Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 23 The focus shifts July 1, 2012 S. Viswam

Hindutava versus regionalism The candidature of Pranab The objective was to push the BJP, Kuldip Nayar Mukherjee for the presidency as the largest partner in the NDA, to the the UPA nominee has unexpectedly good books of Tamil Nadu AIADMK resulted in a shift in the national Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and An Opportunity Lost political focus. Circumstances have the Odisha Biju Janata Dal Chief so conspired as to make Pranabda’s Minister Navin Patnaik with a view Mastram Kapoor election as president a foregone to firming up their participation in the conclusion. One would have expected NDA as its constituents for the 2014 this development to induce a change Lok Sabha polls. Thus, even though Ideology in Indian Politics in the focus from the presidential Sangma has no chance of defeating D. K. Giri to the vice-presidential election. Mukherjee, the BJP is propping him Not so surprisingly, the focus has up as an “Opposition consensus instead shifted to the 2014 Lok Sabha candidate” for the presidency. There European crisis and India poll and the identity of the prime is nothing the BJP will not do for K. S. Chalam ministerial candidates of the varios snatching a political advantage from major political groupings. Thus, any developing situation! today greater public and political Why Socialism? interest is centred on the Lok Sabha However, apart from the BJP’s role in choosing a candidate to oppose Thoughts from South Africa polls two years ahead of the event. How did this happen? The BJP, which Mukherjee, another factor that has was the first party to take an interest in contributed to the shift in the national the presidential election, had rejected political focus is the unexpected the name of Pranab Mukherjee because opposition to the RSS-BJP strategy he was the Congress candidate. It also to project Gujarat Chief Minister Editor : dismissed the name of vice-president Naredra Modi as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 G. G. Parikh Hamid Ansari on the specious ground that he lacked stature. The same poll. Narendra Modi himself has Managing Editor : Guddi BJP, found itself unable to locate been behaving as if he has already a candidate within its own ranks, been named the NDA candidate. He D-15, Ganesh Prasad, and after failing to persuade former not only blackmailed the BJP into Naushir Bharucha Marg, President Abdul Kalam has had to ousting Sajay Joshi from the party Mumbai - 400 007. fall back on P.A. Sangma. It hastened but he chose to attend the Mumbai to adopt Sangma’s candidature not BJP session only after Joshi had Email : [email protected] with an eye on the presidential poll been eased out. Sanjay Joshi has but on the Lok Sabha poll in 2014. since quit all the party posts he held. 2 JANATA, July 1, 2012

But opposition to Narendra Modi’s Between the lines prime ministerial ambitions came from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Hindutava versus regionalism Kumar who insisted that the NDA prime ministerial candidate should be named immediately, that he Kuldip Nayar should be a secular-minded person with a liberal face and without any The Bhartiya Janata Party seems the ethos which the nation adopted “rough edges” and that Narendra to have tryst with doom. In the during the independence struggle Modi was obviously not such a wake of scams and scandals in the and after freedom as a pole star candidate. Much to the surprise of Congress-run government, the BJP under the leadership of Mahatama the BJP itself, RSS supremo Mohan was gaining ground. Its performance Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Bhagwat rushed to add his little in Parliament was comparatively and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. bit to the Modi-Nitish stand-off better and its younger leadership by endorsing Modi’s candidature. assertive and more meaningful. But True, regional chauvinism, Since Nitish has served notice that once again old RSS men who have which is co-terminus with caste the JD(U) would break away from been riding the party have brought and community in certain states, the NDA in case Modi is named it back to square one. is rearing its ugly head. This is as the prime ministerial candidate, because the Centre looks confused the RSS-BJP combine is perhaps First Gujarat Chief Minister and equivocal when it comes to ready to risk a break-up in the NDA Narender Modi joined issued with enunciate policies which demand alliance. It also means that the RSS Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar secular credentials. reposes so much confidence in on the concept of secularism and Modi’s political clout that it does then RSS played the Hindutava Having little feedback from not mind the complete rejection of card. Both have scotched even the the field, New Delhi continues the NDA by the minorities at the remotest chance of BJP returning to to monopolise power and fails to pan-Indian level. An off-shoot of power. A person who has his hands appreciate that the decentralization all these developments is that Nitish tainted with the blood of Muslims would infuse life among the people Kumar has emerged as a likely cannot be projected as India’s next in a state. Regional aspirations have candidate for 2014 as the choice of Prime Minister. Nor can the false got a new edge in the past years and the “secular” components (non-BJP, clothes of culture hide the real the locals are fired with confidence non-saffron elements) of the NDA. face of adherents to Hindu Rashtra that they can sort out their problems concept. themselves and find a consensus quicker than the remote New Delhi While the NDA has already The BJP has, by and large, does. involved itself in the run-up to the remained quiet. One of its leaders has 2014 polls, there is uncertainty spoken out of turn and questioned This is the reason why Trinamul over the choice of the UPA’s prime the very concept of secularism. Congress won in West Bengal and ministerial candidate. The Congress, But he was hushed up quickly. It Samajwadi Party in UP. The voters as usual, thinks that the talk of seems that the party did delude itself found the parties closer to them and a prime ministerial candidate is with the idea that the Hindu voters more sympathetic to their problems. premature. Sonia Gandhi has said were beginning to own the RSS Even if these regional parties do not that there is still plenty of time, philosophy. The BJP should have give them a better administration even for speculation! Will she name learnt the lesson in 2009 when it was the people are not likely to go back Rahul Gandhi? Is Rahul Gandni all set to win but lost to the Congress. to all India parties which they have ready to assume the responsibility found failing them again and again. of the high office? Is he prime Political parties, including the They may try another party within ministerial material? Can he deliver Congress, do not understand the the region because they are getting the nation for the Congress when he new electorate, mostly young. It convinced that all India parties are failed to deliver even the Congress is liberal in outlook and hates to not an answer to their problems of (Continued on Page 3) mix religion with politics. This was appalling living conditions. JANATA, July 1, 2012 3

The idea of India may be pushed Leave Modi apart - he is a bull in the secular India. For the BJP, already further into the background. There China shop - the Chief Ministers in a divided house, the confusion is may be insurgents and separatists Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and more confounded. It realises that the in certain areas to assert the identity Karnataka are too tall to tame. They country can never be ruled through a of their caste or community, are leaders of their own communities communal agenda. Even the former believing that in the affairs of all and command wide influence. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee India politics they may get lost. realized this and always put his Much would depend on how New Both parties would have great liberal foot forward. He refused Delhi handles the situation. The difficulty for 2014 election, first to oust his Principal Secretary Sarkaria Commission on Centre- in choosing the top person and Brijesh Mishra despite the pressure State relations has become outdated. then tackling him or her. Take of RSS. But then the BJP’s problem Had its recommendations been for example the BJP, it is already is that it does not have a tall person implemented when the report came wooing Vasundheraraje Scindhia, like Vajpayee to withstand the out more than two decades ago, the former Chief Minister, who thumbed pressure of RSS. demand by the states to have more the party and stayed in the wilderness powers might not have arisen. The because she was sure that the Central (Continued from Page 2) Centre has to curtail the subjects it BJP would one day come to her and strongholds in Uttar Pradesh? These has, either voluntarily or through a accept her authoritarian leadership. are all questions that are being raised Constitutional amendment. Apart in political circles. from Defence, Foreign Affairs, Problems of the Congress on this Currency and overall financial count are negligible. Sonia Gandhi National politics is in a state planning, New Delhi should has all the authority. That Rahul of flux right now. However, some not have more subjects. Once it Gandhi, her son, should be nominated hopes for a revival in the economy decentralizes its power it should as number two has already been have been raised by the take-over ensure that the decentralization goes done. There is no dissidence and she of the finance ministry by the prime all the way, from the state capital to alone, more so after the departure minister. Whatever Mukherjee the district and then to the Panchayat of Pranab Mukherjee, has the succeeded or failed in doing is no so that people themselves participate confidence of allies in the ruling more relevant. But Manmohan in governance. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Singh faces both a challenge and an she chairs. opportunity to end the decline in the The two main parties - Congress economy and usher in measures to and BJP - and the Left would have The BJP would need more and lift it up. He has only a limited time problems. The Left does not seem to more assistance of RSS to sort out to achieve this. bother because it is dictatorial in its difficulties with the state leaders. working. The CPM ousted a member Realizing this, RSS Chief Mohan from the party even though he had Bhagwat has announced that Modi resigned after supporting Pranab has all the qualifications to become Janata Mukherjee, the Congress Party’s India’s new Prime Minister. However, Subscription presidential candidate. Yet both the this has naturally infuriated the Annual Rs. : 260/- Congress and the BJP need to handle BJP’s main ally, Janata Dal (United). their members carefully. Even Its President Sharad Pawar has Three Years : 750/- when a state Chief Minister speaks said that if Modi is the Prime Demand Draft / Cheque on out of turn, he has to be brought Minister candidate, the JD (U) would Mumbai Bank around as has been the case with quit the BJP-led National Democratic in favour of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Alliance (NDA). JANATA TRUST although he is a creature of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. What is wrong with having a D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Hindutava prime minister? Questions Naushir Bharucha Marg, The BJP faces a bigger problem Bhagwat. This question itself shows Mumbai 400 007 because it rules in twice the number how RSS lives in a world of it own of States as the Congress does. and does not face the reality of 4 JANATA, July 1, 2012 An Opportunity Lost

Mastram Kapoor

The presidential election, 2012 In order to find a way to come and all votes should result from call provided a golden opportunity out of the present suffocating of conscience as was exhorted by for unity of progressive forces atmosphere, a proposal was given Indira Gandhi in V.V. Giri’s election as against the forces of status to Mulayam Singh suggesting in 1969. quo and crony capitalism in the the name of Justice B. Sudarshan guise of neo-developmentalism Reddy, who last year, before his It was decided that CPI leaders that means by plundering the retirement from the Supreme Court would discuss this matter further earth enrich the few and push the of India, had delivered famous in Left Front meetings and try to masses to gradual extinction. The judgments on black money and arrive at a combined opinion about opportunity was however lost not by Salva Judum and also decided in supporting a common candidate circumstances but by utter poverty favour of reservations to OBCs in from opposition. Unfortunately, of imagination and will on the part educational institutions. Earlier Left Front parties could not agree of the progressives consisting of Justice Santosh Hegde’s name was to the idea of combined opposition communists and socialists as well suggested as an alternative by Ravi candidate and CPM leaders looked as complete loss of direction among Varma Kumar, senior advocate entirely given to idea of consensus. In three meetings held the CPM NDA constituents. and former chairman of Karnataka Backward Commission. leaders showed inclination to follow After the unpredicted success of the Congress lead instead of taking the Samajwadi Party in UP Assembly On getting a casual nod from their own initiative. In the last Mulayam Singh, consultation elections, a hope was generated that meeting CPM and forward Bloc process was started with different the present UPA regime of loot and openly declared their support for parties expected to join the ruling party’s ‘Bengali’ candidate corruption can be challenged at least campaign. Our first stop was Ajay while CPI and RSP showed their symbolically, in the presidential Bhavan where extensive discussion pure metal by deciding to abstain elections, as a rehearsal to the Lok took place with CPI leaders AB from voting. Sabha elections in 2014. A rough Bardhan and Atul Kumar ‘Anjan’. calculation of votes showed that CPI leaders fully appreciated the Surprisingly, the weakness of out of about 11 lakh votes, the UPA, idea behind the effort. They agreed following the Congress lead was with all its constituents, including that the President should not be seen in almost all major opposition Trinmul Congress, have 4,60,000, selected by consensus but should be groups. Even the main opposition the NDA with its allies, 3,04,000 elected by contest. They also agreed party which claimed to be ruling party and the rest, about 2,62,000 votes. that consensus smacks of feudalism in waiting, waited for the Congress If the socialists of the Samajwadi and court culture and open contest to name its candidate and nearly Party had taken an initiative and put and free vote are basic requirements decided to vote for him and only up a candidate of non-partisan, clean of democracy. Elections of the unwillingly extended support to P.A. image with a good knowledge of the President by real contest and free Sangma with an eye to expand NDA Constitution and he is backed by the vote held in 1967 and 1969, had circle by roping in Navin Patnayak Left Front, there could have been stirred the imaginations of the people and Jayalalithaa. Samajwadi Party a fair possibility of NDA groups making them part of the political supremo, Mulayam Singh, showed joining the campaign, in view of the process which is the real need of some guts when he joined with fact that NDA is the main opposition, democracy. Since the electoral Mamata Banerjee to propose their entitled to replace the UPA regime, college of President’s election own candidates in defiance of in case the UPA candidate is defeated comprises of MPs and MLAs and Congress’s proposal. But when resulting in depletion of Congress or not political parties, no whip can Congress supremo reacted angrily ultimate fall of the UPA government. be issued in the President’s election against their suggestion of including JANATA, July 1, 2012 5

Dr. Manmohan Singh’s name, ruling party’s candidate uncontested, and hopes of a left-democratic front Mulayam Singh’s guts crumbled and dawned on them when they were are dashed. The blame should go to he immediately withdrew his earlier forced by the circumstances to all opposition parties and groups, stand and extended his support to support a weak candidate like P.A. mainly to BJP, SP, JD(U) and CPM Congress candidate, leaving Mamata Sangma. All Chanakyas and Sardar who have betrayed the faith of their in lurch. This acrobatic of Mulayam Patels in the party failed to see voters. In view of the all round Singh destroyed whatever goodwill that in no country, ruling party’s disappointment that will follow Samajwadi Party had earned from presidential candidate is given a this presidential election, there is its recent success in UP Assembly walk-over by the opposition. urgent need to start fresh efforts to polls. It will be very difficult for SP build a left-democratic alternatives to regain it. The net result of this whole political drama is that whatever for which the lead must be taken The other pillar of the socialist possibilities of unifying the by parties like CPI, RSP, Mamata’s movement, JD(U) behaved even opposition forces and presenting Trinmul and SP’s new leadership worse. The leaders of JD(U) made a challenge to the present failed and reincarnated JD(U) even if it up their mind from the start to vote regime that were emerging, were lost meant to start from ABC. for the ruling party candidate. A suggestion to the President of JD(U), to support a common opposition …However, the time has existing electoral college of 4,896 candidate, brought a violent reaction certainly come to expand MPs and MLAs. There being no and its spokesman proudly declared the electoral college for this whip in this election, this will its support to ruling party. The chief election and to make it more reduce the scope of politics of minister Nitish Kumar, the real representative of the totality of manipulation, inducements and centre of power of JD(U) however, the country’s democratic system. blackmail that the Congress party saved some of its lost honour by In other words, elected members routinely resorts to. Look how, diverting the media attention to the of the Panchayati Raj Institutions by misusing the CBI stick, it’s debate of NDA’s P.M candidate, (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies got both the Samajwadi Party though he remained hanging to (ULBs) should also have the and the Bahujan Samaj Party the coat-tail of Manmohan Singh. right to vote in the presidential in UP to back its candidate. The remaining three factions of the election. After the 73rd and 74th Secondly, this will encourage socialist movement, i.e. Lok Jan amendments to the Constitution, members of PRIs and ULBs Shakti Party, JD(S) and RJD, didn’t which empowered PRIs and to outgrow their localism and even shy like a new bride before ULBs respectively, there can develop a national perspective. extending their support to the ruling be absolutely no political or Thirdly, the President too will party. constitutional justification for feel Constitutionally obliged denying members of these bodies to speak up for the legitimate The most pathetic character in the the right to participate in the needs and rights of these long- drama was the BJP leadership which election to choose the country’s neglected grassroots institutions claims to be a better substitute to the President. of democracy. Fourthly, this Congress. Throughout, it was in ‘to will compel political parties to be or not to be’ dilemma. Although This major political reform start taking them more seriously. there were many good candidates will have several beneficial Lastly, giving PRIs and ULBs a who could be put up as candidates for effects on our democracy. Firstly, right to vote in the presidential presidentship (Justice B. Sudarshan it will broadbase the presidential election will also force the centre Reddy and Justice Santosh Hegde’s election, by adding nearly three and state governments to take names were suggested to them and million more electors to the them seriously. they already had Ram Jethmalani and Subramaniam Swamy) the - Sudheendra Kulkarni, The Sunday Express leaders of BJP could not make up their mind. Even the idea that the main opposition should not leave the 6 JANATA, July 1, 2012 Ideology in Indian Politics

D. K. Giri

When we refer to a political begun to be driven by any ideology. the “paradigm shift”. Kuhnian party in India, what is the image paradigm in science operates as a we instantly conjure up? To sample The political mindset framework for understanding the some: BJP - a Hindu party, Indian mentioned above is shaped by universe. According to Kuhn, the National Congress - a catch-all poor understanding of ideology, scientists do not take all evidences party, Samajwadi Party - a party of and the wrong premise that, being before them, but only those pieces of Yadavas, Bahujan Samaj Party - a ideological is not practical. In this it which fit their operating paradigm. party of Dalits, DMK-AIADMK essay, my attempt is to demystify Those pieces that do not are ignored, - parties of Dravidians in Tamil the concept of ideology, and to until a new paradigm which explains Nadu who once wanted to split suggest that, in the longer run, it is them is developed. Ideology thus from India, Telugu Desam Party the ideological approach that helps gives us a frame to think about the - a party of Telugus, and so on, the party to win and to make politics public issues, by excluding certain and then the communists and their popular and healthy. Furthermore, experiences and perceptions, and allies, all bundled into so-called while ideology may help to guide accepting others. In other words, ‘left’. But, interestingly, none of the policy and decision-making, it in politics, it is the ideology which parties are viewed from the point of leaves plenty of room for pragmatic gives public meaning to people’s ideologies; such as Conservative, judgment. Again, in a more general experiences and perceptions - but Liberal, Progressive, Socialist, sense of the word, every political only selectively - those perceptions Centrist, Rightist, Leftist (only party needs its ideology, and the and experiences which do not fit the communists), Capitalists, and more clearly it is thought out the in are neglected. If they are to be Bourgeoisie and so on. Why do the more effective is the party likely accepted as part of people’s political partie not identify themselves with to be in government. In any case, understanding, a new ideology is any of these ideologies? Because, how can there be policy without required which draws on, highlights they do not need to. It is another ideology? Is not that like claiming and makes sense of them. matter they are characterized by a that one speaks “without an accent”? default ideology defined by what Ideology is not a set of abstract people see them as. What matters to The Meaning of Ideology principles, not the same as values the parties is how to win elections In popular terms, ideology is a set and attitudes. Ideology may not and gain power; the talk of ideology of principles about which there is be a philosophy, but has political does not help them in that process. considerable agreement amongst the character, and a guide to direct One may personally and individually members of a party - belief about the political action. Such action related believe in certain principles or an nature of the present society, about interpretation also implies that it ideology, but s/he may have to the kind of society they want to is not the content of the ideologies sacrifice those at the altar of so-called create, the relation of an individual alone that separates one from practical politics. One has to dare to the society, about the values the other; it is the function of the and defeat opponents in elections, people must adopt and so on. Since ideology in the political system not be dubbed a doctrinaire. In these beliefs are pitched at a fairly that creates the differentiation. the international context, one is abstract level, they may not appear to Ideologies do change in response reminded of Daniel Bell’s prognosis have direct practical application, but to emerging political and economic in the “End of Ideology”. Bell are used as reasoning for practical situations in a given country, but the argued that old-time ideological policy and action outcomes. Another principles underpinning the ideology frameworks had lost their power way to look at ideology is to look remain perennial. and that, thus, we had arrived at the at the way Thomas Samuel Kuhn, “end of ideology.” May be not, as the American historian and the On the question of the ideology there are new ideological disputes philosopher of science developed becoming abstract or theoretical, in many countries. However, in the paradigms in science and introduced let us remember what Kurt Zadek Indian context, politics has not even us to the much-used word in politics Lewin, the German-American JANATA, July 1, 2012 7 psychologist had said, “Nothing is is out of place to talk of ideology, democrat, late Madhu Dandavate more practical than a good theory”. It it is a luxury, what is important is used to say in his own inimitable is not being suggested that one needs to address the immediate issue no way, “the Congress party supports to be rigid or text-bookish about an matter what ideology one adheres to. the public sector publicly, and the ideology without being sensitive This is a myth which is perpetuated private sector privately”. The public to or conscious of a situation or in order for politicians to advance sector is meant to serve the interests priorities. To clarify this dilemma, their self-interest and continuation of the poor and the deprived. let us take two principles of social in power. The third genuine reason democracy - liberty and equality for the people to ignore ideology What is the best Ideology - which can in certain practical is that the ideological parties tend There is only one ideology that is political circumstances conflict. to be self-righteous, rigid and worth talking about and exploring In fact, this is a classic case - the sectarian, repelling people rather - that is socialism that enshrines conflict between the ideals of liberty than attracting people into their the universal principles of liberty, and equality, to both of which social fold. For instance, a Communist will equality and solidarity. Socialism democrats attach great importance. see most others as reactionary, BJP R. H. Tawney, who is regarded as views others as pseudo-secular and has become socialisms with its the ideological ancestor by many anti-national, and even Socialists basic principles being universal. social democrats, argued that neither see many others as non-progressive Marxism was once the dominant ideal could be attained without the and so on. While, there is some variety of socialism, but Marxism other. Nonetheless, oftentimes, room for such perceptions, it is set its face against socialist pluralism circumstances crop up in which unwise politically to close the and sought to secure for itself a there is loss of some liberty to doors on many who may want to “position of organizational and gain equality and vice versa. And, embrace one’s thinking gradually. theoretical monopoly”. Many have more generally, there is certainly The fourth, most members of a party successfully argued and events plenty of scope for conflict between have only rudimentary knowledge have demonstrated that this “project several equally valued “ideological of the party’s ideology articulated was illegitimate, its basis flawed, principles”. Therefore, ideology is a by its leaders; in fact, they may its consequences damaging and guide to action, set of principles, not hold perhaps unwittingly, a variety its disintegration is therefore to a “detailed programme of action”. of private views that may be at be regarded as both necessary odds with the ideology of the party. and welcome”. By extension, this Is Ideology Unimportant? This happens because the ideology would mean that part of socialist It can be argued that the absence is not discussed or disseminated project now involves a process of of ideology in political discourse in to the rank and file of the party unlearning. India is partly the consequence of through study circles, training and anti-intellectualism in Indian public internal communication. So the Finally, it is a world in which “one life in comparison with most other party members cannot motivate person in three lives under a regime advanced democracies in the world. themselves and inspire others in that describes itself as a socialist, a ideological terms. On the contrary, Researches in political beliefs and fact which bears testimony to the ideology show consistently that the if one does not subscribe to any success of socialism as a modern public does not often think about ideology, it can attract all kinds ideology, perhaps even the modern politics in ideological terms. This of people to support it and win ideology. But it is also a world where has been amply brought by John elections. This is what the Congress Robinson in an article, “The Ups party does, it keeps its ideology socialism has become pluralist and Downs and the Ins and Outs vague, so that it can talk about poor, with many a variety. That is a fact of ideology” in Public Opinion and tie up with the rich and so on, that needs to be accepted. In fact, way back in 1984. That is why the although there is nothing wrong to democratic socialism or social politicians do not attach importance talk to the rich and poor at the same democracy by their name could to any ideology. Another argument time and from the same platform accommodate all those varieties. is that, in a country like India where for a common cause. But Congress Therefore, it is high time that there is massive and chronic poverty, tends to do it in a surreptitious ideology becomes the basis of unemployment, backwardness and manner, as a matter of opportunism, politics and social democracy the even in some cases starvation, it not openness. The veteran social core of that ideology. 8 JANATA, July 1, 2012 European crisis and India

K. S. Chalam

The third world scholars and India. The desire to continue the past to some scholars, of ‘bureaucratic thinkers like Edward Said and hegemony and the lifestyles based clientalism’ , serving the interests Samir Amin have raised the on plunder appears to be haunting of the political parties in power. issue of Euro-centrism in history, them, perhaps unconsciously, as This has facilitated the country to culture and political economy. is evident through the policies and raise loans to tide over its economic Economists on the other hand strategies recommended by them needs. As a result, the fiscal deficit of have developed theories of export to the third world. The nations that the country has reached 15 percent of led growth or import substitution have seriously taken their advice are GDP and forced it to approach IMF, strategies of development for now in jitters. It is due to the fact that for a loan. The IMF has granted loan developing countries. The euphoria their economies have been deeply on very stringent conditionality that of Washington consensus that has engaged with the Euro-American peeved the political establishment. It guided globalization seems to have economies and the contagion is seems that that was beginning of the slowed down due to the failure of suspected to be imminent. crisis in Greece. Interestingly, two of market supported theories in most the Greek innovations, democracy of the countries where there is The European crisis has been and tragedy are being performed gloom now. It is in this context that discussed whenever there was an live. we need to look at the European economic slowdown in recent months economic crisis which may cause and particularly with reference to The GDP of the country according political turmoil in the region and Greece, Spain, Portugal, etc. The to World Bank data in 2010 was its broad implications for India. economic crisis in Greece once $302 billion. It has a total public debt Dr Manmohan Singh in his recent seriously talked about as a failed of $481 billion, almost one and half visit to G20 at Rio has strategically nation in the media has suddenly of its GDP. It is a serious problem. used the situation in appealing to disappeared once the right wing The crux of the European crisis is the West to invest in infrastructure New Democracy took the reins of that they have borrowed mostly from projects as they were searching power there in recent elections. The European Banks at an exorbitant for investment destinations in the political economy of Greece is a very rate of 18 per cent interest. It is background of economic crisis. The interesting case study to understand reported that out of $2.84 trillion economic predicament emanated some of the contemporary issues. of the European Central Bank with subprime crisis in the USA and The political atlas of Greece was capital, $ 637 billion are given as is spreading to rest of the world. dominated by two political parties, loans to Portugal, Ireland, Greece PASOK, socialist party and N D, and Spain. The problem of Spain One may ponder over the fact that new democracy, the former a left is not public debt but private debt USA is not an isolated newfound oriented party and the latter a right where fiscal deficit has reached a land any longer. It is an extension wing group. There are several peak at 8.9 percent of GDP in 2011. of Europe. We will find that all the formations like the Eurocommunists The private debt of Spain is alleged European nations are represented and others playing second fiddle in to be having links with real estate in the USA, but the population data the coalitions. It appears that the bubble that may go around 90 per does not speak about them and only Indian political drama is enacted in cent of its GDP. The implications of lists Asians, Hispanics, African Greece or vice versa. The successive the Greece profligacy according to Americans and undocumented governments, some of them called some scholars is that, it has heaped immigrants. The OECD and themselves as socialist, have distrust on political parties that European Union are economic expanded public sector and helped led to the change of governments blocks of the Anglo-Saxon or to improve the fortunes of their in quick succession. Rampant occidental nations that had colonies interest groups. The system has in the present third world including acquired the character, according (Continued on Page 15) JANATA, July 1, 2012 9 Why Socialism? Thoughts from South Africa

Most Indian Socialists will benefit from a reading of the thoughtful article “Why Socialism”, published in an organ of the South African Communist Party. This is especially because Indian Socialists sometimes seem to be losing touch with their Marxist heritage represented in particular by Acharya Narendra Deva, the doyen of the Indian socialist movement. Generally, the South African Communist movement has exhibited approaches refreshingly different from those of Communist movement in pre-independence India. Many South African communist leaders, like Dr Yusuf Dadoo, were close to Gandhiji and acted in consultation with him in the nineteen forties. Gandhiji’s grand daughter, Ela Gandhi and many other leading figures of Indian origin in South Africa have been part of the South African Communist Party (SACP) apart from being active in the African National Congress. The South African Communist party struggled jointly with the African National Congress in the difficult apartheid years and has a long record of struggle against the regimes of the time.

The problems that we face in twenty first century India and South Africa are similar in essential character though specific characteristics might be different. I expect that Janata readers will find the article* below to be of interest to them especially because it contains some practical non-jargon-ridden thinking. –Anil Nauriya

Never before in history has the it has also been a history of class Africa, with unprecedented floods, need for a different, a humane world struggle. It is a struggle that, in short, droughts, famines and epidemics. based on the socialist value of putting everywhere pits the direct producers Avaricious logging is destroying social needs before private profits against those who seek to maximize millions of acres of virgin forest - been more desperately required. their own narrow class accumulation the green lungs that replenish the For thousands of years people have interests, regardless of the needs of air we breathe. Most commercial worked collectively to build homes society at large. fish stocks have been reduced by and communities, to gather food, over 75 percent, with the capitalist- herd animals, to harvest crops, to Today, a single world economy driven industrialization of fishing manufacture, to paint, to dance and is dominated by a tiny minority of fleets. This dangerous collapse of to sing. exceedingly powerful transnational fish stocks is further compounded corporations, buttressed by by chemical pollution of the sea, Today, as never before, the imperialist state power. After several mostly from commercial agricultural collective achievements of human centuries of breath-taking expansion fertilizer run-offs, and by real estate civilisation are threatened with and world-wide accumulation, developers clogging up estuary potential extinction. the global capitalist system, as we spawning grounds with golf estates know it, is now approaching a series and tourist resorts. How do we halt Of course, the past thousands of systemic, perhaps conclusive, these depredations? of years of human history have limitations. These limitations include themselves not been idyllic. The physical, biological, human, social For a century, a non-renewable history of human societies has and economic dimensions. natural resource - oil - has fuelled been one of collective endeavour, headlong capitalist expansion. but also of many variants of brutal Destruction of Our Environment` Some time in our present decade, patriarchal, colonial, racial, class Profit driven production oil production will have peaked and other oppressions. If the history is spewing its waste into our and demand will outstrip supply. of all hitherto existing societies has atmosphere. Global temperatures The major oil corporations and been one of progressive if uneven are rising, threatening large parts their political backers are already scientific and technical advance, of the world, including most of scrambling to grab control of

* Slightly abridged first chapter of the political report of the South African Coummist Party. 10 JANATA, July 1, 2012 remaining reserves with greater Destruction of Rural Livelihoods not a matter of decades in the ruthlessness than ever. Oil is being Nowhere is this more apparent way in which the capitalist agro- pumped out of ever more expensive than in the case of farming and conglomerates are now proceeding and challenging deep-sea reserves food production. At the beginning in the Third World. What is more, with all of the attendant risks of of our 21st century, the World many of the millions of European accidents and devastating oil spills. Trade Organisation, dominated by peasant farmers who were made wars and chronic social instability imperialist forces, declared war on surplus by the capitalist revolution have flared across the globe, from nearly half of humanity - that is, on in the 18th and 19th centuries were absorbed in labour-intensive Central Asia, the Middle East, to the remaining three billion Third factories of an earlier period of the bulge of Africa and Sudan, World peasant farmers and their capitalism. Millions more “surplus” everywhere there is the whiff of families. The dominant forces in the impoverished Europeans, thrown oil. Regional gendarme states in WTO plan to eliminate small-scale, off the land in previous centuries, strategic localities, like Zionist largely survivalist farming through migrated as economic refugees to fast-tracking global agricultural Israel, are supported by imperialist the Americas, to Australasia, some liberalisation in the coming decades. circles. came to South Africa. The processes under-way in With oil prices spiking, many But now, under the strictures of our own country-side with the of the arteries of modern capitalist global competitiveness, the factories society are threatened. The futures liberalisation of agriculture and the of the Third World, are themselves of middle class car based mobility, agro-industrial sector, import-parity considerably more capital intensive. sprawling cities with freeways, pricing, monopolisation of the food They are unable to employ the containerised, long-distance production chain and of seed stock, existing mass of unemployed, let international trade, together with mass farm-worker retrenchments, alone absorb billions more newly international tourism, and large- forced removals off farms, the uprooted peasant farmers. What about scale agro-industry with its oil-based closure of many productive farms the prospects of mass migration from pesticide and fertilizer dependency or their conversion into game farms, the South to the North? Everywhere, all have an uncertain future. all side-by-side with a seriously the walls are going up, fences challenged and slow-moving land are being reinforced, the border Collectively, as human civilisation reform programme - these local between a wealthy United States imprisoned within the present global realities reflect the impact of a and its poorer Mexican neighbour capitalist accumulation path, we are neo-liberal approach to land, food- is militarized. The Mediterranean security and the “transformation” of now on a road to potential extinction. serves as a defensive moat before agriculture and the agro-industrial The present capitalist accumulation a European castle. For the billions sector. path is recklessly unsustainable. of poor of the South, the imperialist North is a gated community. The But the powerful global capitalist The global agenda to transform forces that dominate this reality are wealthy enclaves of the imperialist all farming into capitalist production world are branded like benches in incapable of recognising the crisis, integrated into a single global the apartheid-era - “Whites Only”. still less are they able to take the accumulation path is advanced in decisive measures that are required the name of greater productivity and Capitalist modernisation has to provide sustainable resolutions. modernisation. We are told that this no sustainable answers to the new is how Europe modernised in the agrarian question. In fact, a capitalist The struggle for a different world, 18th and 19th centuries. We are told agrarian revolution on a world-scale for sustainable societies based not that a capitalist agrarian revolution has genocidal implications. on profit but on social need, is about will greatly improve productivity natural resources, it is about bio- and bring down food prices for all. Urban Slums diversity, the plants and animals with Related to all of this, some time in which we share our planet. But it is So what`s the problem? The the past decade, for the first time in also a struggle for human civilisation problem is that in Europe the human history, the urban population itself against the barbarism of profit capitalist agrarian revolution took of the earth outnumbered the rural. maximisation. over one and a half centuries, As market pressures, droughts, JANATA, July 1, 2012 11 famines and social instability have valid. Their relative marginalisation hundreds of millions of urban and pressed down on rural areas, the from mainstream production, their rural poor of our era. It cannot just world has urbanised much faster fragmentation and their precarious be a socialism of modernization, than was being predicted in the situation make them available to all of catch-up, of a South mimicking bravest calculations just a few manner of mobilisations, sometimes the West, of uncritically emulating decades ago. The present urban by reactionary, demagogic, capitalism, of simply being population (over 3,5 billion) is fundamentalist or xenophobic forces. capitalism without capitalists. larger than the total population of But the sheer size and enduring Capitalist forces of production have the world in 1960. This huge wave presence of these strata today mean themselves become unsustainable. of accelerated urbanisation has been it is no longer possible to think of If we are to save the world, then unlike any preceding it, not just these one billion people as simply we have to roll back capitalist in scale, but in its very character. flotsam and jetsam tossed up by a relations of production, whose It is urbanisation largely without temporary transition to capitalism. profit maximising logic drives us industrialisation. incessantly deeper into crises and Besides, the boundaries between contradictions. “Modernisation” for Fully one-third of this now the urban and rural poor and the its own sake, “growth” de-linked urbanised half of humanity is active proletariat are blurred. The from development all have to be eking out an existence in the great working class and the poor are replaced by another logic in which sprawling slums of the towns, cities connected by a thousand household we put social needs before profits, and megacities of the South. They and community ties. The wage of a in which household and community have different names in different single proletarian in the South or of a sustainability and local economic places - the bustees of Kolkata, the migrant worker from the South in the development form important parts kampungs of Jakarta, the shammasas North typically supports numerous of an overall social and economic of Khartoum, the bidonvilles of extended family members some still programme. Abidjan, the baladis of Cairo, the back in rural areas. Conversely, the favelas of Brazil, the villas miseria daily needs of much of the proletariat Crisis of Over-Accumulation of Buenos Aires, the umjondolos are increasingly supplied by a web The world capitalist system is of eThekwini. They have different of semi-formal activities. As waged now visibly in the midst of its names, but everywhere it is the employment becomes precarious worst economic crisis since the late same basic reality - millions upon throughout the South, with 1920s and the Great Depression. millions of rural people and villagers casualisation and retrenchments, That previous major crisis ran right uprooted from their land by a global and in conditions where formal through the 1930s and into World capitalist accumulation process, social security is minimal, working War 2. It was only after the colossal cramming into cities, there to join class households adopt numerous destruction of World War 2 that, their earlier urbanised brothers and survivalist strategies, engaging in from 1945 through until the early sisters, many of them retrenched a myriad of petty entrepreneurial 1970s, global capitalism under the workers, or evicted households, or and cooperative activities - spaza hegemony of the United States unemployed teachers and health- shops, minibuses, backyard repairs, experienced a period of relatively care workers “down-sized” and cooperative savings clubs, home- sustained growth and stability. structurally adjusted into poverty. based gardening, or clinging on to a small family plot in a rural area. From around 1973, the year of These are the uprooted victims of These are not just South African spiking oil prices, global capitalism an era that has invented the Internet realities, they are to be found in began to enter into another period of and unraveled the secrets of DNA, differing ways throughout much of prolonged stagnation and deepening but which has taken away from more the world. crisis. At first the epicentres of crisis than a billion people their ability to were pushed to the margins of global earn a basic livelihood, offering little If socialism is to be an answer capitalism. This was most evidently in return. In a previous century, Marx to the barbarism of capitalist profit the case with the so-called “Third referred to these de-classed strata maximisation, then it will have World debt crisis” which began of the urban poor as a “lumpen- to be a socialism that embraces from the late-1970s. The immediate proletariat”. Many of the features the aspirations, survival skills cause of this “Third World debt” of these strata noted by Marx remain and community know-how of the was unwise lending by the major 12 JANATA, July 1, 2012 private financial institutions in and historic dominance - the US and over-production of goods would, the developed “First World”. In then rapidly Japan and particularly in principle, usually be a cause for particular, European banks were Europe. Moreover, it struck at the celebration, but under capitalism awash with petro-dollars from the heart of the dominant monopoly “over-production” (that is, more post-1973 oil bonanza. Billions of capitalist sector - the financial than the market “demands”, that is dollars were loaned to developing sector. Its knock-on impact across can pay for, that is, more than can countries in Africa, Latin America the world has, therefore, been profitably be sold) triggers a break- and Asia - often for hugely expensive profound. Given the intensified down in the system - a crisis of over- vanity projects that had no positive global interconnectivity (compared accumulation. This, in turn, requires impact on sustainable development. to the 1930s), the speed and reach a massive wave of destruction of of the knock-on impact has also productive capacity (in the form By the late-1970s it was been greatly enhanced. While some of retrenchments, factory closures, increasingly clear that many of economies have continued to grow liquidations, and stock exchange these loans were unpayable by the (notably China) but at a much collapses), in order to “clear the impoverished recipient countries. lower rate, large parts of the world ground” for the next round of capital It was in this context that two key entered into recession, or prolonged accumulation through growth. Bretton Woods institutions, the stagnation. Tens if not hundreds It must be stressed that under IMF and World Bank, were dusted of millions of jobs have been lost, capitalism “over-production” is not off and given a fresh mandate. homes repossessed, and businesses the over-production of products that The IMF and World Bank were liquidated and value destroyed. the mass of the world`s population originally established towards often desperately needs. It is “over- the end of World War 2, with the Will there be some short- to production” relative to “market strategic objective of funding the medium-term global capitalist demand”, i.e relative to what can reconstruction and development of recovery? To answer that question profitably be sold. Capitalism, for the devastated capitalist economies it is important to understand the all its dynamism and robustness, is of Europe. In the late-1970s their systemic underpinnings of the crisis. a profoundly irrational system. new mandate was to rescue the dominant capitalist financial sector Marx was the first to provide This cyclical, boom-bust tendency, by squeezing dry Third World a scientific analysis of the boom- systemic to the capitalist system has societies through sadistic, enforced bust cycle in capitalism, which he further been compounded by the Structural Adjustment Programmes. showed to be endemic to this mode growing and inter-related trends of of production. Crises in capitalism Financialisation, Monopolisation Over the past four decades there can occur as a consequence of and Globalisation. Over the past have been several serious regional factors external to the accumulation three decades these three inter- capitalist crises - among them process - wars, natural disasters, related trends have accelerated on Mexico 1982, Japan 1990, and East social upheavals. However, under a vast scale. The global economy Asia 1997/8. They are all part of an capitalism (and in contrast to earlier ongoing global reality in which the forms of production) wars, natural is dominated by a few hundred dominant trend in the major centres disasters or social upheavals are transnational monopoly corporations of developed capitalism is prolonged more likely to be the consequences that reap huge profits through ever and deepening stagnation. This of internal crises within capitalism shifting investments in low wage long-term trend towards stagnation rather than the fundamental causes economies, the domination of the has been relieved temporarily by of its crises. global supply chain networks, speculatively-driven bubbles, only and hegemony over key financial to be followed by their inevitable The cyclical pattern of booms institutions. As we have already bursting. From 2007, with the sub- and busts is linked to the fact that seen, this monopoly-finance sector prime housing and banking sector capitalism - unlike socialism or domination of the global economy crisis in the US, the character of the earlier forms of production - is helped, at least for a time, to displace crisis was to dramatically intensify. essentially production for private its own internal crises into the It was no longer displaced to the profit through exchange, and not global peripheries. Unsustainable margins, its epicentre was now in the for social use. In other forms of financial engineering (that has now core zones of capitalist accumulation production (not least socialism) resulted in the multiple banking JANATA, July 1, 2012 13 and sovereign debts crises) served This increasing globalisation has to stimulate domestic demand, for a time to delay, to disguise, but also seen the runaway development and also to challenge the global then ultimately to compound the of “financialisation”, the shift of currency role of the dollar. Currently, inevitable global recessionary shock. capital into speculative activity some two-thirds of international of literally trillions of dollars trade is settled by the US dollar, As recently as early 2007 traded daily across the globe, more but the value of the dollar is not prominent international mainstream and more disconnected from any controlled multi-laterally, but by economists were boasting that direct relationship to productive the US Federal Reserve, which can capitalism had overcome its boom- investment. At the same time, the simply print dollars to serve narrow bust tendencies and was now US has used its political, military domestic requirements - as has been launched on an endless trajectory and especially financial muscle (the done in recent years with so-called of upward growth. dollar being the global currency) to “quantitative easing”. prop up domestic mass consumerism, To understand the current global kept afloat through increasing credit, US domestic consumption was capitalist crisis it is also necessary despite declining real wages since further propped up by a variety of to understand the central role of the early 1970s. “creative” financial instruments. the US economy in it. For around Among these were “sub-prime 100 years (1870 to 1970) the US Export-oriented Asian (especially loans” - housing loans to those who basically could not afford them, in witnessed an unprecedented trend Chinese) manufacturers and Third which the initial interest rate was of rising productivity and rising World oil producers became the core production sites while US sub-prime, but with the interest rate real wages for the working class. escalating over the duration of the This economic reality lies at the consumption propped up global market demand. The US has been mortgage on the assumption that basis of the “American dream”, and as the borrower progressed career- of the “consumerism” and relative running huge current account deficits (an indication of the difference wise so there would be an increased passivity of the US working class between import costs and export capacity to pay instalments. (Note - a car and a suburban home being profits) as a result. By 2006 the US that this is not very different from the epitome of the American “way current account deficit was at $800bn many BEE deals - in which black of life”. (or 6 percent of GDP). On the other “investors” acquire shares on loan, on the assumption that the shares hand China, or rather massive wage From the early 1970s, the US`s will always go up and they will be repression in China (referred to as uncontested economic domination able to repay the loan). These sub- “savings”), has played a crucial of the global capitalist system, prime loans were then “diced and role in financing this US deficit, and and particularly its productive sliced” (i.e. mixed up with other therefore US consumption. China dynamism was beginning to be more viable loans) and sold on by the has now accumulated the world`s challenged by Japan, the early direct mortgage institutions to banks largest foreign exchange reserves and other financial institutions. Asian Tigers (Taiwan, South (over $2 trillion, some $1trillion of Korea) and some key European which is in US treasury bonds). In The collapse of the sub-prime economies - leap-frogging in terms theory, China could therefore pull of technological and industrial market was to be the catalyst of the the plug on the US economy, but 2007/8 crisis, the Great Recession. plant investments, rendering US a move to sell these assets would It was to see one of the top four industrial plant (fixed investments) further damage China`s own post- investment banks in the US, the increasingly unprofitable. This has 1979 low-wage, export-oriented 100-year old Lehman Brothers led to increasing globalisation, as US growth strategy. This has resulted in collapsing, and other banks and capital has moved to other locations a situation which some economists the mortgage lenders (Fanny Mae of higher profitability because of have described as a “mutually and Freddy Mac) having to be greater technological productivity, assured economic destruction” rescued, often through temporary and also and increasingly because capacity between the US and China. “nationalisations” (i.e. at public of cheaper labour. In the 1960s, 6 expense). The dicing and slicing percent of US corporate profits came With the onset of the crisis in of sub-prime and other toxic loans from abroad, in the last decade this the US, China has sought to lessen meant that major financial institutions figure had risen to 21 percent. its export dependency on the US, in the US and Europe, in particular, 14 JANATA, July 1, 2012 had no idea of what they were sitting were analysed at the SACP`s 12th India and China may be partially on. This led to a reluctance of banks National Congress in July 2007. de-linked (de-coupled) from the to lend to each other, and liquidity At the time, certainly inside South recession, but none will escape its in the real economy dried up, which Africa, we were virtually alone in impact. China, with its US oriented, then impacted upon the productive pointing out the interconnected and export-led growth strategy will face economy and on consumer demand. systemic features of this crisis. We very serious challenges This, in turn, impacted heavily were also virtually alone in arguing on major global manufacturers, that: The world capitalist system is like China where there have been faced with and simultaneously it millions of retrenchments. There would not be any significant is provoking a series of interlinked short-term recovery. crises that threaten natural, biological Faced with its systemic economic and social sustainability. Will these crisis, globalised monopoly- Other key features of our 2007 crises prove terminal for capitalism? finance has no coherent strategy prognosis, whose validity has been Or for human civilisation? Will a for surpassing the crisis. It is torn amply underlined in the last five socialist world begin to emerge from between two contradictory capitalist years, included: these crises? Nothing is guaranteed. imperatives - saving the banks on the The crises can be surpassed, but only one hand, and stimulating capitalist Notwithstanding its multi- with concerted social mobilisation of growth on the other. It seeks to rescue dimensional crisis, it would be the great majority of humanity. its hegemonic financial institutions naïve to assume that capitalism will through various publicly financed simply collapse, or that the crisis The only hope for a sustainable rescue packages and soft-landings will spontaneously give birth to a world lies in a radical transition to for banks by imposing, for instance, better world; socialism in which an increasing tough austerity measures on national part of human activity including governments - even suspending The relative decline of US production comes under social elected governments (recently in economic supremacy (which has control, in which we finally create Italy and Greece) and replacing been slipping since the mid-1970s) the objective conditions for placing them with unelected, budget-cutting social needs before private profits. “technocratic” cabinets drawn from has now been greatly accelerated but … the finance sector. On the other the US will remain the hegemonic (to be concluded) hand, these austerity measures and capitalist power for some time. other rescue packages for the banks However, the world is becoming Footnote significantly more multi-polar. stifle demand and undermine the 1. "The word over-production in itself prospects for capitalist growth. leads to error. So long as the most Moreover, the austerity measures While multi-polarity offers urgent needs of a large part of society are meeting with stiff rejection from possibilities, potentially more are not satisfied, or only the most the electorates of the developed breathing space and alternatives, capitalist societies, resulting in for the global South, it is the people urgent needs are satisfied, there can many cases in the shake-up of a of the South who will bear the of course be absolutely no talk of an previously cosy electoral alternance burden of the crisis. For instance, as over-production of products – in the between centre-left and centre- the core capitalist economies focus sense that the amount of products right political parties. However, on their own crises and their own is excessive in relation to the need the simple rejection of the austerity stimulus packages, already paltry for them. On the contrary, it must packages without advancing a post- development aid is diminishing; be said that on the basis of capitalist capitalist alternative - in short, trade protective barriers are production, there is constant under- a socialist alternative - will not going up; FDI is pulling out of production in this sense. The limits enable the current global economy much of the South; premiums on to production are set by the profit of to surpass its current turbulent and international loans have increased; the capitalist and in no way by the threatening dead-end. and portfolio investments are even needs of the producers. But over- more disinclined to bet on the South. production of products and over- Systemic Crisis production of commodities are two Many of these features of the It is possible that dynamic entirely different things." Karl Marx, current global economic crisis developing economies like Brazil, Theories of Surplus Value. JANATA, July 1, 2012 15

It is conjectural to say that the money of the financial institutions in the (Continued from Page 8) must have gone into the pockets US to act recklessly and have taken corruption seems to be both cause of super rich that had political too much risk at others’ peril. Some and consequence of misdemeanor connections. Who knows, it may be analysts allege that the exchange rate of public servants. The Vatopedi a political game. and the dollar reserves are positioned land scam during the period of New in proportion to the strength of the Democracy in power is a case of how There is lot of discussion in India military power of US. India is an public properties were converted as about the fall out of European crisis. open economy now and amenable private estates. The socialist party It appears that India has very little to all kinds of investments including is also not impervious / to from connection apparently through trade. the toxic derivatives through the this. As in India, the Parliamentary It is found that our trade balance with share and money markets route. It committee appointed to enquire into Europe is negative except for the is perilous in view of the fact that the allegations has failed to reach year 2011. In fact, China along with the market capitalization in India any conclusion except naming five Hong Kong has higher proportion as per SEBI data by the end of ministers who were involved in the of trade with India much higher December 2011 was Rs 1.05 crore land scam. than USA. Our trade with Middle crores. It means that the value of the East is very significant in terms of capitalization is one and half times The unemployment rate has exports, imports and in proportion that of our GDP. We do not know ranged between 16 to 19 per cent to our total value of trade. It is how the channels are operating in during the last few years. There are alleged that the real estate bubble is manipulating the markets despite reports of riots by the unemployed an artificial opportunity created for of our sincere watch dog RBI. groups and the emergence of a new the Europeans to exploit the situation Those who are in the policy making movement called ‘I don’t pay tax’. with their hedge funds to amass huge with intimate connections with the The rate of growth of the economy profits through financial and banking markets and international agencies has dropped to less than 0.5 per cent maneuvering. The Financial Crisis would alone know about the future and to negative rates in recent years. Inquiry commission USA 2011, has of the Indian economy and may be Then why the Europeans and the said that “the crisis was avoidable politics in the months to come. Americans and therefore the world and was caused by widespread are worried about the events in failures in financial regulations… Greece and other European countries to stem the tide of toxic mortgages, noted above. As I pointed out earlier, dramatic breakdowns in corporate the USA is not an autonomous governance…in accountability and sovereign country, it is an extension ethics at all levels”. Why should of the Europe and has been sustained India bother about it? by few families led MNCs that control the economic fortunes of the It is strange to find a country that world. More than 50 percent of the boasts of a high foreign exchange world’s GDP is from USA and E U. reserves and an overall positive Interestingly, out of 500 billionaires balance of around $ 55719 million of the World (Forbes) 425 originate in the year 2011-12 and a positive in USA and the exclusive share of trade balance with European Union Greece is 12 including the world’s is behaving wobbly to look at the richest person John Paul De Joria. European crisis. What could be The billionaires have accumulated the reason? It is a known fact that the wealth through Banking, Oil and 60 percent of the global currency Price: Rs. 20/- Gas, Pharmacy and Real Estate. One reserves are in US dollars. It is said may notice that banking, real estate that the persistent current account Janata Trust D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir and related fields like cement and surpluses of China and other Asian Bharucha Marg, concrete mixture are the sectors in economies would serve to finance Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. which Greece was deeply involved the US current deficit at favorable both within and outside the country. terms. This must have made some R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 1, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 67 No. 24 What has happened to us? July 8, 2012 S. Viswam

New beginning for “Hamein kya ho gaya, pata That such elements have managed Manmohan Singh nahin”. (What has happened to us, to thrive in a secular and Kuldip Nayar I don’t know). Reacting to what he cosmopolitan country like ours is a aptly termed as the “growing politics unflattering comment on the failure of intolerance”, the well-known of our powers-that-be to control Jagdish Ajmera is no more scientist, academic and chairman of them if only to ensure that our civil the National Curriculum Framework society is protected from all those (2005) review committee, Prof. who take the law into their own Ascendance of Neo- Yashpal, has bemoaned that we hands, always in defiance of the Liberalism on Raisina Hill Indians seem to have lost our sense cherished provisions of our Prem Singh of humour. We also agonise along Constitution. with him, and so, we are sure, will millions of our people who have The latest source of irritation and annoyance for our self-appointed Socialism for All observed that we Indians are also moral policemen are political D. K. Giri growing more and more intolerant of any opinion other than the cartoons. This time, those subjecting conventional. Indeed, as a nation we political cartoons to deep and critical scrutiny are our esteemed Why Socialism? seem to be forgetting to laugh at educationists and academicians who Thoughts from South Africa ourselves occasionally, though it was not all that long ago that we are laying down the law as to possessed this capacity in an determining what is “politically abundant measure. Are we correct and educationally becoming too sensitive or too appropriate” for inclusion in our high insensitive? school text books. Editor : G. G. Parikh Some sections of our population We do not need to go into the background of the controversy Managing Editor : Guddi appear to be waiting for opportunities to act as moral policemen. Such self- surrounding the contents of the text books, specifically political cartoons. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, appointed guardians of our culture and traditions and practices tend to The subject is still fresh in our Naushir Bharucha Marg, lay down the law for all others and memories. Following the sudden Mumbai - 400 007. do not cavil even at indulging in eruption of a controversy over the Email : [email protected] violence to assert their point of view. cartoons figuring in social and 2 JANATA, July 8, 2012 political science text books for Between the lines classes X and XI, the National Council for Educational Research and Training(NCERT) appointed a New beginning for Manmohan Singh committee under the chairmanship of Prof. S. K. Thorat. The Kuldip Nayar committee was mandated to suggest guidelines for evolving the contents I am probably among the very unbridgeable. People are too used of text books, with specific reference few who still have faith in the to subsidies and they would not to political cartoons. The Thorat capability of Prime Minister take a cut lightly. Committee has recommended a Manmohan Singh to take India out number of changes in the selection of the economic morass in which On the other hand, one major of texts and cartoons which Prof. it is stuck. I do not like his World impediment has lessened. Congress Yashpal has described as Bank-guided model. Yet he has president Sonia Gandhi who was not “insensitive” and reflective of the given the country a growth rate of allowing certain reforms has growing politics of intolerance. 8 to 9 per cent in a decade and withdrawn her objection to them. Many other educationists, social more than doubled the Hindu Her backseat driving has cost scientists and academicians have growth rate of 3.5 per cent, our Manmohan Singh dear. He has lost been equally critical of the panel’s cumulative performance since the image of purity he once enjoyed. handling of the issue. Clearly, in its independence in August 1947. There is the general belief that he zeal to reform the society in a connived at the various scams. That particular mode the panel has thrown True, the Prime Minister has he knew about the mobiles (2G the baby out along with the bath come a long way from his report spectrum) corruption running into water. on South-South Cooperation, a hundreds of crores and did not definitive work which reflected a interfere to stop it is taken for As a comment in a national daily left-of-centre approach, something granted. The resignation by points out correctly, the changes and akin to the socialist pattern of Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar the new guidelines recommended not society that Jawaharlal Nehru had from the chairmanship of the Group on pedagogic grounds but with the enunciated. But Manmohan Singh of Ministers looking into the 2G interests of politicians and defends his reforms as pragmatic, scandal is a healthy development. bureaucrats in mind. The so-called suited to India’s genius. The end No report emanating from him would “offending cartoons” which set off result has been a huge distance have been considered fair and the controversy in the first place have between the rich and the poor. He untainted. been ordered withdrawn. Fair now talks of “inclusive growth” but enough. However, the committee’s he has been stuck there for a long Such resignations, probably conclusions and recommendations time, although he has sold the idea suggested, and the exit of Pranab seem based entirely on political and to his admiring followers in the Mukherjee who could not have not pedagogic grounds. As the West. To President Barrack done worse than he did as Finance dissenting member of the panel, Obama, he is still a “guru.” Minister, give more leeway to Prof. M.S.S. Pandian has pointed Manmohan Singh. The only thing out, the rationale for the committee’s Whether Manmohan Singh expected from him is to lead the recommendations is coloured by would succeed giving a new process of recovery, made more political overtones and undertones. direction to India’s economy is yet difficult because of monsoon’s Prof. Pandian pithily comments that to be seen. However, there are failure in some parts of the country. “what is politically incorrect need not difficulties in his way. He is the god Also Sonia Gandhi is still be educationally inappropriate”. In that has failed. His credibility to set overlooking his shoulders. other words, what is politically things right has got eroded. correct could also be pedagogically Investors from abroad and from Since he would be grappling inappropriate. within the country are demanding with many problems, he would a pound of flesh. Inflation is high expect support and understanding (Continued on Page 3) and fiscal deficit looks from his own party, the allies in the JANATA, July 8, 2012 3 coalition the Congress leads and Besides giving direction to the even if they have served their even the Bhartiya Janata Party matters of economy, Prime Minister sentence. For example, I would like (BJP) in the opposition. The latter Manmohan Singh should show that to know the fate of Sikh prisoners has offered help on certain reforms he is really in command of the languishing in jail since 1984. Had but its contention is that the country. He should have publicly the government shown agility, the Congress party is itself divided asked for a report on the killing of prisoners would have been released over some of the steps ‘Naxalites’ who the human rights by this time. contemplated. This was the BJP’s activists allege were innocent position even in the budget villagers. In fact, he should have Economic reforms may be session of parliament but the ordered a judicial inquiry important, but more important is the Congress was then not prepared straightaway to verify the facts people’s feeling that the government to bite the bullet. because the police has the reputation is just and cares for them. Prime of being gun crazy. The wobbling Minister Manmohan Singh can begin The real problem that Manmohan home minister P. Chidambaram is not from this note. Singh faces is the government’s ally, known for quick decision. Trinamool Congress headed by (Continued from Page 2) mercurial Mamata Banerjee. She, in Coming to the issue of prisoners The entire point of the exercise fact, humiliated the Prime Minister in India and Pakistan, the Prime of reviewing the contents of the text by naming him as a candidate for the Minister should have taken the books, one would have thought, was office of the President of India. After matter in his own hands when to choose the texts with an eye on meeting Sonia Gandhi, she and the Pakistan released Surjeet Singh and stimulating the curiosity and thought other ally of the government, not Sarabjit Singh, as was announced processes of the students so that they Mulayam Singh of Samajwadi Party earlier. Many television channels can learn more of the subject through from UP, proposed his name kicking from Pakistan informed me about their own initiatives and enterprise. Manmohan Singh upstairs. Sonia Sarabjit’s release and got my In other words the idea is to Gandhi should have retorted reaction. Apparently, the hardliners encourage learners to seek and immediately to the suggestion and made Islamabad change its decision. obtain more knowledge and issued a statement saying there was The Prime Minister should have information on their own and learn no question of changing Manmohan taken up the matter at his level to think on their own. By insisting on Singh as the Prime Minister. She because the relationship between making the contents conform rigidly allowed the confusion to prevail for the two countries is getting affected to politically correct perceptions and 24 hours, humiliating Manmohan by the “mistaken identity”, if it was perceived community sensibilities is Singh further. so. to defeat the very purpose of the review. I do not know why the Prime One thing that comes out clearly Minister is saying every now and from the recent confusion is that The committee’s views on the then that he is willing to vacate his prisoners on both sides are place and role of cartoons is bizarre, place for Rahul Gandhi, Sonia considered mere pawns on a to say the least. Cartoons are Gandhi’s son. Manmohan Singh chessboard and are kept in jail precisely that. They are meant to should know by this time, having beyond the tenure of the sentence make us laugh even while inducing been in the Congress for 25 years, to play the opportunistic game. us, gently, to indulge in a little that whenever Sonia Gandhi decides, Surjeet Singh who has been released introspection. As Prof. Yashpal says, she would not even ask him why she spent nearly 10 years more because cartoons point to our weaknesses is putting her son in his place. At that is the practice. None bothers on and inconsistencies and that too in a present, Rahul’s image is down both sides about human sufferings. nice way. The more we condemn a because of the battering of the None is accountable and nobody is particular category of cartoons the Congress in Bihar and UP, the two taken to task for detaining prisoners more insensitive we become, and in states where he campaigned during illegally. any case why get incensed over the assembly elections. He would something that is meant only to make need some time to refurbish his In India, there are examples us laugh even while making us look appeal. where its own prisoners are in jail at the mirror? 4 JANATA, July 8, 2012

Jagdish Ajmera November 9, 1917–July 1, 2012

Jagdish Ajmera, Chief Adviser to the Western Com. Ajmera joined Railway trade union movement Raiilway Employees’ Union and the Editor of Railway and became a Branch Secietary of Dadar Branch of Sentinel, passed away on 1st July 2012 at Jagjivan the then BB&CI Railway Employees’ Union in 1946. Ram Hospital, Mumbai Central, at the age of 95 years. He was elected as Vice President of the BB&CI Com. Ajmera was a veteran freedom fighter and a Railway Employees’ Union in 1949 and thereafter staunch socialist. His contribution in socialist movement as its Secretary, which Union is now known as and trade union movement is immense. During the Western Railway Ernployees’ Union (WREU) after freedom struggle, he came into contact with Mahatma the post-independence merger of BB&CI Railway Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and leading socialist into Western Railway. He served as Secretary of workers like Yusuf Meherally, Purshottam Tricumdas, WNREU for 28 years and thereafter as the Working Saad Ali, H.Z. Gila, Gaurisharkar Bhatt, Varaskar, N.T. President during 1977-1980. He was President of Shroff, M.L. Shah and others. He was a close partner WREU from 1980 to 2000 and Vice President of Ali of late Madhu Dandavate, a veteran socialist leader India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) up to 2001. and ex-Railway Minister. They lived together for a Since 1951, Com. Jagdish Ajmera has been publishing long period in a chawl room at Worli. “Railway Sentinel”, mouth piece of WREU, and was its editor till his death. Com. Ajmera was born on 9th November 1917 in a Jain Bania family in Lakhnaka, a tiny village in Com. Ajmera devoted his whole life for the benefit Saurashtra region of the then Bhavnagar State. After of working class in general and railwaymen, in completion of his Matriculation from Sir Jaswant Singh particular. He married Indira Mane who supported High School, he joined Shamaldas College, Bhavnagar him in trade union movement. He guided railway in 1940. In that year he shifted to Bombay and came employees in 1946, 1960 and 1974 nationwide Strikes in contact with the Congress Socialists and became of Central Government Employees and Railway active in the socialist trade unions of the workers of Employees and secured various benefits for railway General Motors, Ford Motors, BEST, Richardson and employees such as Absorption of Casual Labours, Crudas, Godrej, etc. He was associated with the Restricted Hours of Work, Overtime, Weekly Off, Gurnasta Maha Mandal and union of private motor Provident Fund, Gratuity, Pension, Productivity Linked drivers. He also took interest in students wing of the Bonus, Compassionate Ground Appointments, socialists. RELHS, Cadre Restructuring, Group insurance Privilege Pass while in service and Post-Retirement, At the age of 23 years, he took active part in the Enhancement of Maternity Leave, etc. etc. freedom struggle and carried out underground activities during the Quit India Movement. He was Com. Ajmera was a founder member and lifetime part of historic Quit India procession at August Kranti Trustee of Maniben Kara Foundation. Com. Ajmera Maiden on 9th August 1942 and was detained under was honoured with Tamrapatra for his services during Defence of India Act. He was variously tortured in India’s freedom struggle. He was Adviser of Guru CID Lock-up and then was kept in Woril Detention Swami Forum and Guru Swami Alamelu Labour Camp. During the detention, when he was taken to Research Centre. He struggled for free, independent Sir J.J. Hospital for treatment, he dramatically escaped and democratic trade union movement and socialist from the police custody. He was re-arrested in June pattern during his life time. His death is a great loss 1943 and tried in Mazagaon Court. He was kept for not only to WREU but also to the whole trade union nine months in Arthur Road Jail and subsequently movement in the country. shifted to Yerawada prison. –WREU JANATA, July 8, 2012 5 Ascendance of Neo-Liberalism on Raisina Hill

Prem Singh

Like the last presidential election, motivated them to contest the Distrust, double-speak, even the current election too has been a elections and after succeeding what mischievousness is the order of the talk of the town and country. It is special contribution they would make day. It was an absurd drama, most good that discussions are on with apart from performing ceremonial dismal, when a senior leader respect to the election of the highest role. They may be asked about their suggested Prime Minister constitutional head of the nation. The studies on various subjects and their Manmohan Singh for the post. The debates during Constitution-making opinion about the dimensions of life whole chapter simply reflects that the regarding Presidentship can also be other than politics. Indian politics has become looked into for better understanding directionless. Ironically such a crisis of the Constitution and the The high point of the discussion could have opened a way to find a Presidentship as well. There can be should be the expectations that right direction provided there was a many other points for this discussion people have from the President and pure motive behind the search. such as elections of previous the degree to which the would-be Presidents, their special deeds, President understands these The President of the country is decisions and critical analysis of their expectations. There is no need to say supposed to be the custodian of the deviations. I want to recall that Dr. that being the custodian of the Indian Constitution, however, all the current Rammanohar Lohia had criticised the Constitution, the personality, post and debates by the experts, leaders or by twice elected President Dr. Rajendra the role of the President should be the candidates themselves portrays Prasad for washing the feet of the seen as existing within the purview the President as the custodian of neo- Varanasi’s priests. There were of the Constitution – the guiding liberalism. There was no discussion occasions when the first President document of our destiny as a nation. from any corner that the next and the first Prime Minister were This would, certainly, enhance and President has to take care of the engaged in arguments over the strengthen our Constitutional civic Constitution that has been altered in question of the role and powers of sense that is lacking these days due more than one ways in the favor of the President. People casually talk to various reasons. neo-liberalism since the last 25 years. about adopting the presidential system We need a President who can heal in our country like that of United However, the ongoing debate only the damages done to the Constitution States of America, thinking that it will reflects that the election of the and who is committed to the socialist put an end to all our political problems. constitutional head of the nation has goal of the Constitution. The But whatever be the focus of the not much importance for us. The Congress and the BJP will not be able debate, we can have a serious media and the political parties both to give such presidential candidates contemplation on this subject in seem to be giving the message that as they have already adopted neo- academic and political domains while the more important thing is which liberalism as their goal. the process of electing our next political party, coalition or leader President is on. Those who are becomes successful in making its The regional parties too are contesting the Presidential elections candidate the President and in turn following a path similar to these two should be made to face public debate gets to hold the key to the ‘power’ national parties though there are on the contentious issues faced by at the President’s Office. They are some regional parties who describe the country and the world at large. keeping an eye on the next general themselves as ‘Socialist’. Janta Dal Constitutional provisions should be election to be held in 2014 while (United) is one such party whose discussed with them in order to know scheming their moves in the spokesperson has come out in their views, understanding and the presidential election. This is the most support of Pranab Mukherjee saying weight that they give to the unfortunate aspect of this election. that neo-liberal economic policies are Constitutional provisions and basic This time, it has become a game of irrevocable. He has said that even if values enshrined in it. The presidential gamble for them. One throws a BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar candidates should be asked what googly and another throws dice. Prasad becomes the Finance 6 JANATA, July 8, 2012

Minister, he too will follow the path parts of the country. The ill-effects as outside of ideology. If one grants of Shri Mukherjee. The role of of capitalism are deeper on those that it is outside the Marxist ideology, Samajwadi Party’s supremo tribal communities residing out of N- how it can be considered outside the Mulayam Singh Yadav is equally E region. ideology of the Constitution? If no regrettable in this election. It seems ideology is involved in the election that he has not read a single line Sangma has been a prominent of the President, one wonders, how written by the great philosopher and leader of mainstream politics that he or she be perceived as the socialist leader Dr. Lohia whose promoted capitalist development and custodian of the Constitution? name he uses against Mayawati’s ruined the lives of tribals in most part idol Baba Saheb Ambedkar in UP of the country. He has never raised There is a unique world of Marxist politics. Biju Janata Dal and his voice for tribal rights while profit- discourse and party network in India. AIADMK are the initial proposers greedy MNCs plunder them. He was They apply their own thesis, of PA Sangma’s name for never seen on any forum or peoples’ terminology and methodology to President’s post. Sangma has movement which fights for the rights analyse situations and justify their challenged Mukherjee to an open of the tribals. Sangma, a party to the line of support and conflict based on debate not because the former destruction of tribal people, is now them. A debate is already taking Finance Minister had implemented aspiring to become the country’s place in Communist circles, where neo-liberal economic policies and next President while claiming to be CPM’s move to support Pranab thus worked against the spirit of the their representative. He is appealing Mukherjee is being viewed as a Constitution but because he wants to the MPs and MLAs to caste their wrong decision. A young leader from to expose the failure of Mukherjee vote according to their conscience the party’s research wing has in implementing these policies – “antaratma ki awaz”. Sangma resigned from his post on this issue. speedily. It proves PA Sangma himself should introspect whether his The CPM claims that it has expelled considers himself a better expert and own conscience is clear? the leader from the party. It says that bigger supporter of neo-liberal Pranab Mukherjee has wide policies than Pranab Mukherjee. Left Front is also divided, like the acceptance and the party has no NDA, over the candidature of strength to oppose his candidature. Sangma had eyed the post of the Pranab Mukherjee. However, the The question is whether the wide President much before Mukherjee. division within the Left Front is more acceptance of the name of Pranab Sangma, in support of his important because it is an ideological Mukherjee is also not an acceptance candidature, has said that so far no front driven by the aims of socialism awarded to neo-liberalism? By not one from any tribal community has since four decades. The Communist opposing it, does it naturally mean become the President. To push his Party of India(Marxist) has that it should be supported? It is clear candidature, Sangma formed ‘Tribal supported Pranab’s candidature. that CPM’s decision is related to Forum of India’ with some like- However, another fraction of the West Bengal’s politics. In the wake minded friends, and declared himself Left Front, Communist Party of of Mamata Banerjee’s opposition to the forum’s presidential candidate by India (CPI) has decided not to take the candidature of Pranab, CPM has saying he represents crores of tribal part in the election. The Forward given its support to the veteran people living across the country. Block is with CPM while RSP is with leader only to woo Bengali Whether it was during the era of CPI. Instead of Pratibha Patil, CPM sentiments. colonialism, during the era of mixed had proposed the name of Pranab economy after the independence or Mukherjee during the last presidential But it involves ideological in the last 25 years of neo-liberalism election also. The rationale behind complications also. The CPM, that - tribal communities have suffered CPM’s support to Pranab’s name is speaks about Indian socialism these most due to the capitalist model of amazing and against the very party days, cannot imagine real socialism the development. Sangma belongs to line. The CPM’s Secretary General without capitalism. The CPM has the North-Eastern part of the Prakash Karat has stated that only two options - either it should country. There are geographical and ideological considerations do not completely forget about capitalism or cultural differences between the apply to the election of the President. come out in its full support. Secondly, North-Eastern tribal population and One may ask him how can the for Marxists, Indian Constitution and the tribal communities living in other election of the President be viewed parliamentary democracy that follows JANATA, July 8, 2012 7 the Constitution is a big hurdle in their trust in socialism; many are the Conclusion is but… way to socialist revolution. Since they supporters of faster economic have accepted it reluctantly they are reforms. This is the reason that there In his article “Patient is on not able to take real inspiration from was not a concrete effort from the oxygen”, S. Viswam has rightly the Constitution. Thirdly, Marxists still civil society on the name of Justice concluded that “ The UPA enjoys rely on their party’s organisati8onal Rajinder Sachar, which came up in two advantages right now. First, its strength before they think of political discussion, or anybody else. Thus, main political adversary, BJP is even strength. For them the outside world this presidential election does not less coherent. It has surfeit of Prime is more like a doctrine; they are, provide any solution to the problem Ministerial aspirants but no real therefore, unable to expand their - onslaught of neo-liberal imperialism quality leadership. The public political power in the larger public on our Constitutional sovereignty - perception of the BJP-led NDA is sphere. rather it has deepened it. even less flattering than that of the UPA. The second advantage is that It would have been better if the Pranab Mukherjee, who has the voters who opted for the UPA Left Front had fielded its own wider acceptance in the electorate rather than for the NDA in 2009 are presidential candidate. It might have collage across the party lines and is still in the mood to give the Congress lacked the strength but until and considered to be the most suitable and its allies another chance for unless the public witnessed their candidate for the post, is not in the 2014. But they may change their stand, how could they support them? fray to uphold the spirit of the minds and mood if the UPA does not What is happening now is that those Constitution. Till his farewell from cure itself of its paralysis without any who claim to practice pro-public the government and the party, he has more delay.” politics are becoming part of the been committed to the pace of the However Dr. Manmohan Singh mainstream politics while saying that economic reforms as the only remedy government is not on oxygen. No they don’t have the strength to to the slowdown of economy. His doubt, the government has committed contest the election. There is an faith in the neo-liberal economy has serious mistakes while functioning. urgent need for a strong, honest been consistent and beyond doubts But there are constraints because of political voice to claim public of qualms for the last 25 years. He coalition. And in his functioning Dr. attention. In this era of neo-liberal has never bothered about the fact Manmohan Singh, our Prime Minister, imperialism, it is the only way, shown that the new economic policies cater has exhibited tolerance which must by the Constitution, to spread to only one-fourth of the Indian be appreciated. socialist political consciousness. It is population and necessarily exclude not necessary that every leader of a the rest. Therefore, Pranab will tag Let us accept for a moment that pro-neo-liberal political party should on with the reforms even in the the government under Dr. Singh is also be a supporter of neo-liberalism. Preisdent house. Prime Minister in-efficient, but no party in the Questions can be raised on neo- Manmohan Singh, Planning Parliament dared to table a no- liberalism within parties. The Left Commission deputy chairman confidence motion against the Front should have fielded a Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Knowledge government. Because Dr. Singh has candidate against Pranab Mukherjee Commission chairman Sam Pitroda, a special image that of being very sincere and honest. There are and PA Sangma in support of true Home Minister P. Chidambram along stalwarts in all the opposition parties democratic and socialistic ideals. with Sonia Gandhi will take his but they have not reached to that Presidentship as an opportunity to height. Dr. Manmohan Singh who Such a candidate could have been accelerate the speed of the possesses at all times. Moreover, in a non-political person also. Civil economic reforms. The biggest spite of overwhelming support to the society could have started a sound reform that may be implemented movement of Anna Hazare against debate against the attack of neo- after Pranab’s victory would be a corruption, the Prime Minister stood liberalism in this way. Even without green signal to 51 percent FDI in firm but did not insult any leader of actual nomination the aim could have multi-brand retail sector. Those who the movement. This is the quality of been fulfilled. However, the Indian say that Pranab has been excluded leadership exhibited through dignified civil society is affected by the same by the market/corporate forces to the behavior Dr. Singh. problem as mainstream politics. ‘ceremonial’ Presidentship are trying There are very few people who have to confuse the discourse. –R. D. Prabhu 8 JANATA, July 8, 2012 Socialism for All

D. K. Giri

The popular perception of person should not talk of alleviation have become sentimental dogmas for socialism is that it is meant for the of poverty. But if democratic many socialists, not the instruments poor and the deprived, it tends to socialism depends solely on mainly for building a just and equal society. level down different sections of on the fuel of poverty, deprivation Way back in 1936, George Orwell people, it is not in favour of growth and pain for its advance, it will be had to advise the socialists, “Justice and affluence. Such perceptions motionless. Democratic Socialism, if and Liberty” are the words that have have led socialists to electoral it is to succeed, must appear and to ring out like a bugle across the defeats, as they appeal to particular appeal as a source of efficiency and world, not to be buried under layers sections of people, not all. My justice as much as to the affluent and of doctrinaire priggishness, party argument in this article is that secure as much to the impoverished squabbles, and half-baked socialist party should be a catch-all and insecure. The task of trans- progressivism”. party in order to be a modern party, forming a society needs the support win elections, and deliver its values. of strong as well as the disadvantaged. Production vs Distribution A socialist need not be doctrinaire, and at the same time, should not be Care and concern for the weak is Democratic socialism has been too practical to compromise its one of the core values of socialism, seen as distributionist, not as principles. In the words of R.H. but material benefit for all should be productionist philosophy. The British Tawney, “It ought to be possible for the strategy. Democratic Socialism Labour Party, for instance has been a movement, like an individual, to be must focus on the interest of the tax- seen as “tax and spend party”, not both sensible and trenchant…until payer as well as beneficiaries of the known for generating wealth. In 1992, the Labour Party can persuade its welfare schemes in health, education British General Elections, when the fellow countrymen that it represents and the like. Democratic socialism shadow chancellor John Smith both - that its idealism is not lunacy, should cater to all - the enlightened presented Labour Party’s shadow and its realism mere torpor - it will should find it desirable and the needy budget, he proposed that anyone neither win general support, nor ones should find it absolutely earning above 25,000 pounds per deserve it”. This applies to a socialist necessary. annum will pay income tax. One of party anywhere. my Bangladeshi-British Sentiments and Self-interest acquaintances came up to me and Maintaining the Balance said that he would not vote for the Democratic Socialism has tended Labour Party although he was a Some comrades of the old guard to appeal more to the sentiments traditional labour supporter. His worry argue that socialism must fight for than self-interest in individuals, was that the Labour Party, if it came the poor, deprived and the weak. Any although both must go hand in hand. to power, would take away all his talk of the richness, growth and In the West European countries, the money, he was then earning around powerful amounts to betrayal of welfare state has been presented as 11,000 pounds a month as a cook in a socialist values. Furthermore, they the hallmark of socialism. The restaurant. In my attempt to persuade would suggest that you cannot fight building up of welfare state has been him to stay with the Labour Party, I poverty without identifying with the seen as the success of socialism, but reasoned with him that when he earns poor; it is like Malcom X, the African- the need for running it effectively and more than 25,000 pounds, he should American radical rejecting a white renewing it periodically has escaped easily and happily pay taxes for the American girl’s support for his the attention of the socialists. Also, welfare activities and community movement. The reason for his refusal welfare state has been defended for services. He saw the point. was that the well-meaning American its compassionate approach, not for girl was not a Muslim, so she could its competence to promote liberty Another older British lady told me, not work for the Muslims. So a rich and justice for all. These two words she was not voting Labour as it was JANATA, July 8, 2012 9 a party to “spend, spend and spend”. unconscious masses are at the end, everyone and every section of the Thus, the image of the Socialist Party and that the task of socialist parties society would be part of growth as still sticks in the minds of the voters in political democracies is to work per their productive capacities. It will as “spending and distributionist for increase in votes and carry on build capital of the heavy-investment party”. It is time the Democratic with parliamentary activity”. sector for the future generation, and Socialists place themselves on the shall provide consumption necessary side of growth. Let us take brief look One hears a common refrain that to the needy of the current at India’s current economy. It was political workers and leaders are in generation and help them withstand static at around 3 per cent growth politics for their convictions, not for repression and exploitation. It would for long time. Since 1990s, it reached votes. By extension, socialists could create and promote entrepreneurs in up to 8 per cent. Many comrades enunciate policies, no matter its all sectors. The Constitution needs call it capitalism, and oppose further impact on votes. Such hard-core to be more centralized, but liberalization. A discussion on India’s socialists would do well to recall what implementation more autonomous economic growth, whether it is a person like Trotsky himself had and decentralized. The state will “inclusive or capitalist”, is beyond the pointed out, “it is not enough to create remain, in Gunnar Myrdal’s scope of this essay. But, it will be a programme, it is necessary that characterization, between hard and necessary to note the difference working classes accept it”. soft, as a firm state. between capital formation and Therefore, socialism should align with capitalism for any such discussion. people’s thinking and aspirations. Each country should have a Again, the aspirations change, for planning process - what is called a Attitude must Change instance the poor would need some bottom-up or decentralized planning. relief and elevation, but as their basic In planning, income and wealth Socialists all over seem to have a needs are met, and they come out of egalitarianism needs to be substituted doctrinaire approach, favoring lower poverty, they aspire for other things; by consumption egalitarianism. So and middle classes while treating the Socialism would have to evolve to the concept of equality remains a upper class as enemies. Most meet those changing aspirations. guiding principle. The composite socialist parties are split into Right Nothing remains static for ever. economy permits a fusion of the and Left within. Therefore, socialists reconcilable aspects of socialist and always fight on two fronts - one with Is Catch-all Unethical! capitalism systems and it discards the their own comrades on the ideology irreconcilable aspects. and the other, with their opponents Catch-all is used a pejorative term in elections. Some socialists, a bit on to mean everything to everyone, or Finally, with a redefinition of the far-left, are more exercised in to be opportunist as a politician. objectives and re-specification of the winning arguments amongst Here catch-all is used as appealing instruments of implementation for themselves, than in winning elections to every section of society, delivery, growth and equality would against the opponents. These so- transcending social and economic be achieved simultaneously as called hard-core socialists stick to class barriers. In such case, socialism essential components of democratic outmoded positions, they are so would compare better with socialism. The public and private obsessed with their ideology, that they communists who emphasize on sectors both with socially do not see people for slogans, so self- ‘class struggles’ and with the meaningful roles have space to righteous that they ignore realities, conservatives, and neo-fascists who operate, but in a composite economy, so busy preaching that they do not exploit social divisions, ethnicity, individuals and organization will also listen to anyone who does not race, etc. Democracies run on a have space to contribute to growth. applaud their so-called simplicity. majoritarian principle and the majority can be achieved by going In the light of the proposition In fact, some comrades believe beyond classes and segments. for”catch-all socialism” the orthodox that a small band of ideologically economists, the traditional socialists, committed people can win power. In economic terms, there needs the decent and pragmatic capitalists This is impractical. Fredrick Engels to be a shift from state capitalism and the standard political theorists advised, “that revolutions of small and mixed economy to a composite conscious minorities at the head of economy. In a composite economy, (Continued on Page 15) 10 JANATA, July 8, 2012 Socialist Party (India) National Executive The national executive committee formed with Lok Rajniti Manch and on 28 November 2012) a grand meeting of the Socialist Party was other like-minded political parties success. 5000 ‘Shiksha Hak held at Wardha in Maharashtra on 9 which are opposed to neo- Satyagrahis’ will be recruited for June 2012. Bhai Vaidya, president of liberalism. 3. The party will launch this cause. the party presided over the meeting. a farmers’ help campaign from 20 National office bearers and members June to the July end. State units of Pannalal Surana presented a of the national executive committee the party will assist farmers in resolution against FDI which was from 12 states participated in the resolving their problems regarding passed after due deliberations. The meeting. Justice Rajinder Sachar and seeds, water, khad, electricity, etc. agenda of the meeting was presented Dr. G.G. Parikh, Editor, ‘Janata’ Under this campaign efforts will be by Dr. Prem Singh. Bhai Vaidya weekly, were present as special made to help farmers in drought- made an appeal to the office bearers invitees. The following decisions hit areas. 4. ‘August revolution to form units of the party in all were taken in the meeting: day’ will be observed on 9 August. remaining states in the next six Freedom fighters will be honoured months. Niranjan Mahto, national 1. Socialist Party will contest on this occasion. 5. A movement secretary general of Socialist Yuvjan Gujarat Legislative Assembly will be launched against foreign Sabha (SYS) presented its report. elections due in October- direct investment (FDI), SYS has decided to speed up the November this year. The Gujarat particularly in the retail trade, from membership drive in colleges and unit of the party has been 15 August to 30 August. All state universities and to take part in authorised to make seat adjustment units will hold a one-day dharna on elections of student unions. with non-Congress and non-BJP this issue and submit a like-minded parties. 2. Socialist memorandum to the Governors. 6. It was decided that the next Party will take part in the next Socialist Party supports the national executive meeting will be general election in 2014. The demand of All India Samajwadi held in Delhi on 16 September 2012 process of identification of seats Adhyapak Sabha for free education at 11 am. The venue of the meeting has started in the states where the from KG to PG. The party will play will be : Gandhi Peace Foundation, party has its unit/committee. A a leading role in making ‘Shiksha Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, New front, at the national level, will be Hak Satyagraha’ (to be observed Delhi 110002. National Camp

A three-day national camp, Renu Gambhir and Prem Singh Andhra Pradesh presented detailed attended by around 60 participants, from Delhi, Onkar Singh and account of the party activities in their was held in Wardha from 8 to 10 June Sandeep Pandey from UP, Sanjay states. Convener of Tamil Nadu 2012. In the beginning, participants Gaikwad and Hasan Bhai Desai Narne Natesan, convener of offered condolence following the from Maharashtra, Vinayak Naik Himachal Pradesh Devraj Duggal demise of Prakash Mohadikar, from Goa, Jayanti Panchal from and convener of Jammu and founder of the Sane Guru Gujarat, Tarkeshwar Singh from Kashmir Tarsem Pal, who could not Kathamala, and Tarani Yadav, a Jharkhand, Om Singh Satiana and attend the meeting/camp, sent their committed socialist comrade from Gurtez Singh Rabji from Punjab, B.P. reports to the general secretary. Jharkhand. Freedom fighter Roy and Tarun Banerjee from West Sawarkar Master sang welcome Bengal, Ranjit Kumar Mandal and After the report presentation songs in Marathi and Hindi. The Sachidanand Singh from Bihar, S. session, Pannalal Surana, convener proceedings at the camp started with Rajshekhran Nayar from Kerala, of the camp, addressed the presentation of the state reports by Ramrao Chandrashekhar from participants and described the the representatives. Karnataka and Gopal Patange from (Continued on Page 15) JANATA, July 8, 2012 11 Why Socialism? Thoughts from South Africa - II Most Indian Socialists will benefit from a reading of the thoughtful article “Why Socialism”, published in an organ of the South African Communist Party. This is especially because Indian Socialists sometimes seem to be losing touch with their Marxist heritage represented in particular by Acharya Narendra Deva, the doyen of the Indian socialist movement. Generally, the South African Communist movement has exhibited approaches refreshingly different from those of Communist movement in pre-independence India. Many South African communist leaders, like Dr Yusuf Dadoo, were close to Gandhiji and acted in consultation with him in the nineteen forties. Gandhiji’s grand daughter, Ela Gandhi and many other leading figures of Indian origin in South Africa have been part of the South African Communist Party (SACP) apart from being active in the African National Congress. The South African Communist party struggled jointly with the African National Congress in the difficult apartheid years and has a long record of struggle against the regimes of the time.

