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DELHI THE HINDU 6 EDITORIAL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE The right lessons from Pulwama and Balakot The events of February 2019 need to be extricated from the electoral straitjacket and boastful political utterances minary at Balakot in Khyber­ Pak­ professionally respected force but of Control (LoC) at launchpads. htunkhwa province of Pakistan, a partisan act in support of one Neither the surgical strike of 2016 Threat or treat avenging the suicide car bomb in political party. In a healthy de­ nor the Balakot air strike have in­ Pulwama 12 days earlier that led to mocracy, apolitical armed forces fused deterrence or altered Pakis­ The final agreement of RCEP covers the death of 40 Central Reserve are supposed to follow the elected tan’s policies, whether in the Kash­ various issues that India had flagged Police Force personnel. On the government’s lawful orders but do miri hinterland or on the LoC, Sushant Singh morning of February 27, the Pakis­ not work to further the partisan where Indian security forces per­ he Regional Comprehensive Economic Partner­ tan Air Force attempted its riposte aims of the ruling party — that sonnel continue to lose their lives. ship (RCEP) was signed into existence on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir, and in the would be more in tune with China, However, the Balakot air strike Tby 15 countries led by China, Japan, South Korea, he ghost of Pulwama and Ba­ ensuing aerial combat, Wg. Cdr. where the armed forces are loyal was definitely a punitive move, a Australia, New Zealand and the 10­state ASEAN group­ lakot (picture) has been exor­ Abhinandan was captured by the to the Communist Party and not tactical act, which demonstrated ing, creating one of the world’s largest trading blocs. Tcised nearly 20 months after Pakistan military. the Chinese state. India’s willingness to cross the Noticeable by its absence was India, which after sev en the twin events happened (2019). On February 28, Pakistan Prime REUTERS Military veterans and national­ threshold of using air power In Pakistan, former S peaker and Minister Imran Khan announced rorist attack on the Parliament. ist commentators, quick to take of­ against Pakistan, that too on its years of protracted negotiations decided last November Opposition MP, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, in Parliament that he was releas­ fence to any perceived slights on mainland. The target audience, as to exit the grouping. India had justified its decisio n as alleged in the Pakistan National ing the Indian fighter pilot and The conduct of the forces behalf of the uniformed, have con­ evident in hindsight, was largely protecting its economy from burgeoning trade deficits Assembly last month that the PTI sending him back home “as a If there are some unanswered veniently ignored this grave mis­ domestic — the voters at the poll­ with a majority of the 15 RCEP members and had cited government, fearing an imminent peace gesture”. questions about Pulwama suicide demeanour of the IAF during an ing booth, who responded the grouping’s refusal to accede to its requests on safe­ missile strike from India, had cap­ bombing, the questions about the election campaign. Unless correct­ approvingly. guards as a deal breaker. Those reasons were on the itulated and released the captured Aspects about Pulwama Balakot air strike have, more or ed, this would set a wrong prece­ face of it justifiable at the time and were welcomed by Indian fighter pilot, Wing Com­ The full details of backroom hap­ less, been answered by foreign go­ dent for the armed forces and its Gravity of the crisis mander Abhinandan Varthaman. penings between the suicide car vernments and international me­ senior leadership. Two decades The real focus from February 27 industry, trade and farmers’ groups. However, 12 The allegation was denied by the bombing of February 14 and Wg. dia. Those answers are unflatter­ ago, the then Army Chief, General last year should be on the Indian months down the road, India’s opting out appears far Pakistan government and the all­ Cdr. Abhinandan’s return on ing to the professional image of V.P. Malik, had lodged a strong threat and Pakistani counter­ more debatable in terms of its economic rationale. With powerful military, and even Mr. March 1 are not publicly available the IAF: from actually hitting the complaint with Prime Minister threat of firing missiles at each global trade and the economy foundering on the shoals Sadiq partially backtracked within but 20 months later, there is defi­ designated targets to providing Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the other, an escalatory move that of the COVID­19 pandemic, especially as new infections a day, but it brought the spotlight nitely greater clarity. Even though proof of the destruction, the IAF is Kargil war about the