Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 68 No. 26 Bigger challenge ahead July 7, 2013 S. Viswam

Kashmir’s status With the announcement of the the figure of missing at10,000. The Kuldip Nayar official closure of rescue work in truth perhaps lies in between, but Uttarakhand, the first phase of the whatever the figure, Uttarakhand Shoving won’t solve monumental challenge posed by the has paid a heavy price for facing up ’s woes Himalayan disaster can be said to to a challenge it neither anticipated Nitish Chakravarty have been completed. The second nor was prepared for. Natural phase, which will comprise the disasters do claim lives, but in the Char Dham Disaster organization of relief and case of the Uttarakhand disaster, we K. S. Chalam rehabilitation and more importantly, are constantly being reminded by Harrassment of researchers reconstruction and renovation, will many news sources and authorities Pannalal Surana now begin. The last group of 150 that many deaths resulted from poor pilgrims were airlifted to safety on management of the crisis. It is Why Trails China Tuesday last. Hopefully, no pilgrims therefore saddening to hear Chief Amartya Sen remain stranded. Minister Vijay Bahuguna declare that the exact number of the dead, the Supreme Court’s encroachment Unfortunately, there is no missing and of those buried under the Rajan Kochar certainty on this aspect of the debris or washed away in floods or situation. If stranded pilgrims remain, who reached safety before the Decision to raise height of SSP it will take a long time to locate them official rescue operations began will illegal and political conspiracy or rescue them. This is for the simple never be known. It is bad enough reason that the entire Garhwal People’s Commission Report on when disaster management fails to Special Rehabilitation Scheme region is “threatened” with another rise to the occasion. Worse when spell of heavy rainfall. The we cannot even compile reliable authorities, reports suggest, are statistics to know the precise Editor : proceeding on the assumption that dimensions of the tragedy. G. G. Parikh nature’s fury is all set to unleash Managing Editor : Guddi another wave of floods, leading to The state government fell flat on an even greater destruction of what its face when confronted with a D-15, Ganesh Prasad, little is left of the infrastructure of challenge of immense proportions. the affected area. The state Its performance evokes no Naushir Bharucha Marg, government confirms that at least confidence on whether it will be able - 400 007. 3000 people are missing or are to cope with the bigger challenge that Email : [email protected] untraceable. One UN agency puts faces it now, the challenge of 2 JANATA, July 7, 2013 reconstruction and rehabilitation. If Between the lines the state has lost three years of development in one miserable week, how long will it take to restore the Kashmir’s status state to its erstwhile levels of progress? It was heart-breaking to look at a photograph published in Kuldip Nayar most English language dailies of a boy sitting alone and forlorn in front It is once again the Article 370 on communications. The Maharaja of his damaged house and looking at special status to Jammu and signed the Instrument of Accession the sweeping waters that brought Kashmir. Again the BJP has thrown on that condition. When the popular misery in their wake. The the first stone. The party’s top leader, leader, Sheikh Abdullah, came to photograph symbolized the despair L. K. Advani has said that the Article power he endorsed the arrangement on the one side and the hope on the should be scrapped. Jammu and because even at the time of other of the Uttarakhand state and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Maharaja’s rule he had supported its people. Abdullah has said in reply: “Over our the agreement privately. dead bodies.” He tends to overreact In this context, civil society will but he is quite right in saying that the But the Sheikh wanted strict fail in its duty if it does not Article is sacrosanct. adherence to Article 370 in letter and acknowledge the debt it owes to the spirit. The authority of the Supreme armed forces for their contribution The Article was the result of long Court, Comptroller and Auditor and management of the heroic discussions held between Srinagar General and Union Public Service evacuation exercise. The nation was and New at the time of the Commission was one thing which was impressed by the performance of the state’s accession to India. When the to vest in the state exclusively Airforce and the Army personnel in British quit in August 1947, they left according to Article 370. However, reaching victims to places of safety. it to the princely states either to join except for the subjects of foreign But for these noble efforts the toll India or . Keeping in mind affairs, defence and communications, of the dead and missing would have the geographical proximity and the the state was supreme. been higher. The politicians exposed complexion of the population, Jammu their irrelevance and their and Kashmir shared borders with Those who demand the scrapping selfishness by doing precious little to both India and Pakistan. However, of Article 370 or changing it through help the victims. And, as for some the state’s majority of population was Parliament are making one big sections of the local population, their Muslim. mistake: It is Kashmir which joined display of the tendency to enrich the Union of India on certain themselves at the cost of the poor The state’s ruler was a Hindu. He conditions. If they are to be changed and needy, the less said the better. preferred to stay away from both the people of the state have to give India and Pakistan. But he could not their consent. The Union cannot alter The fact that the National Disaster do so since the state was land the undertaking unilaterally. Omar Management Agency is still in its locked. Pakistan did sign a Standstill Abdullah’s angry reaction to formative stages three years after Agreement with him to extend all Advani’s suggestion on Kashmir its establishment brought to a sharp facilities even though he found that represents his viewpoint. His focus the lackadaisical manner in it wanted the state’s ultimate grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, paid a which state institutions function. First integration with Pakistan. bigger price for not letting New Delhi and foremost, the NDMA has to was against the Standstill Agreement spread itself beyond the three start functioning in earnest without since it was negotiating with the ruler, subjects. He spent 12 years in further wastage of time. Second, the Maharaja Hari Singh, to join the detention because he reminded New construction of residences, hotels Indian Union. Delhi that it could not cross the line and other structures of tourist drawn by the Instrument of infrastructure has to begin in a India was, however, prepared to Accession. leave all subjects with the state (Continued on Page 5) except foreign affairs, defence and In fact, most people in Kashmir, JANATA, July 7, 2013 3 not Jammu, want to nullify the times. It is there in the state to taken beyond foreign affairs, Instrument of Accession and they defend the borders and come to the defence and communications, the demand azadi. Many remind New assistance of civil administration in crux of Article 370. The Sheikh also Delhi Prime Minister Jawaharlal’s rare cases. But this is not accepted many other things in an promise that once things settled happening. It is there all over. Even agreement with Prime Minister down in the state, the people would the state chief minister has asked for Indira Gandhi. That agreement be asked what their choice was. its withdrawal to allow his police requires another look. Legal or other Pakistan was the alternative. Yet, function. A recent incident in which steps are not the end by themselves. those agitating against New Delhi for two civilians have died at the hands People have to be won over. New not making Nehru’s promise good of the army soldiers has enraged Delhi is doing little in that direction. forget that he himself withdrew the people and Omar Abdullah. True, offer and said that the situation had the army has ordered an inquiry and Advani’s demand for scrapping changed when Pakistan had promised to take action against Article 370 only provides fuel to the introduced in the region weapons by those soldiers who are found guilty. fire. It is, however, surprising that joining the military pacts—the Still the suspicion is that the army he made the demand. He was the CENTO and NATO—which the has taken revenge for eight jawans deputy Prime Minister in the BJP- West, led by America, had framed killed by militants. A way has to be led government which gave an against the Soviet Union during the found out to distance the civil and undertaking to its allies not to touch cold war. military sides from each other to Article 370. Even tomorrow if the avoid the combustible situations. BJP were to form the government it Notwithstanding the past, India would have to make a similar promise cannot close its eyes to the alienation One way to satisfy most people to get the support of other parties in the Kashmir Valley. It has in the state is to implement Article joining it. Then why raise the issue increased after the hanging of Afzal 370. New Delhi should consider which he knows is not acceptable to Guru. The youth is particularly scraping the laws extended by the practically all non-BJP and non- boiling. There is, however, little Union after the arrest of Sheikh Congress parties? Is playing to the realization that he was tried in the Abdullah who never doubted or gallery more important than the court and sentenced to death by the challenged Kashmir’s accession to national demand? Advani should Supreme Court for the attack on India but questioned the measures know it better. Parliament which is the citadel of democracy for the peoples in the Letter to the Editor entire South East Asia to appreciate and duplicate it in their own countries Supreme Court’s encroachment without bringing the army into picture. I have gone through the article to the plain dictionary meaning. It The question of Kashmir is far “who should appoint the Judges” defies the whole honest concept of from settled. Pakistan has to be penned by our comrade Bapu “consultation” which is employed associated at some stage and the Heddurshetti. (Janata, June 16, deliberately to convey that both the wishes of the people in the Kashmir 2013). I wholly agree with the Executive and the Judiciary must Valley have to be taken into forthright views expressed by him. discuss to decide mutually and never consideration. The talk of scrapping He has very rightly accused the unilaterally as is being done by the Article 370 will only frustrate the Supreme Court of encroaching upon Apex Court’s judicial pontiffs in their efforts of pro-India-elements in the the executive sphere of the President Chamber meetings where, it is well state. They have bravely withstood and the Council of Ministers in the known, mutual exchange of the all pressures and punishments. Many garb of interpreting the word names of the candidates takes place have lost their life. Their struggle has “consultation” and holding that the as it happens at the State level not ended yet. opinion of CJI and its collegiums is between the CM and the CJ to binding on the Executive. They have prepare the list of the nominees to On top of it is the role of the invented their own meaning of the be elevated as the High Court judges. army which is not careful some word “consultation” - totally opposite It is trite to know that the outsider 4 JANATA, July 7, 2013 CJ hardly knows any advocate or a Shoving won’t solve Assam’s woes subordinate judge to be able to assess his calibre, character and ability to tip him for such a onerous duty to Nitish Chakravarty man the post to impart justice and to rise to such a high pedestal worthy of worship by the people. He is Out of sight out of mind, goes the The sponsored features have always guided or misguided by his saying. Since a sort of surface calm trumpeted what is described as “a colleagues in the collegiums. Very prevails in Assam, and no major remarkable turnaround in the law often some misfits also creep in, outbreak of communal or sectarian and order scenario, with peace and quietly, in the system, to pollute the hostilities has occurred in the state stability ushering in development and stream of justice. It is forgotten during the last few months, peace investment” during the years Shri altogether that a Judge is regarded seems to be taken for granted. The Gogoi has been at the helm of the as a ‘Yati’ by the society and long suffering state is now out of administration. But Shri Gogoi’s adorned as an ideal person to be focus and there is no sign of any image would not have been dented revered as an idol for the people. It meaningful effort to restore Assam if facts about the damage done to is most unfortunate that the people to the haven of peace and harmony the state, nay the entire north-eastern become extremely sad and it once was. Everyone familiar with region of India, by militancy and disillusioned when they hear stories the issues triggering ethnic and communal strife were not buried of corruption on the premises of the communal strife knows only too well under tonnes of newsprint glorifying holy temple of justice. that the current calm is no indicator Shri Gogoi and his government’s that Assam is over the hump. It will achievements. Some light could be It is therefore, high time that like be naive to imagine that militancy and thrown on the damage done by Union Public Service Commission communal strife, the two burning mindless violence. there should be an independent body issues that have rocked the state for like National Judicial Commission to decades, can be resolved by shoving There has been little echo in the select the judges for the higher them under the carpet. rest of India - barring some curiosity judiciary and to govern their judicial over the occasional arrest of, or service. This body should get a has just completed incident involving, an insurgent or constitutional status accountable to a dozen years as chief minister of trouble maker in some place far the Parliament. Assam. Shri Gogoi’s tenure as chief away from the north-east - of the minister of this trouble torn state for ethnic and communal strife as well At present there is absolutely no an unbroken spell of 12 years is as multiple insurgencies that have set transparency of any nature in the indeed an extraordinary the clock back for Assam. Indeed, judicial appointments which are hit achievement, if for nothing else the strife and insurgency in India’s by the Article 14, it being arbitrary certainly for the fact that, barring northeast has remained almost in nature and shrouded in utter the late Bimala Prasad Chaliha, hermetically sealed within the region secrecy. None knows why anyone none has occupied the exalted since its beginning in the 1950s in is recommended and why the other position for as long as Shri Gogoi the form of the Naga demand for one is secretly condemned, as is has. No wonder the Gogoi secession from India. Indeed many done by the outgoing CJI in the case administration has turned his long people in key positions in successive of three CJS of the High Courts. I tenure in the high office into a governments in Assam have been was shocked to hear that one of the celebration. And what can be a complicit in helping illegal migrants three had written 24 judgments of better platform to celebrate the to move in lock, stock and barrel. Full Benches headed by him. But occasion and win friends and gain Shri Gogoi’s observation in the wake our outgoing CJI has stamped him political mileage than the media? A of the disturbances in the Kokrajhar to be “incompetent” and has sealed considerable amount of tax-payers’ area of Bodoland in June-July last his fate for ever for the reasons money has been spent on special year that “there are no Bangladeshis which were developed in some supplements in selected publications in the clashes but Indian citizens” to build Tarun Gogoi’s image as the provided comfort and a much needed (Continued on Page 5) state’s most enduring chief minister. alibi to illegal migrants. JANATA, July 7, 2013 5

The long unresolved problem in off. Four years later, in tripartite - not necessarily segregate or Assam - not a residual problem - is discussions between the Central and deport - those who have moved the infiltration of hundreds of State Governments and the All- into the state from across the thousands of people from Assam Students Union (AASU), it international border since 1971 and Bangaldesh since the times when it was proposed to take up the work prevent further immigration. was a part of Pakistan. Successive of updating the NRC in two revenue administrations have refused to circles in Kamrup and Barpeta (Continued from Page 2) address, and indeed have variously districts. Even though the long planned manner, and the state tried to cover up, illegal migration that pending process began on June 7, government has to ensure that this has destabilised the state and much 2010, as a “pilot project”, it ran into process does not attract or of the northeast. The government of trouble almost immediately, with law encourage greed and corruption. the day usually cites the refrain that and order problems surfacing in Third, food supplies have to be no authoritative estimate of the Barpeta. On July 21, 2010, protesters reached to areas which were number of illegal migrants is under the banner of the Barpeta denuded of all basic amenities by the available. Since it is the district unit of the All-Assam Muslim floods. The Congress party and the administration that alone can compile Students Union (AAMSU) government it controls are on test. such an estimate and has defaulted demonstrated violently outside the They need to set a good example at persistently on its responsibility, who Deputy Commissioner’s [District this hour of crisis. It is only clean is to be held accountable for wilful Collector] Office demanding that administration and honest dereliction of duty but government the process must end immediately. governance that can meet the big functionaries top to bottom? Indeed, Police eventually opened fire, killing challenge ahead. even the Supreme Court’s strictures four and injuring 50. While no on this issue have fallen largely on suspension of the process was (Continued from Page 4) deaf ears or met with fitful efforts announced by the administration, the personal dark room. In the chamber at “compliance”, quickly abandoned “pilot project” did not go forward of collegiums, careers of many good at the first signs of predictable thereafter. judges have been destroyed by the resistance. personal whims and vendetta rather Nearly two years later [March than on the merits or demerits. This Far from seeing the mischief 26, 2012] the Government once Henry 8th Rule by the few in the inherent in the recurrent troubles, the again declared its resolve to re- Collegiums must be buried soon and authorities have sought to impose a launch the Registrar General of be replaced by a very dignified body pall of confusion over the most basic Citizens’ “pilot project” to update comprising of the really eminent issues. In the event the danger of a the NRC in three phases from July jurists of high calibre and character fresh communal flare-up looms large 1, 2012. AAMSU, together with 24 to discharge such a highly pious following the announcement of the other minority organisations, function along with highly reputed government’s intention to launch a objected to the move. The process and able executives in the fresh attempt to prepare/update the has not been revived yet, and government which is an equally long shelved National Register of official action to resume the task important partner in the justice Citizens (NRC). Some minority of updating the NRC is in limbo. delivery system which is not the groups, apprehensive of the Against this backdrop of exclusively ruled province of the citizenship claims of illegal unresolved issues thrown up by the Judiciary which is only one of the immigrants being exposed, have upsurge in Assam on the issue of three Constitution organs. And all are already thrown a spanner in the illegal infiltrators/migrants, the equal and on par with each other works questioning the very rationale Tarun Gogoi administration’s claim with different constitutional of a National Register of Citizens. that a climate of peace and functions. tranquillity prevails in the state is Efforts to update the NRC are not utterly misleading. There is no way Will the present Law Minister new. In 2005, the Union Government durable peace will return to Assam Kapil Sibal take up this cause as a decided to update the NRC within a without effectively tackling the holy mission of his life? period of two years with 1971 as the issue of illegal migration. The least base year. The exercise failed to take that needs to be done is to identify –(Justice (Retd.) Rajan Kochar 6 JANATA, July 7, 2013

Uttarakhand Dear Friends,

You will be happy to know that Yusuf Meherally Centre has decided to work for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the recent calamity in Uttarakhand. We have set up YMC Uttarakhand Relief Committee. The priorities that have been identified are:

1. To identify those victims who have not received any aid from the government and help them secure it. And if necessary supplement it. 2. To liaise, co-ordinate and help the official machinery in providing relief and broadcast the rehabilitative measures that the state decides.

3. To work for employment generation for rehabilitation. 4. To co-ordinate its activities with other agencies or set up a network. And lastly

5. To identify the model of development which is eco-friendly for the beleaguered state and advocate it.

The Centre has considerable experience of relief work. In early period it provided relief to Orissa and organized a student committee in Mumbai to help the draught affected students of . Later, we provided relief in Raigad when there were flash floods, and after the cyclone and earthquake, in Kutch. Again after the earthquake in Kashmir we undertook relief though we could not do much for rehabilitation there. After the floods in Ladakh too we worked, but not much. But after the tsunami in Nagapattinam we did a lot of relief and rehabilitation work. After the Koshi floods too we were active in . In short, we have rich experience and have learnt many lessons.

In Uttarakhand we have a good unit of the Yusuf Meherally Yuva Biradari and have a larger number of workers. The in-charge of our activities (YMC’s and YMYB’s) is a reputed journalist with contacts in the government as well as different civil society groups. We have set up a soap unit in that state with a view to generating employment.

In this background of our vast experience and the fact that we have some presence in the state we are sure that YMC can do a lot of good without replicating what others are doing.

This is an appeal to you to send financial assistance for relief and we will also appeal to you to give separately some money to take care of traveling and administration. Awaiting for your prompt response, we remain

Yours sincerely, Haresh Shah Sudhir Gandbhir

Yusuf Meherally Centre D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, Website - www.yusufmeherally.org 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, TeleFax - +91 22 23889738 (Sleater Road), P.O, Grant Road, Telephone - +91 22 23870097 Mumbai - 400007 +91 22 23806010 JANATA, July 7, 2013 7 Who is Guilty of Char Dham Disaster Deluge of faith or Market Mantra ?

K. S. Chalam

Hardly four months have passed including Ganga are devoted to him. the South Indians particularly the in disremembering the tragic death It is out of place here to know how Telugu speaking people are found to of about 40 people in a stampede at phallus worship of Indus valley be fond of the pilgrimages to the Allahabad when the devotees of civilization transformed into Rudra, North due to proselytizing. It Kumbh were on their way home in Muruga, Shiva or Eswar . But, a appears, every Hindu in the South the month of February 2013, when perceptible observer can find out the believes that once in lifetime one the great tragedy of Char Dham has defilement of traditional norms of should visit Ganga and the Dhams taken place. The horrible calling Hardwar the gateway of so as to attain Jeevanmukti or experiences narrated by the Lord Shiva as Haridwar seems to physical deliverance ( Bondito survivors, to the media, point out the be a bit niggling about the conspiracy kailasam). There are instances sudden and unexpected suffering of of silence. In fact, the whole Natha where old people are thrown into the the pilgrims who were brought there tradition of North India is related to Ganga or corpses are burnt on the by tour operators. Though it is a Shaivism and Tantra where majority banks to attain salvation. sensitive issue with the media reach, of the followers were drawn from a dispassionate academic discussion the so-called lower castes in the past But, we never realised that our on the commercialisation of faiths is (See D. P. Chattopadhyay). South pious Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and essential to envision the future to Indians claim Siddha sampradaya. other river systems of the South do avoid such incidents. Some of the tantric traditions have equally deserve attention of the been incorporated as part of North. We hardly find any one from Leaving the evolution of Chota Badrinath and Kedarinath rituals. We the North ever visiting them, Char Dham from the original Char do not know who the multitude of indicating the disregard or bias in Dham as part of the transformation Nag a Sadhus who descended on the our credence of faith. While process of conversion of Shiva Kumbha are? anxiously watching the TV for clues samprdaya into militant Vaishnavism, about some of our kith and kin in the the role of Adi Shankaracharya The popular belief systems of the devastation, I had an occasion to needsto be reconciled here. Even people of the South were influenced witness an advertisement in a Hindi today, the rawals (traditional Hindu by saints - Nayanars (Shivaite) and channel about trips to Chardahm. It holy men) of Kedarnath are drawn Alvars (Vaisnavite). Some of them is a very interesting display where a from Karnataka and Namboodiris of seem to have migrated from Kashi baba was sitting on an altar Kerala for Badrinath (built on a during the 7th 8th centuries after Sri sermonising on the mundane and Buddhist temple). Interestingly, not Sankaracharya cleared the way for spiritual benefits one gets in a many pilgrims from these two states their arrival. pilgrimage to Badarinath, Kedarinth, from the South are found in the etc. The hostess in her beautiful attire present episode. However, Telugu This is a turning point in our gives a commentary as to how to get folk are reported to have been there history and the Dakshinapath lost its a reservation, the facilities and other in large crowd. (It is reported that identity and was linked with the pan arrangements provided by an agency about 10000 people have already Indian ethos. They have influenced along with the phone numbers. Of registered in Hyderabad for our local languages and brought course, our media created a Amarnath yatra. Is it voluntary?) uniformity with their use of Sanskrit. wonderful space of scrolling beneath This had facilitated conversation with and above the main content as There are several paradoxes in local people (who had different Breaking News to attract the the Char Dham episode. The belief systems) leading to convert attention of the viewer. The Himalayas are known after lord them to Hindu sects before the traditional temples are also using now Shiva and all the river systems Abrahamic beliefs descended. Thus, the ICT facilities like e darshan, e 8 JANATA, July 7, 2013 prasad and other e related services It is in the context of the Char indicating the precarious position of to reach out the customer rather Dham disaster, certain distressing the population relying on Tourism. than the devotee. As far as Telugu events are reported. How do we Keeping the typical social and devotees are concerned, they have understand the wade of missing cash economic conditions of the state, the more advanced information through in the hands of some babas and the planners must have designed some regular and special devotional raping and killing of hapless mother projects for economic sustenance. channels all the time. In fact, there and daughter(lost pilgrims) who The present disaster about which are special Babas , Gurus, Brothers were searching for help? Does it any everyone is concerned needs to be and Priests who have emerged and way help a traditional country? In analysed scientifically. There are sustained through the media fact, the spiritual commitment of several definitions of disaster, coverage. After all Telugus are in the humanists and non believers for the explaining an accident or natural forefront to declare that they have enhancement of human happiness catastrophe that causes damage and come of IT age. Thus, faith and and good will is reported to be loss of life due to the fact that the devotion related services are everlasting and permanent calamity far exceeds the resources. packaged and sold in the market irrespective of political and economic We have recently identified more better than many other items of swings. than 50 issues relating to disasters goods. (Manmade and Natural) in The influence of the growing connection with a World Congress The impact of TV, ICT and other market culture on the religious on Disaster Management to be complimentary developments in the practices seems to have distressed organised early next year. We had so-called service sector after our contemporary life and living. The an opportunity to know about the liberalisation has enhanced the present tragedy in Chardham viewed work of two premier research contribution of this sector to GDP under the above context poses institutes on Himalayas, one at manifold. As noted in my earlier several issues for reflection by Dehradun under Geological Survey articles, the number of places of concerted citizens and leaders of India and the other at North worship in India has increased four including sane religionists. Bengal University. It is necessary to times over a period of two decades know that the Himalayas in which that stood at around 30 lakh involving Uttarakhand where the the Chardhams are situated are the billions of rupees worth of properties Chardhams are located is a very youngest and the highest mountain and business. Almost all faiths in small state of about one crore people range in the world with an age of general and Hindu in particular (due planned about a decade ago. It might 70million years on earth (which is to size) have accumulated huge boast of several natural resources, 4.54 billion years old). properties in all the important holy but all of them are subjected to the places and cities (people know of vagaries of weather and climatic The earth scientists have reported only Anantpadmanabha of changes. The state has 13 districts that the Himalayas were formed Trivandrum). We know some of the and 15761 inhabited villages with 70 when Indo Australia plate collided in developments in Visakhapatnam Vidhan Sabha and 6 parliamentary to the underbelly of Eurasia plate. city. Most of the properties are constituencies. Though the state is Thus, it is geologically unstable and binami and a source of concealing part of Himalayas, it does not come seismologically active. It has 15000 black money. Though, we have under either fifth schedule or sixth glaciers providing perennial source sincere and honest philanthropists schedule since there are only 2.6 per of water to Indus, Ganga, and devotees, some of the criminal cent adivasis and 16 per cent Brahmaputra, Yangtze and several minds are behind several dubious scheduled castes. Yet, others. The sedimentary and operations. A friend has commented population of the state is about 72 metamorphic rocks of the region that it is how all the faiths have per cent. The literacy rate is above seem to be responsible for fragile grown over a period of time. May 80 per cent with several premier slopes and landslides and also be. We don’t know. However; the educational institutions located there. exposed to occasional cloud bursts. growth of a faith in terms of The per capita SDP of Rs 48114 is Uttarakhand is abode of not only quantity is found widespread while above the national average. Hindu shrines, but there are ancient the depth of spiritual commitment is Interestingly, 47 per cent of the Buddhist and indigenous sects, Sikh shrinking. population live below poverty and Muslim places of worship. It has JANATA, July 7, 2013 9 a limited carrying capacity with Harrassment of researchers fragile environmental implications. The region is considered as ‘Devabhumi’ and some of the people Pannalal Surana are called as paharias or hill people referring them as innocent. They love the land, the forest and therefore There was a janasunwai at participated in the slogan shouting. when deforestation initiated in the Alapalli (Gadchiroli district) on 8th There was huge police force to name of development, a counter May, 2013 on the proposed lease to protect the management people. The movement as Chipko was started to JSW Ispat Ltd. The thick, rich jungle police must have noted her presence stall the deforestation. However, a spread over the talukas of Etapalli, and hence was keeping an eye on large number of hydro electrical Bhamaragadh, Mulchera and her movements. projects in the region including the Dhanora are supposed to have large highest and controversial Tehri dam, stocks of iron ore. Hence a number On 19th June, Harshali along with Srinagar dam etc. were completed of leading industrial houses like Tata, her colleague Mahesh Raut had gone making the region prone to Lloyds, Adani and Jindal have to a small village near Gatta to attend geophysical disasters. applied for lease of tracks of land a marriage of her friend. When they and permit to undertake mining there. started on motorbike to return to their It is reported in the media that an Formalities for granting permission place of residence at Aheri, the police RTI question has revealed of plans to to some applicants have been stopped them near the Pranhita construct 557 hydropower projects completed without notifying the police station and took them inside. on the pious rivers. Interestingly, most residents of the villages that would Harshali and Maheh were separately of the contractors are South Indian be affected by the proposed mining. interrogated for long and permitted operators like GVK, Lanco, GMR The one about the Jindal somehow to leave in the early morning of 22nd and others and the NTPC project in got enough publicity to attract public June, i.e. about 30 hours after being 2010 was scrapped due to people’s attention. The villages likely to be taken to the police station. The police resistance. The state government affected are Gatta, Gilgunda, suspected that the duo had links with seems to have developed Tourist Jajwadi, Mohodi, Kunjemarka, the . The police seized from destinations with the support of some Watali, Besewada, Wadali and them books by , Karl operators as the demand for trips to Gudantur. These villages have Marx and Dr. Ambedkar - without these dhams beyond Rishikesh already passed resolutions in their touching or noting down that there increased several fold. It is reported Gram Sabhas recording their were many textbooks about MSW that there are about 10000 beds opposition to the proposed curriculum with them. After that, off available for use by the tourists in mininglease and license. The Jindal and on, they were called to the police different categories of hotels, management, however, held the station for interrogation. dharmasalas, etc. The number of “janasunwai” at Alapalli, situated tourists who visited Uttarakhand about 50 km. from Damakondawadi, This is highly objectionable. during 2010 amounted to 3.11 crores, the proposed HQ of the enterprise, Keeping books by renowned three times the size of the population and had gathered a few hundred or participating in which was hardly in thousands few people from the Chamorshi taluka peaceful demonstration by the decades ago. One can imagine the which is far away from the area. villagers is not a crime. Those amount of pressure put on the fragile likely to be affected. The actually activities are part of the fundamental natural resources of the region by would-be affected villagers, rights of the citizens as enumerated around 20 lakh visitors particularly in however, got wind of it and attended in the third chapter of the the Alakananda, Bhagirathi and the janasunwai at Alapalli on that day Constitution of India. Actually one Mandakini river banks where the and recorded their protest by giving of the students, Mahesh Raut, is a dhams are positioned. Given the written petition as also by shouting recipient of the Prime Minister’s hydrogeological formation of the slogans like “Jindal, vapas jav.” fellowship to do research work, region and the river systems, the state Harshali Potdar, a research student based on field study, on the theme of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, of Developmental Conflicts. (Continued on Page 15) had joined the demonstration and Socialist Party (India), wrote a letter 10 JANATA, July 7, 2013 to Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister Decision to raise height of SSP illegal of Maharashtra on this incident. and political conspiracy What is of more concern is the proposed destruction of very thick Central Authorities cannot permit drowning of two lakh population and rich jungle of Gadchiroli which without rehabilitation has grown in full bloom over The decision to permit raising of officials and agents in rehabilitation centuries, There has been no capital the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam is under inquiry, by Justice Jha investment done by anybody. No from the present height of 122 mts to Commission, appointed by the High irrigation is needed. It is all rain-fed. the final height of 138.68 mts, as per Court, for the past 5 years, there is Fortunately, the area gets good the news published in the Times of no way that M.P. can approve the rainfall of both South-western and India, has been taken by the fake rehabilitation. M.P. has allotted north-eastern monsoons . Besides Resettlement and Rehabilitation Sub land only to 21 families till date, that timber of Sag and Shisam varieties, Group of the Narmada Control too in the past two months, while there is ample bamboo growing Authority (NCA) on 26th June. This 4,000 plus remain to attain their due, without any effort by man. And the is supposed to have been done on the many of whom are cheated through jungle provides 2-3 months’ basis of the reports by the four states, fake land registries. These include employment to the tribals nearby in including Madhya Pradesh, hilly adivasis habited in the Satpuda collection of forest products like and Maharashtra, confirming that and Vindhya ranges, who are to be tendu-patta or moha flowers. Last ‘rehabilitation is complete’. All this is taken special care of as per the policy year, village by name of Mendha- absolutely unbelievable and and judgements. Maharashtra too is Lekha, sold bamboo worth Rs. 60 unacceptable since there are more still searching and locating land to lakhs after getting community patta than 40,000 families in the 245 villages establish R&R sites, more and over the forest in the revenue area in the submergence area spread Gujarat’s oustees are also awaiting of that village. Now, a number of across these three states, with the declaration, allotment of land and/or villages are following that example maximum villages (193) being in amenities in the original villages as and engaging in bamboo-cutting and Madhya Pradesh alone. well as resettlement sites. sellimg after obtaining community pattas. The villagers also enjoy There are at least 4,000 families The Narmada Water Disputes nishtar rights for head-loads of in M.P. and about 1,000 in Tribunal Award and all the Supreme firewood and building material. Maharashtra who are yet to receive Court’s judgements, (1991, 2000, There are also minor products like alternative agricultural land as per 2002, 2005) and the last interim order charoli. All those concerned with the eligibility. Thousands of landless that has clearly directed full and fair genuine development should ponder including agricultural labourers, fish implementation of the NWDTA, are over this. If this natural forest is workers, potters and other artisans to be violated once again, if there is destroyed for mining iron ore, then are yet to get an alternative source any raise, in the dam height at this the loss would be permanent and of livelihood as per the state policy stage. flooding the villages, where irreplaceable. And the tribals would and Action Plan, endorsed by the life is on with pucca houses, shops, lose self-employment plus other Supreme Court. Those at the markets, schools, temples and benefits for ever. Mining cannot resettlement site in Gujarat or meosques and lakhs of trees will be provide employment for a large Maharashtra or at a very small a gross injustice, against law and number of people forever. It would percentage in M.P. are certainly not contempt of court. The Prime be small duration of say 20 years. In rehabilitated, till date, as there are Minister himself had given a written these days of zero employment hundreds of families without full land, commitment to the Apex Court on growth process, such natural as per entitlement or amenities, yet 17thApril, 2006 i.e. on the 21st day avenues should not be lost forever. to be attained. of fast in New Delhi, that all the And the forest is supplying so many families upto 122 mts were not valuable things to the society at large. When huge corruption through a rehabilitated while that height was It would not be proper to allow this massive scandal of about 5,00 to sanctioned and that rehabilitation (Continued on Page 15) 1,000 crores, misappropriated by would be complete within three JANATA, July 7, 2013 11 months i.e. by June, 2006. The same Why India Trails China has not yet happened and hence there could be no permission granted for further work at the dam. Amartya Sen

Moreover, not one, but many Modern India is, in many ways, a India may be the world’s largest committees of MoEF and the latest success. Its claim to be the world’s producer of generic medicine, but its chaired by Shri Devendra Pandey largest democracy is not hollow. Its health care system is an unregulated have clearly concluded based on the media is vibrant and free; Indians buy mess. The poor have to rely on low- documents and data that almost all more newspapers every day than quality — and sometimes exploitative the conditions in the environmental any other nation. Since independence — private medical care, because clearance are not fulfilled, but in 1947, life expectancy at birth has there isn’t enough decent public violated. Be it Gujarat on the non- more than doubled, to 66 years from care. While China devotes 2.7 compliance of CAD Plans, or 32, and per-capita income (adjusted percent of its gross domestic product Maharashtra and M.P. with targets for inflation) has grown fivefold. In to government spending on health and plans on protective/preventive recent decades, reforms pushed up care, India allots 1.2 percent. measures, compensatory the country’s once sluggish growth afforestation, health measures for all rate to around 8 percent per year, India’s underperformance can be the three states. before it fell back a couple of traced to a failure to learn from the percentage points over the last two examples of so-called Asian It is, therefore, obvious that any years. For years, India’s economic economic development, in which clearance granted is only a result of growth rate ranked second among rapid expansion of human capability political expediency. the world’s large economies, is both a goal in itself and an integral since, last few months had been after China, which it has consistently element in achieving rapid growth. raising SSP issues publicly to blame trailed by at least one percentage Japan pioneered that approach, or challenge the UPA Government, point. starting after the Meiji Restoration which is succumbing to these in 1868, when it resolved to achieve pressures unnecessarily and The hope that India might overtake a fully literate society within a few unjustifiably. When Gujarat doesn’t China one day in economic growth decades. As Kido Takayoshi, a have its canal network ready and not now seems a distant one. But that leader of that reform, explained: built beyond 25-30 percent over the comparison is not what should worry “Our people are no different from last 30 years, what is the need to Indians most. The far greater gap the Americans or Europeans of raise the height and fill more water between India and China is in the today; it is all a matter of education to drown the valley? Why can’t the provision of essential public services or lack of education.” Through MoEF and the Narmada Control — a failing that depresses living investments in education and health Authority under the Ministry of standards and is a persistent drag on care, Japan simultaneously enhanced Water Resources compel Gujarat to growth. living standards and labor complete execution of all productivity — the government environmental measures and building Inequality is high in both countries, collaborating with the market. of canal network phase-wise and but China has done far more than thereby utilize the already ponded India to raise life expectancy, expand Despite the catastrophe of waters? general education and secure health Japan’s war years, the lessons of its care for its people. India has elite development experience remained The issue is being politicized with schools of varying degrees of and were followed, in the postwar nearing of 2014 elections, no doubt excellence for the privileged, but period, by South Korea, Taiwan, but people’s lives and livelihoods among all Indians nearly one in every Singapore and other economies in being at stake, we can’t allow such five males and one in every three East Asia. China, which during the a heinous crime to be committed by females are illiterate. And most Mao era made advances in land flooding houses, communities, fields, schools are of low quality; less than reform and basic education and and forests any more, not till all legal half the children can divide 20 by 5, health care, embarked on market (Continued on Page 13) even after four years of schooling. reforms in the early 1980s; its huge 12 JANATA, July 7, 2013 success changed the shape of the The protests around the world world economy. India has paid inadequate attention to these lessons. A familiar face appeared in many which felt so pleasurably radical at Is there a conundrum here that of the protests taking place in scores the time, did more to change sex than democratic India has done worse than of cities on three continents this politics. Even now, though, the China in educating its citizens and week: a Guy Fawkes mask with a inchoate significance of 2013 is improving their health? Perhaps, but roguish smile and a pencil-thin discernible. And for politicians who the puzzle need not be a brainteaser. moustache. The mask belongs to want to peddle the same old stuff, Democratic participation, free “V”, a character in a graphic novel the news is not good. expression and rule of law are largely from the 1980s who became the realities in India, and still largely symbol for a group of computer The rhythm of protests has been aspirations in China. India has not hackers called Anonymous. His accelerated by technology. V’s face had a famine since independence, contempt for government resonates turns up in both São Paulo and Istanbul while China had the largest famine in with people all over the world. because protest is organised through recorded history, from 1958 to 1961, social networks, which spread when Mao’s disastrous Great Leap The protests have many different information, encourage imitation and Forward killed some 30 million origins. In Brazil people rose up make causes fashionable people. Nevertheless, using against bus fares, in Turkey against (see article). Everyone with a democratic means to remedy a building project. Indonesians have smartphone spreads stories, though endemic problems—chronic rejected higher fuel prices, not always reliable ones. When the undernourishment, a disorganized Bulgarians the government’s police set fire to the encampment in medical system or dysfunctional cronyism. In the euro zone they Gezi Park in Istanbul on May 31st, school systems — demands sustained march against austerity, and the Arab the event appeared instantly on deliberation, political engagement, spring has become a perma-protest Twitter. After Turks took to the streets media coverage, popular pressure. against pretty much everything. to express their outrage, the flames In short, more democratic process, Each angry demonstration is angry were fanned by stories that protesters not less. in its own way. had died because of the police’s brutal treatment. Even though those first In China, decision making takes Yet just as in 1848, 1968 and 1989, stories turned out to be wrong, it had place at the top. The country’s leaders when people also found a collective already become the popular thing to are skeptical, if not hostile, with regard voice, the demonstrators have much demonstrate. to the value of multiparty democracy, in common. Over the past few but they have been strongly committed weeks, in one country after another, Protests are no longer organised to eliminating hunger, illiteracy and protesters have risen up with by unions or other lobbies, as they medical neglect, and that is bewildering speed. They have been once were. Some are initiated by enormously to their credit. more active in democracies than small groups of purposeful people— dictatorships. They tend to be like those who stood against the fare There are inevitable fragilities in ordinary, middle-class people, not increases in São Paulo—but news a nondemocratic system because lobbies with lists of demands. Their gets about so fast that the organising mistakes are hard to correct. Dissent mix of revelry and rage condemns core tends to get swamped. is dangerous. There is little recourse the corruption, inefficiency and Spontaneity gives the protests an for victims of injustice. Edicts like arrogance of the folk in charge. intoxicating sense of possibility. But, the one-child policy can be very inevitably, the absence of harsh. Still, China’s present leaders Nobody can know how 2013 will organisation also blurs the agenda. have used the basic approach of change the world—if at all. In 1989 Brazil’s fare protest became a accelerating development by the Soviet empire teetered and fell. condemnation of everything from expanding human capability with But Marx’s belief that 1848 was the corruption to public services great decisiveness and skill. first wave of a proletarian revolution (see article). In Bulgaria the was confounded by decades of government gave in to the crowd’s (Continued on Page 15) flourishing capitalism and 1968, demand to ditch the newly appointed JANATA, July 7, 2013 13 head of state security. But by then affords women. Even bigger protests graft up the national agenda, with the the crowd had stopped listening. had swept the country in 2011, as the promise of gradual reform middle class rose up against the (see article). To her credit, Brazil’s This ready supply of broad, fair- corruption that infests almost every president, Dilma Rousseff, wants a weather activism may vanish as fast encounter with government officials. national debate on renewing politics. as it appeared. That was the fate of In Turkey the number of students This will be neither easy nor quick. the Occupy protesters, who pitched graduating from university has But protest could yet improve camp in Western cities in 2011. This increased by 8% a year since 1995. democracy in emerging countries— time, however, the protests are fed The young middle class this has and even eventually the EU. by deep discontent. Egypt is created chafes against the religious suffering from the disastrous failure conservatism of the prime minister, Democrats may envy the ability of government at every level. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wants of dictators to shut down Protest there has become a large families and controls on alcohol. demonstrations. China has substitute for opposition. In Europe The 40m Brazilians who clambered succeeded in preventing its many the fight is over how to shrink the out of poverty in the past eight years local protests from cohering into a state. Each time the cuts reach a are able for the first time to scrutinise national movement. Saudi Arabia has new target—most recently, Greece’s the society that their taxes finance. bribed its dissidents to be quiet; national broadcaster—they trigger They want decent public services, Russia has bullied them with the another protest. Sometimes, as in the and get overpriced sports stadiums threats of fines and prison. But in riots of young immigrants in instead. the long run, the autocrats may pay Sweden’s suburbs in May and of a higher price. Using force to drive British youths in 2011, entire groups How will this year of protest people off the streets can weaken feel excluded from the prosperity unfold? One dark conclusion is that governments fatally, as Sultan around them. Sweden has the democracy has become harder: Erdogan may yet find (see article); highest ratio of youth unemployment allocating resources between and as the Arab governments to general unemployment in the competing interest groups is tougher discovered two years ago, OECD. Too many young Britons if millions can turn out on the streets dictatorships lack the institutions suffer from poor education and have in days. That implies that the euro through which to channel protesters’ prospects to match. In the emerging zone’s summer will surely get hotter. anger. As they watch democracies economies rapid real growth has led The continent’s politicians have got struggle in 2013, the leaders in people to expect continuing off lightly so far (the biggest Beijing, Moscow and Riyadh should improvements in their standard of demonstrations in Paris, for instance, be feeling uncomfortable. living. This prosperity has paid for were when “Frigide Barjot” led services and, in an unequal society French Catholics in a bid to stop gay –The Economists, June 29th 2013 like Brazil, narrowed the gap marriage). Yet social instability is between rich and poor. But it is twice as common when public under threat. In Brazil GDP growth spending falls by at least 5% of GDP (Continued from Page 11) slowed from 7.5% in 2010 to only as when it is growing. At some point pre-conditions are fulfilled. We warn 0.9% last year. In Indonesia, where European leaders must curb the the NCA not to clear the raising of GDP is still below $5,000 a head, chronic overspending on social the dam height and also warn R&R ordinary families will keenly feel the welfare and grapple with the euro’s Sub–Group to withdraw its decision. loss of fuel subsidies. institutional weakness—and unrest The people of the valley will compel will follow. these authorities to comply with law More potent still in the emerging and are prepared to fight for it tooth world are the political expectations Happily, democracies are good at and nail. of a rapidly growing middle class. At adapting. When politicians accept the end of last year young educated that the people expect better—and –Surbhan Bhilala, Devram Indians took to the streets of several that votes lie in satisfying them— Kanera, Kamla Yadav, Kailash cities after the gang rape of a 23- things can change. India’s anti- Awasya, Ghokru Ranveer Tomar, year-old medical student, to protest corruption protests did not lead to Madu Machuara, Medha Patkar, at the lack of protection that the state immediate change, but they raised Shannobehan, 14 JANATA, July 7, 2013 People’s Commission Report on Special Rehabilitation Scheme Demands Cancellation of Fraudulent Projects

People’s Commission Report on Buildings Committee, Governmentt using intimidation and luring tactics, Slum Rehabilitation Scheme in of Maharashtra; Suradkar, former ultimately to dump them, violating Mumbai was released on June 24, Inspector General of Police and their rights. False cases filed against 2013 by Justice (Retd.) B. N. Simpreet Singh, senior social activist. the residents and unnecessary Deshmukh. The Commission was The panel went through a long questioning of residents by police are appointed by NAPM in order that a process of investigation for months, used as harassment tactics. The thorough enquiry could take place conducted public hearings, visited the Report exposes the role of the police into the irregularities and illegalities SRA areas and communities, invited in favouring the developers, many a complained by hundreds and and heard developers who appeared times not admitting the FIRs and thousands of the slum dwellers before the Commission and referred compelling the residents to run from included in the Scheme. The to the submissions made by the to dusk and reach the Courts Commission was also appointed residents, their groups and at enormous costs. since the government of organisations as well as the Maharashtra went back on its developers. The Commission also An important highlight of the promise to appoint a joint enquiry referred to secondary data and Report is regarding the transfer of committee to look in to 15 SRA information available in various policy the land to the builders which the projects, with Justice Suresh as documents and reports. scheme legitimizes, going against the Chairperson. This promise was expected principle and goal of given during the nine-day fast by The Report has brought out a equitable land use in the megalopolis Medha Patkar and others while the number of frauds and illegalities of Mumbai where 60 percent of official notifications were modified infesting the SRA projects and the population, being slum dwellers, giving false reasons of Court’s serious flaws in the SR Scheme resides on not more than 9.24 directive and the enquiry was itself. It indicates how the percent of Mumbai’s land. The transferred to High Power developers-politicians-bureaucrats allotment of land out of the Committee. Having no faith in the together have favoured the builders communities’ land to the investor HPC, the people’s movements, Ghar more often than the residents and builder has attracted the politicians Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan and permitted violations of laws, rules and and others to also come forward and others decided to continue the the scheme itself. The Scheme’s become partners in SRA schemes. struggle, and forcing the State objective of the rehabilitation is often This, as Report brings out, has government to finally appoint a marred since displacement of resulted in complacency and Committee under the Principal hundreds of families without favouritisim within the sanctioning Secretary, Housing to undertake the rehabilitation has also been a result and monitoring authorities such as enquiry into six SRA projects in of wrong application and corruption SRA and Revenue department with January 2013. in the eligibility criteria and the list the builders and have left the of beneficiaries evolved thereby. residents with little or no channel for In this context NAPM decided to With no registered agreements in the redressal of their grievances. The go in for a parallel enquiry by eminent hands of the residents, the Commission has concluded, going experts’ panel as an initiative from Commission has reported a number beyond the CAG report which shows the civil society, under the of cases where they are cheated or that instead of 8 lakh houses only 1.5 chairmanship of Justice H Suresh. kept hanging in the non-livable transit lakh houses have been constructed Other members included Prof. Amita camps or the rented houses without under SRS since 1996 till 2011, that Bhide, urban habitat policy expert and the rent being paid regularly. The the Scheme is more or less a failure member of the High Power Expert report brings out the stories of in terms of strengthening the Group appointed by High Court, oppression and repression of the cooperatives of slum dwellers and Mumbai in 2005; Chandrashekhar, residents of decades old rehabilitating them at a better architect and member of High-rise communities who are driven out standard of living. JANATA, July 7, 2013 15

The Report goes into the details includes urgent review of the six schemes in truly cooperative way of six SRA projects including Shiv SRA projects under scanner as also using their own labour force and Koliwada, Ramnagar(Ghatkopar), the overall SR Scheme itself. Where artisans as also retaining land Ambedkar Nagar (Mulund), Indira the projects are not consented to by underneath the slums in their own Nagar (Jogeshwari), Chandivili the communities those should be rights. (Mahendra and Sommaiyya quarries) cancelled and amalgamation to big and Golibar (Khar). These are the chunks of land diverted to the The recommendations include very projects which are also being builders under 3k clause of the slum alternative housing schemes on the enquired by Principal Secretary act 1971 or otherwise under some basis of PublicPublic Partnership that Housing, Government of pretext should be withdrawn. The would include Rajeev Awas Yojana, Maharashtra, whose report is also Commission suggests that with the with due participation and vision expected soon. people’s consent and readiness the coming from the people, and people’s community should be permitted and organsiations. The report’s recommendations promoted to build their own housing –SumitaWajale and Madhuresh Kumar

(Continued from Page 9) had an average of 1606 mm rainfall. course the CAG warning to the state by the statement of the priest of It is reported that the rainfall in the government for not following the Kedarinath Sri Vagesh Lingachar, region on the fateful day was 380 guidelines is now in the public domain. after the incident that Tourist mm. One scientist has alleged that operators and the business interests the forest cover of the 53483 sq KMs Thus, the June 17th disaster is a have made the area a virtual market of the state that was 84.9 per cent in consequence of a vicious circle of place that masked the temple that 1970 is reduced to around 50 per cent leisure time activity promoted by could be seen from a distance a few by now. Thus, the tragedy was market strategies, capitalist industrial years ago. This is an emerging anticipated by scholars and activists expansion for cheap power, unworldly situation where faith is conditioned who were studying the region. The religious jingoism together with by market, and if it becomes a International Panel on Climatic surplus cash invested in mindless practice that is the end of the Change has already warned of construction in an ecologically significance of religion in human extreme weather conditions and of sensitive area. This is substantiated society.

(Continued from Page 12)

The case for combating auto parts, many of which rely its damaging consequences, debilitating inequality in India is on the role of highly trained including for economic growth. not only a matter of social personnel from the well-educated justice. Unlike India, China did classes. For India to match China – The New York Times not miss the huge lesson of Asian in its range of manufacturing economic development, about the capacity — its ability to produce economic returns that come from gadgets of almost every kind, (Continued from Page 10) bettering human lives, especially with increasing use of technology valuable natural asset to be destroyed at the bottom of the and better quality control — it so that a handful of capitalists earn socioeconomic pyramid. India’s needs a better-educated and huge profits for a very limited span growth and its earnings from healthier labor force at all levels of time. exports have tended to depend of society. What it needs most is narrowly on a few sectors, like more knowledge and public Coming back to the two TISS information technology, discussion about the nature and researchers, the police have stopped pharmaceuticals and specialized the huge extent of inequality and harassing them. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 7, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, July 7, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday July 10, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 68 No. 27 A missed opportunity July 14, 2013 S. Viswam Mistrust is thy name politics? Kuldip Nayar The UPA government has been various related ministries, apart Circulation of Families forced to resort to the ordinance route from the Planning Commission under Capitalist Patronage to introduce its over-ambitious Food and a parliamentary committee. K. S. Chalam Security Bill in Parliament. This is Surprisingly, apart from the BJP really unfortunate for two reasons. opposition, which opposes it for the Assam’s Illegal Immigrant Resort to an ordinance to usher in sake of opposition and not because Imbroglio Nitish Chakravarty a debate on a welfare legislation it has an alternative proposal, some especially when Parliament is in of the UPA allies, like Silence over session denotes the government’s and Mulayam SinghYadav have also Rajindar Sachar lack of confidence in the goodness of opposed it. They fear that the bill, when the legislation to sell itself. Secondly, fully and efficiently implemented, Revenue foregone is it sets an unhealthy example in will hit the small farmer hard, force loot of economy parliamentary processes since an him to shut shop because of inability Krishna Swaroop Anandi ordinance exposes the government’s to market his produce, and also hit the willingness to bypass parliament small exporters of grains. However, it Caught in the line of ire when it suits it. Third, the latest is typical of the unprincipled nature Gopalkrishna Gandhi resort to the ordinance route is clearly of competitive Indian politics that born out of the fear that the BJP-led no political party has made a serious Muslims that ‘minority politics’ left behind opposition may well stall proceedings study of the problems involved in Khalid Anis Ansari and bring the monsoon session to a ensuring food security for millions of halt were the FSB to be introduced hungry people and made practical and Government needs to cut subsidies in the normal manner. This fear is positive suggestions. Parties are more that benefit the rich not misplaced. The BJP opposition interested in ensuring that the UPA is known to play politics whenever does not get any credit for a welfare Editor : an opportunity arises to corner the measure than in ensuring that millions G. G. Parikh ruling coalition. of hungry people benefit.

Managing Editor : Guddi That the FSB is one of the most It will be useful for our political D-15, Ganesh Prasad, important welfare measures to have class to remember that most countries Naushir Bharucha Marg, been conceived by the UPA is well in the world, including the Third known. Indeed, the legislation has World nations, are currently obsessed Mumbai - 400 007. been in preparation for the last three with the problem of hunger and years and has been scrutinized by how to fight it. The UN is tracing Email : [email protected] the National Advisory Council and the progress of its Millenium Goal 2 JANATA, July 14, 2013 targets to reduce world poverty and Between the lines hunger by 50 per cent before 2015. According to published reports the UN recently expressed appreciation Mistrust is thy name politics? for the efforts of 38 countries for having attained notable results in Kuldip Nayar implementing the UN deadline. India is not among these 38, but that is no black mark. India has been In the penultimate year of nearly In fact, the official machinery is in planning a food security programme one-decade rule by Prime Minister disarray. on a massive scale for at least a ’s government, decade. I find the biggest casualty is the Take the case of Ishrat Jahan people’s confidence in political encounter. The Home Ministry at Even on a programme that aims parties, particularly the ruling the Centre and the state government at eradicating poverty and hunger Congress. In fact, the public is so had taken the stand that Ishrat, through planned and legislated exasperated that it has come to along with her three accomplices, measures, there is no national believe that dishonesty and politics were terrorists who were killed consensus. Most parties would are synonymous and those who have in an encounter with the police protest that they are as committed come to politics have done so only suspecting them to have a plan to to food security as is the Congress. to make money. assassinate Gujarat chief minister However, they are loathe to Narender Modi. The Central Bureau cooperate when a draft bill reaches I was aghast to find that many well- of Investigation (CBI) said that it a stage where it can be introduced placed people have not contributed was a cold-blooded murder. The in parliament and debated. All to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund agency found no evidence to involve the parties could have decided, if because they suspect that the money Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Toiba which they wanted, to debate the bill in given for the Uttarakhand victims the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had parliament seriously and ensured would be used by the Congress done. that all the provisions it thinks are of in elections. I can understand the no benefit to the hungry are deleted. argument that the assistance is Who does the public believe? But this is expecting too much of mismanaged, but the suspicion about Both the CBI and the IB are parts Indian politics and politicians. the PM’s Fund should awaken the of the same government. The public rulers to the extent that the people is further confused because the It has been a general experience have lost faith in them. The scandals CBI has alleged that Ishrat and her of parliamentary history in India that like the 2G Spectrum regarding the accomplices were picked up from there is a wide gap between adoption mobiles and the allotment of coal different places and shot dead. The of a legislation in parliament and its blocks to unknown persons have, weapons they had on them were implementation by the government. no doubt, damaged the credibility of allegedly planted by the police and The Mahatma Gandhi Rural the Congress. But the inference that none of it had been used for days. Employment Guarantee Act, on the those in positions, to whichever party strength of which the UPA is credited they belong, is a sad commentary on Assume that Ishrat and the others with winning a second term in office, politicians. were terrorists. Does the police was a legislation from which much force have the right to kill them was expected. But it is still bogged Consequently, there is a question without proving in a law court that down in administrative quagmires mark against any report or probe they were terrorists? If this rule is and the benefits of the scheme, conducted by the government. Even to apply, the killers of Mrs Indira which guarantees employment to a a judicial verdict is taken with a Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi should worker for 100 days in a year, have pinch of salt. The fault is not that of have been shot dead in encounters yet to reach even 25 per cent of the the people, but the manner in which instead of proceedings even in the intended beneficiaries. The cash- the affairs have been conducted Supreme Court. We should not have for-subsidy scheme, the UPA’s latest since the seventies. Very little has spent crores of rupees on the trial (Continued on Page 3) been done to restore confidence. of Mohammad Kasab, who was JANATA, July 14, 2013 3 hanged, and done away with him for The latest is the building of the Ram still optimistic that India would the attacks on Mumbai. temple at the site where the Babri return to the path of values which masjid stood before its demolition. it took after winning independence. The food security bill which will The party should realize that the subsidize food for 65 per cent of the religious card cannot be played (Continued from Page 2) population is a prey to suspicion. again and again. The demand for pro-aam aadmi scheme is facing The government is to be blamed for temple and a uniform civil code are difficulties at the initial stage itself. introducing the measure through supposed to be parts of development, And, as for the FSB, the government an ordinance when the parliament a camouflage for Hindutva. The has yet to finalize the mechanisms session has only three weeks away. party is as much engaged in power for ensuring production, storage and (It has now been postponed to mid- politics as the Congress is. distribution of the vast quantities August after the ordinance). Most of grains that would be needed political parties are in favour of the That the leftist parties have throughout the year for sustaining bill but want a legitimate discussion social justice and federalism on its provisions. One reason why the in parliament before it is enacted. their agenda is to the liking of a opposition as well as critics of the The Congress prefers the route of preponderant majority. To their bill itself, feel that the legislation is ordinance on the plea that political admiration, a convention of the politically opportunistic and being parties, particularly the BJP, have not leftist parties at Delhi last week enacted with an eye on votes in 2014. allowed parliament to function. This reiterated the two points. Indeed, the Yet another opportunity to do real is true. But the ordinance too has to Manmohan Singh government has good to the people seems to have be passed by parliament. For that a made the rich richer and has made a been lost. The challenge is really consensus would be required. Why mockery of political autonomy. daunting, but the government seems couldn’t the government bring about unprepared. it before the ordinance? Yet the CPI (M) was found wanting during their rule of 15 There is something in the years in West Bengal. The Sachar allegation that the Congress eyes are Committee has said that the Muslim Studies in Socialism fixed on the parliamentary elections community in the state was the most which is due in May 2014. It is backward in education (only 2.7 By possible that a mid-term poll may per cent). The CPI supported the take place in November or December. authoritarian rule of Indira Gandhi Asoka Mehta Such are the suspicions which have during the emergency. Janata Dal nullified the food security ordinance (United) evokes hope to be a third which would enable roughly 850 alternative because its chief, Sharad Published by million people of limited means to Yadav, has said that his party will Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan buy per kilo rice at Rs. 3, wheat at fight totalitarianism of communists Centre for Socialist Studies- Rs. 2 and bajra for Rs. 1. and communalism of the BJP. Bihar Bangaluru chief minister Nitish Kumar has The case of CBI’s autonomy is shown in his rule that a government yet another example worth dwelling can rise above gimmicks. Rightly Price Rs. 250.00 postage extra on. People have no faith in the Nitish Kumar has given the National supervision by the three retired Investigation Agency to probe the High Court judges. The suspicion is Buddh Gaya bomb blasts. Send your order to that the government would appoint pliable judges. Since the CBI will be The nation’s problem is how to Centre for Socialist Studies under the government, any measure reignite the spirit of confidence and 191, 10th Cross, 10th Main, NGFI it takes fails to evoke faith. idealism. Alas, no political party, Layout Nagurbani, even in the states, comes up to that Bengaluru 560 072 The other main political party, standard. Will the next election Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan Munshi the BJP, is suspect because it is throw up such people is in the realm Sadan Chowpatty, Mumbai 400 007 selling Modi thesis of Hindutva. of conjecture. Persons like me are 4 JANATA, July 14, 2013 Circulation of Families under Capitalist Patronage

K. S. Chalam

There are certain traditional (after the allegations regarding to the enormous hard work done practices that do surface even in recent political nominations in by our IT professionals as part of modern social relations due to their Andhra Pradesh). However, we their leisure time activity under strong internalisation by people. must recognise that the Hindu or the guidance of shrewd elders. Family as an institution is one of Indian character is based on the Is it a new consciousness? No, the strongest foundations of Indian founding fathers of Varna system. it began during the East India society. It is re-emerging in some of We are of the view that a structure company rule when William Jones our contemporarysocio-economic (paradigm) that was designed for declared, looking at the Bengali and political organisations. Though a small settlers group has outlived Bhadralok at the Asiatic Society we lament for the disregard of the its purpose due to the user-friendly lecture (1786), that they were all his younger generation to family norms dynamism in it. It appeared to long lost kin and blood relations in and values due to their exposure be basically designed for and by terms of language, colour and other to Western ways of thinking and the saptarishis (seven sages).The parameters (see Trautman TR). practices, it is still surviving in Indian family is somehow linked Therefore, there has always been a other forms. For instance, most of to the traditions of saptarishis. family link between the West and the marriage advertisements and Even if the dominant shudras the East. Strangely, it is the native the innovative business practices and some non-kshatriyas became Indians who are forced to keep on introduced by the media clearly rulers, they were later linked to the changing their faith and masters show that most of our young people sapatarishis through gotra, a bygone have lost their roots and history. oblige family stance on caste. Even purported practice of dvija clan(s). However, some intellectuals are those that wear their ultra-modern It is also mentioned by the law- trying to build their links with the attitude on their sleeves verify the givers that it shall keep on changing West through language and religion sub-caste before dating a colleague in different yugas. Therefore, the and the emerging capitalists are in IT hubs. The media is full of original seven rishis; Vasista, embracing the West if not converted allegations and counter-allegations Bhardwaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, to their faith already under the same of political families opposing one Atri, Viswamitra and Agatsya are scheme. This is a very interesting another in public and united in the routes of family trees which dimension of twentyfirst century private. are given to everyone including the global capitalism. Hindu dalit and shudras and they are The definition of Hindu undivided supposed to follow in their rituals. Thus, family bond and its family adopted by the Income Therefore, the number conferring preservation is one of the pious Tax Department for purposes of this status seems to have increased duties of every Indian irrespective property and income is related to several folds with the availability of his faith in an organised religion coparceners to fix up the legal share of modern gadgets like computer due to the traditions of the country is a complicated description. The and Interrnet. One can find one’s where one belongs. As members of common understanding of family as own gotra on the net. Thanks to the a traditional society, Indians value a group of parents and children living Hindu social net. the family. It is also not difficult to together can be taken as a working maintain it unlike the West where definition since the meaning keeps The PR exercise done by Western family is an aggregate irrespective on changing with the culture, era experts for Modi brought out a of social class (either Malinowiski and other considerations. It is pioneering clue that the British or Morgan-Engels). Indian family is demanded that individuals and their crown has its roots in Gujarat to a basic unit for caste solidarity with families attending on a dominant give a fillip to his stature as a PM ritual sanction and family antiquity leader should come under the notion candidate. In fact, the West is now in terms of Gotra. However, there of family for political patronage looking for its roots in India due are only few, about 5-10 per cent of JANATA, July 14, 2013 5 the population who are offered this A cursory look at the history parties, left and right, including facility. Therefore, it never created of the so-called affirmative action their front organisations. Some of problems and we could find people after Independence clearly shows them claim that it is not their duty lavishly sporting family names/titles that there is a trend of accretion to organise, educate and unite them after their proper names to indicate of the benefits by few. Given the for movements. There are thousands their ancestry (For instance, only for present scheme of selection, it is of civil society organisations that illustration and not with any ill will, alleged that they are appropriated are funded to organise or disunite Fernandes, Christ Reddy, Mastan by few families. This is not a typical them. The spirit of family is present Choudary, etc.). Some of them have phenomenon of reservations alone even here to satisfy the norm of emerged as big players with business as the Indian ethos irrespective of some representation to . The empires perhaps capitalising on this the caste is family based. This trend left and progressive groups are not advantage. among upper castes has not created an exception to the family menace. tensions since the number is small Family name as a status symbol and open ended with opportunities The intelligent and wily has not been widely used by certain in a growing private sector. But, intellectuals of a particular dalit castes, particularly in the recent the restricted number has set a rat ideology are now encouraging phenomenon of Pydi, Jangam, race among the dalits and seems to and theorising that if dalits can Mala, Madiga upsurge in AP, while have been cornered by few families capture with globalisation and everyone has started copying Sarma, among the reserved castes. But, create 100 billionaires, it is easy Varma, Sastry, etc. In North India, bulk of the dalits in the rural areas to resolve the problems of the one can notice even in institutions and in urban bastis is untouched community.The “paid intellectuals” like JNU, Vikram Harijan, Ravi by any scheme and is happy with have produced reports and dozens of Kuswah, Prem Jhatav, Ram Julaha the ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojana”, papers including edit page articles (mostly ascribed to signify the caste NAREGA, etc. that keep them alive with half-truth and fabricated data and not chosen). There seems to and do not motivate them to raise of Own Account Enterprises of be no relief to some of those who any demands. 2005. They cite the information to converted to other faiths in search manufacture a story of favourable of a different identity as noted above It appears that no political party impact of globalisation among the and the caste titles haunt them. In is interested in the affairs or welfare weaker sections sayingthat there are fact, a new dimension of social of the dalits today as they, allegedly, 43 per cent OBC and 9 per cent dalit dynamics is evolving particularly are quarrelsome, disunited and enterprises today. Interestingly, they among the caste-based reservation susceptible to manipulations. A have never reported that majority communities, mainly among the senior Professor of a big university in of them do not have own premises, scheduled castes. As the number Andhra Pradesh confessed to me that the enterprises include boot polish of places reserved in public sector how the dalit boys have destroyed bunks, vegetable vending and son. (including education, employment the Social Sciences and Humanities And their total asset value is not etc) is limited to the proportion of where they are now concentrated. equal to one day earnings of some the caste in the total population, it He (himself a dalit) was dismayed top business houses (for example, is restricted to a few among them as that instead of strengthening the in the recent share market boom). it is not an open ended affair. Thus disciplines and making use of the Some of them do not know about the one can find that out of 1.7 crore jobs opportunities, they have vandalised history of the artisan guilds, freehold in the public sphere, it is limited to the institutes for short term gains of lands, etc. that were under the just 27.2 lakhs (at 16 per cent) for and thoughtless benefits. The trend jajmani and slowly appropriated by SCs. Out of a population of 20 crores therefore, seems to be to co-opt the so-called big business families of scheduled castes, it is a small or engage someone (family) for a with the connivance of the company fraction of 0.013 or 1.36 per cent . It consideration at the time of need and law officials. In other words, the is not even unguent cream. Naturally do not engage them on a permanent theory seems to be in consonance there is intense competition among basis. It is not expensive and can with the idea of circulation of the relevant eligible families only save the vast resources required to Hindu families is adequate to make and in terms of numbers, they are involve ‘others’. This is found to them viable within the system (as under great stress. be universal approach among all is practiced in upper castes where 6 JANATA, July 14, 2013 the number is very few). In fact, the spirit of the dalit activism, it Assam’s Illegal Immigrant Imbroglio is alleged, had already gone into the family mode, long back. It is Nitish Chakravarty strange that those who eulogise dalit capitalists as a solution to the Assam is widely known as a Bengal. Hindus from undivided vexed problem have not produced land of peace loving people. The Bengal started arriving in Assam any evidence/indication that the climate and the terrain sustained for from mid-19th century onwards to emerging capitalists are called as capitalists without the stigma (or generations a laidback style [lahe take up occupations in teaching, from different backgrounds).Or is lahe, literally leisurely leisurely]. legal practice, medical services, the system as in the past created a So much so that invaders from engineering as well as helping residual mechanism of ‘panchama’ across the mountains ringing the hands in commercial enterprises. in a different garb? north-eastern region met with little Marwari businessmen arrived soon resistance over the centuries. Ahom to engage themselves in wholesale A detailed analysis of the conquerors from the Thailand- - occasionally retail as well - trade. enrolments into higher educational Burma intersection, who ruled the British businessmen lorded over the institutions and the job seekers for Brahmaputra valley for 600 years, administration and commercial and organised sector jobs for instance, virtually had a cakewalk. The Ahoms, industrial enterprises such as tea clearly indicate that they are all from their kings included, integrated with plantations, petroleum production particular family backgrounds. Some the indigenous population, and and refining, coal mining, river of them may be comparable in terms adopted and enriched Assamese transportation, railway services, of quality, merit and etiquettes with culture and literature. Many others etc. The planters fetched thousands that of the elite. But they are a small who made Assam their home during of labourers from central India to fraction of the whole and do not Ahom rule have also merged in the run their tea estates. They lived in convey the complete story that needs larger Assamese society. ghettoes without much contact with a sound and empathetic indigenous other people. thought like the Lohia-Ambedkarite When the British occupied the understanding to comprehend it. Brahmaputra Valley in the 1820s The story of migration from There is no significant change in the the province was sparsely populated. undivided Bengal into Assam, lives of the poor after globalisation Manpower to run the administration which started as a trickle towards the and particularly those who missed or commercial/industrial enterprises end of the 19th century and turned the opportunities a few years ago was scarce. Having established into a flood in the 1920s and 1930s, have remained in the rural areas and their rule in Bengal decades earlier, has been chronicled extensively. in the urban bastis stereotyping the British traders turned soldiers and/ Bengali Muslims - the bulk of past. Is it the devious upper class or administrators had acquired a them from Mymensingh district in inspired theory of creation of Dalit working knowledge of the Bengali - began trickling into billionaires, as a permanent or even language. No wonder they chose the Brahmaputra Valley towards a partial solution to the problem? Bengali personnel to man junior the end of the 19th century. Most positions in the administration they of them were landless people eking Janata Subscription set up, and imposed Bengali as the out a miserable existence under Annual Rs. : 260/- language of the courts and also as the tutelage of often oppressive Three Years : 750/- the medium of instruction in schools. Hindu zaminders. Some landlords Demand Draft / Cheque on Lord Cornwallis’ land tenure system of Assam - (known as mauzadars, Mumbai Bank - permanent settlement - was for the land tenure system in the in favour of extended to parts of lower Assam Brahmaputra Valley, barring the erstwhile Goalpara district, was JANATA TRUST and the Surma Valley (Sylhet district and adjoining areas). different from Bengal’s) encouraged D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Bengali cultivators to settle in the Naushir Bharucha Marg, Thus began an inflow of people fallow or waste land holdings under Mumbai 400 007 from outside, the bulk of them from their control. JANATA, July 14, 2013 7

Any debate on the migration issue leads people to look back Silence over the Emergency at the region’s past and recall the An embarrassing moment for the judiciary forebodings of C. S. Mullen, ICS, who was the Census Superintendent Rajindar Sachar of Assam in 1931, about sweeping demographic changes in the province. “Probably the most Nations which do not remember Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), the boast important event in the province their tragic past are in danger of of the US President was to end, but during the last 25 years - an event, repeating the tragedy. This thought only after 18 months. moreover, which seems likely came to me on June 26, 2013, (the But, the wounds have remained to alter permanently the whole day the Emergency was declared in - the danger of it being repeated in future of Assam and to destroy, 1975) when a random questioning of the same manner may have been more surely than did the Burmese youth aged up to 35 (who are said to eliminated, yet the government’s use invaders of the 1820s, the whole make up about half the population of the various security laws against structure of Assamese culture and of the country) revealed that an human rights activists and trade civilisation - has been the invasion overwhelming number of them did unionists continue to haunt us. of a vast horde of land hungry not know any particular significance Bengali immigrants”, observed of the day, and more tragically, a A question often asked is: How Mullen prophetically. fairly large number of people above come the Emergency could happen the age of 35 fared no better. despite our Constitution giving “Whither there is vacant land”, us all the fundamental rights and The reason was obvious. Most democracy being a basic feature wrote the British civilian, “thither in this hyped age group get their flock the Mymensinghias. In fact the of the Constitution as was so information from newspapers, refreshingly held in the Kesavananda way in which they have seized upon which having a commercial angle the vacant areas in the Assam Valley Bharati case as far back in 1973 by in view, never fail to remind us of the our Supreme Court? seems almost uncanny. Without Valentine’s Day. But on 26th June, fuss, without tumult, without undue newspapers did not even carry a small It is not that there was no resistance trouble to the district revenue staffs, news item about the Emergency on to the Emergency. Thousands went a population which must amount to an inside page - leave apart on the to jail, including former Central over half a million has transplanted front page. Even many opposition ministers, ex-Chief Ministers, ex- itself from Bengal to the Assam parties, which were the victims of Governors, lawyers, legislators and Valley during the past twenty-five the Emergency chose to keep a low a few brave journalists. Many human years. It looks like a marvel of key. Even though the PUCL and rights activists went underground, administrative organisation on the other civil liberties organisations, but, there was a limit for unarmed part of Government, but it is nothing as usual, held protest meetings, TV people to fight an intolerant and of the sort; the only thing I can channels and newspapers viciously a near fascist State that India had compare it to is the mass movement avoided any mention, overwhelmed become those days. A total fear of a huge body of ants.” as they are with the government’s had enveloped the country. And neo-liberal policies. Or, is it a sense all this because the rule of law had Migration received a boost under of fear because the perpetrator of the completely been eliminated by Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla, who Emergency is the ruling party - so the Supreme Court ruling in ADM was a key player in Assam’s public much for freedom of the Press. Jabalpur case (April 1976), which life for three decades (1920s-1940s) overruled the view of nine High And yet tragically it was the Courts that the legality of a detaining and served as Premier (as the chief day when India lost its democracy order passed by the governments minister was designated those days) and the US President sarcastically could still be examined - in fact in three times, the last stint spanning boasted that the US was now the some cases the High Courts had the years until after World War II. largest democracy. It is a different ordered the release of detainees. To stem the tide of migration and matter that thankfully, because of Had this view been upheld, the prevent outsiders from trespassing the sacrifices made by Emergency would have collapsed. (Continued on Page 12) under the inspiring leadership of But to our shame the Supreme Court 8 JANATA, July 14, 2013 by a majority of four judges against one honourable exception (Khanna Government needs to cut subsidies H.J.) laid down a proposition of that benefit the rich law, which will remain forever a hallmark of shame, thus: “In view of the Presidential Order dated June 27, For a nation which accounts for like Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh 1975, no person has any locus standi more hungry and poor people than are fee to offer more than this floor. to move any writ petition under any other in the world, for a country Q. Punishing the performer Article 226 before a High Court for where the number of malnourished habeas corpus or any other writ or children is more than that of 26 seems to be the motive of this order or direction to challenge the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the ordinance. Tamil Nadu will now legality of an order of detention need for Food Security law can’t have lesser allotment of food from on the ground that the order is not be debated. But as with everything centre is what the Chief Minister under or in compliance with the Act else in India, implementation will says. Is it true? If so why is being or is illegal or is vitiated by mala be the key. Social activist Harsh done? fides factual or legal or is based on Mander joined IBNLive readers for extraneous considerations.” an interaction on the pros and cons A. As I said, Tamil Nadu is free of the Food Security law. to offer more than the entitlements Is it not obvious that the guaranteed by the state law. For Emergency could not be fought Q. “Give a man a fish and example, if any state wants under MG in a legal and democratic manner you feed him for a day. Teach NREGA(Mahatma Gandhi National because the Supreme Court accepted a man to fish and you feed him Rural Employment Guarantee Act) the Attorney General’s argument for a lifetime” Don’t you think to offer more than 100 days with its that if a policeman under orders of the Congress party is more own resources, who can stop it in a his superior was to shoot a person interested in “giving” the fish federal structure? But no state can or even arrest a Supreme Court rather than “teaching” how to fish offer less than 100 days. Likewise, judge, it would be legal and no relief thereby keeping people weak and for the Food Bill entitlements. available. dependent rather than making them empowered? Q. Does the government at center Naturally in this situation, no and state levels have machinery to peaceful opposition to the Emergency A. The idea is not of an either/ effectively implement this scheme, could continue. I am shocked how or. Of course, we have to struggle which is going to cost heavy to ex- the majority decision could rely on for lasting solutions to poverty chequer? How can we be sure that Liversidge vs Anderson decided and hunger. But while we sort this will not lead to another scam during the war time in 1942 by that out, every second child is still and a national disaster? the House of Lords, but with a malnourished. Her body and brain memorable dissent by Lord Atkin. are not being formed today. So A. The idea of a legal right to food English courts subsequently felt until we sort these bigger structural is to create a legally enforceable duty so ashamed of that decision that a issues out, the law places duties on on the part of states to implement the conscious effort was made to throw the state to provision food to those law. Governments will of course need that decision into a dung heap. who are most food vulnerable and to gear themselves up to fulfill these deprived. legal obligations. We saw this gradual Lord Akin caustically remarked gearing up so as to implement RTE about judges who “show themselves Q. While civil supplies is a state (Right to Education), RTI( Right To more executive minded than the subject why is the centre enforcing Information) and NREGA(National executive” and commented that it as a national Law when states Rural Employment Guarantee Act). such arguments might have been like Tamil Nadu are far ahead of These are still far from perfect, but it addressed acceptably to the Court what is being attempted to achieve is better than prevailed before legal of King’s Bench in the time of in states like Bihar? Asked by: duties were created. We can expect Charies-I. In fact, Justice Stable, a sundar1950in the same to happen over time with Judge of the High Court of London, the Food Rights law, incrementally was so upset that he was constrained A. The central law will offer a - the only was improvements in (Continued on Page 14) floor of entitlements. The best states governance are accomplished. JANATA, July 14, 2013 9

Q. Seeing the adulteration Q. Lakhs of crores of rupees the BPL population, who will get done even in non subsidized food, if spent on creating jobs could benefited out of the ordinance? who will make sure that the food have improved the economy and content distributed will meet improved GDP. This would have A. The PDS is functioning to the quality required? The past been a long time solution to the some degree in all states. In near record by any government is not problem of malnutrition? universal states like Tamil Nadu impressive in this regard. and Chhattisgarh, the law will not A. I agree that job creation will add more numbers, but it may add A. Quality of food is not explicitly help reduce vulnerability to hunger. is some cases to quantity. But in covered by the new law, and this But the data shows that the period many states, there will be quite an is a gap. But it is still covered of high economic growth has been expansion in coverage. one of nearly jobless growth. MG under grievance redress systems. NREGA has been helpful where However we should try for its Q. Getting the Ordinance passed implemented well. But we must explicit inclusion when the law is shows the weakness of the UPA 2. recognise that some vulnerable debated. In spite of opposition from their groups are or should be outside work own allies, supporters rushing this - like old people and children, the Q. I am sure these are good ideas through is worthwhile? destitute, and pregnant and nursing even though major portion will go mothers - and they would need to the wrong hands. Streamline A. I would support a full and special food transfers. deep debate in Parliament before the can be done with Adhaar and ordinance gets converted into a law, other identifications in the days Q. The law will grant a minimum so as to strengthen the law which has to come. food to improve the malnutrition many gaps still. in population. But at whose cost? A. Food entitlements will have to Q. Sir, who will ensure the couple with stronger transparency A. In evaluating the cost, please proper implementation of and people’s monitoring systems, compare with the cost of hunger and malnutrition, of every second child the scheme? What about the like social audits. This alone can accountability aspect? Will it be reduce leakages. malnourished, meaning that for half the young workers in the economy, wrong to say that the scheme is their bodies and brains are not being pushed vehemently because Q. What do you think will of forthcoming elections? be impact on labour costs? Will developing to full potential. What are the costs of that? What indeed is higher labour costs as a result of A. I agree that there is too little the cost of a destitute mother trying this law impede growth? time before elections for a full to teach her children how to sleep roll-out of the law. I agree that the hungry? Please remember that 230 A. I feel better nourished labourer haste today is probably because million people sleep hungry every will be more productive, and the the elections are looming. I wish it night. economy will benefit as a result. had come much earlier. There are Q. Nobel Prize winner Amartya accountability mechanisms in the Q. Food security bill is net result Sen has openly supported the law, but these are not as strong as in of corruption, this government has move of Food security. He has no RTI( Right To Information). This is a done for last five years. It is trying political axe to grind. Why no one flaw which I hope is remedied when to hide behind this bill and save from academia in India has stood the law is discussed in Parliament. its face. by Sen? Q . S i r , P r o b l e m o f A. I will not speculate on the A. There is wide support from implementation can be overcome political motives behind the Food segments of the academia for the by involving people. Use of IT and law. But I am convinced that in Food law, but other segments oppose internet extensively can check the itself the law is historic, because this. This I think is a healthy and malaise. for the first time it creates legal important debate. duties enforceable in courts for A. Chhattisgarh went in for end governments to ensure that none Q. Which are the states not to end computerisation in PDS, sleep hungry. providing even a gram of grain to and this helped greatly enhance 10 JANATA, July 14, 2013 accountability and transparency and on the other side they are crore rupees tax holidays to the and reduce corruption. Even more providing subsidies through Food corporate sector. But I think that important is regular people’s audits, Security Law. Please comment on public spending is necessary for informed review by PDS consumers, this. people’s basic rights, including food, parents of children in ICDS and clean water, sanitation, health care, schools, pregnant mothers and so on. A. Government does need to cut education and housing. In addition, subsidies which benefit the rich and we need to support the small farmer, Q. At one side government is middle classes. Each budget for who is sadly today among the most saying to cut down the subsidies instance offers more than 5 lakh food-deprived people in this country.

- Aman Biradari Revenue foregone is loot of economy Krishna Swaroop Anandi

The revenue foregone by the Revenue foregone (in `rupeesa crore) government each year in favour of Head 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 corporate is perpetually sucking Corporate income Tax 66,901 2,44,725 57,912 61,765 68,008 Indian economy. It is generally the Excise duty 1,28,293 1,02,858 1,92,227 1,95,590 2,06,188 Customs duty 2,25,752 85,847 1,72,740 2,36,852 2,53,967 consolidated figure of the exemptions, Revenue fregone in 4,19,946 5,33,430 4,22,879 4,94,207 5,28,163 rebates or concessions doled out favour of corporates to corporates by the government Total tax collection 6,09,705 6,24,527 7,93,072 8,89,176 10,38,037 through its annual budgets. It reveals that if the government collects all the deficit of the . well below the half of the normal taxes genuinely from the corporate rate of 32.5 percent. If the total The statistics of the revenue entities, then there would be no fiscal tax giveaways are calculated since foregone laments the enormous loot deficit at all. The following is the 2005-2006 till 2012-13, they would of our economy by carports. In the statement of the revenue gone from come to be Rs. 31.11 lakh crore. the financial year 2008-09 onwards financial year 2012-13, the customs Instead of successively reducing up to 2012-13: and excise duties foregone actually the tax giveaways to preferred tax stood at 146 percent of the tax payers, especially to the privileged For the financial year 2012-13, realised, meaning thereby that for corporate sector, the government the total fiscal defict of the Central every Rs. 100 tax amount collected, of India has more than doubled the government has been put at Rs. the tax amount sacrificed by the revenue foregone from Rs. 2.35 lakh 5,29,925 crore which comes out to government was thus Rs. 146. For crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 5.73 lakh be 5.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic the year 2010-11, the percentage of crore in 2012-13. customs and excise duties foregone Product (GDP). During the year, the What to talk of scrapping various was 132. In India, the statutory revenue foregone (Corporate income forms of tax preferences that are net corporate tax rate is 32.5 percent. It tax + excise duty + customs duty) subsidies to corporates in the real is one of the lowest in the world. It in favour of companies has been sense of the term, the government is somewhat 40 percent in the USA, estimated at a whopping total of has announced to dole them out Rs. 5,28,163 crore. If in this figure 38 percent in Japan, 35 percent in investment allowances from the the amount Rs. 45, 464 crore of the Argentina, 34 percent in Belgium and year 2013-14. Corporates in India revenue foregone under the head Brazil and so on. It is an established are reaping windfalls out of special ‘personal income tax’ is added up, fact that corporate entities never tax rates, exemptions, rebates, then the total revenue foregone was pay taxes even at the lower rate of deductions, deferrals, accelerated Rs. 5,73,627 crore. Thus during the 32.5 percent. Keeping in view the depreciations, direct concessions financial year 2012-13, the total huge tax giveaways, corporates are and credits. revenue foregone was somewhat 10 actually paying taxes at the effective percent higher than the total fiscal rate of almost 16 percent which is –(PNN) JANATA, July 14, 2013 11 Caught in the line of ire

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

T h o s e w h o r e m e m b e r space of 72 hours, 4,000 lay dead and the path cleared for his return Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar will on the streets of Calcutta. The slayer to power. remember the murder by the Roman and the slain were both victims of mob of Cinna, the poet. As the the sly. The Akali leader Master Tara cortege carrying the slain emperor Singh, the Dravida movement’s set out, the infuriated mob sighted The pattern has been re-played. charismatic leaders EV Ramaswami Cinna. Mistaking him for Cinna Three films have strengthened Naicker and CN Annadurai in the conspirator, it set upon him. public memory of how this has Tamil Nadu, Phizo in Nagaland, ‘I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna happened. Amu (2005) directed by Laldenga in Mizoram, the youthful the poet’, the man shouted to save Shonali Roy about the 1984 riots in leaders of the ULFA are among the himself. Shakespeare gives us the Delhi, (2007) directed by better-known politicians who went responses of ‘citizens’. One of Rahul Dholakia and David Donihue through a phase of being described these, hearing the poet’s screaming about the 2002 Gulbarg Society as ‘secessionist’ and ‘anti-State’, self-exculpation, was matter-of- () massacre, and Nandita before being seen in the natural light fact: ‘It is no matter; his name is Das’ (2008), on the Gujarat of democratic dissent. Cinna…’ Another said, simply, riots are all about manipulation and ‘Tear him, tear him…’ while yet murder. They are also about how If non-officials and political another, not missing out the poetic politics can disfigure the political personalities outside of the dimension decided to clothe his imagination of people. architecture of the State (which, murderous intent with a creative in our country, includes the parties subterfuge ‘Tear him for his bad Mass murders are not the only in power) as much as consider verses, tear him for his bad verses’. things that are orchestrated. alternatives to an armed response to The charge was changed but the Naxalism or what in West Bengal, punishment was perpetrated. Like the ‘citizens’ in at least, is simply called ‘Maovad’, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, people they are served the medicine that The phrase ‘mob’ is classist, can be turned against particular was given to JP and to Mridula elitist. It conjures the superior air persons by the merest suggestion. Sarabhai in the 1960s. In fact, the of the much-bathed, well-swathed There are many versions about what draught is bitterer, accompanied talking through lavender and talc led to Sheikh Abdullah’s dismissal now by the insinuation that they are (or Old Spice and vibhuti) of the from the office of Prime Minister of spreading anarchy and encouraging ‘vast unwashed’. There is an anti- Kashmir and arrest in August 1953. manslaughter. Demos sentiment hidden in the Overnight, everything to do with word ‘mob’, a Patrician dismissal him was suspect, all his associates The violence perpetrated by of the Plebian. But as in Caesar’s were under surveillance, most men and women, many of them and Mark Antony’s and Brutus’ prominently, the intrepid Mridula incredibly young, in the name of Rome, so also in our times we Sarabhai. Jayaprakash Narayan Maovad is abominable, politically must not forget where ‘mob’ gets was pilloried for suggesting talks and civilisationally. It needs to be its ‘mentality’ from. The Great with Sheikhsahib and for having the countered emphatically and not, as Calcutta Killings of 1946 came ‘temerity’ to suggest a measure of minister Jairam Ramesh warned, after August 16, that year, had been autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. ‘romanticised’. But branding ordained by the Muslim League It was only weeks before prime individuals who do not repeat the as ‘Direct Action Day’. It was minister’s death, in 1964, that he received ‘line’ about Maovad as that coolly arrived at decision of a rolled a discredited policy back and Maovadi is, to use a phrase Amartya political elite that brought out the ordered Sheikh Abdullah’s release Sen coined in another context, worst in both communities. In the “ba-izzat”, with the past forgotten, “valuationally gross”. 12 JANATA, July 14, 2013

‘Maoism’ and ‘Maoist’ are, Violence, including Maoist We do not have to go to political like ‘Naxalism’ and ‘’, violence is anathema to a liberal theory class to understand this. It generalisations, over-simplifications. political order. But so are illiberal is enough that we take a look at our Layered attitudes, varied beliefs, rhetoric, disinformation, calumny. nation’s recent history. differentiated responses nuance their creed, mottle their code, – disaggregate their catalogue of (Continued from Page 7) heroes and heroines. Their Kauravas Union (AASU)] climbed to power and Pandavas are different from into protected areas, the Assam after the historic Assam Accord what other readers make of Vyasa’s Government enforced Inner Line of August 14-15, 1985, with the characters. Their gods are not Regulations in the mid-1930s. single point agenda of detecting Hastinapura’s elite, nor are their Opinion is split on the efficacy and deporting illegal infiltrators, the demons forest chieftains. Their minds of the Inner Line Regulations in goal remains a chimera. They signed hold bruised memories, their hands protecting the indigenous people the Accord without realising that bloodied bayonets. Jayaprakash from encroachers into their territory. the specially enacted but toothless Narayan would have said: ‘Let us try Some people suspect that the line Illegal Migrants (Determination by understanding the mind, heart and system shielded the immigrants Tribunal) Act [IMDT Act] would language of this India. We do better more than it protected the locals. stymie their efforts. The AGP ruled Whatever be the Inner Line’s with disease; fellow-citizens cannot the state for two five-year spells impact, quite obviously outsiders be a disease’. He would have been in [1985-90 and 1995-2000] without flocking into Assam is not a post- the establishment’s line of ire for not making any headway towards its speaking from an official script. He independence phenomenon. The solemn pledge, and has much to would have also been in the Maoists’ people of Mymensingh district, now explain for its failure. line of fire, for not justifying them. in Bangladesh, formed the bulk of He would have been a Cinna with the pre-partition immigrants into The Congress has been in power both. Assam. Their numbers were so overwhelming that The Statesman, in Assam most of the time since Fortunately for veracity, the India owned then by British businessmen, independence. The governments of 2013 is not quite Caesar’s Rome once chose “The Mymensingher run by it have hummed and hawed and the collaborator tag cannot be Invasion” as the title of an editorial over illegal migration but made no so easily pinned on the poet’s lapel. on the immigration issue. serious attempt to grasp the nettle. Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar, BD The illegal infiltrator has usually Sharma, EAS Sarma, Harsh Mander, The pre-partition immigrants who got the benefit of the doubt. On the P Sainath, Jaideep Hardikar may not settled in Assam can by no means all-important issue of safeguarding agree with each other on all matters. be clubbed together with illegal Assam’s highly porous international Nor would writers like Arundhati infiltrators who have swarmed into borders, the state’s attitude has for Roy and Mahashweta Devi or senior the state since the 1950s and even in long been ambivalent. It has often academics like Ramachandra Guha, the 21st century. The Mymensingh tended to pass the buck to the Centre Amit Bhaduri and Nandini Sundar. region - the major source of this even in situations where firm action influx - became a part of a foreign Their areas of interest, styles of on its part could have a salutary expression and forms of independent country after independence, giving effect. An authoritative estimate of action are distinct and autonomous. the issue an international dimension, the number of illegal immigrants But all of them have this in common and reinforcing fears that Assam with Jayaprakash Narayan: they are may one day be gobbled up by has never been made. The Congress feared by the powerful for being Bangladesh. The thrust of the anti- Government is dragging its feet strong. They are resented by the foreigner agitation which swept even on the issue of preparing a authoritarian for being democratic. Assam in the 1980s was directed citizens’ register. Suspicion is strong They are rejected by the violent for against these latter infiltrators. Even that in the name of secularism, the not endorsing their violence. Above as the Asom Gana Parishad [many Congress is shielding the minority all, they are pilloried by the insecure of its leaders majored into politics community to secure its partisan for being free. through the All-Assam Students’ political interests. JANATA, July 14, 2013 13 Muslims that ‘minority politics’ left behind

Khalid Anis Ansari

‘Pasmanda’, a Persian term Jamia Millia Islamia etc). The book nation-state project. In this sense, meaning “those who have fallen also underlines stories of humiliation, while ‘secular’ nationalism becomes behind,” refers to Muslims belonging disrespect and violence on caste the locus of legitimate power to the shudra (backward) and ati- grounds that various pasmanda and violence. Hindu and Islamic shudra (Dalit) castes. It was adopted communities have to undergo on a nationalisms become the sites of as an oppositional identity to that daily basis, at least in northern parts illegitimate power. The seemingly of the dominant ashraf Muslims of India. epic battles that are constantly fought (forward castes) in 1998 by the within this conceptual framework - Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, a group Thus, pasmanda commentators around communal riots or ‘Hindu’/ which mainly worked in Bihar. contest the two key elements of ‘Islamic’ terror more recently in Since then, however, the pasmanda mainstream ‘Muslim’ or ‘minority’ the post-9/l1 world - have been discourse has found resonance discourse - Islam as an egalitarian instrumental in denying a voice to elsewhere too. religion and Indian Muslims on the subordinated caste communities whole as an oppressed community. across religions and in securing The dominant perception is that Islam may be normatively egalitarian the interests of ‘secular,’ Hindu or Islam is an egalitarian religion but actual-existing Islam in Indian Muslim elites respectively. In this and that Indian Muslims on the conditions is deeply hierarchical. sense, the pasmanda articulation whole, especially in the post- Similarly, all Muslims are not has highlighted the symbiotic nature Sachar scenario, are a marginalised oppressed, or not to the same degree, of majoritarian and minoritarian community. The pasmanda counter- at any rate: fundamentalism and has sought discourse takes issue with both these to contest the latter from within formulations. In terms of religious Muslims are a differentiated in order to wage a decisive battle interpretation, Masood Falahi’s community in terms of power, with against the former. As Waqar Hawari, work Hindustan mein Zaat Paat aur dominant (ashraf) and subordinated a pasmanda activist says: “While Musalman (2006) has convincingly (pasmanda) sections. Consequently, Muslim politicians like Imam demonstrated how the notion of’ the so-called ‘minority politics”, Bukhari and Syed Shahabuddin add kufu (rules about possible marriage which has been quite content in the jodan [starter yoghurt], it is left to relations between groups) was read raising symbolic and emotional the Hindu fundamentalists to prepare through the lens of caste by the issues so far, is really the politics of the yoghurt of communalism. Both of ‘manuwadi’ ulema and how a parallel dominant caste Muslims that secures them are Responsible. We oppose the system of “graded inequality” was their interests at the expense of politics of both Hindu and Muslim put into place in Indian Islam. pasmanda Muslims. Not surprisingly, fanaticism.’’ a recurrent theme in pasmanda As far as the social sphere is narratives is that minority politics has The structures of social solidarity concerned, Ali Anwar’s Masawat singularly failed to address the bread- that pasmanda activists work with are ki Jung (2000) has documented and-butter concerns of the pasmanda deeply influenced by the entangled caste-based disenfranchisement of Muslims, who constitute about relation between faith and ethnicity. Dalit and backward caste Muslims 85 per cent of the Indian Muslim The domains of Hindu and Islam at the hands of self-styled ashraf population and come primarily from are quite complex, with multiple leaders in community organizations occupational and service biradaris. resources and potentialities possible: like madrasas and personal law in various ways they exceed the boards, representative institutions The notion of ‘minority’ and ‘Brahminism’ and ‘Ashrafism’ (Parliament and State Assemblies) ‘majority’ communities in India - that have come to over-determine and departments, ministries and read primarily in terms of religious them over time. On the one hand, institutions that claim to work for identity - is of modern origin and the pasmanda Muslims share a Muslims (minority affairs, Waqf linked with the emergence and widespread feeling of ‘Muslimness’ boards. Urdu academies. AMU. consolidation of a hegemonic secular with the upper-caste Muslims, a 14 JANATA, July 14, 2013 solidarity which is often parochialised the vantage point of an egalitarian phases: lack of resources and by internal, caste and maslak-based faith: “We are not setting the Dalit/ appropriate institutions, cooption (sectarian) contradictions. On the Backward caste Muslims against of its leaders by state and other other hand, pasmanda Muslims the so-called ashraf Muslims. Our dominant ideological apparatuses, share an experience of caste- movement is not directed against lack of relevant movement literature, based humiliation and disrespect them. internal power conflicts, and so with subordinated caste Hindus, a on. Also, as Rammanohar Lohia solidarity which is equally interpreted Rather, we seek to strengthen and said: “The policy of uplift of by the discourse around religious empower our own people, to enable downgraded castes and groups is difference incessantly reproduced them to speak for themselves and to capable of yielding much poison. by upper caste institutions. Since secure their rights and justice…we A first poison may come out of its the express object of the pasmanda welcome well-meaning people of immediate effects on men’s minds: movement has been to raise the so-called ashraf background…who it may speedily antagonise the Dvija issue of caste-based exclusion of are concerned about the plight of our without as speedily influencing the subordinate caste Muslims, it has people to join us in our struggle.” Sudras. With his undoubted alertness stressed on caste-based solidarity It is in the midst of such complex to developments and his capacity to across religions. As Ali Anwar, negotiations the punctuated nature mislead, the Dvija may succeed in the founder of Pasmanda Muslim or faith and caste-based solidarities, heaping direct and indirect discredit Mahaz, says: that the pasmanda emerges as a on the practitioners of this policy political factor. long before the Sudra wakes up to it.” There is a bond of pain between pasmanda Muslims and the pasmanda Overall, pasmanda politics These are the challenges that sections of other religions. This bond has relied on transformative the pasmanda activists face while of pain is the supreme bond. That is constitutionalism and democratic confronting the ashrafiva.-dominated why we have to sake hands with the symbolism to attain its social justice minority politics. However, their pasmanda sections of other religions. goals - the deepening of existing struggle for a post-minority affirmative action policies, adequate politics is on and one hopes it will This counter-hegemonic representation of pasmanda Muslims democratise Indian Islam in the solidarity on caste lines is effectively in political parties. state support for long run by triggering a process encapsulated in the pasmanda slogan cottage and small-scale industries, of internal reform. The pasmanda “Dalit-Pichda ek saman, Hindu ho democratization of religious critique of the majority-minority ya Musalman” (All Dalit-backward institutions and interpretative or the secular-communal dyad will castes are alike- whether they be traditions, etc. Obviously, it also contribute to a democratic Hindu or Muslim). At the same confronts all the challenges that deepening that will benefit all of time, birth-based caste distinctions any counter-hegemonic identity India’s subaltern communities in are sought to be transcended from movement faces in its formative the long run.