The problems that we face in twenty first century India and South Africa are similar in essential character though specific characteristics might be different. I expect that Janata readers will find the article* below to be of interest to them especially because it contains some practical non-jargon-ridden thinking. –Anil Nauriya

In the course of the 20th century collapse in any way detract from with the bureaucratisation of the great hopes were stirred around the the imperative of an ongoing party and state. Millions of world, including here in SA, by the socialist struggle. The collapse communists were among the victims 1917 October Revolution in Russia. certainly did not mean that of Stalin`s purges. In the course of World War II, the capitalism and its imperialist system inspiring role that the communist had suddenly become “better” - on As the SACP we are determined movement played in the defeat of the contrary imperialism became neither to throw away the Nazism, fascism and Japanese even more arrogant, more communist achievements of the 20th militarism greatly added to the unilateral in its actions and more century, nor to become denialist prestige of the world communist genocidal in the implications of its about the grave errors and crimes movement. After 1945, socialism ongoing accumulation path. committed in the name of extended to a broad bloc of countries “communism”. led by communist and worker But, at the same time, it is parties. This socialist bloc inspired imperative that progressive forces, Through much of the 20th century and provided invaluable assistance not least communist parties, conduct communist parties sought to build to radical national liberation an honest and self-critical review of international solidarity and coordinate movements in the South. The the factors that led to the collapse strategies through the Communist strategies and tactics of many of what we used to call “actually International (formed in 1919) and progressive movements in the South existing socialism”. Many of these later through somewhat less formal were premised on the existence of factors were external to the socialist international conferences of this seemingly powerful bloc, especially unrelenting Commmunist and Workers‘ Parties, counterweight to imperialism within destabilisation and the crippling Cold and similar multi-lateral and bi-lateral a two bloc world system. War arms race that the imperialist communist initiatives. powers imposed on the socialist bloc. The collapse in the late 1980s But there were also many grievous Many important achievements and early 1990s of the socialist bloc systemic errors and subjective were registered, but there were also should not detract from the many mistakes - dogmatism, intolerance of negative tendencies - the danger of important gains and progressive plurality, and above all the curtailment subordinating the strategic and advances achieved. Nor does the of a vibrant worker democracy tactical imperatives of local struggles 12 JANATA, July 8, 2012 to the conjunctural requirements of exception, they have all moved away international multilateral institutions, the “centre”; dogmatism and from this formal position - which is etc. There are also many diverse sectarianism in national parties often not to say that the influence of localised struggles including the provoked by attempts to assert a Marxism has entirely disappeared, or cultural and land struggles of particular factional perspective as that the SACP should abandon oppressed nationalities. Wherever the anointed “Comintern approved” ongoing efforts at engagement. possible, the SACP should support line; or, contrariwise, clumsy Conversely, international communist these struggles and learn from them. interference from the centre in and left formations from around the We should seek, as best as possible, national dynamics. Later, many world are not only interested in to make conscious and practical serious divisions opened up in the meeting with the SACP in South linkages between these many world communist movement, the Africa, they are all keen to engage different fronts of struggle and the most serious being the Sino-Soviet with the ANC. This is something that overall objective of rescuing human “split” in the 1960s. the SACP greatly welcomes. civilisation and the natural world from the depredations of capitalism. Today, there is a wide diversity In short, in our internationalist of communist, workers‘ and left work, the SACP neither claims a The African Revolution political formations in the world and South African monopoly, nor do we the SACP works to forge fraternal engage externally as if there were The SACP has a particular links with them, to share necessarily “unique” counterparts interest in (and responsibility for) the perspectives, and to co-ordinate elsewhere. We respect the continent in which we are located, struggles around key themes, among sovereignty of countries and their and particularly our region, southern them - for climate and environmental governments, and we respect the Africa. Africa continues to be the justice in the face of a destructive integrity of all fraternal parties and most brutally oppressed region of the capitalist accumulation process; for formations. world. Having been ravaged by world peace against imperialist colonialism and slavery in previous militarism; in solidarity with the The SACP has a very rich centuries, Africa continues to suffer Cuban revolution against the US experience of working with (and the most oppressive immiseration blockade; in solidarity with the within) both a broad national within the present imperialist Palestinian people against Zionist liberation movement and a accumulation process. Africa, the aggression in the Middle-East and for progressive trade union movement. poorest continent in the world, an end to Israel‘s apartheid But in the course of our anti- exports more capital by way of debt occupation; in solidarity with the apartheid struggle we have worked repayments and profit repatriation to people of West Sahara and for an over many decades with a wide the North than it receives in aid or end to Moroccan occupation of their range of progressive formations - investment! Millions of Africans territory. religious formations, social have been rendered landless, and movements, community based millions are without employment. In In deepening international organisations, NGOs, and, of course, many African countries life- communist solidarity it is no longer one of the world‘s most successful expectancy rates are amongst the possible to repeat old assumptions global solidarity struggles - the Anti- lowest in the world, while infantile and patterns of behaviour. In some Apartheid Movement. mortality is amongst the highest. countries there is more than one significant communist party, in others, This experience is of great value As we have already noted, former communist parties have to the challenges of re-building global economic dynamism has coalesced into broader formations, international solidarity in the present. been shifting quite dramatically in still others, they have all but There is a wide array of broadly over the recent period. This disappeared. progressive forces in the world many dynamism has been notable in focused on the critical challenges of China, India and a range of other In southern African, radical our epoch - environmental Third World societies, including national liberation movements sustainability, peace, human rights, many in Africa. Between 2000 and formally adopted “Marxism- women‘s rights, the Third World 2010, six of the ten fastest growing Leninism” in the 1970s. Without debt, the democratisation of economies in the world were in JANATA, July 8, 2012 13

Africa. For the coming five years, importantly, there is a very real the recent past, there have been seven of the ten fastest are danger that the commodity boom some important democratic and predicted to be in our continent. “growth” will simply reproduce the social gains - but in many African Taking Africa as a region, then it same patterns of historical societies, with hollowed out is the fastest growing region in underdevelopment - enclave-style economies, and impoverished the world after China and India. infrastructure investments that are populations - development is non- simply pit-to-port, or plantation-to- existent, and politics is reduced all But what is this African growth? port, designed to expedite the too often to the comprador How sustainable is it? Will it be unprocessed export of primary parasitism of competing neo- growth that underpins structural commodities to distant markets. colonial elites, which often provokes transformations within our There are also the related dangers political instability and even continent and between our continent of commodity bonanzas: violence. and the global economy, laying the basis for sustainable social and • the so-called “Dutch disease”, The SACP believes that, economic development and political in which wealth generated by a fundamentally, the present strategic stability? Or is it growth that is still natural resource bonanza task within our own country - to locked into the same enduring appreciates a country`s currency advance, deepen and defend our pattern that has lasted for some and undermines the competitiveness national democratic revolution - is five centuries, in which Africa has of that country`s often infant also the key strategic task been plundered for its labour power tradeable (manufacturing) sector; throughout our region and continent. (the dismal centuries of the slave and The African revolution of the 21st trade) and its natural resources century has to be a national (both mineral and agricultural)? • the “Resource Curse” - a democratic revolution. This means This five-centuries pattern of related but wider set of more consolidating democratic national extraction has fuelled human and political and social problems, in sovereignty and nation building social development and economic which resource abundance can (including the infrastructure that is industrialization, but always trigger corruption, distributional the objective underpinning for any somewhere else in the world, conflicts, growing inequalities, and national consolidation). It means leaving Africa under-developed all manner of rent-seeking deepening democracy so that the (which is not the same things as behaviour. urban and rural working people of undeveloped). our continent have the conditions in Across Africa, and indeed in which they are able to act as the When we speak of the current South Africa itself, we need to key motive force of emancipation. surge of “growth” in many African leverage commodity boom related And it means a revolutionary countries, it is always important to investments to achieve our own struggle to transform the skewed remember that it is very often off developmental objectives - including dependent-development patterns an extremely low base. It is also no job-creation and skills development; that constantly reproduce African secret that much of Africa`s current industrialisation anchored around underdevelopment. growth is fuelled by the our mineral and agricultural commodities boom driven, in endowments, through upstream and Which is to say, the African particular, by spectacular growth in downstream related production; and revolution will have to be an anti- China and India. much greater attention to building imperialist revolution directed infrastructure that services not just against the predatory agenda of the There are two main challenges a distant global market, but also our global capitalist corporations with this reality. In the first place, it local, national, regional and buttressed by imperial state power is not clear how long spectacular continental markets. and global multi-lateral institutions growth in Asia in particular will be dominated by these powers. The sustained, and therefore how long But this will also require collective anti-imperialist struggle includes the the current levels of demand for political will and social mobilization. struggle to remove all foreign Africa‘s primary commodities will In this regard there is a considerable military bases in our continent, to last. Secondly, and more diversity within our continent. Over expose and eliminate the deliberate 14 JANATA, July 8, 2012 destabilisation of democratic states, investment in the continent can, or mobilised demagogically by the manipulation of debt and of “aid”, potentially, play a progressive role, narrow sectarian forces. and the fostering of all manner of there is a grave danger that South corrupt comprador and parasitic African capital will simply constitute Above all, the international neo-colonial elites. itself as a sub-imperial power, working class is fragmented and perpetuating the largely predatory stratified, perhaps more than ever There is no single, “exportable”, role it played pre-1994. All these before. Apart from the traditional “made-in-South Africa” formula for considerations underline the industrial working class, there is a each and every African country`s importance of SACP and progressive burgeoning “service sector” with, at ongoing national democratic linkages to the continent, and the role the one end, highly skilled and struggle. Progressive forces of popular mobilisation rather than globally mobile workers largely in the elsewhere in Africa have their own relying solely on inter-state-driven knowledge service sectors. rich experience of struggle, including reconstruction efforts Relatively small in number, this the challenges of post-independence, stratum of the international working from which we can learn. The key Given the diversity of national class is crucial in that it occupies catalyser for progressive national realities, advancing the African strategic positions in the cutting edge democratic struggle in different revolution requires that, as South of the modern capitalist forces of African societies will vary Africans, we ensure that we work production. While they are generally according to local circumstances. It closely as the ANC-led alliance, well paid, their aspirations and the may be the state and ruling party, it together with our democratic state, global social knowledge networks in may be opposition parties, it may be so that our work is cohesive and that which they work increasingly the trade union movement, or other we maximise the respective underline the irrationality of the world social movement forces. Respecting advantages of our different of global corporate private profit each country`s sovereignty and the formations in the interests of taking and short-termism within integrity of different formations, the advancing, deepening and defending which they are constrained. SACP is committed to forging ties the African national democratic of friendship and solidarity with all revolution. On the other end of the service progressive formations in our region sector are millions of under- and continent. The key motive force of the resourced and poorly paid public struggle for the African revolution, sector workers (teachers, health- Since the 1994 democratic and for a different socialist world care workers, municipal workers, breakthrough, South Africa has remains the working class. No security workers) and alongside played an important but uneven role matter how many millions are them a mass of even more poorly in our continent. In particular, our retrenched, or casualised, or made paid, often casualised private sector government has been active in major redundant, millions upon millions of service workers, many of them in peace and democratisation efforts in workers are still daily on assembly small micro-businesses, or own- a number of African countries and lines, at the furnaces, down the account workers. regions. It has also been active in the mines, in the mills and sweat-shops, struggle for African socio-economic at the tills and stacking shelves, in The great revolutionary struggles reconstruction - although these the power stations, or punching in of the 20th century - whether in efforts have often been compromised data , driving trucks, buses, trains. Russia, China, Cuba, Vietnam or by being located outside of a deeper Others work on farms, in hospital South Africa - were never “pure” understanding of the role of wards, in school class-rooms, or working class struggles. In every imperialism on the continent. repairing roads. case a proletarian cadre, schooled in Marxism-Leninism, played the Our 1994 democratic breakthrough We must not romanticise the critical vanguard role. But equally, and our government‘s regional and working class. It, too, is often battered in every case this cadre was able to continental initiatives have also down by oppression, exhausted by forge close organic links with the opened up many new investment the crime-infested communities great mass of peasant and possibilities for South African private within which it has to live, dazzled by (especially in the South African case) capital. While South African the allure of the commodity market, urban and peri-urban poor. The JANATA, July 8, 2012 15 relative (but never absolute) (Continued from Page 9) marginalisation from the global will be made to re-examine their many socialists pilloried him for capitalist system of the Third World premises and analytical diluting socialism. But why and how peasantry and urban poor is both a frameworks. did he win three historic consecutive source of impoverishment AND a elections need to be studied. Should potential revolutionary asset. In Britain, the New Labour socialism be dogmatic and under Tony Blair made democratic theoretical or realistic and practical? In all of the major revolutionary socialism catch-all for Britons; Let the debate continue. struggles of the 20th century, the marginalised countryside of (Continued from Page 10) relatively independent peasant objective of the camp to them. He Singh. Dr. Sunilam, who visited the farmers and the marginalised also apprised participants about the camp, expressed his views on communities of the urban poor session wise schedule of the camp ‘Challenges of Contemporary constituted the core revolutionary for all the three days. Bachchu Politics’ in an open session. bases of struggle. It was here that Singh, a farmer leader from Agra, revolutionary forces operated, emotionally told the audience that Tarkeshwar Singh, Varsha Gupte recruited, replenished, mobilised and 8 June happened to be the birth day and Dr. Ashwani Kumar conducted drew strength from the cultural of his great grand father Shaheed the proceedings on 8, 9 and 10 June traditions of collectivity and Shiv Singh. He was a soldier in the respectively. Dr. Gajanan Kotewar, struggle. And it was here, in the Azad Hind Fauj and sacrificed his president, Sane Guruji Kathamala course of struggle, that organs of life on Burma front in 1944 fighting and Amrit Rai Yeukar visited the popular power emerged as people the British. Participants offered camp and assured to extend every threw off the shackles homage to Shaheed Shiv Singh. possible help in support of the of oppression and made themselves Socialist Party. Sandeep Sapkale of “ungovernable” by the old order. Following academic sessions Mahatama Gandhi Antarrashtriya were held in the camp: ‘Health Hindi Vishvidyalaya and senior Today, in the struggle against the Policy’, speaker : Dr. Abhijit Vaidya, journalist Basant Pandey also barbarism of global imperialism, chair : Dr. Nitin Gangade; attended the camp along with some more than ever, the task is to build ‘Education Policy’, speaker : Bhai more people from Wardha city. the unity of the international Viadya, chair : Bhai Sheelbhadra; Socialist literature in Hindi, Marathi, working class and the unity of ‘Realities Faced by Dalits, Kannada, Malyalam and English workers with the great mass of the Backwards and Adivasis’, speaker was displayed and sold for all three urban and rural poor. : Nutan Malavi, chair : Varsha Gupte; days. The camp concluded with the ‘Minority Policy’, speaker : Dr. Prem national anthem. The working class alone has the Singh, chair : Pannalal Surana; –Prem Singh capacity to lead the battle to ‘Question of Gender Equality’, transform the world and itself in speaker : Yamini Chaudhary, chair : struggle. Despite everything, it is Yashodhra Potanvar; ‘Equality and Janata Subscription steeled in a thousand daily struggles Development in Agriculture’, Annual Rs. : 260/- for survival and against the speaker : Dr. Sriniwas Khandewale, Three Years : 750/- unceasing attempts to roll back chair : Pannalal Surana; ‘Freedom whatever rights it may have won in Demand Draft / Cheque of Speech’, speaker : Justice on bitter struggle. Rajinder Sachar, chair : Sandeep Pandey; ‘Alternative Model of Mumbai Bank Above all, life teaches workers, Development’, speaker : Pannalal in favour of like no other social force, that an Surana, chair : Jayanti Panchal; topic JANATA TRUST injury to one is an injury to all; : ‘Labour Policy’, speaker : Bhupen D-15, Ganesh Prasad, that solidarity is the only true Chandra Roy, chair : S. Rajshekhran weapon. Naushir Bharucha Marg, Nayar; ‘Language Policy’, speaker : Mumbai 400 007 (Concluded) Dr. Prem Singh, chair : Sachidanand R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 8, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012 Posted on every Wedenesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 25 Blackmail politics July 15, 2012 S. Viswam

The latest political developments in which casteist overtones Strange Antics in Karnataka, involving a change of overshadowed the power struggle. A on Mercy Petitions leadership of the state government, Vokkaliga leader, who was in the good Rajindar Sachar represent the manifestation of a books of the then chief minister and combination of blackmail politics and Lingayat leader Yeddiyurappa was vote bank strategies. We have seen catapulted to power. He has now been A more caring touch often enough in post-independent replaced by a Lingayat leader Harsh Mander India the naked display of the greed currently in the good books of for power. But nothing can surpass Yeddyurappa. Since he himself Who sheds tears for Tibet? both the greed and struggle for power cannot remain king, as corruption as have been witnessed in Karnataka cases are pending against him, during the last few months. For a party Yeddyurappa has been playing the Some Political Anecdotes that loses no opportunity to criticize kingmaker game. The central Kuldip Nayar all other parties, the Congress and leadership of the BJP has been the UPA coalition in particular, the dancing to his tunes for the last four BJP’s performance in Karnataka has years. Even during the height of the A Political Function been characterized by the blatant party in power, Yeddyurappa carried resort to low and partisan politics the out without any interference from the kind of which neither the Congress central leadership his own agenda of Ram Chandra Sharma nor other parties have ever been political patronage at the expense of guilty of. When it formed a governance. Once known as a well- government of its own in the state, administered state, Karnataka has the BJP was congratulated for having slipped over the years in this sphere. established a power base in the south The government under the BJP’s Editor : of the Vindhyas, an achievement control has been possibly the worst G. G. Parikh secured through the ballot box. Four in the state’s post-independent years later, and with the next round history, with the party, its members Managing Editor : Guddi of assembly elections just nine months and its ministers never taking eyes away, the BJP can be said to have off the fat chance. In the initial D-15, Ganesh Prasad, jettisoned whatever goodwill it had months, one never could make out Naushir Bharucha Marg, amassed by the wayside. The party who was really ruling the state, Mumbai - 400 007. dispensation in Karnataka has Yeddyurappa or the Reddy Brothers acquired a new leader, incidentally of Bellary who were calling all the Email : [email protected] the third in four years, in an exercise shots. Governance never enjoyed the 2 JANATA, July 15, 2012 priority it deserved when the Between the lines administration passed into the BJP’s hands after the 2008 assembly elections. Who sheds tears for Tibet? Things were bad enough under Yeddyurappa but after his exit in Kuldip Nayar 2011following charges of corruption and nepotism listed in the Lokayukta One more monk burns himself at but it prefers to keep its distance from report, governance touched the nadir. Lhasa. People have lost the count. them because of Beijing’s sensitivity. Some hopes of a change and Yet such fiery protests take place Yet the Tibetans have not given up tightening up were raised when throughout Tibet, almost every other the fight. Sadananda Gowda assumed office, day. This is the way the monks are mostly based on the theory that a new registering their defiance to Chinese Camp Hale at Colorado in the US broom would sweep clean. But the communist culture. Yet Beijing is was a long way from Tibet. What new chief minister was never allowed relentless in imposing its way of life joined the two was the training of to have a free hand thanks to the on them, seen clinging to their some 2000 Tibetan warriors in the continued dissidence against him and Buddhist heritage fiercely. Self- guerilla warfare to fight the People’s his supporters by the Yeddyurappa immolation is considered the highest Liberation Army (PLA) of China. loyalists. In spite of this handicap, type of sacrifice in Buddhism, The warriors failed to make any Sadananda Gowda did try hard to give although their religious leader, the headway. Yet they have kept the a clean administration. He had his Dalai Lama, has advised them powerful army on its pins all the time. limitations as was evident soon in the strongly against such a practice. He Unfortunately, Beijing sees the hand fact that the central leadership of the has said in a press interview that he of New Delhi behind Tibet’s BJP had to succumb to the former understands their pain and feels guilty independence struggle. China is Chief Minister’s blackmail politics in criticizing them. But if he doesn’t, more convinced about this after and show the door to Gowda and bring he apprehends, there would be Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told in Jagdish Shettar, as a concession to innumerable monks taking their lives. it the other day that Tibet was like the Lingayat lobby. In the traditional Kashmir, “our core problem.” Lingayat-Vokkaliga power struggle Against this backdrop, the world in Karnataka, the Lingayat lobby has conscience remains dead. A few who The Tibetans, however, continue won out for the present, but how much protest in the West are silenced by to harbour the grievance against damage the wounded Vokkaliga pride their governments forcibly. The India for having accepted China’s will do to the BJP’s fortunes in the almighty Yuan has suppressed the suzerainty over Tibet after the British coming May 2013 assembly polls expression of truth beneath the left India in 1947. Their complaint is remains to be seen. Equally, it is also mercantile considerations. The that New Delhi never consulted right now a matter of pure conjecture emerging China is too powerful and them. The Dalai Lama, who took as to how long the new leader Shettar too rich to be boycotted for the refuge in India in 1954 when he could will be allowed to stay in office. Nine intangible value of religious freedom not see the Communist shoes months’ interregnum is too short a and human rights. The preachy West trampling upon the spiritual and period for another leadership change, has told the Dalai Lama explicitly not traditional ways of his people, too but the track record of Yeddyurappa to visit them because it realizes which believes that since New Delhi had is such that no bets can be taken on side of the bread is buttered. no locus standi in Tibet, it had no right that score. However, the state’s to accept China’s suzerainty without electorate may have to ponder deeply The government in India is too consulting his people. on whether or not to entrust the BJP scared to support the Tibetans’ cause. once again with the responsibility of Even when its request to reopen its Suzerainty does not mean power for another five years mission was rudely rejected, New independence. It is government’s considering that its performance has Delhi did not even voice its protest. political control over a dependent The Dalai Lama has said many a time state. What New Delhi transferred (Continued on Page 7) that India “can do more” for his people to China is overlordship, not JANATA, July 15, 2012 3 sovereignty. Yet it is apparent that Strange Antics on Mercy Petitions for the sake of India’s good relations with China, the Dalai Lama who vis-a-vis Death Penalty became 77 this week, has to face hard living conditions. Along with his Rajindar Sachar people, he has been sent to stay rooted at Dharamshala, a small hill station in Himachal Pradesh. President Patil just before her by the public–more so when And the Tibetans have been retirement has been the subject of President Patil is retiring in the next warned many a time against having strong criticism allegedly for three weeks. Shri Chidambaram any contact with the outside world accepting over 35 mercy petitions and owes to President Patil to remove without New Delhi’s prior commuting death sentence to life the unfair cloud, the blame for which permission. Even local people have imprisonment of those accused and if any has to be taken by him, and not been told not to interact with them. convicted of rape and murder of by her, who only did the executive The Dalai Lama too has restrictions children – an action which causes act of following Home Minister’s on his movement and even justifiably disbelief and alarm. She is advise, which she was bound to pronouncements. Even otherwise, even said to have commuted the accept under the Constitution. The he speaks rarely. In an interview, sentence of a person who died five reasons by Shri Chidambaram need he said, “meaningful autonomy is years ago, (showing a kind of sloth in to be placed in public domain, so that the only realistic solution.” He made disposing of such delicate matters). electorate can profitably be amazed the same offer some time ago, how such serious matters of life and but Beijing rejected it. This time The President’s office being death is dealt with in the home too he doesn’t expect China to naturally piqued at getting the blame Ministry. change. and finding an unexplained and unfair silence from Central Home Minister It also needs explaining that while The Dalai Lama has noted that P. Chidambaram refusing to clarify Chidambaram has had all the time even during the 1962 war of India that it was he who had recommended for consideration and to give such against China, Jawaharlal Nehru did the pardon has had to come out with unlikely pardons but, he has not found not utter a word about Tibet. Nor did a press statement that all time to even consider and deal with he draw the world’s attention to the commutations are “not playing to the cases of Afzal Guru (J&K. ethnic cleansing going on in Tibet at gallery” by the President but rather Government. has pleaded mercy for that time. On certain occasions, the she has acted on the aid and advice him). The same with the killers of Dalai Lama has felt “suffocated” and of Home Minister. The President is Rajiv Gandhi (Tamil Nadu Assembly, has raised protest over New Delhi’s on firm footing – it has been held by and even Sonia Gandhi, have attitude. No successor to Nehru, the Supreme Court that pardon under recommended pardon for some including Prime Minister Manmohan Article 72 of the Constitution being killers) and the case of Rajoona Singh, has been any different even an Executive action by the President where Punjab Government. has when Beijing is hauling thousands of is to be exercised on the advice of pleaded for him) Chinese to Tibet to settle them there Central government i.e. Home so as to change the ethnic complexion Minister, Government of India. Hence This is all the more urgent of Tibet. it is incumbent on Shri Chidambaram because previous Presidents had to explain to the public as to what specifically formulated certain A lonely Dalai Lama goes on were the special considerations which guidelines. Thus President APJ pointing out that Beijing is led him to recommend pardon to these Abdul Kalam who had 25 mercy sedulously destroying the centuries 35 accused and held guilty of most petitions pending before him only old culture of Buddhists in Tibet. heinous crimes. This is an instance dealt with two, rejecting one and On the other hand, the world has where explanation from the Home pardoning the other. He took keen got attuned to the sufferings of Ministry is urgently required if faith interest in laying down specific in even and serious dealing with such criteria for consideration of the (Continued on Page 4) sensitive matters is to be accepted petitions. He made detailed queries 4 JANATA, July 15, 2012 from the Home Ministry about the from the myth that it can lead to (Continued from Page 3) poverty of the accused and whether increase of murders. Facts show the accused had proper legal help for otherwise. Thus, in 1945-50 the Tibetans and does not even say his defence and made queries about State of Travancore, which had no anything about the daylight murder other petitions and remanded them death penalty, had 962 murders of the old culture and heritage. The to the Home Minister for further whereas during 1950-55, when death purpose of Beijing is to squeeze out clarification. sentence was introduced, there were even the last bit of religious 967 murders. practices and rites which the President K.R. Narayanan, also Tibetans still defiantly follow. chose a similar role by disposing one A survey conducted by the United only out of 10 petitions pending Nations in 1988 concluded that Washington may be willing to before him. Of course we had the research has failed to provide any appeal to the world conscience to opposite case of President S. D. evidence that executions have a help save the Tibetan culture. But Sharma who rejected all 14 mercy greater deterrent effect than life how far it is willing to jeopardize petitions filed before him. These imprisonment. the trade and economic ties with illustrations show that even in China is the question. After all, disposing of mercy petitions, A survey released in September President Barrck Obama kept the President though objective is yet sub- 2000 by The New York Times found Dalai Lama waiting to placate consciously influenced by major that during the last 20 years the Beijing. Even when he met him, inarticulate premise of their personal homicide rate in the states with death Obama looked like going over an views on the question of the death penalty has been 48 per cent to 101 exercise. Strong Chinese economy penalty. Thus a certain kind of per cent higher than in the states gives more comfort to the US arbitrariness at granting pardons is without death penalty. citizens than a few drops of tears bound to happen. Let me clarify – that the irking conscience of some for people like me who advocate the The death penalty has been may shed. abolition of death penalty, even a abolished since 1965 in U.K. The messy policy of pardons is to be membership of European Union is When Beijing lays its claim on welcomed, because at least by this dependent on having no death Arunachal Pradesh and when the process the horror of death penalty penalty. This has been done visa for people of Jammu and Kashmir is somewhat lessened, because I obviously in the confidence that is given on a separate paper, although fully accept stand of Dr. Ambedkar, murders do not get automatically stapled to the passport, New Delhi who said, “ I think that the proper reduced by retaining death penalty. gives in more than it imagines. It should thing for this country to do is to Since 1973, 123 prisoners have been introspect whether it was correct in abolish the death sentence released in the USA after evidence accepting China’s suzerainty over altogether” and that of Jayaprakash emerged of their innocence of the Tibet when Beijing is not prepared to Narayan, Socialist leader who said, crimes for which they were take into account the sensitivities of “Death sentence is no remedy for sentenced to death. either Tibet or India. such crimes”. So far 139 countries, from all Tibet today is like an occupied Ironically, after the rarest of rare regions of the world, have abolished territory, without the people there doctrine of death penalty was the death penalty and 150 have put having any say in governance. Lhasa propounded in 1980 by the Supreme a moratorium on death penalty. is directly under Beijing’s control. Court, it confirmed death penalty in Mahatma Gandhi openly proclaimed Unfortunately, the Dalai Lama is 40 per cent of cases in the period “I cannot in all conscience agree to thinking of retiring when he is needed 1980-90 whereas it was 37.7 per anyone being sent to the gallows, the most. He should, in fact, go cent in 1970-80. For the High Courts God alone can take life because he around the world and awaken its the figures confirming death alone gives it”. Must this land of conscience to garner support against sentence rose from 59 per cent in Buddha and Gandhi continue to China’s brutalities. Beijing must let 1970-80 to 65 per cent during 1980- present such a negative face against the Tibetans live the way they want 90. The vociferous opposition to human rights by retaining death to because that alone gives them abolition of death penalty springs penalty? their entity. JANATA, July 15, 2012 5 Ram Chandra Sharma

Ram Chandra Sharma, a socialist was the centre of all activities of the casting was also started from with unfeigned integrity, breathed his CSP, Congress and trade unions that Calcutta. It is interesting to note that last on June 5, 2912, at his native were conducted from the premises that during the 1943 famine in place Laudih in Gazipur district, UP. at Jelkelghat (later Nityadham Bengal, Sharmaji, an underground When this sad news reached Mukherjee Road). Sharmaji also Auguster, with the help of two Howrah, which was the centre of began to camp at this office. During underground leaders, Achyut and his activities, his Bengal comrades, this phase, he came into contact with Aruna organized a huge hunger particularly of Howrah, felt that they Baswan Singh, Ramanand Mishra march to protest against the British- have lost their close kin. Sharmaji, and a few other leaders from other designed famine. Ultimately, who had stepped into 97th year, states. Since Shibnathbabu was a Sharmaji was also was arrested. passed away at a ripe old age. But pioneer trade union leader, many However, he could fulfill his dormant friends had expectation that he would trade union leaders who later ambition to pass intermediate live to be a centurion. Sharmaji was became famous in AITUC, INTUC, examination with credit from the jail. the senior-most living Socialist of CITU, like H. M. Shad got then early Bengal, nay of India. training from him. However, Ram Sharmaji was a well known trade Chandra Sharma and his intimate unionist. He also built up trade unions Ram Chandra Sharma, who was friend Haripada Majundar remained among the unorganized sector widely known as Sharmaji all over all through Shibnath Bannerjee’s workers. Particular mention should Bengal, was born in a poor peasant right and left hands. be made of Railway Porters’ Union. family of Gaziabad. His father died It can be said that his task was made when he was just seventeen days Then came the August Movement a bit easier, since most of the old. He completed his primary in 1942. Most of the senior and workers were from Bihar and UP. education from a school, which was important leaders of the Congress, As a Socialist leader, like his mentor five miles away from his home. including those of CSP, FB and RSP Shibnath Banerjee, he had welcome Since there was no high school were put in gaol. JP was already in access to most of the rural houses nearby, he came to Asansol in jail but came out through daring of workers’ families. Apart from Bengal with one of his uncles, a escape from Hazaribagh jail along politics, he often acted as a guardian colliery worker. In spite of pecuniary with Suraj Narayan Singh, to them and sometimes as an hardship, his result in Matriculation Ramananda Mishra and others and arbitrator of their family problems. was excellent. Unfortunately, inspired the youth of the country however, he could not get himself turning the August Movement into a Sharmaji’s role during the admitted in an Allahabad college and revolution. JP and Lohia could evade Emergency was also noteworthy. He returned to Bengal, this time at arrest for a pretty long period and was a pioneer in organizing a protest Howrah, and survived through Achyut Patwardhan and Aruna Asaf movement against the arbitrary private tutions with an eye to higher Ali remained throughout untraceable declaration of Emergency. Of education. In 1937, he met Dr. Lohia, to the police. Among those who course, he was not spared by the who used to live in Calcutta then. could evade arrest for a longer period police. Dr. Lohia inspired him by saying not in Bengal were Atul Krishna Bose, to consider carrier as all important, the first secretary of Bengal CSP and After his release in 1976, he since “we are a slave nation”. Ram the likes of Sharmaji. Atulbabu was founded PUCL in West Bengal and Chadra also speeches of Shibnath the planner and the main organizer organized a meeting in a hall in South Banerjee and began to place country of operations was Sharmaji. He used Calcutta. V. M. Tarkunde also came before the self. He became a whole- to arrange distribution of JP’s letters to attend the meeting. But at the timer of Congress Socialist Party/ and Azad dastana. Sharmaji met JP, outset, Jyoti Basu said that the Indian National Congress. Lohia, Achyut and Aruna a number speakers should not say anything of times during this period. against the Emergency for Shibnath Banerjee was an Meanwhile, through Lohia’s help an permission was given only for outstanding leader at that time. He underground mobile radio broad academic discussion on the proposed 6 JANATA, July 15, 2012 amendments to the Constitution. The meeting was presided over by admirers. Among the speakers, were Obviously, Tarkunde and the likes of Sharmaji’s long time Socialist Sudhanshu Ganguli, B. C. Pal Roy, Sharmaji found themselves square colleague Brijnath Rai and addressed Nirmal Ghosal and Sandip Das. pegs in round hole! by many of his family members and –Sandip Das, Nirmal Ghosal We should mention that Sharmaji took initiative to convert the premises at 4, Nityanand Mekherjee Road, Kill and probe into a national heritage. All the Congress activities from the days of If Raman Singh and Vijaya the security forces are hated. While Saratchand Chaterjee, renowned Kumar don’t know how to control Dr B D Sharma was travelling in the writer and the President, Howrah D. Maoism without butchering innocent Sukma jungles along with the released C. C. and then CSDP, SP, tribals, they have no business to stay. Collector, he asked the adivasis what Navanirman, Jana Sangharsha did they achieve by supporting the Samiti and of course trade union The shooting down of 19 tribals ultras for the past several years. Pat activities were conducted from the in Bijapur last month is regrettable. came the reply: ‘We are free from premises. Through the ceaseless But more shocking are the the patvari-thanedar raj’. Mr Kumar, efforts of Sharmaji’s devoted utterances of the perpetrators of the are you listening? younger colleagues, it has been mayhem. CM Raman Singh said, declared a national heritage. “Naxals had used tribals as shield Union Home Minister and hence the ultras are responsible Chidambaram said extremely sorry The Socialists in India had to face for civilian deaths ‘if’ any”. Mr CM, “if” women and children were killed. many splits and mergers. Most of the the ultras have not taken a solemn His own party men said six children leaders and workers, willingly and oath to protect the life and property under 14 were killed. How many more unwillingly, had to take shelter under of the people; but you have. CRPF Ifs and Buts, Mr PC? Chhattisgarh one banner or the other. Sharmaji chief Vijaya Kumar made himself a is fast becoming a Sri Lanka. The was also not an exception. But the joke by this atrocious statement: ‘We ruthless tyrants of the island nation beauty of his character was such cannot identify a person before (from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, that he had no bickering with anyone killing him’. What the tribals are Defense Secretary Gotabhaya and he could maintain cordial supposed to do? You want them to Rajapaksa to Commander of the Sri relationship with every group. vanish from their homes if they come Lankan Army Sarath Fonseka) to know ultras and security forces justified the mass killing of innocent Because of his age and ill-health are going to land in their hamlets! Tamils three years ago stating that he had been staying mostly at his Kumar said it was a genuine Tamils were used as shield by LTTE native place for the past few years. encounter because six of his men terrorists. PC, Raman Singh, Vijaya But he could not avoid his occasional were injured. Two of his injured men Kumar and Vishwa Ranjan just visits to Howrah and mutual friends. were discharged after bandaging for imitate the Lankan butchers. bruises. Two other sepoys sprained Today, Socialists in India are not their legs while jumping. So much for An expert group constituted by considered as viable force, except the genuineness of the encounter. the Planning Commission of India to some essentially power-oriented study the extremism in Central India groups in certain pockets. Attempts Kumar also ridiculed those who makes the following concluding have been made to rejuvenate the questioned the killings this way: observation: “There will be peace, movement. In this situation what we ‘Probably these people will be happy harmony and social progress only if need most is the likes of Sharmaji if security persons were killed’. there is equity, justice and dignity for who would practice what he Whether the civil activists and everyone.” The state’s deliberate professed. pressmen are happy at the causalities attempt to hand over vast tracts of suffered by police is a debatable issue. tribal land to mining companies A well attended meeting was held But if Kumar has the guts and against the wishes of innocent local at Howrah on June 20, to condole inclination to talk to the affected tribal people is no substitute for equity, the death of Ram Chandra Sharma. population, he will realise how much justice and dignity for everyone. JANATA, July 15, 2012 7 The Apex Court in its judgment A more caring touch exactly one year ago on the dreaded SPO (Salwa Judum) case observed that any steps taken by the State, Harsh Mander within the paradigm of treating such volatile circumstances as simple law and order problems, to perpetrate There is a widespread perception highest priority of this government large scale violence against the local of policy paralysis in the corridors must be the early passage of the populace, would only breed more of power. The two remaining years Food Security Bill. insurgency, and ever more violent of the UPA’s term is still not too protests. The judges further short to reverse the current drift, but All or most households should be observed, “We, in this Court, are not time is rapidly running out. The covered by subsidised food. The law unaware of the gravity that damaged economy needs urgent would also guarantee feeding and extremist activities pose to the fixing as does restoring the credibility nutrition programmes for small citizens and to the State. However, of an executive racked by scandals children, school meals, universal our Constitution also warns us that and the absence of a sense of maternity entitlements, destitute ends do not justify all means and that direction. The people of the country feeding and soup kitchens for an essential and integral part of the long for clean, decisive governance. subsidised cooked meals to migrants ends to which the collective power But what is less widely recognised and homeless persons. Any further of the people may be used to achieve is that they also seek a leadership procrastination will render impossible has to necessarily keep the means which is caring. the rolling out of the complex of exercise of State power within implementation architecture of this check and constitutional bounds”. When the UPA was emphatically ambitious programme of social returned to power in 2009, protection, in the two years left for But the state governments in the confounding most predictions, what this government. Naxal affected states in connivance decisively weighed with the people with the union government continue was not the pace of ‘economic Equally important is to address the to treat the crisis as a simple law & reforms’ or even economic growth, distress of farmers, who continue to order matter and adopt all nor the successful negotiation of the languish in poverty and despair, unconstitutional means to reach their nuclear deal. I believe that it was manifested in unabated farmers’ dubious end of extracting minerals, programmes like the Mahatma suicides. The revival of agriculture come what may. Gandhi National Rural Employment would require basic income support Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) which and insurance especially for the small –Sankara Narayanan despite implementation flaws, still and middle farmers; a massive offered India’s poorest people a expansion of farm credit; a dignified alternative to starvation, guarantee of purchase of all farmers’ (Continued from Page 2) debt, bondage and distress migration, produce at remunerative minimum nothing to commend itself for. The which most influenced the millions support prices; and a major Congress did not distinguish itself with left out of India’s growth story, when expansion of watershed a sterling performance either when it they pressed the ballot button. development programmes. It is also was in power, but its record is miles imperative to revive the agenda of better than that of the BJP. In the It is to the essentials of just and land reforms for the landless poor long run, it would seem that it is the caring governance that the UPA and tenants. people who suffer the most must return if it has any claim to a whichever party, the Congress or the third term of power. To begin with, Decisive action is needed on BJP or the Janata Dal(Secular) is in it must end the disastrous symbolism corruption to build early consensus power, or whether or not the of a government willing to let food with the political opposition and Vokkaligas or the Lingayats are in rot in its warehouses, or export it at diverse citizen opinion for the early control. Surely, the gentle people of subsidised rates, but not distribute it passage of a law to establish a Karnataka deserve better at the to masses who toil but sleep hungry strong, independent and accountable hands of its politicians? and malnourished. The first and (Continued on Page 9) 8 JANATA, July 15, 2012 A Political Function

There was an impressive function Gandhi, it is this class which became there is a crisis and it would have at Pune to felicitate Pannalal Surana the exclusive producer with state done in this case too. And we could who turned 81. It was impressive, blessings and, given the faith in profit have continued with our policy of not merely because there were maximization, the distributing what import substitution. So many alternate people from all over India or there was produced, became impossible. possible responses were available, was fulsome praise showered on So the net result was that though we but the country which led the colonial him, but also because it generated a produced and created wealth, there world to freedom, proved out to be political heat. Egged by his was little to distribute. And in the too soft. It was not realized by our conscience, as he said, Shushilkumar name of socialism we created a leaders or even economists, that if Shinde, the central minister for capitalist society. There are some they had announced that they will not Energy, who made it a point to be people who believe that if we had allow petrol consumption to grow at there, explained, perhaps, with some used common people to produce, the the rate at which it was growing, the guilt, why his party had turned away inequality which is so glaring would international prices of crude would from the socialism which once he not have developed. have come down. shared with Pannalal. He made two points. One was the old argument Then there was the second point We need not have that poverty cannot be distributed. which the minister made out. He privatized.There was resistance then This is what Nehru used to retort referred to the foreign exchange and there is resistance even now. We when taunted by socialists and the crisis in early ‘nineties and the could have made the public sector other was the total negation of all mortgaging of the family silver and units more efficient and profitable. that the Congress stood for in the justified what was done in response Yes, we could have reduced some early years, in 90’s. It is obvious that by the Congress party led unnecessary state controls. Pannalal, in reply, made a political government. Though there were speech. Aruna Roy too raised voices opposed to GLP, no one The tragedy is that we did not do political issues. seriously questioned the complete any of this. We did not even think of succumbing of our government to doing it. Perhaps, this happened It is time some socialists challenge the WB, IMF pressure. We need not because we forgot all too soon what both these formulations. It is true have done what we did and could we had said, promised during the poverty cannot be distributed. But have brazened out the crisis. We freedom struggle and had started what you produce has an impact on could have announced that we will chasing a new course of action for what you distribute. While the state reduce the need for foreign our development which was nothing was chosen as the instrument of exchange, we could have bought else but copying our imperial production, what was produced time the way Chandrashekharji did masters. Looked at that way, this was could have been different. There and borrowed against our gold and second betrayal. were Gandhians who had a different used it to our benefit. We could have view and if they had prevailed, the announced that we will freeze the Coming back to Pannalal, he situation could have been different. use of petroleum products and obviously made a forthright speech Even Brahmanand and Vakil had appealed to people to reduce the use to explain his ideological position, advocated a different plan for of their private vehicles. We could though, perhaps, he may not have development. While the state under have decided to reduce our done it if the minister had not egged Nehru leadership concentrated on expenditure on defense if it needed him to do it. Bhai Vaidya pointed out producing capital goods, it left it to foreign exchange. If we had dramatically that Pannalal was the then existing small industrial class appealed to the citizens, they would always on the move. It seems he has to produce consumption goods and have given gold, reduced their decided not to be at one place for that class, for reasons that have been consumption of foreign goods, cut more than one day, he added. No documented often enough, became down foreign travel and that could wonder, in the backdrop, Pannalal powerful, and in 1990s, though the seen us through the crisis. India was shown moving on. And the process had started with Indira always rises to the occasion when minister brought out a rare quality in JANATA, July 15, 2012 9 him. Once, when there was a literary came back to him after the event to Gandhiji? He alone can answer. And event in Barsi, and he was the say that Rs. 25,000/-, less were spent. one more point. What is said in jest organizer, Shri Shinde was made the This brought out Pannalal,s defining about socialists, Aruna Roy chairman of the Reception quality, his frugality with public converted it into a compliment. Committee. He had agreed with money. In fact, some chide him off Socialists, she said, do full time work some hesitation and a budget was and on because he sends hand written supported by their wives. Pannalal drawn up of a modest figure of post cards from wherever he is to certainly fitted into it. Rs. 85,000/-. To his surprise, Pannalal communicate. Did he learn this from –A correspondent

(Continued from Page 7) lokpal, along with a comprehensive affected and displaced by land- Security Bill for Unorganised basket of anti-corruption measures. acquisition and mining. Workers, a universal old age pension; These include long-delayed electoral, and unconditional income transfers administrative and judicial reforms The UPA promised in 2004 a law to families of persons with and measures for effective to prevent communal violence, but it disabilities, will reach out to other grievance redressal at the levels of has not been able to muster the disadvantaged groups. For the the village and city settlement. political nerve to introduce a strong millions who migrate to cities, bill which would make public officials programmes and laws which There is also need for extensive accountable for failures to protect guarantee land tenure rights and backroom lobbying with the UPA, the people in communal riots. Other basic services to slum residents and Left and the BJP, to mobilise measures for religious minorities to street vendors, would enable them sufficient support for early passage should include universal scholarships to escape the violence, State of the Women’s Reservation Bill, and for all children from religious oppression and squalor that a comprehensive law against sexual minorities excluding wealthy groups; characterise the lives of the urban violence. For Scheduled Castes and a special programme of residential poor. Scheduled Tribes, the government schools, including for girls, in all must establish ironclad systems to minority blocks; and guarantee of What ordinary people hope from ensure sufficient flow of budgetary basic services in all minority their governments is not just that they resources to enable them to bridge settlements. will control prices, promote economic the development gaps. A strengthened growth and offer clean governance. SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act In India’s troubled conflict areas, They expect support in their daily would better protect them from a healing touch would require a new struggles to build a life of dignity, continued violence. A special commitment to human rights, justice and ultimately hope. It is this programme would be in order to including by ending and punishing expectation that governments, once guarantee basic services of clean encounter killings and torture, and elected, most easily forget. water, sanitation, child-care centres abrogating laws like the Armed and roads to all SC and ST Forces (Special Powers) Act, Public Janata Subscription settlements. Safety Act, Disturbed Areas Act and other preventive detention laws. Annual Rs. : 260/- In addition, tribal people This would spur a new mood of Three Years : 750/- desperately require effective reconciliation in these states. Demand Draft / Cheque amendments and implementation of on the Forest Rights Act and Panchayat There is need for substantial (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, increases in investment in public Mumbai Bank which restores their control over their health services (and not private in favour of lands, natural resources and health insurance); and a programme JANATA TRUST governance systems. They would for free or affordable generic D-15, Ganesh Prasad, also benefit from the early passage medicines, building on the successful Naushir Bharucha Marg, and implementation of laws which experiment in Rajasthan. The early Mumbai 400 007 give a much fairer deal to persons passage of an improved Social 10 JANATA, July 15, 2012 Some Political Anecdotes

Kuldip Nayar, 89, has seen Gandhi at prayer in Birla Mandir, quizzed Nehru, watched Jinnah closely, worked with Shastri and Govind Ballabh Pant. Journalist, editor, author, he has seen history unfold, watched in action the people whom most of the present generation know only as institutions or physical landmarks, say Kamraj University or the Netaji Subhash Airport. “My story is really the story of modern India. Of the freedom struggle, of Partition, of Nehru’s India, of the Bangladesh war, of Emergency and more recently of liberalisation and India as a world power,” he says. Here are vignettes from his overarching autobiography, a sort of a fly-on-the-wall account of how our country came to be, from Mountbatten to Manmohan.

Excerpts from Beyond the Lines by Kuldip Nayar, Roli Books, pages:420; Rs. 595 : –Qurban Ali Mohammed Ali Jinnah hope for the impossible. They had struck his hand on the forehead and lost all sense of right and wrong. said despairingly: “What have I ‘What have I done?’ These custodians of the people knew done?” Both Iftikhar and Mazhar they would go scot-free in their “own vowed not to repeat the remark. The catholicity of Hinduism and country” after the transfer. I think it Mazhar took his wife Tahira into the compassion of Islam: if such was a blunder to give the choice to confidence and told her what Jinnah sentiments survived, they made no civil servants, the police, and the had said, and she communicated difference. Villages after villages had armed forces to opt for India if they Jinnah’s comment to me long after been annihilated, the Muslim were non-Muslims and Pakistan if her husband’s death. habitations destroying and burning they were Muslims. A mixed the Hindu-Sikh ones, and Hindus and administration would have behaved Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sikhs in turn retaliating or taking the differently and infused the minorities initiative in wiping out the Muslims.... with confidence. Jinnah would not ‘Kashmir can go to Pakistan’ believe the reports that thousands of Riots, in fact, had erupted in people were migrating from both My impression is that had Punjab in March 1947 itself. sides of the border. Both the Pakistan been patient it would have Rawalpindi and Jhelum were the Congress and the Muslim League got Kashmir automatically. India most affected, where many Hindu had rejected the proposal for an could not have conquered it, nor and Sikh women jumped into wells exchange of population and had could a Hindu maharaja have to save themselves from rape and insisted on Muslims and non-Muslims ignored the composition of the kidnapping. Lahore became a staying back in their homes. Jinnah population, which was predominantly battleground between Hindus and remained sullen for a few days and Muslim. Instead, an impatient Sikhs on the one side joining hands, then accused India of seeking to Pakistan sent tribesmen along with and Muslims on the other. This was undermine Pakistan. Even so, he was regular troops to Kashmir within the city where Master Tara Singh, deeply concerned not only about the days of independence. the Sikh leader, had unsheathed a migration of people but also recurrent sword in front of the state assembly news that several lakhs of people had While it’s true that Nehru was building and raised the slogan of been butchered on either side of the keen on Kashmir’s accession to Khalistan.... border. India, Patel was opposed to it. Sheikh Abdullah told me in an The men in khaki—the army, the One day when Jinnah was in interview later (February 21, 1971) police, and other services—were Lahore, Iftikhar-ud-din, Pakistan’s that Patel argued with him that as meant to bring the riots under control rehabilitation minister and Mazhar Ali Kashmir was a Muslim-majority area but they too were infected by the Khan, editor of Pakistan Times, flew it should go to Pakistan. Even when communal virus. To expect them to him in a Dakota over divided Punjab. New Delhi received the maharaja’s be impartial and punish the guilty When he saw streams of people request to accede to India, Patel from their own community was to pouring into Pakistan or fleeing it, he said: “We should not get mixed up JANATA, July 15, 2012 11 with Kashmir. We already have too the concept of Pakistan and the letter India’s prime minister,” was Shastri’s much on our plate.” ‘K’ in its name stood for Kashmir. reply. As the Pakistan minister for Kashmir *** Nehru’s anxiety (on this issue) affairs said in 1951, and this has been was clear from his letter to Patel repeated by many ministers to this Was he poisoned? (September 27, 1947), three days day, “Kashmir is an article of faith before Kashmir’s accession to India: with Pakistan and not merely a piece That night I had a premonition that “Things must be done in a way so of land or a source of rivers.” Shastri was dying. I dreamt about as to bring about the accession of him dying. I got up abruptly to a Kashmir to the Indian union as Lal Bahadur Shastri knock on my door. A lady in the rapidly as possible with the corridor told me: “Your prime minister cooperation of Sheikh Abdullah.” ‘Nehru has Indira in mind’ is dying.” I hurriedly dressed and Nehru wanted Indian forces to fight drove with an Indian official to against the Pakistan tribesmen and As the days went by, instances Shastri’s dacha which was some others advancing in the Valley. It was (of humiliation) piled up. In fact, distance away. I saw (Soviet premier Mountbatten who asked Nehru to Shastri had to wait even to get an Alexei) Kosygin standing in the get the instrument of accession appointment with Nehru and at one verandah. He raised his hands to signed first before sending troops. point thought of resigning from the indicate that Shastri was no more. ministry. Once he told me that he Behind the verandah was the dining From the very outset, the would return to Allahabad. “There room where a team of doctors was maharaja’s preference was for is nothing for me here now,” he said. sitting at an oblong table, cross- independence. Failing that, he He then added woefully: “If I examining Dr R.N. Chugh who had wanted a merger with India. His fear continue to stay in Delhi, I am bound accompanied Shastri. in relation to the second alternative to come into a clash with Panditji. I was that with Nehru at the helm of would rather retire from politics than Next to it was Shastri’s room. It affairs, he would be reduced to a join issue with him.” was extraordinarily large. On the mere figurehead, and Sheikh huge bed, his body looked like a dot Abdullah would be the one with real Many people told him that Nehru’s on a drawing board. His slippers power. When Patel, otherwise close behaviour was influenced by Indira were neatly placed on the carpeted to the maharaja, suggested that he Gandhi’s “hostility” towards him. floor. He had not used them. In a should “make a substantial gesture Initially Shastri would never corner of the room, however, on a to win Sheikh Abdullah’s support”, encourage such doubts, but later he dressing table, there was an the maharaja knew his fate was would go out of the way to find out overturned thermos flask. It sealed. if that was true. In due course, he appeared that Shastri had struggled became convinced that he was not to open it. There was no buzzer in Mountbatten later told me that uppermost in Nehru’s mind as his his room, the point on which the Patel had agreed to let Kashmir go successor. Indira Gandhi was more government lied when attacked in to Pakistan if the state so wished. open about ignoring him and would Parliament on its failure to save “By sending its irregular troops into herself take important files to Nehru. Shastri’s life. the state, Pakistan spoiled the whole I ventured to ask Shastri one day: thing,” added Mountbatten. He was, “Who do you think Nehru has in Our official photographer and I however, worried that Nehru’s mind as his successor?” “Unke dil spread the national flag, which had Kashmiri ancestry would lead him mein to unki suputri hai (He has his been neatly folded up near the to unwise decisions. (Nehru is daughter in his heart),” said Shastri, dressing table, over the body, and reported to have confessed to a “but it won’t be easy,” he added. placed some flowers to pay homage British officer: “In the same way as “People think you are such a staunch to him. I then went to meet Shastri’s Calais was written on Mary’s heart, devotee of Nehru that you yourself assistants. It was a few yards away Kashmir is written on mine.”) will propose Indira Gandhi’s name and one had to walk through an open after his death,” I said. “I am not verandah to reach it. Shastri’s However, Pakistan could not wait. that much of a sadhu as you imagine personal secretary, Jagan Nath Kashmir had always been a part of me to be. Who would not like to be Sahai, told me that Shastri had 12 JANATA, July 15, 2012 knocked on their door at around she said: “You are a very lucky upset that Jan Mohammed, T.N. midnight and wanted water. Two person because you gave him his last Kaul’s cook at the time, had cooked stenographers and Jagan Nath cup of water.”) the food, not Ram Nath, his own helped him walk back to his room. personal servant. This was strange *** This was fatal, Dr Chugh said. as the same Jan Mohammed had Gen Ayub was genuinely grieved prepared food for Shastri when he After sending the flash on by Shastri’s death. He came to visited Moscow in 1965. Shastri’s death, I went back to his Shastri’s dacha at 4 am and said, assistants’ room to learn the details looking towards me: “Here is a man Following newspaper reports, the about his death. Bits and pieces of of peace who gave his life for amity old guard Congress party supported information gathered together between India and Pakistan.” Later, the demand for a probe into Shastri’s indicated that Shastri, after attending Ayub told the Pakistani journalists death. I asked Morarji Desai towards the farewell reception, reached his that Shastri was one person with the end of October 1970 whether he dacha around 10 pm. Shastri told whom he had hit it off well; “Pakistan really believed that Shastri did not (his personal servant) Ram Nath to and India might have solved their die a natural death. Desai said: “That bring him his food which came from differences had he lived,” he said. is all politics. I am sure there was no Ambassador (T.N.) Kaul’s house, Aziz Ahmad, Pakistan’s foreign foul play. He died of a heart attack. prepared by his cook, Jan secretary, rang up Bhutto to inform I have checked with the doctor and Mohammed. He ate very little: a dish him about Shastri’s death. Bhutto his secretary, C.P. Srivastava, who of spinach and potatoes and a curry. was half asleep and heard only the accompanied him to Tashkent.” word “died”, and apparently asked, Ram Nath gave Shastri milk, “Which of the two bastards?” A.Q. Khan which he used to drink before retiring at night. The prime minister once When I returned from Tashkent, ‘We have the bomb’ again began pacing up and down and Lalita Shastri asked me why later asked for water, which Ram Shastri’s body had turned blue. I Mushahid Hussain, editor of Nath gave from the thermos flask replied: “I am told that when bodies Muslim, a daily from Islamabad, on the dressing table. (He told me are embalmed, they turn blue.” She invited me to his wedding (in 1987). that he had closed the flask.) It was then inquired about “certain cuts” on He was a close friend who had once a little before midnight when Shastri Shastri’s body. I did not know about met me in Delhi when he was a told Ram Nath to retire to his room those because I had not seen the lecturer, to seek my advice on and get some sleep because he had body. Even so, her remark that no whether he should take up to get up early to leave for Kabul. post-mortem had been conducted journalism. I found his writing Ram Nath offered to sleep on the either at Tashkent or Delhi startled promising and predicted that he floor in Shastri’s room but Shastri told me. It was indeed unusual. would one day make a good editor if him to go to his own room upstairs. Apparently, she and others in the he took to journalism seriously. The assistants were packing the family suspected foul play. A few Mushahid was at the airport to luggage at 1.20 am (Tashkent time), days later, I heard that Lalita Shastri receive me when I landed in Jagan Nath recalled, when they was angry with the two personal Islamabad. He told me that he would suddenly saw Shastri at the door. assistants who had accompanied give me a ‘wedding gift’, and then With great difficulty Shastri asked: Shastri because they had refused to whispered in my ear that A.Q. Khan, “Where is doctor sahib?” It was in sign a statement which alleged that the nuclear scientist, had agreed to the sitting room that a racking cough Shastri did not die a natural death. meet me. I was flabbergasted. True, convulsed Shastri, and his personal I had asked him many times to assistants helped him to bed. Jagan As days passed, the Shastri arrange a meeting with A.Q. Khan Nath gave him water and remarked: family became increasingly but had never imagined he could pull “Babuji, now you will be all right.” convinced that he had been it off. Shastri only touched his chest and poisoned. In 1970, on October 2 then became unconscious. (When (Shastri’s birthday), Lalita Shastri When we reached A.Q. Khan’s Lalita Shastri was told by Jagan Nath asked for a probe into her husband’s house, the security guard spoke to in Delhi that he had given him water, death. The family seemed to be Mushahid but did not even look JANATA, July 15, 2012 13 towards me. That convinced me that He proudly said that his team ‘peaceful’ associated with the the interview was sanctioned by the comprised only Pakistanis. nuclear programme is humbug. government. Khan was waiting at There is no ‘peaceful bomb’. Once the verandah to welcome me. As he I thought I would provoke him. you knew how to make reactors, how was leading me to the drawing room, Egoist as he was, he might fall for to produce the plutonium, all of he said he had been following my the bait. And he did. I concocted a which Pakistan has mastered, it writings and was a “great fan” of story and told him that when I was became easy to produce a nuclear mine. “They treated me very badly coming to Pakistan, I ran into Dr bomb.” at Bhopal,” said Khan. That’s where Homi Sethna, the father of India’s he graduated. He was referring to nuclear bomb, who asked me why I Jawaharlal Nehru- his migration from India to Pakistan was wasting my time because Edwina Mountbatten a few years after Partition. I told him Pakistan had neither the men nor the that I came from Sialkot and had material to make such a weapon. ‘Theirs was spiritual love’ faced more or less the same Khan was furious and began privations. “The cake is delicious,” I pounding his hand on the table: “Tell My interest in finding out about said. “My wife baked it for you,” he them we have it, we have it.” Lady Mountbatten’s influence on replied. Mushahid was taken aback and Nehru did not slacken with time. I looked distraught. I followed up picked up the thread when I was I had heard he was very full of Khan’s disclosure with the remark India’s high commissioner in London himself, and he matched the that it was easy to make such a claim in 1990. I learnt that Air India flights description to perfection. I annoyed but it needed to be corroborated. No would carry Nehru’s daily letter, him when I mentioned in passing that test had so far been conducted to which the high commission dutifully he had been hauled up before a confirm that Pakistan possessed a delivered to Lady Mountbatten and Dutch court in a case for having nuclear bomb. He said that they had daily collected her reply and “stolen” information from one of already tested the bomb in their forwarded it to Nehru. Nehru took their nuclear laboratories. He raised laboratory. “Haven’t you heard of a officials to task whenever her letter his voice to deny the charge, adding prototype plane flying with the help was delayed. that the court had cleared him. The of a simulator? We do not have to question of whether India had tried explode a nuclear bomb to ascertain During my stint in the UK, I met to penetrate the secrets of its potency. Sensitive and advanced her grandson, Lord Romsey, who Pakistan’s nuclear plant pleased him. instruments in a laboratory can show headed the Nehru Trust, which Laughingly, he said that New Delhi the scale of the explosion. We are Mountbatten had constituted in had sent spies for the purpose, among satisfied with the results.” London to arrange an annual lecture them an Indian army major, but they in Nehru’s memory. As high had all been arrested. “Why haven’t you announced that commissioner, I was an ex-officio you have a nuclear bomb,” I asked member of the trust. Lord Romsey My entire interview was directed him point blank. “Is it necessary? and I met many times in that towards learning whether or not America has threatened to cut off connection. After meeting him a few Pakistan had made a nuclear bomb. all its aid,” he replied. Khan said their times, I thought I had developed a He skirted all such questions, bomb was larger than the one we sufficient equation to talk to him brushing me aside whenever I tried had exploded in Rajasthan on May about his grandmother. He did not to be specific. It appeared to me that 18, 1974. “The US is aware that seem to mind. he had been permitted to give me Pakistan has a nuclear bomb,” said this interview but at the same time Khan, “and what the CIA has been I once broached the subject of had been told not to say anything saying about our possessing a Nehru’s letters with him. I said: specific. I praised him for being an nuclear bomb is correct as are the “Nehru wrote beautifully.” His reply outstanding scientist and the only one speculations in the foreign media.” was that his grandmother too wrote in the subcontinent who had two beautifully. I told him I would love to PhDs, one in metallurgy and the Khan made no pretence that see at least one of her letters. I had other in physics. I asked him whether Pakistan’s nuclear programme was seen Nehru’s writings but not hers. he had any foreigner assisting him. for peaceful purposes. “The word He said that Rajiv Gandhi and he had 14 JANATA, July 15, 2012 exchanged copies of his many policies on foreign affairs. My note on the Punjab situation and grandmother’s and Nehru’s letters. mission, however, was different. asked me to read it. I thought he There were two sets, one with him wanted me to see whether his and the other with the Gandhi family. I approached the librarian who analysis tallied with mine as I came I realised then that it would be said that my permission was for the from Punjab, but to my surprise he difficult to obtain access to them. ‘C’ grade papers. For this I would wanted to know whether the note have to obtain Sonia Gandhi’s was well written. As I began reading Nonetheless, I bluntly asked him specific instructions. I wrote to her it, Shastri said that even L.P. Singh, one day whether his grandmother again. Once again Natwar Singh his favourite joint secretary, had and Nehru had been in love. First was the channel of communication. praised his writing style. he laughed and then wondered how He told me the papers could not be he could describe their relationship. made available to me. Shastri’s note to Nehru on Punjab He paused for a while and said: did not create any stir, but his letter “Theirs was ‘spiritual love’.” Then There was no explanation. All he on Vladimir Nabokov’s racy novel he changed the subject. I let the said was that they were her property Lolita did. One Congress leader had matter rest there. Lord Romsey and she alone could decide. I think written to Shastri that Lolita, which subsequently said: “They fell in Nehru’s letters are the nation’s had reached bookshops in India, love; a kind of chivalrous love property and should be made was so lewd that it should be which was understood in the olden available to the public because they banned. Shastri accordingly wrote days. Nowadays when you talk of throw light on matters meaningful to Nehru (L.P. Singh provided the love, you think of sex. Theirs was to our history. But this does not draft) that the book should be more a soul-to-soul kind of relation. seem to be the general policy. The banned. Prompt came Nehru’s Nehru was an honourable man and Government of India has not yet reply the following morning (he he would never have seduced a made public the papers relating to replied to all correspondence within friend’s wife.” the transfer of power by the British 24 hours) arguing at length why he to India while the UK has. thought Lolita should not be banned Back in Delhi, I tried to get and why D.H. Lawrence’s Lady access to the letters. I went to the Lolita, Swan Lake Chatterley’s Lover should continue Nehru Memorial Library and asked and Meena Kumari to be. Lolita wasn’t banned. for the correspondence between Jawaharlal Nehru and Lady Too Risque for Comfort Shastri was not a moralist but he Mountbatten. The librarian looked was a traditionalist. When he surprised. “You have to get Lal Bahadur Shastri, who, like watched Swan Lake performed by permission from Mrs Sonia Nehru, belonged to Allahabad, was the Bolshoi Ballet group in Gandhi,” he said and closed the conscious that he was way down Leningrad, he was uncomfortable. topic. I wrote a letter to Sonia in the social ladder in comparison At intermission, I asked if he was Gandhi stating that I was working to the Nehru family. After all, enjoying the show. He said he had on a book on the Mountbattens and Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru’s felt embarrassed throughout would like to see Nehru’s papers. father, was an iconic figure and a because the legs of the dancers were She did not reply but Natwar Singh, dashing social figure while Shastri naked, and amma, the word with then the state minister for external was a struggling lower middle-class which he addressed his wife (Lalita affairs, said that I could go to the individual. I recall Indira Gandhi’s Shastri), was sitting by his side. He library and consult the letters. I remark about “middle-class living” was equally embarrassed at the could hardly believe it. When the when she visited Shastri’s residence reception hosted by Kamal Amrohi librarian placed before me a bundle to consider whether she could move in Bombay at the sets of his film, of papers in a secluded room, I there after his death. Pakeezah. Meena Kumari, then at thought my efforts had borne fruit. the peak of her career, garlanded I spent many hours sifting through Shastri was impressed with him and read out a small speech in the pile, but they proved to be English-speaking intellectuals who his praise. Before responding, he took Nehru’s letters and notes to Krishna he thought came from highly me aside and asked who the lady Menon, who got him to change educated families. Once he wrote a was. I was flabbergasted and told JANATA, July 15, 2012 15 him that she was Meena Kumari, the meeting to condole the death of L.N. in a state completely devoid of leading film star in the country. He Mishra (the rail minister killed in a fundamental rights, freedom of began his speech in Hindi—”Meena bomb attack in Samastipur), “Even speech and expression. The judiciary Kumari ji mujhe maaf karein”—for if I were to be killed, they would say would have to function accordingly. admitting that he had heard her name that I myself had got it done.” Mishra “Then why did you hold elections?” for the first time in his life. was a dear friend. He rang me up at I asked Sanjay. He didn’t, he said. midnight before going to Samastipur He was opposed to it to the very Lord Mountbatten that he had handed his resignation end. It was his mother’s doing. “You to her personally. He sadly remarked should ask her,” he said. By then Why August 15, 1947? that he’d be killed at Samastipur and Indira Gandhi reappeared at the put down the phone. It proved to be porch, probably wondering what we The process of division (of the true. He was murdered at were discussing, but then rapidly country) was clumsy and hurried, Samastipur the following day. The retraced her steps. particularly when Mountbatten murder mystery has not been advanced the date from June 3, 1948 resolved to this day. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to August 15, 1947. Why did he do this?…(His press secretary) Sanjay Gandhi Making of a Terrorist Campbell-Johnson told me that Mountbatten selected August 15 Emergency Forever It was Sanjay Gandhi, known for because it was the day when the his extra-constitutional methods, who Japanese surrendered to the Allies, Sanjay had heard about the book suggested that some ‘sant’ should be ending the Second World War. Some I was writing. Strangely, he asked put up to challenge the Akali British Foreign Office hands me not to include any part of our government. Both Sanjay and Zail disagreed with this reasoning. Their conversation. I have, however, no Singh, particularly the latter, knew argument was that Mountbatten was obligation after his death and am how the former Punjab chief lobbying for a more senior position therefore disclosing the gist of our minister Pratap Singh Kairon had in the Royal Navy and did not want conversation for the first time. The fought the Akalis. He had built up his appointment in India to block his first question I asked Sanjay was Sant Fateh Singh against Master aspiration. When I checked with how he thought that they would get Tara Singh, the Akali leader who had Mountbatten himself, he said he had away with it: the Emergency, the become a hard nut to crack…. As to change the date because he could authoritarian rule, and the rest? He Sanjay’s friend Kamal Nath, a not hold the country together. “Things said there was no challenge to them member of Parliament, recalled: were slipping from my hands,” he and that they could have carried on “The first one we interviewed did not said repeatedly. “The Sikhs were up with the Emergency for at least 20 look a ‘courageous type’. in arms in the Punjab, the great to 25 years or more until they felt Bhindranwale, strong in tone and Calcutta killing had taken place, and confident that they had changed tenor, seemed to fit the bill. We would communal tension was prevailing all people’s ways of thinking. In their give him money off and on,” Kamal over. On top of it, there had been scheme of things, he said, there Nath reminisced, “but we never the announcement that the British would have been no elections and thought he would turn into a were leaving. Therefore, I myself they would have ruled from Delhi, terrorist.” decided to quit sooner.…” “This was with the help of provincial satraps not to the liking of Lord Attlee,” like Bansi Lal from Haryana and Dr Rajendra Prasad Mountbatten added, “but he had like-minded bureaucrats in other given me full powers.” states. It would have been a different Ms Lazarus from South kind of governance, with power Lalit Narayan Mishra centralised in Delhi. In the scheme The prime minister and the home of Sanjay’s rule, there was no minister jointly decided on the final Death Foretold Congress leader of eminence and list (of Padma awardees). The experience. Anyone who wanted to President, who authorised the She (Indira Gandhi) realised her be part of the form of governance gazette notification, rarely amended credibility was low; she said at a he was contemplating had to believe the list. However, Dr Rajendra R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 15, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012 Posted on every Wedenesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 Prasad, the then president, made an belong to a significant period of our editor, requesting me to have tea at exception on one occasion. He added national struggle. There was no his house. He held no government ‘Miss Lazarus from the south’ in his money in Azad’s bank, nor was there office then. We three, including his own hand to the list. We in the ministry any at home. Significantly, another wife, sat on the floor and sipped worked hard to find out who she was. Muslim cabinet minister, Rafi Ahmed tea....They had very little furniture There was an educationist by that Kidwai, too died penniless. The fact and no servant....His wife was a name in Chennai and we informed that these Muslim ministers had no struggling dancer seeking to gain her about the award of the assets spoke a great deal about the recognition. When he requested me Padmashri. However, when the list integrity of nationalist Muslims. to give her publicity, I realised why went back to Dr Prasad, he wrote he had invited me. I met the same that she was a nurse and returned the Pranab Mukherjee Mukherjee some years later during list. His adc informed us that she had Emergency. His house exuded treated him when he fell ill travelling Austerity to Opulence opulence...the sitting room was by road from Vijayawada to cluttered with stylish furniture, plush Hyderabad. We were eventually able I recall his phone call to the carpets and sparkling silver. He was to locate her, and that year two ladies Statesman when I was resident then commerce minister. with the name Lazarus received the award.

Maulana Azad

The Man We All Loved Rural India Focus

I have often told Pakistanis that PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE Indian Muslims paid the price for MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT constituting the new country. Helpless and abandoned, Muslims in India recalled Maulana Azad’s warnings that after Partition their importance ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH would be reduced to nothing. They HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS AT TARA, HOSPITAL, rallied around him but it was too late. PANVEL TARA, PANVEL Hindus maintained a streak of respect for him, no matter how angry they YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY AND YOU were with Muslims in general. This 10 to 15 eye operations are performed was clear when he died on February There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded 22, 1958. A ceaseless queue of non- healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. Muslims flowed into his house to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL through the night to pay respects. I become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS was one of them. Nehru himself support the cause by donating to our various initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 selected the site for Azad’s burial near Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 Jama Masjid. Azad had left behind STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and piles and piles of books and papers maintain, conduct extra-curricular It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building which I tried to access in vain. I finally expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. located the papers over 40 years ago the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka. in a trunk in the custody of the family Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, of Ajmal Khan, Azad’s private D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or secretary. I wish someone would Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] Mumbai 400 007 retrieve them because the papers

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 26 July 22, 2012

Dedicated Socialist Mamata caves in S. Viswam A dead civil society Kuldip Nayar Pension for the elderly Rajindar Sachar Democracy and the Left in Asia D. K. Giri The information warriors Harsh Mander Performance of Public Sector and Disinvestment K. S. Chalam Model Political Leader Amarendra Dhaneshwar A True and Humane Socialist Singh ‘Paaniwali bai’ Meena Menon

Editor : G. G. Parikh Managing Editor : Guddi D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg, Mumbai - 400 007. Mrinal Gore Email : [email protected] June 24, 1928 – July 17, 2012 2 JANATA, July 22, 2012 Highlights of Report on MPs and MLAs voting in Presidential Elections 2012

National Election Watch has 335089 votes out of 1089287 In terms of Percentage, among analyzed the affidavits submitted to state assemblies, Goa has the highest the Election Commission of India Among state assemblies, based percentage of crorepatis voters (ECI) of 772 out of 776 MPs and on the number of tainted MLAs, the with 92% or (37 out of 40 MLAs 4063 out of 4120 MLAs (a total of maximum number of tainted votes analyzed) followed by Punjab 4835 out of 4896) in all the states are from Uttar Pradesh which has with 86% (101 out of 117 MLAs of India which forms the Electoral 39312 out of 83824 votes analyzed analyzed) and Haryana with 72% (65 College. (189 out of 403 MLAs), followed out of 90 MLAs analyzed) crorepatis by Maharashtra with 25550 out of voters. As per the ECI, a total of 1098882 50225 votes analyzed (146 out of votes can be cast in the Presidential 287 MLAs) and Bihar with 24047 As per the data from ECI, out Elections. out of 41693 votes analyzed (139 out of the total 4896 MPs/MLAs who of 241 MLAs) who have declared are entitled to vote in the upcoming Based on the number of votes criminal cases. these 4835 MPs/MLAs can cast, Presidential Elections, only 418 or 9% are women. NEW & ADR has analysed 1089287 In terms of percentage of tainted votes out the total 109882 votes. votes, among state assemblies, Based on the number of votes the Jharkhand has the highest % of Out of the 4835 MPs/MLAs MPs/MLAs are entitled to vote, the tainted votes with 74% or 10560 analyzed, 1448 members or 31 % total number of women votes is 10% out of 14256 votes (60 out 81 MLAs have declared criminal cases against or 113145 out of 1098882 votes. analyzed) followed by Bihar with them in a self sworn affidavit filed 58% or 24047 out of 41693 votes with the ECI before their most recent Among MPs, Lok Sabha has 11% (139 out of 241 MLAs analyzed) elections. or 41772 votes out of 384444 from and Maharashtra with 51% or 25550 59 women MPs and Rajya Sabha has Out of these 1448 voters who out of 50225 votes (146 out of 287 10% or 16284 out of 164964 from have declared criminal cases, 641 analyzed). 23 women MPs. MPs/MLAs have declared serious criminal cases like rape, murder, A total of 2322 out of 4835 Among State assemblies, West MPs/MLAs analyzed i.e. 48% are attempt to murder, kidnapping, Bengal has the maximum amount crorepatis as per their self sworn robbery, extortion, etc. of women votes with 12231 votes affidavits. Based on the number of out of 44394 (34 out of 294 MLAs), votes these crorepatis MPs/MLAs There are 6 MPs/MLAs who followed by Uttar Pradesh with 6656 are entitled to cast, a total of 54% have declared rape charges in their votes out of 83824(32 out of 403 or 585918 out of 1089287 votes self sworn affidavits submitted MLAs) and Bihar with 5882 votes analyzed are of MPs/MLAs who are to the ECI at the time of filing out of 42039 (34 out of 243 MLAs). their nomination. There are 141 crorepatis. MPs/MLAs who have declared In terms of percentage, among Amongst state assemblies, Uttar murder charges, 352 have declared state assemblies, the highest attempt to murder charges, 145 Pradesh has the maximum number percentage of Women votes is from have declared theft charges, 90 have of crorepati votes with 56368 out Bihar with 14% (34 out of 243 declared kidnapping charges and 75 of 83824 votes analyzed followed MLAs) followed by Rajasthan with have declared dacoity charges. by Maharashtra with 34650 out of 50225 votes analyzed and Andhra 14% (28 out of 200 MLAs) women These tainted MPs/MLAs are Pradesh with 25308 out of 42772 votes and West Bengal with 12% (34 entitled to cast a total of (31%) or votes analyzed. out of 294 MLAs). JANATA, July 22, 2012 3 Dedicated Socialist

India’s Socialist movement, already on shaky legs, Congress party. Mrinal, who identified herself with the suffered a grievous blow on Tuesday with the passing Janata Party/Janata Dal after her spells with the two major away of one of its veterans, Mrinal Gore, at her daughter’s Socialist groupings of that period, could have had any home in Vasai, Thane district, off Mumbai. Mrinal was official and/or ministerial position of her choice, but she among the handful of dedicated and inspired activists chose to remain an activist in the field leading masses- who had made Socialism their life mission. The ranks backed public campaigns to secure the rights of the of such dedicated Socialists is unfortunately thinning, common people. In Mumbai, which was her home, she and for this reason alone her death, at a time when she will be remembered for her yeomen work in many fields, continued to remain active and engaged in public service, but particularly as one who successfully campaigned will be widely mourned. She was part of a movement to bring drinking water to Goregaon, the suburb where which had attracted to its ranks a number of women who she lived with her husband Keshav Gore, also a political contributed to it handsomely by championing causes that were of immediate and pressing public relevance activist who unfortunately died at a very young age, for like clean drinking water, affordable prices, housing and which feat she was popularly known as “Paniwali Bai”. women’s empowerment. She was thus a contemporary In her death, it is not the Socialist movement alone that of women leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali, Ahalyabai has suffered. It is a loss for the entire country. She leaves Rangnekar and Pramila Dandavate, who had become a void difficult to fill. “Janata” dips its banner in salute to household names throughout the country in the pre-and a woman who toiled for the people and made their cause post-independence era. Indeed, she was among the more her own, and whose life and political career are bound to notable among the large group of Socialist politicians be an inspiration to the younger generation. The nation’s who were in the quest for a viable alternative to the sympathies will go to her family in this hour of their grief. Mamata caves in

It is largely her own fault that the volte-face by India’s first citizen. While her decision is welcome for West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress many reasons, the manner in which she announced it and leader Mamata Banerjee in deciding to vote for the the language in which she couched it was, to say the least, UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee and the crass and graceless. To say that it was a painful decision, vice-presidential candidate Hamid Ansari is seen as that it was taken with a “sad and heavy heart” and that her political humiliation engendered by her last-minute “alliance compulsions” left her no choice does not reflect capitulation to UPA pressure. She has adduced, what in well on her political maturity. Indeed, considering that her eyes, are “cogent” reasons for her change of heart the Congress had informally made it clear to her that and mind. She has claimed that all options other than either a no-vote or abstention would result in her forced a pro-UPA vote were closed to her because her own exit from the UPA coalition, she was left with no choice nominees for the high offices declined to contest. Also but to yield. She could have demonstrated goodwill on that abstention from voting would have meant the waste the occasion. Instead, she has tried to retain her image of the TMC votes which were substantial, as her party is the largest single constituent of the ruling coalition after as the stormy petrel of the alliance. Even so, her last the Congress. But these are not as cogent as she makes minute gesture of support to the UPA will undoubtedly out. She could have still exercised the option of voting strengthen the Prime Minister’s hands, even if that was against the UPA choices or abstained. If she chickened not her real intention. The UPA’s the stronger for her out, it was largely because she was unsure of the voting U-turn, but whether the strength acquired at her expense loyalties of her party members, she was politically is likely to be durable or transient, will again depend on isolated, and she ran the distinct risk of alienating large her and her mercurial temperament. On the positive side, sections of West Bengal people who were bound to bask it has ensured the smooth electoral successes of Pranabda in the glory of a Bhadra Lok representative becoming and Hamid Ansari. On balance, it is a noteworthy gain. –S. Viswam 4 JANATA, July 22, 2012

Between the lines A dead civil society

Kuldip Nayar

In Parwan province, north of forbids women from going to the cricketing ties. Retired players on Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, a bars. In Assam, a legislative assembly both sides should voice their protest gunman shoots a woman dead to woman is beaten mercilessly because against those who are trying to the delight of wild crowd. Taliban she marries a Muslim. A nine-year- sabotage the series that may make had held her guilty of ‘adultery’ old girl is killed when a member even the Pakistani authorities sit up in a Kangaroo court. Hundreds of winning the corporation election and ponder over the court’s rejection women dared them and came out fires at random to celebrate his of the judicial commission’s report on to the streets in support of the victory. on 26/11. The tragedy is that the murdered woman. right thinking people choose to All these incidents may seem keep quiet and leave everything to More or less at the same time and unconnected and taking place far the government which has its own at the same distance from India’s from Afghanistan. Still they have policies. capital, New Delhi, a Muslim village the same pattern of irresponsibility in UP gives women the Taliban-type and the same ruthlessness that The question that the Indians diktat not to go to the market without has distinguished Taliban from have to ask themselves is: Has civil escort, not to use mobile phones and other terrorists. The former want society become effete because it is not to have a love marriage. In this to register their cruelty beyond afraid of being targeted or is it a case, there is no protest and even comparison. victim of the Taliban-type culture politicians prefer to keep quiet. where the people has effaced the Indian civil society, the thinking Instead, a Khap, a combination of thin line between right and wrong, 35 panchayats, endorses the furman segment of the nation, remains moral and immoral? Whatever (order) while the Supreme Court quiet. There is no evidence of the answer, the fundamentalists wants some action against the Khap. its unhappiness, much less any cannot escape the blame. They are demonstration. People shrug their Something more shocking and shoulders and put the entire blame brainwashing young men in the scandalous happens at Guwahati, on the government. The elite does name of religion and they are the where a 17-year-old girl is molested not mention such incidents in their ones who, in turn, are hijacking the in public. A local television channel drawing rooms lest they should society. Even those who feel that telecasts the incident the whole day spoil the mood of over-dressed, there is victimization of women or long. The editor and the reporter over-fed class. The media reports the marginalized, keep quiet lest they of the channel resign when their some incidents but does not pursue should become unpopular in the eyes complicity becomes public. The them except Arnab Goswami, who is of fundamentalists. They do not dare police is late to act and so is Assam relentless in exposing such horrors to join issue with either a maulvi, a chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The and dwelling on them. pandit or a granthi. National Commission for Women tarries behind at Delhi until the media By announcing that it is against Civil society all over the world points a finger at its indifference. The the cricket series between India and represents the nation’s conscience. senior superintendent of police is Pakistan this December, the Shiv True, it is invariably lost in its own merely transferred after the demand Sena has again shown its same old doubts, ifs and buts, but it does assert by the academicians. bias. This organization is like any itself at times. They are the ones who other set of fundamentalists who have to call a spade a spade. If they Not long ago, girls in Pune are out to pollute the atmosphere of do not—and invariably they don’t— were asked by the self-appointed amity. Some similar organizations they harm the cause and encourage custodians of morality not to wear and individuals may adversely the wrong-doers. Their silence is the jeans. In Mumbai, a similar force react to resuming India-Pakistan loss of society. JANATA, July 22, 2012 5

I have seen that civil society, over the years, has become insensitive. Pension for the elderly Even the slightest wrong used to It’s no charity, but human right create furor but now it does not care as if cruelty has become part Rajindar Sachar of living. When pushed or cajoled, a segment of society expresses itself but it goes back to its inactivity and It is a truism, though painful, that the organized sector added less than slumber when it should be in the field the Central government’s priorities 0.3 per cent workers annually to the all the time. True, the government in fiscal matters are determined workforce while the GDP of the should be more vigilant and prompt by the perceived sensitivities of country more than doubled with an but it has got into the habit of making the foreign and Indian corporate laws and leaving at that. That is the annual rate of more than 7.55 sector and the richer class rather reason that on sees the law is more per cent. It is clear that much of the violated than adhered to. than the urgent and humanitarian contribution to this growth came considerations for the poor and from the workers in the unorganized Martin Luther King has said: old citizens of India. How I wish sector. But unlike the organized The day you see the truth being that instead the government was to sector, workers in the unorganized challenged and you do not speak show urgent attention to the plight sector do arduous manual labour out is the day when you begin to of about 10 crore elderly people (8 often in the most difficult physical die. This is probably too high an per cent of the Indian population, circumstances and without adequate expectation in a society which is with 1/6th of them living without nutrition and rest. Forcing them then too absorbed in making money by any family support). No doubt, under to work beyond the age of 55, in hook or by crook. Yet it is the duty the Central government’s pension order to survive, amounts to a form of every person to preserve the scheme, persons above the age of 60 of punishment. The demand for old fundamental values of a democratic get a pension of Rs. 200 and those age pension is thus not a demand for society. He or she must display a above 80 years Rs. 500 per month, charity but a demand for recognition degree of vigilance and willingness but this is applicable to those below of their contribution to the economy, to sacrifice. Without the awareness the poverty line. The uncertainly is and the need-based constitutional of what is right and a desire to act increased by the ever-fluctuating principles which are to be applied. according to what is right, there may determination by the government As Chief Justice of India S. H. be no realization of what is wrong. of what should be the poverty level; Kapadia has expounded in Human pensions vary in different states — The role by human rights activists Rights Year-Book 2011. Delhi paying a maximum of Rs. is commendable. Thousands of them 1000 per month while others like are working at the grassroots level “What is the need-based approach? Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, etc, only Rs. throughout the country and facing Supposing there is no statute but the 200 per month. the wrath of extremists on the one right to life is involved, is it open hand and the repressive authorities Of the total elderly population, to the defence to say tight resource, on the other. The successes of only 1.97 crore are beneficiaries of financial crunch? The answer is ‘no’ activists may be limited as compared because the right to life is there in to their failures but the nation IGNOAPS, which means that only about one in every five persons over Article 21 of the Constitution and should be grateful to them because the defence cannot toll the bell of civil society is complacent and the 60 years receives old-age pension. tight resource. Take the case of food government-sponsored bodies are on security. Two out of five people are the side of the political party which Employment-linked pensions appoints them. The truth has strayed are restricted to the elderly in the below poverty line, and if pension is from the path of righteousness. The organized sector or to those who are to be paid to them, the government activists alone are trying to retrieve among the rich and upper middle cannot say I have no money. Now the situation but with very little class categories. But the groups that this is what I mean by revisiting success. Civil society has to put are most in need of old age pension welfare rights. And that is where if its act together and speak out to be are largely in the unorganized sector. enforceability is there the rule of law counted. Between the year 2000 and 2010, will prevail.” 6 JANATA, July 22, 2012

The insensitive and negative continuing to be near starvation line. Laureate Joseph Stiglitz — “The approach of various state theory of trickle-down economics governments and the Central Another callous indifference of is a lie”. government to the plight of five crore the government is shown by the people in the unorganized sector fact that though all government According to the ILO’s 2010-11 in the construction industry would contracts provide for the contractor World Social Security Report, the show the government’s anti-poor to make temporary but proper ILO’s new recommendation on face, especially in the way they have accommodation for the construction social protection sets nationally dealt with the report of the Justice labour at the site, it is common defined guarantees aimed at V. R. Krishna Iyer Committee given knowledge that contractors mixed universal access to minimum income decades back. up with dishonest inspectors do security, especially during old age, nothing of the kind — forcing and that such guarantees are a human One of the key recommendation female workers to use open toilets right and an ethical imperative of and which on paper has even been and leaving children to the vagaries governments. How can the Central accepted by the Government of India of weather with no shelters built. A government remain silent? (but it has persistently refused to simple solution is for the government enforce) is about the manner in which itself to provide these facilities and Governments cannot negate the the scheme of contribution by the adjust funds at present being given claim for pensions for the old by employer along with a contribution to the contractors. In spite of protests pleading that development has to take by employee is to operate. by workers, nothing has moved — precedence over poverty reduction. probably, the contractor-inspector This is a specious argument that Now as construction industry nexus is all powerful. shows that poverty is a long-term worker is a migrant and has problem and that current deficits necessarily to be on the move The Central government has represent a short-term emergency, for finding employment, it was unapologetically announced many that poverty can wait but deficits accepted by the government that concessions for the corporate sector cannot. This is muddle-headed the contribution of the employer and and the rich with the shameful thinking. To reduce and eliminate the employee will be deposited in claim that prosperity so generated massive absolute poverty lies at a computerized bank account with will move down and improve the the very core of development itself. a specific identity number for each condition of the poor. This is a false It is critical to the survival of any individual workman. This was so claim as given in a warning by Noble democratic and decent society. decided because construction labour being migratory, with the result that if a new account was to be opened every A public hearing ! time with separate employers, his past accumulation was in danger of "We condemn the undemocratic public hearing. The EIA report becoming irrecoverable. So, the way and farcical manner in which the should be translated in the local suggested was that each employer authorities in Haryana are conducting language and must be distributed will deposit his contribution in a the important public hearing on freely to the village bodies and fixed numbered identity account the environmental impacts of the concerned individuals of the area. given to the employee, and which proposed Gorakhpur Nuclear Power will be honoured by all banks Plant (GNPP) on 17th July 2012. However, the people of 6 anywhere in the country. But, this panchayats in Fatehabad districts not having been done, the result This public hearing is an important who will be affected by this project is that at least Rs 5000 crore of step under the MOEF guidelines have not received the copies of the the Employees’ Provident Fund to provide an opportunity to the EIA so far. While the notice for is lying in banks but has not been project affected people to raise their the EIA hearing was sent to the disbursed to the workers because the objections. According to the rules, village panchayats (elected local government has not yet allotted them the local people should be given the governance bodies) on June 16th, their identity account numbers. The Environmental Impact Assessment 2012, the EIA report was made result is that lakhs of workers are (EIA) report 1 month prior to the (Continued on Page 13) JANATA, July 22, 2012 7

Mrinal Gore

Amarendra Dhaneshwar

Mrinal Gore, the veteran socialist in love with Keshav aka Bandu call of her constituents. Her rise to leader, passed away on Tuesday, Gore and they set up a home in popularity was due to her constant 17th July at the ripe age of 84. Goregaon , a suburb of Mumbai, touch with her constituents and She was ailing for a long time and which became a centre for socialist their problems. Once Lohia visited was out of action due to old age political activity for the next five Goregaon for a political rally. He related illness, but her passion decades. The Topiwala Bunglow was amazed to see women walking for the downtrodden remained in Goregaon was a place which long distances for a potful of water undimmed till the last breath. The was frequented by stalwarts of the and expressed his anguish at the sea of humanity in mourning next socialist movement like Jayaprakash situation. This inspired Mrinal to morning at Goregaon which was her Narayan, Rammanohar Lohia, resort to agitation for a steady Karmabhoomi testified to the trust Acharya Narendra Deva and later supply of water. She organized that people had in her commitment generation leaders like Rajnarain, satyagrahas, gheraos and all kinds to their cause. Madhu Dandvate, George Fernandes of peaceful yet militant agitations and Surendra Mohan. to focus the attention of the civic Mrinal Gore was a model political authorities and to compel them to leader in the sense that she rose from Mrinal Gore was elected to the initiate ameliorative steps. This the Panchayat level to the Lok Sabha gram panchayat and her legislative earned her the epithet ‘Paaniwali by dint of sheer merit, hard work career began at the grass root level. Bai’ and her appeal spread among and sound common sense. She was At a time when family planning all linguistic and social groups in the a quintessential Bombayite who was was a word that evoked horror, suburbs of Bombay. born and brought up in Khar which she actively canvassed for family is a suburb of the metropolis. Mrinal planning among women. She lost Mrinal Gore and her team which belonged to the Kayastha family and her husband Keshav Gore at a consisted of senior leaders like P, was drawn to the Rashtra Seva Dal very young age. Her husband’s B. Samant, Kamal Desai, Mukund which was active during the Quit premature demise strengthened her Ganesh Naik, Vasant Phalnikar India movement of 1942. Leaders of resolve to dedicate herself nursed the constituency and were the Quit Inida movement like Yusuf completely to political work for thus able to put up a tough fight Meherally, Achyut Patwardhan, S the underprivileged sections of when the Indira wave swept across M Joshi as well as young firebrand society. When the Praja Socialist the country. In 1972, when the cadres like Madhu Limaye, Keshav Party split in 1955, Mrinal joined assembly elections were held in Gore and others inspired Mrinal the faction led by Rammanohar the aftermath of the Bangladesh Gore to join the anti-imperialist Lohia. ‘Socialist Party’ had initially war she was the only opposition struggle. Later on, after the British kept itself aloof from the Samyukta candidate to win from the entire relaxed the restrictions in 1945, the Maharashtra movement and paid the city of Bombay. Mrinal entered the leaders were released. The Rasthra price. Later on that party too joined assembly and made a deep impact Seva Dal camp held at Umbergaon the bandwagon. Mrinal was elected with her superlative performance in the Thane district in 1945 was to the Municipal Corporation in as a legislator and political leader. addressed by Madhu Limaye and 1961 together with Geroge Fernades Mrinal exposed many scandals others and that was the turning who was elected from the Kalbadevi like the Vadkhal Naka incident point for Mrinal. She had enrolled constituency. Both of them, along which had raised suspicions about herself in a collkage to become a with Shobhnath Singh, fought for the involvement of a Minister in medical practitioner but gave up the use of Marathi in the corporation smuggling and also raised important the prospects of a lucrative career affairs and created a history of sorts. issues. She combined her legislative in order to dedicate herself to full Mrinal was an active corporator work with street agitations over time political work. Mrinal fell who was always at the beck and issues like price rise, employment 8 JANATA, July 22, 2012 guarantee scheme, atrocities on by inspiring and organizing defeat, she plunged into political dalits and women, and supply and satyagrahas, meetings and helping movements and pursued the availability of water to all sections to publish bulletins and posters. She cement scandal to the logical end of the rural society. She was at was arrested in December 1975 and which persuaded the Bombay High the forefront of the anti-price rise was singled out for shabby treatment Court to hold the then Chief Minister movement: gheroing ministers, by the authorities. Her underground A. R. Antulay guilty of corruption. taking out morchas wielding the work evoked image of Aruna Asaf Mrinal Gore also began a movement rolling pin and became a virtual Ali who was the heroine of the Quit for low cost housing by providing symbol of the woman power. Her India movement. the government land at a cheap simple style of living and her use of price under the then Urban Land public transport like the suburban She won the 1977 Lok Sabha Ceiling Act. Her prolonged fast railway was not merely an image election with a margin of over won the battle for the lower middle building exercise. It was a genuine 2,77,000 votes and was at the height class people and the Nagari Nivara attempt to connect with common of her popularity. As a member of project became a reality. Mrinal people. Parliament she championed the Gore was elected to the Maharashtra cause of political detenus forcing assembly and became the leader of Mrinal Gore, thanks to her image the Morarji government to withdraw the opposition in the state assembly. and her dedication, was one of the the preventive detention bill and also Her appeal cut across party lines. topmost names tickmarked for the freedom of religion bill which She unsuccessfully contested early detention during the infamous was inspired by the Sangh parivar the 1989 Lok Sabha election but emergency of 1975. She addressed to harass the Christian community. continued to remain active and the rally at Hutatma Chowk on 26th lend her voice to the grievances of June 1975 together with Acharya She sided with the Madhu the people rendered homeless and Kripalani and S K Patil and went into Limaye, George Fernades and jobless by the apparently triumphant hiding immediately. She managed to Rajnarain faction and was labelled a forces of liberalization and market remain underground for six months ‘traitor’ and a splitter which cost her driven capitalism. Mrinal Gore’s and led the anti-emergency struggle membership of Lok Sabha during life and immense contribution will against Indira Gandhi’s dictatorship the 1980 elections. Undeterred by inspire many future generations.

