it can give foreign investors a large
40th in 2022, and performs well above expecta- accounted for less than 8% of retail sales. assured by that alone; it will only come with into a region flush with wealth, but sitting at enough opportunity. That math is worth
tions given its level of development. There is room The common denominator to enable all this is focused and effective action. the crossroads of geopolitical and economic doing. ©BLOOMBERG
MY VIEW | A vIsIBLe hANd
There’ll be no let-up in science and technology progress

promise as early as within a decade or so. of deep-learning chips capable of running munications offer the potential for extreme class of viruses including viral mutations as
NARAYAN RAMACHANDRAN OpenAI-based products: The last several neural networks faster, algorithmic and scale, solving complex problems and trans- they arise.
years have seen dramatic progress in the framework developments in AI modelling forming the field of cybersecurity. RNA methylation: Exciting progress has
application of artificial intelligence (AI) and and AI’s ability to understand and respond to Vaccines for infectious diseases: The rapid been made in manipulating RNA in such a
machine learning (ML) to everyday prob- human behaviour. development of mRNA-based vaccines for way that plant yields go up dramatically
lems. This progress has been enabled by a From quantum mechanics to quantum covid has rekindled interest and momentum while at the same time increasing drought
2
022 followed the prior one as a year for rapid increase in the processing speed and technology: Quantum technology is where AI in vaccine research. After decades of tolerance. Gene encoding for a protein
rapid improvement in science and capacity of chips. 2022 saw the development was 20 years ago. Quan- research, a malaria vaccine called FTO for both rice and potato plants
technology. The ‘warp speed’ vaccine of Generative Pretrained Transformer 3 tum mechanics is the sci- called RTS,S/AS01 was increased their yield 300% in laboratory and
development for covid that saved millions of (GPT-3), which is a state-of-the-art language ence behind quantum Innovation will approved for use in 2021 50% in field tests. The process uses RNA
lives was the highlight of 2021, which also processing AI model developed by OpenAI. technology and is built on against the falciparum par- methylation, a reversible modification to
included the deployment of the James Webb It is capable of generating human-like text the fundamental idea that continue but asite (bit.ly/3XcPO8B). Sev- RNA that impacts numerous biological pro-
US space telescope, the restart of the Large and promises to have a wide range of appli- objects have a dual exis- eral million children in cesses and regulates gene expression. This
Hadron Collider at CERN and significant cations. The main issue with language pro- tence as a particle and a
India must pep areas where malaria is has the potential to dramatically increase
is chairman, InKlude Labs. Read

advances in structural biology.
That strong innovation thread continued
cessing AI models is that they may produce
errors, called ‘hallucinations’, where the
wave. This duality directly
leads to Heisenberg’s
up university endemic were vaccinated
during 2022. Another vac-
yield without the dilemmas usually associ-
ated with genetic modification.
Narayan’s Mint columns at
www.livemint.com/
in 2022 with meaningful progress in nuclear
fusion, artificial intelligence, quantum tech-
generated content is either nonsensical or
unfaithful to the source content. Main-
uncertainty principle,
which states that it is
level research cine developed by the same
laboratory in Oxford that
In nuclear fusion, structural biology and
vaccine manufacturing, India is part of many
avisiblehand nology, vaccine development and mRNA- stream technology companies like Google impossible to measure to enhance developed the AstraZeneca global consortiums that are at the cutting
based applied research. Here are the high- and Meta have refrained from introducing exactly both the position distributed covid vaccine edge of science. India’s research and devel-
lights of the year gone by: competing products for fear of the backlash and momentum of an its prospects cleared phase 3 trials in opment agenda must transition from Soviet-
Nuclear fusion: The US announced the on possible hallucinations. ChatGPT, along object. The revolution in 2022 and will likely be era independent laboratories to institutes of
first positive net energy nuclear fusion with other products like DALL-E (trans- computers has so far taken approved for use this year. excellence that are part of the university sys-
experiment (bit.ly/3Wjs29H). Combine this forms text to images), CLIP which does the place through semiconductors or ‘classical Both these vaccines and several others in tem. This transition will be required to fulfil
with the progress being made by a multi- reverse, and Whisper (multi-lingual speech bits’; the revolution in quantum technology development follow the traditional method India’s aspiration of rising from a middle
country consortium towards sustained and recognition), could have enormous implica- is just beginning with the development and of live-attenuated or inactive pathogen- income to an upper middle-income country.
controlled nuclear fusion, and it appears tions for a diverse country like India if hallu- deployment of quantum bits or qubits. Qub- based vaccines with adjuvants, and not the P.S: “I am one of those who think that
that fusion has gone from an impractical cination rates can be reduced. its offer infinitely more combinations than newer mRNA-based methods. There are humanity will draw more good than evil
alternative to a very real and attractive At the same time, the field of AI has binary strings of 0s and 1s can. While it is still many efforts underway for mRNA-based from new discoveries”, said two-time Nobel
choice that could possibly deliver on its advanced materially with the development very nascent, quantum computing and com- vaccine ‘platforms’ that can target a whole Laureate Marie Curie.
06 NEW DELHI
TUESDAY
JANUARY 17, 2023
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
How many tigers can
Make remote India’s forests sustain?
EVM foolproof India’s big cat numbers
are rising. But one in
This also made it to the Guinness Book Conservation Assured Tiger Stan-
of World Records for being the world’s dards accreditation, an international
largest wildlife survey. Since 2006, recognition for best practices and
when the tiger census process was standards in tiger conservation. But
The EC must lay the ground for discussion every three lives outside overhauled with scientific rigour and this success is also a cause of worry
and political consensus-building to make the reserves, leading to camera-trap technology, the once-in- for both the forest department and
four-years tiger census numbers have the local community. Last October, a
proposed migrant-voting system a success human-animal conflicts. only increased. NTCA estimated 1,411 three-year-old male tiger, blamed for
Give a thought to not just tigers in India in 2006, which rose to the death of nine people, was gunned
1,706 in 2010. While these numbers down after a shoot-at-sight order. On
T
he Election Commission of India (ECI) tigers outside protected augur well for successful conserva- January 10, another incident of a
demonstrated a prototype of a new electronic tion efforts, there is also a downside. minor girl being attacked by a tiger Tigresses require an inviolate space of 800-1,200 sq km to breed a viable
areas, but also to many
voting machine-based system that could Tigers are solitary animals and need was reported from the area. population of 80-100 tigers. In a densely populated country such as ours,
potentially allow millions of India’s migrant species fighting to surv- space. Tigers (and wildlife in Such unfortunate inci- however, pristine wilderness is wishful thinking SHUTTERSTOCK
general) also don’t under- dents from across the coun-
people who live and work in sites far away from the ive in an altered world stand human-drawn bound- try are turning people forest patches, surrounded by a sea of neighbouring Chhattisgarh. For sev-
places they are registered to exercise their franchise. aries or maps — national against tigers, and undoing humanity. Tiger reserves are imag- eral generations, people in Umaria
T
wo newsworthy events parks, wildlife sanctuaries all the good conservation ined to be inviolate spaces for tigers district (Bandhavgarh) never encoun-
The ECI prototype of a multi-constituency remote will occur this year. First, or tiger reserves. Last work of protecting the and wildlife, but there are village set- tered elephants, but now, human-ti-
electronic voting machine for domestic migrants, India is projected to sur- month, in Assam, a tiger national animal. While tlements (with thousands of people ger and human-elephant conflict pose
Ananda
however, has run into controversy after 16 pass China as the world’s made headlines when it increasing numbers sets the and livestock) in many of them, along a major conservation challenge.
most populous country. walked 120 km downstream Banerjee benchmark for conservation with roads and railway lines. Buxa A plateau or dip in tiger numbers is
Opposition parties said that the proposal was still Imagine a nation with 2% as the Brahmaputra flows, success, the devil is in the Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is a clas- a near impossibility in a society where
sketchy and fraught with the possibility of political of the earth’s land area, home to 1.45 from Orang National Park to detail. By NTCA’s own esti- sic example. only growing numbers are a measure
and administrative anomalies, given the lack of billion people or 18% of the world’s Guwahati’s Umananda Island. Orang, mation, nearly one in every three Research data indicates that in a of success. We are incapable of
human population. Going by popula- with a small core area of 79 sq km, is tigers in India lives outside reserves core area, tigresses require an invio- acknowledging the limits to what
definitional clarity in India’s election laws. tion density, India is three times more struggling to cope with its rising big (Status of Tigers, Co-predators and late space of 800-1,200 sq km to breed nature can give and sustain. While
There is no doubt that making the voting process crowded than China. Second, India’s cat population and incidents of tigers Prey in India — 2018). India is the larg- a viable population of 80-100 tigers. In several scientific reports point to
for migrants easier will need administrative zeal, most successful wildlife conservation moving in and out of surrounding est tiger range country with 70% of a densely populated country such as shrinking spaces for wildlife, we
venture, Project Tiger, will turn 50 human habitation are an everyday the global tiger population, but 30% of ours, however, pristine wilderness is remain hungry for more numbers,
technological finesse and socio-political consensus- this April, a milestone to be cele- affair. Even larger protected areas, India’s tiger population (around wishful thinking. And, forest corri- especially for charismatic species
building. A sizeable chunk of India’s 450 million brated with another record estimate such as Valmiki Tiger Reserve in 1000+ tigers) reside outside protected dors linking two or more protected such as tigers, lions, elephants, or rhi-
internal migrants, according to the 2011 Census, are of tiger numbers. The 2022 tiger cen- Bihar’s West Champaran region, face reserves; this number has gone up areas remain contested spaces nos. As more areas undergo rapid
sus figures are expected to be released similar challenges. A decade ago, Val- even as the number of tiger reserves between humans and wildlife. The urbanisation, give a thought to not
deprived of their constitutional right to exercise later this year, and a number over the miki Tiger Reserve had fallen off the has increased, from nine in 1973 to 53 lives of India’s indigenous and margi- just tigers living in the fringes of our
their franchise because voters have to physically 3,000 mark is very much on the cards. tiger conservation map, but due to the in 2022. nalised communities are culturally, cities, in degraded forests, farmlands
travel to the district where they are a registered voter Project Tiger was launched on efforts of Bihar’s forest department These 1,000-plus tigers are often socially, and economically tied to or estates, but also to many species
April 1, 1973. The National Tiger Con- and other non-profit conservation referred to as India’s “poor” or “home- these tiger forests. In Madhya Pra- fighting to survive in an altered world.
to cast their vote — a choice that is often rendered servation Authority (NTCA) reported organisations, it is now one of the less” tigers. The 53 reserves may have desh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve,
impossible by financial hardships, paucity of time 2,967 tigers in 2018, compared to best-performing tiger reserves in around 75,000 sq km, but most of people living in and around the tiger Ananda Banerjee is an author, artist and
and other socioeconomic conditions. India has made 2,226 in 2014. A whopping 33% jump India. In 2021, it was one of the 14 tiger these human-drawn regions are reserve now have to additionally deal wildlife conservationist
drew considerable media attention. reserves in the country to receive the either small or comprise fragmented with wild elephants migrating from The views expressed are personal
significant technological leaps in conducting the
world’s largest democratic exercise, but the remote
EVM proposal needs more fine-tuning. There are
three different sets of challenges. The first is legal,
where the definition of a migrant voter, remoteness Demolition cannot be the { PIYUSH GOYAL } UNION MINISTER FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
and temporary absence from home district or city P
needs to be delineated, as does the question of
migration (say, whether it is intra-state or inter-state,
answer to encroachment Government today thinks like
or both). And the Representation of People Act, 1951 ttempts to demolish housing built on structures is built in tension with the law,
a startup, relentlessly focusing
and other laws need an update. The second is
administrative. Will self-attested affidavits work to
declare oneself a migrant? Will the same controlled
A publicly owned land in Uttara- there can be no clear line between legal or ille-
khand’s Haldwani town have gal, no simple understanding of violation and
brought the contentious question of encroachment, no just way to suddenly
illegal encroachment back into the public demolish lives and livelihoods, and no way to
arena. Estimates show that in 2021, around choose where to enforce the law that isn’t
on newer and better ideas to
improve efficiency and
environment be set up at a remote location? Will the
model code of conduct apply, especially in regions
200,000 people were evicted forcefully across informed by arbitrariness at best, or power
India — in the middle of a pandemic — and and prejudice at worst. When the bulldozer integrity of systems and
15% of these were in anti-encroachment arrives selectively, or when some illegalities
processes.
A
where a large pool of migrants from one particular
drives. How, then, should we think about the get regularised while others are punished, the
location work? The third is technical. Will the EVMs inevitable recurrence of this question in all claim that the law is simply being imple-
be transferred physically to the counting spot? How our cities? mented is misleading.
will the paper trail work? Data tells us that most housing in urban But do we just accept a city where anything
India is built in some degree of tension with can be built anywhere by anyone? No. What
Across the world, mature democracies go the extra the law. One study, by private consultancy we need to re-think is how to govern a city
mile to ensure every citizen can choose their FSG, uses census data to estimate that that was built despite the State and within
India’s G20 stint must

representative. It is commendable that ECI is work- 33%-47% of housing in urban India is what deeply unequal land and housing markets. We
they term informal. That’s one in every two or must start from the actual city as it exists —
ing towards expanding the right to exercise one’s three houses. We don’t need studies to know warts and all — by refusing to use demolition
franchise. It must now lay the ground for a more this. Every Indian city has slums, bastis, as an answer. What could this look like?
considered discussion and political consensus-
building that makes the system foolproof, before
pressing the button.
informal settlements, unauthorised colonies,
houses, and gated communities built

on forest and rural land. Each of
It starts with the recognition of the rightful
regularised colonies, irregular layouts, farm- presence of citizens that are today described as
encroachers. Such recognition
emphasises that people need afforda-
push for health security
these types of housing violates the ble spaces to live in the city and ndia’s G20 presidency provides the coun- priority, several steps are required. First, to
law in some way.
It is here that we must start. Gaf-
fur Basti in Haldwani is not an
knows that the city needs them
equally. It acknowledges that such
spaces have not been provided, and I try, the World Health Organization strengthen health emergencies prevention,
(WHO) Southeast Asia Region and the preparedness and response, India has rightly
world an opportunity to accelerate global focused on enhancing One Health action that
Robust laws can exceptional case of violation. It is the

rule. As the State and the market
failed to provide enough housing,
people built their own. Most violated
Gautam
Bhan
thus, measures the value of what has
been built instead of focusing on
legal status alone. Rightful presence
centres the intent behind the build-
health action in the interest of developing and mitigates risks at the human-animal-environ-
emerging economies, building on Indonesia’s ment interface, and combats antimicrobial
commendable stewardship of the body in resistance (AMR). These challenges require
2022, and drawing on the many lessons coordinated action to address and evidence-
control Big Tech the law because they had to. For the urban ing of an unauthorised structure. It asks why,
majority, the capacity to be legal has not, in who, and for what a structure exists. In doing
large part, ever existed in our cities. The same so, it is then able to — morally, pragmatically
learned from the Covid-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 crisis has had devastating
based action plans to support national efforts.
For One Health, there is the One Health
health, social and economic impacts in coun- Joint Plan of Action, an initiative by four
ech giant Google is locked in a high-stakes legal story echoes across housing (when enough and legally — distinguish between moves to tries of all income levels. It has wiped trillions United Nations agencies, including WHO; and
T battle with India’s fair-trade watchdog, the

Competition Commission of India (CCI), after
the latter slapped the company with over ₹2,200 crore
affordable housing isn’t available, the poor garner wealth from practices of survival; sep-
build bastis and the rich unauthorised colo- arate equally illegal elite malls, luxury hous-
nies), across livelihoods (when no natural ing or farmhouses from a natural market,
markets are recognised, vendors occupy street vendor, or basti; draw an intelligible dif-
streets), and across businesses (when enough ferentiation between different kinds of viola-
off the global economy. In addition, it has for AMR, there is the 2015 Global Action Plan
reversed progress on an array of Sustainable on AMR, which many countries — and all
Development Goals (SDGs), not least ending countries in the Southeast Asia Region — have
extreme poverty, which will have knock-on now adapted into national multisectoral
in fines last year. The penalty concerned Google’s effects on achieving health and well- action plans. However, full imple-
industrial estates aren’t notified, non-con- tions on the basis of the intent behind building being for all, especially in low- and mentation must not wait and will
Android operating system for smartphones and the forming industrial areas come up). A quick and settling. middle-income countries. benefit from the G20’s maximum
linked store through which people can buy or sell look at, say, Delhi’s Master Plans shows this From here, the key governance response is Critically, the crisis has demon- investment and support, which is
pattern: 24 planned industrial areas sit along- negotiation and adaptation. Instead of demoli- strated that when health is at risk, essential to prevent future pandem-
mobile apps; CCI found that the policies and side 22 non-conforming ones; at least half of tion, we must ask how to extend regularisa- everything is at risk. It has shown ics, and to protect and promote the
conditions Google put in place in relation to both all housing is in jhuggi-jhopri clusters or tion schemes such as PM-Uday Yojana to all that to protect and promote health world’s collective health and eco-
Poonam
abused its dominant position, allowing the company unauthorised colonies; and the 200-odd rec- informal settlements so that they can conform and well-being, and to secure sus-
Khetrapal
nomic interests.
ognised weekly markets are dwarfed by 700- to the law. We must explore how mechanisms tainable social and economic devel- Second, to increase access to and
to ostensibly gain an advantage by having its apps on 800 that are not. already used in infrastructure projects to Singh
opment, what the world needs most availability of safe, effective, quality
Android phones sold by default, and prohibiting the These are not covert actions. People build compensate landowners, such as transfer is resilient, responsive and inclusive and affordable medical counter-
use of other application marketplaces. On its part, in direct and covert partnerships with the development rights, can be applied, for exam- global health architecture based on measures, India’s presidency aims to
State. Every house in Haldwani facing a bull- ple to enable the Indian Railways to release the outcomes of ongoing multilateral proc- bolster regional manufacturing and research
Google flagged potential implications, including dozer has letters, papers, receipts, identifica- claims on a particular site where housing has esses and negotiations, and supported by col- networks for vaccines, therapeutics and diag-
security (it argues its strict control helps keep dodgy tion documents, and permissions stretching long existed. We must look at design solutions laborative action to reorient health systems nostics and better align regulatory standards
apps off the ecosystem) and industry growth. back decades to show the slowly built legiti- that can mitigate infrastructural risks, such as towards quality, accessible, affordable and and approvals. For this, it is imperative that a
macy of their presence. What the State is now the proximity of a railway line, to protect both comprehensive primary health care, the most collaborative global platform is developed and
This week, CCI contended in court that Google was calling encroachment is the same housing the track and the housing. We must insist that, efficient and equitable way to achieve univer- housed at WHO. Third, as India’s presidency
following a different approach from what it does in that it both necessitated and partook in mak- if all negotiations fail, we turn to mechanisms sal health coverage and build health system highlights, the G20 can play an active role in
Europe. The claim, and the judges’ poser to Google on ing. Yet, the State is not being questioned, of compensation or proximate re-accommo- resilience. The G20 has many ways to support advancing digital health, building on the tre-
either inside the courts or in the media. dation, rather than demolition. global health and development. But to do so mendous innovations witnessed throughout
whether it plans to follow an approach in India When a large part of the city’s housing There is precedence for each of these ideas, effectively will require inclusive, action-ori- the Covid-19 response. However, in driving
consistent with its conduct in Europe, brings to light in India and globally. Yet, they require a con- ented and decisive leadership — values at the this agenda, the G20 must accelerate conver-
an important question plaguing Big Tech: How are stitutional recognition that demolition can core of India’s presidency and its overarching gence and synergies among existing digital
never be a just course of action in a city where theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future. health and innovation frameworks while at
policy responses crafted in different jurisdictions, and the urban majority faces impossible choices By leveraging the G20 health track, India the same time facilitate the development of
to what effect? That Big Tech behaves differently in between legality and life. It can only act as a aims to consolidate the progress made under global digital public goods. This is precisely
Europe is known. Europe is regarded as the means of impunity and legitimised violence the Italian and Indonesian presidencies of what India offered by making its CoWIN plat-
that reproduces the worst fault lines of power 2021 and 2022, respectively, while focusing on form available to all countries — a powerful
torchbearer of tech regulation and its Digital Markets in our society. When the law is implemented three timely and critical priorities: Strengthen- example, and an example that must define the
Act addresses the issues at the heart of the Google arbitrarily, it is the most marginalised coming health emergencies prevention, prepared- G20’s onward action.
versus CCI fight. The law forces companies with large munities that are its first targets. Recognition, ness and response; increasing access to and For health and humanity, India’s G20 presi-
regularisation, negotiation, repair and com- availability of safe, effective, quality and dency holds immense potential — potential
backbone services, such as mobile operating systems, pensation are pragmatic and ethical alterna- affordable vaccines, therapeutics and diagnos- that WHO will do all it can to support. As the
to keep products open. In other words, it is a legal tives. They are admittedly difficult to do. Yet, tics; and advancing digital health, a key accel- theme of India’s G20 presidency observes, we
obligation, not individual discretion, that prompts this is precisely why they have a chance to erant for achieving universal health care. are one family, with just one world and one
hold justice because, in this difficult muddle, With India at the helm, the G20 can suc- future — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
companies to take a different approach in Europe. they are just like our cities. cessfully execute each of these priorities, max-
For India, the fight in the Supreme Court is yet Recognition, regularisation, negotiation, imising its contributions to achieving a health- Poonam Khetrapal Singh is regional director, WHO
another reminder that a conversation is long repair and compensation are pragmatic Gautam Bhan is a researcher on urban housing ier, more equitable, health-secure and sustain- South-East Asia
overdue in Parliament. and ethical alternatives SANCHIT KHANNA/HT The views expressed are personal able post-pandemic world. But for each The views expressed are personal
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BOARD: (011)23361234 ● EDITORIAL: (011)66561234 Extn. 1254, 1268 ● CIRCULATION: (011)66561111 ● ADVERTISING: (011)66561389 ● FAX: (011)66561270.
EDITOR: KUNAL PRADHAN
millenniumpost
KOLKATA | TUESDAY, 17 JANUARY, 2023 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL
INDIA G20
Pitiable picture Infrastructure for posterity

