FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Valour and Vex Established 1965 Kejriwal in Benares Vijay Hashia Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra he street in which Arvind missive. 'The people are stupid,' lar experience in a village recent- why they had put Rs 5000 crores Kejriwal held his 'chau- he said and with that our conver- ly and of how he had convinced into Modi's campaign. 'And, With the spate of terror strikes in Hiranagar, Kathua and pro- Tpal' was narrow, filthy sation ended because the sound them otherwise. Then he think how much they will want longed gun battle in Ahmednagar, followed by the killing of three and crowded. Stray dogs wan- system was now alive with announced that he was not here to make from this if he does get men including a Sarpanch in Tral and a polling officer, an army Uncertain water project dered between the small collec- crackly slogans. Har Har to make a speech but to have a elected?' officer and a jawan in Shopian, the situation cannot be construed tion of red plastic chairs looking Mahadev. Inquilab Zindabad. conversation and asked if there Then he told them that he was as conducive but festered in a climate of uncertainty. While the hree years ago mega drinking water project for confused and frightened, stray 'Paisey pey, na daru pey. Button was anyone who would like to the only person who had dared election galore is on, the Hizb, LeT and separatists have issued Greater Jammu was announced with great fan- cows added their bit to the excre- dabbeyga jhadu pey.' Soon local ask him a question. So a man register an FIR against Mukesh threats against casting votes to create panic and disturb election Tfare. The two-phased project was envisaged to ment that already paved the street poets and politicians appeared on went up to the stage and asked Ambani. He had done in this as process. Fear looms large across the various sections of society and be completed by 2017. This was a plan devised to and children darted up to AAP the stage to talk of how 'darkness him why he was against Modi chief minister of Delhi in the face for those who want to get on with normal routine without fusillades, meet the drinking water requirements of Jammu in volunteers to grab their free Aam will be dissipated by the light of adding that he was wrong to of immense opposition from offi- intrusive searches for shrouding aliens, shutdowns and interroga- oppose Modi because he had tions. Six terror strikes within a span of two months indicate that next thirty years. Nearly 14 lakh souls need to be pro- Aadmi caps. Kejriwal was meant an AAP victory' and how Modi cials who warned him that he had had gone off in his helicopter done so much for Gujarat. no right to do this because it was J&K is still precipitous and therefore, reduction of security forces vided drinking water and the first phase of the con- to arrive at 4 pm so I got there a few minutes before to find that because he knew that Benares He made a longish speech for against the constitution. The or repealing of AFSPA could lead to explosive situation. templated mega project would lift 225 MGD with even the stage was not yet ready. would never accept him. There someone who was meant only to small gathering applauded his Valour of a soldier fighting against terror has been test of time almost the same quantity in phase II. The project has Volunteers in white caps were were Muslim speakers who ask a question so Kejriwal bravery. This emboldened him to but a soldier is not free from churning out rants against him. No been estimated to cost 1008 crore rupees. still trying to raise a banner that talked of the city's 'ganga-jamu- stopped the questions and began compare himself to Ram. He army would like its soldiers and officers to patrol and storm into But what is usually the fate of most of the mega had his picture on it along with ni tehzeeb' and recited satirical his own speech. In it he said all could have refused to give up the houses of own citizens unless it is indispensable. Though, end- projects in our State has been of this project as well. these words. 'Desh ko bachaney poems about how the new edu- the things that he usually tells throne and spend fourteen years less complaints keep pouring for human rights violations, his It has run into serious difficulties and the apprehen- key liye hamara parivar Arvind in the wilderness but he did not. marching boots never trample a peace loving resident. Without grudge or grouse, a soldier's duty is to flush out aliens from the sion is that it is coming to near closure. Three years Kejriwal key netritva mein Aam 'These days it is hard to get a peon ON THE SPOT to give up his job and I gave up infested soil. He is meant to retain a tight strap over any activi- have been spent for only project formation and there Aadmi Party key saath hai.' Behind the rickety stage adver- TAVLEEN SINGH the job of being chief minister as ty that conjures his valour and hurts nation's pride. A minor com- is no sign of project really and practically taking off. It tisements for MAA Computer a matter of principle. For this promise of duty could disproportionately lead to high political was supposed to be financed by ADB to the tune of Education and G.S. Coaching In self-congratulatory tones he they charge me with running raucous and repercussions. If, there have been a few instances of 1008 crore rupees. Center indicated that Dara Nagar away from governing Delhi, they violence within camps due to the high stress levels caused by long But the inspection team that flew in from Manila for was a middle class locality. I set- talked of how it was he who had call me a 'bhagoda' but they do duty hours and protracted separation from families, these hic- on spot inspection of the project has made some tled myself on a red plastic chair not know that to give up such a cups are bound to happen in any camp and on any soil, where his valour is subject to challenge. 