A True and Humane Socialist Prem Singh General Secretary, Socialist Party (India)

The passing away of Mrinal Gore, Mumbai North with a huge margin. banned sex-selective abortions by popularly known as Mrinaltai and She was among one of the founders making a law in 1986. She was a ‘paniwali bai’, is a great loss to the of the Socialist Party after India’s great advocate of gender equality, socialist movement, particularly independence. She contested her first women’s rights and inter-caste in this era of corporate capitalism. assembly election as a candidate of marriage. She herself chose inter- She was motivated by deep human the Socialist Party and won. caste marriage with the prominent concerns during her long political socialist leader Keshav Gore. Mrinal Gore launched a unique struggle. Born in 1928 and trained movement, with public participation, in the Rashtra Seva Dal, Mrinal Mrinal Gore played an important for water in Mumbai and became Gore was elected to the Maharashtra popular as ‘paniwali bai’. She was role in reviving the Socialist Party Legislative Assembly twice. She particularly sensitive to the issues/ on 28 May 2011 in Hyderabad. opposed the emergency and had to problems faced by and related to She offered her full support to the remain underground for a period women. Mrinal Gore, in her second idea, attended all meetings held in of time. Later she was arrested and term in the Maharashtra Legislative Mumbai in this connection, and she put in jail. In the 1977 elections Assembly, raised the issue of female has been a source of inspiration for she won the Parliament seat of foeticide. As a result, the government the Socialist Party cadres. JANATA, July 22, 2012 9 ‘Paaniwali bai’ had great love for people, passion for causes

Meena Menon

In her later years, her feet bandaged life. In 1983, Mrunaltai founded causes, and a level of commitment thickly in white, Mrunal Gore was Swadhar which worked with women that few had. The kind of value-based a familiar sight in Goregaon west, who were victims of violence and politics she promoted is no more. the leafy Mumbai suburb, where she provided counselling and legal help. She was our heroine,” Ms. Patkar lived most of her life. But people will As an MLA, she moved a private added. She had called Mrunaltai last remember her more for her feisty member’s bill to ban sex-selective on her birthday on June 24, and her battles for water even before she was abortions, and her speech was one of mother is Mrunaltai’s classmate and elected corporator in 1961, and her the best in the Assembly. “After that, very close friend. noisy “rolling pin” anti-price-rise most MLAs accepted the fact that marches, where women protested female foeticide had to be banned,” Despite her ill-health — by beating rolling pins against steel recalls R. P. Ravindra, social activist. she survived breast cancer and plates. Born in 1928, Gore set aside Mrunaltai played a big role in the suffered from diabetes for 25 years a career in medicine inspired by the State government, moving a ban — Mrunaltai displayed a keen Rashtra Seva Dal, and later left it to against sex-selective abortions in interest in current affairs, and even form the Socialist Party. She married 1986. sustained a visit from her foe, Union Keshav Gore in 1948, an inter-caste Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, marriage, and had a daughter. The Much of the issues she engaged just before the municipal corporation couple were committed to social with in her youth remained with her elections in Mumbai. She attended justice, and also became part of the till the end. She fought the price a gathering of all anti-Narmada dam Samyukta Maharashtra movement. rise fiercely, championed women’s activists in May in Mumbai, and was active till the end. Mrunaltai was the Keshav passed away in 1958, and issues, and was a firm believer in last of the old warhorses to whom after that Mrunaltai continued his reservation for women in political common people could turn to, in a social work under the Keshav Gore life, as also low-cost housing. city where so many of the things she Smarak Trust. She was a source of inspiration fought for remain elusive till today and guidance to Medha Patkar in to the ordinary citizen. She will be She was elected to the the heyday of the anti-Narmada remembered as the “paaniwali bai” Maharashtra Legislative Assembly dam movement and Ms. Patkar in her trademark white sari with a on the Socialist Party ticket in 1972, remembers her role with gratitude. dark border, and her infinite charm and later on in 1985 on the Janata She even visited the fasting Ms. and dignity will forever grace her Party ticket. She also made it to Patkar at Ferkuva on the Gujarat memory. Parliament with a huge number of border, in what was a watershed –The Hindu votes after the elections were held event of the anti-dam movement. post-Emergency, where she was Talking toThe Hindu, Ms. Patkar forced to go underground before said that for Mrunaltai, the personal Madhu Dandavate her arrest. Mrunaltai related to the was political. “She was emotionally By common person and her empathy committed to everything, and she B. Vivekanandan for women’s issues and problems was a gem of a person, she stood gave her a huge following. Since the with us all the time and she was so Price: Rs. 20/- 1950s, she, along with Tara Reddy moved by the plight of the tribals.” Janata Trust of the Communist Party of India and D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Ahilya Rangnekar of the Communist Ms. Patkar also recalled her Naushir Bharucha Marg, Party of India (Marxist) formed a skills as a mediator who could Grant Road (W), striking triumvirate who fought on achieve what she wanted without Mumbai 400 007. the side of the people, at a time when compromising on anything.” She few women were seen in public had great love for people, passion for 10 JANATA, July 22, 2012 Democracy and the Left in Asia

D. K. Giri

I was invited as a Resource person had to begin by briefly introducing representative to participatory to to the IUSY World Festival that was India in order to set the scene. India inclusive democracy. The latest held at Europacamp, Attersee, near is the largest democracy in the world trend emphasizes that the weak and Salzburg, in Austria, on the 25th-31st with a population of 1.21 billion the marginalized have to be enabled of July 2011. International Union people; 50 per cent of whom are in to participate and included in the of Socialist Youth (IUSY), with a the age group of 1-25 years. India process. membership from 148 countries, has 30 different languages and 2000 is kind of a youth wing of Socialist dialects and all the religions of the The second concept in the topic International. The aim of the World world. India is muti-ethnic, mutli- is Left. This is problematic. The Festival is to “gather 2500 young caste (and sub-castes), a very diverse Left is popularly understood as political activists from all over the country by most parameters. It is Communists and their variants world to shape new politics”. It offers regarded as a successful democracy – Leninists, Stalinists, Maoists, a high-profile platform for political by many although critics argue about Trotskytes, Castroists – what is youth leaders and policy experts to the nature and substance of Indian meant here by Left is us, the Social map out their progressive vision for democracy, especially when they Democrats. I would like to call the future. The World Festival has compare it with other democracies ourselves Centre-Left, and make a long tradition and is the highlight in the world. a clear and emphatic distinction for IUSY, its member organizations from Communists, because any and all the young people, who come I moved on then to the main topic association with the Communists to meet new friends, have fun and - Democracy and the Left in Asia. lends us an ultra-radical image discuss politics. There are three words or concepts which is out of tune with our times. in the topic, each of which needs I also believe that Swedish, French Political focus of the World to be put in the perspective, in fact, and Italian Socialist parties have Festival in Austria was Equality, each requires a short explanation paid a heavy electoral price for which “we believe must be core before we discuss the whole topic. associating with Communists. of social democracy in the 21st Democracy is a universal value and The third concept is Asia. Is it a century – a time where change is aspiration. But it has no standard geographical, cultural or political needed and possible”. The year definition. It is not a complete category? That is debatable. Gunnar 2011 was a historical year for Social structure; rather a political-system- Myrdal, a Swedish economist in Democracy in Austria since it was at-work. There are several kinds of his famous book “Asian Drama”, the 100th anniversary of Bruno democracy. But we need to identify describes and defines Asia. For Kreisky. SPÖ and SJÖ, the socialist the organizing principles and the our purpose, we take Asia as a youth organizations of Austria were political philosophy underpinning geographical entity. Asia consists hosting the World Festival 2011 in any democracy in the world. The of 35, by some calculations 45 commemoration of Bruno Kreisky basic principles of democracy countries. It occupies 8.7 per cent and the values of international are equality, freedom, and of world’s area, and 60 per cent solidarity that led him and his time of constitutionally guaranteed rights. of its population. It is divided into social democrats just as they lead us Equality among citizens means all South Asia, South East Asia, East today. The World Festival therefore citizens have equal right and the Asia, West Asia or Middle-East and had the theme “We know where we opportunity to participate in the Central Asia. come from – We know where we political process; the citizens have are Going.” the sovereign right to choose their No region in the world exhibits leaders, systems and procedures, greater variations in regimes than My task was to deliver a lecture to and have the choice to do so. It is does Asia. Before we identify the the Festival on the “Role of the Left another matter that the procedure Asiatic characteristics of democracy in promoting Democracy in Asia. I in a democracy has evolved from and the role of Social Democrats, let’s JANATA, July 22, 2012 11 have a survey of types of democracy from capital and labour intensive of poverty. But, politically, it has in Asia. In fact, we have two stable to information and technology been an authoritarian state; some 5 democracies in Asia – Japan and intensive. The latter will spread to 12 thousand political dissidents India. We have a Communist awareness and build networks. (v) have been executed every year. It dictatorship in China, although it In most Asian countries there is has forced the internet providers like pursues a free market economy. We an increasing awareness of human Google, Microsoft, etc. to impose have new democracies in Taiwan rights. (vi) The emergence and self-censorship. Internet police has and South Korea; transitional broadening of the middle class blocked words like democracy, democracies in Bangladesh, Sri and the activism of civil society human rights, Falungong, and June Lanka, Philippines, Thailand and and its organizations can spark 4 (1989) Tiananmen Square. On Nepal. We have stagnant and political change in conjunction with the other hand the civil society is isolated polities like North Korea sympathizing section of leadership. rising. In 1986, there were 4500 and Burma. We have a democracy Finally, nations are less and less NGOs, by 2006; there were 300,000 destabilized in Afghanistan. We isolated from the rest of the world. NGOs or more. On any day, there have a self-confident, sustaining The interaction amongst them are 120 million rural migrants in pseudo-democracy in Singapore. through social media has been the city, ready to be mobilized for In Indonesia democracy is gaining phenomenal - in putting pressure protest action. Thus, the country ground. Democracy survives for democracy. Many observers seems ready to burst any time with in Mongolia but in most other would expect Asia to lead the global a bang for political change. There countries, regimes alternate between democratic revolution. are two undercurrents which should military and democracy. dismantle the presaent rule. One, What is the role of Social revival of religion: few systems or Now I make a proposition, Democracy in this emerging beliefs have the power to unite and a kind of hypothesis that Asia scenario? Social Democrats should motivate peoples in a common cause will determine the global fate of devise instruments to convert than religion. Two, there is a national democracy in the next 2-3 decades. cultural pluralism into political civic network necessary for a mass This is predicated on the premise pluralism and embrace democratic democratic movement. People have that the new forms of democracies deliberations over ideologies. They learnt from the failure of Tiananmen ares based on multiculturalism, have to strengthen the institutional Square. The second undercurrent pluralism, deference to authority, base in Asia, expand the issue is that economic freedom and growing economies, respect for base, promote gender equity, prosperity leads to demands for self and community-ness. These environmental awareness, and political freedom. The new middle values are found plentily in Asian stem the rise of terrorism, and class will demand to be heard and societies. In order to elaborate: (i) violence. They must make sure that to extend their choice. By 2025, A communitarian approach suggests the new democracies must deliver, Communists in China would have that the individual is important as expand societal freedom, impose ruled for 76 years exceeding Soviet a part of a group or society rather civilian control over the military and Union’s 70 years. In a few years, than the notion that the individual dismantle the national security state. there will be a new regime in China: is the centre piece of democracy more authoritarian or democratic? It and society: (ii) Greater acceptance I will end with the big question is a difficult prognosis to make. But of authority is a Asiatic political on the biggest country in Asia that going by the trends, it is not too far culture although there are adversarial is China going democratic. What when Chinese authoritarianism will positions; (iii) A dominant party are the prospects? China has shown crumble under popular uprising. leading in politics, like the Liberal what some political analysts call, Democratic Party in Japan, United “the authoritarian resilience”. China To conclude, John Keane has Malayist Nationalist Organisation in has improved its economy at a speed said in his now-famous book, “The Malaysia, the People’s Action Party and a scale that no country has Life and Death of Democracy”, in Singapore, Golkar in Indonesia done in recent times. The economic that the history of democracy and Congress in India. Nearly all growth has been around 10 per cent needs to be democratized. The Asian countries have a strong State. for the last 20 years, and some 250 journey of democracy from Athens (iv) The economy in Asia is moving million people have been lifted out (Continued on Page 13) 12 JANATA, July 22, 2012 The information warriors

Harsh Mander

The most significant governance In the middle class imagination, camaraderie altered the direction reform since Independence is what is described as “civil society of their lives forever. Among these unarguably the Right to Information activism” tends to be dominated was Ramesh, who joined hands Act of 2005. Overnight, the statute by the larger-than-life persona of a with several comrades to constitute created potentially a billion Lokpals, few well-known, highly celebrated an organisation called Lokshakti, because every citizen acquired fighters. Many, therefore, do not dedicated to carrying forward the the right to seek information and recognise the extraordinary heroism radical idea of “conscientisation” of documents from government, in of several battles for clean and fair impoverished and oppressed people. order to interrogate the integrity and governance, fought by tall “little” Building on the foundations of new- justice of official actions. warriors, with scant protection and found literacy, they tried to build even less public glory. awareness of rights for collective, But many doubted if citizens democratic resistance to injustice. would stir and organise themselves One of this multitude of faceless to actually use this right: it required combatants is Ramesh Agarwal, In 2005, Ramesh and his old the careful and tedious study intrepid middle-aged activist literacy activist partner Rajesh of government procedures and committed to struggles for justice for Tripathy, launched a separate rules, combined with patience and persons dispossessed and displaced platform called Jan Chetna Manch. persistence. However, people proved by private mining and power A number of large industrial houses the sceptics wrong. Many times companies in the forested tribal had acquired and occupied enormous more than any official oversight district Raigarh in Chhatisgarh. On tracts of forest, tribal and farm land body, ordinary citizens held local July 7, 2012, I was stunned and to establish a dense battery of coal officials to account in ways that were grieved to learn that two men armed mines, thermal power plants and unthinkable even a decade earlier. with a loaded pistol had driven ancillary industries. Rajesh and In villages and small towns across to the cyber cafe that Ramesh ran Ramesh were worried by what they the country, the law has sparked a for a living, and shot him after an believed to be the unjust, illegal and million tiny non-violent mutinies. altercation in the thigh. At the time often brutal forceful expropriation of of writing, I heard to my great relief the resources of lands and forests, Wherever battle lines are drawn that surgeons in Raipur had worked the pauperisation of their people, and between those who benefit from on his wounds, and declared him out the destruction forever of the natural corruption and those who suffer of danger. habitat which had nurtured them for from it, it has challenged power. generations. Honest officials are more fearless. I have known Ramesh for over Some are learning to function more two decades, from the time I served They discovered an invaluable carefully within the boundaries of in Raigarh in 1990 as the District democratic weapon for effective rules and prescribed procedures, Collector. I was privileged to lead non-violent challenge to their or at least to leave fewer obvious a campaign for Total Literacy of immeasurably more powerful footprints of malfeasance. Some are the district, an exhilarating mass adversaries, of RTI applications, paralysed into inaction. But there is movement which successfully and they deployed these tirelessly, evidence also that the beneficiaries canvassed more than 30,000 youth fearlessly and imaginatively. of corrupt administration are also volunteers to teach 300,000 non- Through their applications, they fighting back. It is increasingly literate adults in the district. The exposed that large tracts of forest and commonplace to hear of attacks, idealism of throngs of young farm lands had been mined without sometimes fatal, on little known women and men was infectious being legally being diverted and RTI activists from distant corners of and heady. For some, those intense transferred; mandatory consultations India’s hinterland. months of collective service and with gram panchayats were bypassed, JANATA, July 22, 2012 13 manipulated or falsely recorded; time, and so on. But these are poor little public outrage or solidarity lands and standing trees were people’s issues, and we cannot let when they are assaulted. As I heard grossly under-valued to drastically them down. We have to continue to them, I wondered how much India reduce compensation claims; legal struggle. What has to happen will deserves them. And thousands of land acquisition processes were happen”. information warriors like them: routinely subverted to benefit private unsung, unprotected, unassuming. companies; and land was illegally There is no law to protect And heroic. acquired from tribal landowners information warriors like them, and even though this is prohibited under -Aman Birdari the law. Their first victory in village Rabu for a captive dam was to force (Continued from Page 6) raising of compensation from Rs. available by the Haryana State and paramilitary presence on the day 10,000 rupees per hectare to up to Pollution Control Board’s regional of public hearing. Rs. 10 lakh. office to the District Collector (DC) of Fatehabad only on 6th July. To We condemn this brazen violation Not surprisingly, their exertions some social activists and concerned of MoEF rules and basic norms were not welcomed both by the individuals, soft-copies of a 14-page of democracy and transparency. private companies and complicit executive summary (Download) of Independent experts and popular government officials. Initially the report was provided, that too movements have questioned the they were offered bribes to end only in English. safety, viability and relevance of their confrontations, by lucrative nuclear energy at many places across transport contracts, or employment The villagers are supposed to India and the world. in “corporate social responsibility” learn English, educate themselves enterprises. Some of their colleagues in the technical details of the We demand that the public hearing succumbed, but not them. When EIA, decipher the concealing these inducements failed, they were and misleading tactics invariably in Haryana must be postponed with often openly threatened. Ramesh’s adopted in such reports and raise immediate effect, and should be cyber cafe was ransacked. He was their objections - without copies conducted in free, fair and fearless attacked and injured. Rajesh’s of the document under discussion ! atmosphere after providing the motor cycle was almost run over Meanwhile, the media has reported entire report to the people 1 month on many occasions by transport about preparations for heavy police in advance." trucks. Their police complaints - Vandana Shiva, Medha Patkar, Praful Bidwai, Achin Vanaik, were rarely registered, even less Capt J Rama Rao, V T Padmanabhan, EAS Sarma, Surendra Gadekar acted upon. But a complaint from a Sanghamitra Gadekar, Sandeep Pandey, Soumya ADutta, private company employee claiming Kumar Sundaram, Madhuresh Kumar, Panini Anand that they threatened to take his life led to the arrest of both Ramesh (Continued from Page 11) and Rajesh, and they spent three to Westminster to Capitol Hill months in jail in 2011, before they is incomplete. He rejects the Janata were finally awarded bail from the notion that “democracy is a purely Subscription Supreme Court. ‘Western’ achievement or a ‘God- Annual Rs. : 260/- given’ gift to chosen peoples. Such Three Years : 750/- I met them in Raigarh a few hubris (a favoured word) encourages months ago, deeply worried about Demand Draft / Cheque on Western democrats to believe theirs Mumbai Bank the continuing threat to their lives should be a universalising mission, by their stubborn and unwavering in favour of with conversion done at the point Janata Trust struggle. They responded without of the sword or under the shadow bravado but with quiet resolve: of drone bombers. There are other D-15, Ganesh Prasad, “We take precautions now: we do traditions, mainly in Asia, which Naushir Bharucha Marg, not announce in advance our travel have done and would contribute to Mumbai 400 007 plans, we use different vehicles each enriching democracy. 14 JANATA, July 22, 2012 Performance of Public Sector and Disinvestment

K. S. Chalam

Public sector enterprises or authorities to control public works. further in passing a resolution in their economic activity of government It is said that even artisan guilds Awadi congress to initiate socialism is considered as an investment in were entrusted with supervisory through the implementation of the security of people of a nation. functions by the state and the British industrial policy of 1956 with In all modern economies including mercantilist inroads in to India were commanding heights prearranged the pure capitalist systems, public facilitated by the crown. Therefore, for public sector. There were only sector exists at least to maintain state or government enterprises 5 PSEs in 1951 and the number public utilities and in many a country have always been there as a part had reached 244 by 1990. But, to provide necessary economic and of state activity. There was serious the reforms introduced by PV technological guidance to the private discussion on the role of public NarasimhaRaos’ government have sector by the state. However, the neo- sector in independent India by weakened the PSEs and private classical theories in 1980s described freedom fighters including those investment was allowed with sky the public sector enterprises (PSE) who were business men as part of as the limit to achieve a turnaround as a drain on the economy as most Bombay Plan. Radical thinkers in the economy. The left parties and of them were considered, in pure and others under the leadership some Congressmen had expressed economic terms, as loss making of Tarkunde had prepared the apprehensions the way the economy units. They were also considered People’s Plan that emphasized on was made private oriented. But, the by some economists as the sources the role of government to bring philosophy of neoliberalism seemed that promote rent seekers. One of the industrialization. The role of thinkers to have guided the privatization important arguments advanced by like Jawaharlal Nehru, Rammanohar of existing public sector units and such scholars and their supporters Lohia and others in the socialist group disinvestment of minority stakes in for the withdrawal of the state or of the Congress were also providing some public sector units including what was called at that time as the ideological arguments in favor of the Navaratnas began in 1992. ‘non-communist withering away of public sector while B. R. Ambedkar state’ was to avoid economic drain had submitted a memorandum There seems to be a rethinking owing to public sector enterprises. demanding dominant position to on the need for public enterprises They have also developed indicators the public sector to achieve state in India. The Prime Minister in his including efficiency, productivity socialism. Thus, there was sufficient address to the conference of chief and profitability to prove that ground for the development and executives of public enterprises the PSE are useless and better to expansion of public sector till 1991 in March 2007 said that “the abandon them as soon as possible. when neo-colonial policies were revitalization of our public sector Now the situation seems to have implemented in which this sector is an integral part of our strategy changed after gaining experience was given a tepid treatment. of promoting “inclusive growth”. with the Western models for two We regard the public sector truly decades. We can now discuss about The economic history of India as an important source of R&D in the need for the existence of the would show how public enterprises our industrial sector”. Thus, the public sector on the basis of the were established by the British indicators that were used to make parameters developed by experts during famines to aid and help the the PSEs as scapegoats have turned to show that the public enterprises victims. The industrial policy of the upside down to prove that almost all are the life blood of the developing independent government particularly the PSE units are not only making countries like India. Jawaharlal Nehrus’ 1948 policy was profits, but substantially contributing a land mark for igniting the spirit of to the revenue of the government The history of public enterprises industrialization and modernization through taxes and surpluses. For in India dates back to Chanakya’s in a newly independent country. instance, out of 231 PSEs in 2001 description about the regulatory The Congress party had gone a step around 100 units were making JANATA, July 22, 2012 15 marginal losses but, the overall profit years was Rs. 47832 crores making calculation of inflation, the role of of all PSEs was estimated to be Rs. the remaining amount in just six the public goods and services to the 38233 crores and realized profits years notwithstanding the protest society will be evident as substantial. after paying all taxes, payments, from Left parties and others. Further, some of the PSEs are the etc came to Rs 17903 crores. The ones that were making losses in situation has substantially changed Interestingly, the privatization the private sector and got into the by 2010-2011 when only 220 units was facilitated by the Apex court in a government sector to provide social were there and employed a capital land mark judgment in BALCO case investment of Rs. 949499 crores protection to the workers, as a model employer. For instance, the in December 2001. It is said,”thus and obtained an overall profit of apart from the fact that the policy of Rs. 22763 crores. The contribution nationalization of National Textiles comes under this category. disinvestment cannot be questioned to the exchequer through taxes was as such, the facts herein show that Rs. 45303 crores and realized profit The international economic fair, just and equitable procedure of Rs. 51002 crores. The loss making experience has provided several has been followed in carrying out units have come down to around their disinvestment”. The public 60 in sectors that are crucial for the lessons to our policy makers. memory is very short and some society and economy. Generally, the regulatory bodies like RBI are given the credit for critics know how this judgment and The evaluation of public the stability of the Indian economy the subsequent developments in enterprises by the financial ratios during the economic crisis of 2008. privatization enabled the owner of created by Business managers does But, the role played by the PSEs BALCO into developing as a giant not take in account how the prices of that have substantially contributed in a short period to help articulate the PSE are determined. The prices to the GDP, trade and industrial policies of the government that have of most of the units including the Oil peace is not taken into consideration created tensions in central India, companies till recently were guided for such an estimate. It is true that Odisha and elsewhere. by the administered prices. The the autonomy given to the PSEs administered prices are calculated and the fact that the international taking into consideration several exposure and strategic advantage issues including the welfare of the of being technologically advanced people. For instance, the price of in the manufacturing sector have a life saving drug manufactured been of advantage to our PSEs. in a PSE as compared to a private Yet, the government has introduced company is not based solely only a policy called Disinvestment of on the unit costs. It is necessary to Public Sector units in 1992 and is look at the economics of PSEs where institutionalized with a separate high depreciation cost that includes Department of Disinvestment now. not only plant and machinery but If we look at the controversies that also social overhead capital as per are embroiled some of the important norms are invested that makes the privatization bids like BALCO, margins lower compared to private VSNL. Centaur hotel and 17 other units. R. Nagraj has found in one hotels of Tourism Corporation, of his studies that over the last 40 etc, the intentions behind the years, public sector prices never disinvestment policy would be clear. exceeded the overall price level and In spite of the disagreement on the in 2003-4, the relative price stood method, the successive governments Price: Rs. 20/- just 83 percent of what it was in have gone ahead with disinvestment Janata Trust 1960-61. It means the public sector in all the PSEs particularly in the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir prices are growing slower than the Maharatnas like ONGC. It is found Bharucha Marg, overall price levels of the economy that out of the total disinvestment Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. as a whole. If the implicit subsidies of Rs. 82199 crores as on 2011-12, are taken into consideration in the the total amount during the first 15 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 22, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 67 No. 27 The games Pawar plays July 29, 2012 S.Viswam

Regional leaders in demand The Congress-NCP(Nationalist last two weeks is targeted more at Kuldip Nayar Congress Party) combine at both the audience in Maharashtra than in central and state levels is currently New Delhi. However, in order to The Role of Bureaucracy being visited with an inter-alliance attract focused attention to his Sandeep Pandey crisis whose direction is crystallizing political strategy, Pawar has been slowly. At the time of writing, which hinting at some demands as if his and Gujarat: Myth and reality is mid-week, there is an element of his party’s grievances have sprung Bhalchandra Mungekar uncertainty over the outcome as the overnight. It is difficult to believe that pressure-play is yet to exhaust itself. Pawar and his party did not entertain Stop this madness The cat may jump either way. The these grievances for the last eight Pannalal Surana crisis may end in the parting of ways years of its association with the UPA. between the two alliance partners, It is this thought that inspires the belief Class Struggle of with the NCP pulling out of the central that a deeper game is being played. the 21st Century and Maharashtra governments but The first demand, namely that the Amaresh Misra extending external support to both, NCP supremo should be elevated as or a total break-up. The latter seems No.2 in the Union Cabinet in Celebrating Harmony unlikely as the NCP leadership has succession to Pranab Mukherjee, was Ram Puniyani said it has no intention of destabilizing dismissed by the party itself as one the UPA. The former is a distinct unworthy of such a senior national Mrinaltai possibility if, and this is a big if, the leader as Pawar. Other demands Vibhuti Patel current efforts by the Congress to were projected as more weighty. appease the NCP do not bear fruit. They included the creation of a In either case, the crisis will well coordinating committee to facilitate illustrate the kind of subtle and not- greater consultation and Editor : so-subtle political games Sharad understanding among the coalition G. G. Parikh Pawar plays to make himself and his partners, a more inclusive political Managing Editor : Guddi party relevant on the large chess- system which allows for consultations board of Maharashtra and pan-Indian on a wider variety of issues like D-15, Ganesh Prasad, politics. appointment of governors, Naushir Bharucha Marg, nominations to the Rajya Sabha and The drama that Sharad Pawar and even the vice-chairmen of the upper Mumbai - 400 007. his colleague Praful Patel have been house. Presently, it was claimed on Email : [email protected] staging in the national capital in the behalf of the NCP that the coalition 2 JANATA, July 29, 2012 partners were being treated, instead Between the lines of as equals, as the Congress Parry’s servants. Regional leaders in demand Alongside, it was also made known that there was greater need for Kuldip Nayar redressing the NCP grievances in Maharashtra where the two parties President in India is only a would count. The party’s advantage are partners for the last 13 years. constitutional head. He or she draws is that its rival, the BJP, has not The coalition, it was claimed, had authority from the elected parliament benefited from the Congress loss.BJP suddenly become shaky because the and state assemblies. Yet the office leader L.K. Advani has been frank new chief minister Prithviraj Chavan became a point of contest because enough to admit that his party too has was trying to marginalise the alliance both the Congress and the BJP, the not endeared itself with the people. partner. Chavan was flouting long- two main political parties, wanted to The problem with the BJP has been held traditions, it was contended, by test the waters before the 2014 that it has reacted to the situation ignoring the NCP cabinet colleagues general elections.The Congress has created but failed to take the bull by while taking important decisions, and proved that its support, including that its horns. The party has looked more by taking the NCP support for of allies, is intact. Its candidate Pranab negative than positive. It has been granted. The Congress and the new Mukherjee, former Finance Minister, willing to strike but afraid to wound, chief minister had failed to protect has become India’s 13th President. probably realizing that it is no position the NCP ministers from wild The BJP showed, however, chinks in to replace the government.People allegations, by both Congress party its armour and balloted only half of reeling under the rigorous conditions and Opposition MLAs, of amassing the polled votes. P.A. Sangma, a have wanted relief, not a mere assets disproportionate to their northeast tribal leader, was its statement after statement to analyse income and by cornering funds from candidate.Yet the results of how the nation went wrong without the infamous multi-crore irrigation presidential election should not be the the party offering any concrete scam. basis of assessment for next proposal for improvement. The parliamentary polls because elections argument that the BJP is not in the Simultaneously, there were sudden to the Lok Saba are 22 months away. government to make the difference signs of a large group of Congress True, the Congress has lost a lot of is only a lame excuse which does not MLAs raising a banner of revolt ground since the 2009 elections in impress the electorate.And all the against the chief minister in the form which it secured 207 seats and formed time the party lives in the shadow of of a complaint to the Maharshtra the government. The party’s image the RSS which speaks too often to Pradesh Congress President has been tarnished by several corrupt emphasise that the power lies with it. Manikrao Thakre. The letter referred deals which have come to light in the By appointing bumbling Niting to the chief minister’s alleged last couple of years. The Congress Gadkari as party chief and then tardiness in clearing infrastructure has also been hit by the adverse fallout persisting with him for the second projects, delay in filling administrative of sliding economy and the term may have satisfied the ego of posts and in sanctioning development rising living cost.If the Congress could Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief, but projects. Though not on the surface, improve economy and bring it has not gone down well, either with there were indications that the NCP- down prices, it might be in the the BJP followers or the party’s well promoted crisis at both the central reckoning. Public memory is short wishers. They have, in fact, taken to and state levels was interlinked, and and therefore the voters can be heart the humiliation heaped over that there was some collusion influenced by the atmosphere Advani who has built the BJP from between elements in the Congress obtaining at that time. It might be the scratch.Since both the Congress and the NCP, the chief minister being indeed difficult for the party to repair and the BJP look like the parties of the common target of the two parties. numerous dents on its machinery. yesterday, engrossed in their petty These elements want Prithviraj Were the Manmohan Singh quarrels and pettier politics, they may Chavan to be replaced by a leader government to give a sense of not improve upon their present more acceptable to the NCP and direction and shed indolence which strength in the Lok Sabha. The BJP (Continued on Page 3) has crept in governance, the Congress may, however, do slightly better. But JANATA, July 29, 2012 3 even this may not happen if there is There were threats. Be it Mayawati, placate Pawar. It is no surprise to any truth in the news that Gujarat Mulayam Singh Yadav and chief see that the Manmohan Singh Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who ministers of Nagaland and Sikkim— government is cajoling other allies to is always on his ego trip, is the BJP ‘there are cases against you, so vote keep the coalition going. The candidate for the post of prime for us’.” Even the age-old ally of the Congress does not realize that it is minister in 2014 elections. It is not Congress, the Nationalist Congress further losing its stock and enabling because of the Muslims’ opposition Party (NCP), led by central minister the BJP to be more acceptable, to him, but because India cannot hold Sharad Pawar, has been found asking although the latter too offered its head high in the comity of nations a price. He does not want inquiry into packages and used CBI to keep its if its prime minister is a person whose the NCP-held portfolios of Irrigation flock together when it was in hands are soaked with blood. Modi in Maharashtra. In the past decade, power.Acts of omission and did not have even an iota of sensitivity the state has spent Rs 42,500 crore commission by both the Congress and to say sorry or apologize for his on several projects but has failed to the BJP have made the regional complicity in the killing of increase the area under irrigation by parties larger than their size. They Muslims.With Modi as the prime more than even five per cent. too are increasingly conscious of their ministerial candidate, no political Moreover, an amount of Rs 75,000 importance. The 2014 elections may party will touch the BJP. With this core is required to complete pending be fought regionally. Both the being the case, the party may well be projects, which have been languishing Congress and the BJP will have to all by itself in the next parliament for periods ranging from five years look for regional leaders in their ranks. which looks like a hung house. Even to three decades.The Congress has Regrettably, the country is short of the present complexion of the BJP- unabashedly done everything to leaders. This is its tragedy. led front, the National Democratic Alliance, may collapse. Let the BJP (Continued from Page 2) be not under any illusion. Modi’s more amenable to accommodating More importantly, his focus is on candidature is like blowing the bugle NCP’s long-term political concerns enhancing NCP’s clout as a regional of Hindutva which a secular India that are tied up with Pawar’s own party capable of calling the shots in cannot accept.When it comes to the ambitions. the post-2014 scenario. Another Congress, its leading allies are with it bizarre theory being floated is that because of the government’s More than this, several theories Pawar wants a change of portfolio at handouts. It is not a secret that both abound in regard to the larger and the centre to escape charges of non- Mualayam Singh’s UP and Nitish deeper game that Sharad Pawar is performance ahead of the projected Kumar’s Bihar have come around playing. There has always been a monsoon failure and an impending after huge financial packages that the tendency to read deeper meanings drought! Manmohan Singh government has into Pawar’s actions on the basis of promised. Worst is the use of Central his track record as “a shrewd and Whatever Pawar’s game plan, he Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to wily politician”. Now, it is claimed by has laid good foundations for its threaten some chief ministers who political pundits in New Delhi that he success by staying away from two were not toeing the line on the is actually gearing up for a major role cabinet meetings and making public presidential election. One specific in securing benefits for the NCP - his grievance that he is not being example is that of Nagaland’s chief and himself - in the run-up to the 2014 treated with the respect and minister.Sangma, although after Lok Sabha polls, that he is promoting consideration his stature demands. losing, has made certain allegations. a mechanism for facilitating the This means that he will be appeased The government or the media cannot emergence of a third front of non- only by some gesture more dismiss them as an expression of Congress non-BJP parties, and that meaningful than the PM’s statement frustration after defeat. There should his immediate goal is to create a new that he is a valued colleague and a be a judicial inquiry to probe the precedent in coalition politics by tower of strength for the UPA. The charges. Sangma has said on record securing for himself one of the top tower is leaning to a side somewhat in public that “economic packages four jobs in the government, home, currently. How, when and in what have been given in a big way. Why finance, external affairs and defence, manner it will upright itself is the was Bihar given Rs 57,000 crore and portfolios which are traditionally held subject of extraordinary interest Uttar Pradesh Rs 27,000 crore? by the coalition’s dominant partner. currently. 4 JANATA, July 29, 2012 The Role of Bureaucracy

Sandeep Pandey

Today the most important things done or for stalling seemingly Even the ministers have offices inside executive at the national level in our innocuous things which should get these secretariats but people can at system of governance is the Prime done in normal course. As they least meet them at their residences. Minister (PM), at the state level it is happen to be the smartest of the Meeting a bureaucrat at his residence Chief Minister (CM) but when it educated lot having cleared the is unthinkable. Hence the comes to the district level it is the toughest competitive examinations bureaucrats have created an elite District Magistrate (DM). The clear they can put their brain to such use. class of themselves which is contrary implication of this is that we have not In fact the hallmark of a successful to the idea of democracy. allowed decentralisation of bureaucrat is that s(he) should be able democracy to take place. It is not the to do things so smartly that they don’t The bureaucrats have made the people’s representatives but the get caught. system of governance so complicated bureacracy which is in charge of that there are only three ways in which things at the lower echelons of power. A lot of them start as young idealists a person get her work done in the Some will claim that it is not merely who want to serve their society and present system. She can pay a bribe, at the lower levels but the country but as they grow through the pull strings or put collective pressure bureaucracy is in control even at the system they become compliant. The of some organised group. Lately, the topmost level even though it may not very few who are able to maintain right to information law has opened a give that impression. their idealism, get marginalised. window where an ordinary citizen can intervene and get things done The democracy in our country is Compared to their political masters without resorting to any of the hostage to the bureaucracy. While they enjoy better benefits from the abovementioned three methods, but sometimes the politicians are able to system and are less accountable to then, only less than one percent of serve their vested interests by using the people. Indices of comparison our people are using the RTI Act. the bureaucracy often the could be the salaries, the perquisites, Even here the bureaucrats seem to bureaucracy manipulates the residences, staff that they get at possess some invisible power which politicians to get things done their way. public expense. Since they work they use to override the Act. In a Most often they work hand in gloves behind the scenes, especially the number of cases information sought because it suits the interest of both. senior most ones, they are also spared by applicants is not shared but the Even though most actions have to be the public wrath when and if things Information Commission doesn’t executed by the bureaucrats, it is very go wrong. punish the bureaucrats according to rare that a bureaucrat gets punished the law. The bureaucrats are often for an illegitimate action. The The bureaucrats are not as able to justify their undemocratic politician may end up paying the price accessible as politicians. The senior decisions and actions in the name of for it as they have to face the people bureaucrats have offices in exigency or expediency and quite in elections at regular intervals. secretariat where an ordinary citizen easily get away with it. They seem to cannot enter because a ‘pass’ is enjoy certain immunity. It is interesting The bureaucrats are experts who required for this. Now this ‘pass’ is that when a bureaucrat indulges in can find ways of getting things done made only when the office of corruption, or is guilty of irregularity where there doesn’t seem to be a bureaucrat informs the office at the or unnecessarily delays a decision it way out and find obstacles for not entrance gate, which means unless is not viewed as obstruction to getting certain things done depending the bureaucrat wants to meet the performing duty but when a citizen on either the fancies of their masters citizen the citizen cannot meet her. protests against any of these he or their own idiosyncrasies. These are supposed to be public becomes liable for attracting the Politicians look up to them to find servants drawing salaries from the section on obstructing a government ways for getting specific impossible taxes collected from ordinary people. servant from performing her duty. JANATA, July 29, 2012 5 A bureaucrat working against the Gujarat: Myth and reality interest of state or public is never booked under sedition law, it is only ordinary citizens protesting against Bhalchandra Mungekar the public loot by bureaucrat- politician-coporate-mafia nexus that A war of words has erupted percent in the first period to 8.02 are labeled as naxalites and charged between the chief ministers of Bihar percent and 8.13 percent in the with waging war against the state. and Gujarat. Bihar’s chief minister second period. Even smaller states Nitish Kumar has slammed like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh In spite of an independent Narendra Modi for taking potshots have registered growth of 11.01 government for six and a half decades at the state’s slow socio-economic percent and 8.96 percent, and supposedly being a great growth. The altercation began with respectively. During 2001-04, the rate economic, military power and biggest Modi saying that caste politics has of industrial growth for Gujarat was democracy on earth we fare ruined states like Bihar and Uttar 3.95 percent, and during 2005-09, it abysmally low on human development Pradesh. Hitting back, Nitish has said was 12.65 percent. In isolation, this indices. It is the bureaucracy which that Modi should look at the appears to be a phenomenal jump, has to take the blame largely for this conditions in his own state before but not so when compared to some because they are the executive. In criticising others. For the last several other states. During these sub- any other setting they would have years, Modi has been successful in periods, industrial growth for Orissa been penalised for non-performance projecting his “vibrant Gujarat” as a was 6.4 percent and 17.53 percent; or bad performance. But they have role model of economic growth and for Chhattisgarh 8.10 percent and given themselves salary raise and himself as ‘’Vikas Purush”. Though 13.3 percent; and for Uttarakhand other benefits comparable to private one must give due credit to Modi for 18.84 percent and 11.63 percent. sector. They are taking the country his effective skills in making Thus, the hitherto industrially for a ride. projections, one must also critically backward states have far surpassed analyse this “growth story of Gujarat. In FDI, too, Gujarat has not The Constitution has envisaged a Gujarat” based on facts and figures. been a leading state. During 2006- role for bureaucracy only at the Regretfully, as one examines the 10, Gujarat signed MoUs worth Rs central and state government levels. facts since Modi came to power in 5.35 lakh crore with potential of 6.47 At the panchayat level the article 243 Gujarat in 2001, the story appears to lakh jobs. But Maharashtra and envisages an autonomy where the be hollow and, at times, contrary to Tamil Nadu with Rs 4.20 lakh crore Gram Sabha is entitled to take what is being projected. and Rs 1.63 lakh crore worth MoUs, decisions regarding development expect about 8.63 lakh and 13.09 planning and social justice pro- First, about the rate of economic lakh jobs. To top it all, Chhattisgarh grammes. However, the district and growth. During 1995-2000 and 2001- and Orissa have signed MoUs worth higher level bureaucrats give scant 10, Gujarat increased its annual rate Rs 3.61 lakh crore and Rs 2.99 lakh regard to the people’s representatives of growth from 8.01 percent to 8.68 crore, more than Gujarat without at the panchayat level and do not give percent. But so is the case with other much fanfare and Modi’s much- them the respect they deserve. Hence major states such as Andhra hyped industrial summits. In the area they are the biggest obstacle to the Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, of credit-deposit ratio, Gujarat is far implementation of democracy at the Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar behind other major states. In 2010, grassroots that ensures participation Pradesh. In fact, Gujarat was ranked Gujarat’s share in total deposits of of each and every citizen in the second after Rajasthan (8.34 the scheduled commercial banks was decision making process. This kind percent) in the first period and third 4.70 percent, as against 5.42 percent, of participative democracy is not after Uttarakhand (11.81 percent) 6.20 percent, 6.34 percent and 26.60 possible either at the state legislature and Haryana (8.95 percent) in the percent for Andhra Pradesh, Tamil or the central parliament level. second period. What is remarkable, Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Bihar and Orissa, the two most respectively. The share of Gujarat If we are to be a democracy we backward and poverty-stricken in total credit disbursed by these have to get rid of the colonial hangover states, have also shown growth pick commercial banks was 4.22 percent; and overhaul the bureaucracy. up from 4.70 percent and 4.42 while the same for Maharashtra, 6 JANATA, July 29, 2012

Karnataka and Tami Nadu was 29.75 (HDI: 0.790), Himachal Pradesh of women suffering from anaemia percent, 6.71 percent and 9.61 scored 0.652, Punjab 0.605, has risen from 46.3 percent in 1999 percent respectively. The amount of Maharashtra 0.572 and Haryana to 55.5 percent in 2004, and amongst per capita deposit and per capita 0.552. With respect to three HDI children from 74.5 percent to 80.1 credit for Gujarat was Rs 37,174 and components - income, health and percent. The conditions of dalits and Rs 24,268; while for Tamil Nadu, it education - Gujarat does not present women have deteriorated during the was Rs 42,580 and Rs 47,964; a shining story. In this respect, states last decade; while those of Muslims Karnataka Rs 49,598 and Rs 38,154; like Kerala took the lead in every and tribals are still worse. Thus, and Maharashtra Rs 1,10,183 and Rs sector, while Punjab, Himachal Gujarat’s growth story as claimed by 89,575. Even Kerala did better than Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Modi is more a myth than reality. Gujarat with Rs 43,890 and Rs Tamil Nadu and West Bengal did 27,912. better than Gujarat.It is found that But it is also imperative that other inequality with respect to income, states in the country make concerted In terms of per capita income education and health is higher in efforts to secure higher and also (PCI), in 2011, Gujarat ranked sixth Gujarat than some of the major inclusive growth, rather than getting among major states with PCI of Rs states. Shockingly, in terms of hunger enamoured with the Gujarat growth 63,996, after Haryana (Rs 92,327), - as revealed by the ‘State Hunger story. Also, for the people of Gujarat, Maharashtra, (Rs 83,471), Punjab Index 2008’ - Gujarat ranked 13th it’s time for introspection and putting (Rs 67,473), Tamil Nadu (Rs 72,993) among 17 big states and worse than right efforts in the direction of making and Uttara-khand (Rs 68,292). What Orissa. In Gujarat, the percentage Gujarat a truly “vibrant” state. about inclusive growth in Gujarat? Though Gujarat, with 31.8 percent people below the poverty line did Inter-State river issue better than Maharashtra and Karnataka, it still lagged behind A central government Congress courts or experts, they are also Kerala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh minister says that the Prime Minister interfering and stopping the normal and Haryana, where poverty levels will not interfere in the affairs of the repair works in the dam. were 19.7 percent, 20.9 percent, 22.9 Mullai Periyar river dispute, since he percent and 24.1 percent, has no power in this regard. He also If Tamil Nadu people also wake respectively. On three important says that the Tamil Nadu state up and indulge in the same kind of social indicators, viz life expectancy government can approach the law agitations, what will be the result? at birth (LEB), mean years of courts for getting justice if Kerala This part of the country will turn into schooling (MYS) and school life government resisted the closing up a riotous land. expectancy (SLE), Gujarat is far of the holes, caused in the dam during behind some other states. In Gujarat, strength check up by expert So the central government must the LEB during 2002-06 was 64.1 committees. That is a regrettable act quickly. It must take control of years and it ranked ninth among statement. all inter-state rivers, create irrigation major Indian states. In the areas of canals. For this purpose “a land MYS and SLE, during 2004-05, it If a river flows through many army” should be formed. Engineers, ranked seventh and ninth, states it does not belong to any one construction workers and youth respectively. Kerala ranked first in state. All the states through which should be enrolled into that land army. all three indicators. Even the river flows have their own This work should be done on war- Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, rights in that river. In the case of footing. State governments must Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and the Mullai Periyar river the Kerala forgo their rights on the rivers, which Karnataka performed much better government cannot seek sole are flowing through their territory; than Gujarat. With respect to Human ownership rights. They declare we should not allow the excess flood Deve-lopment Index (HDI), that they will break the Mullai waters wastefully flow into the Gujarat’s story is devastating. The Periyar dam, can build another oceans through these rivers. HDI for Gujarat, in 2008, was 0.527 dam in that river and they will not and it ranked 10 {+t} {+h} among accept any declarations of the –Narana Natesan, President, major states. Kerala stood first safety of Mullai Periyar dam by the Tamil Nadu Socialist Party (India) JANATA, July 29, 2012 7 Mrinaltai

Vibhuti Patel

On 17th July 2012, Mrinal Gore in transparency and social suggested my name to several social passed away. With her demise, an accountability in public life. organizations and journals so that our era of women freedom fighters with report got due publicity. feminist sensitivities in praxis is Legendary Political Persona over. She brought the issue of safe Inspired by Quit India Movement drinking water in the political agenda In 1979, when I was staying at under the leadership of Mahatma of local self government body of Borivali, we had an acute problem Gandhi, 14-year old young girl, Mumbai and earned a title of of water and transport, we invited Mrinal became active in the freedom “Paniwali Bai”. A political reformer Mrinaltai and we started getting movement. Drawn to political and by instinct, Mrinaltai helped to set supply of water and later on bus social causes, she gave up a up in September 1972 the Anti-Price service also. She was always sure promising career in medicine in order Rise Committee, which mobilised the of herself and her action. She made to organise the poorest and most largest-ever turnout of women on rapid appraisal of the ground reality, powerless. the streets ever seen since the surveyed pros-n-cons of the Independence movement. At the scenario, collected documentary She married her comrade, same time, Mrinaltai also worked evidences and acted after doing lot Keshav Gore and when he died within the Socialist Party and outside, of homework. Her demand of at a young age in 1958, she to get the government to focus on community based day care centers founded Keshav Gore Smarak drought in rural Maharashtra. for working women’s children was Trust which provided democratic preceded by survey of working platform to progressive forces The year 1975 was an eventful women who reported that it was for debate and discussion, one for Mrinal Gore. It saw Indira extremely difficult to carry infants meetings and public gatherings, Gandhi’s government impose an in overcrowded suburban trains. documentation and institutional internal Emergency and suspend the base for Samajwadi Mahila constitutional rights of the people. Champion of Women’s Rights Sabha, Bombay Nurses’ Mrinaltai went underground to guide Association, Anganwadi the protests against the Emergency. Since 1977, every year women’s Workers’ Union, Swadhar and She was arrested in December that rights activists of all hues choose a innumerable issue-based action year and placed initially under solitary common theme for commemoration fronts involving liberals, confinement. Once the Emergency of March 8. Mrinaltai was always socialists and left groups. was withdrawn in 1977, she was there. Now we will miss her the most elected on a Janata Party ticket to on International Women’s Day. In the sixties she worked as Parliament, winning by the highest Whether it was in 1980-Anti rape corporator and then as legislator. margin of votes in the entire state of struggles, in 1981-movement against Her agitations were always related Maharashtra. domestic violence, in 1982-solidarity to basic issues–water, kerosene, and starting of community kitchens inflation–and they were always She supported renaming of for textile workers who were on fierce. But there was no violence Marathwada University to Dr. strike, in 1983-Ant dowry ever, neither in her actions nor in her Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathada movement, in 1984-Dharmandhata words. Even friends weren’t University. When I led a team to 48 Virodhi Mahila Kruti Samiti spared, if she was convinced they riot torn villages in Marathwada in (Women’s Front against were wrong. She was revered and connection with renaming issue and Communalism), in 1985-Campaign respected by the ministers and chief our team prepared report on for housing rights (Nagari Nivara ministers of her time. She believed atrocities committed on Dalits, she Sangharsh Samiti), in 1986-fight 8 JANATA, July 29, 2012 against draconian population policy, humanism of Mrinaltai, Ramlath, a Mumbai, thanks only to Mrinal Gore. in 1987-campaign against Sati, in feminist activist states, “I had met 1988-introduction of bill for Mrinal Gore few years ago in her Reverence of Feminists Regulation of Pre-natal Diagnostic house for a photo shoot. Since she Test Act; Mrinaltai took active always had a few activists by her Veteran feminist Ammu Abraham interest in the discussions and side, I asked would it be possible not (of Women’s Centre-Mumbai) who, participated in actions along with her to have anyone in the room while like Mrinaltai, gave up a promising colleagues. At times, she invited us doing the photo shoot. She laughed career in medicine to plunge full time to discuss the technical details of and took me to a room upstairs and into organising the poor and the new issues such as amniocentesis, asked me to close the door. I must marginalized in the 1970s, has this legal reforms, and harmful have spent some 45 minutes with to say about Mrinaltai, “I remember contraceptives so that she could her...She became a lot more her with affection. As one of the effectively argue the points in the relaxed...started talking about less activists in Mumbai who met her at legislative assembly. serious stuff...asked me about various meetings at the office near photography/lighting, wanted to Mantralay, I interacted with her quite The 1980s found her working with know about the light meter I was a lot, on March 8th leaflets, the emerging feminist groups and using and of course, some personal Maharashtra State Women’s participating actively in protests questions...during our conversation Commission and other campaigns. against rape and dowry, caste I mentioned about the problems While there was a lot of common atrocities, sex selection and women like me face while finding ground between us, we did not communalism. A natural organiser, a house in Bombay because of my always agree entirely on some Mrinaltai employed a large spectrum Muslim identity, she said she had no issues, but she was never one to take of protest actions to get the issue idea brokers in Bombay had started that personally. One of the most across - from street marches to sit- asking for passports/pan cards and generous spirits associated with the ins and fasts. other documents in order to women’s movement in Mumbai and establish one’s religious identity. She Maharashtra has passed away. Hard Till late 1980s, she used to immediately called someone and to say goodbye.” commute by local train in women’s asked whether he could help me compartment. If trains were find an apartment to rent....one I had known Mrinaltai from my crowded, she would stand quietly in could see pain in her eyes when she college days in the early 1970s and train without making fuss. Once, I talked about the greed and hatred in she inspired us, social activists of saw her boarding the train in which this city...” Vadodara to start Anti Price Rise I was sitting with my 5-year daughter Women’s Committee in 1974 when in my lap. Out of respect for The huge Nagari Niwara Parishad I was an undergraduate student. Mrinaltai, I got up. My daughter, Lara Project in Goregaon East is a living When I relocated to Mumbai in 1977 asked me, “Why are you getting up? memorial for Gore and her work. and was active in the united front of I told her, “We must give seat to She persuaded the state government women’s organisations, I had to visit Mrinaltai.” Lara said, “Is she your to offer land it had acquired under Mrinaltai’s residence-cum-office sister?” I told her, “Mrinaltai is every the Urban Land Ceiling Act to the regularly for preparation, translation, woman’s elder sister.” All women in really poor and needy. Local cyclostyling, posting of circulars, the compartment started smiling. politicians who feared that Gore will resolutions and leaflets. She always get a readymade vote bank delayed welcomed me with warm smile. The first ever bill in the country the project. Yet, when the homes While working, if I told her that I on sex-selective abortions of female were ready after two decades, they wanted to go out for short time; she fetuses was moved by Mrinaltai as were still the most affordable. They would immediately retort, “I know, MLA in a Nagpur session of the were not big flats, but self-contained you are hungry.” And she would Maharashtra Assembly in 1987. spacious units built neatly atop announce, “Make poha, Vibhuti is Dindoshi Hills. While the younger starved.” And I would get poha and Secular Humanism generation may not remember this, sometimes Jelebi also. I was so their parents will remain grateful that touched by her hospitality, sensitivity, While talking about secular they could finally own a home in generosity of heart, open door policy JANATA, July 29, 2012 9 and decent sense of humour. ourselves with fellow sister masses. Her towering personality travelers in the movement. Long became more affable due to her Mrinaltai always respected live Mrinaltai and her like!” humility and love for humanity. collective wisdom of women’s movement. She invited young Legendary Leader The chairperson of the feminists to discuss contemporary Greenpeace International, Lalita issues and introduced best practices In 1988, her sixtieth birth Ramdas avers, “Mrinaltai epitomised of new groups in her organization. anniversary programme attracted a generation of feminists who were To provide institutional support to thousands of social activists, trade able to mobilise around an women in distress, she started union workers, women activists with extraordinary range of social and Swadhar in mid-1980s at Keshav their children. By then, her health had political issues, and thus command Gore Smarak Trust. Here she deteriorated due to cancer and all of attention in mainstream debates. As provided child care centre, library us who supported her work had women and feminists we need to be for poor students, counseling centre made contribution to purchase a car far more vocal and visible in the public and meeting place for all for Mrinaltai. and political domains and dialogues progressive forces. She was the than we are today.” first one to launch struggle against In 2002, we invited her to sexual harassment of nurses in inaugurate Workshop on Sexual Mrinaltai always encouraged hospitals and formed trade union of Harassment at workplace and women to be self-dependent. For nurses under the leadership of Round Table on Women her, the concerns of Dalits, Kamaltai Desai. Empowerment Policy, 2001. In 2003, women, workers, farmers, and Mrinaltai invited me at Swadhar to tribals were indivisible and Prof. Lakshmi Lingam, Deputy conduct a session on Gender Audit demanded a holistic approach. Her Director, TISS and member of of Budgets. In 2007, when she politics, consequently, was always Consultative Committee of Sophia came for Mahila Milan programme inclusive rather than divisive. This Centre for women’s Studies and at at TISS, Mrinaltai had become was why she could win the Development avers, “Mrinaltai is really weak. But she was as affections of diverse sections of a truly powerful inspiring woman. spirited as ever. She attended rally people and come to be universally She came across as a person with of women’s organizations in called “Mrinaltai”, or elder sister. determination in thought and solidarity with the victims of rape As veteran feminist and recipient tenderness in the heart. She spoke and massacre of Dalit girl, Priyanka of coveted award “Daughter of in feminist meetings whether it is Bhootmange, and her family Maharashtra” at the hands of the sex determination tests, members in Kharalanji. Mrinaltai, Manisha Gupte states, violence against women, 73rd & “She lives on, especially through 74th amendments, women’s Mrinaltai was a principled her tireless commitment to the policies of the Government or the politician, honest to the core and people residing in the slums of support for working women, with great organizer. She stuck out her Mumbai city, and her empathy so much of clarity and sense of neck in the midst of adverse with women struggling to survive humor. She truly represented to circumstances because courage of through sky-rocketing prices of many of us a person who had the conviction. Her name was household commodities.” ability to straddle the old and the synonymous with any fight for new and reach across generations justice and social accountability in I received Citation and Memento with sense of sisterhood and public life. She provided her from Mrianltai in a huge function of modesty. I did not have any visionary leadership in the area of social activists on 2nd April, 2010. personal rapport with her, but met political struggles, civic amenities, For me, it is most valuable award in her in various meetings and shared dalit rights, women’s rights, housing my life. a hand shake or a glance of issues, Narmada Bachao and acknowledgement. These are innumerable social movements of Mrinaltai will remain a constant impressions that will stay with us the marginalized and voiceless source of inspiration and role model for a life time and also provide a sections of society. She was a for many generations of social beacon as to how we conduct politician with genuine concern for activists. 10 JANATA, July 29, 2012 Condemn Oxford School (Banglore) Management for Humiliating Disadvantaged Children admitted under 25 percent Quota

The outrageous and barbaric act attitudes, curriculum and teaching is a complete ban on such of cutting of tufts of hair of Class I methods to pedagogically cope with managements and the individuals students of the EWS 25% quota at the challenge of changing the elite involved in them from engaging in the Oxford English School on Nandini character of their institutions. any educational activity whatsoever. Layout, Bangalore [The Hindu, July Further, restricting the provision of 18, 2012] deserves the strongest free education only from 6–14 years The State has a constitutional condemnation by all sane persons makes a mockery of the ‘right’ for obligation to act against such who are concerned over the fate and the poor, because children from well- practices. It repeatedly fails to do future of the constitutional republic, to-do families receive school so because it aligns itself with the democracy and sheer human education at least up to 18 years from oppressors when class, caste, decency in India. pre-primary to Class XII. The gender, religious, regional, linguistic farcical RTE 2009 excludes free and and disability discrimination and The attempt of the school compulsory pre-primary and oppression are blatantly practiced authorities to present this as an secondary education thereby and tolerated despite constitutional ‘innocent’ act of a student in the allowing private institutions to rights and provisions. crafts class is a shameless ploy to discriminate against children only try to escape any punishment. The because they come from poor The All India Forum for Right to EWS students had also been families. This will continue as long Education therefore stands in discriminated against by their names as the State promotes privatization solidarity with the public outrage not being included in the regular and commercialization of education expressed in protest actions currently register, by their being given uniforms and refuses to respond to the taking place in Bangalore. It appeals without belts and ties, and by not people’s need for a state-funded to its member units and other giving them any homework. This last Common Neighbourhood School democratic organizations, groups the school claims is because the System. and individuals to unite in protest EWS children would not be able to against such uncivilized acts of cope as they have had no pre-school Finally, the only penalty that RTE cruelty. Strong and prompt public nursery training and their families Act 2009 provides for is withdrawal denunciation alone will compel the will be unable to guide them. So of recognition, when what is required State to act. instead of providing remedial assistance to the students, this Meher Engineer, D. Ramesh Patnaik private school, which will claim Chaairperson Organising Secretary reimbursement from the government, All India Forum for Right To Education is in fact not providing either the environment or the facilities for their Madhu Dandavate education. By This appalling situation is in the first instance the result of the B. Vivekanandan complete inadequacy of the RTE Act 2009. A 25% quota in fee-charging Price: Rs. 20/- private schools allows EWS students to be targeted, humiliated and Janata Trust isolated. Perhaps this is why the Law Commission had recommended D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg, a 50% quota which would have Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. forced private schools to alter JANATA, July 29, 2012 11 Stop this madness

Pannalal Surana

It is a strange, or rather not so The auditor firm called Standard acclaiming Raja Ram Mohan Roy, strange, spectacle. The protagonists and Poor has declared that the or Jyotiba Phule as the great of globalization are taking the ranking of Indian economy has gone reformers. Their efforts were helpful Government of India to task for the down from “stable” to “negative”. to the multitudes of men and women downslide of the rate of GDP growth. who were exploited by the wicked They are avowed advocates of free One should not disregard the customs. During the early twentieth trade. Shouldn’t they be asking warning signals from whichever century, there were political reforms questions about the performance of quarter they emanate. But one which enlarged the fanchise (right the private enterprises in India and cannot be blind to the fact that to vote bestowed on those with particularly of those in other countries “accredited auditors” of Enron, or lesser incomes or educational where capitalism has been ruling Satyam, or Jagmohan Reddy had qualifications), devolution of powers supreme for the last two centuries. confessed that they had given false to provincial governments, etc, - Are they ignorant about the fact that reports about the financial positions steps to enable more and more that it was the greed in general and of their clients. It is a very saddening unprivileged sections of the people the irresponsible behavior of some feature of free market economy that to enjoy fundamental human rights. leading private players that were the the regulators that are supposed to And now are these protagonists of villain of the Great Depression of be thoroughly objective and impartial, free trade using that term to demand 1929-30, or of the 2008 economic have been indulging in window more and more concentration of crisis? dressing and perpetrating economic and financial power in the falsehoods. The whole culture of hands of miniscule minority. This is In India, what have the services capitalism is stinking. a great parody. rendered by the private corporate in cement, steel, drugs and medicine The protagonists of free market We, the people of India, will do industries where private capital, both are raking demands for opening up well to bury the equations like indigenous and international, has sectors like retail trade, insurance, “foreign capital is the savior”. The been allowed complete freedom? pensions, banking, etc. to 100 percent aim of all our public decisions should Have the quality of products been FDI. “Foreign is the savior” seems be to enlarge scope for small improved and prices lowered, for the to be their mantra. enterprisers in primary and benefit of the consumer whom the secondary sectors. free market supposedly considers to At the behest of WTO, the be the god to be worshipped? During Government of India enacted Patents Rate of our saving is around 32-34 the last twenty years or so, prices of Law to extend most favoured position percent. Investment of this order can these commodities have rocketed to the “intellectual rights” of the certainly accelerate rate of sky high. While discussing rise and privileged few. And what benefits our development – not growth. We do fall in the rate of inflation, the experts poor purchasers of medicines not want job-less growth which is sine- and analysts hold primary sector as received? All those tricks of the quo-non of liberal private the main factor. But it is a fact that private sector have been the tools of globalisation. We want full, most significant factor in inflation has bleeding white all the purchasers of meaningful employment of all adult been the manufacturing and medicines. The slogans : “Foreign is population. We want to protect our construction sectors, apart from the benevolent”, “Foreign capital is the environment to save us and the world fuel sector. Who is responsible for engine of growth” are all wrong and from the ill-effects of global warming. four or five times rise in the prices devastating. We want reliable supply of drinking of oil – any government body or the water to all in rural as well as in urban private owners of extraction of oil The most misused term is areas; free, qualitative education for the world over? “reforms”. In the past, we were all and medical aid to the needy. All 12 JANATA, July 29, 2012 this can be achieved not by opening Opinion our economy to the multinationals, but by resorting to imaginative and st responsible planning. At various Manesar: Class Struggle of the 21 Century levels, more and more people have to be encouraged to participate in Amaresh Misra planning and decision-making process. We will have to reduce our 1991, the year that inaugurated Workers worship their tools on consumption of fossil fuel so that our new economic policies and the Vishvakarma Diwas. In Honda, a imports can be curtailed and trade liberalization drive, marked also the worker was assaulted by the deficit lowered. Let us not endeavour emergence of new ideas regarding supervisor when, the latter tried to outwit other nations. Let us have the management of productive applying a teeka on the former’s our all-sided development of economy, forces. Large Public Sector sections head. Indian workers have their education, public health and hygiene were dismantled. Enormous human own definition of what constitutes along with elimination of caste and domestic/foreign capital ‘hard work’. It includes whiling hierarchies and gender bias. We resources were placed in the hands away time, bonding with fellow should have genuine brotherly of private corporate players. In the workers, and then putting in extra relations with inhabitants of all the name of fiscal management, work at the right time. Also, the countries under the sun. Let us march State expenditure was sought to sense of impersonal hierarchy is ahead towards a more humane be restricted. But perhaps, alien to Indian workers. They can society and the world. most importantly, production respect an angrez who mingles relations between labour and capital, We can achieve that by, not by with them; but they will boycott workers and management, were Indian managers trying to put up the adventurist acrobatics by a few, altered. but by harnessing collective wisdom foreign airs and indulging in unfamiliar hierarchical behaviour. of all the people. Let us strengthen Foreign Direct Investment in the bonds of equality. Let us give up manufacturing sector brought in Foreign—especially American, madness of “foreign”. foreigners in management as well. German and Japanese personals— According to the Economic The new management structures— were often found dumbfounded by Survey (2011-1012) of the that included Indians and these cultural practices. Because of Government 0f India annual per foreigners—were inculcated with a historic factors—the traditional capita income of the nation new work ethic that placed growth resistance of the Hindi-Urdu belt to increased from Rs 31,200 in 2006 above workers welfare; but the British imperialism, the rugged- to Rs 60,972 in 2011 and during crucial change rested in the way the peasant masculinity and sense of the same period annual per capita new management culture honour—dubbed mistakenly ‘pre- income of the Government downplayed the cultural sensitivities modern’ by social analysts—the and public sector employees of the Indian worker. management Vs worker clash was increased from Rs 2,84,057 to more severe in post-liberalization Rs 6,66,276. In a famous case that took place North Indian factories. last year in the Honda factory of Per capita income of Haryana’s industrial belt, foreign In the 1990s and 2000s, India saw employees (skilled workers and trained Indian managers refused to substantial creation of wealth. The managerial staff) in the private allow workers to celebrate culture of malls and new units in sector must have increased in the Vishvakarma Pooja. In the Hindu service sector and manufacturing, similar manner in the same period. pantheon Vishvakarma is the lord of inducted a new working force tools and workers—his birthday is emerging from Bihar, Delhi, Uttar However, all these employees normally a holiday, no less relevant Pradesh and Haryana. The together constitute not more than than Ram Naumi, Buddha Jayanti management culture in force looked 7 percent of labour force in India. or the birthday of Prophet more towards casual, contract Muhammad. labour. JANATA, July 29, 2012 13

Affiliated either to Communists, had learned how to fight while was resisting, even when Honda Congress, and BJP-Shiv Sena—or growing up, without getting inflicted workers were getting similar pay practicing Dutta Samant type with the scars of the lumpen scales. syndicalism—the old Unions were proletariat. Averse to slow paced, unable to read the modern constitutional ways, he found the In this period of global crisis, the times. After failing miserably in quick action recommended by Maruti section (Swift and Dzire creating space for casual/contract radical Left activists—or ‘on their cars) was contributing more to labour, they started losing their grip own’ marka angry young men—far Maruti Suzuki’s super profits. There over old working class centres as more attractive. seems to be immense pressure on well. the management to reduce wages This contemporary worker in the name of increasing Interestingly, the Gurgaon-NCR disliked both the detached persona productivity. But why should Indian based factories flirted at first with of the foreign manager as well as workers always suffer during a CITU and AITUC, the Trade the philistine, pseudo-personalized downward spiral cycle of global Unions respectively of the CPM approach of Indian mangers. He capitalism? and the CPI. The workers—most was as impatient with the taalu- of them in their twenties—young, chaalu andaaz of the foreigners The problem is that post- restless and ambitious—however, as with the baniagiri of Indian liberalization India has no idea of soon grew tired of old negotiating executives. 1857, India’s first war of skills of traditional unions. It is Independence. The Bengal Army symptomatic that last year, the In March 2012, while the of the East India Company, which Manesar Maruti-Suzuki plant saw Manesar plant was facing wage remained at the forefront of the the emergence of a new union with negotiations between the new war’s long and torturous course, a new, younger leadership. Sonu Union and the management, two comprised of soldiers from the Gujjar, the erstwhile chief of the workers shocked the managers with Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh union, typified the novel, 21st century their statistical knowledge. The and Bihar belt. They rebelled worker. By presenting the workers knew exactly that between against what was seen as the viewpoints of workers through con- 2007 and 2011 while the Maruti insensitivity of a multinational calls and other modern techniques, Suzuki workers’ yearly earnings company—the world’s largest Sonu Gujjar grabbed national increased by 5.5 percent, the that managed a huge country like headlines. His colleagues wanted consumer price index (for the India plus other colonial stations— their own voice, independent of the Faridabad centre, Haryana), went towards the sense of dignity, pride management, to be heard. up by over 50 per cent. Since 2001, and religion of both Hindus and profits for the Maruti Suzuki Muslims. Indeed this contemporary company increased by 2200 worker, especially in North India/ percent! It is imperative to note that the Hindi-Urdu heartland, was both Manesar incident arose following more rooted and cosmopolitan. So in any case, the Maruti Suzuki an anti-Dalit, caste slur issued by Unlike his counterpart of 1970s and management was throwing crumbs a supervisor to Jiya Lal, a worker. 1980s, who hailed mainly from a at the workers. The workers’ salary Then Jat-Gujar-Tyagi-Dalit landless labour, poor peasant or a was in no way, by any yardstick, workers–belonging to the Haryana pauperized proletariat background, commensurate with the rise in region–and UP-Bihar Poorabias– the contemporary worker came Company’s profit. Yet the Manesar united to give a fitting reply to the from middle to upper-middle plant management was not ready miscreants belonging to the peasant backdrop. In Indian terms, to grant even a miniscule wage management. The management he belonged to a khaata-peeta increase. Here, while contract labor brought in hundreds of bouncers to milieu—he was much more capable got Rs. 7000 a month, regular beat workers to submission. In of acting on his own. He was part workers survived on a mere Rs. fact, the official statement of the of the North Indian pattidari village 17000. Manesar workers were Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union, community system that ensured demanding wage increase of Rs. states that the bouncers started the both bonding and individuality. He 15-18000, which the management fire that killed a senior manager. 14 JANATA, July 29, 2012 So class solidarity overcame caste Celebrating Harmony and Peace divisions—a similar phenomenon had occurred during 1857. Ram Puniyani Both 1857 and Manesar incidents arose out of cultural Communal violence is the sad Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi comes to slights inflicted by an insensitive reality of South Asian states. India one’s mind for his selfless work in foreign/part-foreign management. in particular has been witnessing this the Kanpur violence of 1931. For At the other end of the spectrum, violence more so after the coming Gandhi, father of the nation, the it can be seen that like the Manesar of British. British in pursuance of Hindu-Muslim amity was on the top incident, the cultural aspect of 1857 their policy of ‘Divide and Rule’, of agenda and when thewhole nation carried a slew of wage related introduced communal historiography was celebrating the release from the issues, and other socio-economic and sections of population who clutches of colonial powers he was grievances, nursed by soldiers wanted to preserve their feudal doing his best in the riot ravaged against the British East India privileges, picked up this version of Noakhali and other places. His Company. history and used religion as a cover efforts were superhuman, as he did for their politics. Both Hindu and not care for his safety, what was It can be seen clearly that Muslim communalism, in a way paramount for him was as to how to though India runs on the played a supplementary role to the restore the sanity amongst the violent workforce of UP, Bihar, Delhi and British policy of divide and rule. The mobs. It is because of this that Lord Haryana, the people of these communal violence, which has been Mountbatten the last Viceroy of regions have historically resisted stalking the streets of India is due to British Empire and First Governor the homogeneity, uniformity and numerous factors and is causing General of Independent India called conformity demanded by global immense suffering to society. Many him as the ‘one man army’. corporate culture. These workers a social group and many an demand their own indigenous- individuals are doing their bit to One is sure there must be various capitalist ethic, different from the ensure that the flames of communal glorious examples of such west. They are in no mood to violence are doused and amity superhuman efforts in our comply. After twenty years of prevails in the society. community, who need to be enormous liberalization, India is on remembered with respect. One the threshold of a gigantic working In this light, it was heartening to needs to learn a lot from their values class unrest. Indian people regard note the observance of ‘Peace and while celebrating their anniversaries. economic reform and the English Harmony’ day, on the anniversary of It is all the more important in today’s speaking managerial elite with Vasant–Rajab on 1st July in India as communal violence is, disdain. They have tasted wealth— Ahmadabad. Vasant Rao Hegiste unfortunately marching with but they also know that, foreigners and Rajab Ali Lakhani were two relentless speed, changing its form and their lackeys have amassed friends who were working for the and nature constantly. One has seen riches a thousand times over. With amity in the society. In the communal that since the decade of 1980s the people of North Indian origin— conflagration which broke out in violence in many a north Indian cities, their culture of constructive Ahmadabad in the wake of post- Meerut, Malyana, Bhagalpur and violence and non-submission to partition tragedy, both of them went Delhi was in a way revival of this power intact—leading this battle, in the city to restore peace and horrendous phenomenon in the the stage is set for new class amity. The crowd, maddened by the Independent India. The massacre in struggles of the 21st century. feeling of hate, killed them. The day Nellie and Delhi were too dangerous Like the Anna Hazare movement of their martyrdom is being in their extent and damage to human of August 2011, the Manesar celebrated in Gujarat by various lives. Further down the Mumbai incident has taken all political groups. One recalls that there have violence of 1992-93 gave us a parties by surprise. Their political been many outstanding individuals, warning signal that things are response system is simply, not thinkers, social activists who have worsening on the front of attuned to the new, 21st century sacrificed their lives on the altar of intercommunity relations. This was Indian reality. communal peace. The name of followed by targeting another JANATA, July 29, 2012 15 minority, the Christians, and brutal factors while the politics in the name Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Vasant- murder of Pastor Stains and later of religion presents it as if the Rajab and their tribe. We do salute the Kandhmal violence came as yet differences amongst the practices this spirit of peace and amity in our another eye opener for us. preached by clergy are the core traditions and hope this will show points of difference. For the last us the path to progress and peace The root cause of the communal some time the syncretic aspects of in the long run. violence is the politics in the name society are being undermined and of religion. In this the political, the divisive aspects are being social, economic agenda of vested highlighted. The communal politics Appeal interests are presented in the has the base in the spread of hate language of religion. Unfortunately other propaganda. This hate other Here in Alleppey, it is very in India this phenomenon is running sentiments are the foundation on clearly decided that the leader of parallel to the process of global aims which innocent people are killed Kerala Swathathra Malsya of Imperial powers that in pursuit during the carnages. The carnages Thozhilali Federation Dominic was of their control over oil wells have also polarize communities along murdered by the CPI(M) members. promoted fundamentalism and religious lines and ghettoization of All except the first accused have terrorism in the name of religion. minorities follows. This to undergo life-long imprisonment. The imperial power has also ghettoization further traps the We are waiting for the punishment demonized one of the major communities into becoming inward for the first accused. What have religious communities of the world. looking and being further the leaders to say about this murder This present era has been the one demonized. Today we in India are by the CPI(M) cadres? Is there no where the deeper process of witnessing a very concerted end to the criminal violence in ‘alliance of civilizations’ has been attempt to marginalize the religious politics? This is applicable to every undermined and the flagship of the communities. party and trade union. Are we vested interests has been the thesis ready to learn from this judgment? of’ ‘clash of civilizations’, which is The way out is very hard and a Let us once and for all stop Violence a falsification of the reality of the long struggle to restore the in Politics. human history. One knows that humanism of our society. We, the human society has progressed due people of different religious –Thomas Kocherry to alliance of diverse civilizations communities have a common and cultures. While the rulers and heritage and our aspirations for affluent have been fighting for better society are also common. increasing their power and wealth, What prevents our efforts for a Acharya Javadekar the average people of the world better society is the hysteria created have been allying, intermixing with by religion based politics. This A Satyagrahi Socialist each other leading to high degree hysteria is created around the of synthesis in all aspects of human emotive issues. There is a dire need by culture, be it food habits, clothing, to change the paradigm of social language, literature, architecture, or thought, the one from identity based G. P. Pradhan be it even the religious traditions issues to the one revolving around followed by people. Social the rights and livelihood of weaker interaction is the moving engine of sections of society. There is a need human progress. to overcome the impact of Price: Rs. 20/- prevalent myths about minorities The divisive politics in the name and stereotypes about them and Janata Trust of religion begins by changing the strengthening the tradition of paradigm of human understanding syncretism, which is our basic D-15, Ganesh Prasad, from the socio-economic hallmark. There is a need to uphold Naushir Bharucha Marg, differences to religious ones. The the values of Bhakti and Sufi Grant Road (W), core aspect of human stratification traditions, there is need to uphold Mumbai 400 007. runs around economic and social the values of likes of Gandhi, R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 29, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012 Posted on every Wedenesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 28 An Apology to A Gentleman Justice August 5, 2012 Mastram Kapoor

Assam and Bodo–Muslim Dear sir, drifting. The opposition has lost the Clashes will to power (in Lohia’s words) and Asghar Ali Engineer I owe you an apology for dragging their leaders seem to be enjoying their your name in the President’s election present status as regional satraps or which I hoped could be an occasion caste leaders or as shadow prime Priority Issues for bringing about a healthy change minister, ministers and governors. S.Viswam in the dull political atmosphere of this country. I am sorry, the occasion Surprisingly, Lord Meghnath turned out to be more dull and more Desai, a London-based Indian When Dreams die Young sickening in view of the total intellectual and member of House of Harsh Mander surrender of the opposition to the will Lords, in his column in The Indian and manipulations of the ruling party. Express (July 8, 2012) gave a small hint that the tendency to select the Greater Clarity on What I conclude from this sordid President by consensus, is due to love Social Democracy drama is that there is an all round for dynastic rule, which the Congress D. K. Giri crisis, which is not limited to the state never tried to cast-off. According to management (meaning now Shri Desai, the only time when this facilitating corporate sector) but has effort was made when after the Combustible Northeast extended to the minds of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in Kuldip Nayar politicians, academicians and various 1991, President R.Venkatraman kinds of intellectuals. No one suggested to his Vive-President Dr. questioned why in a democracy, Shankar Dayal Sharma that he there should be a President selected should accept the post of President by consensus of party-bosses rather of the Congress Party, so that he Editor : than a President elected in a could become the Prime Minister. G. G. Parikh democratic way. No one raised the He says it was Congress Party’s point that in no democratic country, Managing Editor : Guddi own device to change the tradition. the opposition gives smooth walk- What really happened on that over to ruling party’s candidate. It D-15, Ganesh Prasad, occasion could not be imagined by seems that the Congress is behaving Shri Desai due to long distance. This Naushir Bharucha Marg, as if it has a divine mandate to rule scene is aptly described by (Late) Mumbai - 400 007. even though it has lost the capacity Madhu Limaye in one of his articles. Email : [email protected] to steer and has given up to mere According to him, it was a clever 2 JANATA, August 5, 2012 move on the part of the President, will enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it the caste-wise census along with R.Venkatraman, who wanted to may respond to some of the calls of general census to obtain the figures secure for himself a second term of Mahatma Gandhi, say of austerity of ‘social and educational presidentship, after forming a and openness. backwardness of the classes of national government with Shankar citizens’ on the basis of which Dayal Sharma as Prime Minister, I also had in mind some other adequate or inadequate Shankar Dayal Sharma cleverly things which I used to discuss with representation could be ascertained refused because he eyed on my sagacious friend Ravela Somaiya and classes having got adequate permanent promotion as President whose proximity to you suggested to representation, could be removed rather than a purely temporary me that I should request you to agree from the reserved category to the promotion as Prime Minister. This to stand for election without general category thus ensuring was a repetition of the trick played expecting a win, according to Lohia’s approximate equality among all by Gyani Zail Singh on his Vice- prescription of ‘Nirasha Ke sections of population and ultimate President, R.Venkatraman. When Kartavya’ (to act without hope). elimination of caste system. All Zail Singh’s term was about to end, Your first reaction was to laugh out governments, right from Pt. he wanted to dismiss Rajiv Gandhi the suggestion but after thinking over Jawaharlal Nehru’s to Dr. and form a national government with seriously you agreed to become Manmohan Singh’s, with the R.Venkatraman as Prime Minister, sacrificial goat. I was deeply moved exception of that of H.D. with an eye on second term for by your generosity. Devegowda, firmly opposed the himself. But the offer was refused caste-wise census, which used to be because Shri Venkatraman too, But in working for all this, I was carried out by the British government wanted to be a full time President not merely thinking of the present from 1872 to 1932. When rather than a temporary Prime political conditions. There were also Devegowda’s government Minister. Lord Desai was not in a some other questions in my mind sanctioned it, the Congress withdrew position to see this internal struggle which I thought could be solved with its support to that government of the noble minds. your little help from Rashtrapati resulting in its fall and the subsequent Bhavan. It has pained me after the government headed by Atal Bihari I can’t exactly say what experience of 72 years of my political Vajpayee, after taking oath, transpired in my mind when I thought awareness that the whole structure performed the first act to cancel the of your name as an ideal President. of the State___ Executive, Legislature order issued by Devegowda’s May be, I was moved by your two and Judiciary___ had so far doggedly government. Compelled by people’s judgements regarding black money opposed the highest goal of the agitation and clamour in Parliament, and Salva Judum which you Constitution, to ensure equality and Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan delivered together with your fraternity to all. To eliminate Singh, gave an assurance in the colleague justice S.S. Nijhar, before inequality, abolition of caste was Parliament that this government will your retirement or may be, it was necessary for which the scheme of soon order caste-wise census, but he due to your lecture on Dr. Lohia, in reservations or special opportunities soon forgot his promise and instead the Law Institute of India. The main to the classes who have suffered sanctioned about Rs 45000 crore consideration in my mind was that from the caste-system, was laid scheme of Unique Identification the President should not belong to down in the Constitution. It was Cards to facilitate corporate sector the ruling party and it would be best confirmed by Supreme Court in and enforce mass surveillance over if he didn’t belong to any party. In Indira Sahani Judgement (1992) that people in the style of a fascist state. the present situation I thought that a the aim of reservation is abolition of Even the Supreme Court didn’t man with deep understanding of and caste. But the governments never extend a helping hand to this problem commitment to the Constitution tried seriously to enforce Article and it refused to even entertain the would be best as President, since our 16(4) (which provided reservations), special petitions requesting for whole political set-up is being taken nor the Supreme Court directed the caste-census, one moved by Madhu over by some unconstitutional government to do so. Neither the Limaye, in 1992 and other by this elements and there must be someone government nor the Supreme Court writer and several others in 2010 and worthy to keep an eye on them. I defined the words ‘adequate 2011. How could the reservation also thought that if a person like you representation’, nor did they order scheme of the Constitution be JANATA, August 5, 2012 3 implemented when even the first nation which is unpardonable crime causes was in Rashtrapati Bhavan. step of obtaining reliable and in history. With a foreign language His reference to the Supreme Court scientific data regarding castes was as medium of instruction, all hopes or advice to the Prime Minister so resolutely resisted. I am sure, all of providing education to all of our could make a definite dent on the this is not merely “measurable children are lost forever since we stone wall. underachievement” (in Amartya could provide education to only 10 Sen’s words) it is willful non- percent of our child population in last I am sad, for we failed and caused achievement. It is open defiance by 65 years. you embarrassment but I assure you the upper castes in order to protect that we will not give up our their centuries old privileges I hoped that these two logjams of determination to find out a new path bestowed upon them by the caste- reservations and language could be to come out of thick jungle for which system. broken or at least considered we may again seek your seriously by the central government cooperation. The other question in my mind was and the Supreme Court, if a that of language of administration President sympathetic to these With regards, and instruction. The Nehru government imposed a permanent slavery of a foreign language on Lohia and Einstein Indian people. A language spoken and understood by not more than two Dr. Einstein was seated on the supported the idea of decentralization and a half or three percent population porch of his small farmhouse talking of authority. They briefly differed on made the whole business of state to String fellow Barr, President of Communist China, which Lohia mystic utterances of the sorcerers the Foundation for World opposed as completely as he opposed for the 97 percent of population. This Government, when we arrived. For Chiang’s China of status quo. gave full freedom for corruption, the next few hours Lohia and Einstein Perhaps they would differ about nepotism and inefficiency to all carried on the rarest conversation of Europe, too, for the one moment concerned with the business of the the trip. Best of all were the great, when Einstein seemed almost hurt state. Not only this, the slavery of hearty laughs which the two men when Lohia said, ‘You know I’m not the foreign language, stiffed the shared as they surveyed the ironic one of those who believed that the growth of our languages (which have state of mankind. For a time they European is more cultured than the history older than of English) talked in German, but mainly they American.’ ‘What?’ Einstein asked, resulting in dumbness of masses and were generous enough to speak and Lohia reiterated that he believed all round backwardness of our vast English. America to be the natural fulfillment population. of the European mind, and that Einstein’s curiosity required that Europeans were jealous even of The two big road-blocks described Lohia talk Indian politics and outline American plumbing and pressure above (leaving aside some others) the Socialist program. The abolition cookers: ‘It is only that America has have been simply ignored by English- of landlordism and the re-division of more of what Europe wants.’ educated classes and some of their land he approved of rapidly. When select individuals have even Lohia answered a question about a Einstein finally laughed, ‘I see you threatened a civil war over the compensation for the landlords with have an independent mind.’ ‘May I demand to remove them. But the a firm stand against it, proposing only ask you a question, Dr. Einstein?’ injury they have caused to the nation rehabilitation settlement, Einstein Lohia began. ‘Not about politics. I is beyond the imagination of these said, ‘good, good’. Why had Nehru have come here to learn from you, people. The first road-block has not done these things? Lohia did not and in politics I suppose I might even snatched from 90 percent population know. Einstein laughed at Lohia’s have some thing to tell you. But in of this country what they had earned remarks: ‘Some men can write the higher field of the human mind through centuries of sufferings___ the admirably - but act miserably’. we need your help. In India I have hope of freedom from caste-slavery. said that our century has had only The other road-block has hit even Einstein seemed to like the concept harder by erasing the memory of the of small machine, and he strenuously (Continued on Page 7) 4 JANATA, August 5, 2012 Assam and Bodo–Muslim Clashes

Asghar Ali Engineer

Much has been written in In 2008 too there were clashes are Bengali speaking Muslims in newspapers by now about the between Muslims and Bodos and Assam and that few Bengali disaster that occurred in lower around 55 persons were killed. Most speaking Muslims have migrated in Assam - Kokrajhar and three other of these Muslims described as recent times too both from districts. About 58 persons have died Bangla Deshi are quite old migrants Bangladesh and other areas like since 6th July though main clashes from British period. In Neli, Bengali West Bengal. occurred from 19th July onwards and Muslims had told me that they had now some kind of uneasy situation migrated in early thirties or even But most of them are from the prevails. More than four lakh have before and most of them were British time and there is no scientific become refugees living in 27 brought to till char lands of Assam. collection of data to show how many different camps of which three lakh They are quite hard working and have recently migrated from are Muslims. Newspapers generally Assamese Ahoms and hill tribe Bangladesh. There is no national narrate events and hardly analyze or Lalung are easy going and are not register too. After all it is propaganda give reasons on the basis of in-depth willing to work hard on char lands. and propaganda is based, at best, on study. Unfortunately in Neli though almost half truth and only succeeds in 3,000 people were killed, these riots creating confusion and division Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi have been totally forgotten. Even no among people. And the allegation was angry when someone said official inquiry was held as if no major that the Congress is allowing Bangla Assam was burning Assam is disaster had taken place. Deshi Muslims to migrate to convert indeed burning. The conflict them into its vote-bank has naturally there is much wider than Bodo- The rightwing BJP had added powerful appeal among anti- Muslim clashes in Kokrajhar or much fuel in propagating that Bangla Congress forces. in BTC (Bodo Territorial Deshi Muslims are migrating in large Council). Assam communal riots numbers giving highly exaggerated Assam will be on turmoil until this are one, among many other figures without any basis. Today issue is resolved and it is not only manifestations of this conflict. there is widespread network of RSS, Bangladesh people or Bengali There will be no peace in Assam since eighties, and it has been speaking Muslims who are migrating unless the false propaganda systematically working there to to Assam but many others like about migration of Bangla Deshi create cleavage between Hindus and Biharis are also migrating who are Muslims is resolved. Muslims though historically there has Hindi speaking. Marwaris from been communal harmony between Rajasthan have also migrated and AASU movement of eighties and Hindus and Muslims and in creating control trade in all parts of North its concomitant bloodshed in Neli in this harmony Shankr Deo on one East. But the propaganda machinery 1983 was its first manifestation. In hand, and, Azan Fakir, on the other is in full swing talking about Bangla Neli it was between Bengali have played very important role. Deshi Muslims thanks to certain speaking Muslims (branded as political design. Bangla Deshis) and Lalung tribe and This harmony does not suit BJP in these riots more than 3,000 for its Hindutva politics and hence it Another cause of these clashes Muslims were killed. They were all has picked up Bangla Deshi issue to is creating of Bodo Territorial killed in the name of Bangla Deshis divide Hindus and Muslims. It is Council in an area where Bodos are and there was terrible fear among because for BJP it is not easy to only 29 per cent and the rest are non- the Assamese Muslims too. When I attack Assamese Muslims due to Bodos including Bengali speaking went for investigation no Assamese historical harmony but easy to create Muslims settled there since the Muslim was prepared to speak due division in the name of Bangla Deshi British period and the British had to fear. Muslims. It is not to deny that there brought them there for cultivation of JANATA, August 5, 2012 5 jute more than 100 years ago. The Chief Minister remained a silent Government to give all powers and Central Government did this to buy spectator and did not take stern majority representation to a minority peace with militant Bodos who are action. Of course after killing and at the cost of majority non-Bodo demanding Bodo state in Assam. destruction spread Chief Minister people. Besides Muslims there are asked for central help and requested other people too like Koch How can one create Bodo for military deployment which was Rajbongshis, Santhals and Adibashis Territorial Council and give them delayed and things went out of though Muslims constitute majority powers for development and other control. It, however, must be said that of non-Bodo people. Either the matters when they are just 29 per Prime Minister Manmohan Singh February 2003 agreement about cent? All non-Bodo people feel urged upon the Chief Minister to Territorial Council should be annulled aggrieved and want the Council to take effective steps to stop this or increased share should be given be repealed. They feel they are not madness. He also made it a point to to non-Bodos according to their getting due share in development. visit the affected areas though Gogoi population. The Bodos, on the other hand, want did not bother to visit when people to increase their number in that area were being killed and their homes Thirdly the exaggerated so that they become the majority and destroyed. propaganda about Bangla Deshi creation of Bodo Territorial Council Muslims should stop and all facts could be justified. It must be borne in mind that this about it be kept before the nation is not the first or last rioting in Assam through scientific data. This has Another thing which is the cause or in Kokrajhar for that matter. If become a major irritant not only in of this turmoil is that Bodo militants proper steps are not taken much Assam but also in other parts of who were supposed to surrender more killing and destruction can India. arms never did so and these militants follow. The first urgent step to be roam around freely with their guns. taken is to disarm Bodo militant These are some of the measures The flow of arms has never stopped youth. In other areas of conflict arms which must be taken urgently to and government has never taken are freely flowing and Bodo youth defuse the situation. It should not be steps to disarm these Bodos, mainly are seen roaming freely with guns treated merely as a law and order for political reasons. The ruling and threatening non-Bodos in the problem but a political one and alliance has Bodo National Front as area, particularly Muslims. political solution has to be found. its constituent and the Chief Minister Some Bodo leaders are making does not want to displease the Bodos. They are also extorting money highly irresponsible statements and from non-Bodos and if they do not unfortunately the National Council of What happened in Kokrajhar pay they walk away with their Churches of India General Secretary district began with four Bodo youth animals and poultry. This has Roger Gaikwad has also played to who came on motor cycle on 6th July become great irritant for the people the gallery by saying that Bangla with guns and killed two Muslims and in that area. Disarming them is an Deshi Muslims have occupied 10,000 ran away. Nothing was done by the urgent measure but it is anybody’s square kms of territory. It is very district administration as both Deputy guess whether the Government will unfortunate and irresponsible Commissioner and Collector were be able to take this step as Bodos statement. It is the result of general Bodos. Subsequently unknown are part of ruling political alliance but propaganda going on about Bangla people (assumed to be Begali there is no other way also. Deshi Muslims. Muslims) killed four ex-militant Bodos and Kokrajhar was on fire. It Secondly, some solution has to be It is unfortunate that the next door is now that the Dy. Commissioner found to the problem of Bodo in Myanmar Rohingya Muslims are and District Magistrate have been Territorial Council as Bodos are no being killed under the same excuse removed (of which District more than one-third of the population by the Military Government and here Magistrate has been suspended). in that area (even less than that). in India Bengali Muslims are being This probably can be done by killed though we are a democracy. If that action had been taken in increasing share of non-Bodo people Only difference is that here Central time much bloodshed and destruction in the Council. It was an unjust Government, especially Manmohan could have been avoided. However, measure on the part of Central Singh has taken some urgent steps 6 JANATA, August 5, 2012 to put out the fire and to render Priority Issues financial relief by announcing a Rs.300 crore package and Myanmar Military dictatorship is mercilessly S. Viswam destroying Rohingya Muslims and justifying it. A week after Pranab Mukhrjee’s went out of control due to elevation as President, prime minister unanticipated technical problems, one Migration cannot be stopped Manmohan Singh has begun is tempted to say that Shinde was altogether but it should not be addressing priority issues of national overwhelmed by the challenge of allowed to be politically exploited by importance. The first of these ensuring unrestricted power supply highly exaggerating the figures. In apparently was finding a replacement to the nation. We hope he will not find order to maintain peace one has to for the former finance minister. the challenge of running the home use political wisdom and ensure When the PM decided to retain the ministry a task beyond his stability for the linguistic and ethnic finance ministry with himself after competence. The Home Ministry is comunities who have been living Pranabda’s resignation, certain one of the handful of central ministries here for more than a century. section of the Indian and international which calls for a high degree of corporates were overjoyed. competence, understanding, tact, Obviously, they expected the speedy patience and ability to carry along Janata Subscription implementation of a series of diverse sections of the national Annual Rs. : 260/- economic reforms which Pranabda political class who are whimsical and was disinclined to undertake. We temperamental in their attitude to the Three Years : 750/- wonder what their reaction would be Centre. A lone Mamata Banerjee can now that the PM has brought P. keep the entire Home Ministry on Demand Draft / Cheque Chidambaram to the North Block. tenterhooks! Shinde must cultivate on Chidambaram is no stranger to the the ability of pleasing everyone, an Mumbai Bank finance ministry, and he is known to attribute that has escaped many of in favour of be an advocate of reforms. He may his predecessors. Chidambaram had attempt what Pranabda was acquired this attribute after some trials reluctant to undertake, if the and errors. Shinde can take a few JANATA TRUST opposition, whose allergy towards lessons from his immediate D-15, Ganesh Prasad, him was amply manifested during the predecessor. We hope also that Naushir Bharucha Marg, last few sittings of Parliament, lets Veerappa Moily, who gets additional Mumbai 400 007 him. Their non-cooperation may be a charge of the power ministry, will big hurdle to overcome which measure up to the twin challenges of Chidambaram may have to bring into keeping corporates as well as energy play all the patience, tact and goodwill consumers in good humour till such Madhu Dandavate he is capable of. The other change time as the prime minister goes in for effected by the PM is to replace a full-fledged cabinet shake-up after By Chidambaram with Shushil Kumar the current session of parliament. The B. Vivekanandan Shinde whose performance as Power next major reshuffle of the Union Minister was anything but Council of Minister may well be the remarkable. On the day of Shinde’s last before the run-up to the 2014 Price: Rs. 20/- “promotion” as Home Minister, the Lok Sabha polls. entire northern half of the country Janata Trust was plunged into darkness. Whatever While the exercise of filling reasons the Power Grid Corporation vacancies has met an immediate D-15, Ganesh Prasad, has adduced for the massive (and challenge, the prime minister’s major Naushir Bharucha Marg, unprecedented) outages, they challenge will come when he Grant Road (W), occurred when Shinde was in charge. attempts that reshuffle. It is on such Mumbai 400 007. However, after making due occasions that the compulsions of allowance for the fact that things coalition politics become both an JANATA, August 5, 2012 7 advantage and a disadvantage. In the (Continued from Page 3) normal course of things, logic would have suggested that the topmost post three great men, Gandhi, Bernard In this vein they surveyed the in the government after the prime Shaw, and you. world for a while, and Lohia minister’s goes to Sharad Pawar, who wanted to return to continue this is not only the most senior among the In Berlin, I said that our age has discussion with, for him, ‘the best ministers but most experienced. On thought only twice, Mahatma Gandhi man in America’. When the two his own, and without any pressure and atomic energy; one is gone, and parted, Einstein said, ‘It is so good from the opposition, Sharad Pawar your invention is a source of death. to meet a man – one gets so has ensured that the serious problem How is the human mind to get out this lonely.’ of drought which has several states stagnation, this confinement and in its grip is addressed without delay. rigidity which is stifling it? Do you –Selected by Qurban Ali from The government has announced a see a new integration which can free Harris Wofford’s “ Lohia and financial assistance package of thought for new voyages of America Meet”,: courtesy Lohia schemes estimated to cost Rs. 1900 discovery?’ Today website) crores for the rain-deficient states. One wishes that all of the government’s ministries were as Rajesh Khanna and Mrinal Gore vigilant as the one under Pawar’s charge in keeping abreast of the Last fortnight two prominent citizens of Mumbai passed away within challenges of the day and times! a day of each other. Rajesh Khanna, the superstar and Paniwalibai, Mrinal Gore. Both of them were popular in their own way and both One other major development of dealt in dreams. Rajesh Khanna made us dream of glamour and romance the week gone by was the resumption and Mrinaltai in hope. Media went hysterical in mourning the superstar of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption while Mrinal Gore was given a very subdued homage. The media went campaign. Fasts, particularly berserk with reams of paper, including editorials, in adulation of the film prolonged ones which endanger lives star. The electronic media aired continuous programs on him ignoring are no longer acceptable as pressure all other news in the country. The usual panel had elaborate discussion points to secure demands and get on the life and times of Rajesh Khanna. Rajesh Khanna, the redressal of legitimate grievances. phenomenon, deserved all this hero-worship. We agree entirely with the outgoing Chief Economic Adviser Kaushik However, at the time when the credibility of politicians is at its nadir, Basu that while civil society pressure a little attention to Mrinal Gore was in the interest of the nation. She fits on government is a useful rallying the slogan ‘Desh ka neta kaisa ho’ perfectly. She was as rich or poor point for mobilization of public when she passed away as she was when she entered public life. In opinion, fasts have only a limited spite of being in politics all her life, she never hankered after power. value. Anna Hazare and his She led many demonstrations and agitations for the common man, but colleagues should abandon the mode never for any particular caste, creed or region. Not once was her of fasting for their campaign which agitation aimed at inconveniencing the aam admi. There was absolutely acquires overtones and undertones no damage to public or private property. Her slogans did not end with of blackmail and intimidation when the threat of ‘or else’. Yet she was no less effective than the present life is threatened. However, Team leaders in their purpose. She could have been presented as a perfect Anna’s proposal to find a political role model of what a public leader should be! alternative to their campaign against This is not to disrespect Rajesh Khanna or grudge adulation given to corruption is welcome and calls for him, but the fact remains that he was long past his prime and could not deeper examination before create the magic again. He was no longer relevant to the country while finalization. A new political party’s Mrinal Gore is all the more relevant in today’s polity. The media did effectiveness depends on a variety score on TRPs but sorely missed out on social responsibility! of factors, its composition and leadership being only two minor –Anil Bagarka features. 8 JANATA, August 5, 2012 When Dreams die Young