(Continued from Page 8) in various law quarterly reviews And Lord Scarman l caused the to say that the status of the judiciary since the beginning. Law Quarterly final demise by saying that “the had been reduced “to mice squeaking Review (1970) clearly spelled out ghost of that decision need no longer under a chair in the Home office”. how embarrassing the decision in haunt the law”. Liversidge was becoming for the In 1963 Lord Radcliff (HL) Some commentators have English judiciary. referred dismissively to the very ironically described the majority peculiar case in Liversidge Vs. decision in the Liversidge case as the That is why Lord Diplock (HL) Anderson and said: “It should be court’s contribution to the war effort in 1979 was constrained to rule, confined apparently to a war time of England. Similarly many in this context and that it is already clear “For my part, I think the time has country are inclined to describe the that the decision was regarded as an come to acknowledge openly that majority view in the Jabalpur case aberration”. the majority view in Liversidge vs. as the Supreme Court’s contribution Anderson was expedient and, at to the continuance of the 1975 All this trenchant criticism of the that time, wrong and the dissenting Emergency. Had the Supreme Court Liversidge judgment was available judgment right”. taken the same view as the nine High JANATA, July 14, 2013 15

Courts, the Emergency would have the security of the country. sometimes the fate of nations can collapsed immediately because no be influenced by the pusillanimity court could possibly have upheld the The inevitable result would have of a few individuals - in this case detention of stalwarts and patriots been the immediate release of these embarrassingly by the highest like J.P., Morarji Desai, Raj Narain, leaders, leading to an overwhelming judiciary, which it can never live , Madhu Limaye Opposition movement which would down. and thousands of others on the have swept away the Indira Gandhi ground that they were a danger to government by mid-1976. Alas, how An appeal Dear friend, You will be happy to know that the Centre has decided to work for relief and rehabilitation in Uttarakhand. We have set up YMC Uttarakhand Relief Committee. The priorities that have been identified are: 1. To identify those victims who have not received any aid from the government and help them secure it, and if necessary supplement it. 2. To liaise , co-ordinate and help the official machinery in providing relief and broadcast the rehabilitation measures that the state has announced. 3. To work for employment generation for rehabilitation. 4. To co-ordinate its activities with other agencies or set up a network of voluntary agencies. 5. To identify a model of development which is eco-friendly for the beleaguered state and advocate it. We have identified a cluster of villages for intensive work and are setting up an office. The Centre has considerable experience of relief work. In its very early period, it provided relief to the victims of flood in Orissa. It organized a student committee in Mumbai to help the draught affected students of Maharashtra. We provided relief in Raigad when there were flash floods. And, after the cyclone and earthquake, we worked in Kutch. Again after the earthquake in Kashmir, we undertook relief. The floods in Ladakh made us go there. And after the tsunami, in Nagapattinam, we did a lot of relief and rehabilitation work. The same after Koshi floods in Bihar. In short, we have rich experience and have learnt many lessons. In Uttarakhand, we have a good unit of the Yusuf Meherally Yuva Biradari and have a large number of workers. The in-charge of our activities (YMC’s and YMYB’s) is a reputed journalist with contacts in the government as well as different civil society groups. We have set up a soap unit in that state with a view to generating employment. In this background of our vast experience and the fact that we have some presence in the state, we are sure that YMC can do a lot of good without replicating what others are doing. This is an appeal to you to send financial assistance for relief and we will also appeal to you to give separately some money to take care of traveling and administrative expenses. Yours sincerely, Haresh Shah Sudhir Gandbhir You could deposit your contribution in the following accounts. Name of Bank The Shamrao Vithal Co-operative Bank Ltd State Bank of India Dena Bank Account No 100920950000011 10066940217 007710009865 Branch Name Sleater Road Hughes Road Tardeo IFSI No. SVCB0000009 SBIN0005800 BKDN0450077 Branch No 400089009 400002033. 400018042 You can inform us of your contribution along with some details including your name, address and PAN, if you have, by e-mail. post or courier. Yusuf Meherally Centre, D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, (formerly Sleater Road), P.O, Grant Road (W), Mumbai - 400007 Website - www.yusufmeherally.org TeleFax - +91 22 23889738 E-mail – [email protected] Telephone - +91 22 23870097 +91 22 23806010 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 14, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, July 14, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday July 17, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 68 No. 28 Premature campaigning July 21, 2013 S. Viswam

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra electoral arena, that he is the BJP/ Modi seems to be the only politician NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, in the grip of election fever. While that the Congress has already lost Expose policy makers to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls are still a both the battle and the war, and that public accountability few months away, Modi is behaving he will be India’s next prime K. S. Chalam as if the polls have already been minister. Nothing else can explain notified and that campaigning is in the fact that Shri Modi contrives, we Army still dominates Pakistan full swing. He is so busy delivering use the word cautiously, to be in the Kuldip Nayar lectures and interacting with the news every day, and for the good (for media outside the state that one the BJP) reason that he indulges Sharmila Rege sometimes wonders who is minding freely in the vile abuse of the Vibhuti Patel the store back home in Gandhinagar. Congress in terms that go beyond On the other hand, the Congress is clean and dignified politics. And, to An appeal to remedy still in slumber and its leading light such an unacceptable extent that the lobbyism against the Rule of Law Rahul Gandhi continues to display senior BJP leader Yeshwant Sinha R. B. Sreekumar a healthy aversion to electoral has publicly advised Modi to pipe politics. For him and his party down and “stop preaching.” Intelligence services stalwarts the polls are far and pose are not above the law no immediate threat to the party’s Actually, to call Modi’s diatribes survival in office. This is true, but against the Congress as “preaching” why then is Shriman Modi in such a will be doing violence to the word. great hurry to rush to the booths? The nation is used to be at the receiving end of “preaching” from This could be because the a variety of sources, from the Anna Editor : Congress refuses to believe that Hazares, Kejriwals, Ramdevs et al Modi’s candidature as the BJP’s on the one side and Mamata- G. G. Parikh prime ministerial nominee poses a Mayawati-Jayalalithaa and Sushmas Managing Editor : Guddi real challenge to the BJP or the on the other side. But Modi is not NDA. It could also be because the preaching, he is indulging in the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Congress is waiting for the BJP’s lowest form of campaigning, which Naushir Bharucha Marg, formal nomination of Modi. But the is to abuse, vilify and stigamatise Mumbai - 400 007. fact is that regardless of the BJP’s political opponents in vile terms. We role in this matter, Shri Modi had warned in these columns weeks Email : [email protected] believes that he is in the Lok Sabha ago that with the advent of Modi in 2 JANATA, July 21, 2013 national politics the tone of political interaction would decline sharply Expose policy makers and dignity and decorum would to public accountability yield place to abuse and vilification. We are sorry to have been proved right. K. S. Chalam

Shriman Modi’s recent comment that the Congress party The idea of accountability has etc are totally missing in the hides under the “burqa” of been made popular by experts ever instruments of public accountability secularism in order to conceal its since the use of corporate mode of introduced by business experts and weaknesses and shortcomings is governance. This is used as a their civil servant disciples. not only a snide remark against method of accounting obligations that party. It is in fact a direct hit of functionaries of a business Public accountability has been at the very concept of secularism, organisation and is ensured reduced to that of business painting as it does the term in through different methods. Thaere accounting in the form of reports pejorative colouring, as if is a blend of business accounting presented to the general body of secularism is a dirty word. For the and democratic participation in the the enterprise including the non-saffronised, non-Hindutva- system to ensure that the nominated and appointed directors obsessed, non-communal sections organisation is accountable to the of government. It is also obligatory of Indian society, secularism is the shareholders or partners. It is on the part of the enterprise to very life blood of cherished Indian basically a book keeping function. present an annual report to the traditional values and ethos and a The objective of transparency in Parliament/Assembly and a binding factor that keeps diverse the decision making is guaranteed proviso to raise questions and elements of the Indian population through the annual statement of debates in the legislature. It is united and bonded in a noble ideal. accounts, particularly the Profit likely that details about the To call secularism as a protector and Loss account, submitted to the functioning of the enterprise are of a party that does not even general body (along with other elicited and such procedure is deserve to exist in India, as Modi financial statements).This is construed as public accountability. does, is to drag down a lofty ideal considered as one of the criteria for There are several flaws in this to the street level and abuse it. It the use of the concept of method. In fact scholars have does not behove a self-proclaimed accountability in public affairs provided alternative concepts like Indian Hindu Nationalist Patriot including public enterprises. external productivity, cost like Modi to vilify a noble concept effectiveness, social cost benefit and deride its value as a factor that The development of public ratio, etc. that are used to unifies India. enterprises both as a part of the substantiate the usefulness of a system of mixed economy and also project to the society. Further, The vilification of secularism is as a mechanism of democratic social responsibility and part of the strategy to promote the socialism has played an important constitutional obligation seem to Hindutva values in general and the role during the twentieth century. be more relevant and are within the BJP’s “core” issues in particular. The India (Nehru) along with several concept of bounded rationality. Mandir slogan has already been other countries particularly the so- Are the concepts really used to revived. The revival of the other two called non-aligned socialist block account for the activities of all the is bound to follow closely. Modi’s used public enterprises to build their functionaries in government? assigned role seems to be to help the economies. What is deficient in the BJP and the saffron sections to return whole process seemed to be the Most of the decisions in the to the Sangh Parivar basics. In other absence of the application of government are either taken or words, go fundamentalist all over democratic instruments of vetted by officers. The again, and revive a campaign which governance. The core of elections, accountability of a government Atal Behari Vajpayee helped bury a voting, referendum, counter servant is ensured through two sets decade ago. proposals, minority veto, plebiscite, of service rules known as conduct JANATA, July 21, 2013 3 rules and civil services isolated managerial efforts have prescribe many things like Crude oil classification, control and appeal proved inadequate for satisfying price, Coal price, privatisation, PPP, rules. There are separate rules for All performance ie; delivery of results etc. They are not amenable to any India Service officers like IAS and and outcomes. There is over- of the instruments of accountability IPS and Code of Ethics is not yet reliance on Command models of and disciplinary proceedings noted prescribed. The rules ensure that the administrative efforts for service above. In fact the tyranny of some term of office of the incumbent is delivery. .. The importance of a of the policy makers is so depraved protected under Article 311 of the systems’ shift from top down that most of the controversies in Constitution and at the same time the monitoring to stakeholder-citizen recent times could be ascribed to work is extracted as per norms and participation and co-production some of their policy advice and conditions of service. This is a with transparency and checks is execution. Some of them are not requisite service condition for a critical for better public service direct recruits and very few are from clerk as well as a Cabinet Secretary. delivery”. The Second the mainstream civil service (post- The method of assessing the work Administrative Reforms retirement). They enjoy absolute or making them accountable is done Commission (SARC) has freedom necessary in a democratic through vertical (outside the state recommended a Civil Services society but are not accountable apparatus) and horizontal (within the Code and Ethics in Governance for directly to legislature or any state). The vertical forms of ensuing accountability. It is democratic agency. The academics accountability are of very recent however alleged that most of the that earn and live in the West and origin, after the advent of RTI, above are observed in its breach advice on Indian affairs are also media, citizen’s committees and than in execution and the beyond the quagmire as they are the civil society activism and they are allegation seems to be supported neo-dvijas (with two lives). This is slowly picking up in India. The by the increasing number of cases typical of Indian system of internal accountability is ensured of disciplinary proceedings against governance evolved during the post- through entries in the ACRs (1-10 officers by UPSC, CVC, etc. The 1991 period. grading) as well as Vigilance/CBI legislators are accountable to report, Performance Management people in theory, at the time of Most of the policy packages are System, disciplinary proceedings, elections. Interestingly, the deliberated and are supposed to be comments of the judiciary and CAG, judiciary is not accountable to processed as per the Business Rules etc. anyone except their conscience as approved in accordance with Articles of now till the pending Bills are 77 and 78 of the Constitution.It is We should recognise that the cleared .Is it not ludicrous in a strange to note that most of the policy most significant job of a civil democratic country? makers are not aware of the servant is formulating and or constitutional provisions and even if assisting in the design of public The Sixth Pay Commission and they know, have contempt for it. We policies. Therefore, in democratic SARC have recommended for don’t find the kind of confession countries like the UK, Civil lateral entry of officers at the level expressed by scholars like Services’ values are given of Joint-secretary and above to be Samuelson (Nobel Economist) who importance. The civil servants are recruited through UPSC. It seems said that, “masters of financial accountable to Ministers, who in the rules are framed to implement engineering had been created a lot turn are accountable to Parliament. the recommendations soon. This is of them at MIT, some of them by Therefore, the values of integrity, the time to reflect on an important people like me - there is no CEO who honesty, objectivity and set of functionaries in the understands at all, a derivative”. On impartiality together with political government who are above any the other hand, we come across neutrality and anonymity are said accountability; public or private. persuasive arguments and academic to be the hallmark of efficient civil They are the policy makers and publications for instance, to further service. But, the Sixth Pay advisors in the form of adjuncts to liberalise markets in India when the Commission in India has remarked the Ministers, PMO, Planning country is in deep crisis. What does that the “the institutional structures Commission (not officers) and other it mean? Is it irresponsibility or of top down management and non-descript organisations. They unethical quiddity? 4 JANATA, July 21, 2013 Army still dominates Pakistan

Kuldip Nayar

It is an open secret that the army been assured that no harm would increasingly adopting Gujarat chief in Pakistan is a peg or two higher come to him and charges against him minister Narender Modi who is than the civilian apparatus. But I saw would be dropped if he were to leave pushing the thesis of Hindutva. In chinks in its armoury when a Pakistan on the promise not to his interview to a foreign agency, commission report was leaked. That return. So far he has preferred to face Modi had compared the victims of the Inter Intelligence Service (ISI) the trial which is punishable with Gujarat riots in 2002 riots to puppies could be “a collaborator” in hiding death penalty or life imprisonment. that came under the car driven by Osama-bin Laden, the Taliban’s him or someone else. inspiration, was an insinuation My suspicion is that he must have which I thought the army would not sounded the army before coming to Modi and the BJP are pushing pocket without demur. But that Pakistan and would have got an into the background the tradition of happened. assurance that he would not be sent togetherness. On the other hand, to jail or punished otherwise. more and more Christians are I was, however, reading too much Therefore, how the army takes the flocking to churches where the into the leakage. Within a few days, verdict, if there is even a verdict, if poisonous lectures are often Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went and when Musharraf is held guilty delivered from the pulpit. I am told to the ISI headquarters, along with will tell how far democracy has by some Muslims friends that in the his Interior Minister, where Army taken roots in Pakistan. atmosphere of globalization, the Chief Parvez Kayani was present. It identity factor comes to the fore to was officially stated that the I am no expert on Islamic affairs. save a community. But it has little discussion was on Afghanistan and But I am told by my Muslim friends to do with the religion. I do not think the conditions obtaining in Pakistan. that Islam does not entertain that the defence is correct. The case democracy. I would like to tell my for identity is born out of religious This only confirms that there is friends that the arbiter is the ballot and parochial leanings. nothing to substantiate that the army box. The Arab spring, which has has confined itself to the defence of startled the world, was popular Pakistan, no doubt a Muslim the country. In fact, the pre- resentment against the rulers. A state, was secular in its initial years. eminence of the army chief was stable, peaceful democratic polity The country’s founder Mohammad emphasized when his car and his takes long to emerge. The Arab Ali Jinnah said in his first speech entourage were allowed first and spring, although dominated by the after the formation of Pakistan was then Nawaz Sharif’s at the ceremony fundamentalists, has embers of that religion would not be mixed where he took the oath of office for revolt still burning. with the state or politics. But that is prime ministership. all forgotten. Today even Shias in Another undemocratic thing in Pakistan are sought to be declared The case of treason against the making is the assertion of non-Muslims. Not long ago, the former military chief Parvez identities. Not only Muslims but the Ahmedias were officially Musharraf to assess the reaction is Hindus in India and Christians in pronounced as non-Muslims. Even crucial. That he has been given Europe are violating the democratic their mosques have been attacked. comfortable house arrest and not norms to pronounce their identity. I kept in jail itself shows the am aghast to find hijab-wearing The only plus point Musharraf difference meted out to persons women and men sporting beard at has is his belated assault on the charged with a heinous crime. The the Aligarh Muslim University and extremists. The attack on Lal Masjid, police refused to register a case the liberal Jamia Millia in Delhi, to although it proved to be his undoing, against him despite the court order. the delight of extremist Hindus. The was meant to tell the extremists that It sounds credible that Musharraf has BJP, the mouthpiece of the RSS, is he would not tolerate JANATA, July 21, 2013 5 fundamentalism within the state. Taliban have penetrated into the bad that Islamabad’s action will be The confrontation by the army with army and have a strong base. Too decided by the army headquarters. the Taliban in Waziristan was also Musharraf’s doing. Alas, he trampled upon the democratic Abbottabad Commission institutions, including the judiciary. He also attacked the Bugti tribe chief On the night of May 1, 2011, US of Pakistan’s Inter-Services because of his personal vendetta. special forces launched a raid deep Intelligence, and other senior Still he initiated action against the into Pakistani territory to capture or provincial, federal and military Taliban who, despite his action, are kill al-Qaeda chief Osama bin officials. today stronger than before and can Laden. On President Barack strike at any place in Pakistan at any Obama’s orders, US soldiers flew The Commission’s 336-page time. via helicopter to the Pakistani army report is scathing, holding both the garrison town of Abbottabad, where government and the military This is a big challenge for Nawaz their intelligence indicated he was responsible for “gross Sharif. He has extremists in his ranks hiding out. In the process of raiding incompetence”, leading to and most of them are Taliban in their the compound, Bin Laden and four “collective failures” that allowed thinking. Otherwise it is difficult to others were killed. Several people Bin Laden to escape detection, and understand why he has contributed were wounded. the United States to perpetrate “an Rs. 30 crore to the coffers of act of war”. Jammiat-e-Dawa? The biggest Following the operation, which challenge in the region for him will was deliberately conducted without It also notes that the government’s be when the American and European the knowledge of the Pakistani intention in conducting the inquiry forces withdraw from Afghanistan government or its military, a was likely aimed at “regime next year. Commission was set up in Pakistan continuance, when the regime is to examine “how the US was able desperate to distance itself from any India faces a big danger. All its to execute a hostile military mission, responsibility for the national work like building hospitals and which lasted around three hours, disaster that occurred on its watch”. schools in Afghanistan will be deep inside Pakistan”, and how It says that the inquiry was likely “a destroyed by the Taliban. I wish Pakistan’s “intelligence reluctant response to an Afghanistan President Hamid establishment apparently had no overwhelming public and Karzai’s armed forces had the idea that an international fugitive of parliamentary demand”. strength to confront the Taliban. the renown or notoriety of [Osama Strange, New Delhi has never bin Laden] was residing in The Abbottabad Commission considered Islamabad’s proposal to [Abbottabad]”. found that there had been a complete fight the Taliban jointly or at least collapse of governance and law share the intelligence on them. India For the first time, Al Jazeera’s enforcement - a situation it termed has not given even non-lethal Investigative Unit is bringing the “Government Implosion weapons to Afghanistan for use in results of the investigation to the Syndrome”, both in the lack of its fight against the Taliban. public. intelligence on Bin Laden’s nine- year residence in Pakistan, and in the Karzai is justified in his vehement The Abbottabad Commission was response to the US raid that killed attack on America which has begun charged with establishing whether him. It finds that “culpable talks with the Taliban. But then the failures of the Pakistani negligence and incompetence at America has hardly ever been government and military were due almost all levels of government can bothered beyond what it considered to incompetence - or complicity. It more or less be conclusively to be in its self-interest. New Delhi was given overarching investigative established”.On the presence of a has to evolve a policy in consultation powers, and, in the course of its CIA network in Pakistan tracking with Pakistan and Afghanistan. This inquiry, interviewed more than 201 down Bin Laden, without the should be the priority to fight against witnesses - including members of Pakistani establishment’s the Taliban. Unfortunately, the Bin Laden’s own family, the chief knowledge, the Commission finds 6 JANATA, July 21, 2013

“this [was] a case of nothing less report was buried by the government Jazeera obtained from multiple than a collective and sustained and never made public.Until now.Al sources. It is unclear what was dereliction of duty by the political, Jazeera has obtained a copy of the contained on that page, but the military and intelligence leadership Commission’s report. contextual implication is that, of the country”.It also states that the among other things, it contains a list US violation of Pakistani Page 197 of the report, which of seven demands made by the sovereignty, in carrying out the raid contains part of the testimony of Lt- United States of Pakistani President unilaterally, had been allowed to Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, then Pervez Musharraf in the aftermath happen due to inaccurate and director of the ISI, was missing from of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. outdated threat assessments within all copies of the report that Al the country’s defence and strategic –Al Jazeera policy establishments.”It is official or unofficial defence policy not to Blood Telegram attempt to defend the country if threatened, or even attacked by a “With the conviction that US Mujib, whose people bore the brunt military superpower like the US?” policy related to recent of the violence, was a pro-West the Commission asks of several top developments in East Pakistan reformist. military officers.”From a Pakistani serves neither our moral interests strategic doctrine point of view,” the broadly defined nor our national In The Blood Telegram: Nixon, report notes, while issuing findings interests narrowly defined, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide on how the military had wholly numerous officers of AmConGen (Alfred A. Knopf), due out in focused its “peacetime deployment” Dacca, USAID Dacca and USIS September, Princeton teacher and of defence capabilities on the border Dacca consider it their duty to former Economist reporter Gary J with India, “the world stood still for register strong dissent with Bass revisits those strange days almost a decade.”Finally, through fundamental aspects of this policy.” when, in the polarising shadow of testimony from Bin Laden’s family Kissinger’s détente, the US and intelligence officials, it provides That’s from the first paragraph of Department of State became a fascinating, and richly detailed, the amazing diplomatic cable known peculiarly blind to realities in South account of Bin Laden’s time in as the Blood Telegram. Sent from Asia, tactical, rational and moral. Pakistan: his movements, his habits Dhaka to Washington on April 6, That vision disorder was to persist and his pattern of life.In concluding 1971, by US consul general Archer until terrorist attacks brought its report, the Commission finds that Kent Blood, it expressed precisely catastrophic violence home to the the country’s “political, military what neither National Security Western powers. For decades, it intelligence and bureaucratic Advisor Henry Kissinger nor coloured politics in our region. leadership cannot be absolved of President Richard Nixon wanted to their responsibility for the state of hear. Signed by 20 US officials in Bass writes that the genocide in governance, policy planning and Dhaka, it was a reaction to Operation East Pakistan signalled an unusual policy implementation that Searchlight, the Pakistani military failure of US foreign policy, more eventually rendered this national crackdown to suppress nationalist vile than errors of omission like failure almost inevitable”, and calls sentiment in the east, which had Roosevelt failing to limit the on the country’s leadership to started with the “selective genocide” Holocaust during World War II, or formally apologise to the people of of progressive intellectuals and Bill Clinton’s desultory approach to Pakistan for “their dereliction of students in Dhaka. A fine example Rwanda. Here, “the US was allied duty”.Perhaps aware of the of independence in diplomacy, the with the killers. The White House implications of its findings, the cable denounced the “moral was actively and knowingly Commission notes that it had bankruptcy” of US foreign policy, supporting a murderous regime “apprehensions that the which remained indifferent to [Yahya’s government in Commission’s report would be atrocities that even the reliably Islamabad]… There was no question ignored, or even suppressed”, and atrocious USSR was volubly about whether the US should urged the government to release it protesting. Washington’s silence was to the public.It did not do so. The doubly ironical because Sheikh (Continued on Page 10) JANATA, July 21, 2013 7 Sharmila Rege (7-10-1964 – 13-7-2013)

Vibhuti Patel

I am indeed shocked to learn cooperation created by Sharmila fan following among post-graduate, about the sad and untimely death of even in the midst of tremendous M. Phil. and Ph. D. students. How Sharmila due to cancer of colon at financial crunch experienced by the can anyone forget courteous, mild the young age of 49. She was not centre in that period. mannered and soft spoken Sharmila only a good scholar but also a refined who was patient with her students, human being and ajatshatu Sahrmila as a social activist, who gave quality time to her non- (individual without personal feminist scholar and social analyst English speaking students, who with enemies). Prof. Sharmila Rege was single-minded challenged the great perseverance brought out an Indian sociologist, feminist Brahminical patriarchy from ‘Dalit important works of women’s studies scholar and widely discussed author. Standpoint’. In 2008, her inspiring in Marathi in collaboration with her She was a leader of the Kranti Jyoti and insightful Savitribai Phule colleagues - Prof. Vidyut Bhagwat, Savitribai Phule Women’s Studies Oration on ‘Education as Trutiya Dr. Anagha Tambe, Dr. Swati Centre (KJSPWSC) at University of Ratna: Towards Phule-Ambedkarite Dehadroy and Dr. Sneha Gole. Their Pune who fought for her ideological Feminist Pedagogical Practice’ commitment and strategic thinking commitment for the excluded and sponsored by NCERT in a jam for KSPWSC put their centre on a brutalized sections of society. packed hall at SNDT Women’s national map. Every year we University, Mumbai was mind- displayed their yellow poster I was amazed when Prof. blowing. The audience, whether announcing the MA and certificate Sharmila Rege, Head of Department agreed with her or not, listened to course in women’s studies. No one of Sociology, decided to join as her with rapt attention and many of would remove the poster due to Director and Reader, Centre for them gave her standing ovation. Savitribai’s photograph on it. The Women’s Studies. In a hierarchical KSPWS team played crucial role in institution such as university, a She could convincingly explain Indian Association of Women’s scholar established in the women’s predicament determined Studies and edited its newsletter mainstream discipline switching for by complex interplay of class, caste, during the millennium years. ‘lower’ position without batting an religion and sexuality with the help eyelid showed her commitment of historical evidences, Her concerns were encapsulated towards women’s studies in 2007. contemporary concerns of dalit- in the quotation from Dr Ambedkar Under her leadership, KJSPWSC tribal-minority women and queer that invariably accompanied her became an intellectually vibrant community. Sharmila practiced what emails: “My final words of advice centre providing platform to she preached within the academia to you are educate, agitate and academicians, retired scholars, free and from the political platforms. She organize; have faith in yourself. With lance researchers, social activists fought for the right of the Dalit justice on our side, I do not see how and feminists. I had opportunity to students in her university. She we can lose our battle.” meet Sharmila for 10 years legitimized crucial contribution of continuously, from 1996 to 2006 Babasaheb in examining Indian Sharmila’s book, Writing Caste, when I was invited by her centre for civilization from the point of view Writing Gender: Reading Dalit four lectures in a day on gender of the oppressed and exploited Women’s Testimonies published by budgeting, globalisation, sex sections i.e. shudra and ati-shudra. Zubaan, Delhi in 2006 had a massive selection and declining sex ratio and She brought to the fore knowledge ripple effect among sociologists, sexual harassment at workplace for of the ‘subjugated’ and challenged political scientists, women’s studies Refreshers Courses/Certificate the dominant Brahminical discourse. and Dalit studies scholars. Sharmila course in Women’s studies. I was received the Malcolm Adiseshiah impressed by atmosphere of She left a lasting impression on award from Prof. Padmini nurturance, voluntarism and any one who met her. She had a huge Swaminathan, Director of Madras 8 JANATA, July 21, 2013

Institute of Development Studies, 43, October 25, 2003; ‘Real Sharmila, an extremely popular Chennai on 21-11-2006 for ’ and Dalit Women’, EPW, teacher and warm fellow traveler in “sharpening the perspective on caste Vol - XXXV No. 06, February 05, the women’s studies movement will and gender by examining the 2000; ‘Dalit Women Talk be there always with us through her differences and the connections of Differently-A Critique of Difference writings on caste, gender and power that existed between women and Towards a Dalit Feminist feminism and compassion she has while also recognising what Standpoint Position’, Special Issue, shown for activists and researchers. connected them as women.” EPW, Vol. XXXIII No. 44, October Sharmila fighting the colon cancer 31, 1998 and ‘Writing Caste, passed away within a month of it Sharmila Rege’s articles, ‘More Writing Gender: Reading Dalit being detected. Her brutal death than Just Tacking Women on to the Women’s Testimonies’ must be has given a major blow to the ‘Macropicture’, Review of Women’s translated in all regional languages women’s studies and dalit studies Studies, EPW, Vol - XXXVIII No. of India. movements.

A death, ghastly and needless The stench of death enveloped the How are people dying despite roads find their way into a sewer and heart of Lutyens Delhi on such bans and acts? Since February block them, it is to manual Sunday evening. Three manual 2011, at least 25 men died in sewer scavengers that cities turn to, again scavengers died inside a sewer at the lines in Tamil Nadu alone. Sunday’s and again, to ensure that modern life prestigious Indira Gandhi National deaths in Delhi would indicate that can proceed without obstruction. We Centre for Arts. It was not just hundreds of manual scavengers, the people are thus equally at fault asphyxia from inhaling poisonous traditionally Valmiki dalits, have when a man has to descend into a gases after entering a manhole that perished across India in the same sewer through a manhole. With the ended their lives. Their deaths were period. Deaths from illnesses and government let us all hold our heads caused by the state. To be more infections do not even count but down in shame. But let us also act precise, the utter, and contemptuous, would probably be in the thousands. and give them a break. A better life. failure of the state and central Laws divorced from contemporary government to heed High Court reality are bound to fail. But this –dna (HC) and Supreme Court (SC) lesson continues unheeded in a new orders and its own laws outlawing draft legislation the Standing Acharya Javadekar the inhuman practice. Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has now tabled. A Satyagrahi Socialist In July 2011, an SC bench directed governments to provided Despite flaws, the Prohibition of by safety gear including gas masks to Employment as Manual Scavengers people who enter manholes. Before and their Rehabilitation Bill is better G. P. Pradhan that, in November 2008, the Madras than its 1993 avatar. Investment in HC banned sewage manhole and science and technology to plug septic-tank cleaning. The Delhi and failures in urban sewage Gujarat HCs too advocated the management, and thereby end safety of sanitary workers. In 1993, manual scavenging, failed to attract Parliament passed the Employment the committee’s attention. But to of Manual Scavengers Act improve it Parliament has to first outlawing manual scavenging. But meet, and then find time to discuss, this toothless Act left out modern lest we are burdened with another practices like entering manholes. In toothless law. February 2013, the Delhi government banned manual When non-degradable solid scavenging. wastes from homes, offices and JANATA, July 21, 2013 9 Intelligence services are not above the law

Much has been said recently empowered to use lethal force on uninhibited right to execute its about national interest requiring that society’s citizens. The reason for country’s citizens. turning a blind eye towards the this is self-evident. The permission extra-judicial killings of Indian to use lethal force is an extraordinary MI-6, Britain’s secret intelligence citizens allegedly with the power which automatically infringes service, is given immunity for connivance of the Intelligence the most basic constitutional rights crimes committed outside of Great Bureau (IB) and its uniformed of all to their own life, except Britain if authorized by the Secretary police accomplices. To hear some according to procedure established of State. They are not, however, commentators, all that stands by law. Granting this extraordinary immune from crimes committed between India and imminent power to clandestine organizations within the United Kingdom and destruction is the capacity of an in the form of blanket immunity what immunity they do enjoy is unaccountable body to Parliament from prosecution for crimes conditional on the Secretary of State, to execute whomever, wherever, committed domestically destroys one of Britain’s mostly highly placed and whenever they like. Stripped our most fundamental right and executive officials. of the immunity to murder at leaves us all less secure. whim, the IB would be allegedly MI-5, Britain’s domestic forced to fight suspected terrorists And for what? So the IB and its intelligence service, is also not with both hands tied behind its police cohorts reportedly can take immune from criminal investigation back. Or would it? four illegally held young people out and prosecution. British and shoot them at point blank range? Metropolitan Police investigated No nation can be expected to What good does this do? whether MI-5 was complicit in the stand by while the lives of its citizens torture of a British resident held in are threatened. The doctrine of self- We don’t even know whether or Guantanamo Bay. defence permits the use of lethal not Ishrat Jehan really was force in such circumstances. But it allegedly a terrorist. In fact, we’ll In addition, both MI-5 and MI-6 is not an unequivocal doctrine. Self- probably never know for sure. are under the constant scrutiny of the defence is qualified by consideration Why? Because the so called Independent Parliamentary of the imminence of the threat and custodians of the law killed, rather Intelligence and Security Committee the proportionality of the response. than having arrested her got her to which has the power to demand stand trial. This fact alone should documents and initiate In an era of unpredictable threats, raise deep suspicions about the investigations. what qualifies as imminent and usefulness of alleged extrajudicial proportional will inevitably be killings by the IB and its police The Central Intelligence Agency stretched. But must it be stretched cohorts. Trials are one of the best (CIA) of the United States is to cover the extra-judicial execution means we have for ascertaining currently engaged in targeted of four suspects who were truth. Not shadowy or uniformed killings using drone strikes around apparently in illegal custody and lynch gang killings which short- the world which have included, in could not possibly pose a threat to circuit the judicial process and four instances, its own citizens. This security in their custodial condition? leave us with nothing but corpses, has sparked a great deal of debate questions, and the gnawing fear in the country and culminated in the In any civilized society, who does that our own freedoms are melting current efforts of two US Senators and does not have the power to kill away. to introduce legislation that makes is carefully regulated to protect its it clear that the US Government own citizens from arbitrariness and Granting the IB blanket immunity may not kill a US citizen on US soil abuse. Such societies intentionally against prosecution would also make if that citizen does not pose an place a firewall between those them an anomaly among intelligence imminent threat of death or organizations that are permitted to services in the democratic world. No grievous bodily harm. In response act clandestinely, and those other intelligence service claims an to this, the US government is now 10 JANATA, July 21, 2013 moving the drone program from the agency with no legislative right to If we want to speak of hand of the CIA to the department force at all? consequences, consider the fact that of defence. of the IB’s 26 directors, only 5 are Invoking the high principles of the reportedly dedicated to working on However, even the director of constitution and the rules regarding terrorism. Most focus on political the CIA never claimed an intelligence services around the intelligence. If the IB or any other unqualified right to use lethal globe ought to compel most Indians police agency is given a blanket force. John Brennan, supported by to realize the follies of granting the immunity to execute whomever they the Department of Justice, IB blanket immunity. But there will wish, how long will it be until they specified that such killings are still be a chorus crying out ‘But what will be tempted to use it on political only permissible in circumstances about the consequences?’ opponents? where there is an imminent threat of violent attack and capture is Well, what about them? We have At the end of the day we must ask impossible. This account very a police force for carrying out arrests ourselves, ‘who should hold the much differs from the and a military for extraordinary power of life and death?’ Should it circumstances which led to the circumstances. We have a legislature be an unaccountable body of spooks summary execution of Ishrat capable of changing the law to in whom we blindly place our faith? Jehan. respond to emergencies and one of Or as Juvenal put it in the first century the finest judiciaries in the world. AD, “Quis custodiet ipsos Moreover, on the specific Why do we want to create a custodes?” “Who watches the question of the CIA killing American clandestine hit squad agency watchmen?” citizens on American soil who posed operating above and in contradiction no imminent threat, the Attorney to all our laws? -Human Rights Features General, Eric Holder, gave an unequivocal no. If the CIA was to (Continued from Page 6) engage in such actions, they would intervene; it was already intervening of moral blindness in US foreign be subject to the full force of the law on behalf of a military dictatorship policy.” of the United States. decimating its own people. This stands as one of the worst moments –Pratik Kanjilal, Indian Express Even our own Supreme Court has come down extremely hard on the use of encounter killings by police. In the Court’s decision to deny bail Egypt to police officers in Prakash Kadam vs.Ramprasad Vishwanath Gupta & In 2011, the military withdrew power from the government of Anr, it likened an officer’s its support from Hosni Mubarak Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1970, agreement to carry out a fake after having sustained him in which came to power in a military encounter to the Nazi complicity in power for three decades. In July coup in 1952. Mubarak, Sadat, and war crimes. The court is unequivocal 2013, the military staged a Nasser were all military officers. that encounter killings are murder. premeditated coup d’etat; in They ruled by virtue of their As they state, “The ‘encounter’ February 2011 it merely delivered control over the armed forces and philosophy is a criminal a coup de grace. In 2011, the the secret police, not authority philosophy…Trigger happy military was ending its own reign, gained at the ballot box. The policemen who think they can kill which had lasted for nearly six military’s cessation of support for people in the name of ‘encounter’ decades; in 2013, it re-established Mubarak in February 2011 and get away with it should know it. The Mubarak government was commenced the military’s that the gallows await them.” If this never elected. It was effectively a withdrawal from power, not its is the case for police officers, military government. It inherited seizure of power. On July 3, 2013, ostensibly granted a monopoly on power from the unelected the military took power back. force in our country, how much more government of Anwar Sadat in so should it be for an intelligence 1981, which in turn inherited –M. Steven Fish JANATA, July 21, 2013 11 An appeal to remedy elitist lobbyism against the Rule of Law

Respected Rashtrapatiji, 3/- A few former Directors of police officers of the Investigating CBI, IB and Governor of Andhra Officer (IO), viz. SHO has authority I am a former DGP of Gujarat Pradesh, Shri ESL Narasimhan to supervise investigations. State and I retired form service on (former IB Director) had argued that 28-02-2007. I have submitted a lot arrest of IB officials, irrespective of 5/- Let us hope that nobody from of evidence (9 Affidavits – 663 availability of sufficient evidence the Central Govt. will venture to do pages and other documents) to against them, could jeopardize IB the misadventure of intervening and judicial bodies probing into 2002 operations for internal security, meddling with the CBI investigation anti-minority riots, on the genesis, besides affecting morale of IB in Ishrat Jahan encounter case. course and aftermath of communal personnel. They emphatically Moreover, on the basis of evidence violence in Gujarat, subversion of asserted that “the Government or reasonable suspicion or reliable Criminal Justice System (CJS) to should have filed an Affidavit in the information, or on a petition u/s 319 deny, delay and derail justice Apex Court stating that IB should CRPC, if Court brings IB officials delivery to riot victim survivors and not have been dragged into the under the clutches of law, the fake encounters by Gujarat Police. matter”. The thrust of this argument authorities who influenced CBI Now I am engaged in assisting the is against the foundational principals investigation would be put in an riot affected and NGOs, as an of the Constitution of India, the indefensible situation. Advocate, fighting for justice. canons of the Rule of Law and inviolable universal human rights 6/- The argument that arrest of IB 2/- Recent investigation by CBI and does amount to insulate IB officials would demoralize IB into extra judicial killings of Ishrat functionaries from the discipline of personnel and damage IB operations Jahan and 3 others, had reportedly legality, even though IB functions sounds like tail (IB) wagging the brought out substantial evidence on without any legal empowerment head (Government) and IB the culpable guilt of a few Central through enacted law. leadership indulging in soft IB officials, in planning and blackmailing of its bosses. IB’s execution of this fake encounter, by 4/- In the legal perspective, if any charter is for collection of teaming up with Gujarat police. functionary from political and information, through human and administrative bureaucracy of the material resources, on threat to The Sangh Parivar, Modi Union Executive – The Prime internal security of India and any Government, self-appointed Minister to Union Home Secretary operation with this objective is supporters and resource persons of – being pressurized by protagonists acceptable and laudatory. In the case IB have, of late, launched a vigorous of IB, does influence or instruct the of the premeditated murder of Ishrat campaign to get the accused IB CBI to take a particular direction in Jahan and four others and Sadik officials immunized from arrest and Ishrat Jahan case investigation, Jamal, in a different encounter, a few prosecution. Media reported various bypassing the truth and substantial IB officials, particularly a Joint grounds advanced by these saviors evidence emerging in the Director, in-charge of Gujarat State of IB to pressurize and cajole the investigation, they would be liable (posted in Ahmedabad from 2001 – Union Executive – The Prime for an offence under section 186 IPC 2005) and his staff, had gone beyond Minister and MHA– for restraining “Obstructing public servant in their call of duty and became CBI from performing its duty of discharge of public functions”. The abettors and collaborators, with a investigating Ishrat Jahan case, as Central Government, being part of mafia of Gujarat police officers, for per the stipulations of the Criminal the Executive has only carrying out the hidden agenda of Procedure Code (CRPC), without administrative authority over CBI Modi Govt. to eliminate Muslim fear or favor. Reports also indicate and investigation of cases by CBI is youth for enhancing the image of the that MHA officials had summoned done on behalf and under the CM Narendra Modi. the CBI Director and asked him to direction of relevant judicial take care of sensibilities of IB in this authorities. As per section 36 of 7/- These extra judicial killings matter. CRPC, only hierarchically superior were carried out by a selected group 12 JANATA, July 21, 2013 of Gujarat police officers (most of witnesses resulting in the Apex 10/- All these facts would them are in jail since 2007 – four Court ordering a) constitution of establish that IB officials IPS officers – for their guilt in Special Investigation Team (SIT) to interrogated by CBI for Ishrat Jahan multiple fake encounters), who had probe into 9 major carnage cases, b) case had certainly not confined direct extra hierarchical constant transfer of trial of cases to themselves to their ambit of duties accessibility to the CM Narendra Maharashtra, c) reinvestigation of and prescribed code of conduct. Modi and Minister , 2000 odd riot cases closed by They had absolutely no authority (arrested for the murder of Gujarat police, d) forming a special under law to arrest or detain any Sohrabuddin Sheikh and released on task force under Justice Bedi to person, on the pretext of bail). It is relevant to note that Joint probe into 17 encounter cases, e) interrogation also even if they were Director IB, Ahmedabad who investigation of a major mass rape activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Even succeeded the controversial Joint case and encounter cases by CBI, if the people killed in encounters Director, Rajendra Kumar, is not observing that Gujarat police acted were condemned prisoners by the facing any allegation for like modern Neros during riots and court, Gujarat police and IB had no involvement in any such crimes, so on. Besides, Joint Director legal powers to eliminate them in though the “encounter specialists” of Rajendra Kumar persuaded DGP K. cold blooded murders. After all, Gujarat police continued to Chakravarti on 27-02-2002 success of Maharashtra police to eliminate the so called “Muslim forenoon to investigate Godhra train arrest and secure Ajmal Kasab of 9/ militants, planning to assassinate fire incident as an outcome of 11 attacks on Mumbai, only had Narendra Modi” till their arrest in international conspiracy, without helped India to conclusively prove February 2007. Strangely Jihadi any valid evidence (to mobilise Pakistan’s involvement in this groups DID NOT send anybody to Hindu ire against Muslim devilish assault on our country. attack Narendra Modi and other community for political advantage Hindu leaders after the and electoral dividends for BJP). 11/- Everybody knows that only imprisonment of policemen accused The conspirators have been armed forces are exempted from of fake encounters!!! acquitted by the Court in this case, arrest and prosecution for their invalidating the conspiracy theory. operations in areas where special 8/- Evidence before Justice Further, this IB officer had also laws are enforced i.e. Jammu and Nanavati Commission (JNC) advised Gujarat State Intelligence Kashmir and North Eastern states. available in the public domain, branch to fabricate false reports Therefore, the deviant acts of IB revealed the professional lapses of against a political party. officials in joining Gujarat police in IB unit of Ahmedabad in failing to planning and execution of fake provide real time actionable, 9/- It is widely felt that a set of encounters should be viewed specific, pin pointed preventive officers close to CM Narendra seriously and any laxity would be advance intelligence about 1) the Modi in Gujarat police had carried exploited by enemies of India, timing of return of Gujarat out many fake encounters with the propagating that minorities are not contingent of Kar Sevaks from objective to 1) Enhance the image getting proper justice. This would Ayodhya on 27-02-2002 (this would of Narendra Modi, the self- help internationally organized have facilitated Gujarat police to proclaimed Hindu Hridaya Islamic Jihadis to get recruits for keep special bandobast in Godhra Samrat, as a person constantly anti-Indian nefarious activities. Railway station), 2) the actual causes targeted by the Jihadi groups, 2) Should we create a favorable and course of Godhra train fire Generate a sympathy wave among ambience for such elements, within incident killing 59 Hindus – though Hindus for Narendra Modi, 3) and outside India, for the mirage of IB agents reportedly traveled with Silence critics of Modi in BJP and IB personnel’s morale? Is the morale Gujarat Kar Sevaks on their onward Sangh Parivar, 4) Project Gujarat of IB functionaries more meritorious and return journey from Ayodhya, 3) police as an extra vigilant force and valuable than the lives of Indian location of extensive planned attack successful in pre-empting any citizens? on Muslim settlements after Godhra threat to VIP security and incident by armed Hindu mobs 4) eliminating the cause of it in time, 12/- The Governor of Andhra subversion of CJS by Modi Govt. and 5) Generate a fear psychosis Pradesh, as a former Director of IB against the riot victims and among the minorities. is an interested party in this matter JANATA, July 21, 2013 13 and so he should not have intervened NDA Government in the years 2002 with the oil of innocence, violating with a letter to the Prime Minister, – 2004. This is a dangerous trend, the procedure established by law and aiming at neutralization of any injurious to federalism, unity and through illegal extraneous pressure, action by lawful authority of CBI integrity of India. The role of IB would result in IB degenerating into against IB officials. The Governor headquarters and MHA in this India’s Inter Services Intelligence had violated the constitutional unholy affair should be probed (ISI). constraints and legal framework deeper and remedial measures ought within which he had to function and to be streamlined. The pivotal scripture of Hinduism particularly the letter and spirit of – The Bhagwat Gita - emphasizes Article 51(A) of the Constitution of 15/- The President of India is the the primacy of law (Shastras) in India. In fact anybody including senior-most servant, soldier, Chapter 16, Sloka 24:- Director IB endeavoring to protect protector and Dharma Yodha of the the accused IB officials, allegedly Constitution of India. Therefore, I, “Law alone determines what is involved in extra judicial killings, humbly appeal to you to initiate to be done or not and so one should should approach relevant judicial appropriate steps to prevent and become aware of what is prescribed bodies instead of exerting pressure neutralize any move from in law and perform duties on Union Government – an Government or non-governmental accordingly.” Executive Authority having no groups or persons, from impeding powers over CBI under law, to guide CBI investigation in Ishrat Jahan Tasmac chastram pramanam te and influence the course of any encounter case and other fake karyakarya-vyavasthitam | investigation. If CBI buckles down encounter cases in Gujarat. Any under such pressure tactics and de- action to anoint IB officials, accused Jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam karma professionalize the investigation for of collaboration in fake encounters, kartum iharhasi || helping the accused, this agency With profound regards, would be committing an offence under section 217 IPC - “Public Yours faithfully servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from R. B. Sreekumar punishment”. Cost of absence in defamation cases 13/- Repeated electoral victories had arrogated and energized BJP and Narendra Modi to continue with Judicial Magistrate at Saket further the enquiry into fraudulent blatant violation of structured Court, New Delhi, heard the SRA projects, she could not attend scheme of Law and its due process. applications in the defamation cases the hearing in the defamation cases The latest instance is the case of an filed by Medha Patkar against V K on 6th April in New Delhi. This was IPS officer – ADGP Crime, P. P. Saxena of Gujarat and vice-versa. At challenged by the advocate of the Pandey, declared by the Court as a the commencement of hearing respondent accused in the last proclaimed offender, in Ishrat Jahan Advocate V K Ohri filed an hearing and then Judicial magistrate case, remaining untraced since 5th application on behalf of Patkar to clamped the cost of Rs. 15,000 for 3 May, 2013, and not being suspended reduce the cost for her absence last cases for the same. Saxena’s lawyer by Modi Government, as per the time when she was on indefinite fast had filed an application for contempt legal requirements of Gujarat Police in Golibar, Mumbai. The plea on her proceedings to be started against Manual and All India Service Rules. behalf was the context of brutal Patkar. But the Judicial Magistrate eviction and demolition of houses by dismissed the application. 14/- The IB’s guilty role in fake the builders and the government in encounters in Gujarat is, perhaps, the Golibar in the name of Slum Advoacate Ohri pleaded that only instance, in 125 years long Rehabilitation Project. While the fast since the fast was for a serious public history of this organization, of its was from 3rd to 14th i.e. for 9 days cause and Patkar belongs to peoples’ misuse by a State Government, and ended with some concrete presumably with the consent of assurances, to stop eviction and (Continued on Page 15) 14 JANATA, July 21, 2013 On clean chit to Narendra Modi

In an interview to the foreign Modi objectionable and that Modi The Supreme Court gave the SIT news agency Reuters that was had a communal mindset, travelling an opportunity to further investigate published on July 12 2013, Narendra 300 kilometres to Godhra but not in light of the Amicus Curaie’s Modi, Gujarat Chief minister has visiting any relief camps that housed contrary findings and thereafter file made a desperate attempt to create the internally displaced Muslims, a Final Report before a Magistrate an impression that Supreme victims of reprisal killings post- on 12.9.2011. In the same order the Court has given him a clean chit Godhra until 6.3.2002. SC gave the petitioners the through the SIT which was appointed inalienable right to file a Protest by it to investigate the criminal (b) It found it questionable that petition and access all documents complaint of Zakia Jafri and Citizens bodies of the unfortunate Godhra related to the SIT for Justice & Peace (CJP) on victims were handed over to a non- 27.4.2009. A section of the media, government person, Jiadeep Patel of After its further investigation without verifying the facts has the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) the SIT, ignoring the contents of allowed this impression to gain who is currently facing trial in the the Amicus Curaie report, filed a credibility. The facts in relation Naroda Gaam massacre case; final closure report on 8.2.2012 to Supreme Court and SIT are as without issuing any notice to the follows: (c) It found that Sanjeev Bhatt an complainant Zakia Jafri and CJP as officer of the State Intelligence, is required under Section The SIT was appointed by Gujarat had opined that he attended 173(2)(ii) of the CRPC. Worse, it the Supreme Court on 26.3.2008 on the controversial meeting at the chief fought a hard as nails battle to deny a petition by Teesta Setalvad, minister’s residence indicating that access to any of the documents D.N.Pathak, Cedric Prakash and illegal and objectionable instructions related to the investigation to the others, first to look into the nine were given. petitioners. It took a whole year, cases recommended by the National from 8.2.2012 to 7.2.2013 for the Human Rights Commission (d) It accepted that Police complainant to access all the (NHRC) to be investigated by the Officers like RB Sreekumar, Rahul documents related to the CBI. The same SIT was a year later Sharma, Himanshu Bhatt and Investigation including the SIT also asked to look into the criminal Samiullah Ansari who had Reports filed before the Supreme complaint against Narendra Modi performed their tasks legally had Court. The complainant Zakia Jafri and 61 others filed first before the been penalised and persecuted by the assisted by the CJP filed the Gujarat Police on 8.6.2006. Modi regime and those who had Protest Petition on 15.4.2013. buckled under the illegal and The SIT submitted its report on unconstitutional instructions had The petitioners Zakia Jaffri and the Zakia Jafri and CJP Complaint been favoured consistently; (e) It CJP are now arguing in support of to the Supreme Court on however still concluded that there is the Protest Petition being allowed, 12.5.2010 itself recommending no prosecutable evidence against the showing through an arduous and that further investigation was chief minister rigorous process, how the SIT required. In the interim, the SC had ignored its own evidence. to drop two officers from the SIT, The SC was not satisfied with this Arguments that began on June 25 are Shivandand Jha (because he was conclusion and direcetd that the still going on. an accused in the Zakia Jafri Amicus Curaie Raju Ramachandran, complaint) and Geeta Johri who who had already been appointed to It is clear from the above that had been found, in the assist the Supreme Court in this the SC has never given Modi a Sohrabuddin case to have serious critical case, visit Gujarat, clean chit on the issue of strictures passed against her by the independently assess the evidence 2002 pogrom. These facts could Supreme Court itself. (April 6 garnered and meet with witnesses have been earlier verified by 2010) directly, bypassing SIT. Reuters as well as the collusive media. The following features of the SIT Amicus Curaie Raju report need special mention: Ramachandran submitted an interim report (January 2011) and final –SAHMAT (a) It found the speeches of N. report (July 2011). Citizens for Justice and Peace JANATA, July 21, 2013 15 Naxal menace just an excuse

The 1000 cr package now refused to join them. In the first government to reach out directly to proposed by the Planning decade of this century Maoits the adivasis. The Prime Minister Commission will only flatten the presence dramatically increased. and the Chairperson of the UPA purses of the Neta-Babu-Contractor The tortures, the renditions, the should together tour through the trio leaving the tribals high and dry displacement of thousands upon strife-torn areas of CG, Jharkhand as it had happened in all these thousands of civilians — in all these and Orissa, promising the full years. The rebellion in the Central respects, Dantewada seemed to me implementation of the Forest Rights India is not due to lack of to be a micro version of Iraq or Act, a temporary ban on mining development. Tribals have been Afghanistan. Placed between the projects in Fifth Schedule Areas, putting up with our utter contempt Maoists and the vigilantes, the and a revival of the powers of gram and injustice since ages. Rather the adivasis are being squeezed from panchayats. That would be a far unrest is due to the neo-liberal both sides. Orissa, a state once more effective strike against development model being pursued completely free of Naxalites, has Naxalites than sending in fighter vigorously by the rulers of all hues seen them acquiring considerable planes or massed battalions’’. Let us since 1991. This development is influence in several districts. A first hope wiser counsel will prevail. socially divisive, economically step here would be for the top exclusive, politically undemocratic, leadership of the present –Sankara Narayanan ecologically unsustainable and ethically immoral. (Continued from Page 13) movements with financial crunch, case, Saxena is one of the accused After the recent massacre in the cost may be waived. The Judicial along with three other eminent Sukma district, Ramachandra Guha Magistrate reduced the cost from persons from BJP and Congress. The (noted historian and one of the Rs.15000 to Rs.9000 i.e. Rs.3000 in same was refused by Patkar on the petitioners in the case against Salwa each of the cases. He expressed his grounds that the attack on her at a Judum in Supreme Court) in a well inability to waive the cost as it was Sadbhavna meeting, post-2002 riots, written article called the passed by another magistrate. The in Sabarmati Ashram, was brutal and governmwnt’s bluff thus: ‘’The CG Defamation case filed by Patkar is fatal and witnessed by not less than government had neither tackled the regarding the false allegations in a 40 eminent persons of Gujarat. The extremism nor sincerely fake advertisement published in the hearing continues in the matter. implemented the constitutional Indian Express and other dailies in provisions guaranteeing the land November, 2000 wherein Narmada –Madhuresh Kumar and tribal forest rights of the Bachao Andolan and herself were adivasis and improved the delivery accused of receiving funds through D.M.Parekh of health and education services. Hawala transaction. Patkar in Instead it granted a slew of leases defense had filed a defamation case 212, Madhav Baug , to industrialists, over-riding the then as the particular transaction Panjara Pole Compound protests of gram panchayats and involved fake cheque from a fake Mukhra Chawl, Ground Floor, handing over large tracts of tribal account and Saxena published a Mumbai : 400004 land to mining companies. It letter given by Lok Samiti, promoted a vigilante army, Malegaon, a supporter organization distributing guns to near illiterate of Narmada Bachao Andolan. Manufacturers of tribal youth. These goons then Handloom Towels roamed the countryside, in search of The judge suggested compromise Naxalites real or fictitious. In a may be reached between the two Bed Sheets series of shocking incidents, they parties. Saxena’s contention was that Supplier to big Hotels & Hospitals burnt homes (sometimes entire another case filed by Patkar in 2002, villages), raped women, and looted now before the JFMC, Ahmedabad, Available at YMC outlets granaries of those adivasis who should be withdrawn too. In 2002 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 21, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, July 21, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five

Vol. 68 No. 29 (Not) A suitable boy July 28, 2013 S. Viswam

Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya minister. I would not like a prime Sen has done a signal service to the minister who generates concern and The blurred lines Indian electorate by declaring that fear on the part of minorities. That Kuldip Nayar as an Indian citizen he would not like is the primary reason.” He said he to accept Narendra Modi as the favoured someone who looks at Lessons from country’s prime minister. This is a social administration and not just the tragedy in Chhapra useful, timely and well-considered business administration seriously. Harsh Mander assertion and directly addresses a “That does not mean that I don’t see question many Indians must be what he has done and why people Notions to improve asking themselves these days. admire him. He could have been gender budget strategy Coming as it does from a source so more secular and he could have Vibhuti Patel distinguished as Prof. Sen, his view made the minority community feel deserves to be noted seriously. More more secure. I don’t think the record Primitive of so, because millions of concerned is very good. I don’t have to be a Buddha to take on Religious Fundamentalism Indians are today both direct and member of the minority in order to K. S. Chalam indirect participants in a public feel insecure. We Indians do not debate on the suitability of Narendra want a situation where the minority Modi as prime minister. feels insecure and could legitimately An open letter to think that there was an organised the ‘Hindu Nationalist’ Prof. Sen was responding to a violence against them in 2002. I Shamsul Islam question during a media interaction. think that is a terrible record. Modi Adducing reasons for his objection could have made the majority to Mr. Modi,he said that the Gujarat community feel that they were not chief minister’s secular credentials maltreating the minorities and going were suspect, that he had not made against long Indian tradition of being Editor : the minority community feel safe, and tolerant.” G. G. Parikh that his 2002 record was “terrible.” Managing Editor : Guddi Prof. Sen said that Modi’s much- If we have quoted Prof. Sen at touted development model was length, it is for the good reason that D-15, Ganesh Prasad, flawed in that it had not done enough Prof. Sen echoes the sentiments of a Naushir Bharucha Marg, in the health and education sectors. large section of the Indian population and in both the majority Mumbai - 400 007. “I think,” he said, “ I would like and minority communities, among Email : [email protected] a more secular person to be prime both educated and uneducated 2 JANATA, July 28, 2013

Indians. Can anyone from the ranks frenzied mobs to butcher men, therefore be widespread of the growing pro-Modi “lobby” be women and children. Modi’s record endorsement of Prof. Sen’s view that intellectually honest and disagree in this respect as Prof. Sen rightly India must choose a worthier with Prof. Sen? Can anyone who reminds us, is “terrible”. There will candidate as prime minister. was a witness to the 2002 anti- Muslim carnage protest that Prof. Sen is incorrect or partisan or unfair Gujarat social indicators or one-sided? The truth is that 2002 Gujarat massacre sent a chill down In what could be a setback for “Although Gujarat is recognised the spines of minorities everywhere chief minister Narendra Modi who as one of the most prosperous states in India and tarnished a well- has been projecting Gujarat model in India with very good cherished image of India as a of development across the country, infrastructure of highways and practitioner of bipolar politics and the UNICEF has claimed that social ports, and strong petrochemical and tolerance among all religions and development indicators have not automobile industries and agro communities. been able to keep pace products, a lot needs to be done to with economic development in the improve socio-development Why did it become necessary for state with a population of 60 indicators,” the UNICEF website the media to pose a question on million. further added. Modi’s acceptability or suitability as PM to Prof. Sen? Is it not In an introduction of Gujarat on The agency was also critical of because Narendra Modi, who is its official website the UNICEF the health conditions of women in now being projected by the RSS- India has said, “Almost every second Gujarat. “Just like the BJP combine as a great national child in Gujarat under the age of five undernourished children, one leader who is above all others in the years is undernourished and three mother in three in Gujarat struggles field, as the saffron camp’s next out of four are with acute undernutrition. About prime ministerial candidate whose anaemic. Infant andmaternal half of these women are also suitability for the high office is mortality rates have reduced very anaemic, putting them at risk of widely questioned? If Modi was an slowly in the last decade. Also, the problems during pregnancy, ordinary candidate, carrying no preliminary results of Census 2011 childbirth and post natal period. special baggage, would such a poser show that while there has been a Lack of awareness of proper have been necessary? It is precisely slight improvement in the child sex nutrition is partially responsible for for the reason Prof. Sen adduces, ratio (0-6 years) from 883 in 2001 this situation; only about half the namely that Shriman Modi lacks to 886 today, the overall sex ratio in mothers currently choose to the requisite secular credentials, that the state has declined from 920 to exclusively breastfeed their babies a question about his suitability 918 (during the same period).” for the first six months of their life. arises. This deprives children of the chance In critic of Gujarat’s poor social to acquire natural immunities Given India’s commitment to indicator the UN agency further passed on through breast milk and secularism and to a multi-religious, stated, “From an ancient shipping makes them more susceptible to multi-cultural multipolar society, power to modern-day industrial common childhood diseases. Older anyone holding a high constitutional state, Gujarat is known for its babies are also not introduced to office has to be demonstrably vibrant economy. Located on comple mentary feeding at the right secular, treat all religions and India’s west coast, the state has a age,” it stated describing the communities on par, and uphold the bustling economy that offers challenges before it. constitution always. Modi has been families a per capita income which found wanting in such a is higher than the national average. Under the section “Key commitment. As chief minister, he However, social development challenges and opportunities” was constitutionally bound to indicators have not been able to UNICEF has praised effort of the uphold the rule of law. He failed to keep pace with economic state government in providing do so. On the other hand, he gave a development in this state of over free hand to the anti-Muslim 60 million people.” (Continued from Page 16) JANATA, July 28, 2013 3

Between the lines The blurred lines

Kuldip Nayar

The Congress has set a bad own set-up to disseminate its Take another example. The precedent. The party has combined viewpoint when newspapers and Central Bureau of Investigation has two positions: one is that of party television channels were privately exonerated Pawan Kumar Bansal, official spokesman and the other that owned. He did admit the criterion former Railway Minister. Some new of Minister’s for Information and should be the objectivity, not where incriminating information has come Broadcasting. Both have different it comes from. out since. Yet, Manish Tiwari says roles. The official spokesman on behalf of the Congress that the defends the stand the party talks, The Lok Sabha and the Rajya court is open to those who level right or wrong. Minister for Sabha channels, although run by charges. Both Akashwani and Information and Broadcasting is public funds, appear to have less of Doordarshan do not tell what the new India’s spokesman, not that of one government’s propaganda. Yet both charges which people want to know. party. The first is nominated while of them have no news bulletins and the other is elected by the people. avoid such topic that may embarrass If the Prashar Bharti had even a the government. The channels also bit of autonomy, it would have done To mix the two is unfair to the see to it that as far as possible they a better job. The government media occupant, who happens to be do not have critics in the news and tells only the Congress side and puts Manish Tiwari at present. He has views programmes. The two cold water on every other version. been doing fairly a good job as the channels do not spoil the mould This was the reason why the activists spokesman. Given a chance, he which they have developed, not too started an agitation to purvey correct would have probably done even critical and not too distant from the information in the country. Both the better. Broadcasting in India has not government’s point of view. government controlled-radio and been able to shatter the fetters of television reach far more population officialdom for decades. Still worse In a democratic polity, perception than all the other private channels is the telephone calls by a minister is most important for credibility. The put together. or a senior bureaucrat which change impression is that the Lok Sabha and the news bulletin even at the last the channels do not go In the recent past, corruption has minute. beyond the red line drawn for their penetrated the government media as guidance. It is no use rulers claiming well. Just as the privately-owned In the sixties, several activists that the government media is media has “paid news,” both agitated for autonomy of official autonomous when they themselves Akashvani and Doordarshan too media. Subsequently, the do not allow it to be so. carry motivated stories affecting its government relented and brought the credibility. Yet it is beginning to be Prashar Bharti Bill. It was diluted Two recent examples show how preferred by many because views from the beginning. But when the ministry was out of depth. The and news are so mixed that it is implemented, the Prashar Bharti death of 23 school children in Bihar difficult to separate fact from fiction. became another department of the following the mid-day meals was a broadcasting ministry. tragedy which the private channels In-depth reporting is very limited reported from every possible angle. in government media because even Once I asked one Information In comparison, Akashvani and if a news editor feels like probing and Broadcasting Minister why the Doordarshan registered the event further, the fear of going wrong from Prashar Bharti was not on the only. The official media was the official point of view deters him pattern of BBC, the original idea, to handicapped because Bihar chief from doing so. Somehow, those who eschew subjectivity or slant, the minister Nitish Kumar may become occupy high positions in the minister was frank enough to say the Congress ally in the 2014 Government labour under the belief that the government has to have its elections. that they—and they alone—know 4 JANATA, July 28, 2013 what the nation should be told and Shooting down of four civilians in Ramban when. And they get annoyed if any news which they do not like appears in print. Their first attempt is to PUCL strongly condemns the forces action in Kashmir valley. contradict it and dub it mischievous. shooting down by BSF personnel of four unarmed civilians in Gool area The Ramban firing incident once Later, when it is realized that a mere of Ramban district of Kashmir on again highlights the sordid reality of denial will not convince even the 18th July, 2013. More than 40 an extreme sense of alienation, most gullible, a lame explanation is civilians are said to have been disaffection and hostility of local offered that things have not been put injured, some seriously, in the BSF population against the Central forces. “in proper perspective”. Probably, at firing and action. The Central and State Governments that time, the government gets away have done little to reduce the sense with its version of the story. The incident allegedly occurred of estrangement amongst the local due to the desecration of a Muslim people through concrete, meaningful But what is not realized is that place of worship as also manhandling measures recognising the political such methods only decrease the of a Muslim cleric by BSF soldiers. aspirations of the local people. To credibility of official assertions. This led to a protest by unarmed local the contrary justifying such firings Even honest claims of the civilians before the BSF camp who only increases the sense of hostility government begin to be questioned. were agitated over the desecration of and resentment of local people. religious place and demanded action In a democracy, where faith stirs the against the BSF soldiers responsible PUCL demands that an impartial people’s response, the government for the act. To the contrary, the BSF judicial enquiry be initiated into the cannot afford to have even an iota has issued a statement justifying the Ramban firings so that the truth of doubt raised about what it says or firing on the ground that the protestors behind the incidents can be brought does. Somehow, New Delhi is not were trying to storm the armoury and to light. Internal enquiry by the BSF conscious of this fact. to seize arms and ammunition stored Special Director General, Dilip in the camp. Trivedi, will hardly be sufficient to In a free society, the press has a generate confidence that a fair duty to inform the public without Amidst the claims and counter enquiry and justice will be ensured fear or favour. At times it is an claims of locals and the BSF, there in the firing incident. unpleasant job, but it has to be lies the reality that the protesting performed because a free society is civilians were unarmed. The resort PUCL once again reiterates that founded on free information. If the to firing by the BSF forces is the problem of Jammu and Kashmir therefore questionable and is is a political problem and that any press were to publish only indicative of total failure of counter- lasting solution can be reached only government handouts or official preventive measures to quell civilian, by finding political solutions statements, there would be nothing unarmed protests. It also raises the agreeable to all concerned. Treating to pinpoint lapses, deficiencies or issue of the adequacy of training the entire issue as a problem of law mistakes. In fact, the truth is that the given to the BSF jawans to handle and order is not only perverse and press is already too niminy-piminy, such incidents of collective, unarmed also short sighted but will only too nice, altogether too refined and civilian protests. Such situations of prolong the conflict timelessly. too ready to leave out. The confrontations should reasonably be government should not ask for more. anticipated considering the long Prabhakar Sinha Dr. V. Suresh history of civilian unrest and security People’s Union For Civil Liberties The combination of being the party’s spokesman and the minister Now here is the reply I have got under the under the RTI Act about the of Information and Broadcasting is MPs’ pension. There are just 3857 MPs/family pensioners drawing pension. beyond me. Government may Their pension for December 2012, January 2013, February 2013 are believe that it has got away with it Rs 3,86,48,441; 4,68,91,359; 4,35,54,552 respectively. Their rail expenses because the act is many weeks old. for 3 months from January to March 2013 was Rs 2,645 Cr! The government does not realize that That is the average pension is Rs 11,157/- per month and the average it credibility has come down several cost of rail travel per ex-MP per month is Rs 22,85,887 (almost 23 lakhs)!- pegs than before. I really feel sorry –P. M, Ravindran for poor Manish Tiwari. JANATA, July 28, 2013 5 Lessons from the tragedy in Chhapra

Harsh Mander

The bone-chilling tragedy of 22 for cooking costs have not been forgotten, is that it also teaches children dying in Chhapra in rural enhanced despite runaway food and important lessons in social equality Bihar after having their mid-day fuel inflation in recent years. Many because children of diverse meal at a government school has schools have not been invested with backgrounds eat together, and often rightly shaken the public conscience. the basic infrastructure for cooking the food is cooked by women of But we should resist the temptation and storage, utensils, a clean eating disadvantaged castes. In a highly of simplistic knee-jerk conclusions, space and potable drinking water. unequal society in which differences or from attributing blame to the local Cooking staff are poorly paid. For a in caste, class and religion are officials alone or to the state programme as scattered as this, the expressed by the refusal to eat administration. The incident could most effective systems of together, the importance of these have happened almost anywhere, monitoring are always those that are social lessons in equality should not and probably does but invisibly, on also decentralized. This needs social be forgotten. a smaller scale. audit systems, hearing the voices of children, and effective systems of Let us not draw the wrong lessons For many reasons, this was a regular monitoring by parent from this tragedy. Alarming tragedy waiting to happen. The committees, school management suggestions are being forwarded for calamity is the outcome of something committees and local panchayats. supply of packaged food instead of much larger than mere local neglect hot local meals, or the transfer of this by junior officials. It is the result of Much of this would entail responsibility to reputed non- how poorly programmes for India’s additional public money, but also far governmental organizations. There poor, even our children, are greater political prioritization, is no better nutrition for children organized, resourced and monitored. administrative will and the than hot, fresh, diverse, culturally The full details of the incident are willingness to be accountable. But appropriate meals, and no more yet to be ascertained. But this we we should clamour to muster both effective system than of food know: that the primary school in the resources and will required for prepared by local women’s groups question did not have a building, and this, because what can be a higher monitored by local institutions and was ran out of a local government priority for public investment and social audits. office building. There was no store, attention than the health and futures therefore, rations for school meals of our children? As a special commissioner of the could not be purchased in bulk and Supreme Court mandated by it to kept in a safe place. There were just Let us not lose sight in this monitor the performance of all two teachers for five classes of moment of tragedy about the many governments in various food children, one was on leave, and the strengths of the school-meal programmes, I have found that even only one holding fort was a low-paid programme, now a legal right of all with many shortcomings it is still the untrained para-teacher. She children in government-funded best implemented of all social purchased the provisions required for schools after the passage of the food programmes, comparing favourably each day’s school meals daily from security ordinance. Studies reveal to the public distribution system, the a local store. A container for the that for many poor children, this is Integrated Child Development cooking oil was possibly one used the only substantial meal they eat in Services scheme and the Mahatma earlier for insecticides. The specific the day. It has positively affected Gandhi National Rural Employment details may be partly inaccurate, but school enrolments, and encourages Guarantee Act. We need to further they are not pertinent. parents to send to school children strengthen and resource this who were formerly engaged in work programme, democratize further its What is indeed relevant is that by setting off some of the implementation and monitoring, and school meals across the country are opportunity cost of the child’s lost not consider its curtailment or grossly under-resourced. Allocations earnings. But a third gain, often dilution in any way. 6 JANATA, July 28, 2013 Notions to improve gender budget strategy

Vibhuti Patel

Free, clean, safe, public urinals more kids in the women’s toilets. toilets” as most of the urinals by for women in Mumbai Metropolitan Facility of separate urinals for private players are provided to males Region and 27 wards of Municipal women in the offices as well as and are not available for women and Corporation of Greater Mumbai public places is not available and it girls. Moreover they are men and (MCGM) is a long standing demand results in the saturation of urine, charge differential ‘user fees’ from of working women. Profile of women do not drink water when men and women. Women women in public domain reveals that they are out of their houses which commuters on Central and Western Mumbai has a 4th generation of lead to major health disorders. All Railway allege that the ‘pay-and- working women who have been the above mentioned causes put use’ toilets on stations are gender performing valuable economic women at a greater risk for biased. They complain that while activities in manufacturing, service abdominal pain and reproductive attendants allow men to use the and industrial sector as wage tract infections. Women tend to get toilets for free, they are charged Rs workers, salaried employees and more bladder infection than men 2 each for the same. As per the self-employed hawkers and vendors. because women have shorter official admission, currently ‘Pay In India, Mumbai has the largest urethras. Cystitis is also most and use toilets’ stations are in Central number of working women making common in women. Railway: CST, Masjid, Sandhusrt valuable contribution to economic Road, Currey Road, Parel, growth. As per 2011 census and Gender inequality in public toilets Ghatkopar, Kurla, Byculla, LTT, NSSO rounds in all sectors of Bhandup, Karjat, Dombivli, Kalyan, economy work participation of In spite of galloping urbanisation, Mumbra, Nahur, Sewri, Panvel, women has increased. Number of Mumbai, like all cities in India, has Wadala, Lonavla and in Western girls and women going out for long had less number of toilets for women Railway: Churchgate, Marine Lines, hours and regularly travel long- in public places like railway station, Grant Road, Mumbai Central (main distance, far from home, for bus stations/depots, highways, and local) Charni Road, Mahalaxmi, education has increased industrial estates, educational Elphinstone Road. exponentially. Working class institutions, public parks, tourist Women in informal sector are away spots, public hospitals, market Disturbing reality from home for more than 16 hours a places, community. Deplorable day. All of them complain about no condition of ‘ladies toilets’ due to no ‘Right to Pee Campaign’ in safe and clean place to pee. deployment of cleaning staff has Mumbai is a united front of 40 remained a perennial problem. We voluntary organisations which Women have to use the toilets/ have noticed that most of the toilets surveyed 129 toilet blocks, did restroom more frequently. Men for women are clogged, unusable, signature campaigns on 16 railway have a larger bladder capacity. stinking and without running water. stations, organized workshops, met Women also have to use the This lack of a basic facility to pee experts to understand the issue in restroom for changing sanitary pads strips so many women of their basic depth and submitted 50,000 during menstruation. It takes women dignity. Hence, the Right to Pee signatures and analytical survey longer to use the toilets. Women campaign, started in Mumbai 18 report to BMC. Information received have to sit down. Also, women have months back, demands “Potty through RTI by the Right to Pee to make greater adjustments with Parity”. Campaign revealed that 24 wards of their clothing. Although zippers Mumbai have 6568 urinals for men. conveniently facilitate a quick pee Right to Pee Campaign initiated As per 2011 census, population of for boys/men, it’s not that simple for by 40 community based women in Mumbai is 5741632 but women. Many women (still) have organizations has begun a campaign there are hardly any public urinals greater care-giving roles. There are against gender bias in “Pay and Use for women. JANATA, July 28, 2013 7

The major demands of the Right women only in the slums under BMC is Location Mapping-Land to Pee Campaign are: 1.Separate free “Toilets in toilet-deficient slums” (most difficult challenge). BMC clean, safe public urinals for women. and “Open-defecation free Mumbai” need to provide for construction cost 2.While providing this facility schemes is based on patriarchal of toilet blocks, electricity supply women suffering from disabilities to myth that women in Mumbai are and water Supply. It is a question of be taken into consideration. 3.To only home-bound. Promise of gender sensitivity and political will place the information boards at the construction of toilets for women in to allocate recurring cost per annum entrance clearly indicating facility of crowed places has not been Rs. 30000/- per toilet block and total free clean urinals for the women in translated into budgetary allocation. amount of Rs. 8.1 crores for 2700 the toilets blocks. 4.Facilities in the Even after promise of construction toilet blocks per annum to pay for toilets blocks meant for women’s of 25 toilet blocks for women and salary, electricity bills, garbage bins, should be looked after by women’s outlay of Rs. 75 lakhs by MCGM, cleaning material and water bills. organizations and women there has been no outcome. Land This is not asking for too much from employees only. 5.Dustbins, sanitary suggested by Right to Pee total size of Budget, 2013-14 of pads should be made available. campaigners turns out as belonging BMC i.e. Rs. 27578.67 crores. BMC 6.There should be urinals at every 2 to ‘private party’, ‘railways’, began gender budgeting from the km of distance. 7.The management ‘developers’, ‘road dept’ so on and financial year 2009-2010. In the and coordination of urinals and so forth. MCGM is willing to current year, BMC Budget for toilets block should be done by construct toilets on the land sanitation is Rs. 514 crores. Right to organizations working on women acquisitioned by demolition of huts Pee campaign asks for 0.0032 % of issues and finance should be only. This is anti-poor, and must be total budgetary allocation of BMC provided by BMC. opposed tooth and nail. and 16.5 percent of Budget for sanitation for Gender Budgeting for 8. To start such separate urinals Need of the hour Women’s Toilet Blocks. As per the for women on experimental basis directive on Women Component and then to include the same in city MCGM must be clear in its gender Plan by Government of Maharashtra, planning of Mumbai. commitments, then only financial 30 percent of all development funds commitments will bring gender should be targeted for women. Maharashtra Policy for Women, responsive outcomes. Provision of 2013 of Government of Maharashtra toilets in public places is needed for If Mumbai, in which women released on 8-3-2013 states that all women and girls in Mumbai city make crucial contribution to every 20 kilo meters there should as they travel long distance for work Mumbai’s economy, claims to be public toilet Block for women. Right and education. Working women need gender friendly city, must respect to Pee campaign demands toilet functioning toilets at railway stations Right to Pee of women. block at the distance of 1 Kim. in and Bus depots. Women Mumbai city. Gender Budget for Homemakers have to attend social Sardarmal Jayantilal & Co. Sanitation of Municipal Corporation functions, visit market places, take of Greater Mumbai, 2013-14 has children to gardens and hospitals. Hira Mahal Bldg, made financial allocation for toilets Women from both, slums and non- Mandvi Koliwadi, in communities. Gender Budgeting slum background need public toilets. of MCGM 2013-14 promises in its All tourist spots of Mumbai should Near Carnac Bunder, Preface to construct toilets for also have toilet blocks for women Mumbai : 400003 women in crowded places. Current managed by women. Tel : 23449653 year’s budgetary allocation for Sanitation in MCGM Budget Gender Budgeting for Women’s Supplier of Estimates, 2013-14 is Rs. 75 lakhs Toilet Blocks requires total financial Handloom Bed sheets, for construction of 25 toilets which allocation of Rs. 89.1 crores. Plan is grossly inadequate. Even for this Expenditure: 81 crores (Rs. 3 lakhs Durries, Pillow covers, no work has begun. per toilet block) for 27 wards @ 100 Napkins, etc. toilet blocks =2700 toilet blocks. The Targeting of toilet blocks for most challenging task in front of Available at YMC Shop 8 JANATA, July 28, 2013 Primitive Communism of Buddha to take on Religious Fundamentalism

K. S. Chalam

The recent attack on the Buddha relied on ideological considerations. Alavaka, Upali, Ambapali, Jivaka, Gaya shrine has evoked little protest The conditions resemble primitive Sunita, Visakha, Angulimala ( Mala, and exposed our wide spread communism. This is very important Mahar-Madigas claim their ancestry ignorance about history. This is not to understand the so-called pre- to him and the Mallas where Buddha the first time that an assault on the capitalist modes of production breathed his last) . Interestingly, all temple of Buddha is made. Buddha including primitive communism, of them seem to have originated perhaps,is the only historical person ancient society, etc to understand the from the local indigenous groups who had received the largest and the context of Buddhist upsurge. waiting for a leader to champion most heinous attempts on his life Primitive communism as their cause. (Visakha being a woman when he was alive and on his distinguished from primitive seems to be an exception). Earlier memorials after the parinirvana. No accumulation according to Hindess Buddha had dialogues with the individual in human history received and Hrist (Pre-capitalist Modes of Ajivikas like Poornakasyapa, so much of attention (with hatred) Production) is an articulation of a Ajitakesakambal (most of them as did Buddha for the simple combination of economic and seem to have gone from our preaching of non-violence and ideological relations between Dandaka) and later several of them compassion towards fellow human individuals.In fact the authors joined his order. The local princess being. Therefore, we need to revealed how Marx and Engels have of Kosala, Magadh, etc. joined the contextualise the so called religious adopted an erroneous classification order perhaps due to the expediency fundamentalist attacks on Buddhism, of first organisation of society in when majority of the lowly subjects not yet clear who was behind it, to history from the writings of got admitted. The social context and highlight the re-emergence of its millionaire Railway Contractor- the rational analysis of the existing relevance in a troubled world of cum-missionary, Morgan. The conditions during the time of capitalist expansion. scholars who have followed the Buddha seem to be relevant here to method have failed to evaluate understand why there is a sustained The emergence of Buddhism Buddhism in its proper context. We attack on Buddhism in India and needs to be looked at as a response need not get into that debate to elsewhere. It is more appropriate to the religious bigotry and understand our situation now. now to study the background when institutional exploitation of an order the religious fundamentalism is at an early stage of gana-sanghas in The enunciation and mission of cunningly promoted by neo- the Sakhya and Koliya region. The Buddha during his lifetime appears colonialism (for instance, American advent of Buddhist thought as a to be an integration of the engagement in Afghanistan after challenge to the decadence of Vedic downtrodden and exploited under Soviet retreat, double standards in Hinduism both in philosophy and conditions of primitive communism. India). The home grown religious more in practice is an grave question After conceiving the notion of fundamentalists in India are of the not considered here and can be dealt dialectics, the first intellectual same cadre. Is Buddhism emerging with in a different paper. It is breakthrough in the history of ideas, as a countervailing force today? instructive to notice that Ajatasatru Buddha collected his disciples. who became a disciple of Buddha Lakshmi Narasu (apart from One of the weaknesses in certain belonged to naga clan, a native European scholars like Rhys Davids segments of Buddhist teachings and Indian tribe as the name of his , Winternitz, Oldenbergetal) gives practice alleged to be the priority grandfather Nagaseena suggests the list of the first batch of disciples given to Astangamarg and (RomilaThapar). It was not an of Buddha consisting of the panchshila as rituals without much advanced republic and the relations wretched and rejected of the earth. study and reflection on the core of among the groups seem to have The list includes Anathapindaka, Buddhism. Some of the Bikkhus and JANATA, July 28, 2013 9 the laity who claimed to follow We may now reflect on how the strategy by the Saudi billionaires Buddha are not aware of the greatest so-called Taliban (derivative of with the support of American intellectual contributions of talib, in Arabic meaning students) bankers. The region is once again Buddhism to humankind, lamented alleged to be one of the torn into pieces and there seem to Dalai Lama in a seminar at Bodh fundamentalist groups along with be no leader or Messiah like Gaya in 2009. It could be due to the several other religious formations Mohammed to bring unity and split of the order into 18 groups like creating social tensions. It is easy peace in the region and the poor every other belief system. But, the to trivialise and stereotype a have become a prey to the wicked distinction of Buddhism is that it did community for political reasons. designs of the global powers. It is not develop as a Religion (no god, But, we may never get into the roots alleged that the internal and external no priest) but only as a way of life in of therudiments without enemies of Buddhism through the South Asian countries with understanding the socio-economic Pushyamitra, Shankaracharya, common intellectual legacy. The and historical transformation of a Ghajani, Gori etc. are drawn from contributions of the greatest community. In this context, the the same Aryan ideology of Buddhist scholars like Dignaga and contribution of Afghanistan to the expansionism. It is reported that the Dharmakirti apart from Vasubandhu world of knowledge and culture poor among the Muslims in Saudi and even Rahul Sankrutyan are particularly to Buddhist realm need constitute 20 per cent and in accepted by every Buddhist. What to be recognised. How could Afghanistan 45 per cent and the seems to be missing in the Buddhist anyone overlook the contribution of same amount in Pakistan and India. order today is some kind of a Gandhara Art (as blend of Greek They are frustrated. parochial approach to project limited and Indian) in the Bamiyan version or interpretations without a Buddhas and the greatest service The transition from feudalism to universal appeal to the masses. Some done by Pathan brothers Asanga international capitalism through people appear to think that it is not and Vasubandhuto to Buddhist technology seems to have intellectually challenging and may metaphysics. As a transit of the silk complicated several social issues in be it has emerged as a blind faith route, the people of the region had the non-Western society. The without looking at the corpus of enriched and were in turn profited conditions in India today remind us literature of Buddhism and on by the cross cultural interactions. of the days of Buddha. The Buddhism. I must confess here that They were dragged into the present leadership is in great confusion as Sharad Patil wrote to me to find out situation due to the Arab problem. to how to grapple with the the details of Dharamakirti, one of In this context, we must recognise contemporary crisis. They were the greatest Buddhit scholars, a the enlightened effort made by constrained to look at the historical Telugu person. If Kumarila Bhatt Prophet Mohammed in uniting and and intellectual directions like was his nephew, he belongs to giving an identity to the anarchic Buddhism to find solutions to Kalingandhra and Dignaga was from groups in the Mediterranean region. theTalibanisation of a section of the coastal Andhra. I regret that I could He brought peace through Islam. population. The oil rich have no not devote time to gather Buddhism, scholars assert, had problems as all of their investments information on the studies and in fact enriched Abrahaimic and Indian are safe in the west and therefore, his English translations are just now thought through its philosophy of the poor are made weird. This available (2004 Dunne).The logic and temple architecture as the internal socio-economic commentary on Epistemology in first monastic order in history. The discrepancy across Asia and Middle Pramanavartika by Dharamakirti cross fertilisation of ideas have East are in muddles waiting for a was presaged 12 hundred years contributed to the development of competent leader and ideology to before what Hume propounded his science and technology. It seems the take on fundamentalism (Market in the 18th century, was unfortunately discovery of crude oil in the region and Religious). Do the three out of the reach of Indians for and the accumulation of money cornerstones of Anitya, Anatma historical reasons. Dharmakirti who through exports created problems and Nirvana of Buddhism with confronted the unreality of caste due to Sharia. Interest on lending its original ideology of compassion through his secular philosophical is forbidden for obvious reasons in and integration would help discourse was thrown out of India the Middle East and that seems to address the contemporary upheaval and sheltered in Tibet. have helped to craft a dubious in Asia? 10 JANATA, July 28, 2013 An open letter to the ‘Hindu Nationalist’, Narendra Damodardas Modi

