WHY XI IS UPSET Li Xiaojun, Chinese State Council Director, Speaks to the WEEK
CASH CRUNCH : WHAT THE STATES ARE DOING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: YOGI ADITYANATH, ASHOK GEHLOT, T.M.THOMAS ISAAC RELIGION IN THE YEAR OF THE MASK JOURNALISM WITH A HUMAN TOUCH www.theweek.in TheWeekMag TheWeekLive $ 50 HOW PRISONERS ARE MEETING FAMILIES DURING COVID TWO FARMERS ARE GROWING APPLES
JULY 5, 2020 JULY IN THE DECCAN
EXCLUSIVE WHY XI IS UPSET Li Xiaojun, Chinese State Council director, speaks to THE WEEK
PLUS Barkha Dutt reports from Ladakh
India should meet China halfway on BRI Xu Wenhong, deputy secretary general, OBOR Center, Beijing VOL. 38 NO. 27 THE WEEK JULY 5 2020
FOR THE WEEK JUNE 29 - JULY 5 12 22 63 SANJAY AHLAWAT SANJAY AFP ECONOMY TAMIL NADU @LEISURE
Their finances a shambles and with not Clumsy policies, bureaucratic disarray Gulabo Sitabo could turn out to be much help coming from the Centre, and absence of effective coordination Srishti Shrivastava’s big break as she states are desperately attempting never- have worsened the Covid-19 crisis in seeks out bold characters that are tried-before measures to stay afloat the state much like herself
24 MADHYA PRADESH COVER STORY Though everything COLUMNS 28 seems to be going the BJP’s way in the state, 9 POWER POINT the real test awaits Sachidananda Murthy and its own cadre 26 PMO BEAT is like to emerge a R. Prasannan bigger concern than the Congress 27 MANI-FESTO Mani Shankar Aiyar 52 eMULAKAT Video calling can 50 IVORY TOWER Sanjaya Baru become lifeline for jailbirds deprived of 62 BITTER CHOCOLATE family visits Swara Bhasker
RELATIONSHIP 54 AGRICULTURE 74 LAST WORD TROUBLE Two Telangana farm- Barkha Dutt Prime Minister ers have succeeded Narendra Modi PTI with Chinese in growing apples in the semi-arid regions President Xi Jinping fervent prayer for of the Deccan HANDSHAKES during 2018 divine intervention Wuhan Summit TO FISTFIGHTS 56 PHOTO-FEATURE in a world that The India-China relationship has seen a major deterioration in the The men of God, and wishes to get rid of women, too, are in the mask last eight months. Beijing is now trying to push the narrative that the instigation for the latest border skirmishes in Ladakh came from the Indian side. And, by positioning itself in Ladakh firmly, COVER ILLUSTRATION BINESH SREEDHARAN China has challenged India’s position in South Asia. The Asian century is now entering an unpleasant new normal, it seems. Printed at Malayala Manorama Press, Kottayam, Print House India Pvt u India should meet China halfway on Belt and Road Initiative: Xu Ltd, Mumbai, M P Printers, Noida, and Rajhans Enterprises, Bengaluru, Wenhong, deputy secretary general, One Belt One Road Center, and published from Manorama Buildings, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi-682 Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 036, by Jacob Mathew, on behalf of the Malayala Manorama Co.Ltd., Kottayam-686 001. Editor Philip Mathew u Ladakh wants Modi to act with China as he did with Pakistan after • Focus/Infocus features are paid marketing/PR initiatives Pulwama: Barkha Dutt reports from Leh
JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 3 LETTERS
It is too early to suggest centre in Kerala. through charities, but by overstretched health care Editor Philip Mathew Chief Associate Editor & Director Riyad Mathew WEST BENGAL RACISM IN THE US that Kejriwal has lost the P.M. Gopalan, rising up to the challenges. system, surviving the BJP PITS TRINAMOOL AGAINST TRINAMOOL WHITE PRIVILEGE GETS A RETHINK HOW COVID CHANGED LIFE IN THE LARGEST Editor-in-Charge V.S. Jayaschandran JOURNALISM WITH A HUMAN TOUCH www.theweek.in TheWeekMag TheWeekLive $ 50 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING plot in Delhi. Of course, he On email. The government pandemic is becoming IN THE WORLD Senior News Editor Stanley Thomas TELECOM: INDIA IS BIG TECH’S NEW PLAYGROUND took some missteps, like is taking recourse to more of a lottery. The News Editor Lukose Mathew KOLLYWOOD’S JUNE 21, 2020 BLEAK SUMMER the attempt to earmark Fooling the people statistics, no matter how Mumbai spirit seems Deputy News Editors Mathew T. George, Maijo Abraham, Ajish P. Joy DELHI IN government hospitals in It is not the longevity of pleasing the figures may to have been, for once, Resident Editor, Delhi K.S. Sachidananda Murthy DOLDRUMS Delhi. When Delhi, or politicians that should appear, to cover up its own vanquished by an invisible Chief of Bureau, Delhi R. Prasannan Where did Arvind Kejriwal Chief of Bureau, Mumbai Dnyanesh V. Jathar go wrong in for that matter, the whole matter. Almost all of them inefficiencies. With health enemy. the fight against Deputy Chief of Bureau, Delhi Neeru Bhatia Covid-19? country is in the thick of a are there in politics only care a shambles and with Vijai Pant, Chief Subeditors Susamma Kurian, crisis, it is better to extend for personal gains (‘Power jobs being lost, lives and On email. Navin J. Antony a helping hand than to Point’, June 21). It does not livelihoods remain at Senior Subeditors Anirudha Karindalam, Anirudh Madhavan point an accusing finger. matter whether an MP sat stake. Indira Gandhi in 1981 had Subeditors Diya Mathew, Karthik Ravindranath, Raveendranath A., in the last row or was a Vipul Pande, said at a conference in Reuben Joe Joseph, Nirmal Jovial On email. frontbencher. What was his Nainital. Rome that the cost of an SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENTS or her contribution, if any? inter-continental ballistic Delhi: Rekha Dixit, Mandira Nayar, Hyderabad: Rahul Devulapalli Kejriwal is playing his old Said Abraham Lincoln, Brave Mumbaikars missile was equivalent Namrata Biji Ahuja, Soni Mishra, Kochi: Anjuly Mathai trick of blaming the Centre “You can fool all the people Jerry Pinto has delved to setting up over three K. Sunil Thomas Srinagar: Tariq Ahmad Bhat SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS and lieutenant governor some of the time and some deep into the psyche of lakh primary schools. Lucknow: Puja Awasthi Bengaluru: Mini P. Thomas, Kolkata: Rabi Banerjee for all the ills! Why was he of the people all the time, people, revealing the Covid-19 has already Abhinav Singh Control the deaths Delhi: Sneha Bhura Arvind Kejriwal has mismanaged the situation in not prepared for all this in but you cannot fool all the truth behind the facade killed so many people. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS Mumbai: Priyanka Bhadani, Delhi: Pratul Sharma, Namita Kohli, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal Delhi. It is a different matter, though, that he did the first place? people all the time.” Alas, of Mumbai (‘The city of None of them were killed Pradip R. Sagar not get enough support from the Centre. The BJP Kejriwal should rise the likes of Deve Gowda perils’, June 14). The city of by bombs, drones and Bengaluru: Prathima Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram: Cithara Paul CHIEF REPORTER government at the Centre and the AAP government in to the occasion and take and his ilk seem to think dreams, as we call it, has a bullets. Mumbai: Nachiket Kelkar UAE: Raju Mathew, Dubai Delhi should put aside politics and fight the crisis on a all help from the Central they can fool all the people very unique character and Any man with common Chennai Lakshmi Subramanian Bhopal: Sravani Sarkar war footing (‘Capital pains’, June 21). government in tackling the all the time, and they are its people often bounce sense would agree that it Ahmedabad: Nandini Gunavantrai Oza It is very important that patients get enough beds, pandemic. proving it, age no bar. back after turbulent times. is far more important to Photo Editor: Sanjoy Ghosh Art Editor: Jayakrishnan M.T. in both private and government hospitals. Kejriwal K. Aravinda Upadhyaya, Sharath Ahuja, Covid-19 is teaching us realise that the essence Deputy Photo Editors Assistant Art Editor: Binesh Sreedharan took a wrong decision when he said that hospital On email. On email. some bitter lessons. We of real security is in Bhanu Prakash Chandra, Salil Bera Senior Infographic
beds in Delhi are exclusively for residents of Delhi. need to cope with stressful safeguarding people— Chief Photographers Designer: Sreemanikandan S. Delhi: Arvind Jain, Sanjay Ahlawat Illustrator: B. Bhaskaran Mumbai: Janak Bhat, One cannot afford to have such a rule in the capital of Thank you Rise to the challenge conditions, performing their capabilities, and Layout Artist: B. Manojkumar the country. I feel awareness among people in Delhi Amey Suhas Mansabdar At a time when we are Swara Bhasker has rightly everyday chores. Here not just safeguarding Photographer Designers: Deni Lal, Job P.K. is less, when compared with states like Kerala. Or, scared of Covid-19, ‘Gentle questioned the aptness beauty and ugliness borders. Delhi: Aayush Goel Graphic Designer: Syam Krishnan people are mostly nonchalant. All this is adding to the Chief Picture Coordinator Artists: Rajesh A.S., Sumesh C.N., touch to lonely giants’ of people ridiculing coexist. Good wishes to It is strongly suggested Bimal Nath C. Sujesh K., Ajeesh Kumar M., Jairaj T.G. worry. People in Delhi should wear masks and take all (June 21 ) was a welcome Bollywood celebrities for brave Mumbaikars! that world leaders should Research: Jomy M. Joseph Senior Researcher: Rani G.S. precautions when they move out. read; it felt like a painkiller. not opening their purse Surinder Pal, jointly prepare a peace Photo Archivist: Deepak Joy T. Covid-19 has reached a stage where it has started As readers, we owe you strings to bail out the On email. plan, also involving THEWEEK.IN affecting so many of us, but it is important at this a big salute for having nation in the ongoing terrorists, which should juncture to control the number of deaths. It is a New Media Coordinator Neeraj Krishnan presented us with such a crisis, as if it’s something The pandemic is inflicting address the following positive sign that the recovery percentage has gone up Deputy New Media Coordinator Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl good report. which is obligatory on their maximum damage on points: (a) Importance Senior Subeditors Hazeeda Vijayakumar, Sumitra Nair, in the country. Vaisakh E. Hari, Ancy K. Sunny, More and more tourists part (‘Just a bad play’, June Maximum City. Mumbai, of peace than a piece of P. Gopikrishnan, Jose K. George, Justin Paul George should come to this 21). The moot point is that which has always been land, (b) health care for Subeditors Vinod V.K., Anita Babu, Varun Ramesh On email. Balan elephant rehabilitation a crisis is not overcome bursting at the seams, is all living beings, (c) the Senior Researcher Saju C. Daniel now gasping for breath, need for countries to Multimedia Rahul J. Mohan, Vipin Das P. struck by a virus which come closer for oneness Executive Director George Jacob respects only social and togetherness, (d) the Vice President, Marketing, Advertising Sales Varghese Chandy SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER CARE CIRCULATION Hyderabad: BUREAU ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE EDITORIAL distancing, a tall order in need for efforts to bridge 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, a city which is home to the gap between weak 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 not only one of the largest and rich countries and 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 slums in the world but (e) efforts to jointly bring Hyderabad: Regional Chief General Manager K.C. Suresh Email: [email protected] 044-66918530/31 Patna: 0612-2233809 Shah Zafar Marg, also billionaires. the world out of crisis to 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, As mounting Covid-19 tranquility. 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 cases put unrelenting Ashok Nihalani, Email: [email protected] 011-23379718, 23379719 0471-2328198 Lucknow: 0522-2701725 Chief Marketing Officer (North) & pressure on an already On email. Head, Special Projects R. Rajmohan TheWeekMag @TheWeekLive TheWeekMag 85 89 99 48 69 4 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 5 APERITIF THE BIG PICTURE
LOVE’S LABOUR WON Karla Lopez Rangel did not go to hospital even after 15 hours of labour. Covid-19 cases in Mexico have been surging, and the Mexico City neighbourhood where Karla and her husband, Miguel, live was teeming with patients. So the couple stayed home, bought a birthing tub and, with the help of two midwives, brought their baby to the brave new world the pandemic has given birth to.
PHOTO BY REUTERS
6 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 7 APERITIF
POWER POINT SACHIDANANDA MURTHY POINT BLANK MILESTONES
POWER COUPLE Surgeon Rear Admirals C.S. Naidu Social media is fake and and Arti Sarin became the first couple An oily challenge a most toxic place. If you in the Indian Navy to serve together have not posted RIP or said as chief medical officers of two com- something publicly, you mands. Sarin assumed the post of the aily rise in the prices of petrol and diesel for fertiliser subsidies gave confidence to the govern- are considered not to be CMO of the southern naval command a fortnight in June has made retail consum- ment to tackle diesel subsidies. grieving. It seems social on June 22; Naidu is the CMO of the Ders unhappy. The Narendra Modi govern- The Modi government claims that dependence media is the real world, eastern naval command. ment is facing unfavourable comparisons with simi- on diesel has come down due to improvement in and the real world has lar price hikes during the Manmohan Singh regime. electricity supply—as it made water pumps more ef- become fake. Critics have dug up the statements made by Modi ficient. The government also claims that increase in Kriti Sanon, and other BJP leaders criticising UPA for burdening support prices for cereals means big farmers could
AFP actor the common man. now absorb the rising diesel prices. There was a The government and the BJP have adopted a time when ruling party leaders used to appeal to the strategic silence, refusing to explain why the prices prime minister and the petroleum minister not to The country needs a de-escalation of rhetoric. are shooting when global oil prices are very low. An increase the diesel and kerosene prices, as it would The government needs some room to decide otherwise voluble Petroleum Minister Dharmen- upset rural voters. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala its strategy. Mature nations do not react when dra Pradhan has also been - provoked, they respond when they choose to. Yojana programme has in Yogendra Yadav, SCIENTIST SON quiet, while the oil marketing creased the usage of cooking national president, Swaraj India Tejas Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief companies shrug and point at gas extensively, saving both Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s young- the finance ministry—which kerosene and firewood. This I was scared of darkness at one point. I could est son, and his team discovered needs more revenue as tax has, in turn, led to increase not step out of the house, and I did not let a new lizard species from Saklesh- collections are down. in the green cover and wild- anyone step out of the house, because I feared pur in Karnataka. The species has But the Covid-19-induced life, as fewer trees are now we could get kidnapped. been given the name Cnemaspis restrictions have put street felled for cooking purposes. S. Sreesanth, magnifica. protests on hold. A signifi- Political leaders feel cricketer, on life after he was banned in 2013 cant marker is that diesel is that price increase pro- for alleged spot-fixing in the IPL no more a holy fuel, and its tests can become a mass price would almost match agitation only if there is a Our capacity to tackle problems, indeed our with that of petrol after a few severe shortage of essential ability to adequately understand problems is more hikes. There were times commodities. The economic inhibited by the political culture of the day, when diesel was selling at half the price of petrol as reforms started in 1991 have taken care of the sup- where the ruling party seek to present the it was considered an essential subsidy for farmers, ply side of almost all essential commodities. Unlike prime minister as infallible and his policies beyond criticism. Railways and road transport sector. It was one of the fertilisers and fuel, the Centre has not been able to essentials for farmers along with cheap fertilisers, raise electricity prices in rural areas, because states, Ramachandra Guha, AFP BIG RECOGNITION Political theorist and Harvard pro- free power and zero income tax. Governments run by all parties including the BJP, are committed historian I define my success. I ac- fessor Danielle Allen won this year’s would tremble at hiking the costs of agricultural to give free power. That is why under the new eco- knowledge my failures, but John W. Kluge Prize for the study input or for imposing income tax on farmers. But nomic reforms, loans to state governments is made I do yoga, meditation, apart from the regular I acknowledge that I have of humanity. The $500,000 award conditional on power sector reforms. But increasing exercises, to keep my body fit.... This is -im not failed, my attempts have. the Modi government, which has a vision to limit portant when we enter the court. For we can There is a big difference. recognises lifetime achievement in subsidies, has tackled those for fertilisers and diesel power tariffs is a tricky business as the Left Demo- counter the demands with lot more ease. Sushmita Sen, various disciplines not covered by the in the last six years. cratic Front government in Kerala has discovered P.V. Sindhu, actor Nobel Prizes. One of the first acts of Ananth Kumar as Union during the lockdown. badminton player fertilisers minister in 2014 was to get Modi’s approv- As far as income tax on agricultural income is al for changing the subsidy scheme for fertilisers, concerned, the NITI Aayog and the income tax de- WORD PLAY where the differential amount between factory partment had recommended reforms during Modi’s Amid the Covid-19 crisis, phygital marketing is becoming the buzzword in the retail sector. It price and sales price was directly going to fertiliser first term itself. But the then finance minister, Arun refers to the effort to integrate physical and digital elements for marketing a product. Phygital factories. Then, neem-coated fertilisers were pro- Jaitley, had scotched it saying government would strategies include providing in-store experiences to customers that would initiate online order- moted by the government to eliminate diversion of not tax farmers. Comparatively, diesel price hike is a ing and vice versa. In the decade ahead, more content marketers will be tasked with coming fertilisers for industrial use. The success in limiting low hanging fruit. up with compelling ideas in this domain. PHOTO BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA [email protected]
8 THE WEEK •JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 9 APERITIF PARTY SNACKS
FOR THE FARMERS VANISHING ACT THE COVID-19 FIG LEAF Karnataka Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil has a The BJP and Congress continue All eyes were on Telugu Desam reputation for creativity. Now, the former cop and to dominate Madhya Pradesh’s Party legislators during the recent Kannada actor has appealed to the staff of the political landscape and it is not Rajya Sabha elections in Andhra Bengaluru Agriculture University, and farmers, to surprising considering their Pradesh. A year after the YSR answer their phones with “Jai kissan” instead of numbers in the assembly. But, in Congress Party came to power, a “Hello”. The three-time MLA from Hirekerur has the aftermath of the recent Rajya few TDP leaders had started drifting also instructed his department to use the state Sabha polls, even the miniscule towards the ruling party. TDP MLA farmers’ anthem as their mobile caller tune to presence of other parties has Anagani Satya Prasad, who has instil a sense of pride in the farming community. diminished. The Samajwadi Party been maintaining a distance from expelled its sole MLA, Rajesh his party, wrote to TDP supremo N. Shukla, for voting for the BJP in Chandrababu Naidu on the day of the Rajya Sabha polls. The BSP had elections. He said he could not vote already expelled one of two MLAs as he had come in contact with a last year. This leaves only one MLA Covid-19 positive person and was of any third political party, among in self-quarantine. However, later the seven non-BJP, non-Congress that evening, he showed up on news MLAs in the 230-strong assembly. channels saying that his test report was negative. “Had I received this RECALL VALUE report a few hours earlier, I would Chhattisgarh Chief Minister have voted,” he said. Timing, we say! Bhupesh Baghel emerged as the Congress's poster boy on World Yoga Day. Baghel, who has been practising yoga for many years, posted some pictures and videos of the asanas that he performed at home. These included the difficult shirshasana or headstand. Congress leaders were quick to highlight it and refer to former BACK IN DEMAND It has been more than a year since Navjot prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Singh Sidhu resigned from the Punjab ability to perform the asana. cabinet over differences with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Now, FOR INDIA AND FOR he is being wooed by many, including BENGAL the AAP and the breakaway faction of West Bengal Chief Minister the Akali Dal. As the buzz over a cabinet Mamata Banerjee may have reshuffle gained traction in Punjab, Asha surprised a few recently with Kumari, senior Congress leader and her nationalist stand. During an in-charge of party affairs for Punjab, said all-party meeting with Prime Sidhu was welcome to join the cabinet Minister Narendra Modi again. Sidhu has been quiet so far. on the Ladakh face-off, Banerjee However, it appears it is not just the said, “Don't worry we shall political parties who are chasing Sidhu. overcome; we will win the A team of the Bihar Police had recently battle.” Banerjee also went a landed in Amritsar looking for the former step further, asking Modi to curb cricketer as he was booked in a case Chinese investment in India. It during the elections last year. Some feel is not known whether she is it is a message to Sidhu—stay away from planning to make the time-tested campaigning during the Bihar assembly nationalist angle an election elections later this year. plank.