68
lives are confirmed to have been lost follow-
ing the plane crash in Pokhara International
The ongoing IWG meeting under India’s G20 presidency is a golden
Airport, Nepal, while four bodies are yet to be
recovered. Among the passengers, two were
opportunity to promote the exclusive agenda of ‘financing cities of tomorrow’
O
infants, four were crew members and at least 15 were for- V ANANTHA APARAJITA
eigners — including five Indians. The horrific incident is the NAGESWARAN TRIPATHI ne of the imme- countries, the ravaging effects
worst Nepal has witnessed over the past two decades but is diately observ- of climate on urban and fis-
not certainly an oddity. Nepal has had a long, dismal past able identifiers cal resilience and the diverse
in this regard, and whatever one may argue, it is not just a of a region’s eco- pool of people who will inhabit
result of rough terrains and steep slopes. The long chain of nomic status is the quality of future cities, cities of tomor-
air-travel-related accidents in Nepal is a fallout of negligent its infrastructure. As a driver of row must be made sustainable,
(bordering on deliberate) mismanagement of the airlines. economic growth, infrastruc- resilient and inclusive.
The mismanagement had notoriously earned Nepali airlines ture spending is emphasised As Pune gets ready to host
a blanket ban in European airspace in 2013 after eight Brit- by Governments all over the the first IWG meeting under
ish nationals were killed in a Sita Air plane crash in 2012. world as a lever for employ- G20 India Presidency in the
Quite mysteriously, the legitimate concerns raised by the ment and enhanced socio- upcoming week this January, it
European Commission remain unaddressed 10 years down economic development. The is a good time to remind our-
the line. It is high time that other countries, too, put appro- World Bank states that a 10 per selves that to address the chal-
priate international pressure on the country, or at least show cent increase in infrastructure lenges of the future, cities must
some stringency to safeguard their own citizens. India lost spending correlates directly substantially take upon a new
five citizens in the current incident. In May last year, five with a 1 per cent increase in avatar — self-reliant, self-con-
Indians were among the 22 killed in an accident at Pokhara GDP over time. fident and financially empow-
only. In 2018 also, 51 passengers were killed at Tribhuvan After the G20 was formed ered. Municipal governments
International Airport in a mishap in Kathmandu. In Sep- in 1999 to deliberate on global must look to plan not only the
tember 2011, ten Indians were among the 19 killed follow- economic and financial issues strategy for cities but also find
ing the collision of a Buddha Air carrier with a hill. The With the baton in the wake of the Asian cri- the resources to translate the
tragic decade of the 1990s, too, saw the deaths of hundreds sis, it was thought that given visions into reality.
of people due to air-travel-related accidents. In sum total, passed to Indian the Group’s combined popu- A complementary dialogue
there have been a total of 27 plane crashes in the past three Presidency lation and economic strength, Pune is currently hosting the first IWG meeting under G20 India presidency IMAGE COURTESY: G20.ORG for municipal commissioners
decades. Also, since 2000, nearly 350 people have died in a topics for discussion under its on urban governance in Pune
plane or helicopter crash in Nepal, according to ‘Reuters’. It
in 2022, the ambit must be expanded. Thus, In parallel, as the world of 2018. Since then, G20 has the strong correlation between University will accompany the
is hard to swallow that many of these deaths were avoidable. infrastructure in 2009, the Group was desig- moved towards recognising pushed for incorporating sus- urbanisation and GDP. With first IWG meeting. Another
It is extremely pertinent to understand what ails Nepal’s air- agenda is seen nated the ‘premier forum for the importance of infrastruc- tainability in infrastructure over 80 per cent of GDP gen- event around the challenges
line industry, and what holds the country’s regulator from international cooperation’ at ture, developments, such as the through different modes such erated in cities, urbanisation and strategy of financing for
bringing about a positive change in this regard. The prime through the lens a Leaders’ level. Infrastructure emphasis on PPP or Public Pri- as quality indicators, using can be a bright spot if it is cities of tomorrow will be
contention, on which the European ban is also predicated, of ‘Vasudhaiv was recognised as one of the vate Participation, were also technology for informed deci- well-managed and sustainably hosted by ADB. The intended
has been to draw a line of distinction between the service developmental pillars, finding captured by the Infrastruc- sion-making and scaling up oriented. speakers are expected to share
provider and the regulator. Presently, the Civil Aviation Kutumbakam’ a strong footing in the 2012 ture Working Group (IWG) private participation. In the last few years, India valuable insights on how
Authority of Nepal (CAAN) oversees both segments. As late or one world, Los Cabos Summit, which in G20. It is now well recog- With the baton passed to has advanced the work in countries can advance sus-
as August 3 last year, the International Civil Aviation Orga- emphasised a strong correla- nised that despite significant Indian Presidency in 2022, the urban cities through the policy tainable urban development
nization (ICAO) formally urged the Nepali government to one future tion between infrastructure public spending on infrastruc- infrastructure agenda is seen of saturation of provisioning while meeting the priorities
split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two investment, productivity and ture worldwide, further scal- through the lens of ‘Vasudhaiv of urban utilities, be it hous- of different segments of the
separate entities, but to no avail. Inertia prevails despite the standard of living. ing up will require a concerted Kutumbakam’ or one world, ing under Pradhan Mantri population.
Nepal government committing to work on legislation to split Since then, the topic has not effort from different financing one future. India’s new con- Awas Yojana (PMAY), sanita- In the movement towards
CAAN way back in 2009, and titbit efforts then and now. only garnered much interest sources – the private sector, tribution to IWG will be the tion (Swachh Bharat), drink- the ideal envisaged by this
The reported reason is the vested interests of various stake- but also generated a substantial multilateral and bilateral and flagship priority of ‘Financing ing water (Har Ghar Jal), urban year’s Presidency, what is bet-
holders, including CAAN members and international flight body of work for advancing the other international organisa- Cities of Tomorrow’, which has infrastructure reinvigoration ter than to bring the focus back
operators. Apart from the loss of lives, the bottlenecks are cause of infrastructure, espe- tions. Financial Instruments never been addressed earlier (AMRUT), uptake of mass to the oldest building blocks
bleeding Nepal’s economy dry. The country’s aviation indus- cially around financing, invest- should be well diversified, and exclusively in G20. transit options such as metro- of the world — the imposing
try is losing huge chunks of revenue on account of the Euro- ments and leveraging private the climate for private partici- By 2050, nearly two-thirds BRTS etc., and technology- but humble, expansive but
pean ban. Nepal’s tourism industry, too, has taken a hit, as sector participation. The year pation must be enabled. This of the world’s population will based city upgradation (Smart regional, connecting but dis-
a significant proportion of visitors come from Europe. The 2014 saw the establishment of was also well captured in the live in urban areas, so a wave City) etc. tributed — infrastructure?
envisaged “Visit Nepal decade, 2023-2033” goal will find it institutional support for infra- successive Presidencies of of next-generation urbanisa- However, going forward, V Anantha Nageswaran and
hard to fructify unless a course correction is made. The inac- structure through the Global Turkey, China and Germany. tion will span across continents developing and developed Aparajita Tripathi are Chief Eco-
tion could be traced to the conflict of interest arising from Infrastructure Hub (GI-Hub) The necessity of recognising within developing and devel- countries must look to a future nomic Advisor and Consultant,
the synergy between regulation and service provisioning. based out of Australia and the Infrastructure as a separate oped countries. This has the that any country in the world respectively, in the Ministry of
Apparently, the bosses at the CAAN are finding it hard to Global Infrastructure Facility asset class was undertaken in potential to ramp up global has not yet addressed. Given Finance, Government of India.
wield power in favour of a safer aviation sector. The inaction (GIF) by the World Bank. the Argentinian Presidency growth significantly due to the Net Zero commitments by Views expressed are personal
may also be coinciding with the profitability of some online
flight operators. In addition to misgovernance, the rough
Flying safe
mountainous terrain, lack of investment in new planes etc.
significantly contribute to the problem. These aspects need
to be addressed at the earliest if further loss of lives is to be
avoided. The perpetuation of irregularities in the aviation
sector of Nepal presents a pitiable picture. More disturbing
is the lack of any credible reason behind such perpetuation.
Countries around the world need to safeguard their citizens
and, within permissible limits, put international pressure on
Nepal to overhaul its aviation industry. Mere words of shock
The ‘pee-gate’ scandal has highlighted the urge to impose stricter rules for
and grief will not do.
flight passengers in order to fix their responsibilities alongside rights
DearEditor O
n December 26, nation. Waiting for 10-15 min- special care of disabled pas-
2022, an outra- utes more at the luggage belt sengers etc. The passengers’
geous incident is no hassle. Moreover, cabin rights are protected during
occurred on a baggage is a potential source Flight delays and cancellations
WELCOME INTERVENTION KDP RAO Delhi-bound Air India Flight of prohibited articles. So, pro- by way of compensation, hotel
from New York — a pas- hibition of all hitherto permit- stays, meals, alternate flights,
This is in reference to the news report “SC displeased senger in an inebriated state ted cabin possessions — except and everything else. The Air
over delay in dealing with convict’s plea for premature reportedly urinated on a fel- one cell phone per passenger, Act 1972, casts the liability on
release”. Kudos to the apex court for showing its red low lady passenger in midair. food, water, medicines, and the Airlines in case of loss or
face to the Director General of Prison when the latter The ‘Pee-gate’, now popular life-supporting goods and theft of luggage and accord-
delayed in dealing with a murder convict’s plea for in media parlance, is rather a accessories of infants, children ingly passengers are entitled
premature release. This sort of unprofessional approach trivialised expression if only and aged people — is neces- to due compensation. Com-
towards discharging official duties cannot be tolerated. one empathises with the victim sary. Secondly, when there are plaints are attended to by the
Who knows how many of such convicts are waiting for for all the humiliation, indig- restaurants and eateries in the Airlines and if not addressed
their premature release across the country? This order nity and trauma she suffered terminals, onboard service of satisfactorily the passengers
of the apex court should be an eye-opener for all states for several hours on the flight food and beverage for flights can approach DGCA and also
that should ensure that the settled position of law laid and until January 4, when of less than two hours dura- move to consumer forums
down by the top court does not get violated. finally, FIR was lodged. The India’s domestic traffic is around 69 per cent of the total airline traffic in tion is superfluous. It distracts under Consumer Protection
conduct of the cabin crew in South Asia the crew from more important Act, 1986. In short, air passen-
— ARUN GUPTA, KOLKATA via email underplaying the incident by duties and causes commotion gers are best looked after vis-a-
feigning to have ‘settled’ the a bad idea either, to appoint gates, delays and cancellation in the craft. Thirdly, check-in vis other modes of land travel.
MASSIVE WIN matter between the victim such security personnel on of flights make air travel more counters, security check lines However, alongside the Rights,
It refers to “India crush Sri Lanka by 317 runs”. The and the perpetrator is no less each flight. of an adventure. And now they and seating arrangements the responsibilities of passen-
biggest ODI win was possible due to Virat Kohli’s disgraceful than the act of the One of the fastest-growing may also have to worry about should be made completely gers which are less pronounced
century and excellent bowling by Md Siraj. The two
Indian airlines accused. The ‘peacemaker’ role aviation markets in the world, what is in store for them in separate for women passen- now, need to be codified in
sixes hit against Pakistan’s Haris Rauf in that tense T20 might be played by the crew adds insult India’s domestic traffic is midair after takeoff. Incidents gers travelling alone, as it will detail, especially with regard
to injury. The proper course around 69 per cent of the total of misbehaviour, aggression ensure privacy and protection. to personal conduct and coop-
World Cup match seem to have turned the tide for Virat needing of action as per Civil Aviation airline traffic in South Asia. and even sexual misconduct Fourthly, notwithstanding the eration with Airline Staff. The
Kohli. After being stuck on 43 centuries since 2019, he
now has three centuries in the last 4 ODIs. Not only was professional Requirements (CAR) should It’s an achievement for India by passengers, either under enormous non aeronautical rules of the ‘No Fly’ list must
have been to hand over the that air travel, once a luxury, influence of intoxicants or revenues of retail airport busi- be strictly observed without
he in superlative touch with silken drives, cuts and flicks services of a accused on arrival to the con- is today an affordable neces- otherwise, have been in the ness globally, rationing of retail fear or favour since it works as
but he also hit a semi helicopter shot on the lines of what ‘peace martial’ cerned authorities for necessity for people from almost air for quite some time, and shopping outlets in Terminals a deterrent. Lenience will only
Dhoni used to hit. His ODI form augurs really well for sary action and pursue the all classes across the country. the frequency is worrisome. is important since they create mean mockery of the law.
Team India in the year of the ODI World Cup. Though or a ‘bouncer’ matter to its logical end. When it was around 61 mil- Certainly, there are noticeable a congested and messy atmo- Recently, an air host-
bowling attacks of teams like Bangladesh or Sri Lanka to discipline A drunken passenger is a lion passengers in 2013-14, gaps in the system as a whole sphere due to early check-ins ess confronted a passenger
are no patch on bowling attacks of Australia, England potential security threat not it doubled to 137 million in that need to be addressed com- and late exits. The bustling onboard and yelled at him,
or Pakistan but a regained form will surely help Kohli a the assuming only to other passengers but 2019-20. The airport capacity prehensively through micro- activity distracts passengers ‘I am not your servant’, when
lot motivated, who seem to have turned a different beast miscreants or also to the safety of the flight. is expected to reach one bil- management from a wider from focusing on their journey. the latter allegedly misbehaved
altogether in the last few 2-3 months. swashbucklers Taking serious cognisance lion trips a year by 2023. No perspective. The following The other immediate mea- with her. Educating passengers
— BAL GOVIND, NOIDA via email of the incident, the DGCA wonder our domestic termi- few suggestions, though they sure required is the imposition to respect rules and extend
onboard! promptly issued an advisory nals are crowded with passen- sound radical, are worth seri- of a strict ban on serving liquor cooperation is equally impor-
millenniumpost.in to all Airlines instructing the gers almost around the year ous introspection. in various lounges inside and tant alongside the protection
use of hand-cuff-like restrain- as most of the major airports One of the reasons for inad- outside of the airport premises of their rights. Let’s not for-
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to ing devices against violent, and are operating at 85 per cent to equate supervision of passen- and a blanket ban on serving get that until the ’90s smoking
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, abusive passengers. ‘Any non- 120 per cent of their capacity. gers’ welfare is the congestion alcoholic beverages on interna- was permitted inside the Craft
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 compliance towards applicable The Airport Authority of India at the security check which tional flights by Indian aviation but today it is unthinkable as
regulations shall be dealt with (AAI) has presently leased out is mainly due to the allow- companies. Quite a few air- it’s made a punishable offence.
strictly and invite enforcement six Airports on Public Private ance of cabin baggage. While ports and Airlines in the world The performance of the avia-
Tweet of the day

action’, the DGCA warned. The Partnership (PPP) basis for it keeps the security person- completely banned the con- tion sector can be augmented
intent is appreciable but the operation, management and nel neck-deep busy screen- sumption of alcoholic bever- only by ensuring cooperation
execution is not a cake walk development on a long-term ing, it consumes a great deal of ages. Liquor when consumed and collective efforts by all the
especially when most cabin lease basis and more are in the energy and time for the cabin beyond the limits of sobriety is stakeholders. Awareness about
Joshimath is the living proof of why crew members are women staff pipeline. crew in settling the passen- a known cause for unpredict- the responsibilities of passen-
and untrained in martial arts; However, problems per- gers and their overhead lug- able or inappropriate conduct gers needs to be factored in
all hilly areas need a special status. they themselves end up as vic- sist with regard to hassle-free gage. As such, it is impractical in human beings. alongside indoctrination of
No outsiders should be allowed to tims at times. It can be quite a travel and comfort of pas- to keep an eye on the activi- Aircraft Rules 1937, professionalism in the ground
buy land and build there. Whether it’s daunting job which calls for sengers, not to mention spo- ties of passengers. Provision inter alia, provide an elab- staff and crew members, for
Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K, Eastern the professional services of a radic disgusting incidents like for cabin baggage defies logic orate arrangement for the improving flight services and
SEETU MAHAJAN
‘Peace Martial’ or a ‘Bouncer’ the instant one. Unjustifiably since both the passengers and comfort of passengers that the safety of people.
states. Vernacular construction is the KOHLI
to discipline the assuming inflated airfares, long queues their check-in luggage travel include, preferential seating, The writer is a former Addl.
only way to preserve the hills. @KOHLISEETU
miscreants or swashbucklers before security check, scram- on the same flight and arrive meal, snack and drinks, use Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh.
onboard; as such it will not be bling for seats before boarding at the same time at the desti- of lounges, check-in baggage, Views expressed are personal
06 NEW DELHI, TUESDAY 17 JANUARY 2023 Vol. CXXXXXVII 14
Incorporating and directly descended

from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818
Way to Bankruptcy A MEMBER
OF THE
NPS was a saviour of the sinking public finances and all state governments expect ASIAN VOICES
Rapidly downhill West Bengal have adopted the NPS one by one, the last being the then left-ruled state
of Tripura in 2015. NPS had restored some discipline in public finances and contributed Ensuring and
I
t is a truism that we cant change our neighbours.
When the neighbour is Pakistan, which seems to
be rapidly descending to becoming a failed state,
to making the states generate surpluses in their revenue accounts. Now the backward protecting
march will certainly take the states and the nation to the brink of financial disaster
the worries for India in terms of the propensity for
adventurism the Army-Intelligence establishment
human rights
a focal point
A
in Islamabad may display to distract the Pakistani fter Rajasthan, Chhattis- why the Government had no
population from the lack of development domesti- garh, Jharkhand and option but to resort to the much-
cally are manifold. Between arranging fuel imports
and servicing its national debt, the Pakistani econo-
Punjab, another state has
now joined the deter-
criticised Agnipath scheme.
Hopefully the impact on public in Viet Nam
mined march of opposition-rul- finances shall be visible after a
my is performing worse than most junk bonds, a
W
ed states towards unfettered few years time. ith its success in running
commentator points out. populism. Himachal Pradesh in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and for a seat at the UN Hu-
A columnist in a leading Asian magazine, mean- which Congress has just scored a Jharkhand have already informed man Rights Council
while, asserts that Pakistan now a bigger basket case narrow victory with 40 seats over the Central Government and (UNHRC) for the 2023-25
than even Bangladesh in the 1970s (as) a devils the BJPs 25 in a 68-member Leg- Pension Fund Regulatory Devel- tenure, Viê?t Nams efforts to ensure
brew of economic crisis, political chaos, and natural islative Assembly is the latest to opment Authority (PFRDA) ab- and promote human rights have been
disasters is arguably edging Pakistan toward failed reintroduce the Old Pension out their decision to restore OPS recognised globally by the internation-
state status. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been Scheme (OPS) in which the gov- for their employees. These states al community.
in office for nearly a year ~ he is the sixth PM Pak- ernment will pay all retired em- have also asked the PFRDA to After Viet Nam was elected to the
ployees 50 per cent of their last- return the accumulated corpus UN Human Rights Council, United
istan has had over the past decade ~ but there are no drawn salary as pension till their of subscribers under the NPS, Nations Secretary-General Antonio
signs that enlightened policymaking aimed at death and thereafter to their which the Central government Guterres expressed his belief that Viê?t
reforms which would lift Pakistans annual growth spouses and unmarried daugh- has refused on the valid ground Nam would continue to actively pro-
rate from the four-five per cent band it has been ters, making the liability an open- that there is no such provision for mote and protect human rights.
stuck in since 2010-11 are on the anvil. The living ended one. refund of NPS corpus to state The UN chief called Viet Nam one
conditions of a vast majority of the population are This is going a significant governments under relevant reg- of the indispensable members of the
abysmal; quality-of-life indicators are well below step backwards, discarding the ulations. Clearly, populism has UN, noting the country would make
those of Bangladesh as runaway inflation, muted much-needed reform introduced blinded these states to the disas- meaningful contributions to the com-
manufacturing, stagnant exports, and external debt by the Centre in December 2003 trous impact of restoring OPS on mon affairs of the UN in solving global
servicing are the order of the day. when it replaced the OPS with their public finances. challenges towards peace and devel-
the New Pension Scheme (NPS) As per the revised estimate opment in the world.
Food shortages have become common with of 2021-22, Punjab has a debt
applicable to all government em- Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambas-
social media abuzz with videos of citizens rioting ployees except the armed forces, ratio (ratio of outstanding debt to sador to Viet Nam Saadi Salama said
for grains. According to economists, one of the pri- in respect of whom the OPS still the state income, or GSDP or that Viet Nam deserved to have a seat
mary reasons for the mess is the fact that subsidies continues. Gross State Domestic Product of at the UNHRC as the country had
have been used as a substitute for policy across The NPS had replaced the the state) of 53.3 per cent, the worked tirelessly to promote and pro-
regimes. Slashed fuel prices, reduced electricity tar- open-ended nature of the pen- on various other items of expen- Another aberration is the differ- highest in India; Chhattisgarh tect human rights in any circum-
iffs, tax holidays, increased minimum wages and sion liability by making pension a diture which are also in the ential treatments given to civil has a debt ratio of 26.2 per cent, stance. The international community
pensions, and food subsidies initiated by the previ- contribution-based payment in nature of committed expenditure and armed forces personnel in Jharkhand 33 per cent, Rajasthan
ous Imran Khan administration as part of its which each Government employ- in view of the election promises respect of pension; while the for- 39.5 per cent, and West Bengal
ee makes a monthly contribution which they have to fulfil. mer is covered under the NPS, 34.4 per cent. Even without the
Islamist welfare state agenda, have mostly contin-
at the rate of 10 per cent of salary Government expenditure is the latter enjoys the OPS. OPS, their fiscal deficits during also expressed the belief in Viê?t Nams
ued. Fiscal discipline is now obviously a bad word ~ and a matching contribution is classified into capital expendi- Of course, there are reasons the year were 5.2 per cent for substantial contributions during its
the generous stimulus in the wake of Covid-19 was paid by the government for its ture (CE) for creating income for that ~ about 85 per cent of the Rajasthan, 4.6 per cent for Pun- second tenure at the UNHRC. This
not balanced by monetary tightening. The result: employees, thus limiting the gov- generating capital assets and rev- armed forces personnel retire jab, 3.8 per cent for Chhattisgarh, reflect the communitys recognition of
Core inflation has more than doubled in the last 18 ernments liability only till the enue expenditure (RE) for main- below the age of 40 to keep our and 3.5 per cent for West Bengal Viet Nams efforts in preserving and
months while headline inflation has risen from a lit- employee retires, instead of ex- tenance of those assets. For most fighting forces young. Even offi- all above the FRBMA limit of 3 promoting human rights.
tle over 8 per cent in December 2020 to 24.5 per cent tending the government largesse states, the committed expendi- cers retire between 52 and 54 per cent, while it was 3 per cent Over the years, Viet Nam has paid
in December 2022. It is projected to breach 30 per indefinitely even beyond the ture sans subsidy accounts for depending on their rank, while for Jharkhand. Introducing the great attention to ensuring human
cent in 2023. employees death. two-thirds of total RE; for the all civilian employees retire at the OPS which will add indetermi- rights. As of 2021, the country ratified
To put the issue in perspective, the annual chan- For the Central Government, Centre also, salary, age of 60. A larger nate liability for an indefinite and joined seven out of nine UN basic
the employers contribution has pension and interest service span all- future will spell disaster for their conventions on human rights. The
ge in the price of onion is over 500 per cent. Prices of ows the civilians public finances, forcing them to
been enhanced to 14 per cent together account for consistent view of the Party and State
salt and rice have gone up by 50 per cent. Milk and with effect from the financial year 44 per cent of RE as more time to rise raise more taxes and resorting to of Viet Nam is to place people at the
bread have registered a 33 per cent price increase 2019-20. NPS was the absolute per the budget esti- in hierarchy and more borrowing with consequent centre and consider the people as the
in the last one year while meat has seen a price need of the times to save our mates of the current get higher pen- debt-servicing burden on our subject, the most important resource
increase of 80 per cent over the same period. The public finances from bankruptcy fiscal. If we include sion, those advan- children and forcing to pay ever and the goal of development, ensur-
price rise is also a result of increased transportation as the Governments pension lia- major subsidies like tages are denied higher taxes. But where populism ing all enjoy human rights. The policy
costs, given fuel costs. bility was increasing exponen- food, fertilizer and to armed forces. is bliss, it is folly to be wise. has been demonstrated and institu-
This has had a domino effect on businesses, tially with steady increases in the defence expenditure Though there are It seems the opposition has tionalised in the Constitution and
adding to inflation woes. Medium and small in- life expectancy of people and where there is no some job reserva- already run out of ideas about laws, and specified in socio-economic
thereby shrinking elbow room for scope for reduction tions for ex-ser- how to face the BJP juggernaut development policies and plans.
dustries are suffering and last years floods that im-
any budgetary maneuvers. of allocations, the GOVIND vicemen, oppor- except resorting to self-destruc- According to the UNDP report on
pacted one-sixth of the population have added to NPS was a saviour of the total amount of non- BHATTACHARJEE tunities are limit- tive populism. In Bihar, Mr Nitish human development in the 2021-22
agricultural losses. The Pakistani rupee has gone sinking public finances and all developmental exp- ed. Given the ha- Kumar whose political future is period, during the most trying times
The writer is a commentator,
from 150 to a dollar, to more than 225. Pakistan owes state governments ~ expect of enditure becomes author an academic. rdships and pecu- uncertain has ushered in the new of the Covid-19 pandemic, Viet Nam
more than $8 billion to external lenders with close to course West Bengal where pop- two-thirds of the to- The opinions expressed are
strictly personal liarities of service year with his pet project of caste performed well in protecting human
35 per cent of it owed to China. Last week, central ulism always scores over finan- tal RE. Thus, only a conditions of ar- census, earmarking Rs 500 crore rights. Viet Nams Human Develop-
bank reserves dropped to $4.34 billion, half of what cial prudence ~ have adopted the third of the RE is av- med forces, they of states scarce resources after ment Index leapt two places in the
they were six months ago. Failed state is no longer NPS one by one, the last being ailable for maintenance of the obviously cannot be equated the Centre refused to bear the global ranking in 2021. Caitlin Wiesen,
an exaggeration. the then left-ruled state of Tripu- assets created ~ like roads and with civil servants. But pension expenses of his census whose former Resident Representative of
ra in 2015. NPS had restored brdges, schools, hospitals, irriga- cannot be the only remedy, the outcome is uncertain, given our UNDP in Viet Nam, affirmed that Viet
some discipline in public finan- tion and energy infrastructure government must think imagina- past experiences with the SECC Nam had realised the Governments
Agenda for Davos? ces and contributed to making
the states generate surpluses in
etc. which is clearly inadequate tively to utilise the vast reserves
as evident from their pathetic of trained and disciplined man-
which the UPA II government
undertook in 2011 and whose
commitments to place the people at
the centre of development following
their revenue accounts. state. All over the world, rising power in other productive ways results are as yet unpublishable, UN guidelines. This had been revealed
A
s the worlds wealthy gather in Davos, for the Now the backward march pension liabilities in view of the without burdening the pension though the government is using in all aspects and reflected in all socio-
annual meeting of the World Economic Forum will certainly take the states, and higher life expectancy of people system with indefinite liability. the data for extending social wel- economic development policies.
in the Swiss Alpine town, an appeal made by along with them the nation ~ to has been putting government The OPS for armed forces fare benefits to the people. Viet Nam has always taken full
Oxfam is likely to resonate with many of those who the brink of financial disaster, at budgets under serious stress, for- combined with the One Rank Bihars debt ratio in 2021-22 responsibility, and maintained trans-
are not present at the event. The aid group has asked the cost of providing uncalled for cing many countries to institute One Pension Scheme which has RE was 38.6 per cent, and its fis- parency in realising international com-
that through policy interventions and higher taxa- benefits to a small cross-section reforms. added an annual liability of Rs cal deficit as high as 11.3 per mitments on human rights protection,
tion, the number of the worlds billionaires should be of voters ~ the government em- But in India, while the gov- 8,500 crore to the Centres pen- cent, the highest among the including the implementation of rec-
cut to half by 2030, a wish that those in attendance in ployees, to the exclusion of every- ernment has introduced the NPS, sion bill has made the defence major states in India. It has not ommendations that the country has
body else, especially the vast, budget constraints have not pre- pension liability clearly unsus- been able to recover from the accepted within the Universal Periodic
Davos are unlikely to grant, considering that the
unorganised sector which are vented the Centre from exten- tainable. For the current fiscal, shock of its prohibition policy, Review (UPR) mechanism.
Forum has at least in part been a networking plat- excluded from the social safety ding state largesse by way of hik- defence pension alone accounts which deprived the exchequer of Over the past 13 years, Viet Nam
form where the rich gather to find ways to increase nets provided by the govern- ing the pension to super senior for Rs 1.20 lakh crore of the total nearly Rs 5000 crore annually has actively and responsibly partici-
their wealth. ments and who are the worst suf- retired employees, those who live defence budget of Rs 5.25 lakh and saddling the courts with 3.7 pated in the UPR mechanism. It has
Of course, the Forum also invites world leaders ferers in any crisis like the pan- beyond 80 years of age, in a grad- crore including CE for defence lakh additional cases, while not accepted and implemented an increa-
and policy makers to join its deliberations and has demic. Reverting back to the OPS ed manner so that upon attain- acquisition, compared to only being able to address the prohi- sing number of recommendations
over the years facilitated the germination of ideas serves neither equity nor social ing 100 years of age, the pension Rs 66,000 crore for the civilian bition issue. Nitish is expecting through the three cycles of its mem-
that have improved life on the planet. But in the per- justice and is against all econom- becomes double the original employees. to capitalise on the fact the voter bership. This represents the countrys
ception of many, those objectives cannot be para- ic rationality. amount. Pension and salary of our 1.2 rationality is absent in our politi- increasing capacity in institutions,
As it is, the public finances In a country where a majori- million strong armed forces takes cal system. resources and finances.
mount in a gathering of the worlds super-rich. ty of the senior citizens do not get away more than 50 per cent of But lack of discipline of pub-
of both the Centre and the States At a recent conference to update
Oxfam, in a report entitled Survival of the Richest, are under great strain due to the any state support in their old age, the defence budget, leaving little lic finance ultimately causes the implementation of UPR third cycle
pointed out that billionaires had over the past so-called committed expenditure government pensioners are a money for all other purposes like acute suffering to the people. Till recommendations in the fields of
decade doubled their wealth, with the wealthiest of the government which mainly group of highly pampered peo- upgradation and acquisition of the voters realise this, Nitish labour and society, Deputy Minister of
one per cent gaining 74 times more than the bot- comprises interest, salary and ple whose healthcare needs are arms and equipment and for Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and their Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said
tom 50 per cent. Since 2020, billionaire wealth has pension payments. Add to this also borne by the government. boosting defence infrastructure, ilk will get enough time to make despite the adverse impact of the
grown by a staggering $2.7 billion per day, while the subsidies provided by the Increasing the pension depend- etc. which are vital for national their states completely broke and Covid-19 pandemic and climate
inflation outpaced the wages of at least 1.7 billion Centre on food, fertilizer and ing on their age defies any rhyme defence and security. This was ruined ~ socially, economically change, Viet Nam completed 82.6 per
people around the world. This accumulation of petroleum products and by states or reason and defeats all logic. insane to say the least, and that is and morally. cent of the recommendations.
wealth continued even as the world reeled from one
crisis to the next, beginning with the pandemic and LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
continuing amid soaring food and energy prices fol-
Confronting evils of digital media

