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34 ECONOMY WHITE ELEPHANT 36 PRIVACY PAYTM DATA 40 THEFT FOREIGN AFFAIRS THE MURDER MOST FOUL 48 SABARIMALA AND NUN’S RAPE AN UNEQUAL 43 JUSTICE SPORTS 44 DDCA #METOO TURMOIL ABUSE MAY RATTLE CHARGES BCCI HAUNT BOLLYWOOD

POWER CORRIDORS 4 NOVEMBER 2018 EDITORIAL Chairman’s Message

n this issue, we have focused on the five Assembly elections. They are important because they would give some indication about the mood of the electorate for the general election in 2019. These are big battles that are being fought with an eye on the war next year. There is anti-incumbency in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, especially in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where the saffron party has been in Ipower for 15 years. Governance in the states under the BJP cannot be called the paragon of excellence, thus providing the Congress a good opportunity to oust it from these states. NANDAN JHA Will it? Our cover story focuses on this issue at length and from various perspectives. It facebook.com/jhnandan not only describes and examines the two national parties’ strengths and weaknesses, their strategies, and their prospects but also surveys the history of the grand old party. @Nandan_jha4 Other stories also go beyond what is being reported routinely by the mainstream media. Effort has been made to put important events like Amritsar tragedy on Dusshera, data theft at the Paytm chief’s office, Sabarimala, the nun rape case, and journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in perspective. We hope you’ll like the package.  Editor’s Note

ou might noticed our new tagline—‘India’s first conservative magazine.’ Conservative? Many eyebrows would be raised. In a country where Left- liberals still set the agenda, being a conservative can bring ridicule; publishing a conservative magazine can be disastrous. But we insist, because we are conservative. YWe first define what being conservative is not. Left-liberals would like to convince everybody that as a political philosophy, conservatism is everything despicable—illiberal, orthodox, unchanging, unprogressive, fogy, unimaginative, etc. Typically, a conservative in the Indian context would be regarded as somebody who does not allow his wife to come out of the purdah, doesn’t send his daughter to school, believes in the caste system, is not comfortable with modern ways of life, and is generally a nasty person. Nothing could be farther from the truth. RAVI SHANKER KAPOOR Encyclopedia Britannica has simply but beautifully described conservatism as a “political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices.” Conservatism, facebook.com/ravishanker.kapoor which was the earliest Rightwing ideology, “has traditionally rested on an organic conception of society—that is, on the belief that society is not merely a loose collection of individuals but @libertypartisan a living organism comprising closely connected, interdependent members. Conservatives thus favor institutions and practices that have evolved gradually and are manifestations of continuity and stability. Government’s responsibility is to be the servant, not the master, of existing ways of life, and politicians must therefore resist the temptation to transform society and politics.” In the Indian milieu, conservatism must include three strands: tradition, open society, free economy, and limited government. It may be argued that conservatism is a quintessentially Western phenomenon. While it is true that conservatism first took a concrete shape in the works of thinkers like Adam Smith, David Hume, and Edmund Burke—and has grown as a leading political philosophy primarily in the Anglo-Saxon world—our contention is that conservatism is possible in India. Of course, Indian conservatism has to be homegrown, arising from and in tune with the conventions and traditions of the country. It is possible because India is an ancient civilization; it can boast of a society that is sufficiently vibrant and resilient, readily absorbing Western values without losing its cultural moorings, as evident from the experience of the last two centuries. Hence India’s first conservative magazine.

NOVEMBER 2018 5 POWER CORRIDORS QUOTES

Amanatullah Khan, under the instructions of Arvind Kejriwal, manhandled and physically assaulted me with the intentions of killing me. —Manoj Tiwari, Delhi BJP President

How come one crore cases have been registered under the BSKY scheme within 60 days when the total number of people who visit government hospitals in a year is much less than one crore? ­— Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s claim of extending benefits to one crore people

We Should learn We have decided from history. As to forget the long as there was a Hindu ruler past to save the in Jammu and country Kashmir, both -Rahul Gandhi on alliance Hindus and Sikhs with Chandrababu Naidu were living safely. Ram temple is a matter of However, soon national pride and glory. after the kingdom Just like Sardar Patel got ended, the Hindu Somnath temple rebuilt, Women should be ripped community the government should apart; one half should witnessed a acquire the land and hand be sent to Delhi and downfall another to the Kerala over it for Ram temple construction. Government Chief Minister. —Yogi Adityanath, should make law for that. — Khollam Thulasi, BJP leader UP Chief Minister on the women trying to enter — Manmohan Vaidya, Sabrimala temple RSS Sah Sarkaryavah

POWER CORRIDORS 6 NOVEMBER 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF

STATUE OF UNITY UNVEILED Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest, in honor of freedom fighter and India’s first KHALEDA ZIA home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on FOUND GUILTY October 31. Twice the height of the Statue of Bangladesh opposition leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Liberty in America, the a long-time rival of Prime Minister Statue of Unity stands on Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced the Sadhu island on the to another seven years in prison. She Narmada in Gujarat. has been found guilty on the charges Inaugurating the statue, of abuse of power and misuse of 31.5 the Prime Minister said, million taka which was for a charitable “Statue of Unity is an fund. Zia faces several other charges answer to all those who related to violence and corruption question the existence of but her lawyers maintain that they are India. The height of the baseless. statue is to remind the youth that the future of the country will be as huge TURMOIL IN as this. It is also symbolic SRI LANKA of our engineering and technology affordability.” The ruckus began when Sri Lanka Padma Bhushan-winning President Mathripala Sirisena sacked sculptor Ram V. Sutar Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. designed the statue, while Then he went on to appoint the Larsen & Toubro built it. Opposition leader and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Its height of 182 metres is new Prime Minister. It made no sense matched with the number to the public or the political groups of Assembly seats in all over the world. A democracy that Gujarat. finally has been taking shape and one Larsen & Toubro deployed that had voted for change in 2015 just 250 engineers and more got more complicated than one could than 3,000 workers for the comprehend. purpose. The engineers have ensured that the massive monument withstands winds of up to 130 km/hour and earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on Richter scale.

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RAM TEMPLE

A practical solution to Ayodhya dispute VED PRATAP VAIDIK A grand and glorious Ram Temple should be The author, a former editor of Navbharat Times and PTI, has been a mediator between prime built at Lord Ram’s birthplace, along with ministers, the RSS, the VHP, and Muslim leaders a mosque, a church, a Jain and a Buddhist temple, a gurdwara, and a synagogue nearby, so that Ayodhya becomes a place of world pilgrimage, a Vishwa-Teerth.

he Supreme Court is Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh has pondering over the temple- suggested that an Ordinance be brought. mosque issue of Ayodhya. Some leaders have stated that Parliament In the last few months, the should bring a law to build the Ram discourse was being avoided. Temple. For how long should we wait for TThe pretext was that the documents the verdict of the Supreme Court—this is The issue is so related to this issue are in Hindi, Arabic, the main thrust of their argument. Persian, and Sanskrit language; until they The Sunni Waqf Board’s advocate has complicated that are translated into English, how could the suggested that the resolution should come the court cannot court understand these texts? But how only after 2019. Only they can explain why many years will it take to translate the texts they are saying this but in general it can resolve it, as it which are spread over five centuries and be inferred that they have questioned the pertains to faith and comprise lakhs of pages? A few months impartiality of the present government and not the law. That’s ago the reason to avert this issue was that, the judiciary. Suppose this is wrong and in apart from three main litigants, around two 2019 the Supreme Court comes out with its why a former chief dozen people had filed their petitions. The judgement, but who will implement it? The justice of India court had squashed all the petitions and issue is so contentious that no government extended the date of hearing. Even now, will want to burn its hands. Anyway there had suggested no hearing took place. It only promised to are dozens of judicial decisions which no that Hindus and constitute a new Bench in January 2019 government has implemented. I remember for resolving this issue. Nobody knows the decision of the Allahabad High Court Muslims should when the hearings will take place and how in which it mandated that the children resolve this with many years will the Supreme Court take of government officials should study to announce its verdict. in government schools only. This idea dialogue To resolve the Ayodhya issue, the was mine. The government changed in

POWER CORRIDORS 10 NOVEMBER 2018 Lucknow, but that decision is yet to be accepted on this basis that this mosque House in India. At some distance from executed. Similarly, the decision of women’ is a Shia Mosque, it was built by Meer where the idol of Lord Ram is kept, we entry into the Sabrimala temple is being Baqi, who was a Shia and till 1944 the saw heaps of garbage on the 67-acre land violated daily. descendants of Meer Baqi’s were priests acquired by the government; it is the On the mandir-masjid issue, Hindu (Muttvali) there. The other argument that playground of monkeys. Then we saw organizations have clearly stated that no mosque should be built at Ayodhya is the place where large rocks were carved the temple will be built there only. If the also spurious, as there are still dozens of out for the construction of Ram Temple. court decides that the mosque will also functioning mosques in Ayodhya. Ayodhya The etchings on those rocks were very be built there adjacent to the temple, will is based in India and not in Saudi Arabia. impressive but the red colored rocks were they accept it? This would have been the You are right that a temple cannot be built looking pale. If the temple of ‘Imam-e- practical implication of the decision given in Macca and Madina but why should we Hind’ Lord Ram is to be built, then the by the Allahabad High Court but both copy them? Are we ready to turn India finest rocks should be used. It should be of the Hindus and Muslims rejected it. All into an Islamic state? such majesty that people may like to visit these three parties have approached the Some time ago, I myself went to the Ram Temple before they go to see Taj Supreme Court to repeal this decision. If Ayodhya and what I witnessed at Ramjanm Mahal when they come to India. the decision is taken in accordance with Bhoomi was heartbreaking. Narrow The issue is so complicated that the Shia leaders’ suggestion that the mosque passages surrounded by iron pipes, it felt court cannot resolve it, as it pertains to should be built either in Lucknow or across like we were walking through a Hitler’s faith and belief and not the law. That’s the Saryu river, then would Muslims accept concentration camp. I have seen many such why a former Chief Justice of India had it? Shia leaders have recommended that camps in Europe but this was even more suggested that Hindus and Muslims instead of relating the new mosque to frightful than them. Security personnel should resolve this issue by means of a Babar or Meer Baqi, it should be named made us deposit watches, wallets, pens, dialogue. Attempts to resolve this issue as ‘Masjid-e-Aman.’ None of the major etc., at the check-post. I haven’t seen such with discussion seemed to be bearing Muslim organizations has favored this security even at the Kremlin of Russia, fruit during tenures of Prime Ministers suggestion. This suggestion cannot be White House of America, or the President’s Chandra Shekhar and P.V. Narshimha Rao.

