English Editorials 28.07.2021

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6 EDITORIAL DELHI
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021

THE HINDU
Needed, a more unified Asian voice for Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s future will impact Central Asia and South Asia more than the distant global powers involved with it now
not grow bigger due to a number was also signed the same day, dian boots to the ground in Af
of factors. New Delhi’s original which would give Uzbekistan ac ghanistan, it can support the Af
Dangerous conflagration hesitation in opening talks with

the Taliban, which even Afghanis
cess to the Pakistani seaports of
Gwadar and Karachi, rather than
ghan National Defense and
Security Forces (ANDSF) where it
tan President Ashraf Ghani had Iranian ports. needs it most: in terms of air pow
The clash between Assam and Mizoram’s suggested, has cut India out of the Uzbekistan’s calculations, and er. India’s previous gift of a few
police forces was clearly avoidable current reconciliation process. by extension, those of its other helicopters is far from adequate,
Suhasini Haidar
F
ollowing a dangerous and avoidable escalation of The end of any formal dialogue Central Asian neighbours, are given commitments made as Af
an otherwise dormant border dispute, five police between India and Pakistan since threefold: the first is that prosper ghanistan’s first Strategic Partner
A
s the United States and the 2016 and trade since 2019, have re ity for these landlocked countries 10 years ago, and there must be
men and a civilian from Assam were killed in the
North Atlantic Treaty Or sulted in Pakistan blocking India’s can only flow from access through more that New Delhi can support,
Mizo border town of Vairengte in clashes between pol ganization (NATO) end their overland access to Afghanistan. Afghanistan to the closest ocean, especially in conjunction with oth
ice from the State and their counterparts in Mizoram,
AP
presence in Afghanistan and set India’s alternative route through i.e. the Indian Ocean. Second, that er countries that depend on So
on Monday. The sequence of events, beginning October off a churn in the neighbourhood, Chabahar, though operational, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has all transit through Afghanistan de vietmade arms, including heli
2020, suggests that what began as skirmishes between Central Asia is emerging as a key cannot be viable or costeffective made purposeful moves on Af pends on guarantees of safe pas copters and planes, weaponry,
residents close to the disputed border between Assam’s player that the global Troika of the also long as U.S. sanctions on Iran ghanistan. In 2018, his govern sage from the Taliban, backed by ammunition and spare parts.
Cachar and Mizoram’s Kolasib districts has snowballed United States, Russia and China are in place. India’s boycott of the ment became one of the first coun the group’s mentors in Pakistan.
into a violent confrontation between police and resi are turning to. Three meetings this Chinese Belt and Road Initiative tries to publicly invite a Taliban Third, each of the “Stans” are now Dealing with Pakistan
month, of the Shanghai Coopera (BRI) in 2017, and now tensions at delegation from Doha, Qatar to vi a part of China’s BRI, and tying Finally, South Asia must learn
dents. The events point to a failure of the constitutional
tion Organisation (SCO) contact the Line of Actual Control after the sit, while at the same time he has their connectivity initiatives with from Central Asia’s recent exam
machinery, empowered to deescalate tensions at the group on Afghanistan and SCO De Chinese aggression in 2020, make promoted a number of ambitious Beijing’s will bring the double pro ple in knitting together this region
border. The presence of central paramilitary forces fence Ministers in Tajikistan, and another route to Afghanistan offli trade and connectivity initiatives mise of investment and some more tightly, a task that can only
should have helped maintain the peace, but it is cu the Central and South Asia confe mits. with the Ashraf Ghani modicum of control over Pakistan. be completed with better ties bet
riously not the case. Besides, Assam and Mizoram are rence on regional connectivity in Meanwhile, the U.S. has an government. ween India and Pakistan. New Del
governed by the BJP and its ally, the Mizo National Uzbekistan, are turning the spot nounced a new, surprise forma Shared concerns hi’s furtive discussions with the
Front, respectively, and are part of NorthEast Demo light on the region’s role in dealing tion of a “Quad” on regional con A push for connectivity Given the odds, New Delhi’s room Taliban leadership in Doha make
with the situation in Afghanistan, nectivity — Speaking at the Central and South for manoeuvre with these five little sense unless a less tactical
cratic Alliance, of which the Assam Chief Minister, Hi
and how India could build on that. U.S.UzbekistanAfghanistanPa Asia conference in July, Mr. Mirzi countries on Afghanistan appears and more strategic engagement
manta Biswa Sarma, is a founderconvenor. The politi kistan that does not include India, yoyev spelt out his plans for a limited but not without hope. To with Pakistan is also envisaged.
cal bonhomie should have allowed the respective Chief Factoring in the Taliban and the United States Agency for modern version of the “the an begin with, India and the Central Most importantly, countries of
Ministers to tamp down border tensions and to return Put plainly, events of the past few International Development cient northern trade route known Asian States share common con Central Asia and South Asia need
to the status quo through joint factfinding teams, in years, and the decisions of the (USAID) is conducting trial runs of as the Uttara Patha, connecting cerns about an Afghanistan over to find a more unified voice, as
volving the administrative officials in maintaining the Troika have kept India out of a truck convoys from Tashkent to the IndoGanges Plain with the run by the Taliban and under Pa they have in recent weeks. Afghan
peace over the border issue. Instead, both Chief Minis leading role in Afghanistan. Since Karachi and back. With so many southern territories of the Eura kistan’s thumb: the worries of istan’s future will affect both re
2019, the Troika has met with Pa doors slamming shut, the hope is sian continent through the histori battles at their borders, safe ha gions much more than it will the
ters have been exchanging allegations on Twitter, seek
kistan (Troika plus) in order to dis that the Central Asian window, cal cities of Takshila, Gandhara vens for jihadist terror groups in distant global powers that current
ing the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit cuss Afghanistan’s future, one in with the “Stans” (as the five Cen and Termez.” He spoke of the old side Afghanistan and the spillover ly dominate the debate.
Shah, and using videos to tell a story that suited their which the Taliban — with which tral Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Silk Routes that once bound Cen of radicalism into their own coun Travelling to Kazakhstan in
version of the events — a farcical means of communica New Delhi has had no ties — gains Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Taji tral and South Asia together, and tries. 2015, Prime Minister Modi spoke
tion. This also occurred just days after both Chief Minis an important if not controlling kistan and Uzbekistan are some called Afghanistan the key link in It is necessary for India to work of why the Silk Road that connect
ters (along with others) met with Mr. Shah to discuss role in Kabul. The same powers times referred to) will open new “practical connectivity” for them. with them, and other neighbours ed the two regions faded away.
the resolution of interState border disputes. The unfor that invaded Afghanistan post 9/11, possibilities, but here too, there Significantly, while he mentioned to shore up finances for the go “The end of the Silk Road did not
and declared the Taliban leader are some caveats. the salience of the TermezMazar vernment in Kabul, particularly to just come about from the rise of
tunate loss of lives has led to hardened stances, with Mr.
ship as United Nations Security iSharifKabulPeshawar railroad, ensure that the government struc seabased trade of the new Euro
Sarma announcing that Assam would deploy “4,000 Councildesignated terrorists, are Uzbekistan’s view the TransAfghan railroad to con ture does not collapse. It is only a pean powers,” he said, “It also
commandos to guard its border”, even as Mizoram’s now not only advocating talks with To begin with, it is clear that Tash nect to China’s BRI, and the Inter matter of time before the CO happened because Central Asia
Chief Minister Zoramthanga has maintained that the ca the Taliban, entreating their Pakis kent (Uzbekistan) sees the rise of national North South Transport VID19weary international econo was no longer a bridge between re
sualties followed from the Assam police’s actions. tani hosts of the past two decades the Taliban in a different light from Corridor (INSTC) via the Iranian mies tire of funding Afghanistan, gions, but the new fault line bet
Sectarian tribalism has been the bane of the North to help, but actively paving the New Delhi. After a whirlwind port of Bandar Abbas as key ele as the last donors conference in ween great empires to the east,
eastern States, with underdevelopment acting as a cata way for the Taliban’s return to round of negotiations in his own ments of the “architecture of con Geneva (November 2020) showed. west and south.” Ensuring a simi
lyst in complicating knotty issues over land and other power. region since coming to power in nectivity”, he did not mention the As part of the SCO’s Regional lar rupture is not wrought in Af
India’s efforts to build on trade 2016, where he mended relations Chabahar route that India has es AntiTerrorist Structure (RATS), ghanistan is essential, which today
issues in the region. There is no sureshot and quick so
with Afghanistan, shore up deve and ended border disputes with poused. The UzbekistanPakistan India must also step up its engage has the potential to become that
lution possible to the border disputes between various lopment projects and increase each of the other Central Asian memorandum of understanding ment with the Central Asian coun bridge or the biggest boulder bet
States without a spirit of give and take and a civic en educational and training oppor States, and outreaches to the U.S. on Transit Trade — or the Agree tries on fighting terror. While the ween Central and South Asia.
gagement brokered by the Union government. But for tunities for Afghan youth have and China to shift the traditional ment between Uzbekistan and Pa Narendra Modi government has
that to happen, governments should, first, not condone been appreciated, but these can tilt towards Moscow, Uzbekistan kistan on Transit Trade (AUPTT) — made it clear it will not send In suhasini.h@thehindu.co.in
violence of any kind and restrain partisans engaging in
such activity in their respective States. A resort to one
upmanship will only prolong the disputes and harden
stances. The Home Ministry must ensure that the As
samMizoram border situation is first subject to dees
Weighing down the private unaided college teacher
calation and steps taken to return to the status quo that
As a survey in Tamil Nadu shows, the working conditions, welfare of teachers may have only worsened in the pandemic
prevailed before the skirmishes began in October 2020 working in privateunaided colleg these show that these teachers worsened the livelihood condi
with the cooperation of the respective States. es that are affiliated with the Un had to physically, emotionally, and tions of privateunaided college
iversity of Madras, Chennai. The monetarily exert themselves to teachers, their working conditions
survey was conducted between provide online education during were deplorable even in ‘normal’
Crisis in Tunis June 13 and June 26, 2021. this pandemic. Despite this valo times because of the complete ab
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
The findings show that even be rising effort by privateunaided sence of regulations by the State in

Parliament’s suspension seems a power grab A.P. Arun Kannan & fore the pandemic, privateunaid college teachers, they have not this regard. The Government of
by President, not a response to public anger Kishorekumar Suryaprakash ed college teachers received be been rewarded by their manage Tamil Nadu should consider tak
lowpar salaries and many did not ment. Instead, they have been ing some immediate measures in
T
unisian President Kais Saied’s decision to sack the enjoy any social security benefits. punished with severe pay cuts dur this regard. Some of these are: pay
T
Prime Minister and suspend Parliament, amid wi he COVID19 pandemic has Among 194 respondents, 137 ful ing the pandemic. complete arrears salary to private
despread antigovernment protests, has trig affected every sector in the filled the University Grants Com The survey data revealed that unaided college teachers that have
gered the worst political crisis in the country since the economy in India and across mission (UGC) qualifying criteria through the first half of 202021, been siphoned off by the manage
Arab Spring protests. Among the countries affected by the globe as well. Relatively, the (has PhD or National Eligibility the few States that privatised high less than a third of teachers re ment; reinstate teachers laid off
education sector has managed to Test or State Eligibility Test) to be er education in the early 1980s, ceived the full salary they were en without any cause; reimburse the
the Arab street protests, Tunisia was the only one that
maintain its revenue. Both schools an assistant professor; 72% of has 77% private unaided colleges. titled to. Sadly, 10% of our respon expenditure incurred by teachers
managed to successfully transition from dictatorship to and colleges have transitioned to these qualified teachers received This shows the dominance of pro dents did not receive any salary for online teaching during the
parliamentary democracy. But the North African coun the online education mode to less than ₹25,000 per month and fitmaximising privateunaided during April to June 2020. As col pandemic.
try’s elected rulers never managed to ease its economic serve their students. Under the 5.1% received less than ₹10,000 colleges in higher education. leges have transitioned to online In 2018, Kerala fixed ₹1,750 per
woes, or offer stable governance. Tunisia has had nine pretext of providing online educa per month, while according to the mode, one can argue that the op day and ₹43,750 per month as a
governments since 2011, with its crisishit economy be tion, most private institutions have Seventh Pay Commission entryle Online education as burden erational costs of these colleges standard salary for guest lecturers
ing battered further by the COVID19 outbreak — last managed to collect fees in full. vel consolidated monthly salary It is against this background that must have declined drastically. with UGC qualification and ₹1,600
year, its GDP contracted by 8.8% in real terms. The trig for an assistant professor is we must understand the impact of Further, it is a wellknown fact that per day and ₹40,000 per month
Survey and findings ₹76,809. the COVID19 pandemic on the li private colleges have collected for those without UGC qualifica
ger now is the government’s poor handling of the pan
Though the revenue of private In our survey, we found that on velihood of privateunaided col fees from students. Therefore, tion in aided private colleges. The
demic. The country of 11.8 million has recorded nearly educational institutions has not ta ly 38% and 42% had Employee lege teachers. Privateunaided col there is no justification for reduc Tamil Nadu government may con
18,000 COVIDrelated deaths so far — one of the highest ken a huge hit, the same cannot be State Insurance and paid leave, lege teachers have made every ing the salary of teachers during sider implementing something
per capita death rates in the world. Only 7% of the pop said about the livelihoods of teach respectively. This deplorable con effort to provide service to stu this pandemic. Privateunaided along these lines. Further, the Ta
ulation are fully vaccinated. Last week, the govern ers in private unaided colleges. dition of privateunaided college dents in the online mode. In our colleges have used the pandemic mil Nadu Private Colleges (Regula
ment’s move to speed up vaccination by opening it for During the novel coronavirus pan teachers can be attributed to the survey, 88% of the respondents as an excuse to rob teachers who tion) Act 1976 needs to be re
all above 18 years ended in stampedes and violent inci demic, layoffs and pay cuts have absence of any State regulation of noted one or more of the following have worked hard to teach under viewed and amended to equip
forced several privateunaided col private higher educational institu as the reason(s) for the difficulty very difficult conditions, incurring monitoring agencies such as the
dents. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi sacked the
lege teachers to take up odd jobs tions, including on matters relat they faced in online teaching — considerable monetary expenses Directorate of Collegiate Educa
Health Minister, but public anger refused to subside. to provide for their families. The ing to the working conditions of lack of Internet, lack of room/ and experiencing much stress dur tion and the Regional Joint Direc
On July 25, Tunisia’s Republic Day, protests broke out example of an assistant professor teachers and other employees. space, and lack of quality equip ing this period. torate of Collegiate Education to
and the offices of the ruling party, Ennahda, stormed. in Tamil Nadu who suffered a pay Following neoliberal policies, ment. Further, every respondent safeguard the welfare of teachers
This allowed the President to sack the government. cut in a privateunaided college the Indian state has withdrawn had to incur an expenditure to Making ends meet and nonteaching staff in unaided
President Saied says he stepped in to “save the state”. following the pandemic and who from providing higher education. purchase Internet service. Of the The arbitrary pay cuts have forced private colleges.
But in a country where the wounds of decadeslong dic died while climbing a palm tree — This has resulted in the enormous 194 teachers surveyed, 132 had to several of our respondents to work
he had taken to cutting the leaves growth of private higher educa incur an expenditure to purchase in additional jobs and/or borrow A.P. Arun Kannan is Director at the
tatorship are yet to heal, his move to dissolve an elected
of palm trees to make a living — tional institutions. According to one or more of the following money from informal sources to Loyola Institute of Vocational Education
government would raise concerns rather than comfort. pushed us to survey privateunaid the AllIndia Survey on Higher items: a phone, computer, head survive. These jobs were mostly (LIVE), Loyola College, Chennai.
Both the President and Parliament are popularly elect ed college teachers and to under Education (AISHE), 2020 report, phones. And, 107 respondents re manual informal jobs such as con Kishorekumar Suryaprakash is a PhD
ed. Mr. Mechichi had the backing of Ennahda, the lar stand the impact of the pandemic at all India level, 65% of the total ported experiencing high emo struction work, farm labour, me Scholar at the Department of Economics,
gest party in the suspended Parliament. President on their working and living condi colleges are private unaided col tional distress during this period chanic work, food delivery, etc. University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
Saied, who is an independent, has had a testy relation tions. We surveyed 194 teachers leges. Tamil Nadu, which is one of linked to online teaching work. All While the pandemic may have U.S. The views expressed are personal
ship with Ennahda and the Prime Minister. While the
Mechichi government has clearly failed in tackling the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
COVID19 pandemic, the President’s move to dissolve
To read more letters
Parliament appears more a power grab than a genuine Change in Karnataka decisions. He stood his ground greatly enriched. wildlife photographer too, I online, scan the QR code
attempt to address the country’s problems. Ennahda Politics in India, by and V. Lakshmanan, withstanding much Tharcius S. Fernando, visit the forests of Southern
and at least two other parties have accused Mr. Saied of large, is either Tirupur, Tamil Nadu interrogation by readers. Chennai India a number of times. On blessed with a range of
orchestrating a coup. If they resort to protests, it would castecentric, cinema Seshagiri Row Karry, one such visit, in Tamil biodiversity.
worlddriven or The RE Hyderabad ■ As an ombudsman, Mr. Nadu, I happened to spot a All this now stands
pitch the parties that control Parliament against the
familyoriented. None can I have had the privilege of Panneerselvan added a new rare species of snake, the threatened by a township
President, deepening political instability. The 2014
dispute that the Bharatiya being an invitee and active ■ The very thought that we layer of transparency and Golden or Paradise Flying project that is coming up in
Constitution has called for a constitutional court to set Janata Party blossomed in participant in a ‘Readers’ will be missing his accountability to the Snake. It was on the forest Hoskeri village of Arekaad
tle crises like these, but the court has not been formed Karnataka under Mr. Meet’ held in Hyderabad a thoughtprovoking, editorial functioning of the floor constricting a gecko, panchayat. The proposed
yet. Under the Constitution, the President oversees on Yediyurappa’s leadership. few years ago. As the end of proactive, pragmatic and daily. Despite the value they and I was lucky enough to project is to come up under
ly the military and foreign affairs, while the Prime Mi His community, the the term of Mr. A.S. incisive epistles on Monday, bring to news organisations, document the entire process. the cover of a ‘world
nister is in charge of the daytoday affairs of gover Lingayats, has a strong Pannerselvan as the often highlighting the latest ombudsmen are still It would be interesting to environmental school’ by a
nance. So to avoid a constitutional crisis, the President presence in Karnataka and Readers’ Editor, The Hindu, of what is happening in the relatively rare in the Indian know whether there have Delhibased firm. The
will have to appoint a Prime Minister, who should win this fact cannot be ignored. draws near, I cannot help world of journalism, is sad. A media. His column provided been other sightings. proposed project started its
It is a bit surprising that in but conclude that he has reason many of us turned the insights into journalism. Rahul Tharun, paperwork in 2018, the year
the confidence of the Assembly of the People’s Repre
his farewell speech he been quite successful in pages to read his column is R. Sivakumar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand when Coorg experienced a
sentatives. Mr. Saied should act within his constitution mentioned that the Centre evolving his own approach the excellent command he Chennai catastrophic landslide. The
al limits, recall Parliament and allow the formation of a did not give him a free hand to ensure that “The Hindu has over the language. Planned township destruction of the
legitimate government, which could take steps to ad to effectively discharge his does not stray from its core I had the privilege of being Jewel of the forest Coorg, as a region, is a part environment would be grave.
dress Tunisia’s economic and healthcare woes. duties and did not allow principles and editorial invited by him to readers’ As a student of forestry in of the mountainous terrain N.U. Nachappa Codava,
him to take independent values”. meets and have left them Dehradun and an avid of the Western Ghats and is Madikeri, Karnataka
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
DELHI
OPED 7
Let’s make room for the river Dalits’ fist of fury
The floods in Europe are a wakeup call for us to adopt the Dutch mantra, ‘live with water, build with nature’ Recent portrayals of Dalits in cinema are agnostic to
Ambedkar’s political principles and social ethics
marked to store excess rainwater.
Drains must be built for diverting wa present Ambedkarite cultural aesthetics and
ter into these storage units. This will Dalits’ political vision on screen.
relieve the stress on the existing The recent portrayals supplement the po
drainage infrastructure. The stored pulist attributes of Tamil cinema and stand
water can later be discharged back agnostic to Ambedkar’s political principles
Venu Rajamony into the drainage channel once the and social ethics. After the Russian revolu
high water subsides. The United Na Harish S. Wankhede tion, while many western educated elites
tions Development Programme were influenced by Marxist political ideology
“There are no words in the German World BankEuropean Union Post and wanted to test socialist ideas in Indian
language for this devastation... it is a Disaster Needs Assessment report Portraying a Dalit character as the protago conditions, Ambedkar showed only a passive
surreal, eerie situation,” German prepared for Kerala after the 2018 nist is a significant development in Tamil ci appreciation towards it. He appreciated the
Chancellor Angela Merkel said when floods pointed out that the drainage nema. Dalits are now shown as courageous socialist, transformative agenda to address
she visited the regions in Germany capacity of the rivers and canals of men performing fantastic heroic deeds. In class inequality; however, he disassociated
hardest hit by the floods which oc the State must be increased by creat Kabali, the Dalit is the leader of Malaysian himself from the advocates of revolutionary
AFP
curred as a result of heavy rains bet ing more room for the water to flow. migrants. In Kaala, he is the goodhearted or anarchic violence against the state or the

ween July 12 and 15. It called for removing obstructions mafia don who challenges the authority of dominant elites. He understood that the Da
nally reviewed the joint efforts under communicate the warnings to the and encroachments from existing the ruling class in Mumbai. In Asuran, he is lits were the most powerless among the Hin
No escape for any country way for longterm flood resilience. wider population. The rain and water channels, the proper mainte an angry man who uses violence to protect dus and any violent challenge to the ruling
A month’s rain poured in just 24 Superior organisation, better pre floods happened so fast that there nance of such channels and creating his family against feudal lords. In Karnan, he classes would only invite further alienation,
hours in the worstaffected areas of paredness and an advanced flood was no time to evacuate all residents additional channels for water to flow. is a village rebel who kills a police inspector subjugation and brutal repression.
Germany and Belgium. This caused management system helped the to safety and fully deploy the formid In the short term, strengthened in a revengeful act of justice. These are vio More than imagining a violent conflict bet
multiple rivers to burst their banks Netherlands, with its centuries of ex able rescue and relief infrastructure disaster readiness, planning and lent stories about Dalits’ social struggles, as ween the Dalits and upper caste Hindus, Am
and flood parts of the two countries perience in dealing with floods, to that they possessed. There are alrea preparation will help us deal with pirations and quest for justice. In these films, bedkar wanted to build a democratic dia
as well as the Netherlands, Luxem avoid casualties. But many towns dy demands that such warnings must sudden, intense rain and consequent the Dalit characters emerge as the equal clai logue to achieve a better conception of the
bourg and Switzerland. It is believed were submerged. Thousands of peo be communicated to the general pu floods. Climate change and global mants of popular heroic virtues. modern state and civil society. His primary
that these areas of Europe have not ple had to be evacuated. Floodwaters blic in simple language. Rather than warming will continue to cause ex task was to bring an enlightened conscious
witnessed such heavy rainfall for breached a dike and entered the forecast the millimetres of rain ex treme climatic events. Across the A beautiful metaphor ness amongst the Dalits so that they can
more than a century. The floods town of Meerssen. The Dutch mili pected, conveying specific informa world, countries are being confront In Pa Ranjith’s Sarpatta Parambarai, the he cherish their rights as citizens and claim va
showed that climate change spares tary, however, managed to close the tion regarding the extent of damage ed with situations of either too little ro Kabilan (Arya) stands distinct from earlier rious entitlements. Ambedkar’s greater goal
none. Even if a country has adequate breach using hundreds of sandbags. to property and life would likely en or too much water and droughts in Dalit protagonists. We see Kabilan first as a was not to eliminate the social elites or de
resources and advanced infrastruc Chancellor Merkel, Dutch Prime courage affected communities to re terspersed with floods. Rainfall has part of an audience at a boxing game. Then feat them in physical battles but to introduce
ture (physical as well as organisation Minister Mark Rutte and other lead main alert and respond quickly. become unpredictable. While na from an underdog boxer he overcomes so the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity
al), it can find no escape from ex ers were quick to attribute the cause tional and State disaster manage cial obstacles to become the ultimate cham in society. The Dalit social and political as
treme climatic events. Reports say of the floods to climate change and Lessons for India ment authorities have grown in expe pion of the game. The film thus escapes the sertion must be peaceful, ethical, and en
the death toll in Germany and Belgi call for urgent action to arrest global The floods in Europe call attention to rience, competence and typical social burden of the Dalit hero and gaged with the principles of social justice. In
um has crossed 214. Hundreds more warming. Experts say the more CO2 the global need for countries to im professionalism, there is need for a shows Kabilan as a young sportsperson who the postAmbedkar period, Kanshi Ram used
are unaccounted for, and authorities the world emits into the atmosphere, plement ecologically sensitive flood higher degree of coordination and plays the game with dedication and grit. Ka constitutional and democratic apparatuses
are still struggling to restore normal the warmer will be the air tempera protection measures. The Dutch preparation across all levels of go bilan does not use violence for revenge. In to mobilise the DalitBahujan people for
cy. A shocked flood victim told a re ture. Warmer air holds more mois have gone beyond their conventional vernment. Practice drills need to be stead, the competitive game of boxing bringing about political change. However,
porter that he thought such disasters ture and results in excess rainfall, dependence on dikes, dams, walls conducted in floodprone areas. We emerges as a beautiful metaphor to repre such powerful figures and their movements
happened only in Asia. which leads to flooding. Additionally, and gates to protect themselves from need to test the effectiveness of flood sent social conflicts, clan pride and personal are yet to find respectable presence on the
Heavy rainfall within a short pe increasing temperatures at the poles floods. Their current disaster resi warnings. The warnings should be in passions. Kabilan is not a revengehungry silver screen. Instead, the recent Dalit prota
riod of time resulted in overflowing result in slower movement of storms lience mantra is to live with water, local languages and in simple terms. young man but a committed disciple of his gonists we see are of macho males furiously
rivers, canals, and other water bo in the midlatitudes. As a result, build with nature and make room for Today, many are wondering how clan’s boxing coach Rangan (Pasupathy) and fighting evil caste supremacy.
dies flooding many towns and cities. storms linger longer at a specific the river. They champion creating they can learn from the Dutch expe enters the ring only to protect the dignity of Ambedkar’s political ideas stand distinct
The scenes of roads being washed place. The combination of a slow adequate space for rivers to overflow rience in preparing for floods and his people. Though the violence in the box from the violent masculinity that has been
away, houses getting inundated, and moving storm and the presence of by protecting floodplains from hu dealing with their aftermath. But the ing ring showcases raw masculinity, it is util idealised in Indian cinema’s action genre.
stranded people being evacuated by surplus moisture in the atmosphere man interference, deepening river Dutch themselves are wisely not per ised only to suggest that even ghettoised pe The emerging Dalit’s heroic avatar too ap
helicopters, earth movers and life results in intense rainfall in one loca beds and creating alternate channels mitting themselves any compla ople can enter into any game and emerge pears as a tacit mimicry of the masculine
boats were no different from what is tion within a short period of time. In for excess water. After two major cence. Conscious of their vulnerabil victorious. Kabilan’s punches demonstrate male fantasy that mainstream Tamil cinema
normally witnessed in India during 2018, Kerala, for example, witnessed floods in 1993 and 1995, the Dutch ity to water, they maintain a spirit of that human spirit and passion cannot be im has produced all these years. While there are
such disasters. It bore uncanny re 414 mm of rain in just three days bet embarked on several projects to wi eternal vigilance to floods. Reflecting prisoned by any class or community. Dalit characters in cinema now, most por
semblance to what Kerala expe ween August 15 and 17. Rainfall for den riverbanks and reshape the this approach, the Dutch Prime Mi The new Dalit hero as an aggressive man is trayals endorse the dominant cultural narra
rienced in August 2018. Not surpris the period of August 1 to 19, 2018, in areas around rivers. nister has exhorted his countrymen different from the stereotypical representa tive that celebrates hedonistic aspirations,
ingly, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Kerala was 164% more than normal. The floods in Europe serve as a to learn from the recent disaster and tions of him as brutalised. However, these militant violence and male superiority. The
Vijayan reacted to the situation in Eu Several have asked: what did the wakeup call to us in India to adopt see what more can be done rather new films only change the social location of emerging Dalit cinematic genre can do better
rope. He expressed condolences and Netherlands do right in dealing with pragmatic policies and practices that than stay satisfied that major damage the conventional hero; they don’t radically if it also challenges the populist narrative
asked the Indian community in Eu the floods and what did the others do are nature friendly. We must recog and loss of lives was prevented. alter the idea of the popular hero. The Dalit structure and liberates cinema from its pa
rope to stand in solidarity with the wrong? The advanced flood warning nise that we will have to learn to live hero appears as an improvised version of the triarchal gaze. Sarpatta Parambarai is not
flood victims. He also recalled with system of Germany (which includes a with water in the long term. Flood Venu Rajamony is former Ambassador of mainstream hero as he is also depicted as a an ideal addition here but it is a promising
gratitude the technical assistance ex network of sensors to measure river prone areas should be identified, and India to the Netherlands and co-author of tormented man. Though these characters of move towards breaking the Dalit hero’s fan
tended by the Netherlands to the water levels in real time) did forecast projects initiated on an urgent basis ‘What We Can Learn from the Dutch: ten play under the shadows of Dalit symbols tasy for violence and revenge.
State following the 2018 floods and heavy rains and the possibility of to create room for rivers. Lowrisk Rebuilding Kerala Post 2018 Floods’. This like B.R. Ambedkar’s photograph or Budd
the visit of the Dutch King and Queen floods. But local authorities were un areas such as playgrounds, maidans, article has been written with inputs from ha’s statue, we are yet to see an authentic Harish S. Wankhede is an assistant professor at the
to Kerala in 2019 when they perso able to respond rapidly enough and or agricultural fields should be ear Rakesh N.M., an architect in the Netherlands portrayal of a Dalit protagonist who can re Centre for Political Studies, JNU, New Delhi
Needed: an antitrafficking law
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CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
DATA POINT
Human trafficking is a crime in itself, but it is also FROM THE ARCHIVES
the propeller of several other crimes FIFTY YEARS AGO JULY 28, 1971
Kailash Satyarthi survivors. This is achievable if the Bill Apollo15 and Moon landing

has the necessary checks and balanc
Sita was 13 years old when she was es against potential misuse of power The Apollo15 Astronauts successfully fired
trafficked. Her parents worked in a by agencies, periodic reviews of the their main spacecraft engine for one second
tea garden in Assam for meagre wag law, and adequate allocation of re in a special test tonight [Space Centre,
es. She was trafficked to a placement sources for effective implementation. Houston, July 27] clearing the way for a lu
agency in New Delhi, and bought for The government must include these nar landing attempt on Friday. There is a
about ₹20,000 as a domestic worker crucial provisions in the Bill and facil short circuit somewhere in the engine’s elec
by a couple. Sita was not paid a single itate its smooth passage in the cur trical system. If the engine had not fired, as
rupee. Instead, she was retrafficked, rent session of Parliament. tronauts David Scott, James Irwin and Alfred
raped, and exploited by employers Worden would have abandoned the landing
and traffickers. Sita’s father and I A problem worsened by COVID goal and conducted an alternate lunar orbit
found the young girl trapped in a COVID19 has further intensified the scientific mission. Mission Commander Da
house in Delhi three years later. But need for the law. Traffickers are tak vid Scott sounded jubilant and relieved. Mis
she did not step out when we found ing advantage of prolonged school sion Control said the test proved that the
her. She hid behind a wall, crying. “I closures and loss of family livelihood. trouble with the engine system was only so
cannot show my face to my father. I BBA with government agencies has mething “which might be a little annoying.”
am impure now. I want to kill my rescued almost 9,000 children from Slightly more than halfanhour before the
self,” she said. trafficking since the first lockdown. firing, Apollo15 passed the halfway point of
This is the reality of thousands of In comparison, about half this num its outward journey, when it was 209,354
women and children from the poor ber of children were rescued during km. from both earth and moon. Experts at
est sections of our society. No nation the same time period of 14 months Mission Control will need time to evaluate
can call itself civilised if it tolerates preceding the pandemic. The gravity the engine burn. But Flight Director Glynn
the buying and selling of its daught of the situation cannot be under Lunney said earlier today that if the power
ers. Of what meaning is the wealth, mined. We will not recover from the plant fired as planned, the astronauts would
power or progress of a nation if its effects of the pandemic without the press on with the landing. Astronauts Scott
children are traded as though in me wherewithal to address its human and Irwin are to land at the base of the Apen
dieval slave trade, at a lower price impact, which comes with this law nine mountains, the tallest on the moon, to
than cattle? and its associated budgets. search for clues to the birth of the solar sys
Human trafficking is a crime in it tem.
A comprehensive Bill self, but it is also the propeller of sev
Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and eral other crimes. It creates a parallel
various civil society groups have black economy which fuels child la A HUNDRED YEARS AGO JULY 28, 1921
campaigned for decades for a strong bour, child marriage, prostitution,
law to end this menace of human bonded labour, forced beggary, drug Alleged bribery
trafficking. In 2017, Sita and thou related crimes, corruption, terrorism
sands of survivors like her marched and other illicit businesses. The ar SubInspector Bula Singh’s appeal against
in the Bharat Yatra alongside stu chitects of our Constitution esta his conviction for bribery was rejected in the
dents, governments, the judiciary, blished the severity of the crime of Sessions Court today [Amritsar, July 26]. In
multifaith leaders, businesses and ci trafficking by making it the only of an elaborate judgment dealing minutely
vil society to demand for such a law. fence punishable under the Constitu with the facts of the case the Sessions Judge
We covered 12,000 km with over 1.2 tion of India itself, besides untoucha finds that the direct evidence of witnesses as
million people on foot with the single bility. A strong antitrafficking law is to demanding and payment of bribe is cor
demand that India must pass a com the moral and constitutional respon rect and reliable, and that circumstantial
prehensive antitrafficking legisla sibility of our elected leaders, and a evidence clearly supports the statement of
tion. The passionate chants of these necessary step towards nationbuild direct witnesses and that the offence
brave hearts who survived trafficking ing and economic progress. It is non charged against the applicant has been
still reverberate in my ears, “Bikne ko negotiable for the realisation of an In clearly established. As to the sentence the
taiyaar nahi hum, lutne ko taiyaar dia that our Constitutionmakers en Sessions Judge says: Considering the appli
nahi hum (We are not ready to be visioned, our freedom fighters cant’s certificates of character and his posi
sold, we are not ready to be stolen)”. struggled for, our soldiers die for, and tion, responsibility and duty as a SubIn
The Government of India has pro our children deserve. India is step spector in charge of a Police station, the
posed the Trafficking in Persons (Pre ping into its 75th year of Indepen sentence passed by the Lower Court is suita
vention, Care and Rehabilitation) dence. There can be no greater gift to ble viz. nine months rigorous imprisonment
Bill, 2021. This Bill aims to tackle all India than the freedom of our chil and Rs. 1,000 fine or in default three months
aspects of trafficking including the dren. I call on Parliament to urgently rigorous imprisonment. The accused has
social and economic causes of the pass a strong antitrafficking law. however been admitted to bail of Rs. 5,000
crime, punishment to traffickers, and by the High Court, Lahore, pending the deci
the protection and rehabilitation of Kailash Satyarthi is a Nobel Laureate sion of the revision application.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
CHENNAI
6 THINK BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • JULY 28 • 2021
0
xyz
wednesday, july 28, 2021

It’s like killing the golden goose
Strengthening steel Why divest stake in LIC, which covers people, uses its funds for economic development, and is huge funds support to govt?
PSM RAO going to cause in the long run. It is and other government guaranteed
PLI scheme for specialty steel is well thought-out, not at all reasonable to sell the LIC securities aggregated ₹24.01lakh
I
f an enterprise with a ₹5crore stake, the family silver, for the fiscal crore.
should be backed by quick approvals and funding investment fetches a ₹2,500 deficit needs. LIC is into various other activities
crore annual dividend, gener Even a cursory look at the birth as well: it owns LIC Housing Finance
T
he Centre’s Production Linked In ates ₹6lakh crore earning, and evolution of LIC shows how Ltd (with ₹2.10lakh crore outstand
yields ₹10,000 crore tax and helps ludicrous is the idea of easing ing loans as of March 31, 2020), LIC
centive (PLI) scheme for steel has
accumulate ₹31lakhcrore assets, monopoly control on it. Private in Mutual Fund Asset Management
been a long time coming, but it ap would it be prudent to sell its stake, surance did not work in public in Company Ltd, LIC Pension Fund Ltd,
pears to be both welltimed and well even though the social benefits out terest during the pre and early post LIC Cards Services Ltd and IDBI Bank.
thoughtout. Today, India’s leading integrated of that enterprise — like efficiently Independence years. The very first
steel players are in good enough financial serving 29 crore people and provid life insurer, Oriental Life Insurance Disinvestment support
ing direct employment to 13,00,000 Company, set up in Calcutta in 1818, At least one thing that should deter
shape to dust off their longpending capex — are no consideration? ‘No, not all’, served only the European com the government from the LIC disin
plans. After an extended downcycle where the any diligent entrepreneur would munity. This and many other for vestment is the support it gets for its
sector’s profitability was battered by poor assert. eign companies did not cover Indi the other PSU disinvestments; LIC
prices, overcapacity and excessive debt, India’s But the government, which has ans’ lives at all. It required concerted purchases a substantial portion of
been garnering all these and many efforts by persons like Mutty Lall the stake in other PSUs. LIC was allot
large integrated steel players have emerged more benefits from the Life Insur Seal to make the British companies ted 4.4 per cent of the 5 per cent di
stronger this past year after trimming debt ance Corporation of India (LIC), is in agree to insure Indians’ lives. Approval of employees must be sought for any stake sale in LIC B VELANKANNI RAJ vested in ONGC in 2012; 60 per cent
and acquiring facilities from weaker players a hurry to sell a part of its stake. The (₹6,000 crore) of the NMDC’s stake
under bankruptcy proceedings. A fortuitous Cabinet Committee on Economic Private frauds 37) remains intact. Despite minimal stands at ₹56.86lakhcrore, has (of ₹9,928 crore) in 200910; and
Affairs gave its inprinciple approval Before nationalisation, 25 insurance government support and private 1,14,498 employees besides ₹4,263 crore of NTPC’s ₹8,480 crore.
upturn in the global steel cycle and India’s de
for an IPO (Initial Public Offer) and companies went into liquidation, competition since 1999, LIC’s 10,80,809 active agents out of a total Other purchases include: SAIL (71
mand holding up despite Covid, have the actual sale is most likely to start 80 did not even file their statutory growth has been phenomenal. Its of 12,08,826 (as of March 31, 2020), per cent in 2013), BHEL (₹2,685 crore
bolstered capacity utilisation for the large during the last quarter of the cur returns, 245 life and 108 general in market share, in terms of number of which means it provides direct em in 2014), Coal India Ltd (₹7,000
players. Ratings agency CRISIL estimates that rent fiscal (JanuaryMarch 2022). surance companies failed the poli policies issued, in March 2021 was ployment to 13.23 lakh persons. crore), Indian Oil Corporation
armed with operating profit margins of 3233 The government maintains that cyholders. The Vivian Bose Commis 81.04 per cent and and by premium Although the government gets (₹8,000 crore) and GIC (₹8,000
it only wants to go for an IPO and sion, set up during Nehru’s time, amount, 64.74 per cent. only 5 per cent of the surplus, leav crore) in 2015; New India Assurance
per cent this fiscal, large players are likely to not for a privatisation. But making a noted many other irregularities like The customer service of LIC has ing 95 per cent to the policyholders, Company (₹6,500 crore, 2017) and
double their planned capex in the next 34 dent in the government’s mono money laundering and false claims been excellent even in 1993 when it got a dividend of ₹2,697.74 crore HAL (₹2,900 crore, 2018). Also, LIC
years. The PLI scheme has, therefore, come at poly through the IPO would be of big business houses and their ac MARG’s survey was employed by the in 201920. The net total income was bought 51 per cent of the stake in the
the right time. nothing but the beginning of the commodating sister concerns in RN Malhotra Committee; 97 per ₹6,15,882.94 crore. The taxes LIC beleaguered IDBI Bank in 2019.
behemoth’s privatisation. the insurance business. cent of the respondents rated the paid that year amounted to Thus, LIC is not only providing ef
Scan & Share Rather than hand out Considering its unparalleled Thus, to protect the public in service good/excellent. ₹10,225.24 crore. ficient life insurance service to the
blanket subsidies for a com achievements, in terms of not only terest, LIC was formed, just with ₹5 LIC has eight zonal offices, 113 divi Besides being the biggest institu people but utilising people’s money
moditised product, the the enormous social benefits it has crore capital, in 1956, amalgamat sional offices, 2,048 branches 1,526 tional investor in the country for the country’s economic develop
Centre has targeted its PLIs generated but the sup ing 245 private entities, satellite offices and 1,178 miniof (₹30.70lakhcrore as of March 31, ment besides giving huge funds
port it has provided to which included 154 Indian fices in the country (March 3, 2020). 2020), LIC gives funds support to support to the government.
at very specific grades of Scan & Share
the exchequer during dif and 16 foreign insurance It has branches in Fiji (Suva and Lau the government in a big way. Dur So, the present government has
specialty steel with heavy ficult times, does not LIC firms and 75 provident toka), Mauritius (Port Louis) and the ing 201920 it subscribed to no right to sell the stake without the
import dependence. Spe qualify to be on the top of fund societies. UK (Wembley) and joint ventures in ₹1,78,717.61crore worth of Govern approval of the people, in general,
cialty steel today makes up 4 million tonnes of exclusion list for privat Although the capital Bahrain, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, ment of India securities and and the workforce of the organisa
India’s 6.7 million tonne steel imports and just isation? But the enorm was enhanced to ₹100 Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh as also ₹1,28,483.62 crore of State govern tion, in particular. It is not correct
ous potential of the crore, it was not an extra a foreign whollyowned subsidiary ments’ borrowings. During the for the government to kill the goose
8 per cent of domestic steel capacity is dedic milch cow (LIC’s IPO burden; the LIC internally in Singapore. same year, it invested ₹52,297.79 that lays the golden eggs or the ka-
ated to it. By offering incentives worth just alone is pencilled in to fetch around generated the sum. The present in With its ₹31lakhcrore balance crore in the social sector: Power, madhenu that fulfils all its wishes.
₹6,322 crore, the Centre hopes to induce capex ₹1lakh crore of the ₹1.75lakh crore crease of ₹25,000 crore authorised sheet, LIC is the country’s second housing, water supply and sewer
of ₹40,000 crore and output of ₹2.5lakh disinvestment target) and the ur capital, too, doesn’t serve any useful largest financial services institution age, roads, bridges and railways. The writer is a development economist
gent need for funds makes the gov purpose so long as the sovereign next only to SBI with ₹39.51lakh The investments, as of March 31, and commentator on economic and
crore. In designing the scheme, the Centre has ernment blind to the damage it is guarantee to policyholders (Section crore assets. LIC’s sum assured 2020, in Central, State, social sector social affairs
taken cues from its other PLI experiments. Al
lowing existing players to avail themselves of
PLIs for brownfield capacities is a pragmatic
move to get the facilities up and running
quickly. So is the flexibility allowed to compan
ies to defer their initial targets by up to two
years to deal with project setbacks. Given the
ESG — a value ecosystem for corporates
poor financials of most secondary steel produ Fulfilling ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’ norms will improve business performance, credit ratings and financial returns
cers, it is possible that the PLIs will be
cornered by a few large integrated players. But M SRIKANTH/KG SURESH strategy. Topline growth of a com ‘purposedrivenlife’ among the em vesting community in India in gen
pany is ensured if it addresses emer ployees so as to excel in their jobs. eral, and ESGoriented market in
I
this would be not be a bad thing for scale eco n June, Crisil released the ESG ging environment and social needs Better labour relations, and em particular.
nomies and global competitiveness. So, the (Environmental, Social and or enters into unserved/under ployee satisfaction enhance the Given the higher returns and
Centre should look to relax the perplayer PLI Governance) scorecard for 225 served customer segments by offer overall returns to the stakeholders lower volatility in ESGcompany
cap of ₹200 crore per year, should the need listed companies across 18 sec ing green products and services, by preventing strikes, lockouts, etc. stocks, retail investors may also find
tors, redefining corporate India’s even at a premium. Reducing costs/risks: As per the it an attractive proposition. India
arise.
approach to risk management for Enhanced public image: As it is UNPRI’s data, investment in non can reach its avowed goal of $5 tril
Policymakers do need to bear in mind sustainable value creation. Ever perceived that ESGcompliant com ESG companies could bear up to 28 lion economy by 2025 if the corpor
though that salesbased monetary incentives since the introduction of the panies are value creators, they have per cent more risk annually than ate world embraces ESG with an
do not really help investors surmount land ac United Nations Principles for Re ease of access to resources — nat that of investment in ESGinteg open mind.
quisition controversies or environmental con sponsible Investing (UNPRI) in ural, financial, human talent, etc — rated companies in the same indus Going forward, ESGcompliant
2006, the ESG framework has been at a lower cost. While nine Indian tries. Fulfilment of ESG norms such MSMEs may be patronised by the in
cerns that have left many a project stillborn. recognised as an inextricable link of companies collectively mobilised as redress of shareholder grievance, vestors thereby making a power
Sustainable practices will pay off ISTOCK
They may need to smooth the road on this modern day businesses. $2.33 billion by issuing green bonds, human rights and gender diversity shift from ‘bankled economy’ to
score. Banks, having burnt their fingers in this The surge in global sustainable global demand for these bonds on ESG index. For instance, a com of the companies will result in ‘capital marketled economy’. En
sector, are also likely to be wary of funding investment flows (assets under crossed $1 trillion during FY21. Thus, pany’s contribution to climate fewer penalties and enforcement ergy efficiency among MSMEs and
management rose from $6 trillion ESG is critical to fund raising and change through use of renewable actions. Besides, nonobservance of financial inclusion in accordance
new capex at this juncture. To ensure ample in 2006 to $110 trillion in May 2021) free access to other resources is energy, eoffice and biodiversity can ESG may negatively impact the mar with the SDGs by 2030 will be real
funding, the Centre may thus need to expedite suggests that ESG is here to stay and equally important in countries like reduce operating costs, and en ket price of the company shares. ised if the ESG is followed in letter
its DFI (development financial institution) will act as a safeguard for a com India wherein companies face stiff hance its longterm sustainability. Better compliance with regulat and spirit.
idea or consider a specialised funding agency pany’s longterm success. Accord resistance from local communities Optimising capital expendit- ory guidelines: Companies follow In sum, companies have reached
ing to a McKinsey report (2019), a while taking up new projects in ure: According to the Crisil report, ing the ESG framework may have a tipping point wherein the
for steel on the lines of PFC for power projects.
strong ESG proposition translates their reserved areas. Posco steel about 80 per cent of the institu greater strategic freedom and are Covid19 is a wakeup call for build
Steelmakers, on their part, need to reduce into superior business perform plant in Odisha is a classic example tional investors intend to integrate free from regulatory pressures ing riskresilient businesses. As the
their import dependence for raw materials ance, better credit ratings, and in this context. ESG with their decisionmaking which may earn support/subsidies corporates don’t just function in a
and ruthlessly prune costs so that when the higher financial returns. Long-term sustainability: Ad process. Conformity to ESG from the government. vacuum, there is a compelling need
PLIs run out, their specialty steel facilities A look at how ESG creates value herence to ESG framework encour guidelines will optimise capital ex to evaluate their sustainable, re
for corporates and their stakehold ages companies to search for more penditure of the companies by en The way forward sponsible, and ethical practices
stand on their own feet. ers: communities, customers, em sustainable investment opportun hancing return on investment and As on date, UNPRI regulations are in along with their financial metrics.
ployees, governments, investors, ities that will create competitive ad minimising their stranded invest vogue across 50 countries. The Ko
regulators, and suppliers. vantage in the long run. The com ments in the projects with environ tak Committee on corporate gov Srikanth is Associate Professor and
Growth in revenue: Aligning panies with lower carbon mental concerns/governance ernance (2017), introduction of Director (Finance), DDU-GKY, National
30/30: THREE DECADES OF REFORMS RAVIKANTH with the ESG principles helps com emissions, waste reduction, op issues. Nifty 100 ESG Index (2018), and Institute of Rural Development and
panies to expand existing markets timum waterusage, higher em Increasing employee pro- launch of Business Responsibility Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, and Suresh
and provide new avenues for ployment generation and relatively ductivity: Integration of ESG with and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR; is Associate Professor, ICFAI Business
growth as part of their blue ocean better disclosures will score high the company’s ecosystem instils a 2021) by SEBI augur well for the in School, Hyderabad. Views are personal.
LET TERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
The reform architects Rao shielded him from motivated low interest rate regime at a global cated premises — which would re Spying scandal

Apropos ‘Reliving the landmark attacks from the opposition, in level are not attractive. quire only minor alterations at the The Forbidden Stories consortium
1991 economic reforms’ (July, 27), and out of Parliament. The present Also, money which flows into In most — and carry on their opera and Amnesty International tell us
the fact that Manmohan Singh Congress leadership may not ac dia through the FPI route being tions. that the Israeli tech firm NSO
started working as Finance Minis knowledge Rao’s role in the 1991 re ‘hot money’, once the US starts The new incumbents can also at Group’s spyware Pegasus, inten
ter even before the Council of Min forms, but generations of Indians, pursuing a tight money policy, it tract the customers of the closed ded to “collect data from the mo
isters was formally announced especially the millennials, owe the will have an impact on forex flows bank branches as most customers bile devices of specific individuals,
shows the backing he had from duo an eternal debt of gratitude. of all emerging economies includ value proximity. suspected to be involved in serious
then Prime Minister Narasimha V Jayaraman ing India. Katuru Durga Prasad Rao crime and terror,” has been ‘sys
Rao. The situation was so grim that Chennai With India being one of the top Hyderabad tematically abused for years’ in In
India’s forex reserves had plunged 10 buyers of US treasuries, the re dia and many other countries. Pe
to a record low, barely enough to Forex reserves turns are not commensurate with A strong leader gasus has hit India’s democracy
meet the nation’s import require This refers to “The forex bonanza is the volumes. Hence, there is a need This refers to ‘Yediyurappa steps like a storm of Poseidon.
ments for a month. not a cause for celebration’ (July to rejig the composition of forex down as Karnataka CM’ (July 27). Ir France has opened an investiga
Apart from the Iraq invasion of 27). Even though India’s reserves reserves to maximise returns. respective of his alleged shortcom tion into the allegations of spying
Kuwait, which caused crude oil are considered to be third largest Srinivasan Velamur ings he held his own among the di on several French journalists.
prices to double, India’s political in Asia after China and Japan, it is Chennai vergent political factions, The new regime in Israel has
instability, too, with four leader the composition of reserves lead communities and religious sects. also set up a commission to review
ship changes in three years, made ing to stability that matters the Boon for private banks He enabled the BJP snatch power the allegations of misuse of the
foreign investors jittery enough to most. For instance, while China Apropos ‘PSBs vacating branches from the Congressled coalition. NSO Group’s phone surveillance
pull out their funds. and Japan’s reserves are based on open doors for other lenders’ (July The BJP is yet to learn from its ex software, Pegasus.
The RaoSingh duo skilfully de export surpluses, the same is not 27). The premises being vacated by perience in West Bengal, which India, being in the league of the
fused the crisis, in the process, set the case with India. public sector bank branches will showed that elections are won by top 10 user nations, too, should or
ting the economy on a growth Though foreign currency asset be ideal for private sector banks strong State leaders and not by der a thorough inquiry into the
path, creating huge employment constitutes more than 67 per cent looking to do business in the area. Modi magic alone. murky spying scandal.
opportunities for the youth. If of total reserves, the returns on Rather than create new infrastruc YG Chouksey Haridasan Rajan
Singh was the architect of reforms, such assets due to the prevailing ture, they can move into the va Pune Kozhikode, Kerala
Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., and Printed by D. Rajkumar at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209. Group Editorial Officer: Krishna Prasad. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528
CM . ..... .... ...

