MAHARASHTRA PRAKASH JAVADEKAR GOVERNOR RATTLES THE GOVERNMENT MAKE IN INDIA HAPPENED IN FOUR MONTHS CYCLONE AMPHAN JOURNALISM WITH A HUMAN TOUCH www.theweek.in TheWeekMag TheWeekLive $ 50 TRIGGERS POLITICAL HEADWINDS FOR MAMATA CARMAKERS TAKE THE ROUTE LESS TRODDEN RTI TAKEN ILL DURING

JUNE 7, 2020 THE LOCKDOWN

TENSION ON INDIA-CHINA BORDER WHAT XI WANTS Land link with Pak-held Kashmir through Ladakh? VOL. 38 NO. 23 THE WEEK JUNE 7 2020

FOR THE WEEK JUNE 1 - JUNE 7 12 32 65 SALIL BERA SALIL AHLAWAT SANJAY WEST BENGAL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW @LEISURE With mass devastation by Cyclone Self-reliance does not mean Anurag Kashyap is in an intense Amphan and rising Covid-19 cases, exclusionist policies: Prakash space right now—politically and Mamata Banerjee has her hands full Javadekar, Union minister cinematically

16 CONTROVERSY 40 COVER STORY Experts are worried COLUMNS that citizens’ right to 9 POWER POINT information has not Sachidananda Murthy been upheld during the lockdown 19 IVORY TOWER Sanjaya Baru 24 PHOTO-FEATURE Homebound and 54 PMO BEAT abandoned, migrant R. Prasannan labourers have come 55 MANI-FESTO to represent the Mani Shankar Aiyar bruised, tear-stained face of our 61 BITTER CHOCOLATE Swara Bhasker motherland 74 LAST WORD 34 MAHARASHTRA Barkha Dutt The power tussle between the governor and the Thackeray selling and attractive government could financing options BINESH SREEDHARAN lead to a fresh 62 SPORTS political crisis The Saudi sovereign IMAGING IMAGING 56 BUSINESS wealth fund’s interest Carmakers are trying in English football may PEAK OF TENSION to beat the slowdown be more about profits with new ways of than propaganda The India-China border in eastern Ladakh is witnessing a high level of tensions, with China bringing forward at least COVER ILLUSTRATION BINESH SREEDHARAN 4,000 troops to the region. India’s relation with Nepal also Printed at Malayala Manorama Press, Kottayam, Print House India Pvt deteriorated over the past few months, and New Delhi Ltd, Mumbai, M P Printers, Noida, and Rajhans Enterprises, Bengaluru, suspects China’s hand behind it. Now, as China makes and published from Manorama Buildings, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi-682 036, by Jacob Mathew, on behalf of the Malayala Manorama Co.Ltd., a strategic threat, the big question is, how long will the Kottayam-686 001. Editor Philip Mathew stand-off continue? • Focus/Infocus features are paid marketing/PR initiatives

JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 3 LETTERS

are followed in total by all has been the worst hit by for imparting additional Army is deeply commit- Editor Philip Mathew state governments, they are the lockdown necessitated training to the individual. ted to implementing the Chief Associate Editor & Director Riyad Mathew viewed with suspicion by by the Covid pandemic, Additionally, in accord- Supreme Court judgment Editor-in-Charge V.S. Jayaschandran Senior News Editor Stanley Thomas the West Bengal govern- it would be the migrant ance with laid-down of February 17, 2020, in News Editor Lukose Mathew ment, thereby leading to labourers (‘Home truths’, process, verbal and written letter and spirit. A working Deputy News Editors Mathew T. George, Maijo Abraham, Ajish P. Joy laxity in implementation. May 24). warnings of possible group, under an Army Resident Editor, Delhi K.S. Sachidananda Murthy The virus has rapidly Heart-wrenching reports relegation/withdrawal are Commander, is looking Chief of Bureau, Delhi R. Prasannan spread its tentacles across by the media about the issued at multiple stages closely at evolving a matrix Chief of Bureau, Mumbai Dnyanesh V. Jathar the state, causing havoc. plight of these innocents of training to those cadets for quick and smooth Deputy Chief of Bureau, Delhi Neeru Bhatia Chief Subeditors Susamma Kurian, The need of the hour in forced governments to not meeting the physical implementation. Navin J. Antony West Bengal is to have a spring into action. Some training criteria. Col Aman Anand, Senior Subeditors Anirudha Karindalam, Anirudh Madhavan visionary statesmanship, to lost their lives on the way. For cases your reporter PRO (Army). Subeditors Diya Mathew, Karthik Ravindranath, guide the destiny of hapless Others exhausted their has mentioned, all entitled Reuben Joe Joseph, Nirmal Jovial migrant returnees. meagre savings and, in few attempts, including two As a defence correspond- SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENTS Parthasarathy Mandadi, cases, their own villages did additional opportunities, ent, I have high regard Delhi: Rekha Dixit, Mandira Nayar, Hyderabad: Rahul Devulapalli On email. not welcome them, thanks were given. The judgment for the Army. I have done Namrata Biji Ahuja, Soni Mishra, Kochi: Anjuly Mathai to the stigma of Covid-19. of the Supreme Court was several stories highlighting K. Sunil Thomas Srinagar: Tariq Ahmad Bhat SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS The slugfest between the The lockdown proved that never a factor impinging the achievements of the Lucknow: Puja Awasthi Bengaluru: Mini P. Thomas, Kolkata: Rabi Banerjee Take it easy, Mamata Centre and West Bengal, it is not just labour which is on either the qualifying Army. Hence, there is no Abhinav Singh Delhi: Sneha Bhura West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the backdrop of the ‘dirt cheap’ in the country, standards or the tests. mala fide intent behind my SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS Mumbai: Priyanka Bhadani, Delhi: Pratul Sharma, Namita Kohli, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal is undoubtedly a mass leader and an able Covid-19 pandemic, not but also a labourer’s life. Gentlemen cadets are story. Pradip R. Sagar administrator. But her nose-in-the-air attitude only put lives at risk, but Kamna Chhabra, subject to the same rules The basic point of my Bengaluru: Prathima Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram: Cithara Paul CHIEF REPORTER is an Achilles’ heel (‘State of worry’, May 24). also makes resurrection of Gurugram. and have also failed to story is that, for the first Mumbai: Nachiket Kelkar UAE: Raju Mathew, Dubai Her sense of infallibility and hope of scoring socio-economic activities make the grade. Therefore, time in 28 years (since Chennai Lakshmi Subramanian Bhopal: Sravani Sarkar over the Centre have contributed to her clumsy all the more foggy. In the Wide of the mark insinuation of gender bias women were allowed to Ahmedabad: Nandini Gunavantrai Oza management of the pandemic. A bunch of the blame-game between the Your report on the mass is unfair. Physical tests are serve in the Army), there Photo Editor: Sanjoy Ghosh Art Editor: Jayakrishnan M.T. bureaucracy, which is fawning on her, has played Centre and West Bengal, failure of women cadets in precise in terms of criteri- has been a mass failure Deputy Photo Editors Assistant Art Editor: Binesh Sreedharan a major role in creating a disquieting situation. it is the people who are the Army seems to be mo- on—you either pass or fail. of women cadets. I have Bhanu Prakash Chandra, Salil Bera Senior Infographic

Raveendranath A., suffering. tivated and full of inaccu- Your reporter has clev- mentioned it as an ‘aberra- Chief Photographers Designer: Sreemanikandan S. Delhi: Arvind Jain, Sanjay Ahlawat Illustrator: B. Bhaskaran On email. Both the BJP and the racies (‘Mean manoeuvre’, erly used the data from tion’. When this happened Mumbai: Janak Bhat, Amey Suhas Mansabdar Layout Artist: B. Manojkumar TMC have their eyes fixed May 24). the last couple of batches immediately after the Photographer Designers: Deni Lal, Job P.K. in the state elections due The training staff puts in to create a false narrative, Supreme Court judgment, Delhi: Aayush Goel Graphic Designer: Syam Krishnan Chief Picture Coordinator Artists: Rajesh A.S., Sumesh C.N., I do not understand what take the people of the state next year. If politics starts very long hours, outside and there seems to be a and never before, several Bimal Nath C. Sujesh K., Ajeesh Kumar M., Jairaj T.G. Mamata gains by hiding for a ride. dictating every move, even scheduled training, to make possibility that this report serving and retired male Research: Jomy M. Joseph Senior Researcher: Rani G.S. Covid-19 cases in West Tapesh Nagpal, in such grave crises, the sure that maximum cadets is authored at the behest of and female officers -ex Photo Archivist: Deepak Joy T. Bengal. If she has any love On email. pawns are sacrificed. complete training success- some individuals looking pressed concern. My story THEWEEK.IN for her state, she should not Vijai Pant, fully and get commissioned to benefit from the sensa- articulated that concern. New Media Coordinator Neeraj Krishnan be doing that. Your cover story forewarns On email. as officers. Failure would tionalism. While gathering infor- Deputy New Media Coordinator Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl The BJP should also what is in store in West incur additional expend- He has clearly misquot- mation, I had checked with Senior Subeditors Hazeeda Vijayakumar, Sumitra Nair, Vaisakh E. Hari, Ancy K. Sunny, refrain from playing politics Bengal. When instruc- Constant grief iture to the exchequer to ed Army headquarters to the Army headquarters. Jose K. George, Justin Paul George during the pandemic. Both tions of the ICMR and the If we have to single out one cater for additional time support his false narrative. Their response to my query Subeditors Vinod V.K., Anita Babu, Varun Ramesh Balan these parties should not Central health ministry section of society which and resources required Lieutenant General Bobby is given in the report. Your Senior Researcher Saju C. Daniel Mathew (retd), in response rebuttal does not deny my Multimedia Rahul J. Mohan, Vipin Das P. to a query by this office, basic point—of a mass Executive Director George Jacob has confirmed that his failure of women cadets in Vice President, Marketing, Advertising Sales Varghese Chandy SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER CARE CIRCULATION Hyderabad: BUREAU ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE EDITORIAL remarks have been misrep- the physical tests. Nowhere For all subscription related inquiries Bengaluru: 040-23314168/23324692 Bengaluru: Manorama Buildings, P.B. No. 26, Manorama Buildings, Vice President, Circulation M. Rajagopalan Nair please write, email or fax to 080-22247735/22247736 Kolkata: 033- 24198233 080-22867345, 22867050 Kottayam 686001, Kerala, India. P.B. No. 4278, Panampilly Nagar, resented grossly. in the story did I make Senior General Manager, Sales Hari M. Varrier Senior Manager, Circulation, Bhopal: 0755-2557937 Kottayam: 0481-2563646 Kolkata: 033-24556995, Tel: 0481-2563646 Kochi 682036, Kerala, India. MUMBAI 24198344, ext.216 Manorama Buildings, Lucknow: 0522-2341576 REGIONAL CO-ORDINATING The Army takes strong insinuation of gender bias. Resident Chief General Manager Shree Kumar Menon Chandigarh: 0172-2724699 Chennai: 044-66918500 [email protected] PB No. 4278, Panampilly Nagar, Mumbai: 022-24901331, OFFICE CHENNAI Kochi - 682036. Kerala Chennai: 39495969 Delhi: 011-23354920 Tej Building, 1st Floor, Bahadur http://www.theweek.in objections to publication of I fail to understand why Hyderabad: Regional Chief General Manager K.C. Suresh Email: [email protected] 044-66918530/31 Patna: 0612-2233809 Shah Zafar Marg, this article which attempts the Army has not initiated Coimbatore: 040-23314168, 23324692 New Delhi 110 002. +91 484-4447888 BENGALURU Toll free no.: 18001035981 Jaipur: Mumbai: 022-22074604, Cochin: 0484-4447507 0422-2241911/2245470 0141-2368360/4005808 Tel: 011-23354920, 23354921, to promote the view of a any inquiry into the matter. Regional Chief General Manager Ranjit Kurien 22004358 +91 484-2315745 For advertising: +91 98953 95097 Delhi: Thiruvananthapuram: 23359541, 23355801, 23356537 NEW DELHI Bhopal: 0755-2431001 Fax: 43541354 patriarchal army which is Pradip Sagar, Email: [email protected] 011-23379718, 23379719 0471-2328198 Lucknow: 0522-2701725 Chief Marketing Officer (North) & heavily gender-biased. The Special Correspondent. Head, Special Projects R. Rajmohan TheWeekMag @TheWeekLive TheWeekMag 85 89 99 48 69 4 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 5 APERITIF THE BIG PICTURE

TROUBLE IN THE AIR Swarms of locusts atop a residential building in Jaipur. The insects have been rampaging across western and central India in the country’s worst pest infestation in three decades.

PHOTO BY AFP

6 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 7 APERITIF

POWER POINT SACHIDANANDA MURTHY POINT BLANK MILESTONES

TOP SPEED Australian researchers from Monash University have recorded the world’s Reactionary regimes fastest internet speed of 44.2 When, as a creator, I make terabits per second from a single something, it helps me if I optical chip. The technology has the ven as the lockdown is easing, there are The UPA government had launched a pro- know for which window I potential to connect billions of people doubts whether the new-found initiatives of gramme for supplying a tablet, costing 010,000, am making the content for. around the world at peak periods. Eseveral Central ministries will sustain when to each student, but the project did not take off. There is no point in making normalcy returns. The much-hyped claim of the The NDA government did not think of it as a non-veg food for a human resource development ministry on the viable option. Similarly, the enthusiasm of some vegetarian. switch to online education has got a reality check state governments to supply free laptops, like the Sujoy Ghosh, as schools and colleges are reporting that they are Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, was filmmaker not able to provide substantial coverage, especial- not followed up by successive regimes. There is an ly in villages and impoverished urban centres. argument that smartphones can do the job, but The Centre’s BharatNet programme has claimed school managements and teachers’ associations near-total optic fibre connectivity in the country, are sceptical. I have immense respect for PM Modi who is AWARD GLORY but its next phase—covering every home and in- There are also doubts about the overall not only our nation’s leader, but also a world Major Suman Gawani became the dividual—has a long way to go. In Delhi, the Aam leader. Even the US president is in awe of him. development of children if they are confined to I will build a temple with his idol in it after the first Indian to win the UN Military Aadmi Party government’s promise that the city homes, and lack contact with teachers, who inspire, lockdown. Gender Advocate Award. Former- would be a ‘Wi-Fi metropolis’ remains unfulfilled, guide and correct. The demand for a total switch Ganesh Joshi, ly deployed to the UN Mission in with only a small part of the city having dependa- to digital education would need a national debate, BJP MLA in Uttarakhand South Sudan, Gawani is known for ble connectivity. Even cities known as tech hubs— as the recent Kasturirangan report on national mentoring around 230 UN military Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and education policy did not consider in As sportsmen, we are used to dealing with a lot observers on conflict-related sexual Gurugram—do not have cheap or detail the pros and cons of switching of uncertainty during our careers. Everything violence. free connectivity for all residents. over to digital education. Even this doesn’t fall into place. You tend to get scared While bureaucrats advised one-year-old draft report is yet to and worried about stuff. schools and colleges to switch to be considered and adopted by the Rahul Dravid, online classes during the lock- government. There are concerns former cricketer down, the experience of govern- about the commonality of digitally ment and corporation-run schools prepared curriculum, providing The 24x7 saturation coverage of the spiky virus AFP has not been encouraging in many remote laboratories for science and the casualties around the world spooked states. Teachers themselves have subjects for every student, and people. While the middle class and the rich The planet is our home and not been trained to give their class- extracurricular activities. retreated under the beds, the poor baulked we have to learn to coexist and decided to get home to the safety of their with every single species es online and managing a remote Another issue is the extreme en- villages and communities. that exists on earth. Why do INDIAN RACE class scattered across multiple lo- thusiasm for keeping labour laws in Manish Tewari, human beings feel they are India’s venture capital-backed fintech cations has been challenging. Even abeyance in some states in the wake Congress leader invincible? We share our investments overtook those in China several universities have said that they have not of the lockdown as the governments did not hold planet with millions of other in the first quarter of 2020 in terms been able to achieve maximum reach, and have extensive dialogues. While some of the laws have BJP is the richest party not only in the country species, but we feel only we of deal value and volume. Indian advocated opening physical classrooms. become antiquated because of the fast changes but also in the world. Its leaders only care for have a right on the planet. fintech start-ups attracted VC invest- Though demonetisation increased digital in manufacturing, services and society itself, the the rich people and not the poor. That is ridiculous. ments of more than $330 million in currency, the dependence on cash has not come migrant crisis has exposed the perils of multi-lay- Tejashwi Yadav, Bhumi Pednekar, the March quarter against China’s down. Similarly, if online classes increase, experts ered subcontracting, especially in construction and RJD leader actor approximately $270 million. feel a huge budget and time would be required to road-building projects. There is a clamour that such move education online. Apart from connectivity far-reaching changes should not come as reactions WORD PLAY issues, there is a lack of affordable and compatible to a pandemic, but after informed and time-bound hardware across the student spectrum. Some ex- public discussion, including debates in Parliament Recently, during an anti-lockdown protest in Toronto, Canada, protestors carried signs that read “covexit”. Covexit refers to the strategy for exiting the lockdown forced by the Covid-19 perts feel that relying on the internet for education and the Lok Sabha. The haste to strike when the pandemic. Apparently, governments and policy experts are now busy working on their covexit may widen the social gap, unless the government country is in lockdown can make the hammer miss plans. And, this exit would be harder than the Brexit, for sure. supplies computers to needy students. its mark.

ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected]

8 THE WEEK •JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 9 APERITIF PARTY SNACKS

TWEETING TROUBLE REACHING OUT Sincerity on social media might get you Days after he met a group likes and followers, but it can also annoy of migrant workers in the bosses. At least two bureaucrats learnt Delhi, former Congress this the hard way. Sanjay Kumar, the Bihar president Rahul BUNGLED health secretary, and Manivannan P., Gandhi hit the streets principal secretary of Karnataka’s information once again. On the TAKE-OFF department, were recently shunted to low- morning of Eid, May profile jobs. Apparently, their chief ministers 24, Gandhi met After a botched plan to did not appreciate their engagements on with a taxi driver at restart air travel resulted in social media. Kumar, for instance, would a roadside stall in about half the flights getting regularly post Bihar Covid-19 data on Twitter, Delhi, and discussed cancelled at the last minute and, at times, also respond to specific queries the problems drivers on May 25, online trolls tore by citizens. Manivannan, on the other hand, had faced during into Union Civil Aviation was reportedly vocal about the rights of the lockdown. The and Urban Development workers at a time when labour laws were Gandhi scion has Minister Hardeep Singh being relaxed. been in outreach Puri. They even compared Perhaps this is why Lav Agarwal, joint mode throughout him to a certain leader who secretary in the Union health ministry, has the pandemic. also loves making sudden kept his Twitter usage to a minimum. After announcements. January, his first tweet came on May 17, about Puri, however, has attending his daughter’s graduation online. nonchalantly moved on to his next project—restarting the Delhi metro. Thankfully though, the metro has been ready with protocols in place for weeks now, and is just waiting for the green signal.