NOVEMBER 2018 11 POWER CORRIDORS RAM TEMPLE

On my recommendation, Narshima Rao and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal agreed to postpone the ‘Kar Seva’ (voluntary services) for the temple for three months, from October to December 6. Preparations for the solution were in progress, but on December 6, 1992, the mosque was demolished. The top Hindu and Muslim leaders used to meet at my home very amicably.The then government and both parties wanted to resolve this issue through discussion but after the demolition of the structure dialogue also broke down. In 1993, the Narshimha Rao government promulgated an Ordinance; the 2.75-acre land of Lord Ram’s birth place and the 67-acre surrounding land The RSS and the VHP many others, destroyed the shrine centers was brought under government’s control. not only in India but also in Afghanistan The Ordinance stipulated that this land was have once again raised and Uzbekistan. They were not temples acquired by the government as the Ram the Ram Temple issue. but mosques. The residents of these Temple will be built on this land along I wonder why these countries were not Hindus, they were with the mosque, a library, a museum and Muslims. In other words, Muslim rulers other public amenities. organizations were were also meted out the same treatment; Parliament gave its assent to it. At silent in the last four their mosques, women, and properties that critical juncture, my suggestion was were the targets. If you want to know that we should forget the past and look years. I am afraid that about this, read the poetry of Khūshāl forward. The resolution should be worthy this might become Khān Khattak, the great poet of Pathans. of the name Ayodhya; it means ‘No War’, a big communal See the work of the famous Urdu poet no Conflict, no Yuddha. No one wins from Saharanpur, Hazrat Abdul Quddus and no one looses; everyone should be issue during the 2019 Gangohi. He has written that Mughal satisfied. This was the basic spirit of Rao election rulers demolished more mosques then Saheb, when he brought that ordinance. temples. Aurangzeb demolished the Furthering this idea, I have been arguing Jama Masjid at Bijapur in 1686 because for a long time that a grand and glorious he wanted to defeat the Muslim ruler Ram Temple should be built there, along Adil Shah of Bijapur. That’s why I say with a mosque, a church, Jain and Buddhist last four years. I am afraid that this might that whether the Ram Temple was temples, a gurdwara, and a synagogue become a big communal issue during the demolished by Meer Baqi or any other nearby, so that Ayodhya becomes a place 2019 election. For me building a Ram person, the issue is not religious but of world pilgrimage. It will become the Temple at Ayodhya is not a religious issue. political domination of the local people world’s largest tourist destination. In It will be wrong to construe it as a Hindu- by foreign invaders. Ayodhya, the world’s largest spiritual and Muslim issue. This is an issue between the Therefore, my opinion is that the philosophical university should also be indigenous and the foreign, the Deshi and Deshbhakt Muslims of the country built. Ayodhya should become the global Videshi. I have shared this many times should take the initiative and let the Ram capital of religious harmony, what Gandhiji with Ashok Singhalji, the VHP chief for Temple be built at Ram janmabhoomi; used to call ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhava’. My many years; he was like my elder brother. on the 70-acre land, a grand mosque and suggestion is that Parliament should pass Whenever a foreign invader attacks a shrines of other major religions should be a resolution to this effect and try to build country, he resorts to at least three ways constructed. The government should bring a consensus among the major religions to bring down the morale of the people. out an Ordinance to this effect. This will and political parties of the country. An First, he destroys the centers of reverence make Ayodhya a world centre for religious endless wait on court is not going to work. and places of worship. Second, he makes harmony and brotherhood. It will also free The RSS and the VHP have once again their women the victim of his lust. And the court from the onerous burden of this raised the Ram Temple issue. I wonder why third is the loot of wealth. case and usher in a new wave of communal these organizations were silent during the As far as Babar is concerned, he, like harmony in the country.

POWER CORRIDORS 12 NOVEMBER 2018 RAM TEMPLE

Govindacharya writes to PM for ordinance on Ayodhya K.N. Govindacharya has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the Ayodhya issue. Following is the edited version of the letter:

Based on my experiences from involvement in the Ram Mandir Movement and discussions with legal experts, I am suggesting the following points:

1) The legal aspects of Ram Mandir land case i. The Central government is the owner of the entire 67.703 acres of land including 2.7744 acres of land belonging to Ram Janmbhumi. For this a law was made by Parliament in 1993 which was approved by the Supreme Court in its 1994 judgment. As the government is the owner of the land, there is no need to form a new law. ii. The Supreme Court approved the restrictions, regarding use of the land, imposed in the law by the Narasimha why the central government should not become a formal Rao’s government, which are the actual causes of party to the case for presenting its viewpoint?... constitutional hurdles in building Ram Temple. The matter of demolition of Babri structure is completely iii. The Allahabad High Court in its 2014 order divided different from the land dispute... the 2.7744 acres of the land into three parts and issued directions for giving garba-griha to Ramlalla, Sita Rasoi 3) The History of Ram has been approved by the courts and Ram Chabootra to Nirmohi Akhara, and the outer area to Sunni Waqf Board. However, Justice Dharmaveer …The excavations of all the places near the ‘grab-griha’ by Sharma had ordered to give the entire land to temple and archaeological department produced many remains and Hindus. It was declared a minority verdict. evidences of ancient temple of Ramlalla… iv. The Babri masjid built by Babar’s commander, Mir i. The Allahabad High Court has already given a Baqi, in 1528 after demolishing the graba-griha at Ram unanimous decision for the land of garb-graha in favor Janmbhumi was demolished by Kar-sevaks in 1992. of Ramlalla and the dispute is on some other part of the According to Islamic Laws and traditions, the masjids land. (mosques) built after demolishing worship-places of ii. On the reference sent by the President to confirm the other religions are not sacred… historicity of Ramlalla’s birthplace, the Supreme Court v. The Supreme Court in 2011 stayed the judgment of the had refused to give opinion in October 1994. Hence no High Court but so far the final hearing in this case has court can have any right over issues related to the faith… not even started. iii. The whole country celebrates many festivals related to the Lord Rama… 2) The Central government has the ownership of the land but is not party in the case Ordinance When courts and others agree about it as a case of ownership …the Central government should immediately issue an of land, why is it not decided at the earliest?... Since, the BJP Ordinance to amend the law of 1993 to pave the way for the has declared about building Ram Mandir in its manifesto, construction of the Ram temple. 

NOVEMBER 2018 13 POWER CORRIDORS COVER STORY BIG BATTLES BEFORE BIG WAR The Congress may not be able to capitalize on the discontent against the Modi government because of Rahul Gandhi's fascination for the Left

@libertypartisan RAVI SHANKER KAPOOR

POWER CORRIDORS 14 NOVEMBER 2018 he Bourbons were the ruling dynasty at the time This is not just rhetoric that reflects the views of pinkish of the French Revolution (1789). After the fall of intellectuals surrounding the dynasty; such views become Napoleon and the restoration of Bourbons as rulers, policy statements of the GOP. At its 84th plenary in March they continued with their old ways, the ways that this year, for instance, the ‘Resolution on Economic Situation had led to the Revolution in the first place. This led In India’ gives a glimpse of the thinking in the party. For one, Tto the saying that they had learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. it confirms the impression that the party remains wedded The same can be said about the Congress: it has learnt nothing to socialism even after 27 years of liberalization—ironically and forgotten nothing. It shows in the party’s insistence on Left- carried out by its own leaders. “State ownership of businesses leaning policies and party president Rahul Gandhi’s fraternizing in certain critical sectors such as defence production, mass with pinkish activists. transportation, natural resources, and financial services is The Assembly polls in five states—Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, both needed and justified where maximization of value to Chhattisgarh, Telengana, and Mizoram—are seen as the semi-finals shareholders may not be the sole measure of success,” says to the 2019 general election. As in the campaign for the Gujarat the Resolution. Assemble poll last year, the Congress continues to rely on sundry If translated into policy, it would preclude the privatization buccaneers: Naxals (rural and urban), anti-business activists, anti- of big public sector undertakings and banks (PSUs and reforms worthies, and Modi-haters. PSBs)—which anyway is not happening. Further, it would In this context, it would be instructive to notice Law Minister check, or at least reduce, private sector participation in Ravi Shankar Prasad’s allegations against the grand old party that he made on October 29: “during Manmohan Singh’s 10-year rule, no effective action was taken against Maoists.” This, he went on to assert, was “because their patrons were sitting” in the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The allegation is not unfounded. For the NAC was full of professional revolutionaries, green terrorists, and hardcore Luddites; they practically stopped the march of reforms, causing immense harm to the economy. In fact, their pigheadedness led to the policy paralysis that proved to be bane of the United Progressive Alliance regime; it couldn’t recover from it. Unfortunately, it is the NAC-type of people who still surround Rahul.

NOVEMBER 2018 15 POWER CORRIDORS COVER STORY

Railways, metro, roadways, airlines, paved the path for private companies in a drag on the entire economy. petroleum, steel, aluminum, coal, etc. defence production. It is, however, not the first time that the More importantly, the Congress does An illustration of the GOP’s fascination Congress has fell in love with socialism. In not like private companies to participate with socialism is its conviction that state- the 1960s, S. Mohan Kumaramangalam, a in defence production. owned banks ought to continue. “Pinning senior leader of the Communist Party of There is something very odd about the all the woes of India’s banking sector India (CPI), had propounded the thesis Congress’ dislike for the involvement of merely on state ownership of banks is a that communists should “infiltrate” the domestic private companies in defence gross simplification of the problem,” the Congress and promote the Left’s agenda. production, for it doesn’t have problems Congress Resolution says. Satindra Singh, who was a card-carrying with foreign private companies. This, by This is factually incorrect, for Finance member of the CPI for a decade but was the way, was government policy till 2002, Minister Arun Jaitley has ruled out disillusioned by communism, wrote in when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime denationalization of PSBs, even though Communists in Congress (1973) that the allowed private enterprise in the sector. former chief economic advisor Arvind thesis was put in practice in 1969. Announcing the change, Union minister Subramanian favored privatization. In “Mr. Kumaramangalam and many of Pramod Mahajan had highlighted this May last year, RBI Deputy Governor Viral his comrade-in-arms hastened to join the dissonance in policy. The announcement Acharya had also recommended the sale Congress,” Singh wrote. “Some of them have now come to occupy important In the 1960s, S. Mohan positions both in the government and Kumaramangalam, the Congress party. Prominent among them are Mr. D.P. Dhar, Union Minister a senior leader of the for Planning; Mr. K.R. Ganesh, Union Communist Party Minister of State for Revenue and Expenditure; Mr. Nurul Hasan, Union of India (CPI), had Minister of State for Education and Social propounded the thesis Welfare; Mr. K.V. Raghunath Reddy, that communists Union Minister of State for Labor and Rehabilitation; Mr. R.K. Khadilkar, Union should “infiltrate” Minister of State for Health and Family the Congress and Planning; Mr. Chandrajit Yadav, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress; promote the Left’s and Mr. Rajni Patel, President of the agenda Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee.” When Indira Gandhi came to power, she was seen as a dumb doll by the powerful Congress stalwarts who wielded considerable power and were the seasoned of some PSBs. Besides, there have been practitioners of realpolitik. That they were committees constituted by the Reserve badly mistaken is a well-known fact today, Bank of India that suggested privatization and much has been written about it. What of PSBs. interests us is the methods with which she It seems that the Congress wants overwhelmed the formidable old guard. to nip any such move in the bud. The first thing she did was to lay claim This is despite the fact that PSB re- over the Nehruvian legacy. Being his privatization is the solution to the daughter, this proved to be quite easy. banking woes. Denationalization She cultivated an image of being modern, is necessary for two reasons. First, Left-leaning, forward-looking. This made the taxpayer has been suffering an impact on several communists, fellow- because of PSBs: in the last 11 years, travelers, and many other intellectuals. their recapitalization has cost the A number of people who became her exchequer Rs 2.6 lakh crore; in the advisers were of Leftist orientation. next two years, about Rs 1.3 lakh While Indira Gandhi’s bonhomie made crore would be needed. Second, her politically strong in the short and since 70 per cent banking is in the medium term, it had a ruinous impact on public sector, rickety PSBs become the economy and governance. The country

