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THE HINDU

6 Thursday, September 29, 2022

Editorial Delhi

Globe-changing reverberations of the Ukraine war


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he justification for Russia’s invasion of most industrial parts of Ukraine, with over 10 adversaries. Under pressure from both domestic
Ukraine in February will long be million persons crossing to neighbouring anti­war activists and ultra­nationalists, Mr. Putin
Separately together debated. Every big power has fears of
being surrounded. On its historically
countries and over seven million internally
displaced.
will suffer reputational damage internationally
and domestically. Therefore, even a Russian
vulnerable western front, Russia had one face­saving outcome could prove pyrrhic.
The Opposition is too divided on issues supportive neighbour, six North Atlantic Treaty Actions and counter­actions Today’s world is “shaped by raw power
to form a national alternative to the BJP  Organization (NATO) adversaries, and two who Krishnan The current Ukraine counter­offensive that claims politics, where everything is weaponised”, as the
are ambiguously inclined, while Ukraine’s Srinivasan to have retaken 6,500 square kilometres and EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell put it, when
relations with the European Union (EU) and driven Russian forces back to the Kharkiv border, major powers are divided, the international

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ith  the  2024  Lok  Sabha  election  19 is a former Foreign
months away, the chorus on Opposi­ NATO were always a matter of contention. After Secretary led to the announcement by Mr. Putin of holding community polarised and protectionism
tion  unity  is  getting  louder  once the Putin­Biden Geneva encounter in mid­2021, a referendum in the occupied provinces of rampant. Rivalries during the new Cold War
more. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the the high intensity of interactions between NATO Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson (on would be sharper than its predecessor,
last one month has already been to Delhi twice, members and Russia raised hopes of a detente, joining Russia), mobilising 3,00,000 Russian particularly through the menace of nuclear arms
crooning the anthem to bring everyone together. but Russian President Vladimir Putin chose reservists, and threatening to use nuclear because the Treaty on the Non­Proliferation of
He is not the only one singing this song. Telanga­ invasion over negotiation, ignoring the degraded weapons. Ukraine and NATO regard these actions Nuclear Weapons will come under huge stress to
na Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has tra­ and inexperienced state of his armed forces, as evidence of Russian weakness, noting that an stay relevant. Elements of western coercion on a
velled to Delhi, Patna and Bengaluru to explore Ukraine’s military being the biggest in Europe army in retreat loses morale rapidly, and Russian massive scale, covering energy, sanctions,
an  anti­Bharatiya  Janata  Party  (BJP)  front.  The with 2,00,000 men, 6,00,000 reserves, 1,000 public opinion is highly prone to mood swings. finance, banking, cyberspace, digital technologies
Left parties routinely call for uniting all “secular tanks and 130 aircraft, Ukraine’s willingness to Mobilisation is something the Kremlin wished and social media, signal the weapons of the
democratic  forces”  without  really  spelling  out resist, and NATO’s determination to punish to avoid, correctly fearing there was little Russian future.
who will come within this bracket. But despite Russia. appetite to fight, especially against fellow Slavs.
these parleys, the possibility of a 1977­type Oppo­ Experts believe the additional manpower will not Where China and India stand
sition  alliance  is  unlikely  to  materialise.  At  an The West’s hypocritical sanctions offset the intrinsic weaknesses of the Russian The Russian invasion leaves China in a
event organised by the Indian National Lok Dal in Ukraine has been massively assisted by NATO forces. Mr. Putin’s tactic through referenda to complicated predicament; Beijing could enlist
Haryana recently, several parties came together, weaponry, training, communications, satellite define parts of Ukraine as Russian — like Crimea — Russia as a junior partner or buttress it even
but  the  Congress  was  pointedly  excluded, and human intelligence, reconnaissance, will remain unrecognised, though Russia controls though China thereby risks confronting its major
prompting  Mr.  Kumar  to  publicly  state  that  no information processing systems and total control most of Luhansk and Kherson, about 80% of trade partners, the United States and the EU. As
Opposition alliance can be meaningful without it. over the global media. While the World Bank is Zaporizhzhia and 60% of Donetsk. Nearly the only permanent member in the UN Security
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav is nev­ slow to help devastated war­torn nations such as 8,00,000 new Russian passports have been Council not directly involved in the war, China
er found wanting in taking on the BJP, but is now Yemen and Afghanistan, it rushed $4.5 billion to issued in Ukraine over the past two years. enjoys both leverage and self­interest in shaping
sceptical about tying up with the Bahujan Samaj Ukraine, while the International Monetary Fund In 2020, Russia declared it would use nuclear the outcome of the conflict, considering the
Party and the Congress and is very hostile to the came up with $1.4 billion. The West fails to weapons in four instances: if alarmed by an politico­strategic ramifications on its own future.
understand how hypocritical its sanctions appear.
The  vision  of incoming missile; subjected to attack by weapons But it has no history or experience of
idea of Mr. Kumar trying to expand his footprint
For example, the United States exerted much a multi­polar of mass destruction; suffered damage to peacemaking or mediation.
into  Uttar  Pradesh.  The  Congress  is  critical  for
any Opposition unity and its former President Ra­ effort persuading India and others to boycott world  could infrastructure that housed its nuclear arsenal, or The strength of nationalism, based on
hul Gandhi is walking from Kanyakumari to Kash­ Iranian and Venezuelan oil, only to try to get soon  fade  away when conventional war threatened the existence ethnicity, culture, religion, history and language,
mir with the slogan of ‘unite India’. But the party those shipments back on the market after its with  rivalries  in of Russia. Mr. Putin now interprets the current will grow. The Ukraine war will lead to major
is also caught up in a storm of internal politics at opposition shifted to Russia. a new  Cold war as an existential struggle in which Russia economic shifts. States suffering from western
the moment. For its confused objectives, poor strategy and War  becoming would make use “of all weapon systems available sanctions or affected collaterally will seek
The Aam Aadmi Party’s National Convenor Ar­ weak logistics, Russia has paid a high price, to us”. Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads, of alternative financial and monetary platforms
militarily, economically and diplomatically. More
sharper  and  the which 1,588 are deployed operationally. There has beyond the control of Washington and Brussels in
vind Kejriwal is fancying his prospects of emerg­
human losses have already been sustained than gulf  in  mutual been vigorous western pushback to Mr. Putin’s order to bypass current transnational financial
ing as the alternative to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and does not want to dilute his stakes in a during its 10­year intervention in Afghanistan. understanding threat, pointing out that no such thing as a limited arteries and challenge the dollar as a reserve
larger  formation.  The  Trinamool  Congress The war has also caused huge devastation in the widening nuclear war could exist. currency. Fragmentation of the monetary and
(TMC),  which  is  the  second  largest  Opposition Washington has declared that it will accept no financial order should be anticipated, including
party in Parliament, has been eerily silent on ‘op­ compromise, and is ready to continue the fight increased protectionism and a retreat from
position unity’. West Bengal Chief Minister and until the last Ukrainian if necessary. This globalisation which will severely depress the
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is no longer exhibit­ disincentivises Mr. Putin, for whom any peace growth of world trade. Clashing self­perceptions
ing the enthusiasm she showed ahead of the 2019 deal is acceptable only if it includes the lifting of by both the West and Russia that are messianic
Lok  Sabha  election.  The  TMC  chose  to  abstain all sanctions. Big powers, fearing loss of political and self­righteous, make the gulf in mutual
rather than side with the Opposition in the Vice­ legitimacy and strategic status, have always understanding unbridgeable. Russia declares an
Presidential election. It is not as if Opposition un­ proved unwilling or incapable of ending wars intention to shift to an eastward orientation
ity alone can defeat the BJP. In 2019 in Uttar Pra­ even at great cost to themselves and the victims, advocated by ideologues of Eurasianism such as
desh, the SP and the BSP came together but failed even though they knew victory was beyond them. Aleksandr Dugin, but rebalancing would be
to push back the BJP in the State. Still, State­level What are the consequences of the first major difficult in view of Russia’s major security
partnerships of anti­BJP parties can be more via­ armed conflict in Europe since the Second World concerns and the cultural preferences of its élite.
ble than national­level attempts. The more these War? A country devastated by Russia would As for India, the diminution of Russia as a
parties try to show unity at the national or multi­ remain hostile; resistance instigated by the West partner will set back its longed­for multi­polar
State level, the more their contradictions show will continue, making life in the absorbed world and its security in terms of political support
up. Focusing on each State separately, attending enclaves difficult. Mr. Putin’s objective of ensuring and collaborative projects in defence, space and
to the local particularities, might be more useful Russia’s security will remain elusive. If the war nuclear energy. However, the expected turn to the
for these parties.  drags on, it will suit the West, just as prolonged U.S. would come at the cost of greater expense
AFP

American entanglement in Afghanistan suited its and greater conditionality.

Talent, recognition
Science awards are an encouragement
In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states
and should not be cut down  

T
here has been an increase in the on its memorandum of understanding (MoU)
magnitude, the frequency and the results of TEIA to “enable the notified party to with China in 2013 with a view to sharing

T
he Centre has decided that awards, prizes
and fellowships by various ministries and intensity of floods in many parts of the participate in the process of ensuring that the hydrological information during the flood season
departments  need a  wholesale  relook. world. As an example, nearly a third of Pakistan assessment is complete, so that it can then ( June to September). The MoU does not allow
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which is executing is experiencing devastation, with a spread of consider the plan and its effects with a full India access to urbanisation and deforestation
this directive, has moved much beyond its usual diseases and severe shortage of potable water knowledge of the facts”. activities on the Chinese side of the river basin.
remit of awards for police officers and gallantry after intense flooding. In June this year Assam Anwar Sadat With the MoU in the background, India by
medals and irrupted into the world of scientific experienced one of its worst floods in living is Senior Assistant The Brahmaputra and India’s concerns becoming a party to either the UNWC and the
and medical research. India’s scientific ministries memory which affected over 30 districts. In some Professor in Closer home, there is the case of China being Water Convention could lay the groundwork for a
recently made presentations to the Union Home districts in Assam and Bihar, flooding is a International Law, the upper riparian in the Brahmaputra, which bilateral treaty on the Brahmaputra but subject to
Secretary, Ajay Bhalla, on awards given to scien­ recurrent feature, and thus a major impediment specialising in spans India and Bangladesh, enjoying apparent the reservation that it should not insist on the
tists at different stages of their career. They also in ensuring poverty alleviation and meeting environmental law, at leverage vis-à-vis lower riparian India. During insertion of a dispute settlement mechanism
had to list out which were ‘National Awards’ and Millennium Development Goals. the Indian Society of the monsoon, flooding has been the recurrent provision.
Flooding is still considered to be a natural International Law, feature in the last several decades in Assam.
which were funded out of private endowments.
phenomenon that cannot be entirely prevented. New Delhi India faces other woes in the form of the India, Nepal and flood prevention
Though a final call is yet to be taken, the quorum
— and  this  consisted  of  the  Secretaries,  or  the But it is compounded by the lack of transparency construction of dams by China. China’s Floods are also a recurrent problem in the Koshi
heads of each of these ministries — was of the opi­ in the sharing of hydrological information and excessive water release, as a “dam controller”, and Gandak river basins that are shared by India
nion  that  most  awards  ought  to  be  done  away also information relating to activities (such as by in violation of customary international law has and Nepal. The intensity and magnitude of
with and ministries could either retain only some one riparian state) that are transboundary in their the potential to exacerbate flooding in Assam in flooding is rising because of heavy seasonal
of  the  National  Awards  or  institute  one  or  two effect (affecting other riparian states), thus future. India’s main concern is that there is no precipitation as well as glacial retreat due to
‘high status’ awards. The rationale for pruning, serving as an obstacle in understanding the comprehensive sub­basin or all basin­level global warming and human­induced stressors
Mr.  Bhalla  has  said,  follows  from  a  “vision”  of magnitude of flooding. mechanism to deal with water management of such as land use and land cover changes in the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding “Trans­ Brahmaputra. Neither India or China are party river basin area of Nepal (Terai) and Bihar. It is
formation of the Awards Ecosystem”. In 2018, Mr. On customary international law to the United Nations Convention on the Law of important that the two neighbours view the river
Modi had said that his government had modified In accordance with customary international law, the Non­Navigational Uses of International basins as single entities, which will help in
the system of the Padma awards and ensured it no state has to use its territory in a manner that Watercourses (UNWC) 1997 or the United facilitating an integrated approach for improved
recognised ordinary people doing selfless work causes harm to another state while using a shared Nations Economic Commission for Europe basin and flood risk management. The
rather than well­known personalities who repeat­ natural resource; this amounts to saying that (UNECE) on the Protection and Use of India­Nepal Koshi agreement 1954 (revised in
edly bag them. The awards, Mr. Bhalla has said, there is a binding obligation on all states not to Transboundary Watercourses and International 1966) is aimed at reducing devastating flooding in
ought to be restricted, and have a transparent se­ release water to cause floods in another co­sharer Lakes 1992 (Water Convention).  the river basin. The treaty­based joint bodies have
With  the
lection process.  of the river water. This obligation gives rise to The UNWC contains a direct reference to also tried to refine the early warning systems for
other procedural norms that support the devastating floods, which covers harmful conditions and flood forecasting. In contravention of procedural
Awards and prizes recognise achievement, but
management of floods, which include notification effects  of emergency situations. Article 27 of the customary international law obligation, India
in  science  and  medical  research,  they  are  also
meant to spur younger scientists towards loftier, of planned measures, the exchange of data and climate  change Convention says: “Watercourse States shall, considers data on transboundary rivers as
imaginative goals. Unlike in sport — or even gal­ information, and also public participation. visible,  riparian individually and, where appropriate, jointly, classified information, which is one of the key
lantry awards — where it is relatively easier to de­ The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in the states  across  the take all appropriate measures to prevent or challenges in developing cross­border flood
fine a set of benchmarks and confer medals on Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina vs world  must mitigate conditions ...that may be harmful to warning systems. In light of the cataclysmic
achievers, scientific research is open ended, cir­ Uruguay) case (2010), upheld that conducting a other watercourse States, whether resulting floods in Pakistan and the visible effects of
comply  with  all
cuitous and — as the history of science reveals — transboundary environmental impact assessment from natural causes or human conduct, such as climate change, it is important that all riparian
(TEIA) of a planned measure or projects on the the  procedural floods or ice conditions, water­borne diseases, states must comply with all the procedural duties
punctuated by lucky breaks. It is possible to train
shared water course is part of customary duties  pursuant siltation, erosion, salt­water intrusion, drought pursuant to the no harm rule. They must also
talented youth to be Olympians or international
cricketers but impossible to create an Einstein or international law. In fact, the ICJ noted that the to  the  ‘no  harm or desertification.” think of becoming a party to either the UNWC or
a Chandrasekhar. Almost every Nobel Laureate in acting state must notify the affected party of the rule’ In the absence of any mechanism, India relies the UNECE Water Convention.
the modern era has won various secondary priz­
es and recognition in their early career and every
year; there is as much debate on who was omit­ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ted as on the person who won. Recognising early
career potential will remain fraught with subjec­ The rest versus the best rampant inequality of training hands’ are/were discouraged there is no reason as to why The redesign
tivity and, with fewer awards on offer, could pro­ The article on engineering provided at a very high cost. from acquiring knowledge. the Supreme Court As an octogenarian who has
voke increased discontent. Contrary to the Prime education (OpEd page, The social irony is that people With proper backing, the proceedings should not be religiously read The Hindu to
Minister’s vision, fewer awards may actually miss September 28) eloquently who have the wherewithal “rest” can contribute live­streamed. The my heart’s content daily ever
many more promising talents and amplify epau­ brings out the quality of (social and economic) to enormously to India’s GDP. intellectual arguments and since my brimming youth, I To read more letters
lettes to the already decorated. Awards cost mi­ knowledge and training acquire knowledge and Venkataratnam R., thought­provoking salvos in find the facelift to be good. online, scan the 
nistries money but the meeting did not discuss imparted in most colleges as achieve have no skills to Madurai court must reach all. Perhaps The reading experience has QR code. Letters
whether cutting costs was a factor in the rational­ well as the mirage around convert knowledge into there needs to be a dedicated improved. I offer my best emailed to
isation. As it is unclear what existing problem the salary packages offered to products and services. Those Livestreaming national channel for this.  wishes.  letters@thehindu.
new scheme solves, the Centre should reconsider some of our graduates from who have the skills and the When the print media is K. Pradeep, Davis Vithayathil, co.in must carry the
the merits of its proposal.  select colleges. In short, the propensity to ‘soil their reporting ‘sub judice’ matters, Chennai Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala full postal address.
CM M ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
Thursday, September 29, 2022 7
Delhi
Opinion

Rediscovering the Bay of Bengal Kerala: the ever-elusive State for the BJP
The party has not been able to work out a plan that resonates with the State

T
he Bay of Bengal (the receives water from some of the are under more threat than ever.
Bay) is experiencing an world’s largest rivers. It is a For a better knowledge of
increase in partially enclosed sea that has challenges, and strategies to STATE OF PLAY ly  polls  in Court’s  verdict  to  allow  wo­
geo­economic, given rise to several geological overcome them for the sustainable Thrissur,  Mr. men of all ages to visit the Ay­
geopolitical, and geo­cultural characteristics. It is home to many development of the region, more Gopi  found  fa­ yappa  temple  in  Sabarimala
Biju Govind
activity. It is poised to once again rare and endangered marine focused and interdisciplinary vour  with  the  vo­ and  the  agitation  against  the
Rajeev Ranjan biju.govind@thehindu.co.in
play a key role in shaping the species and mangroves, which are study is required on these issues. ters,  securing  30% construction  of  a  private
Chaturvedy
maritime order in Asia. Therefore, essential to the survival of the By founding the CBS, Nalanda of the votes. airport at the heritage town

D
it is noteworthy that at the fourth is Associate Professor ecology and the fishing sector. University has already started its espite  its  growth  in Likewise,  the  party in  Aranmula.  But  these
BIMSTEC summit, Prime Minister at the School of journey and given the nation a other  parts  of  India, experimented  with  tech­ protests  failed  to  con­
Narendra Modi announced the Historical Studies and Disorder at the Bay unique interdisciplinary research the  BJP  has  failed  to nocrat  E.  Sreedharan  and vert to votes.
opening of the Centre for Bay of the School of The region’s maritime centre devoted to Bay­focused get  a  strong  foothold  in  any retired  IPS  officer  Jacob The party has also
Bengal Studies (CBS) at Nalanda International environment has changed as a teaching, research, and capacity southern State barring Karna­ Thomas in the 2021 Assemb­ been ineffectual in
Relations, and
University. The official launch of result of major powers expanding building. Additionally, scholars taka.  Luck  has  been  particu­ ly polls in a bid to increase its wooing  Chris­
Coordinator of the
the CBS has once again Centre for Bay of their economic and geopolitical from many countries and larly elusive for the BJP in Ker­ tally  from  the  one  seat,  Ne­ tians,  especially
demonstrated India’s commitment Bengal Studies at influence. Political and cultural academic streams are already ala.  For  nearly  two  decades, mom,  that  O.  Rajagopal  had Catholics,  who
to advancing constructive agendas Nalanda International engagement, together with participating in CBS’s first the national party leadership won in the 2016 elections. But support the BJP
by forging connections and setting University, Rajgir economic competition, have taken certificate programme on the Bay. has  been  struggling,  without its poll ride came to a halt as in  Goa.  For
up platforms for all those with an on new dimensions. More It is essential that nautical success,  to  elbow  its  way former  Mizoram  Governor, some  time  now,
interest in the Bay. crucially, the Bay’s ecosystem is neighbours develop a partnership through  the  multi­layered  bi­ Kummanam  Rajasekharan, BJP  leaders,  in­
going through an unprecedented and cooperate because of the polar  polity  led  by  two  main entrusted  with  retaining  Ne­ cluding  national
Rethinking the Bay crisis brought on by widespread maritime domain’s interrelated parties  in  Kerala  —  the  Con­ mom  in  Thiruvananthapu­ president  J.P.
CBS will offer collaborations in environmental exploitation and and interdependent nature, gress  and  the  CPI(M).  With ram,  failed.  The  reckless  at­ Nadda,  have  been
areas such as geo­economics and geopolitical unrest. Species transnational character, and less than two years left for the tempt by party State president meeting Catholic  archbish­
geopolitics, ecology, trade and extinction is a result of careless cross­jurisdictional engagement of next  general  election,  the K. Surendran to contest from ops in Kerala. Under the initia­
connectivity, maritime security, exploitation of the maritime various governments and diverse BJP’s  central  leadership  has two segments fell flat. tive  of  Goa  Governor  P.S.
maritime law, cultural heritage, environment, which has severe organisations and enterprises. A evolved  various  strategies  to Kerala is perceived as some Sreedharan Pillai, three cardi­
and blue economy to generate consequences on biodiversity. few concerns that need immediate win Parliament seats from the as a fertile ground for the par­ nals of the Catholic Church al­
opportunities for the Bay region. Problems such as population attention include expanding southern­most State. ty, but the BJP leadership has so met Mr. Modi in Delhi to re­
This will strengthen India’s overall growth, altered land use, excessive cooperation in maritime safety Earlier this month, to fine­ been unsuccessful in working quest him to invite the Pope to
framework for maritime resource exploitation, salinisation, and security, enhancing tune its organisational appara­ out a game plan that resonates India.  Incidentally,  Mr.  Modi
engagement, which aims to sea level rise, and climate change cooperation on maritime tus, the BJP shuffled 15 leaders with the State. The faction­ri­ met the Pontiff at the Vatican
advance sustainable economic are exerting significant strain on connectivity and the ease of in  charge  of  the  party  in  va­ ven  party  is  impuissant  to when  he  attended  the  G20
growth for all by fostering closer the Bay’s environment. maritime transit, and boosting rious States. C.P. Radhakrish­ even build a leadership in Ker­ summit last year.
nautical ties. Operational discharge from small investment possibilities in the nan, a former Lok Sabha MP, ala like other political parties. Today, with the Centre pro­
The Bay has long been a major and medium feeder ships, maritime connectivity sector. The who was in charge of Kerala, In  the  past,  the  BJP  had  sea­ scribing the Islamist outfit, the
commerce hub for the Indian The Centre for shipping collisions, unintentional latter subject involves addressing was replaced by former Union soned mentors and tacticians Popular Front of India, many
Ocean. It created a conduit Bay of Bengal oil spills, industrial waste, non­traditional threats and Minister Prakash Javadekar. In such  as  K.G.  Marar  and  P.P. BJP leaders believe that the in­
between the East and the West in Studies will pollution, and the accumulation of fostering group efforts to reduce its national executive meeting Mukundan  who  could  be  re­ itiative  shown  by  the  govern­
terms for trade and culture. An strengthen non­biodegradable plastic litter illicit, unreported, and in Hyderabad, the party spoke lied  on  to  gain  political ment  in  dealing  with  radical
Indo­Pacific orientation and the are all contributing to the unregulated fishing. Standardising of going beyond its Hindu sup­ ground. The party paid a hea­ outfits will reap some political
India’s overall
realignment of global economic deterioration of the Bay. A dead and harmonising data reporting port base. Prime Minister Na­ vy  price  by  replacing  them rewards.  However,  this  will
and military power towards Asia framework for zone has formed as a result, and remains a challenge. Furthermore, rendra  Modi  also  spoke  of with  short­sighted  leaders not  be  enough  as  barely  any
have had a considerable impact on maritime the mangrove trees that protect regional marine entities should wooing  Muslims  and  Chris­ who failed to understand the Muslim organisation supports
the Bay region. The key sea lanes engagement the shore from the fury of nature strive to balance opportunities tians, which were perceived as pulse of the electorate and the the BJP at present.
of communication in this area are and goals on a national, regional, plans for the south. Union Mi­ shifting political realities. If the BJP is to compete with
lifelines for global economic and international scale. nisters have been given charge The BJP’s central and State the Congress­led UDF and the
security and are crucial to the Littoral governments need to of six constituencies in Kerala leadership have been blamed CPI(M)­led  LDF  in  Kerala,  a
energy security that powers the support and promote to  evaluate  the  party’s  pros­ for their shallow understand­ top­down  approach  may  not
economies of many countries in skill­building, research, and pects and challenges. ing of the socio­economic and work.  The  party  will  have  to
the region. Further, training. Countries in the region In July, the party nominat­ political  shifts  in  Kerala.  The rectify the flaws in its organi­
non­traditional dangers including will need to mobilise incentives ed celebrated athlete P.T. Usha State  unit’s  power  play  has sational set­up. Political obser­
terrorism and climate change have and investments, manage oceanic from Kerala to the Rajya Sab­ been  confined  to  a  blitzkrieg vers feel that it is high time the
become more prevalent. The Bay affairs more effectively, and ha.  Six  years  ago,  the  party campaign,  fuelled  by  funds leadership  addresses  the  bit­
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

also provides an opportunity for support people as they switch to had  nominated  actor  Suresh from the Central unit, during ter  factionalism  plaguing  the
greater regional cooperation in the alternative lifestyles. Working Gopi to the Upper House, hop­ the  time  of  elections,  ever State unit. Leaders of the BJP
environmentally friendly together is important due to ing to piggyback on his popu­ since  Mr.  Modi  became  the will have to strike a grassroots
exploration of marine and energy shared nautical concerns and the larity.  Though  he  could  only Prime Minister. connection with workers and
resources. The Bay has a complexity of the marine finish  third  in  the  2019  Lok The party had spearheaded identify  local  issues  for  elec­
biodiverse marine environment. It environment. Sabha polls and 2021 Assemb­ protests against the Supreme tion campaigns.