YK
CHENNAI
BusinessLine
WEDNESDAY • JULY 28 • 2021 THINK 7
The space ride fantasy

At the price of a cinema ticket in future?
Urban co-op banks in ICU, post-Covid
outer space flying gimmicks are a But RBI’s direct supervision is welcome and may get the UCBs back on their feet
C GOPINATH
sideshow in businesses where
they are hoping to get very large GANGA NARAYAN RATH/MANAS R DAS national committee, headed by a current net worth of the UCBs,
AMERICAN PERISCOPE government contracts for space former RBI Deputy Governor, NS compared to 42 per cent in
T
exploration. Taking the flights he Cooperative Credit Vishwanathan, to formulate “ef 201920.
O
n July 20, Jeff Bezos, themselves is the best way to Structure (CCS) in India fective measures for faster rehab
founder of Amazon demonstrate the safety of their is broadly made up of ilitation and resolution of UCBs The way forward
Inc., along with three technology. urban and rural cooper and also assess their potential for Recent amendments giving the
others took a 10 atives. The financial health of consolidation in the sector”. The central bank more regulatory and
minute flight into outer space that US funding Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), group was also tasked with ex supervisory leeway will probably
allowed them to experience a few It is also useful to reflect on how far numbering about 1,500, has been amining the need for differential encourage the UCBs to function in
minutes of zero gravity. About the technology has moved in the a matter of concern for decades, regulations and charting out po a disciplined manner which will
nine days earlier, Richard Branson, field of space research. The excite necessitating the constitution of a tential permissible activities for not only make them futureready,
founder of the Virgin Group in the ment of watching astronauts plethora of committees at the na the UCBs with a view to enhancing but will stem the frequent disrup
UK, along with five others, took his travel to the moon and to the ISS tional and regional levels to find their resilience. tions in banking activities
ride into outer space. came following government fun solutions to the myriad issues This was preceded by the cent through failures that inflict pain
Branson’s trip was executed by ded programmes for space re plaguing this sector. ral bank acquiring fullscale su on millions of depositors. Besides,
his company, Virgin Galactic Hold search. The annual budget appro The fragility of UCBs is likely to pervisory authority over the UCBs with the shrinkage of ‘dual’ con
ings Inc. Bezos’ company, Blue Ori priations were frequently increase during the postCovid through an amendment to the trol, the central bank will be able
gin LLC, did his trip. Very soon, challenged by some as a waste of period lockdown(s), due to their Banking Regulation Act, 1949 in to regulate UCBs more directly
Elon Musk, whose company money and justified by others on ‘concentration risk’. The extent of September 2020. However, these and effectively. Consequently, a lot
SpaceX has already proven its grounds of furthering science and frailty can be gauged from the fact amendments have not gone down of the rigmarole and legal com
space technology credentials by technology with collateral bene that by Marchend 2020, 357 UCBs well with the Maharashtra gov Depositors’ ire A file picture of protests against mismanagement at UCBs plexities will also reduce.
ferrying astronauts to the Interna fits. The US government must take were liquidated/amalgamated/re ernment (the State with the The evolving changes in the fin
tional Space Station (ISS), will also some credit for the current private constructed involving a sum of highest number of UCBs). The Ma UCBs were outstanding against borrowers have lost income and ancial sector combining and in
be taking a trip in his sector investments. ₹4,903 crore as the DICGC claim harashtra government has consti MSMEs, a sector which has been employment, defaults by a few tegrating micro finance, FinTech
rocket. This is ‘space The government de settlement. tuted a Statelevel committee un badly affected by the lockdowns. large borrowers can generate fis companies, payment gateways,
tourism.’ cided to retire the Space Also, during calendar 2020, the der its Minister for Revenue to Their revival will necessitate re sures. Expecting a government social platforms, ecommerce
One of the passengers Shuttle programme to fly RBI had issued directions to four protect the interests of cooperat capitalisation by the State, return bailout, many small and large companies and NBFCs challenge
in Bezos’ trip was an 18 to the ISS and divert its at UCBs, extended directions to 28, ive banks in the State. of the migrant workers, restora borrowers would be reluctant to the continued presence of the
yearold Dutch student tention to deep space and cancelled three licences and im tion of supply and demand dy repay despite their capability. Per UCBs, which are mostly small in
whose father thought he allow the private sector to posed monetary penalties on 17. Geographical concentration namics, and above all, speedy and haps, a less skewed distribution of size, lack professional manage
deserved it. He took the fund near orbits. SpaceX Besides, UCBs’ weak capital The UCBs carry three types of con widespread vaccination. advances across the UCBs would ment and have geographically
place of an anonymous received NASA funding strength may not be able to cush centration risk: (a) geographical, Moreover, the sector is in the cusp have been less risky. less diversified operations.
winner, who had paid $30 and now charges them to ion them from emerging shocks. (b) sectoral and (c) loan sizewise. of a major structural and compos The slim net worth of many Most of the unit banks could be
million in an auction for a seat but carry the astronauts. It was the report submitted by At the end of March 2020, out of itional ‘churning’ in the postlock UCBs may not cushion them sold to those new generation
couldn’t go. Bezos noted in a press state Sir Fredrick Nicholson in 1895, 1,539 UCBs, Maharashtra and Gu down period. It will take consider against the financial impact of the banks who need to improve their
It is useful to reflect how far we ment after the flight that he saw commissioned by the Madras jarat housed 712 (46 per cent) of able time for the sector to make a concentration risks if those don’t footprint, if need be, by a DICGC
have come to accept capitalism in this trip as the early efforts that Presidency, that paved the way for them. These two States accounted comeback, after accounting for pay off. At Marchend 2020, the av financial bailout. The financially
our daily lives! Conspicuous con would lead to more common passing the Cooperative Society for nearly 70 per cent of the total the economic time lost. Com erage net worth was woefully low sound ones having a diversified
sumption was generally shunned. space travel. Blue Origin has Act of 1904. UCB branches in the country. In bined with the exposure to agri at ₹19 crore for Nonscheduled geographical presence, beyond a
It was bad taste for the wealthy to already started ticket sales and is The findings of first committee terms of business (deposits + ad culture and housing, the total out UCBs (NSUCBs) compared to ₹361 threshold balance sheet size, need
flaunt their millions. We slowly reported to have sold tickets for to review the cooperative move vances), the two States com standing of the UCBs stood at over crore for Scheduled UCBs (SUCBs). to be converted into SFBs.
began to accept it when business, about $100 million. The price per ment, under the chairmanship of manded as high as threefourths 43 per cent of the total advances. The corresponding average de Further, there is an urgent need
sports and entertainment seat has not been revealed. Virgin Sir Edward Mac Lagan in 1914, — il of the allIndia UCB business. At Marchend 2020, 71 per cent posits were ₹183 crore and ₹4,260 to review the desirability or other
celebrities purchased their multi has said that 600 people have literacy and ignorance of the These States have been brutally of the UCBs in the country had ag crore. Therefore, there is always a wise of having a genre of banks
million dollar islands and drove already reserved seats at masses, embezzling of funds, mauled by Covid19. gregate outstanding advances of lurking fear that in case a UCB creating confusion and doubts in
their Lamborghini cars off the $200,000250,000 each. This was rampant nepotism — are relevant A similar pattern can be ob over ₹35,000 crore — almost 12 per goes down, its net worth may the minds of depositors and obli
road. at sight unseen, as they say in the even today. Since then, over a served in Karnataka and Tamil cent of the total advances. By con prove to be grossly inadequate to ging the regulators to persist with
When they now spend millions commercial world, without in dozen committees appointed by Nadu representing 25 per cent of trast, just seven per cent of the pay back its depositors. differential treatment. The ques
for a 10minute ride into outer spection or appraisal. Now that the Union and State governments the total UCBs and 10.5 per cent of UCBs commanded an aggregate Further, a backoftheenvelope tion is not who controls the UCBs;
space, we have learned to say, ‘It’s the concept has been proven, you as also the central bank have dis the total business. Therefore, it is outstanding of over ₹1,97,000 calculation shows that, if during if the UCBs can manage them
their money! They can do what can expect ticket prices to go up. sected the prevailing regulatory quite likely that in these four geo crore — about 65 per cent of the 202021, the GNPA amount of all selves efficiently, there will be in
they want with it.’ Branson said We may be able to fly to outer norms and the undulating finan graphically contiguous States, the total advances. While the former UCBs increase by 57 per cent, com creasing freedom for them.
that even as a child, he always space for the price of a cinema cial health of the UCBs. Their re business, profitability and effi group reflected the dominance of pared to 52 per cent in 201920,
dreamed of flying into space, and ticket but there is no need to commendations notwithstand ciency parameters of the UCBs relatively small borrowers, the lat and assuming the last year’s pro Rath is a former Chief General
now he has the money to do it. queueup, yet. ing, the sector continues to must have been seriously under ter mainly catered to large bor vision coverage ratio at 59.6 per Manager of the RBI and Das is a
Bezos, Musk and Branson star remain anaemic. pressure. rowers. Both the groups poten cent, the provisions would in former senior economist with SBI.
ted private companies to indulge The writer is an associate professor In February this year, the cent At Marchend 2020, almost a tially make the UCBs more crease to over ₹31,000 crore, wip Views are personal (Through The
their space travel interests. Their emeritus at Suffolk University, Boston ral bank appointed yet another third of the total advances by the vulnerable; while several small ing out almost 66 per cent of the Billion Press)
SHORT TAKE
BusinessLine
Protest rules TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY
not really in July 28, 2001
play at Tokyo Separate fund manager for each UTI scheme planned
As part of its revamp strategy, Unit Trust of India (UTI)
plans to adopt the global practice of placing each scheme
A hastilyintroduced process
that potentially allows ath
letes to protest at the Tokyo
under a separate fund manager. UTI also proposes to allot
identification numbers to investors in all its schemes, the
UTI Chairman, Mr M. Damodaran, said on Friday. The
Olympics is not transparent and objective of bringing each scheme under a fund manager
instead could deter them from like other mutual funds, is to ensure accountability, he said
highlighting social issues close and thought UTI had plenty of talent within to do a
to their hearts, an independent competent job. However, "if need arise we will go in for
German elite athletes group said. upgradation of skills," he said.
Days before the Tokyo Banks may lend Rs 3,000 cr to UTI against scrips held
Olympics got under way on July A Consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India plans
23, the International Olympic to lend around Rs 3,000 crore against shares held by UTI to
Committee (IOC) relaxed its Rule help it face unit redemptions starting August 1. Other
50, which forbids athletes from members of the consortium are Bank of Baroda,
any form of protest at the Games. Corporation Bank, Allahabad Bank, Oriental Bank with a
It now does allow athletes to few others keen to join. The consortium will cherrypick
make gestures on the field of shares at the current market prices from the UTI portfolio
play provided they do so without with the margin being 60 per cent. The funds will bear an
disruption and with respect for interest tag of around 10.50 per cent and the temporary
fellow competitors and as long facility may not have a life of over 68 months.
as it is not on the podium during Jindals to sell part Shalimar stake to partner
the medal ceremony. The Rs 4,500crore O.P. Jindal group has decided to sell a
Any statement or protest, how part of its stake hi domestic paint major Shalimar Paints to
ever, requires the approval of a their foreign partners, the Hong Kongbased Girish
working group that includes Jhunjhunwala Group of Companies. This will make the
among others the IOC and the in Jhunjhunwalas the major shareholder in the Rs 140crore
ternational federation of the domestic paint major. Currently, Shalimar Paints is jointly
sport in question. controlled by the Jhunjhunwala group and the O.P. Jindal
“Allowing free speech... on the group.
field of play seems now entirely
dependent on the goodwill of
the IOC,” Maximilian Klein, Ath
leten Deutschland representat
ive for international sports
policy, told Reuters this week. easy bl two-way crossword 1933 not so easy
While the process itself could
be positive for the athletes, ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
providing certainty that they will 01. Be successful (7) 01. Chevron (6) 01. One will do well to come into 01. Mark of rank put out by priest
not face sanctions if their re 05. Get to (5) 02. Coir comes from it (7) another's place (7) (6)
quest is approved, the lack of de 08. Musical performance (7) 03. Newt (3) 05. Get to care about hospital (5) 02. Copra producer company
tails on potential sanctions and 09. Support for power lines (5) 04. Greek D (5) 08. Performance that might be lit could count on (7)
the absence of independent 10. Get through into (9) 05. Stand for (9) with care (7) 03. Pond creature abandoned
members on the working group 12. Grief, misery (3) 06. To let, grant (5) 09. Gateway might only be found without a head (3)
poses more questions than 13. Bird of prey (5) 07. Have a longing for (6) after parking (5) 04. After Gamma dealt it a
answers. 17. The 'I', self (3) 11. Cutting, incisive (9) 10. Get through a net Peter put out different way (5)
Athleten Deutschland have in for it (9) 05. Try again to get cheque paid if
19. Police officer (9) 14. Select inner group of
sisted any such process should
21. Fine coffee (5) ministers (7) 12. There's nothing we take in but it will stand for it (9)
be “accompanied by independ
22. One whose name is put 15. Written permission (6) misery (3) 06. Let Lola go out West (5)
ent experts.” The working group
forward (7) 16. Lower in dignity (6) 13. Start at Edgbaston with a 07. Long to have rank he can
deciding on protest matters in
24. Fortunetelling card pack (5) 18. Take place (5) legbreak one better than achieve (6)
cludes the IOC and the interna
25. Hardy, rigorous (7) 20. Ninth day before the Ides (5) birdie (5) 11. Cutting then can't turn round
tional federation of the sport in
question, as well as the National 23. Gigantic extinct bird (3) 17. It's the me that's involved in the the right (9)
Olympic Committee. good life (3) 14. Collection of ministers I can't
The IOC says the approval by 19. John painted an officer of the be responsible for (7)
the working group is necessary law (9) 15. It allows one to trip me in such
in order to determine the nature 21. Fine coffee from Palermo a way (6)
SOLUTION: BL Two-way Crossword 1932
of the protest. “Wearing a black champagne, too! (5) 16. Lower oneself to emend a
armband to show sympathy for a ACROSS 1. Field 4. Herself 8. Treat 9. Contact 10. Cat 11. Stopwatch 22. In one version, coalworking is version of it (6)
current situation may be viewed 12. Aide 13. Limn 18. Provender 20. Arc 21. Tobacco 22. Prior the one named (7) 18. Happen to have small volume
differently than a black armband 23. Extends 24. Cissy 24. 100 cards given to deserter on in our keeping (5)
to commemorate an event that DOWN 1. Fête chempêtre 2. Elected 3. Detest 4. Hector 5. Renown returning (5) 20. 5th or 7th of the month one
occurred long ago,” IOC official 6. Exact 7. Fetch and carry 14. Italics 15. Beacon 16. Odious 25. Militaristic as trap prepared by observed among the Poles (5)
Christian Klaue told Germany's 17. Tropic 19. Orbit the North (7) 23. Bird once grumbled about the
Deutschlandfunk podcast. first half (3)
REUTERS
CM .. .... .. . ...
YK
14 WEDNESDAY, 28 JULY 2021
NEW DELHI VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM
OUR VIEW MY VIEW | CAFE ECONOMICS

MINT
Climate change has raised tricky

questions over policy responses
The crisis is stark but the economic trade-offs involved in addressing it call for careful deliberation
also be an important player to both drive place a higher burden on the current
innovation as well as invest in green pro- generation. And should the discount rate
duction systems. The frameworks that be chosen subjectively or taken from an
drive economic policy discourse will also objective number such as the long-term
have to adapt in the years ahead. Let’s interest rate used to value investment
look at four of these shifts. projects? This is an unsettled issue, and
First, debates on economic perform- much of the trajectory of climate change
ance are usually focused closely on flow mitigation pivots around this tangle.
variables such as gross domestic product Third, there are two contrasting ways
NIRANJAN RAJADHYAKSHA (GDP). Shifting to a green economy will in which incentives can be used to make
is a member of the academic board of the mean that changes in stock will matter the shift to a green economy as smooth
Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics too. A lot of economic activity converts as possible. One option is to impose hard
stocks into flows. Some economists have pollution quotas decided by a public
already proposed new frameworks for agency. This could slip into a new ver-
Revised factoring rules

this. One example is to look at changes in sion of the licence raj. The other is to use
natural capital in tandem with those in policy levers to change relative prices,
F
rom a heatwave in the Arctic region physical and human capital. The latter either by imposing high carbon taxes or
to devastating floods in many coun- two generally increase with economic by subsidizing alternatives, or some
tries, the threat of climate change is growth; the former shrinks. Green combination of the two.
should help MSMEs out now stark. Some new urgency can be
seen in an official statement released by
G20 environment ministers last week-
end. It said that all 20 countries would
national accounts would have to take
that depletion into account.
Second, any such green shift will be
disruptive. At the very least, it will
The use of subsidies leads us to an old
question about whether governments
are good at picking technologies. For
example, big subsidies for solar power or
try to limit global warming to 1.5° celsius involve large financial costs. Most of the one variant of electric vehicles might
above temperatures before the Indus- carbon pumped into the atmosphere has make it harder for other green options to
An amendment of law is set to ease norms and let non-specialist NBFCs into the business trial Revolution; this is a more aggressive come from rich countries. Countries like attract investment. A carbon tax is sim-
target than that of the Paris agreement in India still have low carbon emissions per pler because it punishes polluters, but
of buying unpaid bills. MSMEs under stress could encash their dues if this market kicks off 2015, when almost all countries in the capita, as well as low carbon intensity for makes no distinction between green
world agreed to keep it below 2° celsius. every unit of GDP. It is unfair to expect alternatives available right now and ones
The new G20 agreement comes just the global poor to share the burden of that can potentially emerge later.
before the United Nations Climate mitigation equally with the global rich, Fourth, most heavy lifting in terms of
E
ven when it’s business as usual, micro, past to address payment delays, such as a special Change Conference in Glasgow this especially if it means sacrificing income climate change mitigation policy is
small and medium enterprises funding scheme by Small Industries Develop- November. There remain many stum- growth. This has been a sore point in being done by governments, and natu-
bling blocks before we get a credible most climate change negotiations. rally so, given the negative externalities
(MSMEs) find it hard to recover their ment Bank of India and a device to impose global climate deal that will have all large However, there’s another aspect of cli- involved. However, individual cities or
dues from big companies. Unpaid interest charges on unpaid bills, did not result countries reduce their net carbon emis- mate justice that is just as important: companies can also draw up their own
invoices leave working capital held up in substantive relief for MSMEs. As information sions to zero by 2050, while ensuring between current and future generations. strategies to reach net carbon neutrality
that ought to go back into operations technology now enables a lot more, what holds that the poor are not denied opportuni- Some argue that today’s generation by 2050, or even earlier. When former
to accelerate rotations of cash and gain effi- promise is our Trade Receivables Discounting ties for economic progress. The sharp should only minimally pass on costs to US President Donald Trump pulled the
drop in economic activity in 2020 future generations for emissions that the US out of the Paris agreement, individual
ciency. In crunch times, such hold-ups can be System (TReDS), an online platform started by caused by the pandemic led to a parallel latter were not responsible for. Others states, companies and universities
so long as to force some MSMEs out of business, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2014. This decrease in carbon dioxide emissions say that generations to come will be responded with voluntary pledges to cut
as was reported in the cashless shock of 2016 gives MSMEs a window to offload receivables and a big increase in poverty, globally. A richer than the current one and better their carbon footprints. Local voluntary
and then during last year’s pandemic lockdown from private and public corporations as well as global action plan to limit climate able to afford the bill for a green shift. cooperation to overcome the tragedy
that abruptly snapped supply chains off. In a government departments through an auction change can’t be built on degrowth. A lot depends on what economists call of the commons that Elinor Ostrom
Keeping climate change in check is the discount rate, on how costs are studied may not work on its own for a
move aimed at relief for stretched MSMEs in mechanism, with financiers bidding for these. perhaps the biggest example of a global shared between generations. There are global challenge such as climate change,
the aftermath of a second covid wave, the Lok Despite efforts to promote its use, this RBI-reg- public good, in the sense that its benefits two tricky questions here, and the but it is equally true that national action
Sabha on Monday passed the Factoring Regula- ulated platform has been short of participants are non-rival and non-excludable. Most answers to both are as philosophical as plans should be complemented with
tion (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which liberalizes and its activity has been unimpressive. A wider would agree that governments need to they are technical. Should the discount private sector commitments. That could
the business of factoring. A factor is a financial pool of bills for discounting, analysts reckon, play a big role in delivering this public rate in climate change economic models well be an emerging issue in corporate
good. However, the private sector will be low or high? A low rate, in effect, will governance in the years ahead.
intermediary that acquires the receivables of a could stir up trading. To widen its catchment
company—say, one unable to chase payments and ease linkages that can draw sellers and
on its own—at a discount to their value, and buyers in large enough numbers to assure
then recovers whatever it can from all the billed TReDS of liquidity, a parliamentary panel
entities. This nascent market for unpaid bills headed by Lok Sabha member Jayant Sinha
needed broader participation for small busi- suggested that it be linked with the Goods and
nesses to have the option of gaining solvency by Services Tax Network’s e-invoices portal. The www.livemint.com New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Thursday, July 28, 2011 Vol.5 No.178 `3.00 32 PAGES
selling off dues. Modifying an enactment of 2011 finance ministry has accepted this idea, but it CRICKET: Five reasons why
India lost to England >16-17
CORPORATE: Cox and Kings to acquire
UK travel firm Holidaybreak >6
that gave this market its legal frame, the 2020 will have to be done in a way that does not EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
INSURANCE: Reliance-Bharti AXA
deal gets CCI approval >3
POLICY: US business leaders pressure
lawmakers to ease visa rules >5
Avoiding climate
bill drops the need for a factor to report every compromise anyone’s taxation privacy. It is also SENSEX 18,432.25 æ 85.97 NIFTY 5,546.80 æ 28.05 DOLLAR `44.08 æ `0.1 EURO `63.70 æ `0.22 GOLD `23,205 Æ `45 OIL $118.10 æ $0.12
breakdown will require

MANISH SWARUP/AP
ILLEGAL MINING
Now, Behura QUICK EDIT
Hegde report widens the Hina Khar
transaction within 30 days, and also opens up important that cyber safeguards are put in place condemns
circle of 2G fan club
accusations A pretty face can
launch a thousand
cathedral thinking.
ships and a hundred
banalities.
B Y S AHIL M AKKAR The flattering attention
the field to non-banking financial companies and MSMEs reluctant to sell their bills are not Yeddyurappa
sahil.m@livemint.com lavished this week on
························· Hina Rabbani Khar, the
NEW DELHI
young and articulate
T he 2G scam fallout keeps

growing wider. The inquiry
into the allocation of second-
Pakistani foreign
minister, is not at all
surprising. Something
generation (2G) telecom spec- similar happened many
Loss to exchequer H.D. Kumaraswamy, Congress trum is drawing an increasing years ago with Oxford girl
We must lay the foundation

between 2006 and member of Parliament (MP) Anil number of top politicians, bu- Benazir Bhutto, and the
(NBFCs) that do not operate as specialized fac- badgered by unsolicited offers.

Lad and his wife, BJP MLA Na- reaucrats and other function- love affair continued well
2010 put at `16,085 cr; gendra, and “certain politicians,” aries, both serving and retired, after it was known how
Reddy brothers, said Hegde, who also lashed out into its web. The latest to be the Pakistani military
at the government for not imple- named by one of the defend- pushed jihadis into
mining firms indicted menting any of the recommen- ants in the case is Reserve Kashmir after the Soviet
dations from his 2008 report. Bank of India governor D. Sub- Union withdrew from
B Y S RIDHAR K . C HARI, Earlier in the day, a confident barao. Afghanistan in 1989,
R UHI T EWARI & Yeddyurappa returned to the Former telecom secretary when Benazir was in
N IKHIL K ANEKAL state capital from Tirupati. “The Siddharth Behura, the second charge in Islamabad.
tors, defined as intermediaries with factoring Designed appropriately, digital enablers of

························· chief minister will take action on accused in the 2G case, said on There is undoubtedly
while we may not know

BANGALORE/NEW DELHI
the report,” he said, referring to Wednesday that Subbarao and much to admire about
I n a damning second and fi-

nal report on illegal mining
in Karnataka, Lokayukta San-
tosh Hegde put the loss to the ex-
chequer at `16,085 crore be-
himself and indicating he would
not step down, even as his party
high command met on Wednes-
day to discuss the crisis.
Yeddyurappa was scheduled
other officials should be
named co-accused as they had
cleared the controversial poli-
cy he executed. Subbarao was
finance secretary at the time.
Khar, besides sartorial
elegance and her hand
bag. But foreign policy is
a serious business. The
wake-up call came on
tween 2006 and 2010, and rec- to meet party president Nitin Behura’s counsel Aman Le- Wednesday, when Khar
ommended action “as per law” Gadkari late on Wednesday khi began his defence before a met Kashmiri separatists
accounting for more than half their assets and some kind may work in favour of all parties. For
against, among others, chief night and it wasn’t clear what de- special court saying his client ahead of her meetings
minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. cision the BJP would take regard- only implemented the policy with the Indian
The chief minister, the first in ing his fate as of press time. Charting a course: Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar decided by his predecessor government.
exactly how to build

the country to be indicted by a “I’ve called a cabinet meeting (right) with Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna in New Delhi on D.S. Mathur, then member, fi- She was doing her job.
Lokayukta, was summoned to tomorrow (Thursday) at 3.30pm Wednesday. The two countries have agreed to keep up their nance, in the telecom ministry, But what in the world
Delhi late on Wednesday by his where the report will be further engagement, bolstering their recently resumed peace process to reduce Manju Madhavan, former tele- were her local admirers
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), deliberated,” the chief minister the trust deficit caused by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. thinking?
which said it would decide his told reporters. “I’m going to Del- Detailed report on Page 4 TURN TO PAGE 2®
fate after studying the report. hi to meet some national leaders
income. If new factors step in, volumes could now, it would help MSMEs encash invoices if
Hegde also sought action against of the party including party pres-
the BJP’s Reddy brothers—tour- ident Nitin Gadkari,” he said, be-
ism and infrastructure minister
Janardhan Reddy, Lok Sabha
lawmaker Karunakara Reddy
fore boarding a chartered flight.
The BJP core group may meet
on Thursday to discuss the issue.
Overseas
borrowings
the ceiling.
and member of legislative as- “He will probably have to
sembly (MLA) Somashekara go...but one has to also look for
Reddy. ways of an honourable exit,” said
set to rise
rise to the rescue of many small units. NBFCs with the requisite skills and tools of risk
Also named were about 100 a senior party leader who did not
companies and 787 public offi- want to be identified.
cials, Hegde told reporters in Another senior BJP leader,
Bangalore on Wednesday. who also wanted to remain B Y D INESH U NNIKRISHNAN,
He said the report recom- anonymous, said, “It seems diffi- J OEL R EBELLO &
mended a ban on the mining cult for him to survive now...but A VEEK D ATTA
and export of iron ore and that the party is divided.” ·························
MUMBAI
mining licences be given only to Officially, the party said any
companies that could “value action would be taken only after
I ndian companies will increas-
With more than 60 million MSMEs in the assessment get into the business of factoring.
add” to the ore. studying the report. ingly look to borrow overseas
“I do not see any logic in ex- “We are yet to read the rein the next few months as money
porting these minerals,” he said. port,” said party spokesperson becomes dearer at home follow-
Value addition would fetch Ravi Shankar Prasad, after a ing the latest interest rate in-
much-needed revenue, he said. meeting of senior party MPs to crease, the Reserve Bank of India
Others indicted include the discuss the strategy in the forth- (RBI) reining in loan growth at
chief minister’s two sons and his coming session of Parliament. commercial banks and the local
son-in-law, health minister B. Sr- There is growing concern currency strengthening.
iramulu, housing minister V. So- within the BJP that continuing This could hit business at Indi-
country, the scale of this crisis is large. By a Discount rates need the stability of numbers
manna, former chief minister with Yeddyurappa, whose tenure an banks as companies raise dol-
G R E TA THU N B E RG
as chief minister has been mired lar-denominated funds abroad
in controversies, may weaken by way of external commercial
the BJP’s fight against corruption. borrowings (ECBs), bankers said.
The Congress was quick to de- “That is quite natural,” said
mand Yeddyurappa’s resigna- Bhaskar Sen, chairman and
tion. “Keeping the so-called high managing director of Kolkata-
moral tradition claimed by the based United Bank of India. “In
BJP, Yeddyurappa and all his certain cases, it is already hap-
recent broad estimate, small businesses in India before this market can prove itself useful. In
ministers...involved in this nefar- pening. Business volume will
ious activity (should resign),” come down and borrowers will
said Congress spokesperson either look for alternative source
Shakeel Ahmed. of funds or postpone their pro-
Hegde said it was now up to jects.”
On Tuesday, RBI raised its key
TURN TO PAGE 2® policy rate by a more-
than-expected 50 basis points
(bps) to 8% to tame inflation, the
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are collectively owed ₹15 trillion. The future of theory, it can. Demand and supply need to
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several may be in jeopardy. Moves made in the meet. Let’s see it happen in practice.
MY VIEW | EX MACHINA
A micro-payment model would be ideal for the internet

the first browser, believed that it was essen- outraged by. The real-time feedback that All these platforms give creators greater whose content I nevertheless might have
RAHUL MATTHAN tial that the world wide web enabled micro- online advertising provides skews incentives commercial control over their output, allow- liked to consume every now and then.
payments that would authorize access to even more, pushing content creators to disre- ing them to get paid for future content that What I now recognize is that the internet
individual pages on the payment of a small gard their creative instincts in favour of mate- they create, rather than forcing them to needs a micropayments solution for specific
fee. The 402 Error page was supposed to rial that attracts the most eyeballs or has more shape their output based on what advertisers separate blocks of content. Rather than sub-
indicate that the page you were trying to stickiness. This is why so much online con- dictate. And because even a relatively small scribing to a year’s worth of writing by my
T
here was a time before search engines access required a payment. Bankers, how- tent appeals to our prurient tastes and is online audience can generate fairly substan- favourite writers, I should be able to pay
and social media, when we had to ever, dragged their feet on this feature, and, designed to address tial revenues, this is a sus- them a small amount for a single article of
actually type out URLs to navigate the as a result, even though the error message is increasingly narrow and tainable option for even theirs that I pick—a payment so small that I
internet. In those days, spelling mistakes hard-coded into the core design of the inter- controversial viewpoints. We should be the most niche content. wouldn’t think twice before making it, but
would land you in little hypertext dead- net, micropayments for page views remain And has lead to the creation I liked this model so when scaled to the size of a larger audience
ends—pages cryptically titled “404 Error: a feature “reserved for the future”. of echo chambers and intol- able to buy much that in a recent arti- that the internet can deliver, would be
Page Not Found”, which told you that even As we all know, the internet went on to erance bubbles online. cle I argued it was the busi- enough for artists to live off.
though you were connected to the correct become the most efficient content distribu- In recent years, subscrip-
small blocks of ness model for the internet This is actually the model that services
is a partner at Trilegal and also

server, it had no page corresponding to what
you had keyed in. Standard response codes
tion technology ever invented. Creators
amassed vast audiences that voraciously
tion has become a fashiona-
ble alternative. Most news-
web content as of the future. I was con-
vinced that the direct con-
like Blendle have been looking to create.
The arrangement they have with the hun-
has a podcast by the name Ex
Machina. His Twitter handle is
like this are part of the internet’s core design.
A “401: Unauthorised” page says you need
gobbled up all they were served, and as these
audiences grew, the lack of monetization
papers have erected pay-
walls to ensure that their
envisaged by nection this facilitates
between artists and their
dreds of newspapers and magazines they
have signed on allows users to make micro-
@matthan the right authentication to proceed, while a began to chafe. Creators were putting a lot of content is only accessible to the internet’s audiences was exactly the payments for individual articles without
“403: Forbidden” page indicates that access effort into generating content, but couldn’t those who have paid for it. sort of counterpoint we forcing them to pay for a whole issue. It is
to that page online has been disallowed. benefit from the eyeballs they were attract- Newsletters such as Sub- designers need against the harms of easy to see how this model can be deployed
Today, web services are so well designed ing. It was in response to this problem that stack and Revue have ena- online advertising. across a wide range of content categories—
that whole generations of internet users the online advertising industry was born. bled independent writers to However, as I started to and how artists and fans alike could benefit
have never seen a standard response code. Regular readers of this column will attest set up tiers, with exclusive content available sign up for more and more ‘subscriber only’ from its success.
However, there is one such code that even that I am not a huge fan of monetizing con- to paying subscribers. Platforms like Patreon content, I began to realize that this model This was how the internet was supposed
old-timers have never come across—one tent through advertising. When creators are offer similar services to artists across a wide limited me to content from creators I pay for. to work—why the 402 error page was part of
that referred to a core feature of the internet rewarded solely for the audience size their range of creative categories—podcasts, music Since there is only so much paid content any the core design of the internet in the first
that has still not been built. content gets, they are incentivized to pro- and film—enabling them to create exclusive one person can consume, this meant that I place. Perhaps the time has finally come for
Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world duce material that appeals to the basest of content for fans who are willing to pay an was missing out on creators I didn’t like us to turn the original vision of its designers
wide web, and Marc Andreessen, inventor of human instincts—that we are shocked and annual fee. enough to go for an annual subscription but into a reality.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS WEDNESDAY, 28 JULY 2021
NEW DELHI 15
GUEST VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R
The common framework of 2020 A global shortage of safe assets

could easily turn into a big glut
could offer countries debt relief An oversupply of government bonds could prove highly disruptive
BLOOMBERG
Debt treatment plans under this global initiative can rescue over-indebted nations that can’t afford their post-covid burden
AFP
ALLISON SCHRAGER
is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute
and author of ‘An Economist Walks Into a
Brothel: And Other Unexpected Places to
SARA JOY Understand Risk’.
is an economist with India Exim Bank.
T
he safe-asset shortage is over. Should
we worry? A safe asset is any asset that
you can sell at any time and be sure to
G
lobal public debt is currently just get your money back. That often means Bond markets have got used to 20 years of
three percentage points short of short-term government bonds or bank pricey paper and low interest rates
touching 100% of gross domestic deposits. Hence, when demand for govern-
product (GDP), a level not reached ment-issued securities outstripped supply, boom in the creation of private-sector alter-
even during the global financial economists called it a ‘safe-asset shortage’. natives, like mortgage-backed securities.
crisis of 2008-09. There are The phrase ‘safe asset’ may sound boring— Investors desperate for safety suspended
chances of a further worsening of this debt more speculative assets like Bitcoin and their better judgment and bought assets
distress, depending on the length and prolonga- derivatives on Tesla stock seem sexier—but that weren’t so safe, like Greek debt.
tion of the covid pandemic’s impact. The debt-to- safe assets are the most important and in But with very little fanfare, the safe-asset
GDP ratio of low-income developing countries some ways the riskiest assets available. shortage now appears to be over, at least for
witnessed a rise to 50% in 2020 from 44% the pre- And they touch everything. They appear US Treasury bills. This is in part because the
vious year. The gloomier part is that around half in nearly every asset-pricing model, they’re Fed started paying interest on the reserve
of the low-income countries today are at high risk used as collateral and are necessary for reg- accounts they hold on behalf of the coun-
of debt distress or in actual debt distress, and ulation and for managing currencies. They try’s banks. The Fed started doing this after
these debts are mostly driven by higher private influence how much your bank pays in the financial crisis, creating a new interest-
debt in contrast to other segments. This marked New peaks of debt different forms of debt challenges, debt treatment interest, your mortgage rate, how much paying, risk-free option for banks to stash
shift in the composition of debt and its servicing would be tailor-made to their specific require- debt the country can issue and where the US their money—which they’ve increasingly
It’s worrying that public debt across the world is
towards commercial and non-Paris Club lenders now higher than what it was even during the ments. It also holds out the possibility of covering Federal Reserve sets interest rates. taken advantage of. The US government is
has resulted in increased borrowing and servicing global financial crisis. This could spell trouble. debt-service payments for a longer period, with For decades, economists argued there also issuing much more debt to manage the
costs, fiscal deficits, non-favourable contractual Gross debt position (as % of GDP)
the whole or part of these covered. Moreover, it was a shortage of safe assets in America, pandemic just as foreign governments
terms and also non-disclosure clauses on lending Advanced economies requires the debtor country to seek treatment which may have caused the financial crisis appear to have lost their appetite for US
140
terms, making debt resolution harder. Emerging market and middle-income economies from private creditors that is at least as favourable and depressed growth. Now it appears the Treasuries.
Is debt really bad? Not entirely so. Simply Low-income developing countries as the treatment from official bilateral creditors. shortage is over, but that doesn’t mean you It’s worth noting there may still be a
speaking, a debt is good when the resources 120 120.1 So far, Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia have don’t have to worry anymore. shortage of European safe assets, because
raised are directed at developmental purposes requested debt treatment under the Common Bonds of big stable governments like the countries like Germany and the Nether-
100
and servicing that debt does not exert too much Framework. Chad has no eurobonds or publicly US’s or Germany’s are considered the safest lands are not joining in on America’s debt-
pressure on government assets. Once it crosses 81.2 traded debts, and has one major commercial of assets. With individuals wanting to keep fuelled spending spree.
the optimum threshold (for example, the optimal 80 external oil-backed loan (Glencore Plc and its syn- their money secure, banks needing safe But a safe-asset glut could be as problem-
general government debt-to-GDP ceiling for 64.4 dicate of lenders), making it a suitable candidate assets for regulatory reasons, and foreign atic as a safe-asset shortage. Suppose the
India is considered to be around 60%), debt tends 60 73.5 for the framework. With coordination among all governments wanting to manage their cur- current inflation spike turns out to be not-so
to become unsustainable. creditors, Chad could emerge as the first success- rencies, demand for these assets always out- temporary. Then the Fed will have to use its
Several countries had already reached unsus- 40 46.0 49.5 ful case of debt treatment under it, paving the way runs supply. When that happens, the pri- tools to contain prices, which means selling
tainable levels of debt by 2019, a problem that has for more eligible countries to receive debt relief. vate sector steps up and offers alternatives, instead of buying bonds. That would mean
been exacerbated by the pandemic. This surge in 20 Chad has been able to negotiate a package for like a money-market fund or bank deposit. even more safe assets on the market, and
debt has created substantial challenges for their 2000 2020 debt restructuring with its sovereign bilateral But sometimes it turns out that safe assets interest rates will start to rise.
Source: IMF
economies, as they were left with reduced creditors that include China, India, France and from the private sector aren’t so safe, like we This may be welcome for some savers,
PARAS JAIN/MINT
revenues after a collapse in economic activity Saudi Arabia, with the final outcome of it now saw with mortgage-backed securities in the but the US economy has become accus-
amid the pandemic. In many, revenue collections fiscal space from debt-service payments to these resting on the decision to be taken by Glencore. 2008 housing market crash. And because tomed to low rates. Returning to 8% mort-
after debt servicing remain inadequate for provid- countries, it faces several challenges in meeting India and the DSSI: Over the past few decades, supposedly risk-free assets are spread all gage rates now seems unthinkable, and it
ing support to citizens and meeting their develop- its objectives, mainly on account of limited partic- India has emerged as an important source of over the economy, the consequences of fail- could cause serious problems for the hous-
ment goals, making further borrowing unviable. ipation by the private sector, low levels of bilateral medium-long term developmental financing for ure are potentially catastrophic. ing market. A glut of low-risk assets could
Debt servicing itself has become a herculean debt and the fear of rating downgrades. Issues low- and middle-income countries, mainly The safe-asset shortage was presumed to also make them harder to sell, which could
task for these debt-laden economies, plunging related to the quality and transparency of debt through lines of credit (LOCs) extended by India pose just such a dilemma. Some economists cause many dislocations in the bond mar-
millions of people into poverty and economic data have also prevented a few countries from Exim Bank. As a G20 member, India is committed and pundits argued governments should ket, since low-risk bonds are effectively
despair. fully realizing the initiative’s benefits. Moreover, to participate in the DSSI and provide debt service issue more debt just to satisfy market used as currency.
The Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) the DSSI only provides temporary relief to the moratoriums to borrowers requesting it. demand. Other economists insisted that Two decades with shortages means a
and the Common Framework for Debt Treatment: liquidity problems of a country, and the unsus- According to the World Bank, India’s bilateral issuing debt in response to demand may generation of policymakers have come to
Recognizing the need of the hour, the G20 and tainable debt levels in several countries require a claims on DSSI-eligible countries totalled $6.4 cause more trouble in the future. take low rates for granted. An insatiable
Paris Club, with the support of the International longer-term structural debt treatment plan. billion at the end of 2019. Out of the 60-plus The whole shortage problem arose when appetite for bonds meant the government
Monetary Fund and the World Bank, came up In recognition of these challenges, the Com- countries for which LOCs have been extended, banks started doing more wholesale instead could issue as much debt as it wanted for
with a temporary debt relief plan for 73 eligible mon Framework for Debt Treatment was given 45 are in-principle eligible for debt relief, and of retail banking, which meant they needed very low rates. This explains why the US is
countries, known as the DSSI. Though initially shape in November 2020 to bring together all account for around 80% of the total credit to buy more bonds. Another new source of now considering a $3.5 trillion spending
formulated to be in force from May-December official creditors and ensure fair burden-sharing extended. demand came from foreign governments package when we aren’t even in a recession.
2020, the DSSI has got a one-year extension by them. Under this framework, debt treatments In conclusion, ensuring the transparency of that wanted to manage their currencies and But if we’re now facing a safe-asset glut,
up to December 2021. The World Bank has would be initiated at the request of a debtor debt data and implementing a mechanism their capital flows following the Asian finan- rates will rise, and so will the cost of all the
reported that since its inception, the initiative country on a case-by-case basis. The aim is to for a periodic review of the debt treatment cial crisis. For about 20 years, there was new debt, and the obligations we already
has provided debt relief of over $5 billion to over have different debt treatment for countries with provided could go a long way towards supporting much more demand for safe government have will suddenly turn much more expen-
40 eligible countries. sustainable and unsustainable debt levels. The low-income countries. assets than governments could issue. As a sive. And then a shortage will seem like a
Although the DSSI provided some additional advantage would be that with each country facing These are the author’s personal views. result, interest rates fell and there was a nice problem to have. ©BLOOMBERG
GUEST VIEW
It is time to call out the excesses of US stimulus policies

