All in the game of Politics

Democracy thrives on the strength of the opposition party, they say. No doubt, the largest opposition party of the present time, has its own bizarre way of displaying its strength to pit against the weakness or anything else, that they fancy, of its arch rival, congress. Take this case. When the country went for the general election in May 2004, BJP’s star studded campaign, along with its India Shining theme, was: would you like to be ruled by a Non-Indian? It was a personal attack against the Italy-born Indian bahu, Sonia Gandhi. But in the end, BJP was dethroned, as its previous regime disillusioned the people for whom life never shines, although “ No rule by a Non-Indian “ won support among the Indian middle class.

But the whole country, including the Hindutva party, gasped in astonishment when Sonia Gandhi renounced the post of Prime minister, nation’s highest office and, placed Dr. Manmohan Singh on the throne. She subtly proved that she has seen the power too close to her for too long. But BJP, for the sake of opposition, started to show tantrum by describing Sonia Gandhi as the “Super Prime Minister” and called Dr.Singh puppet in her hands. Also claimed that it is Sonia who calls the shots and makes the important decisions. Don’t they know that Manmohan Singh is world-renowned economist and spearheaded the country into the era of globalized world?

It’s a three yearlong story. But, now when the country is grappling with up surging inflation due to rise in price of essential commodities, amongst the already-a –culprit oil price, SEZ policy that astutely nurturing the skepticism about the food security and the threat of foreign investment in retail sector, BJP has given a new twist in the story, like we saw in Fardeen khan’s Don.

I was intrigued when my eyes caught the headlines “ UPA DOES NOT LISTEN TO SONIA: BJP” in today’s (7th Feb,2007)The Hindu (Pg.12). Of course, we agree that there is room for opposition in democracy. But it has got to be constructive opposition based on ideologies and public welfare. BJP realized, but not very early, that Dr. Singh makes policies on his own terms. But BJP reserved some degree of sarcasm here when it said that letter written by Sonia Gandhi advising PM on FDI policies, inflation and SEZ policy had not yielded results. They explain further: Sonia asked PM to curtail inflation but was not done. She spoke about SEZ but government did not protect farmer from being thrown out of their land. And conclusively, they have said UPA does not listen to Sonia.

Why is that BJP’s opposition strategy always, if not, most of the times revolve around Sonia? Are they showing the country here that congress chief is interested in public welfare whereas the people at the helm of affairs are not? Or is it a cheap strategy to create an internal rift between Sonia and Singh in the party politics?

Its high time BJP involves in constructive opposition keeping in mind the greater interest of the nation.

And please do not brand me as a supporter of congress nor am I an admirer of Sonia Gandhi. I am only pointing out the way today’s opposition party has stooped down. And of course, congress is replete with dramas of this kind in this big game of politics.

Are we nearing the End?

This is the country that predicts the future and leads the rest into it. A country at the cutting-edge of the technology. What this country is doing today we would be doing in the next ten years. But paradoxically, in a bizarre way, it has been left to lag behind by simple deed of its president. Well, I’m sure you have guessed it all and the picture of Bush gives a clue too.Yes, It is US of America – the land of opportunities. When the president Bush exercised his veto on the stem cell research Enhancement Act that would have increased the Federal funding for stem cell research, science, technology and benefits to the human kind had taken a back seat. Denying the federal funding is like denying pocket money to a school going kid. This had belied the hopes of many as this research had promised to cure diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and many others. Why did bush behave the way he did?

Now, the event #2. We were (un)fortunate enough to see the warmest decades in 1000 years and even the hottest and coldest day in the recent past. It’s all sheer vanity. They say it is all due to what is called the Global warming. “Kyoto protocol” is the name of the weapon that the many countries across the world have taken to fight this global threat. But USA the country responsible for one-fourth of the global warming pollution has refused to sign the Kyoto protocol. The first thing Mr. Bush did, after 2001 election, was to formally withdraw from the protocol. What has he got to say on this?

Now, the event # 3. Of late, one news item that has captured the maximum airtime and rocked the headlines in all the dailies is the Israel’s attack on Lebanon . USA the most powerful nation in the world remained silent and failed to condemn Israel for its dastardly act. One of the US official, when Israel initiated its first attack, said” Israel military has to run its course in Lebanon and has space to operate for a period of time”. This was like a US VISA stamping on the passport of newly married Indian girl who is waiting to join her husband in USA. Israel went ahead with its devastating spree and it still goes on, as on the date of this post, steady but not slow. I’m sure killing civilian is no fight against terrorism, a cause which US has inexorably espoused to armour. Does Uncle Sam not want world peace? Don’t Ya, Baby??

One common reason that has been attributed for all the above anomalies by a section of writers and journalists is to Bush’s fundamentalist religious ideologies. This is the chain that has tethered the mistrust of science and the war in the Middle East. American Fundamentalists believe, based on the literal reading of Revelation which is central to the fundamentalist theology, that second coming of Christ is at hand. Sounds quite interesting, though. And one basic prerequisite for Christ’s return, as per Biblical prophecy, is Jews should be in full possession of the holy land. That explains why Israel’s attack on Lebanon and Palestinians and USA’s inaction.