use of the im­ could have taken the conflict into in Europe and the U.S. prompt fresh restrictions there, back on an incident where the two a video of the suicide bomber was seen to have lost the battle of the ages of three service chiefs on the uncharted territory. That the sit­ the pre­eminence of the east Asian and Pacific coun­ nuclear­armed neighbours were released by the Jaish­e­Muham­ narrative to its Pakistani counter­ Bharatiya Janata Party’s election uation was serious is recognised threatening a military escalation. mad, there have been constant part — not that a fumbling and posters. While the crumbling of in­ from the urgent interventions by tries including China, South Korea, Vietnam, Austral ia whispers about certain aspects of bumbling Pakistan military was stitutions like Parliament, the judi­ the United States, the United King­ and New Zealand serving as a bulwark in containing the Overtaken by politics the Pulwama terror attack. Those anywhere near perfect, making ciary and the media in recent dom and others that night who pandemic and re­energising economic activity can The revival of the focus on Pulwa­ questions have not been answered ridiculous claims. The perfor­ years has earned a lot of attention, pressed on both the governments hardly be understated. Add to this the heightened tariff ma and Balakot provides us with satisfactorily, even after the mance of the IAF in aerial combat scholars have been shy of making to step back. Narendra Modi’s uncertainty generated by the deadlocked Brexit nego­ an opportunity for an honest ap­ 13,800­page National Investigation the next day, where it claims to robust enquiries about the con­ election campaign speech about tiations between Britain and the E.U., and it becomes praisal of the incident. Unfortu­ Agency charge sheet was filed in have shot down a Pakistan Air duct of the armed forces, an insti­ the incident, claiming that nuclear evident that India may have missed a vital opportunity. nately, this happened in the midst August and a Pakistani Minister, Force F­16 fighter jet, has been re­ tution even more critical to the weapons were not kept for Diwali, of the Bihar election campaign, Fawad Chaudhry, last month ceived with scepticism in most health of Indian democracy. points to the gravity of the crisis. Given that the RCEP members now account for about and in a throwback to the parlia­ claimed, and immediately back­ western capitals. Wg. Cdr. Abhi­ That the two countries could dees­ 30% of the global GDP and a third of the world’s popula­ mentary polls last year, an event of tracked from his country’s involve­ nandan’s defiant behaviour in Pa­ Claims, facts and the audience calate so quickly is a positive sign tion, the signatory states were emphatic that the timing strategic importance was only ment in the suicide bombing. The kistani custody deserved the Chief of Defence Staff General Bi­ but the fact that any miscreant of the accord presents a unique opportunity to support seen through the narrow political responsibility for the intelligence praise that came his way, but the pin Rawat claimed on November 6 with a few kilos of explosive and their economic recovery, inclusive development and prism of its electoral utility for the failure, violation of standard oper­ fact remains that the IAF came se­ that the Balakot strike had sent a an old car can bring these two nu­ job creation even as it helps strengthen regional supply ruling party. The events of Febru­ ating procedures by security forc­ cond best that morning, as it lost a strong message that Pakistan no clear weapon states to the brink of chains. Interestingly, among the ASEAN signatories are ary 2019 need to be extricated es and the possible involvement of fighter aircraft and the pilot ended longer enjoys impunity of pushing war should leave us worried. The from the electoral straitjacket to disgraced Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistani custody. terrorists into India under the nu­ current shenanigans in Pakistan’s several relatively far smaller economies including Viet­ draw the right lessons. police officer, Davinder Singh, re­ That day, the IAF also shot clear bogey, and a new Indian tem­ Parliament should warn us of nam and the Philippines, which not only continue to Mr. Sadiq was referring to a main unexamined. Davinder down its own helicopter in friend­ plate to deal with terror has inject­ those dangers and force us to have their share of disputes with Beijing but also suffer meeting held by Pakistan Foreign Singh was posted in Pulwama ly fire, close to Srinagar. It cast a ed uncertainty in Pakistan. It is a think of ways to minimise them, significant trade imbalances with Asia’s largest econ o­ Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi from May 2017 to August 2018, and shadow on the IAF’s report card of claim which does not hold against instead of the usual dose of more my. That