this in October 2019, when the WTO recom- serious implications for the rest of the world. rencies would weaken and domestic financial difficult task to explain the nuances of the
NIKHIL GUPTA mended that India withdraw “prohibited Although the injection of US dollar liquidity markets would turn highly volatile. While the argument against it to the general public.
subsidies” under the Merchandise Exports is essential to arrest the collapse of the global Fed would still know what to do, the central Dissatisfaction among people, especially
from India Scheme within 120 days. India financial system, excess stimuli is a cause for banks of E&DEs would be crushed between those who make superficial comparisons
replaced that scheme with one for remission concern, especially emerging and developing (1) the need to reduce interest rates to support with rich countries, however, may result in
of duties and taxes on export products. economies (E&DEs). the domestic economy/financial markets and political instability.
T
he General Agreement on Tariffs and Global cooperation goes beyond world When the US Fed eases monetary policy (2) the pressure to keep interest rates high to Don’t these indirect consequences of
Trade (GATT) was signed by 23 coun- trade to other international institutions, such and injects dollar liquidity, attract more foreign capital unprecedented economic stimuli by US
tries in October 1947 with the objective as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a flood of foreign capital flows and fight inflationary authorities, thus, amount to negative exter-
of minimizing trade barriers by eliminating World Health Organization (WHO) and the enters E&DEs. Since the They could well fears from a weakening cur- nalities? By crediting free money into citi-
or reducing quotas, tariffs and subsidies, Bank for International Settlements (BIS), central banks of most rency. No matter what zens’ bank accounts and creating a positive
while preserving significant regulations. In which prepare globally acceptable norms and E&DEs intervene in cur- have a negative E&DEs do, their authorities wealth effect for local producers, don’t these
1995, the GATT was absorbed into the World rules for countries to adopt. Notably, though, rency markets, higher capi- tend to lose control of their policies count as discriminatory? How are
Trade Organization (WTO), which extended the huge overuse of monetary/fiscal easing tal inflows restrict their
impact on other economies and financial these policies different from another govern-
is an economist at Motilal
the agreement. By this time, 125 nations were
signatories of its agreements, covering about
has never been considered a contentious
issue in global economics. Notwithstanding
ability to support their
domestic sovereign bond
countries but markets because of skewed
US monetary policies.
ment subsidizing its exporters or restricting
imports through tariffs? If the latter is unfair,
Oswal Financial Services Ltd. 90% of global trade. In brief, the WTO claims
to ensure free trade among its members by
the large negative externalities of over-stimu-
lus by the US for the rest of the world, there is
markets. This forced choice
of managing either the cur-
there’s no global What’s worse is that as
US policymakers go in for
then should the former be allowed?
The primary objective of all international
ensuring that no one subsidizes its exporters no discussion on how to bring it under the rency or bond markets can mechanism to huge stimuli in support of institutions is to ensure a level playing field
or restricts imports using tariffs/quotas or umbrella of global cooperation. One reason pose policy complications. US consumers and produc- for all nations, for which uniform and strict
any other discriminatory policy. may be that the practice is common to almost Similarly, when the Fed moderate them ers, significant pressure ground rules are set. As the US is the world’s
The rationale of WTO membership is mul- all nations. However, an economic stimulus decides to scale back its mounts on the govern- largest economy and sole issuer of the global
ti-fold. All parties get to trade freely with one per se is not a problem; its excessive use is, monetary stimulus, E&DEs ments of E&DEs to repli- currency, its economic policies have wide-
another and sanctions can be used against the especially by the world’s largest economy. brace themselves for capital outflows and cate American policies. If the world’s largest spread implications for the rest of the world.
non-compliant members. Further, the law of When the US Federal Reserve opts to (1) related volatility, as seen during the 2013 economy can support private businesses and It is only sensible, then, for the US to be more
comparative advantage says free trade is buy corporate bonds (including junk bonds), ‘taper tantrum’. Further, although still open distribute free money to citizens, people responsible in setting its policies. In case it
highly efficient and beneficial for all involved. thus supporting the froth in risky financial to debate, if the US sees high inflation next elsewhere ask, why can’t our government do fails to behave responsibly, it becomes the
Since discriminatory trade policies by one markets, and (2) finance the US fiscal deficit, year and the Fed moves to fight inflationary the same? Such an approach and its ideologi- responsibility of other countries and various
member affect all others, and create negative by which unconditional money is given to a pressures, this could lead to a global crisis. As cal basis may seem imprudent to domestic international institutions to get the US to act
externalities, they’re unacceptable. We saw large part of its population, this does have foreign capital flows out of E&DEs, their cur- policymakers, but it would be an extremely in a manner that’s globally acceptable.
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B of Parliament, Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh
invited two former
Defence Ministers for a briefing. He
did not dirty his hands but asked
the CDS and COAS to brief them.
SDUWRIWKH$PHULFDQLQLWLDWLYHWKURXJK$IJKDQLVWDQ8]EHNLVWDQDQG3DNLVWDQRUWKH5XVVLD In the UK, it would not happen.
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formational reforms underway.
2FWREHU,WLVWKHEDVLVIRUWKHLUVWUDWHJLFHIIRUWV CDS Gen Rawat described the IAF
´DJDLQVWLQWHUQDWLRQDOWHUURULVPµ,QGLD·VUROHLVOLPLWHG as an extension of artillery and a
WRWUDLQLQJDQGHTXLSSLQJ$IJKDQQDWLRQDOVHFXULW\IRUFHV combat support service. Air Chiefs
DQG H[HFXWLQJ FDSDFLW\EXLOGLQJ SURJUDPPHV 7R JR have been kept out of the loop dur-
ing the 1965 and 1971 wars, reflect-
EH\RQG WKLV SRLQW ZLOO PHDQ IUHVKO\ DVVHVVLQJ LWV ing mistrust of IAF which is about
$IJKDQLVWDQSROLF\WKDWVRIDUWUDQVODWHGLQWR,QGLDNHHS air power required for “shaping the
LQJLWVHOIRXWRIWKHFRQIOLFWEXWFRQWULEXWLQJWRFDSDFL battlefield”. But boots on the
ground are essential.
W\EXLOGLQJZLWKDQH[WHUQDOSRZHU³ WKH,UDQ5XVVLD Rewind: Gulf War I (1991) last-
IURQWLQLWLDOO\DQGODWHUWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV³ PDLQWDLQ ed 44 days: 38 days of aerial bom-
LQJVWDELOLW\7KLVSROLF\DOORZHG,QGLDWRNHHSDZD\IURPWKH7DOLEDQ bardment and four-day land offen-
,QWKHSUHVHQWVFHQDULRKRZHYHUWKH7DOLEDQDUHIRUFLQJWKHPVHOYHVWREHDWWKH sive. In Bosnia (1995), air power CDS actually appeared on the Security Review), preferably an dy. The Defence Minister ought
alone won the war in 17 days.
FHQWUHVWDJHLQ$IJKDQLVWDQPDNLQJLWLPSRVVLEOHWRDUULYHDWDUHVROXWLRQZLWKRXWLQYROY Kosovo (1999), air war was 78 days
horizon: His office was prepared Integrated Review, on the lines to have intervened and done a
LQJWKHP7KHVLWXDWLRQSHUVXDGHVDOOSDUWLHVWRGHFLGHZKDWNLQGRIFRQWDFWWRKDYH in South Block, Guard of the UK did in March this year Heseltine.
with no ground offensive. The Honour rehearsed by Delhi followed by enunciating a The IAF’s concerns includ-
ZLWKWKH7DOLEDQ7KHRWKHUFRPSOLFDWLRQLVZKLFKRIWKHIDFWLRQVRIWKH7DOLEDQWRFRQ Afghanistan campaign (2001) last- Area and NDTV announced National Security Strategy. The ing integrated use of air power
WDFW"7KHUHLVWKHIDFWLRQWKDWGHSHQGVRQ3DNLVWDQ·VVXSSRUWZKLOHDQRWKHUIDFWLRQ ed 65 days with 11 days of ground Adm Sushil Kumar’s elevation. DPC conveniently left the think- have to be addressed, given that
operations. The Iraq war (2003)
DWWHPSWVWRFDUYHLWVSROLWLFDOVSDFHZLWKKHOSIURPVHFWLRQVLQWKH0LGGOH(DVW7KLUGO\ lasted 21 days of air and land bat-
But between the cup and the lip ing to CDS, ignoring the IAF has only 30 fighter
ZKDWH[DFWO\ZRXOGDFRXQWU\OLNH,QGLDWDONWRWKH7DOLEDQDERXWZKHQ3DNLVWDQEDVHG was a slip. The Naresh Chandra inevitable repercussions. squadrons. Appointments of
tle. In Sri Lanka, the IAF performed Task Force in 2013 revived the I recall UK Defence CDS and Combatant
WHUURURXWILWVWKDWDUHLQWHQWRQGHVWDELOLVLQJ,QGLDDUHVDLGWREHDVVLVWLQJWKH7DOLEDQ its modest role effectively. The IAF’s CDS in its less truculent avatar: Secretary Michael Heseltine Commanders of other
LQ$IJKDQLVWDQ",QGLDZLOOJHWDIDLULGHDRIZKHUHWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVZKLFKLVLQWKH sterling performance though was Permanent Chairman Chiefs of explaining to me on the back of joint/integrated/unified com-
the Balakot bombing — political-
ODVWVWDJHVRIZLWKGUDZDOIURP$IJKDQLVWDQVWDQGVRQWKHTXHVWLRQRIVWDELOLW\LQWKH Staff Committee. But Defence an envelope at RCDS London in mands and organisations be
UHJLRQZKHQLWVOHDGHUVKLSPHHWVYLVLWLQJ6HFUHWDU\RI6WDWH$QWKRQ\%OLQNHQ,QGLD
ly and strategically a turning point,
marking the threshold of counter-
Minister AK Antony sat on the C74;02:>5 1984 how he had rewired the made by merit and not in
proposal. It was not until CDS system for unification and Robin’s turn. The concepts of
PLVVHGDILUVWKDQGEULHILQJRQWKHJURXQGVLWXDWLRQLQ$IJKDQLVWDQEHFDXVHRIWKH terrorism response. The omission Christmas Day 2019 that Modi 2>=B4=BDBF7827 whose implementation he air-land and tri-service battles
FDQFHOODWLRQRIWKHYLVLWRIWKH$IJKDQ$UP\FKLHI7KHVLWXDWLRQLVQRWVXFKWKDW,QGLD in employing IAF in 1962 was part
of the political and military fiasco.
2.0 Government issued a gazette 0;;<8;8C0A84B ordered in the face of revolt have to be revised and updated.
FDQFRPHWRDQLQIRUPHGGHFLVLRQDERXWLWVIXWXUHDFWLRQ7KHH[WHUQDOSRZHUVDUH Still, IAF insecurities arising from
notification appointing Rawat as
70E4703C> from Service Chiefs. The Joint Professional Military
“primus-inter-pares-CDS” — reforms were ordered top-down Education should become
VWLOOLQWKHSURFHVVRIILUPLQJXSWKHLURZQSRVLWLRQVDQGUROHV7LOOWKHQ,QGLD·VMRELV jointness, including rotation of tasking him to implement joint- >E4A2><4 without passing the buck. mandatory for promotion to
WRZDLWDQGZDWFKDQGUHVLVWLQWHUQDWLRQDOSUHVVXUHWRPRYHLQ three-star slots by merit, have to be ness by January 2023. A Modi had announced the flag rank. An equivalent of US
addressed to achieve unification to Department of Military Affairs 4<4A6432;D<B8;H appointment of CDS from Red Goldwater-Nichols Act 1986
?82D1<;
obviate IAF Chief having to ask the
Army Chief to requisition in writ-
was also created under MoD. ;0BC<>=C7 Fort in 2019. The Government will ensure jointness to dimin-
Appointing a CDS has been an simply issued a fiat to CDS on ish inter-service rivalry. India
ing that air support was required article of faith for the BJP. 3DA8=60B4<8=0A jointness despite knowing oppo- was a pioneer in integration
during Kargil.
The CDS traces its history to
Two questions arise from 8=F78271>C7 sition to it. This lack of consen- through Joint Services Wing/
the reform process. First, did sus (which all militaries have National Defence Academy/
Admiral Mountbatten when he GoI do the necessary thinking A0F0C0=308A had to overcome) emerged Defence Services Staff
sounded Prime Minister Nehru
about its utility. After the 1971 war,
and research — and who did it 27845<0AB70; clumsily last month during a College/National Defence
— before issuing the gazette seminar organised by Global College. But long ago, the polit-
Prime Minister Gandhi had notification? Why were the 17030DA80B?>:4 Counter-Terrorism Council in ical class responsible for defence
informed Field Marshal Sam
Manekshaw he would become
known historical IAF insecuri- 8CF0B>=4>5 which both Rawat and Air of India stopped thinking, leav-
ties not addressed by the polit- Chief Marshal Bhadauria spoke. ing it to the military to self-
CDS but nothing came of it. The ical authority? Unfortunately, C74D6;84BC It was one of the ugliest public reform. The politician is
CDS was resurrected by a 2001
GoM containing 100 recommen-
the newly minted Defence ?D1;82B?0CB spats between a service chief and required to do and say more
Planning Committee under CDS, which has triggered an ill- than “giving a befitting reply”.
dations, most of which were imple- NSA AK Doval merely issued a 14CF44= informed debate. The remedi- (The writer, a retired Major
mented except CDS. When an
attempt was made to appoint CDS,
charter of work to Rawat with-
out the DPC doing any ground-
0B4AE82427845 al measure of an Experts
Committee headed by CDS
General, was Commander, IPKF
South, Sri Lanka, and founder
Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra work. Clearly such an epic 0=3C7423B with Vice Chiefs of single ser- member of the Defence Planning
accompanied by a posse of former transformational exercise should vices for more consultation and Staff, currently the Integrated
Air Chiefs met the President and have begun by launching an discussion is a bad idea: the Defence Staff. The views
blocked the enterprise. In 2002, a SDSR (Strategic Defence and medicine worse than the mala- expressed are personal.)
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Sir — It looks that from Punjab to
Karnataka, it is the season of change and
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ship of political parties to set their house ^cWTaWP]S\P]hUPRcâbPaTX]e^[eTSX]QTV fâZc^VTcWTaX]cWT
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who had won his current term by engineer-
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remained synonymous in Karnataka and \dbc]^cQTST_aXeTSÛcWTXaaXVWcc^2>E83cTbc QTR^]cX]dTc^
GLVFRYHUHGQHDUO\RQHDQGDKDOI\HDUVDJRYLURORJLVWVDQGVFLHQWLVWVDUHVFXU caPX]c^PbbXbcP]S
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now he, despite being the only mass leader b P] X\\X]T]c cWXaS fPeT Û 2>E83 ( X]VP]SePRRX]PcX^]CWTh\dbcQTaTWPQX[XcPc
U\LQJWRNHHSSDFHDQGILQGLQJPRUHSRWHQWZD\VWRHOLPLQDWHLW$FFRUGLQJWRODW the BJP had in the State and in the entire [^^\b[PaVTcWTBd_aT\T2^dacaTUdbTSc^ TSP]Se^RPcX^]P[caPX]X]V\dbcQT_aêXSTSc^ c^STP[fXcW8B8B
HVWUHSRUWVDQHZODVHUGHYLFHKDVEHHQFUHDWHGLQ,WDO\WKDWLVDSSDUHQWO\FDSDEOHRI south, has now resigned. His exit leaves the cPZTP]°T[XcXbc±eXTfc^QP]QTVVX]VP]S cWT\0[b^TSdRPcX^]\dbcQT_aêXSTSc^cWTXa QdcfT³aT]^cV^X]V
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REOLWHUDWLQJWKHSHUQLFLRXVYLUXVSUHVHQWZLWKLQDVWUXFWXUH·VERXQGDU\ZDOOV:RUNRQ BJP without an experienced leader to helm XbbdTS ]^cXRTb c^ cWT 2T]caT P]S cWT 3T[WX RWX[SaT]
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WKHPDFKLQHSURMHFWGHYHORSHGE\WKHVFLHQWLVWVRI the Government. While the RSS wants to 6êTa]\T]c^]P_TcXcX^]bTTZX]VePRRX]PcX^] 8]b_XcTÛcWTPSeP]RT\T]cb\PSTQh8]SXP
move away from caste equations by pick- P]SaTWPQX[XcPcX^]ÛQTVVPabX]cWTfPZTÛcWT X]SXUUTaT]cbTRcâbQTVVPahR^]cX]dTbc^QTP
WKH8QLWHG1DWLRQVLQFROODERUDWLRQZLWKWKHVFLHQWLVWV ing national organising secretary BL _P]ST\XRX]8]SXP0RRâSX]Vc^cWTP_TgR^dac b^RXP[ _a^Q[T\ 0b cWT R^d]cah Xb bcaXeX]V c^ DB?aTbXST]c
RIDQ,WDOLDQWHFKFRPSDQ\WKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWHU Santhosh, a Brahmin, many in the State BJP ]^^]Tf^d[S[XZTc^QTVXU]^cUâ_êTach8c PRWXTeTfâ[SbcP]SPaSbX]TeTahUXT[Sb^RX^TR^ ¯ 9^T1XST]
IRU*HQHWLF(QJLQHHULQJDQG%LRWHFKQRORJ\DQG$OWHF are against ignoring the Lingayat commu- ^QbTaeTScWPc_T^_[TPaTVT]TaP[[hR^\_T[[TSc^ ]^\XR\TPbdaTbPaT]TTSTSc^b^[eTcWTQTV
8cWX]ZXc³bbd_Ta
nity that has been the BJP’s mainstay all QTVc^TZT^dcT[T\T]cPah[XeT[XW^^SSdTc^cWT VX]V _a^Q[T\ 0 R^\_aTWT]bXeT _a^VaP\\T
./DVHUDORFDOFRPSDQ\WKDWPDNHVODVHUHTXLSPHQW these years. ST[XRX^db8c³bcPbch
[PRZÛTSdRPcX^]P]ST\_[^h\T]c0bXcfPbP \dbc QT STeT[^_TS Uâ cWXb ?WX[P]cWa^_XR
UHVSHFWLYHO\ZDVVWDUWHGODVW\HDUZKHQ,WDO\ZDVUHHO The hard fact is that the party cannot P]SfWT]h^dR^\
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LQJ XQGHU WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF +RZ GRHV WKH do without the support of the Lingayat bc^__TSUa^\QTVVX]VXcPSSTS P_TdcXRP]SaTWPQX[XcPcXeTfâZ T[bT8]SXP]U^^S
LQVWUXPHQWZRUN",W·VTXLWHVLPSOHUHDOO\,QWKHGHYLFH community, particularly its influential CWT Bd_aT\T 2^dac WPb \PST cWT aXVWc ET]d6B| :^[[P\ R^\_TcTbaTP[[hfT[[
mutt heads. But what is most unfortunate
WKHDLULVSDVVHGWKURXJKDODVHUEHDPWKDWNLOOVYLUXV is that the effect of what the seers in
HVDQGEDFWHULD$QGLWLVDOUHDG\JHWWLQJQRWLFHGDQG Karnataka have said openly has the effect protracted border row between the two assured the electorate that if elected to
<PbcTa2WTU0dbcaP[XP fX]]Ta
ZLQQLQJDFFRODGHVWRR´7KLVGHYLFHKDVFRPSOHWH of dividing people on the basis of caste lines northeastern States took a violent turn. The power, they would initiate serious action
¯9dbcX]=PaPhP]
and community. If these seers are keen on clashes at the border town of Vairengte also against all the Ministers and officials
O\FKDQJHGWKHZD\,WKLQNDERXWODVHUWHFKQRORJ\,W left at least 60 persons from Assam found to be involved in corruption and
a life in politics, they should drop the pre- 8UTT[[XZT\h
NLOOVYLUXVHVLQPLOOLVHFRQGVµFODLPV6HUHQD=DNLQ\DWKHKHDGRIWKH&DUGLRYDVFXODU tence of renunciation and contest elections. injured. The incident comes less than two other malpractices leading to them amass- PccXcdSTfPb]³c
%LRORJ\*URXSDWWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO&HQWHUIRU*HQHWLF(QJLQHHULQJDQG%LRWHFKQRORJ\ JS Acharya | Hyderabad days after Union Home Minister Amit ing wealth disproportionate to their known cWPcVaTPcQTRPdbT
$VDVLJQLILFDQWSUHFDXWLRQDU\PHDVXUHNHHSLQJWKHDUHDVZLWKLQWKHERXQGDU\ZDOOV Shah held a meeting with the Chief sources of income. 8S^]³caTP[[hZ]^f
Ministers of the northeast in Meghalaya’s As assured, the DMK Government has W^fc^R^_TfXcW
IUHHIURPLQIHFWLRQKDVSURYHGWREHDPDMRUFKDOOHQJHGXULQJWKHSDQGHPLF$YLUXV 9>D5BCD1D52?E>41BI9CCE55BE@DC capital Shillong for resolving the interstate commenced action and the recent raids cWPc>[h\_XRb_aTbbdaT
IUHHHQYLURQPHQWZLWKLQWKHERXQGDU\ZDOOVKDVEHFRPHDQHFHVVLW\WRSUHYHQWWKH Sir — The interstate boundary issue in boundary disputes. However, Assam also conducted by the DVAC at the residence
north-eastern States is a perennial prob-
VSUHDGRIWKHYLUXV+RZHYHUWKHUHDUH'RXEWLQJ7KRPDVHVWRR6RPHVFLHQWLVWVVD\ lem and six personnel of the Assam
harbours border disputes with Arunachal and more than 20 business places connect-
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WKDWWKHODVHUEDVHGWHFKQRORJ\ZLOOQRWEHVDIHWRNLOOWKHYLUXV$VWXG\SXEOLVKHGLQ Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. ed to former Transport Minister MR
Police died at the border with Mizoram Krishnan Subramaniam | Ghaziabad Vijayabhaskar are part of the exercise ¯=P^\X>bPZP
WKH-RXUQDORI3KRWRFKHPLVWU\DQG3KRWRELRORJ\ LQ1RYHPEHUOLQNHGODVHUEDVHGGHYLFHV while defending the constitutional bound- which, we believe, is going to be a contin-
WRWKHULVNRIFDQFHU%XWWKHHTXLSPHQW·VPDQXIDFWXUHUVKDYHDVVXUHGWKDWWKHUHLVQR ary of the State. The incident came less than uing process henceforth. The Government B^RXP[TeX[bQTVX]X]
two days after Home Minister Amit Shah @E>9C8D853?BBE@D@?<9D9391>C cWT\X]S¨CWTUTPa
WUXWKLQWKHVHUHSRUWV7KH\EHOLHYHWKDWWKHODVHUHPDQDWLQJIURPLWQHYHUFRPHVLQ met with the northeast CMs to resolve the Sir — During the election campaign sea-
that has started in the right earnest to fix
the corrupt should not succumb to any Ûb^RXP[bcXV\P
FRQWDFWZLWKWKHKXPDQVNLQVRWKHUHLVQRULVNRIGHYHORSLQJFDQFHU&ODLPLQJWKDWLW interstate boundary disputes. son earlier, the leaders of the DMK pressure from any quarters, go ahead with bW^d[SSTcTa_T^_[T
LVDUHF\FOHGSURGXFWWKH$OWHFIRXQGHUKDVVDLGWKDW´RXUGHYLFHXVHVQDWXUHDJDLQVW Border conflicts have occurred inter- accused the then AIADMK Government the raids and investigations and see that the Ua^\ST\P]SX]Vâ
QDWXUHµ%XWWKHRQHGUDZEDFNLVWKDWWKRXJKYLUXVHVDQGEDFWHULDFDQEHHOLPLQDWHG mittently since Mizoram was carved out and its Ministers, including then Chief corrupt get exemplary punishment. VXeX]VS^fah
of Assam as a Union Territory in 1972 and Minister E Palaniswami, of rampant cor- Shalini Gerald | Chennai
LQWKHDLUWKHODVHUZRQ·WEHHIIHFWLYHLIWKH\IDOOWRWKHIORRURUDQ\VXUIDFH7KHFRP got Statehood in 1987. Six Assam police ruption. They even submitted a memoran-
SDQ\KDYLQJDOUHDG\EDJJHGDSDWHQWIRUWKLVGHYLFHZKLFKFDQDOVREHLQVWDOOHGLQWKH personnel were killed in an exchange of fire dum to the Governor seeking action BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) :TaP[P6êTa]â
DLUFRQGLWLRQLQJXQLWQRZSODQVWRWDNHLWWRWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDOPDUNHW with their Mizoram counterparts after the against those “corrupt” leaders. They also [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯0aXU<^WP\\TS:WP]
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he Taliban taking over Kabul or
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T establishing a parallel regime in
Afghanistan will involve the issue
of legitimacy via its recognition.
Strongly related to this, the message from
Russia to India is clear, “it’s up to India to
WKHWD[FKDOOHQJHVDULVLQJIURPWKHJOREDOLVDWLRQDQGGLJLWDOLVDWLRQRI analyse the situation and go ahead accord-
WKHHFRQRP\7KHVHFRXQWULHVDUHSDUWRIWKH2UJDQL]DWLRQIRU(FRQRPLF ing to the current realities”. The new strate-
&RRSHUDWLRQDQG'HYHORSPHQW2(&'ZKLFKKDVEHHQZRUNLQJWRZDUGV gic alignment of Pakistan-China-Russia is
SUHYHQWLQJWD[EDVHHURVLRQDQGSURILWVKLIWLQJE\FRPSDQLHVWKDWVHWXS already in a process that will have a desta-
bilising effect on the countries of South and
WKHLUEXVLQHVVHVLQORZWD[MXULVGLFWLRQVWRDYRLGSD\PHQWRIKLJKHU Central Asia. With these developments,
WD[HV1RWKLQJFDQSUHYHQWFRPSDQLHVIURPHQJDJLQJLQVXFKDUUDQJH India might then have to rethink beyond its
PHQWVEXWWKHWD[DXWKRULWLHVEHFDPHSDUWRIDJOREDOUDFHWRWKHERW traditional strategies.
WRPWRFRPSHWHZKLFKMXULVGLFWLRQFRXOGORZHUWKHLUFRUSRUDWHWD[UDWH In this context, the entire debate would
PRVWWRFKHFNUHYHQXHOHDNDJH7KHRXWFRPHZDVDGRXEOHZKDP shift upon India’s decision for the Afghan
P\&RPSDQLHVVWLOODYRLGHGWD[HVE\ORFDWLQJLQWKHMXULVGLFWLRQVWKDW forces and the strategic developments that
ZRQWKLVUDFHDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\WKHWD[DXWKRULWLHVNHSWORVLQJRQWKHLU might follow. India might decide to help the
Afghan Air Force with the Strategic
UHYHQXHFROOHFWLRQV7KHGLJLWDOFRPSDQLHVIHOWWKHQHJDWLYHLPSDFW Partnership Agreement (2011) being the
main guiding principle. The responses can
range from total military support to a mod-
erate one or maybe a combination of vari-
ous strategies, but certainly, the Indian gov-
ernment will not be indifferent because secu-
rity is at stake.
Irrespective of the decision that would 8=380B7>D;3 Iran. The Taliban have already taken such as re-arming and unlawful threats either in a proxy war or a mil-
be taken, certain challenges are coming up control of Islam Qala, a military post diplomatic recognition to the itary conflict cannot be ruled out.
for the government. An increase in cross- BCA4=6C74=8CB on its border with Afghanistan. Taliban, suppression of the human Here, a two-way approach may be
border terrorism with new forms of hybrid 3454=24BHBC4< Here, an opportunity for India is rights of women, children, and reli- adopted. Apart from strategic pur-
warfare, a sharp increase in drugs and C70C8B20?01;4 open. It is through an independent gious minorities, and diversion of chases of anti-drone platforms from
human trafficking, especially affecting >5A4C0;80C8=6 Iran policy that India can deepen its fundamentalists should be discussed the allies such as the US, Israel,
Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and C>C74 strategic stronghold. Another geopo- in the UNGA to expose countries France, and Germany, long-term col-
Maharashtra, and an increase in the propa- litical twist, a positive one, can be a like Pakistan. This will also set the laboration may be pushed forward
ganda warfare by the adversary working in 4<4A68=6 possibility if pursued. Given the geo- tone for India’s leadership and the to counter the asymmetric warfare.
VWURQJO\DVWKHLUKHDGTXDUWHUVZRXOGEHLQDORZWD[MXULVGLFWLRQDQG tandem with the existing and the emerging 7H1A83F0A50A4 graphical proximity of India to both expansion of the UNSC. AI is another thrust area. For
FRQVXPHUVDOORYHUWKHZRUOGWKH\ZRXOGWKXVSD\WD[RQO\LQWKHORZ Violent Non-State Actors (VNSA). The fate C427=8@D4B Afghanistan and Iran, the dynamics Additionally, to secure the lives and instance, the US alone has around
WD[MXULVGLFWLRQWKXVKXUWLQJWKHWD[UHYHQXHVRIDOORWKHUMXULVGLFWLRQV of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan is also C70C0A4 of the situation are well under- dignity of Hindus and Sikhs in 140 projects based on AI, the knowl-
7RRYHUFRPHWKLVSUREOHPVHYHUDOFRXQWULHVOHYLHGDGLJLWDOVHUYLFHV in jeopardy. All these challenges are inter- A43A0F8=6C74 stood. The US has to accept the Afghanistan, the government may edge of which is available in the pub-
WD[DQGFROOHFWHGDSHUFHQWDJHRIUHYHQXHIURPFRUSRUDWLRQVRQFHU linked. An India-centric approach is required region’s geopolitical realities. History think of evacuating them at the ear- lic domain. This can be of immense
to deal with them. 10CC;4;8=4B is full of examples of states having liest before a full-fledged war breaks help to the Indian forces.
WDLQWUDQVDFWLRQV,Q,QGLDDQHTXDOLVDWLRQOHY\RIVL[SHUFHQWIRU¶DQ\ CDA:4H0=3
First, at the diplomatic level, even multiple allies who probably don’t see out. Simultaneously, indigenous R&D
VSHFLILHGVHUYLFH·SURYLGHGE\DQRQUHVLGHQWLQVRPHFDVHVDQGRI though Russia might look to stand with 278=00A4C74 eye to each other. Second, at a tactical level, hybrid in defence manufacturing especial-
WZRSHUFHQWRQDQRQUHVLGHQWHFRPPHUFHRSHUDWRUVXEMHFWWRFHU Pakistan, strategic overlaps with Russia can <08=BD??;84AB The role of the UN has to be warfare against India will deepen and ly in AI technologies should be
WDLQFULWHULDLVSUHVHQWO\DSSOLFDEOH6XFKPHDVXUHVDUHDGRSWHGLQUHWDO be used for the furtherance of India’s inter- >53A>=4BC> called upon as sincere joint efforts broaden. New weapons and tactics boosted for surveillance and tactical
LDWLRQ RI WKH WHFK JLDQWV H[SORLWLQJ WKH WD[ WUHDWLHV RU GRLQJ ests. As we understand that geopolitics is nei- are required. India should first utilised by the proxy militia will call capabilities.
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¶WUHDW\VKRSSLQJ·WKDWSXWVDKROHLQWKHFRIIHUVRIWKH6WDWH ther black nor white, how well the current approach the UNSC and in case of for measures that favour coercive There are various new areas of
strategic agreements are used to extract 2>;;01>A0C8E4 conflicting interests, the task of policies. For instance, the use of AI that India has not yet explored.
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leverages would depend upon the govern- C7A40CB48C74A maintaining normalcy and peace drones and rockets by terror groups These include bio-inspired surveil-
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ment apart from the developments that will 8=0?A>GHF0A should be discussed in the UNGA. to avoid casualties in physical attacks lance systems, AI face recognition
follow. India should exercise its strategic >A0<8;8C0AH Having an understanding that there has already been initiated. To counter cameras in sensitive areas, tools
IURPGHVLJQLQJDFRPSOH[ZHERIFRUSRUDWHOD\HUVIRUVKLIWLQJWKHLU leverage with Saudi Arabia and other would be a lack of unanimity in the such an emerging threat, India can using AI algorithms to counter
WD[EDVHWRORZWD[MXULVGLFWLRQVDQGDYRLGWD[LQWKHFRXQWU\RIFRQ Islamic countries to tighten its noose
2>=5;82C UNSC to protect Afghanistan and expand the horizons of its ‘offensive cyber-attacks, and overlook securi-
VXPSWLRQ7KHVROXWLRQWRWKHSUREOHPRI%DVH(URVLRQDQG3URILW around Pakistan in the future. The role of 20==>C14 its people, India cannot let the defence’. It may incorporate the pol- ty issues such as indoctrination, sale
6KLIWLQJ%(36ZDVHQXQFLDWHGE\2(&'WKDWSURYLGHGIRUDIUDPH OIC in the coming few days would be of AD;43>DC region be sucked into chaos and icy of ‘deterrence by denial’ through of narcotics, and small arms through
ZRUNLQDSLOODUZLVHDSSURDFKDVPHQWLRQHGEHORZ3LOODURQHSUR immense importance to India. The policy anarchy. For this, sooner or later, disallowing the terrorists to assem- the darknet. All these measures will
SRVHVWKHUHDOORFDWLRQRIWD[LQJULJKWVLQWKHMXULVGLFWLRQVZKHUHFXV of exposing and isolating Pakistan should India has to take the lead for an ble and execute attacks against India. help the forces and will ensure effi-
continue at a regional and international level. “emergency special session” of the Of course, it has its own risk of sub- ciency in the changing times.
WRPHUVDQGRUXVHUVDUHORFDWHG3LOODUWZRSUHVHQWVDJOREDODQWL There can be no better platform than FATF UNGA. This session can be called stantial escalation when states are However, the focus on AI and other
EDVHHURVLRQPHFKDQLVPWRVWRSWKHVKLIWLQJRISURILWVWRORZWD[RU and UNGA. by India and its allies under using VNSA. The evolving strategic technologies should not distract the
QRWD[MXULVGLFWLRQIDFLOLWDWHGE\QHZWHFKQRORJLHVDQGHQVXUHDPLQ There is also an opportunity for India Resolution 377A (V) that provides communication and the military- government from developing new
LPXPOHYHORIWD[EHLQJSDLGE\PXOWLQDWLRQDOHQWHUSULVHV7KHSUR to reinvigorate its strategic relations with Iran for a ‘Uniting for Peace’. India must civil interface through the media to warfare platforms such as anti-sub-
SRVHGUXOHVDLPWRDQQLKLODWHWKHLGHDRIVKLIWLQJSURILWVE\OHDYLQJ and find new commonalities to cooperate. remind the international communi- let the world know about India’s marine warfare capabilities and
QRDGGHGDGYDQWDJHIRUWKHFRUSRUDWLRQVLQGRLQJVR7KLVZLOODOVR Iran’s initial euphoria of the US exit may soon ty of its primary duty to maintain political will, intentions and interests short-range tactical weapons to
end as it might find the Taliban committing peace and security and should will surely play an important role. defeat the conventional threats for
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atrocities on the Shia minority in request recommendations to act col- India should strengthen its
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uly 26 happened to be the (Secular) and Yediyurappa minister for the fourth time. The Lingayats traditional- who installed the first BJP ter in July 2019 after engineer-
J second anniversary of
Chief Minister
Yediyurappa’s rule in
had a big role in that.
Unfortunately, though he
came to power four times, he
Why is Yediyurappa
important for the BJP? First of
all, there is no Lingayat leader
ly supported the Congress
but moved away in the seven-
ties only to return briefly. But
government in South India in
2008, BSY continues to have
his own place in the State,
ing defections of 18 MLAs
from Congress and the Janata
Dal (S). By then he had
Karnataka. However, it turned has not completed a single to match him in the state, they withdrew their support despite the corruption already crossed 76 years and
out to be an occasion for an term. BSY quit reluctantly as either in Congress or the after Prime Minister Rajiv charges, nepotism, and voic- like before, was facing corrup-
emotional farewell speech the high command had JD(S). The BJP also did not Gandhi abruptly sacked pop- es of dissent. tion and nepotism charges
;1<I1>9B70=:0A worked out his exit plans develop the second rung of ular Lingayat chief minister His meteoric rise in from his party detractors.
after he announced his resig-
nation. Though BSY, as he is with minimum damage to the leadership. Veerendra Patil. In the 1994 Karnataka was checked in With the chief minister
known in the State, resisted party. Secondly, crucial caste assembly elections, the com- the wake of a land scam that drumming up support from
pressures, the high command Incidentally, the RSS, too, politics favour him. munity voted against cost him the chief minister’s the mighty Lingayat mutts,
had decided that it was time wanted a younger leader to opponents, be it the Janata Dal Lingayats are the State’s sin- Congress. This was the time job. He walked out of the BJP the BJP cannot ignore BSY
for a younger leader to take take over. Karnataka has pro- coalition or Congress. He was gle-most significant com- when BSY emerged as the face in 2012 to float his outfit, the because holding Karnataka is
over. duced many important RSS adept at using age-old tricks munity, (17 percent). Of the of the Lingayats. Barring 2013, Karnataka Janta Paksha (KJP), critical for the party before the
Yediyurappa is now 78 leaders -from RSS chief, the of defection and lure of 500 mutts in the state, most the BJP always had more which dealt a severe blow to 2023 Assembly polls or the
and well over the party’s pre- late K. S. Sudarshan, HV money. Even in the 2017 are headed by Lingayats, fol- than 30 Liingayat MLAs in the the BJP in the 2013 assembly 2024 General elections.
scribed age limit of 75 years Seshadri to present-day lead- polls, the BJP did not get a lowed by Vokkaliga mutts. House - 32 in 2004, 39 in elections. BSY’s innings may be over
to hold public office. He will ers like Dattareya Hosbole, simple majority. To keep BJP The community can tilt the 2008, and 38 in 2018. The return of but if the BJP high command
not lead the party in the next B.L. Santosh, and C.R. out, the Congress and the balance in as many as 90-100 Yediyurappa has risen Yediyurappa consolidated the handles him well, being a
assembly polls in 2023, as he Mukund. JD(S) formed a government of the State’s 224 assembly from the RSS ranks and been Lingayat vote base again in the mass leader, he could still
would be over 80 by then. Yediyurappa has been an with the JD(S) leader H.D. constituencies. The seers, a seven-term MLA between 2014 general elections. While mobilize the Lingayat votes.
Karnataka is the southern (The writer is a senior asset as well as a liability to the Kumaraswamy as Chief who received support finan- 1983 and 2013. He joined the dealing with him, the BJP His successor has a tough job
gateway for the BJP. It has journalist. The views party. BSY was a shrewd Minister. Yediyurappa pulled cially and otherwise from the RSS when he was barely 15 leadership had to keep this in ahead, taking everyone along
become the third pillar along expressed are personal.) manipulator who knew how down this government in chief minister, openly sup- and cut his political teeth in mind. For the fourth time, he in a state where factionalism
with Congress and JD to snatch power from the 2019 and became the chief ported BSY. the Jana Sangh. A mass leader took over as the chief minis- always prevailed.
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | WEDNESDAY, 28 JULY, 2021 Editorial mp 7
EDITORIAL Resilient recovery
Japan’s Olympic Regaining of strength by the Indian economy — reflected in improvements on
troubles various parameters — can be facilitated further through positive interventions
T T
he Olympics are a big deal. Triumph at the Olym- o provide relief to the nearly 80 per cent of the loans
pics can mean a great deal for a country whereas a public and business- of PSUs. The consolidated net
bad performance can figuratively send heads roll- men affected by the debt liability of these four PSUs
ing as blame games ensue over responsibility. The second wave of the declined by 2.3 per cent year-
Olympics are a particularly big deal for the host country that SATISH SINGH pandemic, the government on-year to Rs 5.6 lakh crore.
must expend both political and actual capital to undertake has taken several measures The reduction in debt liabil-
the monumental task of hosting such games. And what do including provision of loans to ities was mainly driven by
they get in return? It isn’t really about the money. Though traders, increasing liquidity in profits from metal companies
the prevailing assumption is that the Olympics somehow the market, making efforts to such as Steel Authority of India
enrich the country through giving boosts to tourism and speed up the vaccination pro- and Hindustan Copper and
such, there is no definitive assertion to be made about the cess etc. Owing to the adop- oil companies such as Indian
financial gains of Olympic hosts versus the enormous sums tion of these measures, the Oil and Bharat Petroleum
of money they must spend. The reason countries continue economy seems to be getting Corporation Ltd. SAIL’s total
hosting Olympic games despite the mounting costs is that back on track. Furthermore, debt liabilities declined by 31
it carries a lot of political currency. Internationally, a suc- the Central Government has per cent to around Rs 35,500
cessfully held edition of the Olympics games can bring rec- recently approved a package crore during the previous fis-
ognition, acceptance and clout. Nationally, a successfully of Rs 23,123 crore to deal with cal from Rs 52,200 crore at the
Olympics, ideally combined with a respectable athlete per- the imminent third wave of the end of FY20. Indian Oil’s gross
formance, can be used to signal the progress of a nation and pandemic, under which the debt declined by 14 per cent to
be used to rally national pride. For authoritarian and demo- Central Government will con- Rs 1.09 lakh crore in the pre-
cratic leaders alike, success as an Olympics host can quickly tribute Rs 15,000 crore, while Opening up of the economy has started showing a positive impact across various sectors vious fiscal, from Rs.1.26 lakh
gather goodwill amongst the people. This is what Japanese the state governments will con- crore a year ago. Similarly,
PM Yoshihide Suga is banking on in the course of the ongo- tribute Rs 8,123 crore. funds, banking, stockbroking, financial year. That is why the factories are Bharat Petroleum Corporation
ing Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After abruptly coming to power With the opening of lock- alternative investments etc. The The country’s commod- operating at half their capac- Limited’s gross debt liability
with the resignation of Japan’s longtime PM Shinzo Abe last downs in a phased man- total number of NBFCs regis- ity imports almost doubled to ity despite partial lockdown in declined by 23 per cent year-
year, Suga had admittedly big boots to fill. Unfortunately ner, economic activities have tered with the Reserve Bank of USD 41.87 billion in June as various parts of the country. on-year to around Rs 48,000
for Suga, he took over during a pandemic and has, as such, Exports in June started increasing in the coun- India, as of January 31, 2021, compared to the same period However, India can do even crore at the end of last fiscal,
had a tough time garnering support for his leadership. Suga grew by 48.34 try. In June, the total volume was 9,507 and its total asset in last year and increased by better in exports in the current from around Rs 62,000 crore
and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have been blamed of e-way bills jumped 37.1 per size was about 14 per cent of about 2.05 per cent as com- financial year with the reduc- a year ago.
for Japan’s slow vaccine rollout, among the slowest of all per cent or USD cent, while it increased by 26 scheduled commercial banks. pared to June 2019. The over- tion in daily cases of infection Companies such as Indian
developed nations. As of July 26, just 25.7 per cent of Japan’s 32.5 billion on per cent on a yearly basis. This Today, NBFCs are playing an all trade deficit is narrowing and restoration of economic Oil, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC,
population has been fully inoculated. Meanwhile, even as has driven the speculation that important role in providing due to an increase in exports activities. NTPC, SAIL and NMDC saw
the Olympics continue, Japan is facing a wave of new cases a year-on-year the Goods and Services Tax deposit and credit facilities to and lesser gold imports dur- Debt liability of listed non- the biggest jump in earnings,
with 2,848 new cases in Tokyo on the 27th, nearly double basis due to (GST) collection may increase low-income household groups ing May and June. It remained financial Public Sector Under- while oil companies bene-
that of Tuesday last week. To reflect, Suga’s approval rat- in the coming months. The and Micro, Small and Medium at a three-quarter low of USD takings (PSUs) has come down fited from inventory gains and
ings have continued plunging with it being around 34 per an increase Finance Ministry has said in Enterprises (MSMEs). They 31 billion in the first quarter of for the first time in the last five metal producers despite lower
cent before the start of the games. To add to his and LDP’s in global its report that the tax collection are also providing credit facili- FY 2021-22. The trade deficit is years. The gains on account sales and revenue in the last
woes, the party failed to achieve an outright majority in the of the Central Government in ties in those areas where banks expected to remain low in the of higher metal and energy fiscal. This led to an increase
recent Tokyo local election despite expectations of an easy
demand for the first two months of FY 2021 do not have access. To those current financial year with the prices helped these compa- in their profits in FY21. These
win. Experts now say that Suga is betting his entire politi- certain products has been satisfactory. The Cen- who fail to get loans from states opening the lockdown in nies reduce their debt liabili- PSUs also benefited from the
cal fortune on the games being successful with some indi- tral Government is increasing banks, NBFCs provide loans a phased manner and acceler- ties. The consolidated net debt fall in interest rates like other
cations that he could even call for snap elections following the expenditure for repair and on easy terms. The percentage ating economic activities. liability of these state-owned companies last year, recording
the end of the Olympics to try and strengthen his position expansion of roads and rail- of loans given by them becom- Non-petroleum and non- companies declined by 6.4 an 18.4 per cent year-on-year
as a leader. Unfortunately, a lot is working against him. The ways so that economic activi- ing NPA is very less. gem exports grew by 29 per per cent to Rs 6.83 lakh crore decline in their interest cost
first is the cost. With the games being delayed for a year and ties can be accelerated. According to the data cent to USD 25.65 billion in at the end of March this year in FY21.
coming with new costs for COVID safety and logistics, the Non-Banking Financial released by the Ministry of June. On the same lines, non- from Rs 7.3 lakh crore at the It can be said that the risk
Olympics have shot well over budget. Though the official Companies (NBFCs) are also Commerce and Industry, oil and non-gold imports have end of March 2020. Integrated of coronavirus infection is not
budget for the games was set for around USD 15.4 billion, in a better position on the exports in June grew 48.34 per also increased in June 2021. net debt versus equity of non- over yet. Therefore, preven-
recent audits show that the costs have gone over USD 20 bil- liquidity front than they were cent or USD 32.5 billion on a This indicates a pick-up in eco- bank and non-NBFC central tive measures are being taken
lion. Though the financial gain from the games is already a year ago. Because of this, year-on-year basis due to an nomic activity and an improve- PSUs improved to 0.75 times in across the country. The pace
questionable, this time it seems almost certain that Japan NBFCs are giving loans with- increase in global demand for ment in demand. India’s goods FY21 from 0.77 times in FY20. of vaccination has been accel-
will see considerable economic losses. Consider the USD out much difficulty. Finan- petroleum products, engineer- and services exports are esti- The improvement in debt ratio erated and the government is
3 billion Japan spent on stadiums, the same stadiums that cial institutions which are ing products, gems etc. This is mated to grow by 32 per cent was fuelled by both reduc- still trying to push it further.
will go empty for the foreseeable future as the games con- not banks but accept depos- about 30 per cent higher than on a year-on-year basis to USD tion in gross debt and higher Efforts are also being made to
tinue without an audience. An estimate that was put out said its and provide credit facilities in June 2020, as sectors such 49.85 billion in June. Total income. strengthen health infrastruc-
that Japan could lose as much as USD 23 billion without like banks are called NBFCs. as iron ore, rice, cotton, hand- imports grew by about 74 per Only four companies ture. With the corrective mea-
an audience as the usually expected tourism boom fails to NBFCs do not include only loom products, marine prod- cent on a year-on-year basis to — National Thermal Power sures taken, economic activity
materialise. Then there is the COVID situation mentioned financial companies. These ucts, pharmaceuticals etc. have USD 52.18 billion. It is note- Corporation (NTPC), Power is expected to further increase
above which is made worse by the fact that Japan, despite its companies carry out activities been registering growth since worthy that the overall global Grid Corporation, ONGC in the coming months.
best efforts, has been unable to keep COVID from spread- in investment, insurance, chit the beginning of the current demand continues to be good. and Indian Oil — have taken Views expressed are personal
ing through the Olympics village. As of Sunday, 132 Olym-
A distorted past?
pics related COVID cases had been reported with at least
13 players also being infected. All this has come with a stag-
gering level of public opposition to the Olympics which
had only continued to grow in the leadup to the games with
polls showing well over 80 per cent of those being polled
expressing a wish for the games to be cancelled or delayed.
To top it off, even the corporate sponsors seem eager to keep
a distance even though Japan’s companies have invested a
record $ 3 billion in the games. One of the biggest spon-
sors, Toyota even went so far as to announce that it won’t Hindu-Muslim binary can be allowed to enter academic textbooks only
be advertising during the games given the mood of the
country. Other major business figures like SoftBank Group
Corp CEO Masayoshi Son have spoken out against the wis- at the peril of keeping students bereft of comprehensive knowledge
W
dom of holding games in the middle of a raging pandemic.
Regardless, the games must continue. This isn’t entirely hat all India
because Suga and the LDP are looking at games as the easi- had before the
est way of establishing political dominance. There is signifi- arrival of the
cant momentum for these games. From the start, Japan saw Muslim invad-
the games as an important way to ‘relaunch the country’. ZAINAB NAQVI ers’, read a message I received
Given that the games come before the 2022 Beijing Winter from a friend. She genuinely
Olympics, the Tokyo Olympics are a way for Japan to show believes that the Muslim
that they have not lost against their Chinese rivals at a time invaders and their progeny
when an ageing population and a stagnating GDP growth marred the greatness India
has raised questions over Japan’s future. Cancelling could once had. Do I write her a
be seen as a major embarrassment in this regard. It was also rebuttal? Based on what my
an occasion to show off the revival of Japan and particularly career in History has taught
the Fukushima prefecture following the devastating earth- me so far? Do I simply ignore
quake, tsunami and follow-up nuclear tragedy that rocked the hate that she’s pouring on
the nation in 2011. But more than that, there are indications my WhatsApp? As has become
that Japan simply may not have the power to unilaterally the norm.
cancel or delay the games further without the International Toppling history
Olympic Committee giving the go-ahead. All this places the A month ago, the Uni-
Japanese leadership in an interesting position of pushing versity Grants Commission
ahead with games that the public does not want happening (UGC) proposed a new history
in order to win public approval. At least for now, it seems to syllabus for the undergraduate
be working though it is unknown if this will actually reverse courses. The syllabus drasti-
Suga’s fortunes. With Japan putting in a solid performance cally reduces Mughal history,
at the games, at least for the time being Japanese newspapers expands the rise of local pow-
and citizens seem willing to back down and simply support The draft policy ers like the Marathas and
their country and their athletes. But this bump of approval talks about the doesn’t even mention Akbar
rests on a knife’s edge. If cases go up and are proven to be — an emperor who devised
linked to the Olympics in any way, it is doubtful if Olym-
‘greatness of Sulh-e-Kul, the policy of reli-
pics gold will be enough to hold back the fury of the public Indian literature’; gious tolerance. Has that pol-
reaction. can anything icy fallen out of favour because
the course of the present poli-
that is outrightly tics makes it so?
millenniumpost.in qualified as The syllabus announces
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to terms like ‘History of the Muslim rule cannot be perceived as just a break in the monolithic, uniform great Indian past
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor,
great be Bharatvarsha’, ‘Sarasvati Civi-
studied critically? lization’, ‘Indian valour’ and tion of Muslim rulers for the in the image of India itself: has removed plaques that unbiased history. We cannot
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 traces scientific innovations masses through Bollywood an amalgamation of various stated that the Rajput forces let the Hindu-Muslim reli-
to the Vedic age. The draft pol- movies were not enough, now religious identities enriching had to retreat in the battle gious binary and bigotry seep
icy uses adjectives like ‘Great- even educational bodies are it. If passed, this syllabus has with Akbar. Mughals claimed into our textbooks. Leading
Tweet of the day