ILLUSTRATIONS JAIRAJ T.G.
10 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 11 ECONOMY STATES
PRECARIOUS Their finances a shambles and STATES with not much help coming from the Centre, states are desperately attempting never- tried-before measures to stay afloat PTI BRICK BY BRICK States’ sources of income BY K. SUNIL THOMAS dried up owing to lack of economic activity. This kiln in Chennai has not seen much sales since the lock- down started
magine that you are a villager work, in the fields and otherwise, handouts the states depend on for litical friction. Centre-state relations to the Centre from where the state’s lakh crore, while Karnataka will have in India. You live in a close- should be stopped and the villagers a good chunk of their expenditure, have not been exemplary since Modi share is given back later (and some- to pay more than 022,000 crore alone knit village which follows should drop what they are doing and has been forced to tighten its purse came to power in 2014, but now, the times, not soon enough). The other in interest this year. According to a the feudal system, with the take refuge inside their tenements. strings. The result? The economic gloves are off. Not just between New source of money is what is ‘devolved’ report by the Reserve Bank of India, zamindar lording it over from This is the only way to save yourself, position of every Indian state is a Delhi and the states, but between from the Centre, like plan allotment Punjab has the worst debt-to-GDP his mansion. There are only and the village, he tells his startled shambles. embattled states themselves, boxed and budgetary allocation for Central ratio at nearly 40 per cent, followed a few specific jobs, confined to your fellow citizens, who are now not just “Punjab’s financial situation is in from both sides of having to deal government schemes like highways. by Uttar Pradesh at 38 per cent. mohalla, that you are allowed to do facing an unknown enemy swarming extremely critical,” says Chief Min- with rising infections as well as dwin- The issue? Over the years, prob- “States are now more dependent and make money out of; the larger all over the fields and dashing hopes ister Captain Amarinder Singh. Goa dling incomes. lems such as changes in the tax on the Union government,” says part of the earnings from the fields of their regular subsistence earnings, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant says structure like GST and their own Avani Kapur, director (accountabil- you toil in go straight to the landlord, but placing a question mark over the state has had to face “extreme AN UNEQUAL RELATIONSHIP profligacy have left most states ity initiative) and fellow, Centre for who has promised to return your the expected ‘cashback’ from the hardship,” while West Bengal Chief Indian states essentially spend financially weak. Many borrow way Policy Research. “While part of this share in due course. landlord. Minister Mamata Banerjee says her money from two sources. First is the beyond their means. While rules is inherent in India’s fiscal structure Then, out of the blue, everything Virtually every state in India state is “financially starved”. Chief income they make directly from the like the Fiscal Responsibility and where states are the big spenders and goes awry. Not just in the village but right now is you, reeling over a minister after chief minister has sent few things they are allowed to tax, Budget Management Act limit how the Centre controls the purse strings, the entire region. A locust attack, double economic whammy—the SOS letters to Prime Minister Naren- like petrol, diesel and liquor as well much states can borrow, previous the situation has been exacerbated otherwise uncommon, takes place, Covid-19-induced lockdown has dra Modi asking for urgent financial as revenue from land transactions. debt and interest piling up has been by the introduction of the GST… destroying all means of livelihood. reduced their own meagre revenues help. All other goods and services are a common feature. Tamil Nadu, for eroding the ability of states to raise The zamindar issues a diktat that all to a trickle, and the Centre, on whose The economics is spilling into po- taxed under GST, the money going instance, has a total debt of 04.56 their own revenues.” For example,
12 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 13 ECONOMY STATES
while money raised by states them- went up from nearly 09,000 crore to DOUBLE WHAMMY selves was 55 per cent in average of more than 015,000 crore. The result? their total expense in 2014, it has The state’s deficit crossed 40 per cent States are expected to suffer as a result of shortfalls in both fallen to barely half now. of its budget in just the first month of The Centre is bound toto prprotect a “The state of state finances is bad, the financial year. tax revenues and Central devolution 14 per cent growth in states' no doubt about it,” says Hemant The horror story is repeated across GST revenues, and if shortfalltfall arisesarises,, Sharma, principal secretary (indus- the board. Telangana Chief Minister SGST COLLECTIONS (0 BIILLION) compensate it toto thethe tunetune ofof thethe amount of shortfaltfalll tries), Odisha. “But that is because K. Chandrashekar Rao had to make FY20 state finances are directly dependant do with 25 per cent income com- on economic activity and devolution pared with the previous year, while FY21 ESTIMATE from the Central government.” Nitish Kumar in Bihar had to be 20% LOWER 30% LOWER 40% LOWER The lockdown hit both. Money satisfied with 18 per cent. Amarinder GST COMPENSATION coming in from alcohol, petrol and Singh during one of the prime min- COLLECTIONS REQUIREMENT PROTECTED REVENUE electricity, the main sources of direct ister’s video chat with chief ministers revenue for states, virtually plum- claimed that Punjab’s income had 6,711 7,650 7,650 7,650 meted overnight when the national crashed to 12 per cent. Chhattisgarh’s lockdown with its draconian provi- GST revenue fell from 01,200 crore 5,007 4,006 3,505 3,004 1,704 3,644 4,1454,646,646 sions kicked in on March 25. And, for to 0200 crore in April, while that of all practical purposes, most Central Jharkhand went from more than 0800 schemes and grants approved for crore to a little more than 0100 crore. this year will remain suspended till So, the states did what they always the end of the financial year, as the do—clamour for help from Modi and Centre itself is strapped for cash. Rat- Finance Minister Nirmala Sithara- Estimate of gross tax revenues and devolutionlution forfor FY2021FY2021 (0 TRILLION) Trends in gross tax revenues ings agency ICRA estimates that tax man. Only, this time the Centre itself and CTD 20% lower than 30% lower than 40% lower than (0 TRILLION) devolution from Centre to states will was trying hard to figure a way out of FY2021 BE FY2021 BE FY2021 BE FY2021 BE be down by 30 per cent this year. its own snare to throw any benevo- GROSS TAX REVENUE lent scraps their way. Gross tax revenues of the Centre 24.2.2 19.4 17.0 14.5 ALL FALL DOWN Central tax devolution (CTD) of all states 7.8 - - - CTD Adding to the woe is the fact that not CONDITIONS APPLY only are states on the frontline of The only direct relief came as part Estimated CTD in FY2021 6.8 5.9 5.1 FY 2019 fighting the pandemic, with health of Sitharaman’s ‘Covid stimulus’ Less excess CTD devolvlved in FY2020 0.5 0.5 0.5 care being a state subject, they also series of announcements, with the 20.8 Adjusted CTD estimated 6.3 5.5 4.6 have immense expense obligations, limit on how much money states can 7.6 ranging from salaries to pensions to borrow increased from the existing social security schemes. To go back 3 per cent to 5 per cent. But it comes States which have derivderived a substantial proportion of their revenue from GST compensation to the initial imagery of the villager with a catch. Only an additional 0.5 FY 2019 FY 2020 RE FY 2020 BE being an Indian state, imagine how it per cent is unconditional. Anything 24.6.6 would be while your salary has been further depends on how fast the state 20 (%) cut. You are now saddled with the digitises ration cards and sets about 8.1 unenviable task of not only providing reforming their electricity sector. 16 for your family members, but also Obviously, it has not gone down well, 12 FY 2020 RE shelling out for Covid-19 treatment especially among opposition-ruled of infected relatives. Not a good states. “This is violative of the coun- 21.6 8 ‘state’ to be in, right? try’s federal structure,” says Ama- 6.6 For example, in the month of April rinder Singh. 4 which was completely washed out by “Increase in borrowing powers of the lockdown, Kerala’s finance minis- states is a step in the right direction, 0 FY2020 Provisionall ter Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac could only however, if it is made conditional, Chhattisgarh Goa Gujarat Haryana Himachal KarnatakaKerala Odisha Punjab Uttarakhand 20.1 watch helplessly while the state’s it constrains the fiscal space,” says Pradesh 6.5 revenues crashed to just over 01,000 Lekha Chakraborty, economist and BE- Budget estimates RE- Revised estimatetes crore—it was four times that in the professor at the Delhi-based Nation- corresponding period the previous al Institute of Public Finance and SOURCE ICRAICRA GRAPHICS SREEMANIKANDAN S. year. Meanwhile, the state’s expenses Policy. “The fundamental change has
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■ INTERVIEW migrate to other states in search of jobs, but we are committed towards to come in debt deficit dynamics.” Yogi Adityanath, taking Uttar Pradesh to the pinnacle of development. “Most of these consumption drops, chief minister, Uttar Pradesh Our policies in different sectors are attracting huge investment. We like the electricity consumption lost for are also making the changes required, following Covid-19. We are pro- the 60 days or so of the lockdown, can- viding 24-hour electricity. Land is available for investors, and their safety not be recouped in the latter part of the is my guarantee. We will have the maximum number of expressways in year. They are a net loss,” says Hemant Safety of investors who come the country. In the coming days, there will be metro connectivity in other Sharma of Odisha. “Of course, as indus- major cities (besides Noida and Lucknow). The nation and the world will trial activity restarts, there is going to be connect with Jewar airport (coming up near Greater Noida). a rebound in some sectors. But no state to UP is my guarantee As the state with the largest population, we are the most endowed as is sure at the moment as to how much of far as human resources are concerned. There is no market bigger than the loss can be made good in the months BY K. SUNIL THOMAS Uttar Pradesh. Apart from a population of more than 23 crore, half of to come.” Bihar and Nepal depend on us for their economic, educational and med- ical needs. World-class IIT, polytechnics and ITIs provide lakhs of skilled DISUNITY IN DIVERSITY Q/State finances have been badly impacted by the breaking ceremony-2 are also setting up their units. human resources every year. All these things have to be communicated While the states are on the same boat as lockdown. How can the Centre help? to investors. MoUs and investment projects progress are now tracked far as dwindled revenues go, the misery A/In these testing times, the Centre’s assistance has Q/Uttar Pradesh does face challenges as far as online. This will help existing investors and give new entrepreneurs the has been different for different states. By been of great help. Financial assistance from the Pradhan industrial townships and skilled workforce go. It is confidence to invest in the state. a twist of fate, the more developed states Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana helped in making food grain also deficient in other parameters that companies have been the hardest hit. According to available to the needy, while the second package of 020 look for. Q/What can be done to sort out the present economic crisis? a Crisil study, top eight states affected lakh crore is proving to be helpful in strengthening the A/This land is full of rich resources and opportunities, There are people without income and there is drop in consump- by the pandemic, like Maharashtra and economy of the states, especially in boosting the micro, whether we talk of manpower or infrastructure. The previ- tion. Tamil Nadu, accounted for 65 per cent of small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. It is also ous governments might have had a lax approach towards A/We are already far ahead in this process and have taken several meas- manufacturing, 60 per cent of construc- helping in supporting street vendors, youth and workers utilising available resources due to which people had to ures to keep the wheels of the economy running. During the lockdown, tion and 53 per cent of services, meaning who have returned from other states. we ensured that there was cash flow in the rural and urban economy. We the overall impact on the economy was bought food grain at MSP (minimum support price) from the farmers. further accentuated by businesses being Q/What are the innovative ideas Uttar Pradesh is We purchased 3.47 lakh quintal of wheat and 03,890 crore was paid affected here. considering to tide over the financial crisis? directly into farmers’ accounts. Along with this, 02,000 was deposited in Liquor, too, can make or break for- A/Our focus is entirely on ‘work for every hand and em- the bank accounts of the farmers twice under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan tunes. Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, for ployment in every household’. Priority is also being given Samman Nidhi. Throughout the lockdown, crushing continued in 119 example, are most dependant on excise to the production of indigenous goods. This will further sugar mills in the state; 12,000 brick kilns were running and 2,500 cold from liquor, affecting these states that open up new job opportunities. Besides, we have also storages continued to function. Around 25 lakh workers have been work- much more as revenues dried up during started several prestigious projects such as express- ing in these three industries and we ensured that they were paid salaries. lockdown. Alternatively, Gujarat, a dry ways, dedicated freight corridors and medical colleges. About 94 per cent of the units in the state paid salaries to their employ- state, depends way too much on petrol Thousands of workers are already engaged in these ees and 01,700 crore was paid to the companies from the government. and diesel tax, and got battered as lock- projects. Our government is also working on the concept down dialled it down to a trickle. of creating a land bank for setting up industries. Q/How does Uttar Pradesh plan to capitalise on the migrant labour force which has returned to the state? BEST FOOT FORWARD Q/Uttar Pradesh has been wooing businesses A/Workers coming back from other states are our asset, and providing Ditched by the Centre and left to their leaving China, especially Japanese companies. them employment is our priority. So far, more than 32 lakh migrant work- own devices, states have surprising- A/We have been receiving good response from foreign ers have returned to Uttar Pradesh. They are being engaged in MSMEs, ly resorted to a level of dexterity and investors who want to invest in Uttar Pradesh. We are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNRE- enterprise many of them are not really talking to companies that want to shift their bases from GA) scheme and other industries after mapping their skills. Their data is a natural at—rolling out the red carpet China; we will provide [them] space. German footwear PTI also being provided to labour and employment exchange offices in every to investment. Besides the ‘Atmanirbhar company Von Wellx is going to invest in Agra. Similarly, district. The insurance cover of all workers is also being ensured. Bharat’ and the ‘vocal for local’ nar- we are talking to many other interested companies. Jap- Many large industrial bodies including FICCI and the National rative, states were also catalysed by a anese companies have shown interest in the Electronic Real Estate Development Council are coming forward to specific exhortation to them from Modi City of (the upcoming) Jewar airport. Besides, they are provide employment. Recently, we received a demand to woo businesses leaving China. also showing interest in logistics parks and the food from the Noida Apparel Export Cluster asking for nearly Thus, while Gujarat wrote to the Japa- processing sector. Apart from this, the industrial two lakh workers—tailors and support staff. So you nese government and business houses, institutions with which we have signed MoUs see, these workers have already started their contri- offering them land and subsidies, Uttar under groundbreaking ceremony-1 and ground- bution in building a new Uttar Pradesh. Pradesh has set up an economic task force to showcase its business hubs bor-
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■ INTERVIEW forward to the Centre by us for the ben- in the past few days following the open- The whole country has been under Ashok Gehlot, efit of all the states. Unfortunately, no ing up of economic activities and allow- lockdown for more than 70 days. It is high chief minister, Rajasthan direct financial assistance to the states ing the movement of migrants. Looking time we restarted economic activities. It has been granted in the 020 lakh crore at the critical financial conditions of is essential for economic revival. package by the Centre. Only very small the states, it has become essential to assistance under the State Disaster Re- resume economic activities. Covid is Q/You have alleged that the BJP It is very difficult for sponse Fund and the PM Cares Fund has not going to vanish soon. Hence, we will attempted to buy your MLAs. been committed to us. But the situation have to learn to live with it for quite some A/There were reports that a huge amount warrants a much more substantial direct time with strict observance of precau- of cash had been brought into Jaipur. At a the states to survive on their own assistance to the states. tions. Covid containment should remain time when the BJP should be fighting Cov- the top priority. We should continue with id-19, it is conspiring to topple govern- BY SONI MISHRA Q/Do you agree with the Centre on the same strictness in containment and ments. The Rajya Sabha elections were ending the lockdown when Covid-19 hotspot areas, while in the rest of the to be held two months ago. The elections Q/Is the Covid-19 situation in Rajast- ment of more than 19 lakh migrants with poor or any support to people who have cases are on the rise? areas, all activities should be resumed were postponed because the BJP had not han under control? an expenditure of 025 crore. lost their jobs. Industries are struggling A/We have seen a large number of cases with required precautions. been able to complete horse-trading in A/Rajasthan has been at the forefront of because of the shortage of workforce, Gujarat and Rajasthan. the war against Covid-19. The number of Q/What is being done to help migrant lack of demand and unavailability of cases as on June 22 stands at 14,997 of workers returning to the state? working capital. Q/So, the Rajya Sabha elections were which active cases are only 2,987. Our A/Providing suitable employment to postponed as part of a conspiracy? recovery rate of 77.5 per cent is the sec- migrants is one of the top priorities. An Q/What steps are being taken by A/Pressure was put on the Election Com- ond highest in the country and the death online Rajkaushal Labour Employment your government to revive the econ- mission to postpone the elections. And rate of 2.3 per cent is much less than Exchange has been made operational. It omy? now, the same elections were conducted the national average. Total tests done so has already registered 53 lakh workers A/The state government and its at a time when we have more COVID-19 far is 6.99 lakh and the testing rate per and 11 lakh employers. We have already agencies are working tirelessly to bring cases. million is over 8,500, which is among the provided employment to more than 50 back all activities to an optimal level and top three states. The rate of doubling of lakh people under the Mahatma Gandhi bring the economy of the state back on Q/How stable is your government? cases is 27 days, again much better than National Rural Employment Guarantee track. Concrete steps are being taken A/They tried to replicate what they did the national average. Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which is 18 to create a conducive environment for in Madhya Pradesh. However, our MLAs lakh more compared with last year. This the revival of industrial units. We have did not fall into their trap. Inducements Q/How big a challenge was the issue is one of the highest in the country and it constituted a task force headed by were made, but I am proud to say that the of the stranded migrant workers? includes a sizable number of migrants. former Union finance secretary Arvind six MLAs from the BSP who had joined
A/The challenge was of an unforeseen Mayaram to suggest a combat plan and PTI us have continued to be with us, and it scale. But we were sensitive to the prob- Q/How has the state’s economy been policy interventions. We would come out has happened only in Rajasthan that 13 lems of migrant workers. We created impacted? with policies realigned to the needs of independent MLAs supported the govern- an online platform to register workers A/The lockdown has crippled our econ- different sectors. We will be hand-hold- ment without the offer of money or post. who either wished to come to Rajasthan omy and has caused suffering for daily ing trade and industries and the various or go out. More than 24 lakh migrants wage earners and migrants. It has be- sectors that would help speed up the Q/What kind of inducements were registered on it. Initially, five trains were come very difficult for the states to sur- economic growth of the state. made to your MLAs? provided for Rajasthan, which was totally vive on their own. The states are fighting A/There were reports of cash transfers inadequate. Looking at the huge number the pandemic at the ground level, but the Q/You demanded Central assistance happening in Jaipur. There was talk of ad- of migrants, we started free Shramik package announced by the Centre does to deal with the situation. vance amounts being offered: accept 010 buses. We made arrangements for food, not contain any direct assistance to the A/The economy of the states is in the crore as advance, 010 crore more will be water and lodging. We ensured move- states. It does not have any relief for the doldrums. Certain demands were put paid later and then 05 crore more.