ILLUSTRATIONS JAIRAJ T.G.

BREAKING COCONUTS, AND RULES At an official event on the outskirts of Hyderabad, MONEY MATTERS BIRTHDAY BOYS social distancing gave way to social fighting. As Some ministries think organising Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA M. Kishan Reddy webinars is an effective way to fight and state Congress president Ramesh arrived for a ground-breaking ceremony with his the distress caused by Covid-19. Chennithala are like chalk and cheese. followers, K. Sukanya, a mandal praja parishad The textile ministry claimed that it If one is a strict disciplinarian, the president and BJP member, asked why she had not had organised, in “solidarity with other can never be accused of that. If been invited. Reddy ignored her and tried to break handloom weavers”, 200 video one is hardly friendly to journalists, the the ceremonial coconut, but Sukanya intervened. conferences to sensitise them on other revels in media attention. If one Soon, a scuffle broke out between their supporters the Aarogya Setu app and other measures every word he speaks, the and Sukanya fell down in the melee. She later health precautions. But, former other one talks up a storm. complained that Reddy had hit her hand with the BJP MP and handloom expert But the fact that both have their coconut and had called her by her caste name. The Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu was not birthdays on adjacent days—May 24 police has registered a case against Reddy. amused. Through tweets, he asked (Vijayan) and May 25 (Chennithala)— Interestingly, all this happened during the the ministry under Smriti Irani has come as a surprise to many in the lockdown, and at a time when Greater Hyderabad to show “solidarity” by giving ex state. With the two leaders being so accounts for a large part of the total Covid-19 gratia payments to those with different, some said they had stopped cases in the state. government-issued weaver cards. believing in zodiac signs altogether.

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n INTERVIEW situation. This was achieved effec- tively by state and Central agencies working in tandem. At the level of prime minister and home minister, there was action mode approach much before the landfall of Amphan. All agencies need to be appreciated for their commitment. Jagdeep Dhankhar governor, West Bengal The biggest challenge now would be ensuring physical distancing even as Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the state. Chief minister’s political In the review meeting (at Basirhat), the prime minister reflected on this antenna was in disabled dilemma. On one hand, all are being exhorted… to stay put at home, while lakhs had to shift out of their homes mode during chopper ride due to Amphan. He called upon all to do the difficult balancing act so that BY RABI BANERJEE 01,000 crore advance assistance. our Covid-19 combat is not compro- But the chief minister said it might mised. Covid-19 combat has to be WEST BENGAL Governor Jagdeep be part of the devolved Central unabated, otherwise we will face a Dhankhar, along with Chief Minister taxes due to the state, which would scary scenario. All precautions need Mamata Banerjee, accompanied be later adjusted. to be fully adhered to. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on This is no time to engage in hair his aerial survey of the state’s cy- splitting or taking a political stance. As you mentioned, there should be NATURE’S FURY clone-ravaged districts. The trio was While the state presentation indicat- no politicisation over relief work. People leaving their houses the first to witness the destruction, ed a scenario, it also reflected that Do you think that is possible? SALIL BERA SALIL through the flooded fields as government officials were unable due to inaccessibility, assessment The chief minister’s political antenna to access the districts even four days is yet to be done. Only after ground is ever in peak form. I have flagged after Cyclone Amphan hit the state. evaluation can there be a rational her on numerous occasions, saying Cyclone Amphan or five days now, Shova Mondol, got lathis,” said Mondol. In an exclusive chat with THE WEEK, way forward…. I would, for sake of that in matters of development or in a resident of Sonarpur town in Not far away from Sonarpur, where Dhankhar talked about the devasta- efficacy and efficiency and to curtail dealing with the Centre [her political has left West Bengal South 24 Parganas district, has many people lost their houses in the tion he witnessed and the difference mismanagement, favour that all as- approach] was inappropriate. This has devastated. With been living without electricity and cyclone, lies Baruipur. Local resident in Banerjee’s demeanour during the sistance finds its way to the intended led to a confrontational stance with Fdrinking water. The district, along with Kanak Mukherjee, an employee of chopper ride. Edited excerpts: beneficiaries. the Centre, which has adversely im- Covid-19 cases on North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, a public sector undertaking of the pacted the people. For example, farm- the rise and the was the worst affected after super cy- Central government, is a harried Post the aerial survey, what is your Five lakh people were evacuat- ers all over the country are benefiting BJP biding its time, clone Amphan lashed the south Bengal man. The approach road to his house assessment of the destruction? ed and rehabilitated by the state from the PM-KISAN scheme except in Mamata Banerjee coast on May 20. What makes matters is gone, so is the roof shed of his Such fury of nature has not been government. Is that not commend- West Bengal. Our 70 lakh farmers have worse is that these districts are also Cov- terrace. The toilet, too, is a shambles. seen in West Bengal in recent times. able? so far been denied 07,000 crore while has her hands full id-19 hotspots. But what worries him the most is the The rains and heavy winds caused During this crisis, I was in active all others have got 010,000 per head. But Amphan has made people throw lack of drinking water. His mother massive damage to crops and infra- touch with Central agencies. The BY RABI BANERJEE caution to the winds. Ignoring physi- suffers from a kidney disease and structure. Kolkata happens to be one state, however, could not be per- Was the confrontational stance evi- cal distancing norms and the fact that requires pure drinking water. All she of the five severely affected districts. suaded for such engagement. The dent during the chopper ride? her husband works for the state health gets now is a bottle of water from a Our scientific predictions were Indian Coast Guard performed in an During the recent visit of the prime department, Mondol joined her neigh- pond. Though Kanak filters the water, helpful in timely evacuation of lakhs exemplary manner, (and ensured) minister, I noticed that the political bours in blocking the Eastern Metropol- nephrologist Aveek Barman said that of people. Eighty lives have been lost. no death on sea. The Border Security antenna of the chief minister was in itan Bypass, which connects Kolkata’s it was dangerous to give that water Sixteen districts have been impacted Force played a significant role in the disabled mode. I, for the first time, north to the south, on May 24. The police to a kidney patient. “Her creatinine in varying degrees. Sundarbans…. Our defence forces saw a ray of hope in the confronta- used force to disperse the crowd. “We level would jump manifold and that were ready to provide relief. Evacu- tional dark tunnel. Continuance of wanted water and electricity, instead we would hit her heart,” he warned. The prime minister announced ation was tough, given the Covid-19 this will benefit all.

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Amphan, however, first hit the toughest period in her 10-year rule, n INTERVIEW green lungs of the state and of and that the BJP is waiting in the wings neighbouring Bangladesh—the to step in. She is, therefore, careful to Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas. All avoid mistakes she made during the 103 islands in the Sundarbans were Covid-19 crisis. She did not hide the flooded. When the cyclone made death toll this time, nor the number landfall in the Sundarbans and Digha of people affected—one crore. She in Purba Medinipur, the wind speed also told the local administration to S.N. Pradhan was around 260km/h. The speed cooperate with the NDRF, and warned director general, dropped as the cyclone pushed party leaders against interfering in the National Disaster Response Force inland into North 24 Parganas rationing system. In the early days of (over 230km/h), Kolkata, Hooghly the Covid-19 crisis, Trinamool leaders and Howrah (all three at around had tried to grab major rationing stores Bengal has not seen such kind 140km/h). And, it raged on for eight in rural Bengal for their party relief hours and more, crushing everything programme. As a result, ration dealers of devastation in years that stood in its path. had to cancel ration distribution. More than 100 old houses in A Trinamool leader said that Baner- BY RABI BANERJEE divided into four or five sub-teams, Kolkata were reduced to rubble. jee has categorically told party men and had 300 sophisticated items Mighty old trees were uprooted that rescue operation should be the What were the difficulties you faced (like diving and fire-fighting equip- (6,000 in Kolkata alone), as were HITTING HARD primary focus, not politics. The BJP, in Bengal? ment, and boats). Each team had a

slender electric poles. Five districts BERA SALIL Some 6,000 big trees however, is not buying it, with Ghosh Initially, people were reluctant to step vehicle. Our protocol does not allow of Bengal were in complete darkness were uprooted in Kolkata asking why she would then attend the out. For example, the people on Sagar us to use vehicles of state govern- for more than five days. Roads were videoconference with Congress presi- Island in the Sundarbans wondered ments or any other agencies. inundated. Bungalows and luxury uals per day. But only 3,000 tests es said that Modi was seen making dent Sonia Gandhi and non-BJP chief how they could leave their houses and apartments were damaged. The were done on May 20. And while it notes on his iPad. Later, he held a re- ministers soon after the cyclone had belongings. The local administration Did you get enough support from middle class and the upper middle touched 5,000 tests on May 24, it was view meeting at Basirhat in North 24 hit the state. advised us to let them take their time. the local administration? class, too, took to the streets, but clear that combating the pandemic Parganas and sought a presentation Banerjee’s critics said that her exces- But we said if we allowed that they I do not like to create controver- no lathis rained on them. had taken a back seat. Banerjee’s from the chief secretary. However, sive reliance on bureaucrats instead would not be able to pack up. Finally, sies. But I must say that the prime Their protest, however, made the priority has been to restore water, Modi, Banerjee and Dhankhar had of ministers would delay the relief they did step out. People in rural minister set the tone by talking state blame the Calcutta Electric power, communication lines and more information about the situation work. “Administration must empower Bengal were less aware than people to everyone. [Then] the path was Supply Corporation (CESC), a private transport in six districts. That is when than the presentation. Modi report- officials and public representatives in rural Odisha. The awareness was so cleared for us to coordinate with the company owned by the RPG-Sanjiv she reached out to Modi. “I want the edly told the chief secretary: “Don’t at the lower level,” said B.K. Patra, a low that fishermen wanted to go to sea local administration and they fell in Goenka Group. “CESC is squarely prime minister to come to our state forget the Covid-19 situation while retired official who has handled many in the morning despite the warning. line. responsible for the electric mess and see the damage,” she said. carrying out relief works. Be pre- relief initiatives in Odisha. “People in Kolkata,” said acting mayor and Within half an hour, the state pared for a spike in all these areas.” on ground understand the situation Did you see the resistance only in People in Kolkata did not take the Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad secretariat was informed that Prime Modi also announced an advance as- better. So, relief should be monitored Bengal or in Odisha as well? cyclone warning seriously. Hakim. “They could have done more Minister Narendra Modi would visit sistance of 01,000 crore and said that at the block level, and not by the state The people and the administration in I was told that this was because Kol- than what they did.” A top CESC the state on May 22. While the ruling a Central team would visit Bengal secretariat.” Odisha are primed for cyclones as they kata had never witnessed such a cy- official, however, said that power Trinamool Congress said that the and more aid would be provided. The Central team is expected to are habituated to them. Bengal has not clone. During my pre-storm briefing, substations, too, were damaged, and visit was at Banerjee’s behest, the A day later, Banerjee again visited visit Bengal soon, and Banerjee has seen such devastation in years. For in- I maintained that Kolkata was in the they were working with limited staff BJP said it was based on the briefing the Sundarbans with officials. On to ensure that she gets maximum aid stance, Odisha had designated cyclone path of Amphan and everyone would owing to lockdown. by the National Disaster Response her return, she was greeted by the from Delhi. Banerjee knows that Modi centres, so it was easy for us to shift have to take this cyclone seriously The meteorological department Force. “Perhaps lack of communica- protests over non-restoration of and Home Minister Amit Shah are people there. In Bengal, relief centres as it was different from past ones. had alerted the state about the tion facilities were the reasons that services. With the assembly polls waiting to wrest the state from her in were made Covid-19 centres. But we cyclone four days in advance. So far, the state administration received the just 10 months away, Trinamool 2021. Therefore, they cannot be seen were lucky that schools and colleges What should the state learn from the official death toll is 85 (unofficial: communication late,” Bengal BJP leaders are worried about the public as going back on their promise. But the were closed owing to lockdown. So we this? 120). Hospitals are struggling to treat chief Dilip Ghosh told THE WEEK. unrest as Kolkata, North 24 Parganas BJP has its own strategy. It will make could use them. Also, other buildings People must understand that Kol- them as they are overburdened with Modi, Banerjee and Governor and Howrah are the party’s major sure that the people of Bengal know were used as temporary relief centres. kata is not too far from the coast. Covid-19 patients. Kolkata, Howrah Jagdeep Dhankhar did an aerial sur- support bases. While the BJP won 18 that the Centre had come to their aid in And, it is in a vulnerable location. and Hooghly, too, are emerging as vey of the cyclone-ravaged districts, seats across the state in the last Lok this dark hour. How many teams were on ground? In future, we need to plan the city Covid-19 hotspots. and were the first to witness the Sabha polls, it drew a blank in these Politics aside, what remains to be We had around 47 teams ready, of accordingly. Because of lack of Following criticism, Bengal had damage as these districts were cut districts. seen is how Covid-19 will be tackled in which 36 were used in Bengal (around urban planning we had to face huge upped its testing to 8,000 individ- off from the rest of the state. Sourc- Banerjee is aware that this is the a post-cyclone Bengal. 60 members in each team). They were problems.

14 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 15 CONTROVERSY RTI

first appellate authority. the minutes of a meeting Central In- A few other commissions sprang formation Commissioner Bimal Jul- back to life after further relaxations ka had with the state commissioners were announced for after May 17. on April 29, he urged them to think of INFORMATION GAP The Uttarakhand commission began innovative measures in these times hearing matters through audio- and so that the information seeker is Experts are worried that citizens’ right to information video-conferencing on May 22. provided all possible relief. In April, has not been upheld during the lockdown The Kerala commission resumed during lockdown, the CIC disposed hearings over phone on May 21. of 548 second appeals. The information commission in “If nothing else, hearings could BY SONI MISHRA Gujarat is conducting audio-visual be done over the phone,” said RTI hearings from May 26. In nine activist Commodore (retired) Lokesh ON THE MORNING of April 24, the lockdown. the lockdown. Arunachal Pradesh is states, matters stand adjourned till Batra. “While not everyone is expect- activist Raghvendra Dubey received The Rewa incident made clear the hearing matters online, while Chhat- the end of lockdown—it was either ed to have smartphones, even a basic a WhatsApp message that left him importance of RTI for holding the tisgarh is hearing cases both through declared on their website or found phone would have done the job.” pleasantly surprised. It was the Rewa state agencies accountable for the video-conferencing and in person. out on enquiry by THE WEEK. The A rapid phone survey carried district food controller’s reply to his measures taken to deal with Cov- Telangana has been conducting Madhya Pradesh commission had out by the Commonwealth Human application under the Right to Infor- id-19. However, the virus has had a hearings over phone. Punjab, Rajast- reopened on April 29, but hearings Rights Initiative (CHRI) during the mation Act; he had wanted to know debilitating effect on the transpar- han and Manipur have made it clear have not been taking place, barring first two phases of the lockdown how many people in Rewa’s Kot ency framework put in place under that they will, for the time being, hear the efforts of Rahul Singh on an found that while the CIC had a village had received free ration under the 2005 law, especially affecting the only urgent matters that pertain to individual basis. The Haryana com- system in place to hear matters the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan functioning of a majority of the state life and liberty. The Andhra Pradesh mission, too, has reopened but some during the Covid-19 restrictions, Anna Yojana. commissions. commission is hearing only those benches are not functioning. the state commissions had largely Dubey was surprised not only Of the 28 state information com- appeals where the applicant has As for the remaining commissions, failed to cope. “The situation now is because he got his response through missions, seven had resumed func- been denied information either by it could not be ascertained when they somewhat better, with the commis- WhatsApp, but also because he had tioning after a brief pause because of the public information officer or the would resume functioning. The Bihar sions at least opening offices and submitted the RTI application just commission does not have a website, issuing circulars on what is the status the previous night. It was probably a and its office number went unan- of hearing,” said CHRI researcher first for the instant messaging service swered; RTI activists say the com- Shikha Chhibbar, who conducted the to be used to respond to RTI queries. mission is not hearing matters. With survey. Mentioning this incident, Madhya Sikkim, the number listed against the In a meeting with the CIC, the Pradesh Information Commission- name of the state chief information state bodies brought out the practical er Rahul Singh said the alacrity commissioner M.B. Gurung turned difficulties with online hearings due displayed by the food controller was out to be a wrong number. to lack of infrastructure at the state perhaps because he had been previ- Experts say the state commissions level—like poor internet connectivity ously penalised by the commission have failed to safeguard the citizens’ in rural areas. Another issue is that of for not giving information related to right to information during the the phone numbers and email IDs of distribution of ration. “This episode pandemic, when it was even more the applicants not being provided in showed the importance of RTI in essential to protect their interests. their pleas. There are other con- times like the Covid-19 pandemic, “It is pathetic that the state commis- straints, such as public information when information, especially that sions have not functioned during officers—against whom appeals which pertains to life and liberty of the lockdown when every section, are taken up—finding it difficult to the individual, has to be provided,” be it government or private insti- access files since government offices Singh said. tutions, has embraced technology. are closed or are open only to a lim- The information commissioner put They have all begun online meetings ited extent, or they are pre-occupied out a message on Twitter, urging peo- and projects,” said RTI activist Vinita with Covid-19 duty. ple who had any complaints about Deshmukh. “For all commissions, it is an distribution of food grain to file RTI RTI specialists say the state com- unprecedented situation; it was applications under Section 7(1) of missions ought to have followed the never envisaged, not even while the the Act, under which information has lead of the Central Information Com- Act was drafted,” said Punjab Chief to be provided by the relevant au- mission, which resumed hearings on Information Commissioner Suresh thority within 48 hours. He said that April 15 using both video-conferenc- Arora. “However, we cannot say that

transparency was essential during JOB P.K. ILLUSTRATION: ing and audio means. According to the fundamental right to information

16 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 17 CONTROVERSY RTI IVORY TOWER SANJAYA BARU Self-reliance; third edition

hough the phrase ‘self-reliance’ does not He then went on to define self-reliance for the appear anywhere in the First Five-Year Plan world of the 1990s, how it was different from the T(1951-56), it is commonplace that the very self-reliance of the 1950s. Given the context of 1991- idea of planned development, with the public 92, when India was dealing with a mounting inter-