ness of Indian Literature’, can ensuring that the truth gets the potential of destroying a a decisive victory over Mewar historians have raised their
something that has been out- overshadowed. major portion of history and in the Battle of Haldighati voices against the proposed
rightly stated as great be stud- Wrong idea of the past instilling in students the idea (1576). Why does that have to syllabus but the UGC has not
ied critically? The syllabus fails Seeking present religious of India that wasn’t there. It be erased today? History can- responded so far.
to mention society, class dis- identities in the politics of relegates the Sultanate and the not be remodeled on fanciful The question remains: Can
Congratulations to Maharashtra tinctions, identity, and wom- the past shall only destroy the Mughal rulers as merely breaks imaginations and aspirations the UGC’s actions facilitate
en’s history. It fails to recognize idea of a shared Indian past in a monolithic, uniform great of past glories. hateful trolls? Yes, they may,
for becoming the first State to the idea of India as a nation and threaten communal har- Indian past. It shall play a role The fight shall go on by inserting the wrong idea of
administer two doses of vac- developed through the course mony. Maratha vs Mughal disin furthering the otherisation Getting back to the What- the past in the history curric-
cine to 1 crore persons! This of history, and not in the Vedic course of the power struggle of the Muslim identity preva- sApp hatred I received, it is ulum. As it has been empha-
age! cannot be seen in the frame lent in the country right now. the price you pay for your reli- sized time and again that there
despite insufficient allocation of ‘Sarasvati Civilization’ is of the present Hindu-Muslim A religious binary? gious identity and constantly can only be ‘a secular India’ or
P. CHIDAMBARAM
vaccines to the State. Will the @PChidambaram_IN
named after a mythological binary as neither the Mughals I am wondering what the voicing anti-communal con- ‘no India’.
centre allocate a fair share of river which, as per the promi- were fighting for Muslim dom- future of history would be. I cerns. Just like the famous The writer is a student
nent historian DN Jha, exists ination nor the Marathas for a came across another news arti- historian Audrey Truschke, of Medieval History at
vaccines to Maharashtra? only in the imagination of the ‘Hindu Rashtra’. cle stating that the Archaeo- who is trolled by ‘Hindu- AMU. Views expressed
credulous! If the delegitimiza- India’s past should be seen logical Survey of India (ASI) tva nationalists’ for pursuing are strictly personal
6
editorial
“Education is the most important tool
you have to rebuild your society for
better goals. Educate all without any
Wednesday 28 july 2021
discrimination.”
chandigarh c mathe w
importance of National Education Policy-2020: A

being chanu Year Old Crawling Baby
TRAINING TIRELESSLY, staying away from family
D
and maintaining a strict diet for five years finally / raghvendra p tiwari /
culminated in the moment Mirabai Chanu had
been desperately waiting for -- standing atop the r APJ Abdul Kalam, is the need of the hour for translating
Olympic podium but it almost didn’t happen. The former President NEP-2020 to the ground realities. Prime
of India, once Minister Office, Ministry of Education
postponement of the Tokyo Games and a break in opined that the and University Grants Commission
training due to the COVID-19 lockdown last year aim of educa- have really burnt mid-night oil for tak-
brought with it a shoulder issue for the weightlifter tion is to build
character,cultivate
ing the NEP-2020 to the door steps of
the stake-holder including civil society
that could have led to a completely different result, human values, de- through several rounds of national
something Chanu had been worried about. “When I velop scientific attitude with spiritual workshops. Ministry of Education
foundation,build confidence to face and UGC have made sincere efforts
started training after the lockdown, my back started uncertain future, and to develop a in drawing detailed implementation
getting tight and my right shoulder had some issue. sense of dignity, self-respect, and self- plan in respect of nine key-areas of
It was not an injury but it would get tight while lifting reliance.India’s learning system needed the policy, viz., multidisciplinary and
urgent reforms to inculcate these at- holistic education; equity and inclusion
heavy weight,” says Chanu. “It happened because I tributes in our youth and to develop in higher education; research, innova-
had stopped training during the lockdown and my global competencies to make them tions and rankings; global outreach
body,” she added. socially and economically relevantand of higher education; motivated, ener-
finally, to capitalize on the geographic gised and capable faculty; integrated
Chanu had been confined to the National Institute dividend. For this to happen, education higher education system; governance
of Sports (NIS) in Patiala when a nationwide lock- system should be able to train human and regulation; promotion of Indian
down was announced last year to curb the COVID-19 agency with quality nutrients to the ponents will provide an opportunity knowledge preserved in various lan- knowledge system, languages, culture
body, mind and soul and should be able for contextualized holistic rather than guages, will be made available on the and values; and technology use and
pandemic. Resuming training after months of stay- to promote the spirit of universal broth- compartmentalized and decontextual- internet in major Indian Languages. integration. In my considered view,
ing inside her room, Chanu developed the shoulder erhood and to enrich other aspects of ized learning eco-system. In order to This will certainly promote the sense time is ripe for implementation of
human agency for taking civilizational make learning joyful, and to develop of nationalism. NEP. Multidisciplinary learning out-
issue. This severely affected her performance in discourse to higher pedestals.It is in higher order thinking capabilities, an Transformational reforms envi- come based curricular framework
snatch, one of the two events in weightlifting. To this context that all transformational emphasis has been laid on experiential sioned in NEP-2020 cannot be imple- and Academic Bank of Credits, in my
rectify it, she flew to the US to get treatment last reforms enshrined in National Educa- learning pedagogies, viz., discussion/ mented without the use of technology. opinion are the doable from the aca-
tion Policy (NEP-2020), announced debate/disputation, demonstration, Teachers and students alike should demic session 2021-22. Owing to corona
year. Working with Dr Aaron Horschig, a former by the Government of India ayear activity, project/dissertation/intern- be empowered to use technology in pandemic, however,implementation
weightlifter turned physical therapist and strength ago on 29th July, 2020, becomes all ship/case study and excursion based teaching-learning.For ushering in the may be adversely affected.
and conditioning coach, immensely benefited her as the more important to implement
with. NEP-2020 is infact, not merely
collaborative learning, and flip- and
other modes of blended pedagogi-
era of trans-disciplinarity, paradigm
cultural and moral shift is needed.
Teachers’ role becomes crucial in
implementation of NEP-2020. In or-
she won a bronze at the Asian Championship with a document, but commitment on the cal approach. Graduate Attributes Enhanced interaction amongst aca- der to successfully implement it, they
a world record clean and jerk lift of 119kg in April. part of Government of India for nation (GA)/learning outcomes will ensure demia, industry and labs by National must be capable enough to adapt and
building through reformed education qualities, skills and understandings Research Foundation is necessary. embrace the evolving discourse of
At the Tokyo Games, the 26-year-old brought cheers ecosystem. that students need to develop while Institutional thrust areas of research education. They should be able to
to over a billion people as she clinched the silver Student centricNEP-2020 provides pursuing studies for certification of will now revolve around SDGs and local infuse course contents with newer
medal with an effort of 204kg (87kg+115kg) in the for creating lifelong learning knowl- the degrees. These attributes will help and regional needs for promoting ‘Vo- and refreshing ideas, should provide
edge society based on the premise of develop competencies beyond the cal for Local’ concept. All these make enough time for learners beyond the
women’s 49kg category. After gold-medal winning equal, affordable and wider learning scope of textbooks and class-rooms. NEP-2020 cable enough to inculcate classroom, engage them in meaningful
performances in the 2017 world championship and opportunities.Academic Bank of Cred- These will empower the graduates entrepreneurial and agile thinking, discourses concerning all aspects of
Commonwealth Games a year later, the Manipuri its (ABC) will enable students to opt to become globalised citizens, and adaptive leadership styles, resilience, education and help them in finding
for diverse courses and institutions, effective members of the knowledge interpersonal and communication solutions. Teachers should be able
suffered a mysterious lower-back injury. through digitally storing the academic society capable of improving the socio- skills, critical thinking, problem solv- to convert static learning spaces into
credits earned from recognized in- economic conditions of the nation. The ing, digital dexterity and global op- active learning sites resorting to per-
stitutions and facilitate the award of policy also emphasises on develop- erating skills and adapt them to real sonalised/flip/adventure/cooperative/
degreesupon earning and accumulat- ing appropriate assessment tools for life scenarios as it emphasises on real peer/service/situated/free-choice, con-
Fate of RCEP
ing credits required for completion measuring the learning outcomes. life-long learning and on how to learn textual, integrativeand reflective and
of the program. Multiple Entry and Through National Language Transla- rather than on what to learn- neces- action oriented teaching.Successful
Multiple Exit options will meet learn- tion Mission envisaged for knowledge sary attribute of learning in globalised implementation also depends on the
ing needsof diverse group of learners. sharing between Indian languages, environment. Tight but light, dynamic cooperation from edu-administrators,
Multidisciplinary curricular framework the governance-and-policy related and flexible regulatory regime, and fa- student community, parents, civil so-
The signatories of the much- Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, with strong skill development com- knowledge, as well as the traditional cilitative umbrella implementation plan ciety and the media. / DW /
hyped Regional Comprehensive Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Ma-
Economic Partnership (RCEP) are laysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and
keenly watching the US moves Brunei. India, which was part
towards China. Amid the raging of the negotiations, pulled out
O door ke musafir !
debate over the origin of Covid at the last minute. In May, the
19, the US is moving fast towards European Parliament decided to
building international support halt investment agreements with
to isolate China. Of the four China due to its record of human
M
QUAD membersÂ—US, India, rights abuse. For Chinese Presi- rajbir deswal used to wait for them to be what I am going to tell you plots in the three-parts day the plant outside their
Japan and Australia, the latter dent Xi Jinping, the in-principle screened by cinema halls the next. One day when movie. This binding thread window will bloom with
two countries are also signatories agreement of the Comprehensive y father which again were limited we were singing Hindi had prevalence all over in flowers.
of RCEP. Unsurprisingly, China Agreement on Investment (CAI) introduced in number. Some magnum songs, I mentioned it to the form of violin played by It is said that Dilip Kumar
has fiercely opposed the idea of signed between the EU and China me to Dilip opus like Mother India, Mu- him that I was in search of ‘Pagla Babu’ who is Dilip leant to play violin for
QUAD. Besides, the new report was considered a big success. Kumar ghle Azam, Devdas, Pyasa a Dilip Kumar movie called Kumar; and seeds planted months before he played
that Biden’s intelligence agen- “When the RCEP was envisaged early in were screened on popular Musafir. He smiled and said by Shakuntala, who is the role. His dance of
cies are currently preparing, is and even signed last year, the my child- demand. Also, it was rare that it wasn’t a big job for Suchitra Sen which would fingers on the chord is a
expected to be ready by August geopolitical scenario was differ- hood. Till my college and that they screened the lat- him to arrange. I chal- bloom in the last episode. seeing and believing experi-
end. The report, which could ent. Today the global dynamics university, I had watched est releases. Not many film lenged him with a bet since A widowed Usha Kiran, ence. Usha Kiran finds out
directly put the blame on China present a different picture and almost all the initial magazines were there and I knew it wasn’t easy to find with her handicapped son, that ‘Pagla Babu’ is none
along with the issue of human doubts will arise over the fate of dozen or so movies of Dilip the others available in the a Musafir cassette, that too a child of four-five years, other but her ex-lover Dilip
rights violation in the Xinjiang the trade pact,” DK Srivastava, Kumar, including Mela, market talked of films not in London. Lo and behold! stays with her Barrister Kumar. She is not comfort-
region will have a damning effect chief policy adviser, EY India told Footpath, Jugnu, Aan, in so much in abundance Naresh came present the brother after her alliance able with her son Raja and
on Beijing’s economy. Depending India Narrative. Nagao added that Devdas, Deedar, Udan Kha- as would satisfy the urge in next day with the cassette. with Dilip Kumar had Pagla Babu getting along
on the content of the report, the the US, which has proposed an tola, Madhumati, Amar, a film-buff like me. Hence, My joy knew no bounds. I been opposed by the same initially, but later coming
US may even initiate the process in-person Quadrilateral Security Andaz, Aan, Azad, Yahudi my only agenda, while visit- don’t remember how many brother. They all move in a to know of Dilip’s disease,
of imposing sanctions against Dialogue -- QUAD meeting in Sep- and Paigham. The only ing friends and relatives in times I watched Musafir ly- house which is rented out begins to take care of him,
China. tember, will try and gain support two which I wasn’t able to different cities was to know ing curled up on the bean- by David. All the three plots having had fought with her
“The RCEP becomes obsolete in from the other core members of see sere Jawar Bhata and if there was a Dilip Kumar bag in the drawing room of are set in the same house. brother. There is a beauti-
case of the US-China competition this informal group in isolating Musafir. Bau Ji had praised movie on. my co-brother’s East Barnet Enquiring about the sound ful song in the voice of
escalating. If the US imposes sanc- China. “One of the main reasons Musafir to an extent that I Coming back to Musafir, House. I found Musafir of violin, the child, Daisy Dilip Kumar—Laagi chhoote
tions against China, other RCEP for China being able to keep the always nearly felt deprived I met Naresh Chatralia, an much more than what Irani, reaches out to Dilip naahin Rama. One day Raja
members will not be in a position cost of production low for all till 1992, when ultimately acquaintance of my co- Bau Ji had told me. It was Kumar who stays as home- looks outside the window
to carry out trade with Beijing,” these years is also due to human I watched that movie in brother living in London. almost a School of Hindi less at a tea-vendour’s and walks upto that to find
Satoru Nagao, fellow at Hudson rights violations, especially in the London. Jawar Bhata is He was a Gujrati and was Cinema. Flawless direction, stall. They both develop the flowers blooming. Dilip
Institute told India Narrative. The Xinjiang region. This issue is likely difficult to find even today. driven out of Kenya who natural acting, superb black a bond. Dilip Kumar, who Kumar lies dead beneath.
mega trade deal was signed in to play up,” Nagao said. He pointed Those were the days when later shifted to London. He and white photography, lilt- is affected by cancer plays David, the house owner
November last year between 15 out that the environmental issue it was hell of a difficult was a cut above me in the ing music, smooth screen violin for Raja and fills him once more puts the “To
countries -- China, Japan, South in relation to China’s rare earth job to keep track of ones knowledge of Bollywood, a play and above all a com- with hope, telling him that Let” board on display, for
Korea, Australia, New Zealand, mining is also coming to the fore. favourite movies. People fact which he proved with mon thread binding three he will begin to walk the the next “Musafirs.” / DW /
Bird’seyeview
‘Shershaah’ portrays reality without any jingoism !
B
ollywood star south filmmaker Vishnu- the crucial battlegrounds Batra says – ‘Either, I will of someone who gives the Delhi-born actor. Describing the personal-
Sidharth Mal- vardhan, Malhotra plays the between the Indian and return after hoisting the their life for duty. I think “I have been working ity of Captain Batra, the
hotra says his role of Captain Batra and his Pakistan Armies during national flag or come it is something that you on ‘Shershaah’ for five actor said, he was filmy
upcoming film twin brother Vishal Batra. the Kargil war -- said the back wrapped in it, but will have to spend years years. I am so inspired by and used to love watch-
“Shershaah”, “This is a very special film is a tribute to a real- I’ll come back for sure’, training and should be this character. Whenever ing Hindi movies, and
which traces film and it has got a lovely life hero. “It stems from Malhotra said the mak- passionate about, which I read or did scenes, I listening to songs. “There
the journey of Kargil war heart. The intention is the writing and they have ers deliberately gave it a Vikram was. realised that he overcame is so much to show but
Komal hero Vikram Batra, is the
true representation of the
to portray things in the
truest form and without
consciously not played it
on the nose because we
casual touch. “We have
tried to show how two
“It was a learning
experience as an actor as
fear with such ease. Fear
is an obstacle we all face.
unfortunately we are re-
stricted by the format of
Panchamatia actual events without tread- covering it with jingoism are not taking a political friends would talk in real- well. It was a challenge And in my own small movies where we have to
ing on the path of jingoism. or patriotism because we stand. We are trying to life,” he added. to portray it with utmost way as an actor, if I can show bits and you could
journalist
The biographical drama is don’t need to. Everybody talk about a real-life hero, The actor, known for honesty so that you don’t inspire people to go out see it through scenes and
inspired by the bravery of knows what happened, his journey as an officer, his films “Student of the do it over or under. And there and overcome fear subtexts. However, we are
Captain Vikram Batra, who who we fought and what his sacrifice and how the Year”, “Hasee Toh Phas- that’s where the director in whichever field, I think excited to show his story
gave his life while fighting it is, we didn’t have to lives around him were ee”, “Kapoor & Sons” and also comes in. We were that will be a victory,” he to people,” he added.The
for the country during the play it,” Malhotra told affected (by his pass- “Brothers”, said it was very conscious of what added. film, produced by Karan
1999 Kargil War with the PTI in an interview here. ing away).” Citing difficult for him to men- we are documenting Malhotra said during his Johar’s Dharma Produc-
Pakistan Army at the age The 36-year-old actor, the example of a dialogue tally get into the head- and made sure to keep it research, he discovered tions and Kaash Enter-
of 24. He was awarded the who sat down for media from the film’s trailer space to play a war hero. real.” In his nearly decade that Captain Batra was tainment, is scheduled to
Param Vir Chakra posthu- interviews at a hotel which was launched here “I would be faking it or journey in Bollywood, not only a great leader be released on Amazon
mously for his valour. In overlooking the Tiger Hill on the eve of Kargil Vijay lying if I say that I can still “Shershaah” holds a spe- but also someone who Prime Video on August
the film, directed by noted in Drass town -- one of Diwas, where Captain get into the headspace cial place in his heart for had a fun side to him. 12. / PTI /
EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 28 JULY 2021
pg 8
28 JULY 2021
Picking Bommai for CM, Subhani
BJP bows to BSY wishes

T
he resignation of Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, which
was on the cards for some time, came on Monday, the second
anniversary of his government after the Lingayat leader turned a
minority into a majority for the BJP in 2019 through “Operation
Kamal” — the name given to the manoeuvre of getting Opposition MLAs to
resign and contest by-elections on the BJP ticket. Thus was brought down
the Congress-JD(S) government that came to power after the 2018 Assembly
election.
The defection manoeuvre amply shows that the BJP is not able to form gov-
ernment in the state on its own even if Mr Yediyurappa has taken the saffron
party to rural areas in the past 15 years and ensured the allegiance of the
Lingayat community, the largest caste bloc.
This is why the BJP cannot afford to treat the outgoing CM lightly, and
accommodated his wishes in the selection of his successor, who is Basavaraj
Bommai, his trusted aide. It is noteworthy that Mr Yediyurappa is not a
Modi protégé. He made his mark as a farmer leader and not as a Hindutva
protagonist though his association with the
The party has to RSS makes clear his moorings.
weigh the prospect The BJP has to keep these circumstances in
of going into the mind though it has had to ease out the Lingayat
leader on account of his age. The party has to
next state polls weigh the prospect of going into the next state
under the leadership polls under the leadership of an 80-year-old,
BJP’s K’taka mess lingers: U.S. EXIT
LETTERS
The exit of US from
of an 80-year-old, and then bet on him remaining in good shape.
and then bet on him In addition to age-related matters, there were
remaining in good also strong allegations from within the BJP of
the outgoing CM’s nepotism and corruption,
shape which was taking a toll of the saffron party’s
BSY won’t go away quietly Afghanistan is resulting in
the rise of Talibanism, a
matter of concern to India.
India needs to realign with
There was a time remain the bugbears as
reputation in the only state in south India were they have always been. Iran, Russia and also the
it has managed to form a government. In 2012, too, Mr Yediyurappa had been Parsa when the BJP’s
central leaders
The BJP thought US to safeguard against
Venkateshwar
obliged to put in his papers on corruption-related charges. that it could use religion
The perception of lack of probity had clung to the tallest BJP leader in were happy that to its own advantage and the scheming Taliban and
Pakistan. The diplomacy
Karnataka, and this has raised ambitions of other Lingayat and non-
Lingayat leaders in the party to aspire to the CM’s position. A weak point is Rao Jr Mr Yediyurappa
had brought
shed casteism in the
name of religion. The of international relations
the block of 16 defector MLAs who had been lured with the prospect of being two have come to haunt
made ministers or compensated suitably otherwise. With Mr Yediyurappa, the Lingayats into the BJP in Karnataka need a paradigm shift.
their patron, gone, they are likely to be fearful of the changing scenario. The the BJP fold. But politics. P.R. Ravinder
BJP’s difficulties can increase if the Congress can overcome its factional years later, it has Mr Yediyurappa is not Hyderabad
T
cracks and form bridges with JD(S). he claim of the But the tension turned into a a man to go gently away.
MEDICO ATTACKED
The BJP’s top priority will be to win the next Assembly election in 2023, Bharatiya Jan- beneath the surface is He will continue to be a
and select Mr Yediyurappa’s successor accordingly, which they did while ata Party in too palpable to accept Mr burden, a major problem if his suc-
keeping the outgoing CM in good humour. This was not a small ask. In north the 1990s that Nadda’s statement at its liability. cessor is not acceptable It shocking to hear about the
India, typically, the BJP is seldom faced with a challenge of this nature on it was a “party face value. First, Mr to him. The troubles of attack on a doctor (Doctors protest
account of the wider spread of the RSS that goes back decades. Also, Mr with a difference” had Yediyurappa should not Mr Modi and Mr Shah attack on medico, DC, July 27). In
Yediyurappa is a mass leader unlike most BJP leaders in other states. long ago been thrown have been made the and formed his own have not ended with Mr these pandemic times doctors are
Although the taint of corruption sticks to him, so does his mass following. into the political dust- chief minister in 2019 party, Karnataka Janata Yediyurappa’s depar- really serving mankind by putting
The central BJP leadership — in effect, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and bin. It was inevitable after the defection game Paksha. In the 2013 elec- ture as chief minister. their own lives at risk. There is no
Union home minister Amit Shah — needed to be very mindful of this as they that as the party grew in because he was past the tion, Mr Yeddyurappa There was a time when safety for them. The authorities
decided on Karnataka’s next CM, from Yediyurappa’s stable as it were. size, it could not be kept BJP’s official retirement did fare well. In 2014, he the BJP’s central leaders should punish the accused so that
in the creche as it were of 75. He was 76 when he disbanded his party and were happy that Mr others do not repeat such acts.
though the Rashtriya became the chief minis- rejoined the BJP. Mr Yediyurappa had Shaik Yousuf Ali
A shrewd move by Bengal Swayamsevak Singh

had tried very hard to
ter this time round. So, it
would be quite sheepish
Yediyurappa is not a
gentle and obedient
brought the Lingayats
into the BJP fold. But
Hyderabad
keep it that way. Then of the BJP leaders to member of the BJP like years later, it has turned
WELFARE SOPS
W
est Bengal became the first state to order an inquiry into the explosive for the last seven years, claim that Mr Mr D.Y. Sadananda into a burden, a liability.
Pegasus spying row that rocked the nation. An international inves- Prime Minister Yediyurappa had to go Gowda. He has clashed The Lingayat religious Welfare schemes have become
tigative consortium had reported that India was among the users of Narendra Modi and his because he has reached several times with the pontiffs made the tools for political parties to claim
Israeli spyware that hacks into mobile phones converting them into 24x7 spies chief lieutenant, Union the age of superannua- central leadership of the assertive statement their progress and they extend
for the government. A two-member commission of inquiry comprising retired home minister Amit tion. Mr Modi and Mr party. In his own way, through their presence them many a time irresponsibly.
judges will look into how such alleged hacking was done and who were the per- Shah, also the BJP presi- Shah and the non-exis- he is a stormy petrel. in the political storm Priority must be for the homeless,
sons behind it. A French non-profit named Forbidden Stories and Amnesty dent from 2014 to 2019, tent central leadership When the BJP wrested that they have a say in the aged, survivors and the dis-
International had taken up investigation in association with media outlets to have maintained an iron of the party would have power in 2019 after los- the matter. The BJP has abled and basic needs such as food,
suss out the truth behind whistleblowing on suspected large-scale government grip over the party and preferred to choose ing the 2018 election been dreaming of mould- clothing and shelter must be pro-
spying that shows no concern for the rights of individuals. its organisation. But at someone other than Mr quite narrowly, the ing India in the shape of vided. There must be a balance
The move by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee may be just another arrow some time or the other Yediyurappa as chief BJP’s central leadership Hindutva. It is discover- between economic growth and wel-
in a war between the Opposition and the Centre but it is a shrewd political and in some place or the minister. But he was had no choice but to ing that Hindutva is fare of society.
move because New Delhi has shown no inclination to probe the allegations other the grip has to very much in the way, accept Mr Yediyurappa clashing with sectarian M.G. Sai Baba
that the Pegasus Project software can become a masterly spy at the govern- loosen. This has come and they could not push as the chief minister. If Hinduism, and that sec- Hyderabad
ment’s behest. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has taken up the into the open in the case him aside. They had to they had their way, they tarian Hinduism is
ORGAN DONATION
issue with the Israeli PM Naftali Bennett but India’s reaction to what appears of Karnataka strongman concede the importance would have loved to sometimes co-terminous
to be an international spying scandal showed keenness only in sweeping and BJP leader B.S. of the local strongman. choose someone else. with casteism, as in the
things under the carpet. An independent judicial commission or parliamen- Yediyurappa, who had Mr Modi and Mr Shah And even at this stage, it present instance of It is overwhelming to see the
tary panel set up by the Centre would have been appropriate to probe whether stepped down on were forced to take the was no easy thing to ease Lingayat politics. courage of the parents of a brain
there was any basis to reports of concerted spying activity on journalists, Monday evening as the difficult decision of ask- him out. It might appear that dead girl (Brain dead girl gives life
activists, political leaders from the Opposition, political analysts and busi- state’s chief minister ing him to go because Mr Yediyurappa held two national parties, the to 25-yr-old woman, DC, July 27)
nessmen. after much melodrama. the controversial legacy out and the central lead- Congress and the BJP, Their gesture not only gave life to a
The Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, has a provision for the Centre or states Last week, a large num- of Mr Yediyurappa is ers could not take the face the same challenge 25-year-old but also a ray of hope
to order such a probe. Given political considerations, any report of a state- ber of the religious that of a popular leader rash decision of replac- of internal feuds. There and happiness to his/her family.
appointed commission is likely to be met with cynicism by those who are heads of the Lingayat tinged with allegations ing him. It would not is, however, a difference. Naila Wajih
accused of resorting to spying. This may only be a game of oneupmanship in community — and Mr of corruption. He have worked and there The Congress’ internal Hyderabad
which Bengal has taken the lead. To get to the bottom of global allegations Yediyurappa belongs to became the chief minis- would have been a split turmoil is rooted in
50
would have been the responsibility of a nation accused of espionage of its own this dominant communi- ter after the leading the in the party. The reli- power-hungry politi-
citizens. What happens if the nation itself is guilty of such subterfuge is a
query that defies clear answers.
ty in Karnataka — had
come out in open sup-
party to a majority on its
own in 2008, but he had
gious heads of the
Lingayat community
cians and their follow-
ers. In the case of BJP, it
YEARS AGO IN
port of the chief minis- to quit because the came out openly in his takes on the more seri-
ter, who was under con- Lokayukta found him support. The BJP had to ous and the more sinis-
siderable pressure to guilty of corruption in contend with both ter ideological turn,
DECCAN CHRONICLE step down. The BJP lead- 2011. He was, however, casteism and religious with religion and caste
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR ers and Mr Yediyurappa acquitted in 2016. In the intervention. The BJP thrown into the witches’ Nationalism of oil
has always pretended brew. It is unlikely that
Editor Printer & Publisher played the usual politi-
cal charade, with Mr
intervening period he
left the party in a huff that its Hindutva ideolo- the RSS and the BJP firms: decision soon
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: Yediyurappa saying that gy has done away with would learn any lesson NEW DELHI, JULY 27.
he was under no pres- Mr Yediyurappa the evil of casteism. But from this ugly turn of Petroleum and Chemicals
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256 sure to step down even quite clearly, it has not. events. They will not Minister PC Sethi told an agitated
Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866- as he met Prime should not have Second, the intervention abandon religion as a Rajya Sabha today that the
2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234
Minister Modi and Mr been made the of the pontiffs is a sign political weapon even as Government would take a deci-
Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony,
Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 Shah, as well as BJP chief minister in that it is indeed they indulge in micro- sion on nationalism of foreign oil
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- president J.P.Nadda. Mr 2019 after the dangerous for the management of caste companies “as early as possible”.
Nadda declared with a party to have flirted equations in every state. Replying to a voliey of questions
2417208
Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: straight face just a day
defection game with religious identity. They will have to deal on the increase in crude prices
08554-276904 before the CM stepped because he was Much to the chagrin with strong local leaders sought by the foreign oil compa-
Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878- down that there was no past the BJP’s offi- and discomfort of the like Mr Yediyurappa nies during sicussion on a calling
2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433
Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore,
“leadership crisis” in cial retirement of BJP, religion is haunt- with greater honesty. attention motion on the unilateral
Karnataka. He might ing the party like a increase in crude prices by the
Ph: 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580
well point to the resigna-
75. He was 76 nightmare because it The writer is a foreign companies, Mr Sethi said
Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51;
Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 tion of Mr Yediyurappa when he became has made a comeback as Delhi-based the Government has not agreed to
Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255 and claim that he had the chief minister a sectarian force. commentator and the new prices sought.
Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08 been proved right. this time round. Religion and caste analyst
T
he privatisation of the cohorts at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan cally advantageous. Hopefully, this current enthusiasm Its officers may groan that their
national carrier Air India is are seeking to step up the pace of State chief secretary Vijai of the state government will last workload has risen but so have alle-
being watched keenly both privatisation by exploring the Vardhan has issued an order long enough to leave an abiding gations of faulty policing. Just a
within the government and added option of limiting the bene- directing that “officers for whom impact on the administration. few days before this, two senior
outside. The well-regarded and effi- fits of Air India employees till such sanction to prosecute has been ED officials were arrested by the
Dilip Cherian cient civil aviation secretary time as the government is the
owner of the carrier. This is to
granted by the competent authority
or court has framed charges in a
PEGASUS PRELUDE OR ED
UNDER ROUTINE SCANNER?
CBI for allegedly demanding a
bribe from the owner of a Gujarat-
Pradeep Singh Kharola is busy
Dilli Ka Babu speeding things up on the divest-
ment process. It had, insiders con-
make the airline more attractive to
private bidders who then can have
criminal case stand debarred” for
field postings or positions involv-
The recent repatriation
Enforcement Directorate (ED) spe-
of based firm that is being probed for
bank fraud. The arrest of deputy
cur, got delayed by the govern- new terms for employees and tweak ing public dealing.” cial director Sushil Kumar to his director P.K. Singh and assistant
ment’s own red tape and then the compensation packages. To give further evidence of its parent cadre the Central Board of director Bhuvnesh Kumar has
Covid pandemic. And, with newly All eyes are on the move since it is intent, the state government has Direct Taxation (CBDT) has set caused serious embarrassment to
inducted minister Jyotiraditya widely believed that it may well recently sacked a 1991-batch IAS tongues wagging. The order came the agency.
With Scindia at Scindia on board who is a former

investment banker, with a firm
grip on things, there is reason for
become the template for the pri-
vatisation of other public sector
companies that the government is
officer, Sandeep Garg, for corrup-
tion. Mr Garg was under suspen-
sion since 2016 after his conviction
from the department of revenue.
The move surprised many since it
is widely believed that Sushil
Sources say that in recent years
ED has been dominated by officers
from the Indian Revenue Service
some to start believing that the sale also planning to put on the block. by a CBI court for amassing assets Kumar is a trusted officer of the ED (IRS), which may not have gone
helm, Air India’s of Air India is finally on course for
take-off.
It is been made clear to the babus
HARYANA GOVT KEEN
TO SHINE BRIGHT
disproportionate to his known
income. The termination from ser-
vice follows the approval from the
chief. Apparently, the repatriation
order was directed by the finance
ministry, which acted on intelli-
down well with the police officers.
These moves seem to be the govern-
ment’s attempts to fix the agency’s
divestment may in the civil aviation ministry that

the divestment of Air India is the
top priority of the government this
The Manohar Lal Khattar sarkar in
Haryana has tightened the screws
on government officers to improve
department of personnel and train-
ing at the Centre. Mr Garg, report-
edly, is only the second IAS officer
gence reports, overruling the ED
top brass. In this time of Pegasus
revelations, those in law enforce-
reputation quickly before serious
damage is done. No one is saying it
yet, but these moves do not auger
well for the top brass in national
year. And Mr Kharola has the full its public image. IAS and IPS offi- from the state to be dismissed for ment, including the ED are no
be back on track attention of his mantri now. When
there’s total focus on one ministry,
babus also feel more empowered,
cers, and others who are facing CBI
probes, will not be given field
assignments or posts where they
corruption.
Undoubtedly, the Garg case is just
a warning to corrupt babus that the
longer sure, who’s been snooping
on whom.
Clearly, all is not well in the ED,
agencies beyond just this one.
Share a babu experience! Follow

we’ve seen. deal with the public. Public aware- government is serious about the premier agency that investi- dilipthecherian@Twitter.com. Let’s
Apparently, Mr Kharola and his ness of this is expected to be politi- “cleaning the Augean stables”. gates economic offences in India. multiply the effect.
THE AVENUE MAIL, Jamshedpur COMMENT Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4
US-Jordan ties rejuvenated Role of Press and its fundamental rights

By Asad Mirza The concepts underlying
'Contempt of Courts Act
J
ordan's King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to meet US President Joe Biden 1971', as the press is
at the White House on July 19. By granting him this honour, the new US concerned, publication of any
administration is putting its weight behind Jordan to become the voice of the region matter calculated to
and non-gulf Arab nations, once again. scandalize or lower the
As the Jordanian monarch for the last 22 years, King Abdullah II has been seen by authority to any court,
American Presidents as a moderate, reliable ally in the Middle East, besides being the eyes prejudice or interfere with the
and ears from the Arab world in Washington. due course of judicial
However, during the last four years that special relationship was put into cold storage, as proceedings or interfere with
former US President Donald Trump, favoured working with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states or obstruct the administration
instead. of justice in any other manner
For instance the Trump administration didn't consult King Abdullah II on the Mideast constitute concept.
peace plan, which originally provided for annexation of the Jordan Valley. By Er. Prabhat Kishore It is not open to newspaper
Reports say that in his renewed role as a representative of moderate, pro-Western Arabs, to publish an item charging a
eveloping countries
Abdullah brought several messages to Biden.
Impact on Jordan-Saudi relations
President Biden may have little appetite for Israeli-Palestinian peace-making efforts, but
he seems determined to prevent certain third parties from exploiting the regional stalemate
D are those which got
their independence
only after the Second World
particular judge with
corruption, whatever the
circumstances, nor can his
conduct in court be adversely
to their advantage. War. Before the War these commented upon. The
Although the US' and Biden's foreign policy priorities are heavily focused on China and countries were under the iron purpose in arming the courts
Russia, the Middle East is a region that the new administration understands very well it fists of the colonial powers with such absolute authority
and were exploited ruthlessly by imperialist There is nothing like absolute freedom of the
cannot afford to ignore. press. The press enjoys the same freedom of to punish people for contempt is the need to
Relations between Jordan and Saudi Arabia had their own ups and downs during the last power. Situation, however, completely changed maintain the dignity of the courts and to ensure
after the World War; and one-by-one all the expression and with the same limitation imposed
four years. The Saudis were irked by the King's fierce rejection of Trump's recognition of all by the requirements of society as available to the that justice is administered in an atmosphere free
of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Jordan also refused to consider the President's Israeli- countries were free from colonial exploitation. from conflict and tension.
When the people of the former colonies got common citizen as a fundamental right
Palestinian peace plan. enshrined in the Constitution. Article 19(1 A) of By and large the press in India is reputed for
King Abdullah II suspected that the US and Israel were favouring a Saudi role in the their independence, the leaders of those its faithful and unbiased coverage of the
countries started feeling the immediate necessity the Constitution provides : "All Citizens shall
administration of the Muslim sites on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Jordanian officials have the right to freedom of speech and proceedings of legislatures and the legislatures
denied reports last year in Israeli newspapers quoting Saudi diplomats as saying that Jordan to remove the colossal poverty of the people. are generally indulgent to the press. But while
Thus the leaders formulated plan for the expression". Article 19(2) recognizes the right of
was willing to grant Saudi Arabia observer status in the endowment administering the the State to make laws imposing reasonable they may overlook minor irritants the
Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount. economic development of their country, so that legislatures individually and legislature as a
fresh wealth could be created for distribution to restriction on the exercise of the right to freedom
The Saudi interest is marked by various moves initiated by the country in recent years, of speech & expression in the interest of the whole are zealous of their privilege and are
though it has not officially declared its desire to wrest control of the Temple Mount from the people to remove their poverty. The duty of bound to take note of serious transgression
the reporters in those countries was to publicize sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the
Jordan, yet. State, friendly relations with foreign nations, which includes deliberate suppression or
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced at the Arab Summit in Dhahran in all the details about the development distortion of a member's speech or other
programme, so that people would have known public order, decency or morality, contempt of
April 2018 that he was donating $150 million to support the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem. court, defamation, incitement to an offence, or contributions to the proceedings, aspersions cast
The donation was aimed to counter Turkish bequests. Saudi Arabia has since clashed with what the government was doing. This is the on a member's behavior in the House,
concept of news in a developing country. sedition.
Jordan at various Arab forums over Jordan's exclusive control of the administration of the A law limiting the freedom of expression imputation of motive to him for his speech or
Jerusalem sites and is believed to have been wooing Palestinian religious dignitaries to In most of the newspapers, the policy that is behavior of the House.
pursued is anti-government. The policy makers whether of the common man or the press already
achieve its objective. exists and it is necessary for the reporters and The law on obscenity is set out in Section 292
Here the risk for Saudi Arabia is that broadening the administration of the Jerusalem sites or the proprietors feel that in order to increase of the IPC. There is no definition as to what
the circulation of the paper an anti-government editorial staffs to be familiar with the provision
could lead to demands that the custodianship of Mecca and Medina should also be of these laws, specially the Indian Penal Code would amount to an obscene publication in this
internationalised. This proposition, often put forward by Iran, sounds horrific to the Saudis. slant is needed while reporting activities of the section, but courts, including the Supreme
government. This is seen even with regard to the (IPC), in so far as they relate to the news
For much of the past century, the administration of Jerusalem's Muslim holy sites has coverage. Court, has applied a test according to which a
vested in a Jordanian government-controlled endowment. And Jordan views the Saudi and reporting of developmental activities. If this matter may be charged as obscene if it tends to
policy is pursued, it ultimately creates a feeling A case of 'defamation' can arise over the
other interested Islamic nation's efforts as an affront, which certain observers also describe circulation of a statement by someone deprave and corrupt those whose minds are
as the battle to emerge as the supreme leader of the Islamic world. of resentment among the masses against the opened to such moral influences.
government. It hampers the developmental containing defamatory references to another
The stakes in the struggle for control of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem sites are high. For person or a corporate body. The fact to be Ethical values are undergoing a change in
Riyadh's ruling Saud family, this is about bolstering its religious claim to leadership of the activities of the government. It must be India, but a news agency is expected to apply to
remembered that developmental activities are remembered is that the person making the
Muslim world. statement is named in the copy and is itself a vigorous standard and keep out of its
For Jordan and its Hashemite monarchs, who trace their ancestry back to the Prophet primarily at the general wellbeing of the people. reports anything that can offend decency in life
If newspaper reports affect the developmental answerable for it does not get absolved. The use
Muhammad, this is more about politics than religion. Palestinians account for more than 40 of adjective of defamatory nature with respect to or manners.
per cent of Jordan's population, thus maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem-which most activity, ultimately common man suffers along (Author is a technocrat & academician.
with it. So, a change in the concept of the news person should be avoided in all circumstances
Palestinians hope to be the capital of a future Palestinian state-is key to ensuring the for, however unpopular person may be, the law The views expressed are personal opinion of
regime's survival. is needed to expedite the development of the the author. He can be reached at
country. will always give him protection against
Despite his fraught relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince, the Jordanian monarch told defamation. prabhatkishore65@gmail.com )
Biden, "we have to work with MBS", the sources said. This magnanimity stems from the
confidence, which King Abdullah II has in revival of his ties with the new US administration.
Pandemic-hit govt finances get crude shock, oil import bill to fall to decade low levels
Jordan as the regional peacemaker
King Abdullah II also discussed Iraq and Syrian affairs with Biden. It is reported that he
urged Biden to back Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who will be visiting the White
House this week. By Subhash Narayan signals now, crude may remain expensive prices is already entry of US shale oil.
The King's pro-Kadhimi argument were based on the fact that he enjoys support of Egypt, range bound between $70-75 a becoming real this year. The first In the subsequent two years
the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as Jordan, and was described as the n a clear indication that the barrel this fiscal. This could add quarter over 190 per cent growth in (FY17 and FY18) as well, oil
best bet to offset Iranian militias and influence in Iraq.
King Abdullah II also urged Biden to join a task force to help stabilise Syria. The approach
he advocates would bring together the US, Russia, Israel, Jordan and other nations to agree
on a road map for restoring Syrian sovereignty and unity.
I global oil market may not
present an advantage to India
as it provided during the pandemic-
significant jump in the country's oil
import bill as average crude oil
purchase price stood at mere $45 a
import bill is based on average
crude price of $67.5 a barrel. If the
projections for crude at $70 a barrel
import bill stood below $100
billion mark at $70 and $88 billion
respectively.
hit fiscal 2020-21, the countrys oil barrel in FY21 and May be above stays, the import bill will be even It again rose to $112 and $101
Reports say that Biden hasn't yet committed to the proposal, as it would mean realigning import bill in the first three months $70 a barrel in FY22," an oil sector higher in Q2 and the remaining billion in FY19 and FY20,
the US interest with both Russia and the Bashar-Al-Assad regime in Syria, both of which are of current fiscal has increased close expert from one of the four largest months of the year. respectively, and falling to just
controversial decisions to be made. to three times to reach scales not global consultancy firms said on The price of brent crude averaged $62.7 billion in FY21 as crude
US academic Curtis Ryan, a widely acclaimed Jordanian expert opines that Jordan and seen in past few years. the condition of anonymity. $73.04/bbl during June, 2021 as prices had crashed to historic low
its partners see the new three-way alignment or axis with Iraq and Egypt as an alternative As per recent numbers on oil If the projections for average against $68.75/bbl during May levels in early pet of the year.
power centre in Arab politics that will help to bring non-Gulf voices back to the forefront of trade, the country's oil import bill crude prices to be over $70 a barrel 2021 and $40.07/bbl during June Lower volume of crude
Arab politics. has risen to $24.7 billion in the in FY22, the country's oil import 2020. processing by refiners is also
In this regard Egyptian President Abdel Fattah-Al-Sisi's visit to Baghdad can be described April-June quarter 2021-22, a bill could once again shoot above The Indian basket crude price expected to have an impact on the
as a "positive step" to limit Iranian influence there. whopping growth of over 190 per the $100 billion mark. It last averaged $71.98/bbl during June import bill.
Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution says that Abdullah has been the cent over $8.5 billion worth of remained at that level in FY20 at 2021, as against $66.95/bbl during For India, lower oil prices act as
most energetic Arab leader by far in trying to support a stable Iraqi government. This summit imports made in Q11 of the last $101.4 billion. May 2021 and $40.63 /bbl during big incentive as the country
in Baghdad of Iraq, Jordan and Egypt is the first time that the Sunni Arabs have ever done fiscal year FY21. The government received big June 2020. depends on imports to meet 86 per
anything in 18 years since the fall of Saddam-that they have actually done something to not And the high growth in oil bill advantage of softer oil prices in the A $1 increase in crude oil prices cent of its requirements. Lower
only stabilise Iraq, but to offset Iranian influence. during the first three months may pandemic hit FY21 when it had to increases India import bill by import bill will also have positive
A final major area of discussion was Jordan's relationship with the new Israeli just be the beginning as crude is set pay just $62.7 towards oil import almost Rs 3,000, while one rupee impact on the country's fiscal
government. to get more expensive in coming bill with overall import quantity fall in value of the currency against deficit that has slipped from earlier
King Abdullah II labelled a recent meeting he had with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as months with a rise in global also sliding with demand as dollar raises spending by around Rs targets in the wake of higher
reassuring, and said he trusts the two governments could cooperate on security and other demand and falling inventory lockdowns eroded demand. This 2,700 crore. government expenditure this year
issues. Although Jordan and Israel have a peace treaty, relations remained tense during levels of the US. also helped the government to raise While India imported $112 to curb falling GDP growth.
Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure as Prime Minister. This despite the oil cartel OPEC level of taxes on auto fuels petrol billion crude oil in FY19 and $101 The dependency on imported
However, this time though King Abdullah II has apparent support of Biden, but he also will agreeing to raising crude and diesel and earnings from there billion in FY20, its import bill had crude (on consumption basis), on
have to outmanoeuvre his younger rivals like Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE and Prince production by 400,000 barrels per contributed significantly towards transited substantially lower in the the other hand, has increased from
MBS of Saudi Arabia to regain the regional Islamic leadership. day stating August to increase Covid-19 relief and stimulus previous three financial years with 82.9 per cent in FY18 to 83.7 per
(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. production by 2 million barrels a measures that the Centre oil import bill standing at $64 cent in FY19, and close to 85 per
He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current day by the end of the year. announced in FY21. billion in FY16, when oil slipped cent in FY20 and 84.4 per cent in
affairs. The views expressed are personal) "The way the oil market is giving The problem of higher imports at on oversupply, especially with the FY21.
'Roof of the World' no more an enigma now!

