Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 73 No. 10 Is a Federal Party Possible? April 1, 2018 Kuldip Nayar BJP’s Forays in North Eastern States and When former Congress President underline the Congress cooperation, Anti Minority Agenda Sonia Gandhi said that they would Mamata has said that she is daily in Ram Puniyani not allow the Bhartiya Janata Party touch with Sonia Gandhi. In fact, (BJP) to return to power, she hinted the leaders from other non-BJP ruled at a joint action on the part of the states are constantly in touch with India Needs Draupadi And Opposition. It also means that each other to see the possibility of a Not Savitri she does not want Prime Minister federal structure. Rajindar Sachar Narendra Modi to for the second If you recall, the Janata Party term. On its own, the Congress does was a federal structure. It did not not have the numbers to pose any last its course and fell because the Anti-Muslim Riots threat to the BJP-run government then leaders, particularly the top in Sri Lanka or Modi. ones like Morarji Desai and Chanran Irfan Engineer In all probability, as things Singh, quarrelling in public all the stand today, Modi looks good time, much to the exasperation of the enough to returning to power. people. Then the Jana Sangh wielded The three reverses in recent by- power because the opponents were Arvind Kejriwal’s Apology elections to the Lok Sabha and a divided lot. Once the non-Jana Letter and Middle Class Standard of Ethics state assemblies notwithstanding, Sangh parties came together, the Nishikant Mohapatra the BJP is capturing power in state Jana Sangh government was reduced after state and spreading its tentacles to a minority. slowly but surely. Yet, 2019 general The federal structure that would Editor : elections are some way to go and come up, courtesy the top leaders the impending state election in like Sonia Gandhi or, for that matter, G. G. Parikh Karnataka and the subsequent ones Mamata Banerjee, has to take a leaf Managing Editor : Guddi in other states later this year would out of the book of the Janata Party be the real test to assess Modi’s and learn to work together. The moot D-15, Ganesh Prasad, strengths and weaknesses. question would be who among the Naushir Bharucha Marg, West Bengal chief minister leaders has enough support to be the Mumbai - 400 007. Mamata Banerjee has taken the Prime Minister. Once this question is initiative to get the non-BJP parties settled, things will fall into place and Email : [email protected] together for a federal structure to the federal structure could survive. Website:www.janataweekly.org contest against the BJP in 2019. To The question the country faces 2 JANATA, April 1, 2018 today is that if pluralism, the nation’s Ali Jinnah, who was an apostle of Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru ethos, is defeated which forces Hindu-Muslim unity, said that he and Sardar Patel saw to it that would come to power. The BJP is could not trust the majority, the there would be no Hindutva. They determined to divide the people. Hindus. This mistrust is the reason converted the then assembly into They have been trying for a pro- why people left their homes after a constituent assembly to have a Hindu government in some shape partition. One million were killed on constitution. India is ruled today or the other. The RSS, which is the both sides and Hindus and Muslims not by the 80 percent but by the mentor of the BJP, is playing its went apart further. constitution which assures one vote role to perfection to help realize the The RSS looks like copying to one individual. Even when the dreams of Modi. the idea of division. Its philosophy Hindus are in a majority, they cannot This is where the new federal is nothing but making a mockery subvert the idea of India because the combination has to be careful about. of Gandhi’s preaching. The RSS constitution is supreme. It is better they come up with a elements did not succeed as the Minimum Common Programme communal forces could not silence Email: [email protected] with all parties endorsing the views Gandhi. They had to ultimately kill and aspirations of all leaders. This him so that the same voice which is just one important issue which the people heard and respected. I the top leaders of non-BJP have had seen the letter which Nathuram to address as the people’s interests Godse wrote in defence of what he Janata should the above everything else. did. He avowed respect to Gandhiji is available at For the idea of India, which but argued that the country would is founded on secularism and suffer if the Mahatma had lived www.lohiatoday.com democracy, the parties based on longer. religion or castes should have no I recall one incident from his place in the federal structure. The prayer meetings. I was present danger is that the various elements when, before the Mahatma started would try to pull in different his meeting, one person from Punjab directions to corner power. Even got up and said that he would not Janata Subscription individual leaders should keep the listen to the Quran. At the meeting country’s unity ahead of personal or all the three scriptures—the Gita, Annual Rs. : 260/- their party interests. Quran and the Bible—were read. If they learn to live together, the Gandhi said that there would be no Three Years : 750/- warning about their disarray would meeting until the objector withdrew Demand Draft / be repulsed. Secularism would have his dissent. For days, there was gone through the fire to prove its no prayer congregation. It was Cheque intrinsic strength. With coalition resumed only after the person finally on politics inevitable in India, the best withdrew his objection. possible way to defeat the idea of Today, when the fanatic Mumbai Bank BJP or, for that matter, Modi and his RSS guides the government in in favour of cohorts is stay together and learn in appointment of teachers, librarians the process to rule together. and heads of academic institutions, JANATA TRUST The BJP cannot defeat the there is little hope for merit to take ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, unity in over. Under the circumstances, how D-15, Ganesh Prasad, diversity. In fact, what it has done is can a federal party fight against such Naushir Bharucha Marg, to prove Gandhi right. Unity of India elements? The danger to the nation Grant Road (W), could face the danger of separatism. is from those who think that since Pakistan whom I wish well is the the country has 80 percent of Hindu Mumbai 400 007. fallout of the mistrust in the Hindu population, they have the right to majority. Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad rule. JANATA, April 1, 2018 3 BJP’s Forays in North Eastern States and Anti Minority Agenda

Ram Puniyani Over the last couple of decades, will be reduced to a minority. It was opening schools, etc. and thus one is coming across pamphlets, clever enough to strike alliances succeeded in turning the tables, leaflets and other material containing even with separatist organisations. taking advantage of the fact that the the propaganda that Christian Most of the regional organisations Manik Sarkar Government failed to missionaries are converting people in the area look at Congress as the address the needs of tribals in matters at a rapid pace. The examples mostly party which has not focused on of opportunities. In matters of beef, given have been those of the North development work. The BJP, while BJP openly took a hypocritical line Eastern states. This propaganda has it abuses those differing with its that their ban on cow slaughter and been extensively used at pan-India ideology as ‘anti-nationals’, has no eating beef, which is being imposed level, particularly before elections compunctions at all in allying with in different parts of country, will not in most of the States. It is this those who have been talking of a be enforced in North East. It is by propaganda which formed the base separate State or even secession. now well established that like most of hate against Christians and we In Tripura, the left government, other issues raised by the RSS–BJP witnessed the ghastly murder of despite its clean record, failed to combine, holy cow is a political tool Pastor Graham Stewart Stains, the fulfill the aspirations of tribal and for dividing society, and when the horrific Kandhmal violence, and low OBCs in matters of reservation. It crunch comes they manipulate the intensity anti-Christian violence and also failed miserably in creating issue as they have done in Kerala attacks on Churches in different parts employment opportunities for the and Goa. of the country. So how come BJP, the youth which gave the ground to BJP In a very loud manner, towering party flaunting Ram Temple, Mother to promise and create the illusion of over Christian voters, Mr. Modi cow and Hindu nationalism, could development. talked of rescuing 46 nurses in make inroads into an area where in The BJP here mainly harped ISIS captivity in Iraq and Father many States Christianity has a good on two major factors. One is the Alex Prem Kumar from Taliban presence, where beef eating is part of promise of development. While in captivity. What can one say on these the people’s dietary habits and where the rest of the country its slogan of issues? Were they rescued as they different tribes with diverse and development stands exposed as a were Indians or were they rescued clashing political interests articulate mere vote catching slogan, in the because they belonged to a particular their aspirations by forming various North East it could still sell Modi religion? As is the wont with Modi groups which have been asking for a as a development man. Manik type politics, they take advantage of separate State for their tribes. Sarkar’s failure to implement the these incidents in a crass political While the situation in each State new Pay Commission pay scales manner. Despite the fact that their is different, there is a pattern in the must have hurt large numbers as ideology regards Christians and BJP strategy, which in a flexible they are still stuck at Fourth Pay Muslims as foreigners, they do at manner, supplemented by massive Commission scales, while talk of the same time manipulate these resources, near perfect electoral Seventh Pay Commission is in the identities for electoral gains. In machinery and the backing of its air. In Tripura, they could also harp Tripura, the majority of Congress parent organisation’s swayamsevaks, on ‘Hindus are Refugees: Muslims and TMC MLAS migrated to BJP as is winning the majority in State after are infiltrators’ to influence the well as the electoral support shifted State. In Assam it focused mainly on Bengali Hindu votes. In the tribal to BJP. What worked for BJP here Bangladeshi immigrants, alleging areas, RSS swayamsevaks have was the anti-Bangladeshi sentiment that Muslims are swamping the worked consistently since long along with the illusory promise of state and threatening that Hindus in organising religious functions, development. 4 JANATA, April 1, 2018

In Meghalaya, the situation muscle power, is the undercurrent RSS. It ignores the threat of the is different. Though Congress of the story. powerful electoral machine built by did emerge as the single largest There are a lot of lessons the Left the BJP over a period of time, and its party and logically it should have can learn from Tripura. The issue of capability to manipulate issues like been given the chance to form the addressing problems of youth, tribals beef and conversion by Christian government, the Hindu nationalist and OBC is paramount. In addition, missionaries, even to the extent of Governor thought otherwise and the the issue of BJP manipulating in taking opposite positions in different second largest party, in alliance with all possible ways to come to power parts of the country and getting away practically everybody including the is something which can only be with it! BJP, is going to form the government. ignored at the risk of a severe The emotive politics unleashed Here the failure of BJP to win over decline in the electoral power of by BJP–RSS is visible again in the the electorate is writ large on the the Left and other parties. What is form of attacking Lenin’s statue and results. But what is putting it in being labeled as the Karat line, not attacks on CPM workers. What is the camp of power is the alliance allying with Congress, will surely in store for future of the region if with a regional party, which does decimate the Left in times to come, democratic forces don’t rise to the not have amicable relations with probably sooner than later, as this occasion is anybody’s guess! the Congress. The role of BJP’s all- line underestimates the potential round clout, including money and and the deeper agenda of BJP– Email: [email protected]

India Needs Draupadi And Not Savitri

Rajindar Sachar

Everyone knows that Indians are Kauravas. However, he has not being disrobed and crying out to sensitive about their religion. Before stated what will be his polices or be saved from this insult. Not only the elections they are very particular programme of action as a Pandava, they, but the elders like Bhishma about doing such actions which as against his opponents whom he Pitamaha and Dronacharya too kept they think will result in a favorable has accused of being Kauravas. a cowardly silence when she was verdict. And so, Rahul Gandhi is Tradition says that the Kauravas being disrobed and asking for help. openly saying that he respects old were ‘neech’ because they did not Now let us examine what Rahul traditions; not only that, he is going show respect for women and had means by calling himself as a further and publicly showing his no respect for womanhood. The Pandava. I would have been happy respect for these traditions while most important incident which is the if he was promising that in present making his programmes. basis for labelling the Kauravas as India bullets will never be used for As reported by the press, he being disrespectful towards women maintaining law. Death by police showed this during the Gujarat is the disrobing of Draupadi by the firing raises a very important question elections by visiting many temples; Kauravas. But the question that as regards the responsibility of the even the press had no choice but to needs to be asked is, what led to this State or the Central Government. highlight this fact. Some of Nehru’s incident taking place. Both Pandavas I may in this connection point admirers have expressed regret that and Kauravas agreed to gamble, so out that the Socialist Party of JP Nehru’s views on keeping religion to that extent, both are equally to be and Dr. Lohia had proposed a outside politics are being abandoned blamed. policy regarding police firing in by his own family. Furthermore, it is the Pandavas independent India. It was a simple In support of his actions, Rahul who while gambling with the one, namely that in a free and Gandhi is openly saying he would Kauravas put Draupadi at stake. democratic country like India, any go by the conduct of the Pandavas, Not only that, they did not even police firing leading to the killing and has labelled the opposition as lift a finger when Draupadi was of citizens must automatically lead JANATA, April 1, 2018 5 to the resignation of the concerned automatic resignation of the State declare their resolve that they are State government. The leaders government in such an eventuality. determined to have an independent should promise that in independent I do not know why Rahul thinks identity. This will be a befitting reply India, no State government or that Pandavas should be supported to all those who still consider women the Central Government should against the Kauravas, whom he calls to be chattel today. This alone will have legal sanction to open fire ‘neech’. In the matter of gambling, give respect to womanhood. India on the crowds. And if a situation both of them were in agreement, does not need Savitri, India needs reaches that stage, it only shows the so both share the blame equally. Draupadi. complete incompetency of the State During the play, the Pandavas government, and therefore should lost their balance and chose to put Email: [email protected] result in immediate resignation of Draupadi on stake, and for this they the government. are primarily to be blamed. Even In fact, the Socialist Party had when Draupadi was crying for help, Spectre of Fascism to face this situation early in free the Pandavas shamefully kept silent. Contribution Rs. 20/- India. The party was expected to The only explanation for this is that Published by do well in elections, considering both Pandavas and Kauravas did not the sacrifices and contribution to consider Draupadi as their equal, but Janata Trust & Lokayat D-15, Ganesh Prasad, freedom struggle made by the a mere chattel of man. Naushir Bharucha Marg, socialists, especially their heroic role Draupadi of course never forgot Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 in the 1942 Quit India movement the incident, and took the stand which was undoubtedly the most that she will not keep contact with important phase of the freedom Pandavas till Duryodhana was struggle. killed. But even today, most people However, the Socialist Party consider that keeping silent was the was able to form a government in only correct answer. These people only the State of Travancore-Cochin do not treat women as equal to men; (which was renamed as Kerala that is why the cry of Draupadi when State in 1956), with the socialist she suffers discrimination and is leader Thanu Pillai as the Chief treated as personal chattel remains Minister. Some time later, there was unanswered till today. an agitation in Travancore and police The only way this attitude firing took place, leading to the death towards women can be changed is of some demonstrators. Immediately by accepting women’s demand that Dr. Lohia and many others like us they should initially be given one- demanded the resignation of our third representation both in the State government of Thanu Pillai. I am legislatures and the Parliament, that still of the view that in free India, is, one-third of all MLAs and MPs killing of the demonstrators by should be women (to start with). police must automatically lead to Women should press ahead with the resignation of the government this demand and make it an election if human right violations are to be issue both in the State and Lok Sabha avoided. This has been proven by elections; in this fight for justice, it subsequent events in India; official should be hoped that quite a large figures released by Government of number of Indian men will vote with India show that over 50,000 people women. have been killed in police firings— Women must strongly put forth this has happened because correct the demand that that they will no human right standards have not been longer suffer any insult to their accepted and followed, namely the womanhood. Women must boldly 6 JANATA, April 1, 2018 Anti-Muslim Riots in Sri Lanka

Irfan Engineer

The recent anti-Muslim riots Lankan Government declared an hand, the Muslim community turned in Kandy, Sri Lanka, once again emergency (which some felt was an to Islam for stronger bonds among demonstrate that religion is becoming over reaction by the government), themselves. Prior to May 2009, the more salient in public domain, clamped down on social media and principal adversary of extremist including politics, in South Asia. imposed curfew. Emergency was last Sinhalese Buddhist movements Anti-Muslim riots were witnessed declared in 2011 during the civil war. was the Tamil ethnic community. in Ampara town in Eastern Province Both the incidents show the The Moors were not on their radar. on February 26 and in Teddeniya widespread fear, suspicion and However, after the threat from and Udispattuwa in Kandy district prejudices prevalent against the Tamil Eelam became subdued, from March 2. Riots in Ampara were Muslim community. Muslim extremist Sinhalese Buddhist triggered when Sinhalese customers community is diverse including the nationalism turned its attention to in a restaurant found lumps of wheat Moors, Malays, Bohras, Khojas and new adversaries. New adversaries flour in the meals served to them by a Memons, and constitutes 9.66% of are necessary to project themselves Muslim chef which they suspected to the population of Sri Lanka according as saviours, nay, custodians of be contraceptive pills. A video of the to the 2012 census. Moors speak Sinhalese Buddhist community, and Muslim chef nodding (whether out of Tamil language and are the largest achieving hegemonic power over not fear or misunderstanding) on being ethnic group within the Muslim only the ‘others’ but also within the asked whether it was contraceptive community, constituting 9.30% of Sinhala Buddhist community itself. was uploaded. Instead of conducting the population of Sri Lanka. Islam They now turned against the already proper inquiries or reporting the arrived on the shores of Sri Lanka in besieged Muslim community, and matter to the authorities, mobs the 7th century C.E. along with Arab with Islamophobia on rise globally, mobilised by extremist Sinhalese traders, who married and settled on it was easy to target them. During my organisations attacked mosques and the island. They adopted the local recent visit to Sri Lanka, a Buddhist properties belonging to Muslims. Tamil language and culture. Sri monk asked me as to why the Investigations later established that Lankan Moors are descendants of Muslims who had assimilated into it was a false suspicion, and indeed Marakkar, Mappilas, Memons and the Sinhala culture were asserting there aren’t any tablets that can cause Pathans of South India. their Islamic identity since the permanent sterilisation. The LTTE targeted Moors when 1980s? Riots in Kandy were sparked they resisted the claim that Moors Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or the when a Sinhalese truck driver was were Tamils converted to Islam. Buddhist Force Army was founded assaulted on February 22 by four Moors claimed their separate identity by monks Kirama Wimalajothi reportedly drunk Muslim youth after as progeny of Arabs. Few hundred and Galagoda Aththe Gnanasaara a traffic accident. The truck driver Moors were killed while hundreds after they parted ways with the died on March 2 due to injuries of thousands were displaced from Jathika Hela Urumaya. In their first inflicted on him. The accused youth their homes and their properties national convention held in 2012, were arrested on the day of the destroyed by the LTTE as they they launched a virulent attack incident itself and remanded till claimed the northern and eastern on Muslims and Islamic identity. March 7. Sinhalese mobs began territories for Tamil Eelam. Sri They demanded a single legal attacking Muslim properties in the Lankan Moors and Sinhalese then system, opposed halal food and region, resulting in widespread joined hands during the 26 year Muslim women wearing abaya or damage to property. According to the civil war. Under attack from LTTE burqa, use of Buddhist monks to government, 465 houses, businesses on one hand, and rise of Sinhalese teach history and other subjects in and vehicles were damaged. The Sri Buddhist nationalism on the other schools and preferential treatment JANATA, April 1, 2018 7 in university admissions for students from foreign religions”. RSS too by law is immediately stigmatised who attended Buddhism classes. claims to do the same – protecting as appeasement of the ‘other’. The They demanded ban on birth Hindu culture of India from foreign extremist supremacists are actually control measures for the Buddhist religions. Wirathu Group 969, BBS at war with democracy, and rule community. They thus demanded and RSS have common imagined of law and war with the ‘other’ privileges for Buddhists on one enemies in followers of Islam is only an excuse. At a rally in hand, and cultural assimilation of and Christianity, and profess a 2013 attended by 16,000 people, Muslims or rather de-Islamisation duty to save their respective ‘sole including 1,300 Buddhist monks, on the other hand. The BBS stands homelands’ from the threat from the BBS general secretary Galagoda for strong centralised authoritarian these ‘foreign religions’. All three Aththe Gnanasara unveiled the state which would ensure protection Buddhist and Hindu supremacist ‘Maharagama Declaration’. He of Sinhala Buddhist cultural and organisations posit imagined threat stated, “This is a government created religious traditions and is against from imagined enemies and hype up by Sinhala Buddhists and it must multi-racial, multi-religious and fear within the majority community remain Sinhala Buddhist. This is a multicultural nature of Sri Lanka. in order to project themselves as Sinhala country, Sinhala government. The extremist Buddhist protectors of their respective cultural Democratic and pluralistic values Sinhalese nationalism seeks to heritage. They have little respect are killing the Sinhala race.” He mobilise the majority Buddhist for truth, established procedures called upon the Sinhalese Buddhists Sinhala community by instilling and democratic institutions. In the attending the rally to “become fear of the minority Muslim case of recent anti-Muslim riots in an unofficial civilian police force community which is less than 10% Kandy, the Muslim youth had been against Muslim extremism. These of the population. They problematise arrested by the police on the charge so-called democrats are destroying ‘mosques springing up everywhere’, of beating up the truck driver on the the Sinhala race.” The Wirathu ‘faster growth of Muslim population’ very day of the incident itself; and in Group 969 has always supported the and ‘conversions by Christians’. Ampara, prejudices against Muslims Military Junta in Myanmar and the They argue that Sinhala Buddhists led the Sinhala customers of hotel RSS has always been unhappy with have only one country, unlike owned by Muslims to imagine the Indian Constitution which they Muslims, Hindus and Christians who contraceptive pills in meals served to say is based on western traditions, in have other countries. The fact is, the them, notwithstanding the fact that a veiled attack on equal citizenship Moors too have only one homeland, there are no contraceptive pills that rights. and so do Sinhala Christians! cause permanent and irreversible The BBS has also learnt a tactic The BBS General Secretary sterilisation. They did not wait for or two from the RSS. In a rally held Gnansara welcomed the victory an investigation of their suspicion. in Kandy on March 17, 2013, BBS of Narendra Modi Governmnet Even if their suspicion was true, announced that the 10th-century in India. He claimed they were who should inflict punishment upon mosque at the Kuragala Buddhist having discussions with the Hindu whom and in what measure? monastery complex in Ratnapura supremacist organisation RSS in The right wing extremists use District had been constructed on a India to form what he called ‘Hindu- insignificant everyday incidents Buddhist heritage site by Muslim Buddhist peace zone’ in South as an excuse to inflict collective fundamentalists. Medieval India Asia, together with Myanmar’s punishment on all members of the was ruled by Muslim Emperors extremist Buddhist nationalist ‘other’ community, even thoug and and this provides the basis for the organisation, the Wirathu Group those who have no role or control Sangh Parivar to claim that Babri 969. Though Ram Madhav, General over the incident. In order to purge Masjid was built after destroying Secretary of the BJP, denied that the ‘other’ from their midst, they Ramjanmabhoomi Temple; but Sri they were in talks with BBS, he hype up the conflict to the level of Lanka was never ruled by Muslim posted comments appreciating BBS. continuous and ongoing war with kings. It was a first a Portuguese He wrote, “The Bodu Bala Sena the ‘other’. In this war, the weak, colony and later a British colony. essentially talks about protecting insufficient and often reluctant BBS general secretary Gnanasara the Buddhist culture of the country protection afforded to the ‘other’ also accused the Muslim owned 8 JANATA, April 1, 2018

Fashion Bug and No Limit retail allowed to flow out fully before it is trial and even fewer are convicted. chains of converting its Buddhist consumed. The extremists push the The impending violence can be Sinhalese employees to Islam. The ‘other’ towards more exclusivism, prevented if hate crimes are checked Muslim owned Fashion Bug clothes instead of creating an environment in time, intelligence strengthened shop in Pepiliyana, Colombo District of cultural exchanges and dialogue. and acted upon and bureaucrats are was attacked on March 28, 2013 Musthafa Nihmath, member made accountable. Though the Sri by a mob led by Buddhist monks. of Asian Muslim Action Network Lankan Government took stern steps While these right wing supremacists (AMAN) told this writer that there by declaring emergency to control vilify Muslim cultural influences were about 3,000 mosques in Sri the riots and also clamped down as foreign, they themselves freely Lanka and all services were being upon social media, the executive borrow from other foreign political conducted in Tamil. However, in the misused emergency provisions ideologies, including more than a recent past, 5 mosques have begun against the minorities. As the levels leaf from the Nazis and fascists. their Friday sermons in Sinhala of inequalities in Sri Lanka are However there are inherent language in Colombo in rotation. increasing, the economic elite contradictions and inconsistencies The Moors are hard working and a finance right wing nationalism to in their ideologies. While they large proportion of them are business problematise perceived or factual complement each other’s electoral entrepreneurs. The cab driver told growth of the rich from the ‘other’ victories as good for the stability of this writer that every other shop or marginalised communities, so as the region, share common ‘enemies’ business belongs either to Moors or to divert attention from their own in Islam and Christianity and have Tamils. It is possible that it is because wealth and from the structures that ‘held high level talks’, their political of the prosperity of the Moors that that allow their enrichment. goals are actually going to pit them their business and mosques are being against each other in the long run. made targets. Email: [email protected] While the BBS talks of protecting The extreme right wing Sinhalese Buddhist homeland, nationalists in all the countries are RSS’s goal is Akhand Bharat able to exploit the feelings of relative whose boundaries not only include deprivation that the poor among Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the ‘majority’ community feel, and Nepal, Sri Lanka, but also Myanmar convert it into hatred against others and parts of China! Sri Lanka is belonging to more or less the same the land where Lord Ram waged class but following different cultural war and rescued his wife Sita from traditions, and then channelise this Ravana’s custody, so therefore it hatred into violence. These feelings forms an important part of Akhand could be checked by appropriate Bharat. education and dialogue between Through their hypes, the right and within communities. The wing supremacists create massive Constitution of Sri Lanka, as indeed insecurity among the marginalised of India too, mandates the state to minorities who are also practically treat all citizens, regardless of their abandoned by the state, which in religions, equally, and guarantee turn pushes them to seek refuge in all citizens adequate environment stronger unity around their exclusive and space to freely practice their symbols. The halal food being religion. However, the executive problematised after 2012 is not a of these countries has failed to new cultural practice and it should administer the law impartially, both not concern non-Muslims as to how in letter and spirit. As a Sri Lankan Muslims choose to consume their minister told a group among whom food. Halal meat only means that this writer was present, few people blood of the slaughtered animal is involved in violence are put to JANATA, April 1, 2018 9 Fiery Death of Workers in Real Paint Factory in Sonepat: A Fact Finding Report

Five workers in Sonepat, worked in factories nearby. Three had only one exit which used to be Haryana, burnt to death due to a policemen were seated on chairs kept locked. In spite of producing fire which broke out in Real Paint along with a journalist from Punjab highly inflammable substances, Factory in the Rai industrial estate Kesari and some persons from the the factory had only one gate. The in Sonepat, Haryana. The dead Intelligence Bureau. The workers factory seemed like a prison where include a woman worker with her informed us that the fire broke out in the workers were made to work child on her chest. Sixteen jumped the night of March 17-18 at around like indentured labour, and that too from the third floor to various 2.30 am. The factory used to produce at a grave risk to their lives. There serious injuries. But nothing appears paint thinner which is extremely were no safety norms followed. The in the news. This is not some random inflammable and that there was basement had an enormous tank incident either. Workers work almost a huge stock of paint thinner and to store chemicals—the storage as bonded labourers for a pittance. solvent inside the factory. Thirty four capacity was 15000 litres. In the entire area, there is no ESI, workers worked in the factory but The factory was a three-storey no Provident Fund, no labour laws, there is no conclusive information as building and the workers and their no pretence of safety measures, no to how many were working when the families lived in the same building. union, only ‘acche din’. fire broke out. According to people Production facilities were in the A fact finding team constituting nearby, five persons have already first two floors (ground floor and of representatives of Inqilaabi died due to the accident while police the first floor)—5 workers used Mazdoor Kendra, Nagrik Akhbaar, and intelligence report claim four to reside on the first floor and 16 Jan Sangharsh Manch Haryana, deaths. The workers told us that people lived on the third floor. A Mazdoor Patrika and Grameen sixteen workers saved themselves by woman and her child got burnt to Mazdoor Union, Bihar went to jumping from the third floor of the death in one of the rooms on the the site of the accident on March factory. Many of them got charred, third floor—she was clutching her 20, 2018. The team prepared the one of the female workers broke her child to her breast when they died. following report based on their spine, and the rest too are in very One of the workers is still feared to physical inspection of the site and critical condition. They have been be trapped under the debris. It was conversations with workers working sent to PGI Rohtak and Khanpur in nearby units. Kalan for treatment. The Rai industrial estate is When we reached the site we situated in Sonepat district of found that the main door of the Haryana. It is on the GT road, factory was unlocked and open—in between Delhi and Sonepat, around fact the metal door had melted and 47 kms from ISBT, Kashmiri Gate, was completely deshaped, indicating Delhi. The factory which caught fire the intensity of heat caused by the was situated on plot number 291, fire. We could see a pile of paint 292, 293 in the Rai industrial estate. cans inside. The workers informed The factory used to manufacture us that one of the worker’s dead industrial paint for automobiles. On body was found stuck to a can March 20, when the investigating of paint and another’s charred team reached the site, smoke was skeleton was found near the stairs. still emanating from the factory. Like the factory in Bawana, Delhi, There were some workers there was a metal grill in front of standing in front of the factory who the gate and the factory premises 10 JANATA, April 1, 2018 evident from the remains that none have already been implemented in the announced compensation of Rs 5 of the mandatory safety norms were BJP-ruled states, including Haryana. lakhs for the dead and Rs 1 lakh followed in the factory. According to Thus in Haryana, the capitalists have for the injured. One wonders what the norms, at least 40 percent of the been offered complete freedom to difference would a lakh rupees make space of the plot in which a factory exploit their workers, unhindered by to a worker (or his family) who has is constructed (around the building) legal constraints or any sanctions by been rendered permanently invalid. has to be kept free. In this case there the government. The situation is not On March 22, we came to were thick sheets of iron covering likely to improve unless there is a know through an associate that the the space, the same as in every other collective resistance by the workers. government and the administration factory building in the vicinity. All The police officials present have not been following up with the the factories had generators and (including a sub-inspector) refused 8 severely burned workers admitted compressors on their roofs, which to answer our queries on the case. in PGI Rohtak. The announcement could lead to a serious mishap at The only information we could made by the government of ensuring any time. The real cost of human gather was that the owner Gulshan proper medical attention to the lives in a profit driven economy was Mata was on the run. The owner injured workers is all a lot of hot evident from the accident we had Gulshan Mata, his son Abhishek air. One of the workers in a very gone to investigate and those waiting Mata, the manager Meenu and three critical condition has been referred to happen. supervisors have been booked under to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi Rai industrial estate was section 304 A of the IPC—causing for treatment. established in 1995-1996. At that death due to negligence. It is telling The state of the factories in time, the going wages was Rs that while the police routinely slap Rai industrial estate and the work 1,200 to Rs 1,500 a month. The workers with much more serious conditions would lead anyone to employers on principle did not charges including murder, treason, conclude that the painful deaths of employ local workers; most of sedition, Gangster Act, etc., they these workers were not due to an them were migrants from Bihar and seem to get all soft and generous accident but were wilful murders in Uttar Pradesh. The Rai industrial when it comes to the crimes of the the ruthless pursuit of profits. estate mostly constitutes of tiny capitalists and their henchmen. units and the workers are given the The state government has Courtesy: RUPE, India lowest wages in the entire Delhi NCR region. On an average, a male worker earns Rs 8,000 per month for an eight hour shift while female workers earn Rs 4,500, way below the legal minimum wages declared by the Haryana government, which is Rs 9,600 for unskilled workers, Rs 10,826 for semi-skilled workers, Rs 11,429 for skilled workers and Rs 12,900 for highly skilled workers. Workers informed us that helpers could manage monthly wages of Rs 9,000–10,000 by working 12- hour shifts. Further, only 20 percent of the factories in the area had registered their workers for ESI facilities. In any case the so-called ‘reforms’ by which the Central Government is conspiring to dismantle labour laws in the interests of the capitalist class JANATA, April 1, 2018 11 15 Years After the Iraq Invasion, What Are the Costs?

Stephanie Savell

March 2018 marked the 15th year at a public university. broad this network is. And along anniversary of the US-led invasion As stupefying as those numbers with it comes all the devastating of Iraq. are, the budgetary costs pale in consequences of militarism for the In 2003, President George comparison with the human toll. people of these countries. W. Bush and his advisers based As of 2015, when the Costs of We must ask: Are these their case for war on the idea that War project made its latest tallies, astounding costs worth it? Is the Saddam Hussein, then dictator of up to 165,000 Iraqi civilians had died US accomplishing anything close Iraq, possessed weapons of mass as a direct consequence of US war, to its goal of diminishing the global destruction—weapons that have plus around 8,000 US soldiers and terrorist threat? never been found. Nevertheless, all military contractors in Iraq. The answer is, resoundingly, no. these years later, Bush’s “Global War Those numbers have only US activity in Iraq and the on Terror” continues—in Iraq and in continued to rise. Up to 6,000 Middle East has only spurred greater many other countries. civilians were killed by U.S.-led political upheaval and unrest. The It’s a good time to reflect on strikes in Iraq and Syria in 2017— US-led coalition is seen not as a what this war—the longest in US more civilians than in any previous liberating force, but as an aggressor. history—has cost Americans and year, according to the watchdog This has fomented insurgent others around the world. group AirWars. recruitment, and there are now more First, the economic costs. In addition to those direct deaths, terrorist groups in the Middle East According to estimates by the Costs at least four times as many people than ever before. of War project at Brown University’s in Iraq have died from the side Until a broad swath of the Watson Institute for International effects of war, such as malnutrition, American public gets engaged to call and Public Affairs, the war on terror environmental degradation and for an end to the war on terror, these has cost Americans a staggering $5.6 deteriorated infrastructure. Since mushrooming costs—economic, trillion since 2001, when the US the 2003 invasion, for instance, human, social, and political—will invaded Afghanistan. Iraqi health care has plummeted— just continue to grow. $5.6 trillion. This figure includes with hospitals and clinics bombed, not just the Pentagon’s war fund, but supplies of medicine and electricity also future obligations such as social jeopardised, and thousands of The Unemployment services for an ever-growing number physicians and healthcare workers Crisis: of post-9/11 veterans. fleeing the country. It’s hard for most of us to even Meanwhile, the war continues Reasons and begin to grasp such an enormous to spread, no longer limited to Solutions number. Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria, as many It means Americans spend $32 Americans think. Indeed, the US Contribution Rs. 25/- million per hour, according to a military is escalating a shadowy counter by the National Priorities network of anti-terror operations Published by Project at the Institute for Policy all across the world—in at least 76 Studies. nations, or 40 percent of countries Janata Trust & Lokayat Put another way: since 2001, on the planet. Last October, news D-15, Ganesh Prasad, every American taxpayer has spent about four Green Berets killed by Naushir Bharucha Marg, almost $24,000 on the wars—equal an Islamic State affiliate in the Grant Road (W), to the average down payment on a West African nation of Niger gave Mumbai 400 007 house, a new Honda Accord, or a Americans a glimpse of just how 12 JANATA, April 1, 2018 Arvind Kejriwal’s Apology Letter and Middle Class Standard of Ethics

Nishikant Mohapatra

I have been keenly observing toil hard to save himself from administration and politicians are in the multitude of reactions to Arvind penal provisions. In a defamation connivance and let free the culprits. Kejriwal’s unconditional apology case, if you win then it does not Furthermore, the objective is not to letter in the various defamation automatically establish that what punish the alleged persons only as suits filed by the political opponents you have said about a person is true. they are mere soldiers in the edifice across the country. Some of our It only establishes the fact that what of the corrupt governance system own friends are deeply hurt as you have said is without malice and operating in India and the kingpins their perceptions of Kejriwal as an intent to harm the other’s reputation. are well protected without any trail uncompromising, stubborn leader It saves you from penalty and is a of evidence. has given way to an image of a meek win of ego only. On the other hand, surrender. Of course the media and if you lose you are penalised. Therefore the middle class the Opposition chorus have tried to standard of ethics should not be give strength to this perception but Kejriwal as a visionary and applied to Kejriwal’s tactical and in vain. true leader of the masses can pragmatic retreat through his distinguish between the fallacy of apology letter. The people persuing But for people who are persuing fighting defamation cases at the this ethics are silent when confronted a passion for a change of system in cost of concentrating on the fight with BJP’s blatant disregard for a hostile atmosphere, this is not a for systematic changes. From the democratic norms, the Lieutenant surprise at all. It is only a tactical beginning, in his fight for change Governor’s hegemonic rule in Delhi, retreat. It is not a clean chit to the he has assiduously kept himself data manipulation, u-turns by major corrupt. His apology letter only away from all the distractions that parties, denial to come under RTI says that “I apologise as I found don’t contribute to his effort for Act, retrospective provision to cover that there is no evidence with me fundamental changes. He knows his foreign funding to BJP and Congress, to substantiate my allegations.” accusations are based upon material and the attack on the autonomy of But the allegations as such stand as available in the public forum and the CBI, the judiciary, the banking Arvind Kejriwal was not making require proper investigations to system and educational institutions. them alone. He was only amplifying nail the culprits in the court of The same middle class ethics is a them with audacity and clarity. Any law. This requires investigation by party to social media manipulations, agency and government willing independent agencies and through communalism and contempt for to book these criminals will in no proper judicial monitoring. Right constitutional bedrocks. I call it way find Kejriwal’s apology letter now all investigative agencies like middle class ethics as both the poor a hindrance to their purpose. On the CBI and CVC have become and the rich have ditched it for good. the other hand, defending false a part of the corrupt system. It is For example, on issues such as the defamation cases throughout the only wishful thinking to expect that opportunistic alliances of BJP-PDP country with money, time and energy the agencies will investigate and and SP-BSP or cross voting by forgetting the original objective is apprehend the accused persons. MPs, the rich, the politicians and not desirable at all. In the Indian We have seen how the 2G case and the opinion makers are silent on judicial system, everybody and coal corruption cases were thrown it. They conveniently bury their anybody can file a defamation into the dustbin. Even the recent ideological differences in the name suit and can compel a person to bank fraud cases revealed how the of larger good. Navjot Singh Sidhu JANATA, April 1, 2018 13 can sing both that Manmohan Lieutenant Governor and the BJP, I appeal to all change agents Singh is “sardar beasardar” and we are witnessing a sea change to concentrate on the task at hand, “sardar asardar”. Similarly the poor in Delhi’s governance system. i.e. to expose the communal and and unemployed who accuse the His work against corruption and corrupt elements and contribute government for their plight can in the field of education, health, towards strengthening Aam Aadmi’s stand for the governing party in the public distribution and services are alternative model of politics towards name of caste, religion, region, bribe watched world over and greatly a political revolution. It will need and other non-governance elements appreciated. He has successfully sustained treading in the muddy path and inducements. But there will be exposed the fallacy of governance by where issues will blur your vision hardly any heart burning. the BJP, Congress and other political and hurdles will be there in your path parties. He is solidly on his path to derail your mission. A fight against In this context Kejriwal’s for a corruption free, transparent, the crony capitalist model hiding decision is very pragmatic, logical participatory, accountable, outcome behind multiple layers of protective and in the interest of the common oriented governance model. Pygmies identities is not going to be easy. man. He has done no harm to and self centered politicians can him You need to accept and collaborate our purpose. Rather he should be names such as bhagoda, but only with AAP’s determination and single strengthened to make his fight more time will tell how successful he is mindedness to fight it. vigorous to change the system. and what will be his contribution to Despite heavy obstacles by the modern governance in India. Email: [email protected] Every Year Hundreds of Lives Can be Saved Just in Marriage-Related Accidents

Bharat Dogra

On March 6, 31 persons a very local level. This turned to be a killer day for belonging to a marriage party were On May 10 a long but hurriedly baraatis as in another accident near killed in a road accident in Gujarat and precariously constructed wall Sheopur in the same state a tractor on Bhavnagar-Rajkot highway. This of a marriage hall in Bharatpur trolley carrying a marriage party had is just one among several serious (Rajasthan) collapsed, leading to the an accident, killing six persons . 20 accidents involving marriage related death of 26 persons and injuries to a other persons of the marriage party travel and celebrations which have higher number of people. The baraat including 9 children were seriously been reported during the last one (marriage group from the groom’s injured. year. side) had not yet arrived, or else the Another bus returning from Several such accidents were mortality in this accident would have Satna in this state was taking baratis reported were reported one after been much higher. back to their home when it got out another during the marriage season Subsequent inquiries revealed of control . Three persons died in May . An analysis of reported that most of the marriage celebration immediately while six were reported marriage related accidents in India halls in the state suffer from poor to be struggling for survival . About during just about one week of May safety conditions but are owned or 33 others were injured in the same revealed that in about seven separate controlled by influential people. accident. accidents over 50 people were killed On May 9 a vehicle carrying a Earlier on May 5 near Ambikapur and around 200 were injured. baraat group met with an accident in (Chattisgarh) two vehicles, both The reported accidents in media Khargone district (Madhya Pradesh) carrying baratis collided, leading to are just a small part of the total leading to the death of 9 persons two immediate deaths and serious number of smaller accidents which including the groom while several injuries to 22 others. go unreported or else are reported at others were injured. In another accident in Patraatu 14 JANATA, April 1, 2018 valley in Jharkhand an overcrowded death. from authorities if her harassment bus carrying baratis was involved Some marriage parties carry is prolonged. in an accident in which 9 persons firecrackers with them as these Clearly much can be done were killed and ‘several dozen’ were are used in marriage proceesions to reduce the risk of accidents injured. A subsequent meeting in the including on busy roads. The associated with marriages and village imposed a fine of Rs. 3 lakh transport of a significant stock of other such celebratory occasions. plus on the groom’s family. Villagers firecrackers with marriage parties On the one hand better regulation of who spoke at the meeting said that increases the chance of fire and marriage halls, banquet halls etc. is the driver and khalasi (assistant) of explosions accidents in vehicles needed. Safe community buildings the bus were both drunk. and trains. The use of firecrackers with modest facilities should be These reports of accidents in marriage processions passing on provided by public authorities and involving marriage parties within busy roads also increases the risk of community organizations at a low the time span of just one week or so accidents. cost. Serving of liquor at marriages indicate the very high toll of such Any marriage time accident should be prohibited. Essentials accidents . The marriage season in brings great grief very suddenly at of safety in this context should be India is often concentrated within a time of celebration and happiness well established, well publcised and a few weeks. Hence there is a big and so can be additionally disruptive implemented strictly. demand for marriage halls and and traumatic for all those affected by In addition public campaigns vehicles to transport baratis and such an accident. Hence counseling are needed to improve the safety others during these days. In this is badly needed for those affected while reducing the expenses and situation compromises are often by such accidents but this is seldom tensions of marriage ceremonies in made regarding safety precautions. available in India. India. All newly married couples and Even otherwise safety aspects On a longer term basis such their families should be encouraged generally get less attention . accidents, even smaller ones, to save unnecessary expenses and As regulation on the part of can be particularly difficult and donate them instead for some worthy authorities is also low, this increases traumatic for the young brides who cause which would be the best way chances of accidents. are typically accused of bringing of blessing and solemnizing the Marriages in India are elaborate bad luck with them. Hence help marriage. and expensive affairs involving a lot for them is needed from within of completely avoidable tensions. So the community first but later also Email: [email protected] people tend to become very tired either from dancing too much or worrying too much. Hence safety can be compromised particularly at the time of return journeys. Add to this the increasing flow of alcohol in many marriage celebrations. This greatly increases the chances of accidents ( as well as ugly scenes) at the time of return journeys in particular. There is a very absurd but not so uncommon practice of firing guns at the time of marriage celebrations. This sometimes leads to accidental injury or even JANATA, April 1, 2018 15

Press Release

Killing of Indian Workers in Iraq : Workers should Protest Against Government Apathy

Harjit Masih, the lone survivor about strong foreign relations under humanity and civility. At the same among the 40 abducted Indian the leadership of Prime Minister time, the Socialist Party invites workers, in his interview published Narendra Modi. the Indian workers in the country in The Hindu (24 March 2018) has The Socialist Party believes and abroad to strongly oppose the given detailed description about that the government could dare to corporate-friendly government in the tragic incident. He stated in a exhibit such insensitive behaviour order to protect their interests. The clear cut manner that the Indian because the victims were ordinary fact should be kept in mind that the government officials took him into labourers from poor families. The Indian workers who work in the their custody on his return and told ruling establishment, guided by the Middle East bring huge amounts him not to reveal the truth about the market values, has lost its human of foreign exchange to India. Their killing of his 39 fellow workers. The ground. The government might have contribution is no less than the non- officials made him believe that the assumed that it can barter the shock, resident Indians in any sense. truth revealed by him could put him anger, sense of betrayal and tears and his family at risk as relatives of the poor by offering them some Dr. Prem Singh, President, of the ‘dead’' could get enraged. money which it has looted from Socialist Party (India) He told the government officials these very hard working masses. Email: [email protected] that the workers were kidnapped The relatives of the workers by Islamic State fighters from the killed in Iraq got the news from TV factory at Mosul in Iraq in June 2014 channels, and not directly from the and killed in a lonely place after two government. This means that the days of the kidnapping. The detailed government does not even consider revelation of the incident by Harjit the poor to deserve that they should Masih proves that the government be informed of the death of their had misled not only the Parliament loved ones. Sardara Singh, father but the families of the deceased for of 36-year-old Gurcharan Singh, four years. expressed his anguish that every The Socialist Party condemns time they met Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, this untruthful and inhuman act by she used to swear by ‘kali maa’ and the government. In fact, the External assured them that ‘children are safe’. Affair Minister, Sushma Swaraj, He questioned the External Affairs who kept misleading the relatives Minister, ‘Where is that promise about the safety of the abducted now?’ The government assumes workers, made the announcement that it is not necessary to speak the in Parliament only under pressure truth to the poor. Therefore, it is not and compulsion. She was forced surprising that the government does to make this admission because not feel the need to apologise to the Iraqi officials had planned a press families of the dead. conference on this matter on the The Socialist Party demands that same day, that is, 20 March 2018. the government should immediately This episode has also exposed the tender an apology to the relatives of hollowness of government's claims the victims, if it has any regard for R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, April 1, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, April 1, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, April 4, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 11 Veteran Socialist Leader Bhai Vaidya April 8, 2018 (22 June 1928–2 April 2018) Passes Away

Kashmiri Pandits’ Dilemma Qurban Ali Kuldip Nayar Bhalchandra following which he was admitted to Vaidya, popularly Poona Hospital and Research Centre. known as Bhai “His condition slowly deteriorated,” Rewriting of History and Vaidya, passed said Abhijit. “He was conscious Sectarian Nationalism away on April 2, and had a 10-minute talk with NCP Ram Puniyani 2018 at Poona leader Sharad Pawar when he visited Hospital in Pune, at about 8 in the him in the hospital on March 28.” He evening. 89-year-old Bhai Vaidya led a very active and energetic life Inequality Neither Inevitable was admitted to Poona Hospital on till the very end, said Abhijit. Nor Irreversible in 2018 March 26, 2018, after he became Born on June 22, 1928, at Dapode seriously ill. He had been diagnosed village of Pune’s Velhe Tehsil, Bhai with cancer in the pancreas only Vaidya did MA in Sociology and Bhai, We Pledge To Continue 18 days ago. He was cremated at Political Science. Swept in the flush the Fight to Vaikuntha crematorium in Navi and enthusiasm of the 1942 Quit Fulfil Your Dreams . . . Peth, Pune on 3rd April, 2018. He is India movement, Vaidya had his first survived by his son Abhijit, daughter brush with political activism before Prachi Rawal, a grandson and a he turned 15 as an Indian freedom grand-daughter. fighter. According to his son Abhijit who He joined the Congress Socialist Editor : is a cardiologist, “on March 9, Bhai Party (CSP) in 1946. Then played G. G. Parikh Vaidya complained of heaviness a major role in socialist movement in the abdomen following which while working in the Socialist Party, Managing Editor : Guddi he was advised a sonography test. Praja Socialist Party, Samyukt D-15, Ganesh Prasad, It was indicative of cancer. The Socialist Party and Janata Party. next day he underwent magnetic He actively participated in the Quit Naushir Bharucha Marg, resonance imaging and other India Movement of 1942, the Goa Mumbai - 400 007. tests which diagnosed him with Liberation Movement of 1955, the Email : [email protected] pancreatic cancer.” On March 26, Kachch Satyagraha of 1956 and the Website:www.janataweekly.org he complained of breathlessness JP movement of 1974. 2 JANATA, April 8, 2018

Bhai Vaidya was a vocal between 1978–80, in Maharashtra that came with the new economic opponent of Emergency even during State. policies introduced in 1991, and his Mayor-ship, when he organised He is well known for many led several movements against its a rally of 20,000 people at Shaniwar reformative decisions during his impact on Indian society. Wada in Pune and got arrested. He short stint in the Home Ministry, In an age of corruption and was jailed during the Emergency especially changing the police compromised political ideals, he from 1975 to 1977. As a freedom uniforms from half pants to full stood above the squalor of petty fighter and a lifelong activist who pants and refusing huge bribes realpolitik, maintaining his dignity fought for the rights of Dalits, from smugglers with his honest and through his rectitude and near- farmers and backward classes, Bhai uncompromising attitude. legendary honesty. was in jail 28 times. Bhai Vaidya He participated in the Bharat For last 10 years of his life he was at the forefront of the Samyukta Yatra in 1983 with former Prime fought for free health and education. Maharashtra Samiti movement with Minister and then Janata Party He is known as an honest politician his mentor Shreedhar Mahadev Joshi President Chandra Shekhar. He was and a fierce socialist leader/activist and other influential leaders of the also the National General Secretary who never compromised on his time. of Janata Party from 1986 to 1988. morals and values during his career. In his political career which He took over as National General He was one of the few prominent spanned over 60 years, he was elected Secretary in the Samajwadi Jan survivors of socialist movement in several times to the Municipal Parishad (SJP) formed in 1995 and India. Corporation and later he became held the post till 1999. In 2011, after Vaidya was among the last in the Mayor of Pune city during the re-establishment of the Socialist a fading constellation of socialist 1974–75. He was the first president Party in Hyderabad, he became its leaders. Renowned for probity of the All India Mayor Association. first National President and guided in public life, he was a staunch He was elected as a Member of the the party till 2016. adherent of socialist values and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Bhai Vaidya was an ideals. RIP Bhai Vaidya. in 1978 and was Minister of State uncompromising opponent of for Home in Sharad Pawar’s cabinet neo-liberalism/neo-imperialism Email: [email protected]

Kashmiri Pandits’ Dilemma

Kuldip Nayar

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti which led to presidential rule in operation, which led to Gawkadal has said that the Kashmiri pandits J&K. It is alleged that then governor massacre, questions came to be should visit their place of origin, Jagmohan was primarily responsible raised on the role of the governor. meaning thereby the valley. Her for facilitating the exodus of Jagmohan, who was very close remark is like splashing salt on the Kashmiri pandits. The day he was to Sanjay Gandhi, was also wind. The pandits were forcibly appointed as governor, a large instrumental in forcefully destroying ousted from Kashmir in 1993. Their number of Kashmiri pundits were many slums in Delhi in the name of fault was that they were Hindus in forced to leave the valley because beautification. the 90-percent Muslim Valley. of his pro-Hindu stance. The Kashmiri pandits began to Former state chief minister It was being alleged that security leave the Valley in greater numbers Farooq Abdullah has admitted in forces searched each and every in the 1990s during the eruption of a public statement that no Muslim house in Srinagar when hundreds militancy, following persecution from the valley objected to their of militants were found to be in and threats by radical Islamists and ouster. It is, indeed, true. He resigned possession of weapons. Most of militants. In 2010, the Government from the position of chief minister them were arrested but during the of Jammu and Kashmir noted that JANATA, April 8, 2018 3

808 pandit families were still living property is intact. The rest must be pluralism to communalism. in the Valley, and that the financial taken back from the people who have Even during the independence and other incentives put in place to occupied it forcibly or otherwise. struggle, the Sheikh sided with the encourage others to return there had I recall the Hurriyat leader, Congress instead of the Muslim been unsuccessful. Syed Shah Gillani, vehemently League which demanded a separate According to a Jammu and denying that it was Hindu-Muslim homeland for the Muslims. He paid Kashmir Government report, 219 question. At that time, the bug of the price for being critical of New members of the community had fundamentalism had not bitten Delhi’s policy of wanting a strong been killed in the region between Gillani. He may not have changed Centre. After being detained for 12 1989 and 2004 but none thereafter. his views. But he is conspicuous years at Kodaikanal in the South, he However, in July 2017, the Supreme by his silence. He should have re- stayed with the then Prime Minister Court refused to reopen 215 cases enunciated his earlier stance: the Jawaharlal Nehru to register that in which over 700 members of the Kashmiri pandits are part of our Nehru had realised his mistake of Kashmiri pandit community were culture and should not be mixed misjudging the Sheikh when he killed in Jammu and Kashmir in with the general Hindu-Muslims demanded that the Centre should 1989, citing the passage of time. question. Gillani, in fact, told me only administer three subjects— The appeal now by Chief that he had wrongly stated earlier Foreign Affairs, Defence and Minister Mehbooba Mufti is a step that the Kashmiri pandits’ question Communications—as was offered in the right direction. During her would be settled with the overall at the time of partition. appeal, following an interaction Kashmir dispute. The Sheikh’s famous statement with Kashmiri pandits in Delhi, she But Home Minister Rajnath was that Kashmiris would not said that “Kashmiri Pandits should Singh has unnecessarily given eat Indian wheat if it meant visit Kashmir (and) their younger an opening to those who argue compromising their autonomous generations should see where their that Kashmir is an unfinished status. The Sheikh’s faith in roots really lie. We will make task of partition. They want the secularism was deep although he all arrangements. Whatever has state to be divided on religious wondered whether India would stay happened in the past is unfortunate grounds. Someday they will also pluralist in the long run. but now we will have to move try in Pakistan to re-emphasise Whether the Kashmiris realise it forward,” she said. their contention that the criterion of or not, in the expulsion of Kashmiri In fact, she also urged Prime religion—on the basis of which India pandits, they have lost the services Minister Narendra Modi to take a was divided—should be extended to of highly trained people. The pandits leaf out of former Prime Minister Jammu and Kashmir. have gone to other parts of India and Atal Behari Vajpayee's book and Then chief minister Mufti have found jobs because of their high initiate a dialogue with Pakistan. “I Mohammad Sayyed had mooted an qualifications. They are not likely to urge Prime Minister Modi to talk idea of having a separate area where go back even if the state offers them to Pakistan just like Vajpayee ji the Kashmiri pandits can safely equivalent jobs. In fact, Kashmir did. Neither are we nor is Pakistan reside. At present, 30,000 of them has lost the cream of youth which is in a condition to fight a war, both are reportedly in Kashmir while their technically well equipped to help the countries know now that if there total number is around four lakh. state develop economically. will be a war, nothing will be spared. As long as Sheikh Abdullah was Yet Srinagar should make efforts Both the nations will just lose dominant in the affairs of Kashmir, to get the pandits back because that everything,” she added. he did not allow religion to play will give them the secular image I do agree with her because this any role in politics. He would say which they had enjoyed for decades. is not a Hindu-Muslim question that he was opposed to the state’s Lack of efforts on this front would and should not be made into one. integration with Pakistan because only alienate them from the rest of All political parties need to initiate Jammu and Kashmir was a secular the country where the Kashmiris are steps which will enable the pandits state. He did not want to join an gainfully employed. to return to the Valley. Most of their Islamic country because he preferred Email: [email protected] 4 JANATA, April 8, 2018 Rewriting of History and Sectarian Nationalism

Ram Puniyani

With the Hindu nationalist BJP In this panel, one aspect which the later Vedic people. However, in the seat of power, an exercise in is the major focus of study is ancient RSS historiography has nothing to history writing is being undertaken Indian history, especially the origin do with historical evidence; they on lines parallel to what was done of Aryans. There are various versions believe in concocting evidence to in Pakistan. So far we did keep of this. Jyoti Rao Phule attributed the prove their theories. To prove that hearing loudly about the communal coming of Aryans to be the invasion the Indus valley civilisation was version of medieval history, where which led to the oppression of Vedic, RSS historians have tried to villainous foreigners, the Muslim low castes here. Lokmanya Tilak manipulate evidence on a computer kings, attacked India, spread Islam went by the theory that Aryans, to show that a unicorn depicted on and destroyed Hindu temples. The the people of a superior race, had a broken Harappan seal is actually latest sample of this version is seen come from Arctic zone. While the a horse and is therefore an Aryan in the glorification of Rana Pratap as RSS’s second Sarsanghchalak did seal—the Indus valley people did a great Hindu nationalist, freedom not want to contradict Tilak, he was not have horses, whereas the Vedic fighter, etc. Lately it is being said also aware that if Hindu superiority people had horses. that he had defeated Akbar’s army and exclusive ownership of this land Today, there are various in Haldighati! Another theory being is to be asserted, Aryans have to be genetic studies too which prove the propounded is that Aryans, from presented as the ‘original natives’. migration of Aryans into India from whom Hindus are supposed to And so he claimed that while Tilak Central and Western Asia. Now, a have derived their lineage, were the was right in saying that Aryans came committee with a prime mandate ancient natives of this land and that from Arctic zone, the Arctic zone of ‘Hindu First’ has been asked to Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were was earlier located in our Bihar prepare a report. Why this wasteful part of Aryan culture! and Orissa areas and later shifted to exercise in the face of so many other Now to put an official seal on north through the movement of the pressing problems? Eric Hobswam “Hindu first” version of history, the land mass! has pointed out, ‘History is to Modi Government has appointed The primary source for theories Nationalism, what poppy is to an a committee, the aim of which about the origins of Aryans in the opium addict!’ Sectarian nationalism is to work on these lines so as to Indian subcontinent has been the always wants to take its history as prepare a report which will form study of Indo-Aryan languages. The back as possible to strengthen its the basis for making the syllabus of major current theory is that there claim of exclusive control over the school books. The panel is referred might have been several waves of land. In Pakistan the marginalisation to in government documents as migration, through which the Aryans of Hindu minority has run parallel the committee for “holistic study came here. The remains of the with the theory that Pakistan was of origin and evolution of Indian Indus valley civilisation, as well as formed with Mohammad bin Kasim culture since 12,000 years before Harappan and Mohenjo-daro culture winning over Sind. In their syllabi, present and its interface with other show that this was an urban culture. all Hindu kings are missing, the role cultures of the world”. Union Culture On the other hand, the Vedas, the of Indian National Congress, Gandhi Minister Mahesh Sharma, while major source for understanding and Nehru in the freedom struggle announcing the panel said that the Aryans, show that they were a is not mentioned. Here in India, long-taught version that people from village-based pastoral society. Thus, Hindu nationalists begin with the central Asia arrived in India only the two cultures are very different political assertion first formulated by some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago and from each other, proving that there Savarkar that all those regarding this transformed the population needs is no continuity between the people land as ‘holy land and father land’ questioning. of the Indus valley culture and are Hindus. So logically, the ancient JANATA, April 8, 2018 5 lineage has to begin with Hindus, Man took place in South Africa, from to suppress and marginalise those irrespective of the fact that the word where humans moved to all over the who do not fit into their definition of Hindu itself came into vogue in the globe, debunking Eurasian origin Hindu, or to force everybody to adopt 8th century. theory. The interaction of cultures is Hindu norms as defined by them. A It is remarkable that leaders of not one sided, it is a process taking deliberate attempt is being made Indian nationalism, Gandhi (in his place over time and evolving. The to ‘pick and choose’ those aspects book Hind Swaraj) and Nehru (in UN document concludes that all the from the past which give foundation his classic Discovery of India), saw societal progress has been due to the to Hindu sectarian nationalism. the country as belonging to people interaction of cultures. This is the The aim of this entire exercise is of all religions, with the interaction view of inclusive Indian nationalism to prove that Hindu lineage goes between religions giving rise to a as well. several thousand years into the past; syncretic plural culture, giving rise In Hindu nationalist view, which even though the fact is, this should to aspects of unity in diversity. The is being espoused by Modi and not matter in a democracy. The cultures interact, influence each other company for this panel, ‘Hindu first’ Indian Constitution correctly begins and change over a period of time, all is the starting presumption. It can be with ‘We the People of India’; in the time. This is what came out in understood that all observations and contrast to this, the statement, ‘We the very significant UN document results of this panel will be guided the Hindus’ is being gradually made ‘Alliance of Civilisations’. For by that dictum. The construction of to dominate. academic interest, genetic studies past for present political goals is have already shown that the birth of with the aim of deriving legitimacy Email: [email protected]

Against False Conflation: JFK, MLK, and the Triple Evils

Paul Street Two Murders in the same light as the murder scientist Bruce Miroff noted 42 years I do not pretend to know the full of Dr. King—as if both iconic ago, “has been characteristically stories behind the assassinations or 1960s figures were great peoples’ conservative. ‘Liberal’ as well as executions of either John F. Kennedy leaders fighting heroically for racial ‘conservative’ Presidents . . . have (JFK) or Martin Luther King, Jr., the equality, social justice and peace. bent their strongest efforts, not to latter killed in Memphis, Tennessee, alter, but to preserve America’s exactly 50 years ago today. Were one JFK Atop the Triple Evils dominant institutions. Whatever their or both them killed by lone gunmen? That, it can be definitively said, professed sympathies, their actions By the CIA? The FBI? Organized is nonsense. The super-wealthy have served, not to redistribute crime? The US military? Some corporate-liberal and proto- wealth and power, but to perpetuate combination of these? neoliberal JFK spent the lion’s existing inequalities . . . [serving as] There are good reasons to doubt share of his presidency on the central figures in the maintenance the official stories and suspect ‘deep wrong side of each of what King of established [hierarchical] state’ conspiracies in both cases. called “the triple evils that are socioeconomic arrangements.” But don’t ask me for any definitive interrelated”: racism, economic As Miroff demonstrated in his answers. I don’t have any and I doubt injustice (capitalism) and militarism. forgotten 1976 classic Pragmatic I ever will. (Don’t ask me about Kennedy is a false progressive idol Illusions: The Presidential Politics Bobby Kennedy either). of the highest order. of John F. Kennedy, JFK was no I can, however, definitively mark Let’s start with the second of exception to the rule. More than a as absurd the messages I periodically King’s “triple evils”—class rule. decade before neoliberal Democrats get from purportedly left people “The role played by twentieth- emerged to explicitly steer the telling me to see the killing of JFK century Presidents,” political Democratic Party further to the 6 JANATA, April 8, 2018 corporate right, JFK’s superficially the CRM, seeking to channel it into The real experience and declared sympathies for the poor staid and narrow legal and electoral struggles of black Americans were and working-class took a back seat grooves. The JFK White House gave not an especially relevant concern in his White House to “the real some elementary shelter to activists to the Kennedys. When Southern determinants of policy: political and Southern blacks only when the racist authorities managed to calculation and economic doctrine.” president and his practically co- defeat the CRM without politically As Miroff explained, political presidential brother and Attorney problematic and embarrassing cunning “led Kennedy to appease General Bobby Kennedy calculated violence (as in Albany, Ga., in 1962), the corporate giants and their that rabid white Southern reaction the Kennedy administration was allies in government.” Economic was undermining their ability to happy to withhold protection from doctrine “told him that the key sell the United States as a model of King and his fellow activists. When to the expansion and health of enlightened “democracy” in its Cold racist police commissioner Bull the economy was the health and War contest with the Soviet Union Connor attacked black protesters expansion of those same corporate for the allegiances of the nonwhite in Birmingham, Ala., with high- giants. The architects of Kennedy’s Third World. pressure water hoses, dogs and ‘New Economics’ liked to portray Subsequent elitist batons in May 1963, JFK complained it as the technically sophisticated ‘Mississippi Burning’ revisionism that the demonstrations were making and politically neutral management notwithstanding, the Kennedy the US “look bad in the world” and of a modern industrial economy. It administration was no great friend Bobby Kennedy claimed that 90 is more accurately portrayed as a of the struggle for black equality. percent of the protesters had no pragmatic liberalism in the service Its response to the black freedom idea why they were in the streets. of corporate capitalism.” movement was dominated by the Along the way, Kennedy appointed The regressive nature of JFK’s tension between two competing at least five segregationists to the “New Economics” was cloaked political calculations: (1) the threat federal judiciary, turning to the racist by his recurrent, much-publicised of politically alienating white Mississippi senator, James Eastland, spats with certain members of the Americans, above all traditionally for advice on appointments. The business community (the executives Democratic and white Southerners; Kennedy brothers were inordinately of US Steel above all), his repeated and (2) the risk of losing Third World obsessed with alleged Communist statements of concern for labor hearts and minds in the supposed connections to King and the CRM. and the poor, and his claim to US struggle to advance ‘freedom They approved racist FBI director advance a purely “technical” and and democracy’. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover’s regular and “pragmatic” economic agenda that his brother bent over backward to relentless police state surveillance, elevated “practical management” accommodate Southern racists, smearing and infiltration of the and administrative expertise above leaving them feeling free to kill and movement. the “grand warfare of ideologies.” maim civil rights activists in the This ugly Kennedy history JFK inhabited the same centrist, deep South. When the federal Civil would be less surprising to liberals, cautious, cunning and “pragmatic” Rights Commission announced that perhaps, if they would carefully place on the first of King’s “triple it would investigate racist violence read JFK’s bestselling, Pulitzer evils”—racism. Kennedy might in Mississippi, the younger Kennedy Prize-winning 1957 book Profiles in have found it politically useful to denounced the commission as Courage. There, Kennedy foretold intervene on King’s behalf during being like the House Un-American his coming weak civil rights the latter’s jailing in the election year Activities Committee “investigating record, purveying Southern white of 1960 and, later, to wrap himself Communism.” When NAACP leader historical mythology by referring in the aura of racial progress and Medgar Evers was shot down in to the Reconstruction era after the equality by offering some partial his own driveway, Bobby Kennedy Civil War as a “black nightmare . and belated federal protections to said that it was not the federal . . nourished by Federal bayonets.” the civil rights movement (CRM). government’s job to protect black Turning to King’s third evil, But the Kennedy administration activists. It was up the state of JFK’s foreign policy record was worked hard to divide and dilute Mississippi. militantly imperial and militarist, JANATA, April 8, 2018 7 contrary to subsequent liberal popular socialist revolution in 1959, and slaughter innocent peasants and left hagiographers’ weird the Kennedy administration made with the false claims that “we are determination to reinvent him as a repeated attempts to assassinate opposed around the world by a man of the left. As Noam Chomsky the nations’ leaders and launched monolithic and ruthless [Soviet– noted in his 1993 study Rethinking an ongoing campaign of terror and Marxist] conspiracy” and that failure Camelot: JFK, the Vietnam War, and sabotage. After the US-run Bay to stop “Communism” in Vietnam US Political Culture, “One of the of Pigs invasion operation that would open the gates to Soviet most significant legacies left by the Kennedy inherited from Dwight world domination. After the epic [Kennedy] Administration was its Eisenhower failed spectacularly in failure of the CIA’s Bay of Pigs 1962 decision to shift the mission its efforts to spark a rebellion against invasion of Cuba and the erection of the [US-funded, equipped, and Castro in April 1961, Kennedy of the Berlin Wall in East Germany, trained] Latin American military “asked his brother, Attorney General Kennedy told The New York Times’ from ‘hemispheric defense’ to Robert Kennedy,” writes historian James Reston in late 1961 that “[n] ‘internal security’,” leading, in Piero Gleijeses, “to lead the top- ow we have a problem in making our the words of Kennedy’s top Latin level interagency group that oversaw [anti-Communist Cold War] power American counter-insurgency Operation Mongoose, a program of credible, and Vietnam is the place.” planner (Charles Maechling) to paramilitary operations, economic Would Kennedy, as some of “direct [US] complicity” in “the warfare, and sabotage he launched his liberal and left fans like Oliver methods of Heinrich Himmler’s in late 1961 to visit the ‘terrors of Stone and James K. Galbraith (son extermination squads. The shift the earth’ on Fidel Castro and, more of JFK assistant John Kenneth to deadly internal repression was prosaically, to topple him.” This Galbraith) claim, have withdrawn a natural corollary to Kennedy’s explicit terror campaign included US forces from Vietnam had he not “export-promoting” Alliance for the murder of 400 Cuban factory been assassinated in late November Progress “development program,” workers in early November 1962, of 1963? (Stone even made a which benefited Latin American less than two weeks after the Cuban blockbuster movie to claim that elites while drastically increasing missile crisis. the supposed peace advocate JFK Latin American unemployment. Kennedy understood the was murdered by the CIA to permit When Kennedy was assassinated, thoroughly conditional nature US escalation in Vietnam under the CIA and JFK’s advisers were of “democracy” as a US foreign the leadership of Lyndon Johnson, working with his approval to policy objective when he remarked portrayed as an agent of the defense overthrow a democratically elected that while the U.S. would prefer industry and right-wing military government and install a fascist democratic regimes abroad, it will officers.). This has been a topic of military dictatorship in Brazil. choose “a [pro-American dictator] dispute between and among left and The plan was carried out months Trujillo” over “a [“anti-American” liberal historians and researchers, later. “Brazil,” Chomsky observed dictator] Castro” if those were the including Rick Perlstein, Galbraith, 11 years ago, “had a moderately only choices. “It is necessary only Stone and Chomsky. They dispute populist-democratic government to add,” Chomsky observed in the significance and meaning of in the early 1960s. The Kennedy 1991, that Kennedy’s “concept of ‘a JFK’s apparent October 1963 administration organised a military Castro’ was very broad,” including ‘decision’ and plan to remove coup that imposed a neo-Nazi anyone who challenged US power US troops from Vietnam by the national security state that was the and global capitalism. end of 1965. The winners in the first of the plague that then spread Then there’s Vietnam. Kennedy debate are Perlstein and Chomsky, throughout the continent to Chile, “raised the level of [US] attack who correctly observe that that Argentina, Central America and then [on Indochina] from international Kennedy’s “withdrawal plan” was became one big massacre.” terrorism to outright aggression conditional on full US victory over In Cuba, where Washington’s in 1961–62,” Chomsky said, the Vietnamese revolution and Third World fascist allies had been justifying the use of US airpower independence movement. It would overthrown and forced to flee after to napalm social revolutionaries, not have been carried out, given Fidel Castro and Che Guevara led a defoliate Vietnamese countrysides harsh realities on the ground. As 8 JANATA, April 8, 2018

Perlstein noted five years ago: unthinkable. would have set off World War III. At [W]hether John F. Even if Kennedy had survived the same time, Kennedy set the stage Kennedy’s formal decision and removed US forces from for the Strangelovian “one minute to would be carried through in Vietnam, this would have meant only midnight” moment by dramatically the interim between October that JFK had decided that US-trained escalating the international arms 1963 and January 1966 and US-equipped South Vietnamese race and with his incursions into was contingent on what troops and the US-funded regime Cuba, which provoked Castro into happened in the future. One of South Vietnam were capable of seeking a Soviet nuclear shield day this summer I issued a defeating the Vietnamese revolution against US invasion. formal decision to go the without the further engagement of Despite all this and more, JFK beach. Then it rained. And US troops—on the model, say, of the still maintains a strange reputation as so I did not go to the beach . mass-murderous US-backed Suharto an agent of peace and social justice . . And as anyone who knows government in Indonesia. among certain persistently deluded anything about the Vietnam The most nauseating claim and bamboozled people of “the War knows, the people made by members of the liberal left.” As the “Unrepentant Marxist” funneling intelligence to the Jack Kennedy cult holds that JFK Louis Proyect noted in a sharp 2005 president were alarmingly heroically saved humanity from reflection on JFK’s undeserved adept (‘the military phase nuclear annihilation during the Cuban progressive standing, “the search of the war can be virtually missile crisis of October 1962. I have for enlightened bourgeois leadership won in 1963’) at claiming shown in my previous writings (see [past and present] seems never- the sun was shining when it my essay The Cuban Missile Crisis ending.” actually was pouring down vs. the Korean Missile Crisis) that rain. In fact, when it came to the truth is precisely the opposite. MLK Against the Triple Evils America’s military prospects “In effect,” the British journalist King, by contrast, really was a there, it was winter in Seattle Joseph Richardson noted five years people’s champion—never more than just about all the time. ago in an article properly titled in his final year. You wouldn’t know JFK’s late-in-life public JFK’s Lunatic Priorities During the this from the neo-McCarthyite, and statements were consistent with Cuban Missile Crisis, “Kennedy’s whitewashed narrative of King that Chomsky and Perlstein’s sense that government was prepared to risk a is purveyed across the nation every the doomed young president had no nuclear conflagration to safeguard year, especially during and around intention of pulling back from his US prestige. [Kennedy’s] Secretary the national holiday that bears his mass-murderous assault on Vietnam of State Dean Rusk jubilantly name. This domesticated, bourgeois until US “victory” was attained. In exclaimed after the first Soviet airbrushing portrays King as a mild Fort Worth, just hours before the ships opted not to run the American liberal reformist who wanted little assassination, for example, Kennedy blockade that ‘we’re eye ball to eye more than a few basic civil rights said that “without the United States, ball and I think the other fellow just adjustments in a supposedly good South Vietnam would collapse blinked.’” and decent American System—a overnight.” In the speech he would Had the Soviets not blinked, it loyal supplicant who was grateful have delivered in Dallas, Kennedy is likely Rusk would not have been to the nation’s leaders for finally was going to say that the US, in its around to give his reaction. But for making noble alterations. role as “watchman on the walls of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s This official Orwellian world freedom,” had to carry out determination to let humanity commemoration never says anything duties that were “painful, risky and survive and the heroic intervention about the Dr. King who studied Marx costly, as is true in Southeast Asia of a Soviet submarine commander sympathetically at a young age and today. But we dare not weary of the named Vasili Arkhipov beneath the who said in his last years that “if task.” In repeated public statements Western Atlantic in the early evening we are to achieve real equality, the in the summer and early fall of 1963, of October 27, 1962, it seems likely United States will have to adopt Kennedy left no doubt that for him, that Kennedy’s reckless naval a modified form of socialism.” It withdrawal without “victory” was blockade and nuclear machismo deletes the King who wrote that JANATA, April 8, 2018 9

“the real issue to be faced” beyond that washed across US cities in Racial hypocrisy aside, King “superficial” matters was the need the summers of 1966 and 1967, said that “a nation that continues for a radical social revolution. It King made no apologies for Black year after year to spend more money deletes the King who went on the violence. He blamed “the white on military defense [here he might Canadian Broadcasting Corporation power structure . . . still seeking better have said “military empire”] (CBC) in late 1967 to reflect on how to keep the walls of segregation than on programs of social uplift is little the Black freedom struggle had and inequality intact” for the approaching spiritual doom.” attained beyond some fractional disturbances. He found the leading Did the rioters disrespect the changes in the South. He deplored cause of the riots in the reactionary law, as their liberal and conservative “the arresting of the limited forward posture of “the white society, critics alike charged? Yes, King progress” Blacks and their allies had unprepared and unwilling to accept said, but added that the rioters’ attained “by [a] white resistance radical structural change,” which” transgressions were “derivative [that] revealed the latent racism produc[ed] chaos” by telling Blacks crimes . . . born of the greater that was [still] deeply rooted in US (whose expectations for substantive crimes of the . . . policy-makers of society.” change had been aroused) “that they the white society,” who “created “As elation and expectations must expect to remain permanently discrimination . . . created slums died,” King explained on the CBC, unequal and permanently poor.” [and] perpetuate unemployment, “Negroes became more sharply King also blamed the riots in ignorance, and poverty . . . [T]he aware that the goal of freedom was part on Washington’s imperialist and white man,” King elaborated, “does still distant and our immediate plight mass-murderous war on Vietnam— not abide by law in the ghetto. Day in was substantially still an agony of the war that JFK initiated and had and day out he violates welfare laws deprivation. In the past decade, little no intention of pulling back from to deprive the poor of their meager has been done for Northern ghettoes. short of US “victory.” Along with allotments; he flagrantly violates All the legislation was to remedy the misery it inflicted on Indochina, building codes and regulations; his Southern conditions—and even King said, the United States’ police make a mockery of law; he these were only partially improved.” savage military aggression against violates laws on equal employment Worse than merely limited, Southeast Asia stole resources from and education and the provision of King felt, the gains won by Lyndon Johnson’s briefly declared public services. The slums are a Black Americans during what he and barely fought “War on Poverty.” handiwork of a vicious system of considered just the “first phase” of It sent poor Blacks to the front the white society.” their freedom struggle (1955–1965) killing lines to a disproportionate Did the rioters engage in were dangerous in that they “brought degree. It advanced the notion that violence? Yes, King said, but whites a sense of completion”—a violence was a reasonable response noted that their aggression was preposterous impression that the and even a solution to social and “to a startling degree . . . focused so-called “Negro problem” had been political problems. against property rather than against solved and that there was therefore Black Americans and others people.” He observed that “property no more basis or justification for sensed what King called “the cruel represents the white power structure, further black activism. “When irony of watching Negro and white which [the rioters] were [quite Negroes assertively moved on boys on TV screens as they kill and understandably] attacking and trying to ascend to the second rung of die together for a nation that has to destroy.” Against those who held the ladder,” King noted, “a firm been unable to seat them together in property “sacred,” King argued resistance from the white community the same school. We watch them in that “Property is intended to serve developed . . . In some quarters it brutal solidarity burning the huts of a life, and no matter how much we was a courteous rejection, in others poor village, but we realise that they surround with rights and respect, it it was a singing white backlash. In would never live on the same block has no personal being.” all quarters unmistakably, it was in Detroit,” King said on the CBC, What to do? King advanced outright resistance.” adding that he “could not be silent in radical changes that went against Explaining to his CBC listeners the face of such cruel manipulation the grain of the nation’s corporate the remarkable wave of race riots of the poor.” state, reflecting his agreement with 10 JANATA, April 8, 2018

New Left militants that “only by Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther memory of King as an at most structural change can current evils King, Jr. and the Southern Christian liberal and milquetoast reformer. be eliminated, because the roots Leadership Council (HarperCollins, (In a similar vein, our ideological are in the system rather in man or 1986). overlords don’t want us to know that faulty operations.” King advocated No careful listener to King’s Albert Einstein [Time magazine’s an emergency national program CBC talks could have missed the “Person of the 20th Century”] providing either decent-paying radicalism of his vision and tactics. wrote a brilliant essay making the jobs for all or a guaranteed national “The dispossessed of this nation— case for socialism in the first issue income “at levels that sustain life the poor, both White and Negro— of venerable US–Marxist magazine in decent circumstances.” He also live in a cruelly unjust society,” Monthly Review—or that Helen called for the “demolition of slums King said. “They must organise a Keller was a fan of the Russian and rebuilding by the population that revolution against that injustice,” Revolution.) lives in them.” he added. The threat posed to the official His proposals, he said, aimed Such a revolution would require bourgeois memory by King’s CBC for more than racial justice alone. “more than a statement to the larger lectures—and by much more that Seeking to abolish poverty for all, society,” more than “street marches” King said and wrote in the last three including poor whites, he felt that King proclaimed. “There must,” he years of his life—is not just that they “the Negro revolt” was properly added, “be a force that interrupts [that show an officially iconic gradualist challenging each of what he called society’s] functioning at some key reformer to have been a democratic “the interrelated triple evils” of point.” That force would use “mass socialist opponent of the profits racism, economic injustice/poverty civil disobedience” to “transmute system and its empire. It is also (capitalism) and war (militarism and the deep rage of the ghetto into a about how clearly King analysed the imperialism). The Black struggle constructive and creative force” by incomplete and unfinished nature of had thankfully “evolve[ed] into “dislocate[ing] the functioning of a the nation’s progress against racial more than a quest for [racial] society.” and class injustice, around which desegregation and equality,” King “The storm is rising against the all forward developments pretty said. It had become “a challenge to privileged minority of the earth,” much ceased in the 1970s, thanks a system that has created miracles of King added for good measure. “The to a white backlash that was already production and technology” but had storm will not abate until [there is well underway in the early and mid- failed to “create justice.” a] just distribution of the fruits of 1960s (before the rise of the Black “If humanism is locked outside the earth.” The “massive, active, Panthers, who liberal historians like the [capitalist] system,” King nonviolent resistance to the evils to blame for the nation’s rightward said on CBC five months before of the modern system” that King racial drift under Nixon and Reagan) his assassination (or execution), advocated was “international in and to a top-down corporate war “Negroes will have revealed its inner scope”, reflecting the fact that “the on working-class Americans that core of despotism and a far greater poor countries are poor primarily started under Jimmy Carter and then struggle for liberation will unfold. because [rich Western nations] have went ballistic under Ronald Reagan. The United States is substantially exploited them through political or Of the two martyrs JFK challenged to demonstrate that it can economic colonialism. Americans and King, only the latter posed abolish not only the evils of racism in particular must help their nation radical challenges to American but the scourge of poverty and the repent of her modern economic racism, classism, militarism and horrors of war.” imperialism.” imperialism. JFK, by contrast, There should be no doubt that King was a democratic socialist was an agent of each of those and King meant capitalism when he mass–disobedience–advocating and other interrelated evils. If Kennedy referred to “the system” and its “inner anti-imperialist world revolution was killed by the ‘deep state’, his core of despotism.” This is clear advocate. The guardians of national murder was due to rivalries and from the best scholarship on King, memory don’t want you to know resentments within the power elite. including David Garrow’s epic, about that when they purvey It had nothing to with him posing Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, the official, doctrinally imposed some threat to the US domestic JANATA, April 8, 2018 11 and/or imperial order. If King was in fact killed by the military police Bhai Vaidya was of a Different Mould state (and he may well have been), it’s because he truly was an enemy Julio Ribeiro of the reigning American capitalist and imperial system by the end of When I belatedly recognised the wrath. The operation was successful. his life. He would have to be counted man on a bicycle on a crowded street The criminal was caught red-handed as one of many people of color who in Pune City, I cut him a salute. I and later convicted. were murdered by the police state was travelling by car on one of my Bhai Vaidya’s wife was a authorities during the 1960s and infrequent visits to Pune and did working woman. If my memory 1970s, alongside Malcolm X, Bobby not expect to see my former boss serves me correctly, she was a Hutton, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark, on a cycle! I had forgotten that Bhai teacher. Every day she set off to Lawrence “Buddy” Lamont (Ogala Sioux) and Elliot Lames “LD” Vaidya was of a different mould than work by public transport. Some Barkley—to name just a handful of the normal politician. Using a form psychophantic officers tried to those liquidated by the authorities as of transport that he could afford to convince the Minister to advise his punishment for engaging in popular pay for from his own resources was wife to travel in the government car resistance in those years. par for the course. provided to him for official use. Bhai Bhai Vaidya was the Minister Vaidya refused. Courtesy : Counterpunch, of State for Home in 1980 when Bhai Vaidya is dead. He was April 4, 2018 I headed the Crime Branch in the made of different stuff from the Mumbai City Police. The Police politicians of today and even the Commissioner, Madhusudan majority of politicians of his day. I Kasbekar, dealt with the Chief mourn his death as I would for any Minister and the Home Minister on a good man or woman. And in my daily basis. As Crime Branch chief, I imagination I will cut him another did interact with Bhai Vaidya but not smart salute. as frequently as the Commissioner. But Vaidya had more confidence Courtesy: The Indian Express and trust in me than he had for my chief as I found out later. I got a call from him to come and meet him at The Unemployment his home. He told me that he had been approached by a despicable Crisis: character who wanted some work Reasons and done for which he offered him a Solutions bribe of Rs 2 lakh. He wanted the man caught. I was in a fix. Obviously Contribution Rs. 25/- my boss, the Commissioner had not been informed. The Minister had warned me to not inform him about Published by this operation. I consulted a close Janata Trust & Lokayat confidant in the police who advised D-15, Ganesh Prasad, me to share this information with the Naushir Bharucha Marg, Anti-Corruption Bureau and entrust Grant Road (W), them with the job. By doing so, I Mumbai 400 007 could escape my immediate senior’s 12 JANATA, April 8, 2018 Inequality Neither Inevitable Nor Irreversible in 2018

Earl Bousquet

Once upon a time it was higher education has become condemning the middle-class and impossible to even think of what increasingly unequal.” In addition, poor to eternal economic damnation. inequality looked like around the “deregulation in the finance industry Sanders posits that while the world. Today, it's being assessed and overly-protective patent laws tax cuts for the corporations and the globally—and the pictures emerging have contributed to booms on Wall super-rich are permanent, benefits are all too ugly. Street and in the healthcare sector, to working families will eventually The latest World Inequality which now make up 20 percent of expire after a few years, leaving as Report, published on December national income.” many as 83 million middle-class 14, 2017, indicates that since 1980 US President Donald Trump's families paying more taxes, but the world’s richest 0.1 percent highly vaunted ‘Christmas gift’ Sanders is not the only critic of the (7,000,000 people) have boosted tax bill, the report says, will not loaded Trump tax bill. their wealth by as much as the only reinforce this trend, but Philip Alston, the United Nations poorest half of mankind: 3.8 billion “will turbocharge inequality in special rapporteur on extreme poverty people. Since then, the richest 1 America” because what's presented and human rights, was equally percent have ‘captured’ 27 percent as “a tax cut for workers and job- scathing in his condemnation of the of the world's wealth growth; the 0.1 creating entrepreneurs” is instead Trump administration's policies and percent have gained 13 percent and “a giant cut for those with capital their effect on America's poor. the very top 000.1 percent (76,000 and inherited wealth.” It will After touring six American people) have ‘collected’ 4 percent. therefore “overwhelmingly benefit states during a two-week period, shareholders who can reap their he not only denounced growing Turbo-charged Inequality additional profits without any extra inequality in the world's richest The 100 researchers worldwide work.” country, but also accused President who contributed to the report found While inequality has also Trump of racing to turn the United that inequality has worsened in both increased in Western Europe, the States into “the world champion of the European Union and the United researchers found, it's been at a extreme inequality.” States in the 40 years under review, lower rate “as wage inequality has But exactly who are the world's but the situation is much worse in been moderated by educational richest and poorest: the 1 percent and the United States. and wage-setting policies relatively the 99 percent? The current annual income more favorable to low- and middle- of the super-rich 1 percent in the income groups.” Richest of the Rich United States has risen since 1980 According to the Bloomberg by 205 percent, while for the top Hidden Hooks Billionaires Index, the world's richest 000.1 percent it has ballooned by Former US presidential person is Jeff Bezos, the founder and 636 percent. At the same time, the candidate Senator Bernie Sanders chief executive of Amazon, with his average annual wage of the bottom has exposed the hidden hooks in $98.8 billion fortune. In the space 50 percent (117 million adults) has Trump's fishy tax plan. He says of the past year, his wealth has stagnated at about $16,000. that in order to curb a $1.4 trillion increased by a whopping $33 billion. The report says the stark deficit accumulated over 10 years, The world's five richest people difference in wealth distribution the Trump plan to railroad $1.5 are Bezos, Microsoft founder Bill in the United States is because trillion in tax cuts through Congress Gates, Berkshire Hathaway boss “the tax system has become less will eventually amount to early Warren Buffet, Zara owner Amancio progressive; the federal minimum and permanent payback rewards Ortega and Facebook founder Mark wage has collapsed; unions have for the super-rich who backed his Zuckerberg, in that order. Between been weakened, and access to 2016 election campaign, eventually them, they own $425 billion in JANATA, April 8, 2018 13 assets, equivalent to one-sixth of the unfreeze benefits; increase training A report published by the World entire GDP of the UK. And Bezos, for adult workers, and embark on Health Organization (WHO) and the Buffet and Gates—the top three— a more ambitious house-building World Bank on December 13 found own as much as half the entire US program to provide affordable that the poorest and most vulnerable population. homes for struggling families, but people are routinely forced to choose Across the Atlantic in the none of this seems to be even close between healthcare and other UK, the richest on record is the to happening anytime soon. household necessities, including Hinduja family, which controls Take the state of the British food and education, subsisting on a conglomerate of businesses government's response to the plight $1.90 a day. including car manufacturers and of the victims of the west-London The report says that more than banks and is worth $15.4 billion: Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 70 122 million people are forced to just half of Bezos’ earnings in a year. people—including 18 children—and live on $3.10 a day—the benchmark displaced 210 families in June. for “moderate poverty”—due to Poorest of the Poor A memorial mass was held at St healthcare expenditure. Since 2000, In the United States, the world’s Paul’s Cathedral on December 14 this number has increased by 1.5 richest country, there are officially to mark the six-month anniversary percent every year. 41 million poor people. Almost 13 of the tragic inferno, attended by The report says that 800 million percent of the population is living representatives of the British Royal people spend more than 10 percent in poverty, including 13 million Family, as well as Prime Minister of their household budgets on “out- children, with 19 million adults Theresa May and Opposition Leader of-pocket” health expenses. Almost (almost half the total) living in deep Jeremy Corbin. 180 million spend 25 percent or poverty and 9 million with no cash The very same day, London more: a number increasing at a rate income at all. health authorities indicated that of almost 5 percent per year, with Blacks comprise 13 percent while thousands of affected extended women among those worst affected. of the US population, of which 23 families and relatives are still In addition, only 17 percent of percent are officially documented mourning, survivors of the disaster women in the poorest 20 percent of as living in poverty, comprising 39 face a new wave of post-traumatic households around the world have percent of the nation’s homeless. stress, with chances of treatment adequate access to maternal and A lesser-known statistic is that the hampered because so many remain child health services, compared to majority living in poverty across the homeless. 74 percent of women in the richest United States—some 27 million— Only 45 of the more-than 20 percent of households. are white. 200 affected families have been The UK poverty picture is hardly permanently resettled. Victims still Taxation Not Enough different. Poverty rates increased to cannot begin proper psychological “Progressive income-tax 16 percent for pensioners and 30 treatment to address symptoms regimes not only reduce post-tax percent for children last year, while that include horrific flashbacks. In inequality, they shrink pre-tax one in five people (20 percent) are addition, 426 adults and 110 children inequality by discouraging top living in poverty. are still in treatment for post- earners from capturing higher shares One in eight UK workers, traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of growth via aggressive bargaining amounting to 3.7 million people, and other trauma-related issues. for higher pay,” the report’s authors are not earning enough for their conclude. needs, while 40 percent of working- Unhealthy Choices They also note, however, that age adults living in poverty have no It’s not just in the United States taxation alone is not enough to tackle qualifications, making it even harder and the UK that poverty is causing the problem “as the wealthy are best to earn better pay. people to make stark choices. Almost placed to avoid and evade tax, as 100 million people worldwide are shown by the recent Panama Papers No Hope pushed into extreme poverty each revelation that 10 percent of the The UK government is being year because of debts accrued world’s wealth is profitably parked urged by charities and trade unions to through healthcare expenses. in tax havens.” 14 JANATA, April 8, 2018

Taxation of the richest— Who’s to do it? And where to begin? done, they can still undo.” commensurate with their fortunes— There is a definite need With 2018 on our doorstep, can always go a long way, but everywhere to protect poor developing countries can still adopt this is hardly ever treated with the family households by ensuring new approaches to sustainable seriousness necessary, especially the breadwinners not only have and sustained future development. when politicians depend on the jobs, but that salaries ensure they Rather than perpetuating dependence super-rich for contributions in can adequately take care of their on handouts from the super-rich to pursuit of power, as with the Trump families. the extremely poor through the tax bill. The authors of the World failed “trickle-down” economic Instead of trapping tax-evaders Inequality Report argue that formula, poor nations should devise in their countries of origin, the never mind all these deadly facts, new means of using their inherent overwhelming gubernatorial inequality is not inevitable. They natural and human resources to their tendency in rich countries is to pursue argue that given the divergent paths maximum potential. and punish those poor countries that documented, “it is possible for seek to overcome their inherited institutions and policymakers to economic difficulties by offering tame the un-equalizing forces of healthy incentives for investment. globalization and technological Janata For example, the EU recently change.” published a list of countries it's “Just as the policymakers in is available at threatening to punish for not doing the United States have made the enough to dissuade rich tax evaders. distribution of income there less www.lohiatoday.com All of them are small nations, equal, they also have the power mainly present and past European to make economic growth more and American colonies left to fend equal again.” They also advise that for themselves after centuries of “given the stagnant wages among the exploitation. bottom 50 percent since the 1980s, The rich, punishing nations governments should focus on how harbor ambiguous laws assuring to create a fairer distribution of the super-rich that “tax avoidance is human capital, financial capital and legal, but tax evasion isn’t.” They also bargaining power rather than limiting compete to attract the most profitable themselves to the redistribution of multinational corporations to their national income after taxes.” shores by offering over-generous This, the Inequality Report says, tax-free incentives, allowing them to “will involve improving access to pay the lowest wages to the greatest education; reforming labor market numbers of poor workers. institutions to boost workers' Such ingrained guarantees bargaining power; raising the will continue to widen existing minimum wage; changing corporate inequality gaps everywhere, until the governance to give workers a greater impoverished majority creates the say in how profits are distributed, mechanisms for taking full and real and making tax systems more control of their destinies instead of progressive.” investing their blood, sweat and tears The researchers conclude that in re-electing parties that promise the “the United States has run a unique best and always deliver the worst. experiment since the 1980s—and the results have been uniquely What Can Be Done? disastrous. Bad policy can have a Across the world, the same real impact on millions of lives for questions arise: What’s to be done? decades, but what government have JANATA, April 8, 2018 15 Bhai, We Pledge To Continue the Fight to Fulfil Your Dreams . . .