PTI sector occupying the commanding heights of the nal and external debt and repayments crisis, Rao FOR THE PEOPLE economy, implied that post-colonial India would summed up, “One way of describing self-reliance Bimal Julka (right) seek to pursue self-reliant economic development. would be to say that we should be indebted only to was sworn in as chief When Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forward the extent we have capacity to repay.” information commis- his version of self-reliance, with a view to build Rao’s address to the 1992 AICC is, without doubt, sioner by President Ram an Atma Nirbhar Bharat, many thought he was the best post-Nehruvian statement on economic Nath Kovind on March saying something new. He was, in fact, enunciat- policy in the past three decades. Its detailed enunci- 6. During the lockdown, he has urged state ing a third variant of a concept that has its roots in ation of India’s economic priorities and policies and commissioners to think India’s freedom struggle. the spelling out of a new theory of a mixed economy of innovative measures Between Jawaharlal Nehru’s and of self-reliance, relevant to to resume hearings version of self-reliance, as it a more globally integrated and evolved through the first three self-confident India deserves five-year plans and eventually wide reading even today. It is is suspended. So, our commission decided to take their own,” he said. There are over two lakh cases turned into import-substituting a pity that in its pusillanimous up pleas that deal with life and liberty.” He said the pending in the information commissions. industrialisation, and Modi’s sycophancy towards Sonia commission’s effort is to be a facilitator in getting RTI activists also say the current situation points recent articulation of it, there is Gandhi, the Congress does not justice done in matters pertaining to health, police to the deeper problem of lack of political will to an intermediate second variant make available Rao’s historic or food distribution by taking it up with the con- empower commissions, which begins from delay that Prime Minister P.V. Nar- AICC address on its website. cerned departments in an informal capacity. in appointing commissioners to arbitrariness in asimha Rao articulated in his fa- Those interested can read the Referring to the Rewa administration’s anti-en- the selection process and dilution of the law to take mous presidential address to the Tirupati session full text reprinted as an appendix to my book 1991: croachment drive that has resulted in families get- away their autonomy. of the All India Congress Committee in April 1992. How Narasimha Rao Made History (2016). ting displaced amidst lockdown, Rahul Singh said: Seven state commissions—Assam, Bihar, Goa, Each variant captures the reality of a changing If Rao re-defined the Nehruvian idea of self-reli- “If the government has enough resources to carry Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh— India in a changing world. ance for the 1990s, Modi has tried to do so for an In- out an anti-encroachment drive, the officers should are headless. RTI activists also questioned the Rejecting criticism that the economic liber- dia of the 2020s that would have to deal with a very also be able to provide information within 48 hours Centre’s compliance report filed recently in the alisation and reform policies unveiled between different post-Covid global context. So, rather than to an application made under Section 7(1).” He said Supreme Court with regard to filling up of va- June 1991 and March 1992 were a departure from suggest that Modi has expounded something new, an RTI application in this regard has been taken up cancies in the CIC. In the status report filed on Nehruvian self-reliance, Rao told the AICC that, merely because he has used a long Hindi word, it by him. April 24, the Centre claimed that “the process of “a country of India’s size has to be self-reliant”, would be more appropriate to recognise that he, Filing applications is also proving to be difficult appointment in respect of information commis- but the concept of self-reliance has to evolve in too, is re-defining an idea that has been intrinsic to as postal and courier services have been affected, sioners in Central Information Commission has step with the country’s own development and the India’s freedom struggle and post-Independence and only a few governments have online submission been completed within three months” as directed changing global context. “While we are redefining development. facilities. “The lockdown has turned the citizenry by the Supreme Court in its order of December 16, self-reliance,” Rao assured the AICC, “we are not Like Rao, Modi too has taken care not to con- into passive consumers of information that the 2019. But four posts of information commissioners abandoning the basic principle.” fuse self-reliance with inward-oriented autarky. administration releases on a need-to-know basis,” are still vacant. Enunciating his own version of atmanirbharata Referring to the oft-quoted concept of Vasudhaiva said Venkatesh Nayak, programme head, access to The activists, meanwhile, have formed a pressure relevant for an India at the turn of the century Kutumbakam (whole world is one family), Modi information programme, CHRI. group to try and coax the state commissions to Rao said, “The very level of development we have clarified, “India does not advocate self-centric “It is very disappointing that the commissions resume functioning. “We are writing letters to all reached has made us independent of the world arrangements when it comes to self-reliance. India’s have downed shutters like this, especially since the the state information commissioners with the ap- economy in some respects, but more dependent self-reliance is ingrained in the happiness, cooper- pendency of appeals is so huge,” said former chief peal that they should rise up to the occasion,” said on it in others. This is an important aspect of the ation and peace of the world.” Clearly, the appeal of information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi. “There activist Vijay Kumbhar. “Why do the commissions complexity of modern development.” some mantras endures. are cases pending for one, two or three years. There have to spring into action only if there is a rap from is no sense of urgency to deliver to the citizens on the court or if there is an agitation?” Baru is an economist and a writer. He was adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN 18 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 19 POLITICS TAMIL NADU

SEASON OF WOES The anti-dalit narrative against the DMK is a major worry for Bolts from party chief M.K. Stalin AIADMK have denied that Bharathi’s arrest was politically motivated. “The police took action against Bharathi the blue based on a complaint,” said Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. With assembly polls less than a year “The complainant, Kalyanasundar- am, was hurt by Bharathi’s comment away, the DMK is beset with a series of about the judges.” unexpected challenges Dalits constitute 13 per cent of the electorate in Tamil Nadu. The BJP, BY LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN which appointed Murugan as state party president in March, appears to be eyeing the vote bank. Incidentally, NEWS IN THE past few days has comparing his meeting with the chief Murugan was vice chairman of the been bad for the DMK. secretary to the plight of dalits. Five National Commission for Sched- On May 23, the party’s organising days later, first information reports uled Castes when it began hearing secretary and Rajya Sabha member under the SC/ST Act were registered a case related to the allegation that R.S. Bharathi was arrested from his against the leaders across several dis- the office of the DMK mouthpiece, Chennai residence for allegedly tricts. The High Court later restrained Murasoli, was built on panchami belittling dalits. In a speech at the the police from taking “coercive land. (Panchami land, which the party’s youth wing office in Chennai action” against Maran and Baalu, British had distributed to dalits in on February 14, Bharathi reported- and gave a week for the government 1892, cannot be reclassified or sold to ly said many dalits could become to file a detailed reply on the FIRs. non-dalits.) The case, which was filed judges because of alms given by The same day, a case against DMK last year, is pending. the dravidian movement. He was legislator Senthil Balaji—for alleged- “[Appointing Murugan as pres- booked under the Scheduled Castes ly threatening Karur district collector ident] is part of the BJP’s dalit and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention K. Anbalagan—was transferred to strategy,” said D. Ravikumar, MP, of of Atrocities) Act, 1989, after a dalit the crime branch criminal investiga- the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi activist lodged a complaint in May. A tion department. A former AIADMK (VCK). “It is just tokenism to say local court later granted him interim minister, Balaji defected to the DMK that they have made a dalit the state bail till June 1. in 2018 and is now close to the party president of the party. It cannot be Hours after he was released, party chief and opposition leader M.K. construed as dalit representation.” MPs Dayanidhi Maran and T.R. Stalin and his family. The VCK, which describes itself as Baalu rushed to the Madras High The series of setbacks began after a party of the marginalised, is part of Court seeking anticipatory bail in a rebel DMK leader V.P. Duraisamy the DMK-led coalition. The anti-dalit similar case. Maran and Baalu had met state BJP president L. Murugan narrative against the DMK, which met Tamil Nadu chief secretary K. on May 18. Duraisamy said the meet- has been building up since the Mu- Shanmugam on May 13 to discuss ing was a “courtesy call” and that rasoli issue, is troubling the alliance. the party’s Covid-19 relief initiative, he was not planning to join the BJP. With assembly polls less than a year Ondrinaivam Vaa (the togetherness “But you cannot predict anything in PTI away, the party is struggling to pro- campaign). After the meeting, they politics,” he said. ject its pro-dalit credentials and its alleged that Shanmugam had treated Both Duraisamy and Murugan are deputy general secretary. Four days spokesperson I. Paranthamen. “The BJP leaders, however, say caste pol- history of anti-caste struggles. them like “third-class people”. “We dalits, and they had contested the after he was stripped off the post, AIADMK has money, manpower and itics is entrenched only in the DMK. Apart from external challenges, the were treated like oppressed people,” 2016 assembly elections against each Duraisamy joined the BJP. other paraphernalia. And, of course, “There has always been casteism in DMK is also facing the fallout from Maran told reporters. “People like other. Duraisamy was deputy speaker Sources say the DMK’s troubles are the support of the ruling BJP at the the DMK, even though it calls itself its internal dynamics. Critics say the you—are we oppressed people?” in the assembly from 2006 to 2011. part of a larger game plan for the as- Centre. The BJP, which played the the party of social justice,” said state Duraisamy issue showed that Stalin The comments provoked a furious He was replaced by Andhiyur Selva- sembly elections due next year. “The caste card in states in the north, does BJP secretary K.T. Raghavan. was not as inclusive as his father and backlash. Maran was criticised for raj, who is also dalit, as the DMK’s political game has begun,” said party the same in Tamil Nadu now.” The state government and the former DMK president M. Karuna-

20 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 21 POLITICS TAMIL NADU

IN AND OUT R.S. Bharathi, MP, after his arrest on May 23; (below) V.P. Duraisamy accepting BJP membership from state party president L. Murugan

came out with two statements. DMK propaganda secretary A.Raja, too, is- sued a statement. But their responses made it clear that the arrest and the backlash had caught the party off guard. “The DMK needs to gear up for one of the worst elections it has ever fought,” said Lakshmanan. “New forces, too, might come in to challenge the DMK.” For the first time, the DMK will go to the polls next year under the guid- ance of a political strategist. Prashant Kishor of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), who helped the BJP win the 2014 Lok Sabha elec- tions, has been working for the DMK since February. In fact, Ondrinaivam Vaa was the brainchild of Kishor’s team. Senior DMK leaders and workers, however, are not happy with Kishor’s entry. In a videoconference on May 16, a party district secretary report- edly said that he and his supporters could not be “subservient to a PR team”. Sources said several other participants supported him, saying

PHOTOS: R.G. SASTHA PHOTOS: they could “follow the words of Stalin as their leader, but not a PR team that does not know the ground”. nidhi. Insiders say he takes coun- erstwhile Liberation Tigers of Tamil Sunil Kanugolu, a former McK- sel from his inner circle and often Eelam. Besides, many young leaders insey consultant who was DMK ignores inputs from others. are focusing on social media, rather strategist in the 2016 and 2019 elec- “When a person like Duraisamy than on building grassroots support tions, quit after the party leadership felt aggrieved, Stalin should have like Karunanidhi had done. decided to rope in Kishor. Once close called him,” said senior journalist S.P. “The 2021 elections will not be to Stalin, Sunil has strong links with Lakshmanan. “Party insiders have a cakewalk for the DMK, given the several district secretaries of the long been saying among themselves political developments in the state,” DMK. He worked for Karnataka Chief that Stalin doesn’t talk to everyone said author and political commen- Minister B.S. Yediyurappa for a brief who has grievances; he talks with tator Aazhi Senthilnathan. “The BJP period, and was later asked by the only select people. He has to talk has begun its political game in Tamil BJP’s national leadership to work for with everyone in the party.” Nadu, and the DMK is falling prey to the AIADMK coalition. Zealous workers, too, have been it. Its new set of youth leaders contin- “The DMK has to equip itself to causing trouble. Members of the ue to alienate friendly forces.” face political attacks from multi- DMK’s youth wing have been Also, Stalin is no match for ple fronts,” said political analyst A. alienating political allies by voicing Karunanidhi in political acumen. Shankar. “Otherwise, it will face support to Tamil nationalism and the The day Bharathi was arrested, Stalin obliteration.”

22 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 CURRENT EVENTS MIGRANT LABOURERS MOTHER OF ALL JOURNEYS TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA

Homebound and abandoned, these migrant labourers have come to represent the bruised, tear-stained face of our motherland

A nursing mother is seated among rock slabs in a crowded truck at the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border as she heads for her home in Chhattisgarh

24 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 25 CURRENT EVENTS MIGRANT LABOURERS

hile most of us binge-watched movies hips of their mothers. Grown-up kids walked barefoot Daily-wage workers en or web series from the comfort of our with their parents in the scorching summer sun. Their route to Lucknow. They homes during the lockdown, the work- long journeys are filled with fear—of authorities and of travelled 2,000km in three days in a container ers who built those homes were aban- road accidents. The heart-rending scenes moved a few W doned by their employers, far from good people to help the migrants on their way. Some their own homes. Not having work or cash, they suffered gave food and water, a few offered lifts in their vehicles without food and shelter. But more than these basic needs, and others donated money. they yearned to be with their loved ones. When the govern- Youngsters who used to send money home were ment started trains with limited seats for migrants to return forced to ask their families for money. They bought to their home states, they flocked to the stations in their bicycles and peddled for thousands of kilometres. thousands and struggled to fill application forms. When Groups of boys walked on train tracks, through forests the trains left with some, the remaining camped outside and farm fields to evade police checkpoints on the police stations day and night, hoping to get the clearance to highways. “If we all leave the city, it will come to a proceed homeward. standstill, that is why they don’t want us to leave,” said A few chose the path of self-reliance, taking the long a boy who worked as a helper at a construction site. walk home, carrying bags and sacks of utensils and clothes. After years in the city, he wants to return home and Children sat on the shoulders of their fathers or clung to the never come back.

Roshan, an out-of-work construction labourer from Begusarai, Bihar, fishes for catfish in a sewage pond in Bengaluru. Workers like him struggled for food after construction ceased everywhere

26 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 27 CURRENT EVENTS MIGRANT LABOURERS

Jagannath, a construction labourer from Cuttack, Odisha, walks on a railway track in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka, to avoid police checkpoints

1. Workers of a juice factory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, take a break from their walk to Chandrapur, Maharashtra, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. They were unable to get seats on the trains to Maharashtra 2. An Assamese child, whose parents work at a coffee planta- tion in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, reaches out for food being distributed in Bengaluru 3. A migrant worker about to board the Shramik Express to Lucknow from the outskirts of Bengaluru. He was among the lucky few to get a seat

1 2 3

28 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 29 CURRENT EVENTS MIGRANT LABOURERS

Workers from Bihar wait for train tickets at a temporary travel desk set up by the police in Bengaluru

30 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 31 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

limited success. Q/Environmentalists have criticised the draft A/We have to see how India responded when Environment Impact Assessment notification, Prakash Javadekar, there was a need. Take the pandemic. We had no saying businesses are being helped at the cost of Union minister Covid-hospital, now we have 800; we had only one environment. lab in Pune, now we have over 300 labs; we had no A/This is absolutely wrong. We are not making any manufacturing capacity for masks or personal pro- change to the Environment Protection Act. Secondly, tective equipment or swab stick, now we are mak- we are making a compendium. So many changes ing everything including ventilators. Make in India have been made in the last 14 years (of the Act). We Self-reliance happened in four months. When we say self-re- are bringing all the changes together. liance, that does not mean exclusionist policies. From 2008, how many projects were cleared by Lessen our import and increase our export—that is the UPA government, how many have we cleared? does not the simple definition of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. The number is the same. But the method has changed, so has the time lag. But that does not mean we are compromising with the environment norms. Q/Will you compare the latest economic mean reforms with the 1991 reforms? A/In 1991, we were on the verge of defaulting. Q/Automobile sector is suffering because of Today, the situation is not bad. We have $482 the lockdown. Do you see the growth returning exclusionist billion in forex reserves, so situation is not com- soon? parable in that sense. We have done something A/Within two months the demand will revive. Un- basic, like in case of defence where we banned fortunately, two things happened. They experienced imports of certain goods and spares which India a slump last year, and then January onwards the policies can produce. As we were importing, we were living customers thought they would wait till April when the in hypocrisy. We were importing 100 per cent in new Bharat [stage] VI-compliant vehicles became weapons, but not allowing foreign direct invest- available. BY PRATUL SHARMA ment. We have changed the definition of MSME The high incidence of Covid-19 is in 11 cities. (micro, small and medium enterprises) to make it The major sale of autos is also in these 11 cities. AS THE TWO-MONTH lockdown was eased, the Union more inclusive. 03.7 lakh crore is the package in government came out with an economic stimulus pack- Two-wheelers have no problem; four-wheelers have a credit line—liquidity without guarantee—which is age of 020 lakh crore and initiated many reforms. little problem [of sale]. By next month, we should be a very important development. 075,000 crore for In an exclusive interview, Union Minister (of environ- able to see the sun rising again. NBFCs (non-banking financial companies) has also ment, forest and climate change; information and broad- been [declared]. casting; and heavy industries and public enterprises) Q/How will the government conduct census and We have given 01 lakh crore for the MGNREGA Prakash Javadekar articulates the government’s position the National Population Register exercise this scheme. [When] it was a UPA government scheme, on the economic stimulus package, reforms, migration year? the maximum expenditure was 030,000 crore. crisis and governance. Edited excerpts: A/Census work may be a little delayed, but it will not In last five years, the Narendra Modi government be postponed indefinitely. You have to live with Cov- spent 050,000 crore to 060,000 crore [on it]. Now, id-19 till a vaccine is found. It will be the new normal. Q/Many people say the stimulus package may not in one go, we will spend 01 lakh crore, as an addi- help revive demand. tional 040,000 crore has been given in the pack- A/There are two views—whether you need to address the age. We have given 01 lakh crore for agriculture Q/Bihar assembly election in October is expect- supply side or the demand. It will create inflation if there infrastructure, a 090,000 crore discom package, ed to pose a challenge. is no proper supply. People were saying that we should and 070,000 crore as credit-linked subsidy. A/Elections in Bihar will be conducted according to give 07,500 to everyone. Eighty crore people were given the schedule. Campaigning will depend on the preva- 25kg of rice or wheat, 5kg of pulses; additionally, 10 lence of the disease at that time. Q/ crore people (migrants and people without ration cards) Cash transfers could have stopped migrant were given 10kg rice and 2kg of pulses free of cost. workers. A/No, even the cash transfers would not have Twenty crore women got 01,500 each [030,000 crore Q/The lockdown has brought the Centre-state stopped workers from migrating. Because once total] in their Jan Dhan accounts. Eight crore families have relations in sharp focus. you feel there is a threat to life, you would wish to got three gas cylinders each, free [of cost]. Three crore A/In our politics, there is doublespeak. You wit- be with your family. By May 25, we had run 2,800 senior citizens got 01,000 each in their account. Eight nessed it when domestic flights were started. Every special trains, which carried 42 lakh migrant crore farmers got 02,000 in their accounts. So, basically, state has come up with its own protocol and is labourers to their homes. Buses carried more than the bottom 10 per cent have got more than 0 7,500. applying different quarantine rules. They are deciding 10 lakh labourers. Fifty to 60 lakh migrants have independently, depending on their own assessment, already reached their homes. Rural areas do much yet people accuse the Centre of centralising power. Q/Will the prime minister’s mantra of self-reliance better when it comes to taking care, having home It is not concentration of power. It is cooperative lead to protectionism? Make in India has had only quarantine. SANJAY AHLAWAT SANJAY federalism at its best.