Automation has impacted lower-level jobs in banks F RO M T H E A RC HI V E S

ATM usage, mobile and online transactions, and fewer new bank branches have led to reduced recruitment
FIFTY YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 29, 1972

DATA POINT
ing in each functioning office of a No dramatic solutions to
PSB. In FY06, each working office
had  6.6  clerical  staff  on  average, economic problems possible
Rebecca Rose Varghese & which  more  than  halved  to  3  in
Vignesh Radhakrishnan FY21. Similarly, the number of sub­ New Delhi, Sept. 28: The Government’s
staff per office reduced from 3.3 to economic experts, who are striving hard to ease
On Wednesday, Business Standard 1.1 in the observed period.  the present inflationary pressures, seem to be
reported  that  the  Union  Finance Chart 1C also  shows  a  similar caught on the horns of a dilemma as to how they
Ministry  had  asked  the  heads  of declining trend among clerks and should tackle the difficult problems of prices,
public  sector  banks  (PSBs)  for  a sub­staff in PVBs. However, it is im­ production and employment, without
plan to improve employee count. portant  to  note  that  there  were unwittingly worsening the situation by opting
A week ago, BusinessLine had re­ considerably fewer clerks and sub­ for either excessive caution in the name of
ported that vacancies announced staff  even  in  the  earlier  years  in conventional wisdom or romantic solutions for
for clerical posts had significantly PVBs  compared  to  their  counter­ keeping up the facade of Congress radicalism at
decreased this year. The report al­ parts in PSBs.  the cost of the country’s development. As they
so  showed  a  declining  interest  in Both Charts 1B and 1C show that grope in the dark for a sensible middle course
bank jobs, with increasingly fewer the  number  of  officers  has  re­ that would help to preserve the ruling party’s
candidates  registering  for  the  re­ mained mostly stagnant. Interest­ socialist image while meeting the practical
cruitment/selection programmes. ingly, in FY21 there were 14.7 offic­ requirements of this complex situation, the
Earlier this year, on March 28­29, ers for every functioning office of Prime Minister’s advisers have apparently come
the All India Bank Employees’ As­ PVBs compared to just 4.3 per of­ to the lofty conclusion that no dramatic
sociation carried out a strike insist­ fice in PSBs. Such a high officer ra­ solutions are possible in the sense that by simply
ing that recruitment of workers be tio  in  PVBs  meant  the  disparity amending the economic policy resolution the
increased, among other demands.  between clerical and officer posi­ Government cannot automatically provide a
The strike and the recent news tions  was  much  wider  than  in credible remedy for the current malaise which
reports  together  show  that  the PSBs.  calls for imaginative action. The only way out of
problem  of  declining  manpower Chart 2A shows that the num­ this perplexing situation, according to some of
has reached an inflection point. In ber of ATM withdrawals using de­ these experts, is to try for a general
fact,  the  cutback  on  hirings  is bit  cards  in  PSBs  had  more  than improvement in the performance of various
more  pronounced  among  clerks doubled — from over 31 crore to 64 sectors before the economy is able to gather
and sub­staff, while the number of crore between 2012 and 2019. A si­ momentum again. They want the political
officers  has  remained  constant. milar but muted increase was re­ leadership to think more in terms of
This  trend  was  observed  in  both corded in PVBs. A sharp reduction qualitatively better solutions to well­identified
PSBs  and  private  sector  banks in ATM withdrawals was observed problems of economic growth and employment
(PVBs). However, it is worth noting in  PSBs  after  the  pandemic  out­ than wholly in the context of the party’s
that the number of officers in PVBs break  in  2020.  Interestingly,  the electoral pledges to abolish poverty and usher in
is  three  times  higher  than  in  the withdrawals did not reach the pre­ an era of socialism as early as possible.
PSBs.  pandemic levels even in the later
years. 
Reasons for decline in strength Chart 2B explains  the  reason
Data  show  increased  ATM  usage, behind  this  trend.  It  shows  that A HUNDRED YEARS AGO FROM THE SEPT. 30
surging online and mobile transac­ both the volume and value of UPI EDITION AS THERE WAS NO EDITION ON SEPT.
tions, and a reduction in the num­ transactions  skyrocketed  in  the 29, 1922
ber of new bank branches have re­ pandemic period. This, along with
duced footfalls in banks and led to a similar  surge  in  other  online A public lecture
the rapid decline in the strength of transactions, led to a sharp fall in
clerical staff. ATM usage post­2020.  Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, who is on a tour in the
Chart 1A shows the total staff in Chart 2C shows the number of south for collecting funds for the Viswabharathi,
PSBs  and  PVBs.  It  brings  out  the new  bank  branches  opened.  In arrived at Madras yesterday morning by the
contrast  in  recruitment  patterns. both PSBs and PVBs, this number Bangalore Mail, accompanied by Mr. C.F.
While  the  staff  in  PVBs  went  up declined rapidly post­2016. Andrews, and was accorded a warm reception at
from  over  92,000  in  FY05  to  5.7 The  disruption  of  clerical  re­ the Central Station by a select number of
lakh  in  FY21,  the  corresponding cruitments  due  to  the  advent  of gentlemen including Messrs. W.H. Hindle of the
numbers for PSBs have remained machines and core banking solu­ local Y.M.C.A., V. Chakkarai and T.S. Ramaswami
stagnant — 7.48 lakh in FY05 and tions is here to stay. And so, it will Iyer. They then motored to Mylapore where they
7.83 lakh in FY21.  be interesting to see the response stay with Mr. T.S. Ramaswami Iyer. In the
Chart 1B shows the number of of banks to the Finance Ministry’s evening Dr. Tagore delivered a lecture at the
officers, clerks, and sub­staff work­ latest push for more hirings. Gokhale Hall on “The vision of Indian history”.
CM M ND-NDE
YK
Delhi www.thehindu.com Thursday, September 29, 2022
● ●

Text&Context 0
NEWS IN NUMBERS
Free ration scheme for ED freezes Bitcoin U.S. Pentagon admits Swiss glaciers melting The number of foreign
the poor extended by related to a Kolkata to killing 21 civilians in at record pace due to tourist arrivals dipped
three months gaming app firm  Afghanistan last year heatwaves, dry winters by 44.5% in 2021 

44,762 12.83 12 6 1.52


In ₹ crore, In ₹ crore, the The number of civilians the U.S. The percent of the total volume of In million, the number
the cost at worth of Bitcoins admitted to killing in 2021 Switzerland’s glaciers lost this year of foreign tourist arrivals
which the frozen by the according to a Pentagon report. due to a dry winter and repeated (FTAs) in India in 2021
government extended its programme to Enforcement Directorate as part of an All of the civilian deaths occurred in summer heatwaves, shattering previous ice compared to 2.74 million in 2020, a
provide free rations to the poor by three ongoing money laundering probe against a Afghanistan. The Pentagon also reassessed melt records, a report revealed. Three negative growth of 44.5%. India received
months. The scheme to provide five kg of Kolkata­based mobile gaming app firm its counts from the years 2018 to 2020, cubic kilometres of ice — three trillion litres 677.63 million domestic tourist visits in
wheat and rice free of cost to 80 crore that is alleged to have duped a number of recognising 10 more dead and 18 of water — have melted away. According to 2021, an increase of 11.05% from 610.22
people every month, which was supposed people. The accused was transferring wounded, all in Syria. NGOs publish much an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate million in 2020, the report said. Travel and
to end on Friday, will now run through the“illegally earned” amount through the higher assessments of deaths and injuries Change report, the melting of ice is one of tourism created 79.86 million (direct and
December 31, 2022. PTI gaming app to overseas locations. PTI from U.S. strikes in conflict zones. AFP the key threats from climate change. AFP indirect) jobs. PTI

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Limited democracy, unlimited theocracy
When Khomeini established his clerical rule after Iran’s 1979 revolution, many expected the new regime to collapse. On the contrary, Khomeini purged internal
dissent and consolidated the clergy’s grip over the country. However, four decades later, the system the Ayatollah built has started showing signs of age

WORLD  INSIGHT THE GIST


Stanly Johny D
Iran’s state has both elected
There’s only a walking distance from the and unelected branches and
Imam Khomeini Square, the Qajar­era 19th the unelected branch is more
century  neighbourhood  of  the  Iranian powerful than the former. The
capital which used to be called Maidan­e­ President, Parliament (Majles)
Toopkhaneh, to Ebrat Museum on Yarjani and the Assembly of Experts
Street.  A  three­storey  structure  with  tor­ are directly elected, while the
ture wings, countless cells, echo corridors Supreme Leader, the Guardian
and iron doors, the building, designed by Council and the Expediency
German  engineers  in  the  1930s,  was  the Council are appointed by the
headquarters of a section of the Shah’s in­ clergy. The Supreme Leader is
famous  secret  police,  SAVAK,  before  the both the political leader and
1979 revolution. All the dark corridors lead spiritual guide of the Islamic
to  a  circular,  roofless  inner  courtyard Republic.
that’s awash in sunlight. Sculptures of pri­ D
soners are hung from the iron grills of the
courtyard. SAVAK used to hang prisoners Unlike the President, the
Supreme Leader doesn’t have
on  the  grills  and  torture  them  —  their
any fixed term. Since the 1979
screams would echo across the corridors
revolution, Iran has had only
and their suffering would be displayed for two Supreme Leaders —
those in the courtyard. The museum has Khomeini (who died in 1989)
the images and names of the hundreds of and Khamenei. The
inmates  it  once  held  —  one  of  them  was Constitution mandates the
Ayatollah  Ali  Khamenei,  the  current  Su­ 88­member Assembly of
preme Leader of Iran. Experts to elect the Supreme
Leader. The Assembly, which
History repeats also has the authority to
The Iranian authorities turned the prison oversee and dismiss the
into a museum in 2002, to showcase the Supreme Leader, is directly
brutalities of the Shah’s royal dictatorship. elected, but the candidates are
For  the  regime,  the  museum  is  a  micro­ strictly vetted by the Guardian
cosm of all the evils of the monarchy from Council, whose members are
which  Iranians  were  liberated  by  the  Is­ Absolute power: Women cast their ballots beneath a poster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran in 2005. GETTY IMAGES directly or indirectly picked by
lamic  Revolution.  But  four  decades  after the Supreme Leader. In
the  revolution,  repeated  protests  accuse ed  Shah  tried  to  consolidate  more  and and the Expediency Council are appointed vises the Supreme Leader, will have ulti­ essence, the Supreme Leader
the Islamic regime of the same repressive more  powers  in  his  hands,  SAVAK  ran by the clergy. The President is the head of mate  adjudicating  powers.  And  all  45 and the clerical establishment
reign from which it claims to have liberat­ amok in the country, rounding up political the government, which is in charge of run­ members of the Council are appointed by stay firmly in charge of all
branches of the state.
ed the Iranians. After the disputed 2009 dissidents.  ning the day­to­day affairs of the country, the Supreme Leader, who is also the Com­
presidential election, there was an upris­ but  is  not  the  head  of  the  state.  The  Su­ mander­in­Chief of the armed forces. In es­ D
ing challenging the official results, which While  the  regime  is  trying  to  take preme Leader is the most powerful person sence,  the  1979  Islamic  Constitution  en­
Four decades later, the system
was  crushed  by  the  security  forces.  In a higher  moral  position  over  the in  the  country  and  is  both  the  political sures  that  the  Supreme  Leader  and  the
the Ayatollah built has started
2019, a fuel price hike triggered agitations repressive  Shah  monarchy,  the leader  and  spiritual  guide  of  the  Islamic clerical establishment stay firmly in charge showing signs of age, with
that  spread  like  wildfire  across  cities, protesters  in  the  street  tell  a Republic. of all branches of the state. repeated mass protests,
which  were  also  put  down.  In  the  latest different  tale The presidential term is four years and counter­mobilisation and state
flare­up, the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22­ Presidents  cannot  have  more  than  two Principalists and reformists violence, overshadowed by an
year­old Iranian­Kurdish woman while in consecutive terms. The election process it­ There are different political groups in Iran unending economic crisis. The
custody of the country’s infamous morali­ Iranians are no strangers to political re­ self is largely considered fair (though there but the political class is broadly divided in­ uprising over the death of
ty police, which has often been compared bellion and defiance. In 1896, Naser al­Din were  disputes,  such  as  the  2009  elec­ to  two  categories  —  principalists  (called Mahsa Amini could be the
by  critics  to  the  Shah’s  SAVAK,  has  trig­ Shah, the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran, was tions), but all the candidates are vetted by hardliners  by  western  media)  and  refor­ latest flare­up, but it is unlikely
gered nationwide protests.  assassinated  inside  a  mosque  in  Tehran. the Guardian Council, which usually dis­ mists. The principalists make up the con­ to be the last. 
The assassination and its aftermath would qualifies an overwhelming majority of the servative  bloc  that  enjoys  the  support  of
A unique system eventually lead to the Constitutional Revo­ candidates. The 290­member Islamic Con­ the  clergy,  whereas  reformists  advocate
Iran’s unique political system — which has lution of 1905­1911, which led to the esta­ sultative Assembly (Majles) has the author­ political  and  social  reforms  from  within.
been designed in such a way that the Shia blishment of a Parliament in Persia. Reza ity to legislate. But all the Bills the Majles The  election  of  Mohammad  Khatami  as
clergy has ultimate authority in all critical Shah Pahlavi ignored this history of rebel­ passes  should  go  to  the  unelected  Guar­ President in 1997 was a critical moment for
matters related to the state, even as elec­ lion when he unleashed his forces on in­ dian  Council,  which  would  vet  whether reformist politics. But Mr. Khatami, an in­
tions  are  held  in  regular  intervals  —  is  a creasingly  disgruntled  protesters,  which the Bill is in compliance with the Islamic fluential and popular reformist, failed to
child of the revolution. While it’s popularly eventually led to his own downfall. When Constitution  and  values.  The  powerful usher in any major changes in the system,
called  the  “Islamic  revolution”,  the  anti­ the Shah fled the country in January 1979, Guardian Council has 12 members, a com­ which is guarded by the clergy and the se­
Shah popular movement was not only Is­ Khomeini was in Paris. He landed in Teh­ bination of six religious experts, who will curity establishment. Hassan Rouhani, the
lamic. True, Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, ran’s  Mehrabad  airport,  which  was  con­ directly  be  appointed  by  the  Supreme former  President,  was  also  a  reformist,
who,  while  in  exile  in  Iraq’s  Najaf,  had trolled by the revolutionaries, on February Leader, and six Islamic legal jurists, nomi­ while the incumbent, Ebrahim Raisi, is a
called for the Shah’s ouster, and became 1, 1979. They turned a disused girls’ school nated by the Chief Justice (who in turn is principalist.  Currently,  the  principalists
the embodiment of the mass agitations in in central Tehran into a make­shift head­ appointed by the Supreme Leader). So the control all branches of the government, in­
the 1970s. But Iranians from different polit­ quarters  of  the  Revolutionary  Council. Supreme Leader’s office has direct or indi­ cluding the Presidency and the Majles.
ical sections, including nationalists, liber­ And one of the first things Khomeini did rect  control  over  the  Guardian  Council When Khomeini established his clerical
als, leftists and trade unionists, had active­ was to form a paramilitary force — the Is­ which oversees the elections, vets the can­ rule after the revolution, many expected
ly joined the movement, seeking freedom lamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But the didates and has a veto over Parliament. the  new  regime  to  collapse.  On  the  con­
from the Shah’s dictatorship. Islamists could not ignore other sections of trary,  Khomeini  purged  internal  dissent
The  Shah,  Mohammed  Reza  Pahlavi, the  revolution  completely.  So,  Khomeini Absolute authority and  consolidated  the  clergy’s  grip  when
who had to briefly flee the country in the ushered in a new system that would have Unlike the President, the Supreme Leader the country was fighting an eight­year long
early 1950s and was restored after the CIA an  elected  President  and  Parliament, doesn’t have any fixed term. Since the 1979 war with Iraq. Four decades later, the sys­
helped the monarchists orchestrate a coup while  the  clerics  would  remain  firmly  in revolution, Iran has had only two Supreme tem the Ayatollah built has started show­
against the democratically elected Prime control.  He  promised  an  Islamic  revolu­ Leaders  —  Khomeini  (who  died  in  1989) ing signs of age, with repeated mass prot­
Minister  Mohammad  Mossadegh,  was tionary  government  based  on  Sharia,  a and  Khamenei.  The  Constitution  man­ ests,  counter­mobilisation  and  state
more  or  less  detached  from  the  political model  which  he  called  Vilayat­e  Faqih dates the 88­member Assembly of Experts violence,  overshadowed  by  an  unending
reality on ground. He orchestrated grand (Guardianship of the Faqih, or the Islamic to elect the Supreme Leader. The Assemb­ economic crisis. While the regime is still
ceremonies  celebrating  the  monarchy Jurist). ly, which also has the authority to oversee trying to keep the memories of the revolu­
(such as the extravagant 1971 celebration of and dismiss the Supreme Leader, is direct­ tion alive and take a higher moral position
“the  2,500th  year  of  the  Iranian  monar­ Clerical control ly elected, but the candidates are strictly over the repressive Shah monarchy whose
chy”  spending  some  $100  million), Iran’s state has both elected and unelected vetted  by  the  Guardian  Council,  whose violence has been displayed in Ebrat, the
banned all political parties except the mo­ branches  and  the  unelected  branch  is members are directly or indirectly picked protesters in the street tell a different tale.
narchist Resurgence Party (Hezb­e­Rastak­ more powerful than the former. The Presi­ by the Supreme Leader. If there are legal The uprising over the death of Mahsa Ami­
hiz) and assumed himself the title of Aryan dent, Parliament (Majles) and the Assemb­ disputes between the elected Majles and ni could be the latest flare­up, but it is un­
Sun (Aryamehr) — apolitical and spiritual ly of Experts are directly elected, while the the  unelected  Guardian  Council,  the  45­ likely to be the last as the social disquiet in
guide of Iran. When an increasingly isolat­ Supreme  Leader,  the  Guardian  Council member  Expediency  Council,  which  ad­ the Islamic Republic refuses to die down.
CM M ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
Thursday, September 29, 2022 9
Delhi
Text&Context
FROM THE ARCHIVES BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Indian National Congress: a grand old The naughty


party and the demanding path to its revival marionette:
Pinocchio
The Congress’s decline is to be seen in the context of majoritarianism as well as internal factors related to the party. What the party needs now is an
organisational regeneration, with democratisation at the front and centre
through the
Zoya Hasan
ages
As the INC gears up for an internal party
election in October, this article dated May
How the story of Pinocchio
3, 2022, by Zoya Hasan elaborates on the endured since it was first
various crises within the party. serialised in an Italian magazine 