POWER CORRIDORS 16 NOVEMBER 2018 is yet to recover from the ill effects of the If Rahul is able to Only die-hard Modi-bhaktas can Congress-Left honeymoon. Just two major assert today that everything is hunky- Left-inspired decisions would underline galvanize his party dory on every front. The economy is yet the disastrous consequences. Bank and it does well, the to recover fully from the twin attack of nationalization meant that politicians demonetization and GST implementation; gained control of lending. Today, the results would have a investors are not queuing up to put their non-performing assets of banks are over bearing on the general money in India; employment generation Rs 10 lakh crore. Similarly, political election next year. is minimal. Acche din are nowhere in control over insurance companies—also sight. On the foreign policy front, we are nationalized—has created a debt-ridden Therefore, these are becoming insignificant, with Pakistan monster called IL&FS. Unsurprisingly, big battles that can remaining as recalcitrant as ever, China the economy suffered badly, the so- encircling us, and Donald Trump’s called Hindu rate of growth, 3.5 per cent, shape the 2019 war US expressing dissatisfaction with our becoming the norm. It was only when the policies. National defence too has not been baneful influence of the Left receded in strengthened, with arms procurement the 1980s and the 1990s that the growth leaving a lot to be desired. rate increased, reaching in the region of In such a milieu, an Opposition leader 5.5 per cent. less than 6 per cent per annum under the with a good reputation and a credible, Unfortunately, the Congress could Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, and yet viable agenda might have clicked with the bounce bank into power in 2004 only with 60 million jobs were created. In the next electorate. Rahul and his party have neither. the help of the Left. In his presidential 10 years, when the Congress-led United Many of its leaders, including Rahul, face address at the national executive meeting Progressive Alliance was ruling, the corruption charges. They are seen as anti- in 2005, Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. average growth rate was almost 8 per cent, Hindu; even some Congress politicians Advani underlined this fact, “If it was CPI but just 15 million jobs were generated. accept this. Their economic policy is too that was implementing it in the 70s it is the The influence of the Left during UPA years Left-tilting to enthuse India Inc. CPM’s turn to do it now with the support proved to be as disastrous for the people In state elections, though, the Congress of the entire Left.” of India as it was during the 1970s. is a big challenger, especially in the Hindi- This time, however, Leftists did not Rahul’s and other Congress leaders’ speaking states. For in state polls, local infiltrate the Congress; they instead proximity with and fondness for characters factors do matter, and the BJP regimes, became the brain trust of party president like Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid apart from facing anti-incumbency, are Sonia Gandhi and, like her, enjoyed power is not a secret. Nor, as we saw in the scarcely the paragons of governance. And without responsibility. So, the NAC came Congress’ economic resolution, is the if Rahul is able to galvanize his party into being. Its diktats, whose execution party’s antipathy towards liberalization and it does well, the results would have Sonia ensured, derailed reforms and unknown. Against this backdrop, Rahul a bearing on the general election next year. badly hit employment generation. During doesn’t appear to offer a viable alternative Therefore, these are big battles that can 1999-2004, the average growth rate was to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. shape the 2019 war. 

NOVEMBER 2018 17 POWER CORRIDORS COVER STORY

BJP is weaker but it’s uphill task for Congress Assembly election results will have a big impact on the 2019 general election

ANDALIB AKHTER he forthcoming assembly anti-incumbency tide in the two states, yet elections in five states are the tide is not so strong that one can say being seen by many political with authority that they would be wiped pundits as the semifinal of out easily in the forthcoming elections. the 2019 general election. At the same time, it will not be an easy TThey perceive that the winner in these task for Chauhan and Singh to emerge as elections could be ultimate contender victorious in the elections. for power in Delhi. Of the five states Politics in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Pradesh has been largely the fight between Rajasthan, and Telangana going to the the BJP and the Congress. However, other elections, the first two are most crucial parties now want a piece of the cake. The Since the saffron for both the Bharatiya Janata Party and alliance between Mayawati’s Bahujan party’s ascension at the Congress, as both parties have major Samaj Party and former chief mininster stakes in the two Hindi-speaking states. Ajit Jogi’s Janta Congress in Chhattisgarh the Centre in 2014, Elections for 230 Assembly seats in could prove beneficial for the BJP in the it has been on an Madhya Pradesh will be held on November state, as they can eat into the anti-BJP election-winning 28, but in Chhattisgarh there will be two vote which could have gone in favor of phases across 90 seats. The first phase, on the Congress. In Madhya Pradesh, opinion spree. It has wrested November 12, will cover 18 constituencies polls so far suggest a possibility of a tough several states from spread over in eight Naxal-affected battle between the BJP and the Congress. districts—Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Since the saffron party’s ascension the Congress and Sukma, Kondagaon, Kanker, Narayanpur, at the Centre in 2014, it has been on an other parties over and Rajnandgaon. The remaining 72 seats election-winning spree. It has wrested the course of four in north Chhattisgarh will go to polls in several states from the Congress and the second phase on November 20. other parties over the course of four and a half years. While the BJP has ruled the two states and half years. However, the record of However, the record for the last 15 years with same chief the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo has ministers, the Congress has remained in not been as impressive when it comes of the Narendra the Opposition despite repeated attempt to defending states already held by the Modi-Amit Shah to regain power in its lost territory. There party. In 2016, the BJP lost Punjab, a state duo has not been as were many ups and down, allegations of it had governed jointly with the Shiromani corruption and administrative failure, Akali Dal (SAD). It won fewer seats in impressive when it but Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Goa, nearly losing it. The BJP even had a comes to defending Pradesh and Raman Singh in Chhatisgarh near-miss in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. counterpart have been able to sail Therefore, the polls in Chhattisgarh and states already held through smoothly. Madhya Pradesh will test Modi and BJP by the party The BJP is indeed fighting against an president Shah’s ability to hold states.

POWER CORRIDORS 18 NOVEMBER 2018 MP AND CHHATTISGARH

Dropping of 27 sitting MLAs from war within the CBI will not go down well the list released by the BJP to contest the for the ruling BJP. “The NDA government polls which include Urban Development led by Modi has reached its lowest ebb of Minister Maya Singh and Forest Minister Politics in Chhattisgarh governance with infighting in CBI under Gaurishankar Shejwar could also prove the PMO, unheard of in the history of costly for the party. Also after 15 years and Madhya Pradesh this investigating agency. The myth of in power and recent state-wide agitation has been largely the minimum government and maximum against the government, the BJP is expected governance lies shattered. It is now clear to record substantial losses in the state. fight between the BJP to the people that the BJP government has In both states, the Congress is trying and the Congress. made use of the CBI to serve its political hard to regain its lost power, yet the internal However, other parties ends rather than really unearthing the rumblings, imperfect distribution of tickets, corruption in the government and the and delays in making attack on both Chief now want a piece of economy,” said a senior Congress leader. Ministers on local issues have not helped the cake He added that Prime Minister’s the party. It is not able to cash on local desperate efforts to restore peace in the CBI issues, particularly the Vayapam scam. After rejection of ticket from the have failed miserably as both feuding bosses Then there are reports of huge arguments Congress, Ajit Jogi said that his wife will have gone to court and made public what between Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya contest from the Kota seat from his party. corrupt practices have been continuing Scindia over the distribution of tickets. “While voters in these two states want a in the CBI under the watchful eyes of the In Chhatisgarh too, the Congress has change, the Congress by not announcing “self-proclaimed leader of anti-corruption.” denied ticket to Ajit Jogi’s wife Renu Jogi, the names of its chief minister candidates Even as senior leaders of the BJP are who is a party MLA from Kota. Renu has confused the people,” said senior confident of regaining power in the two Jogi said, “My family and I have worked journalist Shishir Soni who keeps tabs on states, party insiders believe that the path for the party for the last 40 years. I had the local elections. is not so easy this time. Beside feud over hoped that the party would once again However, the Congress is banking the selection of candidates, the BJP is facing project me as a Congress candidate, but upon national issues to hit the BJP in the another difficulty caused by a powerful that did not happen. I am unhappy with hustings. It believes that the issues of Rafale, section of sadhus and saints. Namdev Tyagi, the party’s decision.” demonetization, GST implementation, and known as Computer Baba, who resigned

NOVEMBER 2018 19 POWER CORRIDORS COVER STORY

recently from his ministerial post granted will also reduce much of Modi’s aura as an to him by the Chauhan government, has invincible campaigner. launched ‘Man Ki Baat,’ a saints’ conference A victory for the Congress in the two at Indore. The conference was organized In both states, the states would help the party pose as an against the policies of the state government, Congress is trying umbrella to bring the entire Opposition sources said. under it ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Tyagi’s key concern is the threat to hard to regain its lost It would also send out a message that there the Narmada, cows, delay in construction power, yet the internal could be no Opposition alliance without of Ram temple at Ayodhya, and the rumblings, imperfect the Congress aboard. government’s indifference towards saints, The Congress currently has governments who have been demanding conservation of distribution of tickets, in four states and Union Territories— holy rivers like the Ganga. Through this and delays in making Punjab, Karnataka, Pondicherry, and conference, Computer Baba wants to bring Mizoram (which is also heading for polls). the saints and priests together to press the attack on both Chief A win in MP and Chhattisgarh would be a government to make amendments in their Ministers on local shot in the arm for the grand old party. The policies so that culture, environment, and issues have not helped victory in these two states, considered to be rivers could be conserved and enriched. the bastion of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak He also expressed anguish over the way the party. It is not able Sangh (RSS), could boost Rahul Gandhi’s the Centre and state governments allowed to cash in on local popularity as it did during the Gujarat Professor G.D. Agarwal (Swami Sanand) to election campaign in 2017, even though it die during his 110-day long fast to save the issues, particularly the didn’t win. This would help take on Prime Ganga. He said the governments seem not Vayapam scam Minister Modi in a possible presidential- to have any concern for the real issues of style battle in 2019. water and pollution being raised by citizens is like by the people. The victory would help In 2014, the BJP won 26 out of the 29 like Agarwal. Similar conferences are being Chouhan and Singh secure a fourth term parliamentary seats in the MP, while the organized in other parts of the state. in office, a rare feat in Indian politics. The Congress got the rest. If the Congress wins A win for the BJP in the two states, BJP could then also hope to repeat such MP, it would be at the expense of the BJP. against odds, would give the party a major a performance in the general election. Therefore, it would not an exaggeration fillip ahead of the 2019 general election. It However, if the BJP loses Madhya Pradesh to say the fate of the BJP and the Congress would help the saffron party counter the and Chattisgarh, it will dent Amit Shah’s will depend a lot on the outcome of claim that what government has been doing image as a successful election strategist; it Assembly elections in these two states. 

