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.
Friday, November 11, 2011
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.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Communal Violence Bill
On 31st August,attended a discussion on above by Shri Sheshadri Chari [ RSS Pracharak since 1978] in Surat.
The draft bill has been prepared by NAC [ National Advisory Council] that advises Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president and UPA II Chairperson.
Bill seeks to protect the minorities [ identified as GROUP] in the bill from the majority.It has several draconian proviso which can be used against Hindus.Such a bill is non starter in Hindusthan, where 85 % of the population is Hindu.
Congress is really not interested in passing this bill and protecting minorities.
This bill is part of Congress strategy to divert the attention of the people [and electorate] from the main issues.These are,
A. Corruption
B. Price rise,inflation and economic mismanagement
C. Poor governance
Congress expects that people will not vote for Congress if these issues remain in public memory for long.With this Communal Violence Bill , it is throwing the bait at BJP to drag the debate down to communalism versus secularism.BJP should oppose the bill if tabled in Parliament,but it should also state that communalism is not the issue agitating the minds of the people.People are more concerned with issues stated above.Therefore Congress should be forced to restate its priorities.This may result in muslim votes gravitating towards Congress in 2012 elections, especially in UP.BJP should not worry about this.Because,middle classes have already deserted Congress.They will not only vote against Congress but also swing votes of other classes in favour of BJP and allies.
With this bill, Congress is also trying to ensure that BJP does not rope in more allies for NDA.More vociferous BJP gets on this bill, lesser are its chances of strengthening NDA with more allies like AGP,Biju Janata Dal,TDP or even AIADMK.
Congress party is trying to counter opposition onslaught with more and more negatives.Eg trying to implicate BJP men in the murder of an RTI activist in Bhopal,trying to imlicate Narendra Modi in Haren Pandya murder case, implicating former BJP ministers in 2G scam,notices from ED to Baba Ramdev,notices to Arvind Kejrival,privilege motion against Kiran Bedi etc.BJP should be able to highlight this to the people.When you are in the government, you better govern well, rather than find faults with others.That is the job of the opposition.
It is also orchastrating debates on death penalties to Rajiv Killers.So far as laws exist for death penalties,such debates only vitiate the atmosphere.Congress wants that!
BJP and allies should steer the debate back to real issues.
More on this in cominig days,weeks and months.These are very exciting times for students of politics and sociology.
The draft bill has been prepared by NAC [ National Advisory Council] that advises Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president and UPA II Chairperson.
Bill seeks to protect the minorities [ identified as GROUP] in the bill from the majority.It has several draconian proviso which can be used against Hindus.Such a bill is non starter in Hindusthan, where 85 % of the population is Hindu.
Congress is really not interested in passing this bill and protecting minorities.
This bill is part of Congress strategy to divert the attention of the people [and electorate] from the main issues.These are,
A. Corruption
B. Price rise,inflation and economic mismanagement
C. Poor governance
Congress expects that people will not vote for Congress if these issues remain in public memory for long.With this Communal Violence Bill , it is throwing the bait at BJP to drag the debate down to communalism versus secularism.BJP should oppose the bill if tabled in Parliament,but it should also state that communalism is not the issue agitating the minds of the people.People are more concerned with issues stated above.Therefore Congress should be forced to restate its priorities.This may result in muslim votes gravitating towards Congress in 2012 elections, especially in UP.BJP should not worry about this.Because,middle classes have already deserted Congress.They will not only vote against Congress but also swing votes of other classes in favour of BJP and allies.
With this bill, Congress is also trying to ensure that BJP does not rope in more allies for NDA.More vociferous BJP gets on this bill, lesser are its chances of strengthening NDA with more allies like AGP,Biju Janata Dal,TDP or even AIADMK.
Congress party is trying to counter opposition onslaught with more and more negatives.Eg trying to implicate BJP men in the murder of an RTI activist in Bhopal,trying to imlicate Narendra Modi in Haren Pandya murder case, implicating former BJP ministers in 2G scam,notices from ED to Baba Ramdev,notices to Arvind Kejrival,privilege motion against Kiran Bedi etc.BJP should be able to highlight this to the people.When you are in the government, you better govern well, rather than find faults with others.That is the job of the opposition.