T
he Congress party is no
stranger to crises, but those it Mini Anthikad Chhibber
has faced since 2014 are
unprecedented and probably With two versions of Carlo Collodi’s The
the worst in the course of its long history. Adventures of Pinocchio hitting the
The party reached a historic low of 44 screens, now is as good a time as any to
Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and that only look at the naughty marionette’s journey
increased to 52 in 2019. It has lost 39 out from a log of wood to a real boy. The
of 49 State elections since 2014. It seminal work of children’s fiction was first
managed to win only 55 of the 690 seats published in serial form in the children’s
in the recent Assembly elections held in magazine, Giornale per i Bambini, from
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, July 7, 1881 and as a book in February
Manipur and Goa. A series of leaders have 1883. Everyone remembers different bits
deserted the party — even those close to of the story of Pinocchio from the racy
the Gandhi family. These defeats and nose­growing upon lying to his desperate
desertions have raised questions and desire to become a real boy, and his
concerns about its very survival. The fact various descents into trouble despite
that Congress leaders held extensive talks sincere attempts to be on the straight and
with a much sought­after election narrow. My favourite bit of Pinocchio is
consultant, and was planning to employ towards the end when he meets his
his services to revamp the party, brings ‘father’, the wood carver, Geppetto, who
into sharp relief the existential crisis of carved and thus created him. Pinocchio
the Congress. How do we understand meets Geppetto in the stomach of The
Congress’s existential crisis, and what are Change of face: Cut­outs of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a party rally in New Delhi on September 4. PTI Terrible Dogfish. Geppetto surviving in
the prospects of revival? the fish’s stomach for two years on the
(BJP). I have explored these themes in my its past achievements, which resulted an actuality, the mixing of religiosity and supplies of a ship that the monster
A platform that does not work recent book on the Congress and am from an adherence to these politics does not guarantee electoral destroyed was fascinating. The Ladybird
Historically, the Congress had always taking up some aspects of that here. commitments. dividends. Moreover, the conflict in India book even had a full plate colour picture
come to power on a centrist platform The Congress’s leadership crisis has is not about the growing prominence of of Geppetto sitting before a fire on a little
reflecting its varied social base, but undoubtedly played a role in its decline; The Congress has three major Hinduism in our public life, which most stool with a lamp on a hook in the
centrism does not work in a deeply however, the challenge facing the party is structural problems. These parties accept and promote, but about Dogfish’s stomach. 
divided polity dominated by a politics of not just about the ineffectual leadership. include the leadership issue, the BJP’s idea of nationalism, which is
polarisation and communal mobilisation. Simply appointing a non­Gandhi will not organisational stagnation, and the utterly exclusivist, pitted against the Epic hero
Essentially, the old form of dramatically alter the party’s dwindling need to project and propagate a inclusive nationalism championed by the Critics have called Pinocchio an epic hero
accommodative politics, which for long fortunes. In fact, removing them might Congress during the freedom struggle. and rightly so. He starts his journey as a
held together the Congress’s social well reinforce the right­wing agenda. 
clear ideological alternative to Indian politics has never been more
the Bharatiya Janata Party log of wood pleading with the carpenter,
coalition, is not capable of galvanising the But fundamental issues concerning polarised than it is today; never before Master Cherry, not to carve him. Cherry
imagination of new India. The Gujarat organisational change have been has the gulf been so wide. Hence, today, gives him to his neighbour, Geppetto,
model of politics marked by an exclusive repeatedly set aside and weighed down One big failure has been the Congress’s the battle is more fundamental; it is about who wants to become a puppeteer and so
focus on individual leadership as the by the debate on dynastic leadership and reluctance to tell its own story. The party the very idea of India — the idea of a carves a marionette, who even half done
driver of election campaigns, a strong an obsessive focus on the Gandhis. did not publicise or highlight its diverse, pluralistic nation committed to is impudent, and the minute Geppetto
sense of Hindu pride, a shift in popular It is, however, important to distinctive approach, and that was one liberal values.  carves his legs, kicks him and runs away.
attention to aggressive nationalist appeals reconstitute the party’s leadership at reason why it did not play to its strengths By remaining silent on the way in Pinocchio’s journey to salvation is nothing
regardless of reality or facts, and a various levels through internal elections. during the United Progressive Alliance which nationalism has been redefined, short of a pilgrim’s progress, meeting
complete rejection of the entire This can transform the Congress into a (UPA) rule, allowing itself to be the Congress has ceded the nationalist villains and friends along the way. On
democratic past and superimposition of more representative organisation and outsmarted by its critics.  space to Hindu Right which poses as the team good is the cricket, who repeatedly
perception over performance appears to could give a boost to the party by The BJP has correctly calculated that so pre­eminent torch­bearer of nationalism tries to advise Pinocchio even as a ghost
hold voters in thrall. Changes unleashed changing the perception that it is a family long as it sustains the argument that the today even though organisations after Pinocchio’s mallet unfortunately
by liberalisation, globalisation, and the business. At present, the top Congress was elitist, corrupt and associated with it made no contribution finds its mark. Also on team good is the
information­communication revolution decision­making bodies are occupied by dynastic, it can prevent the Congress from to the freedom struggle, the crucible puppet master, Mangiafuoco, who though
initiated by the Congress have undercut people who have either never contested a emerging as a credible alternative. What which defined Indian nationalism from initially plans to use Pinocchio as
its political ethos and ideological Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha election or aids and abets these half­truths is the which they were absent. Yet, its firewood to roast his lamb, is kindhearted
architecture to a greater degree than that did so decades ago. Their influence has passivity of the Congress in defending its conception of Indian nationhood which it and gives the marionette money for
of its principal rival. The Congress’s however grown in direct proportion to record and letting its achievements to be has fought for has prevailed, over the past Geppetto. The Fairy with Turquoise Hair,
decline (and that of other Centre­Left and the weakening of the party across India. dismissed and derided, even as the decade and more, against the Congress’s who also gives Pinocchio good advice, is
Left parties) needs to be seen in the These structural problems have existed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) inclusive ‘Idea of India’. something of a fairy godmother,
context of transformations provoked by for years, and yet the party has not faced government successfully obfuscates data Defending a pluralist view of politics appearing whenever the going gets tough,
the growth and expansion of them head on. It has demonstrated no on its own underperformance in the last and governance is one aspect of the and protecting and looking out for
neoliberalism and majoritarianism, and urgency for drastic remedial measures eight years. political strategy; the other is grounding Pinocchio. Chief on team villain are the
other factors that are internal to the despite defeat after defeat. The feeble its politics in the idiom of social justice two conmen, Fox and Cat. There are
Congress, most notably, the strong attempts at revitalisation have focused Combating the communal which both sidesteps identity politics and other lesser villains including Pinocchio’s
resistance to structural changes within more on regaining quick electoral The key issue for the Opposition is resonates with an aggrieved population, school friend, Candlewick , who
the party. viability than on addressing long­term defining its response to Hindu alienated by the current dispensation’s persuades him to run away from school to
structural issues. nationalism. While the Congress is largely policies and politics. Overall, the Toyland, the Coachman who turns errant
The party’s main problems agreed on the necessity of combating 137­year­old party’s revival depends on school boys into donkeys and sells them,
The Congress has faced three major Short on communication communal ideas, politics and policies, it three things — a consistent narrative to the Green fisherman who wants to fry and
structural problems in a political By far the Congress’s biggest shortcoming has swung between making ideological counter divisive politics, the will to eat Pinocchio, and the snake barring
conjuncture defined by ‘the great moving is its inability to communicate its compromises with majoritarian restructure the organisation, and drawing Pinocchio’s way. 
Right show’, to borrow a phrase from ideological positions and values clearly. nationalism and plotting a frontal battle strength from constant public action Pinocchio is rife with archetypes from
cultural theorist Stuart Hall, and the The great challenge is to define its against it. It has often adopted a rather than just elections. the naïve villager coming to the big bad
polarisation engendered by it. These message and communicate it to the majoritarian tenor on certain Zoya Hasan is the author of the recently city (an allegory for the great migration
include the leadership issue, electorate as an underpinning for political controversial issues in the name of published book, ‘Ideology and Organization from rural Italy to the cities thanks to the
organisational stagnation, and the need to mobilisation. For this, it must religious sentiment. However, this makes in Indian Politics: Polarization and the industrial revolution) to the marionette
project and propagate a clear ideological unequivocally reaffirm its inclusive vision no sense amidst the growing influence of Growing Crisis of the Congress Party who wants to become a real boy. Science
alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party for a democratic India, and take credit for the Hindu Right. Both as a strategy and as (2009­19)’ fiction is full of stories of robots who want
to become human, from Blade Runner’s
replicants to David in A.I. Artificial
Intelligence. Coming to Pinocchio­themed
films, Robert Zemeckis has released a live
action version of the 1940 animated film,
Please send in your answers to 
THE DAILY QUIZ dailyquiz@thehindu.co.in
while Guillermo del Toro, the master of
dark fantasy, is currently directing a stop
motion animated version of Pinocchio.
A quiz on anything and everything ‘heart’ on the occasion of The latter is set in fascist Italy of the
1930s. Both versions promise to be jolly
World Heart Day which is celebrated every year on September 29. rides to the motherboard of stories for
children and grown­ups alike.

X X Questions (abridged) and Answers to the previous


QUESTION 1 QUESTION 4 day’s daily quiz: 1. The word ‘rabies’ may be related to
The heart has five main parts What is the fundamental difference this Sanskrit word which means “to rage”. Ans: Rabhas
with four chambers. If the between a heart attack and a 2. This Greek entity inspired the genus name of the rabies
lower two chambers are known stroke? virus. Ans: Lyssa
as ventricles, what are the X 3. This French chemist developed a vaccine for rabies.
upper two called? And name QUESTION 5 Ans: Louis Pasteur
the muscular walls that divide Every cell in your body gets blood 4. The expansion of FAT which is a procedure for
the heart into two sides. from your heart except...? diagnosing rabies. Ans: Fluorescent Antibody Test
X X 5. Rabies is commonly associated with this fear which
QUESTION 2 QUESTION 6 leads to panic when presented with liquid for drinking.
What do the terms Which procedure, nowadays Ans: Hydrophobia
‘tachycardia’ and ‘bradycardia’ common, involves taking a healthy 6. This country has the highest rate of human rabies in the
denote? blood vessel from your arm, chest world. Ans: India
X or leg and connecting it below and 7. A ‘Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Fun Run Pro Am
QUESTION 3 above the blocked arteries in your Race for the Cure’ was dedicated to this popular character.
The Balaenoptera musculus heart? Ans: Meredith Palmer (from The Office)
has the largest heart for any X Visual: This French bacteriologist co­founded the Pasteur
living creature with one QUESTION 7 Institute. Ans: Émile Roux For feedback and suggestions for 
specimen weighing nearly Which classic 1973 album by Pink X Early Birds: M. Thaha Ibrahim Buhari| Madhvi Sharma| Text & Context, please write to
200kgs. What is the common Floyd has tracks that begin and end Visual question: Vrushali Rane letters@thehindu.co.in
name for the Balaenoptera with heartbeats? Identify the doctor and how did he create medical with the subject ‘Text & Context’
Compiled by V.V. Ramanan
musculus? history in December 1967? FILE PHOTO
CM M ND-NDE
YK
4 . bl . think
MUMBAI

businessline.
THURSDAY ­ SEPTEMBER 29 ­ 2022

brokerages floated by banking groups. In
THURSDAY ­ SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 POINT these brokerages, the client funds are
held in the client bank account and
BLANK. moved to the trading account only at the
time of order execution. In other words,
Educating banks LOKESHWARRI SK an ASBA­like system for cash and
derivatives trading in equity is already in
place here.

W
e have come a long In case of other brokers, client funds
Banks need to make student loans more accessible way since the and broker’s funds are held in two
pre­1990 era when the different accounts. Within the omnibus
manner in which client account, there is clear segregation

C redit offtake has risen sharply post­Covid
with most loan categories seeing growth,
except education loans. Though there’s
strong appetite for these loans, bankers seem
reluctant to lend. Reserve Bank of India data show
investor funds were
handled for stock market trades was
shrouded in mystery. With trading,
clearing and settlement moving online,
investors now have a fairly good idea
of individual client accounts, mapped to
the client ledger.
The problem, however, arises when a
broker decides to misuse the power of
attorney given by the client to transfer
about where their funds are going and the client’s funds to any other client’s or
that in July 2022, banks had just ₹85,098 crore of how they are being utilised. But there are to the broker’s account. These could be
always regulatory gaps and loopholes extremely short­term transfers reversed
education loans in a mammoth ₹35.9 lakh crore retail waiting to be discovered by those within a day or two, but are still in

Is secondary
credit book. A key reason for this seems to be banks’ looking for them. violation of client protection rules. If
fear of delinquencies. As of March 2022, banks carried The spotlight turned on these gaps in SEBI implements ASBA for the
November 2019 when the Karvy Stock secondary market, this issue will be
Non­Performing Assets (NPAs) of just 1.8 per cent on Broking scandal broke out. The addressed.
their retail loan portfolios but education loan NPAs amorphous way in which the assets of
different clients and the brokerage’s HOW WILL IT WORK

market
were higher at 6.7 per cent.
own funds were being held and managed India’s pioneering ASBA framework in
Higher education is today a key aspiration came to the fore in this scandal. The primary market has been immensely
for India’s lower­ and middle­income broking firm had misused the power of successful. It allows clients money to
attorney given by clients to pledge stay in the bank account and earn
households and the skilling of youngsters is securities held on their behalf to raise interest in the period between

ASBA­ready?
critical for the country’s demographic money. A flurry of circulars and subscription and allotment. Not only
dividend to play out. Bankers and guidelines from SEBI followed this does it benefit investors, it has made the
policymakers therefore need to delve into the scandal, tightening the rules for IPO subscription and allotment process
root causes for stagnating education loans, managing client assets. much simpler.
The recent statement by the SEBI As explained above, an ASBA­like
and address them. To start with, accessing Chairperson onr introduction of an system is already being used by bank­led
education loans from formal sources remains ASBA­like (Application Supported by brokers. Implementing it for other
an uphill task for students from less affluent Blocked Amount) system, in secondary brokers will require alterations to the
backgrounds. Yes, RBI offers the priority market needs to be seen against this ‘Application Supported by Blocked Amount’  trading software and systems, but may
background. While regulations in India not be impossible to enforce. Clients
sector tag for all education loans below ₹20 have kept pace with other markets in has multiple benefits for investors, but will benefit greatly since the unutilised
lakh and the Centre provides an interest most aspects, the rules on protecting implementation must be non­disruptive  trading funds can earn interest in the
subsidy during moratorium to students from client assets fall short of global bank accounts.
low­incomes households. But these sops do standards. It is good that the regulator is Therefore, in principle, this is a great
taking steps to address this now. idea. But the reality is that the funds in
not make up for the high access barriers to the trading accounts of clients provide a
education loans in the form of demand for PRINCIPLES AND RULES float for a large number of market
collateral. Most banks extend education Safeguarding the securities and funds 3, which reads, “an intermediary should of the SEBI Act and the circular issued intermediaries. Moving the funds away
loans under the IBA model where loans entrusted by a client to the intermediary, maintain appropriate arrangements to on November 18, 1993 specify that “the from the intermediaries’ reach will
below ₹4 lakh do not require any collateral, either for trading or as collateral, is key safeguard the clients’ rights in client money/securities deposited by the client affect the way they are currently
to establishing the credibility of a stock assets and minimise the risk of loss and should be kept in a separate account conducting business. A significant
but those up to ₹7.5 lakh require third­party market ecosystem. The International misuse”. This principle had seen the distinct from the firm’s own account or disruption is likely in the broking
guarantee and loans above ₹7.5 lakh require Organisation of Securities Commissions least adoption, with just 24 out of 36 account of any other clients.” The industry with larger brokers, especially
tangible collateral. The sky­rocketing cost of (IOSCO) had consulted with market jurisdictions taking up measures on this. circular issued in 2008 specifies that bank led ones, gaining a larger market
higher education has made sure that these regulators globally and published a It is therefore not surprising that the brokers should have adequate systems share.
report in 2014 containing eight Indian regulator is now moving forward and procedures in place to ensure that Trading volumes on the stock market
thresholds are quite inadequate today. The principles outlining the manner in in this area. client collateral is not misused and are likely to contract. Proprietary
short moratorium period of just 6 months to which intermediaries should handle That said, it is not as if rules have not should also maintain records to ensure trading by market intermediaries, on
one year also poses a challenge as the client assets and the way regulatory been in existence in India, but their proper audit trail of use of client their own books, accounts for 27 per
employability of most students passing out supervision should be established. enforcement had been lax. Regulation 17 collaterals. cent of cash market volumes and around
A review of the adoption of the Despite these rules, there was 50 per cent of equity derivative volumes.
of private engineering/medical colleges and
technical institutes remains a question mark.
principles was conducted in 2017 in
which 36 countries including India had
Moving  the  funds  away rampant misuse of client funds and
securities prior to 2019.
These volumes could contract going
ahead, as the funds handled by brokers
Given the low packages at which most participated. Based on self­assessment, from  the  intermediaries’ reduces.
students get placed, the mark­up of 2­3 India had met the requirement relating reach  will  affect  the  way GROUND REALITY Brokers, hardpressed for funds may
to intermediary records, statement of The situation on the ground is however be unable to provide facility for
percentage points over MCLR at which accounts, disclosure regarding they  conduct  business.  A better after the regulatory tightening leveraged trading to clients, impacting
student loans are priced acts as a barrier too. protection, regulator’s oversight of significant  impact  is  likely over the last three years. volumes further. It could be the way
To make education loans affordable and compliance and information on foreign Currently, client funds are reasonably forward, but the consequences should
accessible, banks may need to tweak their jurisdiction. on  the  broking  industry well segregated from the brokers’ own be thought through and implementation
product design to offer lower EMIs, perhaps But India was found short in Principle and  on  market  volume  funds. The process is seamless for done in a non­disruptive manner.
with longer moratoriums and repayment
periods. Products such as income
contingency loans popular in developed

What the draft telecom policy intends to regulate


markets, which set a minimum EMI but allow
the student to vary instalments based on
earnings ability, can be explored.
Bankers also need to rethink their
approach to evaluating loan applicants. The new Bill, which is in the draft stage, has important proposals on spectrum management and stressed telecom assets 
While banks focus on the parents’
credit­worthiness, CIBIL score and ability to
provide collateral to approve student loans, bl explainer “telecommunication services” in its
draft, to refer to telecom networks in the
courts to intervene (such as the 2G case)
­­ the Centre clearly wants to take back
specialised NBFCs in this space have Ayushi Kar current Act. By providing a definition of the power in spectrum management and
achieved better outcomes by focussing on telecommunications services, the Bill the Bill has chalked out rules on how
the student’s academic record, the quality of What is the new Telecom Bill all has also clarified what type of services spectrum will be managed. 
her college and course, and placement about? and technologies will fall under its The draft rules allow for spectrum to
regulatory ambit. While the Telegraph be assigned administratively,. Here the
prospects. Yes, PSBs are hamstrung by The Centre’s new Telecom Bill will Act defines any message flowing on its government seems to looking to
small­ticket loans to lower­income replace replace the Indian Telegraph Act telecom network as falling under its maximise utilisation of spectrum
households that dominate their books. Here, which has been regulating the purview, the new Bill specifies the kind instead of revenue. 
collecting more KYC details, and more telecommunications space since 1885. of services and technologies which will
The Bill is part of four laws that the be considered. This includes TELECOM BILL Ambitious scope  What is the OTT controversy?
frequent follow­ups after disbursal, may help government wants to pass in Parliament broadcasting, voice, and data, as well as The new Telecom Bill will regulate
improve the repayment record. An RBI study to regulate the dynamic digital tech internet communication services such communication services such as e­mail
of student loan defaults published in space. So in many ways, this Bill is an as WhatsApp and Zoom, electronic mail. whether banks can take control of it. or OTT. This can have major
December 2020 points out that the incidence addition to past laws and lends clarity on This clarity will avoid litigation that the implications for the players, from being
of default on Aadhaar­linked education loans regulations in the telecom space. The What else is new in the Bill? Centre encountered in insolvency cases subjected to licensing just like a typical
Bill, which is in its draft stage and will The Bill also puts into law how the such as R­Com. The Bill also formally operator, to the dissolution of user
was much lower than those without these likely change during the consultation government will deal with stressed introduces a clause that will allow the anonymity and user privacy while
basic details.   process, is quite ambitious in its scope. telecom assets, and has said the government to provide waivers to utilising these services.
government will remain the custodian of operators who are unable to pay their Clauses such as messages being
How different is this Bill in spectrum assets owned by a company if dues to the government. potentially intercepted at the behest of
comparison to the previous laws? it falls into bankruptcy. the state could also impact privacy and
There are many proposed changes from Currently, insolvency cases under IBC Does the Bill provide clarity on threaten the end­to­end encryption on
OTHER VOICES.  the Telegraph Act, which could have have not had much success because spectrum issues? platforms such as WhatsApp which does
implications for the industry. For there was no clarity on whether the At present the government provides not even allow the company to read user
instance, the Bill has explicitly spectrum owned by the defaulting spectrum to telecom service providers messages. 
introduced the word operator belongs to the Centre or on an ad hoc basis, which has led the

Keir Starmer’s speech: starting to stand for something LETTERS TO 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, 859­860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.


Sir Keir Starmer’s conference speech in Liverpool was his first as leader to
be aimed squarely at voters rather than party delegates. He has spent
much of the last two years ruthlessly tightening his grip over the party No price relief  hikes local fuel prices. However, price individuals, vis­a­vis China’s 32,710 . less than zero, close to minus two. background of reduction of rice
machine. This week he sealed his victory over his internal opponents by With reference to the news report drops are being set aside for further So there is a striking contrast Figure 2 says that after the war it was output during Kharif season and the
draping the union jack over the stage and getting his party to sing the ‘Fuel prices may be revised post studies, which take time, before between democratic India and plus 1.49 percentage points.  challenges of procurement of wheat,
national anthem. Sir Keir’s actions were not a repudiation of the party’s review of OMCs loss’ (September effecting a nominal reduction.  Communist China with the latter So the statement in the article that it is important to fine­tune the
internationalism, but an embrace of the nation so it can be recast in a 28), the crude oil price already Girish R Edathitta claiming a more equitable “India’s money supply grew by 12.47 targeting of the beneficiaries under
“fairer, greener” way.  LONDON, SEPTEMBER 27 dropped to the lowest level since Pathanamthitta (Kerala) distribution of wealth. per cent, and inflation declined by PMGKY which currently gives free
early January due to multiple And it will be interesting to know 1.49 percentage points” is incorrect. foodgrains to 80 crore people.
reasons including global recession The inequality puzzle  how many of the ultra­rich in India One can straight away go to the last It is essential that targeting of
fears.  This refers to the Data Focus report spend their wealth on philanthropic paragraph of the article taking two beneficiaries by various Central
However, the government has so far “Number of India’s ultra­rich grew activities beyond the CSR mandate. caveats, the first of which states that Schemes should bear similar criteria.
been reluctant to pass on the benefit 11x in last decade” ( September 28). YG Chouksey “we cannot precisely disentangle the For example, Ayushman Bharat
to consumers.  In spite of reduction in the value of Pune  demand and supply side impacts”. PMJAY targets 10 crore families (50
Bostic Belly Flops on British Tax Cuts Governments world over are trying assets held by the top 1 per cent Demand pressure will come only crore people) based on SECC data.
You’d think the people who delivered the worst inflation in 40 years and to extend the maximum fuel price Indians from 42.3 per cent in 2015 to The inflation conundrum when the common man has surplus If we align PMGKY criteria in a similar
may now cause a recession to cure it would refrain from criticizing reliefs to their citizens with tax cuts 40.6 per cent in 2021 and in Gini The editorial page piece ‘RBI has a income to spend after meeting the way, targeting would be sharper and
anyone else’s economic policy. But self­reflection isn’t common at the and subsidies.  coefficient from 83.3 per cent to grip on inflation’ (September 28) essentials.  leakages lower and would also
U.S. Federal Reserve, as Fed Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic The reasons cited for not cutting 82.3 per cent during the same stands far above the ground realities PD Sankaranarayanan ensure fortifying buffer stocks to
demonstrated on Monday. Mr. Bostic was asked about the market prices reasons were outstanding oil period, still 75 per cent adults own and flies on a lot of hypothetical Kumaramputhur PO (Kerala) meet future contingencies or
response to the tax cuts and deregulation proposed on Friday by new bonds, building infrastructure, less than $10,000 as against 18 per illogical conclusions.  emergencies. It is time this is
British Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, and if that increases the odds of a inflation etc.  cent in China.  A simple glance on Figure­1 will tell Target beneficiaries addressed. 
global recession. “It doesn’t help it,” he replied in an online discussion When international crude price Besides while India is home to 4,910 that during the pre­war period, the Apropos the Editorial ‘Sticky Girija Kumar
hosted by the Washington Post.  NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 28 increases, the government abruptly Ultra High Net Worth (UNHW) change in inflation in the country was situation’ (September 28), in the Chennai

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai­600002 and Printed by N. Vaidyanathan at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No. 22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai­400701 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai­600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).   ISSN 0971 ­ 7528

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businessline.
THURSDAY ­ SEPTEMBER 29 ­ 2022

Is moonlighting justified?
As it’s gaining traction, a policy re­think may help
Derivatives can de-risk agriculture
Atanu Biswas
PRICE SIGNALS. The derivatives market can help farmers and other stakeholders take informed decisions

O
ne of my acquaintances, a
school teacher, was on Ananya Singh
paid leave for studying