Harsh Mander

In restlessly industrialising India continue education, and often face away from violent and abusive there are millions of children who are ridicule and shame in the hands of families, who recycle waste, retail unlikely ever to see the inside of a school management or even fellow- at traffic lights, or beg for a living. school. Formal education, with all its students. Children living in conflict Some who live on the streets may limitations, alone carries within it the zones are unable to access schools have one or both parents, but they potential to free these children from in a climate of abiding fear and are destitute and homeless, and feel life-sentences of hard labour in insecurity; often schools in these they have no option except to send poverty and want, to which they are areas are occupied by security out the child to work on the streets. otherwise condemned. forces. Children whose parents lead nomadic and semi-nomadic lives, or The Constitution of India The law today mandates that migrate to the cities due because envisaged free and compulsory there should be a functioning school there is no food and no work in their education for all the children within within two kilometres of every child’s villages are effectively barred from 10 years of the promulgation of the home. Governments have schools. Several hundred thousand Constitution. Fifty nine years later, exponentially expanded the network children who together with their the Indian State finally passed the of government primary schooling, families live and work in brick kilns Right of Children to Free and bringing schools physically closer to of India, for instance, find it difficult Compulsory Education Act in 2009. most children in the country (although to access schools — even if those However, since the actual realisation the quality of many of these schools are located near the kilns. of this right by children of powerless remains a huge problem). But there and marginalised communities remains a core group of children Children of stigmatised parentage remains limited and problematic, this who are unable to enter these such as those living with HIV/AIDS requires special provisions and schools, or remain in them, even if or leprosy, or those engaged in additional investments for such they are literally located across the manual scavenging, sex work and so children. road from where they sleep. on, face intense forms of societal and educational discriminatory exclusion. For certain disadvantaged children Who are these children, and what The unjust stigma of their parents is — like children without adult are the formidable barriers they face transferred to children in the shape protection such as orphans and street to enter schools, and remain within of multiple discriminations and children; and children of migrants these? There are masses of children humiliation heaped on them — in and nomadic communities; internally whose childhoods and dreams of school and outside school. I recall displaced children and children in education are lost in labour in the all teachers in a small district town I some conflict areas; or children of mines, kilns, agricultural fields, worked in threatening to strike work remote tribal communities — it is factories and home-based work. if I insisted on admitting in schools impossible to access their right to Child workers are expected by their children of parents who had leprosy education without safe residential own families to be at work and not and begged for a living. Children of hostels or schools. A child who lives in regular school, and long hours of manual scavengers report being and works on the streets, or without work are physically, emotionally and shamed by being forced to clean adult guardians, for instance, cannot mentally draining, even if there are toilets in schools. be expected after sleeping the night provisions to attend non-formal on the streets, waking early to pick schools after work. Millions of children are rags, to simply walk into school. This condemned never to enter schools right of these disadvantaged children Children who are disabled find it because they have no home, or no to residential schools, and not just difficult to enter school, negotiate its family, or both. The streets of every neighbourhood day schools, needs to infrastructure, keep pace and city house children who have run be written into the law specifically, JANATA, August 5, 2012 9 otherwise the right to education of Greater Clarity on Social Democracy these children will simply remain on paper. D. K. Giri The law makes a modest provision, bitterly contested by elite private schools, for admitting Idea precedes action; clearer idea implementing policies, which was disadvantaged children from a leads to better action as well as amply evident in the camp. It was private school’s neighbourhood to greater impact. This is, perhaps, also made clear that Social 25 per cent of seats in the earliest what had inspired the leadership of Democracy is a constantly class of the school. But almost no ‘Centre of Socialist Studies’, developing project and the debates schools recognise a street child, or Bangalore to organise an orientation on its renewal and repositioning are child worker in eateries of factories, camp for a cross-section of activists continuing exercises that enable it to or migrant children, as eligible for this on “Ideology, Clarity of Thought and occupy new political space and small reservation, and they remain Perspectives”. The camp was fully embrace new organizational forms. excluded even from this opportunity. residential running for three full days, Let us recapitulate some of the major 20th, 21st, and 22nd July. There was debates. The law laudably provides that a vibrant participation from the child should be admitted into school attendees leading to intensive State v/s the Market at an older age, even if the child has discussion with and between not been to school before, and special Resource Persons on issues related Social Democrats emphasized training classes should be held in to Social Democracy. Interestingly, the primacy of State for social every school for these children. But many participants felt that instead of justice and equality. So they built the this rarely happens, as teachers are gaining greater clarity, they were welfare state as the bedrock of not trained or sensitised to getting confused about: what Social Social Democracy. But the welfare respectfully accept and work with Democracy meant in the current state was seen by many as a these older children. There is no context, how was it different from corrective of or compromise with reason why an out-of-school child Democratic Socialism, and even capitalism. The liberal criticism of should not be taught in a class within Communism, the State v/s Market, the State was that any social the same school, run at the same time individual v/s community, arrangement reliant on the state as regular classes; and why the child globalization and socialism and so on. (however democratic) including a should not otherwise be fully On most of these issues there were tax serviced public service sector integrated with other activities of her two clear positions - one, traditional was economically inefficient which or his age-appropriate class, such as and national, and the other new and also curtailed individual freedom. sports, extra-curricular activities, and transnational. These two lines of Social Democrats treated markets mid-day meals. interpretations may have confused as exploitative, breeding inequality the participants. As a Resource and injustice in the societies. Yet the Since they are the most vulnerable Person, I was trying to draw a third way of Blair, the former of our children, ensuring the rights “middle path”, “build a consensus” Labour Prime Minister of the of these “last” children should be the or “reconcile the positions”. I was United Kingdom and Schroeder, the first obligation of every Government. also reminding the camp of the former Social Democrat Chancellor But for this to actually happen, these famous words of Socrates, of Germany suggested market children, condemned by violence, “confusion is the beginning of economy and communitarianism, as neglect, oppression and poverty to wisdom”. It is natural to be major instruments for achieving difficult lives, should be the country’s bombarded with varying social democratic values. There highest priority; they should be perspectives of Social Democrats: could be a fourth way in favour of recognised as the first duty of any whilst there is unanimity on core cooperation, ending the false government, and our hidden national organizing principles of Social dilemma between the State and the treasure. Democracy – liberty, equality, market. One must understand that solidarity and pluralism - there are both markets and the State have – Aman Biradari contextual differences on their own imperfections and 10 JANATA, August 5, 2012 limitations. It is not either/or, but individual is the purpose of Socialism loans forced upon the recipient. how to work with both as a society and enjoyment of freedom is the These positions on globalization were needs them both. Markets constitute precondition for such development. hard and were difficult to reconcile. an economic and social reality and But for Social Democrats, freedom free markets are necessary for has several contexts – individual, There are obviously losers and productivity and growth. Markets societal, political, social, economic winners in globalization but in the also make efficient use of and cultural. But, an individual’s near future, no society can any productive resources and stimulate freedom need not and should not longer successfully escape global progressive innovations. For harm others. Along with one’s own economic integration and Socialists, market is a useful tool, but freedom, the principles and practices interdependence of peoples across only as long as it promotes common of tolerance, respect and the globe. The concept of good. accommodation are equally “independent” or self-reliant nations important. These accompanying is history, although national The basic market principle is to principles mean an individual exists sovereignty need not be given up to exclude those who cannot pay. The and flourishes only in a society. undemocratic market forces. markets are incapable of Hence Social Democrats talk of Globalization is said to have redistribution of income for the sake synthesis between individual and increased the gap between the rich of social justice. This is where the community, uniting responsible and the poor. But in the present State is needed. It must provide the aspects of individualism with capitalist societies, the inequality is basic human needs and investments liberating aspects of manifested not just in economic in public interest and attend to those communitarianism. Social terms, but in gender, class, caste disadvantaged on the free market. Democratic individualism is (India), ethnicity and race, etc. These Social Democrats make the mistake exercised by free and responsible social dividers are exacerbated by of trying to replace the market individuals who seek full realization globalization. without having tangible alternatives. of the liberties and rights of all in the Instead they should focus, through community, while seeking their own There are regions in the world democratic institutions including the full potential. It is the combination which have lost out on globalization. State, on improving the production, of responsible freedom and social Most countries in Africa burdened distribution and consumption. This responsibility that creates a base for by heavy debts have lost their links can happen when a broad range of Social Democracy. with global markets. Countries private, cooperative and public belonging to former COMECON initiatives are fairly and actively Globalisation v/s Social are unable to modernize their encouraged. In practical terms, one Democracy economies and civil societies due to should foster investment in social lack of competitiveness and capital, institutional design, and There was heated debate in the opportunities. They cannot develop community building in order to camp on the impact of globalization single regional markets for generate prosperity and equality by and social democratic response to it. consumption and investment. They producing social, economic and One view, the transnational one, was continue to remain providers of raw political cooperation between State, that globalization was irreversible at material for Northern industrialized Market and Civil Society. present, and instead of fighting it, we counties. should negotiate or engage with it. Individual v/s Community The other was globalization has been The international economic driven by multinationals who were institutions like WTO do not help the The popular understanding of out to “rob the developing world of situation for those countries that have dilemma between individual and their resources, cause ecological been left behind. On the contrary, it society is that the liberalism destruction, and gross inequalities.” gives a free hand to MNCs to advocates full and unlimited freedom The Special Economic Zones are maximize their benefits, and curtail of an individual, whereas Socialism given away to MNCs on a platter. the power of the nation states. The focuses on the collectives. This is Each country should decide the level free trade prevents people from again a false dilemma. Free and of its own growth and redistribution, developing fair trade. Consequently unlimited development of each not fall for induced growth driven by conflicts arise in the poor countries JANATA, August 5, 2012 11 out of an explosive mixture of peaceful revolutions. However, both The camp concluded with a poverty, underdevelopment and no- are now synonymous. For instance, resolution that the debate should perspectives. These conflicts are the British Labour Party, in its Charter, continue to deepen the understanding nothing but eruption of desire for calls itself a Democratic Socialist of Social Democracy. Intellectual good living. How does one counter Party but the party leaders call perspectives on Social Democratic the evils of globalization and engage themselves Social Democrats. On positions and interpretations on with it? Globalisation has other difference with Communism, it was several current issues–both Indian elements, not just movement and suggested that one should use either and international– should be generated domination of global capital; such as Social Democracy or Democratic and disseminated for activists in liberalization, de-bureaucratization, Socialism, as socialism alone different sectors, and members in and openness and so on. It fosters gave the impression that it is a different organisations. The quest for modernization and competition in the transitional step towards Marxian understanding and practice of Social economy. It is important to benefit Communism. Democracy must go on. from such changes which in the longer run benefit the economy. On the other hand, strong political Combustible Northeast processes and systems can withstand the pressure of global capital and can take advantage of Kuldip Nayar the movement of goods, services and capital in a global market. Take the India’s northeast is the most distinctive group in India, even case of China, which has made combustible region. Some 250 though they wield a lot of authority maximum gains from globalization. ethnic groups are arrayed against through their autonomous council. A strong or firm State, authoritarian one another and New Delhi to in China, but democratic in Brazil, fight for their identity, some When some ethnic groups South Africa, Turkey and others does seeking even an outside-India separated from Assam and benefit from globalization. status. Religion-wise, the constituted their respective states— proportion of Hindus, Muslims and Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Social Democracy v/s Christians is more or less the Meghalaya and Tripura, the Bodos Democratic Socialism same. Infiltration, mostly from preferred to stay with the state of Bangladesh or what was East Assam. But the administration at This raised a minor discussion as Pakistan, has only aggravated the Guwahati has not been able to cope both these are now-a-days problem. Even the Assamese who with the diversity that the Bodos interchangeably used. There has were given a separate state in represent. The violence they have been, of course, a difference between 1955 when India was reorganized committed and the sufferings which the two in their approach to capitalism. on the basis of language have Bengali Muslims have undergone Social Democracy sought to reform become a minority in Assam itself. have made Prime Minister capitalism by creating the welfare Manmohan Singh say after his visit state and decided that it was possible The Bodos, an ethnic group to Kokrajhar, the hub of Bodos, that to live with capitalism if it did not lead which hurled part of its state, “Assam is a blot on the nation.” to exploitation and undermining of the Assam, into communal Yet why should Assam be singled State. On the other hand, Democratic conflagration—the Bengali-speaking out for the mess by New Delhi? In Socialism aimed at eliminating capitalism by gradually democratizing Muslims were the target—are far fact, the blot is on the centre which the means of production and from peace because they have even has been inept in handling the distribution. If Social Democracy was attacked the relief camps. The situation in the northeast. on the left of capitalism, Democratic Bodos want to get back their land Socialism stood on the right of which the infiltrators and outsiders New Delhi’s pet formula is that Communism. Social Democracy have occupied since the British left whatever happens in the northeast emerged out of revisionism, whereas in 1947. They also demand a Bodo is a law and order problem. Already, Democratic Socialism embraced state of their own, like any other the army is in overall command for R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 12 JANATA, August 5, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012 Posted on every Wedenesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 maintenance of peace and has under law, but would deal with each case the act but the armed forces had the it all the paramilitary forces there. on “merit.” last word and the centre gave in. Even the state police have to look up to the army which has repeatedly The matter requires a consensus Meghalaya faces the problem of said that the problem is political. among political parties but they are ethnic identity. But people there have Apart from sending some home busy quarrelling among themselves tasted peace and do not want to go ministry officials to the northeast, and avoiding the real issue. Frankly back to the days of violence. there is very little that the centre speaking, political parties have no Insurgency is there but New Delhi has done to sort out what is the idea how to deal with the situation. feels satisfied that the neighbouring northeast. Both the Congress and the BJP countries, both Bangladesh and governments at the centre have been Myanmar, no longer now provide To administer with a free hand, found themselves out of depth insurgents any shelter. the army has the Armed Forces whenever they have tried their hand Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a at a solution. Nagaland is the largest One problem accentuating the draconian measure which state in the region. Since situation is infiltration. The Congress authorities a soldier to kill a person independence there has been a itself encouraged it in the fifties to on mere suspicion. Since the ceasefire between New Delhi and increase its vote tally. Then overall command has become Kohima, both sides negotiating over Congress president Dev Kant Barua refuge for the harassed people and a status which has the trappings of told me that they would have Ali the inefficient governments in the independence, without diluting India’s (Muslims) and Coolie (Bihar’s region, the administrations, wanting sovereignty. Both go over the same labour) from their places and win at in all respects, depend on the exercise of finding a solution, without the polls. armed forces. Therefore, it is not anything concrete emerging. surprising to hear repeatedly that The Congress should have at least the army was late to reach the Arunachal Pradesh, bordering implemented the accord between trouble spots. Assam chief minister China, is a state within India. Yet Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and All Tarun Gogoi has publicly said that New Delhi “accepts” Beijing issuing Assam Students Union (AASU) to the army came late and the centre a separate visa for people of detect foreigners and delete their withdrew nearly half of the Arunachal Pradesh and, for some names from the electoral rolls. paramilitary units when they were reasons, for people of Jammu and Assam Chief minister Gogoi does not badly required. Kashmir. Never has New Delhi want to do so because foreigners stopped those from visiting China give the Congress an edge in It is difficult to say why the army who have a separate visa from elections. The last two elections in took three days to reach Kokrajhar Beijing. the state which he has won have when it is legally bound to come to been primarily because of the the aid of civil authorities after a Manipur is under curfew after the “voters” from across the border. magistrate has sent a requisition. sunset. Years of this practice have One report is that the army did not inured people to such restrictions. But The Bangladeshis come to India want to get involved in communal there is Irom Chanu Sharmila, who for economic reasons. Had there riots while another is that the overall is on fast for the last 10 years, been work permits, they would have command at Assam was seeking demanding the withdrawal of the got them and returned to their home permission from the Ministry of AFSPA. Since New Delhi’s after work. But there is yet no such Defence before acting. If these dependence in the region is on the provision. In any case, their problem reports are correct, they raise a very armed forces, it refuses to even relax should not be mixed with the basic question. That is, the army is the rigours of the Act. A few years northeast complexity which is still not bound to assist the civilian ago a committee appointed by New awaiting New Delhi’s serious authorities, as it is enjoined in the Delhi suggested the withdrawal of attention. Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 29 Party rises from ashes of movement August 12, 2012 Kuldip Nayar

It is not the first time that the and individuals are said to have Whose side are we on? Comptroller and Auditor General been given benefits. They must have Madan Sharma (CAG) of India has disclosed the rendered service in kind and cash to government’s involvement in a scam. the ruling party. What is disconcerting this time is that Role of Science and Technology Prime Minister Manmohan Singh The sad part is that when a in Development has been accused of keeping away movement against corruption was K. S. Chalam the CAG report from parliament on needed the most, Gandhian Anna coal bungling, running into Rs. 1.45 Hazare, who was leading one, Codification of Muslim Personal lakh crore. changes his strategy and thinks Law and Gender Justice about contesting elections in 2014. Asghar Ali Engineer The Prime Minister told parliament Although he looked reluctant and on May 23 this year that the CAG expressed doubts in public, he seemed report was only a draft while the to have been prevailed upon by those who have always focused Unconstitutional Means fact which has come to light is that the final report was received on their eyes on the electoral politics. Bapu Heddurshetti May 11, both by the government Some of them may well be members and the President’s office. It means of the team which Hazare has now that there is nothing sacrosanct for disbanded. A Paradigm Shift is the Congress-led coalition, even Need of the Hour parliament’s privileges, much less Yet abandoning a movement which NAPM transparency that one expected from a had come to ventilate the resentment government headed by Dr Manmohan of civil society was leaving a job in Singh. the middle. True, the government was obtrusive and did not want to Editor : The government is only a give a strong Lokpal (ombudsman). Equally true, the opposition parties G. G. Parikh forwarding agency as far as reports by the CAG are concerned. He directly were indifferent. This was all the Managing Editor : Guddi reports to parliament through the more reason why the movement for a government as he did in the case of Lokpal needed to be intensified. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, corruption in coal, a portfolio directly Naushir Bharucha Marg, under the Prime Minister. How he The failing health of some Mumbai - 400 007. rationalizes the delay - he is a master members who went on fast was one in doing so - will be something, which reason why the movement had to be restructured to give an excuse Email : [email protected] I await. Yet the corruption part is really serious. Certain private parties for dropping the fasts. In fact, fasts 2 JANATA, August 12, 2012 are a wrong strategy to begin with. situation but accepted the Jana workers from those engaged in the Mahatma Gandhi’s fast was never Sangh, the predecessor of BJP, after legislative field. against anybody. They were always the Jan Sangh promised him to positive in their demand and he was cut off relations with the RSS. He JP did not form the party till after engaged in wresting freedom from was betrayed but in the process the winning at the polls. Yet he saw to the unwilling hands of the British. Jana Sangh got credibility of a non- it that his candidates would fight communal setup. on one symbol. What proved to be With no immediate challenge his Achilles heel was the wrong on corruption, the government A similar situation faces Anna candidates he chose. They were has blessed the move of Central when Baba Ramdev wants the two not the people to effect changes. Bureau of Investigation (CBI) not of them together. Secularism and They used the system to benefit to go in appeal on the rejection of parochialism do not mix well. JP themselves. disproportionate assets case against made the mistake and parochial former UP chief minister Mayawati. forces gained from it. Anna should And then JP’s health failed and Even her 21 votes in the Lok Sabha not traverse the same path. He has to he could not reach out to the people. are important for Manmohan Singh stand alone when Baba Ramdev and Anna should be careful about his government to show a majority in his musclemen try to make a united health and slowly but relentlessly parliament. stand. Their culture is different and harness support among those close civil society is not willing to accept associates who have the commitment And it seems obvious that the them. and faith in basic values. He should Congress will stick to the office take time. But he cannot afford to for the rest of the term, roughly 22 The mantle of JP has fallen on fail for the second time. Politics is months, even if it has to play false Anna. But JP traveled throughout not bad. Those who dominate it at as it has done in the case of CAG India to awaken people to the need this time have given it a bad name. report on coal and even if it has to have an alternative and defeat the turned a blind eye to Mayawati’s rulers who have mutilated the very assets which are unexplainable. She system to serve their purpose and Letter has reportedly amassed a wealth of sustain the status quo which gave Rs 116 crore since 2003. them power and unfettered control. Sycophancy Indeed, this is the best time for Hardly four decades back, the Anna to enter the political field. I am not against Anna taking part then President of the Congress But can a party rise from the ashes in elections. He himself is having party, Late Dev Kant Barua had of a movement which had swept second thoughts. Yet it would have no qualms in proclaiming “Indira the intelligentsia off its feet and been far better if he had held wider is India, and India is Indira”. had kept the media focused for consultations with activists like It is now reported that Mani 18 months? In concrete terms, the Medha Padkar and Aruna Roy. Shankar Aiyar, a Cabinet Minister movement has nothing to show. But Such consultations did take place admitted that “Gandhi family the awakening of civil society is before Anna had begun stir against is the Congress Party”. This itself an achievement of sorts. corruption. He must string together unfortunately is an indication of the various movements, however continuing mental degeneration Whether Anna can convert the small, which are visibly working at of Congressmen inasmuch as awakening process into voting the grassroots. These activists will such sycophancy exposes nothing process is yet to be seen? One thing provide grist to the mill of change but their own spinelessness. which is in his favour is that he is that Anna is contemplating. being associated with an alternative It is not known whether to the Congress and the BJP, the Maybe, a political platform, Congressmen themselves are two main political parties. People instead of a party, may serve a aware of this reality. In any case, generally want a change and not wider purpose. Some can work with it is tragic – not amusing. For, the either of the two at the helm of the people’s movements and some Congress of the original Gandhi affairs again. contest elections. They will help has been left far behind on being each other and together they will taken over by the fake Gandhis. Gandhian Jayaprakash Narain be a force to reckon with. Mahatma - Kashinath A. Divecha (JP) was forced into a similar Gandhi had separated constructive JANATA, August 12, 2012 3 A Paradigm Shift in Development Planning and Land Reforms is Need of the Hour Not Further Acquisition and Cash Compensation

Amidst all the controversies not only in conflict over the issues Acquisition for Private and PPP and conflicts related to Lokpal and of land, water, forest minerals or Projects Jan Lokpal politics, a very major aquatic wealth but also proposing a new, truly democratic, just and 2. No forcible acquisition for enactment (in Bill form) is to be private projects, or for PPP, tabled before the Cabinet this week sustainable ‘Development Planning Act’ as an alternative since years. which can not be categorized as for approval and thereafter tabled public purpose projects. in the Monsoon session of the Now that the all party • Ministry has rejected this and parliament. While this has been in the justified this with a provision offing for last many years, people’s Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report (on Rural Development) on that consent of 80% of project movements across the country from affected People will be sought farmers to fish workers, landless the Bill is out and the Ministry of before acquisition for any private workers to Dalits, adivasis as well Rural Development has also made projects as urban poor, are closely watching its views/reactions clear and open, In this era of neo-liberal and reacting or responding to every we, the people’s movements, have economic reforms, private move on the issue: Land Acquisition taken serious cognizance of the fact projects with corporate and Rehabilitation. The much that the strong position taken by investment and interests are awaited new “Land Acquisition, the Standing Committee on certain taking a much larger toll of Resettlement and Rehabilitation critical issues are either diluted or Bill” has now been renamed “Right rejected by the Ministry of Rural land and other rich natural to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Development, which is shocking. resources as also uprooting by Rehabilitation and Transparency in The Ministry that is supposed to killing communities which are Land Acquisition Bill, 2012 with a protect the rights and powers of the generations old. This must come claim to better reflect Government’s rural communities has not accepted to an end and the same can Commitment towards securing some of the standing committee happen only with stopping the a legal guarantee for the rights recommendations, towards that State playing a role of facilitator of project affected, and ensuring end, which are presented with our and land dealer. At the cost greater transparency in the land comments, herewith: of the livelihood of the nature acquisition process. It is also based sections and working claimed that the Bill will ensure, Food Security and Agricultural class section of society, the state in concert with local institutions of Land Acquisition can’t transfer the most valuable self -government and Gram Sabhas 1. No forcible acquisition of livelihood resources such as established under the Constitution, agricultural land, for non- land, water to the profiteering a humane, participative, informed, agricultural purpose including bodies in the garb of ‘public consultative and transparent process single crop and multi crop land. interest’ and ‘public purpose’. for land acquisition. • Ministry says only multiple crop land can be excluded. Bringing 16 Central Acts Under The Bill has no doubt sought How can the in-between farms Purview of this Bill comments and suggestions through that may be unirrigated, rain 3. The standing committee has the website but limited only fed, single crop be left out, recommended that all 16 central till 30 days and no regional or we ask. India has 75% of the acts should be brought under the state consultations were held by agricultural land as rain fed and purview of the new act, to make Ministry for Rural Development most of it single cropped. Such all equal before law (Article 14 as was strongly suggested by land is mostly held by Dalits, of the Constitution). NAPM, NFFPFW and many other Adivasis and marginal farms. • Ministry of Rural Development organisations across the country. Protecting them and all farm wants to exclude 13 out of This is a kind of disrespect shown land for food security, which 16 Acts including Industrial to a large number of organisations comes not from PDS but self Development Act, Land and millions of people engaged sufficient agriculture, is a must! Acquisition (Mines) Act, 4 JANATA, August 12, 2012

National Highways Act and Bank. Water Dispute Tribunal Award, and others from the purview of the The ownership over the land various other projects. The proposed new act. This means that 90% is of those who till it and if not provisions of compensating of the land acquired as on today used and unutilized then it must employment with money and high will continue with injustice and be returned to the owners or rates for land acquired will only lead force used, with no change at all. distributed amongst the project to speculative land market and will The standing committee affected people. We oppose any destroy the fragile economy of the recommendations must be upheld such feature which will promote rural hinterland which will lead to to end brutal unjust acquisition land bank, since it has promoted further urban migration. for all projects. large scale acquisition in the past Urban Eviction and later illegally transferred the Role and Consent of Gram and same land to corporations for The Bill and the comments by Basti Sabha real estate and other purposes. both, Standing Committee as well 4. The Committee asks that all as MoRD almost totally excludes studies - SIA, EIA, expert Retrospective Application of the and have unaddressed the situation committee appraisal be done Law in the urban areas, where there is in consultation with the gram 6. On the question of retrospective no land acquisition, but eviction, sabhas and the corresponding application of the R&R provisions brutal and unjust, for any and every reports be made available to the Committee has suggested to elitist real estate development to gram sabhas. Ministry to re-examine the infrastructure without guaranteeing • Ministry emphasises that 80% issue and incorporate necessary right to shelter, right to life and consent of PAFs provision is provisions livelihood. The only provision is to there in case of linear projects • Ministry has not accepted it and compensate with 20% of developed where “consultation”. refused to do so. land for land owning families in Consent and direct involvement It needs to be noted that nearly urbanisation projects, which is not with regard to the cases where land of majority of the Gram Sabhas 100 million people have been belongs to the government or private must be there in each and every displaced since independence entities but people are evicted. We project, including public projects and with a dismal 17-20 demand a separate section or a for public purpose. 80% consent percent rate of resettlement and separate act for the millions of the of the project affected population rehabilitation we had suggested urban persons and urban land from that not only the retrospective for the private projects alone getting misappropriated. The Bill is not sufficient. Why should application of the provisions with the presently proposed content the linear projects be left out? of the new act but a National need to be called only “Rural Bill”. If it’s consent of 80% affected, Resettlement and Rehabilitation there are to be a number of Commission be established The rapacious use of Land manipulations that people will to deal with the claims of the Acquisition Act 1894 by the have to face. Experiences of 70% projected affected people from government to secure land for consent in Slum Rehabilitation various projects. ‘development’ projects has Scheme in Mumbai are quite Resettlement and Rehabilitation caused over 100 million people telling. to be displaced from their land, Benefits livelihoods and shelters. The country Return of Unutilised Land to In terms of the resettlement and is dotted with communities resisting farmers and Land Bank rehabilitation benefits Committee State sponsored land grab which 5. The Committee recommended apart from suggesting some resonate the demand for a just law that the land, if not used till 5 cosmetic changes have accepted the to ensure that there is no forced years, should be returned after 5 provisions of the Bill, we think this acquisition of land and resources, years from the date of possession is unfortunate since provisions don’t including minerals and ground to the land owners. stand up to livelihood based R&R, water. The government must respond it merely promotes the principle to the voices from movements across • Ministry accepts the reduced five of cash compensation. It will be a places such as Narmada, Koel Karo, years time period but opposes retrogressive step since it negates Singur, Nandigram, Sonbhadra, its return to the landowner and the land and employment based Chindwara, Bhavnagarm, Kalinga suggests it to go to State Land R&R as mandated in the Narmada Nagar, Kashipur, Raigarh, JANATA, August 12, 2012 5 Srikakulam and mining areas in Letter to the Editor, central India with genuine efforts to address the longstanding crisis concerning land Acquisition and Unconstitutional Means resettlement & rehabilitation.

If the UPA government is serious Anna Hazare has disbanded could not have lasted long and about addressing the conflicts his team and the ‘India Against that is why Mahatma Gandhi not over the land and other natural Corruption’ has announced that it will only knew when to start a people’s resources then it must listen to float a political party and participate movement but also when to stop the voices of those struggling or in the electoral process. It means them. Anna Hazare team has not else it will only aggravate these that Anna Hazare and his team has only lost several good opportunities conflicts all across the country. The decided to give up un-constitutional at achieving their purpose but has need of growth, infrastructure and methods like fasting and satyagraha outright mishandled the whole urbanisation can’t be fulfilled on the in the name of the ‘civil society’, at movement thereby betraying the graveyard of millions. A pro-people forcing the parliament to enact an confidence millions of Indians had Development Planning Bill with anti-corruption law of their choice. reposed in the movement. In a complete participation of the Gram I am sure that all will be very democracy such movements cannot Sabha will go a long way in stopping happy if Anna Hazare’s team wins a be sustained for long. In a way they the massive corporate corruption and majority in the 2014 elections to the denigrate democracy. If there are lead to decentralization of power Parliament, Anna Hazare becomes defects in a democracy, the efforts having an overall impact on the the Prime Minister and his team should be aimed at removing those politics of the country. become cabinet ministers and enact defects by electoral reforms rather the Jan Lok Pal bill into a law, say, than denigrating the system itself by We the people’s movements and within a fortnight. I would like to abusing democracy and democratic various alliances such as National know what will be their attitude if a institutions like parliament. Alliance of People’s Movements, dozen liberty loving citizens launch There is another lesson for those National Forum of Forest people and a ‘fast unto death’ saying that the who are in a hurry to call somebody Forest Workers, Kisan Sangharsh Jan Lok Pal law creates a monster Samiti and others will hold a a ‘Second Gandhi’ and a movement institution and thereby destroys public discussion (13 August 2012, a ‘second freedom struggle’. The liberty of the citizens. Even if they do Constitution Club, New Delhi) on way the Anna Hazare movement not come to power, I am sure at least the forthcoming Bill with activists, was handled, will be another lesson they will understand the limitations people from movements which for the people as to how not to start and at the same time advantages of are fighting for land rights and and continue a popular movement. representatives from national a parliamentary democracy. Mahatma Gandhi never allowed his political parties. Thousands of followers to manipulate him. people displaced by ’developmental’ Not that the team has not projects in Narmada, Bhakra, contributed its little ‘might’ in Dr. Ambedkar was not very wrong Polavaram, Mundra, Pune (Lavasa), perpetuating the corrupt society. when he had said in the Constituent Nandigram, slum displaced people While one has produced fake Assembly “If we wish to maintain from Mumbai and fish-workers bills another has produced fake democracy not merely in form, but displaced by coastal and tourist certificates and still another feels also in fact, what must we do? The projects will camp in Delhi to warn free to spend trust money on his first thing, in my judgment, we must the government and protest against birthday and feels washed of the sin do is to hold fast to constitutional passing any such act in this session after the some ‘friend’ reimburses methods of achieving our social and of the parliament on 21-23 August the money to the trust. economic objectives. It means we 2012. must abandon the bloody methods The petering out of the India of revolution. It means that we –Medha Patkar, Roma, Against Corruption also has another must abandon the method of civil Dr. Sunilam, Rupesh Kumar lesson to teach. Even under the [email protected] British Raj people’s movements (Continued on Page 7) 6 JANATA, August 12, 2012 Whose side are we on?

Madan Sharma

Anna Hazare’s battle against corruption, isn’t going to go out of over the Lokpal bench of the High corruption isn’t just his battle. It’s its way to do so. Courts and the Supreme Court; and every Indian’s battle. If Anna fails, fifth, through a special parliamentary we fail. Politicians across party lines Take just one example to illustrate committee. stand to lose most if the movement the serious nature of the court- succeeds in getting a strong Lokpal framed charges many Lok Sabha The Lokpal is obviously not Bill legislated in parliament. MPs face. Kameshwar Baitha of a panacea as some Congress the JMM has 11 charges related to spokesmen say sotto voce to Anna is a catalyst in the fight murder and 17 charges related to deliberately obfuscate the issue. It to mitigate corruption in public attempt to murder filed against him. would be just one of five powerful life. He has no personal motive, no instruments in the integrated, personal gain, no financial interest. As many at 28 ministers in interlocked grid of governance Instead of criticising his methods, Akhilesh Yadav’s UP cabinet have that would include the EC, CAG, help him improve them. No one is criminal cases pending against them. the new proposed National perfect – certainly not Anna and his The most notorious is Raja Bhaiya Judicial Commission (NJC) and an team members. who has 45 criminal cases against independent CBI. An independent him. He spent three years in jail on CBI is central to this interlocked But most of them are a lot better POTA charges and is today UP’s governance grid. With the Lokpal than the 162 MPs in the Lok Sabha Food and Civil Supplies Minister. excercising jurisdictional oversight, and 39 MPs in the Rajya Sabha who It is such politicians who threaten the CBI would thus be accountable have criminal charges against them. our democracy and our institutions to an independent statutory authority Some of the charges are politically – not Team Anna members with which itself would be subject not motivated. But many are not. For their inflated travel vouchers and only to the five internal checks example, 75 Lok Sabha MPs, again income-tax arrears due to a technical and balances outlined above but to cutting across party lines, face court- interpretation of paid study leave for the discipline of being part of an framed charges of murder, rape, a then-IRS officer. integrated, interlocked governance extortion, kidnapping and dacoity. grid. No wonder many parliamentarians It has been obvious since are dead set against Anna and Indira Gandhi’s government first Some critics warn that 40,000 his anti-corruption crusade. They introduced – but did not legislate extra staff will be needed to man will do anything to discredit his – the Lokpal Bill in 1968 that the Lokpal body. This is a deliberate movement. And in this task they politicians fear a strong, independent falsehood. In the interlocked grid have found witting and unwitting Lokpal. Their argument, parroted by model, no more than 1,000 new abettors in sections of the media their media handmaidens, is that staff will be needed to investigate and the intelligentsia. All have one the Lokpal will be a monstrous and allow prosecution of complaints trait: they mock Anna but have no bureaucracy accountable to no one. against 60 lakh central government alternative to offer in India’s battle employees (including 78 Union against corruption. Some are so This of course is nonsense. The Ministers and Ministers of State). witless they don’t even realise how Lokpal would be accountable in The reason? An independent CBI wrong they’ve got it. Anna is not five ways. First, through an internal will, under the Lokpal body’s the problem. The system is. Anna’s complaints redressal authority; supervision, investigate cases prescription may not be perfect. second, via an annual performance forwarded by the Lokpal bench. But it’s every citizen’s job to help and financial audit by CAG; third, Special fast-track courts will improve it. The government, as through a Lokpal appellate bench; prosecute them. State Lokayuktas, a beneficiary of institutionalised fourth, from overall jurisdiction with similar mechanisms, will JANATA, August 12, 2012 7 supervise the investigation and are falling into the trap set by But if fighting an election were a prosecution of state-level public politicians: discredit the largely criterion for fighting corruption, servants through local CIDs and honest whistleblower and therefore every activist and – yes – every courts. These institutions already by default exonerate the largely journalist who exposed corruption have adequate personnel which dishonest politician. would need to first get elected. Such the Lokpal will deploy. Remember is the thoughtlessness – deliberate too that police autonomy has MPs are lawmakers. They are and inadvertent – that has lowered been mandated by the Supreme elected to uphold standards of the standard of argument over the Court in September 2006 under a public life, not lower them. As anti-corruption movement. seven-directive order. When it is public servants, they exist to serve implemented by the government – a citizens. “In a democracy,” as Whose side are we on? An contempt of court petition against US Supreme Court Justice Felix imperfect Anna fighting our battle? non-compliance is pending in the Frankfurter declared, “the highest Or a corruption-riddled political Supreme Court – not only will the office is the office of the citizen.” system? If Anna is not doing the CBI be freed of political control, so Indian public servants – including job of fighting corruption well will state CIDs. the Prime Minister and his cabinet enough, help him do it better. Don’t – are subordinate to every Indian help the corrupt by denigrating a The Mumbai and Delhi police citizen. The poorest, most destitute movement’s methods when the end forces alone have over 40,000 Indian is more important than the is just. personnel each so a central Lokpal President of India. That is the way body with 1,000 staff and a real democracy operates. (Continued from Page 5) 7-member bench (not one individual disobedience, non-cooperation and “Lokpal” as some motivated Some of the comments made satyagraha”. reports misleadingly claim) by government ministers against Anna’s anti-corruption movement hardly constitutes a bureaucratic It is necessary to note here that border on the infantile. The MoS in monstrosity. socialists also agreed with this kind the PMO, V. Narayanasamy, said of of formulation. They also felt that Anna’s fast: “It is an attempt to fool The so-called elite – intellectual, the methods of civil disobedience media, business – disparage Anna the people.” He added: “It is good and satyagraha should be used after because he is not “people like us”. they told very openly today they exhausting all other methods. When This wannabe-elite is comfortable are forming a political party. Their the Socialist Party and the Kisan with the status quo with its cosy intentions are exposed.” Fasting Mazdoor Praja Party merged, they nepotism, clubbiness and rich as a protest against corruption said in the merger document that pickings. and forming a political party are “The Party believes that non-violent both entirely legitimate. That a class struggles such as satyagraha A red herring is meanwhile used government minister can categorise and strikes are also a necessary by the government: “Team Anna either in the way he did says more method of democratic action. But members are themselves corrupt about Narayanasamy than Anna. these methods are to be used only – people in glass houses shouldn’t And yet there are those in the when other available methods have throw stones”. That unthinking logic chattering classes who support been exhausted”. would disqualify 90 percent of the this unhinged government reaction police force from arresting criminals rather than encouraging a movement Unfortunately, even the socialists because the police themselves against corruption which, if put on these days have started blindly take bribes. Only the corrupt use the right track, could improve all believing in un-constitutional actions this spurious argument to deflect our lives. even when constitutional means are the accusations they have no real available and more than that, in answers for. Then there are those, in the the ability of a ‘leader’ than the government and the media, who ‘collective wisdom of the masses’. Those who castigate Team Anna insouciantly challenge Anna’s team for denigrating our institutions members to stand for election. – Bapu Heddurshetti 8 JANATA, August 12, 2012 Role of Science and Technology in Development

K. S. Chalam

The curiosity about science This has led to the breakthroughs in much faster and steadier than pre- particularly as to physics is broadened scientific advances to make the life modern age. Economists have given after the Higgs-Boson experiment of man comfortable. Science as per importance to S&T as a productive at CERN in Europe, both among Bertrand Russell has enabled us to force and recognized its role in all laymen and experts. It is necessary know things and to do things. This human endeavors. Interestingly, the that common people should be has facilitated the development of practical application of science is made to appreciate science and its several disciplines of sciences and also responsible to some extent for contribution to development in a technology including the science of limiting its use or expanding the country like India that pledges for technology during the 20th century. abuse of science for exploitation of scientific temper under Art. 51A(h). resources including humans. Science as an organized body of The recent Higgs Boson particle knowledge and technology being the experiment has further reinforced The role played by our scientists, application of scientific intelligence the role of Indian scientists in the engineers, technocrats and others to solve practical problems of world of science and technology. in diversifying our economy and humans has been in existence ever The role of Satyendra Nath Bose society after independence is to since hominids appeared on earth in the experiment as an original be linked with the efforts made (about 20 lakh years back). Man collaborator of the theory (big by our ancestors. The foresight had started using tools and fire bang) and linking his name with the shown by Jawaharlal Nehru in without the rudimentary knowledge most costly experiment in human bringing scientists like Mahalanobis of chemistry or physics about a history is a great recognition of our to Planning Commission and lakh of years ago during the lower contribution to science in the modern encouraging them through his Paleolithic age. Agriculture and period. But, the importance of science personal rapport and calling Bhakra- domestication of animals were found is not generally accepted by common Nangal and Nagarjunasagar dams as around 10 to 30 thousand years back man unless it directly affects his or temples of modern India have paid as per scientists. The intellectual her life. Religion as a sigh of relief of rich dividends in the 20th century. development of man could be seen the common people is more directly The present achievements of our in correspondence with the use of and immediately recognized through scientists and technocrats are only a tools, material and equipment. a temporary and false consciousness continuation of what our indigenous than the oblique way through scholars had given us till the arrival India, as the home of one of the which the scientific discoveries of the modern scientists whose ancient civilizations, had contributed being translated into providing results are now measured in terms to the development of human comfort, long life and sustenance. of their market value. However, knowledge through its philosophical It were the economists starting the progressive role played by our and speculative sciences. However, from Marx to the present generation scientists in different fields of study the triumph of modern science, of scholars through Schumpeter, either in India or after getting the according to many scholars, has Kuznets, Solow, Dennison and basic training in India in a migrated developed only after science got several others who have proved country like USA, is substantial. It separated from religious bond the positive role of technology in is really surprising to find that a poor during the renaissance movement in the economic development of a country with minimum investment Europe. The Galileo and Copernicus country. The economic theories in science and technology and hardly jolt given to the then existing ideas of development have considered any funds by the private sector in such as the centre of universe, the total factor productivity as a R&D till recently, our scientists in a way, had freed tremendous measure of technological progress, could achieve recognition in the intellectual potential to develop and and found its function in the world of scientific knowledge not understand the universe around us. development of modern economies only in terms of getting Nobels but JANATA, August 12, 2012 9 even in getting patents registered their own standing in the area Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Bhaba, J.C in their names. We are all proud of of Satellite Engineering, Nuclear Bose , Srinivas Ramanujam and the achievements of our scientists. science, Telecommunications, several others emanated from our Yet, India being a member of the Missile technology, IT and other university system. However, the WTO and an enthusiastic participant emerging areas. This could not have present universities are in very bad of globalization, needs more been possible without our own effort shape due to several reasons. investments and focus in terms of the and potential particularly after the strides made by others particularly country became independent about The structure of an economy is our neighbors like China and Far six decades. The achievements generally reflected in the higher Eastern achievers like Korea, Japan of our scientists and technocrats education system of the country. and others. Our investment in R&D need to be recognized as legitimate As we have transformed our is less than one percent of GDP while inheritors of not only the Vedanta economy from that of a primary developed countries spend more in and Advaita systems of philosophy, to a service sector, the weights the range of 2 to 4 percent. but also the materialist culture given to courses that impart skills championed by the Lokayatas and to sustain the sector are reflected The application of scientific Satdarsanas that have rudimentary in our university programmes. The theories, technology and engineering knowledge of modern approaches substantial increase in the number operations in designing products, to science. of Engineering and Technology machinery, communication, colleges and the mad rush for IT infrastructures, vessels, defense It is perceived that most of can be looked at from this angel. products, etc have revolutionized our modern scientific discoveries However, this cannot be taken the life styles in the 21st century. have taken place in the organized as a development of science and However, this has not happened not university labs and through the technology as the courses pursued just in year. It took several decades travails of scholar teachers. The by students have neither developed through transformation of education, Indian system of education was based interest in science nor have genuine research and innovative methods of on the University of London model desire to pursue research in science, scientific enquiry to make it possible. where teaching, research and other engineering, bio-technology, The role played by scientists and academic activities are combined in agriculture, etc with a promise to particularly philosophers of science one job. For instance, C.V. Raman, use it for the exploitation of the in sustaining and continuing the the first Indian scientist to get Nobel native resources. Majority of them traditions of science and also in had his early education at Mrs are doing it with an eye on the shifting the paradigms when new A.V.N. College, Visakhapatnam western market. There is some hope tools and methods are invented and and worked in Andhra University around the corner now as the system applied. This has been accomplished labs. The relationship between the of higher education in the country is perhaps through the modern and open teacher-cum-research guide and the slowly picking up to create a culture ended traditions of science education scholar was one of the traditional of scientific advancement. and research. The contribution Guru-Shishya parampara and not of technology in the growth of that of a client and master. Teacher We have today 520 universities an economy and the individual was considered as Gyanadata and both in the government and in corporations is acknowledged was respected. I always maintain private sector with a substantial through the continuous investments that Professors are supposed to increase in enrolments in science in R&D. create knowledge and impart it to and applied science courses. It is the students while the teachers are heartening to find that we have Some of the contributions of our supposed to transact knowledge today 20 lakh Science, 16 lakh scientists have been made possible already available (text books) to Engineering, 2.7 lakh Medical even during the time when we have the school children. Thus, science and 80 thousand Agriculture pursued import substitution policies education including the formal undergraduates undergoing training without any external support. We conception of Science Congress annually in the country. The figures have not only achieved capability and other research bodies were at post graduate courses that have but also have remained as one of originated in the university system. bearing on R&D is 3.8 lakh in the very few countries that have Scientists like Meghanad Saha, Science, 1 lakh in Engineering 10 JANATA, August 12, 2012 and 10 to 30 thousand in Medical to the advanced countries. This has ascend to demanding quality. Higher and Agriculture, appears to be an reduced the burden of cost of R&D education has an important social encouraging trend. But, the research in the advanced countries and some function of envisioning the future output in terms of number of PhDs or fringe benefits to the third world and maintaining stability through publication of scientific papers, seem including India. This is reflected its innovative courses that suit to be not up to the mark. It is reported in the structure of the economies our history, resources and culture. that we have been producing about relying heavily on service sector Let us hope our university system 9000 Ph.Ds per year in different and reducing their dependence on would soon meet the expectations! disciplines compared to 50000 in manufacturing and agriculture. (Excerpts from an AIR talk broadcast China and 19700 in USA around the on 10-8-2012) year 2010. This can be related to the India being one of the ancient expenditure devoted to R&D in the civilizations and a substantial …The affluent want more and budget. We have been devoting less contributor of mind power in the more exclusivity and thereby than 1 percent of GDP (0.9) for R&D area of abstract speculations and the poor get more and more while China spends 1.4 percent, indigenous endowment in the form marginalised. In today’s urban USA 2.7 per cent, Japan 3.3 per cent of Siddha, Ayurveda etc in Medicine, society, lines are increasingly being drawn between the haves and a small country like Israel 4.4 Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and have-nots. The subtler the percent. This is naturally reflected and Astronomy, is not far behind. We divide, the more dangerous it can definitely find a place for India in the quantity of scientific research is, as we don’t even realise its output. However, the quality of in the world of Science, Technology, impact. The class divide has research output is becoming a Engineering, Medicine and other already become all pervasive cause of concern for many serious areas of modern advancements and not any less threatening than st scientists as there is mad rush for in the 21 century. The country the evils of the caste system. R&D to attain economic endurance achieved self-sufficiency in food, So it is in the interest of our in the market rather than providing and developed indigenous missiles growth, both as individuals and solutions to human problems. like Brahmos, Pharmaceutical as a society, that we remain formulations etc through our own inclusive, diverse and classless. The innovation of a new institution research efforts. We have today But the reality is different. Real to protect the investments in science world class research laboratories estate prices are so high in urban and technology particularly that of developed by DRDO, CSIR, DST, areas that there are fewer and advanced countries in the form of Biotechnology, ICMR, Space fewer mixed neighbourhoods of WTO and the patent regime has eased Science and other departments of the working class and the elite. the tensions in commercialization of the government with collaborative The upscale public spaces like malls and coffee shops are so output of R&D. The development of research with universities. expensive, unwelcoming and visible and invisible technologies inhibiting to poorer people that The shift in accentuation from through the process of what they become private without Schumpeter called; the innovations, manufacturing to service in the West even stating it. And the few has facilitated the public and private has modified the university research accessible and inclusive public corporations to reap returns on their from fundamental to applied areas. spaces like the parks and sea- investments. Interestingly, there This can be seen in terms of the fronts that are left are cramped is a rapid growth of transfer of kind of unfair combinations of by those who have nowhere technology from advanced countries narrow fields of study that have else to go. So again they end to LDCs after liberalization, is due to very limited application emerging up being less heterogeneous. the fact that the scientific manpower at an enormous cost. The West Our private spaces are already in LDCS is much cheaper compared (with its putrid wealth) could afford too private, as the circle we to their home grown HR. Therefore, it. We must learn lessons from belong to is shrinking and those the advanced countries are found China that has built its economy outside are many more. So who to have been diverting the R&D on cheap products with the help is going to speak up about more spaces for all? resources to the third world for the of Walmart would soon face the music once the level of development use of cheap labour to produce output –Nandita Das in The Week here and then to export them again of society and their aspirations JANATA, August 12, 2012 11 Codification of Muslim Personal Law and Gender Justice

Asghar Ali Engineer

Centre for Study of Society and we would like to discuss some origin and in Egypt Arabs were Secularism, Institute of Islamic important doctrinal issues. First we living with those who were of Coptic Studies and BMMA (Bhartiya have to understand and we have on origin. Muslim Mahila Andolan) and several occasions drawn attention Muslim Law academy, Trichi, to this fact that fiqh (jurisprudence) Imam Shafi’I changed his opinion Tamil Nadu, recently have tried is a human approach to the divine when he went to Egypt from what to codify the Muslim personal pronouncements in Qur’an in the he held when in Madina because he law as applicable in India after light of authentic ahadith (sahih was confronted with new situation wider consultations with Ulama, ahadith) in the given circumstances. in Egypt. It is for this reason Muslim lawyers, Islamic scholars And it is for this reason that the that so many schools of Islamic and women activists and the draft is Prophet (PBUH) allowed aadaat jurisprudence came into existence. being widely discussed in concerned (customs and traditions) of the In Sunni Islam there exists today five circles and the draft is also open to given society to be included in schools of law i.e. Hanafi, Maliki, suggestions. formulations of Shari’ah laws. Hanbali and Shafi’I and then there are three school of jurisprudence The question is why codification Thus the present shari’ah has in Shi’ah Islam i.e. Ithna Ashari is at all necessary? We thought of Arab aadaat included in it. This was (Ja’fari). Isma’ili and Zaidi. codification after we began to receive to make these laws easily acceptable number of complaints about misuse by the people of that particular In India most of the Muslims of shari’ah laws by men to harass society. Also, acceptability very follow Hanafi school whereas in and exploit women. The misuse is much depends on practices of people Kerala and Tamil Nadu a section possible as the Muslim personal law in the given period. If something is of Muslims (Tamil) and (Malayli) is not codified and is applied often totally alien to the given period and follow Shafi’I school and also the arbitrarily and unthinkingly injuring its norms people would not practice Konkani Muslims in Western India the very spirit behind these laws. those laws. All sociologists agree that too follow Shafi’I school as Islam Also, all Muslim and non-Muslim social change is a very complicated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Konkan countries with sizeable Muslim process which among other things, came through traders from sea route minorities have, in other countries, include understanding of people’s whereas in North and Central India already codified it long ago. India psychology and resistance to change. it came through Iraq, Afghanistan is the only exception where Muslim through conquests as these regions Personal Law Board (MPLB) has The Islamic jurists (fuqaha) had followed Hanafi law. been resisting any change doggedly. to keep this in mind while applying The question is does codification Qur’anic injunctions and those of It is said that in early period of amount to change in Shari’ah law? authentic sunna while formulating Islam there were more than 100 Certainly not. It only amounts to shari’ah laws even if it meant a schools of law of which these schools regulating these laws in strictly degree of compromise with the (named above) survived. This shows keeping with the Islamic laws as ideals and values. Thus it was very that there was no rigidity in applying formulated by various schools of complex process and varied from Qur’anic injunctions and sunnah and Islamic jurisprudence. And it is of time to time and place to place. It is people were free to interpret these course not a first attempt but in the for this reason that Imam Abu Hanifa injunctions as per their social needs, past too such attempts have been and Imam Shafi’I differed from customs and traditions. Thus human made the best example of which Imam Malik and Imam Hanbal on approach to divine injunctions was is the 1939 Act called Muslim many issues as both of them were in no less important and the doctrine Marriage Dissolution Act of 1939. places (Iraq and Egypt) where there of ijtihad (exerting utmost ones were composite cultures. In Iraq intellectual capacity to serve ones Before we throw more light 60% population was of non-Arabs needs). Ijtihad is very crucial and on codification and its contents who were of Iranian and Babylonian provides dynamics of social change. 12 JANATA, August 12, 2012

We would here also like to throw realised the importance of central be changed. In fact laws are always some light on basic values of Islam values of Islam like justice and human but values are divine and which constitute the central core of equality and argued in favour of cannot be changed. Law must Islamic values: justice and equality. change in Shari’ah laws which had change to keep the spirit of central Qur’an greatly emphasizes these stagnated over centuries loosing its values in tact. core values and no Shari’ah law original dynamics. can be acceptable if it violates these The Qur’anic injunction for two central values. And it is these India too scholars, Ulama and gender equality pronounced in the two values which distinguished intellectuals like Maulavi Chiragh verse 2:228 is very clear and yet Islamic laws from other laws then Ali, Maulavi Mumtaz Ali Khan because of complex social situation in existence. Roman laws before and Justice Ammer Ali argued in it was never applied in practice Islam played central role in the favour of change. Maulavi Mumtaz except for a brief period of Holy world. However, as Islamic laws Ali Khan and Maulavi Chiragh Ali Prophet’s life. Over period of time emphasized these values its laws were particularly concerned with woman was deprived of her rights began to replace Roman laws and the plight of Muslim women and and by 4th century she, under the Islamic laws acquired centrality. their subjugation to men in clear influence of feudal cultures of Iran, violation of Islamic spirit of justice Central Asia and Europe of medieval However when Islam spread and equality. Maulavi Mumtaz ages was totally subjugated to men. to various parts of the world from Ali Khan wrote a book Huquq Arabia to Central and South Asia al-Niswan (Rights of women) in The concept of gender equality to Europe, it was confronted, as which he argued on the basis of is so important in Qur’an that this pointed out above, with complex Qur’an and Sunna that woman scripture of Islam does not use words social and civilizational situations. must get equal rights and she is in like husband and wife as husband It was not possible for people to no way inferior to men as generally is indicative of authority over wife. accept change in keeping with believed in the society. This book The word for husband in Arabic is these two central values i.e. justice was systematically suppressed and ba’ul which is used in Qur’an only and equality. Age old customs and was never published by anyone as twice and it uses instead the word traditions asserted themselves and his cogent arguments were so strong zawj i.e. couple indicating complete local practices remained in force that Ulama could not easily reply to equality. Even today in marriage in many cases. Indonesia and India them and patriarchal society like that forms (nikah forms) word used is are good examples of this. In certain of India (Arab society too was highly zawj and zawjah. communities in India like Cutchi patriarchal and hence could not Memons and Khojas Hindu customs easily swallow the Qur’anic values Also, a careful study of Qur’an and traditions prevailed until they of justice and gender equality and shows that it is the men who are were replaced by Shari’at Act of tried to scale them down in various exhorted repeatedly to safeguards 1937. ways through fabricated ahadith). rights of women (wives, mothers, Thus Maulavi Mumtaz Ali Khan’s sisters and daughters) and nowhere Also in 19 th century when book never saw light of the day after women are exhorted to perform Muslims came face to face with its first edition published by Maluavi their duties towards their husbands. colonial cultures of the West they sahib himself, went out of edition. However, in practice and in personal felt need for change and new debates Maulavi sahib wrote the book in laws as applicable today it is women started for changes and many Ulama his own handwritings as no katib who are exhorted to perform their and scholars as well as intellectuals (calligrapher) would write. Such was duties and men are hardly ever began to argue in favour of change the furious opposition to his book. reminded of their Islamic duties using the principle of ijtihad. Ulama towards their women i.e. wives and like Muhammad Abduh of Egypt These laws which came to be others. who rose to the eminent position of known as Mohommadon laws Chief Mufti of Egypt also argued in during the British period and now It is this distortion of Qur’anic favour of change and issued several called Muslim Personal Law in post- injunctions which needs to be epoch making fatwas Abduh had independence India have remained attended to through codification. It spent several years in France during unchanged wrongly arguing that is codification which would correct his exile from Egypt and hence he these are divine laws and cannot this imbalance. Now question is JANATA, August 12, 2012 13 what is codification and does it do justice to four wives better marry polygamy among Indian Muslims is amount to changing the Shari’ah one (fa wahidatan). Thus where not very high but nevertheless many law? Codification is nothing but is the question of encouraging men do marry more than one wife regulating Shari’ah rules and in no prostitution, if one is allowed to and first wife complaints of total case it amounts to any changes in marry only one? Also when Prophet neglect or humiliation. In some cases substantive law. In fact if anything (PBUH) was asked what to do if men take second wife to humiliate it would bring it nearer the spirit one has no means to marry the first wife which is prohibited by of law and the values underlying reply through Qur’an was to restrain Qur’an (see 4:129). it. It will remove the anarchy in its oneself until Allah makes means application today. It would mean available. Our Ulama treat man as Triple Divorce regulating and avoiding injustices sexual animal to which Qur’an is Another common complaint is prevalent today. strongly opposed to. Qur’an on the of misuse of triple divorce which other hand wants man to restrain is permissible in Hanafi as well For example take polygamy. In and lead a pious life. Justice to as Shafi’I law but is prohibited India there are absolutely no rules women is most fundamental and among ahl-e-Hadith among Sunni regulating it today. Anyone can as 4:129 clearly states justice is far Muslims and among both Ithna marry up to 4 wives at one’s will. more important than number and if Ashari and Isma’ili Shi’ahs. In It is thus injurious to the Qur’anic one reads 4:3 and 4:129 together Hanafi law unfortunately triple spirit. Qur’an does not intend to polygamy should be an exception. divorce is valid even if pronounced encourage polygamy but subject in a state of anger, inebriation or it to rigorous process of justice to Codification has laid down rules even pronounced by way of joke. women. In fact polygamy in Qur’an which must be followed to take Thus it has become very easy for has been allowed to ensure justice to second wife in order to ensure justice men to pronounce three words talaq- widows and orphans and the verse on to co-wife or wives. It proposes a talaq-talaq and permanently alienate polygamy (4:3) has been revealed marriage council in every district to his wife. only in connection with war widows comprise of qazi, Muslim lawyers due to battle of Uhud in which 10 and prominent women activists or In fact this was customary law per cent of Muslim men were killed lawyers to which one will have to among Arabs before Islam and wife leaving behind many widows and apply if one wants to take second so divorced could not be taken even orphans. wife and the council will scrutinize if man repented until she married application and give chance to first someone else and her second It was to take care of these wife to represent her case whether husband divorced her to allow her widows and orphans that Qur’an there is need for second wife and to marry the first husband. Thus in allowed taking up to four wives whether she gives her consent and the Arab customary law woman was from amongst these widows and to man will also be closely questioned punished and humiliated for man’s look after their properties. However, as for the need for second wife and mistake. This is grossly unfair and soon Muslim men began to marry also look into his capacity to do hence the Prophet (PBUH) strongly more than one wife from amongst justice to both wives and then only condemned triple divorce in one other women treating this verse as will allow, if need by, to take second sitting as is obvious from hadis of general permission to marry any wife. Rukkana. number of women up to four. This is far from Qur’anic concept of Such regulations have already When Rukkana divorced his polygamy. In fact our Ulama today been introduced in almost all Islamic wife through triple divorce (talaq- when asked about polygamy said countries to ensure justice to women e-thalatha) and this was reported to that if polygamy is not allowed it and no one can take second wife the Prophet (PBUH) he stood up, his will promote prostitution. without going through this judicial face became red with anger and said or semi-judicial scrutiny. Some Allah’s laws are being violated in my This shows how ignorant these countries like Morocco and Tunisia own life time. It is for this reason Ulama are about the concept of have abolished polygamy altogether. that ahl-e-hadith do not allow triple polygamy in Qur’an. Qur’an treats However, our codification does not divorce and treat it as one. Triple extra-marital sex as great sin and propose abolition but regulation divorce in one sitting was prohibited says clearly in 4:3 that if you cannot of polygamy. Today incidence of during Prophet’s (PBUH) life time 14 JANATA, August 12, 2012 as well as during Hazrat Abu Bakr’s generally given only through triple of injustice. Why a pre-Islamic oral time. divorce which is nothing but sinful customary law should be binding on form of divorce and best form of Muslims especially when Prophet Hazrat Umar allowed it after divorce is talaq-e-ahsan (PBUH) had strongly condemned it. initial two and half years of his reign as some men started misusing it by Case of Khula’ Other Issues divorcing their first wife thrice and As per present rule husband’s There are of course other issues taking second wife from countries consent is a must for khula’. This is which have been covered by codified like Syria, Egypt etc. and taking in contradiction to Prophet’s Sunna. law i.e. mehr, inheritance, custody of back their first wife after coming Prophet (PBUH) granted khula’ to children, age of marriage etc. It has back to their own country saying the Jamilah as she insisted on it and he been proposed that minimum mehr Prophet (PBUH) had disallowed it. did not consult her husband who should be one year’s earning of the These women complained to Hazrat wept bitterly when he learnt about it man and that it should be paid not in Umar who enforced it again to stop that the Prophet (PBUH) has granted cash but in terms of gold or silver as its misuse but it was not absolute khula’ to his wife. Moreover the cash looses its value every year. But enforcement as he also flogged those Fiqh Council in its session this year there are different opinions as most who gave triple divorce. (2012) in held in Mhow has also of the Muslims are poor and may not recommended that khula’ be granted, afford one year’s income. Anyway Imam Abu Hanifa allowed it if necessary, without the consent of one can be more flexible on this for similar reason but one of his her husband. question but in any case mehr should disciple disagreed with him and not be very meager as it tends to be. anyway it was banned by the Holy At present in India among Prophet and it would be quite in the Sunni Muslims and they constitute Inheritance Islamic spirit of justice to treat three overwhelming majority of Muslims Two issues have been taken as talaqs as one as ahl-e-hadith do. the only form of divorce is triple far as inheritance is concerned: In any case in 1939 when serious divorce which results in gross 1) Daughter’s share should increase problems arose with Hanafi law in injustice to women. Our Ulama if she is earning and contributing case of disappearance of husbands even do not educate general Muslim to family wealth and made half or (in Hanafi law one has to wait for masses that this is sinful form her earnings should be allowed to 90 years before woman could re- of divorce and that only form of be accumulated separately which marry) and took from Maliki law in divorce they should resort to is she can take with her at the time of which waiting period is only 4 years talaq-e-Ahsan so that they can marriage. And if she is not able to which is quite reasonable. Thus the take back their divorced wife or marry, for whatever reason, father Dissolution of Muslim Marriage remarry her if iddat period is over. should give her up to 1/3rd of his Act 1939 was passed. In this case And they do not tell Muslim masses wealth to her (which father has right we can take from ahl-e-hadith and that Qur’an requires reconciliation to make hiba) so that she can lead treat triple divorce as one. Thus process before they pronounce final independent life. Qur’an allows our codification proposes that triple divorce and that they should have women full property rights so she divorce be treated as one. The Shi’ah two witnesses when they finally can accumulate her own earnings law also treats triple divorce as one. pronounce divorce (65:1-3) which will be hers and hers alone. 2) There is problem about grandson’s In case of divorce too man has to Thus codification would bring inheritance if his/her father dies in approach Shari’ah court or Marriage great relief to victims of such life time of grandfather. In that case Council whatever the case and apply arbitrary triple divorce. Many men too grand children should be given for divorce and also serve a notice repent after pronouncing triple up to 1/3rd of grandfather’s wealth so to the Marriage Council or Shari’ah divorce in a state of anger or in a that grandchildren are not deprived Court and Marriage Council shall state of drunkenness but then our of share in inheritance. set up an arbitration as per Qur’an’s Ulama tell them that if they want to injunction 4:35 to bring about take their wives back they will have Custody of children reconciliation failing which divorce to marry another men and if they In all four schools of Sunni will be allowed through one divorce divorce them then only they can jurisprudence different ages have i.e. talaq-e-ahsan. Today talaq is re-marry them. It is grossest form been fixed for sons and daughters JANATA, August 12, 2012 15 for custody to father. These ages is reported to have given custody of recommended in various were fixed according to the opinions son to mother when he found out that consultations held with Ulama, held by Imams and in keeping mother was more concerned with lawyers and judges and women with the ethos of time. Custody of the education of her son compared activists. Consultations were held children should, instead be decided to father. jointly by BMMA, CSSS, Muslim keeping welfare of child in mind and Law Academy Trichi,Tamil Nadu should not necessarily go to father at Thus these are some of and Institute of Islamic Studies. certain ages. The Prophet (PBUH) the suggestions unanimously Inequality rising in India, shows data on spending

India’s growth story is undeniable. consumer goods and entertainment. The monthly expenditure of the But the 68th National Sample Survey creamy layers in urban India (the top Organization’s (NSSO) findings In urban India, the poorest 10% 10% population) is 221% that of the seem to reaffirm that the benefits spend Rs 23.4 per day on an rich in rural India. The affluent urban from this boost in the economy average in stark contrast to the Indians’ (the top 10% population) have been cornered by the upper richest 10%, who spend Rs 255.1. average monthly expenditure is Rs crust, while the poorest continue 7,651.68, and the expenses of their to languish in near destitution. The economic divide, irrespective rural counterparts are Rs 3,459.77. of the massive surge in economic Compared with the previous survey, activity over the past several years, is Preliminary results underscore a which was conducted in 2009-10, the persisting as revealed by the startling widely-held perception that the monthly expenditure of the poorest figures, where 90% of rural Indians top 10% of the population in both 10% population in rural India has spend less than Rs 68.47 per day per rural and urban India is a class risen by only 11.5%, while that of person and 90% of urban Indians far-apart from the rest. And, the the richest 10% has gone up by 38% spend less than Rs 142.70 to survive 10% just below the creamy rural in the two years. A similar widening in cities, where costs of living are Indians spend almost half of the of gap is witnessed in urban India as exponentially higher. Two years rich. In cities, the rich class spends well. While the monthly expenditure ago, the NSSO report had revealed more than twice the amount on of the poorest 10% of urban that 90% of rural Indians were an average that the next 10% population has risen by 17.2%, that spending less than Rs 55 per day per richest decile can afford to spend. of the richest 10% is up by 30.5%. person, while 90% of urban Indians had expended less than Rs 122. While the detailed report from the The poorest 10% living in rural Considering the average inflation survey is not expected till next year, India spend on an average only levels prevalent over the last two the preliminary results shed some Rs 16.8 per day to survive, and years, the comparison suggests light on how growth may not have half the rural population in India a majority continue to live with trickled down. spends less than Rs 35 per day, stagnant or reduced spending power. says the provisional results of 68th The average monthly expenditure round of the NSSO conducted in The numbers also show that the for 2011-12 has been estimated at 2011-12 to find out the monthly gap between the poorest in villages Rs 1,281.45 in rural India (Rs 42.72 per capita expenditure(MPCE). and the richest in cities is rising per day) and Rs 2,401.68 in urban at a fast clip. The poorest 10% India (Rs 80.06 per day). The figures The MPCE is considered a good living in villages spends on an reassert the fact that agriculture proxy to measure the inequality average 15 times less than the top and rural economy remains highly in society and prevalence of 10% living in cities. And, the gap unfavourable, with the per capita poverty in the country. The MPCE between the two segments has expenditure level of the urban survey covers the money spent increased with successive surveys. population on an average 87.4% in a month by a household on the higher than that of rural Indians. entire gamut of life — from food, Even the affluent in rural India are no education, medicines to durable match for the rich in urban centres. –The Times of India R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 12, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Independence Day Number

Vol. 67 No. 30 65 years young and counting! August 19, 2012 S. Viswam

Co-operatives and Socialism Some spectacular achievements, some notable setbacks, some unpardonable Bapu Heddurshetti failures, some impressive progress. In balance, not a totally dismal record for a young nation that is celebrating 65 years of its birth and stepping into its 66th Nation-building in year on a clear note of hope and ambition. Independence Day on every August Tri-sector Partnership 15 gives us the occasion to attempt to strike a balance between successes and D. K. Giri failures. Admittedly, while successes can be counted on finger tips, the list of failures runs long. This has been so year after year since 1947, but India The Power of the Religions and has managed to blunder along on the road to progress and consolidation not the Helplessness of the Leftists losing heart over the failures. Indians do remember on every August 15 that Saral Sarkar they have not even touched the fringe of the target its forefathers set before the nation on the eve of independence: namely, to wipe the tears off the face How to start a riot of every citizen. That objective remains distant, true, but there has been no out of Facebook let up in the fight against that challenge. The most noteworthy aspect of that Yousuf Saeed challenge itself is that it has to be contained in a democratic environment with democratic institutions and traditions serving as the principal weapons in the The battle has just begun nation’s armoury. The need is to register progress each day and each month Kuldip Nayar and each year so that at year-end we can show something tangible for our efforts at nation-building. Declaration For Building A Since we are a huge country with a billion plus population, our problems and CommonSchool System challenges are also numerous and diverse. These are times when even postage- stamp-sized countries find it tough to register significant economic progress, and many well-developed countries are struggling to retain and live on the fruits of the achievements of years. However, in the case of most countries, there are Editor : enough achievements to offset the failures. And, in the case of most countries G. G. Parikh again, failures occur in spite of honest and sincere attempts by the people of Managing Editor : Guddi those countries to take their nations forward through hard and sustained work. Often, one gets depressed over the failure of the Indian population, by and D-15, Ganesh Prasad, large, to understand and appreciate that India can do much better as a member Naushir Bharucha Marg, of the global comity of nations in several sectors of endeavour, if only they Mumbai - 400 007. were better organized, more disciplined and certainly more dedicated.

Email : [email protected] This is particularly so in the field of international sports where India can do much much better if those who manage national and international sports display 24 JANATA, March 25, 2012 to2 see the distinction between social caste system in India. But, the In fact, no JANATA,political Augustparty including 19, 2012 movements and a political strategy future depends on how the BSP BSP, SP, DMK, RPI, etc that speak inmore winning discipline elections. and dedication.It is alleged The preparesjust-concluded its strategies. generosity If Akhilesh and large-heartedness about social andengineering the abiding has Indian ever thatLondon Mayawati Olympics was highlights forced to slowlythis fact in Yadavall its agonizing succeeds likespirit Mayawati of tolerance in andexperimented understanding in thatsharing has engenderedpower with estrangepoignancy, the gloom symbol and of upperdisappointment castes andcontaining at the same rowdy cheerselements for the and sporting the fraternity lower rungs returning who arefrom minorities London. Satishillustrates Chandra what good Mishra faith andby good2012. resolve bring can ruledo. There of law, itThe is timelikely has why come forwithin introspection. the social groupsThe current and tried system out Nowwill be BSP widespread is restricted agreement to UP nation-wideand the upperthat a casteslarge andand Muslims arrangement look of self-absorbedconstructive self-centredprogrammes politicians to unite maycountry be liketo a Indiasub-region with a billionin future, plus if population to BSP. can The do farreading managing that SP nationalwon andthe sointernational called bahujans, sports sarvajans has failed and to the present trend continues. 58 out of 85 reserved seats to show even the numerous dalit sub castes? better in global sports events than its overall performance deliver. It must be replaced forthwith with persons who that Mayawati has lost ground with in London demonstrates. No gold, two silvers and four know, understand and appreciate sports in all its aspects. The competing politics in UP dalits is not entirely correct. Dalits or Dalit vote bank of BSP is alleged madebronzes. the This SP, onetimeis certainly a Lohiaite not to be scoffedany single at whencaste on theirSince own the inpresent any systemto be runsa divided (and canhouse; run onlydisruptive with) partythere wouldbecoming have worldly been no wiseeyebrows in raised,constituency or to be(including government reserved) patronage, behavior, the authority leg pulling that sanctions and finding and makingmore accurate, the affable only eyebrows young manwould havedo notbeen win raised, the electionsensures withouta drastic re-vampsolace from with the non-dalit grassroots leadership level has Akhileshhad India Yadavreturned as homethe new empty-handed! Chief support Since fromno one others. to Therefore, be the government. the are The considered government as and some officialdom of its Minister.expected Theany SP spectacular was originally achievements, like number the ensuing indicates amust general release trend their strangleholdshortcomings. on sportsThis isand the help greatest usher thedisappointment BSP, but slowly from Londongraduating has beento carriedof some over kind with of a swingin a thoroughly, in favour imaginativelylimitation ofand bahujan comprehensively politics as re-of becomethe required a bahujan skepticism. party by In bringing the event, evenof SP, six may medals be due vampedto the Muslim system whosenow. sole Further, objective SP will has be shown equipping that otherhave beencastes hailed also asin ato mark its fold. of impressive The shift. achievement! However, BSPIndia has and pockets Indian sportsmenthere is toan put alternative up a vastly leadership improved upper castes in UP have done a of dalit concentrationsperformances where it can in globalin sportsthe party. events. But Without Mayawati such ahas long a moronicBut, this act is aof kind encouraging of complacency first that aget nation a minimum aspiring of over-due70 seats overhaul,and a problemsports and of sportsstewardship management as dalits will are theto play BSP a againstmajor role SP inand world now politics by andpeak economics, of 90 with its remainown vote hostage bank. to thedisorderly greed of individualand are too politicians many to claim and supportingincluding international SP against competitive BSP, they sports, But, cannot that afforddoes not bringto their victory. wily manipulationsIt leadership. to Unfortunately,further their own Mayawati selfish seemto nurse to haveand promotepermanently any lostlonger. the Indeed,has toit playis sheer an inclusiveinterests politics. in the name has of noIndian family sports. to fall back upon as ground in UP politics for ever to Further, Muslims would always feel the future politics in India appear to be dictated by these forces. This comfortable with a non-dalit due to be heading towards consanguinity attitude of ruling castes sustains the caste stigma than with a dalit. rather than consensus politics! Western Railway Employees’ Union Central Offi ce: Grant Road Station Building (East), Mumbai-400007 P&T: 23083813 Rly- 43662, 43663 -Fax: 23003185, Rly. 43666 E-mail: [email protected] The Westem Railway Employees’ Union (“WREU”), earlier known as Bombay Baroda & Central India Railway Employees’ Union was established in 1920 at Parel, Mumbai. WREU is one of the oldest trade unions not only in Railway but also in the country, its registration number being 5. After enactment of the Trade Union Act, 1926, the WREU got itself registered on 30.10.1927. WREU is a founder member of All India Railwaymen’s Federation (“AIRF”) and All India Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), WREU, AIRF and HMS are free, independent and democratic trade unions. WREU fought for upliftment of railwaymen and their family in particular and labour class in general for the last 87 years. WREU-AIRF is instrumental in creation of Permanent Negotiating Machinery (“PNM”) for solving the grievances of railwaymen in 1951. Productivity Linked Bonus, large scale upgradations, etc. To the Railwaymen, these are some of the major achievements of WREU. WREU is the most popular union amongst the railwaymen on implementation of modifi ed recommendations of the 6th CPC w.e.f. 1.1.2006 WREU was led by prominent trade union leader, late Miss. Maniben Kara and in memory of her, WREU established “Maniben Kara Foundation”, a charitable trust fi ghting against the evils of the society. Apart from trade union activities, WREU along with Maniben Kara Foundation is conducting various non-bargaining activities such as organizing Health Checkup Camps, Blood Donation Camps, Family Planning Camps, Anti-Dowry campaigns, HN-AIDS Awareness Campaigns, Trade Union Education Class, etc. for the benefi ts of the railwaymen and the general public. Umraomal Purohit J.R. Bhosale President General Secretary JANATA, August 19, 2012 3 Co-operatives and Socialism

Bapu Heddurshetti

The United Nations has declared the year 2012 as the “men and women come together and fight for their rights; International Year of the Co-operatives. Co-operatives while the co-operatives are constructive organizations and Socialism have symbiotic relationship. Co-operatives par excellence, they are the schools of associative work”. are one of the three institutions invented to transit the society from capitalism to socialism, the other two being In its ‘Statement on the co-operative identity’, the the political party of socialism and the trade unions. International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) defines a Co-operatives are an institution that engenders the third co-operative as “an autonomous association of persons of the normative ideals of socialism, namely fraternity united voluntarily to meet their common economic, or solidarity. They bridge the gulf between the need for social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a individual initiative and the need for associative action – jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise”. being the harbingers of fraternity they bridge the hiatus According to the ICA, co-operatives are based on the between liberty and equality. values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity and they believe in the It would be interesting to note that the word “socialist” ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility was used for the first time in 1827, in the Co-operative and caring for others. Magazine to designate the followers of Robert Owen (1771–1858). It is not without reason that Robert Owen, The United Nations also conceives the co-operatives considered as the founding father of Socialism, is also as instruments for ‘building a better world’. Co- considered the founding father of co-operatives and trade operatives ‘balance both social and economic demands’. unions. In the cotton mills at New Lanark, Scotland, They also help ‘improving the livelihoods of the people Owen put his ideas of providing a good environment and strengthen the economy’ as also ‘enable sustainable with access to education for workers and their children in development’. UN considers co-operatives as a ‘pathway practice. It was here that he opened the first co-operative out of poverty’’. In the Declaration of Principles adopted store. He even wanted to form ‘villages of co-operation’ at the 18th Congress at Stockholm in 1989, the Socialist where workers would escape from poverty by growing International states that the self-managed cooperatives their own food, making their own clothes and ultimately of workers and farmers are a means to bring about social becoming self-governing. Even Charles Fourier, another control of the economy. of the Utopian Socialists, who conceived of a commune Humble Beginnings phalange wanted all its activities, ‘the complex activities of the life of a community, to be carried on by the people, Co-operatives had a humble beginning. The first in a co-operative manner”. serious attempt was ‘The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers’ established in 1844 by a group of 28 weavers India’s socialist leader Asoka Mehta pays tribute and others in Rochdale, England. As the capitalist to Robert Owen when he says “If for nothing else, industries pushed the workers into the abyss of poverty, for having given us the picture of these two types of these persons known as Rochdale Pioneers decided to organizations, for having developed them and nurtured come together and open their own store selling food items them for twenty years, he earns an abiding place in the at affordable rates. With great efforts they pooled 28 socialist pantheon”. pounds from 28 persons at one pound sterling per person and opened the co-operative store on 21st December In his book ‘Democratic Socialism’, Asoka Mehta 1844 to sell butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal and candles. considers the co-operatives and the trade unions as the Within three months, they were selling tea and tobacco two of the most creative and abiding organizations that also and were soon known for providing high quality, have emerged in our time. He calls them the ‘two wheels unadulterated goods. The Pioneers decided that they on which the chariot of social progress moves’. He says should be honest, open and treat others with respect and that in trade unions, which are combative organizations, that they should share the profits with the members and 4 JANATA, August 19, 2012 that they should have a democratic right to have a say two individuals with ‘co-operation’ which eliminated in the business. Every customer of the shop became a the conflict and replaced it with fraternity or solidarity. member and thus acquired a stake in the business. The co-operative which was kept open only on two nights a In his book ‘Future of Socialism” Anthony Crossland week in the beginning, soon grew so big that it had to says that “socialism was a protest against the material be kept open five days a week. poverty and physical squalor produced by capitalism and the inefficiencies of capitalism” and that the co- In view of the failure of the earlier co-operatives, operatives are a “means for substituting unrestricted they formulated the now famous Rochdale Principles for competition and the motive of personal profits”. They successful running of a co-operative. These principles replace ‘competitive social relations by fellowship and have been adopted by the International Co-operative social solidarity, and the motive of personal profit by a Alliance in 1937 and then restated in 1966 and 1995. more altruistic and other-regarding motive’. He feels These principles today form the basis for the development that though because of economic progress the arguments and growth of the modern cooperative movement. These of material poverty and inefficiency have receded to principles are : 1. Voluntary and open membership, 2. the background the co-operative aspiration of society 2 Democratic member control, 3. Economic participation remains. by members, 4. Autonomy and independence, 5. Socialist historian George Lichtheim goes further Education, training and information, 6. Cooperation and says that ‘the solution of the social problem, lay in among cooperatives, 7. Concern for community. establishing labour exchanges where workingmen’s co- operatives and independent craftsmen could exchange The third of the principles i.e., economic participation their products according to prices based on labour-units, by members is of the essence of these principles. The ICA thus at one blow circumventing the market and realising elucidates the principle as follows: Members contribute the ideal of social equality’.3 equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually It would be interesting to note that after the Bolshevik the common property of the co-operative. Members Revolution, when Russia was confronted with the usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital problem of accumulating capital, three solutions were subscribed as a condition of membership. Members offered. Asoka Mehta says “The least painful was the allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: one put forward by Bukharin. He said that the peasants developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up should be permitted to produce as much as they can reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; and by inducing them with advantages of co-operative benefiting members in proportion to their transactions marketing, credit facilities, and other incentives bring with the co-operative; and supporting other activities them into co-operatives and through their help build approved by the membership”. up agriculture and get the resources for other economic development”. Even the United Nations has emphasised the point. It says that the “Cooperative enterprises are member owned, Indian Socialists on Co-operatives member serving and member driven”. In Scandinavian Socialists in India recognised the importance of countries the co-operatives distribute the dividends on co-operatives from the beginning. In 1934 itself, in the basis of the purchases made by the members and not the draft proposals for the formation of a Congress on the basis of the shares held by them.1 “This principle Socialist Party, they said that “organisation of co- should provide the standard by which to measure as to operatives and entering them where they exist for the what extent a co-operative is a true co-operative. purpose of helping producers and consumers and for providing credit for workers and peasants” would be Socialists on co-operatives one of the programmes of the party. In the ‘Programme Capitalism had created a society in which an individual for adoption after the attainment of independence’ they worked for his individual ‘profit’ and it was ‘competition’ wanted “gradual replacement of private (internal) trade which ensured that the economic activity was conducted by State (distributing) co-operatives” and that the “state with efficiency. Socialism sought to replace ‘individual shall encourage and promote collective and co-operative profit’ with ‘benefit for the community’ and ‘competition’ farming with a view to ultimate collectivisation of all which created a situation of conflict of interest between agriculture in the country”. JANATA, August 19, 2012 5

The programmes of the party mentioned in the For JP ‘socialism in agriculture’ meant co-operative constitution of the party included “organisation of co- and collective farming. He said this ‘was essential for operatives for production, distribution and credit in the the success of any attempt to recast Indian life on a unsocialised sector of economic life and encouragement socialist basis’. He explains what is a co-operative in his and promotion of co-operative and collective farming tract ‘Why socialism’. “Under this, individual holdings by the State”. They also mentioned ‘encouragement of remain (though much equalised by the redistribution of co-operative farming’ as an immediate demand of the the land of the landlords and the capitalist farmers); the socialists. old agricultural instruments remain individual property; but for the purposes of cultivation, the holdings are Mahatma Gandhi who considered himself a socialist pooled together and the crop is raised and harvested wanted that as far as possible every activity in a village with joint labour. The produce is distributed according 4 should be conducted on co-operative basis. Gandhi’s to the size of the holding and the amount of labour put “notion of co-operative was that the land would be held in, after costs have been accounted for. This is the first in common by the owners and tilled and cultivated also lesson in social living”. in co-operation” 5 As Dr. T. N. Praksh Kammaradi says the “emergence of genuine, autonomous, co-operative In an article ‘Socialism and Sarvodaya’ written in associations, (which) naturally take away their share of Janata in 1951, JP said “The ideal that the Plan sets out 6 power from the State” and that would endear the co- to achieve is that of a non-violent, non-exploitative co- operatives to Mahatma Gandhi’s anarchist proclivities. operative society which shall not be based on caste or class and in which there shall be equal opportunity for The doyen of the Indian socialist movement Acharya all. The present competitive economy shall be replaced Narendea Deva wanted the Indian peasants to be brought by a social economy based on co-operation.” in line with “socialist reconstruction through the medium of co-operative societies.” 7 He wanted ‘the development Asoka Mehta considers co-operatives as one of several of medium and cottage industries on co-operative basis’. institutions, along with Parliament, State Assemblies, He felt that in co-operation lies the salvation of small District Boards, Village Panchayats, Ward Committees, unit economic enterprises. Referring to the success of Community Centres etc., in which the power of the co-operatives in Scandinavian countries he said “it state needs to be distributed to achieve decentralised was co-operation that enabled the Scandinavian peasants democracy. Co-operatives are very much a part of the to pull through the economic crisis of the thirties of this ‘pulsating fabric of a democratic state’. century and to organise their dairy industries on sound foundations. Co-operation alone will enable cottage 8 As Dr. T. N. Prakash Kammaradi would say, “Asoka industries and small unit enterprises to flourish in India.” Mehta strongly vouches that the co-operation can be the For Acharya Narendra Deva, co-operatives were not key stone of the arch of planning in India and asserts only economic organisations but also a psychological emphatically that co-operation and the decentralization tool, an instrument to ‘change the attitude of the masses’. are the essential ingredients of the planned economic He said “the co-operative movement is a new way of development under the system of democratic socialism 10 thinking and living. It is not merely a question of joint that suits the situation of India well”. farming or consumers’ co-operatives. There are many types of co-operatives which can be established. It must Asoka Mehta also feels that the co-operatives are serve every need and aspect of rural life. That is what is not just economic organisations but institutions for expected of the co-operative movement”. 9 bringing about attitudinal change in human beings. Though co-operatives form a part of the pulsating fabric Jayaprakash Narayan, in his ‘My Picture of Socialism’ of democratic state, they should ultimately replace even had said “Each Grama Panchayat, among other things, democratic state. Co-operation must ultimately replace will also function as a farmers’ co-operative. The Co- authority. According to him “philosophic anarchy is operative will conduct all farming operations including the ultimate objective of all socialists, utopian as well buying, selling and borrowing”. JP had even said as scientific” and that “all socialists aspire to achieve “I visualize all small industries to be organized into stateless society. State, as an instrument of compulsion, producers’ co-operatives, who would own and manage must ‘wither away’. All socialists, from the days of their industries”. Saint-Simon to those of our times, have believed in, 6 JANATA, August 19, 2012 and worked for, the time when the governance of men Today the co-operative is running more than 150 buses will yield place to administration of things: where there and is the biggest transport operator in the hilly region will be no police, no bureaucracy, no judiciary, no army, of north-western Karnataka running buses to every nook where by spontaneous co-operation, by the flow of human and corner of the region. Now it has its own Bus Stand goodwill the social life will be kept free from friction”. and its own garage to repair the buses. Co-operatives today While the pioneers of Amul and Koppa are in fact Today Co-operatives all over the world are playing an socialists who do not know that they are socialists or important role in ameliorating the rigours of capitalist society. In India too they are playing an important role. call themselves as socialists, even those who know that Dr. Praksh Kammaradi, draws our attention to two co- they are socialists or call themselves as socialists have operative experiments, one at a macro level and another been actively involved in the co-operative movement. at a micro level. He says, “One has to study thoroughly To the best of my knowledge, at least in Karnataka the case of AMUL, the most successful co-operative and Maharashtra the sugar manufacturing industry is experimentation at the macro level and Koppa Transport overwhelmingly in the co-operative sector. Socialists Co-operative, at the micro level and seriously ponder have been active in the housing and consumer sectors over the issue of establishing genuine co-operative also. The ‘Apna Bazar’ of Mumbai is an example of 11 farming system throughout India” . socialist efforts in the consumer co-operative movement. Amul, the acronym for the Anand Milk Union Limited, Even in the United States, the so-called bastion of in Gujarat, has become the mascot of cooperatives in India though there are many such equally successful capitalism, there are over 29,000 co-operatives employing co-operative federations. Formed in 1946 Amul today 2 million people with over $652 billion in annual revenue. is managed by the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation In the UK, co-operatives formed the Co-operative Party Limited and is owned by more than 3.1 million milk in the early 20th century to represent members of co- producers, collects 9.4 million litres per day from its operatives in Parliament. The Co-operative Party now members and disburses Rs. 150 million in cash every has a permanent electoral pact with the Labour Party, day on an average. With an annual turnover of Rs. 53 and some Labour MPs are Co-operative Party members. billion, it is the biggest milk handler in Asia. It exports milk and milk products to more than 37 countries with a The co-operatives and co-operative federations, the turnover of more than Rs. 1.5 billion. It has 7 lakh retail world over, have formed ‘International Co-operatives outlets. It would be interesting to know that the movie Alliance’ in 1995 and today it has, as its members, 245 co- ‘Manthan’ by Shyam Benegal produced in 1976 and operatives or co-operative federations from 92 countries which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi was based on the Amul experiment and with a total membership of more than 100 crores. 12 was financed by more than 5 lakh farmers in Gujarat who national federations from India with a total membership contributed Rs. 2 each. of 24 crores are members of the ICA. India’s membership exceeds even the membership in China. While Acharya Narendra Deva felt that in co-operation lies the salvation of small unit economic enterprises, 1. see International and National Politics the Amul experiment shows that Co-operatives can be by B.Vivekanandan – p. 25 the socialist answer to the multi-national corporations 2. Pages 53-54 3. A Short History Of Socialism - page 76 engendered by capitalism. 4. The Life of Mahatma Gandhi – Louis Fischer page 408 5. JS and AS Mathur in Transport Co-op Society Ltd., Koppa, Karnataka, Economic Thought of Mahatma Gandhi page - 335 was started by about 200 drivers, conductors, mechanics 6. Janata, 13th November 2011. etc., who were working for a private transport company 7. Towards Socialist Society – page 176. which threw them out because they went on a strike. 8. Towards Socialist Society – page 287. They took their Provident Fund money and purchased 9. Towards Socialist Society – page 418. two condemned buses from the Karnataka State Transport 10. Janata, 13th November 2011. Corporation, repaired them and started running them. 11. Janata, 13, November 2011 JANATA, August 19, 2012 7 Nation-building in Tri-sector Partnership

D. K. Giri

As we observe the 65th year of India’s independence, This first-of-its-kind India meet was organised by the another annual occasion to remember the glorious efforts Schumacher Centre - a Delhi-based NGO that exists to and results of our national liberation movement, we take support the marginalised rural Indian poor. time to reflect on the nation-building process. Presently, there are two issues that concern almost all countries Schumacher Centre believes that government, in the world in varying degrees: Globalization and business corporate social responsibility departments and Climate Change which are somewhat interrelated. Under NGOs, acting independently of each other, have failed the impact of globalization, new ideologies and new rural India. They have failed individually because they activisms have come up across the globe – neo-liberal have been acting without unity. Government holds power capitalism, monopolistic multinational corporatism, and legitimacy but struggles to reach the grassroots. religious revivalism, extremism, ecologism and so on. Business has the money but not the knowledge of rural But, deeply worrying part of these developments is the poverty issues. NGOs have the knowledge but lack the heightened violent conflicts between state, business and resources. The barriers of suspicion between the three civil society organisations. These conflicts are of course sectors must be torn down, for only a unified approach exacerbated by climate change and globalization, but can truly tackle poverty and a related danger lurking they go back a long way due to deep seated suspicion, rigidity of views and prejudices. For instance, it in the wings - the threat of climate change, which is very common for the government to be viewed potentially can decimate the livelihoods of the poor. as bureaucratic, buck-passing and control seeking; Of note here is US Senator John Kerry’s warning that businesses to be seen as profit motivated, insensitive and agriculture in India and the livelihoods that depend on greedy; and civil society is perceived as idiosyncratic, it could be catastrophically hit as a result of rising sea inefficient and having an attitude of holier-than-thou. levels that are forcing salt water into the Ganges and through the river, on to millions of acres of fertile soil. These are superficial clichés, at the very best half- truths. They give us a very good excuse to stay within Candidly acknowledging the Indian government’s our own domain and think everyone else is rubbish. inability to deliver its rural people from the scourge This is not acceptable because this is not healthy for of poverty, leading Congress M.P. Dr. Keshava Rao promoting development and building a good society. I declared at Schumacher Centre’s Tri-Sector Partnership propose in this article a new approach of collaboration, meeting that more than 60 years of government-led called Tri-Sector Partnership between the state, market rural development initiatives had “failed” and that and civil society. This is based on the research and government alone could not solve the deep-seated nation-wide consultations done by my development problems that plague rural India. Referring to the organization, Schumacher Centre. The process started country’s rural hinterlands, Rao said: “After 60 years, with an international conference, which was preceded by we still have people who do not get one square meal a three sector-wise workshops to clear the air and set the day”. The M.P. identified poverty and social oppression agenda. Then, the deliberations of the conference were as salient issues, and regretted that politicians were cut put to three regional workshops for feedback. off from the people’s concerns. He lamented: “We feel The Conference so cut off sitting in Delhi. We come to power in the name On November 4, 2009, an international conference of people we cannot reach or understand. We cannot see was held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, their tears, we cannot hear their voices”. Rao’s plea was to promote the concept of Tri-Sector Partnership - a that we “let government do its job”, but as a “partner and partnership between the State, the business sector, and ally” of business and the NGO sector. Welcoming the Non-Governmental Organisations, all three working Tri-Sector approach, he said there was a need to break together structurally, as equals, for development. the mould and think of new approaches. 8 JANATA, August 19, 2012

Defining Tri-sector Partnership consumer, and civil society, the communitarian. We have heard of Private-Public Partnerships, but Schumacher Centre’s approach talked about a private, The citizen is expected to be committed to democratic public and people’s partnership. Let us briefly introduce values - a refrain we hear frequently. But consumerism is the Tri-Sector concept, explain its rationale and elaborate unleashed without any restraint, which is playing havoc how the concept could be put into practice. T. K. not only in society but also in nature. The current concern Oommen, the chairman of the Schumacher Centre, came with climate change should actually address responsible up with a robust theoretical foundation for building tri- consumer behaviour. It is absolutely necessary to evolve sector partnership. He suggests fostering an atmosphere a code of ethics for consumers. The creature that the civil of Tri-Sector co-operation, and the kind of citizen we society produces is the communitarian, whose concern must breed to allow Tri-Sector to flourish. is the welfare of not only his immediate community but also the wider society. All of us, all individuals, combine What is typically in vogue to-day is co-operation within us the three roles - those of citizen, consumer between the government/state and business/private and communitarian. But these three roles need to be sector. But we, at Schumacher Centre, are advocating balanced to create a consensual equilibrium in society, tri-sector co-operation; the three sectors being the which would be qualitatively different from the coercive State, market and civil society. This advocacy is equilibrium produced by the state-led and market-driven based on recent historical experience: state-sponsored equilibrium, the mediating element being the role of development was in existence in socialist countries communitarian propelled by civil society. and market-driven development prevailed in capitalist economies and both have come to grief, for different The tri-sector approach thus advocates not only reasons. We do not intend to dwell upon the reasons institutional co-operation between State, market and for their failures but only want to indicate the rationale civil society but is also aimed at creating individuals behind tri-sector co-operation. who can balance the roles of citizen, consumer and communitarian. The product of such an endeavour would The State is a coercive agent. Therefore, the neither be a combination of capitalism and democracy process of acquiring and exercising power needs to nor a combination of socialism and one-party rule, be well-designed and regulated through appropriate both of which have failed, but that of socialism and mechanisms such as periodic elections contested by democracy; call it Democratic Socialism if you are not different political parties, and the preservation of the prejudiced. As we see it, only the tri-sector approach can autonomy of the legislature, executive and the judiciary. provide equity, nurture emancipatory identity, deliver Economic activity is motivated by material incentives dignity to all and be the instrument of comprehensive and is regulated by market mechanisms in terms of free security. exchange and open competition. But often it is found that self-regulation by the market does not always succeed Looming Crisis and hence, the State needs to intervene when required. Schumacher Centre is inspired by the great 20th Civil society is a space for free voluntary activity for Century economist and philosopher, E. F. Schumacher, citizen; it is a space between market and state, which who declared that “the starting point of all our can and should moderate the authoritarian tendency of considerations is poverty, or rather, a degree of poverty the State and the rapacity of the market. which means misery, and degrades and stultifies the human person”. Rural India, which is steeped in human A State may be authoritarian or democratic; the misery and degradation, is the focus of our work in market could be monopolistic or competitive. Similarly, Schumacher Centre. We take a leaf out of the book of the civil society contains both negative and positive Mahatma Gandhi who told us, not too long ago: “India is elements. In the final analysis, a good society is one in not Calcutta or Bombay. India lives in her seven hundred which the democratic polity, competitive market, and thousand villages”. the positive elements of civil society co-habit. Tri-sector co-operation refers to the co-operation of these positive The situation in rural India, which has long been dimensions. The three entities produce three creatures bleak, has now reached a tipping point – a point of no - the State begets the citizen, the market produces the return: it is threatening to get much, much worse. The JANATA, August 19, 2012 9 move in that direction began with globalisation, which The movement has always drawn support from those for widened the gap between the “Two Indias”. Now the whom agriculture is simply not putting enough food on gulf between the Two Indias has widened further still the table. However, the Naxalite insurgency is being following the global recession. There are many aspects fuelled by both economic injustices as well as by climate to the looming crisis threatening rural India. One issue change. The discontent that fosters the insurgency is is that of the rising debt that has led Indian farmers to a liable to be compounded and the insurgency widened, range of extreme and desperate measures this summer, deepened and prolonged if climate change is allowed including selling their wives and even threatening mass to ravage our nation’s rural areas. The Naxalite crisis suicide. The Hindustan Times reported on June 30th, has persisted for too long. It must be confronted now – 2009, that a written suicide pact signed by 5,000 farmers before it is too late. in Jharkhand simply said: “We cannot live a respectable life, we should be allowed to die a respectable death”. I said that rural India has reached a tipping point, This signature campaign, taken to the Indian government and rural India should remain our concern. But urban in a bid to garner financial aid, spoke of the pathetic India is also at risk. Wealthy India exists within the most conditions the farmers had to contend with. exclusive suburbs of our cities – ‘mini Americas,’ as they are known, but within our cities too, we also find Beyond the lingering economic crisis, a deeper and terrible poverty. If we do not save village India, then the more serious threat that has led rural India to a tipping country’s cities will forever be handicapped, for every point is the climate crisis. Back in February 2009, day, thousands of Indian villagers swarm to the urban the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit saw US slums in the big cities, desperate for a livelihood they Senator John Kerry address delegates by video-link could not find back home. They come because they have from Washington. Describing India’s future in a world no hope in the villages. All too often, they find no hope, of climate breakdown, he said: “Scientists are now no home and no job in the cities either. Thus, rural Indian warning that the Himalayan glaciers, which supply water poverty breeds urban Indian poverty. to almost a billion people, could disappear completely by 2035. This would reduce the Indus, Ganges and Land Of Opportunities Brahmaputra rivers to cracked earth.” Kerry warned So far I have presented a gloomy image of rural India. also that “rising sea levels are forcing salt water into the But it is a land that also offers so many opportunities. Ganges, with the potential to destroy millions of acres C. K. Prahalad of the University of Michigan gave us of fertile Indian soil”, and that farming output in India is a glimpse of the potential in his book, Fortune at the projected to fall by as much as 30 percent to 40 percent Bottom of the Pyramid – a volume that speaks of dynamic by 2080. If this grim prediction comes true, millions of new models of doing business with the poorest of the rural livelihoods will be lost. poor and defeating poverty through profit. Prahalad argued also that the fastest growing new markets and There are already precedents of climate change the most exciting entrepreneurial opportunities are to be causing all-out conflict. In 2007, we heard a watershed found at the bottom of the economic pyramid. announcement: the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the globe it was witnessing its first climate change Business must realize that rural India contains war. Ki-moon said the ethnic bloodshed in the Darfur one third of a billion potential consumers, and that region of Sudan was triggered, at least in part, by man- this potential is simply not being tapped. Those who made climate change. UN statistics revealed rainfall grasp this opportunity first will deservedly prosper; in Darfur had declined 40 per cent in two decades, the urban market is, after all, fast reaching the point of as monsoons were affected by a rise in Indian Ocean saturation. Also a source of optimism is the promise temperatures. Ethnic Arabs and Africans, who had co- of good, transparent and responsive governance at the existed peacefully for generations, fell into catastrophic grassroots, which Panchayati Raj is mandated to deliver. war over diminishing water supplies and farm land. We If Panchayati Raj delivers as it has been conceived, India may see the same hell breaking loose in this part of the will have contributed to the world a replicable model of world also. bottom-up planning and grassroots democracy. Adding to this ghastly mess of economic crisis and impending climate chaos, we have the Naxalite rebellion. (Continued on Page 13) 10 JANATA, August 19, 2012 The Power of the Religions and the Helplessness of the Leftists

Saral Sarkar

Recently, in two Arab countries – Tunisia and Egypt The passages that follow were written in December – the struggle to liberate the country from the tyrannical 2004, after an Islamist young man in Amsterdam killed rule of a despotic regime began under the leadership of the Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh because the the democratically oriented educated youth. But when latter had insulted Islam and the Muslims in general elections were held to form a legitimate government, it and because, in particular, in a film he had projected a was the Islamists who won in both countries. In Egypt, verse of the Koran on the naked back of a woman. The the Muslim Brotherhood had not joined the revolt in contents of these passages however are as valid today the beginning. Yet it is they and the fundamentalist as they were in 2004. Islamists called Salafists who overwhelmingly won in the elections to the new Parliament. And in the The power of the religions that makes us so ensuing election for the post of the President a till then concerned for quite some time now is manifested in unknown member of the Muslim Brotherhood won. three phenomena: religious fundamentalism, political The internationally well-known secular politicians Amr religion (e.g. political Islam) and religiously motivated Musa and El Baradei fell by the wayside; they did not violence. All big religions – except perhaps Buddhism even come out second. Reports from Tunisia indicate – have one or all of these expressions of power for that a process of Islamisation of the country is well quite a long time, more or less. Already in 1947, the under way. In Egypt it may have already begun under power of militant political Islam led to the partition of the leadership of the Salafists. the Indian subcontinent, the then British India, and the creation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The initially We had witnessed a somewhat similar process in Iran socialist (in Algeria) or half-socialist (in Egypt) Arab in the wake of the 1979 revolt against the Shah regime. nationalism has long been edged out by radical Islamism. There the left and secular forces had fought side by Today, the Arab struggle against imperialism and Israeli side with the religiously motivated forces. But then the colonialism is being led mainly by militant Islamists. masses welcomed Ayatollah Khomeini to take over the The Thirty Years War of the seventeenth century among leadership and establish an Islamic republic. The leftists the European Christians is being repeated, so to speak, had to flee the country. in Northern Ireland. In the USA, the fundamentalist Evangelicals, who want to Christianize the whole world, Today, in Syria, the dividing line is not clear. It have taken over power. appeared in the beginning that the masses revolted against a tyrannical regime. Then observers started What is needed in this situation is not just to be saying that it is the Sunni majority (60 percent of the agitated but deep and concerned thinking on these population) led by the Muslim Brotherhood that is phenomena. For they not only represent a second fighting against the dominance of the Alawites and the defeat of socialism, they also mean that the spirit of the Shias. For a few weeks now, it is also being reported that Enlightenment is increasingly losing ground. the middle-class Sunnis, particularly Sunni businessmen support the regime of Assad and that it is mainly Search for the Causes (however, not only) the poor and the unemployed Sunnis Many among us cannot understand that anybody that are doing the fighting against the regime. Another at all believes in a God and a religion. But let us not observer reported that the fighters of the Free Syrian make it so easy for ourselves. A deep root of religiosity Army who pushed into Damascus could dig in in the lies in the human condition itself. We do not know poor districts of the city. If the latter reports are true, everything. What science tells us about the origin of the then we can see in the conflict also a class divide. One universe and of life on earth are after all only the most thing however is clear: the secular and left forces are plausible hypotheses at the moment. Moreover, several on the defensive (Assad’s Baath Party was originally a fundamental questions remain unanswered: Why did all socialist one. Today it is still a secular one). that originate at all? What is the purpose, the meaning JANATA, August 19, 2012 11 of all that, of life? And what is the purpose of human wanted to lead Islam back to its pristine form, in which life? Where do we have our consciousness from, our the Prophet wanted it to be practised. They were intelligence, our sense of morality? Are we, the human therefore, in today’s jargon, fundamentalists. What these species, only an accidental product of evolution? If yes, examples say, is that in history often militant religious why do members of such a species, only one among fundamentalists or only religiously motivated political several millions, have a sense of morality? Cats, for activists, who were not necessarily fundamentalists, example, do not bother about other populations of the fought in various ways against some real or felt injustice cat species, about nature or about the future generations. or against some deplorable state of affairs. Why do some humans suffer and the others don’t? What is death? Is there anything after death? The Betrayed Enlightenment, the Betrayed Human Rights, Violated Dignity Such questions can lead one straight into believing Since the Age of Enlightenment and since the in God(s) and a religion or, in the most favourable various declarations of human rights, at the latest since case, to harmless spirituality. Especially an oppressed, the world-wide spread of the revolutionary socialist exploited or somehow disadvantaged person or one who movement after the Second World War, there should is shattered through cruel strokes of fate needs a source not have been any need for any religious drive for such of consolation. If that cannot be found in this world, struggles. But the Enlightenment as well as the human then it is at least understandable that such a person rights and socialism were betrayed by the very people believes he/she can find it in another sphere, where a who had brought forth these ideals, namely the Euro- God allegedly loves him unconditionally or where he Americans. In the name of the white man’s burden would be happy at long last. As we know, the search of and his alleged civilising mission these people waged the young Siddhartha (later the Buddha) for insight into colonial wars. The peoples of the conquered countries the human condition and his passage to religiosity began were not only exploited and oppressed but also treated when he for the first time saw a seriously ill person, then in racist ways. The slave trade went on till 1864. France a very frail old man, and then a corpse. After the collapse waged a brutal war until 1962 in order to maintain her of the Soviet Union large numbers of formerly atheist colonial rule in Algeria. and newly impoverished Russians thronged the churches again. Marx had already realized that Religion is “the Already the armed struggle of the Mahdi was directed expression of real distress”, “the sigh of the oppressed not only against the Egyptian rule in Sudan, but also creature”. against the British imperialists, who supported the Egyptians. The British colonel Gordon, who went to According to Marx, religion is also “opium”. But he Sudan for saving the Egyptian rule there, was killed recognised that it is also “protest against real distress”. It after being taken prisoner. But why did the Mahdi have is better to say that it can also be that. In fact, in history to be a religious fundamentalist? It is perhaps a law of it has often goaded humans to protest, in many forms social history that a people, or at least a part of it, falls including violent ones. In the 16th century, Martin Luther back on its own religious-cultural tradition whenever, led the revolt against the corrupt Christian religious even without foreign rule, its general condition appears authorities. Thomas Muter, a protestant reformer led a to it to be miserable, whenever it sees itself as living peasant revolt. Some Marxists see him as a precursor in in a materially desolate or morally decadent state, the struggle for a classless society. In the 19th century, particularly when, in our times, the promises of the in Sudan, Muhammad Ahmed Ibn ‘Abd Allah – a Sufi, modern age prove to be illusory. It then wants to revive who gave himself the title Mahdi – led a mass movement the supposedly past golden age of its history, which and a revolutionary army in order both to reform Islam must not be understood only in the material sense. But and to liberate his country from the oppressive rule of also in terms of simple material wants, in the Arab- foreigners, namely the Egyptians. Muslim countries, it has been the Muslim Brotherhood and similar Islamist organizations (e.g. the Hamas in Both Müntzer and the Mahdi led an armed struggle Palestine) that have provided succour to the needy, against a worldly order that they, for various reasons, whereas the state led by a secular Western-educated elite held to be unbearable. And Luther had been the spiritual (that may also have included leftists) did not care. That leader of the kings who carried out the military revolt is also a strong reason for the popularity of the Islamist against the rule of the Pope. The Mahdi and his followers organisations in Muslim countries. 12 JANATA, August 19, 2012

This orientation does not always appear as an not primarily anger at economic exploitation and their additional aspect of the struggle for worldly power. Also primary goal is not redistribution of the wealth of the in an independent country in which some kind of crisis world or of their own country. What drives them is their situation is obtaining for a long time, it can come up with sense of dignity, and hate and revenge as two means of the goal of a peaceful socio-cultural renaissance. Thus restoring lost dignity. Anyhow, the sense of dignity and in India under British colonial rule, in the 19th century, honour of the Arab Islamic peoples, actually of all Third some Hindu leading personalities started the Aryasamaj World peoples, is suffering since long because of material and Brahmasamaj movements in order to reform Hindu underdevelopment. Additionally, for decades, it is being society on the basis of the ancient Vedic tradition. In violated by Western imperialist countries, to which also 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood was founded, which Israel belongs. Although a few bombs or Katyusha rockets strove for establishing the Koran and the Hadith as the will not enable them to defeat imperialism, they will at source of guiding principles for a healthy and modern least assuage the thirst for revenge of these humiliated Islamic society. A similar development can be observed peoples. This is the more important purpose of the violent today among Christian fundamentalists, who feel a deep attacks of militant Islamists against westerners. Only so disquiet over the moral degeneration of modern Western can one explain the murder of Theo van Gogh. societies and therefore want to lead them back to Biblical values. And in India, many Hindus have reacted to the It is obvious that the motivation for satisfying moral degeneration of their society by envisioning the this kind of needs cannot come from the ideals of revival of the mythical Ramarajya, the ideal kingdom of Enlightenment and socialism, but it can very well come God incarnate Rama (the hero of their epic Ramayana), from fundamentalist interpretations of the great religions or, in our days, by reviving what is called Hindutva (except Buddhism), nationalism or ethnic loyalty. The (hinduness). Of course, many politicians, parties and motivation for the Islamists’ struggle against the West militant groups instrumentalize these feelings, thoughts, and that of the Chechnians against the Russians is fed and dreams. But they do exist in society. by both of these sources.