dering Delhi, and the upcoming de- shifted out of China to set up a foot- UP government was very eager to meetings for states like Maharashtra ing with pharmaceuticals. ministered investment-friendly fence park and the Jewar airport. “We wear unit in Agra on the invitation help at different levels and has also and Telangana with global electron- From Assam, which highlights its climate, the go-get-it attitude is have been receiving good response of the Uttar Pradesh government, announced economic packages for ics majors like Apple, Intel, Samsung subsidised electricity for industries palpable. Andhra Pradesh Industries from foreign businesses who want which says the project will throw companies moving in. This was a and LG. States like Haryana, Andhra as a USP, to Punjab, which points out Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy to invest,” says Chief Minister Yogi up 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. major parameter.” Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka how its ‘Invest Punjab’ department’s recently said, “We call ourselves Adityanath in an exclusive interview Says Ashish Jain, director and CEO Invest India, the Union gov- are also interested in following suit. single-window clearance facility ‘providers’. We were the fastest in with THE WEEK. of Iatric Industries which handles ernment’s investment promotion Invest India plans to conduct similar assures ease of business, and Odisha opening up after the lockdown.” German footwear brand Von Wellx Von Wellx’s Indian operations, “The agency, recently facilitated a series of sessions for other sectors, too, start- which touts its stable and well-ad- Guruprasad Mohapatra, secretary
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■ INTERVIEW With the excellent brand image of the Kerala of the Union government’s department for promotion of indus- T.M. Thomas Isaac, health sector, we are hopeful that our nurses and try and internal trade (DPIIT), says each state can be a champi- finance minister, Kerala paramedics would be able to tap into this poten- on in their areas of strength. “As we aim for more global brands tial. An urgent massive skill upgrade and finishing (as part of the PM’s call), states will play a major role in this.” programme has been drawn up for this purpose. Sawant recently wrote to Modi that the economic slowdown would help in exploring other opportunities. Unlimited and open health Q/Kerala’s economy has always been about ‘no-production and all-consumption’. There- WHAT ABOUT THE HERE-AND-NOW? expenditure is not sustainable fore, Kerala suffers more than any other state Not everyone thinks it is the right approach, though. “To me, it in such crises. Is it possible to change this looks quite weird to compete for factories moving out of China BY CITHARA PAUL pattern? at the state level,” says Chakraborty. In her view, the focus A/Kerala is a consumer economy, with the highest should be on increasing public health infrastructure and servic- per capita consumption in the country. Our per es and in tackling hunger and loss of livelihood issues. “Deci- Q/The Kerala government’s efforts ture is not sustainable. We are debating And this does not include the quarantine capita income is 60 per cent above the national sive public infrastructure investment alone can attract private to contain Covid-19 were well-appre- the possibilities of cross subsidy. expenditure. average. We have failed to link the high savings investment,” she says. “Ease of doing business, judicious labour ciated. But the state has had to pay a availability and high consumption demand to the reforms and climate-related policies are crucial determinants.” huge price. Q/How much has the government Q/Remittances from the Gulf ac- possibility of expanding the domestic production. With investments still a work in progress, there is also the A/The containment strategy that Kerala spent on Covid-19 management? count for more than 30 per cent of We are trying to shift to a new development question of what the states can do to meet their dire scenario adopted has been very effective and A/The first file I signed in the new finan- the state’s GDP. But now with people paradigm. Quality jobs have to be generated for right now. There is, of course, hope-against-hope for some widely appreciated. But you are right, cial year was the allocation of 0607 crore there losing jobs and coming home, the educated youth in knowledge, skill and service financial assistance yet from the Centre. “Reforms, of course, it comes at a heavy cost—not only the for the Medical Service Corporation. it will be a tough challenge. industries. An earnest effort is being made to will help, but will take time. Meanwhile, some additional funds direct health expenditure but also the The total budget allocation is only 0324 A/We are expecting around 5 lakh attract private investment into the sectors of core to state governments is definitely desirable,” says Sharma. relief expenditure…. crore. It overshot in the first month itself. non-resident Malayalis from abroad and competence by improving the ease of doing busi- GST compensation is something states are banking on—as The total expenditure in April and May The expenditure of the health depart- other states in India to return. The fall in ness and creating high quality infrastructure. The agreed when the GST Council was set up. The Centre is sup- has been 023,771 crore—24 per cent ment during April-May was 01,300 crore. remittances is going to have a reverse 050,000 crore infrastructure stimulus package posed to make up for any drop, if actual revenues to states do higher than that in the previous year. multiplier impact on Kerala economy. that is being implemented through the Kerala not grow by 14 per cent every year. Sitharaman has convened On the other hand, the overall revenue We are expecting the state economy to State Infrastructure Investment Fund Board would the next GST Council meeting in July only to discuss wheth- declined by 17 per cent to 09,774 crore. contract by 10-15 per cent during the play an important role in creating the appropriate er they can borrow from the markets for GST compensation. The gap of 013,997 crore has been current fiscal. Some of the returnees will environment for growth. Meanwhile, reports that the Centre may try to wriggle out filled by front-loading the annual market be able to re-migrate after the pandem- of paying by invoking the force majeure (act of God) clause borrowing…. ic. We are expecting a sharp increase in Q/You were one of the first finance ministers (though the provision is not there in the GST Act) has further the demand for health personnel in the to request a hike in the borrowing limit of alarmed desperate states. Q/Kerala may be the only state to west and the Middle East post Covid-19. states, and the Centre has now hiked it from 3 Other options include debt restructuring, tapping the bond provide free Covid-19 treatment per cent of gross state domestic product to 5 market and, of course, squeezing money out of your own and quarantine facilities. It may be per cent. sources. “The shift is already beginning, with the proportion of a great ‘citizens first’ approach, but A/It is a step in the right direction. But imposing revenues coming from alcohol and stamp duties increasing,” how long can the state afford to do it? conditions on market borrowings is totally wrong. says Kapur. A tried-and-tested means to increase state income A/We could do well on the Covid-19 The Centre is setting an unacceptable prece- has always been ‘hitting the bottle’. As liquor vends re-opened, front owing to the sustained high dent. This can be used to undermine even the for example, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not think investment in the health sector over limited autonomy that the states enjoy today. The twice before slapping a 70 per cent Covid cess on liquor. West the last century. Forty-eight per economic package takes micro-managing state Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana promptly followed suit cent of the population depends policies to a ridiculous level. For example, the with their own price hikes. Starved of their poison for more than on the public health system for power sector reforms have three components: 40 days during the lockdown, relieved tipplers did not particu- treatment, [which] is free…. reduction in aggregate technical and commercial larly seem to mind. The institutional quarantine losses, reduction in average cost and average Just as the Centre’s Covid relief package aims at structurally
cost is borne entirely by the SREEDHAR ARUN revenue gap and introduction of direct benefit reconfiguring business and industry, states are also hoping state, except for those who transfer to farmers. For compliance to the first that the shake-up throws up fresh opportunities—Adityanath opt for private facilities. two sub conditions, 0.05 per cent of GSDP each manoeuvring to optimise the return of migrant labourers by The question you raised and, to the third, 0.15 per cent of GSDP additional putting them to work in industries which he hopes will come regarding financing of borrowing would be permitted. Sadly, some clever up soon is only a case in point. Haryana Deputy Chief Minister health expenditure is guys sitting at the Centre think that they are a Dushyant Chautala summed it up succinctly at a business very relevant. Unlimited fountainhead of wisdom to micromanage the continuity webinar recently, “If I see it as a crisis, it will be hard. and open health expendi- diversity of India. [So why not] see it as an opportunity?”
20 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 21 TAMIL NADU COVID-19
sioners report only to the municipal administration secretary and Prakash is close to Municipal Administra- tion Minister S.P. Velumani, who is referred to as the “shadow Chief Minister” in the ruling AIADMK. Malady and Earlier, on June 1, IAS officer S. Nagarajan was removed as director of the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, which was established in madness 2005 to reform the health care sector. Such bureaucratic reshuffles, how- Clumsy policies, bureaucratic disarray and ever, have not improved the ground absence of effective coordination have situation and the numbers continue worsened the Covid-19 crisis in Tamil Nadu to rise in Chennai and other districts. “The chief minister is not able to take any stern action,” said DMK BY LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN president and opposition leader M.K. Stalin. “This is because he does not ON JUNE 18, a day before Chennai that he is not infected. What more do have control over his own cabinet. and neighbouring Kancheepuram, you need?” he shot back. On June 20, The ministers should shed their egos Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts though, Anbalagan told THE WEEK and work together to eradicate the went into lockdown, the Tamil Nadu that he had indeed been infected and virus.” government announced that it was was being treated at a private hospital The government says 60,000 people withdrawing an earlier order amend- in Chennai. in Tamil Nadu have contracted the ing the English spelling of 1,018 Anbalagan was one of the five virus and more than 750 have died. cities, towns and villages in the state. ministers overseeing relief work in the Though it has maintained that only The order had drawn widespread Greater Chennai Corporation. After he the elderly and people who have ex- criticism, and the railways and India tested positive, half a dozen ministers isting health conditions were at high Post had not been consulted on the who had come into contact with him risk, 30 per cent of the dead were new names. rushed to get themselves tested. Ap- TOUGH TIMES under 50 and had no comorbidities. This was not the first policy U-turn parently, all ministers are worried that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami Stalin said the government should
the government had made amid they have been exposed to the virus. R.G. SASTHA stop fudging figures and reveal the the Covid-19 crisis. On June 9, Chief A 56-year-old private secretary in the actual numbers of patients and Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami chief minister’s office, B.J. Damodha- deaths. “The government has an cancelled the class 10 board exams, ran, died of Covid-19 on June 17, a day changes. But, except for the medical the health department was under- indifferent attitude in handling the even as the advocate general was before Anbalagan was infected. At least experts team, none of the groups reporting casualties. “At least 200 pandemic,” said DMK spokesperson arguing in the Madras High Court seven people in the chief minister’s have submitted any report. deaths were not reported by the A. Saravanan. “The chief minister that the exams ought to be held in offices have been infected. The government had also con- Palaniswami has Chennai corporation,” said Jayaram denying that his own colleague mid-June, before the number of in- Palaniswami himself has twice stituted a team under IAS officer J. Venkatesan, convener of the NGO has tested positive is proof that the fections begins to peak. On June 12, undergone tests; the results were Radhakrishnan to exclusively handle twice undergone Arappor Iyakkam. “The family of the government is not transparent. The when journalists asked Palaniswa- negative. He maintains that there is Covid-19 operations in Chennai. But tests; the results deceased were given mortuary cards government is just fumbling about in mi whether the government was no community spread of Covid-19 in the five IPS officers in this team have at the hospitals where the deaths the dark.” planning to lock down Chennai to the state. “If you and I get infected, not been handling any Covid-related were negative. He happened. But [the deaths] were not Palaniswami says no decision has contain the virus, he asked them not only then can it be called community work. On June 6, the government maintains that there added to the corporation’s record.” been taken to extend the lockdown to believe in such “rumours”. Three spread,” he told a journalist. “As of appointed Pankaj Kumar Bansal, The government set up a com- in Chennai. He wants everyone to days later, though, he declared the now, there is no community spread; IAS, as special coordinator to oversee is no community mittee to look into the matter, and wear masks and stay indoors for lockdown. things are under control.” initiatives in high-risk zones like spread of Covid-19 the chief secretary issued a strongly now. “The complete lockdown is like Later, when journalists asked The government, however, seems to Chennai, over and above what it had worded order to Chennai corpora- a speed-breaker,” he said. “We have him about rumours that Higher be groping in the dark. It had appoint- asked Radhakrishnan’s team to do. in the state. tion commissioner G. Prakash to take implemented it so that people stay Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan ed 12 teams of IAS and IPS officers in On June 12, Radhakrishnan immediate measures to control the indoors. This lockdown is not to trou- had tested positive, Palaniswami April to review Covid-19 programmes replaced Beela Rajesh as health disease in Chennai. It was an unu- ble anyone, but to stop the spread of looked irked. “He himself has said across the state and recommend secretary, after it was alleged that sual order, as corporation commis- the virus.”
22 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 23 POLITICS MADHYA PRADESH
CALM BEFORE THE STORM Jyotiraditya Scindia with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
opposition MLAs—as one of its votes was invalid. Experts say that if the Congress managed to attract one or two non-Congress MLAs during the Ra- jya Sabha polls despite being down Trouble in in the dumps, then the role of these seven non-Congress MLAs will be- come interesting and BJP could not count on them fully. The BJP might actually manage to win more than paradise the required nine, given that it is the ruling party and that the Congress Though everything seems to be going the might not find the right candidates to pitch in the regions where Scindia BJP’s way in Madhya Pradesh, the real test has support, says Alavi. awaits and its own cadre is likely to emerge K.K. Mishra, Congress spokesman in-charge of the Gwalior-Chambal a bigger concern than the Congress region (where most of the bypolls are to be held), said that the BJP’s BY SRAVANI SARKAR “annual examination” was due. “Like developing the Covid-19 vaccine, the task of expanding the cabinet will
EVEN BEFORE THE results of the March, the BJP had two objectives— PTI be a most challenging one,” he says. Rajya Sabha elections were an- dislodge the 15-month-old Congress “Balancing the aspirations of its own nounced in Madhya Pradesh, social government and win two Rajya Sab- cadre and the honour of those who media saw a stream of congratulato- ha seats. Before that, the BJP was not the lockdown and then the Rajya dia supporters who are awaiting their expand the cabinet or make political have not yet been mentally [accept- ry messages emanating from the BJP in a statistical position to ensure two Sabha polls, has no excuses left. “The reward and original BJP leaders who appointments as Scindia supporters ed] as their own will be a daunting camp. Sure enough, the party won Rajya Sabha berths, despite having patience of Scindia supporters is want their years of loyalty to be ac- will want a strong turf to play on task. Parties thrive on the loyalty and two of three seats on offer. Senior BJP 107 MLAs in the 230-strong assem- wearing thin and the bypolls to 24 knowledged has certainly put the BJP when they seek re-election in the hard work of its ground workers, but leaders went to the state assembly bly. Both objectives were achieved vacant seats in the state are looming,” in a catch-22 situation,” says Dixit. bypolls. On the other hand, upset- if they are upset, it is a bad signal.” with winning candidate Sumer Singh when Scindia and the 22 MLAs who says Dixit. “In such circumstances, The developments during the Rajya ting senior leaders could make the BJP state president Vishnu Dutt Solanki and a representative of the supported him quit the Congress for the BJP has to take a call on the cabi- Sabha polls—Guna MLA Gopilal situation difficult as the bypolls are Sharma told THE WEEK that the cab- second winner, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the BJP. net expansion.” Jatav is rumoured to have cross-voted the key to the BJP staying in power, inet expansion would be done soon who could not be present because Now, with Scindia in the upper Sources say that as part of the deal, and Raigaon MLA Jugalkishore Bagri says Alavi. and the focus is on the impending he was in Covid-19 quarantine, to house—considered part of the deal— at least 10 to 12 of the 22 defectors cast an invalid vote—are also being The BJP has to win at least nine of bypolls. He said that there were no collect the winning certificate. the BJP has to fulfil promises made to have to be made ministers, while the looked upon as signals sent by the the 24 seats to get a majority. Then, immediate plans of making appoint- But they were not elated as ex- his supporters. And this is going to be others are to be made chairpersons upset senior MLAs, though the party with the support of the non-Congress ments to government posts, but steps pected. It seemed as though future tough, say political watchers. “Now to boards and corporations. But, if and the MLAs have denied any such opposition MLAs, it can comfortably would be taken when required. As tasks were hanging heavy on their with Rajya Sabha polls done, the the BJP accommodates all 22 Scindia motive. Dixit also points out that in complete the tenure. But the Rajya for the leaders or workers of the party hands. Political watchers say that de- BJP has to set about expanding the supporters in such a manner, it will the past fortnight many BJP leaders, Sabha polls showed a problem in this being upset at the developments, spite regaining power and the high of Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet to ac- mean fewer opportunities for other including some prominent ones, aspect, too—the Congress managed he said that though some frontline the Rajya Sabha polls, the BJP’s real commodate Scindia supporters who BJP leaders. Several BJP leaders who have joined the Congress; several to get two additional votes. If the workers might be discontent, there test is just about to start. And trouble have been waiting for three months,” were former ministers or have won Congress members have joined the rumour of the BJP MLA cross-voting was “no major issue”. “Our party is likely to emanate from within. political analyst Manish Dixit says. multiple elections and are aspiring BJP, too. is false, then the party got the votes of has a culture where all things are Sources say that when the He says that the BJP, which has to become ministers, have already Shams Ur Rehman Alavi, politi- two non-Congress opposition MLAs. resolved through mutual discussions much-publicised “Operation Kamal” been stalling the much-awaited started to show their discomfort. cal commentator, says that the BJP And the BJP, with 111 votes, got at and party workers go by the party was set in motion in the state in expansion, first on the grounds of “Striking a balance between Scin- cannot now wait until the bypolls to least five votes of non-Congress line,” says Sharma.
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Blunting a brahmastra Strive for a settlement ndia is waiting for two brahmastras. Both have in the 1980s, General Bikram Singh used his per- been on the anvil for long. One is a Bollywood suasive powers and presentation skills to pester the he India-China border in the western sector es: Inside the Making of India’s Foreign Policy). Imulti-star fantasy. Its makers say it will be a peace-loving Manmohan Singh and A.K. Antony to is neither defined, delimited or demarcat- The 1996 agreement on Confidence Building blockbuster, and will give Baahubali a run for its sanction it. They yielded in 2013 (much to the envy Ted. This is principally because—as under- Measures (CBMs) also did not include the exact money, muscle and magic, with some characters of the Indian Navy which was asking for ships that lined by Nirupama Rao, former ambassador to location of LAC, although its general alignment shooting fire from their hands. (No handshakes could strike Shanghai), and also okayed two new China and former foreign secretary—in territorial was known to both sides, including the 13 hot- with them, corona or no corona.) The film, mountain divisions under the two already-existing disputes with its 15 neighbours, “China intention- spots (in all three sectors) which could lead to delayed by Covid-19, is set to hit the screens in corps who are our guardians of the east against ally left its claims ambiguous”. She does not add, “face-offs”. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the December. China. although I am sure she would agree, that this did continued Chinese refusal to provide maps in ad- The other is the Indian Army’s Brahmastra For once, the Chinese commies saw red. Two not come in the way of China coming to a settle- vance of their “perceptions” of where the LAC lay, Corps, officially called XVII Corps. A corps, with new divisions and a new strike corps of 90,000 ment with all of them, except India (and Bhutan). both sides took the wise step of agreeing at their two or more divisions under it, is an army’s largest men on the Indian mountains was worse than We have put ourselves in a bind because ever special representatives talks in 2005 on the “Po- fighting formation and is commanded by a lieu- what they had ever war-gamed or bargained for. since defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon flew litical Parameters and Guiding Principles for the tenant-general. Corps numbers are traditionally They protested loud, but all those remained cries to Geneva, in July 1962, to settle matters directly Settlement of the India-China Border Question”. given in Roman numerals, in the mountain wilderness, with Chinese foreign affairs minister, Chen Yi, Readers are invited to underline for themselves unlike division, brigade and as we quietly set up the corps Menon insisted that before talks begin “again”, the word “settlement”. battalion numbers which headquarters at Panagarh in China should “first demarcate several areas” That should be the key objective. Nirupama Rao are given in Arabic. Compa- West Bengal, and raised its first to be given to India, and does not believe a mutual nies are numbered ABCD. division there itself. It got light “commit” itself “in advance settlement is possible for But the numbering is guns and heavy-lift helicopters. to letting India have these “a generation or two.” But never in order. After 1, 2 and Grounds were cleared on the areas.” (Amit Baruah, The that pessimistic (if real- 3 divisions, they may have hills for helicopters to land with Hindu, June 16, quoting istic) perspective could 39 or 57. The generals will cannons and troops. Plans were Marshall Chen Yi). This has be sensibly shortened if tell you that this is to respect also laid out to raise the corps’ dogged any settlement for we were to settle down to the unit’s tradition and to second division at Pathankot the past six decades since working out a “settlement confuse the enemy, but I in Punjab, to scare the Chinese China refuses to disclose of the border question”, guess they do it to confuse from Ladakh side. its goals in advance of instead of remaining fixated their own military accountants. Then something went wrong somewhere. negotiations. It has done on non-settlement, despite Let us cut the numbering nonsense and talk Today, the Brahmastra Corps is as good as a this with all other countries having come to a mutual about the corps. phantom formation. No one knows whether it with whom it has had, but agreement, 15 years ago, on Corps are of two kinds, going by their tactical exists and in what shape, though we see its appari- no longer has, border disputes. Can India not live “political parameters” and “guiding principles” to task—pivot corps and strike corps. Pivot corps are tions now and then. Like Muhammad bin Tugh- with this asymmetry, provided it lights up the “settle” the border question. defensive in nature; they hold ground against the laq’s capital shifts, its headquarters was shifted to prospects of arriving at a settlement? Why not get on with that instead of letting enemy. Strike corps are offensive in posture; they Ranchi and then back to Panagarh. The Pathankot Prime Minster Narendra Modi confessed at the things lie until the Chinese provide us with maps capture enemy land. division, which was to come up in 2017-2018, is Tsinghua University: “Neither side knows where that would reveal their hand in advance? We will All the corps that the Indian Army has deployed now on the backburner. Many say, shelved. the LAC [Line of Actual Control] is in that area.” get to know, in any case, as the talks move from against China are pivot corps. The Brahmastra Three explanations are being proffered. One is (Ananth Krishnan, The Hindu, June 16). Indeed, stage to stage. And, we will have all the time in the Corps, proposed when China began showing its that the Army is doing away with large formations it was not till 1993, 41 years after the India-China world to make our claims known to them with no fangs after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was sup- and shifting to small battle groups in American war of 1962, that the 1993 India-China Agreement ambiguity, and then negotiate our way through posed to have been India’s first mountain strike style. Another is that raising a corps is too costly. A on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility the thicket. The alternative is to stick to Modi’s corps. The proposal was critically examined at the third is that there has been a rethink on the strike became “the first legal agreement that recognised position that “India will protect every inch of its service headquarters, the chiefs of staff committee corps idea, and it has been put on the backburner the LAC”. Yet, because the agreement did not de- territory”—without even knowing where that last and the National Security Council. in a bid to mend ties with Beijing post-Doklam. fine the LAC, it had “the unintended side effect of inch lies. Does it lie at the farthest reaches of Aksai Finally, like General K.V. Krishna Rao persuaded If that be the case, shouldn’t we have a rethink on further incentivising the forward creep to the line Chin, as claimed by Home Minster Amit Shah, or Indira Gandhi to build border bridges and roads the rethink, post-Galwan? by ‘both’ militaries” (Shivshankar Menon, Choic- at Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso in Ladakh?
ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected] ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN Aiyar is a former Union minister and social commentator.
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BEIJING’SChina’s State Council tells THE WEEK that the border BLAME situation is “very dangerous”; that India is the “aggressor” that broke its word; and that Indian GAME leaders and media should stop adding fuel to the fire
BY RABI BANERJEE
UNDER PRESSURE China’s President Xi Jinping looks on as soldiers carry the Chinese flag during a medal presentation ceremony in Beijing GETTY IMAGES
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in Ladakh. “[Regardless,] China is building huge physical infrastruc- hen Narendra Modi became prime minister ture in Bhutan at the request of the in 2014, many in China saw him as a man of people of Bhutan, who would like development who had, as Gujarat chief minister, to come out of poverty,” a Chinese travelled to their land looking for investment. Pol- strategist told THE WEEK. As China icymakers in China had then told their president, built up Xinjiang, the Indian Army Xi Jinping, who had taken office in 2013: “This started building roads in the Galwan Indian prime minister is a resolute leader with valley and near Pangong Tso, two remarkable charisma. Frugal, clean and effective strategic points in Ladakh. China on social media, he looks like a saint, combining tradition and modernity.” It sees it as India’s effort to gain access seemed like a time for change, and Xi was keen on India joining his One Belt to Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan. One Road project, now known as the Belt and Road Initiative. It sought to The Chinese were also angered by connect China with Europe by road and sea, and South Asia through a Bang- statements of Indian politicians, ladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor. Though India de- including a cabinet minister, that clined to join the BRI, the friendship between Modi and Xi seemed unaffected. India would take back Pakistan-oc- But now the two countries are in conflict, with their soldiers massacring each cupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin. The other in June, the bloodiest violence in more than four decades. Though Chinese State Council, the country’s all-powerful—he is the president of the country, the general secretary of the highest administrative authority, Communist Party, and the chairman of the Central Military Commission—Xi seem to have taken these statements is not above criticism in China. His decisions are debated and questioned in at face value. Responding to THE the Politburo and the Central Committee. He is now under pressure, as it was WEEK, it called the Modi govern- he who had sold the BRI idea to the party. The onus is on him to make it a ment the “aggressor” and accused reality, and India’s resistance does not suit him. India of trying to repeat another While China grew massively in the Doklam in Ladakh. “It is the result past three decades, its western part re- of New Delhi’s miscalculation and mained mostly backward and inacces- the new ‘forward policy’ of the BJP sible. This is the part that borders India. government,” Li Xiaojun, informa- So, under Xi, China decided to connect tion director at the State Council, the southwestern Yunnan province told THE WEEK. “New Delhi is clear to the autonomous Xinjiang province where the LAC is and it has ordered in the northwest through roads and the soldiers to take wrong steps airports. In the past few years, Xinjiang into the Chinese fields, like it did in has also seen rampant militarisation, Doklam.” Apparently, the statements worrying India. Modi has also been by Indian leaders irked China so building roads in the northeast part much that Xi asked the PLA to take of India, which borders China. This full control of the Galwan valley and activity increased after Article 370 was Pangong Tso, which China says were revoked and Ladakh was made a Union “New Delhi is clear “unmarked and disputed”. “China territory last August. Most Indians, ob- tried to take control of the Galwan sessed with the Pakistan border, did not where the LAC is valley because that would enable it notice that there were more than 400 and it has ordered to create a parallel CPEC (China-Pa- REUTERS transgressions by the People’s Libera- the soldiers to kistan Economic Corridor) road tion Army on the India-China border through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” take wrong steps POWER GAMES in 2017. They woke up only when the said Major General K.K. Ganguly, a Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Doklam standoff happened that year. into the Chinese veteran who fought in the three wars minister turned a blind eye,” said also fought at the Naku-La sector in with Xi Jinping and Prime Minister In this dispute, India objected to China fields, like it did in between 1962 and 1971. He said Xi Ganguly. “The prime minister also north Sikkim in May. Apparently, Narendra Modi in Xiamen, building a road in Bhutan to further its Doklam.” had been sidelined internationally checked Chinese investment in sec- China wanted not only to redraw the southeast China, in 2017. BRI project. Confidence-building meas- because of the Covid-19 pandemic tors that are now open to domestic Ladakh border but also to revoke its Russian intervention could hold —Li Xiaojun, information ures followed talks between the two ar- and had received threats of an inves- players only. As a result, China [exe- recognition of Sikkim as Indian ter- the Chinese army back with no director at the State Council further bloodshed mies. The Eastern Command monitored tigation into the outbreak. “He asked cuted] an inhuman massacre at the ritory. “If the Chinese were shouting the measures in the northeast and the for India’s help (to open up India for border.” The current dispute is not that Sikkim is not Indian territory, Northern Command monitored them Chinese companies) and our prime confined to Ladakh. The two armies then too, we have a problem,” said
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Jabin Thomas Jacob, associate pro- Wuhan before the corps command- situation “very dangerous”, it said, MASTER PLAN fessor, department of international er-level talks on June 6. Indian Army “We would like to see political and relations and governance studies, sources said China even brought military leaders in India as well as China’s Belt and Road Initiative at a glance Shiv Nadar University. “[China] had fighter planes to Xinjiang airstrips. the Indian media stop adding fuel officially accepted that Sikkim was “[It was] tragic and unfortunate. It to the fire. Both sides should strictly Samarkand Indian territory in 2003.” He said the was an unexpected loss of precious observe the political documents Silk Road Economic Belt If China can control Galwan valley, K Chinese were determined, unlike lives [on both sides],” said Li. He [agreed to] in the past on border 21st Century Maritime Silk Road it can build a road to Gwadar Port through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during Doklam, to set a new status said India had broken the resolution tranquillity in letter and spirit.” Asked China-Pakistan economic corridor Dushanbe quo. “This time, the transgressions agreed upon on June 6; it did not stop to comment on foreign ministry K are of a different nature for two rea- the construction of roads and tried spokesperson Anurag Srivastava’s Almaty sons. First, they intruded in Galwan, to obstruct China miles away. “India statement that China’s claim on the K K across an alignment of the LAC that should stop living in a dream on Galwan valley was untenable and Moscow was previously not disputed. Second, border issues,” he said. “China would exaggerated, Li said: “Mr Srivastava Rotterdam Urumqi Tehran Xian they are preventing Indians from never retreat 20km only to find India used similar terms like our side. But patrolling up to our perception of taking them all and edging forward.” his LAC is not our LAC. His fruit Kashgar the LAC at Finger 8 at Pangong Tso “It was almost impossible for China might mean mango, but ours might Venice Istanbul K and have blocked us at Finger 4, to convince the Indian authorities mean apple. This kind of difference which is their perception of the LAC. and people about the intricacies of can only be solved through words Islamabad Galwan valley In both instances, this is a change [the] border,” the State Council said and pens, instead of fists and stones.” Athens Fuzhou of the status quo. Why now? Why to THE WEEK in a statement. “But A Chinese official alleged that the G Gwadar not now? It was always in the cards we tried to do that impossible work Indian soldiers had thrown the first K Guangzhou post-Doklam.” Jacob agreed that the thanks to our strong leadership. But punch in both Sikkim and Ladakh. clashes reflected China’s desperation India broke its word in the end.” The “Seeing the brutality of the Indian to implement the BRI. “China would State Council alleged that a section Nairobi force, we had to retaliate,” said the K do whatever it takes to implement of the Indian media had “instigated official. “It was unfortunate, but the BRI successfully,” he said. the government”. Calling the border the instigation was clearly from the Kolkata Hanoi In May, when scuffles started in Indian side.” Ironically, India and M Ladakh, the State Council told THE China were planning to celebrate 70 WEEK: “[The issue] is a nonstarter years of their diplomatic relationship here. We are busy with parliament in 2020. Modi and Xi discussed it Jakarta proceedings (Hong Kong-related when they met last year and decid- legislation). Nobody cares and India ed to choose a suitable time for the K Colombo K plays it up too much.” Apparently, celebration. In fact, they planned to BRI "includes 1/3 of world trade and GDP and unlike during Doklam, Xi did not visit each other as a mark of grati- over 60% of the world's population" Kuala Lumpur lay the groundwork for diplomatic tude. “The face-off is a slap to both M dialogue this time. He left it to the leaders,” said Li. “It should have For the 70 economies located along BRI transport military to resolve the matter. As a been avoided or [should] at least be corridors, excluding China, executed or planned result, Modi’s Doklam team, led by resolved without further escalation. projects amount to $575 billion National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Otherwise, the 70th [anniversary] has been missing from the headlines. events would turn out to be useless M , Li said the recent meetings at the “I am sure China and emotions on both sides [would Reduce travel times along economic corridors by 12% would create a N joint secretary and military levels be] damaged beyond [repair].” The C N were a big sacrifice on China’s part. recent clashes have also drawn atten- Increase trade between 2.7% and 9.7% N V complex situation in “Compromise means give and take,” Arunachal Pradesh. tion to other parts of the India-Chi- Increase income by up to 3.4% P N N he said. “No winner and loser. But In- But I am sure the na border, especially in Arunachal Lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty dia just overlooked the compromise Pradesh, which China sees as part of we made.” The talks failed and clash- people of Arunachal South Tibet. Major General Ganguly Indian Army began improving its infrastructure in es began. On June 16, India lost 20 Pradesh would said it was a matter of time before Gal an alley and angong o, two strategic points soldiers; a week later China admitted checkmate it.” there was a flare-up on the eastern in Ladakh. China is concerned that these projects Map is illustrative that it had lost less than 20 soldiers. border. would give India access to a n and G lg al an —Major General K.K. Ganguly, India had about 10,000 troops who fought in the three wars “China is an expansionist force,” against China’s 7,000 in Ladakh. between 1962 and 1971 he said. “Look what it has done in SOURCE G G M GRAPHICS M K . RESEARCH K K But China flew in 10,000 more from the South China Sea. I am sure it
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would create a complex situation in Chin was never under British India’s option but to accept the Belt and dent not to choose military options. As Arunachal Pradesh. But I am sure the rule. The Indian people should know Road Initiative, even if they face the for reaching out to other nations, some people of Arunachal Pradesh would this. They should also know the possibility of being debt-trapped. “At analysts felt Russian President Vladimir n INTERVIEW checkmate it.” internal report on the 1962 border the moment, it does not look like the Putin, who has partnered with China for Only two dozen of 400 border war.” The report is classified in India, Chinese are going to withdraw from the BRI, could be a better option than US transgressions in 2018 were in Arun- but sources said it talked about how Pangong Tso,” said Jacob. “They have president Donald Trump, who is already achal Pradesh; the majority were India was politically “defeated by achieved what they wanted. They in a verbal war with China. A Russian in- on the northern border, said Army China”, which led to military back- seem to think they have the strength tervention could hold the Chinese army sources. So, is the Arunachal Pradesh tracking. However, the situation to change the status quo and get back with no further bloodshed. Modi, issue settled? “No, I do not think so,” has changed a lot in the past six away with it.” The Modi government they said, was unlikely to cede an inch said Jacob. “Such transgressions and decades and India has strengthened would either have to retaliate on on the BRI in exchange for withdrawal of face-offs also happen in Arunachal. It the Arunachal Pradesh border with the border or defeat China diplo- Chinese troops. Li finds India’s objec- Xu Wenhong is only a matter of time before some- huge military build-up. It has also matically on the international stage. tions ridiculous. “China advocates the deputy secretary general, One thing serious happens there, too.” influenced the people of Arunachal India has begun to consolidate the five principles of peaceful coexistence, Belt One Road Center, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Li said the boundary dispute was Pradesh culturally, trying to instil in border with more troops, arms and good neighbourly relationships, [and] a colonial legacy; British India had them a feeling of Indianness. And ammunition, and fighter jets. Major win-win cooperation. The top priority annexed thousands of kilometres perhaps China realises that Arun- General Ganguly, however, said, “In- is to eradicate abject poverty and build of Chinese territory. “Independent achal Pradesh is not a desert, like dia would have to [consider] all other a comparatively well-defined society India happily inherited the map, many parts in Ladakh, and it would avenues apart from military options. (through BRI).” Modi would, of course, India should meet invaded Tawang in 1950 and seized be difficult to be similarly aggres- The entire world economy [has love to eradicate poverty, just not the South Tibet,” he said. “The Johnson sive there. In fact, Li said, “For the gone] haywire after Covid-19. The Chinese way. China halfway on BRI Line and others were only dreamed Chinese, it would be better to accept Chinese economy is not that hurt. As David Chang, an industrialist in lines. The ground reality and histori- the reality that it is almost impossible A war would make things complex. Shanghai, said, “From 2019 to 2020, BY RABI BANERJEE cal reality were quite different. Aksai to take back each inch of its former India must think how, by aligning within a mere eight months, the Si- territories, namely some parts of with world powers, it could cause no-Indian relationship has gone from South Tibet.” However, by position- major harm to the Chinese econ- holding hands to fist fights. The Asian he One Belt One Road Center, created in 2013 by Presi- GRAND PROJECT The Belt and Road Initiative supply chain ing itself in Ladakh firmly, China has omy and further isolate it from the century, which is centred on cooperation dent Xi Jinping, not only works to mould global opinion in base under construction in Lianyungang, challenged India’s position in South world.” Prime Minister Modi is at a between the two most populous coun- favour of the Belt and Road Initiative, but also carries out Jiangsu, China. Modi is unlikely to cede Asia. Even India’s friends, such as crossroads. With Covid-19 spreading tries, is now entering an unpleasant new scientific research on its implementation across the world. an inch on the BRI in exchange for Bangladesh, could be left with no faster, experts said, it would be pru- normal.” Xu Wenhong, its deputy secretary general, has travelled the world withdrawal of Chinese troops in this regard and advises Jinping and the Chinese State Council on BRI projects. In an interview with THE WEEK, Wenhong talked about the BRI, India’s absence from it, and how India’s fear about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was unfounded. Excerpts:
Q/ How much progress has the BRI made? A/ Till now, within the framework of the BRI, China has signed co- operation documents with more than 170 countries and more than 30 international organisations. The BRI and its core concepts have been included in important outcome documents of the UN Gener- al Assembly, the UN Security Council, the G20, APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), etc. This means the BRI is [transforming] from China’s economic development initiative into a prescription to revive the world economy.
Q/ India sees the BRI as a strategic initiative rather than a com- mercial one. How does China see India’s objection to the BRI? A/ Every country has its own assessment, no matter how many times China tries to explain it. Only the results of the BRI will prove it (China’s intentions). [Even] after so many years, if the Indian government still cannot understand the key points of the
GETTY IMAGES BRI, I would say the only thing the Chinese government can do is
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encourage the Indian government the BCIM economic corridor, which march of Japanese enterprises into to meet it halfway. We would also will provide more opportunities Central Asia, Russia and Europe. suggest that the Indian side correctly to India. There is huge room for Also, there are precedents for view and understand China’s devel- cooperation between the BRI of China and other countries to jointly opment trend. China and Project Mausam of India. develop markets in third countries. It is not what some speculators call For example, China and France have Q/ Is it possible that the BRI might as opposing or even controlling jointly built nuclear power projects influence the foreign policy of each other. Within the framework in Hinkley Point, in the UK, and other nations? of SCO, BRICS, China-India-Russia China and the United States have A/ The original [aim] of the BRI is to mechanism, etc, both sides should jointly developed bauxite resources unite all countries to contribute to re- know how to abandon the Cold in Guinea. gional economic development. If you War mindset of a zero-sum game. say that the BRI has influenced the By connecting the two major ocean Q/ The US has been criticising foreign policy of different nations, [so plans and connecting the Indian China as if there is another Cold be it]. Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, [India War. We are also witnessing a glob- and China can] jointly promote al pandemic. Do you feel the BRI Q/ How much progress has the peace, development and prosperity would face roadblocks in the days BRI made in India’s neighbouring in the Asia Pacific region. ahead? countries? A/ Yes, China-US relations are facing A/ Till now, BRI-related projects in Q/ So, like Japan, can India can also a hard time. But, whether it deserves countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri join the BRI through third-party to be described as a cold war, we Lanka and Bhutan are going well. All market cooperation? will have to wait and see. China-US parties are satisfied with the current A/ Yes, of course. We hope India will relations are a vital part of current situation. Future progress of the BRI do that. international relations. depends on their real needs, the In the backdrop of the coronavirus, friendship between these countries Q/ Can you explain how third-party not only will the BRI not face road- and China, and the real capabilities market cooperation works? blocks, but [its] necessity will also be of both sides. A/ Take, for example, Nippon demonstrated. We hope that China and India join Express, which is a Japanese global hands with these countries to build a logistics company. It recently began Q/ How do you counter the argu- real Shangri-La along the foothills of NEIGHBOURS IN ARMS using the China-Europe express ment that countries could fall into a the Himalayas. Pakistan’s former national to provide intermodal transport debt trap while supporting the BRI? security adviser Lt-Gen Nasser to India through various channels A/ China is a peace-loving nation services between Japan and Europe. A/ The so-called BRI-related debt Q/ You have said that China is Khan Janjua presenting a shield that the CPEC emphasises transport and wants to be a good neighbour, The China-Europe express pass- trap is a western media illusion. working in Bhutan. But did it not to Xu Wenhong connectivity and economic cooper- good friend and good partner to all es through BRI countries, which, When you say BRI-related debt trap, halt making roads there following ation; no sovereignty disputes and its neighbouring countries. China is according to Japanese entrepreneurs, it means that you undervalue the the Doklam standoff with India? political considerations are involved. willing to be of help as its capability could play a positive role in the wisdom of those who are cooperating A/ We believe in the wisdom and According to the Chinese mindset, allows [it to do so]. with the Chinese. Almost all BRI- capabilities of diplomats on both poverty is the breeding ground for related projects are located in sides to settle it (Doklam issue) other countries, but [those are] just terrorism. The construction of the Q/ How could India benefit from African, South Asian, Central Asian peacefully. To dominate other for economic development, not for CPEC will solve the problem of the BRI? Can India be a joint and Latin American countries, where countries is not the Chinese way. [any] geopolitical purpose. terrorism in Pakistan, which is also partner in this initiative? India has “The BRI originated western capital is reluctant to get We have [done] nothing to dominate conducive to [strengthening] India’s Japan as an infrastructure develop- in China, but it involved. Those countries either Bhutan. But, to eliminate poverty Q/ India has objected to the BRI, national security. The BRI [does not ment partner, and the latter might cannot get financial support from there, on the request of the local and within it the CPEC and the mean] an exclusion of India. There not like India working with China. benefits the whole western financial institutions [or] get people, we might provide some help Trans-Himalayan economic corri- is the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-In- A/ The BRI originated in China, but world. China is loans at very high rates. Compared in infrastructure construction. dor, perhaps because of strategic dia-Myanmar) economic corridor it benefits the whole world. China willing to have a with [this], BRI-related projects As the Chinese saying goes, ‘If you interests. just for connecting India and China. is willing to have a fruitful dialogue fruitful dialogue are usually the [cheapest]. [Only] want to be rich, first build the road A/ India has been a very important with India. It is said in the China- those who have had a bite can tell to be rich.’ So, infrastructure (roads, neighbour to China for thousands of Q/ China has made significant pro- India joint declaration released with India.” you the taste of the peach. If such bridges) and connectivity are the top years. More communication should gress in building infrastructure in after Prime Minister Modi’s visit to a cooperation can be sustainable, priorities of the BRI. China has some [happen] between these two coun- Nepal. How do you see that affect- Wuhan that both sides welcome it means that such a trap is a sweet infrastructure projects in Bhutan and tries. China has repeatedly explained ing the India-China relationship? cooperation within the framework of one; the local people like it.