Shamsul Islam

I hope you are fine. While talking banners of the Hindu Mahasabha As it is, there are two antagonistic to two Reuters journalists, Ross and the RSS, opposed it, claiming nations living side by side in India, Colvin and Sruthi Gottipati, on July that Hindus and Muslims were two several infantile politicians commit 12, 2013, you identified yourself as different nations. These Hindu and the serious mistake in supposing that a ‘Hindu Nationalist’ and credited Muslim ‘Nationalists’ joined hands India is already welded into a the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh with the colonial masters in order to harmonious nation, or that it could (RSS) for instilling in you, spirit “(to thwart the Freedom Struggle so that be welded thus for the mere wish to be a) patriot. Whatever work you do, they could have theocratic states of do so. These were well meaning but you think are you doing this for the their choice, ‘Hindusthan’ or Hindu unthinking friends take their dreams good of the nation? That’s the basic Rashtra and Pakistan or Islamic state for realities. That is why they are training. The other basic training is respectively. impatient of communal tangles and discipline. Your life should be attribute them to communal disciplined.”[1] The politics of the Muslim organizations. But the solid fact is League and its role in dividing India that the so-called communal The news agency declared that it are well known but I need to refresh questions are but a legacy handed was a ‘rare interview’ of yours taken your memory about the nefarious down to us by centuries of cultural, at your official Gandhinagar role that ‘Hindu Nationalists’ played religious and national antagonism residence. It shocked me immensely in India before and after between the Hindus and as you were not talking as an Independence. Moslems...Let us bravely face ordinary Indian citizen but as the unpleasant facts as they are. India chief minister of Gujarat, a I am relying exclusively on cannot be assumed today to be a constitutional position under the documents of the RSS and the Hindu unitarian [sic] and homogenous democratic-secular constitution of Mahasabha in order to put across nation, but on the contrary there are India. I am taking the liberty of reality. two nations in the main: the Hindus writing this letter to you in the hope and the Moslems [sic], in India.[2] that you, who claim to be believer Narendraji! I would like to draw in transparency, will respond to the your attention to the fact that both Sir! The RSS, following in the issues I raise. the originator of Hindutva, V.D. foot-steps of ‘Veer’ Savarkar, always Savarkar and RSS, had unequivocal rejected the idea that Hindus, As a seasoned RSS pracharak or faith in the two-nation theory: that Muslims, Sikhs and Christians whole-timer you know about your Hindus and Muslims are two together constituted a nation. Its roots better than me. Still I would different nations. While the Muslim English organ, Organizer, on the like to draw your attention to the fact League under the leadership of very eve of Independence (August that the term ‘Hindu Nationalist’ Mohammed Ali Jinnah resolved to 14, 1947), editorially (titled originated in a specific historical have a separate homeland for ‘Whither’) underlined its belief in context during India’s Freedom Muslims of India in the form of the two-nation theory once again in Struggle against the British colonial Pakistan in 1940, Savarkar the following words: masters. This Freedom Struggle was propagated as early as 1937 that mainly led by the Congress, which Hindus and Muslims were two Let us no longer allow ourselves stood for an all-inclusive different nations. While delivering to be influenced by false notions of democratic-secular free India. The the presidential address to the 19th nationhood. Much of the mental ‘Muslim Nationalists’, under the Hindu Mahasabha session at confusion and the present and future banner of the Muslim League, and Ahmedabad, ‘Veer’ Savarkar troubles can be removed by the ready the ‘Hindu Nationalists’, under the declared: recognition of the simple fact that JANATA, July 28, 2013 11 in Hindusthan only the Hindus form ruling different Provinces of British colonial masters was total, as we see the nation and the national structure India were dismissed. The only in the following utterances of ‘Veer’ must be built on that safe and sound political organizations allowed to Savarkar: foundation…the nation itself must be work were the Hindu Mahasabha built up of Hindus, on Hindu and the Muslim League. These two So far as India’s defence is traditions, culture, ideas and organizations united to serve the concerned, Hindudom must ally aspirations. rulers and formed coalition unhesitatingly, in a spirit of governments. It was corroborated by responsive co-operation with the Your claim, ‘My secularism is, the mentor of RSS. ‘Veer’ Savarkar war effort of the Indian government India first’ is problematic as you do in his presidential address to the 24th in so far as it is consistent with the not regard yourself as an Indian session of the Hindu Mahasabha at Hindu interests, by joining the Army, nationalist but as a ‘Hindu Kanpur in 1942 declared: Navy and the Aerial forces in as nationalist.’ If you are a Hindu large a number as possible and by nationalist then there will be, In practical politics also the securing an entry into all ordnance, naturally, ‘Muslim nationalists’, Mahasabha knows that we must ammunition and war craft ‘Sikh nationalists’, ‘Christian advance through reasonable factories…Again it must be noted nationalists’, and so on. Thus you set compromises. Witness the fact that that Japan’s entry into the war has the ball rolling for a divided India. only recently in Sind, the Sind- exposed us directly and immediately This is surely a corollary of your Hindu-Sabha on invitation had to the attack by Britain’s enemies. organizational faith in the two- taken the responsibility of joining Consequently, whether we like it or nation theory. hands with the League itself in not, we shall have to defend our own running coalition Government. The hearth and home against the ravages Modi Sir, as a senior and case of Bengal is well known. Wild of the war and this can only be done prominent whole-timer of the RSS Leaguers whom even the Congress by intensifying the government’s war you must know that on the eve of with all its submissiveness could not effort to defend India. Hindu Independence the above mentioned placate grew quite reasonably Mahasabhaites must, therefore, RSS organ used the following compromising and socialable as rouse Hindus especially in the language against the Tri-colour, the soon as they came in contact with provinces of Bengal and Assam as new National Flag of India: the HM and the Coalition effectively as possible to enter the Government, under the premiership military forces of all arms without The people who have come to of Mr. FazlulHuq and the able lead losing a single minute.[5] power by the kick of fate may give of our esteemed Mahasabha leader in our hands the Tricolour but it Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerji, Sir, in your interview you claimed never [sic] be respected and owned functioned successfully for a year or that RSS instills in cadres the spirit by Hindus. The word three is in itself so to the benefit of both the of patriotism, working for the good an evil, and a flag having three communities.[4] of the nation and discipline. Since colours will certainly produce a very RSS stands for Hindu Rashtra or bad psychological effect and is Sir, you must be familiar with the nation, one can understand the fate injurious to a country.[3] name of Netaji Subhash Chandra of democratic-secular India in the Bose, who tried to liberate India hands of RSS cadres. You should 1942 was a critical year in the militarily with the help of Germany have shared what the most history of India’s Freedom Struggle. and Japan. However, during this prominent ideologue of the RSS, In a nation-wide call the British period ‘Hindu Nationalists’, instead Golwalkar, expected from RSS rulers were asked to ‘Quit India’. of helping him, were hand in glove members. While addressing a The rulers responded by turning the with the British masters in defeating gathering of top ranking RSS on country into a hell: armed squads Netaji’s liberation struggle (in which March 16, 1954, at Sindi, Wardha, killed common Indians completely former succeeded). Hindu he said: disregarding the rule of law, millions Mahasabha under ‘Veer’ Savarkar’s were arrested and thousands suffered leadership organized recruitment If we say that we are part of the unparalleled repression. The camps for British armed forces. The organization and accept its Congress governments which were Hindutva camp’s surrender to the discipline then selectiveness has no 12 JANATA, July 28, 2013 place in life. Do what is told. If told theocratic state. Fact is that RSS there is not a single publication or to play kabaddi, play kabaddi; told makes its cadres spineless. document of the RSS which throws to hold meeting then meeting….For light on what the RSS did indirectly instance some of our friends were Sir, your claim that the RSS for the Quit India Movement. told to go and work for politics that taught you patriotism is suspect, During this period, in fact, its does not mean that they have great given the history of that organization mentor, ‘Veer’ Savarkar, ran interest or inspiration for it. They as seen in its documents. I shall coalition governments with the don’t die for politics like fish without present some relevant documents for Muslim League. I must conclude water. If they are told to withdraw your kind perusal. that because the RSS did nothing, from politics then also there is no directly or indirectly, for the Quit objection. Their discretion is just not The Non-cooperation Movement India Movement, and indeed acted required.[6] and the Quit India Movement were against it, that titanic movement two great milestones in the history was, for you and your forebears, the This second statement of ‘Guru’ of the Indian Freedom Movement, opposite of patriotic. Golwalkar is also significant: and here is the great thesis of the great Golwalkar on these two great Modi Sir, I would like to know We know this also that some of happenings: your views on the statements of our Swayamsevaks work in politics. ‘Guruji’ decrying and denigrating There they have to organize Definitely there are bound to be martyrs like Bhagat Singh, according to the needs of work bad results of struggle. The boys Chandrashekar Azad, Ashfaqullah public meetings, processions etc., became unruly after the 1920-21 Khan. Here is a passage from the have to raise slogans. All these movement. It is not an attempt to chapter, ‘Martyr, Great But Not things have no place in our work. throw mud at the leaders. But these Ideal’ from Bunch Of Thoughts, a However, like the character in a play are inevitable products after the veritable Geeta for RSS cadres such whatever role has been assigned struggle. The matter is that we could as yourself: should be portrayed with best of not properly control these results. capability. But sometimes After 1942, people often started There is no doubt that such men Swayamsevaks go beyond the role thinking that there was no need to who embrace martyrdom are great assigned to a performer (nat) as they think of the law.[8] heroes and their philosophy too is develop over-zealousness in their pre-eminently manly. They are far hearts, to the extent that they become Thus ‘Guru’ Golwalkar wanted above the average men who meekly useless for this work. This is not the Indians to respect the draconian submit to fate and remain in fear good.[7] and repressive laws of the inhuman and inaction. All the same, such British rulers! After the 1942 persons are not held up as ideals in Modi Sir, we find here ‘Guru’ Movement he further admitted: our society. We have not looked Golwalkar referring to the upon their martyrdom as the highest Swayamsevaks loaned to the In 1942 also there was a strong point of greatness to which men political satellite as ‘nat’, sentiment in the hearts of many. At should aspire. For, after all, they performers, who are meant to dance that time too the routine work of failed in achieving their ideal, and to the tune of the RSS. It should be Sangh continued. Sangh vowed not failure implies some fatal flaw in noted here that Golwalkar’s above to do anything directly. However, them.[10] design of controlling the political upheaval (uthal-puthal) in the minds arm was elaborated in March 1960, of Sangh volunteers continued. Sir, can there be a statement more almost nine years after the Sangh is an organization of inactive insulting to the martyrs than this? establishment of the Jana Sangh (the persons, their talks are useless, not The founder of the RSS, forerunner of the BJP) in 1951. What only outsiders but also many of our Dr. Hedgewar, went one step further: I would like to know from you is volunteers did talk like this. They whether you are serving the were greatly disgusted too.[9] Patriotism is not only going to democratic-secular polity of India or prison. It is not correct to be carried are a mere ‘nat’, a tool in the hands Sir, we have been told that the away by such superficial of the RSS for turning India into a RSS did nothing directly. However, patriotism.[11] JANATA, July 28, 2013 13

Don’t you feel, Sir, that if Today’s federal form of customs, thought and practice. This martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, government not only gives birth but book for centuries has codified the Sukhdev, Ashfaqullah, also nourishes the feelings of spiritual and divine march of our Chandrashekhar Azad had come in separatism, in a way refuses to nation. Even today the rules which contact with the then RSS recognize the fact of one nation and are followed by crores of Hindus in leadership, they could have been destroys it. It must be completely their lives and practice are based on saved from giving their lives for uprooted, constitution purified and Manusmriti. Today Manusmriti is ‘superficial patriotism’? This also unitary form of government be Hindu Law.[14] must be the reason why RSS leaders established.[13] or cadres did not face repression Sir, as a great flag-bearer of during British rule and the RSS did Sir, if you peep into the archives Hindutva politics you must know not produce any martyr during the of the RSS and its brother what kind of society ‘Hindu Freedom Movement. Finally, Sir, organizations who want the rule of Nationalists’ like you want to usher are we to regard as noble patriotism Hindutva in India, it will be in. Since you are very busy, I am the cringing letters that ‘Veer’ immediately clear that all of them reproducing from the Code of Manu Savarkar wrote to the Angrez hated the Constitution of India, his prescriptions for Dalits/ Sarkar? which was drafted under the Untouchables and women. These guidance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. dehumanizing and degenerate laws, Modiji, as Chief Minister of When the Constituent Assembly of which are presented here, are self- Gujarat and a prominent leader of India had finalized the Constitution explanatory. the BJP, you are supposed to of India the RSS was not happy. Its function within the Democratic- organ, Organizer, in an editorial on Laws of Manu concerning Dalits/ Secular polity of India. What is your November 30, 1949, complained: Untouchables: take on the following decree ordained by ‘Guru’ Golwalkar while But in our constitution there is no (1) For the sake of the prosperity of addressing a group of 1,350 top level mention of the unique constitutional the worlds (the divine one) cadres of the RSS in 1940? development in ancient Bharat. caused the Brahmana, the Manu’s Laws were written long Kshatriya, the Vaisya, and the RSS inspired by one flag, one before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon Sudra to proceed from his leader and one ideology is of Persia. To this day his laws as mouth, his arm, his thighs and lighting the flame of Hindutva in enunciated in the Manusmriti excite his feet. each and every corner of this great the admiration of the world and elicit land.[12] spontaneous obedience and (2) One occupation only the lord conformity. But to our constitutional prescribed to the Sudras, to serve I would like to bring it to your pundits that means nothing. meekly even these (other) three notice that this decree of ‘one flag, castes. one leader and one ideology’ was In fact, RSS had been following also the battle cry of Fascist and Nazi the ideology laid down by ‘Veer’ (3) Once-born man (a Sudra), who parties of Europe in the first half of Savarkar. It may not be a secret to insults a twice-born man with 20th century. What they did to you, Sir, that ‘Veer’ Savarkar gross invective, shall have his democracy is well-known to this remained a great proponent of tongue cut out; for he is of low world. Casteism and worshipper of origin. Manusmriti throughout his life. The RSS is also dead against the According to this apostle of Hindu (4) If he mentions the names and federal structure given in the Nationalism: castes (gati) of the (twice-born) Constitution, again a basic feature with contumely, an iron nail, ten of the Indian polity. This is clear Manusmriti is that scripture fingers long, shall be thrust red- from the following communication which is most worshipable [sic] after hot into his mouth. of M.S. Golwalkar to the first Vedas for our Hindu Nation and session of the National Integration which from ancient times has (5) If he arrogantly teaches Council in 1961: become the basis of our culture- Brahmanas their duty, the king 14 JANATA, July 28, 2013

shall cause hot oil to be poured 4. Considering that the highest duty (who are) destitute of strength into his mouth and into his ears. of all castes, even weak and destitute of (the knowledge husbands (must) strive to guard of) Vedic texts, (are as impure (6) With whatever limb a man of a their wives. as) falsehood (itself), that is a low caste does hurt to (a man of fixed rule. the three) highest (castes), even 5. No man can completely guard that limb shall be cut off; that is women by force; but they can be I would like to remind you that a the teaching of Manu. guarded by the employment of copy of Manusmriti was burnt as a the (following) expedients: protest in the presence of Dr. B.R. (7) He who raises his hand or a Ambedkar during historic Mahad stick, shall have his hand cut off; 6. Let the (husband) employ his agitation in December, 1927. he who in anger kicks with his (wife) in the collection and foot, shall have his foot cut off. expenditure of his wealth, in Sir, as a loyal, disciplined and keeping (everything) clean, in committed cadre of the RSS, you (8) A low-caste man who tries to (the fulfillment of) religious must be familiar with the fact that place himself on the same seat duties, in the preparation of his Casteism is the essence of Hindu with a man of a high caste, food, and in looking after the Nationalism. ‘Guru’ Golwalkar went shall be branded on his hip and household utensils. to the extent of declaring that be banished, or (the king) Casteism was synonymous with the shall cause his buttock to be 7. Women, confined in the house Hindu Nation. According to him, the gashed. under trustworthy and obedient Hindu people are none else but, servants, are not (well) guarded; (9) Let him never slay a Brahmana, but those who of their own The Virat Purusha, the Almighty though he have committed all accord keep guard over manifesting himself […] [according (possible) crimes; let him banish themselves, are well guarded. to purushasukta] sun and moon are such an (offender), leaving all his eyes, the stars and the skies are his property (to him) and (his 8. Women do not care for beauty, nor created from his nabhi [navel] and body) unhurt. is their attention fixed on age; Brahmin is the head, Kshatriya the (thinking), ‘(It is enough that) hands, Vaishya the thighs and Laws of Manu concerning Women: he is a man,’ they give Shudra the feet. This means that the themselves to the handsome and people who have this fourfold 1. Day and night woman must be to the ugly. arrangement, i.e., the Hindu People, kept in dependence by the males is [sic] our God. This supreme vision (of) their (families), and, if they 9. Through their passion for men, of Godhead is the very core of our attach themselves to sensual through their mutable temper, concept of ‘nation’ and has enjoyments, they must be kept through their natural permeated our thinking and given under one’s control. heartlessness, they become rise to various unique concepts of disloyal towards their husbands, our cultural heritage.[15] 2. Her father protects (her) in however carefully they may be childhood, her husband protects guarded in this (world). Sir, please tell me whether you (her) in youth, and her sons stand with the RSS and ‘Guruji’ or protect (her) in old age; a 10. (When creating them) Manu with the Democratic-Secular Polity woman is never fit for allotted to women (a love of that has given you your power. This independence. their) bed, (of their) seat and concerns common Hindus and (of) ornament, impure desires, specially women. 3. Women must particularly be wrath, dishonesty, malice, and guarded against evil bad conduct. I am sorry that my letter is getting inclinations, however trifling long. You will forgive me as I have (they may appear); for, if they 11. For women no (sacramental) rite no other choice as your Reuter are not guarded, they will bring (is performed) with sacred texts, interview and other utterances and sorrow on two families. thus the law is settled; women actions cover a very large canvas. JANATA, July 28, 2013 15

You will appreciate that I am not convention from where your Nationalist’ movement as a key ally raising the issue of the 2002 Gujarat felicitation message was read, one in a global struggle to bring down Carnage as many other individuals of the prominent speakers, K.V. democratic regimes across the world. and organizations have been doing. Sitaramiah, declared that Gandhi Just before he went to massacre a I strongly feel that I must raise those was ‘terrible, wicked and most large number of people in Norway issues which generally are skipped: sinful’. Rejoicing the killing of M.K. he released a ‘manifesto’ of 1,518 what is your agenda for the Hindus Gandhi, he went on to declare : pages, of which 102 pages dealt with of this country and for the existing the Hindutva movement of India. It Democratic-Secular polity. “As Bhagwan Shri Krishna said declared support to ‘Sanatana in the Gita, Paritranaya Sadhunam Dharma movements and Indian I will end by raising two more Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam/ nationalists in general.’ This issues, Sir. Dharamasansthapnaya manifesto also laid down a plan of Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge (For the co-operation between Neo-Nazi NathuramGodse and others who protection of the good, for the movements of Europe and ‘Hindu conspired to kill M.K. Gandhi, destruction of the wicked and for the Nationalist’ organizations of India. claimed to be ‘Hindu Nationalists’. establishment of righteousness, I am It said that it was essential that these They described killing as something born in every age) On…30th two ‘learn from each other and ordained by God. RSS celebrated his January 1948 evening, Shriram cooperate as much as possible’ as killing by distributing sweets. Are came in the form of Nathuram ‘Our goals are more or less identical.’ they not revered by the Hindutva Godse and ended the life of This manifesto specially mentioned camp? Aren’t you one of them? Gandhi.”[17] the names of Hindutva organizations When you were in Goa in June 2013 like RSS, BJP, ABVP & VHP in this for the BJP executive committee Let me add that K.V. Sitaramaiah regard. Importantly, the manifesto meeting, you sent a message to the has also authored a book titled pledged military support ‘to the ‘All India Hindu Convention for ‘Gandhi was Dharma Drohi and nationalists in the Indian civil war Establishment of Hindu Nation’ Desa Drohi’ in which the back cover and in the deportation of all Muslims organised by the Hindu matter, quoting from the epic from India’ as part of a larger JanajagrutiSamiti (HJS). Your Mahabharat, demands: campaign to ‘overthrow of all message read: western European multiculturalist ‘Dharma Drohis must be killed’, governments.’ I am requesting your “Even though every Hindu ‘Not killing the deserved to be killed response on a matter which, in fact, conducts himself with love, is great sin’ and ‘where the should have been raised by the compassion and intimacy with god, members of Parliament seeing Reuter journalists. giving precedence to non-violence, clearly allow to kill Dharma & truth and “satvikta”, repelling truth as untruth, those members will I shall be eagerly looking forward demoniacal tendencies is in our be called dead’. to your response. I am sure that with destiny. It is our tradition to remain the vast resources available to you, alert and raise a voice against Sir, please say if this is not an nationally and internationally, it will persecution…Only by protecting our open call to annihilate those not cause much inconvenience to culture, can the flag of “dharma” members of Parliament who do not your Highness. and unity be kept intact. subscribe to author’s definition of Organisations inspired by Dharma. [1] http://www.ndtv.com/article/ nationalism, patriotism and india/narendra-modi-defends- devotion for the Nation are true Neo-Nazi mass murderer of himself-on-2002-... manifestations of people’s Norway, Breivik, glorified ‘Hindu power.”[16] Nationalists’ [18] [2] V. D. Savarkar cited in V. D.Savarkar, Samagra Savarkar You must have sent this intimate Last of all; kindly tell me how you Wangmaya: Hindu Rashtra fraternal message to the HJS respond to Norwegian mass killer Darshan, vol. 6, Maharashtra knowing them well. Shockingly, Neo-Nazi, Anders Behring Breivik, Prantik Hindusabha, Poona, from the same dais in this who hailed India’s ‘Hindu 1963, p. 296. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, July 28, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, July 28, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday July 31, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 [3] Organizer, August 14, 1947. Bhartiya Vichar Sadhna, [16] http://search.yahoo.com/ , nd., volume iii, search?p=http%3A%2F%2Fen- [4] V. D. Savarkar cited in V. D. p. 128. Hereafter referred as maktoob.news.yahoo.com%... Savarkar, Samagra Savarkar SGSD. Wangmaya: Hindu Rashtra [17] http://www.hindujagruti.org/ Darshan, vol. 6, Maharashtra [14] Savarkar, V. D., ‘Women in news/16527_mohandas- Prantik Hindusabha, Poona, Manusmriti’ in Savarkar gandhi-was-terrible-wick... 1963, pp. 479-80 Samagar, Vol. 4 [Collection of Savarkar’s Writings in [18] http://www.thehindu.com/ [5] V. D. Savarkar cited in V. D. Hindi] (New Delhi: Prabhat), news/national/norwegian- Savarkar, Samagra Savarkar 416. mass-killers-manifesto- Wangmaya: Hindu Rashtra h...&http://ibnlive.in.com/ Darshan, vol. 6, Maharashtra [15] Golwalkar, M. S., We or Our news/norwegian-killer- Prantik Hindusabha, Poona, Nationhood Defined, anders-breiviks-manifesto- 1963, p. 460. V. D. Savarkar (Nagpur: Bharat Publications, su... cited in V. D. Savarkar, 1939), p.36. Samagra Savarkar Wangmaya: Hindu Rashtra Darshan, vol. 6, Maharashtra Prantik (Continued on Page 2) Hindusabha, Poona, 1963, piped water to rural population and It further express concern that pp. 479-80. said “Major efforts by the state “girls (in Gujarat) are still less have provided piped water for likely to complete their [6] SGSD, vol. iii, p. 32. about two thirds of the rural education than boys.” According to Unicef “There is a large urban [7] SGSD, vol. iv, pp. 4-5. population.” However, the agency has raised concern over house hold population with poor social sector systems and poor social [8] SGSD, volume IV, p. 41. sanitation terming it as “a major challenge which needs to be indicators exist, particularly in [9] SGSD, Volume IV, p. 40. addressed” since many households the tribal areas”. do not have access to toilets, and [10] MS Golwalkar, Bunch of risk of faecal contamination of The Unicef works with the Thoughts, SahityaSindhu, water exists. government of India to ensure Bangalore, 1996, p. 283. that each child born in the Unicef has lauded that efforts of country “gets the best start in [11] CP Bhishikar, government in field of access to life, thrives and develops to his SanghavarikshKeBeej: primary education, while raising or her full potential”. It uses its Dr. Keshavrao Hedgewar, concerns over quality of education. knowledge to develop innovative Suruchi, 1994, p. 21. “Most villages have a primary school interventions “to ensure that nearby. More and more students are women and children are able to [12] Golwalkar, M. S., Shriguruji being enrolled every year in primary access basic services such as Samagar Darshan (Collected schools and the number of dropouts is clean water, health visitors and works of Golwalkar in Hindi), declining dramatically. Recent educational facilities, and that Vol. I (Nagpur: Bhartiya studies, however, show that the quality these services are of high Vichar-Sadhna, nd), p. 11. of education needs to be improved, quality”. Unicef presently works with less than half the students being in 13 states of India. [13] MS Golwalkar, Shri Guruji able to read, write and understand Samagar Darshan (collected mathematics at levels appropriate for –Mazhar Rashidi works of Golwalkar in Hindi), their age,” the agency website stated. Convener, Aman

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Vol. 68 No. 30 More choices or status-quo? August 4, 2013 S. Viswam Let’s go back to people Kuldip Nayar Though there are still ten in the country in the context of 2014. months to go for the 2014 Lok Some weeks ago, the CPM general Politicalisation of Criminals Sabha elections the political class secretary had discounted the idea Rajindar Sachar apparently thinks that we are already of a Third Front, which he said was in the run-up to the polls. This is unlikely and which his party did not Wealth Creation versus perhaps why some opinion poll and want. The Third Front idea comes Poverty Alleviation media organizations have deemed and goes, and has not been found K. S. Chalam it appropriate to conduct surveys to attractive by political parties so far. assess polling trends and options. Consequences of Every poll, whether for the assembly Mulayam Singh has not kept his Racial Stereotyping or parliament ushers in changes in prime ministerial ambitions a secret. Uday Dandavate the pre-poll set-up even as parties go He has candidly admitted that he not in for fresh alignments, alliances and only nurses such ambitions but also Robbing the Workers adjustments. We have had the results the belief that with his home state’s to Enrich the Capitalists of a couple of surveys so far. We dare backing, his chances of capturing Piyush Pant say that between now and May 2014, the New Delhi gaddi are reasonably more such surveys will be conducted good. But in Bangalore he went a step further, and held out the distinct Right-Shift in Japan Elections and trends indicated. Before the Lok D. K. Giri Sabha polls, elections to at least five possibility of his heading a Third assemblies are due, the results of Front government! Which means which may also have a bearing on the that he is among the leaders who Cancellation of parliamentary round. Thus, whether rate the chances of a third term for Two Steel Projects we like it or not, we can be said to be the UPA and a return to power by in the election mode already! the NDA as impossible. Indeed, Editor : he said that since neither will get G. G. Parikh An indication that the political a majority a third front will do the class has begun to think of 2014 trick and seize power. And since his Managing Editor : Guddi seriously from now onwards was party controls which D-15, Ganesh Prasad, available the other day when the has 80 seats in the Lok Sabha, it Naushir Bharucha Marg, chief Mulayam and the state will play a key role in Mumbai - 400 007. Singh Yadav addressed his party determining the outcome of the polls. workers in Bangalore. Earlier, during His chances of becoming the prime Email : [email protected] the month, many other leaders also minister were therefore quite bright. commented on the political situation Good luck, Mulayam Singhji! 2 JANATA, August 4, 2013

So, now we have at least three Between the lines aspirants in the field, regardless of the status of their respective Let’s go back to people candidatures. Only the candidature of Mulayam Singh can be regarded as “official” since he has nominated Kuldip Nayar himself as party chief and has already committed both his party It was heartening to watch debates says that the reduction of poverty and his own home state to his on poverty on national television during the BJP-led coalition was cause! While there are some semi- channels, particularly the English 0.8 per cent while it is going down official candidates, like Mayawati ones. Elitist in approach, they seldom by 2.5 per cent annually since the for instance, there are others who deliberate privations of the common Congress takeover. Assuming that have an eye on the job but are not man. Likewise, the English press is the reduction to 22 per cent is getting the requisite organizational reluctant to carry news or write-ups correct, still one out of every five backing. Like L. K. Advani, for on poverty because it has come to Indian is poor. This is a dismal instance! believe that its well-to-do readers do record in the last six and a half not want to know about the extent of decades after independence. If you The recent surveys have helped poverty at the breakfast table. The were to add dimensions, other than to identify the prospects of the two Hindi and other language papers are food, you end up comparing India main contenders, the UPA and the more sensitive. This is probably the with backward countries in Africa. difference between India and Bharat. NDA. According to opinion trends, The Congress has been ruling both will fail to get a majority on Yet the nation cannot run away their own. So they may have to at least for 50 years and it is the from the fact that roughly 65 per most to blame for the mess in depend on, like in 2009, on external cent of Indians are poor, 35 per cent support. Here, surprise of surprises, which the country is today. Poverty of them destitute. After projecting and education, both neglected we have the prospect, according to the Planning Commission’s criteria by the British, should have been the surveys, of the emergence of not for expenditure as Rs 24 in villages on top of the party’s agenda. one, but two new fronts. The Third and Rs 33 per day in urban areas, An undertaking given during the Front and the Fourth Front! the government has realized that independence struggle on social the amount is too paltry to convince justice remains on paper. So do the The Fourth Front: AIADMK, even the most gullible. provisions on equal opportunities Trinamool, BSP, YSR Congress, in the Constitution. TRS, DMDK, and MNS. Their Now the average has been placed around Rs 50. This sum present strength:67. Their potential Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is also too meager. Yet some strength: 122. A possible increase an eminent economist, was expected of 55 seats. leading Congressmen have tried to trivialize poverty by proclaiming to bring things in order but he has that one can have a full, hearty been a failure. The growth rate in The surveys are generally highly the last two years is less than the speculative. We do know that some meal for Rs 5 at Delhi and Rs. 12 at Mumbai. According to the Planning proverbial Hindu growth rate of 3.5 parties would like to be in alliance Commission, seldom right, poverty to 4 per cent, although the overall with others while some would like has been reduced to 22 per cent. The average in the last decade is 5.5 to go it alone. Alliances are not Commission, being a creature of the per cent, reportedly next to China, easy to forge. New alliances more ruling Congress, gives credit for the leader in the world, Manmohan so. However, the surveys have this to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has turned out to be more of done us the favour of indicating Singh’s government. a politician than an economist. This to us what can be in store in the is proved by the fact that he has future. We must prepare ourselves Planning Commission’s Deputy managed to be the Prime Minister for surprises. Chairman for nearly a decade. JANATA, August 4, 2013 3

India’s poor performance is not due to the global factors, ascribed Politicalisation of Criminals – by pro-establishment economists, the Preventive Remedy but because of poor governance. The fact is that we are spending more Rajindar Sachar than we are earning. The government has doubled it in the last 10 years. A recent two Judge judgment legislations or even when holding Inflation has been galloping upward. of the Supreme Court holding that Bandhs and demonstrations. In Printing of currency notes, if at all Section 8(4) of Representation of such a situation automatic vacation a short-term relief, is not a solution. People Act. 1951 which exempts of the seat of a sitting legislator The paucity of funds is sought to be from vacating the seat by a sitting would empower the ruling party met with panicky measures. legislator convicted of offences with an arbitrary uncanalized power. under sub section (1) and (2) (3) Consider the enormity of injustice Take the concessions offered of Section 8 (which prohibit a to the elected legislator, who had to foreign investors, 49 per cent person from contesting elections no conviction at the time of getting in insurance and oil and gas. The to the legislators) till his appeal is elected, but getting convicted during measures have been compared to decided is ultra vires. Surprisingly his term would automatically have opening the floodgates. Instead there is less panic and opposition his seat vacated, notwithstanding of self-sufficiency, the cardinal to the judgment than one would that his conviction may be set aside in appeal shortly thereafter; but by principle after independence, the have expected – evidently because then another person would have been foreign investment has become the the judgment exempts from its applicability the existing legislators elected, thus causing irreparable mantra. Then foreign investment – thus the present members of damage to the career of the political was welcome in technical or such Parliament and state legislators in activist. fields in which we had no know- states going to polls this year are not how. Now any field or method is The court recognizes the anomaly really affected. but opines that legislator can ask for good enough as long as it attracts The two judge Bench sidestepped stay of conviction by the appellate foreign investors. Still they want court and if granted he can continue. more concessions. a five judge decision in Prasbhakar case which had categorically held With respect, is this not leaving to the uncertainty of different reactions Bureaucrats, more than politicians, that the two categories, one of by judges prompting the cynical must share the responsibility. They persons who are not legislators and the other persons who are legislators comment in English law that what too like the Prime Minister have is justice is measured by the length followed the World Bank advice to “is based on well established nexus with public purpose”. The two of Chancellor’s foot. I am afraid convert India into crony capitalist situations are different – in the later this process is so discretionary and state. America has not helped a bit course vacation of a seat affects the would vary with the individual despite high-ranking people from house. As it is, the courts on their decision by different judges – hardly the US visiting the country every own have developed a universal a satisfactory alternative to Sec. other day. practice of permitting the convicted 8(4) of the Act, which had at least member only to mark his presence practical object to see that the Most members of parliament to prevent his disqualification but electorate choice is not nullified by and state legislatures live in their forbidding him to take part in the adverse decision of the trial court make-believe world and continue proceedings or vote till his appeal is without giving an opportunity of to delude themselves. It is well decided. So for all practical purposes it being corrected in appeal which known that they get subsidized food a convicted MLA plays no part in is his statutory right. In order to and many other things. The central the deliberations of the legislature. avoid further delay (which is really hall of parliament where the MPs the villain) it could be legislated This interpretation by Supreme that seat will stand vacated if first congregate to rub shoulders with the Court would have serious appeal fails – no further appeals obliging journalists has a canteen consequences for human right or revision before the courts will which is run by the Railways and activists, trade unionists and prevent the seat being vacated. It sells food at a ridiculously small opposition political activists, who could also be provided that appeal price. are so indiscriminately and partisanly by sitting convicted legislator will (Continued on Page 6) prosecuted under various security be mandatorily decided within 4 JANATA, August 4, 2013 three months. This alternative has I am more disturbed by the second the law is such an ass.” the merit of removing criminality judgment holding valid Sec. 62(5) In U.K. right to vote is only from elections and also prevention of Representation of People Act. denied if a person is convicted and of irreparable harm and injustice to 1951 which prohibits any person sentenced for 12 months. In Israel the elected legislator. from voting if he is confined to even a convicted person in jail is No, I am not underestimating prison even on a petty offence or is allowed to vote. in the lawful custody of the police the danger of criminalization of United Nations as far back as 1955 politics – personally I would call (say being a slum dweller, poor rickshaw driver, and thus unable to have resolved “that unconvicted it politicalisation of criminals, prisoners are presumed to be because previously criminals give bail) while permitting a rich accused, like the Coal gate and innocent and shall be treated as helped candidates to win, but now such”. criminals compete to themselves Telecom scandals accused and even become legislators – a horrible when being prosecuted and even a Also why is it that the political undemocratic situation endangering food hoarder if on bail, but denying parties, which are so upset at the clean democracy. A recent survey the trade union workers like Maruti latest Supreme Court ruling are shows that at present 162 out of 545 the right not only to contest election mysteriously silent and inactive Lok Sabha members and 1258 out of but even the right to vote because at not amending election rules 4032 sitting MLA have themselves the anti-labour state is colluding to to give the voters the right of declared that criminal cases are keep them in jail – would this not negative voting, by carrying out pending against them. And this in (against their better sense) provoke the unanimous recommendation of spite of the warning given by Vice ordinary simpleton citizen to tend Election Commission to the Central President Ansari as far back as 2004, to agree with Charles Dickens Government so as to provide an namely, character Bumble when he said: “if extra button of negative voting in the law supposes that – the law is an ass” electronic voting machine. Are they “Exactly 23 per cent of MPs – a idiot, echoing in the same strain afraid of facing the searing answer of elected in 2004 had criminal cases what provoked George Chapmen the electorate in the voting machine registered against them – over (1559–1634) to say “I am ashamed, of “None of the Above”. half of these cases could lead to imprisonment of five years or more. Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 may be a The situation is worse in the case of bad law but that does not make it unconstitutional. Here I may relate a MLAs….Are we not progressing?” story. Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), who was the Lord Chancellor of My opposition to the extreme England, was once taking a walk in London with his daughter Margaret interpretation by the Supreme and son-in-law Roper. They saw a man running, and Margaret said to Sir Court resulting in validly elected Thomas " Father get that man arrested". When Sir Thomas asked why, legislator losing his seat should she replied "Because he is a bad man". "But which law has he violated ?", not be interpreted as in any way asked Sir Thomas. "He has violated the law of God", replied Margaret. minimizing the danger of criminality "Then let God arrest him", said Sir Thomas, "I get people arrested only in our legislatures. Rather the if they break the law made by Parliament". contrary. I feel that more satisfactory There is a difference between law and morality, as the British jurists mechanism to halt politicalisation Bentham and Austin pointed out. Section 8(4) may be a bad law but of criminals is to have a law, long nevertheless it is still a law. advocated by P.U.C.L. that if six Many people say that since several members of Parliament or State months before the polling date, a Legislative Assemblies have criminal backgrounds, no law will ever be person has been charge-sheeted by a made or implemented to clean the system. court, he /she would stand debarred To this my reply is that India is passing through a historical transition from contesting the forthcoming period from feudal society to modern society, and to my mind will last election. This time frame would give about another 15-20 years. It will take this long a period to clean the the concerned person to have the system and bring about an honest, just and modern social order. It can charge sheet quashed by appellate only be by peoples' struggles that such a social order can be created, not court, thus negativing the doubtful just by judicial decisions or making laws. One wishes that this transition defence put forth by political would take place immediately and without any pain or turbulence, but parties of false cases being lodged unfortunately that is not how history functions. against political rivals on the eve of - Markandey Katju nomination date. JANATA, August 4, 2013 5 Wealth Creation versus Poverty Alleviation

K. S. Chalam

The country is undergoing an educate or formulate policies for the policy makers who are conditioned economic turmoil. The international welfare of the people. Elections in by their job and the persuasive soft situation seems to be not comfortable a capitalist democracy may perhaps skills of international organisations to recover from the loss of stature be considered as a process to gain have designed programmes and and pride once India claimed to have control over decision making to schemes in India to create wealth. enjoyed. The business economists distribute resources among their and idealist scholars are quarrelling clientele and may not necessarily for The first thing that they have on petty issues in their display of those whose support is bought. The done is to liberate trade to exchange loyalty to market. It is not easy transaction has a cost and benefit. our wares outside the country. It to change the rules of the game In this context, the poor are justified is said that the country has been once travelled too far under the in supporting those that dispense administered so far by unwise beacon of macro-economic models. doles instantly and do not trust in nationalist patriots who did not The manifestation of CAD, low a promiseof delivery at a future allow this to happen and the country industrial growth, increasing trends date. This is how some crumbs remained backward with the Hindu of inflation, etc. is a symptom of a flow into their quarters. People are rate of growth. Some of our Hindu particular type of economic policy pragmatic in their outlook unlike patriots have also agreed with this and therefore, the consequences are some ideologues like us. idea and promoted it as we were within the comprehension of the getting copious donations and gifts experts. Consequently, they assure The record of achievements of (including in places of worship) in us of the possible restoration soon. liberalisation, the protagonists claim dollars from expatriates who were is not a mean accomplishment given working abroad. Our NRI experts We must appreciate the recent the amount of wealth created in developed ideas and theories to Ordinance on the Right to Food, a the country in too short a period. enrich the capitalist world through very courageous and relevant act to Let us look at the meaning of their publications marketed by provide relief to the poor who are wealth. Economists from the time international publishing houses. adversely affected by some of the of Adam Smith have been defining This has improved our competence. economic policies. The critiques and measuring wealth consisting However, some accuse that they are might say that the policy is only of ‘the annual produce of the land responsible to a large extent for the to win the confidence of the poor, and labour’. It is further enlarged current crisis. the real voters. It is amusing to to include all goods, resources, note the comments of our political assets that have an exchange value. At home, the country had scarce class accusing the other as gaining This is different from income that natural resources like minerals, political mileage out of it. But, the has a quality of providing a stream rivers, talents and so on and many politicians or party functionaries are of benefits over a period of time. free goods like clean air, atmosphere, not there just to watch and wink, National income therefore is flow etc. that were languishing without they are supposed to execute their of goods and services in a country proper use. The common property artifices at appropriate time. What during a year. resources like forests - livelihood we learn from academic discussions resources - that were freely are broad contours of a game Wealth creation needs conditions accessible to poor got restricted. given the parameters.Nonetheless, of scarcity and capability to The NRIs changed our mind-set and they just don’t happen like that. exchange. As long as free goods and liberated the caged economy.The Every politician irrespective of public goods exist, they do not add tiger in the cage is released and the the party plays the same to win value to the wealth. They are to be elephant started walking on its legs. the elections. No political party made economic goods. Keeping the The rate of growth of the economy contests elections, except the left, to principles of economics in mind, the almost reached double digit, dollars 6 JANATA, August 4, 2013 poured in and our urban landscape areas (reduced nutritional standards per cent per year. It seems the drop brimmed with beautiful structures to 1700 calories from 2100), the in poverty is not due to the fast rate and as someone remarked, even magic figure of 22 per cent (below of growth as the best performers dalits got (cleaning) jobs. The per nutrition poverty) is obtained.The are Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and capita income was raised and our figures are worked out with transfer Punjabe that showed moderate investments and buyouts abroad of income through MNAREGA.A growth, Bihar and Odisha with a by our Indian Inc. proliferated. The wonderful statistical exercise. Yet, low base. Damn it, is poverty such wealth of a few is accumulated in the rate of decline of poverty is 2 per a difficult object to elude our crafty leaps and bounds. How did this cent while GDP growth is around 5 policy makers for so long? happen. It is very simple and easy. Nothing is hidden from the market, (Continued from Page 3) everything including our traditions The welfare schemes, started and Hindon river banks. and the so-called family silver, our with good intention, are starving for Had the two main political parties, mines, our human resources were funds. The Congress-run government the Congress and the BJP, been exported, our climate traded to get has an eye on the next elections. For together in backing measures against dollars. The economy is linked with unpredictable gains, the Congress corruption in administration, the trade one and half times its size. has put the entire economic system situation would have been different. FDIs, FIIs including the Swiss Bank at stake. The opposition parties may deposits rolled into real estate, new be shrill in their criticism, but they Probably a mid-term poll could investment projects, etc. This has put are right in stating that Manmohan have given a fresh start to the pressure to import gold and trendy Singh’s rule has been fraught with country. The new government would automobiles, etc. The wealth thus mismanagement, corruption and a have had at least five-year tenure to created is so easy and simple through few belated steps to stem the rot. The formulate policies for that period. It what is called a change of mind set. economic situation has been going would have renewed trust which is from bad to worse. badly needed for investment from Interestingly, the absolute number within and from abroad. Even now of poor has increased during the India is a non-sympathetic society. Manmohan Singh should go back to same period. Per capita availability Over the years, it has deteriorated in people. His remaining 10 months in of cereals declined. Economists values. There is not a semblance of office are a lame duck rule. have tried to define and formulate idealism, much less movement, to innovative ideas to bring down the lift the lower half to lead a viable Studies in Socialism figure to satisfy the international living. Poverty, unemployment and By agencies and their confidence. No malnutrition, all signs of a decaying doubt, the rates have declined, but at society, are visible on an increasing Asoka Mehta a rate at which it was falling before scale. The bureaucracy has been the economic reforms under the reduced to an authority merely direct control of our own policies affixing seal, from of being the steel Published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan (if the rates are adjusted for the frame that it was till the beginning Centre for Socialist Studies- present criterion of calories). The of seventies. governments at the centre and Bangaluru in states have been formulating Once in a while a courageous umpteen numbers of policies official like Durga Shakti Nagpal Price Rs. 250.00 postage extra to reduce poverty with welfare appears on the scene to evoke schemes like Food Security to keep optimism. Her attack on the sand Send your order to the poor alive. The proportion of mining mafia in UP was applauded. Centre for Socialist Studies poor has remained at 40 according But then state chief minister, 191, 10th Cross, 10th Main, NGFI to one definition and hover around , was influenced by Layout Nagurbani, 50 per cent in another method politicians and she was suspended. Bengaluru 560 072 of measurement.Therefore, the Some of these politicians are the criterion of per capita income of Rs owners of trucks she impounded Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan Munshi 27 in rural areas and Rs 33 in urban while carrying sand illegally from Sadan Chowpatty, Mumbai 400 007 JANATA, August 4, 2013 7 Consequences of Racial Stereotyping Uday Dandavate

The killing of a black teenager, happens to me – at least before I provides a perfect opportunity Trayvon Martin, in Florida has was a senator. There are very few to understand the plight of the brought into focus the racial tensions AfricanAmericans who haven’t youth trapped in perceptions. It is in American society. Chris Serino, had the experience of getting on an important to understand that the lead investigator in the case, told FBI elevator and a woman clutching her American judicial process gives agents that he believed Zimmerman’s purse nervously and holding her rights to a panel of jury members action in shooting down a young breath until she had a chance to get drawn from the local community to boy were not based on Trayvon off. That happens often.” Obama address the evidence and determine Martin’s race, but instead on his further explained, if the accused is guilty or not. In Zimmerman’s case, though, his attire. Serino implied that the fear He added: “Now, this isn’t to lawyers did not evoke the Stand of being attacked by a hoodie-borne say that the African-American your Ground law in his defense; the thug prompted Zimmerman to shoot community is naïve about the fact influence of this law on the jury’s and kill Trayvon Martin. that African-American young men decision-making process was hard are disproportionately involved in Justifying George Zimmerman’s to deny. In fact, in an interview the criminal justice system; that use of brutal force by citing on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 they’re disproportionately both perceptions tied to the hoodie Trayvon Monday night, an anonymous juror victims and perpetrators of violence. was wearing calls for a serious said the panel that found George There are a lot of kids out there who consideration to subconscious racial Zimmerman not guilty considered need help who are getting a lot of profiling and stereotyping. This Florida’s Stand Your Ground law in negative reinforcement. Is there case has brought the issue of racial its deliberations. profiling into the public domain – more that we can do to give them especially in the background of the the sense that their country cares “Stand your Ground” governs “Stand your Ground” law in Florida about them and values them and is U.S. federal case law in which the that allows an individual the right willing to invest in them? It’s not to right of self-defense is asserted to use reasonable force (meaning make excuses for that fact – although against a charge of criminal the right to shoot another person) to black folks do interpret the reasons homicide. The Supreme Court of the defend himself/herself without any for that in a historical context. United States ruled in Beard v. U.S. requirement to evade or retreat from They understand that some of the (158 U.S. 550 [1895]) that a man a dangerous situation. violence that takes place in poor who was “on his premises” when he black neighborhoods around the came under attack and “. . . did not President Barak Obama delivered country is born out of a very violent provoke the assault, and had at the a very poignant speech after the past in this country, and that the time reasonable grounds to believe, Zimmerman verdict. In expressing poverty and dysfunction that we see and in good faith believed, that the the reality of an average African- in those communities can be traced deceased intended to take his life or American child born to an African- to a very difficult history.” (Extracts do him great bodily harm . . . was American family, Obama lamented: from the President’s comments.) not obliged to retreat nor to consider “Trayvon Martin could have been whether he could safely retreat, but The Zimmerman verdict has me 35 years ago.” was entitled to stand his ground.” opened fresh wounds for those who “There are very few African- face discrimination on a daily basis. In a country where the right to American men in this country who It has also challenged the idea that bear arms has become a matter haven’t had the experience of being by electing a black President for of passionate national debate, the followed when they were shopping two terms, the American society has Florida verdict has posed a challenge in a department store. That includes managed a fundamental shift in race to the supporters of the right to me. There are very few African- relations. Mass protests are already bear arms by exposing the fact that American men who haven’t had taking place against Florida’s Stand stereotypes are indeed working the experience of walking across your Ground law that allows a against the African-American the street and hearing the locks citizen to kill in self-defense. On the community. Regardless of whether click on the doors of cars. That other hand, the Zimmerman verdict George Zimmerman’s impulse in 8 JANATA, August 4, 2013 shooting Martin was driven by racist motivation, it is clear that Robbing the Workers racial profiling of impending danger to Enrich the Capitalists was a trigger for his actions and grounds on which the jury acquitted Zimmerman. Piyush Pant The racial divisions in American society have become clear from It seems that Manmohan Singh to stimulate the market. But it the reactions to the jury verdict. A government refuses to see the failed on both the counts. Even the Washington Post/ABC News survey writing on the wall or is it that it World Bank, once the ideological found 41 percent of respondents in has deliberately blindfolded itself and financial supporter of countries favor and 41 percent against the to avoid seeing the reality? Or can willing to follow the privatization jury’s ruling, with a sharp difference we say that it has conveniently path in 1990s, revised its position, between African-Americans and assigned for itself the role of the indicating the outward signs of the whites. The poll showed 86 percent agent of Multinational corporates unsuccessful choice. of African-Americans opposed the bent upon marauding the Indian verdict, while 51 percent of whites economy? Otherwise why the Indian Instead of handing over the agreed with the verdict. A Pew government should keep opening pension and savings of the workers to Research Center survey showed mercilessly the door of Indian the vagaries of the financial market, 86 percent of African-Americans economy for the foreign capital the Manmohan Singh government disagreed with the verdict while 49 when the role of unbridled capital should pay heed to the fact that in the percent of whites were in favor. in devastating the US and European new social and economic scenario, The verdict in Florida and economy has amply been proved. countries that had made reforms its aftermath will have a long- In order to wriggle itself out from are now working on “reforming term impact on the future of the the mounting criticism of policy the reforms”. Chile itself, which movement for social justice. It calls paralysis and to prove that it has not is often quoted as the ideal case of for re-examining the stereotypes lost the track of economic reforms, pension reforms by the proponents, we harbor in our subconscious and the Manmohah Singh government has recently created a basic pension for realizing possible consequences has now set itself upon the road to for low-income earning over 65 of letting those stereotypes guide further economic reforms knowing years old citizens who couldn’t our impulses. Both the supporters it well that these reforms are not the retire in the private system. This and opponents of the jury verdict panacea for the falling economic failure was due to insufficient agree on one point – the unfortunate growth and the mounting fiscal accumulated funds or simply consequences for Martin were not deficit. because individuals could never of his asking. His family suffered contribute as many had to survive consequences of racial profiling. In It is well known that these types on low incomes in the informal a world torn apart by violence, racial of reforms played havoc with the economy. Similarly in Argentina, profiling is a mind’s natural instinct economies of Latin American and President Christina Kirchner has for safety. Regardless of whether it later East Asian countries. It is announced the government’s is racial profiling of a Sikh man in to be mentioned that many Latin intention of nationalizing nearly 30 Phoenix after 9/11, or of travellers with Muslim names at airports American countries imitated the billion USD of private pension funds worldwide, there is a need to develop Chile and reformed their pension to protect retirees from falling stocks sophisticated approaches to sensing systems in 1990s, turning them into and bonds as a result of the current danger beyond common stereotypes. a fully or partially funded system international financial crisis. In fact Progress will not be achieved by of mandatory individual accounts. the experience of Latin American only gaining professional education. But the privatization of pension has countries has been that basing Productivity and efficiency – not lived up to the promises of its itself on the ‘advantages’ of private measures of a modern society – proponents and supporters. It was investment over a state-run system, will not serve us well if we do not supposed to improve the coverage the new social security system acquire empathy and responsibility and benefits to the workers and the has been a complete failure. Says, for overcoming racial stereotypes. generation of savings was supposed international organization, Social JANATA, August 4, 2013 9

Watch: “Far from guaranteeing Hence a new system was any clear superiority of the new workers a dignified pension, implemented that would allow system in extending coverage to privatization has established a the state to reduce, and ultimately non-salaried or independent worker system in which the saver has less eliminate its financial burden categories. According to Pension control over his or her destiny. The from the old bankrupt system and Fund Association information, by new prevailing reality has failed to would provide adequate benefits to June 2003 the number of independent achieve the reform’s objectives of guarantee the population a dignified workers affiliated to the pension greater coverage, more transparency retirement from active working funds was only 4.3 percent of the and the promised increase in life. The intention was for this total number of affiliates. retirement income.” new system to have the following characteristics: a broadened reach This is to be remembered that Take the case of Bolivia. A report including segments of the population the promoters of social security published by Social Watch says that not previously covered, in particular reform in Bolivia had made promise in Bolivia pension system reform non-salaried workers; capacity of dignified pensions that would was presented as a social necessity, for self-financing; investment improve on the social results of the previous PAYG system. This became an argument that was supported by management transparency; potential the main justification put forward by the clearly dysfunctional state of for strengthening the stock market; reformers. However, an evaluation the existing pension system in force capacity for continuity in times of economic crisis; capacity to of results indicates a worse situation for several decades - but was in create mechanisms for maintaining and reinforces the hypothesis that fact designed as a potential source the value of pensions; capacity to the true objectives of the reform of profit for private investment. increase the incomes of Bolivians bore little relation to the endeavour According to one of the main over the age of retirement. to create better living conditions for promoters of the reform (Pena the working population. In the first Rueda, 1996), the replacement of More than five years after place, transforming the system has the ‘pay as you go’ (PAYG) social the implementation of pension not generated a significant increase security system was justified by data system reforms, it was found that a in the number of beneficiaries, suggesting its virtually bankrupt comparison of both social security so it cannot be said that it has state as: systems' coverage, taking into contribution to a reduction in the account their relative size as a wide spread phenomenon of large The proportion of active workers proportion of the economically active social groups being excluded from' to pensioners was three to one, population, reveals that the situation social security benefits. Secondly, which is insufficient to financially has not changed significantly since the promise of increased incomes support the system and much less the reform. According to the National has met with similar disappointment. than what is considered to be the Employment Survey, in 1996 the The new scheme was designed in ideal proportion (ten to one). economically active population such a way that access to a pension figures were higher than in the 2001. is linked to a substantially longer The coverage of the system was Even worse, if we take the data used working life and in addition it does very limited with only 314,437 by government officials in charge not guarantee access to a dignified regular contributors in an of implementing the reform (an pension for all workers. There is a economically active population of economically active population of special category provision in the 2.6 million. 2.6 million in1996), the previous Law of Pensions called 'minimum system would have a much greater retirement' that is applicable to a The system was discriminatory coverage than the current one, worker who has not paid enough in its lack of coverage for the with the number of contributing contributions to finance a pension substantial number of non-salaried workers amounting to 12 percent equivalent to at least 70 percent of workers. of the active population. To the the minimum national salary but discomfort of the reform's designers who has reached 65 years of age. The system was vulnerable and implementers, disaggregated He or she will receive a pension or to inflation and employment data on the number of affiliates per annual income equivalent to this fluctuations and mobility. type of worker also fail to indicate percentage "until the accumulated 10 JANATA, August 4, 2013 funds are exhausted," irrespective of member for sustenance. The current Pension will be based on the whether or not this pension covers pension system in no way provides amount of contributions made by all the remaining years of life after for this shift. But the real objective the worker during his working life retirement. In short, there will be is to privatise the sector. Through and the value of contribution at the workers who only have access to the Pension Fund Regulatory and time of retirement, which would be a very small pension - the current Development Authority Bill, the subject to fluctuations in the stock minimum salary is no more than capitalists want to use the big pool market. In other words, the value USD 58 a month - for a time that of savings of the Indian working of workers' savings would not be will not necessarily coincide with class, which has so far been under protected and there will be no pre- their remaining life span. State control. It is said that the Bill defined amount or ratio of salary is aimed at expanding the coverage that is guaranteed on retirement. Thus the Bolivian example makes of pension funds and converting it clear that the two systems are them into source of finance for The government will give up guided by different perspectives: monopolist capitalist ventures. The its role of protecting the value of while the previous PAYG system Bill wants to provide cheap source workers' savings; it will instead hand regarded the provision of security of finance for the capitalist class, over charge to various institutions of to workers after their active working at the cost of guaranteed income to finance capital, both state owned life as an inescapable obligation of the workers once they are retired and private, Indian and foreign. the state, the new system abandons and old. It is being said in praise of this state responsibility, delegating the new pension scheme that it is A part of workers' contributions the provision of security for the meant to include crores of people will be invested in the stock market, economically inactive population to and each contributing member who presently are not covered by the 'efficient' workings of the market. wilt be given a choice about the any pension schemes. But the real Now the question is: Why the Indian composition in which his or her intention is to make the capitalist government is so desperate to hand savings will be allocated, between employers free of their obligation over the pension sector to the private government debt, shares of private to contribute to the retirement fund players? It should be remembered companies and other financial of those they employ. It is set to that when as instruments. Finance Minister had paid a visit apply for both regular as well as to Washington, he had assured the contractual employees. It means Thus a subscriber to the new American secretary for treasury that under this scheme, whatever the pension scheme is said to be that the Indian government would pensioner will get in the future will exposed to the following risks after hurry up reforms like privatization come out from his own contribution retirement: of pension, banking industry and alone. There will be no contribution more FDl in insurance sector. from any other source, not even by As per the scheme, a subscriber However, the, oft-repeated and the central or state government. Thus is to make the choice of investment familiar government plea is that the the new scheme has all the potential portfolio. As bureaucrats are mostly national exchequer no longer has to be doomed from the very start as uninformed in finance and investment funds to serve the burgeoning sector. the workers will prefer to keep their related matters, one might end up in Moreover, banking on the Old Age savings in long-term fixed deposits, making wrong choices, which would Social and Income Security report or gold or in any other form they eventually rob her or him of the old of 2000, the government says that choose than joining a scheme fully age pension. the ranks of the elderly in India are financed by them and which puts growing at a higher rate (3.8 per cent their savings at the disposal of If there is a major market shock, per annum) than overall population speculative world of stock markets. he/she may end with no ability to (1 .8 per cent). By 2030 the number purchase an annuity and the entire of people over age 60 is expected to Anti-employee tenor of the money contributed by her or him soar from the current 80 million to Pension Bill becomes clearer if we may be lost. nearly 200 million. This will sharply look at the provisions of the proposed increase the number of people per Act. The important features of the Since annuity cannot be cost family depending on the working Bill are: indexed, its real worth may fall, JANATA, August 4, 2013 11 depending upon the inflationary pressures in the economy. Cancellation of Two Steel Projects has Lessons for Other Projects A subscriber is to perforce contribute towards the charges of In quick succession two steel BoA to all state governments clearly investment managers, whose priority projects worth 18b $ have been states that no forcible acquisition often is as to how much profit they cancelled after they failed to acquire should be carried out for SEZs. This could make through investment of land and other clearances. Many was backed up by Instruction 29 the astronomical corpus of pension in government are saying it’s bad guidelines on land acquisition for fund in the volatile share market. for investment, and environmental, SEZs on August 18, 2009 to all state Chief Secretaries reiterating: Thus these provisions amply labour and other guidelines need make it clear that on the pretext of to be relaxed to attract foreign The State Governments would increasing the reach of pension to all investment in manufacturing. As not undertake any compulsory the working people, the government people’s movements opposing many acquisition of land for setting up of is trying to convert the right of of these big infrastructure projects, the SEZs. BoA will not approve any workers to pension into a scheme we feel that these projects are SEZs where the State Governments of robbing the workers for the nothing but resource grab and have carried out or propose to carry benefit of the capitalists. It is not transfer to private corporations out compulsory acquisition of land that this Right of the workers is for nothing and in violation of for such SEZs after 5th April 2007. self-assumed. It has been recognized constitutional provisions. We need stricter implementation of the by the Supreme Court as well in While acquisition under Land existing guidelines to stop such loot its various judgments. In one of Acquisition Act 1894 has been of natural resources and stern actions the judgments the Supreme Court halted by the Odisha High Court against those responsible. said that pension was “not a bounty for process violations, the illegal payable on the sweet-will and forcible acquisition of forest land The POSCO Steel project in pleasure of the government and ... continues in violation of FRA 2006 Odisha is infamous for several pension is a valuable right vesting and despite intense local opposition. illegalities to date: tree-felling; in a government servant.” Even the The villagers have taken several grabbing forest-dwellers’ land; Fourth Pay Commission Report resolutions in their gram sabha not to categorically declares "pension is incomplete assessment and deliberate divert their forest land for non-forest not by way of charity of an ex-gratia concealment of facts, seizing natural purposes in the years 2008, 2010 and payment, or purely social welfare resources without requisite MoU and 2012. In the gram sabha resolution measure, but may fairly be said to environment clearance; criminally of October 18, 2012 the Dhinkia be in the nature of a 'right' which is beating, arresting and killing those panchayat gram sabha noted: enforceable by law." resisting the project; and flagrantly violating fundamental rights to life The Gram Sabha endorse [sic] –PUCL Bulletin and liberty of local citizens. Now decision taken by the Palli Sabhas the Central and State governments to not give consent to the diversion Janata Subscription have connived with POSCO by of forest lands under its customary Annual Rs. : 260/- modifying rules to continually use and boundary for the purpose of Three Years : 750/- extend its in-principle approval as the POSCO steel plant project, or multi-product SEZ and violating for any other purpose, and directs Demand Draft / Cheque on the requirement that there will be no the District Level Committee and Mumbai Bank forcible acquisition of land for SEZs. the State government to ensure strict in favour of compliance with the provisions of JANATA TRUST On January 18, 2013 in the the Forest Rights Act, the guideline D-15, Ganesh Prasad, 56th Board of Approval meeting issued by Ministry of Environment Naushir Bharucha Marg, POSCO was given the 5th in- & Forests on 30.07.2009 and the Mumbai 400 007 principle approval extension! A June guidelines issued by the Ministry of 15, 2007 letter issued by the SEZ Tribal Affairs on 12th July 2012 in 12 JANATA, August 4, 2013 this regard. Diversion of forest land SEZ developers like POSCO! When clearance of 2011. Based on the without compliance to the Forest the BoA is itself acknowledging NGT judgment of 31.3.2012 the K Rights Act and the above mentioned difficulties in land acquisition, Roy Paul committee was constituted guidelines is a violation of the Forest which are primarily because locals and its recommendations are being Rights Act and a criminal offence. have rejected the project, why is it considered again by the MoEF. continuously extending the approval Consequently, and given the 2007 The POSCO area in Jagatsinghpur, for POSCO SEZ? clearances for the project have Odisha is the site of intense local lapsed, the NGT has once again resistance. The repression and The Center is hiding behind halted illegal land acquisition and violence that villagers in the area false assurances by the state tree-felling in the area. have been facing since the inception government of Odisha that no of the project are widely documented compulsory acquisition of land The Centre and the State are in the media, by state bodies and by is being undertaken for POSCO colluding to violate laws and independent NGOs (http://www. SEZ! There are daily media reports guidelines and the decision-making forestrightsact.com/corporate- and documentation of the struggles of powers of the Panchayats to favour projects/item/12-the-posco-project). the locals and the POSCO Pratirodh POSCO. With clear and documented Sangram Samiti against the forcible evidence of opposition, how can The 1620.496 hectare POSCO- and coercive land acquisition being the SEZ BOA claim that the land India Pvt. Ltd. multi-product SEZ undertaken by the state government. acquisition for POSCO is not was given its first in-principle The MoEF/ MOTA committee forced? What is the reason for giving approval on September 28, 2006 constituted by the MoEF made POSCO 5th in-principle approval in the 5th SEZ Board of Approval explicit note of the copies of all palli (BoA) meeting. On December sabha resolutions against the POSCO extension in seven years? 15, 2009 in the 37th SEZ BoA project in Gobindpur and Dhinkia There is no justification for giving meeting 11 SEZs whose 2nd in- undertaken by the panchayats. It POSCO land and tax concessions principle approval term had lapsed, was on the basis of this report that including POSCO SEZ, were given the MoEF withdrew clearance to against the people’s will. Not only special de novo approvals to allow POSCO but then renewed it on the are the state and central governments the developers to complete their land state government’s false assurances! violating laws, they are creating acquisition! At the time, the rules of additional losses to the exchequer at extension of in-principle approvals In the October 2010 report of huge cost to the local people! did not allow for more than 2 the MoEF committee investigating extensions and the Board noted: the implementation of FRA 2006 The recent arrests of PPSS activists a majority of three committee by the state are clear indication of the …keeping in view the various members expressly took note of coercion and violence that the state difficulties expressed by the local opposition to the POSCO is resorting to have its way with the developers and also keeping in project and the violations and lapses rightful lands and resources of the view that under the existing SEZ in due process including suppression local people. We demand: Rules, there is no provision for grant of facts; violations of the Forest of third extension in respect of in- Rights Act 2006; inadequate R&R Revoke the in-principle approval principle approvals, though there is provisions; violations in obtaining to POSCO SEZ and denotify it a proposal for amending the rules the environmental clearance; and immediately! which may take some time. After compliance of CRZ regulations. The deliberations, the BoA decided to members recommended revoking Release all local villagers arrested grant de novo approval… and will the MoEF environmental clearance . for peacefully opposing POSCO process them at par with the first SEZ immediately! and the second in-principle approval The National Green Tribunal has extension cases… recently taken note of the series of Withdraw all police force from lapses and violations in obtaining the area and refrain from using force It is clear the in-principle approval environmental clearance for the and intimidating people to push extension rules were modified to aid POSCO project and suspended the forceful land acquisition! JANATA, August 4, 2013 13

Conduct independent fact- Provide clear compensation for and forest related grounds due to the finding and document the violence, the damages and losses of life and gross undermining of regulatory repression and coercion that the livelihood to the locals! processes! villagers in the POSCO area have been facing since the inception of No further approvals should be the project! granted to the project on environment Endorsed by:

–Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Shankar Singh, Bhanwar Meghwanshi, MKSS; Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan - National Alliance of People’s Movements; Prafulla Samantara, NAPM; Prashant Bhushan, Supreme Court Advocate; EAS Sarma, Former Union Power Secretary; Sandeep Pandey, Lok Rajniti Manch; Vidya Dinker, Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development; Ulka Mahajan, Sarvahara Jan Andolan; Mukta Srivastava, Anna Adhikar Abhiyan – NAPM,Preeti Sampat; Subhash Gatade, New Socialist Initiative; Gabriele Dietrich, NAPM; Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM; Vimal bhai, NAPMKanchi Kohli; Mahtab Alam; Usha Seethalakshmi; Simpreet Singh; Sanjeev Kumar; Mamata Dash; Asit Das, POSCO Pratirodh Solidarity, Delhi; Madhuresh Kumar, NAPM; Seela Mahapatra, NAPM; Madhumita Dutta, Researcher; Sandeep Kumar Pattnaik, National Center for Advocacy Studies Kindly intervene to stop another planned Uttarakhand

We are writing to you amidst a July at Indore, regarding permission massacre, worse than the painful situation of extreme urgency. The to raise the height of the Sardar Uttarakhand disaster. two lakh population of adivasis, Sarovar Dam from the present 122 farmers, fish workers, potters etc. mts to final height of 138 mts. Please intervene to stop the in the Narmada valley – in the political conspiracy to complete the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Thousands are yet to get dam by violating all laws and judicial Maharashtra and Gujarat in the 245 land, thousands more alternative dicta, when only 10% of its claimed villages require your immediate livelihood, fishing rights, house plots benefits have been realized and the support to save their lives and at R&R sites and other amenities financial, social and environmental livelihoods. and entitlements. Corruption worth, costs have increased ten-fold. Please 1,000 crores is under judicial do immediately write to the PM, Reportedly, the state governments investigation. Major environmental Water Resources and Social Justice have submitted reports of ‘complete non-compliance has been exposed Minister and others to act by law. rehabilitation’ to the R&R Sub by MoEF’s expert committees’. In Group of the Narmada Control such a situation, drowning the 2 –Medha Patkar, Authority (NCA) and the NCA is to lakh population in the living village Mukesh Bhagoria, take a final decision on the 2nd of communities would be a human Meera, Kailash Awasya

Contacts: Shri Manmohan Singh, Kumari Selja, Shri Harish Rawat, Prime Minister, Minister, Minister, Government of India Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Water Resources, South Block, Raisina Hills, Empowerment, Sharam Shakti Bhawan New Delhi 110 101 Government of India Rafi marg Fax: 011-23019545, Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra New Delhi-110001 Fax: 23016857 Prasad Marg, New Delhi Office: 11-23714200 , 11-23714663 and 11- E-mail: [email protected] Ph: 011- 23381001 and 23711780 Ph: 011-23381390 Residence: 11-23791352 Fax: 011-23014432, Fax: 11-23710804 (O) and Fax: 011-23012117 Fax: 11-23793184 ( R) E-mail: [email protected] and E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] ; 14 JANATA, August 4, 2013 Right-Shift in Japan Elections

D. K. Giri

The elections to the Upper house won the seat in Fukushima itself majority they had hoped for that in Japan were held on 21 July 2013, on a re-nuclearisation platform. would have enabled them to revise the day an international delegation The other contradiction is that the Constitution drafted by the arrived to confer on the nuclear when Japanese economy is falling Americans after World War II. So phase out and energy security. I and the society sinking, there is it is not clear how far Abe might was a part of that delegation. Out growing disillusionment in politics. succeed. However, at the moment of a total of 242 seats in the Upper The voter turn-out on 21st July was he is on a political high with a house of Japanese Diet, elections 51%, the third lowest in the post-war comfortable majority in both the were held for 142 seats. The share elections. In December 2012, in the houses. of seats of major parties was: Liberal elections to the Lower house, the Democratic Party (LDP), now the turn-out was 59 percent but on 21st Abe wants to be an ‘agent of ruling party got 65; New Komeito, July, half of the voting population change’. He is daring and different the coalition partner of LDP, 20; the did not bother to vote. from the colourless leaders in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), recent past. He is the first Prime 17; and the Social Democratic It is widely believed that Japanese Minister to visit a group of islets Party (SDPJ), 1. In December politics will take a substantial shift to that are at the heart of dispute with 2012, elections were held for the the Right. The Prime Minister Shizo China. He can get into a fighter Lower house when LDP had secured Abe will be free to pursue his radical plane on a rekki at the drop of a the majority. After the 21st July policies without resistance for the hat. He has toured the neighbouring elections, the LDP got majority in coming three years. Japan has been countries to solicit support for both houses for the first time in the historically a strong power in world Japan’s neighbourhood policy. He last two decades politics, hence radical changes in wants to regain the lost glory of Japanese politics will surely impact Japan in the fields of economy and The main opposition party, DPJ politics and economy in the world, technology. Some observers suggest had a shattering defeat, the party’s not only in Asia. that Abe, having learnt his lessons worst since its inception in 1998. from his short stint as Prime Minister Four years ago the Democrats won in A Professor of Political Science six years ago, may not push his a landmark election that had seemed in Hosei University in Tokyo said, nationalistic agenda neglecting the to herald a two-party system. But “Abe is pragmatic and has a strongly economic recovery. the Democrats failed to deliver on nationalistic side, this election could their promised reforms and many in free him up to do more of the latter, The major political issue is the Japan thought three and half years which is what he really wants”. Abe revision of the Constitution. Although of DPJ rule was a waste of precious has clearly three sides to his politics the Constitution can be revised only time. Japan, according to observers, – an economic reformer, a pragmatic by a referendum, the Parliament can is back to one-and-half party system. politician, and a nationalistic leader. initiate it. Given the border tensions However, Abe seems more careful with China and military build-up Many, both in Japan and with his politics, more focused on in the neighbourhood, Abe might outside, observe that the recent economic reform which is popularly be able to whip up nationalistic Japanese elections have been a bit known as “Abenomics”, relating to feelings on the Constitution. Article complicated. It is not easy to discern overcoming economic stagnation. 9 barred Japanese Army to engage the trend and the nature of current Abe has made no secret of his outside Japan. The Article, which politics there. For instance, there was political intentions too, like changing came into effect on 3 May 1947 this nuclear disaster in Fukushima in the Constitution, mainly, Article reads, “aspiring sincerely to an March 2011 causing heavy damage 9. Abe’s LDP and his coalition international peace based on justice to lives and habitats, yet the LDP partner do not have the two-thirds and order, the Japanese people JANATA, August 4, 2013 15 forever renounce war as a sovereign who agree to restart and run the of Junichiro Koizumi (2001-06), right of the nation to the threat of nuclear reactors. Government Japan’s Prime Ministers have been use of force as a means of settling supports the nuclear industry with frequently changing; there were six international disputes”. and “To different incentives. The opponents Prime Ministers in the last 5 years. accomplish the aim of the preceding argue that Japan has become a paragraph, land, sea, and air forces nuclear empire. With one-tenth of Prime Minister Abe emphasizes as well as other war potential will world’s earthquakes occurring in on the economic recovery as China never be maintained. The right of Japan, nuclear industries pose a has gone ahead of Japan. Abe came belligerency of the State will not be grave risk. Moreover, Japan does out strongly with his economic recognized”. Article 9 has, of late, not have the facility to dispose of programmes. The Abenomics been differently interpreted as Japan the nuclear waste. It negotiated consists of dealing with macro- has been considerably spending with Mongolia to take the waste but economic problems through a on its defense called national self- was refused. In Japan, the nuclear combination of fiscal stimulus, defense forces. According to some industry is like ‘a mansion apartment deregulation, and increasing the interpretation, Article 9 has, as such, without a toilet’. There is no risk money supply. Abe, in his victory been irrelevant. Abe is keen on accountability. Insurance companies speech said, “We would like to do revising or deleting it. Abe may be are not ready to cover the risks. In our best to generate a positive cycle able to cash on the average Japanese Germany, the State was responsible. - in which job conditions improve anxiety about China’s aggressive It is another matter, Germany has and wages rise, boosting personal postures. According to the latest decided, on a political consensus, to consumption and promoting reports, majority of the lawmakers phase out nuclear energy by 2022. companies to invest more - as soon is in favour of the amendment of the Japan seems to be a hostage to a as possible”. Abe plans to set up Constitution. nuclear village. This was the view special economic zones in which expressed in the conference held in deregulation will be encouraged to After Chernobyl, Fukushima Japan. attract overseas business and human had a major nuclear disaster. resources to Japan. Many wonder if About 160,000 people lost their In the elections, the LDP, having Abe would cool down on economic houses; families were torn apart secured the majority in the Lower reforms and pursue his nationalistic by evacuation; 50,000 people are house in December 2012, and been agenda. yet to be evacuated. There are in the government set the campaign 48 nuclear reactors in Japan and agenda for 21st July elections. The The Social Democratic Party, there is considerable unease with issues included, a stable government formerly the Socialist Party of Japan the nuclear installations in Japan. by avoiding a ‘twisted’ parliament, has been the main opposition party, But, to the surprise of many, the revising the post-war Constitution, and as a coalition partner had two accident in Fukushima did not joining the US-led 11-nation free small stints in power, in 1994-96 affect the pro-nuclear LDP in the trade initiative, the Trans-Pacific- and then 2009-12. But its support elections. The political economy Partnership, promoting nuclear has been fast dwindling. In the July of nuclear policy went in favour of technology exports, strengthening election to the Upper house, SDP won LDP. Prime Minister Abe said in security alliance with US, and above just one seat as its number fell from 4 Turkey, “now that we have had an all reviving Japanese economy to 3. In December 2012 Lower house accident, we can export safe nuclear through a policy package called elections the number of SDP seats power”. Japan, in order to boost Abenomics. dropped from 5 to 2. The SDP got its economy is planning to export 5.6 million votes in the proportional nuclear technology to countries What did Abe mean by a ‘twisted’ representation portion of the Lower like India, Indonesia, Vietnam and parliament? Both the houses in the house elections in 2003, whereas Turkey. Diet were controlled by opposing in the last December election, the parties; the Lower house by LDP and corresponding figure was 1.42 The local communities in Japan the Upper house by the Opposition. million votes. Mizuho Fukushima, have more power on energy sector. This led to policy paralysis and who has been the party leader for a The central government pays more volatile governments. In the recent decade since 2003, a vice-president money to those local communities past, since the long-lived government of Socialist International, resigned R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 4,, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, August 4, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday August 7, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 on 25th July from the party leadership position, owning responsibility for Welcome to Telangana the defeats of December 2012 and with a word of caution July 2013. During her leadership, the party’s strength in the Japanese Diet fell from 12 to 5. The Socialist Party welcomes state at its formation convention the formation of Telangana state held at Hyderabad in May 2011. The SDP needs to introspect on and congratulates its people. The Since then the national and Andhra how it rebuilds itself. Observers party believes that there has been Pradesh state leaders of the party feel that the SDP cannot grow a geographical, cultural, political, have played an important role in the as a viable opposition due to its economic and administrative creation of Telangana state. Prof. justification behind the demand for Keshav Rao Jadhav, national vice internal divisions and inappropriate separate Telangana state. It has been president, and Nurul Ameen, general policies. The current policies of the a demand based on peoples’ genuine secretary, continuously participated party are: defending Article 9 of the will. The people of Telangana region in the agitation at state level. Justice Constitution, advocating substantial made a long struggle for around 60 Rajindar Sachar, senior leader of increase in social welfare, complete years to achieve the goal. Several the party, and Bhai Vaidya, national disarmament of Japan, cancellation people lost their lives in police president, expressed solidarity with of US-Japan military alliance, firings and self-immolations during the supporters of Telangana and transition from mass-production/ the agitation. Had the central and raised their demand at various consumption society to a sustainable the state leadership taken timely forums. society, opposing nuclear power, decision on the issue, these lives and switching to wind energy as would have been saved. Socialist The Socialist Party would, the nation’s base energy source. Party appeals to the supporters nevertheless, like to caution These policies are all in contrast to of undivided Andhra Pradesh to the prospective leadership and those of LDP, the victorious ruling accept the decision in good spirit political parties of the resource-rich party of Japan. SDP’s policies are, and to help the new state in its Telangana that the valuable natural without doubt, progressive, in line development. Leaders from coastal resources should not be open to with Social Democratic principles, Andhra and Raylaseema regions loot by corporate houses. Rather but how they were communicated should exercise restraint in the best the resources should be used for is the question. Social Democratic interest of people who have been the upliftment of the hard working Parties, including the one in Japan, living together for years. masses. The political leadership have perception and communication should ensure that all citizens get issues. One wonders if SDP looked The Socialist Party had passed education, health, employment and credible and effective in integrating a resolution in favour of Telangana good governance in the new state. its policies with Japan’s economic –Dr. Prem Singh, General Secretary; Socialist Party (India) revival, Japan’s role in east Asia and the world, dealing with territorial tensions with China, regaining Japan’s old glory of being a technological power. The strategy for Social Democrats should be not Price: Rs. 20/- just state what they believe but how Janata Trust to reconcile people’s aspirations and D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir country’s needs with their beliefs. In Bharucha Marg, politics, an approach of principled Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. pragmatism is more appealing than perceived dogmatism.

