FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Lalu's conviction Established 1965 Modi magic or myth ? Arun Jaitley Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra ver since Narendra realized that Modi had made a Delhi and cause so much antici- should not think he had the Modi’s very successful huge difference to the BJP’s pation, tension, fear and position or the right to insult the rom 1990 to 2005 Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav and his party gave Erally in Delhi last chances of winning in 2014 but loathing that even officialdom prime minister of a country of to Bihar the worst possible Government. His Government was Sunday a new political game were worried that he may not be has begun to be afflicted by the 125 crore people. And, they lis- Fpopularly referred to as the ‘Jungle Raj’. It was governance at U-turn on Ordinance has started being played in this able to help them cross the 200 Modi factor. Last week I met an tened carefully when he spoke its’ worst. Ministers and civil servants barely attended the city’s murky corridors of mark which is the barest mini- official who said to me, in so of how power plants capable of Sachivalaya. Vulgarity was a political style. Corruption was ram- n a dramatic U-turn, the Government on Wednesday pant. A new ideology was born which emphasized that growth and power. Let us call it arithmetic. mum needed for him to become many words, that he believed producing 22000 megawatts of decided "unanimously" to withdraw the Ordinance development do not get votes. It is only caste and community polar- Congress politicians play it prime minister. Conversations the ‘ horrible mess’ created by additional power were lying idle and the Bill seeking to overturn a Supreme Court isation which are an instrument of getting and retaining political I openly, BJP politicians play it usually go this way. ‘We have UPA-II could only be resolved for want of fuel while ‘even in judgment disqualifying MP and MLAs convicted for power. When Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav was arrested for the fodder furtively and us hacks play it in to win more than fifty seats in by Modi becoming prime minis- the Prime Minister’s own home case there was no second in command in the party. His wife became crimes punishable with a jail term of two years or more. fits and starts in newsrooms U.P. if we are to cross that 200 ter. He added that in his view they used generators.’ They lis- Bitter criticism of Congress Vice President, Rahul the Chief Minister. A caste polarized state accepted her as the Chief across Delhi. What the game mark and there are no signs yet UPA-III would be a disaster. For tened even more attentively Minister. She even won an election. Gandhi that Government's action in the matter was basically involves is calculating of this happening.’ As for con- those unfamiliar with the ways when he talked of the need to 2005 was a water-shed year for Bihar. This regime was over- "nonsense" and that the Ordinance deserved "to be how many seats Modi’s magic versations in news rooms, suf- of Indian officials let me add create millions of jobs for a thrown by the electorate. By then Lalu Prasad had moved to the torn and thrown away", led to frenzied but docile is going to be able to material- fice it to say that they are varia- that it is very unusual for offi- country filled with young peo- Centre as a Union Minister. He became a balancer for the UPAin its’ response from Government and the Congress Core ize in the next Lok Sabha. And, tions of these two themes cials to express political opin- ple and how to do this India pursuit of coalition politics. He had a vested interest in supporting it has become the most impor- doused heavily with secular, ions in such clear terms. needed a new dream, and a new Group, finally succumbing to its withdrawal. the UPA. Besides being in power he could manage to manipulate the tant game in town, so important leftist sentiments on the ineligi- They say a week is a long resolve that by the time of Insights into the processing and recommending the CBI which was prosecuting his case to sabotage the prosecution. In that I would go so far as to say bility of Modi to be prime min- time in politics so three weeks is India’s 75th birthday as a mod- the year 2004 the first major attack on the UPA government was on ordinance for submission to the President show that the that there is no other game ister of India on account of his an aeon. Three weeks ago I ern nation this country must the issue of seven tainted ministers being a part of the Council of main opposition party, meaning BJP, had, in the begin- being played in Indian politics 2002 record. Secular, leftist wrote in this column about my become a better place. Ministers. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh defended the ning, agreed to the changes in the Representation of at the moment. So even in the hacks are so terrified of Modi impressions of Modi’s first polit- Somehow nearly all these tainted. Lalu Prasad was the foremost among the tainted who were Peoples' Act but had refused to cooperate over amend- week that Rahul Gandhi did his things were missed in the being prosecuted. Some of his cases were successfully killed by the ing the Constitution. However, the Minister for little drama about tearing up his reports that appeared in the next prosecution itself. The disproportionate assets case witnessed a Parliamentary Affairs said that BJP reneged over the own government’s ordinance ON THE SPOT day’s newspapers that appeared change of Judge, a change of the prosecutor, a special bench of the and ‘throwing it away’, wher- to have been written by Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and a judgement which hardly latter also in the