THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2013 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Aam Aadmi's Govt Gharana wetland Established 1965 Harjinder Singh Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Democracy on mend? f subsistence and livelihood is the core issue for the peo- Proloy Bagchi podium at considerable costs to ple then talks of environment, scenic beauty and aesthetics the public. All this is done not Ibecome more or less meaningless. In such like situations Breakthrough in border tension arging into the political only for the main protagonists all the stakeholders seem to be justified for their approach and arena with a bang, the action. A proactive Government approach can help maximum Aam Aadmi Party set to like the governor and the chief ourteen years down the line, the Director Generals B minister and his ministers to be to deal with such situations provided it has the propensity to do of Military Operations of India and Pakistan met for form its first Government has so far shaken the established politi- sworn-in but also for the party so. Fthe first time to talk of modalities how tension, fir- cal class out of its wits. Going to bigwigs and sundry chiefs of var- Gharana wetland is also suffering from this malady.This ing and infiltration at the LoC can be controlled and the the people from door-to-door ious political parties that are con- wetland is surrounded by agriculture lands. It is very natural cease fire agreement of 2003 revived. Lt. Gen. Bhatia and mohalla-to-mohalla, it set a sidered friendly or are potential for the migratory birds to feed on the adjoining crops. But it is allies in forming governments in from Indian side and Maj. Gen. Aamer Riaz from new standard of operating pro- equally natural for the farmers to feel the heat of crop damage. cedure that even the established this era of coalitions. For them, crops are more important than these birds. Whether Pakistani side met at the Pakistani side of Wagah border mainstream parties have noticed Lastly, several kinds of the birds are migratory or local, crop grower first priority is to and deliberated for two hours on the issue of eschewing and admired. The party brought arrangements, from public protect the crops. into play the people's choices in address systems, marquees to firing and tension on the border. Obviously the main con- In such a scenario we can't ignore the farmer but what the democratic process. tentage, transport, refreshments cern of Indian side was to notify Pakistan that Pak mili- Shunning power at the begin- and drinking water, are also made about the birds. Can we ignore them? Have they no right to tary was lending full support and logistics to the infiltra- ning, it chose to go to the people for the foot-soldiers of the party visit Gharana year after year. Are they not doing this activity tors in their recurrent bids to sneak into Indian side for for advice whether it should and the people. It is apparently, a under nature's scheme of things? Is it not the question of their survival? In this situation, is unleashing violence and terrorism in Kashmir. Adhering govern with support of Congress massive public function where from outside. Its decision to sit the main actors are confined to it not the govt. responsibility to step in and manage the situa- to its time tested tactics and traditional mindset, in the treasury benches on the the podium and the people are tion? Govt. may say that Wild Life Department is there to man- Pakistani side was not prepared to entertain the Indian basis of the referendum can be kept at bay, amply and securely age the wetland and take necessary measures. But what is actu- accusation that Pakistan army was involved in assisting debated, but there is no denying barricaded. But, Shivraj broke ally happening on the ground is there for everybody to see. it has set a refreshing trend. infiltration bids of her terrorists. Pakistan's patent argu- that all and hence the news item. Wetland area is shrinking due to encroachments. Visiting The stunning victory at the Sourcing of funds for this mas- ment is that those who want to cross the LoC clandes- national capital, Delhi of a mot- birds' number is decreasing every year. Farmers are not happy. the masses they lost touch with ple, being something out of the sive show of popularity as also And situation is getting from bad to worse. So what is the way tinely are non-state actors. India has sufficiently proved ley group of hitherto mostly political strength is somewhat unknown people getting together the people so much so that when ordinary. out? through various dependable evidences including video Congress Vice-President Rahul It was, obviously, an extraor- blurred as much of it is covered to form AAP has at least shaken under the head of "security" for This issue demands a serious consideration on the part of recording how Pakistani army has been effectively the very foundations of Indian Gandhi happened to say after dinary sight as even ministers, the govt. But why the government only, the people of this the purging reverses at the leave alone chief ministers, of the the governor and other political involved in giving cover to the infiltrates in their bid to politics. With its basic manifesto biggies. The buck, therefore, nec- region will be neglecting their duty if they keep on ignoring of a fight against pervasive cor- hands of the "new-kid-on-the- various States in the country are this wetland which is of immense importance to them. It is sneak into Indian side. Lt. Gen. Bhatia presented block" that he desired to emu- hardly ever seen with the glasses, essarily has to stop at the public ruption and political chicanery, it treasury. really a sorry state of affairs that people are not awakened and detailed evidence in support of his contention which his demolished the ruling Indian late the AAP model and to generally heavily tinted, of their counterpart could not refute. Anyway, the Pakistani side "engage with the people" it was car windows rolled down. They, There is an element of are least interested in their environment. National Congress. Having ruled hypocrisy in the entire exercise. Already most of the wetlands have been eaten away by over Delhi for 15 long years, the taken as a profound statement - especially chief ministers, travel agreed to examine the plethora of evidence handed over so profound that sycophantic in that Indian symbol of power, While for most of the term the human greed and it is the dire need to save the remaining few. Congress took power for granted chief minister or his ministers to them and committed to put an end to any involvement and had become arrogant and noises were made in the Party to the traditional Ambassador man- Jammu district has no place as an ideal tourist spot worth the are hardly ever visible to the of the army if he was convinced. supercilious. And all that was suck up to him. ufactured by Hindustan Motors name. It is the right time for them to act. They need to press people or are hardly ever avail- According to media reports, the meeting seems to crushed by the unexpected rout The "dynastic" party leaders, and made bullet-proof for them, the govt. hard. Their representatives also seem oblivious of at the hustings. in their persistent efforts to take accompanied by a cavalcade of able to them, the swearing-in to their duties. If developed on scientific lines this wetland sur- have been held in friendly atmosphere and issues were hold the public office and to Hitherto, the people were in care of themselves, had clean for- several vehicles, mostly of the rounded by a Zoo can become an attraction for national as well discussed with all seriousness. In particular India raised gotten that a political party in a SUV-type, and zip through the uphold the Constitution is con- a democracy but were practi- as international tourists. the issue of the killing of five soldiers in Poonch sector cally out of it. They went democracy is a mouthpiece of its city streets that are blocked to all ducted in their (people's) rather supportive people and has, there- other traffic - vehicular or pedes- distant presence. For most of the I firmly believe if the govt. has the inclination to handle in unprovoked firing from Pakistan side. It appears that through the motions of electing this issue with utmost sincerity then it should not be that diffi- their representatives to the leg- fore, to always remain "engaged" trian - for their quick, uninter- five-year term they behave like both sides are committed to find ways and means that islatures for making laws and with them. In their wheeling and rupted and safe passage. People maharajas of yore, keeping shut cult as it has been made out to be. The govt. should involve all would help revive cease fire agreement of 2003 in letter enforcing these with equity but dealing for power and pelf the hardly ever see their faces as they in their bungalows or offices or the stakeholders and take the possession of whole of the area and in spirit. It will be noted that India, before retaliating the elected assumed the roles of party leaders had overlooked the keep a safe distance from the bullet-proof vehicles, guarded belonging to this wetland and acquire sufficient surrounding fact that they were where they common man. 24-hours by Kalashnikov- to Pakistani firing across LoC, usually cautioned the feudal lords of yore - area as well.