'Be Ye Men of Valour ' was wartime observations which have put a halt to the flow of and watched AAPvolunteers set- first exposed the land deals of big job a 56" chest is not enough speech on 19 May 1940 by Winston Churchill. The speech con- funds from the source. The team's reservation is that ting up a very primitive sound you need guts.' system. Robert Vadra. He told them that When he started to outline his cludes with quotation from Apocrypha, "Arm yourself, and be ye the Economic Reconstruction Agency has not taken A man who introduced him- achievements in 49 days of being men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict, for it is better into account the adverse ecological effects of the self as a founder member of AAP the so-called development in Delhi's chief minister I decided it for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation project on aquatic life of the river. The water was pro- came and sat on the chair next to was time to go because what I had and our altar…" J L Nehru said, "Without peace all other dreams posed to be lifted from River Chenab near Akhnoor me and asked if I was from Del- Gujarat was a myth created by hoped to hear about was Kejriw- vanish and are reduced to ashes." Sayings of these great men are and then supplied to specific localities of water thirsty hi. When I said yes he seemed al's economic and political agen- apt illustrations for a soldier dedicated in the service of nation. Greater Jammu. relieved and explained that all the media that he had exposed by da. What his policies would be Over and above, he simultaneously assists civil administration in bringing peace. His focus is never on killing own countrymen The observation of the team has come as big dis- the volunteers at the meeting like and of this I heard not a sin- were from Delhi and were find- going there and discovering that gle word. All he did was attack the but the endeavour is to win hearts and minds of people. In the appointment to the ERA because it almost means ing it hard to negotiate their way two main political parties in this course of ongoing battle, several developmental programmes shelving the project and thus disappointing lakhs of around Benares. His name was there was enormous corruption election and praise himself. All he launched are 'valvet glove', 'sadbhavna' (goodwill) for empower- people who had pinned their hopes to it. The point Rajnish Verma and he fore- did was attack big business with- ment and emancipation of local populace, 'civil and military liai- that needs to be made is why the PHE and concerned warned me that Kejriwal would in postings and that the farmers out explaining whom he would son conference' is to work out measures and strategies for the wel- agencies did not conduct survey of the project strictly not be coming before 5.30. So we like to see private corporations fare and address issues of affected people. The propagation how- in accordance with the ecological norms laid down by had a little chat. As if to explain were desperate and poor. replaced by. Would he like us to the ADB and then only approach them for financial why the sound system was so go back to those times when the Valour of a soldier fighting against crackly and primitive he said that cation policy had a clause that people. In self-congratulatory public sector was all powerful? loan for the project. After all we have the requisite AAP did not have the funds to said only the children of the rich tones he talked of how it was he Would he like us to go back to terror has been test of time but a mechanism and structures that would have ensure no compete with the BJP. 'Ambani could study in Dehra Dun...'the who had first exposed the land times when officials had total ecological damage to the river or the aquatic life. and Adani have put in Rs 1000 rest of you get used to becoming deals of Robert Vadra. He told charge of running India's econo- soldier is not free from churning out Perhaps they have not taken their job seriously and crores into Modi's campaign,' he rickshaw pullers'. them that the so-called develop- my? He did not say this in so many rants against him. No army would done good homework before approaching the ADB said 'but we hope nevertheless to It was 5.30 by the time Kejri- ment in Gujarat was a myth cre- words but by the time I walked ated by the media that he had like its soldiers and officers to patrol for financial loan. This also indicates that though PHE be able to get between 100 and wal arrived to cries of Vande back along that filthy, crowded 150 seats in the Lok Sabha so that Matram, Har Har Mahadev, exposed by going there and dis- has very rightly taken into account the need of the street in Dara Nagar I was more and storm into houses of own citizens we can be the main opposition Inquilab Zindabad and Bharat covering that there was enor- than certain that in his heart Kejri- population in peripheral Jammu town for next three party. The Congress is finished.' Mata ki Jai. He began his meet- mous corruption in postings and wal would