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

Vol. 68 No. 31 Unfinished business August 11, 2013 S. Viswam

The government bit the bullet violent and militant reactions in the The partition story and finally announced the decision regions where the demand for new Kuldip Nayar to divide Andhra Pradesh, carve states has been loud and clear for a out a new state of Telengana from number of years. it, and leave it to the new state to Telangana- the land locked state decide about the future status of It is not as if the Centre was not or K. S. Chalam the two districts of Rayalaseema, is not seized of the problems posed namely Kurnool and Anantapur. by the continuing demand for new The announcement naturally was states. Nearly a dozen such demands Dilution of Parliament greeted with elation in the Telengana have been hitting the headlines for P. Rajeev region but predictably has thrown several years now. Union Home Rayalaseema, the coastal region and Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has the residual state, now being called taken the stand that there is no need Intergenerational Issues Seemandhra, into turmoil. The entire to set up another states reorganization Ethnic Minority Communities exercise was handled maladroitly, and commission to sort out the demands Suhas Khale has raised fresh problems that need to for statehood. Apparently, he would be addressed expeditiously. prefer to have the problems sorted out by his ministry. That the Home For a GM-Free India The two reasons for delaying a Ministry is the last agency which decision on Telengana despite the should be entrusted with this problem prolonged agitation in support of has been exposed by the manner in Sell-out to global its creation were twofold: how to which the Telengana demand was multi-brand retail tackle the fall-out of the creation of allowed to fester and grow and by Telengana in the rest of Andhra, and the inability of the government to two, how to tackle the eruption of take a decision on it. The first SRC fresh agitations for creation of new set up in 1954, paved the way for Editor : states in the regions where there linguistic states. But its report left G. G. Parikh have already been agitations, often many issues unaddressed, particularly accompanied by violence. In the those relating to the advisability Managing Editor : Guddi event, the Centre has chosen to ignore of setting up smaller states on the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, both these factors and decided to linguistic basis. An opportunity to set Naushir Bharucha Marg, address only the Telengana problem, up a second SRC was lost by the NDA leaving the other contentious issues government when it brought into Mumbai - 400 007. unattended to. The failure to take being three new states. Uttaranchal those decisions is likely to be fraught (now Uttarakhand), Jharkhand and Email : [email protected] with serious consequences, a glimpse Chhatisgarh were carved out of into which has been provided by the existing larger states. The pending 2 JANATA, August 11, 2013 demands for statehood, especially in Between the lines the north-eastern region, could have been addressed to and a decision taken at that time whether to concede The partition story or reject the demand. But the NDA left the issue by the wayside in its Kuldip Nayar haste to register political gains by creating three new states. Now, the UPA has committed the same Partition of the Indian in reality, the two communities had mistake. subcontinent is 66 years’ old. On never occupied the common ground August 14, 1947, the states of India and had remained distant from each There is admittedly a strong and Pakistan came into being in the other. case for small states. The viability wake of division. Even today they of such states however has to have not settled down as neighbours, Had this been the case, why be gone into methodically and much less as friends. Borders are the exchange of population was rationally, without the influence of bristling with troops and clashes ruled out when the separation was linguistic passions and emotions. are inevitable. A few days ago, five contemplated? Even Muslims on The advocacy for smaller states has men from the Indian army were their own did not raise any objection grown in the recent years, after the killed. The Pakistan army may not that those left behind in India would performance of large states has left be directly involved. But it helps the number more than the ones in the much to be desired. Vested interests jihadis and even the Taliban in their Muslim homeland, Pakistan. Hindus have developed over the both the plan to destablise India. It looks the left Pakistan and Muslims from demands for smaller states as well Pakistan army is not interested in Punjab and a few other cities in the as the retention of the larger states conciliation between Islamabad and north. It was a forced eviction. in their current size. These vested New Delhi. One incident or the other interests have to be demolished always takes place before the talks The shadowy demand for and an objective analysis made for between the countries begin. vivisection was in the background or against further organizational for a long time. But it never swept break-up of the country. But a What surprises me is that no Muslims off their feet until the closure has to be applied once front-rank politician, historian or thirties when the idea of a two-nation and for all to the whole issue of any other person of eminence has theory was propounded. The Muslim linguistic division of the country. It given me a cogent reason, much League in which Qaid-e-Azam is a pity that Mayawati’s suggestion for dividing Uttar Pardesh into four less a convincing one, to explain Mohammad Ali Jinnah infused life smaller states has been ignored. Her why the two communities, Hindus won hands down. proposal is worth reconsideration, if and Muslims, separated after having only because larger states like UP do lived together for more than a While in the 1937 elections, the not permit efficient administration. thousand years. League won 57 out of the 48 Muslim Smaller states are easier to govern seats in 11 provinces. A decade but their economic viability has to The radicals may claim that they later in 1946, it won all over India: be ensured before they are created. maintained peace because they were 116 seats out of 119 in Bengal, 43 In any case, a good case exists for a the rulers. Yet the fact is that Hindus out of 50 in Bihar, 54 out of 61 in second SRC. The Centre should not and Muslims had developed a UP, 34 out of 34 in Sind and so on. defer the announcement of a second composite culture which recognized The League failed to get a majority SRC indefinitely. Instead, it should the mingling of two civilizations and only in the mountainous North save itself and the country a lot of which had overcome the pulls of West Frontier Province where the trouble by initiating the process for polarization. Social contacts were Congress party (Red Shirts) won. a final linguistic cum administrative regular and festivals of the two division of the country. Problems communities were celebrated jointly. It is useless to debate the birth of do not get solved by running away Still it did not take the articulators of Pakistan which is getting more and from them. They get solved only by religious identity to tear the fabric more radical and Talibanized. But addressing them seriously, earnestly, apart from the thirties. Was pluralism there are liberal Hindu and Muslim and forthwith. only a cover to hide differences? And leaders in the two countries and JANATA, August 11, 2013 3 other parts of the world to question the people of the two communities Telangana- the land locked state parting company from one another after having shared a common way K. S. Chalam of living and following the same tradition for centuries. The long cherished dream of records to transform themselves as A top Congress leader Maulana the people of Telangana is going to landowners. Later, the Telangana Abul Kalam Azad warned that be a reality soon. The region will armed struggle and the distribution the Muslims in UP, Bihar and be demerged from the combined of lands in the region along with Madras would “awake and discover state after 56 years of cohabitation other political developments made overnight that they have become under the feeling of great pain and some of the scheduled castes, tribes aliens and foreigners. Backward sentiment of separation. But, this and OBCs as landholders with industrially, educationally and is how states or nations do emerge an average holding higher than economically, they will be left to the and develop. This is not the time Coastal Andhra. This character to reflect on our common Telugu needs to be kept in mind while mercies of what would then become culture and heritage as no one is formulating economic programmes an unadulterated Hindu Raj.” physically isolated or rehabilitated in the future state. The proportion of said that the elsewhere as in the time of partition. their population would also rise after splitting up of India did not solve We continue to live and sail together readjustment of data. enriching our common culture, the problem of “two nation” for there There are several states in the language and future sharing our were Hindus and Muslims all over country that are land locked and experiences and resources. the place. Humayun Kabir, Azad’s under developed. The so-called private secretary, told me that Azad BIMARU states are land locked We may briefly reflect here on thought the Congress leaders (Nehru (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan the economic status of the region. was then 58 years old and Sardar and Uttar Pradesh). Even Punjab, The economic history of the region Haryana and the Himalayan Patel 72) accepted partition because narrated by Adapa Satyanarayana, states have not benefitted from they had grown too tired; too old to Ramakrishna Reddy, Thirumali, trade liberalisation. In fact, the continue the agitation against the Vasant Bawa and others clearly regional disparities have grown British and wanted to devote the rest show that it had a distinct character during the post-reform period of their lives to build an India of their different from others. It is really as the investments like FDIs are dreams. The Muslims community a puzzle to know how the Nizam concentrated only on the coast and dubbed Azad as “Hindus’ show boy.” accumulated so much of wealth in a a few urban agglomerates. Delhi land locked region. It is revealed that is an exception being the national It was an avalanche of migration. the economic activity in the form of capital city and politically a buffer Humanity was on the move on industrialisation was initiated by the between North and West. That is both sides. None expected it, none state, getting its resources through the reason why the government is wanted it but none could help it. The primitive accumulation. One should now developing a Delhi-Mumbai two countries blamed each other as not forget that it was Nizam who corridor for industrial growth. they tried to grapple with this and had invited outsiders (through Telangana , being a land locked state other chaotic problems of partition advertisement) to cultivate 40 lakh needs to learn from the experiences after the first few heady days. The acres of barren land during 1920s of the states noted above and from refugees carried with them to the that helped to create agricultural its distinct historical and social country they went not only bitterness surplus for public investment. Thus, milieu. and vengeful thoughts but also Nizam had developed a model to stories of atrocities in the villages overcome the handicap of being an The city of Hyderabad was where they had lived peacefully with isolated province and not to solely developed due to several land related other communities for centuries. If rely on international trade. The and socio-economic factors. The partition was on the basis of religion, authors have also explained how the city has become bone of contention these instances only furrowed it “quartet of thugs” (four dominant among different interest groups deep. castes) bribed the revenue officials spread in different geographical (Continued on Page 6) to get their names entered in revenue regions that are close by and not the 4 JANATA, August 11, 2013 backward North Andhra, 1000 Kms elsewhere. Interestingly, adjoining very expensive for the survival of away. There is a tendency among Mahaboob Nagar has remained handlooms and power looms that some leaders to envision that the city one of the most backward area. led to distress migration and suicide can be developed as a growth centre The per capita SDP of Nizamabad, of weavers. Further, the egion has to take care of the development of Adilabad, Mahaboobnagar and to develop its roads and corridors the entire region. We may draw their even Warangal is less than the to connect with the emerging attention to the recent happenings combined state SDP and Hyderabad International Air Cargo corridor in in America and Europe where cities (some districts in Seemandhra too Nagpur (nearby) and to sea port in like Detroit have crumbled. There have per capita SDP less than state the neighbouring Prakasam/Guntur is no doubt that the city and its average). If we turn our attention of Coastal Andhra. This would resources can be utilised for the to the prospects of agriculture, the provide sufficient scope to share development of the rural Telangana. size of average holdings, water and its surplus resources in exchange But, the city cannot be overextended other complimentary factors are of Coastal Andhra space and funds beyond an optimum point that important. It is noted that the average to come out of the handicap of land becomes counterproductive. (What holdings of Telangana are higher lock to grow together. This is a win- is the situation of Mumbai?) Further, (2.4 Ha) than in coastal Andhra (0.7) win situation for both the regions to the city has emerged as a centre and top 5 per cent of the land holders continue their legacy of brotherhood of service sector - R and D -, that possess 33 percent of land. It is much and inseparability in the years to does not produce any tangible higher in South Andhra. The issue come to demonstrate their combined commodities but only weightless is that the landlords or big farmers prowess of Telugu culture. goods and software products. They in Telangana seem to have not used do not need vessels or ships to export their surplus for the industrialisation them from our borders to other of the region. Perhaps they are lured countries. Satellites and internet by the glamour of Hyderabad and Indian Socialists facilities are enough. Another we may hope that they will now turn In dialogue with important factor that needs to be kept their attention to industrialisation in mind is that the whole software and manufacturing in the districts. Gandhi and business is based on certain soft The newly formed state like that skills and advanced education and of Nizam has a responsibility to Ambedkar training. We are of the view that sponsor not only industrialisation the proportion of Telangana boys but also dispersal of industries to by and girls in this sector is limited cater to the needs of backward Bapu Heddurshetti as they had inherited a weak and districts in Telangana to realise the underdeveloped higher education dreams of the disadvantaged. The so- Published by sector in the districts. As someone called Bahujans in the region in the has remarked recently, most of name of SamajikaTelangana (social WordsWorth India, the engineering and professional Telangana) have been insisting on D-31, Oxford Apartments colleges in the city are either under just distribution of resources and 11, I. P. Extension the control of minorities or ‘others’. fruits of development. Delhi – 110092 (INDIA) Therefore, as late Jayashankar Email: [email protected] (Telangana ideologue) used to There are plenty of opportunities Website: www.wordsworthindia.com insist that educational institutions in the state in terms of mineral are to be given priority to prepare and natural resources including Telangana youth to take up greater water that need to be imaginatively ISBN: 978-93-82955-01-6 responsibilities in future. augmented for its development. Interestingly, Telangana has slowly Price: Rs. 245/- Some critiques allege that the city shifted to cotton by devoting around of Hyderabad did not allow people to 30 per cent of its fertile land it. The Copies can also be had from reason out the conditions in the rural state had sufficient skill base in Bapu Heddurshetti Telangana. The city and its extended handlooms and textiles but, they th region of Ranga Reddy, Medak, parts were never effectively utilised as 26, 6 Main, P.G.Halli, of Nalgonda have limited influence raw cotton is exported to Tamil Bangalore-560 003 on the structure of development Nadu and yarn is imported. This is JANATA, August 11, 2013 5 Dilution of Parliament

P. Rajeev

Parliament is the custodian of the The UID bill is supposed to be Both Houses passed the Finance Bill Constitution of India. The Preamble the law for the implementation of unanimously with these provisions. to the Constitution proclaims Aadhar. But the Parliamentary But when P. Chidambaram became the supremacy of the people of Standing Committee had submitted the Finance Minister, the scene the country. They exercise their its reports with serious objections dramatically changed. He constituted supremacy through their elected to most provisions of the bill. The a one-man committee to review this representatives who are the Members government has kept it in cold new tax reform. Within a week of Parliament. Nowadays, the non- storage and is not ready to move the of submission of the report by functioning of Parliament is making bill in Parliament in any form for Parthasarathi Shome, the tax expert, headlines . And rightly so. The consideration and passing. the government decided to defer 15th Lok Sabha could be termed the retrospective taxation for three the least productive in the annals But Aadhar has already become years. Can the unanimous decision of Indian Parliament. As per the a reality and an unavoidable part of the supreme legislative body statistics prepared by the Lok Sabha of the life of an Indian citizen. of this country be overruled by an secretariat, only 1,157 hours of This covert approach of the expert? sittings took place until the 12th government was also visible when session of the 15th Lok Sabha. This it introduced the contributory Parliamentary committees are is far behind the record of the 14th pension scheme for Central and considered a miniature of Parliament. Lok Sabha, which had 1,736 hours State government employees. All Usually, the committees consist of and 55 minutes of sittings. In fact, the State governments in our country Members of Parliament representing the first Lok Sabha held 677 sittings are collecting the contribution from most political parties. In developed of about 3,784 hours during its 14 crores of their employees for the democracies, only Parliament sessions. The story is no different in Pension Fund. But we find that the can overrule the decision of the the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of bill relating to it is still pending in parliamentary committees. But in Parliament. For the first time in its Parliament. What is the legality India, the executive has the right to history, the Upper House returned of collecting hundreds of crores adopt or reject the recommendations the budget without any discussion. of rupees during all these years? of a parliamentary committee. If These are only a few instances of the the government incorporates a However this is not the only government bypassing Parliament new clause in a bill, which was not thing corroding the functioning for implementing major policy there in the original bill, it should of democracy. The executive has decisions. again send it to the committee for taken most policy decisions without its consideration. But contrary the concurrence of the supreme The Constitution clearly defines to this constitutional convention legislative body of our country. A and demarcates the powers of practised hitherto, for the first time classic example of this is the Aadhar, different organs of the democratic in the history of the Indian republic, a much hyped programme of the system. When Parliament passes a the government constituted an UPA government. The Aadhar card law, it becomes the law of the land. expert committee to evaluate the is regarded as a pre-requisite for All citizens of the country are bound recommendations of a Parliamentary getting all government benefits. to adhere to it. But this constitutional Standing Committee. To our Without the Aadhar number, a student mandate is observed more in its surprise, when the Parliamentary would not get any benefit from the violation. Standing Committee on Finance Central and State governments. submitted its report on Direct Direct Benefit Transfer is based on While presenting the Union Tax Code, we found the Finance Aadhar numbers. Bank accounts Budget 2012-13, the then Finance Ministry immediately constituting are to be linked to it. But what is Minister Pranab Mukherjee had a committee on this report. Though the legislative backing for Aadhar? introduced retrospective taxation. the ministry gave some explanations 6 JANATA, August 11, 2013 when the controversy erupted, can and thus lead to further dilution of per cent; for those with assets below it be considered fair or just? Was the financial powers of Parliament. Rs 10 lakh, it is only 2.6 per cent. it not usurpation of parliamentary This clearly indicates that money authority and a way of curbing the Another serious threat to the power is one of the major factors in voice of the people? parliamentary system in India is the the election system of a liberalised steep decline in the representative economy. All these are nothing but clear nature of Indian society in this indications of a plan to undermine fundamental institution. As per The Indian democratic system has the legislative powers of Parliament. Election Watch statistics, as many as a progressive nature up to a certain This is further highlighted in other 306 MPs in the 15th Lok Sabha are extent. But it has been attacked policy issues too. Before the 1990s, crorepatis. This is more than a 100 by the same class that runs the the common man in India would per cent increase over the 14th Lok state. Defending the representative eagerly wait before his TV set or Sabha. The average asset of an MP is nature of Parliament and protecting radio for the announcement of budget nearly Rs 5.8 crore. Is it not a farce its legislative supremacy are proposals in order to learn about the that they are the representatives of a responsibilities to which we are changes in tax rates, changes in society where the daily consumption constitutionally wedded. Parliament prices of different commodities, rail of more than 77 per cent of people is the vehicle through which people’s fares, etc. But nowadays, no one is is below Rs. 20? Another statistic aspirations and needs can be met. It serious about the budget. Of late, is that 32 per cent of the candidates is the mechanism to establish the we find that not only Parliament but who have assets of more than Rs rule of law and distributive justice. also the executive has no power in 5 crore won in last Lok Sabha Denying and depriving it of its the pricing of petroleum products. elections. The winning chance of powers and responsibilities can only The government has handed over the the candidates with assets between lead to the erosion of the legitimate power to oil companies. According Rs 50 lakh and Rs 5 crore is 18.5 aspirations of the people themselves. to the last Railway Budget, the train fares would be decided by a –The Hindu regulatory authority. (Continued on Page 3) I personally felt the privations I thought that the religious phobia The government is now preparing of partition only when I crossed the was over after the British left and to pass the Constitution Amendment border penniless. I was not alone. Pakistan was constituted. But I did not Bill for Implementing Goods and This happened to most Hindus reckon with the separatists working Services Tax. As per the draft and Muslims who were confident within the Hindu community. The bill, Parliament has no power to to return to their own homes once BJP is the Muslim League of pre- decide the tax rates. The GST things settled down. But it did not partition days. Gujarat chief minister Council has the powers to decide happen that way. Narendra Modi has become the the tax rate for the Centre and the biggest exponent of Hindutva. States. With Parliament and the How come that the same people Legislative Assemblies having no Religious approach divided the from UP and Bihar, a bastion of say in these processes, would the subcontinent. The same thesis, the Muslim League, looked with budget become a time pass exercise? articulated by the BJP, is destroying disdain the ideology of secularism Are people’s representatives being national unity. Imagine Modi, who till the formation of Pakistan? robbed of their constitutionally blessed the killing of Muslims as conferred responsibilities? After Today, they swear by secularism. Gujarat chief minister, becoming serious protests from different How do they justify the two contrary India’s Prime Minister. It means sections of society, the government stands before their children or the battle for a secular polity has made a change to this clause in the grandchildren? Secularism is the to be fought all over again. There bill, rendering the powers of the anti-thesis of separation. If it is not is no alternative to it because the GST Council recommendatory. the conviction of the community, it aggressiveness of the majority can But there is little doubt that these is for it to introspect. Many Hindus turn into fascism. People thinking recommendations will tie the hands are becoming prey to the same anti- in terms of democracy and pluralism of forthcoming Finance Ministers national approach. cannot sit idle at this juncture. JANATA, August 11, 2013 7 For a GM-Free India

Letter to Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Government of India. on Supreme Court Technical Expert Committee’s final report in the PIL regarding GMOs:

The Technical Expert Committee 2. The TEC’s comments with economics and socio-economics; (TEC) set up by the Supreme Court regard to biosafety dossiers that molecular biology; entomology; in the Public Interest Litigation were approved by the current agricultural and aqua-cultural related to GMOs has in their final biotechnology regulator is a scathing systems; public health; soil science report submitted on 30/06/2013, indictment of the failings of the and microbiology; plant biology; reiterated and further substantiated existing regulatory regime. The regulatory toxicology; plant and the recommendations made in their TEC found that “in several cases, animal breeding and genetics etc. “A Interim Report submitted to the the reporting of data as well as single Committee such as the GEAC Court in October 2012. The report methods and analysis has been or RCGM doing all the evaluation is is a strong indictment of the state incomplete and cursory; there are not sufficient”, according to the TEC. of regulatory affairs with regard also deficiencies in selection of to modern biotechnology in the samples, methods of analysis, and 3. “Conflict of interest in terms of country. statistical tests, making it difficult the location of the regulatory body to draw meaningful conclusions….. needs to be addressed”, notes the The Committee notes that issues the number of such cases that have TEC yet again. The TEC has said that related to (biosafety) tests can be come to the notice of the TEC also regulatory bodies should be located meaningfully considered only after reflect on the manner in which the in the Ministry of Environment & major gaps in the biotechnology toxicology data has been examined Forests (MoEF) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare regulatory system are addressed first and the Regulatory Body for having accepted the reports”. (MoHFW). Further, members of and foremost; this is a point worth the regulatory bodies should also be noting and acting upon. Until this The TEC also stated “there are free of conflict of interest. Clearly, is done, it is obvious that public serious deficiencies in reporting this recommendation is applicable confidence in regulation is going to of the data in the dossiers and in the context of the BRAI Bill also. be lacking. more importantly in the way in which these have been examined 4. The TEC has said that We urge that the Government and conclusions accepted by the “stakeholder participation, need, of India takes these sagacious regulatory body”. The TEC rightly socioeconomic considerations, recommendations of the Committee points out that “unless the purpose societal impact, and sustainability seriously and acts on them in the of the tests is kept in mind, the risk should be some of the dimensions interests of food safety, security, and assessment is likely to fail to meet that need to be incorporated in the sovereignty as well as protection of its Objectives”. risk assessment and it should be environment and farm livelihoods. done at an early stage in the risk The TEC has recommended that assessment process”. We would like to bring to your a secretariat comprising of dedicated attention the major recommendations scientists with area expertise as 5. The TEC could not find any of the Committee: well as expertise in biosafety needs compelling reason for India to be the to be established. They have also first country where Bt transgenics 1. “It would not be advisable emphasised the importance of are widely consumed in large to conduct more field trials till considering the socio-economic amounts for any major food crop such time that major gaps in the issues in the Indian context. The that is directly used for human regulatory system are addressed TEC also recommends that the consumption. The TEC has therefore (these gaps need to be addressed regulatory body should have area- reiterated its recommendation made before issues related to tests can be wise sub-committees/expert groups in the Interim Report that there meaningfully considered)” (Page 77, such as human and animal health; should be a moratorium on field Recommendations, first para). environment and ecology; agro trials for Bt in food crops, until there 8 JANATA, August 11, 2013 is more definitive information from 9. The TEC has reiterated that report – for one thing, they are a sufficient number of studies as to the there is a need to include chronic and conflicted party; for another, and long term safety of Bt in food crops. trans-generational toxicity testing. by their own admission, they have (page 81, recommendation 5). no mandate in biosafety assessment The following points are also and are only carrying out the role of 6. The conclusion of the TEC noteworthy from the TEC’s final promotion with regard to transgenic with regard to herbicide tolerant report: technology. The TEC’s final report (HT) GM crops is that these would - the TEC notes the value of chronic (with its corrigendum) has cogently most likely exert a seriously adverse toxicity testing which is missing and meticulously responded to the impact over time on sustainable as of now; MoA’s rejoinder in the Court on the agriculture, rural livelihoods and interim report of the TEC. the environment. The TEC finds HT - the TEC talks about the need to GM crops completely unsuitable in capture unintended effects which is discounted as of now; These recommendations are the Indian context and recommends science-based and well-reasoned. that field trials and release of HT - the TEC has raised concerns Therefore, we urge the Government crops not be allowed in India. (Page about the numerous GM crops of India to accept the well- 81, Point 6, along with Corrigendum being experimented in India; reasoned, reasonable and sound Point 6). - post release monitoring is recommendations of the TEC and sorely missing right now, and is 7. “The release of a GM crop to start overhauling the process of important; into an area or region which is the modern biotechnology regulation in centre of origin or diversity of that - segregation is next to impossible India. Vested interests should not be crop has far greater ramifications and in India. Incidentally, this is allowed to prevail and prevent the potential for negative impact than something that the Government acceptance of this report which is for other species. There needs to be submissions to the TEC have based on sound science, justice and extraordinarily compelling reasons stated unequivocally too. This the principle of sustainability. We and only when other choices are not obviously presents a huge look forward to the Union of India available, can introduction of a GM challenge in terms of upholding accepting these recommendations in crop in its centre of origin or diversity choices of consumers and farmers. the Supreme Court and ensuring the be justified. GM crops that offer delivery of justice. incremental advantages or solutions While the sixth member inducted to specific and limited problems into the TEC in November 2012 (Dr We would like to point out that are not sufficient reasons to justify R S Paroda) did not sign off on the the recommendations of the TEC such release. The TEC did not find final report, this is not surprising report also has ramifications for the any such compelling reasons under given the fact that his very inclusion Biotechnology Regulatory Authority the present conditions”. According in the Committee was controversial of India (BRAI) Bill which is with to the TEC, unlike the situation in and objectionable – his organization the Standing Committee on Science 1960s, there is no desperate shortage receives funding from biotech and Technology, Environment and of food and India is in a reasonably majors like Monsanto and Mahyco Forests. When read together with food secure position. The TEC and this constitutes a clear conflict the TEC final report and the existing therefore recommends that release of interest. It is ironical that even critiques of the Bill, it is evident that of GM crops for which India is a this SC-appointed Committee has the BRAI Bill that your government centre of origin or diversity should had to face such conflict of interest has introduced in the parliament not be allowed. situation, given that this has been should be withdrawn as it is designed the case with almost all GM-related to be a single window mechanism for 8. With regard to the sequence of issues in India so far. easy approval of GMOs without testing of GM crops, tests “should regard for independent, rigorous be carried out in order of increasing The TEC also pointed out, rightly scientific assessments and pertinent environmental exposure required to so, quoting from the Ministry of issues beyond science. perform the test, and tests should be Agriculture’s submission to the done under the minimum conditions Committee, that there is really –Sridhar Radhakrishnan, of exposure required for the test”, no locus standi or rationale for the Pankaj Bhushan, recommends the TEC. MoA to challenge the TEC’s interim Rajesh Krishnan JANATA, August 11, 2013 9 Total sell-out to global multi-brand retail

By axing the laid down norms government was forced to withhold organised a protest march in Delhi carved out to protect the interests of the decision of the Cabinet allowing and other cities. the retail traders, the UPA government 51 percent FDI in the retail sector in has thrown open the Indian retail November 2011, following united The Socialist Party, time and sector to the loot for the global multi- and stiff protest by the non-Congress again, has emphatically emphasised brand retail companies. The Socialist political parties and trade union that the ‘loss-benefit’ discussion that Party strongly opposes the decision bodies. But the UPA government, went on in the mainstream media and and appeals the opposition parties, wedded to the ill-conceived notion the ruling circles on this issue has no including the prime opposition party of growth rate, implemented the meaning. The FDI in the retail sector BJP, to protest against this decision decision to appease and benefit is for the benefit of the multinationals with the demand that the decision the foreign and Indian corporate such as Wall Mart, Carrefour, Tesco, of allowing FDI in the retail sector lobbies. It can be remembered that in big Indian corporate houses and, of must be scrapped for ever. early May last year, the US Foreign course, the ruling elite of India. The Secretary Hillary Clinton visited four crore retailers with their 20-25 With this new decision on FDI in India with this agenda at top priority. crore family members will be the retail the Congress leaders have shed Mrs. Clinton has served on Wal-Mart losers from the beginning to the end. away all Constitutional obligations board as its director for six years. Country’s farmers will also bear the and have come out in open against West Bengal chief minister Mamata brunt of the decision. The already the retailers and farmers of India. Banerjee had expressed utmost critical state of unemployment They do not honour their own words/ resentment against the decision. That would be worsened further. decisions made in the Parliament. is why Mrs. Clinton went to Calcutta The ‘goddess of renunciation’ first to meet, praise and appease Mrs. It is unfortunate that those , ‘demigod of honesty’ Banerjee. The Indian MD of the who claim to be the champions of Manmohan Singh, his ‘best neo- French retail giant Carrefour called socialism and social justice, such as liberal boy’ P. Chidambaram and on Commerce and Industry Minister Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj likes have come out in their true Anand Sharma and forced him to Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok colours. They all are bent upon to implement the withheld decision at Janshakti Party, Dravid Munetra sell the country to the multinationals. the earliest. Kazhgam, etc., have been playing the game of hide and seek from the As per the decision now global In view of this descending very beginning on this contentious retail companies are allowed to open danger, the Socialist Party held issue. They do this at the cost their stores in cities with population a day-long dharna at Jantar of the vulnerable sections of the less than 10 lakh; the condition that Mantar on 28 May 2012 against society who trusted them and made 30 percent percent procurement the government’s decision and them powerful. It was the most must be from Indian small industries submitted a memorandum to the unfortunate act on their part that they with total investment of less than $1 President requesting her to advise happily attended the dinner party million has been relaxed in favour the government to scrap the decision offered by the PM in November of medium scale industries with a conclusively. The Socialist Party 2012 to garner their support to total investment not exceeding $2 also sent a letter to all non-Congress implement the withheld decision. million; the condition that global office bearers and chief ministers The Socialist Party had termed PM’s companies must spend 50 percent requesting them not to implement dinner diplomacy as mrityu bhoj of of their investment on infrastructure this anti-people and anti-national the hard working poor people whose has also been relaxed to first $100 decision in their states. Further, the lives have perished or are destined to million invested by them. Socialist Party observed Quit India perish by such neo-liberal decisions. day as ‘No to FDI day’ in Delhi The Socialist Party, at this crucial and other cities of the country. The The Socialist Party appeals to the juncture, would like to remind party also participated in the Bharat political parties who truly favour people of the country that the UPA Bandh of 20 September 2012 and (Continued on Page 15) 10 JANATA, August 11, 2013 ‘Re-invite Amina Wadud to speak at the University of Madras’

As residents of Chennai, we are Thandavan. of Islamic piety and jurisprudence, shocked and outraged at the last- it is tragic that fringe groups that minute cancellation of Islamic All the efforts by the Centre purport to represent Muslim opinion scholar Dr. Amina Wadud’s lecture for Islamic Studies, the organisers in Tamil Nadu seek to overlook their at the University of Madras on of the program, to persuade the existence. Worse, they seem to not July 29, 2013, organised by the University establishment including want such views to be broadcast or JBAS Centre for Islamic Studies the Vice-Chancellor to defend the heard. on the topic “Islam, Gender and University’s rights to encourage Reform”. debate and dialogue proved to be This sorry turn of events is of no avail. worrisome for other reasons: whether The decision to cancel her lecture it is the Muslim Women’s Jamaat in was taken by the University Vice- A Vice-Chancellor ought to Tamil Nadu, the Bharatiya Muslim Chancellor Mr. Thandavan in have outstanding qualities — of Mahila Andolan, headquartered response to a text message sent by a vision, intellectual honesty, courage, in Mumbai, Awaz-e-Niswan, also police-officer stating: “Police cannot openness to different points of view in Mumbai, the All India Muslim allow this (the lecture) considering and an unwavering commitment to Women Personal Law Board in law and order. Please take action to academic freedom and the freedom or scores of groups in suspend/cancel the programme .” of expression. smaller towns across India, there This morning’s newspaper reported exist today forums which confront that police had “cautioned” the VC Anyone even superficially patriarchal reasoning in matters to about “possible violence by protest familiar with Dr. Amina Wadud’s do with faith and law. groups”. Ostensibly “Muslim work will recognise the baseless groups” had threatened to protest nature of these allegations, and In that sense, Dr. Amina Wadud’s Dr. Wadud’s programs in the city, register the utter cynicism and presence and talk would have added claiming that she was a puppet in ignorance with which they have to the lively debates that exist in this the hands of the U.S. government been made. An African-American country. and “anti-Islam”. convert to Islam, Dr. Wadud, along with Asma Barlas and Riffat It seems to us that while those It is indeed baffling that instead Hassan and many others, has been who think differently from Dr. of taking action against the people/ associated with the world-wide Wadud are welcome to challenge groups threatening violence, police group, Women Living Under her, this cannot be done by denying “directed” the VC to cancel the event. Muslim Laws. her the right to speak, and by If the current police administration tarring her with the all-too familiar cannot uphold the Constitutional At a time when Muslim women “American agent” brush. guarantee of freedom of speech across India — as elsewhere in anymore it should consider a change the world — are mobilising and We demand that the University of of profession. organising as Muslims and staking Madras restore the freedom, honour claims to equality and justice, which and dignity of the academic and re- What is more shocking is the they insist are guaranteed to them invite Dr. Wadud to give a series of spineless capitulation by Mr. as believers and by the traditions lectures on its premises. July 30, 2013, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Statement endorsed by: V Geetha, Writer; Nityanand Jayaraman, Journalist; Karen Coelho, Academic; Satya Sivaraman, Journalist; Madhumita Dutta, Researcher; T. Venkat, Researcher; Archanaa Seker; Vijay Baskar, Academic; Ajith Menon, Associate Professor, MIDS; Chandrika R.; Kavin Malar, Writer; Revathi Radhakrishnan, filmmaker; Anandhi S, Associate Professor, MIDS; K Kalpana, Academic; Ponni Arasu, Researcher; RR.Srinivasan, filmmaker; Sadanand Menon, Columnist; Prof A. Marx, academic/writer; Neerja Dasani, Writer; Karuna D W, Researcher; Nirupama Sarathy, Development Professional JANATA, August 11, 2013 11 Supergoats

Few days back, as a billion plus Offering a consolation prize for She says she remembered the India slept, a handful of tribal the third team – winner of a match days she was slapped and made girls proudly held aloft a trophy between losing semi-finalists – was to sweep floors when she went to they won in their maiden entry in a mere formality for the organizers. the Panchayat Office to get birth a football tournament in far-flung certificates for her passport. Spain. But for the girls, it was a giant leap into global soccer from their “That is the pain of being a tribal It was the night of July 13. impoverished Rukka village near girl in India. I do not remember the Hundreds of fire crackers lit the Ranchi, considered one of the slap, I remember the Cup,” says skies as the girls screamed Vande world’s epicenters of child marriage Rinky. Mataram – their battle cry – for and human trafficking. being placed third in the Gasteiz For her, and her teammates, it means a lot. Cup, the world’s best testing ground As soon as the announcement for teenager football in Victoria was made for the prize distribution Should not Tata Trusts and your Gastiez, also popular as Europe’s ceremony, the girls rushed into their Green Capital. Steel Mills in that area adopt this dressing room and returned, some team with other girls and boys They were the same girls who barefoot, wearing red-bordered providing them infrastructure and were slapped, kicked and made to white saris, their traditional festive other facilities. It will give Tata sweep floors by arrogant bureaucrats dress. Many had their plastic flowers Group huge publicity at low cost, in Jharkhand when the girls asked in their hairs. too. for birth certificates, a necessity to And when they huddled apply for passports. –Dewan Satish together after the mandatory photo But they eventually managed session, some wept inconsolably their passports, thanks to a because they had almost given up strapping American, Franz Gastler, their hopes to participate in this Studies in Socialism who pushed the cases of the girls tournament.“They were over the By with mandarins of the Ministry moon. It was their night,” said of External Affairs in the Indian Gastler of the girls, who subsist on Asoka Mehta Capital.He was a lone ranger in his less than a dollar a day. efforts. Published by For a country low on soccer, this Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan The girls were lovingly titled was - arguably - good news for the Centre for Socialist Studies- the Supergoats by the organizers mandarins of the game. But no one Bangaluru in Spain the moment they saw the cared. All India Football Federation girls playing barefoot in practice (AIFF) president Praful Patel was Price Rs. 250.00 postage extra matches on arrival. not aware of the girls’ superlative Send your order to Why? achievement, nor was the country’s new sports minister Jitendra Singh. Centre for Socialist Studies The girls had limited football 191, 10th Cross, 10th Main, NGFI gear and could not take the “We could not sleep that night Layout Nagurbani, risk of tampering it before the (July 13),” says Rinky Kumari, Bengaluru 560 072 tournament. They were overawed 13, captain, Supergoats. Once by international teams in the first she bunked her school helped her Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan Munshi tournament, the Donosti Cup, but mother do household chores. Today, Sadan Chowpatty, Mumbai 400 007 came in to their own in the second thanks to football, everyone knows tournament. her name in the village. 12 JANATA, August 11, 2013 Nepal follows China’s “advise”

Kalpit Parajuli

Nepal has initiated a program of rupees (about 19,800 Euros). As Nepal has 1,414 kilometer long control and surveillance of Tibetan explained by the police, 19 CCTV common border with Tibet and activists and refugees present in cameras will monitor the activities in from 1990-2006 the parliamentary the country. The government in the Tibetan-majority areas, while 16 monarchy, on the advice of India, Kathmandu has installed security more cameras will be concentrated allowed the free movement of cameras at Boudhanath Stupa in one area of the Boudhanath Stupa, Tibetan exiles in the country. The and Jorpati, high-density Tibetan a sacred place of Buddhism located Dalai Lama and members of the areas in the capital. The goal, say in Kathmandu.​​ According to the Tibetan government in exile in the authorities, is to monitor the authorities in fact, Boudhanath and Dharamsala (India) visited the activities of refugees, human rights Jorpati are “the hot zone of the Free country several times, which is activists and supporters of the Tibet movement and anti-Chinese home to more than 20 thousand Tibetan cause, to avoid any kind activities”. refugees. After the abolition of the of anti-Chinese plan or campaign. monarchy in 2006 and the rise to The Nepalese security agencies According to Asia News sources, power of communist and Maoist will record everything: from road anonymous for security reasons, formations Nepal has changed and pedestrian traffic, to religious “the control program is the result of course, abandoning its historic ally activities, even going on in the pressure by the Chinese government. India and tying closer relations with temples. Many Tibetan monks and Beijing has promised economic China. In exchange for economic activists have criticized the move. aid in exchange for this security aid, Beijing has called for the closure According to Ananda, a Buddhist service.” of the borders with Tibet and the religious leader, “recording prayer repression of any anti-Chinese activities within the Boudhanath The program has cost the demonstration. Stupa violates democratic rights.” government 2.5 million Nepali - Asia News

Hearing on nuclear project

We congratulate the people of EIA hearings are declared a success and democracy. Pending such Chutka (Mandla district, Madhya by the district administration despite revision, all EIA hearings should be Pradesh) for their vigilant and massive popular protests at their put on hold. massive protest which has forced venue. From Jaitapur to Gorakhpur the government to cancel the and Rawatbhata, we have witnessed - Praful Bidwai, Achin Vanaik, Environmental Impact Assessment the same unacceptable pattern. Lalita Ramdas, Abey George, (EIA) public hearing for the second Kumar Sundaram Coalition for time. An earlier attempt to organise a The People’s Charter on Nuclear Nuclear Disarmament and Peace Energy released recently in farcical public hearing was thwarted Janata Subscription by people’s resistance in May. Ahmedabad at a national gathering of grassroots anti-nuclear movements Annual Rs. : 260/-

has also brought the issue of farcical Three Years : 750/- EIA hearings on nuclear projects EIA hearings into focus. have been reduced to a complete Demand Draft / Cheque on Mumbai Bank farce. Done by unaccredited We demand that the government agencies, the EIA reports do not revise and tighten the EIA hearing in favour of look into radiation hazards at all process substantially, While JANATA TRUST and deliberately avoid crucial details incorporating suggestions from D-15, Ganesh Prasad, and fudge data. Even such farcical independent environmental experts Naushir Bharucha Marg, reports are not shared with the and social activists regarding both Mumbai 400 007 people in their local language and technical issues and transparency JANATA, August 11, 2013 13 Intergenerational Issues Ethnic Minority Communities in the UK Suhas Khale

Generally a generation gap and social education process. Thus and tradition is that if we try and exists in all the societies and all there is a growing divide between achieve an analytical mind in terms the countries the younger generation and the of what culture is and why certain older which needs to be bridged traditions are there. Maybe some “Each generation imagines itself by understanding and improving of those traditions were right at to be more intelligent than the one relationships across generations. the time they were created and that went before it, and wiser than Young people feel that they are they were necessary but as the the one that comes after”. capable enough to learn on their world changes, these traditions own rather than being constantly may be outdated and may need to In the United Kingdom, people preached by the older generation. be altered. So until such time, it from the former colonies have The second and third generations doesn’t matter where people come migrated for furthering the skills, of those people who came to UK from, all these civilizations have employment and joining relations are growing up. As the migrated their own way of living. I think refugees, asylum seekers, etc. people have come from a diverse that is the key point, so if we take This has meant entry of people set of countries with different that kind of attitude, particularly of different cultures, values, traditions, cultures and values the older generation, then we have traditions, religions .With the there is no single set of common a greater chance of taking a step advent and expansion of EU a ethnic minority values, however forward, not only understanding number of migrants have come there are some beliefs and ideas the younger people but also being into the UK from Eastern European which the first generation migrant able to communicate with other countries. Cohesion of such came with which are common communities from other parts diverse communities with each to them. Experiences of racial of the world and to create better having its own way of living is and gender discrimination and community cohesion. an important social issue. Whilst prejudices encountered by ethnic the intergenerational gap is not minority communities particularly Globalisation and development confined to just ethnic minority in employment and housing have of internet and other technological families but is a worldwide further accentuated the differences changes have brought about phenomenon, the big difference is between the younger and older extraordinary social changes all that the migrant parents from ethnic generations. over the world and UK is at the minority communities have much forefront of this. The Facebook and stronger ties and feelings to their How far are people in the Twitter generation and technological countries of origin whereas their UK, from different backgrounds, advancement highlight fundamental children have an 1interest but in traditions and cultures, willing to differences between the older and most cases are less knowledgeable understand their own culture and younger generations. Priorities about their own cultures. Any two their own values and how they have taken a dramatic turn with generations can have differences, relate to what is happening here? regard to the importance given however in the context of migrant There is a lot of orthodoxy in the to the family, the role of women, communities the differences are minds of people who have come maintaining a balance between wider as younger generations have here who say this is what I was work and family life, respect for been born and brought up here. Ideas told by my grandfather and great the authority and other traditional and beliefs of older generations are grandfather and this is the way values. The current climate of increasingly being questioned by the world is going to be. But the economic and financial downturn young individuals growing up in world has now changed so what and its impact on employment and the UK with different value system is important in terms of culture living standards have brought into 14 JANATA, August 11, 2013 focus the divide between the older younger generation are finding it first of all communities have to and younger generation. difficult because they are told how ensure that that is the minority. things are done, but they are not Nothing changes unless some sort Hence, there is a strong need given the reasons why and therefore of dialogue or communication to improve intergenerational clashes between the two generations comes in. By staying where we are, understandings as lack of it risks can occur. The older generation nothing will change. This is relevant undermining family peace and can sometimes be stuck in their not only to the ethnic minorities social cohesion. Effort is required to old thought processes and may people who come here, but the develop and improve relationships feel that the younger generation mainstream ethnic majority people across generations and create a are not being obedient, like in have certain attitudes and ways dialogue between the elders and the their day, when they just followed of looking at things. We must not young ones for better understanding their parents without questioning, allow that minority to impede any of differences between generations maybe because they were not progress which we want to make. in order to improve relationships allowed to question it. However, the between various members of the younger generation of today needs Expectations and pressures, community. This requires analytical justification about traditional values especially with regard to career thinking. so the older generation should give choice, e.g. a youngster may feel clear explanations so that it makes the pressure to go to University Culture is a set of customs sense and makes them want to listen and become a doctor, lawyer, and social values prevalent at a and understand. accountant. However, the child particular time, which are not may be more creative and want static. It is a lifestyle which is There is a lack of this to pursue a career in something changing through the generations communication and understanding. like sport, art or music. We should and this can be confusing. It Young people should understand advise and guide them, but allow should be seen as a rich and good that it is possible to communicate them to make their own choice that thing, but of course this depends with older people and vice-versa. they will be happy with so they do on people’s own point of view. Each generation should accept not apportion blame in the future. Children and grandchildren of the each other’s views and reach an The younger generation may feel older generation may now actually understanding even if they don’t pressured into making choices have a richer culture than what agree. Older people have more or behaving is such ways just to they themselves had as children experience but they should not please the older generation and because it is changing and being try to change the views of a child, make them proud. Parents need to enriched by other influences. Whilst instead they should share their allow children to make their own traditions are a set of rules followed own experiences and explain what mistakes. They should not be a by people which are handed down they did or would do in a particular hindrance to a child’s advancement, the generations – maybe something situation and just offer advice and hopes or dreams. They should give that family does in a particular different options. Younger people advice and options, but should not way. We don’t necessarily know think they will be judged and be forceful. why we are doing it, but it is not misunderstood by older people usually questioned or we were not because of their lifestyle and The younger generations who allowed to even question it. People interests and that they may be are now parents themselves do not are now changing traditions and horrified about things they get up have the same values that their moving along with time. The older to. Though, often this may not be parents had and are less strict generation feels that the younger the case as society is ever-changing. about how they are bringing up generation does not always respect Each generation feels that it knows their children as they themselves their culture and/or appreciate the better than the other so they do not were never properly told to about traditions, so do not include these even wait to hear what the other has why people generally think that the in their own lifestyle or follow them to say. One has to have a positive “older generation” means that you which may eventually cause them attitude. There will always remain are wiser and more mature, but this to die out. Clashes are not normally certain people who will be adamant is not necessarily so. The lessons with culture but with tradition. The about not wanting to change but learnt from the experiences that we JANATA, August 11, 2013 15 go through in life, is what makes us discussion in schools, but it needs (Continued from Page 9) mature. Sometimes there are certain to be continuous and somehow the the retailers to come together and prejudices that are out there just family, the infrastructure society force the government to scrap FDI in by the way we speak and how we has got to reinforce that. Learn retail for ever. The party also appeals carry ourselves. Emphasis placed about the backgrounds of others and to the various trader bodies, trade on parents and the importance of study their use of language. There unions, social organisations and parents nurturing children in a are young people out there who are concerned citizens who believe in healthy environment that allows actually experiencing other things the Constitutional sovereignty and them to become responsible young that the older generations have no socialism to come forward unitedly people. We should all respect clue about, so they will be mature and decisively against this neo- the ideas and values of different in that respect, having an open liberal onslaught. generations from different mind without those prejudices and countries. barriers that sometimes people find –Dr. Prem Singh, 8 ourselves putting up. General Secretary, SocialistJANATA, Party March (India) 25, 2012 More awareness about different traditions and cultures is needed. Places should be available where different generations can get together and do fun activities. Older generations should share Rural India Focus their experiences and admit to their mistakes and not believe that they always know best – this PRESENTING THE NATION WITH A REPLICABLE will improve relationships with MODEL OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT the younger generation. this may help bring them closer and the younger people may use their own examples for expressing ADIVASI WEEKLY EYE RUNS THREE GIRLS CAMPS AT HIGH their point of view and reasons. HOSTEL THE YMC SCHOOLS AT TARA, HOSPITAL, Avoid having pre-conceived ideas. PANVEL TARA, PANVEL Hold more events together for intergenerational activities. Visits YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE FINANCE A CATARACT SURGERY should be made to schools to raise AND YOU awareness about this issue. Find 10 to 15 eye operations are performed There are ways in which you can join the at the weekly eye camp held at the ways to shape culture into our YMC movement in bringing education, Maharashtra State Government funded lives to avoid the gap between the healthcare, women empowerment, hospital building. Sponsor a cataract employment generation, relief and growth operation for Rs. 15,000/-. generations widening. It is up to to our rural villages. Visit our Centre, parents and the older generation volunteer your help, buy our products, CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL become a Life Member. You could also CORPUS to explain and lead by example. support the cause by donating to our various Both generations should not only initiatives. YMC runs 3 high schools - 2 Marathi, 1 Urdu medium. With only 2 of these on have an open attitude but also try SPONSOR AN ADIVASI GIRL'S HOSTEL goverment aid, the Centre needs Rs.1 to understand and listen to each STAY crore as corpus to run the 3rd and maintain, conduct extra-curricular other whether we like it or not It takes Rs.15,000 per year to meet the activities in all 3 and finance its building expenses for supporting a girl child's stay at expansion plans. Give generously. and whether we agree or not and the hostel in Tara, Panvel Taluka. respect each other’s views, that’s the most important thing.There is Yusuf Meherally Centre Visit www.yusufmeherally.org, need to address the difficult issue of D-15, Ganesh Prasad,1st Floor, Call: (022)-2387 0097, Naushir Barucha Marg, Fax: (022)-2388 9738 or perception of what one generation Grant Road (West), E-mail : [email protected] thinks of the other in a practical Mumbai 400 007 way to get a better understanding of each other. There may be little Space Donated by A Well Wisher R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 11,, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, August 11, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday August 14, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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

Vol. 68 No. 32 Independence Day Number August 18, 2013

Failure on many fronts S. Viswam

Convicted MPs should quit Kuldip Nayar

What do we learn from Detroit? K. S. Chalam

“Let poor people also sing” G. V. Sunder

What Food Security? Sandeep Pandey

Movements sans Ideology Sunil

Twist in Lives of Olivers Schooling deprived children Arun Chavan & Anuradha Bhosale

Caste System and the Socialists Bapu Heddurshetti

Refocusing the Middle Class Uday Dandavate

Editor : Managing Editor : G. G. Parikh Guddi D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg, Mumbai - 400 007. Tel. No. : 23870097 • Email : [email protected] Independence Day Number / 2 JANATA, August 18, 2013 JANATA, August 18, 2013 3 / Independence Day Number Failure on many fronts

S. Viswam

The communal flare-up in Jammu and Kashmir state’s Was the communal explosion preplanned? Were any Kishtwar town has been attributed to administrative and outsiders involved? Were anti-national slogans shouted intelligence failures on the state government’s part. in Kishtwar two days before Id? Were shops of the Indeed, it would seem that the district administration minority community set on fire? Was there a Pakistani mishandled the situation after the riots. It was caught hand in the Kishtwar riots? These questions need to be napping by the sudden eruption of violence which answered satisfactorily. resulted in loss of precious lives. This showed failure of intelligence. The district administration did not What has been really unfortunate vis-à-vis the inform the state capital soon enough when riots broke Kishtwar eruption is that it has taken place at a time out, and in turn, the state government delayed sending when India-Pakistan bilateral relations are under review a message to the Centre to deploy the army by as many and a proposal is on for the prime ministers of the two as seven hours. Meanwhile, the situation went out of countries to meet at New York when the UN General control. This is cited as an instance of administrative Assembly convenes in September. High hopes had been failure. Now, after the unfortunate event, the Centre raised by the prospects of this interaction. Indeed, on its and the state are engaged in the usual blame game. And success depended the decision of the prime minister to predictably, the Kishtwar turmoil has become a football visit Pakistan. Now, it seems doubtful if the New York being kicked this way and that by politicians fishing in meeting will take place at all. The opposition parties troubled waters. A familiar Indian story. have raised the question whether the Prime Minister should meet his Pakistani counterpart against the Curfew has had to be enforced in Jammu and many background of a series of incidents of late in which the other smaller towns adjacent to Kishtwar, including Pakistani army has indulged in high-handed wantonness in Udhampur and Doda. Srinagar itself experienced across the LoC. In fact, it would be no exaggeration tension since separatist groups called for a protest to say that ever since the beheading of the five Indian bandh. The Kishtwar peace was broken when on the soldiers along the LoC a few days ago, the trust deficit eve of Id-ul-Fitr posters appeared at a local mosque between India and Pakistan has deepened. The goodwill demanding the return of the remains of Afzal Guru and generated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief and his Maqbool Butt. Since these were no more topical issues overtures for normalization has evaporated. of discontent, the motive of those who put up the posters was to stir trouble and appeal to communal passions. The bilateral relationship has touched nadir. Unsurprisingly, trouble broke out after the Id prayers on Friday, and both the Jammu and Valley areas were This has happened despite the consistent goodwill in the grip of fear and panic. being displayed by the Indian Prime Minister who is even accused by the opposition of being needlessly soft The development came within five days of the towards Pakistan. The recent events have provoked a killing of five Indian soldiers in Poonch. There was strong debate within India on the theme whether or not palpable tension in all parts of the country after this New Delhi should persist with its policy of conciliation outrage, but tension was more evident in the Jammu and cooperation or adopt a more aggressive stance. The region in which Poonch is located. The authorities did future of the bilateral ties hangs in the balance. The ball not realize that the event was provocative enough and is in Islamabad’s court and unless India is convinced apt to lead to trouble. The time-bound judicial probe that Pakistan is serious about peace and friendship, the ordered by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ought to bilateral environment will remain strained. This will be bring out the caused which led to sudden violence. in the long-term interest of neither countries. Independence Day Number / 4 JANATA, August 18, 2013

Between the lines Convicted MPs should quit

Kuldip Nayar

Parliament is a temple of democracy. Members are in politics being such a driving force, morality or ethics its pujaris (priests). Their purity affects the temple’s do not matter. Likewise, the British Upper House of purity. If members defile it, the reputation of temple parliament, the House of Lords, is thinking in terms goes down in the eyes of the people. They begin of penalizing convicted members by debarring them to doubt the belief it projects. Something similar is from the House. Among those affected is one NRI who happening in Indian Parliament, which has lost its falsely claimed 50,000 pounds in expenses and was luster and does not evoke the confidence it once did. punished with three-month suspension. All types of ills are attributed to it. The same temple, citadel of faith, has become a laughing stock. Even after the Indian Supreme Court’s judgment, the conscience of convicted MPs and MLAs has not Still the fact remains that power resides in irked them. Instead, all political parties, whatever their Parliament. It is because the two houses, the Lok affiliation, have come together to undo the Supreme Sabha elected directly by the people, and the Rajya Court’s verdict. A constitutional amendment is sought Sabha indirectly, legislate for the country. Both have to be passed to lay down that a member cannot be lessened in esteem due to the lowering of integrity disqualified until there is a court of appeal open to of many MPs. A rough estimate is that 30 per cent of him. This attitude should have touched at least the them are involved in one or the other court cases. The thinking MPs, but they are quiet lest they embarrass nation’s happy experience is that the Supreme Court the party they belong to, or the convicted members has intervened when the cases have got aggravated or with whom they sit. when MPs have been found wanting. The protest against the proposed constitutional In recent days, the Supreme Court has once again amendment is wide and strange. People are naturally come to the rescue of the nation to set things right. appalled because parliament goes down further in In a landmark judgment, the court has said that the their eyes. Already, the daily adjournments and the representatives in parliament and state legislatures squabbles have raised the question: Why Parliament? will stand disqualified as soon as they are convicted Each day costs Rs. 2.8 lakhs. Urgent bills are pending by a trial court. One hopes this applies to heinous because they have become a point of political crimes only. controversy. Parties do not seem to realize that the people’s disillusionment in some neighbouring The provision in the Representative People’s Act countries has killed democratic governance. has been declared ultra virus because it allowed a convicted member to stay till his final appeal has been One is not sure whether the constitutional amendment dealt with up to a period of three months. This has been would be upheld by the Supreme Court. Article 14 misused and enabled a delinquent member to continue guarantees equality before law. MPs cannot gang up for years by approaching different courts. The fodder to thwart the equality which the Supreme Court has scandal case against former Bihar chief minister Lalu enunciated. The constitution debars any person from Prasad Yadav is at the trial court stage even after contesting elections if he has been convicted. How is a convicted MP or MLA different? It’s but natural that 17 years. Shibu Soren has become chief minister they should also be disqualified. of Jharkhand even after having been convicted and sentenced in a murder case. Article 14 also forms a part of the basic structure of the constitution. It has already been accepted, Therefore all that matters to a member of parliament following a Supreme Court judgment that the basic or the state legislature is to remain in the House regardless of their conviction in a court of law. Power (Contd. on Page 6) JANATA, August 18, 2013 5 / Independence Day Number What do we learn from Detroit?

K. S. Chalam

The Detroit city, the birth place of American car This is a very good model of development where we industry is in the news, driving towards bankruptcy. could provide facilities to people and at the same time The Governor of Michigan, Snyder has appointed a give leadership to the nation. black expert Kevin Carr as Emergency Manager to find out ways and means of overcoming the current It seems the models used here are the ones crisis. The city is not able to provide street lighting, that were used during the time of Eisenhower and no benches in the pathways and parks, sixty-year Roosevelt. Some American commentators tell us that old trams not replaced, old buses ply on the roads, Eisenhower spent money from the defence budget defaulted to pay pensions and so on. Further, the to create facilities to move troops across different city has lost around two thirds of its population states as a General during the second world war. He between 1960 and 2013 : from 20 lakhs to around 7 was a visionary (as the future President) to create the lakhs by now. This has impacted the real estate. It is interstate roads and infrastructure to connect the 50 said that a house now costs around $7500 and some states to become a strong United States of America. old flats could be acquired for hundred bucks while But the problem according to the President of the many buildings are left in dilapidated conditions. American Society of Civil Engineers, B.D Leonard, This is really a terrible state and a sight to abhor for is that “we are still driving on Eisenhower’s roads and emigrants. The Indian migrants had reinforced the sending our kids to Roosevelt’s schools”. It means colour of the city that was already noted as Black. that the country has not invested on the maintenance But the city had flourished and several innovations or repairs or simply no provision was made for including Fordism developed here to give a unique depreciation on the capital. It is estimated that there is character to American capitalism. Now the collapse a backlog of $ 2.2 trillion infrastructure in the country. of the system conveys a message for infrastructure development in urban India, including cities like Infrastructure is basic framework of a system Hyderabad.How did this happen? or organisation and stands fundamental for the development of a nation. It consisted of not only The provision of public utilities in Europe and roads, buildings, power grids, communication America were based on their climatic conditions systems, etc but also the necessary manpower to be and the bounty they received from the colonies. generated through educational institutions. It is not Unfortunately, as I narrated in my ‘common sense of urban planning’ a year ago, Indians have tried only in the US but in several European nations that to copy them without an external colony. Perhaps, the huge infrastructures were magnificently built the policy makers had instinctively realised the when they were riding on high growth, to showcase existence of internal colonies (social and marginalised their vanity (beyond their need). They have now groups) and planned our infrastructure accordingly started crumbling not only due to the downturn of after liberalisation.We are happy with the quadratic the economies but even the declining size of the national highways crossing across different regions population made the capacity underutilized. We all and cultures by marginalising the local needs. They know that on August 1, 2007 the 1-35W Mississippi were aimed to link the four corners of the country for River Bridge collapsed killing 13 people and around the free flow of goods without any hurdles to reach that time the San Francisco-Oakland Bridge repairs the ports passing through several special and export became grave. It is reported that during the period processing zones. They are considered as comparable of recession the per cent of expenditure on public to any other infrastructure of America or Europe in construction as proportion of GDP in America has style and structure. They contained lot of foreign declined. The Global Competitiveness Report 20112- exchange component with very good margins for the 13 estimated that the infrastructure score has come contractors who became legislators in course of time. down from 6.1 to 5.8 placing the US at 25th rank. Independence Day Number / 6 JANATA, August 18, 2013

India, being the third largest economy in the world (Contd. from Page 4) in terms of size of GDP is ranked at 87th with a score structure cannot be changed by Parliament. If the of 3.8 in infrastructure capacity (in the same report). proposed amendment is passed, it might be thrown Perhaps, keeping this score and the need for world out by the Supreme Court on the grounds that Article class infrastructure to facilitate free movement of 14 forms part of the basic structure. wares, our Prime Minister wanted more investments in to this sector. It has also the capacity to absorb In reality, the judiciary and parliament are on a war more investment and create new jobs. FDIs, therefore, path. Fortunately, the government has deferred the are invited. But, we may reflect here on the kind of Bill on the appointment of judges. The government experiences the advanced countries have suffered in wants to have a leeway. The court has gone through the era of free trade and the wealth so created and the the phase when the judiciary and the government consequences. Detroit can be taken as a case to project openly fought over the appointment of judges. Now the kind of complications awaiting us. Detroit is not a collegiums’ system has come to be followed. The four senior judges of a High Court constitute the in distress due to a natural calamity, but a man-made collegiums and decide who will be elevated to the disaster and due to faith in a model.It is easy to develop Bench. The same procedure is for the Supreme Court a model of growth based on free trade to benefit judges. This arrangement has never been to the liking from comparative advantage or factor abundance of the government because it gives little room for any of a nation. It is also noted in the theories of the patronage which the executive has in mind. If the Bill economists that factors move in search of efficiency which the government contemplates is thrown out by and productivity to yield higher rates of return in a the judiciary, then what happens? no holds bar situation. This is fine and data must have supported some of the theories or been manipulated The Supreme Court may again come to the rescue. to suit the positive conclusions like our poverty The government is to amend the Right to Information estimates. But, the issue is that when comparative (RTI) Act to exempt political parties from transparency. advantage has driven the car manufacturers from The proposed bill insulates political parties from an Detroit under NAFTA, people abandoned the city order by the Central Information Commission which leaving the infrastructure, buildings, pension funds, declared them as public bodies and accountable for differed payments, etc that became a drain on the financial benefits. next generation. Perhaps, the economists must have thought that infrastructure, buildings, etc. would also True, the elected representatives of the people physically move to destinations in search of fodder. are the final authority. But what is the remedy when every segment of democratic apparatus has been This is impossible and unimaginative even if we politicized? Power politics has come to dictate the take the monetary value of the transactions.Who is various steps. Because of this, parliament ceases to be responsible for the present conditions of Detroit or the temple of democracy in the real term. On paper, it situations of that nature? will continue to remain so. Maybe, this fact will urge parliamentarians to rise to the standards expected from The kind of huge infrastructure projects including them. They are the ones who can retrieve democracy the unwieldy irrigation, road, transport, flyover, arty from the lack of confidence in which it is stuck. The underpass of contractor based projects, need to be convicted members should take the initiative and reviewed and only the relevant and cost effective voluntarily resign the moment they are convicted by projects are to be selected to unburden the future a trial court. It is their moral responsibility. generations. We need not replicate what others are doing if they do not suit our capacity and conditions. There is a mistake in my article, “The partition This is common sense and do not need sophisticated story”, published in Janata of August 11. The models or advice of paid consultants. We have paragraph 6 on page 2 has a wrong number in the first now a situation where Hyderabad city would be line. It should be “482 Muslims seats” instead of 48. likely to become a metropolitan centre sucking the resources from the underdeveloped hinterland and the - Kuldip Nayar experience of the city of Detroit is a clear message. JANATA, August 18, 2013 7 / Independence Day Number “Let poor people also sing”

G. V. Sunder

Immediately after being sworn in as the Chief The underlying presumption of all such criticisms is Minister of Karnataka during May-2013, Shri that being lazy is the innate nature of a human being Siddaramaiah announced certain schemes. The most instead of being active. important of the schemes announced that day was the scheme (“Anna Bhagya Yojane”) to distribute 30 The criticisms also presume that the poor people and kilograms of rice at Re. 1/- per Kg to the Below Poverty the agricultural workers do not have any other ambition Line card holders. The stated object of the scheme was than just filling their bellies. Is the ambition to earn that no poor family should starve. But immediately more, to acquire goods that give more comfortable life, after the announcement the scheme is being subjected earning more wealth and working more hard to so earn, to criticism from many quarters. reserved only for the middle classes or for persons like Birlas and Ambanis and Mittals? Some critics said that when the BPL card holders were already getting enough subsidized food grains, When such questions were agitating my mind, I where was the necessity for a new scheme? This is a came across the writings of the famous American scheme for giving ‘alms’ to the poor people instead of psychologist Abraham Masslow. He had concerned giving jobs. The scheme will make the people more and himself several decades ago about the motives that more dependent on the State instead of making them make a man work more and work more efficiently. self-reliant. The scheme will make people look more He had written a dissertation in 1943 itself entitled towards political leaders and thereby keeping them “Hierarchy of Needs” and had concluded that the needs under their control and was hence a political conspiracy. of man were the motivating forces behind his labour. These were some such criticisms. He had listed out all the needs and necessities, But the most serious criticism was that when poor catagorised them, arranged them into a hierarchy like a people can buy the rice requirement of the whole month pyramid. In this hierarchy, at the bottom of the pyramid, for Rs. 30/- they can earn enough money required for the lowest place was occupied by the needs required for the whole month by working for a day or two under keeping the body intact, like food and clothing. After a the rural employment guarantee scheme and hence the person acquires these things he confronts other needs at workers in the rural areas will become lazy and the the next higher level and starts working to satisfy those agricultural land will have to be left fallow resulting needs and it goes on. This in short was what Abraham in the fall in the agricultural production. Masslow said. Some critics expressed their apprehension that when already it is difficult to get agricultural laborers and even This, in the context of our society, might mean when they are available they have to be paid fat wages nutritious food, motor cycle, T.V., gold ornaments, etc. and hence the agricultural sector is facing a crisis, this After satisfying such needs, one may start working for kind of schemes will create further problems for the the satisfying the needs at a still higher level, i.e., a agricultural sector resulting in the fall in the production house, better schooling for one’s children, traveling, of food grains. cars, etc. Even after satisfying these needs, he may still work for getting security, protections, friendship, love, Some critics went still further and said if the food honour, power and so on. grains required for the whole month can be so easily procured, the men in the rural areas will become not At the highest level, so argues Abraham, a person only lazy but will also become slaves of tobacco will work for what he calls ‘self-actualisation’. He smoking, drinking liquor, etc., and will thus destroy gives Albert Einstein, Franklin Roosevelt and the the very rural milieu and thus drew a very barbaric like as examples of persons working for their ‘self- picture of our rural future. Even some members of actualisation’. Siddaramaiah’s cabinet have expressed such concerns. (Contd. on Page 10) Independence Day Number / 8 JANATA, August 18, 2013 JANATA, August 18, 2013 9 / Independence Day Number What Food Security?

Sandeep Pandey

The Central Government has come up with a Food model of ‘langar’ could be adopted for replication at Security Ordinance whereas a National Food Security other religious and community places. Ultimately it is Bill is pending before the parliament. What was the the community which can control the quality of food urgency is unclear. Upcoming elections are an obvious programmes. Left to the government it will always answer. The Congress party thinks that like during the be marred by corruption and adulteration. At some last elections it benefitted from NREGA and loan waiver places MDM programme is being outsourced to NGOs. for farmers it could benefit from the Food Security But most NGOs become an extension of the corrupt scheme in the forthcoming elections. government system. Hence, the best strategy is to allow the community to run the food programme at local level. However, the ordinance doesn’t come across as something which gives the feeling of any kind of Any food security scheme must strengthen security. A major problem with the Public Distribution agriculture, which is responsible for providing food System is the categorization of population according in the first place. It is an irony that the farmer who to levels of poverty. A common story in all villages is provides food to the entire society has to commit suicide that the Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya, a category because of debt. Even if he doesn’t commit suicide for further poor, ration cards are not in the hands of most people who do the hard work to grow food live deserving poor. Undeserving people are siphoning off in poverty and in condition of malnutrition. There is the benefits. A wise suggestion was to universalize a proposal to transfer cash into the bank accounts of the PDS so that everybody gets food grains at a very people who’ll not be able to receive food grains. This subsidized rate except for a small segment of people is very dangerous for farmers. If government merely like government employees, income tax payees, etc. distributes cash then there will be no need for procuring who could be excluded. States like Tamil Nadu and food grains and there will be no guarantee to the farmer Chhattisgarh are already giving a significant majority that he’ll be able to sell his food grains at minimum of their population food grains at the rates proposed support price. A demand for creation of Farmers’ under ordinance, Rs. 1, 2 or 3 per kilogram. However, Commission which will set the price of produce at one the central government continues with two categories and a half times that of the expenses incurred by farmers which implies again there will be discrepancy in the during production is pending since long. The idea of selection of poor. It is unclear how the abovementioned cash transfer is against the basic tenet of food security. problem of correctly identifying families in the Similarly, allowing contractors in Integrated Child appropriate category will be solved. The local political Development Scheme or Anganwadi, as it is popularly interference and corruption will never let it happen. known, to supply food material also keeps the scope for The whole exercise of creating new categories will be large scale corruption open. In U.P. the contract for the brought to nought. entire state for supplying nutritious material for ICDS has been with Ponty Chaddha’s group for the last seven The new scheme envisions 5 kgs. of food grains per years. It is no surprise that most Anganwadi centres in individual which comes to 166 grams per day, enough the state are non-functional. Local community should to make two rotis. Food security doesn’t just means also be involved in running of Anganwadis as well. food grains. It should include pulses, vegetable oil and other things necessary for a nourishing diet. The government is favouring the entry of corporates in agriculture. Multinational corporations like Monsanto Maternal entitlement is restricted to two child are putting pressure on the government to allow GM norm, unnecessarily penalizing mothers with more variety of crops. FDI in retail has been allowed by the than two children. The ordinance also is insensitive government. All these measures will either displace the to destitute. There should have been provision for livelihood of farmers or make them so dependent on community kitchens for the homeless. The Gurudwara the market that they will be further ruined. Independence Day Number / 10 JANATA, August 18, 2013

The government has absolved itself of any wants to do is ‘leisure’ and he equates ‘leisure’ with responsibility to ensure food security during the times ‘liberty’, the first normative principle of socialism. of natural calamity whereas it is in times like this when government’s intervention is most sought. More than all this, if the poor people can get some leisure after long and arduous ‘labour’, and during such The grievance redressal system for food security leisure think about their future, about their surroundings, programme envisioned is quite weak. For the effective will it not ‘improve’ at least to some extent, the ‘quality’ implementation of food security scheme there needs to of their life? In his book ‘Democratic Socialism’ Asoka be a strong, decentralized and independent mechanism, Mehta relates a debate between Rabindranath Tagore especially at the lower levels like Panchayats and Block, and Mahatma Gandhi. He writes “Tagore had said that with power to penalize the erring officials. Right now Gandhiji in his pursuit of politics of the masses was there is provision to complain only at the District level. sacrificing cultural gains and values, to which Gandhiji had replied that never had he seen birds singing when Some people have criticized the food security they were hungry. And if the poor people are to sing and programme for creating additional burden on budget. chirp, their problems of food and work must be solved”. However, calculations show that since it covers mostly already existing programmes, it involves an additional If the scheme to distribute rice at Re. 1/- a Kg. can financial commitment of only Rs. 30,000 crores and 40 solve the food problem of the poor people and if they lakh tons of food grains. get enough leisure, they may also sing, isn’t it? It may prove to be a blessing. We need a much more comprehensive food security regime which should concretely aim at lifting people out of situations of hunger and malnutrition. The irony is that India is not hungry because of lack of food. We claim to be self reliant in terms of food grains. In fact, our FCI godowns are known to be overflowing. Present Dipra Cosmetics stocks are 10 crore metric tons of food grains. We have to solve the simple problem of making food reach the 12-A/3, Takshila , Mahakali caves Road, people. This requires correct policy, proper management Andheri (E), Mumbai : 400093 and no corruption. Tel No : 28327435

(Contd. from Page 7) This ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ propounded by Abraham Masslow and his ideas which are even today discussed and debated in the management classes, I think, hits the nail on the head of the criticisms, doubts, fears and anxieties expressed about the scheme to distribute rice at Re. 1/- a Kg. MFG G-1, Dipra brand Thus it is indubitable that people do not become lazy Deodrant & Herbal Shampoos if they get food at subsidized rates. Such criticisms, World award Winner Body line Powder available at doubts, fears and anxieties are the figments of the all branches of YMC Counters, prejudices of the middle classes. Apna Bazar & Khadi Bhandar

No person who has good health and has a healthy mind can sit idle for long. All those belonging to the middle class and even the well-to-do classes can find its truth from introspection. The famous Fabian Socialist George Bernard Shaw says that ‘doing’ something under compulsion is ‘labour’ and ‘doing’ what one JANATA, August 18, 2013 11 / Independence Day Number Movements sans Ideology

Sunil

I had never met Anna Hajare earlier. Once I saw him resign. He did not marry, does not own any property, at the Jantar Mantar stage from a distance. Otherwise lives in a temple and does not know even the names of I knew him through newspapers only. (We do not have his nephews and nieces. There was frequent clapping a TV set in our home). So it was an opportunity when from the crowd. He said that if Janlokpal act is passed, it was announced that Janatantra Yatra led by Anna 60 percent of India’s problems will be solved. He Hajare and General V K Singh will come to Itarsi, the advocated for Right to Reject, explaining it. He called town in Madhya Pradesh closest to me. I suggested to for electing candidates of good character. He asked the the local organizers that, apart from a public meeting, people to struggle, but first to build their own character. an indoor meeting should be organized with local organizations and activists who are engaged in struggles The meeting with local activists was scheduled in late or constructive activities. They agreed. evening after Hoshangabad public meeting at the circuit house where Anna and his team were to stay at night. On that day, hoards of people came to see Anna Anna was perhaps not aware of it. He was tired but when in the public meeting. Nari Jagruti Manch, a local Sunilam explained to him about it, he readily agreed. women’s organization, wanted to start a signature But much discussion could not take place. I asked Anna campaign against growing menace of intoxication on about his accepting a reward from Jindals, ‘Jindal Steel’ this occasion. Their representatives went to the stage being the main source of corruption and repression in requesting him to put first signature. He declined saying areas like Raigad in Chhattisgarh. Sunilam immediately that local people should sign. Sunilam, ex-MLA from intervened to clarify that the two are separate. Anna MP, was the first speaker. He spoke mainly about Anna’s defended ‘Jindal Foundation’ appreciating its services life and anti-corruption struggle led by Anna. He tried for humanity. I wanted to further ask him about his to answer the criticism that through his fasts Anna general approach to capitalists and corporations, but was using extra-constitutional methods and trying to considering shortage of time and Anna’s tiredness, encroach upon the rights of parliament. I kept silent. Anna again emphasized sacrifice and Then Santosh Bharati, a journalist and an ex-MP character-building. He advised not to go after publicity. from UP accompanying the Yatra, addressed the ‘I was never after cameras; today cameras rush after meeting. He said that the Parliament and assemblies me’. The meeting soon ended. do not represent the spirit of our constitution. There Anna’s personality was an inspiring one. The way is no mention of political parties in the constitution and therefore they are unconstitutional. They should he sacrificed his whole life, transformed a village, be banned. But he did not spell out the alternative. He put his life at risk at Ramlila Maidan and the way he called to the youth to come forward and that those who was touring at such an old age, left an imprint on the can devote one full year for Anna movement should audience. But apart from that, it was disappointing. The give their names and phone numbers. There was little pamphlet of the Jantantra Yatra talked about change of response to this appeal. system and ‘second freedom struggle’. But Anna, or any other speaker, did not talk about pressing problems Then it was the turn of Anna. There were slogans like before the nation such as price rise, unemployment, ‘Anna tum sangharsh karo, ham tumhare saath hain’ poverty, hunger, displacement, terrorism and naxalism, (Anna you struggle, we are with you). Anna mainly environmental crisis or atrocities on Dalits, women and spoke about his life, his sacrifice and his achievements. minorities. He even did not elaborate or analyse the After returning from military job, he took a broom and problem of corruption. He did not even ask the people devoted one and a half years in cleaning his village. to fight corruption at local level. He did not have any He removed 40 illegal liquor bhattis from his village. program to offer except calling people to come to Delhi He forced six corrupt ministers of Maharashtra to for a ‘Jan Sansad’ to be held in September. Independence Day Number / 12 JANATA, August 18, 2013

To be fair, there was a 25-point program on the back points out the shortcomings of present day Panchayat of the pamphlet of the Yatra. But none of the speakers Raj and calls for empowering Gram Sabhas, Mohalla spoke about it. A document was given to us in the Sabhas and people at grass root level. There can be no Hoshangabad meeting. It called for electing candidates disagreement with it. But is that all? with character. It was full of criticism of political parties and parliament. It discussed some of the problems There is no mention of economic policies in this facing the nation, but did not provide any alternative. ‘Swaraj’. It does not touch globalization or imperialism. As a solution, it only talked about Janlokpal, Right to It does not question the present day development model Reject, Right to recall, Gram Sabha and Gram Swaraj. or the consumerist culture promoted by capitalism. It But how to achieve them? Are parliament and political does not talk of corporate loot or the way people all over parties the only villain? What are the forces at local, the world are being uprooted for corporate profit. It does national and global level which are operating behind not comment on global warming or the environmental the present system? How to break their equations and catastrophe created by modern civilization. It does their hold? What are the roots of the problems? How not question the LPG policies being followed by will the people with character get elected without an Manmohan Singh and company. It is silent on caste organization and political force behind them, given and gender questions. It does not have any comments the present state of elections? Even if a few candidates on communalism, sectarianism or intolerance growing with good character get elected by chance, will they around us. It does not discuss the agricultural crisis in be able to make a difference? Isn’t Manmohan Singh India leading to a large number of suicides every year or personally an honest and learned person? I was left with the growing casualisation, exploitation and repression all these questions. of labour. People in India and all over the world are fighting on various issues which are not limited to Perhaps it is unfair to expect answers of these corruption only. But the ‘Manifesto’ is silent on all of complex questions from Anna. He is a simple man full them. At best, it says, empower the people, everything with patriotism and good intentions. But that is not will be all right. It is a cure for all. enough. We need a vision to move the nation on the path of transformation. Without that no movement can It is difficult to swallow this ‘Rambaan’ medicine. go forward. Can Gram Swaraj work in isolation? Will administrative decentralization be successful without economic A similar problem exists with Aam Admi Party, an decentralization? When corporate power is growing offshoot of the Anna movement. It is somewhat better and global market is penetrating even in the remotest because it has realized the need of a political alternative areas destroying further the village society (which was and is sincerely working for that. For Delhi assembly never a homogenous one), will the Gram Swaraj work? elections specially, it appears to be working hard. It And can you ignore the question of social justice, so has raised the issues of ‘Bijli and Pani’. It has also important in the Indian context? Aam Admi Party has started raising issues of corporate corruption which formed 22 committees to formulate its policies on was absent in the whole Anna movement. Like Anna’s various issues. Experts, not necessarily from within the Jantantra Yatra’s 25-point program, it has also issued party, were invited to provide inputs for that. But a party a provisional document broadly outlining its stand on document cannot be a compilation of diverse views. various issues. But it lacks an analysis and a vision. Perhaps it is not possible given the diverse kind of Aam Admi Party has announced that it will not people with diverse backgrounds assembled in this participate in assembly elections in four out of five party. This is a strength but also its limitation. states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Meghalay) to be held in November and concentrate on has written a small book ‘Swaraj’, Delhi. Perhaps it may be strategically correct, given which is being distributed in English and Hindi for the its good following in Delhi and fragile organization last one year. The cover of the book has a quotation in other states. Delhi being a metropolitan city has a of Anna declaring this book ‘a manifesto of our large middle class which seems to be the main base of movement against corruption and for systemic change’. AAP. But whenever it will try to expand to the rest of I purchased a copy and read it with interest. It is a good India, what will be its base? For creating an electoral critique of the evils of centralized governance. It also alternative at broader level, middle class will not be JANATA, August 18, 2013 13 / Independence Day Number sufficient. Their votes are few. If it wants to attract a necessary but not sufficient condition. Ideological farmers, workers, artisans, fishermen, Dalits, tribals, clarity provides a movement a vision, a spirit and backward classes, minorities, women, youth or ethnic preparedness for long term struggle. But that is lacking groups, it has to take up their issues. Raising issues in movements led by Anna and Kejriwal. of corruption will not suffice. And if it does not want to fool the people like other parties, it has to build Both of these movements swear by Mahatma a mutually consistent set of ideas analyzing their Gandhi and their followers wear Gandhi caps. Anna is problems and offering solutions. And that is what is being presented as a second Gandhi. But Gandhi was called ‘ideology’. never limited to a single issue. In fact, it was he who broadened the freedom movement. He took up issues For some time, there is a fashion to reject ideology of exploitation of farmers, Charkha (technology), tax or make a fun of it. To some extent, it is a result of on salt, untouchability, education, language, liquor, degeneration of ideological movements, whether hygiene and many other issues which had no direct link communist, socialist, Gandhian or Ambedkarite. But to the question of freedom from British occupation. one cannot escape it. One can disagree with a particular And for that he tried to chalk out a comprehensive ideology. One can decide not to be dogmatic and blueprint of Swaraj. Throughout his life, he engaged keep one’s ideology flexible, open to new ideas and in ideological debates. In fact, he loved to do that. It is lessons. One can continuously examine and review it not correct to compare Anna with Gandhi or JP. and improve upon it. Even those who claim to have no ideology have a hidden ideology and mostly it is If movements led by Anna and Kejriwal can chalk a status-quoist one. Any party, organization, group or out their ideology or at least move towards that, it movement that wishes to change the present system will be beneficial to them as well as to the nation. has to clearly spell its ideology. Ideology alone cannot Otherwise their future is doubtful. History is full of build a movement. It also requires a good leadership, instances of many movements and upheavals which mass mobilization, proper strategy and circumstances could not sustain themselves because they had no clear mature for it. To use a phrase from mathematics, it is ideological vision.

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Q JANATA, August 18, 2013 15 / Independence Day Number Twist in Lives of Olivers Schooling deprived children Arun Chavan Anuradha Bhosale

Social activists who are engaged in child care and child a few policemen who were conducting an enquiry of development programmes have to be knowledgeable two children of ten or eleven years. They were accused about the legal provisions that are made for child rights of pick-pocketing. The police were finding it difficult to protection. Juvenile Justice Act with the Rules framed crack the defense of the children. They were vigorously thereunder in 2006 is an important instrument in the denying the charges and pleading their innocence. After hands of the activists who would protect child rights. a time I asked the police to allow me to talk with them. Juvenile Justice Committee is expected to be active in So, I sat with the boys, Sameer and Anil, in a separate each district. It gives fair trial to a juvenile delinquent enclosure. I asked for tea and some snacks, which and it takes steps to admit such children to correctional they were seen hugely enjoying. They must have been homes and gives them a chance for reformation. Child quite hungry. The snacks and my sweet talk must have Welfare Committees in the districts are called upon to had its effect. They felt relaxed, shed their instinctive review the cases of children in distress, who eke out a inhibitions and opened up. living by asocial activities such as begging, rag-picking, bootlegging, etc. Such children are rehabilitated in They confessed to me in a confidential tone that they children’s homes. These child welfare institutions are have made pick-pocketing their means of livelihood. meant to give protection to children and bring them into The skill ran into their family for some generations. the educational mainstream. But the experience is that Right from their fifth year, their parents themselves not many children are benefited, because many remain taught them the tricks of the trade. Hailing from a beyond the reach of these arrangements. Secondly, those nomadic tribe, they were fully convinced that the whom the administration reaches out have already gone whole society lives off thieving and there was nothing through a long period of suffering and neglect due to to be ashamed of. They said the police also were hand which their childhood is horribly blighted and seared. in glove with them. Therefore police investigation did The chances of their genuine rehabilitation through not make any dent. They did not yield to the police but government sponsored institutions are slim at best. they confessed to me. These institutions themselves are in need of radical reform. I requested the inspector in-charge of the police station to give me an opportunity to reform them. He I have made it a habit to reach those spots in the city enthusiastically agreed not to take further action for a where these children are engaged in their daily struggle few weeks. For three weeks thereafter I met the boys for existence. Generally those spots are municipal waste regularly. We ate snacks together and saw a few films. dumps where they compete with stray dogs, railway platforms where they are seen moving in small gangs, I took them twice to our school, where they met the like packs of dogs on the prowl, always looking for hostel inmates. I showed them documentaries about our the main chance. I accost them and engage them in school. They taught me the intricacies of their trade: small talk. By degrees they shed their reluctance to how to identify a gullible victim, how to know if he talk. Slowly they feel persuaded to stop for a while and is a new arrival in the town, how to fix razor blades talk with me. Then, on a pre-determined day they take with Fevicol to outsize finger nails and use the nailed me to their parents. I tell them about the importance fingers to lift the purse with delicacy. Their three-week of education. But education can never be their priority exposure to altogether a different world was having its because their first concern is how to remain alive, how effect They finally agreed to give up their trade and to get enough to eat. give a fair trial to a different way of life. The parents were initially unwilling to let them choose this different There is one police station in Kolhapur city where I path. Finally, even they gave in to the determination of go frequently for routine work. One morning there I met their children. Independence Day Number / 16 JANATA, August 18, 2013

The police officer withdrew the charges. The children management proposition rather tricky. All these factors came into our school five years ago and now in a year’s need a kind of handling which is tactful and patient time they will go to the Xth standard, the school final overlaid with warmth of understanding. Sameer seems year. After passing that examination a vast vista of hypersensitive in these matters and was not discrete opportunities will open up before them. Thus, these about female boarders. It took me quite some time to less fortunate souls, rejected by the system, tortured inculcate into him the sense of propriety and moral do’s by circumstances, victims of callous neglect of our and don’ts. He now conducts himself on an even keel acquisitive society are now climbing towards a sunny without straying from the correct path. I am sure he will life. grow into a well-groomed gentleman.

Their induction in the routine of the hostel and A word about the culturation of the boys would be in school was not smooth sailing. In the beginning I place at this point. It is a skein of complex proposition took them under my direct supervision. For about which calls for an imaginative approach informed by two months they stayed with me in our house. They unremitting empathy. An outcome of decades of callous had no longer to worry about their food. The sense of neglect, they are, after all, the scions of a disease insecurity vanished. They no longer had to look over infected, cancerous rump of society. The disease has their shoulders to ensure that no havaldar was chasing entered their minds. Many of them are seen lurching them, menacingly wielding a baton. With a satiated towards the worse kinds of perversion. Their winning belly the feeling of well being took charge of their back to civilized refinements involves a perspicacious, responses. Yet, in the company of other boarders and yet flexible regime of non-formal education at AVANI the boys at school at the slightest stimuli they bristled outside school hours: Exposure to stimulants which and became prickly and combative. But I was able to nurture the human spirit in many subtle ways in one- bring them round by an overdose of warmth and ceding to-one and one-to group sessions. All that all along is minor responsibilities like house cleaning. Brimming substantiated by the psychologist’s inputs in general, with energy they needed an outlet which I provided to as well as in personalized terms. The tasks are ably them. The elder one, Sameer, was made a drummer of manned by our members. Snehal, Pushpa and Suneeta the house band. He soon was able to play it with an and expertly skippered by the American good Samaritan uncanny sense of rhythm. Both the boys are found to be Scott Kafora. These processes and infusions are ably slow learners at school, but they are aiming at a career supported by the special care of the management of in the armed forces. schools where our boarders are enrolled.

The way of life of these groups lends no scope for In conclusion I may say that their struggle to achieve privacy of any type and is so exposed to the elements a decent living condition is not yet over. They will need and to one another. They are foreign to the delicacies persistent help, they will need sympathy and trust. I of human relationships. The boys and girls who come hope the community will not be found wanting in the to us are prematurely aware of sensuality which renders face of such a challenge. “Sorry, Mummy”

Married women involving themselves in genuine and considerations sorted themselves out, leading social activism face a daily dilemma. Their family once again to an even flow of life. Perhaps an uncanny responsibilities and their extra-familial duties clash like resilience is the essence of life, which keeps things symbals, sometimes ear-splittingly so. Living tends to moving on an even keel. become more a racket of conflicting interests rather than an ensemble of harmonizing sounds. At the extremes the When the child is at the epicenter of social activism contradiction may even have an unhinging effect. Here the undertaking becomes much more rigorous, delicate in such situations one is unwittingly goaded to stoic and demanding. Extension of maternal bent of mind is levels of patience and perseverance. Sometimes looking stretched to the limit. One’s capacity for unrelenting back to a past studded with such tribulations, you are perseverance is tested to the hilt and those who emerge yourself surprised to see how clashing relationships bruise-less from it succeed ultimately. JANATA, August 18, 2013 17 / Independence Day Number

When my son, (Granth is his name but many call at the outset to a loud and laughter-laced applause of him ‘Kumar’), was hardly one and half years, my job of the young audience. My talk that afternoon remained child education was entering a new and more intricate nearly totally undelivered. Unmindful of the enormity phase. AVANI had then decided to open non-formal of their loss, the audience felt merely amused at my residential school for deprived children of 6 and above son’s pranks. Undeterred, I was firm in my belief that age group. AVANI’s policy decision was based on my my would-be listeners got cruelly deprived of many commitment and the potential they saw in me. And I precious pearls of shining wisdom that would have owed to AVANI a steadfast stand on my part unmindful tumbled out from my lips. Their loss was Kumar’s of consequences. undoubted gain. The instant I resumed my seat on the dais he appropriated my lap and sat tight throughout the There was no one else to whom Kumar could be function, immensely pleased with himself. entrusted, a significant disadvantage faced by most divorcees. I had to take him along on my work routine. Each child that came to be sheltered at AVANI He had seen with me all the places in town where carried the corns and scars of tragedy in one form or child labour is found, the shanties where they lived, another. Pain and sorrow was a common part of their the juvenile correction homes and so on. Outside of lives’ narrative. I have tried my best to tell Kumar about the hours spent in the kindergarten Kumar preferred these sad stories and have tried to impress upon him to be at AVANI school because he knew he could get the need they have for love and understanding, apart my company more at the school than at home, which from bellyful food, clean clothes to wear and a feel of was more a place for nightly halts, than a bosom for security. However, he remained unconvinced about why leisurely lolling in the tranquil warmth of loved ones. his Mummy should be shared by other unconnected He has travelled with me to towns and cities where I children, whom he might have subconsciously loathed went to participate in meetings and seminars. In fact as his rivals. as a small toddler he has accompanied me right up to Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. One time my visits An architect from USA, Scott Kafora, who has to a particular police station in Kolhapur were so been with AVANI for the past two years working as a frequent that he easily became thick with the inspector volunteer was returning from a furlow in Europe. We in-charge. So much so that the moment we entered went to Mumbai to pick him up and came to know the police station he ran to the officer and ensconced about the late arrival of his flight. To while away himself on his lap. His uniform fascinated him and he the time we - I and Kumar - went to see a movie at played endlessly with his brass epaulets. Recently when a cinema house near the airport. The picture being Kumar was asked what he would like to be, pat came shown was ‘Stanleyka Dibba’. It depicted the story of the answer, “police fouzdaar!” (officer). a deprived child who rose from abject squalor to a life or respectability by dint of education and determination. Nonetheless, all such diversions only meant for Kumar was only seven years old at that time. But he Kumar temporary substitutes to what he longed for understood the story that was so skillfully presented intensely - my close companionship and my undivided on the screen. The instant we emerged from the theatre attention. Sometimes he missed it too much, especially Kumar hugged me tightly and started uncontrollably when he met his Mummie’s friends carrying their crying. I was puzzled. I couldn’t know what might have babies in arms. He would cry and protest vehemently to saddened him that much. Amidst sobs he could only demand my time for himself. He registered his protests mumble, “Sorry, Mummy!” in a variety of ways. One which my friends even now do not let me forget happened at a public meeting when he For good ten minutes he kept on crying in spasms was hardly four. When my time came I stood before the and I was at a loss to know the reason. I too could not mike and began, “Bhaio aur beheno!” He resented my control my tears and we both wept together. When the standing alone forsaking him in the chair I was sitting spate of emotion subsided he could bring himself to in. As I ventured to talk he clung to my legs and literally say, “Today I understood the sorrow of the child labour. clambered up to my shoulders like a little monkey Forgive me for what harsh words I have spoken about and slided down repeatedly as on a ‘wrestler’s pillar’ them.” The deeply felt remorse shook him to the core. (better described as ‘Malla Khamb’ in Marathi, meant Out of the fire of scalding repentance a new Kumar is for athlete’s feats). Naturally, I had to cut short my talk born. I am proud of him, and justly so! Independence Day Number / 18 JANATA, August 18, 2013

Ever since that incident in Mumbai while with brand new bicycle, his football and his cricket bat. And AVANI children Kumar has become a picture of I never find him eating alone without the company of kindness and camaraderie. He shares with them his children. Meaning of Death

Women are on the lowest rung of the exploitative was in effect the bread-winner of the whole fam1y. social pyramid. When married off, they enter a form Several times I had asked her to get separation from the of serfdom under the patriarchal grip which has husband, but she did not agree for fear of the stigma more than one prong. The male and female in-taws from her community and even a slur on her character. and the master of the set-up, the husband at the top, She was of a nomadic tribe which has borrowed together rule the roost and the poor women are at the conservatism and patriarchal social ethos of the the receiving end. In the absence of education, their traditional Hindu society. body is the only dependable apparatus for earning a living. Overwhelming majority of the husbands are 2nd January of 2011 proved to be the point of no addicts. Much of their earning is invariably blown on return. In a make-shift shelter at a brick yard violent drinks. That results in starvation of the women and quarrel happened between her and the husband which their children and multiple deprivation. Governrment culminated in merciless beating by the inebriated man. has enacted welfare laws with these people in In a moment of utter despair she doused kerosene focus. Implementation or the laws is in the hands on her saree and lit herself. She died that evening in of bureaucracy and local politicians who lack the Sangli hospital. necessary motivation and commitment. The funds are frittered away and end up in the wrong pockets and the “Please take care of my children and give them target groups remain high and dry. Illiterate women do good education!” were the last words she spoke to not get organized to be able to gain advantages of the our activist and then sank into eternal silence. My government schemes. These women at the bottom of two–hour journey from AVANI to Sangli with Kavita’s the pyramid are hemmed in from all sides and, where children was a trying experience. I had seen that they they are not organized they fall prey to despair and had their food before embarking on the journey. They frustration. When a point beyond endurance is reached knew that their ever loving mother who bought new self-inflicted death becomes a welcome relief. clothes for them and took them home for Diwali, who fondly brought their favourite snacks whenever she Death is a matter of indifference to the woman who came on visits to AVANI, who impressed upon them chooses it in a dark moment of desperation. In the form the importance of education was severely burnt, and of her innocent children she leaves behind an endless they were travelling to see her in a hospital. But they trail of sorrow and suffering. did not know that she was already dead, and I did not know how to tell them about it. Because at their Kavita was one such unfortunate mother. In the life tender age they did not understand what death really of twenty-eight summers, she had become a mother means. After a time I braced myself to tell them that of four children, three daughters and a son, the last they would see their mother sleeping on the hospital born, only two years. The main cause of her suffering cot for the last time; that she would no more come was her husband, a chronic tippler. He had a fixation to AVANI to meet them or bring sweets for them. I about Kavita’s infidelity. I knew her well because gathered them in my arms and my forbearance gave her two daughters, Anjali and Usha are in our hostel. way. I wept uncontrollably. Anjali and Usha tried to She regularly attended the monthly meetings of the mop my tears with their little kerchiefs. Their eyes too parents. Her husband never attended the meeting even brimmed with tears and crying loudly they clug to me once. Kavita was in the habit of spending some time in a tighter embrace. They vaguely understood that a with me after the meetings were over. Invariably, she calamity had overtaken their lives. complained to me about her husband’s addiction, and the bashing she underwent. The husband blew his Months passed in the usual routine and Diwali income on drinks. Kavita had to work for a living. She vacation began. Parents and guardians of other JANATA, August 18, 2013 19 / Independence Day Number children came to AVANI to take their children home. come this time, for they knew what death really means: But Anjali and Usha did not expect their mother to Total absence of your loved one from your life. Beware of Pity

Come to think of it, the inmates of AVANI residential himself scarce. Two days later we came to know of his school are the flotsam of the turbulent oceans of life. return to his grandfather’s house. Pallavi continued They are living embodiments of pain-studded stories her regular routine at school, but the teachers were not and traumatic upheavals which are far beyond the happy about her learning record. To me she made her tolerance thresholds of their tender minds. Having dislike for formal studies amply clear. known the stories whose pathos cannot be overstated, I am predisposed to all of them in a steeply compassionate When relatives of other boys and girls came to manner. Sometimes I am impelled to take a decision AVANI to take them home for holidays or when much against my instinctive feel, and then what follow they came with packets of eats and fed the children are repercussions, stranger and trickier than one had sitting underneath the shade of the trees and bushes bargained for. in the garden of the school, I have seen Pallavi’s eyes brimming with tears, because she was alone for whom The vast swathe of poverty is in a way inclusive in no one came with things to eat. its sweep. It is no respecter of man-made barriers like Within my limits I tried to give special attention to caste and religion. The discovery of Pallavi illustrates her. On Diwali, the most important religious festival the point. She came in our trajectory, when? Yes I which heralded the winter season, I took her home, remember, in 2007. woke her up in the wee hours of dawn, gave her ritual Seven years ago a social worker well known to me bath, rubbing her body with strongly scented oils and phoned and requested me to admit a small girl and a mixture of aromatic herbs and incense, decked her her handicapped brother to AVANI. When Pallavi out in new clothes, gave her quantities of pyrotechnic was three, her mother had killed herself due to the stuff, and then, finally sat her before plateful of sweets husband’s gross ill-treatment. The father of course and fries by the side of my two children. Withal, I have had remarried. The step-mother, as happens in most seen her enjoying the occasion to the fullest. In short, I cases, treated Pallavi and the brother Deepak very did everything, and more, than what her mother would cruelly and persecuted them in many ways. The father have done for her, if she were alive. was totally indifferent to the plight of the children. Pallavi, a Patil is from the middle stratum. Once her In effect they were driven to destitution by the sheer caste, largest single group in the State, ruled the pack callousness of their father. They were given entrance because they owned most of the agricultural land and to AVANI. My colleagues and I felt that Pallavi would enjoyed privileges of a feudal social set-up. Now Pallavi make some kind of a career for herself and at the same is buried in a mud slide of misfortune which has only time help Deepak to make something of his life. Pallavi an economic dimension. She doesn’t suffer from any soon became very popular with the staff members. social disability. The accident of birth has guaranteed She would take part enthusiastically in every part of that. She is from the so-called well born antecedents. school management. Work in the kitchen, like cleaning Yet her deprivation is as bad, or worse than that of of vegetables, pounding masala, baking of bread was the socially depraved sections and hence deserves a of particular interest to her. Gradually as time passed helping hand - and to be viewed without prejudice and she became senior-most among the inmates, and she with equanimity. AVANI has even-handedly accepted was treated with deference by the later entrants to her and have sought to shield her from the ‘slings and AVANI. Deepak was a different and, rather a curious arrows of fortune’. cup of tea. He treated younger kids harshly, became a regular truant at school. The teachers complained about She has a well-shaped nose, proportionate facial his eccentric behavior in class and a time came after features, wheatish complexion, well-formed teeth, few weeks of school when the teacher cancelled his winning smile and a pleasing lilt in the voice. She admission altogether. Deepak at the same time made (Contd. on Page 32) Independence Day Number / 20 JANATA, August 18, 2013

Uttarakhand Dear Friends,

Yusuf Meherally Cente has set up Uttarakhand clothes, organize self- help groups and mobilize Relief Committee, and started collecting money, trainees and give training and plan their future in material, etc. a participatory manner - and will try to identify an eco-friendly development model. The last one is very We have a small but good unit in Uttarakhand and ambitious, we are quite aware. a group of workers. Jabar Singh Verma is one of the convener of our youth wing, Yusuf Meherally Yuva The Centre has considerable experience of relief Biradari, and is a noted journalist. He is the person work. In its very early period, it provided relief to who is looking after our relief activities there and the victims of flood in Orissa. It organized a student Guddi, national convener of the Biradari, has almost committee in Mumbai to help the draught affected shifted there. students of Maharashtra. We provided relief in Raigad when there were flash floods. And, after the cyclone After a survey of 12 villages we have identified and earthquake, we worked in Kutch. Again after the five villages for intensive intervention. While we have earthquake in Kashmir, we undertook relief. The distributed relief material in all the surveyed villages floods in Ladakh made us go there. And after the and will continue to do so, we will be concentrating tsunami, in Nagapattinam, we did a lot of relief and on rehabilitating five. We hope to build houses (114 rehabilitation work. The same after Koshi floods in houses have collapsed in these villages) with the Bihar. help of other organisations, start giving education to the children, {the school buildings have collapsed) You can participate in this effort by depositing your build one common shed in each village - this will contribution in any of the following accounts of Yusuf double as school and Panchayat office, etc., repair two Meherally Centre. Or you can send your contribution Panchakkis, make Rajais out of the surplus unusable to the Centre’s office.