Fundamentalist also believe that god is angry about faithless world that he could save it only by initiating devastating catastrophe. This catastrophe could mean end of the world. Oh, my god!! And the beginning of this end was marked by what world saw in the form of First World War. If this is what Bush believes in why would he care about curing diabetes and cancer.

Global Warming?? God damn it!! Go to hell!!

But is it that simple in the world of UNs , Security Councils and Political belligerence. There is always another side of the coin and it cannot be brushed aside in the build-up of a good interesting story. Republicans who supported veto on the stem cell research bill consider that this bill would tend to support taking innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others.

And, why no Kyoto protocol? It would damage the American economy and would cost them five million jobs is the ostensible reason.

Now looking at the flip side of the Israel attack. There are claims that many of the senators in US congress were elected in support of Israel’s funding and not to forget the business motives of the one of the largest weapon manufacturing country in the world.

Diplomatically put, this has left us with two set of facts. Looks like everyone has a story to tell. Proliferation of news media and deluge of accessible information from various corners certainly does complicate the issue and obfuscate our understanding. Taking a stand on issues like this is one thing that I always felt egregiously knotty. It is simply head spinning. But whatever it is. Is that devastating catastrophe imminent? Are we nearing the end of the world? God only knows!!

Caught In a Vicious Circle

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 3:00PM to 4 PM, 7.15 PM to 8.30 PM. Please do not mistake this to be timings for any super hit TV soaps nor for any live football matches. These are nothing but dreaded hours when people here in my place have to go thru the trauma of regular power cuts. If you think this is in some place that is part of govt’s rural electrification program and where work is still in progress let me dispel your prejudice. I live in Delhi- the rajdhani. If there were one virtue I have to hold these power distribution companies high for I would say it is their strict adherence to the timings. Well, call them reminders at those hours. Reminds us of what? Reminds us of what time it is?? That would be facetious if you think so. It reminds us that India is one country where supply starves the demand. Let me keep food production out of this, for I’m afraid if I’ll get lost in the granary of million tonnes of grains that were denied to burp out of the mouths of millions of those with hungry stomachs. So, let me confine myself to power.

Thanks for this frequent power cuts for it has broadened my horizon. If it had not been for this I’d have wallowed in comforts without making an attempt to try and understand what a deeper malaise it is. For your information govt data goes like this: India’s power transmission and distribution loses is between 35% to 40%. Of the remaining 60% only 40% get billed. Applying simple maths that’s nearly one fourth of the actual production. If so pathetic is the condition what would you expect from state electricity boards (SEBs). A treasury filled with gold, silvers , and gems?? May be yes if only SEBs were ducks laying golden eggs. But in real that’s not the case and I can’t think of any animal or bird to make a proper analogy. Pigs?? skunk??Hyenas?? or a scorpion that stings?? Just go wild. I'll leave that to you.

Yes, finally admitted shamelessly that they are bad and ugly. They said bring those corporate brands in the name of “privatization”(I have nothing against privatization as long as they serve public interest) Reliance, TATA welcome aboard!! And what have these private players left us with? Hiked power tariffs, burnt a hole in our pockets in the name of electronic meters and got our armpits and groins sweating.

Why is this power deficit in a power conscious democratic country? It seems they blame inadequate coal supply. While you probe in further, you will see coal industry pointing their fingers at railways: less wagons .Lalooji, (read railways)kya yeh sach hai?? He says there is no enough steel to manufacture wagons. And TATAji (think steel, think TISCO) blames deficit production of power. Power-coal-wagons-steel-power. We are entangled in this vicious circle. It’s that simple. And I’m not suggesting that this is life and you take it!!




(P.S: It was 10.30 in the night when i was drafting this and there was an univited power cut for just 15 minutes. An aberration. May be NDPL hae learnt to give surprises!!)

This entire nation runs on several systems. All this system constitute nation. One such system is political party. India, being constitutionally found on the platform of multi party system, has umpteen number of political parties. Each party can be categorized into some form or the other. To say some, it can be caste based, ideologically sui generis, splinter groups, etc. But now there is one political party which stands out from the rest in one way. Yes, I’m talking about the new party floated former students of IITs. It was only through a mail I came to know that they are contesting in up coming general elections from tamilnadu. Here is that mail:

Hi,
We have a good chance to vote for the Lok Paritran a party started by 3 IIT students last November.....In chennai they are contesting the elections from

1. T Nagar
2. Mylapore
3. Park Town
4. Thousand Lights
5. Saidapet
6. Anna Nagar

Most of the Party leadership holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology, and all of them have sacrificed lucrative opportunities both in India and abroad in order to participate in the Party. The President Tanmay Rajpurohit has returned to India leaving his PhD in Economics in the US in order to head this group.So if u r in any of the above places plz don hesitate to vote for Lok Paritran....also spread this word to Ur friends n neighbours in your locality and try to bring in a change...

Policy http://lokparitran.org/policy.aspx
Profiles http://paritrana.org/leadership.htm

I jus thought I’d do my bit to forward this mail. Lets wait and see if people of India give an opportunity to the new ones…