By Vishal Gulati Tibet saw more than 35 million tourists murals, stupas, statues, ethangkas' and Pradesh.
Over two-thirds the size of India, Tibet, also in 2020 despite the pandemic, up from 1.8 rare sutras. He escaped to India from the Potala Palace
known as the 'Roof of the World' or 'Third million tourists in 2005, according to the The authorities restrict visitors to the in 1959 along with his followers after China
Pole of the Earth', may no more be an enigma local government. Potala Palace to less than 4,000 a day and crushed an uprising in Tibet.
for the outside world now. But for the foreign journalists and it stays open from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. India has a literary connection with Tibet
For, China has opened its door to the tourists government dignitaries it's still off-limits, In 2002, the Chinese government and one of its most widely travelled writers,
after keeping the Tibet Autonomous Region in fearing backlash for seizing control of the invested a total 179.3 million yuan in the Rahul Sankrityayan, is still close to the heart
the southwest, the land rich in minerals and a Tibetan monasteries and expanding renovation of the palace. Every year of the Chinese people, even after eight
variety of flora and fauna, out of bounds for Chinese education rather than the local renovation is being carried out by painting decades.
ages. language. the interior and exterior walls of the Potala His memory is preserved in a memorial to
President Xi Jinping last week made an A small group of foreign journalists Palace. renowned Tibetan scholar, poet and thinker
unannounced visit to the politically sensitive every year gets a rare opportunity to visit The Potala Palace, which symbolises Gedun Chophel, who was Sankrityayan's
region of Tibet, the first by a Chinese leader in the Tibetan plateau -- barren and ringed by Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in fellow traveller, in the capital Lhasa.
more than 30 years. dense groves -- at the invitation of the the traditional administration of Tibet, was Located on the popular Barkhor Street in the
Besides visiting Nyingchi, a strategically Chinese government to showcase the first built by the Tibetan king Songtsen vicinity of the Jokhang Temple, the important
located border town close to Arunachal progress Tibet has made since the Chinese When this IANS correspondent visited the Gampo in the 7th century and it was cultural relics in the heart of old Lhasa, the
Pradesh, and the regional capital Lhasa, Xi etakeover'. Beijing Experimental School in Lhasa, a big rebuilt in the mid 17th century by the fifth Gedun Chophel Memorial was opened in his
inspected a number of key local infrastructure This correspondent was part of the foreign screen at the entrance showcased students Dalai Lama. last residence to the public after renovation on
projects, including the Lhasa-Nyingchi section media tour of Tibet in the recent past. swaying to the "Chaiyya chaiyyaa" song from According to UNESCO, the Potala Palace, November 11, 2013.
of the Sichuan-Tibet railway project. The tastefully lit square with magnificent the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Hindi film "Dil noteworthy for its unique architecture Rahul Sankrityayan (or Rahula as
As per the regional tourism development fountains facing the famed, majestic Potala Se". globally, reached its present size and form in mentioned in memorial archives) came to
department, the traditional culture-dominated Palace, once the seat of the Dalai Lama, is the Government officials say that Indian films, the years that followed as a result of repeated Tibet in 1934 to trace the lost Sanskrit texts,
Tibet Autonomous Region is seeing a tourism most visited place, especially in the evening. dubbed in Mandarin, get released renovation and expansion. says the memorial.
boom with a record 17.58 million trips made In Lhasa, which in Tibetan language means simultaneously in Lhasa with the mainland. The Potala Palace, together with the Spread over more than 1.2 million sq km,
by visitors in the first six months this year, up holy land, the sun sets normally in summer at The upscale Lhasa has four cinemas. Norbulingka and the Sakya Monastery, are the the Tibet region constitutes about one eighth
110.9 per cent year-on-year growth. around 9 p.m. The 1,300-year-old Potala Palace, included three main Tibetan cultural heritage sites in of China's territory.
It says the opening of the Lhasa-Nyingchi Transcending geographical barriers, Hindi in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, Lhasa. The plateau is seeing an infrastructure boom
railway, the first electrified railway on June movies and love songs make their presence with seven golden peaks on the main building, The current Dalai Lama, the Tibetan too with roads connecting 95 per cent of the
25, has injected new vitality into the felt in mobile ringtones and even the lips of the is a model of ancient architecture and home to spiritual leader, lives in exile in Dharamsala in township-level administrations and 75 per cent
development of Tibetan tourism. Chinese youth in Tibet. over 100,000 pieces of cultural relics such as the northern Indian hill state of Himachal of the incorporated villages.
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For TV, e-paper & news visit: www.live7tv.com
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Ranchi, Wednesday
28 July 2021
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DR. GYAN PATHAK quoting is the Usual Status of the
employment scenarios in the country
T
he Periodic Labour Force on yearly basis. Now dive deep into
Survey (PLFS) has just the PLFS data to clear the picture.
come out giving a shot in The Current status quite different
the arm to Modi govern- which is collected and analysed on
ment. Ever since it was weekly basis. During July -
released last week, the government September, 2019, LFPR was 36.8 per
and their supporters have been gun- cent which slightly improved to 37.2
ning around the critics and are and 37.5 in the next two quarters,
telling the country that both the but fell sharply in the last quarter
Labour Force Participation Rate April-June 2020 to 35.9 per cent
(LFPR) and the unemployment rate about 0.9 per cent even below the
had been improving for the last first quarter. Unemployment rates
three years when the COVID-19 pan- during these quarters were 8.4, 7.9,
demic struck the country. 9.1, and 20.9 per cent respectively,
Government has obviously resorted which shows the deterioration in
to political jugglery without consid- unemployment situation. Youth
ering the worsening reality on the unemployment rates for 15-19 years
ground on the one hand, and with- old were far worse in all the four
out understanding the statistics on quarters of the year under survey
the other that conceals more than it which were 20.6, 19.2, 21.1, and
reveals. The data must not be 34.7 per cent respectively. That was
allowed to cover-up the crisis of job- the real position on ground when the
lessness the country is reeling under. pandemic struck the country. It was
We must understand both the the 'current status' which has been
critics and the government to reach concealed under the 'usual status'
at any worthy conclusion to set our that the government is quoting.
priorities right. The government data Thus the current status of unem-
says that the labour participation in ployment and the labour force par-
the country in 2017-18 was 36.9 per ticipation rate has suddenly deterio-
cent and unemployment rate was 6.1 rated even by the PLFS survey.
per cent. One should recall that the The country was put under lock
report for the year had created a down on March 24, 2020, and dur-
great controversy in the country, ing January-March 2020, LFPR was
because, Modi government had tried 37.5, unemployment rate was 9.1,
to suppress it, and one of the mem- and youth unemployment rate was
bers on the panel had resigned in 21.1 per cent. When we look only at
protest. The leaked report claimed the 'usual status' data it conceals the
that unemployment in the country 'current status' of the ground reality.
had gone 45 year high, which Modi The 'current status' data show
government had denied because it that India's unemployment rate
had come just before Lok Sabha stood at 23.5% in May 2020.
Elections 2019. However, after the Thereafter, it had been fluctuating
election was over, the government on a month on month basis until SUSHIL KUTTY alive in the minds of people who and others, and it appears like almost run down the inquiry, nor can it pro-
had accepted that the figures. January 2021. would vote in 2024 when the opposi- all opposition leaders have veered nounce it illegal. The inquiry will
W
Therefore, there is no denying the It means that in one month peo- est Bengal Chief tion parties will give it their all to oust around to Pawar's plan, in which keep the focus centred on the
fact that unemployment rate had ple were getting employed and the Minister Mamata the BJP Government and both Mamata Banerjee as well as the 'Pegasus issue', and the media
been worsening in Modi Raj. next month they ended up losing it. Banerjee and Rahul Mamata and Rahul Gandhi would vie Congress figure prominently. Now, focused on Mamata's quest to become
It was the first report under new From the beginning of 2021, it has Gandhi will come to a to become Prime Minister. Pegasus has broken clear and, willy- Prime Minister. Constituting the
system of assessment. The govern- worsened. The unemployment rate head in a couple of Arvind Kejriwal might be in con- nilly, opposition political parties inquiry commission was a political
ment had then made some structural in January was 6.52 per cent which years, leading up to the 2024 general tention for Prime Minister, but not appear to have found an issue to fight masterstroke.
change in the NSSO. Since then, NSO rose to 7.97 per cent in April, and elections. Both are angling for the Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati. for, and join forces against the Modi When she said that she went
has been conducting the survey. 8.2 per cent on May 9, according to same distinction, but there's only one The drift one gets is that Mayawati is regime. ahead and constituted the inquiry
The survey for 2018-19 showed CMIE data. In May 2021, the unem- slot to fill. 'Didi' thinks she's the one angling to become a four-time Uttar And it's a no-brainer that the Modi commission when the "Union govern-
improvement in LFPR to 37.5 per ployment rate was 11.9 per cent, in for the course. And Rahul Gandhi Pradesh Chief Minister. She also has Government is nervous. Union Home ment is sitting idle", she upped the
cent, which further rose to 40.1 per June 9.17 per cent, and on July 23 it believes he's the born thoroughbred. scores to settle with Mulayam Singh Minister Amit Shah's "chronology" ante against Modi and Shah. And
cent in 2019-20. During this period it was 7.26 per cent. Urban unemploy- Both reckon they can oust the twice- Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. The move comment and the 'godi media' doing then she lobbed the ball high into
also showed improvement in unem- ment was higher at 8.39 per cent as tested 'Chaiwala'. to get UP's Brahmins to back her is everything to divert primetime Rahul Gandhi's court with "we are
ployment rate which fell from 6.1 against the rural unemployment at Mamata Banerjee was in Delhi on another indication of what she wants. debates to corner Amnesty the first state which has formed a
per cent to 5.8 per cent in 2018-19 6.74 per cent as on July 23. July 27, the day after she constituted Of course, things might change if International! Times Now's Rahul commission on this. I hope others will
and 4.8 per cent in 2019-20. As for the labour force participa- an inquiry commission to probe the another 'Mahagathbandhan' is con- Shivshankar and Republic TV's come forward upon seeing our exam-
Critics have been telling us some- tion rate, according to the current unfolding 'Pegasus' snooping scandal. stituted and it succeeds in turning Arnab Goswami translated Hebrew to ple. If someone is asleep, we have to
thing different. status assessed by CMIE, it was 42.9 She's proud that her government is 'Pegasus' and farmers' agitation into Hinglish to arrive at a Modi-saving wake them up."
They say that unemployment per cent in October 2019, which fell the first to order an inquiry, which the election issues. West Bengal has solution. There's no confusion on who will
had been worsening even before the by 7.08 per cent in April 2020. It Centre should have done. Also, Rahul shown that Modi and Shah are not But there's panic in the govern- lead the Opposition onslaught against
pandemic struck the country, which was 40.66 per cent in October 2020, Gandhi should have thought up the invincible. They can be beaten, and ment's ranks. And it's at such a time Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in the
further worsened the LFPR and the and 36.79 per cent in April 2021 idea and put it into play, pronto. driven to political oblivion. that Mamata Banerjee has, by consti- lead-up to 2024. Mamata Banerjee
unemployment rate. which was four months low since But Mamata is first off the block. But it will take a Mamata' tuting a commission of inquiry, taken has appointed herself Trinamool
They question how can unem- January 2021. And she's already given the hint that Banerjee! 'Khela Hobe' requires a the wind out of the sails of the Modi- Congress Parliamentary Party leader,
ployment rate improve when the We had lost 7.35 million jobs in she is serious-contender for Modi's Mamata at the helm. Besides, the Shah yacht. Buffeted by Covid-19 and meaning she'll chalk and chart
economy of the country was under- April, and had only 390 million peo- chair. Her nephew Abhishek Banerjee lady has taken the role to heart. She the West Bengal poll drubbing, Modi Trinamool's fight against the Modi
going a historical fall, and the rate of ple in job, ie only about one third of is on the Pegasus list of potentially indicated soon after the Trinamool and his majordomo are in doldrums. Government in Parliament. While in
growth in 2019-20 tumbled down to the requirement. Total loss of jobs in surveilled politicians, and that's rea- won West Bengal. Within a week of And Mamata Banerjee has tasted Delhi, Mamata was to meet UPA
only 4.2 per cent? The critics thus April-May 2021 was 22.7 million. son enough for the commission of the West Bengal elections, she had blood, so to speak! chairperson Sonia Gandhi, NCP
suspect the data itself, its modes of LFPR stood at 39.6 per cent in inquiry. The nephew could be the sent ace political strategist and close The Modi Government hasn't supremo Sharad Pawar and other top
collection, and the analysis on the the week ended June 27, 2021, contender for Mamata's chair if she advisor Prashant Kishor to talk reacted to the development, and opposition leaders. The Trinamool
yearly basis. The critics seem to which is much lower than even the chooses to go to a greener pasture! turkey with NCP heavyweight Sharad mainstream media has played the Congress has vowed to keep the
have a point. average LFPR of 42.7 per cent of Now, it doesn't matter what Rahul Pawar. whole thing down. But Mamata's Pegasus issue alive for as long as it
The data the Modi government is 2019-20 according to CMIE data. Gandhi thinks, but what's of note is Since then, Pawar has spoken to commission of inquiry is bound to takes to oust Narendra Modi from the
that the inquiry will keep Pegasus Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray spur the Centre into action. It cannot hot-seat.
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SANKAR RAY of clean drinking water, electricity load
shedding, inflation, inadequate health
T
he Pakistan Prime Minister facilities, unemployment, education,
��
Imran Khan-led Pakistan etc, reveals a recently conducted Gall-
Tehreek-e-Insaf won comfort- up poll.
ably in the election to the Sadly true, Imran Khan's rallies
Azad Jammu Kashmir provin- lacked enthusiasm, let alone his side-
cial legislature, held on Sunday, by kicks whose speeches during poll cam-
bagging 25 out of 45 seats (election paign in what is 'Pakistan-occupied
held in 44). However, Pakistan's presti- Kashmir in the Indian political lexicon
gious morninger Dawn in an editorial were drab and lacklustre. The latter
described the election as "one of the had nothing to boast about, leave alone
ugliest in recent times. The tone and anything to pledge. The PTI rule at the
tenor of speeches, the intensity of par- end of the crucial Sunday cashed in on
tisan attacks and the level of personal PML-N'and allowed PTI roughs to PML-N spokesperson cited rigging the opposition parties comprising
mudslinging was, to say the least, indulge in 'hooliganism with complete that allegedly converted the victory of a mostly crooks, thugs, "dakoos".
abominable. All party leaders focused liberty'," she quipped. Moreover, PML- PML-N into defeat. A PML-N candidate Amusingly enough, the Federal
on insulting their rivals instead of talk- N Deputy Secretary General Ata Tarar received 14,016 votes against 13,355 Minister for Information and
ing about issues concerning the AJK was arrested. It was strongly con- votes for by PTI candidate. Later, the Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry,
electorate". demned by PML-M leader and leader PML-N candidate was shown to have demanded as if to be ensured of being
The Pakistan Peoples' Party won 11 of Opposition in the Pak National lost to the PTI candidate with final tally in good humour of PTI supremo - that
seats, followed by six by the Pakistan Assembly Shehbaz Sharif who tweeted: of 20,467 and 22,096 votes respective- the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto
Muslim League (Nawaz) and one each "This regime has stooped so low as to ly. Zardari and PML-N Vice President
went to the Muslim Conference and use police & district administration to The PTI has won by default, not Maryam Nawaz put in their papers as
Jammu and Kashmir PPP. The per- target their political opponents". There due to performance. The Friday Times their parties were defeated in AJK
formance of PML-N was unexpected as is no denying that PTI 'goons' had editor Najam Sethi rightly predicted provincial electoral battle.
the campaign rallies, addressed by its attacked Opposition workers in that King Khan's party was 'the front But electoral arithmetic brings out
vice-president Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Gujranwala's Alipur Chatha area to runner' but not because of being 'the things that unnerve the 'miltablish-
had enthused swelling crowds. Her 'rig' the election. PPP candidates too most popular party' but owing to what ment' which calls the shots in
energy created an emotional implant were fired upon, proving the frailty of he called as 'dependent relationship'. Islamabad. Forty-four per cent of 3.2
into the mindsets of listeners, remind- national election authority. Electors would not be "wasting" their million voters in PoK did not turn up at
ADELAIDE: It's a favourite first-order for the day, but while a quick coffee may perk ing many, ironically, of the fervent ral- At least two people were killed and votes on the opposition which would polling centres.. One remembers the
us up, new research from the University of South Australia showed that too much could lies by Benazir Bhutto when she several injured in an armed clash have s no chance of the opposition executed Kashmiri militant Afzal
be dragging us down, especially when it comes to brain health. returned to Pakistan as a conquering between the workers PTI and PPP at a forming a government in Islamabad. Guru's words to some detainees at
In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found that high coffee consump- heroine in 1986. polling station inKotli district, accord- The pity is that PTI government has Tihar Jail in Delhi while having been in
tion is associated with smaller total brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia. Opposition parties lambasted the ing to local newscasters. That the vio- earned the infamy of mismanagement death row. 'Pakistan used its network
The findings of the study were published in the journal 'Nutritional Neuroscience'. PTI-led federal government, alleging lence was not one-sided was evident as of the economy having inflicted 'so to kill many intellectuals advocating
Conducted at UniSA's Australian Centre for Precision Health at SAHMRI and a team 'rigging' in poll. PML-N spokesperson the slain activists belonged to the PTI. much pain on lay Pakistanis that independence' The militant Kashmiri
of international researchers, the study assessed the effects of coffee on the brain Marriyum Aurangzeb accused PTI of But reports of serious injury of PML-N Nawaz Sharif's era seems like a golden did not live to read that the Pak pre-
among 17,702 UK Biobank participants (aged 37-73), finding that those who drank pitting 'goons' against PML-N workers and PPP in clashes in the PoK capital age!, added the acid-tongued TFT edi- mier stated during poll campaign in
more than six cups of coffee a day had a 53 per cent increased risk of dementia. in Gujranwala's Alipur Chatha. The Muzaffarabad as also in Mirpur, Bagh, tor. About 80 per cent of Kashmiri AJK that he would welcome a sover-
Lead researcher and UniSA PhD candidate, Kitty Pham, said the research delivers allegation is not without basis as the and Rawlakot districts forced suspen- respondents are reeling under 'the dis- eign and independent Kashmir-
important insights for public health. police 'arrested those associated with sion of polling for hours together. mal state of their everyday lives - lack hypocrisy without bounds.
MYK
4
mail us at >> desk@thegoan.net
log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Tuesday July 27, 2021
When it rains... real heavy

Technology, prompt human response, better communication backup
in our tiny State are all desperately needed to avoid �oods
I never think of the future - it comes soon enough
Albert Einstein
>The writer has
been a journalist
and commentates
as a Devil’s
Nadda’s leadership
Advocate on Goan
life
move in Sawant an FREDRICK NORONHA
electoral masterstroke
T
he rains are making news. Not just
B
in Goa, but in other parts of India,
and even in areas of Europe, China,
haratiya Janata Party (BJP) national President Jagat and elsewhere. We have been hit hard. It
Prakash Nadda’s backing of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant took some time for Goa to realise the full
impact of the situation, even as images rainfall. Earlier, there had been a lot of are still clearly confused and grappling
to lead the party into the 2021 Assembly elections comes and news reports emerged from the hin- debate over equipment bought but not to understand the size and nature of the
as a strategic masterstroke that clearly de�nes the elector- terland areas. installed, and how reliable its actual problem.
al path. He may have le� a small window open by adding For the past three years, the monsoons forecasts were. Unsilted drainages, rivers, and nul-
have been battering us in ways few have One could still ask for forecasts with lahs are being pointed to as a part of the
that the party’s parliamentary board will eventually take a call, but witnessed earlier. This has happened in even more precision. problem. Overbuilding and concretisa-
the very fact that he has unanimously backed Sawant’s candidature 2019, 2020, and now again in 2021. A�er But getting it right is only part of the tion are also being blamed. The local
sends out a striking message to detractors, disgruntled partymen a cyclone in mid-May this year, we had job. Is the word reaching out to every- MLA has explained Guirim’s woes due
some heavy rains in mid-June and again one who needs it, and can make use of to it being a catchment with hillocks on
and also to the Opposition parties. in mid-July. it? I might be wrong, but the email con- all sides. But those from the area would
Nadda’s thumbs up to Sawant assumes major signi�cance against We’ve seen homes collapse, �ooding taining their weather forecasts are being vouch that such severity has not been
of towns and villages, and incessant rain cc’d (copied) to barely �ve dozen per- noticed in the past.
the backdrop of North Goa MP and recently inducted Minister of with a ferocity that few of us would ever sons on their list. This includes govern- Quite a few perceptive observers have
State for Tourism throwing subtle hints and expressing his willing- recall. Maybe for the �rst time in our lives, ment o�cials and the media. raised questions about dam waters be-
ness to return to State politics. The theory of Shripad’s re-emergence some of us have come to fear this season. Is it not possible to reach out to a far ing suddenly released and without
In spite of all this, it is quite likely that, wider audience, on a daily basis? Can warning. This could be one main rea-
in Goa politics that brie�y ignited hopes of a new narrative in the BJP once the current round is over, we’ll for- social media not be more e�ectively son for the sudden rise in �oodwaters
leadership has been grounded with Nadda stating that the MP’s in- get all about it, pretend everything is nor- deployed? I’ve been asking this o�ce in some areas, even at times when it has
terest has been taken care of and accordingly assigned a job in Delhi. mal, and get back to a business-as-usual quite o�en to make the subject line of not been raining the heaviest.
approach. Governments and politicians, their emails more easy-to-follow. In- Villagers in Santo Estevam have
Projecting a face ahead of elections is a bold decision for any party authorities, service providers, health care stead of ‘Press Bulletin Issued by MC pointed to how the sudden �ooding by
because it overrides the possible repercussions on campaigns, espe- providers... and above all, especially the Goa on 26.07.2021’ could it not be some- their village had destroyed crops a year
citizen, all need to be alive to this issue. thing like ‘Light to moderate rainfall or two ago and had pointed to the dam
cially when there are di�erences with the leadership. Sawant may We are clearly living in an age of glob- very likely this month end’? waters. Similar concerns have been
be an acceptable face within the party according to the feedback al weather extremes. We could hide away If the message is being sent to enough raised from areas like Revora. If true,
Nadda received, but it would be wrong to conclude that there was from this reality, but all signs seem to be persons, it seems as if it is still not being this means some of the worst fears of
pointing to that. Experts tell us that the understood properly. the critics big dams could well be com-
no resentment in the ranks over Sawant’s global temperature rise has to immediate- From the responses we are seeing, ing true. The government clearly needs
Projecting a face ahead decision-making. Periodic contradicto- ly be slowed down. it’s clear that, despite all the warnings, to have more transparency and plan-
ry statements made by cabinet ministers We might all even feel too small and the authorities are unprepared or un- ning on this.
of elections is a bold helpless to tackle a problem of this magni- We are clearly der-equipped to deal with a problem of Go back in your memory and think
decision for any party like Minister for Waste Management Mi- tude, but the approach of everyone could living in an this magnitude. about when it was last so bad.
because it overrides the chael Lobo and Health Minister Vishwajit indeed add up at least in small measure.
age of glob- Technology, prompt human response, Mervyn Maciel, the nonagenarian
possible repercussions Rane bear testimony to this fact. Nadda Like you, I’m sure the rest of us also feel
al weather
better communication backup, and bet- writer in the UK, and former civil serv-
helpless about the situation. But, at least ter communication in our tiny State are ant in remote areas of Kenya wrote in re-
on campaigns, by backing Sawant to the hilt has belittled could we start with trying to understand extremes. We all desperately needed. cently with his views, saying: “Very sad
especially when there the odds at hand. what’s going wrong. could hide Much more than this, in fact. The to hear of the havoc the monsoon rains
are di�erences with the Much against the apprehension that Being a long-time critic of the Goa Met
away from this
government should not think that just are causing in Maharashtra and Goa
leadership O�ce (more formally, the Meteorolog- seeking and obtaining more funds is too. It must be awful for many of you....
MLAs from the break-away Congress fac- ical Centre Goa), one has to admit that reality, but all going to solve this problem. Far from it. I hope the rains will abate. No doubt
tion may jump ship on the eve of elec- its weather forecasts have improved in signs seem to Social media is doing a useful job of climate change is sounding alarm bells
recent months. It got the cyclone right, highlighting many aspects of the prob- and I hope world leaders will act soon to
tions, Nadda’s comment that those who have joined the party have and warned everyone in advance; Ditto
be pointing to lem. Photographs and videos are sur- avoid further such tragedies.”
acclimatized to the party’s style of functioning and have settled in with the mid-June and mid-July severe that facing all over. But citizens and o�cials This is a reality we’ll need to live with.
the ecosystem is enough of an indicator that the BJP is pinning its
hopes on them, virtually signalling the end of the road for those
who were sidelined in the process. While trying to draw a �ne line THE INBOX >> I
between ‘family raj’ and the allotment of tickets, Nadda pushed the
onus on the election committee members keeping hopes alive of Allocate land for the in connection with the reservation in
Monserrates and Lobos. landless IIT in Goa Poor flood management: Food for thought promotion for the disabled employees
in our State should not be ignored. The
Nadda has gone about the job with a meaningful sense of purpose In 2014 the Centre had allotted an IIT for
The devastation caused by the incessant rains in Goa that government is applying various delaying
battered the state relentlessly for a week, washing away several tactics to give the due bene�ts to the
and his decision on leading the campaign comes at a time when the Goa and since 2016 it has been housed houses and cattle and rendering thousands homeless, with
in the campus of Goa Engineering Col- disabled community since 1995 to which
Opposition Congress is struggling to name its party leader and keep loss of property and belongings, and the heart rending cries many cruelties are inflicted by nature. The
lege, Farmagudi. of the people, will long be remembered as nature’s worst fury
its motley pack of MLAs united. The leadership decision not only The IIT has been three times unlucky for Bombay HC of Goa should take suo-mot-
unleashed on this tiny state of Goa in the years to come. to cognisance if the government doesn’t
sends out a strong message within the party but also to an entire op- not being able to �nd a suitable piece of It is a double whammy if one might say, a�er the destruction
land. In 2016, there were oppositions by execute the Apex court judgment.
position which till now is unable to put a face to their campaigns. caused by the recent cyclone ‘Tauktae’ in the month of May, that
people at Loliem (Canacona), in 2018 Co- caused heavy losses. K G VILOP, Chorao
Despite the Opposition parties consistently picking holes and am- tarlim (Sanguem) was identi�ed but was It is a pity that the warning bells sounded were not heeded by
plifying the State-government failures, the BJP has made a decisive dropped and later shi�ed to Shel Melauli the State, even a�er IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rains BSNL must roll up its
statement by putting Sawant in command. (Sattari) where in January 2021 the peo-
ple revolted. In May 2021 the government
much in advance. Much of last week’s destruction could have
been prevented, had contingency plans been drawn up by the
sleeves on connectivity
It remains to be seen whether forces within the BJP can reconcile to wanted the revenue department to trans- State and kept in readiness to meet eventualities. In times when the communication tech-
the announcements of Nadda and if the party can put up one united fer 14 lakh sq m in Tuem. It has come to Sadly, even our cities were crippled, a�er the flood waters con- nology has been advancing everywhere,
light from the Pernem mamlatdar that the BSNL services in Goa is in utter dire
force ahead of the 2022 elections. there is no such tract of land owned by
tinued to swirl and bring life to a standstill, despite a lot of mon-
straits. The internet connectivity all over
ey being spent on the cleaning of storm water drains, 3 months
the revenue department! ahead of the monsoons. and especially in the villages is extremely
Interestingly, in Tuem, acres of land have What then are the development works undertaken, that we pathetic on account of which it is very
been identi�ed and a proposal is in keep boasting about? adversely a�ecting students who are now
the pipeline to have an entertainment on online classes and also the people
park. Recently, 5.97 lakh sqm was also A F NAZARETH, Alto Porvorim at large being unable to access online
OPEN SPACE >> identi�ed for the green�eld electronics services provided by the government and
manufacturing (EMC). other institutions including the Courts
Perhaps the 7 years jinx for the pres- which are now conducting hearings by
Allow Konkani tiatrs tigious IIT could be broken if the lands
identi�ed for EP and EMC could be either power minister would reply to AAP’s of-
fer to provide free electricity to Goans.
virtual mode. Even where the network
exists the speed is extremely slow which
with 50% capacity singly or jointly be allotted to it.

The policy makers need think of the
priorities of Goa i.e., either provide high
STEPHEN DIAS, Dona Paula
is further frustrating.
It is high time that the now crumbling
BSNL, a government entity, which has
P Implement promotion
eople have su�ered a lot during the standards of education to the students or been in total disarray, gets its act togeth-
past one year due to the pandemic. flood the state with tourists. er. In times of trouble like the current
Life has been thrown out of gear. bene�ts to disabled pandemic, the importance of the speed
Jobs have been lost, businesses had to SRIDHAR D’IYER, Caranzalem It’s extremely unfortunate that PwDs gov- and access of the internet has become
shut down.
The entertainment sector also had to
Power debate: Why was ernment employees are facing delay and
di�culties for promotion. The Supreme
signi�cantly greater.
This global pandemic has clearly demon-
su�er. With no stage programmes, the common man kept out? Court in its landmark judgment had held strated to us the bene�ts and urgency of
actors, directors, and all those associat- A lot of interest had been generated on that the reservation in promotions to having state of the art internet connec-
ed with the stage performance were le� the power debate between Nilesh Cabral the persons with benchmark disabilities tivity, speed and access and the pitfalls
without any work. These artistes also included all those who are associated and Satyender Jain and a huge crowd cannot be denied. of not having one like some of our many
with the Konkani tiatr. was seen outside Institute Menezes Bra- There cannot be any methodology used Send your villages are sadly experiencing.
Those who had no source of income may have found it di�cult to make both to defeat the reservation in promotion. Progress claimed by the Government can-
ends meet. With a considerable fall in the number of the positive cases of the
ganza on Monday.
Once that post is identi�ed, the logical letters to us not be just on paper and loud talk as the
Sadly, police had condoned the area and
novel coronavirus and the positivity rate below four, it would be desirable to the common man was not allowed entry.
conclusion would be that it would be re- at editor@ people need to experience and feel that
allow staging the Konkani tiatr with ��y percent capacity and following all What I fail to understand is, why was
served for PwD who has been promoted. thegoan.net. change for the better.
the SOPs. The RPwD Act states the reservation to Narendra Modi had said “E-governance
Konkani tiatr has been the main source of entertainment for Konkani loving
such a hype created about this debate the PwDs have been extended to 4%. Letters must is easy governance, e�ective govern-
Goans. When other sectors are gradually opening up, tiatrs could also be al-
if people were not allowed to witness it? But the government departments are not be 150-200 ance and also economic governance.
What is the purpose of this kind of a de-
lowed to be staged. This will go a long way in helping the people forget the bate being held behind closed doors?
implementing reservations in promotion words and E-governance paves the way for good
psychological trauma they su�ered in the past year due to the pandemic. for people with disabilities inspite of mention the governance.” Time to Walk that Talk, Mr
I being a senior citizen too was not SC verdict, causing a huge setback in Prime Minister.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco allowed entry. It would really have been the form of carrier progression and also writer’s name
interesting to watch in person how our monitory loss. The apex court verdict and location AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
Printed at: Elegant O�set Printers Pvt Ltd, Plot No 2/3/4, Thivim Industrial Estate, All Rights Reserved. concerned authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Goan Everyday’s Editor,
Karaswada, Mapusa, Goa. Editorial O�ce: Third Floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panaji 403 001, Goa. Publisher and Owners.
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New Delhi, Wednesday, 28 J uly, 2021
EDITORIAL THE SIKH TIMES 6
Letters to the : TMC Martyrs' Day Mind games

programme, Chennai effort to
prevent defacing of city walls, Government pronouncements resemble publicity exercises
marriage proposals at Olympics A speaker in a television debate was
deploring the paucity of hospital beds. A
offences to the intelligence, purveyed
by our wise rulers because they
simple soul would have gone on to say, consider us gullible.
‘We need more beds.’ This philosopher The practice has spread to sectors of
astutely stressed another logical society that stake their authority on
possibility: ‘There are too many people.’ learning and judgment. When the
He was defending the moves in certain maximum gap between Covishield
states to penalize those with more than doses was increased to 16 weeks, one
two children. argument was that everyone may not
As an exercise in theoretical dialectics, his have taken their second dose by 12
stand was impeccable, but it lacked weeks. This could only be due to
context. He overlooked the fact that personal problems or shortage of
India’s total public expenditure on vaccines: neither is a medical
health is under 2 per cent of GDP, the argument. More basically, we were
Sir — The enthusiastic participation of
Centre’s share being 25 per cent of this. told the gap was extended on the best
representatives of Opposition parties in the
Roughly two-thirds of hospital beds are medical evidence. Laymen were
special function organized by the Trinamul
utilized by the one-third of our puzzled when leading doctors denied
Congress on Martyrs’ Day was a significant
population who can pay commercial knowledge of such research. The
political development. The chief minister of West
rates, sometimes by pauperizing confusion could have been avoided
Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, made an impassioned
themselves. A new government scheme had the official announcement cited its
plea to all Opposition parties to put the country’s
of Rs 50,000 crore for hospital sources. That is what distinguishes
long-term interest above their personal political
expansion consists entirely of credit scientific method from practices that
calculations and form a united front against the
guarantees to private players, further concoct their own trials, reports and
Bharatiya Janata Party without delay. generous (and welcome) allocation for drinking water
skewing the ratio. Our new Union health certification. This was instanced in the
In her inimitable way, Banerjee said that the BJP has minister is rightly concerned that across India, people are and sanitation to the ministry of public health. Such ‘trial’ of a herbal nostrum administered in a southern state
‘a high viral load’ — this is especially apt given queuing fruitlessly for Covid shots. Again, the simple- juggling of heads makes it impossible to compare one to Covid patients in no serious danger. Its champion was
the virulent religious nationalism of the saffron minded would infer a shortage of vaccines, but the year with another. It also allows multiple citing of the jubilant: “Many patients died in the allopathic hospitals,
outfit — and compared the Opposition parties to minister knows it’s owing to mismanagement by state same grant, as the jackal in the folk tale showed the but all ours recovered.” In other words, the potion did not
doctors facing an emergency. By taking the governments. In that case, a shortage at point A should be crocodile his sole surviving offspring over and over. kill off those who would have survived anyway: a less
‘Khela Hobe’ pitch to the national stage, Banerjee balanced by a glut at point B. Yet the latter seems the case Covid relief packages have employed similar tactics. than total proof of efficacy. One wonders at the pressures
has become the rallying point for Opposition only at private hospitals. The simple-minded would They included items repeated from earlier budgets, items that induced a state government to pander to such
unity. Banerjee can become the fulcrum of an conclude that few people can afford market rates, and the — like private participation in space projects — of fallacies.
alternative to the Narendra Modi regime. The 25 per cent commercial quota needs reducing. At least doubtful relevance to Covid, and many items that were Where even medical science proves malleable, the law
country is in great need of someone exactly like two chief ministers have said as much, to no avail. In an not grants but loans or mere guarantees for loans. A cow, a obviously provides rich material. In some new-age
her who has the potential to change the dynamics India-sized country, any statistic can seem huge, even if horse and a camel do not add up to three elephants. legislation (like the original version of one of the
of national politics and win voters over. More and dwarfed by others left uncited. The allotment of x lakh Neither in intent nor in function was this an integrated contentious farm laws), the terms exclude recourse to the
more people are now realizing that their embrace vaccines for a state is acclaimed, concealing that the programme of Covid rehabilitation. In fact, it bore the courts. Again, we laymen can only wonder. Can there be
of the Hindu right-wing in 2014 has turned out to demand runs into crores. The minister’s early tweets, dual label of an Atmanirbhar package. A not dissimilar laws not subject to the courts — laws beyond the law?
be far from rewarding. Looked at objectively, besides reviling the Opposition, stated the projected ploy argues how little the Rs 20,000-crore Central Vista Going still farther, Father Stan Swamy is the latest prey to
seven years of Modi rule have brought only supply of vaccines per month. That means nothing unless project will actually cost: for the present, allegedly, just laws that, on crucial issues like evidence and personal
misery and ruin to the country. In contrast, West set against the amount required, the amount Rs 1,300 crore. In fact, that is the upfront commitment for liberty, operate unlike all other laws — indeed outside the
Bengal is making strides in economic progress manufactured or imported, and the long-term just two components in the first two months of the normal parameters of jurisprudence and, some lawyers
and achieving social cohesion, thereby proving to immunization schedule. One-off statistics cannot financial year — ignoring other construction likely to say, constitutionality. We laymen cannot tell; but in the
be a model state for the rest of the nation. The buttress a rational plan. I would not dream of calling our start this year, like the prime minister’s residential Supreme Court’s words, it makes everyone scared. One
crises that are plaguing the country reveal the need rulers irrational. Rather, their sagacity tells them that their complex and other buildings elsewhere to house the may well be terrified if one’s fate is effectively
for better leadership. If the Opposition parties trusting subjects can be fobbed off with impressive noises ministries temporarily. That modest 1,300 crore is determined by the mere charge of wrongdoing rather than
unite against the BJP and dislodge it from power in default of fact and logic. Towering numbers can be as contrasted with the obviously larger budget for vaccines the evidence. The fear is so total and visceral as to divert
and instal a pro-people government in 2024, they mesmerizing as giant statues and bullet trains, and vastly — with no heed to countless other demands, mostly all attention from the moral and intellectual bankruptcy
will have done India a good service. They can easier to supply. Another favourite ploy with numbers is unmet, resulting from the pandemic. Government underlying such laws. In Shakespeare’s Measure for
unite behind India’s foundational values and to confuse the trail. A budget increase of 137 per cent was pronouncements have come to resemble publicity Measure, a magistrate questions a bawd about the latter’s
common minimum policies and programmes. Sir claimed for the novel head of ‘health and well-being’ this exercises. There is hardly a pretence at dispassionate occupation: “Is it a lawful trade?” The answer comes: “If
— It is great that in order to discourage those who Covid year. In fact, the health ministry received 10 per furnishing of data or grounded justification of policy. the law would allow it, sir.” Such seamless logic heralds a
continue to deface city walls with posters, cent less than last year’s revised budget. Besides Rs Instead, we encounter a barrage of mental bludgeoning: fearsome reign of misrule and unreason where the State
scribbles and etchings, the Greater Chennai 35,000 crore earmarked for vaccines, the increase was stray misleading factoids, statistics without source or can nonetheless say, ‘Whatever is done is in accord with
Corporation has decided to paint artwork across owing to a 28 per cent hike for the Ayush ministry and a context, rhetorical claims defying logic. They are the law.’ Let us look to our times.
the city walls. In this context, it must be pointed
out that city walls often bear posters and drawings
of political parties and politicians. This, too,
should be actively discouraged. Offenders who
Deeper crisis
deface walls should be taken to task and penalized The implications of social discrimination in a country that has five beds and 8.6 doctors for every 10,000 people can only be troubling
heavily. Sir — City walls are not the only things
that Indians deface. Most of us want to leave a That inequality lies at the root of the ill health of a population, has access to barely 40 per cent of the beds
mark on the pages of history. But some people go population is not new; this fact has only been thrown can only be troubling. Significantly, not only do those
about doing this the wrong way. Scribbling and into sharper focus by the Covid-19 pandemic. The in lower income brackets face more visits to hospitals
etching names, symbols, slogans, curses on our findings of the Oxfam report, Inequality Report and Covid centres on account of compromised
historical monuments is not the way to etch our 2021: India’s Unequal Healthcare Story, which personal health than the rich, but are also subject to five
names on the pages of history. People who do such documents the existence of sharp inequalities across times more discrimination upon testing positive. The
things are not only inflicting serious harm on the caste, class, gender and religion-based categories on absence of universal health coverage has had a
monuments but also on India’s culture and several health indicators, are a testament to the debilitating impact on citizens’finances; out-of-pocket
heritage. They are maligning India’s image as a prevailing challenge. India’s reduced health budget, expenses are known to be a cause for penury in India.
civilized land in front of the world. It pains us persistent under-funding of its public healthcare Insured citizens are not immune to financial challenges
when we see our beautiful monuments being systems and its focus on encouraging private — but either. After the massive spike in cases during the
carved out to write names and draw obscenities. often unaffordable — healthcare entities have led to second wave, 50 per cent of insurance claims got
People also spit paan and gutkha juice on the walls the deepening of disparities in people’s access to rejected while those that get processed yield only 60
of these edifices. This shows that we do not medical services. The data are suggestive of a per cent of the amount. Greater public health
deserve these beautiful monuments, which are discernible advantage enjoyed by affluent allocations — Telangana and Himachal Pradesh have
like little doors to our past. The legends of history constituencies over those belonging to socially immunized in Muslim households; a woman from the undertaken such a measure — have had a positive
whose robes brushed against these walls are now disadvantaged groups such as scheduled castes and general category lives, on an average, 15 years longer than effect on health outcomes during the pandemic. There are
battered and stained by the irresponsibility of their scheduled tribes. Other kinds of binaries are also at play. a Dalit woman. also lessons to be learnt from Kerala’s multi-layered
Hindus have greater healthcare capital than Muslims, as Worryingly, these crevices afflicting the welfare model have pandemic health system — offering basic services at the
successors. I urge the Government of India, the
do men over women and urban populations over their rural only been widened by Covid-19. The implications of community level, an expanded primary healthcare
Archaeological Survey of India and the ministry brethren. Data bear out the anomalies. As much as 12.6 per coverage, more hospital beds and doctors — outlined by
of culture to take stern action against people who social discrimination in a country that has five beds and 8.6
cent more children are stunted in SC households than those doctors for every 10,000 people and where the rural the report. Can Kerala’s approach to the health crisis serve
deface ancient monuments and book them under in general category homes; 8 per cent less children are as a model to be emulated by other states?
Ancient Monuments. population, comprising 70 per cent of the national
Deadly Gamble: Covid in the UK

