Since the controversy of his Date of Birth, Gen V K singh is in the news for all wrong reasons.Now we have him telling us that we are really not prepared for a war! This is inspite of plans to spend more than $100 billions in next 15 years on defence and having the second largest army in the world.This is also inspite of India having emerged as the largest importers of arms in the world.
It appears that our defence establishments headed by politicians and babus have not been doing their jobs properly since the bad old days of Bofors.What is needed is speed, clarity and transperancy in matters related to nation's defences. All three are missing.A K Antony, we are told is the most honest Congressman.This is what we have got from him.Dr Manmohan Singh too is honest.And this is what we have.Following needs to be done
1.Develop strategic plans for years 2020,2030 & 2050
2.Draw the lists of equipment needed and the man power needed
3. Appoint an ongoing high power committee comprising of retired senior officers from the armed forces, retired senior bureaucrats, senior political leaders from all parties, defence experts, and members of civil society.This high powered committee, with ample budgets should be mandated to execute these strategies. Decisions related to country's defence should be taken out of the purview of time serving politicians as well as corrupt and incompetent babus.
4.Jail terms for middlemen found bribing any one in the said committee.
5. This high power committee should be appointed by the President,Prime Minister,Leaders of the opposition in LS & RS, Speaker of the Lok sabha, Vice president and the CJC of India.No elections here!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Way forward for BJP
Dusk is settling on the results of state elections from 5 states that went to polls in Feb-2012.
While Congress is a major looser, BJP hasn't gained much traction, except in Goa.Back of the envelope calculations tell us that BJP would win maximum of 25 Loksabha seats, from these states,if elections were held today.This is against more than 100 seats that these states have got.How can BJP improve its tally in these and other states? BJP needs to do following during 2012 to help it cross 200 + mark in 2014 Loksabha elections.
1.Win Gujarat with 140+ seats.Ensure that the party's performance in MP,Rajasthan,Maharashtra state elections improves in the respective assembly elections.
2. Elect Mr Narendra Modi as the party president in December 2012.
3. Declare that BJP is committed to cultural nationalism and the principles of minimal governance.Declare that BJP is committed to creating and maintaining world class infrastructure for the entire country.Declare that BJP does not believe in " buying" electoral support from any section[s] of Indian society based on any " contract" of quota, or jobs or money or things.Declare that all citizens are equal and have equal rights provided by the constitution.A govt or a political party DOES NOT HAVE TO PROMISE AND GIVE ANYTHING EXTRA TO ANY SECTION OF INDIAN SOCIETY OTHER THAN WHAT IS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.
4.Make conscious efforts to differentiate from Congress ,Socialists and [above all!] Communists in all spheres of public life and politics.
5.Announce concrete plans for education,training,vocational training,training in sports & atheletics, as well as R & D related initiatives for 65 crores of Indians who are below 35 years of age.That is mega HR plans for next three decades
6.Announce concrete plans for wide ranging reforms in Economy,Administration,Judiciary,Police,Election Commission,labour laws with the aim of bringing transperancy and effciencies in the processes of Governance.
7.Announce a new Foreign policy in line with India's emergence as super power and changed geo political realities in Asia and in the world.
8.Announce a new team of leaders who will lead the party.Announce that all leaders above 75 years of age will not contest any elections.Such leaders will only provide guidance and advice to the younger leadership.
9.Appoint better media advisers
10.Announce that Mr Narendra Modi is BJP's PM candidate.Allies within NDA [ or without] who are opposed to this, may join other alliances of their choice.
If BJP continues to follow its existing strategy, it will continue to get the results what it is getting.BJP needs to be given a new AVATAR by a new leadership.
While Congress is a major looser, BJP hasn't gained much traction, except in Goa.Back of the envelope calculations tell us that BJP would win maximum of 25 Loksabha seats, from these states,if elections were held today.This is against more than 100 seats that these states have got.How can BJP improve its tally in these and other states? BJP needs to do following during 2012 to help it cross 200 + mark in 2014 Loksabha elections.
1.Win Gujarat with 140+ seats.Ensure that the party's performance in MP,Rajasthan,Maharashtra state elections improves in the respective assembly elections.
2. Elect Mr Narendra Modi as the party president in December 2012.
3. Declare that BJP is committed to cultural nationalism and the principles of minimal governance.Declare that BJP is committed to creating and maintaining world class infrastructure for the entire country.Declare that BJP does not believe in " buying" electoral support from any section[s] of Indian society based on any " contract" of quota, or jobs or money or things.Declare that all citizens are equal and have equal rights provided by the constitution.A govt or a political party DOES NOT HAVE TO PROMISE AND GIVE ANYTHING EXTRA TO ANY SECTION OF INDIAN SOCIETY OTHER THAN WHAT IS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.