Our dearest Sathi Bhai Vaidya, and uprightness, that led Lokayat session of three hours, appreciating veteran socialist leader and idealogue to take the decision to affiliate with and enjoying our presentations and and founder president of Socialist Socialist Party (India). cultural programmes. Party (India), passed away on April Bhai’s simplicity is legendary. Bhai was seriously concerned 2, 2018 at the age of 89. He had been He would come down to our about the rapid growth of fascist diagnosed with pancreatic cancer programs whenever we invited forces in the country that were only a few days ago, and had been him and he would freely interact threatening the very conception hospitalised on March 26. with our activists as an equal, of India as a sovereign, socialist, Bhai, as he was more popularly and in all this, he never had any secular, democratic republic as known and which was how we all airs despite being such a senior enshrined in the Constitution of addressed him, upheld the banner national political leader. When we India. And so, together with Dr G.G. of socialism all his life. He was opened a party office in Gokhale Parikh, he launched the platform uncompromising in his struggle Nagar slum, Bhai came down for its ‘We the Socialist Institutions’ in an against capitalist globalisation. inauguration without any fuss and effort to bring together all socialist Whenever called to speak on the without bothering how many people organisations and institutions. growing fascist offensive in the would be there; he even offered to Lokayat has played an active role country, he was very clear that it was contribute Rs 10,000 every year in this is platform from the very the twin brother of globalisation, and from his pension towards its rent. beginning. Over the last two years both needed to be fought together, Bhai thoroughly enjoyed the since the founding of this platform, and only fighting for democracy and songs of our cultural team, and we have taken many initiatives, and secularism without talking of anti- would read all our booklets and give Bhai was very appreciative of our capitalism will not lead us anywhere. his comments. Whenever we went to efforts. Over the past fourteen years his house, he would sit down with us Bhai, we pledge to continue since we established Lokayat, as an equal, and would even make your efforts to bring together all the we had been gradually moving tea for us if the maid was not there socialists as well as progressive and towards accepting the philosophy at home! He would remember each left forces of our country to fight of democratic socialism. With the activist’s tastes, and would offer the growing fascist onslaught, and coming to power of the BJP in 2014 sweets and cakes to those of us fond build a strong cadre-based socialist and the aggressive fascist offensive of sweets, himself taking the pains movement that will advance the launched by it, we realised the need to take them out from the fridge. struggle to build a democratic and to not only work more closely but There would be many magazines in socialist India. also politically unite with other the magazine rack outside his room, like-minded socialist groups to and he would ask us to take them for –Lokayat, Pune fight the twin dangers of capitalist our activists. globalisation and fascism. It was Bhai was fully in agreement with mainly because of Bhai’s principled our efforts to build a strong socialist Spectre of Fascism stand for socialism and against cadre based movement. He came Contribution Rs. 20/- capitalism and imperialism, his down to inaugurate all our Annual Published by firm stand against opportunism and Meetings after we joined SPI, and Janata Trust & Lokayat corruption in politics, his refusal to gave inspiring speeches directed at D-15, Ganesh Prasad, indulge in unprincipled compromises the large number of youth who came Naushir Bharucha Marg, to somehow form coalitions and down for the annual gathering. He Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 come to power, his fame for honesty would even sit through the entire first R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, April 8, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, April 8, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, April 11, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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JANATA, April 15, 2018 3

From the Editor’s Desk

In this issue of Janata, we are announcing a couple of new things and we are very happy to do so. Ever since Surendra Mohan died, the Janata Trust was in a search of an editor who could do justice to Contents the original brief of those who founded the weekly. A few names came up and we contacted each of them one by one, but all pleaded their inability. At last we zeroed in on Neeraj Jain, an excellent activist and Union Budget 2018–19: Creating a Crisis and Missing the Opportunity to an intellectual. Despite his numerous engagements Resolve It / 5 as an activist, he has thankfully agreed. Arun Kumar Readers of Janata will be familiar with the name of Neeraj Jain, he has been writing for Janata for To Market, to Market, to Buy a Fat Pig; several years now. He is a former Marxist, who Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig: gradually began moving towards the socialist Budgets and People / 10 ideology and a deep appreciation of both Gandhi and Dunu Roy Ambedkar several years ago. In the long discusssions that I have had with him over the past few years, I An Anti-People Regimen / 15 have found him to be a committed socialist. He has Sandeep Pandey And Rahul Pandey a deep understanding of economic issues and is very concerned about the threat of fascism looming over Union Budget 2018-19: A Gender the country. He has also written several books and Analysis / 18 booklets, some of which have been published by Vibhuti Patel Janata. His writings broadly fit with the frame of Janata as it has evolved over the years. And so we Finance Minister Misrepresents Facts decided to offer him the responsibility of editorship about Aadhaar and Unique ID in His of Janata. Budget Speech / 21 However, Neeraj Jain set a condition. He said Gopal Krishna that I should continue with him and I had to agree. So he will be Janata’s associate editor and will be Nehru’s Economic Philosophy / 25 responsible for all editorial matter and also policies. H. Venkatasubbiah The Trust also decided to constitute an editorial board to help the editor/editors in helping select the Budget 2018–19: What Is in It for the matter and fine-tuning the weekly. We requested Common People? / 29 some of those who write for Janata to be on the Neeraj Jain editorial board, and we are happy to announce that several of our writers have agreed to be on the 4 JANATA, April 15, 2018

editorial board. They include: Qurban Ali, Nandu concerned about the deep-rooted patriarchy plaguing Dhaneshwar, B.Vivekanandan, Sandeep Pandey, Indian society, and have been passionate advocates Sonal Shah and Anil Nauriya. of the struggle for gender equality. For socialists, Janata, launched in 1946 by the stalwarts of the struggle against casteism and patriarchy have Indian socialism, has reflected their views and always been important, urgent and immediate has uninterruptedly continued to be published all issues in the long struggle for building a socialist these years, except during the Emergency when it society. While liberty, equality and solidarity was banned. The weekly treats the glorious past of remain universal values that socialists have always socialists as its heritage and wishes to cherish it. upheld, the democratic socialists also brought to Socialists defined and redefined their ‘ism’ in the the table some new, defining elements. Janata has context of the changing conditions of India, and consistently upheld all these core values of the accordingly Janata has moulded itself. India was socialist movement. Under the new dispensation, a colony when Janata was launched; soon after, Janata will be more vigorous and more informative. India became independent, but has continued to At a time when even several socialist activists are be hobbled by two hundred years of colonial rule not willing to label themselves as socialists, Janata and very strong vestiges of a long feudal past. will, above all, ensure that the word ‘socialism’ that Socialists in India gave up advocating violence and is today going out of the country’s discourse gets proletarian dictatorship, in fact, all dictatorships, re-popularised. and embraced democracy and unity of means and I take this opportunity to appeal to all readers ends. In the Indian context, socialists have also of Janata to help the weekly to continue and grow. been deeply concerned about the problem of caste, But it can grow only if you introduce it to some of and have consistently stood for fighting casteism your friends. uncompromisingly. Socialists have also been equally Dr. G.G. Parikh

The Directive Principles of the Constitution outline in unambiguous terms the orientation of economic policies that future governments should pursue. They direct the State to minimise inequalities and ensure that there is no concentration of wealth in the country. They call upon the State to strive to make available education, healthcare and nutrition to all people of the country. They say that the State should direct its policy to secure for all people an adequate means of livelihood. It should endeavour to secure the right to work, and ensure that people get a decent wage that enables them to have a decent standard of living and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities. Most importantly, they call upon the State to endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities. Even though the Directive Principles of the Constitution are not enforceable by law, as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had declared in a speech to the Constituent Assembly on November 19, 1948, the Directive Principles are called thus because: It is the intention of this Assembly that in future both the legislature and the executive should not merely pay lip service to these principles enacted in this part, but that they should be made the basis of all executive and legislative action that may be taken hereafter in the matter of the governance of the country. Not only that, he further stated: Our intention is (that) even when there are circumstances which . . . stand in the way of the government giving effect to these Directive Principles, they shall, even under hard and unpropitious circumstances, always strive in the fulfilment of these Directives. JANATA, April 15, 2018 5

Union Budget 2018–19: Creating a Crisis and Missing the Opportunity to Resolve It

Arun Kumar

The Union Budget 2018–19, presented on organised sectors of the economy, even though it February 1, 2018 has confused the lay public. It is quite likely that this is also an over-estimate. As purports to give something to every section and businessmen say, the economy does not feel like yet it is being criticised by the Opposition and the growing at such a high rate since the feel good is media has largely called it an election budget. The not there unlike in 2004 to 2008. Be that as it may, implication of the criticism is that the budget does not a six per cent rate of growth would be one of the do what it should have done and instead has indulged highest rates of growth in the world. If that was so, in ‘populism’. Usually, when the media calls a policy there should be no crisis in the economy and there ‘populist’ it means that it is pro-poor and does not should be business as usual. On the other hand, if benefit the corporate sector. Another meaning that the growth rate was close to zero or even negative, is attached to such policies is that they are meant to as this author has repeatedly argued, then this is a garner votes for the ruling dispensation and after the cause for worry and something drastic needed to elections are over they are forgotten. The reality is be done in the budget to revive the economy. Some that in spite of the periodic implementation of the observers have said there is a need to kick-start the so-called ‘populist’ policies, the lot of the poor in economy. the country has hardly improved. So, how should Politically, the impact of the twin shocks on the the Union Budget 2018–19 be interpreted? unorganised sectors was evident from the widespread agitation by farmers all over the country and the I. Background to the Budget demand for loan-waivers across various States. Many States, like Maharashtra and UP, announced The Union Budget has been presented while the loan-waivers to meet the demands of the farmers. economy is still suffering from the after-effects of The youth have been agitating for jobs given that twin shocks in the last 15 months. There was the there was a large-scale impact on the unorganised demonetisation in November 2016 and then the sector which employs 93 per cent of the workforce, implementation of the GST since July 1, 2017. Both according to the Economic Survey. Traders also these adversely impacted the unorganised sectors agitated strongly after the implementation of the of the economy and, therefore, the rate of growth GST because it hit their business. They were totally of the economy came down sharply, according to confused by its complexity and implementation reports from the field. The data for the unorganised problems. The markets were greatly disturbed even sectors comes with a time-lag of a few years; so the in the organised sectors due to these factors. methodology of estimation of growth needed to be The markets were greatly confused during changed but that was not done. A faulty methodology the period that demonetisation was implemented continued to be used to estimate the growth rate of because of the almost daily changes in the rules the economy. and something similar happened during the time The official data has been consistently talking the GST was implemented. The design was faulty of a six to seven per cent rate of growth in the last and difficulties were not anticipated; so there were one year. This would be based on the data from the 6 JANATA, April 15, 2018

repeated changes in the rules. The notes’ shortage lakh Health and Wellness Centres, Rs 1,290 crore continued for a much longer period than the 50 days to the National Bamboo Mission, Rs 500 crore to over which the old notes were returned. Similarly, Operation Greens to take care of basic vegetables; the impact of the GST also persists. Rs 10,000 crore for setting up the Fisheries and Given all this, how can the rate of growth Aquaculture (FAIDF) and Animal Husbandry not be affected by demonetisation and GST (AHIDF) funds. implementation? The impact has been on the decline There are big-ticket items like institutional credit in demand, slowdown of the economy and fall in to the agriculture sector that will increase from Rs the rate of investment in the economy. Credit off- 10 lakh crore to Rs 11 lakh crore. The creation of take from the banks declined and that is a sign of a livelihood and infrastructure in rural areas will cost slowdown in the economy. (See my Demonetisation Rs 14.34 lakh crore. These huge sums will not come and the Black Economy published by Penguin India, out of the Budget but from the banks and the extra- 2017) budgetary and non-budgetary resources. The BJP has brought the problem on to itself by A major announcement is health insurance for administering the twin shocks to the economy via the 50 crore people to cover their hospitalisation cost uncalled for demonetisation and a poorly designed of up to Rs 5 lakh. The allocation for this is small; and implemented GST. A well-functioning economy so it appears that the burden of its implementation has been in a tailspin since November 2016. would fall on the public sector insurance companies. Any budget tries to address the emerging Just as the cost of the Jan Dhan Accounts fell on the problems of the economy in the current year (in public sector banks. Another interesting scheme is which the budget is drafted) and give a push to the to connect habitations by all-weather roads by 2019. new policies that the government would like to The idea of upgradation of the existing 22,000 rural implement. So, the budget for 2018–19 was expected haats into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) is to give a push to the economy. The question to ask also innovative but would it lead to the penetration is: in addition to the other things in the budget, does of the organised business at the expense of the small it address this main problem faced by the economy? and local businesses? The question as always with any budget is not II. Key Policy Announcements in the announcements but implementation. Thus, the first Budget budget of this government had announced that farm incomes would be doubled by 2022. A laudable It is estimated in the budget that the Union goal, but is this feasible? Now, three years down Government will spend Rs 24.4 lakh crore in the line, can we say that this is likely to materialise? 2018–19. This works out to 13 per cent of the The Economic Survey points out that while output estimated GDP of Rs 187.2 lakh crore in that year. in agriculture has gone up, the incomes have not. It is estimated that the expenditures would be 10 Clearly, there is a phenomenal rise in costs; so per cent more than in the year 2017–18. Revenue the increased output has not resulted in additional expenditures are slated to rise by 10.3 per cent while incomes. The government has now announced that the capital expenditures are slated to rise by 9.9 per it would fix the Minimum Support Prices for various cent. The slated increases are less than the 11.75 crops at 50 per cent above cost—a promise made per cent increase in the GDP given in the budget at the time of the 2014 elections. Would this help document. This is strange if the economy has to be double farm incomes by 2022? boosted. Other laudable announcements made earlier, like It has announced a large number of schemes Swachh Bharat, Smart Cities and Good Governance for the deprived sections. It has also announced do not seem to be anywhere near yielding the increase in expenditures on many of the pre-existing expected results. That is the reason why analysts are schemes. This is not unusual for most budgets. When skeptical about the large number of announcements Rs 24 lakh crore are available for expenditure, a in this budget. Many of these announcements are lot of items can be given small sums of money. supposed to favour the farmers, the poor, the youth Like, giving Rs 1,200 crore for the creation of 1.5 and so on. Given the past experience, many of the JANATA, April 15, 2018 7

targeted beneficiaries are left wondering if they expected that the rate of growth would be 11.75 per would get anything. The poor, who are now promised cent and revenues were expected to increase as per medical insurance for hospitalisation, point to the this expectation. The revenue deficit was expected to fact that the crop insurance money that the farmers fall to 1.9 per cent of the GDP and the fiscal deficit were supposed to get never came to the farmers and (a number watched by the international agencies) instead went to the insurance companies. Given the would turn out to be 3.2 per cent of the GDP. These poor state of health infrastructure, many wonder if expectations have been belied. Revenues show a the scheme can deliver to the poor. decline of Rs 10,000 crore. But expenditures show The health insurance scheme is desperately an increase of Rs 7,000 crore. needed by the poor given the rising cost of More importantly, capital expenditures show health, especially given the rapidly degrading a fall of Rs 36,000 crore over what was expected. environment—air, water, food and so on—which is This is the important component essential to boost impacting the poor the most. But for this to succeed, investments in the economy—they have been a low cost and efficient public health system needs flagging because the private sector is investing less. to be in place. Since such a system does not exist, The net result is that the bad deficit, the revenue the end result is likely to be another failure of deficit, has shot up from the expected 1.9 per expectation for the poor. cent of the GDP to 2.6 per cent of the GDP. The The lesson from this and the past budgets is implication is that more of the borrowing is being that in the Part A of his Budget speech, the finance used for current expenditures by the government. minister announces many things so that it appears This would lead to a further increase in the interest that he has taken the interest of every section of payment in the coming years since on this part of society. As pointed out above, in this budget also he the borrowing no return would be earned by the has referred to every section of society—farmers, government. The fiscal deficit has increased from SC/ST, poor, youth and increased allocation to all the expected 3.2 per cent of the GDP to 3.5 per cent. sectors, whether it be education, health, farming, If bank recapitalisation is counted then the fiscal infrastructure and so on. This is the political part of deficit will be even higher. the budget speech. This increase in the fiscal deficit is neither too The effective part of the Budget speech usually is big nor too bad as is being made out by the fiscal Part B, where the overall revenues and expenditures conservatives who dominate budget-making and the are discussed. That is the macro-economic part financial markets. According to this line of thinking, which determines whether the micro part of the the rise in the fiscal deficit above the planned one will Budget in Part A will work out or not. Policies have lead to a decline in resources available to the private a financial component and this is determined by the investors. However, this is unlikely when demand is macroeconomic constraints—how resources are slack and there is spare capacity in industry which is to be allotted to competing demands. This clearly leading to a low level of investment and slow credit depends on the priorities of the ruling dispensation. off-take. Further, this would boost demand and lead If health is a top priority, it would receive a large to better capacity utilisation in industry. So, it would allocation so that the policy will get implemented, crowd in private investment rather than crowd it out assuming that it is well-thought-out and that the as the conservatives suggest. administration is capable of delivering it. It often To control the revenue deficit, there was a need happens that the funds are allotted to a scheme to raise more tax and non-tax revenue. Last year, due but remain unspent during the year because the to the GST implementation, the revenue collection scheme does not take off given the difficulties of from indirect tax was for 11 months only. Further, the implementation. States had to be compensated for the loss of revenue they suffered. On the non-tax revenue front, there III. Budgetary Arithmetic and Some Tax was less of transfers from the RBI (due to the cost of Proposals demonetisation) and less from auctions of spectrum. These falls in revenue were compensated by the rise In the last budget (for the year 2017–18), it was in corporation tax collection and the bonanza from 8 JANATA, April 15, 2018

the tax on petro products. high, the return on investment in mutual funds Surprisingly, the customs duties collection fell and equity will decline; so less money will go into sharply in 2017–18 from Rs 2.45 lakh crore to Rs mutual funds and capital gains will reduce. The 1.35 lakh crore. They are slated to fall further in sharp fall in the markets have signalled that. This 2018–19 to Rs 1.12 lakh crore in spite of the increase makes the markets unstable. There is additional in customs duties on all kinds of products announced instability due to the lowering of the US corporate in the budget of 2018–19. So, while the budget gives tax rates from 35 per cent to 21 per cent, announced the impression of greater protectionism, actually it in the new tax bill approved in the closing hours must be lowering the degree of protection in several of 2017. This could lead to an outflow of capital areas. from the Indian markets to the US. In effect, while The government has garnered extra resources the capital gains tax is a good thing to have, it has from disinvestment. Instead of the planned Rs perhaps been timed poorly. The markets needed to 72,500 crore, a sum of Rs 1,00,000 crore has been be cooled down before the tax was imposed or at raised. For the year 2018–19, disinvestment of Rs least indexation should have been allowed. 80,000 crore is planned. This is due to the big-ticket item of disinvestment in Air India. Thus, the most IV. Steps to Boost the Economy rapid disinvestment in the last 28 years since the new economic policies were launched in 1991 is The biggest problem faced by the Indian now taking place. economy was the slowdown. So, if there is one thing Disinvestment implies that the capital expenditure the budget needed to do, it was to give a boost to in the budget is less by this much amount. It crowds the economy. Since the unorganised sectors were the out private investment in the economy. The funds, ones who got hit the most, the need was to revive the that could have been invested elsewhere by the fortunes of the unorganised sector and not just the private sector, are invested in the existing capital small and medium enterprises. In last year’s budget while the government uses the money it receives speech, the FM pointed to six crore enterprises of to cover its current expenditures and not to boost which only a few lakh come in the tax net. The latter capital expenditures. can be affected by the budget, but what about the The big news item for the corporate sector, rest? They need a boost via indirect means. It is the apart from the slippage in the fiscal deficit target, is decline in these enterprises that has perhaps given the reintroduction of the Long Term Capital Gains a boost to the organised sector which seems to be (LTCG) tax after a decade. This is crucial for curbing growing at about six per cent. speculative increases in share prices. It should be The budget has a package to address the crisis welcomed but the issue is whether this is the correct in rural and farm sectors but, as argued earlier, time to implement this tax. it is grossly under-funded and possibly not well There is a portfolio adjustment that has taken conceived. For instance, the huge health insurance place in middle class savings. They find that real plan has been allotted wholly inadequate funds. estate has been stagnant, gold is not giving much Revenue buoyancy is not high enough to collect of a return and fixed deposit rates have come down the needed funds. So, additional large expenditures substantially and are giving negative returns after are only possible if the fiscal deficit is allowed to adjusting for tax and inflation. Therefore, huge rise. The government is not willing to do this. It has sums of money were put into the stock markets allowed the fiscal deficit to rise by only 0.3 per cent via the mutual funds. So, even though earnings of to 3.5 per cent and even that it has done reluctantly. companies have not risen much, the price of equity If the schemes announced had been properly has risen substantially. The P/E ratio, as it is called, funded, then the economy would have seen a rise has risen to record highs (comparable to the levels in demand. However, that is unlikely from the in 2007–08 when the stock markets collapsed). The budgetary resources. The schemes are dependent on motive of stock market investment is capital gain the extra-budgetary resources and on borrowings. and not dividend return. The burden of all this would fall on the public sector With the LTCG tax, even though it is not too and its profitability would decline. JANATA, April 15, 2018 9

There is also the worry about non-implementability the stagnancy in capital expenditures and the large of the schemes given the poor governance and disinvestment target. inability of the government machinery to deliver. For So, while there are a lot of good schemes that instance, according to farmers, the crop insurance have been announced in the Budget as is usually the scheme has not benefited them, instead the benefit case in Part A of the budget speech, their funding and has accrued to the private insurance companies. The implementability are in doubt. It is in this sense that same could happen in the case of health insurance for the benefits of the budget to the poor, farmers, traders the poor. Farmers also do not believe that the scheme and unorganised sectors of the economy are going of fixing the MSP at 50 per cent above the cost of to prove to be illusive. Even if the economy had production would be implemented. It has not been revived in a general way they could have benefited, implemented for four years since being promised but that is most unlikely. in the BJP manifesto, even though the PM himself The Union Budget 2018–19 tried to create a promised that this would be done. perception of feel good in the population but has not Without demand reviving, investment would been very successful, given the erosion of credibility not get a boost. It cannot be resolved simply by of the government because the past announcements tackling the huge NPA problem or by giving tax have not yielded the desired results. The budget concessions. The Economic Survey had noted that just presented is the last full budget before the investment governs savings and not the other way next general elections; so it was designed as a pre- round. So, higher profits based not on increased sales election budget. However, as has been argued above, but greater tax concessions by themselves would it is unlikely to help boost the sentiment of the not do the trick. people in favour of the ruling dispensation because Since private investment is down, public of lack of credibility. The budget falls between two investment required a boost but that is not in sight stools—neither changing perceptions nor giving a in the budget. While infrastructure expenditure has boost to the economy. been raised, what was needed was to boost capital expenditures in general, which, as pointed out above, Email: [email protected] has not been done. The capital expenditures planned for 2018–19 (Rs 3,00,441 crore) are slightly less than what was budgeted in 2017–18 (Rs 3,09,801 crore). The Unemployment So, if the GDP does not rise by the planned 11.5 per cent, revenues will fall short and the deficit Crisis: would tend to rise and given the conservative fiscal stance of the government, capital expenditures Reasons and would again be cut. This would further lower Solutions demand and the economy would not get the boost it so badly needs. Contribution Rs. 25/- V. Conclusion The BJP created the problems that led to Published by slow economic growth due to the twin shocks Janata Trust & Lokayat it administered in quick succession. The budget of 2018–19 was a chance to give a boost to the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, unorganised sector so that the economy could revive Naushir Bharucha Marg, but that chance has been missed. The need was also Grant Road (W), to revive investment in the public sector so that Mumbai 400 007 the private investment (which is at a record low) could be crowded in, but that is also unlikely given 10 JANATA, April 15, 2018

To Market, to Market, to Buy a Fat Pig; Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig : Budgets and People

Dunu Roy

Every year around the middle of March, the from 30 per cent to 25 per cent; while essential raw Union Budget becomes a great source of much materials and capital/consumer goods had to be native wisdom as well as entertainment for the imported from abroad. nation as analyst after analyst tries to decipher By 1958 industrial development was rapidly what the current Finance Minister’s speech and the progressing; education was given greater emphasis; numbers in the Budget (as well as the Economic and the economy had greatly improved—something Survey) could possibly mean. This year, this entire that is often forgotten in these days of “growth”. drama shifted to a month earlier, as the government The next decade up to 1968 continued to see this advanced the budget presentation to February 1. increase in industrial and agricultural production But in this article I propose to take a look at all the with exports growing and imports being reduced. budgets in the closing year of every decade since the Thus, the government could focus on improving the nation became “free” to see if there are any trends domestic savings, employment and the investment that emerge that will perhaps make more sense of climate. By the end of the decade, India was actually where the nation is heading during 2018. beginning to provide foreign aid to Bhutan, Nepal Beginning with 1948, when the first budget and countries in Africa. of India was adopted amid the global chaos post- From 1968 to 1978 governments had the space World War II, and looking at that first decade to provide more employment opportunities, along up to 1958, what seems to emerge is that Indian with universal social welfare; further expand the planning was not only trying to emerge out of the public sector; introduce high-yielding varieties international dynamics of war but also the violence and fertilisers into agriculture; and nationalise the and uncertainty of Partition and the shortage of banks, insurance companies, mineral industries, foodgrains. Hence, the focus during those ten years and coal mines—all of which provided the base for was to maintain strong armed forces, increase grain other sectors. However, Congress governments also production and rehabilitate refugees. In addition, began to be replaced by other political parties, there the planners had to grapple with floods, cyclones, was greater social unrest as different groups began famines, earthquakes, and droughts. to claim their share of the pie, and this eventually This decade, therefore, also saw the government resulted in the declaration of a state of National establishing the Planning Commission to make Emergency. national plans; gradually opening its doors to From 1978 there was, therefore, much greater dollar loans from the Bretton Woods institutions emphasis on the distribution of benefits to the (the ‘World’ Bank and the International Monetary vulnerable sections, in particular the Scheduled Fund) for ‘development’; and begin building up Castes; while the Mandal Commission report the public sector to provide the basic infrastructure provided the basis for reservations in government for that ‘development’. Priority was given to the jobs for Other Backward Castes. In addition, sub- agricultural sector in this phase to produce more Plans were prepared for the advancement of the food; the maximum rate of income tax was reduced Scheduled Tribes. Incentives were given for setting JANATA, April 15, 2018 11

up of small industries, bank loans and insurance there are no budgetary provisions to back up those for the self-employed. During the decade efforts claims. Thus, the agriculture budget may have been were also made to flush out tax evaders and book increased but there is no indication of how that will the profitable corporate sector which was avoiding free farmers from debt in a sector where there is no paying tax. adequate return from the market. Similarly, there is By 1988, as the Indian economy continued to supposed to be priority for women and youth but grow, pressure began to build on the government allocations for skill development geared towards to open the economy to the global market and the generating self-employment, and Direct Benefit process of ‘liberalisation’ was set in motion. The Transfer Schemes replacing subsidised food with import–export policy was ‘reformed’ to expose cash, cannot change the dynamic of a market that Indian industry to competition from foreign is not providing jobs. companies and financial institutions. The 1997–98 This Budget claims to roll out the largest health budget reformed tax rates (from peaks of 97.5% in scheme in the world, but the money provided the 1960s) to widen the tax base, while launching is for an insurance scheme and ‘world-class’ the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) specialised institutions that will hardly cater to the to extinguish the black economy. The gains in tax poor. The allocation for distress schemes for rural revenues were used to increase public expenditure employment under MNREGA will not address on social welfare and infrastructure, but these were the steady decimation of farming, especially with now ‘targeted’ at the poor rather than being universal public–private partnerships (PPP) being proposed entitlements. for irrigation. The education sector is also being The decade from 1998 to 2008 witnessed the steadily privatised, as are public transport (including beginning of the change in the economy from the Railways), housing, water supply and power manufacturing to the service sector, especially in generation. The 2018–19 Budget carries a message Information Technology-based industry. This was to the private sector that ‘reforms’ that favour them also accompanied by widespread ‘informalisation’ are still on track. of the work force through contractual and casual as well as self-employed routes so as to cut down on Revenue and Expenditure Since 1948 expenses and be able to compete in the world market. It was not only private industry that adopted this It is within this larger context of how the national strategy but also the public sector and government economy has changed within the pulls and pressures departments. Thus, the city became the ‘engine of of the international markets and financial institutions, growth’ during this period as it encapsulated high that it may be possible to have a closer look at the productivity accompanied by low wages. figures that lead up to the 2018–19 Budget. Table 1 During the ten years since 2008, all attention gives the Revenue and Expenditure figures (in the has been on the growth of Gross Domestic Product second and third row) for every tenth Budget since (GDP) and how without this growth India cannot 1948. The fourth row gives an inflation index so that pull its people out of poverty. The Great Recession the figures may be adjusted with 1948 as the base hit the international markets in 2008 but the Indian year; while the fifth row provides the population economy remained resilient mainly because it was figure (in crore); and based on these figures, in the not fully integrated into the global economy and sixth and seventh row, the per capita Revenue and the rate of domestic savings continued to provide Expenditure are computed. purchasing power for the stability of the internal When the above data is plotted, as in Figure market. But in spite of this lesson, the Government 1, it shows that over the decades the Revenue has continued to push for more reforms and more and Expenditure targets of Union Budgets for the liberalisation. The 2018–19 Budget is a good relevant years have been matched quite closely, example of how pro-rich steps are made to appear except for the 2008–09 Budget when Revenue to be ‘pro-poor’. considerably lagged behind Expenditure. This In this budget presented near the end of this reveals the important role that borrowings and debt decade, many pronouncements have been made but play in keeping the budget balanced and (as we 12 JANATA, April 15, 2018

shall see later) much of the National Budget now useful to look at how the government expenditure is is a manipulation of how to obtain and repay that distributed. This is a tricky exercise because over the debt. The gap in 2008–09 is also partially explained past 70 years, the budget heads have not remained by this because the global recession did not permit the same and there are always little additions and the government to access loans from the stressed deletions from the general heads which can make multilateral and bilateral finance agencies. interpretation very difficult for the ordinary person. But Figure 1 also poses the question that if Still, we can try. government expenditure on each person annually has increased almost 30 times since Independence Distribution of Government Expenditure (from Rs 8 in 1948 to Rs 226 in 2018 at 1948 prices), then why is it that there is still an estimated 22% Figure 2 shows that until 1978–79 (until after the of the population under the abysmally low official liberation of Bangladesh) Defence Services had the poverty line of Rs 27.5 per day? That is indeed an lion’s share of the budget, decreasing from a high of interesting question and for the answer it would be 47% in 1948–49 to 18% in 1978–79. But after that Debt Servicing occupied prime position increasing to almost 20%. Figure 1: Budgeted per capita (This, it should be noted, is the Revenue and Expenditure Adjusted for Inflation interest paid on the debt and not returning the loan itself.) Debt Servicing began decreasing after a high of 28% of Expenditure in 1998–99. This trajectory fully illustrates the importance of accessing loans from the global centres of finance for the growth of the Indian economy. What is also interesting is how this has influenced the grants made by the Union Government to the States, as that too has rapidly declined after the budget of 1998–99. The retreat of the government in providing welfare services is JANATA, April 15, 2018 13

Figure 2: Expenditure Share also starkly shown by Figure 2. Social Development Services have steadily decreased from a peak of about 12% of the budget after 1958–59. So have the allocations for health and education from the same year, showing a slight recovery from less than 1–2% to about 4–5% of budget in 2008– 09—as has been explained earlier, this is a reflection of the state subsidising private services rather than the citizen. Agriculture and Industry both show a recovery between the years 1978–79 to 1988–89 to a little over 5% each, but after that their place in the national budget declines.

Share of Various Sources in Revenue Finally, how is the Government of India raising its Revenues? As Figure 3 illustrates, until the early 1980s, the main source was Central Excise, with declining contributions from Income Tax and Customs up to the 1960s. But after liberalisation ‘freed’ Figure 3: Revenue Share the Indian economy, the share of Corporation Tax and Other Taxes has increased sharply, with some assistance from Income Tax. This pattern explains the Government’s vigorous pursuit of General Sales Tax and Corporation Tax because they enable the charges to be passed on to the ordinary citizen, while the share of personal Income Tax from the middle class consumer also increases. Reading the Budgets in this fashion brings into clear focus how the unfettered market is rapidly overtaking the nation’s economy which is now geared towards attracting foreign investment and paying heavy interests on 14 JANATA, April 15, 2018

the debts. At the same time, the state is moving https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2008-09/bag/ away from providing universal welfare to its own bag1.htm. population, handing over service after service into • Details of 2018–19 Budget are at http://pib.nic. the hands of the private corporations. Thus, the in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=176062; average Indian buyer of goods and commodities is https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2018-19/eb/ at the end of a double whammy. On one hand the allsbe.pdf; and openbudgetsindia.org. consumer contributes heavily to indirect taxes that are used to pay off international debts. On the other • Inflation Index has been computed from the Inflation hand the private sector extracts more and more as Record of India (https://www.shodhganga. user charges for what used to be public services. inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/4319/9/09_ The Budget is opaquely lopsided. While an chapter%203.pdf) and the Inflation Calculator average of Rs 30,000 is supposed to be spent on India 1971–2017 (accessed at https://www. every Indian citizen, in fact the wealthy individuals calculatorstack.com/inflation-calculator-india. and corporations are extorting far more than their php). ‘fair’ share as those at the bottom of the pyramid are denied even a third of what they contribute to the economy where the poverty level is a bare Rs 10,000 Janata Subscription per year. This trickle-up of wealth from the bottom to the top, as the fat pigs jiggetty-jig crores from the Annual Rs. : 260/- market while the chowkidar looks the other way, is at the core of the Indian fairy tale that successive Three Years : 750/- Finance Ministers have peddled in Parliament since the 1990s. Demand Draft / Cheque Email: [email protected] on Notes: Mumbai Bank • Budgets of 1948–49, 1958–59, 1969–70, 1978– in favour of 79, and 1988–89 have been accessed from the Archive of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, JANATA TRUST available at https://dea.gov.in/budgetdivision/ indiabudgetarchive. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, • The 1968–69 Budget speech is from https:// Naushir Bharucha Marg, www.indiabudget.gov.in/bspeech/bs196869.pdf, while details of the Budget have extracted from Grant Road (W), the 1969–70 Budget. Mumbai 400 007. • The Budget for 1998–99 is from Ministry of Finance, https://www.indiabudget.gov. in/ub1998-99/welcome.html; https://www. indiabudget.gov.in/ub1998-99/eb/vol1.htm; and https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub1998-99/rb/ Janata rec.htm. • The Budget for 2008–09 is from Ministry is available at of Finance, https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ ub2008-09/ubmain.htm; and https://www. www.lohiatoday.com indiabudget.gov.in/ub2008-09/glance.htm; and JANATA, April 15, 2018 15

An Anti-People Regimen

Sandeep Pandey and Rahul Pandey

The 2018-19 budget of the Narendra Modi also a promise to increase the irrigated area under government has been touted as catering to interests cultivation. The loans to be given to farmers have of farmers, rural workers, women, Dalits and small been increased by 1 lakh crore to a total of Rs 11 businesses, but nothing can be further from truth. A lakh crore, but the budget is completely silent on strikingly paradoxical feature of this budget is the the most burning issue of farmers today—waiver of announcement of new schemes for farmers and poor past loans, which would be instrumental in arresting accompanied with a reduction in the funds actually their suicides. The government believes that it would allocated in the budget. For example, allocation empower the farmers so that they will not end up for Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna (rural in debt. But the point is, they will be able to reach electrification scheme) has been cut by 30%, from such a situation only when they emerge out of their Rs 5,400 crore to Rs 3,800 cr. This budget and this present crisis. What use are all the measures if we government of Bharatiya Janata Party is probably the don't free them from current debt, expecially when most anti-people in the history of independent India governments have demonstrated leniency towards as it believes more in publicity than real change. big corporate defaulters? The huge amount of money The farmers have been guaranteed a Minimum wasted in urban areas in the name of development, Support Price of 1.5 times the cost of their like providing air-conditioners to big government production for kharif crops, which has been a long buildings, airports, educational institutions and standing demand of farmers' organisations and purchase of expensive furnitures and vehicles recommendation of Swaminathan Commission. for government functionaries must be diverted to However, it has also been said that for some providing relief to farmers. crops farmers are already getting 1.5 times their A few schemes which have witnessed a good production cost. It is unclear how the costs are going hike in fund allocation, such as Crop Insurance to be calculated and therefore this has not generated Scheme, are likely to transfer majority of the much enthusiam among farmers. With the past monetary benefit to private service providers in the experience of demonetisation and implementation garb of helping the poor. A farmer has to register of Goods and Services Tax, people are now skeptical for compulsory insurance when s(he) takes loan of announcements of the BJP government. from banks, and a certain amount is automatically For boosting the rural economy, the number deducted from the loan amount before it is credited of rural agricultural markets or mandis will be into his/her bank account, which is not the case with increased from 7,600 to 22,000. A Rs 2,000 crore urban housing or car loans. But how many farmers Agri Market Infrastructure Fund for developing have got insurance amount when their crops are these 22,000 Grameen Agricultural Markets was damaged due to natural calamity? We hear of only announced without any actual allocation in the compensation from governments. Budget. Similarly, a Rs 10,000 crore Fisheries and Funds allocated to Mahatma Gandhi National Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are at and Animal Husbandry Infrastrcture Development the same level as the previous year, implying a Fund has been announced with actual allocation reduction in real terms as wages will increase due in the Budget of merely Rs 47 crore. There is to inflation. In addition, there are a lot of pending 16 JANATA, April 15, 2018

arrears for unpaid wages from the past years. This quality of basic education. The government hopes will inevitably result in a significant drop in the to build a 'smart' India and create skill based jobs total number of person-days of work that will be without strengthening the foundation of education generated under MNREGS. system. In fact, the ground reality is that in spite of One of the major highlights of the budget is Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) which Act being in place, about half the children don't is being referred to as Modicare, under which health cross the Class VIII stage. The obstacles which the insurance for about 10 crore poor or vulnerable government itself is creating are—making Aadhar families or 40% of the population has been raised compulsory for admission to primary schools and to Rs 5 lakh from the present amount of Rs 30,000 taking a decision to not construct any more new offered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna. primary schools as the enrollment in government NHPS was first offered in the 2016 budget with a schools is dropping in spite of the fact that RTE Act cover of Rs 1 lakh but it never materialised. The says that every child should have a primary school fate of the revised version remains to be seen. It is within a kilometre from her home. unclear what is novel about Modicare except that Lottery is being used to decide admissions in the quantum of coverage has been increased. This schools where more applications are received under government has a knack for taking more credit than RTE section 12(1)(c) whereas the Act clearly says it actually delivers. that at least 25% seats have to be filled with children The United Progressive Alliance government from disadvantaged groups and weakers sections. under Manmohan Singh for the first time offered This means if necessary, more than 25% children insurance cover for treatment in private hospitals should also be admitted, if parents so desire. Ideally, empanelled by the government. A common lottery should be banned in deciding admissions and phenomenon was that the private hospitals would every application should be entertained and child defraud the poor by inflating the bills so that their admitted if s(he) fulfills all the required criteria. entire amount of Rs 30,000 was exhausted in a Additionally, Rs 4,800 crore has been provided single visit to a hospital, leaving the patient without to increase the number of benficiaries under Pradhan any cover for the remaining year. Hence Modi, as Mantri Ujjawala Yojana for free cooking gas to poor is his wont, has come up with a fantastic scheme rural women from 5 crore to 8 crore. The ground to transfer public money to the private health care reality is that because only the connection is free sector, leaving the government sector poorer in and the beneficiaries have to pay full amount for all respects where the common citizen goes for subsequent gas cylinders, which is unaffordable treatment. The NHPS will be a big blow to the public for the poor, most of them have fallen back on health care system. Justice Sudhir Agrawal and traditional cowdung cakes or biomass based fuel Justice Ajeet Kumar of Allahabad Hight Court have sources, and keep the gas connection only for recently delivered a landmark judgement saying emergency. What the government doesn't mention that people receiving government salaries must get in Ujjawala advertisements is that there will be no themselves treated at government hospitals without subsidy for people who get free connections in spite any preferrential treatment for Very Important of the fact that they belong to the category of rural Persons. This is something which will improve the poor. functioning of government hospitals. The allocation for PM Awas Yojana with The education budget has been slashed from the objective of housing for all has been cut by 3.8% to 3.71% of GDP. While the government, over 5%, from Rs 29,043 crore in 2017–18 to which is very good with coming up with acronyms, Rs 27,505 crore in 2018–19, while at the same is going to start Revitalising Infrastructure and time the finance minister announced the intention System in Education (RISE) by awarding Prime of constructing 51 lakh houses in rural India in Minister Research Fellowships to encourage 2018–19. The housing available to urban poor engineering students from institutions funded by under the Central government's Basic Services central governments to pursue research in select for Urban Poor scheme for about Rs 16,000 for institutions, it is silent on how it will improve the SC/ST families and about Rs 19,000 for others in JANATA, April 15, 2018 17

Uttar Pradesh during the previous government's had received for construction of toilets, he revealed regime is no longer available. The PMAY talks of that because the population of his gram sabha, about giving subsidy on loans, assuming that the poor 750 families, was big he had not received any funds. will have a land of his/her own or will be able to Only small gram sabhas are being given funds so get land allotted in cities. Recently, District Urban that more number of villages can be declared 'Open Development Agency, Lucknow conducted a lottery Defecation Free' (ODF). Even in the declared ODF for allotment of housing for the urban poor in which villages not every family has a toilet. only applications made on the portal of the Chief Minister were considered and all applications given Email: [email protected] by hand to the Project Officer, DUDA office were not taken into account. Genuine applicants, especially those not having a mobile phone which is required for registering a complaint on CM's portal, were left out. DUDA conducted a lottery without even conducting any screening process which means a number of undeserving people would have got in. This is a good example of how poor will be excluded from digitalisation of services in New India, for which the PM doesn't lose an opportunity to give a clarion call. Moreover, how can a process of lottery be used to decide a basic need like housing when the government has promised ‘housing for all’? The banking sector 'reforms' are making life difficult for the poor, especially after the horrendous experience of demonetisation. When some parents complained about not receiving the Rs 5,000 from UP government for buying books and uniform for their children admitted under section 12(1)(c) of RTE Act, they were told by the Basic Shiksha Adhikari office in Lucknow that funds could not be deposited into their account as they did not have the required minimum balance of Rs 3,000. The government which allowed zero balance accounts to be opened for the poor expects parents from disadvantaged and weaker sections to maintain a balance of Rs 3,000. When an activist who works with beggars went to get an account opened for a beggar, he was told that the Jan Dhan Scheme was over. When Socialist Party (India) gave a cheque for Rs 3,000 to one of its candidates for the Assembly election, the cheque was not deposited as the bank told the account holder that an activity was required in the Jan Dhan account before any cheque could be deposited. And finally the tokenism of Modi government is best reflected in the most publicised programme of Swachh Bharat. When a Gram Pradhan Bhola Singh of Gram Panchayat Uttar Kondh in Sandila tehsil of Hardoi district was asked about how much funds he 18 JANATA, April 15, 2018

Union Budget 2018-19: A Gender Analysis

Vibhuti Patel

Introduction increased from Rs 47,352 crore in 2017–18 (BE) to Rs 52,800 crore in 2018–19 (BE)—a 12% increase. Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a means However, as compared to the 2017–18 (RE), the of integrating a gender dimension into all steps of increase is much lower, of about 2.5%. It may be the budget process. It is about taking into account noted that the corresponding increase in 2017–18 the different needs and priorities of both women and (BE) over 2016–17 (BE) was 27%. men without gender exclusivity. Gender Responsive The Union Budget allocation for the health Budgeting ensures that budgets are gender sensitive sector has stagnated at 0.3% of Gross Domestic and not gender neutral, which means that they are Product (GDP). The National Health Policy (NHP) geared towards establishing gender equality. GRB 2017 targets 2.5% of GDP as health expenditure by consists of the use of tools to analyse the gender the government (both Centre and States), of which dimensions of budgets, and adoption of procedures 60% is to be contributed by the States and 40% by to ensure that the budget supports the achievement the Centre. of gender equality. For the flagship programme National Health Mission (NHM), there is a slight decline (of about Allocation in the Gender Budget Statement 2%) in 2018–19 (BE) from 2017–18 (RE). In the There has been an increase in the budgetary total NHM budget, while the share of the National allocation from Rs 22,095 crore in 2017–18 (BE) to Urban Health Mission (NUHM) has increased by Rs 24,700 crore in 2018–19 (BE) for the Ministry of 34%, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Women and Child Development. There has been a budget has decreased by about 5% between 2017–18 7% increase in the magnitude of the Gender Budget (RE) and 2018–19 (BE). Statement from Rs 1,13,311 crore in 2017–18 (BE) to Rs 1,21,961 crore in 2018–19 (BE). For the b. Education Nirbhaya Fund meant to combat violence against Budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Human women, there has been an additional allocation of Rs Resource Development (MHRD) is Rs 85,010 crore 550 crore in 2018–19. In spite of very high maternal in 2018–19 (BE), a 7% increase from the previous mortality rate among Indian women, the allocations year’s allocation, but its share in total government for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Swadhar expenditure is continuously decreasing. A similar Greh and National Crèche Scheme have witnessed a picture is observed when the education budget is decline in 2018–19 (BE) in comparison to 2017–18 compared with the country’s GDP. The Economic (BE). Survey 2017–18 of Government of India states that of the 6.6% of GDP on social sectors, 2.7% goes to Financial Provision for Social Sector education in 2017–18, down from 3.1% in 2013–14. a. Health and Well-being There is no budgetary allocation for teacher training for imparting quality education under Sarva Shiksha The allocation for Ministry of Health and Family Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Welfare (MoHFW) (including for AYUSH) has Abhiyan (RMSA). JANATA, April 15, 2018 19

c. Employment of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005. The Union Budget 2018–19 aims to promote • Prioritise allocations towards implementation of employment via entrepreneurship schemes through a National Task Force in Conflict Zones. promoting Skill India and Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs), and other self-employment programmes like National Rural Livelihood Mission Learnings from Bangladesh Experience (NRLM), National Urban Livelihood Mission India can learn a lot from Gender Budgeting (NULM), Pradhan Mantri Employment Yojana process in Bangladesh, which clearly defines (PMEY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana indicators for women's advancement. The (PMKVY) and Micro Units Development and Government of Bangladesh mainstreamed gender in Refinance Agency (MUDRA) credit scheme. the Medium Term Budget Framework (MTBF) since • The most important wage employment 2005–06. GRB was initiated as part of the budget programme, that takes the form of low reform process in four ministries, and later gradually productivity based construction work, is the expanded. Budget Circular 1 provides scope for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment ministries to incorporate gender perspectives into Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) allocation. Its their programmes. Gender Training was provided to allocation this year is Rs 55,000 crore, the same officials by NGOs and development partners. Each as last year. But in real terms, taking the rate of ministry / division has a gender focal point person inflation into account, the allocation has reduced. who is responsible for ensuring inter-ministerial co- • The incentives announced for formalisation ordination on gender issues. The weakness is that of jobs, using minor tax concessions and these gender focal point persons are not part of the the Employees Provided Fund provisions, GRB process and their capacity is weak. Ongoing cannot meet the great challenge of generating training is required to strengthen the capacities of employment for millions of unemployed men the Gender Focal Points in every ministry. Gender and women. Budget Report was first placed in the Parliament along with the budget in 2009–10, and since then it has become an annual feature. The report is based d. Freedom from Violence on standard criteria prepared by the Ministry of The Union Budget 2018–19 is most disappointing Finance. as regards addressing urgent concerns such as: • Recognition of women victims of violence as a Women’s Advancement Criteria Adopted category in all social security schemes. by Bangladesh • Adequate allocations to address the safety and security of women employed in organised and 1. Access to health care and improved nutrition: unorganised sectors. Are specific actions being taken to effectively • A single window which provides holistic address women’s reproductive and general health package of services for women and girls in needs? Will activities improve the nutritional distress. The budget allocation for the ‘One status of women, particularly pregnant and Stop Crisis Centres’ that provide medical lactating women? services, protection officers, counseling, legal 2. Access to public properties and services: Is aid, referral service for emergency shelter and access to public properties (i.e. government- police intervention is very inadequate. owned land, wet-land, social forestation etc.) • Allocations for shelter homes, help lines, legal and services (education, health, electricity, clean aid, counseling and referral services. water, etc.) being expanded? • Special Women’s Desk in all police stations. 3. Access to education and training: Have • Rehabilitation, medical aid and contingency (all opportunities to access education and training of which must be accessible at the block level). been created or expanded for girls/women? • Increased outlays for effective implementation 4. Reduction in daily working hours of women: Have any steps / programmes been undertaken 20 JANATA, April 15, 2018

to reduce the daily working hours of women? necessary opportunities been created for women If so, what are they or how do they achieve the to access and utilise training on information goal? technology? How will access to and utilisation 5. Women’s participation in labour market and of these trainings be ensured? income generating activities: Have necessary 14. Reducing violence and oppression: What steps steps been undertaken to increase access and / measures have been undertaken to reduce make it easier for women to enter the labour violence and oppression against women? How market and undertake income generating can violence / oppression against women be activities? How have they been undertaken? reduced within the family and in the public 6. Enhancing social safety for women and reducing space? probable vulnerability and risk: Have necessary steps been undertaken to increase social safety Conclusion and reduce probable risk and vulnerability? What necessary steps will help to increase social safety Budgets garner resources through taxation for women and / or reduce probable vulnerability policies and allocate resources to different sections of and risks for women, particularly those resulting the economy. There is a need to highlight participatory from natural calamities? approaches to pro-poor budgeting, bottom up 7. Women’s empowerment: Have steps been budget, child budget, SC budget, ST budget, green undertaken to develop / encourage women’s budgeting, local and global implications of pro- empowerment processes through ensuring poor and pro-women budgeting, alternative macro participation in decision-making in the family, scenarios emerging out of alternative budgets and society and workplace and through increased inter-linkages between gender-sensitive budgeting participation in political frameworks? How have and women’s empowerment. these steps been undertaken? • Gender sensitive budget demands re- 8. Women’s participation in various forums: Have prioratisation of financial allocations in favour necessary steps / programmes been undertaken in of: order to include gender related issues at national • Working women’s hostels, crèches, cheap eating and international forums? How have these issues facilities, public toilets; been undertaken? • Proper electrification in the communities; 9. Ensuring safety and free movement for women: • Women friendly and safe, affordable, efficient Have necessary steps been undertaken to ensure public transport—local trains, Metro, buses, etc.; free movement for women in public places and to • Housing—Subsidised housing for single / ensure their safety in the family, in public places deserted / divorced / widowed women; as well as in the society? If so, how have these • Nutrition—Strengthening PDS and nutritional steps been undertaken? mid-day meals; 10. Monitoring and evaluation: Have necessary • Water—Safe drinking water in the community measures / steps been undertaken to strengthen centres; monitoring and evaluation systems pertaining to • Technological upgradation of waste gender equality issues? management—Occupational health & safety of 11. Increasing social status of women: Have recycling workers / rag pickers; necessary measures / steps been undertaken to • Health—Abolition of user fees for BPL raise the social status of women (for example, population, one stop crisis centre in public reduction in childhood / early marriage and hospitals for women / girls survivors of violence dowry)? linked with shelter homes; 12. Access to law and justice for women: Have • Skill training centres for women and tailor made measures / steps been undertaken to create courses; / expand opportunities for women to access • Multipurpose Community centres, half way law and justice? How have these steps been homes for elderly and mentally disturbed undertaken? women. 13. Information technology for women: Have Email : [email protected] JANATA, April 15, 2018 21

Finance Minister Misrepresents Facts About Aadhaar and Unique ID in His Budget Speech

Gopal Krishna

At paragraph 118 of his budget speech, Finance linked to Aadhaar. There is incontrovertible evidence Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Aadhaar has provided an about how this measure has brought colossal grief identity to every Indian. Aadhaar has eased delivery and suffering to “those who are at the bottom of of so many public services to our people. Every the pyramid, the poor, the migrant workers, the enterprise, major or small, also needs a unique ID. homeless, and the oppressed” by making Aadhaar a The Government will evolve a Scheme to assign pre-condition to access their rights as citizens. This every individual enterprise in India a unique ID.” has caused unprecedented deprivation. There are three claims made in these four sentences. Government’s claim about providing identity They do not present a factual picture. to identity-less through Aadhaar is an exercise in sophistry. This claim is an act of manifest falsehood. Claim No. 1: Aadhaar has provided an identity Every Indian except 0.03 per cent of the population to every Indian. admittedly already had an identity. This has been Fact: disclosed in a RTI reply dated 28 April 2015, which stated that only 2.19 lakh residents (0.03 per cent) In his budget speech of 2016–17, the finance were given Aadhaar numbers based on introduction minister had said, “The Aadhaar number or by the introducer system because they did not have authentication shall not, however, confer any right a pre-existing identity. of citizenship or domicile.” In his budget speech Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) of 2017–18, he said, “For senior citizens, Aadhaar issued the first Aadhaar number to Ms. Ranjna based Smart Cards containing their health details Sadashiv Sonwane, a tribal woman from Tembhali will be introduced.” In his budget speech of 2015– village in Nandurbar, Maharashtra on 29 September, 16, he said that we have embarked on game changing 2010. The Press Note of UIDAI claimed, “Today reforms through “the JAM Trinity—Jan Dhan, there are a large number of residents, especially Aadhaar and Mobile—to implement direct transfer the poorest and the most marginalised, who face of benefits.” In the budget speech of 2014–15, the challenges in accessing various public benefit then finance minister said, “Who needs Aadhaar? It programs due to the lack of possessing a clear is those who are at the bottom of the pyramid, the identity proof. The Aadhaar number will ease poor, the migrant workers, the homeless, and the these difficulties in identification, by providing oppressed who need Aadhaar, and we will ensure a nationally valid and verifiable single source of that they get Aadhaar. I have no doubt that in course identity proof.” The RTI reply reveals that the of time even critics of Aadhaar will realise that claim made by government in its Press Note of Aadhaar is a tool of empowerment.” The question September 2010 and in the budget speech of 2018-19 is, if Aadhaar is not meant to “confer any right of is misleading and glaringly untrue. At launch of the citizenship or domicile”, why have Aadhaar based initiative of Aadhaar numbers to the residents, it was Smart Cards been introduced for senior citizens and announced that it was “the beginning of an ambitious why have citizens’ entitlements and benefits been operation to issue 600 million Aadhaar numbers in 22 JANATA, April 15, 2018

the next four years to Indians across the country.” Claim No. 3: Every enterprise, major or small, also While presenting the Union Budget 2009–10, needs a unique ID. The Government will evolve a the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had scheme to assign every individual enterprise in India announced the setting up of the UIDAI to “establish a unique ID. an online data base with identity and biometric Fact: details of Indian residence and provide enrolment and verification services across the country.” Unlike The minister did not inform the Parliament what is being claimed now, the fact is that there was and the citizens about the conceptual, structural no claim made about providing identity to Indians and functional link between UIDAI and goods and because Indians already had pre-existing identity. services tax network (GSTN) from the very outset. In the Union Budget speech of 2010–11, it is Notably, chief executive officer of UIDAI, A.B. admitted that “CIDR will be handed over to the Pandey is also the chairman of the GSTN since Managed Service Provider (MSP) on a long term 8 September 2017. Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery contract basis.” CIDR refers to Central Identities of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Data Repository of biometric UID/Aadhaar Services) Act, 2016 came into force from 12 numbers. British firm Ernst & Young was given the September 2016 and Central Goods and Services contract for setting up the CIDR and selection of Tax Act, 2017 came into effect on 1 July 2017. The Managed Service Provider (MSP). The Economic fact is that Unique Identity Number, the Unique ID Survey 2011–12 observed, “The Aadhaar project to which the minister is referring to, already finds is set to become the largest biometric capture mention in Central Goods and Services Tax Act, and identification project in the world” even as 2017. It has been effectively been mentioned nine UIDAI was “discharging its functions without any times in the Act. Section 25 of the Act deals with the legal basis” as per the report of the Parliamentary procedure for registration, wherein, under Section Standing Committee on Finance. This has been 25 (9) (b), it is stated that “any other person or class brought to the notice of the Supreme Court’s of persons, as may be notified by the Commissioner, 5-Judge Constitution Bench which is hearing some shall be granted a Unique Identity Number in such 30 petitions challenging the constitutionality of manner and for such purposes, including refund of Aadhaar since 17 January 2018. taxes on the notified supplies of goods or services or both received by them, as may be prescribed.” Claim No. 2: Aadhaar has eased delivery of so Section 150 (1) (o) states that any person under the many public services to our people. Act “refers to a person to whom a Unique Identity Number has been granted under sub-section (9) of Fact: section 25” as well. Such a person “is responsible The RTI reply proves that that “an inability to for maintaining record of registration or statement prove identity” was not a major barrier to accessing of accounts or any periodic return or document benefits and subsidies. The death of several citizens containing details of payment of tax and other including Aadhaar holders due to denial of public details of transaction of goods or services or both or services shows that it has made life difficult for transactions related to a bank account or consumption citizens who are facing the cruel denial of their of electricity or transaction of purchase, sale or citizens’ entitlements due to not having Aadhaar, exchange of goods or property or right or interest despite proof of having resided in India for at in a property under any law for the time being in least 182 days (if a person has stayed in India for force”, and “shall furnish an information return of 182 during the previous financial year, he/she is a the same in respect of such periods, within such time, resident of India and is entitled for Aadhaar card). in such form and manner and to such authority or This is despite the fact that it is admittedly not a agency as may be prescribed.” Notably, the Central proof of citizenship. If this trend continues, very Consumer Protection Authority under the Consumer soon citizens will be denied the right to vote to Protection Bill, 2018 is empowered to mandate the elect or reject a government if they do not enroll use of unique and universal goods identifiers. The for Aadhaar by getting themselves biometrically Bill is pending in the Lok Sabha since 5 January profiled. JANATA, April 15, 2018 23

2018 after its introduction by Ram Vilas Paswan, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public was earlier Chief Technology Architect and Vice Distribution. This law in conjunction with Aadhaar President of Research at Sterling Commerce, will provide 360 degree surveillance of citizens. a software company that was later acquired by Andhra Pradesh has built an Aadhaar-enabled IBM. He joined UIDAI in July 2009 and leads the digital People’s Hub, whose aim is to build a overall technology and application architecture and demographic and socio-economic data base application development within UIDAI Technology of all residents. It uses Aadhaar to integrate Unit and is based in Bangalore. His role “has information from every government department been pivotal in ensuring (that) an open, scalable, for “getting a 360-degree view of citizens”. The and secure architecture is built to meet the needs Telangana government too is planning an “Integrated of aadhaar project.” If Varma is only a volunteer Information Hub (IIH) for achieving the objective as per UIDAI Volunteers Guidelines, 2011, and of 360-degree profiling of persons of interest.” J. as per these guildelines a volunteer does not get Satyanarayana, the IT advisor of Andhra Pradesh, in any remuneration from UIDAI, then it implies a presentation on Direct Benefit Transfers on 22 July that he is likely to have continued with Sterling 2016, described the hub as a “single source of truth Commerce, which is now part of IBM . The related on people data”. Two months later, Satyanarayana UIDAI’s Guidelines for recruitment of personnel was appointed chairperson of UIDAI. on Sabbatical/Secondment refers to “Conflict of IBM, the giant American multinational, is interest from private sector members moving from deeply involved in data mining at the global level. one category of employment to another”. Given According to IBM, a “Single View of a Citizen” is the fact that the presentation of UIDAI’s Chairman required because it “provides authorised access to makes it clear that he wants a “360 degree view of citizen master data as a service.” It “supports security Citizens” for a “single source of truth on people and privacy requirements for the access and control data” and IBM also wants to have “Single View of of data”. It “provides data quality management a Citizen”, clearly issues of conflict of interest arise to establish an ‘enterprise’ record for a party.” It with regards to UIDAI’s Chief Architect. “performs as a synchronisation point to control the The Andhra Pradesh initiative of building a distribution of citizen master data in a standardised People Hub with a “Single View of a Citizen” way.” It “increases service and accuracy, and is being pursued through “Organic Seeding of decreases the cost of serving the public.” It provides Aadhaar” and “Inorganic Seeding of Aadhaar” (to a “flexible platform capable of supporting multiple quote from a People Hub document). In the former data formats and allowing for new sources to be method, “the Unique People IDs of the beneficiaries readily added as requirements change.” It also are collected through a door-to-door survey or at “provides analysis and discovery services to resolve point-of-sale. Alternative methods are collection identities and discover relationships.” of Unique People ID through IVRS, SMS or drop It may be recalled that Edwin Black’s book IBM boxes. Departments with large databases can also and the Holocaust revealed IBM's strategic alliance engage 3rd party service provider”. In the method with Nazi Germany. IBM and its subsidiaries helped of inorganic seeding of Aadhaar, “the demographic create enabling technologies, “step-by-step, from data of the departmental database is matched with the identification and cataloging programs of the that of SRDH through a computer algorithm, and 1930s to the selections of the 1940s.” Notably, wherever the degree of matching exceeds a threshold IBM was in the census business. The book reveals level defined, the Unique People ID of the resident that IBM technology was used to organise nearly as in SRDH database is included in the departmental everything in Germany and then Nazi Europe, database.” This is stated in a proposal submitted from the identification of the Jews in censuses, by Wipro Limited to the Government of Andhra registrations, and ancestral tracing programs to the Pradesh regarding the People Hub. The “People running of railroads and organising of concentration Hub” and “ePragati Requirements Specifications” camp slave labor. Coincidentally, IBM is involved which the Chairman of UIDAI refers to is derived in UID/Aadhaar project as well. Pramod Varma, from this proposal of Wipro submitted in December who is currently a 'Volunteer' Chief Architect at 2015. 24 JANATA, April 15, 2018

Wipro’s proposal is significant because UIDAI routing advertisements through the Directorate of and UID/Aadhaar is a product of a 14-page Advertising and Visual Publicity. Unmindful of long document titled Strategic Vision: Unique manifest conflict of interest, UIDAI had entered Identification of Residents prepared by Wipro Ltd into a contract with Wipro in May 2011 for supply, and submitted to the Processes Committee of the installation and commissioning of servers, storage Planning Commission which was set up in July systems, security systems and accessories with 2006. The vision statement of the document reads: incidental services in the data centres of the authority “Creating a unique identification system of all in Bengaluru and Delhi/NCR at a cost of Rs 134.28 residents in the country for efficient, transparent, crore. reliable and effective delivery of various welfare The conflict of interest ridden entrepreneurial and private services to the common person.” involvement of IBM and Wipro in the UID/ The cover page of the document mentions the Aadhaar initiative is aimed at ensuring that every National Institute for Smart Government (NISG), person is being “profiled to the nth extent for all Department of Information Technology (now named and sundry to know” in the words of Supreme MeitY-Ministry of Electronics and Information Court’s verdict on right to privacy using both Technology) and Wipro Consulting. Wipro was demographic and biometric information. It emerges the consultant for the design phase and programme that Unique ID for Indians and their enterprises is management phase of the pilot UIDAI project. The being pursued to ensure guaranteed revenue flow Hyderabad-based NISG is a not-for-profit company to these transnational business enterprises through incorporated in 2002 by the Government of India monetisation of citizen’s personal data. and Nasscom. NISG aims to “establish itself as an The marriage between biometric surveillance institution of excellence in e-governance and to and financial surveillance of citizens is breaching the leverage private sector resources through a public- social contract between the State and the citizens, private-partnership mode in establishing eIndia.” wherein the former is making the latter subordinate Another 15-page long Wipro document, titled to commercial interests of all kinds, while at the Does India need a Unique Identity Number? cited same time launching a blitzkrieg of advertisements the example of the United Kingdom’s Identity Cards and misinformation campaigns to mislead the Act, 2006, on page no. 6 to advance the argument people about Aadhaar. It is evident that State in for a biometric UID/Aadhaar number in India. collaboration with non-state actors is on the one Wipro cited UK’s identification project to make a hand dispossessing people of their inherent natural case for UID/Aadhaar for Indians because it aptly rights, and at the same time, is freeing itself from inferred that both UID/Aadhaar and UK’s ID card all accountability as regards this injustice towards are comparable. But when the UK government its citizens. State’s institutional memory has an stopped its biometric National Identity Cards active and a passive side. The former includes active Scheme, neither Wipro nor its donors and promoters forgetting of intentional acts of deprivation and in the government examined as to why the UK exclusion. The latter includes canonisation of the did so and why this decision too is relevant to remote as well as recent past by which interpretation India. The decision was announced in the British of the memory is fixed in a way that it uses a moment parliament, the same legislature which passed the in history as a point of reference to the exclusion of India Independence Act, 1947. This Act and the other moments and interpretations. But no amount fate of UK’s ID card Act are relevant for the fate of of State sponsored propaganda and engineering of Aadhaar Act, 2016. embedded media by commercial czars can obliterate It may be recalled that UIDAI extended ‘undue the fact that citizens of the country already had favour’ to Wipro Ltd as well. As a consequence identity and identity proof prior to the illegitimate UIDAI incurred an avoidable expenditure of Rs and immoral bulldozing of biometric identification 4.92 crore on an annual maintenance contract, exercise. It is clear that as a consequence of some according to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor Faustian bargain, the finance minister is speaking General (CAG) of India presented to the Parliament. with a forked tongue. UIDAI also incurred a loss of Rs 1.41 crore by not Email:[email protected] JANATA, April 15, 2018 25

Nehru’s Economic Philosophy

H. Venkatasubbiah

To one who was so intimate with the masses as early in this period, he was appalled by the violence Jawaharlal Nehru was, his economic philosophy of communism, although he believed that capitalism could not but be intensely humane, a living thing of also could be violent. He was deeply affected by the the present, and practical. In the ultimate analysis, spectacle of the coal strike in England in 1926. The the central point and goal of all economic philosophy violence of capitalism was, however, of a different is the elimination of poverty and want, and Nehru's kind and there were social remedies for it. It was was no different. Gandhiji had already focussed oppression rather than violence. attention on poverty with his famous symbolism of the Daridra Narayana. Nehru brought to bear on this Independence First central problem his modern mind and its scientific temper. Scientific socialism, tempered by his intense Intellectually, Nehru came gradually to equate humanism, thus became his intellectual tool. He socialism with economic development. The Great was a practical idealist, and that is not mutually Depression of the 1930s convinced him that contradictory. uninterrupted economic progress was not possible under capitalism. He contrasted the slump in the West with the striking increase in production that Fabian Influence Russia was making during those years through In his youth, Nehru was drawn to British socialist her newly-launched five-year plans. While this ideas, at a time when, under the banner of the Fabian impression remained in the intellectual plane, when Society, Shaw Wells and the Webbs were preaching he plunged into Congress politics in India, Nehru socialisation of essential services and basic found a different situation to which he had to adapt industries within the framework of parliamentary his socialistic ideas. government as the best means of eliminating poverty and ensuring work for all. But it was really his study Attitude towards Capitalism of Marxism and of the communist experiment in Russia that sharpened his interest in the possibilities British exploitation of the Indian economy was of socialism for economic development and social obvious and Nehru's views on it were broadly in line equality. It is said that most admirers of Karl Marx with those of nationalist economists like Dadabhoy have not read his Capital, but Nehru was not in this Naoroji, Ranade and Gokhale. But he carefully category. At a press conference some years ago, refrained from supporting Indian capitalism or when questions turned on communism, he asked his justifying its role in Indian economic development. audience if they had read the Marxist classic. None He did not seem to accept that capitalism was had the temerity to say yes, whereupon Nehru said necessary for the economic development of India. that he had read it. When with his father he visited He fell in line with the prevailing climate of opinion Russia, he was impressed (but not his father) by what that national independence was the first issue and Russia was doing to transform the society. But quite the best means of achieving economic independence

(This article first appeared in The Hindu dated May 29, 1964) 26 JANATA, April 15, 2018

would be determined later. With this, he always kept Commission for Asia and Far East, he said he was in the back of his mind his faith in socialism. no expert (although experts were inevitable), but he On the economic side, his crusade within the liked to deal with human beings. The work of the national movement was directed against feudal National Planning Committee remained academic, property relationships in land. He carried on a without any political power to implement its ideas. relentless campaign against landlordism in his home So it was really the advent of independence in 1947 province. The belief that there could really be no that gave Nehru the opportunity to make concrete his egalitarian society in a predominantly agricultural vision of economic development of India. country like India until all feudal vestiges in land were eliminated survived with him to the last. Inevitability of Gradualness In political power under a democratic system, Non-Acceptance of Gandhiji’s Ideas Nehru realised the conflict, howsoever small it Since he was wedded to scientific rather than may be, between socialism and the economic a vaguely humanitarian socialism, Gandhiji's development of an underdeveloped country. He, economic ideas did not make much impact on who had admired communism minus its violence Nehru. Gandhiji's opposition to modern industry and and socialism, reminded himself that the time his qualified approval of voluntary poverty could factor was also important for social reconstruction. not possibly appeal to one who believed in higher In his younger days, he must have been influenced living standards to be attained by the application of by R.H. Tawney's classic, Acquisitive Society, but modern science and technology to modern means now admitted that the change from such a society to of production. He also rejected Gandhiji's theory socialism and co-operation cannot be brought about that the rich are the trustees of the poor. Nehru's by ‘a sudden law’. Speaking at the AICC session formal education was in the natural sciences. In the at Indore in 1957, he said that Russia had taken social sciences, he was a self-educated man. This 35 years or more to industrialise herself, and Mao amalgam produced the scientific–humanist temper Tse-tung had said that China might take 20 years to which characterised Nehru's economic philosophy. achieve “some kind of socialism”. He added, “We Recently, Western thought has contended that the must realise that the process of bringing socialism scientific and humanist cultures are antithetical. to India, especially in the way we are trying to do But in Nehru was an embodiment of their synthesis. it, that is, the democratic way, will inevitably take It cannot be said that he took much interest in the time.” When he produced his autobiography in Khadi and Village Industries movement. That was 1936, reviewers said he assumed the inevitability largely looked after by other associates of Gandhiji. of revolution. Twenty years later, he had come to accept the inevitability of gradualness. Humanist Values The nearest that Nehru came to some practical Concept of Mixed Economy formulation of his economic ideas before The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948 was independence was in the work he did in the National the most concrete expression of Nehru's means for Planning Committee set up by the Indian National achieving socialism in India. It was here that his Congress in 1935. Planning was defined by that intellectual appreciation of British socialist thought committee as something that should be considered rather than the Marxist dialectic unmistakably from the point of view not only of economics and asserted itself. rising living standards, but of cultural and spiritual The resolution adumbrated a ‘mixed economy’ values. The concern he expressed at the time for for India and this concept has stood, despite all democratic evolution and the inter-connection he that has been said by the Congress about socialism stressed between economic and extra-economic in subsequent years. It was when Nehru spoke on life remained with him all along. When years the resolution that he brought out the importance later he addressed the United Nations Economic of understanding a socialistic economy in terms of JANATA, April 15, 2018 27

technological change. In a transitional economy, one his ideas the same universalism that was the keynote must place oneself in a dynamic and not in a static of his political philosophy. Even in his opposition conception of economic progress. to such economic blocs as the European Economic Dynamism came from technological change. The Community, his economic philosophy was entirely State would build a new and technologically sound consistent with his political philosophy. It was based sector, and not waste its resources on acquiring on mutual help, absence of fear and hate and on productive resources that may have become good neighbourliness. He was fond of the following obsolete. This philosophy meant recognising the lines from Euripedes, which he quoted at least on role of what has since come to be known as the two occasions. They seem to sum up his philosophy. Private Sector. Again reminding himself that the What else is wisdom? What of man's endeavour, capitalistic structure is inherently acquisitive, he or God's high grace, so lovely and so great? To began to propagate the value of a co-operative sector stand from fear set free to breathe and wait, to that would help counteract the anti-social side of hold a hand uplifted over hate, and shall not capitalism. It is said that in later years Nehru did loveliness be loved for ever? come to admire ‘enlightened capitalism’ and that privately he even admired one of the leading Indian business houses.

Planning Commission The establishment of a Planning Commission and the era of planning that it started gave Nehru a chance to work simultaneously for economic development and social justice. The disappointment he openly voiced in recent years at the failure of Indian planning to achieve these objectives was a measure of his faith in them. His burning wrath against poverty heightened his sense of frustration at the miscalculations of the planning process. Not being an economist in the conventional sense, he just could not understand the frequent breakdowns in the economy. He continued to emphasise the importance of land reforms, of increasing production through the application of technology and spreading co- operation to ensure distributive justice within capitalism. These indeed were the themes of his annual addresses to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry for some 15 years. His keen interest in atomic energy was the latest manifestation of his scientific temper. Spectre of Fascism Contribution Rs. 20/- University of Philosophy Published by Nehru did not have many opportunities of Janata Trust & Lokayat formulating his ideas on international economic co- D-15, Ganesh Prasad, operation. But when he did get a chance to do so—as when he spoke to the ECAFE or the Colombo Plan Naushir Bharucha Marg, meetings or at the United Nations—he reflected in Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 28 JANATA, April 15, 2018

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Budget 2018–19: What Is in It for the Common People?

Neeraj Jain

The media hailed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s more accelerated speed. Union Budget 2018–19 as a budget focussed Just two months ago, in mid-November 2017, on farmers, the poor, rural India, healthcare and the international credit ratings agency Moody’s education. Let us see what it really contains. had upgraded India’s sovereign bond rating by two notches to Baa2 Stable from its lowest investment 1. External Accounts Situation grade Baa3 Positive. This was the first ratings upgrade by Moody’s for India since 2004. This news Let us begin our discussion of the Union Budget made the headlines in almost all newspapers. Both 2018–19 with a brief discussion of India’s external the PMO and Finance Minister Jaitley gushed that accounts situation. This is obviously be an important this was international recognition of the fact that part of any discussion about our economy, and the the structural reforms being implemented by the finance minister should mention the state of our BJP Government were improving business climate, external accounts situation, even if briefly, in his enhancing productivity, stimulating foreign and budget speech. domestic investment, etc.1 This year’s budget speech is unique for the fact If this is indeed so, then how come there is not that it does not contain even a single line as regards even a mention of our external accounts situation the external accounts situation of our country! in this year’s budget speech? That is simply amazing, as a key aspect of our The reason is that Moody’s upgrade has nothing economic policy making for the last nearly three to do with how well our economy is doing, and how decades, ever since India began globalisation in good is our external accounts situation. As we had 1991, is tackling our foreign exchange crisis. By explained in an article published in Janata some the late 1980s, the Indian economy was entrapped weeks ago, “The upgradation of India’s sovereign in an external debt crisis (our foreign debt was rating by Moody’s is not an indicator of how well nearly $84 billion dollars) and was on the verge the Indian economy is doing for the people, but is of external accounts bankruptcy. And so in mid- an indicator of how well the economy is doing for 1991, the Indian Government, in return for a huge profit maximisation of giant foreign and Indian foreign loan to tide over the foreign exchange corporations.”2 So far as our external accounts are crisis, signed an agreement with the World Bank concerned, the reality is that they were never in a and the International Monetary Fund, agreeing to worse state, and that is why there is no mention implement what are known as neoliberal economic of our external accounts situation in the finance policies. One of these conditionalities was opening minister’s budget speech. up the economy to unrestricted inflows of foreign Our external debt crossed $495.7 billion in capital and goods. Thus began what has come to be September 20173, making India one of the world’s known as the globalisation of the Indian economy. most indebted countries. Furthermore, our external Since then, each and every government that has accounts situation is getting worse. India’s trade come to the Centre has been implementing these deficit, which had registered continuous decline economic reforms; the Modi Government has been between 2014–15 and 2016–17, widened to $118.9 implementing these economic reforms at an even billion during the period April–December 2017 as 30 JANATA, April 15, 2018

compared to $82.7 billion during the corresponding contracted as short-term debt, but also that period in the previous year. Because of this, India’s portion of long-term debt which falls due within current account deficit more than doubled to $35.6 a year from the reference date. According to the billion, or 1.9% of GDP, in April–December 2017, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), this was 41.1% of from $11.8 billion, or 0.7% of GDP, during the our external debt as of June-end, 2017 = $199.5 corresponding period of 2016–174. bn.6 ii) Portfolio Investments by FIIs as of end-June, 2017 = $251 billion.7 [Note that this is actually Vulnerable External Liabilities an underestimate, as much of what is classified as The Economic Survey 2017–18 claims that our foreign direct investment or FDI (considered to foreign exchange reserves position is comfortable. be stable investment) is actually purely financial Our foreign exchange reserves reached $409.4 investment by private equity firms, venture billion on December 29, 2017, and foreign exchange capital funds and hedge funds—which certainly reserves cover to total external debt improved to cannot be considered as stable investment.] 80.7% at end-September 2017 as compared to 78.4% iii) Outstanding sum in FCNR (B) deposits and at end-March 2017. 5 NRERA deposits (excluding the NRI deposits However, all this glib talk about our large foreign included in short term debt of residual maturity) exchange reserves is meaningless. Foreign exchange = $35.3 billion.8 reserves of a country do not represent the foreign Therefore, exchange earnings of that country. They are merely the total foreign money held by the government and • Total Vulnerable Liabilities = 199.5 + 251 + 35.3 central bank of a country, including all the foreign = $485.8 billion; capital inflows that have come into the country. This • Foreign Exchange Reserves on June 30, 2017 = implies that if foreign investors start withdrawing $386.5 billion.9 their money from the country, the foreign exchange It is thus clear that if the foreign investors decide reserves will fall and the economy can even sink into to pull out their money, our foreign exchange reserves external account bankruptcy. are simply insufficient to prevent the economy from Of course, not all the foreign investment can be once again plunging into a foreign exchange crisis, taken out at short notice. Therefore, to get an idea similar to what happened in 1990–91. of the actual safety buffer provided by the country's The Economic Survey 2017–18 says: “Moderation foreign exchange reserves, they should be compared in FDI flows in Q2 of 2017–18 led to a cumulative with what can be called the ‘vulnerable external decline in FDI flows by 6.3% in H1 of 2017–18 liabilities’ of the country. These are our potentially over its level during the corresponding period volatile foreign exchange liabilities, that is, foreign of the previous year. However, foreign portfolio capital that has come into the country that can leave investment (FPI) increased by 78.0%, from US$ 8.2 the country very quickly. These ‘vulnerable external billion in H1 of 2016–17 to US$ 14.5 billion in H1 liabilities’ include: (i) short term debt (i.e., debt 2017–18 reflecting positive outlook about growth repayable within a year); (ii) portfolio investments potential of Indian economy.” 10 (i.e., foreign speculative investments in the share The truth is the exact opposite. Increasing markets and in debt instruments), which can be dependence on FPI inflows only means our economy withdrawn at any time; and (iii) those NRI deposits is becoming more dependent on unstable foreign which are fully repatriable at any time [Foreign capital inflows, increasing the vulnerability of our Currency Non-Resident (Bank) or FCNR (B) economy to foreign capital outflows. This in fact deposits and Non-Resident External Rupee Account was candidly admitted by the then RBI Governor or NRERA deposits]. at a Governors’ Meeting in Kyoto, Japan in January We make an estimate of our vulnerable external 2011: “Our reserves comprise essentially borrowed liabilities as of June 2017 below: resources, and we are therefore more vulnerable i) Short term debt by residual maturity: Here, to sudden stops and reversals, as compared with we include not only debt that was originally countries with current account surpluses.” 11 JANATA, April 15, 2018 31

The Indian economy has become totally on quarterly data, and this quarterly data is largely dependent on foreign capital inflows, including both based on information provided by the organised foreign direct investment inflows and speculative sector of the economy only. It does not include data capital inflows, to stay afloat. That is why the BJP from the unorganised sector of the economy, which Government is desperately trying to woo foreign contributes to 93% of the employment and 45% of investors to invest their capital in the country. Over the total output. the past four years, the government has announced Now, data for the unorganised sector is collected huge liberalisation of FDI rules for foreign investors; by the government through periodic surveys. it is allowing them to enter and take over each and This unorganised sector was hit hard first by every sector of the Indian economy; it is allowing demonetisation (announced in November 2016) and them to take over our mineral resources, agricultural then by GST (rolled out in July 2017). However, the lands, public sector corporations and even our government has carried out no surveys to estimate public sector financial institutions. It has gone the impact of both these policy measures on the to the extent of permitting FDI even in defence. unorganised sector. With no data available, how More than two centuries ago, the British had to use has it estimated the contribution of the unorganised force to colonise this country. Now, our rulers are sector to the overall quarterly GDP growth data? themselves allowing foreign corporations to enter The government admits that it has estimated this and take control of the country's economy. using the data for growth in the organised sector.13 While this may work during normal times, after 2. Hype over Growth Rates demonetisation and GST, when the unorganised sector contracted sharply due to these policy Regarding GDP growth figures, the finance measures but organised sector was less affected, this minister continues to behave like an ostrich sticking is no longer true. Therefore, all that can be said about its head in the sand to hide from realities. He the official growth rate figure given by the finance continues to claim that the economy is doing very minister for the third quarter of 2017 is that at best, well: it shows that organised sector growth accelerated in Indian economy has performed very well since the third quarter as compared to the second quarter. our Government took over in May, 2014. India While the government has not carried out any achieved an average growth of 7.5% in first three surveys to estimate the shock experienced by the years of our Government. . . . GDP growth at unorganised sector due to demonetisation and 6.3% in the second quarter signalled turnaround GST, data provided by various private surveys of the economy. We hope to grow at 7.2% to point to a large negative rate of growth for this 7.5% in the second half. . . . We are now firmly sector. Combining this with the positive growth on course to achieve high growth of 8% plus.12 experienced by the organised sector, the overall rate of growth of the economy for not just the third The fact of the matter is, even after the government quarter of 2017, but for the first and second quarter twice revised the methodology of calculating GDP too, is probably only around 1% and not the 5 to 7% growth rate to make the GDP growth figures look being claimed by the government. good and above 7% during its first two years, GDP Furthermore, since the informal sector provides growth rate started falling again from 2016 onwards. employment to more than 90% of the population, It fell consecutively for six straight quarters, from it implies that while only a small section of the 9.2% in the first quarter of 2016 to 5.7% in the population in the organised sector has benefited by second quarter of 2017. Now, the government claims the government claimed “recovery that has begun the economy has started recovering once again, it in Q3 of 2017”, the overwhelming proportion grew at 6.3% in the third quarter of 2017 and is of the population has continued to suffer a fall expected to grow even faster after that. in its income due to the negative growth caused In actuality, this claim of the growth rebounding by the government-effected policy measures of is based on incomplete data. The official estimate of demonetisation and GST. the economy growing at 6.3% in Q3 of 2017 is based 32 JANATA, April 15, 2018 3. Pandering to Global Capital Another important figure is the government capital expenditure as percentage of its total spending Despite the sharp contraction suffered by the and as a percentage of GDP. Capital expenditure is informal sector and the numerous reports in the that portion of the government spending that goes to newspapers about the worsening unemployment create lasting productive assets, such as rail lines and crisis, Jaitley makes no attempt to give a boost to power plants and factories and schools and hospitals. the economy by increasing government spending. This spending has sharply come down ever since the The increase in total budgetary spending of the neoliberal reforms began (Table 2). government is shockingly low. It has increased by This sharp fall, to roughly one-third of the pre- just 10%—when the projected increase in nominal liberalisation expenditure, is because of the World GDP is expected to be 11.5%. And so the budgetary Bank–IMF imposed neoliberal reforms on the outlay as a proportion of GDP has fallen from economy. Arvind Subramanian, their man who has 13.21% in 2017–18 RE to 13.04% in 2018–19 been parachuted directly to Delhi from Washington (Table 1). This implies a contractionary fiscal stance, as the Indian Government’s Chief Economic whereas what was required was a macroeconomic Advisor, clearly says in this year’s Economic Survey stimulus to combat the economic disruption caused that “India must continue improving the climate for by demonetisation and GST. rapid economic growth on the strength of the only

two truly sustainable engines—private investment Actual budgetary outlay is even less than the and exports.”16 What he is therefore saying is that above figure. That is because Jaitley has included increasing public investment is not the way to in his budget outlay the ‘Funds collected due advance economic growth. Foreign capital wants to the GST Compensation Cess’. This amount Indian Government’s capital expenditures, that is, is actually to be compulsorily transferred to the its expenditures on the productive sectors of the states to compensate them for loss in revenue due economy, to fall, so that private capital, especially to the introduction of GST. This should have been multinational capital, can take over these sectors. deducted from Gross Tax Revenue, like the ‘Tax This policy had been implemented by all previous Revenue Transferred to States’. But the government governments; the BJP is further accelerating it. has included this in its ‘Net Tax Revenue to Centre’ and in its budgetary outlay, thus artificially inflating the latter. Deducting this, the actual budgetary outlay for 2018-19 comes to only 12.56% of GDP, a fall of more than one percentage point as compared to the last year of the UPA Government, when it was 13.88% (in 2013-14). JANATA, April 15, 2018 33 4. How Can the Government Increase Its the total tax revenue of the government is actually Budgetary Outlay very low. This can be understood by comparing the total tax revenue of the Indian Government (Centre The total budgetary receipts of the government, and States combined) as a proportion of GDP with which are equal to its budgetary outlay, include other countries. The Economic Survey 2015–16 tax revenue, non-tax revenue and capital receipts. says that India's tax-to-GDP ratio at 16.6% is lowest (i) Tax revenue includes direct taxes (income tax, among BRICS countries (Brazil 35.6%, South corporation tax, etc.) and indirect taxes (customs Africa 28.8%). It is lower than both the Emerging duties, excise duties, sales tax, etc.). (ii) Non-tax Market Economy (EME) and OECD averages, revenue includes profits of public sector enterprises, which are about 21% and 34% respectively. India’s interest receipts on loans given by the government tax ratio is the lowest even among economies with (to public sector enterprises, state governments, comparable (PPP adjusted) per-capita GDP such as etc.), and income such as sale of spectrum. (iii) Vietnam, Bolivia and Uzbekistan. The Economic Capital receipts include disinvestment income and Survey 2017–18 in fact says that: “It is striking that return of loans. the centre’s tax–GDP ratio is no higher than it was in the 1980s, despite average economic growth of 6.5%, the most rapid in India’s history.”18 It is thus obvious that there is a huge scope for the government to increase its tax revenue. If India’s tax–GDP ratio is to be brought to 25% (that is, a 50% increase), and since the Central government collects the bulk of the tax and non-tax revenue in the country, this means that the Centre’s tax revenues can be increased by at least 50%. Let us discuss some possible steps that it can take to do so. The total receipts, and hence the total budgetary outlay of the Central government in 2018–19, is Curbing Illicit Capital Flows to Increase Tax Rs 24.4 lakh crore. If the government wants, it can Revenue significantly increase this by increasing its tax and One way the government can increase its tax non-tax revenue. Can it do so? Yes, it can. revenue is by curbing illicit outflows and inflows of money. According to the latest report by the India: Low Tax Revenue international watchdog Global Financial Integrity The budget projects gross tax revenue in 2018– released in April 2017, between $8–23 billion was 19 to increase by 16.7% over the revised estimate illegally taken out of India and between $39–101 for 2017–18. This is highly optimistic, given that billion illegally came into India in 2014, primarily the government expects a nominal GDP growth of through trade mis-invoicing. Even if we take the lower figures, the total illicit financial flows total 11.5% (and as mentioned earlier, even this latter 19 figure is an optimistic projection). In the previous $47 billion. These illegal flows primarily take year, the gross tax revenue (2017–18 RE over place to escape taxation; had the government 2016–17 A) had increased by 13.4% only. taken strong steps to curb these flows and tax Even if the projection for gross tax revenue them, they could have yielded at least $12 billion for 2018–19 comes true, the fact of the matter is, or Rs 78,000 in taxes—this amount is 6.3% of the total tax revenue for the financial year 2014–15. Unfortunately, neither the previous UPA Government, nor the present BJP Government, is interested in taking firm steps to curb these illegal flows. As we have explained in our 34 JANATA, April 15, 2018

booklet on demonetisation, all the chest thumping tax revenue of the government would have gone up by the new government about fighting corruption from Rs 19.5 lakh crore in 2017–18 RE to Rs 25 and curbing the black economy is a lot of hot air; lakh crore, an increase of 28%. the truth is that it is actually diluting anti-corruption legislations.20 Tax Collections: Putting Burden on People Not only is the government giving huge tax Huge Tax Concessions to Rich concessions to the rich, the larger portion of the taxes The most important reason for the low tax it collects is from the people. To understand this, let revenue of the Government of India is the huge us take a look at the tax structure of the government. tax concessions given by it to the rich. Every year, There are two types of taxes, direct taxes and for the past several years, the budget documents indirect taxes. Direct taxes are levied on incomes, have included a statement on the estimated revenue such as wages, profits, property, etc., and so fall forgone by the government due to exemptions in directly on the rich; while indirect taxes are imposed major taxes levied by the Centre in the past year. This on goods and impersonal services, and so fall on all, statement is included in the annexure attached to the both rich and poor. An equitable system of taxation Receipt Budget in the Union Budget documents, and taxes individuals and corporations according to their is titled: Revenue Impact of Tax Incentive Under ability to pay, which in practice means that in such the Central Tax System. The budget documents a system, the government collects its tax revenue reveal that in its first three years in power, the tax more from direct taxes than indirect taxes. exemptions given to the country’s uber rich by the Even in unabashedly capitalist countries across Modi–Jaitley government total a mind-boggling Rs the world, be it the developing countries of South 16.5 lakh crore. These tax write-offs are in corporate Africa and Brazil, or be it the developed countries income tax, customs and excise duties.21 of the OECD, the direct tax revenue as a percentage This year, the government has not made a full of total revenue varies from 55% to 65% and more. estimate of the tax concessions given to the rich But in India, for every Rs 100 collected by the under excise and customs duties. A part of these government as tax revenue, only around Rs 30 indirect taxes have been subsumed under GST, comes from direct taxes (and the rest, Rs 70, from and the budget says that the revenue forgone indirect taxes). The government is aware of this. The due to exemptions under GST will be calculated Economic Survey 2017–18 admits that direct taxes next year. So far as the revenue forgone due to account on average for about 70% of total taxes in corporate tax concessions is concerned, the budget Europe. It also admits that India has much lower document of 2018–19 estimates this amount to be proportion of direct taxes in its total tax revenue Rs 85,026 crore for the past year, that is, 2017–18. as compared to other emerging market economies This subsidy was estimated at Rs 83,492 crore in (except for China, which is a non-democratic 23 2016–17 (this has been revised to Rs 86,145 crore in country). the 2018–19 budget statement). Since the corporate Most of the taxes collected by the States are in tax concessions for 2017–18 have actually increased the form of indirect taxes. The direct taxes are mostly over the previous year’s budget estimate, we can collected by the Centre. In the Centre’s tax revenue, safely assume that the total tax concessions given the share of direct taxes has been falling since the to the rich in 2017–18 would be at least at the same UPA-II regime. The share of direct taxes in Centre’s level as in 2016–17, that is, Rs 5.5 lakh crore. gross tax revenue fell from 61% in 2009–10 to 56% But for the tax concessions given to the rich, the in 2013–14, the last year of the UPA Government. JANATA, April 15, 2018 35