Rajya Sabha. The UPA and its allies ever I went I seemed to meet TAVLEEN SINGH reporters who watched the rally inspired confidence. The CBI decided not to appeal against the moved forward and processed the Ordinance. people who talked only about on television. So there was Judgement. When the Bihar Government appealed against the Defending the decision of the Cabinet to withdraw Modi’s prospects. making it that they have lately ical rally in northern India, undue attention paid to whether Judgement the CBI successfully challenged the locus of the Bihar the Ordinance and the Bill, Minister for Information When I talked to Congress taken to praising Rahul Gandhi. which was in Jaipur on Nawaz Sharif had compared our Government to file the appeal. The disproportionate assets case was and Congress Spokesman, Manish Tiwari said that friends to get their reactions to It stunned me to hear col- September 10. I wrote that this Prime Minister to a village given a Judicial burial. One can manage the system on some occa- Rahul Gandhi had very wide ranging feedback from the rally in Rohini that nobody leagues and fellow travelers rally reminded me of political woman or not than to what sions. It is not possible to manage all the people all the time. There had expected to be so huge or describe his ‘nonsense’ press rallies in the 1977 elections Modi said about the political are some men of integrity in every institution. There are many in the the public on the question of Ordinance, and Judiciary who still cannot be bent. The accused were uncomfortable Congress, a diehard upholder of democratic process, so enthusiastic I found that they conference as a historical event, when an unspoken consensus and economic mistakes that had embroiled me immediately in up there with his grandmother seemed to form among voters brought India to a situation in with the Presiding Judge, efforts to get him changed failed. The pros- had to concede the massive public opinion. But the arithmetic game. breaking the Congress Party across north India to remove which the national mood had ecutor was changed but the Supreme Court intervened and prevent- observers point out that how come the Congress Vice Conversations went like this. and his great grandfather com- Indira Gandhi from power in become one of despair. Was this ed that from happening and finally a historic verdict holding the 45 people guilty. They include politicians, civil servants, middlemen President had the "wide ranging feedback" to which ‘You see no matter how popular ing up with his ‘Kamraj plan’. order to punish her for the deliberate? I am not sure and so and contractors. neither the Congress President nor the Prime Minister Modi is personally you must Some of these worthies have Emergency. Is there now a con- I am prepared to attribute the It has taken 17 years for Justice to be done. Public spirited liti- had access? They sadistically comment whether there remember that the BJP has no written paeans in praise of sensus to remove Congress from poor reportage of Modi’s most gants who put the process of law into motion succeeded in getting the is no rapport among the three. But we are told that the presence in southern and east- Rahul in their columns in which power and install Modi as prime important public rally so far to case transferred from the Bihar police to the CBI. They succeeded entire subject had been thoroughly discussed at party ern India. And, then remember they make the tricky point that minister? Is it too early to tell? I the confusion that currently in preventing the CBI during the UPA government from sabotaging level and twice in the Congress Core Group presided that in Bengal there is no Rahul is rebelling against the leave it to you to work that out defines political Delhi. It is as if its own case. When conviction appeared to be inevitable the UPA chance that either the Marxists ‘old guard’ of the party of because it is dangerous for jour- political leaders and political over by Congress President, Prime Minister, Ahmad even prepared for life after conviction. The amendment to section or Mamata can go with him. In which he is a high official. nalists to make predictions. pundits are no longer sure how 8(4) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 was proposed. When Patel and others including NCP Chief, RLD leader and U.P. neither Mulayam nor What they overlook is that the What I will say is that I was to analyze what is happening. NC Patron. In his 20 minute meeting with the Prime Parliament did not approve the Bill and referred it to the Standing Mayawati can go with him…so ‘old guard’ is his own mother stunned by the size of Modi’s So they substitute analysis with Committee, the shameless UPA government approved an Ordinance. Minister, Rahul Gandhi is reported to have referred to one way or another UPA-III is a and that it is she who appointed rally in Delhi and even more calculations as if by doing this The President was reluctant to sign the Ordinance. The Ordinance legal and constitutional flaws in the Ordinance to reality already.’ the prime minister to rule at her stunned by how responsive his they might discover what is could not be approved for reasons which are well known. Today we which legal advisers had drawn his attention. It is sim- When I talked to BJP politi- grace and favour. audience was. They laughed at really happening. In doing this have all understood why this Ordinance was brought. Its only object ple logic that he would have conveyed the legalities of cians they were more circum- In any case what Modi has his jokes about the ‘shehzada’. they appear to have missed the was to help a loyal UPA ally who was likely to be convicted. In the the case to the High Command before the decision of spect when they played the managed to achieve is to cause They cheered when he said the groundswell smashing up end justice has prevailed. Be you ever so high the law is above you. same game. They said that they deep confusion in political prime minister of Pakistan against the gates of Delhi. recommendation made to the President was arrived (The author is Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha) at. The assumption is that either this was the handi- work of the vested interest group inside the Cabinet that neutralized the internal opposition to the draft Ordinance and trivialized the "wide ranging feedback" theory, or that non-traditionalist forces within the Welfare of older persons Congress, decided on the spur of the moment, not to Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy the nodal Ministry responsible for welfare of the amount of financial assistance for existing proj- ment are available at the entry to important sta- take any more of soft paddling with the tainted leader- Senior Citizens. The National Policy on Older ects, several innovative projects have been tions. Specially designed coaches with provi- ship in the country. geing is a development issue. Persons (NPOP) 1999, covers all concerns per- added as being eligible for assistance under the sions of space for wheel chairs, hand rail and Sycophants are vying with one another to claim the Healthy older persons are a taining to the welfare of older persons and recog- Scheme. specially designed toilet for handicapped persons resource for their families, their credit for killing the Ordinance and the Bill. Who did "A nizes a person aged 60 years and above as a sen- A Non-Plan Scheme of Assistance to have been introduced. communities and the economy"-states WHO ior citizen. In pursuance of the NPOP, a National Panchayati Raj Institutions/ Voluntary Indian Airlines is providing 50 per cent what and with what results is, in fact, mere arm chair Brasilia declaration on healthy ageing, 1996.The politics. The credit for stonewalling this pernicious bill Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was consti- Organisations/ Self Help Groups for Senior Citizen Discount on Normal Economy slogan for this year's International Day of Older tuted in 1999 under the Chairpersonship of the Construction of Old Age Homes/ Multi Service Class fare for all domestic flights to Indian sen- actually goes to the President. He had reservations. Persons is, "Older people - a new power for Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment to Centres for Older Persons was started in 1996- ior citizens who have completed the age of 65 He sought advice from Goolam Vahanvti, the Attorney development". oversee implementation of the Policy. An Inter- 97. However, the Scheme was not found attrac- years in the case of male senior citizens and 63 General who opined that without constitutional Development alone cannot bring peace and Ministerial Committee on Older Persons com- tive by implementing agencies and was discon- years in the case of female senior citizens subject amendment the Ordinance could be challenged. This prosperity unless social justice and equality of prising twenty-two Ministries/ Departments, and tinued at the end of the X Plan (2006-07). A new to certain conditions. Air India is offering dis- older people are ensured. With the improvement headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Social Scheme for giving assistance for Establishment count to senior citizens of 60 plus on flights to was precisely what Rahul Gandhi's legal advisers had in health services, Life Expectancy at birth for told him and on that basis, he made a strong case to Justice & Empowerment is another coordination of Old Age Homes for Indigent Senior Citizens USA, UK and Europe. Further, Air India has now both males and females has shown a steady rise mechanism in implementation of the NPOP. is under formulation. decided to reduce the age of 60 plus for discount scuttle the Ordinance. Apart from consultations with and it has contributed to an increase in the num- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and In addition Government is extending a num- on their domestic routes as well with immediate the AG, the President called in the Law Minister and ber of persons in the category of 60+. Thus as the Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was enacted in ber of concessions/facilities to aged persons effect. the Home Minister and raised questions with them world develops socio-economically, the number Under the Antyodaya Scheme, the Below asking for clarification. Therefore all the credit of sen- of aged increases and their contribution through Poverty Line (BPL) families which also include government service, honorary jobs, volunteer older persons are provided food grains at the sitizing the Government on legal aspects of the work, sharing of experience and knowledge, Ordinance to withdraw the Ordinance goes to the rate of 35 kgs. per family per month. The food helping their families in caring responsibilities grains are issued @ Rs.3/- per kg. for rice and President. It is true that BJP leadership also met the and participation in gainful employment will Rs.2/- per kg. for wheat. The persons aged 60 President and expressed its concern over the subject also grow. Such contributions to development years above from the BPL category were given and explained why it opposed the Ordinance. can only be ensured if older persons enjoy ade- priority for identification. Under the Of the three important allies, only the leader of quate levels of health, for which appropriate Annapoorna Scheme being implemented by the policies need to be in place. In line with the RLD, Ajit Singh has out-rightly supported the with- States/UT Administration, 10 kgs. of food grains