4.Make conscious efforts to differentiate from Congress ,Socialists and [above all!] Communists in all spheres of public life and politics.
5.Announce concrete plans for education,training,vocational training,training in sports & atheletics, as well as R & D related initiatives for 65 crores of Indians who are below 35 years of age.That is mega HR plans for next three decades
6.Announce concrete plans for wide ranging reforms in Economy,Administration,Judiciary,Police,Election Commission,labour laws with the aim of bringing transperancy and effciencies in the processes of Governance.
7.Announce a new Foreign policy in line with India's emergence as super power and changed geo political realities in Asia and in the world.
8.Announce a new team of leaders who will lead the party.Announce that all leaders above 75 years of age will not contest any elections.Such leaders will only provide guidance and advice to the younger leadership.
9.Appoint better media advisers
10.Announce that Mr Narendra Modi is BJP's PM candidate.Allies within NDA [ or without] who are opposed to this, may join other alliances of their choice.
If BJP continues to follow its existing strategy, it will continue to get the results what it is getting.BJP needs to be given a new AVATAR by a new leadership.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Vote bank politics at its worst
Congress party is playing with fire in UP elections by crossing all limits to appease muslim voters in UP.First,Rahul Gandhi visited Deoband to seek the blessings of maulanas there,then it promised job quotas to muslims,then at the slightest provocation it " ensured" that Salman Rushdie does not enter India for litfest at Jaipur.
Congress is not even sure whether it will be number 3 or number 4 in UP.If it is ready to play communal politics for such a victory, what will it do to retain power in Delhi?
It is strange that Mr Narendra Modi ,one time Hindutva poster boy ,is going out of his way to co opt muslims in Gujarat in to main stream through his Sadbhavana fasts,Congress is pulling the issues back to Hindu muslim divide.
After elections in UP, BJP and other parties should question the Congress party for having taken electoral politics to a new low.They must ensure that the debate returns to Good governance,Reforms,Transparency,Development etc. Congress deserves to be put on mat for its divisive politics.
Congress is not even sure whether it will be number 3 or number 4 in UP.If it is ready to play communal politics for such a victory, what will it do to retain power in Delhi?
It is strange that Mr Narendra Modi ,one time Hindutva poster boy ,is going out of his way to co opt muslims in Gujarat in to main stream through his Sadbhavana fasts,Congress is pulling the issues back to Hindu muslim divide.
After elections in UP, BJP and other parties should question the Congress party for having taken electoral politics to a new low.They must ensure that the debate returns to Good governance,Reforms,Transparency,Development etc. Congress deserves to be put on mat for its divisive politics.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Lok Pal
At midnight on 29th December, the much debated Lokpal bill was allowed to die an unnatural death in the Rajya Sabha.Congress party is happy that atleast for the time being ,Lokpal is off its chest.BJP is wondering if it has scored one more brawny point over Congress.People are wondering if they have been cheated once again.Team Anna is busy in strategy sessions.Media is looking for the next big story,of 2012.The corrupt are happy that they can get back to their bad old ways.
I feel that the people have not given it up as yet.They have decided to wait and respond in the elections.It will be interesting to analyse state election results on 4th March 2012 in the light of what happened last night.
Term TRILOK appears in Hindu mythology,explaining the three worlds [Heavens,Earth and Underworlds] TRILOK PAL is our God who ensures that his law prevails in all the three worlds.This TRILOK PAL too appears to be fed up with the corrupt ways of our rulers.He is likely to intervene in favour of people.Reason why I have labeled this post as " Trilokpal"
Wait for the redeemer from above.
I feel that the people have not given it up as yet.They have decided to wait and respond in the elections.It will be interesting to analyse state election results on 4th March 2012 in the light of what happened last night.
Term TRILOK appears in Hindu mythology,explaining the three worlds [Heavens,Earth and Underworlds] TRILOK PAL is our God who ensures that his law prevails in all the three worlds.This TRILOK PAL too appears to be fed up with the corrupt ways of our rulers.He is likely to intervene in favour of people.Reason why I have labeled this post as " Trilokpal"
Wait for the redeemer from above.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Relationship with Pakistan
During SAARC summit in Maldives, our PM issued the statement last night [ 10.11..2011], that he wants country to " Open a new chapter with Pakistan" letting bygones be bygones.