Under the Modi Government, this has fallen further This implies that had the government not given to 52% in 2017–18 RE. In other words, it has fallen these transfers, it could have increased the budget by a full 9 percentage points in less than a decade. outlay by several lakh crore rupees. To give just The Economic Survey 2017–18 admits that with the two figures: introduction of GST, reliance on indirect taxes is • During the first three years of the Modi going to further increase; the share of direct taxes Government, public sector banks have waived in Centre’s gross tax revenue is expected to fall to 24 loans given to big corporate houses to the tune of 51% in the 2018–19 budget. This means that at Rs 1.87 lakh crore;25 additionally, they have also the national level, including both the Centre and the restructured loans of the ‘high and mighty’— States, the ratio of direct to indirect taxes is going which is a roundabout way of writing off loans— to be even more skewed this year. again to the tune of several lakh crore rupees (the actual amount is not known). Despite this, the India: Low Non-Tax Revenue total non-performing assets (that is, bad loans) of The government has actually resorted to the banks have gone up to Rs 9.5 lakh crore as of statistical jugglery to boost its non-tax revenue in June 2017; the RBI has now initiated a process the 2017–18 RE. Just a few days before the budget of accelerated restructuring of these loans 26 was presented, the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas too. Corporation (ONGC) borrowed money from a clutch The government compensates the public of banks to acquire the 51.1% government share in sector banks for these losses by pouring in another state-owned company, Hindustan Petroleum public funds into them in what is known as Corporation Limited (HPCL). The government bank recapitalisation. This year, the government earned Rs 36,915 crore from this sale, and included announced that it was infusing Rs 2.11 lakh crore this in its disinvestment income for 2017–18. in public sector banks over the next two years. This boosted its receipts from disinvestment to Rs But it avoided the mention of this amount in the 1,00,000 crore as against the budgeted Rs 72,500 budget by a sleight of hand: it announced that it crore. Thus, to avoid borrowing from the market— was going to do so by issuance of recapitalisation something which would led to a further increase bonds to the tune of Rs 1.35 lakh crore, while in its fiscal deficit (more on this below)—the Rs 58,000 crore would be raised by the banks government got one government-owned company from the market; the allocation from budgetary (ONGC) to borrow and buy the government stake resources was only Rs 18,000 crore. Issuance in another company (HPCL). of bonds means that in the coming years, the Even if we leave aside this issue, the actual non- government would have to pay out interest on tax revenue of the government is very low because the bonds—thus it has shifted the burden to the of the huge transfers of public funds and resources subsequent years. to private corporations and the super-rich. But for The other way the bank loan write-offs are these transfers, the government could have hugely affecting government income is that the affected increased its non-tax revenue, or it could have saved banks either do not pay or pay lower dividends on its budgetary expenses. These transfers to the to the government. For fiscal 2017–18, this has rich include loan write-offs, handing over control resulted in shortfall in government revenues to the 27 of the country’s mineral wealth and resources to tune of several thousand crore rupees. private corporations in return for negligible royalty • In the five budgets presented by it, the Modi payments, transferring ownership of profitable Government has allocated a total of Rs 2.68 public sector corporations to foreign and Indian lakh crore just for construction of roads and private business houses at throwaway prices, direct highways. The government no longer constructs subsidies to private corporations in the name of highways. They are now constructed by private ‘public–private–partnership’ for infrastructural corporations, who collect toll from the users projects, and so on. These transfers of public wealth to recover their investment. Then why is the to private coffers total several lakh crore rupees. government allocating so much money for 36 JANATA, April 15, 2018

construction of roads and highways? This is the (this is total government revenues, Centre + States subsidy being given by the government—not as combined).31 loan but as grant—to private corporations as an From the data given above about government’s ‘incentive’ so that they invest in construction of tax revenue as compared to other countries, or from highways;28 it is another matter that apart from the data on government’s total revenue as compared this subsidy, which is as much as 40% of the to other countries, it is obvious that there is huge project cost, they get to keep the earnings from scope for increasing total government revenues in the toll as well. India—it needs to be raised by at least 50% to reach This vampyrean plunder of the country's wealth the world average. Since the bulk of the revenues and resources by corporate houses has reached such are collected by the Centre, this means that for the rapacious proportions that even the RBI Governor year 2018–19, the Centre could have increased Raghuram Rajan, himself an ardent votary of its total revenue by 50% from Rs 24 lakh crore at neoliberalism and globalisation, has lambasted present to at least Rs 36 lakh crore, if not more (and the collusion between “venal politicians” and therefore increased its budgetary outlay also to Rs “crony capitalists”. After observing that India has 36 lakh crore, an increase of Rs 12 lakh crore over the second highest number of billionaires in the the 2018–19 BE). world per trillion dollars of GDP (after Russia), he pointed out that "three factors—land, natural 5. Budget and Agriculture resources, and government contracts or licenses— The finance minister in his budget speech stated are the predominant sources of the wealth of our that the “government is committed to the welfare billionaires. And all of these factors come from the of farmers”, and repeated the promise made in 29 government." his two previous budget speeches about doubling The imposition of the World Bank imposed farmers’ income by 2022. As if to prove his concern neoliberal policies has resulted in rapid increase for farmers, he repeated the word ‘farmer’ and in the wealth of the super rich in the country. And ‘agriculture’ several times in his budget. He also with neoliberalism accelerating under the swadeshi announced several big ticket schemes for farmers. Modi Government, this concentration of wealth has Virtually every newspaper and TV channel dutifully further increased. In 2000, India’s richest 1% held headlined the budget as an agriculture friendly 36.8% of the country’s total wealth. When Modi budget. came to power in 2014, this tiny section held 49% While there is some ‘window-dressing’ in all of the country’s wealth. And within just 2 years, by budget speeches, Jaitley’s 2018–19 budget speech 30 2016, this figure has gone up to 58.4%. must surely be unprecedented in the annals of Indian budget making for its outright lies. The finance India: Low General Revenue minister announced several grandiose schemes, These huge concessions / subsidies / transfers without actually allocating a paisa for them! being given to the rich, both in the form of • Thus, Jaitley announced two funds together tax concessions and non-tax concessions, are valued at Rs 10,000 crore to develop infrastructure responsible for the government’s low revenues and for the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors. low budgetary outlay. Readers will be surprised But in the actual budgetary allocations, he has to know that India’s total government revenue as allotted only Rs 10 crore to the Fisheries and percentage of GDP is amongst the lowest in the Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund world. It is more than 40% for most countries of and Rs 37 crore to the Dairy Processing and the European Union, going up to above 50% for Infrastructure Development Fund—implying a countries like Belgium, France, Denmark and total allocation of Rs 47 crore only. There is no Finland. It is 29.7% for South Africa, 36.6% for mention of an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Argentina and 31.6% for Brazil. The world average Development Fund. is 30.2%. But India ranks far below—the Indian • He also announced an Agri-Market Infrastructure Government’s total revenue is only 20.8% of GDP Fund with a corpus of Rs 2,000 crore for JANATA, April 15, 2018 37

developing nearly 22,000 rural haats into Costs and Prices (CACP), which declares minimum Grameen Agricultural Markets and upgrading support prices, has three definitions of the concept: the 585 state-run Agricultural Produce Marketing • A2: This covers the actual payments for all inputs Committees, where farmers are obliged to sell made by the farmer while growing a particular their produce. This too is only on paper; there crop, and includes expenses such as on seeds, is no allocation for this fund in the budget fertilisers and pesticides and payment made to document. hired agricultural labourers. • He promised Rs 2,600 crore to develop • A2+FL: This covers the actual costs (A2) plus groundwater irrigation in 96 districts where less the imputed cost of family members working on than 30% of the land is assured of irrigation. But the farm. actual allocation is only Rs 310 crore; the fine • C2: This is A2+FL plus the imputed value of rent print of the budget says Rs 2,290 crore of this and interest on the owned land and capital assets. budget allocation is going to go towards payment of interest for a NABARD fund set up in the The report of the National Commission on 2016–17 budget to fund incomplete irrigation Farmers, chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, projects across the country. had clearly stated that farmers should get an MSP • Jaitley also proclaimed the launch of a which is 50% higher than ‘C2’ production cost, “Restructured National Bamboo Mission with which is the comprehensive cost of production.33 an outlay of Rs 1,290 crore” to promote rural Farmers’ organisations have been demanding the income from bamboo cultivation. The actual implementation of this for more than a decade. allocation—Rs 300 crore. Therefore, when Modi went around promising that MSP will be set at cost plus 50% during the 2014 election campaign, and when the BJP put this in its MSP Promise manifesto, they were obviously talking of C2 cost. The announcement that made the biggest splash, Jaitley has now changed this to A2+FL—he in fact and which was highlighted by every media outlet, has admitted this while replying to a debate on the was Jaitley’s promise that the government will fix Union Budget 2018–19 in the Rajya Sabha.34 Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops at 50% When the CACP calculates the “returns to over costs. But here again, there was a sleight of farmers” provided by MSP, it calls the margin over hand. Jaitley claimed that MSP for most rabi (winter) A2+FL as “gross returns” and the margin over crops announced by the government was already C2 as “net returns”. Anyone with an elementary more than 50% over the cost of production, and understanding of household economics knows that that for the remaining crops, the government would it is “net income” that matters.35 soon implement this promise made in the BJP party In Table 6, we give the net return and gross return manifesto of 2014 Lok Sabha election. for the top 9 crops in the country, ranked according Strangely, this same government had filed an to area of cultivation (excluding sugarcane, whose affidavit in the Supreme Court in February 2015 price calculation is different) during the five years saying that the demand of MSP at 50% above of UPA–II and the first four years of BJP. cost of production cannot be met. And just a few Note that there is a huge difference between the months ago, in May 2017, Union Agriculture returns when we take C2 instead of A2+FL as the Minister Radha Mohan Singh declared that Modi baseline cost. Also note that the returns have fallen never promised 50% increase in support price.32 So significantly during the BJP regime as compared to how is the finance minister now claiming that the the previous Congress regime. government is already giving MSP at more than Table 6 makes clear why the farmers’ organisations 50% margin over cost of production for most crops are angry and are protesting Jaitley’s announcement this rabi season? that the government is already giving MSP at above The trick lies in Jaitley’s definition of production 50% of production cost for most rabi crops. It is yet cost. He has changed the formula for calculating another addition to the long list of betrayals by the production cost. The Commission for Agricultural BJP of its election promises. 38 JANATA, April 15, 2018

allocation. Even assuming that all of it will be spent, it is too less an increase for a significant expansion of the government’s procurement operations even at last year’s prices, forget a higher MSP. That Jaitley is not serious about increasing government procurement from farmers is also obvious from the allocations for other schemes related to crop procurement. Thus, the government has a Market Procurement Lies Intervention Scheme to procure pulses and oilseeds for limited periods. This Whatever be the MSP declared, another problem year, the government cut the budget for it from Rs faced by farmers is that most farmers do not get 950 crore to Rs 200 crore. Jaitley has also slashed this price for their crops. Government procurement the budget for the Price Stabilisation Fund (this fund operations cover only a few crops, mainly rice, has been transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture wheat, cotton and occasionally pulses. (While there to the Department of Consumer Affairs), whose is no government procurement per se in sugarcane, aim is to create a buffer stock of pulses and address mills are legally obligated to buy cane from farmers problems arising out of volatility in prices, from Rs at prices fixed by government, an effective MSP-like 6,900 crore in 2016–17 and Rs 3,500 in 2017–18 arrangement.) And these procurement operations to just Rs 1,500 crore in 2018–19. Earlier, this fund are mainly confined to only a few regions in a was meant for cereals and vegetables also; now it few states, most of which are more irrigated (like has been confined to pulses only. Punjab, Haryana, western UP and Andhra Pradesh). The Shanta Kumar committee admits that 94% of farmers do not get MSP, even if it is low.37 Other Empty Promises The finance minister admitted this problem Another form of output support provided by in his budget speech, a late acknowledgement, the government to farmers is the much-hyped crop after 4 years. Meanwhile, another few thousand insurance scheme—Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima farmers had committed suicide. Be that as it may, Yojana. The scheme aims to provide financial support he proposed, “Niti Aayog, in consultation with to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of Central and State Governments, will put in place unforeseen events. The farmer pays the premium at a fool-proof mechanism so that farmers will get a subsidised rate, the rest is borne by the Centre and adequate price for their produce.” But true to form, the respective State. Even this scheme has turned he has sanctioned no budget for the implementation out to be a way of transferring public funds to of this promise! corporations—in the name of public welfare, it has Government procurement from farmers comes resulted in windfall profits for insurance companies. under the budget head, ‘food subsidy’. Last year, Data tabled in Parliament in July 2017 reveals that the government allocated Rs 1.45 lakh crore for eleven insurance companies received a total of Rs this in the budget, but spent only Rs 1.40 lakh crore. 20,374 crore as crop insurance premium during the This year, the food subsidy has gone up to Rs 1.69 2016–17 kharif and rabi seasons, but paid out only lakh crore, an increase of 16.5% over last year’s Rs 3,655 crore to settle the claims. Even this claim JANATA, April 15, 2018 39

amount paid out was only 63% of the amount of going to agribusiness corporations and not farmers.42 claims submitted. The insurance companies thus Farmers’ organisations have been demanding that earned over Rs 16,700 crore as profits. That’s a the government take steps to bring many excluded wow!38 sections of the farming community into the ambit of Probably one of the most important ways in institutional credit, such as women farmers, Adivasi which the government can ease the agrarian distress farmers, tenant farmers and landless farmers. But is by waiving all agricultural loans. This is one of the Jaitley has ignored this demand too. The only most important demands being raised by farmers’ budgetary provision related to farm debt is interest movements all over the country. Because of the anti- subsidy to farmers—the allocation for this remains farmer policies being implemented in the country the same as the allocation last year, Rs 15,000 crore. since 1991—as a part of the World Bank imposed neoliberal policies—the agricultural crisis has been Budget Allocation for Agriculture worsening, resulting in falling incomes for 70% of Indian farmers who have land holdings of less The single most important allocation that than 1 hectare. Consequently, over the two decades indicates how serious the finance minister is with 1992 to 2012, the percentage of indebted cultivator regards to agriculture is the budget allocation for households (defined as rural households operating the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and at least 0.002 ha of land) has nearly doubled from Farmers' Welfare. In absolute terms, this is only Rs 25.9% to 45.9% (according to the All India Debt 46,700 crore. Though this amount is 11.6% above and Investment Survey conducted by the NSS). the budget estimate for 2017–18, in relative terms, it Per indebted household, the average amount of is a mere 1.91% of the total budget outlay (Table 7). debt has gone up by many times and was Rs 1.5 The finance minister stressed the significance of lakh in 2012.39 For India’s marginal farmers, the non-crop activities in his budget speech. Although the share of this debt from informal sources, especially contribution of agriculture to national GDP has been moneylenders, has been rising. It is because of this steadily declining over the years, the contribution worsening crisis that more than 3.5 lakh farmers of the livestock sub-sector (includes sectors like have committed suicide over the past two decades.40 dairy, poultry and meat) and fisheries sub-sector The number of farmers’ suicides doubled during to agricultural GDP has increased impressively 41 over the last two decades, from less than 15% in the first year of the Modi Government; after that, 43 the government has stopped releasing data about the late 1970s to more than 33% by 2012–13. farmers’ suicides. The livestock sector provides additional income to Of course, it is no one’s claim that waiving a large section of small and marginal farmers; the farmers’ loans by itself will alleviate the agricultural Economic Survey 2010–11 estimated that fishing, crisis. That would call for a holistic national agrarian aquaculture and allied activities provide livelihood policy. But undoubtedly, waiving of all agricultural to more than 14 million people. Although the total loans would be an important first step of any such budget of the Department of Animal Husbandry, policy. Instead of farm loan waiver, Jaitley has Dairy and Fisheries for 2018–19 has gone up by Rs offered more debt to farmers! He has promised to 930 crore as compared to 2017–18 RE, in absolute increase the flow of institutional credit to agriculture terms the total budgetary outlay is very low, only Rs from Rs 10 lakh crore last year to Rs 11 lakh crore 3,100 crore in 2018–19. Of this increase, the total in the coming financial year. Even with regard to increase in the budget for what is called the ‘White this announcement, it is only on paper—look in the Revolution’ is only Rs 596 crore, which is scarcely budget documents, and you will not find this number enough to compensate for the increasing gau rakshak anywhere. Jaitley is only promising that the banks goondaism across the country that has made it will lend this much money to farmers—something difficult if not impossible for farmers to keep cattle. that has got nothing to do with the budget. It is another matter that a large part of the bank credit that Falling Investment in Rural Development goes under the name of agricultural lending today is Conditions in agriculture are intimately tied to 40 JANATA, April 15, 2018

previous year (from Rs 23,000 crore to Rs 21,000 crore). Obviously, the government has no intention of constructing many houses under this scheme, it is just another of Jaitley’s fibs. The finance minister also made big claims about constructing roads in rural areas. This year, the amount allocated for this scheme, known as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, is exactly the same (at Rs 19,000 crore) as was budgeted last year—a drop in real terms (Table 8). The allocation for the National Social Assistance Programme is also budgeted under the Department for Rural Development. Why is it under this Department? God alone knows. Anyway. This is the main programme for providing social security to the poor and especially those working in the unorganised sector. It provides a ridiculously low pension of Rs 200 per month to all widows above the age of 40 and all old people above the age of 60. The government has been the general state of the rural economy, and that is consistently attempting to save on this why public spending on rural development is also little allocation too by making no attempt to enrol crucial for the overall development of agriculture. all old people under this scheme—so the revised Here the outlays are hugely disappointing. Total estimate for 2017–18 is less than the budgeted rural development spending (Ministry of Rural estimate by as much as Rs 750 crore! Development) is slated to increase by only 3.6% The most important scheme under the Department over the previous year’s revised estimate—not even of Rural Development is obviously the allocation keeping pace with inflation (Table 7)! for the government’s rural employment guarantee One important head under the Department of programme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Development is the ‘Pradhan Mantri Avas Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). It Yojana – Grameen’. In his budget speech, the finance guarantees a minimum of 100 days of employment minister declared that the government has launched in a year to every willing household—though this is this scheme so that “every poor of this country very inadequate, at least it is something. This scheme may have his own house by 2022”; he announced has the potential to lessen the crisis gripping the rural that the government planned to construct 51 lakh areas and improve food security. Numerous studies houses in 2017–18 and the same number in 2018–19 have shown that NREGA has had several positive exclusively in the rural areas under this scheme. But effects, including increasing rural wages, enabling he was silent on how many houses had actually been better access to food and thereby reducing hunger, constructed in 2017–18. The reason is simple: the and reducing distress migration from rural areas. website of the Ministry for Rural Development says The budgetary allocation for this important that only 7.45 lakh houses had been constructed as scheme has been kept at the same level as last year’s 44 on March 14, 2018. Now, for 2018–19, he has revised estimate, at Rs 55,000 crore. This means cut the allocation for this scheme by 9% over the that it is a cut in real terms. Further, a part of this JANATA, April 15, 2018 41

hour power cut. Think about those women and children whose houses will not get electricity.” And so he announced, “We are spending Rs 16,000 crore under this scheme” to provide electricity to 4 crore rural and urban households in the country by December 2018. He has muddled up the dates. This scheme had been launched in September 2017, and the government had approved Rs 16,320 crore as the total spend for two years from 2017 to 2019 for this (of which the outlay for rural households was to be Rs 14,025

year’s allocation is going to be spent on meeting last year’s liabilities. The liabilities are estimated to be around Rs 6,000 crore.45 This means that to keep the outlay at last year’s level, the allocation for 2018–19 should have been 55000+ 4400 (inflation at 8%) + 6000 = Rs 65,400 crore. The actual allocation for 2018–19 is 16% less than this. crore). Of this, the Centre was supposed to provide Secondly, even if the Centre had allocated the Rs 12,320 crore. In the financial year 2017–18, the desired funds to keep the allocation at the same level scheme was to get Rs 3,600 crore from the Centre as last year, it would have been insufficient for a full but received only Rs 2,000 crore. For this year, the roll-out of the scheme. MNREGS is a demand-driven allocation was supposed to be Rs 8,720 crore, but scheme, it guarantees 100 days of employment to all the Centre has allocated only Rs 3,500 crore.47 The those who desire it. Ever since the scheme was rolled finance minister is lying again! out in 2006, successive governments have never allocated enough funds to make this many days of Total Agriculture Related Allocations employment available to all those seeking work. During the Modi Government’s four years so far, on Let us now take a look at the budget for the average less than 50 person-days of employment all agriculture related sectors (Ministry of had been generated per household (Table 9). The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of primary sufferers of this cut are some of the poorest Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources and most vulnerable workers of rural India. as well as the Department of Fertilisers). As can be Another scheme, that does not come under seen from Table 7, the total spending for all these the Ministry of Rural Development but under the ministries / departments is Rs 2.51 lakh crore. As Ministry of Power, but which has the potential of a percentage of the budget outlay, this has fallen benefiting the rural economy, is the government from 11% in 2017–18 BE to 10.30% this year. programme for enhancing power supply to the As a percentage of the GDP, total spending on all rural areas (and urban areas too)—the Pradhan agriculture related sectors is just 1.34% of GDP. It Mantri Saubhagya Yojana. The finance minister was 1.4% in last year’s budget estimate. This, for a in his budget speech stated, “You can very well sector on which more than 50% of the population imagine our anxiety and restlessness even with one depend for their livelihoods! 42 JANATA, April 15, 2018

As we have shown in several of our previous Development Council. The reason is obvious—after writings,48 while the Modi–Jaitley duo has indulged the farmers have been pushed out of their farms, in a lot of bluster regarding welfare of farmers, they will need to be trained to work as workers in promising to double farmers’ income by 2022 and the factories. so on, the actual policies implemented by them have Clearly, the Modi Government is the most anti- led to a sharp worsening of the agrarian crisis. It is farmer government in the history of independent because of this that agricultural GDP growth rate India. has come down by half to just 1.9% per annum during the first four years of the Modi Government 6. Jaitley and the Social Sectors as compared to the ten years of the previous UPA Government (2004–05 to 2013–14), when agri-GDP Public Social Sector Expenditures: India vs Other registered a growth rate of 3.7% per annum.49 Countries Does the Modi Government not have enough money to increase agricultural spending? Of course Most developed countries have a very elaborate it has. As discussed above, if it reduces the enormous social security network for their citizens, including subsidies and transfers being given to corporate unemployment allowance, universal health coverage, houses, it can easily double or even triple its total free school education and free or cheap university investment on all agriculture related sectors, from education, old age pension, maternity benefits, the Rs 2.5 lakh core at present to Rs 5–7.5 lakh crore. disability benefits, family allowance such as child It can also waive all agricultural loans—this would care allowance, allowances for those too poor to cost the government at the most Rs 3 lakh crore.50 make a living, and much more. Governments spend Instead of this, why is the Modi Government substantial sums for providing these social services implementing anti-farmer policies, which are to their people. The average public social sector driving out lakhs of farmers from agriculture, and expenditures of the 34 countries of the OECD have have led to a sharp increase in farmer suicides? been around 20% of GDP for the last many years, This is made clear in a paper by Niti Aayog, the and for the EU–27 have been even higher at around government’s policy making body, prepared in 30% of GDP. 2015, that says that small scale farming is a major The average public social sector expenditures for hinderance to growth of agriculture: the 21 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have risen significantly over the past decade, from With the corporate sector keen on investing an average of 4.8% of GDP in 2001–02 to 18.6% in in agribusiness to harness the emerging 2009–10. These expenditures are as high as 27.8% of GDP for Argentina, 27.1% for Brazil, and a fantastic opportunities in domestic and global markets, 53 time is opportune for reforms that would provide 40.7% for Cuba (all figures for 2009). healthy business environment for this sector. In contrast, the public social sector expenditure Small scale has been a major constraint on of the Government of India is very low! Jaitley and the growth of this industry and hence on the his predecessors in the Finance Ministry and the diversification by the vast majority of India ‘Chicago boys’ who are their economic advisors farmers into high value agriculture.51 are all blithely lying when they claim that the subsidies to the poor are very high! The Economic So this is the real objective of neoliberal Survey 2017–18 admits that the total social services policies in agriculture—to corporatise farming, expenditure of the Government of India (Centre and States combined) was around Rs 11 lakh crore in which is only possible if small farmers are driven 54 out of agriculture. This is in fact bluntly stated in 2017–18 BE, which amounted to just 6.6% of GDP. another more recent official document, that lays out Of the total social sector expenditures of the a target of bringing down the population engaged government (Centre + States combined), the larger in agriculture from the existing 57% to 38% over portion is spent by the states. The Central share of the next five years, by 2022.52 Interestingly, this total social sector spending was around 25% during is elucidated in a report of the National Skill the UPA years of 2007–08 to 2010–11; after that, JANATA, April 15, 2018 43

it has fallen and was around 18% in 2017–18.55 the poor, for the women, for those running small and A significant part of the social sector spending of micro enterprises, and other vulnerable sections of the States is done from tied grants provided by the our society. He made many claims, not only about Centre. Therefore, on the whole, the priorities of the the recent past, but also about the coming fiscal year, Centre influence the overall social sector spending and how his government is implementing numerous in the country considerably. schemes with supposedly massive increases in We do not have an exact estimate of the social public spending directed towards benefiting these sector expenditure of the Central government in sections of the people. 2018–19, the budget document does not mention But when it came to actually allocating money this figure. But considering the overall budget outlay for the social sectors, the budget did not put the and the expenditures on various ministries related to money where the mouth is. The figures for the the social sectors (discussed later in this essay), the government expenditures on all ministries related social sector expenditure of the government must to what can be called the social sectors are given roughly be the same as in 2017–18 (as a percentage in Table 10. (Note that this is a more liberalised of GDP), if not lower; that is, we can assume that it definition of government social sector spending than was around Rs 2.2 lakh crore. that given in the Economic Survey.) Can’t Jaitley increase the government’s revenues From Table 10, it becomes evident that there (and increase the government’s transfers to the is no significant increase in the government's States), and thereby increase the total social sector expenditure on all social welfare related ministries. expenditure of the government (Centre + States It is projected to increase by only 9.18% over the combined) to at least 15% of GDP? That is actually revised estimates for 2017–18, which means it will not much; it is only half the level of EU-27. That barely beat inflation. As a proportion of the budget would require a total social sector expenditure of Rs outlay and of the GDP, this has actually fallen. 28 lakh crore. Assuming that the Centre spends 25% We have mentioned above that first demonetisation of it, this would require the social sector expenditure and then GST have had a devastating effect on of the Centre to go up to Rs 7 lakh crore from the the livelihoods of India's poor. Had the Modi Rs 2.2 lakh crore at present—an increase of just Rs Government the slightest concern for the common 4.8 lakh crore. The Centre, if it so wants, can easily people of the country, it would have taken steps to afford this by reducing the loan write-offs of the increase its allocations for those sectors that directly corporate houses, or reducing the tax concessions affect the people, that is, the social sectors. The to the rich, or by cancelling the mineral leases given anti-people nature of the Modi government becomes to corporate houses at very low royalty rates, or . . . evident from the fact that the total expenditure on all public welfare related ministries of the Union Allocations for Ministries Related to Public government, even on the basis of the liberalised Welfare definition given by us above, at Rs 5 lakh crore, is This year being a pre-election year, it was only to less than the total tax exemptions given to the rich, be expected that Arun Jaitley’s pre-election Budget which total Rs 5.5 lakh crore. Speech would go on and on about how much his government cares for the people, for the farmers, for Boosting Demand by Social Sector Expenditures Let us for a moment drop this fact-based critical examination of the budget from a socialist perspective, and examine it purely from the perspective of mainstream capitalist economics. In the Economic Survey 2017–18 presented by Arvind Subramanian, the Chief Economic Advisor of the Government of 44 JANATA, April 15, 2018

India, he devotes a good deal of space to a discussion This is precisely what neoliberalism is all of the serious decline in gross investment in India about—it means running the economy solely as a proportion of the GDP. The Survey notes: “The for the profiteering of giant foreign and Indian ratio of gross fixed capital formation to GDP climbed corporate houses, including shamelessly cutting from 26.5% in 2003, reached a peak of 35.6% in down the public welfare expenditures on the poor 2007, and then slid back to 26.4% in 2017.” It admits and transferring the savings to the coffers of the that such sharp swings in investment rates “have corporate houses. Every government that has never occurred in India’s history”, and that while come to power at the Centre since the beginning “the past 15 years have been a special period for the of globalisation in 1991 has dutifully implemented entire global economy, no other country seems to these policies; the Modi Government is even more have gone through such a large investment boom and unashamedly implementing these policies. bust during this period.”57 The Survey frankly and Such is the nationalism of the BJP–RSS. It is ominously adds: “India’s investment decline seems confined to unfurling giant sized flags in universities, particularly difficult to reverse . . . The deeper the and forcing people to stand up while the national slowdown, the slower and shallower the recovery.”58 anthem is being played in cinema halls—while on And as we have pointed out in our discussion above, the ground, it is doing shastang dandavata before the economic slowdown has worsened since the the international financial institutions and giant second half of 2016, after the twin disasters of foreign corporations, betraying the interests of the demonetisation and GST. It is another matter that common people. the finance minister in his budget speech denies Let us now take a look at the budget allocations this crisis and instead claims that “India stands out for some of the more important social sectors. among the fastest growing economies of the world.” The way out of this economic slowdown is Allocation for Education to boost demand, and one way of doing it is by boosting social sector spending. It is now fairly Back to the Dark Ages well established that government spending on social sectors such as education and health has significant No country in the world has developed without positive multiplier effects.59 [The fiscal multiplier making provisions for providing free, compulsory, is an estimate of the effect of government spending equitable and good quality elementary education on economic growth. A multiplier greater than 1 to ALL its children in the initial stages of its corresponds to a positive growth stimulus (returning development, and later expanding it to secondary more than Re 1 for each rupee invested), whereas and higher secondary education. Since the private a multiplier less than one reflects a net loss from sector will only invest for profit, all countries, spending.] including the avowedly capitalist countries of the But the finance minister does no such thing in West, have done this entirely through public funding. the budget. He says, in his budget speech, that the Unfortunately, India has not been able to provide government attaches “utmost priority to prudent this to a majority of its children seven decades after fiscal management and controlling fiscal deficit”. In independence. layman’s language, this means that the government The Planning Commission of India admits that 42.4% children drop out of school before completing must reduce its expenditures. And so he has reduced 60 the government’s social sector expenditure relative elementary education. And for those attending to the budget outlay. schools, the conditions in a majority of the schools Jaitley has no problems in giving lakhs of crores are simply terrible: of rupees as subsidies to the rich in the name of • In a majority of the primary schools in the ‘tax incentives’, or ‘investment subsidies’, or bank country, a single teacher is teaching two or three loan write-offs, and so on. But when it comes to different classes at the same time in a single increasing welfare spending on the poor, he says room!61 that the government cannot afford that as the fiscal • Nearly one-third of the schools do not have deficit needs to be curbed. usable toilet facilities. And 40% schools do not have electricity.62 JANATA, April 15, 2018 45

schools have closed down till date.65 To cover up for this cut in spending, Jaitley has once again resorted to his standard ‘smoke- and-mirrors-routine’. In his budget speech, he announced: “Technology will be the biggest driver in improving the quality of education. We propose to increase the digital intensity in education and move gradually from ‘black board’ to ‘digital board’.” But he has cut the outlay for digital e-learning from an already low Rs 518 crore in the revised estimates for • Around a million teaching posts are vacant last year to a paltry Rs 456 crore in schools across the country (9,00,000 in this year. In any case, only a very few government elementary schools and 1,00,000 posts in schools are in any position to take advantage of this secondary schools), amounting to nearly one- scheme. Official data tell us that in 2015–16, only fifth of the teaching positions.63 62% of schools had electricity connections and only 24% had functional computers—and only 9% had With such dismal conditions, is it any wonder both!66 that a survey found that 48% of Class V students were unable to read Class II–level text; and 43% of Class VIII students could not divide numbers.64 Business of Higher Education Coming to higher education, the number Betraying Our Children of students in colleges, defined by the Gross Enrolment Ratio or GER (number of students as Despite this dismal situation, the government a percent proportion of the youth population in continues with its push towards privatisation of the age group 17–23 / 18–24) is way below the education, as demanded by the World Bank’s developed countries—the GER for India is only Structural Adjustment Programme. The strategy around 20, whereas for developed countries it is is simple: ruin the quality of government school above 60, with several countries having a GER system by cutting the funding of school education above 70.67 An important reason for this is the and keeping teaching posts vacant; children will accelerating privatisation and commercialisation automatically exit government schools, and those of higher education—already, more than half who can afford it will join private schools. This of higher education enrolment is in private privatisation drive has accelerated under the Modi educational institutions.68 Since all these are for- Government. profit institutions, very few students can afford In this year’s budget, the allocation for school their fees. With the government reducing its higher education is just 6.4% higher than the revised education spending, most government funded estimate for last year, implying a cut in real terms. colleges are starved of funds and so, to meet their The allocation for school education in all of Jaitley’s expenses, are being forced to increase student fees five budgets has fallen so sharply that in real terms, using all kinds of excuses. Consequently, studying the allocation for 2018–19 is less than the allocation in government funded educational institutions too in the 2014–15 BE by as much as 33% (Table 11). is becoming unaffordable for students from poor The consequence: more than 2 lakh government families. 46 JANATA, April 15, 2018

This trend has gained momentum under the student fees to repay the loans, making higher Modi Government. The higher education budget has education even costlier. increased by a tiny 0.42% over the revised estimate Narendra Modi and the BJP had promised to for last year—a huge cut in real terms. A comparison increase spending on education (Centre + States with Jaitley’s first budget in 2014–15 reveals that in combined) to 6% of GDP during their 2014 Lok real terms, the allocation for this year has actually Sabha election campaign. The Economic Survey fallen by 7% (CAGR) (Table 11). The All India 2017–18 admits that this has actually fallen under Council for Technical Education, the regulator of Modi rule, from 3.1% of GDP in 2012–13 to just engineering education in India, has been given 2.7% in 2017–18 BE.69 With the Centre’s educational only Rs 485 crore, the same as last year, a cut in budget as a percentage of GDP falling further this real terms. The allocation for the University Grants year, the combined spending of Centre and States Commission, that regulates the higher educational on education is going to be even lower in 2018–19. institutions in the country and provides grants to If Modi was indeed serious about implementing more than 10,000 institutions, has been reduced to his election promise, it would require a total Rs 4,723 crore from last year’s revised estimate of educational spending (Centre + States) of Rs 11.2 Rs 4,923 crore. It had been allocated Rs 9,315 crore lakh crore in 2018–19. Even if the Centre had spent in 2015–16 RE; in other words, even in nominal 25% of this so as to give a boost to total educational terms, the allocation for it has fallen by half in three spending in the country (the Centre had spent 17.4% years. in 2017–18 BE), it would have required Jaitley to Within the higher education budget of the allocate Rs 2.8 lakh crore for education, an increase Central government, the trend so far has been that of Rs 2 lakh crore over the actual allocation made a major part of its allocations (more than one-third) in the budget—not an unaffordable amount for a have gone towards funding the so-called ‘institutions government that gives several times this amount as of excellence’ such as the IITs, IIMs and the Central subsidies to the rich every year. Universities. This year, the budget for even these institutions has been cut, which means that the fees Cogs in Corporate Wheel in these colleges, which has risen sharply in recent years, is going to further go up. The neoliberal model looks at everything, The main increase in this year’s budget is including education, from the perspective of for what the finance minister has called a new maximising corporate profits. There is no need to initiative, ‘Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems look at education from the perspective of human in Education’, or RISE, to “step up investments development, as a means of unlocking the inherent in research and related infrastructure in premier potential of human beings, so that they can enjoy an educational institutions”. He announced an enhanced quality of life. All this is gibberish. The investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore for this over the sole aim of education must be to prepare youth for next four years. The catch is, this investment will employment in the assembly lines of multinational not be from the budget. Educational institutions corporations. For this, the youth must be imparted will be given loans from a new non-bank finance the necessary skills, so that they can become cogs company set up last year by the government, the in the corporate wheel. Higher Education Financing Authority (HEFA), This philosophy also fits well with the fascist which will borrow money from the market for this. philosophy of the BJP–RSS regime, which wants The college will have to repay the principal, the to transform our youth into mindless automatons in Central government will bear the interest costs. The the service of virulent Hindutva. budget will only fund the interest costs, for which the And so, while on the one hand, the Modi–Jaitley budget allocation for HEFA has been hiked from Rs regime is slowly strangulating our higher educational 250 crore in 2017–18 to Rs 2,750 crore in 2018–19. institutions by starving them of funds, on the other This means that universities and colleges will have hand, the government has hugely increased funding to borrow from HEFA for upgrading themselves, for skill development. The BJP Government which in turn means that they will have to increase inaugurated the Ministry of Skill Development and JANATA, April 15, 2018 47

Entrepreneurship soon after coming to power in therefore continued. It provides an insurance cover 2014. Its main programme is the Pradhan Mantri of Rs 30,000 per year to every BPL household in Kaushal Vikas Yojana, the allocation for which has case of hospitalisation. more than tripled in the last three years. This year, It is not clear if the Modi Government spent the allocation for this programme has increased by anything on RSBY in 2015–16. Though the 2015– 12% over the budget estimate for last year (Table 16 RE shows an expenditure of Rs 595 crore, no 12). mention of this scheme can be found in the budget documents of 2017–18, where actual expenditure of 2015–16 is mentioned. The allocation for the new avatar of RSBY was increased to Rs 1,500 crore in the 2016–17 budget, but since the new scheme remained dormant, only Rs 466 crore was spent (actual expenditure, taken from 2018 budget Allocation for Health documents). It was allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the 2017–18 budget; again, only Rs 471 crore was spent Biggest Hoax of Budget (2017–18 RE). It remains to be seen how much will the government actually spend of the increased Another budget showstopper was Jaitley’s allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for the latest avatar of announcement of “the world’s largest government RSBY. funded health care programme.” It was a scheme to How many poor families have benefited from provide medical insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per RSBY? The government has not been very willing family to 10 crore poor families (roughly 50 crore to release RSBY data, and so comprehensive people) in case of hospitalisation (that is, out-patient evaluations have not been done. But independent care is not covered). evaluations of the RSBY based on NSS data for It is proof of the vacuity of our media that 2014 show that only 1.2% of the hospitalisation this announcement was highlighted by every TV cases of the rural population and 6.2% of the urban news channel and hit the headlines of nearly every population received even part reimbursement. newspaper the next day. It was actually the biggest Studies have also shown that private hospitals often hoax of the budget. force people to pay extra money even after receiving Even assuming that the finance minister is RSBY insurance funds.72 Therefore, it is doubtful serious about providing medical insurance to the if many poor families will benefit from the latest poor for hospitalisation, the allocation is simply version of RSBY. inadequate. He has allocated only Rs 2,000 crore for More importantly, this is not really a universal the scheme. Even government functionaries admit healthcare scheme even for the poor. That is that the scheme will require a minimum outlay of at because it does not cover outpatient costs, and least Rs 10,000 crore; other experts peg the burden these constitute 63.5% of the health related out- on the exchequer to be much higher.70 of-pocket expenditure (that is, personal spending It is not the first time the finance minister has by people) in India. India’s health-related out-of- made such an announcement. In his 2016 budget pocket expenditure, which pushes families into speech too, he had announced a “new health indebtedness and deeper poverty, is among the protection scheme” to provide health insurance world’s highest.73 cover of up to Rs 1 lakh per family. Six months The biggest beneficiaries of publicly funded after Jaitley’s budget speech, Prime Minister health insurance schemes are private hospitals and Narendra Modi too reiterated this promise in his insurance companies. This has been the experience Independence Day address on August 15, 2016. Yet, all over the world. The only way in which reliable one and a half years later, that is, till end-2017, the and good quality health care can be provided to Union Cabinet had still not approved the proposal, ordinary people is by strengthening public hospitals. and so the scheme never took off.71 The previously But for that, the government needs to increase its existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) health care budget. 48 JANATA, April 15, 2018

Declining Allocation for Healthcare Prioritising Tertiary Over Primary Care The WHO recommends that countries should Even within this low allocation, the entire allocate at least 5% of their GDP for public health orientation of the finance minister is to shift priority services; India allocates barely 1%. India ranks 171 in spending from primary care to tertiary care. The out of 175 countries in public health spending.74 allocation for building AIIMS-like institutes and The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 promises upgrading government medical colleges (given to increase the government’s (Centre and the States the deceptive name of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya combined) health expenditure from the existing Suraksha Yojana) has been increased by Rs 650 crore 1.15% of GDP to 2.5% by 2025.75 A simple back- in nominal terms (Rs 3,175 crore in 2017–18 RE to of-the-envelope calculation shows that for achieving Rs 3,825 in 2018–19). On the other hand, the funds this target, government spending on health needs to for the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) grow by at least 20% a year.76 But the allocation for have been cut even in nominal terms by almost Rs Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has increased 1,200 crore. While the NRHM’s urban counterpart, by only a miniscule amount, from Rs 53,294 crore the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) has in last year’s revised estimate to Rs 54,600 crore got an increased funding of Rs 875 crore this year, this year, an increase of only 2.45%, implying a it is actually one-fourth of its requirement (Table cut in real terms (Table 13). Minus the budget for 13). The Union Cabinet had estimated the share of the RSBY insurance scheme, the allocation for this Central funding for this scheme to be around Rs ministry has actually declined! 3,400 crore per annum way back in 2013 when it had The allocation for the Ministry of Health and given approval to this scheme aimed at addressing Family Welfare for this year has declined both as a healthcare challenges in towns and cities with focus percentage of the budget outlay and as a percentage on urban poor.77 of GDP as compared to the revised estimate for last Note that we are not arguing that new high year. quality public tertiary care hospitals are not needed—the point is that this should be not done at the cost of neglecting the primary sector. The present rush at the district and high-end hospitals can be much reduced if primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) are improved; if primary level health services are good, most illnesses can be taken care of at this level itself, and this will not only improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of delivery of public health services, it will also improve the overall health status of the people. Therefore, priority should be given to improving primary health care; but like last year, this has been completely ignored in this budget too. The cut in the budget for NRHM means that the existing shortfalls in public health and primary care facilities—20% shortage of health sub-centres, along with 22% and 30% shortage of PHCs and CHCs (as per Rural Health Statistics 2016)78 —are unlikely to be addressed. But then what about the announcement made by Jaitley in his budget speech about JANATA, April 15, 2018 49

allocating Rs 1,200 crore for converting all the 1.5 lakh health sub-centres into health and wellness centres? Again, this is mere tweaking of numbers. This allocation is probably under the head ‘Health Systems Strengthening’, for which the budget has been increased by Rs 1,177 crore (Table 14). This works out to an average of Rs 80,000 per centre—which is simply too inadequate. About 20% of the sub-centres do not even have regular water supply and 23% are without electricity. Over 6,000 sub-centres do not have an ANM/health worker (female) and almost one lakh highest number of child and maternal deaths in the centres do not have a health worker (male). There world, criminally neglecting this health ‘crisis’ and 79 are 4,243 centres without either. For a sub-centre spending less than almost all other countries in the to become a health and wellness centre, at the least, world on improving public health facilities—while these basic facilities and human resources need to at the same time giving lakhs of crores of rupees as be provided. It is hard to understand how this can subsidies to its uber rich. be done with the meagre funds allocated. There is also no increase in allocation for maintenance of supportive infrastructure. All this only proves that Allocation for Nutrition-Related Schemes all the talk of ‘health and wellness centres’ by the India may be one of the world's fastest growing finance minister is mere prattle. economies, but its hunger levels are amongst the Simultaneously, the finance minister has made worst in the world. The Global Hunger Index drastic cuts in the funding for reproductive and child (GHI), a multidimensional statistical tool designed healthcare (Rs 2,291 crore in nominal terms, or to comprehensively measure and track hunger 32% in real terms) and for communicable diseases globally and by country and region, ranked India at care (Rs 720 crore in nominal terms, 28% in real a very low 100 out of 119 countries for which the terms)—this is the reason why despite the increased GHI was calculated in 2017. The GHI is calculated allocation for health sub-centres, the overall budget by the Washington-based International Food Policy for NRHM shows an absolute decline. Research Institute (IFPRI).80 India’s shamefully high hunger levels are also borne out by recently released data from the National Can’t Jaitley Increase Health Budget? Family Health Survey–4 (2015–16). According to The NHP promises to increase Central this survey:81 government health spending to 1% of GDP. To • 38.4% of children under the age meet this target, Jaitley needed to allocate Rs 1.8 of five are stunted (low height for lakh crore in 2018-19; he has allocated only 29% age, indicating chronic malnutrition); of this. It is not that the government does not have • 35.7% are underweight (low weight the required funds to make this allocation; it is a for age, indicating both chronic and question of priorities—whether priority should be acute malnutrition); and given to profiteering of corporations, or providing • 21% have wasting (low weight for essential health and education facilities to the people. height, indicating acute malnutrition). The headlines have got it wrong. This Budget is not about the world’s largest health protection plan. The survey also reveals that 58.4% children It is about a country which has the highest number of between 6–59 months of age and 50% pregnant deaths in the world due to disease, a country with the women between 15–49 years are anaemic. 50 JANATA, April 15, 2018

Food Subsidy these food essentials, that would cost the exchequer The most important programme in the country to at the most Rs 40,000 crore. This means that the food tackle this hunger and malnutrition crisis facing the subsidy bill would go up by a total of Rs 1.25 lakh country is the food subsidy programme, wherein the crore, for universalising and expanding the PDS. government provides essential food and non-food That is not much, for a government that gives Rs items to the poor at subsidised rates through the 5.5 lakh crore as tax concessions to the super-rich public distribution system (PDS). This food subsidy every year. programme is mandated under the National Food This year, Jaitley has increased the food subsidy Security Act (NFSA), passed by the Parliament in outlay by 16.5% over the previous year’s allocation, 2013. which implies that the government is not planning As we have discussed elsewhere, the NFSA to significantly increase its food procurement as is a very inadequate Act. It is actually a disgrace compared to last year. As we can see from Table 15, for a country that claims to be an emerging the food subsidy as a percentage of budget outlay economic superpower: (i) It provides only starvation and as a percentage of GDP is actually less than the foodgrains—5 kg per person per month; (ii) Provides actual expenditure on this during the first year of the only for cereals, with no entitlements Modi Government, 2014–15. to other basic food necessities such as pulses and edible oil required to combat malnutrition—whose prices have soared in recent years; (iii) It does not provide even this limited coverage to all the poor, but to only around 67% of all families.82 The most important step the government needs to take to tackle the nutrition crisis facing the country— which is actually nothing less than a national Other Nutrition Schemes emergency—is to universalise the PDS and include Apart from the food subsidy programme, the distribution of other food essentials in it. (Discussing Central government also has several other ‘nutrition’ this issue in greater detail is beyond the scope of schemes oriented towards pregnant women and this essay.83) The BJP, when it was in the opposition children. Most of them are included under the and during its election campaign of 2014, had umbrella of Integrated Child Development Services derided the NFSA and had promised ‘universal (ICDS), and include Anganwadi services and the food security’, even claiming that it was integral to Maternity Benefit Programme (MBP), apart from national security. BJP leaders had gone on record some other smaller schemes. Another important demanding the expansion of the Act to include other scheme that is also nutrition-oriented, but comes food essentials too.84 But after coming to power, the under the Human Resource Development Ministry, Modi Government has gone completely silent on all is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. these issues. In an article published in an earlier issue This year, the allocation for these schemes is of Janata, we have shown that the total increase in more than the allocation for last year by 9.2%. But food subsidy required for universalising the PDS taking a more long-term view, in all the five budgets and providing all citizens 35 kg of wheat /rice and 5 presented by Jaitley so far, the total allocation for kg of millets per household per month will cost the all these nutrition oriented schemes has gone up by exchequer an additional Rs 85,000 crore at the most only 3.99% (CAGR) over the actual expenditure (calculation made for 2017–18).85 Additionally, if the in 2014–15 (Table 16)—again a sharp reduction in government decides to distribute 2 kg of pulses and real terms! To give three glaring examples which 1 kg of edible oil to all families through the PDS, sharply bring out the BJP Government’s insensitivity even assuming a subsidy of Rs 50 per kg for both towards the 5 crore malnourished children and 2 JANATA, April 15, 2018 51

• The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is another very important scheme to combat the huge malnutrition levels among children in the country; another equally important purpose is to improve school enrolment and child attendance in schools. The Modi Government in its very first year cut the budget allocation for this scheme from Rs 13,000 crore proposed in Chidambaram's interim budget to Rs 10,000 crore, and then kept the allocation for this scheme at roughly the same level for the subsequent years. This year, the allocation is Rs 10,500 crore—a reduction of 36% in real terms crore pregnant women and lactating mothers in our even over the reduced actual country: expenditure on this scheme in 2014–15. • The most important of these nutrition schemes is Anganwadi services. It is a programme aimed at providing health, education and supplementary 7. Budget and the Marginalised Sections nutrition to mothers and children below 6 years The broad contours of the budgetary allocations of age. While the budget for this year is more for the most marginalised sections of Indian society, than last year’s budget allocation by 7.15%, it women, and the Dalits and Adivasis, remain the has been cut so sharply in the previous years that same as in the previous Jaitley budgets. it is less than the actual expenditure of 2014–15 even in absolute terms. In real terms, the budget Allocations for Women allocation for Anganwadi services this year is less than 2014–15 (Actuals) by 39%. These allocations are outlined in the Gender • After coming to power, the BJP Government Budget Statement. It compiles information submitted delayed distribution of Rs 6,000 to all pregnant by the various ministries and departments on how and lactating mothers in the country as mandated much of their budgetary resources are targeted for by the NFSA for three years, and only announced benefiting women. its full implementation across the entire country In a country where a crime against women in the 2017–18 budget. However, Jaitley made takes place every 90 seconds, an insensitive Modi a financial allocation of only Rs 2,700 crore Government had reduced the gender budget in real for this scheme (earlier the Maternity Benefit terms as compared to last year. In fact, over the five Programme, now known as the Pradhan Mantri budgets submitted by Jaitley so far, the allocation Matru Vandana Yojana) in last year’s budget, for 2018-19 is more than the estimated allocation which is only 28% of the amount needed for for 2014-15 by only 5.61% (CAGR), implying a its genuine implementation. This year, the cut in real terms. This reduction is also reflected government has announced that it would give in the gender budget allocation as a percentage of maternity benefit of only Rs 5,000, thus violating total budget outlay and also as a percentage of GDP the provisions of the NFSA, and accordingly, (Table 17). Jaitley has further reduced the allocation for this A closer look at the GBS makes it clear that a scheme to Rs 2,400 crore. large part of the allocations shown under it have 52 JANATA, April 15, 2018

nothing to do with benefiting women exclusively.

Genuinely Women Oriented Schemes Let us now take a look at some of the schemes under Part A which are genuinely and exclusively meant to benefit women. The scheme that has got a large allocation and has received actually nothing to do with the welfare of women. the most publicity in recent The GBS is in two parts. Part A details schemes times is the Ujjwala scheme to provide free cooking in which 100% provision is for women. In Part A gas connections to poor women (Rs 3,200 crore). of the GBS this year, there is an allocation of Rs Last year too, Jaitley had allocated a similar 21,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Avas Yojana. Even amount—but amazingly, managed to save Rs if women are given joint ownership of houses built 1,000 crore from it, while claiming that more than under this scheme, how is this a scheme that is meant 2 crore poor women had been provided free gas to benefit women exclusively? The allocation for connections. In this year’s budget speech, while this under Part A of the Gender Budget constitutes keeping the allocation the same, Jaitley says that 71.5% of the total budget under Part A (Rs 29,378 the government has increased the target of providing crore). free gas connections to 8 crore poor women as Part B of the GBS includes spending for those against the previous target of 5 crore. schemes where allocation for women constitutes at This scheme is also turning out to be a hoax like least 30% of the provision. All important ministries many other Modi–Jaitley announcements. Under claim that 30–40% of their allocations are for this scheme, while poor women don’t have to make women, and this is routinely shown as such in Part any initial payment at the time of taking the gas B of the Gender Budget. connection, the gas stove and first cylinder given to Thus, for instance, the Department of Health them are not given free, but as a loan, to be recovered and Family Welfare has claimed an allocation of from them from the subsidy they receive at the time Rs 22,267 crore for the Gender Budget, out of its of each refill (the subsidy is roughly one-fourth of total allocation of 52,800 crore, or 42% of its total the market cost presently). Which means they have allocation; the Department of School Education and to pay the market rate for all subsequent cylinders Literacy claims gender oriented allocation to be Rs (presently around Rs 650), till the loan (around Rs 14,455 crore out of its total allocation of Rs 50,000 1,500) is recovered. But for most BPL families, crore, or 29%; while the Department of Higher the market rate of the cylinder is unaffordable. Education claims this to be Rs 10,367 crore out of Therefore, according to newsreports, a very low number of Ujjwala beneficiaries are coming back Rs 35,010 crore, or 29.6%. No attempt is made to 86 ensure that this much allocation is targeted to benefit for refills. women, neither do these ministries attempt to make Most other genuinely and exclusively women- an estimate of how many women have benefited oriented schemes in Part A come under the Ministry from these women-oriented allocations. Part B (Rs of Women and Child Development. The total 92,583 crore) constitutes 76% of the total gender allocation for them is a miniscule Rs 4,286 crore, budget. just about the same as last year’s allocation of Rs This basically means that most, probably more 4,270 crore. The allocation for the ‘Scheme for than three-fourths, of the gender budget has really Adolescent Girls’, also called SABLA, has increased from Rs 460 crore in 2017–18 (RE) to Rs 500 crore JANATA, April 15, 2018 53

this year. The government announced last year that again, Jaitley has allocated Rs 500 crore to this fund. this scheme is being extended from 205 districts in 2016–17 to cover the entire country over the next Allocations for Dalits and Adivasis two years (by 2018–19). But strangely, at the same time, it has reduced the allocation for this scheme— Jaitley in his 2018–19 budget says that he has it had been allocated Rs 700 crore in 2014–15. allocated Rs 56,619 crore for programmes for The other schemes have received such tiny SCs and 39,135 crore for STs this year, a marginal allocations that it is obvious that the government increase from last year’s revised estimate of Rs is not serious about them, and they have been 52,719 crore and Rs 32,508 crore respectively. announced for propaganda purposes only. Thus, While, as discussed in great detail above, ‘Women's helpline’ has been allocated Rs 29 crore; Jaitley’s 2018–19 budget is full of sophistry, this is working women's hostels have been allocated Rs probably the biggest fraud in the budget. 60 crore (last year, the allocation was Rs 50 crore, In the 1970s, the government launched the of which only Rs 30 crore was spent); Rashtriya Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Mahila Kosh, that is supposed to provide micro- Plan (TSP). The aim was to ensure the flow of loans to women for livelihoods, micro-enterprises, targeted funds from the Central Ministries towards etc. has been given a princely Rs 0.01 crore; the the development of the Dalits and Adivasis, so Central Social Welfare Board, that is supposed to as to bridge the development gap between these run several important programmes for the welfare communities and the rest of society. The guidelines and development of women and children, especially under these two programmes clearly stated that in rural areas, has been given a measly Rs 71.5 each ministry/department must allocate funds crore; while the National Commission for Women, a from their Plan expenditure under separate budget statutory body that investigates complaints related to head/subhead for these sub Plans, and that these deprivation of women's rights, has been allocated Rs allocations as a proportion of the Plan expenditure 24 crore. The allocation for the much tomtomed Beti should be at least in proportion to the share of Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan has been increased the Dalits and Adivasis in the total population. to Rs 280 crore, but how serious the government According to the 2011 Census, the population is regarding this scheme can be seen from the fact share of Dalits is 16.6% and of Adivasis is 8.6%, that of last year’s allocation of Rs 200 crore, only implying that the allocations for the SCSP and TSP Rs 180 crore was spent. out of the total Plan expenditure should be at least But what reveals the government's total unconcern this much respectively. It is another matter that the towards women's safety, despite the newspapers actual allocations for these sub Plans never reached daily carrying reports of rapes, acid attacks and the stipulated norm. During the BJP regime, the domestic violence, is the under-utilisation of the allocations fell to even below the low levels of the Nirbhaya Fund. Following the brutal gang rape of previous UPA Government—they were 7.06% and a young girl in Delhi in December 2012 that shook 4.36% of the Plan expenditure respectively in the the conscience of the nation, the then Finance 2016–17 budget estimates! Minister P. Chidambaram announced this fund in In 2017, the government merged the Plan and his 2013 Union Budget to support initiatives by the Non-Plan heads of expenditure in the budget. A government and NGOs that support the safety of side effect of this was that the strategy of ensuring women in India, with a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore. targeted flow of funds for the welfare of Scheduled Jaitley too added Rs 1,000 crore to this fund in both Castes and Scheduled Tribes got diluted. Neither in the 2014 and 2015 budgets, and then reduced it to the 2017 budget, nor in this year’s budget, has the Rs 500 crore in the 2016 and 2017 budgets. But government come up with a revised framework for astonishingly, most of this money has remained earmarking funds for the SCSP and TSP. All that it unutilised. According to the Ministry of Women and has done is to ask the ministries to allocate funds for Child Development, of the total Rs 2,711 crore that these plans from their total allocations. Therefore, had accumulated in the Nirbhaya fund in 2017–18, the allocations made under SCSP and TSP, now only Rs 825 crore has been utilised.87 This year, renamed as ‘Allocations for Welfare of Scheduled 54 JANATA, April 15, 2018

Castes’ and ‘Allocations for Welfare of Scheduled allocations are less than this desired allocation by Tribes’ respectively, are no longer targeted Plan Rs 56,212 crore and Rs 19,234 crore respectively allocations for welfare of Scheduled Castes and (Table 18). Tribes. They are merely rough estimates made by the various ministries of how much will these most 8. Conclusion oppressed sections of Indian society benefit from general schemes and programmes. Therefore, the The Modi Government is not just an anti-farmer allocations for welfare of Scheduled Castes and government, it is also an anti-poor government. Tribes made in the budget this year (and in last year’s The above analysis makes it clear that the basic budget too) are not comparable to the allocations orientation of the Modi Government is to: made for SCSP and TSP in the earlier years. • transfer public money and resources to the tune of lakhs of crore of rupees to giant foreign and Indian business houses in the name of promoting GDP growth; • reduce welfare expenditures on the poor—whose aim is to provide the bare means of sustenance to the poor at affordable rates—in the name of containing the fiscal deficit, and privatise and hand over these essential services to private corporations for their naked profiteering. The Modi Government is running the economy for the benefit of the big corporations and the super- rich with such shamelessness that in 2017, the richest 1% cornered as much as 73% of the total wealth generated in the country, while 67 crore people, comprising the bottom half of the population, got only 1%.88 A country which has the largest number of hungry people in the world, where 40% of the Be that as it may, let us make a rough comparison children do not complete basic schooling, and of how much is the under-allocation for Scheduled where millions of people die of entirely curable Castes and Tribes in this year’s budget as compared diseases because of low public health expenditure, to the stipulated guidelines for SCSP and TSP. now has the third largest number of billionaires The guidelines state that SCSP and TSP should be in the world. In just one year (2016 to 2017), the allocated at least 16.6% and 8.6% of the total Plan number of billionaires in the country has gone up expenditure respectively. The last Union Budget from 102 to 121. The wealth of Mukesh Ambani, where Plan and Non-Plan budgets were specified the country’s richest man, went up by a whopping was the 2016–17 budget. In that budget, the due 73% to $40 billion or Rs 2.6 lakh crore. The number allocation for SCs (16.6% of the Plan budget) should of billionaires in the country has more than doubled have been Rs 91,302 crore, and due allocation for during four years of the Modi Government (in 2014, STs (8.6% of the Plan budget) should have been Rs the Forbes list had 56 Indian billionaires).89 47,301 crore. These figures amount to 4.62% and This is also the real reason behind the fascist 2.39% of the total budget expenditure for 2016–17. offensive launched by the BJP and its parent Let us assume that for this year (2018–19), the organisation, the RSS. They are brazenly attempting budget should have allocated at least this much to polarise Indian society along communal lines— for welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes from by launching campaigns such as Ghar Wapsi and the total budget allocation. This means that in the Love Jehad, indulging in hooliganism in the name 2018–19 budget, the Scheduled Castes and Tribes of gau raksha and taking out aggressive religious should have been allocated at least Rs 1,12,830 processions and thereby inciting riots—so as to crore and Rs 58,369 crore respectively. The actual JANATA, April 15, 2018 55

divert the attention of the people from their real 16. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 1, p. 1, op. cit. agenda, of running the economy exclusively for the 17. Economic Survey 2015–16, Volume 1, p. 107, http:// profiteering of giant foreign and Indian corporations. indiabudget.nic.in. As Mussolini famously put it, fascism is corporatism. 18. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 1, p. 5, op. cit. 19. “Illicit Financial Flows to and from Developing Countries: Email: [email protected] 2005–2014”, Global Financial Integrity, Washington, DC, USA, April 2017, http://www.gfintegrity.org. 20. See our publication: Demonetisation: Yet Another Fraud References on the People, Lokayat and Janata Trust publication, January 2017, www.lokayat.org.in. 1. “Citing Reforms that Lift Growth, Moody’s Upgrades 21. A clarification is needed here. In the 2017–18 budget India First Time Since 2004”, November 18, 2017, http:// document, the Modi Government changed the methodology indianexpress.com. of making these calculations, and through this sharply 2. Neeraj Jain, “Moody’s Upgrades India’s Sovereign brought down the estimated revenue forgone in 2016–17 Rating: What Does it Really Mean?” Janata, December due to these exemptions by more than half! In our 3, 2017, http://lohiatoday.com. article published in Janata Weekly, Mumbai (Neeraj 3. Highlights of Quarterly Report on ‘India’s External Debt Jain, “Pandering to Dictates of Global Finance”, Janata, for the Quarter Ended September 2017’, Ministry of February 19, 2017, http://www.janataweekly.org), we Finance, December 29, 2017, http://pib.nic.in. have estimated the tax concessions given to the rich in 4. Developments in India’s Balance of Payments During the 2016–17 by the older methodology, and shown that the Third Quarter (October–December) of 2017–18, March tax concessions to the rich remain at the same high level 16, 2018, https://www.rbi.org.in. as in 2014–15 and 2015–16 and total Rs 5.50 lakh crore! 5. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 2, pp. 17–18, http:// 22. “Of Bold Strokes and Fine Prints: Analysis of Union indiabudget.nic.in. Budget 2015–16”, Centre for Budget and Governance 6. India’s External Debt as at the End of June 2017, RBI Accountability, March 2015, pp. 18–19, http://www. Press Release, September 29, 2017, https://rbi.org.in. cbgaindia.org. Roughly the same figure is given in the 7. India’s International Investment Position (IIP), September graph given in Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 1, p. 2017, RBI Press Release, December 29, 2017, https://rbi. 56, op. cit. org.in. 23. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 1, p. 57, ibid. 8. According to the RBI, in end-June 2017: total FCNR (B) 24. Ibid.; “How Modi Government’s Budgets Have Differed deposits = $20.9 billion; total NRERA deposits = $84.6 from UPA’s”, February 9, 2018, http://www.livemint.com. billion. Total = $105.5 billion. Of this, $11.4 billion of 25. We have calculated this from the following data: (i) Loans FCNR (B) and $58.8 billion of NRERA deposits are written off by public sector banks over the period 2004–15 included in short term debt of residual maturity = $70.2 totalled Rs 2.11 lakh crore (“PSU Banks' Write-Off of Bad billion. 105.5 – 70.2 = $35.3 billion. Data taken from: Loans at Rs 1,14,000 Cr in 2013–15: RBI”, February 8, India’s External Debt as at the End of June 2017, op. cit. 2016, http://www.domain-b.com); (ii) PSBs wrote off Rs 9. Foreign Exchange Reserves, RBI Weekly Statistical 49,018 crore in 2014–15, Rs 57,586 crore during 2015–16 Supplement, July 7, 2017, https://www.rbi.org.in. and Rs 81,683 crore during 2016–17 (“PSU Banks Write 10. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 2, p. 17, op. cit. Off Rs 2.49 Lakh Crore of Loans in 5 Years”, August 7, 11. “India Vulnerable to Sudden Outflow of Forex: RBI”, 2017, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com). January 31, 2011, http://www.thehindu.com. 26. Devidutta Tripathy, Suvashree Choudhury, “No Respite for 12. 2018 Budget speech, Finance Minister Jaitley, available Banks as Bad Loans Hit Record Rs 9.5 Trillion”, October at: Union Budget, http://indiabudget.nic.in. 10, 2017, https://thewire.in. 13. Arun Kumar, “India’s Troubling and Official Growth 27. See for example: “Revenue Shortfall: Centre May Get Numbers Are Only the Tip of the Iceberg”, October 3, Lower than Expected Dividend from PSBs”, November 2017, https://thewire.in. 29, 2017, http://indianexpress.com. 14. All figures related to the budget taken from Union Budget 28. “Behind the Attack on ‘Subsidies’”, Aspects of India's documents available at: Union Budget, http://indiabudget. Economy, No. 49, August 2010, http://www.rupe-india. nic.in. org; FAQs – Public Private Partnership in India, Ministry 15. For 2015–18: Union Budget figures; for earlier years: P.R. of Finance, Government of India, http://pppinindia.com. Panchmukhi, “Social Impact of Economic Reforms in 29. “Crony Capitalism a Big Threat to Countries like India, India”, Economic and Political Weekly, Mumbai, March RBI Chief Raghuram Rajan Says”, August 12, 2014, 4, 2000, p. 839, www.epw.in. 56 JANATA, April 15, 2018

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com; Bharadwaj Sharma, and Poultry in India and Their Contribution to National “Crony Capitalism Leads to Decline in Economic Growth: Economy”, 2016, www.ijset.net. Raghuram Rajan”, August 12, 2014, http://www.ibtimes. 44. “Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin: At a Glance”, co.in. Ministry of Rural Development, http://ruraldiksha.nic.in. 30. “The Richest 1% of Indians Now Own 58.4% of Wealth”, 45. Jayati Ghosh, “Did the FM Deliver for Farmers?” November 24, 2016, http://www.livemint.com. Macroscan, February 2, 2018, http://www.macroscan. 31. “General Government Revenue (% of GDP) Data for org. Another estimate puts it at Rs 7,000 crore: Ruchika All Countries”, Data Source – IMF, Year 2015, http:// Chitravanshi, “NREGA May Get Record Rs 55k Cr economywatch.com; OECD countries data also available for FY19”, December 9, 2017, https://economictimes. at: “General Government Revenue”, https://data.oecd.org. indiatimes.com. 32. Kirankumar Vissa, “For India’s Farmers, Budget 2018 Is 46. “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Nothing but a Hoax”, February 2, 2018, https://thewire. Act”, At a Glance, http://nrega.nic.in. in. 47. “Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – 33. Ibid.; R. Ramakumar, “There's No Reason to Be Confused Saubhagya”, https://www.india.gov.in, accessed on March on How to Calculate the Right MSP”, February 13, 2018, 14, 2018; Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, “Budget 2018 https://thewire.in. Talks Big on Rural Economy and Agriculture. But Where 34. “Finance Minister Reveals Formula for Fixing MSP 50% Is the Money?” February 2, 2018, https://scroll.in. Over Production Cost”, February 10, 2018, http://www. 48. See for instance our booklet: Spectre of Fascism, op. sify.com. cit.; and Neeraj Jain, “Budget 2017–18: Is it Indeed a 35. Kirankumar Vissa, “For India’s Farmers, Budget 2018 Is Pro-Farmer Budget?” Janata Weekly, February 12, 2017, Nothing but a Hoax”, op. cit. http://janataweekly.org. 36. Ibid. 49. Ashok Gulati, “From Modi, Manmohan, Vajpayee to Rao, 37. “Expert Gyan: Is Budget 2018 Really Putting Farmers Here Is Who Generated the Lowest Agri Growth”, January First?” February 1, 2018, https://thewire.in; Elumalai 15, 2018, http://www.financialexpress.com. Kannan, “Trends in Agricultural Incomes: An Analysis 50. “India Faces Rs 3 Lakh Cr Farm Loan Waivers – 16 Times at the Select Crop and State Levels in India”, Journal of 2017 Rural Roads Budget”, June 17, 2017, http://www. Agrarian Change, Vol. 15, No. 2, April 2015, pp. 201–219, business-standard.com. https://www.researchgate.net. 51. Cited in: “Fairy Tales About Foreign Investment”, Aspects 38. “Private Insurers Reap a Windfall from Crop Cover of India’s Economy, May 2017, http://www.rupe-india.org. Scheme”, July 20, 2017, http://www.thehindubusinessline. 52. Devinder Sharma, “How World Bank’s Economic com; “Union Budget: 2018–19: Issues of Marginalised Chakravyuh Is Trapping Indian Farmers”, September 30, Sections”, Delhi Solidarity Group, https://www.scribd. 2017, https://www.ecologise.in. com. 53. For OECD: Government Social Spending: Total Public 39. “Key Indicators of Debt and Investment in India, AIDIS Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP, OECD data – ICSSR Data Service”, NSSO Office, Government iLibrary, December 20, 2013, http://www.oecd-ilibrary. of India, December 2014, www.icssrdataservice.in; “Debt org; for EU–27: “Chapter 3 – Social Protection Systems and Investment Survey: NSS Forty-Eighth Round, 1992”, Confronting the Crisis” in Employment and Social February 1998, http://mospi.nic.in. Developments in Europe 2012, European Commission, 40. P. Sainath, “The Slaughter of Suicide Data”, August 5, Brussels, January 2013, www.europarl.europa.eu; for 2015, http://psainath.org; “Demo and Other Demons in Latin America: Sustainable Development in Latin America the Barn”, June 26, 2017, https://www.outlookindia.com. and the Caribbean: Regional Perspective Towards the 41. “Farmers’ Suicide Up by 40 Pc Due to Drought in 2015; Post-2015 Development Agenda, United Nations ECLAC, Maharashtra Worst-Hit”, August 19, 2016, http://www. July 2013, www.eclac.org. indiatvnews.com. 54. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 2, p. 168, op. cit. 42. R. Ramakumar and Pallavi Chavan, “Bank Credit to Strictly speaking, the figures for social sector expenditures Agriculture in India in the 2000s: Dissecting the Revival”, of India and other countries are not comparable as we Review of Agrarian Studies, 2014; cited in “India’s do not know what all heads of expenditures the different Peasantry Under Neoliberal Rule”, Aspects of India's countries include when they define their social sector Economy, Nos. 66–67, Part II, http://www.rupe-india.org. spending. But on the whole, this comparison gives us a 43. M. Borah, “Dynamics and Performance of Livestock and broad idea of their relative social sector expenditures. Poultry Sector in India: A Temporal Analysis”, June 2014, 55. Calculated from Table on pg. 5 in: Alok Kumar et http://jairjp.com; M.M. Islam, “Scenario of Livestock al., Social Sector Expenditure of States: Pre & Post JANATA, April 15, 2018 57

Fourteenth Finance Commission (2014–15 & 2015–16), also: Neoliberal Fascist Attack on Education, Lokayat http://niti.gov.in. For 2017–18, the budget document puts publication, available on Lokayat website, http://lokayat. the Centre’s social sector expenditure at Rs 1.95 lakh crore, org.in. and the Economic Survey 2017–18 puts the total social 68. Neoliberal Fascist Attack on Education, ibid., p. 52. sector expenditure of Centre and States combined at Rs 69. “Economic Survey: Government Spending on Education 10.94 lakh crore. Less than 3% of GDP”, January 31, 2017, http:// 56. Here, we have included 13 ministries that have something indianexpress.com. to do with the social sectors: Ministry of Culture, Ministry 70. Deepshikha Sikarwar, Vinay Pandey, “Modicare: of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Health Healthcare Scheme Could Cost Exchequer Rs 10,000 and Family Welfare+ AYUSH, Ministry of Housing and Crore a Year”, February 3, 2018, https://economictimes. Urban Poverty Alleviation (this has now been renamed as indiatimes.com. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; from this, we have 71. “Budget 2018: Arun Jaitley Hits Refresh on Two-Year-Old taken those heads that were under the Ministry of Housing ‘National Health Protection Scheme'”, February 1, 2018, and Urban Poverty Alleviation last year), Ministry of http://indianexpress.com; “Parliamentary Panel Red-Flags Human Resource Development, Ministry of Labour and Government's Ambitious Healthcare Scheme”, March 13, Employment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of 2018, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com. Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal 72. Anoo Bhuyan, “Budget 2018: Jaitley’s ‘World’s Largest Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Health Programme’ Rejigs Flailing Old Ones”, February Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Rural 1, 2018, https://thewire.in; Dipa Sinha, “Neglecting Health Development, and Food Subsidy. Expenditure in Favour of the Chimera of Insurance”, 57. Economic Survey 2017–18, Volume 1, pp. 43–44, op. cit. February 29, 2016, https://thewire.in. 58. Ibid., p. 53. 73. Prachi Salve, Swagata Yadavar, “Why Rashtriya Swasthya 59. See for instance: Aaron Reeves et al., “Does Investment in Bima Yojana Has Failed India's Poor”, October 19, 2017, the Health Sector Promote or Inhibit Economic Growth?” http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com. Global Health, September 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm. 74. David Coady et al. (edited), The Economics of Public nih.gov. Health Care Reform in Advanced and Emerging 60. Twelfth Five Year Plan: 2012–17, Vol. III: Social Sectors, Economies, International Monetary Fund, 2012, pp. p. 53, http://planningcommission.nic.in. 23–34, http://books.google.co.in; Nirmala M. Nagaraj, 61. Calculated from: Elementary Education in Urban India: “India Ranks 171 Out of 175 in Public Health Spending, Analytical Reports, 2011–12, and Elementary Education in Says WHO Study”, August 11, 2009, http://timesofindia. Rural India: Analytical Reports, 2011–12, NUEPA, http:// indiatimes.com. www.dise.in; data collected up to September 30, 2011. 75. Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Imrana Qadeer, “Union Budget 62. Ranajit Bhattacharyya, Aadarsh Gangwar, “Why India 2018: Poor Diagnosis, Wrong Medicine”, February 3, Needs to Count Its Broken Toilets”, July 19, 2017, http:// 2018, http://indianexpress.com. www.indiaspend.com; Madhura Karnik, “India Has 76. Rema Nagarajan, “Budget Health Spend Not on Course to Superpower Ambitions, but Its Schools Don’t Have Power, Meet 2025 Target”, February 3, 2018, https://timesofindia. Computers or Librarians”, August 10, 2016 https://qz.com. indiatimes.com. 63. Jayati Ghosh, “Failing the Education Sector”, Frontline, 77. “Urban Health Mission to Cover 7.75 Crore People”, May March 2, 2018, http://www.frontline.in; Alison Saldanha, 2, 2013, http://www.thehindu.com. Prachi Salve & Vipul Vivek, “Budget 2018: Health, 78. Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Imrana Qadeer, “Union Budget Education, Sanitation Allocation Appears to Be Most in 3 2018: Poor diagnosis, wrong medicine”, op. cit. Years but It Isn’t”, February 2, 2018, http://www.firstpost. 79. Dipa Sinha, “Why the Poor Will Not Be the True com. Beneficiaries of the ‘World’s Largest Health Programme’”, 64. “One in Two Indian Students Can’t Read Books Meant for February 1, 2018, https://thewire.in. Three Classes Below: ASER”, January 19, 2017, http:// 80. “India 100th on Global Hunger Index, Trails North Korea, www.livemint.com. Bangladesh”, October 12, 2017, http://www.thehindu. 65. Ambarish Rai, “Budget Focus on Infrastructure, Digital com. Education Cannot Work in a Vacuum”, February 2, 2018, 81. “Prevalence of Wasting Among Children Is Rising, Shows https://thewire.in. NFHS–4 Data”, http://www.im4change.org; Swagata 66. Jayati Ghosh, “Failing the Education Sector”, op. cit. Yadavar, “Indian Children Healthier than Ever, but Other 67. J.B.G. Tilak, How Inclusive Is Higher Education in Nations Doing Better: Data”, March 3, 2017, http://www. India? 2015, http://www.educationforallinindia.com; see business-standard.com. 58 JANATA, April 15, 2018

82. See our booklet: Is the Government Really Poor, Lokayat 87. “Less than 30% of Nirbhaya Fund Utilised: RTI Reply”, publication, 2018, www.lokayat.org.in. February 11, 2018, http://www.business-standard.com. 83. For more on this, see ibid. 88. “Richest 1% Cornered 73% of Wealth Generated in 84. Sanjeeb Mukherjee, “Outlay Shows States May Go India in 2017: Oxfam Survey”, January 22, 2018, https:// Slow on Food Security Plan”, July 12, 2014, http://www. thewire.in. business-standard.com; “Right to Food Campaign on 89. “Forbes World’s Billionaire List: India Billionaire Count Budget 14”, July 12, 2014, http://www.indiaresists.com. Soars to 121; but US and China Have Way More”, March 85. Neeraj Jain, “For a Universalised Public Distribution 7, 2018, http://www.financialexpress.com; “India’s System”, Janata, August 27, 2017, http://janataweekly. Billionaires List Rises to All Time High of 56: Forbes”, org. March 4, 2014, http://www.vccircle.com. 86. “Modi’s Pet Ujjawala Scheme Wobbles as Many Beneficiaries Drop Out After Their First LPG Cylinder”, June 11, 2017, https://scroll.in.

Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 73 No. 13 Justice Rajindar Sachar 1923-2018: April 22, 2018 Our Finest Has Gone Goodbye Bhai: The Struggle Will Continue Qurban Ali Prem Singh Vetaran we turned to when the times seemed Socialist leader very bleak and dark, just to hear Hopeless Implementation noted jurist and Justice Sachar tell us that it will get of Right to Education champion of better. The wisdom of experience Act in UP human rights and age gave his voice authority, and Sandeep Pandey Justice (retired) lifted spirits when little else would”. Rajinder Sachar Rajindar Sachar was born on It’s Modi’s BJP! passed away in Delhi on 20th April 22nd December 1923 at Lahore Kuldip Nayar 2018. He was 94. A distinguished in undivided India.His father Lala advocate for the protection of Bhim Sen Sachar was a well- Yes, That’s What Israel Is! human rights, and poor, Justice known Congress leader and later Jawaharlal Jasthi Sachar was a former Chief Justice become Chief Minister of Punjab.He of Delhi and Sikkim High Courts. educated at D.A.V. High School in Indo-Pak Amity: He vociferously promoted the cause Lahore, then went on to Government Necessary Compulsion for of human rights and was also head College Lahore and Law College, the Survival of Both of People's Union of Civil Liberty Lahore. During his students days he Pratap Reddy (PUCL). He authored many reports was attached to National movement Editor : G.G.Parikh on Kashmir. and joined Congress Socialist Party. Paying emotional tribute on the After the partition of the country he Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain sad demise of late Justice Rajindar came to Delhi and joined Socialist Managing Editor : Guddi Sachar, senior journalist Seema party. Mustafa wrote “One of our finest has In May 1949, the Socialist Editorial Board : gone. Justice Rajinder Sachar has Party under Rammanohar Lohia’s B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali left us, fairly suddenly without too leadership held a demonstration Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah much notice except that delivered by in front of the Nepal embassy in Nandu Dhaneshwar, age. A mentor, a friend, a man whose New Delhi to protest against the Sandeep Pandey doors were always open he will be autocratic and repressive regime D-15, Ganesh Prasad, sorely missed. He did not really care- of the Rana government in the --unlike Delhi’s famous---whether Himalayan kingdom. There was Naushir Bharucha Marg, he was invited to speak or not, if he violence and the police used teargas Mumbai - 400 007. supported the cause he was there in shells to disperse the mob. Email : [email protected] the audience, listening attentively. Lohia was arrested for violating Website:www.janataweekly.org For many of us he was the person Section 144 CRPC. Young Rajinder 2 JANATA, April 22, 2018

Sachar was also arrested with Lohia was made without Sachar's consent of Mr. Sachar and brought before and remained in jail for a month and during the Emergency (June 1975 two other Judges, who impressed a half. According to Sachar sahib – March 1977) when elections petitioners to withdraw their petition “It was during that imprisonment and civil liberties were suspended. in the national interest, which they that Nehru and Indira sent a basket Sachar was one of the judges that declined, then dismissed the petition. of mangoes to Lohia. Sardar Patel refused to follow the bidding of As an Indian lawyer and a former was very angry and wrote to Nehru the Emergency establishment, and Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court expressing his annoyance over who were transferred as a form of Sachar sahib was a member of sending mangoes to a person who punishment. After the restoral of United Nations Sub-Commission had violated the law. Nehru in his democracy, on 9 July 1977 he was on the Promotion and Protection quiet way told him that politics and transferred back to the Delhi High of Human Rights. He has served personal relationships should not be Court. as a counsel for the People's Union mixed up”. It was a first movement In June 1977 Justice Sachar was for Civil Liberties. He chaired the and arrest in free India where appointed by the government to Sachar Committee, constituted by Socialist offered civil disobedience”. chair a committee that reviewed the the Government of India, which On 22 April 1952 Rajinder Companies Act and the Monopolies submitted a report on the social, Sachar enrolled as an advocate at and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, economic and educational status of Simla. On 8 December 1960 he submitting an encyclopaedic report Muslims in India. became an advocate in the Supreme on the subject in August 1978. Rajinder Sachar was one of the Court of India, engaging in a wide Sachar's committee recommended authors of a report issued on 22 April variety of cases concerning civil, a major overhaul of the corporate 1990 on behalf of the People's Union criminal and revenue issues. But reporting system, and particularly for Civil Liberties and others entitled at the same time he was actively of the approach to reporting on "Report on Kashmir Situation". associated with the Socialist Party social impacts.In May 1984 Rajinder In January 1992 Sachar was one led by Lohia.In 1963 a breakaway Sachar reviewed the Industrial of the signatories to an appeal to group of legislators left the Congress Disputes Act, including the backlog all Punjabis asking them to ensure party and formed the independent of cases. His report was scathing. that the forthcoming elections were "Prajatantra Party". Sachar helped He said "A more horrendous and free and were seen to be free. They this group prepare memoranda despairing situation can hardly be asked the people to ensure there levelling charges of corruption and imagined... the load at present in the was no violence, coercion or unfair mal-administration against Pratap various Labour Courts and Industrial practices that would prevent the Singh Kairon, Chief Minister of Tribunals is so disproportionate people from electing the government Punjab. Justice Sudhi Ranjan Das to what can conceivably be borne of their choice. Rajinder Sachar was was appointed to look into the ... that the arrears can only go on appointed to a high-level Advisory charges, and in June 1964 found increasing if the present state of Committee chaired by Chief Justice Kairon guilty on eight counts. affairs is not improved... It is harsh Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi to review On 12 February 1970 Rajinder and unjust to both the employers and the Protection of Human Rights Sachar was appointed Additional employees if the cases continue to Act, 1993 and determine whether Judge of the Delhi High Court for a remain undecided for years". structural changes and amendments two-year term, and on 12 February In November 1984, Justice were needed. The committee 1972 he was reappointed for another Sachar issued notice to the police prepared a draft amendment Bill two years. On 5 July 1972 he was on a writ petition filed by Public incorporating its recommendations. appointed a permanent Judge of the Union for Democratic Rights on These included changes to the High Court. He was acting chief the basis of evidence collected membership of the National Human justice of the Sikkim High court from 1984 Sikh riot victims, asking Rights Commission, changes to from 16 May 1975 until 10 May FIRs to be registered against leaders procedures to reduce delays in 1976, when he was made a judge named in affidavits of victims. following up recommendations and in the Rajasthan High Court. The However, in the next hearing the a broadening of the commission's transfer from Sikkim to Rajasthan case was removed from the Court scope. The recommendations were JANATA, April 22, 2018 3 submitted the Home Affairs ministry report described misallocation of condemned the US-led invasion on 7 March 2000. public land, evictions and land- of Iraq, calling it "unprovoked, In April 2003, as counsel for the grabbing by corrupt politicians and unjustified and violative of People's Union for Civil Liberties bureaucrats. international law and the United (PUCL), Sachar argued before the In March 2005 Justice Rajinder Nations Charter". Other signatories Supreme Court of India that the Sachar was appointed to a committee included Shanti Bhushan, Pavani Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act to study the condition of the Muslim Parameswara Rao, Rajeev Dhavan, (POTA) should be quashed since it community in India and to prepare a Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan. violated fundamental rights. On 24 comprehensive report on their social, He was a Judge who set an November 2002 the police arrested economic and educational status. On example. That after retirement twenty six people in the Dharmapuri 17 November 2006 he presented the Judges did not need to go into holes, district of Tamil Nadu, and on 10 report, entitled "Report on Social, and in fact were required to play January 2003 they were placed Economic and Educational Status a major role in keeping India on under POTA by the government on of the Muslim Community of India", the Constitutional track. He spoke the grounds that they were members to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. fearlessly, boldly, did not look for of the Radical Youth League of the The report showed the growing favours from the establishment Communist Party of India (Marxist– social and economic insecurity that regardless of who was in power, and Leninist). On 26 August 2004, had been imposed on Muslims since as a result rubbed all the wrong way still being held without trial, the independence sixty years earlier. It saying when we used to laugh, “well detainees began a hunger strike. found that the Muslim population, I am with the people and that’s all Sachar led a team of human rights estimated at over 138 million in that matters.” activists who visited them in jail on 2001, were under-represented in the One does not really know where 15 September 2004 and persuaded civil service, police, military and in to begin, or for that matter end them to end the hunger strike. POTA politics. Muslims were more likely this tribute. Does one remember was repealed on 10 November 2004. to be poor, illiterate, unhealthy and him for the Sachar report on the However, all the POTA provisions to have trouble with the law than status of the Muslim community were incorporated in the Unlawful other Indians. Muslims were accused in India that created a storm as it Activities (Prevention) Act. In of being against the Indian state, was an honest and starkly revealing October 2009 Sachar called for of being terrorists, and politicians document; or for his stand on civil abolition of these laws. who tried to help them risked being liberties for all; or for his criticism He said "Terrorism is there, I accused of "appeasing" them. of established political parties; or for admit, but in the name of terror probe, The Sachar Committee his love for the Indian Constitution many innocent people are taken into recommendations aimed to promote that was always so visible; or for his custody without registering a charge inclusion of the diverse communities gentle enquiries when he knew an and are being detained for long in India and their equal treatment. individual was troubled; or for his period". It emphasised initiatives that were willingness to walk the extra mile at Rajinder Sachar, who had general rather than specific to any any time of the day or night to help a formerly been a United Nations one community. It was a landmark person in need or for a cause; or for special rapporteur on the Right to in the debate on the Muslim his consistency in advocating peace Adequate Housing, headed a mission question in India. The speed of in South Asia; or for his fearlessness that investigated housing rights in implementation would naturally in taking on the communalists; or Kenya for the Housing and Land depend on political factors including for his strong support for gender Rights Committee of the Habitat the extent of backlash from Hindutva equality and justice. International Coalition. In its report groups. The Sachar Committee By the end Justice Sachar was issued in March 2000 the mission Report recommended setting up an visibly frail, a little bent with age, found that the Kenyan government institutional structure for an Equal and clearly with many off days that had failed to meet its international Opportunity Commission. he made sure none of us really knew obligations regarding protection In March 2003 Sachar was about. This would not prevent him of its citizens' housing rights. The a signatory to a statement that from attending meetings, signing 4 JANATA, April 22, 2018 statements and organising fact finding reports till his last days. Goodbye Bhai: The Struggle Will Continue One never heard him complain about his health. One never heard Prem Singh even a note of pessimism in his voice. One never heard him talk His full name was Bhalchandra Aam Aadmi Party, on the basis of about his ailments or his problems. Bhai Vaidya but people used to call socialist ideology, Bhai always said He was always there for everyone him Bhai Vaidya. I always addressed that the party was firmly behind else, for India and her people.In him as 'Bhai'. In our village, it was me. There was no deviation from these years one did, however, hear an accepted norm to call a father any member of the Socialist Party some pessimism in his voice.A 'Bhai' and a majority of people despite the deceptive headiness ‘what will happen to our country’ followed this practice. I came in provoked and organised by those tone, with worries that he would personal contact with Bhalchandra vested interests in defense of neo- share occasionally. Excerpts from Bhai Vaidya after my father passed liberalism. This unequivocal support an article he wrote for The Citizen away, therefore I never really missed could only happen solely due to in December 2017: that close connection one feels with Bhai's personality, understanding Justice Sachar’s admiration for one's father. Before the re-launching and ideological perseverance. Ram Manohar Lohia spanned his of the Socialist Party, he used to call He died on 2 April 2018 from life, never diminishing. But he never me Professor, but I would always pancreatic cancer, shortly after he allowed that to come in his way of call him 'Bhai'. An invisible thread of was admitted to Poona Hospital on relationships with those who were the almost familial relationship that March 26, barely three weeks after perhaps, very critical of his mentor. developed between us from the very his ailment was first detected. I learnt As he said, “your view is yours, first meeting continued ever since. about his illness only after he was mine is mine.”And would then tell us Bhai was the founding President admitted to the hospital. His son, stories about the differences between of Socialist Party (India). I worked Dr. Abhijit Vaidya, told me on phone Jawaharlal Nehru and Lohia that with him as general secretary and that operation or chemotherapy at never came in the way of mutual spokesperson of the party. While his age were not suitable. He also respect. he was working in the Socialist told that Bhai was insisting on going There are not many left now who Party for the last seven years, he back home from the hospital. But say it like you did Justice Sachar, considered everything suggested by this was not to be and he took his without mincing words, or looking me in the policy matters of the party last breath in the clinical confines over your shoulder, or bothering very seriously and had an endearing of the hospital. Several comrades how the chattering classes would sense of respect which he displayed from Poona and Maharashtra visited react. You looked for no favours, no clearly. He would give brief hints him there. The news of Bhai's death positions, no awards. Respect Sir, when was asked about his opinion was a sudden blow for the comrades Always!!! about policy decisions, resolutions, outside Maharashtra. memorandums, even press notes/ I reached Poona on 3rd April Email: [email protected] releases of the party. Whether it to bid a last good-bye to Bhai. His was a government decision or a mortal body was kept for a last Spectre of Fascism national–international incident or glimpse at Sane Guruji Smarak, the Contribution Rs. 20/- event, in order to send a statement headquarters of the Rashtra Seva of the party, he, as president of the Dal (RSD). There was a continuous Published by party, used to send an SMS every flow of people from the morning Janata Trust & Lokayat time through his mobile phone from till late afternoon to pay their last D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Poona, giving some directions and salute. There were a large number Naushir Bharucha Marg, suggestions regarding it. of women among them. Sainiks and Grant Road (W), I remember that when I took Sainikayen of the RSD kept working a stand against the so called India the whole day with promptness Mumbai 400 007 Against Corruption (IAC) and the to help and facilitate the visitors. JANATA, April 22, 2018 5

At 4 pm, the officers of the police published reports on his demise. One Phule and B.R. Ambedkar. At the administration came and wrapped newspaper wrote that his honesty global level he had done a thorough the body of Bhai in the national was actually the stuff of legends. study of the ideologies/systems of flag. On reaching the crematorium, a I found that like Kishan ji, Bhai capitalism and communism. He used police band played in his respect and had no sense of bitterness or malice to keep himself updated with articles he was also given a gun salute. This towards anyone. Medieval saints and books published on various state honor was given to him due to have described 'sahajta' (innateness) subjects. his position as a former State Home as a rare quality that can be attained In my opinion, the political Minister of Maharashtra (1978- only by a rigorous practice of innings of Bhai that started after 1980) and former Mayor of Poona austerities. Bhai had attained this 1991 is most important. This year, (1974-75). After that, his body was innate spiritual nature through great against Constitutional values and taken to the electric crematorium. perseverance in life. provisions, the Congress imposed I was surprised that thousands He participated in the Quit New Economic Policies on the of people participated in the last India movement of 1942. When country. At that time, senior BJP journey of a leader who was away some people were acting as leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said from the corridors of power for informers of the imperialists, then, that the Congress had now taken the past three decades, who fought at the young age of 14, Bhai was over the work of his party (BJP). anonymously in remote towns participating in the decisive battle This illegitimate decision was to and villages against governments of the Independence Movement. breed disastrous consequences for bringing in neo-imperialist slavery Gandhi gave the call for British to the society and nation building. to the nation. People thronged the ‘Quit India’, but it was led by young It is true that instead of giving a funeral journey to the cremation socialist leaders. It is natural that in political fight to the neo-imperialist ground, a distance of about two and 1946, at the age of 18, Bhai became attack, most socialists made power a half kilometers. Among the crowds a member of the Congress Socialist the goal of politics. In doing so, that surged to bid their last farewell Party (CSP). In 1948, he joined the they not only destroyed the socialist and respects, the activists of the Socialist Party, through which he movement but also defamed it. Socialist Party (SPI) and Socialist continued his long political struggle At the same time, the fact also Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) forcefully that prominently includes the Goa remains that several other socialists raised revolutionary slogans like Liberation struggle (1955–1961) also put up a comprehensive and 'Bhai Vaidya amar rahe' (Bhai and the JP Movement (1974–77). decisive ideological challenge to Vaidya will remain immortal), During the Emergency, he remained neo-imperialism. Socialist leaders 'Bhai tere sapano ko ham manzil tak in jail from 1975 to 1977 under the / thinkers such as Kishan Patnaik, pahunchayenge' (Bhai we will take Maintenance of Internal Security Sachchidand Sinha, Vinodprasad your dreams to their destination), Act (MISA). He played an important Singh, Surendra Mohan, Bhai 'Lokshahi samajwad – zindabad role in the Rashtra Seva Dal and Vaidya, Justice Rajindar Sachar, zindabad' (democratic socialism – became its president in 2001. Bhai's Pannalal Surana, Dr. G.G. Parikh and long live long live), 'Bhai Vaidya wish was that the Rashtra Sewa Dal Sunil have endeavoured to create a ko lal salaam' (red salute to Bhai should take the responsibility of small but new political stream Vaidya), and 'ladenge jeetenge' (will cadre building for the Socialist Party as a genuine alternative to neo- fight will win). so that the youth could be saved from imperialism. It is also notable that in Most of the people present in the grip of communal politics. mainstream politics, socialist leader the procession were not activists Bhai was an MA in Sociology Chandrashekhar had constantly but from the general civil society. and Political Science. He was a opposed the New Economic Policies It was evident they were influenced multi-dimensional and studious from the very beginning. by the rare personality of Bhai that person. However, he was essentially Bhai became the general was an amalgam and wonderful a political person. Born out of the secretary of Samajwadi Jan Parishad combination of love, service womb of socialist movement, Bhai, (SJP), formed in 1995. When the and compassion. Almost all the along with Gandhi, was deeply Socialist Party was reinstated in 2011, newspapers of Marathi and English influenced by the thoughts of Jyotiba he became its first president. At that 6 JANATA, April 22, 2018 time his age was eighty plus. He did not want to take this responsibility. Hopeless Implementation of Right to But on the insistence of Justice Education Act in UP Sachar and young socialists, he agreed to be the president. Despite his advanced age, he fulfilled that Sandeep Pandey responsibility admiringly. After 1991, Bhai's life was It is now the fourth year since functioning in what is a largely spent in constant struggle against the government of Uttar Pradesh unregulated system. neo-imperialism. He fought a long started taking Right to Education The private schools stand on struggle against privatisation of Act 2009 seriously. Section 12(1) morally very weak ground. Their education. It is not that other leaders (c) of this Act is the most attractive fees structures are not rational either. or political organisations are not feature from the point of view of Most of them would not be able to active in opposing neo-imperialism. parents from disadvantaged groups justify the exorbitant fees which But they are either confused with and weaker sections as they can the parents have to pay. In addition, the concept of development or they get their children admitted to even a number of schools have found accept capitalism, the conjoined twin the most expensive schools for free other ways of making money, for of imperialism, as the only path of education from Classes I to VIII. In example, by making certain books, development. Bhai clearly stated in UP, 3,135 children were admitted in dresses, etc. Compulsory, to be the Socialist Party's policy statement the academic year 2015-16, 17,136 bought from either the school itself and in his several comments that in 2016-17 and 27,662 in the year or from chosen shops intimated by actually communists are not ready to which just got over. However, the school. Private education is a leave the idea and model of capitalist there are some schools like the flourishing business with assured development. They consider City Montessori School, Navyug returns. industrialisation as the yardstick of Raidance, City International, St. This year is the second year of development. Bhai used to consider Mary's Intermediate College and the online application process in UP. democratic socialist ideology as an Lucknow Model Public School in Out of 82,388, only 20,427 schools, alternative to capitalism. He had Lucknow, Virendra Swaroop and which is less than 25%, are mapped, a firm conviction in the imminent Chintal Public School in Kanpur, implying parents can't even choose defeat of capitalism. From this and Blue Bird School and Nehru more than 75% schools when filling ground of faith, he continued to Children's Junior High School in their children's forms online. The inspire Socialist Party workers. Aligarh which are making a mockery second round of application process That inspiration is alive even after of the Act by not admitting any is over and only last round remains. his death. children in spite of orders from Basic Surprisingly, some schools which Goodbye Bhai! May you rest Shiksha Adhikari or even the District admitted children last year, like in peace. We pledge to continue the Magistrate. R.D. Memorial Intermediate College struggle for equality and freedom As no action is being taken and Siddharth Global School in against neo-imperialist designs. against these errant schools, Lucknow are missing from the they've been emboldened to form options available on the website. Email: [email protected] associations which are publicly The various branches of the biggest challenging the RTE Act itself in school of Varanasi, Sunbeam, are courts, and are also holding rallies not listed in any of the Wards here. demanding that it be scrapped. Some of the Wards in Varanasi are Janata The excuse being given is that the not mentioned at all on the website compensation amount of Rs 450 which means parents cannot get the is available at per child per month is too low and benefit of section 12(1)(c) there. It is arbitrary, and even that is not being inexplicable how the UP government www.lohiatoday.com reimbursed in time. They abhor the is even accepting applcations government's interference in their without complete mapping of all JANATA, April 22, 2018 7 schools. Trying to rush through of the RTE Act forbids holding back outside the school, it is now not the admission process without the or expelling children. In 2016-17, his insisting on the payment, but is not necessary preparation is reflected parents had to pay Rs 250–350 thrice releasing the marksheet either. in the fact that only 48 out of 75 in the name of examination fee, Although not admitted under districts of UP came out with their whereas the Act is named as Right section 12(1)(c), three students first lottery list. Verifications of all of Children to Free and Compulsory Manish, Sanjay and Kamal, all 2597 forms were not complete in Education. Physical punishment is belonging to Valmiki community, Varanasi when the first lottery was prohibited under Section 17 of the who were studying in a parallel held. What is the point of this half- Act, but a teacher beat Ansh Kumar stream by the name of 'Navsrijan' hearted effort? one day. On another day, when Ansh of the prestigious Seth M.R. Jaipuria There are problems with quality Kumar relieved himself in the class School of Lucknow, were expelled of mapping too. When Ruby Bano, room, his mother was called from after being enrolled there for close resident of Raja Bazar in Chowk home to clear his laterine. Question to 7 years, as the school thinks they area of Lucknow filed an application is whether the school would have cannot cope with English medium for her son Saiyyed Altamash called the mother of a fee paying and must move to a Hindi medium Ali's admission, she was alloted a child to come and do such a thing? school. This violates the provision school—Fatima Girls' Junior High It is clearly a case of discrimination of the Act forbidding expulsion from School—shown on the RTE website and humiliation for the family school before class VIII. It would in her Ward, but it turned out that merely because they are poor, in not be out of place to mention that this school was in Mahanagar Ward, addition to mental harrassment for the Sanskrit loving Bhartiya Janata nowhere in the 'neighbourhood' of the child which is also prohibited Party government has decided her home, a requirement of the Act. under section 17. to create 5,000 English medium It is physically impossible for her to Shakti Bal Vidyalaya in Gadhi schools in the State, justifying it on send her little son so far away with Kanaura is run by a lawyer Anil the basis of demand for such schools. another baby in her lap. Singh, even though lawyers are Lord Meher School admitted There is also a question mark on forbidden from undertaking any other Shivanshu and Shubham Sharma the lottery process itself. When the commercial activity. The lawyer under section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act says that at least 25% children manager has charged thousands of Act last year, but has discontinued have to be admitted under section rupees from parents to get the date of their education from this year, again 12(1)(c), why should there be a birth, caste, income certificates made violating section 16 of the Act. cap in any school on the number which are supporting documents In the face of violations of such of admissions? Only if the number required to fill the application form serious nature, one would have of applicants exceeds the intake for admission under section 12(1) expected the officials, government capacity of the school may the (c) of the RTE Act. He is also or the courts to intervene but children be admitted other nearest demanding sums ranging from Rs unfortunately no action is being available options. Such a situation 1,000 to Rs 2,500 for making the taken. The officials make an excuse has not arisen yet. marksheets of last year available. that there is no punitive clause in Some of the students who got The manager also says that parents the RTE Act. Combined with the admission in earlier years are not should share a part of the Rs 5,000 tyrannical behaviour and assault sailing smoothly. Ansh Kumar, which they are getting from the of private schools, the Act has admitted two years ago in Universal government for buying books and virtually been held to ransom with Montessori School and Girls' unifrom for their children. no authority willing to own it. Intermediate College in Lucknow, Blooming Flower Junior High (Note: With inputs from RTE has been failed in Kindergarten. Last School is similarly demanding activists Mahesh in Kanpur, Aman year he got 31.93% marks in Nursery Rs 200 each for making available Agarwal in Aligarh and Praveen but was passed, as he stood fifth the marksheets of two children of Srivastava, Shraddha Mishra, in class. This time he got 17.77% Mohammed Ashique , Muskan and Saleem Khan and Ravindra in marks and has been expelled from Rehan, who are in classes KG and I Lucknow.) the school, even though Section 16 respectively. After a demonstration Email: [email protected] 8 JANATA, April 22, 2018 It’s Modi’s BJP!