It is also orchastrating debates on death penalties to Rajiv Killers.So far as laws exist for death penalties,such debates only vitiate the atmosphere.Congress wants that!
BJP and allies should steer the debate back to real issues.
More on this in cominig days,weeks and months.These are very exciting times for students of politics and sociology.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Lokpal in Delhi,Lokayukta in Gujarat
Today at 10am,Anna Hazare broke his 13 day long fast for a strong Lokpal bill to fight corruption.It was on April 11, that government agreed for a joint draft with team Anna.Then govt went back and came out with its own draft which was rejected by team Anna and everyone else.Hence this fast and hence its calling off today.
Now we need to mark this date 28th August 2011 and wait for the day on which the first case of corruption is filed against a politician or a public servant.That will be the proof of the pudding.
On 26th August, Governor of Gujarat unilaterally appointed the Lokayukta [ Mr R A Mehta] in state of Gujarat[ ruled by BJP] to probe the cases of corruption against the govt of Gujarat,.Governor took this decision on the premise that this appointment was kept pending by the state govt since last 7 years.State govt stated that this was due to the games that the Congress party in the opposition was playing all these years.Governor's decision has been challenged by the BJP govt in SC.BJP's state govt in Gujarat,headed by Narendra Modi has been the least corrupt govt in the entire country.Yet a Lokayukta has been unilaterally appointed for policial reasons.Congress party wants to fix Narendra Modi.Why?
Congress does not expect to win Gujarat assembly elections to be held in 2012.It also does not expect to win the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2014 or earlier.Congress party presumes that BJP with its allies will project Narendra Modi as their PM candidate.If that happens Congress and other left liberals entrenched in Delhi since the time of Pt Nehru may find it hard to survive,in Delhi.They have been so dependent on so many favours from the state all these years.So this is the question of their survival.Hence very proactively, they have tried to rein in Narendra Modi with false corruption charges through Lokayukta, who is their own appointee.
This raises the question of appointing the Lok Pal, once the said bill is turned in to a law.If Congress or any other party which is ruling at the center is to behave the way, Congress in Gujarat has behaved,what is the use of such an instituion?
In the case of Lokayukta, there needs to be the consensus between the ruling party and the opposition on a name.Yet, Gujarat Governor has done it in the name of expediency.Can we expect similar " expediency" in cases of Lokpal at the center? For reasons of power politics?
Now we need to mark this date 28th August 2011 and wait for the day on which the first case of corruption is filed against a politician or a public servant.That will be the proof of the pudding.
On 26th August, Governor of Gujarat unilaterally appointed the Lokayukta [ Mr R A Mehta] in state of Gujarat[ ruled by BJP] to probe the cases of corruption against the govt of Gujarat,.Governor took this decision on the premise that this appointment was kept pending by the state govt since last 7 years.State govt stated that this was due to the games that the Congress party in the opposition was playing all these years.Governor's decision has been challenged by the BJP govt in SC.BJP's state govt in Gujarat,headed by Narendra Modi has been the least corrupt govt in the entire country.Yet a Lokayukta has been unilaterally appointed for policial reasons.Congress party wants to fix Narendra Modi.Why?
Congress does not expect to win Gujarat assembly elections to be held in 2012.It also does not expect to win the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2014 or earlier.Congress party presumes that BJP with its allies will project Narendra Modi as their PM candidate.If that happens Congress and other left liberals entrenched in Delhi since the time of Pt Nehru may find it hard to survive,in Delhi.They have been so dependent on so many favours from the state all these years.So this is the question of their survival.Hence very proactively, they have tried to rein in Narendra Modi with false corruption charges through Lokayukta, who is their own appointee.
This raises the question of appointing the Lok Pal, once the said bill is turned in to a law.If Congress or any other party which is ruling at the center is to behave the way, Congress in Gujarat has behaved,what is the use of such an instituion?