Boris Johnson is gambling with people’s lives, although it’s not clear if he really understands the risk
“Let the bodies pile high in their thousands,” mind. He’s not a detail man, and it’s more likely
expostulated Boris Johnson in his private that he just wandered into this position through
office, but the door was open and a number inattention and wishful thinking. First, back in
of witnesses reportedly heard him. This February, when the vaccines were taking hold
was last October, when the second wave of and things were looking up, he promised that
Covid-19 was gaining speed but the British ‘freedom day’, when all restrictions would be
prime minister was determined not to cancelled, would be in mid-June. Then the
reimpose restrictions like masks and self- Delta variant appeared and caused havoc in
isolation on the public. India. In mid-April, Johnson closed the gates to
The bodies did pile quite high — into the tens Indian travellers, and postponed ‘freedom day’
of thousands, in fact. In the five months for a month. But he has stuck grimly to that date
from November 2020 to March 2021, even though he had the horrible example of the
Covid killed 86,049 British citizens, most Netherlands before him — it ended all
of whom would have probably lived had restrictions in late June, then reimposed them
Johnson’s government taken a less earlier in July when new infections ran wild.
capricious approach to lockdowns. And now ‘freedom day’ has arrived.
Undaunted, he’s at it again. Earlier this Britain’s new health secretary, Sajid Javid (who
month, with new Covid cases zooming past has just caught Covid), blithely predicts that
50,000 a day and currently doubling in there might be 1,00,000 new infections a day
almost every two weeks, Johnson within a couple of weeks. However, not to
announced the end of all pandemic worry because ‘the link between infection and
restrictions. Go where you want, wear a hospitalization or death has been broken’.
mask or not as you like, crowd six deep at No, it hasn’t, although that link is clearly much
the bar, hug people or even sneeze at them weakened by the level of vaccinations in the
if you feel like it, indoors, outdoors, UK. No vaccine confers complete immunity,
everywhere, any time. Other governments and if daily infections climb into six digits, even
look on, aghast but fascinated. It would be a one-in-a-thousand rate of hospitalization can
really interesting to know how many deaths mean hundreds a day. Johnson is gambling with
it takes to achieve ‘herd immunity’ in a people’s lives, although it’s not clear if he really
population that has already been heavily understands the risk. On the other hand, maybe
vaccinated, and here’s a mug who’s willing he’ll get away with it. The very nature of
to roll the dice with his own people. Watch closely and cent of the population vaccinated for the original version death among our own people. But look! Here comes experiments is that you don’t know the outcome in
take notes. The British population does pretty much lead of the Covid virus, but maybe 80 per cent or higher for Johnson, and he’s willing to use the British people as advance, and this is a big, important one. If the British
the way in vaccinations: 88 per cent of adults have had more recent, more infectious variants. Or maybe the guinea pigs. level of vaccinations really lets a country open up
their first jab and 68 per cent have had both doses. recent variants are so infectious that herd immunity is One can easily imagine such thoughts going through the completely, despite the worst that new variants can do,
Maybe they’re already on the brink of herd immunity, entirely unattainable for any vaccination programme. It minds of French or American or Indian leaders, but it’s that’s good news for everybody. And if that turns out not
which was generally believed to kick in around 60 per would be nice to know, but not at the risk of spreading quite unlikely that they passed through Johnson’s own to be the case, it’s only British people who have to die.
2
From
AHMEDABAD WEDNESDAY 28/7/2021
E ditorial
Dissolve mental blockages to achieve your true potential
Editors By Vishnu Makhijani “It is a fact that all of us his life and introspected. and happiness. Many of these the starting block, but the proving.
Desk New Delhi,

Most humans tend to aim
high but run into a mental
eventually seek happiness
and want to avoid unhappi-
ness in life. Success for us also
denotes the achievement of
There were areas where he
had emerged very success-
fully while in many other ar-
eas, he had only achieved
steps were taken unknow-
ingly at that time but have
been thoughtfully remem-
bered and collated in one
grand achievement is“Talent
plus Preparation plus Perse-
verance”. One should never
give up — the end in the road
7. Winning and losing are
habits, develop good habits.
Eighty per cent of the tasks or
work that we do is out of
block when it comes to striv- glory and joy in the chosen mediocre success or even fail- place, to provide a blueprint as seen from far may turn out sheer habit. Even successful
ing to achieve their aspira- field and yet, most are or per- ure.The jigsaw puzzle fell into for happiness,” Saxena to be only a bend and for your people must be doing a lot of
tions. One needs to dissolve ceive themselves to be un- place for him once he com- pointed out. good. activities daily that directly
the apprehensions and scep- successful. Just look around, pared his successes and fail- What, then, are the nine 4.Have a Positive Attitude. contribute to their success,
ticism that causes such blocks we find that bulk of human- ures against the mantras mantras? The ability to take the inevi- out of habit. Conversely,those
to tap one’s true potential and ity is unhappy or unsatisfied gleaned from his study. 1. Dare to Dream...Big. table reverses in your stride who find the going tough
The heavy lifter be prepared for whatever life

throws at you, says Anand
Saxena, who served in the In-
What-
ever you
wish to
and remain optimistic about
the eventual outcome is an
ability that is worth its weight
also must be doing a lot of
things wrongly as a matter of
habit. By following the disci-
Mirabai Chanu is the quiet dian Army for 32 years before
retiring as a Major General
manifest
in your
in gold. This positive attitude
can be the critical difference
pline of consistent, good hab-
its over the years and de-
champion who transcended and has now written a book life must between outstanding suc- cades, successful people ex-
odds, held onto her dream, detailing nine mantras that be mani- cess and miserable failure. perience the power of com-
Dare to
prove the importance of cre- pounding, which further
made it come true. ative visualisation and posi-
tive affirmation in taking you
turbocharges their perfor-
mance. Learn the method-
Mirabai Chanu’s weightlifting silver medal in the to your goals. ology of forming good hab-
49 kg category at Tokyo 2020 was a rare Olympic “Dissolve blockages and its and forgetting bad ones.
triumph. Disregarding the weight of expectations resistance from your mind. 8. Be Happy: it’s intrinsic.
on her shoulders, ignoring the chasing pack of We seem to have an inability Happiness is directly corre-
champion lifters, Mirabai serenely soared to a height to honestly believe that our lated with success. When-
Dream...Big
occupied by only a handful of Indians. grand vision or goal will in- ever we compare ourselves
The gold medal winner, China’s Hou Zhihui, was deed be a reality. While we with someone else, we are
a cut above the rest but Mirabai was the clear sec- wish to achieve something bound to feel unhappy. On
ond. Unlike a majority of India’s other Tokyo 2020 and even take action towards every parameter of life, we
medal prospects who froze close to the finish, achieving that goal, we re- are going to be inferior (as
Mirabai wasn’t just good on paper or among the main apprehensive or scepti- per our perception) to some
favourites in the form book. She was great on the cal about whether we are re- fested 5. Normal is Passe. Dare to other person in the world. If
day it mattered the most. A day before the event, ally capable of achieving it,” first in be Different. Aryabhata, Tho- we seek happiness extrinsi-
Mirabai’s coach Vijay Sharma had put in place a plan Saxena told IANS in an inter- y o u r mas Alva Edison, the Wright cally, we will invariably fall
that would factor in his ward’s strength and the op- view for his book,“Nine Man- m i n d Brothers, Steve Jobs, Dr APJ short,but if we are intrinsically
position. tras For Happiness And Suc- with what they have or don’t The book thus contains and the Universe will deliver Abdul Kalam, all brilliant inno- happy, the circumstances of
The gloriously gifted lifter has always been tal- cess”(Redomania). have. the essence of our scriptures, your dream to you. vators and creators, had one life will fail to ruffle us.
ented, but had faced an enormous setback in her “There seems to be a “Why does this happen? the life-stories of 79 success- 2. Concretise your thing in common: They 9. Visualisations and
first Olympics followed by periods of debilitating mental block, an underlying It is my firm belief that success ful (or otherwise) Dreams. Set tangible goals looked at an issue differently Affirmations. Every manifest
depression, stage fright and self-doubt. After fluff- resistance in our mind, which indeed leaves clues as also organisations, persons, prod- that will be your loadstar on and asked themselves,“what human-made thing that we
ing three lifts at the last Olympics in Rio, Mirabai doesn’t allow us to unfurl our successful persons do. In my ucts and his real-life (and your voyage of success and do I do which can help hu- see around or every superhu-
endured five silent years of quietly putting together true potential. I have detailed quest for clues to this pro- near-death) experiences over provide you with a definite mankind or improve their man feat that human beings
a technique which would get her the Tokyo medal. the alchemy of dissolving all found question, I read scrip- the last 52 years, for 32 of benchmark against which lives?” Learn the nuances to have achieved, was first cre-
This involved putting her head down, clenching her blockages and resistance tures of all religions and life which he was serving the na- you can measure your be “hat ke” (different). ated in the mind of someone.
fists around the lifting bar and seeking immaculate from your mind so that you stories of hundreds of suc- tion in the Artillery and the progress towards your dream. 6. Continue to Grow and That man (or woman) was
balance preparing for the spotlight. She would can tap the pure potentiality cessful persons from all walks Army Aviation Corps. 3. Persevere. There is Reinvent Yourself. Truly suc- convinced, in the core of his/
barely go home — spending months on end in of your being. I also suggest of life. I also read lots of litera- “I am not an achiever nothing called failure.Failures cessful people do not only her heart, that whatever
training camps. And she would deny herself the ways to be prepared to be ture/books on success and its extraordinaire,but a common or perceived failures are achieve success but also re- could be visualised could also
pizza she loved. She would bring to the fore the ready for whatever life throws principles by prominent au- man like you and therefore bound to be there along our tain it for a very long time. be achieved or created — this
Manipuri athlete’s determination to hold steady at you. thors. Some precepts started am convinced of the power of journey to success as they are Enduring success can’t be a is the power of positive
onto a sporting dream, without seeking constant “The nine mantras are to become clear to me due to the ‘Nine Mantras’ for happi- the lessons you need to learn one-shot phenomenon; it affirmations and creative
validation for her capability. The soft-spoken lifter tangible scientific evidence to this twin-pronged study as if ness and success. I have di- to embrace success. Success needs deliberate efforts to visualisation at work.
was rarely seen or heard in the lead-up to the Tokyo prove the importance of cre- a heavy fog had lifted,” vided the book into nine is 10 per cent inspiration and repeatedly look at yourself, There you have it. All that
Games. She was sweating it out in the company of ative visualisation and posi- Saxena said of his research in simple steps, referred to as 90 per cent perspiration. In- your organization and com- is now required is the 90 per
weights, preparing to do the heavy lifting for a na- tive affirmations in realising writing the book. Nine to Fine, which has nate talent is there in a few petition and take firm and cent perspiration to make it
tion on edge. your goals,” he added. He also looked back on helped me achieve success and can help one to go up to resolute steps to keep im- work! —IANS
Gig economy to boost employment of Indian women in formal sector

New Delhi, where technology will tal technology and increased stand how new technologies and electronics (by 44 per the formal sector, is likely to of technical skills with in- a blend of cognitive work
The rise of the gig change the world of work, acceptance of virtual work- are impacting specific indus- cent), and Fast-Moving Con- play a crucial part in shap- creasing levels of adverse and manual routine work,
economy in the wake of with the potential to expand ing for sales and distribution tries and to address chal- sumer Goods (perishable ing the work of tomorrow. 83 impact, with the caveat that and gender can play a role
Covid-19 has the potential to opportunities for women jobs, could open opportuni- lenges facing women in en- goods) industry (by 41 per per cent of those who the time or pace of old jobs here.
boost women’s employment working in the formal sector. ties for women to enter fields tering or remaining in the cent). At the same time, agreed to the skilling propo- to be fully replaced by auto- In high-skill jobs, finding
in the formal sector, accord- The survey responses in- where interactions are man- workplace”, stated Nadia women’s employment in the sition also indicate that re- mation is uncertain, which the right skill to do the job is
ing to a report by the United dicate that the loss of jobs for aged through apps and Rasheed, UNDP Deputy Resi- finance and accounting divi- skilling will be crucial to ab- may create unemployment the most important criterion,
Nations Development women in the formal sector phone calls, states the study. dent Representative in India, sions may moderately sorb more women into the for some time in India. and whether the candidate is
Programme (UNDP) and the during the Covid-19 pan- “The study on The Future at the formal launch event of change due to the adoption world of work in India. Interestingly the study a man or woman hardly mat-
Federation of Indian Cham- demic could be temporary in of Work for Women in the the study. of new technology. To safeguard the interest also reveals that in high-skill ters. In low-skill jobs in India,
bers of Commerce and In- nature, and women could “We are glad that of both employers and em- and low-skill jobs, the impact there is wage parity, and thus
dustry (FICCI). gradually get back into the we received a very ployees, some labour laws of technology is gender- employers may have an
The adoption of new workforce. positive response and regulations are required neutral. It is the medium-skill equal ratio of employees
technologies could create Around 57 per cent of from the industry. We in the changing world of jobs that have gender differ- which reflects no gender
better opportunities for the respondent firms agree are thankful that over work, states the new study. entials because they require bias. —IANS
women, however, re-skilling that the gig economy will it- 150 CXOs from over 30 Also, documenting best
will be crucial to expand op- self expand and boost sectors took out time practices across the globe on
women’s employment be- and shared their how different industries are
portunities for women in the
formal sector, according to cause it is based on flexible,
temporary, or freelance jobs,
genuine feedback and
comments for this
using new technologies and
at the same time creating job
Experts deliberate on the challenges
the study titled‘The Future of
Work for Women in the For-
mal Sector in India’.
often involving connecting
with clients or customers
study. Also, we are
keen to take this work
opportunities for women
would help create support- Indians need to surmount to
The study conducted
through a survey and direct
interactions with over 150
through an online platform.
This underscores that al-
ternative work arrange-
ahead and create a
clear road map of a
successful career for
ive policies.
The survey findings state
that work from home (WFH)
achieve optimal family health
Chief Executive Officers
(CEOs) and Chief Experience
ments in the gig economy
have the potential to absorb
more women and increase
Formal Sector in India in-
deed gives hope for a better
The survey also reflects
that some key sectors that
future-ready women
workforce in India”, stated
Dilip Chenoy, Secretary-Gen-
or remote working will be
the ‘new normal’ with ad-
vanced technologies such as
in a post pandemic world
Officers (CXOs) from the Almond Board of Califor- and experiences from their
manufacturing and service their participation in the future with more employ- are likely to see an increase eral of FICCI, India. digital information, artificial nia today hosted a virtual personal lives urging fami-
sectors underscores the fast- workforce. ment opportunities for in women’s employment are Around 73 per cent of intelligence, robotisation, panel discussion around the lies across India to invest
changing work environment, A boost in the use of digi- women. However, concerted health and pharmaceuticals the respondent firms agree and machine learning. The topic ‘Challenges in ensur- more in building the quality
efforts are needed to under- (by 59 per cent), electrical that re-skilling, specifically in study associates a low level ing optimal family health, of their health and lifestyles.
amidst fast changing Speaking during the dis-
lifestyles in the post pan- cussion, popular Bollywood
actress Soha Ali Khan said,
Chasing European countries
demic world’featuring emi-
nent personalities from In- “In today’s world, it isn’t easy
dia and the USA. Stressing to be a mom – there are so
Has Japan become the fulcrum of on the need to undertake many things that concern
serious dietary and lifestyle and worry us – and many a
interventions, the panel fea- times we also feel personally
tured prominent Bollywood accountable. For me, as for
any mother, making sure my
resistance to China in the Indo-Pacific?

actor and Author, Soha Ali
Khan, Regional Head – Di- family is healthy and safe is
etetics, Max Healthcare – a constant stress.
Delhi, Ritika Samaddar, Nu- Ritika Samaddar, Re-
By Rahul Kumar Senkaku islands; when it threatened to take-over Taiwan (SCS). The US and Japan expressed concern over trition and Wellness Con- gional Head – Dietetics, Max
and when its diplomats spoke in undiplomatic language China’s claims on Senkaku as well as SCS. sultant, Sheela Healthcare – Delhi said,“Re-
Japan has mounted a successful diplomatic of- with other nations. All this has created unease in the minds Last week, Ben Wallace, British Defence Secre- Krishnaswamyand Emily cently, many households in
fensive against China in a short span of time by of the Japanese”, says Ghoshal. tary, announced during his Tokyo visit the perma- Fleischmann, VP – Global India have been exposed to
drawing attention to the threat that the commu- Japan has been working hard to ensure that the world nent placement of two warships in the waters MarketDevelopment, Al- the Covid19 virus in some
nist regime poses to the region and to the world at knows about its concerns.Tokyo’s dexterity in lobbying hard around Japan—a pointer to the heft that Tokyo mond Board of California. way or the other.
large. with the world has shown result with many nations re- carries with allies. The Queen Elizabeth aircraft car- The panel was moderated As people recover, it’s vi-
Chasing European countries—Germany, France sponding to its fears. rier will also hold exercises with the Japanese navy by RJ Shezzi. tal now more than ever, to
and even the UK, since last year and in the region. As the world around us focus on the family’s health.
inviting the attention of the US re- “I think, European coun- changes and rapidly While immunity continues
peatedly towards the deteriorating tries are awakening to China’s evolves, and uncertainty for to be a focus, it’s equally im-
situation in the region, Tokyo has intentions”, says Ghoshal. He the future rages – the need portant to consider the
garnered promises from almost all adds: “Japan realised that it to ensure proper family growing burden of lifestyle
of them to rein in China to maintain has to create an environment health has emerged as a key diseases like obesity, el-
strategic balance in the region. to take on China by roping in focus area for several Indi- evated blood sugars, high
The latest in this effort has been like-minded countries who ans, as this is something blood pressure or heart fail-
French President Emmanuel Ma- also feel similar vibes from which is under every ure whichhave been recog-
cron who has promised to actively Beijing. If all these countries individual’s control. nized post virus complica-
collaborate with Tokyo in the Indo- act together, it sends a signal The notion that a nutri- tions.
Pacific region on issues of security to China. The Japanese have tious and well-balanced diet Nutrition and Wellness
as well as climate change. In a joint prepared themselves for any has the abilityto support Consultant, Sheela
statement during the French eventuality as they were feel- good health has been dis- Krishnaswamy said, “When
President’s visit to Tokyo, Japanese ing that their sovereignty was cussed for years. What to eat we look at the world around
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and under threat”. –and not to eat – regularly us now, a lot has changed,
Macron promised to enhance de- Persistent lobbying by To- grabs headlines, as consum- and along with this many of
fence cooperation keeping China in kyo has resulted in other alli- ers in general and mothers us have too. Having gone
the crosshairs even as Paris in- ances coming to the fore to in particular, try to balance through this difficult time,
creases its footprint in the region. counter China. Besides the Eu- scientific advice and trends it’s important to learn from
Japanese efforts at lobbying cli- ropean allies,Tokyo is also part with their own culinary be- the past, and enable the
maxed this week as it hosted nu- of the Quad—the four-nation liefs, familial traditions and path to a good recovery by
merous high-profile visitors in the Quadrilateral group with In- recipes and local food avail- replacing old habits with
past few days—all of them aimed dia, Australia and the US in the ability. new and improved ones.
at rebalancing the delicate security vast geographical region that While several regions Emily Fleischman, VP -
architecture unhinged by China’s spans the east African coast- across the country continue Global Marketing Develop-
visibly aggressive military show- line to the Pacific Ocean. to wade through the after- ment, Almond Board of Cali-
manship in the region. Japanese forces have math of the fornia said, “In a post pan-
Speaking with India Narrative, been holding war games and pandemic’ssecond wave, demic world, good nutrition
Prof. Baladas Ghoshal—former chairman of the Just a few days back,Tokyo had hosted Wendy Sherman, military exercises with a number of countries, no- many Indians now need to and a healthy lifestyle is key.
Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, JNU, US Deputy Secretary of State, along with Choi Jong Kun, tably the Americans. But Tokyo’s troops have also restyle their lives to adjust to For several years now, and
and former General Secretary at the Society for In- South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister. Tokyo and its two held exercises with Indian, Australian and French a post pandemic world. even during the pandemic,
dian Ocean Studies—says that Japan is worried guests issued a statement that the three nations oppose forces. Addressing this, the dis- we have been committed to
about China’s territorial claims which have in- any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East However, China’s intentions cannot be under- cussion highlighted the building better awareness
creased considerably after Xi Jinping came to China Sea. estimated as it is also cobbling up partnerships or various facets of the road to amongst families across the
power.“For Japan, Beijing has crossed a certain red The trio also reiterated the importance of respecting attempting to do so with countries such as Paki- recovery, and the require- world, and in India in par-
line. It happened when China sent its ships to the international law including observing the freedom of navi- stan, Turkey and even Iran. —IANS ment to make every family ticular, around the impor-
gation, which has been impeded by China through its as- member’s health a top con- tance of eating nutritious
sertion of exclusive rights in the entire South China Sea cern. Duringthe discussion, and balanced meals, and
panelists shared examples regular exercise.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You cannot swim for new horizons
until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.
— WILLIAM FAULKNER
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY | JULY 28, 2021
EDIT
Who pays the price for freedom?
SINCE 1928
FOUNDER EDITOR: S SADANAND
in this category are led by women – I and she starts to unravel emotion- kind of solace. The man has the never understood that there are
BSY's exit marks end of Herstory

May Destroy You, Mare of East-
town, The Queen’s Gambit, The Un-
derground Railroad, Wandavision
ally. She has the unconditional
friendship of her besties Terry
(Weruche Opia) and Kwame (Paapa
nerve to be disparaging of Arabel-
la, when he sells drugs for a living.
Balancing the many tonal shifts,
many ways for abused children to
process their experience, and only
when she becomes a victim of
the regional satrap in BJP � Deepa Gahlot

(the last one is kind of gender-bal-
anced). But Coel’s series has been
the most discussed and praised, be-
Essiedu)—both Black—and the
non-judgy backing of her shy white
flatmate Ben (Stephen Wight). But
Coel takes a clear-eyed look at to-
day’s hook-up culture, and the re-
sulting confused vulnerability.
abuse herself, she is able to, with
hindsight, comprehend the extent
of Theodora’s trauma.
T
he ‘resignation’ of four-time Karnataka Chief Minis- cause of its searing honesty. her mind keeps returning to that Since there is no safety-net of stable Coel makes fun of the yoga, paint-
I
ter B S Yediyurappa, nearly two years before his term magine a scenario in an Indian Writer, co-director (with Sam place and a helpless rage simmers families, the support system, if ing, crafts kind of coping mecha-
was set to end, marks the end of an era not just in Kar- police station, where a young Miller), producer Coel plays a Lon- inside. She constantly goes back to there is one at all, is that of similar- nisms suggested by the therapist,
nataka politics but in the history of the Bharatiya Janata woman has gone to report a don-based writer and social media the pub, hoping that the ‘criminal ly rootless friends. Kwame is so ha- but the shrink also advises Arabel-
Party. At 78, Yediyurappa has had over half-a-century of as- rape. The first thing she will be sub- influencer, Arabella. Her first wll return to the scene of the bituated to his random pick-ups la to take a break from social media,
sociation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He has ject to is a visual sweep of her ap- ebook, Chronicles of a Fed-up Mil- crime’. that when a man wants to spend because with the need for everyone
been a veteran who not only witnessed the transformation of pearance. What is she wearing, lennial, has got her enough of a fol- In her state of fury, she publicly time with him as just an activity to constantly speak out, who is ac-
the erstwhile Jana Sangh into the BJP but has played a key does she look traumatised, are lowing to be stopped in the street by accuses a fellow writer, Zain Sa- partner and not lover, he is baffled. tually listening?
part in ensuring that the BJP was transformed into a mean- there marks of struggle on her? Ironically, it is Zain who unblocks
ingful political force in Karnataka, capable of winning elec- Then there will be the questions— Arabella’s creativity, and Coel’s end-
tions and coming into power on its own. First elected to the verbalised or implied—where did it ing is brilliantly provocative and sur-
Karnataka legislative assembly back in 1983, he has been a happen, what time, was she alone, real—Arabella is a writer and she
key figure in state politics, either as chief minister or leader was she dressed provocatively, was imagines three possible outcomes,
of the opposition, a post he has held three times. Other than she sober, is she sexually active? (In that leave the viewer to decide
a short stint in Delhi as a member of Parliament in 2014, India a rapist has been acquitted, whether her revenge fantasy is more
when Narendra Modi swept the BJP to power at the Centre, because the ‘no’ was not loud fulfilling, or her ability to channel
he has been at the centre of political calculations, often prov- enough, or because the com- what she experiences into her work.
ing to be as much of a thorn in the BJP’s flesh as the opposi- plainant had a boyfriend, or be- To satisfy the viewer already unset-
tion’s. Despite many ups and downs, and frequent rebellions cause she did not look suitably dis- tled by the dark and twisty narrative,
within the ranks, Yediyurappa had managed to outmanoeu- turbed.) Somehow, the act of filing there is also a conventional all’s-well-
vre his opponents and force a comeback. The last time he was an FIR will make her seem more that-ends-well scene.
eased out, in 2012, he had defiantly launched his own party like a culprit than a victim. The issue of consent is central
and staged a ‘ghar wapsi’ on his own terms. In fact, the BJP Now, compare with a scene from here—Kwame cruises on a gay app,
would not be ruling Karnataka – its only bastion in the south the series I May Destroy You, in but when his self-imposed boundary
– today, if it hadn’t been for his skill in engineering defections which a Black woman with weird is breached, he feels the same sense
from the Congress. pink hair goes to the cops to report of humiliation that Arabella did,
By making Yediyurappa leave quietly – he even ‘thanked’ an assault of which she has just a and in his case, the cops are not half
the BJP high command for letting him work for two years, the vague memory, because she had as sympathetic. The series argues
party has sent two important messages, not just to its work- been ‘roofied’ (her drink was spiked that who feels betrayed by what is
ers and supporters in Karnataka but to the entire party or- with date rape drug Rohypnol). She entirely up to them, and it is the
ganisation around the country, particularly its regional lead- does not remember the man’s face ‘I May Destroy You’ is a clear-eyed look at today’s hook-up culture, and the partner’s – casual or serious – re-
ers. That message is that it is now the central leadership of
Narendra Modi and Amit Shah who will be calling all the
or anything else that could identify
him. Before the assault, she was resulting confused vulnerability. Since there is no safety-net of stable families, sponsibility to be truthful. When the
exhilaration of freedom wears out,
shots and deciding who gets to play what kind of role,
whether at the state or the Centre. In many ways, Yediyurap-
drinking and doing drugs with
friends, she has had multiple sexu-
the support system, if there is one at all, is that of similarly rootless friends does a society that chooses an indi-
vidualistic, live-for-today culture
pa’s exit marks the end of the end of the Vajpayee-Advani era al partners in the past, and she has give its young the strength to cope
in the BJP. Apart from Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shiv- approached the police long after it fans for selfies. Her every mood and reen (Karan Gill) of rape, because, Coel shoots the sex scenes in an with pain, loneliness or failure? In a
raj Singh Chouhan, Yediyurappa was the only other BJP happened. The cops still take her emotion is lived out on Instagram though she slept with him willing- uninhibited style (in India, there brutally funny scene, in which Ara-
chief minister with a strong personal following in his own complaint seriously, her clothes (there is a comic scene, where she ly, he took off his condom without would be outrage and demands for bella feels sorry for her ‘raper’
state, who was capable of winning elections on his own pow- and swabs are sent for DNA testing, interrupts a doctor to shoot and informing her—in the UK ‘stealth- censorship) that need an ‘intimacy (that’s the term she uses), he weep-
er without depending on Narendra Modi’s vote-pulling pow- she is given a medical examination post her videos at the clinic on so- ing,’ as this is called, is a crime. Her coordinator’ named in the credits, ingly admits that he is unable to con-
er. Although a lifelong member of the RSS, Yediyurappa was and recommended therapy. It is cial media). She has been commis- social media followers keep send- and a few sequences are truly crude nect with women in a normal way.
a consummate player of political calculus, leveraging his po- next to impossible to actually hunt sioned a second book by a big pub- ing her encouragement, and some but she challenges viewers to keep The series is semi-autobiographi-
sition as the tallest leader of the politically powerful Lingay- for the man from the flimsy details lisher, and her draft is due when she hate, but she remains in that dark, recalibrating their attitudes. Where cal – Coel had been assaulted just
at community, and its network of religious institutions, to she provides, but nobody questions takes a break to go out for a drink unforgiving place of helplessness. the script goes is totally unpre- like Arabella; her heroine wrote a
build an alliance with other communities, particularly Dal- her lifestyle or her morality. with friends at a bar called Ego Her last casual lover, the Italian dictable—like the flashbacks into book, Coel created a startlingly
its and OBCs. In fact, religious leaders of the Lingayat com- This 12-part complex series creat- Death (the name is significant) and Biagio, who is asked to give his the childhood of Arabella and Ter- original piece of work that ques-
munity had made clear their displeasure to the BJP high ed by Michaela Coel, has been listed when she wakes up she has a hazy DNA sample for elimination, is fury, when they stand up for a Black tions established notions of race,
command at the attempts to dislodge Yediyurappa. as the best series in recent times, has recollection of being raped in the rious and asks her how she could schoolmate accused of exploitation gender, class, identity and leaves
That the BJP has gone ahead with this risky bet – Yediyu- won BAFTA Awards and is a nomi- toilet, but except for a flash of the have left her drink unattended. In a by a white girl. Years later, Arabella the audience gobsmacked.
rappa may have gone quietly but not willingly, and despite his nee for the limited series category man’s face, she does not remember harrowing scene later, he slams the runs into Theodora (Harriet Webb),
age, is still active in politics – shows the Modi-Shah duo’s ur- for this year’s Primetime Emmy anything else. The very thought of door in her face when she returns who is running a support group for The writer is a Mumbai based
gency in reshaping the party at the state-level before the next Awards. Interestingly, all the series the violation, however, haunts her, to Italy, perhaps hoping for some rape survivors. A younger Arabella columnist, critic and author
Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The BJP clearly wants a new face
to lead it in the next state and Parliament elections. Yediyu-
rappa’s exit marks the end of the powerful regional leader in
BJP, to be replaced by other leaders who will be beholden to
ONE FLEW OVER THE NEST #VaccinationTarget WEDNESDAY'S SWIPE LETTERS
the central command for their position in office. But finding The government dismissed media reports that claimed that India will miss the end-July target of administering TO THE
EDITOR
someone with Yediyurappa’s political cunning and ability to 50 crore Covid vaccine doses as "ill-informed and misrepresenting" and asserted that over 51.60 crore doses will
shrug off setbacks – he even managed a triumphant come- be supplied by July 31.
back after being jailed on corruption charges – will be tough The Telegraph@ttindia
for the BJP. Choosing a leader outside the powerful Lingayat
community may also erode its political currency in the state, People: misinformed Reports: ill-informed Groups: misled India has clearly regressed a lot in the last 7 years, Unity in diversity
by the government's own admission.
although the other dominant caste, the Vokkaligas, have been Ref: ‘Walk the talk on ‘Bharat Jodo’,
Ujval Nanavati@cynical_ujval
chafing under the dominion of the Lingayats. It remains to Mr Prime Minister’ (July 27) was a
be seen what kind of price the outgoing chief minister has @mansukhmandviya ji, what's now?? Do u have any Plan B?? No. Such a useless Govt. finely written editorial. There must
managed to extract from the party leadership for his ‘quiet’ Dhruba Budhadeb Choudhury @dhrubachoudhur5 be no differences on the imperative
exit. He has, of course, been pushing the cause of his son B Y necessity of Indian unity as we
Vijayendra. In fact, it was Vijayendra’s rise as the power be- BJP Govt. is literally toying with people by delaying the vaccine ramp up. Last month also 12 crores vaccines approach the 75th year of
were delivered. Where is the ramp up. Will they ever achieve the target of vaccinating 108 crore people by
hind the throne which led to the current revolt by the anti- Dec 31st?
Independence. It will only come
Yediyurappa faction in the BJP. In fact, the induction of his Shubham@Shubham20668417
when we recognise the equality of
close associate Shobha Karandlaje into the Union council of all inhabitants irrespective of
ministers was widely seen as a measure to appease him. language, culture, religion and
It may be too early to write Yediyurappa’s political obituary gender, social harmony. India’s
but the legacy he leaves behind is at best mixed. Corruption In other democracies, the public sector is confined to railways, metros, space; practically all other businesses are run privately diversity needs to be strengthened,
PSUs: Family silver or taxpayer burden?

allegations have dogged his four stints in office, not even one not erased slowly and gradually, as
of which he managed to complete. His closeness to the noto- is the sorrow today. Nobody can
rious Reddy brothers of Bellary, and his alleged involvement understand what’s going on better
in land and mining deals have been a black mark against a than our Prime Minister. Every day,
party which has tried to project the image of being a corrup- one sees and hears of unfortunate
tion fighter. On the other hand, Yediyurappa can be credited choice but to consume. Modi, in the first six years of his grave. In the private sector, on the events concerning attacks on our
with the invention of ‘Operation Lotus’, engineering defec-
tions and toppling opposition governments, which the BJP Looking The economy had reached the
edge of the cliff in 1991 and Prime
government, had forgotten his old
declarations about government
other hand, an employee is encour-
aged to take risks, and in case they
fundamental and on time-tested
values. This age of communication
has used to good effect elsewhere.
Ahead Minister P V Narasimha Rao ush-
ered in unprecedented changes to
having no business to be in busi-
ness. Suddenly, for some reason -
succeed, they are handsomely re-
warded with stock options and so
explosion is bringing hatred and
disunity on a scale that will be
open up India to foreign companies maybe the huge expenditure due to on. Committing large funds to in- injurious and deleterious for the
� P N Vijay and capital. Indians responded en- Covid - has made him revive Vaj- novation requires business strate- nation, our Constitution and
FPJ ARCHIVES MAY 10, 1963 thusiastically and many new busi- payee’s old plans. In the next few gy and market savvy at the level of stakeholders. And everybody knows
T
he Modi government has nesses came up and the Indian con- years, almost all public sector units the owners, which our netas and who is doing what to dismantle the
now started selling public sumer now has choice, like the rest are expected to be sold except those babus do not possess. So, rarely is revered. Sad to face reality, in the
sector companies through of the global democracies. Rao, companies involved in strategic ar- any innovation appreciated. There name of development and the
global tenders to Indian and foreign with Manmohan Singh to help him, eas or where welfare issues are in- is also the question of the interfer- ‘hidden’ agenda, we are dismem-
companies. By doing this, the did not however sell the public sec- volved, like railways. ence of the powers-that-be in the bering the country and indirectly
Prime Minister has walked the talk tor probably because the Congress In my view, the public sector as a day-to-day working of the PSUs. Ap- heaping insult on all those who
on his statement that “the business Party still had powerful leftist lob- business concept is flawed. This is pointments are influenced by politi- fought and sacrificed lives.
of government is not business”. bies working inside it. However, he not to say that it does not have good cians, guest houses and cars meant Parthasarathy Sen
Some, especially the Communist did get many of them listed on the people; some of the best talent in for the company officials are mo-
and other leftist elements, have
been crying foul, accusing the gov-
stock market, making them more
transparent and accountable. He
the country has been groomed in
the public sector and provided top-
nopolised by ministers and govern-
ment officials. And importantly, Serious challenge
ernment of selling the family silver. PSU boards which are supposed to Ref.: ‘Delta infecting fully
Some others are happy as they provide leadership and strategy are vaccinated’ (July 27). In what is
would prefer the taxpayers’ money filled with political appointees as a another nail in the coffin, the Delta
to be used to build better schools, reward for ‘services rendered’. variant has been confirmed as the
hospitals and roads than run hotels The case of PSUs where the sector most serious challenge so far.
or finance the bad loans of govern- has been opened up to private in- Overconfidence in the vaccine has
ment banks. vestment is really pathetic. Till the certainly led to many of us
In democracies, the public sector early 90s, Indian Airlines/Air India abandoning basic Covid protocol.
has been confined to a few areas like and the telecom department had Increasing frustration with
railways, metros, space and practi- monopoly in the civil aviation and prolonged lockdowns has no doubt
cally all other businesses are run telecom sector. These were then played its part, just as much as
privately. The Indian public sector is opened up and within 10 years, the stagnating vaccination rates. We
an exception and owes its origins to PSU market share had dropped and certainly cannot afford any laxity
the diktat of the first Prime Minis- now, these are running at huge loss- and must be always vigilant in the
ter Pandit Nehru, who declared that es. This itself shows how in the fight against Covid-19.
‘the commanding heights ’ of the same marketplace, in spite of early Dr Ila Railkar
economy should be with the gov- mover advantage, the public sector
ernment. Crores of taxpayer money
was poured in the 50s and 60s into It is a flawed concept because a business grows
is not able to compete. The same is
the case with banks, where the pri- Tell us, do
building what Nehru proudly called vate banks have grown much faster Ref: ‘More muck at Snoopgate’ (July
‘temples of Modern India’. The gov- and thrives on risk-taking and innovation, and are much better in customer 27). As per the Israeli maker of
ernment did not stop at that but na-
tionalised life insurance in 1956 and
both of which are absent in the public sector service than PSU banks.
One need not be concerned if a
Pegasus spyware, it only sells to
vetted governments. The whole
PM reminds youth of national duties in one stroke of a pen, brought 245
private life insurance companies also opened up many sectors like class management for the private
private group buys Air India or the
IOB or Central Bank. After all, the
scoop is now clear as daylight.
What a blatant waste of our
THE FPJ NEWS SERVICE / AHMEDABAD, MAY 9: Prime Minister into government hands. telecom and airlines to private cap- sector. It still has top people as em- assets remain Indian, the compa- taxpayer money for illegal snooping
Nehru today called upon the youth to meet resolutely the twin Mrs Indira Gandhi went one bet- ital and the effect of that is there for ployees. The public sector is also fo- nies are Indian, the employees are on citizens. Instead of coming clean
challenge of defence and development which should be treated ter than her father and nationalised all to see. cussed, unlike the private sector, Indian and the customers are Indi- and explaining what it intends to
as an opportunity to accelerate the tempo of national 14 major private banks in India in The first BJP government under which often diverts capital to unre- an. We need a mindset that believes do to protect citizens, the
development. If they failed to avail of this opportunity, he said 1969, 107 general insurance compa- Vajpayee decided to be bold and lated businesses. It is flawed be- that the private sector is not only as government has fallen back on a
they would fail the nation, which legitimately expected the youth nies in 1972 and the oil companies started selling off some public sec- cause a business grows and thrives important but as patriotic as the disingenuous claim, that no illegal
to spearhead the revolution. Shri Nehru was addressing the Youth in 1976. India had become a Social- tor companies by a global bidding on risk-taking and innovation and government and its employees and surveillance is possible in India. Its
Congress workers at the summer school organised by the Gujarat ist state. Not surprisingly, these process. In just two years, IPCL, both these are absent in the public what is important from the nation- statements in Parliament over two
Youth Congress here this evening. public sector companies kept suck- Balco, Hindustan Zinc, Maruti, sector. The government system al point of view is the maximisa- days have shown its real face. Our
...Shri Nehru said the Chinese aggression was the most serious ing in taxpayer money. While other many hotels and VSNL were sold at does not encourage risk-taking; the tion of return on the capital that current laws on surveillance, the
challenge India faced after independence. It was up to all the Asian economies grew and pros- extremely good values. Unfortu- three nightmares of every PSU is invested. Telegraph Act and the IT Act need
Indians to display unity, resolution and a sense of purpose in pered, India became an economy nately, Manmohan Singh, when he chief are the CAG, the CVC and the to be modified to cover
meeting this challenge. with high taxes, low growth, short- returned to power in 2004, was a CBI. PSU chiefs’ successes are The author is an investment banker surveillance, state-sanctioned or
... Shri Nehru said his generation did its duty to the nation by ages and producer pf poor quality changed man and abandoned Vaj- rarely appreciated or rewarded but and political commentator. otherwise.
fighting for freedom. goods which the public had no payee’s policy of privatisation. their mistakes haunt them to the His Twitter handle is @pnvijay Ramswarth Acharya
Letters to the editor should be sent to: The Free Press Journal, Free Press House, Free Press Journal Marg, 215 Nariman Point, Mumbai. 400021; Fax: 69028020, e-mail: mail@fpj.co.in; Type letter, leave space, write your views and name. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
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Carry out every task by following right reason assiduously
and with kindness; rather than getting distracted by
irrelevancies, keep your guardian spirit unspoiled and Marcus
steady, as though you had to surrender it at any moment Aurelius
06 TIRUPATI, WEDNESDAY 28 07 2021