Kuldip Nayar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Gandhi. Nathuram Godse touched credibility, something that the Jana is now well in control of the Bhartiya Gandhi’s feet and shot the Mahatma Sangh had not managed for several Janata Party (BJP). He has installed point blank. It became clear later that decades after Gandhi's assassination. his close lieutenant Amit Shah as the there was a well prepared plan. The The two-year stay in the Janata party president. However, people’s RSS was banned. The organisation’s Party and the portfolios they held memory is short. The founding chief M.S. Golwalkar was arrested. in the central ministry helped the president of the BJP was Atal Behari He was released after a year or so BJP immensely. It sought and got Vajpayee who subsequently occupied on the assurance that the RSS would control of important portfolios like the office of Prime Minister to lead not enter into electoral politics. It is information and broadcasting. It also the NDA government, a coalition of another matter that they hid the fact gave it the credibility to rapidly gain several parties. that they are the guiding force of new members and saffronise them. The miracle of Congress demise first the Jana Sangh and today the The BJP also adopted at that took place under the leadership of BJP. It is the RSS that selects the time a positive stance which Jayaprakash Narain, a Gandhian BJP candidates for both the State confused the Hindu intelligentsia. socialist. There was such a strong Assembly elections as well as the Atal Behari Vajpayee was at helm anti-Congress movement that all Lok Sabha. of affairs, and he did a balancing non-Congress parties, including The undertaking given by the act and rode two horses at the same the Jana Sangh, came together on Jana Sangh regarding severing its time. Simultaneously, issues like one platform. The old Jana Sangh links with the RSS was a ruse to Ayodhya-cum-Babri Masjid dispute members were very particular about join the Janata Party. JP's reminders and other factors, also enabled the maintaining their links with the to Jana Sangh leaders to make good BJP to gain considerable following RSS. This meant that the Hindutva on their promise had no effect. How and led to the BJP winning 181 Lok ideology would remain to define the could they do so, when the Jana Sabha seats in 1998, against its usual party’s agenda. Sangh itself was an RSS creation, single digit tally, in a 545-member JP's clothes of secularism did with the avowed aim of creating a house. After that, even JP's close not fit the pro-Hindu Jana Sangh. Hindu Rashtra? Initially, the Jana followers found alibis to join hands Despite that, JP admitted it into the Sangh members tried to explain to with the BJP in the NDA so as to stay opposition coalition fighting the JP that the RSS wasn't what it was in the driving seat. authoritarian rule of Prime Minister made out to be. When it came to the The BJP was now desperate Indira Gandhi. JP was conscious that crunch, they refused point-blank to widen its base. Deputy Prime the Jana Sangh was a political arm to break ties with the RSS. JP felt Minister L.K. Advani minimised of the RSS. But he had been given cheated. But by then he was too sick the differences between the political an undertaking that the two would to go back to the people to expose the BJP and the totalitarian RSS. He part company. Jana Sangh. He did make it public had done everything to “unify” the When the Janata Party came that his trust had been violated but Hindus, the most dangerous being into being, JP insisted on the Jana he was helpless because of ill-health. the rath yatra to Ayodhya that he Sangh members, who occupied When the Janata Party raised led across northern India, dividing key positions in the Janata Party the question of membership issue, Hindus and Muslims who had lived and government, severing links the Jana Sangh members preferred together for centuries. Advani was with the RSS. JP knew how they to walk out. But by now, the Jana so satisfied with the result that he had created an atmosphere where a Sangh, now metamorphosed as equated the rath yatra with Gandhi's Hindu would assassinate Mahatma the BJP, had acquired considerable Dandi Salt march. JANATA, April 22, 2018 9

Prime Minister Modi is underlining all the time that he is Yes, That’s What Israel Is! bigger than the party. Even after four years’ of rule, it is not clear Jawaharlal Jasthi in which direction he is taking the country. Granted that his diluted It’s high time for India to the ‘terrorist’ attacks of displaced form of Hindutva is spreading in the understand and acknowledge what and disabled Palestinians. It is an country, but this process has stopped Israel is. They don’t have a law open fact that Israel could not have at the Vindhyas. The southern states which they can be forced to follow. survived but for the unconditional do not seem to give the impression They follow their own law in their support extended by the sole super of full participants. own way. Those who recognise power, the United States of America. And once again, the introduction Israel are not supposed to recognise Once you want the friendship of of Hindi is creating the same that there is some country called the Israelis, they declare their problem, as it did during the last Palestine. No, there is nothing conditions. You need their help in days of Jawaharlal Nehru. Then called Palestine. All the area west of defence, but they will not allow you his successor, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jordan River and spreading up to the to restrict the relationship to defence assured the nation on the floor of Mediterranean Sea belongs to them. alone. It has to be extended to trade the house that the switch over to After all, it has been given to them and commerce. They are in need Hindi would take place only when by no less an authority than God of markets for their innumerable the non-Hindi speaking states were himself. How can anybody question products. They are facing resistance ready for it. It is up to Modi to see it? Moreover, it is under their from democratic countries because how he is able to reconcile the two control for over a half century—de of the BDS movement—boycott, different trends. Only time will tell facto or de jure does not make any divest and sanction. Iraq, the country if he can to do so. difference. It is their law that runs devastated by America, has become throughout that area. the market for Israeli products. Email: [email protected] On 12 April, 2018 roared a India has also been offered help headline, “Israel detains Indian in improving its agriculture and delegation on way to Palestine, industry, and India has not been Janata Subscription deports back to India.” Their visas able to refuse it even though what Annual Rs. : 260/- were cancelled they were told to they offer is not in any way superior go back. Mohammed Salim, a to what India already has. Even in Three Years : 750/- Member of Parliament, was one of defence, they have used as a bait Demand Draft / the delegates. He had diplomatic some equipment that India needs status. After verifying the same, he and along with it pressurised India Cheque was allowed to enter the Palestine to buy other defence equipment on area subject to the condition that too. India initially fell for it—on he shall not go to Ramallah and Israeli, that were detrimental to Mumbai Bank attend the conference. He declined indigenous development. But later, in favour of the offer. India scrapped the agreement. Don’t Over the past more than a decade, expect Israel to forget or forgive JANATA TRUST India has embraced Israel as a bosom this. Israel craves for diplomatic friend, knowing fully well what it recognition from other countries D-15, Ganesh Prasad, is. First the UPA and now the NDA as many countries refuse relations Naushir Bharucha Marg, government feel that Israel can be a because of their policies. Even then, Grant Road (W), reliable ally that can help in boosting they insist that any relationship shall Mumbai 400 007. our defences. Israel is supposed be on their own terms. to be efficient as it has survived The life of Palestinians in the 10 JANATA, April 22, 2018

West Bank is completely controlled the area is under their control. The by Israel—through their army. That question is, who issued the visas? If The Unemployment is, West Bank is factually under they are issued by the Israel embassy Crisis: military rule of an alien country. in India, how can their army cancel This is continuing for over half a it? If the visas are issued by the Reasons and century. Only the people who have Palestinian authorities, how are Solutions experienced life under military they valid as they do not have their rule, that too a hostile force, can own country? The State of Palestine understand what this means. They is not yet formed. Even the UNO Contribution Rs. 25/- control the visitors in and out of has given only an observer status this entire area. Even the movement to the Palestinian Authority. The of people living inside this area is Israeli army did not allow the Indian Published by subject to strict control of Israel delegates to enter the West Bank, Janata Trust & Lokayat forces. It is in this situation that and after waiting for four hours they the Government of India sent a were forced to return to Jordan and D-15, Ganesh Prasad, delegation to attend a conference come back to India. Naushir Bharucha Marg, organised by the Palestine Liberation Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry Grant Road (W), Organisation at Ramallah, within of External Affairs pleaded with the Mumbai 400 007 the West Bank. The topic of the Government of Israel, but it was conference was: Jerusalem: The of no use. India pointed out that Eternal Capital of Palestine. But one of the delegates is a Member Palestine is not yet liberated. of Parliament and has a diplomatic With Israel not willing to define status. Israel agreed to allow that the boundaries of their country, one delegate to enter, without any Palestinians do not know what area restrictions. He was allowed to they can call as their own. They do attend the conference. He had come not know when will get a State of with his family and all were allowed. their own and, in what shape. Being Thus, one member attended the suffocated under the military rule of conference as a delegate from India. Israel, they try to claim Jerusalem as That is the respect India has got as their ‘eternal’ capital. Naturally, it an ally of Israel with diplomatic and irritates Israel. trade relations. Obviously, India Having established diplomatic expected Israel would be courteous and trade relations with Israel, enough to allow the delegates. But it India is also trying to step on the failed to realise how sensitive is the Palestine boat and also claims to be matter of control over West Bank, a supporter of Palestinian aspirations and more particularly Jerusalem, which are quite contradictory to for Israel. On the question of control those of Israel. It sent a team of over the West Bank, Israel did delegates to attend the conference in not care even for the suggestions Ramallah. The Israel army refused of America, despite the fact that them entry into the West Bank. The America stands by them in every delegation insisted that they have a crisis. Yes, that is Israel, and it is like right to enter as they have visas. The no other country. army took hold of their passports and stated that their visas were cancelled Email: [email protected] by a committee of the army. After all, JANATA, April 22, 2018 11 Indo-Pak Amity: Necessary Compulsion for the Survival of Both

Pratap Reddy

Before entering into a discussion some Western powers attempted to Rajas, Maharajas, Nawabs, Nizams, on the subject of Indo-Pak amity, it is explore the sea route for trade with etc. These chieftains were spread all necessary to take a brief look at the India. The first attempt to find a sea over the country. Taking advantage history of India before its partition. route was made by Columbus; in of the rivalry of local chieftains The development of India before his search for a sea route to India, among themselves, the East India partition is the history of advent in 1492 he reached a new world Company became a powerful of various races, religions and that had so far been unknown to the political entity, capturing the whole civilisations into India, such as, rest of the world, a region that is of India by mid-nineteenth century. Aryans, Kushans, Huns, etc. All now known as the Americas. Some Its massive plunder eventually led to of them intermixed with the local years later, the Portuguese navigator, the first war of independence against people who were called ‘Dravidians’ Vasco da Gama, sailing via the British in 1857. and lived together with them, as southernmost part of Africa, landed On account of rivalries of it is revealed by archaeological in India in 1498, followed a century local chieftains, the first war of researches of Harappa, Mohenjo later by the Dutch. independence was unsuccessful, daro, Taxashila, etc. In order to compete with the following which the British While there is no historical Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch parliament enacted the first or chronological data of the birth traders, the English traders formed Government of India Act, 1858, by and growth of Hindu religion a Trading Company under the which the British imperialists took except mythological beliefs, name of ‘East India Company’ on over direct control of India, assisted people of various other religions 31 December 1599 and obtained by local chieftains, who named that originated in Asia, such as, the Charter from the then British themselves as Rajas, Maharajas, Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews, Monarch, Elizabeth I, on 1 January Nawabs, etc. also came to India and started 1600. After obtaining the Charter, These treacherous acts of mixing with the local people. All the English traders, under the British imperialists brought an these factors had contributed to the leadership of Sir Thomas More, awakening among Indians led by growth of India as a civilisation with landed in Surat, India. In 1602 Sir Raja Rammohan Roy, Bankim a unique blend of various cultures Thomas More obtained his first Chandra Chatterjee and several and religions. audience with the Mughal Emperor others. The Indian National Going into details of the growth Jahangir. Thereafter, East India Congress was established in 1885 of this syncretic Indian civilisation is Company began to expand its trade to get some concessions and reforms beyond the scope of this short article. with different towns in India, such in the British imperialistic rule. However, it is an accepted truth as Madras (Chennai), Calcutta and This awakening among Indians that India was very prosperous and Bombay. The decline of the Mughal brought Mahatma Gandhi into the a great centre of trade. Enticed by Empire created a great opportunity freedom struggle in 1915. He had the manufacturing growth of India for East India Company to not only gained some experience of fighting and opportunities of trade, various expand its trade adventures but also British imperialistic rule in South expeditions from the West to India develop itself into a political power Africa. Mahatma Gandhi realised took place. Earlier, the Western by winning diwani rights in Bengal, that the only way of fighting the powers came to India by land route Awadh, etc. British imperialistic force was by which necessitated wars with the After the decline of Mughal awakening the ordinary people of countries that lay in between. To power, there emerged several India who had been suffering from avoid such conflicts and war and chieftains calling themselves as the atrocities of British Empire 12 JANATA, April 22, 2018 and their local stooges—the Rajas, development of India. The main their common enemies who are Maharajas, Nawabs, etc. Mahatma aim behind this effort is to equip all keeping them still divided and not Gandhi’s first campaign began in of you with the past history of India allowing them to unite, if not as Champaran in 1917, and gradually and give an idea about what were one nation, then as one amity of spread all over the country as a non- the factors that led to the partition nations of this sub-continent. The violent movement, one of whose of India into two nations, India and common enemies of these three slogans was non-cooperation with Pakistan. The fact is that the division nations are poverty, ignorance the British Government and resisting of our country under the Two-Nation and Western imperialistic forces and rebelling against the laws of theory was a British imperialistic like Britain and America. If these British Empire. invention, this theory was entirely three nations, along with Nepal, The mass movement that Gandhi their creation and not of any Indian, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and successfully built up started shaking including Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Afganistan, come together, they up the British imperialistic force. It Even after this successful action will work as a BULWARK against was a movement that was historically of the British Empire in dividing the Western imperialistic forces. It unknown in any part of the world. this country, nobody can deny that is, therefore, necessary that these The British government realised these two nations (now three—India, three nations come together and that the only way of weakening Pakistan and Bangladesh) have the develop closer trade relations, while this mass movement was to divide same civilisation, race, heritage, etc. maintaining their political and Indians on the basis of religion. Without going into further territorial sovereignty, by building So, they invented the ‘Two-Nation details of the division of India up a Common Economic Zone Theory’ and made efforts to divide into three nations, all these three like the European Union. This Hindus and Muslims, and ultimately nations must realise that they are the will enable them to keep Western became successful in dividing this divisions and parts of ONLY ONE imperialistic forces at bay and land into two countries, India and NATION with a common heritage make this region one of the most Pakistan. and common civilisation. prosperous in the world, as it was We request our readers to pardon I appeal to the people of these three centuries ago. us for encumbering them with three nations, India, Pakistan and these historical facts about the Bangladesh, to recognise who are Email: [email protected]

The Year Climate Change Began to Spin Out of Control

James Temple

For decades, scientists have another towards perilous climate Here are the five most worrisome warned that climate change would tipping points. And yet for all the climate developments we saw in make extreme events like droughts, growing risks, and the decades 2017. floods, hurricanes and wildfires more we’ve had to confront them, we frequent, more devastating, or both. have yet to address the problem in a Emissions are rising again In 2017, we got an up-close look at meaningful way. After three relatively flat years, the raw ferocity of such an altered In fact, despite all our climate greenhouse gas emissions from world as high-category hurricanes policies, global accords, solar fossil fuels and industry picked up battered the East and Gulf coasts, advances, wind farms, hybrid again in 2017, rising an estimated and wind-whipped fires scorched cars and Teslas, greenhouse-gas 2 percent, according to the Global the West. emissions are still moving in the Carbon Project. The shift was driven We’re also seeing with greater wrong direction. And as long as by rising carbon pollution in China clarity how these dangers are we’re emitting any at all, we’re only and India, which more than offset a interlinked, building upon one making the problem worse. slight decline in the United States. JANATA, April 22, 2018 13

The news punctured tentative also seem to be the most reliable, Several recent studies concluded hopes that the recent flattening was according to a December study that shifting climate conditions solidifying into a trend. Among other in Nature that compared climate significantly increased the odds of things, it means that our collective models against what’s already an extreme event such as Harvey. climate efforts haven’t even happening in the atmosphere. Among other climatic factors, prevented greenhouse gas levels The paper concluded that warmer air holds more moisture, from increasing, at a point when we worldwide temperatures could rise and higher sea levels raise the height need to be radically cutting them. nearly 5°C by the end of the century, of storm surges, both of which can Keeping temperatures from rising 15 percent higher than the previous increase the destructive power of beyond a dangerous 2°C will require central estimate under the “business storms. slashing emissions as much as 70 as usual” emissions scenario outlined A study published in percent by midcentury, according to by the UN Intergovernmental Panel Environmental Research Letters in the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. December concluded that global on Climate Change. The authors collected more warming made an event like Harvey At more than 400 parts per than a decade’s worth of "top of around three times more likely. million, we’re already well beyond atmosphere" satellite observations, Meanwhile, a report in Proceedings dangerous levels of carbon dioxide measuring factors such as how much of the National Academy of Sciences concentrations in the atmosphere, as infrared radiation is escaping from by Kerry Emanuel, a prominent climbing temperatures, melting ice Earth and how much sunlight clouds hurricane researcher and professor of caps and extreme weather events and snow reflect away. In turn, atmospheric science at MIT, found have made clear. they compared that data with the that events of similar magnitude In early November, the World results of earlier climate models to will become far more likely as the Meteorological Organisation determine which ones most closely climate warms further. declared that 2017 was likely to forecast what the satellites actually “We see probabilities of Harvey- end up as “one of the three warmest saw. It turned out to be the ones that type rainfalls going up by factors of years on record,” and the warmest predicted the most warming. 10 by the late 20th century and early one altogether that wasn’t influenced That suggests the risks of climate 21st” under a “business as usual” by an El Niño event. That also makes change are greater than feared, and greenhouse emissions trajectory, the global average temperature that we’ll have to cut emissions even he says. during 2013–2017 the hottest five- deeper to prevent dangerous levels year average recorded. of warming. The melting Arctic Carbon dioxide can remain In December, NOAA released in the atmosphere for thousands Hyperactive hurricanes an unsettling Arctic report card of years and takes about a decade Hurricane Harvey crossed the declaring that the North Pole had to reach its maximum warming shorelines of southern Texas on reached a “new normal,” with no effect. In other words, even with August 25, marking the first major sign of returning to a “reliably all the changes we’ve already seen, hurricane to make landfall in the frozen region.” Rising temperatures we have yet to experience the full United States in a dozen years. have locked in a long-term trend of impact of the carbon we spewed The storm hovered over the coast shrinking glaciers, receding sea ice, in 2008 and every year since. Each for days, dumping more than 60 and warming permafrost. additional ton we emit going forward inches of rain in some areas, killing Between October 2016 and only increases the dangers of climate more than 80 people and displacing September 2017, the area above the change, multiplying the economic, thousands. 60th parallel north experienced the environmental and human toll. Irma and Maria added to the second-warmest air temperature toll of destruction, making the anomaly since 1900. In March, Worst-case scenarios look hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane satellites recorded the lowest sea-ice increasingly likely season the most expensive ever, winter maximum on record. The most alarming projections racking up more than $200 billion Melting glaciers and sea ice for global warming this century in damages. are particularly worrisome trends 14 JANATA, April 22, 2018 because they trigger critical expensive fire season on record. according to a convincing case in secondary effects, notably including California alone battled blazes the Atlantic. increasing rates of sea-level rise. that covered more than a million “Both the wildfires and the This development also sets up acres, according to data from the unprecedented Atlantic hurricane dangerous climate feedback loops California Department of Forestry season are similarly profound and as reflective white snow and ice turn and Fire Protection. The Thomas troubling,” wrote Michael Mann, into heat-absorbing dark-blue water. Fire near Santa Barbara ripped director of the Penn State Earth It means the Arctic will send less across 280,000 acres, making it the System Science Center, in an e-mail heat back into space, which leads to state’s largest wildfire ever. The wine to MIT Technology Review. “I more warming, more melting and country fires in Northern California see them as twin climate change– still more sea-level rise. were even more destructive, burning exacerbated weather phenomena.” “We see a major increase in down nearly 9,000 structures and The added danger of wildfires temperatures in the high latitudes, killing 44 people. is that they can convert forests in the area and coasts around the Climate change doesn’t “cause” from sponges to sources of carbon Arctic Ocean, so it seems like this wildfires, which can be ignited by dioxide, forming yet another climate process has already started,” says campfires, lightning strikes, downed feedback cycle. In fact, California’s Vladimir Romanovsky, a professor power lines or arson. Other human forests emitted more carbon than of geophysics at the Permafrost actions, including decades of fire they absorbed between 2001 and Laboratory at the University of suppression, have also increased the 2010, and two-thirds of the loss was Alaska, Fairbanks. risk and magnitude of these fires. attributable to wildfires, according He says another cause for But global warming does seem to be to a 2015 study by researchers at concern is that permafrost is making the events worse. the National Park Service and the warming, approaching thawing Human-influenced climate University of California, Berkeley. temperatures in parts of the Alaskan change has doubled the area affected Reading through this list, it interior. The problem there is that by forest fires during the last 30 becomes increasingly clear how the permafrost traps massive amounts years across the American West, links between distant events lock of greenhouse gases beneath the scorching an additional 16,000 into self-reinforcing loops: rising surface. As it melts, those gases are square miles, according to a 2016 emissions, higher temperatures, released, forming a separate self- study in Proceedings of the National shrinking sea ice, additional warming, reinforcing cycle. Academy of Sciences. extended droughts, bigger wildfires, In early December, Lawrence Higher temperatures suck and still higher emissions. That Livermore National Lab researchers moisture out of soil, trees and plants, means it will become increasingly highlighted yet another potential turning forests into tinderboxes. difficult to pull out of this spiral, effect of declining Arctic sea ice, In California, the added heat has making it increasingly urgent that we concluding it may have played a been compounded by the prolonged begin serious efforts to do so soon. crucial role in California’s extended drought from 2012 to 2016, which drought this decade and could dried out vast swaths of wilderness Courtesy: MIT Technology Review exacerbate future ones. Finally, and opened the door to a devastating though it seems counter-intuitive, beetle bark infestation. The twin The Unemployment Crisis: the warming Arctic could also forces have killed some 129 million Reasons and Solutions amplify cold spells, much like the trees across nearly nine million winter storm now enveloping the acres, building up a massive amount Contribution Rs. 25/- East Coast. of fuel and significantly raising wildfire risks, according to the state Published by Massive wildfires fire department. Janata Trust & Lokayat The West was engulfed in flames As both the highest-cost fire D-15, Ganesh Prasad, this year, as millions of acres burned year and the highest-cost hurricane Naushir Bharucha Marg, across California, Montana, Oregon year, 2017 was very likely “the Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 and elsewhere, adding up to the most most expensive weather year ever,” JANATA, April 22, 2018 15 Why Ankit Saxena's Murder Has Been Easily Forgotten

Tani S. Bhargava

A Hindu father appealed to keep Suffering from a chronic heart allow the murder to be politicised? the peace in West Delhi, in the wake condition, Yashpal said that his Because he is too simple- of the killing of his only child, a wife suffered from the after-effects minded? 23-year-old son at the hands of the of a recent hysterectomy. “Ankit Because he is too secular? family of his Muslim beloved. was a flourishing photographer. He Nobody knows. Astonishing that it was made in supported our surgeries, even bought Some citizens are running a the heat of the moment, not in the an air conditioner for this room. We crowdfunding campaign to support cool of hindsight. Heartening that have lost the sole breadwinner of Ankit’s parents. A trust committed this sane voice came from the urban the family. to communal harmony has pledged sprawl of janata flats in Raghubir "Now we only have the support a monthly stipend. This is their only Nagar. of our Muslim neighbours. We eat hope. Increasing instances of inter- together every evening, often from On our way out, Yashpal caste and inter-faith relationships shared thalis, six to eight people on requested Ankit’s childhood go hand in hand with hardened caste this bed. For how long? I cannot buddies, three strapping, silent and religious identities. Then what is say. My zameer did not allow me to young men, to escort us to the out of sync? Has anything changed harbour or spread animosity against memorial constructed for their since the runaway marriages of a community. These are not my friend. Sukhmeet, Devanshu, and Anees and Sumitra or Jayanti and sanskar.” eerily a strange look alike, Ankit, Javed in the 1960s? A 2x3 inch colour photograph walked us to the corner of the street Yash Pal and Kamlesh Saxena’s of Ankit, with a garland of plastic where their friend was slaughtered. home is a single 12x15 sq ft space flowers, smiled down at us, the stud No one knows why the tulsi plant in with aquamarine walls, barely in his ear glinting. a modestly tiled planter wilts in the room enough for a largish double Kamlesh sat vacant-eyed, March heat. A few A4 photocopies, bed covered with a threadbare wooden-faced and immobile flapping in the diffident breeze, bedspread of red and white squares. throughout our visit, only to break demand ‘Justice for Ankit’. The word love is printed in every down once when one of us touched A memorial to the tragic end white square. A plank on the wall her slight frame to ask whether she of the love between Ankit and serves as a shelf for some small was unwell or desperately unhappy. Shehzadi. It’s a memorial to an brown bottles of medicine, two She just wiped her tears silently. extraordinary son and an exceptional plastic boxes with strips of capsules, “Some of my own people have family. a makeshift temple with attendant accused me of smiling even when As for me, a journey that began tinsel and a few decaying marigolds. my only son is gone. I ask them if with the merciless killing of Safdar A ramshackle cooler stands on you will believe my grief only if I Hashmi by a pack of political guard over a tired top-load washing weep incessantly?” said Yash Pal as hoodlums brings me today, nearly machine leaning, as if for support, if to appeal to his wife. 30 years on, to the cold-blooded on an aging 100 litre fridge. murder of Ankit Saxena by a bunch Yash Pal, a retired water pump Senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi of executioners who could tear apart technician, of medium built with a Party and the local BJP MLA came the social fabric of my city. kindly demeanour, stood up from with promises and went away never A grim reminder of the ugly the sole chair to welcome us, but his to be heard of or seen again. Why reality of India. Cry, the beloved wife Kamlesh looked too weak and has the issue died as suddenly as country. distraught to move from the bed or Ankit himself? bother with such niceties. Because Yashpal refused to Courtesy: dailyO R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, April 22, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, April 22, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, April 25, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 14 Impeachment: A Serious Matter April 29, 2018 Kuldip Nayar Sachar Saheb : A Unique Personality It is sheer arrogance. True, six other opposition parties. With Socialist Vision Chief Justice Dipak Mishra denied Despite the required number of Prem Singh permission to the Allahabad High signatures, Chairman of the Rajya Court judge Nayaran Shukla to Sabha M. Venkaiah Naidu, originally Is just Garlanding of prosecute the Lucknow-based from the BJP, rejected the motion Prasad Education Trust, which runs outright. Vice President Naidu, in Portraits is Honoring a medical college. But this is not his 10-page note, explained the Ambedkar? such a violation of law which should swiftness of his decision, ascribing Ram Puniyani invite impeachment of the Chief it to the seriousness of the charges Justice of India. and unnecessary speculation. Fixing Minimum and The Congress Party was divided “All facts as stated in the motion Maximum Income Bars is but since its president Rahul Gandhi don't make out a case which can lead Vital for Equitable Society decided to move against the Chief any reasonable mind to conclude that Shobha Shukla, Justice, even the balanced Kapil Chief Justice on these facts can be Bobby Ramakant and Sibal had to fall in line. Ashwini ever held guilty of misbehaviour,” Sandeep Pandey Kumar, another senior Congressman said Naidu. He had apparently and an advocate, has made it clear consulted legal and constitutional that he was uncomfortable with experts and took notice of the media Editor : G.G.Parikh the move for impeachment. Even opinion, which has vehemently Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain people like former Prime Minister criticised the impeachment move. Manmohan Singh, P. Chidambaram Union Minister Arun Jaitley Managing Editor : Guddi and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also has, understandably, called the Editorial Board : lawyers, did not sign the motion. impeachment notice a “revenge Ghulam Nabi Azad, also a senior petition”, accusing the Congress and B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali Congress leader, was reading the its friends of using as a “political Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah impeachment motion at the behest of tool” the impeachment notice Nandu Dhaneshwar, Rahul Gandhi in the Rajya Sabha and against the Chief Justice, who retires Sandeep Pandey collected signatures of its members. in six months. The Constitution D-15, Ganesh Prasad, It is mandatory that such a motion says the Chief Justice of India can Naushir Bharucha Marg, has to be moved in the upper house. be impeached only on grounds of Mumbai - 400 007. The fact that the ruling Bhartiya proven misbehaviour or incapacity. Janata Party (BJP) did not have a The opposition backed its Email : [email protected] majority in the Rajya Sabha also demand listing five grounds, Website:www.janataweekly.org came in handy to the Congress and which, the Congress said, equals 2 JANATA, April 29, 2018 misbehaviour. These included the a false affidavit. Of course, he did residence during his tenure as Chief assigning of sensitive cases to surrender the land in 2012 after he Justice of Punjab and Haryana in the handpicked judges, raised publicly was elevated to the Supreme Court. late 1980s. The Supreme Court Bar in January by four top judges who But then he took so much time to do Association even passed a resolution accused the Chief Justice of abusing so despite the allotment having been calling for his impeachment. his position as “master of the roster.” cancelled years earlier. Impeachment is a serious matter. Subsequently, the four senior most Of course, there are a few cases It should never get politicised. judges also held a press conference of High Court judges against whom Rahul Gandhi has done so. And, to air their views, the trigger being impeachment moves have been to that extent, he has weakened the Judge B.H. Loya death case. It made. But before the moves could the judiciary. Since he heads an has since been reassigned. be made, they themselves resigned. influential all-India party, he should This was an unprecedented For instance, Justice Soumitra be extra careful about his actions. move. Similarly, the impeachment Sen of the Calcutta High Court His mother, Sonia Gandhi, may not proceedings have never been taken avoided the ignominy of becoming be familiar with the intricacies of up against a Chief Justice of India. the first judge to be impeached politics. But then, she should have The Chairman forwards such a notice by Parliament by tendering his advised his son to respect the spirit to the Rajya Sabha secretariat to resignation. He did so after the Rajya of the constitution. verify two factors—the signatures of Sabha had passed the motion making the members who signed the petition him the first judge to have been Email: [email protected] and whether rules and procedures impeached by the Upper House for have been followed. Obviously, misconduct. Justice Sen was found Naidu was not convinced. guilty of misappropriating Rs 33.23 Janata Subscription The debates of the Constituent lakh under his custody as a court- Assembly indicate that the framers appointed receiver in the capacity Annual Rs. : 260/- of the Constitution comprising of all as a lawyer, and misrepresenting Three Years : 750/- political parties were very cautious facts before a Calcutta court in a in laying down the impeachment 1983 case. Demand Draft / clause. The members did not want Similarly, Justice P.D. Dinakaran, Cheque the impeachment to be taken lightly. Chief Justice of the Sikkim High I am sorry to say that the Congress Court, against whom the Rajya on Party has thrown all caution to the Sabha Chairman had set up a judicial Mumbai Bank wind, which the party itself was panel to look into allegations of very careful about once upon a corruption, resigned in July 2011, in favour of time. Rahul Gandhi, by his behavior, before impeachment proceedings has disrespected the wishes of the could be initiated against him. JANATA TRUST Congress stalwarts at that time. Corruption, land-grab and abuse But one thing is clear. The Chief of judicial office were among the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Justice has, indeed, compromised 16 charges framed against Justice Naushir Bharucha Marg, his position and the stature of Dinakaran. Grant Road (W), his office. As pointed out by the Justice V. Ramaswami has the Mumbai 400 007. senior most four judges, he has dubious distinction of being the first “abused his exercise of power” in judge against whom impeachment choosing to send sensitive matters proceedings were initiated. In 1993, to particular benches by “misusing the motion to impeach him was his authority as Master of the Roster moved in the Lok Sabha, but it failed Janata with the likely intent to influence to secure the required two-thirds the outcome.” In addition, the majority. Justice Ramaswami was is available at Chief Justice had acquired land caught in a controversy for spending when he was an advocate by giving extravagantly on his official www.lohiatoday.com JANATA, April 29, 2018 3

Obituary Sachar Saheb : A Unique Personality With Socialist Vision

Prem Singh

He had forbidden us to call him institutions and the interests of pertinent to mention here that in most 'Justice Sachar'. So I began to call deprived and oppressed sections of of his articles and statements, the him Sachar Saheb. Four days after the society. Sachar Saheb's name earlier ones as well as these last two, his death, I sit down to write this had become more well known Sachar Saheb invariably referred tribute. The personality of Sachar during the last 10–12 years due to to socialist leaders, Dr. Lohia in Saheb was like a masterpiece, epic in the Sachar Committee Report and particular. His deep commitment to its dimensions. A classic personality its recommendations. While paying the cause of PUCL had its genesis in this absurd period! In a tribute him tributes, most people—friends, in the fact that JP had established it. like this, written for the media, there colleagues and admirers—do not Sachar Saheb became a member is little scope to remember him in forget to mention and discuss this of Socialist Party from the time of that ethereal form. It can only be an unique contribution of Sachar Saheb. its formation in 1948. He was also attempt to understand his thoughts, In my knowledge, hardly any the secretary of the Delhi Pradesh concerns, anxieties and work in a written or verbal tribute to Sachar unit. He played an active role in the pragmatic perspective. Saheb has discussed his role in programs organised by the party. In Sachar Saheb passed away on contemporary political thought and May 1949, while participating in a 20 April 2018. He would have been political activism. (An exception to demonstration in front of the Nepali 95 years old this 22 December. My this trend is the tribute by Tanveer Embassy in Delhi, he was arrested friend Ravikiran Jain, president Fazal, published in 'The Wire'). It along with Dr. Lohia and stayed PUCL, used to say with much cannot be said that journalists and in jail for one month and a half. In assurance that Sachar Saheb will scholars are unaware of his political 2008–09, several senior and young live to be a hundred. Considering ideology and activism. Then, what socialist leaders/activists from his strong desire to live, it seemed could be the reason that associates across the country, including Sachar very likely. Before the last bout of who profusely praise his work do Saheb, held meetings in different illness, he was capable enough to not mention his political affiliations? cities for the re-establishment of take care of his health on his own Why this omission? the Socialist Party. Consequently, whenever he fell ill. But for the last Despite being seriously ill, in May 2011, the Socialist Party was three months, it seemed that he has Sachar Saheb continued to pen his reinstated as Socialist Party (India) made up his mind that it was time views, and wrote his last article in Hyderabad. Since then, Sachar for the abandonment of the body. 'India Needs Draupadi and Not Saheb had worked tirelessly for the Now he will live among us through Savitri' only a few days before his expansion of Socialist Party despite memories, thoughts and work. death, which was published in the his senior position and age. Tributes to Sachar Saheb have English weekly Janata on 1 April In sunshine, rains, storm and appeared continuously after his 2018. Just a few days prior to cold, he used to walk in the streets demise in newspapers, magazines, this article, he wrote 'No Conflict with the party workers and participate portals and condolence meetings. In Between Hindi and State Regional in demonstrations/meetings/ these tributes he is remembered as a Languages' on March 3. The subject conventions organised by the party. capable and successful lawyer and matter of these two articles relate He used to call the workers all over the Chief Justice of the Delhi High significantly to Dr. Lohia's views. the country to get information about Court who made unabated efforts Sachar Saheb's writings and work party activities. Any party worker and waged constant struggles in are often perceived to be rooted could meet him at home at any time order to protect civil rights, human and inspired by Dr. Lohia's political without prior information. In the rights, constitutional and democratic philosophy and struggle. It would be previous assembly elections in Delhi, 4 JANATA, April 29, 2018 the Socialist Party had fielded a is destroyed for establishment of the doing so they free the neo-liberalist/ candidate from the Okhla legislative private sector then the constitutional neo-imperialist forces to wreak constituency. Sachar Saheb's house and democratic institutions too havoc on the working masses of the falls in the same area. He addressed will be destroyed. Secularism and country. street meetings for the candidate democracy cannot be saved by First Bhai, and now Sachar and distributed pamphlets walking abandoning the value of socialism Saheb. Within a fortnight, two through crowded streets. During contained in the Constitution. stalwarts of socialism have passed my candidature from East Delhi, he Blind adherence to neo-liberal away. This is not the loss of was active throughout, from filing policies promotes communalism, the Socialist Party only. It is an of nomination to the last day of the superstitions and idiocy on the one irreparable loss to the politics of election campaign. In politics like hand, whereas on the other hand it values instilled and nurtured from the life, Sachar Saheb was trustful and a promotes blind nationalism. This freedom movement, the Constitution believer. However, many, including understanding and analysis of the of India and the socialist movement. socialists, with whom he interacted Socialist Party is inconvenient ‘The struggle will continue!’ With were not always trustworthy. Like for most secular intellectuals and this resolution the Socialist Party Kishan Patnaik, he also had a naive leaders. They take leave of their own salutes its revolutionary leader. belief that the NGO people can be a responsibility by merely placing the part of transformative politics! blame on the RSS for 'fascism'. In Email: [email protected] Sachar Saheb had immense faith in socialism, secularism, democracy, civil rights, individual freedom and the non-violent mode Is just Garlanding of Portraits is of protest against injustice. Behind Sachar Saheb's multi-faceted role Honoring Ambedkar? was his deep faith in democratic socialism and socialist vision. The Ram Puniyani report and recommendations of the Sachar Committee should also be understood from this perspective. This 14th April the 127th birth their households. It is true that in Without considering this perspective anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar posturing to honor Ambedkar, the of his life, there is no meaning in was marked by heightened BJP is dominating the scene, but praising his personality. celebrations of the occasion by are BJP’s policies really upholding What then is the reason that most political formations, but more what Babasaheb stood for? What many journalists and scholars who so by BJP. Prime Minister Modi does respect mean—mere posturing pay homage to his memory forget while paying tributes to Babasaheb or valuing his political and social to mention the shade of his political said that the Congress was against contributions? inclination? The main reason for this Ambedkar, that his government has The fact is that Ambedkar’s omission appears to be that Sachar given him the honor due to him, and world view and philosophy stood Saheb was against the neo-liberal that no government has honored totally against what BJP stands for. policies being implemented in the Babasaheb as much as the current BJP can speak with a forked tongue country by successive governments regime! with great amount of expertise. for the last nearly three decades now. In this game of appropriating When it says that the Congress was There is almost a general consensus Ambedkar, the BJP is operating opposed to Ambedkar, nothing can in the civil society regarding these on multiple grounds. One is the be farther from truth. We know that policies. The Socialist Party (India), propaganda that the Congress was Ambedkar’s struggles for breaking of which Sachar Saheb was a founding opposed to him; two is that it is the shackles of the caste system member, has repeatedly stated the BJP which is honoring him by were a major influence on Mahatma through its policy document and introducing an app like BHIM in Gandhi which led him to launch his resolutions that if the public sector his name or dining with dalits in anti-untouchability struggles, which JANATA, April 29, 2018 5 was a real way to honour Ambedkar. he presented the Hindu Code bill. harmony between castes; this also Though he was not member of the The RSS Chief M.S. Golwalkar gets manifested in RSS work among Congress, Ambedkar was invited came down scathingly on it. In a dalits through the Samajik Samrasta to become a member of Nehru’s speech of August 1949, he said that Manch. Cabinet with the important portfolio the reforms piloted by Ambedkar At another level Lord Ram of law. It was Congress which took “has nothing Bharatiya about it. has been the central figure in their his concerns seriously and he was The questions like those of marriage political mobilisation. Had BJP made the Chairman of drafting and divorce cannot be settled on family really been respecting committee of Constituent Assembly. the American or British model in Ambedkar, would they have made Not only that, social reforms were this country. Marriage according to Lord Ram the central symbol of uppermost in the minds of Nehru- Hindu culture and law is a sanskar their politics? The Ram temple Congress, because of which Nehru which cannot be changed even after issue has been used by BJP to asked Ambedkar to draft the Hindu death and not a ‘contract’ which can strengthen itself. UP Chief Minister Code bill, which was opposed by be broken any time.” Golwalkar has announced a huge statue of BJP’s parent organisation to the core. continued: “Of course some lower the Lord in Ayodhya. Lately Ram How do we assess the BJP castes in Hindu Society in some Navami is being promoted all over attitude to Ambedkar? First, we parts of the country recognise and the country, on the occasion of which need to recognise that though the practice divorce by custom. But their armed youth take out processions BJP was formed only in 1980, its practice cannot be treated as an ideal particularly in Muslim localities. roots lie in its predecessor, the to be followed by all.” (Organiser, What had Ambedkar to say about Bhartiya Jan Sangh (1952), and September 6, 1949). Lord Ram? In his book Riddles of the parent organization of both is The BJP came to power in Hinduism, Ambedkar is critical of the RSS (1925), whose ideology 1998 at the head of a coalition, the Lord Ram, pointing out that the of Hindu nationalism controls its NDA. One of its important Cabinet Lord kills Shambuk, a low caste politics. At all crucial occasions, ministers was Arun Shourie, who boy who is doing penance, and the RSS opposed Ambedkar has written a most scathing criticism also kills King Bali from behind ideologically. With regard to the denouncing Ambedkar. Even while his back. Ambedkar’s reserves his Indian Constitution, when the draft the current dispensation is garlanding strongest criticism of the Lord for of the Constitution was presented to his portraits and photographs, BJP banishing his pregnant wife Sita and the Constituent Assembly, the RSS minister Anantkrishna Hegde openly not enquiring about his sons or wife mouth piece Organiser (November declares that the BJP has come to for long years! 30, 1949) wrote: “There is no trace power to change the Constitution. Respecting Ambedkar is not just of ancient Bharatiya constitutional While Ambedkar was deeply garlanding him, respecting him has laws, institutions, nomenclature wedded to secularism and equality, to begin with upholding his critique and phraseology in it . . . there is no the UP Chief Minister Adityanath of Manusmiriti, respecting the mention of the unique constitutional Yogi declares that secularism is the values of Indian Constitution and developments in ancient Bharat. biggest lie of independent India. The dedicatedly working for secularism Manu’s laws were written long strategy of BJP is to pay lip service and social justice, which were his before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon to Babasaheb and at the same time to central concerns. BJP’s policies have of Persia. To this day his laws as erode his principles regarding caste strengthened anti-Dalit biases and enunciated in the Manusmriti excite and gender equality, his principles as violence, which has become more the admiration of the world and made explicit through his burning of overt during the last few years. In elicit spontaneous obedience and Manu Smriti, the book which RSS contrast, Gandhi–Nehru–Congress conformity among Hindus in India. ideologues have been upholding. valued Ambedkar’s concerns, But to our constitutional pundits that Ambedkar was for annihilation despite having different political means nothing.” of caste, as he saw this as the affiliations. The RSS took out its worst major obstacle to social justice. aggression against Ambedkar when In contrast, RSS ideology talks of Email: [email protected] 6 JANATA, April 29, 2018 Fixing Minimum and Maximum Income Bars is Vital for Equitable Society

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant and Sandeep Pandey

Government doctors (and other then how will the tall promises of encroaching upon government employees) demanding salary hike of health security and universal land, whereas it should have been is common news. Succumbing to health coverage be delivered? These the responsibility of the government the temptation of greener pastures, doctors have appealed that instead or the contractor to provide housing government doctors moving to of raising their salaries, government to staff working for a government private hospitals in the country should utilise these resources in hospital. or migrating abroad is also fairly strengthening the public health There are doctors in India common. But what is turning heads system, so that nurses and other too who have been dedicatedly around is the news of Canadian healthcare staff can work in better delivering healthcare service. For doctors declining a salary hike! and secure conditions and healthcare instance, Christian Medical College Amazing as it may sound, over a services are within the reach of all (CMC) Vellore in Tamil Nadu, thousand doctors protested against those in need, especially the most which ranks second (first being a recent decision of the Canadian deprived or terminally ill. the All India Institute of Medical government to increase their Canadian doctors have raised an Sciences-AIIMS, in Delhi) in the salaries. This story has affirmed important issue that plagues not only entire country in terms of quality the faith of humanity in the concept the health sector but other sectors as of medical education and hospital that medical practitioners, more well. Why do only salaries of the top services, has very modest salaries for than other professionals, will give echelon remain immune to budget its doctors. Senior doctors, other staff precedence to service over their cuts, whereas all other employees and students routinely use public careers. and common people suffer when transport. Despite the summer heat of Over 850 doctors and 150 purse strings tighten? In India too Tamil Nadu, the office of its Director junior doctors (who are pursuing we can see this trend where not doesn't have an air conditioner, post graduation studies or seeking just the salaries of senior officials but all such and other facilities advanced super speciality training) keep rising, but their retirement are available for patients. Despite in Quebec province of Canada benefits get better too—and that too modest remuneration and resources, have declined to accept a salary retrospectively most of the times. CMC doctors have accomplished hike, saying that they cannot, in On the other hand, those working significant achievements over “good conscience”, accept increase in lower positions as contractual and the years, be it organ transplants, in salary when nurses, other daily wage workers are not on the diagnosing the first HIV case in healthcare staff and patients are radar of Pay Commissions. Many the country, responding to people’s facing hardships due to cuts in health a times, contractual workers do not health challenges such as snake bites budget. These doctors believe that even have the guarantee that they and insecticide poisoning, disease only stronger public health systems will get paid for the work already mapping, or setting standards for can deliver health security to all. done by them. On 11 January 2018, evidence-based healthcare. After When public health systems are the Lucknow District administration AIIMS, maximum outdoor patients reeling under resource crunch, how bulldozed on-campus-temporary- seek healthcare services at CMC can raising the salaries of doctors settlements of sanitation staff, ward- Vellore. It is also the only medical be justified? If nurses and other boys, ward-maidens, drivers and college and hospital in India that healthcare staff are forced to work in attendants, all working as contract has, since several decades, been stressful and challenging conditions, labourers for the state government's compulsorily sending its doctors, and lifesaving healthcare services Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in faculty and students every year, slip beyond the reach of people, Gomti Nagar. They were 'accused' to serve in rural and remote areas. JANATA, April 29, 2018 7

Now other health-care institutions had advocated a ratio of 1:10 We do hope Varun Gandhi himself are trying to follow its example between the lowest and highest is following his own sane advice, or pondering over such policies. incomes. An unbridled income but the message is clear—every CMC has been rendering invaluable gap brews inequality, exploitation, person receiving salary from the service to strengthen healthcare in imbalance, injustice and unrest government must review if s(he) the most remote areas of the country. in society. A report released by needs the salary? It is common Contrary to this, there are several Oxfam, around the time of the knowledge that employees in donor medical colleges where salaries recent World Economic Forum, funded NGOs and other development of doctors are higher by several showed that in 2017, 1% richest agencies often receive salaries more times, but medical competence, people owned 82% of the global than those in the services sector. research and education is often of wealth. This report also showed People in government and private questionable quality. Hence it is that in India, 1% richest people sectors must not get salaries that not difficult to conclude that there owned 58% of the nation's wealth falsify ideologies they claim to is no direct relationship between in 2016, and in 2017 this inequality champion! remuneration and innovation, worsened with 1% cornering 73% A private hospital is recently medical competence, research and of the wealth generated that year. reported to have reaped a profit of education. How can we expect harmony in 1700% on consumables. Government There are several more examples society if only a small percentage of India had acknowledged health where doctors at individual levels of our population enjoys the highest sector as fastest growing ‘industry’ have served humankind with deepest quality of healthcare, education, in the draft of National Health Policy commitment. Some exemplary lifestyles, while the vast majority 2017. The number of private medical mentions include the two sons of our population is forced to live colleges has surpassed the number of and daughters-in-law of Baba with appallingly poor quality of government medical colleges. This Amte—Vikas, Prakash, Bharati healthcare, education, and is deprived is indeed alarming because private and Mandakini, son and daughter- of other most basic amenities. Most medical colleges usually charge in-law of noted Gandhian thinker people in India have to compromise hefty fees from students. Only Thakurdas Bang—Abhay and Rani with their dignity in their lives. those people should come forward Bang, and doctors working in the If we are truly patriotic, then at to become doctors who are driven hospital established in Dalli Rajhara, least we should live the core values by a sense of service to providing Chhattisgarh by the late trade union enshrined in India’s Constitution. healthcare to needy. Those people leader Shankar Guha Niyogi. These The word 'socialism' is enshrined who eye healthcare service as an are few inspiring examples of in our Constitution’s preamble to industry to reap profits should not medical professionals who chose ensure social and economic equality have any place in public health not to settle in big cities to make in society, and it is the solemn duty system. There are so many doctors money and careers, but instead went of our elected governments to stop who have commercialised healthcare to villages to serve leprosy patients wealth from accumulating in the and provide paid services to reduce and tribals and devoted their entire hands of a miniscule minority of obesity, grow back receding hairlines life to this mission of caring for the super rich only and ensure that every or spur sex desire. This is clearly not most disadvantaged. person has access to dignified quality public health. of life. Why is it so important to fix Mahatma Gandhi's wise words Is Government of India’s National maximum income cap? assume relevance here that there are Health Policy 2017 a mere If we truly want a world enough resources in this world to gimmick? where no human being is forced meet every person’s needs, but not Government of India had issued to suffer inhuman treatment, then enough for even one person’s greed. a National Health Policy 2017 which it is critically important to fix both Politician Varun Gandhi had contains several promises that are minimum and maximum incomes said in January 2018 that financially in line with India’s commitment in a society. Renowned socialist well-to-do parliamentarians should at global level towards health leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia not take salary from the government. and sustainable development. 8 JANATA, April 29, 2018

All countries have pledged to diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic from government hospitals only end tuberculosis by 2030. It is respiratory diseases, etc., account and no special treatment should commendable that India, despite for 70% of deaths. Risk of NCDs be provided to senior officials or being home to highest burden of TB can be significantly reduced through ministers—they should also get globally, has promised to end TB by measures like reducing tobacco treated like common citizens. If this 2025. But according to the World and alcohol use, reducing air happens, then the dismal conditions Health Organization (WHO) reports, pollution and encouraging balanced prevailing in government hospitals TB rates are not declining in India nutritious diets as well as physical will radically improve which in turn steeply enough so as to end TB by activity. While on the one hand, will benefit the common masses. 2025. At the current rate, India might the government allows alcohol and India is one among more than get rid of TB by 2184. Also, it is tobacco industries to wreak havoc 190 countries that have promised in important to recognise that scientific on our society, on the other hand, the UN General Assembly to deliver evidence shows strong linkages the government is blindly chasing on Sustainable Development Goals between TB and other development a ‘development model’ where a by 2030. We believe that without indices. The former Head of Indian growing part of our population is establishing a just social order, Council of Medical Research finding it difficult to breathe in clean sustainable development, where no (ICMR) Dr Soumya Swaminathan air, include optimal physical activity one is left behind, will continue to has said that malnutrition is the or exercise in its daily routine, eat remain a mirage. biggest risk factor for TB. Likewise nutritious balanced diet, etc. It is there are several other health and ironical that the number of gyms for Email: [email protected] development indices that cross- physical exercises is on a rise for the [email protected] connect and justify the argument rich, but this kind of ‘development [email protected] that equitable development is vital model’ is depriving common people to make this world a better place of safe spaces to walk, cycle, run and people healthy. If we fail to or have access to comfortable free Letter to the Editor ensure development justice for every public transport or to simply be able Respected Kuldip Nayar single person, especially the most to breathe in clean air. It is a matter marginalised, then we will also fail of shame for the largest democracy wrote an article published in your to deliver on our tall claims to end on earth that such a large number weekly Janata on 25 March 2018 TB, hunger, and poverty, or save the of its people are forced to live in under the heading Rahul in New environment. inhuman conditions. Avatar? In the third paragraph of The National Health Policy 2017 Canadian doctors have indeed his article, he stated that “Rahul of India as well as our country’s shown a silver lining for those who Gandhi is not that young. At 48, commitment to UN Sustainable believe in a strong public health he is the youngest President of Development Goals (SDGs) promise system. Other doctors and people the Congress so far." But I would reduction of untimely deaths due to from all sectors should emulate them, like to remind him that in 1938, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) be inspired by their conscience and Subhash Chandra Bose was by 25% till 2025 and 33% by 2030. agree to share resources equitably unanimously elected President. But a major chunk of disease burden with all. Bose was then only 41 years that impacts the vast majority of old. Subhash Chandra Bose was our population is of preventable All those who receive government born on 23 January 1897. So it diseases. For example, the biggest salaries must be treated in is not Rahul who is the youngest cause of death of children under 5 government hospitals President but Subhash Chandra years of age is pneumonia, which Recently Justice Sudhir Bose is perhaps the youngest is not only preventable but also Agarwal and Justice Ajeet Kumar President of Congress so far. curable. But still the maximum of Allahabad High Court in UP number of children who die of have delivered a judgment that all With Regards, pneumonia globally are in India. those who receive salaries from Dipankar Ghosh Major NCDs such as cardiovascular government must seek healthcare JANATA, April 29, 2018 9 Remembering Justice Sachar

In Justice Sachar's demise, global market. building. Further, if implemented, the nation has lost one of the last The Justice Sachar Committee its recommendation that all public representatives of the generation Report (GoI, 2006) is probably institutions should maintain a that carried forward the socialist the only official document that ‘diversity index’ of recruitment, vision from the freedom movement establishes how majority of the admission and participation and for post-independence India. He Muslims of India have been that the same should be linked with would be remembered for his left behind in socio-economic the funding criteria would have uncompromising commitment to development. As per the report, this democratised entire public life, not building a secular, just, democratic disparate development of the Muslim only for Muslims, but for the entire society where civil liberties and masses is the primary cause of their society. His demise has offered a democratic rights of all sections of unacceptably low representation in historic opportunity to all of India's society, particularly the oppressed legislature, judiciary and executive citizens having conviction in the castes and classes and women and and also in various services, including Constitutional values to reflect upon the disabled, are protected as per the administration, police, armed forces the report's far-reaching insights and Constitutional mandate. and educational institutions. It resolve to raise the consciousness For All India Forum for Right marked a paradigm shift through of the people to persuade the ruling to Education (AIFRTE), Justice the introduction of the concept dispensation to implement the Sachar has a special significance of ‘socio-religious community’ report in letter and spirit. The All since he stood firmly with the vision (‘SRC’), which recognised the India Forum for Right to Education of Free and Equitable Common heterogeneity within Muslim (AIFRTE) and its 75 member- Education System from 'KG to PG' community as the most important organisations in 22 states salute and resisted the prevailing policies of social phenomenon for policy Justice Sachar's relentless pursuit privatisation and commercialisation formulation. Thus, in recognising for protecting the democratic, just, of education. He raised the moral that the vast sections of the Muslims egalitarian, socialist and plural stature of our ‘March to Parliament’ are socio-economically equivalent vision of Indian society. in February 2010 and led AIFRTE's to the Scheduled Castes and OBCs, resistance in December 2015 to the Justice Sachar Committee Report - All India Forum for Right to WTO–GATS being given a license provided an insightful sociological Education (AIFRTE) to convert India's higher education tool to transform the destiny of into a tradable commodity in the the Muslim citizens in nation- Violent Porn and the Debate on Sexual Violence Against Women and Children

Bharat Dogra

In recent times the rapid increase of the world have established a and indecent assault in a nationwide in sexual violence against women close link between pornography and survey in Japan. and children has become one of the sexual violence against women and The results surprised many most worrying and shameful trends children. people. As many as 33 per cent of in India's society. Several factors are ‘When watching a pornographic the respondents answered in the important for this trend. One of these video, did you also want to do affirmative. is the proliferation of pornography, the same thing?’ This was the When the survey results were particularly violent pornography. straightforward question which classified according to age of Several studies in various parts was put to persons accused of rape respondents, it was found that 10 JANATA, April 29, 2018 among juvenile respondents as many their social interactions in very persons are instigated to commit rape as 50 per cent had answered in the harmful ways. and molestation while also making affirmative. To return to the Japanese study, videos of their victims. Then, in the This survey had taken place commenting on its data, Seiya Morita, second stage, clips of this are sold in Japan at a time (in 1997–98) a teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan in the market, unfortunately creating when concern about the correlation College, has written, “ Only the infamy for the victim rather than for between proliferation of pornography most bigoted person can believe that the culprits. and increase in sexual crimes against sexual crimes are unrelated to the In India, porn dealing with women and children was already spread of pornographic videos which children and with incest has proved growing on the basis of national eroticise any and all sexual crimes the most harmful, judging from the crime data. (rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, spurt of such reported cases in recent Until the middle of the 1980s, molestation, sneak shot, confinement times. that is, before the boom in porn of women, etc.) and make them Researcher Susan S. Cole has videos in this country, all violent entertainment for men.” written, “In spite of hopes to the crimes including sexual crimes Writing in a paper titled contrary, pornography and mass were declining. As the spread of ‘Pornography, prostitution and culture are working to confuse porn videos increased, initially the women’s human rights in Japan’, sexuality with rape, reinforcing the declining trend of sexual crimes he has also pointed towards a lot of patterns of male dominance and weakened and then, in the 1990s, anecdotal evidence regarding very female submissions so that many with the porn spread continuing to violent sexual crimes being related to young people believe this is simply rise, sexual crimes started increasing excessive porn consumption. More the way sex is. This means that instead of deceasing, even though specifically he says that the criminals many of the rapists of the future will other violent crimes continued to who video-recorded their rape believe they are behaving within decrease. scenes were in most cases strongly socially accepted norms.” However several men disagree influenced by violent pornography; with the results of such studies. They indeed a lot of pornographic videos Email: [email protected] say that they have been comfortable were seized from their homes. with the consumption of porn for Such anecdotal reports have Spectre of Fascism several years, have not felt any been appearing in India’s media Contribution Rs. 20/- inclination for real-life forced sex. also from time to time, but unlike in What this view ignores is that the case of Japan where this led to a Published by various persons can be affected in well-organised national survey, no Janata Trust & Lokayat very different ways. In a big city in comparable attempt appears to have D-15, Ganesh Prasad, which about half a million men are been made in India to collect more Naushir Bharucha Marg, exposed to porn, if just 10 per cent reliable data at a national level. Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 are driven towards sexual violence According to several reports to a lesser or greater extent by this appearing recently, video clips of exposure to porn, we have a frightful real life rapes and molestations are The Unemployment situation where the susceptibility being sold in several cities in India. Crisis: of fifty thousand males for sexual While one such clip may be sold violence and forced sex is increasing. for Rs 100 or so, street children are Reasons and Solutions Secondly, even those who say charged as much as Rs 10 to 30 for Contribution Rs. 25/- that they feel no such instigation at just one view. There is a lot of money all after regular exposure to porn for in this, and some sellers are known to Published by years may yet be influenced in other tell buyers on the sly that they may Janata Trust & Lokayat undesirable ways; for example they recognise a familiar female face in D-15, Ganesh Prasad, may have an increasing tendency the video. Naushir Bharucha Marg, to look towards women as sexual This has led to a cycle of violent commodities and this may impact porn. First, some impressionable Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 JANATA, April 29, 2018 11 India Needs More Personalities Like Justice Sachar

Ashish Joshi

India will miss Justice Rajinder Justice Sachar was not need for a level playing field and fair Sachar. He was a person who spoke pleased that the committee’s competition which some participants his mind on issues that were and are recommendation on an Equal will successfully get through, even still integral to the idea of India. Opportunity Commission (EOC) if some others do not. I came to know about Justice had still not been implemented. I Equality of opportunity, Sachar on December 6, 2006, told him that we, in the ministry, in principle, is compatible with when I joined the Ministry of had done our bit and submitted a inequality of outcomes, in offering an Minority Affairs under the Central draft cabinet note in 2008. The need equal chance to be unequal. Lessons government. On my joining the for an EOC has been succinctly from the functioning of the EOC and ministry, I was handed the report summarised in the following ideas: other similar organisations in other of a high-level committee on the countries demonstrate the utility of Equality is a foundational social, economic and educational having such an institution in place. value of our Republic. This is status of the Muslim community Especially if such an institution secured by the Constitution in India. My job was to cull out is tailored to the specific socio- through Fundamental Rights the report’s recommendations. The economic, judicial and institutional and Directive Principles of State report, since, has popularly come context of the country in which it Policy and is widely shared in to be known as the ‘Sachar report’, functions. public life. Yet stark inequalities taking after Justice Sachar, who During his long and diverse mark our social reality for the was the committee’s chairperson. career, Justice Sachar had earned present generation and prospects This landmark report brought to the reputation of being a staunch of the future generations. Worse, fore the economic and educational champion of human rights. He these inequalities often coincide backwardness of the largest minority took a stand and spoke out against with boundaries of social groups community in India. innumerable cases of human right and communities making inter- The report bears the well-defined violations. group inequalities more visible imprint of the thoughts of Justice Human rights activist and former than before. Hence there is a Sachar and his approach in dealing journalist John Dayal who knew need to address inequalities with the Muslim question. One of the Justice Sachar well had this to say and supplement the existing primary concepts defining the report on my request to share his thoughts policies of reservations by fine is encapsulated in the following about the rights activist: tuning the definition of the statement: “In any country, the faith beneficiaries, expanding the For most of us whose call are and confidence of the minorities in range of modalities and evolving in civil society or call ourselves the functioning of the State in an a forward looking and integral human rights activists, Rajinder impartial manner is an acid test of approach to affirmative action. Sachar was a mentor, a pathfinder its being a just State.” and a technical expert whose The last time I met Justice The Sachar committee’s grasp of the forensic law and Sachar was at a function organised recommendation for setting up an social processes helped bring by the Institute of Objective Studies EOC for citizens was truly unique a grip on developments that at the Jamia Millia Islamia. It was in its effort to address the range of put a stress on democracy and in the month of January, in 2015. inequalities affecting the lives of secularism. He held both very He was at the function to release Muslims. Justice Sachar stressed that dear, having seen the Partition a research report titled ‘Access to equality of opportunity may or may at close quarters. Urban Basic Services in the Muslim not lead to equality of outcomes. Localities of Delhi’. But the concept in itself suggests the Dayal observed that though 12 JANATA, April 29, 2018 most of India remembers him for the Lohia. It’s well known that after function within Dharma, which eponymous Sachar report—he must coming back from Germany, Lohia is another way of proclaiming be the most recognisable name in worked in the central Congress the principle of the supremacy the community after Maulana Azad office alongside Nehru, who was of law. and Jawaharlal Nehru—“Justice then president of the Congress A firm adherent of the principles Sachar’s forte was challenging the party. Lohia was Nehru’s most bitter that he believed in, Justice Sachar threat to democratic processes. He opponent at the time the Socialist was acutely aware that it is only at showed the way in the emergency. Party quit Congress in 1946. But their our own peril that we abandon the As he showed the way often as a personal relations never changed. core constitutional values of liberty, leading counsel of the People’s When Lohia was arrested in 1949 equality, fraternity, secularism, Union for Civil Rights in scores for being part of a protest, Nehru rule of law and justice. The very of enquiries, people’s tribunals sent him a basket of mangoes in jail. embodiment of what we imagine the and field studies.” Dayal said that The gesture so annoyed Sardar Patel rule of law to be, Justice Sachar was he had known Sachar since the that he wrote to Nehru that while the perfect combination of intellect, days of Emergency. “I remember the government had arrested Lohia, integrity, humanity and humility. his possibly last act of kindness to Nehru was sending him mangoes. India needs more personalities me—a set of photocopies he got Nehru politely reminded Patel that like Justice Sachar. made form his collection of the politicians should not mix personal works of Vivekananda in which the relations with politics. Courtesy: The Wire great sage had denounced narrow Prominent among the judges mindedness and communalism. I who were critical of the Emergency, salute the memory of a giant, brave Justice Sachar called the dictatorial beyond his short, slim sherwani clad censorship a “permanent scar on persona who shunned the limelight.” the soul of India,” adding that Justice Sachar was worried “the highest judiciary’s role in the about the declining standards of perpetuation of the emergency public discourse. He believed that remains a blot”. As punishment for political discourse and debate must his defiance, he was transferred from take place within a framework of Sikkim to Rajasthan. basic decorum and decency. There Justice Sachar was clear about could be banter and competitive digs the role of judiciary in a democracy. by rival political parties challenging In one of his articles, he wrote: each other. But the political class Wherever there is a written must steer clear of the temptation Constitution, the Supreme law of levelling fake charges at each is the law of the Constitution other. To substantiate his argument, and for even the Parliament to Justice Sachar often mentioned this accept that its powers are limited incident of banter between British by the written Constitution is politicians William Gladstone and not in any manner to derogate Benjamin Disraeli. Both politicians from its sovereignty but only to of great skills, Disraeli once said of accept that its sovereignty like his rival, “If Gladstone fell in the the sovereignty of the executive Thames, that would be a misfortune. and the judiciary is limited by But if someone fished him out again, the written Constitution. In India that would be a calamity.” we have had the established Justice Sachar would also cite principle that King, though an examples of the uneven relationship absolute sovereign must yet between Nehru and Ram Manohar JANATA, April 29, 2018 13 Asifa’s Just Killers!

Prem Singh

The cry seeking justice for and judges and lawyers dispense her tortured end have so many Asifa is becoming stronger and justice on the basis of witnesses and people and so many organisations deeper. From Delhi to the United evidences. She did not know about suddenly become active and jumped Nations, from social and civil the United Nations Organisation to her defense. Talib Hussain, the rights organisations to civil society (UNO), which also works to ensure lone lawyer from her native village citizens, more and more people are justice for the citizens of the world. who protested against the horrific out on the streets shouting slogans Asifa did not know that governments act when her kidnapping and death and demanding justice for Asifa. mete out justice equivalent to first came to light, may not appear The social media is parading her specific sums of money handed out so alone to her now. As a part of the pictures, right from happier times to the parents of young girls like infinite soul, Asifa would marvel at to the horrifying end; protesters herself who are killed with such how huge this country and the entire unfurl their respective banners and gruesome violence. Asifa did not world is, how much full of debates flags, and suggest varying degrees even know that fascism has arrived and arguments, beset with beliefs of punishment. From Kathua to in the country, and that concerned and questions, riddled with attacks Delhi, and in many other cities people will later rue the fact that her and counterattacks. in the country, protest marches fate was the result of that fascism, She would completely and candle light vigils are being and that true justice for her means understand why this world will not carried out for Asifa. Children are defeating those fascist forces. She give her justice. Whatever justice is also joining and participating in perhaps wouldn’t have even dreamt there in this system—social justice, the protests in large numbers. A that she was being administered economic justice, civil justice, woman officer in Delhi government 'Hindu justice' in that temple. Asifa human justice and child/juvenile has gone on a hunger strike on the might have been ignorant about the justice—she has been kept away issue of women’s security. She tricolor that was hoisted by those from them all. Which is why it was says that if Modi can carry out nationalists who, in support of the so easy for her entire being to be thus demonetisation in one day, why accused, marched from the courts trampled and crushed. She would can’t he show similar promptness to the streets, brandishing their love understand that this passionate in ensuring women’s safety? Beside for their country. furore over justice for her would the furore in the social media which God knows how well Asifa soon get cold. Another furore will is deluged with messages for justice registered the simple fact that she swell and ebb with the next incident. for Asifa, newspaper columnists and was a Muslim. But she certainly did She would understand, like other intellectuals too are writing angry discover in her eight-year old life that souls, that this swelling and ebbing letters and articles demanding justice hell is not a place in another world, is an everlasting process. for Asifa. The gruesome news has it is right here, on this earth—on a Asifa must be wondering why shocked the international media territory touted internationally as a do these people pretend so much? too. The anger against the rape in paradise on earth. Before leaving the What compels them to do so? But Unnao had not yet subsided when world, she also learnt that Satan is perhaps, it may be that they are this incident of kidnapping, rape not just the adversary of God, he also genuinely disturbed. They are truly and murder in Jammu and Kashmir mauls tender limbed children. What concerned. They want to usurp the shook every conscience. more justice will she hope for God entire share of Asifas and appear Asifa, whose innocent life to give her on the day of judgment? ‘just’ themselves. They want to tell was snuffed out by this act of If there is such a thing as themselves and the world that they barbarianism, did not know that soul or spirit, Asifa must surely are not party to this savage mindset. there exists a real judicial system in be wondering now, in absolute They want to demonstrate that none the country, where great law-givers amazement, as to why only after of this is happening in their names. 14 JANATA, April 29, 2018

Souls perhaps have no hatred for anyone. So Asifa would smile and The Sachar Saheb I Knew say “Just killers”! Just three suggestions, if you Tanweer Fazal deem them fit, towards the fight for justice for Asifa. One, the national Justice Rajindar Sachar passed Sachar saheb began in the Prime flag should not be used to support away on Friday. He was 94, so one Minister’s High Level Committee just any purpose. It should be used could say that it was a life well lived, (set up in 2005 to prepare a only for national programs. The and that everything is eventually report on the social, economic, 2014 decision of the Supreme Court, perishable in this world. What could and educational conditions of the which allowed anyone, at any time be better than to be able to live by Muslim community of India), where and for any reason, the right to your ideals, and when you die, to I was a researcher, and he, the hoist the national flag, should be have a ring of admirers to remember chairperson. Whether it was the revoked. Two, we learn to quiet you. These words of consolation, of politics that we shared or his interest down, and have more introspective, solace, do provide succour to the in the subject that I was researching inner conversations with ourselves. bereaved. Yet, there is a void that for the committee or a combination Perhaps then we might understand Sachar saheb leaves. This sense of of both, I was summoned far more that we all are complicit and emptiness is compounded by the frequently than my colleagues to responsible in various ways for this times we live in, when the values of his chamber. He would seek my situation. Three, the RSS should trust and conviction are plummeting, opinion on the interpretation of understand that the Pandora's box both in public and in private spheres. tables that were furnished to him of ‘Hindutva’ that they’ve opened Sachar saheb in his small frame was by the research team, but more than has no use for society, nation, far more towering when it came to that, our discussion would be about civilisation or human race—none at living by the principles he cherished. a range of issues: history, the horrors all. The nation’s politics, economy, And yet, he would rarely impose of Partition, state of politics and also education, culture—all have been them on others. religion. As it turned out, most often taken over by corporations. Any Obituaries are difficult to I chose to be an avid listener, given organisation feeding on corporate write, especially of those who the depth of his knowledge on these powers can rise to power. But as have moved you, influenced you, subjects. Those concerns were so long as human civilisation survives, perhaps which is why you try to run close to his heart, and he spoke with social and human ostracisation, such away from attributing mortality to such passion that he would often as the kind that the RSS advocates, them. Obituaries are also a closure, lapse into Punjabi, forgetting that will continue to find stiff opposition. an acceptance that ultimately the a Bihari was sitting in front of him. Asifa’s soul might find solace swan has flown away, alone. I have The committee toured the length in this hope, and her parents and attempted to write tributes earlier, too, and breadth of the country, and on siblings might find the strength when one of the tallest communist his direction, closed door meetings to bear the trauma. And for the leaders of the Naxalite movement with bureaucrats, police officers, rest of the country's citizens, the passed away; when our leader at ministers and chief ministers would government and juridical system Jawaharlal Nehru University was invariably be complemented with will do something, to calm down the killed by Shahabuddin’s (an RJD public hearings. People travelled agitation. They have to justify their leader) gunmen in Siwan in Bihar; from remote towns and districts existence. Two resignations of BJP when a friend much younger than me to share their grievances with the ministers have been tendered in the died of heart failure. Never could I committee. There were special Jammu and Kashmir government. proceed beyond a few sentences. sessions with women representatives, Some court procedure or the other Similarly, it is difficult to write about NGO workers and community too will happen in time. Sachar saheb too. But, perhaps I leaders. These were learning have matured now. occasions for all of us, when official Email: [email protected] My close association with truths, carefully calibrated data and JANATA, April 29, 2018 15 the ‘glories’ of governments would sense of uprightness and fortitude award, he politely declined. be confronted by the reality and its to the exercise. This helped the Sachar saheb’s optimism knew perception on the ground. Sachar committee stay together and focused no bounds. In politics, he had saheb ensured that the dignity of the even in difficult times. The committee immense confidence. He looked ordinary person never diminished in was accused of communalising the with dismay as the Anna Hazare the meetings in which high officials armed forces by seeking religiously anti-corruption movement swayed of the government were also present. disaggregated data of employment. his colleagues of the socialist stream, For me, there was a lesson to be The huge controversy that followed one after the other. As one of them learnt as to how one should conduct helped the chief opposition, the BJP, announced the coming of ‘new oneself while holding a responsible go hammer and tongs against it, but politics’ and predicted the end position and a high public office. Sachar saheb remained undaunted. of ideology, Sachar saheb could Despite the insistence of the host He defended the decision to seek the foresee the onset of fascism. In spite governments, Sachar saheb never headcount of the defence forces on of his advancing age, he founded agreed to have a red beacon on his grounds that as it drew from public the Socialist Party, and devotedly vehicle, a status pronouncement that exchequer, it was accountable. campaigned for it. Like a young very few would decline. A standing It was not that indignities were party enthusiast, he was constantly instruction from the committee was not thrown at him. For accepting on the lookout to rope in new people. that the chairperson would stay only to head a government-appointed I have a feeling, he had set his eyes in state guest houses, no matter how committee, many thought that he on me as well. He would personally shabby they were in comparison had fallen for sarkari lure. During call me to ensure participation in to seven-star hotels. This was the a meeting, one chief minister (no the party programmes. His politics code of ethics that he had set for prizes for guessing who), on being was however, not inanimate and himself—never were these forced on probed over the skewed figures of mechanical but fashioned out of others, the members, the researchers minority development from his state, humane and life-affirming values. or the subordinate staff. chose to give it back to Sachar saheb: Every Eid and Baqr Eid, he would He was perhaps conscious that ‘Agli baar phir jab kisi committee make it a point to greet all of us, a the report was being awaited by the mein aapka number lag jayega, practice that he continued till his people, and the task at hand had to phir aayiega’. (Come next time, end. Farewell Sachar saheb. This be completed in time. Usually in when you are once again made a Eid, you will be missed. government-appointed committees head of another committee). The and commissions, given the perks, bureaucrats laughed with their chief status and importance that come minister, adding insult to injury. For attached to it, there is a tendency to a person who was himself the son prolong its tenure. This very often of a governor and chief minister, suits both the governments of the who had been the chief justice of a day as well as those in these bodies. high court, served on national and If truth is uncomfortable, better international tribunals and panels, leave it buried. But Sachar saheb, and one who had chosen not to run from the very beginning, had made after positions, to be mocked at like it clear that no extension would be this was hitting a little too low. It sought. Ultimately, the committee angered the committee, but Sachar completed the mammoth exercise saheb kept his calm—he simply in record time, with only one four- repeated the question, conveying month extension to incorporate the to the CM that nothing would deter information from the 2004–05 round him. A couple of years later, when of National Sample Survey. the central government conferred Though not a specialist, Sachar on him the Padma Vibhushan, the saheb brought immense wisdom, a country’s second-highest civilian R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, April 29, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, April 29, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, May 2, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 15 Friend or Enemy of Dalits? May 6, 2018 Sandeep Pandey India–China Relations on Mend Dr. Ambedkar Mahasabha planted on some youth before their Kuldip Nayar honoured the Uttar Pradesh Chief arrest so that Arms Act could be used Minister Yogi Adityanath with Dalit against them. In Muzaffarnagar too a Is Congress a Muslim Party, Mitra or Friend of the Dalit award dalit youth was killed in police firing Is it Against Interests on the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. and cases registered against 7,000 of Hindus? Ambedkar on 14 April 2018 in people, of whom around 250–300 Ram Puniyani Lucknow. were arrested. In Saharanpur, cases This is the same government were registered against 900 Bhim The CPM’s 22nd Party which had arrested Chandrashekhar Army activists. In Allahabad, cases Congress Azad Ravan, the founder of were registered against 27 students Mrinal Biswas Bhim Army which runs over 300 who participated in this movement. In education centres for Dalit children the above mentioned cases, sections Kasganj Fact Finding Report in Saharanpur. On 2 November 2017 related to rioting, causing damage to Centre for Study of Society High Court described the four cases public property, obstructing public and Secularism against Ravan and colleague Kamal servant from performing his/her Walia as politically motivated and duty, attempt to murder and Arms gave them bail. As soon as Ravan Act were used. In Meerut a former was released National Security Act Member of Legislative Assembly Editor : G.G.Parikh was imposed to arrest him again. Yogesh Verma, who is also the Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain This exhibits lack of faith of UP husband of Mayor Sunita Verma government in Dalits in general. who belongs to the Bahujan Samaj Managing Editor : Guddi During the nationwide protests Party, was first called to assist Editorial Board : organised on 2 April 2018 against in controlling the law and order the perceived weakening of the situation, but was later humiliated B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali Scheduled Caste and Scheduled and arrested from the spot. Will such Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a government be considered a Dalit Nandu Dhaneshwar, 1989, by the Supreme Court, the friendly government? According to Sandeep Pandey Yogi Government was involved in retired Inspector General of Police D-15, Ganesh Prasad, brutal suppression of the movement. in Uttar Pradesh, S.R. Daprapuri, Naushir Bharucha Marg, In Meerut one dalit youth was killed cases against SC/STs have gone up Mumbai - 400 007. in police firing, while cases were in Bhartiya Janata Party ruled states. registered against 9,000 people, In February 2018, in a village Email : [email protected] of whom about 500 were arrested. in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Website:www.janataweekly.org Locally maufactured pistols were a Dalit girl Moni was riding a 2 JANATA, May 6, 2018 bicycle to the market when some Complainant Kanhaiyya Lal is A situation has been created people poured petrol over her and owner of a nearby brick kiln but in these two villages that now the set her on fire. She tried to run to not a citizen of the Gram Sabha. villagers seeking the installation of save her life but collapsed and died. Two residents of the village, Kabir statues of Ambedkar and Buddha Earlier in January, in Rasra town Ahmed and Pramid Chauhan, have will have to seek the permission of of Ballia district, two Dalit youth been shown as witnesses in the the State government through their were caught by members of Hindu report; both now regret having respective District Magistrates. In Yuva Vahini on the charge of cow signed the document. When an both cases the issue has been made theft. Their heads were shaved and enquiry was made with the Land a victim of unnecessary bureaucratic they were taken around the village Consolidation office, no case was entanglement, in which an immediate with placards hanging from their found to be pending there. Quite solution may not emerge. The people necks saying 'We are cow thieves.' clearly the Lekhpal is affected by an may have to approach the court In March, in Jajauli village of anti-Dalit mentality. of law, which will be a costly Ballia district, Sonu and Siddhu The story of village Gumai affair. The anti-Dalit mindset of Singh burnt alive a Dalit woman, falling in GS Ranipur Godwa and PS people in the party, government and Reshma Devi. She had taken a loan Thangaon of district Sitapur is even administration of a 'Dalit friendly' of Rs 20,000, and even though she more interesting. A resident of the CM are at naked play in both cases. had repayed it, they continued to village, Gulshan s/o Banwari, wants pressurise her to pay interest on the to install statues of Gautam Buddha Email: [email protected] loan. When she did not acquiesce, and Dr. Ambedkar on his personal petrol was poured over her and she land. On the adjacent piece of land was set on fire. four walls of an unfinished temple Many such incidents of atrocities stand. The structure doesn't have Janata against Dalits can be recounted a ceiling and there are no deities during the Yogi Government. Two installed inside. This land belongs to Subscription events which specially stand out Jagrani whose late husband Medilal are where Dalits were not allowed was earlier the Gram Pradhan and to install statues of Gautam Buddha she also agrees with the idea of Annual Rs. : 260/- and Dr. Ambedkar on Ambedkar installation of the statues of Buddha Jayanti day in Barabanki and Sitapur and Ambedkar. In fact, the two Three Years : 750/- this year. statues have already been procured In the police station Deva are kept in her house, which is the of district Barabanki, there is a only permanent residential structure Demand Draft / village Sarsaundi in which 0.202 in the village. Some upper caste hectares of land numbered 312 in people under the patronage of BJP Cheque the Gram Sabha documents has MLA Gyan Tiwari have opposed the on been earmarked for Ambedkar Park. idea of installation of these statues. The villagers wanted to install a None of them are residents of the Mumbai Bank Ambedkar statue on the birthday GS Ranipur Godwa and in that sense in favour of of Dr. Ambedkar. Permission for are outsiders. Under their pressure, the event was sought and obtained the police has filed a report that a JANATA TRUST from the police and Member of dispute could erupt if Ambedkar's Parliament, Priyanka Singh Rawat. statue is installed next to the temple D-15, Ganesh Prasad, But just before the event, Kamlesh of a goddess. This, despite the fact Naushir Bharucha Marg, Sharma, a village level Revenue that Jagrani, the owner of the land on department official (Lekhpal), filed a which four walls of the incomplete Grant Road (W), false report that the land in question temple stand, and Gulshan, on whose Mumbai 400 007. is disputed and a case was pending land statues are to be installed, have with the Land Consolidation Officer. no dispute between them. JANATA, May 6, 2018 3 India–China Relations on Mend

Kuldip Nayar

It appears Prime Minister protested Defence Minister Nirmala communication and cooperation to Narendra Modi has accepted China– Sitharaman’s visit to Arunachal uphold border peace and tranquility, dictated China–India border. The in November 2017. Beijing has said the statement. ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) also been issuing stapled visas to China and India have agreed can argue that it has accepted what residents of Arunachal Pradesh to build a high-level cultural was de jure. What is hailed as a visiting China. China wants to and people-to-people exchange historic moment is actually an abject indicate that it is a ‘separate territory’ mechanism between the two nations. surrender to Beijing. It is practically and not part of India. The informal summit meeting a defeat. Had the Congress Party The relations between the two between Prime Minister Modi and done so, it would have been paraded countries further reached their Chinese President Xi Jinping also as a force which had sold out India. lowest point in recent years during stressed on the need to strengthen the Modi, with his flowery speeches the standoff over Doklam in June– China–India Closer Developmental in Hindi, may go down well with August 2017. India stood its ground, Partnership so that the relationship people who cannot understand the and ultimately China had to withdraw between the two will always keep to intricacies of the border problem. its forces behind the present border. the right direction. But surprisingly, the party has Prime Minister Modi’s trip to On the last leg of his two-day the support from the Nagpur China last September soon after visit, the Indian Prime Minister headquarters from where the RSS the Doklam standoff for BRICS and Chinese President walked high command operates. did reduce tensions between the along a sidewalk on the shores of China and India have seldom two countries. The positive side of the Wuhan’s East Lake and later agreed on where the actual border Modi’s trip then was the reiteration sailed in the same boat for “peace, line is. The India-China border was by the two countries to fight against prosperity and development” in a demarcated by the British during terrorists, even though it is also true relaxed and friendly atmosphere. the colonial period, and is known that the friendship between China This augurs well. as the MacMahon Line. China does and Pakistan continues to increase. not accept this border line. Nehru Now it seems that Beijing is Email: [email protected] asked the Indian army to oust the trying to revive the India–China infiltrators and clear its territory. Bhai Bhai scenario. Soon after PM Since then the relations between the Modi’s recent April visit to China, two have been more or less hostile. a statement issued by the Chinese Janata The McMahon Line demarcates Foreign Ministry said that both Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of sides possessed the “maturity and is available at India; China refuses to acknowledge wisdom” to handle their differences this and considers the region to be through peaceful discussion and by www.lohiatoday.com disputed. Any activity that takes respecting each other’s “concerns place in this area is viewed by China and aspirations.” skeptically. In April last year, when They also agreed to use the Spectre of Fascism the Dalai Lama visited Arunachal Special Representatives’ Meeting Contribution Rs. 20/- Pradesh, China called his visit a on the boundary question to seek Published by “provocation.” It had warned India a fair, reasonable and mutually Janata Trust & Lokayat that the Dalai Lama’s visit would acceptable settlement. The two D-15, Ganesh Prasad, affect the normal relations between militaries will strengthen confidence- Naushir Bharucha Marg, the two countries. The Chinese also building measures and enhance Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 4 JANATA, May 6, 2018 Is Congress a Muslim Party, Is it Against Interests of Hindus?

Ram Puniyani

Currently there is propaganda What about Congress being from it. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s from the BJP combine that the anti-Hindu, being against Hinduism? statement that ‘Muslims have a first Congress is an anti-Hindu party. On Let’s take the case of Mecca claim on national resources’ is yet every conceivable occasion, it states Masjid blast. The major part of another statement flouted to assert that Congress is insulting Hinduism. the investigation was initially done that Congress is pro-Muslim. What In the wake of the verdict of Mecca by Hemant Karkare, who was is hidden from public view is that Masjid blast cases, as the accused killed in the 26/11 act of terror on this statement came in the wake got released, BJP spokespersons Mumbai. Swami Aseemanand, the of the Sachar Committee Report. went hammer and tongs saying accused, himself had confessed to This report had debunked the claim that Rahul Gandhi and Congress his crime in front of a magistrate, that Muslims have been appeased, have defamed Hindu religion, they which was not under duress, and it concluded that the economic should apologise for that. In the his confession was legally valid. condition of Muslims is worse than ongoing campaign for Karnataka Most of the investigations pointed that of Dalits, they are also victims elections (2018), the BJP has taken fingers towards Aseemanand, Sadhvi of communal violence, and that the out a Yatra against the so called ‘anti- Pragya, Lt. Col. Purohit and others. only place they are over-represented Hindu policies’ of the Congress. During the last four years of BJP is the jails! The propaganda has gone to such rule, the case has been so badly Any attempt to walk down the an extent that even Sonia Gandhi, presented by the investigative path of secularism in our country, the ex-Congress President, had to agencies that they have all been which has suffered the impact of say that Congress is perceived as a exonerated and the blame has been ‘Divide and Rule’ policy of the party for Muslims! put on Maharashtra ATS for wrong British, is not easy. During the How should we understand the investigation. When Karkare was freedom struggle, with the rising policies of a party for any religious proceeding with the investigations, Indian nationalism, the people community? BJP is propagating that Modi and Thackeray had called him from all religions joined the Indian it is a party which is taking care of anti-Hindu. Karkare felt so much National Congress. The Congress Hindu interests. Is it true? It has pressured by these intimidations had Presidents from all religions. taken up issues like Ram Temple, that he sought the advice of his Badruddin Tybaji presided over holy cow, article 370, love jihad, distinguished elder, Julio Reibero, the Congress session in 1887; the etc. Have Hindus at large benefitted who advised him to carry on with his Congress also had Presidents who from these issues? The claim that honest work, ignoring the pressures. were from Parsi and Christian these emotive issues are for the While the anti-Hindu image communities. The primary focus of benefit of Hindus is a pure make of Congress has been constructed Congress was Indian nationalism believe propaganda which has led around such issues, its pro-Muslim and it practised secularism, even to polarisation, increased hate and image has been constructed in the though there were some slips here increase in acts of violence. The last few decades, more so after the and there. During those days, the major victim of these policies are reversal on the Shah Bano issue Congress faced criticism from not just Muslims, but Hindus too by the then Congress government, Muslim communalists (like Sir in large numbers. At the same time, which was a flawed decision. Syed) of being a Hindu Party, we also see an economic slide in the The Congress had then yielded while Hindu communalists (like conditions of farmers and workers; to retrograde elements within the Lala Lal Chand) criticised it for atrocities against Dalits and Hindu Muslim community; the Muslim appeasing Muslims at the cost of women are on the rise. community as a whole did not benefit Hindu interests. All through the JANATA, May 6, 2018 5 freedom struggle, the Congress had compromised the Hindu interests Walking the secular talk is to face criticism from both these and been pro-Muslim! becoming more difficult by the day. elements. The present criticism of Congress Gandhi was killed for this and his The criticism of Muslim that it is a Muslim party and is disciple Nehru is subject of much communalists led by the Muslim against Hindu interests seems to be a vilification and calumny for the same. League culminated in the continuation of the above arguments. The Muslim communalists rejoiced formation of Pakistan. The Hindu This criticism, which began with the formation of Pakistan, where communalist, especially Hindu Hindu communalists in 1880s, and development and amity is missing. Mahasabha and RSS, criticism was then increased with the articulations With Congress–Gandhi–Nehru, that Gandhi is appeasing Muslims; of the Hindu Mahasabha and RSS, we could make a small beginning it is due to Gandhi that Muslims has become intensified during last towards fraternity and progress. have raised their head, due to which couple of decades. The reality is The criticism of Congress as being Pakistan was formed. The sharpest that the condition of Muslims has Muslim party, as being against articulation of this came in the worsened during the last several Hindus, reflects more the sectarian actions of Nathuram Godse, who decades, and during last four years, agenda of those propagating this was a trained RSS Pracharak and gone into a tailspin. Despite that, rather that the nature of Congress, also became the Secretary of Pune those who are indulging in anti- which despite several flaws has on Branch of Hindu Mahasabha in Congress propaganda and accusing the whole been trying to protect 1936. In his statement in the Court it of appeasing Muslims are having a secular values! (‘May it please your honor’), he field day, raising all kinds of emotive says that Gandhi is responsible issues in which Hindus are as much Email: [email protected] for formation of Pakistan, he has losers as other sections of society.