these and other larger nations in the grouping with parliamentary leaders of oth­ was caught transporting two ab­ those days, but what made it the facts on the ground this year, bravado and boastful utterances have chosen to bury their geopolitical differences with er political parties on February 27 sconding militants to Delhi in his worse were the IAF’s efforts to pre­ as senior Indian Army officers reg­ from our political leadership. China in order to prioritise what they collectively see as last year, where he discussed the private car earlier this January. He vent any media reportage of the ularly claim that Pakistan is push­ a mutually beneficial trading compact that would bene­ threat of an Indian missile attack had earlier been named by Afzal fratricide incident before the Lok ing militants into the Kashmir Val­ Sushant Singh is a Senior Fellow with the that night. A day earlier, the Indian Guru, who was hanged in 2013, as Sabha elections were over. It was ley and has hundreds of militants Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. fit their economies over the longer term is the clearest Air Force (IAF) had targeted a se­ a key go­between in the 2001 ter­ not just dishonest on the part of a ready to be pushed across the Line The views expressed are personal testament to economic realism trumping nationalist politics. Also, the summary of the final agreement shows that the pact does cover and attempt to address issues that India had flagged including rules of orig in, Needed, a policy framework in step with technology trade in services, movement of persons and, cruciall y, remedies and safeguards. Acknowledging India’s eco­ With the rapid pace of technology blurring boundaries, a holistic view of schemes is a must nomic heft and value as a market, the RCEP members cle has close to 100 million lines of automobile are not covered by in­ ture and softer areas such as edu­ have not only left the door open should New Delhi re ­ code, which is more than that dustrial policies that govern the cation, skilling, technical consider its stance but have also waived a key 18­month used by a Boeing 787 or the Electronics and Information Tech­ institutions, laboratories, testing cooling period for interested applicants. It would be in Chrome browser. This is a para­ nology Ministry. centres, etc., has to be cultivated. India’s interest to dispassionately review its position digm shift as the amount of “value Another example involves The creation of clusters of compa­ and embrace openness rather than protectionism. add” from intangible technology drones that could serve different nies in adjacent but complemen­ Srivats Ram services as opposed to physical sectors, including agriculture, and tary areas could constitute such an objects, even in traditional goods, would require a lot of inter­depart­ ecosystem that encourages multi is being transformed by informa­ mental clearances outside of the and cross­disciplinary learning

For Bihar s technology has evolved in tion. GETTY IMAGES Department of Agriculture. There and spur innovation and econom­ Nitish Kumar must use the mandate to bring the latter part of the 20th Even if you look at a conven­ signed policies that govern those is increasingly a need for inter­de­ ic development. Moreover, this Acentury and the early part tional “metal­based” industrial areas. However, over time, as each partmental cooperation and syn­ type of ecosphere could also at­ the State back on the development path of the 21st century, the traditional product, information and elec­ of these departments grew, they ergy not only in policy framework tract investment and capital itish Kumar began another term as Chief Minis­ boundaries between goods and tronics are becoming all­perva­ have tended to operate in silos. but also in deployment. formation. ter of Bihar on shaky footing but retaining con­ services have blurred. By virtue of sive, ensuring that we set boundar­ This has for most of the 20th cen­ There is also the larger issue of a Moore’s law, computing capabili­ ies to control quality or the uptime tury been reasonably successful in Taking an aggregate view shift of value between manufac­ siderable influence among his core support N ties have surged faster than capa­ of the equipment. There is in­ driving economic development in This departmentalisation of poli­ turing and services as technology base. His party, the JD(U), has 31 seats fewer than the bilities in traditional industries. creasing digitisation and electroni­ countries. cies is facing a challenge from changes. The policy, by and large, BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Even These information­based technol­ fication of industrial activities, The recent developments in technology that very often blurs promotes and gives incentives for with 74 MLAs among the total NDA tally of 125 in the ogies have been widely adopted products and