T
B.Ed. And then came the he central problem that
once­in­a­century pandemic. His various policies in the
B.Ed. classes went online, and he agriculture sector strive to
simultaneously taught in a private solve is the risk associated
college — that too online, of with the enterprise of
course — without informing his farming. The risks are umpteen —
employer. That’s moonlighting — monsoon cycles, price uncertainty,
holding more than one job, BEYOND DUTY. Looking for supply­chain inconsistencies, perishable
outside the normal working hours additional income  SAMPATH KUMAR GP output, etc.
without the knowledge of the To protect farmers from these risks,
principal employer. This is not an the focus has traditionally been on crop
aberration, though.  culture. Using evidence from US insurance, primarily through the
Didn’t an HR manager recently state­level data, a 2003 paper in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. This
track multiple, active provident the journal Growth and Change scheme covers the yield risk, but farmers
fund accounts of a new hire at a illustrated that multiple are still left unprotected against the
Bengaluru­based IT company who job­holding acts as a short­term price risk. This gap can be filled by
was working for seven firms at the shock absorber for cyclical leveraging the derivatives market for
same time? Employees are widely changes. In the long term, these agricultural commodities. 
exploiting the latitude of the effects dissipate. Conversely, Futures and options are derivative
pandemic­induced multiple job­holding rates are instruments that derive their value from
work­from­home (WFH) culture inversely related to average an underlying asset, and derivative
to explore other avenues of weekly earnings.  contracts involve an agreement to buy
income since they are not sitting The moonlighting debate in or sell the asset at an agreed price on a
physically in the office and also India gained momentum as Wipro future date. 
saving 2­4 hours for preparation fired 300 employees for doing just Specifically, put options can be of
for office­going, commuting, etc. that — “plain and simple great use to lock onto a minimum price PUT OPTIONS. The mechansim helps transfer risk from the farmer to the market participants  SANDEEP SAXENA
Moonlighting is inscribed in cheating,” said its chairman for farmers at the time of sowing itself
American culture; the multiple Rishad Premji. Most IT giants while also allowing them to gain from
job­holding rate was around 7 per joined the chorus. Certainly, the open market in case prices rise.  markets is captured succinctly by an consequent surpluses and shortages. In incentives through MSP declaration and
cent before the pandemic. Now, nobody can dispute the This means if the price of the economic model called the Cobweb the Indian scenario, this translates to a open­ended procurement for a few
the moon is laughing in this zero­tolerance policy where commodity falls in the future, the Model. This model argues that the cycle of scarcity and plenty.  crops has dictated the cropping pattern.
country as well, so to speak, amid conflict of interest and farmer can sell at the pre­decided price farmer decides which crop to sow based In the case of perishable items like However, with the paradigm shift
the WFH paradigm— especially intellectual property rights to the seller, but if the price rises, the on the prices prevailing in the market in tomatoes, there have been instances of envisaged in the role of the government
among Gen Z (the online violations exist. farmer can sell in the open market. To the previous period. If the price of a crop farmers dumping their produce on roads as a catalyst, more space shall be given to
generation), with some even CP Gurnani, CEO of Tech buy the put option, the buyer has to pay a was high in the previous period, farmers due to the low prices. Such was the case the private sector in the times to come.
moonlighting for companies Mahindra, however, pointed out fixed premium to option writers who act increase its production. with red chillies in Andhra Pradesh and Once conducive market conditions
located in multiple geographies.  the necessity “to keep changing as insurers. At the time of harvesting, this supply Telangana and tur and grapes in are created, the derivatives market will
Gartner has reported that 30 with the times”. And last month, glut suppresses its price. In the next Maharashtra. While in the time of attain enough depth and liquidity in
per cent of Indians would be food delivery company Swiggy TRANSFER OF RISK season, farmers decrease its production scarcity­induced high prices, farmers terms of number of transactions and
working remotely by 2022, a huge announced its “moonlighting” Through this mechanism, the risk is considering the low prices in the hardly get their due, they take a huge hit participants.
logistical advantage for policy, by allowing its employees transferred from the farmer to the previous period. Consequently, the price in income in times of glut and resultant Till then, efforts must be made to
employers as well. to take up gigs/projects outside of market participants who are willing and in the harvesting season rises.  price crash.  disseminate financial literacy and
their regular employment at the capable of taking risks for a premium. Thus, the market keeps fluctuating fintech training to farmers and FPOs. A
IN DIFFERENT AVATARS company, during their hours away The government must consider creating between high and low prices and MARKET IMPERFECTIONS strategic rethink to view farmers not as
But hadn’t moonlighting existed from work. Working for Swiggy an AgriPut Fund to pay fully or partly the A healthy derivatives market can mere scheme beneficiaries but as
earlier, in every society? Some and Wipro is, however, initial premium. CSR activities can also disseminate reliable price signals to help empowered stakeholders is imperative. 
teachers give tuition outside of completely different in nature.  be utilised for the same. A The  government  must both farmers and other stakeholders The market has the potential to turn
school, some physicians of How to combat moonlighting? well­functioning derivatives market can consider  creating  an take more informed decisions. The the farmers’ fortunes and enable them
government hospitals practice It’s almost impossible to track also send strong price signals for underlying problem that has kept India to become entrepreneurs, Atmanirbhar
privately, and consultants in employees remotely. Employees’ agricultural commodities that can AgriPut  Fund  to  pay away from a well­functioning in the true sense.
various professions often return to the office floor might abridge the major information fully or partly the initial agricultural derivatives market is the
moonlight for independent ease concerns. And would a salary asymmetry on future prices faced by premium to buy a multiple market imperfections.  The writer is an IAS officer working as Assistant
projects. Many employed people hike to retain talent work? farmers. There is overarching participation of Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
become part­time insurance (Remember the finding of the This asymmetry in agricultural put option the government in every stage. Skewed Welfare. Views are personal
agents. Well, haven’t some above­mentioned 2003 paper.) 
successful start­ups come up as The Minister of State for
the founders were moonlighting?  Electronics and IT, Rajeev
But not everybody who’s Chandrasekhar, recently said Short take
earning handsomely would like to
sacrifice precious leisure and
family time just to earn more.
moonlighting is “an idea whose
time has come”.
There may be widespread
Stray dog menace: Barking up the wrong tree Bond collapse draws
Moonlighting could also take a
toll on the physical and mental
discussions on moonlighting; the
grey areas that the labour codes
Discussion on dogs strays away from humane solutions that already exist investors to govt debt
health of a person, leading to don’t talk about. Should the PT Jyothi Datta is to track puppy­mills (where dogs
burnout. From companies’ point labour laws be reframed by are commercially bred, allegedly in Bloomberg

A
of view, it may lead to acknowledging the inevitable, new topic is running up the unhealthy environments and pups

T
productivity and revenue loss.  balancing ethical issues and temperature of discussions, are sold). In fact, the Law he worst bond rout in decades is
What is the underlying conflicts of interest? creating divides within Commission had come out with a drawing more investors to
economics of moonlighting? families and friends, and it’s not to do report to regulate pet shops, government debt, with JPMorgan
Small companies can certainly The writer is Professor of Statistics, with religion or politics. It’s dogs. breeders, aquariums, etc. Asset Management joining the growing
benefit from the moonlighting ISI, Kolkata Pet dogs and “strays”, as local In some parts of the world, like camp of bulls.
indigenous breeds are called. And as California, the retail sale of Longer­dated sovereign notes in most
heated discussions often go, this one companion animals has been developed markets are starting to look
too is barking up the wrong tree. outlawed.  appealing given that yields are at levels
businessline. Recent footage of pets (snapping at
residents in elevators or chasing
The idea was to encourage
adoption of local and homeless dogs.
last seen in 2010, according to Arjun Vij,
a money manager at JPMorgan Asset.
others in parks) are indeed And here’s where the discussion in Market expectations that inflation will
TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY. disturbing SOFT TOUCH. Handle with care India on the “menace” of local dogs, ease in the coming years render the
. But the responsibility here lies comes in.  securities an attractive proposition, he
September 29, 2002 entirely with the owner of the pet, or said.
pet­parent (as they are referred to in educated about the animal they bring ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL US 10­year yields have jumped almost
Tatas may stay with Haldia Petro the animal­lovers universe). home. If you own a marque car and it There is a solution in place for several 80 basis points in September to head for
The Tatas are likely to continue their association with Haldia Petrochemicals meets with an accident because you decades now, where States undertake their largest monthly increase since
Ltd (HPL), a venture from which they had wanted to exit. Information gathered UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEEDS are unable to handle it, it’s the person the ABC (animal birth control) 2003. The global bond rout accelerated
from sources within the industry indicated that the efforts of the State People often buy breed­dogs to behind the wheel who will be held programme that regulates the dog this week as the UK’s plan for large tax
Government and the HPL Chairman, Mr Tarun Das, have borne fruit.  match their own aspirations, without accountable. It’s the same logic with population and makes the animal less cuts reinforced fears of more rate hikes.
understanding the pet’s needs, pets. aggressive.  So far, there’s little sign that the
Voltas to make fridges for Samsung under contract expenses and handling. Several In fact, to streamline Local municipalities working with market is about to turn. The Bloomberg
Voltas Ltd, which now manufactures refrigerators for LG on a contract basis, breeds are unsuited to the local accountability further, the animal­welfare groups pick up local Global Aggregate Index of government
will shortly begin producing refrigerators for Samsung, according to Mr A Soni, ecosystem, for instance, Huskies government needs to enforce the dogs, get them sterilised and and corporate bonds has lost more than
Managing Director, Voltas. He told Business Line that Voltas had a capacity to (hailing from extremely cold registration of pets. A spin­off benefit vaccinated against rabies and return 20 per cent since end­December as it
manufacture four lakh refrigerators a year. Last year, it made about 2.5 lakh regions). Take the Pit Bull or would be that people abandoning them to the same locality.  slipped into the first bear market since
refrigerators in the 165­litre and 210­ litre categories for LG.  Rotweiller, depending on who you pets can also be traced. It is a scientific solution, unlike its inception in 1990. Bonds maturing in
ask, they either swear by its affection The pandemic witnessed several “culling” (euphemism for killing). In more than 10 years have lost 33 per cent.
BSNL defers new mobile numbering or point to its ferocity. pets being abandoned, as people lost a country that prides itself on ahimsa The Federal Reserve is expected to
The state­owned BSNL has decided to put off its new mobile numbering Bottomline, you need to know their jobs and were unable to keep (non­violence), it’s time to boost its target rate in November by 75
scheme with a '94' access level apparently because of the hostile reaction from your pet, understand its behaviour pace with the pet’s special implement more of such humane basis points for a fourth straight
the private cellular phone operators in the country who were peeved at the and be able to handle it. It is requirements.  solutions and not gun for soft furry meeting, the swaps market shows, while
“unfair marketing identity advantage” sought to be provided to the public important for the pet­parent to be Another advantage of registration targets. the Bank of England is seen raising rates
sector behemoth.  by at least double that amount.

BL TWO­WAY CROSSWORD 2125
EASY NOT SO EASY
ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
1. Of earth's gaseous envelope (11) 1. One more (7) 1. Harp: it comes thus to describe the air (11) 1. Somebody else's hero Nat upset (7)
8. River animal (5) 2. Ripens (7) 8. A more 'eated natural swimmer (5) 2. Gets older sort of rug, sure of change (7)
9. Regard (7) 3. Fish (5) 9. Have regard for sceptre that's wielded awkwardly (7) 3. Sailor with afterthought turns up to be 
10. Non­believer (7) 4. Classic poet (6) 10. He holds contrary view in this place: it returns mackerel­catcher (5)
11. Line for holding (5) 5. Cattle thief (7) chapter­head (7) 4. His Latin rhymed with Morris, perhaps (6)
12. Holiday centre (6) 6. Last words serving as prompt (3) 11. Whip round end of avenue with dog at other  5. One to take what's lowing? (7)
14. Drive forward (6) 7. Bring out from the egg (5) end of it? (5) 6. Words to tell one when to start to sound like a letter (3)
18. Fundamental (5) 13. Musical entertainment (7) 12. Have recourse to a place to take one's holiday (6) 7. Produce chicks to cross with fine lines (5)
19. Supplement (7) 15. Take it (7) 14. Drive quietly ­­ or return quietly ­­ to the Spanish (6) 13. A performance that possibly made it clear (7)
21. Mark with nail (7) 16. Correspondence (7) 18. Degree to be read as printed in computer language (5) 15. Take it upon oneself quietly to start again (7)
23. Divert (5) 17. One swimming (6) 19. People replacing us in a month grow larger (7) 16. Landlords get shifted about in the mail (7)
24. Campanologists (4­7) 18. Heads­and­shoulders (5) 21. Withdraw one's entry ­­ in response to irritation? (7) 17. One in for a dip sees woman following the club (6)
20. Wood marking (5) 23. It will tickle radio amateur who loses head with the  18. Breaks the sculpted portraits (5)
22. Bone (3) habit (5) 20. In general corn may be seen in wood cut lengthways (5)
24. For a change they should know the ropes (4­7) 22. Make fun of one's wife (3)

SOLUTION: BL TWO­WAY CROSSWORD 2124
ACROSS 1.  Rebus  4.  Jackdaw  8.  Concatenation  10.  Theme  11.  Iron  12.  Bind  16.  Imago  17.  Exact  sciences  19.  Scholar  20.  Tutor
DOWN 1.  Receptiveness  2.  Bin  3.  Shanty  4.  Jeered  5.  Craven  6.  Dwindling  7.  Window  dresser  9.  Slowcoach  13.  Pistol  14.  Lascar  15.  Covert  18.  Cut

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Volume XXIX Number 119 ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA


NEW DELHI | THURSDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2022
GROWTH PREDICTIONS
Population Surface Area GDP*

Policy beyond a phrase


(million) (million sq km) ($ billion)
China 1,411.0 9.60 39,204
USA 337.0 9.80 29,103
Trade policy needs to expand on what ‘self-reliance’ means
EU 451.0 4.20 21,419

I
ndia’s foreign trade policy was last updated in 2015. It was supposed to India 1,390.0 3.30 15,818
last for five years, until 2020. But, to an extent because of the complexities Japan 124.0 0.38 6,739
caused by the pandemic, it has been extended by six months at a time
Russia 142.0 17.10 5,512
since then. The global economy has not yet emerged completely from the
pandemic-related disruptions; and to those have been added the uncertainties Indonesia 277.0 1.90 5,221
due to inflationary pressures worldwide and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. UK 67.8 0.24 4,120
Thus, the Union commerce ministry has postponed the release of a new foreign South Korea 51.8 0.097 3,210
trade policy yet again. While it is understandable given the global situation, *2026 GDP in PPP
the fact is that a new comprehensive trade policy is overdue. This is because

National priorities best


IMF: Source for GDP numbers; published sources for surface
area and population
the broader attitude towards external trade links in the country has clearly
changed since 2015, but there is no clarity about the new direction for policy.
In 2015, the government was clearly doubtful about the benefits of freer Turning to domestic issues in India, the southern

served domestically
trade. New agreements were put on hold, older agreements were scrutinised, states are growing faster than those in the north.
and bilateral investment treaties were scrapped. Subsequently, the prime This may lead to serious disputes between India’s
southern and northern states over the sharing of cen-
minister introduced the concept of aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance, in his
trally-raised revenues. Another potentially highly
first major policy speech after the Covid-19 pandemic hit India. It is not clear contentious issue could be the delimitation of Lok
what self-reliance specifically means in the context of foreign trade policy.
Some have interpreted it as increasing the capacity and competitiveness of Shortcomings at home require unwavering attention Sabha constituencies, which was last done on the
basis of the 2001 census and is due for a review in
domestic industry. Others have seen the possibility of modern industrial pol- 2026. Incidentally, Tamil Nadu’s finance minister

M
icy that focuses on certain sunrise sectors such as electric vehicles or micro- ulti-country meetings at the head of gov- The next G20 Summit meeting with Indonesia has recently pointed out quite combatively that his
chips. But in practice, much of the action on “self-reliant” policy has been ernment-level are enjoyable extravaganzas in the chair is scheduled to take place in that coun- state’s finances are in far better shape than those of
straightforward import substitution. Yet, meanwhile, the government has and the media plays up such spectacles. try in November. It is unlikely to be a great success the central government and its growth rate is signif-
Presidents and prime ministers are complicit in such given the sharp differences between the West and icantly higher than the national average.
also acted on multiple new free trade agreements, signing a comprehensive
self-promotion as their names and videos are Russia about the conflict in Ukraine. With the cur- Separately, the Supreme Court is having to grap-
partnership with the United Arab Emirates, a more limited agreement with splashed all over newspapers and television. The rent fraught state of India’s relations with Pakistan ple with issues which are best resolved by ruling
Australia, and moving discussions forward with the United Kingdom and Indian government should review the opportunity and China, would their heads of government attend political parties at the Centre and the states. These
the European Union among others. cost of time spent in attending international meet- the 2023 SCO and G20 Summits in India? India disputes range from places of religious worship to
There are clearly contradictory impulses here. This is not surprising, since ings in-person at the level of ministers and prime should perhaps scale down expectations and time quotas in government jobs for the economically
“self-reliance” is after all one short phrase and does not constitute a policy ministers (PMs), particularly for expended on preparing for these weaker sections. On a separate note of distress, state
statement on its own. This is the gap that a foreign trade policy should ideally those which are pro forma. two summits. electricity corporations are groaning under the
fill. The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme is a revealing illustration of A beneficial time saving con- Over the past several decades weight of transmission and distribution losses
the problems of having an incoherent approach to foreign trade. It is not very sequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and particularly after the elevation caused, among other factors, by the high levels of
was that during 2020 and 2021 many of G20 to head of government-level subsidies provided in several states. According to
clear if the PLI scheme is meant as a temporary bridging mechanism, an export
high-level government and corporate following the 2008 financial sector Reserve Bank of India’s July 2022 bulletin, Punjab,
promotion system, an investment promotion scheme, or a geo-strategic play meetings took place virtually. In breakdown, Indian PMs have Rajasthan and Jharkhand are particularly vulnerable
to reduce dependence on China. What is certain is that such schemes, unless June-July 2022, Nato, EU and G7 invariably participated in summit fiscally. Another source of disquiet is the wide range
their aim and purpose is clearly defined, tend to expand in scope in response heads of government-level meetings meetings of the G20 and other mul- of non-merit subsidies, for example, for fertilisers.
to rent-seeking. The expansion of the scheme will also have fiscal implications. reverted to in-person participation. tilateral formations. However, All such subsidies could be withdrawn and distrib-
More and more sectors are being brought under PLI schemes. As former More recently on September 16, the gushing media coverage does not uted as universal basic income to those who do not
Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan recently pointed out, there is Shanghai Cooperation Organization JAIMINI BHAGWATI necessarily boost the fortunes of have a car to their name and are above 21 years of
also no obvious reason why after the subsidies end, the productive capacity (SCO) summit took place in the Silk ruling Indian political parties any age. The alleged excessive powers of the
will remain in use if it becomes uncompetitive. There has to be clear visibility Route city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the phys- longer. This is because millennials born after 1981 Enforcement Directorate are being questioned in
ical presence of the Indian PM, the presidents of are less likely to subscribe to hard copy newspapers media reports and so are repeated extensions and
on how temporary subsidies lead to a permanent increase in competitiveness.
Russia and China and heads of government of other or even view national television channels regularly appointments of so-called favourites by the central
This is not obvious in the PLI scheme at present. In the absence of this under- member countries. and media houses know this to their cost. As for government and both need course correction.
standing, the errors of the past will be repeated. Import substitution paradoxi- The Indian PM called for better supply chains and voters in rural and small-town India, they seem to On balance, the central government would do
cally led to weakness on the external account for decades before the 1991 full transit rights at this SCO summit. Is Pakistan get their news from social media. well to discuss contentious issues with state govern-
reforms; it is the opposite of “self-reliance”. These issues need to be clearly likely to allow surface transit rights to India via its The table provides the population, surface area ments, as it did for the Goods and Services Tax legis-
examined and understood going forward. territory anytime soon? As for China, on the day of and gross domestic product in purchasing power lation, to arrive at consensus-based decisions. All
the SCO summit on September 16, it blocked a joint parity terms of a few large population economies things considered, it would be in India’s interest for
move by India and the US to blacklist the Laskhar-e- four years into the future in 2026. the central government to spend more time on

Short-term outperformance Taiba militant Sajid Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaida Asia has not lived up to its potential yet given its
Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. significant demographic and natural resources.
The US has placed a bounty of $5 million on Mir’s However, it is a matter of time for Asia’s collective
addressing urgent domestic challenges rather than
at glitzy international meetings.

Valuations are likely to come down head for his role in the November 26 Mumbai terror economic weight and physical size to figure more j.bhagwati@gmail.com
attacks. India’s bilateral relations with China are too starkly in geopolitics as the numbers in the table The writer is a former Indian ambassador, head of market

E
very major stock market has suffered net losses over the last year, embroiled with armed confrontation at the border in portend. However, in per capita income terms, there risk in the World Bank Treasury, and currently a
but the Indian market has suffered less than most others. The S&P Ladakh to be effectively discussed on the sidelines will remain a considerable amount of catching up to distinguished fellow at the Centre for Social and
500 index—the broad gauge of the US stock markets— is down 17 of any multilateral meeting. do for several Asian countries, including India. Economic Progress
per cent. Frankfurt’s DAX index is down 21 per cent. The Shanghai
Composite is down 15 per cent. But the Nifty is down only 4 per cent and
even its US dollar-denominated twin, the Defty, is down only 12 per cent
despite the depreciation in the rupee during this period. Is there a clear
explanation for the relative outperformance of Indian equities? Looking a
What next for central banks?
C
little deeper, this strength appears to be based on the optimism of domestic entral banks across the world have had to ery. To be sure, aside from central bank interven- remain weak. India clearly is not immune to what's
institutional investors. While the foreign portfolio investors have sold ~1.85 adjust at an extraordinary pace since the tions, massive fiscal push in advanced economies happening around the world. It also took a number
trillion worth of equity over the last 12 months, and retail investors have beginning of 2020 and the process is likely to and supply chain disruptions in various parts of the of conventional and unconventional steps during
been net sellers in direct equity, domestic institutions, including mutual continue for some time. The speed and scope of world also played a part. Last week, the Fed raised the pandemic, and is now dealing with high inflation.
change can be gauged through policy shifts made its policy rate by 75 basis points for the third time in Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) started a
funds, have bought a net ~3.1 trillion, which has been enough to almost bal-
by the most consequential central bank on the plan- a row. In his remarks, Mr Powell this time noted that bit late in terms of policy adjustment, the disinflation
ance the selling pressure. et, the US Federal Reserve. In early 2020, things no one knows if the Fed’s action will lead to a reces- required in India is lower compared to advanced
As far as equity mutual funds are concerned, the monthly inflows remain looked perfectly in control as the US economy was sion and how significant it would be. economies. But it still has to contain inflation and
strong and those new funds have to be deployed, which means that mutual witnessing a record 11th year of expansion and unem- Differently put, containing the fallout of inter- deal with currency market pressures which can affect
funds have to continue to buy equities. The dichotomy between retail inves- ployment was at the lowest level in decades. In his ventions made to enable a swift recovery from the prices. The rupee has remained resilient compared
tors selling direct equity, while investing via mutual funds is somewhat press interaction in January 2020, pandemic-induced recession could to other currencies because of sustained intervention
unusual—fund inflows and direct equity investment normally trend in the though Fed Chair Jerome Powell did lead to another recession. The latest by the RBI. Since the external environment is
same direction. While some systematic investment plans (SIPs) have a mini- refer to uncertainties related to the projections by Fed members sug- unlikely to improve significantly in the near term,
mum mandated tenure of six months, most investors have locked in for coronavirus, perhaps no one gest that interest rates could go up the RBI would need to adjust its currency policy.
expected the world’s largest econ- by over 100 basis points before the At a broader level, even as most central banks
longer periods and many SIPs are still running, even though retail investors
omy to slip into one of the deepest end of the year. Such a steep are currently struggling to contain inflation and
are selling direct equity holdings. There are, however, signs of a dip in fund recessions virtually in a matter of increase in interest rates by the Fed manage currency, they would need to prepare for a
inflows, with August 2022 registering a 10-month low and a trend of lower days. It was later declared that the will have consequences. Other large prolonged period of uncertainty. The evolving geo-
renewals can be seen. As far as institutions other than mutual funds are con- recession started in February 2020. central banks in advanced econ- political situation, for example, could reverse part
cerned, there is little in the way of attractive alternative investments. Most The Fed not only quickly cut omies may not be able to match the of the productivity gains realised in recent decades,
debt instruments look unattractive in a scenario where real interest rates interest rates to near zero but also Fed’s resolve. As a result, the US which resulted in lower prices. The apparent shift
are negative, and central banks are hiking rates and tightening money supply flooded the system with liquidity and
invoked emergency powers to sup-
REAL TERMS dollar is strengthening and has led
to turmoil in the global currency
in supply chains and trade linkages could put sus-
tained upward pressure on prices, at least for some
to combat inflation. Industrial metals are sliding as global demand is slowing
port practically any entity. In an RAJESH KUMAR markets. There are now also con- time. This would mean central banks may have to
and even precious metals are under pressure due to the strength of the dollar.
interaction in May 2020, for instance, cerns that simultaneous policy operate in an environment of relatively higher infla-
It is possible that Indian investors are not factoring in all the risks and Mr Powell said: “We crossed a lot of red lines that action by large central banks might lead to higher tion and lower economic growth. How long such a
holding on in expectation that India will do well despite the global slowdown. had not been crossed before.” He further noted that than the desired tightening in financial conditions. phase could last will be hard to guess, given other
But while this “uncoupling” theory may be an interesting conversational it was the kind of situation where one does such As the World Bank recently noted, the global econ- challenges such as the ageing population and cli-
point amongst retail investors, institutional investors are well aware that things and figures them out later. But that time came omy may be edging towards a recession and a series mate change.
India is far too connected to the global economy to decouple during a down- much sooner than a lot of people had expected. of financial crises in emerging markets. Countries In such a situation, central banks in developing
cycle. India is a huge net energy importer; it is enduring a sharp increase in The size of the Fed balance sheet expanded by with high foreign debt or higher current account def- countries like India would do well to build protec-
the current account deficit; growth estimates have been slashed as inflation about 70 per cent between February and May 2020. icit will increasingly face more difficulties. tion. This would essentially mean maintaining low
has taken hold; and the rupee has fallen to new lows. Indian markets have While policy interventions led to a swift recovery, The current phase is clearly one of the most chal- and stable inflation with a healthy cover of foreign
too much money also did what it is usually supposed lenging periods for central banks in recent decades. exchange reserves. The record shows policymakers
always seen severe declines when the global economy is in trouble. However,
to do: Push up prices. The inflation rate in the US is It is likely that inflation conditions would stabilise in advanced economies are usually not worried
if the market continues to trend down and mutual fund inflows dry up, there running over 8 per cent, way above the medium- in the near term, though the rate may remain above about what happens in other parts of the world.
will be more focus on the preservation of capital rather than earning returns. term target of 2 per cent. The story in other parts of the medium-term target for some time. Thus, rel- India’s resilience will also depend on government
While there’s no dearth of high-quality corporate stories to keep investors the world is more complicated. Central banks in atively higher interest rates in advanced economies, policy choices, particularly in areas of fiscal man-
interested in Indian equity, a drop in valuations is likely if the international Europe, for example, are more constrained in terms especially the US, for a considerable period would agement and trade. Slippages in these areas would
outlook worsens further. of responding to inflation, while many in emerging make life difficult for policymakers in developing increase external vulnerability and affect longer-
markets have to tighten policy despite a weak recov- countries, particularly when output is expected to term growth prospects.