For this discussion the recent history of Algeria is the It is not without reason that one hardly thinks of most instructive example. After a successful liberation a Turk when one hears the term “Islamist terrorist”, war, a socialist state was founded in this predominantly although there have also been two bomb attacks in Turkey Islamic country, which was, to boot, blessed with a large perpetrated by Turkish Islamists. Turkey has never been oil and gas wealth. Of course, there were some purely a colony or semi-colony. On the contrary, it was itself a economic causes of the crisis of Algerian society, but colonial power. And today it is a member of the OECD the leading, westernised francophone stratum of the and the NATO. Turkish political Islam can therefore take ruling FLN was also morally degenerated. Against this on a mild form. That shows that only the combination of background, the underprivileged strata – particularly being a Muslim and origin or roots in a (neo)colonially their youth suffering from mass unemployment, whose humiliated country makes one particularly susceptible absolute number as well as share in the population to militant Islamism. rapidly increased – could be easily won over by the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) for its politics. FIS The Function of Identity achieved this in the name of pan Arabism and upholding In Algeria, the FIS could successfully utilise the the religious-cultural identity of the people. The rest of religious-cultural identity “Arab-Islamic”, because the the story – civil war and reciprocal massacres – is well identity preferred by the leftists, namely “worker”, had known. been of little use to the Algerian under-classes in their struggle against the FLN bigwigs and the upper classes, As we know, the Islamic terrorists of today do not who claimed to be socialists. It was of little use especially generally come from the poor under-classes, but, in their because class differences existed even within the working majority, rather from the educated middle and upper class. The identity “worker” has also been of no use in the classes. If they come to power in any country, they struggle against imperialism, because, seen objectively, would not abolish the exploitation of the under-classes Euro-American workers are beneficiaries of the modern by the upper classes. Here many western observers, imperialist system. So the Islamists became stronger. including leftists, make an error in their reasoning. By using the identity-term “Islamic”, they could also In the case of Islamic terrorists, their motive force is sweep the class problem within their own ranks under the JANATA, August 19, 2012 13 carpet. It is a weakness of the leftists generally, and of the (Continued from Page 9) Euro-American leftists in particular, that they refuse to see the objectively existing conflict of interests between Roots of Failure the working classes of different nations, ethnic groups and regions, particularly between those of the imperialist Alas, all sectors - state, business and civil society countries and those of the Third World countries. They - have either failed to grapple with the problems of may still shout the slogan “workers of all countries rural India or to build on the prospects. Why is this unite!” But they do not care to ask why this unity has so? We believe that the roots of the failure lie in a lack not materialised yet. of unity, synergy, and partnership. The state has the authority, but lacks the ability to mobilise the people. What Is To Be Done? Business has the resources and expertise, but not the What should we do in the face of these phenomena? knowledge of rural poverty issues. NGOs have the Everybody knows that the vast majority of the believers in proximity and the ability to mobilise the rural people, one or the other religion do not take their holy scriptures but lack the resources. To make matters worse, the very seriously. They are realistic, pragmatic people. Live relationship between the three sectors is currently and let live, that is their attitude towards people of other marked by ignorance of how the others operate and faiths. Although we have to tolerate their being religious, what motivates them. There is sometimes even open co-operation in political matters is possible. In Algeria, hostility between these actors. the masses, who were more or less devout Muslims, supported the initially socialist policies of the FLN. Way Forward Likewise, Christians have their Liberation Theology I want to make a proposition here that partnership and political groups calling themselves Christians for between the three sectors, what we call Tri-Sector Socialism. In practical political work, we can negate the Partnership or TSP is the only way forward. This is importance of the question of religion; we can reduce it in our own interest, and in the interest of our people. to a private matter. We can take an agnostic position; we can say that we do not and cannot know whether there is Tri-Sector Partnerships might not be exactly what we any God or Gods. And we can finally put the rhetorical think they are. They are not Public-Private Partnerships, question: even if God exists, why should we rack our which purport to unite the two sectors of government brains over the question when we know that He cannot help us? and business but often simply amount to government sub-contracting. They are not Corporate Social But we must also differentiate. The fundamentalists, Responsibility initiatives which are led by business and who want to impose on society the (often only supposed) involve a compliant NGO. Tri-Sector Partnership can dictates of their holy scriptures – the Koran , the Sharia be defined as a partnership for development between or the Bible – as laws for everyday life, must be opposed. government, business and civil society in which But there are also those who for their struggle against the parity is accepted by the partners with respect to their numerous evils in this world do not find any other source respective monetary and non-monetary contributions of strength and inspiration than their religion. To them to the development process. TSP offers an exciting we must offer a different source of inspiration. After the opportunity to accelerate the rural development process murder of Theo van Gogh, the Dutch journalist Joost beyond CSR and PPPs. Kircz deplored:” The left cannot offer any alternative to the young people influenced by Islam. .... There are also It is important to make it clear that you don’t have no comparable heroic struggles against the prevailing to be the CEO of a multinational bank, a government conditions, struggles in which the youth could learn a minister or the boss of a multinational NGO to be an new emancipatory purpose and try it out” (SoZ 12/04). instigator of TSP. Tri-Sector Partnerships can take This deficit of ours must be overcome soon, for which place in large, medium and small formats. Small and a strong revival of the ideals of socialism is necessary. medium enterprises can get together with local political The German original was written and published in December 2004. representatives and town NGOs to instigate dynamic Revised and updated English translation made in July 2012. change in their local communities. 14 JANATA, August 19, 2012

Chennai Declaration For Abolishing Commercialisation of Education and Building A CommonSchool System

We, the members of students, youth, teachers and women organizations, trade unions, parents’ associations and school-level committees; organizations engaged in the struggle for Fundamental Right to free holistic early childhood care and cost-free education of equitable quality from pre-primary to Class XII and further for equitable access to free higher education as a democratic Right; groups fighting for equal educational rights with dignity of dalits, tribals, OBCs, religious and linguistic minorities, various gender identities and disabled people; jurists, social scientists, scientists, educationists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, administrators, writers, artists, journalists, researchers and other intellectuals/professionals drawn from 20 states/UTs of India and having assembled at Valluvarkottam in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India on 30th June-1st July 2012 for the ‘all India conference, organised by State Platform for Common School System, Tamil Nadu in association with All India Forum for Right to Education hereby endorse and resolve to carry forward the following Declaration:

The historical, politico-economic and policy analysis patriarchy, religio-cultural or linguistic hegemony, undertaken in this Conference leads us to collectively assert discrimination and/or alienation from societal concerns; that, v) the Constitution calls for building education to fight i) education has historically meant a socio-cultural against intolerance, communalism, fascist thought or process that unfolds the creative and humane potential the notion of supremacy of any one community, race, of children and youth in the larger and collective interest religion, gender identity, culture, language or region of the society and, instead of maintaining status quo, over another or of the so-called ‘normal’ bodied people plays a socially reconstructive and transformative role over ‘disabled’ people; to fulfill civilisational aspirations for republicanism, liberty, equality, justice, human dignity, plurality, social vi) hence, in the Indian context, the concept of educational harmony and universal peace; quality must emerge from and be defined within the above framework and in accordance with the ii) the Constitution of India, drawing upon the legacy of Constitutional vision, rather than being dictated by rich educational discourse during the freedom struggle either the global market and neo-liberal economic order against British imperialism, further requires education or communal, sectarian and other reactionary forces; to create citizenry for a “SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC” and which vii) as long as commercialization of education continues, it will help build and sustain an egalitarian, just, plural and will be impossible to provide education of the quality enlightened society, in consonance with the principles as defined above in either the government or the private and values enshrined therein; educational institutions, from pre-primary to higher education stage; iii) education system must promote pro-people national development and, at the same time, build resistance to viii) as long as the government school system does not market-dictated pro-corporate development; sensitise improve, there is no possibility whatsoever to ensure children and youth to people’s aspirations for equitable education of equitable quality in the above framework distribution of material resources and an economic to all children irrespective of their class, caste, religion, order that does not result in concentration of wealth gender, language, region or disability; and means of production; optimize socio-cultural and knowledge-related diversities; and help secure civil ix) in order to ensure education of equitable quality to all liberties and democratic rights, as guaranteed by the children, the state must (a) provide free holistic early Constitution; childhood care along with full support for nutrition, healthcare and socio-psychological and cultural security iv) the Constitution forbids an education system that for children below six years of age; and also (b) pursue reinforces inequality, socio-economic stratification, the historic option of establishing a fully state-funded JANATA, August 19, 2012 15

Common School System based on Neighbourhood P In this context, Buddhist contributions to questioning schools from pre-primary stage to Class XII for all social stratification and hierarchical social order ina children up to eighteen years of age such as to guarantee sustained manner over centuries and building enlightened entirely cost-free education without any discrimination and egalitarian educational institutions, even at higher whatsoever and, at the same time, exclude disparities and education levels, are of historical significance. include diversities; however, this historic option cannot be pursued without abolishing commercialization of P Deeply instituted structures of patriarchy intensified education; gender discrimination and violence against women across classes, castes, religions, regions and cultures. x) acknowledging the organic relationship between school education and higher education, the concept of fully P Absence of compassion marked this iniquitous social state-funded Common School System must be designed system within which the disabled were targeted as bearers to evolve, within a specified time-frame, into a fully of misfortune and mocked at as being less than human. state-funded Common Education System in order to guarantee entirely cost-free education of equitable P Throughout history, in different parts of the sub-continent, quality from ‘KG to PG’; sections of the toiling masses have challenged and resisted their oppressors through spontaneous and organized xi) the provision of holistic early childhood care including struggles for the Right to have access to an equitable and nutrition, healthcare and security and education of just share of natural resources and knowledge, in order to equitable quality to all children and youth is the live with dignity in society. Constitutional and moral obligation of the state which P alone is in a position to mobilize necessary resources – British colonialism reinforced historically established political, human, financial, technical or otherwise – for structures of stratification and oppression in order the same and must not be allowed to abdicate these in to exploit the sub-continent’s rich natural resources, favour of corporate and market forces, religious bodies productive skills and diversity of knowledge forms, leading to impoverishment of the people, on the one hand, and NGOs under any excuse whatsoever; and and growth of the British capital, on the other. xii) as long as the above Common Education System along P Macaulay in his Minutes of 1835 instituted an education with other fundamental entitlements such as people’s policy in support of the British Raj which denigrated Indian Right to jal-jangal-zameen (water, forest, land), jeevika languages and knowledge, established the hegemonic (livelihood) and jnana (knowledge) is not established influence of English as medium of colonial ‘instruction’ and enforced, the survival of India both as a democratic, (not education) and used the ploy of limitation of resources progressive and peaceful society and as a sovereign to “form a class who may be interpreters between us and nation will remain at great risk, its survival being the millions whom we govern - a class of persons Indian continuously challenged by the desperate neo-liberal in blood and colour, but English in tastes, in opinions, in capital and greedy financial markets as well as the allied morals and in intellect. . . .” communal, sectarian and other reactionary forces. P Historical Context and Perspective Rejecting Macaulayian policy framework, the pursuit for a National System of Education was grounded in the The following outstanding features constitute the historical history of the freedom struggle. From mid-19th century context and perspective of the educational crisis we face today - onwards, Mahatma Jotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule questioned the role of British education in reinforcing P From the ancient times onwards, the dispossessed and class- and caste-based stratification and sought state’s role exploited toiling classes of the Indian sub-continent have in redefining access to education, medium of education, been systematically denied access to knowledge and the curricular goals and social relations. Although Dadabhai Right to live with dignity through rigid codification based Naoroji raised the issue of universal primary education in on various criteria like birth into castes and sub-castes, 1880s, it was Gokhale in 1911 who demanded legislation being women or having physical or mental disabilities, for providing free and compulsory primary education as a which resulted in a highly stratified and hierarchical social Right. At the turn of the 20th century, rulers of princely states order. The hegemonic influence of these prescriptive codes like Baroda, Bhopal, Gondal, Kolhapur and Travancore continued to determine the social order in the subcontinent either supported or set up school systems to universalize for long regardless of the exceptional legacy or influence of free primary and/ or secondary education. The 20th century egalitarian ideologies and intellectual trends of Buddhism, is marked by efforts of visionaries like Gandhi, Tagore Jainism, Charvak, Lokayat and others. and Zakir Husain to reconstruct education as a means of 16 JANATA, August 19, 2012

decolonization of mind, cultural sensitization, universal education for scientific temper and promoted higher education harmony and building an alternative development model institutions as sites for modernization of education. It is during i.e. alternative to the capitalist exploitative development the same period that E. M. S. Namboodripad and K. Kamaraj, model of the British Raj. Emphasizing the historic role of the then Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamilnadu respectively cultural and literary renaissance through mother tongue, adopted a series of progressive measures to strengthen the Shahid Bhagat Singh viewed educational reconstruction government school system and universalize elementary as an organic part of the march to building of a socialist education. In spite of these visionary beginnings, it took 17 India. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s historic debate with Gandhi in years after independence and 4 years after the deadline set by the early 1930s introduced the radical question of class and Article 45 of the Constitution for providing free and compulsory caste in the emerging Indian education discourse and gave education to all children up to the age of 14 years to constitute a new turn to the politics of education, placing the issues the Kothari Commission (1964-66) - the first Commission to of equality and social justice at its centre. Throughout examine the question of elementary education (Class I-VIII). this long period, social reformers and educators like Yet, even after three National Policies on Education of 1968, Syed Ahmad Khan, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Begums 1986 and 1992 and two high profile World Bank-sponsored of Bhopal viz. Sikandar Begum, Shah Jehan Begum programmes viz., District Primary Education Programme and Sultan Jehan Begum, Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala (1993- 2002) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2000-2010), almost Lajpat Rai, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and many others half the children of the relevant age group continue to be promoted education by opening schools and colleges, deprived of even eight years of elementary education. Of those often with public support. However, it was due to the admitted to Class I, only 15-17% are able to clear Class XII. radical questioning and rational social vision of thinkers Since higher education and professional courses (including and leaders like Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Narayan Guru, vocational courses) require Class XII as eligibility, the vast Iyothee Thassar, Gurajada Apparao, Singaravelar and majority of children are denied access to means of livelihood Periyar that public consciousness could be mobilized to in the modern economy. The situation is even worse when the challenge social stratification, oppose irrational traditions caste and religious minority break-up is looked at. Only about and practices and advocate education as a means of 10-11% OBC’s and around 9% Muslims cross the Class XII modernization of society. barrier. Among SCs and STs, the comparable figures would be 8% and 6% respectively. This means that almost 92% of dalits P Clearly, the emergence of the demand for free and and 94% of tribals never become eligible for the benefits of compulsory education for all children as well as for higher reservation under the social justice agenda. education with equality, social justice and dignity as a Constitutional and democratic Right and the conception A matter of great concern and alarm is the total absence of of the critical role of education in socio-economic any publicly available objective analysis within the Planning transformation, is grounded in the history of the freedom Commission or the Ministry of HRD (or their counterparts in struggle across the country. the states/UTs) as to why successive policies and programmes have collapsed. The Right to Education Act, 2009 seems P This rich and multi-dimensional legacy of educational headed down the same path. It is clear that the successive discourse inherited from the freedom struggle became governments, representing various political dispensations, the source of the basic ideas for drafting education- blatantly ignored the lessons that a democratic government related provisions in the Constitution under Ambedkar’s is expected to draw from previous policy failures. Rather, the visionary leadership. The transformative conception of ruling political class has taken the worst option of promoting education as envisaged in the Constitution thus paves the private commercial players through creation of an education potential path of reconstructing the diverse Indian people `market’ designed to serve corporate capital on the one hand, into a democratic, secular, egalitarian, just and enlightened while denying the vast majority of India’s children the Right society. to get education of equitable quality, on the other.

Post-Independence Period Neo-Liberal Attack on Education As the first Minister of Education of the Union Government The first evidence of the Indian state’s readiness to kowtow after independence, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad constituted to the neo-liberal policy framework in education is the the B. G. Kher Committee in 1948 to recommend how to change made in 1985 in the name of the concerned Ministry universalize free and compulsory elementary education. from Ministry of Education to Ministry of Human Resource He also took initiative in conceiving and setting up a Development. This implied a change in the very purpose of national institutional structure through the University Grants education from one of social development and preparation of Commission, IITs, Central Institute of Education for teacher citizenry as envisaged in the Constitution to one of supplying education and central institutions for promoting literature of skilled but slavish workforce for the global market. The ground Indian languages, music and performing arts. Nehru advocated for the neo-liberal structure in India’s educational system JANATA, August 19, 2012 17 was prepared by the National Policy on Education, 1986. It students, the commoditization of knowledge distorts the very first proposed the multi-track and discriminatory system by role of higher education in building a democratic, secular, just introducing a layer of about 3 lakh Non-Formal Education and enlightened society. This policy has resulted in restriction (NFE) Centres of inferior quality below the mainstream of freedom of expression and democratic space on our college government school system and another of much-hyped and university campuses. A clear agenda of depoliticisation, Navodaya Vidyalayas, one per district, above it. For the first in its worst sense, of the student community and the faculty time, there was a policy declaration that more than half of the in higher education is being ruthlessly pursued. children would not enter regular schools but would be ‘taught’ by the low quality NFE Centres. Again, for the first time in Policy support for privatization and commercialization of the government school system, the Navodaya Vidyalayas both school and higher education is being accelerated through introduced the sociologically and pedagogically questionable Public Private Partnership (PPP). It has become the major practice of selection through merit embedded in the social instrumentality for direct transfer of public assets and resources privileges of upper classes and castes. to private corporations, NGOs and religious bodies that are blatantly profiteering through education. Many steps are being The IMF-World Bank diktat of Structural Adjustment in the taken to indirectly further this trend like inclusion of special early 1990s required reduction of expenditure on education allowance in Sixth Pay Scales of government employees for which was effected by a range of measures imposed through the sending children to expensive private schools, reimbursement World Bank-sponsored District Primary Education Programme of fees of SC, ST and OBC students and giving refinanced (DPEP). These included (a) replacement of regular teachers loans to students. The RTE Act, 2009 has also provided for by under-qualified, untrained and under-paid instructors reimbursement to private schools under the garb of “25% appointed on short-term contract (‘Para-Teacher’); (b) one provision” for a minority of children (no more than 10%) teacher teaching two or more classes simultaneously in a single from disadvantaged sections instead of utilizing these funds classroom (‘multi-grade teaching’); (c) promotion of multi- for improvement of the quality of government schools where layered school system rooted in discrimination; (d) reducing the vast majority of SC, ST, and OBC children are going to curriculum to literacy and numeracy; and (e) declining budget pursue their education. allocations as % of GDP. False Premises Implemented in 18 states and more than half of the The neo-liberal policy framework is being justified on the districts, DPEP ‘succeeded’ within ten years in its agenda of basis of a set of false premises that, deteriorating the quality of the government school system, leading to a significant loss of its public credibility. With this, — the economic capacity of the State is limited and there is a rapidly expanding market for private schools was opened no option but to depend upon private domestic and foreign up by the end of the 1990s, which was precisely the mandate investors for funding education; with which World Bank intervened in India’s education system. In 2000, the flaws and lacunae of DPEP were re-packaged — education is a ‘service’ and not a Right or Entitlement and presented to the public under the shining label of Sarva and, therefore, equal provision for all need not be ensured Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). By the time SSA ended in March and educational quality must be proportionate to one’s 2010, the credibility of the government school system had hit capacity to pay; and the rock bottom even as the twin problems of out-of-school children and retention of those enrolled remained essentially — education is a tradable commodity; hence, profiteering in unresolved. Its impact on state-funded higher education has education is a legitimate objective, just like in any other been damaging, to say the least. With only 12% of the relevant trade. age group of 18 to 24 years in post-secondary institutions, the state is able to push the flawed argument that higher The neo-liberal agenda radically redefines the character education is a private good. With this mind, the World Bank’s and purposes of education policy. Instead of being viewed as ‘user pays’ principle is being firmly applied in combination an instrument of social transformation, education is treated with the falsehood of resource crunch, to turn knowledge as an instrument for producing human resource for corporate into a ‘tradable commodity’. In pursuance of offering higher market needs. Therefore, the character of knowledge is to be education in 2005 for being brought under WTO’s General determined by supply and demand considerations, rather than Agreement for Trade and Services (GATS), a series of higher by its disciplinary requirements, welfare need of society or education Bills are being pushed presently through the role in social development. This gives rise to the erroneous Parliament in order to provide the required legal framework beliefs that, for facilitating global investment and corporatization of Indian higher education. Apart from increasing the cost of higher — private agencies provide better education than public education way beyond the capacity of more than 90% of the agencies, because they operate on corporate principles of 18 JANATA, August 19, 2012

cost efficiency in providing services; and education and building a Common School System based on Neighbourhood Schools in the state, thereby putting public — Constitutional principles of equality and social justice pressure on the other state governments to emulate the can, therefore, be substituted by the neo-liberal principle initiative. of inclusion. This privileges a dominant market model as the norm and then demands that all diverse and Having acknowledged the above Tamilnadu experience heterogeneous productive, socio-cultural and ideological and its significance, we hereby adopt the following three-fold forms conform to this market-determined norm. In comprehensive agenda for our future struggles throughout contrast, principles of equality and social justice require the country – the creation of democratic spaces, supportive ambience for analysis, debate and creative thinking and institutions ¡ Abolishing commercialisation of education. for engagement on equal terms among diversities. ¡ Establishing a fully state-funded Common School System A central task of the education movement shall be to based on Neighbourhood Schools from pre-primary stage demolish the above false premises of the neo-liberal agenda to class XII. by engaging with the public mind in order to take our struggle forward. ¡ Building mass movement for educational transformation.

Future Agenda of Struggle 1. Abolishing Commercialisation of Education Being held in Chennai and attended by representatives We recognize that the phenomenon of opening private from all over Tamilnadu, this All India Conference feels educational institutions has now entirely lost its philanthropic deeply inspired by the historic mass movements of the character and social welfare dimension that were its hallmark oppressed classes and castes led by visionary thinkers and during the freedom struggle as well as in the 2-3 decades leaders like Iyothee Thassar, Singaravelar and Periyar. The following independence. Instead, with the growth of neo- movement, drawing inspiration from the Buddhist path of liberalism, the growing pace of privatization of education as a rationality, placed the values of equality and social justice, policy has become integral to commercialization of education including gender equality and women’s emancipation, at the and represents the desperate search by the financial capital for core of the socio-political agenda of the state. It is on this new markets. foundation that Tamilnadu could build a strong state-funded school education system in the post-independence decades, Hence, we resolve to, with potential for growing into a Common School System. Policy measures to eliminate class- or caste-based segregation ® oppose all policies that promote privatization of and socio-cultural or economic barriers in schools along with educational institutions from ‘KG to PG’; progressive features such as tuition-free schooling, noon meals, free uniforms and books and mother-tongue as medium ® fight for state’s regulation and monitoring over the existing of education made Tamilnadu’s education policies as pace- fee-collecting educational institutions of all categories setting for the whole country. In this context, the Conference and creating provision for duly empowered teachers’ and acclaims the bold policy measures adopted by Late Kamaraj parents’ associations to supervise the same; as the Chief Minister during 1950s in universalizing school education in the state. ® mobilize public opinion against (a) World Bank’s ‘user pays’ principle in education and people’s other The Conference expresses grave concern that these fundamental entitlements; (b) the very idea of profiteering exemplary gains were steadily diluted due to pro-elite and through education; and (c) envisaging education as a neo-liberal policies adopted by the Tamilnadu state government private good; during the recent decades. Emergence of multiple Boards became the basis of discrimination and exclusion. Over the ® resolutely resist the dangerous policy of Public Private years, the private school lobby has become so powerful as Partnership (PPP) in all its overt or covert forms as to dictate terms to the state government and openly defy these are cleverly designed to transfer public funds and court orders. This Conference calls upon the Government other critical resources (land, buildings, equipments of Tamilnadu to reverse its policies of privatisation and and materials) to corporate houses, NGOs and religious commercialization forthwith and join hands with the people bodies, apart from legitimizing latter’s role in education of the state to reclaim its former progressive equitable and as investors by giving them official recognition and policy non-discriminatory school system. Further, the Conference support; demands of the Government of Tamilnadu to enact its own Right to Education Act banning commercialization of school ® reverse Supreme Court’s TMA Pai Foundation Judgment JANATA, August 19, 2012 19

(2002) either through the judicial process or an appropriate negative impact of market on educational quality; (e) Constitutional amendment. excludes disparities and includes diversities; (f) binds the state legally to provide adequate resources in order ® amend Article 19 (1) (g) to read “[All citizens shall have fill up the cumulative gap and meet the new demands; the right] to practice any profession, or to carry on any and thereby (g) builds a fully state-funded Common occupation, trade or business, provided that the right School System based on Neighbourhood Schools within to carry on an occupation, trade or business does not a specified time frame. apply to education, health, water and other fundamental entitlements of the people.” iii) Seek a public review of all existing Constitutional provisions and various laws relating to the issues of ® resist the market-oriented Higher Education Bills pending malnutrition, lack of health support for children and in the Parliament that are designed to `open up’ an exclusive insecure childhood; child labour and child abuse; physical higher education sector for the elite for facilitating and mental disabilities; linguistic and cultural rights and profiteering by foreign and domestic capital in accordance impact of increasing impoverishment, displacement, with the WTO-GATS agenda of commoditizing education. migration, disemployment and unemployment on child rights, especially educational rights and build public ® compel the government to withdraw the offer of higher pressure for appropriate Constitutional amendments and education made to WTO-GATS for global trade before the laws accordingly. Doha Rounds lest it becomes irreversible. iv) Insist on a law that unambiguously bans all forms of child ® retrieve and reclaim education as a public good. labour.

2. Building State-funded Common School System Based v) Compel the central and/or State/UT governments to enact on Neighbourhood Schools from Pre-primary Stage to a law prohibiting the transfer of land, building, equipment Class XII or any other facility of an educational institution We resolve to carry forward our ongoing multi-pronged belonging to the government or local authorities to any struggle in the following dimensions and forms: corporate house, religious body or NGO, irrespective of the circumstances; similar act is also required in the case A. Engaging with Constitutional of private aided or unaided educational institutions and and Legislative Imperatives the Trusts/ Societies operating them since their assets i) Campaign for a review of 86th Constitutional Amendment have been created only through student fees and other Act (2002) and, if required, its repeal followed by a fresh community resources in the name of education. Constitutional amendment to guarantee unconditional Fundamental Right to entirely free education of equitable vi) Demand a fresh look at the issue of payment of inadequate quality for all children up to 18 years of age (i.e. up to wages to the vast majority of parents that prevents them Class XII), including Early Childhood Care and Pre- from exercising their Right to Life with dignity as per Primary Education for children below six years of age; Article 21 read with Article 43 (living wage, decent the amendment will exclude Article 51A (k) through standard of life, full enjoyment of leisure, social & which the state has managed to shift its Constitutional cultural opportunities), thereby depriving their children obligation for provision of elementary education to the of healthy and secure childhood (Article 39 e, f) as well parents; the amendment will further place an obligation as opportunity to devote themselves to pursue education on the state to provide equitable access to free higher without being compelled to be engaged in child labour (including technical) education within ten years of such and domestic support activities. an amendment. vii) Taking cognizance of the miserable nutritional record ii) Fight for replacement of the farcical Right to Education in respect of pregnant women and children and the Act, 2009 by a new Act that (a) unambiguously upholds fact that the country has maximum number of stunted the Preamble to the Constitution in relation to education; children in the world, who endure this disability all (b) guarantees Fundamental Right to education read through their life, we note that no amount of arbitrary with the relevant Directive Principles of State Policy measures would succeed in providing Right to Education. holistically; (c) bans all forms of commercialization In order to ensure, therefore, that no child is born with of education, including PPP; (d) acknowledges inter- any disability that would constrict her life chances and linkages of multiple sources of bias and discrimination readiness to access Right to Education, the state should in society with issues such as curriculum, pedagogy, enact a legislation to provide full nutritional and health medium of education, teachers & teacher education and support to the pregnant women who need it. 20 JANATA, August 19, 2012 viii) The Central and State/UT governments are collecting v) Demand replacement of multiple Boards by a single taxes from the people for fulfilling their Constitutional Board in each State/UT along with a common language obligations and, in the case of education, further education policy founded on mother tongue of the child collecting additional cess on all taxes (2% for elementary in dynamic interface with multi-linguality. and 1% for secondary & higher education). Yet, the people are required to pay fees in both government and vi) Resist measures of PPP and intervention by international private educational institutions. A government that allows funding agencies, corporate houses, religious bodies and this practice does not have a moral right to govern. We call NGOs in government schools, including taking over their upon the Central Government to enact an unambiguous lands and buildings to set up private schools. law to ban collection of fees for education from ‘KG to PG’ in government as well as private educational vii) Expose and resist the state-led agenda of abdication of institutions, since education is a Constitutional and its Constitutional obligations by promoting NGO-isation Democratic Right. of government schools and its various critical functions. ix) Until a consensus is arrived at to restore education to the viii) Provide and also ensure access to all required support state list, build public opinion that the concurrent status of structures and facilities, including appropriately education should be utilized to involve all states/UTs in a trained and paid staff in combination with Information collective nation-wide plan with a sense of ownership for Technology-related and other technological means, for establishing a democratic, secular, egalitarian, just and enabling physically and mentally challenged children to enlightened system of education, rather than to impose learn, play and enjoy studying with dignity in regular the Centre’s decision over those of the States/UTs, as is classrooms along with other children; the retrogressive the prevailing practice. concept of home-based education for the disabled to be B. Protecting and Strengthening Government Schools banned entirely. i) Resist all policies, programmes, budget allocations ix) Without compromising or diluting the Constitutional (especially, deductions) and periodic official orders that obligation of the Central and State/UT governments, are aimed at diluting and distorting the government school mobilise people, especially parents, and Panchayati system. Raj institutions, to monitor and fight for appropriate infrastructure, qualified, trained and properly paid ii) Compel the government to replace the prevailing teachers in adequate numbers, required curricular discriminatory multi-layered school system, whether in support and related facilities and nutritious mid-day government or private sectors, by a school system with meals, rather than being limited by the inferior and equivalent norms and standards related to infrastructure, discriminatory norms and standards prescribed in the teachers and other staff, equipment and teaching- learning aids and other curricular and extra-curricular RTE Act, 2009. facilities. To begin with, these norms and standards in all schools, government or private, must be raised at x) Do not allow the State/UT governments to use the inferior least to those of the Central Schools, following which norms and standards of the RTE Act, 2009 to shift further improvements will be pursued as the next agenda teachers and infrastructural facilities from their present of struggle for enabling the schools to act as sites for location on the ground of these being extra in light of the providing equitable and transformative education. schedule of the Act. iii) Extend the struggle to seek overhauling and reconstruction xi) Acknowledging people’s aspirations for education of curriculum and pedagogy, medium of education, beyond school, demand opening up of state-funded post- evaluation and assessment (i.e. examinations) and school secondary institutions in adequate numbers to increase environment in order to transform the schools to become access to all types of higher education of equitable quality means of providing democratic, secular, egalitarian and that is absolutely free of cost from ‘KG to PG’. enlightened education as elaborated at the beginning of this Declaration (see Section D below for details). xii) Struggle for steady increase of budget allocations for government school system both as percentage of the iv) Fight against the cynical policy of closure of government budget and GDP until the cumulative gap of investment schools by state governments on the flimsy ground of building up steadily since 1986 policy is filled up and all declining enrolment which is primarily a consequence of requirements for providing education of equitable quality policy-directed deterioration of the quality of government are met with; ensure that the increased budget allocations school system. are not siphoned off to private parties through PPP. JANATA, August 19, 2012 21

C. Ensuring Retention of Children from Pre-primary Stage of state control, the state shall provide an overarching until Class XII policy framework. Within this broad policy and curricular framework, the Common School System will be governed i) Fight for comprehensive support in the form of nutritious in a decentralized (to be distinguished from World meals (breakfast and lunch), health services, cultural Bank’s notion of decentralization for giving space to the and emotional security, gender rights, linguistic rights, market), democratic and participative mode. It is this disability rights, discrimination-free environment and mode of governance that lays the essential ground for protection from all forms of child abuse, especially in optimizing cultural diversity and plurality of knowledge the case of girls. forms and productive skills in the classroom as well as the curriculum and pedagogy. ii) Insist on additional and specialized support, including economic support, for enabling impoverished, v) Acknowledge inter-linkages between multiple sources of unemployed or disemployed, displaced, migrant and bias and discrimination inbuilt in society relating to class, nomadic families and disabled parents to continue to caste, gender, religion, language, region and disability send their children to schools until they complete senior with educational issues such as curriculum, pedagogy, secondary education. medium of education, teachers & teacher education and D. Excluding Disparities, Including Diversities: adverse impact of market on educational quality and Battling Bias and Discrimination fight for the following changes in the socio-cultural and political character of education – i) Structurally incorporate the concerns of SCs/STs, OBCs, religious and linguistic minorities, women and disabled in — Curriculum and Pedagogy: Discrimination and designing the system of neighbourhood schools towards exclusion takes place not only because of the prevalence social transformation through Common School System. of the multi-layered school system but also because of the nature of the dominant curriculum and pedagogy. ii) The RTE Act, 2009 has deliberately misconceived Rooted in middle class and upper caste values and norms, Neighbourhood School such that the state is at liberty to especially patriarchal, the curriculum and pedagogy are provide inferior quality schools in the neighbourhood of entirely alienated from the social reality, life experiences the vast majority of the downtrodden and the dispossessed and ways of learning of the vast sections of society. classes and castes, thereby legitimizing discrimination Further, both the curriculum and pedagogy are being and status quo. In contrast, the Neighbourhood School increasingly influenced by the requirements of the global of the Common School System is a transformative market for new areas of investment, control over natural concept since it calls for a legislative provision under resources and ever rising profit margins. This “official which each school - government, local body or private - knowledge” representing the interest of the ruling class would have a prescribed constituency and all the families and the global market is responsible for large scale residing within the constituency would be obliged to exclusion and persistence of high push-out rates (no send their children to the concerned school, irrespective child ever drops out but is pushed out). The building of of their class, caste, gender, religion, language, region Common School System calls for challenging the “official or disability. In the case of a sizeable concentration of knowledge” by creating space for pedagogic interaction a particular community in an area (e.g. a dalit or tribal with the knowledge and learning styles of the children locality in villages or urban ghettoisation), it would be of the masses. This agenda of resistance to “official obligatory under law for the prescribed authority to draw knowledge”, however, must not be construed to imply the constituency such as to optimize diversity. that its objectives will be achieved without the state’s obligation to promote progressive values, rational thought iii) The Common School System, in contrast to the prevailing and critical analysis. The Constitutional values also call school system, shall be designed to exclude disparities of upon the state to engage with the hegemonic influence all kinds and to include all forms of diversities, provided of class, caste, race, patriarchy, language and ‘normal’ the diversities have been democratically negotiated and body while formulating the curriculum and further take optimized. cognizance of reinforcement of this influence by the neo- liberal structure and values. Clearly, in order to achieve iv) For the aforesaid purpose, it is required that the Common this transformation, the examination system cannot be School System eschews the centrality, finality and allowed to follow either the colonial or the now rapidly rigidity of the present school system and incorporates emerging neo-liberal framework. While the centrality, decentralized decision-making, openness and flexibility. finality and rigidity of the present school system is being Hence, it is crucial that state funding is not allowed to questioned, the building of Common School System lead to state control, as is normally the case. Instead requires the creation of a new curricular and pedagogic 22 JANATA, August 19, 2012

paradigm wherein the plurality of values, knowledge, education in their mother tongues in all subjects at all productive skills and life styles of “We, the People” levels, including higher education; and would have a legitimate space for influencing, tilting and eventually transforming the school in their favour. – In light of the perspective on medium of education and language education elaborated above, the State/UT — Medium of Education: Time has come to challenge governments may consider, if necessary and appropriate, Macaulay’s advocacy of English as the “medium of introducing other languages in schools at pedagogically [colonial] instruction” for the upper classes and castes that appropriate stage(s), in accordance with the aspirations has further disempowered the historically “dispossessed and needs of the people to be consulted through debates and exploited toiling classes and castes of the vast Indian organized by both the state and non-state bodies. sub-continent”. Hence, this colonial tool of discrimination and exclusion is to be replaced with the universal However, the Central and State/UT governments are conception of mother tongue of the child in a multi-lingual required to jointly undertake the following additional and urgent environment as pedagogically the most appropriate measures with a view to make Indian languages a powerful “medium of education” or the “language of learning” tool of learning, knowledge generation, cultural advancement (multi-linguality here refers to the languages spoken in and exploring an alternative model of development: child’s neighbourhood, kinship and family). It is imperative that the mother tongue along with its multi-lingual context P Ensure that a common language education policy, with the as medium of education is introduced forthwith in all inherent diversity as indicated above, is implemented in all government and private schools across the country. One schools, government or otherwise, throughout the country of the significant commonalities of the Common School and gradually extend the policy in a planned manner to System will be the plurality of mother tongues in dynamic higher education (including technical education) as well. interface with multi-linguality of child’s neighbourhood. This would duly include Braille and Sign languages as P Create a fully empowered and well-resourced National well. According to this radical and dynamic conception Translation Commission that would have the mandate of of language education, mother tongue with a multi-lingual identifying and translating the highest form of literature, interface is acknowledged as the most potent medium of texts, documents or research papers in any discipline from education to enable the child to (a) think, analyse and act; each of the Indian languages of the Eighth Schedule into (b) acquire, internalize and transform modern knowledge the rest of the languages and also doing the same from critically; (c) learn other languages, including English, all major languages of the world and bringing global proficiently; (d) catalyse cultural and literary renaissance; knowledge into all languages of the Eighth Schedule. (e) negotiate with the dominant process of alienation with advantage, thereby avoiding to be pushed-out; and P Implement a time-bound programme to ensure use of the (e) question and resist oppression and explore the path of Eighth Schedule languages at all levels of legislature, liberation. Since the mother tongue of the child may not be executive, judiciary, science & technology and business. the State/ UT language, the language policy of Common School System requires that the State/UT governments, P Accord political attention and financial resources to make IT friendly to all Indian languages on a priority basis so – provide all necessary support for equitable development that the prevailing sense of difficulty and discrimination in of the languages of the linguistic minorities as curricular using IT for Indian languages, in comparison to English, is languages, at least in the early years of elementary eliminated. education; P Formulate/ design all required laws, programmes and – envisage Braille and Sign languages as ‘languages of the schemes to ensure that no citizen faces discrimination linguistic minorities’ and provide all necessary support, while her/ his knowledge in mother tongue is evaluated including IT-related technologies and appropriately for higher education and/or employment and the same is trained staff, in order to develop them as curricular accessible through one’s mother tongue in interface with languages; multi-linguality.

– develop appropriate pedagogy to enable children of P Based upon the above commitments, a common National linguistic minorities to have the option of switching Policy on Languages is formulated and implemented. to State’s language as their medium of education in all subjects until they complete senior secondary education; — Teachers and Teacher Education: As Kothari however, in case of languages of the Eighth Schedule, Commission (1966) declared, “The destiny of India is the children must also have the option of continuing now being shaped in her classrooms.” If the teacher is to JANATA, August 19, 2012 23

play her/his decisive role in ‘shaping the classrooms’, she/ teachers graduate, would themselves need radical he has to be accorded the highest social status and priority overhauling and a renewed commitment for required in preparing her/his to meet this crucial task of social funding by the state. development. Hence, the following policy-level decisions are required: 3. Building Mass Movement P All teachers, without exception, must be fully qualified for Educational Transformation and appropriately ‘trained’ (i.e. educated) before The comprehensive analysis in the Declaration has provided recruitment and paid a regular salary scale with social ample evidence that the state has decided to abdicate its security that is comparable throughout the country, Constitutional obligations and stand on the side of the desperate as is the case with senior government officers. This financial capital and greedy global market forces. The history implies that the neo-liberal policy being implemented of the struggle since the mid-19th century for Right to education since mid-1990s to appoint under-qualified, untrained of equitable quality through a state-funded public education and under-paid ‘para-teachers’ on short-term contract system from ‘KG to PG’ and fresh neo-liberal attacks mounted through Panchayati Raj institutions is to be reversed rapidly by the state during the past two decades leave no forthwith. option for us but to build a nation-wide people’s movement based on mass consciousness. It may further be noted that the P The required Constitutional amendment must be made democratic space for negotiating with and convincing the state and law enacted in order to ensure that no teacher is of the rationality of one’s proposals for policy changes through ever asked, except in cases of a calamity, to do any participation in the government committees stands entirely non-teaching task, including elections, census and other eroded. In democratic polity, therefore, a peaceful resistance non-teaching duties. This means that the anti-educational movement within the Constitutional framework would indeed and discriminatory provision (Section 27) of the RTE be a legitimate path. Act, 2009 requiring only government school teachers to undertake non-teaching tasks like elections and census is The objective of our struggle may be elaborated in the repealed forthwith. In case it is contended that election following three dimensions: and census are crucial for democracy and development of the country and necessarily require the engagement 1. The transformative goals for building a National System of the teachers at least in supervisory roles (i.e. not for of Education for providing democratic, egalitarian, secular conduction), this provision must then apply equitably to and enlightened education through a fully state-funded the teachers of both the government and private schools, public education system from ‘KG to PG’ which ensures aided or unaided, so that the children of the government cost-free education of equitable quality without any schools do not face discrimination in their studies. discrimination whatsoever and includes pluralities.

P In order to carry out the educational transformation 2. Immediate Demands against neo-liberal attacks such as agenda of the Common School System, it is imperative fighting for replacement of RTE Act, 2009 by a fresh Act that a new kind of teacher would have to be prepared within the framework of a state-funded Common School who would be culturally transformed to relate with the System based on Neighbourhood Schools, abolishing of all children of the downtrodden and dispossessed classes forms of PPP or asking for holding up all market-oriented and castes, especially girls and disabled, with dignity higher education Bills in Parliament in abeyance until a and respond to the expected curricular and pedagogic nation-wide public debate is conducted. challenge of drawing upon their life experience and knowledge in the classroom. For this, the prevailing 3. Substantial elements in the transformative national-level outdated teacher education programmes (Diploma in goals include seeking prohibition of commercialization Elementary Education, B.Ed. and M.Ed. and the recently of education, abolishing all forms of child labour and introduced Teacher Eligibility Test) would need to be demanding to raise the level of all government schools as radically restructured and teacher education institutions per the norms and standards of the Central Schools as a to be transformed into vibrant state-funded institutions pre-requisite for building a National System of Education. of pedagogic creativity and cultural transformation. Clearly, there would then be no space for the money- The struggle may be envisaged as a three-tier struggle: minting commercialized institutions promoted by the state in the private sector. i) In the first instance, we have to fight against new attacks on the existing meager Rights e.g. reversing state P For creating the above teacher education institutions, government orders of school closures; resisting handing the present universities and colleges, from where these over of whole or parts of government school campuses 24 JANATA, August 19, 2012

or other facilities to private bodies; or building public all democratic organizations of students, teachers, parents opinion against higher education bills designed to pave and different sections of society to intensify their struggles the way for WTO-GATS agenda. for preservation, restoration and extension of educational rights until the cherished goal of a democratic education ii) We have to organize struggles to achieve demands that system is achieved. The teachers and teachers’ organizations constitute substantial elements of transformative goals in government, local body and government-aided institutions national-level goals (see list above). have got a special obligation. On the one hand, the people expect them to do their moral duty with the highest of iii) We should prepare for a protracted struggle for the commitment in spite of the deteriorating supportive conditions transformative goal of establishing a state-funded public and work environment in these institutions in order to educate education system from ‘KG to PG’, including Common the children and youth of the masses and instill democratic, School System based on Neighbourhood Schools. egalitarian, secular and other progressive values in them. On the other hand, they are also expected to lead the struggle for These struggles have to be conducted at three levels almost transformation of the education system. Not fulfilling these simultaneously viz, all-India level, state- or district-level and expectations would amount to falling in the trap of the neo- at the level of educational institutions, depending upon the liberal attack on the government education system. emergent issues and the potential of mobilization of public opinion. We further call upon the parents’ organizations not to confine their struggles only against unjustified fee hikes but Role of Students, Teachers and People’s Organizations also to stand up for the rights of the teachers and students in the The people of India were fighting for a democratic, private institutions. They must also realize that good education egalitarian, secular and patriotic education system during cannot be delivered through the medium of the market. The the pre-independence period. They had hoped that such an private institutions are, by and large, miseducating the children education system would be established after independence. and youth by equating education with performance indices, Their hopes were essentially belied. Precisely because of this, rather than with knowledge, values and societal concerns. The the struggle of the people continued even after independence parents’ organisation of the private schools may do a great for an education system that guarantees education of equitable service to the society by establishing linkages with the parents quality for all without discrimination, promotes social mobility of government institutions and work in solidarity with them to of the disadvantaged and catalyses social transformation. While fight for transformation of the education system. In Tamilnadu, the Radhakrishnan Commission Report (1948) on higher the parents’ organisation of private schools have indeed set an education, Mudaliar Commission Report (1952) on secondary inspiring example by converting their anti-fee hike struggle to education and Kothari Commission Report (1966) on the entire a struggle for Common School System. education system gave some relief to the people, their pro- people aspects were hardly implemented with sincerity. Rather, The students organizations can become harbingers of the in 1980s, the Union Government, with the state governments movement and act as catalysts for taking forward the process falling in line, initiated fresh attacks on meager and hard won of mobilizing people in democratic struggles for social educational rights of the people. A comprehensive attack transformation. We appeal to the progressive intellectuals to was made on education by the National Policy on Education, associate with the movement reclaiming people’s educational 1986 (NPE-1986). The policy institutionalized retrogressive rights and not to succumb to manipulation by the state in ideas such as privatization, along with eliticisation, of higher the name of its farcical ‘inclusive agenda’. This Declaration education, parallel layers of school education, reducing realizes deeply that the struggle for educational rights of the education to skill training after elementary stage in the name people must be inter-linked with the struggles being waged by of vocationalisation, attacks on campus democracy and, last the people all over the country against neo-liberal attacks on but not the least, introducing obscurantist ideas in the name of their democratic rights over Jal- Jangal-Zameen and Jeevika ‘Indian ethos’. Several organizations of students, teachers and (water, forest, land and livelihood). democratic sections of the people waged new struggles against these maladies. While privatisation of education was continued Looking Ahead with Hope and Faith unabated by successive governments at the centre, the BJP-led Undoubtedly, the forces of financial capital and global governments both at center and states in 1990s attempted to market we are up against are formidable. History, however, communalise education along with commercialization. The assures us that no dominant force, howsoever powerful, could struggles against the increasing trends of commercialization, last long enough by ignoring the will of the people. Presently, communalisation and centralization in policy making and people have been overwhelmed by the devious and deceitful destruction of campus democracy continue to be waged to date. propaganda unleashed by the government for the past two decades with euphemistic phrases like ‘education for all’, Continuing in this spirit, the Chennai Declaration calls upon ‘education guarantee’ and ‘sarva shiksha abhiyan’ and now JANATA, August 19, 2012 25

‘right to education’, ‘right to information’, ‘right to food’ or implementation of various neo-liberal laws and programmes. ‘inclusive growth’ but they would soon realize that these were However, being acutely aware of the revolutionary potential neither guarantees nor Rights nor inclusion; rather in reality of our struggle, we would not stop short of completely they meant precisely their denial, if not even withdrawal winning the real Rights of education of equitable quality and of whatever little was previously available. Strategically, therefore, we would continue to span out to the people, a democratic education system, which may indeed mean the learn from them and, in turn, educate them and involve them defeat of the vile neoliberal system itself. Victory is ahead of into numerous14 struggles that would ensue in relation to the the struggling people! JANATA, February 5, 2012 26 JANATA, August 19, 2012 JANATA, August 19, 2012 27 How to start a riot out of Facebook

Yousuf Saeed

I am shocked and pained to read about the violent of those images are really disturbing, capable of making rally that many Muslims took out at Azad maidan in anyone’s blood boil. Some show mounds of rotting dead Mumbai on 11th August 2012 in protest against the recent bodies and a few Buddhist monks standing near them. communal carnage in Assam and Burma. More than the Some even looked digitally tempered with to enhance accidental death of two men and 50 injured in yesterday’s their anti-Muslim violence. But there was no sign of protest, what alarmed me was the public anger targeted where these images were sourced from. A couple of them on the media for “not reporting about the violence against even had Jama’t-e Islami Pakistan stamped on them. But Muslims in Assam and Myanmar”. Several vans of TV if, as the people posting them claim, the world’s media is channels and their equipment were smashed or burnt silent about the Muslim carnage in Burma, how did these besides a number of police vehicles destroyed. Of course, images and the disturbing news come from Burma in the the authorities are still probing as to who really began first place? Where did they find them before posting? I the violence in an otherwise peaceful rally (and we are asked this question to many friends sharing these images open to the results of such a probe). But my worst fear and they didn’t have a clue. They simply believed in what came true with this assertion of one of the protesters in they saw. In fact, from the Internet these pictures were a newspaper report: “Why is the media not covering picked up by many Urdu newspapers from Mumbai, Burma and Assam? We learnt about the incidents from Hyderabad and Delhi and printed with inflammatory titles videos posted on the Internet.” This seems to be a very and headlines. Many new caricatures and info-graphics disturbing statement on various accounts. Of course, started appearing on Facebook ridiculing the “peaceful” the media can sometimes be biased, and the Muslims image of Buddhists or the “silence” of Burmese leader do feel victimised by it all the time. But are the random Aung Suu Kyi on the carnage of Rohingya Muslims videos and images posted on the Internet any less biased and so on. or misleading? Many of us were sceptical of these images and knew Some of you may have recently noticed a number something was wrong. Some images do show the facial of gory and blood-soaked images being forwarded and features of the victims to be Mongoloid, but that doesn’t shared on various social networking sites like Facebook prove they are from Burma. In any case, most Rohingya and Twitter that claim to show the dead bodies of “20,000 Muslims are not clearly Mongoloid – some look like Muslims butchered in Burma in the hands of Buddhists” Bangladeshis. With some investigation it was revealed along with the assertion that the world’s media is silent that almost none of the gory images titled “Muslim about the plight of Muslims in Burma and so on. Most slaughter in Burma” were actually from Burma. They Mumbai Violence We strongly and unequivocally condemn the attack on media in Mumbai by a section of people gathered at the Azad maidan to protest the violence in Assam and Burma. Using violence in a protest against violence is an insult to the suffering victims in whose support the protest was purportedly organised.

There are many non-violent and democratic ways to communicate and protest any grievances, including against the media. This mindless and shameful action by a few misguided individuals discredits protest and becomes a disservice to a cause.

We offer our solidarity with media; sympathy with all those injured and wish for their quick recovery. We urge the government to take immediate and exemplary action against the guilty. We also appeal to all citizens not to get swayed by this isolated and dastardly incidence and allow the situation to become a cause of conflict. Any communalisation of the situation will be harmful for everyone and totally against the interests of the nation.

Lalita Ramdas- Ali Bagh, Mazher Hussain – Hyderabad, Admiral L. Ramdas- Ali Bagh, Mahesh Bhatt- Mumbai, Ram Punyani- Mumbai, Kamla Bhasin- Delhi, Sandeep Panday- Lucknow, Jatin Desai- Mumbai 28 JANATA, August 19, 2012 came from different sources, mostly showing people of detailed reporting and analysis of the human rights killed in natural disasters in China, Thailand and even violation (including from Aljazeera, BBC and New York self-immolation attempts in Tibet. The best investigation Times, though very little from India), which ironically of these fake pictures was made by Faraz Ahmed in a very few protesting Muslims may have read. The most blog of the Express Tribune newspaper from Pakistan comprehensive report on this has been brought out in (“Social media is lying to you about Burma’s Muslim August 2012 by the Human Rights Watch of US, titled ‘cleansing’”), where he busted the myth about 3-4 of “The Government Could Have Stopped This - Sectarian the most circulated of such images, tracing their origins Violence and Ensuing Abuses in Burma’s Arakan State”. in China, Thailand and Tibet etc. One image actually This 57-page report states that it was a communal shows Buddhist monks cremating thousands of people violence between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Arakan killed in a Chinese earthquake. In fact, a few images of Buddhists which took the life of 78 people (according dead bodies or people escaping from violent situations to government figures) – a number that includes both are clearly from places like Syria or Africa. The only communities. Many villages of both communities were authentic images of the affected Rohingya Muslims torched and over 100,000 people were displaced from are those showing them in the boats waiting to enter their homes. But there is clearly no mention of 20,000 Bangladesh. Nevertheless, many of our Muslim friends or more Muslims butchered as claimed by many on the in India, Pakistan and other places continued to post Facebook. and share such fake and fabricated images, adding more and more vitriolic comments on them to spread hatred Of course, none of the protesters read these detailed against Buddists. I and a few friends even tried to bust and balanced reports. For them the fake pictures of blood these postings by warning them about the fake pictures, and gore were provocative enough to come to the streets. but our efforts had little impact. This is not the first time that social networking has been used to a large extent to bring people on the streets. We Now, I must clarify that I am not denying the killing have seen more revolutionary uses of Facebook in the and persecution of Muslims in Burma. I did some case of overthrowing of regimes in Egypt and other research as to what exactly happened and how many Arab countries. But to start a communal riot using visual Muslims were really affected. Contrary to the popular rumours is not the most desirable uses of Internet. If belief that the world’s media and human rights fraternity you study the social networking sites deeply, especially is silent about Burma’s Muslim carnage, I did find a lot if you have a wide range of ‘friends’ including the Raza Academy sees conspiracy, apologises

The Raza Academy members on Sunday offered after Saturday’s violence left two persons dead and unconditional apology to the media and citizens of the another 54, including 45 policemen, injured. city for the violence and riot on Saturday, terming it as a conspiracy to create a gap between Muslims and “This was a planned attack by non-Muslims who the media. want to create a rift between the media and Muslims as the people who started the violence did not belong Representatives of Raza Academy, All India Sunni to our academy,” said a spokesperson. Jamaitul Ulema, All India Sunni Ayema-e-Masajid, Jamaat-E- Razae Mustafa and 20 other Sunni Muslim “The people who indulged in violence cannot be groups said they felt “deeply ashamed” over Saturday’s Muslims. No Muslim would dare to do anything like violence and condemned the riot at a peaceful protest this during Ramzan. Some mischief mongers have taken march against attacks on Muslims in Assam and advantage of the situation,” Noori said. Myanmar. A statement issued by the academy stated that the According to the academy members, the attack was Ulemas, on behalf of the entire community, tender “unprovoked and a conspiracy”. On behalf of everyone, an official apology to the media, the policemen and Raza Academy president Mohammed Saeed Noori the innocent people for this act and call for a strict sought “forgiveness” of the police and media, which inquiry into the violence and book the perpetrators. have always supported different causes in the past. While reposing complete faith in law and the police department, the Ulemas appealed to the community to Founded in 1978 and regarded as a secular outfit, remain calm and promote peace at every level. Raza Academy’s reputation suffered a serious setback -The Indian Express JANATA, August 19, 2012 29 possible rumour-mongers, you may find postings that are We don’t know if there is a ready solution to this deliberately trying to provoke in one way or the other. menace. Censorship of the Internet as suggested by Just yesterday I found on Facebook a photo showing cut- some (especially in the Indian government) is clearly up and mutilated body parts of two dead women lying in not the answer since that may suppress even some of the a forest, with a caption saying “Wake-up Hindus. These harmless content. But what is definitely required is an are bodies of Hindu girls who were raped and killed advocacy among the net-users on how to read the content by Mullahs”. Of course, this image has been “liked” more critically. Unlike in the more conventional media and shared by thousands of people throwing choicest such as newspapers, TV or radio, its possible today for of abuses on Muslims. But no one tried to reason out anyone to ‘track-back’ any content posted on the Internet that there is no proof that the picture actually shows to see where it originated from. For instance Google’s dead Hindu girls – there is not even any indication of reverse image search allows you track who may have where and when this picture was taken. But for a new originally posted a certain image and who manipulated it generation of net-savvy youngsters (some of whom may later. Just a few days ago an Austrian newspaper Kronen have come to Mumbai’s streets yesterday), simply seeing on Facebook is believing. I shudder to think that such Zeitung published a photo showing a Syrian couple with rabble-rousing use of Internet might increase especially a baby escaping from a bombed building. Later, it turned when some people realise that such an action can have out that they had cut-out the couple and the baby from practical repercussions. We have seen that in almost an earlier photo and morphed it on the image of a ruined all communal riots, people deliberately initiated nasty building, just for the effect! Hence, media manipulation rumours just to “have some fun”. But in the past, rumours by big and small players is here to stay. The only way spread in localised areas by word of mouth, whereas one can avert possible riots and violent mobbing is to today it is possible to spread hate-filled messages over stop believing (and forwarding) everything that is posted large areas of the world within seconds. The spread of online and investigate how true a picture is, and most Burma’s fake images has even allowed the Tehreek-e importantly, where it came from. Taliban of Pakistan to issue a threat to Burmese people, and it needs to be taken seriously. –http://kafila.org ADVERTISEMENT MATTER

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Between the lines The battle has just begun Kuldip Nayar Movements against corruption have been, of late, do have something to hide. In fact, there should be a successful in India. They have brought the scourge of law for all the legislators, whether at the centre or in dishonesty before the public. That both movements, the states, to declare foreign accounts as they do in the one led by Gandhian Anna Hazare and the other by case of assets in India. yoga guru Baba Ramdev were non-violent is a tribute However, a disturbing part of rallies, particularly of to those who guided the movements and the thousands Baba Ramdev’s, is that they convert themselves into of people who participated in them. But both have a mob, gathered at a particular place. The mob can failed to move the government. In fact, the Manmohan be misused or it can run amuck on its own. President Singh government has become more adamant, more Pranab Mukherjee has rightly warned that institutions intractable and involved in corruption which is seething should not be weakened or bypassed. Indeed, a the system. democratic system can be stretched up to a point, but The government’s attitude remains a mystery for me. not beyond the limit because the string that has bound It appears that the party has already come to infer that the institutions together can snap. All political parties it is not going to return to power in the 2014 elections should see how the institutions can be strengthened and, therefore, it is better for it not to react either way. because they have been messed up since Indira Gandhi This mulish stance may, however, cost the party dearly. came to power. The word has gone around that the Congress has much The still more disturbing part is the presence of to hide. In fact, people have begun to link corruption General V.K. Singh, who was chief of the army staff with the party, like the Bofors gun scandal with late till a few weeks ago, first at Anna’s rally and then at Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the 1989 elections. Baba Ramdev’s. How could the retired army chief take By disclosing the list of names the government has part in politics and say at the rallies that they would received from some foreign countries, it could have tell the people how to cast their vote? It means that he retrieved some ground. But if the allegation that some had political ambitions when he commanded the armed top Congress leaders figure in the lists is true, it is forces, which are apolitical, for two years. His has been understandable why the government is hiding the names the first endeavour since independence to politicize the and dragging its feet on every move to bring back the army. Thank god, his term did not get extended although black money stashed abroad. It could have initiated he used the pretext of wrong birth date to stay on for action against bureaucrats, if not political leaders, to one more year. dispel the impression that the Congress was hand in The reaction can be what the government seems to glove with bureaucrats to get bribes on the purchases have adopted is to ignore him. Yet this does not convey made abroad. But then the party probably fears that they the nation’s concern which was that of bewilderment might spill the beans. and confusion. The other reaction can be to see that It must be said to the credit of the opposition that no Bonapartisim takes birth in India. The latter would it did articulate black money issue before parliament. be the correct reaction. The officials from all the three In the Rajya Sabha one member quoted CBI director services should be barred from taking part in politics A.P. Singh, alleging that Rs 25 lakh crore worth Indian for five years after retirement. By that time the halo money was kept abroad. A serving CBI director making around them because of the weapons they carry would such a statement is an indication of the seriousness of fade away. This type of restrictions should also cover the issue. Still, the government preferred uproar in government servants on the civil side. parliament to the disclosure of black money stashed Yet the sad part of V.K. Singh’s episode is that he abroad. has not realized the wrong which he has done to the It is more than a year now that the BJP members institution he has served. He does not seem to possess said in individual affidavits submitted to the Speaker the sensitivity which would guide him to differentiate in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha between wrong and right, moral and immoral. An army that they did not have any foreign account. Although chief occupies a big position in India or, for that matter, pressed, the Congress members have not done so. It any country. The Manmohan Singh government did not only confirms suspicion against its members that they realize that such persons, although appointed on the JANATA, August 19, 2012 31 basis of seniority, should not be given a position which, What kind of setup they propose to place before the if misused, can wreck the entire polity. nation, already groaning for democratic space, if an army chief is called upon to tell the people to which President Truman is remembered for his bold decision candidate they should vote? to dismiss General McArthur after he won the Second World War against Japan. Truman saw in McArthur the Baba Ramdev was wrong in singling out the signs of Bonapartism which no democratic state could Congress. In this bath all are naked. There are serious tolerate. V.K. Singh is, no doubt, a history now. But allegations against the political parties like the the BJP, imagine what he could have done with his eyes fixed Mulayam Singh’s Samaj Party and Mayawati’s Bahujan on politics. Samajwadi Party. Even the Baba himself is said to not above board. True, some of his trusts are under the Both Anna and Baba Ramdev cannot be absolved scanner. Yet there is no mention of the property which of the blame of parading a former chief of army staff a pickle dealer had purchased and given to the Baba. from their platform. Again, their move had no thinking All those who want equity should ensure that their own behind, nor any8 regard for the norms of democracy. house is in order. TheJANATA, battle March has 25,just 2012 begun.

Rural India Focus

PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS AT TARA, HOSPITAL, PANVEL TARA, PANVEL

YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY AND YOU 10 to 15 eye operations are performed There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS support the cause by donating to our various initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and maintain, conduct extra-curricular It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka.

Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] Mumbai 400 007

Space Donated by A Well Wisher R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 32 JANATA, August 19, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 67 No. 31 North-Eastern turmoil August 26, 2012 S. Viswam A flicker of hope, at last Kuldip Nayar Belying all hopes, the post- communal violence an unprecedented number of people within Assam, Common Sense of independence decades have not succeeded in ending the deep sense of estimated to exceed five lakhs, have Urban Planning alienation nurtured by the people of been displaced. They have had to seek K. S. Chalam India’s north-eastern region. While the shelter in other areas of the region. attempts at geographical integration of Elsewhere within the region, ethnic- Outbreak of Violence the region with the rest of India have cum-religious oriented politics has in Mumbai borne fruit, the same cannot be said polarized the people and unfortunately Asghar Ali Engineer of the efforts at emotional integration. impacted adversely on communal The “seven sisters” have always felt peace in other areas far removed from Hate begets hate cut off from “mainstream India” the north-east like Bangalore, Pune, Harsh Mander even though there is enough inter and Hyderabad and Mumbai. In Mumbai, intra-regional movement of people. the reaction to the communal violence Mamata and Judiciary The fault lies more with mainstream in Assam has been most unfortunate Bapu Heddurshetti India than with the citizens of the and has in turn provoked the Hindutva region. By and large, the former elements to mount retaliation against Development of Tribal Women has failed to convince the people innocent Muslims. Bengali-speaking Vibhuti Patel of the north-east that they enjoy Muslims in Assam have been equality with fellow Indians in every subjected to violence and have been Socialist International measure. Consequently, the north- uprooted from their areas of domicile. in Cape Town easterners feel discriminated against The Bangladesh government has D. K. Giri and have not developed the sense of predictably remained insensitive to belonging that is a pre-requisite for the plight of the displaced Assamese, their emotional integration with the just as Dhaka has till now refused rest of India. They have been unable to take back its citizens who have Editor : to get over the feeling that they are illegally settled down in Assam and G. G. Parikh only second class citizens of this great other north-eastern states. country. Managing Editor : Guddi One has yet to learn the full story of The situation has remained how hundreds of thousands of people D-15, Ganesh Prasad, depressing over the decades. from the north-east were driven by Naushir Bharucha Marg, It has been made worse by the panic arising from sheer fear to flee Mumbai - 400 007. failure of the Indian political and their respective areas of employment administrative class to address the and study and head home, suffering Email : [email protected] problem of alienation effectively. enormous hardships in crowded Now, consequent to the upsurge of trains. The massive exodus from 2 JANATA, August 26, 2012

Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Between the lines Hyderabad and Pune was of a kind rarely if ever witnessed in any part of the world leave alone India. A flicker of hope, at last Various theories abound on what set off the panic. One theory that Kuldip Nayar has found favour with officialdom attributes it to the mischief of death Some recognition at last: that said Zardari. and destruction morphed in cyber both President Asif Ali Zardari and sites into so-called evidence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh too wrote anti-Muslim violence in Assam and should send messages of goodwill in the same vein. In his message, distributed through the Internet. to the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch is a he said: “I am happy to know Another theory attributes it to loaded welcome development. The Manch that the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch is websites created in Pakistan and organizing the 17th India-Pakistan Bangladesh by anti-Indian interests, is engaged in an endeavour to Peace Festival at Amritsar on 14-15 in the process launching a new improve relations between the two August, 2012 as part of its efforts to form of international terrorism countries. This was the 17th year build public opinion for peace and creating domestic disorder in India for its members from the manch with a view to upsetting communal and SAFMA in Pakistan to light friendship in South Asia. The Manch harmony and peace. candles at midnight on August 14- is pursuing a worthy cause because 15, when the two countries were sustained peace and friendship in The happenings of the last born, on the Attari-Wagah border. this region are necessary for South fortnight that began with the The sky was rent with slogans like: Asian countries to effectively focus shocking exodus of the people of Long Live India-Pakistan Friendship their energies on tackling challenges north-east has turned the focus yet and Dono bhaiyon ko mil ne do such as hunger, poverty, illiteracy again on a problem that has defied (Let brothers meet one another). and disease…” Indian policy-makers and politicians Messages by the two governments for the last six decades. But merely are an admission of their mistakes It has not been a pleasant because earlier attempts to address to have run down the tiny step taken experience to light candles at the the problem have failed is no reason in 1995, which has become a long border. The anti-Pakistan feeling to give up. The problem is not a stride, towards improving relations was dominant when we started the regional one as many in India tend between India and Pakistan. Zardari journey. Threats, demonstrations to dismiss it. It is a national problem has commended the efforts “in and abusive letters were hurled at since it concerns the well-being and pursuit of shared destiny in the sub- us whenever we came to the border happiness of a large segment of continent.” He has paid homage to to light candles or held seminars to India and must be treated as such. all those who have been making determine what was wrong between This means that high priority has systematic and concerted efforts for the two countries and how it would to be given to the urgent need to promoting peace and cooperation in be eliminated. All these years we restore peace and normalcy in Assam the subcontinent. have not faltered in our resolve that and other states where unrest has people-to-people contact is the only raised its head, and then to launch a “The present democratic way to normalize relations. campaign to eliminate the sense of government and the people wish to alienation among the people of the see peace and cooperation flourish in Both the Congress and the BJP north-east. Instead of dismissing the subcontinent. We are committed would scoff at the effort and call that challenge as something which to it and hope that the search by the us “mombatti wale” to belittle concerns only that area, it must be two countries together for a peaceful the efforts made to rise above regarded and tackled as a matter of resolution to all disputes through a the bitterness of partition. The national importance and urgency. sustained and productive dialogue Indian government has become The political class and the national will bear fruit…The two countries somewhat cooperative because it media need to undertake confidence- need durable peace and security to gives us permission to go right up building measures aimed at restoring focus on the social and economic to the zero point, even though the normalcy. development of their peoples…,” border is under curfew from 8 p.m. JANATA, August 26, 2012 3

However, the Pakistan government has given permission to go to the Common Sense of Urban Planning border at midnight after the Zardari government has assumed power. K. S. Chalam

At the border, we exchange flags found in Mohenjo-daro particularly and sweets and we also sing together Our former President Abdul Kalam in his address to a group of the drainage system that carries the Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s couplet: Hum young girls of a Junior college in dirty water from homes to a larger dekhenge...” It is an emotional Hyderabad last fortnight is reported sewerage. Though scholars have journey for all of us because for the to have said that they should start not paid adequate attention to the most who come to the border, it is their battle against corruption at medieval urban formations except not a nostalgia but a commitment home. The reason given by him is Champakalakshmi and Irfan Habib, to see that the line drawn does not interesting. He said that 30 percent of the Indus valley urban culture seems divide the centuries’ old composite the houses or flats are built or bought to have been recreated in the form culture. Both Hindus and Muslims with black money. This statistic of fort towns. According to one have lived together for hundreds of provides us a rough estimate of the estimate, Agra had a population years and shared joy and grief, apart kind of illegal constructions we have of 5-6 lakhs in 16th century AD. from festivals like Id and Diwali. in the urban areas particularly in the Our own history of Golkonda and Why could not they have lived side metropolitan centres like Mumbai, Hyderabad old city is passionately by side after partition? Delhi and Hyderabad. Assuming narrated by our friend Vasanth Bawa that some of them are getting their in his writings. Bawa as one of the I feel that it is possible to bring plans approved by the municipal or earliest civil servants in charge back that spirit provided people city agencies as per norms, there of Hyderabad urban development from both sides consider that the is scope for misgivings about the laments now for the decadencethat happenings during partition were sanctity of such building plans. This has set in. How is this happening? a blot on their long history of would also indicate the amount of togetherness. It should be written pressure put on Babus and political Those who are familiar with the off as an aberration. Still I wonder executive in getting orders passed woes of urban dwellers during the monsoon season in Hyderabad, why the relationship going back to favoring the powerful, leaving aside the mafia. It is reported in the Mumbai, Noida and other cities in hundreds of years collapsed like a media that several crores of rupees the country indicate that there is some house of cards. True, the seeds of of revenue is estimated to have muddled design in the original plan bitterness were sown long before been lost by the Greater Hyderabad of cities. We can identify different partition. Yet killing the neighbours city due to the failure to enumerate factors that have contributed to this or kidnapping their women shows the number of constructions in fall. But, the dissolution seems to that both sides have not risen above the city. It is here one can look at be striking after the use of European the medieval, religious thinking. the circumstances that dictate the models of city or urban planning. It contours of urban planning, despite is also recognized that the pressure We still carry the baggage of elegant and intellectually alluring of population and the rural out- history. Books on both sides depict models of city plans or master migration in search of work in urban partition from their point of view plans. Notwithstanding different areas are also responsible for this. and underline the differences over dimensions of a plan, life becomes But, the European cities had also religion. Therefore, it becomes miserable during monsoon seasons. experienced the same trends as in inevitable that the borders between India in the past. It appears that the India and Pakistan should soften so We have been boasting about our designs of urban and metropolitan that people can go into each other’s historical legacy as one of the most centres in Europe and North America country without the hassle of visa ancient urban civilizations in the were related to their geographical or police reporting. But the worst is world in Harappa and Mohenjo- daro. location. I am not an engineer to the role of fundamentalists, more in I have visited one of the Harappan comment on the technical aspects of Pakistan than India. They are out to sites in Lothal near Ahmedabad, it. But, I think, the European cities do wreck the democratic polity on this Gujarat sometime ago. The site not have the problems of torrential relates to a dry dock belonging to the rains. Monsoons are experienced in fourth millennium BCE. It reflects the West-Africa and Asia-Australia (Continued on Page 9) the same archeological facts as were regions only. Europeans have a 4 JANATA, August 26, 2012 different kind of problem during story making the seniors and even It is in this context, one can look winter. They have perhaps designed bureaucrats responsible for the at the National Urban Sanitary their cities particularly sewage and troubles. Otherwise, how could you policy prepared by the Ministry of sanitary disposal system based on appreciate lack of proviso on the Urban Development and Poverty their meteorological conditions. sidewalks and pathways for runoff Alleviation for an insight in to our European scholars and teachers must to sink or flow in the elegantly laid planner’s unimaginative ideas. The have prepared texts books based on roads in cities? Why the capacity of policy document seems to have their experience. It is likely that the the drains is much lower than the failed to address the poignant appeals same text books have been used quantity of storm water expected of Safai Karmachari Andolan that in our Civil Engineering, Public during rainy season? How the designs claims even today lakhs of SKs carry Health Engineering, Environmental are made or changed (the anarchy of night soil on their heads to clear the Engineering, Urban Planning etc, frequent road cuts)? Is it not the duty courses by default. Similarly, some of the engineering staff to inspect backyards in small towns and even of our bureaucrats are sent abroad and supervise how do the contractors in city agglomerations. If the SKs are to develop skills of planning so that execute work as per designs or leave not available in a city, the sewerage urban infrastructure plans could it to their caprice? Why has the is allowed to pass into the dirty water be implemented at home without a Total Sanitation Campaign devoid drains that pass through slums or hustle. Yet, majority of them seem of social ethos failed? How far the impecunious habitations to make to have failed to tackle the concerns FAR , huge budgeted infrastructure the life of inhabitants de-humanized. of common man during the monsoon based on European models solve What kind of urban planning is when the sewage tanks and drinking our immediate depraved conditions this if we fail to address our basic water pipes break in to one another of living? prerequisites of humane living? and runoff with storm water on the main roads displacing not only Mahila Dakshata Samiti humans but even vehicles. I have personal experience with Mrinal Gore was one of the prominent leaders like Dr Sushila Nayyar, urban life in Delhi, Hyderabad, Suchita Kriplani, Pramila Dandavate, Mangla Parikh, Smt. Hingorani, Suman London, New York, Warsaw and Krishnakant and Rani Jethmalani who decided to launch Mahila Dakshta Mumbai. The care taken by the Samiti under the inspiration of the great revolutionary leader, Jayaprakash West for the easy flow of traffic Narayan. At that time, in 1973, the Samiti's first concern was the steep price is exemplary during the winter. rise which was hurting women and their house-holds and anti-price rise Those who are familiar with the agitations were launched by it in Mumbai and Delhi. It also started a laboratory ‘salt satyagraha’ may not know to test food articles against adulteration. Belan (rolling pins for making bread) why the British were exporting ship brigades were also organised by different women organisations all over India loads of raw salt from India at the to express solidarity with the agitation. We can proudly claim that Mrinaltai displeasure of natives? The salt was along with Mangla Parikh, Pramila Dandvate and other socialist leaders not used for human consumption; it pioneered women's movement in the post-Independence India. was used to clear their roads during winter. Now salt is replaced by The Mahila Dakshata Samiti organised series of seminars and snow blowers, throwers and high demonstrations against dowry and bride burning and created mass awareness velocity impellers. The engineers among women. It also helped to bring about amendments in the existing and technocrats have developed anti-dowry legislation, legislation against criminal assault of women and designs based on their existential propagated for legislation in favour of women's property rights. The samiti conditions to make human life under the leadership of Smt. Dandavate, Smt. Gore and Smt. Krishnakant comfortable there. Though some worked hard to get a legislation for the appointment of a National Commission of our Engineers particularly at of Women adopted. Smt. Dandavate got the issue inscribed in the agenda of the policy making level are very the National Front. This effort of the Sarniti met with success. On another competent and are acquainted with issue - amino synthesis - also women succeeded in getting the test ill-legalised. our conditions, the supervisory staff The Samiti also agitated to get reservations in jobs as also union and state at the junior engineer and below legislatures. Yet another success of the Samiti and other organisations was the level are alleged to be responsible appointment of special family courts and also the induction of larger number for breakdowns. of women in police service so that crimes against women can be investigated If you have a chat with the junior by women police cells. staff, they would narrate a different - Manjoo Mohan JANATA, August 26, 2012 5 Outbreak of Violence in Mumbai

Asghar Ali Engineer

The way things were happening These religious leaders and have met Chief Minister or Home for the last few weeks it was not also some non-religious leaders of Minister. There was no need at all surprising that violence on such scale Muslims neither fully understand the for such a huge rally. took place. It was, as if, in store; problem - what is the conflict about - large scale propaganda was going nor they care to know the facts about And if at all such a huge rally on that Muslims are being killed all what is going on the ground. They was organized why such emotional over the world. There is conspiracy simply make it a case of conspiracy speeches were made? They should to kill Muslims everywhere and on against Muslims. In Azad Maidan have understood the sensitivity Bodo-Muslim clashes and about too where rally was organized of the problem. But then if they Rohingiyah Muslims in Burma despite knowing that huge crowd did, how can they be Muslims prayers were being organized in is there with all sorts of people, leadership without arousing religious every mosque and SMSs were including anti-social elements, the sentiments? In fact as far as Assam circulating about it. Urdu papers speakers made highly emotional is concerned hardly any one of those were carrying articles saying there speeches especially attacking media who actively organized the rally is world-wide conspiracy to kill for not covering killing of Muslims knew anything about the nature of Muslims. Articles simply appealing in Burma. Then what more do you conflict except that Muslims were to emotions, not to reason. want to incite emotions for anything killed. to happen. I have not seen any sober and What was the history of Bodo- analytical article in the Urdu press It was not only a question of Muslim conflict in Assam? Bodos are in Mumbai. The Muslim leadership managing the crowd; it was utterly not killing Muslims because of their was creating a psychology of irresponsible act on the part of Muslimness but the fundamental victimhood in the minds of Muslims leadership of the rally. If they problem is of land. Bodos are in and pent up emotions were waiting had expected only 1500 persons conflict with other communities to explode with some triggering to come and 50,000 turned up also like Adibashis, Santhals and event. The photographs about killing the leaders should have clearly others and they have come in conflict of Muslims in Burma had greatly understood that situation can get with all these communities. Though disturbed the Muslim youth. All out of control any time as they were it is not true that Bangladeshis photographs, I must say, were not simply dealing with raw emotions. are migrating in large numbers authentic but they circulated on large A wise leadership would not have (this is largely the Sangh Parivar scale and ignited emotions. allowed highly emotional speeches propaganda) but unfortunately in the midst of such huge crowd and Bodos, in order to fulfill their Muslim leadership which hardly fuel emotions further. ambition of Bodo-land and for does anything for the real welfare of evicting Bengali Muslims and other the community always has an eye on It is also not correct to say that ethnic communities from the four such sensitive situations and wants they expected only 1500 people districts of Bodo Territorial Council, to grab the opportunity to enhance to turn up as they were making are using this propaganda for their their own interests. Also, mosques announcements inside the mosque own purposes. One can of course were used to announce about rally on Friday and also posters were blame the Congress Government giving it further religious colour. For put up. It means they aimed higher for giving Bodos BTC to buy peace those who go to mosques to pray, in and made efforts to mobilize large with militant Bodo outfits. They large numbers, particularly in the number of people and succeeded in should not have done so without holy month of Ramadan, are gullible it. Ideal thing would have been to taking other ethnic communities in and the moment religious colour is have a dharna by about 1000-1500 confidence and giving them proper given to an issue they become extra- seriously interested people for a day representation. We have dealt with sensitive. long dharna and then they could this issue on our last article on Bodo- 6 JANATA, August 26, 2012

Muslim riots in Kokrajhar and other cannot tar the entire media with the also living in these relief camps districts. same brush. Both print and electronic in as bad a condition as Bengali media have different ideological and speaking Muslims. As a good and As for Rohingiyah Muslims commercial approaches. A blatant compassionate Muslims, in this it is the Military Government of attack is totally wrong and even if month of charity they should adopt Myanmar which is to be blamed. a section of media is ideologically inclusive approach and collect relief I visited Rangoon after the recent against or indifferent to Muslim for Bodos too. This is what the Holy riots and interviewed large number problems, solution does not lie in Qur’an also requires of them. of Rohingya Muslims. No such attacking its journalists, or OB vans. problem existed until 1981. They It is at best foolish. If instead of making it a were treated as regular citizens and conspiracy against Muslims, if they had voting rights. It was the Military Urdu papers often write that let had condemned killing of Bodos too Government of Myanmar which Ulama-kiram (Honourable Ulama) and prayed for all it would not have suddenly and without any proper guide the Muslim ummah and acquired such emotional proportions. reason, took away their papers give it a lead. How can one expect Also the rally also should not have from them and tried to expel them Ulama who hardly have knowledge been exclusively a Muslim rally from Rakhine district of Western of the modern world and for whom but a rally with the support of Myanmar. provoking religious sentiments all sections of Indian society i.e. is part of their orientation, can Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and It treats these Muslims as all others – besides Muslims – to foreigners and wants Bangladesh provide leadership. It is not to say that all Ulama are like this but a strengthen our secular character. It to settle them in its territory which was not only exclusively Muslim is totally unjust. Rohingya Muslims large number of Ulama – and this has been proved repeatedly in but organized by Raza Academy – have been in that province for representing Barelvi Muslims. What centuries and there is no case to political matters - behave either in opportunistic or emotional way. a sectarian approach. Deobandis describe them as outsiders. Most of were to organize separately a day them had settled there with Muslim after but was postponed because rule. But the Military Government of And let us remember all this happened in the holy month of of violent turn which the rally on Myanmar has been killing Burmese Saturday took. of other provinces too and killed Ramadan. The ulama never tire of several Buddhist monks also during telling us that this month of fasting is If we have to be against violence pro-democracy demonstrations. there so that we become more patient and it should be our serious and able to control our anger and we commitment – we have to be more It is true that some Buddhist must devote us entirely to ‘ibadat and more inclusive. Whenever monks have issued pamphlets against i.e. acts of worship, compassion sectarian approach is adopted, it Rakhine Muslims to show solidarity and charity. What was then hurry becomes easier to resort to violence with their co-religionists which to take out this rally in this holy and if it is inclusive of all sections they should not have done. But month when no fresh incidents were it is not only more democratic then like others Buddhists monks taking place. The Assam situation but also likely to be more non- also are getting politicized as their had come under control and what violent. Sectarian approach also pro-democracy demonstration also was urgently needed was to collect results in competitive approach shows. But in both cases (i.e. Assam money, clothes, shoes and medicines and inclusive approach is also and Rohingya Muslims) it is not part for those in relief camps in those cooperative approach. of any worldwide conspiracy to kill four districts. Muslims as it is being propagated. The police is now saying the In this holy month of charity violence was pre-planned which In Mumbai violence media came they could have concentrated on may result in harassment of many under attack for no reason except collecting relief for those unfortunate Muslim youth. It is shameful that that provocative speeches were four million people who are rotting some rallyists molested women made against media. It was quite in relief camps in most unspeakable constables and seized revolvers ill-advised. A wise leadership would conditions. Many Bodos also from them. The police may take rather try to win over media rather have been killed in retaliatory than antagonize it this way. Also, one actions and quite a few Bodos are (Continued on Page 9) JANATA, August 26, 2012 7 Hate begets hate