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Queen is in danger With leaders of the BJP and Congress fighting each other and among themselves, these are interesting times in the desert state

popular Rajasthani of the BJP’s own internal survey, have saying is Maati Ki Bheet predicted this blow to be inevitable at Digti Baar Koni Lagawe, least in Rajasthan. implying that a weak wall More than anti-incumbency and may collapse anytime. suboptimal governance in Rajasthan, AProbably, that’s why the Bharatiya Janata where no party has won consecutive Party is so worried: Rajasthan is that weak elections in last 25 years, it is the wall. conspicuous rift between Shah and Chief Out of the five states awaiting public Minister Vasundhara Raje that makes mandate, three of those—Rajasthan, Rajasthan the BJP’s Achilles’ heel. The Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh— rift has become so wide that just weeks NARESH SONI have been the BJP’s strongholds. Losing before the elections, Shah is addressing even one of these three Hindi-speaking rallies without Raje. @NareshSoni_ states would be a major embarrassment, But, going by the BJP’s exemplary indeed a blow to the unbeatable chariot victorious record in state after state of the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo. since 2014, there is reason to believe All the polls and surveys, including one that Shah has more arrows in his quiver

POWER CORRIDORS 22 NOVEMBER 2018 RAJASTHAN

than are visible. If sources are anything to go by, the BJP president has already planned masterly moves. It’s like a game of chess, complete with all the pieces— Pawns, Bishops, a Knight, the King, and of course the Queen. Pawns: Hanuman Beniwal and Ghanshyam Tiwari The two BJP rebels are playing important roles. Hanuman Beniwal, a prominent Jat leader who was suspended from saffron party in 2013 after his remarks on Raje and a few others in Rajasthan BJP, recently floated his own political party— the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. Ghanshyam Tiwari, former education minister and six-time MLA, has been at loggerheads with Raje. After criticizing Raje for her allegedly autocratic behavior in June 2018, he resigned from the party and as per the party sources, Arjun Ram and founded his own party—the Bharat Meghwal, the MoS, Water Resources, Vahini Party. could be given that responsibility. Party insiders say that Shah is in He may also be contesting Assembly touch with both Beniwal and Tiwari; The BJP is working elections. But the game also has a Bishop. he is said to be extending every possible on the caste calculus. Bishop: Vasudev Devnani, Mohanlal support to them to ensure that they win It is also trying to Gupta at least eight seats. Most psephologists are predicting maximum 75 seats for the BJP exacerbate the rivalry As the BJP toys with the idea of betting in Rajasthan’s 200-seat Assembly. If the between Pilot and on fresh faces and dropping around BJP performs better and scores around 100 of its existing MLAs, most of them, 90, the Beniwal-Tiwari duo’s 10 seats Gehlot. While the including incumbent ministers, are could help the Party and Shah—and it former is young uncertain about their candidacy in the will be a big setback for Raje. The party and suave, Gehlot upcoming poll. But Vasudev Devnani could spring a surprise and Shah would has nothing to be afraid of. Minister place his next piece forward, the Knight. represents the old of Primary & Secondary Education in Rajasthan, he is a RSS face, and has Knight: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat guard reportedly performed well. He won Shekhawat, the Minister of State for Ajmer North seat thrice—2003, 2008, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, might of the Election Management Committee and 2013. Party sources have confirmed emerge as the Knight with whom Shah in Rajasthan BJP. that he would not only be given the ticket would like to replace the Queen, Raje. In Party insiders have indicated the to contest but he may also secure a more June 2018, Shah wanted Shekhawat to possibility of Shekhawat getting a ticket significant portfolio in the Rajasthan be the state party president, but due to to contest in Assembly elections, so that cabinet. strong objections by Raje, this couldn’t be in a scenario when numbers fall short, The other Bishop in this game, who done and the post was kept vacant for two and the BJP adds Vasundhara rebels is also likely to get a better portfolio, is months until Shah agreed to the name Beniwal and Tiwari in its kitty, Raje could Mohanlal Gupta. He is a former mayor Raje insisted on—Madan Lal Saini, an be dumped and Shekhawat chosen as of Jaipur and incumbent MLA from OBC leader and Rajya Sabha MP. next Chief Minister. Kishanpol, Jaipur. He has been keen to Later, Shah sidelined Raje and Repeating the UP format, Rajasthan change his Kishanpol seat. He wanted appointed Shekhawat as the convener may also have a Deputy Chief Minister to contest from another constituency;

NOVEMBER 2018 23 POWER CORRIDORS COVER STORY

whether this demand would be The Congress is feeling confident. Not entertained is uncertain. that there are no rivalries and dissensions in the Rajasthan unit of the Congress, but The Queen: Vasundhara Raje Love her or hate her, it’s not so complicated. The two claimants Love her or hate her, but you can’t for the top post are Pradesh Congress ignore her. Raje has her own style of but you can’t ignore Committee president and former Union running the government. Some call her. Raje has her own minister Sachin Pilot and veteran two- her autocratic, some dislike what they time former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. call a royal attitude, yet she has her style of running the Both are from the OBC. followers. At the same time, neither the government. Some Gehlot is from the Mali caste which BJP top brass nor the RSS is fond of her. call her autocratic, has influence only in three Assembly Nor are they happy with government constituencies. Pilot is a Gurjar, a functioning. The RSS has made it clear some dislike what community that is numerous only in that the organization is ready to throw they call a royal six constituencies. The Gurjars seek ST full weight behind the BJP in upcoming status, a demand fiercely resisted by their Assembly elections but with a condition: attitude, yet she has traditional rivals, the Meenas who enjoy if party wins, the RSS won’t accept Raje her followers. At the ST status. The BJP is working on the caste as Chief Minister. same time, neither the calculus. It is also trying to exacerbate the This is not the first time when the RSS rivalry between Pilot and Gehlot. While has shown its dislike for Raje. In 2008 BJP top brass nor the the former is young and suave, Gehlot and 2013 too, the RSS had been firm RSS is fond of her represents the old guard. against Raje’s candidature. But that was Anti-incumbency is quite evident in a different era which belonged to Lal she had to express her apprehensions Rajasthan. Whether the Congress under Krishna Advani, who was always there about sabotage against her Gaurav Yatra. Rahul Gandhi would be able to capitalize to save her from the RSS’ wrath. will depend not only on the party’s high Challenging her is Shah, the wannabe Today, Raje is concerned about the command and state leaders but also the King of Rajasthan BJP detractors in her party to such an extent moves that Raje and Shah make. Things that in a high-level BJP meeting in Jaipur, There are external challengers as well. are getting exciting in Rajasthan.

POWER CORRIDORS 24 NOVEMBER 2018 TELANGANA TRS has an edge Opposition is too weak to challenge K. Chandrasekhar Rao

PC BUREAU

elangana is one state KCR remains focused All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen where the ruling party, the seven, and the BJP five. Telangana Rashtra Samithi on his own state, The Opposition is trying to target (TRS), is comfortable where he is quite the TRS on farm distress. In a rally in and is likely to win the powerful. At the time the state, Congress president Rahul Tforthcoming Assembly polls. This is the Gandhi, slammed the state government reason that TRS president and Chief of the general poll for ignoring farmers, saying that 4,500 Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has next year, or even farmers had committed suicides. BJP chosen for early elections by dissolving chief Amit Shah has also flayed the TRS the Assembly. after election results, in a similar vein. The TRS has an edge over other he is likely to tilt The two national parties, however, parties. The Congress has a good presence towards whichever pose insignificant threat to the TRS. in Telangana; in fact, it was during the Unlike Andhra Pradesh Chief Congress-led United Progressive Alliance party or alliance gains Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, KCR regime that the state came into being. ascendency at the has no national ambitions or even much But, owing to the grand old party’s desire to play a role in national politics. overall national marginalization if not Centre Earlier, KCR did promote the idea of an decline, its organizational structure has anti-Congress, anti-BJP “federal front” weakened over the years. Further, the comprising state parties, but he no longer astute politician that Rao or KCR is, he seems keen on it. He remains focused on has been able to win over many Congress its presence in the south, is going it alone, his own state, where he is quite powerful. leaders and activists. contesting all seats. While it has become At the time of the general poll next year, The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is strong in Telangana in the recent past, it or even after election results, he is likely seen as anti-Telangana by many in the is not strong enough to be a formidable to tilt towards whichever party or alliance state, as it was opposed to the bifurcation challenger to the TRS. The TRS won 63 gains ascendency at the Centre, for he of the united Andhra Pradesh. The of the 110 Assembly seats in the state, would not like to be at loggerheads with Bharatiya Janata Party, keen to increase whereas the Congress got 21, TDP 15, the New Delhi. 

NOVEMBER 2018 25 POWER CORRIDORS MIZORAM

Advantage Congress? The BJP would like to win to paint the North East saffron, but the Congress is still strong

ANDALIB AKHTER

@andalibakhter

mong the five states going for elections, Mizoram is the only state where the Congress is the ruling party. It is Aalso the only Congress-ruled state in the North-East, a region that the party once dominated. The Congress has mostly ruled Mizoram ever since it became a full- fledged state in 1987, except for 10 years—1998-2003 and 2003-2008. It has, however, suffered several setbacks in the last few months. Senior Congress leader and state Home Minister R. Lalzirliana and three sitting legislators—Lalrinliana Sailo and Buddha Dhan Chakma, both former ministers—and Hmingdailova Khiangte resigned from the party. The Congress has While Lalzirliana and Sailo joined the Opposition Mizo National Front mostly ruled Mizoram (MNF) and Chakma the BJP, Khiangte ever since it became has announced to contest the polls as a full-fledged state in in office for 10 years. He has been the an Independent candidate. Chief Minister of Mizoram for five With these resignations, the 1987, except for times, is one of the prominent names Congress’ strength in the 40-member 10 years in the Mizoram political circles. House has been reduced to 30, while Before this, he was chief minister MNF has six lawmakers. The MNF is six north-eastern states, the BJP leaders from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to one of the constituents of the BJP- are hopeful that they would make 1998. He became CM again in 2013. led North East Democratic Alliance all-out efforts to vote out the Congress This was the fifth time he was elected (NEDA). All political parties, including from power in Mizoram too, to “paint to the office of chief minister, which the ruling Congress, the MNF, and the the North East saffron.” is a record in Mizoram. Now he is Bharatiya Janata Party have already However, the first name to find contesting for the sixth term. It has declared their candidates for the its mention in the state is Congress to be seen whether the BJP will be upcoming polls. leader and current Chief Minister able to over through the grand old After forming governments on its Lal Thanhawla. He will be fighting to man of Congress from the state in the own or in alliance with other parties in retain control over the state after being forthcoming elections.

POWER CORRIDORS 26 NOVEMBER 2018 TRAIL-BLAZER

Philanthropist in second innings Purushottam Agrawal wanted to become a doctor. He ended up founding the listed drug major, Ajanta Pharma, instead

urushottam Agrawal's origins immersed his entire being into charitable were humble. Born in 1949 at endeavor. a village called Risod in what Agrawal’s emphasis is on remote areas is now district Washim of and the tribal and poor people. He set Maharashtra, he was always up the Samta Memorial Foundation Pa bright student. However, he couldn’t to commemorate his later wife Samta. get admission into a medical college. It focuses on, as the Foundation’s Arrangements were made for his entry website says, “bringing meaningful into a medical college by way of donation, transformation in the life of those who but he refused. lack resources or opportunities, the less He then opted for a degree course in privileged ones in the rural and tribal pharmacy and obtained that. His father India. We Enable, Educate, and Empower wanted him to open a medical shop them through focused initiatives in near the family’s cloth shop in the native health, education, Women Empowerment village. But Agrawal was dreaming big; he and rural infrastructure.” wanted to move to a big town and start Between 2010 and 2016, Samta his own business. Which he did, with restored the vision of over 200,000 the Rs 10,000 that his father gave him. people through cataract operations. Over Today, the market capitalization of his 5,000 families benefited through family company is in the region of Rs 10,000 planning programmes in mostly the tribal crore. Employing 8,000 people across area of Palghar district, Maharashtra, the world, Ajanta’s operations are in 45 and over 3,000 villagers got the benefit countries, from where it also gets about of plastic surgery treatment through the two-thirds of its revenue. Foundation, says its website. Obviously, it was not a cakewalk for With about 15 million people in India him; creating a listed company never is. and three million people developing When Agrawal started 45 years ago, the cataract in their eyes every year, resulting market was dominated by multinational in partial or full blindness, Agrawal corporations. It never seemed realistic has chosen eye care as a major area for that MNC giants could be taken on, that intervention. too by a start-up. Raw materials were not Equally creditable is the Foundation’s The Foundation is also active in available; then there was the ubiquitous work in education. It is associated with providing healthcare, especially eye care, and exasperating inspector raj, that bane various schools in rural and tribal areas in various prisons of Maharashtra. of every businessman, even today. where it provides infrastructure in the In recognition of his good work, But he soldiered on. His enterprise form of renovating schools, building Agrawal has also been bestowed several and exertions bore fruit. He became a science laboratories, libraries, computer awards, including Maker of the Year corporate chief. Having created and run labs, etc. The emphasis is more on award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a robust corporation—it is debt-free— promoting girl child education. during make in India Week in February Agrawal decided to devote his life to The Samta Foundation also provides 2016 in Mumbai, the Pharma Life Time philanthropy. His second innings. such vocational training to many girl Achievement award by Pharmexcil, He gave up all executive positions students in sewing, embroidery, singing, government of India, and Award for in his business empire. In October, he computer, etc. Currently, about 5,000 girls Distinguished service from World even quit the board. He doesn’t believe avail the benefit of this facility in different Congress on Clinical and Preventive in cheque-book philanthropy, so he has schools in rural areas. Cardiology. 