A pol’s stump handbook


ment in 2018 is quite superficial, some- Venkaiah Naidu, luminaries from the sections. There is no clue at all as to
thing not expected in view of their close legal fraternity as also cricket, given his who has undertaken this enterprise.
association of three years-plus. That long associations with these activities. Errors of language, syntax and, occa-
supports the suspicion the legal eagle The sketches do not go beyond what is sionally, even facts pop up at various
Jaitley became his mentor in the hurly Emergency and some anecdotes. was perhaps somewhat out of his depth already well-known about the subjects, places. Worse, tiresome repetitions are
burly of the capital. That role continued Jaitley had a stellar supporting cast in the world of economics and finance. indicating a lack of depth or absence of not checked. Vajpayee is the specific
even after 2014. of advisers and administrators: This reviewer read the two parts deal- reflection on the part of the writer. subject of at least three of the blogs.
The new prime minister was a self- Arvind Panagariya at the NITI Aayog, ing with the Emergency and the writer’s The main reason for these glaring He is also the subject of numerous ref-
confessed outsider in Lutyens’ Delhi. Raghuram Rajan at the Reserve Bank anecdotes with much interest, as he lapses is the very nature of the work. erences. Many of these are repeats of
Jaitley was a card-carrying member of and Arvind Subramanian as the chief expected them to be Bunging in blogs on each other.
it, given his family background, educa- economic adviser were a formidable full of insights. A New India: diverse subjects Why, then, this compilation and
BOOK REVIEW tion and legal profession despite his Jan combination unmatched in recent his- Jaitley was a promi- Selected Writings
2014-19
between covers does why now? One reason could be that
Sangh/Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pol- tory. The bureaucrats included such nent student activist not result in a book. this is a handy guide to the many BJP
SHREEKANT SAMBRANI itics and became Mr Modi’s willing and stalwarts as Rajiv Takru, Shaktikanta in the 1970s and Author: Arun Stars of opinion spokespersons for their public and
able sherpa. He was also the prime Das, Hasmukh Adhia and Subhash among the early Jaitley pages sometimes media appearances, always imminent

“A
run Jaitley was a truly multi- minister’s go-to person in the early days Chandra Garg, among others. Yet their detainees of the Publisher: publish collections in view of some approaching election
faceted personality. A friend of the first Modi government, when he collective achievement of enacting the Emergency. Yet his Juggernaut of their columns as or the other. But even here, burning
to many, excellent legal mind, held many responsibilities, including Goods and Services Tax in 2017 is over- recollections are books but, almost issues of the day — inflation, unem-
Pages: x+374 pp
effective minister, consummate com- defence, corporate affairs and informa- shadowed by the disaster of the demon- mostly repetitions of invariably, that does ployment, exchange rates — are prom-
municator,…public intellectual with tion and broadcasting in addition to his etisation of the previous year. Jaitley’s the commonplace, Price: ~699 not work because of inent by their absence.
immense grasp on (sic) policy issues,” finance ministership. Their relation- defence of the two measures, in two showing little reflec- the short length and This is a pity. Jaitley was an impor-
writes Narendra Modi in his foreword to ship was quite similar to the one chapters of the book, is a collection of tion despite the passage of four dec- the time-bound tant politician, the early eminence grise
this collection of writings of his first between Atal Bihari Vajpayee and shibboleths we have heard many times, ades. His anecdotes include short nature of individual pieces. of Mr Modi. He had a distinguished
finance minister. He has good reasons Jaswant Singh in the first National and neither definitive nor convincing. sketches of Vajpayee, George Fernandes, Collections of blogs would fare even legal career and was a keen sports
to wax eloquent about his friend and Democratic Alliance government. Two factors could explain this: One, he Jagmohan Dalmia and Mr Adhia among worse, because their writers seldom enthusiast and administrator. Above
colleague. The future prime minister The work under review is divided was an inactive participant (as in others. One would have expected the list have the time or inclination for any- all, he was that rarity in the present
was sent to Delhi as a raw Rashtriya into six parts, namely Mr Modi’s leader- demonetisation) and, two, his own grasp to include Lal Krishna Advani and thing beyond shallow analyses. political world, a decent and gentle
Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak in 1979. ship, the reforms the new government of the key issues was not all that thor- Murali Manohar Joshi, his early mentors The present work is marred further human being. He deserved a better
Jaitley was an early friend. Although a ushered in, dynastic politics, the contin- ough. His tribute to Dr Subramanian on in the Vajpayee government, later col- by an absence of editorial oversight bar book, which this reviewer hopes is not
couple of years younger than Mr Modi, uing losses of the opposition, the the latter’s departure from the govern- leagues such as Sushma Swaraj or collecting the blogs into chapters and too long in coming.
14 NEW DELHI
THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Opinion

{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
Prioritising heart
National security health is a must
must be priority Heart disease is claiming ditis (inflammation of the heart mus- especially if they aim to undergo
cle) weakening the heart muscle, strenuous physical exercise.
young victims in India, causing arrhythmia (irregularity of But Covid-19 alone cannot be Exercise at least thrice a week for 30 minutes, do yoga. But if you do get lazy,
The Centre gave strong reasons in its order banning especially during the the heart rhythm) and sudden cardiac blamed for the surge in cardiac deaths call it a day with pranayama and meditation DEEPAK GUPTA/HT PHOTO

PFI. Now, all governments need to ensure vigilance pandemic. Modifications


arrest (SCA). There are longstanding among younger people. We must
ramifications of Long Covid, during remember that even though there is a to develop it by 50. This figure, how- health parameters to assess their
in lifestyle, a steady which time inflammation in the heart, lot of evidence on Long Covid Syn- ever, still does not explain how an 10-year risk, besides being prescribed

A
fter two rounds of nationwide operations besides the body, lingers on drome’s effect on cardiovas- increasing number of men and a prevention plan. While there is little
coordinated by federal investigative routine and a focus for weeks to months. Many cular health, the scientific women in their 30s and 40s are devel- that can be done about non-modifia-
agencies and police forces in at least 15 people start exercising in findings are still in the early oping heart disease. For this, we must ble risk factors, studies and our clini-
on health can stop this vulnerable period and stages. Such deaths have observe our teenagers. A review of cal experience show that consistent
states that resulted in the arrest of around and reverse this trend end up with cardiac arrest — been happening for a few scientific data and clinical observa- lifestyle modifications can stop and
100 members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and indicating that while out- decades and the pandemic tions shows a sustained rise in the reverse heart disease, thus improving

D
the detention of another 240-odd functionaries, the iseases reacquaint us ward symptoms may sub- Naresh has only exacerbated this number of children who are obese the quality of life and long-term
with mortality, making side, the effects of myocardi- Trehan trend, indicating that the way and hypertensive, pointing to the role health outcomes.
controversial Islamist organisation was banned by us experience an altered tis, and how it affects the our lifestyle is evolving is of calorie-rich diets and sedentary- The foremost recommendation is
the Union government on Wednesday. Government state of health and well- body, need to be monitored dangerous. stressful lives. The pandemic is also not to chew or smoke tobacco or vape.
investigators had already pointed to terror links, being. They hold up a even when (and after) a per- The major cardiac risk fac- likely to have contributed as it The young must remember to stay
mirror to us, how we son tests negative for the infection. tors — diabetes, hypertension, and restrained children indoors, disrupted active. The human body was designed
radicalisation camps, and hate crimes last week treat ourselves and each other. Epi- This was particularly acute in the hypercholesterolemia (very high lev- school, sporting activities, and to move. It starts ageing very rapidly
while justifying the raids, but laid out some key demics hold up the same mirror to Delta wave that swept through India els of bad cholesterol) — are not just increased screen time. when we don’t put it to use. Add to it
reasons for the crackdown and the decision to ban the human race. They question us last year, with at least 15-20% Covid caused by obesity but also stress, lack Guided by scientific observations, our habit of consuming tasty or proc-
about how we wish to evolve. For patients showing signs that the virus of sleep, irregular eating patterns, use clinical findings, and my experience, essed food over healthy food to beat
the outfit and its affiliates. many decades now, heart disease has affected their heart function — this of body-building drugs, alcohol and I believe that a deeper study of genetic stress, and obesity and diabetes
The first allegation is of direct violence, crimes and been asking us the same question. included people in their 30s, an age tobacco use. Each of these increases a understanding has the potential to become inevitable. They hit the heart
illegal activities connected to PFI members (such as A silent epidemic afflicting a fourth group that usually doesn’t develop person’s risk of developing athero- turn the Indian population’s genetic by damaging the nerves and blood
of India’s population and responsible heart ailments (and were relatively sclerosis, coronary artery disease, disadvantage into a strategy against vessels that are further squeezed by
allegedly chopping off the hand of a professor in for a third of all deaths, heart disease unaffected during the first wave of sudden cardiac arrest, and arrhyth- heart disease. We should look at our hypertension.
Kerala and killing a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is increasingly claiming the young. Covid-19). Patients with a history of mias (irregular heartbeat). Add to this family tree to trace vulnerabilities and Build habits slowly and be consist-
worker in Karnataka) and links to proscribed groups We are regularly shaken by the news heart-related illness, bypass surgeries list our genetic make-up. use the learnings to find the best pos- ent. Exercise at least thrice a week for
of young and seemingly healthy Indi- or with stents in their hearts sought The Thrifty Gene hypothesis says sible prevention and treatment plan. 30 minutes, do yoga. But if you do get
such as the Students Islamic Movement of India ans succumbing to heart diseases and medical help for severe symptoms that certain populations survived There is a 25% chance of a person lazy, call it a day with pranayama and
(SIMI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh cardiac arrests. We mourn the early after they tested positive but, in some famines by storing fat, giving them an developing heart disease if one of meditation. If you are stressed and
(JMB), and international terrorist groups such as the loss of life, but largely return to fol- cases, patients with no pre-existing evolutionary advantage. I believe that their parents has it too. If no parent overworked, remember to breathe
lowing the same unhealthy lifestyle history of cardiac ailment were also it could also predispose us to heart has a cardiac history, but multiple deeply, even if it is for five minutes.
Islamic State. The second is the wide network that increases the incidence of heart affected. Therefore, anybody contract- problems at least 10 years before our second line of relatives do, then also Whatever you do, do it every day.
created by PFI and its affiliates to reach out to disease. We wonder what is driving ing the infection would do well to western counterparts. Our sedentary the risk is high, especially when cou-
different sections of society, especially marginalised this sudden upward trend of cardiac undergo a series of specifically tai- lifestyle and diet advance our at-risk pled with environmental and lifestyle
illness — and one part of the answer is lored tests to check the condition of age by another decade. So, if the aver- factors. In such cases, even the young Dr Naresh Trehan is managing director,
communities, and encourage radicalisation and Covid-19. their heart even after the symptoms age age of developing a heart disease must approach a cardiologist, and be and chairman, Medanta
feelings of insecurity among them. PFI allegedly Covid-19 is known to cause myocar- disappear and they test negative — for Americans is 70, an Indian is likely evaluated against a matrix of heart The views expressed are personal
used these affiliates to garner mass reach and raise
funds for the parent organisation, while using their

PFI was sowing division


grassroots network to undermine Indian democracy
and sow distrust in the administration. This is why { PIYUSH GOYAL } COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER
eight affiliates were banned along with PFI. The
P
third is the charge of financial irregularities and
terror funding. PFI cadre and office bearers allegedly
raised funds from Indian and foreign sources
and hatred across India This [free ration] scheme is
through banking channels, hawala routes and he ban on the Popular Front of affiliation when it organised a protest out- ensuring that the stove of
donations and routed them through underground
channels and unmarked bank accounts for nefarious
purposes, including terrorism.
T India (PFI) and its affiliates under side the Egyptian Embassy in New Delhi in
the Unlawful Activities (Preven- 2015, against the death sentence given to
tion) Act, or UAPA, by the Narendra former Egyptian president Mohammed
Modi government is the culmination of Morsi, affiliated to the Brotherhood. PFI
every poor is kept burning
and about 800 million
These are serious charges, and there is no doubt meticulous groundwork by Indian intelli- has strong anti-Zionist stance and also
gence and enforcement agencies after the organised pro-Hamas protests in India in citizens continue to get
that proof of such alleged wrongdoing will be placed
food grain.
A
Sunni Wahhabi Islamist organisation 2012 and 2014 through the “I am Gaza”
before the courts. National integrity, security, and bared its teeth in acts of violence during campaign. It also runs an organisation
sovereignty cannot be compromised at any cost and the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act pro- called PFU Youth Wing (Mao) in associa-
tests in December 2019. There were inci- tion with the CPI (Maoist). Investigators
tough action to secure these goals is welcome. But dents during these protests in Assam, and believe that this unit has been involved in
two things should be kept in mind. One, while PFI the violence reached a peak during the extortion (one of its leaders CP Jaleel was
members were pushing an insidious agenda, hate 2020 Delhi riots. According to investiga- killed in an operation by the Kerala Police

Death penalty: How to


tors, the violence showed the ability of the in 2019).
speech and belligerence by fringe Right-wing groups organisation, until then largely restricted Security agencies have been recom-
have proliferated, and need to be acted upon to to the Indian peninsula, to radicalise, mending a ban on PFI since Kerala College
dispel any sense of insecurity and fear. And two, mobilise, and organise Muslim lecturer TJ Joseph’s hand was
instituting a ban is only the first step. State and local
governments will now have to implement these
youth in acts of violence against
the State. The strategy was to
weaponise Muslim youth to
spread political Islam — perhaps
hacked off by PFI activists in July
2010, but the then United Progres-
sive Alliance government did not
act on their warnings. PFI projec-
ensure fair sentencing
strictures on the ground, freeze assets and ensure
most fancifully manifested in a ted itself as a messiah of the down- ow can the death penalty be imposed found guilty. The system has legitimised prac-
that ground-level workers aren’t absorbed into
sibling organisations. As previous experiences with
the Indian Mujahideen and SIMI show, terrorism
and radicalism are dangerous beasts that can quickly
document linked to the organisa-
tion that was seized from Maha-
rashtra recently, that laid out a
Utopian plan to make India a Sha-
riah Republic by 2047, the coun-
Shishir
Gupta
trodden, but admission into the
Islamist body was after a “bayath”
or sworn allegiance to Allah, with
potential recruits undergoing an
elaborate vetting process. Investi-
H fairly? This is the question that the tices that prevent a meaningful presentation of
Supreme Court (SC) recently referred mitigation. Even though information such as
to a five-judge Constitution Bench. the experience of trauma, violence or neglect
The SC hasn’t stated its interest in answering a are now considered relevant, in the absence of
related question — can the death penalty be sufficient time, this information will rarely ever
morph into newer shapes, and need constant and try’s 100th year of its Independence. gators say no agenda or minutes of meet- imposed fairly at all — but will have to reckon be produced meaningfully, if at all. Mitigation
determined vigilance. It was a few years after the banning of ings of PFI was ever made public, and claim with it. requires understanding the interplay of social,
the Students Islamic Movement of India that this was because its purpose was radi- In May 1980 (Bachan Singh), while declaring environmental, and psychological factors and
(SIMI) in 2001, that the National Develop- calisation, indoctrination and weaponisa- the death penalty constitutional, the SC pre- their impact on an individual. It requires time,
ment Front (NDF), one of the progenitors tion of Muslim youth. In that sense, moder- scribed a formula for sentencing resources and skills that lawyers are
of PFI, came on the radar of national secu- ate Muslims were seen as much of an courts to apply before imposing the not trained in.

Why Delhi needs to rity agencies when eight Hindu fishermen enemy as the Hindu majority community,
were hacked to death on Marad beach in they point out.
Kerala on May 2, 2003. Subsequent raids The raids on September 22 and 26,
death sentence. It mandated that
courts inquire into aggravating and
mitigating circumstances and then
The imagination of legal represen-
tation in capital cases is limited to
lawyers. Mitigation, however, needs

opt for native trees unearthed a huge cache of weapons and across 14 states, were the result of detailed
explosives. On November 22, 2006, the planning and preparation by the national
Popular Front of India was formed with the security apparatus led by home minister
decide whether the option of life
imprisonment was “unquestionably
foreclosed”. However, subsequent
Maitreyi
Misra
to be conducted by individuals
trained in social work, sociology or
psychology. The system does not
merger of three groups — the Karnataka Amit Shah. In all, 392 people have so far movement on death penalty sentenc- afford the accused any of this. Instead,
n December 2020, Delhi became the first city in

I
Forum of Dignity, National Development been arrested across hundreds of locations. ing law revealed fault lines, on several it often considers mitigation as “unre-
India to introduce a tree plantation policy. The Front and Manitha Neethi Pasarai. The Just as Shah was very familiar with PFI’s questions — when should the death alistic, unwarranted and rather not
policy made it mandatory for all large constru- nomenclature indicated a desire to keep predecessors — NDF, SIMI and Indian penalty be imposed? Who should it be imposed upholding the rule of law” (Manoj Pratap
away from Islamic names and symbols, Mujahideen (the last was behind the July upon? How should it be imposed? Singh, 2022). Death penalty sentencing will, by
ction projects, which need the felling of trees, to unlike SIMI or the Indian Mujahideen. The 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blasts that killed That the accused facing a death sentence default, remain a perfunctory exercise. At its
uproot and plant them elsewhere. The developers, stated aim of the organisation was socio- 56), National Security Adviser Ajit Doval should be given a “meaningful”, “real” and core, a fair sentencing hearing requires enor-
the policy mandated, would have to transplant at economic empowerment and social justice, and Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka “effective” hearing on the question of the sen- mous work in bringing the intricacies of
but investigators who have tracked the have handled Islamist terror outfits pursu- tence is well established. However, the content human life to the fore.
least 80% of trees earmarked for felling. In addition, organisation for years say it is driven by a ing political objectives since 1990s. Agen- of these words needs contouring and is the SC’s But a system which doesn’t have the resour-
the existing 1:10 rule of planting saplings — 10 fundamentalist philosophy that can be cies involved in the raids, the National aim in this reference. It will require instituting ces to ensure fair outcomes in each case, can
saplings to be planted for every tree cut — is also in traced back to Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) emir Investigation Agency, the Enforcement a process that can ensure a fair hearing — a never impose death fairly. Ensuring that the
Abul Ala Maududi. The objective, they add, Directorate, and state law enforcement, process (both in its substantive and procedural death penalty is imposed fairly is a step that
force. A year-and-a-half later, two problems have was to capture power through political also received inputs on foreign funding of aspects) that satisfies the constitutional comes after instances of unfairness have been
cropped up. One is the low survival rate of Islam (not very different from what JeI, PFI from Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey, and requirements of “due process”. inflicted on the accused. In a system where res-
transplanted trees (only one in three survives). The SIMI, and Indian Mujahideen set out to do). details of its linkages with the Muslim The role of the accused in a sentencing hear- olutions are passed against representing an
Indeed, investigators believe a core group Brotherhood, investigators say. ing is to present information suggesting why accused, where torture is rampant, where there
second is the number and varieties of new saplings behind SIMI became PFI. PFI and its affiliates may have now been they should not be sentenced to death. Some are serious concerns with the quality of legal
planted over the past five years and whether exotic Today, the organisation has a new lead- banned but this is just the beginning of the mitigating circumstances include age, socio- representation, the issue of fairness is not one
and foreign species are replacing indigenous ones, as ership with an estimated cadre strength of process as states will now have to imple- economic factors, family dependents, trauma, of sentencing. On Wednesday, the SC acquitted
over 85,000 and spread over at least 24 ment UAPA notification by freezing funds, and history of violence and neglect. These help a prisoner, Chotkau, who spent eight years with
claimed in a petition before the Delhi high court. Indian states. While the advertised goals of assets and accounts of the organisation and courts understand the accused’s worldview, the agony of uncertain death. This must give us
Exotic species are fast-growing, evergreen and PFI are to promote national integration, arresting PFI cadres, even as, in keeping barriers and how they navigated their lives. some pause. A system where two judicial stages
beautiful, but they are largely ecologically inconseq- communal amity and social harmony, the with UAPA, a tribunal looks at the ban These domains speak to crucial aspects of the couldn’t catch on to questions of innocence,
now-banned organisation is believed to itself. While the raids went off without inci- question at the heart of death penalty sentenc- cannot consider itself fit to impose a sentence
uential. Instead, authorities must realise that local have a covert apparatus trained and dent, it is likely that the execution of the ing — is a person sufficiently blameworthy to of death. Fairness is fundamentally incompati-
species are the best for the city because they are equipped in the use of arms and explosives, ban will result in violence in states where be given the death sentence? ble with disregard for the accused ingrained
adapted to the local environment. Moreover, foreign according to investigators. As far back as PFI has dominance and cadres on the But these mitigating circumstances are often through the system. Fairness rejects counter-
July 2010, the Kerala Police unearthed ground. The ban itself may force some of not even presented in trial courts. The vulnera- vailing considerations of resource and capacity
species (such as the African palm, used in some country-made bombs, weapons, CDs, and PFI’s cadre to simply morph into another ble and marginalised, overwhelmingly repre- limitations that the justice system faces. The
parts of the city already) do little to support the local documents containing al-Qaeda and the organisation with the objective of captur- sented among death row prisoners, often don’t system needs to be made better, not for the
ecosystem, and changes brought to it lead to behav- Taliban propaganda literature from PFI ing political power in the name of Islam have access to effective legal representation. If death penalty, but for justice to be done.
activists. That was shortly after the organi- remaining the same. In this way, PFI is no mitigation information is presented, it is often
ioural changes among the animal, bird and insect zation formed its political wing, the Social different from Islamic State, al-Qaeda or merely listed, with each item placed individu- Maitreyi Misra heads the Death Penalty Mitigation
species. Delhi battles air pollution daily, with a huge Democratic Party of India. Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen. ally and considered distinctly. The contextuali- Team at Project 39A, National Law University Delhi.
impact on citizen health. Can the city afford to be Investigators rattle off a long list of vio- sation exercise is absent. The accused are Project 39A was involved in the proceedings that
lent crimes perpetrated by PFI — some are barely given time to present such information. resulted in this reference. It also provided pro bono
lackadaisical about its plans to protect its natural listed in charges filed in courts. shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com As the law stands, an accused could well be legal representation to Chotkau before the SC.
heritage? PFI showed its Muslim Brotherhood The views expressed are personal sentenced to death on the same day they are The views expressed are personal

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OUR VIEW MY VIEW | OThEr SPhErE


ISTOCKPHOTO

False dichotomies of education


that we must strive to overcome
Let us consistently aim to balance and achieve complementary ends both in theory and in practice

struggle for educators. And so, educators tures of our institutions, particularly of
often choose between the two.It is easier exams and entrance tests, present these
to handle students with one rather than as dichotomous. From life experience we
both. This is educationally ineffective, know that competition of various sorts is
and potentially creates lifelong problems a reality, and without collaboration,
for students. human beings can’t function. Thus,
Second, memorization versus under- institutions must be able to foster an
standing: Rote is not useful, while we environment of both collaboration and
know that understanding is very impor- competition together, much like life.
ANURAG BEHAR tant. But understanding and memoriza- Sixth, the common-size-fits all versus
is CEO of Azim Premji Foundation. tion are not in conflict. Neither are prac- the contextual: Let’s take a couple of mat-
tice and creativity. In fact, memory plays ters of policy. In any education system,
an important role in developing concep- some matters have to be common across
tual understanding, as does practice in the system, while some must be entirely

The impossible trinity is


creativity. An educational approach that contextual. This is a basic feature of any
relies on one alone cannot achieve its education system that serves any society.