lowing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. responsibility and imple- develop various tools to
Oxfam has called for taxes that redistribute mentation of government confront demonstrations,
wealth in such a fashion over the next few years that manifestos. including imprisoning blog-
ensures both the numbers of billionaires and the But modern technology gers and changing liability
wealth they own return to 2012 levels, and has SIR, In his article Stolen fo- being. Besides causing de- political field, along with democracy, it promotes hea- has also the power to distort laws. Some social media in-
added, The eventual aim should be to go further, cus (10 January), Ash Nara- pression, anxiety, unhealthy independent print and elec- lthy political and social ac- and degrade democracy. fluencers indulge in bigotry,
and to abolish billionaires altogether, as part of a in Roy takes a harsh dig at sleep patterns, cyber bully- tronic media platforms, the tivism and engagement, and Since most media platforms sexism and blatant hatred
various corporate-funded ing, superiority/inferiority emergence of social media exerts great influences on are not neutral; they only towards other community.
fairer, more rational distribution of the worlds
social media platforms such complex syndromes and has enabled people to uni- people and public policies. pretend to be balanced whi- This leads to increasing
wealth. It has sought a permanent tax increase on as Facebook, Twitter, Insta- work inefficiency, these so- laterally share their opinions It also acts as a watchdog for le being quite biased. populism, manipulation,
the richest one per cent, and has cited a report by an gram, and others that have cial media outlets rob them on public issues. In a liberal accountability of electoral They are often employ- political polarization and
American group that says many of them hardly pay insidiously impacted human of their natural instincts, ed to stifle freedom of spe- gradual rise of the far-right
any taxes, with Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk lives, paralysed governance sensibilities, aesthetics, so- ech and thought by censor- which is largely insensitive
enjoying a true tax rate of 3.2 per cent and Amazon in established democracies cial interaction, critical thin- ing conflicting opinion, and to peoples aspirations and
founder Jeff Bezos paying less than one per cent. in Europe and the United king and cognitive skills. change the public views ab- concerns.
A couple of years ago, the head of the World States and severely under- Laptops and smart phones out a political or social issue, Citizens, governments
Food Program had remarked that 2 per cent of mined their social and polit- even intrude into their pri- depending on peoples polit- and civil societies need wid-
Musks wealth could end world hunger. When the ical stability. vacy and autonomy, and re- ical affiliation and ideology. er awareness to confront the
In todays world, social duces them to mere mark- Due to lack of online auth- downslides of digital media
billionaire responded to say he would hand the networking sites wield stro- etable commodities or com- enticity, crafty political act- and cleanse political dis-
money over if the world body could show how it ng power over the public plete morons. ors weaponise social media course of falsehoods. It will
would be spent, WFP chief David Beasley gave him a and their addiction is worse Unfortunately, digital to spread misinformation restore public trust in auton-
precise answer. But the world remains hungry, and than even cigarettes, alcohol media helps criminals, in- and hatred, engender haras- omous institutions to make
Musk and others of his ilk remain rich, a situation and sedatives. Despite all cluding killers, rapists, frau- sment and incite violence democracy work better.
unlikely to change any time soon. Oxfams appeal the benefits, they adversely dsters, drug peddlers and for satisfying their ulterior Yours, etc.,
will cause a momentary flutter at Davos, and then be impact the users physical, terrorists, to carry on their motives. D S Kang,
trampled under snowshoes. mental and emotional well- illicit activities at will. In the Authoritarian regimes Hoshiarpur, 11 January.
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY 17 JANUARY 2023 07
TTPs ideology will
100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
On the departure of Sir Henry Dobbs from
London for Mesopotamia there was an
be difficult to defeat
official disclaimer of any unusual signifi-
cance in his visit. Sir Percy Cox has now left
Bagdad for London by air, while Sir Henry
Dobbs takes over the duties of High Com-
missioner "during Sir Percy's absence."
Clearly these movements betoken some
deep significance and it is still permissible
to hope that the new British Government
intends materially to reduce its commit-
ments in Mesopotamia while it can do so
HARSHA KAKAR giving the TTP space to expand their with a good grace. The Kemalists are again
network deeper into the country as pressing the Mosul question and, inciden-
hamil Shams wrote in an arti- also regroup. Attacking their bases in tally, are spreading their characteristic fab-
S cle titled Before and After Zia-

ul Haq published in 2016: Pak-
istani decision makers have
found religious extremists a natural
choice for alliance/usage as tools of
Afghanistan will enlarge the conflict
drawing the ire of Kabul. A desperate
Pakistani spokesperson termed as
rubbish claims that the countrys air
force had targeted TTP bases across
rications regarding British military opera-
tions in that area. It is of interest to observe
that the British note to the Kemalist admits
that without corn from Mosul Bagdad can-
not exist. In the event of Kemalist trucu-
foreign policy. He justified his state- the Durand Line. lence regarding Mosul is the British tax-
ment by stating, the centrist, post- An option open to Pakistan is to payer to be forced to defend that distant
colonial state dominated by the mili- reconcile with the PTM (PashtunTa- and difficult post in order to maintain the
tary has always considered secular, hafuz Movement), a non-violent large- existing regime in Bagdad? It will not be
nationalist and democratic forces a scale movement seeking an end to surprising if the taxpayer holds the view
challenge to its hold on power. In violence in the erstwhile Pashtun- that the Arab regime in Bagdad must take
October 2021, Imran Khan went a dominated Waziristan, part of the erst- its chance along with other creations of the
stage further and created the Rehmat- while FATA, and strongly against the post-war settlement. It is not more impor-
ul-Lil-Aalamin Authority - a council of violent tactics of the TTP. However, by tant than was the Greek regime at Smyr-
mullahs and religious clerics to save suppressing them and imprisoning na, the Croat regime at Fiume or the
the people of Pakistan from western their elected leaders, Pakistani secu- Lithuanian regime at Memel. Great
culture. For Pakistani rulers, post Zia, rity forces have only enhanced local Britain's role as policeman of the world is
extolling religion was a means of gain- anger. It cannot backtrack now. fortunately ended and sooner or later her
ing domestic support. Pakistan failed to learn from India Mesopotamian policy must be brought
The fall of Afghanistan to the Tal- that unless it engages the local popu- into line with necessity.
iban in August 2021 termed by Imran failures. It could fool its public with injured in 262 terrorist attacks on its Pashtuns, protesting and demanding lation, follows a policy of winning
as breaking free of the shackles of hope that when the Taliban came to soil, an increase of 27 per cent. Major- an end to violence. Many amongst the hearts and minds, terrorism can never NEWS ITEMS
slavery, marked a new chapter in the power all would be well. Finally, Pak- ity of the attacks were by the TTP and security forces may even be backing be brought under control. It has taken
history of Pakistan. Pakistan support-
ed the Taliban mainly because Kabul
istan could achieve what it had always
believed, Afghanistan as its strategic
the Baloch groups. What hurts Pak-
istan more is that the Chinese,
the TTP in its demands as Islamiza-
tion is inbred in the army.
India decades to change the scenario
in Kashmir, something Pakistan may OUTBREAK OF
was presumed to be pro-Delhi, a
repeat of Zulfikar Bhutto supporting
depth. Alas! It was not to be.
The current Kabul dispensation
employed in multiple projects as part
of the CPEC are also being targeted,
Such is the confidence of the TTP
that its leader Mufti Noor Wali
find difficult to do along its western
borders. Finally, Pakistan is repeating PLAGUE IN BURMA
Afghan fundamentalists because the insults Pakistan by displaying the 1971 forcing China to go slow, apart from Mehsud, sent a video message to Pak- what India always claimed, there are RANGOON, JAN. 16
then Afghan President Daud was Delhi surrender photograph, challenging it demanding additional security, adding istans clerics mentioning, If you find no good or bad terrorists. A severe attack of plague is reported from
leaning. The arrival of the Taliban in to launch operations across the to Pakistans costs. any problem in the jihad that we are With support continuing from the town of Sagaing where the infection
Kabul was expected to be the end of all Durand Line with similar conse- Converting Pakistan into a Sharia waging, if you believe we have clerics of an Islamised society as also after being conned to certain quarters has
of Pakistans problems emanating quences, releases TTP prisoners from state, one of the TTPs demands, also changed our direction, that we have security force elements, it is unlikely now become general. Most of the resi-
from across the border. It signalled the Afghan jails and also provides them has support from Pakistans masses, gone astray, then youre requested to that the Pakistan army will be able to dents have removed with their personal
termination of Indian influence as also sanctuary and support. The Taliban who have been largely Islamized, as guide us. To display its ability of tam- convincingly defeat the TTP. It may property to the Sagaing hills. The bazar is
support for continued terrorism in gaining Afghanistan emboldened also its hard-line clerics. Basically, the ing the Pakistan army, the Taliban subdue the TTP, but their ideology will empty as the sellers of produce fear to
Kashmir. However, it turned out to be other terrorist groups including the TTP is pushing what the Afghan Tal- announced its own government for remain intact. The TTP demands are approach the town and all business has
Pakistans biggest strategic blunder. Islamic State and Baloch freedom iban have always supported and Pak- the regions it will soon take over. what a majority in Pakistan desire. been suspended. Reports from Mandalay
With the US deployed in fighters as there was no one to target istani clerics dreamt of. It seeks to At the same time the TTP claimed Their ideology will remain a source of speak of numbers of kites and fire bal-
Afghanistan, Pakistans current neme- them from the air. It has also given delegitimize the Durand line which it was open to talks with the Pakistan problems. With passage of time the loons which on coming down are scram-
sis, the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pak- hope to hard-line religious elements separates Pashtuns on both sides and government. Pakistan is aware that the TTP may become more acceptable in bled for by the Burmese populace.
istan), was kept under check. It was within Pakistan to reshape the country convert Pakistan, starting with the TTP will stick to its demands, which regions under its control than the Pak- Attached to them are currency notes and
targeted by US drones and its mem- into a fundamentalist Islamic state. erstwhile FATA, into an Afghan model can never be conceded. Simultane- istan army. The army angering its local orders for rice. The latter, it is found, are
bers were jailed by the Kabul leader- Despite all threats by Pakistan, the Sharia state. The Taliban have never ously, they cannot bank on support populace by suppressing them is only being duly complied with on presenta-
ship as also eliminated in encounters. Kabul leadership refuses to act against recognized the Durand Line and have from Kabul as the TTP is their closest making peace impossible. tion. It is said that this is a new manifesta-
Pakistan had India to blame for sup- the TTP. objected to Pakistans fencing of it. ally and is seeking what the Taliban tion of the propagandist activities of the
porting terrorist groups operating As per Dawn, in the past one year The Pakistan army is compelled have always desired. Talks thus are (The writer is a retired Major-General of the extremist political societies although
Indian Army.)
from Afghan soil, thereby hiding its over 400 have been killed and 700 to battle the TTP while subduing the unlikely to achieve anything except exactly how results are expected to be
attained is not apparent.
A challenge for Pakistans ulema

NEW INDO-BURMA
OIL SCHEME
RANGOON, JAN. 16
The Directors of the Indo-Burma Oil Fields
MUHAMMAD AMIR RANA Islamic teachings and principles, was had crushed the Soviet Union and Ltd., announce a scheme for the reorgani-
in place. Interestingly, a few heads of forced Nato forces to leave the coun- sation of capital. It is proposed subject to
he Taliban regime in banned sectarian and militant organi- try. The religious scholars must the debenture holders consent to reduce
T Afghanistan has started

enforcing Sharia laws based on
their own interpretation of the
precepts of Islam. Pakistan is among
those Muslim countries that have dis-
sations also signed the declaration,
including ulema supporting jihad in
Afghanistan and Indian-held Kashmir.
TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsuds
statement cited earlier refers to Pak-
respond to the TTP challenge. The
security establishment also needs to
review the ideological conception on
which its strategic thinking is largely
built. That thinking has been in evi-
the face value of the ordinary shares at pre-
sent issued from pound 1 to ten shillings
each, and to convert the unissued 5,00,000
pound 1 shares into 500,000 preference
shares of two shillings each. These shares
tanced themselves from the Afghan istani religious scholars pre-Paigham- dence time and again, despite the will be entitled to ninety per cent of the dis-
Talibans conception and enforcement i-Pakistan fatwas and the general pro- huge losses suffered by Pakistan at the tributable profits and assets. An offer will
of Islamic laws. However, the ortho- jihad atmosphere that persisted in the hands of the terrorists. The same be made to the shareholders of 11 prefer-
doxy in Taliban ranks poses a more madrassahs. In the video message, he thinking, i.e. the Taliban will eventual- ence shares at two shillings for every ten
severe challenge to Pakistan compared says that the TTP jihad was launched ly cooperate with Pakistan to defuse ordinary shares now held which will absorb
to the rest of the Muslim world. It is in the light of the fatwas given by Pak- the TTP, was a factor behind the talks 1,650,000 shares and will yield pound
not only a matter of the Taliban istani ulema, and if there is any defi- with the militant group and it gave the 165,000. The oil interests in Burma of the
regimes religious dogma and the ide- ciency, and omission from us in the latter a passage to Pakistan. The state Premier Oil Co., will be transferred to this
ological hassle it could cause to Pak- implementation of this fatwa, or if we institutions have called on the ulema company in consideration of 400,000 pref-
istani society; the establishment also have changed our jihadi direction, to help many times. It is obvious now erence shares.
appears more concerned about the then you guide us and argue, [and] we that the approach has not worked; but
TTP and other Taliban associates who
have challenged its strategic views.
women, including the recent ban on
higher education for them. However,
President House on 15 January 2018,
in the presence of national religious
are ready to listen to your arguments.
This is a serious issue for the ulema, as
even then, a few in the strategic com-
munity harp on the same arguments INDIAN RAILWAYS'
The Taliban and affiliated militant
groups are testing the perception of
the Taliban leaders insist that their
policies are based on Islamic jurispru-
and political leaders. The first part of
the document comprised a preamble
the TTP consider[s] your silence in
our favour [akin to] fighting side by
of historical, ideological, and political
linkages with Afghanistan. REPORT
Pakistans strategic community that dence. Though the OIC has not aban- providing a contextual analysis of the side with us. Interestingly, just before As suggested before, Pakistan In the Delhi telegram dated January 12, giv-
the Talibans association with madras- doned its engagement policy with the ideological and political situation. The the video message was released, a needs a new Afghan policy based on ing the summary of the report of the
sahs in the country is political capital Taliban regime, it could rethink its second part contained a set of reli- group of Pakistani ulema, mainly from cooperation and a pragmatic para- Administration of Indian Railways during
for the state. The head of the outlawed approach if Kabul continues with its gious decrees, initially signed by 1,829 KP, issued another fatwa on the lines digm. The religious scholars can help 1921-22, an error was made by the omis-
TTP, Noor Wali Mehsud, affirmed in a ideological campaign. True, Pakistani religious scholars representing all reli- of Paigham-i-Pakistan, declaring that by coming up with compelling argu- sion of a sentence with reference to be
recent video message that his group religious scholars had partnered with gious schools of thought in the coun- no individual or group of people had ments to counter the TTP narratives financial difficulties of the Indian Railways
was waging a jihad that teachers in the Taliban in the latters conception of try. The declaration categorically con- the right to declare jihad as this was and deconstruct the Talibans thoughts which were forcibly remarked upon in the
Pakistani madrassahs preached. The the Islamic Emirate. However, while demned terrorism, sectarian hatred, the sole prerogative of the state. Trying about their view of Islam. It will be a Acworth Committees Report. The remedy
Muslim countries are rightly worried the Taliban were busy fighting the war armed sectarian conflict and the to counter such arguments, the TTP lengthy process. At first, it requires suggested by that committee for the com-
about the Talibans view of Islam as it against Kabul and foreign troops, prior imposition of ones ideology on oth- has changed the organisations struc- serious scholarship on the part of the plete separation of the Railway Budget from
poses more of a political challenge to taking over, Pakistani ulema had ers by force. The religious scholars, ture, converting the militant group Pakistani ulema, as the issue will not the General Budget on the country and the
than an ideological one. Muslim soci- revisited their previously held opin- who had signed the declaration, also into a wilayah (government) and be resolved through issuing fatwas emancipation of the Railway Management
eties from Morocco to Indonesia have ion. That revision came as a wave of pledged they would work for a society announcing the formation of a parallel and declarations alone. The ulema can from the control of the Finance Depart-
developed functional compatibility religiously motivated violence and based on democracy, liberty, equality, governance system for the tribal dis- learn from the experiences of schol- ment of the Government of India came
with the modern values of freedom hatred undermined the foundation of tolerance, harmony, mutual respect, tricts. The Taliban and the TTP also ars from across the Muslim world. under review only. It should not be read as
and human rights. Many Muslim society, also forcing the establishment and justice to achieve a congenial argue that the Darul Uloom Deoband, However, the question is whether or having been accepted by the Government
countries and groups, including the to revisit its ideologically oriented atmosphere for peaceful coexistence. from where they derive their ideologi- not they are ready to take the task seri- of India, as it is well-known that there is an
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, strategic thinking. Describing the context of the declara- cal and political strength, had driven ously. official resolution on the subject which will
have condemned the Afghan Talibans A declaration by the name of tion, Paigham-i-Pakistan claims that out the British from the Indian sub- come up for discussion in the legislature
policies of rolling back the rights of Paigham-i-Pakistan was launched at maximum legislation, according to continent, and the Mujahideen groups Dawn/ANN. before long.
CROSSWORD NO-292317 ALBERT MEDAL FOR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
ACROSS 14 Irish copper in helmet? given out for it? 5 Excellent ending weapon wielded in
INDIAN SOLDIER
9 Could be Bob (4,5) where theres social centre (5,4) It is announced in the London Gazette that
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION 1 Little woman
(7) 28 Route was changed no beginning 18 Old man is an the King has awarded the Albert Medal to
10 11 16 Good woman with and lasts longer (7) old friend
attracting disgrace Havildar-Major Rur Singh, in recognition
A DD S U P E NCOR E mixed items for sale
man back in Eden? (8) 6 Fur almost wrong (7)
of his gallantry in saving and endeavour-
R I C O T H E S (3,3)
Hardly (7) 29 Trivial direction found on Asian prince 19 Gold cups about to
12 13 E N S U E L UCR A T I V E 18 Miners perhaps love in scriptural work (9) be for strong beer ing to save life at Chagmalai in October
4 Lumber covers
M R N Y H P G T frame on Tower
hot pepper (7) (3-3) 7 Friend across the (7) 1921. On October 18, 1921, in the course of
I D E N T I T Y P L A N E T 20 Harry taken in by pond served up 20 Perhaps like Sinbad, operations in Waziristan, a party of men
Bridge (8)
14 15 16 17 S P S H G A L smooth cheat excellent port sailor put inside
10 Big cat seen by
(7) DOWN (5) escaped (6) were crossing the Shahur Tangi, and had
S N A P V E R I F I A B L E party organiser on
I C I A N E 22 Misbehaving niece all 1 Judge sorry in 8 Toes in a terrible 21 Scramble as GCHQ reached some high ground in mid-stream,
heroin? (9)
18 19 20 21 P URCH A S I NG WA V E 11 Chinese region
but irresistible discussion done with state (7) in vault beneath when they were cut off by a sudden rise of
I A M T G U D (11) God (7) 9 Passage that crosses Etons walls? the water. The river rapidly became a roar-
fliers to stay within
ROS A R Y OP E R A T E D 25 Twitch regularly with 2 One between two river ending in Idaho (7)
(5)
this? (3) boozers writing (6) 23 Portray woman ing torrent; five of the men were swept
22 23 24 25 A T G O A E E I 12 A4 turning finds away, and it seemed that the remainder
T R A D E S M A N EMO T E 26 Scam at issue in part about savagery 15 Mistress caught at brought to court
Roman way (3)
E G R E D N U D 13 Revolutionary crowd
is famous fiddle (9) the right moment (5) were doomed. Havildar-Major Rur Singh
(5) 3 The Magic Flute outside wine store 24 Bowel in knots made several attempts to swim out with a
26 27 L E S SO N A S S I S T interrupts road race,
27 Pot of ale in Rye: for example works (9) thats drinking
causing outrage
two English pounds in Latin (5) 17 Cavalier beheaded: bender! (5) rope, and eventually succeeded in reach-
(11) ing the men, but they were then exhausted,
28 29
and, the river rising still higher, the whole
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
party was swept away.
EDIT BHOPAL | TUESDAY | JANUARY 17, 2023
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The most wasted day of all is that
on which we have not laughed.
— NICOLAS CHAMFORT
FREE PRESS
FOR FREE FLOW OF TRUTH
Why 2025 is the real watershed year
Bhagwat is the leader and others in- ises to protect the civil and religious might of the regenerated Hindu na- ‘Mighty Arm’ as expressed in Mr
State of
Gubernatorial
cluding Mr Modi have to follow him rights of the minority communities. tion strike down the enemy’s hosts Golwalkar’s writings was at work.
in letter and spirit. When he says When Mr Bhagwat talks about a with its mighty arm.” Mr Bhagwat has now openly justi-
the Union that India has been at war for the