36 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 37 COVER STORY INDIA-CHINA CONFLICT Red hand shows With India and Nepal at loggerheads, China seems to have an edge over its neighbours. It is also taking on the west for allegedly fomenting unrest in Hong Kong
BY RABI BANERJEE
hina has been on an la movement in Hong Kong was one brainwashed youngsters in Hong economic expansion attempted colour revolution.” Kong.” spree for a while now. Its While the US alleged that Chi- According to the State Coun- investments in deep-wa- na was trying to undermine Hong cil, some of these protesters were ter ports and other Kong’s autonomy, Li asked whether children of landlords and capitalists infrastructure projects in Pakistan the autonomy was to serve Wash- who had fled from mainland China and Sri Lanka are well-known. While ington’s interests more than China’s. after the communists came to pow- building assets outside its territory “The rioters were brainwashed er in 1949. “They were taught to hate has contributed to an all-time high through problematic textbooks and anything connected with socialism national debt, many in China see teaching by the British, even after the and communism. The US and the
President Xi Jinping as an icon who handover,” said Li. UK did that along with Taiwan,” Li JAIN ARVIND is turning the country into a super- The US, said Li, has 1,300 compa- told THE WEEK. But China is trying DRAGON’S GRIP power. nies in Hong Kong and enjoys more hard to transform the Hong Kong Durbar Square in Kathmandu has Xi’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, than $34 billion trade surplus with society through its intelligence been restored with China’s help and unwillingness to acknowledge Pokhrel said he would get back at an despite it originating in China, was Hong Kong. He alleged that Taiwan networks and large-scale social Nepalese concerns or to implement appropriate moment. “We are totally well-appreciated. He managed to and the US financed the protests in media intervention. It believes that their promises in a timely manner,” busy with the Covid-19 situation,” restrict its impact on the economy, Hong Kong. “The US and Taiwan a segment of the new generation in said Jabin Thomas Jacob, professor of said Pokhrel, who is also the defence even as the country’s growth rate provide financial support through Hong Kong is pro-Beijing. ment along the borders and has often international relations at Shiv Nadar minister. plummeted in the first quarter. But their various entities operating in While China has spelt out its used direct or indirect methods to University. “This created openings The current dispute could severely the growth rate does not worry Xi, as Hong Kong,” he said. “The Nether- plans for Hong Kong, it is tight- pressurise smaller nations to toe its for the Chinese, which they have damage Indo-Nepal defence ties. the resumption of economic activi- lands and many US foundations and lipped about its silent intervention line.” exploited to the hilt.” A number of in- Would the two countries meet and ties will spur growth. What worries companies gave training to those in Nepal, which recently issued Many believe the difference of frastructural projects that India failed talk, at least at the military level? him is the job loss in different sectors a new map that “includes Indian opinion between India and Nepal to finish on time were taken up by “No meeting has been slated as of and the fear of US firms exiting territory”. The disputed territory came to light because both countries China. Also, China has made inroads now,” said Santa Bahadur Sunar, China. Xi decided to take on the US is Kalapani, which is the tri-junc- are now ruled by nationalist parties. into Nepal through the trans-Hima- spokesman, defence ministry, Nepal. by introducing a stringent security Many believe tion between India, Nepal and “It should be a matter of concern layan project under its Belt and Road “I can only say that India must learn law in Hong Kong, which is being the difference of China. The tussle between India that this growing fissure in the once Initiative, selling the development to respect the sovereign rights of the opposed by its citizens and the west. and Nepal came to a head when close relationship maybe exploited dream to Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Nepal government and our country’s Chinese intelligence claimed that the opinion between India inaugurated the 80km-long by a third nation,” said the defence Sharma Oli and his people, including integrity.” US, UK and Taiwan were involved in India and Nepal Lipulekh-Dharchula road in early official. “The current Nepalese ruling Indian-origin Madheshis. China, however, denied any the widespread protests that shook came to light May. While India said the road dispensation has always played up a When THE WEEK contacted Oli’s involvement in the Indo-Nepal dis- Hong Kong recently. “It is nothing because both would help pilgrims reach Mansa- theme of nationalism and India is its office, his foreign policy adviser pute. “That is against one principle but colour revolution,” said Li Xiao- rovar quicker, China saw it as India’s favourite whipping boy for obvious Rajan Bhattarai said that Oli does in Panchsheel agreement, namely jun, information director of the State countries are now move to bolster its military base reasons.” not want to make any comment. non-interference in other country’s Council, China’s highest administra- ruled by nationalist near the border. A senior Indian But not everyone blames China “This issue is very sensitive for Nepal internal affairs,” said Li. “China tive body. “The intention is to change parties. defence ministry official told THE for the dispute between India and government and the prime minister still sticks to it. But India has long the regime through staged protests WEEK, “It is no secret that this Nepal. “Indians managed to com- is busy implementing the policy of buried the Panchsheel, except for like the Arab Spring and protests in emerging global power is unhappy plicate the relationship with Nepal his government,” he said. the Panchsheel Marg and historical central Asian countries. The umbrel- with any infrastructure develop- with their own lack of sensitivity Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar files.”
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economic boycott of Chinese goods, their battle cry was considered a joke. No one supported them. They still soldiered on, but found that even when they made the effort to Call to action procure ‘Made in India’ goods, there were hardly any to be found. Literally Amid fear that Pakistan may trigger tensions every product had a Chinese link. This is how entrenched China’s infil- on the LoC, and notwithstanding practical tration into India’s markets is. complications, there is enormous pressure on Not many believe that there are any immediate solutions in sight. the Modi government to act against China If anything, the very real fear is that Pakistan, as a vassal state of Beijing, BY BARKHA DUTT may trigger tensions on the Line of Control and heighten the conflagra- t first glance, the town Babu went with 19 of his men to tion there. If this happens, then for of Leh seems peaceful, oversee what he thought was going the first time in decades, both the almost placid, till you to be a withdrawal by the men of LoC and the LAC will be hot; a de- begin hearing the roar the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), liberate ploy designed to stretch the of fighter jets racing he was taken aback to find that the attention of the Indian troops. through the clear blue skies. By the Chinese flatly refused to do so. The Notwithstanding the practical second day that we are there, their first time, the Indian side, which complications, there is enormous roar over the horizon has only gotten was roughly equal in number to the pressure on the ground on the Modi louder, breaking the silence every Chinese soldiers present, pinned six government to act. P. Kunzang, the 15 minutes. The Apache helicop- of them down and began disman- president of the Ladakh Buddhist As- ter, which can fire Hellfire missiles tling the two tents the Chinese had sociation, says, “Prime Minister Modi and destroy enemy tanks, is also in erected. It is when the Chinese side must act with China as he did with service. But other than that, what returned with reinforcements and Pakistan after Pulwama. If action is one can witness under an open sky crude weapons two and half hours not taken, do not be surprised if one
is that the movement of the media later that the crisis blew up. Nearly REUTERS day the Chinese are sitting right here has been severely restricted. Even 300 PLA troops came down PP 14, MUSCLING UP in Leh.” the cantonment areas that make up wearing riot gear and armed with An Indian Army convoy heading to That may sound like an exagger- the headquarters of the Army’s XIV batons, rocks and wooden spurs with Ladakh, here seen at Gagangeer in would need to use artillery as a direct ation or an off-the-cuff remark. But Corps are off limits for cameras. sharp nails. By now, we know that Kashmir’s Ganderbal district firing instrument.” “While the soldiers across political affiliations in Ladakh While there are varying versions Colonel Babu was hit on the head His namesake—often confused (Kunzang is a Modi supporter), of exactly what happened in Galwan with a blunt object and fell to his with him, but actually the engi- respond with a the demand is the same. Namgyal valley and what is still happen- death 20 feet below. In the mayhem military retaliation would need the neer-turned-educationist who bullet, let citizens Durbuk, a villager from the border ing between Finger 4 and Finger that followed, Indian soldiers fought “wherewithal of war,” says Colonel inspired the movie 3 Idiots—says respond with their areas of Durbuk-Shyok, used to be 8 (the spurs around Pangong Tso with passion, despite being grossly Sonam Wangchuk, the “Lion of Lada- this ingress by the Chinese is only a councillor with the Congress. But Lake), there is one thing that almost outnumbered. kh”. He should know. In 1999, during the latest reason to galvanise Indian wallets. China is he insists that he is talking purely everyone on the ground we speak In Galwan valley, the Chinese may the Kargil war, Wangchuk cleared a public opinion. Wangchuk, whose a rogue nation, as a Ladakhi Indian when he says, to agrees on. The Chinese clearly have retreated, arriving only one nest of Pakistanis from a mountain role Aamir Khan essayed in the mov- ethically, politically “We are with you Mr Prime Minister, try and play with the edges of the more time inside Indian territory the post 18,000 feet above sea level—it ie, says, “While the soldiers respond and morally. The please act. Where our horses once Line of Actual Control every year. next morning to retrieve their fatali- would later be called the Battle of with a bullet, let citizens respond went to pasture, we see the Chinese.” This year, however, there has been a ties—12 Chinese soldiers were killed Chorbat La. with their wallets. China is a rogue boycott should Given the absence of easy and clear attempt to definitively alter its in the brawl according to highly Wangchuk explains that, because nation, ethically, politically and mor- start now.” viable options on the one hand contours. In Galwan valley, multiple placed sources. reports suggest that the Chinese ally. The boycott should start now.” —Sonam Wangchuk, and rising sentiments on the other, sources confirm that the Chinese But the larger question remains have the advantage on the heights, This, however, is easier said than engineer-turned-educationist perhaps the government may choose had entered one kilometre below wide open. Military commanders “[removing China militarily from any done. At Leh’s Tibetan refugee to heed the former foreign secretary Patrolling Point 14 (PP 14) at what is have had several rounds of negoti- area inside our territory] is no longer bazaar, second-generation Tibet- Nirupama Rao, who says, “Perhaps called the ‘Y junction’. On the night ations. And clearly the hope is that possible to do with small firearms. ans, most of them born in India, this is precisely the time to push for a of June 15, when Colonel B. Santosh dialogue could still do the trick. Any You would need artillery; in fact, you say that when they first asked for an permanent border solution.”
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While there have been An Indian official said China also to eight. But India has its last post no further clashes has two armoured brigades and close to Finger 3. Lt Gen D.S. Hooda, LOCK AND LOAD four motorised infantry divisions in former head of the Army’s Northern on the India-China Army Chief Manoj Mukund Chengdu. After the Galwan valley Command, said that in the last six border after the June Naravane interacts with troops clash, on the insistence of Prime weeks, when the focus was on Gal- Uneasy calm in eastern Ladakh Minister Narendra Modi, the Army’s wan valley, the PLA is learnt to have 15 escalation, tensions rules of engagement along the LAC built permanent structures and roads between the Asian were amended; field commanders up to the areas between Fingers 4 giants are far from over can now sanction the use of firearms and 8. Intelligence inputs based on in “extraordinary” circumstances. satellite images said that the PLA Frank O’Donnell, non-resident now holds the entire Finger 4, almost BY PRADIP R. SAGAR fellow, South Asia Program, Stimson 5km inside Indian territory. Center, the US, said that India’s de- A build-up of Chinese forces can he Chandigarh Air Force fence position was more secure with also be seen at Depsang Plains, north Station has been busy. The adequate dispersal across land, air of Galwan valley. But O’Donnell said: Indian Air Force’s heavy and sea. He told THE WEEK that In- “Despite the apparent numerical lift strategic aircraft—C-17 dia also has more and better aircraft parity of ground forces, Indian forces Globemaster and IL-76— along the border, more experienced are all permanently close to the bor- have been busy ferrying tanks and air crew, and a large number of air- der, limiting prospects of a successful other armour designated for forward fields in the east and west. “So even if Chinese cross-border advance.” areas in Ladakh. Military observers some airfields are down, operations He said that even in a war with said that such urgent movement to can continue from other locations,” India, a significant proportion of Ladakh is a first since 1962. China, he said. O’Donnell said that in the Chinese ground forces would be too, has pumped up its forces by at event of war, China would opt for unavailable, reserved either for least 30 per cent since the clash on early long-range missile strikes taskings on the Russian border or for June 15,said a military observer. against Indian air bases, but added countering insurrection in Xinjiang Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, that a daunting number of Chinese and Tibet. Moreover, the majority of who went to Moscow to take part in missiles would be required to inca- forces are located further from the the 75th Victory Day Parade, pressed pacitate relevant Indian air bases. Indian border, in contrast with the his Russian counterpart General Ser- Despite the strong preparations, majority of forward-deployed Indian gei Shoigu for urgent supply of spares Pangong Tso continues to be a forces, which have a focused “China for Sukhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-29 concern for India. The lake is divided defence” mission. fighters, T-90 main battle tanks and into eight fingers—ridges jutting While the military is determined Kilo-class submarines. (More than 60 into the lake. In the past, India had and prepared to tackle Chinese per cent of India’s weapon systems claimed territory till the easternmost aggression, questions have been are of Russian origin.) The purchase ridge, Finger 8. But, gradually, both raised about intelligence failure in of 21 MiG-29s and 12 Su-30MKIs is sides agreed on India controlling detecting the massive build-up of
under consideration to fill gaps in PTI fingers one to four and China, five Chinese forces on the border sooner. India’s air combat capabilities. A military intelligence officer said Observers said the Chinese aggres- that India does not have enough sion in Galwan valley was the brain- Galwan valley to escalate as it was a lice has deployed 40 additional com- week. Air assets were deployed after While the military is dedicated military satellites. “To have child of General Zhao Zongqi, head “settled place” where Indian forces panies along the LAC. The Army has additional fighter jets, bombers and round-the-clock coverage on the of the People’s Liberation Army’s would not anticipate action, but was also moved at least two peace-time attack helicopters were noticed at prepared to tackle China border, especially in our areas Western Theatre Command. Zhao, surprised by “mirror deployment” by divisions from Himachal Pradesh four Chinese bases close to the LAC. Chinese aggression, of interest, we require at least 10 ded- who had also planned the Doklam India in eastern Ladakh. and Uttar Pradesh towards Ladakh, Animal transport units, which played questions have icated satellites,” he said. “Moreover, intrusion in 2017, is believed to have The Army has dispatched addi- along with two engineer regiments. a crucial role in the Kargil War, have Indian satellites are controlled by “planned the standoff” in the early tional brigades to forward positions However, new troops would need to been reactivated to supply weapons been raised about NTRO (National Technical Research months of 2020 and tasked units in along the 826km-long front of the acclimatise to high-altitude warfare. and ammunition to areas without intelligence failure in Organisation) and ISRO scientists, the Xinjiang military district to take Line of Actual Control in Ladakh and The IAF has deployed Su-30 MKIs, motorable roads, including remote detecting the build- who do not understand military re- on Indian patrols on the northern beefed up firepower with the equip- MiG-29s and Apache attack helicop- outposts at heights of up to 19,000ft. up of Chinese forces quirements.” An intelligence analyst bank of the Pangong Tso, and at ment that was flown in. It already ters to carry out combat air patrol. The PLA has an armoured division claimed that India’s focus has always Galwan, Hot Springs and Depsang had three armoured regiments in Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadau- (three brigades) and two motorised on the border sooner. been on Pakistan; China was never a Plains. Experts said that he chose Ladakh. The Indo-Tibetan Border Po- ria made a secret visit to Leh last infantry divisions close to Ladakh. priority. It certainly is now.
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“It has relatively won’t be far away.” few military This then lies at the heart of the options, and any problem. And, the border dispute, punitive eco- which had remained dormant for nomic measures years, is at the front, centre and Relationship it implements looming. That the Line of Actual against Beijing Control has had different interpreta- could end up tions for both sides is now evident. As hurting India’s are the implications of living with the update economy more fuzziness. “Even if China agrees and than China’s.” restores status quo ante, one thing is India needs to re-evaluate its For now, now clear—the old agreements are policy towards China and other India can take no longer enough to restore peace a tough line in and tranquillity on the border,” says neighbours negotiations, Rakesh Sood, distinguished fellow at says Kugelman. the Observer Research Foundation. BY MANDIRA NAYAR “Beijing won’t “The 1988 modus vivendi [when Ra- back down ei- jiv Gandhi visited China] is no longer n the summer of 2015, Narendra ther. So what we tenable.”
Modi—on his first visit to China REUTERS are looking at in The existing tools in the diplomatic after he became prime minis- the coming days toolbox do not work. And summits, ter—deviated from his script PICTURE IMPERFECT and possibly even formal ones, will not work. A Narendra Modi and while addressing students of weeks are con- win—with all the optics that Modi is China’s Premier Li Tsinghua University to make a grand Keqiang take a selfie tinued talks, but known for—will require Houdini-like gesture offering e-visa to Chinese with children during a talks that don’t skill. Continuation of the policy tourists. The gift was not on the list of tai chi and yoga event lead to a resolu- towards China as it exists will not be 24 agreements, and security agencies in Beijing in 2015 tion,” Kugelman effective. “The Indian government had warned against it. It even caught says. “And the needs to start afresh in terms of how Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi by longer the talks it visualises its relationship with surprise, and he urged students to go without a China in the coming decades,” says cheer once again for Modi to thank resolution, the Sood. “It has to create a new policy him for the gift. armed forces”. However, the con- presents the biggest challenge for International Studies, JNU, referring more the chances increase for more consensus by taking people into Five summers on, after 20 Indian fusion has only helped bolster the Modi. It could not have come at a to the personalisation of the relation- provocations and escalations. So confidence.” soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese confidence and their claims. worse time—there is the war against ship. “It was foolish, and he [Modi] the two sides are far from being out Reaching out across the aisle for the Chinese at Galwan Valley, Modi’s “This has been an absolutely a pandemic and a looming economic is partly paying the price for that. I of the woods. And even when they support is not Modi’s strength. Will closing remarks at the all-party meet- shocking coup of sorts by China,” crisis. don’t see, diplomatically, where he get out of the woods, the next crisis he be willing to do it? To make it ing offered China another advantage, says Alka Acharya, professor, Centre Unlike his predecessors, Modi goes from here. But at the same time, truly effective, India might need to claims the opposition. “No one has for East Asian Studies, School of came to power convinced of fur- he can’t completely afford to break re-evaluate its relationship with its intruded and nor is anyone intrud- International Studies, Jawaharlal thering warmer ties with China. He with China.” “Even if China restores neighbours. “The economic boycott ing, nor has any post been captured Nehru University. “They are unlikely wanted to move beyond 1962 to The face-off at Doklam in 2017 of China will be only feasible if it is by someone,” he said, contradicting to retreat from the territory they now define India and China through an might have exposed China’s inten- status quo ante, one in concert with others,” says Raja- the official position of the Army occupy. It is a crucial part of the over- economic prism, courtesy his experi- tions, but the Galwan Valley incident thing is now clear—the gopalan. And in building consensus and the ministry of external affairs. all strategic advantage for China in ence as chief minister. The e-visa was has revealed the full force of China’s old agreements are outside—much easier for Modi The statement, said former prime that area. It remains to be seen what his attempt to demonstrate India’s ambition. “New Delhi is under tre- than domestic unity—India may minister Manmohan Singh, allows kind of a spin will be given to make it closeness with China. All the imagery mendous pressure to retaliate for the no longer enough to need to reach out even to Pakistan. the Chinese “to use his words as a more palatable for India.” with Xi Jinping, from Modi’s first visit 20 Indian soldiers that lost their lives, restore peace and “By rejecting any semblance of a vindication of their position”. Both sides may be now willing to China to Xi’s 2019 visit to Mamal- and a nationalist like Modi could suf- tranquillity on the dialogue, we have reduced leverage,” The Prime Minister’s Office rushed to de-escalate—another word that lapuram, has been proof of personal fer a political blow if he just shrugs border.” says Sood. “Is it strategically wise to to clarify Modi’s statement a day experts believe suggests that India chemistry and a special bond. everything off. But at the same time, have a Pakistan-China dynamic? We distinguished later, claiming that his observation of is on the back foot. But the negoti- “The policy has been a failure,” says India is in a tough spot,” said Michael —Rakesh Sood, should not be deluded that we would fellow, Observer Research “no Chinese presence on our side of ations for peace at Galwan Valley, Rajesh Rajagopalan, professor, Cen- Kugelman, deputy director of the somehow wean Pakistan off China. Foundation the LAC pertained to the situation as the bloodiest episode since 1967, tre for International Politics, Organ- Asia Program and senior associate But diplomacy is about creating a consequence of the bravery of our and the fallout on the relationship ization and Disarmament, School of for South Asia at the Wilson Center. perception.”