S
hould education develop children’s goals. The two must operate together. For that society to function as one unit
capacity to question things in soci- Third, knowledge versus skills: there are common things that must be
ety or their capacity to contribute Children are heavily burdened by the learnt. But equally clearly, there are con-

better solved than defied constructively? Posed in this manner, it


is almost certain that most will say edu-
cation must do both. But in the practice
of education, one of these objectives
requirement to acquire knowledge in
their subjects. Yet, precious little is done
to develop their skills and capacities to
process and use that knowledge. For
textual matters specific to areas, places,
cultures and more. It is this balance
between the common and the contex-
tual that education policies must
often gets far more importance. There instance, the development of an ability achieve, rather than serving any
are those educators and institutions that, to communicate, or think critically, takes extreme. A related matter is that of
An RBI paper argues that India has kept up forex intervention with little loss of monetary in practice, are far too focused on the a back seat to soaking knowledge and empowerment and instruction. The
capacity to question, while there are content in courses. This has fuelled the nature of education is such that empow-
sovereignty. RBI’s finely calibrated approach works but we must not lose sight of its limits others (perhaps a larger proportion) that other extreme where skill development ering institutions and educators makes it
don’t think about it at all. Young people attempts to compensate for the inade- most effective. However, this autonomy
who have only learnt to question and not quacies of education systems (or replace has to be within a common set of princi-
contribute are dysfunctional; on the them). However, just as education that ples across that education system. Com-

E
ver since we opened our economy to up just to hold its peg, injecting the country other hand, those who are educated to doesn’t develop skills is not useful, plete autonomy on everything is as dys-
global capital, the ‘impossible trinity’ with liquidity that would weaken its handle on be unquestioning contributors can development of skills without content is functional for societies and communities
hardly improve the world. These are two inadequate and usually impossible. as a deeply hierarchical, tightly prescrip-
has returned every few years to haunt money-market rates and also stoke inflation. extremes that emphasize that education Fourth, education for employability and tive approach.
central bank policy. What we need is The usual way to avert this is to sterilize that must do both—in theory and in practice. employment versus a liberal education: Lastly, love and affection for students
more light than heat over this classic injection by selling bonds to mop up the excess There are many such complementary Education that does not emphasize versus a distanced professional approach:
trilemma, so let’s be thankful for cash; yet, as this would cheapen securities and matters which are too often perceived to general capacities of critical thinking, This should be straightforward. Educa-
‘Monetary Policy Independence under a Flexi- push up their yields, doing it could attract even be dichotomies. Good education must analysis and development of character tion is at its core a matter of relation-
account for all these matters, and not undermines citizenship. At the same ships, particularly between teachers and
ble Exchange Rate Regime: The Indian Case’ more inflows, forcing us into a cycle of even make choices between them because time, education that ignores economic students. Devoid of nurturing and affec-
(bit.ly/3LQEuKP), a working paper for the tighter money. A fixed exchange rate can thus these are false choices. Let’s consider goals of productive livelihood too under- tion, this cannot be the kind of relation-
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by Harpreet Singh leave RBI with no policy space to do its main some of these. mines the individual. The two have been ship that can help a child develop in all
Grewal and Pushpa Trivedi. “The trilemma job. The rupee, however, is broadly afloat. RBI First, freedom versus discipline: Too unnecessarily seen as dichotomous. It is her dimensions. At the same time, the
poses a macroeconomic challenge for policy- does not have an official rupee target against often, in the reality of school cultures, a challenge to the education system and teacher must have the distance to be
discipline and freedom are seen as oppo- educators how to have liberal education able to play her role on the basis of what
makers where monetary policy independence, the dollar, even if it engages in bouts of pegging. sites; either children are disciplined or which also equally develops capacities is required for the child’s education.
exchange rate stability and capital account Nor does India freely allow all inflows and out- they are free. We know that both free- such that students can find gainful Good parenting is not very different.
openness cannot be achieved simultaneously,” flows. Although volumes have swelled, our dom and discipline are equally impor- employment. Good education requires not dichoto-
says its abstract. “While operating with a flexi- embrace of the world remains partial. With tant. Not only in education, but in life. Fifth, collaboration versus competition: mies, but a consistent endeavour to bal-
ble exchange rate, India intervenes in the for- various transfers capped, risks are held in But channelling freedom and discipline Not so much the formal structures of ance and achieve complementary ends,
together towards learning is a constant curriculum but the practices and cul- both in theory and in practice.
eign exchange market to contain exchange rate check: bond inflows can’t overwhelm RBI and
volatility arising from surges and ebbs in capital capital flight is a financial market affair at worst.
flows. This study employs a range of Vector So the paper’s conclusion that forex-market
Autoregressive models to assess the quantum intervention and its sterilization, while high,
and effectiveness of sterilisation in India and have been neither inflationary nor a big policy
the impact of forex market interventions on constraint should not surprise us. Our record
monetary policy independence in the post- does show RBI has pulled off a fine calibration www.livemint.com
New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Saturday, September 29, 2012 Vol.5 No.233 `5.00 in Delhi­NCR/`6.00 outside Delhi­NCR
+ 24 PAGES LOUNGE + 20
+ 4PAGES
PAGES LOUNGE
16 PAGES
+ 4 MARKETS
MEDIA MARKETING PAGES
INITIATIVE

liberalisation era since 1991. The paper finds on the trinity, at least for the inflow scenario Q&A:Mindtree’s Bagchi on
entrepreneurship >4
TELECOM: DoT set to invite
applications for 2G auction >5

evidence of effective sterilisation of the money that prevailed for much of the period under this EXCLUSIVE PARTNER
TECHNOLOGY: Fun and frustration in
‘Angry Birds’ maker’s latest game >6
INTERNATIONAL: China’s Bo Xilai
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supply impact arising from forex market inter- paper’s review (i.e. from 1991-92 to 2019-20). SENSEX 18,762.74 Æ 183.24

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QUICK EDIT So just as I want pilots on


UPA speeds India’s current account deficit (CAD) declined to 3.9% of gross domestic product Starbucks cafe Direct, to

ventions and no major constraining influence What happens in case of outflows? Last year,
(GDP) in the first quarter (April-June) of the financial year from 4.5% of GDP in the

the planes that I fly, when


January-March period. Data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday
showed India ran a balance of payments surplus of $0.5 billion in the April-June
to open by the wallet
October end
up move to
quarter as against a deficit of $5.7 billion in the preceding three months.

CAD ($ billion) % of GDP


(right-hand scale) B Y S APNA A GARWAL
D irect cash transfer of
benefits to
individuals, bypassing
25 5
sapna.a@livemint.com multiple layers of
21.7 ·························

cash transfers
bureaucracy, is a known

of [these] on the independence of monetary Turkey tried to prop up its lira and defy the
MUMBAI
remedy to prevent
19.6
20
4.5 4.5 S tarbucks Corp., which runs
the world’s biggest coffee
leakages and corruption.
On Friday, the Prime

it comes to monetary policy,


16.9 16.4
15.9 shop chain, will open its first Minister set the ball rolling
4.3
15
cafe in India by the end of Oc- for this much-needed
tober in a 50:50 joint venture reform. An architecture for
Govt bids to improve cluding the ministers of finance, 4 with Tata Global Beverages cash transfers—with an
targeting of welfare, information technology, health,
besides Planning Commission 10
Ltd, seeking to tap potential
demand for its beverages in
apex committee headed by
the PM—will coordinate
3.9

policy.” In brief, as steadying the rupee wasn’t tightening effect of this by easing credit in spite
but won’t fully accept and Unique Identification Au- 3.7 emerging markets to counter the process at the highest
Kelkar report seeking thority of India (UIDAI) officials, 3.5 the economic slump in the US level. Intermediate level
has been set up to steer the pro- and Europe. committees will look at
sweeping subsidy cuts gramme and avoid delays in de-
5
3.5 Tata Starbucks Ltd, the joint different aspects of the
cision-making. venture, said the first outlet process.

I want to think that there


B Y L IZ M ATHEW, A SIT R AN- A national executive commit- will be located in Horniman If implemented
0 3
JAN M ISHRA & A NUJA tee of secretaries will meet fre- Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Circle in south Mumbai, and properly, the new
························· quently to coordinate action and FY12 FY13 will serve coffee that is 100% mechanism will make a
NEW DELHI to ensure that timelines are kept. sourced and roasted locally large layer of officials

found to weaken RBI’s grip of local interest of high inflation—but only to see bank deposits T he Congress-led United An implementation mission and through an agreement with redundant. At the
Progressive Alliance committee will finalize details TRADE DEFICIT $ billion Tata Coffee Ltd. It named moment, only “due”
(UPA) is quickening the relating to the design and opera- 131.7 Imports Avani Davda, a 10-year veteran benefits, such as pensions
movement towards a system of tion of the cash transfer system. 130 Exports of the Tata group, as chief ex- and wages under the rural
119.2 118.6 121
cash transfers that would put Three subcommittees on tech- ecutive officer (CEO). jobs programme, among
money directly in the hands of nology, financial inclusion and 116 In January, when the two others, will be transferred.
the targeted beneficiaries of gov- electronic benefit transfer (EBT) companies announced the The real test will come

is someone with sound


ernment welfare programmes, have also been proposed. 51.6 Trade joint venture, they outlined a when harder-to-measure
43 44 deficit
42.5

rates, as pegging it would do, its forex strategy flee even faster. Indian capital clamps mean we
seeking to cut out multiple layers The government said electron- 47.7 plan to open 50 stores by the and targeted benefits such
of bureaucratic red tape that im- ic cash transfers, leveraging the end of the year in Mumbai and as subsidies become part
pede the delivery of such bene- Aadhaar unique identity system, Delhi with an initial invest- of the system. For that to
fits. would help improve delivery of
80 74 ment of $80 million (`420 happen, large-scale
Prime Minister Manmohan benefits to those for whom they 76.7 77 crore today). That target won’t financial inclusion—by
71.2
Singh has put in place a clear ar- are meant, reduce corruption, 60 likely be met this year. using devices such as no-
chitecture that would enable the eliminate waste and control ex- Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 John Culver, president of frills bank accounts—will
FY12 FY13
transition to a system of elec- penditure. be a prerequisite.
Source: RBI
tronic cash transfers, the govern- Benefits promised under the TURN TO PAGE 2®
AHMED RAZA KHAN/MINT

has been a success. Too good to be true? bear no such extreme risk. Support for a droopy
ment said on Friday. The govern- UPA’s marquee jobs creation

judgement at the controls.


ment also said on Friday that it plan, the Mahatma Gandhi Na-
couldn’t accept in their entirety tional Rural Employment Guar-
the recommendations of the Vi-
jay Kelkar committee that called
antee Scheme, scholarships,
pensions and other income sup- Biodiversity BROADCASTING BLOCKBUSTER
for sweeping subsidy cuts.
Transferring money directly to
the bank accounts of beneficiar-
port schemes and healthcare
programmes would be trans-
ferred to the bank accounts of
clearance may There and back again: Subhash
ies under the UPA’s regime of people once the system is up and become part of
Chandra and the Zee TV story
Let’s take up what an attempt to peg our rupee, however, does slurp up local liquidity. As
entitlements is likely to engender running.
goodwill for a government that is
trying to salvage its image, dam-
A government official, who re-
quested anonymity, said the gov- green approval
aged by a series of corruption ernment had a comprehensive INDIA TODAY IMAGES
scandals and stubbornly high in- plan to roll out cash transfers B Y N EHA S ETHI B Y S HUCHI B ANSAL &
flation. and no confusion existed any neha.s@livemint.com A MINAH S HEIKH
Subsidy payments and bene- more about the intent of the gov- ························· ·························
fits under different schemes ernment to move to such a sys- NEW DELHI NEW DELHI/MUMBAI

amount to almost `3 trillion, tem.


T he government may soon
M ore than 20 years have

rupee to the US dollar would do under the tri- a covid excess dries up, RBI will find it useful to
roughly 3.5% of the gross domes- Another government official, demand that industrial passed, but Essel Group
tic product (GDP), according to also requesting anonymity, said projects obtain biodiversity promoter Subhash Chandra still
government estimates. the formation of a committee clearance, along with forest vividly recalls the scene in the
“In a move to cut down wast- under the Prime Minister, with and environmental approvals, boardroom of Richard Li’s

MA RTI N F E L D STE I N
age, duplication and leakages representation from most major according to environment Hong Kong offices, where he
and enhance efficiency, the ministries, would mean faster minister Jayanthi Natarajan. had taken his team along for a
Prime Minister has given a major decisions. “There is no biodiversity meeting with Li and his execu-
push to transfer individual bene- While the subcommittee on clearance now,” Natarajan tives.
fits from the government directly technology will define the stand- said on Friday in New Delhi at After a heated exchange with

lemma that made most open economies opt for offload more of its dollar stash (to soften import
into the bank accounts of benefi- ards and architecture required, a conference organized to dis- his own team, Li, son of Hong Industry pioneer: Subhash Chandra’s broadcasting business has many
ciaries,” an official statement the finance panel will look at the cuss the Conference of Parties Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, reject- firsts to its credit in terms of programming, distribution, regional
said. It said the plan would be banking ecosystem. The EBT (CoP-11) to the Convention on ed outright Chandra’s proposal content and global expansion.
implemented in “a fast-track, ac- committee will look into audits Biological Diversity that India for a joint venture to launch an
celerated mode to be achieved in of government systems. is hosting in Hyderabad from Indian language channel. less, Zee overcame that initial he signed the deal immediate-
a time-bound manner”. “Even if you are going elec- 1-19 October. “There are ef- The year was 1991 and Li had rejection, survived, grew and ly,” Chandra said. “The Hutch-
A ministerial committee head- tronic, you cannot do away with forts to include it (biodiversity just launched a media and en- will turn 20 years old on 1 Octo- Vision team went into a huddle
ed by the Prime Minister and in- government procedures,” the clearance) as a part of either tertainment business in Asia ber. and Li emerged after an hour
second official said. environment clearance or for- under the HutchVision banner There was more humiliation only to turn down my propos-

either a currency float to retain monetary con- bills) if and only if the domestic effects of it help
NOTE TO READERS For cash transfers to be rolled
out, huge capacities would have
est (clearance) or of both.” The
minister didn’t elaborate.
with four satellite television
channels—Star TV, BBC, MTV
to come at that meeting with Li.
Chandra, a rice merchant from
al.”
Li did sign the deal with
The four­page Media Marketing to be built at all levels. “This is India hasn’t been able to and Prime Sports. India who ran a packaging unit Chandra a few months later in
Initiative (MMI) with this edition the reason that this architecture build infrastructure fast Li’s argument was that there and an amusement park back India, and the rest, as they say,
and the MMI on Page 13 are the has been conceived, to expedite enough to cope with the needs was no money to be made in home, changed tack and asked is history, with Zee pioneering
equivalent of paid­for the scaling up,” the person said. of an expanding economy be- broadcasting in India, Chandra Li to let him lease a transponder the Indian cable and satellite
advertisements, and no Mint S.L. Rao, chairman of the Insti- cause environmental approv- recalled on Wednesday in a on his satellite AsiaSat. television industry. Li had ap-
journalists were involved in creating tute for Social and Economic als have become harder to phone interview from the US, “He asked for $5 million proached several Indian media
these. Readers would do well to Change, Bangalore, saw a politi- come by, besides other hurdles where the chairman of Zee En- (around `26 crore today) a year groups and business houses,

trol or a peg for other stability aims. In case of an quell inflation overall—which is exactly what an
treat them as advertisements. cal motive behind the cash such as land acquisition. tertainment Enterprises Ltd is for it. I had made many trips to but not one was willing to pay
transfers ahead of a string of Biodiversity—an overarch- on a visit. Hong Kong in the last 10 $5 million for a transponder.
state elections that will precede ing term that includes the vari- That was hardly a propitious months. It was close to Christ- “Subhash Chandra was the
Mint is also available for R9.50 with start for India’s first private tele- mas and I was desperate. I
Hindustan Times in Delhi-NCR only
TURN TO PAGE 2® TURN TO PAGE 5® vision broadcaster. Nonethe- agreed to pay $5 million only if TURN TO PAGE 3®

insurge of dollars, RBI would have to buy these autonomous RBI policy must achieve.

MY VIEW | WOrld APArT

Indonesia has been a remarkable success under Jokowi


Harvard picked to be education minister by Javanese characteristics”: (The attitude is) was as India’s prime minister, but inclined to Indonesia is also seeking to learn lessons
RAHUL JACOB Jokowi in 2019, will soon seek to push “‘we will campaign like hell. We will call each look the other way in the interests of keeping from the friendly relations between labour
through a more inquiry-based learning cur- other names, but when the ballots are his coalition together as well as in allowing and capitalists in 20th century Japan, as the
riculum for government schools based on counted and we all know what the relative key lieutenants to centralize power. The new reforms, which were expected to draw
the International Baccalaureate system. proportions are, we will form a coalition cab- weakening of a anti-corruption agency is “a large labour protests, take effect. Arsjad Ras-
Indonesia did better than expected in inet… and you’ll get your share’,” Yeo said. key disappointment of his tenure,” says jid, president director of Indika Energy, a

T
o rework an old line, President Joko coping with the pandemic, both in health This means Indonesia’s political scene is James Bryson, director at investment major coal exporter and chairman of the
Widodo of Indonesia is a modest man terms and in containing economic damage. a good deal less divided advisor PT HB Capital Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Indus-
with a good deal to be immodest It chose not to impose a national lockdown, than in the past, and New Indonesia in Jakarta. try, says with pride that for the first time at a
about. This November, he will host the G20 leaving it largely to regional governments to Delhi’s for that matter. One Reconciliations But as multinationals G20 meeting, there will be a joint communi-
summit in Bali. Dignitaries and leaders will respond when cases rose. The economy of Jokowi’s first moves in and small and medium que by business and labour. The chambers of
see a country that is one of the surprise suc- shrunk by just 2.1% in 2020, despite its 2014 was also to push in politics and enterprises from Korea and commerce have since the start of this year
cess stories of the developing world in the dependence on tourism, and will likely grow development down to vil- Taiwan have sought to signed memorandums of understanding with
past couple of years, one that has come a by 5.2% this year. Jakarta is back to its natu- lages by giving them con-
labour-capital diversify manufacturing six large trade unions. Among the goals are

is a Mint columnist and a


long way since the overthrow of Suharto’s
dictatorship in the aftermath of the Asian
ral state of seeming like a giant car park of
mostly immobile cars amid gleaming sky-
trol of small funds to
decide for themselves how
relations have and reduce dependence on
China, Indonesia stands to
reskilling and upskilling, so workers can
adapt to the digital age, and also moving
former Financial Times foreign
correspondent.
financial crisis a quarter of a century ago.
Since becoming Indonesia’s president in
scrapers and wonderful tropical topiary.
When he was re-elected for a second term
to spend it. Jokowi’s start
in politics was running
helped the be a beneficiary. Against
the odds, the Jokowi gov-
accommodation for workers closer to factory
clusters. “If we don’t do anything, there will
2014, Jokowi, as he is popularly called, has in 2019, one of Jokowi’s first moves was to successfully to be mayor of country up its ernment almost exactly not be an industrial revolution, but social rev-
lowered religious tensions and curbed the reach out to the candidate he had defeated in Solo in 2005, and then two years ago enacted a law olution,” Arjsad Rasjid says.
rising risks of religious fundamentalism. bitter elections in 2014 and 2019, former going on to become gover- performance making it easier to hire Jokowi has been active on the world stage.
The once ferociously volatile rupiah this general Prabowo Subianto, and appoint him nor of Jakarta, before he employees and also let He travelled to Kyiv in June and then to Mos-
year is one of the best performing currencies defence minister. This in effect neutralized ran for president. But, the them go without compa- cow to stress the need to open up wheat and
against the US dollar with, until recently, rel- the opposition. This coalition of interests, in paradox has been that even as he has decen- nies being overburdened with heavy sever- grain exports and lift the sea blockade on
atively minimal intervention from the cen- a sense, mirrors the consensus-based tralized power in some respects in a geo- ance requirements. Bryson credits the Ukrainian grain to rebuild food security for
tral bank. Helped by a commodities boom, approach of Javanese society. Prabowo has graphical sense, under his tenure, Indone- administration with realizing that “there is the developing world. Long-time observers
which has boosted the country’s revenues done a good job of the defence portfolio. The sia’s once respected anti-corruption agency competition for foreign investment.” The of the soft-spoken man who began his work
from exports of nickel, coal and palm oil, the Financial Times recently quoted former has been weakened. Veteran political jour- country is being mentioned more and more life as a furniture factory owner would not be
current account is in surplus. Nadiem Mak- Singaporean minister George Yeo as nalists in Jakarta describe Jokowi as person- as an alternative to Vietnam as companies surprised by both the can-do spirit behind
arim, a startup billionaire with a degree from describing the approach as “democracy with ally incorruptible, just as Manmohan Singh diversify their operations out of China. that initiative as well as its pragmatism.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS ThUrSDay, 29 SEpTEmbEr 2022
NEw DElhi 13

THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R

Tough reality needs tough action Jope’s successor as Unilever’s


CEO will need to restructure it
and RBI is unlikely to slow down The conglomeration may gain if its varied businesses are set apart

The growth-inflation mix is getting trickier and RBI will have to increase rates in big increments before it can call it a day

MINT

ANDREA FELSTED
is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering
consumer goods and the retail industry.

PRANJUL BHANDARI
is chief India economist at HSBC

I
n 2016, Alan Jope did an energetic work-
out with the host of the Spartan Up!