Yours sincerely, Haresh Shah - Sudhir Gandbhir Name of Bank The Shamrao Vithal Co- State Bank of India Dena Bank operative Bank Ltd Account No 100920950000011 10066940217 007710009865 Branch Name Sleater Road Hughes Road Tardeo IFSI No. SVCB0000009 SBIN0005800 BKDN0450077 Branch No 400089009 400002033. 400018042 You can inform us of your contribution along with some details including your name, address and PAN, if you have, by e-mail. post or courier. Yusuf Meherally Centre, D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, (formerly Sleater Road), P.O, Grant Road (W), Mumbai - 400007 Website - www.yusufmeherally.org TeleFax - +91 22 23889738 E-mail – [email protected] Telephone - +91 22 23870097 • +91 22 23806010

Space Donated by A Well Wisher JANATA, August 18, 2013 21 / Independence Day Number Caste System and the Socialists

Bapu Heddurshetti

1.1 The ‘Caste System’, is unique to India. 1.5 But there is socio-cultural inequality among Interestingly the nomenclature ‘caste’ for the Indian these castes. Hence plurality of castes with built in nomenclature ‘Jati’ is derived from the Portuguese word inequality constitutes the ‘caste-system’. This socio- ‘Caste’ which is pronounced as ‘Kassi’ and the Spanish cultural inequality based on ‘castes’ appeared to be word also ‘Caste’ which is pronounced as ‘Kyastee’. It independent of economic inequality based on property, may be of interest to note here that the nomenclature though at times they appeared to be overlapping. Hence ‘India’ was given by the Greeks who could not both the Marxists and the democratic socialists, in India, pronounce ‘Sindhu’ and hence called the river ‘Indus’ had to grapple with the phenomenon of castes and the and the people living on the banks as ‘Indians’ and the caste system. nomenclature ‘Hindu’ was given by the Persians who also could not pronounce the word ‘Sindhu’ and hence 1.6 Attitude towards this caste system was the point called it ‘Hindu’ and the people living on the banks of of departure between the traditional Marxists and the that river ‘Hindus’ and the land ‘Hindustan’. Perhaps democratic socialists. The Marxists were of the view when the Portuguese landed on the shores of India, they that the basic structure of the economic institutions, noticed the system and since they could not pronounce determines the super structures of socio-cultural ‘Jati’, called it ‘Kassi’ in their own language which in institutions including the castes. Hence they believed English language became ‘Caste’. that destruction of the ‘classes’ will result in the destruction of the castes. 1.2 At the outset a distinction has to be made between the ‘castes’ and the ‘caste system’. This distinction is 1.7 However, the democratic socialists in India not only central to the understanding of ‘castes’, ‘caste did not agree with this Marxian formulation on the system’ and the socialist attitude towards both, but also relationship between the basic and super structures. because much of the confusion about the castes and the They recognised that efforts will have to be made to caste system stems from not cognising the distinction. eliminate this socio-cultural inequality independently 1.3 Marx spoke about a ‘class-less’ society. He of economic inequality. Hence in order to create an had categorised the classes as the propertied and ‘egalitarian’ society, the Indian democratic socialists the property-less classes. Property in the ‘means of had not only to speak of the destruction of the production’ distinguished these classes. Hence these hierarchical class system but also of the destruction classes inhered ‘inequality’. Marx called them the of the hierarchical caste system. Thus they had to take bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In India also there an ideological position on the ‘caste system’. Ever were ‘classes’ in the Marxian sense, as in Europe. since the formation of the Congress Socialist Party in Socialists of all hues, utopian and scientific, Marxian 1934 the Indian democratic socialists have been taking and democratic, all over the world, agitated against such ideological positions on the ‘caste system’. What was class based inequality. their position? 1.4 But in India, in addition to the ‘classes’, there were ‘castes’. If there was a single ‘caste’, like ‘Allah’ 2. Characteristics of the ‘Castes’ of the monotheist Muslims, there would be no question 2. and the ‘Caste System’ of inequality, because inequality can exist only in a Before we embark on a discussion of the socialist plural situation. But as Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, who though positions on castes and caste system, it is necessary that did not claim to be a socialist, was more socialist than we briefly examine the characters and some theories on many who so claimed, would rightly say, “A single caste the origin of the castes and the caste system. cannot exist, it has to exist in a group of castes, i.e., a caste system”. So “caste in the singular number is an Two characters of the ‘castes’ can be that they are unreality. Castes exist only in the plural number. There determined by birth and that they internalise marriage, is no such thing as a caste: There are always castes”. or mating or regeneration, i.e., endogamy. However, Independence Day Number / 22 JANATA, August 18, 2013 these characters are not unique to the castes in Hindu example the Lingayats and Vokkaligas in Karnataka, Society. Even amongst Muslims and Christians the Reddis and Kammas in Andhra, Yadavs and Kurmis in socio-cultural groups exhibit these characters. For Bihar and so on. However, the hierarchy or inequality example, a child born to a Shia couple is automatically is inherent in the ‘caste system’ where some castes Shia and a child born to a Sunni couple is automatically consider themselves superior to others whereas some Sunni. Equally a child born to a Roman Catholic is other castes consider themselves inferior. automatically Roman Catholic and so is a child born to the Protestants a Protestant. Though it can be argued There is another factor which appears like a that the children do not inhere the religion let alone characteristic of caste system. It is the inextricable the sects since they are baptised into a religion or a nexus between the ‘castes’ and the ‘callings’. Certain sect later on, the fact remains that the children do not callings are identified with certain castes and generally a have a ‘choice’ and hence their religion and sect are person born in a caste is supposed to pursue that calling ‘determined’ by ‘birth’ in the family of parents who only and none other. Thus callings became hereditary. belong to a particular religion or sect. It is even argued that the castes came into existence as a result of exclusive pursuit of certain callings. This Though a person may have a ‘choice’ in marriage, relationship between the castes and the callings was generally marriages take place between two persons noticed by Karl Marx and challenged by Dr. Ambedkar. belonging to the same sect and the marriages outside the sect are taboo if not prohibited. Thus a Shia tends With the first two characters, the socio-cultural to marry a Shia and a Sunni tends to marry a Sunni groups, which may be called castes or sects are only a thereby generally internalising marriage. This happens part of a social paradigm, the pieces in a collage forming in the sects of perhaps any religion. a design whereas the four characters put together form The character of a ‘caste system’ is that it is a hierarchical system which can be called the ‘caste hierarchical involving inequalities. For example, while system’. the ‘Brahmins’ consider themselves ‘superior’ to other 3. Some theories on the origin of castes, the ‘dalits’ consider themselves ‘inferior’ to the 3. castes and caste system other castes. While ‘Brahmins’ proudly announce their caste, the dalits try to hide it because of inferiority. 3.1. The Purusha Sukta, the poem describing the However, though there are ‘castes’ among Muslims ‘cosmological being’, which is considered by many and Christians, there is no ‘caste system’ among them, scholars as depicting the birth of the system of castes, meaning that there is no inequality between them. appears in the tenth and last Mandala, or chapter, of Though there is a claim for superiority by a sect there the Rigveda. This is supposed to be chronologically is no acceptance of inferiority by any sect. For example the earliest reference to the four Varnas of the Aryan while Shias may consider themselves superior to Society. Though some have argued that the Sukta was Sunnis, Sunnis do not consider themselves ‘inferior’ interpolated later on, it cannot be overlooked in our to the Shias. On the contrary they consider themselves analysis of the system of castes in India. One verse superior to the Shias. This happens between different reads as follows: sects of the Christians also where one sect may consider itself superior to other sects, but no sect considers itself brAhmaNo asya mukhamAseet|bAhoo rAjanya: inferior to other sects. krta: | ooru tadasya yad vaishya | padbhyAm shoodro Thus it can be said that of the three characters, ajAyata || namely ‘determination at birth’, ‘internalising marriage’ i.e., endogamy and a system of hierarchy based on a simple translation of the above verse reads as inequality, the first two are the characters of ‘caste’ and follows: the three together of the ‘caste system’. As inequality is inherent in the definition of ‘class’, i.e., the classes His mouth formed the Brahmin (teacher or priest), are hierarchical, it is not necessarily so in the case of his two arms were made the Raajanya (Kshathriya ‘castes’. Hierarchy or inequality is not inherent in the or warrior), his two thighs the Vaisya (traders or ‘castes’. Two or more ‘castes’ can be equal to each other agriculturists) and from his feet the Shudra (worker in their socio-cultural standing and can coexist. For or servant) was born. JANATA, August 18, 2013 23 / Independence Day Number

3.2 Were the four Varnas based on the vocations or ‘feet’ form successively the lower parts of the body and birth? In an article entitled “Is Caste System Intrinsic progressively lower or inferior positions in the body. to Hinduism? Demolishing a Myth” M.V.Nadkarni, takes the view that they were vocations. He says that 3.6 However it appears that though the Varnas were the Purusha Sukta “is essentially a metaphor taking based on birth, there was mobility between the Varnas the society to be an organic whole, of which the four i.e., a person born in one Varna could enter another Varnas based on division of labour are intrinsic parts…. Varna through his deeds. For example, a person born Since Vaishyas and Shudras support the society through as a Brahmin could become a Kshatriya by ‘character’ their economic or productive work, they were taken or ‘deeds’ i.e., by taking to arms, like Dronacharya of respectively as coming out of the thighs and feet of Mahabharata and Pushyamitra Sunga, who while being the purusha, without necessarily hinting at any lowly a Brahmin was the Commander of the armed forces of status of their work. Similarly since Kshatriyas work Mourya kings, who were themselves Shudras, and who in warfare involved mainly the use of their arms, they assassinated the last Mourya King to become the King were taken as coming out of the arms of the Purusha. himself. A Vaishya or even a Shudra could become a Since Brahmins work consisted of reciting mantras and Kshatriya by becoming a King like Harshavardhana preserving Vedas through oral transmission, they were or Mahapadmananda who was born to a dancer and taken as coming out the Purusha's mouth”. a barber. Some argue that these examples are only exceptions proving the rule that there was no mobility 3.3 However, the Purusha Sukta has been so carefully in Varnas, while the reality appears to be that these worded that it is amenable to both the interpretations, examples were only the tip of the ice berg. i.e., that the Varnas were based on the vocations carried on by the concerned socio-cultural groups as also that 3.7 However by the time Mahabharata was compiled the Varnas were inhered by birth. While the Purusha’s or Manusmriti was compiled, the caste system had ‘mouth’ ‘became’ or ‘was’ the ‘Brahmins’, as the verb appeared on the scene. In Mahabharata, Arjuna tells used is ‘Aseet’, the ‘Kshatriyas’ were ‘made of his Krishna that when thousands of men get killed in the arms’, for the verb used is ‘krita’. For Vaishyas the war, women, not finding men of their own ‘Varnas’ to Sukta says that the ‘thighs were’ the Vaishyas. But for marry, will start marrying men belonging to the other the Shudras the Sukta uses the verb ‘ajaayata’ – i.e., ‘Varnas’ and thus ‘Varna Sankara’ i.e., the mixture the Shudras were ‘born’ of the feet. of Varnas will take place. Thus it appears that even Varnas practiced endogamy. But what happens when 3.4 Thus the Sukta can be interpreted to mean that the mixture of Varnas takes place? The question was those whose vocation was the use of the ‘mouth’, were as to whether the progeny of an exogamous marriage Brahmins, those whose vocation was the use of the belonged to the Varna of the male or the female of its ‘arms’ were Kshatriyas, those whose vocation was the parents? use of the ‘thighs’ (sic) were the Vaishyas and those whose vocation was the use of the ‘feet’, or doing 3.8 It is here that Manu steps in. In order to retain ‘service’ were the Shudras. In Bhagavadgita, Krishna the endogamous purity of the four Varnas, Manu starts says “Chaturvarnyam mayaa srishtam, guna karma collecting the progeny of such Varna Sankara into vibhagashah” which means that the four Varnas were castes giving them different names so that they would created by him based on the ‘character’ and ‘deeds’ remain separate from the original Varnas. So a child of the people belonging to those Varnas. However, it born to a Brahmin father and a woman of any other is also possible to interpret the Purusha Sukta to say Varna was not to be a Brahmin. Thus the Brahmin that the Brahmins were ‘born’ out of the ‘mouth’ of the Varna would remain unadulterated. Since the Varnas Purusha, the Kshatriyas were ‘born’ out of his ‘arms’, themselves inhered inequality in the sense that the the Vaishyas out of his ‘thighs’ and the Shudras were Brahmins were superior and the other Varnas were ‘born’ out of his feet. inferior to them successively, Manu had to create a hierarchy of castes born out of Varna Sankara also. 3.5 Whether the Varnas were based on vocation or birth, both appear to be inhering the hierarchy where 3.9 Hence, Manu divides marriages ‘between’ those related to mouth were definitely superior as the different Varnas into ‘anuloma’ i.e., marriages in mouth exists on a higher or superior position in the descending order and ‘pratiloma’ i.e., marriages in human body and then the ‘arms’, the ‘thighs’ and the ascending order. Brahmin men marrying Kshatriya, Independence Day Number / 24 JANATA, August 18, 2013

Vaishya or Shudra women, Kshatriya men marrying them. Vaishya or Shudra women, and Vaishya men marrying Shudra women were ‘anuloma’ marriages. The 3.13 Rammanohar Lohia, who played an important marriages in the reverse order i.e., Shudra men marrying role in the socialist movement in India, advanced certain Vaishya, Kshatriya or Brahmin women, Vaishya men ideas about the origin and character of the castes and marrying Kshatriya or Brahmin women and Kshatriya the caste system after he left the Praja Socialist Party men marrying Brahmin women were ‘pratiloma’ and set up his own Socialist Party. However, he does marriages. The progeny of each such marriage was not appear to have made the distinction between the bundled by Manu into a caste and he even gave a ‘castes’ and the ‘caste system’ and uses the terms as name for each of such castes. For example, he calls synonyms with attendant consequences. the progeny of a Brahmin father and a Shudra mother ‘Nishada’ and the progeny of a Shudra father and a 3.14 In an article written in 1960 about the Brahmin mother ‘Chandala’. He even gives a name pilgrimage centers of India, he says that perhaps it is the to the progeny of a ‘Nishada’ and a ‘Chandala’ – castes, more than anything else, which are preserving ‘Antyavashayin’. the pilgrimage centers and the national unity without causing any break and then in the same article later says 3.10 It appears this is how the castes and the caste that the castes are dividing India. system appeared in the Hindu Society. All the four characteristics of the castes and the caste system, 3.15 On the origin of the castes he appears to have namely, determination by birth, endogamy, hierarchy held three different views. In his article “Towards the and caste-calling nexus appear in ancient India. So destruction of Castes and Classes’ written in 1958, he even though ‘exogamy’ i.e., marrying outside one’s advances the idea that the ‘callings’ and ‘castes’ were own Varna was the cause for the origin of the castes, interconnected. He says: “The tiny beginnings of its ‘endogamy’ i.e., marrying within one’s own group, (Caste’s) roots were laid bare by Mr. Khrushchev when came to be a character of the caste. he bemoaned in present-day Russia, the unwillingness of persons with a higher education to do manual work. 3.11 Marx vividly describes the origin of castes This rift between manual and brain work and evaluation and their relationship with vocation or ‘calling’ and of one as the lower and the other as the higher and the other groups based on vocations called the ‘guilds’. increasing complexity and permanency of this rift are He accurately listed its characteristics in his ‘Capital’ behind the formation of caste”. However, he did not as follows: elaborate on the theme.

“… the conversion of fractional work into the life- 3.16 In an article written in 1961 Lohia appears to calling of one man corresponds to the tendency shown have held two views on the origin of the caste system. by earlier societies to make trades hereditary either to He said that the caste system was a result of the ‘spoils petrify them into castes or whenever definite historical system’ in the wars when instead of destroying the conditions beget in the individual to vary in a manner vanquished people, their incomes were sought to be incompatible with the nature of caste, to ossify them restricted by the victors.2 He appears to have been into guilds. Caste and guilds arise from the action of influenced by the theories advanced by some of the the same natural law that regulates the differentiation western scholars that the Shudras and the Untouchables of plants, and animals into species and varieties except were originally non-Aryan people who were defeated that when a certain degree of development has been by the Aryans but accepted in the Vedic society by reached the heredity of caste and the exclusiveness of giving them a lower status. Anuradha Ghandy, a Marxist guilds are ordained as a law of society.”1 scholar, in her “Caste Question In India”, in which she has given Marxist interpretation of the rise and 3.12 But Marx neither elaborated on the system evolution of the caste system in India, also subscribes nor thought of means to end the system. Perhaps his to the same view that it is the ‘subjugated tribals, both theory of the basic structure determining the super Aryan and non-Aryan, who gradually came to form the structure made him complacent about caste. In India Shudra Varna’. also, socialist leaders did not theorise on the origin and the characteristics of castes and the caste system 3.17 The theory was advanced by some scholars but recognized their existence and took positions about to explain the appearance of the Shudras and the JANATA, August 18, 2013 25 / Independence Day Number

Untouchables in the Hindu society. This also was in Lohia was fond of applying the formulation to different consonance with their theory that the Aryans were a situations. In his book ‘Wheel of History’ he says that if different race, descending on the Indian peninsula from an international fund is not created which takes capital the Asia-minor and occupying the peninsula through the from each nation according to its capacity and gives the conquest of the Dravidians or other tribes who were the capital to each nation in accordance with its needs that original inhabitants of the peninsula. Can this theory will render the World government redundant. be extended to explain the rise of thousands of castes in India? 3.21 If I remember correctly, it is Engels who characterized ‘socialism’ as a society based on the 3.18 If one accepts the hypothesis, many inconvenient principle of ‘from each according to his capacity and to questions arise which it is difficult to answer. If all each according to his contribution’ and ‘communism’ castes arose out of the vanquished people, who were the as a society based on the principle of ‘from each victors? If Aryans were the victors, Aryans themselves according to his capacity and to each according to his were divided into Varnas which had the characters needs’. And since, according to Marx, ‘‘communism’ of castes. If Varnas were castes, who vanquished the was the highest form a society could achieve, did Lohia Brahmins and restricted their incomes? Vaishyas were mean that the caste system in ancient India was the a very rich people who were lending money even to highest form of society of Marx’s conception? And by the kings and emperors. Who vanquished the Vaishyas saying that he wanted the castes to be destroyed, did and were their incomes also restricted by the victors? Lohia mean that the highest form of society of Marx’s Or, if their incomes were not restricted, were they conception had to be destroyed? It would be difficult the victors? If after such restriction, the Vaishyas still to understand what Lohia meant by such formulations. grew rich, how did the victors allow such growth? The Then again he procrastinated in his article ‘Class and theory also does not explain how thousands of castes Caste’ “Whether this formula (to everybody according could have arisen out of the vanquished people. And to his needs and from everybody according to his the equation of incomes with castes certainly appears capacity) ever got worked out in the Indian caste system very incongruous here. is more than I can say”. 3.22 There is an intrinsic problem with the 3.19 But then in the same article ‘Class and Caste’ formulation. It presumes that when ‘from each Lohia says that the caste system is a social conflict according to his capacity’ is taken, it would be sufficient resolution system in which different classes of society, to meet the ‘needs’ of the people. How much is taken after obtaining the places they could get, continued to may not match how much has to be given. There may co-exist without fighting much with each other. He says: clearly be a mismatch between the quantity to be ‘taken’ “Some may be inclined to think that caste is a specifically and the quantity to be ‘given’. Indian phenomenon. In the sense that caste has endured an unbelievably long time that it has acquired some very 3.23 However, Ambedkar takes a different view on sharp features, it is a uniquely Indian institution. But as the origin of castes and the caste system. He makes a an institution in which different classes of population distinction between the two. In his paper presented at have found their proper place and do not dispute much an Anthropology Seminar at the Columbia University with one another, it is universal”. But if one accepts on 9th May 1916 entitled ‘Castes in India: Their this theory also very inconvenient questions arise. How Mechanism, Genesis and Development’, Ambedkar, did they get their places in society? Through conflict? says that the “Aryans, Dravidians, Mongolians and If so, how come the Brahmins occupied a higher place Scythians who came to India...settled down as peaceful than the Kshatriyas? What made the Shudras accept a neighbours and... .. through constant contact and lower position in the society? In what sense were the mutual intercourse they evolved a common culture places obtained by them ‘proper’? that superseded their distinctive cultures” and hence he defined caste and its genesis as “a parceling of an 3.20 In 1936 Ambedkar had said that “Varna is based already homogeneous unit, and the explanation of the on the principle of each according to his worth, while genesis of Caste is the explanation of this process of Caste is based on the principle of each according to his parceling...” He said that caste cannot be considered birth.”3 Lohia says that the ancient caste system in India in the form of an “isolated unit by itself but only as a was based on the principle of ‘from each according group within, and with definite relations to, the system to his capacity and to each according to his needs’. of castes as a whole”. Independence Day Number / 26 JANATA, August 18, 2013

3.24 He then said that “prohibition, or rather the 4.3 Acharya Narendra Deva, the doyen of the Indian absence of intermarriage—endogamy, to be concise— socialist movement, even though a Marxist to the core, is the only one that can be called the essence of Caste recognised the caste dimension of the social inequality when rightly understood”. He hence defined caste as obtaining in India. He said: “The Hindu social “an artificial chopping off of the population into fixed organisation is a hierarchy of castes and perpetuates and definite units, each one prevented from fusing into social inequalities. We have also placed vast sections another through the custom of endogamy”. But then, of our people beyond the pale of civilisation and we he distinguished caste from other endogamous groups treat them as sub-human beings.....and unless we start like Red Indians by saying that those endogamous a crusade against these institutions and customs which groups were not parts of a homogeneous unit but were perpetuate inequalities and sanction inhuman treatment themselves heterogeneous and hence were not castes. to our fellowmen, we cannot hope to make any progress towards the realisation of our new objectives”.4 3.25 Ambedkar felt that endogamy is foreign to the 4.4 After religion, castes have the greatest potential people of India and hence concluded that “Castes, so of bonding people. Acharya Narendra Deva also far as India is concerned, means the superposition of recognised the rallying force of the castes and their endogamy on exogamy”. “Thus the superposition of political potential and its consequences. Speaking on endogamy on exogamy means the creation of caste”. the move of the government of the United Provinces in introducing village panchayats elected on the basis of 4 Socialists on Castes adult franchise, he said “The right to vote has brought 4 and Caste System about an unprecedented awakening among the masses, the downtrodden and the suppressed for centuries and 4.1 Ever since the formation of the Congress Socialist the fact that a large number of so-called untouchables Party the Socialists have been concerned with Castes and lower caste people have been returned to the and Caste System in view of the inequality that inheres panchayats defeating their high caste opponents amply in the system. They realized that in order to build evidenced it”. He further said “...since India is a caste the egalitarian society of their dreams they had to ridden country, in the first flush of enfranchisement contend with the social inequality represented by the the oppressed have justly rallied round their castes. I caste system in addition to the economic inequality welcome the victory of the lower castes in the elections represented by the ‘classes’. They were particularly and the alignment of the downtrodden on the basis of agitated about untouchability which was the bane of the their castes is a happy and an inevitable feature of the Hindu society as it engendered the worst form of social elections. It reflects that the lower castes, who are the inequality. Untouchability also agitated social reformers expropriated ones consisting of landless agriculture like Mahatma Gandhi. The difference was obvious. labourers and small peasant, are rising against the vested While the social reformers stopped at the elimination of interests and economically superior higher castes”.5 untouchability, the socialists went further and desired a society based on social equality of all castes. 4.5 On the castes, caste system and untouchability, Jayaprakash Narayan said: “The problem of democracy 4.2 Though the socialist leaders in India did not is intimately connected with such social institutions and theorise on the origin and evolution of the castes and attitudes of mind as are represented by the caste system the caste system, they recognized the existence of and the practice of untouchability. A society in which castes and the hierarchical character of the caste system men are considered high, low, or untouchable according and the caste-calling nexus and opposed it and tried to the families into which they are born, is very far from being democratic. It is quite a different matter that to find out ways and means of ending the inequalities individuals are endowed at birth with different abilities in the caste system. However two points of view and aptitudes. That is a biological phenomenon, with emerged. First, that the socialists wanted to eliminate which caste has nothing to do.”6 the inequalities inherent in the caste system and not eliminate the castes themselves and second, that the 4.6 In the alternative Constitution for India which same was to be achieved by facilitating the economic, the socialists drafted, they said, “Equality to be real social and cultural advancement of the downtrodden must be not only legal and political but also social. It castes, though at times rhetorically they spoke about should be the foundation of the whole structure and the ‘caste-less’ society. fundamental principle of all public activities”. JANATA, August 18, 2013 27 / Independence Day Number

4.7 The chapter under the heading “Caste” in the scholarships and jobs for their people. He said that no Policy Statement of the Socialist Party adopted in 1947 social change can take place with such efforts. said “In India, apart from economic inequalities, there are social inequalities, particularly among one of the 4.12 Lohia went further and said in his article communities, namely, the Hindus. The system of caste ‘Towards the destruction of Castes and Classes’, that is anti-social, undemocratic and tyrannous, inasmuch “This policy of uplift of downgraded castes and groups as it divides men into high and low, touchable and is capable of yielding much poison. …it may speedily untouchable, curtails human liberties and interferes antagonize the Dvija without as speedily influencing with economic activities”. the Shudras. …Secondly, the colossi among the lower castes like the Chamars and Ahirs may want to 4.8 In their first election manifesto entitled ‘We build appropriate the fruits of this policy without sharing for Socialism’ issued for the first general elections in them with the myriad other low-castes, with the result 1952, the socialists said: “Castes have stratified Indian that the Brahmin and Chamar change places but caste society. There are groups of men who enjoy hereditary remains intact”. privileges and there are castes that are hereditarily under privileged and suppressed. Freedom must mean the 5. Class-Caste Equations tearing down of these traditional barriers it must mean 5.1 Socialists in Europe were fighting against free mobility for talent”. the division of society into classes by capitalism. However, in India there were castes also which were 4.9 Thus not only the socialist leaders like Acharya not the creations of the capitalist society. Was there Narendra Deva and Jayaprakash Narayan, but also the any relationship at all between the classes and castes or statements on castes and caste system made by the were they two distinct entities without any relationship Socialist Party from time to time also emphasised the whatsoever? Socialists in India have been trying to elimination of the social inequalities inhering in the understand the relationship between the classes and caste system rather than eliminating or destroying the castes and find an equation between the two. castes themselves. 5.2 Socialists noticed that the lower classes and the 4.10 After having been a party to the positions taken lower castes generally coincided. It is in this context that by the Socialist Party, Lohia started taking different Acharya Narendra Deva had said “that the lower castes, positions after he left the mainstream socialist party. He who are the expropriated ones consisting of landless took two distinct positions that flowed from his non- agriculture labourers and small peasant, are rising recognition of the distinction between castes and the against the vested interests and economically superior caste system. He took the position that castes themselves higher castes”.8 That is why the Socialists also believed had to be destroyed and not just the inequalities between that economic upliftment of the poorer classes also the castes, i.e., the caste system, and as a corollary he paved the way for the socio-cultural upliftment of the took the position that since the castes themselves had lower castes. But they realized that mere ‘de-classing’ to be destroyed, achievement of economic equality will the lower castes will not ‘de-caste’ them. not suffice to achieve the purpose. 5.3 Examining the class-caste relations Ambedkar 4.11 He said that economic improvement does not said “class and caste, so to say, are next door neighbours, eliminate the castes. He was right. But he went further. and it is only a span that separates the two. A Caste is an In a letter dated 10th December 1957 written to the Enclosed Class”. He summarized his thesis on casts in Minister for Prisons of the Uttar Pradesh Government, four points: “My study of the Caste problem involves he said that any talk of creating equality while retaining four main points: (1) that in spite of the composite the differences between castes is meaningless and that make-up of the Hindu population, there is a deep hence castes had to be completely destroyed. Addressing cultural unity; (2) that caste is a parceling into bits of a the party workers in Nagarjunsagar in 1962, he said “it larger cultural unit; (3) that there was one caste to start was believed that if economic equality is achieved the with; and (4) that classes have become Castes through castes will end by themselves. But I felt that it was not imitation and excommunication. so”7. On 3rd February 1961 in a statement he had even ridiculed the legislators belonging to the scheduled 5.4 Lohia also tried to express the class-caste relations castes and scheduled tribes for running around to get with an equation “Caste is immobile class. Loosening Independence Day Number / 28 JANATA, August 18, 2013 caste is class”. So it was Class = Caste + Mobility and Yastu Shudro dame satye hence Caste = Class – Mobility. The equation has two dharme cha satatotthitah | elements. – one, the equation presumes that there was tam brahmanamaham manye mobility in classes whereas there was no mobility in vritten hi bhavet dvijah || castes, and two, if both were different states of the Na jatih karanam tata same substance, then destroying one would entail the gunah kalyanakaranam| destruction of the other automatically. Vritasthamapi chandalam tam devah brahmanam viduh || 5.5 In his article ‘Class and Caste’ Lohia explained mobility saying that “What distinguishes caste from A free rendering of them in English would be: That class is immobility that has crept into class relationship, Shudra who is ever engaged in self-control, truth and the immobility of an individual to get into a higher caste righteousness, I regard him a Brahmin. One is a twice- and of a whole caste to move up in status or income”. born by conduct alone. And birth is not the cause, my Based on such positions Lohia even ridiculed Marx friend; it is virtues, which are the cause of welfare. in the same article: “Karl Marx tried to destroy class, Even a Chandala observing the vow is considered a without being aware of its amazing capacity to change Brahmana by the gods.11 itself into caste”. 5.9 Secondly, in the equation, if caste is infused 5.6 If Varnas of ancient India are to be treated as with mobility it will become class and then class can castes, para 3.6 above shows that there was mobility be destroyed using Marxian methods. Again, if class is among the Varnas. But was there mobility even within destroyed the caste would automatically get destroyed the caste system? Could a person born in one caste enter because of the caste-class equivalence. For example, another caste? Even Manu mentions that a Brahmin if steam, water and ice are the three forms of the same who sells flesh, salt and lac immediately becomes substance depending upon its state, then if water is a Shudra and a Brahmin who sells milk becomes destroyed, then there will be no question of its becoming a Shudra in three days. A Brahmin who sells other steam or ice. Could such an equation have explained 9 things becomes a Vaishya in 7 nights. And a person the castes and guided their destruction? who has good nature, (Satvik) becomes a Brahmin in the next life.10 Many such examples can be given from 6. The Three Remedies Manusmriti itself. 6.1 The Socialists, Rammanohar Lohia and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, suggested three different remedies for the 5.7 In her “Caste Question in India”, Anuradha malady of the caste system. Socialists wanted removal Ghandy, explains the process by which the Vaishyas of caste distinctions. Ambedkar wanted the annihilation who were the agriculturists (Vis) became the traders of castes. Lohia, in the beginning wanted the destruction and the Shudras who were the labourers became the of castes but later veered round to the socialist position agriculturists. M. N. Shrinivas, the noted sociologist, of destroying inequalities among the castes. in his article “Religion and Society among the Coorgs of South India” concludes that there was mobility 6.2 Having realised the rallying force and the political even among castes. M. V. Nadkarni says that “even potential of the castes, Acharya Narendra Deva wanted after the caste system emerged in Hindu society, there the depressed castes to be drawn into the mainstream. was considerable social and occupational mobility”. So he said “...to unite the people and invoke their co- He further says “To gain a higher rank in the caste operation in preparing the foundations of a new life, system, they practised what the upper castes practised, we shall have to obtain the hearty co-operation of the like upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), and even depressed classes. Moreover, we can fruitfully use their certain 'homas' and pujas. Such attempts are called collective power only if we let them feel that the present as Sanskritisation by M N Shrinivas (1977), through discriminatory social system would very soon come which eventually several castes gained in caste status”. to an end. We must assure the people that the nation accepts their undeniable importance and that they are 5.8 M. V. Nadkarni quotes verses 14-15 of Chapter themselves a leading component of our political order. 216 of Vanaparva in Mahabharata in support of his .. it is absolutely essential to end social inequalities for views: the proper evolution of a democratic order. .. we should JANATA, August 18, 2013 29 / Independence Day Number make every effort towards social, economic and cultural legal equality assured to them by the constitution will advancement of the backward classes.”12 serve only a negative purpose”. Even in 1971 election manifesto, the PSP said “The PSP’s efforts to usher in 6.3 Jayaprakash Narayan said “It should be equality will not be restricted to economic field alone appreciated by every Indian democrat that the system but will be extended to the social plane as well”. of caste hierarchy and untouchability is the greatest and most stubborn enemy of democracy in this country. 6.8 Thus the Socialists always talked about ‘social At the same time it should also be appreciated that assimilation’ of the downtrodden castes, ending ‘social vanquishing of this enemy is, again, not a political inequalities’ and ‘ending caste discrimination’ through but an educative task. It is also, but to a much lesser ‘social, economic and cultural advancement’, through degree, an economic task. The social stature of the ‘special facilities’ for them.14 depressed and backward castes will undoubtedly rise with improvement in their economic condition. 6.9 Acharya Narendra Deva connected the castes But it would be a mistake to believe that economic with classes and gave the ultimate solution. He said improvement by itself would be sufficient to remove “The growth of conscious ‘casteism’ however, must be caste distinctions”. arrested now since it has exhausted its utility. It is now necessary to tell the lower castes that their real enemies 6.4 In the objective section of the Programme of the are the vested interests, and that the upper castes have Congress Socialist Party, the Party said that there will held them under their yoke only on account of their be “no recognition of any distinction based on caste or economic superiority. The oppressed castes must be told community”. The Constitution of the Socialist Party that the remedy of all their ills lay in joining hands with as also of the Praja Socialist Party later stated that a the other economically oppressed people, may they be person can become a member of the party if he, among of any caste or creed to fight the vested interests even 15 other things, ‘does not believe in nor observe caste and among the lower castes”. communal distinctions’.13 6.10 Ambedkar had raised another important issue 6.5 Policy Statement of the Socialist Party adopted with the castes. He had recognized that the castes were in 1947 under the heading “Caste” said “In socialist inextricably connected to ‘callings’. A person born in a India, this system cannot exist and no distinction or particular caste had to pursue the ‘calling’ attached to discrimination based on caste is permitted”.13 that caste only. Verse 35 of Chapter 3 of Bhagavadgita says: 6.6 In the alternative Constitution for India which śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt the socialists drafted, they said: “Harijans are provided sv-anuṣṭhitāt special facilities for educational advancement. Special schools are opened for them and freeships sva-dharme nidhanaḿ śreyaḥ para-dharmo and scholarships are liberally granted to them by the bhayāvahaḥ state and various public organisations. All this has, no doubt, promoted their educational advancement. But It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, it is generally recognised that separate schools are a even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly. hindrance to social assimilation and education should Death in the course of performing one's own duty is be imparted to Harijans in common public schools. Of better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow course, they may be granted special fee concessions another's path is dangerous. and scholarships. When untouchablility in all forms is prohibited, special schools are not needed”. 6.11 It is in this context that Ambedkar says “The supporters of Caste, who would allow liberty in the 6.7 They further said “It is also necessary to make it sense of a right to life, limb, and property, would not clear that constitutional guarantees regarding equality in readily consent to liberty in this sense, inasmuch as it all forms, does not absolve the state of its responsibility involves liberty to choose one's profession... But to to provide special facilities to aboriginal tribes and object to this kind of liberty is to perpetuate slavery…. other backward peoples for their economic and cultural It is found where, as in the Caste System, some persons advancement. It is obvious that without such facilities are compelled to carry on certain prescribed callings real equality will never be achieved by them, and which are not of their choice”. Independence Day Number / 30 JANATA, August 18, 2013

6.12 Socialists were aware of this dimension of the is—How to bring about the reform of the Hindu social caste system. Hence they proposed to break the nexus order?” He said that “the Hindu Society must be between the castes and the ‘callings’. In the very first reorganized on a religious basis which would recognise election manifesto the Socialists addressed this issue. the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”. “I The Manifesto said that, “the Socialist Party offers the am told that for such religious principles as will be in following programs: … … a vast program of education consonance with Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, it costing Rs. 100 crores, over a period of ten years may not be necessary for you to borrow from foreign providing educational opportunities to the Scheduled sources and that you could draw for such principles on Castes and Scheduled Tribes will help to remove the the Upanishads”. cultural and educational lag between the advanced and backward castes. It will also remove the barriers 6.17 But Ambedkar realized that it was not possible confining them to hereditary occupations”. to change or reform the Hindu religion and society. He said “I see the task to be well-nigh impossible”. Tired 6.13 But Ambedkar wanted the abolition, nay, of trying to reform Hindu society, Ambedkar became annihilation of castes. One of his early monographs a Buddhist. written in 1936 was entitled ‘The Annihilation of Caste’. In that monograph, he asked the question “How to 6.18 Rammanohar Lohia, who ploughed a different abolish Caste?” He also answered it. “I am convinced furrow after he launched his own Socialist Party, began that the real remedy is inter-marriage. Fusion of blood with the slogan of eliminating the castes themselves and can alone create the feeling of being kith and kin, and not just the inequalities in the caste system, through unless this feeling of kinship, of being kindred, becomes ‘inter-caste dining’ and ‘inter-caste marriages’. But paramount, the separatist feeling—the feeling of being later on he veered round to the idea that not the castes aliens—created by Caste will not vanish.” “The real themselves but the inequalities inherent in the caste remedy for breaking Caste is inter-marriage. Nothing system had to be eliminated by providing preferential else will serve as the solvent of Caste”. opportunities for the economic and socio-cultural advancement of the downtrodden castes. 6.14 However he did not believe that inter-dining and inter-caste marriages were practical solutions. He 6.19 Why should the socialists have opposed the said: “To agitate for and to organise inter-caste dinners caste system? What were the reasons advanced by and inter-caste marriages is like forced feeding brought Lohia for the destruction of the castes themselves? about by artificial means”. “Criticising and ridiculing If it was the social inequality, then the efforts should people for not inter-dining or inter-marrying, or be to eliminate the inequalities and if that was not occasionally holding inter-caste dinners and celebrating possible, then only eliminate the castes themselves. If inter-caste marriages, is a futile method of achieving the problem with castes was not social inequality but the desired end” he said. that it restricts opportunity and restricted opportunity constricts ability and constricted ability further restricts 6.15 He diagnosed the problem of caste as a opportunity, as Lohia argues in the introduction to religious one and not a social one. He said that ‘Marx, Gandhi and Socialism’, the argument applied to “the people observe Caste because they are deeply the classes also a fortiori. George Bernard Shaw in his religious. People are not wrong in observing Caste. book ‘An Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Capitalism and In my view, what is wrong is their religion, which has Socialism’ gives lucid examples of how class restricts inculcated this notion of Caste. If this is correct, then opportunities and abilities. obviously the enemy you must grapple with is not the people who observe Caste, but the Shastras which 6.20 Did Lohia come to the conclusion that the social teach them this religion of Caste… The real remedy inequalities in the caste system cannot be eliminated is to destroy the belief in the sanctity of the Shastras”. and/or that opportunities cannot be opened up is why “You must destroy the religion of the Shrutis and the he called for the elimination of the castes themselves? Smritis. Nothing else will avail. This is my considered At least I have not found such reasoning in Lohia’s view of the matter” he said. thinking. On the contrary lately he advocated the opening of the opportunities through preferential 6.16 Then Ambedkar proceeded further and said opportunities for the downtrodden to eliminate “The only question that remains to be considered inequalities in the caste system. JANATA, August 18, 2013 31 / Independence Day Number

6.21 Anyway, in the beginning, Lohia’s prescription stick to his caste to claim the benefit. This would only for destruction of the castes was ‘inter-caste dining’ tend to strengthen the caste rather than destroying it. and ‘inter-caste marriage’. He failed to notice that But though the preferential opportunities may not be inter-caste dining and inter-caste marriages have been able to destroy the castes, they would certainly reduce taking place in India since times immemorial. Historian the inequalities between castes and bring about equality K. M. Pannikker opines that even before the end of the among them. Vedic period, inter-caste marriages had been started by Seers themselves.16 The rules relating to the ‘Gotras’ 6.26 This was precisely the crux of the movement show that exogamy was the rule in ancient India. It is launched by Basaveshwara, who was a minister in the precisely when inter-Varna marriages started taking court of a king in Karnataka in 12th century. He was place that endogamy had to be forced on the society opposed to the hierarchy in the caste system and he and that is how the castes came into being. Manu had recognized that the major factor in perpetuating social prepared such a water tight compartment for castes that inequalities was the hiatus between the manual and even inter-caste marriages gave rise to newer and newer mental labour and the nexus between the caste and castes so that the purity of the original castes was never the ‘calling’. Hence he insisted on every one of his compromised. followers to undertake ‘manual’ labour and eulogized it by saying that ‘manual labour is itself the heaven’ and 6.22 Moreover marriage was a personal matter and also made the ‘manual labourers’ not only learn literacy involved the ‘liberty’ of the persons marrying. If one but even compose poems called ‘vachanas’. This two- opts for marrying within one’s own caste, nothing pronged attack on the social inequalities of the caste could be done about it. Every one had to be persuaded system created an almost egalitarian group if not the to marry outside his caste and see that the child did not society. Though these Lingayat or Veerashaiva devotees inhere the caste of the father or the mother but became gathered together and held philosophical discourses and caste-less. However, Lohia was keen to enforce inter- did not observe caste rules or untouchability, they did caste marriages. He even said that inter-caste marriage not give up their castes and on the contrary identified must be made a, compulsory criteria for getting a themselves with their castes. Actually they proudly government job. mentioned their castes to which they belonged in their poems. Thus Basaveshwara destroyed the caste 6.23 However, by 1962, Lohia had started talking hierarchy by destroying the hiatus between manual and about preferential opportunities for the backward castes, mental labour while retaining the castes and the nexus a position which the socialists had taken in their very between castes and callings. first election manifesto. Speaking to the party workers in the training camp at Nagarjunsagar in 1962, Lohia 6.27 However, when Basaveshwara tried to get an said that without special opportunities the Castes in inter-caste marriage performed between a Brahmin girl India will not melt... Only special opportunities can and an untouchable boy, there was a social upheaval in destroy castes”. Thus Lohia appears to have given up the society and not only he had to run away from his on his insistence on ‘inter-caste dining’ and ‘inter-caste place to escape the wrath of the orthodox but his entire marriage’ as the solvent for the destruction of castes movement towards caste equality got scattered.

6.24 He reiterated the position in the introduction 6.28 By 1962, Lohia said the real and modern to his collection of articles entitled “Marx, Gandhi revolution can take place only when the poor of the and Socialism”. He says: “Caste restricts opportunity. lower castes and of the upper castes together take up Restricted opportunity constricts ability. Constricted the leadership.17 This was a case of class overtaking ability further restricts opportunity. .. The only way out the caste. is preferential opportunity for groups whom caste has more or less disabled”. 6.29 Thus it can be seen from the discussion above that the socialists from the beginning were not in 6.25 But then the question is whether the preferential favour of destruction of the castes themselves but opportunities will ‘destroy’ the castes or strengthen favoured only elimination of the social inequalities them? A person who does not believe in caste will marry which inhered in the caste system. And they proposed a person from another caste. But a person who wants to do it not by methods like inter-caste dining and inter- the benefit of a preferential opportunity will have to caste marriages but by uplifting the backward castes Independence Day Number / 32 JANATA, August 18, 2013 through economic, social and cultural advancement by 11. The original of this verse taken from P V Kane, op providing them special opportunities. cit, Vol V, Part II, p 1006, and the translation from Arvind Sharma (2000), op cit, p 158; Kane cites 1. Vol 1, Page 321 several more verses on the same theme, see esp Vol 2. See Uttara-Dakshina-Page 131-published by the II, Part I, p 101. Dept of Kannada and Culture , Govt of Karnataka. 12. Towards Socialist Society: Ed: Brahmanand. P-254 3. See Uttara-Dakshina-Page 131-published by the 13. Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy: Ed: Bimla Dept of Kannada and Culture , Govt of Karnataka. Prasad. P-200 4. Towards Socialist Society : Ed: Brahmanand. 14. “The first challenge to caste system came from Lord P- 430 Gautam Buddha, who talked of Samata, equality” 5. Towards Socialist Society : Ed: Brahmanand. P-340 says Ram Puniyani. Janata, May 1, 2013. 6. Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy: Ed: Bimla 15. Towards Socialist Society: Ed: Brahmanand. Prasad. P-200 P-340-1 7. Samajavadi Andolanaka Itihas – 112-113 16. See ‘Geographical Factors in Indian History’ 8. Towards Socialist Society: Ed: Brahmanand. P-340 17. See Uttara-Dakshina-Page 146-published by the 9. Manusmriti – 10/92-93 Dept of Kannada and Culture , Govt of Karnataka. 10. Manusmriti – 12/48

(Contd. from Page 19) looks smaller for her age, result of chronic malnutrition and even helpless. She has given all indications about during early childhood. Nevertheless, in her dol-like her inclination to plunge into the family way as soon cuteness she has sufficient aphrodisiac alchemy to raise as possible. Aroused sensuality seems to be the main libidinous hunger even in a casual beholder. A survey driving impulse clouding all other considerations like shows that 80 percent of rural women are anaemic. She security and stability. Devil may care seems to be her must have been mothered by one such specimen. To instinctive response if such questions would ever nudge what extent was she breast-fed? Or given appropriate her mind. supplements, when getting a bellyful to eat whatever foodstuff could be at hand is an endemic problem? Most We looked to her for the past few years as our show rural women are seen at heavy work till the full term of piece, our success story. We have tried all possible pregnancy, and again fastened to the same grind after alternatives but to no avail. She likes cooking. Therefore barely few weeks of ‘confinement’. Lactating mothers we thought of giving her training in hospitality or are seen in the work place hovering around tiny make- catering, but she did not show any interest in building shift canvas shacks sheltering their litre, covered with a career as such. She became very domineering and dust and swarms of flies, when the feeding time is violent in her behavior with the younger inmates of signalled by shrill, spasmodic cries arising from the AVANI. Indulged in indiscipline, absented herself tiny mouths. from the hostel and stayed with a relative without prior permission from our Rector. When she was five or six Pallavi went to other people’s farms as wage labour. After returning from a For seven long years none came to take Pallavi day’s toil she had to do house cleaning and cook for home for a holiday, and suddenly one day in May last the whole family. The hawk-eyed step-mother just Pallavi’s uncle came to AVANI to take her to his home. supervised or sat breast-feeding the youngest arrival. She was overjoyed; at last some relative did care for The father came to the house late at night fully drunk, her. She implored me urgingly to allow her to spend gorged on the food served by Pallavi, bad-mouthing all just two days in uncle’s home. The uncle also seemed and sundry till his meal lasted and then went out in the quite keen and sincere in his importunities and I finally yard and threw himself on the mat and soon was fast agreed to allow her to take leave for two days. I had asleep. Despite this harrowing childhood experience, nonetheless taken care to arrange for the sojourn with she appears not to care that if she tries to plough her the written consent of the Child Welfare Department, lone furrow without the life guard of some kind of because she now was 18. Days passed but there was no education or skill training, she will be utterly vulnerable inkling about her whereabouts. After good 15 days when JANATA, August 18, 2013 33 / Independence Day Number

I phoned her she flatly refused to return. She showed the indifferent about her fate if she goes into the wide world temerity of telling me to handover her things to the uncle and fend for herself. And finally, after exhausting all who would arrive to collect them! We all were much possibilities we notified the Child Welfare Committee perplexed. In strong words I demanded of her uncle to (CWC) of the Government. and planned to hand her bring Pallavi along. Then they came: I was astounded over to her relatives in the presence of the CWC. On to see the complete transformation in her looks. She had the appointed day our activists waited for her relatives got her eyebrows done, she had shortened her hair, and (an uncle and someone else) from 4 to 8 pm but none the hairstyle had become completely rakish. I was very turned up. So, Pallavi was brought back to AVANI. I furious but I controlled myself. I asked the uncle to sit was interested to know what her immediate reaction in the office; and I took her into an anteroom; and tried was at the moment she realized that no uncle or none to find out the truth. At her uncle’s place she came in was interested to officially take charge of her. What contact with her young cousin. She was emphatic she puzzles and perplexes me is the casualness bordering wanted nothing else in the world but to get married almost on flippancy with which she faced the situation. to him, as quickly as possible. Even our chairman Dr. Neither remorse, nor anxiety, nor pensiveness about Arun Chavan travelled to Kolhapur from Sangli and another beginning. She came back to AVANI, where spent quite some hours persuading her to reconsider. she apparently loathed to be, and resumed her life’s But she was adamant. My anxiety about her future is narrative just turning the next page with light fingers. well-founded: the young fellow is uneducated, survives as an unskilled wage labour and, to boot, is prone to I remember the Hollywood film ‘ Belinda’, a story of alcoholic drinks. The one mistake I made of allowing a raped deaf and dumb girl. I think she is our Belinda. her to have a break caused such complications. I learnt But Belinda of the film finds salvation in a man who an important lesson : one must be wary about reacting urges her to accept him and finally wins her. I do not on the spur of an emotional moment. know what is written in the fortune of our ‘Belinda.’

She has affection for her brother. He gets epileptic fits. His lot as a motherless child and with a part of the hand missing, the grandparents doted upon him to a KDP Enterprises fault, which twisted him into a spoilt child. And now 13 /104, Ajay Apartment, he has no means for survival other than begging; unless B. Patel Road, Goregaon (E), succor somehow comes forth from Pallavi. She likes her maternal grandfather, who is now very old and Mumbai: 4000 hardly lives hand-to-mouth. But she has never betrayed Tel No : 26864808 any feelings for those AVANI activists who have taken care of her for all these years. I do not think she has developed close friendship with any of those of the inmates with whom she grew together. It seems there is some psychological no man’s land in her inscape which is bereft of any living organisms, a landscape without greenery, drab and disheveled. Perhaps, if able to make a family on her terms, her ship of life may regain a M.F.G. ISI Brand Natinal Flages smooth passage on an even keel. But, admittedly, in this venture there are obvious pitfalls. Only an angel Avail at all YMC Counters & Khadi for a husband, a loving father figure, a man of infinite Bhavans understanding, endowing only a few children for her to dote upon, can embody the cure fit for her chronic absence of wellness.

The roots of her problems, or I should say, the cause of our problem which she has posed before us lies elsewhere. She refuses to have her life mended and laundered clean of the injurious past. She is blithely Independence Day Number / 34 JANATA, August 18, 2013 Refocusing the Middle Class

Uday Dandavate

“I didn’t grow up with great privilege, nor did I grow East, the Occupy Wall Street movement in the U.S., up wanting for anything. I was a middle-class kid and, and ’s campaign against corruption in relative to the rest of the world, that’s great wealth.” - India. Unfortunately, growth of fundamentalist forces Matt Damon, actor. is swaying the middle class away from secular ideas and an egalitarian ideal. It is imperative to rekindle the The middle class reflects the core character of spirit of the middle class and motivate it to continue to a society. It can be a social space where creativity lead the transformation toward a just society. blossoms from the restlessness of the daily grind and where ideas emerge from compassion for the oppressed. It is the middle class that has historically championed the cause of the poor and articulated society’s anger against the establishment. People from the middle class enjoy just enough security to allow them to aspire for a better future but suffer just enough to have empathy for the less privileged. The lower class, on the other hand, does not have the luxury of thinking through the moral framework that the middle class maintains. As laggards in an economic order that rewards the elite and punishes the under-skilled and under-privileged, the poor get marginalized and are forced to survive by hook or by crook. The upper class often lives in a bubble removed from the ground realities of society as a whole, which allows them relative freedom to choose between conspicuous consumption and responsible philanthropy, balancing their emotions between the joy of indulgence and atonement from privileged guilt. As the middle class climbs the ladder of social mobility, there is a growing risk of the middle class losing its deeper connection to society through loss of sensitivity to a larger cause and morality. An indifferent middle class can cause greater harm to society than detachment of the rich and desperation of the poor. By disengaging from the discourse for social justice, the middle class stands the risk of relinquishing its historical role as the catalysts of creative imagination and evangelists of social justice. As governments grapple with macro issues such as social welfare, terrorism, recession, global warming, Price: Rs. 20/- the energy crisis and health care, civil society faces the risk of getting weakened by a shrinking middle Janata Trust class. Gradual erosion of the middle class poses one D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Bharucha Marg, of the gravest challenges to a society that is eager to Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. progress and prosper. There are signs worldwide of the middle class renewing strength through spontaneous movements such as the Arab Spring in the Middle JANATA, August 18, 2013 35 / Independence Day Number R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 36 JANATA, August 18, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, August 18, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday August 21, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 68 No. 33 Murder, most foul August 25, 2013 Amarendra Dhaneshwar

Case of missing files “The situation is replete with tragic and culturally progressive. His S. Viswam contradictions. On the one hand, we eldest brother Devdutta was the vice see an intrepid rationalist like Dr chancellor of the Poona University and Narendra Dabholkar who waged a Narendra was the youngest of the 10 IAS must assert itself life-long battle against superstition siblings. His brother Shripad was an Kuldip Nayar getting killed in broad daylight. On agricultural expert and other brothers the other hand, we also see another Dattaprasanna and Dattaprasad are ‘Narendra’, his polar opposite, also active intellectuals. Narendra, RUSA to fund being showered with eulogies of besides being a practising doctor, was colleges and universities all kinds and poised to take oath also a sportsman of distinction. He K. S. Chalam as future ‘Prime Minister’ . The was a national level Kabaddi player forces which assassinated Narendra who won many awards. Dabholkar have drawn strength Narendra Dabholkar from and have been unleashed by He was drawn towards the socialist (1944-2013) none other than Narendra Modi”, circles in the late 1970s. Youth organizations like ‘Yuvak Kranti Shanta Gokhale writes Ashok Rajwade in the letters Dal’ and ‘Samajvadi Yuvak Dal’ were Suhas Palshikar column in the leading Marathi daily active recruitment centres in those Priyanka Kakodkar ‘Loksatta’. The brutal assassination of Dr Narendra Dabholkar in Pune days. Committed social workers and on August 20 has sent shock waves reformers like Hamid Dalwai of the Manifesto of Socialist Party all over Maharashtra and has led to Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal and spontaneous demonstrations of anger Dr Baba Aadhav who initiated the ‘ek and resentment against obscurantist gaon ek panavatha’ (one village one well) movement to combat hidden Editor : forces. untouchability in rural Maharashtra G. G. Parikh Dr Narendra Dabholkar who was inspired Narendra to take a plunge into Managing Editor : Guddi the editor of the socialist weekly the movement for social reform. Both ‘Sadhana’ was one of the most Aadhav and Dalwai were rationalists. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, dedicated activists. He hailed from Rational thinking and outlook forms Naushir Bharucha Marg, Satara where he had a lucrative the backbone of true secularism. He Mumbai - 400 007. medical practice which he gave up shared such close comradeship with for the sake of social and political Dalwai that he named his son Hamid Email : [email protected] work in the early 1980s. He belonged . Narendra also drew inspiration from to a family which was politically rationalists like Abraham Kovur. 2 JANATA, August 25, 2013

N a r e n d r a f o r m e d t h e ‘Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti’, He stood against a body to eradicate superstition discrimination and enmity and superstitious practices, in early 1980s and devoted himself Shanta Gokhale completely to spread scientific approach and outlook among the population in general. This Samiti When Dr Narendra Dabholkar was of blind faith. In his opinion, belief rapidly expanded its network and shot dead on Pune’s Omkareshwar in astrology was blind faith; belief brought within its ambit remote and Bridge on Tuesday morning at 7.15, in godmen who worked miracles far flung areas of rural Maharashtra. the needle that had been oscillating which were nothing but sleight- Narendra logged hundreds of for the last three decades between of-hand was blind faith; belief in kilometers in state transport buses, Maharashtra’s progressive and black magic, witchcraft and human like Pannalal Surana of the earlier regressive heritage, stopped on sacrifice for material gains was generation of socialists and worked the side of regression. Those five blind faith. with a missionary zeal. This was bullets fired at Dr Dabholkar by bound to incense the so-called two men on a motorbike, shouted In a country where the highest, spiritual godmen and tantriks who out to the world, “We are intolerant. the richest and the most powerful thrived on the superstition and made We have a right to be intolerant. We look to the stars for auspicious a fast buck by hoodwinking ignorant have a right to reduce the world dates for every beginning, where people throng to see Ganapati drink masses. They began to instigate of ideas to the space between our milk and crowd beaches to taste mischief makers to attack Narendra ears. Anybody who tries to tell us sea water that has turned sweet, Dabholkar and his associates. They to question our beliefs, offends us fatally. We will deal with such a one Dr Dabholkar was fighting an disrupted meetings, hurled stones uphill battle. There was a powerful and heaped abuses on the rationalist in the only way we know how. We will finish him.” reason why the government of this reformers. Pro-superstition anti- allegedly progressive State had social elements always use religious dilly-dallied for twenty years over beliefs to provoke masses to attack Dr Dabholkar was a man who stood against social discrimination the bill he had proposed against reformers. This is a technique blind faith even in its watered developed and used since times and enmity. He stood for rational thought against blind faith. He gave down version. In a long interview immemorial. with Nikhil Wagle, Dr Dabholkar up his 12-year-old medical practice recalled a meeting with politicians in 1982 to put his actions where his Maharashtra, once upon a time, who told him he didn’t have on his mouth was. Inspired by men like took pride in calling itself the best side what godmen had on theirs - Dr Abraham Kovoor of Sri Lanka ruled state where law and order lakhs of followers. For politicians, and Basava Premananda of Kerala, prevailed and the ordinary citizen numbers could not be risked for he founded the Andha Shraddha could live peacefully and pursue his social progress. Nirmoolan Samiti (Society for or her vocation without any threat the abolition of blind faith) to from any quarters. That is no longer It was in the course of this fight the forces of superstition that the case. Over the years, the culture interview again that Dr Dabholkar exploited the gullible. His target of tolerance and civilised public spoke of how the press too was was not religion, as it was with discourse has been slowly replaced political where numbers were other rationalists world wide. He concerned. The ANS once wrote by raucous elements which indulge didn’t ask any of the thousands in mindless violence and rampant to editors of so-called progressive of men and women who threw newspapers suggesting that, if vandalism. Political parties like the themselves into his work to give up Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman astrology columns could not be their faith. What he desired was that taken off their pages, at least a Sena as well as some sections of they and all the people of this State line that said, “This matter is for the Dalit movement are quick to should put their beliefs to the test of amusement only” should appear take offence and indulge in street rational thought in order to discover at the top. It was like allowing fighting. Right wing casteist groups where legitimate religion shaded (Continued on Page 10) imperceptibly into the falsehoods (Continued on Page 11) JANATA, August 25, 2013 3 Case of missing files

S. Viswam

The case of the missing files, coal blocks were adhered to by the appear” at someone’s fancy? This currently the theme of Parliamentary licensing ministries and officials is obviously a well-plotted cover-up proceedings, is becoming so bizarre or whether discriminatory policies that has succeeded in misleading that the CBI may well have to were followed in order to favour the Supreme Court, the CBI and seek the assistance of Erle Stanley specific interests. Parliament. But such a success Gardner and the Perry Mason- is apt to be short-lived since the Paul Drake duo to sort it out! One A search committee appointed truth is bound to come out, sooner can understand when a single at the instance of the Supreme rather than later. And when and if or a couple of files go missing Court has been unable to trace the it does, the UPA will have much to in government departments. But missing files. Nor has it been able to answer for. what is one to say when as many find out how so many files from so as 256 files go missing at one many offices and departments could There is much merit in the single time? And specially one in vanish, and that too, all together. Opposition’s contention that which all the missing files relate Clearly, this is a scam willfully the Prime Minister must take to a single case under the Supreme perpetrated by a single or group Parliament into confidence on the Court’s supervision and impinge of officials anxious to hide their latest situation since he was the on the UPA government’s role culpability. Clearly discernible also Coal Minister in charge during in it? The disclosures about the is an organized attempt to prevent the Coalgate Scam period 2006- “disappearance” of the files relating any kind of investigation into 2009. Dr. Manmohan Singh is a to the controversial coal mining how licences were issued and by seasoned politician and is aware licences have eroded the UPA whom and to whom. Such a well- that cover-ups cannot be sustained government’ s credibility further, at organised conspiracy is the first ever for long against a vigilant media, a time when official credibility has attempted, and apparently quite an adamant opposition and a weak declined precipitously over the last satisfactorily, at such high levels. defence. Let Dr. Singh not sacrifice few years. The case of the missing Rajya Sabha leader of opposition his reputation for personal probity files may well be part of the epitaph cannot be faulted on and honesty by covering-up a that waits to be written on the UPA’a any ground for his apt comment cover-up. Let accountability prevail demise next year. that the files have been made to and parliamentary processes be disappear. And, since the files have upheld. Piecing together published been made to disappear the chances information, one learns that the of their “re-appearance” are remote. Madhu Dandavate concerned files vanished not from They probably have been buried a single office but from several deep somewhere and will stay By ministries viz. coal, steel, power, buried till those involved in their industry and relevant departments disappearance feel safe. B. Vivekanandan of state governments. Some l57 Price: Rs. 20/- missing files pertain to a screening On what basis has the government committee’s rejection of applications promised to trace the files and hand for coal block allotments, currently them over to the CBI ? Does this Janata Trust being investigated by the CBI in mean that the Coal Ministry headed D-15, Ganesh Prasad, the wake of the exposure of the by Jaiswal is party to the organized Naushir Bharucha Marg, Coalgate Scam. The Supreme Court misplacement of official documents has tasked the CBI with finding and their denial to the CBI? Does Grant Road (W), out whether or not the official it mean that government files can Mumbai 400 007. guidelines set for allotment of be made to “disappear” and “re- 4 JANATA, August 25, 2013

Between the lines IAS must assert itself

Kuldip Nayar

T h e Indian Administrative stood up against what was sheer Samajwadi Party, ruling UP and Service (IAS) is at the apex to run the dictatorship. placating the Muslim electorate, has country’s administration. It replaced justified her suspension, saying that the Indian Civil Service (ICS) which Fear of punishment for she had endangered the communal was an instrument in the hands of disobedience made the service harmony by ordering the demolition the British to rule over India. After servile. It was once a steel frame of an outside wall of a mosque. independence, there was serious but it had now turned into a seal One, this is not true. Two, she thinking whether there should be frame. The Shah Commission, was within her right to demolish an all-India service at all. The states appointed to look into the excesses any unauthorized structure on the wanted persons from their own area during the Emergency, deplored government land. In a judgment, the to administer. how the bureaucracy caved in. Supreme Court has said that a place The Commission has said: “The of worship should be pulled down But, then Home Minister Sardar ethical considerations inherent in immediately if the government land Patel was particular to have an public behavior became generally had been encroached upon. all-India service to articulate the dim and in many cases beyond feeling of unity and to maintain the mental grasp of many of the It is a pity that the Supreme Court the diversities prevailing in the public functionaries. Desire for rejected a public interest litigation country. The service would also, self-preservation as admitted by petition challenging her suspension. Patel asserted, ensure that the Indian a number of public servants at The court is technically correct that it constitution remained supreme in various levels became the sole cannot interfere in matters between the medley of pulls by different motivation for their official actions the government and the employees. states. Two all-India services, and behavior…” The Court had the opportunity to set Indian Administrative Service and right the rot. It should have realized (IPS), were The service has not recovered the anger which swept through the constituted. They came to occupy from the carrots dangled before it country following the action against top positions in the states. during the Emergency. In fact, it the two officials. is going out of the way to placate This arrangement worked fairly the rulers. The latter, in turn, have The support of IAS associations well till the early seventies when rewarded those who did what the from some states and the trainees at the rot started due to the Centre’s rulers wanted. The malaise is largely Mussorie to Durga evokes hope that maniac effort to concentrate power because of two reasons: one, the the service which has ingratiated and the states’ ambition to play rulers do not respect the regulations itself with politicians may begin politics through civil servants. and violate them to reap benefits for to assert itself as was the case This has practicably nullified good themselves and their parties; two, before the Emergency. The manner administration. The IAS has become the IAS officers who are allotted to in which the three-member IAS a glorified state service. The rulers the states, have surrendered because officers’ committee endorsed the use it in the manner they like. of threat of transfer or posting to an Haryana government casts shadow unimportant position. on the behavior of the service. In real, the Emergency is the The nation still hopes that the watershed. Then Prime Minister Therefore, it is heartening to bureaucracy will make up for the Indira Gandhi suspended the see, when IAS officers like Durga deficiencies which the politicians, Constitution and used the IAS Shakti Nagpal from UP and Ashok particularly belonging to the ruling officers to enforce illegal acts and Khemka from Haryana, standing party in a state or at the Centre, have suppress the critics. This was the up against the wrongs the rulers created in the system. time when the thin line between right wished them to do. Nagpal has been and wrong, moral and immoral was suspended because of stopping the In many foreign countries, there erased. Only a couple of officers illegal mining by sand mafia. The is a committee for civil service JANATA, August 25, 2013 5 supervising the suspensions, transfers and promotions of RUSA to fund colleges and universities officials. A similar committee can be constituted in India as well. K. S. Chalam The task can also be entrusted to the Union Public Service Commission, which is also the The Ministry of Human in view of the rise in incomes and recruiting authority. Resource Development (MHRD) the eligibility of students to enter has drafted Rashtriya Uchchatar higher education. Now we have The service itself will have to do Shiksha Abhiyan - National Higher seen the pressure mounting on our introspection if officers were to act Education Mission – (RUSA) for colleges and universities. This will only on the basis of self-promotion. public debate. The mission document continue. Yet, the enrolment ratio Today, when the common man does seems to have been drafted on the of the eligible age group of 18-23 not get even what is rightfully due lines of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan who enter higher education has to him, he is disillusioned with the (SSA) for school education that almost remained around 15 per entire system. True, politicians is implementing MDM and other cent, one of the lowest in the world. will continue to keep an eye on programmes to achieve universal The ICT boom in the West and the the electorate, but the IAS cannot elementary education by 2015. demographic dividend helped India afford to fall prey to their designs. The central government seems to (in some pockets) to capture the A public functionary must display a have been exasperated with the opportunities by creating short term degree of vigilance and willingness established regulatory bodies that mechanisms that had ramifications to sacrifice. became notorious in recent years for our system of higher education. about safeguarding and improving No one seemed to have bothered The Gandhi dynasty should draw the quality of higher education and about the consequences and we have a lesson from the example of Feroze therefore brought out RUSA. responded to the circumstances and Gandhi, son-in-law of Jawaharlal external demand by making some Nehru. Feroz Gandhi would take up The UN Millennium Development changes in the structure, content cases of corruption in parliament, Goals or MDGs have obliged nations and process of education. All kinds even to the embarrassment of Nehru. to develop strategies to achieve of incongruities entered the system. He was so upright that he did not the targets by 2015. Among the Some bureaucrats responded to the even live at the Prime Minister’s eight prominent goals, realizing situation without much vision and house but had a separate bungalow universal schooling is one of the comparative study except getting to which he was entitled as a very important aims that has a clues from the West and the World member of parliament. It is another bearing on the whole system of Bank. They landed us in trouble matter that Feroze Gandhi’s son, education. The Government of and higher education, particularly Rajiv Gandhi, got the atmosphere India has started different models to state universities and colleges have contaminated when, as the Prime execute the strategies to accomplish suffered the most. There are no Minister he bought the Bofors the targets by the year 2015. It teachers, labs are empty and research guns. Corruption of the dynasty appears that the RTE, SSA and output is dismal. Can RUSA bring has not lessened either in tone or similar models are the outcomes remedy? tenor. Robert Vadra, son-in-law of of this craving. The mission mode Congress president Sonia Gandhi, of SSA has suited our conditions RUSA draft consists of features has created a stench. and seems to have paid dividends like; mission mode, flow of funds in terms of achieving, almost, the through state councils, state specific Coming back to the IAS, its name targets in school education. We must plans and outcome-dependent grants is in the mud. It must retrieve itself appreciate the initiatives and the to colleges and universities. The not only for the sake of the Durgas reasonable success. major objective seems to be to and Khemkas, but also for the public achieve the target of 30 per cent which is still hoping against hope It was projected by some of GER in higher education. RUSA that the service will not dance to the us who were working in the area would also take care of autonomy, tunes of the rulers. That is how the that the universalization of school faculty, quality, regional balances democratic structure in the country education would ultimately put and equity considerations. The can be made safer. pressure on other levels of education strategy to achieve the targets is 6 JANATA, August 25, 2013 indicated as ‘Centrally sponsored University Grants Committee of UK. the system suffered a great deal scheme’ with ratios of centre and during the pending of the Bills. state contributions varying with The broad objective of creating The regulatory bodies have been the status of each category of state. a secular socialist republic guided converted as points for private The funds will directlyflow into the policy makers in designing lobbying, corruption and decadence the institute through state councils. our education and institutions like of university education. The scheme has ambitiously taken UGC in 1956. Commercialisation, on itself 21 targets. It has also private profit and supply of cheap The NCHER and other three provided a methodology to arrive labour to outsiders were not the complimentary Bills pending before at equalisation formula based on consideration of higher education the Parliament drafted to make 19 indicators to allocate grants in the 1950s. All kinds of interests higher education as a private good to to different states. It appears that and the dominance of privatisation be traded in the market and regulated RUSA is following the route set by and liberalisation along with the by the state through these institutions SSA to avoid political interference injudicious theories like higher are alleged to be ill-conceived. in the distribution of grants to state education as private good entered Under these circumstances and with universities and colleges, shelving our academic discourse and policy indifference to higher education UGC, AICTE etc. making around 1990s. The 1986 policy for two decades, the RUSA World Bank document on ‘Financing is drafted, now. It contains several Education was brought under of Higher Education in Developing sensible elements and it is hoped that concurrent list under item 25 through Countries’ was considered by the they would ultimately converge and a constitutional amendment that came policy makers as a bible and policies grow as an independent institution into effect from1977. Yet, school were pushed citing the report and the to compliment or substitute some education has been the obligation received wisdom. of the discredited higher education of the provincial governments and regulatory bodies for the benefit of in some states, the major part of the The UGC Act as amended in1972 the future generations. budget consisted of expenditure on and 1985, was aimed at “for the school education. It is only in the promotion and coordination of recent period, particularly after SSA, university education and of the some grants are given by the centre determination and maintenance to the states because the education of standards of teaching, cess on income tax is collected and examination and research in supposed to be spent on education. universities”(Article12).Chapter In other words, school education was III of the Act contains the powers purely a state enterprise designed and functions of UGC seem to and advanced to suit their specific have been repeated in National conditions occasionally leading to Commission on Higher education controversies due to the political and Research Bill (NCHER). The mandate of the ruling party. Higher Bill was drafted as an omnipotent education or university education structure to appropriate functions on the other hand is a wide-ranging of state, central and autonomous academic enterprise often supported organisations of MHRD. In other by the central government in matters terms, it was conscripted with a of standards and funding from the spirit to displace the Department very beginning. The scope and of Higher Education in the MHRD mandate of higher education is and a possible Constitutional status substantive knowledge and therefore to craft some post-retirement jobs required the support of a national to the influential with or without government for an international or contacts with higher education ( Price: Rs. 20/- so-called universal learning and see the qualifications of Chairman, Janata Trust application. Thus, the national Members and structure). It seems, D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir leaders in their wisdom discussed the usual working conditions of Bharucha Marg, and drafted the University Grants MHRD and the duties entrusted Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. Commission 1953-56 on the lines of to some officers got disturbed and JANATA, August 25, 2013 7 Superstition slayer

Suhas Palshikar

Narendra Dabholkar fell to the intellectual influences on Dabholkar ordinary men and women how some bullets of unidentified assassins in were not only socialism but also the superstitions become exploitative. the early hours of Tuesday. At the anti-caste movement. He belonged To begin with, there was definitely time of writing this, it is not clear to the larger universe of social some amount of over-enthusiasm in who the assassins were and what reform. He is known by a huge the movement, in that it tended to the motives could be. But in the network of young activists and “attack” the superstition. Gradually, death of Dabholkar, Marathi society followers across the state through Dabholkar’s work took a more has lost its conscience keeper. This his organisation Andhashraddha nuanced turn. While he was busy loss will be felt for a long time to Nirmulan Samiti (committee to fighting with a number of local come because it looks probable that eradicate superstition). While godmen and swamis and babas Dabholkar was killed because of the he was not the first to employ a (occasionally using empiricist views he held and the work he did. rationalist frame to understanding strategies), Dabholkar realised popular practices and rituals, he that the real need was to ensure Trained as a medical doctor, was surely among the few to have the idea of faith was not misused Dabholkar came from a family linked these to the exploitation of for commercial and exploitative of somewhat illustrious elder the masses. In this, he was a true purposes. siblings from Satara in southern follower of Jyotirao Phule, by far Maharashtra. Born just before modern India’s first radical social For the last decade, Dabholkar Independence, he belonged to the thinker to attend to questions of had been fighting for the passage first generation of post-independence caste and equality. of a legislation that would make hopefuls inspired enough to take certain exploitative practices their idealism seriously. After The social reform movement in illegal. Hence, forcing someone to completing his medical education Maharashtra has always had three follow those practices (by threat or in 1970, he initially kept balancing strands: a more radical anti-caste allurement) would be a punishable his professional career with the strand, a strident and rationalist way offence. His tenacity, and the liberal urge to engage with social issues. of looking at life and religion, and a atmosphere in the state, meant Finally, in the 1980s, he gave up strand of robust critique of religion. that successive state governments his profession and took full time to Sometimes, these are separate and actually started drafting such a social work. In doing this, he was at odds with each other. Through legislation - only to dither on its only joining an impressive tradition the 1980s, Dabholkar charted his actual passage. Dabholkar’s secular from Maharashtra. In the late 1960s own path of social reform, which stand also meant he was opposed and early 1970s, many young was rationalist but not averse to to political Hindutva. But his professionals from Maharashtra trying to understand the power of steadfast criticism of exploitative had joined the “movement sector”. religiosity; rationalist, but putting practices earned him opponents Those were the days of the first social justice at the top of the not only from the political Hindu wave of disenchantment with agenda; and secular, in order to organisations but also from the parties and party politics. ensure a democratic coexistence of more aggressive orthodox Hindu communities. He took a position establishment in the state. He Dabholkar joined that stream, that, in the name of god (and took this opposition in his stride. but with a difference. Initially, religion), many malpractices end up His argument was that he was he actively participated in the in the exploitation of the devotees, not against religion and religious movement known as “ek gaon- mostly from vulnerable social beliefs; rather, he was opposed to ek panavatha” (movement for a backgrounds. So he mobilised those practices that exploit women common drinking water reservoir a band of activists all over the and the weaker sections of society for the entire village). Clearly, the state, who would try to convince by the hegemonic imposition of 8 JANATA, August 25, 2013 certain practices. He was not against God But to label him only with this but fought exploitation one-point agenda would be to miss the personality of this indefatigable Priyanka Kakodkar social activist. In 1998, he became the editor of the Marathi weekly, Saadhana (established by Sane He took on godmen, temple trusts “miracle cures” and regressive Guruji, the veteran socialist). At and even the State government. religious practices. that point, the weekly was on its He was vilified, his events were disrupted and he was even physically “He always said he was not deathbed and everyone expected attacked. Yet through it all, the against God or religion. Just only a few years before it breathed diminutive Narendra Dabholkar (65) exploitation in the name of faith,” its last. Except Dabholkar. He turned never lost his composure or sense recalls Ajit Abhyankar from the around the weekly into a financially of humour. He seemed to have a Centre for Indian Trade Unions, healthy publication, and a far more one-liner ready for any occasion. an old associate. His targets were readable one. Only last week, he “People often ask me how I stay often powerful and had a phalanx had organised two programmes calm,” he once said in an interview. of supporters but that didn’t deter to mark the 65th anniversary of “They should not forget that I was an him. One of his first clashes was the weekly. Ordinarily, no one international level kabaddi player. I with a godman who claimed to have celebrates the 65th anniversary of can take a fall in my stride.” a miracle cure for blindness. a publication. But Dabholkar knew well that he had to find occasions to On Tuesday, Dabholkar took a fall “He challenged him to an open debate in the village. The godman publicise the weekly, and through he couldn’t recover from. He was shot dead while on a morning walk arrived with a large number of his it reach a wider public, on a wider in Pune by two gunmen. followers but that did not deter range of issues. To his credit, he did Dabholkar,” says Rajiv Deshpande, not make the weekly a mouthpiece The deceptively gentle activist - co-editor of the movement’s of his anti-superstition work. Also, always dressed in a simple khadi shirt magazine. The gritty resolve served in recent months, he was actively - was among Maharashtra’s most him well as his targets grew bigger organising and propagating against prominent rationalists. Persuasive and more powerful. His agitations the rejuvenated caste panchayats with those he wanted to convince against Nirmala Devi and Narendra and their highhandedness in parts and unrelenting in his campaign Maharaj sparked clashes with their of Maharashtra. against superstition. In a country supporters. By 2000, he led perhaps which celebrates godmen and his largest campaign - demanding Dabholkar’s death is not only obscurantists, Dabholkar succeeded entry for women into the Shani the proverbial loss of a devoted in building a robust movement Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar. social activist. Maharashtra has across villages, schools and colleges It prompted a backlash from right- witnessed many bitter arguments in Maharashtra. wing political groups and finally in the past over social reform. It ended in court. Born into a socialist family in would be a tragic irony if, in this Satara district, Dabholkar qualified In fact, Dabholkar routinely had state, an activist had to die because as a doctor and practised medicine his press conferences disrupted his reform activity was not palatable for over a decade before being by right-wing groups, say his to some. This suddenly opens up the drawn into social work. Initially, supporters. But he was well aware dark possibility that Marathi society he joined movements for social of the risks. “In this movement, even will be losing its self-confidence to justice with Baba Adhav but expressing a thought is sometimes a argue and to tolerate differences found his calling by 1983. By fight,” he used to say. His dream of of ideas. 1989, he founded the Maharashtra changing the law by introducing a Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, Bill against superstitions and black – targeting exploitative godmen, magic in the Maharashtra Assembly JANATA, August 25, 2013 9 remains unfulfilled, dogged by Murder In Pune political opposition. Dabholkar’s slaying is a blot on Maharashtra’s reputation as Yet Dabholkar’s killing is no a crucible of social reform anomaly. Indian rationalists have long trodden a dangerous and The murder of Narendra Dabholkar, a crusader against superstition vulnerable path. This, even though and blind faith, in Pune on Tuesday, is the latest pointer to Maharashtra’s the Indian Constitution obliges transformation from a crucible of social reform into a playground of regressive citizens to “develop a scientific forces. An heir to traditions of advanced thinking initiated and carried forward by stalwarts of the calibre of Phule, Agarkar and Ambedkar, Dabholkar temper, humanism and the spirit of endeavoured to expose perverse practices cloaked in the garb of religiosity: inquiry and reform.” black magic, witchcraft, animal sacrifices and bizarre rituals. In 2011, Kerala Yuktivadi Sangham president U. Kalanathan Activists of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an NGO he was assaulted, even as he was founded in 1989, would invite astrologers and self-styled miracle makers to participating in a TV channel prove their claims in a public forum. None availed of the invitation. On the discussion on utilisation of the contrary, they launched a vicious campaign of hatred against Dabholkar to wealth at the Padmanabhaswamy paint him, quite erroneously, as an opponent of religion itself. Leaders across the political spectrum, as well as Hindu extremist outfits, have condemned temple in Thiruvananthapuram. the killing of Dabholkar. But that is neither here nor there. A few years earlier when CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat clashed with The murder is an extreme example of the recent tendency to curb freedom Baba Ramdev, the BJP jumped to of speech because it might hurt entrenched beliefs and interests. This his defence. intolerance of dissent in Maharashtra was manifest, for instance, in the arrest Ironically, in many cases the and hounding of two girls last year – because one of them put up a Facebook government becomes the adversary. post questioning the rationale for a bandh imposed on Mumbai by the Shiv Sena, and the other merely ‘liked’ the post. The only possible recompense for Like the case of eminent rationalist Dabholkar’s murder can come if his killers, as well as those behind them, are thinker Sanal Edamaruku, who hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And politicians debunked a “miracle” at the Our need to speak out against the culture of intolerance which encourages such Lady of Velankanni Church in crimes. Democracy without freedom of speech is meaningless. Mumbai in 2012. He found that the tears dripping from the statue of editorial in Jesus could be traced to a blocked drain. The result? The police have filed cases against him for inciting The silencing of a voice of reason religious hatred. In a society where netas seek the blessings of godmen, can we hope for justice for Dabholkar In a country where godmen and tantriks are lionised not just by Barely 30 hours after rationalist and anti-superstition campaigner Narendra the public but also by the media Dabholkar was gunned down in Pune, the Maharashtra cabinet passed an and politicians, rationalists have Ordinance to make black magic and superstitious rituals illegal. It’s a sad the odds stacked against them. reflection of our democracy that reformists are being silenced with bullets and From Chandraswami to Dhirendra that it took his murder for the government to react. The anti-superstition Bill Brahmachari, godmen and their cults has been hanging fire for nearly 15 years. It’s also a tribute to Dabholkar’s have peddled political influence relentless campaign to rid society of superstitious beliefs and black magic and rarely been subjected to public rituals and to instill a scientific temper. scrutiny. Dabholkar was one of those rare individuals who did subject Dabholkar, a doctor from Satara, brought logic and reason to matters of godmen, cults and miracle-makers belief and faith - a difficult task in any society, but more so in ours riddled as and superstitions to unrelenting it is with superstitious rituals, blind devotion to caste-and-clan-determined scrutiny. practices, and god-men and women. His detractors flayed him for being against religiosity but Dabholkar was not anti-religion. He raised a flag against –The Hindu 10 JANATA, August 25, 2013 blind belief and exhorted people to question and criticise such beliefs, hold into a tough action which is yet to out against caste panchayats, and challenge tantriks and quacks. His reasoned be seen. The situation is similar to critiques attracted a large following, evident in the 200 branches of the anti- the one in Pakistan where Salman superstition organisation, Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, that he chaired Taseer, the former Governor of the for decades across Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. It not only made status Punjab province was murdered by an quoists uncomfortable but also prompted a steady stream of attacks on him Islamic fanatic for speaking up for from followers of various babas and right-wing Hindu extremist groups such Chrsitian nuns who were harassed as the Sanatan Sanstha. He refused to seek police protection on two grounds: by obscurantists. Even as we go to if he was protected, his colleagues would be attacked, and that his work was the press, a formal condemnation within the ambit of the Constitution. Dabholkar worked with colleagues of the ghastly murder is yet to come to distil his vision into the Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice from Shiv Sena, the main opposition and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill first party in Maharashtra. This is hardly in the late 1990s and campaigned for passage in the assembly. The Bill was surprising since it is the Shiv Sena vehemently opposed by the BJP and Shiv Sena. This Act, he argued, would which started the culture of political become a template for the rest of the country. In this, his work epitomised murders way back in 1970 with the the robust reformist and progressive traditions of Maharashtra articulated killing of Krishna Desai, the sitting by Jyotiba Phule, , Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Mahadeo MLA of the CPI. Govind Ranade, Ramabai Ranade and BR Ambedkar. Dabhokar was never a hardliner Pune, the intellectual capital of the Maharashtra, has been the theatre in in his approach. He was firm in which extremist tendencies found themselves challenged by reformist and his convictions but his manner of modern thought. It is no coincidence that Dabholkar’s adversaries called for expression was mild, compassionate him to be hit here. The mandatory investigative procedures are underway but and persuasive. That is precisely the what’s the guarantee that, in a society where political leaders, bureaucrats reason that he was able to build up a and business barons openly seek the blessings of godmen, the masterminds sizable following among the young of Dabholkar’s murder will be identified and punished? all over Maharashtra. By killing such a soft spoken and committed Editorial in Hindustan Times progressive activist, his enemies have not only committed the most (Continued from Page 2) the people and make provocative heinous offence but also compelled like Maratha Mahasangh, Patit statements and issuing threats. progressive elements to close ranks Pawan Sanghatana and Sambhaji and put up a united front in order to Brigade openly engage themselves Dabholkar was the architect of the brave and fight further assaults on in strong arm tactics to terrorise their anti-superstition bill which has been reason and rational thinking. opponents and intimidate them into pending before the state legislature silence and inaction. The miscreants for over ten years. The original who vandalized the Bhandarkar provisions of the bill have been Research Institute few years ago toned down considerably in order to Janata not only went scot free but were secure the consent of the believers Subscription rewarded with important posts by among whom institutions like Annual Rs. : 260/- the ruling Congress/ NCP coalition Sanatan Sanstha propagated hatred. Three Years : 750/- government. The Sanatan Sanstha The murder was completely pre- which was constantly heaping vilest Demand Draft / Cheque on meditated and had a certain method Mumbai Bank abuse on Narendra Dabhokar and about it. Even after the murder, the his reformist activities demonized Sanatan Sanstha handouts had the in favour of him as the destroyer of religion. cheek to state that it was better for JANATA TRUST Dabholkar took pains to clarify Dabhokar to exit this world in the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, his position which was against way he did than to die lying on a Naushir Bharucha Marg, superstition and malpractices and hospital bed. The sheer brazenness Mumbai 400 007 not against any religion but they of the perpetrators of the crime continued to poison the minds of should have prompted the state JANATA, August 25, 2013 11 (Continued from Page 2) Murder of a rationalist cigarettes to be manufactured, but In death, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar draws public attention to the with a warning that said they were pernicious practice of black magic. But was he murdered to silence a voice injurious to health. Predictably, the of reason? suggestion was not accepted. The murder of anti-superstition campaigner Narendra Dabholkar in the How then were the people of early morning hours of Monday is a wake-up call to society and politicians. this State to fulfill the aspiration Though police investigations are proceeding, what is undeniable are the inscribed in the Constitution, calling threats of violence and physical extermination that Dabholkar received from on all Indian citizens to develop “a right-wing organisations in his lifetime. If it was intolerance and hatred of scientific temper, humanism and the ideas that 65-year-old Dabholkar preached that led to his murder, then the the spirit of inquiry and reform”? state must respond with an iron hand against those who ordered and planned Dr Dabholkar saw that school the crime, not just the assassins. Dabholkar edited the Marathi weekly, children were a promising pool Sadhana, and devoted much time and energy, intellect and leadership, to from which such a spirit might rise various social causes. But what earned him enemies was the Maharashtra and take shape. His organisation (Eradication of Blind Faith) Bill that outlaws black magic and other dubious held camps for teachers and ritualistic practices. programmes for school children Dabholkar was a vehement supporter of this draft legislation first all over Maharashtra, to instil in introduced in 1995. The legislation targets tantriks and godmen who claim them a rational approach to life, so to possess powers to cure illnesses and promote human sacrifice and black that they would grow up sighted, magic. But the legislation upset some religious groups who complained rather than blind. that it has provisions violating their religious freedoms. When the bill was deferred in the past session, Dabholkar criticised Maharashtra chief minister Dr Dabholkar who was himself a Prithviraj Chavan. Acting with unparalleled haste to contain the fallout, the man of peace - his serene, unlined state government is now piloting the bill through an ordinance. face bore witness to that- knew fully The chief minister has alleged that “those who killed Mahatma Gandhi well the violence that resided in have killed Narendra Dabholkar” and that this was a “well-planned murder”. the forces he was confronting. He Like Gandhi, Dabholkar was never against religion but had enemies in the had been threatened from a public Hindu-right. Dabholkar, again like Gandhi, was also a multi-faceted social platform once with maiming and activist. The similarity between their deaths aside, the fate of those who take death. The police had asked him on the religious orthodoxy, even sixty years hence, is a cause for concern. then to register a case against the Whether male or female, young or old, reformists live and work under great concerned individuals, or to accept peril. If a religious killing angle emerges in this case, Indians who shuddered police protection, or to carry a when the Pakistani Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the Swat revolver at least. He had laughed Valley must realise the dangers closer to home. off all these suggestions as being totally out of keeping with his work Until Dabholkar’s murder, modern Indian rationalists had to contend and beliefs. with a torrent of frivolous criminal cases slapped on them. They also risked the occasional physical assault and faced disruption of press conferences. Dr Dabholkar began his life’s Dabholkar’s murder will certainly disturb this spunky class of activists who work around the time that divisive have gone to great lengths to disprove religious miracles and the powers that forces were regrouping and moving godmen profess to claim. The state has done them no good either. In 2012, aggressively into our public spaces, leading Indian rationalist Sanal Edamaruku was booked by Mumbai police for bent on having their way and inciting religious hatred after he debunked a “miracle” in a Christian shrine. endorsing violence as a justifiable So the state’s haste to bring the ordinance is rather unconvincing. The means of getting it. On Tuesday they government must discuss the bill threadbare in the assembly and iron out did, without compunction or guilt, any grey areas that criminalise legitimate religious practices. Once a law, what their belief system prompted the state through its various arms must ensure that the thriving superstition them to do. They organised and industry does not abuse gullible citizens any longer. But legislation has its executed the murder of humanism, limits in curbing an entrenched social practice like black magic. Without social progress and peace. conviction and a socio-political reform campaign, curbing black magic can go the child marriage way; illegal but prevalent. –Mumbai Mirror editorial in DNA 12 JANATA, August 25, 2013 A 2-day national executive Draft Election Manifesto meeting of the Socialist Party was held in Delhi on 10-11 August 2013. Socialist Party (India) appeals Bhai Vaidya, national president of the party, chaired the meeting. Seventy crore Indian voters to National and state office bearers, Defeat Capitalism and Bring in Socialism national executive members, In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. attending the meeting from several states were, welcomed by Justice Prices of daily use commodities last man as envisaged by Mahatma Rajindar Sachar, senior member of are rising. Unemployment is Gandhi and the recognition of equal the party. increasing. Gap between the rich citizenship of all Indian people and the poor is widening; as also as conceived by the makers of It was decided at the meeting between cities and villages, and Indian Constitution led by Dr. B. that a nation-wide agitation ‘Defeat between the metro centers and R. Ambedkar. capitalism – Bring socialism’ vast rural areas. Environment is should be organized on 8 October being polluted contributing to In keeping with the traditions (death anniversary of JP) to create Global warming. Violence of the of its early founders, the Socialist public opinion against capitalism. state as of the criminals and the Party will be a party will be a The party will organize dharnas, terrorists is escalating. Women’s party of all the Indian people and demonstrations and protest marches lives and honor are not safe. Tension not merely of sections of it. The distributing a 10-point pamphlet persists on the pretext of caste or Socialist Party will treat as its against capitalist economic policies. communal disputes. Culture is special trust the need to attend to the To spread awareness against being vulgarized by the corporate problems of the deprived sections communal forces a nation-wide controlled media and young minds of the society, including the dalits, agitation ‘Save secularism – Shed are being corrupted. tribals and the nomadic tribes and communalism’ will be held all over religious and linguistic minorities. the country on 31 October (birth Unbridled capitalism is the party will strive to eliminate anniversary of Acharya Narendra the root cause of all this malady. gender discrimination and will Dev). As a part of this agitation, To end this all-round misery support affirmative action in favour special programs will be organized and exploitation, the voters of of women in all legislative and other to promote faith in secularism, a India should take courage in both institutions. value enshrined in the Constitution. hands and elect representatives The party’s youth wing Socialist who are committed to usher in era Annihilation of Caste Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) will bear of socialism, an era of equality and The Socialist Party believes in the the main responsibility of this plenty. annihilation of caste, an institution agitation by holding discussions which Acharya Narendra Dev, the and cultural programs in colleges Living concept of India doyen of Indian socialists, held as and universities. The national Socialist Party (India) , a party anti-democratic. The party believes executive expressed its firm view with a proud heritage stretching that such destruction of caste will that political parties should come back to establishment of the all come about through multiple under the purview of and abide by India socialist movement in 1934, revolutions that the great socialist the RTI. in the midst of national liberation ideologue, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia, struggle with which it is privileged envisaged in his pioneering work, The national executive welcomed to have been associated, would like Saptakranti, and by Dr. B. R. the formation of Telangana state to reaffirm its positive faith in the Ambedkar in his book, namely and congratulated its people. living concept of India and in the ‘Annihilation of Caste.’ Nevertheless it cautioned goal of socialism. The socialist party the prospective leadership and believes that nationalism and swaraj The party will amend the political parties of the resource-rich are words bereft of meaning unless Constitution so that the opening Telangana that the valuable natural they entail primacy to the welfare of sentence of the preamble would read (Continued on Page 15) the last child, the last woman and the as “We, the people of India, resolve JANATA, August 25, 2013 13 to establish Sovereign, Secular, be prepared and implemented with canal systems and development of Socialist, Casteless, Democratic their active participation. watersheds for conservation of soil Republic of India…..” and water. Rights of the Gram Sabha, as The Socialist Party will combat enshrined in the Constitution, to The party will strive to improve efforts by certain groups to divide decide about the utilization of natural India’s urban and rural environment the Indian people on religious- resources like land, water, minerals, and lay stress on proper sanitation sectarian lines and will uphold the flora and founa falling in their and provision of well-maintained secular concept of Indian nation as jurisdiction will be scrupulously public conveniences with due fostered by our freedom movement. safeguarded from encroachment by importance being given to the needs the Central and State Governments of the individuals and families. Both Agro-industrial and the profit-hungry enterprisers. towns and villages will be greened. model of development The needs of India’s cities will be The socialist Party will accord Cottage and small scale examined from this point of view priority to the eradication of hunger industries, with adoption of optimum and provision made for walking and establish proper facilities for technology, will be allowed to be areas with construction of foot- storage of food grains in every developed in the rural areas. paths so that pedestrians have the district of the country and strengthen first priority on the public streets. the public distribution mechanism. Heavy and large scale industries The party will improve inter-city will be run in the public sector. and intra-city bus systems. Private The party will discard the western The party will stop work on Delhi- cars will not be allowed to enter capitalist model of development Mumbai Industrial Corridor. busy areas. and evolve Indian model with Full Employment as its objective. As two- The party will work towards Legitimate rights of the working thirds of our people are dependent on complete road connectivity for all classes to be safeguarded agriculture and allied occupations, villages and their electrification. The Legitimate rights like guarantee high-speed program of expanding party will discourage use of fossil and timely payment of minimum infrastructure of communication, fuel and encourage eco-friendly wages, safe working conditions, irrigation, electricity, credit supply sources like solar and wind power. collective bargaining and peaceful and marketing in the rural and agitations be safeguarded in all Primary needs of the people coastal areas will be undertaken. industries and industrial zones. Remunerative prices will be assured The party will formulate The tendency of the employers to their produce. Cooperative comprehensive and time-bound to dispense with the services of management will be promoted in plan for provision of safe drinking permanent workers and use casual/ credit supply and marketing. water, latrines, housing, etc. It will contract labourers be dealt with ensure equitable distribution of sternly. All such measures be made Agricultural lands will not water resources. applicable to those engaged in be allowed to be taken over for construction, transport and other industrial purposes. New ventures Natural disasters and their similar activities. be located in barren and hilly mitigation will be treated as a areas so that regional imbalance is common burden on all the Indian Social security measures like minimized. people and expenses on this account life and medical insurance and old and for relief and rehabilitation age pension for all men and women Equitable distribution of will be met mainly through central workers above 60 years of age, agricultural lands will be undertaken. funds. engaged in unorganized sector, will Lands of tribals that had been taken be provided. away from them will be restored to The party will work towards them. making India less dependent on Better banking facilities vagaries of the monsoon. It will in rural areas - All-out development plans for work towards the establishment of The party will expand and forestry, fishery, dairy, poultry will scientific drainage and irrigation strengthen banking network in the 14 JANATA, August 25, 2013 rural areas and enable women to jawans of all ranks will be treated With a view not to increase have easy access to the banking with due respect. unemployment and to prevent services. Deposits from the rural flow of Indian wealth to foreign areas will not be allowed to be Purchases of military hardware countries, FDI in Retail, Defence transferred to urban areas. and equipment from foreign production, Banking, Insurance and countries will be discontinued. Pension be banned. Draconian laws to be repealed Their production will be made in The Socialist Party would take public sector. Lands under cultivation should strong measures to instill confidence not be taken over for industrial among the citizens that they would The country will not enter into purposes. Rights of gram sabha, be treated fairly by state institutions arms race, let alone of nuclear as enshrined in the Constitution, to including the administration, the arsenal, and try to keep defence decide use of land, water, forest , police, and the judiciary and that expenses to the minimum. Friendly minerals should not be encroached such fair and equitable treatment is relations with the neighbor countries upon by the Central and State a right accruing from citizenship. on honorable terms and vigilant governments. The project of Delhi- population in the border areas are Mumbai Industrial Corridor be Repressive laws like Armed the best defence garrisons. dropped. All new ventures to be Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), located in barren and hilly areas. Foreign Policy sections in IPC regarding sedition, Network of communications, etc. will be repealed. Maintenance of world peace irrigation, electricity, credit supply and honouring the human rights and marketing be expanded in the The party would like to take of the citizens everywhere should rural areas. Interest charged to stern steps towards eradication be the guiding principles of our agricultural loans should not exceed of corruption from public life. foreign policy. The party will strive 4 percent. Remunerative prices be The party views this objective to convert the UNO into a truly assured to agricultural produce . as part of need to ensure greater representative World Government. accountability not only of the state, No corporatization of education. including police authorities, but Friendly relations with countries The state should shoulder also of the political parties and non- in the south and east Asia, Africa responsibility to provide common, government institutions. The party and south America will be built up free, qualitative education to all. stands for responsible politics and and maintained. will take steps to ensure that the No privatization of public health Agenda for immediate action parliamentarians and legislators services. There should be adequate do not subvert the institutions India should discard western supply of equipment and medicines to which they are elected. Right capitalist model of development in the PHCs and public hospitals. to Information act will be made and evolve agro-industrial based applicable to the political parties. model with full employment as the Women should be protected The party will take steps to prevent objective. from violence and injustice. extra-judicial killings on the part of Commercialisation of female body the police and army and self-styled Rupee is falling in the world be stopped. Women’s Reservation Khap Panchayats. market because we are importing Bill be passed without delay. much more than what we export. The party will amend election To correct this imbalance, import All youths put in jails without laws to prevent politicisation of the of gold be barred and import and trial be released immediately. criminals. consumption of oil be cut by half. Recommendations of Sachar Number of cars allotted to officers Committee be implemented honestly Defence of the central and state governments and with speed. Colonial practice of treating be reduced drastically. All four- trained jawans as menial servants wheeler cars be put off the roads With a view to protect children attached to officers will be once in a week. Public transport be and women from malnutrition and to discontinued. Junior officers and buttressed. provide food security to all citizens, JANATA, August 25, 2013 15