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firms in Greater Noida and an INDIA-CHINA TRADE with local products where possible. apartment complex where some Exports Imports Rules for government contracts, 100 Chinese nationals live. Chinese both Central and state, are also 0 phone makers in India suddenly crore set to be tweaked based on quality started highlighting their ‘Indian’ 2017-18 1,80,109.23 and technical specifications so that credentials, and startups with 5,61,013.18 Chinese companies do not become Chinese funding started referring 2,08,406.52 eligible. Further tightening of FDI 2018-19 to themselves as “proudly Indian”. 6,18,051.19 rules to keep out future Chinese In the frenzy, Thackeray’s dream investments now appear likely. 1,79,766.72 projects did not stand a chance, 2019-20 There is now an added urgency to and were put on hold. 5,50,784.66 take a re-look at India’s Free Trade The Centre also wasted no lu o o ata Agreements (FTAs) with countries time. One of the first deals to be like Thailand and Vietnam to plug axed was the Indian Railways’ INDIA'S EXPORT TO CHINA the loophole of Chinese products 0471-crore signalling work on China is the third-largest export market for taking this ‘third party’ route to the Kanpur-DDU line awarded to Indian goods as of FY19-20 enter India. Beijing National Railway Research. US “Economic boycott has been 16.93 State-run telecom operators BSNL used effectively by this government and MTNL were asked to drop UAE recently in the cases of Malaysia 9.32 Other (In %) Chinese vendors. E-commerce 65.02 and Turkey. In both these cases, bidders have been asked to specify China India had an upper hand,” said 5.33 ‘country of origin’ while listing on Divakar Vijayasarathy, managing the commerce ministry’s e-market- Hong Kong partner of the business advisory 3.4 place, with the provision likely to firm DVS. But he advocates caution be extended to e-commerce sites with China. “India is dependent like Amazon and Flipkart. CHINA FDI IN INDIA on China for many critical sup- India had already fired the first (In billion $) plies. Any large-scale attempt to shot back in April, when it stopped 2006 1.5 boycott Chinese products would the automatic foreign direct invest- invite an export restriction of these 2007 5.08
AAYUSH GOEL AAYUSH ment (FDI) route for investment critical products. Hence, economic 2008 3.07 MAKING IN INDIA from neighbouring countries. The warfare has to be meticulously Chinese mobile worry then was that Chinese in- 2009 1.36 planned and we should be pre- phone maker Vivo’s vestors may take over Indian firms 2010 1.85 pared for a backlash.” manufacturing weakened by the pandemic. It was 2011 Breakups are never easy. Accord- facility in Greater 0.3 followed in May by Prime Minister ing to Invest India, the national Noida 2012 0.31 Enemies with benefits Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Atman- investment promotion and facili- 2013 irbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal For 2.7 tation agency, India-China trade, Beyond the street anger and posturing, an Army men in a skirmish in Galwan Local’, which actually meant ‘stop 2014 0.54 which was worth just $2.8 billion economic boycott of China might not be a viable valley on the India-China Line of Ac- depending on China and build 2015 1.97 in 2001, has grown 31 times to $87 option for Indian businesses and consumers tual Control (LAC) sent shockwaves self-reliance in manufacturing’. 2016 1.21 billion in 2018-19. While India’s ex- across the country, popular senti- Post Galwan, the gloves are 2017 2.8 ports to China have grown 12 times ment rose up against Chinese prod- off. New Delhi’s move, riding on to $16.8 billion during this period, 2018 3.84 BY K. SUNIL THOMAS AND NACHIKET KELKAR ucts and businesses. Calls to boycott the coattails of the backlash on imports from China have jumped Chinese products began trending on the streets and in drawing rooms 2019 4.14 45 times, to $70.3 billion. ddhav Thackeray did not PMI Electro Mobility Solutions’ social media and protest marches against China’s ‘aggression’, may lu ata o al abo illio China is well entrenched in have any inkling of what joint venture with Photon. The three were taken out in many cities. no longer limit itself to piecemeal India’s startup and technology eco- was to unfold when he agreements totalling around 05,000 Some people in Gujarat threw gestures. The department for BULK DRUG system. In fact, Chinese tech giants logged onto an online crore of investment were part of out their made-in-China televisions Promotion of Industry and Internal Two-thirds of APIs used by India’s pharma and venture capital funds are the industry are imported from China meeting on June 15. The Thackeray’s ambitious plan to rein- and stomped on them, while traders Trade (DPIIT) has asked industry primarily vehicle for investments Maharashtra chief minister presided vigorate the state’s Covid-19-ravaged in Delhi made a ‘Holi’ bonfire of bodies to submit lists of Chinese Other China in tech startups. Over the past five over the signing of deals with three economy. In a few hours, however, Chinese products. The Uttar Pradesh imports by Indian companies—the 32 68 years, companies like Alibaba, Chinese firms—Great Wall Motor everything changed. government had to deploy police- aim is to chart out an action plan SOURCE B MBER Tencent, Didi Chuxing and Fosun Company, Hengli Engineering and As the brutal killing of 20 Indian men outside the factories of Chinese to replace non-essential imports International have invested an es- GRAPHICS SREEMANI ANDAN S
46 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 47 COVER STORY INDIA-CHINA CONFLICT
timated $4 billion in Indian startups. They have been scaling up in recent Of the 30 Indian unicorns (startups years on the value chain. Besides valued at $1 billion or more), 18 are The thriving Indian telecom and software, Chinese com- Chinese funded. Marquee names like pharmaceutical panies in sunrise sectors like electric Paytm, Oyo, MakeMyTrip, Delhivery industry is heavily vehicles and renewable energy have and Byju’s have received funding dependent on been setting up major projects in from China. India. A bigger presence are the many critical components Almost half of the consumer dura- Chinese apps with huge followers in from China. bles imported into India are Chinese. India. It is estimated that half of top About 40 per cent of leather products app downloads (iOS and Android come from China. While that shirt combined) in India in 2018 were or trouser you are wearing may be those with Chinese investments, made in India or Bangladesh, chanc- such as UC Browser, SHAREit, Tik- immediate alternatives globally, even es are that the buttons and zippers Tok, and Vigo Video. at a higher cost.” came from China. The thriving Indian pharmaceu- It is a similar case with the auto- The reason everywhere is the tical industry is heavily dependent mobile industry. According to credit same. The cost. For instance, half of on critical components from China. ratings agency ICRA, China accounts the smart TVs in India are Chinese. Over the past three years, 68 per for 27 per cent of India’s auto com- The alternatives, those from Japan or cent of the active pharmaceutical ponent imports. India also imported Korea, could cost 20 to 45 per cent ingredients (API) used in medicines capital goods worth around $12.78 more. The pandemic also, ironically,
in India were imported from China. billion and electronics worth $18 helped the Chinese cause. “It has GETTY IMAGES These API supplies were hit hard as billion from China from March 2019 reduced the purchasing power of the TOUGH CALL Chinese factories were forced to shut to February 2020. Indian public as they have less mon- A man disfigures a hoarding down by the Covid-19 pandemic in “There is a trade relationship that ey in hand,” said Anusree Paul, trade advertising a Chinese mobile on’s chokehold may not be practical said Chakraborti. January and February. If the imports has developed over the last 20-40 economist & associate professor, phone brand in Patna or sensible. “India still does not have The government seems to have of API from China were to be crip- years between China and the rest School of Management, BML Munjal adequate infrastructure and alterna- a plan. Prime Minister Modi met pled, it would have a huge impact of the world,” said Amit Bhandari, University. “Indian companies are tive investment prospects to substi- key ministers like Piyush Goyal and on the $40 billion pharma indus- a fellow at geopolitical think tank not equipped to substitute China’s tute China,” said Paul. “So India is Nitin Gadkari a week ago along with try, which is one of India’s largest Gateway House. “If something has cheaper products.” have cracked that equation,” said going to be affected more if it takes officials. Presentations were made on exporters. “If China is taken off the developed over such a long period, Everyone, however, agrees that brand expert Harish Bijoor. any stringent decision based on the how to improve India’s ease of doing equation immediately, the supply you cannot unwind it in one week, India should focus on developing the That is why consumers giving up present bellicose sentiments.” business and ramp up manufactur- chain would be severely affected, two weeks or even a year. It is a long- domestic industry, which would help Chinese products en masse is an So, what is the way out? ing and exports. An interesting idea with closures for a long time,” said term process.” it naturally compete. “Currently, 40 unlikely scenario. “Chinese prod- Sankar Chakraborti, CEO of Acuite that gained traction was making Debabrata Chakravorty, president Chinese companies have cumu- per cent of India’s imports are prod- ucts are value-for-money and they Ratings, said India could afford to states compete with each other to (global supply chain, sourcing & latively invested more than 06 lakh ucts like electronic items and med- have made their mark in India,” reduce the dependency on China in attract investment. contract manufacturing) of the phar- crore in India, spawning 1.87 lakh ical instruments. And almost 50 per said Prachir Singh, senior research a phased manner. “We believe that Another meeting of ministers ma major Lupin. “There are limited jobs in the last two decades or so. cent of imports from China are either analyst with the telecom consultan- Indian industry has the wherewithal with industry captains took inputs in capital goods or intermediary cy Counterpoint Research. He does to safeguard its interests,” he said. on how to reduce turnaround time goods, which form crucial supplies to not see much merit in the campaign According to Acuite, without any at ports and how infrastructure can SMARTPHONE MARKET SHARE the domestic industry. What can be against Chinese companies. “Com- significant additional investments, be improved in the countryside, a done is to reduce low-grade imports ponents from China and other parts the domestic manufacturing sector crucial determinant in making India from China and produce such items of the world are assembled in Indian can substitute 25 per cent of the total an attractive hub for manufacturing. domestically,” said Mohit Singla, factories that employ thousands imports from some specified sectors Among the non-fiscal measures 30 chairman of the Trade Promotion of Indians to bring out a Chinese in the first phase, thereby reducing being discussed are labour, ease of 17 Council of India. brand mobile phone. How can you $8.4 billion in trade deficit in a year. doing business and coordinating the Indian brands account for just one label it Chinese in this globalised “With a strategic intent and highly efforts of the Centre and states in a 16 per cent of the booming domestic environment? Like it or not, they are calibrated approach from both the bid to attract more investment. The 14 mobile phone market. “A person delivering value to the Indian GDP as government and industry, the Indian writing on the wall for the Indian ti- 12 does not go to the market and look well,” he said. economy can see a new narrative ger is clear—crouch, crawl and create for products made in China. Instead, Let alone its logicality in a that can not only reduce its trade your own space in the long run, but 11 he looks for high quality products post-global world, any attempt by the deficit but also kickstart a cycle of it will be hard to ignore the dragon in that are affordable. Chinese products Indian tiger to leap out of the drag- fresh private sector investments,” the room right now.
48 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 49 INVESTMENT MUTUAL FUNDS IVORY TOWER SANJAYA BARU term investments government bonds with a sovereign guarantee are among the popular instruments for investment. Accordingly, lower inter- est rates could mean that the prices China’s message to Asia of such long-term papers could go up, providing an arbitrage oppor- tunity to investors who are amply rime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came away weigh in on India’s side, beyond a point. prepared in advance. The dynamic from his historic 1988 meeting with the It is into this uncertain space that China’s Presi- bond funds have the scope to do that, Parchitect of 21st century China, Deng dent Xi Jinping is inserting China, hoping to herald among many other things. Xiaoping, reassured by Deng’s famous words: its arrival as Asia’s pre-eminent power. From Dep- How do you choose one? “Only when China and India have developed, will sang and Doklam to Galwan Valley the consistent When looking for a dynamic bond a real Asian century emerge.” In 2007, Singapore’s push against India is, it seems, aimed at demon- fund, the important aspect to check founder-leader Lee Kuan Yew expressed the opin- strating to the rest of Asia that India remains Risk and is the consistency in return profile ion that Asia’s rise would be powered by the “twin pre-occupied with its own security, so how can it over the years. Secondly, check if the engines” of China and India. In 1988, Deng may offer any reassurance to others? China’s India poli- fund house has a well-defined sys- well have believed that, and, in 2007, Lee may cy is less about acquiring territory and much more rewards tem on which which the allocation is well have sincerely hoped that. No one in China about demonstrating to the rest of Asia that India decided. A proper system will ensure and few across much of east and southeast Asia is not capable of challenging China’s hegemonic It is important to have a dynamic debt that the fund remains agile and any longer takes those views seriously. status across the continent any time soon. makes the required changes in the The accelerated rise of China is essentially a It is important to recognise that India is not strategy in the current times portfolio according to the changes 21st century phenomenon. The trans-Atlantic alone in worrying about China’s hegemonic am- happening in the macro-economic financial crisis of 2008-2009 fur- bitions. Japan, South Korea, Aus- BY P. SATISH KHUMAAR environment. ther consolidated China’s power, tralia, Vietnam and several other One fund that ticks all of these re- even as the west went into a peri- Asian nations are equally worried EVEN THOUGH an aim to generate higher returns. quirements and has been a flag-bear- od of disarray. India’s impressive about China’s intent and capabili- DEBT as an asset The fund manager can take a call to er for the category is ICICI Prudential economic performance in the ty. Mindful of this situation, India class has faced some change investment patterns within All Seasons Bond Fund. As of May 30, first decade of the 21st century has reached out to other powers turbulent times of debt category across a whole range of 2020, this fund has out-performed its kept the hope of a catch-up alive. to build a defensive alliance. This late, it provides some duration—right from long term bonds peer group average on one-, three- However, several developments is what strategic analysts now interesting invest- like government securities to short and five-year periods. Moreover, the in the second decade have com- call the “Asian Great Game”. India ment opportunities. For a medium- to term debt papers like short-duration portfolio investment calls are based bined to change the landscape to must not deviate from the path long-term investor, dynamic bond corporate bonds. on an in-house model that takes India’s disadvantage. of building a pan-Asian alliance funds are worthy considering. What makes these funds attractive into account various factors such as First, India’s uncertain that keeps Chinese power under What are dynamic bond funds? now? current account deficit, fiscal deficit economic performance and its check. Surely, no Asia-Pacific There are debt funds for different The investment calls taken are as well as credit growth to indicate defensive approach to closer nation wants western hegemony durations of investment. For instance, largely based on the macroeconomic the steps to be taken. If the past per- economic ties with other Asian nations. The replaced by Chinese hegemony. to park surplus cash for a short term, factors that determine the overall formance is something to go by, this decision to withdraw from the negotiations It is also important to understand that while an investors use liquid funds or short- interest rate trajectory in the near to model has worked in favour of the towards an Asia-wide Regional Comprehensive overwhelming number of Chinese citizens and term bond funds. Investors looking medium term. At present, the interest fund, and its investors. Currently, the Economic Partnership signalled India’s economic people of Chinese origin around Asia take great to invest in debt funds purely from a rates are going down and are expected fund has increased its exposure to weakness rather than a new sense of self- pride in China’s resurgence and rise, and why long-term risk appetite perspective to remain so due to the measures tak- longer maturity instruments having confidence or atmanirbharata. Second, the BJP’s not, there would be many who would not approve choose long-term bond funds. But en by the government to spruce up the the best level of security—sovereign focus on a divisive domestic political agenda of President Xi’s politics and political style. To what if you are ready to take a little economy. Moreover, fiscal deficit and government bonds. offered India’s enemies an opportunity to draw imagine that Chinese society and China’s political more risk of volatility? In that case you current account deficit also seem to be To sum up, dynamic bond fund as global attention to political fault lines at home, leadership is a monolith would be self-defeating. can choose the dynamic debt funds. pointing to conditions favourable to a a category is poised to reap the ben- which many see as a hurdle to economic revival. Even at the height of power of great leaders like As per the Securities and Exchange lower interest rate in the near term. efits of the current bout of volatility Finally, United States President Donald Trump’s Mao Zedong and Deng, China was internally Board of India, dynamic bond funds Interest rates and prices of bonds seen in debt markets. As a long-term “blow hot-blow cold” policy towards India, once divided. Xi’s politics and economics have caused are open-ended debt schemes that are are inversely related, that is they move investor, it is important to ensure that again confirmed by the contents of former US much discontent within China. But the question allowed to invest across a spectrum of in the opposite directions. This means you have a debt fund which keeps up national security advisor John Bolton’s book, may is, would an internally plural China be externally duration. Based on the varying market that lower interest rates or interest with the changing marcos. have convinced China that the US is unlikely to less or more aggressive? scenarios, this category of scheme rates moving downwards are likely to allows the fund manager to tweak result in prices of bonds going up. It Author is director of Vardhana Financial Baru is an economist and a writer. He was adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. the duration of the portfolio, with must be remembered that for longer- Solutions Private Limited. ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN 50 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 51 SOCIETY eMULAKAT
VIRTUAL RELIEF In prisons where eMulakat is working well, the demand is increasing, which is why prisoners get to see their relatives only for five minutes
they somehow miss an appointment, the web link expires, and they have Prison to wait for long for a new booking. Chandra also notes that many fami- lies have lost their livelihoods during the lockdown and may not have the un-break means to take internet subscriptions. Criminal psychologist Anuja Video-calling can become lifeline for jailbirds Trehan Kapur warns against making deprived of family visits eMulakat a norm. “These are video recordings at the end of the day. They can be weaponised later as evidence BY SNEHA BHURA for punishment even though it is illegal,” she says. KUNDAN BHOI, 22, had been times now. “I hope they keep this Much has been said about mass meeting his elder brother in Udaipur system working even after Covid-19.” release of undertrials and petty Central Jail in Rajasthan once in two Surendra Singh Shekhawat, dep- offenders to decongest prisons, but weeks. He trudged 15km from home uty inspector general of Rajasthan it is easier said than done because every time. But the last time he went prisons, is also excited about how the lawyers are no longer readily ac- there two months ago, the prison had state is embracing the new system. cessible. “The district legal services stopped allowing visitors because “We are No 1 in running eMulakat,” authorities are themselves wary of of the pandemic. He returned home he says. “It is happening in most of prison complexes which are seen distraught. Later, the prison advised Rajasthan jails. And not just central as high-risk contamination zones,” him to apply for an online meeting jails. There are five subjails in Udai- says Smita Chakraburtty, founder through the National Prison Portal. pur; even they have it.” of Jaipur-based Prison Aid Action Such meetings, called eMulakat, Shekhawat concedes that con- Research, who has been working had started in Rajasthan on April 2. nectivity is a major worry and that across jails in Rajasthan as an inde- On the ePrisons page, Bhoi keyed in many prisoner families in remote, pendent observer and adviser. She the details of his elder brother, who tribal belts do not have access to the says prisoners should be allowed to was serving a seven-year sentence internet. “Prisoners get five minutes use eMulakat to interact with their for murder. An OTP confirmed his to meet their kin via video-calls. Yes, lawyers as well. One can get out of registration for eMulakat and he got they complain about the short time. plete ban on visitations can do great are advantageous for visitors from prison only through remission or a website link for a video-call and the There are some technical problems,” emotional and mental damage to poorer families.” bail, and one needs a lawyer’s help date and time. says Shekhawat, who plans to up- prisoners in these uncertain times,” But eMulakat scheme remains for that, she notes. When he logged in from his smart- grade the infrastructure for eMulakat. says Sanjeev P. Sahni, criminologist States like Odisha, under-utilised for various reasons. Chakraburtty says open jails are phone for that first video-call with “We are also in the process of getting and principal director of the Jindal Rajasthan, Punjab and R. Rochin Chandra, director of the better equipped to handle over- his brother, he was delighted by the families to make online payment for Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Gujarat are leading in Centre for Criminology & Public crowding. Rajasthan has the largest swiftness of it all. “My brother met all canteen material, so they do not have Jindal Global University, Sonipat. Policy, says prisons tend to balk number of open jails in the world, the family members all at once. We to come every time to deliver fruits Sahni says, “States like Odisha, digitisation of visits. at spending on high-speed wired nearly 40 of them. “Nobody has run showed him his house waiting for his and knick-knacks.” Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat Odisha has even ordered internet connection for eMulakat away from open jails,” she says. “Pris- return. This system is so time-saving,” Restrictions on visits and fears are leading in digitisation of visits. [starting of] eMulakat in as it is expensive. “The states are oners live with their families. Closed says Bhoi, who is doing his BCom in about the virus had led to riots in the Odisha has even ordered [starting struggling to cover the usage fee colonial-era structures do not work a Udaipur college. “Better than going Dum Dum correctional facility, the of] eMulakat in all 30 district jails. all 30 district jails. for video-calls.” In prisons where anymore; they are inhuman and ex- all the way to the prison complex, largest prison in West Bengal, in the Prisons are establishing visitor rooms —Sanjeev P. Sahni, criminologist eMulakat is working well, he says, pensive. Even the Supreme Court has waiting there and then going through third week of March. Four inmates equipped with laptops and broad- the demand is increasing, which admitted that open prisons should multiple people to meet my brother.” were killed and 60 policemen injured band, and making suitable arrange- is why inmates get to see their rel- become the norm in the future. There He has met his brother online four in the clashes and arson. “A com- ments at prison cells. These facilities atives only for five minutes. And if is no need for eMulakat there.”