G
lobal growth is slowing rapidly, motivational podcast series, at one point
inflation is stubbornly high and even doing burpees. But the longtime Uni- Alan Jope’s tenure as CEO did not do much
central banks in developed nations lever executive turned out to be less of a for Unilever’s shareholders AP
are hiking interest rates by magni- corporate action man. The maker of Mar-
tudes not seen in decades. All this mite and Magnum ice cream said on Mon- Dave Lewis, who led Tesco between
has ramifications for emerging day that Jope would retire at the end of 2014 and 2020, was mooted as a candidate
markets in the form of currency pressure and next year. The company now has an oppor- for the role before Jope was appointed. He
tighter financial conditions, compounding their tunity to bring in an external chief execu- is now chairman of Haleon. He still has a
own problematic growth and inflation mix. tive officer and finally split the company’s strong following among investors, so Uni-
Against this backdrop, we do a pulse check on food and non-food operations. lever could try to persuade him to move
the state of India’s economy, in the run up to the Unilever has underperformed since back to an executive role.
Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 30 September policy Jope succeeded Paul Polman in January Another option would be to resurrect
meeting. 2019. The shares have delivered a total the idea of a deal with Haleon, with Lewis
Is growth slowing? India’s economy grew 13.5% return of 13% since his arrival, whereas rival leading the enlarged group. The combina-
in the June-end quarter, high because of a low Nestle has generated a total return of about tion wasn’t completely without merit. It
base, but lower than what the markets and RBI 45% in the same period. Unilever shares would have married Haleon’s strong con-
were expecting. A careful look suggests some prob- rose almost 4% on Monday before falling sumer brands, such as Panadol painkillers
lems with trade, transport and retail, as that sector back slightly. Earlier this year, activist and Sensodyne toothpaste, with Unilever’s
was 15% smaller than three years earlier, in the pre- investor Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Man- portfolio, including Dove and Vaseline.
pandemic world. It’s also a sharp reversal from a agement built a stake in Unilever, and in Shareholders may be more convinced if
quarter before, when it was looking in far better July, Peltz joined the Unilever board. Trian Lewis is at the helm.
shape. So what went wrong? said in a statement that it was “sorry to Alternatively, there could be senior
Sometimes, there’s simply a glitch, and data is learn of Alan Jope’s decision to retire,” and executives within Nestle, Procter & Gam-
not collected properly, so the gross domestic prod- that Peltz looked forward to being part of ble, Reckitt Benckiser Group and US con-
uct (GDP) print undergoes revisions later. At other the recruitment process. sumer giants such as PepsiCo who could be
times, new data sources are introduced to make Jope set in train a difficult tenure by not elevated to the role. One complication is
statistics more accurate, particularly to capture ditching a target to deliver a 20% operating that Reckitt is also searching for a new CEO
India’s informal sector better. Such ‘improve- margin by 2020 as soon as he took on the after Laxman Narasimhan’s move to Star-
ments’ on the back of new data sources (like the pass-through was complete, a weak grain crop was potentially more than offsetting the gains from role. The goal was put in place after Kraft bucks.
goods and services tax transactions database) can emerging as a new shock. Cereal prices have risen weaker oil prices. Hence, we still see the external Heinz’s short-lived siege in February 2017, Whoever gets the top job eventually
be a possible explanation. 16% year-on-year thus far in September. Food sector deficit lingering for longer, though thank- when it tried to buy the company for $143 should be given the freedom to axe Uni-
If that’s the case and there’s new and better data price increases, in particular, can mess up inflation fully foreign exchange reserves are still elevated at billion. Hanging onto the target meant lever’s conglomerate structure. Jope is
leading to weakness, one must brace for the possi- expectations, which are already 150 basis points $546 billion. Unilever was constrained when it needed already turning ice cream, beauty and per-
bility that the informal sector is not doing as well as higher than pre-pandemic levels. Also, the dollar may stay stronger for longer, to turbo-charge sales growth — something sonal care into independent businesses, as
the formal sector, and that is indeed depressing Even if consumer price inflation falls from an given weak global growth, a risk-off attitude by that eluded Jope, despite the company he reorganizes the group into five units.
overall growth. We may get a better idea of this expected 7.2% in September to 6% by March 2023, investors, and commodity prices remaining generating almost 60% of sales from faster- His successor should go further. He or she
with the next GDP print. it will be well above the 4% target. elevated. expanding emerging markets. should at least split the group into its food
Either way, for two reasons, growth is expected Can inflation and the fiscal deficit fall below 5%? That’s already led RBI to intervene aggressively He also came under fire for his focus on and non-food businesses, with potential
to slow over the next few quarters. First, exports, We forecast India’s inflation to fall to 5% in to keep the rupee from weakening too fast. The social purpose. Expecting Hellmann’s further honing of the portfolio from that
which have been a major driver of India’s post- 2024-25, but any lower looks unlikely. At some dollar has strengthened 20% since the start of the mayonnaise and PG Tips to do more than point onwards.
pandemic recovery, are likely to slow because point, policymakers will have to decide if they still year, but the rupee has weakened only 10%. Fur- flavour sandwiches and make tea was sup- According to analysts at Jefferies, the
overseas buyers are scaling back. Mid- and low- need to meet the 4% target frequently, or whether ther gradual depreciation could boost exports at a posed to encourage younger shoppers to beauty and personal-care businesses could
tech exports have been slowing since June, while the 4% inflation target should be revisited once the time when global demand is weak. pay more for the Unilever products. have an enterprise value of about €111 bil-
volumes of high-tech exports showed the first dust settles. The reason is that there’s just too What should RBI do? The inflation-growth mix is Although that may be an effective market- lion ($107.1 billion), with food and refresh-
signs of weakness in August. much going on in the world—a realignment of likely to remain tricky. For now, we believe big- ing strategy, poor communication left the ment worth about €48 billion. This is just
Second, the growth fillip from pent-up demand supply chains, changing preferences in the labour quantum rate hikes will likely continue for now. company open to criticism from fund man- ahead of Unilever’s current enterprise
for services may begin to fade. Ever since high- markets and fiscal excesses. We expect a 50 basis points repo rate increase at ager and major shareholder Terry Smith. value, but there could be other benefits to
touch services came back into play, so have urban On the fiscal front, the good news is that despite the meeting on 30 September, followed by another More investor concern came in January a split. For example, the food arm would
jobs. On average, as Indians move back from their pressures to raise current expenses, central gov- 50 basis points increase in December, taking the over Unilever’s $54.6 billion proposed bid benefit from greater focus as a standalone
villages to the cities, their wages rise 2.5 times, ernment capital expenditure has risen over the last repo rate to 6.4%. for GSK’s consumer arm, now listed as unit, freed from the shadow of toiletries
which boosts consumer spending. But urban jobs three years. On the other hand, 50% of the net tax Banking sector liquidity has tightened considera- Haleon. Shareholders were unconvinced and cosmetics.
are almost back to pre-pandemic levels now. revenue is being deployed for debt servicing. bly, pushing the call money rate above the policy by the strategy, the price and whether The danger is if there’s a long hiatus
Where will inflation land? Price pressures ema- Hence, there is an urgent need for fiscal consolida- repo rate. There are many factors for this, including management could make the deal work. before Jope’s successor is appointed. That
nating from the commodity price shock in March tion. The challenge will be to lower the fiscal large government balances at RBI, which have been To make matters worse, Mark Schnei- could see Unilever drift amid cautious con-
2022 have moved from the wholesale level to the deficit by raising revenue rather than by cutting around for a while, and it is uncharacteristic for this der, Nestle’s CEO, has made a series of sumers and surging inflation.
consumer level (as producers recoup some of the capital expenditure. time of the year. The recent trend of spending more canny disposals and successful deals, such The board, led by chairman Nils Ander-
lost profits), from rural to urban inflation (as elec- How wide will the external deficits be? With oil towards the year-end is also creating liquidity prob- as acquiring Starbucks’s products sold in sen, and with Peltz’s support, should waste
tricity prices gradually rise), and from goods to ser- prices falling, we expect the trade deficit to narrow lems at a time of foreign exchange interventions. supermarkets for $7 billion in 2018. Given no time in making an appointment and
vices inflation (as services producers pass on price over the next few months—but, with global growth We expect RBI to bring this up in its discussion with Unilever’s lacklustre performance, the then backing the new CEO in taking radical
increases). And even before the entire inflation weakening, exports could also fall over time, the government. board should appoint an external CEO. action. ©BLOOMBERG

guEsT VIEW

How telecom dues may help reduce India’s fiscal deficit


or concession granted. Examples of such as borne by the Union government, since in fiscal deficit to 4.47% of GDP, as against 6.4% credit to micro-finance institutions, a ₹1.1
AKHIL GUPTA industries where the government would any case the risk of these receipts already lies as per this year’s budget. trillion loan guarantee scheme for covid-af-
have receivables as on date as well as future with the Centre. Similarly, the security Two, market borrowings needed by the fected sectors like health and tourism, etc.
receivables through concession agreements (example: mining rights or spectrum) shall government this year will reduce by ₹5 tril- Second, the government’s recent extension
include road transport, shipping, telecom, continue to rest with the government in the lion, relieving pressure on the yields on gov- of a ₹15,000 crore central guarantee to the
mining, oil fields, airports, among others. event of default. ernment borrowings and reducing overall lending banks of BSNL for continuation of

I
ndia, like the rest of the world, is going For telecom, it is public knowledge that the For the further comfort of banks, the interest payments by the Centre. credit to it.
through a difficult economic situation, net present value of dues in respect of spec- amounts so lent by them Three, excess liquidity No doubt, the approach suggested is out
with high inflation, a steep depreciation of trum and past adjusted gross revenue (AGR) against a central guarantee in the Indian banking sys- of the ordinary, but then extraordinary situ-
the Indian rupee and rising interest rates. dues are over ₹3 trillion, which are to be would carry the lowest risk A package of tem, if any, will be sucked ations do demand extraordinary solutions.
The seriousness of these should also be seen received by the government in annual weightage, thus reducing out in an orderly and pro- I am also conscious that an argument would
in the context of the Union Budget for fiscal instalments over the next 10-16 years with their capital requirements bank credit ductive manner without be raised that this suggestion would only
year 2022-23, whose fiscal deficit at ₹16.61 interest. There will be similar receivables and offering improved disturbing the risk profile amount to ‘financial engineering’ for
trillion, representing 6.4% of gross domestic from other industries. One can safely assume capital adequacy ratios.
extended with of advances made by banks. 2022-23, as subsequent-year revenues will

is vice chairman, Bharti


product (GDP), was already higher than
desired. To fund this large deficit, the
that the overall receivables by the govern-
ment on this account would at least be in the
The advantages of the
proposed solution to the
a sovereign Four, in case of default
by a concessionaire, banks
be lower. My response is that if one can
reduce this year’s fiscal deficit by ₹5 trillion
Enterprises Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a
plan to raise ₹14.95 trillion through market
vicinity of ₹5-6 trillion as of now.
The suggestion is for banks to take over
economy and government
are manifold:
guarantee could can invoke the guarantee
and transfer the debt back
in one go and then let it increase by about
₹40-45,000 crore each year for, say, the
securities this year, which will further raise the current receivables on the existing terms One, since the govern- effect a sharp to the Centre along with next 12-15 years (the assumed average period
the interest rate on such borrowings. and conditions applicable for dues to the ment guarantee will not be corresponding securities of concessions), it would be worth it. With
It is obvious that to tackle this situation, government, by extending loans to conces- treated as part of its bor- fiscal correction (like mining rights, rights India’s GDP slated to grow at a high single
government revenue needs to go up signifi- sionaires and transferring the money to the rowing and the amounts over oilfields or spectrum). digit over the next few years, the percent-
cantly with a corresponding decrease in government. Such payments can be secured received for licence fees or The extension of guaran- age-wise impact will keep getting lower any-
market borrowings. The question is how? by a sovereign guarantee of the government revenue shares from concessions granted tees by the government to secure debt to way year after year.
Here is a suggestion to help achieve those to provide lenders comfort. The interest rate are to be accounted on “revenue received third parties has two recent precedents. Note that this fiscal suggestion assumes
two objectives. applicable to borrowers should be the rate basis” for the purpose of the Union Budget, First, the Centre used credit guarantees as a that the current system of a Union Budget
The government has receivables from that banks would charge for lending backed assuming that the current receivables are ₹5 tool in various schemes to support and ena- being on ‘receipt basis’ will continue for at
various industries by way of licence fee, rev- by a sovereign guarantee. It is important to trillion, the deficit projected would come ble economic growth during covid. Such least the foreseeable future, instead of on an
enue share and levies payable by different note that providing such backing does not down to ₹11.61 trillion from ₹16.61 trillion. schemes included the Emergency Credit ‘accrual basis’, which is the ideal way forward
concessionaires over a period of the licence escalate the risk profile of these receivables, This would be a tightening of the Centre’s Line Guarantee Scheme, a backstop for but is unlikely to be adopted any time soon.
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CHENNAI/KOCHI
Killing a man in defense of
an idea is not defending an Jean-Luc
idea; it is killing a man Godard

10 CHENNAI THURSDAY 29 09 2022


� �

O
ver the years, Indians have be- A republic is far closer to democratic traditions than a munity. Therefore, this office is open to
come quite used to anchors in all and is not limited to any dynasty or
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN western media outlets like BBC monarchy, where a queen or king from one dynasty religious order.
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. and CNN talking down to them is more privileged than the rest of the citizens On the other hand, the British monarch
— Ramnath Goenka and deriding them for various is wedded to the Church of England, and he

POLES APART: UK’s


reasons—often related to Hindu takes the oath, among other things, to “de-
religious and social customs and fend the faith”. He also takes the oath to
rituals. But these channels rarely turn the protect the security of the Church of Scot-

JAISHANKAR’s DOGFIGHT
spotlight on their societies or reflect on tra-
ditions that exist therein, which are com- MONARCHY AND land (a Presbyterian national church). Also,
few in India are aware that even within the

INDIA’S DEMOCRACY
pletely out of tune with the modern world. Christian fold, adherents of the Roman

WITH THE U.S. ON PAK’s


The issue at hand is the saturated cover- Catholic Church are barred from ascending
age of the death of Queen Elizabeth II the throne in Britain. The monarch has to
on these channels and the gushing, lauda- declare himself to be a protestant, owing
F16 FLEET UPGRADE tory commentaries that went on 24X7
for ten days about the monarchy, the pomp
allegiance to the Church of England and
function as the “supreme governor” of that

W
and pageantry that surrounded the event, church, a tradition since the 16th century.
hen a scholarly, soft-spoken retired diplomat resorts to and the anointment of Prince Charles Lastly, while the Indian Constitution im-
hard talk, it makes you sit up and take notice. For the as king. A SURYA Former Chairman of Prasar Bharati poses no restrictions on citizens vis-à-vis
past few months, foreign minister S Jaishankar has The colourful tunics, the regalia and the PRAKASH and scholar of democracy studies marriage, persons in line of succession to
been delivering punchlines in a matter-of-fact tone, ceremonies surrounding the proclamation the British throne need the monarch’s per-
of Charles III as the King from St. James mission to marry. Those who violate this
taking a tilt at aggressive rivals and pesky allies with
Palace and in all towns and habitations injunction will lose the right to ascend the
candour. The latest is his ripping of America’s $450 million se- across his “kingdom” would surely seem throne. How democratic, secular and lib-
curity assistance camouflage of fighting terror for Pakistan’s anachronistic to Indians who, thanks to eral is this?
F16 fleet, saying the aid fools nobody. It’s common knowledge Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, bid goodbye to India’s decision to send President Drou-
that the F16s have nothing to do with combating terror. During their kings and queens 75 years ago. It padi Murmu to represent the country at the
India’s 2019 Balakot strike on a terror target deep within the line seemed odd to watch the proclamation be- queen’s funeral, therefore, made a telling
of control, Pakistan had scrambled F16s, among others. It lost ing read out in various locations in this age point vis-à-vis the democratic and liberal
of social media and the internet. But, who traditions in the two nations.
one of them in a missile lock from Wing Commander Abhina- are we to complain if the British wish to The second issue is the separation of re-
ndan Varthaman’s MiG 21 Bison. The Biden administration live in the past? ligion and the state. The Indian Constitu-
reviving its defence cooperation with Pakistan years after the The processes and rituals involving the tion emphatically declares that “No reli-
Trump regime froze it is a thinly disguised affront to India’s transition extend to various things, includ- gious instruction shall be provided in any
neutrality in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ing replacing the queen with the king on educational institution wholly maintained
That Jaishankar’s blunt talk came days before he held one- British currency, postage stamps, and even out of State funds” (Article 28). Further,
the national anthem. The Indian tradition while the Indian president takes an oath to
on-one meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and
is just the opposite. We bring out postage “preserve, protect and defend the Constitu-
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin showed the bilateral relation- stamps to commemorate the life and work tion”, the British monarch takes an oath to
ship has matured to accommodate such asides. On Tuesday, he of leaders, usually after their death. The “defend the faith”.
fobbed off a question on India’s democracy, saying the country anthem has changed—“God Save the The British monarch wears several hats.
does not believe other nations should decide its quality. He had Queen” has been replaced with “God Save He is the king of the United Kingdom, the
in the past hit back at the annual US report on global human the King”. head of the 56-member Commonwealth,
Indians who are groomed in the best tra- SOUMYADIP SINHA largely comprising former British colonies,
rights violations, showing it the mirror instead on its domestic
ditions of democracy which guarantee lib- and the head of state of 14 other nations in
rights record. That level of comfort with the US is decidedly erty, equality and fraternity, and constitu- They delve into current political and social state is elected) is far closer to democratic the Commonwealth, which accept him as
missing in India’s ties with China. For example, New Delhi took tional guarantees against discrimination tensions in India and question the commit- traditions than a monarchy, where a queen their king.
a long time to issue a nuanced statement on Taiwan in the con- of any sort (Article 15), would find it rather ment of Indians to liberalism, secularism or king from one dynasty is more privileged Three generations of Indians born in the
text of Pelosi’s rabble-rousing visit, advising restraint and difficult to appreciate the top political lead- and democracy. than the rest of the citizens. Our head of Republic of India, where the head of state
avoiding unilateral action to change the status quo while taking ers of the UK, including the present prime But there is no appreciation of the fact state—the president—is elected by MPs and is not a monarch but is elected to office by
an ambiguous position on the prickly One-China policy. Earlier, minister and several former prime minis- that, unlike the UK and many European na- legislators from all states. It is not a heredi- peoples’ representatives, would surely won-
ters standing in the front row in St. James tions, India is a complete democracy with tary office; therefore, every Indian can as- der what all this fuss is about.
Europe’s gyaan on sanctions against Russia when it had a built- Palace and shouting “God Save the King!” all these values and other elements like pire for it. Therefore, as we continue to celebrate
in workaround for energy dependence got in Jaishankar’s hair, following the official accession of Charles republicanism, equality before the law, India has seen presidents from various and enjoy the 75th year of our Independ-
drawing a sharp riposte a few months ago. In remarks dripping III as the new monarch. The Indian slogan and a clear separation of religion and the social, economic, cultural and religious ence, the sights and sounds that emanated
with sarcasm, he observed that Europe had to grow out of the on such momentous occasions is “Bharat state. These values are strongly embedded backgrounds. We have had presidents from from Britain this September must be a
mindset that its problems are the world’s problems. Mata ki Jai” while the Americans would in the Indian Constitution and constitute different regions and religions–North, cause for quiet reflection among every In-
The diplomat-turned-neta seems to be in his element as he say “God Save America”. the very foundations of the Indian state. On South, East, West, Hindu, Muslim, and dian about how deep and progressive In-
Generally, western media commentators the other hand, each of these elements— Sikh. We have had presidents from various dia’s democracy is.
pushes back on non-alignment and India’s supreme national
look at India, the world’s largest and most fundamental to democracy—is missing in castes and communities from the diverse There can now be little doubt that India
interest as also the problems of the Global South. It reflects vibrant democracy, with a great deal of con- the UK. Hindu samaj, including Kayastha, Reddy, is not just the biggest—but the most evolved
Prime Minister Modi’s trust in him to nurture the country’s descension. They often offer gratuitous ad- This needs some elaboration. The first Dalit, and Brahmin. Our president is Drou- democracy in the world.
growing stature abroad, despite detractors within his party. vice to Indians on how to run their country. point is that a republic (where the head of padi Murmu, who hails from a tribal com- (suryamedia@gmail.com)

BEWARE, COVID-19 IS
STILL LURKING AROUND WHAT IF TUCKER

W CARLSON IS RIGHT
hen two dozen Omicron variants, though not as de- Veteran actress awarded
structive as Delta, continue to prey on millions of peo- Apropos of Phalke award for veteran
ple across the globe, rendering them fatigued and tem- actor Asha Parekh (Sept 28). Having done
porarily unfit for employment, it’s irrational to write numerous films, Parekh is truly well deserving

W
off the pandemic. No wonder the assertion by US Presi- e Indians are either living in de- of this prestigious award. She is not just a
dent Joe Biden that the Covid-19 pandemic in the US is over has nial or just too happy to be here. successful actress but has also produced a few
The better undoubtedly is denial. films. Her hits like Caravan and Kati Patang
sparked a debate. The statement may have brought smiles to Looking at our country, we at were not just famous in the north but were
several unmasked faces in the US and elsewhere who cite the least should be on the first step to celebrated in Tamil Nadu as well!
JOSEPH Writer, editor, and investment
abolition of Covid-19 protocols and restrictions and rebound of grief, with one more to go: anger. banking professional from Mumbai P Victor Selvaraj, Palayamkottai
ANTONY
travel to pre-pandemic levels as clear testimonies. Interestingly, The reality, however, may be that
Biden’s off the cuff comment came just a few weeks after his too many Indians are happy. There is no im- Asha shines on
administration sought to spend over $1.6 billion to support Cov- patience with brimming drains, poor work- every time: build something that works Some of them, like Corbusier’s, were ut- Asha Parekh is the seventh woman to be
manship or rampant littering. as cheap as possible. Yet, in so many in- terly discordant with their surroundings. bestowed with the honour of the Dadasaheb
id-19 testing and vaccination programmes to help vulnerable
A few days ago, Tucker Carlson, an stances, the final bridge is neither cheap V S Naipaul called it ‘megalomaniac archi- Phalke Award. And rightly so! Through the
communities. It plainly illustrates how recklessly an advanced American presenter for broadcast station nor functional. tecture’. For Naipaul, Corbusier’s buildings years–with her fantastic acting skills—she has
country that accounted for over a million dead in the past two Fox News, a racist usually, dealt us more There are small mercies, though. If how were as alien as the Gothic Victoria Termi- shined like a bright star in the Bollywood sky.
years treats the pandemic. home truth. After 75 years of Independ- the railway station looked was any indica- nus in Bombay: “India had encouraged yet P Shylaja, Nileshwar
Developing countries are still struggling to come to terms ence, Tucker asks, has India built anything tion of India’s professionalism, would any- another outsider to build a monument to
as beautiful as the erstwhile Victoria Ter- one get on a train? Isn’t it marvellous how himself,” he said. The massive new triangu- A gentleman’s lesson
with the ill effects of the pandemic, with only one-third of the
minus in Bombay? The Happy Indians our trains run without being murderously lar parliament India is constructing now at Apropos of Shun sledging, follow Rahane’s
healthcare workers and older populations fully vaccinated and
didn’t even come to know because such dangerous? But it seems here, too, India’s great cost is nothing much new either. It, example (Sept 28). Cricket is not just about
boosted, according to the UN. Efforts are still on to reach vac- news is transmitted in English. The ones in colonists have a claim. too, will be a mix of red and cream sand- batting, bowling and fielding—it is about
cines to needy people while addressing the issues with vaccine denial wrote the usual outraged rebuttal. The fact is our cities are so irredeemably stone like the old circular parliament. respectful behaviour both on and off the
hesitancy and other misinformation related to immunisation, A familiar intuition would have struck warped even light tinkering would cause The fact is the best of India is in its past, field. That is why it is called the “gentlemen’s
which the UN Secretary-General recently termed the shadow those who heard the news as soon as it came great suffering. some of which our erstwhile colonisers game”. It is good that Ajinkya Rahane put his
pandemic. He has raised concerns over falling testing rates, ex- out: you just knew Shashi Tharoor would built. There are so many wonders you can younger teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal in place
posing the world to potential variants and undermining the be articulate about Empire’s evils again, eloquently quote like Shashi Tharoor: by calling him out for sledging South Zone
and so he was for about 10 minutes on the Iron Pillar in Qutub Minar that doesn’t player Ravi Teja. This is a lesson for Jaiswal.
rollout of new treatments. prime-time NDTV. He is a surreal idea: a rust, the monolithic bull of Hampi, the in- R Sivakumar, Chennai
India has done a fabulous job in spreading the awareness and man whose voice is so posh most English tricate marble carvings of Dilwara, the Taj
importance of vaccination and booster shots and quickly at- wouldn’t trust it. Tharoor now defends In- Mahal that has a wooden foundation, Rajasthan rubik’s cube
tempted to close the vaccination gap, especially among the high- dia’s honour from colonial history ever and so on. But even this cherished past is The open rebellion of party legislators in
risk categories. India’s Covid-19 tally crossed the four-crore since he won the Oxford Union debate, and not safe from the wildering chaos in India. Rajasthan engineered by the CM has rattled
mark on January 25 this year. Since then, new daily cases have some of us were very impressed. He speaks Some of that precious heritage lies in the Congress high command. The CM does not
not so much for India as its wounded pride, utter disregard. want to move out of the state to assume the
dropped steadily to around 5,000 a day, while the total recovery
feelings that commonly afflict the best of Since India’s sense of creed is still form- party president’s post. And at the same time,
rate has reached 98.72%, according to the latest Health Ministry us, the emigrant Indians, who go abroad to ing, for many, the country is still more myth he does not want Sachin Pilot to succeed him.
data. The steep decline in fresh cases has nudged us to drop our places of such urban splendour they are than reality. And so, to a cowherd, the ruins If the high command is too hard on Gehlot,
first line of defence against the virus: the mask. The reality is hurt by what they are newly conscious of: of a Buddhist stupa in the Aravallis hold no they may risk losing power in the state.
PTI
that Covid viruses are still lurking around, and we can’t afford that India is so crassly different, so full particular sentiment but are a convenient S Ravindranath, Bengaluru
to ignore masks in crowded public places like malls, markets of misery. spot to dry dung.
Even Indians who lived all their lives in The fact is the best of India is in its For India to truly reignite its passion Corporal punishment
and theatres. There is a need to increase surveillance, testing
and sequencing as suggested by WHO. We must invest in health-
wealthy enclaves suffer when they meet the past, some of which our erstwhile for beautiful architecture, it must advance Apropos of Corporal punishment: UP boy
egalitarian gaze of the white man. In his colonisers built. But even this from denial to anger. Every Indian deserves cremated amid stir (Sept 28). This is not
care infrastructure, early warning systems, local manufactur- eyes, you, your maid who lives in a slum, so much more than she or he works for. We an isolated incident. Although corporal
ing and diagnostic capabilities to prevent future threats. and the many Indians who defecate openly cherished past is not safe from must have laws against littering and not punishment has been banned by the
belong to the same people, separated only the wildering chaos in the country. flatter ourselves with awareness cam- Supreme Court, it goes on in most schools
by a small play of chance: an idea seem- Some of that precious heritage lies paigns. We must build stations, parks, bus in the country. Such unscrupulous teachers
Q U I C K TA K E ingly facile but rudely true. in utter disregard sheds and apartments more imaginatively. need to be found, and action must be taken
But this time, at least, we must curb the What if India had a national design body? against them. The power lies with the state
THE INDIAN NAVIGATOR urge to sound smart like Shashi Tharoor.
No matter what Tucker Carlson thinks of Early in its modern life, India did dally
Every day, it seems India is passing up an
opportunity to prove Tucker Carlson wrong.
governments to take up this issue and ensure
the end of corporal punishments.