services, influencing technology have, however, the boundaries served by different manufacturing, whereas the share 243­member Assembly, the BJP had to concede the post across a broad range of industries the evolving skill sets in industry. blurred standard boundaries that policies. There is a need to have a of intangibles, even in traditional of the CM to Mr. Kumar — proof of his indispensability. and products that traditionally This revolution is taking place dictate policy framework in most holistic view of policies for eco­ manufacturing companies, wheth­ His command over social groups critical to the alliance have not been perceived as elec­ across products, as information governments. If you take India, in­ nomic development as technology er it be software, research and de­ tronic or software based. availability drives efficiency and dustrial promotion policies look at is becoming a significant enabler velopment or even servicing of remains unimpaired for now, but the inversion of the Information is the new curren­ creates value for customers by encouraging capital formation in most industries. A change in products, are not adequately co­ BJP­JD(U) hierarchy has triggered a new churn that is cy powering economies. The ex­ providing greater control over the from a manufacturing perspec­ policy framework regarding eco­ vered in industrial policies. It is set to reframe politics in Bihar. The near­death expe­ pansion of computing power has product and its surrounding envi­ tive. As technology is driving an in­ nomic development that enables important to include these to en­ rience of the NDA in the recent election might tempe r driven the pace of information ronment. And, this is what impels creasing share of the value add various ministries to work togeth­ courage innovation and techno­ the BJP’s ambitions momentarily, but its plan to cla im gathering and analysis. The new customers to value products that coming from digitisation and data er is essential. A sufficiently empo­ logical development. the pole position in Bihar will inevitably lead to ten­ currency drives processes and de­ have utilised these evolving analytics in products and services wered policy clearing cell could In this evolving policy frame­ sions with its partner. By appointing two Deputy Chief cision­making across a wide array technologies. across industry segments, there ensure a holistic view on policy work, it is important that there is of products and services, making needs to be a way of encouraging across departments of govern­ close cooperation and alignment Ministers, and displacing former DCM Sushil Modi who them more efficient and value ac­ Working in silos capital formation by way of intan­ ment, at the State and the Centre. between the Centre and State to was seen as close to Mr. Kumar, the party has set the cretive for consumers. As governments have focused on gibles in traditionally tangible In terms of attracting invest­ ensure effective implementation ball rolling for a more expansive role. The BJP has also improving the lives of people, they industries. ments, policies have always been on the ground. Some of these kept a lion’s share of ministerial berths and signifi cant Data is a new currency have looked at economic develop­ If you look at the automobile in­ driven by subsidies and incentives thoughts could help us navigate portfolios. Two other allies, the Vikassheel Insaan Party Let us look at a traditional good, ment and industry as catalysts to dustry, policies are governed by but increasingly, in a competitive through an ecosystem that is (VIP) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), have the automobile. A modern auto­ progress. To address the needs of the Heavy Industries and the Sur­ scenario, these are becoming hy­ changing with technology. four members each, and either part y could threaten mobile has 40% of its component various stakeholders, govern­ face Transport Ministries, respec­ giene factors. More significantly, a the survival of the government. Both got a berth each. value from electronic­based pro­ ments have tended to build spe­ tively. However, increasing elec­ nourishing ecosystem for indus­ Srivats Ram is Managing Director, Wheels ducts and a modern electric vehi­ cialised departments and de­ tronification and digitisation of the try, including the hard infrastruc­ India Ltd. Mr. Kumar’s measured response to his party’s show­ ing is meaningful. While the changed reality of num­ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR bers is visible, the realignment that the BJP will seek re­ Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. mains unmapped. One discernible element of the BJP’s To read more letters plans is to chart its own routes to Mr. Kumar’s social RCEP dynamics Supreme Court of India, ■ It is painful that there is who have been forgotten. My violations are put behind the online, scan the QR code