52 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 53 AGRICULTURE TELANGANA
SWEET SUCCESS A. Limba Reddy and Kendre apples to make the fruit affordable to day—when he tasted an apple from Balaji (left) the poor people of my region.” his orchard. “He said it was very With the image of the poor old tasty,” said Balaji. The next year is Apples in couple etched in his mind, Balaji going to be the most crucial for him began his quest. “I could not find as he intends to market his produce. futile attempt. anyone in south India who grew ap- “My aim is to sell in Telangana mar- Last summer, the trees bore ples,” he said. “It took me more than kets,” he said. apples the size of strawberries. This a year of research before the next Both farmers said that scientists the Deccan year, they got bigger and better. Did step. A friend in the Army, posted in and agriculture experts have tasted Two Telangana farmers have succeeded he do anything particular? “They Himachal Pradesh, send me apple the fruits and certified them to be of need water like any other crop,” he plants. I planted them in a two-acre high quality and with more nutrients in growing the fruit. Here is why and how said. “Since I have been preparing field.” than the ones grown in northern manure for other fruit trees, I used In 2015, after reading newspaper India. BY RAHUL DEVULAPALLI it for apple trees as well. It is not reports about him, scientists from As a result, a number of Telangana difficult to grow them.” His apples Centre for Cellular and Molecular farmers have lined up to follow in will hit the markets next year. “I was Biology, Hyderabad, visited his farm their footsteps. Vissa Kiran Reddy MAY WAS EXCITING and emotion- district in southern Telangana. His grow mango and guava, and wanted told that I can earn up to 010 lakh on and recommended the HRNM-99 of Rhythu Swarajya Vedika, an NGO al for A. Limba Reddy and Kendre five-acre orchard has around 500 more varieties of fruit. “I watched each acre of apple trees,” he said. “I variety. They supplied 150 sapling; that works on farmers' issues, said Balaji. While the rest of the world was apple trees. After he tasted the first a lot of YouTube videos and once will be happy even if I get 05 lakh per he added 250 more later. Some of that growing apples was a “crazy reeling under the impact of Covid-19, apple, he wanted to delay the harvest stumbled across an apple variety that acre every season.” the older saplings did not survive; he idea and is not an option for local these farmers, from different parts as he felt that the crop was not ma- can be grown in a warm climate,” Balaji, 38, hails from Komaram now has 400 apple trees. The farm farmers”. He added that the success- of Telangana, were eager for a 'bite ture. But as word spread about the said Reddy. This was in November Bheem district. He had a different is located in a hilly terrain. So how ful cases were an exception rather of history'. Even as temperatures crop, visitors flooded the orchard. 2018. Reddy contacted farmer Ha- reason to grow apples. “In 2013, I does he ensure the good health of his than the norm. “The climate and soil soared to over 40 degrees Celsius, Recently, a minister came calling, riman Sharma of Himachal Pradesh, visited a doctor. I saw an old lady crops? “On either side of the apple condition in this region are not suit- both would visit their orchards daily with a huge crowd and the media in who had developed the HRNM-99 with her husband there,” he said. trees, I planted mango, pomegranate able for apples,” he said. “This fruit to tend to fruit trees that were a misfit tow. Despite Reddy's reservations variety. “The doctor told the lady that she and sweet lime so that they protect cannot be grown even in the lower in the Deccan plateau. They had that the apples were not ready, the “I placed an order for 500 saplings,” had low haemoglobin and needed to the apple trees from harsh sunlight reaches in north India.” succeeded in cultivating apples, orig- visitors plucked, ate and appreciated said Reddy. “He said that he can only eat fruits. He recommended apples and heat,” said Balaji. “Marigolds But pragmatic views do not seem inally from snow-capped mountains them. “Now, I don't have any left,” deliver 200. I insisted that I wanted and immediately asked the husband have been also planted strategically to matter much to dreamers like Ba- in Central Asia, in tropical south said Reddy, with a laugh. 500. He could sense my commit- to buy fruit. While the patient wait- so as to provide them with nutrients laji. As he already has the tag of Tel- India. “The fruit was very sweet,” said Reddy, an MSc in physics, took to ment and agreed.” In December, he ed, her husband came back with an and also double as manure.” angana's first apple farmer, he now Reddy, his success perhaps enhanc- farming around three decades ago, received the plants by courier and apple. The old man could not afford Balaji's efforts were recognised has another wish: “I want apples ing the taste. after stints as an entrepreneur and at planted them within a week. His more as each apple cost around 020. by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar grown in our state to be named after Reddy, 67, hails from Nizamabad a private firm. He said that he used to friends and relatives wrote it off as a I decided that day that I will grow Rao on June 2—Telangana formation me; after all, I created history.”
54 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 55 PHOTO-FEATURE COVID-19
The PRAYING FOR A Lord MIRACLE In the year of the Mask, spikes of an invisible foe pierced our lives, an oblique attack. Its crown eclipsed our visages, is my shadowing our smiles, burying our dreams, locking up all of us in a difficult berth. The Mask is a temporary weapon, a shield and a guard, a new normal. shield In a masked year, the ego has fallen, oneness is back. People of all belief ask for one miracle. The men of God, and Only one. women, too, are in To end the wait, to go out, to celebrate; to take off our masks. fervent prayer for Everyone awaits a miracle. divine intervention Let it come from the sea or the sky. Or any country on the earth. in a world that The world is hoping for a miracle. wishes to get rid of A vaccine. the mask
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA
Syed Ziaulla Sha Khadri, head of Hazrath Syedana Yaqeen Shah Vali Dargah, Bengaluru
56 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 57 PHOTO-FEATURE COVID-19
Lakshminarasimha, priest at Bhagawan Sree Maruthi Temple, Bengaluru
Jasbeer Singh, granthi at Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Bengaluru
Bantheji Anagarika Vappo, a theravada Buddhist monk
58 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 59 PHOTO-FEATURE COVID-19
Evrad Fardoon D. Karkaria, panthaky (head priest) at Parsi Fire Temple, Bengaluru
Fr Varghese P. Idichandy, vicar at St George Orthodox Church, Bengaluru
Sadhvi Anima Shri, a Shwetambar Jain monk
60 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 61 BITTER CHOCOLATE SWARA BHASKER FASHION • ART • BOOKS • MUSIC • THEATRE • LUXURY • FOOD • PEOPLE • REVIEWS • CINEMA • SERIES The outsider who conquered Bollywood
was in the middle of a workout when a ge- truth about material success, stardom, fame, neric forwarded message from an established showbiz and celebrity lifestyles—that they Ifilm trade analyst announced the death of are no guarantee of happiness or peace. That Sushant Singh Rajput—by suicide. It knocked the depression is a disease that can strike anyone. wind out of me, and in the days that followed, That success, money and name cannot pro- it knocked the wind out of everyone within the tect us from the dark shadows of our minds. industry and everyone who has ever watched Sushant’s deeply tragic death showed us how Hindi films. little we in India understand about mental Contrary to a narrative that has since emerged, health. Sushant’s death should have been a mostly pushed by people who have personal time for us to learn about mental health—in- bones to pick with Bollywood biggies, Sushant stead we descended into voyeuristic dirt-dig- was actually a dizzying story of success. This boy ging, petty mud-slinging and opportunistic from Bihar cracked premier engineering en- score-settling. Shameless media channels trance exams only to drop out, move to Mumbai displayed numbing levels of insensitivity in re- with no film connections, become a popular TV porting the suicide—some even shoving mikes face, and then a solo lead hero in Bollywood with in the face of his grieving father; countless a 0200-crore-grossing film in his kitty. Sushant Indians forwarded WhatsApp images of his achieved all this in just seven years. As an outsid- corpse (which begets the question of how it er who has now spent more than 10 years in the was leaked), while certain film stars and direc- THE industry believe me when I say—this is a dream! tors used the tragedy to make accusations and Sushant’s success in Bollywood was no mean unleash an emotional virtual mob on their achievement. Of the 10 films he starred in, six ‘personal-enemies’ and virtue signal about GIRL were hits and among the three flops—Detective their own greatness, newly born ‘fans’ of Su- Byomkesh Bakshy and Sonchiriya were critically shant spewed filth and hate on ‘star kids’ and acclaimed. Sushant’s performances always drew ‘nepotism gang’, and Bihar politicians jumped ON THE praise and he won awards for Kai Po Che and MS in, with election season around the corner, Dhoni: The Untold Story. In seven years, he had and demanded a CBI enquiry into Sushant’s worked with all the top studios in Bollywood. death. What seemed quite clearly to be a tragic TRAIN His last release, Chhichhore, grossed 0200 crore suicide now became a sinister murder with a worldwide. Sushant was very popular with the large part of Bollywood ostensibly accused as college-going audiences. He had made good the murderer. money, and was generous with it. During the And we lost Sushant again. We lost the op- Gulabo Sitabo could 2018 Kerala floods, he donated 01 crore to the portunity to grieve and mourn for a talented chief minister’s relief fund. He drove snazzy young man who came to showbiz with big turn out to be Srishti imported cars, lived in a duplex in one of Mum- dreams and left with bigger achievements. Shrivastava’s big break bai’s posh parts, and was always rumoured to be We lost the opportunity to celebrate an artist as she seeks out bold dating beautiful actors. whose passion for his craft shone in every Here was a young, intelligent, talented hand- performance. And we lost the opportunity to characters that are some boy from small-town India, who made it on learn from the life of an inspirational man, much like herself his own in the cruel world of showbiz and was on and to reflect on what his pain and unhappi- his way to superstardom. Well, he had made it, ness said about our priorities and values as a BY PRIYANKA BHADANI and he was on the cusp of superstardom. society. Until he pulled the curtains on his own dream Goodbye, Sushant. I am sorry we did not life and, in the process, laid bare the bitter allow even your death to be about you.
The writer is an award-winning Bollywood actor and sometime writer and social commentator.
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all these influence a director’s choice at times,” she said. She used to cry a lot, but has now accepted it as the reality of the business. Born to parents from Uttar Pradesh, Shrivastava grew up in Mumbai and spent four years in Indone- sia, where her father works. Her tryst with perfor- mance began fairly early. The dreamy-eyed child SS wanted to become a “heroine”. “Just that belonging to a middle-class family, we didn’t know how to Srishti Shrivastava’s first brush with fame was while go about it,” she said with a laugh. Her support- commuting on the Mumbai local. “Hey, Girliyapa!” ive parents, gauging her interests, enrolled her in yelled someone, referencing her character on The Bharatanatyam classes when she was four. They also Viral Fever’s show. It was 2017, and those around took her to auditions for TV commercials. her barely acknowledged her. Flash forward to 2019, She did an ad for Amul ice-cream. She also audi- when a fellow commuter yelled, “Hey, that’s Albina tioned for the role of Frooty in the popular TV show from Gully Boy!” and more people took note of her. Son Pari, but did not get it. That was the end of her There is no commuting right now because of the acting dream as a child. Her parents wanted her to lockdown, but the acknowledgment is pouring in in complete her education before resuming acting. But different ways. Particularly after Shrivastava made IN THE BIG dance continued. In her years in Indonesia, she also a bold appearance in Amazon Prime Video’s recent LEAGUE NOW trained in Javanese dance. It was later, while stud- offering, Gulabo Sitabo. Shrivastava with ying mass media in Mumbai, that she started out Farrukh Jaffar in A day after the film’s release, Shrivastava sounds Gulabo Sitabo; in dramatics. She would go on to join The Drama chirpy on the phone. She is delighted that the reviews (below) on stage for School Mumbai. have praised her performance, though they have Shikhandi “When I taught Srishti in drama school, I always been somewhat critical of the film. Shrivastava’s Gud- Guddo is an addition to the growing list of wanted to work with her once she was out of the do, in the Shoojit Sircar film written by Juhi Chaturve- characters that break the on-screen stereotype of school,” said Jalali. “You give an exercise to an actor di, is a firebrand with chutzpah. The film is set in small-town women being coy, shy and dim. In an and everybody has their own way of doing it. Some Lucknow, and Guddo is semi-orphaned, uninhibited interview with Film Companion, Sircar mentioned actors think differently. They are a notch above. I and outspoken—someone who would not hesitate that he wanted Guddo to be the head of the family. was sure I wanted Srishti for 07/07/07.” Jalali says to give her elder brother (played by Ayushmann He wanted her to be liberal in terms of her sexuality, that with her experience of working on multiple Khurrana) a dressing-down. These bold qualities are and praised the writing. “It’s her body, her life, her platforms, Shrivastava has grown in her perspective evident in her own voice and most of her other work choice,” he said. and performance. “She has gotten more refined,” as well. “When I auditioned for it, I had an idea of Shrivastava captures Guddo’s emotions beautifully. she said. “She is somebody I would work with what the character was,” said Shrivastava. “She is a But her encounter with diverse women characters anytime, anywhere, blindly. I know the discipline rockstar. She is so comfortable in her skin. I love that of strength and resolve began early on. In her first and dedication she brings to whatever she does and about her.” theatre play, 07/07/07, directed by Faezeh Jalali, the joy with which she does it. There are days when Auditions are the only way for new actors to make Shrivastava is one of the actors playing the lead role she is struggling; days when she questions what she inroads in the industry. Over the last five years, of Reyhaneh Jabbar, the Iranian woman who was does. But she always comes out stronger.” Shrivastava has auditioned for “a lot of web series, ad- imprisoned for stabbing her rapist. Then, playing Shrivastava’s last theatre performance before the vertisements and films”. She lucked out when casting Amba and Draupadi in Shikhandi, also directed by lockdown was in Shikhandi at Prithvi Theatre. She director Jogi Mallang’s team called her to audition for Jalali, Shrivastava confronts the notions of maleness, is eagerly waiting for the auditoriums to be opened a Sircar film. The brief mentioned femaleness and everything in-be- once again. But with the adulation coming her that her character, Guddo, would tween. Manav Kaul’s Chuhal, a love way for her turn in Gulabo Sitabo, she wants to be be “chill and muhfat (blunt)”. story, sees her as a nonconformist honest with herself. “I always wanted to be an actor, Her first question was: “Is she an “MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS questioning the idea of marriage. on the road to achieving her acting dreams is not one and what attracted me to it was the fame that came important character?” She said: “I TO DO MAINSTREAM It is, however, the Girliyapa videos, of frustration. But it is not oblivious of the realities along,” said Shrivastava. “I got some of it with the asked that very selfishly. And, the with its quirky stories of everyday of it either. “We go through a lot of rejection,” said Girliyapa videos and even with Shikhandi. I don’t girl on the call said, ‘She is the only CINEMA.... I KNEW THAT women, that shot her to stardom. Shrivastava. “I have not been selected for [many] know if the lockdown has made me wiser, but I girl.’” Only during the audition did IF GUDDO WORKS, IT And then, there was a cameo appear- ads either. I have done just three ads, having worked feel that doing Gulabo Sitabo was to get more work Shrivastava find out that Amitabh WOULD HOPEFULLY ance in Gully Boy as Albina Dadarkar, for more than four years.” With time, she learnt that ahead. My ultimate goal is to do mainstream cinema Bachchan and Khurrana were whom Alia Bhatt fights on-screen. too many factors influence the selection process. and good work as a lead. I knew that if Guddo headlining the film. But she was OPEN MORE DOORS.” But reaching this stage has taken “Your face, whether you look the character or not, works, it would hopefully open more doors.” Train assured of an important role. —Srishti Shrivastava, actor time. Her response to the difficulties the number of followers you have [on social media], rides for her may never be the same again.
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FUTURE READY Real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield’s while, perhaps, people are hesitant concept of the “six feet office”. Large black to initiate permanent changes, many tiled circles around each desk ensure ad-hoc arrangements have come up. social distancing To ensure social distancing, a Ger- man café distributed hats fitted with pool noodles to its customers. Some iglass screens into store counters. parks are handing out hula hoops to Watch maker Titan is re-designing children. A church in Bengaluru held its stores to allow for a distance of six a drive-in worship service, where feet between customers. people attended the service without “There is going to be more stress getting out of their cars and bikes. on individuality and individual spac- Nisha Mary Poulose, architect, es,” says Smaran Mallesh, co-founder urban planner and founder of Woven and principal architect at Cadence Design Collaborative, says that Architects. “We are going to look what our cities need is “mixed use at how to better execute work from planning”, where all types of land home options. There might be a ded- use—home, office and commer- icated corner in your house for that. cial—will be present in a particular CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD Decks and outside spaces are going area. “Currently,” she says, “we have to become important.” divided our cities into zones like res- biggest ones are that spaces are going He, however, cautions that we idential zone and commercial zone. to shrink in size, become more inti- are still in the thick of things and it This needs to change. Things need to mate and more multi-functional. The might be too early to speculate. But become more localised. We need to virus is going to make a significant realise the importance of, say, a park SPACE GAZE dent, not just in the way we design in every neighbourhood.” our homes, but also in commercial Ultimately, the pandemic may Architecture has always reflected social realities of the architecture. Buildings of monumen- inspire new ways of thinking in us time. How will it be impacted by the current pandemic? tal scale, like airports and stadiums, which will have lasting repercussions are going to be majorly affected. on the spaces we occupy. “We will no BY ANJULY MATHAI Some of them, like the Heathrow longer take our spaces for granted,” Airport, are so gargantuan in size that says Mallesh. “There will be a new es Musiciens du Ciel (The gilded carpets and ornate furniture pandemic is driving every aspect of they leave a huge foot-print. They are sense of empathy with which we Musicians of the Sky) is a of the 19th century gave way to the our lives in new and unknown direc- going to become much smaller in view our collective spaces. As we L1940 French film directed by clean lines, empty white walls and tions. Health and wellness are going future, as people limit their travel.” redefine our personhood at the basic Georges Lacombe. It tells the story sanitised interiors of 20th century virtual with telemedicine and remote In many ways, the future is already cellular level, this will have a ripple of Victor Barthelemy, a con artist Modernist architecture was tubercu- patient monitoring. Education has at our doorstep. Take waste man- effect on everything.” who falls in love with a terminally-ill losis, which was ravaging the world become trans-national with online agement company Bee’ah’s head- In many ways, Covid-19 is offering woman, Jeanne. He meets her in a then. “Many of the ideas that Modern classes open to people of all ages and quarters in Sharjah. It is built with us a chance to re-design the world Salvation Army building called Le architects proposed did not come nationalities. Hospital-ready hotels “contact-less pathways”, and mini- and set a few wrongs right. There Cite de Refuge, which was the first from architectural theory, they came might be the new norm. In the face of mum interfacing of the employees is a passage in the book, The Road, major work in Paris by the famous from doctors, nurses and hospital ar- such changes, we are left with more with the building. Lifts are operated “CURRENTLY, WE HAVE by Cormac McCarthy, about brook Modernist architect, Le Corbusier. chitecture, particularly tuberculosis questions than answers. Will the way with smartphones and robots help DIVIDED OUR CITIES trouts that lived in deep glens “where As the woman slowly succumbs to sanatoriums,” said Beatriz Colomi- we dress change? What about the host meetings. Or take the Nether- INTO ZONES LIKE all things were older than man” the illness, a parallel story is taking na, Princeton professor and author way we find partners? Or the way we lands-based real estate firm Cush- and “hummed of mystery”. On their place—of the partial destruction of of X-Ray Architecture, in a recent crack jokes? How will our built spac- man & Wakefield’s concept of the “six RESIDENTIAL ZONE backs, he wrote, were “vermicular Le Cite de Refuge by the bombing of interview. es need to adapt to accommodate feet office”. There are large black tiled AND COMMERCIAL patterns that were maps of the world the Gare d’Austerlitz during World In fact, disease has always had these changes? circles around each desk to ensure ZONE. THIS NEEDS TO in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of War II. In the end, one cannot ignore a major influence on architecture, “People say that things will soon social distancing and provisions for a thing which could not be put back. the connection Lacombe draws whether it was the 1855 bubonic return to the old normal,” says Gau- employees to exit only in a clockwise CHANGE.” Not be made right again.” A new between Jeanne’s illness, probably plague in China or the 1954 cholera tam Bhatia, award-winning architect, direction, to prevent them from —Nisha Mary Poulose, world—a pandemic-struck one— tuberculosis, and the backdrop of the epidemic in London. Covid-19, too, artist and writer. “But there is not bumping into one another. In the architect and urban planner might be in its becoming. We have building in which her life plays out. might force us to rethink the mini- going to be an old normal. There are retail segment, DLF Malls is creating one chance to put it back together. One of the major reasons why the malist Modernism we inherited. The going to be many changes. The three isolation rooms and building plex- How will we do it?