NOVEMBER 2018 27 POWER CORRIDORS POWER CORRIDORS 28 NOVEMBER 2018 NOVEMBER 2018 29 POWER CORRIDORS Railways covers its tracks by blaming everybody else The local administration and the assembled revelers were irresponsible but the transporter cannot shirk its responsibility

wo days after a fast-moving constant and recurring feature with passenger train crushed 59 Indian rail operations. By one estimate, people under its wheels at approximately 12 persons are crushed a location close to the holy down each day by the Mumbai suburban township of Amritsar, an train services alone. Tovercrowded over-bridge collapsed at Therefore, a valid question: Why do Santragachi near Kolkata, causing two so many Indians die in train accidents? people to leap to their deaths. Officials ascribe the deaths to the Rooftop travellers have sometimes sheer volume of railway traffic—running died by banging their heads against the 19,000 trains across a network of 64,500 SRINAND JHA walls of a road over-bridge; scores of km to transport 23 million passengers passengers have met their gory end in each day. But such arguments do not The author is a senior journalist stampedes that have happened at the New seem to hold. Canada, for instance, has @srinandjha Delhi and other major railway stations a railway network that’s only marginally across the country. And, of course, smaller than that of India, but the country rail crossing deaths have remained a reported just four passenger deaths

POWER CORRIDORS 30 NOVEMBER 2018 between 2001 and 2011. The United In the ten-year period been torn apart by rail lines, in a clear States, which has a network that’s nearly infringement of the rights of citizens four times larger, witnessed 571 passenger of 1999 and 2009, as for unhindered mobility. “The Railways deaths in the same period, while the many as 3,029 fatalities carries just 2.4 crore passengers each day, United Kingdom recorded 48. but has invaded the rights of free travel After Amritsar happened, the familiar were reported from for 130 crore people. Crossing railway blame-game erupted. Reaching the India, as compared to gates at mofussil towns is a nightmarish accident spot on the day of the tragedy, 623 deaths witnessed experience, as these usually remain closed Railway Board Chairman Ashwani for most parts of the day at smaller towns Lohani said that the transporter was not across Canada, or districts,” said Sanjay Pandhi of the All responsible, as the people who died were America and the United India Loco Running Men Organization “trespassers.” The official PR machinery, (IRLRO). meanwhile, has been reeling out statistics Kingdom in the 10- General and Subsidiary Rules of the to establish that the safety record of the year period of 2001-11. Indian Railways prohibit for stoppages Indian Railways had been improving. Japan hasn’t recorded of trains in the event of the presence In terms of numbers, the safety of elephants and other animals on rail record of the Indian Railways has been a single passenger’s tracks; or when there are other track getting better. In 2015, the state-owned death in the last obstructions such as a tree or a log of transporter logged just 0.1 mishaps, woods placed on tracks. Why were such in terms of accidents per million train 50 years rules not followed in the case of human kilometres. This is better than what many beings who had converged at the rail developed countries, including Sweden, tracks near Amritsar? Why did the Belgium, Austria and Finland, can boast gateman on duty close to the accident of. France and Netherlands scored better, site not inform the superiors about the but only marginally. train drivers from moving at a high speed presence of a large crowd of people on the The figures, as it turns out, conceal in densely populated areas, particularly rail tracks? These, among others, remain more than they reveal. In terms of rail during the festival period. While the the unanswered questions. fatalities, India has the ironic distinction Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train was All this is hardly to say that the of being on the top of the heap. In the rushing past at an unusually high speed Indian Railways is entirely to blame ten-year period of 1999 and 2009, as of 70 kilometres per hour at Amritsar, for the Amritsar tragedy. The local many as 3,029 fatalities were reported the Indian Railways is clearly at fault on administration, of course, must from India, as compared to 623 deaths other counts as well. Not an unimportant share blame for having permitted witnessed across Canada, America and aspect is this: The Indian Railways does the assemblage of people to witness the United Kingdom in the 10-year not have a clearly defined policy on train the burning of the effigy of demon period of 2001-11. Japan hasn’t recorded operations in highly populated areas. king Ravana. The Dusshera revelers, a single passenger’s death in the last 50 In the 71 years of India’s Independence, themselves, are also responsible for being years. the rail network has developed in quite unmindful that a train driver may find it In the case of the Amritsar tragedy, the the same manner that Indian cities have difficult to slow down or stop the train to facts of the case first. Safety and operations evolved: in a haphazard, unplanned and allow the Dussehra celebrations to pass. manuals of the Indian Railways prohibit chaotic manner. Cities and colonies have But the point is: The attitude of the

NOVEMBER 2018 31 POWER CORRIDORS Indian Railways in attempting to shirk taken by the ‘populist’ Railways ministers. responsibility is not only insensitive Rail officialdom Stations are faultily designed, without and cruel; it is also a pointer that the does not seem to considering the internationally accepted transporter is unwilling to explore the have taken adequate safety and evacuation facilities. aim of providing for a Zero Accident “Problems are many, but it would regime. lessons from be misplaced to blame rail officialdom “The defence mechanism of the these unfortunate alone for all of this. The political class Indian Railways by quoting the decreased is equally at fault. What the country numbers on accidents per million train tragedies. In such needs is a comprehensive relook at the kilometre means nothing. The Indian cases, the easiest safety parameters,” former Railway Board Railways is in a very bad condition. option is to blame member Subodh Jain said. The rolling stock maintenance is poor; Amritsar, of course, is not the first of signaling systems are antiquated; modern citizens for not having the “freak but avoidable” train-related rail technology has not come in at the the commonsense accidents to have happened. In 2012, required pace; and—most of all—the to converge on rail the Saharsa-Patna Rajya Rani Superfast safety and operations guidelines are not Express in Bihar’s Khagaria district been followed,” said Professor N.S. Vyas, tracks. The dead men had mowed into 37 people who were who heads the Technology Mission of the tell no tales crossing the tracks. Several similar Indian Railways. incidents have happened in the past. “Technology infusion is important, but The worrying fact about these incidents the bigger need is to restore confidence is: rail officialdom does not seem to in the Railways’ operating system. Its have taken adequate lessons from these desire to increase business by running unfortunate tragedies. In such cases, the more and more trains has eaten into the member R. Jaruhar. easiest option is to blame citizens for not margins of maintenance time and the Issues of passenger safety have other having the commonsense to converge on rules and discipline on running trains in dimensions as well. Not unimportant is rail tracks. The dead men tell no tales. the last few years. The Railways needs to this aspect: rail lines are congested, with But as a responsible organization, the go back to the basics, and start following approximately 3,000 passenger trains Indian Railways does need to think of operating guidelines and manuals having been rained down the network ways to prevent tragedies of the kind that stringently,” said former Railway Board in the last ten years because of decisions happened at Amritsar.

POWER CORRIDORS 32 NOVEMBER 2018 TRIG GROUP Safety & Security Solutions

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POWER CORRIDORS 34 NOVEMBER 2018 f throwing good money amount by March next year,” an AI To meet its expense, the airline after bad is unwise, using official told Press Trust of India on somehow managed to raise Rs 6,250 common people’s savings to October 18. crore between September and March revive a terminally sick public The decision is bad on many in 2017-18. sector undertaking (PSUs) counts. To begin with, the money Even the most adventurous banker Iis downright dangerous. But then disbursed to Air India does not would not lend to such an entity, prudence seems to be in short supply belong to the government; it is not tax unless if he is also foolish. And the these days. So the powers that be have money. The NSSF money is owned by money in question here belongs decided to take Rs 1,000 crore from small savers; the government is just its to ordinary people, coming from the National Small Savings Fund custodian, which means that it has the their household savings and put in (NSSF) to pay Air India. fiduciary responsibility to keep it safe; the NSSF with the belief that it was These monies are apart from the and lending money to a sick PSU is safe investment. After all, it is the Rs 980 crore that the national carrier anything but safe. government manages it and not some received as equity infusion by way The carrier got a bailout package private fund manager, whose greed of supplementary grants from the of over Rs 30,000 crore in 2012, can put people’s money in harm’s Central government in September. way. But then it’s not just greed that “We have received Rs 1,000 crore by is dangerous; unwise policies also way of loan from the National Small are. The NSSF gets sums from such Savings Fund last week. This loan has schemes as postal deposits (savings been availed at a lower interest rate. account, recurring deposits, deposits However, we have to repay the loan Even the most of varying maturities, etc.), savings adventurous banker certificates like kisan vikas patras, and social security schemes like the would not lend to an public provident fund and the senior entity like AI, unless citizens’ savings scheme. if he is also foolish. Giving the NSSF money to Air India is also wrong because the And the money national carrier, being a PSU, is in question here owned by the government. So, belongs to ordinary running it is the responsibility of the government, not of the man people, coming from in the street (It is a white elephant their household that devours money from the public exchequer, but the government is savings and put in neither willing to privatize it or shut it the NSSF with the down because of socialist shibboleths. belief that it is safe That, however, is another story). But if the government gives money to the investment airline from its own coffers, the fiscal deficit would go up which it wants with the objective of a turnaround to keep down. By putting the NSSF over a 10-year period; the money is money into AI, it would keep the gone but turnaround is nowhere in deficit worries in check, but keeping sight. AI still has a debt of more than certain expenditure off-budget would Rs 50,000 crore. In Parliament in amount to financial jugglery. This, it January 2018, the government had seems, doesn’t bother those who are pegged its net loss for last fiscal at Rs in charge of the economy. 3,579 crore. The situation is so bad Keeping the white elephant alive today that it is finding it difficult to somehow is the objective. It has been pay salaries and meet its payment at the cost of the taxpayer so far; now schedules to oil companies, engine the small savers will also bear the manufacturers, and aircraft lessors. brunt.