32 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 33 MAHARASHTRA POLITICS

Then, on April 7, the cabinet met was a way to send a message that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Fadnavis, however, said the BJP did in Thackeray’s absence and resolved government is not handling the crisis instructions.” not want it. “Rane is a very senior that he be nominated to the legisla- well. Such meetings are normally There have been efforts for a truce. leader. He does not like injustice, so tive council through the governor’s held to build a case for imposing Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who had long he speaks his mind. The BJP is not at Vanity fair quota. This provoked a question: president’s rule,” said the leader. been a vocal critic of the governor, all interested in destabilising the gov- How could the cabinet pass a resolu- Imprudent ministers have only went to Raj Bhavan on May 23 and ernment and playing politics when The power tussle between the governor and tion in the chief minister’s absence? aggravated the situation. Higher bowed before Koshyari in greeting. the state is fighting an epidemic. This Since Uddhav had to become a Education Minister Uday Samant re- Raut later told journalists that it was government will fall because of its the Thackeray government could lead to a legislator before May 27 to continue cently recommended to the Universi- a courtesy call and that he bowed own inner conflicts,” said Fadnavis. fresh political crisis as chief minister, the full cabinet met ty Grants Commission that final-year because Koshyari was his elder. “The There are rumours that a storm is two weeks later, passed the resolu- university exams be cancelled relations between the governor and gathering in the ruling coalition. NCP tion again and sent it to the governor. because of the pandemic. Raj Bhavan the chief minister are very cordial,” leaders say Thackeray takes unilater- BY DNYANESH JATHAR But Koshyari sat on it, prompting took strong exception to Samant’s he said. al decisions and is overdependent on several leaders to accuse him of action, saying he had not discussed Two days later, NCP leaders Sharad bureaucrats, especially chief secre- ON MAY 20, Maharashtra Gover- the Congress—feel that the governor playing politics. the matter with the governor, who is Pawar and Praful Patel also met tary Mehta. The Congress leadership nor Bhagat Singh Koshyari called a is showing too keen an interest in af- A Congress leader, however, said chancellor of all universities in the Koshyari. Pawar followed it up with is reportedly unhappy about not meeting with Chief Minister Ud- fairs of the state, and that Raj Bhavan Raj Bhavan was in a dilemma. “The state. “Not conducting the final-year an hourlong meeting with Thackeray being consulted on key issues. dhav Thackeray to jointly review is trying to trouble the government. governor was doing everything as exams amounts to breach of UGC and Raut. Later, Raut said the oppo- When Congress leader Rahul Gan- the government’s response to the The rift was first seen barely a per the Constitution,” said the leader. guidelines,” Koshyari wrote to Thac- sition’s efforts to destabilise the gov- dhi was asked about the Covid-19 Covid-19 outbreak. Thackeray, how- month after Thackeray took charge “He doubted whether it would be keray, terming Samant’s action as an ernment would boomerang on them. situation in Maharashtra in a recent ever, skipped the meeting and sent last November. Koshyari refused to appropriate to nominate the chief “unwarranted intervention”. “Our government will complete the virtual media conference, he tried to Shiv Sena secretary Milind Narvekar accept the government’s decision minister through the governor’s Raj Bhavan also wants the gov- five-year term,” he said. distance the party from the govern- instead. Since the ministers, too, gave to nominate Aditi Nalavade and quota. He strongly felt that a chief ernment to consider it as a separate BJP leader Narayan Rane, too, ment. “We are supporting the gov- the meeting a miss, Koshyari was Shivajirao Garje of the NCP to fill minister had to be elected, rather establishment, on the lines of the leg- met the governor the same day and ernment in Maharashtra, but we are briefed by chief secretary Ajoy Mehta the governor’s quota of seats in the than nominated, to the legislature.” islature and the judiciary. It wants to demanded that president’s rule be not decision-makers,” he said. “There and other bureaucrats. legislative council, saying the tenure The leader, however, said the have complete control in appointing imposed. Opposition leader and is a difference between running a The absence reflected the widen- of the seats would be over in six governor went too far by calling a staff and managing funds. The gov- former chief minister Devendra government and supporting one.” ing rift between Koshyari and the months. joint Covid-19 review meeting. “This ernment, however, has not accepted Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi govern- the demand. ment led by Thackeray. The Aghadi’s A Sena leader close to Thackeray three main constituents—the Sena, said the governor was bent on trou- the Nationalist Congress Party and bling the government. “Our leader- ship feels that Koshyari is making a case to impose president’s rule HARD TIMES again,” said the leader. “He is build- Bhagat Singh Koshyari ing a case that the government is a and Uddhav Thackeray failure. The BJP is trying to lure the NCP away. Koshyari is acting as per AMEY MANSABDAR

34 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 35 MAHARASHTRA COVID-19

headed by an IAS officer. Prajakta Lavangare, who is in charge of Zone Battle for V that covers Deonar, Chembur, Kurla and nearby areas, said that they are doing “aggressive house-to- house surveys” in the new hotspots. “We are proactively testing and trac- Mumbai ing people. That is why the numbers are high,” she said. “We will proac- With hospitals and their staff stretched to tively find high-risk contacts, at least ten people per patient, and break the limit, Mumbai struggles to cope with the the chain of infection.” rise in Covid-19 cases Even as the numbers rise, there is an acute shortage of hospital beds. While there are 73,000 hospital beds BY POOJA BIRAIA JAISWAL in the city, the number of ICU beds is limited. As per a civic official, ON THE EVENING of May 23, a were they quarantined. around 20 per cent of patients family from Mumbai’s suburban Dr Anant Bhan, a public health require ICU care and five per cent Andheri ran from one end of the city expert, said that the rise in cases critical care. “There is shortage in to the other to find a hospital bed indicated that the control efforts critical care because many patients for a 58-year-old who complained of had limitations, and that the existing want to go to major hospitals and increasing breathlessness. They vis- spread in the community, especially not the peripheral ones,” said a ited five hospitals, but were told that in densely populated urban clusters, doctor at Nair hospital, which is the no beds were available in the critical could have been averted by “more biggest government facility for Cov- care unit. Finally, in the wee hours of proactive and expanded testing early id-19 patients in Mumbai. “Patients the morning, they managed to admit on, and by developing strategies that AMEY MANSABDAR are not seeking treatment on time, CALL OF DUTY the patient in the general ward of responded to the unique challenges A health care worker STRESSED but only when they feel very ill. And, a dedicated Covid-19 hospital. The of a metropolis like Mumbai.” Also, checks a policeman’s FRONTLINE people are coming in with raised patient was diagnosed with pneumo- monsoon will bring additional health temperature in anxiety levels.” nia, but the oxygen support came too challenges, like dengue, malaria Mumbai Recently, BMC took over 80 per late. He died at around 6.30am. and leptospirosis, he said. “Health cent of beds in private hospitals to This is not an isolated case. As of professionals are also in short supply 300 treat Covid-19 patients. Additional- MEDICAL WORKERS May 26, Covid-19 cases in Mahar- and this could be a major issue in tal and the policemen. “We have now in infection transmission.” IN MUMBAI TESTED ly, ‘jumbo facilities’ like the National ashtra have crossed the 50,000 mark. mounting an effective response,” said locked the gate that gives access to What has health experts worried is POSITIVE FOR Sports Club of India Dome are being Mumbai alone has more than 30,000 Bhan. In Mumbai alone, 300 medical patients and hospital staff from our that the virus, which was earlier lim- COVID-19 converted into special observation cases. The city is struggling to cope workers have tested positive for side of the compound,” he said. ited to a few civic wards like G South units, with at least 10,000 beds add- with the surge in cases. Its hospitals Covid-19. But Assistant Commissioner of that includes Dharavi, Asia’s biggest ed. Fifty per cent of these will have are stretched to capacity and there is Likewise, more than 700 police- Police Santosh Walake, who heads slum, has now spread to other dense- oxygen points and 10 per cent will an acute shortage of beds, especially men in Mumbai and close to 2,000 in the Azad Maidan division that in- ly populated areas. Eighty-six per be reserved for Covid-19 patients in the ICUs. Frontline health workers the state have tested positive for Cov- cludes posh areas of South Mumbai cent of the cases now being reported who need dialysis. St Xavier’s Col- are facing emotional and physical id-19; 18 of them have died across like Cuffe Parade and Colaba, said are from these areas. According to lege is readying its hall and canteen exhaustion. Dead bodies are left the state. Forty-four policemen that the rise in cases among cops officials, eight wards have a case 700 foyer to accommodate beds for behind in wards for hours on end, from JJ Marg police station, located was because they were “forgetting growth rate of more than eight per POLICEMEN IN Covid-19 patients. The BMC, under MUMBAI AND and ambulances take hours to reach inside the compound of JJ Hospital to police themselves, rather care for cent. N ward (Ghatkopar) has the new municipal commissioner Iqbal critical patients. And, there are laps- in Mumbai, are under treatment for themselves”. “Also, given that the highest—13.7 per cent—followed by 2,000 Chahal, has set up a live dashboard es, like the one recounted by Malini Covid-19, while five others are in infection spreads fast, a number of T ward (Mulund) and P North (Mal- IN MAHARASHTRA on the availability of beds. All the Shinde (name changed), a resident quarantine. Assistant Commissioner police officers may have contracted ad)—11.9 per cent. G South, which TESTED POSITIVE patient has to do is dial 1916 to get of Prabhadevi. Her neighbour tested of Police Avinash Dharmadhikari, the disease while working with their had the highest growth rate a month the information. The BMC is also positive and was hospitalised, but who is in charge of the Dongri divi- colleagues who first tested positive,” ago, has the lowest—3.4 per cent. looking at turning buses and school none of his close contacts were sion, said that the virus could have said Walake. “We are supposed to get The Municipal Corporation of 18 COVID-19 vans into ambulances to increase DEATHS AMONG POLICEMEN approached by the Brihanmumbai spread because of the common route tested only once the symptoms begin Greater Mumbai has now divided IN THE STATE its fleet. Municipal Corporation (BMC) nor shared by patients visiting the hospi- to show. I think that also contributes its 24 wards into seven zones, each But, would all this be enough?

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lecting cases and confounding—the possibility that an observed associ- ation is totally or in part because of the effects of differences between the study groups. For instance, in a study on alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease, smoking would be a confounder. However, Kanungo said that the ICMR study has no selection bias as the health care workers are recruited irrespective of their HCQ status, and potential confounders like use of per- sonnel protective equipment would be taken care of. The WHO trial that was paused, Kanungo said, was a clinical trial for treatment, while the ICMR study was for prevention. He DISPARATE said that an RCT was the best option, but added that if a drug had shown some benefit, it would be unethical to deny it to those in a control group. it as a preventive measure for health our clinical experience with patients MEASURES “In such a scenario, a study of this care workers based on in vitro stud- of rheumatoid arthritis, it is okay to type (observational) is the best op- ies that showed antiviral properties take it,” said Kumar. The Centre is batting for HCQ, even as the WHO’s tion,” he said. and “biological plausibility”. He said Apart from prevention, the HCQ Given the low quality of evidence that studies also indicated no major plus azithromycin combination has review of the drug’s safety is causing concerns that was available for HCQ as a side-effects, “except nausea, vomit- been allowed as an experimental BY NAMITA KOHLI preventive measure, experts said ing and occasional palpitations”. For treatment by the Centre. “Several that the government should have the nausea, “we recommend that the hospitals are giving Covid-19 gathered more robust evidence dose be taken with food,” he added. patients the combination of HCQ THE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE increased frequency of irregular Research (ICMR) has started an before issuing the first advisory. “It Bhargava also referred to the and azithromycin without taking (HCQ) story got a major plot twist heartbeats was observed. Also, the observational study for HCQ at five might be that HCQ has some [small] “popularity” of the drug after the US informed consent,” said Malini on May 25. Two months after US researchers could not confirm any sites—Jodhpur, Patna, Delhi (two protective role, but all evidence so far government’s emergency authorisa- Aisola, co-convener, All India Drug president Donald Trump waxed elo- benefit from the drug in Covid-19 hospitals) and Chennai. “About is in the treatment domain,” said Dr tion of its use in March. However, in Action Network. The group has been quent on the benefits of the antima- patients. 1,200-1,300 health care workers will Anant Bhan, Bhopal-based research- April, the US Food and Drug Admin- assisting Covid-19 patients access larial drug in treating Covid-19, the On the same day, the Indian be followed up for 12 weeks and we er in bioethics and global health. istration had also advised caution on health services across the country. World Health Organization paused government issued an advisory will be comparing the effect of the “It would have been ideal to do a the use of the drug, with or without Aisola said that an analysis of hospital the HCQ arm of its multi-centre, to expand the pool of personnel drug [by observing] those who are smaller RCT in select institutions for antibiotics, due to reports of serious bills for Covid-19 treatment shows multi-drug randomised clinical who would receive the drug as a taking it and those who are not,” said prophylaxis (preventive) indication heart rhythm problems. how rampant the trend has been. trial. (Patients who were getting the preventive measure against the Dr Suman Kanungo, senior scientist, and get reliable data first. Data from Doctors working in Covid-19 wards “Recently, a mildly symptomatic drug would complete their course, pandemic. The advisory said that ICMR-National Institute of Cholera an observational study will always said that the news of conflicting patient in a metro city suffering from though.) The pause to review safety cardiovascular side-effects were rare. and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata. The be questioned. Why can’t the Centre evidence on the drug had created an immunocompromised condition data from other trials signals that the The basis on which the Centre’s joint results would be out in about two do a similar review of evidence [like confusion and apprehension. Some and mild Covid-19 was compelled hype over HCQ was misplaced, and task force took this decision included months, said Kanungo, the coordina- the WHO] in India transparently, and said it was not worth the risk and to take the combination despite her that there is concern about its safety. three studies—a retrospective case tor of the study. then revise the advisory accordingly? decided not to take it, despite the reservations about the experimental The decision, the WHO said, was control study, an observational study Though the government is con- That would be good science.” recommendation of superiors. Dr treatment,” said Aisola. taken in light of a large observation- at AIIMS and another investigation ducting an observational study, Covid-19 is an evolving field, and Vijaya Kumar, 70, an independent Globally, over 100 clinical trials on al study published in The Lancet from three Central government hos- experts said that the best option to we do not know which drug is work- physician in Delhi, said he had HCQ have been registered. Over the on May 22. The study showed that pitals—which, as per the advisory, assess the efficacy and safety of a ing, said Dr Balram Bhargava, ICMR started taking the recommended next few weeks, as more evidence among one lakh patients from indicated some benefits from taking drug was a randomised controlled director general, and secretary, dose in March after checking in with emerges, the HCQ debate will start to various countries who took the HCQ for those with high exposure to trial (RCT). An ICMR epidemiologist department of health research. Bhar- his peers. “Some of us are of the view resolve, and the Centre’s enthusiasm drug (alone or with an antibiotic), Covid-19 patients. said that observational studies can gava said that the drug is safe, and that since there are no major risks for the antimalarial drug shall be put the death rate was higher and an The Indian Council of Medical bring in several biases, such as in se- the government had recommended associated with the drug, based on to the test.

38 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 39 COVER STORY INDIA-CHINA BORDER UNQUIETUNQUIET HEIGHTSHEIGHTS

The latest wave of Chinese aggression on the border seems to be in response to India’s recent territo- rial reassertion in the Himalayan belt. China wants to take over the tiny sliver of territory between Aksai Chin and the Shaksgam valley controlled by India, which will result in enhanced military and territorial links with Pakistan and provide a big boost to its Belt and Road Initiative

WALKING THE TALK BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army chief AND PRADIP R. SAGAR General Bipin Rawat at the inauguration of Col Chewang Rinchen bridge connecting Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie in Eastern Ladakh on October 21, 2019. DG of Border Roads Organisation Lt Gen Harpal Singh, commander of Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal are also seen PIB

40 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 41 COVER STORY INDIA-CHINA BORDER

A

Arguably, no one serving in the In- the banks of the River Galwan, which dian Army knows Ladakh and China was a flashpoint in the 1962 Sino-In- better than Lieutenant General Yo- dian war. There are 4,000 to 5,000 gesh Kumar Joshi. He served in Lada- Chinese troops around Galwan, kh during the Kargil war, was military Pangong Lake and Demchok in the attache in Beijing, was on the China Ladakh sector and in the Harsil area desk at the directorate-general of of Uttarakhand. The Indian Army, military operations in the Army too, has moved in strength, and the headquarters and now heads the troops have been told that they are in Northern Command. So when he for the long haul. told his chief, General M.M. Nara- Patrolling intrusions are common vane, on May 22 that the Chinese from May to September, when snow BRINGING IT incursion in eastern Ladakh was an is not a major concern. “This is the CLOSER act of aggression, that was that. patrolling season for troops in this Rajnath Singh inaugu- rating the 80km road

Joshi had three arguments to area and when patrols happen, the PIB from Ghatiabgarh to differentiate the current intrusion chances of a face-off increase,” says Lipulekh in a video from routine transgressions that take Lieutenant General (retd) S.L. Nar- conference in New place on the 4,057-km Line of Actual asimhan, a member of the National who had commanded a corps in Like in Pangong Tso, patrolling was On May 7, scuffle broke out -be Delhi on May 8, 2020 Control. First, the number of Chinese Security Advisory Board (NSAB), the eastern sector. He says the latest blocked and it led to tension.” tween Indian and Chinese soldiers troops in the area was much larger standoff is marked by the presence of Usually, patrolling intrusions are in which approximately 10 Indians, than a patrol party. Second, patrols a higher number of Chinese troops, sorted out quickly, but it did not hap- including two officers, got injured. are usually not aggressive; these men the increased aggression shown pen this time. The standoff at Point At Point 15, there was no clash, but were. Third, the Chinese did not re- by the Chinese and the use of the 14 has been continuing for more Indian troops spotted the presence of various locations are identified as spond to local Indian commanders’ The standoff Galwan valley as a “new front for than three weeks, with China openly Chinese personnel and some tents. fingers to demarcate territory. While call for a ceremonial border meeting at Point 14 has confrontation”. asking for the removal of the Col Tactically, the Indian side is at a dis- India insists that the LAC extends on May 1 to mark Labour Day. been continuing The immediate provocation, In- Chewang Rinchen bridge on the Shy- advantage. The Chinese have fairly till Finger 8, the Chinese say that it On May 5, patrolmen from both for more than dian officers believe, is the renewed ok river. Colonel Chewang Rinchen good roads and they can quickly extends only till Finger 4, making the countries clashed in the Pangong construction by India in Daulat Beg Setu was inaugurated by Defence reinforce their formations from their area between Finger 4 and Finger 8 Lake area. A Chinese military hel- three weeks, Oldi and the Pangong Lake area. Minister Rajnath Singh in October. camp in Samzungling. disputed. Earlier, troops from both icopter came close to the area and with China “Road construction in areas where “They are objecting now, because There have been certain protocols sides used to patrol the disputed the Indian Air Force responded by openly asking there are differences of alignment they were not patrolling then,” says between the two armies regarding territory. Now the Chinese are not scrambling a Sukhoi-30 fighter. Soon, on the LAC triggers crises. The other an officer. Strategically located on patrolling. Both freely patrol the LAC letting Indian troops patrol beyond intrusions were reported from Dem- for the removal reason is patrolling,” says former the 255km road between Leh and in most places, including the disput- Finger 6. chok and Galwan valley in the Lada- of a bridge on northern Army commander Lieu- the Karakoram pass, it is 4.5m wide ed areas, but take care not to stay or The Chinese seem to be indicating kh sector and Naku La in Sikkim. the Shyok river. tenant General (retd) D.S. Hooda. and can take vehicles weighing up to leave infrastructure. that they have come to stay this time. Satellite images have shown 800 “Because of different perceptions of 70 tonnes. Most importantly, it cuts Such was the case in the Pangong They are bringing fabricated tents, to 1,000 military tents set up by the the LAC, both sides patrol up to their travel time between Leh and the pass Lake area, too. Here, the northern heavy construction equipment and Chinese in at least three locations on perception and it leads to a problem. by half. bank protrudes like a palm, and the are building bunkers. Perhaps for the