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minimalist. Light on rhythm, with a signature acoustic blend of classical and the blues, and a trademark rasp that has not diminished at 79, this is a treat even for the Dylan-ambiva- lents. His lyrics are abstract, wickedly witty, replete with surprising pop culture references, sometimes verg- ing on nonsensical free-association. In the Walt Whitman-inspired ‘I Con- tain Multitudes’, he namedrops Anne Frank, Indiana Jones and the Rolling Stones in a single line; In another, he BOXED IN invokes Justin Timberlake’s ‘Cry Me THe hijack drama 7500, recently released on Amazon Prime, takes claustrophobia to new MUTINY a River’. heights, with the entire film taking place in a cockpit. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a co-pilot who Throughout the album, one motif finds himself locked in the control booth, with the hijackers threatening to kill the passengers unless he lets AGAINST stands out: he grapples with the them in. 7500 is among a clutch of films which has exploited the potential of claustrophobia as a cinematic idea of mortality and death, which, tool to create a heightened sense of drama. Many of these films have done well at the box office. Might it be through Dylan’s lens, takes on a that the fear and panic they arouse call out to something deep in the human psyche? MORTALITY GETTY IMAGES multitude of meanings—everything including his legacy and afterlife Bob Dylan’s latest album is becomes a fleeting shadow of horror (2010) (2013) under a candlelight of hypnotic Buried Locke an elegy to transience chants. ‘Murder Most Foul’, is a dark- Being buried alive is a recurrent It is not every day you drive one-and- ly illustrative musing on the murder nightmare for many people. For truck a-half hours to be with your ex-girl- BY VAISAKH E. HARI of US president John F. Kennedy; In driver Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds), friend as she gives birth, making 36 ‘Mother of Muses’, he sings about the nightmare comes true when he phone calls on the way. Well, it was n 49 BCE, renowned general Ju- Dylan literally re-enacts Caesar’s having outlived his life. In the loud, finds himself in a wooden coffin, that day for construction foreman lius Caesar faced a tough choice. crossing the Rubicon, and the death electric ‘Goodbye Jimmy Reed’, he after getting ambushed by terrorists Ivan Locke (Thomas Hardy). Most IHe was camped on the banks of and violence that follows. His prima- canonises the late eponymous Amer- in Iraq. Unless he pays a ransom of of it is shot in the car. One minute, the Rubicon in Gaul (now France); if ry artistic drive has always been to ican blues musician. Interestingly, $5 million, he will be left to die in Locke is soothing his apoplectic wife he crossed it along with his 13th le- subvert expectations, and he never death has been a recurring obsession the coffin. You might think things as he confesses his infidelity, and the gion into Rome, that spelled an act of disappoints. Welcome to post-Nobel for Dylan; his 2012 album Tempest could not get worse, until explosions next, there is steel in his voice as he war. A decision from which there was Dylan, at his most unwilling and similarly explores the death of John damage the coffin and it slowly -be directs his colleague to prepare for a no coming back. The widely popular defiant. Lennon. gins to fill with sand. And then—wait (2015) concrete pour. The film won Hardy idiom ‘cross the Rubicon’—meaning Rough and Rowdy Ways is a re- In ‘My Own Version of You’, he for it—a snake slithers in. Perhaps a Room the Los Angeles Film Critics Asso- a step that cannot be reversed—orig- markable accomplishment on many plays a Frankensteinian God, piecing good time for Conroy to “think out of This is a searing tale of a child born ciation Award for best actor. Spoiler inates from that snippet of history. In counts. Musically, the whole set is together corpses in a morgue. In ‘You the box”. out of rape to a woman held captive alert: By the end of Locke, you might Bob Dylan’s latest album, Rough and Ain’t Going Nowhere’, he begs the in a room for seven years. Brie Lar- overdose on Hardy’s face. Rowdy Ways, the legendary folk sing- DYLAN’S LYRICS ARE same God to “go easy on him”. son plays Joy Newsome, who is trying er and reluctant laureate of the 2016 In a recent interview with The to teach her five-year-old son Jack Nobel Prize in literature dedicates a ABSTRACT, WICKEDLY New York Times, coinciding with about the outside world. Jack does song to ‘Crossing the Rubicon’. It is WITTY, REPLETE WITH the release of the album, he said not know how to conceive of life out- easy to imagine Dylanologists in high he ponders about “the death of the side the wardrobe where he sleeps academia adjusting their monocles SURPRISING POP CUL- human race” and “the long strange each night and the lavatory cistern in and declaring the song a poignant TURE REFERENCES, trip of the naked ape”. In the album, which he floats paper boats. Room is critique of the world crossing a SOMETIMES VERGING death serves as a bigger metaphor, a rude reminder that the turquoise metaphoric line from which there is an impressionist’s impression of an blue of the ocean and the sun-kissed no coming back (perhaps he meant ON NONSENSICAL era bygone. But, against all odds, splendour of the mountains are not Donald Trump, they would whisper FREE-ASSOCIATION. Bob Dylan is still mutinous; for the ours to take for granted. The film, triumphantly). But the song means protest singer, mutiny is the highest based on Emma Donoghue’s book, exactly what the title says it means: form of optimism. Compiled by Anjuly Mathai won four Oscar nominations.
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paring for banking exams.” She thought she would do who cannot stand prime-time comedy on the side. “Comedians don’t get so suddenly news. “My dadi has the best Man behind the monarch famous at 20,” says Gaur on the phone from her home sense of humour in the family,” in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, breathing a sigh of says Gaur. “Her one-liners are to BY MANDIRA NAYAR 20 AND relief but also slightly amazed at her own popularity. die for. Like the person in front Now when she lampoons Shashi Tharoor as “the- would be confused if they have ra Mukhoty has been on a 624-page The book is littered with anecdotes: saurus publisher masquerading as a politician”, the been made fun of or not.” rescue mission in her new book. two-and-a-half-year-old Akbar wres- TRENDING Congress MP tweets back with words like ‘hippopo- In this Covid-melted time, IAkbar: The Great Mughal—the first tling his older cousin for a kettledrum, tomonstrosesquipedaliophobia’ and ‘garrulous’ in an when Indian and Chinese to be released in physical form during defeating his uncle Kamran’s attempts A locked down India logged on affectionate riposte. Whether it is her relentless take- troops are locked in a border the pandemic—is a brave, compelling to humiliate him; a toddler Akbar downs of news anchor Arnab Goswami or her flam- standoff, a video on China was attempt to fish out Akbar, the man. recognising his mother—they had and got hooked on to a satirist boyant send-ups in the voice of a pixie-cut Kangana only a natural progression for Mukhoty stitches together the story been separated for years—despite all from Uttar Pradesh Ranaut, Gaur knows the ludicrousness of a situation Gaur. When she joked about of an ambitious man who stretched In- the women in the court being dressed when she sees one. China’s association with India dia’s boundaries further than anyone alike. He was a man who could not BY SNEHA BHURA Training her wit on current affairs and social issues from ajinomoto and cheap after him. Stunning in read, but loved comes naturally to her. “Growing up, I was never into phones to TikTok and Chinese its scale and lush with knowledge. A man f Saloni Gaur was not beaming on to our phones as reading novels or story books. There was nothing much whispers in Ladakh, her fans details, she writes evoc- who knew the name Nazma Aapi, she might have been performing audits to do in my quiet hometown when father returned from whooped and cheered. But the atively, conjuring up of all his elephants, Iin a government bank. The 20-year-old comedi- work at 10. So we would all sit and watch the news,” Chinese tech company TikTok his court, life and times, even though he had an’s one-minute videos online are now considered an says Gaur, who credits her father for instilling the habit removed her video on May 31 the food, grand tents, thousands of them. essential antidote to the breathlessly virulent world out- of devouring newspapers for breakfast. from its platform. Her calling the battles on the field Akbar could accept side. With her hilarious mimicry of actors, politicians, Gaur wanted to study humanities in high school, out of TikTok for lack of freedom and the ones he fought dissent. Mukhoty newscasters, middle-class moms, DU wali didis, Kusum but none of the schools in her city offered subjects like of speech made national news. within. writes about the time Bhenjis and Influencer Ishitas, Gaur has commanded political science and economics. It was only after she She vowed to never post on For years, Akbar had he offered Man Singh an enviably large audience for a humourist in lockdown. came to Delhi for college at 17 that the world really TikTok again. “This was not been weighed down by discipleship. Man She has been around for the world in these troubled opened up. It was also in Old Delhi that she heard the first time they tried to slap The Great that followed Singh refused saying times with her own spin on news which has never been snatches of the dialect spoken back home. “It was love- community guidelines viola- his name. Mukhoty’s he recognises only two more unnerving, yet it almost missed bask- ly. And I was always good in mimicry,” says Gaur, who tions on me,” says Gaur. Though rescue mission brings religions, Hinduism ing in her comic genius. until a few years ago did not have access to internet to TikTok reinstated her video, she alive the man, not as and Islam. “He never “I thought I would take up a job in upload her videos. She would get a friend to upload it would not fully say if there has Abu’l Fazl’s version in pushed it again,” she a bank, because my mother wanted from her social media handles. been a formal ceasefire. Perhaps Akbarnama but as a Akbar: The Great Mughal writes. me to,” says the final-year student of She counts master satirists Premchand and Haris- the negotiations are still on. human. “He couldn’t by Ira Mukhoty While Mukhoty col- political science. “You know how it hankar Parsai as her most beloved authors. “I wish I “I am not planning to put any have sprung up this Published by ours Akbar’s attributes is. My mother would stand in line for could write like them,” says Gaur, who spouts her lines China-related content now. I perfect being,” says Aleph Book Company for the 21st century Price 0999, Pages 624 hours for her turn in government in the street-sharp dialect of western UP—a smattering covered everything in that vid- Mukhoty. “How did reader, she also helps banks. Until last year, I was pre- of khadi boli and braj bhasha—through earthy, wise- eo,” she says. “Besides, I always this person come to be? provide context to the cracking characters drawn from her social milieus. But wait and watch to see how news What were his challenges? Are they Rajput-Mughal rivalry, as well as the she can trace her funny bone to her grandmother, develops. One of the reasons not similar to the ones India and the legend of Rana Pratap. But it was not why I didn’t make a video on the world face now?” a simple black-and-white construct elephant-pineapple-firecracker Abkar is the portrait of a 16th centu- as Hindu vs Muslim or Indian vs episode.” ry monarch who discouraged sati and foreigner. “There are two inscriptions SALONI GAUR With lakhs of social media raised the minimum marriageable age. on Rohtas Fort built by Man Singh,” followers, Gaur is quite aware of He was progressive—he even criti- she says. The Persian one talks about KNOWS THE her responsibilities. And knows cised Muslim laws of inheritance that Akbar and heaps praise on him. Man LUDICROUSNESS how to be indifferent to trolls. favoured men. Yet, women became Singh is barely mentioned. The one in OF A SITUATION “They are just keyboard warriors more sequestered during his time. Sanskrit talks about Man Singh being with cheap internet,” she says, Mukhoty, whose earlier books breathe the king of kings. “There was a duality WHEN SHE SEES dismissing them with typical life into women in Mughal history, which had to be navigated,” she says. ONE. quicksilver jibes that come explores this dichotomy. “Mughals are “This was complicated reality. There shaded with native wisdom. often accused of the purdah, but Ra- was a Mughal padshah and you were Just like how she signs off most jputs also have the zenana (women’s serving him. They had to navigate this, of her videos: “Popcorn khao, chambers). In some ways, they both and they were doing it in innovative Bella ciao!” learnt from each other,” she says. w a y s.”
70 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 71 @LEISURE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTOR / SNEHA BHURA COMPILED BY ANJULY MATHAI Brand new graduate Congratulations poured in from everywhere Here for the as Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize-winner PTI Malala Yousafzai, 22, graduated from Oxford University with a degree in philosophy, pol- long haul itics and economics. Among her well-wish- Superhero came about. I never thought I would make my ers were singer Shakira, former American PRIYANKSHU PAINYULI, actor Hollywood debut, but I think I was cast because of the kind presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, of work I have been doing, and also because I like giving and our own PeeCee. Sharing a auditions. picture of both of them, Priyan- riyanshu Painyuli’s career A dose of Bose ka Chopra remarked what an graph has been on the rise Q\Can you describe some of your auditions that helped After films likeEnglish , August, Mr and Mrs Iyer, An- incredible achievement it Pever since he did Vikram- you grow as an actor? taheen and Jhankar Beats, you might have wondered was. “I’m so proud,” she aditya Motwane’s Bhavesh Joshi A\There was this one audition for Sacred Games. I worked what happened to Rahul Bose. He has returned gushed. Yousafzai herself Superhero (2018). The actor, who on it for a month or two. It was for the role of Cuckoo in the recent Netflix original,Bulbbul , in which he says she is not sure what loves juggling between theatre (ultimately done by Kubbra Sait). I lost a lot of weight plays a double role, set in early 20th century Bengal. is ahead. “For now, it and films, is currently busy with and walked around in five-inch heels. Bhavesh Joshi Inspired by a folk tale, the film is about the legend of will be Netflix, reading digital theatre performances. Fresh Superhero was in post-production then and Vikram sir a witch brought out through the story of and sleep,” said the from Sam Hargrave’s Extraction, in (Vikramaditya Motwane) told me to read the part and a child bride. Produced by Anushka young graduate. which he plays the villain, Painyuli see if I wanted to do it. I was up for the challenge. A lot Sharma’s Clean Slate Films, it began talks about his journey, how auditions of work goes into a part like that. It was an interesting streaming on June 24. have helped him grow and about his exercise. upcoming film, Rashmi Rocket, starring Taapsee Pannu. Q\You have a couple of For dad, interesting projects lined Q\There have been many struggles. up, including Rashmi Packing with love How do you feel today, with the popu- Rocket and Mirzapur Many of us might be fans of our larity of Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and 2. a punch fathers, but only a few would go to now, Extraction? A\I am really excit- In his latest video, Vidyut the extent of getting inked for them. A\I do not like the word struggle. I ed about Rashmi Jammwal gave a lesson in bone Kirti Kulhari is one among the few. was 22 when I came to Mumbai, Rocket, working prana punch, which is a form of She got her first tattoo as a tribute 10 years ago. It has been like with Taap- self-defence in kalaripayattu. “It to her father, a retired commander climbing a ladder. I also believe see, Akarsh is not only about how you punch, of the Indian Navy. The tattoo there is some amount of risk Khurana and it is about your skeletal system, is of her father’s response with every profession, RSVP Movies. your muscles, your sync and your whenever she caught whether it is in the We had our harmony with yourself,” he says, him over-indulging his corporate world shoot lined up for before punching an old book nearly sweet tooth. “What is or anywhere this summer. Now, I think into pulp. He attributed his literary the problem, yaar?” else. I used to we need to be patient. I am choice to the lack of punching bags he used to ask. “My say no to a lot a patient guy. I am okay to during lockdown. The actor is known husband suggested of work. Even be home for as long as for interacting with his fans on social that I should ink this when I had fi- required. The danger media and giving them tips on fitness
hilarious response,” nancial problems, [of the virus] should and self-defence. TWITTER COURTESY: said the actor, who I used to find some be out will next be seen in other way of dealing permanently. the Hindi remake with it. I am not here —By Priyanka of the Hollywood just to be famous for Bhadani film,The Girl on five years. I don’t want the Train. to pick a few films and then go away. I am here to make it as an actor in the long run. That’s how Bhavesh Joshi GETTY IMAGES
72 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 JULY 5, 2020 • THE WEEK 73 LAST WORD BARKHA DUTT The message is everything
or me, being on the ground in Ladakh this than 12 hours before the government issued past week felt oddly personal. Twenty-one the clarificatory statement, and by that time the Fyears ago, in 1999, as a young 20-some- Chinese were lapping up the domestic divisions thing reporter, I was there to report on the Kargil and fissures. War, in what would be the most transformative In Kargil, by contrast, both the government journalistic experience of my life. and the military were able to use the news media While what has unfolded between India and as a force multiplier. In Delhi, there were daily China—the transgressions, the squatting on briefings conducted jointly by officials of the Indian territory, the deaths of our soldiers in the foreign ministry and the Indian Army. At the line of duty—cannot be literally compared with frontline, reporters like myself were permitted the vast theatre of conflict in the Kargil War, the physical access to the theatre of conflict. The -re sense of deja vu is definitely there, especially as sult: India’s first televised war and an outpouring the anniversary of Operation Vijay is around the of national solidarity. corner. Kargil of 1999 was ahead of Ladakh of 2020 in But no matter its instinct for com- which way you cut munication. Media and splice it, and no planners in the A.B. matter where you Vajpayee government stand on the geopolit- also understood the ical handling of Chi- cardinal principle of na’s expansionism, information dissemi- there is one lesson nation. Quite simply, from Kargil that the if you do not say government refused something, someone to learn—effective else will. And, where strategic communi- not enough facts are cation. placed in the public It is quite clear now that our soldiers showed domain, the vacuum will be filled with rumours, extraordinary heroism even when they were out- fake news and WhatsApp forwards masquerad- numbered by the Chinese in Galwan Valley and ing as headlines. brutalised by People’s Liberation Army troops No one is recommending that a roster list using crude weapons. Yet, instead of simply of operations be provided to the public or the coming forward and taking the Indian public media. On the contrary, in times of a sensitive into confidence, the government tied itself in military situation, if officials reach out to key knots, with opacity, denials and mixed messag- reporters on the beat and ask them to refrain ing that only hurt India’s narrative and allowed from certain aspects of the reporting, each one of the Chinese to make absurd, tall claims. us would. Till there was a clarification on his remarks, The Narendra Modi government has never even the prime minister fumbled on articula- much cared for journalists, despite large swathes tion at the all-party meeting. The clarification of the broadcast media being brazenly loyal to made it clear that the Chinese transgression had it. But in times of near-war, that contempt and been pushed by Indian troops in Galwan Valley dislike should be suspended. (though it circumvented the issue of Chinese This is the age of information warfare. In psy- presence in Pangong Tso). But it was more ops, the message is everything.
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74 THE WEEK • JULY 5, 2020 Issue Date: July 5th 2020 (Ktm & Banglore Only)
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