PDS must be run efficiently and pilferage be plugged. Uttarakhand Citizens’ right to time-bound Yusuf Meherally Cente has set up Uttarakhand Relief Committee, and started collecting money, material, etc. service in government offices must be assured. The corrupt politicians We have a small but good unit in Uttarakhand and a group of workers. and government employees be Jabar Singh Verma is one of the convener of our youth wing, Yusuf punished severely. Meherally Yuva Biradari, and is a noted journalist. He is the person who is looking after our relief activities there and Guddi, national convener of Give pension of Rs 2,000 p.m. to the Biradari, has almost shifted there. all female and male workers above After a survey of 12 villages we have identified five villages for intensive 60 years of age in unorganized intervention. While we have distributed relief material in all the surveyed sector. villages and will continue to do so, we will be concentrating on rehabilitating five. We hope to build houses (114 houses have collapsed in these villages) Socialist Party (India) Zindabad. with the help of other organisations, start giving education to the children, {the school buildings have collapsed) build one common shed in each village - this will double as school and Panchayat office, etc., repair two Panchakkis, make Rajais out of the surplus unusable clothes, organize self- (Continued from Page 12) help groups and mobilize trainees and give training and plan their future in resources should not be open to a participatory manner - and will try to identify an eco-friendly development loot by corporate houses. Rather model. The last one is very ambitious, we are quite aware. the resources should be used for The Centre has considerable experience of relief work. In its very early the upliftment of the hard working period, it provided relief to the victims of flood in Orissa. It organized a masses. The political leadership student committee in Mumbai to help the draught affected students of should ensure that all citizens get Maharashtra. We provided relief in Raigad when there were flash floods. education, health, employment and And, after the cyclone and earthquake, we worked in Kutch. Again after the good governance in the new state. earthquake in Kashmir, we undertook relief. The floods in Ladakh made us go there. And after the tsunami, in Nagapattinam, we did a lot of relief The national executive further and rehabilitation work. The same after Koshi floods in Bihar. decided that the party would You can participate in this effort by depositing your contribution in any contest the coming state legislative of the following accounts of Yusuf Meherally Centre. Or you can send your assembly and general elections. contribution to the Centre’s office. –Haresh Shah The process of identification of Sudhir Gandbhir constituencies and candidates is Name of The Shamrao Vithal State Bank of Dena Bank speedily under way. The party will Bank Co-operative Bank India make electoral alliance with the Ltd like-minded political parties who Account No 100920950000011 10066940217 007710009865 are totally opposed to capitalism Branch Name Sleater Road Hughes Road Tardeo and support socialism. The draft IFSI No. SVCB0000009 SBIN0005800 BKDN0450077 election manifesto was accepted Branch No 400089009 400002033. 400018042 after deliberations and suggestions for the purpose of elections. You can inform us of your contribution along with some details including your name, address and PAN, if you have, by e-mail. post or courier. Party literature, available on Yusuf Meherally Centre, Blog, Facebook, Twitter and You D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, Tube, was launched by the party’s (formerly Sleater Road), P.O, Grant Road (W), Mumbai - 400007 national vice president and veteran Website - www.yusufmeherally.org socialist leader Akhai Achumi. TeleFax - +91 22 23889738 E-mail – [email protected] Telephone - +91 22 23870097 • +91 22 23806010 Dr. Prem Singh, General Secretary, Space Donated by A Well Wisher Socialist Party (India) R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, August 25,, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, August 25, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday August 28, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 68 No. 34 Will hunger be history? September 1, 2013 S. Viswam

The bane of India Kuldip Nayar No one will go to bed hungry. behind the Opposition’s support Hunger will be history. In its claimed for the Food Security Bill. The “10th year of reaching people and government promulgated the North Andhra deprived changing lives”, the government National Food Security Ordinance K. S. Chalam is doing a hard sell of its much on July 5 this year. The ordinance touted Food Security Bill. The was necessary since a bill could not sloganising is on. For decades be introduced in Parliament which Justice Reddy – a legend successive governments at the Centre was not being allowed to function R. J. Kochar have proclaimed that poverty will by the opposition on some ground be history, and need and want will or the other. However, since July, be things of the past. Yet, the poor the opposition has had two months Why do ‘they’ love are still with us, and in conditions to educate itself on the measure and Narendra Modi ? far worse than when the “garibi bring pressure on the government to Shankar Gopalakishnan hatao” slogans were the loudest in improve the legislation’s contents political chants. After five years in at the Parliamentary Standing office, the NDA claimed that Bharat Committee to which it was referred. Amartya Sen making waves was “shining”. Bharat lay and still Besides, the opposition chose to Jawaharlal Jasthi lies under darkness. Now, it is the support the measure not because it turn of the UPA to claim that hunger was worth supporting on merits but will be history. It most certainly solely because it is a pro-poor, pro- Insensitive city will not be, since at least 15 million welfare, and anti-poverty measure. GGP new mouths have to be fed every In other words, the opposition did year and the economy shows signs not want to be seen opposing a of not recovering but declining. pro-poor aadmi measure lest votes Editor : Nonetheless, it is to be welcomed be lost at the coming polls. So, G. G. Parikh that at least one legislative measure it decided to support the bill and Managing Editor : Guddi was unanimously endorsed in the move as many amendments to the Lok Sabha last week. The Rajya bill as possible. Yet, the opposition D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Sabha is expected to endorse it next attacked the government on the floor Naushir Bharucha Marg, week. The Food Security Bill thus of Parliament for enacting a measure Mumbai - 400 007. gets the distinction of being one of clearly with an eye on the coming Lok the few legislations to obtain support Sabha polls. “It is a vote security bill, Email : [email protected] from all sections of Parliament. not a food security bill, “ said Murli Even so, look at the hypocricy Manohar Joshi of the BJP. “Is this for 2 JANATA, September 1, 2013 the elections or for the hungry?,” asked Mulayam Singh Yadav. “ The bane of India Since elections are knocking on the door of the Congress, the Minister Kuldip Nayar is in a hurry to pass the bill,” said Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool A dalit was killed. His house was they continue to live in slums in Congress. His colleague A Sampth destroyed and his family, including the urban areas and on outskirts of wanted sugar, pulses and edible a 10-year-old, was thrown out. The villages in the rural areas. Some who oil to be included in the bill along upper caste members did not like claim to speak on behalf of Hindus with rice, wheat and coarse grains. his audacity to hoist the national seldom endeavour to eliminate the Sharad Yadav of the JD(U) wanted flag on the Independence Day at a discrimination against the dalits universal coverage for all instead disputed property which they had who are also Hindus. I have not of only the selected few being the appropriated forcibly. seen the Bhartiya Janata Party beneficiaries. The entire opposition (BJP) criticizing the caste system thought that the bill was seriously The discrimination is the bane although the party is all for the flawed but they still supported it of India where the caste prejudiced Hindu Rashtriya (state). The party’s since it was pro-poor! Its logic Hindus constitute 80 per cent of attention is focused on politics, not seemed to be that it would tolerate the population. The story of this on social reforms. Its problem may a bad bill being enacted so long as dalit came to light because one TV well be the dictation by RSS, a group it was claimed to be “pro-poor”.! channel highlighted it. Otherwise, of Brahmins, the uppermost caste. As against this, let us give credit thousands of dalits undergo similar where it is due as far as the food rigours every day. They face the Unfortunately, the caste has security bill is concerned. Sonia arrogance and zulum of upper castes. penetrated the thinking of Muslims Gandhi’s speech was noteworthy And there is no light at the end of and Christians. The religion of for many reasons, not the least of the tunnel. both the communities forbids which was that she made no idle discrimination. They preach equality. boasts, claimed no special credit More than sixty years ago, the But when it comes to practice, they for her party or for herself (she had Constitution banned untouchability. are not different from Hindus. been pushing for the measure for The freedom struggle had promised Both of them treat with contempt several months) but instead wanted to break the shackles of the caste the dalits, who embrace Islam or the bill to be a “national” one with a system after independence. First Christianity to escape the caste common aim and a common target. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru hatred of Hindus. She admitted that the bill would not even deleted the column of caste end hunger overnight, but it was from applications, registers and However, there is a case for a beginning in that direction. She forms for admission to schools and concessions to such dalits which claimed that the measure was a part entrance examinations. Yet the caste former UP chief minister Mayawati, of the entitlement/empowerment considerations have not lessened. a dalit has suggested. But her fault revolution that was being ushered Mahatama Gandhi, father of the is that she has gone beyond. She nation, named the dalit, Harijan (son wants a quota in promotion of public into the country. A tall claim, but of God). But the dalits found the servants. The demand has justifiably she buttressed it by citing the nomenclature too patronizing and raised an uproar in the country. fact that the UPA had enaced four preferred to be called dalits. measures as part of “the revolution I think that whatever reservations, process”. These measures were: A social evil or whatever they should be given at the time of Right to Information, Right to the explanation, the feeling of recruitment. Any reservation during Work (MGNREGA), Forest discrimination in the Hindu society the career would affect the morale of Rights Act empowering the has not abated. Even today a dalit other caste civil servants, who have tribals and Right to Education. bridegroom cannot ride a horse come through a tough competitive While the Congress is entitled to while taking the barat (wedding examination. The dalits wanting claim credit for these measures, procession) to the bride’s place. to join civil services also take the the fact remains that all these Roads at many places are closed to examination but the reservations (Continued on Page 3) the dalits. As for their habitation, give them an edge. JANATA, September 1, 2013 3

The two main political parties, of caste in the form that the census (Continued from Page 2) the Congress and the BJP, are enumerators ask to fill in violates the supporting Mayawati’s amendment basic structure of the Constitution. enactments while being well- because they have their eyes set on They inquire about the caste. On basis meant have suffered from the want votes in the 2014 elections. The of such information the economic of proper, efficient, honest and quantum of reservations has gone up benefits are distributed. This makes corruption-free implementation. because the quota has been extended a mockery of the Constitution. Its Good laws are welcome, but good to the Other Backward Classes preamble says that the people resolve laws which do not get translated into (OBC). They too want reservation to constitute India into a “sovereign benefits for those targeted, become in promotions. Many others are socialist democratic republic.” a burden on society. This is why we also want reservations. This is not Democracy and discrimination do expressed skepticism at the outset possible because of a Supreme Court not go together. of this article whether the claim judgment. It has fixed 49.5 percent as to end hunger was sustainable. the maximum limit for reservations. My objection is also on another The opposition’s charge that the Even if Mayawati’s amendment is point. In the Keshvanand Bharti food security bill is poll-oriented passed by parliament, the court may case, the Supreme Court has said is nonsense. All governments in a consider it unconstitutional. that the objectives in the preamble parliamentary democracy perform A constitutional amendment to constitute the basic structure of with an eye on votes and polls. introduce reservations in promotions the Constitution. It means that This is no crime. The question is is sought to be passed in the Lok Parliament, although elected directly whether the present and succeeding Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has already by the people, cannot alter the basic governments will make the measure passed it despite the opposition by structure. work in earnest and hit at the target. the Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi The implementation of the measure Party from the OBC. Surprisingly, the government does which targets 67 per cent of the not realize the effect the introduction population and is estimated to cost It appears that the political parties of quota in promotions will have on Rs. 5000 crores is a mind-boggling in the opposition had their way when the bureaucracy, the sheet anchor of exercise. The administration is the ruling Congress party, after the administration. Divide and rule entitled to public support and putting up a brave fight against the was the dictum of the British who sympathy in the discharge of its new quota in promotions, caved in. True, held India in bondage for 150 years. responsibility of attacking hunger the Congress did not have a majority The nation needs to be integrated and want. in the Lok Sabha. But it could have however strong are the forces to mustered the numbers if it had stood stratify it. If the Food Security Bill is firm. bad news as the BJP and some The introduction of quota in media claim, why do they also The reservations have been services is an important policy yell that BJP states already have spelled out in the Constitution for decision. The government should such schemes? the dalits and the tribals. But as the have called a meeting of the National Supreme Court has pointed out that Integration Council which is meant the benefits have been cornered by Use the economic crisis to focus to discuss such problems. Caste is the creamy layer among the dalits. on basic needs; health, education, something that affects the nation water ; clean up; make drains & on the whole. The country cannot So is in the case of OBC. The footpaths; go solar; construct be pushed back to the dark ages. dalits and the OBC members irrigation canal networks; brick Affirmative action which America should allow the advantage from roads where there are none; follows to give benefits to the black reservations to go below. The foodgrains storage in every is far better than the reservations problem is that the leaders, vocal as village panchayat or group of which see no end of expiry. But that they are, manipulate to appropriate panchayats. is a different story, although Dr. the maximum concessions. None of this needs forex. B.R.Ambedkar, a dalit, who outlined My knowledge of law, however the constitution, agreed unwillingly –Anil Nauriya limited, tells me that the column to reservation for 10 years only. 4 JANATA, September 1, 2013 North Andhra deprived of riparian rights in Polavaram

K S Chalam

Uttarandhra has teeming natural on the East. This is exceptional and the proposed distribution through resources to emerge as Kashmir the Sabari river that joins Godavari the left canal (it should go up to (along with Araku valley) of South at Kunavaram not only brings water Bahuda). India with beautiful coast being the but also contributes to its title. The pride of Telugu people tributaries of Sabari, Sileru (silaeru) The geography of Krishna and and Machkund (fish mound in Godavari delta is precarious as the The Telugu-speaking people are Oriya) originate in Vizianagaram region lies at the river’s mouth (tail under great stress for the imminent and Srikakulam border and were end) with little contributions to parting. There is anguish among responsible for the huge runoff at the run-off due to its location. We different categories of people, each the downstream Polavaram. The know the fate of Kolleru. Therefore, clinching a particular problem, be data provided by various agencies, farmers are very sensitive as they it irrigation water, jobs, security including the CWC (not party), recollect how the out-migration in of employment, family, real estate amply demonstrate this. W. Francis, times of famines took place while in Hyderabad or simply the pain in his Visakhapatnam Gazetteer the unharnessed rivers merged in of emotional longing for a cultural (1907), mentioned that the water the Bay of Bengal before Cotton. identity. supplied to the second crop in They had also experienced the pinch Godavari delta originates in North when there was scarcity in the major Though we had four distinguished Andhra. source in recent years. regions in the State in terms of parameters used to classify a region T h e P o l a v a r a m , a k a Arthur Cotton took irrigation either in India or Andhra Pradesh, Ramapadasagar Project (of Sonti works as a challenge to prove that Uttarandhra or North Andhra has Ramamurthy of Vizag), was transport through canals was cheaper not figured anywhere except in conceived and projected as a than railways and proposed linking passing remarks. In fact, we have boon to the farmers of the region of Karachi to Kolkata and barrages such episodes from all the five during Tanguturi Prakasam regime. on the Krishna and the Godavari. borders of the united State, except American expert Dunne estimated Telugus of coastal Andhra were Coastal Andhra that was protected the cost at Rs 100 crores which was benefitted. He did not anticipate the by other Telugu border regions with considered prohibitive for a State consequences. an international border, coast. budget of a few hundred crores. However, farmers and people of the There seems to be a flaw in the As I was born in the united region longed for it as they believed enterprise as the irrigation needs of Visakhapatnam district, (northern that it was their legitimate right to the riparian regions of the Godavari part named as Srikakulam in 1950), I claim over 644tmc surplus in the have not been considered nor the am obliged to express at least anxiety Godavari. farmers told about the restrictions. over the impending outcome. Was it due to the limitations of Rajasekhara Reddy took a bold sovereign powers of Cotton as some I had the opportunity to traverse decision to take up the project and parts of the present State were under the entire region and know something it is still a victim of legal, economic another dispensation? Nonetheless, about the origin and unique characters and political squabbles to reach the North Andhra was very much part of our river systems. The peninsular logical end. The political aftermath of the Madras Presidency and had rivers originate either in the East and of the present situation might result rights on the Godavari waters. confluence with the Arabian Sea or in a package including Polavaram Why did he neglect this aspect? Or begin in the West and join the Bay as a national project. It is here one was it due to the persuasive skills of Bengal. But the rivers in North can reason out the share of North and manoeuvres of the then ruling Andhra originate in the Eastern Andhra not only in the contribution classes which overpowered him to Ghats and join the Bay of Bengal of its run-off but also its share in limit his vision to a very limited area, JANATA, September 1, 2013 5 is a subject of academic study. Yet, there seems to be some weakness Insensitive city (colonial mindset to maximise return and not equity) in the whole design A rape, a planned murder of a sending bangles to the minister and, of agricultural development based rationalist (the best that the socialist to the utter shame of the city, a leader on subsidised water without any movement, influenced by Sane blamed the migrants for the crime. legitimately dependable source? Guruji, socialist stalwarts, Gandhiji, social reformers and Dr. B. R. Take the murder, the press and the North Andhra had limited Ambedkar produced in the state) politicians, barring those of a certain experience of continuous droughts and the skyrocketing prices have political bend, reacted as expected as the rainfall here is found to be not stirred Mumbai as it should and well, and yet a feeling is there, above State average according to have, going by its past history, and enough to make most uneasy, the Jagannadha Sarma, a hydrogeologist. as compared to what happened in reaction was subdued. Yes, within The design of irrigation water was Delhi after the rape which shocked two hours of the news, there was a also based on small tanks with low not just Delhi but the entire country. meeting in Mumbai where 500 (not investment and linking the geddas, Is Mumbai becoming insensitive is one hundred as a section of press rivulets to some large storage tanks. the question that is being asked in reported) assembled to condemn many circles, in the same manner the act, to pay their homage and North Andhra was a region of as the question: Is Mumbai safe as to demand quick action on the bill small zamindars and from non- believed till now for women? Is it that was pending for more than a traditional castes, unlike the Nizam Mehfooz? These questions need decade. And after a day or two a or someone in other parts who could pondering. large enough group of youngsters afford huge projects. However, the sat at the feet of Gandhiji’s statue in economic status of the region was The rape took place in the comparable to that of advanced South Mumbai, more to introspect compound of an abandoned mill districts of coastal Andhra like West and ask the question: are we not standing defiantly to remind the city Godavari as late as in 1961 when the responsible for what happened? of its past and also the decay that per capita income in North Andhra Some more protests too followed, has taken place. A photojournalist was Rs 1250 against State average and yet the unease is there – was was the victim, we are told the more of Rs 1184. it enough? Could not the city have politically correct word would be done much more? Now the region suffers low survivor. She was accompanied by income and high poverty while a colleague and they had gone on an And take the skyrocketing prices the waters of its rivers either join assignment. In Delhi, the rape took of vegetables, and food grains. They the sea or are diverted for others place in a moving vehicle, she was say the price rise of onions can leaving limited prospects for not alone and the time was only a result in regime change. The press agricultural development. There is bit later. But both were victims of did its job reasonably well and even distress migration. It is estimated the male lust gone berserk. If the the state went beyond blaming the that GHMC alone has about 2 youngsters and the citizens rocked hoarders and opened vegetable stalls. million construction workers, petty the city for days in Delhi, in Mumbai, But the housewives were not on the jobholders, etc, from North Andhra youngsters, though protested, what streets. The city has seen massive (lost 3 MLA seats). They live like they did did not compare well with demonstrations by women in past nomads without a cover to conceal what happened in Delhi. The press when the price rise took place. But their bodies. Is it due to lack of did its job fairly well and the state nothing of that type happened. The resources in the region? Uttarandhra and the ministers in Mumbai were same question: what is happening has teeming natural resources to certainly more sensitive. Though to the city? This is the city which emerge as Kashmir (along with the demands of the protesters were almost closed down in 1942 after the Araku valley) of South India with similar, the sensitivity of the rulers leaders were arrested. This is the city beautiful coast being the pride of was not wanting in Mumbai. And where the students kept the freedom Telugu people. It was undermined yet the question should remain, ‘why movement going and also functioned the citizens did not take to streets in as if they were the Indian National (Continued on Page 8) a big way?’ Yes, there was a call for Congress when the leaders were in 6 JANATA, September 1, 2013 jail. This is also the city which saw communists and socialists vied with If this happens, Dabholkars will massive protests by the labour, not each other for supremacy. The city’s have a larger following in the city. just to secure their demands but also progressive causes were taken up The misleading talk of inclusive for progressive causes. What has by the communists and socialists growth of the Congress would get happened to that spirit of yore needs during the freedom movement days. exposed and begin to mean inclusive serious investigations. The communists, however, lost their housing which would see the end of appeal in 1942 when they turned pro- gated colonies of the rich, and the But it must be added that the city British and anti-freedom movement rich and the poor living together. The exploded after the Babri demolition, and even became informers. But ghettoisation of the poor, the Dalits it went berserk for three or four the socialists’ popularity soared and Muslims will stop. And the days when Bala Saheb Thackeray and they retained it for a couple of half-hearted RTE will get redefined was behind bars. And yet, once decades after Independence. And to mean compulsory and equal the city saw bomb explosions in their thinking found a receptive education and the children of the rich eleven places in a row, those very ground in Maharashtra sensitized and the poor would study together. elements which had taken over the by the long tradition of reform And the youngsters who stand at city showed a surprising restraint. movements. There is no cause of the the street corners because they The restraint was certainly healthy, poor and deprived that did not attract have little to do, will have gainful but why did it happen has not been the attraction of the progressives in employment and the criminals understood and needs investigating. the city. And they wanted to make who recruit them will not get much And, let’s also remember, when the life of the citizens less miserable. response. And there will not be two the terrorists attacked the city, the They worked hard to make the city cities but only one. The problem of middle classes came out in numbers, less congested, more comfortable slum areas will get more attention and there were candle marches, and safe and even worked hard than the areas which are occupied by protests. Even if some people read to give new ideas for the city’s the rich. One rural social worker said in it some sort of identification of the future. They promoted cooperatives, that there were few crimes and no elite with the Taj, what they did was consumer and housing, and political riots during the agricultural commendable. But it should also be organized chawl dwellers to rebuild season. This is a statement which is remembered that this city effectively their chawls and give themselves pregnant with possibilities. If people killed the Anna movement. It could better and affordable houses through have work, the crime will go down. be because of the wrong choice of formation of genuine cooperatives. Socialists alone can ensure that. the venue, but the fact remains that And they agitated against price rise, Let’s work for a socialist utopia. the city did not react to the cancer of propagated slum improvement and Did we not read some time ago that corruption as it should have. not their demolition, and even saw a neo-liberal said after the 2007-08 the solution of the city’s problems crisis in US, ‘we are all socialists Let us hope that some bright in the development of its hinterland. now’. students of prestigious educational They retained in their lives the institutions in Mumbai will Gandhian simplicity which they Let’s remember it’s Medha undertake research to find out why had acquired during the freedom Patkar who and her group which the city has lost its sensitivity, but movement and their integrity was rushes to prevent demolition of without waiting for their findings, remarkable. If they reorganize, slums. She certainly grew up in let’s hazard a simple guess. Going forget their split dominated past, the socialist movement. Let’s also back in history, we find that there they can give back to the city its remember that the most ambitious was a period when the city was lost sensitivity. They still have programme of providing affordable sensitive, hummed with a desire to some presence in the city. And if the housing was led by Mrinal Gore contribute to the freedom movement communists can give up their end and by Baburao Samant, products and support progressive causes. justifies the means philosophy and of socialist movement. And the And that period was when the Left decide to work with socialists as also consumer cooperatives in Mumbai was active, under the influence of the activists, the task will be easy. were mostly organized by the Marx on the one hand and Gandhiji The trade union movement, despite socialists. on the other. The city can do with the in-roads by the Shiv Sena and the reclaiming of that period when the BJP, is still largely with the two. –GGP JANATA, September 1, 2013 7

Book Review Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy-A Legend!

R. J. Kochar

Tarimela Nagireddy Memorial the Directive Principles on par with are of little practical value and have Trust has done a great service to all the Fundamental Rights which no meaning to the hungry and the those who loved Justice Chinnappa were sacrosanct for those who were homeless”. Throughout his career Reddy as a great socialist jurist of traditionally wedded to the letter of as a judge he had placed the chapter this country, by handing over to the law and were never willing to IV “The Directive Principles of State them this collection of his speeches depart from the known lanes of the Policy” on the highest pedestal of the delivered during the tenure as a law and never dared to look beyond. Constitution on par with the chapter Judge of the . These eminent Marxist Judges III. Though constitutionally not His speeches unequivocally reflect have woven a very fine fabric of justiciable, Justice Reddy indirectly that he was a socialist personified. constitutional socialism judicially made them justiciable through his He spoke and wrote throughout to avert a “Red Revolution”. Our judgments, wisdom of which was his life on and about constitutional apparatus, however, has failed to never questioned but, to the contrary socialism. Like a democratic socialist reap the fruits! they have become precedents to be he never advocated violence and followed forever! unconstitutional methods to achieve Anyone who wants to study the the goal of socialism which was very subject of constitutional socialism This collection has 22 chapters dear to him. Not only in his speeches must read this book to learn various and each of the speeches of the but also in every judgment rendered facets of socialism. Justice Reddy learned judge is so illuminative for a by him he fearlessly spoke and wrote as a judge had progressed towards student of law. It is an extraordinarily in the interest of the poor and the his aim of new jurisprudence in the analytical and intellectually downtrodden of India in his ceaseless context of law and social change unparalleled volume. Justice Redddy efforts to wipe out “every tear from through constitutional methods. He has exposited in his own uniquely every eye.” He had expanded the has lucidly explained how humanism original style the New Jurisprudence horizons of the chapters III and IV and socialism are the integral parts Law and Social change, Judicial of the Constitution towards the goal of our Constitution. Justice Reddy process and Social change and the of welfare of the people. It is our has specifically mentioned that, Socialism under the Constitution: good fortune that our Constitution “Legislators, lawyers and judges Promise and performance. There are was nursed and nurtured by eminent are showing an increased awareness many other speeches dealing with jurists who had always cherished of law as an instrument of social the subjects with great insight. No in their hearts the highest aim of change.” He has further candidly better tribute can be given to Justice social justice incarnated in the noted that the Fundamental Rights Reddy than in the words of his Constitution. It was Justice P. B. are primarily meant to protect brother Judge, Justice Krishna Iyer Gajendragadkar who dared to initiate individuals against arbitrary State whom I regard as a Bhishmacharya to talk about social justice, its theory action intended to foster the ideal in the field of law and justice, who and practice, through his bold, lucid of a political democracy and to says as under: “ I have yet to see a and very learned judgments from the prevent authoritarian rule. The greater leftist on the Bench of the Apex Court to spin the philosophy of learned Judge, however, was also Supreme Court ho truly represented constitutional socialism and plough conscious of the hard reality in our de facto, not verbally, a Socialist them judicially. He was followed by society. Once he noted that “… Secular Democratic Republic of far more outspoken Marxist judges several of these Fundamental Rights India. “I wish this book is read, like Justice Krishna Iyer, Justice are ordinarily capable of enjoyment studied and followed in its true spirit D. A. Desai and Justice Chinnappa only by persons who are already by every judge of the High Court Reddy. They have virtually brought free from want and necessity. They and the Supreme Court of India. It 8 JANATA, September 1, 2013 must become a text book for every law student. Why Do ‘They’ Love Narendra Modi ?

Speeches of Justice O. Shankar Gopalakrishnan Chinnappa Reddy:A Legend A Publication of On August 14th, Narendra Modi favours (a fact that has received Tarimela Nagireddy declared that his Independence little media coverage), and the Memorial Trust, Day speech would attract as much move to render the State Lokayukta 37-3-26/1 B. M. Road, attention as that of the Prime toothless demonstrate that Gujarat is Moghalrajpuram, Vijaywada- Minister. He appears to have been no different from other major States 520 010 A. P. right. The fact that this is hardly in the country. In GDP growth rates Price Rs. 200/- unexpected should not obscure the from 2002 – 2011, Gujarat comes deeper puzzle that it hides. It is a rare fourth. This is apart from the fact (Continued from Page 5) occurrence for a state level leader to that the 2011 Human Development suddenly get so much prominence Report placed Gujarat at the eleventh and exploited over a period of time in the media, and that too for such position in human development, after 1956. One important reason a long period. Why, then, have behind Tamil Nadu, Haryana, for its backwardness appears to be powerful forces in our society – Maharashtra and Punjab. sidelining of irrigation needs of the including most of the media – chosen region. CRM Patnaik, the Cotton to endorse Modi? Why the sudden There’s the fact that the Modi of North Andhra, designed projects promotion of this particular leader regime has won three consecutive keeping the aspirations of the region at this particular time? What is it elections. But he is hardly the in view, which were later diverted that he and his regime are offering? first CM to do so; 12 others have, to industrial use for Visakhapatnam including, among serving CMs city. Farmers agitated without any Each of the standard explanations of large states, Naveen Patnaik effect. The rare Yeleru canal scam offered can easily be disposed and Tarun Gogoi (aside from, in is part of this diversion process. of. There’s the claimed “Gujarat the smaller States, Sheila Dikshit, New projects are being diverted for development model.” But even the industrial use. Manik Sarkar, Ikram Obobi Singh staunchest BJP advocates have to and Pawan Chamling). Then there’s It is difficult to know how the scrounge and dig to find a single talk of his “new ideas” and “fresh water requirements of a region were indicator in which Gujarat stands out. thinking.” Yet even a cursory evaluated beyond their legitimate In most respects, Gujarat actually glance shows that Modi’s rhetoric share. Were the needs of farmers falls in the middle. Corporates is remarkably stale. Practically every and the people of North Andhra who themselves seem to prefer other statement made by this supposedly have riparian rights over the run-off States. Maharashtra and Karnataka “remarkable administrator” is a considered in diverting 80 TMC (out of large States) have received rehash of ideas that date from water from the proposed Polavaram? more FDI; and a report by the twenty years ago. His statements Why is it the left canal is not extended “Institute for Competitiveness” on economic policy could have beyond Visakhapatnam city to reportedly also ranks Maharashtra been taken from Manmohan Singh’s sparsely irrigated areas in Chidikada, higher than Gujarat. With respect speeches in 1991. His statements on Devarapalli, Narsipatnam in Vizag to the oft-touted “success” of “secularism” are standard saffron district and the most backward parts electrification, the 2011 Census rhetoric which we have heard since of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam? reports that fifteen other States the 1980s. On anything other than If gravity is an issue, are they have a higher rate of electrified ‘development’ and Hindutva, he has not pumping for others? Has the households than Gujarat – including nothing to say at all. leadership of the region ever brought Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, the issues before the administration Kerala and Punjab. In terms of So what exactly is the appeal of or are they overpowered by migrants “clean and effective administration”, the Modi brand? Of course, there (mis/un) representing the demands the CAG has twice indicted the is one (and indeed only one) point of local people? Gujarat government for providing that does distinguish the Modi JANATA, September 1, 2013 9 regime: the 2002 massacres. No or endorsement from any major Secondly, this weakness has other leader so openly represents political force. Indeed, most such led to a continual search by the the politics of pogrom and killing. “reforms” have been implemented “reformist” forces – and their real Hence some suspect that all this talk by ‘stealth’ – complex notifications backers, finance and big capital – of development is just a smokescreen outside the public eye, efforts to to find a political force that could for promoting fascist politics. There bypass Parliament, MoUs signed guarantee them enough popular is no doubt that those who support with bureaucrats, or quiet policy support to confront their opponents. Modi, at the very least, do not changes whose implications only Both before and after 1991, one such particularly object to 2002. Nowhere come to light later. This is in sharp effort led to an increasing alliance was this clearer than in the reactions contrast to many other countries that with the saffron forces, culminating to his “puppy” remark; after this have followed this pathway, such in the NDAs’rise to power in 1998. equation of organised slaughter as the Latin American countries in Notwithstanding their occasional with roadkill, two major English the 1980s and 1990s, Britain under rhetorical hostility, big capital and its newspapers (The Times of India, Thatcher or the United States under reformist allies have a lot of common July 15; Indian Express, July 16) Reagan. In India, in most cases where ground with the Hindutva forces. ran lead editorials advising Modi the reformists have had to confront Both believe in a “strong state” and to improve his “communications an organised group, they have lost are keen supporters of the police and strategy,” making it clear that they the open confrontation. Examples the military; both believe that society not only have no problem with his include the dilution of labour laws, needs to be “depoliticised”, which attitude to mass murder, but that withdrawing the PDS, etc., all of in practice means that all forms of they regard themselves as part of his which have – for them – only been protest against power should be crushed; both are inherently hostile campaign team. partly achieved (as compared to the to collective politics, especially class open demolition that they desire). But it is also clear that Modi’s and caste politics. In historical terms, One of the few exceptions was the support from the powerful extends this is not surprising – around the recent liberalisation of FDI in retail, beyond those who identify with world, “reforms” have always been but in a sense it is the exception the Sangh. Several mainstream undertaken under such regimes. that proves the rule – such FDI was commentators have deliberately The 2002 pogrom worried these barred in 1997, after the start of tried to claim that Modi is “moving forces insofar as it damaged India’s away” from Hindutva, and he draws “reforms”, and it has taken sixteen international image (hence the support from a whole spectrum of years for the reformists to reverse continued obsession with any and forces not known for any strong that decision. every international visitor to Modi); allegiance to anti-minority hate but as long as such open violence and This political weakness has had politics. The Modi phenomenon, “vulgar expressions” of Hindutva in this sense, goes well beyond two consequences. Firstly, it has were combined with lip service to hatred alone. To understand where lent Indian “reforms” a particularly secularism, they were quite happy this originates, we need to look avaricious and corrupt quality, to support the NDA, and expected beyond Modi as an individual and especially over the past ten years, that Hindu chauvinism (with understand the background of the when their weakness became more accompanying authoritarianism) forces that have seen fit to make him clear. Whether the SEZ Act, the would provide the stable popular their face. liberalisation of mining regulations, support base that they had so long the changes in gas prices, or the lacked. In turn, the Hindutva brigade After 1991, the Indian polity dilution of environment and forest toned down some of their rhetoric has been characterised by a curious clearances, most of the recent in the English speaking sphere and contradiction. On the one hand, every “reforms” have been aimed at embraced “reforms” wholeheartedly, political party in government has, to a little more than making it easier culminating in the “India Shining” greater or lesser extent, implemented for certain corporates to grab more slogan (these issues are discussed policies that have favoured big natural resources and/or pre-existing in more detail here). business and the financial sector. value (often by simply making it Yet, at the same time, these policies easier to evade the law). Broader But then came the 2004 election have had no consistent support “policy reforms” have been rare. defeat – which shocked many of 10 JANATA, September 1, 2013 the same media outlets who are not a social measure at all but an is the model that the “reformists” today promoting Modi. The NDA attempt to destroy public provision no longer want. Hence the fact experiment had failed to deliver through the back door (and in that practically every “reformist” what it promised. The Congress- any case is practically certain to intellectual – from Bibek Debroy to led UPA then attempted another be an implementation disaster). – has embraced experiment, “liberalisation with a Meanwhile, the UPA faces a growing the non-existent ‘Gujarat model.’ human face”, in which they tried to wave of popular anger and resistance, Modi’s appeal is one of default; address a few issues of social conflict ranging from struggles against he brings nothing new to the table, while trying to ensure that such resource grabbing to wildcat strikes but there’s no one else left. It is this measures did not threaten the core by industrial workers and riots bankruptcy which comes through interests of the corporates and the over power cuts and inflation. In a in the vacuity of the Modi rhetoric. financiers. The presence of the Left classic sign of a government facing also restrained the government, in a crisis of legitimacy, practically the An NDA / Modi victory, one the process saving the Congress from only response it is now capable of should note, is not the sole point itself. Thus we had a government deploying is repression. of this campaign. The promotion that simultaneously passed the of the NDA formula, through the Employment Guarantee Act and As a result, the UPA’s defeat praise for Modi, is already working the SEZ Act; that carried out the in 2014 now appears quite likely, in terms of setting the terms of the coal scam and a skyrocketing rate and in any case it is unable to do debate and continually discrediting of forest and land grabbing even what its corporate sponsors want it and lambasting the ‘UPA model.’ as it passed the Forest Rights Act; to do. It hence represents another The rightward shift of the UPA, now that granted loan waivers to farmers failed experiment. This presents a daily affair, shows that whatever even as it continued with policies the corporates and financiers with little political space existed is being that made farming unviable. This a dilemma. With no alternative closed. In this sense these forces are precarious Janus-faced policy politics in sight, and with their already achieving their goals. This secured the 2009 election, but by heavy influence over the media, is not a contest over Modi vs Rahul then the UPA had already had the they continue to dictate the political or BJP vs Congress – it is a contest rug pulled from under it by the 2008 agenda. But they are now morally over political discourse, which they global financial crisis. and intellectually bankrupt. After are currently winning. seeking saviours in everyone from Now, desperate to maintain Vajpayee to Manmohan Singh to There is of course a good chance their profits after the collapse of (even) Anna Hazare, they have run that the NDA may actually come international finance and capital out of ideas. They have nothing to back, either in 2014 or following inflows, the big capitalists became offer to the majority of India, and in the collapse of an interim regime. intolerant of even the slightest gesture this time of financial crisis, they are Ironically, though, Rahul Gandhi that did not directly cater to their own not even willing to try; even by the is right about one point – it is interests. As the Mint newspaper historically low standards of Indian extremely unlikely that a new NDA, editorialised, “India does not need business, their myopia and venality or indeed any regime, will be able to democracy that does not deliver is extreme. The only thing left for fulfill the hopes of corporate India. growth” (April 1, 2013). The second them is to seek a repeat of the NDA For the pre 2008 heyday of global UPA term has been characterised formula, while imagining that for finance is not coming back, and by corporate scam after corporate some reason, this time, it will work. hence the short-sightedness of big scam, howls of “policy paralysis”, capitalists will continue, preventing and the undercutting of the UPA’s And there is only one regime in the new government from doing own political selling points. Indeed, India which still speaks the language anything concrete socially. But no after five years in power, the only of the NDA at all. Practically every regime can hope to win long term things the UPA has to advertise are other leader/government, including popular support unless it does so. a Food Security Act that provides Modi’s BJP rivals, has adopted the The political vacuum of Gujarat and less than what several major States UPA’s formula – appease the big its long history of social domination have already guaranteed, and capitalists while providing some kind do not exist at the national level, and ‘direct benefit transfer’, which is of social welfare scheme too. This (Continued on Page 15) JANATA, September 1, 2013 11 Amartya Sen Making Waves Jawaharlal Jasthi

It is not necessary to remind Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan had to carry on with all that. Is the that Amartya Sen is an outstanding and Korea along with developed ‘survival in office’ so vital for him? economist with original countries like Singapore and also What could be the reaction of an contributions as it is already China – which have adopted his honest man in such a situation? acknowledged in the form of a Nobel way of development and succeeded. Prize. In addition, he is also a proud Those states began with “education Amartya Sen admits that, when Indian and rightly a Bharat Ratna. and health care right away without India is compared with other BRIC Recently he came to India to launch waiting for you to become rich and other emerging economies, the his new book “An Uncertain Glory : and then on top of that, strengthen differences are glaring. “China may India and its Contradictions”. While those investments further by later have more inequality, but you don’t in India, he made some political ploughing in the resources that rapid have a situation where children don’t statements that made waves and growth generated.” Obviously, it is have a school to go to, where people started controversy. the model suggested by Amartya don’t have descent healthcare or a Sen. India failed to adopt it and toilet near their homes or greatly In his interviews he made failed in development. But Amartya undernourished rural children.” categorical statements that “despite Sen refuses to say that clearly and By saying so, Sen has indirectly great success in many areas over the offers excuses on behalf of his admitted that all those situations are last two decades, the fact is that India revered friend. now prevailing in India in spite of a is in a dreadful state.” Perhaps, that decade of rule by his ‘old and close may be the theme of his new book as In the 1990sManmohan had friend’. But, he refuses to put the well. It is a fact that the government an excuse – supplied by Amartya blame on him even if he happens to of India is harping too much on Sen – for his failure to do what be the head of government. economic growth as an indicator he wanted to do. He might not of economic health and success of have got clearance from his Prime At the same time he is anxious to their policies. Even when the rate Minister, he said. That, in spite of find fault with Narendra Modi and of growth is falling they are trying P.V.’s reputation to have given free brands him as a divisive force and to maintain that the economy is hand to his finance minister. But in not fit to be the Prime Minister of a strong enough not to worry. Still they 2004 Manmohan Singh has himself democratic country like India. It is continue to insist that the rate is quite become the Prime Minister. Still true. NaMo is divisive, aggressive crucial and it will improve in the near he failed to do what he claims he and self-aggrandizing. He is also future. At the same time Amartya wanted to do. Amarytya Sen offers adamant, which is a vice but his Sen states that “There seems to be an explanation:”Manmohan is not a supporters say he is decisive, which a basic lack of involvement about politician and he is surrounded by is a virtue absent in the present how growth happens.” It means coalition partners in government rulers. Amartya Sen, who has so that the government is harping on and I have often wondered, since beautifully analyzed the course of economic growth without proper he is such an old and close friend, events over the last decades, fails to understanding of the mechanics of how I would have behaved if I notice that the divisive tendency has growth. This is a comment from was surrounded by people whose started way back with the practice of the renowned economist who is support is essential to my survival in vote bank politics, which is divisive overtly friendly to the government office. So, on one side everyone is and discriminatory. It helped those in and personally to the head of the criticizing you for not doing enough power to stay in power without any government. Naturally, he refuses to and you have become an object of strain as they could do it at the cost hold the government responsible for vilification. And on the other you try of exchequer, claiming full credit for it. On the other hand he apologizes to carry on.” Sen did not say that he themselves. The entire machinery of on their behalf. might have kicked off his job in such government was directed to catch a situation. On the other hand, he vote banks with policies that have Amartya Sen cites examples of expresses sympathy for Manmohan, no economic justification. Narendra so many third world countries – his ‘old and close friend’, as he Modi is a product of those policies. 12 JANATA, September 1, 2013

He did not fall from heaven or hell. foreign investors withdrawing their That is the bankruptcy of Indian funds. It could happen in any sector intellectuals. Those who are privileged to call in which they made investments. him divisive, hesitate to call the Indigenous innovation is killed just Amartya Sen says that Narendra head of government indecisive and to keep doors open for corruption Modi is not a person fit to be the dishonest. It is during his regime through compulsory purchases from Prime Minister of this country. that the credibility of the renowned outside sources.We cannot blame the But where is a person with better Indian Institutes of Technology government for all this as they are credentials? Is the renowned is damaged. Private engineering surrounded by coalition partners. economist, Amartya Sen, the Nobel colleges were allowed to flourish Isn’t it? Every democratic institution Laureate and a Bharat Ratna, willing uncontrolled to such an extent that is ruined. Every process of decision to take up that position to save the they acquired status to dictate policy making is damaged. We don’t have country? of technical education. They are the integrity to call the spade a spade. offered reimbursement of fees on behalf of the students, so that they Citizens Conference on Purification of need not depend on students and their parents. Needless to say that they are Politics Jodhapur, 29th September 29-08-2013 making hay while the government shines. That is what they have done It was unbelievable. But it the public coffers. It is saddening to to higher education. For elementary happened. BJP-led NDA alongwith see how low the parties can stoop education, the lesser we say is better. CPM-CPI and other left parties to cheat the people and continue More than 70 per cent of elementary cooperated with the Congress- to safeguard their selfish interests. schools have no buildings. 90 per led UPA for getting two pieces of But it is no use shedding tears of cent of the schools have no benches legislation passed in the Parliament helplessness. It is the duty of the for the students to sit. On many unanimously. people to take initiative and build occasions, even secondary schools up pressure of public opinion so that students were made to sit on floor They were not about reining in the parties would be forced to undo to write examinations. There are no price-rise of essential commodities their unholy acts. drinking water facilities in schools or preventing rapes in the capital. and no toilets. That is the state of They are -1. To amend Right Socialist Party(India) has decided elementary education. Attention to to Information Act to make it to convene a citizens’ conference education is one of the fundamental inapplicable to political parties at Jodhapur (Rajsthan) on 29th requirements of economic progress and 2. To amend Representation of September 2013 to deliberate over according to Amartya Sen. Still he Peoples Act to neutralise the decision these and other related topics and did not say anything about it in his of the Supreme Court terminating adopt resolutions for further action. comments. membership of the representatives who are convicted by a law court Shri Ravikiran Jain, PUCL leader Obviously, the Prime Minister und awarded more than two years’ and leading advocate of Allahabad, wants to repay the debt of the party imprisonment and disallowing them Sandip Pandey, Jayantibhai Panchal, in power by being loyal at any cost to contest election from the jail. The Ahemadabad, social activist as they offered him the Chair even parties are not cooperating over any engaged in literacy and rural when he was not a member of the issue concerning the hardships faced uplioftment, Qurban Ali, renowned party. He allowed himself to be used by the people. They agree only to journalist of New Delhi, Vishnu by the politicians to stay in power keep all affairs of their respective Dhobale, advocate and peasant using him as a cloak. He also tried parties secret from the voters/ leader,Aurangabad and a few other to explain his inability by blaming citizens and to allow criminals leading lights will participate in the the partners in coalition. For him, belonging to them to enjoy all perks Conference. All are invited to attend reform means opening of gates for and extort illegitimate largesse from and participate in this initiative. foreign investments in defense as Convenors well as in retail shops. He expects O.P.Jaipal, President us to believe that it is reforming of Pannalal Surana, Chairman Kousar Ali Sayyad , Secretary, economy. There are reports that the Central Parliamentary Board Gujarat state Committeee fall in capital market is because of the Socialist Party(India) JANATA, September 1, 2013 13 Unlimited Freebies

T h o u g h I h a v e t o n s proposed to limit the subsided LPG government to forgo revenue of Rs of reservations about UPA’s gas cylinders to six. Subsidised 316 crore (deduction on account concern for the poor, classes who fuel on credit for aviation sector is of interest on loan taken for higher have been consistently enjoying another cruel joke. education, under Section 80E). An unlimited freebies from the state “all-route pass” given to students are least qualified to question this (3) The revenue foregone by the by state transport corporations allow food subsidy. government on ‘diamond and gold’ them to travel on any bus going stands at Rs 66,000 crore. anywhere for free or at a paltry sum. If it is a subsidy for the have- nots, condemn that as a drain on (4) As taxpayers, all of us are (7) About Rs 20000 crore subsidy the national exchequer. If it is familiar with an animal called 80C, for domestic connections each year an undeserving dole to me, it is which is the tax deduction we get is provided by state electricity incentive for nation building. What if we invest in certain products like boards. a perverse logic! mutual funds and insurance policies. All told, that revenue forgone adds (8) Subsidies to the Education An illustrative but not an up to more than Rs 30,000 crore. Sellers (Gurukuls) & Corporate exhaustive list of freebies enjoyed Add all the other implicit subsidies Health Sellers. by the parasites: like health insurance or interest on (9) Unduly subsidised education loans taken for higher education, and from high end institutions like IIT, (1) During the financial year the figure rises to almost Rs 37,000 AIMS, IISc and IIMs. 2012-13, the revenue foregone crore. A subsidy for those earning Rs (corporate IT+ excise duty+ customs 20 lakh a year. (10) Subsidised/free land, water, duty+ personal IT) in favour power, fuel and road/rail links and companies and affluent sections has (5) As much as Rs 70,000 crore is humongous tax concessions to SEZ been estimated at a whopping total lost to the exchequer in the name of and SIZ. of Rs 5.74 lakh crore. All this is for fertiliser subsidy for poor farmers. ushering in a jobless growth. Most of this money, however, (11) Subsidy to city clubs, cigar goes into the coffers of fertiliser clubs, golf clubs, BCCI, IPL, (2) The subsidy for diesel given in companies and wealthy farmers. Formula racing etc. the name of poor has been benefiting diesel car owners, telecom towers, (6) How many of us paid (12) Tax/duty concessions to diesel generators and others who do market rates to get our degrees and ultra-luxurious SUVs for tourism not merit. Or look at the hue and cry doctorates? We go abroad, pay Rs 1 industry that are grabbed by the raised by us, when the government crore for our degrees – and get the super rich. –Sankara Narayanan NGOs’ proxy war against Lokayukta Kapil Dave

Amid the startling charge by its own legal eagles, it also bore Gujarat government in this litigation. Justice (Retd) R A Mehta that huge legal expenses of NGOs who Humongously disproportionate the Narendra Modi government became co-petitioners in Supreme figure by any standard,” Mehta spent Rs 45 crore of tax-payers’ Court. wrote in his letter to the governor on money to block his appointment Wednesday conveying his withdrawal as Lokayukta, it now emerges that “Forty-five crores of public money of consent for his appointment the government not only spent on is said to have been spent by the as Lokayukta, given the hostility 14 JANATA, September 1, 2013 of the state government. A query under RTI from the department Besides, the Gujarat government under the Right to Information has of law. Records show that the also hired senior counsels Harish revealed that the government paid Gujarat government paid senior Salve, Mukul Rohatgi, Mahesh legal fees of top lawyers hired by counsels , K K Agarwal, Kamal B Trivedi, Prakash Ahmedabad-based National Council Venugopal, Mihir Thaker and Jani and Sangita Vishen. The of Civil Liberties and Dhrangadhra Bina Madhavan who were hired government hasn’t yet disclosed the Prakruti Mandal, Surendranagar, by NCCL. However, V K Saxena total payouts to advocates appointed to support the government in of NCCL said, “Sorabjee and by it and the two NGOs. It has also the Lokayukta case. The two NGOs other lawyers didn’t charge us any not disclosed the overall money became co-petitioners when the money because they were fighting spent from the state exchequer state government moved the SC for a public cause.” for fighting the Lokayukta case in after losing the battle in the Gujarat Gujarat HC and the SC. Similarly, fees of Sanjay Hegde, high court. Rajiv Dhawan, Amit Panchal and Talking to TOI, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Gopal Subramanium, who were “The documents clearly show minister of state for law, claimed that roped in by the Dhrangadhra that it is the Gujarat tax-payers’ the two NGOs paid their advocates Prakruti Mandal, were also paid money which funded the battle on their own. But when asked about by the government. TOI couldn’t fought by the two NGOs,” said the information provided by his contact representatives of the Ramesh Joshi of Kutch Ladayak department under RTI, he said, “Let NGO for their comment. Manch, who got the information me check first if this is true.”

- Times of India

On the murder of Narendra Dabholkar

We condemn the murder of perpetrators brought to justice. practices, along the lines of the Narendra Dabholkar, rationalist We also demand that threats of bill proposed by Dabholkar, has activist, in Pune on August 20. this kind to activists in future been passed by the Maharashtra While the motive for the murder are investigated promptly before cabinet on August 22. We hope is not known, he had reportedly another tragedy occurs. We ask that this ordinance, after adequate received death threats from that those whose religious beliefs debate of its provisions, will extremist elements opposed to are offended by rationalists should become law in Maharashtra, his campaign against superstition. express their views in words, and and that similar legislation Other rationalist activists such as should take the lead in condemning will be pursued in other states Sanal Edamaruku have reported violence from extremist elements — particularly in Tamil Nadu, receiving death threats. in their religion. where the rationalist movement has a long and respected history. We demand that this crime be Finally, we note that an thoroughly investigated and the ordinance on superstitious

Ramesh Anishetty, A.B. Belliappa, Madhushree Basu, Saikat Chatterjee, T.R. Govindarajan, Nirmalya Kajuri, Romesh Kaul, Ravi Kunjwal, Kamalakshya Mahatab, S.M. Meesum, Gautam Menon, Amritanshu Prasad, R. Ramanujam, P. Sankaran, Bala Sathiapalan, R. Shankar, Rahul Siddharthan, Sitabhra Sinha, K. Srinivas, V.S. Sunder, T. Vinod Kumar.

(The signatories are from The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai. These are their personal views.) JANATA, September 1, 2013 15 You are among the top

The National Sample Survey and Rs. 212.77 per day. The top 10% In urban India, spending Rs. Organisation’s newest set of the country includes anyone who 3400 per month in urban Bihar of consumption expenditure data spends over Rs. 2296 per month in would put a person into the top 5% for 2011-12 gives an insight into a rural area and Rs. 4610 per month of that State, but only the top 30% how those across the spectrum, from in an urban area. of Delhi. Conversely, 30% of urban the poorest to the richest, live in Chhattisgarh lives on a monthly different parts of India. Moreover, even though poverty per capita expenditure of Rs. 1046, rates are converging, massive inter- while less than 5% of Kerala lives at For one it’s clear that we are not State differences remain. A person that level of expenditure. talking about a rich country. An spending over Rs. 1995 per head individual who spends over Rs. would be well into the top 5% of Then there is the question of what 2,886 per month in a rural area or Rs. rural Bihar, but more than half of the rich and poor are spending their 6,383 per month in an urban area is in Kerala is spending at that level. money on; absolute spending on the top 5% of the country (and this is Similarly, spending Rs. 1710 per food rises as one climbs the income using the modified mixed reference month would put a person in rural ladder in both rural and urban period, which gives the most Jharkhand into the top 5% of her India, even as its proportion in total generous expenditure estimates). State, but over 60% of Punjab is expenditure falls. This translates to spending Rs. 96.2 spending at that level. –The Hindu (Continued from Page 10) Studies in Socialism corporate fantasies aside, such things cannot be created overnight. By It’s an old truism of politics that Ashok Mehta hysteria is a symptom of weakness, not strength. The sheer shrillness Published by of the Modi campaign reflects the Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan reformists’ sense that this might Centre for Socialist Studies- be their last chance, at least in Bangaluru this form. In order to survive, any Price Rs. 250.00 postage extra new NDA under their control will Send your order to have to rely on whipping up hatred and fascist politics, necessarily Centre for Socialist Studies combined with intense repression. 191, 10th Cross, 10th Main, NGFI Layout Nagurbani, But such politics cannot last very Bengaluru 560 072 long; history says it will collapse Bhartiya Vidya Bhuvan Munshi under its own contradictions, though Sadan Chowpatty, Mumbai 400 007 it may well extract a human cost that is disproportionate to its time in power. Madhu Dandavate By It is too early to say what will Price: Rs. 20/- follow it. That will depend on B. Vivekanandan Janata Trust Price: Rs. 20/- whether a genuine progressive or D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir revolutionary alternative emerges. Janata Trust Bharucha Marg, D-15, Ganesh Prasad, If it does, this may be a watershed Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. in Indian politics. If not, the descent Naushir Bharucha Marg, into barbarism and conflict will Grant Road (W), continue. Mumbai 400 007. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 1, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, September 1, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday September 4, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 68 No. 35 God that failed September 8, 2013 S. Viswam

The growing lobby of Narendra and killed. Vanzara himself is in Modi supporters must have been prison for alleged involvement in a Is India’s story over? jolted by the harsh indictment of chain of fake encounter cases. He Kuldip Nayar their leader by an erstwhile admirer has spent seven years in a Mumbai who sees in him a “god that has jail. He was arrested in 2007 in Spiritual unity among Telugus failed”. Indeed, the indictment comes the Sohrabuddin fake encounter K. S. Chalam as a shock to the Bharatiya Janata case and later in the Tulsiram Party which has been building up Partajapati and the Ishrat Jahan India’s Security Environment Modi’s image as a god that will cases. He says in his letter that the B. Vivekanandan' deliver all the goods for India. The Gujarat police have been staging fake country was taken aback when encounters and targeting so-called Arithmetic of Appeasement reports appeared about the alleged and alleged anti-Modi innocents as Abdul Khaliq involvement of two Rajya Sabha a matter of “conscious policy of this MPs of that party in trying to subvert government” which, he adds, “was National Food Security Bill the judicial processes in the Tulsiram inspiring, guiding, and monitoring Arun Kumar Prajapati fake encounter case in our actions at very close quarters.” Gujarat. But that allegation pales He alleges that the government into insignificance against the latest has failed to protect the police anti-Modi bombshell that exploded on officers who loyally and faithfully Dr Raghuvansh Tuesday, September 3, in Ahmedabad. implemented the conscious policy. On that day, the suspended and Vanzara blames Guajart’s former junior imprisoned former DIG of Gujarat minister and Modi’s close associate, Police D. G. Vanzara resigned from for implementing government policy. the IPS and made some disclosures Shah is a general secretary of the BJP Editor : in a 10-page letter which is anything and is now in charge of the party’s G. G. Parikh but flattering of Modi. It indirectly electoral campaign in Uttar Pradesh. substantiates many of the allegations Vanzara says in effect that Shah has Managing Editor : Guddi of commission and omission against influenced the government policy in D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Modi, his bureaucracy and his anti- such a way that the cause of the police Naushir Bharucha Marg, terrorism policy. Modi’s supporters officers has remained neglected and Mumbai - 400 007. and the BJP and indeed, the entire ignored. Shah’s actions have been saffron lobby maintain that the so “nauseating”, he says, that they government’s hands are clean and may take this government to the Email : [email protected] innocents are not dubbed terrorists (Continued on Page 16) 2 JANATA, September 8, 2013

Between the lines Is India’s story over? Kuldip Nayar

That India is an economic mess Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to book but he could not because he is known all over the world. What did not anticipate the repercussions. is politically weak. His other fault is not yet public is that the malaise In fact, after seeing the mess was that he depended too much was because of the wrong decisions Chidambaram had created in 2008, on Mukherejee and put him as the which President Pranab Mukherejee the Prime Minister should have chairman of several committees took when he was the Union Finance taken over the finance ministry of Group of Ministers, entrusted Minister from January 2009 to himself because of his expertise in with the task of finding solutions to mid-2012. The current Minister economic matters. Unfortunately, his intractable problems. Unfortunately, P. Chidambaram was heading the own record as Coal Minister does not Mukherjee had no time for his own ministry nearly till the end of 2008 hold promise but the Prime Minister ministry and the situation began and even earlier. would have done better in finance. deteriorating.

Mukherjee lives in the luxuries India should have been exporting The crisis has been aggravated of Rashtrapati Bhavan and coal, as it did, instead of importing by the galloping inflation (10 per Chidambaram shields himself it. Manmohan Singh may not be cent). An average person’s income behind tall promises he still makes to personally responsible for the has remained what it was even as mend the economy. Both of them are corruption in the allotment of coal his expense has gone up because accountable. They should tell why blocks. But the bungling runs into of the ever-increasing price of they took the steps which disturbed thousands of crores of rupees. The essential commodities. His cost of the rhythm of progress. Because of full story may not yet come out living would have been still higher lack of transparency in the affairs because some files are missing. The if the government was not subsiding of government, only a handful of government has admitted this before petrol, diesel, cooking gas and the people know about the blunders the the Supreme Court. The government like. According to IMF, the 20 per two committed. uses the word “so-called files”. cent of the top in India enjoys more According to the CBI as many as subsidies than the 20 per cent below. One of the decisions taken by 157 files are missing. The missing Mukherjee was to impose the Rs. files reportedly have some letters The elite are too powerful to 1200-crore tax with retrospective and notings on the allotment of coal be touched. Top business houses effect on a foreign mobile company. blocks. The Prime minister cannot finance many MPs who see to After having lost the case in the absolve himself of the responsibility it that no harm comes to their Supreme Court on September 8, saying that he was not the custodian houses. Lok Sabha elections are 2010, the government promulgated of the files. He was in charge of the due in 10 months’ time. On an an ordinance before amending the coal portfolio. A top CBI official, average, a Lok Sabha seat requires Finance Act 2012. The retrospective who is probing into the scandal, an expenditure of Rs. 10 crore. clause in the act has scared away has said that there may be a need to The political parties are already foreign investment which India “examine” Prime Minister, who was in touch with the business houses badly needs. A bagful of concessions in charge of the ministry from 2006 for funds. How can they challenge has not brought the Walmart yet to to 2009. Could the Prime Minister them for their malpractices? This is the Indian soil. Foreign investors have connived at what the ministry confirmed by the unanimity among have withdrawn a large sum of had been doing because his personal all parties in staving off the Chief money which they had invested. In integrity is beyond reproach? Information Commissioner’s ruling a few weeks, as much $200 billion that the RTI (right to information) have reportedly gone out. The The Prime Minister could have will be applicable to the working of outflow has not stopped yet. done something to bring the culprits political parties. JANATA, September 8, 2013 3

Yet the immediate problem is how to get over the present financial Spiritual unity among Telugu people crisis. The Prime Minister has himself admitted in Parliament that K. S. Chalam “the country is facing a difficult time”. It can justifiably be argued Spirituality as a transcendental unconsciously dents the character that the bungling is because of the dimension of human experience is of the youngsters to make them government. There is no governance, precursor of organised religion. It be comfortable in the foreign no leadership and no guidance. I do was recorded or carried on as an language rather than in Telugu. not know what reforms the Prime oral tradition in different societies The recent upsurge of so-called Minister has in mind. He has to till very recently. However, there Telugu cultural extravaganza can reformulate economic policies are still groups and individuals be contrasted with the Bengali or so that there are employment who consider their understanding Tamil or Sindhi assemblages which opportunities, essential goods are of spirituality to be superior over are more secular and essentially cheap and the growth rate, now back others’. On the other hand, the distinct culture-specific. For, the to the Hindu growth rate of 4 per concept of spirit is used in ordinary present geographical location of cent in the ’50s and ’60s, picks up. parlance to signify the essence of Telugu state is unique in the entire Manufacturing is stuck at a mere 3 thought or metaphysically refer to country perhaps indicating the per cent and a bit of increase is not soul or occult experience. Keeping ubiquitous nature of a vast Telugu even a flash in the pan. the spirit of the matter, I wanted land unlike our brethren who have I wish there had been fresh to cultivate the concept of Telugu limited territory. It is our narrow elections, as I had argued three spirituality and mooted the idea with mind-set that limited our immensity months ago. The uncertainty which a friend. He immediately retorted by withdrawing from our claims puts off investors would have been saying that I was not qualified to do over our expansive Telugu history over by now and the people would so as I am a teetotaller and do not and culture beyond the borders of also have settled down to a new believe in spirits! our country in the past and also in elected government. But MPs of the contemporary world. However, most political parties, particularly There is no harm in hypothesising it is time that an effort is made those of the Congress, want to enjoy that Telugus are the original people to bring the distinctive Telugu the full tenure of five years. Many of India and in all probability due culture as a universal category and of them know that they may not be to its vastness (from BrahuiSindhu- not to be bothered about narrow reelected. Ganges and Kaveri), the language specifics. This may be possible might be the proto-Dravidian by attempting to bring out the The anxiety over political scene language (linguists may differ). spiritual unity among the Telugu is casting a shadow on the future. A hypothetical statement is a people. We have witnessed the spirit Unless there is a sweep by one party, precondition for any enquiry on (religious) recently in the queues which does not seem likely, the next scientific basis to falsify. The before temples in all parts of the government will also be a coalition. above is only a protocol statement state; seeking blessings ( of the It may not be in a position to take that can be revised once proved same gods) to keep the state united hard decisions which India needs to contrary to another based on facts or bifurcated. overcome the deepening crisis. That and evidence. But, it is unusual the political parties should have the to find that every dominant caste Different tongues close to Telugu consensus on basics goes without in the state claims (in its caste are spoken in the East from Gangetic saying. But this may not be possible chronicles) that it has migrated plains, Tamralipti, Mahanadi, before elections. But that is what the from somewhere in the North or Khandamaland and in other places country needs whether it happens Rajasthan or UP or extreme South that have not been studied so far now or later. May be, I am on the and none from the Telugu soil. It according to Balasubrhamanyam wrong track. Probably, the story of seems the stigma is carried from (Odisha civil servant). It may be due India looks like over, at least for generation to generation and at to the prejudice of some scholars/ years to come. the time of outmigration, this pundits that Telugu does not exist 4 JANATA, September 8, 2013 beyond Godavari (restricting it to lord Venkateswara attracting more three years is equal to the total three districts). It is surmised that devotees and Anantpadmanabha number of devotees assembling the aliens after reaching Ganga becoming obsolete, initiated at (with all the comforts of travel found that it was formidable to Ayyappa to get more Telugu biddas and accommodation) our national cross Dandaka where most of the around. We have now branches deity in a year. Interestingly, there so-called Dravidian languages were in Delhi, Mumbai and places is a parallel system of spirituality spoken. They approached the South wherever our Telugus moved among the ordinary people called through the East Coast crossing out. Thus, Telugu culture and as little tradition (mischievously Mahendragiri and built Arasavilli in pride are intimately twined with by the missionaries with the Srikakulam district (2nd century BCE our spirituality or patronage of a support of local clerics) that and rebuilt by Devendra Varma), particular branch of dominant Hindu is uniform and universal in all the first Sun temple to record their faith. The Muslim and Christian parts of Telugu country. They entry in to dakshinapath. The minority communities are internally are the local or village deities lord Narasimha of Simhachalam differentiated, but externally appear as Gangamma in Rayalaseema, (much senior to Tirupati) later to be identical in the Telugu land. Mysamma, Yellamma, Pochammain crossed Godavari and entered There are different categories of Telangana, Pydithalli, Neelamani, Dhramapuri in Telangana and heretics from the time of Ajvikas, Nookalu in North Andhra, Durga, helped the cult of Yadagiri. Without Tantriks, Lokayatas, etc. who Kanyakaparameswari in coastal entering into the controversy of how seemed to have lost their support Andhra. Remarkably, there seems Vaishnavism became popular in base. The materialist world view to be no competition among the the South through Telugu country, popularised by the Left is uniformly peoples’ Godesses and tyhey do one could see the contribution of spread in the state. The rationalist not bother about huge and elaborate Telugu Alwars, pundits and poets movement in Andhra spread during rituals and are happy with the local influencing the religious world view the time of Tripuraneni, Gora, low caste person officiating as a of common man. Royists and Lohiaites but now has Priest till it gets sufficient income taken a backseat due to the younger to attract others. This is unique to The transition from Buddhism generation evincing more interest Telugu people and seems to be not to Vaishnavism (marginalising in dollars than in Telugu identity. found in our neighbouring states Shaivism) seemed to be total It is noted with dismay that none where VeeraShivism, Muruga and by the time Krishna Devaraya of the prominent leaders in the state Subrahamnyam cults adopted to ushered in Telugu (Tulu) land. condemned the heinous murder of the dominant faith. We have as The elite of the Telugus with the rationalist movement leader Dr a particular language speakers the support of the British India Dhabolkar in Maharastra. It shows with uniform culture remained officers established systematic and that Andhra and Telugu people are uninterrupted and enriched our uniform methods of worship (with not interested in mundane issues common traditions of spirituality. compromises between pancharatra but only in spiritual activities like and vaikhanasa) in all parts of chardham yatra. The exuberance of Telugu the state. Bhadrachalam built by spirituality endured similar rituals Kancharla Gopanna in 1630AD was The spirituality thus obtained and practices all over with marginal regularised by the Muslim Tanisha appears to be very constricted differences. Interestingly, there later. Similarly, all the regions of compared to the size of the Telugu are around 500 temples (mostly Telugu country were brought under speakers in the world. What is Vaishnava and no village deities) the sway of Sri Venkateswara or his projected and explained here is in USA with Telugu speaking modern avatars in different forms. only of the elite and the literate Tamilians or Tamil speaking In fact, Maharashtrians used to jeer who have traditions of going to Telugus conducting rituals. Thus, the Telugu folk for converting Saibu temple or places of worship at we have our Telugu pride carried (Muslim) as Saibaba in Shirdi and regular intervals. But, majority of far and wide through the notion of his avatar as Satya Sai Baba which the non-traditional communities spiritual unity. Is Telugu spirituality is a creative skill of our own people. like the Adivasis who gather at not adequate to fix all the Telugu It is said that the astute Malayalee Sammakka and Saralamma (mostly speakers under one shade of unity who found the popularity of our Telugu speakers) once in two or with administrative diversity? JANATA, September 8, 2013 5 India’s Security Environment Today*

B. Vivekanandan

Key determinants of India’s Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Initial Critical Follies security environment are the Sri Lanka. Now, of late, that role After India gained independence nature of relationship New Delhi is getting extended to some of the in 1947, the thoughtful policies maintains with its immediate seven strategically located Indian Ocean which Britain had pursued to ensure neighbouring countries, with which Islands too. India’s security, were conspicuous India shares its 15,000 Kms land by their absence. During the first border, and the state of affairs in the Keeping in view the expansionist decade of India’s independence, Indian ocean, which washes India’s trait of the Chinese psyche, through the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal 5,600 Kms long coast line. Of out the British rule in India, Britain Nehru had taken a few thoughtless these seven countries six constitute never allowed China to have a personal decisions, after ignoring the Indian sub-continent, which common border with India, and kept the considered views and advises otherwise is called South Asia. In the independent Tibet as a buffer given to him by his able colleagues South Asia, and in the Indian Ocean, state between India and China. After and advisers, which had put India geo-politics has placed India in a Tibet’s declaraton of independence into an insecure track since then. pivotal position. The six countries in 1911, Tibet’s positions as an As a result, futile and costly wars of South Asia have many common antonomous state between China were fought, without solving any features, a common culture and and India was recognized under the of the issues involved. Costly heritage, and during the British rule, Simla conference of 1914, in which diplomatic exercises are still going they together constituted a single India, China and Tibet participated on to undo the damages done by national entity and had enjoyed the as equal participants. Although those thoughtless decisions of the lofty position of the “brightest jewel Chinese suzerainty over Tibet was first Prime Minister. Those costly of the British empire”. They now also recognized, Tibet was declared personal decisions of Jawaharlal remain divided by somewhat porous antonomous and totally free of the Nehru were: international boundaries. control of the Chinese government in both civil and military matters. 1. When the ‘tribesmen’ from The China Factor Notably, the Chinese delegate at the the North-West of Pakistan invaded The only neighbour of India with Simla conference initialled the map Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in which India has no commonality showing the agreed boundary line, October 1947, followed by J&K’s of any kind, but with which India now known as the McMahon Line, accession to the Indian Union on shares 4000 kms of its borders since demarcating the border between 26 October 1947, on a request from 1954, is People’s Republic of China. India and Tibet, though the Chinese Maharaja Hari Singh of J&K the China’s geo-political and geo- Government had not ratified the Indian army, under the command strategic positions in Asia, cultural agreement. However, since 1911, of Major General Kalwant Singh, traditions, and expansionist psyche, Britain preserved Tibet as the buffer started operations against the tribal places it in an adversary position with state between India and China invaders in Kashmir. At a critical India in Asia. That basic dichotomy and kept the British India – the stage in May 1948, when the Indian between them keeps surfacing and present South Asia – insulated from army was successfully engaged in asserting again and again in their the expansionist track of China. clearing off all intruders from the bilateral relationship. It drives As the Royal Indian Navy also whole of Kashmir, including from China to indulge in playing a very maintained its dominance in the the present Azad Kashmir, Nehru active negative role, with impunity, Indian Ocean, India’s security was personally intervened and stopped to vitiate India’s relations with its never challenged either from its land the Indian army from completing immediate neighbours, like Pakistan, border or from the Indian Ocean. their task and created a cease- * Paper presented at the national seminar on “India’s Security Scenario: The Challenge and the Response”, jointly organised by the Y.B. Chavan Centre, and the Centre for International Strategic and Development Studies (CISDS), Mumbai, on 16 February 2013. It will be published later in a forthcoming book. 6 JANATA, September 8, 2013 fire line with in Kashmir. Nehru’s between, in a communication to of McMahon Line should have intervention came at a time when the China drafted by an Indian official, been part of the Treaty between Indian army was just 18 miles away who did not know the difference India and China on Tibet signed from Muzaffarabad and without between the words ‘Suzerainty’ in 1954. Afterall, in the ultimate facing any opposition from the other and ‘Sovereignty’ in international analysis, for India the prime issue side. Indeed, by seeing the Indian law, used the term ‘Sovereignty’ to be settled in the relationship army, the Pakistani irregulars ran instead of ‘Suzerainty’, of China between India and China was the out from Kashmir to the other side over Tibet. China quoted that question of India’s northern borders, of Pakistan’s international border. communication later to iterate that which, with the movement of China Drawing attention to this ground India had already accepted China’s into Tibet, became a 4000 km long reality Major Gen Kalwant Singh sovereignty over Tibet. It meant border between India and China. requested Jawaharlal Nehru to allow that, for India, the hither to 4000 Therefore, it was imperative that him to continue the operation for five kms Indo-Tibetan border, based on during the negotiations on Tibet more days so that the Indian army the McMahon Line, would instantly between India and China, India would scale up the difficult terrain become the Sino-Indian border – a should have sought fresh acceptance in the rest of Kashmir and reach border sharing with an expansionist of India’s border with China as part Pakistan’s international boundary. country. Jawaharlal Nehru and of a general settlement in the treaty. But, Nehru rejected Kalwant Singh’s senior officials of the Government This was not done due to Nehru’s request and, to the big surprise of of India were aware that, although personal insistence. Thus, he sowed Pakistani intruders, the Indian army at the Simla Conference in 1914 the seed of a very costly territorial voluntarily stopped the operation China’s representative had signed dispute between India and China. and stood on a line in the middle of the map showing the McMahon It also redefined India’s security Kashmir. On seeing this unexpected Line as the Indo-Tibetan border, the environment. development, the Pakistani intruders, Chinese government had not ratified who earlier ran out to the other side Subsequently, when the Chinese that agreement signed its own of the international border with Prime Minister Chou-en-Lai, representative at the Conference. Pakistan, re-entered Kashmir and came to Delhi in 1960 to discuss So, senior Indian officials, like formed a parallel line and created a the border question, during their Girija Shankar Bajpai, K.P.S Menon cease-fire line, or the present line of meeting Nehru, who did not do and T.N. Kaul, wanted that the control (LOC), in Kashmir. If Nehru his homework, bungled and the recognition of the McMahon Line gave five more days to Kalwant Chinese Prime minister was given by China should be made part of Singh to continue his operation in the impression that the Indian Prime the valley, there would have been the general settlement between India Minister was unsure about India’s no Kashmir problem at all today to and China on Tibet, and that India border in the Ladakh region. It bedevil India’s security relationship should not withdraw its military encouraged Chou-en-lai to send the with Pakistan. personnel from Gyantse and Yatung Chinese troops later to occupy Aksai without securing that recognition. Chin in Jammu and Kashmir. 2. Jawaharlal Nehru overlooked But Nehru rejected all these advises the implications of the Chinese and refused permission to put the 3. In 1955, on the occasion of the occupation of Tibet, in 1950, status of McMahon Line, as the 10th anniversary of the founding of to India’s national security, and border between India and China, as the United Nations, United States thoughtlessly conceded China’s an item on the agenda of discussion proposed that India should take sovereignty on Tibet, without between the two countries, which the permanent Asian sent in the even asking the Chinese to clarify went on for 3 years. He contented UN Security Council, which was Peking’s position regarding the that the borders between India then occupied by Taiwan. That status of the McMahon Line as the and China were “wellknown” and proposal provided India with a border between India and Tibet. beyond dispute. This unilateral golden opportunity to occupy a It may be recalled that following assertion of Nehru, without verifying pivotal position in the world body. the Chinese invasion of Tibet in what the new Communist regime in But to the surprise of everybody, 1950, talks were held between China thought about it, was a crucial including of the United States, in India and China over Tibet between folly, which proved very costly for an act of self-denial, Prime Minister 1951 and 1954. Reportedly, in- India since then. The future status Jawaharlal Nehru rejected that offer JANATA, September 8, 2013 7 infavour of the People’s Republic of power – after the United States, Nehru could be called an architect of China, which was not even a member Britain and the Soviet Union, to modern India, he could also be called of the UN at that time. He wanted have nuclear weapons long before the architect of India’s insecurity. All that the permanent seat in the UN France and China, which conducted subsequent efforts to rectify those Security Council should be reserved their first nuclear tests in 1960 and architectural defect have been futile. for China when it would became 1964 respectively. Therefore, when a member of the world body. This the nuclear non–proliferation treaty Indian Ocean Dimension personal decision of Nehru again had (NPT) was finalised in 1968, the India’s security enviornment tremendous adverse implications treaty gave legal nuclear weapon is partly defined by the security for India’s future security and state status only to those countries situation in the Indian Ocean. During diplomatic leverage in the world. which had conducted nuclear tests the British colonial rule in India, the China became a UN member only before April 1968. As a result, while Indian Ocean was made virtually in 1971, sixteen years later, and China got recognition as a nuclear a British lake. Barring a minor instantly it became a permanent weapon state, with the right to passage through the Indonesian member of the UN Security Council, make, refine and stockpile nuclear archipelage, the Royal Indian Navy with all privileges attached to it. weapons, India remained in the controlled all entry points of the It had suddenly enhanced China’s anteroom with the status of a non– Indian Ocean – the Suez Canal, the diplomatic leverage in world politics nuclear weapon state. The reason Cape of Goodhope, Singapore and and in Asian politics. It is pathetic for India’s lower status vis-a-vis the passages around Australia. The to see India today knocking at the China, under the NPT, is again due only occasion in which this British door of China seeking its support to Jawaharlal Nehru’s decision not supremacy was challenged occurred to join the UN Security Council as to permit Homi J Bhabha to conduct in 1942 when Britain temporarily a permanent member. But, China India’s first nuclear test in 1957. lost Singapore to Japan during the firmly opposes India’s move. If a Second World War. question is asked, who had gifted “Buddha smiled” in Pokhran only India’s independence in 1947 did this prowess to China, in a platter, in May 1974. But so far India has not bring much change in the British for using it today against India, not been recognized as a nuclear dominance of the Indian Ocean. the answer is: none other than weapon state. That recognition Britain maintained its dominance Jawaharlal Nehru. Thanks to Nehru’s would require an amendment to the with a reduced size of the Royal generosity, braving firm oppositional NPT, shifting the cut–off date of Navy, until, in a bid to reduce public from China, India is still moving nuclear testing from April 1968 to a expenditure, the British Government from pillar to post to become a date after May 1974. But China and came out with an announcement in permanent member of the UN US are opposing any amendment to January 1968, that Britain would Security Council. This inequality that effect, and want India to sign the withdraw its forces from the East of of status between India and China NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state, Suez by the end of 1971. has put India in a permanently and roll back its nuclear programme, disadvantageous position vis-a-vis which will be disasterous for India. Although the Indian Ocean China on security matters. Such an action would tantamount the is rightly named after India, coronation of China as the hegemon independent India did not pay much 4. In 1957, India’s nuclear of Asia’, which India can never attention to build up a strong naval scientist Homi J Bhabha sought accept. force to safeguard its long-term Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s security interests. More attention permission to conduct India’s first Taken together, all these personal was paid to build up its Army and Air nuclear test, for which Bhabha was decisions of Prime Minister force. But, in early 1970s, India was ready. He was also ready to make Jawaharlal Nehru in the first decade provided with a great opportunity Hiroshima type atom bombs at the of India’s independence have put to start building a world class blue- cost of Rs 5 lakhs per bomb. But, India’s long-term security interests water navy. But the Indian leadership here again, Nehru refused to give in jeopardy. The country has paid a had wasted it. permission to Bhabha. If Bhabha heavy price, in terms of human lives was given the permission to do and resources, for all these follies The British Offer the nuclear test at that time, India of Jawaharlal Nehru. It makes one The opportunity came to India would have been the 4th nuclear to conclude that while Jawaharlal when, in the after math of Britain’s 8 JANATA, September 8, 2013 decision to withdraw its forces from accepted the British offer in 1972, solution of the Kashmir issue. But, the East of Suez, the Americans put the Indian navy today would have in an unexpected way, at an one-to- pressure on Britain to permit the been a world class navy. However, one meeting prior to their departure United States to build a naval base India missed that opportunity. It was from Simla, Indira Gandhi gave in in Diego Garcia. But, Britain was not after India’s rejection of the British to a bluff of , and willing to oblige the United States. offer that Britain allowed the United suddenly agreed to release 96,000 Britain thought that it would be States to build a naval base in Diego Pakistani prisoners of war without better to have a security arrangement Garcia. solving the Kashmir issue. Another for the Indian Ocean, involving round of negotiations with Bhutto the littoral states under India’s Although the 1970s, 1980s and later, while keeping the Pakistani leadership. To explore that possibility 1990s saw the presence of super POWs in the Indian custody, would Britain’s foreign Secretary, Sir power navies and navies of other have solved the Kashmir problem Alec Douglas-Home, came to New big powers like Britain, France and amicably for ever. But, Indira Gandhi Delhi in February 1972, and met Germany, in the Indian Ocean, India wasted that opportunity. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and did not feel any threat to its security Foreign Minister , and from them mainly because none of Morarji Desai and Zia-ul-Haq discussed the matter. these powers had entertained any The second serious opportunity basic hostility towards India. came during the Janata Party During their discussions, government, led by Prime Minister Douglas-Home told Indira Gandhi The Defining Factors Morarji Desai. Atal Behari Vajpayee and Swaran Singh that if India The defining factors of India’s was the Foreign Minister. Morarji was willing to play a larger role security environment are its territorial Desai once narrated to me an inside in the Indian Ocean, including disputes with Pakistan and China story. He said that once he got a the maintenance of the safety and which are legacies of Jawaharlal report from the Indian intelligence security of Sea-lanes in the Indian Nehru. For amicably settling India’s sources that the Pakistani President, Ocean, Britain would help India to territorial problem with Pakistan – General Zia-ul-Haq, was planning build a strong navy for the purpose. i.e. the Kashmir problem – India to increase the size of the Pakistan The British perception was that if got two opportunities in 1970s. The Army. He did not leave the matter India emerged as a strong naval first serious opportunity India got for to the diplomatic channels to deal power between South Africa and it was immediately after the 1971 with. He picked up the telephone Australia, and played a strategic Indo-Pakistan war on the liberation and dialled to Zia-ul-Haq and role of a sea-power, that would of Bangladesh, when Pakistan’s asked him directly: “General, not only guarantee free navigation Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto why you want a large army for through the Indian Ocean, but came to India and met the Indian Pakistan? It Pakistan is in trouble, also would provide an incentive Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at you tell me. My army will be at for super powers to refrain from Simla and negotiated the release your disposal”. Zia was thrilled sending their strong naval fleets of 96,000 Pakistani Prisoners of and stunned. He could not believe to the Indian Ocean. Moreover, War in India. Though an amicable that he was listening to the voice of Douglas-Home’s proposal had solution to the Kashmir issue the Indian Prime Minister who was clearly implied Britain’s acceptance was discussed at that time, which promising him the Indian Army’s of India as its true successor in the revolved around the conversion of support to defend Pakistan ! That Indian Ocean. But, Indira Gandhi the Line of Control in Kashmir into day, the Pakistani president became and Swaran Singh declined Sir Alce India’s international border with a great admirer of Morarji Desai. Douglas-Home’s offer. These details Pakistan, the negotiations led to a He trusted Morarji Desai’s words of discussions were told me by Sir deadlock. A formal statement of and gave up his plan to expand the Alec Douglas–Home himself when the failure of talks between the two Pakistan army. I met him in London later. Prime Ministers was also made. It was indicated that there would be This episode also gives an From a long-term perspective, one more round of meeting between indication to why Zia-ul-Haq Indira Gandhi’s rejection of the the two Prime Ministers after Bhutto conferred “Nishan – e – Pakistan”, British offer was a grave mistake. If went back home to consult his the highest honour in Pakistan, India had seized that opportunity and colleagues in Islamabad on the equivalent to Bharat Ratna in JANATA, September 8, 2013 9