like these things to unless it is indispensable. Though, decades and proceeded along a mega project yet it When I told him that I had ing by asking how many people that the farmers were desperate happen because in his heart he endless complaints keep pouring for appears that various components that are required to witnessed the exhibition of mass in the audience would be voting and poor. Ambani-Adani, he believes that private enterprise is make their contribution to the implementation of the support that greeted Modi when for Modi and when he saw that said, were the only people who evil and officials are good. So if I human rights violations, his project on ground have not done a commendable he came to file his nomination far too many hands went up he had benefited from the Gujarat were voting in Benares it would marching boots never trample a papers the day before he was dis- told them of how he had a simi- model of development that was not be for him. work. Nothing should have been left to chance and peace loving resident. Without grudge before the ADB inspection team arrived, all require- ments should have been fulfilled, or grouse, a soldier's duty is to flush Now that the Chenab project seems to be running Secular politics out aliens from the infested soil. into difficulty even if Environmental Inspection Study Upendra Prasad has been followed by the col- itics. In fact, the term "secular- among various parties. When (EIS) is conducted and reported to have taken all stip- lapse of ideologies. The alliance ism" has been misused and even she was talking of secular ever, is, solely against foreign and hardcore elements while General Election for 16th ulated norms into consideration, still there seems lit- politics has ensured its death. abused by politicians in big way votes, she meant the voters of affording a fair chance to indigenous to shun violence, surrender Lok Sabha will be known for tle hope that ADB will be willing to come forth with a When Janata Dal split in 1999 during elections. Politicians Muslim community. Sonia and join the mainstream. Though, it may seem cynical to the many firsts. This is the first elec- positive attitude. On the surface of it, one can also and one of its factions joined have their own notion of who are Gandhi is not alone to use this vexed but the boom for humane and people centric approach has- tion, in which the centre point of hands with BJP, one of its secularists and who are not, word in this manner. In fact n't gone bust. Nostalgic as he is to return to barrack, but craving feel that the Pakistani factor and Indo-Pak Indus attack and counter attack is a per- spokesman Mohan Prakash, which is quite different from the almost all the leaders, who is for never shirk duty, at the same time, upholding 'country first Water Treaty too must have been in the mind of ADB son, who is not in power at the who is now a General Secretary literal meaning of this term. Lit- and self later' are strikingly his indefatigable mottos. centre. A leader occupying the claim to be champions of secu- team, but Indian side is convinced that drinking water Politicians pay lip service and sometimes shoddy in hailing central place in campaign of all in Congress pleaded. "vichard- erally speaking, secularism is an larism, mean Muslim voters, does not come under a category where Pakistan their services. To quote, recently, Bihar politician Bhim Singh's parties during elections is not hara ko bachane ke lie dhara me ideology of a state, in which the when talk of secular votes. needs to be consulted. remark "people join armed forces to die," in the wake of the killing new to India. In 1977 Lok Sab- bane rahna jaroori hai" meaning, government is not run by reli- When anyone asks any commu- This situation does not mean that we should lose ha election, Mrs Indira Gandhi, if you want to protect your ide- gious considerations. Secular- nity to vote united to one party of five Indian soldiers on the line of control, is symptomatic of all hope and sit idle and do nothing. This is an issue the then Prime Minister of India ology, you have to maintain ism is just opposed to theocracy, having interests of their own the bitter reality. Although forced to withdraw his remark, the in which lakhs of people of Greater Jammu are was the main talking point of yourself in mainstream (of poli- where a religious belief decides community in mind, this is in Bihar politician symbolizes how politicians view soldiering. involved. Jammu city has seen sudden spurt in pop- almost all parties contesting the tics). Such people think that you the direction of a state and its fact the communal voting. The They have no regrets, for even corruption in public distribution cannot remain in politics, if you government. Constitutionally ulation growth in recent years and a large number of election. In 1989, Rajeev Gand- difference between individual remains untraced and unpunished. Funds allocated to win the are not in power. That is why you India is a secular state and hence voting and communal voting is hearts and minds of affected people, splurge from political gim- localities have sprung up around old Jammu on all hi commanded the same place. But both of them were sitting have to join hands with those, our government has to work self explanatory. The problem mick to the reservoir of deceits. sides even across the Tawi River. We cannot depend Prime Ministers at that time. In who are even against your ideol- independent of the religious is that the