last 1000 years and in war ‘aggres-
thousand years’ war, then he clearly
identifies Muslims as an enemy
Mr Modi after becoming the prime
minister said ‘Sabka Sath; Sabka
fied the violent behaviour of his foot
soldiers and discriminatory acts of
overreach
sion’ is inevitable, then it should be with which Hindus are at war; and Vikas’ and many of my liberal the Government. It seems that the
understood that Mr Bhagwat is not war by nature is violent and ruth- friends were deceived into believing RSS has realised that as its cente-
�Ashutosh only justifying the current disturb- less. It is a vanquishing exercise that the RSS had moderated its nary year is approaching, it is better
ing and destabilising socio-political which ultimately leads to annihila- views about Muslims. This was fur- to expose the full might of its ideolo-
T F
he controversial actions of Tamil Nadu Governor RN or the Bharatiya Janata Par- trends but also hinting that this will tion of one of the warring actors. ther reinforced when Mohan Bhag- gy. Maybe the RSS has reached the
ty and the Rashtriya continue and may lead to more dis- If one researches RSS ideological wat in Vigyan Bhawan in 2018 said, conclusion that, as Mr Bhagwat ad-
Ravi have highlighted once again the contentious ties Swayamsevak Sangh, the ruptive features. This should seri- documents, it is clear that Mr Bhag- “Hindutva is incomplete without mits in his interview, there is wider
between governors and Opposition state govern- years 2023 and 2024 are important ously worry all those who espouse wat is not saying anything new. The Muslims”. Even very recently, he acceptance of the RSS ideology and
ments. This has for long been a sticking point and was ex- not because these are major election and dream of a harmonious and second RSS chief, M S Golwalkar, said, “Why should Shivling be there is no point in shooting from
ploited mercilessly by earlier Congress governments at the years but because these are followed democratic India, those who take a wrote a long time ago that Muslims searched for in every mosque?” He the shadows. And in this pursuit
Centre which dismissed legitimately elected governments at by the RSS completing a hundred lot of pride in its diversity. are one of the three enemies of the was also seen meeting with a Mus- every arm of the Government has to
years in 2025. They would like to cel- Along with Mr Bhagwat, Vice country along with Christians and lim leader, Arshad Madni. And this play a decisive role.
the drop of a hat at the behest of governors. Former CBI and ebrate this with a sense of victory President Jagdeep Dhankhar has Communists. He has also written was happening when Muslims were It is no coincidence that the Vice
Intelligence Bureau officer Ravi's decision to omit three cru- and accomplishment. In 1925, when also raised a disturbing issue when that Hindus have been at war with allegedly being persecuted by the so- President has given clear hints that
cial paragraphs from the speech prepared by the State Gov- the RSS was founded by an ex-Con- he said that the basic structure of Muslims for more than a thousand called Hindutvavadis in the form of the BJP-dominated Parliament
ernment for his address to the Assembly amounted to over- gressman named Keshav Baliram the Constitution verdict by the should have supremacy, and the ju-
stepping his role as the constitutional and titular head of the
Hedgewar, it was not even noticed Supreme Court in the Kesavananda It seems that the RSS has realised that as its centenary diciary should not pose any hin-
by top echelons of power in India. It Bharati case set a bad precedent, drance to the RSS cause. The attack
state. The Governor's remit is limited to reading out the started like any other organisation which does not augur well for demo- year is approaching, it is better to expose the full might on the basic structure is an attack on
speech prepared by the State Government, just as the Presi- but it had the appetite and immense
patience to wait — indefinitely — in
cratic society. The Indian Constitu-
tion is a dynamic document. The
of its ideology the basic ethos of the Constitution.
Let’s not live under any illusion. The
dent, in her customary address to the Budget session of Par-
liament, reads out the report card of the Union Government the wilderness. Ultimately, its pa- writers, while drafting the Constitu- fact is that the RSS did not accept the
tience paid off, and now when it is tion, envisioned it as a living organ- years. Mr Golwalkar writes in ‘We mob lynching, their houses being Constitution when it was created.
prepared by the Government itself. Any deviation from the set to complete 100 years in 2025, it ism, not a dead document. That is or Our Nationhood Defined’, “Hin- bulldozed on minor pretexts, not be- Then Mr Golwalkar had said,
text will result in a constitutional crisis. Fortunately most has a very powerful Government at why it has empowered Parliament du nation ... is fighting on. Ever ing allowed to pray on Government- “While framing the Constitution
Presidents have adhered to the principle of non-interference the centre. It has successfully re- with amendment rights and created since that evil day, when Muslims sanctioned lands, calls being given our Self and Hinduness were forgot-
in affairs of state. Why then are governors so intent on stir- placed the grand old party, the Con- a judiciary not only to be independ- first landed in Hindustan, right upto for their economic boycott, the hijab ten. Due to the absence of this uni-
gress, in terms of hegemonic ideas ent of the executive and legislature the present moment the Hindu na- being made a huge issue, demand fying spirit, a Constitution has been
ring the pot in Opposition-ruled states? and also in governance. And there is but also entrusted it with the power tion has been gallantly fighting on to for banning halal meat, Muslim-run made which will bring about disin-
Earlier, career politicians were rarely appointed gover- only a remote possibility that the to interpret the Constitution as its shake off the despoilers. It is the for- eateries being removed in Gujarat, tegration ... we will have to accept a
nors, but nowadays the trend is to appoint those with blatant Congress could regain its old glory guardian, whose primary job is not tune of the war, the tide turns now people like Yati Narsinghanand call- unitary form of Government of one
political beliefs or former bureaucrats known to do the bid- soon. It is in this context that two only to protect the basic rights of the to this side, now to that, but the war ing for Muslims’ genocide, and Gov- country, one nation, and one state ...
ding of their political masters. Mr Ravi's gratuitous pro- disruptive statements emanating citizen from any encroachment goes on and has not been decided ernment agencies implementing with one legislature and one cabinet
from the RSS family should alarm from the executive and the legisla- yet.” Mr Golwalkar was confident rule of law against Muslims in an al- for the whole country.”
nouncements on Sanatan Dharma and his suggestion that those who believe in a democratic ture but also to keep it democratic. that the tide of history has turned legedly partisan manner. If one In the last few years has the coun-
Tamil Nadu be renamed Tamizhagam only made the DMK India. The Constitution provides a frame- and now Hindus will not lose this talks to Muslims then one gets a try not moved in that direction? The
Government see red. His decision to omit paragraphs in his Mohan Bhagwat is no ordinary work in which conflicts between the war. He writes, “Nor is there any sense that they feel they are being year 2025 is very important in this
address relating to the Dravidian model of development man. He is the chief of the RSS fam- communities are resolved in a fear of its being decided to our detri- treated as the ‘Other’ and no longer respect.
ily and technically within the fami- peaceful and democratic manner. It ment. The Race Spirit has been feel equal to Hindus as citizens.
prompted Chief Minister MK Stalin to move a resolution ly hierarchy he occupies a higher does not allow the majority commu- awakened. The lion was not dead, It appears that Mr Modi and Mr The writer is Editor, SatyaHindi.com,
against his action, making the Governor walk out in a huff. status than Prime Minister Naren- nity to subjugate the minority com- only sleeping. He is rousing himself Bhagwat were both busy creating a and author of Hindu Rashtra. He
The row did not end there, with the Governor issuing invi- dra Modi. Within the RSS family, Mr munity under any pretext. It prom- up again and the world has to see the smokescreen, behind which the tweets at @ashutosh83B
tations for a Pongal get-together at the Raj Bhavan where the
Social justice and college education

state was called Tamizhagam instead of Tamil Nadu. The
letterhead bore the Central Government's seal and not the
State Government's emblem.
The rift between the Governor and the DMK Government
has been long drawn out with Mr Ravi sitting on a dozen bills
however, in practice, in India, caste minority colleges which implement trenched caste hierarchy and caste last few years. And yet, these cells
Learning
cleared by the Assembly. He has not rejected them outright inequality remains a fact of life the reservation policy, a very large inequality. have not been very successful in ef-
but has simply refused to take any action on them. DMK across different faiths) and the pa- number of teachers and students Then, there is the issue of dis- fectively addressing these issues af-
leaders shooting their mouths off against the Governor has
only exacerbated matters. Relations between governors and Curve triarchal foundation of an Indian
family.
(from upper castes) have a distinct,
“natural” bias against Dalits and al-
crimination against women. Gen-
der disparity at all levels has been a
fecting (young) women in colleges.
The problem is that even as colleges
elected governments have been tense in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Let me illustrate. A large number most always talk about them as very visible issue in the recent hold seminars and workshops to en-
and Telangana. The ugly row between the Centre's repre- � Vrijendra of colleges in Mumbai are “minori- somehow “intruding into our aca- decades on account of strong and courage women’s empowerment,
ty” colleges. These colleges are run demic spaces” and, of course, how vocal national and international they hesitate to question the struc-
sentatives and chief ministers does not bode well for democ- by private charitable trusts — many they take seats away from “merito- feminist movements. While in tures and practices which continue
A
racy. few weeks ago, Shelja Sen, of them are financially aided by the rious” (upper caste) students. Staff Mumbai, most colleges already to privilege male entitlement. They
writer and co-founder of state Government — and 50% seats rooms too are often sharply divided have a large number of girl students rarely question as to why work in
Nobel endorsement Children First, wrote an ex-

cellent article on bringing social jus-
in admission are reserved for stu-
dents from the designated minority;
between “reserved category” teach-
ers and others, on the same grounds.
and women teachers, in other
places, in recent years, institutional
the family and childcare continue to
be the prime (if not sole) responsi-
A
tice to schools and how “the trans- in the remaining half, many other It is not that colleges are against attempts are being made to increase bility of women. Similarly, when
n endorsement from Nobel laureate Amartya Sen formative power of teachers” could quotas are applied. As a result, the reservations in principle. In minori- the representation of girls and they talk to young girls about sexu-
has no doubt boosted Trinamool Congress chief magically change children’s lives. It so-called open category seats are a al harassment, the focus often is on
Mamata Banerjee’s ambitions. Her reaction to Mr prompted me to reflect on how col-
leges in Mumbai deal with concerns
fraction of total seats. However, the
key feature of these minority-run
In reality, the daily, routine, social inter-mixing of how the girls themselves are (and
should be) responsible for their own
Sen’s remark that she has the ability to be the country’s
Prime Minister is an eye-opener. Mr Sen’s advice is like an regarding social justice; what values colleges is a near absence of reser- students from different castes is seen as the core safety! How the girls should behave
order, Ms Banerjee averred, indicating that she was more
do they impart to their students in
this regard? After all, college educa-
vation for SC/ST students. Similar-
ly, these colleges are largely exempt
disturbing issue because it might threaten the and dress “properly”. And often,
teachers suggest that students
than ready for the role. However, before any such scenario tion plays an important part in shap- from reservation for SC/ST com- entrenched caste hierarchy and caste inequality should not get involved in sexual re-
can be envisaged, there has to be a measure of Opposition ing values among students because munities in their faculty. lationships in the first place! “Boys
unity. The Trinamool may do well in Bengal, but it is un- they are at the threshold of adult- Further, there are no systematic will be boys” continues to dominate
hood. Even as students bring in attempts, either at college level or by ty colleges, 50% seats are reserved women among students and the fac- the sexual dynamics and percep-
likely to win seats in other states. The only Opposition par- their own values to the classroom the university, to sensitise students for students from the minority com- ulty in higher educational institutions.
ty with a pan-India presence remains the Congress and it is that they have learnt in their fami- and teachers towards the dilemmas munity leading to (in some colleges) tions. In any case, colleges and oth- Beyond the gender binary, when it
highly improbable that the Grand Old Party will cede space lies, schools, neighbourhoods and so and complexity of caste discrimina- a wide disparity between minority er institutions are relatively less comes to trans students and/or stu-
to a regional outfit. Any Opposition formation will have to on, in my experience, they are also tion and caste privilege. As a result, and non-minority students. The hos- hostile to reservations for women to dents with gender fluidity, most col-
include the Congress, something the astute Nitish Kumar adult enough to be sensitive to and 75 years after Independence, Dr B R tility towards the recently intro- promote gender parity. lege teachers do not even have the
respond to different opinions and Ambedkar remains primarily a duced additional 10% EWS reserva- Further, to sensitise students and basic clarity about such students,
has realised. The overarching ambitions of regional perceptions on social issues. Dalit leader. Ambedkar Jayanti, on tion has been distinctly muted. On faculty towards the larger, en- their rights and dignity. In such a
satraps such as Ms Banerjee and Bharat Rashtra Samiti Let us look at how colleges re- Dec 6, largely remains an event of the contrary, many have hailed it as trenched discrimination against scenario, bringing social justice to
chief K Chandrasekhar Rao leader will remain just that. spond to two major, deep-rooted and Dalits, by Dalits, for Dalits. In fact, the “future way to go forward” in women and specifically to deal with colleges remains a difficult, largely,
They can pose a threat to the BJP in their states, but they persistent sources of inequality in often, a deep resentment surfaces place of caste-based reservations. It the rising cases of sexual harass- unfulfilled task.
Indian society: the social inequality every year among many upper caste makes one realise that in reality, the ment of (young) girls in colleges
will be unable to take on the might of the saffron jugger- built into the Hindu society through teachers during this time about how daily, routine, social inter-mixing of and universities, mandated by the Vrijendra taught in a Mumbai college
naut in parliamentary polls. Therefore the BJP’s assertion the caste system (In theory, other re- so many Dalits from faraway places students from different castes is UGC and the University of Mum- for more than 30 years, and has been
that there is no vacancy for the Prime Minister’s post rings ligions like Islam, Christianity and come to “our” Mumbai and make it seen as the core disturbing issue be- bai, a women’s development cell has associated with democratic rights
true despite the arrogance of the statement. Sikhism profess social equality; messy/dirty/whatever. Even in non- cause it might threaten the en- been set up in most colleges in the groups in the city
There has never been a greater need for Opposition unity
than now, but that will need a great deal of statesmanship.
Egos will have to be set aside and hard decisions taken for
It’s a strange world! LETTERS him. In fact, it would be far better if the PM
and ministers are flown directly by helicopter
the first women’s IPL this year and the
news of N Janani becoming the first
the greater good. The present Opposition set-up is riddled — Dada JP Vaswani TO THE EDITOR to their destinations to prevent traffic jams woman umpire in the Ranji Trophy
with contradictions and extreme wariness towards the and similar such security hassles. tournament is heartening, to say the
I
Congress. The latter, despite Rahul Gandhi’s bid for unity
t is a strange world in progress. In the interest of democracy Peter Castellino least. Kudos to the BCCI for giving an
which we live, a world Karma binds those who opportunity to a woman to umpire a
in the form of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, is unlikely to give up
its position as the principal Opposition party, notwith-
which is governed by
the law of karma. A son is
identify themselves with
their bodies (and the SIf seen,
hame on those who found a Hindu-Muslim
angle in the Haldwani encroachment case.
Threat to cemeteries Ranji game; this will further encourage
and motivate young girls to pick up this
standing its poor show at the hustings. A solution seems
unlikely in the near future.
born to a father. He feels
happy and rejoices. Little
does he realise that the
mind). Karma binds those
who are conditioned by
time and space. So many of
for the last several years, the feeling
of mistrust towards the Supreme Court and
the rest of the judicial system is increasing
IMumbai
t is distressing to learn of harassment of
Christian institutions by the civic authorities in
from time to time. Their demand for
beautiful game, as they will know that
there is a professional career even after
retiring from playing.
child has come to settle old us think: “I was born at among the general public. One reason for this land for road widening seems never-ending. Bal Govind
INDIA 75 YEARS AGO is that courts take different approaches to This time it is the St Peter’s cemetery at Bandra
FPJ Archives accounts. such and such a time and
JANUARY 17, 1948 Through karma, we at such and such a place. I similar cases. In such a situation, if distrust which is facing the threat of losing land which, Youth are frustrated
come into contact with am so many feet tall and arises in the public towards the courts or any apparently, is for slum development according
those with whom we have
karmic involvements. We
give them what we own
weigh so many pounds. I
am living in a palatial
mansion and am prosper-
comment comes against the Supreme Court
and its judges, instead of considering it as an
insult to the court or the judges, it should be
to reports (Jan 6). One wonders how
illegal/unauthorised slums were allowed to
proliferate with the BMC turning a blind eye?
W hile inaugurating the 26th National
Youth Festival 2023, PM Narendra Modi
rightly said that “yuva shakti” is the driving
them and receive what ous and have great influ- considered as a warning to improve the And how, for years together, were they not in a force of India’s journey. But the ground reality
they owe us. ence over the people.” judicial system and bring transparency. It is position to demolish the slums, but they could is that the talents of Indian youth are getting
Birth is never a matter of When we think along those also in the interest of democracy and to give a clear seven days’ notice to the Church for wasted and the PM remains a mute spectator.
accident. Karma deter- lines, we create a cage restore the dignity of the judges themselves. giving up their legitimate land? The peace- I am sorry to say that the PM may have a
mines the family in of time and space Divyansha Sharma, Ujjain loving community that we are, the authorities vision, but it has not translated into action.
which I am born. It is within our own seem to be taking advantage and trying to Indian youth are a frustrated lot and are
commonly be-
lieved that if I do
minds and stay
cooped up in it all
Improve PM’s security bulldoze their way through. This harassment
must stop.
cursing their fortunes. The situation is going
from bad to worse.
evil, I shall be pun-
ished for it. GUIDING LIGHT
our life. In reality,
we are not W ith reference to the news about a young
lad breaching the Prime Minister’s
Melville X D’Souza
Dear reader,
Arun Gupta
The law of
karma, however, is not
bound
time and space. It is we
by security cordon with a garland (Jan 13), the
PM should have non-scalable banners around
Women to the fore We are eager to know your opinions, comments and
suggestions. Write to editor.indore@fpj.co.in Using snail
punitive, but reformative.
It may appear that the law
of karma is punishing us
who have created time and
space: time and space have
not created us.
the route taken by him and only his security
should hand over garlands and bouquets to I t seems to be the year of many firsts for
Indian women cricketers. We will have
mail? Send your letters to Free Press, Free Press House, 3/54,
Press Complex, AB Road, Indore 452008
for certain misdeeds we Blessed is the person who MIKA’S MATRIX

might have committed in realises the Self. For him
the near or remote past. there is no suffering. To
The law of karma never him there are no problems.
punishes. It puts us in an He has the freedom which
environment which may belongs to the children of
afford us opportunities for God. For us, children of
self-growth. The law of time and space, there are
karma provides us with seemingly endless prob-
experiences meant to help lems. Man’s greatest prob-
us to grow into better and lem is himself — his own
nobler persons. Therefore, self.
SIKHS' APPEAL TO GANDHIJI let us accept the situation
in which we find ourselves Dada JP Vaswani is a
Break The Fast, Peace Assured and make the most of it by humanitarian, philosopher,
New Delhi, Jan. 16. A special Diwan attended by a large gathering was held today learning the lesson which educator, acclaimed writer,
under the auspices of Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Delhi. Sardar Harnam a particular experience powerful orator, messiah of
Singh and other Sikh leaders addressed the gathering, and stressed the necessity of has come to teach us. That ahimsa, and non-sectarian
keeping peace in the City of Delhi and the country generally. is the way of spiritual spiritual leader
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | TUESDAY | 17 JANUARY 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
Subhani
17 JANUARY 2023
It’s the Constitution that is

supreme, not Parliament...
I
ndia must be grateful to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar for sparking off
this debate, when he questioned the judiciary, and contextualised the 1973
landmark Supreme Court verdict in the Kesavananda Bharati versus the
State of Kerala case, and argued that since the phrase constructed for the
first time by the judiciary in its ruling, “... basic structure of the Indian con-
stitution...”cannot be amended, it was a forced reduction in the Parliament’s
powers to legislate.
Since it was delivered nearly 50 years ago, the Supreme Court verdict has
been held as a truism, a tenet of Indian politics, with several past leaders and
parliamentarians, including past Prime Ministers, Lok Sabha Speakers and,
predecessors of Mr Dhankhar, having praised it and accepted it as the larger
legal boundary of the scope of ambition for Parliament.
The deeper meaning lies in the understanding that the Indian Constitution,
created after much deliberations and study by our founding fathers in the
Constituent Assembly, that it has envisaged and brought into legal and politi-
cal effect a system of governance, in which, with clear separation of powers,
and internal checks and balances, the three pillars of government operate —
legislature, executive and judiciary.
The Indian Constitution is supreme herewith
India needs ‘growth’ Budget

The Vice-President as the legal, and moral and political, codified wis-
raises important ques- dom which gave birth to the entire independent
LETTERS
tions — including, did India’s political system, and is the fountainhead
of all of the system, the powers, the procedures,
the Constitution itself the law, and the three pillars, and none of them ELDERS HIT HARD
use the phrase, or if can therefore, by definition, or chronology, be During the Covid-19 pan-
the judiciary created above it.
At another level, the supremacy of the
it, can it be binding on Constitution lies in the clear unambiguous sepa-
Parliament, and if so, ration of power, and roles, of each of the princi-
has the judiciary over- pal pillars of the government. Neither the legis-
taken the power of lature, nor judiciary, or at the Central highest
as global risks get amplified The forthcoming substantially increase
demic, senior citizens
have been hit the hard-
est. There has been no
increase in our pensions.
Parliament to legislate, level, neither Parliament, nor the Supreme spending on public health- The interest on bank
Court, can legitimately conduct an overreach to Budget should con- care and education is well
or amend the sacred cut down the power, or reduce the scope, of each tinue to take for- term deposits is down
recognised. In fact, invest-
parchment? other. ward the drastically, from around
The Constitution is the custodian of this holy Chandrajit government’s
ing in health and education
is pivotal for achieving sus- nine to six per cent.
truth.
The Kesavananda Bharati case is a judicial reflection on the meaning and Banerjee focus on creating tainable and inclusive
growth, while improving Added to our woes is the
limitation of the popular dictum — Parliament can make laws — by asking, an enabling policy worker productivity in the constant increase in the
can Parliament make any law? Can Parliament pass a law saying the and infrastructure post-Covid-19 period. The cost of essential items
Constitution no longer holds good, or that the Indian parliamentary system ecosystem government has made sig-
T
should be replaced by a presidential form of democracy, or that the judiciary he forthcoming rev up, to diversify the nificant allocation in the over the past one year.
for manufacturing
is defunct? Union Budget, to sources of revenue.
in India.
last two Budgets to address Even the annual medical
The answer is an emphatic nada, a big no. Parliament, as envisaged, created be presented in To achieve this, it is sug- the healthcare system, but
and empowered by the Constitution, does not enable Parliament to change Parliament by gested that there should be it needs to be stepped up insurance premiums, too,
those aspects which are central to the design of the Constitution, which the finance minister aggressive focus on privati- even further. The consecu- have been hiked by over
Supreme Court, aptly, collectively, phrased as “the basic structure”. Nirmala Sitharaman on sation. It is suggested that up investments in R&D, tive Budgets should 300 per cent. Plus, there
The Vice-President raises important questions — including, did the February 1, will be the first the responsibility and from the current levels of a endeavour to raise public
Constitution itself use the phrase, or if the judiciary created it, can it be bind- real post-Covid Budget and authority for the identified mere 0.7 per cent of GDP to spending on healthcare is the 18 per cent GST on
ing on Parliament, and if so, has the judiciary overtaken the power of the last full-year Budget PSUs could be transferred four per cent of GDP by from 1.28 per cent of GDP in these premiums. At least
Parliament to legislate, or amend the sacred parchment? before the general election to DIPAM from the line 2047 with an interim goal of 2018-19 to around 2.5-3.0 per
The answer is simple — with or without a guiding phrase — the judiciary is announced. The macro- ministries once a decision 2.5 per cent by 2030. To cent of GDP by 2025 to 30-35 per cent of our
can, should and must reflect on the legality of any legislation, or amendment, economic backdrop is a has been taken to privatise facilitate this, it is suggest- ensure affordable health- annual pension is spent
of Parliament — it is not a reduction of the powers of Parliament but the prop- challenging one, where them. In addition, the ed that the Budget should care. In addition, the
er exercise of the powers, and function, of the judiciary. domestic demand drivers Budget should target high- set up a joint Industry- Budget could announce a
on the premium. There’s
are still recovering from er asset monetisation Government Science and high-powered task force to no reimbursement of our
the ravages of the pandem- receipts in FY24 with a Technology Advisory examine the possibilities of monthly medical expens-
Nepal crash: Blot on aviation safety ic while the global environ-
ment is one of great uncer-
tainty. It goes without say-
focus on the railways and
telecom.
The subsidy bill in the
Council to deliberate on
making a roadmap for
achieving these aspira-
private institutional capi-
tal supporting public capi-
tal in a large way for
es. The government also
withdrew the 50 per cent
E
very crash is a blot on aviation safety. However safe modern aviation ing that the Indian econo- current year has ballooned tional goals. healthcare and education.
has become, it is still plagued by two factors. The leading one is aircraft my will not remain imm- due to a sharp rise in the Third, the Budget needs Finally, it is critical for discount on railway fares.
maintenance and the other is technical failure like the one that may have une to the global reverbera- food and fertiliser subsidy. to provide continued capex the Budget to lend its sup- Capt. N. Viswanathan
caused the worst aviation disaster in at least three decades in Nepal, leading to tions. This needs to be ratio- support to the economy. port for sustainable Coimbatore
the loss of the lives of all passengers on board, including five Indians who were The Budgets over the past nalised next year, as a high There is no greater multi- growth. India is one of the
heading to the resort city with multiple adventure sports to offer.
Modern aviation may claim to have evolved so
few years have been very
high on reforms and pro-
subsidy burden squeezes
the finances available for
plier than capital expendi-
ture for the economy. It is
very few countries globally
to have walked the talk on BJP ON THE BACKFOOT
Aviation has picked up much as to have almost eliminated pilot error in viding capex support to the funding the productive well known that every its climate commitments IN ADDITION to the anti-incumben-
a very good record in highly advanced fly-by-wire aircraft that can vir- economy and industry. The expenditure in the econo- rupee spent on infrastruc- and has set an ambitious cy factor, the BJP has to face a united
forthcoming one should my. Non-merit subsidies ture generates a multiplier goal of achieving Net Zero
the last few years tually fly themselves. The Nepal crash involved
an 15-year-old ATR turbo-prop aircraft, which continue to take forward comprise a staggering 5.7 effect of approximately 2.95 by 2070. To achieve these
Congress and CPI(M) in Tripura,
where the next Assembly elections
since the erratic may have evolved from the bullock carts of avia- the government’s focus on per cent of GDP, with a for the economy. In the ambitious goals, the gov- are due shortly. This is the first such
behaviour of automat- tion of previous eras, but which are sorely need- creating an enabling policy breakup of 1.6 per cent and coming year, with global ernment should set up a alliance between the two parties in
ed nose dives by the ed in operating regional services like the one and infrastructure ecosys- 4.1 per cent between the uncertainty becoming a mechanism for green certi- the north-eastern state. They were
tem for manufacturing in Centre and states. This is restraining factor, revival fication to help MSMEs
contentious Boeing from away.
Kathmandu to Pokhara, barely 30 minutes
India, apart from bracing clearly unsustainable. in private capex is expected access overseas Green
arch-rivals in earlier elections. The
pact between the Congress and the
Max aircraft, which too Aviation has picked up a very good record in the economy for an immi- Second, the Budget needs to remain subdued, thus Finance. The mechanism Left is not good news for the BJP as it
are back in the skies the last few years since the erratic behaviour of nent global slowdown with to take forward the ambi- reinforcing the need for should be accompanied by will prevent any splitting of the
with a bang with automated nose dives by the contentious Boeing minimal sacrifice. tion of developing a global- public capex to pump G2G engagement for creat- Opposition vote. The BJP must also
Towards this end, here are ly competitive manufactur- prime the economy. ing acceptance for the
issues resolved Max aircraft, which too are back in the skies with
a bang with issues resolved satisfactorily. One five specific suggestions for ing sector. With shifting In this context, it is sug- mechanism.
answer why it has not fulfilled the
promises made in the earlier elec-
satisfactorily. incident of a plane being shot down and another the upcoming Budget. global value chains, this is gested that the Budget The Budget could also tion. It has to work hard to win a sec-
flown to the end of its tether by a crazed pilot had First, an appropriate fis- an opportune time for India should increase allocation announce a specialised ond term.
been regrettable additions to disasters in the sky, spoiling the overall safety cal strategy needs to be to expand its manufactur- towards capital expendi- Development Finance D.B. Madan
record. spelt out. Fiscal consolida- ing base to capitalise on the ture by 35 per cent, like last Institution (DFI) to fund New Delhi
It is a pity that smaller aircraft must be operated. The Nepalese ATR seems, tion is imperative for China plus one strategy year, thus taking the total the energy transition and
THAROOR FACTOR
at first glance, to have run into an engine stalling issue on one side, leading to macro-economic stability. being pursued by many public capex to about `10 other climate change miti-
uncontrollable tilt that sent the aircraft careening into a gorge in which the As per the latest govern- global economies. A global- lakh crores. This should gation and adaptation mea-
river Seti flows, thus lessening the chances of any of the passengers of the ill- ment numbers, the econo- ly competitive manufactur- include significant focus on sures along with announc- THE BJP had been hoping that
fated flight escaping the crash. my remains on track to ing sector will play a piv- rural infrastructure to ing a PLI for electrolysers Congress leader Shashi Tharoor
A probe will establish whether the cause was technical aircraft failure or achieve the fiscal target of otal role in India’s journey boost jobs and incomes in to encourage production of would contest the Kerala Assembly
pilot error, which cannot be ruled out in demanding flying conditions in Nepal 6.4 per cent of GDP on the to becoming a “Viksit the rural areas. This would green hydrogen. elections on its ticket. The party was
with its mountainous terrain. The airport which is new is said to be an back of healthy tax buoyan- Rashtra” (developed coun- boost rural demand. Industry is looking for- aware that its only chance to win in
improvement on the old one from which an aircraft that took off in May 2022 cy despite a sharp increase try) in the next 25 years or The Budget should also ward to a growth-oriented the Kerala capital exists if Mr
crashed killing 22 passengers. noted in the spending this so. This will be accompa- continue with the `1 lakh and reform-focused Union Tharoor doesn’t contest the parlia-
year. The Budget should nied by a rise in the share crore of interest-free loans Budget that would not only mentary election. On the other hand,
lay down the fiscal consoli- of manufacturing sector in scheme for state capex and address the existing macro- the state Congress leaders have been
dation roadmap so that the GVA from the current make it performance dri- economic challenges but working hard to ensure Mr Tharoor
THE ASIAN AGE fiscal deficit can move print of 16 per cent to ven to encourage the states also put in place strong is safely tucked away in the Lok
towards 4.5 per cent of GDP around 25 per cent over the to undertake capital expen- levers for the development Sabha. Now, Mr Tharoor himself has
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR by FY26. similar time period. diture. State capex is a of the country during the announced that he is not ready to be
Editor Printer & Publisher
It is pertinent to mention A critical impetus to large proportion of overall “Amrit Kaal” with an over- Kerala CM yet. The plot thickens.
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: here that so far, the rev- accomplish this will come government capex, and all objective of making Sankar Paul
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: enue augmentation has from the manufacturing hence it is important to India a “Viksit Rashtra” by Chakdaha, West Bengal
(011) 23211124. been driven mainly by tax sector embracing technolo- continue to extend support 2047.
Published and Printed on behalf of and for component, while the non- gy and innovation in a to states for capex.
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Every Monday the best letter of
Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301. tax component has contin- much bigger way and gear- Fourth, the Budget needs The writer is the director-
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. ued to remain lackadaisi- ing up for the Techade. to spur health and educa- general of the Confederation the week wins `500. Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 cal. The latter needs to get a This would entail ramping tion spending. The need to of Indian Industry asianage.letters@gmail.com.
M
y good friend Ram Madhav has writ- said that caste could be used for cross-breeding the modes of thinking of Hindus and Muslims their discretion is not required”. Among the
ten a piece saying that “most leaders superior humans, like it was done in animals. differ. Guruji said to Vinobaji that there are things that this cadre is taught is that the
reacted to RSS chief Mohan This was done by Hindus earlier, through good and bad people in every society. There can Constitution is flawed. For instance, the RSS
Bhagwat’s interview without read- Namboodiri Brahmin men marrying outside be found honest and good people in Hindus as has always attacked federalism. The very idea
ing it”. Now I have not read Madhav’s piece, but the caste. It was also done, he said, through well as in Muslims. Similarly, rascals can be of states is offensive to Upadhyaya, because
that is not the point. The issue is whether the Namboodiri men fathering the first child of a seen in both the societies. No particular society there can be only one Bharat Mata and the exis-
Aakar Patel RSS is misunderstood and, particularly,
whether the RSS’ ideology is misunderstood. To
woman married to someone else. It may interest
readers to know that Europe in the feudal peri-
has a monopoly of goodness. However, it is
observed that Hindus even if they are rascals in
tence of a Tamil Nadu or Gujarat or West
Bengal is wrong.
get there we do not need to read the apologists od may have had something similar called droit individual life, when they come together in a We can see echoes of this in the current prob-
but go straight to their texts. And this I have du seigneur (“right of the lord”), allowing feudal group, they always think of good things. On the lem with a BJP governor in the South.
done, for one of my books. Here is a condensa- lords to have sexual relations with subordinate other hand, when two Muslims come together, Mahadeva links this hatred of federalism to the
tion for those who do not have the time or incli- women on the wedding nights of the women. they propose and approve of things which they Goods and Services Tax, which has taken away
nation to read their speeches. I say speeches That this is straight exploitation of the weak themselves in their individual capacity would or severely limited the rights of states to raise
because they have not written any books. and the marginalised and not some noble thing not even think of. They start thinking in an alto- their own revenues.
What ideology of Neither Golwalkar nor Deen Dayal Upadhyaya