In the case of Lokayukta, there needs to be the consensus between the ruling party and the opposition on a name.Yet, Gujarat Governor has done it in the name of expediency.Can we expect similar " expediency" in cases of Lokpal at the center? For reasons of power politics?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Governance Part II
Today is 15th August,India's 64th independence day.PM has addressed the nation from Red Fort.He appears very phlegmatic,helpless and worried.Worried because of Anna Hazaare's fast from 16th August for an effective Lok Pal to fight corruption.Worried also because of the drift that has set in.
Whoever comes to power in 2014, should look afresh at issues of governance.If we follow the same old ways, we will continue to get the same results. In my previous blog,I discussed some of the issues of governance.Here are some more, dedicated to all those who laid down their lives to make us free.
[1].Ministries of Defense & Home should be merged to create one ministry for SECURITY, headed by a senior leader.Under this minister, there should be ministers for [a] Defense [b]Internal Security [c] Judiciary [d] Constitutional rights.[ including Parliamentary affairs]A holistic security architecture should be developed and managed by this single ministry.
[2].All ministries dealing with economy should be merged in to a single minstry of ECONOMY,headed by an Economist.Under this minister,there should be ministers for [ a] Finance [b]Revenue,[c] Commerce, [ Industry, internal/external trades][d] Energy [ all sources of energy] ,[e] Transportation [ different ministries for Air,sea,rail and road transports should be merged to create a single Transport ministry] [f] Agriculture [ irrigation, food,horticulture & civil supply ministries should be merged in to a single Agriculture ministry] and [g] Labour
[3].HUMAN RESOURCES, minister here should be a proven educationist, responsible for education, training, employment, R & D [ no need for separate minister for Science & Technology, R & D can oversee all aspects of scientific development ] and Human Rights.
[4].ENVIRONMENT ,ministry should be headed by a PHD, responsible for Forests,water pollution,air pollution,coastal zones across entire geography of the nation
[5] EXTERNAL AFFAIRS , ministry should be headed by a senior ,energetic, charismatic and very articulate person.He/she should head a very large ministry with desks for continents and important countries and adequate staffing in foreign consulates.Country can afford to have younger minsters of State here to handle specific policy issues/countries.This ministry needs complete make over in the light of our growing international influence.
The PRIME MINISTER should head the cabinet comprising of above five key ministers, while retaining sensitive portfolios related to security [ nukes].He should also keep General administration and Personnel depts under him.He should replace present I & B ministry with Ministry of COMMUNICATION and retain the same with him.He should be aided by NSA and an effective PMO as at present.
Such a small and effective government should be aided by several regulators, such as ,
CAG,CBI,ED, RI,TRAI,NIA,PLANNING COMMISSION,CVC,LOK AYUKTA ... all responsible to Parliament and not to any ministry.
This way , we can eliminate several ministries, many of which are redundant due to liberalisation[ eg ministry of steels, heavy Industry,Chemical....], We don't need independent ministries for Power, Petrochemicals, Telecom [!],Shipping,Corpotate affairs, minorities etc.Aforesaid five ministries can have junior ministers for such functions if required.
Governments at the center and in the states should follow this model.Then expand IAS,IPS,IFS cadres and start out sourcing clerical work with the aim of reducing/eliminating armies of clerks.
Time has come for all political parties to agree for abolition of the posts of Governors.We don't need them.Political parties should find other vocations for their superannuated leaders.High Court judges in the states are most qualified to double as representatives of the President, to report consitutional issues through a small cell of constitutional experts.After doing away with Governors, the Raj Bhavans with their lands and assets should be auctioned off and money placed with respective state exchequers.
Whoever comes to power in 2014, should look afresh at issues of governance.If we follow the same old ways, we will continue to get the same results. In my previous blog,I discussed some of the issues of governance.Here are some more, dedicated to all those who laid down their lives to make us free.