� �
With the enormous physical presence of BSY clearly

INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN in the past, the BJP will face a vacuum that it will try
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. to fill up by experimenting with many Lilliputians
— Ramnath Goenka
WHAT’S THE BJP
MORE CONCESSIONS CIRCUS AFTER
NEEDED FOR TESLA, YEDIYURAPPA’S EXIT?
OTHER EV MAKERS
D
espite all its commitments to encourag-
ing green technology, on the ground the
SUGATA Senior journalist
government is moving at a snail’s pace. and author
SRINIVASARAJU
On paper, there are concessions for elec-
SOUMYADIP SINHA
tric vehicles (EVs), but unfortunately,
T
these are couched in ifs and buts, crimping the here was a fortuitous coincidence forts or cars, he cycled around to fact, he himself referred to this Shettar. Both did not have it in ous castes through their pontiffs
growth of EV sales. Tesla, for instance, on July 26. The second anniver- make it stand on its two legs. “mad man” imagery in his farewell them to stand up to BSY’s bound- and seminaries, which caused an
has been keen to launch in India, but wants the sary of the BJP government in BSY’s focus was entirely on the speech. He said during the floods in less energy and presence in the incalculable regression in a state
Centre to lower customs duty to 40%, since it Karnataka fell on the same day as physical energy that he had ex- 2019, when the central leadership party. Shettar’s appointment made known for its high democratic
is an electric vehicle. However, government the Kargil Diwas. Chief Minister pended to build the party. There had not allowed him to expand his an additional point—just another quotient and progressiveness. In
B S Yediyurappa, who was to quit was no mention of intellectual or Cabinet, he had gone around, alone, Lingayat will not hold together the this regard, BSY will go down in
policy does not distinguish between imported
immediately after the event, made ideological issues that went into like a “mad man”, helping people community’s vote for the party. In history as a man who mindlessly
luxury cars of the gasoline and electric vari- use of the opportunity to subtly shaping it. He did not anyway cope with the calamity. 2013, BSY, with his own party and applied the principles of social en-
ety, and charges 60% duty across the board. weave in the theme of martyr- subscribe to those pretensions, Now, with this enormous physi- a 10% vote share in the elections, gineering to achieve terribly nar-
Reacting to Tesla’s missives, the government dom. He said we will overcome ever. There was no talk either of a cal presence of BSY in the party demolished the BJP’s prospects. row outcomes.
says it will consider concessions, provided hurdles like those brave soldiers big vision or innovative welfare clearly in the past, the BJP will All these situations will be end- The new BJP under Narendra
the company sets up a manufacturing unit did on the battlefield. All through ideas that he had passionately face a vacuum that it will try to fill lessly analysed now that the saf- Modi may not like the party to be
in India. the address, in Bengaluru, he chased as a leader. He made the up by experimenting with many fron party has chosen another sta- perennially under the clutches of
spoke in the royal plural to refer physical putting together of an Lilliputians. Metaphorically speak- tus quoist and easy-going Lingayat, the Lingayats and the arbitrary
Looking at it from Tesla’s point of view, it is to himself. organisation in Karnataka, his ing, how many of them will make Basavaraj Bommai, as the new leadership of its pontiffs. They
keen to manufacture its EV range in the coun- BSY repeatedly reminded his legacy. At least he made a strong one Gulliver is the question. Since chief minister, who looks like a have already created a conscious-
try, but probably wants to test the market with audience as to how there was a claim to that inheritance, to which 2019, they have tried to create alter- Shettar replica. ness in the community that the
imported units for some time. The cheapest of time in the past for the BJP in Kar- he is richly entitled. He is of natives to Yediyurappa with multi- So far, BSY’s formula for the most populous sub-caste among
its brands—Model 3—will be priced in the nataka when it was difficult to as- course the only leader of the BJP, ple deputy chief ministers, but BJP has been to keep his commu- them, the Panchamasalis, are the
range of `55-60 lakh, far beyond Indian middle- semble even “50 people” for its till date, in Karnataka with a deep they have all been lacklustre and nity, the numerically dominant least empowered. They are likely
meetings. He had slogged to get the grassroots connect. safe in his shadow. Even in 2011, Lingayats, at the centre and weave to implant the internal reserva-
class pockets. But then it’s all about creating a
crowds to swell over the decades. There is no taking away from the when BSY stepped down after cor- a coalition of backwards, neglect- tion bug to reorganise the party
buzz, making EVs aspirational, a change of He pointed out that even when stal- fact that whoever has enjoyed pow- ruption charges, he was replaced ed sections of Scheduled Castes and break the Lingayats as a ho-
culture if you will. Why doesn’t the govern- warts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L er in the state BJP chiefly owes it to first by Sadananda Gowda and lat- and Scheduled Tribes around it mogenous voting bloc. In the proc-
ment look at it that way and give a leg- up to K Advani and Murli Manohar his grit, determination, persever- er by a fellow Lingayat, Jagadish while remaining Hindutva neu- ess, they may club the Panchama-
Tesla? Once people begin accepting EVs, the Joshi arrived, they found it diffi- ance, compromise and cunning. To tral. This formula was an inverse salis with other backward castes
prime beneficiaries will probably be Tata Mo- cult to assemble “400 people” to lis- that modest reckoning, perhaps we of what Devaraj Urs had followed and Dalits, and offer an air cover
ten to them. He also reminded that should add monumental levels of in the 1970s when he empowered of Brahmin leadership. Their deep
tors with its Nexon EV and Tigor EV brands at
there were just two members in the corruption that he allowed to make the backwards and kept the rest in desire may be to create a rootless
`15 lakh and `10 lakh; or MG ZS at `22 lakh. legislative Assembly at one time his party’s pursuit of power very an orbit around them. The Janata wonder like Ramakrishna Hegde.
Global warming and climate change are a and when his other legislative col- real. People still shudder to think In 2011, when Yediyurappa stepped down Party and the Janata Dal social ex- Scaffolding Brahmins with back-
real threat as the recent spate of floods are re- league deserted the party, he val- as to what happened when the min- after corruption charges, he was replaced first periments conducted by Ram- ward castes and Dalits will fulfil
minding us. Europe has, in recent weeks, iantly fought alone till they reached ing Reddys had an iron grip over by Sadananda Gowda and later by a fellow akrishna Hegde and Deve Gowda their ideological project too. They
moved its environmental targets forward, an- a triple-digit mark in 2008. Contin- him and his administration. How- were the most inclusive. The trio are also looking askance at Vokka-
uing his masked autobiographical ever, BSY’s contemporaries remem-
Lingayat, Jagadish Shettar. Both did not have it of Urs, Hegde and Gowda empow-
nouncing it will phase out all diesel and petrol ligas, the dominant community in
strain, he said he was nearly killed ber him as a lonely peripatetic ‘mad in them to stand up to BSY’s boundless energy. It ered people through progressive southern Karnataka. Whatever
cars by 2035. India has committed to ‘going as a municipal president in Shika- man’ who went round and round also showed that just another Lingayat will not legislations and massive develop- their circus in Karnataka, they
electric’ by 2030. However, in FY2021, we sold ripur, his home taluk, and when the state for years to create a sem- hold together the community’s vote for the party ment works, but BSY followed a will not find it easy after BSY.
just 2.37 lakh units of all types of electric two- the party offered no creature com- blance of a BJP organisation. In shortcut. He empowered the vari- (sugata@sugataraju.in)
wheeler and passenger cars or just 1.3% of
total automobile sales. The GST on EVs has
been cut to 5% from 12% earlier, but that is not
enough. We won’t get anywhere at this pace. In
particular, we should be boosting electric pub-
lic transport vehicles as this will reduce both
LESSER-KNOWN SURYA TEMPLES IN CENTRAL INDIA
vehicle density and the carbon footprint.
Vishnu as Varaha, Krishna and with sapta-matrikas and navagrahas Vishnu in its centre accompa-
Narasimha. The antarala door- has. Inside the garbhagriha is an nied by Brahma and Shiva on ei-
LISTEN TO FISHERS way lintel is carved with an im-
age of Surya riding a seven-horse
image of Surya standing over a
lotus pedestal.
ther side. At the ends are Lakshmi
and Saraswati.
BEFORE MOVING BILL SAURABH
SAXENA
Founder of Puratattva, a
documentation of heritage sites
chariot driven by Aruna and ac-
companied by Usha, Pratyusha,
Sesai in Shivpuri district has a
tenth century CE Surya temple in
With the advent of the Gurjara-
Pratiharas, an impetus was pro-
F
Danda and Pingala. Images of a much dilapidated condition. Un- vided to Surya worship in and
isheries along the coast of Tamil Nadu saptamatrikas and navagrahas like the above two temples, this around the present Madhya
S
have been in uproar for over a week now, urya’s association with Indian Pakistan) on the Chandrabhaga are also present on the lintel. A faces west. It is built over a jagati Pradesh region. The above three
following news that the Indian Marine culture and civilisation is eter- (Chenab river). The second centre mutilated Surya image is present and follows the pancha-ratha Surya temples are the representa-
nal. Vedic literature defines was at Kalapriya, generally iden- inside the garbhagriha. style, consisting of a garbhagri- tives of Surya worship (Saura
Fisheries Bill, 2021, might be passed by Surya as an individual deity and tified with Kalpi (Uttar Pradesh) The Surya temple in Madkhera ha, antarala and mukha manda- cult) during the Pratihara period
Parliament in the current session. Ac- as part of the group of solar dei- on Yamuna river. The third was at faces east and is built over a high pa. The bhadra niches, designed of the ninth-tenth century CE.
knowledging their concerns, Chief Minister ties. The famous Gayatri mantra Mundira or Udayachala, gener- raised jagati (platform). Unlike as mini shrines, carry Uma-Ma- The origin of the Gurjara-Prati-
M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister pays tribute to Savitr as the di- ally identified with Konark in the Umri temple, here we find heshvar in the north and Surya in hara dynasty is traced to Laksh-
Narendra Modi, urging him not to move the vine Surya, who illuminates all, Odisha. Among the surviving Shaivite deities, Ganesha, Kar- the east while the niche in the mana, who served as a pratihara
Bill. Stalin has also claimed that sections of from whom all proceed and to temples of India, the famous ones tikeya and Parvati, in the south is empty. The karna niches (doorkeeper) to Rama. As Rama
whom all must return, and whom for Surya are Konark in Odisha, adhisthana bhadra niches. The have images of Ashtadikpalas. and Lakshmana were born in the
the Bill infringe on state rights.
we invoke to direct ourselves to- Modhera Sun temple in Gujarat bhadra niches over the jangha The doorway is exquisitely carved Ikshvaku (or Suryavamshi) dy-
While the fishing community has genuine wards righteousness. Early Pu- and Martand Sun temple in Jam- (lower portion of the wall) have and differs in its sculptural pro- nasty, it was natural for the Prati-
concerns about the Bill, the opacity with ranic traditions prescribe Surya mu and Kashmir. images of Surya holding lotuses gramme from the above two tem- hara rulers to pay their due obei-
which it has been drafted has also raised con- worship in domestic rites by re- The earliest epigraphical refer- and riding a chariot. The karna ples. River Goddesses are present sance to Surya. Ramabhadra
cerns. While fisher representatives have ar- citing mantras, offering lotus, ar- ences to Surya temples come from niches have images of Ashtadik- on the door jambs while Vishnu- (833-836 CE) was the first
gued that the government has failed to gya, sandal and salutation. Later Madhya Pradesh. A 5th century palas. Vishnu-dashavataras are dashavataras are present on the Pratihara king referred to as a
Puranic traditions mention the CE Gupta period inscription at present on various small niches door bands. Surya is present over Param-Aditya-bhakta (staunch
incorporate suggestions from stakeholder
advent of Maga priests presiding Mandsaur mentions construction around the temple. The antarala the lalatabimba in the centre of devotee of Surya) in epigraphs.
consultations, environmentalists have ques- over Surya worship and the popu- of a Sun temple by a guild of silk doorway has River Goddesses the lintel. Eleven Adityas accom- His son Bhoja I (836-885 CE) was
tioned why sections on sustainability and larisation of Surya images and weavers. A 6th century CE grant Ganga and Yamuna over the door panied by Lakshmi and Saraswati the greatest emperor of North-
conservation, present in earlier drafts of the temples. The Samba Purana tells of Mihirakula refers to the con- jambs. The lintel carries an im- are arranged on either side of ern India in the early medieval
Bill, have been removed. Officials have us that when Samba, son of struction of a Sun temple at age of Surya with his retinue Surya. The beam above the lintel period. Though Bhoja I is re-
said that the previous drafts incorporated Krishna, was cursed with lepro- Gwalior. Tikamgarh district preferred to as a Param-Bhagvati-
feedback from maritime states, fishers and sy, Narada advised him to wor- serves two ninth century CE bhakta, him bearing the title of
ship Surya after constructing a Surya temples, one in Umri and Mihira suggests his association
research institutes. temple at Chandrabhaga river. another in Madkhera. The Umri with Surya. A later Partihara
In its current avatar, the Bill mainly appears Since no Brahman was ready to Surya temple faces east and is ruler Vinayapaladeva I is also re-
focused on checking unregulated fishing in the accept its priesthood, Samba built in the pancha-ratha style. It ferred to as a Param-Aditya-bhak-
Exclusive Economic Zone. It is the manner in brought Magas, specialist Sun- consists of a garbhagriha (sanc- ta in epigraphs.
which it seeks to do so that has provoked an worshiping priests of the Shakad- tum sanctorum), antarala (vesti- These temples may also serve
outcry. Fisher bodies charge that the Bill treats vipa. Shakadvipa is generally bule) and mukha mandapa. Nich- as a link in the gradual migration
identified with present-day Iran es in the bhadra (central) offset in of the Saura sect from western
all fishing as the same, bracketing small arti-
and Magas with the Magi Zoroas- the south and the west have India to the eastern part, culmi-
sanal/traditional fishers with larger commer- trian priests. images of Surya riding over a nating in the Konark Surya tem-
cial operations. The fishers, regardless of their The later Puranas mention seven-horse chariot. The karna ple. Further research on this may
scale of operations, will have to register for three ancient centres for Surya (corner) niches have images of help us understand this migra-
licenses to fish in the EEZ. They are liable to worship. The first one was at Mu- Ashtadikpalas. The adhishthana Madkhera Sun temple in Madhya Pradesh built during the Gurjara-Pratihara period tion better.
face stiff penalties and even criminal proceed- lasthana or Mitravana (Multan in bhadra niches carry images of (9th century CE); doorway lintel of the Sesai Sun temple (10th century CE) (Puratattva.India@gmail.com)
ings if caught fishing there without a license.
Traditional fishers say they have been forced
to fish in the EEZ as the territorial waters are
yielding lower catches. The Bill would further
push them to the margins. Another conten- A self-goal by BJP? impression that the BJP has scored a knowledge and competence of many on purely political grounds. Here I am France. Colleges having the prefix of a
tious issue is that fishers can be criminalised It was disheartening to see a visibly self-goal. Has the Union home minister of our educated youth are far from reminded of this great saying of British religion is not consistent with a secular
for failing to comply with Coast Guard orders emotional Karnataka CM break the news lost his Midas touch? Uttarakhand also satisfactory. And most of them prefer to writer Ernest Benn: “Politics is the art nation. Educational institutions bearing
of his resignation. As one of this paper’s saw messy changeovers of CMs. Only be engaged in any employment rather of looking for troubles, diagnosing religious names should be renamed.
or directions. Fishers fear that this will make reporters has rightly pointed out, it time will tell us whether removing than try to build their own business. incorrectly, and applying the wrong Dr M Haneef, Kottayam
them vulnerable to abuse. Through these pro- looked like an encore of events of 1990 Yediyurappa was a wise move. S Ramalingam, Vellore remedies by disregarding ethical and
visions, the community fears that traditional when Veerendra Patil, the then CM, was Vijay Kumar C, Bengaluru moral principles.” Began in 1815
fishers will be forced out of their livelihood, given marching orders by Rajiv Gandhi With an eye on bypoll T Santhosh Kumar, Yellandu The Hindu College in Delhi was
benefitting corporate and wealthy ones with but the Congress had to bite the dust in Sad state of our youth This is with reference to Dalit Bandhu started in 1899 long before the
the subsequent polls. Many experts feel It has been reported that a hospital defence: Why shouldn’t we seek political Rename the colleges present-day intolerants were born.
less sustainable practices instead. Given the
it is a tactical blunder committed by the in Kolkata received applications from gain, asks KCR (July 22). Thanks to Linking education with religion is The first Western-style college in India
valid concerns of the community, the Union
BJP top brass. The open support given postgraduates and engineers for posts the chief minister for accepting that regressive as mentioned in the article was the CMS in Kottayam established
government would do well to heed its voice and by the Lingayat seers is a debatable in a mortuary for which the minimum the numerous schemes that are to be India under intolerant Indians in 1815; CMS stands for the Church
redraft a Bill that incorporates stakeholder issue, however the manner in which requirement was completion of implemented in Huzurabad constituency, (July 25). The author points out that Missionary Society of England.
views and addresses key concerns. Yediyurappa was eased out gives an Class 8 education. Sadly the which will see a bypoll soon, were based this is not the practice in the UK or N Muralidhara Pai, Ernakulam
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: G S Vasu Resident Editor (Andhra Pradesh) T Kalyan Chakravarthy * Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited, at 4th Floor, No. V, MM Complex, Opp. More super Market, AIR Bypass Road, Tirupati - 517 502. and printed by him at Sakshi Press, Survey No.2/4, Kotha palem Village, Renigunta Mandal,
Tirupati Revenue Division, Chittor District - 517 520 Tirupati: Vol. 07, No. 177. RNI Reg. No. APENG/2015/64463. Phone: 0877-2238202, Fax: 0877-2239005. *Responsible for selection of Newsunder the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
4 EDIT DELHI WEDNESDAY 28 JULY 2021
China’s curbs boon for Indian edtech startups wish to raise more rounds. Not only bigger entities,
but also smaller edtech companies will receive the crit-
ical growth capital for driving expansion.
C hiNA’S clampdown on edtech companies is likely

to be a blessing in disguise for indian firms oper-
ating in this space. indian edtech majors, be it Byju’s,
children policy to three per family in order to address
the concerns over aging population. however, the ban
on edtech firms has threatened to destroy China’s $100
india is a huge nation where the education needs of
students may not be fulfilled by the government insti-
tutions alone. however, commercialisation of educa-
Unacademy, Vedantu or others, are expected to tap the billion edtech market. Shares of edtech majors have tion with astronomical tuition fees creates an imbal-
void created in the emerging edtech market globally. crashed on the US and hong Kong stock exchanges. ance in social strata. Therefore, public-private
Announcing a slew of sweeping regulations over the however, the loss of China can be india’s gain in the participation for building up skills of indian students
weekend, State Council - China's highest governing short to medium term. Firstly, many of the VC & Pe may be the way forward. Against this backdrop, the fu-
body - has mandated after-school tutoring companies fund houses will look beyond China to invest their ture of indian edtech ecosystem seems bright with op-
to go non-profit, apart from banning them from going
public or raising foreign capital.
Chinese authorities have imposed caps on tutoring
money. Giant investors like Tiger Global, SoftBank,
Temasek, and many more are deeply entrenched in the
Chinese education ecosystem. with the new regula-
portunities to tap the overseas markets in coming
years.
however, sustainable growth of indian edtech
Meeting climate goals
can create 8 mn jobs
hours during weekends and vacations, in their bid to tions, their funding prospects have gone down. There- ecosystem requires a fine balance between the profit
reduce the learning burden on young students. Now, fore, these funding institutions will look at indian motive and non-profit initiatives. Because education
even listed entities in the edtech sector in China have edtech ecosystem for investing money. is the biggest equaliser in any society and its restriction
been restricted from investing in or acquiring online
education firms engaged in out-of-school teaching.
According to reports, high fees burden on private
edtech major Byju’s, which is valued at around $16.5
billion, has acquired companies worth around $2 bil-
lion in the last six months. Similarly, Unacademy is
to a certain set of people may not augur well for indian
society. So, edtech startups should thrive to make their
digital platforms open for most students with only cer-
l ONDON: Meeting the United Nations-mandated Paris Agreement
of staying well below 2-degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels
would increase net jobs by about 8 million by 2050, according to a study.
education is discouraging young families to have chil- currently valued at more than $2 billion and has been tain restrictions. Otherwise, indian society at some The study, published in the journal 'One earth', showed that jobs
dren, which in turn is impeding population growth. acquiring small firms to provide better offerings. These point of time will take notice of the unequal opportu- would increase primarily due to gains in the solar and wind industries.
The Asian economic giant has recently revised its two- companies will get more funding from Pe firms if they nities, leading to regulations like Chinese ones. Of the total jobs in 2050, 84 per cent would be in the renewables sec-
tor, 11 per cent in fossil fuels, and 5 per cent in the nuclear sector, the
researchers said.
while fossil fuel extraction jobs, which constitute 80 per cent of cur-
Dr RSP, a beacon of hope for many!

rent fossil fuel jobs, would rapidly decline, these losses will be compen-
sated by gains in solar and wind manufacturing jobs, the study found.
"Currently, an estimated 18 million people work in the energy in-
dustries -- a number that is likely to increase, not decrease, to 26 million
or by over 50 per cent if we reach our global climate targets," said Jo-
D
r BR RSP may join a party that reflects his ide- hannes emmerling, an environmental economist at the RFF-CMCC
MOOT POINT Ambedkar, ology or float his own party, but i consider european institute on economics and the environment in italy.
fresh from his entry into politics as a major mile- "Manufacturing and installation of
england with a stone in Telangana politics. And, i have While fossil fuel renewable energy sources could poten-
Doctor of Philoso- no qualms in guessing that he is capable extraction jobs, which tially become about one third of the total
phy degree, re- of mobilising masses to capitalise on the constitute 80 per cent of of these jobs, for which countries can
fused to accept the political vacuum left wide open in the current fossil fuel jobs, also compete in terms of location," em-
post of Professor of Telangana political arena to start with.
Political economy For RSP or those who want to cleanse the
would rapidly decline, merling added.
For the study, the team created a
offered by the political system to ameliorate the lives of these losses will be global dataset of job footprints in 50
Dr Ramu Bombay govern- marginalised sections, the herculean task compensated by gains in countries and used a model to investi-
Suravajjula ment. at hand is to fix certain important issues solar and wind gate how trying to meet the Paris Agree-
he explained, in on priority basis. They are, People, Poli- manufacturing jobs, A ment of staying well below 2-degree Cel-
an election speech cies, Partnerships and Press (4Ps). study found sius would affect energy sector jobs.
at Ramdaspur in Jalandhar on October "extraction sector jobs are more sus-
27, 1951, the reason behind his decision: People: Lovely-Lazy-Lousy ceptible to decarbonisation, so there needs to be just transition policies
“i refused the post because i had a great The first and the foremost issue is ob- in place," said first author of the study, Sandeep Pai, from the University
feeling for the service of my community viously, people, i mean electorate. we can of British Columbia in Canada.
which i could not have done remaining broadly bifurcate them into three types: The team next aims to explore the shifts in skill levels, education re-
in that service. A government servant, lovely, lazy and lousy. lovely people, a exorbitant costs involved in education reasons to side with the MiM. There is a quirements, and wages that may result from trying to meet the global
you know, cannot serve his community miniscule minority, keep nation first and and health. visible rift within the SCs (18 percent). in climate target of the Paris Agreement.
as he has to go according to the wishes of think about the development and welfare having proven to the world the magic this backdrop, Dr RSP needs a highly ho-
the government and follow the policy of of the general public. They are also opin- one can create with innovative, holistic listic and pragmatic approach to rope in
the government.” ion makers. lazy people, the next cate- initiatives in the social welfare hostels, various sections into his fold.
The Babasaheb’s scintillating speech,
“we can have one power and that is the
gory, are mostly educated cynics. They
are reluctant to enrol their names in the
Dr RSP remains a hope for millions of un-
derprivileged parents. A special focus on Press for public opinion
Hypertension, digestive diseases
political power. This power we must win.
Armed with this power, we can protect
voters’ list in the first place. even if they
do so, this bunch doesn’t see merit in tak-
imparting soft skills and an emphasis on
international higher education are the
last but not the least, the press, i mean
entire media, as the moulder of public
and diabetes three topmost NCDs
the interests of our people”- crossed my
mind when the 1995 batch indian Police
Service officer, Dr Repalle Shiva Praveen
ing pains of going to the polling booth to
cast their votes.
Now, the highly dangerous category,
twin tools for the social upliftment of the
marginalized in Telangana. without
much ado, both english and Telugu
opinion. Till the advent of the social me-
dia, a major section of Telugu newspapers
and TV channels, known for their politi-
N ew Delhi: The
Associated Cham-
bers of Commerce and
Kumar, the son-of-the-soil, sought for his lousy People. The blind supporters of po- should be accorded priority in the same cal affiliations with cross-commercial in- industry of india (AS-
voluntary retirement on July 19, 2021. in litical parties based on caste, region or re- breath. terests, were in a position to make or SOChAM), the apex
his open declaration that he could give ligion, they don’t have any problem in ac- Next, health, the common man’s grave break a political party or its leader. Still, trade association of the
‘only my 10 percent’ for the marginalised cepting freebies and see no harm in concern now. Ruined by the outrageous leading media houses have a say in creat- country, as part of its
and neglected sections of society in his trading votes for a couple of red currency costs for hospitalisation and medicines ing public opinion. Social media is a won- 'illness to wellness'
26 years of government service, he notes, liquor or biryani. Blame it on politi- during the Covid-19 second wave, people derful tool for freshers in politics, but it campaign, has unveiled
echoed the Architect of indian Constitu- cians, it is an open secret that money and are in resentful mood against the govern- proved to be trivial and nonserious on vi- india's largest primary
tion’s idea on the limitations in serving liquor flows during the campaign and ment. hopefully, RSP is working on an al- tal issues that plague society. Much before healthcare survey re-
people while in government service. The polling days. Crores of rupees are spent ternative plan to strengthen the public taking a plunge into politics, a fool-proof Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and West port on the rising bur-
53-year-old upright officer credited with to make this category happy and it is in healthcare system to ensure free and has- media-communication strategy should Bengal are among states where NCD den of non-communica-
transforming the face of the Telangana fact working wonders for political parties sle-free health for public. The third theme be in place. prevalence is higher than the national ble diseases (NCD) in
Social welfare and Tribal welfare Resi- right under our noses. of the slogan, aarthikam, is a bit vague but leading a political outfit in a highly average. This calls for state-specific the county followed by
dential educational institutions has sac- Politicians hate the first category it is believed that the most critical issues fragmented society and corrupt system
rificed seven years of a bright career in (lovely), try to woo the second (lazy) and such as unemployment and agriculture amidst various pulls and pressures is not
strategies to tackle NCDs asion. virtual panel discus-
the Police department ‘to start a new truly love the last one (lousy). in the ab- are part of this aspect. it is wise to provide a mean job. The mainstream political par- The report titled, ‘Non-Communicable Diseases in india,’ covered
phase of journey.’ An inspiring move- sence of any societal effort to educate the employment opportunities while creat- ties have the wherewithal to silence op- 2,33,672 people and 673 public health offices in 21 states, to analyse the
ment, christened SwAeROeS, he pio- gullible masses about the real value of ing an ecosystem to turn downtrodden ponents. The powerful monsters and rising cases of NCDs in the country and the social profile of suffering
neered with social welfare hostel students their votes, loads of work is in store for into entrepreneurs. it is pertinent to deadly sharks are out there in the arena households
as its members with a belief that the ‘sky concerned citizens like Dr RSP. Today’s mention here that only Teenmar Mal- ever ready to malign the reputation of any Calling diabetes an overpowering non-communicable disease, Dr
is the limit,’ remains a case study for gov- Telangana politics reached a new low lanna, a force to reckon with, is the only person, if feel threatened. On the other Ambrish Mittal, Chairman and head, endocrinology and Diabetes De-
ernment servants. A harvard University with a same set of politicians wresting voice that gives the much-needed thrust hand, people are tricked in to believing partment, Max healthcare (Pan Max), said, "Diabetes has risen expo-
Master’s degree holder, Dr RSP vowed to power by hook or crook. Powers-that-be, on education and health and Dr RSP’s that there are castles in the air and a nentially in india from 2 per cent in the 1970s in urban areas to between
dedicate the rest of his life “to fulfil the in addition to money and muscle power, three-point agenda is clearer and broader moon in hand. One may have the highest 10-20 per cent in 2020. The cases of diabetes are even higher in metros
unfinished dreams of doyens of social jus- are basking on unviable schemes and than that of “welfare, Self-reliance and commitment and extraordinary experi- at 35-40 per cent. This spike is linked to urbanization led by economic
tice, Mahatma Phule, Dr BR Ambedkar, poll-time freebies at the cost of the public equality’ (Sankshemam, Swayam Sam- ence in dealing people but a lot of pa- development and has been more prevalent in urban areas as compared
Kanshi Ram and many more torch bear- exchequer. Akin to Kejriwal and Dr JP, a ruddhi and Samaanatvam), the agenda of tience and tact are needed to deal with to rural areas."
ers.” massive mass campaigns aimed at chang- the YSR Telangana Party launched by the the present-day political system in the The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a sharper focus on health care.
Dr RSP, in subsequent television inter- ing late Chief Minister’s daughter Sharmila process of achieving the goal of ‘political Patterns emerging from Covid management across the country indicate
views, also resonated Kanshi Ram’s line the mindset of voters on the lines of on July 8, 2021. power.’ that people with co-morbidities of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
of thinking, as mentioned in the latter’s ‘parivarthana’ Dr RSP undertook as the Kanshi Ram once said the party (BSP) have a higher mortality rate than those who do not.
1982 book (The Chamcha Age) that Dalits Superintendent of Police are the need of Partnerships with a purpose would fight first election to lose, next to Report prepared by Thought Arbitrage Research institute (TARi),
should work politically for their own ends the hour. Kanshi Ram-style of very simple The third component is political part- get noticed and the third election to win. the survey report observed that india's non-communicable disease
rather than compromising by working but effective campaigns, without any nerships or alliances. in tune with the he meant that a leader should be ready burden is growing at an alarming rate with the average age for onset
with other parties. Unlike the other three hype, should be planned before announc- changed times, Kanshi Ram broadened for a protracted battle to clinch political falling sharply.
household names of indian Civil Services ing a political outfit. the concept of ‘Dalits’ by reaching out to power. it reported that NCDs increase after 18 years and show a quantum
officers who gave up cushy positions to ‘Bahujan Samaj.’ his protégé Mayawati, Now, the moot question: is Dr RSP in leap when an individual crosses the age of 35 years. it found that more
take a plunge into active politics- Dr Policies: Education-Health-Economy a four-time Chief Minister of Uttar for a long-term fight to fulfil the dreams than 2/3 of the individuals suffering from NCDs are in the most pro-
Jayaprakash Narayan (iAS), Arvind Ke- The second issue to be stressed, Poli- Pradesh, embraced upper castes, the one- of the doyens of social justice? ductive-life age groups i.e., between 26-59 years. This is an alarming
jriwal (iRS) and VV lakshminarayana cies. Dr RSP has struck the right chord by time nemeses, in her quest for political (The author, a PhD in Communication trend and points to the grim reality that the burden of NCDs on india
(iPS), Dr RSP had bitter experience with making education, health and economy power. Bringing various groups with and Journalism, is a senior journalist, is long-lasting given that 65 per cent of the country's population is
caste discrimination as a child, student (aksharam, aarogyam, aarthikam) as his more or less a common cause under one journalism educator and below 35 years of age.
and officer. his decision to ‘serve public’ agenda. The first two issues, the highly umbrella is vital to ensure the consolida- communication consultant) The survey suggested that the prevalence of having any NCDs among
full-time rekindles hopes in a large sec- disturbing factors that have a tremendous tion of the vote bank. The BCs (about 40 (The opinions expressed in this column the population is 116 per 1,000 population in india. it identified hyper-
tion of rudderless people, who are either impact on the finances of the downtrod- percent in the population) are polarised are that of the writer. The facts and tension, digestive disease, and diabetes as the top three NCDs followed
betrayed or disillusioned by the present den and middle-class across all castes, are in Telangana and the Muslim community opinions expressed here do not reflect the by respiratory diseases, brain/neurological disorders, heart
political system and its leadership. Dr more relevant than ever before given the (more than 10 percent) has compelling views of The Hans India) diseases/CVD, kidney disorders, and cancer in the order of prevalence.
Rajinder K. Dhamija, head of Neurology Department, lady hardinge
Medical College New Delhi said, "The cases of stroke have grown 4
LETTERS Only talk, no action, blue to the people already concerned
over the fragile state of Telangana econ-
we had hD Kumaraswamy weeping and
now it is BSY who is doing it. Something
times in the last 30 years. This can be attributed to changes in the
lifestyle and the demography of our country. it is worth noting that the
on sports omy. The government ought to concen- in the politics of Bangalore breeds sen- life expectancy of our population has increased from 47 years in the
Timely editorial
A BOVe 90 per cent of private and
corporate schools and most of the
trate on education, public health, em-
ployment and good living standards as
timentality.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
1970s to 70 years today. This means that we have a large aging population
that is vulnerable to neurological diseases, dementia, stroke, etc. There
T he edit, ‘Raise your words, not your

voice,’ (27 July) was timely when
Parliament is crippled over some im-
government schools in Telangana allot
only one sports period per week in their
timetable for students. But we expect
we expected during the Telangana
movement. There is a Chinese saying
which goes like this...' give a man a fish Judiciary must wake up
is also an interesting trend of lower-income countries witnessing a rise
in cases of vascular diseases like stroke and mortality, unlike developed
countries that are more resourceful and yet registering a decline in
portant issues like new farm law and
snooping. while one should respect the
concern shown by RS Chairman M
hundreds of medals in Olympics and
other international events. when it
comes to government schools, in Telan-
and you feed him a day but teach him to
fish and you feed him a life time.' it's
high time that we recalled this and re-
i find a number of politicians against
whom FiRs have been registered or
are charge-sheeted are roaming around,
such cases. This is due to an epidemic of diseases like diabetes and hy-
pertension coupled with changes in lifestyle, an aging population, lack
of physical activity, and air pollution."
Venkaiah Naidu, he seems to have for- gana above ninety percent of schools jected such unscientific schemes for a even attending to their legislative and On a collective basis, the report identified air pollution as the most
gotten two senior leaders from his for- have no PeTs. Moreover, in most of the better society. parliamentary duties. everyone of them prevalent risk factor among the surveyed population. it was trailed by
mer party. Not allowing Parliament to private and government schools there T Santhosh Kumar, Yellandu have been able to flaunt their muscle low physical activity – a key metabolic and physical activity and an im-
function is also a form of democracy are no playgrounds. if we want to be on power, money power and political influ- balanced diet, a behavioural risk factor that occupied 3rd spot.
like any other form: Sushma Swaraj. By par with the countries like America, ences with their ill-gotten wealth. An An imbalanced diet includes a diet low in legumes, milk, omega-3
disrupting parliament, we have given Australia, China etc., govts must sanc- BSY exits with a heavy heart ordinary citizen is terribly scared and fatty acids, vegetables, fruits, calcium etc. high consumption of sugar
out a message to the country: Arun
Jaitely. The fact of the matter is BJP
has more experience being in opposi-
tion a PeT post in primary and high
schools and instruct private schools to
recruit PeTs. Govts must also issues or-
B S Yediyurappa must have set some
kind of a record by being sworn in as
Chief Minister four times without com-
runs from pillar to post to save himself
from any punitive action losing all his
savings in the process in spite of being
and trans-fats due to growing urbanisation often leads to sedentary
and stressed lifestyle also contribute to factors that lead to an imbal-
anced diet.
tion and disruption of parliament on ders to schools to allocate an hour per pleting his term even once. it was obvi- honest and straight. is this gross anom- Throwing light on the co-morbidity of NCDs with each other, the
various occasions. Sadly, they are now day for games and sports in schools ous that he went out with a heavy heart, aly due to flaws in our judicial system? study underlined that hypertension has the highest comorbidity with
tasting their own medicine. however, timetable. Making available sufficient no doubt at the behest of the high Com- Or is it due to either incompetent or de- almost all NCDs. This is followed by diabetes, kidney, and digestive dis-
even then and now it's the people who sports material is another essential mand of the BJP. it would be interesting liberately indifferent investigative orders in their relative simultaneous occurrence in morbidity. This co-
are facing the heat when the members thing. to see who succeeds him among the process? The judiciary also responds by existence, according to the survey, is followed by diabetes and respira-
are unable to raise issues on behalf K Manoj Kumar, huzurabad many contenders. The Congress and postponing hearings. how come the tory diseases. On the other hand, cancer and kidney disease were found
common voters. On more than one oc- JDS may be sensing an opportunity to higher echelons of judiciary are turning to have lower comorbidity.
casion, BJP while in opposition always reclaim power which was seized from a blind eye to the situation? The state of Odisha was found to have the highest prevalence of NCDs
claimed it was the party in power to Rank populism in Telangana them by engineering defections. earlier J Kannan, hyderabad (272 per 1,000 population) while Gujarat registered the lowest preva-
take the responsibility of running the
parliament.
S Natarajan, hyderabad
T he announcement of politically
motivated schemes like Dalita
Bandhu has come as a bolt from the
thehansreader@gmail.com
lence (60 per 1,000). Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and west Bengal were
other states where NCD prevalence was higher than the national aver-
age. This calls for state-specific strategies to tackle NCDs.
08 CHANDIGARH
WEDNESDAY
JULY 28, 2021
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Liberal democracies
Covid-19: The must stand up
economic costs Develop norms on
surveillance, nudge
authoritarianism. latory restrictions”. That the list of
An assault on civil liberties any- over 55 countries, presumably,
where erodes the freedoms enjoyed excludes at least some of the 10 fea-
It pushed people from a more productive urban partners, take on by people everywhere. For this rea- tured in the revelations invites atten-
son, anyone concerned about their tion. Pegasus should mark the tipping point in the debate that started after the
economy to a less productive rural sector dictatorships, and hold basic freedoms has a stake in the Israel is the second and equally 9/11 terror attacks on the extent to which the civil liberties can be sacrificed
issue. However, leadership on this important actor on ground zero. The in the name of national security. Terrorism remains a potent threat, but it
Israel and NSO issue will have to be provided by lib- report claims that an agency of has been overshadowed by different forms of authoritarianism AFP
T
he Indian economy experienced an unpre- accountable eral democratic forces. Governments, Israel’s ministry of defence “strictly
cedented contraction of 24.4% in the quarter world leaders, political parties, orga- restricts the licensing of Pegasus”, The most insidious aspects of Pega- authoritarian forces and assert that
A
s revelations from Proj- nisations and citizens committed to independently analysing potential sus appear to be its “zero-click” constitutional governments that guar-
ending June 2020 due to the 68-day-long ect Pegasus continue to 21st century ideas of human freedom buyers from a “human rights perspec- attacks and the near-absolute effi- antee and verifiably ensure human
lockdown that was imposed on March 24 to make global headlines, need to step up. tive”. On witness here is a compli- ciency with which it compromises the freedoms are valuable, desirable and
curb the spread of Covid-19. That employment one is reminded of a What can be done? cated terrain; a sovereign State has targeted device, exposing unsuspect- preferable.
term the former and late Start by building a norm. Prioritise used its privilege as an international ing citizens to vulnerabilities. Pegasus Over the past decade, as they have
suffered during this period is a given. The urban United States (US) secre- a frank and decisive conversation actor to regulate the business of a should mark the tipping point in the confronted authoritarian major pow-
unemployment rate increased from 8.9% in April- tary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, around the impact of tech- niche private product meant global debate that started after the 9/11 ers such as China and Russia, liberal
June 2019 to 20.9% in the same period in 2020, as per used in 2002 — “unknown nologies such as Pegasus on exclusively for use by other terror attacks on the extent to which democracies have accommodated
unknowns”. human freedoms. A start sovereign States but with a the civil liberties of citizens can be authoritarian centralisers of various
the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the We don’t know what we don’t know can be made on ground high risk of abuse that could sacrificed in the name of national hues across Europe, West Asia and
April-June 2020 period released in March. But since about the extent of the surveillance zero. There is a case for mar inter-State relations, security. Two decades ago, the defin- South Asia. They have praised the
the quarterly PLFS numbers do not include rural undertaken using the Pegasus spy- ascertaining the accounta- harm civil liberties and ing challenge before the progressive democracy of their strategic partners,
ware and the damage it has done to bility of the NSO Group. On Atul encourage authoritarianism. world was terrorism. Terrorism but hesitated to draw attention to
areas, they did not reveal the entire employment the lives and dignity of its unsuspect- June 30, it released its first- As a responsible member remains a potent threat, but it has eroding civil liberties within partner
story. The annual PLFS report for July 2019-June ing targets. But there is enough now ever Transparency and Mishra of the international commu- been overshadowed by different democracies. They have, thus, played
2020, released last week, gives a better idea of the in the public domain for everyone Responsibility Report in nity, Israel will be expected forms of authoritarianism. To meet their part in creating a worldwide cul-
concerned about civil liberties glo- which it showcases its com- to explain the alleged lapses, this challenge, liberal democratic for- ture of impunity in which authoritar-
lockdown’s impact on employment, and corrobo- bally to abandon hand-wringing and mitment to human rights and privacy and not merely to France. And as a ces need to reclaim the ground that ian aids such as Pegasus are enabled
rates anecdotal accounts of reverse migration to attempt a meaningful pushback. as it sells what is reportedly the most beacon of democracy and human they have conceded. and deployed.
rural areas in distress. Urban jobs fell by 11.05 It is easy to be lost in the specifics of invasive spyware currently on the sur- rights in West Asia, it must feel obli- In the near term, they must push The revelations present an oppor-
the regimes that are suspected to have veillance market. gated to revisit the arrangement for a norm against surveillance tech- tunity to liberal governments to push
million between April-June 2019 and April-June used Pegasus against targets that The report is candid in many between its sovereign authority and nologies — which effectively are back against authoritarianism, firstly
2020, while rural jobs increased by 14.67 million in were or are, evidently, neither “major respects, but also interesting. For Pegasus. weapons — that cause unjustifiable of friends and partners, and draw a
the same period. The share of employment in agricu- criminals” nor “terrorists” — two cat- instance, it says that the company The problematic nature of the NSO and irreversible harm to human line on unaccountable surveillance.
egories of actors that the developer of rejected over $300 million in sales Group-Pegasus-Israel linkage should beings. There is precedent for this in They mustn’t squander it.
lture increased in 2019-20. This is unprecedented. Pegasus, NSO Group, claims it is opportunities after vetting its poten- be seen as an illustration of the global the realm of chemical, biological, and
Real wages fell for most workers, the highest for the meant for. Regardless of whether a tial customers — “states and state challenge that liberal democratic for- even nuclear weapons. But this norm- Atul Mishra teaches international
self-employed category during April-June 2020 regime was democratic or authoritar- agencies” — on human rights and has ces need to confront — the need to setting agenda must be backed by a relations at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-
ian, the fact is that the gratuitous use decided to not do business with over draw a line on unaccountable surveil- political reorientation. Liberal demo- NCR. His book, The Sovereign Lives of
period. Average number of hours worked of Pegasus has fatally harmed civil lib- 55 countries for reasons such as lance technologies that have unprece- cratic governments need to abandon India and Pakistan, will be out in August
fell across categories. erties and deepened the hold of “human rights, corruption, and regu- dented invasive power. their diffidence in dealings with The views expressed are personal
In short, the labour market faced a multi-pronged
squeeze. It is easy to miss these nuances if one looks
Learn to tackle China’s

at the headline employment numbers for 2019-20.
They show an improvement in labour force { RAM NATH KOVIND } PRESIDENT
participation rate and a decline in the unemploy-
P
ment rate, creating a misleading picture of labour
markets. The latest PLFS findings have brought to
the fore the fact that vulnerabilities in Indian labour
‘discourse power’ Democracy…. has within it the
markets might not reflect themselves in the most n China’s strategic lexicon, might is right vis-a-vis the contentious border dispute. New
capacity to reconcile all
commonly tracked statistic — the unemployment
rate. In a country which has little in terms of social
security, staying unemployed is not an option. The
pandemic pushed people from the more productive
I but might is essential to earn the “right to Delhi has understood that China will leave no
speak”. President Xi Jinping’s message to stone unturned to show that it was on the
Chinese citizens and the world, as the Chi- right side of history, given the emphasis the
nese Communist Party (CCP) celebrated its CCP’s centenary celebrations have placed on
march to the next century, seemed to stress “correct” versions of its deemed successes.
differences and also the capacity
to bring out the best of the
citizens’ potential. Kashmir,
on this theme repeatedly. Aside from the dei- Yet, looking at China’s efforts from a nar-
urban economy to the less productive rural sector. happily, is already realising
A
fication of the Xi era and CCP, if one breaks row propaganda lens would be a folly — for
This is also reflected in the per worker output in down the centenary’s themes to, say, bumper the stakes for India are much higher, more
agriculture in real terms, which went down from stickers, the following would sum it up — we nuanced and across multiple domains. this vision.
have arrived; we will not be bullied; the party First, India is an open society where Chi-
₹1.18 lakh in 2018-19 to ₹1.02 lakh in 2019-20 (July- is always right/the party is forever. nese officials have always had the opportunity
June period). A rise in demand for work under the In Chinese frameworks, a country’s huayu- to push their narrative in a vibrant and noisy
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment quan or right to speak or the power/ media environment. Often, there is
The vaccination drive is

authority to speak is essentially a no reciprocity given the absence of a
Guarantee Scheme also tells the same story. form of power equivalent to military level-playing field on the Chinese
PLFS numbers after the April-June 2020 period and economic power, “with dis- side as they wield an iron fist with
are not available. Even quarterly reports will not course as its carrier”. Yet, for all of their State-controlled information
have information on rural labour markets. But PLFS
numbers suggest what to expect. Restoring growth is
not going to be enough to revive the econom. Covid-
China’s gains in hard power and
material strength, it has always felt
lacking in “discourse power” relative
to the West.
Shruti
Pandalai
flow. This awareness is yet to be
internalised in India and requires
constant calling out.
Two, unlike earlier perceptions
entering a challenging
19 distributive consequences are equally adverse.
That the Centre has not offered much in terms of
So, China has invested heavily in
telling “an overwhelmingly positive”
that India does not occupy mind-
space in China, Galwan proved Bei-
story of its history. Purged of failures, this his- jing’s India policy is not monolithic. Scholar-
tory credits the party for China’s strides and ship has highlighted a trend of growing antag-
phase. Change strategy
direct fiscal support and its tax burden has become
leading the Chinese people “from one victory onism and a pessimistic outlook regarding the espite improvements in daily vacci- Such incentives are relevant only for a class
D
more regressive will only worsen the situation. to another on an unstoppable march towards future of India-China relations. An enduring nation numbers and the promise of that perhaps doesn’t even require such incen-
national rejuvenation”. This narrative is portrayal of “an obstructionist India”, an inev- increased supply, challenges persist tives. The vast rural and poor sections, if any-
essential to maintaining the infallibility of the itable rivalry, “successor of a colonial order”, in India’s vaccination drive. First, thing, receive subtle disincentives to get vacci-
party-State and is seen as central to its domes- “hegemon with a Monroeist doctrine towards there is a rural-urban disparity (which, to be nated and cliched health education messages
Assam-Mizoram: A tic legitimacy. South Asia” and “peddling the US-Indo Pacific
But Xi has also wanted China’s discourse Strategy” have taken root and are important
power to resonate externally — China’s story, markers of China’s framing.
sure, is narrowing) in per capita vaccination aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy. The
numbers, and second, there are intermittent immediate implication of this is the need to
“dry” days in some parts of the country when reduce the private sector’s share in total man-
systemic breakdown on China’s terms, and Chinese ideas setting Three, when China speaks of dominating
the global agenda. From the 19th party con- the information domain, it also means
gress in 2017 onwards, Xi has consistently supremacy over the electronic and cyber
lack of supplies brings the vaccination proc- ufactured vaccines that stands at 25%. This
ess to a halt. will only become more important with time
But India may be headed for a more serious since private vaccination will only grow inac-
demanded that Chinese discourse power domain. Reports of repeated cyber attacks on problem. Vaccination is indeed a function of cessible and irrelevant as the size of the well-
n Monday, Assam and Mizoram clashed over a underwrite the promotion of the “China India’s critical infrastructure, including in the vaccine supplies. However, there is no reason off beneficiaries shrinks relative to that of the
O disputed boundary. Five policemen and one

civilian (all from Assam) were killed and 50
others were injured. The bloodiest-ever incident
model”, and project its ability to “influence banking, defence and the financial sector, and
global values, governance, and even day-to- the high-profile alleged targeting of the Maha-
day discussions on the world stage”. rashtra electricity grid during the ongoing
Within China’s borders, discourse power is boundary crisis are not coincidences.
to assume that the relationship is
linear. With time, despite the
increase in supplies, the relative
returns in the form of increasing
poor, hesitant, and hard-to-reach
beneficiaries.
However, there is no reason to
believe that all will be well with pub-
between the two states was the culmination of the a potent tool of the State, but when expanded Four, despite India maintaining that it can vaccination numbers may diminish. lic sector vaccination either. The
to the international system, there are long- no longer delink peace and tranquillity on the This is due to the interplay of multi- Inverse Care Law applies, albeit
discontent that had been simmering since 2020 over term repercussions. The emphasis here is not border from other aspects of the relationship, ple factors. In mass public health weakly, to the public sector as well.
Soham D
incidents of violence and Assam’s residents blocking on dialogue, but on the “contestation of ideas” China’s insistence on compartmentalising the campaigns, initial returns are often Government services by default also
which have underwritten widely accepted relationship while keeping multiple fronts on high on account of governments Bhaduri reach easily accessible and affluent
NH-306, the lifeline to Mizoram, for 12 days.
universal values and norms, institutions, and the Line of Actual Control alive exemplifies reaching the easily accessible sec- areas first, and subsequent accre-
Mizoram has accused Assam Police of entering its governance models. There is no space for coercive tactics. China’s psy-ops over “Aruna- tions quickly, and rapid coverage of tions often follow the same pattern.
territory, indulging in violence, and claimed that it reform or consensus in this narrative. It is chal Pradesh’s slow pace of development” in the affluent and the non-hesitant population. Further, governments are swift in rolling
only retaliated after tear gas canisters and grenades about proving that all prior methods for solv- comparison to the development of model vil- The rate of gains diminishes as the challenge out negative incentives (such as penalties for
ing the world’s problems have failed while lages and the first electric train close to the of reaching the inaccessible and hesitant sec- non-vaccination) rather than positive incen-
were hurled by Assam’s forces. Assam has blamed China offers one with better solutions which border on its side, and publicising the decision tions increasingly looms large. For India, this tives (such as rewards), since the former are
Mizoram for breaching existing agreements and it has applied successfully domestically. to build a controversial multibillion dollar is particularly crucial to avoid this since such more feasible administratively and economi-
status quo, and accused the Mizoram Police of firing China’s discourse power represents the hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra river in a decrease could be coterminus with the cally. Such negative incentives, unless
party-State as the righteous leader in the Tibet, are all par for the course. emergence of newer variants and fresh waves designed carefully, can adversely affect the
on its forces and civilians using light machine guns. international space. Concepts such as a “com- Finally for India, while managing the China of Covid-19. acceptance of vaccines by communities.
A clash of this nature between two states represents munity of shared future”, Made in China relationship will be guided by its policy of In such circumstances, incentives to pro- Nonetheless, they are destined to remain
a constitutional breakdown. And the fact that the 2025’s goal of dominating global science and building its internal capacity, diversifying and mote vaccination (in addition to free or subsi- important tools in the arsenal owing to their
tech, and the creation of international finan- leveraging external partnerships and keeping dised vaccines) could become crucial to speed relative simplicity. Additionally, throwing in
clash played out on Twitter, with chief ministers of cial institutions aim to project the ability to channels of dialogue open, the CCP’s show of up the vaccination drive. In 1971, Julian Tudor some positive incentives for vaccination
both states sparring and urging home minister Amit deliver an alternative solution to global needs. strength is also a reminder to heed the advice Hart wrote in The Lancet about the “Inverse would be necessary to ensure a judicious mix.
Shah to intervene, represents a political and institu- With a military budget of $209 billion, and of practitioners and invest in capabilities to Care Law”, which describes a inverse relation- It will be imperative to remember, however,
massive investments in the grand Belt and understand China better. From language ship between the need for health care and its that even government incentives will be far
tional failure. Mizoram’s border dispute with Assam Road Initiative as well the Health Silk Route, training to understanding what the CCP’s availability. In other words, those who most easier to extend to the easily accessible and
goes back to 1972 when the former was first carved China’s national rejuvenation is showcased as “weapon of influenc” United Front Work need medical care are least likely to receive it. well-off sections than the poor and margina-
out as a Union Territory (it became a state in 1987). adding value to global governance. Department, can do to affect Indian interests, Conversely, those with the least need of health lised, and careful planning must ensure that
However, beyond persuasion, Chinese dis- we need to dig deep. care tend to use health services more (and the latter are not left out. The fight against
Assam also has border disputes with Meghalaya, course power is all about the power to prevail China’s discourse politics will target multi- more effectively). Covid-19 is a long-drawn-out battle, and so is
Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. With states in the across the diplomatic, economic, military, ple fault lines in India. To prevail, New Delhi A similar analogy can be drawn to the Cov- the endeavour to vaccinate a huge population.
region either ruled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cyber and technological domains. It has mani- must create awareness and shore up its defen- id-19 vaccination. It is well-known that the The closer we draw to the finishing line, the
fested in the People’s Liberation Army tactics ces to push back against the renewed Chinese private market allocates vaccines inequitably, more challenging it will become. Tackling this
governments or, as in the case of Mizoram, by of information warfare across the spectrum, ambition to dominate mind games and with the rich getting vaccines more easily will entail ingenuity and responsiveness on
constituents of the North East Democratic Alliance, a including on the China-United States (US) project its power. than the poor. However, the private market the part of policymakers.
BJP-led platform, there were expectations that the split, Taiwan, aggression in the South China also inequitably allocates incentives for vacci-
Sea, technology wars and deflection on the Shruti Pandalai is a fellow at the Manohar Parrikar nation. This is visible today: Gyms, pizza out- Soham D Bhaduri is a physician, health policy
issues would get resolved. Monday is a wake-up call Covid-19 crisis. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses lets, and big corporate employers are increas- expert, and chief editor, The Indian Practitioner
for the Centre and the states in the region. For India, this has been especially visible The views expressed are personal ingly offering incentives to get vaccinated. The views expressed are personal
R.N.I. No. CHAENG/2011/45688
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CMYK
SILIGURI, WEDNESDAY 28 JULY 2021 07