Supreme Court Should Decide Ayodhya Case — No Scope for Mutual Settlement

Justice Rajindar Sachar

The Chief Justice of India I was in Geneva attending the Narasimha Rao, who suddenly J.S. Khehar has suggested that UN Human Rights Commission became inaccessible to senior he can act as a mediator in the meeting when I was informed that the journalists, his Home Secretary and pending Babri Masjid demolition Babri Masjid had been demolished. even his colleagues. case. The expression of concern On television, I watched the gory I feel ashamed to admit the is a little odd as it comes at the spectacle of BJP stormtroopers complicity of the judiciary, which instance of an “inter-meddler”, and climbing up the walls of the Masjid despite the injunction since 1949 to without the parties being present in and breaking it down. The BJP Chief bar people from entering the area, Court. No wonder the suggestion Minister, Kalyan Singh’s assurance did not proceed against the public. on negotiations towards a muual to the Supreme Court that he would Even the higher judiciary did not settlement has caused a flutter in take steps to prevent the demolition intervene; rather, it seemed to ignore the political roost. In my opinion, was belied. The Supreme Court the trespass. the Babri Masjid demolition case by a majority just accepted his The magnitude of the danger is not a matter that can be settled apology instead of sending him should have been grasped by all through a compromise. This case to jail for contempt of court. But parties. The battle for secularism has constitutional implications. The this was a relatively minor issue should have been reflected in the Constitution states clearly that India compared to the ominous conspiracy determination to nip the canker is a secular republic. of the Congress Prime Minister, of communalism in the bud. As it 6 JANATA, May 6, 2018 turned out, nothing was done. If the finding is that the mosque lacks basis. At that point of time, I had was not built on Ram’s birthplace, There is another reason why in made a public statement, saying then the Muslims can get the land such a situation, the suit will fail that the government should have back. They will be free to use it in because in common law, even a announced December 6 as a any way, including the construction rightful heir, if he kills his ancestor, ‘National Repentance Day’ when of the mosque. forfeits his right of inheritance. In people will fast and pray for the unity Alternatively even if it is the Masjid case too there was a and welfare of all communities. But assumed that there was a temple “murder most foul”, and hence the the non-BJP parties analysed the on the land of Babri Masjid, the killer cannot be allowed to take the situation as merely a law and order suit filed by the VHP/RSS has to be benefit of his own dastardly deeds, problem and thus acquiesced in this dismissed. Admittedly, Babri Masjid whatever the factual position may dastardly action. existed for over 500 years, till it was be. Whatever the history of the demolished by the activists of the Of course, it is the privilege controversy, all parties let the matter VHP/RSS on 6 December 1992. of the Chief Justice of India to be referred to the Allahabad High From the legal perspective, the constitute the Bench. With respect, Court. Both sides were aggrieved Sangh Parivar would have no right I submit that it might be more with its decision. The BJP is insisting even if a temple had been demolished reassuring if a Bench of seven or that it will build a temple on the to build the Babri Masjid. I say this nine judges hears the appeal. site where the Masjid undoubtedly in view of the precedent of the case stood for over 500 years. The of Shahidganj Masjid. There was a Courtesy : Mainstream, April 8, 2017 Muslims cannot obviously agree mosque dating back to 1722. But by to a shameful compromise on the 1762, the shrine came under Sikh sanctity of the Masjid. The matter rule and was used as a gurdwara. is before the Supreme Court; it It was only in 1935 that a suit was cannot avoid a decision which may filed claiming the building was a not make everyone happy. It is its mosque and should be returned to constitutional duty and it has no the Muslims. other option. The Privy Council observed Going by precedents, the case that “their Lordships have every in favour of Muslims is invincible. sympathy with a religious sentiment I say this on the precedence of the which would ascribe sanctity and Shahidganj Masjid case in Lahore. It inviolability to a place of worship. was decided by the Privy Council in However, they cannot under the 1940. The Supreme Court need not Limitation Act accept the contention decide on the merits of the argument that such a building cannot be whether Babri Masjid stood where possessed adversely. The property the Ram Temple once existed. This now in question, having been is of no consequence as it is not possessed by Sikhs, was adversely relevant to the judiciary’s ultimate given to the waqf and to all interests decision. thereunder for more than 12 years. It is obvious to the meanest The right of the mutawali (caretaker) intelligence that it is impossible to to take possession for the purposes prove that the birthplace of Lord of the waqf came to an end under the Ram was beneath the Masjid . It Limitation Act”. may be a matter of faith, genuine or On a parity of reasoning, even contrived, but that is no proof. Nor if a temple existed prior to the for that matter can it ever be cited as construction of the Masjid 500 years a legal ground to take away the land ago, the suit by the Hindu outfits from the mosque. like Nirmal Akhara VHP / BJP etc JANATA, May 6, 2018 7 The CPM’s 22nd Party Congress

Mrinal Biswas

At the 22nd Congress of the of this pathbreaking political line the need of the hour is not to waste Communist Party of India (Marxist), within the CPI(M) itself. Prakash time focussing on neo-liberalism the party’s highest policy making Karat’s wife and influential as followed by the Congress but to body broke the embedded practice politburo member Brinda Karat form a broader front with Congress of echoing and approving anything refused to accept defeat and said and others to fight the communal– coming from the top leaders sitting that any repetition of an understating fascist threat. Incidentally, this in Politburo or Central Committee, with the Congress party that had founding member of the CPI(M) and forced an alteration in the draft happened during the 2016 West has long been thrown out of the political resolution of the Central Bengal Assembly polls was “not Politburo and Central Committee as Committee. permissible”. Actually, the resolution well as the Kerala State Committee The official resolution moved adopted by the CPI(M) says just the by hardliners in the CPI(M). by the Central Committee, while opposite. V.S., even though sidelined in stating the need to fight the menace The most emphatic statement important bodies of his own party, of the Bharatiya Janata Party said, for the Yechury line came from sensed correctly the wishes of his “However, this has to be done nonagenarian party founder member comrades assembled in the Party without having an understanding V.S. Achuthanandan, who was Congress to have some kind of an with the Congress party.” Hardliners formerly Kerala Chief Minister. “We alliance with the Grand Old Party, led by Prakash Karat saw to it that will reach an understanding with all contrary to the dictates of the ruling CPI(M) avoided the touch of the secular opposition parties, including coterie. This significantly tilted the Grand Old Party to keep away any the Congress in Parliament on agreed balance in favour of the Yechury impurities from invading their party. issues. Outside the Parliament . . . we line. The unprecedented demand for But Karat’s successor and the present shall work for a broad mobilisation secret voting on the draft political party general secretary Sitaram of people against communalism. resolution was itself an expression of Yechury wanted to keep CPI(M) This has to be done without a disapproval of the hardliners’ much afloat in the country’s political political alliance with the Congress.” advertised anti-Congress views and mainstream, and by dint of his wider V.S. has elucidated further the showed weakening support for the support among the rank and file, meanings and implications of the Karat leadership which had held threw down the gauntlet against the alteration of the CPI(M) Central CPI(M) under leash for so many hardliners successfully. The broader Committee’s draft resolution in the years. forum, the Party Congress, modified context of compulsion of the party The CPI(M) under a stronger the Central Committee’s resolution, in combating fascism. The Third Yechury leadership will no doubt and removed the words “without International of the Communist find a more meaningful place in the having an understanding with the parties, he said, gave the world the mainstream of Indian politics. It has Congress Party” and replaced them concept of a united front against to be seen how Yechury plays his by “without having a political fascism. This has helped India and cards and how far he can tame the alliance with the Congress Party”. other countries fight imperialism strongly entrenched Karat majority The Yechury line opened up the on the one hand and fascism on the in the Politburo. possibility of an “understanding” other. The RSS was born along with Kerala will pose the toughest with the Congress party and with the Italian Fascism and German task. Political understanding any coalition the Congress party may Nazism. Its leadership and cadre with the Congress party remains forge in the 2019 general election for have had decades long experience out of question; there is only a the Lok Sabha. of fomenting communal extremism remote possibility of electoral seat There were interesting fallouts in India. And so V.S. stated that adjustments between the two parties 8 JANATA, May 6, 2018 as they are the only adversaries in the the Congress high command’s poll battle. The recently lost battle attitude is the big question. Even The Unemployment Crisis: in Tripura has only hardened the then, the CPI(M) can keep hope for Reasons and Solutions local CPI(M) which would not like some gains in the all-India electoral to share the anti-BJP space with the battle if a broad front emerges with Contribution Rs. 25/- Congress. West Bengal is the best Congress at the top—that will open Published by place where the local leaderships up the possibility of the CPI(M) of both Congress and CPI(M) are making some dent in the three States Janata Trust & Lokayat eager for joint efforts to fight the of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, dominance of Mamata Banerjee’s Naushir Bharucha Marg, Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 Trinamul Congress which threatens Email: [email protected] to make them irrelevant. Of course,

Obituary: Justice Rajinder Sachar

Pannalal Surana

Son of a great freedom fighter police arrested him and booked him MLAs are convicted of any offence and first Chief Minister of the under draconian laws so that he was and sentenced to imprisonment undivided State of Punjab, Bhimsen not able to get bail. Sacharji and for not less than two years, they Sachar, Rajinder Sachar had imbibed his PUCL colleagues fought many would lose their membership of the values of our national freedom legal battles right up to the Supreme the legislative body. Further, such struggle. He was deeply impressed Court and finally won his release persons are debarred from contesting by the thoughts of Dr Ram Manohar as a free man. At the instance of elections for the next six years. Lohia. Sacharji, PUCL had extended legal Sacharji had been campaigning While he was practicing at aid to those who were alleged to against the provision in the the bar, he also participated in be involved in Naxalite activities. Companies Act which permit the organisational and agitational Sacharji personally and PUCL as corporate houses to donate huge activities of the Socialist Party. an organisation are committed to amounts to political parties of Being impressed by his great peaceful methods of public activities. their choice. He also advocated legal acumen, Rajinder Sachar was They wanted to help those innocent that a system of Proportional invited to serve as a judge of the men and women who were falsely Representation (PR) be adopted High Court. His long career as judge implicated and must be given credit in place of the ‘first past the post’ and later as Chief Justice of the Delhi for securing liberty of so many system. Sacharji had participated High Court was marked by many honest social workers. in the day-long Dharna at Jantar path breaking judgements. Another field of Sacharji’s Mantar by Socialist Party (India) on On retirement, Sachar again special interest was Electoral 10th August 2016. plunged into social work. He joined Reforms. He succeeded in securing Sacharji had extended support the People’s Union of Civil Liberties ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) to many popular movements like founded by the late Jayaprakash option for voters who find that none NAPM and programs to popularise Narayan. He took up many issues. of the contesting candidates appear Panchayati Raj. Most noteworthy among them is to qualify for their vote. Justice Rajender Sachar will be that of the arrest and harassment of It was found that some MPs remembered for long for his sterling Dr Vinayak Sen, a medical doctor and MLAs continued to enjoy all services to strengthening Indian with a brilliant academic career, their rights and privileges even after democracy. who had gone to the rural areas getting convicted by the Courts. On of Chhattisgarh State to render a move initiated by the PUCL, the Email: [email protected] medical aid to the Adivasis. The Supreme Court ruled that if MPs and JANATA, May 6, 2018 9

Press Release Placing the Red Fort on Mortgage is a National Crime

The Socialist Party considers the exploitation and the loot of government in a incisive manner. BJP government's recent decision to working classes and through The party has decided to hold a place the Red Fort on mortgage with corruption done in connivance symbolic dharna at Gandhi Samadhi Dalmiya business house to be a crime with the politicians / bureaucrats. Rajghat on 3 May 2018, at 5 pm. against the nation. The party opposes 4. The Socialist Party, which does All Indian citizens who are proud of this decision of the government and, not believe in ensnaring voters country's national heritage and are in this regard, would like to place with baits of false promises against the government's decision four points before the citizens of the and communal–caste agendas, are cordially invited to take part in country for their kind consideration: cannot hope to be too popular the sit-in. 1. If the priceless resources— during election times. Therefore, water, forest, land—of the it has no political power to Dr. Prem Singh, country including education, oppose such moves of the Socialist Party (India) health, defense, railways, etc. are to be sold into private hands, then what is the need and role of Letter to the Editor governments in the country? Are In his article in Janata dated April 1, 2018, Kuldip Nayar ji has said the governments in power only “In all probability, as things stand today, Modi looks good enough to to contest elections with the help returning to power.” of uncountable amount of money In my opinion, the prevailing conditions in the country do not warrant collected by corrupt methods that kind of conclusion. and, after winning elections, to In the first place the farmers in almost all States are suffering due to enjoy luxurious life during and Modi Government’s acts of commission like demonetisation, connecting after their tenure at the cost of Aadhar to bank accounts, ration cards etc., and acts of omission like not peoples' hard earned money? putting in place mechanisms to ensure implementation of guaranteeing 2. Is there no opposition in the MSP to farmers for most crops. country which would raise a Student community is being put to many hardship by incessant flow decisive voice against the sale of GRs by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and failures of the national heritage? Is there of agencies that are charged with conducting examinations and declaring an inherent consensus in favour results in good time. of privatisation and corporate Backward class students are not getting their stipend money for months together. The conditions that forced Rohit Vemula to commit houses among the ruling and suicide still prevail in almost all universities and schools. the aspiring political parties? The Modi Government has effected a number of amendments to Otherwise, why do they just labour laws, because of which labourers are being thrown out of jobs issue hollow statements on and/or being deprived of humane services conditions. the harm caused by selling off Instances of gory atrocities on women and the Dalits are hitting the national assets and heritage to headlines almost daily. corporate houses? Increase in fuel prices is making things difficult for the labour and 3. Today, on the occasion of the lower middle classes. Labour Day, the Socialist Party Then who would vote for Modi? would like to state that the huge If he is banking solely on money-pots, that can also prove illusory. amount of money in the hands of a few corporate houses has Yours Sincerely, been accumulated through the Pannalal Surana 10 JANATA, May 6, 2018 Is May 1968 About to Happen Again, or Be Surpassed?

Gabriel Rockhill

In anticipation of the 50th international press is still largely in 1968: the way to deal with anniversary of May 1968, the Macron ignoring these developments (as it non-violent protesters and student government had been making plans did with the Nuit Debout movement occupiers organising peaceful to commemorate this historic in 2016), and the French mass media general assemblies is to brutally uprising by celebrating how it had regularly mischaracterise them, a attack them with billy clubs. Every purportedly contributed to the liberal vast uprising is underway that is day that goes by there are more “modernisation of French society”. consistently growing, and there are cases of students being beaten by the Allied with the mass media and the already clear signs of a convergence French riot police and malevolently ownership class, what better way of struggles. provoked to react in self-defense. for the relatively young neoliberal Like other major social On March 22, which was the same government to lay claim to the future movements, it is impossible to date on which the ruthless police than by taking over the past, using identify a single beginning crackdown on students occupying the ritualised burial rites of state- point. However, the student the University of Nanterre garnered honored commemoration to spin a protests and occupations began more media attention for the ’68 teleological tale according to which early in 2018 against the Macron movement, armed academic black the legacy of ’68 was alive and well government’s proposed changes to shirts were unleashed on students in contemporary ‘liberalisation’? the baccalauréat (the French high in Montpellier under the watchful According to a spokesperson for school diploma) and its restrictions and protective eye of the French the French President, this was of on access to the university. To police (who assured the fascist course to be done “without dogmas address the problem of the growing band, which included professors, or prejudice”, in order to show that number of university students and safe escort out of the building). The “68 was the time of utopias and the simultaneous reduction in the bloody footage and the complicity disillusions, and we no longer truly number of teaching positions, the between the administration, the have utopias.” government has chosen to exclude security staff, right-wing students Apparently, many French more students instead of investing in and the police led to an increase students and workers disagree with more education. More specifically, in mobilisation. Meanwhile, the this peremptory judgment. Massive rather than providing more resources inquiry opened by the State has not uprisings have pre-empted Macron’s for a university system that is—at led to the prosecution of some of the plans, and they continue to build least in principle—open to all who professors identified by students, momentum by directly challenging complete the baccalauréat, the and the police have been recorded a government that projected to rule current administration has opted harassing witnesses to encourage over the past as well as the future. for a system of exclusion and false testimony. Halting in its well-trodden tracks the selection that provides preferential According to an interactive map politics of commemoration—which opportunities for those from published by Libération, there are would sever ‘68 from the deep privileged backgrounds and areas. now 25 cities in France where there history of anti-capitalist struggles In so doing, the university would have been university occupations, and the broad internationalism thus be made to further conform to general assemblies and/or protests. of anti-imperialism in order to the reigning dictates of a competitive Beginning in the Southwest with put it in the service of the current system of social triage and vocational Toulouse, Bordeaux and Poitiers, the world order—a radical politics training. movement spread to Nantes, Lille, of rejuvenation has risen up to The State’s response to student Paris, Montpellier, Grenoble and challenge Macron’s ‘non-dogmatic’ resistance has not been unlike that of beyond. Far from simply blocking anti-utopianism. Although the Charles de Gaulle’s administration a significant percentage of France’s JANATA, May 6, 2018 11

73 universities, the movement has system (the SNCF) into a publicly an airport, but also established a insisted on opening them, meaning listed company in what is seen as collectively self-managed society. If seizing the means of intellectual the first step toward privatisation. the elected representatives of France production to hold public seminars, Participation in the strikes has been are bent on a top-down war against debates, film projections and very high among train conductors the autonomy of the ZAD, many are general assemblies with thousands (75%) and controllers (71%), and asking, is it not time for a bottom-up of people, some of which have the Macron government has been insurrection and a ZADification of had to move outside in order to constantly shifting and changing its France to clear out those who seek accommodate the large crowds. In ‘reform’ project, creating obscurity to govern the people by eliminating taking universities away from their and dissension in the Parliament. governing people? neoliberal administrators, students In 1995, the former Prime Minister Every historical conjuncture have organised critical discussions Alain Juppé was forced to abandon has its own specificity, and there of the Macron government, his project of changing rail staff’s are, of course, plenty of important capitalism, fascism and the military benefits due to strikes that paralysed differences between France in 2018 assault on the ‘ZAD’ (see below), France for weeks. and in 1968. With students and as well as alternative courses on Striking rail workers have been workers rising up across the country, political strategy, struggles in the collaborating with students, and however, there is a combined banlieues, revolutionary history their actions have been accompanied and growing struggle against the and grassroots organising. Although by other strikes in the public and relentless privatisation of the world, the violent incursions of the riot private sectors, including garbage and this raises urgent questions for police and their fascist allies persist, collectors demanding a national the future, as well as for the past that forcing the students to regroup and public service for trash collection, it will have remade. The events that sometimes change locations, the Air France pilots, and electrical and are currently unfolding could lead to struggle continues unabated and gas workers. There are numerous a politics of placation in which the is spreading. Three new attempted calls for coordinated actions in government stalls and then makes occupations occurred in Paris just the near future, and a number minor concessions in the hopes that this week (Paris 3-Censier, EHESS, of dates have been chosen for the activists, tired out from weeks of Paris Nanterre), which is in addition convergent struggles. The General occupation and assaults, will accept to ongoing occupations at Paris 1 Confederation of Labor (CGT), one them as a symbol of success. Their (Tolbiac and Saint-Charles), Paris of France’s largest confederations of stalling will also bring us closer to 8 and Paris 4 Clignancourt. High trade unions, has called for a general the dormant summer months, with school students have joined the strike on April 19 in order to bring the anticipation that movements movement, and more than 400 together public sector workers and often fizzle out in France around the professors have denounced the many others affected by the Macron vacation period in July and August. government’s plans as absurd and government’s liberalisation projects There could be no better time, full of misleading propaganda. (to which one could add his draconian then, for intensifying current In addition to the students immigration policy and the hardline struggles, developing new strategies seizing the means of intellectual policing powers ushered in as ‘anti- and pre-empting setbacks that have production, French rail workers terror’ measures). Moreover, there regularly occurred in the past. If the have announced three months of is an increased mobilisation around movement ends up being primarily rolling strikes to protest Macron’s the ongoing military-style expulsion focused on minor changes to the pro-business privatisation campaign and attempted destruction of the educational system and the public against the public sector. The ZAD de Notre-Dame-des-Landes. sector, or if it simply concentrates latter proposes to cut worker’s This autonomous ‘Zone to Defend’ on Macron and electoral politics, employment rights so that new hires or ZAD is a collectively run region the bar will certainly be set too would not have the same job security that not only succeeded in throwing low. If anything changes, it will or retirement provisions, and he off the yoke of the French state, and only be a matter of time before aims to transform the public railway its project of seizing land to build similar measures return, perhaps in 12 JANATA, May 6, 2018 a slightly different form. If, however, and the building of anti-capitalist and transformation that many hope the project of mobilisation is one of communes that will persist and grow will outstrip ’68. Much remains to building alternative communities of in the coming years. Mobilising all be seen and done, however, and critical public education, free and of the organisations and associations the past political education of all of ecological public transportation, as already in place—while drawing those involved will now confront the well as other collectively run social on historical experiences such as immediacy of a situation in which services, political organisations Nuit Debout, the protests against it is forced to be actualised. The and autonomous councils, then we neoliberal French labor laws, the past is only truly alive in the future, could have the beginning of a future organised support of the sans- after all, meaning in the future unmoored from the stagnation of the papiers—such a movement could perfect that it will have become. past. By having struggles converge also further cross-pollinate with The best way to commemorate not only around the particular movements abroad, developing an May 1968 would not only be to contentgiven to the general form of internationalised front of coordinated rejuvenate it, bringing it back from capitalism in contemporary France, anti-capitalist communities. the dead as it were, but to surpass but around the general form itself, It is unclear what has become it. Tearing it out of the mausoleum whose content is always shifting, it of Macron’s anti-utopian plans to of consecration by making it into a is possible to construct—as many recuperate the spirit of ’68 for the living transformation, May will only are already doing—a new social purposes of liberal modernisation. be what it will have become in its order in which reactive resistance to Whatever becomes of them, they future perfect after 2018. particular initiatives is transformed have already been powerfully pre- into proactive collectivist organising empted by a politics of rejuvenation Courtesy : Counterpunch

Kasganj Fact Finding Report

The dominant discourse on flag hoisting event on the occasion area where the shops were attacked nationalism in the country today of Republic day. In the violence and vandalised, journalists, residents has narrowed down to superficial that ensued, a youth called Chandan in Badu Nagar, the police (SP), parameters and litmus test of Gupta was shot and succumbed to the Congress chief from Kasganj, chanting of slogans like Vande his injury. One Naushad too was shot Shashilata Chauhan, BSP leader Mataram and organising aggressive in his leg. Violence was orchestrated Rajeev Sharma, and a businessman bike rallies by Hindu supremacists on 26, 27 and 28 January by Hindu Anupam Sharma. in Muslim majority areas as a supremacists in which shops The findings of the committee show of strength and assertion of belonging predominantly to Muslim very clearly point towards the their supremacy. This recently took owners were burnt down. communal politics that is place in Bhagalpur on the occasion A fact finding team visited encouraged and brewing in Uttar of Ram Navami and was followed violence-hit Kasganj near Etah in Pradesh and which seeks to by communal violence. This is Uttar Pradesh on 2 February 2018 render the Muslim community not the first and the only time such and released its report to the media as second-class citizens. Uttar provocation was made. This is also on 5 February. The fact finding team Pradesh, once known for its ganga largely the story of the violence that consisted of Irfan Engineer, Director jamuna tehzeeb, has today become unfolded in Kasganj on 26 January of Centre for Study of Society and infamous for communal violence. 2018. The youth from Sankalp Secularism (CSSS), author and It has an interesting chequered Foundation in Kasganj organised social activist, Neha Dabhade, Dy. political history of mobilisation a bike rally on 26th January 2018 Director of CSSS and Akram Akhtar and counter mobilisation around without the necessary permission Chowdhary, social activist, Afkar the Ram Jamnabhoomi movement. and insisted on passage through a India Foundation. The team spoke The issue has been manipulated to Muslim dominated area where the to the family of Chandan Gupta, the polarise communities and project a Muslim residents had organised a family of Salim, shop owners in the single consolidated ‘Hindu’ identity, JANATA, May 6, 2018 13 taking in its fold Dalits and other flags. The rally went to Badu Nagar amongst you. The incidence which oppressed castes by invisibilising and there were chairs organised there has happened cannot be forgotten in their exploitation, for electoral at the Veer Abdul Hamid Chauraha. any case. I haven’t seen such kind of benefits. There is a steady but The youth insisted that the chairs be anger in Kasganj before this. In this unfortunate shift from the politics removed and they be given passage incident, there’s no mistake of ‘our of social and economic justice through the Chauraha. According people’. This fight has happened in to politics of communalism. The to Sushil Gupta, there was no flag a preplanned fashion in which ‘one Aligarh, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar hoisting taking place there, since of us’ has died. I have gathered the riots are some of the recent riots no flag hoisting takes place so late information that Chandan Gupta, that took place on very large scale. at 10 am. Pointing to one man in ‘one of us’, has died in this fight. The Post-2014, no riots have taken place the video, whose name he wasn’t investigation of this matter would be on such large scale, but there has ready to disclose, he accused him done without in any delay.” been continuous, sub radar, low for the violence. He said there was intensity violence. The issues of stone pelting by the residents on Narrative by Muslim residents cow slaughter and inter religious the unarmed and helpless youth The second narrative is that of marriages are being exploited which forced them to abandon their the residents of Badu Nagar. Dr. Asif to spread hatred and violence in vehicles and flee from the area. Hussain has a house at the Abdul different forms, including lynching. In the video shown to them by Hamid Chauraha in Badu Nagar This has made the State volatile and Sushil Kumar, the fact finding team and the rally that day passed outside the marginalised sections in the State noticed that the youth in the rally his house. He said that this was the like Dalits, Muslims and women were very aggressive and were first time a flag hoisting program very vulnerable. carrying saffron flags. They were was organised at the chauraha. aggressively shouting slogans. There Every year, the Muslims organise Different narratives in Kasganj were very few Muslim residents flag hoisting in schools. But this There are two narratives that waiting at the Veer Abdul Hamid year the community wanted to emerged from the interactions of the Chauraha, and none of them had demonstrate to the government and team with the different individuals. arms. The video doesn’t show any people that Muslims too hoist flags The first narrative is that of Sushil attack by the Muslim residents. While and are patriotic, in contrast to the Gupta, father of the deceased Sushil Gupta refrained from blaming popular stereotypes that Muslims are Chandan Gupta. According to Sushil the whole Muslim community for disloyal to India. In the past, the RSS Gupta, Sankalp Foundation was the violence, he believed that some wanted the madrasas in the State an organisation of youth which ‘bad elements’ from the community to provide video documentation to engaged in charity activities like were responsible for the violence. prove that they hoisted the Indian distribution of food, clothes and The Congress leader in Kasganj, flag on Republic Day. And so, blankets to the poor. Chandan Gupta Shashilata Chauhan attributed elaborate preparations were made, was very active in serving the poor, this violence to personal enmity and one Mufti Kubeb was invited particularly through blood donation. between the youth from both the to hoist the flag at 9.30 am. School He donated blood thrice and all communities. And this fight was children were also invited. Chairs three times to Muslim recipients, as given a communal hue. She rued were arranged at the small chauraha claimed by his father. He fixed the that innocent youth from both Hindu for the audience to sit. blame for the violence in Kasganj and Muslim communities had been He also furnished several videos squarely on the Muslim residents arrested by the police. But she for the fact finding team which of Badu Nagar. He explained the strongly pointed out to the speech were essentially footage of the happenings on the fateful day with of the BJP MP, Rajveer Singh on CCTV. It can be seen in the video the help of a video shot on that day. the evening of 26 January after the that approximately at 10 am on He narrated that Sankalp death of Chandan Gupta and how 26 January, 60 to 70 bikes in the Foundation planned a bike rally to be it deteriorated the atmosphere and rally came to the chauraha and taken out on 26 January. He claimed fanned violence. Rajveer Singh said, started demanding aggressively that the youth were carrying Indian “I myself with the force have come that the chairs be removed and the 14 JANATA, May 6, 2018 rally be allowed to pass through. it’s impossible for two motorcycles having prior information about The organisers of the flag hoisting to cross each other from opposite the rally, didn’t take any steps program requested the youth to directions. One single bike can pass to stop it. Police conceded that attend the flag hoisting and assured at any given point of time after great Sankalp Foundation didn’t have the them that after the flag hoisting, manoeuvering with the pedestrians permission to take out this rally. The the chairs will be removed for the and other obstacles. In the best of shops and other property belonging rally to pass. The youth in the rally times, the bikes can navigate at a to Muslim owners, a mosque and were carrying saffron flags, and speed of less than 10 kmph with hawker stalls were attacked for three were aggressively shouting slogans frequent breaks to negotiate with days in different places in Kasganj. like “Hindustan mein rehna hoga the people walking on the lane. With The police could have taken strict to Vande Mataram kahana hoga” chairs arranged for the flag hoisting, action against the youth since they and “Radhe Radhe”. The residents the lanes were temporarily blocked. didn’t have the necessary permission refused to chant these slogans and Any prudent citizen wouldn’t want and their bikes were seized. The instead raised their own slogans to ride on bikes through these lanes registration numbers of the bikes of “Godse murdabad”. One of the in a rally even without the chairs could have easily led the police to youth from the bike rally pulled temporarily kept there. The only the perpetrators of the violence. But a stick and attacked one of the purpose behind demanding passage the police released the property used residents. The residents then threw on bikes through these narrow in the crime (bikes) without pressing chairs on the youth. More residents lanes can be to create mischief or to any charges! also came out in the chauraha. The provoke the Muslim residents. The A reading of the FIRs filed show youth got intimidated and fled the other probable reason can be the deliberate lapses on the part of the chauraha to regroup at Tehsil Road. arrogance that the Muslim residents police which will deny justice to The residents noted down the of the area mean nothing and the the victims. In the FIRs filed by the registration numbers of all the bikes Hindu youth can ride rough shod Hindus against Muslims, names of left behind and called the police and over them, to demonstrate that they the accused are mentioned. However, handed over to them the list of the wield superior strength / power as no names have been mentioned in bikes left behind. The police came it is their government which is in the FIRs where Muslims are victims. to the chauraha after the youth had power. In fact, the names of the Muslim fled and removed the bikes. owners or the names of the shops Meanwhile, the youth regrouped Role of the Police which were attacked are not named at Tehsil Road. They were armed The role of the police has been in the FIR, making it very vague with pistols and sticks. They started shameful. The police action was for any proper investigation and attacking the Muslims on the road biased and served the political prosecution. and vandalised their shops. In agenda of the ruling regime in Most of the arrested are innocent the ensuing violence, Chandan UP. The SP of Kasganj made an Muslims who were arbitrarily Gupta received bullet shots and one irresponsible statement saying that arrested by the police. Those arrested Naushad was shot in the leg. it was not possible to control the are innocent and happened to be When the team visited Veer riot since there are never as many on the road when the police were Abdul Hamid Chauraha, it saw police personnel as rioters! And thus making arrests—some had come how small the chauraha is. The he shirked away the responsibility out to shut their shops after the roads in Badu Nagar leading to and of the security forces to contain the violence or some were buying in and around Veer Abdul Hamid violence. The police also dismissed daily supplies like milk. One of the Chauraha are narrow lanes, not the communal angle to this violence arrested is a Muslim youth with 70 broader than 8 feet. These lanes are by blaming anti-social elements percent disability. One is a senior flanked with open sewages on both for the violence, and in this way citizen whose wife passed away the sides and have small shops and protecting the wrong doers. The while he was incarcerated. The houses on either side with their stairs police complicity in the riots is on sections slapped against them are and platforms jutting out on to the many accounts. stringent like murder, rioting, etc., street. The lanes are so narrow that Firstly the police, in spite of while there are very few Hindus JANATA, May 6, 2018 15 named and all the other accused are through a majority Muslim area was violence. Compensation should be “unknown”. However, the arrested a demonstration and reminder that given to the victims in adherence to Hindus are also innocent and mere the Hindu supremacists and their international standards. And lastly, scapegoats, perhaps under political ideology have legitimacy with the that civil society organisations pressure to save the real culprits. coming to power of the BJP. The collectively create platforms for The real culprits who were in the aim is to render the Muslims as dialogue and better understanding rally are absconding; they have been second class citizens and make them between communities. The team neither named nor arrested. The submit to the BJP political ideology was relieved to see that this violence police refused to take the FIRs of the of exclusion, inequality and hatred. hasn’t deepened the communal Muslim residents and thus they are The State is criminalising the victims divide and polarisation. The Hindu compelled to send their complaints and protecting the perpetrators and community in Kasganj had sympathy in forms of application to the courts. thus encouraging this violence for the Muslims and their losses and Salim who is the main accused and hatred. The fact finding team condemned the violence. All is not in the case of Chandan Gupta’s recommends that investigation be lost in Kasganj! death has a strong alibi. His brother made into the role of the speech – Centre for Study of Society Shamim showed the fact finding made by Rajveer Singh in this and Secularism team a video which shows that Invitation Salim who is reputed businessman Convention to in Kasganj was in a flag hoisting Celebrate Foundation Day of Congress Socialist Party programme in a school at around and Release of Draft Socialist Manifesto for 2019 10 am on 26 January. The other Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi l May 17, 2018 l 10 am to 5 pm shopkeepers vouch for his good Organised by: character. It is important to note that We the Socialist Institutions (Hum Samajwadi Sansthayein) Sushil Gupta filed the FIR about and Socialist Manifesto Group his son’s death after more than Dear All, 13 hours of his death, naming 20 As a part of the National Campaign launched by We the Socialist Institutions Muslim residents including Salim, on 'Save the Constitution, Save the Nation', a meeting of socialist thinkers and leaders was held at HMS office on April 20, 2018, under the Chairpersonship without even being present there! of Harbhajan Singh Sidhu. This indicates that there is a strong At this meeting, it was decided to organise a Convention in New Delhi to possibility that he was tutored by celebrate the Foundation Day of Congress Socialist Party on May 17, 2018. It persons having vested interests and was decided that on this occasion, a draft SOCIALIST MANIFESTO would the death is being used as a political be released. Various socialist thinkers and experts from across the country are tool to implicate innocent citizens. being consulted for drafting this manifesto. The Convention would be organised under the banner of We the Socialist Instead of taking Chandan Gupta to Institutions and Socialist Manifesto Group. the hospital after being shot, which We, on behalf of 'We the Socialist Institutions', invite you to attend this would have been the natural reaction Convention being organised in Delhi. The detailed programme would be sent to save him, he was taken to the out in due course. This is just to inform you in advance so that you can book police station first. Yet the FIR was your dates and make your travel plans to attend the Convention. not filed at that time. Invitation issued on behalf of: We the Socialist Institutions and Socialist Manifesto Group Dr. G.G. Parikh, Prof. Rajkumar Jain, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, Vijay Pratap, Conclusions / Findings Arun Srivastava, Dr. Prem Singh, Qurban Ali, Manjoo Mohan, Dr. Anil Thakur, There are many lessons to take Amar Singh Amar, Rakesh Kumar, Dr. Sunilam, Subhash Ware, Neeraj Jain from this incident of communal and Guddi. violence. The incident is reflective More more information, please contact: of the dominant discourse in the • Harbhajan Singh Sidhu: Phone 9811073602 / 9717633944; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]. country where Hindu supremacists, • Dr. Sunilam: Phone 9425109770; Email: [email protected]. due to the political patronage they • Guddi: Phone 7738082170 / 09869059860; enjoy, are openly displaying their Email: [email protected]. arrogance and power. The bike rally • Nischay: Phone 8446446933; Email: [email protected]. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, May 6, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, May 6, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, May 9, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 16 Relevance of Jinnah May 13, 2018 Kuldip Nayar

The Aligarh Muslim University BJP has not strayed from the party’s City Montessori School Example Of Everything (AMU) is not just a place of learning. philosophy of Hindu Rashtra. That Is Wrong With It was in the forefront of a movement No doubt, the majority of Private Schools for the demand of Pakistan and still Hindus—they are 80 percent in Sandeep Pandey leans towards what is considered India—tilt towards what is known beneficial to the millat. A photo as Hindutva. But I do not think Golden Jubilee of of Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the that this is something long lasting. Bohra Reform Movement wall of Kenney Hall, the most Hindus and Muslims have lived in Udaipur prestigious place in AMU campus, is together for centuries. They would Irfan Engineer no surprise. It was there even before continue to do so despite the hot partition and it continues to be there winds of Hindutva blowing at Colouring the Rape Cases all these years. But what amazes me present. By temperament, India is a Pannalal Surana is its disappearance on May 1 and pluralistic society. It would stay that reappearance on May 3! way although at times it looks like True, it was the handiwork of a going the Hindu way; there always fanatic BJP member. But he should a spoil-play group which opposes retract his steps within two days and everything worthwhile for the sake Editor : G.G.Parikh put back the photo where it had hung of opposition. since the time before partition looks Take the case of India-Pakistan Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain extraordinary. Perhaps the person relations. There are elements which Managing Editor : Guddi concerned was admonished by the are bent on negating every effort Editorial Board : BJP high command which is trying towards conciliation and rebuff steps B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali its best to woo Muslim voters at the that help promote good relations Karnataka state election. between the two countries. Some Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah Prime Minister Narendra Modi years ago, the Pakistanis themselves Nandu Dhaneshwar, has also kept the polls in mind when took the initiative to rename the Sandeep Pandey he addresses different rallies in the Shadman Chowk in Lahore and the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, country. Once in a while he tends to gesture was very much appreciated Naushir Bharucha Marg, make remarks like there should be in India. In fact, the renaming of Mumbai - 400 007. electricity at cremation grounds as is the chowk gave birth to the idea of Email : [email protected] the case at burial grounds. But this is honouring heroes of the pre-partition Website:www.janataweekly.org to assure the Hindu audience that the days. 2 JANATA, May 13, 2018

I recall that after celebrating London in the early 90s, he said of India. True, they have the voting Bhagat Singh’s birthday in March that then Prime Minister Clement rights and the country is ruled by the some years ago, a delegation of Richard Atlee was keen that India Constitution which gives one vote Pakistanis participated in a gathering and Pakistan should have something to one person. But they have lost at Amritsar in April to recall the in common. Mountbatten tried for their say in decision making. What Jalianwala Bagh tragedy which had that but Jinnah said that he did not Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had said Hindus and Muslims as martyrs. So trust the Indian leaders. He had before partition has come true. He much enthusiasm was created that accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan warmed the Muslims that they may preparations were afoot to hail the which envisaged a weak centre. feel insecure in the country because sacrifices of those who were part But India’s first Prime Minister their number was small but they can of the Indian National Army and Jawaharlal Nehru said that all proudly say that India belonged as the naval uprising in 1946. The would depend on the decision of much to them as it did to the Hindus. two challenges to the British, even the Constituent Assembly which was Once Pakistan was established, when the Hindus and Muslims were already meeting in New Delhi. the Hindus would be able tell the divided, indicated that when it came Differences between the two Muslims that they have got their to a third party, both sides were sides only accentuated with the share and should go to Pakistan. willing to join hands to thwart it. passage of time. In the 1940s, when Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal This is more or less what Jinnah, the Muslim League had adopted a Nehru and Sardar Patel were able to founder of Pakistan, had said when resolution for the establishment of keep India pluralistic after partition. he came to the Law College at Pakistan, partition looked inevitable. But the line drawn on the basis of Lahore in 1945 when I was a student. Both sides were not facing facts on religion is what haunts everybody To my question as to what would be the ground when they rejected the today. The growing importance the stand of Pakistan if a third power idea of transfer of population. People of BJP is because pluralism has attacked India, he said straightaway themselves did it, Hindus and Sikhs weakened. Secularism needs to that the Pakistani soldiers would coming to this side and Muslims be strengthened so that every fight by the side of Indian soldiers going to the other side. The rest is community and every part of the to defeat the enemy. It is another history. country feels that it is equal in the matter that military dictator General That was in 1947. Today, the affairs of the country. Mohammad Ayub Khan did not Muslims in India, approximately send any help to India when it was 17 crore, do not matter in the affairs Email: [email protected] attacked by China in 1962. Bhagat Singh was only 23 when he went to the gallows fighting When I look back at my life and the people who have influenced against the British rulers. He had my mental make up- Sudhakar Prabhudesai comes up as one who no politics other than the politics subconsciously shaped my non conformist-idealist frame of mind. of sacrificing one’s life and freeing His uncompromising commitment to socialist ideology and total India from bondage. I was surprised detachment to worldly possessions was one admirable quality that I to know that there were as many as found fascinating since childhood. He had an appearance of an ascetic, 14 applications against renaming intellect of a rationalist and nature of a kind hearted person. I could never the Shadman Chowk. This was the be as authentic as him but I always admired his astute intellect. He was same roundabout where a scaffold not swayed by short term opportunistic political actions and always was erected to hang Bhagat Singh was available for a scathing critic of his own colleagues. In Sudhakar and his two colleagues, Rajguru and Prabhudesai’s passing I have lost another link to the idealism I grew Sukhdev. up with. My sincere condolences to his wife Smita Gandhi and to his Jinnah’s name is associated with colleagues at the Janata Weekly. partition. Was he alone to blame? –Uday Dandvate When I talked to Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, at his place in JANATA, May 13, 2018 3

Obituary My Conscience Keeper Sudhakar

The end came, not suddenly, but initially, and he got some relief. And his voluntary services to Janata. He creeping, giving enough warning to prove that he was a bit better, he would not take travelling expenses to the family and friends that it went off and on to the Mouj printing even when forced to do so and his was near. A few days ago, he lost press to personally supervise the humility was so touching that even control over his bladder, developed production of Janata. He would with painful knees, he would get up Parkinsonism like symptoms and spend hours in the press, whether whenever anyone approached him. his response to stimuli got blurred. needed or not. This acted as a sort That he was senior to all in the office It was a warning, but the doctor of balm to his soul which needed did not matter to him. And there was hopefully suggested that it could be some reason to live. But soon he a senior journalist who helped Janata due to electrolyte imbalance and he found that his body would not take and trained others in his after office was taken to the nearby hospital. The the strain and he gave up. His friends hours. Getting volunteers for the theory proved wrong and his doctor, and the family did their best to make socialist movement was not difficult alarmed, ordered MRI and it became him comfortable, keep him cheerful, in those days; you did not have to clear that the cancer had spread all needed and occupied. His eyes had look for them. They came calling, over, including his brain, and it was already been compromised because they came uninvited. This was the the latter that was responsible for the of his indiscretions, but the painful attraction of socialism in those days. loss of consciousness. When it was knees due to osteoarthritis, were Sudhakar was a perfectionist and realised that nothing will help, he replaced and he had felt younger, though he brought out Janata week was brought home, virtually to die. better, confident. But this relief was after week, he was not happy with his He did not live even for 24 hours at short lived as it was discovered product and became so dissatisfied home. The end came at 2.15 a.m. immediately after that he had cancer after some years that he would not in the morning of Tuesday, May 8. and a new journey in his life began have his name printed anywhere Though most wanted to but did not which ended on May 8. in it. And yet he brought it out say that he was relieved, the fact that Sudhakar was a product of those diligently. He would of course say he was beyond pain did not matter. socialist days when youngsters off and on that it should be closed, He had no pain, actually the family would drop in at the socialist made a fortnightly or a monthly. and his friends were in pain. Yes, offices and offer their services, The argument that the socialist the end was a sort of relief. often for nothing. This is how he movement will revive someday He wanted his body to be donated came to Janata decades ago. He and the paper, launched by socialist to a medical college and the family was not a trained journalist but he stalwarts, would come handy when readily agreed to his wishes and painstakingly picked up the ropes that happened, did not appeal to him. donated the body. And that brought and did justice to his work. He was It is only when the Janata became to an end the two year long struggle not alone. Earlier, a young journalist, the instrument to unite socialists against cancer, a disease which is all trained in Paris, no less, came to three years ago that he conceded, too well known for a one way ticket Janata, and joined it at the paltry though grudgingly, that it should to death. With his consent, his wife sum of Rs. 50/-. And he worked be kept going. He was a stickler for decided to give the best treatment till he died and never asked for rules and will not tolerate even the that the medical science could offer, more money than offered. In the slightest of irregularity and would knowing full well that it may not pre-independence days and also chide his colleagues, sometimes help. A search for a good oncologist in the post-independence socialist brutally for small infringements. led him to one of the best in Mumbai heydays, Rs. 50/-, were given to He easily became my conscience and the latter took up the case. The the full timers. And there was yet keeper, perhaps of others too. treatment appeared to help, at least another. A retired police clerk offered At the meetings of the Trust, 4 JANATA, May 13, 2018 his carping criticism of Janata often he scanned through them avidly. A should be admitted, however, that hurt, but it was easy to realize that youngster who had come to Janata some socialist colleagues were not what he said arose out of his belief to serve the socialist cause became, amused. His endorsement for such that the weekly should be an elitist over a period of time, the centre of activities to me was an emotional one. There were always people a group of intellectuals who stood necessity. Our bond was such that who suggested that it should be by him till the end. I got it, though not without critical for ordinary socialist workers, but Ever since he was diagnosed as comments. He did not question the that did not appeal to him. At the suffering from cancer, his home in need, he was not sure of my capacity last meeting of the trust which he Navi Mumbai, a row house, became or the capacity of those with me. I attended at Tara, he once again a place of pilgrimage for me. I went could not tell him that the socialists insisted that his resignation should to meet him and his wife, week after in post ’46 days had planned every be accepted. He was a non-person, week, not to discuss his ailment, but move in a long term perspective he said. He had no Aadhar card or to inform him of the new initiatives, and achieved much of what they anything that gave him an identity. I and some other socialists were wanted to, for fear of the retort that His name in official documents taking. Since May ’14, fighting the they were giants. The main task of and what he chose to write when RSS had become an obsession with socialists today is to unite to take on necessary were different. The me and my fevered mind started communalism, creeping undeclared trustees did not agree to accept his throwing up one after another new Emergency and neo-liberalism. This resignation. ideas, but the focus was always work will go on and I hope it will Though he did not accept Janata the unity of socialists at the grass succeed, but he will not be there to as his product, he spent many hours root level. Meetings of socialists see. A sad thought. in the office, even slept there but that followed in terms of attendance, was when the office was in Fort, in participation and enthusiasm. It - GGP Mumbai and the building – National House - had not collapsed. Janata was his karmabhoomi as also his City Montessori School Example Of Everything alternate home. Sudhakar was fortunate. His That Is Wrong With Private Schools wife, a professor in Mumbai University, took care of him so well Sandeep Pandey and with such commitment that the pain due to the disease became bearable. To many it appeared The City Montessori School of the world to promote the idea of that for her he had become the Lucknow figures in the Guinness World Government. Its academic very purpose of living. Despite the Book of World Records for largest performance is good in classes X knowledge that it was an incurable enrollment of 55,000 in a school, and XII Board examinations as it disease, she kept hoping, not for a although it is not one school but weeds out the weaker students at miracle, but for that singular chance has 18 different branches spread Class VIII stage and shifts them to which a rare cancer patient gets. It throughout the city. Its founder other schools. CMS is an example of did not happen is another matter. Jagdish Gandhi has won the possibly every kind of violation of And he was also fortunate in his UNESCO Prize for Peace Education norms that are required to be fulfilled friends. They visited him, kept him for promoting the universal values of for running private schools. informed about what was happening education for peace and tolerance. By not admitting 18, 55 and 296 in the country as elsewhere and gave He also preaches on TV channels. children belonging to disadvantaged him the intellectual company he The school organises many groups and weaker sections in needed. Despite his failing eyesight, national and international level 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 his table was full of books, both in events including an assembly of respectively under section 12(1)(c) Marathi as well as in English and mostly retired judges from across of the Right to Education Act 2009 JANATA, May 13, 2018 5 for free education from classes I to terminating the rental agreement. Rs 25–40 crore. Sadhna Bedi was VIII, Jagdish Gandhi has betrayed The eldest son of the family Dr. expelled from the school on June his anti-poor or anti-humanitarian Sunil Bisen, a neurosurgeon, is 29, 2017 on charges of financial character. still fighting the legal battle in the bungling, and now Jagdish Gandhi The Indira Nagar branch of District Court. In 2015, the High says that since Bedi took away all CMS doesn’t have the required Court issued a directive for early the money, people should file a case No Objection Certificate from disposal of the case within a year and against her. The school submitted Education Department and half. It is more than a year since that a complaint to Director General of Certificate of Land from Revenue period expired. A court appointed Police but never registered a FIR Department to obtain affiliation with official has declared the building against Sadhna Bedi for misuse of its the Council for the Indian School unsafe but District Magistrate’s letterhead. People who are familiar Certificate Examinations but has office gave permission to Jagdish with the functioning of CMS know still somehow managed to obtain Gandhi last year to carry out repairs that even small decisions like giving the ICSE affiliation. Legal notice without informing Dr. Bisen. In 1982 concession in fees to a student or has been served on CISCE. monthly fees at school was Rs 50. deciding which caterer will serve This branch has been built Today it has increased by a hundred tea or meals in any programme is without approval of design of times. In the same time period, the taken by Jagdish Gandhi himself. building, without permission on a rent has increased from Rs 4,000 to How is it possible that receipts of residential land, a demolition order Rs 5,200, which is deposited in court lakhs of rupees were being issued against which is pending for the last now. The Bisen family is deprived of by the Principal on official letterhead 21 years. One of the three plots on its property as well as an appropriate without his knowledge? Jagdish which the school is run belongs to rent for over three decades now. Gandhi is probably part of the scam R.B. Pathak, a retired IAS officer, It is unclear on what kind of land but has schemed to make Sadhna whose house was demolished to certificate the Basic Education Bedi a scapegoat. He has most build a four storey school building Officer has accorded recognition to likely struck a deal with Sadhna without his permission. The school this branch? and her husband Amarjot Singh claimed 600 as its student strength The most outrageous revelation Bedi, Principal of prestigious Colvin while obtaining the Fire Department is from the Chowk branch of CMS. Taluqdars' College of Lucknow, that NOC, claims 1,100 students on its Its Principal for close to 35 years, in exchange for Sadhna accepting the website, and 1,731 in the court of Sadhna Choodamani, who adopted blame he’ll provide legal help to her. law when obtaining stay against her husband’s surname Bedi after But according to the Contract Act demolition. marriage, has issued receipts on the Law, Jagdish Gandhi bears all the Only a few of its 18 branches letterhead of CMS of large amounts responsibility for the entire money have NOC from the Fire Department, against loans from parents and involved in this scam, and CMS will a mandatory requirement; the former students, taken by school have to repay all the lenders. remaining functioning without it. on interest rates upward of 12%. CMS was running a bank from The Gomti Nagar Extension Ritesh Agarwal says his father had its Chowk branch premises without branch of CMS, its latest, also has been giving loan to the school since any permission from the RBI. It’ll a case against illegal construction 1992–93 when he studied in class also attract charge of income tax pending in Lucknow Development II at this branch. Total deposits of violation. Authority. his family to date are Rs 61 lakh. It appears that Jagdish Gandhi The Jopling Road branch runs Rajesh Agarwal’s family has given has mastered the art of encroaching from a property belonging to the loans totalling to Rs 25 lakh, Vibhor upon land belonging to others, Bisen family. In 1982, late VNS Baijal’s family Rs 9 lakh and N.C. building illegally without permission Singh Bisen gave the building on Rastogi Rs 7 lakh. Including the or various NOCs, obtaining dubious a monthly rent to CMS. Before teachers who can’t speak out for recognition/affiliation and running his demise in 1992, he had already fear of losing their jobs, the total schools with a mercenary objective. initiated a legal case for eviction amount collected by the school It is only a matter of conjecture as to of CMS after serving a notice to it is estimated to be in the range of what kind of values children would 6 JANATA, May 13, 2018 be imbibing from this school? Jagdish Gandhi is known to extend or hiring ladies in their families as The tragedy is that if and when favours to influential people— teachers, and the school if forced to action is finally taken against the officials, people’s representatives, shut down, it would jeopardise the illegal operations of CMS, which judges and journalists—by offering future of thousands of students. is of course extremely difficult as concession in fees to their children Email: [email protected]

Golden Jubilee of Bohra Reform Movement in Udaipur

Irfan Engineer

Islam in popular perception inaugural function was on 29 April in English language for their is a very orthodox, conservative 2018. advancement. Members of the and even fundamentalist religion Dawoodi Bohras are a sub-sect community registered Bohra Youth which brooks no change. Sections of Shias and follow the High Priest Association to give scholarships of Muslim community are not whose office is known as Dai ul- to encourage members of the entirely free from the blame for this Mutlaq or one who summons to community to undertake modern perception. They resist reasonable faith. Dawoodi Bohras are made to education. This triggered off changes in accordance with changing believe that the Dai is owner of their confrontation between the members times. However, the fact is that there mind, body, soul and property. Every of the community and the Pontiff who have been many reform movements Bohra is administered an oath of was deeply suspicious of the effects within the Muslim community in allegiance to the Dai, which is called of modern education. He thought India and other countries. Struggle to as misaq. The oath administered is that would weaken his following. understand the Quranic message has worse than a charter of slavery. The The Pontiff asked office bearers always been an ongoing process and Nathwani Commission Report has of the Bohra Youth Association to the challenge has been taken up by translated the oath of allegiance. wind up the organisation as the same every generation. Sir Syed Ahmad One of its clauses states that the was without his permission. Bohra Khan who established the Muslim follower would accept the order of community is populated in four Anglo-Oriental College which the Dai in all things. The follower Municipal wards of Udaipur. In the now is Aligarh Muslim University, would love those whom Dai loves Municipal elections in the year 1970, Maulana Shibli Numani who was a and be enemy of those with whom the local Bohra priest recommended contemporary of Sir Syed, Maulana Dai is hostile and there will be no four persons for nomination by the Mumtaz Ali who wrote extensively contact with him/her openly or Congress as their official candidates. on rights of women in Islam, the secretly in any form whatsoever. However, these candidates were great poet philosopher Iqbal and The oath further enjoins the follower unpopular among the Bohras. Four Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are some to spend her/his life and property youth leaders who worked for the names that come to mind. in the cause of the Dai who is the community and were very popular master of life. If a person breaks the contested elections as independents Bohra Reform Movement in oath, all his possessions, including against the candidates recommended Udaipur movables, cash, house, utensils, by the local priest and they inflicted The Bohra Reform movement jewels, ornaments, carriages, horses, a crushing defeat on the local priest’s in Udaipur will be completing cattle, milch cows, she buffaloes, candidates. its Golden Jubilee in 2020. The slaves and all worldly materials The Bohras of Udaipur have reform movement under the aegis become unlawful to her/him and are taken two more steps for the welfare of Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra liable to be looted. of the community. First, they Community, has commenced the Bohras of Udaipur wanted established a Cooperative Bank— Golden Jubilee celebrations and the to encourage modern education The Udaipur Urban Cooperative JANATA, May 13, 2018 7

Bank—to meet the financial needs and his henchmen attacked the public service, but also along lines of the community. The Bank was members of the community inside of religious perspectives. Debates on well managed and was popular one of the most revered shrines of religious perspectives ensures that among the community. The second the community in Galiakot, about religious doctrines are not imposed step was electing a committee for 75 kms from Udaipur. Large number from the top but the learned from the management of community affairs, of Bohra women were also attacked community are involved in debates including community properties and and molested inside the shrine. and in evolving understanding of funds. The Pontiff did not like his When the women appealed to the Dawoodi Bohra religious doctrines. followers running the institutions Pontiff, believing that the attacks on The understanding of the religion democratically. He was used to them were without his knowledge, and religious tenets among the nominating his henchmen to run the Pontiff looked the other way. reformists is therefore more as the affairs of the community in the That day the women became strong compared to the blind followers manner he pleased and to maximise supporters of the reform movement. of the Pontiff. Most followers financial gains for himself and The Pontiff resorted to social boycott of the Pontiff merely follow his his large extended family. The of the reformists and barred any orders without understanding. This henchmen would have their own Bohra from maintaining any contact culture of blindly following has personal interests in the community directly or indirectly with the been consciously and systematically property and would whisper into reformists. He refused to solemnise inculcated by the Pontiff. This the ears of the Pontiff’s minions marriages of reformist Bohras, and enables the Pontiff to arbitrarily accordingly. The Pontiff would barred their entry into any mosque, enforce behaviour to ensure that grant audience to henchmen as community hall or shrine of the his establishment (also called as they would facilitate the Pontiff’s community. Despite all the atrocities kothar) rakes in moolah and no one visits to Udaipur and ensure that and oppression of the Pontiff, who is supposed to ask any questions. he would collect maximum funds often also invoked his political The arbitrary firman issued from the followers. Thus Pontiff and influence and used his influence with and enforced by the kothar include his henchmen would ensure they the local State machinery to harass compulsory subscription of tiffin took care of each other’s interests them, the reformists have stayed boxes by all Bohra houses. The food and in the process ensured that the their course and remain strong. is so bad that all Bohras have resisted followers were duly submissive. receiving the tiffin boxes. Kothar The Pontiff issued firmans Achievements of the Reform enforces burqas for women and dissolving the elected committee to movement in 50 years saayo (typical long white dress) for manage the affairs of the community Fifty years is a long time for any men along with beard and cap. These halls and property (called jamaat) movement to have sustained. In itself days the kothar is entering every and nominated a committee with this is an incredible achievement. home to inspect toilets and enforce his own henchmen. He further During the struggle to resist that Indian toilet pots are installed in called upon the leaders of the Bohra oppression of the Bohra Pontiff, the place of western ones. Much before Youth Association (BYA)—Ghulam reformists succeeded in retaining Aadhar cards were issued by the Hussain Manager and Abid Ali the Jamat Khana, three mosques Government of India, kothar issued Adeeb—to dissolve the Bank as well and right to pray in half portion smart cards which records how as the BYA on the grounds that prior of a fourth mosque, though the often one has attended mosques to permission was not sought from the responsibility to maintain the fourth listen to sermons which are more Pontiff to establish these institutions. mosque also falls on the reformists. about praises and narrations of the The leaders of the reform movement The mosques are maintained greatness and magical powers of refused. Their plea was that no by the Jamaat democratically. the Pontiff and have very little about permission of the priest was required Regular elections are held and well Allah and his messenger and one of in secular affairs of the followers. contested. Campaigning for Jamaat the most revered religious imams, When the popular leaders of the elections are not only on the basis Imam Hussain. reform movement refused to comply of credibility of the candidates as While the kothar coercively with the Pontiff’s firmans, the Pontiff to their honesty and dedication to collects religious taxes from the 8 JANATA, May 13, 2018 followers, the Bohra reformists The old leadership which fought woman is not supposed to remarry) in Udaipur depend on voluntary for their freedom 50 years ago has is practiced makes life of a woman contributions of the members of the to educate the younger generation in iddat worse than hell. She is community. However the voluntary about the history of the reform virtually isolated and not supposed contribution is enough to maintain the movement, which is sadly wanting. to see the face of or talk to any male mosques, jamaat khana, two schools, The younger generation has taken who is not within the prohibited one sports training institution and a advantage of and breathed in free degree of matrimonial relations, well equipped medical centre with air but are unaware of the sacrifices including a child. She cannot see various equipments. The Udaipur made by the older generation. Lack television or peep out of the window Urban Coop. Bank is one of best of awareness may mean losing the or look at the sky. Reformist need to managed cooperative banks in the gains of the reform movement out include women in their leadership country and has received awards for of carelessness. Kothar is trying its and address these gender issues. It its performances. best to break the movement, luring will increase the backing of women During the recent inauguration reformists with all kinds of deceptive for the reform movement and will of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of sops. The movement has to produce strengthen the movement. the reform movement, when I asked new visionaries like Asghar Ali The reformists need to set up women what difference the reform Engineer. religious institutions where Islamic movement made in their lives, and Women have been a strong studies and research are undertaken whether they were willing to give backbone of the movement. I have in order to understand the Quranic an oath of allegiance to the Pontiff, rarely seen social movements in message in the present context. they assertively said no. They said which women continue to participate The reformists also need to they were very happy with their in equal numbers. There is no maintain the existing institutions— freedom and pitied their counterparts reformist function in which women’s the mosques, jamaat khana, medical in kothar who were coerced in so participation is less than men. centre, cooperative bank, schools— many ways to follow the numerous However, the leaders of the movement and continuously modernise them, diktats of the Pontiff and kothar. haven’t given them due importance, making them world class. It is easier They could wear the clothes they such as including women in the said than done, particularly because liked, educate themselves, take up leadership and in decision making. of limited resources. However, if jobs and livelihoods, participate As a result, women’s issues aren’t we have the vision, we should reach in management of the community the focus of the reform movement there some day. affairs, etc. as much as they should be. Though one sees women’s participation Email: [email protected] Challenges in the programmes organised by However, there are many the reformists, they continue to The Unemployment challenges ahead for the reformists. be relegated to traditional roles The foremost challenge is nurturing within their families and suffer Crisis: new leadership to carry the baton of discrimination and exclusion. Triple Reasons and reforms. Reform is not a one time talaq in one sitting is neither practiced Solutions event but an ongoing process as nor is it accepted as irreversible frontiers of knowledge develop. Of divorce within Dawoodi Bohras. Contribution Rs. 25/- course reforms are within the limits Polygamy too is not practiced and set by Allah, namely, treating all is discouraged. However, practice of human beings as equal, loving all female genital mutilation (FGM) is Published by creations of Allah and dealing with widely prevalent and the reformists Janata Trust & Lokayat everyone justly. To establish a just have not yet officially taken up the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, society and struggle for justice is issue decisively. The manner in Naushir Bharucha Marg, one of the duties cast on all faithful. which iddat (period of 4 months and Grant Road (W), Pursuit of knowledge and truth is 10 days after death of husband or Mumbai 400 007 another duty enjoined on them. three months after divorce, when a JANATA, May 13, 2018 9 Colouring the Rape Cases

Pannalal Surana

At the press conference on the family. of which the CM handed over the 13th April 2018, Meenakshi Lakhi, matter to CBI who arrested Surendra national spokesperson of BJP, said, Why the incidents at Unnao and Singh. “One Zakir Hussain aged 19, and Kathua attracted wide publicity? What has happened at Kathua two boys of 13 had gang-raped a At Unnao, one Surendra Singh, is much more horrible. While a minor girl in Nagaon in Assam, but a BJP MLA, had raped a woman Bakarwal girl of 8 was looking none of the secularist parties or any 260 days before the matter attracted after the sheep that were grazing in of the candle-march experts had attention of the national press. The a lonely place, a retired government uttered a word of protest about that. woman was residing just behind the servant abetted by two policemen But there were loud protests about house of the MLA. She belonged to forcibly took her away. All the three Unnao and Kathua incidents because a poor family, was married and had raped her and then killed her and the suspects therein are Hindus.” two children but was of age below threw her body in the nearby jungle. What kind of logic or concern 18. Her father had gone to the police The body was recovered a few about human rights compelled her station to lodge a complaint. The days later and an FIR was lodged. to look at heinous rape cases in such police did not record it. Instead, Many BJP activists, including two partisan manner is best known to the he was severely beaten by the ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti’s lady or her party brethren. supporters of the MLA who had government started saying that It is very saddening to note that rushed to the PS. The person died a respectable Hindus were being somehow there is a spurt in cases few days later. Thereafter the victim wrongfully framed and so they of atrocities against women in the woman declared that she would should not be arrested. The Bar past few months. Some of them immolate herself in front of CM’s Council of Jammu even passed a are published in local or regional residence. That became headlines resolution asking the police not press while some of them might not in the media. Instead of allowing the to take action against the named see the light of the day. All normal law to take its course, another BJP suspects. That was too much. Apart human beings feel ashamed of such MLA said that all the entire story from public protests, the Supreme instances. Human rights activists do was politically motivated to damage Court of India took suo moto action try to follow those cases and help in the image of Surendra Singh. In and asked the police to proceed with one way or another the victims and defence of his brother MLA, he its investigation and arrests. But the their families. About the incident advanced an argument saying that BJP cohorts continued to say that referred to by Smt Lakhi, proper no man would rape a mother of two Hindus of Jammu are unnecessarily notice was taken by the regional children. Surendra Singh himself being defamed. The President of press. What is noteworthy is that said that as the lady belonged to a Madhya Pradesh BJP went so far after the matter came to the notice of lowly caste, how could he touch as to say that it was all a part of a the parents of the victim, her father her? That invited loud protests. So Pakistani conspiracy to defame not lodged an FIR with the police who Surendra Singh staged a melodrama. only Jammu’s Hindus but the whole took prompt action in rushing the Accompanied by 40-50 supporters, Indian nation. girl to the medical college hospital he visited the residence of the SP at Unnao and Kathua got so much at Guwahati. But unfortunately the about 11 o’clock at night and told of public glare because the BJP, girl could not be saved because the the media there that since some are instead of treating the incidents as burn injuries were far too severe. calling him a bhagoda, he had visited crimes cognizable under the IPC, The police also arrested the three the SP’s place on his own, but as gave such vicious twists to these suspects within a couple of days and the police was not arresting him, he unfortunate incidents of human all the neighbours, both Muslims was going back home. But public rights failures. How can religion or and Hindus, extended support to pressure snowballed, as a result caste of a victim and of the offenders 10 JANATA, May 13, 2018 matter in such cases. They should be in a case where the rape victim or close acquaintances. Obviously, treated as offences and be dealt with is a minor. Many knowledgeable there will not be any witnesses who severely. persons, including the Delhi High will come forward to give evidence Meenakshi Lekhi would do well Court, have questioned the wisdom in such cases. to introspect a little and persuade of that action. As per the records of All of us should realise that such her party colleagues not to be so the National Crimes Bureau, rate of cases cannot be treated in a routine frivolous. conviction in such matters is only matter. What needs to be done is When the matter became too 3%. It is observed that in cases to change the mindset of the males hot, the Modi Government rushed an where minors are raped, generally towards women. ordinance prescribing death penalty the offenders are family members Email: [email protected]

Fight Against Treason Call of Hindu Rashtra by BJP

Justice Rajindar Sachar

The results of the UP State Governor of the Reserve Bank as is clear from its misuse of Article Assembly elections have come as is suggesting it. 110 of the Constitution regarding a shock to all parties including the C. Disclose in public the names of the Finance Bill. This is done pollsters. The appointment of Yogi big defaulters of public sector obviously because it could not Adityanath as the Chief Minister of banks, the total amount being modify the Income Tax Law or the UP is the worst outcome. I feel that Rs 8 lakh crores. Why should Companies Act for making such it requires all political parties, the they be shielded, when they are vital changes against the established secular parties and the Leftists (I am endangering public interest and rights of citizens guaranteed by the using these words loosely because the economy? Constitution as it has no majority in unfortunately the meanings of the D. Prohibit any election funding by the Rajya Sabha. terms have become quite barren), to the corporate sector even in the The BJP’s Central Government come close to each other. guise of separate electoral trusts is tearing all established conventions, I am mentioning some items formed by the corporate sector. including amendments on the which all of us could take up, as I am also suggesting some other Companies Act, which is most these have no party monopoly. Of items that can be taken up in the mischievous. At present under the course, my suggestions are very programme for action immediately: Companies Act, there is a ceiling for tentative and can be finalised at a • Revival of women’s reservation donation. The Central Government’s separate meeting of all parties, of in State Legislatures and amendment will result in what an the Leftist parties, trade unions. Parliament. American commentator said after This is necessary because the • Fight against the government’s the Citizens case in the USA, “that BJP Government is determined misuse of perverting the Lok the nation” will have corporate to dismantle the public sector, the Sabha Speaker’s power to certify democracy and not people’s sheet-anchor for a socialist society. certain legislations as Money democracy. A. Minimum of 30 per cent Bill in order to avoid defeat in I believe one could go to court Income Tax on those with the Rajya Sabha. against the provisions incorporated in higher incomes, including the There is a gross misuse of the Income Tax Act and Companies Corporate Sector. the majority in the Lok Sabha by Act on the ground of violation of B. Introduction of Inheritance Tax the BJP Government. The BJP’s Article 14, and the irrelevance of to reduce gross inequality in Central Government has already these legislations behind the passing society; even the conservative started working unconstitutionally, of the Finance Bill. JANATA, May 13, 2018 11

I know political funding is a candidate. Of course the Opposition- result in non-BJP parties forming the touchy subject for the Congress but ruled States like Mamata in Bengal, government at the Centre in Delhi. then larger public interest requires Patnaik in Odisha and the Congress it to be challenged. The misuse of in Punjab and Karnataka will have to Courtesy: Mainstram, April 15, 2017 Aadhar to make each one of the make equitable adjustments, but the provisions of secrecy of the Income other parties must also go for deep Tax Act and the banking law a nullity adjustment. Only in this way can the is a further assault on the individual evil of the BJP headed by the Yogi in rights of citizens. UP, with its obvious call for Hindu Speaking personally, we must Rashtra (a treasonable slogan by the refuse to file Income Tax Returns ruling party at the Centre), can be or open bank accounts by getting successfully met to prevent fascism Aadhar, which I believe is a serious in our country. inroad into the privacy of the Let all parties sit together individual except in the case of those and work out concrete specific programmes like subsidies schemes programmes and policies to meet to avoid the possibility of wrong this menace. If the parties will not persons getting the benefit. I know show this adjustment, the public the Congress Government brought in India will never forgive the in Aadhar. But its misuse by the Opposition parties for failing to Modi Government requires action show that foresight, self-abnegation by the Congress. I would suggest before the attack on secularism, the that the Congress and the entire basic feature of our Constitution. Opposition should bring a legislation We should start an open debate and in the Rajya Sabha opposing the launch public meetings to point changes made in the Companies out the danger to our democracy. Act and Income Tax by the BJP This will require approaching as incorporated in the Finance Bill all political parties to draw up a (where it will be passed because it common programme. In this, certain has a majority in the Rajya Sabha). ground rules will have to be worked This will create a constitutional out. Both the political parties, which crisis and bring the matter strongly are in power in respective States, and to the notice of the public on these the non-BJP Opposition parties will issues. have to work out a joint strategy for The extreme danger of the mutual benefit of each other. BJP choosing Yogi Adityanath and In order to meet the 2019 his open declaration that India is a parliamentary electoral challenge, Hindu Rashtra has shown the deep I feel that all non-BJP parties viciousness of the RSS and BJP. For should work on a commonly agreed this purpose other parties will have to programme. Loose general talks make serious mutual adjustments— separately will not work. I feel we of course subject to the ruling parties need to develop Dr Lohia’s election in other States also playing fair. I strategy of 1967 where we had would provisionally suggest that the non-Congress Opposition- ruled distribution of seats in respective governments in nine States. We only States should be done by non-BJP have to work for similar non-BJP parties in such a manner that there is Opposition ruled States—this alone a single candidate opposing the BJP will create an atmosphere which may 12 JANATA, May 13, 2018 How Karl Marx Predicted Our World Today

Howard Zinn

In the September 2000 issue again) linked with Stalin, by von Westphalen, whose aristocratic of ‘In These Times’, Howard Zinn both Stalinists and apologists for family admired the young Karl for wrote this review of a book about the capitalism. So this is a good time to his remarkable intellect, and whose life of Karl Marx by Francis Wheen. set the record straight. The reviewer father took long walks with him, On the 200th anniversary of Marx’s of Wheen's book in the New York reciting Homer and Shakespeare. birth, we present Zinn’s review in Times Book Review seemed to Marx studied first at the full, in which he discusses how think that the lack of Marxists in University of Bonn and then the “Marx predicted the world of today, departments of economics, history University of Berlin, as a rather wild with ever increasing concentrations and philosophy is somehow proof and fun-loving student even while of wealth in fewer and fewer hands, of the inadequacy of Marx's theories seriously pursuing the teachings with capitalism roaming the globe in and, absurdly, wonders “why the of Hegel and writing a doctoral search of profits, with a deepening rest of us should bother with Marx's dissertation on Greek philosophy. contradiction between the colossal ideas now that the Berlin Wall has His thesis, comparing the ideas growth of production and the failure fallen.” of Democritus and Epicurus, is to distribute its fruits justly.” Wheen lets you know a ringing declaration of freedom It takes some courage to write immediately where he stands on from false authority, insisting that still another biography of Karl Marx, this matter: “Only a fool could the true purpose of philosophy was especially if the writer has dared to hold Marx responsible for the to deny “all gods of heaven and go through the 40 volumes of his Gulag; but there is, alas, a ready earth who do not recognise man's writings and his correspondence. supply of fools.” Marx “would self-consciousness was the highest Francis Wheen seems to have done have been appalled by the crimes divinity.” that research scrupulously, open to committed in his name.” He has Hegel also saw the historical both colorful stories and thunderous been “calamitously misinterpreted.” development of man's self- ideas. And the misinterpretation has been consciousness as the human march The time is right for a new bipartisan, as “all these bloody toward freedom. But Marx was soon appraisal of Marx because blemishes on the history of the 20th to go beyond that, to turn Hegel ignoramuses and shitheads (the century were justified in the name of “on his head,” to see freedom as spellcheck on my computer rejected Marxism or anti-Marxism.” requiring, not simply a change in this, suggesting instead “hotheads, This is a worthy enterprise, to consciousness, but a revolutionary catheads, whiteheads, skinheads”) on distinguish Marx himself from the change in the material conditions of all parts of the ideological spectrum actions of the so-called Marxists life. Early on, Marx's extraordinary have distorted his ideas in ridiculous (who led an exasperated Marx at one intellectual power was evident. His ways. Forgive me, but I want to give time to say: “I am not a Marxist”), as friend Moses Hess said that Marx you the flavor of Marx's personality, well as to keep alive his still-accurate “combines the deepest philosophical which included frequent insults critique of capitalism. seriousness with the most biting directed at those, whether bourgeois Wheen provides a colorful romp wit. Imagine Rousseau, Voltaire, or left intellectuals, who drove him through Marx's life. Marx grew up in Holbach, Lessing, Heine and Hegel to distraction by disagreeing with a middle-class German family, with fused into one man, and you have him—not, I agree, an admirable trait, rabbi ancestors on both sides, but his Dr. Marx.” but we must be honest about people father converted to Christianity for Marx was 24 when he moved to we otherwise admire. practical reasons. (Karl in fact was Cologne, as editor of the Rheinische Marx has been stupidly (there, baptized at the age of six.) At 18 he Zeitung. He soon began challenging I've caught the virus of virulence was engaged to the beautiful Jenny the sacred laws of private property, JANATA, May 13, 2018 13 denouncing the arrest of peasants lives in his book The Condition of League of London, they (mostly who were using firewood from the Working Class in England. He Marx, it seems) fashioned one of private forests, and writing editorials described one Manchester slum the most influential documents of against the Prussian censors. What as follows: “Masses of refuse, modern history, The Communist can be more infuriating to censors offal and sickening filth lie among Manifesto. It appeared in French just than to rail against censorship? They standing pools in all directions; before the 1848 revolution. The first castigated the Zeitung for “impudent the atmosphere is poisoned by the English edition, in 1850, started with and disrespectful criticism of the effluvia from these, and laden and the sentence: “A frightful hobgoblin existing government institutions.” darkened by the smoke of a dozen stalks through Europe.” In the 1888 And proved it right by shutting it tall factory chimneys. A horde of translation that became: “A spectre down. ragged women and children swarm is haunting Europe—the spectre of Wheen enjoys showing the about here.” Communism.” inanity of Marx's detractors, as when Marx and Engels, meeting for The Manifesto demolished the they reduce his complex view of the first time in August of 1844 in idea that capitalism was a natural religion to unconditional hostility, the Cafe de la Regence (Voltaire, and eternal condition. It was a quoting repeatedly his statement Diderot and Benjamin Franklin stage in history, which came out of that religion is “the opium of the were among its famous patrons), hit feudalism and would give way to a people.” The full quotation, from it off from the start, intellectually more humane society. Capitalism his 1843 essay, Toward a Critique of and personally. Engels then visited brought about an enormous Hegel's Philosophy of Right, shows Marx's flat, and there followed 10 development in technology and a more nuanced and sympathetic days of intense and wide-ranging production: “The bourgeoisie has understanding of the social role of discussion, which Wheen, seeing this created more massive and more religion: “Religion is the sigh of the as the beginning of an extraordinary colossal productive forces than have oppressed creature, the heart of a relationship, with immense historical all preceding generations together.” heartless world, the soul of soulless significance, calls “ten days that But workers were now nothing more conditions, it is the opium of the shook the world.” than commodities, their lives subject people.” It was in Paris, at the age of 26, to the domination of the market. Driven from Germany, Marx that Marx wrote his famous Economic And as capitalism becomes more went to Paris, where he and Jenny and Philosophical Manuscripts, and more obviously inadequate to found a little flat on the Left Bank, which remained unpublished until control its own enormous growth, and where their first child, Jennichen, the 1930s, but which contain some of the working class will become the was born in 1844. It was in the his most profound ideas. The central instrument for its replacement. cafes of Paris that Marx met an concept was alienation, but Marx As workers become “a ruling extraordinary group of other young saw the source of this alienation class,” representing the vast majority radicals: Proudhon (“property is not as a problem of consciousness, of the nation, they will sweep away theft”); Heine, the brilliant poet; as Hegel put it, but in the material the conditions for the existence Bakunin, the wild man of anarchism conditions of capitalist society. of all classes, “and will therefore and spontaneous revolution; Stirner, Under capitalism, human beings have abolished its own supremacy the supreme individualist; and, most led a nonhuman existence, being as a class.” The climactic sentence important of all, Frederick Engels. alienated from their work, from of the first part of the Manifesto is Engels was two years younger the product of their labor, from one profoundly important, repudiating than Marx, but already more aware of another, from nature, from their own any notion of a police state, and class oppression and class struggle, true selves. The solution was not in insisting on the ultimate goal of having witnessed a general strike the realm of ideas, but in action to individual freedom: “In place of in Manchester, England, where his overturn these conditions. the old bourgeois society, with its father owned textile mills. In 1845, Driven from Paris, Marx met classes and class antagonisms, we at 25, Engels would write eloquently Engels again in Brussels, and, shall have an association, in which and powerfully of working-class commissioned by the Communist the free development of each is the 14 JANATA, May 13, 2018 condition for the free development Dante, Shakespeare and Cervantes to of all.” Eleanor, whose love and devotion to Spectre of Fascism Expelled from the continent and him were expressed throughout her Contribution Rs. 20/- finding refuge finally in London, life. His enemies may have seen him Published by Marx labored for years in the differently, but her father, Eleanor Janata Trust & Lokayat library of the British Museum on said, was “the cheeriest, gayest soul D-15, Ganesh Prasad, his epic work, Capital. All this, while that ever breathed, a man brimming Naushir Bharucha Marg, living with Jenny in the miserable over with humor.” Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 conditions of Soho, and grieving It is to Wheen's credit that, as three of their children, two boys despite his sometimes obsessive and a girl, died in the first years attention to the comic elements in of life. Two girls, their first-born Marx's life, he treats the man's ideas Jennichen and Laura, had survived, with great respect. He doesn't insist and a third, Eleanor, was born in that Marx's analysis in Capital is Janata London. (Eleanor was a remarkable flawless, but sees it as “a work of the child, politically precocious at the imagination,” its purpose “an ironic is available at age of 8; Yvonne Kapp's two-volume one, juxtaposed with grim, well- www.lohiatoday.com biography of Eleanor Marx is a documented portraits of the misery wonderful description of the life of and filth which capitalist laws create the Marx family in London.) in practice.” Wheen is unsparing in his He points out how Marx depiction of Marx's nastiness, predicted the world of today, with directed against Ferdinand Lassalle ever increasing concentrations of Janata (including anti-Semitic barbs, wealth in fewer and fewer hands, although anti-Semitism was not with capitalism roaming the globe in Subscription part of Marx's philosophy or search of profits, with a deepening political behavior), Proudhon and contradiction between the colossal other intellectuals of the left. He growth of production and the failure Annual Rs. : 260/- was unmoved by Proudhon's plea to distribute its fruits justly. Wheen that they should not become “the says that “the more I studied Marx, Three Years : 750/- leaders of a new intolerance” and the more astoundingly topical he responded caustically to Proudhon's seemed to be.” The Philosophy of Poverty with Those who would doubt Marx's Demand Draft / his own diatribe, The Poverty of commitment to a truly democratic Cheque Philosophy. He referred to another society should study his eloquent refugee from the 1848 revolution in (second in literary brilliance only to on Germany, one August Willich, as “an his The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Mumbai Bank uneducated, four times-cuckolded Bonaparte) description of the 1871 jackass.” Willich challenged him to Paris Commune. The Commune in favour of a duel, which he wisely declined. abolished rents and debts, equalised Yet Wheen also recognizes that wages, hailed culture and education, JANATA TRUST Marx was a loving husband and made leaders subject to immediate deeply affectionate father who, recall by the people, destroyed the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, despite being unable to pay bills and guillotine. Women played a crucial Naushir Bharucha Marg, depending on Engels for financial role in all of its activities (see Gay Grant Road (W), support, bought a piano for his Gullickson, The Unruly Women of daughters and sent them to the Paris). It was, Marx said, “the most Mumbai 400 007. seashore to get them away from glorious achievement of our time.” the rancid air of Soho. He read JANATA, May 13, 2018 15 Dangerous Trend in Himachal Pradesh: Diverting Tea Leaves and Highly Nutritious Fruits For Liquor Production

Bharat Dogra

Very worrying trends have been an alcoholic drink based on tea mis-propaganda was done under reported recently from Himachal leaves with a high alcohol content, pressure from the liquor lobby. It is Pradesh that highly nutritious fruits and at the same time fruits are being now well known that the completely are being diverted from direct diverted for the production of this false promotion of red wine as a consumption to the production of wine, at a time when children from healthy drink led to massive damage wine on a large scale. Such trends if poor families in this apple-producing to health and a huge increase in left unchecked can easily spread to state find it very difficult to eat liver disease as well as other serious other parts of the country. apples. health problems. The same tragedy First a leading newspaper Dainik It is likely that soon there will will be repeated in India on an even Jagran reported that apples as well be a drive by unlicensed shops to larger scale when fruit wine and tea as other highly nutritious fruits in sell these new forms of liquor. The wine are promoted for their false the state will be diverted on a large first signs of this can already be seen health benefits while covering up scale for production of wine, and as some general merchants and fruit the conspiracy of the liquor lobby the existing processing facilities of juice shops are seen selling fruit in taking liquor to more and more a public sector unit will be made wine. What is even worse is that high people. available to a private company for alcohol content drink or liquor is Hence this dangerous trend taking this new wine to different being promoted for health benefits. and the distorted thinking behind parts of the country. Then on May This fraud has already been it should be checked as early as 1, another news appeared in another exposed in the context of red wine possible. leading newspaper Navbharat Times for its falsehood and deceit. This Email: [email protected] that along with fruits, special Kangra Tea Leaves will be used to prepare tea wine with alcohol content of 12 percent (much higher than beer). A government science lab is being used to prepare this, and a private company has been contracted to sell this as tea wine on a large scale. The government will also be earning from this deal. It is very worrying that even such a staple drink as tea which is consumed by an overwhelming majority of people in the country is being imitated to prepare R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, May 13, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, May 13, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, May 16, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 17 Hamid Ansari, Jinnah’s Portrait and May 20, 2018 Turmoil in AMU

Ram Puniyani Culture Of Protest Sandeep Pandey, Recently (May 2018) Hamid distinguished scholar and diplomat Shobha Shukla and Ansari, the ex-Vice President of who held the high office of the Vice Bobby Ramakant India, was invited to Aligarh Muslim President of India. His photo of not University to be honoured with saluting the Republic day parade was Sudhakar, My Friend life membership of AMU Students made viral to create the impression Mrinal Biswas Union (AMUSU). He had due that he is showing disrespect, an security with him, yet Hindu Yuva issue that died down only went it was 'Save National Heritage Vahini–ABVP activists managed realised that he was following the March' to come close to his place of stay. rule book as only the President takes The armed protesters alleged that a the salute and no one else. When he portrait of Jinnah had been put up was given farewell, Modi attempted Journalists Remain in to please Ansari, and that they will to humiliate him by hinting at his the Cross Hairs not allow Jinnah’s portrait in AMU. being a Muslim and being attached Geeta Seshu The usual violence followed, a few to issues related to Muslims. Given Vahini volunteers were arrested, this background, his being targeted and most were later let off. This was in AMU is just the continuation of followed by series of statements from what the BJP–RSS combine has Editor : G.G.Parikh Yogi Adityanath, who incidentally is been attempting to do to Ansari in Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain also the founder of this Hindutva the past. group, saying that portrait will not How did it come to happen Managing Editor : Guddi be allowed. Subramaniam Swami that someone recalled that Jinnah’s Editorial Board : asked who will teach a lesson to portrait is there on the AMU AMU! The students of AMU are campus and on that pretext the B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali protesting the violence unleashed by armed volunteers sneaked into AMU Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah Vahini and ABVP, and demanding campus? Has the portrait been put Nandu Dhaneshwar, that those responsible for the attack up yesterday? The portrait has been Sandeep Pandey be arrested. there since 1938, as AMU Students D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Many questions arise. First of Union had conferred a rare honor on Naushir Bharucha Marg, all, how did the armed volunteers him by giving him life membership Mumbai - 400 007. of Vahini and ABVP come near the of AMUSU. The Hindutva activists place where Hamid Ansari was put issued the statement that Jinnah Email : [email protected] up? One recalls the several attempts divided the country, so how could Website:www.janataweekly.org that have been made to humiliate this he be celebrated? The role played by 2 JANATA, May 20, 2018

Jinnah in the freedom movement is values inherent in it down to the nationalist politics is looking to not a linear one and is not uniform. core. His role as a leader of Muslim kill many birds with a single stone. He began as a part of the movement League and his Lahore resolution First is to once again target Hamid and was part of it in the beginning. He demanding a separate country for Ansari, whom they can’t approve is credited with being the Chairman the Muslims—Pakistan—is what of as his credentials are thoroughly of the Reception Committee which transformed him from a secular secular. Second is to create yet welcomed Gandhi on his return person into a communal leader. another divisive issue in the form of from South Africa. He was the one To blame Jinnah alone for the the portrait of Jinnah on the AMU who fought the case in which Bal partition of the country is a distorted campus, thus adding one more Gangadhar Tilak was given the death presentation of the history of modern emotive issue to the several they sentence and it is due to his legal India. The roots of partition lie have manufactured so far. And third brilliance that he could save the life in the policies of the British who is to intimidate the AMU campus on of Tilak. He was also the lawyer pursued the policy of ‘divide and lines of what they have attempted to for the young revolutionary, Sardar rule’. They were aided in this by do with JNU and Hyderabad Central Bhagat Singh and to cap it all he communalists from both Hindus University. entered into a Hindu–Muslim unity and Muslims. Savarkar was the One can say that the Ghost of pact with Tilak (Lucknow, 1916). first one to articulate that there Jinnah, who can be called a ‘Secular India’s nightingale Sarojini Naidu are two nations in the country, the Soul in a Communal body’, will called Jinnah the ‘ambassador of Hindu and the Muslim. As per this keep visiting us again and again, Hindu Muslim unity’. understanding, the country belongs what with the RSS combine seeking There is another side to the to the Hindus, so the Muslim nation to keep popping up divisive issues story also. He dissociated from the will have to remain subordinate to one after the other! national movement once Gandhi the Hindus. This is where Jinnah launched the non-cooperation falls into the communal trap. The Email: [email protected] movement in 1920, in which for logic he puts forward is, if there are the first time the common people two nations in the country, why there of the country participated in large cannot be two countries? So why not Janata numbers. This movement laid the Pakistan? foundation for the biggest ever mass Jinnah has been the subject Subscription movement in the history of the world. of various biographies and Jinnah was a constitutionalist and interpretations. His August 11, Annual Rs. : 260/- he felt that involving the common 1947 speech in Pakistan Constituent people in the struggle against the Assembly wherein he stated that Three Years : 750/- British is unwarranted. For the people are free to follow their own same reason, he opposed Gandhi’s religion and that the State will not role in the Khilafat movement. He interfere in that, elaborates his Demand Draft / gradually dissociated from active secular values. Advani, quite late Cheque on involvement in the freedom struggle in his life, after having launched and left for London to practice law. the biggest attack on secular values Mumbai Bank It was only after this that he began in the country by demolishing the in favour of associating with the Muslim League Babri Mosque, realised that Jinnah and gradually become a leader of was secular. He called Jinnah secular it. Muslim League was given the and paid with his career, as the RSS JANATA TRUST status of being the representative of combine has built its entire ideology D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Muslims by the British. This was around the slogan of ‘Hate Jinnah’, basically a motivated exercise by it has presented Jinnah as a symbol Naushir Bharucha Marg, the British as the Muslim League of Indian Muslims and as a symbol Grant Road (W), was founded by Muslim Nawabs of India’s enemy, Pakistan! Mumbai 400 007. and Landlords, and had feudal With this AMU episode, Hindu JANATA, May 20, 2018 3 Culture Of Protest

Sandeep Pandey, Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant

In an amazing display of Communist Party of India (Marxist) caste based reservation on the goodwill, bus drivers of Ryobi organised a peaceful 180 km long pretext that it dilutes merit, it is this group in Okayama, Japan have march, demanding complete same set of people who promote staged a protest not by striking work waiver of loans and electricity bills, mediocrity and corruption in public but by continuing to drive without implementation of Swaminathan life. Their brains are put to work charging fares from passengers. Commission report and Forest to camouflage corruption and to The Ryobi group is facing tough Rights Act. The march started on block genuine work at the behest competition from another group 5 March 2018 from Nasik and of their political masters. It is not Megurin, which is offering reduced ended at Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha uncommon for a complainant to fares to passengers. The intended in Mumbai on 12 March. After attract a false case if s(he) doesn't message is that the Ryobi drivers reaching Mumbai on March 11 and have political backing and for a value the interest of passengers more resting for the night, when they resourceful and well connected than their own. This mode of protest began the last leg of their march to criminal to go scot free. Laws and is winning accolades from people. the Vidhan Sabha on the final day, rules are bent to suit the interests Protests, even if they are not in a rare gesture the farmers began of the influential and rich people. violent, are usually associated with their march in the early hours of the Political groups try to take advantage at least some form of aggression. It is morning, at 1 am, so that the morning of the administrative–legal system to the common belief of social–political office goers and children going to serve their vested interests. This is organisations that only militant appear for the Board examinations the model of governance that exists action can yield quick and decisive would not face any commuting in India today. results. Pacifism is considered a sign problem or harassment. This was in Since merit is in general no of weakness. But time and again, stark contrast to the usual mindset longer a criterion, and political peaceful actions have proved to be guiding even small marches that patronage is essential to become effective. Mahatma Gandhi, who is hold the traffic to ransom. A march a part of the coveted system, even often criticised for his philosophy is considered to be successful only if the education system has become and strategy of non-violence by the it can cause disruption of traffic. The thoroughly corrupted. Teaching right wing Hindutva groups in India, AIKS march will be remembered for is a work accorded the least successfully built the most effective a long time for its display of civility priority in educational institutions group among all groups which were and thoughtfulness. and methods have been perfected trying to win independence for India In countries like India, corruption by administrators, teachers and from the British rule. The Rashtriya and negligence of duty is not only a students–parents, under a willing Swayamsewak Sangh, the parent norm but considered the ‘smart’ political patronage, to beat the organisation of right wing groups, thing to do. The honest and diligent system. The whole emphasis is on did not even participate in the are ridiculed and/or not allowed getting high marks through foul freedom struggle. In fact, its Deputy to work and obstacles are created means, if not fair, with scant regard Chief Minister in Bengal, Shyama in their path. People in influential for gaining knowledge. Prasad Mukherji, suggested to the positions practice rampant nepotism, Hence actions like those of AIKS British that the Quit India Movement casteism and communalism. While come as a fresh air in the backdrop of 1942 should be crushed lest it merit takes a back seat, money of a gloomy and depressing scenario. would create disturbances in the power earns respect. It is interesting If we're to evolve into a mature and country. that most people in positions of humane society then we'll not only Recently about 35–40,000 power in our country today are have to value such actions but also to farmers belonging to All India still from upper caste background. replicate them. The destructive mind Kisan Sabha associated with the While they oppose the policy of must be replaced by a constructive 4 JANATA, May 20, 2018 one. Selfish attitude must be replaced by a Samaritan one. Integrity and Sudhakar, My Friend honesty must prevail over all kinds of corrupt practices. Love must Mrinal Biswas replace hatred. A culture of respect for diversity must prevail over all The icy hand of death has been board member. Despite the long kinds of caste, class, religious, laid on Sudhakar Prabhudesai. It was distance, this group of people kept gender, ethnic differences and a cruel joke that he could not leave in touch and even visits took place biases. Every human being must be this world peacefully. I was told both ways. During the emergency, I treated as being an equal member excruciating sufferings awaited him met Sudhakar in a Bombay jail and of society. Interest of self should be before he breathed his last. Sudhakar my last meeting was while I on a linked to higher level interests of did not deserve that. I knew him for reporter’s journey halted at Bombay society and nature. decades, he never caused pain to in the late 1980s. He grew long hairs There are many dedicated anybody, not even to anyone in the and looked further emaciated. and committed individuals who, other animate world. It struck me Sudhakar Prabhudesai had a regardless of the discouraging odd that anybody coming east to scintillating mind, was well versed, environment around them, continue Kolkata (then Calcutta) and seeing a good conversationalist and a good to give their best to society. But handpulled rickshaws fell terribly friend. His passing away means a such collective actions are few and upset by seeing the plight of the part of myself is gone. I know his far between. People come together hired men weaving through city family members will find it difficult more easily for disruptive rather than streets with their carriages occupied to a life without him. I also know charitable causes. It is a common by any of his kindred spirits. Man- that there are many others who share belief that it is easier to mobilise pulled rickshaws were long back their deep sense of loss. people on sensational issues rather imitation vehicles of Japan and hardly than on some society building affected our Calcuttans’ sensibilities. Email: [email protected] agenda. This is the dominant political Sudhakar felt repulsed. But this culture in India today. A society same friend of mine enlivened spirits which otherwise considers itself to be of me Calcuttan when, in one of the Janata peaceful and humanitarian has given heydays of loadsheddings (power- in to sectarian and fundamentalist offs), he sat with me to take food is available at thinking. Controversy is news and in the evening under the light of genuine actions commonplace. candles. He smiled widely and said www.lohiatoday.com The recent actions of bus drivers it was indeed a candle-lit dinner. We in Japan and farmers in Maharashtra, the host couple were relieved. The Unemployment India, hold some hope for a better I met him in the late 60s of the future. They are proof that seeds last century at Ranchi at a meeting Crisis: of idea for a reformed society are of the country’s young socialists. Reasons and alive and wait for an opportunity My other Calcutta colleague was Solutions to germinate. The objective of all Biswanth Haldar. Sudhakar came human activity, especially under with Vijaya Pingle to represent Contribution Rs. 25/- adverse conditions when humans Bombay (now Mumbai). Two are likely to lose sanity, should be Bombaiwallas and me Calcuttan to create a supportive atmosphere so became friends. This friendship Published by that the flower of humanity blooms. expanded with others becoming Janata Trust & Lokayat part of the group in the course D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Email:[email protected], of time. Moreover, my link with Naushir Bharucha Marg, [email protected], Janata weekly solidified because Grant Road (W), [email protected] Sudhakar was an important editorial Mumbai 400 007 JANATA, May 20, 2018 5

Press Release 'Save National Heritage March' held from Meerut to Delhi

Socialist Party (India) and in the famous ‘Freedom Fighter General public gathered in a Khudai Khidmatgar took out the Mohammed Miyan House’ of Meerut large number at the venue. Dr. Prem 'Save National Heritage March' city. Speaking in the seminar as the Singh, President, Socialist Party from martyrs' memorial, Meerut key speaker, senior journalist Arun (India), said that the Socialist Party, to Lal Qila, Delhi on May 10, Tripathi said that the Revolution in a memorandum to the President of 2018, in memory of the martyrs of of 1857 should be remembered India, has demanded that the mortal 1857. Citizens of Meerut and Delhi for its two basic goals—Hindu– remains of Bahadur Shah Zafar be participated enthusiastically in the Muslim unity and anti-imperialism. brought to Delhi from Rangoon March. In the morning on 10 May, A discussion was also held at the and a huge memorial in memory tributes were paid to Bhagat Singh, Sheikh-ul-Hindu Academy, in which of the martyrs of 1857 be built. He Rajguru and Sukhdev by garlanding many speakers highlighted the further said that the Socialist Party their statues established in the importance of the revolutionaries of will launch a nationwide campaign campus of Chaudhary Charan Singh 1857 and national heritage. against the government's decision University. Tributes were also paid In the evening, the marches of selling the national heritage to to Dhan Singh Kotwal, a prominent proceeded to Delhi, distributing corporate houses. He also informed local leader of the 1857 revolt, pamphlets and addressing meetings the audience that the Socialist Party whose statue is also established in on the way. Prominent citizens from will hold a rally on the occasion of the city. After that, people reached all walks of life joined the march the Quit India Movement Day, 9 the martyrs' memorial and offered in Delhi. They marched from the August, against the government. salute and tributes to the martyrs Khooni Darwaza to Lal Qila raising of 1857. slogans and distributing pamphlets. Dr. Prem Singh, A seminar was organised on The 'Save National Heritage March' Socialist Party (India) the topic ‘Why the Revolution concluded at Lal Qila's main gate in Email: [email protected] of 1857 Should be Remembered’ the evening.