constituency. This, and issues in government, will re ­ The very fact that Japan and also falls (Editorial page, ‘selective application’ of lords may know that “70% of bars. It is distressing. quire new terms of engagement between him and the Australia, part of “Protect our Republic, my fundamental principles. prisoners in India are Sukumaran C.V., principals, especially in Palakkad, Kerala BJP. Friction is inherent, but both parties can and Quadrilateral Security lords”, November 16). It is Invariably, as elaborated in undertrials” and that the Delhi, wanting the Board Dialogue exercise, which also a fact that what has the article, favourable overcrowded state of prisons examination to be conducted should develop a proactive working relationship that includes India, signed the aided the acceleration of treatment awaits the ones has been documented. The ■ A court that is supreme is on time. I am unable to optimally pulls in the force of both the Centre and the RCEP agreement shows that this destruction is the who are on the side of the fourth estate is key to the sure to know what cases are understand how fair it is to State governments to plan and execute a rigorous deve­ in international relations, weakest political government. It is worth functioning of democracy, urgent for disposal. Senior write an exam which decides lopment agenda for Bihar. Repeated electoral defeats permanent interests in Opposition this country has recalling the words of the but is it performing its advocates should stand by our future without attending must also force the Opposition parties to relook at their trade and commerce score. seen in years. The number American judge, Irving R. duties? In the case of the the top court on this count. If school in the midst of the mobilisation and organisational strategies. Their role in India faces a Shakespearian of criminals who have been Kaufman: “The Supreme well­known TV anchor, did lawyers themselves find fault pandemic. Although online the opposition should have this larger vision. For the dilemma. In a globalised elected this time to the Court’s only armo[u]r is the the judiciary act because he with the top court under the classes are being conducted, environment, a give and Bihar Assembly is a grim cloak of public trust; it’s a has created the image of garb of citing relief of they are not the real thing. RJD, it is about redesigning its grassroots work to em­ take attitude would have reminder of how much sole ammunition, the being privileged? personal liberty, it could Also, we have not touched brace a wider social constituency; for the Congress, the been more sensible. India needs to evolve as a collective hopes of our Vijanagiri Ravi, open the floodgates to even a single equipment in sole focus must be on building an organisational net­ V. Subramanian, democracy. We may be the society.” A court reduced to Vegavaram, Godavari, Andhra Pradesh excoriate the Supreme our science laboratories. So work that takes into account the State’s peculiar social Chennai world’s largest, but are playing second fiddle to the Court. Perhaps lawyers how does the Board expect dynamics. In the four years to the next Parliament elec­ arguably one of its weakest. executive will sound the ■ The perception is that this ought to convey their us to write a practical exam? tion, there is ample time for the NDA to advance a new Judicial review The voice of the people has death knell for the Republic. important pillar in the misgivings to the judges Even though the syllabus has governance mechanism and the Opposition to develop Over the past few years, the been muted like never Tony Augustine, framework of governance is concerned in private. been reduced by 30%, is it government at the Centre before. The time has come Bengaluru weakening and is ceasing to K. Pradeep, still sufficient? Students are a fresh sense of purpose. The boycott of the swearing­in has systematically chipped for a strong Opposition to be a check to a powerful Chennai under stress. The authorities by the Opposition should have been avoided. Both sides away at the foundations of emerge and counter ■ The writer has expressed executive. In India today, could consider rescheduling must imbibe the realisation that their responsibilities in India’s major institutions undemocratic moves of this concern about others who those who partake in The examination ahead the examination by a month Bihar are particularly heavy, considering the State’s and the guardians of its government. languish, citing the plight of unlawful activities and ought I am a Class 12 student from a or two. daunting development challenges. democracy. God forbid if M. Preethi, activists in the news. But to be behind bars walk free CBSE school. It is worrying Bala, the last bastion, the Bengaluru there are hundreds more while those who flag rights that there are some school Chennai

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