Madrid International Plan of Action, the World per beneficiary per month are provided free of drawal of the Ordinance. The two others, namely Health Organization launched in 2002 a docu- Sharad Pawar of NCP and Farooq Abdullah of cost to those senior citizens who remain uncov- ment "Active Ageing - A Policy Framework", ered under the old age pension scheme. National Conference have expressed their disappoint- outlining its approaches and perspectives for Instructions to State Governments for giving ment on withdrawal calling it disrespect to the author- healthy ageing throughout the life course. priority to the Ration Card holders who are over ity of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Moving a India, a sub-continent that carries 15 per cent 60 years of age in Fair Price Shops for issue of step further, the BJP has called it undermining the of the world's population, is gradually undergo- rations. ing a demographic change as a result of many December 2007 to ensure need based mainte- after realising their special needs. These include, Department of Pensions and Pensioner authority of the Cabinet, the State and the Prime factors including specific development pro- Minister. Its spokesperson has gone to the length of nance for parents and senior citizens and their Income tax rebate up to an income of Rs. 2.50 Grievances has set up a Pension Portal to enable grams. With decline in fertility and mortality welfare. The Act provides for: Maintenance of lakh p.a; Higher rates of interest on saving senior citizens to get information regarding the saying that the manner in which Rahul Gandhi used rates accompanied by an improvement in child Parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives schemes of senior citizens; Reservation of two status of their application, the amount of pen- survival and increased life expectancy, a signifi- rather unparliamentarily language to denounce the made obligatory and justiciable through seats for senior citizens in front row of the buses sion, documents required, if any, etc. The Portal cant feature of demographic change is the pro- Ordinance and the way in which the Cabinet suc- Tribunals; Revocation of transfer of property by of the State Road Transport Undertakings; Some also provides for lodging of grievances. As per gressive increase in the number of older people. cumbed, show that not democratic but dynastic rule senior citizens in case of negligence by relatives; State Governments are giving fare concession to recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission, In 1951, 60+ populations were around 20 mil- governs the country. Political punditry believes that Penal provision for abandonment of senior citi- senior citizens in the State Road Transport additional pension are to be provided. Under the lion. Three decades later in 1981, it was a little quick withdrawal of the Ordinance saved the zens; Establishment of Old Age Homes for Undertaking buses and are introducing Bus Old Age Pension Scheme, monthly pension is over 43 million, a further decade later in 1991, Indigent Senior Citizens; Adequate medical Models, which are convenient to the elderly; Congress from displeasure and anger of the masses this had increased to 55.30 million, in 2001 it given at variable rates to the destitute old by var- facilities and security for Senior Citizens. Separate queues for older persons in hospitals ious State Governments/UT Administrations. of people that the party was playing to the galleries on was 76.5 million and in 2011 it was 103.2 mil- The Ministry is implementing following for registration and clinical examination; the eve of Parliamentary elections 2014. lion. Courts in the country accord priority to cases schemes for the benefit of Senior Citizens: Faults/complaints of senior citizens are given involving older persons and ensure their expedi- But perhaps the case does not end up with the International convention, legal enactments, An Integrated Programme for Older Persons priority by registering them under senior citi- tious disposal. constitutional provisions etc emphasises the need (IPOP) is being implemented since 1992 with zens category with VIP flag, which is a priority withdrawal of the Ordinance for which the To cap all these efforts, Government of India for equality and empowerment of older people. the objective of improving the quality of life of category; Senior citizens are allowed to register Government will be sending a note to the Rajya has recently launched National Awards for Well-being of older persons has been mandated senior citizens by providing basic amenities like telephone connection under N-OYT Special Sabha Chairman. Legal luminaries are now focusing Senior Citizens to recognise the efforts of emi- in the Constitution of India. Article 41, Directive shelter, food, medical care and entertainment Category, which is a priority category. on the methodology needed for formal and legal with- Principle of State Policy stipulates that the State opportunities and by encouraging productive Indian Railways provide 30% fare conces- nent senior citizens, institutions in rendering dis- drawal of the ordinance and the Bill, which has shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and active ageing through providing support for sion in all Mail / Express including Rajdhani / tinguished services for the cause of elderly. already been tabled by the treasury benches. and development, make effective provision for capacity building of Government/ Non Shatabadi / Jan Shatabadi trains for senior citi- These Vayoshreshtha Samman will be conferred Obviously, the Law Minster will have to tell the securities, right to public assistance in case of old Governmental Organizations/ Panchayati Raj zens aged 60 years and above. Indian