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first time since 1962, there has been Many senior officers, however, -be from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir movement of armoured vehicles lieve that the Chinese are not making and Gilgit-Baltistan to Aksai Chin near the Galwan valley. a tactical threat, but a strategic one. (which is under Chinese occupation) India, too, is determined to stay. A great game is being played out up to Kalapani and beyond. The Army has moved 10,000 to between India and China under a China responded by uploading 12,000 troops of the Leh-based 3rd “new normal’’ created by New Delhi. a new map on Sky Map, its official Infantry Division forward, mostly as India made a territorial reasser- authority on digital maps, show- a preventive measure. All the same, tion in the Himalayan belt with the ing parts of Arunachal Pradesh as “the effort is to resolve issues through abrogation of Article 370 and the Chinese territory. On April 29, the local military level talks,’’ says a creation of the twin Union territories World Health Organization, which defence ministry official. “The ball is of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was accused by US President Donald in China’s court to de-escalate. If they last year. It was followed by New Trump of being a Chinese puppet, choose not to, then we are ready for a Delhi releasing a new political map published a map that showed parts long face-off.” showing its boundary stretching of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH BUILT TO LAST A look at India's border disputes Colonel Chewang Disputed area Rinchen bridge on the Shyok river Siachen Pakistan- As per reports on May 26, satellite images in Ladakh. China occupied Aksai Chin IA showed massive construction activity at has asked India to Kashmir remove the bridge Kashmir this high-altitude Chinese air base, just Line of Control Ladakh from Pangong Lake, Ladakh—the PTI Pangong Lake site of the skirmish between India and Jammu Ngari Gunsha Airport China on May 5 and May 6.The images also showed fighters on the tarmac as Chinese territory. Lieutenant General (retd) Gau- Arunachal Kalapani Pradesh As former ambassador P. Stob- tam Banerjee in his book China’s PAISTA dan says, the removal of Article 370 Great Leap Forward-II. “This left PAL BALAS and the bifurcation of Jammu and in India’s possession a strategically BUTA All maritime and land disputes settled in Kashmir have changed the geopolit- vital territorial wedge between Aksai 2014 and 2015, respectively ical dynamics of the region. India’s Many senior Chin and the Shaksgam valley…. BUTA renewed claim over Gilgit-Baltistan officers believe Subsequently, as India reiterated her No border dispute and PoK has raised concern in China that the Chinese sovereignty over the Siachen glacier IIA about the diminished negotiating located on the western flank of this AA IA Claims in Arunachal Pradesh power it would have with Pakistan are not making wedge, China-Pakistan’s capacity for Sir Creek and other neighbours. “It is now a tactical threat, uninterrupted terrain domination BALAS Occupies in Jammu and Kashmir China’s turn to try and create a new but a strategic over this region was contained to normal by pushing the LAC using much extent,” says the book. AA Ladakh as the latest flashpoint,” says one. A great In other words, the Indian wedge No border dispute; but sectors of the boundary are yet to be demarcated Stobdan. game is being between Aksai Chin and the Shaks- The area is strategically vital, and gam valley is what is preventing I PAL is not just a piece of land for tacti- played out a military and territorial link up Bangladesh disputed because of confusion cal military manoeuvres. In 1962, between India between China and Pakistan. This Pakistan over the source of the Kalapani river the Chinese advance was halted at wedge did not matter much earlier China and China under PAISTA Chip Chap Valley-Depsang Plains- when India, Pakistan and China Nepal Occupies in J&K; Daulat Beg Oldi- Karakoram pass a “new normal’’ were simply holding on to what Myanmar in PoK illegally ceded to China area by a combination of the Indian created by New they controlled. But India altered Map is illustrative Bhutan Sir Creek area and international maritime Army’s death-defying resistance, the the status quo in 1984 by capturing boundary not demarcated Delhi. Chinese army running out of steam Siachen. It has done so again by at this point of operational extremity altering the status of Jammu and SOUR IIST O TAL AAIS A IA OL ATBOO GRAPHICS SAIAA SRESEARCH ATI AIAAT and the approaching winter, says Kashmir and Ladakh. China, too, is

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Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new media houses which now collaborate PRECARIOUSLY road from Dharchula to Lipulekh with Chinese media and reprint their PLACED near the Chinese border, opening a material. That may be influencing Xi Jinping with Narendra Modi in new route for the Kailash-Mansa- domestic politics in Nepal. Moreo- Mamallapuram dur- rovar pilgrimage. After the 1962 war, ver, China is now a major source of ing Xi’s India visit in India has found high strategic value development funds.” October 2019 in posts in Lipulekh, which allow it Vijay Kant Karna, executive direc- to monitor the mountain passes to tor of the Centre for Social Inclusion Tibet. “China is aware of it and it was and Federalism in Kathmandu, how- at China’s behest that Kathmandu ever, says New Delhi chose a very released a map showing the disputed wrong time to inaugurate the road Kalapani area, including Lipulekh, via the Lipulekh pass. “The K.P. Oli as Nepalese territory,” says an Army government has been under intense officer. Avinash Godbole, Chinese -ex pressure for its mishandling of the pert at O.P. Jindal Global University, Covid crisis, economic losses and says, “It is clear that China has taken preferential treatment to China. The advantage of the strained India-Ne- government has been treating China pal relations.” India-Nepal relations as a colonial monarch. When Xi have nosedived after K.P. Sharma visited Nepal last October, Oli lined Oli took charge in 2015 as prime up tenders and projects. Even the minister. India’s decision to stop hiring of Chinese language teachers the supply of oil and other essential in schools was offered to Beijing on commodities to Nepal, too, played a a platter.” And when the Oli gov- part. Nepal had blamed India for the ernment faced a domestic political subsequent humanitarian crisis. crisis, the Chinese ambassador to China is wooing Nepal with huge Nepal is learnt to have defused it by investments. “Nepal has started work speaking to former prime ministers on the Dharchula-Tinkar road pro- Madhav Nepal and Prachanda. ject which will help border trade with Now the big question is how long China. India must keep a watch over will the stalemate continue? The it.’’ says Godbole. “China has also Depsang standoff of 2013 lasted five been busy in buying off various busi- weeks, which ended after both sides nesses in Nepal, including a few of its decided to revert to their previous positions. The Chinese removed their tents and went away. But it may not happen this time. There could either be a showdown or the Chinese could The Indian be sending just a signal to India and wedge between the world rather than aiming for real aggression on the border, according AP Aksai Chin and to Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of the Shaksgam Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru no longer satisfied with the status “Gilgit-Baltistan also has vast fresh- Author, historian and China watch- boat, leading to a diplomatic spat. valley is what University. In the latter case, “the quo, which is hampering its Belt and water reserves and is home to many er Claude Arpi says the action in The Philippines joined Vietnam in is preventing face-off could last till September”, Road Initiative. Chinese President Xi of the glaciers which provide water Ladakh should not be seen in isola- denouncing the incident. Later, Chi- a military and when snowfall begins. Jinping now seeks to get this wedge to the Indus River System,” says Tilak tion from China’s other military-dip- na declared two archipelagos in the India is taking care not to seek big removed by capturing the land north Devasher, a member of the NSAB. “It lomatic adventures. “Beijing’s South China Sea as its administrative territorial link power intervention. The US, which is of Pangong Lake, or at least the Gal- also enables China to link Xinjiang aggression is equally visible in the districts, which Vietnam termed as a up between keen to corner China on issues rang- wan valley, and linking Aksai Chin with Tibet. Of late, it is the entry South China Sea, where it has contin- violation of its sovereignty.” China and ing from the Covid pandemic to the with Karakoram and Gilgit-Baltistan. point of the China-Pakistan Econom- ued to push its military objectives Such moves have made New Delhi crisis in the South China sea, is ready It guarantees China land access to ic Corridor, BRI’s flagship project. despite the Covid-19 pandemic,’’ suspicious that China is behind Ne- Pakistan. to play a part. Trump tweeted that he Pakistan and denies India access Without Gilgit-Baltistan, China will says Arpi. “In April, a Chinese vessel pal’s newfound aggression vis-a-vis was ready to mediate. Outgoing US to Afghanistan and Central Asia. not have access to the Arabian Sea.’’ allegedly sank a Vietnamese fishing India. Nepal reacted sharply when principal deputy assistant secretary

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of state Alice Wells, meanwhile, of- China has always been worried that fers a word of caution, saying China’s devotees of the Dalai Lama on the aggression is no longer rhetorical. Nepal-Tibet border may become a “Whether it is on the South China springboard for creating unrest in Sea or whether it is along the border Tibet. “Beijing has always leaned with India, we continue to see prov- on Kathmandu to curb activities of ocations and disturbing behaviour Tibetan expatriates, whether it is by China that raises questions about celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday how it seeks to use its growing pow- or other events related to the Tibetan er,” she says. struggle,” says Amitabh Mathur, for- Wells spoke about like-minded mer adviser to the home ministry on nations coming together to reinforce Tibetan matters. India could also cre- the principles of the post-World War ate trouble for Pakistan with renewed II order. M.V. Rappai, a senior analyst focus on the situation in Gilgit-Balti- with the Institute of Chinese studies, stan. Pakistan’s poor handling of the however, warned against going too Covid-19 outbreak in Gilgit-Baltistan far with Americans. “India decided has embarrassed Islamabad. “It has to side with the US against China at taken the locals of Gilgit-Baltistan the WHO, but it did not work,” he more than six decades to find out says. “We must know that there is a that they are not Pakistani citizens,” quid pro quo in such matters. China says Senge H. Sering, who heads the is investing in startups in India, its Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Stud-

PTI telecom major Huawei entered the ies in Washington, DC. “They want 5G trials, so we should do a cost-ben- Pakistan to treat Gilgit-Baltistan like efit analysis before we take a decision Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with its IN BETTER TIMES Indian and Chinese to use military power or demonstrate own constitution, president, prime soldiers jointly a tilt towards America.” minister and separate flag. India celebrate the New New Delhi is following the road could launch a campaign over these Year at Bumla on of caution, leaving the matter in the issues, embarrassing Pakistan, which the Indo-China hands of its generals and ambassa- is controlling the territory, and Chi- border in Arunachal dors. Moreover, India has its own na, which wants to build its Belt and Pradesh trump cards, like the Dalai Lama. Road project through the territory.”

INDIA-CHINA DISPUTES July: Chinese troops encircle an Indian post June: Second meeting; maps of April: A platoon of the Chinese army sets up June: Doklam standoff; India aids Bhutan in the Galwan River valley; clashes in the western sector reviewed, and camp 30km south of Daulat Beg Oldi, against Chinese construction of a road in Pangong Lake area withdrawn, as they showed Ladakh the area disputed by China and Bhutan maximalist positions of both sides India completes the 255km India opens new road to Aug: India suggests discussions to resolve August: IAF lands a C-130J Super Hercules Aug: Scuffles in the Fingers area north of Darbuk–Shyok- Daulat Beg Oldi Lipulekh. Chinese intrusions in tensions; China demands that India withdraw transport aircraft in Daulat Beg Oldi; a the Pangong Lake Road, close to the LAC Sikkim; clashes at Ladakh troops from all sectors of boundary demonstration of capabilities 2002 2013 2017 2020 1962 2000 2005 2014 2019

Oct: China launches attack March: First meeting to clarify supported by artillery; 36 and determine LAC in all sectors Process of map exchange Sept: Chumar standoff; India finds China Indian soldiers martyred and of the boundary; maps of middle collapses; eastern sector has deployed heavy machinery to construct 32 taken prisoner sector exchanged maps never seen a temporary road inside Indian territory GRAPHICS SREEMANIKANDAN S.\RESEARCH NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

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also built a steel bridge, 19 airfields 61 India-China border roads nese are not liking it,” he said. and two tunnels in remote locations bein built by Border oads The current tensions began on May near the border in the past one year. ranisation B 5, when troops from the two sides In another significant move, clashed at the Pangong Tso lake in last year, the BRO completed the 12 strateic roads bein Ladakh. The Chinese were report- 19.72km Bheem Base-Dokala road, built alon the Chinese border by Central Public edly peeved with an Indian road which reduces the time to reach the ors eartment CP construction project, which defence Dokala base (near Doklam) from officials say was well within Indian seven hours on a mule track to just 4,643km territory. 40 minutes. total lenth o the roads In another controversy, Nepal “In April 2018, 28 [more] roads protested India inaugurating a road were completed,” said an official. ~75% o the roads that it said passed through Nepal “Thanks to recent concerted efforts, hae been comleted territory. General M.M. Naravane of especially after the Doklam episode, the Indian Army hinted that Nepal’s five roads were completed in 2019 BR protest was at “someone’s behest”, and 11 will be completed in the next - but did not name China. six months. Another nine roads are 04,000 crore Said Lt Gen (retired) S.L. Nar- targeted to be completed in 2021, asimhan, currently a member of the and six more by March 2022.” MAKING WAY National Security Advisory Board: Notably, the overall budget allo- 05,400 crore A worker “Some of the roads run into areas cation of the BRO, which had been clearing snow closer to our perception of the LAC. stagnant at around Rs4,000 crore - near Kalapani The Chinese become uncomfortable between 2009 and 2014, has seen a 08,000 crore BRO as they feel that [these roads] are huge jump in the past few years, said - estimate encroaching into their perception an official. For 2019-20, the BRO has of territory. That creates anxiety and been allotted 08,000 crore, which is ~010,000 crore leads to confrontation. Both sides expected to cross 010,000 crore in forward areas. The 255-km road work as per their interests. And when 2020-21. 44 additional strateically imortant roads alon the Road rage provides access to the Depsang these interests coincide, you will see “Border roads have been our major India-China Border cleared or plains and the Galwan valley and such skirmishes.” talking point with the Chinese,” said construction at a cost o 0 ends near the Karakoram Pass. It also A defence ministry official said that Lt Gen Hooda. “If you have built up ~ crore With India planning more roads along the border, gives India smooth access to DBO, its the BRO was constructing 61 ICBRs, your infrastructure, then why do you there could be fresh flashpoints in future highest airstrip, from where the Air of a total length of 3,346km, spread object to our building infrastruc- Force operates the Super Hercules across Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu ture? They have the infrastructure BY PRADIP R. SAGAR transport aircraft. and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand advantage and they want to retain if it was the road-building that had The India-China Border Roads, or and Himachal Pradesh. “Of these, 75 it. We always call Chinese objection irked China, then India should be fter years of dilly-dallying, From a 21-day stand-off in Dep- ICBRs, were conceptualised in the per cent is black top and over 99 per ‘unjustified’.” prepared for more flashpoints soon. India has completed 75 sang in the summer of 2013 to fierce late 1990s by a consultative panel cent is trafficable. Only 40km is yet He said the infrastructure advan- On May 26, Prime Minister Nar- per cent of the project, ap- clashes in southern Ladakh that called the China Study Group. These to be connected,” said the official, tage not only gave China the edge in endra Modi met National Security proved in 1999, to build 73 coincided with President Xi Jinping’s were then cleared by the Cabinet adding that the Central Public Works operations, but also made routine Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Astrategic roads along the India-China maiden visit to Delhi in September Committee on Security and given the Department was building another peacetime patrolling easier. Staff Bipin Rawat and the three ser- border. The plan is to complete the 2014, China has frequently objected go-ahead for construction in 1999. 12 strategic roads along the Chinese Knowing this, India has ignored vice chiefs to discuss the trouble on remaining by the end of next year. to India’s road construction along the Till then, Indian forces were border. The 73 roads measure a total Chinese objections and would go the Chinese border. The details of the This progress has reportedly an- Line of Actual Control. following an old military belief that of 4,643km. ahead with the construction. Though meetings are not known. noyed Beijing, which seems to view Reportedly, the current troop if roads were metalled, they would Said a defence ministry official: “It the nationwide lockdown has halted Notably, the Cabinet Committee the road construction as “combat”. build-up by the Chinese army at provide easier mobility to the enemy was only in the wake of the 73-day the process, the government is on Security had, last year, cleared “The Chinese always make a noise multiple locations in the Galwan in the event of hostility. Hooda, Doklam stand-off with China in planning to run more than a dozen the construction of 44 more “strate- about our infrastructure on the bor- valley is against India constructing however, said enough attention was 2017 that we realised with shock that special trains from Jharkhand to gically important roads” along the der with them,” said Lt Gen (retired) roads and bridges to connect the not paid to infrastructure because most of those roads had remained carry 20,000 labourers to different India-China border, which would D.S. Hooda, a former commander of Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Old- of a lack for focus and funds. Also, on the drawing board.” Till then, only locations in Jammu and Kashmir, cost 021,040 crore. “We are aiming to the Northern Command. “And it is ie (DBO) road in eastern Ladakh because of the terrain, building roads 22 roads had been completed, the Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and match infrastructure on the Chinese only to retain the tactical advantage (which India’s Border Roads Or- on the Indian side was harder. “Now official said. Uttarakhand. side of the border by 2024-25,” said a that they have had for long.” ganisation completed last year) to we have speeded up, and the Chi- Apart from the roads, the BRO has Officials in the South Block said defence ministry official.