wrote any book. This is surprising because
Upadhyaya is referred to as an “ideologue” and
does not appear to have occurred to Golwalkar.
If such things are not pushed forth by the RSS
cadre or the BJP it is not because these state-
gether different way. This is an everyday expe-
rience. Vinobaji admitted that there was truth
in this observation but had no reasons to
Mahadeva calls Hindutva a “cow-faced tiger”,
an entity that is eating at Indian society from
within. He makes a number of original observa-
RSS stands for…

his “Integral Humanism” is referred to by the ments have been withdrawn but because they explain it.” tions, such as “the RSS tries to pull out the teeth
BJP as its “basic philosophy”. “Integral are likely confident that few people will do what The writer Devanura Mahadeva in his recent and nails of Jaina, Bouddha, Sikh, Lingayat and
Humanism” is a collection of speeches. So is the author has done and actually read the pri- book on the RSS says that the RSS promotes dis- other dharmas that were born in India and
“Bunch of Thoughts” (that is why it was given mary texts. It would be interesting to see a tele- cipline and unanimity over thinking and analy- rejected the Chaturvarna order”. By merely
Why it often sets this name because it is a rambling, incoherent

collection). So, what do they say? Here are the
main parts.
vision debate today around whether or not the
caste system should be worshipped and ossified
as the RSS wants it to be.
sis. Of the title “Bunch of Thoughts” itself, he
says that there is not much thinking in the
work, only a series of “random, dangerous
saying that these are Hindu faiths, it is sought to
subsume their message.
These are the things the ideology promotes,
In “Bunch of Thoughts”, Golwalkar says that Upadhyaya’s talks are comical if read serious- beliefs and that too from a bygone age”. according to its own people. We should not be
off social friction the Hindu people are his god and this god mani-
fests itself through caste. Meaning that the
organisation of Hindu society in the way Manu
ly (see my book Our Hindu Rashtra for details)
but in part also nasty. Consider this paragraph:
“Let me give you an illustration. Once during
Thinking is discouraged in the RSS through the
insistence on order over diversity. The RSS
“tames” its volunteers, Mahadeva writes, and
surprised then that there are frequent reactions
of the negative sort that Madhav is referring to.
These reactions only reflect the truth.
described it (Brahmin head, Kshatriya arms, a conversation between Shri Vinobaji and the quotes Golwalkar as saying that they must “do
Vaishya thighs and Shudra feet) is the entity Sar Sanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak what is told… if told to play kabaddi play The writer is the chair of Amnesty
that is worthy of worship. In 1960, Golwalkar Sangh, Shri Guruji, a question arose as to where kabaddi, told to hold meeting then meeting… International India. Twitter: @aakar__patel
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Americans tend to historical-
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geopolitics has ensured that other. This necessitates com- define the growing numbers crats, the Republican regimes
India emerges pivotal to US pelling pressure groups with- 7>BCB0A42>A3 of desi Indian-American law- have always been more
?82D1<; foreign policy interests and be an
indispensable and naturally
in the corridors-of-powers
in Washington DC and Delhi 58E48=380= makers community. Besides
Raja, others include Ro
accommodative and respon-
sive towards India’s strategic
strategic partner. Growing That can cut across the par- 0<4A820=B0B Khanna, Pramila Jaipal, Shri concerns, including that of
jointsmanship of sealing their tisan divide and address the Thanedar and Ami Bera, all Donald Trump’s. Taking a
strategic concerns and interests temporary impasse. Today, 0;B>B4E4A0;8= from Democrat ranks. Kri- leaf out of the Jewish-Israeli
in initiatives like QUAD (Qua-
drilateral agreement of US,
the US House of Repre-
sentatives hosts a record five C74BC0C4 shnamoorthy has certainly
been one of the most enthu-
AIPAC, the idea besetting the
‘Samosa Caucus’ must have
India, Australia and Japan), Indian-Americans, as also ;468B;0CDA4B siastic supporters of robust far wider, deeper, and diverse
affording military wares, tech- several in the State legisla- relations with India, and even entrenchment in American
nology and access, preferential tures. It is a considerable dis- if ‘Samosa Caucus’ is not a politics. Seemingly, the Indian
economic treatment and batting tance covered since the spe- formal caucus as such, the party with the ‘Samosa Cau-
on behalf of each other in mul- cial commission established denominational affinity cus’ has just begun.
tilateral platforms like UN etc., by the U.S. Congress whose makes outreach to the US (The writer, a military
is symptomatic India’s leverage 1911 report declared that Congress, more accessible. veteran, is a former
in the sustenance of the ‘Free Hindus were “universally Ro Khanna echoed, “Repre- Lt Governor of Andaman &
World’. It is a mutual trust that regarded as the least desirable sentation is crucial to serving Nicobar Islands and
overcomes occasional friction race of immigrants thus far Indian American communi- Puducherry. The views
points, as India’s strategic auton- admitted to the United ties and working to strength- expressed are personal.)
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VSHFLDOL]LQJLQYRWHWUDGLQJGXULQJWKHWLPHRIHOHFWLRQ6XNXPDUDQZKRGHFODUHVKLP ment. "Governments policies only stay in Uâ "Z\QTXcPVXa[fPbZX[[TSQhWTaQ^hUaXT]S TaP[ \T\QTab Û WTa UP\X[h X]R[dSX]V P] S^f]c^TeTah^]TT[bT
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6DWKHHVKDQZKRWRRLVIURPWKH1DLUFRPPXQLW\ Sir — In the 36-day period from cWT^cWTabcdST]cbUâ]^cPRRT_cX]VWXb[êT P]SRaX\TbPVPX]bcf^\T]f^d[SaTSdRT STbXV]TaÛ\h
December 8, 2022, to January 12, 2023, cWTVadTb^\TPccPRZb^]f^\T]PaTX]RaTPb ITTbWPP]k:PiX_Tc UX[\bQdc\âT
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there were a total of 59,938 deaths, Jiao cWP]cWPcbWTXbcWT
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RIWKHSDUW\WRZKLFKWKH\DUHDIILOLDWHGFDOORQFRP Commission’s medical affairs depart- unprofessional and the Chinese vaccine India to a daunting 390 for five with his 8UbWTXb]^ccWTaT8P\]^cWTaT
PXQLW\OHDGHUVWRVROLFLWWKHLUVXSSRUWGXULQJWKHHOHF ment, said. This included 5,503 deaths is the most ineffective one in the market. 74th international hundred and 46th in c^SPh
from respiratory failure directly caused The biggest problem with the Chinese the 50-over format. Sri Lanka succumbed 5X[\\PZTa
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by COVID-19 and 54,435 deaths of approach is to hide things from the world to the high-quality fast bowling of
JRQHRYHUWRWKHKHDGRI6XNXPDUDQVRFLHWDOGURVV those who had underlying conditions and and give false picture that everything is Mohammed Siraj who struck four times
:KDWKHKDVGRQHLV&RQVWLWXWLRQDOLPSURSULHW\ were then infected. According to the alright. But this approach has a huge inside the 10 overs to shut the door on <^WP\\TS
E\GHFODULQJWKDWRQO\FDQGLGDWHVERUQLQDSDUWLF NHC, the average age was 80 while 90% human cost as till the world knows about the opposition. Sri Lanka was all out for BWP\XWPbP[fPhb
XODUFDVWHZHUHHOLJLEOHWREHHOHFWHGWRWKHWRSMRE were aged 65 and above. As of end- the real picture which is hard to get as a meager 73 in 22 overs, highlighting the QTT]cWTaTUâdb
November, shortly before China’s abrupt Chinese media also is government con- gulf between the two teams. It was the QdccWTfPhBXaPY
LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 7KDURRU EHFDPH D 0HPEHU RI change in policy and almost overnight trolled, it can neither help chinese pepole biggest margin of victory by runs in the WPbR^\TX]P]S
3DUOLDPHQWQRWEHFDXVHKHZDVERUQLQWRD1DLUIDP lifting of restrictions and ending of lock- nor can take proper measures to check history of men's ODIs.The night well and S^]TfXcWcWT]Tf
LO\$OOSHRSOHLQWKHFRXQWU\KDYHDULVWRFUDWLFOLQHDJH downs, only 40% of the 30 million the spread of the disease to other parts truly belonged to King Kohli. The 34- QP[[WPbQTT]^dcbcP]SX]V
above-80 population had completed the of the world. it is high time China opened year-old, who had ended a nearly three- 8]SXP]RaXRZTcPa
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full three doses of Chinese vaccines up and gave the right picture. year wait for an international hundred in
QDOLVPRIWKHZRUVWNLQG56UHHOHNKDWKHILUVWZRPDQ,36RIILFHUIURP.HUDODUHFRXQW required to prevent hospitalization and CK Subramaniam | Mumbai the Asia Cup last year, showed that he is
HGDVKRFNLQJH[SHULHQFHZLWKWKH166OHDGHUVLQZKHQVKHZHQWIRUDQLQWHU death, according to data from Hong back to his best. Kohli is now only three <^bcÛcWT^__^bX
YLHZIRUWKHSRVWRIOHFWXUHULQDFROOHJHUXQE\WKHVRFLHW\7KRXJKVKHZDVWKHWRS Kong. While most cases have been 9>491CG9> short of equaling Sachin Tendulkar's cX^]_PacXTbWPeT
UDQNKROGHULQWKH8QLYHUVLW\DVZHOODVLQWKHLQWHUYLHZWKHWKHQJHQHUDOVHFUHWDU\ reported as mild, the unvaccinated elder- Sir — India on Sunday, January 15 record of 49 ODI centuries. Kohli's con- STRXSTSc^^__^bT
ly population has been vulnerable amid trounced Sri Lanka with a record 317-run version ratio is remarkable as he got to cWT4[TRcX^]
KDGDVNHGKHUWRSD\5VDVDEULEHIRUWKHMRE,WZDVDSULQFHO\DPRXQW the rapid spread of cases, leading to huge win in the third ODI to sweep the series his 46th ton in 259 innings while 2^\\XbbX^]³b42
DQG6UHHOHNKDEOXQWO\UHIXVHGWRSD\WKHEULEH6KHDVNHGWKHJHQWOHPDQLIWKLVZDV pressure in recent weeks on the medical as Virat Kohli smashed 166 not out off Tendulkar had taken 452 innings to get _a^_^bP[^]cWT
WKHNLQGRIVHUYLFHWKH\UHQGHUHGWRWKHFRPPXQLW\VKHZDVWROGWKDWWKHPRQH\ system. There is no concern about a 110 deliveries in Thiruvananthapuram. to 49 centuries. aT\^cTT[TRca^]XRe^cX]V\PRWX]T
spread of cases to rural areas as many Skipper Rohit Sharma (42 off 49) and Bhagwan Thadani | Mumbai AE<PbXcXbbZTcRWhP]S]^c
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return home ahead of the January 22 Shubman Gill (116 off 97) shared a flu-
EDQLVKHGIURPVRFLHW\WRPDNHRXUQDWLRQDOSV\FKHFOHDQDQGSXUH7KH\VKRXOGEH Chinese New Year. Thus far, China's han- ent 95-run opening partnership before BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) BT]Xâ2^]VaTbb[TPSTa
WDXJKWWKHEDVLFVWKDWSHRSOHDUHQRWFRPPRGLWLHV dling of covid 19 cases was the most Kohli (166 not out off 110) propelled [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯ 3XVeXYPhPBX]VW
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C the countries of the South
China Sea and the Indian
Ocean. By avoiding contact
warfare, it wishes to avoid
heavy casualties and the associated inter-
national repercussions, especially the tag
of a 'war initiator'. Hence, its strategies of
/DWHVWUHSRUWVVD\WKDWVWLOOWKHHDUWKPRYHUVDUHGLJJLQJDURXQG wolf warrior diplomacy and salami slic-
-RVKLPDWKDQGRWKHUDUHDVHYHQDVRYHUSHUVRQVKDYHEHHQHYDF ing aim for a fait accompli, i.e., situations
XDWHGDQGPRVWKRXVHVDUHFUXPEOLQJ7UDJHGLHVGRQRWVWRSWKHURDG in which the revisionist power can revise
WRKHOO,QWKH8WWDUDNKDQG*RYHUQPHQWKDGVRXJKW5VFURUH the current system without a direct con-
IRUUXWKOHVVUHFRQVWUXFWLRQDIWHUWKH+LPDOD\DQGHOXJH,WVHHPVWREH frontation.
WKHFDWDO\VWIRUWKHSUHVHQWGLVDVWHU Xi Jinping's ‘China Dream’ encom-
passes "informatised local wars" with
7KH7HKULGLVWULFWLVWKHODWHVWWRUHSRUWFUDFNVDQGODQGVXEVLGHQFH disruptive technologies of artificial intel-
$Q,,75RRUNHHWHDPLVVWXG\LQJ.DUQDSUD\DJ&KDPEDLQWKH7HKULDURXQG ligence (AI), unmanned systems, and
D&'WXQQHOOLQJLVWKHZRUVWKLWZLWKKRXVHVFUXPEOLQJ6HHSDJHVDW7HKUL directed-energy weapons. Thus, adopting
GDPDUHFRPPRQUHSRUWV635DLRI1DWLRQDO,QVWLWXWHRI+\GURORJ\1RZ an 'Integrated Network Electronic Warfare'
DURDGIURP0DQDWR/LSXOHNKWKURXJKVHQVLWLYHKLOOVZLWKUDUHYLUJLQIRU blends computer network attacks and elec-
HVWLVWKHODWHVWWREHLQGDQJHU,Q-XQHDIWHUWKH.HGDUQDWKWUDJHG\ tronic warfare. This dominance is seen as
WKLVVFULEHPHQWLRQHG´LQDOOWKHUHDUHK\GHOSURMHFWV+(3RIYDU a force multiplier in the capabilities of the
PLA.
For this purpose, China has adopted
a leapfrog approach in making advance-
ments in non-kinetic physical directed
energy weapons (DEW), which could be netic warfare. year are much appreciated. First, situation for India worrisome.
a future game changer. A plethora of DEW Consequently, the change in Japan and Germany agreed to set Thus, it is time for India to come
platforms, such as targeted high-powered Tokyo's strategic stance on Beijing up a "legal framework to facilitate out of its reluctant approach and
lasers and wave emitters or particle from an economic partner to an joint activities between Japan's initiate dual-use critical technolo-
beam waves, enhance Beijing's electro- active military threat has given the Self-Defence Forces and the Ger- gies agreements with credible part-
magnetic warfare capabilities. DEWs leadership strategic clarity of its man military". With agreements in ners like Japan, France and
can disable the satellite sensors and security requirements and policy place for intelligence-sharing Germany.
jam automated signal and communication F0B78=6C>=B formulation. By 2026, Japan mechanisms and promoting trans- India should not be left behind
systems. intends to deploy Lockheed fers of defence equipment and in institutionalising multi-faceted
Washington's Defence Intelligence 3454=24 Martin's Tomahawk and Joint Air- technology, interoperability bet- security agreements. Although
Agency Report, Challenges to Security in 8=C4;;864=24 to-Surface Standoff missiles at ween Japan and Germany would there are unsaid similarities in the
Space (2022), assessed that Beijing owns several bases. On the other hand, be a welcome step. objectives of Quad and the
"multiple ground-based laser weapons of 064=2HA4?>AC it is also going ahead with its mil- Second, Japan signed a bilater- AUKUS, a very different approach
varying power levels to disrupt, degrade, itary-civil integration with Mitsu- al security agreement with shouldn't make the geographical
LRXVVL]HVSODQQHGWREHFRQVWUXFWHGLQWKHVWDWH6RPHRIWKHVHDUH or damage satellites that include a current 270;;4=64BC> bishi Heavy Industry, aiming to Australia that encompasses "prac- contours of Quad more vulnerable
DOUHDG\RQWKHVWUHDPV2WKHUVDUHFRPLQJXS3DQFKHVZDUGDPEHLQJ limited capability to employ laser systems B42DA8CH8= develop a surface-to-ship guided tical cooperation and interoper- to the Chinese threat. Needless to
SODQQHGLQ7DQDNSXULVOLNHO\WREHELJJHUWKDQ7HKULDQGELJJHVWLQ,QGLD against satellite sensors". Thus, it has the missile. ability" in the emerging domains. say that Galwan and Tawang skir-
'RHVWKDWPHDQPRUHGLVDVWHUVDUHDZDLWLQJWKHUHJLRQ"µ8QIRUWXQDWHO\ capability to produce reversible and non- B?024!!! Moreover, Japan has contem- These areas include intelligence, mishes have demonstrated that the
reversible effects against the space systems plated a possible Chinese electro- surveillance and reconnaissance… future of the India-China relation-
LWLVVR1RERG\OLVWHQHGWRWKHFULHVRIIRUPHUPLQLVWHU8PD%KDUDWLWR
of its adversaries. 0BB4BB43C70C magnetic attack that can disable advanced defence science and ship does not seem to be stable at
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Beijing's Intelligence, Surveillance 14898=6>F=B power grids and other critical technology, defence industry and all, thereby posing multiple tacti-
and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite fleet, military assets like jet aircraft high-end capabilities". cal as well as strategic challenges
,WQRWHGWKDWRYHUPRUHSURMHFWVZHUHFRPLQJXS²DOPRVWHYHU\ which has doubled since 2018, stood at ²<D;C8?;4 even before hostilities are initiat- Although 2023 has just begun, for the country.
ILYHWRVHYHQNP7KH\HDUQLQJIRUPDNLQJ8WWDUDNKDQGWKH´8UMD3UDGHVKµ 250 systems in 2022. These satellites ed. It has incorporated the new Japan is already in action. The India and Japan have common
KDVOHGWRUHFNOHVVGHYHORSPHQW5DYL&KRSUDIRUPHUKHDGRIWKH+LJK allow the PLA to monitor and map the 6A>D=310B43 technologies under "multi-domain recent Japan-UK Reciprocal Access objectives in forging military
3RZHU&RPPLWWHHIRU&'URDGVVD\VWKDWDE\SDVVDURXQG-RVKLPDWK maritime and terrestrial bodies in the ;0B4AF40?>=B defence force" for "cross-domain Agreement for "cooperative activ- agreements beyond military exer-
ZDVRSSRVHGE\WKHWRZQVSHRSOH7KHPHWUHZLGHURDGDOODURXQG Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and operations". For its immediate ities" will expand the narratives of cises and trade. Various dimen-
WKHVWDWHZHDNHQVWKHKLOOVZLWKGLJJLQJEODVWLQJUHPRYDORIJUHHQFRYHU the Korean peninsula. At an internation- >5E0AH8=6 need, Japan has plans to deploy an a "free and open Indo-Pacific", sions of security agreements, such
al level, Russia and China are leaving no Electronic Warfare unit to thereby having profound conse- as joint research and production of
DQGDTXLIHUV,Q+1%*DUKZDO8QLYHUVLW\VWXG\VDLGDWXQQHOERU stone unturned in implementing their "no ?>F4A;4E4;B Yonaguni, Okinawa prefecture, to quences for the region. Also, the technologies in the electromagnet-
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limits partnership" and jointly continue to C>38BAD?C enhance its analytical and data col- US-Japan agreement for "explo- ic spectrum, increase the interop-
develop and test their ASAT weapons in lection capabilities. ration, science, and research" in erability between the two forces,
K\GHOSURMHFW their military exercises. Given the tech- 346A034>A From an international political deep space has provisions for joint apart from developing cyber offen-
7KHUHVHDUFKHUVZDUQHGRIWKHPLVKDS·VSRWHQWLDOIRU´LQLWLDWLQJJURXQG nological developments related to the
30<064 perspective, Japan has rapidly activities between the two coun- sive mechanisms that can bring
VXEVLGHQFHµ,WZDVIRUJRWWHQWLOO'HFHPEHUZKHQWKHORRPLQJQLJKW PLA, East and South Asia's overall balance moved beyond the partnership tries in various areas such as space stability and peace in the Indo-
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of power has been disturbed. B0C4;;8C4B³ domain and entered formal insti- operations and technology, space Pacific order.
In East Asia, Japan is trying to stand tutionalised security cooperation. transportation, safety and mission China, in future conflicts, will
LQJ RXW ZDWHU LV WKH FDXVH IRU -RVKLPDWK VLQNLQJ FRQILUPV *DUKZDO up against the Chinese threats to what it Thus, it is no longer in the stage of assurance. provoke either of the two countries
&RPPLVVLRQHU6XVKLO.XPDU,Q)HEUXDU\DURXQGSHRSOHZHQW calls "the most severe and complex secu- a 'reluctant realist'. The founda- Against the above backdrop, at one point in time and would
PLVVLQJDV'KDXOLJDQJDDQG5LVKLEKDQJDULYHUVIORRGHG7DSRYDQKHDG rity environment since World War II". It tions laid by late PM Shinzo Abe there are important messages for naturally expect stability at the
UDFHWXQQHO:DUQLQJVRI6ZLVVVFLHQWLVWV&RPPLVVLRQHU understands that it is becoming crucial to are now reaping fruits which make India, as it also faces an aggressive other international border. Thus,
0&0LVKUDRQKDSKD]DUGFRQVWUXFWLRQVDQGWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWDSSRLQW counter China at two fronts simultaneous- (The author is Associate Japan more secure and allow it to China on the land and in the mar- it becomes essential to frustrate
ly, i.e. first, to counter its naval expansion Professor in Central stand up against the Chinese itime domain. A possible Sino-Pak China in its own game; hence,
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along with its numerical superiority, and University of Punjab, threat. collaboration, apart from chal- Indo-Japan defence relations need
DJDLQVWK\GHOSURMHFWVZHUHLJQRUHG second its expanding scope of electromag- Bathinda) Two crucial developments last lenges from the sea, can make the to be boosted.
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ecades ago, the first The lousy chemistry lition of the post. They have power rests with the elected The truant governors unprecedented manner, Ravi ministers.
D DMK chief minister,