Harsh Mander

The country is once again they deploy to transport provocative of missionary ‘conversions’, as dangerously adrift in a stormy sea of falsehoods, rumours and emotive though this in any way is cause for competitive hate politics. The signs messages of hate across the country the killing of Christians. are both ominous and familiar — the — and indeed across the world. systematic creation of hatred against These recast people of different In Assam, the violence of people because of their ethnicity ethnic or religious identities as indigenous Assamese against the or religion; rumours and hate the dangerous ‘other’, and foment Bengali Muslim community is propaganda choking the internet; the suspicion, dread and loathing against described by leaders of the BJP, public moral justification of violence them. Morphed pictures of bloody All Assam Students Union and the against targeted communities on corpses near robed Buddhist monks Sangh organisations as righteous grounds of ‘larger’ alleged wrongs; in Myanmar, circulated through anger against ‘outsiders’. Economic and weak-kneed State action against the internet and mobile phones, refugees are emotively described as people and organisations which provoked protestors who gathered ‘infiltrators’ from Bangladesh, and preach hate and organise slaughter in Mumbai. Messages claiming that although scholars estimate that only and arson. people from the North-east would be around 10 percent of the Bengali attacked in retaliation for the killings Muslims in Assam are illegal In what is probably the largest in Assam led to their panic exodus. residents, by implication the attacks displacement of human populations and ethnic cleansing of the entire by hate violence after Partition, Even more hazardous is the community is rationalised. Likewise, four lakh Bengali Muslim and creation of an alternative moral radicalised Islamist leaders use Bodo people are driven away from universe in which violent attacks persecution of Muslims to provoke their homelands after attacks and on people of specified communities and justify mindless violence of the the burning of their villages. They is accepted as defensible, even kind witnessed in Mumbai. are living fearfully in cramped justified. The underlying ethical makeshift relief camps. In Mumbai, assumption is that it is acceptable It is long overdue that the people mobs protesting the Assam attacks to physically attack people who of this vast diverse nation affirm that and slaughter of Rohingya Muslims belong to a community which nothing — nothing — can justify in Myanmar, run amuck, criminally has committed a real or perceived the shedding of blood of even a set aflame public property and wrong. The same rationale was single person, or sexual assault, or attack media and police personnel. meted out for the slaughter of Sikhs the burning of her properties, for no Rumours of retaliatory attacks by in 1984, ‘understandable’ anger reason except that she belongs to the Muslims against people from North- against all Sikhs because two Sikh religious or ethnic community of a east India in many southern cities bodyguards murdered Indira Gandhi. perceived wrong-doer. We cannot have led to a panic exodus of migrant Even today I hear people say that the be selective in our espousal of non- students and workers. carnage against Gujarati Muslims violence, democracy and rule of law. in 2002 was a natural outcome of If, for instance, we believe that there In district towns in which I have spontaneous mass anger because are illegal residents in Assam, the worked, I observed during the Muslims allegedly burned the train only legitimate demand is not mass 1980s how dedicated communal and killed pilgrims in Godhra. The violence and ethnic cleansing, but organisations skilfully spread demolition of the Babri Masjid for due process of law to identify rumours, which manufacture hatred and the years of violence which the illegal residents and if proved to locally and provoke communal accompanied it were explained by return them to their homeland. attacks. But hate propagandists warranted anger because Muslims are today equipped with sleek had demolished temples in medieval This clouded moral universe is new vehicles of cyberspace and times. Whenever Christians are further blurred by compromised mobile phone technology, which attacked, people immediately speak or weak-kneed political and 8 JANATA, August 26, 2012 administrative leadership, which fails to uphold the equal rights Our heart must bleed for everyone of all persons, regardless of their faith, caste or ethnic identity. In Adnan Assam, the government entered into an accord with the Bodos Two recent incidents — the are the first to hit the streets. Of for autonomy in Bodo-dominated protest over the ‘discovery’ of course, not when Muslims kill areas. Bodo militants drove out the Akbarabadi mosque in Delhi, Muslims in an African country, or Santhal descendants of tea plantation and the agitation at Azad Maidan when Ahmadiyyas (or even Shias) workers and Bengali Muslims in in Mumbai over the violence in are blown to pieces in supposedly successive waves of attacks since Myanmar and Assam which turned ‘Muslim nations’ on a regular basis. 1993, and 1.75 lakh displaced people violent — must serve as a wake-up continue to live even today in refugee call for all Indian Muslims. Some of us unfortunately might camps, for nearly two decades. The look at Saudi Arabia and other Gulf government did nothing to restore I’ll come back to them but just countries as model states, despite the these displaced people to their a recall: In the late 1970s and early fact that they are monarchies, despite homelands, and thereby incentivised 1980s, Urdu newspapers in India their rigid and regressive attitudes to ethnic cleansing. It is terrifying to Nida-e-Millat and Nasheman would women, minorities and even Muslim consider the destinies of people now spend gallons of ink on the plight of settlers from other countries, who in fresh camps, if they, too, are not Palestinians, perennially. are not given equal treatment or firmly assisted by a fair and caring citizenship. state to return to their villages. This was not just an interest but an obsession. With the decline of Have you ever seen Arab Sheikhs But amid these storm clouds, the Urdu press for a phase in the protesting the killing of Muslims in hope still shines through. In a blog, 1980s, there was a marked decline Myanmar or their citizens? From Siddharthya Roy reports a meeting in Indian Muslim interest in the Egypt to Lebanon, Iran to Turkey faraway territory. called by the Police Commissioner and Kazakhstan to Bosnia, which of Pune regarding the fear exodus of Muslim country saw such huge Northeastern people. He reports that This was the era when Muslims numbers pouring out on streets to the hall was full of Muslim people here faced the heat due to the protest the killings? who unequivocally said ‘my home is Ayodhya movement. But whether open for them’. A maulvi mourned it was the Babri Masjid demolition Frankly, we have the right to that 30 Assamese workers cleaned or major communal riots, we never protest but we are perhaps misusing and repaired the old Masjid, left heard any Muslim country or people it. We don’t join other communities suddenly yesterday. “How am I to in other lands shedding tears for to protest against injustice on others, celebrate Eid without them?” The Indian Muslims or issuing any Mufti said, “If you receive an SMS statement for them. Was there any but our blood boils when we hear or that tells you to get angry about strong voice over Gujarat from a see images of attacks on Muslims. what’s happened in Assam, delete it. foreign power? We will not fight battles in the name Don’t we realise that the world of Assam in Pune.” In fact, there was no need for looks at this as a case of Muslims any outsider to speak for us. We just thinking about themselves and In Bangalore, Akbar Ali, convener are a democratic country. Like none else? Our heart must bleed for of the Muslim Welfare Association most nations and societies, we will everyone who is facing injustice, not appealed to people from the North- have our issues and will sort them just for Muslims. east who were fleeing the city, out ourselves. There is no need for “Those who feel unsafe in their intervention. Mostly our Hindu In any case, what is Bangladesh, homes are welcome to come to our brethren are fighting the cases for a predominantly Muslim country, homes and mosques to take shelter. justice for minorities. doing? It closes its border to the We will protect you, but please do Rohingyas, forcibly sends them back not leave the city. It is your city as Still, whenever there is an issue in and doesn’t hold serious talks with much as ours.” a faraway country, Indian Muslims the Myanmar regime over this issue. JANATA, August 26, 2012 9

They did the same with Urdu- Just a few decades ago, a senseless political dictionary. speaking Biharis for decades. They emotional movement over a frail old remained in camps and both Pakistan woman turned Muslims into villains Despite going through so much, and Bangladesh avoided taking in this country. The Shah Bano case the Muslim leaders seem to have responsibility. Only recently did strengthened right-wing forces, led learnt nothing. Everywhere, one Bangladesh give them citizenship. to the rise of the BJP, the destruction sees misplaced priorities and ‘josh’ of the Babri Masjid, and the entry of prevailing over ‘hosh’ that only Forget the Gulf countries, what the word ‘appeasement’ in the Indian harms us. about Malaysia, another Muslim majority country, close to Myanmar? (The author is a blogger, who writes under the pseudonym Indscribeat It is also an economic force and just anindianmuslim.com.) The Hindu a bit far away is Indonesia. What are these governments doing? If Indian Muslims want to feel the pain of the (Continued from Page 3) What they should be discussing is Afghanistan. If Kabul is taken Rohingyas, it’s okay. But holding side. They are still waging a war of over by the Taliban, it would have demonstrations of such size that can jihad and the messages and images disastrous consequences in the entire go out of control, what message do sent by them to foment the migration region. we want to send? of people of Northeast from the different states to Assam show that. The recent attack on the Pakistan On the issue of ethnic cleansing Some Indians too have helped the air force base near Islamabad should in Myanmar, for the last month, we fundamentalists from across the be a warning. This means that the have seen demonstrations not just border in this devious move. I am Taliban have the capability to strike in capitals but districts, even towns glad to see that the two countries are at any place at any time. On the other and at smaller places. Why? In cities, cooperating in detecting the guilty hand, Pakistan is not seen doing where twenty people aren’t ready and punishing them. enough to eliminate terrorism. When to join a delegation on a matter people in India find that Islamabad However, the manner in which of genuine concern at delay in is dragging its feet on punishing people from northeast were forced recognition to a school in a minority- the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to migrate to Assam is a sad dominated area, 2,000 people easily on Mumbai, they wonder whether commentary on our secular polity. come for such a gathering or protest. the statements by Pakistan against Mere two hundred messages from Isn’t that amazing? terrorist are credible. Pakistan is across the border have exposed sending mixed messages. It wants India’s secularism. Suppose there It tells us a great deal about the to increase business but some of were to be two thousand next time, emotions which the Indian Muslims its leading firms have cancelled big what would be the state in the seem to have in excess. It’s better deals at the last minute. In economic country. This is a serious matter to use and channel this energy ties lie the hope. The two countries which civil society and government elsewhere. Whether it’s Akbarabadi must realize this. mosque, over which passions were should ponder over because even after 65 years of independence, whipped up by an MLA, or the (Continued from Page 6) Myanmar issue, our priorities are we have not been able to achieve misplaced. national integration. revenge for this. Let us hope police does not. But one must say the Isn’t it a better idea to have funds My greatest worry is to find India police had shown lot of restraint and and Pakistan stuck in the status quo. collected for victims of violence in Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik Both the countries are traversing the Assam, both Bodos and Muslims, himself had come and spoken from same old beaten path and making the platform appealing Muslims to than giving advertisements in papers no progress. The visit of India’s show restraint in this holy month of and then heading for rallies? In Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna early Ramadan. the Akbarabadi mosque case, the next month provides both sides issue was handled in such a way with a new opportunity to span at Let us hope wiser counsel will that it could now cause severe least some distance, even if they prevail and peace would not be embarrassment to the community. do not sign any specific agreement. disturbed. 10 JANATA, August 26, 2012 Socialist International in Cape Town

D. K. Giri

The XXIV Congress of the Democratic parties from across ideological edge by actively Socialist International (SI) taking the world. It is by far the biggest campaigning for an economy that place in Cape Town, South Africa coalition, having 161 parties and generates growth, employment on August 31 and September 1 is organisations as members drawn and equity. From communism, the of great interest and significance from over 100 countries in all the political economy in the world swung for two reasons. First, it is for continents. It was created in the back to capitalism. But the global the first time in the history of SI present form in 1951, although its financial crisis exposed the holes in that an African country is hosting genesis goes back in the previous unbridled capitalism. This was the the Congress. To be sure, Africa century to 1864 when the First time when SI could grab the lead should provide a new context and International of Working Men was and present democratic socialism as perspective for future activities of formed. As a non-governmental the viable and credible alternative - SI. Second, for the first time, since organisation it has consultative an ideology that can handle market last 22 years, there is a going to be status with the United Nations. rapacity and instability, and restore an open contest for the leadership the faith in the government as position in SI - the incumbent The Geneva Congress in 1976 both productionist (facilitating Secretary General has been in this became the turning point for production) and distributionist position since 1989. Whoever wins SI in terms of expansion of the (for social justice). The challenge the elections, there will be new organisation. Until then, SI had a few of climate change could be best dynamism as the onus will be on the members outside Europe. In 1976, addressed by democratic socialists winner to perform. In this promising twenty five years after its formation, who had been championing the scenario of continental shift and the Socialist International elected cause of sustainable development. leadership contest, it is time to reflect as its president, Willy Brandt, the Furthermore, in the absence of on the past, role, reach and efficacy former chancellor of West Germany, progressive politics, the right- and the future of SI in world politics. and the winner of 1971 Nobel wing ideologies focused on race, Peace Prize. Thereafter, under his ethnicity, and religion are gaining From this part of the world it inspiring leadership, SI went truly currency. One naturally wonders does not look hopeful as Socialist international. It began systematic why Socialist International fails to International has practically no efforts to expand beyond Europe, be the alternative to capitalism and active presence here. But even into Asia, Africa, and Latin America. comrades from Europe, where SI It also expressed solidarity with authoritarianism, to be the voice of is supposed to be strong, despair those fighting for freedom and progressive politics in the world. of its inability to influence events. justice. It sent missions to Southern The puzzle can be explained in terms Some observers say, “Socialist Africa, the Middle East, and Latin of SI’s structure, which is rigid, International failed to evolve from a America on various occasions. And inflexible and non-inclusive and the mere soap box and loose federation now, the XXIV Congress of Socialist strategy that seems old and outdated. into a real fighting International International takes place in Cape The Structure Democratic Socialist force”. Many Town, South Africa. The Congress, others consider it to be a ‘broken the supreme decision-making body Socialist International seems dream’. No doubt, SI has done much of SI, meets every four years, and to be rigid in its structure that to reach out and enroll members, but brings together, delegates from the was built in the aftermath of the it is time to ask why it fails to play member parties, including heads of Second World War. Since then, it a significant role in international governments and invited guests. has not carried out any significant politics. organisational reforms. The internal However SI failed to fill the decision making is not transparent The Biggest Coalition vacuum created by the collapse and the working method is ad-hoc. The Socialist International is of communism. It was a great It enrolls members, but cannot easily a coalition-organisation of Social opportunity to demonstrate the expel or discipline them. It recruits JANATA, August 26, 2012 11 political parties in the hope that they position. In either case, it is not in building democratic socialism will spread democratic socialism in good for an organisation as new - the institutions, the ideology and their respective countries, but when leadership means freshness and processes. they fail to do so, or go back on the sharing of leadership space. The SI principles; SI cannot easily terminate should stipulate in its statutes that The Way Forward their membership, although in the President and Secretary General Cape Town, in an African country extreme cases it has expelled a few should not stay for more than two should provide the context to initiate members. Secondly, in the present consecutive terms, but can come organisational and strategic changes. context, there are multiple political back after a break of one term. Some of them could be: First, actors in politics and economy, constant updating of policies – while not just political parties. Even the The strategies the core of social democracy is parties need to co-ordinate with The perception of the SI is that it is a universal and timeless, the policies such actors - think tanks, NGOs, talking shop producing platitudinous need to be updated in order to address and social movements, business speeches, communiqués and new challenges like globalisation, associations. Socialist International declarations. The objective of SI climate change, terrorism, should form a broad alliance for needs to be revisited: whether fundamentalism, revivalism and so practical progressive politics by it seeks to serve as a forum or a on. Second, the organisation needs enrolling them as associates and force that represents progressives to be more open, it needs to be more observers. Another notable deficit in global politics. The purpose transparent. In the age of new media, is that SI has no institutional link of the International as mentioned it is not difficult to do so. Third, the with major countries like USA, in its statute speaks of the forum strategy must change to reposition Brazil and India. To elaborate, India, function only. It says, “The purpose SI as the voice of progressives in which is the most fertile ground of the Socialist International is to international politics, not a just a for social democratic politics, in strengthen the relations between discussion forum. It should put fact, democracy and socialism are the affiliated parties and to co- the ideology in the forefront, and written into the Indian constitution, ordinate their political attitudes accordingly react to international is left out of the priorities of SI. It and activities by consent”. So, events. Fourth, it should be in the has accorded the observer status to clearly, the strategy is internal, it frontline in international solidarity; Janata Dal, then to JD(S), which is a does not enjoin the responsibility the gross inequality within the small splinter of the former. Socialist on SI to set or seize the progressive countries and the so-called north- International did not deeply study agenda in world politics. Second, south divide must end. Fifth, it the Indian political configuration and it does not help the consolidation must fight intellectually other in its confusion, began courting the of parties mainly in the developing ideologies, the most divisive ones Congress party, as it is, perhaps, the world who are in tune with social like fundamentalism, extremism, ruling party. The absence of strong, democracy but lack ideological racism and so on. Sixth, it should big and genuine social democratic resources and organisational skills. function as coalition of progressive parties need not lead it to embrace This is the story in most democracies forces, not just parties, as politics parties which are neither democratic in the developing world; while their is now influenced by campaigns, nor socialist. Surprisingly, one of political and economic conditions are movements, think-tanks, and various the Congress ministers is member compatible with social democracy, civil society actors. Hence, SI of a SI committee. SI should have their political organisations are should not only coordinate with adopted a different approach to not. This is where SI should such multiple actors, but build deal with hugely populous and seriously step in to help them build their capacities and awareness diverse countries like India. From their organisations by facilitating on democratic socialism, through smaller countries, there are more exchange of experiences and workshops, orientation camps, than one member parties; so why imparting training and orientation. exposure visits and training. Such not big countries like India, and The socialist parties from individual actors then will reinforce each Brazil. Finally, there is a secretary member countries are engaged in other in promoting democratic general of SI since 1989, for 22 this task, but SI is conspicuous socialism. Seventh, it should be the long years. Either comrade Luis by its inaction. In fact, Socialist clearing house for the philosophy of Ayala is too good to be changed or International should sponsor country no one else was interested in this or region specific strategy papers (Continued on Page 12) 12 JANATA, August 26, 2012 Mamata and Judiciary – the Devil quoting the Bible?

Bapu Heddurshetti

Mamata Banerjee, as is her wont, defence to the charge of contempt to be corrupt can be made to resign. has attacked the judiciary this time. of court. While the Supreme Court But judges not only cannot be made She has said that judgements can itself had castigated the Allahabad to resign if perceived to be corrupt, be purchased as a few judges are High Court for corrupt practices the but they do not resign till threatened corrupt. It should be remembered recent case of a former Karnataka with impeachment. that even if it is devil which is Minister giving Rs. 3 Crores as quoting the bible, it is the bible that bribe to a judge to merely obtain One has to wait and see whether it is quoting. an interim bail and the subsequent the judiciary will respect Article 194 arrest of all concerned including of the constitution or just ignore it The Calcultta and Delhi lawyers the Judge himself should suffice or judicially amend the constitution are moving against her in contempt for the Calcutta High Court and itself to suit itself as it did in the of court. While ignorance of law is the Supreme Court to stop thinking Judges’ Case. no excuse for ordinary citizens, it is in terms of contempt of court and for lawyers and judges. They would start thinking in terms of improving (Continued from Page 11) very conveniently not look at Article the quality and integrity of judges. 194 of our Constitution which gives Karnataka has not been able to find democratic socialism, disseminate immunity to the members of state an ‘untainted judge’ to become the new ideas, bring in other traditions, legislatures from any proceedings Lok Ayukta. People do not mind if and define different contexts, in in court for the speeches made by a traffic cop pockets Rs. 100 paid order that the ideology is appealing them on the floor of the house. The as fine for a traffic offence but can to all its members and applicable in relevant portion of the Article reads a Supreme Court Judge be excused their respective countries. “No member of the Legislature because he procures a site in gross Finally, Cape Town should prove of a State shall be liable to any violation of the rules of the housing to be a turning point for Socialist proceedings in any court in respect society and justifies it. International. An African country of anything said or any vote given should bring that breath of fresh air. by him in the Legislature or any However more important is the Also the election for office bearers committee thereof”. perception of the people. While in Cape Town congress is certainly a the apologists of judiciary keep healthy sign. Whoever wins on 30th And the privilege is subject repeating that the people of this August 31–1st September, we can only to the other provisions of the country trust judiciary, they only hope that the organisational structure constitution and not subject to any have to talk to some litigants about and functions will be revamped. other law. The relevant portion it to know the truth. Almost all reads “Subject to the provisions of litigants, while entrusting their cases this Constitution and to the rules to the advocates ask the question as Madhu Dandavate and standing orders regulating the to before which judge the case will procedure of the Legislature”. Thus comes. Senior Advocates keep the By on a plain reading the privilege is cases pending till they can come B. Vivekanandan not subject to the provisions of the before a good judge. Intellectual Price: Rs. 20/- Contempt of Courts Act also. corruption is more dangerous than Janata Trust taking of bribe. It is time all concerned D-15, Ganesh Prasad, However it is not necessary for think seriously about taking drastic Naushir Bharucha Marg, Mamata to take shelter only under steps to cure the cancer before it constitutional privilege. After the kills the judiciary. Corruption in the Grant Road (W), amendment to the Contempt of executive is relatively easy to deal Mumbai 400 007. Courts Act, now truth is a valid with since the Minister perceived JANATA, August 26, 2012 13

Book Review Development of Tribal Women

Vibhuti Patel

Rekha Talmaki has made a tribe. She also reveals that sex the socio-economic status of tribal serious and commendable effort at ratio of tribal women in Gujarat women in Valod. Though their conducting survey based research is relatively higher than the rest. improved status is showing positive on socio-economic status of tribal The question is, does that indicate changes, it is also necessary to pay women in Valod, South Gujarat they enjoy better status in socio- attention on many other aspects for (Socio-Economic Development economic, cultural, educational and the better and overall development of Tribal Women: Changes and political lives? Social geography of of these women. Challenges Delhi: The Women Surat reveals volatile changes due Press) where committed Gandhian to industrialization, urbanization The most attractive feature of this workers have dedicated more than and globalization. In what way study to bring to the fore efforts of five decades of their lives in village have these factors affected lives veteran Gandhians such as Babubhai development activities based on and survival strategies of tribal Shah, Savitaben Chaudhari and Gandhian principles. Her personal women? The author has made an Dashriben Choudhari. Popularly field visits have played crucial role honest attempt to answer these mind known as Dashariba, the eminent in bringing new insights and analysis boggling questions. Gandhian and freedom-fighter, with gender lens. She has examined who was born in 1918 in a tribal tribal women’s predicaments in the With the help of questionnaire for family (as she told) has been the context of status of women in India tribal women that was administered role model for all tribal women in in general where main factors in on 498 women respondents from the region. At present she is residing determining socio-economic status 11 villages selected as sample who in Vedchhi. She took part in the have been income, education and were falling in the category of 18- freedom struggle and taught reading occupation. She has provided an 59 years age group, for Gandhian and writing to Kasturba Gandhi. It exhaustive literature review focusing institutions working among them can be a very good example of how on occupational life, health profile and for financial institutions, these tribal men and women were of tribal women and tribal women’s nationalized and cooperative banks, actively participating in the freedom status in the family decision the author has tried to analyse struggle. After independence, also, making. She has also evaluated the various development efforts. She Dashariben devoted her full life to situation to find out to what extent has revealed that large number of educating people. Gandhian ideology of Antyodaya is Halpatis or Dublas is found very implemented vis-a-vis tribal women, prominently in Surat district. They The author states that women who are the poorest of the poor in the are very poor, because they do not in Valod perform various income economic ladder and at the bottom get permanent employment. They generating activities. They are either of the pyramid. are very good in taking care of engaged mainly in agricultural animals. SUMUL and local milk activities or in Papad Udyog or in The author has rightly used a co-operatives encouraged them for dairy production. Very few women conceptual framework of social animal husbandry and since then in this sample, i.e. 11, are engaged in exclusion that includes socio- they have started keeping cattle and Anganwadi activities and only four economic parameters of inequality, other animals for milk production women work in government jobs. poverty, social exclusion in India. It emerges from this study that the Those women, who are involved She has provided definition of tribe. tribal communities, particularly in agricultural activities, are also She has highlighted indicators such women have been excluded from the involved in Papad Udyog or in milk as working status and demographic mainstream economic development production. For example, Halpati aspects of tribes in Gujarat as well for the last so many decades. The women are basically agricultural as size and distribution of scheduled study was conducted to find out labourers but they are doing well 14 JANATA, August 26, 2012 in dairy production. Women do not They do not want their children kinds of infrastructural activities, possess any land but those who are to suffer as they have suffered. improved decision making capacity members of Self Help Groups are They demand good educational in all important aspects, knowledge managing livestock and are having and job facilities for their children. and use of contraceptives show their own accounts in the banks. They want good educated husbands positive changes in the socio- They are owners of those animals, for their daughters. The habit of economic status of tribal women in who give them not only economic alcohol is still persisting in tribal Valod. This improvement has not self-sufficiency but also make them communities; hence mothers want taken place overnight. Gandhian empowered. Their economic status good non-addicted partners for their ideology definitely played a very has improved only because of Lijjat daughters. important role in this respect. Self Papad and Milk Co-operatives. Help Groups are emerging on a More than 50 per cent women also It is so encouraging to note that very large scale in Valod taluka. know the market value of their respondents from Vedchhi want to Development from the grass-root product. Women’s leadership in do something for their community level, a dream of Gandhiji, is now micro finance has been a marked and village. Respondents from coming to reality. feature of the activities of Gandhian Ranveri want their daughters to be It is noteworthy that the author’s institutions in the region. They are educated, so that they would teach recommendations emphasize active in Vedchhi Pradesh Seva their children. It shows that, women investment in tribal women’s Samiti (VPSS), Valod; Lijjat Papad from all the villages are well aware education, vocational training, Grihaudyog, Sampoorna Kranti of their status. They have understood meaningful participation of tribal Vidyalaya And Gandhi Vidyapith- the importance of education. In the women in local self government Vedchhi. Traditional agriculture sample, there were very few widows, bodies, anti-alcohol efforts and sector could not give them better but nearly 50 per cent women said prevention of domestic violence economic status and social status that there should be some special among tribal families throough as well. However, because of the schemes only for widows. Those collective efforts and social above mentioned occupations their women, who stay below poverty intervention. economic and social status has line, want to improve their economic improved in the last two decades. status. I congratulate Ms. Rekha Talmaki There are only 11 women working Educational process among tribals for her praise worthy efforts and in Anganwadi, but today along started with Vedchhi Movement hope that readers from wide variety with Papad Udyog and Milk Co- and was later on flourished under of backgrounds social scientists, operatives, Anganwadi activities are late Jugatram Dave, founder of political activists, researchers, policy also increasing as Sakhi Mandals Swaraj Ashram – Vedchhi in 1930. makers and women’s organizations are emerging with the help of Udyogwadi Unit started in 1954 will deliberate on the issues raised Anganwadi workers. and various programmes were by this book. undertaken by late Babubhai Shah. Decision making, economic status Separate women’s section was and empowerment always go hand in started in Udyogwadi Unit. Women Janata hand. More than 70 per cent women started getting guidance, income told that their status has changed Subscription generating activities and vocational Annual Rs. : 260/- drastically. They see themselves training from this Unit. Lijjat Papad Three Years : 750/- in a different perspective and are Unit provides occupation based on thinking about the empowerment of self-sufficiency. All these institutions Demand Draft / Cheque on their own daughters and well-being make women empowered in Valod. Mumbai Bank of the entire family. More than 50 per in favour of Self Help Groups, milk co- cent women said that, improvement Janata Trust in the economic status gives them operatives, increasing participating status in the family and in the of women in political activities, society. Remaining women, though agitation against deforestation D-15, Ganesh Prasad, their status has not been improved, and alcohol by Self Help Groups, Naushir Bharucha Marg, educational status of women and are well aware of their future. They Mumbai 400 007 wish that their future would be good. their children, accessibility to all JANATA, August 26, 2012 15

Rural India Focus

PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS AT TARA, HOSPITAL, PANVEL TARA, PANVEL

YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY AND YOU 10 to 15 eye operations are performed There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS support the cause by donating to our various initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and maintain, conduct extra-curricular It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka.

Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] Mumbai 400 007

Space Donated by A Well Wisher R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 26, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 32 Debasing democracy September 2, 2012 S. Viswam A torn democratic fabric Kuldip Nayar Parliament’s monsoon session has refused to listen to reason. It has been virtually washed out thanks no compunctions in being a party Waging of War - to the BJP’s refusal to allow it to to the destruction of parliamentary Case of Seema Azad function in peace and order. It may democracy in India. Indeed, it gloats N. D. Pancholi be prudent for the presiding officers over the fact that it has been isolated of the two Houses to adjourn their within parliament, claiming that Status of Minorities: respective houses sine die at this it prefers to be in “magnificent A Tale of Two Neighbors stage and save a substantial amount isolation”. Parliament’s winter session Ram Puniyani of money for the exchequer. It may be was a casualty because of the BJP’s even more prudent for all the parties disruptive tactics. Now the monsoon Judiciary vs Democracy represented in Parliament to resolve session has also been lost. Bapu Heddurshetti not to ever allow proceedings to be suspended for long durations. While After the Prime Minister’s detailed Understanding Pascal Lamy political parties may reap temporary statement on the “coalgate” affair and D. K. Giri political advantages through halting the CAG’s lengthy report, the BJP proceedings for the right or wrong lost whatever justification it had in Bhagat Singh Memorial reasons, the long-term victim of holding parliament to ransom. The Committee in Lahore such strategies is democracy itself. statement provided the face-saving Qurban Ali If political expedience demands opportunity for that party to abandon long stoppages of proceedings in its agitation and participate in a debate Divergent Visions of Economic every session, the nation may as well on the entire issue. By rejecting the and Financial Advisers abandon parliamentary democracy statement and deciding to persist K. S. CAhalam in favour of another system with its disruptive strategy, the BJP which permits sustained political has vindicated Sonia Gandhi’s charge irresponsibility. On two occasions that it is indulging in the politics of Editor : in the recent past, the first when we blackmail “ which has become the G. G. Parikh celebrated the golden jubilee of our political bread and butter of the party”. Managing Editor : Guddi independence and the second when God knows, the Congress and the parliament completed 60 years, UPA it heads has much to answer for D-15, Ganesh Prasad, MPs took a solemn pledge not to in all the scams, including “coalgate”, Naushir Bharucha Marg, indulge in politics of disruption inside which have been exposed to public Mumbai - 400 007. parliament. The current exercise view during the last three years. sponsored and executed by the BJP However, accountability also has to Email : [email protected] shows how the MPs observe those be established and demonstrated in an pledges in the breach. The BJP has orderly manner. Ultimately, debating 2 JANATA, September 2, 2012 issues on the floor of parliament is Between the lines closely linked to the credibility of both the accused and the charges of mala fide against the accused. The A torn democratic fabric public must be given an opportunity to determine guilt or innocence on Kuldip Nayar the basis of the proof of credibility. Assam on brink is the headline in the Lok Sabha. It initially seemed that continued one day. Mumbai on brink is on UPA-BJP standoff would inevitably another day. And dominating all The five state elections later this lead to a political deadlock which in the news is the non-functioning year in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh turn would lead to a mid-term Lok of parliament that the people note and three in the northeast may help Sabha poll. That fear was well-based helplessly—Rs. 1 crore is the daily trigger the demand for a mid-term because the confrontation between expenditure on parliament. What poll. Chief Minister Narendra the two parties seemed unbreakable the scenario indicates is that the Modi looks like winning in his and no initiative was forthcoming political consensus, important for a state. Yet the general elections are from other parties to break the parliamentary democracy, is beyond 20 months away. The Congress can logjam. However, the situation repair. The law and order machinery legitimately say that it should either has improved somewhat following has broken down and faith in be defeated on the floor of the house assertions by Mamata Banerjee in peaceful methods has drastically or allowed to complete its present support of the UPA and by the Left lessened. One may as well say that term. However, the BJP is desperate that no party favours, or is ready for, the Indian polity is coming apart and is not willing to find an amicable snap polls right now. from the seams. way out.

Reflecting the growing frustration The BJP is most to blame because The BJP has already played the among the non-BJP parties over the it has taken the situation to a pitch communal card and its mentor, prolongation of the parliamentary which may leave the country with RSS, has asked for the ousting impasse, Sonia Gandhi has called on no option except to have a mid- of Bangladeshis since most of her partymen to mount an aggressive term poll. Pushing Prime Minister them are Muslims. Some Muslim response to the BJP’s blackmail Manmohan Singh to the centre of fundamentalists have also jumped politics. She has asked the Congress stage and asking for his resignation into the fray, as seen at Azad Maidan ranks to take the fight against the is driving the ruling Congress and in Mumbai and Khokrajar in Assam. BJP to the streets if necessary. its allies to the wall. Their defence Communalism indicates, to the Her strategy is as alarming as the is cutting less ice. The row over delight of the BJP, that the plight of BJP’s of debasing democracy the Rs. 148-lakh crore coal scam secularism is not good. This may tell and democratic institutions. An is a symptom, not the disease. The upon the prospects of the Congress aggressive response should not be disease is the BJP’s calculation in the elections due in 2014. More provocative and inflammatory, but that this is the most opportune time so, it may pollute the atmosphere an omnibus directive to partymen for them to have elections in the of the country where people have to “stand up and fight” can incite country. come to live together with the sense passions and tempers. The Congress of accommodation and tolerance. leadership needs to guard against Two of the Congress allies, violence at a time when political Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Yet if the democratic polity has cynicism is ruling the day. Congress in West Bengal and not collapsed, the credit goes to Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party the people who believe that the The BJP should realize that in UP may ultimately come round situation will turn for the better. political brinkmanship in Parliament to agreeing to a mid-term poll. Both They have been sustained by the will not bring it durable gains. It have registered a thumping victory institutions, however feeble, and has already lost the support of its in assembly elections in their states the rule of law, however emaciated. and both provide the Congress the Politicians are doing their worst (Continued on Page 3) required numbers to have a majority and have not learnt the lesson even JANATA, September 2, 2012 3 from the neighbouring countries any coal and hence did not sell any. fabric of India looks torn. Both which, when challenged, made The government gave the same Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists compromises with the military zero-loss argument when the Rs. are marshalling themselves and or the authoritarian forces on the 180-lakh crore scam relating to the spreading the politics of hate and one hand and fundamentalists and 2G spectrum was disclosed by the parochialism. I do not know what militants on the other. Comptroller and Auditor General of was Health Minister Ghulam Nabi India (CAG). The Supreme Court Azad trying to prove by offering Understandably, the two main had to rubbish the argument to make namaz at the protected monument parties, the Congress and the BJP, the government not to repeat. of Safdarjung. The purpose was are trying to gain as much space as probably to capture 31 such they can before the 2014 elections. How can Finance Minister P. protected monuments. I wish he had But they are unmindful of the harm Chidambaram say that there was no focused attention on other mosques they are doing in the process. They loss to the exchequer when 150-odd which are in dilapidated conditions. are, in fact, wrecking every rule, parties were given the coal blocks? every norm and every value in a They may not have extracted coal (Continued from Page 2) society which is also deficient in but it is their property and their virtues. Consequently, the people balance sheets have gone up by allies who prefer the resumption of are suspicious of both because they crores. Such fallacious arguments proceedings to continued disorder. do not find any difference between coming from the government dents The BJP has chosen to ignore them. when the BJP ruled and now when its own reputation. The Prime Even assuming that its current the Congress is at the helm of affairs. Minister’s statement finds fault with strategy is linked to or prompted CAG and does not fully explain the by its electoral aspirations, stalling Assam is a political problem allotment when he was the minister parliamentary proceedings can which all parties and activists in charge. hardly be an election-winning can solve provided the Congress gimmick. On the other hand, the drops its know-all attitude. Mumbai The Anna Hazare movement fall-out could disastrously harm is a law and order problem but which was expected to provide an its long-term interests. It would be the Congress government is too alternative has lost its ethos and better for it to be seen as a builder complacent and too weak to handle has become another Naxalite group, and supporter of democracy than Hindu chauvinists. It is true to some mouthing laudable slogans but its destroyer. A word to the wise, extent that people have got used acting like the nihilists who want it is said, is enough. The word has to corruption which both parties to destroy everything around them. become a chorus and the BJP must have indulged in whenever they People want an orderly change and heed the warning when there is still have been in power, although the admire those who sacrifice and time. Congress beats the BJP hollow. The suffer for it. coal scam which has come to light indicates that the allocation of coal The third alternative which blocks was capricious and designed Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Janata to benefit such companies which Singh Yadav has mentioned is the Subscription must have paid money to particular same old combine of practising Annual Rs. : 260/- rulers. The minutes of the screening casteists and ever-changing committee show that the coal blocks politicians in loyalty. They, including Three Years : 750/- were allotted even to those who did Bihar’s Lalu Prasad Yadav, changed Demand Draft / Cheque on not apply. the complexion of governments Mumbai Bank which came in the wake of in favour of The Congress-led government Jayaprakash Narayan movement, Janata Trust appears to defend the Rs. 148-lakh seeking a total revolution. It was crore scandal only half-heartedly. sheer graft and self-gain. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Its plea is that there was no loss Naushir Bharucha Marg, to the exchequer because the coal Because of the acts of commission Mumbai 400 007 blocks it allotted never extracted and omission by rulers, the very 4 JANATA, September 2, 2012 Waging of War - Case of Seema Azad

N. D. Pancholi

Seema Azad, Secretary of stringent punishment i.e. death or have done so when we were under PUCL(UP), along with her husband life imprisonment. Supreme Court foreign rule. The most celebrated Vishwa Vijay, was arrested on 6th in the case of Parliament Attack case during the British period February, 2010, as per prosecution case (2005 Crl.L.J.3950: State of relating to conspiracy to wage war case, at Allahabad Railway Station. NCT of Delhi Vs. Navjyot Sandhu) is that of M.N.Roy i.e. Manabendra The charge was that both were active has discussed as to what constitutes Nath Roy V. Emperor:A.I.R. 1933, members of the Indian Communist ‘waging of war’ against the state Allahabad 498. This case makes Party (Maoist) which is a banned and has held that intention and very interesting reading and is organization and that both were purpose of the ‘war-like operations also significant from the historical actively involved in its activities. directed against the Governmental point of view as to how Marxism As a proof of their involvement, machinery’ is an important criterion and communism were sought to be the prosecution claimed to have and purpose must be achieved by introduced and how efforts were recovered a lot of Maoist literature the use of force and arms. The most made to organize communist party from them. However, there was no important thing is that the accused within India from 1920 onward. evidence of their involvement in must participate in the ‘war-like’ Giving a brief history of the arrest any offensive action – violent or operations in order to attract the of Roy concerned judge of the non-violent. Both were charged charge of ‘waging war’. Given Allahabad High Court i.e. Thom J. under section 121,121-A, 120-B this interpretation of the Apex stated in the judgment: Indian Penal Code, in short IPC, court, there was no question of and various sections of Unlawful charging Seema and her husband “ … … … T h e a p p e l l a n t Activities (Prevention) Act, in for the offence of waging war Manabendra Nath Roy was tried in short, UAPA. Both were convicted because there was no allegation that the court of Session at Cawnpore under sections 121 and 121-A IPC, both had participated in any war- on a charge under S. 121-A, Penal and sections 13/18/20/38/39 of like operation against the Indian code. He was convicted by the UAPA. Both were sentenced to life Government. Similarly there was Additional Sessions Judge and imprisonment under section 121 no evidence that they were part sentenced to transportation for 12 IPC and rigorous imprisonments of any conspiracy to wage war years. The charge preferred against for years ranging from five to ten against the Government of India and him was that on or about 9th May under other sections. It is a welcome therefore there was no question of 1923 and before and after, that development that Allahabad High charging them with section 121-A. is to say, from the beginning of court has granted them bail. Both should have been discharged 1921 to the end of 1924 he formed even at the initial state of these two a conspiracy and conspired to This article is mainly concerned charges, including charges under deprive the King-Emperor of his about sections 121 and 121-A UAPA. But shockingly, both were Sovereignty of British India by IPC. Section 121 is relates to the not only charged but even convicted, means of violent revolution. The offence of ‘waging of war’ against and sentenced to life imprisonment case for the prosecution against the the Government of India and 121- under section 121 IPC and to ten appellant is that between the years A about conspiring to commit the years u/s 121-A. 1921 and 1924, in co-operation offence of waging war or to conspire with a number of other persons in to overawe by means of criminal The anguish of the present writer India, the appellant who was in force or the show of criminal is that a section of our judiciary, in Europe, resolved to embark upon offence the Central government or free India, is using such sections of an attempt to introduce the doctrine the State government. Section 121 121 and 121-A IPC to punish large of communism into India, the final is the most serious offence in the number of innocents in such manner objective of the conspirators being Indian Penal Code and provides that even the British would not to set up a communist state in India, JANATA, September 2, 2012 5 a state which would be controlled India. Numerous letters from the class movement in the West, but also by the workers and peasants. The appellant to his fellow conspirators on the revolutionary movement in institution of such a communist and from his fellow conspirators to the Eastern subject countries. It is regime was to be preceded by the the appellant were intercepted, some too bad that our movement, which violent overthrow of the existing were retained by the authorities, is the most powerful of the Colonial constitution in India and the others were copied or photographed National Movements, should remain destruction of the sovereignty of and re-posted to the addressees. so isolated…. We were all very the King-emperor. glad to know of the formation of This evidence consisted of (a) the Socialist Labour Party ….. The The means by which the letters from the appellant to his question of forming a new party to appellant and his fellow conspirators associates in India and letters from assume the leadership of the Indian attempted to compass their aims them to him. These are the original movement has been very much was to unite into one organization letters which were intercepted and discussed here…. I take it for granted the extremist elements in India, retained or found in the possession that the Socialist Labour Party of revolutionaries, terrorists, the left of the appellant’s associates when India understands the necessity of wing of congress, labour unions, etc. they were arrested, (b) Copies of International affiliation and believes This organization was to be utilized letters which were intercepted and that the Communist International is for the purpose of promoting a either copied or photographed and the only revolutionary International revolution in which the masses of re-posted, (c) Pamphlets, leaflets body. Therefore I am sure that you peasants and workers were to be the and other publications which will like to know the attitude of the troops and chosen communists, the accompanied the letters or were Communist International towards officers, the masses were to be won obtained from other sources.” the Indian movement at the present by promises to economic betterment; stage. In consonance with the strikes were to be engineered and if The judge referred to host of point of view of the Communist possible riots and the like such as pamphlets, letters, articles as well International I make the following occurred at Chauri Chaura, among as the issues of the periodical “The propositions about the role the the Mohplas and in the Punjab. Vanguard of Indian Independence” Socialist Labour Party of India Revolutionaries and terrorists were which Roy published from Europe. should play…..All Communists and also to be enlisted by promises. With Large number of such material was Socialists should attempt to form a this aim in view, the appellant got produced as evidence against Roy mass party embracing all the truly in touch with his fellow conspirators and many such excerpts find place in revolutionary element. In order in India, when exactly, is uncertain, the said judgment of the High Court. that many available revolutionary but it is clear that the period of the They make very interesting reading. elements are not frightened away conspiracy was from 1921 to 1924. To quote one from the judgment : by the name our party should have During these years the appellant a “non offensive” name. We suggest was acting in conjunction with his ……“The appellant (M.N.Roy) “the Peoples Party”. Of course, the friends in India in endeavouring refers to the meeting of the social basis of this party will be to prepare the way for the violent Congress( a meeting of the the workers and peasants and the overthrow of the Government Communist International) and political direction of the party should of India. He was unable to come states: “The Congress is well on be in the hand of the Communists himself to India where he feared the way. Delegates from almost and Socialists who alone can be arrest. It was therefore necessary all the countries are here, even far the custodians of the interest of the that he should make use of the on Java is not excepted…..I am toiling masses. But in order that post to get in touch with his fellow in charge of the Eastern Section the Communists and Socialists are conspirators and during the years of the Congress, but ‘here is no not isolated in small sects and can 1921 to 1923 therefore numerous Indian delegation….. We are having take active and leading part in the letters passed between the appellant numerous preliminary conferences mass struggle determining its course and his fellow conspirators. This on the Eastern question which is one and destinies by revolutionary and correspondence did not escape of the principal points of the Agenda. courageous leadership, a legal the vigilance of the Intelligence It is only here that one can get a true apparatus of our activities is needed. Service of the Government of perspective not only on the working The Peoples Party will provide this 6 JANATA, September 2, 2012 legal apparatus. It is to be anticipated that no powerful political party with National Committee in Solidarity with a Communist name will be tolerated Jaitapur Struggle by the Government and the latter will be able to count upon the moral and even active support of the August 17, 2012 native bourgeoisie in prosecuting a Communist party. Hence the Dear Prime Minister, necessity of a dual organization – We are deeply concerned that nuclear safety agencies of different one legal and another illegal. The both the Central Government and the countries. There are reliable reports Communist nucleus should take a Government of Maharashtra do not that an internal audit of the French very active part in the formation seem to have paid due attention to nuclear industry has criticized Areva of a mass party for revolutionary the serious objections regarding the and Electricity de France (EDF) for nationalist struggle …. safety of the proposed Areva reactors the undue complexity of EPR and and its costs raised by experts, that EDF itself may be planning to “……..I have already written a parliamentarians, public figures and discontinue the EPR design. pamphlet containing a popularized the local people. version of the programme we intend 3. There has been significant cost to put forward (This reference is to We write to bring to your notice and time over-runs for the Areva the pamphlet entitled “What do we the following: EPR reactors. The first two EPRs want”).” under construction in Finland and 1. The project has not been France are yet to be commissioned The above case is called ‘Kanpur subjected to an independent rigorous and have already been delayed by Conspiracy Case’ and other accused scientific techno-economic scrutiny more than four years due to technical were Nalini Bhushan Das Gupta, and safety audit in the public domain. and safety issues. The EPR project Mohd. Shaukat Usmani, Muzaffar It is being pushed against the will of at Penly in France has been put on Ahmad and Sripat Amrit Dange. the local people. The ‘conditional’ hold indefinitely. The initial cost All of them were arrested earlier environmental clearance granted of €3bn has proved to be a gross and charged under section 121-A by the Ministry of Environment underestimation. The costs have i.e. conspiracy to wage war and and Forest in November 2010 already risen to well over €7bn sentenced to four years of rigorous is also based on an unscientific for Olkiluoto (Finland) as well as imprisonment on 20th May 1924. and deeply flawed Environmental Flamanville (France). Roy was the principal accused Impact Assessment (EIA) Report. but could not be arrested as he NEERI, the agency engaged to 4. Areva is in deep trouble on the was away in Europe and actively prepare the EIA, is admittedly not financial front, as is clear from recent engaged in various important tasks competent on matters concerning statutory disclosures. The Areva being one of the important members nuclear hazards. The Environmental group debt stood at €2.77 billion of Presidium of the Communist Clearance is subject to clearance by ($3.75 billion) in June 2011. Areva’s International. However, later on the AERB on matters concerning operating loss for the year 2011 is he developed differences with the nuclear energy. We understand that more than € 2 billion. policy persued by tne Communist AERB is yet to consider and approve International which according to him the design of the Areva Reactor. Areva has announced major job was subordinating the interests of The environmental clearance thus cuts. It has shelved the uranium international communist movement granted has not considered seriously enrichment plant in the American to the interests of the Russian State. the main environmental issues and state of Idaho and the expansion He returned to India incognito in hazards arising out of this project. of uranium mines in South Africa, December 1930, knowing fully well Namibia and the Central African that he would be arrested sooner or 2. The 1650 MWe European Republic. It has also announced the later. He was arrested in July 1931. Pressurised Reactors (EPR) of cancellation of expansion of three Areva is an untested design and has nuclear plants in France in view (Continued on Page 7) caused serious concerns among the of the financial crisis. Areva share JANATA, September 2, 2012 7 prices have fallen to 1/10th of its itself. It has raised serious questions fuel produced will be a long-term value between 2007 and 2012. about design and location of spent hazard. It does not appear that fuel cooling and storage outside NPCIL has made any plans to Siemens, the major technology the main containment dome and at address this issue. partner of Areva, has announced its elevations above ground level. We exit from the nuclear power business understand that the present EPR In the light of the facts stated and its new focus on the alternative design has both these defects. above, we are of the firm opinion power sources in line with the that the contract with AREVA in decision taken by the German 8. Once the plant commences respect of the Jaitapur Nuclear parliament to phase out their nuclear operations, the vast store of spent Power Project should be cancelled. power stations by 2022 in the wake With regards, of the Fukushima disaster. Prakash Karat, A. B. Bardhan, Ram Vilas Paswan, MP, There are also reports that EDF Nama Nageswara Rao, MP, K. Danish Ali, Sitaram Yechury, MP, and Areva have joined hands with D. Raja, MP, N. D. Patil, Bhai Vaidya, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, a Chinese firm to develop a new Dr. Sulabha Brahme, Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Prakash Reddy, reactor of 1000 MWe to replace the S. P. Shukla, Pravin Gavankar EPR in the long run. In view of the above developments it is unlikely that the Areva EPR would today pass even an elementary test of techno- (Continued from Page 5) economic due diligence. During the trial Roy did not deny on fabricated evidence. 5. NPCIL has pointedly refused the host of documentary evidence to disclose the costs and resultant produced by the prosecution against Roy was sentenced to 12 years of tariff for the JNPP. There is no him. He admitted to be the author transportation by the session judge justification for hiding the costs and of such documents. His main on the ground that he was the leader tariff for a civilian nuclear power contention was that since ‘the of the accused and that success of project. Our own calculations based British rule was established in India the conspiracy would have spelt on available information show that illegally by use of force, he and disaster in India. But in appeal the the investment cost for JNPP would every Indian was entitled to throw High court reduced the sentence be in excess of Rs 20 crores per the British out by the use of force.’ to six years on the ground that the MW, which is unacceptable. This sentence of 12 years was severe would result in electricity tariff of Roy and his colleagues had and that chances of success of the not less than Rs 9 per unit at current admitted and claimed that they had conspiracy were nil. However, in prices. This is not viable, and would every right to indulge in conspiracy comparison our present rulers seem impose very high rates of tariff for to throw out the British rule in India, to be so terrified of the prospect Maharashtra and other consumers. yet he and his colleagues were not that mere possession of so-called charged by the British under section ‘offensive literature’ would shake 6. The Fukushima disaster has 121 IPC, i.e. “waging of war against the Indian State from its very raised questions about the co- the King Emperor”. It is shameful foundation and think that sentencing location of multiple nuclear reactors that in free India Indian citizens are the accused to life imprisonments at a single location. Therefore, the being charged for such stringent were the best guarantees to protect plan of putting up 6 reactors in offence even when there is no iota it! Jaitapur appears seriously flawed of evidence. Another significant after Fukushima. point is that under section 121-A the (The abovesaid ‘Kanpur colleagues of Roy were sentenced conspiracy case’ was argued on 7. The Fukushima disaster has to only four years of imprisonment behalf of M. N. Roy by K. N. Katju, shown that the radioactive hazard by the British while in fee India life grandfather of Justice Markandey due to spent fuel cooling and storage and death sentences are given for Katju, presently Chairman, Press is not less than that from the reactor mere asking of the police , usually Council of India) 8 JANATA, September 2, 2012 Status of Minorities: A Tale of Two Neighbors

Ram Puniyani

Pakistan and India, these the mobs is not excusable on any don’t change the social reality. The neighbors got Independence in the condition. communalism caught up in Pakistan mid-August 1947. Today 65 years in due course of time and in the late after the Independence where do In the same week there is news seventies, with Zia ul Haq-Maulana these two major countries of the that nearly 300 Hindus have Maududi duo ruling the roost, the subcontinent stand vis a vis their crossed over to India from Pakistan. Mullahs came to the forefront. The religious minorities, is the question Ostensibly they have come here for Mullah-Military complex backed which we need to answer to ensure pilgrimage, but many of them have up by the United States, which had a better and more democratic area. stated that they will not go back as a substantial say in the affairs of they don’t feel safe in Pakistan. Most Pakistan, violated every letter and On August 11, 2012, a mob of these Hindus are from Sind and the core spirit of the speech of Mr. of over 50000, mainly Muslims, Baluchistan. There are reports of Jinnah, to the extent that today even assembled in Azad Maidan to protest forced abduction and conversion of the Muslim minorities, Shias and against the ill-treatment of Muslims Hindu girls there and the religious Ahmadiays, are as much victims of in Assam and Myanmar. After some minorities have to live the life of religious intolerance and it is getting speeches full of provocation and second class citizens. The religious reflected in their political status in after display of some provocative minorities persecuted in Pakistan are the country. posters, the mob turned violent and not just Hindus, Sikhs and Christians vented its ire against the media for but also Shias and Ahmadiyas, a sect India with Gandhi and Nehru as not covering the plight of Assam’s of Islam. the major pillars of shaping the values Muslims displaced in the July of Indian national movement, were violence involving Bodos and Where do we find ourselves nearly unshakable in their commitment Muslims. (Needless to say that in six decades down the line after we to secularism. Gandhi, the devout Assam violence nearly 80 people committed ourselves to democracy Hindu and Nehru the atheist had the have been killed and over 4 lakh and secular principles? India came vision of a state totally committed to people, mostly Muslims and Bodos, into being as a secular democratic respecting the people of all religious have been displaced, right under the state and even Pakistan which denominations, while keeping a nose of the ruling government.) It was formed in the name of Islam distance from those trying to bring burned few OB vans. Mob also took for the Muslim majority areas of in matters related to faith in the on the police, humiliated-molested British India began with the secular ambit of the policies of state. Nehru women police personnel and beat principles as enunciated in the oft while doing this realized two major up other police personnel. While quoted 11th August 1947 speech of handicaps. One that, while our controlling the violence the police Qaed-e-Azam Jinnah. In the speech constitution is secular, the society did the firing, which led to the death he said that the state has nothing is in the grip of religiosity, so he of two young men. In the whole to do with the religion, people are found this as an obstacle in full scuffle many a police personnel also free to go to their mosques, temples implementation of secular policies. got injured. Now, the Raza Academy, and churches or whatever, as it is The second flaw he saw was that in the organizers, has issued an apology their personal matter. He also said his party, which was founded on the saying the meeting was infiltrated that the white color in Pakistan flag grounds of secular values has been by provocateurs. Still the organizers represented minorities. Still the logic infiltrated by communal elements. cannot shun their responsibility from of communalism was ‘built-in’ in There was no one to heed to his the whole tragedy. The protest has the whole system. One can make a warning, and in due course many always to be on democratic lines, secular speech but the social base an action of some Congress leaders non -violent and the speeches in which had resulted in formation of were indistinguishable from those meetings have to be on moderate Pakistan, the one of feudal elements of the communal elements, those lines, the hate speech and inciting was intact. Mere secular speeches forcing the country in the direction JANATA, September 2, 2012 9 of religious nationalism. Pakistan – The health of democracy in A case of Judiciary vs Democracy any country has to be gauzed by the security and equity of minorities in the country. Through Bapu Heddurshetti the complicated mechanisms, the influence of communal elements It appears that this time around the necessity’. It ‘heroically’ gave has risen exponentially during Judiciary in Pakistan has decided to three years to the military dictator last three decades in particular. to re-establish democracy in The whole trajectory of these two destroy the fledgling democracy there Pakistan. What happened later is in countries has been very different. – the role so far played by the Army. everybody’s knowledge. While in Pakistan, there was always The Supreme Court of Pakistan, a space for communalism to creep under Chief Justice Choudhry, not It would interest one to know in comfortably, task of communal satisfied with unseating the former the judicial history of the Supreme politics became still simpler with Prime Minister Gilani, who had Court of Pakistan and particularly the country falling in to the grip incidentally ordered the release of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad of military dictatorships time and of the very same Choudhry from Choudhry who is rattling his sabre over again. The intervention of house arrest, is now gunning for the against democratically elected United States and US policies in present Prime Minister also. But it government. Gen. Musharaf declared Afghanistan, in particular, added is necessary to realise that the fight a Provisional Constitutional Order fuel to the fire. is not between the executive and the judiciary, and certainly not about on 14th October 1999 and directed the Judges to take oath under it as In India, the opportunism, the corruption, but between the judiciary the judges had taken oath under the fallacies of electoral system, first and democracy. past the poll, the rising anxiety of Constitution of 1973. The then Chief sections of society, the successful Judiciary all over the world Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui and effort of communal forces to project is said to be very conservative, five other judges of the Pakistan Supreme Court refused to take oath the fear of the small minorities to the i.e., anti-change. In Pakistan it as it would amount to betrayal of big majority and the politics around appears to be much more than the Constitution of 1973 and were emotive issues like Ram Temple that. Pakistan’s Supreme Court hence deprived of their offices. Two completed the picture. Today roughly legitimised one after the other of senior Judges of the Supreme Court while Muslims are 13.4 per cent in the military dictatorships. Zulfikar had refused to take oath under the population, their percentage amongst Ali Bhutto was executed on 4th violence victims is 90 percent. Today first PCO issued by Gen. Zia Ul Huq April 1978 on orders of the Supreme in 1981 also. they are standing at the bottom of Court. The Supreme Court found socio-economic indices. Sachar Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif guilty But Justice Choudhry readily Committee has demonstrated it of contempt of court and even beyond any shadow of doubt. In betrayed the Constitution and took sentenced him to, luckily for him, Pakistan, the percentage of Hindu oath under the new PCO as the Chief life imprisonment. Supreme Court minorities has declined over a period Justice of Balochistan High Court found Prime Minister Gilani also of time and their security and social on 26th January 2000 and on 4th of guilty of contempt and ensured his status is abominable. The injustices February 2000 promptly occupied resignation and is now likely to find on minorities in one country are no one of the offices of the judge of the justification for heaping of injustices the next Prime Minister also guilty Supreme Court vacated by judges in other country. The reactionary of contempt. who had refused to take oath under communalism is used by political the PCO. He was made the Judge forces in their own ways. The When Gen. Musharraf became of the Supreme Court and became communal forces in India look at the military dictator by unseating Chief Justice on 30th June 2005. Nawaz Sharif, the Supreme Court legitimised his rule by declaring When the opposition challenged (Continued on Page 10) what it called the ‘doctrine of the coup d’etat of Gen. Musharraf, 10 JANATA, September 2, 2012 the Supreme Court by its order dated judgement to 12 of themselves who how, when Indira Gandhi declared 12th May 2000, justified the coup had taken oath under PCO. emergency in India and imprisoned invoking the ‘doctrine of necessity’ political opponents and gagged the - Necessitas facit licitum quod Not that the Supreme Court press, the Supreme Court in India alias non est licitum – (Necessity should not try to curb corruption and also betrayed the people when the makes that lawful which otherwise punish the corrupt. The point is that people needed it most. There is is unlawful) and salus populi est when Pakistan needed the judiciary need for the judiciary in Pakistan suprema lex, (Public safety is most to save it from dictators the to tread its path very very carefully supreme law). It even said that the judiciary betrayed the nation by since survival of democracy is very take over was widely welcomed ‘crawling’ before the dictators and important not only for Pakistan but and little protested so it was a now that the going appears to be also for the whole region and in government by the consent of the good under democracy it appears the background of fears expressed people. to have become intoxicated with that the atomic weapons in the its own power and popularity to possession of Pakistan may fall in Choudhry as a member of the five the point of being detrimental to the hands of the terrorists, for the judge bench of the SC validated the the very survival of democracy whole world. Legal Framework Order issued by in Pakistan. One is reminded of Musharraf in 2002 and later on 13th April 2005, in what is known as the (Continued from Page 9) Sixty five years after coming out ‘Uniform Case’, he again dismissed the Hindus exiling from Pakistan from the yoke of colonialism, it is petitions challenging the President and the Assam violence as the attack time we remember the values of of Pakistan being the Chief of on Hindus. In Pakistan the atrocities Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, the Army Staff also. Perhaps he was on Muslims in India give them a principles which guided our freedom immediately rewarded and made handle to further intimidate the movement. In India there is an urgent the Chief Justice on 30th June 2005. Hindus there. In response to Babri need to reform our electoral system demolition, many a temples were to reflect our social and political But then later Choudhry fell out razed to dust in Pakistan. needs. Communal violence and with Musharraf and with the help discrimination against minorities of his associate Judges resisted All said and done there is a gross is an immense loss to our national Musharraf’s attempts to suspend contrast between the situation in ethos and humanism. Time to check him. When Musharraf declared Pakistan and India. Despite setbacks, it and reaffirm in practice, those emergency on 3 November 2007 and the secular democratic values are values which made us India! And for issued the PCO of 2007, Choudhry the foundation of Indian system, Pakistan , high time to come back to along with 6 other Judges ordered though very much compromised in the values outlined in the speech of that Judges should not take oath recent decades. In Pakistan on the Jinnah on 11th August 1947 - decline under the new PCO. But that was other hand, democracy has been a in the percentage of minorities and after Justice Dogar was appointed marginal value, there are efforts to their exodus from Pakistan is a great as the Chief Justice by Musharraf. root it in Pakistan but the obstacles insult to the founder of Pakistan! Choudhry was then arrested and are immense. The common factor is kept under house arrest. On 15th the suffering of minorities though February 2008 the full SC under the degree of this suffering is very Madhu Dandavate Chief Justice Dogar validated the different in both these countries. By new PCO and directed the judges to B. Vivekanandan take oath under the new PCO. Where will all this lead us to? The Price: Rs. 20/- communal issue is a big brake to the Janata Trust Worst anomaly was when the social development of the countries dismissed judges were restored, as a whole. The values of affirmative D-15, Ganesh Prasad, 14 Judges declared the oath taking action for weaker sections of society, Naushir Bharucha Marg, under PCO a crime and said that the going an extra mile to protect Grant Road (W), those who took oath cease to them and to bring them up in social Mumbai 400 007. be judges but did not apply the area is what is needed. JANATA, September 2, 2012 11 Understanding Pascal Lamy

D. K. Giri

Pascal Lamy is the Director specificity flawed and inadequate. the non-western values, non-western General of World Trade Organisation; think-tanks, to evaluate and rectify where he is on the second term. Having said this, Lamy comes the system. Lamy’s is a credible Before WTO, he was the European up with a new approach consisting as well as inclusive approach. But Union commissioner for Trade. He of two fronts - Ideological, and the the battle on the economic front, is also a social democrat, has been strategic. On the ideological front, that or regulating global capitalism a member of the French Socialist he suggests a serious revamping is tougher than one imagines. He Party since 1969. He has authored of theoretical critique of market rightly explains globalisation - it a suggestion, called ‘Globalisation capitalism and on the strategic front, is not just expansion of a territory of Social Democracy”, in one of the he outlines a new scope of actions. covered by capitalism, it is driven publications of the Foundation of by technology; capital is not only European Progressive Studies. The The New Approach finance, it is knowledge as well; publication, titled “the Next Mission T h e n e w a p p r o a c h t o labour is not merely force, it is of Cosmopolitan Social Democracy”, understanding the prevailing imagination; capitalism cannot be is a part of the study project, Renewal system, according to Lamy, should countered by merely a welfare of Social Democracy, conducted by go beyond the traditional economics system. So far so good, but how Foundation. I had written a similar of social democracy; it should do we counter capitalism qua piece in Janata, on 15 January this include a thorough analysis of globalisation? Lamy underlines year, called “Globalising Social three aspects of current capitalism the critical role of technology in Democracy” and had suggested that, - globalisation, sustainability and expanding globalisation, at the same for various reasons, in order to be an anthropology. In this, the first two time, suggests non-western values effective force, Social Democracy aspects have been discussed enough to counter it. The western societies must go global. Pascal Lamy and there is almost a consensus are based on modern technology, makes almost the same suggestion,. among social democrats about which also had given them power “Globalisation of Social Democracy them. The anthropological angle is over others - economic and military; is the key to its future”. But some new. Lamy argues that the western but it had undermined their social of our strategies for going global concept of separating body and capital, the soft power, which is may differ. That is why it is in order spirit on the one hand and, perpetual now critical for societal growth that we engage with Pascal Lamy, a struggle between individuals with and stability. Let us also remember comrade, not the Director General irrepressible appetites and liberal that global capitalism is somewhat of WTO. theory of self-regulation on the on backed by military strength. It is said the other, are no more relevant. ‘the American dollar is followed by In his analysis of the reasons There are other civilisational values American soldiers. for decline of Social Democracy, to explain and evaluate systems that Lamy contests the explanations say ‘man is no wolf to man’. I had Therefore, it is important to put forward so far. He disagrees tried to analyse the current system understand the concept of technology. that social democracy has lost its on the basis of three consequences Technology and human values are relevance as it was absorbed by it produces and how to address them interdependent. Technology brings the liberal economic ideology. He - individualism, consumerism, and its own set of values. It makes things also finds the other explanation that cynicism. All the three trends of self- faster and efficient, but it also leads social democracy has become a aggrandisement, rabid consumption to disintegration of society and victim of its own success with the and public disengagement are bred by alienation of people from work. The social democratic ideas infiltrating both neo-liberalism and capitalism. famous Russian novelist Maxim the entire political spectrum and Lamy’s thesis is similar, except that Gorky said, “Today’s man has learnt thereby losing their originality and he brings in, perhaps, as remedies, to fly in the air like birds, and swim 12 JANATA, September 2, 2012 in the sea like fish, but has not learn Lamy hints at the need for going about by the nation-states, but by how to live as a man on the earth, or beyond the state, as the only political ideologically progressive parties, live peacefully with his neighbours”. actor. He argues: “Since we can and if they are in power or positions Ernest Fritz Schumacher, a German assume that the position of the of influence in their respective economist, famous for his legendary new players (new states on the countries, even better. Therefore, book, Small is Beautiful: Economics negotiating table) will be the product Social Democratic parties across the as if People Mattered, and the of their domestic political systems, countries are called upon to undergo father of the concept of appropriate progressive forces in all those a collective reflection and embrace technology, had much to say on the countries, including the trade unions new thinking and adopt a new scope evil consequences of technology must unite”. This is a bit rhetorical, of action, as suggested by Lamy. like violence, exploitation and and needs to have deeper theoretical so on. He talked of appropriate underpinning. The new collective Other Suggestions technology which was tailored to fit within a state should consist of the Having read Lamy on his two- the psychological and bio-physical progressive forces from all three pronged approach to globalizing context prevailing in a particular sectors - government, market and Social Democracy, which will location and period. It was meant civil society. Again, the coalition of have resonance from many, and not to dominate nature, but to be these forces should be preceded by be disagreed by few, Lamy sounds confusing when he makes some in harmony with it. He strongly redefinition of their roles. The state other suggestions, which make advocated that technologies should should roll back and reposition, the one wonder if he is then wearing be such designed that are compatible market has to be responsible and the his WTO hat and/or the former with democratic and egalitarian civil society should be engaging, constructive and accommodative. In EU Trade Commissioner’s hat, societies. Social democrats need to order to bring about these changes, not the social democratic one. Let seriously rethink values that will we have to draw inputs from all parts us take this one, “the only way to generate “appropriate technologies”. of the world – different political address this problem is to imagine and then build, new alliances with Global Action cultures, social traditions and economic systems; hence the case the countries that are now at the Pascal Lamy suggests that for Social Democracy to go global. negotiating table: India, China, political action must shift from state Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, South to the global level. There are no two The second stage is the Africa, Egypt and many others”. opinions on this. We have argued international. This is more Who will the Social Democrats talk that the challenges confronting problematic as the existing to in these countries as we are talking the humanity; the universal values intergovernmental institutions of globalizing Social Democracy. of equity, justice and fairness can are not adequate to deal with the Our confusion is deepened when he be tackled only by global efforts. contemporary challenges. Such suggests that “instead of yawning Issues of climate change, migration, institutions, including Lamy’s WTO, their way through meetings the terrorism, globalisation, dealing with are inequitable, functioning on priority of the party of European all of these is beyond the capacity of the theory of bargaining in so- Socialist is to start working with any single state. On the other hand, called national interests. Even a the Congress Party in India, the the single most challenge of using player like European Union fell Workers Party (PES) in Brazil or the market efficiency for public to the trap of bargaining, creating the Communist Party of China”. good can be faced by only collective a mismatch between its laudable One is certainly lost here as a Social efforts of states. But how to build internal political values, and external Democrat. We have produced trees this collective, that is the question. policy. So, we have problem with of notes, letters and articles that How do we build collective global international organizations as well as the Congress party in India is not a political institutions is the question. their practices. While it is not easy to Social Democratic party, it refuses Let us explore some answers to change the organizational structures to be a part of socialist movement, this question. In fact, this has to be or to create new organizations, the it has snubbed overtures made by done at two levels - national and international political principles international socialists.. One need international; as the international and practices can be changed. These not labour this point anymore. The position feeds on the national system. changes again cannot be brought reference to Communist Party of JANATA, September 2, 2012 13

China is even more baffling - how Social Democrats could talk to a Bhagat Singh Memorial Committee party which is anti-democratic and in Lahore repressive. The PES in Brazil is built in Democratic Socialist tradition; Qurban Ali so, no problem there. But the Social Democratic Party (Centre-Left) and Workers Party (Left of the Centre) A meeting held in Lahore on 16 Yousaf Baloch, Chairman, are bitterest enemies. Hence Social August, 2012, resolved to establish National Trade Union Federation Democrats need to tread cautiously. the Bhagat Singh Memorial Pakistan Khalid Malik, Director, Committee to celebrate the birth and Labour Education Foundation Another suggestion by Lamy martyrdom days of the great hero of Saeeda Diep, Director, Institute is that, “our task is to build a new the Indian anti-colonial struggle. The for Peace and Secular Studies. The meeting agreed to expand the political space in a world which aim of the committee is to reclaim the revolutionary socialist legacy committee if more organizations and will have to be ‘de-westernized’ of Bhagat Singh and his comrades- individuals take interested to join it. and exposed to the projects of other in-arms, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Sohan people, other civilizations and other Singh Josh, Chandarshekar Azad, Narrating the history of Bhagat sensitivities.” One would think Ajay Kumar Gosh, Yashpal and Singh’s struggle against British Lamy has gone to the ‘extreme’ here. others. The meeting was called imperialism, participants recalled It is correct that Western societies by Labour Party Pakistan, and Bhagat Singh’s key contributions to have had their successful run and presided over by Zahid Akaasi, the Indian revolutionary movement: need to re-invent themselves in senior journalist and documentary 1) He admitted his tactical mistakes view of the changes within Europe film-maker. The meeting was (individual acts of terror) and by events like the EU project and attended by representatives of encouraged Indians to strengthen the outside by globalization. They need various progressive trade unions and mass movement for independence to give up the arrogant assumption political and social organizations. from imperial rule and the capitalist of white man’s supremacy and system 2) His pioneering use of embrace multi-culturalism. But The meeting elected the following his trial as a platform from which everything Western is not bad. All to the organizing committee: Amir to propagate his views on the societies and civilizations have their Suhail, Senior Vice President, Punjab need for a revolutionary struggle strengths and deficits. Therefore, Union of Journalists Nasr Naqvi, to free Indians from the yoke of one should go beyond the social President, All Pakistan Newspapers imperialism 3) The long hunger categories and practices, one is Employees Confederation Comrade strike that he and his comrades Irfan, Deputy Secretary General, undertook to demand fair treatment accustomed to (Lamy makes this Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party of prisoners point), but de-westernizing lock, Niaz Khan, Secretary General, stock and barrel is not desirable. National Trade Union Federation Participants disagreed with the One of the major contributions Punjab Ammar Ali Jan, general limiting of Bhagat Singh’s legacy of the West is the concept of secretary Labour Party Pakistan just to a symbol of Pakistan-India rationality and all the values that Lahore Idrees Tabassum, Secretary friendship and peace, or to Indian go with it. This concept comes in General Pakistan India Peoples nationalism or to Sikh nationalism, direct conflict with the presence of Forum for Peace and Democracy and resolved to do their utmost ‘communities’ in the East. What is Mirza Zain ul Abideen, Convener, to celebrate the entire spectrum required is a balance or synthesis Progressive Democratic Alliance of Bhagat Singh’s thought and between the two – the East and the Pakistan Zahid Akaasi, Senior praxis: not just the idea of an Indian West, rationality and community, Journalist Zafar Iqbal, Chairman, confederation, but also his struggle traditions and modernity and so Movement for Democratic Pakistan for the liberation of the oppressed on. Social Democrats could follow Shahzad Arshad, Revolutionary classes of society which led him a synthesis of ideas, not a binary Socialist Movement Sonia Qadir, approach like black or white. member LPP Lahore (Continued on Page 16) 14 JANATA, September 2, 2012 HistoricalVerdict

Hailing the historic verdict in the generated after the Supreme Court first PI KK Mysorewala to be Naroda Patiya mass murder case monitoring and the protection arraigned as accused along with delivered by Judge Jyotsnanbehn from Central Paramilitary forces former Commissioner of Police PC Yagnik. Special Sessions Judge provided by the Supreme Court. Pandey and SRP official Dhantaniya. in Ahmedabad today by which CJP had applied to the apex court While the Judge rejected these one senior politician and several for protection of eye witnesses. CJP applications, she has observed in the conspirators and ring leaders have through its legal team advocates victim application for compensation been convicted, Victim Survivors Altaf Jidran and Raju Shaikh for rape and gender violence that the and Citizens for Justice Peace supervised by senior Adv Yusuf application would be considered in welcomed the verdict. In all 32 Shaikh provided legal aid to about the final judgement. persons have been convicted 70 eyewitnesses since 2009. CJP including former BJP MLA and would like to publicly acknowledge Names of accused who have been minister in the Narendra Modi their contribution, also the seniors convicted. Naresh Agarsinh Chara cabinet, Smt Maya Kodnani, Babu advocate MM Tirmizi (Gujarat High (accused 1); Murlibhai Naranbhai Bajrangi, Bipin Panchal, Ashok Court), Mihir Desai (Mumbai) and Sindhi (accused 2); Ganpat Chanaji Sindhi and Kishan Korani (sitting advocates Kamini Jaiswal (Supreme Deedawala (accused 4); Vikrambhai corporator, accused No 20) have Court), Sanjay Parikh (Supreme Maneklal Rathod (accused 5); Haresh been convicted. Twenty-nine of the Court), Aparna Bhat (Supreme @ Hariyo S/o Jivanlal @ Agarsinh accused were acquitted. Court) and Ramesh Pukhrambam Rathod (accused 10); Babubhai (Supreme Court). @ Babu Bajrangi Rajabhai Patel Most of the accused have been (accused 18), Kishan Khubchand charged with Sections 143, 144, Eleven eyewitnesses have Korani (accused 20); Prakashbhai 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427, 435, deposed in eye witnesses Sureshbhai Rathod (Chara) 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323- testimonies assigning in detail the (accused 21); Suresh @ Richard 326,302, 307 (attempt to murder) role played by Smt Maya Kodnani, @ Langdi Kantibhai Dedawala read with 149 read with 120(b) in inciting the mob to murder, fifteen (Chara) (accused 22); Premchand and BP Act 135(1). Accused No 22 witnesses deposed through eye @ Tiwari Conductor (accused Suresh Langda Chara has also been witness testimonies against Babu 25); Suresh @ Sehjad Dalubhai convicted under Sections 354 and Bajrangi, 48 witnesses testified to (Marathi, Charo) (absconding) 376 (sections that deal with rape the crimes committed by Suresh (accused 26); Nawab @ Kalu and gender violence). Quantum of @ Langda Chara including the Bhaiyo Harisinh Rathod (accused sentence will be pronounced on offences of gender violence and 27); Manubhai Keshavbhai Maruda August 31. Smt Kodnani had been rape. The CJP would like to state (Bhangi) (accused 28); Shashikant convicted under Sections 295, 427, that it was the evidence through eye @ Tiniyo Marathi Yuvraj Patil 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), witness testimonies that enabled (accused 30); Babubhai Jethabhai 323, 324, 325, 326, 302, 307, 120- convictions. Corroborative evidence Salat (accused 33); Lakshmanbhai B of the IPC. Babu Bajrangi has was provided through the phone @ Lakho Budhaji Thakor (accused been convicted under sections 143, call records provided by police 34); Dr. Mayaben Surendrabhai 144, 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427, officer Rahul Sharma and Tehelka’s Kodnani (accused 37); Ashok 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), Operation Kalank. Without eye Hundaldas Sindhi (accused 38); 323,324,325,326, 302, 307 read witness testimonies whoever Harshad @ Mungda Govind Chara with 149 read with 120-B. convictions could not have taken (Parmar) (accused 39); Mukesh @ place. Vakil Ratilal Rathod (accused 40); The raw courage of the victim Manojbhai @ Manoj Sinhi Renumal witnesses, especially women Victim witnesses supported Kukrani (accused 41); Hiraji @ witnesses who deposed fearlessly by CJP had also filed separate Hero Marwadi @ Sonaji Danaji while still residing in Naroda Patiya applications under Section 319 Medhwan (Marwadi) (accused is a reflection of the confidence praying for police officer and then (Continued on Page 16) JANATA, September 2, 2012 15 Divergent Visions of Economic and Financial Advisers

K. S. CAhalam

The North block in Delhi was Economic Affairs of the ministry of the management background. The deserted when the incumbent Finance. It is noted that CEA has to present CEA is a known expert in Minister Pranab Da left to occupy work independently with the support the corridors of power in Delhi as the Presidential palace a few of his officers who are generally he was flaunted as one of the few yards from there. Along with him, from Indian Economic Service. who predicted the 2008 economic Kaushik Basu, Chief Economic They have important functions to downturn. Rajan was familiar with Adviser has checked out to rejoin perform such as formulating policies the Lucas’ “paradox of capital” his academic position as Chairman relating to prices, production, public of 1990 and analyzed that net of the Department of Economics finance, trade, public distribution, capital flow to high growth LDCs and Director Centre for Analytic preparation of Economic Survey, is smaller than to medium growth Economics, Cornell University, etc. Yet, most of them seemed LDCs. He came out with a paper USA. Interestingly, the two positions to have grumbled that they were that discovered the obvious, high are now occupied by two south given tepid treatment by the babus growth countries attract less foreign Indians who were known to the who managed to get in to the capital (as they have enough internal North block and the PMO earlier. lucrative ministry instead of the IES savings). It is expected that the new This may seem to be a normal personnel. There are half a dozen CEA would follow what he found in event in the executive culture. But, civil servants in the rank of secretary his studies, LDCs that have relied there is lot of significance in terms including the Governor, RBI in the less on foreign direct investment of the aura they brought in to the ministry. Some of them got in to (FDI) have grown faster than others. financial sector of the economy and the division jockeying through the He has a challenge now when the particularly in the dominant media World Bank/IMF assignments. Few government has almost decided to that was making some noise in the of them have engineering or science implement Wal-Mart entry as a part previous dispensation. background as graduates and not of of FDI. economics. Therefore, professional Kaushik Basu, a very competent economists were pleased when Economists have a grudge against economist, moved out under the Basu became CEA and expected management schools. It is alleged; hullabaloo allegedly involving some positive changes as he has a the management has appropriated his views on the political comprehensive view of the economy economics and converted it as economy of development of the unlike others. finance. Many of the talented government. It seems he remained guys including the IITians like an uncompromising academic. He Raghuram Rajan, an alma mater Rajan, joined business schools and taught and published on different of IIT, Delhi is now occupying became popular due to their skills in areas of economics proper before the seat of CEA. He came from computation and model building (of coming to North block. He knew the IMF and taught Finance at the course some of them doomed USA). the social and political foundations Chicago Booth school of Business. We may recall here that scholars of Indian economy better than many The Chicago school of Economics who worked on neo-colonialism scholars particularly some of the is also known for its contributions have substantiated the argument bureaucrats who occupy important to the neo-classical fundamentalism that advanced capitalist countries positions of policy making. Perhaps, and the Washington consensus. have drained the economies of the by now Basu must have gained Interestingly, most of the Indian third world, though experts trained enough experience as to how to economists who are in the USA and by Bank-Fund institutes have been work in the government and with the pursuing research studies in finance consistently denying it with their executives who are mostly trained are attached to business schools empirical studies with questionable in the West. rather than economics proper. The assumptions. The world has two finance experts who are now experienced the consequences of The office of the Chief Economic occupying the Ministry of Finance, some of their recommendations. Adviser is in the Department of apart from other officers, have Now Rajan has an important task R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 2, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 to convince the policy makers that The share market swelled seven scams and Gali frauds have taken we have enough reserves to fund our times higher than the reserves in place (under FEMA regime) despite development projects and FDIs can 1991 and now stands at staggering regulators like SEBI, RBI. The be selective. There is no doubt that capitalization of Rs 6634387 crores financial advisers in the North block the presence of Chidambaram and when the reserves are only Rs seem to have a formidable task now Rajan in the North block has sent 1361013 crores in 2010-11. It is to convert the resources as durable enough signals to the business to strange to find how the financial assets that educe wellbeing for all. community not to get panicky. (Continued from Page 13) The job of a CEA is not confined to finance alone as there are to challenge the feudal lords, the Kodumal Mulchandani (accused economic or financial advisers nascent Indian bourgeoisie as well 58); Pintu Dalpatbhai Jadeja in several departments of the as the British Raj. (Chara) (accused 60); Kirpalsinh government to take care of that Jagbahadursinh Chabda (accused function. The CEA is supposed to The meeting resolved to celebrate 62). work under the paradigm of the the upcoming birthday of Bhagat Constitution that aims at the welfare Singh on 28th September in Lahore Eight charge sheets were filed in of the people and not necessarily and on 29th September in his native this historic case that lasted several business houses. Even economists village, Bangha, Chak # 107, Tehsil months. It was one of the nine cases like Milton Friedman, the high Jaranwala, District Faisalabad. being supervised by the Supreme priest of monetary economics, The meeting also resolved to Court and was investigated by the has remained as an economist. arrange a rousing welcome for the SIT. Experts generally quote one of his Indian delegates to the celebration paragraphs to indicate his vision and decided to hold two days for the USA. “Imagine that the deliberations with seminar, cultural US Federal Reserve sends out a evening, welcome in Faisalabad helicopter for a cash rainfall upon (Lyallpur) and a visit to Bhagat US consumers. It is easy to picture Singh’s village. US consumer showing no reluctance in picking up the bank notes and The meeting was addressed spending them, and to an important by Farooq Tariq, Ammar Ali jan, extent, on imported goods too. The Yousaf Baluch, Irfan Comrade, Feds’ helicopter payloads thus find Mirza Zainulabdin, Khalid Malik, their way in to otherwise half-empty Zafar Iqbal and others. container returning to Asia, finally ending up as official reserves in the coffers of Asian central banks, (Continued from Page 14) which are forever content with 42); Bipinbhai @ Bipin autowala holding barren pieces of paper in Umedray Panchal (accused exchange for the products shipped 44); Ashokbhai Uttamchand Korani to the United states.” India, like Price: Rs. 20/- (Sindhi) (accused 45); Vijaykumar many LDCs, is fond of the barren Takhubhai Parmar (accused Janata Trust paper supremacy (dollars), should learn from the above and formulate 46); Ramesh Keshavlal Dedawala policies that “decouple” the (Chara) (accused 47); Sachin sputtering US financial locomotive. Nagindas Modi (accused 52); Vilas @ Viliyo Prakashbhai Sonar D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir It is proved by data sets that (accused 53); Dinesh @ Tiniyo Bharucha Marg, there is direct correlation between Govindbhai Barange (Marathi) Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. our reserves and the share market. (accused 55); Santoshkumar

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Vol. 67 No. 33 Delayed, but not denied September 9, 2012 S. Viswam

A verdict in Gujarat, The victims of the 2002 massacre extermination.” Of the entire episode, silence over Delhi of Muslims in Naroda Patia in the judge had this to say: “ It was a Kuldip Nayar Gujarat have had to wait for ten day of cyclone of violence, one of long years to secure justice. While the black chapters in the history of this is unfortunate and reflects on democratic India, where violation of the country’s judicial system, the human rights and constitutional rights Let the healing begin fact remains that justice was delayed were publicly done by the assaulters Harsh Mander but not denied. Indeed, those who on the victims.” have been convicted would have in all probability drawn the capital Syed Hameed, a member of the Planning Commission, was a member Search for Third Front punishment had the trial ended of an all-India team of six women Mastram Kapoor and the verdict delivered sooner. While sentencing 32 persons to life invited by Janvikas, human rights imprisonment, the trial court special organization, to visit Ahmedabad in judge Jyotsana Yagnik said: “On the aftermath of the 2002 anti-Muslim Anna’s Political Alternative: account of lapse of time and the agony massacre, which was ostensibly Hopes and Apprehensions of the impending trial and suffering of in retaliation to the killing of 59 Nishikant their families, the case just falls short Hindius in the Sabarmati Express of the rarest of the rare category and at the Godhra station. In Shah Alam the court feels somewhat reluctant in refugee camp the delegation met the imposing the death sentence.” victims of Naroda Patia. She recalls that when the victims wept for water This does not of course mean they were given diesel to drink. “I that the crime for which the 32 were was conscious,” she says, “of being a Editor : punished - 29 accused were acquitted Muslim in a place where Muslims had for want of adequate evidence - was been killed for being Muslims.” Syed G. G. Parikh not of the rarest of the rare variety. In Hameed has voiced a poignant truth. Managing Editor : Guddi terms of the cruelty and heartlessness Muslims were killed in the aftermath of the act, the crime was the worst of the Godhra incident for no other D-15, Ganesh Prasad, of its kind. The judge took the most fault than that they were Muslims. Naushir Bharucha Marg, compassionate view keeping in And, as Special Judge Yagnik, points Mumbai - 400 007. mind the fact that the accused faced out, the assaulters took the law into the agony of a lengthy trial, but she their hands in perpetrating a blatant Email : [email protected] described the incident as one of “mass act of religious discrimination. 2 JANATA, September 9, 2012

Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Between the lines supporters have refused to concede all along that their leader had a hand in allowing the campaign A verdict in Gujarat, silence over Delhi against Muslims to succeed. They cite the fact in their defence that no Kuldip Nayar court has formally charged Modi and no one has filed an FIR against him. Even so, his credibility has Every time there is a conviction other way and the army’s induction remained under question. Public in Gujarat riots case, I begin to hope was intentionally delayed.. Had memory is not so short as to forget that the day is not far when the real there been the institution of Lokpal the day-to-day reports that followed culprit, state chief minister Narendra (ombudsman) in position, it would the Godhra tragedy of a vicious Modi, will be brought to book. The have probably stepped in to name the campaign against Muslims and also 28-year-long sentence awarded culprits including Narendra Modi the plight of the Muslim refugees in to Maya Kodnani, who organized and Rajiv Gandhi. In the absence of camps not all of whom have been yet the massacre at Naroda-Patya in any such remedy what do people, rehabilitated. The latest judgement Ahmedabad, makes me confident especially the victims, do to get turns the focus on Modi again. It that justice can be delayed—the justice? When the protector turns reminds us that the post-Godhra riots riots took place in 2002—but not into a killer there is no remedy for were tacitly supported by the Modi denied. Modi lauded her role on the the protected. administration and that the police riots so much that he made her a were mere spectators when Muslims minister. But the Supreme Court’s In fact, both Gujarat and Delhi were being butchered. To those who Special Investigation Team (SIT) have raised a general question about periodically feel that the Indian caught up with her crime even after the independence of law and order judicial system does not deliver or the exoneration by the police which machinery. The police is at the that it delivers after an inordinately did its best to see that Kodnani’s beck and call of rulers and it does long interval, the Naroda Patia “involvement does not come on the not function independently. The judgement is a morale restorer. It books”.. police reforms recommended by reiterates the well-known dictum the Dharamvira Committee as back that howsoever mighty you might The question which nags me all as 1980 could have retrieved the be the law is still above you. The the time is how to punish a chief situation to some extent. It would progrom succeeded because of the minister who plans and executes the have meant transferring control of support of the BJP and other saffron killing of his own people because police to a committee, including organizations - they must understand they belong to a different religion. the opposition leader. But no state that one lives in a society where rule Some 2000 Muslims were killed, has been willing to implement the of law “very much survives.” Two 95 at Naroda-Patya alone. A similar recommendations. In real, there is a close associates and supporters and point confronted me when after case for a federal police on the lines fellow-partymen of Narendra Modi the assassination of Indira Gandhi of America to pursue cases which whose activities figured prominently in 1984, more than 3000 Sikhs transcend states’ borders or those in the progrom were three-term were killed in the national capital, which fall under the category of Naroda MLA Maya Kodnani, who New Delhi. Then Prime Minister segregation, discrimination and such got 28 years in jail, and Bajrang Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for other crimes. There is the famous Dal leader Babu Bajrangi who got blessing all that was plotted to kill case of Mississippi in America where life imprisonment. Both symbolize the innocents. His infamous remark the federal police broke the alliance the kind of communal, anti-Muslim still haunts me: “When a big tree between the local administration and pro-Hindutva elements that falls, the earth is bound to shake.” and politicians to bring the guilty sustained the progrom that Modi to justice. Both in Gujarat and Delhi, the blessed and that embraced virtually pattern of killing and looting was Since the states jealously guard the whole state in anti-Muslim the same:. The public was instigated, their sway over the law and order hatred and vindictiveness. Justice the police was instructed to look the machinery, it is difficult to imagine has caught up with some of them. JANATA, September 9, 2012 3 that they would agree to any federal told that the person who goaded the Even then his experience and those force when New Delhi itself has got mob at the Maidan is a local Congress of the others who have tried to get politicized. Coming to the minorities, Muslim leader. Regretfully, both the justice is that even now the Congress the experience of Muslims in Gujarat Congress and the BJP have come to government is creating impediment and of Sikhs in Delhi bring out the believe that they would get more at every step to block any persecution truth that the rulers go to any extent votes if they talked in terms of caste further. The conviction in Gujarat is to save their party members. They and community. an exception. At least there were still have different names but in real some records which helped the SIT terms they are the party’s rough Had the Supreme Court not to rebuild the case. But in Delhi, the necks who have over the years selected the nine cases of fake Congress government has effaced become an instrument of tyranny in encounters out of many, no Maya all evidence lest the guilty of 1984 the hands of political masters. Kodnani would have been punished. massacre could be traced. But there was no Supreme Court The real disturbing aspect is that to intervene in the case of Sikhs’ There is yet another case of more and more Hindus are getting killings because the Rajiv Gandhi government’s suppression. I am contaminated by the RSS and its administration had cleaned the referring to the killing of 22 Muslim parivar. It is heartening to find that stains from the plate. No proof was one member of the Bajrag Dal, the left behind and the records were boys at Hashimpura in UP in 1987. militant wing of RSS, has been given fudged. The entire massacre was The case has not moved from the life sentence in the Naroda-Patya orchestrated by the ruling Congress lower court. The rioting in Assam case. Still the bigger tragedy is that and executed according to a pre- too has been anti-Muslim. The the majority community looks like prepared plan. lesson to be learnt from all these turning its back on secularism which happenings is that the rule of law by it should realize can undo India. Thanks to the young lawyer H. itself does not mean anything unless S. Phoolka, who made a formidable the government is willing to follow The BJP which expects to win case from the affidavits of victims. it without fear or favour. at the 2014 election does not feel its responsibility in keeping the The Naroda Patiya verdict convicting 32 people, including former country safe from parochialism. Gujarat minister and sitting BJP MLA Maya Kodnani and Bahrang Dal True, the other national party, the activist Babu Bajrangi, is both welcome and significant. Images from Congress has become a carbon copy the Naroda Patiya riots - the murder of about 95 Muslims, a pregnant of the BJP, but it still supports the woman’s stomach cut open brutally before she was set on fire – are still secular ethos. The party’s stand is fresh a decade later. And so are the wounds. mostly opportunistic but it draws Had the verdict gone the other way, it would not have been good for inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi the nation as it could have dented the faith of minority communities in and Jawaharlal Nehru, not Guru our judicial system. After all, what took place in Gujarat in 2002 has Golwalkar. This may be the reason deeply affected them. The verdict has done them a world of good; it has why the Congress, at times, takes restored the confidence of minority communities – especially Muslims, a secular stand and confronts the in Gujarat and elsewhere. forces which spew communalism. I was dismayed to see a Gujarat spokesperson trying to defend party MLA Kodnani by saying that she was not a minister during the Naroda I was, however, disappointed Patiya riot. I want to know how Kodnani – a prime accused in one of the when the Congress government worst cases in of the Gujarat riots – was made a minister in the first place. neither acted against the Shiv Sena, The state government, which elevated Kodnani to minister, has a lot of particularly Raj Thakre when he explaining to do…The verdict will have little bearing on the JD(U)’s instigated the crowd at Mumbai in alliance with the BJP. Let me make it amply clear that our alliance is the name of national chauvinism. Bihar-specific. The party has put up a token fight against the BJP in some Nor did the government move states, including Gujarat, in the past and may do so in the future. against the Muslim fundamentalists who indulged in violence at Azad Shivanand Tiwari, MP and national spokesperson of JD(U) Maidan and killed two persons. I am in The Indian Express 4 JANATA, September 9, 2012 Let the healing begin

Harsh Mander

As news filtered in, of extended leader Babu Bajrangi, mercilessly and the highest court established a life sentences for 31 persons for setting aflame children, women and Special Investigation Team (SIT) the brutal slaughter 10 years ago men. A citizens’ tribunal recorded which nailed the killers and their in Naroda Patiya, a working-class that “the burning alive of victims leaders. suburb of Ahmedabad, my eyes was widespread... (When) 6-year- clouded over. I remembered my old Irfan asked for water, his Clinching evidence came from first meetings with the traumatised assailants at Naroda Patiya made heroic police officer Rahul Sharma. survivors of the massacre in the him forcibly drink kerosene, or some He collected mobile phone records crowded relief camps in the city, a other inflammable liquid, before a lit which later established that Kodnani full decade earlier. I was heartsick match was thrown inside his gullet and Bajrangi were actually at Naroda and stunned by their stories of to make him explode within”. Patiya during the massacre. He incredible cruelty. I wondered if was transferred and his evidence they would ever heal and hope again, Initially, justice seemed an buried. But he bravely chose to and how we would defend the idea impossible mirage. The first Eid after voluntarily present copies of these of India from the assaults of hatred the carnage, I went to Ahmedabad to phone records to the SIT, for which spend it with my young friends in he has been charge-sheeted by the Today, 10 years later, I realise Naroda Patiya. I found their mothers Modi government. This became that secular democracy is never distraught. For the one Hindu crucial collaborative evidence in given to any people: it constantly person who died in the massacre, court of the participation of the must be claimed, and reclaimed. So a dozen people had been charged leaders in the mass murder. many people and institutions have and arrested, including many aman rallied in stout defence of secular pathiks. Clearly, they wanted to The witnesses braved penury, democracy, and of much older ideas crush their ardour for justice. threats and intimidation, and spurned — of compassion, justice and truth. large sums of money offered to One of them, Yusuf and his father change their statements. Each of Years ago, as I made my way spent four months in jail. I was their testimonies painted a horrific through teeming crowds of broken worried that this would break their picture of the slaughter. Farzana people sheltered in the Shah Alam spirit and radicalise them. He told Pathan, for instance, described to the Camp, I unexpectedly found a me later that when he was depressed, court how the mob “pulled away my sunlit corner of the dargah among his father would console him, “Do mother and killed and burnt her in the graves, ringing with children’s you know who was imprisoned here front of my eyes... My elder daughter laughter. A group of young people in this jail? Gandhiji. If he could Farhana was pulled away by a person from Naroda Patiya had organised spend time here, who are we?” from the mob. Her clothes were classes and play for the children After his release, Yusuf became a removed and ... 4-5 of them raped in the camp. I sat among them, all bus driver like his father. But he her”. Shakilabanu spoke of how the working-class youth — auto and bus also studied law. Today he works “mob sprinkled petrol on my family drivers, electricians, embroiderers as an assistant with a senior lawyer members and burnt them alive. My — and heard their stories of loss in Ahmedabad, and was a resolute three-month-old niece was thrown and trauma. A bond grew between witness in the Patiya case. in the fire by this mob”. us. Many volunteered to work with us in Aman Biradari, as aman and Initial police investigations The Naroda witnesses were aided nyaya pathiks, literally ‘those who absolved leaders like Kodnani and by Citizens for Justice headed by walk the path of peace and justice’. Bajrangi from the crime. But the the indomitable Teesta Setalvad. In National Human Rights Commission numerous legal battles being fought They spoke of mobs led by MLA approached the Supreme Court in Gujarat, witnesses are similarly Maya Kodnani and Bajrang Dal for independent re-investigation, supported by brave organisations. JANATA, September 9, 2012 5