NOVEMBER 2018 35 POWER CORRIDORS PRIVACY

SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN

The author is India's first woman business reporter @thewritesush Long-term policy needed for cyber security

he latest report of data theft In the Paytm case, it is ironic that the The data theft by Paytm employees has breach happened to data belonging to the highlighted the problematic company founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma that Paytm issue of data privacy and who has in recent times severely criticized founder Vijay security. Data breaches are Google and WhatsApp for their alleged Tbecoming endemic all over the world disregard of the customers’ need for Shekhar Sharma and cyber warfare has now become privacy. He has accused these companies of recently suffered more dangerous than traditional wars using consumer data for monetary gains. underlines using sophisticated armaments and Sadly, employees working closely with him bombs. A cyber attack can immobilize did the same by siphoning off data from the fact that an entire city in one fell swoop simply Paytm accounts and then seeking to extort cyber security by shutting down electricity and water money from the founder. Apparently the grids. It can end the operations of giant stolen data included passwords, encrypted is no longer an multinationals by shutting down computer emails, PIN of Paytm accounts and cash esoteric issue operations and stealing all their data. One cards used by the company founder, the can go on and on about the dangers of company’s business model, new plans and but a strategic cyber attacks and data breaches which schemes as well as its financial dealings. It necessity for now need to be viewed with utmost is mindboggling that the head of a digital seriousness and gravity by policymakers company should have laid himself open to every country in the government. such data theft, indicating carelessness of

POWER CORRIDORS 36 NOVEMBER 2018 DATA THEFT

2016. It was estimated that 3.2 million debit ubiquitous Facebook company. The first cards were compromised at the time due to was the harvesting of personal data by malware being introduced into a payments a firm called Cambridge Analytica in gateway system. Among the leading banks 2013. It installed a personality quiz into that were affected by this data breach were Facebook and then was able to retrieve State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI data about those who took the quiz. This Bank, Yes Bank, and Axis Bank. It led to came to light in 2015 but the scandal one of the biggest card replacements drives really erupted in early 2018 when several in the country’s banking history. foreign news publications wrote about the As far as Aadhar is concerned, it is no story. Estimates are that up to 80 million longer going to be mandatory for linkage Facebook users had their data harvested by the company, most of whom are in the US. The data are reported to have been used for influencing voters during elections in that country. Facebook chief In the Paytm case, Mark Zuckerberg was forced to testify it is ironic that the before the U.S. Congress on this issue. But this was not the end for Facebook. breach happened In September 2018, it was discovered that to data belonging hackers had been able to access data on about 50 million Facebook accounts. In to the company this case, the data breach was patched up founder Vijay Shekhar by the company experts but it is not yet Sharma who has in known who the hackers were. a high degree. The extent to which Paytm Data breaches are thus not reducing consumer data has been compromised is recent times severely but in fact increasing. The cost of such not yet known but so far media reports say criticized Google and breaches is also enormous for institutions. it is confined to company information and Apparently, the potential cost of an incident personal data of Vijay Shekhar Sharma. WhatsApp for their depends on the amount of data being stolen. In any case, it is clear that digital alleged disregard of In the US it is estimated that a breach of security is not being taken seriously the customers’ need one million records costs $40 million, while enough even by those for whom it is a breach of 50 million costs $350 million. their bread and butter. And the common for privacy The question is: how should India man relies on these very digital firms protect the personal data of its citizens for keeping their data safe and secure to bank accounts and mobile phones. from being breached and used in an illicit especially financial information on But lakhs of consumers have already manner? It is difficult for laypersons to bank accounts and investments. In this handed over their Aadhar numbers to provide these answers but there is surely context, it is interesting to learn that banks and phone companies. In such need to consult experts in the field and Indian banks have revealed that their cases, it is clear that consumers are in ensure that cyber security is much more consumer data are being handed over imminent danger of having their privacy stringent than in the past. The case of to other institutions without customers breached unless this data are deleted by Aadhar cards revealed that the much having any knowledge about it. A recent the concerned institutions. Though the vaunted impenetrable security of the media report says that Indian banks are Aadhar regulatory authority has claimed system could be breached even though it giving data on customers to Microsoft that there can be no data breach, a is claimed that substantive data was not after using their Office applications and newspaper reporter was able to buy data leaked out. It is also essential to ensure that Microsoft in turn is obliged to hand over in the market providing information about storage of data by multinationals is kept such data to the US government, if it is hundreds of persons possessing these within the country rather than in foreign asked to do so. Apparently, data of over identity cards. Fortunately, subsequent locations. The bottom line is that cyber 3,000 Indian banks accounts have already to this media investigation, a second layer security is no longer an esoteric issue, it been handed over to the US authorities by of security was added to ensure that such is a strategic necessity for every country the internet giant. data breaches become more difficult. and India too has to formulate long-term In addition, one must recall the breach Globally, the most infamous data policies to ensure that data of each citizen of Indian banks data that took place in breaches have occurred with the remains secure in the long run.

NOVEMBER 2018 37 POWER CORRIDORS Mr. Yogesh Lakhani has received 500 International & National Awards & was Felicitated more than 5000 times in the last 18 years FOREIGN AFFAIRS

THE MURDER MOST FOUL The execution of the dissident journalist in Istanbul tarnished the image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and weakened the position of the desert nation

ALOK BANSAL

Alok Bansal, a former naval officer, is Secretary General of Asian Eurasian Human Rights Forum (AEHRF) @alok795

n October 2, 2018, as the world was celebrating the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest apostle of peace and non- Oviolence in recent times, a ghastly act of violence was committed in Istanbul. Jamal bin Ahmad Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident, entered Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, never to emerge again. He had gone there to collect some documents relating to his divorce, so that he could marry his had left the Consulate and persistent Arabian arms dealer Adnan Kashoggi Turkish finance Hatice Cengiz, who kept denials, Saudi Arabia finally accepted and first cousin of Dodi Fayed, who waiting in a car outside the consulate. that he was killed inside the consulate. died in the car crash with Lady Diana, His disappearance immediately led to However, the story given out by the Saudi the Princess of Wales, he was a former a war of words between the Kingdom authorities was so implausible that no editor in chief of Al-Arab News Channel. of Saudi Arabia and Turkish authorities, one, except for diehard Saudi supporters, Despite having Islamist views in his early who claimed that Khashoggi was killed accepted it. youth, he had subsequently turned into inside the consulate and dismembered. Khashoggi was no ordinary individual. a champion of progressive ideas in Saudi After claiming initially that Khashoggi A nephew of the high-profile Saudi Arabia, which has possibly the most

POWER CORRIDORS 40 NOVEMBER 2018 JAMAL BIN AHMAD KHASHOGGI KILLING

obscurantist regime on the planet. He had buried in the ground, was subsequently they subsequently stated that he died after also been an editor of the newspaper Al found within the premises of a Saudi getting into a fist fight with the Saudi Watan, which he tried to turn into a voice diplomat in Istanbul. The murder inside officials, and finally agreed to the fact of progressive elements in the kingdom. a consulate (a diplomatic safe haven in that he was murdered in the consulate. He was forced to flee the kingdom for the another country) has established a new Thereafter the Saudis have gone about US on September 18, 2017, after he was low in the functioning of embassies and window dressing in their own trademark allegedly prevented from expressing his consulates. way. One key member of the squad that views on the social media. Since then, Consequently, the Saudi Crown dealt with Khashoggi died in a road he has been a resident of the US and a Prince—who successfully managed to accident and other members have been correspondent for the Washington Post. establish himself as the heir apparent by ‘arrested.’ Senior officers, including Saud His recent articles were extremely critical sidelining his uncles and cousins, was al-Qahtani and General Ahmed al Asiri, believed to be close to MbS, have been purged by the regime and 18 Saudi nationals, including many believed to be part of the squad sent to Istanbul, The Saudi discomfiture have been arrested. Saudis are also going through the motions of investigations; is clearly visible a prosecutor has been sent to Istanbul. from the changing However, the Turkish authorities, who narratives that the have reasons to be suspicious, have refused to share the evidence with him. Saudi authorities have This entire episode has redeemed the been giving out. After image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who till the incident was seen initially claiming that an autocrat systematically destroying the Khashoggi left the secular and democratic fabric of Turkey. Consulate unharmed, He has emerged as a seeker of truth, championing the cause of the victim. His they subsequently strong stance on the issue has not only won stated that he died him support at home but also in the streets after getting into a fist of Middle East and in Europe. He and the Saudi regime have been at loggerheads fight with the Saudi ever since the 2013 coup in Egypt. The officials, and finally relationship has further worsened since MbS tried to isolate Qatar, along with agreed to the fact that Egypt and other allies in the gulf. It is he was murdered in Turkish support only that enabled Qatar the consulate to withstand the huge Saudi pressure. By systematically revealing the gruesome details of Khashoggi’s murder, Erdogan being feted as a new-generation leader has ensured that the Saudi Crown Prince’s who would usher in greater freedom in standing in the Arab streets has taken a the Kingdom—finds himself in the cross severe beating. hairs of global outrage. Turkey, which The public opinion in Europe as well of the Saudi King Salman and the Crown was naturally enraged, as the murder as in the US has naturally turned against Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS). had been committed on its soil, has since the Saudi regime as the gruesome murder He was opposed to the Saudi Arabian-led been demanding unfettered axis to the is extremely repugnant to the democratic intervention in Yemen, which caused a Consulate and Saudi diplomats. and liberal values that the West aims to grave humanitarian conference. The Saudi discomfiture is clearly espouse. Consequently, many European Apparently, a team from Saudi visible from the changing narratives countries have reduced their levels of Arabia had arrived in Istanbul a few that the Saudi authorities have been engagement with the desert kingdom. days earlier and left immediately after giving out. After initially claiming that Saudi sponsored ‘Davos in Desert’ turned his disappearance. Khashoggi’s body, Khashoggi left the Consulate unharmed, out to be a dud with most political leaders

NOVEMBER 2018 41 POWER CORRIDORS and corporate honchos boycotting the This entire episode brazen, but for the Congressional polls event to protest Khashoggi’s murder. scheduled on November 6. German Chancelor Angela Merkal has has redeemed the Notwithstanding the line that will be pledged to stop arms sales to Saudi image of Turkish taken by Saudi allies like the US and the Arabia. Similar demands are being President Recep Tayyip UK, the situation in Saudi Arabia and made in other European capitals. Merkal the Middle East is not going to be same. has also stated that the EU will make a Erdoğan, who till the The position of MbS will become more joint decision on how to penalize Saudi incident was seen an tenuous as various Saudi princes who Arabia. Similar sentiments have also been have been biding their time will now expressed by French president Macron, autocrat systematically start emerging from the shadows. Qatar’s although France has not yet suspended destroying the secular isolation could possibly end and it would weapons sale to the desert kingdom. and democratic fabric inevitably lead to a greater focus on the Despite Khashoggi being a columnist Saudi sponsored war of attrition going of the Washington Post and having been of Turkey. He has on in Yemen. It could also provide some a resident of the US, President Donald emerged as a seeker of breathing space to Iran. Above all, it will Trump’s reaction to the whole incident prevent any such misadventures in future has been fairly subdued. While he truth, championing the by Saudi Arabia, which had been rather termed killing of Khashoggi as “terrible cause of the victim emboldened by the mute international and disgusting” and even vowed “severe response to its brazen attempt to keep punishment,” he is not willing to stop Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, as it as hostage. The Saudi economy, which would impact the US-based jobs. The had been bouncing back on the back of two countries signed a deal worth more His actions indicate that the economic rising energy prices, could again go into a than $110 bn last year. He also made a incentives for the US are far more decline and may be a more representative bizarre assertion that as Khashoggi was significant than the gruesome murder government would eventually emerge not a US citizen and consequently, it was of a journalist in a diplomatic premise. from the ruins of most obscurantist not his responsibility to avenge his death. His reaction could have been even more regime in the Arabian deserts.