India, on Morarji Desai. It is my Therefore, despite their After a few years, China raised conviction that if Morarji Desai occasional unpleasant posturings, territorial disputes with all its other government continued in power for India and Pakistan do not pose any neighbouring countries like India, the expected 5 years, the Kashmir serious long-term security threat Japan, Vietnam, and Russia and had problem would have been amicably to each other. If India follows the launched a defence modernisation settled for ever. But that process Gujral Doctrine, or the “pooling of programme to build up its army, was not allowed to mature since the destinies” framework which I have navy, air force and missile systems Desai government was pulled down proposed, in the nurturing of our to realise its expansionist ambitions. relationship with all our neighbours by Indira Gandhi prematurely, when With India, China refused to in the sub-continent, including that government was only half-way accept the McMahon Line as India’s Pakistan, it will yield rich dividends through its tenure. border with Tibet, disputed its 4000 for India, including their distancing km border with India, and fought a Pakistan – a Potential Friend from any outside power, like China war with India in 1962 and annexed for example, which tries to use them Despite these missed opportunities about 38,000 sq kms of Indian as pawns against India. to amicably solve the Kashmir territory. In addition, it has made a problem, I am optimistic about China’s Border Dispute with India ridiculous claim over another 1,000 the close friendship, and even sq kms of oil rich areas of the Indian But China’s territorial dispute closer partnership, between India State Arunachal Pradesh, and refuses with India comes under an entirely and Pakistan. It we make a hard Chinese Visas to the people living different category, which has a assessment of the future course of there. It has raised objections to the dangerous potential since this Indo–Pak relationship, despite its visits of the Indian Prime Minister dispute is an extension of China’s present nuclear missile development and other Ministers to Arunachal expansionist trait. In the present and the Chinese meddling in its Pradesh. China has occupied the day world, China is the only country affairs, it would be a grave mistake to Aksai–Chin area in Ladakh and which still shows an insatiable treat Pakistan, or consider Pakistan, has refused to recognise Jammu appetite for expansionism. Its as India’s enemy or potential enemy. and Kashmir as part of India. For leadership refuses to learn any On the other hand, a hard assessment the people of Jammu and Kashmir, lesson from history, that all imperial would show that Pakistan is India’s China issues only stapled visas. buildups – from the Roman Empire potential friend, and should be treated It distributes Indian maps without down to the USSR – which had accordingly. It may be remembered showing Jammu and Kashmir and pursued expansionism for some that in 1962, during the Chinese Arunachal Pradesh in it. time, had become victims of the attack on India, Pakistan adopted same policy, and collapsed under In recent years China has built a stand helpful to India. Indeed, their own weight after some time. up a huge logistic infrastructure in Pakistan’s security should also be a China will be no exception. Future Tibet, including roads, rail-roads, matter of India’s concern. It is my will show. Yet, it contrives and airfields, missile–launching sites, conviction that before long India and manipulates alibis for expansion etc, to make Tibet as a safe launching Pakistan would pool their destinies with territories of neighbouring pad of attack on India, and gained together, and march forward hand- countries. a capacity to deploy its troops and in-hand by giving more content to military hardware right upto India’s their symbiotic existence. The sub- Expansionism is an integral part border regions at short-notice. terranean warmth and affection that of China’s priorities. The first thing Adjacent to Tibet, in Delingha, in permeate the relationship between China did after the revolution in the Quinghai province of China, the peoples of India and Pakistan, 1949 was to put its expansionist China has built up more than 60 which often becomes exuberant agenda into action; and within a nuclear missile launching pads, for when people visit their brethren on year, in 1950, launched an attack on launching medium range nuclear the other side of the border, or when the neighbouring Tibet and occupied ballistic missiles against India. In they meet aborad, in a third country, that country, and forced the Dalai Delingha, China has positioned which I have experienced myself on Lama in 1959 to flee from Tibet. its DF–21 medium–range nuclear many occasions, is a pointer to the At that time itself, in 1950, Sardar ballistic missiles which have a range new relationship that beckon the two Vallabh Bhai Patel had marked of 2150 kms. All north Indian cities countries in the coming years. China as India’s ‘potential enemy’. come within the firing range of these 10 JANATA, September 8, 2013 medium-range nuclear ballistic Indo-Tibetan border has suffered scheme. Therefore, the real serious missiles positioned in Delingha. a grievous neglect since 1962, on security threat to India is from the basis of an obviously foolish, China, and not from any other China in the Indian Ocean unstated, strategy that if India built country, including Pakistan. These land-based Chinese border roads right up to the front-line, military preparations against India it would help the Chinese to easily Proposals in the North – in Tibet and in come down to the South and occupy The question is how to meet Quinghai province of China – more Indian territory! Whether such this challenge to India’s Security. is complemented by its gaining an approach is in vogue or not, The military response to it is a foothold and port facilities for the someone knowledgeable from the matter for the military planners and Chinese Navy in several littoral states government of India should explain. strategic experts in India’s Defence of the Indian Ocean, in the South, in However, it is reported that because Ministry to ponder over. At the an attempt to sandwitch India and of this approach, some of our ‘border same time, certain policy changes intimidate New Delhi to accept roads’ end 60 to 80 kms away from at the political level are also called China’s territorial claims on India. the border, making it impossible for for. 30 years ago, in 1984, at an Politically, China has cultivated India to take its troops to the border International Conference on Indian several Indian Ocean littoral states instantly in short notice. That is not Ocean Studies, held in Perth in like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri a satisfactory situation for India. Australia, I made a proposal that, Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles and instead of following a narrowly Pakistan in India’s neighbourhood, Phoney Border Talks defined objective of the Indian and infused considerable anti-India Simultaneously, China has diplomacy for “improving” India’s feelings in them. It has bolstered engaged India, since 1981, in phoney bilateral relations with South Asian up Pakistan against India, even by talks on the border question, in a countries, India, and other countries clandestinely helping Pakistan to boomerang style, without conceding of South Asia – including Pakistan, become a nuclear Weapon State, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, anything. It is a highly deceptive and often uses Pakistani leaderships Nepal and Bhutan – should strive to exercise to hoodwink India. No as its pawns to checkmate India pool their destinies together – i.e. ‘a wonder, that after 15 rounds of everywhere in the international sink or sail together’ approach – and border talks between senior officials arena. It has built up a highway free themselves from a suspicion of both countries, the negotiators connecting Xinjiang with the Gwadar based bilateral relationships. Of have not yet touched the core issue Port in Pakistan, there by has made course, it requires a more generous, – the demarcation of the border. a direct opening to the Arabian Sea. humanist approach, anchored in Similarly, China is trying to make However, it seems that the on- solidarity, on the part of India, while another direct opening to the Bay of going boomerang game China dealing with people’s problems Bengal through the Chittagong Port plays with the Indian negotiators in the Indian Sub-continent. The in Bangladesh. on the border issue, along with the dynamism embedded in such a intermittent Chinese acrobatics, in policy, would release a lot of new India cannot and should not the form of LAC violations here resources for people’s welfare and, at remain complacent over these and there, to test the water, may the same time, would naturally deny systematic unfriendly moves of culminate in another serious border space for interlopers to meddle with, China. But, it seems that India did conflict, at a time of the Chinese and vitiate, the bilateral relationships not do much, diplomatically or choice, for which China seems to the between countries of South Asia. It strategically, to counter these anti- clandestinely preparing, to force the would result in a new resurgent and Indian activities of China. New border issue, and settle it on Chinese more cohesive Indian sub-continent, Delhi did not do much even when terms. The present Chinese moves which can match any power centre China did the gravest anti-Indian act in the Indian Ocean littoral States, in the world, and, at the same time, of clandestinely assisting Pakistan’s seem to be part of that preparation. achieve a high rank in the scale of nuclear weapon programme, to prop The Chinese involvement in the human development Index. up Pakistan against India in the port constructions in Sri Lanka, nuclear field. Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the The scheme I have in mind, Reportedly, even border roads military base China is seeking in in this context, is the example of building on the Indian side of the Seychelles, etc, are parts of that Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitik, pursued JANATA, September 8, 2013 11 in West Germany from 1966, with a higher level of humanitarian content The Arithmetic of Infinite Appeasement in dealing with countries in the immediate neighbourhood, which Abdul Khaliq fructified in 1990 and erased the barriers between the two Germanies, and also changed the perception The ordinary Muslim dreads the accused should be given legal of international relationship in period just prior to the announcement aid and dangerous because it has the whole Europe. India’s policy of elections because that is when his provided fodder to the BJP to drive makers often talk about “going community is pulled out from the a wedge between communities. an extra-mile” in India’s dealings margins and brought centre stage to with our neighbours in South Asia. become the plaything for the cynical Not to be outdone in the murky To my mind, this is an inadequate opportunism, power games and vote game of vote bank politics that framework. The right frame work is calculations of the two competing gives the veneer of substantial help : “pooling the destinies” of countries camps - the right wing Hindutva to a particular group but actually of South Asia. Pakistan should be an nationalists on the one hand and the dispenses no special privilege, integral part of this framework. so-called secular formations on the the UP government last week other. That is also when the genie of announced earmarking of 20 per There are two other China specific sops and screams of appeasement cent of welfare scheme funds for policy changes which New Delhi rend the air. Creating a permanent Muslims. The fact that the welfare should bring about with immediate rift between communities and schemes such as NREGA, National effect.: 1) India should extend moral isolating the Muslim has been the Rural Health Mission, Indira Awaas support to the ongoing freedom barely disguised policy of the BJP Yojana, etc. are nowhere linked to struggle in Tibet; and 2) India should camp. What is disturbing is that the caste or community but are based stop supporting People’s Republic of central government which allegedly essentially on economic criteria China’s ‘One China’ policy. represents the secular forces is makes the proposal an exercise in also tacitly abetting polarisation sheer duplicity. It may be recalled of communities in the hope of that the Samajwadi Party, earlier Maharashtra Cabinet on garnering minority support. on, in its manifesto had promised Wednesday approved a Rs. a reservation of 18 per cent in 10-crore scheme to enable Last fortnight the government government jobs for Muslims. We upgrade of the infrastructure announced that it proposes to provide are yet to see or hear any progress of madrasas in the state, which legal assistance to those who have in the matter. One only hopes that provide education to nearly two been jailed on grounds of prima facie Muslims see through the arrant lakh Muslim children. The BJP ‘doubtful’ charges in terror cases. and Shiv Sena have, however, absurdities and wicked motives that Predictably, the BJP has termed opposed the scheme, calling it inform these proposals this as appeasement of Muslims, another instance of minoritiy There are other examples of the appeasement….Madrasas, which even those who are terrorists. The Central government using Muslims are mostly funded through government decision not only begs community initiatives, generally the real issues but is also a dishonest, in the guise of helping them. Its impart some form of basic and cynical ploy to fracture relations opportunistic decision to provide 4.5 religious education. Under the between the two communities and per cent specific quota for Minorities new scheme, madrasas registered reap unholy dividends. Instead within the overall 27 per cent quota with the Charity Commissioner of taking measures to ensure that for OBCs in government jobs and or the Waqf Board will be eligible the investigating agencies do not IITs coincided with the UP elections to seek a fund of up to Rs. 5 lakh wrongfully implicate innocent last year. The notification remained every year. citizens, the government has shown frozen as an unimplemented pious its phony concern for Muslims with intention as it was struck down the -The Indian Express, this meaningless but dangerous by the Supreme Court. Clearly a gesture; meaningless because the charade, it was known all along that law in any case provides that every without legislative endorsement the 12 JANATA, September 8, 2013 executive order was bad in law. In ideologues of the fundamentalists the gallows. Owaisi is sent to jail any case, with certain categories of explicitly distinguishes between for his hate-filled speech but the Muslims already treated as OBCs, followers of indigenous religions archetypal apostle of hate, Praveen this decision would have made little from those that originated elsewhere. Togadia roams free to spew venom difference to the job prospects of Muslims and Christians are against the Muslim community. Muslims. But the unhappy upshot foreigners in India which rightly More hurtful than anything else, is that it has poisoned relations belongs to the adherents of religions the fight against terrorism is deeply between Muslims and other OBCs. born here. Tragically, a similar tainted with religious overtones. mindset is evident in the denial of SC Scores of innocent Muslims have The ruling party’s hypocrisy status to SC Muslims and Christians been arrested and tortured only and tokenism is apparent from the while granting this concession to SC because of their religious affiliations. fact that it sought to fiddle with Buddhists and Sikhs. Such colossal injustice has become aspects of reservation that have routine in the life of the nation and already factored in Muslims, but The Congress has time and again is seen as normal ‘collateral damage’ has been dragging its feet on the been guilty of playing footsie with in the fight against terrorism. Can unacceptable discrimination against ‘soft’ Hindutva. It will be recalled you blame Muslims if they harbour Dalit Christians and Muslims. that in the 1980s , the Rajiv Gandhi the thought that all men are equal This is an issue in which the lofty government, having catered to but some are more equal? They are principle enunciated in Article 15 Muslim ‘appeasement’ in the Shah distraught at the selective application of the Constitution prohibiting any Bano case, sought to rectify the of the law. discrimination on grounds of religion balance by throwing open the doors has been blatantly abused by the law of the Babri Masjid to the Hindus for For decades the BJP’s theme makers themselves. The denial of worship of Lord Ram, whose idol was song is that Muslims are a pampered Scheduled Caste (SC) status to SC installed inside the mosque in 1949. favoured community who have Christians and Muslims constitutes That was the starting point of a chain embraced group privilege at the the worst form of discrimination. of events that ultimately destroyed expense of the majority. The The only argument against giving the Babri Masjid. In the same absolute hollowness of this vicious this status to them is that SCs who amoral cynical manner, the present myth is poignantly reflected in convert to these religions no longer government surreptitiously hanged the socio-economic plight of the face any social stigma. Nothing can Afzal Guru earlier this year with the community. Muslims languish on be more untrue. The great Mahatma clear intent of taking the wind out the margins of society at the bottom who knew this country and its people of the sails of the BJP’s persistent of the ladder, almost at par with the better than anyone else had this to refrain of minority appeasement Dalits. A recent government survey say on the subject: “Whether the in not executing him. That he was conducted by the NSSO has noted Harijan is nominally a Christian, hanged before the Supreme Court that among various religious groups, Hindu, and Muslim or Sikh, he is delivered its judgement on executing Muslims have the lowest living still a Harijan. He can’t change prisoners, including Guru, who had standard with an average per capita his spots from Hinduism. He may served inordinately long prison expenditure of a mere Rs. 32.66 change his garb and call himself a sentences; that he was not one of per day as compared to Rs.37.5 for Catholic harijan or a Muslim harijan the attackers of Parliament; that he Hindus, Rs. 51.43 for Christians or a Neo-Sikh, his untouchability did not kill anybody; that he was and Rs. 53.30 for Sikhs. Accused will haunt him in his lifetime”. Can held guilty of being an accomplice of being government’s ‘damads’ the Constitution of this great land not on the basis of direct proof (sons-in-law), Muslims constitute be tainted by endorsing this blatant but on ‘circumstantial evidence’, less than 6 per cent of the staff discrimination? The Constitutional are critical issues of justice that strength in the Central Government. amendments, as interpreted by were considered subordinate to In fact a recent NSSO study reveals our lawmakers, bear an uncanny satisfying ‘the collective conscience that the recruitment of minorities in resemblance to the philosophy of our of the nation’. However, the mass government jobs including PSUs, home-grown right-wing Hindutva conscience is not similarly outraged paramilitary forces and public fundamentalists. A key concept by the fact that Rajiv Gandhi’s sector banks has actually dropped propagated by one of the leading Hindu assassins continue to escape from 7.25 per cent in 2009-10 to 6.24 JANATA, September 8, 2013 13 per cent in 2011-12. The most recent report of the National Monitoring A Macroeconomic View of the Committee for Minorities Education National Food Security Bill (NMCME 2013) shows that Muslims have the lowest literacy rate among Arun Kumar communities at 59 per cent against the national average of 65 per cent. In urban areas, the illiterate The National Food Security has the responsibility to feed its percentage of Muslims is 42.9 per Bill (NFSB) has been contentious. citizens. However, due to a lack of cent for males and 50.5 per cent for Economic arguments have been incomes and the choices sometimes females against the national average presented against it confusing the made by the individuals because of 27.7 per cent and 36.5 per cent public. The rich farmers are worried of the social pressures, many are respectively. There is damning that farm prices would fall because unable to buy enough food for evidence to show that the State has cheap food would find its way into the their family and that is why there is failed to foster an effective, unbiased markets. Businessmen argue that the hunger and malnourishment. Thus, and inclusive system that could economy would further slow down hunger is not an individual problem facilitate an adequate presence of with an increase in the burden on the but has its roots in the country’s Muslims in educational, professional Budget. The elite say that subsidies macroeconomics. For instance, it and vocational institutions. On and inflation would rise sharply depends on the nature of employment account of communalisation of due to profligacy. Unfortunately, generation, the distribution of the public space, Muslims are not most of these arguments are based incomes, investment policies, global able to access all the opportunities on a partial economic perspective factors in an increasingly open available, leading to their continuing which ignores the full impact of the economy (including consumerism), isolation and ghettoisation. economic processes that the scheme production technology encouraged would set into motion. by policies, position of agriculture Muslims want to bridge the There is legitimate concern about in the economy and the related issue distance between communities, not corruption, diversion of food and of terms of trade between agriculture exacerbate it. They are heartily sick the problems associated with the and the other sectors. None of these of the politics that uses secularism as implementation of the provisions of factors can be changed by individual a cloak of convenience. Like their the Bill. No doubt, given the state efforts. fellow countrymen they know that of governance in large parts of the for a united, equal and just society, country, the full implementation The government, through they need to cross the religious of the provisions of the Bill would its policies, determines these divide and care for one another as take many years. Given that the macroeconomic factors. Since brothers. As a troubled, besieged Congress party may lose politically the launch of the New Economic community, they are painfully by bringing in the scheme so close Policies in 1991, the problem of aware that the communalism of one to the next general elections, those unemployment, distribution of group feeds on the communalism of whose expectations would remain incomes and so on has got aggravated the other. Rather than being given unfulfilled by the time the elections and worsened the situation of the nominal group privileges, they want are held would be disappointed. The marginalised in society. Hence in a level playing field in education, in moot question is: should corruption spite of growth, hunger persists. the job market, when looking for be the reason for not implementing The government is the only entity accommodation or when an act of what may be a good policy? Should that can provide the correctives and terrorism takes place. To modify the allotment of spectrum or of coal ameliorate hunger. In this sense, the what Martin Luther King said in mines be stopped because there has NFSB is only a corrective to the the American context, the Muslims been corruption in these cases? Can market-oriented policies currently hope that they will not be unfairly the baby be thrown out with the being pursued and does not resolve judged by their religious identity but bathwater? the fundamental economic problem truly judged by the content of their The case for the NFSB is a of lack of adequate incomes of the character. macroeconomic one. The nation poor. 14 JANATA, September 8, 2013

Those who would benefit from the stocks were 62.8 million tonnes and of foodgrains when the prices rise cheap foodgrain provided under the with the procurement in the new is a reflection of the squeeze of the NFSB will get an additional income season these would have increased consumption of the poor. The NFSB since they will buy a given amount to above 80 million tonnes while the would help the poor by making of food for less. This would leave buffer stock norm for July 1 is only their consumption independent some money for buying other goods 27 million tonnes. Thus, there is a lot of inflation. The implication also and services including more protein of cushion to keep prices in check. is that the current high foodgrain and vegetables. This amount could But, as the extra stocks above the stocks are not an indication of food be substantial since 50 per cent-60 statutory requirement get exhausted self-sufficiency in the country but per cent of the budget of the poor is in a few years, the prices would rise. of inadequate purchasing power spent on food. If it is assumed that 50 To check this, the government would of the poor. Further, as the NFSB crore people were already benefiting have to pursue policies to encourage gets implemented, India may have from various State level schemes an increase in output rather than to import foodgrains unless the under which they were getting cheap resort to fire-fighting later on. production rises. food, an additional 30 crore people would get the cheaper food and buy The higher free market price It is estimated that the subsidy not only more food but more of other would lead to a higher price for the bill on food would rise to more than items of consumption. This would farmers and this could lead to an Rs 1,24,000 crores (around one per help reduce poverty in the country. increase in supply. This would also cent of the GDP). The additional mean that the government would amount over and above what is being In the present situation of a have to give a higher support price currently spent may be around Rs demand slow-down and a falling rate to the farmers to be able to procure 35,000 crores. This is insignificant of economic growth, there would additional amount for expanded compared to the Rs 5.5 lakh crores of be a stimulus to the economy. This distribution. This would further tax expenditures (a kind of subsidy) boost would be strong since little of incentivise the farmers to produce given to the well-off in society or the the additional demand would leak more. revenue loss of Rs 20 lakh crores due out of the economy as happens with to the black economy. The question the additional incomes of the well- Some argue that the poor do then is: who should be subsidised? off. Further, there could be additional not need more foodgrains but The choice should clearly be in requirements of infrastructure for require other items of food. This favour of the poor. There will be storage and distribution of the is only partially correct. Foodgrain additional expenditures on storage additional food and this would result availability (proxy for consumption) and other infrastructure. But, the in more investment and, therefore, in India peaked in 1991 at 510 gm total requirement of storage could spur growth. per person per day and declined decline since foodgrains would be after that (in 2001 by 18 per cent). distributed rather than held in the The implication also would be This has been attributed to a shift in open where they rot adding to the that the rate of inflation for the poor the consumption pattern. However, subsidy burden. The losses of the would fall. The total consumption whenever the monsoons have been FCI should decline since the food of food would rise leading to an bountiful and food prices have distributed would get some revenue, increase in the free market price of dropped, consumption has gone back even if small, as opposed to its foodgrains. That would hurt those to around 500 gm. complete write-off when it rots and not covered by the NFSB and for correspondingly the subsidy element them the rate of inflation would This suggests that the consumption could fall. rise. The lower middle classes pattern may have shifted some but would be hurt but the others with a lot of people are unable to buy The real problem would be inflation indexation can adjust to adequate amount of foodgrains when corruption and identification and it. However, the immediate rise in the prices rise. The well-off consume delivery to the additional families inflation would be small since the more of foodgrains indirectly through to be covered. That is why some government already has huge stocks consumption of animal protein but suggest cash transfer using the of foodgrains which, when released their consumption is hardly sensitive UIDAI cards. Examples of Brazil in the market, would moderate the to prices since they have enough price rise. As of March 1, the food income. Thus, the fall in availability (Continued on Page 16) JANATA, September 8, 2013 15 Dr Raghuvansh (1921-2013) Noted Hindi critic and litterateur, Raghuvansh has taken him from from the sexual. Did this thinking a disciple of Acharya Narendra ancient dramaturgy to political spring from dormant youthful fears Deva and a close associate of Dr analyses, human relationships, of rejection by women? He throws Rammanohar Lohia and Jayaprakash travelogues and critiques of modern his wife Savitri a bashful look Narayan, Dr. Raghuvansh passed Hindi poetry. He was of the view and admits: “I was initially totally away on 23rdAugust 2013 after a that modernity is a continuous against marriage. Today I do analyse prolonged illness in New Delhi. process in creative writing, which it as fear of rejection. But when the informed his work “Adhunikta aur proposal came, I told Savitri if I was Dr Raghuvansh was born on 30th Srijanshilata”, a collection of 16 in her place I wouldn’t have married June 1921 at Gopamau village in essays, comments on modernity, me.” It’s curious that barring his wife Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. His creativity, poetic sensibility and and daughter, he and his three sons father Ram Sahai was known for individual freedom. But what was seem to use just one name each. He his expertise in Persian and Urdu closest to his heart was his doctoral had renounced his surname a long languages and traditional shairi thesis “Manaviya Sanskritika time ago because it denoted caste sessions. Rachnatmak Ayaam” (The Creative and status. Raghuvansh received his initiation Dimension of Human Culture)—a He received the Sahitya Bhushan, in socialist ideology from none other complex thread that weaves itself the K.K. Birla Foundation’s Shankar than Acharya Narendra Deva at the through the entire conversation, Award for the greatest contribution age of 15. That got him into the eluding comprehension at times. in the field of culture and the first thick of the freedom movement. Is he speaking of Humanism? No Jan Nayak award instituted by the By the 1940s, Raghuvansh was - he detested the word. “There is Bihar state government. His projects writing political pieces for various no ‘ism’ involved here,” he asserts. include an analysis of Gandhi’s publications. “Humanity has its intrinsic culture and I believe in the individual value social thinking. Allahabad-based Dr Raghuvansh system rather than the individual.” A memorial meeting was held was celebrated lexicographer, critic, in his honour in New Delhi on and litterateur, sharing prestigious His disillusionment with politics 30th August at the Speaker hall of Hindi literary honours with stalwarts began when political workers Constitution Club where speakers like Mahadevi Verma, Vijay Dev proceeded towards an era of power after speakers paid rich tribute to Narain Sahi, Laxmikant Verma politics. By 1950 he was totally him, most of them being Hindi and Dharamveer Bharti. Born with divorced from politics, preferring deformities in both arms and hands, writers like Vishwnath Tripathi, to engage himself in a kind of Nityanad Tiwari, Prof. Ajit Kumar, a sudden flash of intuition told him intellectual catharsis by a spate of that he could write with his toes. He Ganga Prasad Vimal, and Prof. furious writing aided by his close Rajkumar Jain. hasn’t stopped since. friendship with the matriarch of A former head of department of Hindi literature, Mahadevi Verma. Prof. Devi Prasad Tripathi of Hindi at Allahabad University, he Nationalist Congress Party, a Member The range and depth of his work is was credited with pioneering new of Rajya Sabha, who organized and stunning. It was easier to engage him trends in Hindi criticism besides conducted the memorial meeting delving deep into the culture of on his fiction. “Tantujal”, written in described Dr Raghuvansh as a humanity. A staunch Lohiaite, 1958, went into three editions. The great Hindi litterateur, committed Raghuvansh was also lauded for his plot reveals yet another facet of the to the socialist ideology and human articles on India’s language policy. litterateur’s mind - his belief that values. Former Union Minister and a man and woman can share pure senior BJP leader and his colleague Co-editor of Hindi Sahitya friendship without the element of at Allahabad University, Dr Murli Kosh, the monumental and only sex entering into it. It is an attempt Manohar Joshi also paid him tribute. encyclopedia of Hindi literature, to demolish popular theories that a the creative instinct in Dr very thin line divides the platonic Qurban Ali R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 8, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, September 8, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday September 11, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1 whatever scheme is launched. There It is unfortunate that the NFSB (Continued from Page 1) is much corruption in transfer of was initially brought through crematoria grounds sooner or later. money through banks and post an Ordinance rather than being The Vanzara exposure comes at offices. Already corruption cases are implemented after approval in a bad time for the BJP and the surfacing with regard to fictitious Parliament. This deprived the scheme Gujarat government. What he did to cards, etc. even when the scheme of a political consensus which would counter the jehadi menace, he says is not yet operational. Further, cash have helped its implementation. in his defence, was done with the transfer may not lead to expenditure However the politics plays out, in explicit sanction and encouragement on food but diversion to other macro-economic terms the NFSB of the Gujarat government. The wasteful expenditures. That danger is highly desirable and reflects Gujarat model of development exists even when cheap food is given the nation’s commitment to its was possible only because of but it would be less than with cash citizens and that would help in nation the sacrifices of Vanzara and his transfer. building. officers in thwarting the onslaught [This is an enlarged version of the article on the subject in Hindustan Times on of initial disorder in the state. August 21, 2013. —A.K.] Vanzara once adored Modi like a god. But the god failed since he Opposition to the Jaitapur Nuclear did not rise to the occasion but fell under the evil influence of Amit Power project continues Shah. Whatever the merit of this sentiment, the fact remains that the Some individual members of is continuing uncontrollably and Gujarat government’s credibility Janahit Seva Samiti and others indefinitely into ground water stands eroded. Its claims that the have met the industry minister Shri and surrounding ocean. We are fake encounters were real encounters Narayan Rane today and submitted determined that another Fukushima targeting terrorists has no basis. The a letter saying they are willing will not be allowed to threaten or courts trying the fake encounter to accept the Jaitapur Nuclear happen in the biodiversity-rich cases will no doubt take serious note Power Project. We wish to clarify Konkan region. The NPCIL or of Vanzara’s disclosure that staging unequivocally that Janahit Seva the state government have never encounters was part of official Samiti is not party to this decision. been able to justify this project, policy. The truth or falsehood of this or answer satisfactorily any of claim has to be established. Thanks The people of Madban, Jaitapur the scientific objections related to Vanzara’s breaking his long and Sakhari Nate and other to environmental, technical, and “graceful” silence, the world has project-affected villages and the economic aspects raised by us a new insight into the games Modi other organizations were not plays. Stories of fake encounters in involved nor consulted by the from time to time. Gujarat will be taken with a pinch of concerned individuals regarding The mass opposition to the salt in future and the public will no this development at any point. more be expected to be as gullible Jaitapur Nuclear Power project as before. The Fukushima Nuclear based on sound scientific points disaster has now been declared will continue on various fronts with (Continued from Page 14) as a permanent level 3 nuclear more rigour in the coming days, and other countries are mentioned disaster. The radiation released unaffected by this development. but the recent public demonstrations Janhit Seva Samiti Shyamsundar Narvekar in Brazil point to the prevailing Maharashtra Macchimar KrutI Samiti, Ratnagiri Amjad Borkar corruption there. It is not obvious that the UIDAI would be free of Konkan Bachao Samiti, Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Adwait Pednekar, corruption. Ingenuity of the Indian Arun Velaskar, Ravi Joshi, Madhu Mohite, Mangesh Chavan elite has fostered corruption in Konkan Vinashkari Prakalpvirodhi Samiti Satyjit Chavan

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

Vol. 68 No. 36 Crime and punishment September 15, 2013 S. Viswam

There is much cause for satisfaction A positive outcome of the arousal The problem of Kashmir in the relatively speedy trial and of national conscience in the Kuldip Nayar conviction in what has come to be Nirbhaya case was the enactment of known as the Nirbhaya rape case. amendments to existing laws aimed Judicial Danger The conviction on all counts by a at bringing justice to victims. The Bapu Heddurshetti Delhi fast track court last week of the amended law is aimed at ensuring four adult rapists of the 23-year-old capital punishment for heinous What Are Us Compulsions physiotherapy student in the national crimes. Of course, tightening laws To Attack Syria? capital in December last year will can at best act as a deterrent but Sandeep Pandey come as a relief to the family of even with the toughest laws in force the victim. It took nine months for there is no guarantee that women and Salute the survivor the judgment to come; but for the children will lead a safer life. Capital Kalpana Sharma establishment of a fast track court the punishment does act as a deterrence, proceedings may have lasted years if but the adoption of death penalty as Indian Economy and a State policy is enmeshed in a wider not decades. Thousands of criminal the Crisis of a Borrowed debate that has polarized public assault and attacks against women Development Strategy opinion. Many countries provide for are awaiting trial in various courts of Arun Kumar death penalty for heinous crimes, the country. It is but equally, many countries regard Call it crime, not superstition life imprisonment as an adequate doubtful if a fast track court would Pratap Bhanu Mehta punishment. India has stopped short have been set up at all if the rape of providing for death penalty by its episode had not stirred up the nation’s recent tightening of laws, providing conscience and goaded the authorities for maximum punishment in rarest to act fast. Nothing in the past evoked Editor : of rare cases and hastening trials and nation-wide anger and resentment as verdicts. G. G. Parikh the attack on a helpless woman and Managing Editor : Guddi her friend, both of whom were victims The larger question whether the of a brutally executed crime. The death penalty and stiff punishments D-15, Ganesh Prasad, verdict will be widely welcomed, not deter criminals and reduce the Naushir Bharucha Marg, only by the victims’ families but by incidence of rapes and attacks on Mumbai - 400 007. all those who have waged a relentless women remains. There can be no battle for making India a safer place definitive answer. Even after the Email : [email protected] for its women and children, as a fitting Nirbhaya case evoked monumental punishment for a brutal crime. anger, rape cases continue to be 2 JANATA, September 15, 2013 reported from the national capital Between the lines and other parts of the country. For every reported case, there must be many unreported cases. Most The problem of Kashmir incidents of rape in rural areas go unreported. Besides, criminals and Kuldip Nayar felons benefit a great deal from police apathy and corruption. In , before leaving for Kashmiris would have voted for other words, the law does not strike Srinagar to conduct his orchestra, Pakistan if there had been a plebiscite. terror into the hearts of criminals. said: “There will be no violence.” Today, a preponderant majority The police-criminal nexus is often German Ambassador Michael of Kashmiris, want azaadi. Yasin too strong to be broken in villages. Steiner, who facilitated the concert, Malik has been able to veer them said at Srinagar that the world round from being pro-Pakistan Additionally, and especially in was watching Kashmir. Both elements to making them accept rural areas, the belief is widely observations have a ring of truth. the demand for an independent, prevalent that it is easy to escape The success of concert has proved sovereign state. prosecution and punishment if the that. perpetrator has enough influence Yet what the Hurriyat does not and/or political clout. It is against If New Delhi has been able to realize is that azaadi is an ideal, this background that one would like put across a message, the Hurriyat not a feasible proposition. When to understand the findings of the just- leaders have to blame themselves. the British left India in August released UN study of the reasons They, also known as the separatists, 1947, they gave the princely states why men commit rape. The study unnecessarily made the concert an an option to stay independent if covered 10,000 men in South and issue by playing up their boycott. they did not want to join either East Asia for the first time. Nearly If they had ignored the event, it India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari one out of four men in Asia admitted would have passed without much Singh, the then Jammu and Kashmir to having committed a rape. Marital notice. This was not the first concert. ruler, declared that he would stay rape was by far the most common The late Jagajit Singh gave a gazal independent. The land-locked state type. An important finding relevant programme in the heart of Srinagar. had to have the support of both India and Pakistan for access to the outside to the common beliefs among A band from Pakistan played world. He did not want to depend perpetrating criminals says: “ To at Srinagar the other day. New on one. prevent violence from occurring Delhi was wise enough to treat it in the first place it is equally vital as a routine matter and gave the With the Muslims in a majority to address social norms that make musicians visas. Nobody took any in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan violence against women acceptable, notice of it. The media too paid no expected its accession. When it including men’s belief that they have heed. The Hurriyat, still equivocal did not take place, Pakistan sent its the right to sex within marriage, and about its demand for azaadi, voiced irregulars, backed by the regular promote nonviolent and caring ways no protest against the Pakistan band. troops. The Maharaja sought the help to be a man.” This only underlined the impression of India which insisted on accession that the Hurriyat tended to tilt before sending its troops. He had to Janata towards Pakistan. sign the Instrument of Accession Subscription Act. Annual Rs. : 260/- The Hurriyat is a divided house. Three Years : 750/- Some, led by Syed Shah Gillani, The task of the Hurriyat is more Demand Draft / Cheque on want the state to ‘join’ Pakistan. difficult than that of the Maharaja. Mumbai Bank And the others, led by Yasin Malik, The two parts of the states are in favour of demand azaadi. Then there are those against azaadi. Jammu, the Hindu JANATA TRUST who are confused. Not long ago, majority part, would like to join D-15, Ganesh Prasad, when most Kashmiris, alienated India. The Buddhist majority Naushir Bharucha Marg, from India as they are, favoured Ladakh, the other part, want to be Mumbai 400 007 the integration with Pakistan, the a union territory of India. Therefore JANATA, September 15, 2013 3 the demand for azaadi is essentially that of the valley which has nearly Judicial Danger 98 percent of Muslims of the state. Bapu Heddurshetti When India is in the midst of endeavour for polarization and when a political party is playing a I am surprised to read the article decided, would the seat held by Hindu card, it is difficult to imagine ‘Convicted MPs should quit’ the convicted MP or MLA remain that the ruling Congress or any by Kuldip Nayar in this year’s vacant till the appeal is decided or other political party, including Independence Day number of Janata. will a by-election be held? If a bye- the Communists, would support There cannot be two opinions about election is held to fill the seat, what if the Hurriyat. Even otherwise, all cleaning the parliament of criminal the convicted MP’s or MLA’s appeal political parties are opposed to the elements. But the question is how is allowed and the conviction is set demand for independence, although it is to be accomplished. It would aside after the bye-election is held? some may go to the farthest in giving be dangerous to invite the Judiciary Will the person elected in his place powers to the state. to come to the rescue since it is an have to resign or the convicted MP undemocratic institution without or MLA has to forego his seat for After 66 years of partition, the any control by the people. Shri the mistake committed by the trial wounds inflicted because of the Nayar also misses another point. judge in convicting him? These division have not healed yet. How While the Supreme Court says that questions will have to be seriously does the Hurriyat expect the people the Parliament cannot legislate to considered before responding to the in India to reconcile to another permit the convicted MPs and MLAs Judgement of the Supreme Court. It partition, however genuine and to continue as the representatives, it would be worth while to remember strong are the sentiments of the says that a Sessions Judge or a High that Shibu Soren was acquitted by Kashmiris? If partition is again on Court judge can do so by staying the the appeals court after 36 years in the basis of religion, the secular state operation of the judgement. It means one case and a conviction in another may not survive as it is. True, the that what the Parliament cannot cost him his berth in the Union 15 crore Muslims in India are equal do, a Judge can do. Is the position Cabinet. Who should compensate citizens and they cannot be treated as acceptable to Shri Nayar? for the loss he suffered due to the hostages. But the valley’s secession faulty judgement of the trial court may have such repercussions If the case against Lalu Prasad convicting him? As there are many that are dreadful to imagine. The Yadav is still dragging on, who MPs and MLAs with charge sheets constitution, guaranteeing equality is to blame? Is not the judiciary against them, we tend to brand them to all Indian citizens, may be of no responsible? If only the Judiciary as criminals. We should not offer avail. had decided the appeals of the knee jerk reactions as the Supreme convicted MPs and MLAs promptly Court appears to have done in this India and Pakistan have fought and the decision had reached finality, case without seriously considering two regular wars on Kashmir, apart then the present Judgement of from a mini misadventure in Kargil. the pros and cons. The valley continues to remains part the Supreme Court would not of the Jammu and Kashmir state. have been necessary as the MPs Shir Nayar is right that the Several thousand Kashmiris have and MLAs would have quit in Judiciary and the Parliament are on a died for the cause of azaadi. For view of the conviction reaching war path. He says that the executive is India, they were insurgents. They finality. Judiciary cannot delay the not happy with the collegium system were crushed by the security forces proceedings and then find fault with because “it gives little room for which too lost thousands. Even the representatives of the people. any patronage which the executive now some militants from across the has in mind”. But I would like to border attack some places but are And then, if a convicted member remind Shri Nayar of what Justice rebuffed. For example, on the day has to quit as soon as he is convicted Ruma Pal, who was once a member of Zubin Mehta’s concert, a post by a trial court, what would be the of the said collegium said. She said of Central Reserve Police Force in consequences? Since the appeal “Consensus within the collegium is to the High Court and then to the sometimes resolved through a trade- (Continued on Page 6) Supreme Court take decades to be off resulting in dubious appointments 4 JANATA, September 15, 2013 with disastrous consequences for the litigants and the credibility What Are Us Compulsions of the judicial system. Besides To Attack Syria? institutional independence has also been compromised by growing sycophancy and ‘lobbying’, within Sandeep Pandey the system” (Janata, November 20, 2011). While the collegium system The US President Barack Obama the rebels who have used chemical gives little room to the executive was awarded the Nobel Peace weapons supplied by outsiders. for patronage, it has given ample Prize in 2009 for his extraordinary And US is definitely supporting room to the Judiciary to dispense efforts to strengthen international the fight of rebels. US wants to use patronage. diplomacy, cooperation between the excuse of usage of chemical people, for promotion of nuclear weapons in Syria to launch a military The Supreme Court went to the nonproliferation and a new climate offensive. But the real objective extent of declaring that Parliament in international relations, especially is to bring about a regime change had “exceeded its powers” while in reaching out to the Muslim in that count6ry. However, the framing Section 8 (4) of the world and for his support to using Syrian President Bashar-Al-Assad Representation of the People Act, established international bodies is holding on for longer than the US 1951. And this is what the editorial such as UN to pursue foreign policy had expected. of the Economic Times has said: goals. “The courts have banned iron ore The impending US attack without mining, and are partly responsible Four years is too short a time a UN Security Council resolution for the weakness of the rupee, as for a person described above to would be illegal and morally non-export of ore and import of undergo complete transformation. indefensible. It'll be a demonstration One important reason why people of US authoritarianism and contempt steel have contributed to of the US elected him in the first for global opinion. The country deterioration of the current account place was because they had become which has yet to apologise for 1945 deficit. Rather than advancing the tired of war policy of George Bush. mass killings in Hiroshima and public good, judicial intervention They wanted peace. Barack Obama Nagasaki has apparently taken a in matters beyond its constitutional won approval of US people because position against weapons of mass remit, as clarified by the court itself he announced withdrawal of the US destruction. US continues to possess has caused immense harm to society troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. the largest stockpile of nuclear at large. For judges of the court to He was seen as a man who would weapons. The war in Iraq and presume to pronounce on policy is bring peace. And indeed he tried to Afghanistan has shown that even similar to priests deciding whether reach out to the Muslim world. if weapons of mass destruction the sun goes around the earth or are not used there is heavy civilian vice versa”. But why is the same Obama now casualty, which the US likes to call targeting a Muslim country and 'collateral' damage. The 'Cost of War I am surprised that Shri Nayar willing to ignore the UN decision project' of Brown University and is siding with an undemocratic making process like his predecessor Watson Institute estimates that out institution like the judiciary which is did. Even his reason to attack is so of 1,76,000-1,89,000 people killed not accountable to any one except its similar to that of Bush. Bush lied to in Iraq, 1,34,000 were civilians. In the world about presence of nuclear own conscience, which I am afraid contrast, the number of US soldiers weapons in Iraq in spite of contrary it does not appear to have of late as killed was roughly only 4,500. reports from UN inspectors who So, even if the US didn't use any its support to the Emergency proved, went inside Iraq and IAEA. Now weapons of mass destruction can and not siding with a democratic Obama wants the world to believe there be any denying the fact that institution like the parliament which, that Syrian government has used there was mass killing. The question in spite of all its failures, is at least chemical weapons without waiting that need to be asked is what right accountable to the people once for confirmation from UN inspectors the US has got to take unilateral in five years. However, the last who have been sent to Syria. There action against countries possessing paragraph of his article brings a sigh are reports to the contrary that it is weapons of mass destruction? of relief to a reader like me. JANATA, September 15, 2013 5

The Israeli testing of missiles in the midst of tension in West Asia is Salute the survivor provocative, to say the least. In spite of Obama paying a lip service to the Kalpana Sharma cause of Palestine, the US policy continues to protect the interests of Israeli state. The US and western As a journalist, a woman and What is different today is the way forces have no right to meddle in the a Mumbaikar, the dastardly rape politics is being played out on the affairs of West Asia. The countries in by five men of a young woman wounded bodies of women. One of this region should be given a chance journalist in Mumbai on August 22 the most distressing and distasteful to resolve their outstanding issues was particularly jolting. Of course, aspects of the media’s coverage through dialogue. Or, it must be every day rapes are reported; of of the Mumbai gang rape was the left to the people of these countries young and old women and of little way it gave air time to politicians to to decide what kind of rulers they girls, of women in uniform, of hold forth, to score points against would like to have. The revolution women at work, of women at home, rivals, to demand resignations in a number of Arab countries has of women on their way to work, of and to blame other communities. demonstrated that even people can women on their way home. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader bring about regime change if the Raj Thackeray announced his absurd government becomes unpopular. The day after this ghastly assault, conclusion on prime time television When people will be behind the a front-page story reported the gang that recent migrants to the city regime change true democracy will rape of a policewoman in Jharkhand. prevail but if the regime change is And just in the vicinity of Mumbai, were responsible for the increase artificially brought about by the US in Navi Mumbai, a 13-year-old boy in crimes while also joining the there would be no guarantee of the was arrested for allegedly raping chorus demanding the resignation sustainability of the government as his five-year-old neighbour; in of Maharashtra’s Home Minister R. these governments will be perceived Mankhurd, a northeastern suburb R. Patil. by people as puppets. In any case, of Mumbai, a 22-year-old man was Palestine must first be established charged with raping a 21-year-old The problem with this volume of as an independent country and Israel woman; and in Pune, the body of an hot air emanating from the talking must be restrained. Why does the 11-year-old girl who had been raped heads on television talk shows biggest champion of democracy and murdered was found. is that it contributes to the pall not respect the wishes of people of of unreality that surrounds many Palestine? It also recently allowed the Rapes are not a creation of the issues in this country. It perpetuates democratically elected government modern world. They have happened the belief that there is a quick fix in Egypt to fall to a military coup. before. It is the tool men use to assert solution to every problem. One such That the US has double standards is their power over women. It is a tool quick fix is to insist that the home no secret now. men use to assert their power over minister should resign. Of course, other men, by raping “their” women, Maharashtra’s Home Minister did However, one must realise the US especially in an arena of war and not help his case by suggesting compulsions for going to war. The conflict, but even otherwise. economy not very long back was in that every woman journalist on an doldrums. The banks in a country Today’s rapes are no different. assignment should take along some which is the biggest champion of They have increased in number. security. The suggestion was too free market had to be bailed out by They are reported. And a media, absurd to even merit serious debate. the government, which is unheard which has realised that readers have of. It is no secret that the health of a vicarious interest in reading about Every time there is a case like military-industrial complex in the crimes, is obliging by amplifying, this which the media spotlights, we US is directly related to that of the selectively, a few of these crimes go over the same ground. We did economy. Hence, the best way to and acts of extreme violence against it last December. We are doing it boost the US economy would be women. Pages and pages are devoted again. After some time, the news to cater to the military-industrial to detailed reports about one or two slips to the inside pages, and the of these crimes, such as this recent questions that we should be asking (Continued on Page 6) incident. are forgotten. Until the next time. 6 JANATA, September 15, 2013

The question that got asked before the norm. Until the systemic issues stands out in the last few days since and needs to be addressed today is: that prevent such crimes from being that brutal crime was committed is How do we tackle the patriarchal reported and investigated, and then the attitude of the young journalist. mindset in this country that still prosecuted, are addressed, we will It has been exemplary. She has views women as commodities? The always only have exceptions. And declared that she wants to get back men who raped the young journalist if such crimes are only tackled in to work. She has not hesitated to in Mumbai apparently called up their exceptional cases, then the culture friends and used the word “maal” of impunity will become even more recall every painful detail for the while referring to her. embedded. police. She has refused to see this as the end of her life. She is in an It is this mindset that makes I write this when the Mumbai rape exception — of a kind that this men pour acid and disfigure for case is still on the front pages. What country badly needs. life women who dare refuse their overtures. It is this mindset that (Continued from Page 3) The Hurriyat, it seems, is riding compels even women to abort too many horses at the same time. the southern Kashmir was targeted female foetuses rather than raise It wants to mean everything to with rockets. There was a hartal at daughters. It is this mindset that everybody in the valley. And then Srinagar. But this exercise has been views all women out in the public it wants Jammu and Ladakh to stay gone over by many a time before. space as available, as targets, as with the valley. If it wants a sway women who must be taught a over the entire state, it should win Yet both countries signed an lesson. over Jammu and Ladakh which agreement in 1972 at Shimla to oppose the Hurriyat tooth and nail. The second issue is the culture of end hostilities. They pledged to To represent Kashmir, it has to have impunity that has come to prevail sort out their disputes, including Jammu and Ladakh with it. Then the in this country. It begins at the top Kashmir, through bilateral talks. Azad Kashmir under Pakistan would but has now permeated to every This has held the ground for the last also listen to the Hurriyat. The valley level. It is interesting that one of the 31 years. A few meetings between by itself has a weak case. men arrested for the Mumbai rape the two countries have been held admitted that he never expected the since. By all means they should (Continued from Page 5) hold further talks on Kashmir. But survivor to report the rape. complex. When war would be they cannot fructify unless one of fought weapons manufacturing them changes its stance. New Delhi It is this belief, that women will not will receive a fillip. Moreover, the report because of the shame society considers Kashmir as its integral part Iraq war has shown that there are associates with their being sexually and Pakistan would like to have the rebuilding contracts up for grab after violated and, second, that even if valley to merge with it. The Hurriyat devastation of enemy country. The they do nothing much will happen, continues to expect a solution which reconstruction economy is equally that encourages those planning and does not seem possible. Six decades big. contemplating such crimes. In this have gone by. There is yet nothing case, the young woman had her wits on the horizon. International opinion The US economy will be thankful around her and gave a full statement is mute, and it has left the matter for to any President who'll bring war. to the police within hours of reaching the two countries to settle. Barack Obama would not like to the hospital. Also, she and her male go down in history as a President colleague were able to describe The Hurriyat has to introspect and who didn't do enough to help the their assailants in detail. Given change its tactics. It has to prove that economy. Where there is no war, the publicity around the crime, the it counts. It should capture the state one will have to be created. It is bad government and the Mumbai police assembly if the Kashmiris are with luck for Bashar-Al-Assad that it is were compelled to move quickly and it. It can have its own chief minister now his turn to be targeted. It doesn't as a result the five alleged rapists who could forcefully articulate the matter to the US that the rebels Al- have been arrested. demand for azaadi. But does it have Nusra may have links to Al-Qaeda, the following? It is easy to gather which till the last US war not very But we must remember that this the crowd but difficult to convert it long back was its enemy number is an exception; it is very far from into votes. one. Can the US be so short sighted? JANATA, September 15, 2013 7 Appeal from Gujarat

Affected people of the proposed famous across India and they are also of detailed country-by-country 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear exported), Chickoos, Coconut, etc. information. The 2013 edition Power Plant of Gujarat, India need This area also grows and supplies also includes an update on nuclear your support and solidarity. vegetables like Onion, Brinjal, economics as well as an overview Gourd, Tomatoes, Drumsticks, etc. of the status, on-site and off-site, A Memorandum of Understanding Also the agriculture department has of the challenges triggered by the (MoU) to set up a 6000 MW Nuclear found the climate and soil suitable Fukushima disaster. However, this Power plant in village Mithi Virdi, for cashew nuts. report’s emphasis on recent post- Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, was Fukushima developments should signed by the Government of Gujarat People of the area were blissfully not obscure an important fact. (GOG) with the Nuclear Power unaware of the proposed nuclear The world nuclear industry had Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) – project when Paryavaran Suraksha already faced daunting challenges a Government of India company – in Samiti (a voluntary organisation) long before Fukushima, just as the the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ activists visited Mithi Virdi area. U.S. nuclear power industry had summit in 2007. The exact location They had no idea of the impending largely collapsed after the 1979 of the Nuclear Power Plant is just threat to their land, livelihood and the Three Mile Island accident. The a few kms away from ALANG environmental and health hazards of nuclear promoters’ invention that Shipbreaking Yard. Five villages nuclear energy. a global nuclear renaissance was – Jaspara, Mithi Virdi, Mandva, Since 2007 the Bhavnagar Jilla flourishing until 3/11 is equally false. Khadarpar and Sosiya stand to lose Gram Bachao Samiti, Anu Urja Fukushima only added to the already 777 hectares of their fertile land to Abhyas Juth, Gujarat Anu-urja grave problems, starting with poor the proposed nuclear power plant. Mukti Andolan and Paryavaran economics. Suraksha Samiti conducted The site selection committee for awareness programmes. As a result Let us look at what the report has the Nuclear Power Plant constituted the villagers with the support of a to say about operations. There are 31 in 2005 had short listed Mithi Virdi number of organisations in Gujarat countries operating nuclear power and submitted its report on 28th and across India started agitation plants in the world. A total of 427 June 2007. AP1000 is an untested against the proposed 6000 MW reactors have a combined installed reactor technology. USNRC had Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant. capacity of 364 GWe. These figures raised several technical doubts about The slogan of the struggle today assume the final shutdown of the ten the reactors, which were given a is “No Nuclear Power Plant in Mithi reactors at Fukushima-Daiichi and nod to by non-technical committee Virdi, not anywhere in the world”. -Daini. It should be noted that as of 1 members of the NRC. July 2013 only two (Ohi-3 and -4) of Two years after the Fukushima the 44 remaining Japanese reactors The villages of Mithi Virdi, disaster, its impact on the global are operating and their future is Jaspara, Mandva, Khadarpar and nuclear industry has become highly uncertain. In fact, many Sosiya are blessed with fertile land. increasingly visible. Global observers believe that a large share Of the five villages, three villages – electricity generation from nuclear of the suspended Japanese units will Mithi Virdi, Jaspara and Sosiya are plants dropped by a historic 7 likely never restart. situated along the coastline. Most percent in 2012, adding to the record of the land proposed to be acquired drop of 4 percent in 2011. This is The nuclear industry is also in falls under Jaspara village. There are according to World Nuclear Industry decline. The 427 operating reactors total 152 villages in 30 Kms radius Status Report 2013 (WNISR) which are 17 lower than the peak in 2002, of the proposed nuclear power plant. provides a global overview of the while, the total installed capacity history, the current status and the peaked in 2010 at 375 GWe before The main occupation of the trends of nuclear power programs declining to the current level of 364 villagers is agriculture. The rich worldwide. GWe, which was last seen a decade alluvial soil here supports, crops ago. Annual nuclear electricity like Ground Nut, Wheat, Bajra, This report looks at nuclear generation reached a maximum in Cotton, etc and fruits like Mangoes reactor units in operation and under 2006 at 2,660 TWh, then dropped (Mangoes from Sosiya are very construction and provides 40 pages to 2,346 TWh in 2012 (down 7 8 JANATA, September 15, 2013 percent compared to 2011, down 12 Chutka (Madhya Pradesh) and The affected people are planning percent from 2006). About three- Haripur (West Bengal) waging to organise massive rally on 23 quarters of this decline is due to relentless struggles against these September 2013 from Mithi Virdi to the situation in Japan, but 16 other anti-people and unsafe nuclear Bhavnagar (40Kms) and meeting at countries, including the top five power projects promoted by the Bhavnagar to register their protest. nuclear generators, decreased their Nuclear Power Corporation of nuclear generation too. India Ltd (NPCIL). Their massive To have some idea about the peaceful protests have mostly ongoing struggle against the propsed The nuclear share in the world’s been met with callousness and 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power power generation declined steadily brutal repression on the part of the Plant you can look at FACEBOOK from a historic peak of 17 percent governments. Communities near the PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/ in 1993 to about 10 percent in existing nuclear facilities in Tarapur, GujaratAnuUrjaMuktiAndolan; EPH 2012. Nuclear power’s share of Rawatbhata, Kalpakkam, Kaiga, VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/ global commercial primary energy Kakrapar and Hyderabad have also watch?v=ny4uiz1njHI; VILLAGE production plunged to 4.5 percent, been raising voices against radiation VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/ a level last seen in 1984. Only one leaks and their harmful effects, watch?v=4q4lhm0Y4XA. country, the Czech Republic, reached which are often hushed up by the We need your support. You can its record nuclear contribution to the authorities. Existing and proposed organize the meeting on or before 23 electricity mix in 2012. new uranium mines in Jharkhand, September 2013 in your group, city Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya and pass a resolution in support of The report also points out have also met with massive protests. the struggle and if you are in USA that two-thirds (44) of the units then you may try to organize protest under construction are located The Indian Prime Minister, in New York during the meeting in three countries: China, India Manmohan Singh is visiting of Indian Prime Minister with the and Russia. The Government of USA from 20 to 28 September USA authorities to finalize the India is aggressively pursuing its 2013. During the visit, there is a Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant. nuclear programmes in spite of possibility of the meeting between Send us copy of resolution, meeting people from Koodankulam (Tamil Westinghouse and NPCIL to finalise details, audio-video solidarity Nadu), Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Mithi the deal for the Mithi Virdi Nuclear messages to rohit.prajapati@gmail. Virdi (Gujarat), Kovvada (Andhra Power Plant. com,[email protected], Pradesh), Gorakhpur (Haryana), and [email protected]

Bhavnagar Jilla Gram Bachao Samiti, Gujarat Anu-urja Mukti Andolan, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti Us Hegemonic Designs

Once again the US is on the verge Syria. The Syrian Government has terrorists. Extremist ideologies such of attacking a sovereign nation on always called for a political solution as these are a threat to the multi- dubious and fraudulent evidence, to the civil war; the fact is that the cultural and secular character of which will only be an horrifying US-led western powers, as well as Syria, where the religious and ethnic repeat of the lies on Iraq. The US is the Gulf monarchies have sabotaged minorities live in peace. once again bypassing the UN and every attempt at a political dialogue Also once again it is evident that is in violation of all international between the government and the the battle is to control the Oil and Gas structures and legal norms. rebels. resources of the region as new and massive finds have been discovered The world is yet to receive the The other worrying factor is that in the Eastern Mediterranean. The report of the team of UN inspectors the rebellion is dominated by the control of the pipelines is a major that are still determining the nature hardcore extremist Jabhat al Nusra, and key factor as well. of the chemical weapons attack. which is an al-Qaeda affiliate. Thus Even prior to the UN report, the here we have the spectacle of the US The other US-Israeli objective US-led coalition that now includes and Western powers arming these is to destroy the “arch of the only France, are determined to attack very forces, which they lampoon as (Continued on Page 14) JANATA, September 15, 2013 9 Indian Economy and the Crisis of Borrowed Development Strategy

Arun Kumar

The economic growth rate has Post-1991, growth has been inequalities rise. By raising costs all been falling continuously while the fuelled by the private corporate round, the rate of inflation is raised. consumer price inflation, current sector with highly capital intensive Further, the inefficiencies associated account deficit in the external sector technology which does not generate with the black economy result in and fiscal deficit in the Budget much employment and also increases wasteful use of capital and lower remain at high levels. The lack of inequality in the economy. Most of employment generation than is confidence in the Indian economy is the gains have been cornered by a potentially possible. Through flight manifested by the sudden and sharp few leaving little to trickle down of capital it increases the shortage decline in the value of the rupee vis- to others. This is especially true for of capital and aggravates the current a-vis the dollar in spite of the steps the marginalised sections like the account deficit on the external sector taken by the government and the unorganised sectors and especially and leads to BOP problems. Last Reserve Bank of India. The stock the agricultural sector which still but not the least, it results in the markets are also fluctuating wildly deploys more than half of the work failure of policies so that targets reflecting the uncertainty in the force. The impact of the slowdown are not achieved. It affects the minds of the investors - both Indian in the growth rate is that what collection of taxes and that raises and foreign. The policy-makers trickles down becomes even less and the government’s budgetary deficits appear to be helpless. those at the bottom of the pyramid which leads to a cut-back in essential suffer even more. The government has tried to expenditures, say, on health and talk the markets up but with little education. Coupled with the declining effect. The PM, Finance Minister, economic growth rate is a stubbornly Deputy Chairman of the Planning In brief, under the New Economic high rate of inflation measured by Commission and Economic Policies (NEP) with their pro- consumer prices (roughly 10 per cent Advisor to the PM have all made corporate sector bias and with a rising per annum). While the wholesale pronouncements that the economic black economy, the combination of price index (WPI)-based inflation low rates of economic growth and recovery is around the corner. These has moderated, it does not reflect persisting high inflation results predictions over the last two years the burden of price rise on the in poor employment generation have been belied as the data in the consumer. The WPI-based inflation and mounting inequality. This is Table shows. The rate of growth has rate does not reflect the rise in prices a dangerous mix since it can only fallen quarter after quarter since the of services, like school fees or rents lead to growing social tensions and fourth quarter of 2010-11. or telephone calls and so on. The political strife in the country 66 It is true that the rate of growth is consumer price index has only a few years after we achieved political still good compared both to that of services; so it also under-represents independence. most other countries in the world or inflation. The price rise results in to the projections by the IMF (and shifting purchasing power from Consumerism and others) of the expected rate of growth the consumers to businesses and Environmental Decline of the world economy. This growth is thereby reducing the trickle-down Sixty six years after independence, also comparable to India’s historical and accentuating disparities. we have the largest number of poor growth rate since independence. people, illiterates and so on in the However, the current growth path Add to this the rising black income world. It is not that India has not is not comparable with that prior to generation in the economy with made progress after independence 1991 because that was not creating corruption spreading and growing but it is much less than what was inequality and unemployment which in scale. Since the black economy expected. It is much less than what the current marginalising growth has is concentrated in the hands of many other nations have achieved been doing. three per cent of the population, in a comparable time-span. India 10 JANATA, September 15, 2013 appears to be a case of many missed Underlying consumerism is a the British economy. The Japanese opportunities. political strategy of the Indian economy has been growing slowly ruling elite to divert the attention and the Chinese economy has been Further, at a very low level of of the population from the present slowing down recently. Thus, all the consumption, India has one of the problems by involving them in major economies of the world have most polluted environments in the consumerism. Those who can afford been growing slowly or slowing world. The pollution of water in the to consume more are happy at the down. rivers and underground aquifers is availability of goods in the markets. phenomenal leading to increased Those who cannot afford can dream India’s exports have consequently incidence of various diseases. The of one day buying these goods. suffered. (See Table) Imports have pollution of air is also very high There are those in the middle who remained high because of the high compared to even the developed aspire to lay their hands on the more prices of energy and India’s rising countries and this is also resulting exotic ones while buying some of the demand for energy. Further, due in health problems. The tragedy less exotic ones. Everyone is happy to uncertainty the demand for gold is that this is at a very low level to live in the moment and the future in India has remained high in a of per capita consumption. What be damned—a very short-term period when gold prices have risen would happen when with growth strategy and one that is inimical to globally. Thus, the gold and energy consumption rises? building a strong nation and creates import bills have been high keeping atomisation and alienation amongst the import bill high. This is the The causes of this high level the people. reason for the continuing high trade of pollution are: a) the strategy account and current account deficits. of ‘growth at any cost’ without Internal and External Problems The problem has been aggravated taking the environmental factors into The external environment for by the high debt ($ 365 billion in account; b) the rampant corruption India’s economic development has September 2012) in relation to the which leads to cutting corners deteriorated since the global crisis reserves ($295 billion in January in every economic activity with began in 2007. Due to the ongoing 2013) the country holds, and this environmental protection getting indiscriminate globalisation initiated prevents the RBI from intervening the least priority; c) international in 1991, Indian markets have become more aggressively. Further, the division of labour which is resulting more closely integrated with the proportion of short-term debt in the in polluting industries getting located world markets. The ratio of our total debt has increased since 2008 in the developing countries; and d) exports and imports to the GDP and this is the one that can evaporate rapid increase in consumerism. have risen dramatically. Movements quickly destabilising the position in the financial markets (like the of the country’s foreign exchange Recycling of ships, plastic waste, share market) are now governed by reserves. lead acid, computer waste and so those in the international markets. on is taking place in India. Dirty Commodity prices move in tandem With the slowing down of the production of heavy chemicals with international prices like in the Indian economy, high rate of and metals is also occurring here. case of petroleum products and inflation and fiscal problems, the Massive denudation of forests is foodgrains. The result is that a crisis international community has been the result of open cast mining, large in the global markets leads to a crisis losing confidence in the Indian projects for producing power, setting in the Indian economy. economy. Thus, the credit rating up of airports, expansion of road and agencies have been threatening to rail networks and so on. It is said that Since the recovery from the lower India’s rating. This would lead development requires all this. Is this recession starting 2007 was tepid to a higher cost of borrowing abroad true? Not quite since environmental in the OECD countries, the Indian and devaluation of the currency destruction lowers the welfare gains economy also faltered soon after adding to the repayment burden. of material growth. It is like digging the recovery stalled there. The green These would lead to an increase holes and filling them where there is shoots in the US economy in 2009-10 in the current account deficit. This activity without productivity. One withered after 2010. Unemployment sets up a vicious cycle of declining needs to question the development there has remained high and so has growth, higher current account model which postpones the costs to underemployment. Eurozone has deficit and lowered credit rating for the future generations. gone back into recession and so has India. JANATA, September 15, 2013 11

The rating agencies monitor the of the Indian economy fell after The External Orientation: fiscal deficit of the country. So, the 2007. It has not recovered and, A Historical Perspective government has been trying to keep as the Table shows, it has fallen the fiscal deficit low. How is that further in the previous two years. India started in 1947 with a being done? By cutting back on Plan This is a cause of the slowdown borrowed strategy of development expenditures (two years back by in the economy. Both the private which propagated the top-down about Rs 1 lakh crore and in the last corporate sector and public sector approach. It was a mixed economy fiscal by more than that) and other companies are flush with funds but model based on the market economy essential expenditures. This is like are not investing since the demand in the West and the path of central chopping the nose to cure a cold. is limited. Thus, the government’s planning from the Soviets. India’s Cutbacks in a period of a slowing strategy of dealing with the problem ingenuity lay in combining the economy and demand shortage lead has become the cause of the problem. two paths but both were copied to further demand shortage and a and based on trickle-down. This further slowing down. Thus, the The current problem facing the is called the Nehruvian strategy of fiscal deficit target is being met by economy is the external orientation development. The indigenous path cutting back expenditures and not of the policy-makers. They are suggested by Gandhi based on a better management and in this sense sensitive to the wishes of the bottom-up approach was rejected the fiscal situation is out of control discredited rating agencies and because the Indian elite wanted to in spite of the fiscal deficit not rising multilateral agencies. This outward quickly copy Western modernity and dramatically. This strategy, which orientation of the policy-maker has join the Western elite. Consequently, keeps the growth rate low, is bound marginalised the Indian population while a small elite did well, the rest to make the rating agencies lower at large. No wonder, economic had to plod along with the little that India’s rating. experts being appointed in the trickled down. This strategy paid government are being imported from lip-service to the poor and poverty The savings and investment rate the US. removal. It met with crisis after

Gandhi Katha Dear Friends, This is to invite you to a unique discourse on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti which falls on 2nd October. Narayanbhai Desai, senior Sarvodaya leader, a true Gandhian and the son of Mahadevbhai Desai who was Mahatma Gandhi’s private secretary for two scores of years has been narrating ‘Gandhi Katha’ for the last eleven years. This discourse has taken place all over Gujarat and also in various places in the country and the U. S.

We in Mumbai will get a golden opportunity to listen to the unknown aspects of Gandhi’s life and personality from the 88 years old veteran who has had a personal interaction with the Mahatma.

The venue is Mahatma Gandhi Seva Mandir, opposite the Lake, S V Road, Bandra West and the time is 5.30 pm to 9 pm every day from October 2 to October 6, 2013 Please do attend and also inform your friends. It promises to be an experience of a lifetime Yours sincerely. Neela Bhagwat, Pushpa Bhave, Vijaya Chauhan, Rajni Bakshi, Ramdas Bhatkal, Daniel Mazgaonkar, Vinayak Pandit, Amarendra Dhaneshwar, Jayant Diwan, Simpreet Singh… 12 JANATA, September 15, 2013 crisis since the mid-1960s - failure of agriculture and consequent food insecurity, Naxalism, Emergency, rising strife, alienation and black economy and growing inefficiencies, repeated approach to the multi- lateral agencies for help/adjustment and support at high national cost and so on.

The path met its waterloo in 1991 and the strategy was changed from the mixed economy to the market economy with the state retreating strategically in favour of the private sector. The trickle-down declined further. This was characterised by the World Bank (earlier) as the ‘market friendly state intervention’. In the Indian context with its large black economy and high level of corruption this led to the strengthening of the ‘crony capitalism’ model of investment being followed in the country since independence. With the lowering growth is the key to development; So, even after 66 years of of the priority to public sector distribution does not matter. The independence, the government - the private sector became the policy-makers recognise this factor dominated by the elite - remains dominant sector and it extracted and, therefore, have put into place insensitive to the problems of the huge concessions - like ownership policies to mitigate the ill-effects people of India. It is continuing with of natural resources and cuts in of the ongoing marginalising the borrowed path of development taxes. The new strategy based growth: MGNREGS to get some which leads the nation from one on marketisation stopped paying employment for the underemployed crisis to the next without a solution even lip-service to the poor. We and for those who migrate from the - in fact, only non-solutions abound are embroiled in the numbers poor areas to richer areas; mid-day which result in the accumulation game of counting the poor without meal scheme to get children into of more problems. To divert the eliminating poverty which has schools otherwise their parents will attention of the people, the policy- constantly changed its face set them to work to supplement their makers have promoted consumerism with growing consumerism and family income; loan waiver scheme in a big way leading to a huge commercialisation of everything. for farmers so that the indebted environmental crisis and other farmers can get relief and do not problems. Thus, what the colonised While the earlier strategy commit suicide in large numbers. mind of the Indian elite thinks is the produced growth which was much Now there is the Food Security Bill solution has been the problem since faster than during the colonial which will hopefully provide more independence and that is why the period prior to 1947, it also kept the nutrition to the poor. Today 40 per policy-makers currently appear to growing disparities in check (not cent of the women and children are be helpless. that it reduced them). The post- malnourished and face disability and 1991 strategy does not even claim permanent poverty. to reduce disparities because now [Based on the author’s new book, The Indian Economy since Independence: Persisting Colonial Disruption, published by Vision Books, New Delhi] –Mainstream JANATA, September 15, 2013 13 Call it crime, not superstition

Pratap Bhanu Mehta

Belief and ritual can, literally, be harms are already covered by the pointed out, the penalties are less a matter of life and death. Narendra IPC. Murder should be murder, for the “same offence” if tried Dabholkar courageously spent his whether it is done chasing witches or under a prevention of witchcraft act life combating superstition and communal ghosts. Forcibly evicting than those prescribed for the same irrationality. His violent death is someone from their property or offence if tried under the IPC. It is as a reminder of the depths to which doing anything to their bodies if, if you have inflicted harm under a discourses around culture have without consent is a crime, no matter superstition, you have committed a fallen in Maharashtra. We do not what the cause. But the minute lesser crime. This assumption often have a full handle on how society we represent law as regulating pervades judging as well. Courts is changing. But the demands of superstition rather than focusing often commute sentences because law, morality and commonsense on the harm in question, we give a crime was committed under the are increasingly immobilised in a misleading moral account of spell of a “belief”. In a famous case the face of absurd cultural claims. why an act is wrong. Many years from Bihar, Santul Dhobi, a death Don’t prejudge guilt or innocence. ago, Lata Mani had pointed out in sentence was commuted on these But just think of the absurd way a brilliant work that in the debate grounds. in which charges against Asaram over sati, neither the modernists Bapu have been handled by the nor the orthodox were particularly But before we express our state. Many aspects of Dabholkar’s concerned about the agency and disquiet at this form of judging, struggle, saving people from the dignity of the women involved. we need to reflect more deeply on horrendous consequences of harmful Rather, women became sites upon where this assumption comes from. rituals, the promotion of science in which larger debates about tradition Some legislation, like the recently public affairs, need to be continued and modernity were carried out. enacted Maharashtra ordinance, has with renewed vigour. But we also There is a real risk that a lot of the a strong dose of legal paternalism. need to reflect more deeply on the witchcraft legislation is sending a Apart from preventing harms that way in which we have used the similar signal. The signal is: we are are already crimes, the purpose of intersection of law and superstition more concerned about “superstition” the legislation is to protect people to obscure deep moral issues. We versus “science” than about the from their own beliefs, beliefs in may, unwittingly, be sending mixed autonomy and dignity of the victims. godmen or the power of amulets, moral messages. The signal we want to send is etc. Whether law should regulate not primarily that these acts are forms of enchantment if they do Take the example of anti- wrong because they emanate from not cause independently identified witchcraft legislation in states like superstition. They are wrong because harm to others is an open question. Jharkhand. Witchcraft has claimed they cause harm. But the moral But for the argument here, the dozens of lives over a decade. But importance of the harm disappears relevant point is this. If the law is the moral purpose of the law when the object of the law becomes constructs citizens in a paternalistic better served by having separate regulating superstition rather than way, odd legal consequences laws to punish the harm done by the harm. follow. For example, our absurd witchcraft as witchcraft, or should anti-conversion legislation is it be governed as much as possible This legislation can sometimes premised on the idea that people by existing laws and IPC? These have perverse consequences. cannot judge religious claims on practices often involve inflicting Sometimes the multiplication of their own, they can be duped. physical harm on an individual, laws gives police more discretion But if we seriously believe this subjecting them to psychological over which charges to bring. As a premise, can you really criticise harassment and sometimes actions brief prepared at Cornell University the judge who has sympathy for the that lead to death. Most of these on India’s witchcraft legislation perpetrators of crimes committed 14 JANATA, September 15, 2013 in the name of belief? He now sees some individual claims to be a Don’t cover it in a complicated them not as criminals, but victims godman. Others want to respond by metaphysics of belief. Our laws are of a sort; they have not committed legally proscribing claims to being often ineffective because we acquire a murder, they have carried out a a godman. All we need to say is: no a superstitious faith in the power of cultural ritual, whether it is honour- matter who you are and what people law when drafting them. We may killing or witchcraft. Enshrining think, you are not above the law if need new laws in some cases. But paternalism in the law diminishes you have committed a crime. Name we need to be careful how they are the moral importance of the harm murder by its real name, murder. drafted. committed, and, in a strange way, –The Indian Express makes citizens less responsible. (Continued from Page 8) contrary reports from UN inspectors In a brilliant article on the resistance”, namely Syria, Iran, who had gone inside Iraq and IAEA. anthropology of witchcraft, Nandini Lebanon and Palestine to enable Now Obama wants the world to Sundar had pointed out that, in the Israel not only to dominate, but also believe that Syrian government has case of witchcraft, “accusations of expand its borders and be the sole used chemical weapons without occult practices are a way of coping hegemonic power in the region. waiting for confirmation from the with [the] uncertainties of human UN inspectors who have been sent existence”. One of her points was The US military strike will to Syria. that a whole range of background certainly lead to a worsening The Socialist Party appeals conditions needs to be addressed if regional conflagration, with strong possibilities of a world war. This is to the political and diplomatic one is to come to terms with these due to the simple fact that the major agencies world over to ensure practices. Can you blame someone world powers have taken clear sides peace in violence-ridden Syria with for reposing faith in a traditional in the crisis. Russia and China stand immediate effect. healer, given their lack of experience in determined opposition to the US and trust in a medical practitioner? strike. Prem Singh - Sandeep Pandey An ojha is more likely to be subject Socialist Party (India) to “malpractice” than bad doctors. Moreover across the world and There is some evidence for Ashis especially in the western capitals, Nandy’s claim that many so-called the overwhelming majority of the superstitious practices are not our people are opposed to the war on prehistory; they are sometimes Syria. Once again we are witness to products of an instrumentalist the fact that the people of the world culture. Increase in incidence of are opposed to war and violence. “witchcraft” seems to be related to This has already ensured that Britain the desire to get hold of someone’s was forced to withdraw from the US- property. But, more deeply, the point led war. Even the European Union is that when it comes to dealing has said that they all need to wait with human agents, superstition and till the UN submits its final report. science, tradition and modernity do The Saudi-Qatar dominated Arab not neatly map onto individuals. It is League, too has asked the US to often a line running through, rather seek clearance from the UN before than between, them. proceeding with the strike.

How the law does what it does is But why is Obama now targeting important. There is larger cultural another Arab country and willing work to be done over spreading to ignore the UN decision making Price: Rs. 20/- science. But the focus of law should process like his predecessor George Janata Trust Bush did. Even his reason to attack is be squarely on bringing into view D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir the moral harm done by certain acts. so similar to that of Bush. Bush had Bharucha Marg, We have a strange debate, where lied to the world about presence of Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. some hesitate to take action because nuclear weapons in Iraq in spite of JANATA, September 15, 2013 15 Disqualification

The news of the Ministry of efforts to point out irregularities and should have encouraged such Human Resource Development in the conduct of Commission vigilant participation, has instead serving a show-cause notice to meetings and recording of minutes initiated the process of removing Prof. Yogendra Yadav, Member, also seems to have put some officials the member. Such a measure sends Univrsity Grants Commission in an uncomfortable situation. a strong message of intolerance (UGC), to explain why he should towards all members who consider not be removed from the UGC has We believe that such active it their duty to express their opinions shocked and dismayed the academic concern is precisely what should be and threatens to severely erode the community. The notice mentions a expected from a member of a body of ethos of informed debate and fearless conflict of interest, Prof. Yogendra national importance like the UGC as participation. It demonstrates an Yadav being an active member of a this is what strengthens the working utter disregard for the autonomy newly registered political party, as of such bodies. We are shocked that vested in the institution of the UGC the reason for such removal. the Ministry, which, in a healthy without which it cannot be expected democracy, should have given due to play its role as a regulatory body The UGC has a formal policy importance to the matters raised, effectively. on Conflict of Interest and Code –from a petition of Conduct for Members of the to the Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Commission which does not mention political activity as a potential conflict of interest. The Why allow candidates to contest University Grants Commission (Disqualification, Retirement and from more than one constituency? Conditions of Service) Rule, 1992 provides for specific grounds of Election Commission should Otherwise he would opt for retaing disqualification which, again, does immediately implement a simple Lok Sabha seat. Such faulty system not include membership of a political and basic reform that no person should be rectified so as not to party as a valid ground. may be allowed to contest from allow unnecessary by-elections for more than one constituency or for the convenience of over-ambitious It is evident that the decision both Lok Sabha and Vidhaan Sabha. politicians. of serving the show-cause notice It is ridiculous to unnecessary stems from the fact that Prof. waste public money on holding by- Also a Parliamentarian being Yogendra Yadav chose to be an elections in case some person wins appointed a minister (or Chief active member of the Commission from more than one constituency Minister) of a State should automatically lose his/her who raised questions and recorded or for both Lok Sabha and Vidhaan Sabha in a system where a person membership of Parliament on his objections in regard to several cannot represent more than one taking oath as a minister or Chief matters of national importance constituency and also cannot be Minister. Likewise a state-legislator such as the introduction of the four a member of both Lok Sabha and should automatically lose his/her year undergraduate programme Vidhaan Sabha. Rather a sitting membership of state-assembly/ in Delhi University, bypassing of MP or MLA must resign from council on taking oath as minister the recommendations of the UGC his/her earlier seat before filing (or Prime Minister) in the centre. A committee in the notification of nomination for the other. Former controversial vote of the then Orissa the API scheme, closing down of Delhi Chief Minister Madanlal Chief Minister Girdhar Gomango Centres for Social Inclusion and Khurana used to contest both for pulled down Exclusion, and the decision to set up Lok Sabha and Vidhaan Sabha with government by his single vote a Centre on Teacher Education in a ambition to retain Vidhaan Sabha putting nation to costly mid-term Technical University that does not seat to become Chief Minister in elections. even have a department of education. case of his party coming to power. Prof. Yogendra Yadav’s persistent - Subhash Chandra Agrawal R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 15, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, September 15, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday September 18, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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

Vol. 68 No. 37 The Modi mythology September 22, 2013 S. Viswam

Lal Krishna Advani’s “sulk” Modi would not compromise on over the road-rolling nomination of the issue of Hindutva. Then, to Narendra Modi as the BJP 2014 prime no one’s surprise, the former BJP ministerial candidate lasted just 48 president declared at Idea of India at peril hours. He fought hard and well to a RSS-VHP-BJP meeting in New Kuldip Nayar ensure that the nomination went to Delhi a fortnight ago that saffron some other leader, preferably himself, privar’s basic agenda for fighting but he could not make the RSS yield. the 2014 polls comprised the Ram He beat a hasty retreat when he Janmabhoomi movement, Ayodhya Freedom Fighter realized that Modi’s nomination was temple construction, Article 370, Par Excellence inevitable. He is now trying to put a cow protection, a common civil G. S. Bhargava pleasant face on his embarrassment. code, and the purify Ganga-Jamuna BJP President Rajnath Singh says campaign. All the issues that were that Modi’s choice was determined put in cold storage by the Vajpayee- Report on by the top echelons of the RSS Advani duo in order to ensure that the BJP-NDA secured power at the Muzaffarnagar – Violence and the BJP was fully supportive. Centre. Since the BJP leadership concedes that Modi’s pan-Indian political- Now that return to power in New mass base is negligible, they need Delhi seems full of hurdles, despite some other strategy to win votes. the unpopularity of the UPA, the That strategy obviously is a strong buried issues are being revived. The push for Hindutva. Modi is one of RSS has taken charge again as it did the strong faces of Hindutva and Editor : in 2004 and 2009, and it now projects the RSS hopes to project him as the view among its constituents that G. G. Parikh the winning candidate by virtue of it is worth making the buried issues Managing Editor : Guddi his capacity to hardsell Hindutva. active since revival of Hinduta is Leave alone the BJP. Its allies a means to power. Past experience D-15, Ganesh Prasad, in the NDA formation also are tells us that Hindutva is and can be a Naushir Bharucha Marg, banking on Hindutva and whatever highly emotive issue among a section Mumbai - 400 007. it stands as the reference point of of the Hindus, although by and large the BJP campaign. The Shiv Sena Hindutva remains a divisive issue. Email : [email protected] chief Uddhav Thackeray said the The vast majority of voters in other day that his party hoped that India feel that Hindutva is already 2 JANATA, September 22, 2013 a spent force and the political- Between the lines electoral dividends it can yield is exaggerated but only limited Idea of India at peril in reality. The Indian electorate has a sizable section of youth as Kuldip Nayar voters. The number of young men Gujarat chief minister Narendra has challenged India’s credentials and women eligible to vote has Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of secularism. Modi is a Hindutava risen sharply after the raising of of the (BJP), poster-boy, as the media describes the voting age to 18. Besides, the has asked the Jamaat-Ulema Hind, him. After 66 years of independence, new generation that is passing representing the Muslims, to list four the two communities tend to jump out of the portals of universities or five steps he should announce to at each other’s throat on the call of and colleges eye a business or win their confidence. The Jamaat religious leaders or politicians in that professional career as an ideal worth has rightly pointed out that it was for garb. The nation has to introspect pursuing instead of getting caught Modi to think how to win the trust why the people play into their hands in the spiritual-religious world of Muslims. One thing Modi could and why it has failed to establish a of conservatism and status quo. do straightaway is to apologize for secular polity. Shri Modi comes to the electoral the 2002 riots in the state, reportedly Modi does not care about India’s arena with a baggage he is finding blessed by him after the burning ethos of pluralism. He has played of some Hindu pilgrims in a train it difficult to shed despite his the Hindu card because he believes compartment at Godhra, not far from protestations of non-involvement that secularism does not sit well Ahmedabad. in the 2002 anti-minority campaign. in a Hindu-majority country. If he has learned the lesson after the Although many myths have been There is enough evidence to confirm that Modi convened a Gujarat riots, as he claims, there is created by the BJP and the saffron meeting of top officials to plan no indication of that. He compared parivar to paint Modi in lily-white and execute an exercise to kill the the other day the victims in the colours, the fact remains that the Muslims. Hiren Pandya, a minister Gujarat riots to the puppies which minorities of the country still carry in Modi’s cabinet, had admitted after get crushed under a speeding car. bitter memories of that carnage. having participated in the riots that The RSS, which has nurtured The recent Muzaffarnagar riots, they were preplanned and that the Modi, believes that it wants the a blot on the Samajwadi Party police were asked not to interfere. next election to be fought on the government in UP, comes as a bitter He was murdered and till today the plank of “minority aggressiveness.” reminder of what happens when the murderer has not been brought to It is misinterpreting the minorities’ majority launches a vicious attack book. And only recently has a top articulation of their identity. Even on the minorities, an experience the police officer confessed in a letter to if there is aggressiveness, it can Muslims of Gujarat went through. the Central Bureau of Investigation be tackled. But the majority’s (CBI) that Modi used him to stage The nation needs to be prepared for aggressiveness can turn into fascism. the false encounter. the intensification of the Hinduta This is what happened in Germany where the Nazis took over and Hitler campaign in the coming months In his first speech after the emerged on the scene. and days. National politics is bound nomination, Modi talked about a range of issues—ties with to get vitiated. Admittedly, the It is unfortunate that the BJP has neighbouring countries, terrorism Congress has yet to wake up fully selected Modi, knowing too well and defence. But he did not utter that the party was defeated in 2004 to the danger ahead. But the strong a word about Muzzafarnagar’s and 2009 elections because of its lobby of secularists among us communal riots. The city, only two communal agenda. Even Atal Behari have to raise their voices against hours’ drive from Delhi, witnessed Vajpayee’s liberal image could not the Hindutva campaign and save the killing of 50 persons and the wear off the stigma of parochialism our democracy and polity getting exodus of nearly 40,000 people— the party has. Hindus and Muslims, who have sharply polarized on communal By and large, India is a tolerant lived together for centuries. lines. All power to those who join society. The people do not mix the cause of fighting communal Indeed, this is the result of Modi- politics. type of politics of polarization which (Continued on Page 6) JANATA, September 22, 2013 3 Yusuf Meherally Freedom Fighter Par Excellence*

G. S. Bhargava

Lord Byron said that he got up one India’s first textile mill in Bombay Chaura, dismayed and puzzled him. morning and found himself great. and laid the foundation stone for He shared the depression which set in Though Meherally is too modest the country’s light industry. The among the youth after the calling-off to put forth any such claim, he too transition from feudal to capitalist of the movement. He thought that if a overnight shot into prominence. One economy was fairly set; factories and group of young people, intellectually single day, February 8, 1928, put him slums were multiplying in the urban well-equipped and properly trained, on the pinnacle of popularity; his areas. Their family was traditionally dedicated themselves to the cause of name was on the lips of everybody; pro-British and all the upper class the country, the revolution could be his reputation reached the four prejudices were handed down from led to a successful conclusion. This corners of the country. Not that there generation to generation, as a part idea found fruition in the Bombay was spade work before it but, as in of ancestral bequest. When Yusuf Provincial Youth League which was the case of Byron’s lyrical genius, went to jail in 1930, several of his inaugurated in February 1928. the recognition was so sudden and elders said it was a disgrace to the complete. family that one of its members was The Youth Conference opened a “law-breaker”. a new era in the country’s political On that day, he had not only history; for the first time, youth was dared to shout “Go back, Simon” (a The first nine years of his life canalised for national action. About slogan of his own creation, which were spent in Calcutta, then the 1700 delegates from all over the echoed in every nook and corner of storm-centre of Vande Mataram and province attended the conference, India) to the face of the all-mighty, anti-Bengal-partition agitations. But which was presided over by K. F. British plenipotentiary, but had only after Gandhiji arrived on the Nariman. Meherally was the moving also defied the injunctions of his Indian political scene and took the spirit behind the organization. political superiors who counselled country spell-bound, did he enter inaction. His impetuousness and active politics. At the age of ten, The most important decision dare-devilry, the extreme originality Yusuf returned to Bombay, his birth of the conference was to organize of his ideas, struck even Gandhiji, place. He then joined the St. Xavier’s an effective boycott of the Simon who complimented him. In a High School. While still in the high Commission and a detailed, though primitive world, he would have school, he studied the revolutionary ambitious, programme was chalked become a legend, an Ajax defying movements of different countries out for the same. Though this the lightning of despotism. Poets and was impressed by the role youth decision was in consonance with the would have made of his heroics had played in them. He read Mazzini principle of the Congress decision, songs for a nation. The tale of his and Garibaldi and closely followed yet in the matter of procedure it Perils and Patriotism would have the Russian and Chinese (Sun-Yat- went a long way ahead. And here been the model to inspire and inform sen’s) revolutions. The successful lay the rub. children. boycott of the Milner Mission in Egypt and the birth and growth of The Congress, the Muslim Born in late 1903, Meherally the Sinn Fein Movement in Ireland League, the Hindu Mahasabha and was only twenty-four at the time interested him deeply. the Liberal Party were all united of the Simon Commission’s visit. on the principle of boycott of the His father, Jaffer Meherally was a In Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Commission. At that time, Mrs. prosperous businessman and the Movenrent, he found a parallel to Sarojini Naidu was the President of children were brought up in the these liberation struggles, but its the Bombay Congress, Jinnah the typical, aristocratic way. Fifty years abrupt and inconclusive end on President of the League, Jayakar earlier, his great grandfather, built grounds of alleged excesses at Chauri was in charge of the Mahasabha *This biographical sketch of Yusuf Meherally (September 23, 1903–July 2, 1950) was written in November 1949. 4 JANATA, September 22, 2013 and Setalvad was guiding the the country had ever witnessed. “That is all exaggeration, he was destinies of the Liberals. These They were thrice lathi-charged but not so much hurt.” The man got luminaries met and formed a joint did not budge an inch. Meherally angry and cursed the apostasy of committee to conduct the boycott, himself was cruelly manhandled Yusuf. Later, in the evening’s public which, according to them, should by an over-zealous police sergeant. meeting, when he was revealed as merely mean a public meeting None of the Congress leaders, who Meherally himself, the confounded where speeches would be delivered later claimed kudos and voters stranger came to him and apologized. and resolutions passed. To the for the incident, cared to attend That year, Yusuf lost his father Youth League, with Meherally it. The news of the demonstration and as the eldest of the four children, at its helm, this seemed the most and the lathi-charge, exaggerated he had to take up the family ineffectual way of boycott. The as usual, spread like wild fire and responsibility. His father originally Government, with their sycophants, shops and establishments observed wanted him to be a barrister and had planned receptions to Simon and spontaneous hartal. The bulk of the arranged with Mr. Jinnah to take his colleagues, and such inaction students were with the Youth League him as his apprentice. But Yusuf’s on the part of the public would lend and so naturally abstained from colour to the got-up shows. ambition was from the beginning to classes. Thus, a good part of the be a full-time political worker. The Youth League’s boycott programme February 3, 1928, dawned a sudden death of his father created came to be implemented in spite of decisive day in the history of Bombay. difficulties. As the head of the family The Youth Leaguers planned an the non-association of the Congress he had to start earning to maintain ambitious expedition on boats to with it. the old family standards. But he meet the Commission on the sea did not want to give up politics, Meherally was the hero of the itself, but it leaked out and the police especially at that time and so brought day. The following incident speaks took precautions to scotch it. They about a revolutionary change in also wanted a hartal in the city but of the popular esteem he had won the domestic standards so that they without Congress sanction it would that morning. After the lathi-charge, could live within their means. not materialize. But undaunted, a Yusuf was returning home, his band of 400 resolute young men led bruised, bandaged hand in a sling He had by that time qualified by Yusuf formed into a procession when he was accosted on the way himself for the Bar. Relations and and marched to the harbour, before by a youthful passer-by. “Were friends like Nariman were pressing day-break. It was another Charge you hurt in the morning’s lathi- him to apply for the advocate’s of the Light Brigade except for charge?” he asked. “Yes”, Yusuf sanad. He was reluctant but at last the fact that the commander as replied. “Our leader, Meherally, gave in. Here again, his anti-Simon well as the followers consciously was also badly injured. He is in the demonstration came in the way. believed in what they were doing. hospital”, the stranger informed At the instance of Nariman, Yusuf There, they staged one of the most Yusuf. Suppressing his laughter, launched prosecution against the heroic and resolute demonstrations Yusuf retorted: police sergeant who assaulted him on February 3, 1928. The case lasted Yusuf died a young man of forty-seven, very live and very much needed. It was a police lathi which had caused injury to Yusuf's heart, from which nine months and the lower court he was never really to recover. In 1943, when he was released from prison, fined the sergeant. On appeal, the the doctors had given him up. His friends rushed to try and save him, and High Court quashed the conviction for days he lay hovering between life and death under an oxygen mask. and acquitted him. But, because Gradually, he recovered, but only enough to continue to exist. Though he launched proceedings against a bubbling with energy and a desire to do things, he had to spend the next police officer, Yusuf was refused seven years mostly in bed. Even from there he continued to function and take a hand in the running of the Socialist Party. enrolment as an advocate. His is the only case in the whole of India, Yusuf never married. He lived with his brother and his family. But he where a qualified lawyer was refused never lacked friends, and was loved for his warmth and his charm. One hardly ever found anyone saying anything unfriendly about him. Wedded to sanad by the High Court for political politics, Yusuf's real love was books, particularly on history and art. Though reasons. his life was short and in later years, he was ailing, he achieved more than a normal man would during a full span of three score years and ten. When acquainted of this, Jinnah was very angry that disregarding Minoo Masani in "Against the Tide" his advice, Meherally participated JANATA, September 22, 2013 5 in politics. “Young man, your According to an old definition, a good Muslim possesses a generosity like life is ruined”, shouted Jinnah at the generosity of the river, a benevolence like the benevolence of the sun, a him. “No, Mr. Jinnah a life is not hospitality like the hospitality of the earth. He answers the call of those in so easily ruined”. Yusuf retorted distress, he fulfills the needs of the helpless, his sorrows and endeavours with his characteristic optimism. are derived from the sorrows and endeavours of the people, he lives among He actually welcomed the refusal them, bears all the hardships this association brings with it and repays those because it supplied him with an who do harm to him with generosity and self-sacrifice. The good Muslim excuse for full-time political work. cultivates friendship, because it is in friendship that the true relationship The history of the two subsequent between man and God is revealed, and to be a good friend he cultivates decades has vindicated Meherally! these social qualities which are most pleasing to his fellowmen, charm of After all, there is an aspect of life manner, ability to converse, argue, convince, participation in the enjoyment which Jinnah and his like cannot of literature and art, and in those observances which reveal deep interest in appreciate. After all, there is an his fellowmen in reverence for the divine. The practice of equality is for him not an injunction to be obeyed but an instinct, a second nature that cannot aspect of life which Mr. Jinnah and bear to be repressed. The good Muslim loves God only, but in such a way his like cannot appreciate. that those among whom he lives are made to feel that he loves them only. During the 1930 Civil Do those qualities provide a frame in which Yusuf Meherally's picture Disobedience Movement, when could be placed? If they do, he was a good Muslim, but we shall not be processions and public meetings denying him anything if we remember him as a man who loved us and were disallowed, as today, these whom we loved. volunteers did marvelous work ** ** ** in keeping up the morale of the "I hate ugliness and cruelty," he told one of his friends, "and that is why people. During the Salt Satyagraha, I am a socialist. My socialism is based on aesthetic and ethical premises Yusuf and his associates gave a and not on economics". This remark reveals another and perhaps the most terrible fight to the bureaucracy. beautiful, aspect of his personality. It was the primeval sorrow of man for The local Congress higher-ups what men do to each other, knowingly and unknowingly, which moved him, courted imprisonment and went to and not any idea of a more efficient and more utilitarian organization of jail. The whole movement was run industry and economy. This sorrow could have made him a philosopher, a by him. He also saw Gandhiji twice man of religion, a poet. Yusuf Meherally was more fortunate. It made him during the Dandi March and got his into a friend. His gift of friendship struck all who came into contact with sanction for his plan of work. At that him. It won him many friends, and it made his concern for them something time, he published in his Vanguard, deeply inspiring. "Take care of yourself he said with deep earnestness to a which was suppressed just after that, friend on parting from him in London, when he himself was on the threshold an interview with Gandhiji which of death and knew it. For with these parting words he put into his friend's proved unique. hand a book, Ernest Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon. – Zakir Hussain at the formal inauguration He was first arrested in 1930 of Yusuf Meherally Centre in Mumbai on October 1, 1966 and sentenced to four months’ Conference at Patna. Later, during a imprisonment. Again in 1932, he mayoralty again was unique not tour of Punjab, he was again arrested was charged with conspiracy and for got-up receptions and publicity on a charge of having defied a sentenced to two years. It was then, stunts but for real constructive inside the ‘C’ class of Nasik prison, prohibitory order. In this connection, work and civic service. He was at that he established close contacts he was in jail for nearly a that time the General Secretary of with his Socialist colleagues. He year where he wrote his satirical the Congress Socialist Party and is one of the founder members masterpiece My Trip to Pakistan. accepted the mayoral office, only Congress Socialist Party. Politics and personalities of Punjab on the express condition that he were dealt in such great detail that would be allowed to devote himself He was again arrested in even long residents of the province to Party work as usual. He created connection with the Individual had something to learn from it. a new precedent by personally Satyagraha in 1940, and was attending to citizen’s complaints released the next year. That year, he While still in Lahore jail’ he was on civic matters; he initiated the presided over the All India Students’ elected the Mayor of Bombay. His system of quick dispatch of files 6 JANATA, September 22, 2013 and put down official slackness Among his publications, the boys were lynched. And then all the with an iron hand. On the question two volumes of “Leaders of India” hell broke. Leaders, both from the of A.R.P. finances he literally made (biographical sketches of national Hindu and Muslim communities, history. His predecessor in office, leaders) have run into six editions. delivered inflammatory speeches. with the support of the majority As a biographer, he is unsurpassed. The BJP further fanned the fire Congress Party, sanctioned 24 lakhs Study of personalities and their by releasing a fake video, showing of Municipal money towards the impact on history has come to him the use of violence somewhere else Government A.R.P. scheme. But naturally. to ‘prove’ the atrocities against the Meherally, as Mayor, refused to pay Hindus. A Muslim cleric led a mob even a pie. He met the Governor (Continued from Page 2) after the prayers on Friday. And, as in this connection and frankly told religion with politics. The BJP has the state governor has said in a report him that the people had no faith in neither understood them, nor their to the Centre, the administration has the Government and that they were aspirations. The idea of India is based become more effete than the ruling afraid the British would withdraw on the country’s diversity. What has Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi from India also, as they did from happened at Muzzafarnagar is a Party which wanted to exploit the Burma and Malaya. So, he argued, challenge to the very idea. Once situation. But it was confused. the defence organization of the again the BJP has poured oil on the people should be in the hands of fuel through a fake video. The BJP played a major role in those who would remain on the polluting the atmosphere through scene whoever might come. This led Refugees from the villages of yatras for building a Ram temple to the organization of the People’s Muzaffarnagar riots between the at the site where the Babri Masjid Volunteer Brigade. Bombay is Hindu Jats and Muslims say that stood before its destruction. The RSS the only city in India where the they were attacked by the outsiders. sees its chance in the next elections. Municipality was allowed to run I am reminded that after the partition It is doing everything possible to the A.R.P. we too were forced to quit our homes destroy the ethos of national struggle by the outsiders. Our Muslim friends to establish a democratic, secular Just before August 8, 1942, gave us shelter and provided us with state. Modi’s projection, once the Meherally conducted a C.S.P. camp rations for a month before we left RSS pracharak and an authoritarian at Poona, where was discussed . by nature, fits into the agenda for a a comprehensive plan of revolt. Hindu Rashtra. The victims of Muzzafarnagar But, somehow, the police got the complain bitterly that neighbours I sympathize with L. K. Advani. whole information in advanced and watched the mayhem but did not I have seen how defeated he was wrecked the plan. On August 9, come to their rescue to stop the towards end of 1979 when the Janata 1942, he was arrested and detained. killing and destruction. The kinship Party ousted him for refusing to It was during this period, that he dries up when rioting takes place. sever links with the RSS. Instead, he got the heart attack, which finally The Muzzafarnagar happenings are founded in 1980 the BJP and made claimed his life. The authorities disconcerting because the communal Atal Behari Vajpayee, who too had offered to give special facilities for virus has spread to the rural areas. been thrown out, as president. Today treatment at St. George Hospital, but The administration always fails once again, Advani is forlorn and he demanded that two other ailing because it has got politicized and lonely. Again, the RSS is responsible colleagues of his should also get the awaits word from the ruling party. for his isolation. It has fielded Modi same facilities. They refused and he Officials did not take action fearing for the prime minister’s office. remained in prison. In 1943, when repercussions. The police are Advani has not liked the manner in he was released, he was already contaminated and tilt towards the which the RSS has imposed Modi collapsing and the doctors gave up Hindus. on the BJP. Apparently, the RSS all hope. For seven days, he was feels that if somebody who meets the lying unconscious in the general What happened in Muzaffarnagar, ideological stance of Hindu Rashtra, ward of the J.J. Hospital, this darling according to the reports in the media, it will be Modi, not Advani who of Bombay’s thousands. In 1947, was an instigated riot, suggesting a over the years has shed bigotry and he left for America for treatment conspiracy on the part of the BJP. A regards Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad and returned in November 1948, Muslim youth was killed for eve- Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, as considerably improved. teasing. In retaliation, two Hindu Jat secular. JANATA, September 22, 2013 7

Donate on October 2 and January 30, every year

The Khadi Gramodyog Andolan appeals to all khadi lovers, environmentalists, Gandhians, Gandhiji inspired socialists and those forces which seek an alternative, sustainable, green development to contribute what they can, what they desire, to Yusuf Meherally Centre for promoting khadi and gramodyogs and for mitigating the damage due to global warming. Khadi is a perfect eco-friendly fabric. It is the foundation on which the edifice of a new, green, alternate prosperity can be built.