[1].Ministries of Defense & Home should be merged to create one ministry for SECURITY, headed by a senior leader.Under this minister, there should be ministers for [a] Defense [b]Internal Security [c] Judiciary [d] Constitutional rights.[ including Parliamentary affairs]A holistic security architecture should be developed and managed by this single ministry.
[2].All ministries dealing with economy should be merged in to a single minstry of ECONOMY,headed by an Economist.Under this minister,there should be ministers for [ a] Finance [b]Revenue,[c] Commerce, [ Industry, internal/external trades][d] Energy [ all sources of energy] ,[e] Transportation [ different ministries for Air,sea,rail and road transports should be merged to create a single Transport ministry] [f] Agriculture [ irrigation, food,horticulture & civil supply ministries should be merged in to a single Agriculture ministry] and [g] Labour
[3].HUMAN RESOURCES, minister here should be a proven educationist, responsible for education, training, employment, R & D [ no need for separate minister for Science & Technology, R & D can oversee all aspects of scientific development ] and Human Rights.
[4].ENVIRONMENT ,ministry should be headed by a PHD, responsible for Forests,water pollution,air pollution,coastal zones across entire geography of the nation
[5] EXTERNAL AFFAIRS , ministry should be headed by a senior ,energetic, charismatic and very articulate person.He/she should head a very large ministry with desks for continents and important countries and adequate staffing in foreign consulates.Country can afford to have younger minsters of State here to handle specific policy issues/countries.This ministry needs complete make over in the light of our growing international influence.
The PRIME MINISTER should head the cabinet comprising of above five key ministers, while retaining sensitive portfolios related to security [ nukes].He should also keep General administration and Personnel depts under him.He should replace present I & B ministry with Ministry of COMMUNICATION and retain the same with him.He should be aided by NSA and an effective PMO as at present.
Such a small and effective government should be aided by several regulators, such as ,
CAG,CBI,ED, RI,TRAI,NIA,PLANNING COMMISSION,CVC,LOK AYUKTA ... all responsible to Parliament and not to any ministry.
This way , we can eliminate several ministries, many of which are redundant due to liberalisation[ eg ministry of steels, heavy Industry,Chemical....], We don't need independent ministries for Power, Petrochemicals, Telecom [!],Shipping,Corpotate affairs, minorities etc.Aforesaid five ministries can have junior ministers for such functions if required.
Governments at the center and in the states should follow this model.Then expand IAS,IPS,IFS cadres and start out sourcing clerical work with the aim of reducing/eliminating armies of clerks.
Time has come for all political parties to agree for abolition of the posts of Governors.We don't need them.Political parties should find other vocations for their superannuated leaders.High Court judges in the states are most qualified to double as representatives of the President, to report consitutional issues through a small cell of constitutional experts.After doing away with Governors, the Raj Bhavans with their lands and assets should be auctioned off and money placed with respective state exchequers.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Dr.Aeyesha Khan & issues in Gujarat
On 28th July, I attended this lecture by Dr Aeyesha Khan, Sr.Assistant Editor - Indian Express -Ahmedabad.Lecture was organised by CSS, Center for Social Studies - Surat
During her lecture, she came out with following " concerns" about Gujarat, arising out of the agitation against land acquisition by farmers in Mahuva - Saurashtra
1. Land acquisition move by Gujarat government for a cement plant by Nirma group near Mahuva in Saurashtra is being opposed by the local farmers.This movement is being led by local BJP MLA and is supported by BKS [ Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, inspired by RSS], Khedut Samaj, [ affiliated to Congress party],Congress party, Chunibhai Vaidya [ 90 year old Gandhian from Ahmedabad], Sanat Mehta [ 80 year old socialist from Vadodara] and many others
Inspite of such all round support,
why such movement has failed to trigger a pan Gujarat movement/agitations against land acquisition in general and against BJP govt led by Narendra Modi in particular?
2.Why media has failed to give adequate coverage to this movement?
3.Why PATELS have not joined this movement?