CN Annadurai, called
the post of a governor redun-
between chief ministers and
governors is not new, as it has
been around for a while.
argued that the governors
function as an agent of the
Centre and have no account-
chief minister.
His other duties include
giving and withholding assent
include the late Ram Lal,
who dismissed the NT Rama
Rao government in Andhra
omitted the references to BR
Ambedkar, Dravidian leaders,
and the Dravidian gover-
The successive govern-
ments carried this forward
until the Bommai judgment
dant. It was after prime min- Political parties, mainly the ability except for those who to a bill. He determines the Pradesh in 1984. Indira nance model in his speech. stipulated that the floor test
ister Jawaharlal Nehru dis- DMK and the CPI-M, have appointed them. Above all, time for parties to prove their Gandhi had to sack Ramlal He also suggested changing should be the final for decid-
missed the EMS Namboo- ;1<I1>9B70=:0A even called for the abolition they are unelected. majority. The Constitution and reinstate Rao, who had a the name of Tamil Nadu to ing on the majority of a gov-
diripad government on the of the post. Some argue that Abolishing the post of and not political considera- majority. Tamizhagam. ernment.
recommendations of the then they are superfluous in a governor might be a distant tions must guide him. The Goa governor, Late The Governor walked out It is high time political
Kerala Governor on July 31, democracy. dream, but the issue could be The architect of the Bhanu Pratap Singh, sacked of the House in a huff. Chief parties reached a consensus
1959. During the last few years, addressed. The Centre-state Indian Constitution, BR two chief ministers and rein- Minister Stalin moved a quick on the appointment and role
Once again, the role of the governors of Andhra relationship and the role of Ambedkar, had assured the stated one, all within a fort- resolution against the of governors, and brought
governor has come into ques- Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil governor must be further Constituent Assembly that night. As a result, the Centre Governor, putting the records back the dignity and
tion with the emergence of Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, refined. The governor is the the governor would have no sacked him. straight that only the written respectability of the post.
multiple regional parties. The Kerala, Maharashtra and link between the Centre and powers of his own. However, The Kerala Assembly speech should go into the The Centre, while appointing
issues between some chief West Bengal, and the lieu- states. He acts as a medium in he would have duties. passed a resolution against records. governors, must consult the
ministers and governors tenant-governors of Delhi a country which promotes It is not as if all governors Governor Arif Mohammed Prime minister Indira chief minister as recommend-
include: selection of governor; and Puducherry, among oth- cooperative federalism. He is were terrible, as the contribu- Khan, asking the President to Gandhi imposed governors ed by the Sarkaria Com-
time for proving a legislative ers, have not got along with a nominal head and has a tion of some governors has recall him. on various states. A healthy mission. They should be per-
majority; taking a long time the non-BJP chief ministers. five-year tenure but remains been good. Earlier, people of The latest row between system of consulting the chief sons of eminence and not
to give consent to Bills; That is why the Chief at the 'pleasure' of the eminence occupied Raj Bha- the DMK-led government minister on the appointment play partisan politics. They
adverse comments on the Ministers like Mamata President. The governor sum- vans. Some did stellar work, and Tamil Nadu Governor of governors changed. She should not only be fair but
state's policies; and the role of Banerjee, K Chandrashekar mons and prorogues the leg- were non-controversial, and RN Ravi took an ugly turn on merely informed them. At also appear to be impartial.
chancellors of state universi- (The author is a senior Rao, MLStalin and P Vijayan islature on the advice of the had a good rapport with the January 9 in the Assembly's least 50 times during her This may check the truant
ties. journalist) shout in a chorus for the abo- council of ministers. The real chief ministers. inaugural session. In an two stints, she sacked chief governors.
KNOW THY SELF, KNOW THY ENEMY. A T
HOUSAND BATTLES, A THOUSAND VICTORIES. THE MOST WASTED DAY OF ALL IS THAT ON
SUN TZU WHICH WE HAVE NOT LAUGHED.
8 NICOLAS CHAMFORT
YUGMARG, CHANDIGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023
EDITORIAL
Costly course
he National Education Policy, 2020 strives to
Size-luminosity relation of galaxies
T raise the gross enrolment ratio in higher educa-
tion from 27.1% in 2019-20 to 50% by 2035.
This would amount to doubling the higher education A
n international team of researchers
including the Kavli Institute for the
Physics and Mathematics of the
enrolment within the next 15 years. This would re- Universe (Kavli IPMU) has studied the re-
quire the enrolment to grow by 4.7% annually. During lationship between galaxy size and lumi-
2014-15 to 2019-20, the growth rate was no more than nosity of some of the earliest galaxies in the
1.99% a year. The required growth in enrolment could universe taken by the brand-new James
come from enhancing the intake capacity of existing Webb Space Telescope (JWST), less than a
institutions or by establishing new ones. The NEP billion years after the Big Bang, reports a
hopes to achieve these twin objectives mainly through new study in The Astrophysical Journal
an increased participation of the private sector in high- Letters.
er education. The result is part of the Grim Lens-
The private sector does create capacity but is not Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS)
necessarily helpful in increasing enrolment. The engi- Early-Release Science Program, led by
neering and management institutions are glaring ex-
amples — half of their sanctioned intakes remains un- University of California, Los Angeles, Pro-
filled, while the Indian Institutes of Technology and fessor Tommaso Treu. It is aimed at study-
Management have a very high seat-to-application ra- ing the early universe when the first
tio for these very programmes. Students are clearly at- stars/galaxies ignited, which ionized the
tracted if institutions can offer quality higher educa- neutral gas in the universe at the time and
tion at affordable prices. allowed light to shine through. This is
In India, undergraduate programmes account for called the epoch of reionization.
fourfifths of the total enrolment and within this a third However, details of reionization have
of the students are enrolled in humanities, social sci- remained unknown because telescopes un-
ences, arts and languages. Science, commerce and en- til today have not been capable of observ-
gineering/ technology account for 16, 14.9 and 12.6%, ing galaxies in this period of the universe's
respectively. Agriculture, law, medicine, paramedical, history in detail. Finding out more about
nursing, physiotherapy and other programmes ac- the epoch of reionization would help re-
count for a minuscule fraction of the total enrolment. searchers understand how stars and galax-
These in no way reflect the demand and preferences ies have evolved to create today's universe
of students. Nor are they in sync with the current as we see it.
needs of the industry. The economy and society need One study, led by Kavli IPMU JSPS
graduates with professional and technical knowhow Fellow Lilan Yang, and including Project
and skills, and students want to pursue such pro- Researcher Xuheng Ding, used multiband
grammes. They are unable to do so for capacity con- NIRCAM imaging data from the GLASS-
straints of institutions which could provide quality JWST program to measure galaxy size and
higher education at a reasonable cost. luminosity to figure out the morphology
India suffers from a shortage of doctors, but not and the size-luminosity relation from rest-
due to a lack of interest. In 2021, about 16 lakh stu- frame optical to UV.
dents appeared for the National Eligibility cum En- "It's the first time that we can study the
trance Test, out of which about eight lakh were eligi- galaxy's properties in rest-frame optical at
ble to pursue a medical degree. But the capacity of redshift larger than 7 with JWST, and the rest-frame wavelength is used to clarify galaxies at redshift larger than 7, or rough- The team also found the slope of the
government and private medical colleges is just one size-luminosity is important for determin- their intrinsic wavelength, rather than ob- ly 800 million years after the Big Bang, al- size-luminosity relationship was somewhat
lakh. Fees for a bachelor’s degree in the IITs is said to ing the shape of luminosity function which served wavelength. lowing them to study the size as function of steeper in the shortest wavelength band
have seen a three-fold rise over the past six years. A indicates the primary sources responsible Previously, with Hubble Space Tele- wavelength. They found the median size at when allowing the slope to vary. "That
BTech degree from these institutions now costs 8-10 for the cosmic reionization, i.e., numerous scope, we know the properties of galaxies the reference luminosity is roughly 450- would suggest higher surface brightness
lakh for the general and other backward caste cate- faint galaxies or relatively less bright only in rest-frame UV band. Now, with 600 parsecs and decreased slightly from density at shorter wavelength, hence less
gories. Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and persons galaxies. JWST, we can measure longer wavelength rest-frame optical to UV. But was this ex- observational incompleteness correction
with disabilities and those belonging to the general "The original wavelength of light will than UV," said first author Yang. pected? "The answer is we don't know when estimating luminosity function, but
and OBC category with a family income of one lakh shift to longer wavelength when it travels The researchers found the first rest- what's to expect. Previous simulation stud- the result is not conclusive. We don't want
rupees or less are eligible for a full tuition waiver. from the early universe to us. Thus, the frame optical size-luminosity relation of ies give a range of predictions," said Yang. to over-interpret here," said Yang.
Secreted protein that helps in growing Plastic pollution in oceans POEM

muscles discovered by researchers The Kraken
ccording to research from
A Tokyo Metropolitan Universi-
ty, a protein known as platelet-
derived growth factor subunit B
Below the thunders of the up-
per deep, Far, far beneath in the
(PDGF-B), which is continually re-
leased from skeletal muscle cells, has abysmal sea, His
been found to aid in muscle repair by
promoting the formation of my-
ancient, dream-
oblasts, or muscle stem cells.
Unexpectedly, they discovered
sor Yasuko Manabe at Tokyo Metro-
politan University has been studying
less, uninvaded
that PDGF-B promotes the growth of
muscle fibres as well. This matched
how myokines affect the behaviour of
muscle cells. Through extensive ex-
sleep The Kraken
the stronger contraction of the fibres, periments, they found that a myokine sleepeth: faintest
they found. The medicines they have known as platelet-derived growth fac- any people are aware of plastic pol- dous scenes that they must live within
discovered could revolutionise the
way we treat muscle injuries and at-
rophy.
tor subunit B, or PDGF-B, is secreted
by skeletal muscles in a constitutive
way i.e. without any stimulus.
M lution in the oceans. Photos of tur-
tles or seabirds entangled in plastic
garbage first went viral in the 1990s, and the
places they call home," said project leader
Yoshitaka Ota, a University of Washington
professor of practice in marine and environ-
Tennyson
sunlights
About his shad-
flee
Myokines are small proteins se-
creted by skeletal muscle cells. They
To understand what role it plays,
they took myoblasts, precursor cells
Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now the fo-
cus of highly publicized cleanup efforts.
mental affairs and director of The Nippon
Foundation Ocean Nexus Center.
owy sides; above him swell
have a wide range of functions and
may act on cells both near and far
which go on to differentiate into mus-
cle fibres, and exposed them to
Less recognized is how marine plastic
waste affects human populations and the
Increasingly, the greenhouse gases
causing climate change are seen as an issue
Huge sponges of millennial
from where they are made.
A comprehensive picture of how
PDGF-B. They were able to clearly
show that PDGF-B induced greater
unequal burden on different communities. A
report, "Towards an Equitable Approach to
in which some countries produce most of
the pollution while other countries or
growth and height; And far
myokines affect cellular processes is proliferation of myoblasts. Marine Plastics Pollution," outlines the cur- groups are more at risk from the long-term away into the sickly light,
far from clear, but it is believed that Curiously, they also found that rent situation and attempts to address the consequences. Plastic pollution, this report
they play an important role in exer- PDGF-B impacted cells which had al- problem. "We all benefit from plastics, but argues, is a similar issue for coastal com- From many a wondrous grot .
cise-related bodily functions, particu- ready differentiated. They took my- some people are paying more of the exter- munities. The report, published in late No-
larly the maintenance of muscle tis- otubes, a developmental stage of nal costs in terms of the environmental vember, includes 31 authors from nine Alfred, Lord Tennyson
sue. A team led by Associate Profes- muscle fibres. damage, well-being issues and just horren- countries.
Research finds how placebo can reduce feelings of guilt

eople don't al- searcher at the Divi- conduct, or treated group was given no chiatric disorders and be useful for such
P ways behave
impeccably dur-
ing interactions with
sion of Clinical Psy-
chology and Psy-
chotherapy at the
someone close to
them unfairly, hurt or
even harmed them.
treatment at all. The
results showed that
feelings of guilt were
were not being treat-
ed with psychotrop-
ics.
strong emotions as
guilt is new. It stands
to reason, says Dilan
others. We frequently University of Basel. The idea was that the significantly reduced Clinical applica- Sezer, that we should
feel bad once we re- Whether feelings study participants in both placebo bility not yet proven try to harness these
alise that this has un- of guilt can be re- should still feel bad groups compared Where feelings of effects to help those
intentionally caused duced by taking about the chosen situ- with those without guilt are irrational affected. "The admin-
harm to someone. It placebos is some- ation. medication. and continue for istering of open-label
motivates us to take thing that researchers Participants were This was also the longer periods of placebos, in particu-
remedial action, like at the Faculty of Psy- then randomized to case when the sub- time, they are consid- lar, is a promising ap-
apologising or own- chology at the Uni- three conditions: Par- jects knew they had ered maladaptive - in proach, as it pre-
ing up, by this unset- versity of Basel have ticipants in one group been given a placebo. other words, dispro- serves patient autono-
tling emotion. been exploring. Their were given placebo "Our study therefore portionate. These my by allowing pa-
This is why guilt findings have now pills with being de- supports the intrigu- emotions can affect tients to be fully
is considered an im- been published in the ceptively told that ing finding that place- people's health and aware of how the in-
portant moral emo- journal Scientific Re- this was a real med- bos work even when are also, among other tervention works."
tion, as long as it is ports. ication while partici- they are administered things, a common The results of the
adaptive - in other Open-label place- pants in another openly, and that ex- symptom of depres- study are an initial
words, appropriate bos work group were told that planation of the treat- sion. promising step in the
and in proportion to In order to arouse they are given a ment is key to its ef- Scientific studies direction of symp-
the situation. "It can feelings of guilt, test placebo. Both groups fectiveness," states have shown that tom-specific and
improve interperson- subjects in the study were told that what the study's lead au- placebo effects can be more ethical treat-
al relationships and is were asked to write they had been given thor, Dilan Sezer. powerful in treating ments for psycholog-
therefore valuable for about a time when will be effective Participants in this depression. But the ical complaints using
social cohesion," said they had disregarded against feelings of study were all finding that open-la- open-label placebos,
Dilan Sezer, re- important rules of guilt. The control healthy, had no psy- bel placebos can also Sezer continues.
06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 17 JANUARY 2023
Lending voice to Global South

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
India to provide a template for widening the consultative processes of G20
environment-friendly lifestyles.
The outcome of COP27 was disap-
pointing in this respect. India’s ini-
Worsening inequality tiative to encourage the ISA and

CDRI and also alter lifestyles is
aimed at a realistic goal-setting
Reduce rich-poor gap to ensure equitable growth without depending solely on the G7
I
and China to fund the future of the
N its latest report, aptly titled ‘Survival of the Richest’, rights group GURJIT SINGH globe. The South is exploring new
Oxfam International has said that the world’s richest 1 per cent FORMER AMBASSADOR technologies for renewable energy,
have grabbed nearly two-thirds of all new wealth worth $42 trillion including a green hydrogen initia-
A
created since 2020. This is almost twice the money earned by the rest of MONTH into India’s G20 tive. This is based on a robust solar
the global population. The findings for India are equally stark: the rich- presidency shows that the energy partnership for which the
est 1 per cent in the country now own more than 40 per cent of its total country is taking its ISA, through its hybrid financing
wealth, while the bottom half of the populace shares only 3 per cent. The responsibilities seriously. model, is likely to play a major role.
well-off have kept minting money even during the Covid years. From India intends to be the spokesman The human resource sector is also
the outbreak of the pandemic to November 2022, billionaires in India for the Global South during its one- vital for the South. In the backdrop of
have seen their moolah go up by 121 per cent or Rs 3,608 crore per day. year tenure. A virtual Voice of Glob- the Covid pandemic, the stress is on
The report, which comes a fortnight before the presentation of al South Summit, with the theme LEADING THE WAY: India intends to make reformed multilateralism and increasing cooperation to build
the Union Budget for the 2023-24 financial year, has sought a sys- Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose, institutions for the 21st century a priority during its G20 presidency. PTI resilient healthcare systems. This
was held on January 12-13. It gath- includes funding more public health
temic and wide-ranging increase in taxation of the super-rich to
‘claw back crisis gains driven by public money and profiteering’.
ered 125 countries from the Global
South to exchange perspectives and
Efforts to include countries outside the G20 purview show facilities and developing independent
capabilities for prophylactic and rem-
Oxfam has also urged the Finance Minister to introduce one-off
solidarity wealth taxes and windfall taxes. In the 2022-23 Budget,
set priorities. Thus, India’s G20 India’s keenness to democratise the international order. edy resources to be shared.
presidency is responsive in consult- The current global crises, from the
the FM had announced pruning of the surcharge on corporate tax ing ‘not just our G20 partners, but pandemic to the Ukraine war, have
from 12 per cent to 7 per cent, besides extending the concessional also our fellow-travellers in the structure (CDRI). announced more initiatives for impacted economies. There is a need
corporate tax rate of 15 per cent for another year for newly incor- Global South, whose voice often The interactions proposed a expressing the voice of the Global to develop synergies in the Global
porated manufacturing companies. goes unheard.’ ‘whole of government’ approach South, including Aarogya Maitri, South on trade, technology, tourism
The ever-widening rich-poor gulf calls for reviewing the taxation The idea was to go beyond those in the engagement with the Global Global South Centre of Excellence and resources. This is critical to deal
system for the moneybags. This is a tough task for a government that already involved in the G20 and seek South and the G20. There were two Science and Technology Initiative, with trade flows, FDI, technology
is perceived to be pro-corporate, At the same time, pro-poor policies the views of the vast number of coun- leaders’ sessions: Voice of Global Young Diplomats Forum and Global trade and standards, investing in con-
are needed to effectively achieve poverty alleviation. According to the tries who are not within its direct South — for Human-Centric South Scholarships. nectivity infrastructure, and to diver-
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022, over 41 crore people ambit. Thus, G20 members Argenti- Development, followed by Unity of As the G20 President, India is sify global supply chains.
na, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil, South Voice-Unity of Purpose. The lead- focusing on current issues of con- India’s efforts to include coun-
were pulled out of poverty in India in 15 years, starting from 2005-06.
Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Chi- ers spelt out development priori- cern amid the big power rivalry and tries outside the G20 purview
This is a heartening development, but the job is only half done as
na were not included in these consul- ties to set an agenda through a unilateral sanctions that are reduc- demonstrate its keenness to
India still accounts for the largest population of poor citizens. The tations. Five of India’s neighbours common voice and purpose. ing the space for the South to devel- democratise the international
world’s fifth largest economy must make greater efforts to reduce var- participated; 48 African countries and India has been asserting that it op. The promised benefits of global- order. This is imperative as the UN
ious forms of inequality — including pay disparity between male and seven from ASEAN were there, intends to make reformed multilater- isation have withered under and the international institutions
female workers — to ensure equitable growth. besides all five from Central Asia, 10 alism and institutions for the 21st selective sanction regimes. A major are regarded as ineffective despite
from the South Pacific and 29 from century a priority during its presi- task for the South is to abide by having universal membership and
Latin America and the Caribbean. It dency. At the inaugural session, PM international norms and prevent have been ignoring the views of the
was a welcome opportunity for sever- Modi highlighted the main issues for unilateralism by big powers. vast majority on critical issues and
Case pendency al small countries to participate in the

consultations and offer their views.
India’s special invitee guest coun-
the developing world. The opportuni-
ty for uplifting societies and
economies of the Global South
In the financial domain, debt stress
has limited G20 options. The people-
centric aspects are the Sustainable
reforms. India has obtained an
articulation of the entire Global
South’s perspective and will pro-
Systemic revamp of justice delivery can help tries for the G20 are Bangladesh, through a shared vision and agenda Development Goals which are to be vide a template for widening the
Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, for change was emphasised. He achieved by 2030, but delays are like- consultative processes of the G20.
F
ILED in 1951, the case pertaining to liquidation of the erstwhile Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and offered to share India’s experiences ly. These require consistent financ- The initiatives are all based on
Berhampore Bank is listed as the oldest to be heard in any Indi- the UAE. The G20-invited interna- through sustainable solutions. ing, which is being diverted due to the successful Indian models of
an court. Its disposal by the Calcutta High Court, after 72 years, tional organisations include the India is showcasing its achieve- pandemic and the economic crisis. development cooperation. These
is a grim reminder of the clogged state of the country’s judiciary. The African Union (AU) Chair, New Part- ments in vaccine development, bio- The Global South has been the net are expected to enhance skill and
High Court still has two of the next five oldest pending cases to deal nership for Africa’s Development metric identification, digital public loser and it needs adequate financing talent building among countries
with, all of which were filed in 1952. Over 4.7 crore cases are pending (NEPAD) Chair, ASEAN Chair, Inter- goods, financial inclusion, satellite for addressing its core priorities. of the South, boost cooperative
across different levels of the judiciary in India, 87 per cent of them in national Solar Alliance (ISA) and technology, digital governance, last- Financing is also an issue when it innovation and add value to peo-
subordinate courts. The government is the largest litigant. One Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infra- mile connectivity. The country has comes to balancing growth with ple-to-people relationships.
department suing the other is routine, leaving decision-making to the
courts. Avoiding litigation or preferring a quick resolution seems the
least of concerns. For any change to happen, this tendency must be
addressed with a sense of urgency.
The massive backlog of cases is blamed on the inadequate infra-
structure, the large number of judges’ vacancies and overburdened
courts. What’s missing in the discourse is the culture of forced
Sir Hillary’s tryst with Joshimath
delays, ineptness, inefficiency and the lack of accountability. A Brig Jagbir Singh Grewal (retd) agony of its sinking landmass. became impediments. They resort- nallers latched onto the radio-set
chronic problem of the justice delivery system is the ease of adjourn- My posting at Joshimath had been ed to walking, believing that they frequency of the expedition and
ments. Despite the Supreme Court advisory, costs are rarely imposed.
Adjournment of cases is, sadly, a well-established norm. Inhouse
solutions are the only hope. Exemplary precedents have to be set; the
veil of acceptability has to fall.
J OSHIMATH, a small town atop
the mountains, was my home in
1977 while serving with an Army
organisation, ‘Sentinels of the Snow’.
Situated on the threshold of Badrinath
fraught with multiple challenges. One
of these concerned the Ocean to Sky
Expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary,
the conqueror of the Everest. This
expedition, that also included Hillary’s
could acclimatise themselves as
they walked up in the mountains.
On ascending 18,000 ft, Hillary, then
in his late 50s — no longer the
young man he was when he climbed
elicited a response that Hillary was
being brought down.
A medical officer rushed with me to
the makeshift helipad, where we met
Some remedial measures, such as setting up of Lok Adalats, the team. Being carried on a stretcher,
have worked, but the pendency is only increasing, not decreasing. and Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath has son Peter, was planned from Ganga the Everest — fell ill, struck with Hillary had lamented: ‘Starting my
an evolved cosmopolitan culture as it Sagar, where the Ganga meets the sea, high-altitude pulmonary oedema. career with a roar, I end it with a whim-
Suggestions have been put forth for a massive clean-up exercise in
beckons pilgrims of different religions to any destination that they could tra- His team suddenly found him turn- per.’ He touched me with his gloved
every single court to weed out cases that are either infructuous or
and creeds. The town remains appro- verse upstream against the current in ing blue, decaying and dying. With hand when I responded, ‘Sir, you
not worth pursuing. Also, to study why some cases get decided in priate for night halts and as a rallying their three powerful jet boats, and then, Hillary on his air-mattress, his com- have many more mountains to con-
a few years, while others take decades. Equally vital is to assess point for the pilgrim’s progress. they were to climb the Akash Parbat rades collapsed his tent. Wrapping quer.’ Peter murmured that his
the performance of the legal aid system and determine the flaws. The meagre resources of this town near the Badrinath shrine. him in it, they dragged him down to father’s faith brought him alive from
Is it effective or letting down those it seeks to help? Amid the ris- notwithstanding, its brave residents While negotiating the mountain- a lower altitude. the valley of gods. We prayed for him
ing trend of litigation, there’s no quick fix. A systemic revamp of are as large-hearted as the gigantic ous terrain, their boats could even- One of his aides raced down and as the Air Force helicopter evacuated
methods and practices can help. mountains they live in. However, now tually go no further. Rocky edges contacted our post. We despatched him. A few years later, Sir Hillary was
a palpable feeling of loss envelops protruding from the riverbed amid our patrol to assist. Overcoming appointed New Zealand’s High
this Garhwali town as it faces the the gushing waters and a waterfall communication hiccups, our sig- Commissioner to India.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Leadership is not about titles, positions or work hours. Curb imports from China is that those advocating the benefits notify the OPS. Keeping in view the PU Vice-Chancellor
It’s about relationships. — Jim Kouzes Apropos of ‘One-sided trade’; of the National Pension System have social structure of the state, the need The resignation of Dr Raj Kumar
India’s export has significantly been tasting the OPS ‘revdis’ for the for financial security in the form of from the Vice-Chancellorship of
slipped and import from China has past many years. pension can be justified to some Panjab University is unfortu-
increased manifold. China is a hos- TARUN SHARMA, HAMIRPUR extent, but claiming it as a right is nate, but this was inevitable. It
on this day...100 years ago tile country that always keeps India wrong. No employee union comes for- was the first time in the history
on tenterhooks. Beijing still remains Pension matters ward to lend a helping hand to gener- of this great university that a
the largest source of critical imports Pension is the only option which can ate the requisite revenue by adopting teacher from outside the univer-
for us. During the freedom move- guarantee a respectable life for the various innovations and checks and sity was appointed Vice-Chancel-
ment, we had boycotted British prod- elderly. How can an employee, who balances in their functions. It seems lor. It is virtually impossible for
ucts. Here, we are doing just the dedicates his/her best years in gov- that no one is worried about the an outsider to administer the
lahore,wednesday, january 17, 1923
opposite — importing Chinese prod- ernment service, be left to fend for repayment of the huge debt. university with more than 70
ucts and giving it economic advan- himself/herself after superannua- SUNIL KUMAR MAHAJAN, BY MAIL departments and a huge admin-
RETRENCHMENT COMMITTEE tage. Today’s wars are fought with tion? Many pensioners help their istrative setup. As per practice,
LORD Inchcape, who began his work only a short time ago, is about to economic angle. We have abysmally children, who are either unemployed Veterans’ welfare in Panjab University, the senior-
finish it and go home. The question which everybody in this Province, failed here. India, despite having or underpaid due to faulty policies Refer to ‘Rajnath inaugurates Shau- most professor used to be
who takes any interest in this subject, has been asking is, what is our own demographic advantage, remains a and the rush of job-seeking youth. rya Sthal’; on Veterans’ Day, the appointed VC, but in the present
Retrenchment Committee doing? It was appointed on July 30, 1921, and poorly performing exporting coun- Isn’t it an irony that an MLA, MP or Defence Minister said the govern- case, this was an aberration. This
consisted of some of the ablest and most important members of the try. We must, without losing time, a minister becomes eligible for a ment was committed to the welfare of should be a lesson for the author-
Council, Indian and European. It had to deal with a huge deficit, which boost our production in all fields. pension just after taking oath? They the veterans. The OROP arrears, ities for future appointments.
soon amounted to no less a figure than a crore and thirty lakhs. One BM SINGH, AMRITSAR are not only getting multiple pen- which are to be paid from July 2019, VK ANAND, CHANDIGARH
would have expected the Committee to finish its work as expeditiously as sions, but also are enjoying many have not been released yet. Is it not a
it was humanly possible, so that the finances of the Province might be OPS restoration facilities after retirement at the cost welfare measure? PM Modi often Appointment of VC
restored to a condition of equilibrium before the next budget. Not only Apropos of ‘Recipe for bankruptcy’; of taxpayers. It is the government’s says that it is his government that Of late, Panjab University seems to
was this not done, but even eighteen months after the appointment of the reverting to the Old Pension Scheme responsibility to give social security met the long-pending OROP be in a mess. One hopes that the
Committee, when in all probability another budget is in the process of (OPS) would, indeed, be disastrous to the aged. Make the pension policy demand. But why the delaying in Chancellor of the university, being
being departmentally hatched, we find ourselves in the same position as for the financial health of the coun- fair, transparent and logical, whether arrears? After the Supreme Court’s a former Senior Advocate of the
we were a year ago. Had the Committee started with the deliberate object try. But why is it treated as a ‘recipe it is NPS or OPS. intervention, the Centre has agreed to Supreme Court, will adhere strictly
of leaving the administration a free hand in the matter of piling up for financial bankruptcy’ in the case SADHNA SAINI, BY MAIL pay the arrears in four six-monthly to the calendar and directives of the
deficits it is not easy to see how it could have acted differently. And yet of government employees only? Our instalments. Why not in lump sum? Central government endorsed by
one has only to know that the Committee includes almost all the leading ministers get full pension. If the lat- Financial crunch Over 3 lakh veterans have reportedly the Supreme Court as regards the
critics and opponents of the Government in the Legislative Council to see ter treat themselves as servants of With the restoration of the OPS, the died and many more may die before appointment of VCs in India, so
that such a supposition is easily ruled out. The only explanation we can the people, why don’t they give it up newly elected Himachal Government receiving the benefit. Those above 80 that the PU gets a suitable person
think of, assuming that the Committee and not the Government is first? No editorial has been pub- has tried to fulfil its election promise. years of age should be paid the who is able to uplift the academic
responsible for the delay in the publication of its report or its lished criticising the OPS being giv- Despite a financial crunch, the new arrears in one go. standards of the university.
recommendations, is that the members of the Committee did not address en to our leaders. The strange thing government is under pressure to re- WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR BALVINDER, CHANDIGARH
themselves to their work with the zeal and in the spirit of seriousness
which its tremendous importance and urgency demanded. 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
CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 17 JANUARY 2023 OPED 07
Japan, US bolstering ties to contain China