She expresses satisfaction that the court reached beyond the foot- Search for Third Front soldiers to the instigators and organisers, establishing that none Mastram Kapoor are beyond the arm of the law. Judge Jyotsnaben Yagnik described the The search for the Third front, fixing prices of essential massacre as “brutal, inhuman and in fact, began in March this year commodities; fixing ratio between shameful” and held that it was a “pre- when Uttar Pradesh voters gave minimum and maximum income; planned conspiracy” which “cannot clear majority to Samajvadi Party moratorium on wage increase for be mitigated by just saying that it in the Assembly election. The result certain period and employment was a reaction to the Godhra train was unexpected and unpredicted. based development in place of GDP burning incident”’. She awarded The expectations were raised by based development. a rare 28 years imprisonment to Samajvadi Party supremo, Mulayam Kodnani, and incarceration until Singh’s decision to hand over reins This economic programme is death to Bajrangi. of UP politics to his son Akhilesh complete reversal of the neo-liberal Yadav and devote his energies to policies being followed since the “I find myself praying that central politics. These expectations last two decades under pressure Bajrangi lives a hundred years” were further strengthened when from world financial powers. The laughs Imran, one of the nyaya an attempt was made to get a non- Congress and the BJP are both pathiks. Congress candidate elected as wedded to these policies and only President, but the move failed the Third Front comprising of Sharief responds soberly, “In due to fickle-mindedness of some socialist democratic forces and Shah Alam Camp, when you first opposition leaders. The one-sided people’s movements can take up spoke to us of peace, justice and election of Pranab Mukherjee as this alternative programme. It is non-violence, I wanted to believe. President and Hamid Ansari as worth mentioning here that the world But a part of me insisted that justice Vice President, made the search for wide economic crisis of 2008 shows would come only from a gun. Today, Third Front more urgent. A 31-point no sign of abating and neo-liberal hearing the judge, I believe. Ahimsa agenda was prepared and circulated economic policies are crumbling se hi nyaya sambhav hai.” among non-Congress__non-BJP under its weight all over the world. parties and some intellectuals for The reversal of these policies is, Yusuf, peace worker, bus driver, their comments and suggestions. therefore, a must. lawyer and witness, was present in Their views are slowly trickling in the court the day the judge announced but the debate is on and whosoever As regards political agenda, the sentence. “I was elated,” he says. comes to know about this agenda it promises to tackle the most “But then I saw the young sons of becomes enthusiastic about the complicated problems like some of those sentenced for life development. The agenda has the corruption, terror, communal weeping for their fathers. I thought right material to fire the imagination riots and atrocities against weaker of the children who lost their parents of the common man as well as the sections __ women, children and in Naroda, and how painful life is intellectual classes. minorities __ with the help of people, for them. These children too are using present resources and without innocent, even though their fathers The economic agenda comprises resorting to unusual and drastic are not. I wanted to run to the judge of eight points, such as: No FDI in laws. For example for tackling the and plead with her to set their fathers retail business; No privatization of problem of corruption, the already free. How will they live 21 years water, electricity, fuel and essential existing set up of CVC will be without their fathers?” food products; No acquisition of strengthened with all powers of land under food production (which Lokpal instead of creating a new I have much to learn from my includes the forest land providing white elephant. Strengthening of young friend. food to tribal communities); ban on Panchayat Raj by empowering projects causing mass displacement Gram Sabhas, as mini Assemblies –Aman Biradari and destruction of environment; and setting up District Planning 6 JANATA, September 9, 2012

Committees as per the 73rd and 74th such as: simultaneous elections of expenditure and special tax on amendments to the Constitution, will Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, as political parties and companies as refurbish the grass-root democracy was envisaged in the Constitution, well as cess from the people to finance which will keep effective check on state-funding of elections, meaning the elections. The programme also corruption. It is well-known that thereby ban on all type of private includes ban in the matter of fighting the Congress government led by PV Narsimha Rao, in spite of being Agenda for Third Front in minority, ruled for five years by Economic Programme Assemblies to be held simultaneously. bribing the opposition MPs. It is this 1. No FDI in retail business. 3. All expenditure on elections by government which started the special 2. No privatization of water, electricity, government (to be funded by cess fund for MPs (and now for MLAs fuel, essential food products. and tax on political parties) and too) which has become the main 3. No acquisition of land under food complete ban on money transfer of source of corruption of our political production. any kind. 4. Ban on projects causing mass classes. It has sharpened the greed 4. Empowering Election Commission displacement and destruction of to use moral code of conduct for of these classes which has resulted environment. regulating election. in unprecedented scams witnessed 5. Fixing prices of essential For Equality and Social Justice in preceding two decades. A ban on commodities. 1. Caste census to categorize whole these special funds together with 6. Fixing ratio between minimum and population under SCs, STs, OBCs, maximum income. Forwards and use of these categories check on unproductive government 7. Moratorium on wage-increase for a expenditure may introduce an instead of castes in all documents. certain period. 2. Review of reservations list after austerity regime with more resources 8. Employment based development in every 10 years on the basis of caste diverted to development schemes. place of GDP based development. census figures, in accordance with A high power commission, like Political Reforms Programme article 16(4) and removal from the Shah Commission of the post- 1. Strengthening the present set-up reserved list of those classes who are of CVC (providing him powers of found to be adequately represented. Emergency era, shall be appointed Lokpal) to deal with all matters of to decide all long pending cases of 3. 33 percent reservation to women in corruption. services, in all posts of the political 2. Special courts to deal with cases of communal riots atrocities against parties and distribution of tickets communal riots, atrocities against the weaker sections, genocides of for election. weaker sections and minorities. 1984 and 2002 and corruption of 4. Old age pension to all needy persons. 3. Austerity in government spending of Educational and Cultural Programme massive scale. The work of revising non-productive nature. the archaic laws of the British 4. Abolition of MP/MLA’s special fund 1. Neighbourhood schools with period, the failed laws like the and pension only to the needy MP/ uniform facilities to all rich and Anti- Defection Law and anti-people MLAs. poor students. 5. Ban on all schemes and programmes 2. Education through mother tongue, laws like the Tada, Macoca, anti other languages being optional. terrorist laws and special power of which encroach upon personal liberty and impinge upon fundamental 3. Admission in higher education and forces law will be entrusted to Law human rights. professional institutions on the basis Commission. The most important 6. Anti-defection law to be amended of school-college performance and item of political agenda is to make to provide for right of dissent and a ban on competition tests. way for Indian languages for use corruption free atmosphere. 4. Regulation of mass media against promoting fanaticism, communal in all political and administrative 7. Strengthening Panchayat Raj by empowerment of Gram Sabhas hatred, anti-social and anti-national work as well as education so that the as mini assemblies and setting tendencies. energies of millions and millions of up of District Planning and National Integration people so far marginalized due to a implementation committees as per 1. All round development programme language wall, could be harnessed in 73rd and 74th amendment. for Himalayan regions and Naxal-hit the development efforts and a direct 8. Use of Indian languages in all regions. 2. All identities to be preserved side supervision of the people over the government business with multi- lingual union. by side with promotion of national government functionaries could be Electoral Reforms identity. ensured. 1. Ban on fighting election by persons 3. Strict control on infiltrators in who are convicted or against whom border areas and firm commitment The agenda includes a 4-point charges have been framed. to preserve the socialist, secular and programme for electoral reforms 2. Elections for Lok Sabha and democratic character of the state. JANATA, September 9, 2012 7 election on persons convicted or charged by the courts for criminal Anna’s Political Alternative: offences and empowering the Hopes and Apprehensions Election Commission to bring about the needed reforms through the Nishikant discretionary code of conduct rather than a law enforceable by courts. Anna Hazare’s unexpected and Maliwal and others underline Anna’s Another important section of the sudden declaration of leaving the astuteness in reading the pulse of agenda deals with social justice and path of prayer, petition, persuasion the public as well as substantiates equality promoting programmes. and fasting for an effort to provide his vision for the scope of people’s The first programme of social an alternative politics in terms front in politics. justice, should be abolition of caste, of electoral challenge to the for which the first step is caste conventional political parties like As an insider of IAC movement census every 10 years, grouping the Congress, Bharatiya Janata from its beginning one and half of whole population divided in Party, Samajabadi Party, Bahujan years ago and after attending one about 6000 castes in four categories Samaj Party, Shiv Sena, Biju Janata informal preparatory committee of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Dal, AIDMK, DMK, etc. not only meeting for shaping the peoples’ Tribes, Other Backward Classes raised the hackles in the political front as desired by Anna Hazare and and Forwards and ensuring use of circles but also has started a fierce millions of people of this country these categories instead of castes, debate in the civil society about its I have prepared this write up to in all private and public documents desirability, timing, effectiveness explain as well as to ward off some and revising of reservation lists and long term implications. Even of the misunderstandings around the under Article 16(4) in the light of the supporters, volunteers of India recent development. My endeavour fresh data obtained in caste-census Against Corruption (IAC) campaign will be to seek the public support for after every ten years, to make the and the members of core committee Anna’s experiment as well as flag reservation scheme self-liquidating. of erstwhile Anna team do not seem up the points of caution that have To ensure 33 percent representation to be in unison about the decision to the potential to derail the electoral for women in the Parliament and go electoral. Justice Santosh Hegde, journey completely. While seeking State Assemblies, all political parties Kiran Bedi, Medha Patekar and the support I am clear in conscience will be bound by the code of conduct Kumar Biswas, the core committee that any public support in such a to give 33 percent reservation members of Anna team have transition is to be conditional and to women in all party posts and categorically declared not to join the people have a right to put all kinds distribution of tickets. Enacting a electoral fray and will be continuing of questions, seek accountability, ask for transparency and probe into law for reservation for women in the civil society movement against the modalities of developments legislatures would be against the corruption as before. Similarly; some volunteers of IAC have also leading to the formation of the spirit of freedom movement and decided to stay out of the electoral alternative as well as its post- also of our constitution, because venture and will be continuing their formation contours. Ultimately it is such reservations were based on struggle in the civil society arena. the people who will decide whether two-nation theory which divided our But, there are others who have the peoples’ front put forth by Anna country and triggered mass killing whole-heartedly accepted the new Hazare and his supporters is really a and displacement and therefore challenge and responsibility thrown people’s front or an addition to the these reservations were abolished open to them by Anna Hazare. More existing number of undemocratic, unanimously at the time of framing than six lakh sms, e-mails, pollings intransient, unaccountable political of our constitution. Employment at Jantar mantar supporting Anna’s parties and therefore is to be shown guarantee or unemployment decision for political alternative the door. allowance to the youth and old as well as the staunch support age pension to all needy persons is from core committee members like The rationale for a goal towards which full energy Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Political Alternative Gopal Roy, Prashanta Bhusan, In the representative democracy (Continued on Page 13) Shanti Bhusan, Sanjay Singh, Swati that India adopted after independence, 8 JANATA, September 9, 2012 political parties play a vital role in à-vis displacement and exclusivist Of course it is a fact that dismayed channelizing people’s aspirations, development models. Instead of with the present party system in demands as well as providing pro- stop-gap arrangements, the country India, social movements and civil people governance as an output of requires fundamental changes in society organisations have been political power exercised by the its political and socio-economic searching for political alternatives winning parties through periodic structure to realize the hopes and for long. In 2010, in Odisha some votes. Political parties mobilize aspirations of the people. But to our of the movement leaders of the their support base on ideological horror the present polity and thereof state sat together and prepared a grounds, on historical and regional the political parties indulge in self- draft for alternative politics. It is basis, on ascriptive and manifest aggrandisement, accusations of the another matter that after preparation identities and on perceived or real other and small-time politics aimed of the draft there was nobody to discrimination ground. However, at immediate gains and winning carry it forward and the mission the present party politics dominated the elections. For example; the failed at its launching. Similarly, by landlords, capitalists, contractors, present grave situation in Assam I remember National Alliance for mafias, caste leaders, religious is not debated to solve it, but to Peoples’ Movement (NAPM) in heads, emotive issues, regional settle political scores on communal its annual session at Kushinagar, discriminations, cultural barriers, lines. Similarly, majority of issues Uttar Pradesh had an inconclusive etc. has created an atmosphere of remain unaddressed for want of debate on political alternative and opportunism, adhocism, vestedness political honesty, co-operation still now it is on although the public and narrow vision inadequate to and genuine interest in furthering posturing is that of not getting into meet the demand of a complex, the public cause. Moreover, the electoral politics. Panalal Surana, multi-structural, transitional polity present revelations of corruption an avid socialist and a critic of IAC like India. Here the mainstay of at high places like the 2G scam, Campaign wrote an article against politics consists of fund allocation the CWG scam, the Coal scam, the simplification of corruption by IAC to states, renaming of cities, defence scam, the rice scam, the movement and emphasized upon creation of new states and districts, aviation scam involving purchase working on complex dimensions reservation in place of substantive of 111 aircrafts, corruption in higher of corruption through employment development of the marginalized judiciary, price for questions in generation, education and fighting sections, family legacy as an the Parliament and various scams liberalization. Presently; as the instrument of political ascendancy, by ministers in different states founder member of the Socialist autocratic leadership in the absence have shaken the public faith in Party he urged different sections of intra-party democracy, freebies reformative agenda and evolution of to join the politics. Samajbadi Jana like Rs. 2 Kg rice, distribution of good governance. Criminalization Parishad, a political party striving cycles, television and mobile sets, of politics like abetment of murder for long for alternative politics is concession to the Haj and Amarnath of an airhostess by former Haryana convinced that political choice is pilgrimages, voluntary disclosure Home Minister Gopal Kanda and to lead India away from the chaotic of black money, loan waiver and criminal records of 163 Lok Sabha situation of vested mainstream party motivated discretions at all levels MPs and 39 Rajya Sabha MPs politics. Yogendra Yadav and Sunil, in all spheres. As a result, the further stress upon the urgency to two of the stalwarts of Samajbadi casualty is issues of governance, bring in drastic institutional and Jana Parishad, have welcomed the accountability, transparency, electoral reforms. Whether it is the decisions of Anna Hazare with ample public participation, decentralized need for a strong anti-corruption caution and due apprehensions. On decision-making process, informed institution like the Jan Lokpal or the whole, different movement debates on issues of national the electoral reforms to ensure Right leaders, political analysts, the importance like privatization and to Reject and Right to Recall, the intelligentsia, the middle class and liberalization, nuclear proliferation, public is in no mood to wait. But the aggrieved population suffering rehabilitation and resettlements, the travesty of electoral democracy from corruption at different levels deportation of immigrants, is that the very reforms the public and complete lack of accountability social and economic inclusion demands is to be done by the very of the administration have welcomed of marginalized sections, land politicians against whom these are Anna’s political declaration, of acquisition, redistribution and use proposed. Hence, day by day the course; with sufficient “ifs and buts”. of common property resources vis- spreading cynicism is strengthened. These reactions amply explain the JANATA, September 9, 2012 9 political vacuum that Anna and the consequent anger building among the sense of timing he has. This is public of this country experiences the public through his repeated not to say that the very democratic as well as the justification for an fastings and baring of government ethos that we are fighting for should effort towards providing a political fallacy about development and be undermined or differences of alternative. anti-corruption measures. People opinion shouldn’t be respected. My accepted Anna’s open challenge only contention is that opportunities The Timing of the Declaration to the government to establish in the nation’s history come at times There are certain discomfitures people’s supremacy in a democratic and if the public fails to capitalize on even from within regarding the country like India. As a result, the them for small differences them we timing of Anna’s declaration for people can see through the political miss the national sense as well as political alternative. Majority of mechanism and nail the political opportunity for fundamental changes the dissenters were surprised by parties for their non-performance, and historical breakthroughs. Anna’s declaration from the podium under-performance and mal- of the 25th July “Do or Die” fasting performance. Sensing the public A Cautious Democratic Foray site at Jantar Mantar on the 9th mood and lack of confidence in Arvind Kejriwal, the lieutenant day of the fasting. Although they the existing political parties Anna of Anna Hazare, explaining the are agreed on the fact that the gave the call for alternative political political alternative and Anna’s government was in no mood to listen forum. Secondly, Anna realized idea of a democratic political party the public cry and it was foolhardy that it was worthless to wait further emphasized upon some key elements to expect the government to deliver and put the Anasankaris’ (those on as the guiding principle for the IAC- a Special Investigation Team as fast) lives at risk (Arvind Kejriwal led political alternative on the 10th per demand to investigate its top was a diabetic and more than 40 day of the fasting from the podium 15 Cabinet Ministers or to accept Anasankaris were hospitalized). at the Jantar Mantar ground. The a fast-track court to adjudicate the Therefore, he declared that he would key elements as stated by him can cases against the accused parliament work for an alternative politics and be summed up as follows: Firstly, members, they are of the opinion hence putting an end to the fasting. the party will be funded by people’s that Anna should have waited to Thirdly, Anna knew that there contributions and all accounts will allow the situation to deteriorate would be varied criticisms of his be open to the public at all times. further leading to the subsequent decision to go political. Therefore, As present political parties are manifestation of strong national his declaration that he would help raising huge funds from unknown anger against the political parties build up a political alternative but sources without any transparency in power. Of course, a marginal will remain outside to monitor the of the source of party income, there section still is of the opinion that developments and if required to is scope for corruption and unholy Anna should have never ventured question the alternative as and when nexus of the party functionaries into the political arena as it is dirty required just like his questioning with vested interests who fund the and bound to leave some marks on the government on its performance. party for political mileage and policy the clean image of Anna and IAC Here I find Anna Hazare not to be changes in their favour. The recent campaign. a reluctant politician but an astute generosity for the Reliance Company statesman keeping his focus on or the Coalgate Scam or the Scorpian It is quite immature to statecraft and structural remedies. deal can be explained in this light. question Anna Hazare’s political Secondly, the alternative politics understanding and sense of timing Debates can go on and should will put forth its electoral candidates as he has proved time and again go on. But if we have accepted based upon public opinion rather than his political sharpness, maturity Anna Hazare, the Gandhian, and sweet desire of the high command. and getting over the obstructionist his life of selfless service in the Alternatively speaking, there will government through perseverance, public cause as a sine qua non of be no top-down approach, rather conviction and statesmanship. To the anti-corruption movement in the party will function in a bottom- emphasize the thoroughness of the country that has been able to up manner. It will significantly Anna’s decision making process mobilize the public from all nooks decrease the money and muscle three things have to be taken into and corners cutting across divisive power as well as family lineage as consideration. Firstly, Anna could lines like caste, religion, region a key to political leadership as it see the political education and and party then we have to respect will stop decision-making on ticket 10 JANATA, September 9, 2012 distribution by the political coterie undemocratic party system we naxallism, terrorism, secessionism, of the high command. Thirdly; the cannot afford to be half-democratic. communalism, discrimination, alternative politics will focus on Not only in the functioning but poverty alleviation, health and issues of structural changes that also in the structure and process education requirements and above have remained long pending due as well as in the outcomes we all to provide for a functional, to the political chicanery of the have to be democratic. People will effective, trust worthy governance. mainstream political parties and expect that the constitution of the The political alternative definitely the dominant vote bank politics. “Preparatory Committee” for the has to take certain decisions in For example; the creation of Jan political transition, its deliberations, the international arena where the Lokpal, Right to Recall, Right to party constitution and manifesto, previous governments’ commitments Reject, power to the Gram Sabhas accountability structure as well as may go against the professed ethos and local bodies, decentralized objectives are decided with proper of the alternative politics as defined accountable governance, substantive public consultation and approval. It by people’s mandate in the decision- empowerment instead of freebies, will be a challenge for Anna Hazare making process. social inclusion instead of segregated and his team to see that the voice The Challenges Ahead placation, emphasis upon rights of of the public from the grassroots, the citizens rather than discretion of the leadership building process To rope in people from various the ruling class will be the guiding from the villages as well as the walks of life as well as to ensure space principles for the alternative political party’s bottom up structure is not for different people’s movements to agenda. only visualized but also realized have a say in the alternative formation in true sense of democratic polity. simultaneously accommodating Ethical, people-centric, While most of India is acquainted leadership from various fields with decentralized polity with public with clientele politics and money their own ideas and visions in the participation in the decision-making and muscle power has dominated process of formation of a composite, process is the hallmark of ideal the electoral scenario it will be inclusive democratic ideal will be a democracy. Exercise of authority again a great challenge for the testing point in the making of the and power with constant checks political alternative to bring in political alternative. As Yogendra and balances guarantees stability of political education on a massive Yadav, an eminent social scientist, a democratic system. But the IAC scale and raise the vote politics to says the pilots of alternative politics movement from its very beginning the level of politics of issues and will have to shed their ego if any and lacked this very basic experience of ideas as well as that of governance will have to keep an open mind to democratic practice as is obvious listen to all concerned. They can’t and right-based deliverance. In in a war-time situation where IAC afford self-patting and can’t ride the absence of committed cadres, was perceived to be fighting a only on the euphoria generated on party infrastructure, experience battle against the government. Anna the streets during the Jan Lokpal and geographical spread it will Hazare and the Core Team led from movement. It will be a grinding be a cautious treading for the the front and the public followed task to see that the transition of the Anna Team to balance between their dictation. Whether it is timing common man from the street to the immediate success and perseverance of the dharna and fastings, whether it parliament is effective and desirable. for a long term politics of structural is the constitution of the Core Team Already, signs of suspicion, change. With the manifest diversity or its dissolution nowhere we find provocation and contempt are there. of the sub-continent in terms of the people’s mandate or the IAC The political parties fully realizing language, religion, culture, regional volunteers’ active participation. Of the potentialities of a people’s imbalances, economy, ecology course, it will be half-truth if we don’t uprising in terms of a people’s front and anthropological divergences mention the open sharing of meetings in electoral politics have started it will be a challenge for IAC to whether with the government or in to spread their machinations of successfully build up a political the Core Committee or on the issue lampooning and belittling the effort alternative with inclusive leadership of adopting an alternative politics unprecedented in post-Jayaprakash and competing ideas. Again, no with the public as an indicator of era. Some of the civil society actors more the political alternative can democratic functioning of IAC. with genuine intentions are also hide behind the demand of Jan askance at the sudden transition But now in the alternative political Lokpal only. It has to address the discourse challenging the present concerns of the public relating to (Continued on Page 13) JANATA, September 9, 2012 11 Mumbai Violence

…Despite all these steps, some his party’s intention to destroy Day lovers, rickshaw drivers — it questions remain. Is it not the toll nakas. The police obligingly would be insulting the readers’ organisers’ responsibility to control waited till he finished addressing intelligence to list the details. the crowd they mobilise and ensure TV cameras before taking him away that no inflammatory speeches in their van. Saturday’s videos had Police failure to anticipate and are made? Why aren’t they being no such bravado — after smashing prevent Saturday’s violence is arrested, specially since one of the everything in sight, the topi-clad indeed blameworthy. But what’s organisers has a record of instigating youth could be seen fleeing for new? When the Mumbai police has violence? Why has the man who dear life from police lathis. Two had indications of Sena-led violence, made the inflammatory speech not youngsters died in the ensuing firing. has it ever tried to prevent it? Forget been arrested? the 1992-93 riots. In December The fallout of the two incidents 2010, the Pune police, apprehending Second: why has this flurry of however, may not be too different. violence at a protest called by the activity not been seen on all the Today, an MNS sticker on your car Sena, tapped Sena leaders’ phones other occasions that mobs have can exempt you from paying toll. and heard Milind Narvekar, Uddhav “burnt Mumbai”? While this may And last week, the Maharashtra Chief Thackeray’s PA, instruct Sena MLC be the first time that the police Minister gave an audience to the man Neelam Gorhe (a former Socialist) to has been targeted, it’s not the first behind the violent anti-toll agitation. gather a mob, burn buses and inform time the media or BEST buses or Accompanying Raj Thackeray at the TV channels. Everything went cars have been vandalised. Indeed, meeting with the CM was Shishir according to plan; 54 buses were in the last two months, Mumbai Shinde. Two days after Saturday’s burnt. Pune’s Police Commissioner has seen frequent displays of such violence, Maharashtra’s Home repeated the Maharashtra police’s hooliganism. On May 31, observing Minister gave a clean chit to one of time-honoured motto: “Preventive the National Democratic Alliance- the organisers of Saturday’s rally, arrests would have aggravated the called Bharat Bandh, Shiv Sainiks the Raza Academy…However, situation” and R.R. Patil supported damaged 42 BEST buses. This those who rioted aren’t getting the her, saying the police’s priority was despite the chairman and seven of same treatment that Shiv Sainiks to “safeguard law and order and the 17 BEST Committee members and MNS rioters do. It can be protect the public.” being Shiv Sainiks. The chairman argued that attacking the police is explained away the vandalism by more serious than attacking public When Meenatai Thackeray’s saying that “protesters become property. But attacking unarmed statue was desecrated on a Sunday uncontrollable” on such occasions, citizens only because they belong in July 2006, the Sena ran amok. The and demurred when asked if his to a particular faith or region — is same man produced another gem: “If party would pay for the damage. that less serious? The MNS’s attacks the violence continues on Monday, on North Indians, all televised, are the police will take action.” Mid-June saw the new saviour just four years old. Two innocents of the Marathi Manoos “kick-off” were killed then. When the National After the Sena attacked the a campaign against the payment Human Rights Commission directed IBN Lokmat office in 2009, senior of toll tax. Within 72 hours, three the State to pay compensation journalist Kumar Ketkar, whose toll nakas were vandalised. Visuals of Rs.5 lakh each to the victims’ house had been earlier attacked of those actions are pretty similar families, the government spoke of by Nationalist Congress Party to videos of Saturday’s violence financial problems. Incidentally, the supporters because he had dared — the same iron rods, the same MNS’s unique way of protecting criticise the plan to set up a Shivaji smashing of glass. But there was Marathi pride in 2008 cost the State statue in the middle of the Arabian one important difference. After the a loss of Rs.500 crore. As for the Sea, told a news channel: “Mumbai violence, Maharashtra Navnirman Shiv Sena’s record of targeting, has not become feeble, Mumbai has Sena (MNS) MLA Shishir Shinde often fatally, unarmed South Indians, become used to [such violence]. It declared in audibly slurred tones, Muslims, mediapersons, Valentine’s was in 1966 when the Shiv Sena 12 JANATA, September 9, 2012 was born and ever since Maharashtra a rampage on Saturday are also part Imagine any of the Thackerays has been used to this culture. The of Mumbai. Maybe they felt they or Togadias doing that. On the Shiv Sena worship and encourage would be treated like their Hindutva contrary, the celebrity columnists violence. So Mumbai’s youth counterparts. and indignant TV anchors now become more and more involved foaming at the mouth at “Mumbai in this and this is a very dangerous Their leaders, knowing that’s not burning” see nothing wrong in trend.” possible, have tendered cringing conducting long interviews with apologies on TV and asked the the Thackerays, where the latter The Muslim youth who went on culprits to turn themselves in. brazenly defend their tactics.

–Jyoti Punwani in The Hindu II …Rather, it is time to throw the be angry as the Muslims, thanks bogus, and possibly morphed by spotlight on the Muslim leadership to the influx from Bangladesh, mischief-monger to enrage Muslims for building up the anger and not some of them illegal immigrants. everywhere . doing anything to rein it in. More The fact that many people are than the police, no one in the Muslim infiltrators from Bangladesh is not Ahmed’s conclusion: pictures community could have failed to note even mentioned. Every word in the taken during the 2010 earthquake the misleading SMSes and MMSes SMS is designed to feed a sense of in China, protests in Thailand and doing the rounds in the run-up to the victimhood without context. As for Tibetans setting themselves on fire protest day. One SMS was designed the Myanmarese violence against the against the Chinese atrocities in Tibet to make every Muslim in India feel Rohingyas of the Arakan, the SMS are captioned as cases of Muslims like a hunted animal and angry assumes that it is somehow India’s being victimised and killed. A Thai and victimised. According to The job to take up the issue. This is why picture of teargassed protestors in Times of India, the SMS read thus: the murder in the US Gurdwara is 2004 is captioned “More than 1,000 “Burma, Assam, Gujarat, Kashmir mentioned – to show that if India people killed in Burma” Writes ke bad na jane kahan? Burma mein can take up that issue, why not the Ahmed: “I do not deny the killings Musalmano ke qatl-e-aam or zulm riots in Myanmar? That many of the of Muslims in Burma – not even for a ke khilaf Azad Maidan me Sunday Rohingyas are taking shelter on the minute. I think it is horrific and I am ko rally hai. America me 5 Sikho India side (some have even shifted to sympathetic towards the immense ka katal hua to media or sarkar me Hyderabad) is not seen as a reason to loss being suffered by my Muslim hadkam hai, or lakhon Musalmanon be grateful to this nation which has brothers and sisters abroad. What I ki zindagi ki koi keemat nahi. Sab not so far discriminated against the am against is being lied to. Imagine ki ankhen band hai. Is SMS to flood of migrants from Bangladesh the amount of lies we are being fed Sunday se pehle Hindustan ki har and even Myanmar. Would Indian through these pictures.” Musalman or mantriyo or media Muslims be so angry if told that we The Muslim protestors who went tak pohchao..”. The bashing of the are providing shelter to these victims on the rampage in Mumbai were media and destruction of television of violence? also fed lies and half-truths by the OB vans can be traced to this SMS circulation of these mischievous message. Then, there were the fake MMSes pictures and by their leaders. doing the rounds – many of them Look at the number of deliberate put up on social media – showing The incendiary statement of truth distortions here. The Indian pictures that purport to show that Asaduddin Owaisi in parliament media has been more than fair in Muslims were being slaughtered by the other day, where he “warned reporting the Bodo-Muslim violence the hundred. A Pakistani journalist- the central government…” about in Kokrajhar – in fact, it has been blogger – Faraz Ahmed – who a “third wave of radicalisation balanced, and did not overtly take is no friend of the Myanmarese, among Muslim youth”, and the Bodo side even though the investigated these pictures and another one right at the protest Bodos have as much reason to found that many of them were venue (where one speaker talked JANATA, September 9, 2012 13 about biased media coverage) are No Muslim in India is even told 50:50 between Hindus and Muslims. clear examples of Muslim leaders that Hindus in Pakistan are now The first census in East Pakistan after trying to engender feelings of being forced to consider seeking partition put the Hindu population at victimisation among Muslims. asylum in India. Owaisi, in fact, around 22 percent. It is now less than When Owaisi said he was warning seemed to spread disinformation half the figure – below 10 percent. So the central government about the on the influx from Bangladesh. He when Owaisi asks where did these radicalisation, he was forgetting one told parliament: “I would say that Hindus go, he has a point. It is more the population of Bangladesh, when than likely that they were among thing: was it not his duty to combat Bangladesh was created, Muslims the early migrants to the north-east this radicalisation, to tell Muslims were three crore; Hindus were after 1971 along with many Muslims the whole truth rather than just the three crore. As of now, Muslims in who entered illegally seeking better one he wants to convey? Bangladesh are 13 crore; and Hindus economic prospects. But this nuance in Bangladesh are 1.5 crore. Sea is lost, and Owaisi doesn’t even It is no one’s case that Muslims cannot swallow so many Hindus of pause to reflect on the implications are not discriminated against in Bangladesh! Where have they gone? of what he said: why did so many India, or that they are not targeted This is the question I leave it to the more Hindus than Muslims leave occasionally in communal violence, wisdom of Mr Advani.” Bangladesh, assuming that is the but balance requires that Muslim case? leaders should speak the whole truth The facts: the population of – that this is not a one-way street. Bangladesh in 1971 wasn’t divided –R. Jagannathan

(Continued from Page 7) by regulating it so as to curb the (Continued from Page 10) tendencies of fanning communal of the Third Front will be geared. of the people’s movement against hatred and promoting anti-social, This goal will be achieved with corruption into an alternative politics anti-national tendencies. internal saving by eliminating the of the public. We have to assuage useless expenditure and closing of and address the genuine concerns, At present national unity and all schemes the purpose of which is we have to debate to search for the integrity is threatened not only by to keep the poor masses on charity. right track and we have to scrutinize terrorist and naxalite movements ourselves to remain on the right track but also by sectarian movements In the field of education, our at every juncture of our journey. main thrust will be to provide based on caste, religion, regional Equally we have to handle adeptly educational facilities to all children in and cultural identities. Third Front the political challenges thrown open neighbourhood schools and in mother will concentrate its energy on to us by the vested interests and the tongues. Indian languages will be development of backward regions. political parties catering to those introduced as medium of instruction A comprehensive Himalayan Plan interests. It will be a travesty of truth on college-level too. The system will be prepared for the development if we deny that there is no confusion which could provide educational of entire Himalayan region from among us regarding the path, process facilities to only 10 percent children Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. and goals to be achieved. But these in 65 years (according to HRD Similar plan will also be made confusions are not due to lack of Minister’s statement) will be for entire naxal-hit region. Strict clarity of ideas rather it is the lacking allowed to continue in private sector control on infiltration and protection of experience that blurs our vision without any assistance from the of borders will be ensured. For towards realizing the high ideals government. However, admission promotion of national integrity and ingrained in our ideas. Hoping to higher education and professional brotherhood among all sections of for a combined effort to ensure a institutions will be on the basis population and regions, a country- hunger and corruption free equity of school-college performance wide movement of youth will be based, nondiscriminatory socio- and there will be complete ban started under which youth from all political and economic order, let us on competition tests. The cultural sections of population will be trained submit ourselves to public scrutiny goal will be to protect the cultural for voluntary constructive work and and public action in the process of values and individual’s privacy combined resistance against anti- developing a political alternative for from the onslaught of mass media social and anti-national elements. people-based politics. 14 JANATA, September 9, 2012 Socialist Party

Special State Conference of of socialist society in our country. The resolutions passed in the Tamil Nadu branch of Socialist Following State office bearers conference a) opposed the Foreign Party (India) was held on Septembr were elected: President Narana Direct Investment in industries 2, 2012 at Srimushnam under the Natesan of Srimushnam. Vice– and retail trade, b) asked for total presidentship of Dr. N. Markandan, Presidents: K. Vadivelu of Erode prohibition, c) supported linking former Vice Chancellor, Gandhigram and K. Ramakrishnan of Cuddalore. of rivers, building of dams and Rural University. National General Secretary General: Mazhavai improving irrigation facilities Secretary Nurul Amin hoisted the Singaravelan of Thiruvarur. General through Land Army, d) decided to party flag and State President of Secretaries: V. R. Azhagesan of co-operate with the TESO movement the Socialist Party Narana Natesan to remove the plights of Sri Lankan Ariyalur, S. Sundra Vadivelu of welcomed the delegates. National Tamils, e) asserted that it was the Udumalaipet, B. Amabaklavanan President of Socialist Party (India) duty of the government to give all of Salem. Secretaries: K. Sundaram Bhai Vaidyae inaugurated the the children of our country free, conference. of Pennadam, Namachivaya compulsory and high standard of Kuttiappan of Bhavani, A. education. A pictorial exhibition on Reports were submitted by Kolanjiappan of Thiruppanadal. the socialist movement was arranged the General Secretary S. Sundara Treasurer: S. Aruppaiah of Vadalur. by Karnataka Socialist Education Vadivelu and S. Karuppaiah, State Parliamentary Board Chairman: Centre. Secretary N. Govindarajan Treasurer of the party. All the U. K. Senkottaiyan of Erode. A.C. gave vote of thanks. delegates took the pledge to work Natarajan was appointed Cuddalore hard and fight for the establishment District President. - N. Natesan Ban on Rallies in the Campus The Socialist Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) to be held on 14 September 2012. strongly opposes the undemocratic With this in view, the Delhi unit of ban imposed by the Delhi University the SYS had decided a week ago to authorities on holding rallies in hold a rally in the North Campus the campus. Holding rallies by on 5 September. In case the DU students, teachers and non-teaching authorities do not withdraw the employees for their causes is a order of ban, members of SYS will democratic right which cannot assemble at Vivekanand Chowk to be snatched away by an arbitrary convey/place the issues before the order. If members of a particular student community. organization have misbehaved, –Rakesh Kumar Dubey as stated by the authorities, they should be booked and punished as per the rules. As of now, nobody Janata has been identified or arrested in Subscription this connection. This apparently Annual Rs. : 260/- shows that the university authorities Three Years : 750/- Price: Rs. 20/- have imposed the ban to hide and Demand Draft / Cheque on Janata Trust underplay their responsibility. The Mumbai Bank SYS appeals to the authorities to in favour of withdraw the undemocratic order and to take stern action against the Janata Trust guilty. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Naushir Bharucha Marg, Bharucha Marg, Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. The SYS has planned to fight all Mumbai 400 007 the four posts in the DUSU elections JANATA,8 September 9, 2012 JANATA, March 25, 201215

Rural India Focus

PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS AT TARA, HOSPITAL, PANVEL TARA, PANVEL

YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY AND YOU 10 to 15 eye operations are performed There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS support the cause by donating to our various initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and maintain, conduct extra-curricular It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka.

Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] Mumbai 400 007

Space Donated by A Well Wisher R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 9, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. (to be concluded)

JANATA, September 9, 2012 17 (Continued from Page 7)

Teesta Setalvad, Secretary & Trustee, Citizens for Justice & Peace Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 34 Scrap it soonest September 16, 2012 S. Viswam

A controversy that should have sedition. When the Supreme Court We could have gone farther been quietly and decently buried long upheld the section it ruled that it Kuldip Nayar ago flares up every now and again applied only to cases where an to torment us. The sedition law, as it accused person intended to create Undermining our Parliament! stands today in the form of Section public disorder or incite violence. D. K. Giri 124 A of the Indian Penal Code should Sedition, by definition, comes into have been reviewed and repealed play only when national security Maoists threaten when the Supreme Court released on concerns are impinged by action or constructive activists bail Binayak Sen (who was charged words or intentions. Criticism of the Pannalal Surana with sedition under that law). Indeed, government, however justified or the then law minister Veerappa Moily otherwise, on issues of governance Recognition syndrome had indicated that the law would and public weal, cannot legally be seen or identity crisis? be out from the statute book soon. as being seditious. We already have K. S. Chalam However, like many things in India, laws which are applicable when racial assurances are mostly observed in the or communal hatred is established or Expanding Frontiers breach. With the thoughtless arrest of when the legitimacy of the authority in of Public Law freelance cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, power is questioned. God knows, the B. Sudarshan Reddy the issue of the sedition law has opposition, in particular the principal secured national focus again. Scrap the Koodankulam opposition party in parliament, gets Nuclear Plant! An enormous volume of public away with accusations against the rage was built up within a few houses government and the prime minister of Trivedi’s arrest. Press Council which border on seditious thinking. chairman Justice Markandeya Katju However, the fact remains that the police tends to interpret every speech Editor : thought that those who had arrested the cartoonist should be arrested for critical of the government as fit for G. G. Parikh carrying out an illegal action. At prosecution forgetting that there is a Managing Editor : Guddi the lighter level actor Kabir Bedi line that separates mere accusations of said that every opposition party in misgovernance from the deeper one D-15, Ganesh Prasad, India could be jailed for sedition. of spreading “disaffection” against Naushir Bharucha Marg, Justice Katju’s comment indirectly the government. It is possible to Mumbai - 400 007. highlighted the consistent misuse of paint the government in the darkest Section 124 A. Bedi’s remark implied of colours, tarnish its image and hold Email : [email protected] that the law enforcement authorities it to contempt without breaching have no concept of what constitutes the sedition law. As the combined 2 JANATA, September 16, 2012 opposition in parliament led by the Between the lines BJP demonstrated effectively all through the just-concluded washed- out monsoon session. Incidentally, We could have gone farther it is quite legitimate to ask, in the context of the existing conditions in Kuldip Nayar India, why the police are insensitive to anti-religious, pro-communal and inflammatory speeches but are ultra- When Pakistan Foreign Minister police report. And so will be the sensitive to light-hearted political Hina Rabbani Khar suggests that children below the age of 12. criticism of the Establishment in they are willing to view Kashmir books, plays, public speeches and from “another angle” to tackle the Yet the most important point of late, cartoons. Action against thorniest problem and Indian Foreign that Indian foreign minister and so-called offenders in these fields Minister S.M. Krishna changes the his counterpart have missed is is swift and drastic compared to the subject, it means that Islamabad has how to deal with terrorism which inaction in instances of anti-minority overcome pressures from within. is on the rise in both the countries. or anti-majority hate speeches. Of course, Foreign Minister Khar’s Who is more to blame or who Aseem Trivedi’s case is a typical remark is primarily meant to reopen started it first does not help at this example. the problem which remains frozen. time because the Frankenstein of a Yet the mere suggestion of “another monster is on the prowl. Instead of The question has been raised angle” indicates a new confidence reviving the joint commission for whether cartoons by and in that the tottering Asif Ali Zardari cooperation in various fields, the two themselves impact adversely on government has assumed. countries would have done better to national security. Technically, it underline the serious proportions can be argued that indeed they can. Therefore, the relaxation in visa which terrorism has assumed. For Mahatma Gandhi was prosecuted facilities, limited no doubt, may be a this, a joint commission on terrorism small step in the long haul to a visa- during the freedom struggle for alone—pooling of intelligence and less environment but it is, indeed, offences that really could and did fighting against terrorists together— a positive development. “I promise shake up the colonial government would have given a stern message to you a borderless regime,” the late the trouble makers. even though he himself soft-pedalled Benazir Bhutto told me a few days the gravity of the charge against before she left London for Pakistan. That no such machinery was ever him by admitting that he had indeed I am sure she would have tried her proposed is enough of a proof to the committed sedition. After freedom, best if she had lived but ultimately yawning differences over the 26/11 we gave unto ourselves a constitution she would have been defeated by attacks in Mumbai. Krishna wanted that guarantees free speech (among the intelligence agencies which still the perpetrators to be brought to book many other freedoms) which we rule the roost. quickly to soothe the hurt of people can exercise with some “reasonable in Maharashtra and elsewhere in restrictions”. Sedition arises not The intelligence agencies on India. Hina apparently had her own when the freedom of speech is both sides have seen to it that the compulsions and merely said: “We exercised but when the restrictions visa possessors follow the same old will not brood over divergences.” are breached wilfully, deliberately humiliating process of reporting My feeling is that the punishment and irresponsibly. at a police station in the midst of of the culprits, especially Hafeez jibes and threatening postures. It Sayed, the LeT chief, is a litmus The accused cartoonist has is apparent that there is no change test for India to judge Pakistan’s wisely agreed to be freed on bail in their attitude of suspicion and earnestness. after making a stand that he would hostility. Several visitors may still rather be in jail than be charged be happy because the choice before Once the Pakistan judicial with sedition. The Maharashtra them has either been a visa or no commission revisits Mumbai to government has indicated that the visa. I believe that senior citizens cross-examine witnesses of 26/11 charge against him may be dropped. above the age of 65, who will get attacks, the cases should move (Continued on Page 3) visa on arrival, will be exempt from quickly. Islamabad should be seen JANATA, September 16, 2012 3 to be keen to punish the guilty really wanted to shed the historical (Continued from Page 2) because the visit of Prime Minister baggage that the two countries Manmohan Singh to Pakistan, have been carrying for the last six So far, so good. However, the rightly or wrongly, has got linked decades. Centre should speedily undertake to the outcome of the 26/11 cases in a review of the impugned section the Pakistani courts. Krishna, more The real achievement of the and either scrap it in toto or replace or less, said so when he was asked meeting between the two foreign it with a more sensible one, one by even President Zardari how soon ministers is to introduce a new that addresses the sedition issue would the Indian Prime Minister category of a visa—Business. This relevantly and credibly. We can come to his village near Jehlum in was long overdue. Had businessmen do without another meaningless Pakistan. been allowed to trade from day one, controversy on the subject. the relations between India and The positive side of the meeting Pakistan would have got normalized The staggering escalation in far excels the negative. Things by this time. India’s huge market inequality contributes to global and would have proceeded faster but is looking for customers to sell the domestic economic and financial for the lack of preparations on the products. Pakistan, on its part, more instability by fostering a political environment that lends itself to part of New Delhi. My information or less bottled up so far, is keen to risky investment behaviour and the is that India’s foreign office did break the shackles of steep tariff emergence of asset bubbles. The not know how far Islamabad was walls to reach India. critical importance of inequality willing to accommodate us. Pakistan as a driver of crisis is clear when Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani One another good development one is confronted with the fact that had given the Zardari government, is the music competition among the average income of the world’s more or less, a carte blanche because young singers of the two countries. richest five per cent is 165 times Kayani wants to fight against the Unfortunately, the Shiv Sena and higher than the poorest five per cent. In a world where the richest its associate Raj Thackrey are so Taliban single-mindedly. He has five per cent earn in 48 hours as even withdrawn troops from the obsessed with the anti-Pakistan much as the poorest in one year, Indian border to put them on the bitterness in which they have understanding the linkages between Waziristan front. India realizes that consumed themselves that they are rising income inequality and the it indicates Kayani’s confidence threatening to stop the competition. greater frequency and severity of in normalizing relations with New The attitude of the Mumbaiwalas the financial and economic crises Delhi. This was the best opportunity should be that the dogs bark and the is central to proposing policies that which we should have grabbed with caravan passes on. The initiative build systemic resilience and enable a less volatile growth process. . both hands to reach an agreement taken by young singers on both on Sir Creek which Islamabad was sides is an example for politicians –Anuradha Seth in The Hindu ready to sign. One thing would have to emulate. Dear Friends, led to another. On the birth anniversary of Lok What still baffles me is why the Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, on 11th Foreign Minister Krishna two foreign ministers have failed to October 2012, a veteran of Socialist considers that India has achieved agree on the exchange of newspapers movement and colleague of Acharya a lot. “Two years ago, Pakistan from both sides. Even the sale of Narendra Deva and Dr Rammanohar rejected the step-by-step approach books of one country to another has Lohia and a personal friend of when we suggested it. Now that is escaped a solution. These instances Chandra Shekharji, Shri Sohanveer being adopted by both countries,” underline a trust deficit. Unless both Singh Tomar, ex- MLA,UP and countries try to narrow the gap of President of Dr Rammanohar Lohia said Krishna in a separate briefing Sansthan cordially invites you for for the large Indian media contingent suspicion no liberalization of visa a “Socialist get together” at the travelling with him. In contrast, would be of any help. To begin with, Chamber of Commerce Hal (in front Pakistan foreign minister Khar both sides should go through the text of Roadways Bus Stand) Meerut-UP, did not contradict him but said the books of each other’s and delete at 11 AM on 11th October 2012. two countries were now seeking to the portions which evoke hatred build on convergences through the and suspicion. The meeting of the You are requested to kindly join dialogue process. She did not want two foreign ministers may well be this get-together. to go into history because she said a missed opportunity. It could have –Qurban Ali she was born after 1971 war. Khar achieved more. 4 JANATA, September 16, 2012 Undermining our Parliament!

D. K. Giri

The paradox of Indian politics is the whole nation; you were deputed win any resolution, let alone a no- that our democracy is being hailed, here by the people to get grievances confidence motion, or obtain the perhaps, as the only one in Asia redressed, and are yourselves gone; resignation of the Prime Minister. sustaining since our independence, ……. So! Take away that shining Hence they resorted to physical while our Parliament, the central bauble there, and lock up the doors. disruption, which is blatantly anti- institution of our democratic In the name of God, go!" democratic. How can one ask the politics is being undermined. The Naxals to embrace democracy when parliamentary behaviour of MPs His admonition to the British major political parties are boycotting from across the political parties has parliamentarians then seems to it? The only difference here is that been disgusting and reprehensible as apply very much to our MPs today. Naxals use violence. it violates the dignity, discipline and How did it happen? There could decorum of the supreme institution. be many reasons. The quality of No one is holding a brief for the The entire last session was stalled, the parliamentarians leaves a lot Congress either. Making a choice the whole winter session last year to desire. In the last parliament, between the Congress and the BJP was wiped out, a bill was torn by there were 125 members in the is like asking someone: will you a Member, two Members from two Lok Sabha with criminal charges like to be run over by a train or a political parties were physically levelled against them; in the present truck. The Congress is known now attacking each other, Members parliament the number has gone for strategic flip-flops, and blowing shouting slogans and rushing to the up to 175 odd. There is no training hot and cold. Take for example: their ‘well’ to make a point, forcing the or orientation provided by the handling of civil society movements, Chair or the Speaker to adjourn the party leadership on parliamentary namely the one led by Ramdev and house. All these as the Members behaviour, or our rich heritage, another one by Anna Hazare, their (from the BJP) were fighting against or the good practices from other obstinacy on not having a JPC on scams. The parliamentary paralysis parliaments. Parliamentary rules and 2G scam against the BJP’s insistence is worse than anything happening procedures are flouted by the MPs, on it and then, not asking the Prime resembling proverbial Murphy’s and no immediate action is taken Minister to resign, if A. Raja, the Law, where the cure is worse than against them. For instance, the rules Telecom Minister, went, so should the disease. Every conscious citizen say (i) no member can tear off any have the Coal Minister. This is needs to take a serious view of this document or bill, (ii) no member can clearly double standard. Yet, the BJP dangerous trend in our politics. shout slogans in the parliament, (iii) had been unwise and undemocratic Cromwellian Parallel no one can run into the pit to draw in disrupting the parliament, in the attention of the speaker. While violating the dignity and discipline of One wonders if the current such codified rules exist, how the the highest institution of democracy. parliamentary standards draw a BJP can, or for that matter any other Dr. B. R Ambedkar had warned us parallel with the ‘Long Parliament' party, disrupt the functioning of the that we have a Constitution, and its that Oliver Cromwell prorogued in parliament and physically prevent institutions to conduct our affairs. It 1653. It is worth quoting his speech the sittings of the parliament. The is not like the colonial period when to that Parliament: “It is high time for BJP now says they had no option. we did not have one. So, to bypass me to put an end to your sitting in this The excuse is ridiculous; the option these institutions is “grammar of place, which you have dishonored of using the parliamentary forums by your contempt of all virtue, and anarchy” and sooner we avoid this defiled by your practice of every to debate and challenge the ruling tactic the better for us. party and allow the citizens - they vice; ye are a factious crew and Status of parliament enemies to all good government… are sovereign in a democracy - to Ye are grown intolerably odious to judge. The BJP has 114 members How do we perceive the in the parliament, so they cannot parliament? Where do we position JANATA, September 16, 2012 5 it in our politics? How should the no laxity shown, when any such the parliament. There have been Members of Parliament behave, as matters arise. If once the reputation meetings of presiding officers the representatives of the people to of our legislatures goes down, then and others in order to identify the uphold the image, the position and democracy itself will be in peril”. reasons. One such meeting held the status of the parliament? These on 25th November 2001 found Because of serious dilution in the questions must be attended to, lest the following: (i) Members not effectiveness of the parliament in law our democracy should be in peril. having enough time to raise matters, making, the judiciary has become (ii) non-responsive attitude of the more active. There are several Public Parliament is the central institution government, (iii) non-adherence to Interest Litigations (PILs) on civic through which the ‘will’ of the people parliamentary norms, (iv) no proper issues. The growing activism of is expressed, laws are passed, and action taken against erring members. judiciary is inversely proportionate government is held to account. Thus, Whilst such problems exist there is to the decline of parliament. Then, the Members collectively represent no room for disruption. questions are being asked as to what the legislative power of the state is the representative character of the and have the constitutional function Code of Conduct judges, however impartial and wise of controlling and overseeing the Again there have been attempts they are. Judicial interventions in government. The Members of to define a ‘code of conduct’ by routine governance matters amount Parliament are thus custodians setting up Ethics Committee in to negation of representative of people’s interest and faith in order to purge indiscipline and parliamentary democracy. But do democracy, they are the role-models unruly behaviour in the parliament. the Members of Parliament and for citizens in politics and therefore a For instance, the Ethics Committee the parties they belong to see the strong parliament consisting of solid established by Rajya Sabha in 1997 discordance in governance they are Members is a vital sign of a healthy recommended a code of conduct, causing. To be sure, the status of democracy. Along with efficiency, which among other things, suggested pre-eminence of the parliament is the ethics of Members is central to that “Members are expected to being compromised. In fact, there the functioning of the parliament. maintain high standards of morality, are wider issues of functioning of Let us recall what our first Prime dignity, decorum and values in the parliament such as quality of Minister, who had high regards for public life”. debates, transparency, accountability, the institution of parliament, had to responsiveness, representativeness The presiding officers in their say when a Member, Shri Mudgal, and so on. Such issues can be raised meeting also passed a resolution on did not behave. It is well known and discussed in order to improve parliamentary ethics, which among that in 1951, the then Member of the delivery of parliament only when several other guidelines, suggested Parliament, H.G. Mudgal's conduct the parliament functions smoothly. that, “earnest endeavour be made in promoting business interests In monetary terms, lot of money is by all political parties to lay down of some firms in contravention spent on the MPs and parliament parameters with emphasis on proven of the discipline and decorum of officials which go down the drain standards in public life, for selection the House had invited adverse if the parliament does not function. of candidates for election”. comments from every quarter. Workers in all sectors do not get Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to One must realize that “Code of paid if they do not work. Will the all the Chief Ministers on 4th October Conduct” for that matter, rules, MPs forgo their daily allowances 1951, emphasising the need for procedures and conventions do not and salaries if the parliament is not parliamentarians to maintain high in themselves guarantee ethical sitting? Of course, it is not the case standards of behaviour, “parliament behaviour. Their effectiveness that all MPs are irresponsible, it is viewed the conduct of Mr. Mudgal depends upon a range of factors, only a few, in this case, the BJP MPs with extreme disfavour. There has some of which are: (i) a functioning, who disrupted the parliament. Why been a tendency in the past not only vigilant and vibrant civil society, did the speaker take no action against in parliament but probably in the (ii) the existence of a cultural, them as they had no constitutional state legislatures also, not to keep political and administrative context right to do so? proper standards of behaviour. conducive to transparency and The Mudgal case is an example There are many contributory integrity on the part of politicians and a warning and there must be factors for chaos and disorder in and civil servants, (iii) a free media, 6 JANATA, September 16, 2012

(iv) the code of conduct, attuned to surrounding political culture, Maoists threaten constructive activists and compatible with other national integrity regimes. Pannalal Surana

The Way Ahead Mendha Lekha is a small village for forest lands in their villages or One cannot expect all these in Dhanora tehsil in Gadchiroli nearby. About 400 such applications conducive conditions to be in district of were being processed, l50 were place for our Members to maintain granted pattas out of which seven standards, and uphold the dignity Maharashtra. Devaji Tofa, son villages decided to undertake of the parliament. We must recover of the soil, is active in undertaking Bamboo cutting in March 2012. the confidence in the integrity and implementing various village When the villagers started cutting, of our parliament. The British development schemes. Almost every Ballarpur Paper Mill took objection Parliament is quoted as a model household in the village has a latrine saying that the lease granted to them for the rest of the world. There, besides a few public ones. Improved was still in force. The villagers a slight aberration in an MP’s methods of paddy cultivation are withdrew for a while. At night, behaviour and the British public being adopted by the villagers. some Naxalites visited some of strongly disapproves of it. A BBC When the State Government the villages and asked the villagers research finding on parliamentary started implementation of Forests to allow the Paper Mill people to standards is instructive: “to re- Rights Act 2006, tlre Gram Sabha cut the bamboo. So, next day, the launch democracy, a shot in the arm (GS) of Mendha Lekha applied for villagers went to the FD and gave in is needed to make large sections collective patta for management of writing that they would not cut the of the electorate realize the value the forest in the village boundary, bamboo. Some of the organizations of democracy, and appraise how a got it and undertook cutting of took up the matter with R. R. Patil, bunch of self-serving dispassionate mature Bamboos, which is enlisted State Home Minister and Minister grey suits sitting around… Therefore as minor forest produce over which in charge of Gadchiroli district. In BBC has taken a decision to orient the GS has control. Officers of the April, Secretary in FD visited district its approach to make politics more Forest Department (FD) grumbled a headquarters and advised the officers accessible for all”, and to “fulfil little and declared that the villagers there to treat the lease of the Paper the fundamental objective of re- would not be allowed to take the Mill as terminated and help the democratising democracy to make cut bamboos outside. However, villagers to cut mature bamboo in it work, and to make it valued.” Is the GS organized open auction for their area. With support of veteran any in the Indian media listening? sale of bamboos and fetched a price leader Hiraman Warkhde, the GSs of Rs 20/- per piece for which the of the seven villages restarted the A nation-wide campaign or Ballarpur Paper Mill used to pay cutting operation. They entered into an agreement with a trader who a movement is needed for the hardly Rs.2/-. Mohan Hirabai Hiralal agreed to pay Rs. 1/- as wages per restoration of our parliamentary of Chandrapur, who has been closely piece to the person who would do the democracy. One is surprised how associated with the villagers of cutting and Rs 20/- as royalty to the such a serious anti-democratic act by Mendha Lekha for long, succeeded in persuading Jairam Ramesh, the GSs. A number of young residents a single party or a group of parties shouldered the responsibility of or an individual, is going unnoticed. then Minister for Environment and Forests, who prevailed upon the FD supervising the whole operation We need to remind ourselves of voluntarily. A wave of enthusiasm what Jayaprakash Narayan strongly to issue Transit Pass (TP) to facilitate transportation of the cut bamboos to spread throughout the region. advised us, that “the time to save the outside market. The Minister also Mendha Lekha had earned about house is not when it is tottering on a visited the village and congratulated Rs. one crore. Other villages started single pillar, it is when people start the residents for their sustained to tread the same path. chipping away from it.” Parliament constructive work. That was in April is being undermined by disruption, or May 2011. The Naxalites got enraged. They let us save it, or else we will render visited Devaji Tofa and gave him our parliament totally ineffective, A number of nearby villages a letter, signed by the Communist and irrelevant. also applied for collective pattas Party of India (Maoist) requesting JANATA, September 16, 2012 7 him to ask Mohan Hirabai Hiralal Condemn Brutal Police Repression on not to visit Mandha Lekha anymore because all their activities were Peaceful Protestors at Koodankulam dampening the revolutionary fervor of the villagers. In that letter, it Scrap the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant! was also stated that the Bhoodan movement of Vinoba Bhave in 1951 Phase out all Nuclear Plants at the earliest!! had played the same “dirty trick”. Devaji told them that he could W e , t h e u n d e r s i g n e d had to be hospitalised, an unknown not take any decision individually organisations, strongly condemn number have been arrested. The but would put the letter before the the fierce police repression in Tamil police also entered Idinthikarai villagers. Later on, at a meeting of Nadu on the peaceful agitation being village, breaking open doors, the Gram Sabha, it was resolved waged by the people of Idinthikarai damaging houses, even damaging not to accept the suggestion of the and other villages surrounding the the water supply system to the CPI(Maoist) and continue their twin Koodankulam Nuclear Plant. village. The media persons were also activity of peaceful struggle and attacked. Cameramen were specially constructive work. Tens of thousands of people of targeted, they had their cameras * * * Tirunelveli district in Southern broken and videotapes removed. Tamil Nadu have been participating A shocking incident had taken place in village Tamda of Etapally in protest marches, boat rallies and It is a sad comment on the tehsil in district Gadchiroli on 2nd relay hunger strikes demanding dehumanisation of our police force August – killing of of Raju Gotha. the scrapping of the Koodankulam that they even desecrated the church Along with Jagdish Tirodkar and Nuclear Power Plant, in what is one in Idinthikarai village. Idols were Kishor Potanwar, I visited the of the most powerful non-violent broken. Policemen spat and urinated bereaved family on 25th August. Gandhian people's movements in inside the church. Manju, the widow of Raju told recent times. It is a more than two us that around midnight, a group decade old struggle. The government Government Lies of persons shouted from outside: turned a blind eye to their protests and The government of India, its “Where is Raju Gotha? I said he is went ahead with the construction of nuclear establishment and several sleeping. Back came the words - get the plant. Now, with the construction top intellectuals are claiming that him up. I opened the door. Three- completed, as the government began nuclear energy is a clean, safe, four persons rushed in though I tried plans to load the fuel into the plant green and cheap solution to meet to prevent them. They hit me and and start it up, the people's dam of our future energy needs. They are brushed me aside. They closed the dubbing the protestors as foreign door from inside. There came noises patience has broken. On September of harsh words and within seconds 9, 2012, 8000 to 10,000 people agents, as being anti-development... came the noise of a gunshot. Baiju, marched to the plant, in an attempt In reality, it is these protestors who my father-in-law, who was sleeping to gherao the plant to prevent the are the real patriots, it is our rulers in another room, came out. The fuel loading, demanding that the who have become agents of giant Naxalites apprehended him, tied plant be shut down permanently. The foreign and Indian corporations, his hands on backside and dragged police stopped them from reaching who are putting the entire future of him and the injured Raju on the the plant. The protesters sat down our country at risk for the profits of road. My younger brother-in-law, on the sea shore and said they will these corporations. Sudhakar came out and tried to continue their struggle from there. resist but was hurt grievously and Nuclear Energy is Deathly thrown aside. After leaving the The next morning, on September Even if nuclear reactors operate two bodies on the road, with a tag 10, at 11.30 am, the police launched normally, their environmental attached to the banian of Raju, they their 'war' on the people. After costs are terrible. The process of entered the village, shouted to the lobbying tear gas shells, thousands fissioning uranium to generate heat people to come out of homes and of policemen brutally lathicharged and produce electricity in a nuclear told them that there were two dead the protestors. Dozens of men and reactor also results in the creation (Continued on Page 10) women were badly beaten up and of more than 200 types of highly 8 JANATA, September 16, 2012 radioactive elements. Many of these elements will continue to release Let us Do Some Soul-search and Talk Again! radiation for thousands of years. A 1000 MW nuclear reactor contains Just like a hapless wife brutally assaulted by her male chauvinistic and within it radiation equivalent to that drunken husband, like an innocent little child beaten up by his abusive released by 1000 Hiroshima bombs! parent, our honest, hardworking, and pious people have been violated, their The country's nuclear scientists— possessions vandalized, their 400-day long nonviolent movement vilified. who are no longer scientists, but By our own government! By our own Chief Minister who we brought back have become paid agents —are to power to rescue us from corruption, power abuse, nepotism, dynastic rule claiming that nuclear plants do and double speak! An overwhelming majority of the Tamil voters including not emit any of this radiation, and almost all the coastal communities voted for the Chief Minister’s party. even if it leaks, radiation is safe and not harmful to humans and When the biggest nuclear power plants in the country or the largest the environment. They are lying. nuclear power park is being set up on our seas that will have deleterious Even during normal operation of effect on our sea and seafood, land and crops, water bodies and ground a nuclear plant, small or large water, on our livelihood and on our progeny, we have opposed peacefully, amounts of this radiation routinely democratically and nonviolently. Don’t we have at least that much freedom leaks out into the atmosphere. An in our country? even more monstrous problem is the problem of radioactive waste. In fact, the Chief Minister sympathized with our cause in the beginning. The two Koodankulam reactors She had objected to the Chennai visit of the nuclear-armed ship, the USS will generate 3600 tons of waste Nimitz; and she had opposed the India-US nuclear deal with so much in their life of 60 years, which will conviction. Our team met with the Chief Minister twice and the Prime remain radioactive for more than 2 Minister once at her own personal initiative. The Chief Minister kept talking lakh years. There is no safe way of about solar power and other renewable sources of energy, kept demanding storing these deadly wastes for such more electricity from the central pool and more finance for electricity a long period of time; and so the projects in Tamil Nadu. She even said that she would be one among us in waste inevitably leaks. The impact of our struggle. this radiation on the human body is deathly: it causes all kinds of cancer, We took to the streets, voiced our concerns to the Central Government infertility, premature aging, kidney and asked them to stop the Koodankulam nuclear power project, change our problems, and several other diseases, energy policy and to save our natural resources. The District Collector, Dr. and also mutates the reproductive R. Selvaraj, entertained us in his office and served us tea and biscuits. The genes— causing all kinds of diseases Superintendent of Police, Mr. Vijayendra Bidari, gave oral ‘go-ahead’ every and birth deformities in future time we sought permission over phone for our demonstrations, agitations generations. Consequently, people and public meetings. But they kept on filing false cases on us all with serious living near nuclear plants will suffer charges such as sedition, waging war on the state and so forth. these effects for thousands of years. The ‘love scene’ changed to ‘hate scene’ in March 2012! The script The water discharged into the changed! The situation, the lighting, and the overall direction changed! ocean by the cooling systems of The Chief Minister alleges that we are all in a ‘maya valai’ (mystical net). the nuclear plant will be carrying Maybe she is referring to nuclear radiation that is indeed like a ‘maya valai’ a terrific amount of heat. This will you cannot see, hear, smell, taste or touch. lead to a sharp decline in the fish catch in the coastal areas, destroying Today we are surrounded by police, beaten up by police, harassed by the livelihoods of tens of thousands police, accused of committing all kinds of crimes by police, arrested by of local fisherfolk. It has happened police and above all, mentally, emotionally, spiritually assaulted by police. with coastal nuclear plants around And the Chief Minister is the police minister! the world, from the USA to India (Kalpakkam and Tarapur nuclear We are all fisherfolks, shopkeepers, agricultural laborers, beedi-rolling plants). women, and to be brief, working class people. We do not steal public JANATA, September 16, 2012 9

Nuclear Plants are Accident-prone Let us Do Some Soul-search and Talk Again! And if there is a major accident in the nuclear plant, its consequences money, we do not amass wealth through illegal business deals, and we do will be simply devastating. Here are not plunder the nation’s natural wealth. But we are treated like criminals; a few facts about two such accidents dangerous, seditious, violent, vicious and wicked lawbreakers. Our leaders, that have occurred in recent times. who have been invoking the names and wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, Buddha, Chernobyl, Ukraine, April Mahavir, Ashoka, Guru Nanak, Mahatma Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan 1986: i) More than 100,000 square and Mother Teresa, are treated like dreaded terrorists. Our people who miles around Chernobyl – twice worship Sage Vishwamitra, Lord Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohamed are the area of Tamil Nadu – is heavily treated with contempt and dislike. The St. Lourdes Church at Idinthakarai contaminated; this contamination has been desecrated by urinating and a holy statue destroyed. Naval boats will continue to affect the health of are patrolling our seas; air force planes are hovering over our villages; the people living in these regions for police are blocking our roads; we are short of food, water and other basic thousands of years; ii) Nearly 10 essentials; and the state is waging a war on us! But we cannot do a thing! lakh people died worldwide due to Chernobyl up to 2004; this number The global nuclear mafia sees our people as their sworn enemies. The will continue to increase for many KGB, the CIA and other international intelligence agencies consider us generations; iii) More than 5 million serious threats to their respective ruling cliques. The Delhi Government people who continue to live in the is infuriated with us as they are worried about their billion dollar nuclear most dangerously contaminated business deals and commissions and kickbacks. The Tamil Nadu Government areas know that they are forever also tends to treat us like dreaded terrorists and dangerous criminals. contaminated, that they could get cancer anytime, and that future The police have shot down an unarmed civilian Anthony John at generations could be born with Manappadu coastal village. Several people including a small baby are said severe birth defects; iv) Children to be missing. Some 53 nonviolent protesters, men and women, are charged are the worst affected, less than with sedition and waging war on the State cases and are languishing in 20 percent children are healthy in distant prisons in Tamil Nadu. Thousands and thousands of families are the contaminated areas, and in the living in fear and despair. heavily contaminated areas, it is difficult to find one healthy child. We do not expect or want any awards or accolades for practicing democracy and protesting in a nonviolent manner. But can’t we be treated Fukushima, Japan, March 2011: with a little bit of humanness, civility and dignity? Who should we turn This accident is even bigger than to? Who could we talk to? The Chief Minister may not even see this. Her Chernobyl. Its full consequences arrogant upper caste advisors may say everything bad about us and our will be known in the coming years. So far, nearly 1.5 lakh people have lower asstff people. been evacuated in areas around the We would request the Chief Minister to stop fuelling the KKNPP, remove damaged plant; they are never going police from our area, provide compensation for the people who lost their to return to their homes. In the rest of Japan, the radiation leaking from the boats, vehicles and household items, and release those who are arrested. plant is going to contaminate the soil, We thank all the leaders and members of various political parties, social groundwater, Pacific Ocean, leading movements, lawyer associations, fishermen associations, student groups, to contamination of vegetables, labor unions, village committees and other organizations in Tamil Nadu and rice, fruits, fish, milk. Independent European scientists estimate that other states for organizing various demonstrations and agitations in support over 10 lakh Japanese are going to of our struggle. We would solicit their continued support for our struggle develop cancers over the next 30 and for the above-mentioned immediate demands as well. years due to the accident. –S. P. Udaykumar Because of these terrible effects, The Struggle Committee, People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy most countries around the world 10 JANATA, September 16, 2012 have stopped building nuclear to reduce electricity demand by a We, concerned citizens of Pune, plants. The US has not ordered a new whopping 30-40 percent! If that is severely condemn the repression plant for nearly 40 years now, since done, there would actually be no unleashed by the government on October 1973, and Canada since need to build new power plants the people of South Tamil Nadu. 1978. A majority of countries of for the next few years!! Our future We call upon the Central and State Western Europe have banned nuclear growth needs can then be met from governments to: power plants. After Fukushima, renewable energy sources. Even the countries which had nuclear plants, government admits their potential 1. Honour the Right to Dissent, like Germany and Switzerland, have to be: Wind Energy - 48,500 MW; and end the violent repression decided to close down their existing Small Hydro Power - 15,000 MW; of the non-violent struggle at nuclear plants too. Biomass Energy - 21,000 MW; Koodankulam, Jaitapur and all and at least 50,000 MW from Solar other places where people are India's establishment scientists Energy. The actual potential is much protesting the setting up of nuclear are lying about the safety of the more. Furthermore, while nuclear plants and uranium mines. Koodankulam reactors. A Chernobyl electricity costs are rising, renewable 2. Withdraw all false cases against or Fukushima type accident can energy costs are rapidly falling: the peaceful satyagrahis at all happen again, anywhere, in any wind energy is already cheaper than these places and withdraw all reactor in the world, and also at conventional electricity, while solar prohibitory orders from the area, Koodankulam, as nuclear technology photovoltaic energy cost is expected including Section 144, so that is a complex technology and is to become so by 2015-20. normalcy can be restored. inherently prone to catastrophic Support the Kuankulam Struggle accidents. 3. The government must stop police The people of Koodankulam repression on people protesting Alternative Solutions are fighting not just for their health against nuclear plants and to Energy Crisis and livelihoods and the lives of uranium mines and engage in an Paying such enormous costs their future generations, they are open dialogue with the peaceful to meet our electricity needs is fighting for all of us, for the people protestors. sheer madness, when safe and of the entire country. For, if there is environmentally friendly solutions a major accident at Koodankulam, The Prime Miniser must initiate a exist: maximizing energy efficiency it will destroy the country. Nuclear broad-based and transparent national and using renewable energy sources. energy has the potential to destroy debate on nuclear energy keeping Through measures such as increasing a nation – according to Mikhail in mind concerns related to safety, generation, transmission and end- Gorbachev, it was not perestroika viability and the adverse social and use efficiency, and elimination of but the Chernobyl disaster which environmental impacts of nuclear wasteful consumption, it is possible destroyed the Soviet Union. plants. Socialist Party (India) Lal Nishan Party (Leninist) Lokshashan Andolan Lokayat Abhijit Vaidya Medha Thatte Justice Kolse Patil Neeraj Jain (Continued from Page 7) No other evidence of “anti-people a deserter. The same night another activity” of the son-father duo was person met the same fate. I asked: bodies lying on the road and dashed mentioned. why did you not tell them that what away in the dark.” The villagers they were doing was bad. They corroborated Manju’s story. When We had observed that the family replied: we cannot say so to persons we visited Police Station, the officer was very poor. We asked the people who have guns with them. there gave us a photocopy of the tag whether the family had any feud that was attached to Raju’s body. It with anybody to which the reply was The police were also puzzled was written in odd Hindi saying that in the negative. We further asked because Raju or Baiju, the priests of the traitors of people will get similar whether the Naxalites had visited the the village were not in their contact. punishment. The police were held village earlier. One person said that It seems the Naxalites are a reckless responsible for the killing meaning about four years back the Naxalites lot trying to terrorize the Adivasis thereby that they suspected Raju had shot dead a person in the weekly while extracting money from the to be an informer of the police. Bazar who was alleged to have been industrialists and contractors. JANATA, September 16, 2012 11 Recognition syndrome or identity crisis?

K. S. Chalam

Amartya Sen, in his famous Perhaps, Gray missed what Sen from generation to generation as book ‘Identity and Violence: the had meant by saying that, “violence a legacy, but it is a political tool Illusion of Destiny’ (2006), observed is fermented by the imposition of to keep a select few in power and that the false notion of solitary singular and belligerent identities several others outside it. It has never identity is resulting in violence in on gullible people” through remained the same. It has its own ups contemporary world. The recent propaganda. The solitarist fallacy and downs passing through some debate on the political reservations of identity in the Indian situation, historical processes. The Western for various caste groups in the if extended further, leads us to spot or Occidental concept of class as State once again brings the issue out the inhuman and irrational social equivalent to caste, trained us to look of identity into public discourse institution called ‘caste’ as a marker. at it as a static phenomenon. as mainstream scholars termed it The philosophical discourse of Sen as identity politics. The notions of on identity can be applied to our Some scholars are bringing freedom, identity, violence, choice, social situation. There is no doubt narratives to show that it has etc, are generally used in debates of that humans would have multiple undergone mutations. Yet, the caste-based politics in India. identities as parents, children, dominant ideology or what Sen workers, classes, rich, poor, Hindu, Therefore, it is necessary to describes as the propaganda, seemed Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and so examine the relevance of some of the to have remained the same, in terms ideas in the context of caste-based on. But, they are all subsumed under of ‘they’ and ‘we’, the ruling castes reservations. Does the present debate the dominant and inherited identity and the ruled with an experimental come under the broad framework called caste. group of residuals or untouchables. of freedom to choose a leader or Therefore, the social category of Sen has attributed the fallacy selecting someone within narrow caste, as an identity, has always been of identity to intellectual error. confines like caste? Reviewing Sen’s used by people to come to power or It is necessary to qualify what book for Guardian, John Gray has enjoy patronage within the system or Sen intended to by referring to raised the point of philosophical to demand a rightful share in power. limitations to understand the intellectual error: judgment or beliefs? Considering that caste, as contemporary society. In this context, the recent debate a belief, may be a false belief, is it on why backward classes should He has cited the experience of possible to reduce the intensity of not be given their share in politics Isaiah Berlin who narrated how he this identity through reasoned public in proportion to their representation had witnessed a terrified man being debate as Sen wanted us to do? in the population appears to be killed by a crowd in Petrograd during Russian Revolution that remained We have historical evidence of legitimate. There is a related issue a lifelong horror of violence, with not only public debates and even of recognition and self-image of that of Sen’s experience in his caste wars to bring people around individual leaders who have been childhood of how a Muslim daily public reason, with little effect. championing the cause of the victims. wager was killed before his eyes Thus, Sen, according to his The social reform or renaissance as examples of violence of identity. critiques, has failed to provide movements in modern India from the Gray argued that Berlin considered a reasonable solution to the problems time of Jyothiba Phule, Ayothi Das freedom only as a universal value, but of multiple identities. As remarked and others have produced several not an overriding human need. Gray by him, violence creates identity as leading lights like Ambedkar, EVR, was critical about Sen’s conceptual much as identity creates violence. Lohia, Karpoori Thakur and several therapy, perhaps ingrained in the others who have struggled to get Sen’s concept of freedom, to remove Caste is not a simple social or recognition to the majority of the the deep-seated traits of man. cultural institution, transformed socially disadvantaged . 12 JANATA, September 16, 2012

The solitary belief that they predisposition not to build up as internal bickering of the ruling castes are inferior due to their birth has stumbling blocks of emancipation as they are manipulative (arranged) been blitzed through brainwash of movement, and learn from others’ to confuse others as everyone knows religious or social bigotry in India. experiences. There are plenty of that ultimately they get united This may be in the framework of examples from the political and when power is about to dissipate. Sen, comes under unethical or wrong social history of Andhra Pradesh Are leaders of the numerous social identity of humans who are supposed of how the elite of the caste forged to have several identities. But the unity and assimilated castes that are groups and the activists willing to single most significant identity in close to them to wield social power bury their identities and recognition social relations in South Asia is still and ultimately political supremacy. syndrome to give vent to their caste caste. It is here that social tensions One need not be carried away by the agendas to gain political power? arise in our everyday transactions and cannot be innocuous with our simple craving. Manifesto of Socialist Yuvjan Sabha for the Delhi University Students Union election The individual who defies A Decisive Voice Against established social norms and Neo-liberal Onslaught on Education. sacrifices for the sake of the larger interests of the community/caste ‘‘When students do not take part in politics they allow politics of the ruling rather than the uniqueness of self government and, thus, do politics indirectly.’’ - Dr. Rammanohar Lohia and has tangible gains should be ‘‘They (students) should study. They must study. Simultaneously they should considered as a leader. There are attain knowledge of politics and when necessary should jump in the field and always self-centered and egotistic dedicate their lives to that.’’ - Bhagat Singh persons who get into social SYS demands: movements for recognition. There The fee for the revaluation should be Rs. 100 as it was earlier. is no problem with them as they do 1. The East and West campuses should be opened without delay in view of the contribute to the development or fast expansion of Delhi and difficulties in commuting. Evening classes should enhancement of the social cause. be started in all colleges. 2. PG and M.Phil. classes for social science, humanity and commerce subjects But, the problem is with those should be held in the South campus also, as was held in the past. who claim that every success of a social movement is due to his/ 3. All seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC students should be filled in time and transparency maintained in the process of admission. her indulgence. They do repeat the behavior as a symptom of 4. Hostel facility should be provided for all students who require it. abnormal condition and prone to 5. Measures should be taken for the safety of girl students in the colleges and inability to treat others as humans the university. and co-workers; land him or her 6. The university administration should ensure that no discrimination and in a syndrome. It is alleged by misbehaviour is meted out to the students coming from any part of the country. commentators that the syndrome 7. Under the semester system sections should be increased as per student-teacher is widely prevalent today among ratio. social activist groups (SC/OBC) 8. Adequate arrangements should be made for University Special buses in the or civil society organizations that colleges and North/South campuses. DTC pass should be allowed in all type fail to absorb or assimilate other of DTC buses and students should be provided concessional metro cards. similarly placed individuals and 9. Proper arrangements should be done in teaching and reading material for the their contributions. Hindi medium students. 10. Library facilities should be improved in the best interest of the students. These tendencies are increasingly 11. Presence of private security and police in the college and university campus creating divisions and subdivisions vitiate the atmosphere of teaching and studies. Permanent chowkidars and might damage the very righteous employed by Delhi University should undertake the task of security. intentions. Social activists must –Rakesh Kumar Dubey, Convener, Election Campaign Committee for DUSU be very careful in analyzing such JANATA, September 16, 2012 13 Expanding Frontiers of Public Law

B. Sudarshan Reddy

Over the past three decades or so people, so that they need no longer democracies by people, who there have been many instances of be the mob. Unless the conditions do not have it, carry lessons for popular uprisings against existing of the previous order, and the loss the rest of us that the broader socio-economic and political of self-respect and dignity, which understanding of both the necessity orders. The visuals in the media impels the people to turn into a and the feasibility of a progressive as those instances unfold, and the mob, are understood, accepted and constitutionalism is correct. It should consequences thereafter, confirm honestly sought to be changed, one also make us more inclined to the most deep rooted assumptions could not be certain that a new order protect, nurture and sustain those of constitutionalism, and of that comes into existence would also progressive constitutional projects modern public law: people can, and not become popularly discredited, that have already commenced. sometimes do, turn into mobs when passionately despised, and possibly Many civil society initiatives, rule is not informed by law, and law again violently hounded out. The involving people from all walks in turn is not informed by justice. construction of legitimacy of the new of life and from across the globe, Rare though the occurrences of order, in the form of a just law, has have issued statements which stand formation of people as a mob may to necessarily precede the possibility as testimony to that claim. The key be, they nevertheless reconfirm the of the political sphere. As pointed elements are that achievement of fact that people can be an elemental out by Julius Stone, “ the essence of democracy and respect for human force. revolution…. is a sudden breach as rights is fundamental to welfare opposed to a gradual smooth one, of the people, and that real and While the immediate, and however far-reaching be the effects effective political reforms would understandable, concern of the rest of the latter.”1 Professor Stone uses imply rule of law, and institutional of the world is about a return to another expression to describe integrity based on separation of “order”, the emergence, on occasion, the gradual and smooth change powers. The wish list in such calls of even more repressive orders of regime within a constitutional include demands for independent should warn us against the banal order: “social death.” The social judiciary, respect for human rights, certitude of the desire for “Le Roi death of a particular regime within both socio-economic and political, est mort; vive le Roi” – “The King the constraints of an accepted rule of law, end to political trials is Dead; Long Live the King.” constitutional process, howsoever and repression, allowing advocacy We should have an equally strong far reaching the resultant changes, roles for civil society organizations, concern, in the least, about the is substantially different from the freedom of expression, neutrality conditions, and the deep sense of change wrought by violence of the of state institutions to curb politics loss of self-respect and dignity, that people as a mob. The revolutionary of patronage, good governance impel the people to turn into a mob. moment may indeed be the ultimate and elimination of corruption, and Indeed, the absence of “order” for political choice; nevertheless, for private sector to be concerned with a significant length of time would the revolution to stop, so that the political reforms and social justice.2 raise major concerns about whether, ordinary, and hopefully the just, and when, it would return, and political process may be instantiated I am sure that anyone with even a what kind of forces are arraigned afresh, the normative expectations rudimentary understanding of public in favour of, under-girding and of the people have to be transcribed law would immediately recognize benefiting from the new order, and into a legal order. the above to be amongst the core the forces arraigned against it. The aspects of constitutionalism. Cicero fundamental premise of any morally Such events, and their was right when he said “salus populi acceptable quest for order ought to consequences, and more particularly suprema lex esto” – the welfare be the self-respect and dignity of the the demand for just constitutional of the people is the highest law. I 17TH Commonwealth Law Conference Keynote Address by Justice Reddy on 7TH February, 2011 at Hyderabad 14 JANATA, September 16, 2012 do not believe that it is necessary institutions are indeed functioning in exist, or that it came into existence to get into a lengthy debate about a manner conducive to achievement only very recently,5 or that it need the validity of that proposition. of the purposes of the original exist in specifying only a night While one might quibble about a compact. The continued trust of watchman role for the state, are both particular wording, or about the the people is sine-qua-non for the surprising, and also a partial cause putative political and ideological maintenance of constituted political for the continued confusion about the origins of a particular conception or power, and that in turn depends upon status of public law. A more refined relationship, one certainly cannot the degree of achievement of “salus historical analysis of England’s deny that at least at the textual populi” – welfare of the people. In political history points to continuing level, such articulations have been that sense, the idea of public law debate, battles and entrenchment the essence of public law.3 The may be exemplified not merely of the idea of limitation of powers very fact that people as a mob is an by the vesting of power, and of its vested in the organs of the State, with infrequent occurrence in the context limitations, but also the purpose to law as the community’s response to of reasonably well functioning which the power is to be used for, prevent abuse of power.6 The more constitutional democracies that and the consequences of its use. robust entrenchment of human achieve some measure of “salus Purpose, in the sense of the goal of rights, in recent times in England, populi”, lends support to the claim achievement of the welfare of the and the more self-assured claims of that civilized debates about public people, itself ought to be treated as judicial independence and powers, law, and constitutionalism, are worth a limitation of power. maybe indicative of maturing of pursuing. That those who do not thought with regard to public law have such an order demand it, should Part of the problem lies in the within the fortresses of classical justify our own obsession with it, deep hold of legal positivism on our legal positivism.7 and a desire to make it more likely modes of legal thought. The core of to realize its espoused values. its conception is that law and the state If public law is to serve a are to be clearly distinguished, in legitimating function, in order to Nevertheless, it should be order to facilitate a scientific study of ensure the stability of the state, then acknowledged that the need for law. Based on such a distinction, law it ought to specify the purposes, public law has been a matter of could then be conceived as a system and the vision, that would inform some debate, particularly within the of primary and secondary rules, with the nature of power, its extent, legal tradition that we as members the rule of recognition as the only and modalities of use. Based on a of the Commonwealth share. So, content of public law. At the very study of historical political debates, it did not come as a surprise to me point of inflection, when the how and Michael Oakeshott discerned, at a that the topics suggested to me, why of legitimacy of a political order conceptual level, two dichotomous initially about judicial activism and are to be specified, those questions positions: a politics of faith and a the current one about “Expanding are read out of the equation, as it politics of scepticism. The first one is Frontiers of Public Law” were were. However, hidden from such based on the ontology that a perfect framed in terms of uncertainty of a perspective, is the fact that it is order can be devised to achieve a the status of public law. Both the the very functioning of public law clearly definable “good life”, and topics reflect a continued unease that enables the establishment of that all rational individuals would be about the status of public law as a private law, and the plausibility able to discover the content of that demarcation of legal boundaries of acceptance by the people that single good life and hence consent to within which the political branches law possesses an inner coherence direction of state power towards that are to act. I believe that at least a part as well as a moral dimension that goal. The danger lies in its tyrannical of the unease could be explained by they may give their consent to. The impulses. On the other side would an inadequate appreciation of the legitimating function that public law be the politics of scepticism that legitimating functions of public law, serves of a particular political order posits the view that because of in facilitating the orderly change has been grossly underappreciated.4 variegated human experiences, of wielders of political power, no single conception of the good and the maintenance of the socio- The continued insistence, can be conceived, and attempts ethical conviction, or even hope, especially in England, that public at achievement of some claimed of the people that the State and its law does not exist, or that it need not “good life” valid for all would be JANATA, September 16, 2012 15

“to pursue perfection as the crow the state is used primarily to uphold of skepticism. They debated for flies”. Politics of scepticism would an extremely inequitable order. If long, sought for and brought to require that state power only be the politics of faith squelches human the table the varied constitutional vested for protection of individuals’ beings by imposing a singular experiences of other countries, freedoms, and the realm, so that they modus vivendi, then the politics of combined it with their individual and are free to pursue an individualistic scepticism squelches human beings collective intellect and experience, understanding of their relationship by legitimizing an order that exploits and produced a detailed constitution, with the external, and to explore the the individual, but hides the fact of that incorporated: division of powers immense opportunities that open up exploitation under the rhetoric of both horizontally and vertically, to them by responding to the world individuality. If the cry for liberty and independent judiciary tasked with the in accordance with only their self- political freedoms in the Casablanca role of constitutional interpretation interests. The danger obviously lies Call is a human understanding that and protection of constitutional in complete breakdown of social they need protection from extreme values, flexibility of constitutional ties, and pursuit of any collective forms of politics of faith, then the amendment within the context of purpose becomes difficult to cry for human rights, dignity, and basic unyielding constitutional conceive. The two political visions protection from corruption, in the values, which subsequently came to would translate into two political same Casablanca Call, is reflective be identified as the basic structure orders: one of overweening state of the other human understanding so that no temporary majority could control, and the other of laissez that they need protection from hijack the constitutional purpose faire free markets. At the present politics of scepticism. itself. The purpose of the state moment we would probably have was to achieve the pre-ambular to say the neither extreme has In 1947, the framers of Indian aspirations for all the people, and proved to be a normatively viable constitution, convened to frame a this was to be done by protection category to provide the purposes constitution for a country that was of fundamental rights of persons of the state, and instead what we riven by social, linguistic, geographic and citizens, and state action being find as appropriate would be an and religious categorizations and informed by directive principles of Aristotelian mean, “not merely in differences. The country itself state policies. While the directive the sense of compromise between had been devastated by partition, principles of state policy were the two positions, but a balance and most of its populace lived in specified as judicially unenforceable, between the two tendencies”. It is abject poverty, and shackled by they were nonetheless conceived as of course a recorded part of history ignorance. Disease, pestilence and fundamental to governance, and a that Oakeshott himself believed that death stalked the country side. Social source of constitutional values. the politics of faith had begun to and economic inequalities were overly dominate, and he undertook endemic. The relationships between As I read through the Casablanca the task of bringing back into view the people were mediated through Call, I was struck by the remarkable the virtues of politics of skepticism.8 the pernicious categories of the caste convergence of ideas, aspirations and system, and of a feudal order. It was hopes with those that the founding I would suggest that an unease for such a country that a remarkable fathers of India grappled with, and about expanding frontiers of public group of people, representing a indeed we continue to do so today. law, if animated by a sense that multitude of social backgrounds, It would appear that there is indeed politics of faith, and consequently though predominantly from the legal scope for identification of universal of overweening and dictatorial fraternity and trained in the common human aspirations, across time and tendencies, are entrenching law, sat down to constitute a nation- geographic space. I wish to use themselves, then it is understandable. state, and provide a framework for this convergence of ideas, across a However, my unease with the unease its tryst with destiny. In choosing a gulf of sixty years and the chasms about public law, as expressed political order, for such a country, of different cultural experiences, over the past twenty years or so, they did not go with either politics to offer Indian constitutionalism is that it arises out of an argument of faith or politics of skepticism. as proof indeed that a deliberate for an extreme form of capitalism, They chose politics of hope. Hope creation of a constitutional order informed by Spencerian Social as the Aristotelian mean, between can be successful, notwithstanding Darwinism, in which the power of the politics of faith, and politics the insurmountable odds that may R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 16, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 confront the people. Let me hasten to change constitutional meaning, chose a mixed economy model, to add that I am not doing this with within an overarching and a firm because the communist model some jingoistic fervor, or claim to matrix of constitutional values.9 The could have unleashed violence of a exceptionalism, but in the spirit that prolixity of the Indian constitution, massive order, and a pure capitalist identification of the causes and fault derided often, may have indeed been order would have prevented the lines of Indian experience, would a blessing; and the inclusiveness of attainment of goals of social justice, aid better understanding of what the people from different backgrounds and continued unconscionable frontiers of public law ought to be. into the constituent assembly, inequalities, sans even the rhetorical I believe, has indeed given the hope that the state might provide a It is now a confirmed verity, constitutional text the language helping hand.10 notwithstanding the doubting around which people of different (To be concluded) Thomases, India has survived, backgrounds have been able to and indeed flourished as a articulate their political aspirations, democracy. Except for a brief and participate in the political interlude, our political processes processes. The ability to amend have been peaceful, and transfer the constitution would appear to be of power accomplished within commendable in the Indian context; the constitutional order. We have fortunately, the Indian supreme court had our share of problems, and by discerning the basic structure notwithstanding the vast geographic doctrine, has been able to protect spaces, of immense populace, the underlying core constitutional unimaginable cultural diversity, values from reckless abandonment, and the problems with which we and change, by transient majorities, started off, we have survived as a thereby protecting the possibilities nation state. of democratic participation itself.