4. Why farmers from other parts of Gujarat whose lands are being acquired, are not coming together to form a joint front against such moves [ she sited examples from Umbergaon,Dahej, Hazira,Bhavnagar etc]
5.Why urban Gujarati middle class is a silent spectator to the plights of small farmers?
6.If anti land acquisition movement in Singur could overthrow a government in West Bengal,why can't such pan Gujarat movement think of overthrowing present BJP government in 2012 on such an issue?
7.Why Narendra Modi/BJP were not sacking their Mahuva MLA for agitiating against his own government?
As I was not given much time to reply to many of her "concerns",I have listed my replies here on this blog.
1.Very few Gujarati farmers, solely depend on farms for lively hoods.They have dairy co operatives to support incomes.Some family members will be having jobs/small businesses to support farm incomes.Agriculture,businesses and industries are closely woven in the fabric of Gujarati community.Every one appreciates the need for land for industry etc.Every one is fully aware of the " valuations" that it brings to the area.
No where in Gujarat, the government has forcibly grabbed any one's land.Movements are sparked generally, when there is undue show of force by the state or a sense of wide spread injustice among large sections of society.
2.She informed that " Gujarat Samachar" , an influential daily from Ahmedabad had completely blanked this event.She stated though that " Divya Bhaskar", another pan Gujarat daily had extensivey covered the agitation, so did her own news paper.I added that local dailies in Surat like " Gujrat Mitra" had reported extensively on this agitation.
Her concern of " lack of media attention" appeared to be restricted to Gujarat Samachar.
3.Why Patels, an influential landed gentry in Gujarat have not joined the movement? Patels did join the freedom movement in very large numbers, led by Sardar Patel! Patels or any other people will support/join a movement if it is just and affects very large number of people.Sporadic cases of injustices can not spark a state wide movement.Especially when the State is perceived as working effectively and honestly.
4.Why farmers from other parts of the state, whose lands are being acquired are not coming together for a state wide movement? This is answered in [3] above.
5.Why urban middle class is a silent spectator to this plight of farmers? Urban middle class in Gujarat [ and in many other states] has been part of the process of building a consensus around the idea that India needs to move quickly from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy.India needs to suck out surplus labour from rural area so that [i] Wages in rural sectors go up [ii] Farm sector takes to mechanisation,thus improving farm productivity [iii] Industrial sectors get adequate man power for labour intensive manufacturing hubs, that create wealth ,which in turn can alleviate poverty.
Since 1991, this model has been accepted as an alternative model to the Statist model of the socialists, that was in vogue from 1947 o 1991. Land acquisition process, if fair and transparent will not spark a movement [ or a revolution!] because majority of the people are agreed on aforesaid issue.
6.If an anti land acquisition movement in WB could overthrow a government in WB, why can't such a movement in Gujarat overthrow Narendra Modi in the elections, scheduled in 2012?
This is THE ISSUE ! You want to build a people's movement around the agenda to overthrow a man who is being repeatedly elected by the majority of voters.People are aware of such [hidden] agenda and hence are not joing in such movements.They of course will join, if they too think that Narendra Modi should be voted out.At present that is not the case.But that is the case at present for the UPA II in Delhi! reason why large number of people [ including Patels!] are joing the several movements across the country against this corrupt and incompetent government.
7. Why Narendra Modi or BJP were not sacking this MLA from their own party for leading this agitation against his own government?
Simple.Narendra Modi and BJP may be thinking that the man is right ! rather than arguing, quarreling or going to media, they may be trying to find a solution, acceptable to all in this issue.
It appeared that the lady belongs to that section of the media which some how wants to FIX Narendra Modi.
During her lecture, she came out with following " concerns" about Gujarat, arising out of the agitation against land acquisition by farmers in Mahuva - Saurashtra
1. Land acquisition move by Gujarat government for a cement plant by Nirma group near Mahuva in Saurashtra is being opposed by the local farmers.This movement is being led by local BJP MLA and is supported by BKS [ Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, inspired by RSS], Khedut Samaj, [ affiliated to Congress party],Congress party, Chunibhai Vaidya [ 90 year old Gandhian from Ahmedabad], Sanat Mehta [ 80 year old socialist from Vadodara] and many others
Inspite of such all round support,
why such movement has failed to trigger a pan Gujarat movement/agitations against land acquisition in general and against BJP govt led by Narendra Modi in particular?