sibly the emergence of a dedicated
Japanese defence industry.
The Kishida-Biden meeting was pre-
Japan’s decision to sharply boost its defence
ceded by the latest round of the US- spending and alter its pacifist posture has
Japan ‘2+2’ meeting between their
defence and foreign ministers, after now been underwritten by a qualitative shift
which the two sides signed a joint
statement titled “A new era of strate-
in the nature of US-Japan ties. Tokyo will
MANOJ JOSHI
DISTINGUISHED FELLOW, OBSERVER
gic competition”. acquire military capabilities it has till now
The statement and the remarks to
RESEARCH FOUNDATION, NEW DELHI
the media after the meeting suggest chosen not to have — counter-strike missiles
that this is a historic shift and that
to deter North Korea and China by their
J
ANUARY has been a month of the US and Japan are seriously
dramatic developments in the preparing for the possibility of a precision-strike capabilities.
geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific. major conflict in the region. There
Last Friday’s meeting between are three major components of this
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio effort. First, the doubling of Japanese ALLIANCE: US President Biden (R) and Japanese PM Kishida hope to
Kishida and US President Joe Biden defence expenditure and outlining a work together to transform Japan into a potent military power. REUTERS
capped the weeklong developments in new defence strategy; second,
the US-Japan relationship that have restructured command relationships
huge implications for the Indo-Pacif- in the existing US-Japan security meet the common danger”. but of Washington’s efforts to encircle important, its move away from its Last week, too, four Indian Su-
ic, especially for China. alliance and third, substantial pos- In addition to this, it was announced and contain China. pacifist policies will now provide 30MKI multirole fighters landed at
Japan’s decision to sharply boost ture and capability enhancements. that the US would, by 2025, station a Within a few years, Japan’s new Tokyo a new military muscle in the Japan’s Hyakuri Air Base near
its defence spending and alter its Japan is establishing a new joint mil- US Marine littoral regiment in Oki- strategy will begin impacting its region. Even now the Japan Maritime Tokyo accompanied by two IAF C-17
pacifist posture has now been under- itary headquarters for its armed serv- nawa equipped with anti-ship mis- place in the international order and Self-Defence Force is one of the most Globemasters and an Il-78 tanker to
written by a qualitative shift in the ices and the US and Japan say they siles to defend the southwest islands in the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific. powerful in the world and larger than participate in exercise ‘Veer
nature of US-Japan ties. Sixty per will explore new command and control of Japan that stretch to the proximity So far, Tokyo has chosen to use only those of the UK and France com- Guardian’. The exercise was origi-
cent expansion of the defence arrangements to coordinate with their of Taiwan. And this is just the begin- its financial clout to establish its bined. In the coming years, it will nally planned for 2020, but was post-
expenditure of the world’s third forces. Till now, where the US-NATO ning; in future we could possibly see influence in the region. It provides become more powerful and expand poned. Japan and India have been
largest economy and a major indus- and US-South Korea had considerable Japan joining the core US intelli- substantial official development its footprint in the western Pacific participating with the US and Aus-
trial power in the coming five years combined command experience, there gence alliance — ‘Five Eyes’ — and assistance to Bangladesh, India, and, possibly, Indian Ocean. tralia in the naval exercise ‘Malabar’
is a paradigm shift. was no comparable experience emerging as a major player in the mil- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Before arriving in Washington DC, for a few years now.
As part of this, Tokyo will acquire between the US and Japan. itary export business. Vietnam and even China. It also has a PM Kishida signed an agreement New Delhi and Tokyo enjoy robust
military capabilities it has till now Tokyo has already announced that All these developments are hardly major stock of the FDI in the Indo- with the UK to facilitate more joint ties, both bilaterally and as mem-
chosen not to have — counter-strike it will acquire hundreds of American pleasing to China. Not only will they Pacific region. Its FDI in ASEAN military exercises. This came after a bers of the Quad. Japan’s new ori-
missiles to deter North Korea and Chi- Tomahawk cruise missiles and an change the Japanese relationship countries like Singapore, Thailand, similar agreement with the other entation offers opportunities for
na by their precision-strike capabili- outcome of last week’s meeting is the with the US and its allies, but also that Indonesia and Vietnam is double of AUKUS member — Australia. The India in both economic and military
ties. In addition, Japan will sharply US commitment to Japan’s space between Japan and China. The South what it has in China. Other countries Japanese have also been reaching out fields. India could gain from the
enhance its cyber capabilities, security. According to US Secretary China Morning Post quoted Liu like Australia, South Korea, India to other friends to strengthen their Japanese efforts to shift high-tech
unmanned systems and satellites to of State Antony Blinken, any attack Jiangyong, a Japanese specialist at and Taiwan are also major recipients defence ties. As a result, French, industries away from China, besides
support counter-strike missions. on Japanese satellites would trigger Tsinghua University in Beijing, as of Japanese investments. Dutch and German warships have from the overall mood in the Indo-
Besides, there will be broad-based Article V of the US-Japan Security saying that the developments not only The substantial increase in Japan’s been sailing in the region and exer- Pacific to establish secure and
investments in defence R&D and pos- Treaty, requiring the two to “act to exposed Tokyo’s regional ambitions, defence expenditure, and more cising with the US and Japan. resilient supply chains.
Multipolarity a challenge in meeting G20 goals

I
T is easy to call for reform of the nomically by the antagonisms countries to assure the continent of Chi-
United Nations as the centre of between hostile trading blocs. na’s help as a generous donor and polit-
multilateralism and to advocate Advocates of multipolarity have ically experienced friend.
multipolarity, but as the G20 pres- recently played significant interna- Despite these divisive political prob-
ident, India will face the rifts created tional roles. For instance, Saudi Ara- lems, the G20 presidency will be an
by multipolarity. ‘Multipolarity’ is a bia agreed with Russia to cut oil pro- opportunity for India to enhance con-
catch-all term favoured by any coun- duction. This has sent global oil fidence in multilateral frameworks by
try which does not wish to be pushed prices soaring, but they couldn’t highlighting how the Global South can
ANITA INDER SINGH
around by any superpower. It implies care less. India has avoided the price achieve sustainable development
FOUNDING PROFESSOR, CENTRE FOR PEACE a distribution of power between three rise by buying oil at discount rates goals and steer itself out of the interna-
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, NEW DELHI
or more countries or alliances. But the from Russia and annoying the US tional economic and financial prob-
very countries favouring multipolari- and European Union, which want to lems created by the Covid-19 pandem-
ty — some of them G20 members, forge a united international front ic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But
India has kept itself aloof including India, China, Saudi Arabia, against a belligerent Russia with India must take care not to give the
from western economic and France and Germany — are divided
about its meaning and aims.
sanctions and an oil price cap. impression that it is ignoring the high-
On a different plane, India has ly developed Global North G20 coun-
diplomatic campaigns The G20 was created in 1999 by six blamed the UN for failing to solve old tries, which comprise one-third of its
western allies and Japan to increase the and new international crises, whether members. And since most G20 coun-
against Russia and Iran. engagement of developing countries in involving Kashmir, terrorism or the tries, unlike India, voted against Rus-
So, it will join these finding ways to advance global eco- Ukraine-Russia war and the food and sia at the UN, India should take care to
nomic stability and sustainable growth, energy crises it has precipitated. prevent this political divide from put-
countries in opening new and also to prevent financial crisis. AMBITION: Each G20 country calling for a multipolar world seeks to advance its
national interests and enhance its global image. ANI
In contrast, China, which is ting hurdles in its way as the leader of
The US, which was one of the G20’s India’s main challenger in Asia, a primarily economic grouping.
shipping trade routes that creators, sometimes downplays its does not criticise western-created Moreover, since many developing
could enable Russia to importance. For example, National tary power determines global securi- China at America’s behest, though it multilateral institutions. It says the countries in Asia and Latin America
Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sees ty. The war has placed the US, demo- may lay stress on human rights in work done by its Asia Infrastructure are ahead of India economically, New
bypass Europe and western the G7 — which is dominated by the cratic Europe and Japan on the one future dealings with China. Investment Bank complements the Delhi’s absence from any regional
US and democratic European coun- side and Russia and China on the oth- At another level, each G20 country job done by the World Bank and economic grouping leaves it going
sanctions against Moscow. tries — as the ‘organising committee er. And most members of the G20 and calling for a multipolar world seeks to International Monetary Fund. out on a limb, despite its G20 leader-
India could thus hope to of the free world’. Of course, Washing- many of the Global South countries advance its national interests and Simultaneously, Beijing challenges ship. It needs to cultivate closer eco-
ton knows that it cannot ignore mid- voted against Russia’s invasion of enhance its global image. China is hos- India’s attempt to become the voice of nomic ties with South American,
avoid being restricted dle powers at the G20. Their econom- Ukraine at the UN. tile to the US; India walks the tightrope the Global South through China’s European and Asian countries to
ic weight makes their support crucial Significantly, India’s partner in the between better ties with the US and Global Development Initiative (GDI). alter that image and to gain access to
economically by the to shaping the rules on trade, technol- Quad, Japan, is strengthening its time-tested ties with Russia. Beijing claims the GDI will focus on advanced technologies.
antagonisms between ogy, sanctions and international defence ties with NATO countries, Practising its version of multipolar- ‘people-centred development’ by Last but not least, professing belief
norms. But New Delhi will also have to including Britain, with which it has ity, India has kept itself aloof from helping poor countries recover in the in ‘one world, one family’ as the cur-
hostile trading blocs. face the fact that neither the G20 nor just signed a pact, and with Italy and western economic and diplomatic post-pandemic era and will strengthen rent leader of the G20, India should
the Global South, stretching across Germany. Increasing its defence campaigns against Russia and Iran. international development coopera- forge domestic socio-political consen-
However, New Delhi’s from Latin America, across Africa to spending, it is set to become the third So, it will join these countries in tion. The UN has welcomed the GDI, sus; this is a prerequisite for its
absence from any regional the Far East, speaks with one voice. largest military power in the world opening new shipping trade routes and more than 100 countries support it. progress as an influential country.
Furthermore, there are broader, and in Asia, after the US and China. that could enable Russia to bypass Meanwhile, China’s new Foreign Min- Only then will the aspiring interna-
economic grouping leaves troublesome international security In Europe, Germany endorses mul- Europe and western sanctions ister Qin Gang stuck to a three-decade- tional bridge-builder have reliable cre-
developments. Russia’s war in tipolarity because it does not want to against Moscow. India could thus old tradition, when, on January 10, he dentials to unite the interests of devel-
it going out on a limb. Ukraine has reconfirmed that mili- weaken its strong economic ties with hope to avoid being restricted eco- started an official tour of five African oping and industrialised countries.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS
JANUARY 17, 2023, TUESDAY SUNSET: TUESDAY 17:46 HRS
1 A cloud type (7)
4 Avoid firm commitment (5)
9 5 3 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2079
SUNRISE: WEDNESDAY 07:19 HRS
7 Clever (4) ■ Shaka Samvat 1944

8 Peaceful (8)
10 Iris flower (5-2-3) 5 6 4 1 ■ Posh Shaka
■ Magha Parvishte
27
4
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
12 Opera by Bizet (6)

■ Hijari 1444 Chandigarh 17 04
13 Speak ill of (6)
15 Intensive attack 8 7 ■ Krishna Paksha Tithi 10, up to 6.06 pm New Delhi 19 01
with rapid advance (10) ■ Shoola Yoga up to 8.34 am Amritsar 15 0
18 Reluctant (8)
19 Originate (4) 4 1 8 ■ Ganda Yoga up to 5.58 am
■ Vishaka Nakshatra up to 6.46 pm

Bathinda
Jalandhar
15
14 01
0
20 Disprove (5)
21 Passage from a book (7) ■ Moon enters Scorpio sign 1.00 pm Ludhiana 17 02
7 3 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
Bhiwani 16 02
DOWN
Hisar 15 02
1 Banter (5)
2 A dark purple fruit (8)
3 Protect from view (6)
2 9 8 4 7 6 5 9 8 3 2 1 Sirsa
Dharamsala
17
19
01
03
8 2 5 1 4 3 9 6 7
4 Questionable Manali 11 --01
goings-on (5-5)
5 Apply paint crudely (4)
4 8 3
9
1
5
9
7
7
8
2
6
6
4
5
2
4
1
8
3
Shimla 16 04
6 To animate (7) Srinagar 08 --04
9 Permission to
go ahead (5,5) 1 8 5 9 6
2
4
3
8
1
2
9
3
5
1
7
7
4
9
8
5
6
Jammu
Kargil
16
--08
04
--20
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION 11 Give aid (8)
7 9 4 6 8 5 1 3 2 Leh --02 --15
Across: 1 Over the hump, 9 Tuneful, 10 Range, 11 Also, 12 Conspire, 14 Grovel,
16 Riddle, 18 Twilight, 19 Stow, 22 Feast, 23 Persist, 24 Give-and-take.
12 Cavalry horse (7)
14 Point of view taken (6) 4 9 3 5 6 2 3 1 9 8 7 4 Dehradun 19 07 1
Down: 2 Venus, 3 Rife, 4 Hollow, 5 Hardship, 6 Mankind, 7 Straight off, 8 Get even 16 Whole series (5) Mussoorie 13 02
with, 13 Belittle, 15 Origami, 17 Chopin, 20 Think, 21 Brat. 1 8 3 4 7 2 6 5 9
17 Restrain (4) MEDIUM TEMPERATURE IN OC
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EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 17 JANUARY 2023 | COIMBATORE
pg 6
Subhani
17 JANUARY 2023
It’s the Constitution that is

supreme, not Parliament...
I
ndia must be grateful to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar for sparking off
this debate, when he questioned the judiciary, and contextualised the 1973
landmark Supreme Court verdict in the Kesavananda Bharati versus the
State of Kerala case, and argued that since the phrase constructed for the
first time by the judiciary in its ruling, “... basic structure of the Indian con-
stitution...”cannot be amended, it was a forced reduction in the Parliament’s
powers to legislate.
Since it was delivered nearly 50 years ago, the Supreme Court verdict has
been held as a truism, a tenet of Indian politics, with several past leaders and
parliamentarians, including past Prime Ministers, Lok Sabha Speakers and,
predecessors of Mr Dhankhar, having praised it and accepted it as the larger
legal boundary of the scope of ambition for Parliament.
The deeper meaning lies in the understanding that the Indian Constitution,
created after much deliberations and study by our founding fathers in the
Constituent Assembly, that it has envisaged and brought into legal and politi-
cal effect a system of governance, in which, with clear separation of powers,
and internal checks and balances, the three pillars of government operate —
legislature, executive and judiciary.
The Indian Constitution is supreme herewith
India needs ‘growth’ Budget

The Vice-President as the legal, and moral and political, codified wis-
raises important ques- dom which gave birth to the entire independent
LETTERS
tions — including, did India’s political system, and is the fountainhead
of all of the system, the powers, the procedures,
the Constitution itself the law, and the three pillars, and none of them FREEBIES VERSUS
use the phrase, or if can therefore, by definition, or chronology, be WELFARE
the judiciary created above it.
At another level, the supremacy of the
it, can it be binding on Constitution lies in the clear unambiguous sepa-
Parliament, and if so, ration of power, and roles, of each of the princi-
has the judiciary over- pal pillars of the government. Neither the legis-
taken the power of lature, nor judiciary, or at the Central highest
as global risks get amplified The forthcoming substantially increase
In his ‘Essays in Taxation’ Edwin
R.A Seligman said famously that
taxation should be based on the
principle of quid-pro-quo (“Freebies
and welfare: Time to define critical
spending on public health-
Parliament to legislate, level, neither Parliament, nor the Supreme
Court, can legitimately conduct an overreach to Budget should con- care and education is well
difference”, Jan. 15). The doctrine
only means that tax revenue should
or amend the sacred cut down the power, or reduce the scope, of each tinue to take for- recognised. In fact, invest- be returned to the people in the
parchment? other. ward the
Chandrajit
ing in health and education form of roads, water, electricity,
The Constitution is the custodian of this holy government’s is pivotal for achieving sus- healthcare or education. Obviously,
truth.
The Kesavananda Bharati case is a judicial reflection on the meaning and Banerjee focus on creating
tainable and inclusive
growth, while improving
the state should not squander tax-
payers’ money on a selective group
limitation of the popular dictum — Parliament can make laws — by asking, an enabling policy worker productivity in the of people as freebies to get their
can Parliament make any law? Can Parliament pass a law saying the and infrastructure post-Covid-19 period. The votes. The tragedy is that a large
Constitution no longer holds good, or that the Indian parliamentary system ecosystem government has made sig- group of honest taxpayers are not
T
should be replaced by a presidential form of democracy, or that the judiciary he forthcoming rev up, to diversify the nificant allocation in the covered by freebies and this goes
is defunct? Union Budget, to sources of revenue.
for manufacturing last two Budgets to address against the basic principle of quid-
The answer is an emphatic nada, a big no. Parliament, as envisaged, created be presented in To achieve this, it is sug- in India. the healthcare system, but pro-quo in taxation. The distribu-
and empowered by the Constitution, does not enable Parliament to change Parliament by gested that there should be it needs to be stepped up tion of freebies is nothing but a
those aspects which are central to the design of the Constitution, which the finance minister aggressive focus on privati- even further. The consecu- transactional exercise where the
Supreme Court, aptly, collectively, phrased as “the basic structure”. Nirmala Sitharaman on sation. It is suggested that up investments in R&D, tive Budgets should voters get something for free in
The Vice-President raises important questions — including, did the February 1, will be the first the responsibility and from the current levels of a endeavour to raise public return for their votes. It is time the
Constitution itself use the phrase, or if the judiciary created it, can it be bind- real post-Covid Budget and authority for the identified mere 0.7 per cent of GDP to spending on healthcare apex court intervened and defined
ing on Parliament, and if so, has the judiciary overtaken the power of the last full-year Budget PSUs could be transferred four per cent of GDP by from 1.28 per cent of GDP in the critical difference between free-
Parliament to legislate, or amend the sacred parchment? before the general election to DIPAM from the line 2047 with an interim goal of 2018-19 to around 2.5-3.0 per bies and welfare.
The answer is simple — with or without a guiding phrase — the judiciary is announced. The macro- ministries once a decision 2.5 per cent by 2030. To cent of GDP by 2025 to R. Narasimhan, Kangayam
can, should and must reflect on the legality of any legislation, or amendment, economic backdrop is a has been taken to privatise facilitate this, it is suggest- ensure affordable health-
of Parliament — it is not a reduction of the powers of Parliament but the prop-
er exercise of the powers, and function, of the judiciary.
challenging one, where
domestic demand drivers
them. In addition, the
Budget should target high-
ed that the Budget should
set up a joint Industry-
care. In addition, the
Budget could announce a
KOHLI SILENCES
are still recovering from
the ravages of the pandem-
er asset monetisation
receipts in FY24 with a
Government Science and
Technology Advisory
high-powered task force to
examine the possibilities of
CRITICS
Nepal crash: Blot on aviation safety ic while the global environ-
ment is one of great uncer-
tainty. It goes without say-
focus on the railways and
telecom.
The subsidy bill in the
Council to deliberate on
making a roadmap for
achieving these aspira-
private institutional capi-
tal supporting public capi-
tal in a large way for
Team India’s authoritative victory
at Thiruvananthapuram would be
etched forever in the minds of crick-
E
very crash is a blot on aviation safety. However safe modern aviation ing that the Indian econo- current year has ballooned tional goals. healthcare and education. et lovers. The team stamped its
has become, it is still plagued by two factors. The leading one is aircraft my will not remain imm- due to a sharp rise in the Third, the Budget needs Finally, it is critical for supremacy in all departments of the
maintenance and the other is technical failure like the one that may have une to the global reverbera- food and fertiliser subsidy. to provide continued capex the Budget to lend its sup- game posting the biggest ever victo-
caused the worst aviation disaster in at least three decades in Nepal, leading to tions. This needs to be ratio- support to the economy. port for sustainable ry in ODIs - by 317 runs, the biggest
the loss of the lives of all passengers on board, including five Indians who were The Budgets over the past nalised next year, as a high There is no greater multi- growth. India is one of the by any team till date. The scintillat-
heading to the resort city with multiple adventure sports to offer. few years have been very subsidy burden squeezes plier than capital expendi- very few countries globally ing performance of 'King' Kohli' who
Modern aviation may claim to have evolved so much as to have almost elim- high on reforms and pro- the finances available for ture for the economy. It is to have walked the talk on was awarded both the Man of the
inated pilot error in highly advanced fly-by-wire aircraft that can virtually fly viding capex support to the funding the productive well known that every its climate commitments Match as well as the Man of the
themselves. The Nepal crash involved an 15-year-old ATR turbo-prop aircraft, economy and industry. The expenditure in the econo- rupee spent on infrastruc- and has set an ambitious Series for his brilliant centuries,
which may have evolved from the bullock carts of aviation of previous eras, forthcoming one should my. Non-merit subsidies ture generates a multiplier goal of achieving Net Zero should silence his critics. The
but which are sorely needed in operating regional services like the one from continue to take forward comprise a staggering 5.7 effect of approximately 2.95 by 2070. To achieve these superb century by Shubman Gill
Kathmandu to Pokhara, barely 30 minutes away. the government’s focus on per cent of GDP, with a for the economy. In the ambitious goals, the gov- should also settle the doubts as to
Aviation has picked up a very good record in the last few years since the creating an enabling policy breakup of 1.6 per cent and coming year, with global ernment should set up a who should be opening the ODI
erratic behaviour of automated nose dives by the contentious Boeing Max air- and infrastructure ecosys- 4.1 per cent between the uncertainty becoming a mechanism for green certi- innings with skipper Rohit Sharma.
craft, which too are back in the skies with a bang with issues resolved satis- tem for manufacturing in Centre and states. This is restraining factor, revival fication to help MSMEs Mohammed Siraj who with his
factorily. One incident of a plane being shot down and another flown to the end India, apart from bracing clearly unsustainable. in private capex is expected access overseas Green exhilarating bowling accelerated
of its tether by a crazed pilot had been regrettable additions to disasters in the the economy for an immi- Second, the Budget needs to remain subdued, thus Finance. The mechanism Team India's victory. The perfor-
sky, spoiling the overall safety record. nent global slowdown with to take forward the ambi- reinforcing the need for should be accompanied by mance of Kuldeep Yadav was also
It is a pity that smaller aircraft must be operated. The Nepalese ATR seems, minimal sacrifice. tion of developing a global- public capex to pump G2G engagement for creat- praiseworthy. The team seems to be
at first glance, to have run into an engine stalling issue on one side, leading to Towards this end, here are ly competitive manufactur- prime the economy. ing acceptance for the shaping well for the upcoming
uncontrollable tilt that sent the aircraft careening into a gorge in which the five specific suggestions for ing sector. With shifting In this context, it is sug- mechanism. World Cup.
river Seti flows, thus lessening the chances of any of the passengers of the ill- the upcoming Budget. global value chains, this is gested that the Budget The Budget could also B. Suresh Kumar, Chennai
fated flight escaping the crash. First, an appropriate fis- an opportune time for India should increase allocation announce a specialised
A probe will establish whether the cause was technical aircraft failure or
pilot error, which cannot be ruled out in demanding flying conditions in Nepal
cal strategy needs to be
spelt out. Fiscal consolida-
to expand its manufactur-
ing base to capitalise on the
towards capital expendi-
ture by 35 per cent, like last
Development Finance
Institution (DFI) to fund HERO WORSHIP
with its mountainous terrain. The airport which is new is said to be an tion is imperative for China plus one strategy year, thus taking the total the energy transition and Mr. Mallikharjun Kharge is correct in
improvement on the old one from which an aircraft that took off in May 2022 macro-economic stability. being pursued by many public capex to about `10 other climate change miti- saying that it is wrong to make one
crashed killing 22 passengers. As per the latest govern- global economies. A global- lakh crores. This should gation and adaptation mea- person alone responsible for the suc-
ment numbers, the econo- ly competitive manufactur- include significant focus on sures along with announc- cess and prosperity of the country. He
DECCAN CHRONICLE my remains on track to ing sector will play a piv- rural infrastructure to ing a PLI for electrolysers must remember that his own party
achieve the fiscal target of otal role in India’s journey boost jobs and incomes in to encourage production of also had grown up on hero worship of
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR 6.4 per cent of GDP on the to becoming a “Viksit the rural areas. This would green hydrogen. Gandhi and Nehru during the free-
Editor Printer & Publisher back of healthy tax buoyan- Rashtra” (developed coun- boost rural demand. Industry is looking for- dom movement. The trend continues
R. MOHAN The Budget should also ward to a growth-oriented
Resident Editor cy despite a sharp increase try) in the next 25 years or even today when Rahul Gandhi is per-
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: noted in the spending this so. This will be accompa- continue with the `1 lakh and reform-focused Union ceived as an 'avatar purush' who has
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254750, year. The Budget should nied by a rise in the share crore of interest-free loans Budget that would not only remedies for every problem of the
22254751 lay down the fiscal consoli- of manufacturing sector in scheme for state capex and address the existing macro- country. Kharge should not also for-
Coimbatore: No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O. Colony Post, Kurudampalayam Village, make it performance dri- economic challenges but
Coimbatore-641022. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 dation roadmap so that the GVA from the current get that Congressmen hailed "Indira
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) fiscal deficit can move print of 16 per cent to ven to encourage the states also put in place strong as India and India as Indira" during
27805256. towards 4.5 per cent of GDP around 25 per cent over the to undertake capital expen- levers for the development her rule. Hero worship has become
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, by FY26. similar time period. diture. State capex is a of the country during the an integral part of India. Even now,
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 large proportion of overall “Amrit Kaal” with an over-
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) It is pertinent to mention A critical impetus to diehard followers of EVR Periyar
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 here that so far, the rev- accomplish this will come government capex, and all objective of making adore him for anything good that
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 enue augmentation has from the manufacturing hence it is important to India a “Viksit Rashtra” by takes place in TN. Even dynastic rule
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, been driven mainly by tax sector embracing technolo- continue to extend support 2047. based on hero worship is accepted as
Fax: 08554-276904 to states for capex.
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. component, while the non- gy and innovation in a an inevitable feature in India even
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 tax component has contin- much bigger way and gear- Fourth, the Budget needs The writer is the director- though we glorify ourselves as the
Karimnagar: H .No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karim Nagar - 505186 ued to remain lackadaisi- ing up for the Techade. to spur health and educa- general of the Confederation biggest democracy in the world.
Phone : 9121181123 cal. The latter needs to get a This would entail ramping tion spending. The need to of Indian Industry V.Rakesh Kaushik, Chennai
M
y good friend Ram Madhav has writ- said that caste could be used for cross-breeding the modes of thinking of Hindus and Muslims their discretion is not required”. Among the
ten a piece saying that “most leaders superior humans, like it was done in animals. differ. Guruji said to Vinobaji that there are things that this cadre is taught is that the
reacted to RSS chief Mohan This was done by Hindus earlier, through good and bad people in every society. There can Constitution is flawed. For instance, the RSS
Bhagwat’s interview without read- Namboodiri Brahmin men marrying outside be found honest and good people in Hindus as has always attacked federalism. The very idea
ing it”. Now I have not read Madhav’s piece, but the caste. It was also done, he said, through well as in Muslims. Similarly, rascals can be of states is offensive to Upadhyaya, because
that is not the point. The issue is whether the Namboodiri men fathering the first child of a seen in both the societies. No particular society there can be only one Bharat Mata and the exis-
Aakar Patel RSS is misunderstood and, particularly,
whether the RSS’ ideology is misunderstood. To
woman married to someone else. It may interest
readers to know that Europe in the feudal peri-
has a monopoly of goodness. However, it is
observed that Hindus even if they are rascals in
tence of a Tamil Nadu or Gujarat or West
Bengal is wrong.
get there we do not need to read the apologists od may have had something similar called droit individual life, when they come together in a We can see echoes of this in the current prob-
but go straight to their texts. And this I have du seigneur (“right of the lord”), allowing feudal group, they always think of good things. On the lem with a BJP governor in the South.
done, for one of my books. Here is a condensa- lords to have sexual relations with subordinate other hand, when two Muslims come together, Mahadeva links this hatred of federalism to the
tion for those who do not have the time or incli- women on the wedding nights of the women. they propose and approve of things which they Goods and Services Tax, which has taken away
nation to read their speeches. I say speeches That this is straight exploitation of the weak themselves in their individual capacity would or severely limited the rights of states to raise
because they have not written any books. and the marginalised and not some noble thing not even think of. They start thinking in an alto- their own revenues.
What ideology of Neither Golwalkar nor Deen Dayal Upadhyaya