Khadi gramodyogs will generate employment, especially in rural areas, and hence it would prevent forced migration to cities, especially mega cities and the city’s problems will ease a lot. It will reduce the striking visual contrast between the tall towers standing as islands in the sea of huts, which causes the social unrest we see, the rise in crime graph the statistics captured, the violence that is increasing and the destruction of moral fibre that is all pervasive. Donate what you wish on October 2, and January 30, and send a powerful message that we reject the present arrangement and are keen to search the new. Please draw your cheque in favour of Yusuf Meherally Centre and in your covering letter marking it for Khadi Gramodyog Andolan and send your cheque or cash to our office or deposit it in any of the following bank accounts:.

Name of Bank The Shamrao Vithal Co- State Bank of India Dena Bank operative Bank Ltd

Account No 100920950000011 10066940217 007710009865

Branch Name Sleater Road Hughes Road Tardeo

IFSI No. SVCB0000009 SBIN0005800 BKDN0450077

Branch No 400089009 400002033. 400018042

Resolve to give preference to gramodyogs, to use hand-made paper as often as possible, purchase locally crafted products, wear khadi, eat organic, indigenously grown foods and contribute your mite for rural development. Haresh Shah, Nalin Shah, Babubhai Patel, Shashi Chandore, Madhu Mohite

Conveners, Khadi Gramodyog Andolan

Yusuf Meherally Centre, D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, (formerly Sleater Road), P.O, Grant Road (W), Mumbai - 400007 Website - www.yusufmeherally.org TeleFax - +91 22 23889738 E-mail – [email protected] Telephone - +91 22 23870097 • +91 22 23806010 8 JANATA, September 22, 2013 Muzaffarnagar 2013 – Violence by Political Design

This fact-finding exercise was coordinated by the Centre for Policy Analysis. Team members were the human rights activist and former civil servant Harsh Mander; former Director-General of the Border Security Force, E N Rammohan; Professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy of Jawaharlal Nehru University; National Integration Council member John Dayal; senior journalist SukumarMuralidharan and CPA Director and senior editor Seema Mustafa.

Introduction and Overview together the means to feed them Budhana, it was a matter of honour The first impression of the twice a day. An open drain runs to ensure that nobody seeking their Muzaffarnagar countryside, now nearby, fetid with stagnant water. protection at a time of danger should green with the sugarcane ripening There is no water source and no suffer want. The local community for harvest, is of utter desolation. doctor or health-care worker has leadership seemed especially proud Villages are tense with fear. Kasbas visited them in the week that they of the manner in which they had and hamlets are purged of their have been there.The sub-divisional stepped up at the time. By the same Muslim presence and the Hindu magistrate (SDM) visited them close token, they were rather disdainful of quarters have also emptied out in a to a week since they were uprooted the absence of any official assistance. from their villages. Police patrols self-imposed curfew even at midday, At the District Magistrate’s are at a distance and seem mostly as women and children peep out from office, staff were neck-deep in work static. There is a clear message that behind closed doors and windows, preparing for the visits of the Chief is held out to them: that they can their menfolk having fled to avoid Minister the next day, and of the only call upon members of their arrest as criminal complaints are Prime Minister on September 16. own community for sustenance and made out against them. Fear is in Personnel of the Special Protection assistance in this hour of dire need. the air. The atmosphere reeks of Group (SPG) which attends to VVIP embitterment and betrayed trust, Though the Home Secretary in security, had landed in the sole with neighbour now unwilling to the Government of Uttar Pradesh has helipad available in the district and trust neighbour, and apprehensive claimed that those displaced from were examining all arrangements of ever returning to their accustomed their villages had been sheltered being made for the Prime Minister’s lives. All the evidence points towards in state-run camps, there was a visit. Since the Prime Minister people who were forced to flee their conspicuous absence of any official intended to summon top officials habitations in sheer terror and seek at the Budhana camps. Sanitation from the district for an evaluation out the safety of gathering among seemed to be the least priority since meeting, arrangements were being others of their own faith, occupying meeting the basic needs of food was made in the vicinity of the helipad any vacant space in areas where they itself a challenge. for the gathering. Part of the district could be sure of not being targets just administration’s attention was because of who they were. Inmates of the camp spoke of diverted towards ensuring that the being attacked without warning helipad and the adjoining conference “We will never go back to our with seeming intent to terrorise and hall were in appropriate condition to villages”, say Muslim women drive them out of their villages. host a VVIP visit and conference. refugees in a makeshift camp in the Several among them reported being And there also seemed to be a tehsil town of Budhana, some twenty sundered from their families and not strenuous effort underway to ensure kilometres from Muzaffarnagar. knowing their whereabouts. A week that at least some of the camps would They are among two thousand five into the violence, hopes were fading be given the veneer of efficiency and hundred men, women and children of ever finding those missing alive. good cheer that could uplift VVIP who fled their villages to seek safety spirits. in the town, among members of There were complaints of milk their own community. In the blazing being unavailable for the many The newly appointed District post-monsoon heat, they are camped children in the camp, though nobody Magistrate, Kaushal Raj Sharma, under a shamiana, where local really spoke of a food scarcity. was preoccupied with these community organisations scrape For those of the Muslim faith in arrangements, but did this team the JANATA, September 22, 2013 9 courtesy of a brief meeting. He was in the villages scattered through at visited Muzaffarnagar, the threat at pains to correct the impression least three tehsils of Muzaffarnagar of violence had abated, though this team had gathered of a sense district, are yet to be prepared. rumour held the field. There were of official neglect of the displaced rumours in a Jat quarter of Kutba people in makeshift camps. The As a fact-finding team from village – deserted but for the official presence was thin he said, New Delhi, we are dismayed by womenfolk who kept vigil over only because the job of comforting the evidence we see of the severity the fields and the cattle – that two and sheltering the victim-survivors of the violence in the villages. The from their community had been shot was best left to the community, official count of those killed is thirty- at and possibly killed in another which would not just deliver the nine, of which it has been firmly part of the village. This rumour service but also show deeply-needed established, six were Hindus – or was soon scotched by the district empathy and fellow-feeling. The more specifically Jats – and the rest, administration. District Magistrate administration meanwhile was Muslims. Again, the official estimate Sharma though confirmed that two active from behind the scenes, of those displaced is twenty-five bodies had been recovered from providing all necessary supplies, thousand, of which all except about the Gang Nahar (or Jauli canal) the including food, for the sustenance seven hundred are Muslims. Those previous day and identified, though of those displaced in the riots. DM displaced from other faiths, the DM the causes of their death had not Sharma was particularly anxious to affirms, are Dalits who have fled at that time been ascertained. The underline that the administration Muslim-dominated areas in fear of positive aspect here though, was was being attentive to the special retaliatory violence. They have not that with the discovery of these needs of children and those of tender been specific targets of violence two bodies, all members of the Jat years, by supplying milk in adequate though. community reported missing, had quantities to the camps. been accounted for. Unofficial counts of those killed The Superintendent of Police (SP) put the number much higher: at This team found however, that and other senior officials, including perhaps fifty-three, on the basis of even a week after the violence the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) the number of autopsies performed erupted in full-blown fury, there was and Inspector-General (IG) were at various hospitals around the no agreed narrative on what led to it. unavailable since they were out in the district. And community leaders put field making necessary arrangements the number of the displaced at fifty There was general agreement for the Chief Minister’s visit the thousand. among all those the team spoke to, following day and the Prime that the Kawal incident of August Minister’s anticipated arrival the This puts Muzaffarnagar in 2013 27 had lit the immediate spark. day after. in the category of the worst instances Many among them hastened to of communal strife witnessed in the add the important rider that the The absence of the administration country. It is certainly the worst in embitterment of the atmosphere also shows in the absence of official over a decade. This fact-finding team had been underway for at least two records of the magnitude of human is deeply apprehensive at the short months prior to Kawal. Few among suffering. Columns of the army term and long term consequences of the victims that this team spoke moving through the villages and this massive and systematic internal to could account for the sudden combing the fields for bodies – displacement, and of the chasm strains that emerged in relations mainly to still rumours that are rife that has opened between the two between the Muslims and the Jats about untold numbers being killed communities. What aggravates it of the district. But several among – are the solitary assurance of state further is the fact that the victims the Muslims this team spoke to in protection for the victims. The police had lived in close proximity of the the camps of the displaced, reported have filed their FIRs from initial aggressors. They were farm labour in being challenged and taunted for oral statements from some refugees. the fields owned by the people who accustomed and long accepted They are yet to record statements, or attacked them in their homes. patterns of behaviour. Wearing organise affidavits from the victims. the skull cap and beard has been Lists of those displaced and the loss A reconstruction of the events a custom for several among those of property that has been caused When this fact-finding team of the Muslim faith in the district. 10 JANATA, September 22, 2013

Just when it appeared that Samajwadi Party government had handled the 84 But in the two months preceding Kosi Parikrama incident quite well and had emerged as a hero in the eyes of the September violence, many Muslims, Muzaffarnagar has happened. It has painted the government in a very among them reported being publicly bad light. There was communal tension in the air in Muzaffarnagar for more upbraided for displaying emblems of than ten days, Muslim leaders had already met Mulayam Singh and requested loyalty towards the Taliban, which on September 1 for paramilitary forces to be posted there. supposedly made them sympathisers or even participants in what is 38 people are already dead, many more have been injured, thousands constructed in the media discourse displaced and there has been huge loss of property. While Durga Shakti as the global jihad. Nagpal was suspended because of a minor act which did not even succeed in provoking any communal feeling, we’re yet to see action against any high Community honour, as ranking official in Muzaffarnagar. Only two SHOs have been suspended. If a represented in the dignity and bodily huge mahapanchayat is allowed to be held in which people came armed, when integrity of women, was among section 144 was in implementation, it shows complicity of administration. At the themes constantly played on to what level the decision was taken to allow the mahapanchayat to be held? sharpen the growing estrangement. Obviously, it couldn’t have been the two suspended SHOs. Responsibility will A further twist was imparted by have to be fixed and action taken against guilty officer(s). rumours made up in the ideological factory of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad The meeting was dominated by BJP leaders who gave provocative speeches. (VHP), of a “love jihad” launched Sangh parivar played a crucial role in mobilisation. It couldn’t have been BKU by attractive young Muslim boys alone. Currently the BKU can’t possibly organise farmers on their own issues equipped with the full range of in such a large number. Why would the farmers assemble on a communal the tools of enticement – modish issue? It couldn’t have happened without the communal machinery of RSS at clothes, mobile phones and sweet- work. The question is when the Sangh parivar leaders are clearly identified, talk – to entangle young girls of the who added fuel to fire, why are they being spared? What is the Samajwadi other faith, all for serving the hidden party government afraid of? agenda of boosting numbers of those While communal riots have taken place earlier also in this SP regime but born into the faith. none was so bad as this one in terms of giving the rioters free hand and clear In the circumstances, every involvement of BJP leaders. Is it a coincidence that the communal atmosphere incident involving any manner of has suddenly worsened since the arrival of Narendra Modi on national scene? interaction between a man and a It is a speculation that Modi was testing the waters in Ayodhya through the 84 woman came to be viewed with Kosi parikrama. It became clear very soon that Ayodhya issue can’t be milked suspicion, especially if they came any more in the same manner as in post-masjid demolition phase. But the 84 from different faiths. On August Kosi parikrama did serve the purpose of charging the cadre. Now the energies 9, as Muslims were preparing for of this cadre have been used in Muzaffarnagar. their Eid-ul-Fitr festivities, one The polarisation has been complete. Some of the traditional vote bank of among them, Idris, was killed Ajit Singh has shifted to BJP, at least for the time being and possibly till next at the doorstep of the Eidgah in election. Mulayam Singh’s calculation may be that while his rival RLD would Muzaffarnagar. There had been weaken, the gain for BJP may not be enough to convert into seats. He, of course, an alleged incident of harassment involving Idris’ daughter for which is still counting on counter-mobilisation of Muslims in his favour. This strategy he had a few days before, confronted of weaken your rivals to strengthen oneself may backfire if things go out of and slapped the offending individual control as they look at this moment in Muzaffarnagar. in public. His murder was seen as It is sad that parties like SP and BJP have brought back the politics of riots retribution by the man who had full fledged. They are playing with fire while people pay a price with their lives. suffered the public humiliation. Police were quick to apprehend the We strongly condemn the communalisation of politics and hope that people individual concerned, along with will teach a lesson to the parties indulging in this in the next elections. two alleged accomplices. Socialist Party(India), Rihai Manch and There was an incident of a Muslim National Alliance of People’s Movements girl being harassed by youths of the JANATA, September 22, 2013 11

Jat community in the village of persistent pursuit of a young Muslim the region. That in itself may not Shoram on August 18. The offending girl. At that time, according to this have been cause for concern since individuals again suffered direct narrative, they managed to snatch a this manner of gathering has been action by kinfolk of their target. A weapon from among their attackers summoned to deliberate on a range minor affray ensued which the local and kill one among them, before they of issues, including fair prices for administration allegedly did nothing were themselves overwhelmed by agricultural produce. Yet the call about. the fury of the mob. issued for August 31 had overtones that were distinctly menacing: its Competing with these accounts, Resentment was stoked by the theme was the honour of the women all deeply suffused with community VHP and its affiliates in the area, of the community, as represented in honour, is another one, rather more over the seeming alacrity with the slogan “Ma, Beti, Bahu Bachao”. which the police had acted in a case mundane: that Shahnawaz and involving the murder of a person Sachin ran into each other on their The administration had by this of the Muslim faith in the August 9 bicycles and got into an argument in time woke up to the possibility of incident. The atmosphere continued which deeply offensive communal a serious breach of the peace and to deteriorate without any manner slurs were traded, following which imposed prohibitory orders under of an antidote being administered they fell upon each other. Gaurav section 144 of the Criminal Procedure either by the political leadership or who was in the vicinity ran to the Code. On August 30, community the local administration. aid of his cousin. At the end of the leaders of the Muslim faith in the fracas, all three lay dead. guise of taking a delegation to meet The Kawal incident on August the newly appointed DM, Kaushal In the circumstances, the U.P. 27 occurred in a milieu that had Raj Sharma, began assembling in state government reacted in the been saturated with communal Muzaffarnagar town. Prominent worst manner possible. It gave in toxins and readily lent itself to any political leaders from the area to accusations that its supposed interpretation that served immediate joined the delegation, inevitably partisanship in allowing free rein political agendas. boosting its number in a manner to miscreants from the Muslim side that made utter nonsense of the All that is known about Kawal, had emboldened them to take the law prohibitory orders in force. These August 27, is that three young men into their hands. This narrative of a included Kadir Rana of the Bahujan turned up dead at the end of it. There partisan administration arose, in part, Samaj Party (BSP) who represents have been reports about a youth from from the action that had followed the Muzaffarnagar in the LokSabha, the village, Shahnawaz, constantly August 9 murder and prompted after his party colleague Jameel Ahmad harassing a young girl from the the Kawal incident, the summary and Qasmi who represents the nearby neighbouring Malikpura village abrupt transfer of both the District constituency of Meerapur in the U.P. and being confronted by her brother Magistrate and Superintendent of legislative assembly, and a former Sachin and cousin Gaurav. There Police within hours. Kawal was a Congress legislator, Saeed-uz- are reports of Shahnawaz drawing a localised incident that could have Zaman. The district administration dagger at that point, but being bested been contained by a strong dose of insists there was no permission given in hand-to-hand struggle and having political statesmanship. Instead of – officially or otherwise – for the the dagger turned on him with fatal stepping up with what was required, gathering. But when confronted by consequences. There are also reports the U.P. state government signalled the angry crowd that had assembled that he was simply shot dead by indecision, ineptitude, or even worse in a central area of the town, the DM the irate kinsmen of the girl he had – possibly a degree of collusion with had no option but to emerge from been harassing. Sachin and Gaurav the forces of disorder. were then reportedly set upon by his office and seek their dispersal Shahnawaz’s community and beaten The Bharatiya Kisan Union through subtle persuasion. That, to death in public. (BKU), ostensibly an apolitical rather than the use of force was force that represents the cause of the deemed the more prudent option There are also recorded narratives Jat peasantry of western U.P., came in the circumstances. The petition in the media about Sachin and up soon afterwards with the call for seeking the reining in of hostile Gaurav being confronted by persons a grand council (mahapanchayat) actions by the new alignment of the Muslim faith because of their or gathering of the Jat clans of that had sprung up to avenge the 12 JANATA, September 22, 2013

“love jihad”, was received and the In the midst of riot-hit Muzaffarnagar district where 38 people have been gathering dispersed. killed in communal clashes since Saturday, two villages have emerged as islands of communal harmony where the area's famed 'Ganga Jamuna tehzeeb' Within the over-heated communal is still alive. atmosphere of Muzaffarnagar, the DM’s gesture in meeting with Even as bloody clashes eroded the trust between the two communities in the area, the Jat-dominated Mohammadpur Shakist village did not allow its the delegation from the Muslim lone Muslim family to leave for 'safer' options. community was read as a measure of appeasement of communal Despite the fact that the village lost a young man belonging to the majority aggression. The new consolidation community in the clashes, the villagers asked the Muslim family not to leave under the Hindutva umbrella was the village and promised that they would be protected. quick to portray what the DM On September 7, 35-year-old Jogendra was killed along with 42-year-old thought was mere administrative Virendra of neighbouring Modkhurd village while they were on their way home prudence, as the blatant display after attending the mahapanchayat. The riots began after people returning from of a double standard: prohibitory the mahapanchayat were allegedly attacked by people of another community. orders would be imposed on the The Muslim family mourned Jogendra's death along with the entire village. Jat mahapanchayat, but not on the "The death of Jogendra was a setback for my family as well," said Raisuddin Muslim petitioners. whose septuagenarian mother Bundi has been visiting Jogendra's home every day to help the family in their hour of grief. This imparted a fresh edge of anger to the mahapanchayat that The 10-member family runs a barber shop in the village and occasionally gathered on August 31, focused works in the fields of Jats to earn their livelihood. exclusively on the defence Bundi said, "Barbers in villages perform certain rituals during the period of feminine honour. Again, the of mourning and I did all these rituals for the family and helped them with administration faltered in its their daily chores." enforcement of prohibitory orders, The families have stayed together for generations and the Jats never made for which the DM offers the alibi that them feel that they were the only Muslim family in the village. "We share our these gatherings are often organised grief and happiness and they have even deputed me as the chowkidar of the by discrete communications through village," said Raisuddin. community networks, which arrive at decisions to assemble at a particular Prosperous Jats provide them interest-free loan whenever they need money. place and time without any prior "In our time of need, we never return empty handed from their doorsteps," said announcement. The clans (or khaps) Raisuddin even as he and his son offered water to mourners at Jogendra's house. of the Jat community have their own The family has also been given the responsibility to invite people for means of mobilisation which they Jogendra's arishti (ritual). use frequently, often catching the Jogendra's distant relative Sunil Choudhary said, "We can't ignore the administration on its blindside. significance and support of Raisuddin's family in our daily life. It is our responsibility to protect them in order to keep the ethos of humanity intact." Yet with all these alibis on offer, the evidence seems overwhelmingly In another instance of communal harmony, resident of village Jaula in to indicate that the administration district Muzaffarnagar, majority Muslims have protected about 100 Hindus remained passive as the spiral living in the village. of provocative actions gathered "Despite all odds, we have not allowed them to leave because it will give a momentum. The precise reasons bad name to our village which we can't bear," said Abdul Gaffar, the village's need to be ascertained. It is more former headman. than likely that the paralysis arose The village is also giving shelter to members of a community who have fled from conflicting guidance from the riot-hit areas. The majority community said they had promised that no harm political leadership, both locally will come to the Hindus and despite the prevailing atmosphere, they have and at the state level. If so, the stayed true to their words. trail of formal instructions and informal verbal orders conveyed - S Raju , Hindustan Times JANATA, September 22, 2013 13 by the political leaders through the and Baghpat – not to mention participants in the mahapanchayat two weeks that followed the Kawal the districts of Haryana from crossed the Jauli village, it came incident, needs to be uncovered. where significant participation was under fire from Muslims who had expected. hidden themselves in the fields District Magistrate Sharma, adjoining the road. Six people were new to his job, speaks now of The administration decided allegedly killed and their bodies having received some inkling of a against this course and instead, dumped into the Gang Nahar. That cycle of Jat community gatherings seemingly opted for the strategy of account is disputed by one of the being planned after the “Ma, Beti, keeping a close vigil over the events local elements who has been named Bahu Bachao” assembly. Again, of the day. All the groups arriving at in the police report registered after because of the undercover mode of the venue of the mahapanchayat – the event. The reality, he claims, communication and organisation Nangla Mandaur in Jansath block, is that those on board the tractor adopted, the administration missed about twenty kilometres from trailer dragged a passerby on board out on the details. It received word Muzaffarnagar and very close to and began mercilessly beating him, that one panchayat of a particular Kawal village where it all ostensibly ultimately leading to his death. A clan grouping (or khap) had been started – were closely observed for brawl ensued in which firearms held on September 5. To add to its any possible violent intent. DM and lethal weapons were used after confusion, there was also a call for Sharma states now that all the lethal which a number from both sides lay a bandh through the district by the weapons that were later brandished dead. BJP that very day. at the mahapanchayat were carefully concealed as the crowds assembled. Violence had meanwhile erupted Meanwhile, a video clip in Muzaffarnagar town, where purporting to show the killing of The mahapanchayat itself was Rajesh Verma, a news reporter who Gaurav and Sachin was circulated raucous and unruly. Sangeet Som and works as a stringer for the IBN 7 through the mobile phone network, an itinerant saffron-robed woman network was shot through the chest and posted on the facebook page from the vicinity of Muzaffarnagar, and died on the spot. It is difficult belonging to Sangeet Singh Som of Sadhvi Prachi, were reported to to escape the inference that Verma the BJP, who represents Meerut’s have made especially angry and who was an extremely popular Sardhana constituency in the state accusatory speeches, denouncing journalist in the town, was shot with legislature. The video never had the continuing threats to the faith deliberate intent, though both sides great plausibility since it was easily from the large Muslim presence were reportedly using firearms quite traced to an incident in Sialkot in in the district. Lethal arms were freely by this time. Pakistan, two years back, in which unsheathed and brandished with two brothers were killed in a grisly clearly threatening intent. The few By that evening, curfew had incident of mob violence. But in political leaders who came to the been clamped in three police station the overheated environment of event with the purpose of injecting jurisdictions within Muzaffarnagar Muzaffarnagar, it circulated widely an element of moderation were town, but violence had spread like a and ignited further animosities. shouted down amidst much heckling contagion to the villages, especially and chanting of the name of Gujarat in the tehsils of Budhana and What seems germane here is that chief minister Narendra Modi as the Muzaffarnagar, and the neighbouring with the buildup of tension and the man of the moment. district of Shamli. continuing acts of default by the district administration, there was no As the crowds dispersed, filled Victim-survivors that this team way that the mahapanchayat planned with the spirit of revenge, Israr a met from the village of Kutba in for September 7 could have been freelance photographer who had Budhana tehsil, spoke of assurances stopped, except through a determined been hired that day to film the being given all through the evening assertion of administrative will. event for the local police was set of September 7 by the gram pradhan This would have involved a mass upon and beaten to death. And Devinder, asking all communities to deployment of security forces from then on, divergent narratives stay calm and keep the peace. The through Muzaffarnagar district and emerge. One side has it that as a next morning at eight, the pradhan adjoining areas in Shamli, Meerut, tractor transporting a trailer full of himself was seen leading a violent 14 JANATA, September 22, 2013 mob, burning down Muslim homes of rising tensions and intelligence in tacit sympathy with the caste and hacking those who came in reports. Muslims were attacked not agenda of the aggressors. In this their path. Kutba village reported so much with the intent of causing respect, the locals believe that the eight deaths and is along with other deaths, which would invite serious AkhileshYadav ministry has reversed villages within the jurisdiction of opprobrium, but with the object a healthy practice from earlier years, the Phugama police station, among of chasing them out of the Hindu to assign police command posts in a the worst affected in the violence of majority villages. The team has manner that minimised the potential those days. concluded that there was a plan for conflict of interests arising from to end decades of coexistence and caste or religious loyalties. The There were also reports which “cleanse” certain villages of the outcome is a complete loss of faith indicated the opposite: of Muslim Muslim presence. Having carried in the agencies of the state, with families being sheltered by the through this part of their agenda, the police now castigated as an gram pradhan through the night of the young males – particularly those accessory of caste and communal September 7 when violence began of the Jat community – have also violence. spreading, and being escorted to chosen at least during daylight hours, the safety of camps set up by the to make themselves scarce in their This team was shocked at the community in neighbouring towns usual places of habitation. The police inability and incompetence of the the following day. Such an incident, response has been too little and too state government, with even the basic also coincidentally involving a late. Investigations into the cycle of measures not being taken to ensure pradhan named Devinder from the provocation and violence that led that those provoking a communal Kinauni village in Budhana tehsil, to the conflagration of September 7 conflagration were thwarted in their was recorded by a delegation of the have made little headway. And the designs. Under threat of communal CPI(M) which visited the district at police have been conspicuous by strife, a government has four major roughly the same time as this team. their absence in villages cleansed tasks to perform, and this team of the Muslim presence, where even which includes an experienced civil With violence engulfing widely the Jat community has chosen to administrator and senior police dispersed villages where Muslims make itself scarce. Mobile patrols officer, feels that these tasks, if done and Jats have lived together in amity and static pickets have been absent with commitment and competence, for decades, the job of enforcement where they may have been most would have averted the threat of became much more difficult. In required. With the kind of religious communal violence. The essential most cases, this team found that cleansing that has been attempted, steps involved — prevention, the security presence had been a number of pickets should have control, rescue, rehabilitation and pulled out of villages where the been set up in all villages of mixed justice – are dealt with in greater worst outbreaks had happened, religious composition, to check detail below. presumably since they had been the growing animosity between Prevention evacuated by members of the communities. And even if a number vulnerable community. A security of complaints and FIR’s have been The AkhileshYadav government presence was visible in the more registered, there seems to have been failed to still the rumours that spread substantial towns such as Budhana no attempt to arrest the perpetrators through the area like wildfire, adding and Tanwali, though only in the main of the killing and violent expulsion to burgeoning tensions and pushing thoroughfares and squares and not in of Muslims. communities into confrontation. the vicinity of the camps and shelters There are no two views that the for the displaced. The state government has Muzaffarnagar, and indeed the disregarded all norms of prudent western belt of Uttar Pradesh, was Conclusions: Of state failure and staffing of police stations in a district plagued by toxic rumours designed political cynicism of mixed religious composition. to pit communities against each The conclusions of this team are Police stations according to the other. Instead of defusing these that the state government seems to many victim-survivors this team from the very beginning through a have been taken by surprise, though met, simply refused to respond to sustained information campaign, they have no reason to, that there their urgent calls for help because the state government chose to ignore was probably a deliberate disregard they were manned by personnel them, contributing to a volatile JANATA, September 22, 2013 15 atmosphere that could have erupted arrest leaders making provocative Rescue at any time. speeches, or to help those being The apparatus of the state attacked by mobs. There is not a Reports of the fake tape that was government was not visible in single shred of evidence to prove effecting the rescue of villagers posted on the social media by a that the police acted against the BJP legislator of adjoining Meerut from the mobs. Instead there are mobs that freely attacked and killed several instances when Muslims district were also not acted upon by their neighbours, and looted and from adjoining villages, rushed in to the state government until it was too burnt homes. The Army was called rescue those who had been trapped late to intervene. Arrest warrants of in eventually, and its presence in their bastis and could not escape. the legislator were issued, and the brought down the levels of violence fact that the video was of an incident even though it was not authorised Villagers ran for their lives in Pakistan, were made known only by the state administration to use through the days and night, with when the violence had erupted. force for ensuring peace. Women the state administration unwilling and children trapped in their homes Despite the tension over the or unable to help them. Some were told the team that they were rescued incidents of alleged harassment killed, others were injured, but the by the Army from the burning of young girls and the subsequent effort remained to run to safety. villages. The displaced villagers deaths, the state government Women spoke of how they ran also spoke of incidents where the allowed large gatherings from with their little children, terrified both sides to take place without local police had supported the attacking mobs, but this could out of their wits, barefoot with no check. Displaced villagers from belongings for help, with not a single different parts of the district told not be confirmed independently. However, the absence of the police policeman in sight. Their homes the team that the violence started were looted and set ablaze but the after panchayats were held in in itself was an act of omission that really amounted to commission police are still to visit several of the their respective villages. Though affected villages till date. DM Sharma claims that a number insofar as the raging violence was of preventive arrests were made concerned. (to be concluded) between August 31 and September 7, his case seems to lack conviction. Gandhi Katha Dear Friends, The team does not accept This is to invite you to a unique discourse on the occasion of Gandhi the explanation of the district Jayanti which falls on 2nd October. Narayanbhai Desai, senior Sarvodaya authorities that they did not expect leader, a true Gandhian and the son of Mahadevbhai Desai who was this mahapanchayat to take place. Mahatma Gandhi’s private secretary for two scores of years has been Villagers confirmed that there was narrating ‘Gandhi Katha’ for the last eleven years. This discourse has taken sufficient notice for this, and at place all over Gujarat and also in various places in the country and the U. S. least they all knew it was going to be held. The failure to act on We in Mumbai will get a golden opportunity to listen to the unknown information was an abject failure of aspects of Gandhi’s life and personality from the 88 years old veteran who the state government. has had a personal interaction with the Mahatma. Control The venue is The state government was unable Mahatma Gandhi Seva Mandir, opposite the Lake, to contain the violence after it broke S V Road, Bandra West out. District authorities claimed and the time is that they had no idea it would 5.30 pm to 9 pm every day spread to the countryside, and were from October 2 to October 6, 2013 expecting it only in the town area Yours sincerely. of Muzaffarnagar. The police was Neela Bhagwat, Pushpa Bhave, Vijaya Chauhan, absent with not a single incident Rajni Bakshi, Ramdas Bhatkal, Daniel Mazgaonkar, Vinayak Pandit, being reported by the villagers Amarendra Dhaneshwar, Jayant Diwan, Simpreet Singh… of police intervention to either R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 22, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, September 22, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday September 25, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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Vol. 68 No. 38 Aberrations in the army September 29, 2013 Kuldip Nayar Criminals Under the Garb Of Jihaad I have been getting calls from the they are healthy and nothing beyond Shamsul Islam Pakistan media to inquire whether the ventilation of disgust. the army stalled the government from Report on certain decisions or forced it to take This is not even a case of Muzaffarnagar Violence - II some without its willingness. Their Bonapartism. I know of a few concern is understandable because the aberrations on the part of certain German SPD army is the boss in Pakistan and even army chiefs who have gone beyond Down but not Out Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who the ambit of authority. But there is no D.K.Giri said the elected government would instance of defiance. When General be superior, has to clear the agenda of K.S. Thimmaiah, a popular army Savarkar and Mukherjee close India-Pakistan relations with his chief, submitted his resignation to Sandip Das army chief General Parvez Kayani. the dismay of public, it was against the functioning of the then Defence People’s Agenda on I have assured the Pakistan media Minister Krishna Menon. Water and Sanitation for that the situation in India is like Ranjan Panda the one prevailing in advanced Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru countries in the West where voters intervened and made Thimmaiah to Criminals and Elections are the arbiters. However, I can take back his resignation. Menon recall one example of the Armed stayed on at the Defence Ministry and Khadi Gramodyog Andolan Forces (Special) Powers Act which Thimmaiah retired after completing can kill anyone on suspicion without his term. General K. Sundarji went being arraigned. The government beyond his authority during the Mohan Singh was inclined to modify the act after a military exercises (brass tacks). He commission’s recommendations. But went into the disputed territory under Editor : the army had its way and the act stays China and into Pakistan. Islamabad without any amendment. was so disturbed that it sent its foreign G. G. Parikh secretary Abdul Sattar to New Delhi. Managing Editor : Guddi Except for this, I have found the Sundarji was pulled up. However, he Indian army obedient to the elected continued to be the army chief until D-15, Ganesh Prasad, government. It may be a cliché but his retirement. Naushir Bharucha Marg, the army is apolitical and takes pride Mumbai - 400 007. in eschewing politics. There may be Field Marshal discussions in messes or canteens was popular among the people, Email : [email protected] of the armed forces on the present particularly after the victory in the conditions obtaining the country. But Bangladesh war. Even the then 2 JANATA, September 29, 2013

Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was suspicious. He made it clear when Criminals Under the garb of Jihaad he met her that he was proud to head such armed force which did not Shamsul Islam interfere in political affairs. “You do your job and allow me to do mine,” he was supposed to have told Indira Last week ended in the horrible The group, Jandullah (Soldiers Gandhi. bloodshed of innocent people in of God), a terrorist group once two separate and faraway parts of financed by Pakistan Army and The latest example, somewhat the world, Nairobi and Peshawar, linked to Pakistani Taliban admitted disturbing, is that of General V. K. the blood of innocent children, that it carried out the bombing. Singh who retired recently as the women and men was spilled for Ahmad Marwat, the Jundullah army chief. He shared dais with the none of their fault. However, in spokesman said that his organization controversial Gujarat chief minister, both the carnages, the perpetrators “carried out the suicide bombings Narendra Modi. I wish V. K. Singh had waited a bit longer before came from organizations linked to at Peshawar church,” and “will jumping into politics. There is no Talibaan and Al-Qaeda. They claim continue to strike foreigners and harm in generals joining politics. The to represent true Islam and avenge non-Muslims until drone attacks greatest democracy of America has the wrongs done to Muslims by the stop.” examples of top military chiefs like West and its allies. Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. According to press reports large Eishenhowr running for presidential Peshawar in Pakistan is a number of friends and relatives election and winning the coveted historic city where stands one of of victims gathered outside the position. But both of them did not the oldest churches in the (Indian) Church and denounced the Pakistan rush to the election platform from sub-continent, All Saints Anglican government for not being able to the theatre of war. They contested Church. This historic Church built control terrorist activities in the only after decent intervals. in 1883 inside the Kohati Gate country. Protests were held in all within the walled city of Peshawar major cities of Pakistan in which The main allegation against V. is part of the Parish of the Church thousands participated. K. Singh is that he set up a unit, of Pakistan. It is an impressive Technical Support Division, to and architecturally unique place At Nairobi, capital of Kenya snoop on the government at Srinagar of worship with minarets and a and the largest city in the country and used secret funds to topple dome that bears a striking synthesis was targetted by another terrorist it. In an interview to a television of Saracenic architecture; a group Al-Shabab (the Youth) network, he has gone further to say combination of Mughal and British based in Somalia and linked to that the army has been financing designs. Al-Qaeda again. A group of well- since independence ministers in the armed terrorists entered a popular Jammu and Kashmir government This historic Church draws large upscale shopping mall on Saturday to maintain “peace and stability” in the state. number of worshippers and tourists (September 21, 2013) afternoon on every Sunday when prayer throwing grenades and firing The allegation of snooping against is held. On September 22, 2013 automatic weapons. Till Sunday, the elected government at Srinagar when hundreds of worshippers more than 70 innocent visitors to is a serious one. The ruling National were coming out of the Church the mall had been killed and around Conference is justified in demanding two suicide bombers exploded 200 people had been injured. It a probe by a sitting Supreme Court bombs strapped to their bodies. The is believed that a large number judge. The centre is in the dock as far explosions instantly killed around of visitors to the mall were under as V .K. Singh’s admission that the 80 worshippers and onlookers the captivity of the armed bandits military has financed all ministers including 37 women and 7 children so number of casualties is bound at Srinagar. Let the Omar Abdullah and more than 150 people were to rise. Shockingly, at the time of government explain whether the wounded, most of them critically. attack a programme focussed on charge is correct. Farooq Abdullah, It may raise the death toll to more children was being held and the (Continued on Page 4) than 100. death toll of children is feared to JANATA, September 29, 2013 3 be very high. The victims were these monsters and helped them God or any other God. The fact is not only Kenyans. French, Dutch, to grow world could be a better that they choose soft targets; the South African, Indian, Australian, place today. The Western hypocrisy common people. By such acts these British and Canadian visitors also continues even today. Alex Lantier terrorists do not weaken the West lost lives. Shedding of blood of writing on World Socialist Web but help the latter to behave in a innocent children, male and females Site on September 23, 2013 said, more draconian manner. continued through Monday. “The horror of the Westgate attack underscores the criminal character These terrorist swear by the Prominent Ghanaian poet Kofi of the support offered by the United name of Allah, the God. We are told Awoonor who was attending a States government and its allies to that Allah loves children but these literary festival in Nairobi and Al Qaeda-linked opposition militias soldiers of Allah have no remorse visiting the mall too became victim in Syria. These forces have carried in killing children. These terrorists of this terrorist attack and died on out hundreds of terrorist attacks believe that fight is between Muslims the spot. His poetry represented in that country, according to US and others. What about persons like African voice against western officials, killing large numbers of Noam Chomsky (and millions imperialism, its stooges in Africa innocent civilians”. others like him) who have spent life and militarism. He symbolized fight time in opposing West’s criminal against apartheid. However, despite this de- designs. And what about Muslim humanised and questionable rulers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, According to press reports Al- parentage, the criminals of Egypt, Turkey etc. who have worked Shabab defended this gruesome Jandullah and Al-Shabab cannot be for generations as foot-soldiers of carnage holding that it was carried absolved of their diabolical crimes the West? The fight against Western out the attack in response to Kenyan against humanity. These gangs of Imperialism requires unity of all military operations against Muslims criminals defend their acts arguing suffering people. By indulging in in Somalia. that they are fighting to ‘Save mindless theocratic violence these Islam/Muslims’ from Christian/non- Jihadi terrorists are only further British Prime Minister David Muslim adversaries. Their grouse is dividing the people. They are the Cameron called it “an absolutely that in the name of fighting terrorism best friends of the West. sickening and despicable attack of the West is targeting all Muslims appalling brutality”. US President and see what these self-appointed For Jihaadi terrorists, it is Barack Obama was quick to call guardians of Islam are doing. They difficult to comprehend that human Kenyan President Kenyatta to are killing and maiming innocent civilization did not start with the express condolences and promised people who have nothing to do advent of Islam. It developed “US support for Kenya’s efforts to with rulers of any creed or hue. through millions of years. There bring the perpetrators of the attack Thus there is no difference between were conflicts but synthesis was to justice”. these two. the rule and Islam too developed as synthesis of many cultures and These gestures are welcome They want to kill non-Muslims. religions. Also, no religion can but we need to ask them: Is not it It’s idiotic to think that bombs and claim that its followers make a a fact that West created Talibaan bullets are programmed to first monolithic whole. Islam versus and helped Al-Qaeda to grow in verify from the victims his/her others or any similar call by any face of rising secular challenge religion before striking. They forget religion is a hoax propagated by all to the Western exploitation and that on this earth almost everywhere kinds of Fascists. May God give hegemony in areas populated by people professing different religions such elements some common sense Muslims in 1980s. The Jihadi stay and work together. Both at to understand complexity of human Islam was created and nurtured by Peshawar and Nairobi they have put society! the Western intelligence agencies to death number of Muslims. to counter socialist and nationalist This spate of theocratic violence movements in ‘Islamic world’. If And how do they justify killing of against common people once again predecessors of David Cameron a renowned atheist poet in Nairobi? reminds us of prophetic words of Dr and Barack Obama had not created He did not believe in Christian (Continued on Page 7) 4 JANATA, September 29, 2013 Mohan Singh Mohan Singh, passed away Allahabad University Students` Dal Legislature Party (1980-85). at AIIMS in New Delhi on 22nd Union in 1968-69. He was Member, Uttar Pradesh Legislative September, 2013 after a prolonged imprisoned in 1966 for occupying Council (1990-91). He was elected battle with blood cancer. He is Anand Bhavan in Allahabad and to the tenth Lok Sabha (1991- survived by wife Urmila and two also in an agitation launched by 96); Deputy Chief Whip, Janata daughters. Socialist Party on the language issue Dal Parliamentary Party (1991- along with Rajnarain. He was also 94); Chief Whip, Samata Party Son of Mahendra Pratap Singh jailed along with Madhu Limaye (1994-96); re-elected to 14th Lok and Surya Jyoti Kumari, Mohan for participating in Satyagraha Sabha (for third term) in 2004. He Singh was born on 4th March, 1945, in 1973. He was detained for 20 was on the National Executive of at Deoria. He was married to Urmila months during the Emergency for Samajwadi Party and later its Gneral Singh on 6th July, 1969. His romance taking part in Jayaprakash Narayan’s Secretary and was elected to Rajya with socialist movement started at a movement. He took part in Socialist Sabha in 2010.He was awarded the very young age under the guidance Youth Conference at Brussels in Best Parliamentarian award in 2008. of his uncle late Shri Ugrasen, 1974 and also visited Belgium, who was elected to UP Vidhan Germany, Holland, Thailand, U.K., Mohan Singh was committed Sabha several times as Socialist U.S.A. to socialist ideology and socialist Party candidate and later on to the causes all his life. He wrote hundreds sixth Lok Sabha as a Janata Party He was General Secretary, All of articles and many books. Some of nominee. Mohan Singh was inspired India Samajvadi Yuvjan Sabha his books are (i) Yaadain Aur Batain; by great Socialist leader Dr.Ram (1973-74); Joint Secretary, Socialist ( ii) Bharatiya Samvidhan Ke Nirman Manohar Lohia. Party-Uttar Pradesh (1973-74); Mein Nehru; (iii ) Dr. Ambedkar General Secretary, Uttar Pradesh - A Multifaceted Personality; (iv) Mohan Singh, did his M.A. at Janata Party, 1977-79.Member History of Socialist Movement Allahabad University. As a student Uttar Pradesh Assembly, 1977-85. and (v) Freedom Movement and he took keen interest in debate Minister of State, Government of Socialist Contribution. competitions. He was President of Uttar Pradesh; Chief whip, Lok –Qurban Ali (Continued from Page 2) former chief minister, is so disturbed should keep quiet till their death effort to have the “mistake” rectified that he has demanded a CBI probe and not even mention them in their during his entire career, he had no immediately. The constitution by V. memoires. right to do so after occupying the K. Singh of a special cell for special The military also needs to revise position of the chief of army staff. purposes has also to be looked into. its rules of retirement so as to stop the The defence ministry has issued a V .K. Singh is all politics. Even former chiefs of the three services— statement to assure that the matter is his body language says so. What he army, air force and navy—from being pursued for “further action.” V. has said speaks volumes of affairs joining a political party for a decade K. Singh was said to have been upset between the government and the after their retirement. Being in by the leakage of report against him army. The self-righteousness of V. K. command they are bound to have by top army officials. Singh is not understandable. Why did earned enough fame to influence the he not stand up and stop the financing voters. All this darkens the image of The report is not yet in the on Kashmir? Instead, he accelerated the army. public domain. But the charges are the process. He says that Omar too serious to be left at that. The However, V. K. Singh is not the Abdullah has “an agenda.” What is revelations make a mockery of the entire army. He is a maverick. He it and what did V. K. Singh do to stop army’s function in a democratic has criticized even the Supreme it? To topple an elected government polity. Covert operations are Court for having rejected his claim is no solution. His own credibility is conducted all over the world. They to continue one year more in service in doubt. His association with Anna should never see the light of the day because of his birth certificate was Hazare at present should be taken and the officials engaged in them “incorrect.” When he had made no with a pinch of salt. JANATA, September 29, 2013 5 Muzaffarnagar Violence 2013 by Political Design - II

Relief the state is seen to have eroded, or evidence of serious crimes, he said Government figures place the even collapsed, a visible presence that his job was to take stock of the number of displaced persons of its agencies in the subsequent situation. at 25,000 but the villagers of rescue and rehabilitation is essential Muzaffarnagar insist the number to restore public confidence. This team believes that the is well over 50,000. Hundreds procedure adopted shows a desire and thousands of men, women Mothers with little babies to cover up some of the worst acts and children ran for their lives complained about the lack of food of violence that have occurred. over September 6-9, as they were and medical aid. There were no The safai operation which has attacked by mobs armed with doctors at the camp. No police, no been undertaken even before lathis, guns, swords, daggers and state official at all. The thousands of panchnamas with the victim have broken glass. They just ran without displaced persons who made it clear been registered about the losses knowing where they would go, as they could never go back home, they have suffered, creates grave the crowds attacked them and their have been left by the AkhileshYadav doubts about how compensation homes that were looted and in government to fend for themselves. will be evaluated in future. several cases gutted. Many villagers Justice Media mischief ran for shelter just out of fear of being attacked. They ended up in The state government has still It has been just over a year since the bigger kasbas, in madarsas or not been able to initiate the process graphic images were circulated just some open spaces where they of justice in the district. The police over internet and the mobile were assured that surrounding has filed a number of FIR’s but phone network about the supposed habitations held no threat. these represent something of a atrocities inflicted on Muslims scattershot approach and seem to during the riots that engulfed the They have been living under the have not named the real perpetrators Bodoland areas of Assam. The open skies since then, dependent of the violence. Eyewitnesses to images were quickly discovered entirely on the goodwill of those the violence told this team that to be manipulated and pulled out around them for food, clothing and they have not been interviewed by of an entirely irrelevant context, medical help. The local community the police. The essential step to with deliberate intent to stoke the has been looking after their needs restore confidence, of setting up flames of vengeance. Soon, rumours to the extent possible, by arranging small police posts near the shelters were spread through the mobile food, bedding, clothes. The state where the displaced have gathered, phone network that all people of government had not stepped in to gather their testimony, has not northeastern origin in all parts of according to the testimony of been taken. India had been marked out for a the victim survivors, though DM severe retribution. A mass flight of Sharma insists that the district At one of the larger villages, these people from some of India’s administration had been organising Kutba, the team found a number most cosmopolitan cities such as supplies of essential commodities. of safai karamcharis brought in Bangalore and Pune ensued. In It is difficult to avoid the inference to sweep the streets of what was a Assam, where they were mostly that these interventions came rather virtual ghost town. Everyone had headed, journalists and social media late and were intended to embroider fled, the Muslims as they were users put all their energies into the scenario just ahead of a series attacked, and the Jats for fear of combating the noxious spread of of VVIP visits. arrests. Only a few women and old rumour. Despite the state of panic men remained. Asked about it a sub- in which they arrived back in their The team does not believe that divisional magistrate supervising hometowns, those who had fled it is a good idea for the district the arrangements said he was there did not become agents of a further administration to make a virtue for cleaning up. Then seeming to escalation in the cycle of violence. of community self-help in such realise that this safai could well Soon they were all travelling back situations. When the authority of be interpreted as clearing up the to their places of work. It was 6 JANATA, September 29, 2013 an incident that illustrated the terror in Muzaffarnagar, Fear the authorities acted in panic and worst of the possible uses of the among Hindus), when the story ill-considered haste. social media. By the same token, it was originally published under the showed also that the same media, headline “Panchayat se laute do It is also appropriate to flag the when used with a degree of social logon ki hatya” (Two killed while response of the mainstream media responsibility and sensitivity, could returning from panchayat). – including the numerous news be the best antidote to sectarian channels – for what seems a rather political agendas. On September 9, another scanned tepid response to the horrors of news story from the Dainik Jagaran Muzaffarnagar. From the days of Similar lessons emerge from was circulated with the headline Gujarat 2002, India’s first major Muzaffarnagar, though with one reading: “Musalmaanondwaara communal pogrom in the age of the rather crucial qualification: though HInduonka Katile-aam Jaari” twenty-four hour news channel, it its use for destruction was amply (Mass Murder of Hindus by Muslims has been evident that a close watch on evidence, nobody quite stepped Underway), while the headline as over the course of the violence, up to show how the social media published by the newspaper was once it flares up, often shames the could be used for building bridges “Dangaaiyonko goli maarneka authorities into acting even against and cooling the embers of sectarian aadesh” (Orders issued to shoot those with political connections. hatred. The circulation of the images rioters on sight). That element of media pressure for from Sialkot already referred to, swift and purposive administrative was one of the most blatant abuses The authorities seemed to action seems to have been absent in of the power of the social media in respond to these threats in the Muzaffarnagar. The reasons would the Muzaffarnagar context. Those worst possible manner: blocking the need careful study by all, including suspected of responsibility for this circulation of various newspapers in the media community. dark deed have been booked under the district. On September 9, it was various sections of the Indian Penal reported that copies of newspapers The larger politics Code, including forgery, criminal published in Delhi, Muzaffarnagar Finally, it is vital to take into conspiracy and promoting enmity and Lucknow, were being examined account the larger context in which on religious grounds. But no arrests by the authorities and deliveries the most recent round of communal have been effected, though one being delayed for fear that their violence in Uttar Pradesh was among those responsible is believed content could aggravate communal constructed. This is a story that to be roaming free in full public animosities. goes back to an early date in the view in the district just adjoining life of the Akhilesh Yadav ministry. Muzaffarnagar. This was quite clearly the worst In October 2012, riots broke out possible response to the crisis of in Faizabad district after some Further mischief has arisen hatred spread through the social idols were reported missing from a from the use of stories and media. In all such situations, it is temple and politicians of the Vishwa visuals published on mainstream the considered opinion of those Hindu Parishad appeared on the media platforms, though after who have studied the role of the scene to blame the administration morphing and manipulating them media in conflict situations that and whip up hostilities against those to serve a sectarian agenda. The the best recourse is to allow the of the Muslim faith. The idols were hand of the VHP functionaries people to judge for themselves. Any soon afterwards discovered, but by in Muzaffarnagar is suspected in reasonably well informed social then the violence had occurred, the these particular acts. For instance, media reader would, on seeing the estrangement between communities on September 8, a story from the purported Dainik Jagaran headline had set in – and political dividends Muzaffarnagar edition of Dainik circulating through social media, had been harvested by whichever Jagaran, a widely circulated daily make an effort to check it against force staged that entire episode. newspaper in the Hindi belt and the original. The forgery and the especially U.P., was circulated with mischief would in other words, This was followed by a number the headline “Muzaffarnagarmein have been quickly detected if access of minor skirmishes over the next Musalmaanonka Aatank, had been ensured to the original few months. In August this year, Hinduonmein Khauf” (Muslim item. In seeking to deny this access, when the VHP chose to visit its JANATA, September 29, 2013 7 old battleground of Ayodhya with a siege mentality would suit the Lists to be prepared of all those the ritual mobilisation of the cynical calculations of other parties displaced; their material losses “chaurasi kos iyatra”, the U.P. that thrive on the vulnerability of evaluated; supplies of food, State Government responded with the religious minority. Political drinking water, shelter and a heavy-handed security cordon to formations committed to secularism clothing to be ensured, with prevent Hindutva activists from and civil society actors working special attention to the needs of arriving at the proposed site of the for communal peace need to blow women and children. action. Local mahants at Ayodhya the whistle on this agenda before spoke up against the VHP effort to it causes deeper damage. The Doctors and medical attendants take over as its exclusive patrimony, consequences in human suffering to be pressed into service at all spaces they had learnt to share over of its full implementation could be camps. generations between various cults beyond imagination. associated with Hindu divinity. And Urgent attention to the conditions the kosiyatra was soon called off Recommendations of sanitation in the camps. with the VHP retreating in disarray. This team has on the basis of its September 22, 2013. discussions with victim-survivors (Continued from Page 3) Muslim political groups in U.P. and the local administration, remained unimpressed since the arrived at a number of concrete John Joseph, Bishop of Faisalabad Akhilesh Yadav ministry has had recommendations in regard to (Jhang) in Pakistan. He shot himself a history of double-dealing ever immediate priorities for action: to death on May 6, 1998, while since it took office last year. There leading a protest march against were rumours rife of a “fixed A Supreme Court judge should Blasphemy Laws in the Sahiwal match” in which the VHP had be appointed to carry out an (Montgomery) town of Pakistan. made a pretence of withdrawal on immediate and time-bound Six days before he sacrificed his the Ayodhya battleground, only inquiry into the incidents of life at the altar of bigotry being to raise the stakes elsewhere. And violence; indulged in the name of Islam the entire thing was seen to be a in Pakistan, Bishop John Joseph choreographed spectacle in which The Communal Violence bill wrote an open letter to his friends Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party should be brought to the first rank world over. In his letter, the Bishop (SP) and the opposition Bharatiya of legislative priorities, making underlined the fact that religious Janata Party (BJP) would create a dereliction of duty by public bigotry is created and nourished sharp polarisation on communal officials involving both acts by the rulers but once it is able to grounds, compelling the electorate of omission and commission, settle down it turns into a monster in the state to make a choice between a punishable offence and capable of consuming the creators. them, and squeezing out the other instituting the principle of But the heaviest price is paid by parties which have been claiming command responsibility. common people. He warned that significant shares of the popular we should not believe that blood- Legal and mandatory duties vote in recent elections. thirsty cult of religious violence be instituted under the bill for will go away by itself or rulers who rescue, relief and rehabilitation Political formations and civil created and fanned it would like to of the victims of communal society actors in U.P. and elsewhere see its end. He pleaded that “each violence. will have to watch the unfolding of one of us has to get involved and any such agenda in future months Immediate arrest of the political play our role”. We have not learnt since the BJP has with the formal leaders who incited violence at any lesson from Dr. John Joseph’s nomination of Narendra Modi as the mahapanchayat. martyrdom. Unfortunately, we the its prime ministerial candidate for commoners have become mere general elections in 2014, signalled Arrest of the originator of the spectators. If we wish to challenge that it will raise the temperature of fake video which fomented ill the theocratic violence we need confrontation between communities feeling among communities to become activists to unmask the as a matter of electoral strategy. The and contributed directly to the criminals who spill blood in the possible retreat of the Muslims into violence. name of religion. 8 JANATA, September 29, 2013 Khadi Gramodyog Andolan

It was in 2002, a year before Yusuf life of dependence on their parents, harmony, watershed development Meherally’s birth centenary, that their brothers - a life which was and rural development. It defined Yusuf Meherally Centre launched hardly dignified. rural development as watershed a campaign to promote khadi and development plus organic farming gramodyogs. The three and a half The Centre addressed these issues, plus non-conventional energy decades of rural development work worked intensively, but success was plus gramodyog and marketing its led it to conclude that what it did, negligible. It decided to provide products in urban, semi-urban and what the Centre had done till then, employment by setting up a brick rural areas. These were post-Babri was not enough. The institution was kiln, duplicating what the Adivasis days and the yatra covered Gujarat in health care, and education, and did, however not as labourers, but as well as a part of Maharashtra. empowering Adivasis and women, as co-owners. The brick making The success of the yatra in those and afforestation, all the right experiment failed, failed not once, communally tense days was heart- things, all that was part of prevalent not twice but thrice. And as far as warming. thinking then and is so even now, abandoned women were concerned, but the question that bothered the intensive interaction with them for a And yet, many of those who organisation was what was it doing year did not motivate them to take actively worked for the Centre, for youngsters that would prepare to some work which would give who ran the Centre, were not them to lead a moderately decent them an income. The Centre, thanks happy. What the Centre did was life? The young, if they passed their to various experiences, concluded not getting replicated. The villagers SSC, did not wish to slog as their that its understanding of the culture were benefitting certainly, Adivasi parents did in the fields. Rather, they of the deprived was not adequate. exploitation was less and migration seemed to feel left out, at a loss. These failures made the Centre take had reduced, and women were to several new initiatives and the articulate, and yet a feeling persisted The work the Centre did, did centenary year of Yusuf Meherally that there was something missing. not deliver what it believed was was the best occasion to do so. The search for something more, development. When the Centre went something different, continued and to Tara in 1967, a village not far from YMC decided to work for total it resulted in the formulation that Mumbai, to provide medical care, the change and for all sections of the the common person should become exploitation of Adivasis was visible, village society, and it also decided the ‘karta’ of the change, of wealth palpable. An eye opening discovery to mobilise youth to fight injustice. creation, of development and not the was that if an Adivasi borrowed Rs It defined injustice in a very broad rich and powerful as had happened 20 from a moneylender in Panvel, sense - exploitation of Adivasis all through history and not even the 18 kilometres from Tara, he first was, of course, injustice, treatment State, which for a brief period in paid one and a half rupee as interest of women too, but not having the post-colonial years, was seen in advance, so he got only Rs 18.50 work that provided basic, modest as a change agent. That money does in hand. He went by bus to borrow living was also deemed injustice. A not trickle down but certainly goes and lost one day’s labour, and he motivated and dedicated group of up, was an important realization. did this week after week to give his/ young people and a search for new A more just and equal society, as her weekly installments of one and ideas of development which gave what Yusuf Meherally wanted, a half rupees and there was no end importance to employment rather could come about only if wealth was to his indebtedness. An Adivasi also than to growth, the Centre felt would created by common persons. And it got bonded because he borrowed do the trick, in the sense that its work is this thinking that made it take to to survive. And he migrated in would become more meaningful. khadi and gramodyogs as the base search for work. And there were for a new development paradigm, women who got abandoned by their When the Centre completed 25 a new society, a new arrangement husbands on day one, a situation that years in rural development, it had of economic affairs. Khadi had a continued for several decades into organized a yatra called Manav Jyot recall value, thanks to its salience their marriage. These women led a Yatra. The yatris talked of communal in the freedom movement and JANATA, September 29, 2013 9

Khadi Gramodyog Andolan Appeal The Khadi Gramodyog Andolan its association with Gandhiji, as 30 will become the days of appeals to all khadi lovers, nothing else. And by that time the dedication. environmentalists, Gandhians, ideas like green house gas emissions Gandhiji-inspired socialists and those due to industrialization, carbon The campaign that was launched forces which seek an alternative, footprint, global warming, etc. had in 2002, became Andolan on the sustainable, green development to Gandhi Nirvan Din on January 30, contribute what they can, what become popular. And for the Centre, they desire, to Yusuf Meherally khadi took a new role: It became a 2005, and since then the Andolan is Centre for promoting khadi and symbol for the fight against global doing all it can to promote khadi and gramodyogs and for mitigating the warming. gramodyogs and its thinking. And damage due to global warming. Khadi when the Andolan was launched, is a perfect eco-friendly fabric. It is Further introspection led to a new there were friends, sympathizers the foundation on which the edifice realization. While the Centre’s work who raised the question: can khadi of a new, green, alternate prosperity was certainly good and impressive, be promoted within the system? can be built. it was not changing man much. He It is an important question, and Khadi gramodyogs will generate had not become less selfish and more underlines the urgency of search for employment, especially in rural humane, in fact, he had become less an alternative and creating a system areas, and hence it would prevent sensitive. And the idea of using the where a committed man can live forced migration to cities, especially mega cities and the city’s problems simple cottages, in which Gandhiji without depending on the existing will ease a lot. It will reduce the lived for the last few years of his ones. striking visual contrast between the life, for changing man, was born. tall towers standing as islands in the A replica of Bapu Kuti was built Creating an alternate system sea of huts, which causes the social at Tara when the Centre entered its while, of course, needing an in-depth unrest we see, the rise in crime graph Golden Jubilee. Two years later, analysis of present day anomalies the statistics captured, the violence a replica of Ba Kuti was built and and irregularities, will need a that is increasing and the destruction inaugurated on August 9, this year, committed and continual drive to of moral fibre that is all pervasive. and soon , before the year ends, a weaken the existing arrangements or Please deside to donate what replica of Adi Nivas will be built. system. Khadi Gramodyog Andolan, you can on October 2, and January The values like satya, ahimsa, the changed man, the common 30 every year and send a powerful Shrampratishtha, Shramdan, person based green economy, and the message that we reject the present new youth movement will perhaps arrangement and are keen to search simple living are being promoted the new. though these replicas and the Centre ensure this. hopes that with this deliberate act Please draw your cheque in favour of promoting values, it will be Yusuf Meherally Centre, of Yusuf Meherally Centre and in your covering letter marking it for instrumental in bringing a change D/15, Ganesh Prasad, 1st Floor, Khadi Gramodyog Andolan and send in man, a change for the better. JP 10, Nausher Bharucha Marg, your cheque or cash to our office. had famously said that democracy (formerly Sleater Road), required a belief in the educability P.O, Grant Road (W), Resolve to give preference to gramodyogs, to use hand-made paper of man and Yusuf Meherally had Mumbai - 400007 as often as possible, purchase locally certainly said that he was a socialist crafted products, wear khadi, eat because he did not like ugliness Website organic, indigenously grown foods and cruelty. For the Centre, Khadi www.yusufmeherally.org and contribute your mite for rural Gramodyog Andolan, a youth TeleFax development. movement committed to communal +91 22 23889738 –Haresh Shah, Nalin Shah, harmony and fighting injustice will E-mail Babubhai Patel, determine its future history, and [email protected] Shashi Chandore, Madhu Mohite days like Yusuf Meherally’s birth Telephone Conveners, anniversary, September 23 and +91 22 23870097 Khadi Gramodyog Andolan Gandhiji’s, October 2 and January +91 22 23806010 10 JANATA, September 29, 2013 German SPD Down but not Out

D. K. Giri

The loss of SPD in the elections in USA are fought on oratory, public Stienbruck’s well-paid speeches to held in Germany last Saturday, 22 posturing and style of leadership. banks and finance industries gave September 2013 is no surprise. The trend was started by Ronald the contrary impression. At the same It was largely predicted. But the Reagan who defeated Jimmy Carter time, SPD had a pronounced left- margin of SPD defeat is worrying. in 1980 with his theatricals, although bias in the campaign. Elections are Angela Merkel, who secured a Reagan was new and had less won on a centre platform. In fact, third successive victory as the substance in his policies. In the most Social Democratic parties in Chancellor took her CDU/CSU Obama era too, Obama scored over Europe are making this strategic to 41.5 per cent, whereas SPD his rivals within Democratic Party mistake. They are appealing to the got 25.7 per cent, Greens 8.4 per and outside over the Republican poor and unemployed, as indeed cent, Free Democratic Party (FDP) rival in oratory and presentation. they should, but they must have also 4.8 pere cent and Alternative for In Britain, David Cameroon beat messages for the middle class and Germany (AfD) 4.7 per cent. In the Labour’s Gordon Brown more in for the rich as well. The majority last elections in 2009 CDU/CSU style than in substance. Likewise, of Germans are not poor. With low had got 33.8 per cent, SPD 23 per Nicholas Clegg of Liberal Party unemployment, higher salaries cent, Greens 10.7 per cent and FDP did well with his oratory skills to and rising entrepreneurship, the 14.6 per cent. In the 2013 elections, become the Deputy Prime Minister. middle class did not feel the need the business-supported FDP, is the Although it is not a welcome trend, for a change, as was urged by SPD. biggest looser slipping down under in the media glare, the performance Angela Merkel connected with this 5 percent. The right-wing AfD of the leaders on the dais matters. So feeling and got the support of the failed to make the threshold of 5 per in Germany, while Merkel’s style of majority. The tax rise proposed by cent, necessary for Parliamentary posing as a strong and determined both Greens and the SPD scared representation. In terms of seats, leader paid off, the SPD did not have the entrepreneurs. The SPD failed out of 630, CDU/CSU will have a counter-strategy to deal with her. to convince the voters that tax rise 311 seats, SPD 192 seats, Greens would affect only the top five per 63 seats and Left parties 64 seats. Is SPD losing the electoral touch? cent. A similar misperception was In order to form the government 316 The SPD has not been winning unnecessarily created in 1990s, seats are needed. elections since 1998.The chairman when the Shadow Chancellor of the of the party Sigmar Gabriel said on Labour party in Britain, late John Although the results were largely Sunday night after the elections, that Smith had proposed a tax rise for as predicted, it calls for a deeper the party is no longer a “volkspartie”, the super rich. The party came to be analysis of why a 150-year old party, the party of the people. The party is known as a tax party. the SPD, did so badly, the second still divided after Schroder’s loss worst showing for the party since in 2005 elections and his infamous SPD’s handling of European the World War II and Angela Merkel, labour market reforms. issue was also not convincing to despite severe economic crises in the voters. Stienbruck’s criticism Europe, beat the anti-incumbency The third factor could be that of Merkel on Euro and Europe trend and won a third term. SPD seemed to have suffered from lacked credibility. The SPD had credibility loss on two contradictory always voted in line with Merkel The first reason for defeat could be perceptions of the party. Peer in Bundestag. So, for Steinbruck personalization of German politics Stienbruck did not enjoy the to criticize Merkel’s handling of by Merkel. Increasingly, most credibility as the leader of a Left Euro crisis did not wash. SPD’s democracies including the developed party. He was not seen as the leader European policy seemed incomplete. ones in Europe are following the to present the party on matters of It could have posed a clear choice American style of personalization social reforms, minimum wage or between a Europe based on a vision of politics. The presidential elections rising disparities in German society. of solidarity as well as closer JANATA, September 29, 2013 11 integration and a selfish-nationalistic in the party, the SPD second-in- Coalition (2005-09) dealt more with or particularistic concept of Europe command Andrea Nahles said after personalities than political issues. held by Conservatives. Just a the results, “we won’t be committing Therefore, despite all its misgivings, platitudinous statement that Europe to any coalition this evening”. SPD will, in all probability, join is needed was not enough. There Hannelore Kraft, the State Governor Merkel in the end because public should have been a clear choice of North-Rhine Westphalia, who is pressure is likely to mount as the presented between a European tipped to be the future SPD leader weeks go by. Germany and a German Europe. and a Chancellor candidate, said, The voters should have been told in “Ninety per cent of my regional In fact in the coalition scenario, clear terms about what they could party association is against a grand SPD seems to be the only possible expect from a federal European coalition. It is not a disgrace to sit ally as the Greens have badly lost Union. What was even worse for in the opposition.” At the time of and are in turmoil for their leadership SPD was that they did not have any writing the members of SPD are has resigned en-masse. Moreover, narrative of Europe which countered thinking of an internal party Gallup the CSU’s Bavarian Governor new populism and new nationalism to decide on the issue. Horst Seehofer, a powerful ally of resurfacing in Europe. One could Merkel, has ruled out even talking empathise with the Progressives in SPD seems to be bitter with their to them. The whole of Europe, and Europe who have a double challenge experience of the last coalition. But indeed, the rest of the world will to face. They have to convince their pragmatism should be the driving be looking at German politics as it voters that the alternative policies force in politics. Some would say takes interesting twists and turns in they advocate offer scope for growth that the past experience of Grand the coming days. and jobs. Secondly, they will have to convincingly argue that Europe Japan’s nuclear power network shuts down is part of the solution not a problem. Japan’s only operating nuclear the previous administration saying The party is over for Angela Reactor 4 at Ohi in western Japan they would phase out nuclear power Merkel. Despite the landslide victory went offline 0n September 16 with completely. she cannot form the government no definite timetable for a restart. on her own. As Merkel does not So far, power companies have have the majority, the big question The country’s network of nuclear made applications to restart about is whether the SPD should join the plants ­which used to provide up to 30 a dozen reactors. Prime Minister “grand coalition”. There are two per cent of the national grid’s power Shinzo Abe, who took office in opinions on this. If SPD joins, and ­has been closed for intensive safety December, says nuclear power certainly the pressure will be high checks since the 2011 meltdowns at remains essential, even with a for them to do so, they will carry the Fukushima plant triggered by a surge in generation capacity from the ills of the government and not tsunami in 2011. solar, wind and other renewable sources, and that the mounting the credit as they will be the junior Public opinion has turned against costs from importing gas and oil are partner. Consequently, they might nuclear power since the Fukushima unsustainable. lose more in the next elections. If catastrophe, the largest nuclear it does not join the government and disaster since a fire at the Chernobyl In the absence of nuclear power, Germany goes for another election, plant in Ukraine in 1986, and the industries have worked hard to Merkel might get the absolute government have found themselves avoid disruptions by using backup majority and parties like FDP and under increasing pressure to tighten generators and shifting to new AfD may bounce back. SPD is in safety standards. sources, such as solar power. To date, real dilemma. The call clearly is, Japan has avoided energy rationing “you have to join the government to However, as radiation continues and blackouts. However, households guarantee the stability of Germany, to escape from the stricken plant in Tokyo have seen their energy bills to counterbalance the CSU, not to on Japan’s northeast coast, the rise by as much as 30 per cent since waste the opportunity to realize Japanese government has stated its the Fukushima meltdown. part of your political programme, commitment to restarting many of etc.” Reflecting the resistant mood the 50 idle reactors. This is despite –Report in The Indepent 12 JANATA, September 29, 2013

Letter to the Editor Savarkar and Mukherjee

While I agree with substantiality that some CSP members and some met Savarkar and urged upon him that of Shamsul Islam’s contention in non-CSP AICC members of Bengal Hindu Mahasabha should join the his article “A open letter to the were with Subhas Chandra even movement. But Savarkar declined by Hindu Nationalist: N. D. Modi” on Pant Resolution issue. So, two saying ‘so many Hindus (not Indians) published in Janata (July 28, 2013), Congress committees had been have already joined the movement. I feel it is necessary to get certain functioning in Bengal. The minority What is the use of Mahasabha’s facts right. He has quoted from that is the Patel group was known participation?’ Undaunted Shyama Savarkar’s Presidential Speech at as official BPCC, whereas majority Prasad provided all possible help to Hindu Mahasabha Conference in was known as suspended BPCC. the movement even while he was 1942. I have not gone through the When Huque Sahib came out of a minister and also after he came original speech of Savarkar, but I Muslim League, he approached the out of the ministry. In 1943, there presume that S. Islam has quoted leader of suspended BPCC Sarat was a disastrous famine in Bengal him correctly. However, Savarkar’s Chandra Bose with the proposal to mooted by the British rulers. Prof. statement cannot be taken to be true form a coalition, to which Sarat Bose Humayun Kabir who was very by anyone who has some knowledge agreed. It was resolved that Huque close to Maulana Azad and Fazlul of pre-Partition Bengal. would be the Prime Minister and the Huque was also a CSP sympathizer, number two in the cabinet would be introduced many socialist youth and The then Chief (Prime) Minister of Sarat Bose with Finance portfolio. A other Augusters to Shyama Prasad. Bengal A. K. Fazlul Huque resigned day before the oath taking ceremony, By this time, Shyama Prasad was from his post for the differences Sarat Bose was arrested. But other able to form a well organized Bengal with Muslim League. Then he members of suspended BPCC joined Famine Relief Committee. I have revived the Krishak Praja Party. It the ministry. Dr. Shyama Prasad heard from Late Sisir Dhar, Late may be recalled that Huque Saheb Mukherji, then a Hindu Mahasabha Prof. Dilip Chakrabarty and other had won the election in 1937 as a member, joined the ministry as Augusters as to how Shyama Prasad Krishak Praja Party candidate and Finance Minister. He was the only persuaded them to use the Relief his party had won in of Muslim seats representative of Hindu Mahasabha. Committee badge, which helped defeating Muslim League. He was ( In his legal career Huque was them to move around with their over keen to form a coalition ministry junior to Ashutosh Mukherjee, the and underground activities during the with the Congress. Although many father of Dr. S. P. Mukherji and he Quit India movement. Congressmen in Bengal were willing was very close to Mukherjee family. for such a coalition, the central On Shyama Prasad’s death in 1953, I have heard from the leaders leadership of the Congress was Huque sent a condolence message to of Jamnalipta Jatiya Sarkar that ho against it. Disappointed Huque the Mukherjee family with words ‘I Shyama extended his helping hand then formed a coalition with the have lost my only brother’.) to the Jatiya Sarkar. I have a senior Muslim League. After some time friend named Krishna Chaitanya he succumbed to the pressure and Within a short period however, Mahapatra who was a student then, joined the Muslim League. But some the relationship with the Governor who was working as ‘in betweeen’ of his followers were not prepared and Huque and Mukherjee became Jatiya Sarkar and Shyama Prasad. to join the Muslim League and they strained. Since both of them were continued with the KPP. But when men of high caliber and integrity, I have no intention to write a due to differences with the Muslim they refused the Governor’s anti- biographical sketch of Shyama League he left the ministry Huque people dictates. The Governor then Prasad in this letter. But what I rejoined the KPP. dismissed the ministry. want to emphasize once more that the contents of Savarkar’s speech In the meantime on the issue of I want to emphasize that there as quoted in the ‘open letter’ is a Pant Resolution at Tripuri congress were fundamental differences travesty of truth and unbecoming and subsequent suspension of the between Savarkar and Shyama for a former revolutionary and a elected President Subhas Chandra Prasad. When Quit India movement president of a political party. Bose, by the Congress in Bengal was launched by the Congress at the was divided. It may be remembered behest of Gandhiji, Shyama Pradas –Sandip Das JANATA, September 29, 2013 13 Criminals and Elections

The Samata Party had taken steps Commission who immediately and the judge while agreeing with to convene an all-party meeting sent a senior officer to enquire. An everything the under-trial said, gave to deliberate on what steps parties important footnote of this story is a harsh adverse judgment. This could unitedly take to prevent that this same person had all the is a good way to send a message criminals from entering the electoral cases against him withdrawn when that those who lead struggles for system. George Fernandes, as its he joined the Lalu Yadav's RJD. the poor against corporate and President, sent out letters to all It demonstrates how politicians mighty political interests, will end party heads in the late 90s. It was manipulate the police like puppets in jail and have their political career only Comrade Harkishan Surjeet to vanquish their opponents. ruined. of the CPM who bothered to reply and express his willingness to George Fernandes and others Parties must collectively meet. No other parry bothered to were being tried for violence against deliberate and decide on such reply or even express support for the state and treason by a wholly matters. If one party decides to avoid the idea. This effort naturally died illegal and authoritarian government giving tickets to anyone under trial, a natural death. There is always during the Emergency. If he had while others give tickets to those a struggle within parties when been prevented from fighting who intimidate and terrorize voters tickets are being allotted, between elections he would have continued and win with impunity, there is no the ‘decent’ aspirant and those with to rot in jail and not been able to level field. What can the Election provide leadership to the country criminal antecedents. Unfortunately, Commission or the Supreme Court unless the party leadership stands or the socialist movement. A 'crime' do about this? As of now, there very firm, and is willing to let the is a crime in the statute books, but could be many political persons good candidate lose rather than be what kind of crime and under what under trial because of false cases convinced by the muscle and might circumstances and in what context being framed against them. Often a of the criminal contender who has should surely be issues that have trial is harsh and unfair because the proven his 'winnability' through to be studied to provide justice in lower judge has been coerced by these methods earlier, the 'criminal a highly politicized polity where is given the ticket since every single leaders at the highest levels misuse ‘political’ seniors. Until the appeal seat, particular in coalition politics, the CBI, and other police agencies to is heard and disposed of fairly in counts. harass and implicate their political higher court, the innocent person opponents in crimes they did not is left floundering and considered If you speak to most of the commit. guilty. It would be a travesty of 'criminals', they will stoutly defend justice to allow such situations to themselves and insist that their Today, a young farmer's leader tip the scales of justice. opponents, when in power, had and former MLA has been sentenced framed false cases against them. to life imprisonment for a crime While we all want perpetrators of There have been cases even with the foisted on him falsely when Digvijay heinous crimes and the thouroughly Samata Party, where the Lalu Prasad Singh was Chief Minister in Madhya corrupt to be punished and shunned Yadav regime declared a Samata Pradesh and in which Kamal Nath, by the political system and kept out party leader a murderer, when a central minister still exercise of assemblies and Parliament the he was clearly many kilometers influence despite the state being medicine being given to cure the away from the crime scene. Later ruled by the BIP. In this case, which disease must not have harmful side he was declared an absconder, has been reported at length in earlier effects. The innocent are harmed and had to flee from Bihar with issues of the OtherSide, the police more than the criminal who think only the clothes on his back. His fired upon and killed 27 farmers, nothing of committing murder, rape house was vandalized, and family 14 years ago. A few months ago, and dacoity in the first place. harassed. He obtained protection Dr. Sunilam was sentenced to life only when the Samata Party took up imprisonment. The police terrorized - Edditorial in the matter with the Human Rights witnesses to save their own skin, the OtherSide, August, 2013 14 JANATA, September 29, 2013 People’s Agenda on Water and Sanitation for the Urban Local Bodies elections in Odisha

Ranjan Panda

Most of the ULBs of the find a space, haphazardly without of the state but things seem to have state are going for elections this any proper planning. Almost all been done in hurry keeping in mind month. In this context a team of garbage is transported in open the ULB elections. No treatment is Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) body transport carriers. None of happening at the moment. Cities of volunteers visited nine cities from the urban areas have a proper solid the state need to think immediately all across the state and talked to waste management plan – at least about having decentralized garbage people about their problems in known to the people - as a result and sewage management plans and relation to water, sanitation and of which malaria and jaundice programmes. The citizens of almost related aspects. The team also have become common in most all the cities we travelled have tried to get an understanding of of the slum areas of the state. In unanimously voiced their concern the people’s expectations from the cities like Puri, the ‘supposed to in this regard. candidates who are contesting in be protected’ sweet water zones these elections. Most of the city have turned out to be garbage People in almost all the cities dwellers felt they are living in pits, open defecation fields and expressed their concerns over the unhygienic conditions. Most of our place for dumping all sort of waste reducing green spaces, increased cities are severely polluted due to materials. In almost all the cities, vehicular pollution, and lack of blind and unplanned waste disposal, water bodies, river sides and open roads for pedestrians and bi-cycle felt the citizens. fields are being used as dumping riders. A large section of the people yards of municipal bodies as well also thought concrete roads are Especially the slum dwellers, as private contractors used by them not good for the cities as they are who are living in most unhygienic in sanitary operations. Majority increasing the heat during summer conditions and with very poor of the people we talked believed as well as making it difficult to basic amenities, have felt that they privatization of sanitation services maintain water supply pipes and don’t have any right to water and has miserably failed. other such services. sanitation in this state. Most of the slums in urban areas of the All rivers flowing by the cities Many urban dwellers of the state have most of their inhabitants of the state are heavily polluted due surveyed cities said they are aware going for open defecation. We are to urban wastes, human wastes and about the ill effects of plastics but forced to drink untreated water, industrial pollution, revealed the have not found suitable alternatives. complained many slum dwellers. survey. Mahanadi is among the most They have also expressed their polluted rivers in Odisha, in so far as dissatisfaction about the lack of Based on the discussion with urban wastes are concerned. drive by municipal bodies and slum dwellers and other people, related institutions in this regard. WIO team found out that at least None of the cities in the 90 percent of slum dwellers of the state have sewerage treatment Overall, urban people of the urban areas of Odisha defecate in facilities. While there have been state have said that municipal the open; and only about 25 per cent some initiatives taken in cities like bodies should be strengthened and of them piped water supply; much Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack; privatization of their services and of which is untreated. there is completely no progress functions be stopped. However, they in any other city. Even in the have also questioned the efficiency Most of the municipalities in the above cities the plans are just in of many municipal bodies. There state are dumping the solid waste, their preliminary stage. In Puri, a is a common complaint by people medical wastes and all other types sewerage treatment plant has been that the ULBs are not involving the of hazardous wastes anywhere they inaugurated by the Chief Minister local people in decision making. JANATA, September 29, 2013 15

Rather they are influenced by their towards protecting Rivers, water provide drinking water, sanitation political compulsions and private bodies and work towards making and greenery as a right to the urban contractors. the cities self-sustaining in water people. resources from within the city WIO appeals all the candidates areas. Saving rivers from dying; contesting in the ongoing ULB adopting local specific natural ways elections to consider these above People should also vote for of water harvesting technologies; concerns and opinion of the urban candidates who are committed recharging ground water; forest people of the state as their agenda towards decentralized garbage- conservation and creating greenery for action while seeking votes. sewerage treatment and within the cities would not only hold management; creating ample green key to water security of the cities WIO also urges upon the urban spaces including forests, parks themselves but also would help people of the state to vote for and play grounds in the cities; and reducing the growing water conflicts candidates who show commitment above all who are committed to between urban and rural areas.

Mushawarat condemns terror attacks Madhu Dandavate By Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President their respective regions and beyond, of All India Muslim Majlis-e- B. Vivekanandan are simple terror which in no way Price: Rs. 20/- Mushawarat said in a statement is sanctioned by Islam or has the here that the terrorist attacks on Janata Trust consent of Muslims anywhere in the D-15, Ganesh Prasad, innocents in a church in Peshawar world,” he said. and a commercial mall in Nairobi Naushir Bharucha Marg, are worst examples of anti-Islamic Grant Road (W), Dr Khan said: “The only legitimate Mumbai 400 007. behaviour which deserve to be Jihad is against invading and condemned and resisted by all occupying armies while attacking possible means. innocent civilians is a plain and simple criminal act against Islam “These crimes by fringe groups and humanity.” working at the behest of powers in Pasha Patel

Anti-bribery Laws needed in India

We appreciate the UPA “Anti Bribery Law” as is prevalent Government’s efforts in passing two in the U.K. and U.S.A. landmark Bills in the Parliament. One is giving poor Indians right to The need of the hour is to adopt food at lower price and the other Zero Tolerance attitude towards being Land Acquisition Act which corruption. Anti-bribery laws of was pending for a long time. Now let U.S.A. and U.K. are so strict that us hope during the remaining period they punish companies even for Price: Rs. 20/- of UPA’s tenure it will spearhead any bribes paid by their global Janata Trust and get approved in the present Lok subsidiaries. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, Naushir Sabha more stringent and effective Bharucha Marg, Satish Murdeshwar, Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007. R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 16 JANATA, September 29, 2013 P.R. No. MH/MR/WEST/275/2012-2014. Published on Sunday, September 29, 2013 & Posted on Wednesday October 2, 2013 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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