2.Why media has failed to give adequate coverage to this movement?
3.Why PATELS have not joined this movement?
4. Why farmers from other parts of Gujarat whose lands are being acquired, are not coming together to form a joint front against such moves [ she sited examples from Umbergaon,Dahej, Hazira,Bhavnagar etc]
5.Why urban Gujarati middle class is a silent spectator to the plights of small farmers?
6.If anti land acquisition movement in Singur could overthrow a government in West Bengal,why can't such pan Gujarat movement think of overthrowing present BJP government in 2012 on such an issue?
7.Why Narendra Modi/BJP were not sacking their Mahuva MLA for agitiating against his own government?
As I was not given much time to reply to many of her "concerns",I have listed my replies here on this blog.
1.Very few Gujarati farmers, solely depend on farms for lively hoods.They have dairy co operatives to support incomes.Some family members will be having jobs/small businesses to support farm incomes.Agriculture,businesses and industries are closely woven in the fabric of Gujarati community.Every one appreciates the need for land for industry etc.Every one is fully aware of the " valuations" that it brings to the area.
No where in Gujarat, the government has forcibly grabbed any one's land.Movements are sparked generally, when there is undue show of force by the state or a sense of wide spread injustice among large sections of society.
2.She informed that " Gujarat Samachar" , an influential daily from Ahmedabad had completely blanked this event.She stated though that " Divya Bhaskar", another pan Gujarat daily had extensivey covered the agitation, so did her own news paper.I added that local dailies in Surat like " Gujrat Mitra" had reported extensively on this agitation.
Her concern of " lack of media attention" appeared to be restricted to Gujarat Samachar.
3.Why Patels, an influential landed gentry in Gujarat have not joined the movement? Patels did join the freedom movement in very large numbers, led by Sardar Patel! Patels or any other people will support/join a movement if it is just and affects very large number of people.Sporadic cases of injustices can not spark a state wide movement.Especially when the State is perceived as working effectively and honestly.
4.Why farmers from other parts of the state, whose lands are being acquired are not coming together for a state wide movement? This is answered in [3] above.
5.Why urban middle class is a silent spectator to this plight of farmers? Urban middle class in Gujarat [ and in many other states] has been part of the process of building a consensus around the idea that India needs to move quickly from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy.India needs to suck out surplus labour from rural area so that [i] Wages in rural sectors go up [ii] Farm sector takes to mechanisation,thus improving farm productivity [iii] Industrial sectors get adequate man power for labour intensive manufacturing hubs, that create wealth ,which in turn can alleviate poverty.
Since 1991, this model has been accepted as an alternative model to the Statist model of the socialists, that was in vogue from 1947 o 1991. Land acquisition process, if fair and transparent will not spark a movement [ or a revolution!] because majority of the people are agreed on aforesaid issue.
6.If an anti land acquisition movement in WB could overthrow a government in WB, why can't such a movement in Gujarat overthrow Narendra Modi in the elections, scheduled in 2012?
This is THE ISSUE ! You want to build a people's movement around the agenda to overthrow a man who is being repeatedly elected by the majority of voters.People are aware of such [hidden] agenda and hence are not joing in such movements.They of course will join, if they too think that Narendra Modi should be voted out.At present that is not the case.But that is the case at present for the UPA II in Delhi! reason why large number of people [ including Patels!] are joing the several movements across the country against this corrupt and incompetent government.
7. Why Narendra Modi or BJP were not sacking this MLA from their own party for leading this agitation against his own government?
Simple.Narendra Modi and BJP may be thinking that the man is right ! rather than arguing, quarreling or going to media, they may be trying to find a solution, acceptable to all in this issue.
It appeared that the lady belongs to that section of the media which some how wants to FIX Narendra Modi.
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