wrote any book. This is surprising because
Upadhyaya is referred to as an “ideologue” and
does not appear to have occurred to Golwalkar.
If such things are not pushed forth by the RSS
cadre or the BJP it is not because these state-
gether different way. This is an everyday expe-
rience. Vinobaji admitted that there was truth
in this observation but had no reasons to
Mahadeva calls Hindutva a “cow-faced tiger”,
an entity that is eating at Indian society from
within. He makes a number of original observa-
explain it.” tions, such as “the RSS tries to pull out the teeth
RSS stands for…
his “Integral Humanism” is referred to by the ments have been withdrawn but because they
BJP as its “basic philosophy”. “Integral are likely confident that few people will do what The writer Devanura Mahadeva in his recent and nails of Jaina, Bouddha, Sikh, Lingayat and
Humanism” is a collection of speeches. So is the author has done and actually read the pri- book on the RSS says that the RSS promotes dis- other dharmas that were born in India and
“Bunch of Thoughts” (that is why it was given mary texts. It would be interesting to see a tele- cipline and unanimity over thinking and analy- rejected the Chaturvarna order”. By merely
Why it often sets this name because it is a rambling, incoherent

collection). So, what do they say? Here are the
main parts.
vision debate today around whether or not the
caste system should be worshipped and ossified
as the RSS wants it to be.
sis. Of the title “Bunch of Thoughts” itself, he
says that there is not much thinking in the
work, only a series of “random, dangerous
saying that these are Hindu faiths, it is sought to
subsume their message.
These are the things the ideology promotes,
In “Bunch of Thoughts”, Golwalkar says that Upadhyaya’s talks are comical if read serious- beliefs and that too from a bygone age”. according to its own people. We should not be
off social friction the Hindu people are his god and this god mani-
fests itself through caste. Meaning that the
organisation of Hindu society in the way Manu
ly (see my book Our Hindu Rashtra for details)
but in part also nasty. Consider this paragraph:
“Let me give you an illustration. Once during
Thinking is discouraged in the RSS through the
insistence on order over diversity. The RSS
“tames” its volunteers, Mahadeva writes, and
surprised then that there are frequent reactions
of the negative sort that Madhav is referring to.
These reactions only reflect the truth.
described it (Brahmin head, Kshatriya arms, a conversation between Shri Vinobaji and the quotes Golwalkar as saying that they must “do
Vaishya thighs and Shudra feet) is the entity Sar Sanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak what is told… if told to play kabaddi play The writer is the chair of Amnesty
that is worthy of worship. In 1960, Golwalkar Sangh, Shri Guruji, a question arose as to where kabaddi, told to hold meeting then meeting… International India. Twitter: @aakar__patel
What’s the use of a fine house if
Henry
you haven’t got a tolerable David
planet to put it on? Thoreau
06 DHARMAPURI TUESDAY 17 01 2023

� �
I
n the week gone by, the city of tar, money, growth and everything else that
Bengaluru was witness to a gory
Big cities like Bengaluru are losing their soul. The priorities comes under the crass umbrella of the “de-
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN accident. A Metro pillar fell on a we chase are about brick, mortar, money, growth and what velopment” word. There is a very quick jus-
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. family of four, sparing a father falls under the crass umbrella of the “development” word tification when it comes to widening roads
— Ramnath Goenka and daughter, but killing the that must not be widened at the cost of the
DEVELOPMENT AND
mother and her toddler son. The trees at the side: “We are doing it for the
mother was all of 28 and the boy sake of developing the seamless commut-
was just a little over two. Their lives were ing ability of citizens.”
SUBSIDENCE LESSON: taken away by an accident that had no right

to happen in the first place. But then, acci- THE PRICE THAT The point to remember is that the mo-
ment we widen the roads, more cars and
OTHER JOSHIMATHS dents happen, don’t they?

When accidents of this kind happen, it
COMES WITH IT
motorised vehicles of every kind will find
their way onto it. There is no end to the
IN THE OFFING
jolts one. The “It could have been me” factor road-widening philosophy. Bengaluru
bites first. And when that wanes, in steps today has a population of 104 lakh vehicles
the thought that these kinds of things must that cater to the whims and fancies of 130
T
not happen to anyone. And then kicks in the lakh people.
he Joshimath crisis has exploded with the onset of a new
blame game. And finally the blame gets This number just goes to say that every
year. Even as a team from the Prime Minister’s Office pinned, compensations get paid, and life adult above the age of 18 has one set of
(PMO) takes stock of the very ground whose subsidence moves on. Till the next one happens. HARISH Brand Guru and Founder, wheels to their name. When shall this
has triggered a seismic wave of panic in the Himalayan And that is the purpose of this rather BIJOOR Harish Bijoor Consults Inc stop? Not too soon. Not until we come to a
region—almost foreboding a catastrophe lying in wait— self-righteous piece with stupidly naive point where a bigger mandate or act of God
there are two lessons to be learned. First, never ignore the past. questions as well. The key question then. (force majeure) dictates a stop to this
Forty-six years ago, a report by an 18-member panel headed by Why must accidents such as these happen mindset of owning the commute as opposed
at all? Are they avoidable? Does a city like to outsourcing it to a multimodal public
the former collector of Garhwal, M C Mishra, had flagged the Bengaluru (which figures in the ratings of transport system.
problem and suggested the way forward was to go slow on de- the top cities of the world today on many The city has many fathers. Firstly there
velopment. The past has come back to bite because successive parameters of work, skill and contribution) is the citizen. Then there is the municipal
governments paid no heed. Second, sweeping facts under the deserve such an accident? In fact must it councillor, the local MLA, and the MP over-
carpet is not how an environmental emergency of such propor- happen in any part of the world at all, first, seeing the constituency. And then there are
tions must be dealt with. The National Disaster Management second or third? And do cities of similar multiple stakeholders who work for it and
stature across the world have better precau- its needs. The Metro railway authority (BM-
Authority’s gag order after the National Remote Sensing Centre-
tionary measures to avoid loss of life on RCL in the case of Bengaluru), the local
ISRO data suggested the land in Joshimath had sunk 5.4 cm in construction sites? And if so, why are our railway network, the local bus network, the
just 12 days will not reverse the damage. The government must big cities (Bengaluru included) lagging in local electricity distribution partner, the
remember that only scientific facts can present a solution for this space? Why is a third-world mentality body that manages the drainage and water
the crisis, which is not Uttarakhand’s alone. in safety standards at public construction supply of the city, and many more really.
Another aspect that must be borne in mind is groundwater sites ruling the roost? Every body has an agenda of its own. Every
Yet another issue. We seem to speak with individual body does exactly what it wants,
overexploitation, which eventually leads to land subsidence.
forked tongues on the subject. When we without any coordination. Every body es-
Interestingly, even the National Capital Region is prone to such speak of the technology, the ability to de- tablishes for itself a gold standard of work
dangers because the growing population and rapid urbanisa- liver fast work and to harness the latest that it thinks it is delivering to.
tion have driven faster groundwater extraction, eventually skills and literally every bleeding-edge item In sum, “development” really has one en-
causing subsidence. Such patterns have been found elsewhere on the menu of a city, we speak eloquently. emy. And that is nature. Most city develop-
in the world too. When it comes to ensuring the safety of the ment work is hampered by the fact that we
Across the Himalayan region, spanning about 2,500 km from people, we recede into silence. We are quick cannot build that steel flyover without cut-
to give it an “accident” tag. We are quick to ting trees, and that we cannot put together
Kashmir to the farthest end of the North East, the current cri- take refuge in the statement that “accidents SOUMYADIP SINHA wider roads without chopping those errant
sis’ tremors are being felt as reports of sinking land across happen”. We are quick to mourn, quick to trees in the way. The tree is enemy number
northern Indian states are finding their way faster than ever. compensate and quick to forget. night work and shut the roads fully? line of a project that has been delayed for one. Who asked them to grow where they
Chances are much of it will be allowed to be forgotten to calm Could these deaths have been avoided? I Should projects such as these not try to long anyway? are growing?
the nerves, which must not happen. It is also the region where do believe we could have tried as a city. Why hasten their progress to meet unrealistic My heart goes out to Tejaswini and her The city and its many fathers forget to
the tectonic plates are always moving, making it vulnerable to must heavy-duty construction work happen deadlines at the cost of citizens’ lives? toddler Vihan. If we don’t ask the right realise the fact that we are encroaching on
in the city (any city really) even as traffic Every public project seems to have a pace questions and demand the right solutions the territory of the trees and that it’s not the
seismic activities. The crisis clearly needs a bigger national
flow is allowed under and behind the pylons of work that is governed by various sets of as citizens, lives will continue to be lost other way around. Till we get this message
discourse. Because, unmindful of the dangers, the entire Hima- at work sites? Why must traffic flow not be factors. The first is the factor of money flow wantonly. Accidents happen. Even this right, lopsided priorities will take over,
layan landscape, over the decades, has witnessed unbridled stopped altogether on these roads that have to the project. Many projects flounder and one has happened. It’s in the past already. pushing aside what is just and right. And
development riding on the demands for tourism, infrastructure such potentially dangerous work in get delayed as governments take time to pay Even this shall pass. We will all forget and when that happens, there will be another
and strategic concerns given the geopolitical significance. progress? Why must traffic flow not be di- contractors. Equally, many projects get move on. Till the next one happens. Why tragedy…and another…and another…
If we look closely, what Joshimath is experiencing today is a verted? Why must citizens not be made to fast-tracked when money suddenly flows allow for this? Are we simply going to mourn, compen-
face more hardships and more deviations into the project. And when this happens, Big cities such as Bengaluru are rapidly sate and forget, or are we going to do some-
quiet disaster whose footprints can also be spotted in other re-
of route as the city builds itself for the fu- shouldn’t protecting lives be on top of the losing their soul. The priorities we chase thing about it all?
gions. The mighty Himalayas are only pushing back against the ture? If that can’t be done, why not focus on priority rather than racing to meet a dead- are priorities that are all about brick, mor- (harishbijoor@hotmail.com)
unceasing greed for development. It’s about time to wake up to
its cautions.
SETHU IS ALL POLITICS, GENERATIONAL RIGHT TO

NO CHANCE OF REVIVAL REVISIT HISTORY AND HOW The West and its bias
Apropos of Questionable ratings blame more,
A
answer less (Jan 16). The columnist has
shipping project that went into a coma in 2007 after the very elaborately brought out the facts and
G
Supreme Court’s intervention and was declared dead enerally, the history of a nation attitudes of foreign rating agencies’ biased
about a couple of years ago is sought to be resurrected by records wars fought in the past. opinions about India. Sitting in an ivory
the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. A few days ago, it passed In a curious turn of events, we tower, these agencies cannot understand
are right now witnessing a minor India just by interviewing a handful of people.
a resolution in the state Assembly demanding the revival
war of sorts over our nation’s SANDIP Current a�airs commentator It is now not a country of snake charmers but
of the Sethusamudram ship canal project to link the Gulf of history. Two notable events last the fifth largest economy in the world.
GHOSE
Mannar with Palk Strait to avoid ships going around Sri Lanka week triggered fresh sparks in Ram Saran Singh, Bengaluru
from one Indian coast to another. Since it was part of the DMK the battle of words.
manifesto, the party had to bring it up at some point in time The first was a new Light and Sound counting the contribution of others. If any- ing the role of a select few, the contributions Celebs’ unhealthy choice
during its current tenure. The project took off when DMK leader show at the Red Fort in Delhi, replacing the thing, it complements the narrative rather of a large many have been either overlooked Apropos of Experts again ask Big B not
earlier version running for over 50 years. A than altering it. Therefore, the cause for the or glossed over. to do ‘unhealthy’ biscuit ad (Jan 15). A
M Karunanidhi had leverage in UPA-I before public pressure
Delhi-based semi-retired journalist, not consternation of the old school who pre- Even if some of the names known—such celebrity must think before doing an ad for
against the canal cutting through what is called the Ram Setu particularly well-known for the accuracy of ferred a unidimensional view is flummox- as those of Aurobindo Ghosh, Rashbehari an unhealthy product that may be consumed
drew the SC’s intervention. The Ram Setu is a chain of lime- her statements, tweeted about Jawaharlal ing, to say the least. Bose, Bagha Jatin, and Chandrashekhar by adults and children alike. The question I’d
stone shoals between Pamban Island and Mannar Island. Popu- Nehru’s name being reportedly excluded The second was the launch of a book by Azad—are familiar, the exact nature and like to raise is: Is it only Big B promoting such
lar belief is that the army of Lord Ram built it. After Narendra from the list of lawyers who had defended a young polymath, Sanjeev Sanyal, called extent of their contributions are hazy, espe- products? Other celebrities, both up north
Modi came to power, the government first said it would explore officers of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How In- cially among the younger generation. Some and down south, are doing so too.
an alternative alignment without damaging the Ram Setu but National Army in the famous INA trials dia Won Its Freedom. The primary thesis of names like Vinayak Savarkar have been N Nagarajan, email
held within the precincts of the Red Fort. Sanyal’s book is that the history of India’s mired in partisan politics.
found it unfeasible. It concurred with the Pachauri panel ap- This, she felt, if true, was a deliberate dis- struggle for freedom is usually told from the Many senior citizens of the post-Inde- Don’t boycott matches
pointed by the UPA regime, which said the project was economi- tortion of history that should be immedi- perspective of the non-violent movement. pendence era have not heard of actions While cricket greats Virat Kohli and Shubman
cally unviable and ecologically unsustainable. While the Modi ately rectified. This sparked a debate on such as the Ghadar movement or the Navy Gill displayed their skills with bats and made
government picked up and operationalised quite a few schemes social media about the present govern- Mutiny. The same is true for tribal leaders quick centuries, and M Siraj’s superb bowling
conceived by the UPA, allowing a project that damages the Ram ment’s persistent efforts to rewrite the his- like Birsa Munda, who were prominent fig- took 4 wickets at the cost of only 32 runs,
Setu can be ruled out, especially when it is preparing to make tory of India to suit its political agenda by ures in the war of Independence and got we Malayalis boycotted the historic match in
de-emphasising the role of the hitherto fet- short shrift in the chronicles. Thiruvananthapuram on flimsy grounds. For
the construction of a mega Ram temple in Ayodhya a calling
ed personalities, including, among others, Similarly, there were heroes in different whatever reason, cricket lovers in the state
card in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. regions whose names have been all but for- should not have missed the match.
The DMK’s gambit comes when the Centre appears to be Not having watched the recreated son et gotten. It is important to keep their memo- Aryan Sajeev, Kannur
squirming at the demand of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy lumière spectacle, I am not able to vouch ries alive to imbue a sense of patriotism
to declare Ram Setu a national heritage monument. Failing to for the claims of the lady journalist. But and nationalism that is fast becoming ex- Support their families
PTI
get the Centre’s response, the maverick Swamy moved the Su- what I do know is that Jawaharlal Nehru’s tinct—as reflected in the degeneration of Apropos of 68 dead in Nepal flight crash
fame did not arise from his legal acumen. values around us. (Jan 16). I am heartbroken to hear of the
preme Court to coax it. The government first promised to file its Many senior citizens of the
He did not practice law for a substantial For sure, the present government is mak- death of 68 people in the plane crash. The
affidavit by December 12 but later sought until February first length of time. post-Independence era have ing a concerted effort to rewrite parts of the government has to thoroughly investigate
week to do so. The matter will be heard next month. The defence for the INA soldiers was led narrative. That there may be an underlying whether any miscommunication was there
not heard of actions such as the
A few weeks ago in Parliament, there was needless flutter by accomplished lawyers like Bhulabhai political agenda cannot be denied entirely. or not. The bereaved families should be
after Union minister for science Jitendra Singh’s matter-of-fact Desai, Sarat Chandra Bose (brother of Sub- Ghadar movement or the Navy But every generation has a right to revisit supported financially.
response on Ram Setu, saying it was difficult to pinpoint the has Chandra Bose), Tej Bahadur Sapru and Mutiny. The same is true for their past and question the narrative, which A Sugumar Jose, email
exact structure that existed there based on satellite data. The Kailash Nath Katju. If Nehru indeed ap- tribal leaders like Birsa Munda by default is set by those in power. This hap-
peared, it must have been as a junior coun- pens in every country and society. The ver- Improve aviation safety
ASI has reportedly commissioned an underwater study to de- sel before these heavyweights of that era. sion supported by the present regime will Apropos of 68 dead in Nepal flight crash
termine how it was formed. The matter ought to rest there till But that is not the point. Yet, the story of armed resistance to co- also be subject to scrutiny by future genera- (Jan 16). Even though there is no way to
there is conclusive proof either way. What is important is the background of lonial occupation is just as important. That tions, and finally, a synthesis will emerge to make up for the lives lost in the tragedy, let
the trial, the names of the heroes who were story is almost always presented as acts of be judged by posterity. us offer our prayers for the victims’ souls so
facing the gallows for the freedom of the individual heroism and not as part of a However, to oppose an alternate or sup- they can rest in peace, and for the grieving
Q U I C K TA K E country, and the outcome. There is a pre- wider movement that had any overarching plementary point of view on charges of family members. This tragedy serves as a
vailing theory that the INA assault and the strategy or significant impact on the overall bias can be self-defeating. Those challeng- clear warning to Nepal and other nations to
CBI’S CONVICTION RATE IN FOCUS Royal Indian Navy Mutiny weakened the
Indian Army, shaking the foundation of the
struggle for Independence. In reality, the
revolutionaries were part of a large net-
ing existing wisdom need to be engaged
intellectually on merit and not with con-
get to work right away on raising public safety
standards in the aviation industry and other
T
British Empire in India. work that sustained armed resistance tempt. That will only polarise camps. Not industries as well.
he SC asked the CBI this month why there are inordinate Clement Atlee, the then British Prime against the British Empire for half a cen- surprisingly, at the book launch event, one Pilat N Chettri, Darjeeling
delays in settling financial scam cases it takes up. Indeed, Minister, is said to have admitted in private tury. They not only created a wide network could not spot any faces from the so-called
many significant cases are yet to reach their logical end. Par- conversations the realisation that the inside India but also overseas. This was no liberal historians. Peru in anguish
liament was told recently that the agency’s conviction rate hov- armed forces could not be relied upon and small-scale movement of naive individual Similarly, one suspects there were none Apropos of Genocide probe against Peru
ers around 67%. The figure is impressive if it relates entirely to that it might trigger further revolts that led heroism but one that involved many ex- from among the neo-nationalists invited to prez (Jan 16). It is shocking to know that
final court verdicts and not just first-stage convictions. The pen- to the complete withdrawal of the British traordinary young men and women. a similar gathering at another venue in the 40 protestors lost their lives after the
from India. This version is of far greater Speaking at the function, the Home Min- capital a few days later. Meanwhile, the government gave unbridled power to
dency rate is worrisome, too—a third of registered cases have
import than the names of lawyers who ap- ister of India, Amit Shah, who was the right-wing ecosystem is taking root. What’s soldiers to control the mob violence. Peru’s
been under probe for over a decade, and 10,000-odd appeals or peared for the trial. chief guest, said that such a book is testi- more, it is being led by young Turks who do political class should be ready for broader
revisions are pending in top courts. The CBI must dispel percep- However, putting the total context in mony to the fact that the history written so not easily bow to disparagement. constitutional reform.
tions that extraneous considerations influence its operations. place does not mean it is in any way dis- far tells only part of the story. In highlight- (sandipghose@hotmail.com) Haribandhu Panigrahi, Tarbha
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Tamil Nadu): Anto T Joseph * Printed and Published by R.K.Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd. at 2nd Floor, Neeva Complex, No.73F, Sidha Veerappa Chetty Street, Dharmapuri – 636 701 and printed by him at V.C.Printograph 4/404, Palacode Main Road, K.Nadualli Village, Dharmapuri – 636 703.
Dharmapuri: Vol. 7, No. 13. RNI Reg. No. TNENG/2017/72811. Phone: 04342-268201, Fax: 04342-269207. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.

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