POWER CORRIDORS 42 NOVEMBER 2018 SPORTS DDCA turmoil may rattle BCCI Delhi’s cricket body is rife with conflicts and controversies

scrutiny of an ombudsman or an ethics High Court. Gambhir, incidentally, was officer, thus putting a question mark over government representative in DDCA the qualification of the candidates. last year too, something that was In fact, DDCA elections were held even stalled by former administrator Justice before a new constitution was drafted for Vikz̄ramajeet Sen. Further, Rahul Sanhvi the Board of Control for Cricket in India is also accused of conflict of interest. He (BCCI) and its state units. Sharma was is a manager with the Mumbai Indians. backed by a powerful Bharatiya Janata DDCA officials, however, brush this off, Party leader who was accused of favoritism saying that being a member of a cricket The author is former Sports Editor, earlier. He has had many a tiff with BJP committee is honorary and he is neither Navbharat Times MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad and a selector nor a coach involved in picking SATISH MISHRA Arvind Kejriwal. He even garnered the teams. Even Virender Sehwag has a cricket @satishNBT support of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra, who is incidentally a former DDCA treasurer. The he Delhi and Districts result was also a major setback for BCCI Cricket Association acting president C.K. Khanna, whose wife (DDCA) seems to have Shashi lost the vice-presidential battle been submerged completely against Rakesh Bansal, younger brother in turmoil. It involves of former DDCA president Sneh Bansal. Tconflict of interest, trading of charges, and The defeat might prove to be the end of the serious differences in appointments. The road for Khanna in the DDCA, where he victory of an outsider, senior journalist enjoyed supreme power for nearly three Rajat Sharma, as the DDCA chief has decades. also opened a Pandora’s box. Even the Sharma’s tenure started with Supreme Court-appointed Committee of controversy, and it remains like that. Administrators (CoA) is facing the heat. Former India opener Virender Sehwag is Former Comptroller & Auditor slated to head a newly formed selection General Vinod Rai was appointed as committee. The three-member committee CoA chairman by the Supreme Court also comprises former Delhi skippers to implement the Justice R.M. Lodha Rahul Sanghvi and Aakash Chopra. But academy and appears as an expert on a committee’s recommendations. In the DDCA boss Sharma also nominated news channel, owned by the newly-elected DDCA elections, Sharma had defeated Gautam Gambhir as a special invitee. Rajat Sharma, while Aakash Chopra is an 1983 World Cup winning India cricketer The problem is that Gambhir still expert on various news channels. Madan Lal by 517 votes to become the plays cricket, so this attracts the conflict Meanwhile the BJP is reportedly in new president. Sharma’s group swept the of interest charge. According to sources, talks with Gambhir and former Indian elections winning all 12 seats. After the there was a huge debate among DDCA captain M.S. Dhoni to rope them in as result, even Rai was quoted expressing officials over the inclusion of Gambhir in their candidates for the 2019 elections. apprehensions about the elections. the committee. Gambhir is also nominated They could contest from their respective The Lodha committee had laid down as a government observer by the Union states, Delhi and Jharkhand. Apart from very strict conflict of interest norms Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. being candidates, they can also be star for every state unit. While other units Reportedly, no amount of cajoling or campaigners for party. are trying to comply with the norms, argument has dissuaded him from quitting Gambhir last played for India in the DDCA was given the go-ahead the committee. November 2016 and is currently captain prematurely. An ombudsman and an ethics This issue is likely to be raised in front of the Delhi team. He is yet to announce officer are supposed to ensure that conflict of the newly-appointed ombudsman of his retirement from competitive cricket. of interest norms are not attracted. Yet, DDCA, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, Earlier too, there were reports of him DDCA elections took place without the former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir entering politics. 

NOVEMBER 2018 43 POWER CORRIDORS ME TOO

Sex abuse

AMITABH PARASHAR comes out of

The author is a senior journalist and a national award-winning filmmaker the closet in

t happened about 25 years ago. Famous film and theater actor Dilip Tahil had to shoot a rape Bollywood sequence at a film studio in Mumbai. The film’s director was Ia veteran, whereas Tahil was a relatively This campaign has surely given courage new actor. The director told him, “I have not told the girl that the rape scene is to women to speak against men who being shot. During the shoot, you have to tear off whatever clothes you see on seek sexual favors the girl’s body.” Tahil was not only astonished but also angry. He refused to shoot that her consent note that this rape scene was acceptance of the girl from his mobile. scene at that time and went to the girl. being filmed with her consent. He did In the film industry, Tahil got mixed The director was surprised to see this. not stop here; he also shot the verbal reactions for this step. Some said that Tahil asked the girl, “Do you know that Tahil and filmmakers did the right a rape scene is going to be filmed with thing to preclude any sexual harassment you now?” charges in the future; others termed it as The girl was new to the industry. She aggressive and reactionary. Evidently, the wanted to work. There were compulsions Whereas many New York-born Me Too campaign, which with her. She got up and went into a room celebrated actresses is some 12 years old, has created a panic and started crying. The director got angry in Hollywood have situation in India, and its worst impact with Tahil; because of him the filming of is felt on the film and entertainment the scene was in jeopardy. After a while, told the stories of industry. Tahil went to the girl. He explained to sexual abuse that they It is difficult to tell what the future of her that if she has to continue in this this campaign will be, but it is certain that film, then the rape scene must be shot, suffered, the same people are scared in the film industry. but it should be with her knowledge and cannot be said about People like Amitabh Bachchan and consent. The girl agreed and the scene India. Kangna Ranaut Aamir Khan are avoiding speaking was shot. directly on this subject. Aamir was even Recently, Tahil again had to film a and Deepika Padukone nervous to act in a movie which was rape scene, and again with a newcomer. have provided being made on the life of the late owner However, with the #MeToo environment of T-Series, Gulshan Kumar. The film across the country, Tahil was careful for moral support to the was being directed by someone accused his own safety. He asked the girl to write movement though of harassing a co-worker few years ago.

POWER CORRIDORS 44 NOVEMBER 2018 in films but Dutta faded out from the film industry. She stopped working eventually. The case got revived when she recently reiterated her allegation in a TV channel interview that Patekar had sexually harassed her in 2009. This actually triggered the Indian edition of MeToo. Many more girls from the film industry were inspired by her— Sandhya Mridul, Amayara Dastur, Sona Mohapatra, Navneet Nishan, Vinta Nanda, an unknown girl who worked in the Phantom Films who has accused its co-owner Vikas Bahl. Other men facing accusations are Sajid Khan, Rajat Kapoor, Vivek Agnihotri, Anu Malik, Kailash Kher, Abhijit Bhattacharya , and Alok Nath. The accused include directors, singers, and actors; many of them retaliated legally. A couple of points need to be made here. First, many of the accused were already notorious for their predatory ways. Second, most women who have made accusations are neither top stars nor have a lot of work in the industry. One wonders why the allegations are not coming from top actresses. It’s not that the frontline women stars have not faced or suffered sexual harassment. A few years ago, Zeenat Aman, the heartthrob of yesteryears, made a statement which became the talk of the town at that time. She had said that none of the top actresses of the film industry could claim that sexual favors were not sought from them. It needs to be mentioned here that the MeToo campaign began in the West. Under the two words Me Too, which has The matter is in the court. an irrefutable truth. A few cases of now become a campaign, women from all We know that sexual abuse is not new exploitation have appeared in the media, over the world are publishing their sexual in the film industry. Most of the new the most prominent being that of actress harassment on the social media. By the girls have to face this: “I will make you Tanushree Dutta. It actually triggered the end of September MeToo had been used heroine, but what will I get in return?” MeToo campaign in India. 1.9 million times on the Twitter. In 2006, Some girls refuse, but some have little Tanushree filed a complaint related American social activist Tarana Burke choice. to a film in 2009. She alleged that Nana had a conversation with a girl who was Senior film journalist and former Patekar sexually harassed her during the sexually abused. Burke said she wished editor of Screen (a weekly) Udaytara Nair shooting of Horn OK Please. But nothing to tell the girl that she was not alone; she says that exploitation of the newcomers, came out of her complaint; Patekar was wished to tell her, “Me too.” Burke told especially girls, in the film industry is least affected. He continued to work the girl that she was not alone. She used

NOVEMBER 2018 45 POWER CORRIDORS ME TOO

these two words ‘Me too’ to share her A few cases of a big producer-director. The director met own experiences with the girl. the actress properly in Tara’s presence. The phrase “Me Too,” however, gained exploitation have After some time, however, when the currency in 2017 after the use of this term appeared in the actress met her, she was despondent, as a hashtag following the sexual abuse media, the most for the great director had plainly told allegations by many Hollywood actresses her that if she wanted to work in the film against famous Hollywood producer prominent being that industry, she should come alone and be Harvey Weinstein. of actress Tanushree ready to “compromise.” But there is a difference between Hollywood and Bollywood. Whereas Dutta. It actually Here, we discussed mainly Cinema. many celebrated actresses in Hollywood triggered the MeToo But today, no field is untouched by it. have told the stories of sexual abuse that campaign in India they suffered, the same cannot be said However, there is also fear that this about India. Kangna Ranaut and Deepika campaign will be misused. Padukone have provided moral support to the movement though. So the big question is: will sexual The biggest weakness of the MeToo harassment in our country be eliminated? campaign in our film industry is that Udayatara Nair narrates an interesting That may be unlikely to happen, but this only those victims are speaking out who incident. A famous south India actress campaign has surely given courage to are retired or who have almost no work; came to her with the recommendation of women to speak against men who seek those who are active are keeping quiet someone she knew. She wanted to work sexual favors for giving work. This is a for the fear of losing work. in Hindi films. Tara took that actress to big plus for working women. 

IndiaPAYEL SANNIGRAHI is finally listening

t’s been a year since the MeToo an interview to Zoom TV on wave began in the West with September 27, 2018. She saw the Weinstein case, which had a it as part of her “religious snowball effect; many prominent education.” God chose her to people were unmasked. After a “start something which had Iyear, this movement has finally reached to happen, she later told India. Women in the media and cinema Reuters. are finally speaking up. And, for once, people are actually listening. The log kya Ten years ago, she filed an kahenge fears have evaporated. FIR when this incident took place and the Maharashtra Tanushree Dutta, an Indian Film Navnirman Sena (MNS) actress, triggered the Indian #MeToo attacked her car while she movement by opening up about her was leaving from the set. But sexual harassment case from ten years it is only now that people are ago on the sets of Horn OK Please. seriously discussing those events. She brought this issue to light during Many still criticize her for coming

POWER CORRIDORS 46 NOVEMBER 2018 MeTooRITIKA JAIN can do what laws don’t

e Too, yell the victimized women across the globe, the victims of sexual abuse. To speak up and to bring change. #MeToo began with Hollywood Mactress Alyssa Milano on October 18, 2017, tweeting and asking every woman who had been sexually harassed to write ‘Me Too’ as a status. The idea was that this might give the world the extent of the problem faced by women. It did.

Many important people like M.J. Akbar, Rahul Johri, Alok Nath, Nana Patekar, and Piyush Mishra were accused. However, false allegations also have been made. The false claims made by some women have scared, agitated and annoyed men.

The movement is premised on the concept that it’s hard for the women to speak out. Despite the laws to check sexual harassment, the incidence persists. MeToo can change that. When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. 