Dear India and Pakistan, Disarm NOW! [Sign Citizens’ Appeal on 20 Years of Nuclear Tests] We, the citizens of South Asia and Pakistan among the largest entire region and impact the climate and beyond, urge India and Pakistan importers of weapons globally— irreversibly, and will also have in the 20th year of the 1998 nuclear armed conflicts and violence by catastrophic global consequences. tests to put an immediate end to both state and non-state actors have Millions of people in other countries the arms race and competitive reached savage heights. The irony of South Asia, having no say in belligerence, and negotiate nuclear couldn’t be more glaring that on the inhuman escalation, will face disarmament at the earliest. Far the other hand, both countries have the impacts of a potential nuclear from providing any security, these consistently slipped on most human confrontation. South Asia, the 20 years have only witnessed development indices, including world’s most populous region, is the an exacerbation of tensions and hunger, poverty, education, health, only region which has two nuclear- heightened warmongering, lending safety of women and children, armed neighbours with a history of a disconcerting instability to the minority rights and social and legal active conflicts, unending border entire region. justice. skirmishes and wars. While military expenses As highlighted by several In the past few years, the and weapons have increased experts, any nuclear exchange by emergence of religious extremism exponentially—making both India India or Pakistan will annihilate the and war-loving populist nationalism, 6 JANATA, May 20, 2018 particularly during election seasons, Treaty, adopted by the UN last year. and mainstream media be stopped in both countries, has made the We urge leaders of both with immediate effect. 20 years is situation more dangerous than countries to negotiate disarmament long enough to learn from the futile ever. It was in the wake of such and peace in all seriousness, sign the nuclear insanity and bluster that both dangerous rhetoric and abiding International Treaty on Prohibition countries have hitherto engaged in! conflicts that South Asia appeared of Nuclear Weapons, and introduce For those you interested in in the Doomsday Clock of the immediate risk-reduction measures, signing this appeal, please go to the Bulletin Atomic Scientists that has including dialogues, both at the level website: https://www.dianuke.org/ now inched closest ever to midnight. of government and civil society. For dear-india-and-pakistan-disarm- Amid such rising tensions, India and even a semblance of peace in the now-sign-citizens-appeal-on-20- Pakistan chose to remain outside the region, it is imperative that jingoism years-of-nuclear-tests/ ambit of the historic Nuclear Ban and hate-mongering within politics

Letter to Editor Anguish at Lack of Shaleenta in Public Life Chandrabhaal Tripathi Two events in April 2018 saddened me. The first occurred on April 13, 2018 at Gandhi Peace Foundation where my good friend, Prof. Anand Kumar, retired Professor of Sociology at JNU, prominent student leader at BHU, JNU and Chicago, twice President of FEDCUTA, socialist thinker and writer, was felicitated by his friends and admirers and four books of his in Hindi were released. I told him that I would attend the function. True to his samskaras, he wrote to me that in the present state of my health I should not take the trouble of going to GPF and that he would visit me soon and present me the above books. I reminded him that it would give me much pleasure in meeting him and some old friends at the function and that I had known his family since before his birth. I may mention that his grandfather, Sri Vishwanath Sharma, was a freedom fighter, a student of Acharya Narendra Deva and other stalwarts of Kashi Vidyapeeth, of which he was the Registrar for a long time. His father was two years older than me. His two uncles, Ranganath Sharma and Prof. Krishnanath, were my good close friends. We had elected Ranganath ji as the General Secretary of the All India Samajwadi Yuvak Sabha at its Foundation Conference at Kashi Vidyapeeth in 1953. Prof. Krishnanath, younger to me, was a well-known economist, socialist worker, follower of Buddhism and Dalai Lama and later President of the J. Krishnamurthy Foundation at Bengaluru. The meeting on April 13 at GPF was chaired by the eminent lawyer Sri Shanti Bhushan. Several friends spoke in praise of Anand Kumar. I was shocked that the Chair of the meeting, Sri Shanti Bhushan, made some highly improper and irrelevant observations. He made the most unjudicious and irrelevant remarks about girl friends of two eminent socialist leaders. The whole affair left a bad taste in the mouth of many. The platform of GPF was the last venue to publicly discuss the love affairs of leaders. I was reminded of the great stress laid on shaaleenata in public life by my mentor, Acharya Narendra Deva. The other occasion I wish to refer to was the cremation of my old and senior friend, Justice (Retd.) Rajendar Sachar, on April 20 at the Lodhi Road Electric Crematorium. It was attended by many prominent personalities from various walks of life. A retired professor of Hindi from Delhi University, an old socialist leader, repeatedly raised the slogan ‘Socialist leader Rajendar Sachar amar rahen’. To me it was not appropriate to refer to the departed soul's political ideology on this occasion. I had known Sri Rajendar Sachar since 1963 as a Lohiaite and Secretary of Chandigarh Unit of Samyukta Socialist Party while I was posted there by the Government of India as Assistant Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Sri Sachar's subsequent life and rich contributions are varied and his personality cannot be restricted to the role of a socialist leader. However, this was still tolerable. But I was totally unprepared for the repeated slogans ‘Gandhi-Lohia-Jayaprakash zindabad, zindabad’ raised by the same friend. I wonder how this slogan befitted the solemn and poignant occasion. Mercifully, he did not raise the slogan at the cremation ground 'Socialist Party zindabad.' I found several senior Gandhian leaders like Sri Ramchandra Rahi and Sri Kumar Prashant among the mourners. I have no idea how they felt. But I reiterate that it only betrayed lack of shaaleenata in public life. Email: [email protected] JANATA, May 20, 2018 7 Journalists Remain in the Cross Hairs

Geeta Seshu

As protests raged over the rape organisation or organisations were cases filed against journalists, a of minors and violence against responsible for the attacks on media sedition case against a journalist marginalized communities, dalits, persons, the findings of The Hoot and a clear push by both State students, the climate for free show that the perpetrators are only and Central government and the speech reflected both a menacing too well known. judiciary, through regulatory policy intolerance for dissenting viewpoints Media freedom has continued to as well as judicial orders, to curb free and a crackdown on civil rights. deteriorate in the first four months of speech. There were also around 50 Apart from the dangerous attacks 2018 in India. instances of censorship, and more on journalists, others were harassed The Hoot’s 2017 report had than 20 instances of suspension and their personal details shared documented the murder of three of internet services, as well as online, they were threatened and journalists which could be clearly the take down of online content. became victims of fake news as linked to their journalism. In the first A Hoot investigation of the state hate messages attributed to them four months of 2018 as well, three of media freedom from January went viral. journalists were killed in connection 1 to April 30, 2018 reveals that a The judiciary, hitherto a with their reporting, judging by what range of actors, from politicians, reassuring protector of free speech, initial investigations show. businesspersons, members of Hindu sent mixed signals as different courts For 2017 we had documented right wing organisations, the police ordered gags on media coverage, 46 attacks on journalists and media and paramilitary forces, government fined and penalized media houses workers. Between January and April agencies like the Film Certification for violating the law on disclosure 2018, there have been already 14 Board, the Union Information and of the identity of minor victims of attacks all across the country. Broadcasting Ministry, different sexual assault and took up petitions state governments, lawyers and even alleging contempt of court. Table: Types of Attacks on media organisations, have acted to In February, in a written reply to Journalists, Jan–March 2018 undermine freedom of expression. a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Category No. of Minister of State for Home Hansraj instances Killings Ahir said that in 2017, there were Murders 03 In two separate incidents, three 15 attacks on journalists in which journalists were killed when they Attacks 14 26 people were arrested. Between were mowed down by vehicles. 2015-17, there were 90 attacks on Arrests/Detention 03 On March 26, two Dainik Bhaskar journalists and 108 people were Threats 05 journalists, Navin Nishchal and arrested, the minister said, referring Sedition 01 Vijay Singh, were killed when their bike was hit by an SUV in Bhojpur, to data compiled by the National Defamation 07 Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for near Patna, Bihar. Police said the the last three years. Censorship 50 vehicle was driven by a villager The figures are at complete Govt policy (State & Centre) 08 leader Mohammad Harsu. He was variance with The Hoot’s own Judicial orders 02 arrested. Initial reports said that a research as the The India Freedom Privacy related 06 heated argument between Harsu, Report: Media Freedom and husband of a former panchayat Contempt cases 02 Freedom of Expression in 2017 mukhia, and the reporters over recorded a verified number of 46 a news report had preceded the Apart from these killings and attacks on journalists. While the accident. However, the investigation attacks, the first four months of minister said that the Home Ministry is not complete. 2018 has also seen defamation has no information on whether any A day later, a television reporter 8 JANATA, May 20, 2018

Sandeep Sharma was mowed down Rathod. with the murder of BJP leader by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. • January 23, 2018, Athiabari, Brijpal Teotia. Sharma, who had done a sting Meghalaya: Timber mafia attack • April 9, 2018, Alipore, West operation on a sand mining mafia journalist Biplab Dey. Bengal: Photojournalist Diplab in Bhind, had told police that he • January 31, 2018, Meerut,Uttar Mondal covering Bengal had received threats to his life. The Pradesh: Journalist assaulted Panchayat Poll Violence alleges driver, Ranvir Singh, was arrested. by mob of Hindu Yuva Vahini assault by TMC goons. activists. • April 17, 2018, Umpling, Attacks • February 14, 2018, Kolkata, Meghalaya: Petrol bomb attack There were 14 attacks on West Bengal: Senior journalist on residence of Shillong Times journalists in the first quarter of Navalkant Sinha assaulted by editor Patricia Mukhim. the year. In five of these instances, Hindu Samhati Workers in • April 20, 2018, Siliguri, West there were targeted attacks against Kolkata; Bengal: TMC workers assault journalists investigating or writing • February 22, 2018, Vijayawada, journalists when they go to about an issue. In at least ten Andhra Pradesh: Following Chayanpara in Siliguri to cover instances, the perpetrators were a fight between a student and a scuffle between workers from either members of Hindu right management of a private hostel TMC and the BJP. wing organisations or the police. An over dues, when a news channel unidentified assailant hurled a petrol goes to cover the incident, the Table: The Attackers bomb at the residence of Shillong hostel management attacks the Delhi police 01 Times Editor, Patricia Mukhim. The journalists. latter said that she was targeted for • March 10, 2018, Assam– Hindu right wing orgns. 02 a range of writings about issues that Mizoram border: Assam police TMC workers 02 troubled society. Her most recent thrashes Mizo journalists. Unidentified assailants 02 articles criticised rampant and illegal Emmy Lawbei, journalist Owners of private hostel 01 mining in Meghalaya. with a television channel, was Assam Police 01 Perpetrators of other targeted mercilessly beaten up by the attacks included the timber mafia. police though she showed her Kerala police 01 Mob violence was sponsored by identity card to them. BJP workers 01 party workers of both the BJP and • March 24, 2018, New Delhi: Dalit lawyer, activists 01 the Trinamool Congress, Hindu Delhi Police Officer molests Timber gang 01 extremists and the police. In one female journalist; police said Sharpshooters of Former instance, the Delhi police molested a they mistook her to be a student. Councillor 01 woman journalist covering a student • March 25, 2018, Malappuram, protest. They later apologised, Kerala: Journalist N.C. Shareef Total 14 stating that they mistook her for a was mercilessly beaten up and student! locked up by the Areekode Threats and Harassment • January 1, 2018, Mumbai, police. Police claimed they Journalists were at the receiving Maharashtra: Protesters snatch didn’t know he was a reporter. end of threats from those identified Republic TV reporter Shravan • April 1, 2018, Khowai District: as members of Hindu right wing Sen's camera. Tripura TV journalist Anup organisations in three out of five • January 7, 2018, Ahmedabad, Debbarma severely assaulted by instances. In another, a television Gujarat: A Facebook post by a BJP worker. journalist received death threats Damayantee Dhar who reports • April 8, 2018, Kavinagar, from unidentified persons following for The Wire records an attack Ghaziabad: TV journalist Anuj the channel’s coverage of the on herself and another reporter Chawdhary shot outside his Kasganj violence. In one instance, from the Ahmedabad Mirror on home by sharpshooters allegedly personnel of the CRPF accosted January 7 by a "mob of 15-20 working for Shekhar Chaudhary, a tribal journalist in Dantewada, Dalit men" headed by Keval a former local councillor charged Chhattisgarh. JANATA, May 20, 2018 9

In four serious cases of online Sedition complaint. harassment, intimidation and death On April 30, journalist Kamal threats, journalists were trolled and Shukla was charged with sedition Policy curbs and censorship their personal details shared on by the Katwali police station in Amidst these attacks, the Union social media. A woman journalist Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district for and State governments announced found that her Twitter account was sharing a cartoon on social media policies that would curb media compromised by fake messages and on the rape of a minor girl in Kathua freedom morphed pictures were circulated. in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly The most active censoring Journalists filed police complaints lampooning the country’s judiciary agency was clearly the Ministry but no arrests have been made. and government on Facebook. of Information and Broadcasting Shukla, editor of Bhumkaal (I&B), which announced several Table: Threats and harassment Samachar and active in highlighting policy measures (and rolled back only one) to monitor the content of CRPF 01 fake encounters in the area, is also head of the Patrakar Suraksha print, broadcast and online media. Unidentified persons 02 Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti In January, it announced that it Temple trust office-bearers 01 which has campaigned for a law has widened the ambit of district RSS workers 01 to protect journalists. He was monitoring committees to cover Hindu right wing 01 booked for sedition on the basis the monitoring of content of private of a complaint filed by a Rajasthan FM channels and Community Radio BJP leader 01 resident. Stations (CRS) in addition to TV Lawyer 01 channels. BJP supporters 01 Defamation In April, the I&B Ministry Total 09 Proceedings continued in five announced fresh guidelines for penal cases of defamation even as gags on action against accredited journalists Arrests and detentions the publication of the news reports who spread fake news but this While journalists in the field were lifted in two cases—that of sparked a furore and was withdrawn were subjected to mob attacks, Jay Amit Shah against The Wire and within 24 hours. However, it was others were picked up by police that of Arindam Chaudhari against followed up with the setting up of a when they went to cover protests, Caravan magazine. In the case committee comprising bureaucrats as in the case of two journalists of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat and members of the Press Council from Kerala reporting on a 'caste' Bukhari against Manushi editor and of India and the News Broadcasters wall in a village. While restrictions commentator Madhu Kishwar, the Standards Authority to regulate on foreign media continued with case went to trial. online content. the denial of visas to Australian A defamation case was filed by Reports that the Ministry journalists who had earlier done a Fatima Nafees, mother of Jawaharlal planned to radio-tag journalists story related to Gautam Adani, two Nehru University student Najeeb who visited government offices were foreign journalists were detained Ahmed, who has been missing since denied by the Ministry, but the news by Kerala police for covering a October 2016, against certain media website which reported this stood by Valentines's Day celebration in a houses for labelling her son an “ISIS its report. college. Other instances of arrests sympathiser”. and detentions were for social media In another case, Congress leader Censorship posts that satirized or were critical of Jagdish Tytler threatened to file a Censorship of news, broadcast, politicians and political leaders. In criminal defamation case against online media and film continued Chennai the Central Crime Branch the creators of a sting video that unabated. There were 16 instances (CCB) on April 27 arrested a person purportedly linked him to the 1984 of news being censored, including who allegedly posted derogatory anti-Sikh riots. Tytler, who said his curbs on news-gathering itself statement on Facebook against images were morphed, submitted a by various State governments Electricity Minister P. Thangamani. memorandum to the Home Ministry and the Centre. These included stating that he has registered a police restrictions on the movement of 10 JANATA, May 20, 2018 journalists in government offices Who censored news sites, the takedown of videos of and the legislative assemblies, MIB 01 Congress-I President Rahul Gandhi threats of penal action for news that and the termination of the services of Telangana government 01 allegedly contained ‘harsh words’ a journalist for tweeting about fake and even ostensible guidelines from Delhi High Court 01 news spread by the media house. the National Investigation Authority District Magistrate, UP 01 However, an order by the NBSA on the duties of a journalist! NIA 01 to Zee Television to apologise Censorship Goa police 01 for, and take down, a video of a programme calling scientist and Censorship – Film 26 Former judge 01 poet Gauhar Raza anti-national has Censorship – News 16 MLA and Dalit activist/ journalists (Chennai) 01 not been complied with, marking yet Censorship – Music 06 another setback to media freedom. Censorship- Online media 03 Total 09 Censorship –Broadcast 02 Internet shutdowns Who censored broadcasts Censorship-Art 01 The Internet continued to MIB 01 More than 20 films ran into be at the mercy of local district Total 01 trouble with the Central Board of administrations and state Film Certification (CBFC). Both governments, as internet services Who censored online media feature films and documentaries were suspended for varying periods continued to languish between Media House 01 due to protests or the outbreak of violence in 25 instances, seven of the CBFC, the Film Certification *Congress-I 01 which were in Jammu and Kashmir. Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) and the *Reliance Industries 01 Internet shutdowns continued to be courts. Total 03 Even court orders certifying imposed through Section 144 as a law and order measure. films for commercial release and Who censored music a name change did not ensure The most absurd of the shutdowns safe passage, as in the case of Punjab government 01 was in Srinagar when the authorities Padmavat, where members of the Chennai police 01 suspended internet services over Rajput Karni Sena managed to Hindu Right wing religious rumours that Pakistani cricketer get the governments of Rajasthan, groups 01 Shahid Afridi would address a gathering at the Jama Masjid. Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to ban Muslim social organization 01 Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the film in these states. The producer Lawyers 01 of the film Unfreedom chose to with four instances each, recorded Total 05 exhibit his film on an online video internet shutdowns as district administrations suspended internet streaming platform to circumvent Singer Sona Mohapatra filed services during the nationwide the censorship when his film was a written application at Santacruz bandh called by Dalit organisations denied a certificate by the CBFC. police station late on April 30, stating against the Supreme Court's ruling that she received a threat allegedly on the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Who censored films from Madariya Sufi Foundation, (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In asking her to remove a new music CBFC 22 West Bengal, internet services were video from all communication Rajput KarniSena 02 suspended following violence during mediums for being “vulgar, hurting MIB 01 the Ram Navami celebrations. and insulting Islamic religious Telangana government 01 sentiments.” Internet related censorship Lawyers 01 Other censorships included Internet shutdowns 22 MIFF 01 the take down of content allegedly Internet takedowns 02 BJP Minister 01 satirising the speech of the son of Internet related arrests 05 SGPC 01 Reliance Industries Chairperson Total 29 Total 29 Mukesh Ambani from online news JANATA, May 20, 2018 11

Apart from fears of regulation the Indian Government issued two on 13 prominent media houses, and of online content, a Citizen Lab- notices to the two companies and issued notices to other websites. Indian Express study revealed that given them time till May 10 to In the wake of the Loya websites of a range of groups, furnish a reply. judgement, though not expressly including human rights groups, However, the government’s stated as such, the Supreme Court NGOs, feminist groups and LGBT own surveillance of citizens is still allowed a writ seeking contempt of groups had been blocked with a matter of concern. In March, court proceedings against comments Netsweeper software. the Information & Broadcasting or opinions expressed in the media The firm filtered content for Ministry wrote to the Telecom allegedly critical of its judgements. ISPs in ten countries and at least 12 Regulatory Authority of India ISPs in India utilised its services. (TRAI) to get all Direct To Home In favour of media freedom “A testing period between August (DTH) operators to install a chip in Despite the ominous number 2017 and April 2018 saw ‘the new set-top boxes, which can give and range of attacks on media highest number of blocked unique data about channels watched by the freedom, the ongoing struggle URLS’—1,158 out of 2,464—in viewers and their duration. to resist these curbs does yield India,” the report said. results. In April, an injunction on the Judicial orders publication of a book on yoga guru Privacy, Aadhar, Surveillance While the Bombay High Court and businessperson Baba Ramdev In a blatant move to curb any lifted the gag on media coverage of by Priyanka Pathak-Narain and further investigations into the misuse the Sohrabuddin killing trial, the published by Juggernaut Books was of Aadhar, the Unique Identification Delhi Hig h Court imposed a ban lifted by a district court in Delhi. Authority of India (UIDAI) filed on media coverage of the bribery In January, the Bombay High an FIR against the reporter and case of former district judge I.M. Court lifted a gag order on media editor of The Tribune newspaper Quddussi. The Delhi High Court coverage of the Sohrabbudin trial for their reports on the Aadhaar also took up suo moto notice of the following a petition filed by nine data leak reports. In the midst of disclosure of the identity of child journalists and the Brihanmumbai concerns over Cambridge Analytica victims of sexual assault by media Union of Journalists. and Facebook’s breach of data, houses, imposed a Rs 1 lakh penalty Email: [email protected]

Trump’s Recycling Program

Rebecca Gordon

A barely noticed anniversary another publication that (despite error,” or even the “single worst slid by on March 20th. It’s been the recent portrayal of its Vietnam- foreign policy decision in American 15 years since the United States era heroism in the movie The Post) history.” Fewer voices are saying committed the greatest war crime repeatedly editorialised in favor of what it really was: a war crime. In of the twenty-first century: the the invasion, marked the anniversary fact, that invasion fell into the very unprovoked, aggressive invasion of with a story about the war’s “murky” category that led the list of crimes Iraq. The New York Times, which body count. Its piece concluded that at the Nuremberg tribunal, where didn’t exactly cover itself in glory at least 600,000 people died in the high Nazi officials were tried for in the run-up to that invasion, decade and a half of war, civil war, their actions during World War II. recently ran an op-ed by an Iraqi and chaos that followed—roughly During the negotiations establishing novelist living in the United States the population of Washington, D.C. that tribunal and its rules, it was entitled “Fifteen Years Ago, America These days, there’s a significant (ironically, in view of later events) Destroyed My Country,” but that consensus here that the Iraq invasion the United States that insisted on was about it. The Washington Post, was a “terrible mistake,” a “tragic including the crime of “waging a war 12 JANATA, May 20, 2018 of aggression” and on placing it at Last July, the State Department Senate Armed Services Committee the head of the list. The US position closed the office that, since the that any detainee who “has signed up was that all the rest of Germany’s Clinton administration, has assisted with this enemy”—no matter where war crimes sprang from this first war crimes victims seeking justice “the president, the commander-in- “crime against peace.” in other countries. Apparently, the chief, sends us” to fight—should Similarly, the many war crimes Trump administration sees no reason know that he will be a “prisoner of Dick Cheney and George W. to do anything to limit the impunity until the war is over.” In other Bush—the extraordinary renditions; of war criminals, whoever they words, since the war on terror will the acts of torture at Guantánamo, might be. Reporting on the closure, never end, anyone the US captures Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Newsweek quoted Major Todd in Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Somalia, and CIA black sites all over the Pierce, who worked at Guantánamo Syria, Yemen, or elsewhere will face world; the nightmare of abuse at as a judge advocate general (JAG) the possibility of spending the rest of Abu Ghraib, a US military prison defense attorney, this way: his life in Guantánamo. in Iraq; the siege and firebombing It just makes official what has (with white phosphorus) of the Iraqi been US policy since 9/11, which Recycling War Criminals city of Fallujah; the massacre of is that there will be no notice Speaking of Mattis and war civilians in Haditha, another Iraqi taken of war crimes because crimes, there’s already plenty of city—all of these arose from the so many of them were being blood on his hands. He earned Bush administration’s determination committed by our own allies, that “Mad Dog” sobriquet while to invade Iraq. our military and intelligence commanding the US Marines who It was to secure “evidence” of officers, and our elected officials. twice in 2004 laid siege to Fallujah. a (nonexistent) connection between The war crime of conspiring During those sieges, American Saddam Hussein and the al-Qaeda and waging aggressive war forces sealed that Iraqi city off attackers of 9/11 that Secretary of still exists, as torture, denial of so no one could leave, attacked Defense Donald Rumsfeld upped the fair trial rights, and indefinite marked ambulances and aid workers, ante at Guantánamo in his infamous detention are war crimes. But shot women, children, and an memo approving torture there. how embarrassing and revealing ambulance driver, killed almost The search for proof of the same of hypocrisy would it be to 6,000 civilians outright, displaced connection motivated the torture of charge a foreign official with 200,000 more, and destroyed 75% Abu Zubaydah at a CIA black site war crimes such as these? of the city with bombs and other in Thailand. If not for that long- Guantánamo JAG attorneys munitions. The civilian toll was planned invasion of Iraq, the “war on like Pierce are among the real, if vastly disproportionate to any terror” might have ended years ago. unsung, heroes of this sorry period. possible military objective—itself They continue to advocate for their the definition of a war crime. But Wasn’t That Then? indefinitely detained, still untried One of the uglier aspects of Fifteen years is an eternity in clients, most of whom will probably that battle was the use of white what Gore Vidal once called “the never leave that prison. Despite the phosphorus, an incendiary munition. United States of Amnesia.” So executive order President Obama Phosphorus ignites spontaneously why resurrect the ancient history of signed on his first day in office to when exposed to air. If bits of George W. Bush in the brave new close GITMO, it remains open to this that substance attach to human age of Donald Trump? The answer day and Donald Trump has promised beings, as long as there’s oxygen to is simple enough: because the Trump to “load it up with some bad dudes,” combine with the phosphorus, skin administration is already happily Geneva Conventions be damned. and flesh burn away, sometimes recycling some of those Bush-era Indeed, Secretary of Defense right into the bone. Use of white war crimes along with some of the James (“Mad Dog”) Mattis has phosphorus as an anti-personnel criminals who committed them. And said that the president has the right weapon is forbidden under the its top officials, military and civilian, to lock up anyone identified as a Chemical Weapons Convention, are already threatening to generate “combatant” in our forever wars, which the US has signed. new ones of their own. well, forever. In 2016, he assured the In Iraq, Mattis also saw to it that JANATA, May 20, 2018 13 charges would be dropped against considered torture techniques— soldiers responsible for murdering More on Trump and Torture found in the Army Field Manual, civilians in the city of Haditha. In a Many people remember that something legally required ever well-documented 2005 massacre—a Trump campaigned on a promise since, in 2009, President Obama reprisal for a roadside bomb— to bring back waterboarding “and a issued an executive order to that American soldiers shot 24 unarmed whole lot worse.” On the campaign effect. (“If confirmed,” wrote men, women, and children at close trail, he repeatedly insisted that Pompeo, “I will consult with experts range. As the convening authority torture “works” and that even “if it at the [Central Intelligence] Agency for the subsequent judicial hearing, doesn’t work, they [whoever “they” and at other organisations in the US Mattis dismissed the murder charges may be] deserve it anyway, for what government on whether the Army against all the soldiers accused of they’re doing.” Trump repeated his Field Manual uniform application that atrocity. confidence in the efficacy of torture is an impediment to gathering vital Mattis is hardly the only slightly a few days after his inauguration, intelligence to protect the country.”) used war criminal in the Trump saying that “people at the highest Unlike many of Trump’s appointees, administration. As most people know, level of intelligence” had assured Pompeo is a smart guy, which makes the president has just nominated him it worked. him all the more dangerous. Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel Trump’s nominee to replace When President Trump lists to head the Agency. There are Rex Tillerson as secretary of state is his triumphs, often the first one times when women might want to former Tea Party congressman and he mentions is the confirmation of celebrate the shattering of a glass CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Known Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court ceiling, but this shouldn’t be one of for his antipathy to Muslims (and to justice. Gorsuch, too, played a small them. Haspel was responsible for Iran), he once endorsed calling his but juicy role in the Bush torture running a CIA black site in Thailand, Indian-American electoral opponent drama, drafting the president’s during a period in the Bush years a “turban topper.” signing statement for the Detainee when the Agency’s torture program Pompeo is as eager as Trump Treatment Act when he worked in was operating at full throttle. She to restore torture’s good name the Justice Department’s Office of was in charge, for instance, when and legality, although his public Legal Counsel back in 2005. That the CIA tortured Abd al-Rahim pronouncements have sometimes statement officially outlawed any al-Nashiri, who was waterboarded been more circumspect than torture of “war on terror” detainees, at least three times and, according the president’s. During his CIA and yet left open the actual practice to the executive summary of the confirmation hearings he assured of torture because, as Gorsuch Senate Intelligence Committee’s the Senate Intelligence Committee assured President Bush, none of the Torture report, “interrogated using of what most of its members wanted administration’s self-proclaimed the CIA's enhanced interrogation to hear: that he would “absolutely “enhanced interrogation techniques” techniques.” (The report provided not” reinstitute waterboarding and (including waterboarding) amounted no further details.) other forms of torture, even if to torture in the first place. Haspel was also part of the ordered to do so by the president. Still, of all Trump’s recycled chain of command that ordered However, his written testimony was appointments, the most dangerous the destruction of videotapes significantly more equivocal. As of all took place only recently. The of the torture of Abu Zubaydah the British Independent reported, president fired his national security (waterboarded a staggering 83 Pompeo wrote that he would back advisor, Lieutenant General H.R. times). According to the PBS show reviewing the ban on waterboarding McMaster, and replaced him with Frontline, she drafted the cable that if prohibiting the technique was John Bolton of Iran–Contra and Iraq CIA counterterrorism chief José shown to impede the “gathering of invasion fame. Rodríguez sent out to make sure vital intelligence.” Under George W. Bush, Bolton those tapes disappeared. In many Pompeo added that he planned was a key proponent of that invasion, countries, covering up war crimes to reopen the question of whether which he’d been advocating since would itself merit prosecution; in interrogation techniques should at least 1998 when he signed an Washington, it earns a promotion. be limited to those—none of them infamous letter to Bill Clinton from 14 JANATA, May 20, 2018 the Project for a New American civilians of that poverty-stricken, Through the illegal blockading Century recommending just such a now famine-plagued country. That of Yemen's ports, Saudi Arabia and course of action. In 2002, Bolton, choice was made under Barack its allies have exposed vast numbers while undersecretary of state for arms Obama. But President Trump hasn’t of Yemenis to the risk of famine control, engineered the dismissal of shown the slightest urge to end the as well. Even before the latest José Bustani, the head of the U.N.’s American role in it either. Not after blockade began in November 2017, Organisation for the Prohibition the Saudis threw him that fabulous that country faced the largest food of Chemical Weapons, which party in Riyadh, projecting a five- emergency in the world. Now, it is was involved in overseeing Iraq’s story-high portrait of him on the in the early stages of a potentially disarmament process. A former exterior of the Ritz Carlton there. devastating famine caused entirely Bolton deputy told the New York Not after his warm embrace of by Saudi Arabia’s illegal war, aided Times that Bolton was dismayed Saudi crown prince Mohammed and abetted by the United States. In because Bustani “was trying to bin Salman during his recent visit addition, Trump has increased the send chemical–weapons inspectors to the United States. In fact, at number of drone assassinations in to Baghdad in advance of the US- their joint press conference, Trump Yemen, with their ever-present risk led invasion.” Presumably Bolton actually criticised former president of civilian deaths. didn’t want the U.N. trumpeting the Obama for bothering the Saudis Yemen is hardly the only site bad news that Iraq had no active with complaints about human rights for actual and potential Trump chemical weapons program at that violations in Yemen and in Saudi administration war crimes. In moment. Arabia itself. response to requests from his Nor has Bolton ever forgotten Meanwhile, the United States military commanders, the president his first Middle Eastern fascination, continues to fund and support the has, for instance, eased the targeting Iran, although nowadays he wants Saudi military’s three-year-old war restrictions that had previously to attack it (along with North crime in that country, providing been in place for drone strikes, a Korea) rather than conspire with weaponry (including cluster bombs), decision he’s also failed to report it, as President Reagan and he targeting intelligence, and mid- to Congress, as required by law. did in the 1980s. He’s argued in air refueling for Saudi aircraft According to Al-Jazeera, such drone several editorials and as a Fox conducting missions there. The strikes in countries ranging from News commentator—wrongly conflict, which the New York Libya to Afghanistan will no longer as it happens—that it would be Times has called “the world’s require the presence of an “imminent completely legal for the United worst humanitarian crisis,” has threat,” which means “the US may States to launch first strikes against killed at least ten thousand people, now select targets outside of armed both countries. Naturally, he opposes although accurate numbers are conflict,” with increased risk of the six-nation pact with Iran to end almost impossible to come by. As hitting noncombatants. Also relaxed its nuclear weapons program. When of December 2017, the Yemen has been the standard previously in that agreement was signed, the New Data Project had catalogued place “of requiring ‘near certainty’ York Times ran an op-ed by Bolton 15,489 separate air attacks, of that the target is present” before entitled “To Stop Iran’s Bomb, which almost a third involved no ordering a strike. Drone operators Bomb Iran.” It should (but doesn’t) known military targets and another will now be permitted to attack go without saying that any first strike 4,800 hit targets that have yet to civilian homes and vehicles, even against another country is again the be identified. Hospitals and other if they can’t confirm that the very definition of the initial crime on health facilities have been targeted human being they are searching that Nuremberg list. along with crowded markets. for is there. Under Trump, the Government funding for public CIA, which President Obama had Recycling War Crimes health and sanitation ended in 2016, largely removed from the drone We can’t blame the Trump leading to a cholera epidemic that wars, is once again ordering such administration for the decision to the Guardian calls “the largest and attacks along with the military. support Saudi Arabia’s grim war fastest-spreading outbreak of the All of these changes make it more in Yemen, a catastrophe for the disease in modern history.” likely that Washington’s serial aerial JANATA, May 20, 2018 15 assassinations will kill significant other, it's frighteningly likely Trump numbers of civilians in Iraq, Syria, will soon commit his very own war Yemen, and other target countries. crime by starting an aggressive war Defense Secretary Mattis against Iran. has also loosened the rules of engagement in Afghanistan by, for example, removing the “proximity requirement” for bombing raids. In other words, US forces are now free to drop bombs even when the target is nowhere near US or Afghan military forces. As Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee last October, If they are in an assembly area, a training camp, we know they are an enemy and they are going to threaten the Afghan government or our people, [Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US Forces Afghanistan,] has the wherewithal to make that decision. Wherever we find them, anyone who is trying to throw the NATO plan off, trying to attack the Afghan government, then we can go after them. Under such widened rules for air strikes—permitting them anytime our forces notice a group of people “assembling” in an area—the chances of killing civilians go way up. And indeed, civilian casualties rose precipitously in Afghanistan last year. And then there’s always the chance—the odds have distinctly risen since the appointments of two raging Iranophobes, Pompeo and Bolton, to key national security positions—that Trump will start his very own unprovoked war of aggression. “I’m good at war,” Trump told an Iowa rally in 2015. “I’ve had a lot of wars of my own. I’m really good at war. I love war in a certain way, but only when we win.” With Mike Pompeo whispering in one ear and John Bolton in the R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, May 20, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, May 20, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, May 23, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 18 Karnataka Elections: Some Musings... May 27, 2018 Neeraj Jain

Who Allows Usurpation of Constitutional Values? With the swearing in of hearing, challenging the Governor’s Sandeep Pandey Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister order. In an unprecedented pre-dawn of Karnataka on May 23, 2018, the hearing that began at 2.11 am and curtains have come down on the ended at 5.28 am, the Supreme Court Panchayats Massacred eight day drama that unfolded in refused to stay the swearing-in of in Bengal the State following the declaration Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister, Mrinal Biswas of election results of the Karnataka but asked the Attorney General to State Assembly polls on May 15. place before it the papers on the basis The BJP became the single largest of which the Governor had taken his Guilty Men of Two-Nation party, winning 104 seats, but decision at the next hearing on May Theory: was 7 seats short of the half way 18. Hours later, in the morning of A Hindutva Project Borrowed mark. Meanwhile, erstwhile rivals May 17, Yeddyurappa was sworn in by Jinnah in India Congress and JD(S), who won 78 as Chief Minister of Karnataka by Shamsul Islam and 37 seats respectively, quickly the Governor. With the BJP having stitched together an alliance and been given 15 days to stitch together staked claim to form the government a majority, the Congress-JDS in what in the State. Editor : G.G.Parikh has become routine today for Indian However, late in the evening democracy quickly bussed out their Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain on May 16, Governor Vajubhai MLAs to the Telengana capital of Vala, an old RSS man, multiple Managing Editor : Guddi Hyderabad to prevent the BJP from term minister in the Gujarat State reaching out to them and getting Editorial Board : government and a close aide of them to defect. Simultaneously, B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali Narendra Modi during the 13 years the Congress released a series Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah he was Chief Minister of Gujarat of audio recordings, where BJP Nandu Dhaneshwar, before he was nominated Governor leaders (including B.S. Yeddyurappa Sandeep Pandey of Karnataka in 2014, chose to invite himself) were heard talking to the BJP legislature party leader B.S. Congress MLAs, promising them D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Yeddyurappa to form the government Cabinet berths and huge amounts of Naushir Bharucha Marg, in the State and gave him a huge 15 cash for switching sides. Mumbai - 400 007. days to prove his majority. The Resuming the hearing on the Email : [email protected] Congress-JDS combine rushed to Congress-JDS petition on the Website:www.janataweekly.org the Supreme Court for an urgent morning of May 18, the three judge 2 JANATA, May 27, 2018

Supreme Court bench reduced in the country, the top leaders of Rajasthan. Had the Congress and the 15-day window given by the nearly all the prominent opposition JDS entered into a pre-poll alliance Governor to Yeddyurappa to prove parties came down to Bengaluru in Karnataka, they would have swept his majority, and ordered a floor test for the swearing in of the JD(S)- the polls, winning at least 150 of the in the Karnataka Assemby at 4 pm Congress coalition government 222 seats. The same scenario would on May 19, turning down pleas made headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy on have prevailed in the 2017 Assembly by Yeddyurappa’s counsel for more May 23. Among those who attended elections in UP, where the 39% vote time. This decision effectively sealed were Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi share of BJP would have been no the fate of Yeddyurappa, as the time and Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief match for the combined vote share given by the Supreme Court was Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Tejashwi of Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi too less for the BJP to successfully Yadav, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Party and Congress at over 50%. indulge in horse-trading. After 56 BSP supremo Mayawati, CPI(M) But the problem is, even if the hours as Chief Minister, he resigned general secretary Sitaram Yechury, opposition unites and wins the 2019 from his post even before the trust LJD leader Sharad Yadav, as well as Lok Sabha elections, it will not be motion was moved in the Assembly. the Chief Minister of West Bengal enough to check the gradual growth An analysis of the Karnataka Mamata Banerjee and her Andhra of the RSS-led fascist forces in election results reveals that while Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu the country. The RSS is probably the Congress got nearly 2% more Naidu. Clearly, the ground is being the world’s largest cadre-based votes than the BJP (Congress got set for an anti-BJP coalition for the organisation. On the other hand, 38% votes, BJP 36.2%), the BJP 2019 Lok Sabha elections. the united opposition is only a rag- was more successful in translating The opposition needs to thank tag coalition, that will have only its votes into seats, managing to get Governor Vajubhai Vala for creating come together due to the threat 26 more seats than the Congress. The the conditions which led to this posed by the BJP. Its commitment JDS-Congress alliance together has huge show of opposition unity. His to democracy and secularism is 56.4% of the votes (JDS got 18.4% decision to invite Yeddyurappa to very weak, as is proven by so many votes). But the biggest winner of the become the Chief Minister and past instances. Neither does it have 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections giving him 15 days to prove his an alternate pro-people economic is clearly the BJP – it increased its majority – enough time to get at least programme. In fact, it is the policies vote share by 16% as compared to 7 MLAs to defect – clearly proved of globalisation, privatisation and its tally of 19.9% votes that it got in once again to the opposition the liberalisation implemented by the the 2013 Assembly elections. The ruthlessness of the BJP in its quest previous UPA Government—which Congress too increased its vote share for absolute power, steamrolling led to rising inflation, worsening by 1.4% over its 2013 number. The all opposition. The Congress-JDS unemployment, a huge agrarian JDS suffered a slight decline in its coalition is also likely to be more crisis, and a massive increase in vote share – it had got 20.2% of the stable; the threat posed by the BJP poverty and destitution—that created votes in 2013. and its RSS pracharak Governor will the conditions for the BJP to sweep This clearly reveals that fascist force both to be more accomodative to power in 2014. forces have made deep inroads into in the inevitable tussle between them Therefore, if indeed the the southern state of Karnataka. The over distribution of Cabinet berths. opposition unites and does win the BJP-RSS formula of launching hate If the growing offensive of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there campaigns against the minorities and fascist forces on the democratic is no guarantee that it will not raising false emotive issues like the and secular fabric of the country is implement policies that blatantly issue of Jinnah’s portrait in AMU to be checked, then a unity of the favour big corporate houses as in and thereby polarising the electorate opposition is a must. Only a united the past. There is no guarantee that to consolidate the so-called ‘Hindu’ opposition can defeat the BJP in the it will take steps to hugely increase vote is succeeding even in the south. 2019 Lok Sabha elections. That the access to free / affordable and good Pushed to the wall by the BJP BJP can be defeated was proven by quality education and health care juggernaut which is threatening to the defeat of the BJP candidates in and safe drinking for the ordinary marginalise all the opposition parties recent byelections held in UP and people, that it will provide a decent JANATA, May 27, 2018 3 pension to the elderly, that it will pay for equal work for both must be guaranteed. implement policies that will lead men and women, and ensure Seventy years later, so much to the creation of a large number that people get a decent wage wealth creation has taken place in of secure and regular jobs with a that enables them to have a the country. Therefore, all believers decent pay, that it will take steps decent standard of life and full in socialist ideology and principles to revive Indian agriculture and enjoyment of leisure and social must come together and demand bring it out of the crisis which has and cultural opportunities. of the united opposition that the pushed more than 3 lakh farmers • regard improvement of public time has come to implement the to commit suicide in the past two healthcare facilities and raising economic programme contained in decades, that it will take steps to the level of nutrition of the the Directive Principles, that the reverse the policies of privatisation people as among its primary economic rights mentioned in the being implemented in the country duties. Directive Principles be considered for the past three decades. And in • make effective provision for as fundamental rights and they be case it does not implement these securing the right to education; guaranteed. pro-people policies, once again, in endeavour to provide early the next elections, the BJP will take childhood care and education for Email: [email protected] advantage to come back to power, all children until they complete and meanwhile the RSS will have the age of six years. further increased its strength. • endeavour to eliminate Given this situation, it is important inequalities in status, facilities Janata for the socialist parties and socialist and opportunities amongst is available at activists within this opposition people. alliance to unite and press the united Even though the Directive www.lohiatoday.com opposition to accept a minimum Principles are not enforceable by law, alternative pro-people programme. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar made it very This alternate programme can be clear in a speech to the Constituent the genuine implementation of the Assembly on November 19, 1948 Janata economic programme as outlined that the Assembly desires that in in the Directive Principles of the future, both the legislature and the Subscription Indian Constitution. The Directive executive must make these principles Principles direct the State to: “the basis of all executive and Annual Rs. : 260/- • strive to build a social order in legislative action . . . taken hereafter which justice, social, economic in the matter of the governance of the Three Years : 750/- and political, shall inform all the country.” He went on to explicitly institutions of the national life. state that the Assembly desires that • strive to minimise the inequalities future governments must strive in Demand Draft / in income, and ensure that there the fulfillment of these Directive Cheque on is no concentration of wealth in Principles “even under hard and the country; unpropitious circumstances”. This Mumbai Bank • ensure that the ownership means that the Constitution makers in favour of and control of the country’s were of the opinion that while resources should be such that at the time of independence, due they benefit the common good, to the immense poverty of the JANATA TRUST implying that they should not be country, it was not possible to D-15, Ganesh Prasad, used for private enrichment. make the economic and social • make effective provision for rights embedded in Part IV of Naushir Bharucha Marg, securing the right to work, the Constitution justiciable, as Grant Road (W), for securing just and humane development proceeds and wealth Mumbai 400 007. conditions of work, ensure equal generation takes place, these rights 4 JANATA, May 27, 2018 Who Allows Usurpation of Constitutional Values?

Sandeep Pandey

Prakash Singh, a former Director of nationalism is being used either Nuh in Haryana when he was General of Police, who was Chief to conduct crimes or to defend stopped by a cow vigilante of the Border Security Force, UP criminals. group and lynched to death, police and Assam police, has written Consider the kind of things even though he had all the a piece in the Indian Express saying which have started taking place with proper documents from Jaipur that Kathua and Unnao incidents of the rise of BJP as political force and Municipal Corporation to show rape were not the darkest hour since specially since its ascendancy to the that the cattle was meant for independence as claimed in a protest seat of power in Delhi: dairy. Sadhvi Kamal praised letter to the Prime Minister by 49 • Narendra Dhabolkar was shot the murderous gau rakshaks and prominent retired bureaucrats, which dead on 20 August 2013, Govind equated them to Bhagat Singh include N.C. Saxena, E.A.S. Sarma, Pansare was fatally attacked on and Chandrashekhar Azad. Harsh Mander, Wajahat Habibullah 16 February 2015, Professor • On 20 April 2017, the BJP and Aruna Roy. Towards the end of M.M. Kalburgi shot dead on Member of Parliament Raghav his article, Prakash Singh suggests 30 August 2015 and Gauri Lakhapal Sharma from that rather than playing into the Lankesh too was shot dead on Saharanpur in UP tried to hands of forces out to tarnish the 5 September 2017 for holding forcibly take out a rally to mark image of India, the distinguished views which were critical of the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. civil servants should have asked for right-wing thinking. Ambedkar through a Muslim systemic changes in the criminal • On 28 September 2015 a mob locality of Sadak Dudhali village. justice system. If he thinks that killed Mohammad Akhlaq Ambedkar's birth anniversary the incidents of Kathua and Unnao near Dadri by lynching on the is 14 April. Why did he insist were bad, by writing this article suspicion of having slaughtered on taking out a rally through he is conveying a totally opposite a cow and consuming beef. a Muslim locality? When the message. His article seems to be There is a law in Uttar Pradesh police denied him permission, playing down the incidents. to deal with cow slaughter. the MP attacked the residence of They were not mere rape • On 18 March 2016 another mob Senior Superintendent of Police incidents. They were incidents in calling themselves gau rakshaks with his supporters. which the government was taking lynched 32 year old Mazloom • On 5 May 2017, members of the side of accused. Even that is Ansari and 12 year old Imtiaz Thakur community forcibly not something new. In a number in Latehar district of Jharkhand wanted to take out a Maharana of incidents, the political parties in and hanged them to death from Pratap Jayanti procession through power have for their vested interests a tree when they were walking a Dalit basti in Shabbirpur sided with the culprits. But what is 8 oxen to a cattle fair. village of Saharanpur. There most appalling about the Kathua • On 11 July 2016, four dalit youth were clashes at Sant Ravidas incident is that in a rally in support who traditionally used to skin temple in which a youth Sumit of Special Police Officer Deepak dead cows were accused of cow Singh died due to asphyxiation Khajuria who is an accused in the slaughter and beaten in public by after he tried to burn the idol rape and murder of the 8 year old gau rakshaks in Una, Gujarat, an of Sant Ravidas. Thakurs took nomad girl Asiya, the tricolour incident which created national revenge and burned 55 Dalit was used by right wing Hindutva uproar. houses. group and Bhartiya Janata Party • On 1 April 2017, Pehlu Khan • When violence erupted in office bearers who participated in was returning from Jaipur after Kasganj on Republic Day it. Such things have never occured purchasing cows and calves 2018, the District Magistrate of before in this country. The politics and heading towards his village Bareilly, Raghvendra Vikram JANATA, May 27, 2018 5

Singh, publicly raised the we needed these new types of rather than appearing to take the side question as to why Hindutva problems to be thrust upon the of forces which he himself believes groups forcibly enter Muslim country. The above mentioned series to be divisive. dominated areas, raise anti- of incidents, a list which is by no He calls Babri Masjid a Pakistan slogans and create means complete, have vitiated the dilapidated mosque and regrets that ruckus? One person died that atmosphere in the country in which there was no protest over damage to day in the ensuing violence. Dalits, Muslims and opponents of 208 temples in J&K. The first serial • Akhila Ashokan converted right wing ideology have been the bomb blast incident in Mumbai took to Islam, adopted the name main targets. The BJP government place in reaction to the Babri Masjid Hadiya, and married Shefin has not taken action against the demolition. Even though it might Jehan. In May 2017, the High attackers as such incidents promote have been a dilapidated structure, Court of Kerala annulled the its political agenda of polarisation of it was responsible for triggering a marriage based on a report society and hence enables it to garner series of terrorist incidents in India. It of the National Investigation votes. This has jeopardised the is a pity that a person of his standing Agency (NIA) stating that she Constitutional values of democracy, makes this kind of comparision. It is was a victim of indoctrination equality and secularism, about because of people like him holding and psychological kidnapping. which 49 former bureaucrats have responsible positions in government In March 2018 Supreme Court expressed concern. that incidents like those described restored her marriage. NIA has Prakash Singh should have stood above are allowed to take place and been supposedly established to up against this usurpation of our the culprtits are not restrained. We combat terror in India. Constitutional values and made it a hope that he'll review his position. India is not short of problems, half century of former bureaucrats from farmers' suicides to who have spoken out against it, Email: [email protected] malnourishment of children, that Panchayats Massacred in Bengal

Mrinal Biswas

Forebodings were there. People a secret. It is now well known and decisions drew widespread were wondering as to how much that the Trinamul Congress wants opposition protests. It attracted flak violence would be unleashed in opposition-mukt (opposition- even from people like Somnath panchayat elections this time in West free) bodies at different levels. Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha Bengal. Feared perpetrators were The panchayat elections were Speaker and distinguished lawyer. the ruling Trinamul Congress led by held under that fearsome pressure. The Commission was forced to the maverick Mamata Banerjee. As Lumpen elements with adequate approach the Calcutta High Court was expected, widespread violence backings manipulated the entire poll and even the Supreme Court under marred the elections; nearly 30 procedure, from the very beginning pressure from the opposition parties. people died, and there were hundreds when nomination filings are done The opposition parties in the of injuries. However, this poll to the last stage of vote counting. It electoral arena were the CPI(M)-led violence did not catch the attention was indeed a massacre of democracy Left Front, Congress and BJP. None of people across the country, because in the State. of these parties were any match of the excitement generated by The State-appointed Election to Trinamul in the mobilisation of the turbulent Karnataka assembly Commissioner apparently failed to lumpen elements. Even before the elections which took place at around act independently. State interference election day, these elements instilled the same time. in the affairs of the State election a sense of fear in the minds of the The brook-no-opposition policy commission were very visible to rural citizens with demonstrations of Bengal’s ruling party is no more all. The Commission’s notifications of their fire power. Ironically, it was 6 JANATA, May 27, 2018 the CPI(M) which had in its heydays terrorised the opposition and the Is it Politically Relevant Today to voters. Now, Trinamul has imitated Ask Whether Nehru Visited this example with great success. No less a handicap for the opposition was Bhagat Singh in Jail? the apathy shown by the apparatus of the State machinery, especially Ram Puniyani the police, which completely failed to do its democratic duty. And so a In the recently held Karnataka revolutionaries on fast unto death. cakewalk for the Trinamul Congress elections, Narendra Modi made In his autobiography, Towards was a foregone conclusion. Mamata several statements which were Freedom, Jawaharlal Nehru gives a Banerjee has however claimed that not true, and which were made very touching account of his meeting the elections were more peaceful to raise the emotive pitch against Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das and other than in the past, showing that his opponents. In a blatant lie, at young revolutionaries, “I happened democracy is truly alive in Bengal, a rally in Bidar, he asked, “When to be in Lahore when the hunger and the election results demonstrate Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar strike was already a month old. I was the tremendous support her party Dutt, Veer Savarkar, greats like given permission to visit some of the continues to enjoy. them were jailed fighting for the prisoners in the prison, and I availed When one comes to cold figures it country’s independence, did any myself of this. I saw Bhagat Singh will reveal that no opposition parties Congress leader go to meet them?” for the first time, and Jatindranath could file nominations or rather were One is surprised as to how can this Das and a few others. They were all not allowed to file nominations for be an electoral issue today? The very weak and bedridden, and it was altogether 20,076 seats spread over central tactic of BJP and communal hardly possible to talk to them much. gram panchayats, panchayat samitis organisations is to bypass the issues Bhagat Singh had an attractive, and district councils (zila parishads). related to people’s needs and distract intellectual face, remarkably calm Hence, the Trinamul Congress won their attention towards emotive and peaceful. There seemed to be these seats uncontested, which issues. Modi has very regularly raised no anger in it. He looked and talked constitute 34.20 per cent of the such issues in an attempt to put his with great gentleness, but then I total panchayat seats. Elections in opponents in a bad light. He has no suppose that anyone who has been the rest of the seats were held in qualms about even saying untruths fasting for a month will look spiritual extraordinary circumstances, amid with great amount of confidence. and gentle. Jatin Das looked milder polling officers resigning and several In the statement–question raised by still, soft and gentle like a young girl. incidents of ballot papers being him about Congress leaders visiting He was in considerable pain when I tampered by armed gangs invading Bhagat Singh and Savarkar in jail, saw him. He died later, as a result of the booths. Opposition polling he is speaking a lie on one side and fasting, on the sixty-first day of the agents were driven out in several trying to glorify his icon Savarkar hunger strike.” places. These elements created a on the other. The other aspect of the statement reign of terror outside several polling As a matter of fact, the Indian by Modi is to equate Savarkar with centres, with the police remaining National Congress, while it had dedicated young revolutionaries mere onlookers. Opposition party differences with revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. This seems to activists and innocent voters under like Bhagat Singh, greatly respected be a clever ploy to elevate Savarkar attack left the polling booths in the high level of commitment and to a level to which he does not many cases. Predictably, Trinamul dedication of these young men. belong. While Bhagat Singh was swept almost the entire panchayat There are reports in the Tribune in jail, pending death penalty, he polls, with minor aberrations here (August 9 and 10, 1929) about was requested by his family to seek and there. Nehru visiting Bhagat Singh and clemency, which Bhagat refused. On his comrades in jail. Motilal Nehru the contrary, he wrote to the British Email: [email protected] had even formed a committee to Government that since he and his demand humane treatment for the comrades have been sentenced JANATA, May 27, 2018 7 to death for waging war against I had a fair trial and just sentence. I Hinduness) and stated that there the empire, he should be made to heartily abhor methods of violence are two nations in the country, face the firing squad and not be resorted to in days gone by and I feel the Hindu nation and the Muslim given death by hanging. In contrast, myself duty bound to uphold law and nation! This was precisely opposite Savarkar, after being sentenced for constitution (British: added) to the of the politics of Muslim nationalism his role in the case of murder of best of my powers and am willing to being brought up by Muslim league. a British officer, totally changed make the 'reform' a success in so far as This is what also contributed to the his stance in jail, surrendered to I may be allowed to do so in future.” tragedy of partition. the British and wrote a series of (from facsimile of Savarkar’s letter So Modi on the one hand lies apology letters, promising them help to British authorities, published in about Congress leaders ignoring in future! He continued to remain Frontline, April 7, 1995). There are those struggling for freedom, while loyal to the British after his release many such letters and finally the on the other he puts Savarkar in the from jail. British granted him clemency. same category as Bhagat Singh. In the early 1920s, the Congress, This act of his seeking pardon Bhagat Singh remained committed in recognition of Savarkar’s initial from the British was a betrayal of to his ideology and path of resistance role, tried to put pressure on the freedom movement. His followers against British power. For his British Government for his release, present it as a tactical ploy to get principles, he undertook a hunger but Savarkar was already writing released so that he could continue strike in jail. In contrast, Savarkar petition after petition to the British his struggle against British rule. buckled under the jail conditions to release him. He in fact gave a As matter of fact, after his release, and surrendered to the British. The written undertaking, which in a way Savarkar floated the concept of Goebbelsian methods being resorted represented his total surrender to the Hindu nationalism, brought to to by Modi need to be opposed. British, “I hereby acknowledge that fore the word ‘Hindutva’ (total Email: [email protected]

Broken Dreams and Lost Lives: Israel, Gaza and the Hamas Card

Stanley L. Cohen

For days now, the Israeli rewrite largely staged as if an anti-Semitic fumes as rivers of blood passed has been well underway, working Hollywood back lot production. them by. overtime, to convince the world that Indeed, to some, it appears the latest To be sure, the methodical seven weeks of carnage in Palestine, Palestinian victims include the same madness that is Israel goes something more particularly Gaza, did not crises actors used over and over like this: We have the most effective, happen. Or, if it did, Israel’s response again in false flag operations ranging disciplined, efficient killers in the to the Great Return March was a from Douma, Syria to Parkland, world. Had we wished to execute measured, proportionate answer to Florida. many more, we could have done so the menace posed by some burning Other apologists have turned with abandon and relative ease. kites, waving flags and nihilist teens the morgues of Gaza into a cynical Of course, it is that very expertise armed with slingshot weapons of goodwill gesture. Urging belief that that puts to lie the claim that the 124 mass destruction. if Israeli intent was mass slaughter clearly identified members of the At times, we’ve seen Zionists thousands more would have found press killed or injured these past rip a page straight out of the “Sandy eternal peace as opposed to merely months had fallen victim by mere Hook” playbook, suggesting being left crippled or limbless on happenstance, alone. gruesome virtual film footage the floors of overbooked hospitals Apparently, Palestinians should of the on-going blood bath was covered with the burn of noxious give thanks that Israel merely 8 JANATA, May 27, 2018 wanted to set a tone with a controlled a world that long ago condensed including those that have either atrocity, these past Fridays of protest, the “good” to those with proper been assassinated or languish today as opposed to one of its, by now, skin tone, religion and culture and in Israeli prisons and elsewhere, regular scenes of effortless carnage the “bad” to those who invariably denied any scrap of justice or due sown throughout Gaza like a well pray five times a day, not once each process. Over the years, I have spent planned mosaic of anguish to the Saturday or Sunday. literally thousands of hours meeting palpable indifference of the world. There are distinct components with movement leaders in prisons, Can it be long before Israel to Israel’s grand witting misspeak at conferences, in Palestine and deducts the cost of ammunition, about Hamas and Palestinians: the elsewhere. otherwise dangled for its token first is a desperate attempt to recast These are virtuous, dedicated monthly occupation tithe, for the who and what the movement is and nationalists who seek not power for extorted quiet trauma of some two from where it has come. the sake of it or personal profit but million political prisoners? On this point, Israel is to be have long stood among those who After-all, busy these days in applauded as it has apparently, have fought against overwhelming Syria, saber-rattling in Iran and successfully, packaged and sold an odds and violence to lead the way preparing for its long overdue coast entirely fictitious representation of toward a Palestinian home built of to coast crush of Gaza, even the the movement to those who seek the marrow of freedom, justice and most prosperous war criminal can, at little more than a fabled narrative to equality. times, run up against constraints on maintain their dutiful support of its Contrary to the Israeli and available weaponry. Despite being colonial project. Western effort to reduce Hamas to a the world’s 8th largest arms exporter, I am no stranger to Hamas. To collective of essentially unschooled Israel, always on the make for more me the movement is not an academic or unsophisticated foreign born and more military gifts, would have pursuit or abstract intellectual so-called Islamists, nothing could us believe it is no exception. curiosity that only takes shape be further from the truth. Hamas And, predictably, when other whenever it confronts the brute is a movement born of Palestine, excuses have collapsed to the honest force that is Israel . . . be it in the composed of Palestinians who were lens of public transparency, the 365 square kilometer (141 sq mi) raised on the very streets where the Hamas card is once again played confines of Gaza or in the streets and blood of their people and families with almost sneering contempt for universities of the West Bank. To has been lost to the occupation the world’s ability to pierce the half- the contrary, I have been privileged terror imposed by Israel. For the truths that fly, each day, alongside to represent more than a few of its many who suffer from a now decade the Star of David cast throughout the leaders for some two decades. On old blockade of Gaza—with its occupied skyline that is Palestine. occasion, the movement has sought lack of food, water, medicine and Time and time again, many my counsel on issues of international mobility—Hamas and their families have been an all too willing, if not law prior to making its decision on have known the same isolation and complicit, party to Israel’s deflective how best to proceed with a given paid a like price. use of Hamas to explain away the matter. Comprised, originally, of inexplicable: just how proportionality Many of these men and women physicians, scholars, academics, can ever be manipulated to excuse an have also been close personal friends lawyers, scientists, artists, religious unchecked attack by the 16th most for years. I have often shared a leaders and farmers, it is a movement powerful military force of our time, warm welcome and meal at a family that evolved of necessity, born in the with thousands of tanks, aircraft and dinner table or an overnight stay vacuum of what would obviously combat ships, with a multi-billion with Hamas leaders throughout become the failed vision of Oslo. dollar yearly military budget, upon my travels in the Middle East—on More than a few of these leaders a largely tattered urban enclave occasion against the backdrop of escaped the tyranny of Israeli armed with little more than the on-going Israeli carnage or in its oppression, years before, to obtain determination and spirit of its long aftermath. education and accomplishment embattled people. I have known well most of its abroad—only later to give up the It works. It has for decades in founders and current leadership fruits of all personal success to return JANATA, May 27, 2018 9 to their homeland and fight for its I am not naive or starry-eyed. connection to Palestine, or its long liberation. Like all political and national oppressed people, know all too well Over the years, Hamas evolved liberation movements Hamas has that the bars of its prison will never from a social service network, had its problems and made its share quiet its innate thirst for justice and throughout Palestine, to become of missteps. Nevertheless, Israel’s freedom. an armed guard of the Palestinian long-standing attempts to reduce it In Israel, the expedient conflation people through the discrete Qassam to a selfish and reckless collective of victimiser and victim . . . of Brigades and an elected political willing to sacrifice the interests and occupier and occupied . . . is brazen movement swept to power in 2006. safety of Palestinians, including and readily transparent; an indecent That victory came in what was their own families, to the winds of marriage of those that would pull the described, then, by former President cheap political gain, is just so much trigger with others who fall prey to Carter as the most transparent and nefariously crafted delusion. its barbaric squeeze. There is simply successful electoral process he had Although this unashamed no honest or moral equivalence. observed as a monitor over his many invention has found a warm welcome Yet, in a world that has long years of such service in the Middle in the insipid language of Zionist found Palestinians to be unworthy of East. supporters and ignorant pundits, equality and safeguard, this perverse Not long thereafter, all of Gaza those with informed knowledge or union should come as no surprise. was punished for the temerity experience with Hamas understand Indeed, willful blindness to Israeli of its electoral will through the this call for what it is: a shameful slaughter is the explosive fuel that imposition of the embargo that a and typical deflection from Israeli empowers its rage. decade later remains in place as an responsibility for what can only be For decades, now, Hamas has on-going stranglehold on the health, called a willing slaughter, these last become a convenient foil for Israel welfare and safety of its two million few months, that ranks among its and its compliant choir after each residents, punctuated by massive many others . . . always, of course, new horror. Meanwhile, Israel walks deadly Israeli onslaughts every few because it had no choice. away to rearm . . . leaving Palestine years. The notion that the movement to bury her children, but not her Portrayed as little more than would ask or send people of Gaza to hope. a terrorist group, one story, in certain injury or death, at the hands Against the wail of broken particular, speaks volumes about the of Israeli assassins lying in wait for dreams and lost lives, the Great depth and breadth of the movement. all to see, reeks of the grand imperial Return March, marches on. For Invited by one of its top leaders lie that has been Israel for seventy Palestinians, there is no choice. to attend a luncheon outside of years. Courtesy: Counterpunch.com Palestine, I arrived at a fourth It is no less repugnant than the floor walk-up to find most of its racist proposition that Palestinians, leadership, along with a number themselves, care so little about their The Unemployment of other Palestinian resistance own families or community that Crisis: movements, engaged in a debate. they would willingly sacrifice them Reasons and No, it was not a heated argument en masse to gain the momentary over political tactics or military sympathy of a world long inured Solutions targets. During the next two hours, to their isolation and loss of liberty tempers flared over whether, and to and life. Contribution Rs. 25/- what extent, language immersion Born of supremacist arrogance, should be included as a teaching Israel now seeks to reduce millions Published by tool in grammar school education of Palestinians, who have struggled Janata Trust & Lokayat throughout Palestine. The discussion for generations, to little more D-15, Ganesh Prasad, was led by a PhD linguist schooled than unthinking sheeple awaiting Naushir Bharucha Marg, by the legendary MIT professor, instructions from Hamas on when, Grant Road (W), Noam Chomsky. Hebrew was among and how, to express their will or gain Mumbai 400 007 the languages to be learned. their independence. Those with any 10 JANATA, May 27, 2018

Nicolas Maduro Wins Venezuelan Presidential Elections In a big win for the global socialist movement, the heroic people of Venezuela overwhelmingly voted President Nicolas Maduro to power for a second term as Venezuela’s president in the presidential elections held on May 20, 2018, Sunday. The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela announced the result on Sunday night. It declared that with 92.6 percent of the votes counted, Maduro had 5.8 million votes (67.7% of the vote), while his closest rival, former governor Henri Falcón, got 1.8 million votes (21.2%). CNE President Tibisay Lucena added that in total, 8.6 million Venezuelans voted, out of an electoral registry of 20.5 million people. Despite the crippling sanctions imposed by the United States, and despite its open support for the capitalist opposition which is trying to use every trick in the book to sabotage economic development in Venezuela and push the economy into such a deep economic crisis that the people eventually get fed up and vote Maduro and the Socialist Party of Venezuela out of power, the people firmly stood behind him and the Bolivarian Revolution initiated by former President Hugo Chavez that Maduro is seeking to continue. As several visitors to Venezuela have pointed out, the people of Venezuela are today amongst the most politically conscious people in the world. While they are of course concerned with the economic crisis gripping Venezuela, they are fully aware that it is the result of imperialism’s assault on the Bolivarian Revolution. In the background of this historic win, we are publishing this series of articles by Marco Teruggi on Chavismo, one article in every subsequent issue. All these pieces were written before the elections. Chavismo in Seven Parts

Marco Teruggi

Part I: First Delivery: The Old Man and the Machete One must ask: what are we is reduced to its governmental when they put a needle in his eye and naming when we say 'Chavismo'? dimension. it loosened everything. He imitates How many types of Chavismo live It's hard to understand how it with his finger, from far away within Chavismo? It is necessary we continue standing, against the to almost touching it. After they to break down this word that we ropes or in the center of the ring, scraped the inside, he thought that use daily. More than a word, it's without getting into the territories was it and he would never see again. a category, with a history of more where Chavez passions are born; the During the day the light went from than 20 years. It's necessary to do subjectivities; forms of organisation; thin to full, and Cuba was not Cuba it particularly in times like these, relationship between the parties, but Venezuela again, in the lower where we are in dire straits: the tensions that seem sometimes to part of Merida, which is sometimes presidential elections are round the reach the limit and then they're Zulia, or also Trujillo, and this area is corner, and we need to win. resolved. Behind this question is the known as Sur del Lago. He returned I write from certainty: Chavez main question: what do we defend to grab the machete, put on his boots, is more than Chavez. More than a when we go to elections or confront walk with his half-opened shirt, and government; a party; a liturgy; 2,000 violence designed to push us to a rescue land from the hands of the communes; two million houses; civil war? landlords. This can cost you your dozens of elections, almost all won. They are eight chavisms. Put life. More than 300 peasants were What is it? Chavismo is greater than them on the table in parts, which killed in 18 years. Taking power its very core. are then rearranged to become a away from those who have always In order to get an answer, you single word. It is ourselves, in eight had it unleashes death. have two steps: dismembering it then deliveries and a metamorphosis. It was his first time on a plane; putting it back together as a whole. in an excellent clinic, everything An exercise of analysis to delve First Delivery: The Old Man and was free. What political process into the depths of a political process The Machete invests money in the eyes of an old that adversaries loathe and fear, and The old man relates the tale of peasant? What does an old peasant which often—in their own ranks— JANATA, May 27, 2018 11 think when he recovers the eyesight solve that debt in an accelerated way difficult, peasants have been evicted he once took for granted? He went was the opening of public health with the complicity of those who with his wife and several contingents centers, educational missions, water should be Chavistas. When offered of Venezuelans. He has not forgotten for the barrios, and food on plates. a bribe in dollars, they turn their a single detail, nor about how land Reducing the issue to material back on Chavismo, or maybe they is retaken: 15 years later, he is still affairs is like reducing Chavismo to a never believed in it. He himself is there; stubborn, with his machete government: a mistake. The process Chavismo. and his muddy boots. The country encouraged millions: as a people, has changed in that time; the wave their national history, their way of Chavismo's Social Base of advances against the oligarchy life, their skin color. Dignity was There are millions like him: the stagnated, with a balance of more the power that was set in motion: it hardcore social base of Chavismo, than four million hectares recovered faced the 2002 coup d'état, the oil emerging when many insist the fight and several open debates. Did the strike, allowing us to resist these is over. On July 30 last year, more lands that were rescued become years in which material conquests— than eight million people went out productive? Did recoveries work with the exception of housing—no to vote for the National Constituent better in the hands of the state or longer go forward, but they go Assembly after four months of organised peasants? backwards instead. Those who are violence, when being a Chavista Thousands of pages of similar mostly affected are the middle and in an upper-class area was almost stories could be written, from the lower classes, centrally the Chavista certainly a death sentence. Why dispossessed masses who could social base. did they cross rivers to get around study, get medical attention; those Chavismo was configured as paramilitaries and go to vote? It was who went from being excluded to something of its own identity, the not for the government, the party, or politicising, entering theaters and political name for those who were the need to change the constitution. offices—not only to clean them—to always out of the game. There is an It was for something bigger, more access new, imaginary departments, equation that rarely fails: the more profound. A history; an identity, to be claimed by Chavez, coming materially humble a neighborhood it was for oneself. The scale of from that historical territory. It was a is, the more Chavista its people are. priorities, values and responsiveness radical democratisation in the hands The emerging middle class was the is another. of ordinary people. The barrios, first to move away from the impacts If you do not understand class— the poor, peasants, marginalised, of a war designed and combined with its past, territorial, economic, cultural women—especially women. errors of their own—the historic forms, its way of doing politics— Like a dam that burst, and the middle classes mostly associated Chavez is not understood. There is losers of betrayals of independence their destiny with that of the rich the genesis. And that's where you and elite pacts broke into the scene. emigrants to Miami. The dimension should begin to achieve common With joyful passions, shockingly of Chavismo as identity, enhanced sense again. Because many in the cheerful. by the rational/sentimental link same popular areas have moved with Hugo Chavez, was built by the away, disaffiliated, entered the army Historic Debt conquest of things: they did not fall of those who rise every day to solve The accumulated historic debt from the sky. material problems and stopped was immense when Hugo Chavez I hear the old man. When we believing in the revolution. They do assumed the presidency. Lack of are thirsty, he cuts a coconut with not go to another political option; health, access to education, housing, the machete, shares its water; part they return to privacy, withdrawal. identification, water, food. The greed of the production—the recovered A product of the wear of war and of those who drove an oil-producing lands that now produce corn, yucca, disappointment with Chavismo country to poverty. The myth of bananas—because this is about leaders who reproduce the ways a happy Venezuela pre-Chavez is democratising the land and restoring of doing politics against which the false. That Venezuela had flown its productivity, which the landlords revolution rose: monopolists of through the air on February 27, never exploited. The old man has not the word. It is Chavismo against 1989, and the protagonists were become rich; he has skin like leather, itself, the many Chavismos within the ones who built the backbone of skinny with tense muscles. Who Chavismo. The old man knows it. Chavismo. Chavez put his strategic is going to take away his Chavista Chavez said: “I'm no longer bet on them. And the first thing to vision? Although the situation is myself.” He was right. 12 JANATA, May 27, 2018 Guilty Men of Two-Nation Theory: A Hindutva Project Borrowed by Jinnah in India

Shamsul Islam

No other fascist organisation, Hamid Ansari was to address students in the present world, can beat of AMU as part of awarding the life- A Few Facts About Jinnah We Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh time membership of the Aligarh Must Know (RSS) in demagogy, double-speak Muslim University Students’ Union It is pertinent to know the past of and unabashed use of conspiracies. (AMUSU) ceremony on May 2, Jinnah before he became a prophet of A leading Indian English daily, in 2018. This programme of Ansari, the Muslim separatism. During the early the aftermath of 2002 genocide of former VP of India had the clearance decades of the 20th century, he was a Muslims in Gujarat, candidly wrote of the intelligence agencies and die-hard secularist and a part of the that in case of the RSS, what George local State administration as per the Congress leadership, which included Orwell termed as “doublespeak” protocol. Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna would be an understatement.1 It According to Ansari, his Gokhale, Annie Besant, M.K. stands true always in the case of RSS. programme at AMU was publicly Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal So far as its conspiring mind-set is known and the authorities concerned Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel concerned, it was none other than had been officially intimated and other such icons who led the Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who became about the standard arrangements, freedom movement against British the first President of independent including security for the occasion. rule. Importantly, during these years India, who brought to the notice Despite all this, “the access of the when Jinnah was apostle of Hindu– of the first home minister of India, intruders to close proximity of the Muslim unity and stood for freedom Sardar Patel that, university guest house where I was of a united India, the Hindutva camp I am told that RSS people have staying remains unexplained”.3 bracketed him with Gandhi, Motilal a plan of creating trouble. The Hindutva hoodlums justified Nehru and Azad and denigrated him. They have got a number of the attack arguing that in AMUSU Jinnah was not a supporter men dressed as Muslims and a photo of founder of Pakistan of militant activities against the looking like Muslims who are to was displayed. Jinnah’s photo was British but when Bhagat Singh was create trouble with the Hindus by there as he was conferred life-time jailed and the British Government, attacking them and thus inciting membership in the year 1938. It which was hell-bent on judicially the Hindus. Similarly there will never bothered the Hindutva gang murdering Bhagat Singh, introduced be some Hindus among them for more than 80 years, but they now a bill in the Central Assembly that who will attack Muslims and resurrected this issue as Hindutva allowed the court case to begin thus incite Muslims. The result rulers in power in UP were losing against him even in the absence of of this kind of trouble amongst fast support of the common Hindus. the accused, he delivered a powerful the Hindus and Muslims will be Ansari rightly said that the precise speech against his trial in the Central to create a conflagration.2 timings of the attack on AMU Assembly (the then Parliament of These above mentioned nasty and “the excuse manufactured India), on September 12, 1929. characteristics of the RSS are in for justifying it” raises serious Jinnah said: full flow in the case of the recent questions. The Hindutva arsonists The man who goes on hunger Hindutva hoodlums’ attack on demanding removal of Jinnah’s strike has a soul. He is moved Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) portrait thought that nation did not by that soul and he believes in in the name of Mohammed Ali know that Jinnah, the founder of the justice of his cause. He is no Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Pakistan, ran coalition governments ordinary criminal, who is guilty Here is a brief recap of the attack: with the Hindu Mahasabha in 1942– of cold blooded, sordid wicked The former Vice President of India, 43, as we will see later. crime. . . . I do not approve of JANATA, May 27, 2018 13

the action of Bhagat Singh . . . Nation Theory her knowledge, spirituality and I regret that, rightly or wrongly, Long before the appearance culture, and the glory of Hindu the youth of today is stirred up of Muslim advocates of the two- nation again spreading over the . . . however much you deplore nation theory, Hindu nationalists whole world.5 them and however much you had propounded this idea. Muslim Nabha Gopal Mitra started say they are misguided, it is the League advocates of the two-nation organising an annual Hindu Mela. system, this damnable system of theory were late comers. In fact, in It used to be a gathering on the governance, which is resented this case, they borrowed heavily last day of every Bengali year and by the people.4 from the Hindutva school of thought. highlighted the Hindu nature of all Earlier, in 1916, he was the The ball was set rolling by Hindu aspects of Hindu Bengali life and leading defence counsel of Bal nationalists at the end of the 19th continued uninterrupted between Gangadhar Tilak (a favourite of the century in Bengal. In fact Raj Narain 1867 and 1880. Mitra also started Hindutva clan) in a sedition case Basu (1826–1899), the maternal a National Society and a National against him, punishment for which grandfather of Aurobindo Ghosh, Paper for promoting unity and could have been the death penalty. and his close associate Nabha Gopal feelings of nationalism among Jinnah won the historic case against Mitra (1840–94) can be called the Hindus. Mitra argued in his paper the British government to the terrible co-fathers of two-nation theory that the Hindus positively formed humiliation of the foreign rulers. and Hindu nationalism in India. a nation by themselves. According Around 1935, there arose a Basu established a society for the to him, serious religious conflict between promotion of national feelings among The basis of national unity in Sikhs and Muslims of Lahore the educated natives which in fact India is the Hindu religion. over possession of a religious site stood for preaching the superiority Hindu nationality embraces all which was claimed to be a martyr’s of Hinduism. He organised meetings the Hindus of India irrespective Gurdwara and a mosque by Sikhs proclaiming that Hinduism despite of their locality or language.6 and Muslims respectively. The its casteism presented a much higher R.C. Majumdar, a keen observer Muslim party approached Jinnah to social idealism than ever reached by of the rise of Hindu nationalism in fight the legal battle on its behalf. the Christian or Islamic civilisations. Bengal, had no difficulty in arriving Jinnah refused the brief and kept Basu not only believed in the at the truth that: away from the case. superiority of Hinduism over other Nabha Gopal forestalled Jinnah parted with the Gandhi- religions but also was a fervent Jinnah’s theory of two nations led Congress in 1920–21, as he was believer in casteism. He was the by more than half a century.7 against mass politics, especially first person to conceive of the idea (And since then), consciously involving religious leaders in of a Maha Hindu Samiti (All India or unconsciously, the Hindu national politics. Congress tried to Hindu Association) and helped in character was deeply imprinted isolate him. Instead of fighting back, the formation of Bharat Dharma on nationalism all over India.8 he chose to take a path which led Mahamandal, a precursor of Hindu him to lead the same Muslim League Mahasabha. He believed that through Role of Arya Samajists which earlier he had described this organisation, Hindus would be The Arya Samaj in northern as a representative of feudal and able to establish an Aryan nation India aggressively preached that aristocratic elements of the Muslim in India. He visualised a powerful Hindu and Muslim communities in community. In his personal habits Hindu nation not only overtaking India were two different nations. and religious beliefs, he could not India but the whole world. He also Bhai Parmanand (1876–1947), a be counted as a practicing Muslim. saw, leading light of the Arya Samaj in Incidentally, he did not know how to the noble and puissant Hindu northern India, who was also a leader read or write Urdu, being proficient nation rousing herself after sleep of both the Congress and the Hindu in English and Gujarati. and rushing headlong towards Mahasabha, produced an enormous progress with divine prowess. amount of anti-Muslim literature Hindu Nationalists and Not I see this rejuvenated nation which stressed the fact that India was Jinnah Propounded the Two- again illumining the world by a land of Hindus and that Muslims 14 JANATA, May 27, 2018 should be relocated. declared that “Hindus are a nation in References Long before V.D. Savarkar themselves, because they represent 1. Editorial, “Sangh’s Triplespeak”, (1883–1966) and M.S. Golwalkar civilisation all their own.”11 By Times Of India, Delhi, August (1906–73) laid down elaborate 1924 he was more articulate in 16, 2002. theories of Hindu Rashtra allowing expounding his two-nation theory. 2. “Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Sardar no place for minorities, it was Bhai He wrote: Patel (March 14, 1948)”, Parmanand who declared in the Under my scheme the Muslims cited in Neerja Singh (ed.), beginning of the 20th century that will have four Muslim States: Nehru–Patel: Agreement Within followers of Hinduism and Islam (1) The Pathan Province of Difference – Select Documents in India were two different peoples the North Western Frontier & Correspondences, 1933– because Muslims followed a religion (2) Western Punjab (3) Sindh 1950, NBT, Delhi, p. 43. which originated in Arab lands. and (4) Eastern Bengal. If 3. “Violence in AMU: Hamid Parmanand specialised in writing there are compact Muslim Ansari Says Timing of Protest popular literature in Urdu in which communities in any other part Raises Question”, May 13, 2018, the main emphasis would be on of India, sufficiently large to http://indianexpress.com. Hindus being true sons of India and form a Province, they should 4. Quoted in: A.G. Noorani, The Muslims as outsiders. As early as be similarly constituted. But it Trial of Bhagat Singh – Politics 1908–09, Parmanand called for the should be distinctly understood of Justice, Oxford University total exchange of Hindu and Muslim that this is not a united India. It Press. populations in two specific areas. means a clear partition of India 5. Cited in R.C. Majumdar, History According to his plan, elaborated in into a Muslim India and a non- of the Freedom Movement his autobiography, Muslim India.12 in India, Vol. I, Firma K.L. The territory beyond Sind should Lajpat Rai proposed the partition Mukhopadhyay, Calcutta, 1971, be united with Afghanistan of Punjab in the following words, pp. 295–296. and the North-West Frontier I would suggest that a remedy 6. Cited in R.C. Majumdar, Three Province into a great Mussalman should be sought by which the Phases of India’s Struggle for kingdom. The Hindus of the Muslims might get a decisive Freedom, Bharatiya Vidya region should come away, while majority without trampling on Bhavan, Bombay, 1961, p. 8. at the same time Mussalman in the sensitiveness of the Hindus 7. Ibid. the rest of India should go and and the Sikhs. My suggestion 8. Ibid. settle in this territory.9 is that the Punjab should be 9. Bhai Parmanand, in pamphlet Lajpat Rai (1865–1928), a partitioned into two provinces, titled, “The Hindu National renowned leader of the Congress, the Western Punjab with a Movement”, cited in B.R. the Hindu Mahasabha as well of the large Muslim majority, to be Ambedkar, Pakistan or the Arya Samaj, was another prominent a Muslim-governed Province; Partition of India, Government advocate of the two-nation theory. and the Eastern Punjab, with of Maharashtra, Bombay, 1990, A.G. Noorani writes that: a large Hindu–Sikhs majority, pp. 35–36. Long before Mohammad to be a non-Muslim governed 10. A.G. Noorani, “Parivar & Ali Jinnah pronounced his Province.13 Partition”, Frontline, Chennai, poisonous two-nation theory in It may be noted that the Muslim August 22, 2014, p. 52. 1939 and demanded a ruinous flag-bearers of the two-nation 11. Ibid., p. 53. partition of India in 1940, the theory had a fair knowledge of 12. Lala Lajpat Rai, “Hindu–Muslim Mahasabha leaders like Lala theories propounded by Lajpat Rai Problem XI”, The Tribune, Lajpat Rai and Savarkar had and others. However, instead of Lahore, December 14, 1924, p. openly advocated this theory. . .10 challenging this anti-national and 8. In 1899, Lajpat Rai while writing anti-Muslim theory, they simply 13. Cited in A.G. Noorani, “Parivar an article for the Indian National copied it. & Partition”, op. cit., p. 54. Congress in the Hindustan Review JANATA, May 27, 2018 15 Citizens’ Statement on Police Violence Against Sterlite Protestors in Thoothukudi

On May 22, 2018, the Tamil 7 locations within Sterlite factory toxic terrorism unleashed by Sterlite Nadu police opened fire in premises and 8 from villages and permanently close down the Thoothukudi on a protest march around the factory. The results polluting unit. in which thousands of people were revealed widespread and high We also demand of the Govt. participating, demanding the closure levels of contamination in all 15 of TN immediate disbursement of of the Sterlite Copper Plant in their groundwater sources. Levels of the at least Rs. 1 crore compensation to area. At least 13 people have died neurotoxin heavy metal lead, which the families of each of the deceased in the firing, and hundreds injured. is particularly toxic to children, were persons, Rs. 50 lakhs to each of The police even gave hot pursuit and found to be between 4 and 55 times the severely injured persons and a shot at women and others in fishing higher than levels considered safe permanent government job to at least hamlets like Theresepuram. for drinking water. one member in the family of each of The people who died are just The company has been shut the deceased. ordinary people who have been down many a times through court Sd/ by over 100 activists from forced to take to the streets, and orders for violation of environmental all over the country. march to the Collectorate to demand safeguards, since 1998. At least action from an administration 15 workers have died and many that has systematically and for have been injured due to hazardous decades failed to enforce the law working conditions.In 2013, the on Sterlite, and allowed it to violate Supreme Court of India too found the environmental and land use planning company guilty of misrepresentation, laws with impunity for over two unlicensed operation and polluting decades. the environment, but curiously The District Collector, the allowed the company to operate after chairperson and member secretary paying a small fine as it felt India of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control needed the copper. Board, the Secretaries holding The company failed to reform its the environment portfolios in the ways even after this narrow judicial Central and State governments, escape. The regulators—TNPCB the Ministers of Environment at and Ministry of Environment and the State and Centre, and the Chief Forests—too continued their cosy Minister of Tamil Nadu need to relationship with Sterlite ignoring account for their inaction in the blatant violations of statutory face of overwhelming evidence of conditions and clear indications of illegalities, environmental harm and pollution. damage to public health. The Government of Tamil Nadu Just two months ago, on March has lost its moral right to govern, 24th 2018, there was a similar protest and should at the very least ensure in which too tens of thousands that the senior ministers who failed of people had participated. This to read the signs properly and take forced the Tamil Nadu Pollution preventive action resign. But before Control Board (TNPCB) and the anything else, the Government Rural Development Officer (RDO), of Tamil Nadu should have the to take groundwater samples from decency to declare an end to the R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, May 27, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, May 27, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, May 30, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 19 Make in India to Kill in India June 3, 2018 Sankara Narayanan BJP's New Sand Mining Policy: Award Contracts to Party After Raigad, Jaitapur waste in the lowest-wage country is Supporters (Maharashtra), Kalinganagar, impeccable and we should face up Sandeep Pandey Niyamgiri, Gandhamardhan, to that.” Sterlite Copper is a perfect Dhinkia and Khandadhar example of WB’s expectations. Archbishop’s Letter: Storm in (Odisha), Nandigram, Singur The most serious issue with a Tea Cup (West Bengal), Dandakaranya, regards to the Sterlite Copper plant, Irfan Engineer Raipur (Chhatishgarh), Saranda like every other toxic industry, is (Jharkhand), Singrouli (MP), the ecological damage inflicted on Strife Torn Kashmir: Longings Kovvada, Sompeta (Andhra Pradesh) the surroundings. Right from its for Peace and Koodankulam and Neduvasal inception in 1993, the Sterlite plant Ram Puniyani (Tamil Nadu), the recent unfortunate has been facing resistance from events at the copper smelter plant the fishermen groups and the local Guilty Men of Two-Nation of Sterlite Industries at Tuticorin people. According to residents, the Theory: bring out the basic issue back to the area in the vicinity of the unit is A Hindutva Project Borrowed table. Can the state agencies and the unfit for human habitation. Sterlite by Jinnah in India companies impose projects on the is accused of discharging noxious Shamsul Islam unwilling people? gases, especially during night. Lawrence Summers, the Medicines have become the staple Editor : G.G.Parikh World Bank's chief economist in diet for the people living around the a confidential memo in 1991 said, plant. Impotency and abortion rates Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain “Shouldn't the WB be encouraging are also common now. Eye irritation Managing Editor : Guddi more migration of the dirty industries and disease and death of cattle are to the LDCs (Less Developed some of the other complaints. Editorial Board : Countries)? The measurement of Because of the polluted air and B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali the costs of the health impairing ground water, respiratory problems, Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah pollution depends on the foregone skin rashes and related problems Nandu Dhaneshwar, earnings from increased morbidity are rampant. Way back in 1998, the Sandeep Pandey and mortality. From this point of National Environment Engineering view, a given amount of health- Research Institute (NEERI), on the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, impairing pollution should be done instructions of the Madras High Naushir Bharucha Marg, in the country with the lowest cost, Court, checked out groundwater Mumbai - 400 007. which will be the country of the samples taken from a bore well Email : [email protected] lowest wages. I think the economic adjacent to Sterlite's surge pond. It Website:www.janataweekly.org logic behind dumping a load of toxic found the presence of heavy metals 2 JANATA, June 3, 2018 way beyond permissible levels, Explaining this, the Supreme Court hazardous or inherently dangerous including arsenic and aluminum. stated: "Article 21 protects the nature of the activity which it has With several litigations going right to life as a fundamental right. undertaken.” on in various courts against the Enjoyment of life . . . including [the In 1996, in the Udaipur Chemical plant, the persistent opposition right to live] with human dignity Industry case, the court pointed out from the local people and now the encompasses within its ambit, the that the rule of absolute liability is latest police firing that killed 13 protection and preservation of premised on the very nature of the people, the plant’s future appears environment, ecological balance activity carried on and that “the to be very bleak, despite the covert free from pollution of air and water, enterprise carrying on the hazardous assistance provided to the company sanitation, without which life cannot or inherently dangerous activity from state agencies. The TNPCB be enjoyed.” alone has the resource to discover has issued a closure notice to the Our Constitution evinces great and guard against hazards or dangers company, and the power supply is concern for the environment. and not the person affected.” disconnected. The Chief Minister Article 48-A of the Directive The Supreme Court further of Tamil Nadu has also announced Principles mandates that the State introduced the Polluter Pays his government’s intention to close shall endeavour to protect and Principle, wherein it stated that down the plant. (As this article was improve the environment. One of the financial costs of preventing going to the press came the news that the fundamental duties prescribed or remedying damage caused the TN Government has ordered the in Article 51-A is to protect and by pollution should lie with the permanent shut down of the plant improve the natural environment. undertakings that cause the pollution. – Editor.) Despite these constitutional Under this principle, it is not the How could a plant of such provisions, pollution continued role of the government to meet the hazardous nature play havoc with unabated. The river Ganges was costs involved in either prevention the environment and the lives of brazenly polluted by the discharge of such damage, or in carrying out people for over two decades? We of effluents by some tanneries in remedial action, because the effect have adequate laws to deal with Kanpur who, despite notices issued of this would be to shift the financial poisonous industries. Even the by the Supreme Court to take steps burden of the pollution incident on health inspector of a municipality for the primary treatment of industrial the taxpayer. is vested with powers to shut down effluent, had utterly failed to do so. In its subsequent judgment such toxic industries. Yet rarely Hence the court was constrained to in the Vellore Tannery case, the these laws are enforced resulting issue directions for the closure of the court held that “the Precautionary in massive pollution of the air and tanneries. The court was conscious Principle and the Polluter Pays water sources and destruction of that closure of tanneries may bring Principle are essential features of health and livelihoods of people unemployment and loss of revenue, Sustainable Development.” This living around such plants. but it significantly ruled that “life, is a milestone judgment in our The Supreme Court has health and ecology have greater environmental jurisprudence. The delivered several pathbreaking importance to the people.” court reaffirmed the Polluter Pays judgments in the past three decades A five-judge bench, in the Principle laid down in its previous with regards to environmentally Oleum Gas Leak case, unanimously judgments to mean that “the absolute polluting industries (in cases relating ruled that “an enterprise which is liability for harm to the environment to Kanpur tannery, Oleum gas engaged in a hazardous or inherently extends not only to compensate the leak, Udaipur chemical industry, dangerous industry which poses a victims of pollution but also the Vellore tannery, Tirupur dyeing, etc). potential threat to the health and cost of restoring the environmental One of the vital guarantees in our safety of the persons working in degradation. Remediation of the Constitution is the protection of the the factory and residing in the damaged environment is part of the Right to Life enshrined in Article 21. surrounding areas owes an absolute process of Sustainable Development The apex court expanded the concept and non-delegable duty to the and as such the polluter is liable of the right to life to include the community to ensure that no harm to pay the cost to the individual right to a wholesome environment. results to anyone on account of sufferers as well as the cost of JANATA, June 3, 2018 3 reversing the damaged ecology.” mandates that it is not the role of the primary concern of any civilised Supreme Court judgements the government to meet the costs democratic government. Foreign constitute the law of the land and involved in either prevention of multinationals are not solicitors of are binding on all courts, authorities ecological damage or in carrying the fundamental rights of our people. and persons. Yet Sterlite Copper out remedial measures. No part of The Bhopal Gas case is a burning has violated three important rulings the liability arising out of industrial reminder. of the apex court, namely: (1) pollution can be limited nor passed It is very doubtful that the Precautionary Principle; (2) Polluter on to the government. present governments at Chennai Pays Principle; & (3) Sustainable There can be two views about and Delhi will force Sterlite to Development. These violations the advantages or disadvantages implement remedial measures to by the Sterlite were allowed and of foreign investment in India. But bring the ecology back to its original blessed by the State agencies and there can be only one view regarding state and compensate all the victims, unfortunately the judiciary also environmental pollution: the health, both now and in the times to come. rendered a helping hand disregarding well-being and protection of our Let’s hope the judiciary comes to the its own directives. people are paramount and must people’s aid in this, it appears to be With the prospect of Sterlite override revenue considerations. the only ray of hope for the people Copper closing its shop looking It would be against the cherished of Tuticorin. bright, Tuticorin is facing a hazardous fundamental rights of the people of future. The Supreme Court’s ruling India, whose protection should be Email: [email protected]