This is strange,coming as it does in repsonse to a big "nothing"from Pakistan.Last week there were talks of Pakistan granting us MFN status, which we have done to them in 1996.Then Paki PM went back on this, while Indian MEA establishment and media continued with the " celebrations" that included counting of chickens by way of export earnings and so on.
It appears, Pakistan is least interested in improving her relations with us.It is interested in taking Kashmir from us and then if possible, destabilising us further through acts of terror.
With such a neighbour, why this government is so keen on improving relations?
Only reason , this pow vow can be explained is vote bank politics of Congress party.It is convinced that it can't win elections without the votes of entire muslim community.Congress believes that Indian muslims vote for a a party that seeks good relations with Pakistan.This might have been true in the past.It is no longer so.Even if it is so, a government is supposed to put the national interests first wrt foreign relations.
Congress by trying to be unduly friendly with Pakistan is playing party politics with our foreign policy.
This is strange,coming as it does in repsonse to a big "nothing"from Pakistan.Last week there were talks of Pakistan granting us MFN status, which we have done to them in 1996.Then Paki PM went back on this, while Indian MEA establishment and media continued with the " celebrations" that included counting of chickens by way of export earnings and so on.
It appears, Pakistan is least interested in improving her relations with us.It is interested in taking Kashmir from us and then if possible, destabilising us further through acts of terror.
With such a neighbour, why this government is so keen on improving relations?
Only reason , this pow vow can be explained is vote bank politics of Congress party.It is convinced that it can't win elections without the votes of entire muslim community.Congress believes that Indian muslims vote for a a party that seeks good relations with Pakistan.This might have been true in the past.It is no longer so.Even if it is so, a government is supposed to put the national interests first wrt foreign relations.
Congress by trying to be unduly friendly with Pakistan is playing party politics with our foreign policy.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Media musings
Today, Afghan President Karzai is in India.He had wide ranging discussions with our PM,his cabinet colleagues and several officials.In the late evening there was an important joint declaration by both the countries.
In the light of assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani,US allegations that ISI is hand in glove with Haqqani network, and attacks in Kabul on American embassy few days ago.This visit and discussions have assumed enormous importance.Reason why BBC tonight had debate with K C Singh[ former diplomat] from India and a US based Pakistani diplomat participating. Rabbani was killed after his visit to India a few weeks ago.Still Karzai is here.India is playing an important role in Afghanistan.
Our media has reported this tonight.But alas there were no debates or discussions on this.
People would want to know what Pakistan or Americans think of these agreements we have with Afghans. Yet,all TV channels were screaming about arrest of an IPS officer in Gujarat.All channels had anti Modi crowd,all going hammer and tong against Modi for his dictatorial ways.These debates appeared barren and frivolous in view of so many serious issues that we have, including one stated above.
This is the height of the myopia of our media.
In the light of assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani,US allegations that ISI is hand in glove with Haqqani network, and attacks in Kabul on American embassy few days ago.This visit and discussions have assumed enormous importance.Reason why BBC tonight had debate with K C Singh[ former diplomat] from India and a US based Pakistani diplomat participating. Rabbani was killed after his visit to India a few weeks ago.Still Karzai is here.India is playing an important role in Afghanistan.
Our media has reported this tonight.But alas there were no debates or discussions on this.
People would want to know what Pakistan or Americans think of these agreements we have with Afghans. Yet,all TV channels were screaming about arrest of an IPS officer in Gujarat.All channels had anti Modi crowd,all going hammer and tong against Modi for his dictatorial ways.These debates appeared barren and frivolous in view of so many serious issues that we have, including one stated above.
This is the height of the myopia of our media.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Fighting Terror -II
On 19.7.11,I wrote about the subject after Mumbai blasts of 13.7.11.I am saddened ,that what I stated there is repeated to day after one more blast in a Delhi High court entrance,that has killed 11 and injured 70,till writing of this blog.
I need not repeat, what I have stated on 19.7.11.Except that most of the panelists [in the TV debates] have re re re emphasised the role of the beat constable.Ex.cop.Kiran Bedi stated that there are 1.75 million policemen in the country.Out of these 1.25 million are constables.