Railways in 13 categories every year. "Like any other country ageing is a chal- Parliament why the Government had to make a U- age. There are other provisions too, which man- Institutions/ local bodies and the Community at also have the facility of separate counters for dates the state to improve the quality of life of its lenge and a problem. We need to make people turn on the issue. This is precisely what Sharad large. Under the Scheme, financial assistance up Senior Citizens for purchase / booking / cancel- citizens. Right to equality as a Fundamental right to 90% of the project cost is provided to non- lation of tickets. Wheel Chairs for use of older fit and work- whatever the age. If they are Pawar said while commenting forcefully on the issue further strengthen older persons. Social security governmental organizations for establishing and persons are available at all junctions, District working that solves half the problem. We have before the hurriedly summoned Cabinet meeting that has been made the concurrent responsibility of maintaining old age homes, day care centres and Headquarters and other important stations for the to improve their skill levels, education and contracted its withdrawal of Ordinance business with the central and state Governments. mobile medicare units. The Scheme has been convenience of needy persons including the health, that's the key as they are a new power 25 minutes. Apparently, the Government, while debat- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is revised w.e.f. 1.4.2008. Besides increase in older persons. Ramps for wheel chairs move- for development". ing the issue in the Parliament, will take shelter behind the legal and constitutional provisos and absolve itself of the charge of rushing up without cool consideration Facilities at Govt hospitals Working of DSE Jammu halts on all aspects of the matter. The opinion of the Sir, Sir, Attorney General, which was sought by the President, No doubt the number of patients is increasing in number, day The functioning of Directorate of Education, Jammu Dengue engulfs Jammu Sir, is reflected in the reason given by the Information in and day out visiting Government run hospitals in Jammu but has come to a halt due to frequent transfers of its direc- the facilities provided fall short of the expectations of the There are almost 30 to 40 cases of Dengue admitted in GMC and many more Minister after the Cabinet decided to withdraw it. tors. It sounds incredible, but it is true that six directors patients. The main problem is that of the availability of the in other hospitals and it has resulted in death of a patient at Samba. There are The people in general would have been happier if have been changed in a span of three months for reasons apprehensions that more and more cases may be reported in the coming days attending doctors. Not that they are less responsive to their duties best known to the authorities. All the work related, to the Cabinet had not rushed through the matter but doctors treating dengue patients warn, but unfortunately almost no concrete pre- but the number of doctors provided is too short to cater to the transfers, appointments, and other grievances of employ- patients' needs to their satisfaction. On many occasions there are ventive and corrective measures from the health department are evident, to over- moved slowly and very cautiously. It would have been ees has got stuck in files as no one attends to them. The come the major problem of dengue. Government seems sluggish and inactive in cases of high tensions rife between the patients' relatives and the highly advisable to monitor the feedback of the com- most sufferers of this administrative problem are people educating the masses, as there is no massive campaign in electronic and print doctors mainly because of inadequate medical attention. It is not mon people on a wide scale through its independent media for prevention and arresting the spread of the disease. understable that on the one hand, hundreds of medical graduates who have to come from other places like Poonch, Rajouri, and pragmatic sources. This would have prevented an Doda, Reasi, Ramban and Kathua. They come here with The superspeciality hospital is already in place ,having been construct- and post graduates are rolled out from the medical colleges of the ed after spending huge amounts of money from the public money, inaugu- embarrassing situation that arose out of the episode. State but despite that, shortage of doctors persists. The worst a bundle of grievances, but to their dismay they find that the Director has been transferred. The frequent transfer rated by the Govt with much fanfare, but buildings and machines have not Cabinet decisions have their status and sanctity. But of affected are the sub district hospitals, chest disease hospital, yet learnt to treat patients, for that expert manpower in the shape of quali- has paralysed the office, and it is affecting the functioning course a second thought on every important policy bones and joint hospital and women hospitals of Jammu division. fied doctors and paramedical staff is needed, which the Govt has not been of schools in Jammu province. Will the Dy Chief Minister matter is the natural process of unbiased evaluation. The Government must pay its preferred attention to the prob- able to arrange till now. The Govt; needs to wake up to the situation and lem. and Chief Minister look into the problem ? Now that the Ordinance has been withdrawn, hopeful- prove its credentials of according priority to healthcare of masses. Yours etc... Yours etc.... Yours etc.... ly the Government will have become wiser about how Sunil Salgotra Ashutosh Khanna Ajay Koul delicate and sensitive matters need to he handled. Jammu Jammu University Chinagund