BJP's New Sand Mining Policy: Award Contracts to Party Supporters

Sandeep Pandey

When Bhartiya Janata Party and officials have had to pay with Reliable Infrabuild, Gorakhpur government was formed in Uttar their lives if they tried to take action and Globe India Infrastructure, Pradesh under the leadership of Yogi against illegal operations. To recall a Maharajganj in the bed of Narayani Adityanath a number of educated few incidents, the sand mafia killed or Badi Gandak river in Kushinagar middle class people thought that deputy tehsildar R. Venkatesan in district. All these companies are days of caste politics and corruption 2004 in Tamil Nadu, IPS officer connected to BJP Members of were over. They were expecting a Narendra Kumar was killed in Parliament Guddu Pandey from clean government. Morena (MP) in 2012, forest guard Padrauna, Harish Dwivedi from The Yogi Adityanath government Narendra Sharma was run over by a Basti and Pankaj Chaudhary from cancelled all sand mining contracts tractor trolley and crushed to death Maharajganj, and were recommended alleging illegality and corruption in Raira, Gwalior (MP) in 2016, by at least another ten BJP Members in operations and announced that and earlier this year, Boyini Sayulu, of Legislative Assembly. These it will soon come up with a new a Village Revenue Assistant, in contracts are expected to fetch Rs. sand mining policy. This seemed Kamareddy, Telengana was mowed 2,47,61,520, Rs. 2,65,21,530 and Rs. justified because the escapades of down by the sand mafia when he 2,32,45,410 respectively, as revenue Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, the Mining tried to stop a sand tractor which was for the government in the first year. Minister in the previous government, illegally transporting sand. This means that government will were fresh in public memory. Illegal Now, the UP Government has get a total of Rs. 7,45,28,460 from sand mining is not just a menace in awarded three sand mining contracts these contracts. A tractor trolley, UP but is an all India phenomena to Suprayas Construction, Deoria, which can fill upto 3 cubic metres 4 JANATA, June 3, 2018 of sand, is sold for Rs 4,000 in the one end of the AP embankment, is has been forced to go on leave and market. The cost that the contractor leading a sit-in at Virvat Konhwalia the two Sinhas have been suspended. is required to pay to the government village on the embankment for It needs to be investigated that on is only Rs 65 per cu.m. The margin the last more than hundred days, whose behest these three senior is enormous. since 3 February, 2018, demanding officers were acting ? No mining contract has been cancellation of the above mentioned Far from checking corruption awarded ever before in this area. three contracts. Nineteen protestors the BJP government seems to have These contracts were awarded were arrested by the district opened new avenues for it, at higher without the formation of a sub- administration on false charges on rates. It has failed to demonstrate the divisional committee or a appraisal 6 April 2018, of which 17 have been political will to act against illegal committee which is required for released on bail. Narad and Gautam sand mining business. Instead, it taking a decision on this matter. Singh are still in jail facing charges too has adopted the beaten path, Instead, a junior officer, an Assistant of dacoity and attempt to murder, where politicians become part of the Engineer, was made to sign the whereas the fact is that the protestors bandwagon of corruption. approval for these contracts. caught six trucks illegally carrying Interestingly, a senior sand. Because of the continuous Email: [email protected] executive engineer of the Irrigation sit-in of the villagers, the mining department, who is in-charge of activity in the river has come to a floods, has written a letter to the standstill. District Magistrate, Kushinagar on In an unrelated incident and a Janata 2 February 2018 that sand mining major scandal, the Forest Department is available at in this area will be a threat to the of the UP government has registered 17 km long Ahiraulidan–Pipraghat a First Information Report on 5 www.lohiatoday.com (AP) embankment on the UP–Bihar May 2018 against its own officials border. This provides protection serving on deputation, the Managing to close to 50 villages having a Director, UP Forest Corporation, Janata total population of 1.5 lakh. The S.K. Sharma, Additional Principal river is notorious for its vagarious Chief Conservator of Forests and behaviour, as it has dramatically General Managar Manoj Sinha Subscription changed its course and devoured a and Divisional Manager, Eco- number of villages in the past. It restoration, G.C. Sinha, for inviting Annual Rs. : 260/- is ironical that against an expected online tenders for coarse sand Three Years : 750/- revenue of Rs 7.5 crore from the mining under the euphemism of new sand mining contracts, the 'eco-restoration,' in violation of State government spent Rs 22 crores in and Central government norms and Demand Draft / 2016–17 and another Rs 36 crores regulations. The proposed activities in 2017–18 for protection of the were to be carried out in Nazimabad, Cheque on embankment from erosion by the Urai, Hamirpur, Mirzapur and Mumbai Bank river. Even if we attach no cost to Sonebhadra on forest land, which the lives of the people who will be was completely illegal. Could the in favour of drowned if there is a breach in the three senior officers have undertaken embankment, even then no cost- the exercise in violation of Indian JANATA TRUST benefit analysis can justify these Forest Act and Supreme Court ban D-15, Ganesh Prasad, contracts! on sand mining in forest areas on The leader of the Congress their own, without any external Naushir Bharucha Marg, Legislature Party in UP, Ajay Kumar political pressure acting on them? Grant Road (W), Lallu, who happens to be the MLA Did they not know that they would be Mumbai 400 007. from Sewrahi, which is located at liable to be punished? S.K. Sharma JANATA, June 3, 2018 5 Archbishop’s Letter: Storm in a Tea Cup

Irfan Engineer

The gross over reaction of in our Constitution and secular of the privileged upper caste Hindu the Sangh Parivar to the letter fabric of our nation.” The two most traditions and is proved only if one of Archbishop of Delhi, Anil important persons after the PM says jai shri Ram, Bharat mata ki Couto, dated 8 May 2018 and Narendra Modi in the BJP and in jai and singing Vande mataram addressed to all parish priests the NDA Government responded to which, often, they themselves cannot and religious institutions in the the letter. Rajnath Singh, Minister sing. Variants of these like jai Hind Archdiocese of Delhi asking them of Home Affairs, said, “there was which is the tradition in the security to pray for ‘our nation’ seems no discrimination against anyone”. forces, or hoisting the national to be well calculated. The letter The letter made no claim to the tricolour, would not do. Expressing begins with the observation: “We contrary. Amit Shah’s response nationalism through constitutionally are witnessing a turbulent political was: “polarising people in the name acceptable methods and plural atmosphere which poses a threat to of religion” was “not appropriate”. traditions but which are not in the democratic principles enshrined The letter remotely doesn’t seek conformity with the desires of Hindu in our Constitution and the secular to polarise in the name of religion. supremacists becomes ground for fabric of our nation.” The letter then In fact it calls upon people to pray them to indulge in violence and hate requests the 138 parish priests and 5 for principles enshrined in the crimes. Violence against Muslims, religious institutions within Delhi to Constitution and preserve the secular Christians, Dalits and women are on observe “a Day of Fast every Friday fabric of the nation. Both the leaders, the rise. Social hostilities based on . . . offering our penance and all our and other Hindu supremacists, read religion are on the rise, particularly sacrifices for our spiritual renewal something that is not there in the as the Hindu supremacists find and that of our nation.” Assuming letter or want to deliberately draw an enabling environment where that the request is complied by all the conclusions to give it a political politically influential leaders 138 parish priests addressed in the colour. and even ministers spout hatred letter, it is still a very tiny number. Elections are one year later and against Muslims and Christians. Christians (including Protestants the letter will be forgotten by most Muslims are often advised to take who are not addressed in the letter) people. Even if remembered, a very permanent residency in Pakistan, are 0.87% of Delhi’s population. The tiny section could hardly influence an enemy state according to Hindu Hindu supremacists project the letter the outcome of the elections. supremacists. Pakistan is projected as a huge problem even when this Besides, elections are almost always to be patron state of Muslims in very tiny section of the population round the corner in some state or the India. The BJP President Amit Shah which hardly counts politically was other and such a letter could always publicly asserted while campaigning addressed! However, by responding be problematised whenever written. during Bihar Assembly elections— to an otherwise innocuous letter, the ‘Pakistan will celebrate if BJP BJP leaders have made it a national Turbulent political atmosphere loses elections in some innocuous issue reaching out to a much wider The surge in hate spouted by Indian state’. Beef eaters (read: audience. the Hindu supremacists against Muslims and Christians) are advised The Hindu supremacists have non-Hindus is visible to all. to emigrate to Pakistan (Anil Vij, problematised the timing of the To the Hindutva followers, the Minister in Haryana). letter—just one year before the test of nationalism is neither in A Minister in the Central General Elections, as well as the following Constitutional values Government Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti observation of the Archbishop nor in respecting rule of law nor in publicly stated that Hindus were about the “turbulent political respecting democratic institutions Ramzade (progeny of Lord Ram) atmosphere which poses threat to like the legislature or judiciary. Their and the rest—Muslims, Christians, the democratic principles enshrined test of nationalism asserts supremacy Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, 6 JANATA, June 3, 2018 atheists who do not accept Lord Ram Mohd. Afrajul was hacked Religious festivals are becoming to be their God—are haramzade to death and then burnt alive tense moments for communities. (bastards). The Sadhvi continues in Rajsamand (Rajasthan) by Crime against women are on as minister and she was not even Shambhulal Raigar, a follower of increase. Rape in Kathua was reprimanded. Maneka Gandhi, Hindu supremacist ideology. He motivated by religious hostility and another Union Minister, said the videographed the incident and the Hindu Ekta Manch organised profit from cow slaughter was uploaded it for popularity. Junaid massive demonstrations in defence financing terrorism. Sakshi Maharaj, Khan and Mohammed Akhlaq were of the accused. A BJP MLA in UP BJP MP, asserted that Madrasas lynched to death. Recently a Dalit has been arrested for raping a child (religious schools run by Muslims) youth Mukesh Vaniya was beaten to and later beating her father to death were terrorist training centres. The death in Rajkot for refusing to clean along with other accomplices. We person who asserted that Hindus up a factory premise belonging to could fill pages with sordid cases. If should forcibly marry 100 Muslim an upper caste. Those who lynched these are not turbulent times, what women (and convert them to Pehlu Khan to death in Rajasthan else could be? The PM of the country Hinduism) for every Hindu woman have been discharged and the has by and large remained silent on who chooses to marry a Muslim accused freed. Survivors of mob all these issues. man (and gets converted to Islam), lynchings have on the contrary been Pew Research Centre, an has been made Chief Minister of UP. charged. independent non-partisan polling Attacks on Churches and Communal conflicts have and research organisation, has prayer meetings of Christians escalated. Communal violence has been publishing its annual Global have dramatically increased. increased in Bihar since Nitish Restrictions on Religion Report Instead of arresting the criminals, Kumar aligned with the BJP to form since 2009. In their research, India they are sought to be protected the state government. Massive Ram ranked fourth in the world in 2015— by categorising the attacker/s as Navmi processions were taken out in after Syria, Nigeria and Iraq—as mentally disturbed person/s. Mob March 2018 in several towns through having the highest social hostilities lynching of Muslims and Dalits new sensitive routes passing through involving religion. India's ranking on accusations of consuming beef minority areas in order to provoke worsened sharply since 2014. The or slaughtering cows have grown and resulting in communal violence. report comprises of two indices—the manifold in the last four years. In Kasganj, Muslims celebrating Government Restrictions Index and Republic Day were asked to halt their the Social Hostilities Index. While Table 1: Incidents of Mob Lynching Indian flag hoisting to make way for the former measures government on Accusation of Cow Slaughter a bike rally of Hindu supremacist restrictions on the free practice of and on requesting them to wait a religion, the latter looks at hostilities Year No. of incidents little, they sparked off a communal between groups around the issue of 2010 - riot. In West Bengal, there were riots religion. The Social Hostilities Index 2011 - during Muharram and Ram Navmi. looks at 13 indicators including crimes motivated by religious hatred, Table 2: Number of Communal 2012 1 mob violence related to religion, Incidents in the Years 2014–2017 2013 1 communal violence, religion- Year No. of Deaths Injured related terrorist groups, using force 2014 3 Incidents to prevent religious groups from 2015 13 2014 561 90 1688 operating, the harassment of women for ‘violating’ religious dress codes 2016 25 2015 650 84 1979 and violence over conversion or 2017 35 2016 703 86 2321 proselytising. India ranked ‘very high’ on the index with an index Total 78 2017 822 111 2384 value of 8.7 out of 10, 10 being the Source: www.indiaspend.com & Source: Ministry of Home worst. Syria ranked at 9.2, Nigeria www.news18.com Affairs’ reply in Parliament at 9.1 and Iraq at 8.9 JANATA, June 3, 2018 7

Real reason that relations between religion and accordance with our Constitutional Hindu supremacist leaders politics should be like those between principles, but is against the problematise the Archbishop’s letter husband and wife. Just as the wife political ideology of Hindutva. It as polarisin g and influencing voters. needs to serve the husband and the is the secularism and loyalty of the Such a conclusion would be a very husband needs to protect his wife, minorities to the principles enshrined remote possibility, and as pointed politics should serve religion. In in the Constitution that worries the out above, would not influence his words, “Rajniti par dharam ka Hindu supremacists and the BJP. The the outcome. However, appeal by ankush zaroori hai. Dharam pati hai, BJP leaders have always ridiculed varied Hindu God men is far more rajneeti patni. Har pati ki yeh duty secularism as assickularism. The direct and materially influences hoti hai apni patni ko sanrakshan BJP has problematised Archbishop’s electoral outcomes. To give just de. Har patni ka dharam hota hai ki letter mainly because being from a few examples, Haryana Chief woh pati ke anushasan ko sweekar the minority community he has Minister and several ministers visited kare. Agar rajneeti par dharam ka dared to speak up for Constitutional controversial godman Gurmeet ankush na ho toh woh magan-mast principles and the secular fabric of Ram Rahim Singh’s Ashram and haathi ki tarah ho jaati hai.” The our nation. he is known to have appealed to Monk’s assertion is against both the The revered ideologue of his followers to vote for the BJP. Constitutional principle of equality Hindutva—M.S. Golwalkar— The Ashram was a beneficiary of of genders and secularism. wanted that minorities should dream Haryana Government funds. Another When other parties approach of nothing but the glory of Hindu controversial godman Asaram was Imam Bukhari for Muslim votes, (read upper caste) nation and Hindu visited by the then Gujarat Chief then that becomes anti-secular and upper caste traditions and symbols. Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader even anti-national (although election The objective of Hindu supremacists Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other results do not bear out that Muslims is to relegate the minorities to the leaders (for votes obviously) and his vote according to the diktats of Imam status of second class citizens. Ashram in turn has been a beneficiary Bukhari or for that matter any other Bharatkumar Raut, former Rajya of government largesse in the form Muslim religious leaders). In the Sabha member of Shiv Sena—a of land and the State turning a blind 2014 General Elections, Rajnath party that subscribes to Hindutva eye to illegal activities going on Singh hobnobbed with Shia religious ideology—even wrote an article within the Ashram. leaders. It is difficult to believe demanding that the Muslims be Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali empire that during election time such a disenfranchised—a demand which rapidly expanded after the BJP visit by the BJP leader was only a is a punishable offence under section came to power. Patanjali’s Acharya courtesy call without any electoral 153B of the IPC. Balkrishna has become the 8th and political motive. It is the idea of equality of all richest person in the country with The BJP is not worried that the citizens that scares the BJP though a 173% rise in his wealth to Rs innocuous letter by the Archbishop it pays lip service to sabka saath 70,000 crore. Patanjali has secured will contribute in any way towards sabka vikaas (with everyone and the second place in Indian FMCG losing even a few votes. Its real development of everyone). Even if market share in under 5 years, objective in problematising the this slogan is sincerely implemented, according to Hurun India Rich List letter is that it wants to create a fear it would actually negate the 2017 (BT Online 2017). The rapid among the majority community democratic principles enshrined in growth is because Baba Ramdev is about (non-existing) unity within our Constitution. It only asserts that openly associated with the BJP and the minority community. They if the infrastructure of an area is has been given government land at scare the majority community that developed, all communities would highly concessional rates in several unity within minorities would lead benefit ‘equally’. However, that is states ruled by the BJP. The Haryana to assertion of ‘their’ culture and not true. If a road passes through a government invited the Digamber dilution of the Hindu culture or village, those people having vehicles Jain monk Tarun Sagar to address the ‘Hinduness’ of the nation. Minorities would benefit more than others; and State Legislative Assembly for 40 struggle for secularism and space for which village gets the road is itself a minutes. In his address, he asserted their culture, which is perfectly in political decision and may be based 8 JANATA, June 3, 2018 on which community or caste forms the rule of law and have the freedom the secular fabric of our nation are the majority in the village. to do so because they belong to the questioned because they belong to What kind of new India do we majority religion, while those who minorities? want to build? Do we want to build an stand up for democratic principles India where lynch mobs undermine enshrined in our Constitution and Email: [email protected]

Strife Torn Kashmir: Longings for Peace

Ram Puniyani

The Green of the valley has 2018, forty militants, twenty four has been calling for a dialogue, but regularly witnessed the blood of soldiers and thirty seven civilians she has been overruled by the BJP, as militants, Kashmiris, personnel from have lost their lives. While the the latter’s interests are to maintain armed forces and now even those PDP earlier was talking separatist the intimidating dominating attitude of tourists. On May 2 this year, a language, it later tied up with the for its electoral and divisive Hindu school bus was stoned leading to Hindu nationalist BJP, which has nationalist goals. a class 2 student suffering a head been asking for abolition of article Most of the times; all the blame injury. This is the background 370 (the autonomy clause), for the for the discontent among the people is in which Mehbooba Mufti, the sake of grabbing power. The BJP is put on instigation from Pakistan. The Chief Minister of Kashmir, sitting wearing its anti minority stance on fact is that Kashmiris are dissatisfied on the heap of a coalition, which its sleeves and is out to undermine due to multiple factors, role of is ideologically spilt down the the Muslim majority of the state. Pakistan being just one of these. The middle, requested for a unilateral Mehbooba Mufti is in a Catch-22 Al Qaeda clones are another and the ceasefire in Kashmir in the holy situation; neither can she implement attitude of the army is not helping the month of Ramadan. Kashmir lately policies which can sooth local matters in any way. The army’s basic has witnessed increased violence sentiments nor is she able to counter duty is to protect the borders from as the Central Government, which the high handed Hindutva policies of the enemies. Here a civilian area is calling the shots in Kashmir, has its ally BJP. Mufti is forced to remain is under army control for decades. adopted an iron fist policy, in place a mute witness to the Centre’s high The army’s attitude was exemplified of the earlier one wherein it was handed attitude in Kashmir, barring when Farooq Ahmad Dar, a weaver partly sensitive to the grievances probably the lone example of Kathua who had come to cast his vote, was of local population. It is during this rape and murder where she could used as a human shield. The army period that the fake encounter of assert herself and the BJP leaders is trying to defend the action of the Burhan Wani unleashed a series of had to bite the dust. officer who subjected a civilian to protests, and the disgruntled and The present scenario, worsening such an ignominy. He was tied for alienated youth intensified their by the day, may affect tourism, over five hours and now he has to favorite method of protest, ‘stone which is the prime source of revenue live with this humiliation all his life. pelting’. Now the frustration levels for the State. The plight of the Can such attitudes let the people of the protesters are so high that they average Kashmiri needs empathy as live their lives in a normal way? are not scared of the consequences with BJP rule in the Centre, matters The central hallmark of democracy of the repressive steps of the State. have taken an adverse direction. The is the process of dialogue, which is The earlier UPA era of ‘dialogue simmering discontent, which came missing in the State. Many earlier with firm handling’ has given way out in the form of stone pelting, is leaders had attempted to bring peace; to the muscular, hyper nationalist, worsening by the day due to lack of Vajpayee’s famous doctrine aimed high handed attitude, which in mechanisms of democratic protests at peace, progress and prosperity in turn has increased incidences of and the possibility of dialogue from the Valley by bringing in the spirit violence in the valley. So far in the authorities. The Chief Minster of Insaniyat (Humanity), Jamhuriyat JANATA, June 3, 2018 9

(Democracy) and Kashmiriyat (Identity of the people of Kashmir). Chavismo: Part II It also aimed at improving relations Marco Teruggi with Pakistan. Mehbooba Mufti is reminding the present rules of the Vajpayee doctrine, but her plea An Organisational Path seems to be falling on deaf ears. UPA II undertook a major step by Go for a walk in any humble massive shift to sectoral/claiming appointing a team of interlocutors, neighborhood of Venezuela—urban organisational processes. Each need Dileep Padgaonkar, M.M. Ansari or rural—and you will always find was developed into a participation and Radha Kumar. They undertook some form of organisation. It never process. It was the stage in which exte nsive interactions with diverse fails. It is no accident, it is a way to the revolution faced the coup-led groups in the state and submitted cultivate ongoing politics from point assaults of the right-wingers, which their recommendations, which zero of the revolution. From the first came to paralyse the oil industry and basically called for promoting speeches of Hugo Chavez to his last almost the whole country. autonomy of the State assembly, remarks, the call for organisation dialogue and improvement of was constant. It was, along with Socialist Horizon relations with Pakistan. The report the unravelling of the historic debt, The second moment can be has been completely ignored. It is the essential task. Moreover, it was understood until 2012. A time of time that this report, the last major through organisation that it was defeats and strategic ravings by the step at reconciliation on the issue, possible to respond to the avalanche right, it was also a time for Chavez is revived to bring in peace in the of demands Chavismo faced during to consolidate his government and Valley. The BJP’s role in the alliance its first years and for which the himself as leader. The economy grew has been very negative and has institutional framework had no and the socialist horizon appeared. marginalised the Muslim community capacity to respond. It was no longer about boosting in a Muslim majority state. The You can build a genealogy of organisational experiences in terms question we need to ask is, can the organisational forms: from of sectoral demands, but trying out Mehbooba Mufti assert herself to social missions, public meal homes, forms of organisation that carry the articulate the democratic aspirations public water aid, the Bolivarian power of the transition to socialism. of the people of Kashmir? The anger circles, urban land committees, They are centrally the communal of people against Mufti has grown Zamorano communal haciendas, councils and the communes, which immensely. The ceasefire declared communal councils, communes, must install community governments by the government is a welcome presidential councils of popular in their territories. move and it needs to be backed up government, to the local supply Finally, the current stage, from by humane policies to restore peace and production committees. Each the death of Chavez in 2013 to the in the Valley. experience responded to the material present. It is a period marked by and political needs of the moment; it a siege on all fronts. New trials Email: [email protected] was part of a learning and collective of transition and co-government creation. appeared, such as the presidential Spectre of Fascism Arranging global affairs, being councils of popular government endangered like any order within and a centralisation in local food Contribution Rs. 20/- a multitudinous and heterogeneous distribution committees. This process, one could speak of three decision can be read in pragmatic Published by moments. The first, from 1999 to terms in view of the need to respond Janata Trust & Lokayat 2006, marked the constituent process to the economic crisis, as well as D-15, Ganesh Prasad, for national refoundation, followed under the predominance of a political Naushir Bharucha Marg, by the resolution of the historic view that discovers communal Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 debt in water, health, education, possibilities. identification, food, with the The common thread between 10 JANATA, June 3, 2018 the three periods lies in the call which also resulted in political about the perspectives that carry by the leadership / government dependence, raised by Chavez different organisational forms. to the organisation. In this himself. To what extent is this The local supply and production permanent process, one of the people's power actual power? committees have been thought of central dimensions of Chavismo was The unity between political as palliative mechanisms in an formed, which is his experience of identity and organisational processes emergency situation, not as socialist collective organisation. I speak of gives Chavismo a radicalism to forms of trial in a transitional tens of thousands of communal or advance and resist this era. It is perspective. That can and should production committees councils, possible to investigate what has be the communes, which are the for example. been left in the territories, what territorialisation of socialism, the predominates in these adversities test of establishing it on communal Political Revolution that seek to destroy this weave. Some governments with the capacity It is an essential part of the experiences were integrated with for self-management capacity, of political revolution, which was others, in particular to communal being a new institutionality with ahead of the economic one. councils and communes. Others have the capacity to exercise a communal Men and women who had never returned for the needs, such as the and national power. An articulated participated politically, nor had feeding houses, while the production network of communes covering the any previous experience. It was committees took centrality in an country to come, beyond parties, about the democratic eruption of accelerated way in the communities. movements, institutions. To put it the excluded, at the same time It could not be otherwise: they are a another way: without communal as the emergence of new forms partial food response when food is development, where is the socialism of democracy, particularly in the scarce or unaffordable. You could of the 21st century? What is 21st communes: 'the expression of a hardly have started on that scale century socialism? It is a question new political culture.' Organisation, without all the previous experience about the strategic project. formation and mobilisation: the accumulated. Without this organisation revolutionary triad, the meeting in constant growth, there is no between a call and a need. With a Chavez Formula possibility of founding the new. weakness: the material dependency It is good to go further in the It is the Chavez formula. of the organisation on institutions, analysis and enter into debate

Guilty Men of Two-Nation Theory: A Hindutva Project Borrowed by Jinnah in India - II

Shamsul Islam

Moonje, Har Dayal, Savarkar and While addressing the third session of their own world which will Golwalkar as Prophets of Two- the Oudh Hindu Mahasabha in 1923, prosper through shuddhi and Nation Theory he declared: sangathan.14 Dr. B.S. Moonje was another Just as England belongs to the It was sheer semi-illiteracy of prominent Congress leader (who English, France to the French, Moonje that he presented England, equally dabbled in organising the and Germany to the Germans, France and Germany as justification Hindu Mahasabha and later helped India belongs to the Hindus. for India for Hindus. The English, the RSS in its formation) who carried If Hindus get organised, they the French and the German identities forward the flag of Hindu separatism can humble the English and had nothing to do with religions, long before the Muslim League’s their stooges, the Muslims . . . these were secular identities of the Pakistan resolution of March 1940. The Hindus henceforth create people living in those countries. JANATA, June 3, 2018 11

Lala Har Dayal (1884–1938), from it were further crystallised by antagonistic nations living a well-known name in the Ghadar Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his side by side in India. Several Party circles, too, long before the controversial book Hindutva as early infantile politicians commit the Muslim League’s demand for a as 1923. Interestingly, he was allowed serious mistake in supposing separate homeland for Muslims, to write this polarising book despite that India is already welded into not only demanded the formation being in the British jail. According a harmonious nation, or that of a Hindu nation in India but also to his definition of the Hindu nation, it could be welded thus for the urged the conquest and Hinduisation Muslims and Christians remained mere wish to do so. These our of Afghanistan. In a significant out of this nationhood because they well-meaning but unthinking political statement in 1925, which did not assimilate into Hindu cultural friends take their dreams for was published in the Pratap of heritage or adopt Hindu religion. realities. That is why they are Kanpur, he stated: Savarkar decreed: impatient of communal tangles I declare that the future of the Christians and Mohamedan and attribute them to communal Hindu race, of Hindustan and [sic] communities, who were organisations. But the solid fact of the Punjab, rests on these four but very recently Hindus and is that the so-called communal pillars: (1) Hindu Sangathan, in majority of cases had been questions are but a legacy (2) Hindu Raj, (3) Shuddhi of at least in their first generation handed down to us by centuries Muslims, and (4) Conquest most willing denizens of their of cultural, religious and and Shuddhi of Afghanistan new fold, claim though they national antagonism between and the Frontiers. So long as might a common fatherland, the Hindus and Moslems. When the Hindu Nation does not and an almost pure Hindu blood time is ripe you can solve them; accomplish these four things, and parentage with us cannot but you cannot suppress them the safety of our children and be recognised as Hindus; as by merely refusing recognition great grandchildren will be since their adoption of the new of them. It is safer to diagnose ever in danger, and the safety of cult they had ceased to own and treat deep-seated disease Hindu race will be impossible. Hindu Sanskriti [culture] as a than to ignore it. Let us bravely The Hindu race has but one whole. They belong, or feel that face unpleasant facts as they history, and its institutions are they belong, to a cultural unit are. India cannot be assumed homogenous. But the Mussalman altogether different from the today to be a Unitarian and and Christians are far removed Hindu one. Their heroes and homogenous nation, but on the from the confines of Hindustan, their hero-worship their fairs contrary there are two nations for their religions are alien and and their festivals, their ideals in the main: the Hindus and the they love Persian, Arab, and and their outlook on-life, have Moslems, in India.17 European institutions. Thus, just now ceased to be common with The RSS, following in the as one removes foreign matter ours.16 footsteps of Savarkar, outright from the eye, Shuddhi must be Savarkar, the originator of the rejected the idea that Hindus and made of these two religions. politics of Hindutva, later developed Muslims together constituted a Afghanistan and the hilly regions the most elaborate two-nation theory. nation. The English organ of the of the frontier were formerly part The fact should not be missed RSS, Organiser, on the very eve of of India, but are at present under that Muslim League passed its independence (August 14, 1947), the domination of Islam . . . Just Pakistan resolution only in 1940, but editorially chalked out its concept of as there is Hindu religion in Savarkar, the great philosopher and nation in the following words: Nepal, so there must be Hindu guide of RSS, propagated the two- Let us no longer allow ourselves institutions in Afghanistan and nation theory long before it. While to be influenced by false notions of the frontier territory; otherwise delivering the presidential address nationhood. Much of the mental it is useless to win Swaraj.15 to the 19th session of the Hindu confusion and the present and All such ideas of declaring Mahasabha at Ahmedabad in 1937, future troubles can be removed India as a Hindu nation and Savarkar declared unequivocally, by the ready recognition of the excluding Muslims and Christians As it is, there are two simple fact that in Hindusthan 12 JANATA, June 3, 2018

only the Hindus form the nation address at the 24th session of the become the most important cause and the national structure must Hindu Mahasabha at Cawnpore of persecution of Muslims in India. be built on that safe and sound (Kanpur) in 1942, he defended It is true that India was partitioned foundation . . . the nation itself hobnobbing with the Muslim League in 1947 due to Muslim League’s must be built up of Hindus, on in the following words, demand for a separate homeland for Hindu traditions, culture, ideas In practical politics also the Muslims. And there is no denying and aspirations. Mahasabha knows that we must the fact that the Muslim League was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a keen advance through reasonable able to mobilise a large number of researcher of communal politics compromises. Witness the fact Muslims in favour of its demand. in pre-independence India, that only recently in Sind, the But it is also true that very large while underlying the affinity Sind Hindu Sabha on invitation sections of Indian Muslims and and camaraderie between Hindu had taken the responsibility of their organisations stood against Mahasabha and Muslim League on joining hands with the League the demand for Pakistan. A galaxy the issue of the two-nation theory, itself in running coalition of leading Muslim intellectuals like wrote: government. The case of Bengal Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (who Strange it may appear, Mr. is well known. Wild Leaguers was in the forefront of struggle Savarkar and Mr. Jinnah instead whom even the Congress with against the communal politics of the of being opposed to each other all its submissiveness could not Muslim League and died in 1936), on the one nation versus two placate grew quite reasonably Shaukatullah Ansari, Khan Abdul nations issue are in complete compromising and sociable as Ghaffar Khan, Syed Abdullah Brelvi, agreement about it. Both agree, soon as they came in contact Shaikh Mohammed Abdullah, A.M. not only agree but insist that with the Hindu Mahasabha and Khwaja and Maulana Azad were there are two nations in India— the Coalition government, under associated with this movement one the Muslim nation and the the premiership of Mr. Fazlul against Pakistan. Several Muslim other Hindu nation.18 Huq and the able lead of our organisations produced large number Ambedkar warned that esteemed Mahasabha leader of booklets in Urdu against the two- Savarkar’s rhetoric that “Hindu Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerji, nation theory and in support of co- nation will be enabled to occupy a functioned successfully for a existence of Hindus and Muslims predominant position that is due to year or so to the benefit of both in India. it and the Muslim nation made to the communities. Moreover These ‘Muslims against live in the position of subordinate further events also proved Partition’ challenged the Muslim co-operation with the Hindu nation” demonstratively that the Hindu League theoretically and confronted was “creating a most dangerous Mahasabhaits endeavoured to the latter on the streets. Such situation for safety and security of capture the centres of political Muslims fought heroically, many India”. 19 power only in the public interest times paying with their lives. The lie and not for the loaves and fishes of culpability of all Indian Muslims Hindu Mahasabha Formed of the office.20 for the partition of India continues to Coalition Governments with Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim be spread not only due to the nasty Muslim League League formed a coalition anti-Muslim politics of Hindutva The children of Hindu nationalist government in NWFP also. but also due to the fact that Indian Savarkar who are presently ruling Muslims are not aware of the great India are oblivious of the shocking Muslims Against Partition heritage of their ancestors who fact that the Hindu Mahasabha led One of the greatest lies concerning challenged the politics of the Muslim by Savarkar entered into alliances partition of India continuously League politically, religiously and with the Muslim League in order to spread by the Hindutva gang is physically. break the united freedom struggle, that all Muslims of India in unison Within weeks of the Pakistan especially the 1942 Quit India demanded Pakistan and they got the resolution of the Muslim League at Movement against the British rulers. country divided. This lie, believed Lahore, Indian Muslims organised While delivering the Presidential as truth by the Hindutva cadres, has the ‘Muslim Azad Conference’ JANATA, June 3, 2018 13 in Delhi (Queen’s Park, Chandni literature one finds common classics known as Sheikh-ul-Islam, was a Chowk) between April 27–30, like Heer Ranjha and Sassi Pannu, victim of violent attacks in UP and 1940 (it was to conclude on April written by Muslim poets, equally and Bihar. Maulana Azad, the respected 29 but was extended by one day proudly shared by Hindus, Muslims Ahrar leader Maulana Habibur Rah due to tremendous participation) and Sikhs in the Punjab and in Sind; man, Maulana Ishaq Sambhali, with 1,400 delegates from almost to quote but only one example. It is Hafiz Ibrahim, Maulana Mohd. all parts of India attending it. The a vicious fallacy for Hindu, Muslim Qasim Shajahanpuri and many other leading light of this conference was and other inhabitants of India to leading ulama faced murderous the former Premier of Sind, Allah arrogate to themselves an exclusively attacks. At several places, ulama Bakhsh, who presided over the proprietary right over either the were attacked with daggers causing conference. whole or any particular part of India. severance of body parts, they were The country as an indivisible whole shot and office of the Jamiat at Delhi The major Muslim organisations and as one federated and composite was set on fire. Momin Conference represented in this conference were unit belongs to all the inhabitants meetings were special targets of All India Jamiat-ul-Ulema, All India of the country alike and is as much attack and many of its cadres were Momin Conference, All India Majlis- the inalienable and imprescriptible killed, forcing the Conference to e-Ahrar, All-India Shia Political heritage of the Indian Muslim as warn the Muslim League of war. Conference, Khudai Khidmatgars, of other Indians. No segregated or According to a contemporary Bengal Krishak Proja Party, All-India insolated regions, but the whole of document, Muslim Parliamentary Board, the India is the Homeland of all the It is painful to describe how Anjuman-e-Watan of Baluchistan, Indian Muslim and no Hindu or respected nationalist ulama All India Muslim Majlis and Jamiat Muslim or any other has the right (scholars) and leaders throughout Ahl-e-Hadis. The Conference was to deprive them of one inch of this the country were treated by ML. attended by duly elected delegates Homeland. It was despicable, heartbreaking from all major Provinces, including and inhuman. In villages, towns United Provinces, Bihar, Central Muslim League Terror and cities meetings of nationalist Provinces, Punjab, Sind, NWF How many of us know that long were showered with stones and Province, Madras, Orissa, Bengal, before M.K. Gandhi’s murder by attacked regularly in the most Baluchistan, Delhi, Assam, Ajmer– Hindu nationalists, Allah Bakhsh criminal manner. MNG, the Mewar, Delhi and Bombay, as was murdered on May 14, 1943 volunteer force of ML, indulged well as several native states, thus by professional assassins hired by in unspeakable violence against covering the whole of India.21 There Muslim nationalists (Muslim League nationalist Muslims. It was difficult was no doubt that these delegates leaders) at Shikarpur town in Sind. for nationalist Muslims to travel represented the “majority of India’s He needed to be liquidated as he had as they were attacked ferociously Muslims.” 22 become a symbol of unity amongst while undertaking journeys. All Allah Bakhsh in his presidential Muslims against the Muslim League those opposing Muslim League address declared the Pakistan and its demand for Pakistan, just as were scared and if any dared to resolution as suicidal for Muslims Gandhi had to be killed as he had challenge them had to bear terrible as well as for India. Stressing the become the biggest stumbling block consequences.23 inclusive nature of Indian society in the Hindutva project of converting and polity, he said: India into a Hindu Rashtra. Hindu Nationalists Who Believed As Indian nationals, Muslim But not just Allah Bakhsh, all in the Two-Nation Theory Paraded and Hindus and others inhabit the leading leaders of the anti-Pakistan as Indian Nationalists land and share every inch of the movement were physically attacked, Despite all these facts, only motherland and all its material and their houses looted, their family Muslims are branded as the guilty cultural treasures alike according members attacked and mosques men of partition and originators to the measure of their just and fair where they stayed or addressed and perpetrators of the two-nation rights and requirements as the proud Muslims damaged. Maulana theory. The leading Hindu nationalist sons of the soil. Even in the realm of Hussain Ahmed Madani, famously leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 14 JANATA, June 3, 2018

Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya, secular nation state, only those who for partitioning India. The following M.S. Aney, B.S. Moonje, M.R. shared this commitment should statement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Jayakar, N.C. Kelkar and Swami be called nationalist or patriotic. Khan, renowned as the Frontier Shraddhanand (some of whom But this is rarely the case when we Gandhi, to M.K. Gandhi in June were also Congress leaders) did discuss communal Hindus or Hindu 1947, after Congress had agreed to not subscribe to an all-inclusive nationalist leaders. Despite their the partition of India, symbolised the India but were committed to the being decidedly against a multi- pervasive sense of betrayal of anti- building of an exclusive Hindu cultural India, they are still held Pakistan Muslims. He wrote: nation. They believed that India up as nationalist icons. The truth is We Pakhtuns stood by you and was primordially a Hindu nation that the Hindu nationalist leaders had undergone great sacrifices and should be nurtured as one. were decidedly anti-patriotic or anti- for attaining freedom. But you Nevertheless, they went around as national, in precisely the same way have now deserted us and thrown great Indian ‘Nationalist’ leaders, as the Muslim League was. us to the wolves . . . 25 and many of them are considered In the same way that not all Whereas the children of Savarkar so even today. Hindu leaders were patriotic by and Golwalkar, who rule India The majority community has this standard, not all Muslims were today, hail from a heritage which had the advantage of disguising anti-patriotic. A large number of propounded the two-nation theory its communalism under the cloak Muslim individuals and mass-based and allied with Jinnah, the Muslims of nationalism. Take one glaring Muslim organisations opposed the who stood firmly against the partition example, Madan Mohan Malviya. two-nation theory and the creation of of India resolutely opposed Jinnah He was President of the Indian Pakistan with all their strength and and the division of the country on the National Congress which stood for resources, often laying down their basis of religion. This becomes clear a composite India in 1909, 1918 and lives. The saddest part is that the from the anti-Pakistan poem titled 1933; but he also presided over the children of the Hindu nationalists, Pakistan chahne walon se (To those sessions of Hindu Mahasabha in the inheritors of the politics of the two- who want Pakistan) penned by the years 1923, 1924 and 1936. He was nation theory, are today ruling India. renowned poet, Shamim Karhani, the originator of the most divisive This ruling elite, whose political which became Indian Muslims’ slogan ‘Hindi–Hindu–Hindusthan.24 ancestors like Moonje, Savarkar anthem against the Muslim League. Despite his history of spreading and Golwalkar played no role in the It is a poem every Indian Muslim communal hatred, he continues to be freedom struggle, who cooperated should be proud of: known as a great Indian nationalist with the Muslim League and the leader. British rulers, are today questioning Humko batlao tau kiya matlab hae If Muslim leaders can be the patriotism of Indian Muslims. Pakistan kaa distinguished on the basis of whether Jis jagah iss waqt Muslim haen, they believed in a multi-religious Task Before Indian Muslims najis hae kiya who ja India or in the creation of Pakistan Indian Muslims, instead of as a homeland for Muslims, then getting defensive against this (Tell me, what does Pakistan mean? the same distinction should apply onslaught by the anti-national Hindu Is this land, where we Muslims are, to Hindu leaders. When we study nationalists, must aggressively an unholy land?) Indian nationalism we are generally challenge the propaganda against told that all Hindus were nationalists, Muslims. History is with them. Nesh-e-tohmat se tere, Chishti kaa whereas there were few patriotic Indian Muslims are children of seena chaak hae Muslims and the rest were with those fearless Muslims who waged Jald batlla kiya zameen Ajmer kee the anti-national Muslim League. a glorious fight against the Muslim na-paak hae In order to clear the air we need League and its demand for Pakistan. to define what nationalism meant They did not agree to Pakistan, but (Your slur has wounded Chishti’s during the Indian freedom struggle. unfortunately were helpless victims breast If Indian nationalism during those of a deal amongst the British rulers, Quick, tell me, is Ajmer impure?) days meant creating a multi-religious the Muslim League and the Congress JANATA, June 3, 2018 15

Kufr kee vaadi maen imaan kaa pas-e-deen hae 16. V.D. Savarkar, Hindutva, nageena kho gaya Yeh guzishta nasl-e-Muslim kee badi published by V.V. Kelkar, Hai kiya khak-e-najis maen shah-e- tauheen hae Nagpur, 1923, p. 88. meena kho gaya 17. Samagra Savarkar Wangmaya (Don’t take the name of Pakistan if (Collected Works of Savarkar), (Can you say the precious jewel of you have least respect for your faith Hindu Mahasabha, Poona, 1963, Islam ‘Shah Meena’ because demanding Pakistan is p.296. has been lost in the unholy valley of immense disrespect to our Muslim infidelity?) predecessors) 18. B.R. Ambedkar, Pakistan or the Partition of India, op. cit., p. 142. Deen kaa makhdoom jo Kaliyer kee Tukre-tukre ker nahin sakte watan 19. Ibid., 143. abaadi maen hae ko ahl-e-dil Aah! Uskaa aastana kiya najis vaadi Kis tarah taraj dekhen gey chaman 20. Ibid., pp. 479–480. mae hae ko ahl-e-dil 21. According to records available with the reception committee of (The place of high dignity at Kaliyar (Those who have a sensible heart the Conference the number of where the Master of religion is cannot split the country delegates from major Provinces resting how will they dare to see a ruined was as follows: United Provinces Is it an unholy valley?) and plundered motherland?) 357, Punjab 155, Bihar 125, Bengal 105, N.W.F. Province Haen imamon ke jo roze Lucknow Kiya yeh matlab hae ke hum 35, Sind 82, Baluchistan 45, kee khaaq per mahroom-e-azadi rahen Bombay 60, C. P. 12, Madras Ban gaye kiya tauba-tauba khitta- Munqasim ho ker Arab kee tarah 5, Orissa 5, Ajmer–Mewar 12, e-napak per faryadi rahaen Assam 25, Delhi 112, Indian States 12. Cited in The Hindustan (The shrines of Imams at Lucknow (Do you want us to remain devoid Times, April 28, 1940. Are they built on impure land?) of freedom 22. Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Modern and lament like divided Arabs?) Islam in India: A Social Analysis, Baat yeh kaisee kahee tuney kee dil Victor G. Ltd, London, 1946, p. ne aah kee Tukre-tukre ho kay Muslim khasta- 231. Kiya zameen tahir naheen dargah- dil ho jayegaa e-Noorullah kee Nakhl-e-jamiat sarasar muzmahil 23. Cited in Aseer Adardi, Tehreek- ho jayegaa. e-Azadi aur Musalman, Darul (A deep sigh came out over your Maualefeen, Deoband, 2000 statement (By division Muslims will split and (6th edition), p. 341. 26 Can you say the Shrine of Noor-ul- the tree of community will wilt.) 24. K.K. Gangadharan, Indian lah (at Agra) is not pious?) National Consciousness: Growth Email: [email protected] & Development, Kalamkar, Aah! Iss pakeezah Ganga ko najis Delhi, 1972, p. 97. kehta hae tu References Jis key paani see kiya Muslim 25. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, shahidon ne wazoo 14. Cited in J.S. Dhanki, Lala Lajpat Words of Freedom: Ideas of a Rai and Indian Nationalism, S Nation, Penguin, Delhi, 2010, (Alas! You call the holy Ganga water Publications, Jullundur, 1990, pp. 41–42. impure p. 378. 26. Shamin Karhani, ‘Pakistan which was used by martyrs for the 15. Cited in B.R. Ambedkar, chahne walon se’ in Jaan Nisar ablution) Pakistan or the Partition of India, Akhtar (ed.), Hindostan Hamara, op. cit., p. 129. Vol. 2, Hindustani Book Trust, Nam-e-Pakistan na le gar tujhko Mumbai, 1973, pp. 305–306. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, June 3, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, June 3, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, June 6, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 20 Raj Kishore: An Uncompromising June 10, 2018 Journalist

A False Step Prem Singh Kuldip Nayar Veteran journalist Raj Kishore Pratap Singh. He was admired by passed away on 5 June 2018 at the the readers for his innovative ideas, Re-emergence of Regional age of 72. He had recently lost his 42 deep human and social concerns, Parties Bothers BJP year old son Vivek, also a journalist, philosophical insights, playful Anil Sinha merely one and a half months ago. language and a novel style. The Vivek met a sudden death on 21 aspiring youth who sought to pursue April due to a massive brain stroke. their career in journalism learnt a lot The Enigma Called Gandhi Raj Kishore, as usual, was from his writings. He left Ravivar Salil Misra calm at the crematorium and even for a short period to start his own discussed with me the possibility magazine Parivartan, but later again of bringing out a Hindi magazine on joined Ravivar. Secularism and the State: the pattern of Mainstream Weekly. I He was brought to Delhi by Categorising the Nehru Model came to know from other colleagues Rajendra Mathur in 1990 and was Anil Nauriya that he had similar discussions with assigned the responsibility of the them as well. Despite the numbing editorial page in Nav Bharat Times. loss, he resumed his writings the He took a rented accommodation very next day. I could feel that he in Anand Vihar which is where I Editor : G.G.Parikh was in some sort of a self-denial first met him. He inspired me too Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain mode. The mental shock of the death for writing in newspapers. After a of his young son ultimately took its service of seven years, he was ousted Managing Editor : Guddi toll sooner than one might expect. from the Nav Bharat Times by the Editorial Board : Raj Kishore suffered an attack of new management of the Times B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali pneumonia just a few days later. Group because he outrightly refused Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah He was first admitted to Kailash to accept their decision of converting Nandu Dhaneshwar, Hospital at Noida on 15 May. Next Nav Bharat Times into a 'Hinglish' Sandeep Pandey day, with the help of Dr. Anup newspaper. Saraya, he was shifted to the AIIMS Raj Kishore, a staunch Lohiaite, D-15, Ganesh Prasad, and admitted in the ICU for 22 days was groomed in the values of the Naushir Bharucha Marg, till he bid farewell to this world. freedom movement and the post- Mumbai - 400 007. Raj Kishore started his career as independence era of nation-building. Email : [email protected] a journalist in Calcutta with Ravivar He was firm in his ideological and Website:www.janataweekly.org under the editorship of Surendra ethical convictions. Therefore, 2 JANATA, June 10, 2018 he never got a job in any of the more than a decade for the Institute A few days before the death of media houses till his death. In of Social Sciences. He made study his son, Raj Kishore, in search of fact, he became the first victim of tours to certain European countries some new assignment, asked me to the neoliberal political economy during this period. He also worked talk to Dr. A.K. Arun, editor of Yuva adopted by the media houses in the briefly with the Mahatma Gandhi Samvad, just to check whether he beginning of the nineties. Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwa would be inclined or interested to From 1997 onwards, Raj Kishore Vidyalaya as writer-in-residence. associate him with the magazine. did freelancing for the survival of his He stayed there from 2011 to 2014 Even before we could make any family. He started his own Hindi and edited Hindi Samay, an online move on this, everything ended monthly journal Dusara Shanivar site of the university. It is one rather abruptly. The philosopher in 1997, but could not sustain it of his important gifts to Hindi journalist left his family—wife, due to financial constraints. Apart literature apart from his invaluable daughter, daughter in law, two little from writing articles / comments contribution to Hindi journalism. grand children—and all of us totally / features for newspapers and As the remuneration in Hindi unprepared! magazines, he wrote and edited writing is negligible, he had to burn For a life as brilliant and several books. The Aaj Ke Prashan the midnight oil to make both ends committed as Raj Kishore’s, his series edited by him became very meet. The continuous pressure of passing is definitely an irreparable popular, particularly among young work affected him badly. However, loss to his family, but the larger readers. The series was focused on there was no choice before him but vacuum it has left in the world of contemporary contentious issues to work hard for sheer survival. He journalism is tangible, even if it related to Dalit, women, subaltern started editing Ravivar Digest, a doesn’t seem apparent. The damage and minority discourses, the impact small Hindi monthly in 2015. True is most to Hindi journalism as it has of neoliberal policies and the to his uncompromising self, he left lost a figure that stood up staunchly secular–communal question. He the job a few months ago because the to the pressures of corporate developed and encouraged several owner declined to publish an article commerce, cynicism and the new new writers through this series. selected by him which critiqued age madness of neoliberalism. He edited the 'Panchayati Raj Deen Dayal Upadhyaya's Ekatm Update' in Hindi and English for Manavwad. Email: [email protected]

A False Step Kuldip Nayar

Pranab Mukherjee has accepted has occupied the highest position as an affluent politician with authority. the invitation to visit the RSS a Congressman and has also floated During the emergency I headquarters at Nagpur to address a political party with a few of his happened to visit him at his residence the cadre. To quote RSS chief Mohan associates in the Congress. But one and to my surprise I found a well- Bhagwat, “Mukherjee was graceful can call him a self-made man in the furnished sitting room. He was enough to accept the invitation.” political arena. then the Commerce Minister in Mukherjee accepting the invite is a I recall Pranab Mukherjee as a the Indira Gandhi cabinet and very surprise because the place never put man of humility who invited me to his close to Sanjay Gandhi, who was an up the picture of Mahatma Gandhi house to hear the recital of his wife, extra-constitutional authority and because he represented an ideology a vocalist. Then he was struggling practically held the reins of power. of pluralism and egalitarianism, to make his mark as a politician. To say candidly, Pranab Mukherjee which are not conducive to the RSS His residence gave a modest look was his Man Friday who carried out philosophy of establishing a Hindu with minimum furniture. He was his orders. Rastra. known as a man of simple habits. But The latter virtually ruled the Actually, Pranab Mukherjee is everything changed over the years as country with Pranab Mukherjee on a man of all-political affiliations. He he gradually established himself as one side and Bansi Lal, then Defence JANATA, June 10, 2018 3

Minister, on the other. It was during to release his memoirs during his defended him saying that the party this period that Pranab Mukherjee tenure. Seldom have people felt must have faith in Pranab Mukherjee granted or stopped licences at the as let down as they did during his and “trust him not just for his true bidding of Sanjay. Raids on shops presidency. allegiance to the idea of India, but and residences of critics were carried Had there been a Lokpal, he also for being sagacious and wiser out throughout the country. People would have pointed out where than us.” rightly defeated him and Indira Mukherjee failed as President. This is a weak argument. The Gandhi when elections were held Alas, there is no such institution to very presence of Mukherjee at after the lifting of the emergency assess a President’s tenure. Heads Nagpur would confuse the nation in 1977. of institutions are not generally because they have heard from Pranab Mukherjee was a assailed. The idea behind such every Congress leader that the RSS contender for prime ministership, thinking is that criticism may harm is an antithesis of pluralism. Sonia but Sonia Gandhi’s compulsion and the institutions, which are essential Gandhi and Congress President determination to make her son Rahul for the sustenance of democratic Rahul Gandhi should have criticised Gandhi the prime minister came in polity. Among the most important Mukherjee for his visit. Had they the way of Mukherjee’s political of the institutions is that of the done so, Congress would have ambitions. Realising the mood, he President. Therefore, the President gained much respect among those announced that he would not contest is spared even when he or she who wish to stand up for secularism the 2014 elections. crosses the line that the office and pluralism in the country. It was because he had served delineates. Maybe it because of this the dynasty faithfully that Pranab consideration that Pranab Mukherjee Email: [email protected] Mukherjee appointed the President has escaped censure. by Sonia Gandhi. It was a gift to a Wittingly or unwittingly, loyal person who was even willing Pranab Mukherjee has weakened Janata to say that the sun rose from the west the struggle against communal if she said so. He was another Giani forces. The RSS or, for that matter, is available at Zail Singh, whom Mrs Indira Gandhi the Bhartiya Janata Party can tell had got appointed as President out the nation that Nagpur does not www.lohiatoday.com of the blue. represent communal forces because The rule of Pranab Mukherjee Mukherjee has chosen to address was an insult to the democratic the RSS cadre. Union Minister Nitin Janata Subscription ethos of the nation. If he had been Gadkari has defended the former a sensitive person, he would have President’s decision to address the Annual Rs. : 260/- felt the wrongs done during the 17 RSS cadre by saying that he was not months of emergency. If nothing visiting an ISI camp. Three Years : 750/- else, he could have at least regretted Surprisingly, the Congress has the imposition of the emergency not uttered a word to condemn Demand Draft / when more than one lakh people Mukherjee’s step. The silence is a Cheque on were detained without trial, the press sort of endorsement of what he is was ‘disciplined’ and civil servants doing. Only one former Congress Mumbai Bank lost the distinction between right and minister has urged him to reconsider in favour of wrong, moral and immoral. his decision in the interests of I have followed the period when secularism. JANATA TRUST he was at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Some Congressmen believe I found to my horror that it was a that the former President, who has D-15, Ganesh Prasad, rule which had a negative impact. been a Congressman all his life, Naushir Bharucha Marg, I cannot spot one instance when he would deliver a strong message on Grant Road (W), upheld democracy and pluralism. pluralism from the RSS platform. In Mumbai 400 007. It did not behove the President fact, veteran leader Salman Khurshid 4 JANATA, June 10, 2018 Re-emergence of Regional Parties Bothers BJP

Anil Sinha

The regional parties have again The accelerated pace with which the broad narrative that India has lost a taken a centre stage in the politics cases of corruption against Congress almost six decades under an ‘inept of the country. The assumption that leaders like Chidambaram are being family rule’. It is also easy to hold the BJP led by Narendra Modi may investigated also points to the same. Congress responsible for all that politically marginalise the regional It is not difficult to understand as which India has failed to achieve in forces has come under serious to why the criminal case against these decades. It helps Modi build doubt after the results of Karnataka senior leader Shashi Tharoor has up an image of a saviour who can assembly polls and the bypolls across now become a priority after a very give leadership to the country to the country. They have demonstrated long period. make it a leading nation of the world. the re-emergence of regional parties. The change has indeed come His campaign on completing four Prime Minister Narendra Modi and after party’s failure to install a non- years in office is directed towards BJP president Amit Shah, who are Congress government in Karnataka. this end only. Addressing a rally at virtually deciding everything in The Congress could blocked BJP’s Cuttack in Odisha he alleged that BJP, will try hard to neutralise the way to power in the state with all these years, the Congress has repercussions of this change. This success. The event also generated been pursuing a policy of “family can be done only by forcing the a hope among regional parties that first instead of country first.” Modi regional parties to remain limited they could even capture power alleged, “During UPA regime, the to their own areas. Is it possible? at the Centre if they join hands Congress party was running the Of course it is possible, but only if in opposing Modi and are able to government through remote control. regional parties are prevented from prevent splitting of anti-BJP votes. It only gave the slogan of 'Garibi getting national visibility. The BJP is rightly apprehending Hatao' but did not serve the poor. For the BJP, this is not only the potential threat Rahul Gandhi Half of the population does not have necessary if it wishes to win 2019 is posing to the party’s prospect gas, electricity or road connection." polls, but also for getting to the of reelection in 2019. That he can When it came to the poor health throne if a hung parliament is mobilise diverse political forces infrastructure in Odisha, he refrained the outcome of the Lok Sabha against the BJP is now a reality. The from directly accusing the State polls. Regional parties can only be BJP was expecting a slow and timid government which is in power for prevented from performing a role at response from Rahul-led Congress over one and half decades, and held the national level if they do not get in Karnataka after its defeat as had the UPA government responsible for a truly national ally. It does not need been the case in Goa and Manipur. it. Modi said, “The situation is worse any elaboration that the Congress is However, Rahul Gandhi acted with here in Odisha. I wonder what were the only party in the country which the required speed and stitched an the previous governments doing? If can provide such an alliance. The alliance with the JDS without losing the State governments do not carry corollary of such an assumption any time. This move changed the out their responsibilities properly, is that the Congress should not in scenario in the State as well as at the Centre does it." position to do this. the national level. All the important Odisha Chief Minister has been If we give a closer look at the regional formations came together following a policy of equidistance recent moves of Prime Minister Modi to celebrate the installation of a from both the BJP and the Congress. and BJP president Shah, we can have non-BJP government. And this has He did not attend the oath-ceremony a glimpse of their strategy. They given a loud and clear message of of H.D. Kumaraswamy as Chief have started targeting the Congress Opposition unity. Minister of Karnataka. The BJP had and Rahul Gandhi individually to BJP has other reasons also for become ambitious in Odisha after isolate them from regional parties. targeting Congress. It fits into the getting an impressive vote share JANATA, June 10, 2018 5 in the panchayat elections held in Alliance, while its other allies are “The ruling party before coming to 2017. However, it soon realised that also showing uneasiness. Its pre-poll power made big promises such as it would be premature to celebrate allies in Bihar, the Lok Janshakti employment to 2 crore youth every the success because the party had Party of Ramvilas Paswan and the year, remunerative prices to farmers, to face a drubbing in an assembly Rashtriya Lok Samata Party of bringing back black money stashed bypoll that was held soon after the Upendra Kushwaha, are exhibiting abroad, eradication of corruption, panchayat polls. discomfiture. The post-poll alliance and so on and so forth. There were In its campaign in Kairana and with JDU is also showing strains. 42 big promises made but none of Noorpur bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the promises has been fulfilled,” said the BJP targeted the Congress and has started attacking his partner. senior leader Sharad Yadav who has its politics despite the fact that Once a supporter of demonetisation, just launched a new political party, the Congress had no candidate in Kumar has now become a critique the Loktantrik Janata Dal. any of these constituencies. In a of it. He is also unhappy with the Weakening of federalism is the public meeting near Kairana, Modi amount sanctioned for the flood major cause of regional assertions. had targeted the Nehru-Gandhi relief. The Chief Minister has also But this is hardly being recognised family. This seems to be a part of indicated that he might agitate for a in the ruling political circle of New the fresh campaign the Sangha Special Status for the state. Delhi! Parivar has launched against the first Tensions have been brewing prime minister of India, Jawaharlal in Uttat Pradesh as well. Smaller Email: [email protected] Nehru. The same old allegations of parties like Apana Dal are not purported disrespect to Sardar Patel happy. They are asking for more and Subhash Bose are being made. seats to contest and BJP is in no However, the results of these mood to oblige them. The BJP is byelections show that personal also trying to bypass these parties attacks are not fetching votes. The by directly addressing the social weapon was used extensively in segments they are representing. The Gujarat and Karnataka also, but it BJP is contemplating a change in failed to give the expected results. the reservation formula to provide In addition to attacking the separate reservation for the more Congress, the Modi-Shah duo is backward classes within the quota trying to tie up with regional parties for backward classes. The party had to force Congress to go to the polls won many seats in 2014 with the without allies. However, the party support of other backward classes. is hardly finding it easy. Most of the On the other hand, Congress has dominant regional parties have by been winning allies. The regional now gone away from it. Even in the parties are also restructuring their States where the Congress is in direct relations with each other. Till contest with the regional forces, the recently, an SP-BSP alliance was latter are considering the BJP to considered to be a most difficult be a bigger threat. In these States, proposition, but it is now a reality. regional parties are not averse to The bypolls in Uttar Pradesh have some kind of arrangement with the proved the effectivity of this alliance Congress. There are not showing any as well. inclination towards joining hands If Congress’ open arm policy with the BJP. They consider the BJP is giving sleepless nights to BJP as their main enemy. leaders, the attack from opposition The BJP is finding it difficult on issues like unemployment, price to retain existing allies as well. The rise and farm distress is also causing TDP has left the National Democratic discomfort to the ruling party. 6 JANATA, June 10, 2018 The Enigma Called Gandhi

Salil Misra

Politics in independent India study and lived his early life mostly some important issue or the other. has shown a tremendous obsession in cities—Rajkot, Kathiawad, Consider the following. In 1925 he with Gandhi. Khadi, worn by Ahmedabad and later Calcutta and was involved in a social movement most politicians, protests through Bombay. For his higher studies he in Vykom (Travancore) seeking to Satyagraha, hunger strikes, went to England and acquired a Law open temples, wells and roads for voluntarily courting arrest, civil degree from London. After spending the lower castes. In 1938, he led the disobedience, all carry the indelible three years in England, Gandhi spent struggle against the ruler of Rajkot, a stamp of the politics practised by around 21 years in South Africa. It princely state, for introducing some Gandhi during the course of the was only in 1915 after returning to democratic rights for the people. national movement. Most rituals India that Gandhi began to encounter In 1917, 1918 and 1928, he led the and symbols of Indian politics today and experience village life from peasant movements in Champaran emanate from Gandhi. It would close quarters. He was also a full- (Bihar), Kheda and Bardoli (both in appear to any outside observer that time journalist who set up a press Gujarat) against forced cultivation of politics in independent India is in 1903 and started a paper Indian indigo, enhanced revenue and high deeply influenced and inspired by Opinion from Johannesburg. In taxes imposed by the government, Gandhi and his ideals. short, he was an anglicised, West- respectively. Such a conclusion would be trained, cosmopolitan, lawyer-cum- In 1918, Gandhi led the strike wholly wrong. The ritualistic journalist. of the Ahmedabad textile workers obsession with Gandhi is If Gandhi was no illiterate for an enhancement of wages and accompanied by an amazing peasant, he was no Mahatma either, undertook a hunger strike for the ignorance about him. Indian politics at least not in the conventional sense first time. In April 1919, he was at today is completely devoid of of the term. The Mahatma-hood the helm of a civil liberty campaign anything remotely Gandhian. It had been conferred upon him by against the Rowlatt Act imposed would be fair to say that since Gandhi Rabindranath Tagore as early as in by the British, under which anyone has been elevated, or reduced, to the 1915, when Gandhi was only 46 could be arrested without any notice level of an abstraction or a mere idea years old. The conventional Indian or warrant. During 1920–22, 1930– to be celebrated, we have done away understanding of a Mahatma is that 34, 1940 and 1942, Gandhi led huge with the need to understand him and of an otherworldly saint-renouncer. anti-imperialist struggles against engage with his legacy. Gandhi could be considered a the British rule. Gandhi thus led The first basic misunderstanding Mahatma in the restricted sense movements against caste oppression, pertains to the kind of individual that he firmly believed in the moral for democratic rights in a princely Gandhi was. Anyone trying to foundations of social life. He was state, peasant movements, strike by construct Gandhi on the basis of his convinced that our collective social industrial workers, movement for pictures of 1920s and 1930s would life must be rooted in a moral civil liberties and direct struggles easily conclude that he was an conception. But apart from this, against British imperialism, all illiterate poor villager clad only in a Gandhi was no saint renouncer. within a span of less than 33 years. peasant dhoti. This of course would He constantly thought about and This was not all. During 1933– be a completely false picture. The engaged with the world he lived in. 34, Gandhi undertook a long tour truth is that Gandhi was born in a And he was always busy with trying on foot, called Harijan tour, in reasonably affluent Gujarati family. to solve some social problem or the which he went from one village His father was a Diwan in a princely other. Between his return to India in to another in order to open public state, combining the functions of a 1915 and his death at the hands of wells and temples for the lower chief minister and an estate manager. a fanatic in January 1948, Gandhi castes. Further, he spent around Gandhi went to good schools to was constantly busy grappling with five months in Bengal (November JANATA, June 10, 2018 7

1946–March 1947) visiting the areas did not succeed in his endeavour. what changed? hit by communal violence and trying But even the severest of his critics Very early in his life Gandhi to restore communal unity there. He would not deny that he was sincere decided that he would lead a life of also underwent imprisonment six and truthful—albeit impractical—in service to human community. It did times for a total period of more than his mission. not matter where this community was five years. Gandhi was also the full- located. It could be the indentured time editor of the English weekly The question is: what made Indian labourers in South Africa, Young India, started in 1919 and Gandhi what he was? Is there an or the peasants of Champaran, or renamed Harijan in 1934. He wrote explanation? Or should we simply the Indian people suffering under editorials, articles and also answered give up the effort by declaring him British imperialism, or the people of questions from the readers. Gandhi as idiosyncratic? England corrupted and dehumanised set up three major organisations— Some explanation can be found by their own imperialism, or entire Harijan Sevak Sangh, All India in an amazing and rare combination humanity increasingly cut off from Spinners Association and Hindustani of continuity and change. There its roots and swept aside by the Prachar Sabha. He wrote many were certain traits he picked up early huge tidal wave of modernisation. books during this period, the most in his life and they remained with His life was at the service of a important being his autobiography him throughout. A certain edifice cause. In his life of service he (The Story of My Experiments with of a wholesome life got constructed learnt the techniques of assertion Truth, published during 1927–29) early in his life and continued to without aggression and standing up and Satyagraha in South Africa guide his actions till the very end. to injustice without giving in. All (1928). At the same time, Gandhi also this of course was to be done wholly All this was done in a period displayed a rare flexibility in being non-violently. of around 32 years. Could he have adept at growing and changing. In his diagnosis of what ailed done it if he had been a Mahatma of He possessed a rare capacity for human civilisation, Gandhi identified a renouncer variety? incorporating new changes in his two fundamental elements—poverty From the above description, what personality and interactions with the and discrimination. The two were is the kind of picture of Gandhi that world outside. As he himself wrote independent of each other. India, emerges? That he was a man fully in 1933: “I would like to say to the his own society, suffered from dedicated to the service of humanity, diligent reader of my writings and both. But he also saw the affluent a social reformer committed to purge to others who are interested in them European societies being gripped Hindu religion and society of its that I am not at all concerned with by the virus of discrimination. His evils, a leader determined to infuse appearing to be consistent. In my own remedy for this malady was moral values in human conduct, and search after truth I have discarded that the world could be transformed a visionary involved in a mammoth many ideas and learnt many new through human effort. Contrary to social engineering project in which things. Old as I am in age I have no the dominant doctrines of his times, men and women will live their lives feeling that I have ceased to grow he did not look upon humans as by moral standards. Gandhi lived a inwardly or that my growth will passive members of the social order life of service. He had a blueprint stop at the dissolution of the flesh. in which they lived, whose lives of an ideal social order in his mind What I am concerned with is my would be transformed following a and he devoted all his life towards its readiness to obey the call of Truth, change in the social order. Gandhi realisation. He was committed to the my God, from moment to moment, credited humans with a capacity idea of a transformation in human and, therefore, when anybody finds for independent action, capable of life without violence or coercion. any inconsistency between any two transforming the social order. As a He never gave up the effort. Nor did writings of mine, if he still has faith result, Gandhi constantly worked on he give up the thought that all this in my sanity, he would do well to humans, training them, organising was possible. If he thought that this choose the later of the two on the them, educating them and preparing could be achieved in his lifetime, same subject.” them for action. He evolved his he would be considered either too technique of non-violent Satyagraha ambitious or too naive. He obviously So what remained constant and (action leading to the triumph of 8 JANATA, June 10, 2018 truth) and declared that Satyagraha did not monopolise Truth and which juggernaut of industrialism. Gandhi could never fail if the individuals recognised the prevalence of Truth was attracted to the pessimists, could be trained to practise it in other religions. Through this but temperamentally he was not properly. He wrote in his weekly journey he discovered what was given to passivity and resignation. Young India: “I have repeatedly common to all religions—Truth as He was initially convinced that stated that Satyagraha never fails a moral force. This discovery took industrialism was a ‘curse’ that had and that one perfect Satyagrahi is away from him the need to adopt gripped human society. In his book enough to vindicate Truth. Let us all any particular religion as his own. So Hind Swaraj (1909) written during strive to be perfect Satyagrahis. The even though he remained a Vaishnav the ship journey from London to striving does not require any quality Hindu denominationally, he became South Africa, he delineated the ills unattainable by the lowliest among a universalist in matters of faith. For of the new industrial civilisation us. For Satyagraha is an attribute Gandhi, the importance of religion and also tried to suggest a way out of the spirit within. It is latent in was not so much in specific rituals— of it. His understanding was that the every one of us. Like Swaraj, it is each religion had its own—but in whole of mankind had moved away our birthright. Let us know it.” The morality, which was common to all from its original moorings and— privileging of organised and trained religions. He began to distinguish without reaching the destination— individuals over any laws of social the two with the use of ‘R’ (Religion was floating around without any action was one trait that remained as a source of faith and morality) rudder or compass. Fully convinced constant with Gandhi. This human and ‘r’ (many religions). “There that the industrial civilisation could force had to be constantly pushed are many religions, but there is one only enslave humanity, not liberate into a life of service. Religion”, he would say. He also it, Gandhi raised a fundamental If service of humanity through explained this plurality at one end question: Is there a way out? non-violent Satyagraha was one and oneness at the other through the There is no evidence that Gandhi feature that remained constant, an imagery of the tree. Just as a tree had found the answer (though he never uncompromising faith in religion one trunk and many branches, so did admitted it). But there is evidence that was another. Early on in his life, Religion. Religion had one trunk Gandhi’s basic outlook to modernity a search for a source of morality but many branches. This Religion began to undergo a change. During led him to explore religion. And he became his great ally, his greatest the course of the national movement, explored them all. The Vaishnav strength and his biggest shelter in Gandhi came into contact with some Hinduism was inculcated to him times of crisis and despondency. of the finest minds of the times. during his early socialisation. It is thus clear that Gandhi’s And, as he transformed the national His first exposure to religion was basic philosophic vision of movement with his leadership, through his mother. In England he human life and the techniques for he was also transformed by it. came into contact with Christians transforming it remained unchanged Gandhi began to look differently of various denominations. He also throughout his life. What however at the entire paraphernalia of read Bhagavat Geeta (in English) changed was the manner in which he the industrial civilisation he had and the New Testament in England. understood the nature of the world dismissed earlier in Hind Swaraj— Many years later he read the Quran. being transformed in a modern hospitals, courts, parliamentary In South Africa he came into contact direction. In England he witnessed democracy, bureaucracy, modern with his Muslims patrons and the dissolving old world and the State, modern science, etc. He Evangelical well-wishers. Both in triumphantly emerging modern began to see their utility for human England and in South Africa he industrial society. He encountered life. Without abandoning his basic moved in very different and diverse the optimists celebrating the arrival position on the modern industrial circles. He engaged with them of the new order capable of taking civilisation, he now began to see it with empathy and compassion, but humanity to the shores of prosperity as an important instrument. ‘How to always as an outsider. His search and happiness. He also met the use the instrument in one’s favour for a perfect religion took him to the pessimists who bemoaned the loss without being enslaved by it’ was shores of many faiths. Interestingly of soul under the new world order now his concern. There is plenty of he was looking for a religion that but looked on helplessly at the evidence that by the 1940s Gandhi’s JANATA, June 10, 2018 9 uncompromising opposition had villages there will be ever widening, in its completeness. We must have been moderated quite a bit. He was never ascending, circles. Life will a proper picture of what we want still not a ‘convert’ to the new world. not be a pyramid with the apex before we can have something But he could see that the new world, sustained by the bottom. But it will approaching it.” given the intervention by trained, be an oceanic circle whose centre This was Gandhi’s dream. organised and committed men and will be the individual always ready to Nobody knows how such a world women, was indeed capable of perish for the village, the latter ready can be achieved. But hardly anyone alleviating the basic problems of to perish for the circle of villages, would disagree that it is a world well poverty and discrimination. till at last the whole becomes one worth aspiring for. In July 1946, 18 months before life . . . sharing the majority of the his death, Gandhi spelt out his vision oceanic circle of which they are Email: [email protected] of an ideal social order. He wrote: integral units. Let India live for this “In this structure of innumerable true picture, though never realisable Secularism and the State: Categorising the Nehru Model

Anil Nauriya I. The “Nehru Models”: The therefore that there are in fact at Similarly, when it came to Historical Nehru Model and the least two models that contend for society, as distinct from the state, Posthumous Nehru Model recognition as the Nehru model. both Gandhi and Nehru emphasised In most circles where opinion The notion of the secular state that the concept of equal respect making on behalf of minorities was implemented after independence and protection of all religions, takes place, one of the reasons for emerged from the Congress-led thus reconciling the concept of appreciation of Jawaharlal Nehru’s freedom struggle. Nehru invariably a religiously neutral state with a approach towards the minorities emphasised the connection between concept of equal respect for the generally is his statement that the establishment of a secular state humanist values that may be located majority communalism, that is, and the “whole growth of our in each religion. For Nehru, “A sectarianism, is more dangerous than national movement”.iii It is intrinsic secular state means a state in which minority communalism. He said that to the Gandhi–Nehru framework. the state protects all religions, but “the communalism of a majority It is a model of equality and equal does not favour one at the expense of community must of necessity bear citizenship. others and does not itself adopt any a closer resemblance to nationalism A secular state was thus religion as state religion.”v than the communalism of a minority established and it went beyond And then there is a constructed group”.i This statement must, the usual European notion of a Nehru model or a quasi-Nehruvian however, be understood along with denominational state whose model which is actually a posthumous his insight expressed on the same secularism consisted merely in the Nehru model constructed largely occasion that majority and minority separation from the very church to after the split in the Congress in communalisms feed off each other.ii which that state was simultaneously 1969. This model resembled but His approach is not therefore a blank committed. We understood, and was somewhat different from the cheque to minority communities rightly understood, a secular state to actual Nehruvian model. It could to nurture and nurse their own be a non-denominational state and a not last for more than six or seven respective communalisms as some state that was religiously neutral as years and ended dramatically with of his majoritarian detractors allege. specified in the Karachi Resolution the firing at Turkman Gate, Delhi One consequence of the focus of 1931. Gandhi, in speaking of a during the tenure of the Emergency on this aspect of Nehru’s approach secular state, had also defined it in regime in 1976. has been that other features of the clear terms in what would now be Let me begin by first speaking Nehruvian secular state have not depicted as a Nehruvian manner, about the first Nehru model. received as much analysis as these that is, in terms of separation of the deserved. It was hardly ever noticed state from denominational religion. iv II. Has the Nehru Model failed? 10 JANATA, June 10, 2018

It would be fallacious to say so. pluck him out of the Gandhi–Nehru K.R. Narayanan (1920–2005), It will be my contention that framework and to establish an who would serve as the President of the actual Nehru model in fact isolated posthumous quasi-Nehru India between 1997 and 2002, saw succeeded. It contained and managed model whose definition could be the point perspicaciously as early a very serious situation that had subsumed under what currently as in 1970. In a paper, presented developed after the partition of passed for academically acceptable at a seminar on Nehru and Nation- India. It built a state based on equal progressive ideas. This happened in building (December 21–23, 1970) rights for all citizens and a consensus the context of the Indira Gandhi–CPI at the University of Rajasthan in behind such a state. It provided for alliance post-1969. The alliance Jaipur, K.R. Narayanan observed: regional expressions of linguistic itself was unexceptionable; the “In his passion for legislative aspirations as well. problem arose in the unhistorical revolution Nehru and the Indian The problem was essentially attempt to extrapolate it backwards National Congress did not, after not here but with what emerged as and seek to diminish or exclude the independence, place sufficient a posthumous Nehru model. There Congress’ own struggles, as it were, emphasis on the aspect of a social was, I would say, a cut-off point from its own history.vii reform movement in the country.”viii in 1969. After 1969 what might Perhaps because the post- This defect or shortcoming came be called a gloss on secularism 1969 model did not have a strong to the fore especially after 1969 came to be projected upon the New foundation in historical fact and because the split in the Congress and Congress. The post-1969 Left-of- was an unhistorical attempt to the lines on which it occurred had Centre circle around the then Prime extrapolate backward the post-1969 the effect of cutting the Congress Minister was well-intentioned in alliance between Indira Gandhi’s off from the constructive work wishing to initiate a break from the Congress and the CPI, it was easily movements, that is, the very civil old guard in the Indian National toppled first by a callow youth and society organisations which were Congress which, it believed, was his organised hoodlums, and then its roots and which had provided it holding up further economic reform. after 1980 by a succession of Non- sustenance. In the process the 1969 split in the Resident Indian lobbies. It is necessary to dwell on this Congress which this group helped The posthumous Nehruvian point a little further. In the 1930s, bring about also, however, cut the model could hegemonise the state the Frontier Gandhi, Khan Abdul Congress off from its roots.vi but could not take the society with it. Ghaffar Khan, made a tour of In fact, the quasi-Nehru model This quasi-Nehruvian model lacked Bengal. On coming back he spoke became more contentious in public Nehru’s democratic temper. at the Bombay session of the AICC discourse when it began to be It disregarded society though in 1934. And the point that he made presented as cut-off from the claiming to speak in the name of was to underline the link between country’s struggle for freedom and the people the constructive work programmes as a sort of immaculate conception. In the end, in the 1990s, remnants of the Congress and its political More than the model itself, it is this of this model, far from defending programmes. He said he noticed in projection that not only became themselves against the onslaught the course of his tour that people problematic but actually helped the from Hindutva, could not defend were willing to come forward and forces of majority communalism in even the gains from the Gandhi– listen to the Congress wherever the particular to present the Nehruvian Nehru framework. constructive work programme had vision as an artificial imposition reached. For example, he noticed, upon Indian society rather than as a III. Why did this projection that where the khadi (handspun and natural culmination from its social become problematic? handwoven cloth) programme had character and political struggle. The answer to this is a complex reached and had been able to help As I have said, the quasi- one. generate some income, people would Nehruvian, or posthumous To some extent an essential and flock to the Congress meetings to Nehruvian, model was different necessary accompaniment had been hear their message. essentially in the historical absent even in the years of the actual The vital link that the Frontier provenance that it sought to project. Nehru model but this feature came Gandhi observed in 1934 was over It sought to delink Nehru from more prominently to the fore after time lost sight of in independent the mainstream national struggle, the 1969 events. India and especially in the post- JANATA, June 10, 2018 11

1969 phase of the Congress and especially in the wake of the findings Endnotes Indian politics. The flaw which of the Sachar Committee, has been i The Tribune, November 30, K.R. Narayanan noticed in 1970 that neither the Nehru model nor 1933. was over-reliance, or rather near- the posthumous Nehru model, nor ii Ibid. exclusive reliance, on state action, indeed the models of development legislation and state policies. The in force in other Opposition-ruled iii The Statesman, Delhi, July 8, prevailing logic appeared to be: now States, in their action on the ground 1951. that we are in power, we do not need placed adequate special emphasis on iv Anil Nauriya, “Gandhi on to build up civil society institutions policies to ensure the welfare and Secular Law and State”, October for social reform and action because human development of the minority 22, 2003, http://www.thehindu. we have the state to do this for us. communities. [This was although com. The wages of this neglect were Nehru himself recognised as early as not immediately obvious because, in 1951 that such special emphasis v The Statesman, July 7, 1951. for one thing, the Congress was would be required especially in the vi For a development of this historically associated with a case of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians point see my article “1969 in network of ground level constructive and others.ix] And that more specific Retrospect”, The Hindu, March work institutions on whose support steps are required for their education 17, 2000. it could implicitly rely in the first and development.x 22 years after independence. The vii That is, for example, the 1969 split in the Congress gave a IV. What Now? extensive pre-freedom struggles rude shock to this arrangement. The The shortcoming or defect, conducted by the Congress implications were not immediately to which K.R. Narayanan drew and such peasant organisations obvious in the short term. This was attention in 1970, remains. Until as were non-antagonistically primarily for other reasons, such as this is remedied, the outlook would associated with it, the the short-term electoral victories remain grim. Even if the present various Congress-associated that the posthumous Nehru model ruling dispensation returns to institutions’ constructive secured in the General Elections of power and confines its focus to work programmes, and their 1971 and the nationwide elections to re-adjustment of state policies, it is strivings for the social rights of the State Assemblies which followed unlikely to remedy the flaw that K.R. the underprivileged and for a in 1972. In the General Elections Narayanan under-lined. Similarly, linguistically accommodative of 1971 it was the freshness of whatever combination of political and non-sectarian understanding Indira Gandhi’s faction, which had parties comes to power in the near of nationalism inclusive of the emerged from the Congress split of future, it is unlikely to be able to minorities. 1969, that swayed the electorate. In provide the durable alternative viii K.R. Narayanan, Nehru and His the State Assembly elections in the that is required if it merely follows Vision, DC Books, Kottayam, following year there was the added a statist approach. A long-term 1999, p. 34. factor of victory in the Bangladesh alternative can come about only with ix See The Statesman, Delhi, July War. the emergence of a secular party 8, 1951. Yet the overall impact of the which has the backing of grassroots 1969 split in the Congress did not civil society organisations with roots x Whether this should be achieved take long to make itself felt and it in the community life of the Indian through programmes directed was soon obvious that the Congress, people. at minorities specifically or or what remained of it, was on a Merely taking control of the through programmes aimed at declining curve. state will not suffice. the underprivileged irrespective Meanwhile, the Hindutva (Lecture delivered at the Dr K.R. of religion, caste and creed is organisations, on the other hand, had Narayanan Centre for Dalit and a matter for consideration. In been working ceaselessly in society Minorities Studies and Centre for my opinion, a mix of the two and the rise of these organisations Zakir Husain Studies, Jamia Millia approaches would be more was, in this scenario, like a time- Islamia on March 3, 2009. The likely to succeed than the one bomb waiting to explode. endnotes are subsequent additions.) or the other. A more recent recognition, Email: [email protected] 12 JANATA, June 10, 2018 Chavismo: Part III The third part of a seven part article by Marco Teruggi on Chavismo, the ongoing socialist revolutionary project in Venezuela. Chavismo Will Be Socialist Or It Will Cease To Exist

Marco Teruggi ‘Made in socialism.’ That phrase by a corrupt political / business to gradually learn how to exercise resonated a lot in Venezuela a few class. The movement had as its that power. A complex architecture, years ago. It was on chocolates, symbols the tricolour flag, the red virtuous, possible, necessary. The yoghurts, oils, posters, embedded beret, and military discipline, and socialist programmes thus appeared in a heart logo and the inevitable combined plebian, national and before the announcement of their red five-pointed star. Every ministry social liberation. It represented the socialist character. claimed to be representative of recovery of a country in organic The Bolivarian project is not people's power, and each bakery crisis, a recovery brought about by about challenging neoliberalism or route was labelled as socialist. the people involved in a massive so as to build a more stabilised and Chavez questioned this obsession on mass movement beginning from the a more egalitarian capitalism, but national TV: calling things ‘socialist’ Caracazo in 1989 ultimately leading about challenging the capitalist does not make them socialist. If to the emergence of Chavez like a order itself. “This revolution has there was something he longed to thunderbolt in 1992. assumed the banner of socialism, build, it was a transition to 21st and that requires and demands much century socialism. Chavismo must Socialist Roots more than any other revolution. be socialist. The central aspect—and here We could have stayed within the It was not like that from the we can trace the socialist roots frame of a national revolution, but beginning, at least publicly, perhaps before their public announcement— behind those often undefined terms because he had not yet reached of the Bolivarian project was to are hidden statements that end up that conclusion. Or because, in the implement it through centrally being reformist, rightwing, that political arena, the idea was to reach driven programmes like creating end up eventually toeing the line,” that conclusion collectively: the spaces for the exercise of explained Chavez. people must be collectively willing participatory democracy, creating The official launch of the to move in that direction; the historic popular organisations and creating socialist project in 2005 coincides subject, the epicenter of politics, conditions for their multiplication, with the formation of communal people, must develop the desire for and launching several movements councils, followed by communes. socialism. Which is why Chavez which were essentially independent Chavez draws the communal road to only mentioned socialism for the of and parallel to the state, like socialism, which means rebuilding a first time in 2005. the various missions, whose aim new state on the basis of the political, Until that moment, in his initial was to build the human being who cultural and economic power of the writings—for example, the Blue could carry forward the Bolivarian communes. He left it in writing: the Book—there were strong ideas project. All these programmes had at bourgeois state had to be pulverised, about combining and mobilising. their centre the working people, the and for that he outlined a plan and He talked of the recovery of the lower classes, and the centrepiece also the steps to be taken within betrayed independence project: of the Bolivarian project was the that. It meant democratisation of the Bolivarian popular nationalism. construction of a people's power, inherited state, building a different The Bolivarian movement was the which took different forms over the kind of state, on participatory and assertion of a national project with years. The state needed to first assert self-managed roots, a plan which a Latin American dimension: the its control over the economy, and then has its basis in the analysis of Istvan ethical refounding of a devastated transfer this control to the organised Meszaros. A socialism from below, country, plundered for decades people, who simultaneously needed an endogenous socialism. JANATA, June 10, 2018 13

State Socialism lay the foundations for building of and deepen the changes already This socialist proposal of Chavez communal and feminist 21st century initiated as well as expanding the was in contradiction with another, socialism. He spent years politically program of democratisation of which can be summarised in a few and economically experimenting to people’s power into more areas. points: the centralised state should build such social forms of ownership, Which path should Chavismo take? be at the centre of the whole project, and by the time he died, enough had Going along with the path to greater it should be the protector and main been done to create the possibility community control, or strengtheing player or actor; the various forms for the revolution to advance further the agreement with the business of popular organisation should in that direction. community? be subordinated to the state and The advance of Chavismo in should be limited to only certain Venezuela has not been smooth, It is a river that has stirred up areas; the state should enter into it has had its ups and downs. In the past in the present. The various agreements with businessmen, particular, since 2014, the economy actors wanting take Chavismo in both old and the new emerging has been on the ropes. There have different directions have differing businessmen, and should strive to been conflicts within Chavismo desires and interests, depending create a new national bourgeoisie. about how to deal with this crisis. The upon their class interests. There are This latter project, known as state revolution found itself at crossroads, many who are tired of the deepening socialism, is essentially a more with two possible paths: one, to take economic crisis. They wonder, how egalitarian capitalism, is capitalism a conservative stance, retreat from much more we need to endure to with relatively more distributed advancing down the road of more advance towards socialism. And wealth, is socialism in name but communal power, a road whose so, they have come to disbelieve having its foundations in capitalism. goal appears to be historically very the historical project. There are This debate can be understood distant, which would also mean also many others, who strongly through concrete policies giving up on some of the advanves believe that either Chavismo will implemented by Chavez on a national already made; and the second, to be socialist, or it will cease to exist. scale in Venezuela. As Meszaros further advance down this road says, “The measure of socialist achievements is: to what degree the measures adopted contribute actively Breaths of Fresh Air from a Pontifical to the constitution and consolidation of a deeply rooted and substantial Mouth of the South democracy, of social control and general self-management.” The Earl Bousquet way to build state socialism, where the objective is more efficient management of the state, will be Ever since becoming maximum Europeans. But none has been as different from the way to build leader of the world’s 1.2 billion outspoken as the first Christian socialism as Chavez understood it, Catholics in 2013, Pope Francis has pontiff from the Americas and the where the aim is to advance towards not minced words to take strong Southern Hemisphere in all of 13 consolidating power in the hands of positions on major international centuries. organised communities as the basic issues. But on the eve of a visit Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as a founding bloc of a new state. The to his native South American young man he worked as a chemical aim of the revolution is not having a continental homeland, he was called technologist and a nightclub bouncer more progressive minister or mayor, upon to speak out loudly—and act before becoming a priest in 1963. but organising of the popular classes strongly—against men of his cloth As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to collectively control power. accused of sexual abuse. Bergoglio embraced Liberation Chavez strived to develop All Francis’ predecessors – Theology and the Argentine cleric social forms of ownership over the except Syria-born Pope Gregory was admired across South America means of production in order to III in the 8th century -- have been for his trademark humility. 14 JANATA, June 10, 2018

Rejecting Comforts He condemned financial in inhuman conditions, becoming Rejecting the comforts mismanagement at The Vatican; easy targets for human traffickers” guaranteed by his top church and his decision to excommunicate while “risking their lives to face position, he traveled by bus across members of the Mafia, though hailed exhausting journeys that end at times his diocese and rejected the luxurious worldwide, earned him several death in tragedy”. quarters his predecessors resided in, threats. Francis’ 2017 end-of-year opting instead to live alone in a small Francis opposes “unbridled message also urged de-escalation rented apartment. capitalism” and sees consumerism of conflicts in Iraq and Syria and Elevated to his pontifical throne as “irresponsible development”. he called for peace in South Sudan, at the palatial Vatican, Pope Francis He played a leading role in Somalia, Burundi, Democratic did likewise, choosing to stay in a facilitating the re-establishment of Republic of Congo, Central African guesthouse and rejecting the papal diplomatic ties between the US and Republic and Nigeria. limousine in favor of an ordinary car. Cuba in 2015. His 2018 New Year message, Less than one square mile in Then, in December 2017, he delivered to coincide with the area, located within Italy’s vast called for “serene dialogue” between church’s observation of World Peace capital (Rome) and with a resident the government and opposition in Day, was also dedicated to the cause population of only a few hundred Venezuela, as they prepared for of refugees, calling on the world to citizens within its walls, The Vatican crucial talks in the Dominican show solidarity with those forced is officially the smallest country— Republic on January 11 and 12, by dreadful conditions to leave their and with the smallest population—in 2018. homes in search of better elsewhere. the entire world. Officially called ‘The Holy See’, Opposing Ills… ‘Apostolic Exhortation’ it also has non-voting rights at the In his fifth annual Christmas But all this didn’t just fall out United Nations (UN) and the Pope Message, delivered on December 25, of the sky. is its Head of State. 2017, Francis did not break with his In early December 2013, soon tradition of speaking out against the after taking his high office, the Eternal Wrath ills affecting the world. still new pope gave an ‘apostolic But Francis quickly earned On Palestine, he urged “a exhortation’—an address calling for the eternal wrath of die-hard resumption of dialogue” towards big changes in the church, including conservatives within his religious “a negotiated solution” that would rethinking long-held but outdated empire for breaking with traditional allow for “the peaceful coexistence customs. church dogma on several issues. of two states within mutually agreed He said: “I prefer a church which In 2014, he told the members of and internationally recognized is bruised, hurting and dirty because the top-ranking Pontifical Academy borders.” it has been out on the streets”, rather of Sciences that he supported the Opposing militarism and than one “which is unhealthy from ‘Big Bang’ theory and Evolution— capitalism, he said, “The winds of being confined and from clinging to positions he said were “not war are blowing in our world and its own security.” inconsistent with the theory of an outdated model of development “I do not want a church Creation.” He also supports actions continues to produce human, societal concerned with being at the center to protect the earth against Climate and environmental decline.” and then ends being caught-up in a Change. On tensions on the Korean web of obsessions and procedures,” Between 2014 and 2015, Pope peninsula, he hoped that “mutual he added. Francis spoke out against the trust may increase, in the interest of misuse of political and economic the world as a whole.” Not Above Criticism power internationally, lamented On refugees and economic However, Francis has not been the disappearance and suspected migrants everywhere, he said the without or above criticism. murder of 43 students in Mexico and millions involved “do not choose to As soon as he was elected to condemned the dangers and loss of go away” but are “driven from their pontifical high office in 2013, the life caused by immigration. lands” and “forced to travel alone Western press unearthed earlier JANATA, June 10, 2018 15 criticism that as head of the Argentine abuse and "ethnic cleansing." Catholic Church, he failed to openly criticise successive dictatorships. No Genuflection He was even accused of failing to But this ex-bouncer has always defend and protect priests hounded found ways and means to not only by dictators—to which he responded accept criticisms, but also to act in by pointing out that he had in fact ways that, in the end, give time to once given his official ID card to one address the issues in manners that who resembled him so that he could do not reflect genuflection to those escape the country. holding proverbial guns to his head. Francis was also accused of Ahead of the Chile visit, for not taking swift and strong enough example, while there were no plans action against a former Vatican to meet the victims of priestly abuse, Ambassador to the Dominican his spokesman in Rome made it Republic who was found to have clear that such a meeting was “not been a serial sexual molester of impossible”. little boys. The guilty senior cleric Without saying so, Francis was recalled to the Vatican where seems to be signaling to his loud internal investigations began, but he critics that he is not deaf, but their died before the proceedings ended. causes are not the only ones on his In more recent cases, Francis large plate in a world that is more came under pressure from critics quickly turning away from religion in Australia and the USA regarding than ever before. senior clerics also accused of child molestation, both of whom were Spiritual Eclipse? recalled to the Vatican and one of Today, 21st Century automation who died and was buried without and innovation, along with other paying for his sins of commission. advances in modern science and Now, ahead of his upcoming technology, are increasingly visit to Chile and Peru, protesters attracting youth away from religion defending the cases of victims of worldwide, leaving most church abuse have been threatening to leaders fearing a growing apparent protest during his Chile visit over eclipse of traditional spiritual claims that the Vatican is too slow dominance. and ineffective in taking action Yet, in the midst of it all, the against senior clerics accused of criticisms notwithstanding, Francis abuse and of inaction against the keeps bucking the traditional trend alleged perpetrators. by remaining the loudest mouth of In the Chile case, extremists have and for the south, in a world still so attacked churches with explosive unfairly dominated by the north. devices, even threatening Francis With popes appointed for life, that unless he acts according to their the words of the first spiritual leader demands, “the next one will be in of a major Western faith to emerge your Cossack.” from the Southern Hemisphere in 13 The Pope faced similar criticism decades not only still sound good to and pressure last year before and his global flock, but also feel like a during his visit to Myanmar, where lasting breath of fresh air they pray he was being canvassed to denounce will last in 2018 and beyond. the treatment of Rohingya victims of Courtesy: teleSUR R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, June 10, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, June 10, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, June 13, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 21 He Came, He Spoke, June 17, 2018 the RSS Conquered