One panelist [ Ajay Sahani] stated on CNN-IBN, that NIA was never and will never be a solution.He is a renowned security expert.But I still hold the view that a nation wide indepedent investigating agency for terror is the way forward.Central govt has not done enough on NIA except setting it up.When it is fully staffed,fully equipped and given operational autonomy,it can produce better results than the investigators [ trained in general investigation technics]at state level.
Now the new pattern of such attacks is emerging.Attacks are not spectacular.Attacks can never be linked to outsiders [ ISI has learnt its lessons from Kasab].Larger terror organisations are creating local,autonomous ,self sustaining cells without traces to parent organisations.
Response to such changed tactics needs to be differant.We can not and need not blame outsiders.But we need to act very quickly and effectively against local cells/operatives.How? Read my previous blog of 19.7.11.
One more aspect has emerged in today's blast.Anger/anguish/aversion to VIP visits that I had mentioned on 19.7. Today,Rahul Gandhi was booed by crowds of relatives of the victims at RML hospital.All parties should agree now to stop such visits.They hamper relief.They don't provide any immediate succur.They are no longer liked! Media should also agree that they will not report the absence of politicos as crime.This should put an end to this practice, which appears farcical due to painful regularity with which these attacks are happening.There is very little by way of investigations,prosecution and punishments which can be shown by the ministers.People want them to work on these aspects rather than visit them with their entourage.
Blast has put the central govt in very tricky situation.Digvijay Singh from Congress wrote few days ago in his blog that communalism was more dangerous than corruption.This was to pander to minority votes in upcoming elections in UP.Congress party has also orchastrated TV debates on hanging of Afzal Guru.Now HUJI, a Bangladesh based terror outfit has taken responsibility for this blast and warned that it will organise more such blasts in courts, if Afzal Guru is hanged.What a govt that has been going soft on muslims for their votes will do now?If they hang him, there could be blasts.If they don't there could still be blasts on some other pretext by terror outfits,as they would sense the helplessness of this govt.Besides this,govt will also face "blasts" from the people,for doing nothing!
This is the price you need to pay for ignoring security.Primary function of the state, as I have discussed in my blog on " Governance".If you can't protect us, you can't rule us.
I need not repeat, what I have stated on 19.7.11.Except that most of the panelists [in the TV debates] have re re re emphasised the role of the beat constable.Ex.cop.Kiran Bedi stated that there are 1.75 million policemen in the country.Out of these 1.25 million are constables.
One panelist [ Ajay Sahani] stated on CNN-IBN, that NIA was never and will never be a solution.He is a renowned security expert.But I still hold the view that a nation wide indepedent investigating agency for terror is the way forward.Central govt has not done enough on NIA except setting it up.When it is fully staffed,fully equipped and given operational autonomy,it can produce better results than the investigators [ trained in general investigation technics]at state level.
Now the new pattern of such attacks is emerging.Attacks are not spectacular.Attacks can never be linked to outsiders [ ISI has learnt its lessons from Kasab].Larger terror organisations are creating local,autonomous ,self sustaining cells without traces to parent organisations.
Response to such changed tactics needs to be differant.We can not and need not blame outsiders.But we need to act very quickly and effectively against local cells/operatives.How? Read my previous blog of 19.7.11.
One more aspect has emerged in today's blast.Anger/anguish/aversion to VIP visits that I had mentioned on 19.7. Today,Rahul Gandhi was booed by crowds of relatives of the victims at RML hospital.All parties should agree now to stop such visits.They hamper relief.They don't provide any immediate succur.They are no longer liked! Media should also agree that they will not report the absence of politicos as crime.This should put an end to this practice, which appears farcical due to painful regularity with which these attacks are happening.There is very little by way of investigations,prosecution and punishments which can be shown by the ministers.People want them to work on these aspects rather than visit them with their entourage.
Blast has put the central govt in very tricky situation.Digvijay Singh from Congress wrote few days ago in his blog that communalism was more dangerous than corruption.This was to pander to minority votes in upcoming elections in UP.Congress party has also orchastrated TV debates on hanging of Afzal Guru.Now HUJI, a Bangladesh based terror outfit has taken responsibility for this blast and warned that it will organise more such blasts in courts, if Afzal Guru is hanged.What a govt that has been going soft on muslims for their votes will do now?If they hang him, there could be blasts.If they don't there could still be blasts on some other pretext by terror outfits,as they would sense the helplessness of this govt.Besides this,govt will also face "blasts" from the people,for doing nothing!
This is the price you need to pay for ignoring security.Primary function of the state, as I have discussed in my blog on " Governance".If you can't protect us, you can't rule us.
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