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coalition and opposition, something ties. The EPG report, was finalised which was not done earlier,’’ says in mid-2018, but Modi has not yet Mahendra P. Lama, Jawaharlal Nehru given the group an appointment. “It University professor and member was agreed that border talks would of the Empowered Persons’ Group happen at the foreign secretary level, (EPG) set up to look into enhancing but the foreign secretary, too, has not bilateral ties. given time,” says Thapa. India saying It is no secret that Oli and his Ne- talks will happen after tackling the pal Communist Party lean towards pandemic made Nepal feel slighted, China. Oli’s history of engagement given India’s overreach elsewhere in with India has always been strained. virtual diplomacy. Things looked good for a while after “The border issue is not such a Oli attended the March 15 virtual big one, but when we have been SAARC summit called by Prime Min- telling India about the Kalapani issue ister Narendra Modi on Covid-19. since November, wouldn’t some The summit was held barely days consultation have been appropriate after Oli’s second kidney transplant. announcing a new road through the But his domestic political situation territory? Not just in parliament, civil unravelled in May, and India provid- society also feels slighted regularly by

AP ed the needed deflection. “He is a India,” says Deep Kumar Upadhyay, master at playing the ultranationalist former Nepal envoy to India. card against India,” says Mehta. “Prolonging this dispute is bad for NO COMPROMISE Members of Nepal India, however, has allowed Oli to both of us, we have to lower temper- Student Union get away, largely because of its habit atures,’’ says Thapa. India could make staging a protest of taking Nepal for granted. “This a gesture with receiving the EPG against India is not the Nepal of the 1970s, when report, says Lama. “It does not have inaugurating a road through the the country’s elite were educated to be implemented; simply receiving disputed territory in India and the rest of the country it would be graceful, it was prepared Himalayan folly had no access to communication. at the behest of Modi and Oli.’’ Today’s Nepal is well informed and India could also tackle the issue exposed to the world,” says Lama. of Indian currency in Nepal that was India’s habit of taking Nepal for granted has allowed K.P. Sharma evision channels on the subject and Nepal hasn’t forgotten being pulled rendered useless after the demoneti- Oli to play the ultranationalist card and vitiate bilateral ties anti India protests, some politically up by India over its new constitution sation drive of 2016. Importantly, In- pushed, many spontaneous,” recalls in 2015. dia needs to understand that China’s BY REKHA DIXIT Major General (retd) Ashok Mehta, Bhiku Bahadur Thapa, the Nepal growing influence in the Himalayan an expert on Nepal. coordinator of the EPG, says India nation is to its detriment. ndia shares a 3,400-km border (truth or might prevails?) of China in the trijunction, and not Within weeks, the Covid-19 pan- needs to understand its sensitivi- “We need a gesture from India, with China, mostly disputed. Of The dispute is largely over the Nepal. India’s new envoy to Kath- demic overtook the world and the that it is willing for dialogue,” says the 1,751-km border with Nepal, definition of the Mahakali river, mandu, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, was issue was on the backburner. But Upadhyay. India had said Nepal only two per cent is disputed. An which The Treaty of Sugauli between summoned to the foreign office when, on May 8, Defence Minis- needed to create the right environ- Ieven smaller portion of this disput- British India and Nepal defined as to express their displeasure at the ter Rajnath Singh inaugurated via ment for dialogue. Now that Nepal ed border has strained bilateral ties the border. Mahakali originates from new road India built via Lipulekh to videoconference, a 75-km road from Discontent has toned down its map rhetoric, lately, so badly that Nepal released several streams, Nepal’s definition of access Kailash Mansarovar. For an Dharchula to Lipulekh near the Chi- India is carefully monitoring the a new map, showing parts of Indian which is to be termed its source is at Indian envoy to be treated as such, is nese border, Nepal saw red, claiming has been larger debate in Nepal on the issue. territory as its own, even threatening the root of the dispute, which flares unheard of. 19km of that road was through its simmering ever Boundary issues, says India, are sen- a constitutional amendment to ratify up periodically. Discontent has been simmering sovereign territory. since India sitive by nature and need trust to be the map. It subsequently cooled This time, however, the Nepal’s ever since India released its new map Indian Army chief General M.M. resolved to mutual satisfaction. down the map debate. reaction is unprecedented. Some on November 2, 2019, post the inter- Naravane’s allegation that Nepal is released its India resolved a much trickier Meanwhile, its prime minister KP days ago, it made a big show of air nal rejigging in Jammu and Kashmir. acting under pressure from a third new map on boundary issue with Bangladesh Sharma Oli takes nasty digs at India, dropping security personnel in the Nepal said India put the disputed country has done nothing to soothe November 2, some years ago, gracefully ceding 80 terming the coronavirus strain in Kalapani area, a region it had left territory within its boundary, though ruffled feathers, though his reasoning 2019. percent of the disputed 25,000 hec- India deadlier than the Chinese one unpatrolled for decades. It pointed India says international borders was valid. “The Chinese ambassador tares in a complex delta landscape. and wondering whether India’s mot- towards Indian troops in the area, remained as before. “There were to Nepal is overtly holding meet- Will India and Nepal let a rivulet to was Satyamev or Simhamev Jayate which both sides know is because heated discussions on Nepalese tel- ings with leaders of Nepal’s ruling jeopardise a unique relationship?

52 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 53 PMO BEAT MANI-FESTO R. PRASANNAN MANI SHANKAR AIYAR Bayonets from Lhasa to Ladakh Insensitive diplomacy at its peak

hich is India’s southernmost point? The latest round of the Sino-Indian strategic he current stand-off between India and working group was constituted and later, under Most people would say, Kanyakumari. game is being played in two places in Ladakh, on Nepal is over an isosceles triangle-shaped A.B. Vajpayee, a Joint Boundary Commission. WDon’t we say, Kashmir to Kanyakumari? the banks of Pongong Lake and in the Galwan Tarea covering a mere 32sqkm—its base line However, in two decades, it has not proved Quiz buffs and trivia tyrants know it is not. The Valley. (Galwan is named after Gulam Rasool running eastwards from the town of Kalapani on possible to resolve the key issue of whether the southernmost point, they will scream, is Indira Galwan who guided Younghusband and several the main Kali River to the Lipulekh Pass. At the headwaters of the Kali River lie in the rivulet Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. other explorers in the late 19th and early 20th apex of the triangle lies another pass, Limpiyad- called the Pankha Gad, that descends from the OK. Lock kar diya. Now, which is India’s century.) The stand-off at Pongong may well be hura. Lipulekh Pass and joins the main Kali River at northernmost point? Going by ‘Kashmir to a diversionary tactic; the real threat could be to The India-Nepal border was demarcated not Kalapani (as India contends), or the Kuti Yangti, Kanyakumari’, it must be in Kashmir. Galwan Valley and beyond, up to Indira Col. If by any domestic Indian ruler but by the colonial that descends from the Limpiyadhura Pass and No longer. After the statutory coup executed by he gets it, Xi Jinping’s belt-road will roll around East India Company which concluded its aggres- takes the name of Kali from Kalapani onwards (as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah last August, the Siachen, which the Pakistanis are also coveting, sion on Nepal in 1815 with the Treaty of Sugauli. Nepal contends). northernmost region over which the Union of and farther to central Asia. Under this treaty, the Company filched Kumaon In August 2019, External Affairs Minister S. India’s writ runs is Ladakh. Ladakh is now a Union This is not the first time the Chinese have tried and Garhwal from Nepal. Article 5 of the treaty Jaishankar visited Kathmandu, and it was agreed Territory, not part of Kashmir. to take Galwan. It was here that Major compelled “the Rajah of Nepal” to “renounce for that a “joint mechanism” would be established at OK. Ladakh ko lock kar diya. But Shaitan Singh and his 140 brave himself, his heirs, and successors, all claims to or foreign secretary level to resolve matters. But the where in Ladakh? Answer: Indira Kumaonis fell in the battle of Rezang connection with all countries lying to the west of issue was aggravated by the publication of Nar- Col. La, the fiercest of 1962. the Kali River”. endra Modi’s “new map” of India Before anti-Nehruvians and Since this was an Anglo-Nepal in November 2019, which showed WhatsApp historians take to troll, Tailpiece: In the last instalment Treaty, its presiding deity was not L the disputed triangle in India, as twitter and digital drivel, let me of this column, we had met William Mother India but Mother Victoria; CHINA our government has been dragging make it clear. Indira Col is not Moorcroft, who had explored Kailas- it should be dealt in such a way its feet about talks with Nepal. So, named after Indira Gandhi. The Mansarovar and sent he-goats and that Nepali sovereignty is respected Nepal retaliated with a map of its name was given in honour of she-goats separated in two ships to even as India’s security interests L L own in January 2020 that showed Goddess Lakshmi, by Fanny Bullock- England. According to mountaineer- are safeguarded. This is the way in the triangle in Nepal. When India Workman, a doughty American who writer Harish Kapadia, Moorcroft was which previous governments have still prevaricated, Nepal threatened explored Siachen in 1911-12 along also the first to explore Siachen. dealt with this tiny wedge of territo- INDIA to incorporate their “new map” in with her husband, long before Indira In 1821 he passed near its snout and ry since the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty NEPAL their constitution. was born to Kamala and Jawaharlal acknowledged its existence, writes of Peace and Friendship. Thus, 78 So, we thundered through our Nehru. Kapadia. In 1835, G.T. Vigne approached it from the joint posts were created after China spokesman that Nepal’s new map, Col means mountain pass or la, as in Nathu west trying to reach Bilafond La, but never guessed entered Tibet in 1951, and 18 Indian military was “not based on historical facts and evidence”, La, Chorbat La and Bilafond La. There is even a the existence of a large glacier across the divide. posts, including Kalapani, were established after and asked Nepal to “refrain from such cartograph- Colonel’s Col, further west of Indira Col. Turkestan In 1848 Henry Starchy ascended ‘Saichar’ for two the India-China war of 1962. All except Kalapani ic aggression”. The chief of army staff was then La is sometimes called Colonel’s Col, after the miles. In the same year, Dr Thomas Thompson were withdrawn by 1969 under an India-Nepal unleashed. He began by claiming that he did not legendary Colonel Francis Younghusband who reached the glacier, followed by F. Drew in 1849-50. agreement. know “what exactly they were agitating about”. In explored the region in 1889. E.C. Ryall sketched the lower part in 1861. Then, a 1997 India-China accord on pilgrimage the face of 22 years of intense disputation on this All our current strategic games with China In 1889, Younghusband approached the area to Lake Manasarovar stipulated the Lipulekh Pass issue, he said: “There has never been a problem started with Younghusband whom Lord Curzon over the Urdok valley, looking for a crossing as a principal entry point into Tibet. Nepal object- in the past.” Moving to his punch line, he claimed sent with “bayonets to Lhasa” in 1904. Historians into the Indian subcontinent. Following a side ed that it had not been consulted by either India or there were “reasons to believe that they might and strategic thinkers are still divided over the valley of the Urdok glacier, he reached the foot of China, although the pass fell in Nepalese territory. have raised these problems, issues at the behest of gains accrued from that mission, but the Chinese Turkestan La. “He felt that this was the main axis There were huge demonstrations. The crisis was someone else”. Hint, hint, China! still get nightmares about it. They think that India of the Karakoram. His explorer’s instincts were defused when prime minister I.K. Gujral accepted Is this any way to conduct sensitive diplomatic can still invade Tibet as easily as Younghusband correct but, in [the] absence of maps, he was not in 1998 that all boundary disputes with Nepal, relations with a small neighbour? Even if it is Cov- did a century ago with just about 3,000 troops. It is sure where he was standing. His belief was finally including Kalapani, would be settled through id time, why cannot the two foreign secretaries another matter that we, in India, don’t think so. confirmed by Dr T.G. Longstaff in 1909.” bilateral talks. To this end, a joint technical-level take to Skype or Zoom?

ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected] GRAPHICS DENI LAL Aiyar is a former Union minister and social commentator.

54 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 55 BUSINESS AUTOMOBILES

Untrodden ROUTE Carmakers are trying to beat the slowdown with new ways of selling and attractive financing options

BY NACHIKET KELKAR

n 2018, India became the fourth largest automo- bile market in the world, racing past Germany. But the industry hit multiple speed bumps in the following year, and the sales slowed down. This Iyear, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought the indus- try to a screeching halt. In April, not one vehicle was sold in the country. As the government has started easing the lock- down, the industry is beginning to rev up, albeit slowly, hoping that there will be some recovery by the beginning of the festive season. In the financial year ended in March 2020, pas- senger vehicle sales declined 17.82 per cent from SAFETY FIRST: the previous year, according to data from Society of Carmakers have issued new Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Two-wheeler country’s largest carmaker, restarted pro- to remain under strict lockdown. customer wishes so. “The lockdown standard operating procedures sales fell 17.76 per cent, truck and bus sales were duction at the Manesar plant in Haryana Automakers have devised inno- was an opportunity to accelerate our and safety initiatives for dealers down 28.75 per cent and three-wheeler sales dipped on May 12 and at the Gurugram plant on vative ways to tackle this. “There digital journey and evolve new ways 9 per cent. Various factors hurt demand last year. May 18. Volkswagen said 70 per cent of its has been a noticeable shift in the of working while servicing and sup- New safety regulations pushed up prices, manda- dealerships had opened and dispatches recent past where digital models porting our customers,” said Guenter tory long-term insurance led to higher cost of own- from its production plant had begun. Most of retail and sales are garnering Butschek, managing director and who excel in customer relations, ership and the new Bharat Stage VI fuel emission other manufacturers have also resumed traction among buyers,” said S.S. CEO of Tata Motors. are also focusing on eliminating norms caused uncertainty about the sale of BS IV their operations. Kim, managing director and CEO of Maruti had already started work- contact points. Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The Covid-19 pandemic hit harder, as the And, they are all following a new set of Hyundai Motor India. The company ing on making vehicle purchases recently launched the ‘Merc From nationwide lockdown forced companies to suspend guidelines for a safer work environment. was among the first movers, launch- easier. According to Shashank Home’ digital sales platform, which manufacturing, sales and service. Companies have also issued new standard ing an online sales platform called Srivastava, executive director (sales enables customers to select and The month of May, however, has given some operating procedures and safety initiatives ‘Click to Buy’ in January. and marketing), a customer has to buy from across the product range. hope for automakers. Factories started reopening, for their dealers, which include minimal Tata Motors recently launched its go through 28 touch points for buy- “This lockdown has opened flood- although in a limited capacity, and dealerships interactions and maintaining prudent so- ‘Click to Drive’ online platform con- ing a vehicle. “Last three years, we gates for digital and online venture and service stations have also started functioning. cial distance in customer engagements. nected to all its dealers. Customers have worked very hard on digitalisa- for high-value items like auto- Hyundai, the second largest car manufacturer in the Many key automobile markets, however, get to see video brochures and can tion. Twenty-one points are already mobiles,” said Martin Schwenk, country, restarted operations at its Sriperumbudur are in the red zone and cities like Mumbai, pay the booking amount online. The digitalised,” he said. managing director and CEO of plant near Chennai on May 8. Maruti Suzuki, the Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad continue car will be delivered at home, if the Interestingly, luxury carmakers, Mercedes-Benz India.

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flexibility and peace of mind to AUTOMOBILE SALES transport over public transport and Companies may also cut down our customers,” said Veejay Nakra, going forward we see that becoming on their expenses in areas like new CEO, automotive division, Mahin- Passenger vehicles a trend. Our projection is that it is platform development and research dra & Mahindra. (lakh units) going to remain for quite some time and development. “Some organisa- Hyundai has launched an EMI as far as the fear of Covid remains,” tions had very large business plans assurance programme, which 35 33.77 said Maruti’s Srivastava. for alternative power trains, like elec- would cover three car loan EMIs Steffen Knapp, director of tric. They may look to cut down on of customers under uncertainties 2019 Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, some expenses,” said Singh. Maruti such as a job loss. Many com- 30 said there had been increased inter- has reduced its capital expenditure panies are offering attractive 27.75 est in the used car business as peo- plan for the current financial year by incentives for Covid warriors like 17.82% ple are on the lookout for accessible 16 per cent to 02,700 crore. It spent 2020 doctors, health care workers and 25 individual mobility solutions. “We 03,248 crore last year. However, no policemen. are looking at doubling the business project-related long-term plans are Despite these efforts, the road to in the used car segment,” he said. being deferred. The resumption of There has been a revival is long and uncertain. “The Given that the auto industry has The Covid-19 crisis had brought noticeable shift in the Covid-19 crisis has intensified Two-wheelers faced headwinds in two consecutive along numerous other challenges. full-fledged operations (crore units) recent past where the already prevalent pressure on years, analysts expect companies to “The initial months will be utilised and recovery will the automobile industry, but the 2.5 go slow on capacity expansions. “If to understand the market trends be gradual as the digital models of challenges this time are multi- at all companies had some budg- and the demand curve. There are dimensional,” said Naveen Soni, ets and plans for expansions, we industry’s whole value retail and sales are 2.11 17.76% other factors such as low consumer senior vice president, sales and should expect that some of those sentiments, rebuilding of disrupted chain revives. garnering traction 2.0 services, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. 2019 expansion plans could be suspend- supply chains, including return of Naveen Soni, senior vice among buyers. “The resumption of full-fledged 1.74 ed,” said Rajeev Singh, partner at workforce, which will act as bottle- president (sales and services), S.S. Kim, managing director and operations and recovery will be 2020 Deloitte India. necks for the industry,” said Toyota’s Toyota Kirloskar Motor CEO of Hyundai Motor India gradual as the industry’s whole 1.5 Soni. value chain revives.” French auto giant Groupe PSA has As the lockdown has led to said that the launch of its debut vehi- layoffs and salary cuts, many Commercial vehicles cle in India, the Citroen C5 Aircross Rajan Wadhera, president of BMW has launched a platform customers have postponed dis- (lakh units) SUV, would be pushed to the first SIAM, said there was a need to called ‘Contactless Experience’, cretionary purchases. According quarter of 2021. Some other compa- reduce base GST rates from 28 per where customers can explore and to a survey by consulting firm 12 nies, however, are going ahead with cent to 18 per cent for a limited pe- buy a car without visiting a dealer. Deloitte, 46 per cent respondents 10.07 their launch plans. Skoda launched riod to boost demand. He has also “Since its launch in April, we have said that they were planning to 10 28.75% the Karoq SUV and Rapid and called upon the need to provide seen a tremendous increase in keep the current vehicle longer 2019 Superb sedans on May 26. Mercedes liquidity support to dealers and for customer engagement, configura- than originally expected. Credit 8 7.17 launched the AMG C63 Coupe and the government to include them tion requests and virtual product ratings agency CRISIL’s base case AMG GTR on May 27. Schwenk said under the MSME Act. presentations on this platform,” said scenario indicates that sales of 6 2020 that the company would continue An incentive-based vehicle Arlindo Teixeira, acting president, consumer discretionary products, with its investments planned for scrappage policy has also been a BMW Group India. “As business which includes automobiles and 2020, but would “calibrate the situa- long-standing demand of the in- dynamics evolve post the Covid-19 consumer durables, will decline 12 tion” and take actions accordingly. dustry. Union Minister Nitin Gad- Three-wheeler This lockdown has pandemic, the BMW Contactless The stimulus package announced kari had recently said that a policy per cent this year, compared with (lakh units) Experience will play a crucial role their long-term average of 12 per opened floodgates by the government earlier this month would soon be introduced. “One of in offering seamless sales and after- cent growth. If the situation gets 12 for digital and online had nothing specific for the auto the best ways of reviving demand sales services to our customers.” worse, sales could fall 22 per cent. industry. SIAM has warned that the at this point would be to come out 7.01 venture for high- Companies are also offering at- Automakers are hoping that 10 9% sector could see de-growth of 22 per with a scrappage policy, so that you tractive finance options to lure buy- the pandemic would make more value items like cent to 35 per cent this year if India’s incentivise those people who have 2019 ers. For instance, you could buy a people commute to work in their GDP growth is in the 0-1 per cent vehicles more than 12-14 years old 8 6.36 automobiles. Mahindra SUV now and start paying own vehicles rather than using Martin Schwenk, managing range. The industry employs about to change and buy a new vehicle,” monthly instalments from next year public transport, which could 3.7 crore people and contributes 15 said Singh of Deloitte. Additional- 6 2020 director and CEO of Mercedes- under its ‘Own Now, Pay in 2021’ give the industry a lift. “I think, all Benz India per cent of Goods and Service Tax, ly, a scrappage policy would also plan. “The bedrock of each one of researches indicate very clearly SOURCE SIAM amounting about 01.50 lakh crore a tackle the air pollution issue in the our schemes is to provide financial that people would prefer personal year. metros. GRAPHICS SREEMANIKANDAN S.