Recent empirical research seems However, other factors that are not to suggest that the Indian constitution so easily amenable to statistical and shares with the more successful empirical research would also need Price: Rs. 20/- ones, certain design features that to be pointed out. India’s stability Janata Trust may have aided in its endurance. was on account of both the wise men D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir The research reveals that, much who framed the Constitution, and Bharucha Marg, like what Thomas Jefferson had also the wise and moral leadership Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. figured out two hundred and twenty that was provided in its formative years ago, few constitutions have years. One cannot underestimate had a lifespan of over 19 years! those blessings. Indeed, as Dr. Janata While environmental factors, such Ambedkar, pointed out, whether Subscription as internal or external shocks to the India would progress or tear itself Annual Rs. : 260/- constitutional order, have accounted apart would depend upon the moral Three Years : 750/- for a great deal of that mortality, fibre. We were indeed fortunate that according to this research, with the in our early years, we were blessed Demand Draft / Cheque American constitution being an with statesmen of great integrity, on Mumbai Bank outlier, most of the constitutions who believed in the constitutional in favour of that have endured for 50 years or vision, and sought to institutionalize Janata Trust more are marked by great detail in the politics of hope. They did D-15, Ganesh Prasad, constitutional provisions, drafted not choose to go the route of a Naushir Bharucha Marg, and maintained by people of diverse communist model or a pure capitalist Mumbai 400 007 backgrounds, and the flexibility model of the economy; instead they

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Vol. 67 No. 35 UPA on the precipice September 23, 2012 S. Viswam

A government in flux The last word is yet to be said on UPA will come under such pressure Kuldip Nayar the political turbulence in the national that a mid-term poll will be a relief. capital, triggered by the exit of the Therefore things are in a flux and may Trinamool Congress from the UPA well remain so till you read this. Or Anti-Islam Film government and coalition. At the time they may change dramatically for the Reactions in the Muslim World of writing this, which is mid-week, worse, in the sense that the political Asghar Ali Engineer only one part of the sad, long story deadlock that finds the vulnerability had unfolded. The more interesting of the UPA rising precipitously may parts that impinge on the survival end in a bang, namely in a mid-term A Paean for Pai – or collapse of the UPA II, are yet to poll. Or the status quo will remain Pearl in Parliament be enacted. What is clear during the and the UPA would have paid a heavy Bapu Heddurshetti intermission is that the entire drama price for it. was enacted under the shadow of that forbidden word and thought—a After prolonged dithering, the Expanding Frontiers mid-term poll for the Lok Sabha. UPA dramatically plunged into the of Public Law - II The word has been uttered first, of reform mode and announced a series B. Sudarshan Reddy all people by Mamata Banerjee, and of measures which it claimed were if the UPA leadership were to be let irrevocable. No rollback, was the down by all those supporting it from answer to all appeals to reconsider. Koodankulam: the outside, the threat of a snap poll The diesel price was raised by Rs.5 Way Out Of The Nuclear Mess is not all that far. If the two majors a litre, gas cylinders were rationed M. G. Devasahayam among the supporters stay faithful, and the government decided to open the threat to the government will fade. the way for FDI in multi-brand retail. For the government to fall, it will take The reforms polarized the country Editor : the withdrawal of support by the SP vertically, equally strong voices rising G. G. Parikh and the BSP as well, apart from that in praise of the reforms and against of the TMC. Minus the Trinamool, what was described by the anti-reform Managing Editor : Guddi the UPA is 254 members strong in a lobby,as political suicide by the UPA. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, House of 540, its survival bolstered Mamata was the first to revolt and Naushir Bharucha Marg, by a total of 50 members belonging to serve a 72- hour ultimatum for a Mumbai - 400 007. SP, BSP, RJD and JD(S). So long as rollback. When the UPA remained these 50 stay loyal, the UPA can sail firm, she quit the government, and Email : [email protected] on merrily. If these 50 get fragmented announced she was even in favour or broken, trouble will begin and the of a mid-term poll. While BJP sat on 2 JANATA, September 23, 2012 the fence, the SP was seen flexing Between the lines its muscles and threatening to act if the rollback was denied. The Akalis who hang by the BJP’s apron strings A government in flux demanded a parliamentary session to discuss the crisis. The DMK said Kuldip Nayar it may do the unexpected thing by quitting the UPA itself. Thus, scene I realize that I am not the person corruption as if he has any face to say after scene, was being unfolded, whom the Congress will listen to. so. The Dravid Munnetra Kazham promising the viewers a rich fare of Were it to do so, I would advise (DMK) with 18 members is sniping politics in the raw. the party to go down fighting. At at the Congress, probably to go on present, even if it survives, it will record, but the party is otherwise The corporates representing the be sticking to the chair and not loyal to the Congress. Big Business and Industry and governing. Commerce were not only pleased. The real problem is of the leaders, They were euphoric. If and when The crisis the party is facing is Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati the rollback takes place, they will nothing new. It has been discussing from UP. Even if the Congress were be quite upset, not so much on the and debating for the last three-four to win either of the two or both, what rollback itself as on the lack of spine years whether to adopt reforms or image the already tainted Congress on the government’s part.The Big not. The fear of losing power held would have? It is not an easy choice Business will lose confidence in a the party back from doing anything between compromise and power. But government which they think has different. So much so, the prestige if the Congress wants to stave off regained credibility at last, while of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the danger to its reputation even a all the political parties, except came down tumbling and he was bit, it cannot go back to the situation the Congress and the NCP, think seen as a pathetic figure. of voting on the nuclear deal with the government can still retain the US, when Mulayam Singh was credibility by rolling back the True, the party does not have the brought around with a blank cheque. reforms and shutting India’s doors numbers. With the withdrawal of 19 on the FDI in retail. Lok Sabha members of Trinamool The question that confronts the Congress, the coalition commands government is the increase in the Unfortunately, it is difficult to only 254 in a 536-member house. diesel price which even after the apportion blame on the likes of There is the temptation to bring raise will be subsidized by the Mamata Banerjee for precipitating a either the Samajwadi Party’s government. The second moot point, first class political crisis by sticking Mulayam Singh Yadav with 22 more important, is allowing FDI in steadfast for the aam aadmi. At the members or Bahujan Samaj Party’s multi-brand retail. same time, objectivity demands leader Mayawati with 21 members that we acknowledge and concede to muster the majority. Maybe, opening the retail in trade the fact that the government was to foreigners will help people to under tremendous pressure to act Yet the Congress knows the confront the capricious shopkeepers, and provide leadership at the hour price it will have to pay to get one especially those dealing in food of crisis. A socialist government of the two or both on its side. The products, raising the price as and committed to the welfare of the government-controlled Central when the demand increases. True, masses and the working class would Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will all the 500 million retailers, their not have pushed itself into a corner use all weapons in its arsenal to estimated number, do not behave the like the UPA II has done. But that is do so. Both leaders are involved in same way. Many are conscious of neither here nor there. The issue now too many cases of corruption and their responsibility. But presuming is whether we are going in for a snap disproportionate wealth. Although all of them are alike, the case for poll or are we going to suffer a year Mayawati has been comparatively the economic steps the Prime and a half more of this unpopular quiet, Mulayam Singh Yadav has Minister has taken will lead us to an government? observed that the Congress means uncharted territory without building JANATA, September 23, 2012 3 the political consensus. However, I do not understand why the word, Anti-Islam Film and reform, is used when such steps are Reactions in the Muslim World retrograde? Does it mean that all who oppose them are anti-reform? Asghar Ali Engineer In a polarized country, it is better to avoid the terminology that divides and heightens tension. A Coptic American, extreme right Satan (Shaytan-e-buzurg) and winger and Islam hater made an America all over the Muslim world That all those reforms, if this is anti-Islam film and put it on internet. then was seen as an evil incarnate the buzzword which the government Its reaction was very violent in the who had tried to stop an Islamic throws at the people, have been Muslim world beginning with Libya revolution and Rushdie was seen before them for three, four years. wherein an American ambassador as a western agent who had, in the Why has the Manmohan Singh Christopher Steve along with four name of human rights, insulted government considered September other consulate staff was killed the Prophet of Islam thus trying 2012 as the most opportune time in violent demonstration. It was to weaken Islamic revolution. One and not 2008 or 2004 when it had followed by violent demonstrations cannot expect that kind of reaction come to power and why now when in Egypt, Yemen, and other places. from the Muslim youth anymore. it is on the last lapse of its second Saudi Arabia which normally term? Elections for parliament are remains officially silent also had But as for the anti-Islamic film due in early 2014, less than one and to strongly protest on Government Innocent Muslims there is a different a half years from now? This does not level. political context (i.e. the Arab give enough period to undo its acts Spring), no less significant than of omission and commission of the Of course some countries like Islamic revolution of Iran. The only entire term. Indonesia, Malaysia and others difference is that Iranian revolution remained comparatively peaceful was actively opposed by America Could it be that the government though signs of unrest are there in whereas Arab Spring was seen wanted to deflect attention from a these countries too. In other words as favourable by American rulers series of scams, the latest being the the countries covered by Arab under the pretext of bringing in coal block allotments? I would like Spring were mostly affected. And democracy to the Arab world. more transparency in governance on this occasion a private agency in than high-flaunting reforms. There is Iran once again renewed the prize In Libya America and NATO little doubt that the government will offer (with increased amount of 3.3 forces had played an active role survive the test of a majority in the million dollar) on Rushdie’s head. in overthrowing Gaddafi who Lok Sabha if it comes to that (273 had played an anti-American role in a 536-member house). There are Rushdie of course reacted throughout his life except perhaps bits and pieces parties which can be characteristically by saying that during the last phase when he had cajoled and bought over to side with blasphemy should be one’s right. tried to reconcile with Western the ruling coalition. It is difficult to say what shape powers. In Syria too America, like this renewed offer on Rushdie’s in Libya, is interested in what it Yet the numbers will have no head will take. It may remain only chooses to call ‘regime change’. meaning if there is no accountability. a formal announcement. It seems Needless to say both in Libya and I have not seen many heads rolling, difficult that it would become a Syria America had not played so except for a couple of them, when raging controversy as it did when innocent a role as it would like the it is an open secret that practically Ayatollah Khomeini had declared world to believe. all the ministers are in league with price on Rushdie’s head. Politically bureaucrats in making money on it was very different context. Today both in Libya and Syria the quiet. Many scams are yet to see Al-Qaeda has become hyper-active the light of the day. Thanks to the Ayatollah Khomeini then was but even at the cost of making media that some have been exposed. a great hero for the Muslim youth al-Qaeda quite active, America’s (Continued on Page 9) as he had declared America a great priority is to destroy Gaddafi and 4 JANATA, September 23, 2012

Bashar al-Assad, the old enemies in early fifties of the last century rushed to the aid of rebel not for its of America and the only obstacles and to undo that revolution it had love of democracy in Syria but for in total domination of Middle East used Ayatollahs against the Fatimi’s its hatred of the enemy i.e. Bashar by America. Both of them have secular democratic revolution. al-Assad. America is fully aware of been anti-Israel too and with their the fact that al-Qaeda is trying to elimination, America will be free After the then Iranian revolution capture the rebel forces. But it thinks of 1950s many left-oriented regimes to promote its interest in the area. Bashar al-Assad is much greater emerged in the Middle East i.e. enemy and it can take care of al- Iraqi and Syrian (Baath Party-led For al-Qaeda too it suits well Qaeda later. Let not America think revolution) and Libyan Revolution as both Bashar al-Assad and that the rebels in Syria would feel in 1969, apart from Jamal Abd Gaddafi have been enemies being grateful to America after success al-Nassir’s Young Officers’ coup revolutionaries and seen as anti- of rebellion. These rebels too carry in Egypt in mid-fifties. Nasser’s Islamic forces by them (i.e. al- anti-American feelings hidden in revolution was no less dangerous Qaeda). Thus both the regimes, their hearts and when time comes than that of Iranian revolution in ironically, are seen as enemies both they will manifest it as it happened 1979. It nationalized Suez Canal by America and al-Qaeda. Thus in Libya. the violent demonstrations against and France, Britain and Israel the film are result of a number of invaded Egypt, morally supported Many moderate Muslim factors. What is to be understood is by USA. It was Soviet Union which intellectuals are saying that that these demonstrations are less threatened these powers and made moderates should speak out against Islamic and more for down to earth them retreat. violent demonstrations. I fully factors – political, economic and The Arab Spring, was also seen agree with this viewpoint. We must sociological. similarly an opportunity by America oppose violence anywhere and in to intervene and do away with whatever form. Moreover it is not The media, especially western ‘enemies’ like Gaddafi and Bashar people of America who are to be media, is portraying these al-Assad. But like before, it is not blamed for events like anti-Islamic demonstrations as purely a violent as simple as America thinks. The film. It is after all small number of religious act, act of fanaticism demonstrations are aimed politically right wingers who are compulsive particularly because it is Islamic. against American interests in the haters of Islam. It is not so simple as the media region. Of course it is utterly foolish is portraying it. First of all we to make such film which has been Also, people of America like must reckon with the oil factor. any other people of the world, are America’s sole interest in this region described as ‘idiotic’ or utterly simplistic. manipulated by the powerful media is neither Islam, nor democracy, nor to think that American foreign dictatorship, for that matter. It is oil, It is true the American regime, policy is right in the Middle Eastern pure and simple. much less the people, had anything region. For them the principles, and to do with making of the film not the interests, play role in framing There is as yet no alternative to and so one wonders why kill its these policies. Also, hatred is not the oil and most of the oil resources ambassador and consular staff or right answer for hatred. As a Muslim of the world are in this region. why demonstrate against America. and as a Gandhian I think love and America wants to maintain its grip These demonstrations do not mean understanding is the right answer. on this region at any cost. The that people put responsibility of the first danger it smelt in the region film on America. It clearly means To prevent such violent was the Islamic revolution of Iran. that they have utterly hostile feelings demonstrations the Imams should U.S. was exceptionally hostile to towards American domination and play creative role in Friday sermons. Iranian revolution. Not because repeated interference in the region. They should explain to Muslims it was Islamic revolution; it was They want America to get out of what are Islamic values and why because Iran was emerging as the region. they should desist from such challenge to American leadership demonstrations. Also, as a value in the region. It was equally hostile Unfortunately America does not to Fatimi’s democratic revolution want to learn lessons. After Libya it (Continued on Page 15) JANATA, September 23, 2012 5 A Paean for Pai – Pearl in Parliament Bapu Heddurshetti Remembering Nath Pai is his contemporaries that during the Pai’s oratory would draw crowds remembering what can be soft, Quit India movement, he along in thousands. Nath was exultant of gentle and suave in politics. He with his friends raided a police his victory. But then my father was would have been 90 years ‘young’ station in Belgaum and escaped sceptical that the attendance at his this 25th September were he alive. only to be caught later, beaten up meetings may not get converted My ‘encounter’ with Nath Pai was and imprisoned. This disrupted into votes. The same happened and just a touch and go affair. When his education. He completed his both lost. Even the Congress lost he was in Bangalore in connection matriculation in 1940, did his the assembly seat which went to an with a parliamentary committee intermediate in college in 1945 and independent. meeting and was staying in the got his degree in 1947. He then went MLAs hostel, S. Sivappa, the leader to London at the age of 25 to become Thereafter Nath went back to of the opposition in the Karnataka a Barrister-at-Law. London to complete his studies and Assembly and the Chairman of the became a barrister-at-law. In 1954 Karnataka Praja Socialist Party and In England he came in contact the Copenhagen conference of the A. H. Shivanandaswamy, MLC with leading social democrats of International Union of Socialist and the Provincial Secretary of the England of the time, Clement Atlee, Youth, a front organisation of the Karnataka PSP, had so affectionately Brailsford, Fenner Brockway and Socialist International, elected him as taken me, a college student who Sorenson. He became the President of the President and Nath continued to was active in the Samajavadi Yuvak the Indian Majlis, the Vice-President be the President for four consecutive Sabha, along with them to meet Nath of League Against Imperialism. years. Trying to garner funds for Pai. The few moments that I spent When in 1951, a ‘British Asian a Sane Guruji memorial, Nath with him travelling in a car to one Socialist Fellowship’ was organised visited Vienna, Austria. There he of his friend’s house in Bangalore in London, Clement Atlee became even thought of doing his Ph.D., on are still etched clearly on my mind. its President and Nath Pai, the Vice- “Impact of Upanishads on German Nath spoke to me in the car. He had President. Philosophy”. However that could not read my article in Janata defending be. It is here that he met his match, his Constitution Amendment Bill The first time I had heard of Crystle, a young socialist from for restoring to the Parliament its Nath Pai was from my father. If Austria, and married her. Nath Pai power to amend the fundamental Quit India movement had disrupted had mastered German and French rights also. Imagine my elation that Nath’s studies in India, the first languages too. Was it Crystle who ‘Nath Pai’ had read ‘my’ article! He general elections in independent taught him German or was it because said that he would like to give me India disrupted his stay and studies of her that he learnt German? more information about it. But then in England. He was called back he being, a very busy person, that to India to contest elections to the In 1952 elections to the was not to be. That was my first and then Bombay Legislative Assembly Parliament, another son of Ratnagiri, last meeting with Nath Pai. from Belgaum Urban constituency N. G. Goray, popularly known as as a candidate of the then Socialist Nanasaheb Goray, a mentor of Nath Nath Pai was born on 25 th Party. My father was then in Kisan Pai, had contested from Ratnagiri September 1922 in Vengurla of Mazdoor Praja Party and the KMPP South constituency as a Socialist Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra as had fielded a candidate for the Lok Party candidate and had lost to the youngest son of a Post Master. Sabha from Belgaum parliamentary Moreshwar Joshi of the Congress by After completing his primary constituency. My father and Nath 19,257 votes. In the 1957 elections education at Vengurla, he had come Pai had campaigned together for the while Goray got elected from Pune, to Belgaum, my native place, for KMPP candidate for the Lok Sabha Nath Pai, with a vengeance, wrested higher education. I have heard from and Nath Pai for the Assembly. Nath the Ratnagiri seat from the very 6 JANATA, September 23, 2012

Moreshwar Joshi by 1,03,103 votes. he had the floor to himself, he would family was allowed to keep only 30 Nath had polled 1,24,593 votes i.e., not miss a single opportunity to acres for each member and the rest 80.65 percent of the votes polled put his opponents, particularly the was taken away by the State. The and had relegated Joshi to just 13.91 ruling party, in the wrong box. Then Golak Naths challenged the law on percent votes. Nath Pai’s charm quotations would flow, in English, the ground that the Punjab law took had worked. His impact on the Marathi and Sanskrit. There would away their constitutional right to constituency was so much that the be stories and anecdotes. There acquire and hold property and on 27th constituency, which was later named would be legal arguments and a February 1967 the Supreme Court ‘Rajapur’, not only returned him to flourish of emotional outbursts. declared that the Parliament had no the Lok Sabha three times but even Above all there would be the beauty power to amend the Fundamental after his death, returned his protégé, of the language coming out with Rights and thereby protected the Madhu Dandavate, five times. Some such superb power of expression”. right to property. times I wonder if Madhu Dandavate Nath was at times almost poetic and got his ‘soft, gentle and suave’ nature at times literally clinical. During Thereupon Nath Pai introduced from Nath. Rajapur even withstood the debate on Chinese aggression a Constitution Amendment Bill the 1971 Indira Gandhi deluge and he said “There was a thrombosis of in Parliament on 7th April 1967 to returned Madhu Dandavate. It took the will on the part of some of our annul the judgement and restore the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi to leaders. There was a thickening of to parliament its power to amend unseat a socialist from Rajapur. the emotional arteries and that was the fundamental rights also, though the cause of all the mischief, all the the Supreme Court had said that Nath Pai made a name in misfortune and all the tragedy that such ‘restoration’ was possible Parliament. He was made the Deputy befell our nation”. only if and when the court itself Leader of the PSP in Lok Sabha. reversed its present judgment or Journalist H. K. Dua says that Nath Nath Pai introduced several by a new Constituent Assembly, Pai ‘could hold the House spell- private members’ bills in parliament. the latter suggestion, according to bound commenting on foreign He tabled a bill for setting up a P. Kodanda Rao, “raises several policy’. While some compared his permanent commission for redressing constitutional conundrums, which speeches in parliament to ‘ikebana’, grievances in connection with the are not only of academic interest writing in The Hindu of 17th April linguistic reorganisation of states. but are fraught with serious practical 2012, Gopalakrishna Gandhi uses He tabled a bill to set guidelines consequences”. the adjective ‘excoriating’ for for appointment of Governors. On Nath Pai’s speeches in Parliament. 28th August 1970 he introduced a The Bill was debated on the floor Another journalist called him bill to include the ‘right to work’ in of the House and also in the Select ‘Nehru’s Nemesis’. But this Nemesis the chapter on Fundamental Rights Committee. The debate brought was not acerbic but gentle and was in the Constitution. Foreseeing the out Nath Pai’s erudition. In his without rancour. Writing an editorial abuse of power during a possible speech defending his Bill Nath Pai on the deterioration of parliamentary ‘emergency’, he tabled a bill to extensively quoted from Justices standards, The Hindu wrote on 30th preserve fundamental rights even Holmes and Philips Frankfurter of August 2004 “Parliament-watchers during the declaration of emergency. the US Supreme Court, Thomas are wont to recall the dignity and Jefferson, the President of the United style of legislative conduct in the Though foreign relations were States, Sir Francis Bacon, British faraway days when such greats as Nath Pai’s forte, he is more known Jurist A.V.Dicey, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Nath Pai for his Constitution Amendment Thomas Paine, Prof. Laski and many gently sparred on the floor of the Bill. Any student of law would be others. House”. Nehru himself called Nath familiar with the feud between the Pai a ‘gentleman politician’. Parliament and the Supreme Court When some critics said that the regarding the property rights. The passage of the Bill would open the Of Nath Pai’s speeches family of Henry and William Golak flood gates for a totalitarian regime, in Parliament, D. B. Karnik, a Nath held over 500 acres of farm Nath Pai had replied “A totalitarian journalist who covered the Lok land and under the Punjab Security regime is not prevented from coming Sabha proceeidings, writes “Once and Land Tenures Act of 1953 the here because there is a Supreme JANATA, September 23, 2012 7

Court; but because my countrymen Constitution 24th Amendment, which in Belgaum for one hour in spite of are committed to democracy. We was on lines with Nath Pai’s Bill his ill health and against doctor’s remain a democracy, not because passed in Parliament, the Supreme advice. Reminding them that he had of the charity or interpretation of Court did not have the courage to fought for them inside and outside a court.” How true, was Nath Pai’s strike down the amendment but the Parliament and saying that he political fore sight. The later events found an escape route by saying that had at last repaid the debt of love proved that it was the Supreme Court though the Parliament has the power and affection showered on him by which ‘crawled’ before a dictator to amend even the fundamental the Marathi speaking people, he and it is the people who threw the rights, it cannot alter the ‘basic collapsed on the stage. Nath Pai had dictator into the dustbin. structure’ of the constitution, a good heart, emotionally, but alas, whatever that may mean. not biologically. There was another, more political angle to it. Justice Wanchoo, who Nath Pai was not only a democrat, Nath Pai was very dear to was part of the Supreme Court he was also a socialist. He was the the people around him. Many Bench which heard the matter leader of the Postal Employees Union educational institutions have been and who later became the Chief and the Northern Railwaymen’s started in his name: Barrister Nath Justice of India, had said “But Union. He also led the strike of Pai Vidyalaya and Junior College, having regard to the past history Central Government Employees Bhandup, Br. Nath Pai College of our country, it (Supreme Court) in 1960. He played an important of Nursing, Sindhudurg, Nath Pai could not implicitly believe.. ..the role in the liberation of Goa from Shikshan Samstha, Sindhudurg, representatives of the people, for Portuguese rule. It was Nath Pai who Br. Nath Pai College of Education, uncontrolled and unrestricted power had dreamt of the ‘Konkan Railway’ Kudal, Br. Nath Pai Juinor College might lead to an authoritarian State”. as part of his plan for the overall Of Science, Lanja, Harche, Br. Nath Some of Nath Pai’s even socialist development of the Konkan region Pai Sakhar High School, Rajapur, colleagues, by opposing his bill, and as a member of parliament had Nath Pai Memorial Education Dr. tacitly agreed with this formulation insisted for it. His efforts bore fruit Ambedkar Higher Secondary School of Justice Wanchoo. But Nath Pai when in March 1970 he received in Goa and many more. Barrister retorted in Parliament saying “I have a letter from the then Railway Nath Pai Sevangan in Malvan region got my right, with all my respect for Minister, Govinda Menon, that a of Maharashtra is rendering yeomen the judiciary, to express my greater detailed survey of ‘Apta-Mangalore’ social service to the people of the faith in the wisdom of my people; I line was being taken up and would region. respect the judiciary, but I respect be completed speedily. Later it was my people more. They are dumb Nath Pai’s political heir Madhu I admire Nath Pai for what he and they are illiterate, I know, but Dandavate, as the Railway Minister was. My singing of a paean for through their dumbness came the in the Janata Government in 1977, him has another very personal and freedom of this country and not who realised Nath Pai’s dream of ‘nominal’ angle. His father’s name through the scholarship of a bunch Konkan Railway. was also Bapu. That was Barrister of individuals and scholars”. Nath Bapu Pai. When in the scheme of linguistic But the Congress government reorganisation of states, Belgaum would not listen to Nath Pai. It was made part of Karnataka and not Madhu Dandavate needed the striking down by the Maharashtra as the Marathi speaking By Supreme Court of the two measures people of Belgaum had demanded, B. Vivekanandan of nationalisation of banks and the Nath Pai took up their cause and Price: Rs. 20/- abolition of the privy purses and the agitated for inclusion of Belgaum Janata Trust electoral victory of the Congress in Maharashtra. Some Marathi D-15, Ganesh Prasad, party in the 1971 elections in which speaking people had died during a the constitution became an issue for police firing in Belgaum during the Naushir Bharucha Marg, the first time, for the Congress to agitation. On 17th January 1971, on Grant Road (W), agree with Nath Pai’s stand. While an anniversary of the martyr’s day, Mumbai 400 007. the Congress government got the Nath Pai spoke at a public meeting 8 JANATA, September 23, 2012 Third front on the basis of socialist ideology

The meeting of the national third front should be formed well The national executive nominated executive committee of Socialist before the general elections with due Ekai Achumi, veteran socialist leader Party (India) concluded in Delhi deliberations and understanding with from Nagaland, as vice president of on 16th September, 2012. The genuine democratic, progressive the party. He will be in charge of the meeting was inaugurated by party’s and secular forces. If that happens, North-Eastern States. The national national president Bhai Vaidya. In the Socialist Party will extend its executive decided to support, and his address to the delegates he said support to the front. The party’s participate in, the bandh organised that third front should be formed on general secretary, Dr. Prem Singh by various organisations and political the basis of the socialist ideology and expressed the hope that in the coming parties on 20th September to oppose not on the basis of any neo-liberal days Socialist Party and its ideology UPA government’s decision of 51 common minimum programme. He would prevail over the mainstream percent FDI in retail trade. Following emphasised that only socialism can neo-liberal politics. It is the only political and economic resolutions provide relief to the vast population party which completely opposes were passed in the meeting : facing hunger, fear and violence in the plundering and carnivorous India.. He further suggested that capitalist imperialism.

Stop hate politics, give peace a chance, pass reservation bills

It is a matter of utmost concern objectionable materials in various central government to safeguard our for the Socialist Party that politics forms. It is a considered view of the borders and restrict entry into the of hate, violence, conspiracy, rumour Socialist Party that terrorist reaction country without legal documents, and servility is prevailing over the against the imperialist forces only the Party condemns threats and politics that is value based. Most of strengthens them. These forces, in torturous messages sent out by some the mainstream political parties and their lust for profit, are not ready to forces targeting the students and leaders indulge in communalism, allow peace and harmony a chance working people of the North-eastern casteism, parochialism, money- to prevail in the world. The Socialist states or persons belonging to other power, muscle-power and family Party stands for non-violence based states. Socialist Party condemns the lineage tactics. They despise and on the ideals of Gandhi, JP, Acharya violence by miscreants at Mumbai, suppress Indian masses but happily Narendra Dev, Dr. Lohia, S.M. Joshi Lucknow and Allahabad. The Party and readily bow to the dictates of and Dr. Ambedkar. Socialist Party appeals to the people, youth and the US-controlled neo-imperialist appeals to all democratic, forward students in particular, not to be regime. The Socialist Party opposes looking and secular forces to adhere swayed by narrow interests and treat this anti-Constitutional and anti- to the path of non-violence. all the citizens as our valued brothers people character of mainstream and sisters. Indian politics and aspires to create The National Executive an alternative political culture based Committee of the Socialist Party The Party directs its state on the socialist philosophy and demands that the two bills moved units to conduct mass awareness fundamental Constitutional values. in the Rajya Sabha, viz Women’s campaign for the above mentioned Reservation and Reservation in demands and offer dharana on any The Party expresses its deep promotions for SC/ST be passed one day from 2nd to 12th October concern over the unabated violence as early as possible. The OBCs, 2012. The state units of the Party in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The particularly most backward castes, should mobilize citizens for Right same imperialist forces, that are also be included as per the concept to Education Satyagrha on 28th responsible for the havoc in these of social justice. No citizen of India November 2012 i.e. Mahatma Phule countries, are playing with emotions should be harassed on grounds of Remembrance Day. of the Muslims by circulating region or religion. While urging the JANATA, September 23, 2012 9 Scrape FDI in retail, curtail imports, cut salaries, strengthen PDF

The Socialist Party strongly should take a bold step to curtail The National Executive opposes the declaration of the imports, particularly of oil and Committee of the Socialist Party UPA government to implement the gold which form almost half of (India) demands: the decision of pending decision of allowing 51 our imports these days. Curtailing allowing 51 percent FDI in retail percent FDI in retail sector. The UPA import of gold would not affect sector must be scrapped forever; roll government, adhering to its neo- our main economic activities like back the increased prices of diesel, liberal policies, had been bent upon agriculture, manufacturing, etc. Not gas and kerosene; imports of oil implementing this decision in favour only import but also consumption of and gold be curtailed by 25 percent and benefit of foreign multinational petrol and diesel need to be reduced for two years; all cars used by the retail chain companies at the cost of so as to curb global warming and administrative staff and the ministers retailers and farmers of the country. lessen daily traffic jams which, etc. must be locked in the garage It would be disastrous not only besides heavy air pollution, are once a week; the Governments, for the retailers and farmers of the both Central and State, should stop causing loss of crores of working country but also for the cultural purchase of new cars for two years; a hours of commuters in big urban ethos of the Indian society. It will strict discipline should be applied on conglomerates. further endanger our Constitutional air travels by leaders and bureaucrats sovereignty. from the public exchequer; and a Some spokesmen of the ruling ten per cent cut in the salaries and class are suggesting discontinuance Some rating agencies as also a allowances of higher officials, right of subsidies as a measure to restrict few journals in the USA are trying from the President of the Republic to pressurise the rulers at Delhi to revenue deficit of the Governments. down to class two officers, should throw open its retail trade, civil That would be most retrograde step, be brought into effect. aviation, insurance, defence and because discontinuing subsidy on other vital sectors of economy to food grains, kerosene, gas, fertilizers The Party is of the view FDI. We need not be cowed down by etc. would make lives of common that all talk of replacing PDS by such tactics. The economic situation people more miserable. The axe cash vouchers must be stopped. in the country is worrisome mainly must fall, not on vulnerable sections PDS must be fortified by plugging because deficit in foreign trade is but the rich ones. The mad race of pilferage and farmers must be accumulating year after year. To urbanisation and consumerism must assured remunerative prices for their arrest that dangerous trend, we be stopped. produce. - DPS (Continued from Page 3) India was going for soft options. that a mixed economy or socialistic Whenever there is a talk about a Now it is said that there is a policy pattern does not work because scam, the government always begins paralysis. The fact is that the doubt of many reasons like traditional with the phrase of “no loss to the about ourselves substitutes the firm rigidities, religious narrowness exchequer.” Then it is discovered— resolve to take policy decisions. and need for drastic steps for an the Supreme Court helped in the 2G egalitarian society. I wish he could spectrum—that there was something Gunnar Myrdal who studied have proved his slogan, inclusive South Asia and wrote a book, Asian hanky-panky. Hurriedly steps are development, good. Yet corruption Drama, has said that India is a “soft steps are taken to close the door but on the one hand and the lack of they are late because by that time state” because it cannot impose decisiveness on the other has made horse has bolted. any obligation and seeks political compromises. This is as much true open economy a serious option. I The problem with the Manmohan today as it was when we ushered in may stick to my left-of-centre belief Singh government or, for that matter, the First Five Year Plan in 1955. but pragmatism is what counts in even with the Jawaharlal Nehru India. We may not like the foreign government is that decisiveness has Manmohan Singh’s reforms, grafted economic measures. But they been lacking. Then it was said that which began in 1990, have shown seem to work. 10 JANATA, September 23, 2012 Expanding Frontiers of Public Law - II

B. Sudarshan Reddy

Notwithstanding the above, given to suffer from, the constitution itself state. Both of them are located in the the “measurable underachievement”, recognized the need for mini revolts two hidden sets of assumptions that on the socio-economic front, as on a continuous basis, against the relate to the relationship between the characterized by Amartya Sen, established socio-economic order, state, law and the economy. we have to acknowledge that the so that the revolution on the street greatest blessing of India has been is prevented. By incorporating The first set of assumptions is its people. The forbearance of the the concept of social revolution that “laissez faire free markets” can people, notwithstanding the abysmal as a part of itself, and placing exist without the undergirding of the lot of a majority of them, and their an affirmative obligation on the law, and the coercive power of the continued vesting of trust in the state to forever be mindful of the state; that the capacity of the market state, which is at least evidenced deprived, the Constitution provided to process information and arrive at by the fact that it is the poor and the articulation for far reaching efficient solutions is far superior to the deprived who continue to vote changes within the constitutional that of governmental organizations; in overwhelming numbers, and order itself. Notwithstanding the and that efficient markets have also vote to change governments, “measurable under-achievement” self-healing capacity, hence the has been the greatest blessing for on this front, the articulation of the state ought not to be regulating the India. Let there be no doubt amongst ideas of social revolution were vital markets. The first one is an obvious anyone, and as we witness the turmoil to keep this vast, and diverse nation myth that any common law lawyer in other nations, as indeed we have together, and the nation-state intact. should clearly recognize. An entire repeatedly done so in the past, that edifice of laws exists that support in the absence of such forbearance, Unfortunately, and I believe in the functioning of the markets. we probably would not have an India contravention of broader social There never were and never will be today. The poor, the deprived, the values, and recognized social “laissez faire free markets,” there unlettered, the malnourished and the realities, that inform the normative will always be more or less regulated disdained people of my country are foundations of Indian constitution, markets that have more or less the ones who have held this country for the past two decades, an incessant impact on various groups. Moreover, together. I would suggest that the drum beat of demands for “laissez the recent global financial crisis forbearance was on account of a faire free markets” has dominated the has categorically demonstrated, trust that the constitutional values discourse in India, as indeed it has in again, the much vaunted self- were able to promote, nurture, most of the world. As Jospeh Stiglitz healing powers of the efficient and sustain. Whether it be the points out, the consequences of the markets to also be very limited. specific constitutional mandate relentless march towards increasing History of modern economies for affirmative action, to provide privatization, and unregulated has repeatedly demonstrated that the historically socially deprived markets, has increasingly eviscerated unregulated markets, coupled with with an unequal opportunity for the State of stature and power, the greed of a rational individual some measure of social success, bringing vast benefits to the few, in the market, can and often does or the detailed provisions with modest benefits for some, while lead to disaster. It is a moral failure regard to operation of the state’s leaving everybody else, the majority, of power wielders as they blindly institutions, constitutional text behind. Such “global imbalances are allowed such unregulated markets to provided the normative categories morally unacceptable and politically function, knowing fully that a crisis for articulation in the political, unsustainable.”1 could wreck the lives of hundreds of economic and social spaces. millions, because it blindly allowed Given the extreme inequalities, The neo-liberal ideology that ideology to over-ride knowledge and inequities, that most of my has informed the political and – that without regulation markets countrymen suffered from, when public law discourse has two can be expected to collapse, and this country emerged for its tryst analytically separable, but related could cause grave damage to the with destiny, and indeed continue set of implications for stability of the people, because they have collapsed JANATA, September 23, 2012 11 previously, and have caused great modicum of human dignity for the details, and in which zones public damage to the welfare of the people. malnourished, poor and suffering law has expanded and in which masses, would be redistribution. zones it has contracted. Of course, Worse still, the same neo-liberal Indeed as Karl Polanyi wrote many the consequences of such variegated ideology of unregulated markets years ago, when the economic responses of the state, and who and private enterprise, has in many sphere far outstrips the social norms, benefit from those consequences places given rise to predatory forms the social sphere would engage in and who bears the burdens are all of capitalism. The agents of the a counter movement to bring the legitimate questions when it is the state become willing co-partners in economy back within its fold. The matter of stability of the state. the private enterprise, to allow the question I suppose would be whether plunder of natural resources, and we can conceive public law in a Over the past three decades or so devastation of the environment. manner that allows the pull to be we have heard an increasing chatter Dissent by the people is suppressed, peaceful and not violent. about the self-evident decline of even by use of great force and the importance of the nation state. by suspension of civil liberties, I have highlighted two potential The rapid march of the neo-liberal thereby undermining the moral challenges, amongst the many that variant of the globalisation project, stature of the state, and the trust in one could conceive, to the stability emergence of new technologies public law amongst the people even of state, and hence raising questions and collapse of the Soviet Union, more. Eruption of scams about vast about feasibility of public law, and were claimed to signify the end of corruption further reinforces in the its contents. The issue, I submit history of political struggles over minds of the people that the state is ought not to be conceived of in form and content of our collective inimical to them. terms of expanding or contracting organizations. Triumph of the frontiers of public law. The frontiers rational man and of markets based The second set of assumptions of public law have been expanding on pure self-interest was to dissolve is that nature is unlimited and ever in as much as the conception of what all debate about form and content increasing exploitation by private constitutes “salus populi” has been of justice. Law was to exist only to enterprise would enlarge the pie so an expanding domain. Obviously smooth out inefficient outcomes on much, that everyone will get a share one could conceive of zones in which account of information asymmetries. in it. The potential environmental it could be argued that public law On the other side we saw the crisis, global in scale and likely has expanded, thereby suggesting emergence of nationalist, sub- to have the greatest impact on that in certain zones it has come to nationalist and local movements of those with little, implies that such represent an extreme form of politics protest, sometimes violent, seeking propositions are scarcely believable. of faith. And equally obviously one greater autonomy from centralized If global environmental crisis is could conceive of zones in which the bureaucracies, of the state and of likely, and many or even most public law has contracted, and has corporatized forms of economy, reasonable experts believe it to be begun to look like an extreme form and a global concern for human so, then the fundamental premise of of politics of scepticism. Probably rights, equity, and roles for the poor how we order our economic sphere what are needed are more detailed, and disempowered to make their is patently unsustainable. Most fact sensitive investigations into own choices at the local level. Law people are recognizing it to be so, the nature of public law. Maybe was to play a minimalist role, even and most are recognizing that the Martin Loughlin is right when he in this second movement, because underlying economic philosophy is says that describing what public of claimed ability to better tailor but a thin cover for Spencerian Social law does ought to be the method to policies to the smaller collective Darwinism. It strikes at the very figuring out how it does.2 I wonder aspirations. However, given the root of modern constitutionalism if even a search for an Aristotelian pre-existing power and ideational – that the state has an obligation to mean, between the two tendencies, imbalances that posited disabilities protect the people. Law would need discredited at least in their extreme for various social groups, such as to address how the economy would form, – of overweening statism, on caste, gender, language, class and be organized, and how the nature one side, and uncontrolled markets culture, the normative arguments for is exploited and to what extent. If on the other, - as some over-arching purely local forms of law have not production levels are not allowed compromise would suffice. The really succeeded on account of their to rise, then the only prospects for a devil it would seem lies in the inherent antipathies for universal 12 JANATA, September 23, 2012 categories and conception of justice. of your time, I do not want to tax you and Politics of Scepticism (Selected any further. Nevertheless, I would Writings of Michael Oakeshott)”, In neither of the two visions leave you with a question. Invariably, ed. Timothy Fuller (Yale University Press, 1996). could there be clarity as to the in India, issues unresolved in the 9. Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and role, if any, of public law. The political sphere, arise before the James Melton, “The Endfurance global financial crisis, and national judiciary as legal questions, and of National Constitutions.” level policy interventions into even constitutional questions. Many (Cambridge University Press, freshly posited semi-efficient of them involve unimaginable 2009). Also see Sudhir markets without strong healing human tragedies, where the positing Krishnaswamy “Constitutional Durability” in “WE THE PEOPLE: powers, implying greater variety of of constitutional silence would a symposium on the Constitution of regulatory structures with national implicate questions about the judge’s India after 60 years, 1950-2010” level accountabilities, may indicate own humanity. With a constitutional Seminar 615, November 2010. a tempering of impersonal and one obligation to guard the Constitution, 10. Francine Frankel, “India’s Political shoe fits all modes of conception. and that Constitution entrenching the Economy, 1947-2004: The Gradual To what extent the elite power necessity of politics of hope, could Revolution”, 2nd ed. (OUP, structures within nations allow the a judge morally remain silent? If 2009); Granville Austin, “India’s Constitution: The Cornerstone of a local, sub-national levels to exercise having remained silent, how would Nation” (Oxford India Paperbacks, control over decision making, we allow public law to serve its 1999), and “The Working of a would determine the nature and function of legitimating a stable Democratic Constitution: A History intensity of democratic experience political order? And with lowered of the Indian Experience”, (OUP, by the people. The extent that the notions of one’s own humanity, how 2003). elite power structures demonstrate would that judge continue to be a 11. Quote from Joseph Stiglitz, guardian of the Constitution, and of “Making Globalization Work: The credible fealty to welfare of the all Next Steps to Global Justice”, p. 8, the people, including the poor and politics of hope? (Allen Lane, 2006). the disempowered, would determine 12. Supra note 5 whether we have more or less References : revolutionary moments, and also 1. Julius Stone: “The Province and for our ability to instantiate justice Function of Law – Law as Logic, informed by universal human values Justice and Social Control – A and concerns. The degree to which Study in Jurisprudence”, (Universal Law Publishing Co., Delhi, Indian there is stability in the acceptance Economy Reprint 2000), p. 735. of such multiple layers of decision 2. See for instance the Casablanca making would have a bearing on Call, https://www.csidonline.org/ the specificity with which public component/content/article/591- law can maintain boundaries of casablanca-call-for-democracy. decision making. The conception 3. For instance see Cass Sunstein, that we approach public law with, Designing Democracy; and also as to its content and role, would 4. Martin Loughlin, “The Idea of determine whether law can interdict Public Law” (OUP, 2003). the debate and conflict about where 5. See for instance Tom R. Hickman “In Defence of the Legal Constitution” those boundaries are to be. Whether (2005), 55 University of Toronto we like it or not, the battle lines are Law Jorunal, p.982. being drawn on various conceptions 6. Colin Munro, “Studies in Price: Rs. 20/- of justice and public law. Any which Constitutional Law” Janata Trust way we look at, I would suppose 7. Eric Barendt, “Constitutional we can only envision expanding Fundamentals” in English Public frontiers of public law. The question Law, ed. David Feldman (OUP 2004); also see Tom Ginsburg, is: are we prepared to face those “Judicial Review in New challenges? D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Democracies: Constitutional Bharucha Marg, Courts in Asian Cases” (Cambridge Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. What about judicial review one University Press, 2003). might ask? Having taken up so much 8. M. Oakeshott, “Politics of Faith JANATA, September 23, 2012 13 Koodankulam: Way Out Of The Nuclear Mess

M. G. Devasahayam

The mess that Kudankulam now is as to whether Rajesh Das is taking the safest. The human cost is too entirely the creation of Government orders from the autocratic Russian high. There’s been no new plant of India and Government of Tamil masters or the democratically commissioned in the US for the Nadu due to their arrogant, arbitrary elected Government of Tamil Nadu. last 20 years not only because of and autocratic methods giving scant environmental concerns, but also respect and regard to the voices if Police is using the High Court because no bank is willing to fund it. the very people who voted them order as a cover for indulging in No one is willing to insure a nuclear to power. Instead of entering into brutality. The fact is that there have plant because of the risks involved. dialogue with the protesting public been several bizarre, irregular and There are many hidden costs, among to “ally their fears ” as promised, illegal happenings connected with them the cost of decommissioning it these governments sent ‘Sarkari KKNPP from the very beginning. after 40 years and storage of spent Scientists’ who only printed reams What baffles me is the clearance fuel for several centuries! of paper and gave it as expert given for fuel loading and the nuclear establishment going ahead opinion. When people asked for their We don’t need nuclear power. voice to be heard it was responded with this ‘commissioning process’ There are better alternatives with hundreds of criminal cases of despite the scathing report of available. We have no uranium, sedition and ‘waging war against the Comptroller & Auditor General but the Government of India is state’. When people still persisted of India about ‘lapses in safety sabotaging the development of new police brutality was let loose on measures’ by the Atomic Energy coal and thorium-based technology. women and children sitting on beach Regulatory Board (AERB) posing The PM talks of energy security, but sands, peacefully protesting against “grave threats.” CAG, the highly how can there be any security if we ‘fuel loading’ in the Kudankulam regarded constitutional watchdog have to import the reactors and fuel Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP). has highlighted several lapses from abroad? The pressure from by AERB: Non-preparation of a the superpowers has led to major Actually the three officers in nuclear and radiation policy; No efforts to sabotage all alternatives. charge of the situation – the DIG, safety documents as recommended Australia doesn’t have a single the SP and the District Collector – by two expert committees; No nuclear plant and wants to sell us showed restraint. It was IG Police decommissioning plan which is uranium! The policy is driven by Rajesh Das who landed up out extremely critical for public safety; foreign interests. And where’s the of nowhere, gave the protesters Non-adoption of international land to establish new nuclear plants 10 minutes to disperse and when safety standards and practices. of 2,50,000 MW capacity by 2050? they refused, ordered lathi charge The Nuclear Power Corporation and tear gas shelling. The men of India themselves have said that jumped into the sea; but women they are yet to implement the 17 In 1969, it was announced that and children could not and were safety measures recommended by by 2000, the country would have beaten up. This IG is the same the post-Fukushima taskforce. The 43,500 mega watts of nuclear power. man responsible for the firing on environment clearance was given Today, we have just 4860 mega innocent Dalits at Paramakudi last way back in 1988. There’s no fresh watts of nuclear power installed, year. He is stated to be incapable water near the site. Yet High Court of which barely 50 % is generated. of handling sensitive situations. has passed the order ignoring all It’s been a colossal failure. We have Yet he has been unleashing terror these critical issues. The case is now such fine IITs, they could have done among the harmless villagers and in the Supreme Court R & D in solar and wind energy to hunting down SP Udayakumar, the reduce cost and improve efficiency. PMANE coordinator, as if he is an Fact of the matter is that Nuclear But such R & D was deliberately international terrorist. One wonders power is neither the cleanest nor killed. Our Minister for New and 14 JANATA, September 23, 2012

Renewable Energy says India can’t It is audacious to say that KKNPP criticized handling of the Fukushima survive without nuclear power! is perfectly safe and nuclear power Daiichi accident in a recent should be pushed at any cost. Let interview with The Wall Street Regarding the allegation of us hear from Mikhail Gorbachev, Journal has said: “I would like to foreign funds and NGOs, all I former president of USSR who tell the world that we should aim for would say is that a jaundiced eye signed the 1989 Indo-Russian a society that can function without sees everything yellow. Protestors, Nuclear Agreement that brought nuclear energy.” Accordingly Japan mostly fishermen are Christians. the KKNPP: “Today we know cabinet has decided to phase out The Church does get foreign funds, that about 77,000 square miles of nuclear power in three stages and for welfare projects but that’s territory in Europe and the former join Germany in being a totally through legal channels. I don’t think Soviet Union has been contaminated nuclear free country. France, that any of that money has gone into this with radioactive fallout, leaving has a dependency of 74% on nuclear protest movement. Fundamentalist long-term challenges for flora, energy is scaling it down to 50% and elements branded Muslims as fauna, water, the environment, and may further reduce it. Many other terrorists; now Christians are being human health. Tens of billions of countries are following suit. India’s condemned as traitors? What kind dollars have already been spent in dependency on this source is a paltry of ‘secularism’ is this? trying to contain and remediate the 2.5% and this is the time to cry a halt disaster, with a new containment starting with KKNPP. The struggle in Kudankulam shell now being constructed over the is indeed very unique. It is a 1986 sarcophagus and what’s left What is the way out, many people community movement led by the of the reactor. The material damage ask. The answer is that Government people, not any particular leader. inflicted by Chernobyl, although can still reverse their decision. The 100-year-old St Lourdes church enormous, pales in significance PMANE Expert Team has suggested in Idinthkarai village provides space when compared to the ongoing fuel-switching and make KKNPP to the protesters, a majority of human costs. The true scope of a liquefied gas-based power plant. whom are fishermen and Christians. the tragedy still remains beyond This can be supplemented with A few Hindu families residing in comprehension and is a shocking wind, solar and tidal power for the village present a united front reminder of the reality of the nuclear which there is huge potential in against the 2000 MW nuclear power threat. The closed nature and secrecy Kudankulam and adjoining areas. plant. A majority of these fishermen of the nuclear power industry, which India’s leadership should plan know a lot about the harmful effects had already experienced some country’s energy security taking that a nuclear power plant might 150 significant radiation leaks at into account these natural resources have on their environment and nuclear power stations throughout and not by imitating other countries their livelihoods and about the the world before the Chernobyl fire, which lack the natural resources Fukushima disaster. greatly contributed to the accident India has. and response difficulties. As the The protest against KKNPP has global population continues to Central Government and State been going on ever since May 1989 expand, and the demand for energy Government of Tamilnadu should when the then Prime Minister Rajiv production grows, we must invest stop immediately the oppressive Gandhi signed an agreement with in alternative and more sustainable methods unleashed on the people the Russians to build the nuclear sources of energy—wind, solar, agitating against KKNPP. An plant in Kudankulam. Since then geothermal, hydro—and widespread informed public debate and also a the locals have been raising their conservation and energy efficiency meaningful and an in-depth debate voices against the power plant, but initiatives as safer, more efficient, in Indian Parliament on the need for nobody bothers to listen to them. and more affordable avenues for nuclear power will be in the interest Apart from Idinthakarai, 30 other meeting both energy demands and of India’s future. villages around Kudankulam are conserving our fragile planet.” fighting for the same cause. KKNPP K K N P P s h o u l d n o t b e would destroy the livelihood of most Former Japanese Prime Minister commissioned till a full and of these villagers who depend on Naoto Kan, nearly a year after he proper independent examination fishing on the seas. oversaw his government’s widely of the safety aspects of all the JANATA, September 23, 2012 15 existing nuclear installations and also, like Imams of the mosques, But if we believe in Islamic nuclear power plants is carried out play to the gallery. Today we are values of justice and peace we have including the damage caused to the living in the age of democracy and to suppress our anger and display environment around them which in democracy media plays very more patience failing which “Islam includes water, soil and life forms stands for peace” will become mere important role. We know western of all types. Indian people have a rhetoric and such display of violence media too does not play responsible constitutional right to know all the on all such occasions does show it things that have been pushed under role. On one hand it displays deeply is mere rhetoric. As good Muslims the carpet by Department of Atomic rooted prejudices and on the other, we should go beyond mere rhetoric Energy by misusing the provisions it guards the interests of multi- and show in action that we stand for of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. national corporations. justice and peace. This should be complied with, lest the NUCLEARGATE, possibly the most massive of all scams could unfold very soon as predicted by Dr. A.Gopalakrishnan, eminent nuclear scientist and former Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board! Rural India Focus (Continued from Page 4) PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE we oppose US policies, not America MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT or American people. American principles are as great as any other principles. Among those principles are freedom of expression and ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE freedom to follow one’s dictates GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS of conscience. There can be no AT TARA, HOSPITAL, compromise on that. PANVEL TARA, PANVEL

FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY But this is possible only when YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE AND YOU our Imams are highly educated 10 to 15 eye operations are performed There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the and capable of analyzing facts YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded as they are. The kinds of Imams healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. we have are illiterate in matters to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, other than Islamic Shari’ah and volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS Islamic theology. Imams play support the cause by donating to our various very significant role in the lives initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on of Muslims, especially in Asian SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 and African countries. Muslim STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and maintain, conduct extra-curricular intellectuals and moderate Muslims It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building should see to it that Imams should expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka. not only be Islamically educated but also in other matters as they Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, influence the Muslim thinking on D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or socio-political matters through their Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] sermons on Friday. Mumbai 400 007

The Muslim media also has to play highly responsible role in such matters. We see that Muslim media Space donated R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 23, 2012 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2010-2012. Posted on every Wednesday at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Printed and Published by G.G. Parikh on behalf of Janata Trust. Printed at Mouj Printing Bureau, Khatau Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai-400 004 and published at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg (Sleater Road), Mumbai - 400 007. (to be concluded)

JANATA, September 23, 2012 17 (Continued from Page 7)

Teesta Setalvad, Secretary & Trustee, Citizens for Justice & Peace 18 JANATA, September 23, 2012 JANATA, September 23, 2012 19 Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 67 No. 36 Congress gets a breather September 30, 2012 S. Viswam

Caste in Capitalist Development K. S. Chalam One of the questions raised in other words, the nuisance value of these columns last week related her obstructionist tactics will remain. to the imminence or otherwise of This is not altogether bad for the a mid-term poll. Last week, such Congress and the country. After all, Political Scene of a question was relevant since the Mamata is fighting for safeguarding Andhra Pradesh political circumstances were so the aam aadmi’s interests an ideal Y.V. Reddy conspiring as to compel politicians that the UPA claims to share with to rush to the hustings ahead of the her. If Mamata chooses to act as normal schedule. This week, those the conscience of the Congress Pulling Assam back circumstances have changed, and and keeps reminding it that it is from the abyss dramatically so. The question for this derailing the aam aadmi’s interests, week perhaps is whether the UPA II the government ought to welcome it. will make good use of the refreshing It is best to remain on one’s toes when breather it has secured and turn the Ministry of Rural Development vigilantes like Mamata are around. latest turn in national politics created There is no need to doubt whether Further Dilutes the Provisions by the exit of the Trinamool Congress of the Land Bill Mamata will get opportunities to from the government to its advantage, establish her “ do gooding” roles. and even score some major political The government, after all, is now gains that would help it ride over the determined to unleash reform after coming NDA challenge. However, March Against FDI in Retail reform on the country with a view before facing that challenge its mettle will be tested next year itself when as to making up for lost time. The more many as seven states are to elect their the number of reforms, greater will Banwarilal Sharma state assemblies. Will the Congress be the opportunities to debunk them regain the initiative in national politics since none of the proposed reforms now that it has been “liberated” from are planned to make the aam aadmi Editor : the stranglehold of Mamata Banerjee? the immediate and direct target. The G. G. Parikh Even more important, will it be able reforms are meant to foster the rate of to push through its reforms agenda growth, but as we have seen, even the Managing Editor : Guddi relying solely on the fickle support of highest rate of growth touched so far, Mulayam Singh and Mayawati, who at 9.5 per cent did not immediately D-15, Ganesh Prasad, have yet to bare their fangs? benefit the common people. There is Naushir Bharucha Marg, a gestation period for all the reforms Mumbai - 400 007. Though Mamata Banerjee has cut announced so far and for those on the off her and her party’s ties with the anvil. Their benefits, if any, will flow Email : [email protected] UPA, her role as a trenchant critic much later. But this fact always works of the Congress is to continue. In to the advantage of the opposition. 2 JANATA, September 30, 2012

It is interesting that the extraordinary communications gap bombardment, our leader of India’s government has woken up to the between the Congress government future was nowhere to be found. He realities around it after a prolonged and the party. The right hand clearly made an appearance at the Congress stretch of non-activity described by did not know what the left hand was Working Committee meeting but the corporates as policy paralysis, doing! was a silent spectator, with no and has overnight become hyper- Even more intriguing is that the original thoughts to contribute or active. Announcements of intentions designated successor of the prime sage advice to offer. He came to life and initiatives are crowding the front minister and the rising hope of the when the murders of sarpanches in pages. The “Coalgate” affair has Congress and indeed of the nation, J & K were mentioned but returned been pushed into the background. namely, Shri Rahul Gandhi, who to the silent mode immediately. The focus is on the reforms that the Congressmen proclaim is the answer Something far more serious than a prime minister wants to unleash to all of India’s problem, was a government in crisis needs to happen one after then other. While all this “no show” at the suspense-laden before our leader of India’s future is no doubt a morale booster for political drama staged in New Delhi can either share his thoughts with the people and the government, one during the last few months. When us or provide the kind of leadership wonders why the prime minister, Congressmen groped in the dark everyone in the party says he is Congress President Sonia Gandhi, 14 JANATA, February 5, 2012 as to how to react to the opposition abundantly blessed with. the Congress leadership and the “supporters from outside” had to wait so long to demonstrate their inherent capacity to take the economy out of the rut? Where was the “animal spirits” hiding? Why did all the people in the UPA act and appear so docile? Does it mean that Mamata Banerjee single-handedly could halt a mighty government in its tracks and continue to blackmail it according to her whims and fancies? What the government is now attempting to do with such inordinate haste could have been done when Pranab Mookerjee was the finance minister. After all, the prime minister has been the prime minister all these days and on his own admission under no pressure to act or not act. Why did he fail to act till now and why he is over- active after the exit of the Trinamool Congress from the coalition? We are raising this question since the dominant partner in the UPA, namely the Congress, dismally failed to counter the opposition criticism about the non-performance of the government all these months. Now, when things are hunky- dory, Congress stalwarts raised pertinent questions in the Congress Working Committee on the timing, content, thrust, preparation, and popular awareness etc. in respect of Manmohan Singh’s reform agenda! The questions raised showed the JANATA, September 30, 2012 3 Caste in Capitalist Development

K. S. Chalam The enthusiasm for research entering in to a new phase. Yet, and others. But, they have considered among young social scientists in some waver to call it capitalist caste as race or class similar to India appears to be waning and development. What is the problem some of our Indian analysts. They those who are active are confined in calling it capitalist development understood that discrimination to the areas of received theory. when the whole edifice of it is relied based on caste or race would lead Therefore, it is difficult to envisage on foreign capital and the internal to increase in cost of production innovative theories to capture and primitive accumulation? There with the given productivity in a emerging phenomena in our socio- are theories from the time of Adam competitive system and is harmful to economic life. After reading a Smith that capital is crucial in the entrepreneur. But, they have not recent editorial article of a reputed raising the productivity of labour provided micro data to support their daily written by an equally popular through the expansion of division arguments. In a different context columnist known for developing new of labour that fetches the ‘Wealth scholars like Bowles, Shapiro and concepts under the garb of pseudo of Nations’. Marx learnt classical Stiglitz have hypothesized for the antagonism to caste/class , the idea economics from the English tradition existence of ‘efficiency wage’ as of Grabbonomics came to my mind. including Adam Smith, Ricardo and an incentive for worker not to Grabbanomics stands for theories others to elucidate his ‘Capital’. cheat employer and remain loyal. that substantiate accumulation The Marxian model of capitalist This formulation has explained the and grabbing of resources by a development taught to students of phenomenon of high wages despite few (including crony capitalists) Economics is based on his theory the existence of reserve army of with little regard for others. In this of surplus value. It is supported on unemployed (justified Marx). What context, we may acknowledge the the assumption that there is what we is significant in the Indian situation work of a small group of young call in Economics, infinite elastic is that we have a segmented labour scholars like Damodaran, Zacharias, supply of labour at the subsistence market and is distinctly different Mullainathan, Vakulabharanam, Ajit, wage rate that helps accumulate from what Marx had assumed as a Ravi and a few others who are trying capital. Marx was attacked by his uniform universal labour force. The to understand the role of caste in the critiques for his forecast of low segmented markets are typically new economy of India particularly wages and the existence of reserve based on traditional castes and have with reference to the accumulation army, nonappearance of communism never allowed the Indian laborers of capital by select few. When in advanced capitalist countries to emerge as a universal category Damodaran published his ‘India’s etc. We do not want to get in to the .The attempt to understand this New Capitalists: Caste, Business controversy of interpretations here. phenomenon has created some and Industry in a Modern Nation’ Our concern is how our theoreticians controversies, ideological splits, in 2008, there was little reaction and activists have failed to see the conspiracies and so on in the labour from academics and no discussion Indian realities which our young and left movements in India. The as to how caste plays an important scholars without any ideological neo-Marxist explanations given role in the economic (capitalist) bogey are able to discover. The by Amin, Gunter Frank and other development. The rising New India young scholars have produced Latin American scholars have not is a nation that cares less for human enough empirical evidence that been taken kindly in India saying values and is overwhelmed more caste and not necessarily class has that the fundamental problem by western ideals particularly the played an important role in India’s is surplus value and not how business ethics. Yet, interestingly, it development. The issue is how to exchange and markets function ( as is still Bharat as it sincerely adopts measure it and recognize it now? theorized by them). Interestingly, the traditional values of caste and the economic development has failed related ‘dharma’. Caste discrimination as an to destroy caste in India and caste imperfect market condition was like Burkamins (about a million) The economic development in studied by scholars including Nobel in capitalist Japan. Now some India measured by GDP is now laureates like Arrow, Becker, Akerlof empirical results are available to 4 JANATA, September 30, 2012 reexamine the above formulations. Banwarilal Sharma It is alleged that some of the activist scholars do not agree to In morning of 26th September, Kudankulam (Tamilnadu), Jaitapur accept the paradigm that the few many of us received the shocking (Maharashtra), Fatehabad (Haryana), upper castes constitute a group of news that Prof. Banwari Lal Sharma, Chutka (Madhya Pradesh) and exploiters. They do also refuse to National Convenor, Azadi Bachao others. Those of us who watched him admit the formulation that all the Andolan and former Professor doing this could not but admire his dalits, adivasis and some OBCs are of Mathematics, University of fearlessness, inexhaustible energy Allahabad breathed his last at the real proletariat by citing isolated (at the age of 78 years) and almost Chandigarh after hospitalization child-like faith in ultimate victory cases of dalit civil servants (0.001 at PGI for several hours. He had of the people. percent) who entered the few steps gone to Chandigarh on his way to of class ladder. We fail to understand Himachal Pradesh with regard to Banwarilal ji was a Member why do they not collect data on a his efforts to mobilize people for the of the Board of Advisers of All hundred families from each caste in Annual Conference of Azadi Bachao India Forum for Right to Education a unit to identify how many of them Andolan scheduled to be held in (AIFRTE). He proactively supported are exploited and have remained poor the first week of November 2012 at our movement and viewed our and how many are exploiting? This Indore, M. P. Prof. Sharma was not work with great interest. Only has also been complicated with some in good health for several days and about ten days ago, he had called enthusiasts calling themselves as was advised rest but his indomitable me to invite AIFRTE to take charge dalit entrepreneurs and is magnified spirit did not allow him this luxury. of the session on education at the forthcoming Indore Conference in by corporate media. Further, the own Banwarilal ji, which is how November. During the discussion, account entrepreneurs in the above most of his co-workers and friends I told him about the decision of may include hair cutting saloons, called him lovingly, will always be the Mumbai Mahanagar Palika to laundry, fish stalls, vegetable remembered for his unparalleled handover its schools to private hands vendors, etc. Now we have data contribution over the last two (NGOs and Corporate houses). This from field studies to negate the thesis decades to building an all-India made him furious and appealed to of presence of dalit/OBC capitalists movement against the onslaught AIFRTE to make the battle of saving in the emerging capitalist economy. of the multi-national corporate Mumbai Mahanagar Palika schools houses and imperialist forces on its priority agenda and turn Mumbai An attempt has been made by a the natural resources, livelihood, into a battlefront that we can ill corporate consultancy firm to study education and health of our people afford to lose. Banwarilal ji went the status of representation of SC/ST/ and our languages, culture and on to add, “We know that abolishing OBC employees in the private sector values as well. As a Gandhian, he privatization is no guarantee that we as part of CSR. The results are not used ahimsa as a political strategy would have a good education system available for public comment, but and took an uncompromising stand but we also know that without doing are known through informal sources against corporate houses and their this we will never be able achieve that 63 percent of the topmost listed deeply entrenched structures of equitable education either!” loot. He enriched this movement companies have refused to give by combining sangharsh (struggle) The younger colleagues of Azadi information and those who have with nirman (reconstruction). Thus Bachao Andolan least expected to signed an MOU for diversity (like in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, he helped lose Banwarilal ji at this crucial stage USA) have performed very poorly form a co-operative coal-based of the movement. Their anxiety is in the implementation of what is power plant, declaring that the coal but natural. I feel it is a collective called Affirmative Action. This is below the ground belongs to the and moral responsibility of all of further corroborated by a study of people who live over the ground, us to extend unstinted support to three young scholars from Canada, rather than to multi-nationals. the Andolan and ensure that the that the corporate boards in India are Andolan will keep on moving ahead. In recent years Banwarilal ji blocked by caste. They have done an This, indeed, will be the highest travelled ceaselessly around the form of tribute that we can offer to admirable work and published some country, often in sleeper class, to Banwarilal ji. of their results in EPW. They have co-ordinate the people’s struggle (Continued on Page 7) against the nuclear power plants viz. –Anil Sadgopal JANATA, September 30, 2012 5 Political Scene of Andhra Pradesh

Y.V. Reddy

The fledgling YSR Congress Party Congress secured was with the help Two, quite a few who-is-who has scored successive wins in the of the TDP[3] the main Opposition, of the Congress high command - state. The 130-year old Congress and which resorted to “match-fixing” Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vayalar Ravi, the 30-year old TDP were made to with the Congress in the last minute. Oscar Fernandez etc. came down, bite the dust. Jagan, who represented The YSR Congress won the Nellore toured places and did their bit to boost Kadapa as a Congress MP, resigned, Lok Sabha seat by a huge majority. the sagging morale of their party and won the seat in the by-poll with Contingents of MPs, Ministers and half-a-million margin in May 2011. Gimmicks MLAs were deployed in specially The Congress candidate in the by- From the latest bout of by- marked places. Oscar Fernandez poll was the Health Minister D.L. elections that were held on 12th June literally walked on foot, in the rural Ravindra Reddy and he is now called for the 18Assembly seats and one parts of Guntur that formed part “Deposit Lost” Ravindra Reddy as Lok Sabha seat, a few observations of Prathipadu constituency, along he had forfeited his deposit, having are in place:One , by-elections with nine MPs, in scorching heat made the maximum noise, while the though, they were treated as a test- with a towel thrown on his head the TDP candidate Mysoora Reddy case for the looming 2014 general - probably in imitation of the late who managed to save his deposit has election. So, the Congress high YSR’s game-changing ‘Padayatra’ recently joined Jagan, following his command pulled out all the stops in 2004 which snatched victory arrest. His mother, Vijayamma won for fighting those seats. Huge sums from the jaws of defeat, and of his the Pulivendula Assembly seat in of money were spent. It is heard that son, Jagan’s ‘Odarpuyatra’ after he place of YSR, who died in the plane voters were paid up to Rs.2000/- per left Congress recently, which turned crash, without any difficulty over his vote in critical places like Tirupathi him into the darling of the rural folk. brother Vivekananda Reddy who where Chiranjeevi [4] resigned to go In Prathipadu constituency, where too left the Congress recently, and to Rajya Sabha. Fernandez began his experiment joined Jagan, livid that YSR was in Padayatra with nine MPs, the being betrayed and his son harassed Payments of Rs.500/- and Congress lost its deposit. The by the Congress. Rs.1000/- were quite common. All gimmick concocted to gain votes Next, it was from Kovoor in the three parties did make payments, in the last minute did not pay off. Nellore district where the TDP more or less, including the YSR Ordinary folks can be counted to Assembly member, Prasanna kumar Congress, at least to some voters. It see through the veil. It seemed as Reddy, crossed over to the YSR CP turned out, however, that the voters though the Congress leaders were and resigned his seat. In the by- were smart enough to take money chasing their own tails, judging from election that resulted, he won with from all parties but vote only to the the results that followed. a majority of over 25000 votes, as party of their choice. In Nellore Lok against some 9000 previously on Sabha constituency, for example, TDP supremo, Naidu and other TDP ticket in 2009. the extremely affluent Subbarami leaders had also sweated it out, Reddy, the Congress big-wig is the former moving relentlessly on And now, in the by-elections for supposed to have forked out a fifty the stump, breathing out fire and 18 Assembly seats and one Lok crore rupees; but, he lost by a very brimstone on the young leader and Sabha seat of Nellore [1], YSR party wide margin of nearly three lakhs his dead father. But, as ill-luck would made history by almost sweeping votes to Raja Mohan Reddy, the have it, the party did not even open the board with huge majorities in sitting MP who had resigned from its account. It drew blank. 15 Assembly constituencies. It had Congress in protest against including lost Parkal in Telangana area to the YSR’s name in the CBI charge sheet. Finally, the crunch came when the TRS [2] by a whisker of some 1500 He too spent, but only a fraction of crusading young man, in the midst of votes. The two Assembly seats the what his Congress counterpart did. a hectic campaign was summoned to 6 JANATA, September 30, 2012 the CBI and arrested. He was served The more the CBI tried to expose Narsapur and Ramachandrapuram. summons on May 24th night, to YSR’s infractions and his son’s The TDP was equally in bad shape, appear on 25th at 10AM, before the asset-building propensities, the more having come second in nine seats, CBI in Hyderabad, while resting in the sympathy swelled towards him. third in the remaining nine, as also a village in a supporter’s house in As a result, Jagan’s party swept the in Nellore lok Sabha seat. It was a Macharla constituency. After grilling polls and the two major parties tasted double whammy, this time, for the him for 30 hours, for three days, the bitterest defeat of their careers. Congress, because it contested the the CBI took him into custody on by-elections after Chiranjeevi’s Humiliating Results the evening of 27th, when he had Praja Rajyam Party, with over 15 to appear, anyway, before the CBI The YSR Congress secured more percent vote in 2009, had merged Court, the next day, on 28th at 10— votes than the Congress and the into the Congress. It is estimated 30AM. And the elections were due TDP put together in nine of the that the Congress-PRP merger lost on June 12. It was widely resented, 18 constituencies. Its overall vote 62 percent of its 2009 combined with the exception of the Congress in the 18 assembly constituencies vote in 2012. leadership and the TDP supremo, exceeded the combined vote of the both of whom had gone out on a limb two major parties. YSR Congress To What Effect? at their bete noire in jail and his father won 15 out of 18 Assembly seats; From the series of landslides who was no more. The national press of them, it won seven by margins that the newly started party scored, too reacted, as expected. “Jagan’s of over 30,000 votes, three by over certain conclusions, provisional 20,000, and another three by over arrest will be seen as another attempt though, could be drawn: by a desperate Congress to hit at a 15,000. The party won the lone growing political rival…The events Nellore Lok Sabha seat by a huge One, the YSR Congress Party have left the Congress looking like margin of over 2,91,000 votes, while has come to stay and is likely to the same candidate Raja Mohan a petty schemer and a big bully” play a big role in the politics of the Reddy had won the seat by only wrote The Hindu in its editorial. state. One more is added to the list “India Today” blazoned across its 55,000 votes in 2009 as the Congress of regional parties and the galaxy cover page “Price of Vendetta” with candidate. The YSR party also won of regional leaders, with what effect a well-informed article in it. the Tirupathi Assembly seat with a on national politics, we are going to thumping majority of over 18,000 witness, following the decimation Big money, big persons, and “big votes, which is significant because bullying” did not help the Congress, the seat was vacated by the film of national parties—Congress as while the TDP too found itself at its star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi. well as the BJP. The impact of wits’ end. Large amounts of money The results were humiliating to regional satraps on national unity were spent, but the results proved the Congress which came second and governmental stability will be the opposite. Congress, as the ruling in six seats, third in nine, fifth in watched with trepidation. party, was obviously leading in the one and forfeited deposits in four race of greasing the palms of voters seats. In Parkal(Telingana), where Two, the Congress party, after the who readily grabbed what was the Congress came fifth, it had won death of YSR and the exit of his son, offered but kept close to their chest the seat in 2009, while the YSR has been decimating itself so fast that the way they were voting. Then, the candidate missed it by a little over it could end up a poor third in the persona of the leaders from Delhi 1500 votes, in spite of the regional state. No wonder if Andhra Pradesh failed to impress the public and their sentiment for Telangana. The TRS in 2014 will turn into another Bihar, voting behaviour. The Contingents [5] squeaked through somehow in in electoral terms, for Congress. In of central leaders and MPs were Parkal [6]. It was a saving grace that Bihar, the Congress won just four not even noticed by the common Congress formally won two seats assembly seats in 2010 and two Lok folk. And finally, the efforts of the out of 18, but with the help of the Sabha seats the year before. Unless Congress high command, acting TDP as part of its strategy to avoid the Congress does something radical through the proxy of the CBI, being steamrollered by the new to redeem itself from the egregious to erase the memory of theYSR party [7] .The TDP did not mind a blunders it committed after YSR’s mystique seemed to have followed humiliating defeat for its candidates, demise, it can forget the good old the law of reversed effect if only the YSR party did not win, in days it enjoyed in the state. JANATA, September 30, 2012 7

Third, the main Opposition in the carving out a separate state for It is a wonder, in this election, state namely the TDP, judged from themselves, and sweeping the the TDP candidates in both the outcome of the by-elections, has polls in the region places lost deposits. The talk is been bleeding itself, concentrating that “match-fixing” between the its fire more on the young Jagan 3. Needless to say, the TDP is the Congress and the Opposition and his deceased father than on the Telugu Desam Party founded by have seen through the Congress ongoing problems of the Congress the legendary film star N.T Rama candidates. misrule in the state. Both the young Rao, known as NTR The party, and the tired cadres in the party may for the first time ruled the state (Continued from Page 4) crave for change of leadership and for over 15 years. It is now led proved that the corporate boards of for bringing in of fresh faces of the by his son-in-law Chandra Babu the top 1000 private companies are Stanford-educated Lokesh, who is Naidu. still dominated by two dvija castes. Naidu’s son and the chip-off-the- They have given the data that out of old-block and the feisty Junior NTR, 4. Chiranjeevi is a famous film star, 9052 board members, 4167 or 46 who is the son of the legendary NTR who turned a politician before percent are from Vaishyas and 4037 son, Harikrishna, with the wily and the 2009 general election and or 44.6 per cent are from Brahmins. ingenious Naidu pulling strings from floated a political party called OBCs constitute 3.8 per cent and behind. Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) which SC/STs constitute 3.5 per cent. The he merged in the Congress with study has concluded that”caste is Through all these changes, it is its 18 MLAs. He was promised a an important factor in networking. certain that the YSR legacy will run position at the Centre and hence The small world of corporate India its time out only after Jagan had his his resignation from Assembly. has interaction only within their tryst with the destiny of the state for, caste kinship”. What else do we at least, one term during which time 5. See Note 2. need to confirm that caste is playing he would either have proved himself, a dominant role in the capitalist or passed into oblivion, after causing 6. YSR Party’s candidate in Parkal development of 21st century India? much sound and fury on the political (Telengana) is Konda Surekha scenario of the state. who was Congress MLA from Parkal and also a Minister. Being Notes a staunch YSR loyalist, she 1. These seats fell vacant because resigned as Minister in the wake 17 of the Congress MLAs voted of his death, and later got axed as against the Congress government an MLA when she voted for the in the no-confidence motion no-trust motion along with some moved by the TDP Opposition, others of the new party. She gave and hence they were disqualified a good fight and lost by a small by the Speaker. The 18th fell margin. vacant because the PRP leader Chiranjeevi who represented 7. The two seats the Congress Tirupathi resigned the seat, won are Narsapur and after he merged his party in the R a m a c h a n d r a p u r a m i n Congress, for getting into the West and East Godavari Rajya Sabha. As for Nellore districts respectively. In Lok Sabha seat, Congress MP Ramachandrapuram, the YSRCP Rajmohan Reddy resigned and candidate was an ex-minister Price: Rs. 20/- joined the YSR Congress. who had resigned after YSR’s death and also one of the founders Janata Trust D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir 2. Telengana Rashtra Samithi, of the party, S. C Bose. These two Bharucha Marg, a regional outfit which has constituencies were ordinarily Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. been successfully whipping TDP turfs. Except in 2009, TDP up separatist sentiment for was winning there successively. 8 JANATA, September 30, 2012 Pulling Assam back from the abyss

The riots and violence in Assam returned to the North-eastern region have moved away from the headlines (NER). Appeal for Contributions for Relief Camps in Assam of the metro media. But the State — and indeed other parts of the North- Thankfully, that flow has begun Over two lakh persons are still housed in relief camps in Dhubri, east as seen in a recent explosive to be reversed. However, instead Chirang and Kokrajhar districts of confrontation in Nagaland over of merely curbing hate speech, governments need to firmly Lower Assam, in the wake of a series as minor an issue as an alleged of violent clashes. This is down to theft — appears to be living on handle acts of hatred and racial about half the peak of nearly five lakh a knife-edge. It seems to be an discrimination. people in camps, making it one of the largest humanitarian emergencies in unending cycle in a challenging As has been seen, the issue of humanscape. The news of the region, independent India. All these internally illegal migration from Bangladesh displaced persons fled from their for all these reasons, has acquired an remains an explosive and unresolved villages in fear of violence, and many international resonance. issue 27 years after the signing because their homes were torched and of the Assam Accord. This surely belongings looted. There is little hope Angry rhetoric and mobilisation represents as much a failure of all that everyone will be able to return of groups along ethnic, community sides in this process as of the Centre home in the immediate future. and linguistic lines have not helped; and State governments. The camps are lodged mostly indeed an already complex situation in schools and college buildings; seems to be in a state of drift The signatories have met at a sometimes a few classrooms and with neither the Central or State discussion on the current situation a courtyard house a few thousand governments able to assert a sense at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on people. The Assam state government of decisiveness or win back the September 3, 2012, convened by the assumed full responsibility for the camps, and its officials coped with confidence of all groups. Centre for NE Studies at JMI and the sudden explosion of the refugees. issuing this statement after further The state supplied food, some money As in the past across the country, discussions. for utensils and clothes, and ensured in such situations, the worst sufferers primary health protection. in the recent riots and violence It is our view that the Centre and State governments must assert in no So far the camp residents are have been the poor and vulnerable, only surviving on bare rice and dal especially women and children. uncertain terms that those migrants everyday. They need at least a plastic Rural schools have been converted who have illegally slipped across sheet to sleep on and mosquito nets. into relief camps — while giving the Indo-Bangladesh border to any The camps desperately require many temporary succour to a large number part of the country since March 25, more toilets and clean drinking water, of people who have fled fear and 1971 — the agreed cut-off date — the lack of which threatens epidemic will be tackled under due process outbreaks of cholera, gastro-enteritis bloodshed, such a situation also and malaria. blights the lives of those children or even through a system of special who study at these schools. courts to speed up the process. This Children suffer in many ways. is a problem facing all of India. This There are no arrangements to study in the camps, and most students lost their The situation in the Bodo primarily represents a labour flow from Bangladesh, and needs to be books to the fires that consumed their Territorial Administered Districts homes. Since most camps are housed raised with Dhaka. remains tense. Lakhs are homeless in schools and colleges, local students and fearful of returning. Trauma is also cannot study. Tragically, however, passions are writ large on their faces. whipped up by the use of unverified The state and humanitarian agencies figures on either side, leading to — the latter regrettably substantially In addition, hate speech and abuse greater anger, suspicions and fear. absent so far — must help people of new media has created a situation return and rebuild their homes, schools where tens of thousands fled their There are no easy solutions to this and livelihoods. Children and young people must be assisted to resume places of work and residence, in situation in Assam although some places like Bangalore and Pune, and their studies and normal life, without JANATA, September 30, 2012 9 Pulling Assam back from the abyss

of them are known, have been in Appeal for Contributions for Relief Camps in Assam the realm of discussion and policy framing. fear and dislocation. The major duty for relief and rehabilitation lies with the central and state First of all, the Assam governments. But in a humanitarian emergency of this magnitude, it is important government’s decision to update the for people of goodwill everywhere to reach out to help and heal, to assist in 1952 National Register of Citizens relieving immediate suffering, but also as a gesture of solidarity and caring (NRC) is welcome — but there are with the suffering people of both affected communities, the Bodos and Bengali disturbing reports, which say that Muslims. in all least 10 districts the records In a very small initiative, humanist young people have decided to work are incomplete or unavailable. together for relief and reconciliation. This initiative would be in collaboration This has to be fixed by looking at with TISS Guwahati. Initially joint teams of young Bodo and Bengali Muslims the available data in the Registrar- will supply relief materials and services in the camps together. The initial focus General’s Office in New Delhi. is to support children and youth in these camps with textbooks, play things, clothes, etc, and women with clothes, sanitary napkins etc; and also utensils, treated mosquito nets etc. To complete such a process is in the interests of all groups, including We reiterate that this is a very small modest effort, and is not suggesting that the student unions at the forefront this is contributing to any solution of a very complex and old problem. It is just of agitations and counter-agitations. intended as a very small gesture of collective caring. We have set a target to raise at least around 20 lakh rupees initially, to make a small tangible contribution. In addition, we strongly believe We appeal to people of goodwill everywhere to contribute to this small effort. that: The entire money would be transferred to the joint youth group in Assam, to use entirely for purchase and distribution of relief material in both the Bodo and People in relief camps must be Bengali Muslim camps. The accounts will be managed by the Centre for Equity assisted to return home, in conditions Studies, which will get these independently audited, and the audited accounts will be placed in the public domain. of dignity and safety We would also like to request you to widely circulate this appeal amongst Border patrolling needs to be your friends and family. more robust especially in the riverine - Amita Joseph, Amitav Ghosh, Anu Aga, Aruna Roy, Avi Singh, Bela Bhatia, areas Biraj Patnaik, Dipa Sinha, Harsh Mander, Jean Drèze, Karuna Nundy, Kavita Srivastava, Mathew Cherian, Nandita Das, Nikhil Dey, Pervin Varma, Rahul Bose, Tackle the sense of impunity and Ram Punyani, Reeta Dev Barman, Ritu Priya, Sajjad Hassan, Sejal Dand, Sharmila immunity that armed groups have Tagore, Vandana Prasad, Vijay Pratap and Warisha Farasat enjoyed For Aman Biradari A deadline must be set for the For further details, please contact handing in of illegal weapons Jeevika Shiv (9899572770 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 9899572770 and these must be registered and end_of_the_skype_highlighting, [email protected]) or Ankita Aggarwal (9818603009 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 9818603009 end_of_ decommissioned (i.e. destroyed) the_skype_highlighting, [email protected]) Economic cooperation on joint Details for donations projects on the Bangladesh side of Please mention the purpose of the donation while making the contribution and e mail your PAN card number and postal address at [email protected]) the border could help reduce the flow and make remaining at home more Name of A/c: Aman Biradari Trust attractive. Bank Name: IDBI Bank Limited Branch: 1/6, Siri Fort Institution Area, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi 110049, India Work permits, as have been A/c No: 010104000156950, IFSC Code: IBKL0000010, BSR Code: 110259002 discussed extensively, could be issued to people to come and work in 10 JANATA, September 30, 2012

India for short periods but only after goodwill and end ill will. Otherwise, the NER as well as in a larger sense, the NRC process is completed and as we have seen, all of Assam and India, will suffer irreparable harm. ID cards issued to all Indian citizens –Najeeb Jung, IAS, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI); Sanjoy of the North-east Hazarika, Director, Centre for North East Studies, JMI, New Delhi; Prof Binod Khadria, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); Dr. Abdul Malik, All sides must abide by the Deputy Registrar, JMI; Prof. Udayon Misra; Prof. Anil Boro, Gauhati Constitution and the law University; Dr. Monisha Behal, Chairperson, North East Network; Dr. The word “Bangladeshi” must Bulbul Dhar, Department of Political Science, JMI; Dr. Monica Banerjee, Director, National Foundation of India; Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, NDTV, be used to define those who have NE Editor; Dr. Roshmi Goswami, activist on women’s issues; came post-1971 (the creation of Mr. Suhas Chakma, Asian Centre for Human Rights; Mr. Jamal Kidwai, Bangladesh) and should not be used Director, Aman Trust; Mr. Harsh Mander, Centre for Equity Studies; casually to refer to people who are Dr. Rajesh Dev, Dept. of Political Science, Delhi University; Dr. Mujibur Bengali-speaking or of Bengali Rehman, Asst. Professor, JMI; Mr. Helal Choudhury, Advocate, Supreme Court; Mr. Mirza Rahman, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati; Mr. origin, whatever their religious Mehfuz Islam Bora, C-NES, New Delhi; Mr. Kaisii Kokho, Asst. Prof., JMI; persuasion, who have settled in Mr. Kaustubh Deka, School of Social Sciences, JNU. Assam before 1971 Intimidation and hate speech must be shunned and any group or groups involved in hate acts and incitement to violence must bear the full force of the law State governments need to appoint task forces manned by respected scholars and researchers as well as senior officials to review and verify land records and the ownership of land so that the rights of all who are protected by law remain inalienable. Till date, this has been observed more in the breach: a large number of political conflicts in the region are rooted in disputes over land, territory and natural resources. Yet, in this complex situation, the rights of any one group cannot be protected at the expense of the rights of others. Land and natural resources are finite; matters are not helped by ratcheting up the political rhetoric.

In closing, we call on all political and other groups at this time to reduce the rhetoric, to help Assam and the region — and other parts of the country as we have seen — pull back from an abyss. The violence of past decades is unacceptable. Today, all sides have the capacity to inflict harm on others. It is time to spread JANATA, September 30, 2012 11 Ministry of Rural Development Further Dilutes the Provisions of the Land Bill

It is extremely unfortunate to to greed and illegality in private and or possession not taken”. This is note that the draft Land Acquisition, PPP projects. It is time for shunning nothing but further dilution, since Resettlement and Rehabilitation the eminent domain framework of we have been saying that nearly 10 Bill (retitled as Right To Fair the state rather than expanding it to Crore people have been affected Compensation And Transparency be a tool in service of private capital. by various ‘development’ projects In Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation It will be a move for the worse since independence with a very and Resettlement Bill, 2012) brought and fundamentally damage the low rate of R&R, nearly 17-20 by Ministry of Rural Development, socialist and egalitarian fabric of the percent. A new legislation should which was already seeking to constitution, as propounded in the move forward in addressing the legitimise forcible acquisition by directive principles of state policy or historical injustice committed on the government for private and mandated in the Article 243. the scheduled caste and scheduled PPP projects has further diluted it tribe who constitute the majority to placate the investors and their NAPM along with many other of PFAs by setting up a National representatives in the Ministry of movement groups under the banner Resettlement and Rehabilitation Trade & Commerce, Finance, Urban of Sangharsh have been demanding Commission to address their claims Development, Planning Commission free prior informed consent of the of R&R rather than feeling proud in and other Ministries. Gram / Basti Sabha for deciding denying their share in development nature of public purpose, to approval of the nation. It is shameful and It is no wonder and seems to be of the project and their participation nothing else! only expected from a government in R&R and various steps of project A concerted effort is being made which is being run on the life support implementation. Unfortunately by the UPA to say that they are trying given by the private corporations under the pressure from industry to protect the interests of the farmers and on their money, especially after and their lobbyists even a 80 percent and communities dependent on the completely anti-people decisions in consent clause of the project affected land but unfortunately none of the the form of allowing FDI in retail people is now being reduced to the actions by the government seem and aviation, hike in diesel prices two third of the land losers alone. to demonstrate that. No wonder and electricity tariff, disinvestment Similarly, small benefits like a if approval to such a Bill by the of public sector units and other house plot to those displaced are group of Ministers will only add to related measures. being taken away by increasing the discrediting the government, since it time of residence from three years seems to be ruling for the interests We would like to reiterate our to five years prior to displacement. of the private and multinational opposition to any such move by the In spite of numerous deliberations corporations alone and not for the UPA government to enact a legislation with the Ministry, displacement in people who voted it to power. which is going to deprive the natural urban centres seems to be nowhere resource based communities of their on radar, a separate legislation on the The Bill if accepted in current livelihood and fails to accommodate urban evictions and displacement is form will not only increase the key recommendations of the the only way out now. conflicts surrounding the land across Parliamentary Standing Committee the country as being witnessed comprising of members from Ministry of Rural Development in around the various infrastructure different political parties. PSC very its bid to placate Ministers opposed projects but will prove fatal for it in clearly has said that no acquisition to its proposal says that the “Bill the next general elections. Group of should be allowed for the private and shall apply prospectively only, Ministers must heed to the voices of PPP projects, since they are nothing i.e., for new acquisitions only, and the people, real investors’ and not but a loot of natural resources. The not retrospectively. Earlier the to the investors holding fictitious unfolding corruption cases involving Bill was to apply retrospectively, wealth. People and communities auction of coal blocks and spectrum, i.e., to ongoing land acquisitions are real investors, who hold control irrigation scam and others, all testify where Award had not been made of land, water, forest, minerals and 12 JANATA, September 30, 2012 most important their labour. Lastly, industry lobby and rather pay heed Urban Housing who are mandated Ministry of Rural Development to the Ministry of Social Justice and to look after the interests of the must not bow to the pressure of the Empowerment, Tribal Affairs and marginal communities.

–Medha Patkar, Dr. Sunilam, Prafulla Samantara, Roma, Gautam Bandopadhyay, Vimal Bhai, Suniti S R, Bhupinder Singh Rawat, Dr. Rupesh Verma, Advocate Aradhana Bhargava, Rajendra Ravi, Shrikanth, Madhuresh Kumar

March Against FDI in Retail

Socialist Party members took out Shyam Gambhir, environmentalist immediately, as the fight is now to a march in East Delhi on Septmber20 Prof. Dwijendra Kalia and Rajesh be fought on a bigger plane.” to oppose the decision of allowing 51 Dhokwal, social activist Rakhi percent FDI in the retail trade and Gupta took part in the march. Socialist Party has decided the price hike of Gas and diesel. The Socialist Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) also to continue its fight against the march was flagged off by Indradev, participated in the march in a big decision. The party will contact and member of Parliamentary Board, number. co-operate political parties, retail from the party office at Patpad trade associations, trade unions, Ganj. They reached Lakshmi Nagar- Hunger strike farmers’ unions, students’ unions Shakar Pur via Mayur Vihar phase 1, The Socialist Party had also to take a decisive stand against this Trilok Puri, Pandav Nagar, Ganesh organized indefinite relay hunger anti-people and pro-multinational Nagar, Mother Dairy, Madhuban strike at Jantar Mantar from Septmber decision of the UPA government. Chowk, Nirman Vihar distributing 22 against the UPA government’s Socialist Party will participate in pamphlets and announcing slogans decision. It was planned that every the protest to be held by Trinmool against the UPA government and its day five members of the party would Congress on 1st October in Delhi. leaders, observe fast for 24 hours. However, in view of the appeal made by Justice –Niraj Singh A public meeting was held at the Rajindar Sachar, Renu Gambhir culmination point at Nirman Vihar announced in the evening of 25th crossing. Dr. Prem Singh stated September the end of the hunger that the decision of allowing FDI strike. Justice Sachar in his appeal Madhu Dandavate in retail will have disastrous impact said: “Socialist Party (India) under on the small traders, shopkeepers, the leadership of professor Prem By vendors and farmers of the country. Singh, General Secretary of the party All pro-people and pro-Constitution has been observing relay hunger B. Vivekanandan citizens must oppose this neo- strike at Janter Manter against liberal onslaught on our economy the government decision to permit Price: Rs. 20/- and Constitutional sovereignty. He Wal-Mart to open operations in declared that Socialist Party will India. They have rightly emphasized continue its struggle against this that this step is harmful to the decision in particular and neo-liberal economy of India and drive to loss of policies in general. occupation of at least over four crore of families. I would hope that other Janata Trust Renu Gambhir, the president political parties would appreciate D-15, Ganesh Prasad, of Delhi State unit, in her address this step and lend their support to Naushir Bharucha Marg, appealed the citizens to co-operate the movement. Now that a message Grant Road (W), with Socialist Party in its struggle by has gone out, and the fight is long Mumbai 400 007. becoming members, sympathizers I would urge my friends to give up and supporters. Senior socialist their programme of hunger strike JANATA, September 30, 2012 13 Not by violence

Shahid Siddiqui

After the film, we now have the to behave in a peaceful and civilised it by not countering this propaganda. nude cartoons of the prophet. There manner when faced with insults and They show their love of Islam and is no end to the provocation. It seems mockery of their faith. the prophet by reacting violently that the easiest route to world fame to any insult, but not by taking the is to condemn Islam, the Quran “When you hear God’s revelations teachings of their religion to others. and the prophet of Islam. Charlie disbelieved in and mocked at, do not Hebdo, a satirical French magazine, sit with them until they enter into Muslim ulemas, intellectuals and which was fast losing circulation, some other discourse; surely then leaders should boldly stand up to all found a cheap and simple method you would be like them” (4:140). those who propagate violence and of overcoming its financial problems intolerance in the name of Islam. by lampooning Islam and all that The Quran is clear about not They are doing more damage to it believes to be sacred. The film getting into arguments with those the fair name of this great religion Innocence of Muslims, which could who mock your religion, but it of peace by their actions than the not attract even five people to its also makes it clear that once the enemies of Islam or those suffering premiere, today has many hits on discourse changes you may remain from Islamophobia. They should the Net, thanks to the reaction of a in talks and other social interactions tell common Muslims that this is a handful of violent and irresponsible with those who are insulting you. deliberate act to bring anarchy into Muslims in Libya. So the Quran is asking Muslims to Muslim societies and to present Islam ignore and move away from those and Muslims in a bad light before the It is time that Muslims understood who insult and provoke. There people of the world. Muslims should that reacting violently to any insult to are innumerable examples in the not fall into this trap. They should Islam is not the right response to all prophet’s life (Hadis), when he won concentrate their energies in building those suffering from Islamophobia over his worst enemies, critics and a better world both for themselves or those who take Muslim-hating opponents by his love and affection and for humanity. The Western world’s right to blaspheme can be to be an easy path to financial in response to their insults. countered by the right to positive and and professional success. If there correct information about Islam and was no fatwa on Salman Rushdie, Our anger about this blasphemy other great religions of the world. he would have been regarded a and mocking of the sacred symbols of Islam should be positive and mediocre writer, long forgotten. –The Indian Express Muslims should learn to ignore the constructive. In this age of Facebook insults to the prophet and the Quran. and Twitter you cannot stop some The objective of Islam haters is to mad or ill-informed people from provoke a violent reaction from the insulting your prophet, but you could Janata Muslims and by reacting predictably, very well use the same medium to Subscription they play into the hands of their spread positive and correct messages Annual Rs. : 260/- opponents. Critics of Islam say that about Islam. Every Muslim on Three Years : 750/- it is an intolerant and violent religion Facebook or Twitter should write Demand Draft / Cheque on that has no place in a civilised one Hadis of the prophet every day. Mumbai Bank society. By reacting the way some Show your anger by publishing in favour of Muslims have, they have proved small booklets in all languages Janata Trust their critics right. and distribute them free of cost to as many non-Muslims as possible. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, This is not the way the Quran If today there is propaganda and Naushir Bharucha Marg, or the prophet expects Muslims to misleading information about Islam, Mumbai 400 007 behave. The Quran asks its followers Muslims are equally responsible for 14 JANATA, September 30, 2012 Deep waters won’t run still

Bharat Dogra

On September 10 the Madhya Supreme Court Stipulation displacing lakhs of people and have Pradesh government belatedly Confirming this in the context of disrupted the entire ecology of a accepted the demand of the jal these two dam projects, the Supreme vast region? satyagrahis at the Omkareshwar dam Court had clearly stipulated that in Khandwa district. Villagers had raising the level of water beyond a All available indications therefore immersed themselves in the water certain height would not be allowed point to the fact that the most anti- to demand the implementation of unless satisfactory rehabilitation has democratic, and arbitrary tactics nothing other than the government’s been completed so that premature, of dam-builders are about to be own promises to the Narmada dam disruptive and illegal submergence repeated once again: the world over, project oustees, which the Supreme can be avoided. the tactic is to simply submerge the Court ordered it to fulfil. They land arbitrarily so that once the land stood in water for two weeks; by In view of the obvious fact that is submerged, the affected people the time the government accepted alternative cultivable land had not will have no option but to leave. their demands, their skin had started been provided to most oustees, the Unfortunately for the dam to peel. submergence was illegal. Legally, the submergence could only have authorities and the State government, a democracy is in place in India, and But the State government has taken place six months after land- so is a people’s movement to fight refused to accept the demands of the allotment and rehabilitation had for the rights of the oustees. Narmada dam oustees at another site, been completed. the Indra Sagar dam in Harda district. At Omkareshwar, the water level The situation now is that the Here the jal satyagrahis were pulled was being stepped up from 189 mts people of Harda are planning to out of the water and arrested. to 193 mts. The government has take the State government to court for contempt. The oustees of both What were their demands? That now agreed to bring it down again. projects are preparing to make their the water level must not be raised At Indra Sagar, the government has decided to raise the level from 260 presentations before the Ministers’ till the time all the villagers whose mts to 262 mts; there is no change Committee constituted by the lands would be submerged were in this decision yet. Madhya Pradesh government for compensated satisfactorily. What satisfactory rehabilitation. needs to re-emphasised is that The most rational thing would these oustees of the Omkareshwar have been to simultaneously reach an It is still not too late to undo and Indira Sagar dams were agreement with both struggles at the the great injustice done to these asking for nothing more than the time of the September 10 agreement. oustees of the Narmada projects, implementation of the rehabilitation Inexplicably, the government has if the commitment of land for land plan. accepted the demand at one place based on the policy adopted by but not at the other. the Narmada Awards Tribunal is The Narmada Tribunal Award had fully implemented, a policy that clearly established the principle that The Narmada Tribunal Award been reiterated by the High Court alternative land should be provided was a completely official exercise. and the Supreme Court, and most to oustees, and that submergence The oustees hardly had any say in it. recently by the Grievance Redressal of land would be permitted only How can a democratic government Authority of Madhya Pradesh. months after rehabilitation has been go back on legal commitments, that completed. too after creating structures that are –The Hindu JANATA, September 30, 2012 15

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