secularists are pro- Genuine complaints against forces for human rights violations entirely on funding agencies and shall have to plan on Lok Sabha election of 1980, the ogy only to share power. beliefs of people and no reli- moting communal voting and have not been closed without investigation. Reportedly, more than our own level and within our own resources. May be main slogan of Congress (I) was, The politics to join power at gious dictum can be binding on yet claim to be championing the 90 percent of allegations of human rights violation filed against we will need longer period to accomplish this mega "Indira Lao, Desh Bachao". Mrs any cost has proved fatal for the the state. Secularism in India is cause of secularism. security forces have been found to be false. The Indian forces project and finance it from other sources. This is a Gandhi was the main focus of the ideologies and Indian politics is functioning well so far and any- This has given the third def- agree that only 3.59 percent of the allegations leveled have been firmly in the grip of this era, one who contests election has to inition to secularism in India and project of immense importance to the vast population Congress campaign, but her found to be true and investigations into 72 complaints were still opponents were not obsessed where not only ideology, but take oath to act according to the that is if you are pro minorities, going on. It has punished 129 personnel including 59 in J&K and of Jammu and a public discourse should be invited on with her in 1980 in a way which even parties have become mean- Constitution of India and hence you are secular and if you are rest in NE after they were found to be guilty in various charges. issues like ecological protection, aquatic life preser- had been seen during 1977 elec- ingless and the personality cult take oath to be secularist. against minorities, you are com- Strictly speaking, people are tired of blatant and brazen envi- vation, proper identification of areas on priority basis tions. has taken their space. This is the But in India secularism has munal. This creates strange situ- ronment that is of barbed fences, intermittent barrel shots, intru- and the rest of it. In the 16th Lok Sabha elec- reason, why a person has yet another meaning. In Indian ation, where rank communalist sive searches and interrogations etc. They are fettered and sapped become the centre of election tions, Narendra Modi has tradition there is a term, "sarva appears appealing to people to of patience as their woes go unheard. Their poignant memories become not only the main talk- campaign of almost all parties of dharma sam bhav" and we promote secularism. This hap- of happier days are bound to squeal for troops pullback and repeal Discovering democracy in Ladakh ing point of almost all parties, India. define our secularism by this pened in Varanasi some days of AFSPA but their vexing is satirical. Let one keep in mind that he world famous Discovery Channel will be but he himself has become an Narendra Modi has been term. Politicians or political ago, when Afjal Ansari, the 750 km LoC is highly volatile and Kashmir still disturbed. Will, election issue. There may be a demonized by his opponents as parties should have respect for brother of jailed Mukhtar Ansari preparing a documentary on Ladakh polling. therefore, the clamour provide space for democracy to flourish or The region, far remote in the lap of Himalayas number of reasons for it, but the a person dangerous to the secu- all religions and faiths accord- declared that he was supporting T main reason is the collapse of larism of India. They are trying ing to this definition of secular- Congress candidate to defend will it remain rhetoric of an imaginative show? The answer may and cut off from the rest of the world for six months in party system in India. This sys- their best to make secularism an ism. Almost all politicians and secularism. He appealed that be yes, if efforts are sincere without any strut of dirty politics. a year, and with scant population, has got special tem has collapsed and the parties issue and hence corner the Prime parties claim to have equal other secular parties, too, should Believed this time is, better turnout to pave the way for the whiff attraction for the documentary team. How democracy are in existence only technically Ministerial candidate of BJP, but respect for all faiths at least support that candidate. A leader of peace is eager to blow the summer in the Vale. has reached a far flung part of Northern India where for contesting the elections. this does not seem to click. In publically. So there is no prob- notorious for being communal There is no doubt, Kashmir continues to fester in a climate of uncertainty. Amidst chaos and conflict, one is hopeful, the next ballot material and election staff needs to be brought There is hardly any internal earlier elections, the politics of lem, but the problem arises was preaching secularism. This democracy in most of the parties secularism used to pay high div- when politicians talk about sec- is nothing but the misuse of the PM, if Narender Modi, on the legacy of former PM Atal Bihari by helicopters will present a unique feature of India's and their decisions are taken pri- idends to the parties and their ularism having meanings dif- word of secularism. With rising Vajpayee, will adopt a pragmatic approach as both Hurriyat and democratic process. This is a land of great natural marily by their leaders, who are