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T.V. Narendran, SWARA BHASKER MD and CEO of Tata Steel, and vice president, Confederation of Indian Industry New ways Put yourself in their shoes or me, the first 56 days of the national lock- search of migrants. “I got a message that there are down was a housebound saga of domestic and 3,000 migrants waiting in Lajpat Nagar for fitness of customer Ffeline crises, heartache, pandemic-induced test,” said a volunteer. “But we have only 500 pairs anxiety and social-media-addiction. Basically, a of shoes.” So, debating and discussing, we began to comatose mind. I also undertook a two-day long search for smaller groups. Our first stop was outside engagement road trip, from Mumbai to Delhi, to see my mother Khanpur bus depot, where a hapless group of 40 had who had fractured her shoulder. Once I got my bear- been squatting on the pavement for the past four ings at home, free from my single-existence angst days because they had heard (wrongly) that buses are required in Mumbai, I could no longer ignore that niggling for UP were departing from there. The moment we feeling I had been having since the day reports and asked them a few questions, one of the chattiest of images of migrants walking home surfaced. I felt them teared up and said, “Koi nahi aayaa (No one BY K. SUNIL THOMAS ashamed to be in the safety and comfort of my home came to ask after us.)” We began to distribute some when lakhs of people were being forced into hard- food packets, drinking water and shoes. Q/How hard has the lockdown hit the economy? ship and arduous barefoot journeys to their villages. Our next stop was under a flyover near Anand A/The near-complete shutdown of economic activity I decided I must participate in some relief effort and has impacted industry majorly, especially the micro, Vihar Bus Terminal. Scores of suitcases and bags small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The key I scoured social media to see what kind of work was lined the edge of the pavement and hundreds of challenge is of liquidity as cash flows have been disrupt- PTI being undertaken. people sat in small groups. We unloaded our boxes ed. Businesses are unable to pay regular fixed charges I made a few calls and spoke to some on-ground of shoes, sanitary napkins and food packets. Within volunteers to see what kind of intervention I could minutes a curious crowd gathered. Women and men such as wages, electricity charges, rent and other fixed Q/Can we look at ‘business-as-usual’ by Diwali? help in. What did they need? Donations to arrange started angling for shoes. Sizes didn’t fit. We pulled costs. The second challenge is the operation of the A/The Confederation of Indian Industry poll indicates buses, food packets, grains, sanitary napkins, train out more shoes. A little girl, aged 11 or 12, came entire supply chain; some inputs and raw material are that most businesses are expecting normalcy in the tickets? “Ma’am we have all that,” said Nitesh Pandey up—her current slippers one desperate vulcanised not reaching factories, or have been delayed. The third economy after a year or so. Some sectors could pick up of Pushti Foundation, “But there is one thing you can challenge is the shortage of labour. earlier. We have to note that India has a strong outward bind away from tatters. “Chappal,” she held out her engagement and in the world as a whole, the Covid-19 do!” hand. I handed her an approximate size. She tried it Q/What are the ways to adapt to the ‘new normal’? situation has not yet peaked. Therefore, supply chains “What?” I asked in anticipation. on, it didn’t fit. It is big, she stated firmly. One of the A/Given the disruptions in supply chains, there are a across the world will be affected. Diwali is about six “Arrange for slippers.” sweating volunteers turned to her and said, “Thheek number of adjustments that businesses will need to months away and that would be a best-case scenario, if The migrant crisis is the most shameful story of hai (It is fine.)” consider. New ways of reaching and retaining custom- the exit from lockdown goes well and the global supply our time, and the broken slippers and blistered feet She crossed her arms and shook her head and ers may be required. Technology solutions could be a chain movement reverts to normalcy. of lakhs of migrant workers expose the negligence of said emphatically, “Nahi. Thheek nahi hai. Hum gir higher priority with machine learning, internet of things the state toward its most vulnerable citizens. jaayengey (No, it’s not fine. I will fall.)” I looked at the and other new platforms being given more importance. Q/What are the steps to be taken by the govern- I can do this, I thought. I began to look for leads to girl, turned back to the boxes and dug out another Strategies may relook at inventories to be maintained, ment? reach the marketing teams or owners of shoe brands. size. “Yeh dekh (Check this.)” transport and movement of inputs, sourcing from dif- A/The government must first stabilise the situation for Contribute shoes, slippers, or any footwear suitable The girl took the shoes and laid it on the dusty ferent areas and so on. Remote working options would people at the lower income scales. We have suggested for walking, in mixed sizes, for men, women and pavement, then delicately slipped her feet into them. also be an option. Fundamentally, I expect this experi- an additional 02 lakh crore of public expenditure to- children, I requested. #DoOurBit, I put hashtags in I waited. It fit! She looked at me with bright black ence to encourage all of us to look at how we can make wards this. Further, the government debt-to-GDP ratio text messages. eyes. We both smiled. She skipped away and melted a step change in the productive use of people, space is low, and there is a lot of space available on this Action Shoes, Athleo Shoes and Relaxo (upon into the crowd. and time. count for further spending on enterprise support. A key Salman Khan’s recommendation) kindly agreed to I looked around at the desperate people, let down challenge is to ensure that the stress in the real [estate] supply us with footwear. The first stock came from by a state criminally negligent of their fragile exist- Q/Do you think the remaining months can make up sector does not filter into the financial sector. Banks Action and Athleo. I joined the committed volun- ence and I marvelled at the girl’s spirit. for the deficit caused by the lockdown? and other financial institutions must be protected and teers of Karwan-e-Mohabbat in distributing the Never settle for less, my little one. Find the shoe A/I do not think the demand in the rest of the year have adequate capital for onward lending to enterpris- shoes. that fits. Be your own Cinderella. Instead of a prince, can compensate for the deficit in consumption. While es. On a hot Delhi summer afternoon we set out in find your dream. necessities will definitely be sought as soon as markets In the medium term, the country must go in for land reopen, deferment of non-essential large purchases is reforms, changing the labour regulations, and lowering likely. the cost of doing business through a range of actions. The writer is an award-winning Bollywood actor and sometime writer and social commentator.

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rankled its fans, who are known as behind a network that offers illegal the Toon Army, and they showed access to sporting events, including visceral hatred for its owner because the Premier League. Now the ques- of his perceived lack of interest in tion is whether the Saudi-backed running the club. consortium can pass the Premier Billionaire retail entrepreneur League’s owners’ and directors’ test. Mike Ashley bought the club in 2007, Prospective owners can fail the test and there has been unrest ever since. if they are proven to be involved in a Keegan, who was reappointed as crime overseas that is also a crime in manager in 2008, resigned the same the UK. year, openly criticising the board for This could be another near-miss not giving enough financial support. for Newcastle. Journalist Oscar Paul, After massive fan who covers football protests, Ashley for The Sun, said put the club up for Billionaire retail most Newcastle fans sale three times, were excited about but a deal never entrepreneur the takeover. In materialised. The Mike Ashley fact, 96.7 per cent of grim Ashley years 3,400 respondents dragged on. But the bought Newcastle to the club’s sup- new deal has creat- United in 2007, porters’ trust survey ed as much interest and there has welcomed the as shock. For the takeover. Paul said majority investor been unrest ever the fans had been in the consortium since. asking the despised that made the offer Ashley all 13 years of £300 million is to sell the club. “Bit someone who cannot be ignored. by bit, Ashley sucked the life out of MONEY The consortium is composed the club, leaving the fan base weary BALL of the Public Investment Fund and disillusioned,” he said. “Hope Saudi Arabia’s Crown (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, British and ambition evaporated long ago, Prince Mohammed bin financier Amanda Staveley the departure of idolised [manager] Salman with FIFA president and Mumbai-born British Rafa Benitez [in 2019] was the final Gianni Infantino and Russia’s billionaires Reuben brothers. straw for many. Avoiding relegation President Vladimir Putin at Crown prince Mohammed bin and banking the millions that come the 2018 FIFA World GETTY IMAGES Cup Salman is the chairman of the from Premier League football was all PIF, which would reportedly own that seemed to matter.” 80 per cent of the club. Salman was He said some fans had concerns rejected them in favour of Newcas- accused of ordering the murder of over the Saudis, but if the deal were tle—his boyhood club—managed journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istan- to happen, they would “get right by double Ballon d’Or winner Kevin bul in 2018 and Khashoggi’s fiancee behind it”. The consortium’s plans to Deal or no deal Keegan. It was time for redemption, Hatice Cengiz has implored fans of oversee the regeneration of the city and Shearer would lead the charge. the club to unite against the takeover. would also help in winning over the The Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s interest IT WAS IN the summer of 1996 that But, despite topping the table early Amnesty International has written to fans. Newcastle United Football Club on and giving Manchester United the Premier League against allowing There has been huge Middle East in English football may be more about signed striker Alan Shearer for a a 5-0 thrashing, the Magpies came sportswashing (use of sports to laun- investment in European football, profits than propaganda world record fee of £15 million. In the second again. Keegan—King Kev to der reputations). as in the case of Manchester City, previous season, the club had squan- Newcastle fans—resigned halfway But it is the Saudi government’s which was purchased by the Abu BY KARTHIK RAVINDRANATH dered a 12-point lead and finished as through the season. Since then, alleged link to a piracy network that Dhabi United Group and of Par- runners-up in the Premier League. Newcastle has made it to the top four has put the deal in serious doubt. is Saint-Germain by Qatar Sports The champions, Sir Alex Ferguson’s in the Premier League only twice. It According to The Guardian news- Investments. Aravind Reghunathan, Manchester United, also had pur- has not won a major domestic trophy paper, the World Trade Organisa- assistant professor in the department sued Shearer, but the goal machine since 1955. The lack of success has tion has found that Saudi Arabia is of sport and event management at

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FASHION • ART • BOOKS • MUSIC • THEATRE • LUXURY • FOOD • PEOPLE • REVIEWS • CINEMA • SERIES FRAYED TIES A protester dressed as Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, outside the club stadium

Bournemouth University, the UK, said if Newcastle’s takeover is completed, a stronger brand than other Gulf-funded clubs can be created. “Because Newcas- tle is a club with a longer and richer history,” he said. He felt the new owners would invest heavily in the squad and coaching staff, immediately. “They will have an eye on the renewed interest towards football after [Covid-19],”

he said. “So, playing excit- GETTY IMAGES ing football to leverage that interest might be the first objective for new owners.” oil. And an investment in the world’s but a lot needs to be done for legal No matter what happens in New- richest football league thus makes reforms and judicial autonomy,” castle, surely the larger concerns of sense. he said. He said Qatar-based beIN sportswashing and the fast emerging Quamar said the question of hu- Sports opposed the takeover citing inter-Gulf rivalry in football cannot man rights violations, though valid, the piracy link more because of be ignored. Muddassir Quamar, an should be seen within the regional business concerns than geopolitical expert on Middle East studies at context where few states have a rivalry. “I have not come across any the Manohar Parrikar Institute for stellar record. “Within Saudi Arabia, evidence that the Qatari government EATS, Defence Studies and Analyses, Delhi, the situation has certainly improved, or ruling family is involved,” he said. said he would not take the term Sports has always been a lucrative sportswashing seriously. “I don’t investment option. Apart from prof- SHOOTS think the primary motive for rich its, it also has the potential to help capitalists anywhere in the world to the image of the investor, thanks to invest their wealth in an enterprise I don’t think the primary the community’s involvement as well AND is to simply buy some good press motive for rich capitalists as the raw emotions associated with for a short term,” he said. “Although the outcomes. It follows naturally this might be an added advantage, it to invest in an enterprise is that the rulers would also want their TWEETS certainly is not the primary motiva- to simply buy some good share of the pie. But, should there tion. The capitalists go after profit press for a short term.... be rules prohibiting at least heads Anurag Kashyap is in an intense and lucrative return. The rich Gulf of states from making (directly or businessmen, including members The capitalists go after indirectly) such investments? As space right now—politically and of the ruling families and their close profit and lucrative return. Quamar put it: “Politics, including cinematically associates, are no different.” He said global politics, is intertwined with Muddassir Quamar, expert on there was an effort in Saudi Arabia business and business of sports and Middle East studies to diversify the economy. In fact, the sporting events, and I don’t think it BY PRIYANKA BHADANI Saudi Vision 2030 is a framework to can be completely separated, even by reduce the country’s dependence on enacting laws.”

64 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 65 @LEISURE CINEMA

adds that Choked was inspired more by films like The Lunchbox than anything else. "We wanted to tell the story of this couple in love. The script LOVE AND THRILL had come to me in 2014-2015," says Roshan Mathew, Saiyami Kher and A Kashyap about the story presented Amruta Subhash in by Nihit Bhave at FICCI Frames’ Choked : Paisa Bolta Hai; Anurag Kashyap has much to say. Script Bazaar. “By the time we got to (below) Kashyap and And his followers on Twitter have making it, demonetisation happened Nawazuddin Siddiqui in been listening intently over the last and it had to be a part of the film. We Ghoomketu two months in lockdown. Most of the brought that into the script." time, the Bollywood director tweets But he did not want to thrust his to express his disappointment with political ideologies into his charac- the Central government's action (or ters, but rather explore the humane inaction) over various issues. Occa- aspect of two lower middle-class amusing character in the Nawazud- sionally, he praises the "surprisingly" people struggling to survive. "I have din Siddiqui starrer that released on good governance of Maharashtra seen so many stories of couples May 22 on ZEE5. Kashyap has made Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. coming to Mumbai to live their on-screen appearances in films such And then there are times when, like dreams," says Kashyap. "Sometimes as Akira, Happy New Year and Luck a true cinephile, he suggests good they make it, most times they don’t. By Chance, but it is not something he movies to watch. From the classics of What happens then? Have you seen likes. “I keep getting pushed for act- Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Josef Abhimaan? I love that film. Those ing and I am also emotionally black- von Sternberg and Martin Scorsese films have been the inspiration, and mailed into acting. I try to keep the to the 2019 Spanish film The Plat- then I tried [making] it like a thriller. power in my hands so that nobody form, a range of genres finds space It is about love. It is about the power does that, but then somebody like on his Twitter profile. equation in a marriage when a wife is Vikramaditya Motwane comes and It is only fitting then that his next working and is let down by the hus- says you will have to do AK versus film,Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (a band, who holds on to his artistic ego AK... and you have no way out," he Netflix original streaming from June and does not want to be lesser than That is the case with this one. I was says about Motwane’s upcoming film 5) seems like a confluence of many what he thinks he should be. I call it a very objective while making it,” he starring Anil Kapoor and him. films while still having the Kashyap Sai Paranjpye thriller." says. Getting a new perspective on Right now, he is focused on his stamp. It is the opening score that It is a surprise, however, that the life and finding newer stories are also health regime, cooking and writing. strikes. Inspired by Federico Fellini’s trademark Kashyap angst, prominent the result of his collaboration with “I have content for the next five years. 8½, the track sets the tone for the sto- in most of his films, is not the driving other writers, something he seems to I have been able to spend enough ry of a bank cashier, Sarita (Saiyami force of this one. “I think you find have embraced in the last five years, time thinking of ideas that can be Kher), who is often cash-strapped humour at some point in your life. starting with Manmarziyaan that was fleshed out,” he says, even as one and frustrated with her unemployed written by Kanika Dhillon. “I thought wonders how he manages to make husband, Sushant (Roshan Mathew). I was making one kind of film all the time for work, personal life and his When she discovers a stash of cash time, because of which everybody regular Twitter activism. "I have flowing out of her kitchen sink every expected one kind of a film," says limited my time on social media," night, it brings new meaning to her I THINK YOU FIND Kashyap. "Like you said, the angst says Kashyap. "I have very strict rules. life. But things take an interesting HUMOUR AT SOME was missing. I wanted to explore I work, write and do a lot of other turn when the demonetisation is an- ideas that go beyond me. So, I had to things. I only go on Twitter when nounced by Prime Minister Narendra POINT IN YOUR LIFE. find writers who are socially aware my friends draw my attention to a Modi in 2016. THAT IS THE CASE and always in context to tell a whole in a zone where I want to make a stu- me]. It is [rather] a place of conveni- certain issue." He adds that on the One wonders if the film is too WITH CHOKED. I WAS lot of stories." dio," Kashyap says. "What it does is ence for like-minded people to come political front right now, everyone is personal for Kashyap, who has been The film has turned a new chapter it lets me explore all kinds of genres together and do things in whatever under a cloud of uncertainty, trying a vocal critic of the demonetisation VERY OBJECTIVE in Kashyap’s life in another way, too. that I want to do as a filmmaker with- scale, small or big. Kaam karenge, to figure out what is going to happen. as well as the Modi government. WHILE MAKING IT. It is the first from his new produc- out the fear of having to run a studio. acha karenge. (I will do my work and "Everybody is struggling," he says. "For me, it is a very emotional film," tion house, Good Bad Films, after It also has to have some value. It is all I will do it well.)” "Some places you see intention and Kashyap tells THE WEEK on video —Anurag Kashyap, director shutting down Phantom Films in about what I want to do. The whole The director gives a sheepish grin some places you see self-preserva- call. "A lot of people would think 2018. But nothing much has changed idea of making a big company and on the mention of his recent acting tion. That is the politics going around that it is personal, but it is not." He in terms of its functioning. "I am not ruling the world [does not interest stint in Ghoomketu. He plays a rather the world."