RAJA MURTHY
Lethal financial cost 100 YEARS AGO
B
uild an Olympic city to host
of Olympic glory
all future games - ideally in
Athens, Greece. That offers
OCCASIONAL NOTE
the only viable, long-term, There is grim and fatal irony about the
non-corrupt solution to end financial announcement that Trotsky has been
disasters crippling the most celebrat- appointed - presumably by himself, with,
ed sporting event on the planet. The or without the consent of Lenin - as Food
Tokyo Olympics nervously underway Dictator in face of the economic cataclysm
under coronavirus clouds should be in which he and his fellow-Anarchists have
among the last of a four-year finan- involved Russia. From one point of view
cially devastating spectacle. the announcement does him credit. It is a
Emerging economic and sport tacit admission of the appalling responsi-
powers such as India had bitter-sweet bility which he and his confederates have
moments the past two weeks. Per- incurred, and indicates that he at least
haps like many others, I couldn’t help does not shrink from the superhuman
my eyes having tears of joy when I effort required to meet it. This is, indeed,
read of Mirabai Chanu winning India in keeping with what is known of the char-
a medal on the opening day of the acter of this fanatic, who, whatever other
Olympics. But better to soberly qualities he may lack, must at least be
understand the cost at which such credited with a certain dreadful courage. It
glory is gained – and more crucially, would doubtless be possible for him to
to run very far away from even slink out of Russia laden with stolen trea-
remote ideas of India hosting an sure if he belonged to that most sordid
Olympics. class of adventurer of which Bolo was per-
On average, a winter or summer haps the most perfect modern representa-
Olympics games from conservative tive. But Trotsky has always displayed the
estimates cost the host nation a stag- courage of his convictions, and by throw-
gering average between US$30 billion ing himself headlong into the famine-
to $50 billion (Rs 3.7 lakh crore), with stricken gulf which is destined to swallow
no adequate returns even from cor- up so many millions of his dupes and
porate sponsors to justify such costs. slaves, he has offered strong presumptive
Worse, previous hosts such as evidence of his readiness to die for them.
Greece and Brazil have hyper-expen- For it is hardly conceivable that the efforts
sive stadiums and Olympian infra- of one man during the next few months
structure rotting from disuse and lack can undo the effects of the crimes and
of maintenance funds. Far more blunders of the Bolshevik gang during the
worse after such wasted infrastruc- past four and a half years.
ture was built after forcibly evacuat-
ing thousands of low-income resi- NEWS ITEMS
dents and giving them inadequate
compensation.
The on-going Olympics suffers TROUBLE IN THE
similar pattern. “The Tokyo Games
have been a cascade of calamities,” mittee said when releasing a revised begin in February 2022 six months too suffered similar ruin of stadiums ing no to the Olympics.”
iStock
CONGRESS CAMP
Professor Jules Boykoff wrote in the budget on 22 December 2020 after after Tokyo, in a cycle of legalized left to rot, or occupied haphazardly The Oxford University study in Madras, July 27
Los Angeles Times last week. “The pandemic postponement. Costs financial looting of public money by Premier League teams such as 2016 found that the cost of hosting Messrs. S. Kasturiranga Iyengar, A. Ran-
saga has exposed an IOC (Interna- mysteriously skyrocketed after the overseen by IOC chieftains. Most West Ham United Football Club. The the summer Olympic Games per ath- gaswami Iyengar, S. Satyamurthi and sev-
tional Olympic Committee) that dis- Switzerland-based IOC officials international sports federations same might happen to Tokyo’s grand lete was on average $599,000 (Rs 4.4 eral other congressmen have appealed to
respects the will of locals, brushes off granted rights. depend on IOC funding and sporting new Olympic facilities. crore). Might make more common the All-India Congress Committee, ques-
inconvenient concerns of experts, The Japanese organisers last federations - as we see in India - suf- “During the bid phase of the sense if this amount was directly tioning the validity of the elections to the
and prioritizes its profits over all December said the Olympics would fer the perpetual pandemic of politi- Olympics, the International Olympic given to the 11,000 or so of the new Provincial Congress Committee in
else.” Los Angeles is due to host the cost $15.4 billion, up from $12.6 bil- cal meddling, corruption, nepotism, Committee is super friendly,” Prof world’s best athletes competing in Madras and the proceedings of the Trichi-
2028 Summer Olympics, after Paris lion in the previous budget. As India lack of transparency and account- Boykoff told interviewer Garcia- each Olympics, for life-long financial nopoly meeting of the New Provincial
in 2024. saw from the mega-corruption in ability. Navarro. “But once that host city con- security. Congress Committee, including the elec-
A former professional American hosting the 2010 New Delhi Com- Foolishly deluded or corrupt tract is signed, it has just almost zero Or build a dedicated Olympics tion of members to the All-India Congress
national football player, Prof Boykoff monwealth Games (pilferage esti- government leaders continue to accountability. There's no oversight. town in Athens, the original home of Committee. Their main contentions are
has written four books on Olympics mated at Rs 70,000 crore), these bud- ignore the dire warning the 2004 When they bust their budget, noth- the ancient games. Different coun- that the general body of the existing
issues hurting host nations. He refers gets keep going up. Organizers said Olympic Games in Athens delivered, ing happens to them. They hop on tries can then pay a much lesser cost Provincial Congress Committee not hav-
to Olympian financial mismanage- the Olympics would cost Japan $7.5 after Greece went bankrupt. Instead, their planes and they head off to the to host the Olympics here every four ing met and resolved to reconstitute itself
ment or corruption as “Etch a Sketch billion when IOC awarded Tokyo the egomaniacal politicians continue next venue.” years. Instead of going to ruin, the as provided in the constitution, the elec-
economics”. When bidding for the 2020 games in 2013. lobbying to host an Olympic Games Bribery and corruption haunt expensive facilities can be offered to tions etc., held under the orders of the
games, organisers quote a low num- Japan had subsequent govern- for them to strut on the global stage. the bidding and hosting of major other major international competi- Executive Committee are invalid; that the
ber to get locals aboard the Olympics mental audits revealing that actual And of course, for inevitable kick- events such as the soccer World Cup. tions and to tourists in much-fre- elections were incomplete, irregular, illegal
bandwagon. “But then when the costs would be a minimum of $25 bil- backs in construction contracts that The Olympics seems to attain the quented Greece. But this less-corrup- and haphazard; that there was very short
games finally arrive,” he says, “they lion of taxpayer money – bigger than we saw in the 2010 Commonwealth pinnacle of such dirty doings. “I've tion option is unlikely to find accep- notice, and in several cases no notice, of
shake up that Etch a Sketch and write the annual GDP of more than 100 Games which India should never never seen a grassroots bid where tance among IOC and FIFA officials, the Trichinopoly meeting.
a brand-new number that's countries participating in the Tokyo have hosted – an independent, rising local working people come together some of whom have Swiss bank
inevitably much bigger.”
The official estimated cost of the
games. The University of Oxford in a
study said Tokyo is hosting the most
India shamefully refusing to quit the
Commonwealth headed by the
to try to bring the Olympics to their
city,” said Prof Boykoff, “The truth is
accounts. RAILWAY SMASH IN
Tokyo Olympics increased by 22 per
cent, the Japanese organizing com-
expensive Summer Olympics ever.
The Beijing Winter Olympics will
British queen in London.
The London Olympics in 2012
fewer cities are game to host the
Olympic Games, and they're just say-
The writer is a senior, Mumbai-based
journalist.
BURMA
Rangoon, July 27
The Agent of the Burma Railways,
Nepals Left-baiters vindicated

telegraphing from Nyaunglebin, sates that
rather than make good the promises politics, something fortunately so far as can be ascertained at present the
made before the polls. A host of bills unforeseen in Nepal with the excep- casualties in the railway smash are 101, of
were advanced restricting civic liber- tion of fringe political parties. which 53 were killed and 48 seriously
JIWAN KSHETRY (NCP), further consolidating the and recurrently promised zero toler- ties, including press freedom. Indefi- When nothing worked, Oli des- injured. There are many others with lesser
gains. Whether the new party truly ance to corruption in his govern- nite curfews were declared in public perately went to the extreme of dis- injuries such as shock. The full casualty
D
etractors of communists in represented the ideology of Marxism ment. With a feeble and directionless spaces in Kathmandu, where all mantling the country's constitutional list has not yet been completed. Most of
Nepal often say that the lat- and communism has always been opposition punching even below its kinds of protests used to be held. An order by ruling by decree after dis- the injured are suffering from burns. News
ter perpetuate poverty so debatable. Many Marxist theoreti- miserable weight, Oli's government army of cyber trolls was employed to solving Parliament. After the reached here late this evening that the rail-
that their politics based on cians often disown "communist" par- had got a free hand to legislate and smear and intimidate critics. Supreme Court deemed the dissolu- way hospital train with the injured was
class struggle remains relevant. The ties like the NCP that engage in elec- execute its policies. The mood was The constitutional bodies meant tion unconstitutional and restored due at 10 o’clock. Large crowds gathered
richer the society, the less the appeal toral politics in capitalist societies as euphoric in the early days of his gov- for accountability were cramped with the House of Representatives, his about the station but the train did not
of leftists and communists, goes their pseudo-communists. In the broader ernment as he promised everything loyalists of the prime minister by party deliberately sabotaged its busi- arrive until midnight. Fifteen of the worst
argument. They cite the example of political discourse, though, those from a trans-Himalayan train from changing the rules of their appoint- ness. After failing to win the confi- cases were sent to Rangoon General Hos-
the seemingly irreversible decline of parties — most of them with Stalinist China to mega airports and eight- ment through hastily released ordi- dence motion in the same Parlia- pital, the remainder having sent to Nyaun-
the left in India over the past decades party structures — are considered lane highways. nances. The institution of the ment, he conspired with the Presi- glebin Hospital.
to bolster their case. Predictably, communist parties, as is being done Soon, however, the government nation's presidency, the head of state, dent to dissolve it once again rather
communist parties vehemently
oppose this narrative. They accuse
in Nepal.
Either way, after the electoral vic-
sensed that infrastructure develop-
ment was easier promised than exe-
was transformed into a lever to be
manipulated by the prime minister
than allow the opposition to form a
new government.
WILD WEATHER &
the capitalists themselves — neo-lib-
erals in particular — of perpetuating
tory and the formation of the KP Oli-
led government, the NCP had the
cuted. The same held true for reduc-
ing corruption, improving gover-
at will.
In the meantime, the marriage
After a 168-page rebuke from the
Supreme Court, both Oli and Presi-
FLOODS AT
poverty by promoting inequitable
economic growth. Beyond that,
rare opportunity to prove that a leftist
party can deliver good governance
nance and fighting poverty. Doling
out resources and privileges to a
of convenience between Oli and
Prachanda was quietly unravelling,
dent Bidya Devi Bhandari have now
been shown their respective posi-
NOAKHALI
though, various communist outfits and material prosperity to the peo- handful of cronies was far more ben- seemingly because Oli failed to hon- tions, and Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Noakhali, July 27
have divergent views on what ails ple even within the framework of eficial for the party and its leaders our the commitment to share power Nepali Congress has been sworn in Cyclonic weather prevailed here yesterday.
Nepali society. They rarely consider multiparty democracy. Five years of than promoting entrepreneurship on with Prachanda temporally. Oli's as the new prime minister. Now that From midday the storm continued
any outfit other than their own as the sound governance and economic a broader level. As appointing loyal- authoritarian ways in the party were power has slipped from his hands throughout the whole night accompanied
true "communist". And they disagree progress would have easily deepened ists in public bodies similarly yielded alienating even his comrades from despite all attempts to hold on to it, by heavy rain. The river assumed a wild
on questions as basic as whether the hold of the communists in Nepali immediate gains for the party, meri- the erstwhile CPN-UML led by Oli will have plenty of time to lick his and swollen appearance and a few acci-
Nepali society has graduated from politics further and for much longer. tocracy was simply ditched. Ensuring Madav Kumar Nepal, further weak- self-inflicted wounds. If the past is dents have been reported. A party of ten
the "semi-feudal and semi- The critics would have been proven impunity for colleagues with proven ening his position in the party. The any guide, though, he will now go full Mahomedans proceeding to Charlengta
colonised" stage to the capitalist one. wrong. corruption charges turned out to be internecine conflict in the NCP time into conspiring to get back in a country boat were caught in the
After the latest round of polls, Over the three and a half years as important as punishing corrupt became so intense that Oli went to power for himself. But what he can- storm. The boat capsized with all on
communists in Nepal got a rare of their rule, however, things evolved politicians from the opposition par- the extreme of dissolving Parliament not regain now is the faith a majority board. Three were afterwards picked up.
opportunity to silence their critics differently. KP Sharma Oli, purport- ties. rather than risking potential ouster of Nepali citizens had placed on the A boat without the helmsmen was found
forever. The two biggest leftist parties edly the most powerful prime minis- The results of such blatant mis- from the post of parliamentary party communists to liberate them from floating down the river, and in it was
— the CPN-UML led by KP Oli and ter in democratic Nepal, has just left governance were predictably grim. leader and prime minister. As the economic depravity that has been found a boy in an unconscious state. Some
the CPN Maoist Centre led by office in disgrace after the Supreme With the purportedly strong and sta- government's popularity kept nose- sharply deepened by the Covid-19 students removed him to the hospital,
Prachanda — fought the election Court invalidated his dissolution of ble government failing to deliver year diving, nationalist drums were beat- pandemic. For this round, at least, where he soon recovered. At midnight,
together and achieved an unprece- Parliament for the second time. The after year, dissatisfaction kept en, upsetting a delicate diplomatic the critics of Nepal's communists however, the stranded men were brought
dented, sweeping victory at all levels. time is perfect for holding a post- mounting. Then the government balance with the giant neighbours in stand vindicated. safely ashore by a rescue party who
The two parties eventually merged to mortem of the Oli government. used its overwhelming strength in the south and the north. Oli went as crossed over when the river reached a
form the Nepal Communist Party Oli called himself incorruptible Parliament to stamp out dissent far as blatantly drawing religion into The Kathmandu Post/ANN. lower level.
CROSSWORD NO 28986 GOVERNMENT

FISHERY IN
ACROSS
1 All in, cold buffet (4,4)
24 Judge in drug haze reportedly (6)
25 A battalion rebel over scene of
by South African representative,
perhaps (8) BRAHMAPUTRA
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION 5 French cultural organisation
bloodshed (8) 8 Hide under excessive clothing (8)
withdraw Monet's one artwork (6)
26 Confront accountant about 11 Cigarette butt from corpse keeps At the High Court before Justices Teunon
expenditure (6) me over a barrel, identifying a and Suharwardy, Mr. Syed M. Saadulla
9 Olympian takes a little
27 Well I never! Disheartened after variety of contacts (3-9)
paracetamol after surprise parties
wife leaves, returning to cause 15 Write about love a newspaper appeared in support of a rule issued on
(5-3) behalf of Bhotsing Bhorali and twenty-five
some kind of alarm (8) man's first expressed in legal
10 Restyle Elvis occasionally, coming
back lithe ... (6) DOWN
document (8) others calling on the District Magistrate of
16 Quote bareheaded, ancient, Celtic Gauhati to show cause why the conviction
12 ... and slim in cute pants, in charge
1 Replacin' the soundtrack for priest, looking towards the stars
for film soundtrack, maybe (10,5)
Grease (6) it'll get you going (8) of and the sentences passed on the peti-
13 Weaklings save seconds tioners should not be set aside. The peti-
2 Guarantee cry of pain after case 17 Call one out following poor BAME
swapping cold for hot (7)
14 Average American soldier (4)
of Viagra's used up (6) representation prepare defence tioners were charged before a Deputy
3 Spreads content leaving bloggers' (8) magistrate of Gauhati with having fished
18 Universal veto for operating
cycling thread on board (8) 20 Earl and headless monster going
system (4)
4 Doctor depicts pain involving bit of out (6) in the Government Fishery Mahal in the
19 Display some ingredients of Brahmaputra river, without the permis-
intestine with this complaint (12) 21 Tolkien's goblins recalled essence
garibaldi or a macaroon (7)
23 Evita's touring cast feel caring,
6 Vicar meets a politician and pimp of yellow parchment, say (6) sion of the sub-lessee. The defence was
(6) 22 Desperate U-turn over Europe, that the accused had a prescriptive right of
delivering flyer (9,6)
7 French race track's finale elevated ultimately deceptive (6)
fishing in the Mahal on payment of the
customery rate of rent. The trying magis-
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
trate, however, convicted the petitioners
and fined each of the accused persons.
CMYK
06 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 28 JULY 2021
Misreading Afghan situation

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
The Taliban momentum needs to be broken by shoring up Kabul government
Chinese are beginning to discover,
they cannot depend upon Pakistan
to protect its personnel working in
Assam-Mizoram feud the country. Will they be able to do

so in Afghanistan? But it’s too late
now for them to reverse course. All
Centre must intervene for resolution of border dispute they can do is to hope for the best.
V
What may be the best or the
IOLENCE triggered by a festering border dispute between Assam SHYAM SARAN
least bad option for India at this
and Mizoram claimed the lives of five policemen and a civilian on FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY AND SENIOR difficult juncture? The best
Monday. The Assam-Mizoram border has witnessed several skir- FELLOW, CENTRE FOR POLICY RESEARCH
course lies in shoring up the Kab-
mishes since October last year, with both states accusing each other of ul government and helping it to
T
encroachment on their territories. It’s all the more regrettable that the HERE seems to be an unholy prevent a complete takeover by
latest clash took place just two days after Union Home Minister Amit rush in several countries, the Taliban. If the ongoing civil
Shah met the chief ministers of the eight northeastern states in Shil- including India, to already war can grind to a stalemate, that
long to discuss inter-state border disputes and other issues. concede Afghanistan to the might be the best outcome in the
It seems that both Assam and Mizoram mishandled the situation, with marauding Taliban forces. The impli- short run. The Taliban momen-
the Twitter face-off between the two chief ministers only escalating hos- cations of what a Taliban takeover may tum needs to be broken.
tilities. Going by the turn of events, it’s unlikely that the two states would mean for the hapless people of the NO RESPITE: Violence is unlikely to ebb in Afghanistan with a free run for the Taliban. AP The recent Shanghai Coopera-
be able to resolve the long-pending issue on their own. Rather than con- blighted country, in particular for its tion Organisation (SCO) delibera-
women and children, as an obscuran- tions on the Afghan situation may
fining itself to a facilitator’s role, the Centre would have to actively inter-
tist and intolerant version of Islam is
While India should tactically engage with the Taliban, it be a pointer to forging a regional
vene to ensure peace along the border in question. At the heart of the dis-
pute are two British-era notifications, issued in 1875 and 1933, that
given free rein once again, seem to be should not stop assisting Ghani govt despite its infirmities. consensus on preventing a Taliban
no more than collateral damage. Sud- takeover and supporting a power
demarcated the inter-state boundary in different ways. Monday’s inci- denly, this is now for the Afghan peo- sharing dispensation. There may
dent should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to go back to the ple to decide as if the choice lies in American support, the Taliban, the Afghanistan. In urging New Delhi be room for enhanced political and
drawing board and come up with a mutually acceptable solution. their hands. There are already reports creation of Pakistan, have sur- not to perceive the Taliban as a material support for the Kabul
The Northeast has for decades been a hotbed of insurgency. Conflicts coming in that in areas that have fall- vived and flourished because of Pakistani instrument, to engage government and India could cer-
between the states over encroachments and other unlawful activities are a en under Taliban control, there has Pakistani support. Americans lost with it so that it may resist Pak- tainly lead the way in this regard.
dangerous contribution to that volatile area and the law and order situation been swift and even ruthless imposi- the plot because they failed to bat- istani efforts to use it to harm Indi- If Turkey is to take on responsibil-
there. Unrest in Assam and its neighbouring states can have grave impli- tion of the strict dictates of the Sharia, tle the real enemy — the manipula- an interests, is a flight from reality ity for guarding Bagram airport,
cations for national security. The role of Central paramilitary forces in curb- or at least how the Taliban interpret it. tive handlers sitting in Islamabad. staring us in the face. The Lashkar- then here is an interlocutor that
ing violence along the inter-state borders cannot be overestimated. The To describe such people as merely One may rubbish Pakistani calcu- e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad India needs to engage with. The
deployment of these forces should be increased in accordance with the conservative but actually very smart lations on Afghanistan being its armed cadres are fighting along- Taliban have been swift to warn
growing threat perception. The NDA government prides itself on putting and sophisticated political operators indispensable “strategic depth”; or side the Taliban. Could they be Turkey on its taking on this role
is a cosmetic makeover that says to predict that Pakistan may itself doing so without Pakistani encour- from the Americans.
the Northeast on the path of progress and development and giving Union
more about the commentators than come a cropper once the Taliban agement if not direction? Do we It may be tactically wise to engage
Cabinet berths to leaders from the region. The Centre’s litmus test will be
about the Taliban themselves. It suits are entrenched in Afghanistan and really believe that a Taliban-con- with the Taliban and India has been
to help various states iron out their differences and work in close coopera- them to be painted in gentler hues begin to pursue their own “inter- trolled Afghanistan will not once doing so. It should not, however,
tion. The ‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’ envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra since they may go about their violent ests”. That may well be the case, again become a base for renewed give in to demands that India
Modi for achieving national unity in diversity would remain a distant dream impositions without meddling for- but in the meantime, Pakistan’s and intensified cross-border terror- should stop assisting the Ghani
as long as the states are locked in bitter, violent feuds. eigners to distract them. Nothing quiet satisfaction at having seen ism against India? Pakistan is pos- government, including with arms
detracts more from President off another superpower into igno- ing as a guarantor against similar supplies. Short of putting boots on
Biden’s passionate urging about free- minious defeat is patent. activities against China, Russia the ground, India should put its full
dom and democracy and respect for That Pakistan is gaining renewed and perhaps even Iran. If their con- weight behind the Ghani govern-
Change in Karnataka human rights, than this unseemly

abandonment of a people staring at
the loss of even the limited freedoms
strategic relevance because it now
controls the levers of influence
over the dangerous new force that
cerns can be assuaged at least ini-
tially, would there be any support if
India is targeted?
ment despite its many infirmities.
The bottom line is this: a mili-
tary stalemate in Afghanistan,
Yediyurappa makes way for new leader that they had begun to enjoy despite may soon be presiding over turbu- I believe that eventually, Pakistan even a protracted civil war, may be
a fragmented, but nevertheless dem- lent Afghanistan, is apparent from may not be able to control other a better outcome from India’s
T
HE replacement of BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister of Kar- ocratically elected government. the overtures being made to Islam- extremist forces such as al-Qaeda standpoint than a Taliban
nataka could well set the template for the BJP to tackle dissidence There also appears a vain hope abad by the cluster of neighbour- or ISIL, being able to find bases and takeover. One may not be able to
in the party. The demand for generational change was evident with that the Taliban are nationalistic ing countries. Even some Indian sanctuaries in Afghanistan. We contribute to the Taliban’s defeat.
the four-time CM facing resistance from the younger leaders in the state after all as if the current Kabul commentators are urging Pakistan know that they are already active in We may, however, be able to pre-
BJP and yet again failing to last his full term. Yediyurappa had steered the government is not. If the Ghani to please see a convergent interest some areas of the country. But that vent its victory and that would be
BJP’s course in the state and was instrumental in bringing it to power, government relied heavily on in a “peaceful and stable” may be of little consolation. As the a more prudent choice.
managing the affairs in trying times of the pandemic, but had to step aside
to boost the party’s prospects ahead of the Assembly elections in 2023.
The case of the missing heartbeat

The change in Karnataka comes after Pushkar Singh Dhami replaced
Tirath Singh Rawat in Uttarakhand and Sarbananda Sonowal made way
for Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had crossed over from the Congress, in
Assam. In Uttar Pradesh, a former bureaucrat, an aide of PM Modi, was
made the vice-president of the state BJP ahead of the state polls next year, Lal Singh was in the doctor’s domain. earlier. My wife was to come from that my heartbeat was not actually
after initial efforts to install him as the Deputy CM met with resistance. He smiled at my reply, but there Amritsar by train for which reserva- missing, it was just a feeble one, my
M
The BJP has experimented even earlier with fresh chief ministerial faces OST of my company’s ships were some signs of worries on his tion, in anticipation of permission, fitness to sail was confirmed.
in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Whether replacing Yediyurappa, used to have a long stay in face. But the doctor’s professional was made in advance. I had to ring My Kolkata office helped in getting
known to be his own man, yields dividends, will depend on how disparate Kolkata for loading cargo experience must have guided him up my wife to get the reservations my wife flown from Amritsar well in
sections within the party are managed, for the BJP lost the Delhi elections and carrying out the maintenance and to advise a thorough medical check- cancelled, as there was no certainty time to join my ship before departure.
even after replacing Sahib Singh Verma with Sushma Swaraj as the CM on other repairs before sailing overseas. up in a hospital. On his recommen- about my being medically fit. When my ship left Kolkata and was
poll eve. The change in Karnataka also comes soon after the reshuffle in the On one of the ships where I was the dation, I signed off the ship and was But as the situation unfolded, the transiting through Hooghly river, as
Union Cabinet which may give a hint about the way the BJP Central lead- chief engineer, a few days before the admitted to a hospital for tests and availability of a chief engineer as my the Ganga river is called in this region
ership is working, with sitting ministers being replaced with fresh faces. vessel’s departure from Kolkata, a kept under medical observation. reliever at such a short notice, posed before reaching Sand-heads where it
routine medical check-up of the offi- During my hospitalisation, my a problem. The medical officer who merges with the open sea, my wife
Generational change is evident even in other parties with younger leaders
cers and crew was carried out. second engineer was asked to hold was to give me fitness certificate, wondered how a chief engineer’s
like Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan and Navjot Singh Sidhu in Punjab asking the
During one such check-up, the the fort, till I was declared medical- however, gave the hope that as all missing heartbeat could delay even a
Congress leadership for more say in party affairs. medical officer appointed by the ly fit to sail on the ship which was my medical tests had given normal ship. The joke was carried and repeat-
While effecting changes within the party and by trying to put its company got worried when he found scheduled to depart for a voyage to reports so far, I was most likely to ed quite a few times during the next
regional satraps on a tight leash, the BJP should guard against over- that while recording my pulse rate, the US shortly. At the hospital, test rejoin my ship in about a week. few weeks in the long voyage. In fact,
reach and alienating its own cadre. Allowing its own governments in there was a missing heartbeat. He after test was conducted and My head-office at Mumbai was my wife started taking my pulse
states to function properly may also serve as a good augury for intra- inquired if I had this case of skipping reports were awaited. To further informed and our ship’s departure count every day, probably worrying,
party democracy as well as the federal spirit. a heartbeat before also. I couldn’t complicate the matters, permission was delayed and some more cargo not about my missing heartbeat, but
give him any explanation because I to carry my wife for voyage came was loaded for another port on the more about the ship being returned
never counted my heartbeats as it through for which I had applied same route. When it was clarified back to the last port of call.
❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Afghanistan’s story, backwards or sideways, is not Yediyurappa’s resignation Vulnerable Himachal should be strictly followed. Malerkotla girl
confined to the Americans or the English. — Terry Glavin BS Yediyurappa has a record of nev- Reference to ‘Fatal landslides’; GARV BHUPESH, PANCHKULA Apropos of ‘Malerkotla girl blazes
er completing his full term. Even if the tragic death of nine tourists in trail, plies auto’, it is an irony that
one assumes Yediyurappa would a landslip in Kinnaur district of Mamata’s bid for unity 17-year-old Ritu Verma had to
have been a poor choice for the 2023 Himachal Pradesh is another Mamata Banerjee’s bid for Opposi- abandon her studies and start ply-
on this day...100 years ago Karnataka polls, as he would have pointer to the fragility of the ecol- tion unity is not likely to succeed, ing an auto to support her family
faced the burden of anti-incumben- ogy in the Himalayan states. because of her vacillating nature and comprising her mother and two
cy, there are costs to be paid for his Hydropower, which Himachal is own ambitions to be the PM. Mama- sisters. Her father expired 14 years
departure. The BJP will have to con- working to tap as a significant ta’s TMC returned to power with a ago and her mother had to shut her
tend with the show of strength by source of “green” power, can render thumping victory, though she her- small shop during the lockdown.
the Lingayats in the ex CM’s it vulnerable to extreme climatic self lost her seat. But after her party Ritu, a student of Class XI, has also
lahore,thursday, july 28, 1921
favour. The Lingayats have been events such as cloudbursts, flash came back with a mammoth man- participated in state-level bad-
Yediyurappa’s great source of sup- floods and landslides. date, Mamata has been seen as irre- minton championship. In spite of
THE GOSPEL OF SILENCE. port, giving him pre-eminence ever SS PAUL, NADIA sponsible with her verbal attacks government schemes, her mother
NOW that the Press Act is about to go, the notifications applying the Seditious since the BJP’s stunning rise to the on the Governor and even the PM. was not extended the benefit of
Meetings Act to the central districts of the Punjab have been cancelled and the status of a single largest party in Himachal tragedy This outreach could be read as an pension. It is heartening that the
Act itself will in all probability follow suit, may we make one suggestion to our 2004. Karnataka’s complex caste Visuals of vehicles being washed admission of her weakness, or a Malerkotla administration has
countrymen which we have long been anxious to make, but which could not calculus led Yeddy to fashion him- away in a flash flood triggered by description of the emerging format promised a job for her sister and
possibly be made with any advantage so long as these measures were in self as a social coalition builder a cloudburst in Himachal of political competition, in which badminton coaching for Ritu.
operation or even on the Statute Book? We have long tested the virtue of rather than in the Hindutva mode. Pradesh are frightening. Massive an aggressive BJP is forcing a UPENDRA SHARMA, BY MAIL
silvern speech; let us now test, as far as possible, the virtue of golden silence. LJS PANESAR, BY MAIL landslides cannot merely be redrawing of battle-lines.
Just at the present time, this suggestion, indeed, rests on an incomparably termed as natural disasters. PS HANSPAUL, BY MAIL Surveillance state
higher authority than any we can claim for ourselves, that of Mahatma Gandhi. History repeats itself Much of the blame lies on human Apropos of ‘The end of a dream’,
In the latest issue of Young India, he has laid it down for all his followers and all History has repeated itself in Kar- activities and forest lands which Reviving economy surveillance when taken to absurd
who are within his tabernacle that “all meetings and all declamations at nataka with BS Yediyurappa resign- are never meant to be fiddled The Union Finance Minister’s heights can have the opposite
meetings when they are held must be stopped.” Nor is this the first time that ing again before completing his term. with. The concept of responsible assertive no to print currency notes effect. Instead of safeguarding the
Mahatma Gandhi has thrown out this suggestion. It was, we believe, with His quitting the office in 2011 had tourism by the host and the guest to tide over the economic crisis trig- country from potential threats, it
reference to the apology of the Ali brothers that he first enunciated the plunged the BJP into chaos and a dis- is a must. Every person living or gered by the Covid pandemic, can create problems even for those
proposition that we should be chary of random speeches and that when we did astrous split from which it hasn’t coming to the hills is a stakehold- speaks volumes of the sturdy fun- who lead their own lives because of
want to make a speech, we should first carefully prepare it and even write it out recovered. A decade later, Yediyurap- er in holding on to the pristine damentals of the country’s econo- the state’s insecurities. Using tech-
and then deliver it. Here as elsewhere, the present view of Mr. Gandhi pa’s clout has waned; younger rivals environment. Green tax is mean- my and resolve to put it back on nology to pin down terrorists and
represents only a more emphatic form, perhaps a further stage in the have constantly baited him, despite ingless if no effort is made to rails. The outgo of every rupee from keep watch on elements inimical to
evolution, of the earlier view. Of the deep wisdom underlying the suggestion the ex-CM bringing the party the educate the visitor. Marshals public purse on wasteful expendi- the country is fine, but the power
not much need be said. It lies almost on the surface. But before we say another spoils of power by inducing 17 defec- should be appointed who would ture should be checked. Every should not be misused for it can
word on the subject, let us dispose of two possible misapprehensions. Let no tions from the Congress and JD(S). guide and reprimand the citizens rupee saved is revenue generated. only be counter-productive.
one imagine that the suggestion is made, so that the chances of a collision SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI in laying down norms which LALIT BHARADWAJ, PANCHKULA BM SINGH, AMRITSAR
between the administration and the people may be minimised, though this
may be one of the incidental results of carrying it out. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 28 JULY 2021 OPED 07
The way forward for implementing NEP

challenges and opportunities that states and chaired by the Union Min-
India faces demand a reassess- A major challenge in ister of Education, with the Union
ment of the model. Education Secretary as its Member-
I propose three additional dimen-
the implementation of any Secretary. The success of NEP
sions between the policy formation policy is the absence of depends significantly on the work
and the decision-making process: cre- that must take place in the states;
ating awareness among all stakehold- relevant institutional there is a need for state governments
ers; building consensus among insti- to work closely.
C RAJ KUMAR
tutions; developing institutional
mechanisms. The higher 4. Empowered Standing Committee on
FOUNDING VC, OP JINDAL GLOBAL
UNIVERSITY, SONEPAT
mechanisms to support the policy. education community is Legal and Regulatory Reforms for
The one year of NEP-2020 has focused implementation of NEP (ESC): A gap
on the three proposed dimensions. concerned about between the vision of NEP and the
O
N July 29, 2020, as India was Stakeholders are seeing the efforts of existing legal and regulatory frame-
battling the first wave of the the Government of India towards
institutionalised inertia and work is a major challenge in its imple-
Covid pandemic, the National ensuring that the policy is implement- indifference that can mentation, which requires interven-
Education Policy (NEP) was ed in right earnest. Since the launch of tion. Chaired by the Union Education
launched to re-imagine education in NEP, the government has been prepar- adversely impact the Secretary, the ESC should be empow-
India. NEP-2020 had undergone a coming plans for its implementation. ered to propose legal and regulatory
prehensive consultative process with all However, vibrant democracies such
implementation of National reforms across the education sector to
key stakeholders to create a visionary as India, where ‘education’ is on the Education Policy-2020. help implement the NEP.
policy that speaks to the aspirations of Concurrent List of the Constitution, 5. Vice-Chancellors’ Working Group
young India. It has been a year since require deliberations, debates and dis- VITAL: Every effort in policy-making requires for implementation of NEP (VCWG):
NEP-2020 was launched and it is an cussions at all levels of the govern- a significant impetus to capacity-building. PTI The Vice-Chancellors/Directors repre-
opportune time to take stock of what has ment and regulatory architecture, and sent the most important constituency
happened and the way forward. among different types of higher edu- for the implementation of NEP in
The recommendations on higher cation institutions (HEIs). ship of the policy. The HEIs, with sup- adversely impact the implementa- 2. Education Minister’s Steering Com- higher education. The VCWG, under
education received in the past year The three successful outcomes of port from the UGC, AICTE and AIU, tion of NEP-2020. mittee on implementation of NEP the chairmanship of the UGC Chair-
have been engaging. Public policy the last year are: have rendered yeoman service for I propose five steps that will ensure (EMSC): Constituted in the Ministry of man, with members as select
of any kind requires a lot of effort in 1. Extensive efforts to create nation- building consensus around NEP. that NEP is implemented effectively Education, the EMSC will be working VCs/Directors of HEIs, can work
all stages of the policy-making al, regional and state-level awareness 3. One of the major challenges in in a time-bound manner: continuously with all stakeholders to towards implementing NEP.
cycle. Harold Lasswell, at the Uni- relating to NEP with the active partic- the implementation of any policy is 1. Prime Minister’s Advisory Council identify and resolve bottlenecks in Every effort in policy-making
versity of Chicago and Yale Univer- ipation of stakeholders. It has created the absence of relevant institutional on implementation of NEP (PMAC): the implementation. Chaired by the requires a significant impetus to
sity, developed a multi-dimensional a collective consciousness of NEP mechanisms that can work towards The PM has spoken on several occa- Union Education Minister, it will be capacity-building. These measures
model of effective policy-making among the members of the education implementation. While some efforts sions about NEP-2020 and its transfor- responsible for taking complete own- will ensure that we create a robust
that is used even today. The five community, which is now much more have been made to put in place a few mative potential for the future of ership of the implementation process institutional architecture that will
dimensions of his model are: agenda prepared to implement the policy. institutional mechanisms for sup- India. To take advantage of the demo- and will work closely with all other leave no stone unturned in the
setting; policy formation; decision- 2. Concerted efforts by the govern- porting the implementation of NEP, a graphic dividend, this must be led regulatory bodies. process of NEP implementation.
making; policy implementation; ment and regulatory bodies in gal- lot more needs to be done. The high- from the highest levels of the state 3. National Higher Education Ministers’ The inspiring vision of NEP can be
and policy evaluation. Policy-mak- vanising intellectual consciousness er education community is con- apparatus. The PMAC, chaired by the Council for implementation of NEP effectively implemented only if we are
ers around the world have learnt among the HEIs. Other than under- cerned about pathological callous- PM, will be the nodal agency to coordi- (NHEMC): The NHEMC is an impor- ready to establish institutional mech-
enormously from Lasswell’s model. standing the policy better, it has ness, institutionalised inertia and nate with all institutions to ensure the tant initiative that needs to be creat- anisms outlined above to build the
The current times and the unique empowered the HEIs to take owner- irresponsible indifference that can successful implementation of NEP. ed with all education ministers of the necessary capacity.
Vaccination the key to reining in virus variants

S
EVERAL strains or variants of originated in the US in November 2020, capacity of the newly emerged variants.
coronavirus have been reported is a variant that belongs to the B.1.526 It is also attributed to a decreased anti-
since the onset of Covid-19. lineage. The Kappa variant was report- body response gained from a previous
These variants have been given ed from India in October 2020 and infection over time, which seems to last
different names and they have been belongs to the B.1.617.1 lineage. Anoth- up to an average five-six months.
changing over time. Initially, on account er VOI reported from Peru in December The waning immunity in population
of its genetic similarity with the earlier 2020 belongs to the C.37 lineage. and laxity of adherence to preventive
coronavirus that caused severe acute These variants have undergone measures coincide with the emer-
UMESH CS YADAV
respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, genetic changes that may cause gence of a new infectious variant that
PROFESSOR, SPECIAL CENTRE FOR it was given the name 2019 novel coro- increased transmissibility, disease results in the next wave.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE, JNU
navirus (n-CoV-2019). Later, it was severity, immune or therapeutic Regardless of when and if the next
named as SARS coronavirus 2 or escape. They are considered an emerg- wave will come in India, vaccinating
SARS-CoV-2 by the International Com- ing risk due to the significant commu- the maximum population as soon as
New coronavirus variants mittee on Taxonomy of Viruses. nity spread or may lead to increased possible is the best approach. Vaccina-
emerge only when the virus Another coronavirus nomenclature
having a mix of letters and numbers,
relative prevalence with time.
Another group of variants is ‘Alerts
tion would prevent the severity of the
disease or loss of life during the next
spends more time and e.g., B.1.1.7 or B.1.617, depicts the virus NO STIGMATISATION: As per the WHO, letters of the Greek alphabet such as Alpha, for further monitoring’. They have an wave, if not the infection itself.
lineages, based upon their phylogeny. Beta, Gamma and Delta are to be used to name coronavirus variants. TRIBUNE PHOTO unclear impact in terms of epidemiolo- This has been observed in the UK
replicates in the body of its They are based on the scientific nomen- gy, but may pose a future risk. They where more than 80 per cent adult
host. To prevent such a clature system of lineage developed by
the open-source international agency,
the WHO has also classified them as
VOIs — variants of interest (low trans-
with an increased incidence rate, require monitoring and frequent population has been vaccinated with
severity of disease and mortality in assessment. No names are given to at least one dose and 60 per cent has
possibility, the most Pango. The global initiative on sharing missibility and disease severity); VOCs the respective countries of origin. such variants until they become VOIs been given both doses. As the cases
avian influenza data (GISAID) and — variants of concern (increased trans- At present, the Delta variant, which or VOCs, based on epidemiological evi- surge there due to the Delta variant,
effective measures are to Nextstrain use the clad system for nam- missibility and high disease severity); caused the second wave of Covid-19 in dences. Some former VOIs, such as the severity and hospitalisation is not
vaccinate the maximum ing and tracking the variants. The virol- variants of high consequence (not easi- India during April-May 2021, has Epsilon (lineage B.1.427/B.1.429), Zeta as much as it was in the previous
ogists use these names in their research. ly diagnosable, ineffective vaccines and spread to more than 100 countries and (lineage P.2) and Theta (lineage P.3), are waves. As per the latest data from the
population quickly and The variants were also named by the breakthrough cases, very high number is causing a serious health threat. In now kept in this group as they no UK, out of the 3,692 hospitalisations
media and public after the countries of severe cases and hospitalisation). some cases, breakthrough infections longer pose a major risk to humanity. with the Delta variant, 58.3 per cent
observe strict adherence to where they originated, like the UK The Alpha variant is the B.1.1.7 line- have also been reported where the Genetic sequencing studies of the (2152) were unvaccinated while the
the preventive measures in variant, Brazilian variant and African age virus that originated in the UK, Beta Delta variant infected even those who virus from the field in real time are fully vaccinated were only 22.8 per
variant. These names sounded like is the B.1.351 lineage virus that originat- had received two shots of vaccine. important to understand how the cent (843) and the severity of the ill-
the unlocking period. Our stigmatising the respective countries. ed in South Africa, Gamma is the P.1 lin- In a recent study, Delta was found to virus is mutating and evolving into a ness was less in the vaccinated group.
The variant B.1.617.2, first reported eage virus that originated in Brazil and be over 1,000 times more infectious than new variant and whether it could New coronavirus variants emerge
laxity will give leverage to from India in October 2020, was the Delta variant belongs to the B.1.617 the original variant. It is spreading glob- become a VOI or a VOC in future. only when the virus spends more
the virus to produce more labelled the ‘Indian variant’. lineage, first reported from India. ally like wildfire and has gained promi- We know now that the new vari- time and replicates in the body of its
The World Health Organisation As per the WHO, these variants are nence in countries such as Indonesia, ants — VOCs — were associated host. To prevent such a possibility,
variants using our own (WHO) has suggested a nomenclature classified as VOCs as they either show Bangladesh, the UK, the USA and with the pandemic waves. India the most effective measures are to
that should be easy to pronounce and an increased transmissibility or detri- South Africa. Based upon its very high faced a deadly second wave this year vaccinate the maximum population
bodies and we cannot was ‘non-stigmatising’. On May 31, it mental change in the Covid-19 epi- infectivity, it is anticipated to grow into due to the Delta variant. Experts quickly and observe strict adherence
afford to lower our guard recommended that letters of the demiology; or increased virulence or a dominant global variant soon. have pointed out the possibility of a to the preventive measures in the
Greek alphabet such as Alpha, Beta, change in clinical disease presentation; A few other variants have been kept third wave later this year. unlocking period. Our laxity will give
and invite another wave. Gamma and Delta be used to name or linked with decreased effectiveness in the category of VOIs. For example, On an average, in many countries, the leverage to the virus to produce more
the coronavirus variants. of public health measures or available Eta is a variant of the B.1.525 lineage gap between the two waves has been variants using our own bodies and we
Further, based on the transmission diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics. that has been reported in many coun- nearly six months, owing to increased cannot afford to lower our guard and
rate and clinical severity of the variants, All these variants were associated tries since December 2020. Iota, that transmissibility and immune avoidance invite another wave.
quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS JULY 28, 2021, WEDNESDAY SUNSET: WEDNESDAY 19:19 HRS
1 Formal and important (4-5)
8 Sycophant (5) 8 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2078
SUNRISE: THURSDAY 05:40 HRS
9 In imprecise terms (7) ■ Shaka Samvat 1943

10 A fine woollen material (6)
11 Importance (6) 1 6 4 8 ■ Shravan Shaka
■ Shravan Parvishte
6
13
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy
12 Greatly agitated (2,1,5)

Chandigarh 28 27
3
■ Hijari 1442
15 Recklessly
determined (4-4) 7 2 9 ■ Krishna Paksha Tithi 5, up to 2.49 am New Delhi 28 25
18 Intemperance (6) ■ Atiganda Yoga up to 8.18 pm Amritsar 29 27
20 Obtain by scheming (6)
21 Proceed towards (4,3) 8 7 5 2 ■ Puvabhadrpad Nakshatra up to 10.45 am
■ Moon in Pisces sign

Bathinda
Jalandhar
32
29
26
26
22 Not securely attached (5)
Ludhiana 28 26
9 4 3 1 7
23 Improbable tale (4,5) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
Bhiwani 31 26
DOWN 1 7 9 2 3 5 4 8 6 Hisar 31 26
2 Habitual practice (5)
3 Loll (6) 7 9 8 1 3 8 2 6 7 4 1 9 5 Sirsa 34 26
4 Comparative (8) Dharamsala 26 19
5 4 6 9 8 1 2 7 3
5 Strain (6)
6 Fundamental (7) 8 6 9 5 2 9 4 1 6 8 3 5 7
Manali
Shimla
22
22
15
15
7 Not at all (2,2,5)
11 Heartily and 8 3 5 7 9 2 6 1 4 Srinagar 28 22
energetically (4,1,4)
13 In spite of everything (5,3)
3 2 7 9 7 6 1 5 4 3 8 2 9
Jammu 29 25
Kargil 22 16 11
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION 14 42nd US President (7) 6 2 3 8 5 9 7 4 1
Across: 1 Succeed, 4 Faith, 7 Idle, 8 Congress, 10 Generosity, 12 Harass, 13 Shelve, 15
True to type, 18 Walkover, 19 Yoke, 20 Texas, 21 Defunct.
16 Dramatic form of
dancing (6)
7 4 5 8 3 1 7 9 6 2
Leh
Dehradun
22
28
11
23
Down: 1 Swing, 2 Culinary, 3 Drowsy, 4 Fight shy of, 5 Item, 6 Hostile, 9 Grass roots, 11 17 Tolerate (6) Mussoorie 20 16
9 1 7 4 2 6 5 3 8
Play down, 12 Halfwit, 14 Depend, 16 Erect, 17 Flax. 19 Range over searchingly (5) EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021

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resistance to China in the Indo-Pacific?

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The ﬁndings show that even be rising eﬀort by privateunaided sence of regulations by the State in

curred as a result of heavy rains bet ing more room for the water to ﬂow. migrants. In Kaala, he is the goodhearted or anarchic violence against the state or the

Kailash Satyarthi survivors. This is achievable if the Bill Apollo15 and Moon landing

The reform architects Rao shielded him from motivated low interest rate regime at a global cated premises — which would re Spying scandal

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Nepals Left-baiters vindicated