leaders, but in the present polit- fering from the above two. One political consciousness people PDP have indicated positive signs and a comprehensive peace settings, high Himalayan mountains, people of now not known as the President ical scenario, there are few tak- example will make it clear. have realized this absurdity of so deal with Pakistan with a political succor to separatists would ancient race with ancient ways of life but curiously or General Secretary, rather ers of this politics. When Sonia Gandhi met Shahi called secular politics. That is yield better results. Will then the valour of a soldier waft through more politically informed than other people in similar known as 'Supremo', a term used The reason why this politics Imam of Jama Masjid of Delhi, the reason this time the plank of serene mountains singing the intonations of victory over evil and will then the vex of a common man fade into fresh climate for conditions. The documentary has been outsourced for a gang leader in Bollywood. has failed to click and attract the she appealed him to ensure that secularism is not working. The lack of internal democracy masses is the misuse of this pol- secular votes were not divided (IPA Service) everlasting peace. by the Discovery Channel to an Indian documentation team with considerable expertise in the field. The shooting will be completed in one week. Hopefully Conscience vote Energy Conservation this will be a remarkable source of knowledge to Sir, the time of filling up their nomina- Sir, those who are almost nostalgic about Discovery These ongoing election have tion papers, have shown both mov- This has reference to the article' Easy way to bridge the gap' DE Neglected Pensioners Channel. revealed so many queer things in able and immovable assets touching Apr 29. respect of elector's choice whether more than crores. The author has in this write up informed the readers the need to Sir, Ladakh has great geostrategic importance for to elect on the basis of party mani- It has created an ugly impression save energy and suggested a few measures to overcome energy crisis. The people who were once important component of the India. Border with China and Pakistan meets in festo or as per the personal acumen of the candidate and the same has to The issue pertaining to energy Conservation is of great concern to Govt machinery are treated stepmotherly by the Govt in pow- Ladakh. The Siachin Glacier that has been the bone of a candidate. The zeal and zest be seen how the candidates have people in view of its rising demand in the present times. But it is quite er. Why it is so? Why are not orders passed on along with the orders of of contention between India and Pakistan is also especially, by the younger genera- been able to amass such great dismaying that neither the Government, nor the people take this issue tion, who have become eligible to wealth. Net savvy younger genera- seriously. regular employees of the Govt for the release of DA install- located here. Cheshul at the height of 15000 feet vote have shown quite encouraging tion has coined a term for variety of People wake up to this problem only when they face frequent pow- ments? above sea level has a few hundred votes and all performance giving more strength netas. They have referred them as er cuts scheduled and unscheduled particularly during summer days Apart from this once I happened to see a notice in the arrangements have been made for the polling staff to to the democratic set up of Govt. barbarians of Indian politics. Keep- when mercury goes beyond 40ºC. The Government machinery comes Bank premises for the pensioners to submit their savings for reach it and give the eligible persons the right to vote. The political parties, to prove their ing in view all the revelations the into action but half heartedly. It launches media campaign to counter Income Tax. See, how the Govt is harassing the pensioners worth have left no stone unturned to electorate must have voted or power protests by advising people to be 'judicious' and not indulge in who are getting a meagre pension. They feel it difficult to That is what the Indian democracy does for her peo- woo the voters and to make their should vote keeping their con- power theft's and those found guilty shall be punished’etc etc. But this make both ends meet. The Govts must exempt the pension- ple far and wide in the country. presence felt indulged in exchange science in view as to what will be rehtoric hardly cuts ice with people. The PDD must take some meas- ers of Income Tax Calculations to let them live in peace. I The documentary is supposed to portray how the of invectives and using unparlia- good for over all prosperity of the ures in earnest to stop power pilferage and supply uninterrupted pow- hope Govt must devise a policy to placate the neglected pen- Election Commission of India conducts election in the mentary language never seen hither country. er supply to consumers. There should be no double standards- one for siones in terms of their demands in the near future. to fore. Unprecedented allegations Yours etc... elite class and the other for marginalised people. Yours etc... world's largest democracy in which 81.4 crore people and counter allegations were wit- Dwarika Nath Raina Yours etc.... Bhian Singh are supposed to cast vote to elect a democratic nessed during the ongoing election. H. No. 131, Upper Muthi, Amit Kumar 88/1-A Channi Himmat Government. The candidates fighting election at Jammu. Gangyal Jammu