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n Tuesday, audio streaming enthusiast, and, now, a man with media as “biased, agenda-driven and Andrew Yang, then a marginal figure, service Spotify announced a enough influence to make or break a divisive”. credited an appearance in Rogan's O licensing deal for US-based US presidential candidate—reported- For his disaffected male viewers, podcast with a massive surge in pop- comedian Joe Rogan's podcast. ly to the position of the highest paid Rogan was nothing less than a cult ularity and fundraising. “After the ap- Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) will broadcaster in the world. That too guru—an internet father figure who pearance in the Joe Rogan podcast,” be available on the platform starting without the backing of a single major sternly told them to clean up their said an aide of Yang, “everything September 1; it will become a Spotify corporate or production house. act, work out, prepare for the harsh went right." exclusive later in the year. Post the an- realities of life, and embrace “per- In 2019, the then US presiden- nouncement, Spotify's shares surged WHAT IS THE JOE ROGAN sonal responsibility” as their lord and tial candidate frontrunner Bernie eight per cent. Neither the platform EXPERIENCE saviour. Sanders made an appearance on nor the podcaster have released the When it was launched a decade If, one day, Rogan engaged his show, promising to tell Rogan contract details, but the multi-year ago, the Joe Rogan podcast had an patiently with a guest who claimed the truth about aliens if he is elected deal is estimated to cost the streaming informal tone to it, like a conversa- that earth was flat, and that inter-di- president; the episode currently has company around $100 million. tion between two close friends—full mensional child molesters were on around 12 million views on YouTube. It is hard to overstate the impact of of inside jokes and private moments. the prowl, the next day he would In a subsequent show, Rogan hinted Rogan's move. Apple, with iTunes, has As it evolved over the years, spanning listen wide-eyed to the Many Worlds that he supported Sanders and that a virtual stranglehold over the nascent 1,000-plus episodes, it was the same Theory and the intricacies of quan- he would vote for him. The Sanders podcasting industry, which is expect- format—one he personally empha- tum physics with Caltech Professor campaign shared a clipping of the ed to grow in advertising revenue to sised as “listening and learning”— Sean Carroll. The same malleability “endorsement” on all their social over $1 billion by 2021. Spotify hopes that elevated him to superstardom. is a feature that defines most of his media platforms. to overturn the monopoly by signing Each episode spans anywhere from audience. And this is what makes Rogan is also a highly controver- Rogan, who is the biggest name in the two to three hours, and Rogan owns Joe Rogan one of the hottest internet sial figure. When Sanders touted the field by quite a distance. JRE started an additional channel where clips commodities on the face of the earth. comedian's endorsement, the former a decade ago and has since trans- of the long-form conversations are For advertisers, Rogan commanded faced a lot of backlash; several formed into a behemoth—the show uploaded. an army of ultra-loyal young viewers; trans-rights groups came out against is downloaded in the millions each On his show, Rogan was a regu- for politicians, there was a unique, Sanders, pointing out Rogan's prob- month and constantly features among lar, mild-mannered “bro”—armed open-minded demography—ones lematic comments on transgender the top podcasts on Apple's charts. with an almost naive enthusiasm to who defined their ideology as 'Joe athletes. On YouTube, he has over 8 million understand how the world worked— Rogan's politics'—that they could He has been called everything subscribers, and every podcast hits at and his audience were crafted in “reprogram to their wavelength”. from a purveyor of toxic masculinity least a million views within a day of his image. The conversations were In September 2018, Tesla founder to a white nationalist and a racism THE release. mostly thoughtful and intimate; Elon Musk smoked marijuana with enabler. He has addressed most of "A musician would need to generate he rarely pushed back against his Rogan on his show; days later, Tesla the criticisms on his show, explain- 23 billion streams on Spotify to earn guests who ranged from politicians, shares fell nine per cent. ing that his politics was to the "left of what they're paying Joe Rogan for his academics, philosophers, comics, In 2019, US presidential candidate centre" and that he was a supporter JOE podcast rights,” wrote music writer journalists and your garden variety of policies ranging from universal Ted Gioia on Twitter, adding that this internet cranks. There were no got- healthcare to free college education. means "Spotify values Rogan more cha moments. There was no artificial "A MUSICIAN Usually, whenever a big independ- than any musician in the history of the conflict. He spoke, sometimes high WOULD NEED TO ent broadcaster switches platforms, ROGAN world". under mind-altering stimulants, on the conversation revolves around The deal catapults Rogan—a an ocean of topics ranging from alien GENERATE 23 how much audience the broadcaster trained martial artist, former Fear abductions, martial arts, elk meat, stands to lose. But, in Rogan's case, Factor host, Ultimate Fighting cooking steak, DMT experiences, the BILLION STREAMS the often-asked question is how REVOLUTION Championship (UFC) com- universe being a simulation, fellatio ON SPOTIFY TO much YouTube stands to lose, such is mentator, marijuana and crazy ex-girlfriends. the devotion that he commands from A podcaster is rewriting the He criticised feminism and EARN WHAT THEY'RE his massive base. And how much traditional media norms bemoaned the destructive nature PAYING JOE ROGAN Spotify stands to gain. of "identity politics". He lashed out What the future holds for the pod- against lying politicians and the FOR HIS PODCAST casting industry, Joe Rogan, Spotify BY VAISAKH E. HARI fraudulent 'left-right' political sys- RIGHTS." and YouTube remains to be seen. For tems, he listened enthusiastically (of- —Ted Gioia, music writer, on Twitter now, only one thing is for sure. A me- ten agreeably) to every single guest dia revolution is on the horizon, and,

GETTY IMAGES on his show, and bashed mainstream be assured, it will be televised.

68 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 69 @LEISURE BOOKS

Amarnath in the 1983 World Cup.’’ Bond’s life, however, has not altered much. “As a writer, I have Forbidden Bond on AIR always worked from home,’’ he says. Ruskin Bond makes lockdown days bearable “Most of my adult life I have written sitting at my desk in the bedroom,’’ love with a new book and a new radio show he says. But the quiet has brought alive a different world. Even in Lan- A delicious take on a BY MANDIRA NAYAR dour, which in a way has defiantly survived the onslaught of the fast- forgotten romance paced world, the odd horn outside his window has become silent. “Early BY MANDIRA NAYAR morning there are all sorts of birds coming,’’ he says. The view from his t was a scandalous love story. With inde- window in his bedroom is familiar pendence from the British just a breath to anyone who has read him. A bit of I away in 1947, the single, well-educated and everything: road, the valley, the hills dashing maharaja of Cooch Behar—Jagad- and the rivers. Birds, that used to stay dipendra Narayan—fell in love with and mar- away, are no longer shy and find their ried Hollywood actress Nancy Valentine. There was way to his window. “The birds are opposition not only from Narayan's mother, Indira, but having a great time. So, we have been also from the government. seeing orange minarets,’’ Bond says. All this and more makes The Star of India a delicious “All kind of small birds, wagtails.” and racy read. Set in one of India’s most tumultuous Bond has this ability to use the periods, the book is by Diana R. Chambers, who has everyday ordinariness of life to turn been living with the story in her head for decades. it into philosophy. His writing, like "The government was very afraid that Valentine as a his conversation, is peppered with foreigner could transport a lot of valuables out of the AAYUSH GOEL AAYUSH humour, gentle observation and his country," says Chambers. childhood. “I have a good memory of Buried in gossip columns is this story that shocked ello, Bond here.” There are Bazaar, is out. And he will also be the childhood,’’ he says. “Of growing India and delighted America. Valentine was ambitious The romance of Valentine and very few sentences that waking up children and putting them up in Jamnagar, Dehradun, in Delhi and beautiful, and swept off her feet by a real-life the maharaja is true, but to add to H have an ability to instantly to bed, courtesy All India Radio. The during World War II.’’ prince. "She was the product of the studio system," the texture, Chambers added other lift spirits. The voice of Rus- series, called 'Bonding over Radio', Miracle at Happy Bazaar, pub- says Chambers. "They took these elements: a communist plot, a cursed kin Bond—clear, warm and calm— will be broadcast at 7:10am and lished by Rupa, is a peek into his unsophisticated young people and Mughal ruby and palace intrigue. At rings out from a chilly afternoon in 10:10pm every day. childhood again. He writes about trained them. She came out of it a the heart of the book, however, is the Landour in Uttarakhand, bringing “All I have to do is to pick up the his father, his death, the relationship more sophisticated, worldly person impossible love story and a woman with it the whoosh of fresh mountain phone as I am doing now in my right with his mother and “Breakfast to that met the maharaja." who never forgot. Chambers spent air. He has just woken up. “I am the hand and hold the book in my left Barogue’’ to create an enchanting Chambers conjures up the glamour, considerable time with Valentine be- world’s greatest sleeper,’’ he chuckles. hand,’’ Bond says. The radio, which world. In the foreword to his book, the dazzle, the intrigue, the danger fore she died. She left Chambers her “I sleep at all times of day and night.’’ had been part of his childhood, is no Bond writes, “I grew up too quickly. and the seamier side of the period in memoirs and photographs as well. It is exactly four o’clock. The heater longer his companion. “But I am get- By the time I was 13, I was no longer this lush fictional version of the story. Valentine left India pregnant. Her is on even in the middle of May in ting a lot of feedback,’’ he says. “A lot a boy. By the time I was 16 I was It is the decaying world of the Indian daughter was stillborn. She and the hill station that Bond calls home. of kids and older people are writing earning a living—and a year later I royals with all its stereotypes colliding Narayan never met again. Letters Vividly recreated in his writing, Bond back, which are relayed to me. I have was living on my own.” with the ultimate Hollywood fanta- were exchanged, but they both knew has transported children for decades been enjoying it. I like reading out His childhood, brief as it may have sy that Chambers brings alive with when she left India that their fate lay to his world—filled with ghosts, aloud. I do it at noon.’’ been, has allowed millions to be for- descriptions. "I think there is an arc in elsewhere. Valentine married again, small gestures of kindness, of birds, The lockdown has turned him to- ever young. His memory is still vivid. Nancy’s character," she says. "She was but hung the prince's portrait above walks, flowers and forests. Bond wards TV. He “roams the news chan- Bond has not visited Shimla or a young woman thrust into a world her bed. Even the skin of the tiger turned 86 on May 19. But, he has the nels,’’ he chuckles. “You want to keep Barogue for 20 years. “I like to recall way beyond her background. For her THE STAR OF INDIA that Valentine had shot in India was energy of a three-year-old. The fre- up with what is happening. I used to those days and recreate the atmos- to come all the way to the royal world Author: Diana R. Chambers kept in her closet. "These were the quent naps aside, he has just finished watch television, but sports mostly. phere. The older you are the more and the expectations she had to meet, Publisher: Penguin Random House most precious memories of her life," reading the biography of Edgar Allan But, now there is not much sport, you have to write about,’’ he says. she had to really grow into that. I Pages: 424; price 0399 says Chambers. "Despite having two Poe. A new book, Miracle at Happy unless you want to watch Mohinder Bond, certainly does. admire her for that." daughters later, she loved him."

70 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 71 @LEISURE PEOPLE

Aahana Kumra, actor This Eid,Salman Khan Inspiring act Croon, released ‘Bhai Bhai’, his Tale for third song during lock- ahana Kumra coming in, things happen through auditions. That is how I groom down. Like the first two the times started with theatre got Betaal. People are ready to work with new talent…. It is a songs, the latest one, Abefore making her fantastic time for all content creators. too, was sung by him Dusting off a decade-old story, J.K. Rowl- debut in the limited edition When I started working in this industry, I realised that and shot at his farm- ing is publishing a book for “children in series, Yudh. She moved there was so much struggle even for writers and direc- house in Navi Mumbai. lockdown”. The Ickabog was planned to be on to the big screen, finding tors…. But now, with the advent of OTT, so many new and A day earlier, Khan had published soon after the last Harry Potter fame with Lipstick Under My young directors are getting their break. launched his groom- book, but then she decided to “step away Burkha (2016). Kumra, who I had my struggles, but they are something I am proud ing and personal from children’s books for a while”. Besides, stars in the recently released of. I am going to talk about it for years to come [in the care brand, FRSH. she saw it as a story that belonged to her two Netflix show, Betaal, has had a hope] that some girl from Lucknow or Kanpur [gets Under the brand, children—she had read it aloud to them when they long journey as an actor. There inspired]. Even if one girl is able to make the kind of he had planned to were little. But now, Rowling is publishing the book have been struggles on the way, choice I have made, that, for me, will probably be the launch a deodorant REUTERS online in free instalments. The first two chapters are already up on but she would not have it any greatest compliment. first. Instead, he came theickabog.com, and the rest will keep coming till July 10. other way. out with a sanitiser, Q/What has been the effect of the lockdown? keeping “the need of Q/ What drew you to Betaal? A/It has affected me in a way that I do not have a the hour” in mind. A/ It is a genre that I have never social life. I was travelling a lot in the last few years done before. I have never been and that has come to a standstill. I miss being in Penning part of a zombie-horror-thriller different places, eating different food, meeting series and I think it is extremely different people. My life has been on sets. Man, glory fascinating that India has made its I miss that. I miss the rehearsals, my co-actors, Unconventionally first. [Also] I have never played an directors, producers, everyone. It feels like a In the last six months, lyricist, army officer. And, I was thrilled to go hollow situation. But I have had two releases in funny writer and former video through the training process. I was this period, Marzi for Voot and Betaal, and I am game artist Neeraj Pandey also excited to work with everyone in really grateful for the love that I have got. Almost two years has done quite a bit in the show, especially with Suhani Kan- — Priyanka Bhadani after Nanette, which independent cinema, war (co-writer), who has also written won the Emmy and including Prashant Lipstick Under My Burkha. Peabody, Australi- Nair’s Tryst with an standup artiste Destiny, which Q/Do you like the horror genre in Hannah Gadsby is won the award for general? back with anoth- ‘Best Screenplay A/I absolutely love horror…. I have er Netflix special, in an International watched a lot of horror films in theatres Douglas (named after Narrative Feature because I want the sound system, the her dog). Breaking Film’ at Tribeca Film darkness around you that is kind of eerie the conventions of Festival 2020. He for a horror film. Zee Horror Show, I think, comedy as she did was the lyricist for ruined my childhood—the signature tune with Nanette, Gadsby Hardik Mehta’s widely still haunts me. Chucky from Child’s Play, in Douglas talks of praised Har Kisse [too]. I removed all the dolls from my room. patriarchy, her recent ke Hisse: Kaamyaab, Then, there was Evil Dead, The Exorcist, The diagnosis of autism starring Sanjay Mishra. Omen. Why am I even talking about these and a dog park story, Pandey’s next work as a films? I am not going to sleep tonight (chuck- and takes on her critics lyricist is for a family drama les). who dismissed Nan- called Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, ette as “not comedy”. the filmmaking debut of actor Q/You have had your share of struggles in the Gadsby, if anything, is Seema Pahwa. industry. Have things changed over the years? more self-assured and A/Things have not really changed, but they have funnier this time. CONTRIBUTORS / PRIYANKA BHADANI AND SNEHA BHURA become streamlined. With over-the-top services COMPILED BY SUSAMMA JOY KURIAN GETTY IMAGES RUSKIN FELIX RUSKIN

72 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 JUNE 7, 2020 • THE WEEK 73 LAST WORD BARKHA DUTT No eyes to see, no heart to feel

s I write this I have just entered the state were not impoverished or in any danger of going of Kerala after a 72-hour road odyssey hungry), there was simply no acknowledgment Athat has taken me through the states of of the fact that the same emotional need—the Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya need to be at home—was just as true for our Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tel- poor. angana and, then, Kasaragod in Kerala. Effectively, the government issued orders After clocking 14,000 kilometres and tracking that were unenforceable—both on asking the migrant workers on their long journey home, workers not to move and asking their employers certain facts have become indisputably evident to keep paying them. Oddly, in March, it told the to me. Supreme Court that there were no more migrants The humanitarian crisis of the migrant workers on the road. Workers were walking our highways, has come to be bigger than the often through the desolation of the challenge of the pandemic. In night, as recently as this week. part, this is because the national Every worker I have met—those lockdown was announced with walking barefoot, cycling hundreds four hours’ notice and failed to of kilometres home, crammed in at anticipate the biggest mass exodus the back of small trucks, on board of people since Partition. An trains—have all said the same thing absence of empathy, efficiency to me. “If the virus has to kill us, we and basic coordination between would rather die at home.” Most the Centre and states also cost believe that poverty will claim their us. For the first 72 hours, as the lives quicker than Covid. workers walked, often barefoot, In Haryana I met the family of their children on their shoulders, Mukesh Mandal, who sold his phone they were treated as invisible for 02,500 so that he could feed his by the Centre and states alike. family and buy them a fan. One day Then there was a hasty, unplanned attempt later he killed himself. In Madhya Pradesh I met to put them on trains, but without anyone to the widow of Ranveer Singh, who died walking even organise queues before they boarded. This home from a heart attack. In Delhi I met Fazulu, was a moment, frankly, for the paramilitary or who had been locked in by his employers behind military to have been called upon, used as they a corrugated tin sheet as if he was bonded are to simplifying intricate and large movements labour. In Mumbai, at the back of a truck, I met of people. Instead, the sight of thousands of Vinod, a science graduate, who said no one in workers desperately jostling to get onto a train the news media had bothered to tell their story. panicked the government and it issued orders In Hyderabad, I met 10-year-old Sunil who that the movement of workers was a “violation of was heartbroken to have to leave his textbooks the lockdown.” behind and worried about when he may be able The problem with this was that no government to attend school again. And in Bhiwani, Nitin, the order could ensure that workers were paid 10-year-old son of a migrant worker, summed wages. Policy makers also failed to understand up the reality of this pandemic. What does the twin triggers of economics and emotion coronavirus mean to you, I asked him. “It means when it came to the exodus. While there was I won’t get food.” He said it simply, in innocence, an intuitive empathy for stranded middle-class and after that he even smiled. But in a few words and upper middle-class Indians abroad (who he had captured the tragedy of our times

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74 THE WEEK • JUNE 7, 2020 Issue Date: June 7th 2020 (Ktm & Banglore Only)

76 The Week RNI No.36122/1982, Registered No. KL/EKM/756/2018-20, Licence No. KL/CR/EKM/WPP-20/2018-20. Licensed to Post Without Prepayment. Published on Friday 29th May 2020