There are women who have of Bureau, Prashant Jha, was divested of both roles, though he was not sacked. accused men of sexual harassment, Tanmay Bhat, CEO of comedy group AIB, assault, or even rape just to settle had to step down as he said he made a “big mistake” by working with a comic personal scores. Such women even after knowing what he had done. are a grave threat to the Gursimran Khamba has also completely movement cut ties from the company he co-founded with Tanmay Bhat as investigations are in progress. out with this ‘fake’, ‘made-up’ story just for publicity, to boost her It needs to be mentioned here that supposed comeback. The fact, if a lot of allegations are proven wrong however, is that while she her after investigation, actual harassment career ended, that of Nana cases would again be taken lightly. The Patekar, the alleged molester, main purpose of the movement will has flourished since then. be defeated. Defamation cases may follow. This is a danger, for there are But Dutta has finally been women who have accused men of sexual heard—as have been many harassment, assault, or even rape just to others in various walks of settle personal scores. Such women are life. Journalists, actors, a grave threat to the movement. comedians, singers, socialites, people in higher echelons have As women, we face many problems. been accused. The first major The #MeToo movement provides us a action in the journalistic world platform to voice genuine grievances. was taken by Hindustan Times. This platform should not be destroyed The Political Editor and Delhi Chief by insincerity of a few. 

NOVEMBER 2018 47 POWER CORRIDORS PERSPECTIVE An unequal

PRABHA RAO The author, a former IPS justice officer, is with the South Asian Institute of Strategic Affairs While transgressions by one religion are played up nationally and internationally, s an early and unequivocal with a sustained fervor, those by the adherent of feminism, the Sabarimala issue poses Church are swept under the carpet a serious ideological conundrum for me. On Athe one hand, on a basic and logical plane, discrimination based on gender, or natural phenomena like menstruation, in regard to entering a place of worship is appalling. On the other, I cannot but admit to the existence of a conflict—a conflict of competing dignities. A conflict between Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, which allows freedom from discrimination and thus promotes the dignity of equal individual participation, and Article 25, which protects freedom of religious choices and thus promotes the dignity of equal individual choice. While I am not wholly convinced about the “women ban” argument, with its arcane justifications such as Lord Ayappa— the reigning deity of Sabrimala being privileged with a “bachelor” status since he was born from a union between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in the avatar of Mohini, who is averse to women entering the holy portal, and even a justification that there are so many ‘only women temples’ in matriarchal Kerala and that it is therefore discriminatory to not have one reserved for men—in spite of all the above I would still certainly support the Kerala devotees in their decision to enjoy their ritualistic preferences. I am making my ambivalence on this matter clear.

POWER CORRIDORS 48 NOVEMBER 2018 SABARIMALA AND NUN’S RAPE

this matter—harking back to the very sad case of the raped Kerala nun as an example. In September this year, a nun filed a complaint that the crimes of serial rapes and unnatural sex had been committed against her by Bishop Franco Mulakkal, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar from 2014 to 2016. The Bishop had also wrongfully confined her in the guest room of St. Francis mission home in Kuravilangad, Kerala. Instead of becoming a primary emblem of the #MeToo movement, the incident was sought to be muted, and the Kerala MLA P.C. George called the nun a prostitute. He said in a well-attended What puzzles me is the refusal of Journalists in the press conference at Kottayam that he a large section of our intellectuals— did not consider her a nun, due to her no, I will not call them ‘sickularists’ mainstream media involvement in sexual encounters and or ‘libtards’ as I do not believe in the have said, without asked that her brother’s family’s finances taxonomic classification of humans—to wanting to be be probed. Amazingly, while referring to appreciate the diverging pulls of Article her sex encounters, he did not condemn 15 vs Article 25. The Sabarimala issue identified, that there Father Mulakkal’s involvement in the has been tarred as an example of outright has been pressure on same. While he ungraciously withdrew his revanchism, symptomatic of the larger them to downplay comments about her being a prostitute, he malaise of militant rightist forces in the maintained his observations about her lack country. Several writers have bemoaned the stories against the of character, a remark which should have the erosion of secular values and the Church been cause for a criminal charge against resurgence of an antediluvian, intolerant him as per the Vishaka recommendations. value system. According to them, this the Kerala nun rape case. Of course, one Similarly, the Missionaries of Jesus same so-called value system is acting as cannot blame Hindu Rightwing patriarchy Congregation claimed that the nun was an enabler of the burgeoning number of for this, and hence it does not make great having an affair with a relative and that she rapes in the country. The Kathua rape case copy. Could this explain the comparative was targeting Bishop Mulakkal, because he has been wheeled out as an example of silence of the women’s groups, who are not had wanted to expose her! This allegation this. Motivations for this heinous crime to be seen holding nocturnal candle light was debunked by several witnesses and (which is still under investigation) could protests and morchas at India Gate for nuns who were living with the victim. be land dispute-related; it could be a crime the raped and tortured nun? An uneasy Now, both the Jesus Congregation and the of passion, etc. But all this doesn’t matter hush from all fronts from Sonia Gandhi MLA have got away unscathed, and there to the above-referred intellectuals; in their to Brinda Karat—the latter in fact in some is little public protests about the MLA, scheme of things, the crime has its roots problem, as her party, the Communist either in his constituency or within the in militant Hindutva. Period. The same Party of India (Marxist), was divided on intellectual echelons. Interestingly, the militant Hindutva which has straight line how to react to the issue, without losing Church gave the bishop a good conduct connectivities to myriad lynchings on the valuable Christian votes. These names are certificate after an “internal enquiry,” and issue of protecting cows, etc. just some of a much longer list. added that the raped nun, in connivance Writers have their own rights, and I Let me at this juncture emphasize with nine others including five nuns consider censorship—overt, covert, or that I fully empathize with every Indian’s (some of whom had also been harassed subliminal—as abhorrent. But I would like freedom of expression, even when it is by the Bishop), were conspiring against to grant myself the permission to ask these expressed in silence. I respect the decision the Bishop. self-same writers about their own tilted of all the intellectuals/activists to be The above same intellectual echelons perspectives. For instance, I would like discreet, when it suits them. But I reserve have remained steadfastly unmoved by to ask them about their muted stand on the freedom to make a few comments on the protest lodged by the nuns against

NOVEMBER 2018 49 POWER CORRIDORS PERSPECTIVE

the Bishop. Incidentally, it was the It is most daughter recently, to reiterate support persistence of these nuns that got the from the Vatican—a move which has complaint filed, and they were subjected commendable certainly had an impact on speeding up to severe intimidation, including threat that the Vatican, her trial in Pakistan. There is unfortunately of excommunication from the Catholic including the Pope, signal silence by the Holy See on the plight Church. More importantly, these activists of our Kerala nuns, even when they are have raised no hue and no cry, and the met Asia Bibi's intimidated and vilified. question that begs asking is why. husband Ashiq How does one explain this? Religion The nuns were supported by Father appears to be a handmaiden of politics. Kuriakose Kattuthara, who was living in Masih to reiterate Transgressions by one religion are played Kairwali, near Dasuya in Jalandhar district support up, nationally and internationally, with a and working at St. Paul’s school there. He sustained fervor; those by the Church, was an eye witness to the intimidation against high level priests in the Roman however, are swept under the carpet. faced by the nun, and despite serious Catholic order. What is a matter of serious concern is attempts at covert intimidation, as told Journalists in the mainstream media that our intellectuals and several of our by his family, he continued his support have said, without wanting to be identified, senior, well-known journalists are willing to the nun’s cause. He died suddenly on that there has been pressure on them to to be a part of this accommodation. the night of October 22 and was found downplay the stories against the Church. Surely, they—whose sensibilities are so the next day, with froth coming out of his The money power that the churches are finely honed to the smallest evidence mouth. His family has alleged foul play, able to muscle up has been used for of human rights violations, and whose but a belated autopsy has claimed that he gagging and blotting out the incidents hearts bleed for separatists and dangerous died of natural causes. from public memory. Maoists—are aware of how the Church I would like to digress here and recall a The same Church can also profile is treating the protesting nuns. All too similar case. Sister Abhaya of the St. Pius cases when it is expedient to do so. To obviously, unfortunately, the rule of Convent Kottayam was found dead in a appreciate this, we only need look at the the game is: show me the incident and well in March 1992. Despite laceration treatment given to two different Christian I will give you my response. So don’t injuries on her body, the case was dismissed victims. Take the case of Asia Bibi, the expect parity in reportage between the as suicide. It was only after her family filed Pakistani Christian woman who had been Sabarimala, Kathua, and Kerala nun cases. a writ petition for a CBI enquiry that it was on the death row for the past eight years The latter have accepted a cloister and found that two priests and a nun had been on trumped-up charges of blasphemy. should maintain the cloister—with the found in a “compromising” position by Asia, a mother of four, has faced untold help of a few well-meaning intellectuals. Sister Abhaya, and she was subsequently torture in Pakistani prisons, and it is The former offer political opportunities murdered. The case got little coverage, and most commendable that the members to be exploited as circumstances dictate. was relegated into a mere statistic, as had of the Vatican, including the Pope, met This logic of unequal justice needs to be been the innumerable cases of sodomy put her husband Ashiq Masih along with a understood. 

POWER CORRIDORS 50 NOVEMBER 2018 CHIEF GUEST Inspired Through The Vision of Jury Chief CHIEF GUEST Inspired Through The Vision of Jury Chief

Inspired Through The Vision of

Shri Narendra Modi Shri Ram Nath Kovind K.G. Balakrishnan Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Hon’ble President of India Hon’ble 37th Chief Justice of India Shri Narendra Modi Shri Ram Nath Kovind K.G. Balakrishnan ADDRESS BY HON’BLEHon’ble Prime UNION Minister of MINISTERS India Hon’ble President of India Hon’ble 37th Chief Justice of India ADDRESS BY HON’BLE UNION MINISTERS Shri Narendra Modi K G Balakrishnan Hon’ble Prime Minister of India AWARD CEREMONY Hon’ble 37th Chief Justice of India

ADDRESS BY HON’BLE UNION MINISTERS

Shri Rajnath Singh Su Shree Uma Bharti Shri Narendra Singh Tomar Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot Hon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot Govt. of India Drinking Water & SanitationShriRural Rajnath Development Singh & PanchayatiSu Shr Rajee UmaSocial Bharti Justice & ShriEmpowerment Narendra Singh Tomar Govt. of India Hon’ble Minister of HomeGovt. Af fairsof India Hon’ble Minister of Govt. of IndiaHon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Govt. of India Drinking Water & Sanitation Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Social Justice & Empowerment Govt. of India Govt. of India Govt. of India JURY MEMBER JURY MEMBER Su Shree Uma Bharti Shri Narendra Singh Tomer Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot Hon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Hon’ble Minister of Drinking Water & Sanitation Rural Developement & Panchayati Raj Social Justice & Empowerment JURY MEMBER

Justice Gyan Sudha Misra Subhash Ghai S.Y Quraishi JusticeSonal Gyan Mansingh Sudha Misra Anil Kumar Sinha Former Supreme Court Judge Former Chief Election Commissioner Padma Vibhushan FormerS.Y Quraishi CBI Director SonalDirector Mansingh, Producer Anil Kumar Sinha Subhash Ghai Former Supreme Court Judge Former Chief Election Commissioner Padma Vibhushan Former CBI Director Director, Producer

Justice Gyan Sudha Misra S Y Quraishi Sonal Mansingh Anil Kumar Sinha Subhash Ghai Former Supreme Court Judge FormerADVISOR’S Chief Election Commissioner Padma Vibhushan ADVISOR’SFormer CBI Director Director, Producer ADVISORS DATE : 31st August 2018 DATE : 31st August 2018 VANUE : Vigyan Bhawan ,New DelhiVANUE : Vigyan Bhawan ,New Delhi An Initiative By TIME : 10 A.M.Media Onwards Partner TIME : 10 A.M. Onwards

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