Progress of RSS is Ominous Apoorvanand Kuldip Nayar It says something about our As Mukherjee was providing Why Do Soldiers Continue times that the whole nation was the RSS these photo-ops, I flipped to Die on the India-Pakistan glued to their television sets to watch through Pathey, a pocket-sized Border? a former president visiting the birth book full of the gems of Hedgewar Sandeep Pandey place of K.B. Hedgewar and the Thought which swaymsevaks are offices of a semi-secret organisation supposed to carry around. The Massive Public Opposition to called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Telegraph has reproduced some of Konkan Refinery Project Sangh. them for our benefit, to enlighten us Sukanya Shantha and Nearly all news channels about the greatness of the mind of Ruchira Petkar ran a live telecast of not only this son of India: Pranab Mukherjee addressing the • The Sangh wants to put in Four Years of Modi swayamsevaks of the RSS but also reality the words “Hindusthan Government: Two Circles the speech of Mohan Bhagwat, the of Hindus”. Hindusthan is a of Growth sar sanghchalak, or supremo, of country of Hindus. Like other Arun Kumar the RSS which came just before. A nations of other people (eg nondescript RSS function became a Germany of Germans), this is a national event and the message of the nation of Hindu people. Editor : G.G.Parikh Sangh reached all corners of India • Only a piece of land cannot Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain thanks to our curiosity over what be called ‘Nation’. A nation is India’s former president was going created where people of one Managing Editor : Guddi to do there. thought, one culture and one Editorial Board : Picture perfect for the RSS. It tradition live together since B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali got not only one, but many frames ancient times. Because of exactly Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah which it will showcase to future the above reasons, ‘Hindusthan’ generations to prove that it is not is the name given to our country Amarendra Dhaneshwar, shunned by the civilised: Pranab and this is a country of the Sandeep Pandey Mukherjee standing on the balcony Hindus. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, of the birth place of Hedgewar, the • Expecting help from others Naushir Bharucha Marg, founder of the RSS; Mukherjee and pleading for it is a clear Mumbai - 400 007. garlanding his statue; Mukherjee’s sign of weakness. This clearly remarks in the visiting book: “I came reflects in behavior. So, Sangh Email : [email protected] here to pay my respects to a great swayamsewaks should fearlessly Website:www.janataweekly.org son of India.” proclaim, “Hindusthan of 2 JANATA, June 17, 2018

Hindus”. Remove all narrow- taken around as trophies by the RSS. to mend its ideology of violence mindedness. We do not say The spokespersons of the RSS against the minorities. Mukherjee that others should not live here. lost no time in telling the world used diplomatese, but he was not But they should be aware that that the speeches of Bhagwat and honest. He said “violence” when they are living in Hindusthan Mukherjee complimented each other. he should have said murder and of Hindus. (Like others would They did in many ways, even if the lynching. He said “at the heart realise, if they were living there, Congress party and the commentariat of violence is darkness” when he that they are living in France of is applauding Mukherjee for his should have said that at the core French people, or Germany of great, statesmanlike address. of violence is the anti-Muslim and Germans, or Spain of Spanish Bhagwat used the cover of unity anti-Christian hatred spread by the people). Others cannot infringe in diversity to camouflage his real RSS and its affiliates. He should on rights of Hindus here. message that Hindus are specially have talked about lumpen crowds • Seeing the Saffron Flag (Bhagwa responsible (uttardayi) for India. taking over India and the goondaism Dhwaj), the entire history of the And Mukherjee, while dwelling that is being practised in the name nation along with its tradition at length about the great ancient of nationalism. Instead, Mukherjee and culture comes before our period of India and its unbroken gave a sanctimonious speech which eyes. The mind rises and special history of 5,000 years, wrapped up —as a friend from Gujarat, Prasad motivation comes in it. Only this the crucial medieval period in just Chako, rightly said—“would fit Saffron Flag (Bhagwa Dhwaj) two sentences. To tell an audience any audience anywhere, a speech we consider as our Guru, as of swayamsevaks that “Muslim which anyone could interpret in any a symbol of our Tatva, i.e. invaders” came and ruled India manner”. principle. Sangh has regarded for 600 years, after which the East Mukherjee only flattered his the most sacred Bhagwa Dhwaj India Company captured India, hosts when he said that India was as the Guru instead of any is to endorse their wrong-headed, the fastest growing economy. He particular individual. communal reading of history in complained about India being very The same Hedgewar had called which they speak of “800 years of low on the happiness index. But Muslims “Yavana snakes”, who foreign rule”. he did not care to identify the should be seen with suspicion for unhappy lot or the sources of their their reluctance to pay homage to What Mukherjee chose not to say unhappiness. Otherwise, he could mother India. The whole event was high in have talked about the farmers who Every word of his contradicts symbolism. Mukherjee obliged are dying and battling against a the idea of India that Gandhi, Nehru, the RSS by not embarrassing it by murderous economic regime, he Patel, Rajagopalachari, Azad and putting a mirror to the Sangh. We could have talked about the youth Sarojini Naidu shaped through their may be pardoned for calling him which feels unwanted in this great struggles, and he built the RSS to Gandhian but his speech showed land, he could have mentioned dismantle the edifice of secular that he lacks the courage of Gandhi. Dalits, who are being attacked India that Mukherjee eulogised in Gandhi did not mince words when he everywhere, and of course Muslims his speech. told the leaders of the Sangh of his and Christians who are at the target If Hedgewar is great, then the unhappiness at learning they were of the government and the RSS. He very notion of greatness would need involved in anti-Muslim violence, preferred not to do that. That could to be revised or upturned. Would any or when he forced Golwalkar to have struck a discordant note on a sensible German politician call an say that the RSS did not believe solemn occasion like this. anti-Semitic ideologue a great son in violence against minorities. Since people love positivity, of Germany? Of course, Golwalkar, like a true Mukherjee could have talked about Apart from these, the picture Sanghi, never meant it. the humanity that people like Yashpal of Mukherji himself standing at No one expected Pranab Saxena of Delhi and Imam Rashidi attention to watch the saffron flag babu to be as forthright as Patel, of Asansol, who lost their sons to go up and the parade of the lathi- who slammed Golwalkar for the the communal frenzy that the RSS wielding swayamsevaks would be obstinacy of the RSS and its refusal and its affiliates have unleashed on JANATA, June 17, 2018 3 the people of this country. Or, the Before he is called fringe, let us Nice words fail to gloss over the sadhus of Ayodhya who held an remind ourselves that he has served viciousness of the mind that lurks iftar for their Muslim neighbours in as a minister in the government of behind them. their temples, or the heroic strivings the darling of Indian democrats, of the citizens of Gurgaon who are Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a proud Email: [email protected] battling the demon of divisiveness by swayamsevak. bringing Hindus closer to Muslims. He did not remember them. He could have. He decided not to. Progress of RSS is Ominous By pitching himself above the divides which are tearing apart Kuldip Nayar the lives of ordinary Indians, @ CitiznMukherjee, as he calls himself I find the followers of secular in fact, went on fast for 21 days on on Twitter, shied away from the ideology as fanatic as the others. what he called “purification.” The duties of a true citizen. Citizenship is There was a furore over the visit lesson to be learnt is that we should cultivated by standing together with of BJP president Amit Shah to my not hesitate to sit across the table to those who are being denied the rights residence a few days ago. Criticism iron out our differences. attendant on citizenship. over telephone and emails were I must admit that my opinion numberless. And all that they said about Amit Shah was that of a person What the ‘great son’s’ message was “you should not have allowed emitting fire and brimstone. But really is him to visit you.” I was completely bowled over by Bhagwat, so lovingly and I want to put the record straight. his courtesy and politeness, clear reverentially addressed as sarsangha A couple of days before Shah’s visit, thought process and perception and, chalakji by Mukherjee, anticipated a few activists came to my house. above all, possessing an affable the impact of the event when he We were together in the Jayaprakash temperament. He was anxious to said that after it was over, the Sangh Narain movement. They asked me convince me even though he knew would remain the Sangh and Pranab that if I had any objection to meeting my philosophy was opposite to his Mukherjee would remain Pranab Shah at my residence. I told them and that of the BJP. Mukherjee. that anybody can come to my house He said he was six years old Bhagwat was right. Just when the and I do not discriminate people on when he started going to the RSS nation was preparing for the passing the basis of their ideology. shakas. I could spot the pride in his out parade of the swayamsevaks at I feel that my ideology of not eyes when said this. Indeed, he has Nagpur, one of them, their senior, mixing religion with politics is been through the grind at Nagpur. It Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a BJP probably the best and we should has been a long haul for Shah but he MLA from Karnataka, was heard not wear beliefs on our sleeves. has ultimately emerged as the party instructing corporators not to work One should not be afraid of sharing president. for Muslims. thoughts with the people who India is at the crossroads. “I am telling you corporators, are staunchly opposed to you. Followers of Hindutva want to don’t work for the welfare for Ideological differences should have capture power and oust the principle Muslims. You must work for the no place. After all, democracy is all of togetherness. I partly touched welfare of Hindus only. Who voted about discussion and debate. on this topic while talking to Amit us to power? I told my staff, no one Mahatma Gandhi talked to Shah. He said that the BJP develops wearing skull caps or burqas should Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder an area comprehensively when it visit my office,” the Indian Express of Pakistan, and even visited his takes over. My observation was reported Yatnal telling his party residence to persuade him not to that in the process the mosques workers. insist on partition. After his visit, also get demolished. He refused to Yatnal is only following the he observed that he had failed to be provoked and responded saying “great son of India”, Hedgewar, convince Jinnah. There was no that development dependent on the and his maatr sanstha, the RSS. bitterness in their thought. Gandhi, deputy commissioner of the area. 4 JANATA, June 17, 2018

The two main points on which place in mid-August in 1947, at least starvation. Shah dwelt during his meeting with 10 months before the deadline set by Shah’s remark had a tinge of me were caste and partition. He Lord Atlee. disappointment. But his party does said that the socialists ended up in When I asked Lord Mountbatten not seem to have learnt any lesson. It caste politics and mentioned that why partition was effected earlier is trying to impose a Hindutva rule of Ram Manohar Lohia, the founder, than June 1948, he said he could sorts even when the BJP realizes that underlined caste all the time. That not hold the country together. He 17 crore Muslims are against what is probably the reason, according to regretted the death of millions of the party is attempting to do. And me, why they were able to capture people in the process. However, he one thing which Shah and his party power only in States in initial years justified partition on the plea that it should remember is that India has and not at the Centre. Shah also could not be helped. So what Shah a secular Constitution and whoever emphasised that the present set of thought was contrary to the events rules the country should follow it in leaders of different parties were which ultimately unfolded. letter and spirit. following the same path. When I told Lord Mountbatten Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem so. Strange, those who believe in that he was responsible for the death The RSS is spreading itself all over the ideology of development for all of people during partition, he said and, in the process, extinguishing the should get divided on the betterment that he had saved the lives of two identity of others. The BJP needs it of certain groups when they come million people when he diverted to because it has no cadre of its own. to power. This is understandable at Kolkata the food ships meant for Whatever the reason, the rule of RSS the State level. But they do not get his troops in South Asia. Before is forbidding. over divisive politics even when the Almighty he would swear that they come to power at the Centre. he had saved as many people from Email: [email protected] The ruling BJP is one example. They have 21 States under their rule and the party has employed different Why Do Soldiers Continue to Die tactics and methods in different States to capture power. on the India-Pakistan Border? Even the Congress, the oldest party with secular outlook, is no Sandeep Pandey longer an organisation which it used to be. Its problem is that it has no In 1947 India was divided by can meet when they choose to, leader and has resorted to parochial the foreign rulers by playing a game the common people do not have politics. Rahul Gandhi will have a of divide and rule to which the control over their destiny. The hard time in 2019 when he would religious fundamentalists fell prey. Indian Prime Minister Narendra have pitted himself against Prime Since then, India and Pakistan have Modi stopped over in Pakistan in Minister Narendra Modi, who has had a checkered history and uneasy December 2015 while on the way been able to push the BJP down the relationship, sometimes climaxing from Afghanistan and participated Vindhyas. The Karnataka example in violent conflagrations and war. in a family event of Pakistani PM is before the country. While both the governments Nawaz Sharif; the former heads Amit Shah, talking on partition, prefer to maintain an adversarial of intelligence agencies of both said that if “we had waited” the relationship, which now sustains countries, Asad Durrani of the Inter- Indian subcontinent would not vested interests on both sides, Services Intelligence of Pakistan and have got divided. Shah is wrong the common people and business Amarjit Singh Dulat of Research on this issue. Lord Clement Atlee, interests on both the sides want and Analysis Wing of India, co- the British Prime Minister, who peace. They do not want conflicts authored a book The Spy Chronicles: announced the end of their rule had in which people die. The soldiers RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace; fixed June 6, 1948 as the date when dying on both sides, after all, come the National Security Advisors of they would leave India as either one from mostly modest middle class the two countries, retired Lt. Gen. country or more. But partition took rural backgrounds. While the leaders Nasser Khan Janjua and Ajit Doval, JANATA, June 17, 2018 5 continue to meet in third countries; and Sindh is opened either at Khavda to humanity. Adani is interested in selling 4,000 or Nada Bet, the people from the An India–Pakistan Friendship MW of power to Pakistan; and two sides will get an opportunity to and Peace March is being organised powerful business interests have meet easily, there will be promotion from 19 to 30 June, 2018 from ensured a peaceful border in Gujarat. of trade and tourism, and ultimately Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad to Why then do soldiers keep killing peace and friendship will be Nada Bet on Pakistan border, 290 each other on the northern border? strengthened. The fisherfolk whose km from Ahmedabad. Organisations We never hear of any Indian soldiers relatives land in jail on other side can endorsing this March include dying on the Indo-China border, easily travel across the border to find Pakistan India People’s Forum for probably because India and China out about their well being and make Peace and Democracy, Aaghaz- have an unwritten / unspoken an effort to get them released. It is in e-Dosti, Minority Coordination agreement not to kill each other’s the interest of common people that Committee, Gujarat, Gujarat soldiers. If this is so, why can’t a borders are opened up. Lok Samiti, Bandhkam Mazdoor similar understanding be reached If people of the two countries Sangathan, Pakistan Institute for with Pakistan. After all, leaders are allowed to meet freely, an Labour Education and Research, of governments and intelligence atmosphere of peace and harmony Karachi, National Alliance of agencies and security advisors are will be created in which it will be People’s Movements, Bombay talking to each other. easier to resolve the outstanding Sarvodaya Mandal, All India Secular We believe that if the disputes too. When our defence Forum, Manthan Samayiki, Kolkata, governments of India and Pakistan expenses will go down, resources Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas, sacw. cannot solve the disputes between will be freed up for developmental net, Confederation of Voluntary the two countries, then the people activities which will benefit the poor Agencies, Hyderabad, Hamari Awaz, should take the initiative. If the on both sides. Insaf Foundation, Gujarat Mazdoor common people of the two countries When the two Koreas can end Panchayat, Khudai Khidmatgar and are allowed to meet, then over a their enmity after almost as long a Socialist Party (India). period of time peace and harmony period as India–Pakistan animosity When European countries, will prevail. The two governments has existed, why can’t the two South which were such bitter enemies of should facilitate the meeting of Asian neighbours not achieve the each other that they converted their common people from the two sides same feat? wars into World Wars less than a by granting them passports and visas The two governments should hundred years ago, can create a easily. Since people from the two also take an initiative to replace the Union in which all restrictions on sides of the border share a common military ceremony on Wagah–Attari travel have been removed, why can’t culture, they can play an important role every evening with a peace ceremony the same thing be achieved in South where the governments have failed. where people are allowed to meet and Asia? If over a hundred countries in Along the Indian border with celebrate peace, harmony, friendship five regions of the world can sign Pakistan, there are openings between and their shared culture. Such a on agreements to make themselves Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in model of peace ceremony can then Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, why Kashmir, at Wagah–Attari in Punjab be replicated on all border openings. can’t India and Pakistan do the and at Munabao–Khokrapar in A model for peace ceremony has same? In the long term, there is no Rajasthan–Sindh. Gujarat doesn’t been developed by a class on Social alternative to the low intensity war have an opening into Pakistan even Movements at the Indian Institute currently being waged between the though a number of fisherfolk from of Technology, Gandhinagar during two countries other than to establish both sides land up in each other’s 2016–17. peace and friendship, especially jails. The people in Bhuj, Kutch The governments of India and since a full-fledged war in not have had intimate relationships with Pakistan should create a situation in possible because of the presence of people from the other side, and given which ultimately all restrictions on nuclear weapons on both sides. an opportunity, trade can flourish travel across the border are removed between the two areas again. and people are allowed to meet Email: [email protected] If the border between Gujarat freely. This will be a great service 6 JANATA, June 17, 2018 Massive Public Opposition to Konkan Refinery Project

Sukanya Shantha and Ruchira Petkar

On May 30, around 15,000 are in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg compensation. villagers – the police had come districts along the western coast Majid Adam Bhatkar, former prepared for around 10,000 protestors and include Nanar, Sagwe, Taral, sarpanch (head of the village) calls – gathered at the Rajiv Gandhi Karsinghewadi, Vadapalle, Villye, these beaches the community’s Maidan in Rajapur to demand Dattawadi, Padekarwadi, Katradevi, ATM. “Absolutely no family has an uncompromising roll-back of Karvine, Chowke, Upade, Padwe, ever gone to bed hungry. One could an oil refinery project announced Sakhar, Gothiware, Girye and just go into the sea for a few hours by Fadnavis’s government early Rameshwar. Each of these villages and return home with fish worth a last year. The protestors included has several smaller revenue villages few hundred. These beaches have not just men and women in equal under them. Nanar gram panchayat, been our lifeline for generations,” numbers from the affected villages, for instance, consists of four Bhatkar explains. but also several hundred people revenue villages – Nanar, Ingalwadi, Mango and paddy cultivation is from neighbouring villages who had Palekarwadi and Wadi Chivari. The the main source of earnings for the come to show their solidarity with flourishing farmers and fisherfolk of farmers. Vinod Suke, the newly- them in their struggle to protect their these villages will all be displaced if elected sarpanch of Rameshwar livelihoods. this project goes ahead. village in Sindhudurg explains The Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery Konkan, a biodiversity hotspot that an average household here project which, officials say, will and one of the most prosperous belts manages to earn between Rs 6-10 employ over one lakh people, of the state, is home to the famous lakh from Alphonso mangoes alone. is being opposed by all political Alphonso mango, among other “It is a six-month-long work starting parties, including the Shiv Sena, produce. The picturesque western November. Even the poorest in the by environmentalists and also by coastline of India has innumerable village owns over 100 mango trees. human rights activists. But so far, beaches, mostly unexplored and The earnings are enough for them the government has stayed resolute underexposed to tourist activities. to live a reasonably comfortable in its decision and in April, amidst With rains in abundance, the farmers life,” Suke says. Last year, over 54 opposition, it went ahead with signing of this rich land, unlike those from thousand metric tonnes of mangoes a Memorandum of Understanding Vidarbha and Marathwada region, were sold from these 17 villages. This between Saudi Aramco and three have managed to do well without is over and above other produces like state-owned companies – Indian needing the state to extend its paddy, ragi and toor dal. Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan loan waiver scheme to the region. Yogesh Natekar, another resident Petroleum Corporation Limited Konkan alone contributes 41% of of the village and an active member and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Maharashtra’s GDP. of the Konkan Refinery Virodhi Limited. When completed by 2022, Coastal fishing here has Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation the project will be the world’s remained a primary source of of affected persons floated to oppose biggest single-location oil refinery income for most Koli and Kokani the project, points out that no farmer project with a capacity to process Muslim communities who work in this region had to ever end their 60 million tonnes of crude annually. harmoniously together. These life due to failed crops. “Kokani The oil refinery is planned over fishing communities, unlike their (Konkan) soil has never failed its an expanse of 14,675 acres (5,870 farmer counterparts from the region, people. Even in the worst times, hectares) of land in Maharashtra’s are only marginal landholders. And people have managed,” Natekar Konkan region. Of this, only only with this project underway, it is the claims. 126 acres (52 hectares) belong to the fisherfolk who face the maximum The farmers here boast of being state. The rest has to be acquired. The risk of losing out on their source of self-reliant, which is also one of the 17 villages identified for the project livelihood without any reasonable primary reasons why they do not JANATA, June 17, 2018 7 consider an oil refinery project as a movement pushed the company local political leaders and village “gateway to development”. outside the state and the project representatives have unanimously “What jobs will the government finally moved to Thoothukudi in decided to keep their party allegiance provide us. Even the poorest here Tamil Nadu. aside while participating in the employ four or five workers under This was followed by another agitation. The village gram sabhas them,” says 69-year-old N.D. project set up by the Dabhol Power have passed numerous resolutions Kulkarni of Sagve village. The Company in the early 90s. The opposing the project and have villagers claim Ratnagiri alone has project was initiated by the now- already submitted a bunch of over one lakh migrant labourers defunct US energy major Enron. “no-consent” applications to the working at the Alphonso orchards. This project went through a lot government. Kulkarni, who worked in Mumbai of political churning and people’s for over three decades, said the opposition. The land acquisition Unfair means project will, in fact, render a large was forced upon the locals by the Even though the villagers are number of people jobless. “At then Congress government. While confident of their unity and say that present, even an elderly person like the BJP and Shiv Sena had initially with time the movement will only me is able to earn for his living. opposed the project, they too went intensify, they fear that bulk buying Once our lands are taken away, the ahead with the project when they of the land by “outsiders” could dent state will consider only the younger were voted to power in 1995. The their agitation. Even before the state generation eligible for employment. project since has run into major had decided on the project, several What will the older generation, losses and its future is now uncertain. investors, mostly from Gujarat, especially those living alone do?” Another project, the Indo-French suddenly begun buying land from Kulkarni asks. nuclear power initiative at Jaitapur, the locals. They paid high prices and On at least two occasions, has also faced vociferous opposition bought land in bulk. representatives from the revenue from the local people and the Shiv When villagers were served department had visited villages for Sena. The project, with a capacity notice and asked to submit their land measurements, but the villagers to generate 9,900 MW electricity, consent letters to the revenue obstructed their way and they had to was planned in 2010 by the then department, these new buyers – return. The district administration Congress-led United Progressive now considered “farmers” in official has made several attempts to speak Alliance. Though land for the project records – swiftly consented to the to the village heads and convince was acquired amidst vehement project. “It is pretty obvious that they them to organise meetings with the opposition, it has barely made any had only blocked the land and were villagers, but these official efforts progress because of concerns about acting at the behest of the state,” says have not made any headway so far. the cost of the electricity that will Prabhakar Devlekar, ex-sarpanch The people are in no mood to listen – be produced. and vice president of the Konkan they want the project to be cancelled. Refinery Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti. The political drama The land, Devlekar says was Konkan and the people’s struggle People in Nanar say they bought from villagers for around This is not the first time a understand the games of politicians Rs 3 lakh per hectare and upon massive scale project has been all too well. “Every ruling party acquisition by the state, could yield planned in Konkan. Also, this is not has had a chequered past. When the owners anywhere around a crore the first time that a project has been in power, they have only taken an of rupees, he estimates. There are met with massive protest. anti-people stand. Although the Sena fears that the state will use this way In 1992, Vedanta’s Sterlite and the Congress are extending their to show that the locals have acceded Industries was allotted 500 acres of support, we aren’t relying on them to the project. land in Zadgaon village of Ratnagiri in our agitation. It is a people’s to set up a 60,000 tonne per annum movement, organised and executed Environmental impact copper smelter and associated by the locals,” said Nanar’s sarpanch The project is expected to facilities by the state government. Omkar Pabhudesai. destroy over 14 lakh mango trees, But a well-informed people’s Seeing the popular mood, six lakh cashew trees, paddy fields 8 JANATA, June 17, 2018 spread over 500 acres along with huge parcels of flora and fauna, Chavismo: Part IV hence endangering the region’s The fourth part of a series of seven articles by Marco Teruggi on fragile coastal environment. Even Chavismo, the ongoing socialist revolutionary project in Venezuela, that before an exhaustive environment the Venezuelans fondly call Bolivarian revolution. assessment could be carried out, Fadnavis had declared the project would emit “zero pollution” and that ‘We Are All Soldiers’ it would not pose any hazard to the Marco Teruggi environment. But environmentalist Girish I was captivated by the man subjective and objective conditions Raut says these are mindless claims the very first time I saw him in were both ripe for a change; what made to keep the locals in the dark. Mar del Plata (Argentina), in 2005. was needed was someone who could He says the first impact of the He was standing before a packed gather around him the scattered refinery will be on the intertidal stadium, quoting Eva Peron, talking people and mould them into a zone, which is a critical interface about Francisco de Miranda. It was revolutionary force. Chavez declared between terrestrial and marine raining, there was a sea wind, and he would do it. And he did it. ecosystems. Not just will the trees be he was there for a master class in He built himself up as the felled for the refinery, but the habitat history. Beginning as a soldier in the President, Head of State, head of of marine life will also be severely Venezuelan military, he had already the Bolivarian National Armed impacted, Raut adds. faced everything an empire unloads Forces (FANB); he moulded The villagers here are conscious when one wants to challenge it and himself as the leader of a historical of not wanting to be seen as “anti- advance. That day I unknowingly movement and of a political party; he development”. “There are at least a became a Chavista. I was not the became a mass pedagogue, an astute dozen different projects that the state only one, we were thousands. political strategist, a theoretician. can provide us. Why can’t they set There was something in his words, As sociologists say, he was a up a processing unit to help farmers the historical time he carried, the charismatic leader. Such leaders store and sell their produce?” asks certainty he offered. emerge every few decades on our Satyavan Palekar of Nanar. “We I later saw him in Caracas. He continent, they break with the past, want development, but our question made such a powerful impact. I revive the class struggle, and lay the to this government is, at what and remember the crowded avenue, the foundations for rebuilding society. whose cost?” wait, the joy when suddenly, from (Note: This article has been the top of a truck, he appeared. Understanding Chavismo edited by us.) Seeing him, the crowd went into a You cannot understand frenzy. It was a fascinating sight. The Chavismo without understanding The Unemployment man had already become a myth. the role of the leadership, both in Crisis: Reasons and A leadership of this magnitude the civilian government and the was necessary to channel Venezuela's military. He was the one who led the Solutions organic crisis into a revolutionary movement from the front. He was outlet. There had been huge the one who took along with him all Contribution Rs. 25/- mobilisations of people since 1989, the various parties and the different Published by there had been so many struggles and ideologies, who could contain the Janata Trust & Lokayat defeats, and the country was at the worst tendencies and advance the crossroads, without knowing where revolutionary project and gradually D-15, Ganesh Prasad, to go. The left was fragmented, push it more and more towards the Naushir Bharucha Marg, and its various factions were small, left. He became an almost mythical Grant Road (W), without much following. “There was figure, who decisively won every Mumbai 400 007 no mass work, the popular struggles election, including the one held just were frozen,” explained Chavez. The before his death. His last victory JANATA, June 17, 2018 9 summoned a continent. The right, is there Madurismo. But Maduro the fore all the negative tendencies the empire, just did not know how has displayed amazing leadership that had been overcome during to handle him. qualities, the clearest example being the Chavez years. However, these Most political observers his call for the convening of the tendencies had not completely gone understand all this about Chavez. National Constituent Assembly in away, that takes a very long time, But Chavez was more than that: the 2017 when the country was going and they have increased in a big way people loved him, he was both father down a confrontationist path from again, such as benefiting oneself at and brother to them. He continues which it appeared there would be the cost of society. to be among the people, continues no return. Maduro redirected the to ignite their passions, continues country down the democratic way, Consolidating Leadership to be in their prayers, they continue demonstrating that he was a brilliant Chavismo is a heterogeneous, to light candles at the altar for him. strategist, and was more able than the multiclass movement, ranging from His death created a vacuum. opposition. Responding to Maduro’s the peasantry, the native Indians Chavismo needed a new leadership, call, Chavismo closed ranks around and city slum dwellers to the new but it did not exist. The enemy was Maduro, ensuring his victory in the entrepreneurial class. It is to the waiting for such an opportunity, it strategic battle. As Maradona, the credit of Maduro that he has been unleashed a violent war with full legendary Argentinian footballer, able to consolidate his leadership fury. With Chavez no longer at described it, in times of crisis, we within these diverse ranks of the helm, the enemy thought that are all soldiers. Chavismo, which is why there was a it needed only a push to demolish How much should be asked broad acceptance to his appointment Chavismo. But it was wrong. Chavez of the leadership? Maduro is not as the Chavismo candidate for the remained alive even after his death, Chavez, it wouldn’t be fair to ask 2018 presidential elections. On and he continues to be the unifying him to perform the exemplary the other hand, it is also true that element in the people’s resistance leadership role that Chavez played. within the not so diehard supporters that continues to this day. Now that Chavez is not there, it is of Chavismo, or those supporters How to fill the vacuum left by Chavismo that has to fulfill that role. of Chavismo who have become Chavez? How was the vacuum in the Chavismo means all the various disillusioned with it because of leadership of the government, state, players in Venezeula, acting in the economic crisis, or among the Bolivarian movement, the FANB, unison. These include the parties, ordinary people who were watching mass pedagogy to be filled? This was movements, communes, FANB, the struggle from the sidelines and the task that Nicolas Maduro had to intellectuals – they must all come were never very passionate about fulfill, when he became the President together to defend the revolution social change, Maduro’s authority is after Chavez. But leadership cannot and advance it. The opposition wants being questioned. All these sections be exercised by decree, it has to be to focus all attention on Maduro, to of society have come to believe in won. Furthermore, Maduro had to vilify him, to put the blame for all the propaganda war being waged perform these tasks in a situation the problems on his leadership, and by the domestic opposition with the where the enemy launched three thereby launch a campaign to unseat help of its international supporters, violent attacks on his presidency him from the presidency and replace that the economic crisis has it roots within a space of four years. him with an opposition leader. They in Chavismo, that Chavismo is These assaults brutally bruised the had done this with Chavez, they are fundamentally incapable of leading economy, badly damaging all the doing it now with Maduro. the country out of the economic gains of the revolution, while also It is of course necessary to build crisis. worsening the historical problems leadership, one that is respected by Chavismo needs a leadership of the Venezuelan economy, such the people and carries authority. having the authority and acceptability as corruption. This is particularly important at a and charisma of a Chavez. Venezuela time when there is a huge leadership needs such a leadership. It was the Closing Ranks vacuum in Venezuela, and when the titanic leadership of Chavez, his Maduro is not Chavez. It is country is facing a war from within capacity to unify the country and absurd to pretend otherwise. Nor and without, which has brought to guide it down the revolutionary 10 JANATA, June 17, 2018 path, that enabled the revolutionary process to advance in Venezuela, an Saying a Firm 'No' To Displacement: advance that no one had predicted Mahava Bharala Struggle till it actually took place. Now that Chavez is no longer there, in Rajasthan it would be foolhardy to expect another Chavez to come on the Bharat Dogra scene and advance the revolution. The new President is trying his best, but ultimately, the revolutionary At a time when there is growing here because of the health destroying advance will now depend on the social and legal agreement that pollution caused by stone crushers. conscious actions of all of us, the farmers' lands should not be acquired Already indiscriminate mining the believers in Chavismo, the many where the entire community is has started in this area. In Mahava Chavismos that we all are. firmly opposed to it and when there village this has begun just near a Are we all Chavez ? are other options available to the water body, which should never government, it is inexplicable why be done. This water body is the government has been so insistent being destroyed by this mining. about acquiring land in Mahava and Agriculture, animal husbandry and Janata Bharala villages (Neem Ka Thana other sources of livelihoods are also Block of Sikar district). For the being adversely affected and houses is available at last four years, the overwhelming are being damaged. When people majority of the people of these protested against this indiscriminate www.lohiatoday.com villages have united to resist the mining, they were lathi charged. One notices served to them regarding woman suffered a hand fracture but takeover of their lands so that an still was jailed along with another industrial corporation can allot it to woman for some days. various industries. People are afraid of the mining As villagers explained during and crusher mafia which is all Janata Subscription a recent visit to these villages, powerful in this belt of about 150 this has always been regarded villages in Sikar, Jaipur and Annual Rs. : 260/- as a two-crop area and has good Jhunjhunu districts. Yet they are Three Years : 750/- prospects for agriculture and animal determined to carry forward their husbandry. Even what is described struggle to protect their lands and Demand Draft / as wasteland in official records is village. Their struggle should get actually very useful for supporting wide support. Cheque animal husbandry and related on livelihoods, people say. Bhagvati Email: [email protected] Devi, who has been in the forefront Mumbai Bank of the anti-displacement struggle, in favour of says, "This land has provided for Spectre of Fascism seven generations of villagers and Contribution Rs. 20/- JANATA TRUST we are determined that our future generations also continue to get this Published by D-15, Ganesh Prasad, support.” Janata Trust Villagers here fear that as a large Naushir Bharucha Marg, & Lokayat Grant Road (W), number of stone crushers exist in nearby areas, so their lands when D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Mumbai 400 007. acquired may also be used for this Naushir Bharucha Marg, Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 purpose, making it impossible to live JANATA, June 17, 2018 11 Four Years of Modi Government: Two Circles of Growth

Arun Kumar

The ruling dispensation in India at 1.7 % in 2013–14, a considerable investments in the economy, lower is facing a crisis of low growth, improvement over the high of levels of employment generation and protests by major sections of the 4.8% the year before. The Fiscal crisis in the lives of the young who population—farmers, youth and Deficit of the Central government in could not get jobs commensurate traders—and criticism about non 2013–14 was at 4.5% while it was with their training. The youth looked fulfillment of the many promises at 4.9% the year before. The Foreign for a leader who could get them out it has made. It has announced Exchange Reserves were at $304 of the morass they found themselves many policies but not only is their billion in 2013–14 as compared to in. implementation tardy, many of $292 billion the year before. Thus, them are a continuation of the past there is no doubt that the economy 2. Government’s Performance policies under different names. This faced a macroeconomic crisis in Since 2014 is another kind of policy paralysis 2012–13 but it was recovering from The NDA government in which UPA II was accused of. that crisis in 2013–14, just before May 2014 was lucky to inherit an To counter these criticisms, the the NDA government took power improving macroeconomic situation. government has been highlighting in May 2014. Crude oil prices moderated, drought its achievements by comparing the The economic crisis during abated and growth in the advanced present performance of the economy the UPA regime was triggered by countries picked up so that exports with that of the UPA II. national and international factors. improved. In 2018, the CPI rate No doubt the situation today is Nationally, there was a loss of of inflation is down to about 3%, not what it was in 2012–13 when confidence in the economy due to the rate of growth is at about 7% there was a macroeconomic crisis. policy paralysis brought about by (official data), Fiscal Deficit of the But presently a crisis confronts the the revelation of massive corruption Central Government is down to nation, triggered by two shocks to the cases and the massive people’s 3.6%, foreign exchange reserves economy—due to the demonetisation movements that started in 2010–11. are at $402 billion and the Current announced on November 8, 2016 and People linked the high levels of Account Deficit is at 0.7% of GDP. implementation of GST from July prices to corruption brought about The PM has argued that the sales of 1, 2017. So, the present crisis is a by crony capitalism—what went passenger vehicles have grown by different macroeconomic crisis than into the pockets of the corrupt came 12% and that of commercial vehicles the earlier one because it is policy out of the pockets of the public. by 23%. Domestic air travel has induced—that is the damaging part. Droughts led to decline in agriculture increased by 14% and international It is brought about by ill thought and distress among farmers and also air freight traffic by 16%. This through policies. higher prices. growth is on a low base. But even if At the international level, high it is taken at face value, none of these 1. What NDA Inherited in 2014 crude oil prices and low growth pertain to the unorganised sectors of In May 2014, the CPI inflation in major economies resulted in the economy. They reflect the growth rate was at about 9%. The quarterly declining levels of exports and of the better off sections. rate of growth in the second quarter of Balance of Payment (BOP) The lower crude prices resulted 2014–15 when the NDA government difficulties. Rising crude oil prices in lower energy prices and lower took over was a high of 8.5%. It meant a larger import bill, higher levels of inflation. It also resulted had recovered from a low of 4.5% trade deficit and inflation. It also led in lower import bill and not only in the last quarter of 2013–14. The to higher levels of subsidies which lower levels of subsidies from the growth data are based on a revised meant a higher level of deficit in budget but increased tax collections method of estimation. The Current the budget. The macroeconomic due to higher excise and sales tax. Account Deficit in external trade was problems led to lower levels of All this led to lower current account 12 JANATA, June 17, 2018 deficit, higher capital flows and the prosperity of a narrow section September 2017. Stressed advances higher foreign exchange reserves of the population and not the entire ratio of PSBs rose from 15.6% to and lower level of deficit in the population. The worsening income 16.2% during the period.” In March budget. However, the farm crisis distribution has led to an unstable 2014, these were 4.4% according and the employment crisis are economic climate which has also to the Economic Survey of 2014. continuing in spite of the much better translated into an unstable political It was 2.09% in 2008–09. So, there macroeconomic conditions that the and social situation. has been quite a sharp increase in NDA regime has had. Rising disparities mean that NPAs since 2008–09 but most of the So, why has a better the mass demand from the bulk increase has been in the period after macroeconomic situation not led of the population rises slowly and 2014. What are the reasons? to improvements in the conditions growth depends more and more on Most of the NPAs relate to of the marginalised sections of investment and the consumption the sickness in the infrastructure the country? Income and wealth of the well-off sections. The stock sector, steel, mining, aviation disparity is on the rise, with the market boom and the rising wealth and textiles. India has gone in for top few per cent cornering all the effect for the well-off spurs their high cost infrastructure which the growth in the economy. According consumption. Post 2007–08 global poor can ill afford. For instance, to OXFAM, the top 1% in India own economic crisis, both these stimuli the government is going in for a 73% of the wealth while the bottom weakened and growth rates fell. bullet train between Mumbai and 50% hardly saw any increase in The NDA in its four years has not Ahmedabad. Its viability is in doubt their wealth. The World Inequality been able to revive demand and since the ticket will cost as much Report of 2017 shows that the top investment since disparities have as the airfare between these two 1% of the income earners got 22% continued to rise and the twin cities, so that only the well-off can of the national income. This does shocks of demonetisation and GST use it. When much of the railway not include the black incomes that have aggravated the disparities as infrastructure is woefully weak and these people generate. If that were to discussed below. in urgent need of improvement, to go be included, their share of incomes In India, investment and in for such a project can only be for would shoot up to almost 50% of the especially private corporate prestige (and ego) and not for sound national income. investment has been much less than economic reasons. India has been experiencing what it was in 2007–08. This is due A package of investment in the ‘marginalising growth’ for a long to lack of broad based demand. RBI banks to boost their capital has been time and this process is only data shows that capacity utilisation announced but that will not resolve accelerating with the pro-business has been hovering at around 70– the problem since it emanates from stance of the NDA government. It 75%. No wonder private investment default by industry. is creating two circles of growth is tepid at best. in the economy with the organised ii) Black Economy Continues to sectors growing and the unorganised 3. Analysis of Some Key Aspects Grow sectors in retreat. This has been the of the Economy A major part of the NPAs relate aggravated by the twin shocks to the to corruption and widespread crony Indian economy since November i) NPAs of the Banks capitalism prevailing in the banking 2016. So, even if the growth rates The massive buildup of non- system. The appointment of the top rise, the situation of the marginalised performing assets (NPAs) in the brass of the PSBs is based on political does not improve. banking system of the country and bureaucratic consideration. India embarked on a ‘growth and especially in the public sector They are open to political pressures at any cost’ strategy with the New banks (PSBs) has further crippled to oblige businessmen with Economic Policies in 1991. The their capacity to lend. According connections. So, scrutiny for loans burden of this growth has been to the latest Economic Survey, the has often been cursory and without borne by the workers, farmers and Gross Non Performing Advances proper risk assessment. This has the environment. This has meant (GNPA) “ratio rose marginally from not changed after the NDA came to that the growth has been based on 12.5% to 13.5% between March and power in 2014. JANATA, June 17, 2018 13

The Nirav Modi scam is the Corruption and ‘black income like the Income Declaration Scheme biggest one to surface, but many generation’ have not declined if one (IDS) and demonetisation, but as other smaller ones are being is to go by the scams that are now we have discussed elsewhere, these unearthed with great regularity, like coming to light. It takes a bit of have not helped to check the black the Rotomac case. In 2015, a Rs time for the scams to get exposed. economy; in fact, demonetisation 10,000 crore havala with Dubai and The Congress party is accusing the cannot really check black money Hong Kong via a private bank in government of a scam in the huge generation. The government claims Surat was reported. In 2015, fraud Rafael deal. During UPA I, only that GST will also help check black was detected in the Bank of Baroda a few major scams came to light; income generation, but reports branch in Delhi wherein Rs 6,000 what was exposed during UPA II indicate that a large part of the crore was illegally transferred to mainly related to the earlier UPA business is still going on in cash and Hong Kong. I regime. The reason is that in all not via the formal channels. Most The problem of crony capitalism major projects, there are corrupt importantly, the government has is not confined to the PSBs; as the deals, but it takes a while for them taken no action to check the most recent ICICI case shows, this is to be unearthed—usually when important source of black money also happening in private banks. a whistleblower comes forward. generation, the corruption in the In the case of these banks, there (Now, even this is getting difficult political process; it has made no are favourites who get easy loans. as the whistleblowers are being attempt to clean it up. Investigation is going on into the threatened and many have even ICICI case which originated a decade been killed. In the case of the huge iii) Challenges Regarding back. Curiously, a whistleblower had VYAPAM scam, 48 people linked to Employment flagged this case in 2016, but action it have died.) In this NDA regime, Given that investment is not has been initiated only recently. if the big bullet train project or the very buoyant and black income Even the media did not pick this up. highway construction projects have generation continues apace, making During the UPA II rule, massive any payoffs, they will come to light the economy inefficient, employment cases of corruption came to light. in due course of time. Till then the generation remains weak. The black economy continued to government may look clean. The problem in India is that there grow and aggravated the growing Black economy is also linked is no social security, so that workers inequality. NDA came to power to the flight of capital from the cannot afford to remain unemployed. promising a clean-up and easing economy. As the Nirav Modi case People do whatever they can—sell a of the tax burden on everyone by shows and the revelations under the little of something on the road side, bringing back the black money Paradise and Panama Papers scams drive a rickshaw, do head load work held abroad. It boldly promised indicate, flight of capital continues and so on. These people get work that every family would be able to unabated. So, a poor country which for very few hours a day and earn get Rs 15 lakh. The BJP President is short of capital for investment in very little in doing so. Thus, while admitted that it was only a chunavi essentials like education and health there is massive underemployment, jumla (meant only for the elections). is losing capital. The government has statistics show there is very little Not even Rs 5,000 crore has been made no serious attempt to check unemployment (the way it is declared under the Foreign Money this. The Supreme Court monitored officially measured), since everyone Laws promulgated (with draconian SIT to unearth black money has been is counted as employed one way or provisions). If distributed to the 26 functioning for the last 4 years but it the other. But it is clear that many crore families in the country, each seems to have made little headway in the work force do residual jobs. would get barely Rs 200. Of course, in denting black money generation In the Indian economy, the even this is not going to happen. or its flow abroad. It has submitted organised sector employs only This has been a huge disappointment a few reports but they have not been about 7% of the workforce; the rest for the many poor who opened a made public. are employed in the unorganised bank account under Jan Dhan Yojana The government claims that sector doing mostly marginal jobs. in the hope that they were soon going it has taken several major steps to Within the unorganised sector, the to get free money. check black income generation, agricultural sector is the largest 14 JANATA, June 17, 2018 employer, providing employment totally incommensurate with their The government is also pointing to around 46% of the work force. degrees and skills they are supposed to new taxi drivers under the taxi The second largest employment to have acquired. The reason why aggregators, new delivery boys generator in the unorganised sector they applied for these jobs is that due to e-commerce, and so on. are the micro units, which are they are presently also doing menial The issue is how many of them counted under the MSME sector. jobs, and wish to go for a government are former taxi drivers at the taxi The micro units constitute between job which at least gives them some stands and how many small stores 95% and 99.5% of the MSME sector security. This is a reflection of the have retrenched staff due to fall and employ 97% of the work force problem of underemployment. in business consequent to increase employed in this sector, with an The official claims of new jobs in e-commerce. As always, the average of 1.7 persons per unit. All are based on two factors. First, they government claims that investment of these workers work at very low are counting the number of new leads to an increase in employment, wages. registrants under the Employees but does not tell how many jobs are If the organised sector Provident Fund (EPF) and other lost due to some businesses closing employment had been expanding, it formal sector pension (NPS) and down or downsizing. could have absorbed more and more insurance (ESIC) schemes. Secondly, The EPF data on new registrants of the workers from the unorganised they add the number of potential jobs is not a surprise since firms are sectors. But this is not happening that may have been created under the registering employees whom they since the organised sector is going Mudra Scheme. It is said that about were not registering earlier. There in for massive automation. Further, 11 crore people have taken loans are two policy changes that have led since its share in GDP is rising, under the scheme, and even if one to a spurt in these registrations. First, the unorganised sector is getting third of them generate 1 additional after 2015, the definition of those marginalised and so are its workers. job, then about 3.5 crore new jobs required to register their employees Finally, to reduce its labour costs and would have been created. Thus, the has changed. Earlier firms with more maximise its profits, the organised government is claiming that there than 20 employees were required to sector is utilising more and more is no employment problem and the register. This was changed to more contract labour and making them issue is being highlighted by the than 10 employees. So, a large work longer hours and without opposition only for political gains. number of firms and their employees proper safety precautions. Contract Under the Mudra scheme, the came under the EPF. All these would labour is provided by contractors who average loan taken is about Rs be new registrants, but it does not keep them temporary and they are 45,000. This investment is likely to mean new jobs. counted as unorganised sector workers. have substituted the more expensive Second, in the recent budgets a Of late, the government has private loans that may have taken large number of concessions were claimed that there is a massive earlier. While this loan may lead to announced for registration of new increase in employment of between an increase in the productivity of employees. A tax concession was 7 million and 15 million new formal the person taking the loan, like for announced. Further, the provident sector jobs. This argument is being example shifting from doing head fund contribution of new employees put forth as employment is likely to load work to keeping a cow for was to be paid by the government. be a major issue in the upcoming milk, the amount of loan given under We need to know how many contract national elections in 2019. If there this scheme is too small to increase workers were registered as new was such massive employment employment even in the micro units employees due to these factors. So, generation in the formal sectors, where the average employment is those who were not counted earlier why would 23 million people apply 1.7 per unit with an investment of up are now getting counted. This is for 90,000 low skill jobs in Railways to Rs 5 lakh. So, this loan may have not an increase in employment but or lakhs of young apply for a few helped reduce underemployment, simply a change of category. hundred jobs of peons or scavengers but it is unlikely to have led to more The problem of underemployment in UP, Madhya Pradesh, etc. Youth employment except at the margins— remains as before with massive with engineering, MBA and MCom nowhere near the claimed 3 crore automation in the economy and a degrees applied for these jobs— new jobs. slackening of investment. (to be concluded) JANATA, June 17, 2018 15 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, June 17, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, June 17, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, June 20, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 73 No. 22 An Apology Overdue June 24, 2018 Kuldip Nayar Shujaat Bukhari’s Notebook Jawed Naqvi Certain dates are so important in suspended elections and civil a nation’s history that they cannot be liberties. All her political opponents Prof. Keshav Rao Jadhav: A forgotten. One such is June 25, when imprisoned during the period were Man of Courage, Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then Prime tortured in prison and thousands Conviction and Commitment Minister, switched off the lights of were eliminated or banished. Several Prem Singh democracy. Instead of resigning other atrocities, including forced from her office after the Allahabad mass-sterilisation of millions of Food and Farming System High Court verdict for a poll offence, people spearheaded by her son To Feed the Hungry and she suspended the Constitution Sanjay Gandhi, were committed. Protect the Environment and committed the worst kind of Justice J.C.Shah, a former Chief Bharat Dogra excesses. One hundred thousand Justice of India who subsequently people were detained without trial went into the excesses of emergency Four Years of Modi and many were killed because they soon after the Janata Party under Government: Two Circles of were staunch critics of Mrs Gandhi. Morarji Desai came to power, had Growth Belatedly at least, the Congress pointed out the atrocities committed Arun Kumar Party, which Mrs Gandhi once against the people, including Mrs headed, should have regretted the Gandhi’s political opponents. The imposition of a rule where there was Shah Commission, constituted to Editor : G.G.Parikh no personal freedom and the press go into the excesses committed was gagged. It has never done so. during the Emergency, submitted its Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain The apology to the nation is long report in three parts, the last one on Managing Editor : Guddi overdue. Congress President Rahul August 6, 1978. If the sheer size of Gandhi can make no amends for the report—it had 26 chapters and Editorial Board : what happened 43 years ago, yet he three appendices running to over B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali can at least tell the nation that both 530 pages—reflected the enormity Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah his grandmother and the party were of the violence done to democratic Amarendra Dhaneshwar, wrong. institutions and ethics, it also Sandeep Pandey What happened during the expressed grave concern about the emergency is an affront to the happenings and the damage they had D-15, Ganesh Prasad, freedom fighters and the Constitution inflicted on the system. The Shah Naushir Bharucha Marg, framers who considered the basic Commission report is a precious Mumbai - 400 007. structure of the Constitution beyond document with several lessons to Email : [email protected] amendment. But Mrs Gandhi, be learnt. Website:www.janataweekly.org armed with a Presidential decree, Justice Shah discussed police 2 JANATA, June 24, 2018 actions and the role of Sanjay Gandhi be ruled out. He further clarified historians have voiced their criticism in the Turkman Gate incident in that the arrogance of leaders leads against them. The bureaucracy which the police fired on a crowd of to authoritarianism, taking a dig also seems to have got saffronised. people protesting against demolition at Prime Minister Modi's style of The BJP-RSS combine is trying to of their houses. In fact, when Mrs governance. Incidentally, Advani change a pluralistic society into a Gandhi came to power in 1980, she spent 18 months in jail for opposing Hindu Rashtra of sorts. tried to recall copies of the report the emergency. To snub Advani for The Constitution is still a sacred wherever possible. So damaging his forthright comment, BJP did document. But I am afraid that if in was the report that she tried all her not invite him to an event where the 2019 elections, the BJP gets a tricks but could not succeed. So she it honoured those who went to jail two-thirds majority, the party would banned the report. during the emergency. amend the Constitution itself. Article However, Era Sezhian, one of What the nation went through 370 which give a special status to the founding members of the DMK during the 21 months of emergency Jammu and Kashmir and the spirit of and then an MP, republished his copy should be a part of the curriculum pluralism which protects minorities of the report in a book form called of text books prescribed in schools could be the target. The party, which Shah Commission Report – Lost and and colleges. But instead of that, the is the political wing of the RSS, may Regained, in which he has rightly phobia of Hindutva has overtaken attempt to dilute if not abolish the said: “It is more than an investigative most of the states in the country. The concept of secularism. report; it is a magnificent historical present lot of books is so prejudiced document to serve as a warning for against Muslim rulers in India that Email: [email protected] those coming to power in the future not to disturb the basic structure of a functioning democracy and also, for Shujaat Bukhari’s Notebook those suppressed under a despotic rule, a hopeful guide to redeem the freedom by spirited struggle.” Jawed Naqvi The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power at the Centre Shujaat Bukhari was among the when journalists from Delhi would today. It suffered the most from the most informed and least exultant visit Srinagar and put their arms emergency, but it does not seem Kashmiri journalists I have met. He around their brave and courageous to have learnt the lesson which it let his incorrigible smile and straight Kashmiri colleagues. The last four should have. Mrs Indira Gandhi reporting do the talking. He was shot years have seen an equaliser of was overtaken by the mania of one- dead on Thursday evening outside sorts. The shooting of Gauri Lankesh person rule. Today, Prime Minister the Srinagar office of the Rising by suspected Hindutva killers Narendra Modi is also riding the Kashmir newspaper, of which he underscored an atmosphere of terror same horse at the command of was editor. and insecurity that the more upright Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh There is predictable confusion Indian journalists in particular have (RSS). In fact, people today have about who may have killed him been feeling quite palpably. started comparing the one-person together with his two security guards. The once invincible Barkha Dutt rule of Mrs Gandhi with that of As is known to happen in the tense has been speaking of efforts to silence Modi’s. So much so that most and fractious city that Srinagar has her by stopping TV entrepreneurs newspapers and television channels become, there will be more whispers from hiring her. Several of the best have adapted themselves to his than clear pointers to the crime. We journalists are now working on way of working, if not thinking, as can only surmise from his work, news portals because the supposedly they had done during Mrs Gandhi’s among other circumstantial factors, mainstream newspapers and TV regime. as to who may have been so annoyed channels are not allowed to hire Veteran BJP leader L.K.Advani with the much-admired media man them. The best women journalists had remarked some time ago that so as to callously snuff out his life. are threatened on social media with the recurrence of emergency cannot There was a time not too long ago rape and the men receive daily death JANATA, June 24, 2018 3 threats. memories and possibilities for clues. Let’s also read a report Bukhari Teesta Setalvad and her husband The murder took place on the day wrote on May 25. Veteran journalist Javed Anand, who exposed perhaps the UN Human Rights commission and peace activist Om Thanvi shared the worst crimes of the Gujarat brought out its first-ever report it as the last one from the Kashmiri pogroms, are facing legal cases on the abuses in Kashmir on both journalist in his email account. and jail threats. Rana Ayyub, a sides of the border. The murder The report raises the prospect of courageous young woman, very thus became the story rather than the stalled SAARC summit being reluctantly shares the mental torture the damning rights report, which revived in Islamabad with India’s she suffers from unspeakable incidentally was strongly rejected participation. Everyone knows who palpable threats for her work in by India. would oppose the move. Bukhari exposing the high and mighty in the There are factors that point to began the report by critiquing field of communal violence. Anchor one direction and then to the other. Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Ravish Kumar has worries about his Bukhari’s brother is a minister in not addressing the Kashmir issue family, but refuses to stand down as the Mehbooba Mufti government of politically during his May 20 visit perhaps the boldest anchor in India which the Bharatiya Janata Party is to Srinagar. today. an ally. This fact can create one kind He then says that Modi was The threats extend to student of narrative. facing domestic pressure on many activists like Umar Khalid and But Bukhari’s newspaper was counts ahead of the 2019 elections. Kanhaiya Kumar and their teachers highlighting reports that pointed to “He is preparing the ground to see too are not spared. an opposite reality. Take the story that the SAARC summit takes place What is happening with the of the rape and murder of an eight- and instead of rhetoric, he might Pakistani media is so identical that it year-old tribal Muslim tribal girl in prefer ‘peace’ to be sold to the is tempting to believe that tormentors Jammu in January this year. Right- electorate. Relations with Nepal and on both sides perhaps exchange wing Hindus have actively rallied in Maldives are also indicating towards notes. All these fine journalists support of the accused. A report in this thread. In order to get Pakistan standing their ground on both sides Bukhari’s paper on April 4 nailed the on board for a successful SAARC, it are people who can be considered lie that she was killed by someone is imperative to cool down tempers the most self-assured holders of free in a land feud. in and on Kashmir. In this backdrop opinions and sharers of information “Strands of hair found in a next few months will be interesting and knowledge. But, like Shujaat temple where eight-year-old Asifa to watch.” Bukhari and Gauri Lankesh, they are Bano was held captive before Sadly, Shujaat Bukhari will not all extremely vulnerable to galloping being strangulated after rape have be around with his notebook to jot intolerance. matched with the victim’s (Asifa) down his astute reading of a complex The main players in the troubled hair on DNA analysis,” Rising and forbidding reality. strife-torn Kashmir Valley are India Kashmir reported in the first week and Pakistan. Both have vehemently of April. “Official sources said that Courtesy: Dawn, June 19, 2018 condemned Bukhari’s murder. the crime branch, probing the rape- Which reminds me of some of and-murder, had found hair strands The Unemployment the better-known mysteries of our from Devistan temple in Hiranagar times. There was a film called No after one of the accused revealed Crisis: Reasons and One Killed Jessica about a lovely during interrogation that Asifa was Solutions girl who was shot dead at a party held captive inside the temple. The in Delhi. It was probably based on crime site was searched and the Contribution Rs. 25/- the storyline from Ayodhya: ‘no one hair strands were found and sent to Published by demolished the Babri mosque’! The Forensic Laboratory (FSL), New Pakistani equivalent would be: ‘no Delhi. The report confirmed that they Janata Trust & Lokayat D-15, Ganesh Prasad, one killed Benazir Bhutto’. were that of Asifa, the sources said.” Naushir Bharucha Marg, Two or three images come to Whose side was Shujaat Bukhari Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 my mind as it scans the canvas of on, according to his report? 4 JANATA, June 24, 2018

Obituary Prof. Keshav Rao Jadhav: A Man of Courage, Conviction and Commitment

Prem Singh Prof. Keshav Rao Jadhav, a Lohia. Comrade Ravela Somayya is against the communal forces and prominent socialist thinker and planning to compile these booklets worked for peace, harmony and leader, passed away on 16 June into a book. Prof. Jadhav also relief during spells of communal 2018 at a hospital in Hyderabad brought out a magazine namely New riots in the city of Hyderabad. Prof. at the age of 86. Prof. Jadhav was Mankind, on the pattern of Mankind, Jadhav was jailed under MISA running ill for a long time. His which he kept publishing for 4–5 during the Emergency. funeral took place the same day in years. He also published another Prof. Jadhav took an active part in Hyderabad in the presence of several magazine named Olympus for the political activities of Janata Party leaders and activists associated almost for a decade. He kept himself and then the Lok Dal. He contested with the Telangana movement and engaged in holding and attending the Lok Sabha election from Medak the socialist movement. His last discussions/dialogues/workshops/ constituency against Mrs. Indira rites were performed by his elder seminars through various forums on Gandhi. Subsequently he became daughter according to Arya Samaj issues/topics of social significance. disillusioned with mainstream method. Senior socialist leader He formed Lohia Vichar Manch with politics and got associated with (now in Congress) Jaipal Reddy, Kishan Patnayak. He was one of the Samajwadi Jan Parishad (SJP) that former Supreme Court judge and trustees of 'Ram Manohar Lohia was formed in 1995 by Kishan one of the trustees of 'Ram Manohar Trust'. He thus enriched the legacy of Patnayak and other senior and Lohia Trust' Sudershan Reddy, socialist philosophy and movement. young socialists to counter the New revolutionary poet Varavara Rao, He played a major role in the Economic Policies imposed in 1991. senior Congress leader K. Jana movement for a separate Telangana He held the responsibility of vice Reddy, Telangana Jana Samithi state from late sixties to early president in SJP. But his mind was president Prof. M. Kodandaram, seventies. He was arrested 17 ever on a quest. He played a major along with other leaders, writers, times during the first phase of the role in the re-establishment of the journalists and artists, were present movement and was jailed for two original Socialist Party in 2011 in at the time of the funeral. years. He led the Telangana Jana Hyderabad as Socialist Party (India). A teacher by profession, Prof. Samithi in order to achieve this goal. He remained associated with this Jadhav served as a professor of This was perhaps the reason that the new party till the end. English in Osmania University till Chief Minister of Telangana Mr. K. Prof. Jadhav will be remembered his retirement. Prof. Jadhav was a Chandrasekhar Rao condoled his as a man of courage, conviction man of dreams and ideas who joined demise. and commitment. The Socialist the socialist movement in his student Prof. Jadhav was a constant fighter Party (India) has lost three of its days. He was deeply inspired by the for the rights of the marginalised stalwarts—Bhai Viadya, Justice philosophy of Dr. Ram Manohar sections. Simultaneously, he was Rajindar Sachar and now Prof. Lohia. He was elected to the post a champion of civil liberties. He Jadhav—within the last three of president of Socialist Yuvjan led the People's Union for Civil months. The demise of Prof. Jadhav Sabha (SYS), the youth wing of the Liberties (PUCL) in Andhra Pradesh is indeed a big loss to the socialist Socialist Party. He became a close and later in Telangana. Prof. Jadhav, movement in general and to Socialist associate of Dr. Lohia in the course a true democrat, was against violent Party (India) in particular. of time and worked with him in methods to be used either by the state We pay our humble tributes to Mankind and Jan. He published a or by the ultra left groups called him with a pledge that the fight for series of booklets under the title Maoists. He, however, was always socialism will go on uninterrupted. Lohia in his Words – A Collection of in favour of a dialogue with the Quotations from the Writings of Dr. Maoists. He also constantly fought Email: [email protected] JANATA, June 24, 2018 5 Food and Farming System To Feed the Hungry and Protect the Environment

Bharat Dogra

It is widely agreed that increasing The fact that some attempts at international trade system in fact land availability to the poorest radical redistribution of land have feed on each other. The local peasants and reducing inequalities in led initially to lower production powerful elites are eager to get the distribution of agricultural land does not invalidate the conclusion luxury consumer goods while are highly desirable for reducing that after some years a more even foreign companies are only too hunger and malnutrition in the distribution of farming resources and happy to meet these demands while world. Despite this, inequality in inputs should help rather than hinder gaining access to the cheap land the distribution of agricultural land growth of output.” and labour of these countries. The remains at a high level in many This view of the FAO is supported ultimate victims are the marginal countries, and is at extreme levels by a six-country study by the groups on whom all the pressure of in some Latin American countries. International Labour Organisation meeting the unreasonable demands Inequality is often expressed by (ILO) which estimated that: “If land of local and foreign elites is passed a statistical measure called the “Gini were equally distributed among on. So empowerment of these poor Coefficient”, which varies from zero all agricultural families (including and marginalised groups in their (equal assets for everybody) to 1 the landless), and the new equal struggles to save their livelihoods is (one person owns everything). In holdings achieved yields equal to the most important factor in fighting most Latin American countries, the present holdings of the same size hunger and famine. They do not Gini Coefficient for land distribution and used a similar level of inputs, need emergency food aid shipments is around 0.8. The inequalities in food output could potentially rise (which in any case will probably distribution of agricultural land may by anything from 10% (Pakistan) never reach them in time) as much be the most acute in Latin America, and 28% (Colombia and a rice- as the support of solidarity groups but these also exist to a significant growing Malaysian region) to 80% to save their livelihood base from extent in most other countries of in northeastern Brazil. Such a radical the onslaughts of selfish, powerful the world. redistribution is, of course, rarely interests at home and abroad. In a widely quoted publication attempted—but the figures indicate In Africa, in the wake of the titled World Agriculture: Towards the theoretical potential.” growing concern over diminishing 2000, the Food and Agriculture Therefore the evidence in favor per capita production of food, some Organisation has emphasised that of small farms and for having a more ambitious food production schemes more equal land distribution is likely equal distribution of agricultural land were initiated with the support of to increase productivity of land, “It is quite strong. It is another matter international aid agencies but they is important to stress here that yields that as vested interests opposing failed to meet the needs of the worst per hectare are as high on small as redistribution are quite strong, the affected, most needy, precariously on large farms or, under traditional land reform effort can face several placed groups. As Barbara Dinham agriculture, even higher. With a few obstacles due to which there can be and Colin Hines wrote in a critique notable exceptions, total output per temporary setbacks. Such resistance of these schemes in the Ecologist, hectare is higher on small farms, can come from large landowners as “Large-scale food producing by- chiefly because their intensity of well as corporate interests promoting passes the problems confronting land use is higher. A more equal large-scale farming of commercial peasant communities who have been distribution of production inputs, crops with a big share of export moved into smaller and less fertile including services, can only help crops. land, who are not paid a sufficient to strengthen the role of the small The distortions created by price for the crops they produce for farm in expanding production. local inequalities and an unequal the market, who are ill-served by 6 JANATA, June 24, 2018 distribution of storage networks, effort explained, less than 2 years inherent and intuitional facility and whose needs for investment in after launching this effort the use of of selection and maintenance of education, health and water supplies chemical pesticides declined steeply thousands of rice cultivars gradually are ill-met.” The real concern should while the yields of rice increased to being accumulated and descended not be just to increase production but a significant extent. upon for unknown centuries, ever to increase it on such farms, in such According to case studies since rice first originated must be ways as to meet the food needs of the of successful vegetable and rice preserved . . . Some of these varieties most needy households. Otherwise farms using ecological methods of rice were known for their high we will face such cruel distortions as in Philippines, in the largest set yield, some for their great cooking those seen at the time of the Sahelian of adjacent farms totalling 1,000 qualities, some for their aroma and famine when vegetables were being hectares using the bio-dynamic some for other cherished qualities.” airlifted for exports from famine farming method, there was a yield In particular an effort should be affected countries! The need is not increase of 50 to 100 per cent made to support those locally useful just for more food but for food which and an increase in net income by crops and crop varieties which have reaches the hungry of the world. farmers of 200 to 270 percent, been displaced thoughtlessly in In recent years as growing compared to the green revolution recent years. Legume crops deserve concern has been expressed about methods. Nicanor Perlas, a Fillipino special attention. Frances Moore the hazards of excessive use of agri- agricultural scientist, said while Lappe and Joseph Collins, write in chemicals, particularly chemical presenting these case studies that Food First – Beyond the Myth of pesticides, there has been increasing a rapid transition from chemical Scarcity that “the beans and corn interest in alternative technologies farming to sustainable agriculture diet of Latin America, the lentils which reduce or even eliminate the is possible if correct technical and rice of India, and the soyabean use of agri-chemicals while relying principles are followed. and rice diet of China appear to most more and more on various natural Growing a wide variety Americans as starchy and nutrient processes and organic materials of indigenous crops should be poor. In fact they are not. Such diets to get good yields, thereby also encouraged. The richest knowledge evolved because they work. As basic maintaining long term fertility of of the biologicial diversity of a dietetic staples, these combinations land. region is likely to be available only are, in fact, quite ingenious. In each According to the World with local farmers. An eminent case the two items together give Resources Report, “When on- rice scientist of India, Dr. R.H. more biologically usable protein farm and off-farm soil and surface Richaria, identified nearly 17,000 than if each were eaten separately.” water resource cost were included, rice cultivars and varieties in the In view of this importance of resource-conserving farming out- Chattisgarh region of India with mixing cereals and legumes to get performed conventional approaches the help of farmers, particularly a balanced diet, some experts have by almost a two-to-one margin in tribal farmers, and his co-workers. gone to the extent of referring to the net economic value per hectare About the wisdom of the farmers diminishing production of pulses (including off-site environmental he wrote, “Invariably I found in rice (or other legumes) as the divorce costs).” areas some rice growers taking keen of agriculture from nutrition. This In Indonesia, a very instructive interest in their local rice varieties is particularly bad for the weaker effort was launched in 1986 to as they are very much absorbed in sections who don’t have access to avoid excessive chemical sprays them and they have all praise for other, more expensive proteins. of rice crops and replace the heavy them, so much so that they trace Therefore top priority should be dependence on chemical pesticides back the history of individual rice given to increasing the production with a many-sided effort called varieties to their ancestry with their and availability of pulses. ‘integrated pest management’ utility . . . I also observed that some An effort should be made to which included many non-chemical of them identify their rice varieties look at the entire agro-eco system methods of facing the threat of in their own way (not in terms of instead of examining individual pests. As Peter Kenmore, a USA the modern knowledge of Botany) crops and grain yield in isolation. scientist closely involved in this which amounts to thousands. This As an organic farmer of India G.R. JANATA, June 24, 2018 7

Iyengar said, “Few of us realise this—that our generation lives to a sustainable farming, distorted price the havoc that modern agricultural certain extent at the expense of the structures have tended to push practices are wreaking on our coming generation, thoughtlessly agriculture in the other direction. countryside. Farmers have forgotten drawing on the basic reserves of soil Several developed country and the habits that supported a wide fertility accumulated in the millennia Third World farming, consumer, variety of wildlife and countless of the biospheric development, organic, animal welfare and varieties of wild plants, flowers and instead of living off the current environmental groups have formed trees that are essential for profitable annual increment—that causes the the Sustainable Agriculture, Food and sustainable agriculture. What is increasing concern of scientists and Environment (SAFE) alliance. happening in farming today is that dealing with the state of the planetary According to SAFE’s campaign the agriculture technology is acting soil cover.” statement: “Agriculture is about in isolation, treating organisms The World Commission of more than simply producing food. in isolation, which leads to a Environment and Development had It is a way of life and makes a disturbance of the natural system recommended, “The legislative, vital contribution to the health of of checks and balances. It should policy and research capacity for rural communities. SAFE seeks to be a sensitive balance of organisms advancing non-chemical and switch farm subsidies away from in nature that should be allowed to less-chemical strategies must price support towards payments for spread. Few people realise today that be established and sustained.” sustainable and environmentally there is a certain symbiosis between However, in practice, few countries enhancing farm management the various elements of nature like have followed this advice. In practices agreed on a whole farm between flowers and pollen, soil and principle, it is widely agreed that basis. All the land on any one farm organisms. The role of the ecological agricultural polices should be guided would be included in the scheme, balance in managing habitat has to by the objectives of protection of and payments made would be tiered grow.” environment and sustainability. But on an acreage basis.” Reversing the degradation of in the real world, are agricultural The effect of these whole farm land which has been continuing for policies really guided by these management agreements, argues so long will involve several bold noble objectives? There is a growing SAFE, would be “to put smaller initiatives, including some which suspicion that narrow-minded, short- family farms (the mainstay of many can be expected to evoke a lot of term profit considerations have a far rural communities) back on a level resistance among strong vested more powerful influence in real life playing-field with much larger interests. Yet there is no doubt that farm policy decisions. farms, and to remove the present in such initiatives have to be taken The World Resources Report built bias towards increased farm and cannot be delayed for too long. minces no words in making a firm size.” Such agreements, argues Protection of our precious cropland statement on this issue: “Current farm SAFE, would both encourage and soil is too important a task to be practices in industrialised countries participating farmers to modify neglected any longer, particularly have created incentives for farmers their production methods to take full keeping in view the needs of the next to use environmentally damaging account of environmental factors, few generations. practices and in many cases, and also reward those, such as As a scientist B.Z. Rozanon penalised farmers for switching to organic farmers, already practising has said so movingly: “The task of more sustainable practices.” For environmentally-sensitive methods. agriculture is thus not confined to example, the report says, the system The SAFE Alliance has tried to obtaining the biological product but of farm program payments in the define the requirements of a good extends to constant maintenance USA has worked against long-term agricultural system: and augmentation of soil fertility. rotations and reduction of chemical • An agriculture that is supportive Otherwise, we will very quickly inputs. In the European Community, of rural communities, that halts consume what by right belongs to price policies have discouraged the decline in full-time farm our children, grandchildren and production of pulses. Although employment and provides a great-grandchildren, to say nothing mixed crop-livestock systems can stable livelihood for farmers and of more distant descendants. It is be the basis for environmentally farm workers; 8 JANATA, June 24, 2018

• An agriculture that does not jeopardise the health of those Chavismo: Part V who work or live on the land or The fifth part of a series of seven articles by Marco Teruggi on the consumer through the use Chavismo, the ongoing socialist revolutionary project in Venezuela, that of polluting or toxic production the Venezuelans fondly call Bolivarian revolution. methods; • An agriculture that is capable of flexible response to national food The Party of the Revolution and nutrition goals designed to improve public health; Marco Teruggi • An agriculture that produces The United Socialist Party of established the Fifth Republic affordable food, of high Venezuela (PSUV). It represents Movement, a Socialist electoral nutritional quality and that Chavismo in the neighbourhoods, party, in July 1997 to participate minimises chemical and Chavismo in the rural areas, in the 1998 presidential elections. microbiological contaminants; Chavismo of the poor—in other The Fifth Republic Movement, • An agriculture that does not lead words, it represents Chavismo, together with several other leftist to the reduction of soil fertility, or the majority of the people, the parties, including the Communist that minimises reliance on non- supporters of the ongoing socialist Party of Venezuela, Homeland renewable resources and that is revolutionary project in Venezuela. for All (Patria Para Todos—PPT) sustainable; It is the party of Chavez. It was he and Movement towards Socialism • An agriculture that both who called for the formation of (MAS), formed a coalition known as conserves and enhances the this new party at the end of 2006, the Patriotic Pole, and put up Chavez countryside, not only in its visual proposed the name, and led the as the candidate for the Presidential aspect but also in terms of its founding congress of the new party elections. Chavez won a landslide resources and wildlife; at the beginning of the year 2008. victory in the elections, garnering • An agriculture that respects the Speaking at the inaugural congress, more votes than any candidate in welfare needs of farm animals; with the defeat of the constitutional Venezuela’s history. • An agriculture that does not reform proposed by him in the Following the defeat in the threaten the development and referendum held just a few days ago December 2 referendum, on maintenance of food security on December 2, 2007 still fresh in December 15, 2006, Chavez and sustainable agriculture in his mind, Chavez called for a course announced the proposal to set up other countries, especially those correction in the political line, stated a single, consolidated left wing in the Third World. that it needed to be revised and party entitled the United Socialist rectified, and asserted that the new Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Chavez Email: [email protected] party was needed so that it could encouraged all left-wing parties, advance the revolution in the new representing the mass majority of Spectre of direction. the National Assembly, to dissolve The unfolding revolutionary into the PSUV. He stated that the Fascism process in Venezuela experimented biggest weakness of the Bolivarian Contribution Rs. 20/- with several political instruments revolution is the lack of a political before the founding of the PSUV. instrument capable of confronting Published by It began with the Bolivarian the challenges faced in the struggle Movement-200, the political and to construct a new, socially just, Janata Trust social movement founded by Venezuela. And so he called for the & Lokayat Hugo Chávez in 1982. It planned formation of a new party, that would D-15, Ganesh Prasad, and executed the failed February bring the currently fragmented Naushir Bharucha Marg, 4, 1992 coup attempt. After an social movements and political Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 intense debate within its ranks, groups that back the revolution the Bolivarian Movement-200 into a single organisation that JANATA, June 24, 2018 9 would determinedly advance the most democratic party in Venezuelan the founding conference of the Party. revolution forward: “Our forces history. He said that such a bottom- This party of cadres and masses are too disorganised, sometimes up mobilisation of the Chavista had to perform the twin tasks of even work in opposition to one ranks, wherein the activists at the winning the elections on the one another, the various commanders bottom would mobilise in their hand, and leading the advance lack coordination with other . . . communities and workplaces to fight towards socialism on the other. the various parties supporting the for their interests—against both the Both the tasks—one periodic, the revolution are fragemented, small, capitalists and the new emerging other permanent—had to go hand limited to certain areas, and instead political and economic elite that in hand. Chavez believed that the of supporting the advance of the is attempting to consolidate itself task of winning the elections was in revolutionary process are sometimes at the grassroot level—and their large part related to the development more interested in furthering their organisation into a grassroots based of the political consciousness of the narrow interests . . . such a divided party could be decisive in helping people, their growing awareness movement cannot advance the resolve the unfinished struggle for about their rights, and their active Bolivarian revolution.” power between the oppressed (led participation in the various organs Chavez warned that the by the Chavez government) and the of grassroots political power that future of the revolution was in oppressors. were being set up by the revolution. danger. The people’s confidence Of course, despite Chavez’s in the revolutionary process had The Party and Elections attempt and intention to build a new been undermined due to a range A massive 5.7 million people party with radical new cadre from of problems with government signed up to become aspiring below, the whole process of building programs, and the serious political members of the PSUV over a six- of the party has faced a number weaknesses within the Chavista week period between April and of problems. While many new camp. Because of this, two million June 2008, a massive display of the cadre did come from the grassroots votes had been lost between his deeply felt sentiment for political due to the radical politicisation of presidential election in 2006 and the unity. Of these, more than half a Chavismo, several cadre continued constitutional reform of end-2007. million—whom Chavez called the to be from among those very vested For the revolution to survive and socialist battalions or a frontline interests whom the revolution was advance, it was necessary to win vanguard—began participating in aimed at. A key contradiction within back the support of the people. meetings held every weekend from the party is the struggle between For this, it was of utmost July onwards to discuss and debate the radical grassroots and what can importance to form a new political issues of political program and be referred to as the “rightwing” of instrument to combat the major structure, the proposed constitutional the Chavismo. Numerous organised problems of bureaucracy and reforms, and issues related to how to groups, local power elites and corruption affecting state institutions increase mass participation of people the old bureaucracy attempted to that were sabotaging government in the revolutionary process and ‘capture’ the battalions and influence programs in favour of the poor thereby advance the revolution. This the selection of delegates to the and attempts to construct popular gap between the massive numbers congress. power. These weaknesses had also who showed their support for the The imperative of winning penetrated the Chavista camp, new party by registering and the elections further complicates the which had become home to many lesser number of people who turned building of this revolutionary careerists and bureaucrats, including up for the meetings—the cadre party. As Reinaldo Iturriza wrote those who hold important positions. of the new party—was only to be in 2010, “It is necessary to win To fight the enemy within, Chavez expected, given the different levels elections to advance the revolution. stressed that the PSUV shall be of commitment, consciousness But sometimes, to win electoral governed primarily from the bottom and time among the great mass of victories, the party resorts to up, focusing on mass-participation supporters of the revolution. patronage or simply demagoguery to and democratic principles, and It is these socialist battalions win the elections, but this produces stated that the PSUV would be the who elected the 1,656 delegates to a distancing between the party and 10 JANATA, June 24, 2018 the people.” It produces a distaste contradiction: those who lead the for politics, depoliticises people, party, and at the same time are and reduces their enthusiasm for also in positions of power in the participation in the revolutionary government, are often unwilling to process. gradually transfer power / control to popular organisations of people, The Party and Government and defend the authority of the state, The building of a party that on to the detriment of the strategic the one hand has to advance the objective of advancing towards revolution, and on the other hand socialism. The communes and the is also the ruling party, produces its asssertion of popular people’s power own complexities. Almost all the come to be seen as a threat by the mayors, governors and ministers mayors, the governors, by those are from the party. The tactics, in various positions of authority in priorities and strategies decided by government. They prefer forms of the PSUV are also, to a large extent, organisation of people which they the decisions of the government can dictate as to what should they and the various institutions of the do, how they should do, when should state, as the party controls the they do, in other words, which they government. The direction taken can control and direct. by the party is also the direction The party has the advantage Janata taken by the government and the of being created by Chavez, and various institutions; it is in fact even after he is no longer there to is available at also the direction of the revolution. lead it, his name and his immense While the membership of the party authority benefits the party. It gives www.lohiatoday.com overwhelmingly comprises of the it immense advantage during the ordinary people, including the elections, as the people still love and people living in the slums in cities remember Chavez. However, at the and the peasants in the villages, same time, the mistakes made by the Janata Subscription the leaders of the party are also the party in advancing the revolution get leaders of the government, including amplified as it also the ruling party, Annual Rs. : 260/- the mayors, governors, ministers, and so the distance between the party officials at various levels of the and the people increases. Three Years : 750/- government, etc. For instance, the Thus, there are inherent Demand Draft / governor of a state is also the leader contradictions in the very form of of the party in his state. political organisation evolved by Cheque This produces several tensions. Chavismo to advance the revolution. on Thus, the party was created to These contradictions are inherent advance a strategic objective: not just to Chavismo, but to the Mumbai Bank the building of socialism. In the revolutionary process itself. On how in favour of long run, the achievement of this the party and the people resolve objective goes beyond (or against) these contradictions depends the the interests of the party, as a genuine future of the revolution. JANATA TRUST development of socialism requires If one examines the whole D-15, Ganesh Prasad, the party to gradually cede its space revolutionary process more closely, Naushir Bharucha Marg, to the popular mobilisation of the the contradictions inherent in PSUV people and the strengthening of their are in essence the contradictions Grant Road (W), popular organisations, primarily within all of us. Mumbai 400 007. the communes. This produces a JANATA, June 24, 2018 11 Four Years of Modi Government: Two Circles of Growth - II

Arun Kumar iv) Crisis in the Farming Sector agricultural produce. Prices of old currency for new. The entire Farmers have been protesting pulses, vegetables and fruits fell currency is back with the RBI, as across the country from Tamil drastically after demonetisation and this author has pointed out and which Nadu to UP and Punjab. They are did not recover for some time. This was later confirmed by the RBI. committing suicides on a daily hit the incomes of a large number So, no black money was caught, basis as they are falling into debt of farmers. It also appears that but a large number of people who trap. Farmers mostly belong to the traders took advantage of this had never generated any black the unorganised sector of the situation and the farmers are still in money were put to a great deal of economy. The NDA government their grip one and a half year after inconvenience. They could not even on coming to power promised demonetisation. withdraw their own money, some doubling of their incomes by 2022. In effect the ongoing crisis in died due to the stress, marriages During the campaign for the 2014 the farming sector has deepened got postponed, patients could not elections, they were promised the during the NDA regime with farmers get proper treatment, etc. The implementation of the Swaminathan protesting and demanding justice. slowdown in the economy turned Committee Report. They were told They are demanding loan waiver and into a recessionary phase with that they would be given a price 50% remunerative prices but the NDA decline in output, employment and above costs. However, the bone of government is not able to fulfill their investment. contention has been which ‘cost’ demand. As if this was not enough, the and how to implement the Minimum government then introduced GST, Support Price (MSP) scheme across 4. The Big Policy Decisions and the and that too without proper planning the country. Shocks to the Economy as it was too busy coping with the The farmers have faced drought As argued in the Introduction to fallout of demonetisation. This has and a fall in their incomes. They have this essay above, the NDA regime created problems for businesses also seen their incomes collapsing administered two big shocks to the even in the organised sectors. It due to demonetisation and the economy and brought down the further set back the unorganised consequent shortage of cash. Where growth rate of the economy. These sectors because of the complexity the rains have been good, prices have shocks also deepened the crisis in of the new tax and its flawed design. collapsed, like, in the case of pulses, agriculture, banking, trade and the Thus, the entire economy again tomatoes and potatoes in 2017, while unorganised sectors as a whole. slowed down. the government has not been willing The first shock was the Even though the tiny and the to make the necessary investment sudden demonetisation of the high small sectors are largely exempt to procure these crops at MSP. On denomination currency notes on from GST, they have been adversely the other hand, costs have risen all November 8, 2016. Since they impacted by the faulty design implicit around. Farmers have been forced to constituted 86% of the currency in input credit and the reverse charge borrow at higher cost due to lack of with the public, there was a huge systems. The e-way bill system is access to bank loans. Cash shortage shortage of cash in the economy also creating complications for the meant that they had to buy inputs on which meant that businesses slowed GST. Further, on items of daily credit from the traders and had to pay down, especially in the unorganised consumption, the tax rate is kept a higher price. sectors of the economy which have at zero, so that the prices of goods Due to cash shortage, the little access to banks and electronic of common use do not rise. But all purchasing power of the people means of conducting businesses. prices have risen. This is a result of employed in the unorganised sector The currency shortage persisted the fact that the indirect taxes are felt went down and that meant that they for months, way beyond the 50 at a point other than where they are bought less of the higher value days given for exchanging the levied. For example, if the price of 12 JANATA, June 24, 2018 trucks rises due to higher GST, then good’ in the economy. But that unorganised sector during the initial the cost of transportation of wheat is not the case, with businesses months after demonetisation or in the will go up and its price would rise complaining and NPAs continuing first few months of implementation even though there is no tax on wheat. to rise. So, is the data hiding reality? of GST, the impact of these two GST also undermines the federal Why is the government repeatedly policies on this sector will never be structure of the country. There is one talking about boosting the growth captured in the official data. tax rate for a given good / service all rate? According to private surveys across the country. However, India This author has been arguing for done during the period of is a diverse nation with different over a year that the current rate of demonetisation, the impact was needs of different states. What is growth is not more than 1%. What found to be consistently dramatic, required by Tamil Nadu may not is the evidence that the actual rate of showing an adverse impact of be good for Himachal and what growth is around 1% and not 6%? between 50 and 80% and an increase may apply in Gujarat may not be This has to do with the erroneous in unemployment. This is significant appropriate for Assam. India is a methodology used to estimate since 93% of the workforce is in this union of States, each with their own quarterly rate of growth of the sector. This led to a drastic fall in needs which they are supposed to economy. The estimates given are demand. According to RBI, capacity take care of in their own way. That advance estimates and provisional utilisation in organised industry is why autonomy was enshrined estimates that are repeatedly revised. fell. Even before demonetisation, in the Constitution. But it is now They are largely based on projections capacity utilisation was hovering getting eroded. Finally, the third tier from the past, which is not a correct at between 70 and 75%—a low of government has been left high methodology if there is a shock, and figure. Demonetisation further and dry. There is no mention of the the Indian economy has had two of adversely impacted investment, as local bodies. This runs counter to them as pointed out above. data suggests. In turn, this slowed the idea of decentralisation which is The quarterly rate of growth down the growth of the economy so essential for democracy in India. of the economy is estimated by even after the note shortage ended. resorting to data largely from the Even if the unorganised non- 5. The Claimed and the Actual organised sectors of the economy agriculture sector output for the Growth Rate of the Economy and that too from select corporate year declined by 10%, while the A key problem facing the Indian firms. Thus, at best, it represents organised sector grew at the official economy for the last 3 years is that only organised sector growth. The rate of 6%, then the average rate of the data on the basis of which policy data for the unorganised sector growth for the year would turn out is being made does not reflect reality. constituting 45% of GDP comes to be less than 1%. Some economists have stated that with a time lag. It is based on surveys The introduction of a faulty the rate of growth was artificially conducted in reference years once GST and its poor implementation boosted by 2% due to change in every few years. In between the has led to a deep adverse impact on methodology after 2012. In other reference years, the ratio of the the unorganised sector from July 1, words, the actual crisis is being organised and the unorganised sector 2017. The organised sector which hidden behind the smokescreen of is used to project the growth of the was expected to gain from GST data. But this change in methodology latter. In effect it only gives the has also been hit hard for the same was initiated by the UPA itself. That growth of the organised sector. This reasons—poor design and poor is why the low rate of growth during methodology fails if there is a shock implementation. Instead of ‘ease of the last years of the UPA regime was to the economy and the ratio between doing business’, business became also boosted by 2%. the two sectors changes. The method more difficult. There was utter If the current rate of growth is applicable till November 7, 2016 confusion, massive increase in paper more than 6%, it is still one of the would not apply after November work and increase in compliance best in the world and there is no 9, 2016. costs. This has adversely impacted crisis. It is a healthy rate of growth Since no comprehensive the climate of investment and led to by India’s own historical yardstick. official survey has been done of the a further slowdown in the economy. This should have produced a ‘feel JANATA, June 24, 2018 13

In short, there is inadequate data The investment climate has also depression by the major economies to assess the actual performance of been vitiated by the constant attack raising their fiscal deficits. The US the economy. Government will keep on businesses after demonetisation. raised its fiscal deficit from 3% claiming that things will improve Not that they are paragons of virtue to 12%. China went in for a $600 on the basis of the limited data it but what they do does matter to the billion expenditure package on rural has—as usual, the golden period economy. There is an attempt to infrastructure. India escaped the is always ahead. The international brand those who deposited money recession and had a healthy rate of agencies, like the World Bank, in the banks during demonetisation growth of 5% because of increased IMF, ADB and Moody’s, which as black money holders. This is spending in rural areas based on a are supporting the government’s being done to claim success of the large increase in its fiscal deficit. The contention of a high growth rate do failed demonetisation. While some FRBM act was put on hold. not collect data independently and who deposited large sums of money depend on government data. So their indeed were laundering their black 6. Two Circles of Growth assessment is not an independent money, the indiscriminate character The government has presented view. of the move to brand everyone has data on the growth in the automobile The drastic slowdown in the vitiated the environment. Added to sector and travel by air to argue that economy is also indicated by the this, GST has created uncertainty growth is robust. The moot point is collapse in credit off-take by industry. about input credit, additional paper that do the poor in India consume Low credit off-take suggests that work, e-way bill, etc. and this has any of these? Further, a total view production and investment have vitiated the investment climate cannot emerge from citing growth slowed down. In October 2016 it was further. So, ‘ease of doing business’ of some sectors. If some sectors are already at its lowest point in the last is not visible. growing fast in a slowing economy 50 years, and it fell to its lowest level The government itself sensed then other sectors must be declining. in 60 years after demonetisation was the brewing crisis. It revived the It is the poor belonging to the announced. Worse followed with Economic Advisory Committee unorganised sectors that have been negative growth in July and August to the PM. This is a vote of no hit hard by both demonetisation and 2017. This has never happened confidence in the Ministry of Finance GST, as argued above. before in the Indian economy. which is primarily responsible for Today there are two separate Interest rate cuts have been economic policies. circles of growth, with one growing suggested as a panacea but this does If the actual rate of growth of at the expense of the other and not work when demand is short GDP is close to 1%, then a small leading to widening disparities. and capacity utilisation low. Will increase in the fiscal deficit to boost It also enables the government to demand pick up with cut in interest demand would not do. It would ignore the unorganised sectors. rates? It is argued that the demand have to be raised by a much larger The unorganised sectors are also for white goods bought on loan can percentage to raise the rate of growth hit hard by inflation. The wages of rise (due to a lower EMI) and so can to 6%. The purists suggest that this the people working in these sectors the demand for housing. But these would dent private investment. are not indexed and tend to lag are discretionary purchases and That would have been true for an behind inflation, so their purchasing will only be undertaken if the sense economy where credit off-take was power falls when prices rise. of crisis in the mind of the public robust and the economy was running Official data claims that inflation is overcome. In times of crisis, the at full capacity. But that is not true, rate is low. Unfortunately, the public becomes cautious and does so a higher fiscal deficit is feasible to inflation data does not give the not increase its purchases or invest mitigate the economic crisis. true measure of price rise. Most of in these items. If people feel that The present situation in India is the services are not counted in the their incomes are falling due to similar to the one during the global index of inflation. So, if school fees rising inflation or that their job is crisis of 2007–08 when the world go up or health costs rise due to a uncertain, they would not increase economy went into a recession and deteriorating environment, they do expenditures on discretionary items, was prevented from going into a not get counted. With privatisation, in spite of a lower EMI. these costs have been shooting up 14 JANATA, June 24, 2018 even for the marginal sections. nothing new, given that this has been shocks. Should the decline of the the case since independence. The many promises made by the unorganised sectors not have an party in power and the government in impact on the organised sectors and 7. Conclusion the last four years remain unfulfilled, reflect in their slowdown? Not if the When it came to power like, curbing the black economy. latter is growing at the expense of in 2014, the NDA took over an The government has been high the former. They are increasing their economy that was recovering from on hype but weak on delivery. market share. the macroeconomic shock it had For instance, the PM stated that The government is also talking experienced in 2012–13. However, demonetisation was an attack on the of financial inclusion and digitisation it administered two big shocks black economy but data shows that to help the unorganised sectors. The in the shape of demonetisation in all the money came back and the Jan Dhan Yojana and Mudra are November 2016 and introduction of black economy continues to flourish. supposed to give access to banks GST in India in July 2017. Both of It only caused hardship to those who and to credit. However, those who them led to a crisis in the economy, never generated any black incomes. do not have enough to eat and are in more particularly in the unorganised The ruling party has not been debt to private lenders are not going sector of the economy which able to check the corruption of to put money in savings accounts. produces 45% of the nation’s output its own party people, like, those No wonder most of the Jan Dhan and employs 93% of the workforce. involved in iron ore mining scams, Accounts have zero balance. RTI Consequently, an economy that the VYAPAM scam, DMAT scam, and revealed that many bankers put government claimed to be the fastest so on. While spectrum was auctioned a few rupees into these accounts growing economy in the world in as required by the Supreme Court, out of their contingency funds. October 2016 collapsed and its rate many court cases have fallen through And as already discussed, Mudra of growth fell to less than 1%. since the cases were not properly scheme is unlikely to have made The official figures do not show presented in the Courts. Big new any great impact on production and this steep decline since the quarterly scams are beginning to surface, like, employment. growth rates are based on corporate Neerav Modi, Rotomac and Bank of The government while pursuing sector data. Even if this is taken at Baroda cases. Many smaller scams a pro-business agenda needs a fig face value, as in the attached graph, are erupting on a daily basis, like, leaf of helping the poor as well. So, it the trend rate of growth has been the question paper leakage, IDBI keeps announcing marginal schemes declining since 2014 while for the and other bank frauds. for the poor and the farmers without few years before that, it was rising. It has been pointed out above impacting their status. But this is This is partly a result of the twin that the impact of the two shocks and the pro-business policies has been felt largely in the unorganised sector. This has created two separate circles of growth. The organised sector is growing at the expense of the unorganised sector. Consequently, the majority is getting marginalised and that is aggravating the already high inequalities in the country. This is effecting demand in the economy and leading to low capacity utilisation in much of industry, especially the mass consumption items. The government data showing rising sales of automobiles and increase in air travel pertains to the JANATA, June 24, 2018 15 consumption of the well-off. The NPAs in the banking sector has low capacity utilisation results in been growing, leading to the twin reduced levels of investment in the balance sheet problem and that is economy. another reason that investment is The rate of inflation has not picking up. moderated but that also represents a The government has to stop weakness of the economy—demand being in denial about the nature of from the unorganised sectors has the current crisis in which output, declined. Further, our inflation data prices, investment and employment does not take into account the rise are all hit. The economy is facing in prices of services and they are the consequences of that denial the ones that have risen the most in now. With the government bowing the last few years due to rise in the to international finance pressure tax on services. Thus, the actual rate and not willing to take bold pro- of inflation is higher than that given poor steps, the situation is in all out by the government. The farmers probability going to get worse, are the worst hit by the collapse of despite all the propaganda of the the prices of agriculture products. government about its achievements Thus, inflation rate being low has in its four years in power. multiple impacts and is not an Email: [email protected] unmixed blessing. The government is unable to manage all these factors (Concluded) simultaneously. The improvement in the current account deficit of the external sector is a result of relatively favourable international factors, especially the fall in crude oil prices. This may now be reversing. This has little to do with policies. In fact, experts have criticised the government for not managing the advantage it got earlier to provide long term stability to the economy. Employment is the big problem today. The educated youth are facing a crisis because they are not getting the jobs appropriate to their skills. Artificial Intelligence, mechanisation and greater protectionism in the US are posing threats to employment generation. Farming continues to face a crisis and suicides are continuing. The Fiscal Deficit is declining under the pressure of international finance capital to the detriment of the poor and underemployed. The crisis of R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, June 24, 2018 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. License to Post without prepayment WPP License No. MR/Tech/WPP-210/West/2018 Published on Sunday, June 24, 2018 & Posted on Wedenesday, June 27, 2018 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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