I
ndia wants cell phone makers to adapt their devices to NavIC,
Empire, what he said about India’s public with beautiful architecture. And so now, Decades since the Hindutva nationalists de- Dr M Haneef, Kottayam
buildings is right. Any Indian could have Mumbai has the highest number of Art molished Babri Masjid, part of our herit-
the indigenous navigation apparatus, to end reliance on foreign said what he said in private, and it would Deco buildings after Miami, and in Chandi- age, a new Ram temple is yet to be. Several PFI ban
systems. It is similar to the American GPS we use today. Space have been received kindly. garh, on invitation from Jawaharlal Nehru, lives were lost to this cause. Asaduddin Owaisi’s knee-jerk reaction
agency ISRO developed NavIC for military and commercial use. Very few public constructions in India Le Corbusier built the Palace of Assembly With the Hindu hardliners seated strong- towards PFI being banned was expected.
It covers the Indian mainland but needs a global footprint. It also have character. Footpaths are so thick a with a coiffed roof like Elvis Presley’s hair, ly in power and little scope for a churn in While he and the CPM in Kerala may
awaits customer validation. Phone manufacturers say integrat- child might have to climb over them with and Charles Correa built airy, brutal-look- political power, the wrongs of the past may not accept it, what they are refusing to
ing NavIC in their chip sets is a costly affair. The government her or his hands. Almost every bridge in ing train stations in Navi Mumbai. All of never be set right. But can the Hindutva acknowledge is that the arrests and ban have
Kerala looks the same, with the same black these structural movements are dead as the nationalists at least build a good-looking taken place only after solid proof of PFI’s
must insist on compliance. After all, it is the cost of doing busi- and white bannister assembled from ce- infatuations they were at the time, and temple? Can Shashi Tharoor persuade his anti-national activities. The Centre must be
ness in India. Didn’t the smartphone makers adapt their systems ment logs because the state tender seeking they are closer to India’s long past than nationalist friends? lauded for taking the step.
in China, Russia, the US and Europe? the builder comes with the same simple aim its future. (8.josephantony@gmail.com) C M Umanath, Calicut

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Tamil Nadu): Anto T Joseph * Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., at Express Press, ‘Express Gardens’, 29, Second Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai - 600 058. Chennai: Vol. 92, No. 232. RNI Reg. No. TNENG/ 1002/57.
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08 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
JALANDHAR | THURSDAY | 29 SEPTEMBER 2022

India makes presence felt


THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
SCO meet provided to reach out to Russia, Central Asian nations, Iran & China
India’s ties with the US have contin-
ued to grow, even though eyebrows
have been raised in New Delhi on

Ban on PFI some aspects of existing US policies.


Most notable among the recent differ-
ences has been the supply of US
Need to crack down on hate-mongers without exception weapons and defence equipment to

F
Pakistan. On April 14, the Pentagon
OLLOWING nationwide raids on the offices of the Popular Front of G PARTHASARATHY announced that the Biden adminis-
India (PFI) and the detention of scores of its members, the Centre CHANCELLOR, JAMMU CENTRAL UNIVERSITY & tration had agreed to a $450 million
has banned the Islamist group and its associates/affiliates for five FORMER HIGH COMMISSIONER TO PAKISTAN
deal to supply Pakistan with spares
years, citing their involvement in ‘serious offences, including terrorism and equipment for the F-16 fighters it

I
and its financing, and targeted gruesome killings.’ The government has NDIA has, in recent years, has supplied to Pakistan. The US
thus reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stand on organisations fuelling anti- extended its strategic frontiers spokesman proclaimed: ‘Pakistan’s
national sentiments and radicalising a section of society with the intention beyond its maritime boundaries F-16 programme is important for the
of disturbing peace and public order. The PFI’s alleged links with global to areas across the Strait of broader United States-Pakistan bilat-
terrorist groups such as the Islamic State should be thoroughly probed. Malacca to its east, and the Strait of ADDITION: India has welcomed the entry of Iran into the SCO and improvement eral relationship,’ and added, ‘the F-
The ban comes an entire decade after the Kerala Government had Hormuz to its West. There is a distinct in Tehran’s relations with its Arab neighbours. PTI 16 fleet allows Pakistan to support
told the High Court that the PFI was nothing but an avatar of the focus of New Delhi on its relations counter-terrorism operations and we
with the oil-rich Gulf countries and expect Pakistan to take sustained
proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The move
with former Soviet Central Asian The F-16s, equipped with advanced missiles, were used to action against all terrorist groups.’
is welcome in the interests of India’s internal security, but it’s only
a job half done. The rabble-rousing organisation’s overground polit-
republics. Ties with these countries shoot down an IAF jet during the Balakot episode. The US The F-16s, equipped with
have grown significantly during the advanced AMRAAM missiles, were
ical wing, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), has not been past decade. New Delhi’s ties with announcement can only be described as astonishing. used to shoot down an Indian Air
outlawed so far. The SDPI has been quick to condemn the action ASEAN members and other coun- Force fighter jet during the Balakot
against the PFI, alleging that ‘freedom of speech, protests and tries, like Australia, Japan and South episode. That is an issue which will
organisations have been ruthlessly suppressed by the regime Korea, across the Strait of Malacca, Modi spoke about dealing with chal- and improvement in Iran’s relations remain etched in Indian minds. The
against the basic principles of the Constitution.’ The PFI can contin- are growing steadily and assuming lenges posed by recent events, with its Arab neighbours. That US announcement can only be
ue to pursue its nefarious agenda as long as the SDPI enjoys leeway new dimensions. India has also sig- including the conflict in Ukraine. process appears to be underway, in a described as astonishing. It, howev-
to conduct its operations. Central agencies would have to constantly nificantly strengthened economic During his meeting with President measured manner, in Iran’s rela- er, constitutes a typical example of
keep tabs on this party; any laxity can have adverse consequences and maritime cooperation with Arab Putin, Modi spelt out his concerns at tions with Saudi Arabia, the UAE what one should expect from the
for social harmony as well as law and order. states, extending from the UAE to the impact of the conflict on crucial and other major Arab countries. Biden administration. Biden is
The Centre’s decisive step has provoked the Congress to demand a Saudi Arabia, while maintaining cor- food, fuel and oil supply chains across Moreover, despite some recent reser- known to have a fondness for Pak-
similar ban on the RSS on the charge of spreading ‘Hindu communal- dial relations with Iran. Asia and Africa. He pointedly stated: vations on the approach of the Biden istan’s ‘four-star Generals’ from
India has, nevertheless, adopted an ‘I know today’s era is not an era of administration, New Delhi’s ties the days he was Vice-President in
ism’. The party has accused the government of adopting a pick-and-
independent approach to its policies war’, while noting that the Ukraine with the US remain largely the Obama administration. He trav-
choose approach and demonising minorities. Indeed, the crackdown
across Eurasia. It has partnered with conflict had to be resolved through unchanged. elled all the way from Islamabad to
on outfits inciting hatred and violence should not be confined to one Russia and China in the Shanghai ‘democracy, diplomacy and dia- Putin’s reply to Modi’s comments the Pakistan army’s headquarters
community. Last week, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Union Cooperation Organisation (SCO). At logue’. He added: ‘The biggest wor- was interesting. He noted that Russ- at Rawalpindi to call on the then
government for failing to curb the menace of hate speeches and had the same time, New Delhi has joined ries before the world, especially in ian supplies of fertilisers to India had army chief, General Kayani, in 2011.
insisted on a robust regulatory framework to rein in troublemakers. the US, Japan and Australia in Quad developing countries, is food and fuel grown eight times, while large-scale The Biden administration’s recent
The onus is on the powers that be to stamp out communalism, no mat- — a partnership extending across security and fertilisers. We must find joint projects in the oil and gas sec- announcement of military assis-
ter whether it is propagated by the majority or minority community. the Indo-Pacific. It is also a member ways around these problems, and you tors and nuclear power industry were tance to Pakistan comes four years
of the U2I2, including the US, UAE will also have to consider it.’ These being satisfactorily implemented. He after President Trump rejected a
and Israel. Quad and U2I2 have dis- developments indeed provide an said India’s rich history and ancient proposed $2 billion deal on US mili-
tinct security dimensions. The focus opportunity for India to step up agri- culture have traditionally been of tary assistance to Pakistan. Trump

In interest of students of international attention has, in


recent days, been on the SCO, com-
prising China, Russia, India, Kaza-
cultural exports, as it has proposed to
do in the U2I2 agreement.
Interestingly, Putin acknowledged
great interest in Russia. He suggest-
ed moves to intensify the negotiation
process on a bilateral agreement for
had no illusions about Pakistan’s
support to terrorist groups operating
against India, which also had links
Resolve issues arising out of Haryana teacher policy khstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and that Xi Jinping had misgivings and visa-free tourist travel. The positive with the Taliban. Biden, on the oth-
Uzbekistan. India is set to host the concerns about the conflict in Ukraine. tenor of his remarks is important. er hand, appears to have high regard

P
ROTESTS by teachers were on expected lines as Haryana SCO summit next year in Delhi. India has made its stand on the India is presently getting substantial for Pakistani Generals.
announced its new rationalisation policy, which it claimed was The summit, held recently in conflict and the role of major powers supplies of oil, fertilisers and natural Pakistan-US relations are today
aimed at rectifying the disparities in the student-teacher ratio in Samarkand, provided a useful oppor- quite clear. There is little chance of gas from Russia at very competitive guided and administered, not by
government schools across 22 districts. The stiff opposition from unex- tunity for India to reach out to Russia, New Delhi changing its approach on prices, which plays a positive role in Pakistan’s political leadership, but
pected quarters — the students, parents and villagers — calls for a more its former Central Asian republics, relations with major powers like the its economic progress. by its army chief, General Bajwa,
nuanced official response. Contrary to claims that the move is meant to Iran and China, which are located US, China and Russia. India has wel- Despite differences on their with whom US officials deal happily,
address the issue of shortage of teachers, several schools in various dis- across the Eurasian landmass. PM comed the entry of Iran into the SCO approach to relations with Russia, readily and regularly.
tricts have either been left with fewer teachers or none at all. School gates
getting locked, sloganeering and sit-in dharnas outside the premises to

When even more is less


demand more teachers or protest closure are disturbing events. What is
heartening to note is the community’s involvement in seeking improved
educational facilities. The issue cannot be left unattended.
The government is well within its rights to merge schools with
low student strength, like it did with 105 of them recently, with oth- Priya S.Tandon Hamare do’ became popular. The Earn more and spend more! Talking of earnings, did you get
er schools within a 3-km radius. While confronting financial con- emoluments from chaa-kari were Let’s zoom into today. It seems peo- your paycheck? In this age of net-
straints and a shortfall of teachers, optimum utilisation of infra-
structure and human resources is a pragmatic approach. It is
inevitable that the changes made to run the system better will
cause unrest. The problem arises when decisions are taken without
S OME verbal analogies are
intriguing. Some decades ago, a
job was called naukri. The earn-
ings of the said naukar; the sole
breadwinner of the family, were
enough to meet the expenses of a fam-
ily of four. Nothing less, nothing more.
As the cost of living escalated, earn-
ings came to be known as tankha.
Tankha was just sufficient for meet-
ple work only to buy themselves a cell-
phone and what they earn is called
salary (read cell-ary). They believe in ‘I
earn, I spend’, ‘My money, my life’.
The world is in the palm of everyone’s
banking, this is what we do all day…
pay and check; pay and check. If
your desires are copious, you have to
keep paying because without
careful consideration of the consequences. The communication ‘pay’n’ (read pain), there is no gain.
gap in conveying the reasons behind the policy shift adds to the enough to feed a family of nine; hence ing one’s own needs. Hence tan-kha! hand. Everything is just a click of a With the consumer market boom-
nau-kri. It was sufficient for the par- It became important for each one to button away. Alexa and Siri are at your ing, online shopping, discount
disquiet. Not being open to a dialogue to make amends if the
ents, spouse, children and guests too. earn. The principle was ‘To each, his beck and call. You have everything but sales, buy-one-get-one-free offers,
demands are rational is another failure.
Lifestyles were simple. There was no own’. What mattered was ‘I, me and you still want more. Someone said, brands and bargains, flights and
If the end result is that one student stands to benefit at the cost of concept of air-conditioning, vacation- myself.’ Just this and nothing more. ‘Cellphones are called cell phones cruises, credit cards and debit
another, the supposedly progressive strategy is flawed. The govern- ing abroad, multiple vehicles, brand- Time moved on and vetan happened. because they ensure that you stay cards; for everything we buy, we
ment says it does have a plan to fill vacant posts, and is going through ed clothing and footwear, jewels, etc. Now, earnings were not even enough to buried in the cell (jail) of your phone!’ say, ‘Just this and nothing more’.
the litany of complaints and suggestions of teachers’ organisations. Because less was more. feed oneself, hence ve-tan. Sigh! Enter Sometimes we ask, ‘Kitna But really speaking, does it boil
What it needs to do is lend an ear to all the stakeholders, allay appre- Some years hence, the term loans and finance schemes. Udhaar! kamaya? ’ ‘Kitna kaam aaya? ’ down to just this and nothing
hensions, and ensure that classes resume. chaakari came into common parl- Take udhaar (loan) and live life king God alone knows whether it is more? Or are we always left want-
ance. This was perhaps when the con- size... increase your wants, needs and enough to satisfy our growing ing for more? Care for a ceiling on
cept of nuclear families and ‘Hum do, desires. Self-gratification is the key. desires… for more and yet more! desires, anyone?

❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Most great learning happens in groups. Collaboration Live-streaming of cases hearings should be trained according- every party, family members are by his ideals. Earnest efforts to
is the stuff of growth. — Ken Robinson Apropos of the editorial ‘Supreme ly because they are the main channel in politics, therefore, it is unfair to eliminate poverty, provide ade-
Court goes live’, live-streaming of between viewers and lawyers. Virtual point a finger at a particular fami- quate healthcare services, employ-
key cases is a praiseworthy step. The viewers’ suggestions should be taken ly. The Congress is the oldest par- ment and social security to all lndi-
move marks a huge transformation into consideration. ty and has been associated with ans must be made.
on this day...100 years ago in the functioning of the judiciary as ASHA RANI, YAMUNANAGAR India’s freedom struggle and NK GOSAIN, BATHINDA
live-streaming will directly bring the nation-building, unlike some par-
common man into conversation. Action against PFI ties who had no role in our free- Moonlighting rules
This step will also ensure that court Refer to the news report ‘Fresh dom movement. The Congress val- Apropos of the article ‘Fresh per-
proceedings begin on time and crackdown against PFI, over 170 ues people as its strength and not spective on moonlighting need-
judges give equal time to all parties held across 7 states’; the PFI and its the party. Its ideology is about the ed’, the concept of moonlighting
lahore, friday, september 29, 1922
concerned. This decision is an associate outfits have been banned welfare of the people and ‘unity in is vintage in the western world,
important step towards providing by the government for five years. diversity’. It does not believe in but is burgeoning in India, partic-
THE PRESS BILL IMBROGLIO transparency, and will also help the The PFI is accused of promoting divisive politics. ularly in the IT sector. Lately, the
IN spite of the air of mysteriousness assumed both by the Home Member judiciary win the confidence of the and abetting terrorism. The Stu- ROOP SINGH NEGI, SOLAN pandemic hardship forced profes-
and Sir D.P. Sarbadhikari in their speeches in the Assembly on Tuesday last, people of the country. dents Islamic Movement of India sionals to opt for moonlighting
announcing the failure of the negotiations regarding the Press Bill, it is SATISH SHARMA MAJRA, KAITHAL (SIMI) was banned because of simi- Tribute to Bhagat Singh because of layoffs. In the past,
obvious that this failure could only have been due to one of two causes. lar reasons. This underscores the A grateful nation remembered the courts have permitted employers
Either the material placed before the leading members of the Assembly at Virtual proceedings need for prompt, fair and result-ori- great revolutionary and freedom to terminate employment if an
the Conference that was held at the Viceregal Lodge between them and It is a much-awaited move to make ented action. Most importantly, to fighter, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, on employee was found moonlight-
members of the Government, including His Excellency himself, did not Supreme Court proceedings virtual. guard against any such organisa- his 115th birth anniversary. Rich ing. But this law doesn’t apply to
satisfy the former that the Bill in the form in which the Government wanted Being the guardian of the Constitu- tion, belonging to any community or tributes were paid by our political IT industries in some states. By
to see it passed was necessary or desirable; or they had reasons to believe tion, and the citizens of the country, religion, succeeding in radicalising leaders on the occasion. Cycle ral- prioritising concerns of IT compa-
that any compromise involving the annulment of the action taken by the the court takes decisions of national our young and vulnerable popula- lies, candle marches, blood dona- nies and making suitable amend-
Assembly only three days before would be acceptable to the rank and file of importance. Thus, people have the tion, we, as a society, must ensure tion camps, etc., were organised. ments, such as protection from
that body. Further, judging from the words used by both speakers, it does right to be informed about how the that there is no act that spreads dis- But the real tribute would be to fol- misuse of company’s resources
seem to us that the second rather than the first was the cause. “I wish to system works. Live-streaming of cas- crimination, provocation or hatred low his principles, policies and ide- and confidential information, it
make it clear,” said the Home Member, “that this (the failure of the es, such as quota for EWS and the All by any individual or group, and ology and translate his cherished can favour both parties. People
negotiations) is not due to any lack of endeavour on the part of the India Bar exam, will pave the way to especially by any politician or politi- dream of a truly free lndia into from IT backgrounds can opt for
Government or on the part of those non-official members with whom we understand how hearings reach a ver- cal outfit, whether in the ruling or in reality. Sadly, even after 75 years of offshoot to sharpen skills and
have discussed the matter to find a solution. It is due to circumstances dict. It will also decongest courts. At the opposition party. Independence, his dream remains keep their motivation high with
beyond our control that we have failed and I may say that the members of the same time, it will increase the chal- HIRA SHARMA, BY MAIL unfulfilled. Removal of maladies fringe benefits. Authorisation of
the Government and those non-official members with whom I have been in lenges for the SC. Insensitivity on sen- afflicting our social, political and moonlighting with clear-cut
contact showed every desire to get out of the impasse in which we find sitive matters will become a subject of All in the family economic system would be a fit- boundaries might even become an
ourselves.” It is hard to believe that Sir William Vincent would have been so debate. Technical glitches should be Refer to ‘Cong has made politics a ting tribute to this great personali- employment benefit in the future.
conciliatory in his speech if the leaders of the Assembly who were present at resolved timely and interpreters of the family affair: Kashyap’; in almost ty. We all need to commit to stand TASHI BAHETI, BY MAIL
the conference had, from his own point of view, been unreasonably obstinate
in rejecting the Government’s estimate of the material placed before them. 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
JALANDHAR | THURSDAY | 29 SEPTEMBER 2022 OPED 09

Dragon’s shadow over Delhi-Dhaka ties


first to attend the National Defence strengthens Hasina’s hand among
College in New Delhi in 1982. the establishment.
He listed out a number of grievances Dhaka has traditionally enjoyed The state of bilateral relations is
Dhaka had like depriving it of “our
share of water from Padma and Teesta
stable and sound relations with invariably exaggerated, partnerships
embellished with terms like strategic
rivers”, consequent river erosion and Beijing, especially in the special, privileged and lately “no lim-
displacement of people and killings it” between Russia and China.
by the BSF on the border — once defence sector. Almost 80% The India-Bangladesh relationship
MAJ GEN ASHOK K MEHTA (RETD)
MILITARY COMMENTATOR
when Hasina was in India, thereby
dishonouring her. But now, officers
of Bangladesh’s arms are is more down to earth, with both sides
aware, if not always sensitive, to
regularly attend each other’s NDC. sourced from China. The mutual fears and concerns. To Brig

A
FTER last year’s triple India- When I was invited to Dhaka to Samad’s grievance list can be added:
Bangladesh celebrations — attend the War of Liberation cere- latter is also its biggest trade issues related to the CAA-NRC, border
50 years of the Liberation
War, 50 years of India-
monies in 2010 after Hasina became
the Prime Minister in 2009, I was feted
partner, biggest investor management, joint management of 54
rivers, return of members of the Tab-
Bangladesh relations and the birth as Mukti Jodha and made much of as and has made project lighi Jamaat and Indian help in repa-
centenary of Bongobondhu Sheikh part of a team of Bangladesh veterans. triation of 10 lakh Rohingyas.
Mujibur Rahman — and this month’s Bangladeshis’ love and affection for commitments worth $38 bn. India has sought close security coop-
visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the veterans was eye-opening. eration, protection of Hindus and tem-
both countries have described bilater- When I went to Dhaka for a confer- ples, expressed fears of revival of
al relations in the rosiest of terms. ence before the pandemic and met our BONHOMIE: Both India and Bangladesh are Islamist extremism and sanctuaries for
India has called the relationship a Defence Adviser, he informed me that cognisant of mutual fears and concerns. PTI insurgents and urged focus on counter-
“role model” and Bangladesh the the Bangladesh Army conducts its terrorism, connectivity, power trade,
launch pad for its Act East policy as military exercises, painting India as resilient supply chains and finalising
well as a frontline state of its Neigh- ‘red land’/bad land/enemy. Division, currently headed by Lt Gen ner ($18 billion), biggest investor ($26 entering the middle-income group. It is the Comprehensive Economic Partner-
bourhood First policy. Until recently, Nepal also used to Waker-uz-Zaman, is the most impor- billion) and has made project commit- on a very sound economic footing with ship Agreement. India’s Lines of Cred-
Hasina recently said: “I reiterate portray India as ‘red land’. Every tant organ of the military. It’s respon- ments worth $38 billion. stable macro-economic fundamentals. it of $8 billion (2017) for 30 projects has
that India is the most important and country is trying to identify its sible for arms procurement, military Foreign Minister Wang Yi on a recent Its decade-long growth at six per cent so far yielded only $1.5 billion.
closest neighbour of Bangladesh. external threat. Soon after Soviet diplomacy and coordination among visit to Dhaka thanked it for its “one- has made it the 41st largest economy China’s growing influence in
The relationship between Union’s collapse, British Chief of the other two services. It is very pow- China” policy after the Taiwan with a comfortable foreign exchange Bangladesh is a serious concern after
Bangladesh and India is a role model Defence Staff, Gen Edwin Bramall, erful. The last and the fourth Annual episode. Foreign Minister AK Abdul reserve of $40 billion, a rising per capita land grab in eastern Ladakh and Dok-
for neighbourhood diplomacy world- told me: “We now have no enemy. We Defence Dialogue was held this year Momen has described relations as income and it is the second largest lam incursions creeping towards the
wide.” The frequency of high-level are looking out for one.” between Defence Secretary Ajay “historic and rock solid” with China as exporter of textiles in the world. Siliguri corridor. Beijing is curating a
visits between the leaders of the two The UK now has an immediate and Kumar and Lt Gen Zaman. a development partner. Last year, It has overtaken India in several thaw between Pakistan and
countries is unique and unsurpassed proximate adversary — Russia and The big worry for India is China though, Chinese Ambassador to Dha- human development and growth Bangladesh, though Pakistan is yet to
by any other bilateral. China. US Secretary of State Antony and its creeping shadow over its ka Li Jiming asked Bangladesh not to indices due to a prudent policy on apologise for war crimes in 1971.
Yet, this month, retired Brigadier Blinken called China the most serious neighbourhood. Dhaka has tradition- join the Quad which stirred the diplo- remittances, exchange rate reform, Hasina has ensured steady and sta-
General Qazi Abidus Samad of the long-term challenge to the interna- ally enjoyed very stable and sound matic hornet’s nest. trade liberalisation (before India) and ble bilateral relations with New Delhi,
Bangladesh Army wrote in the Dha- tional order. Adversary challenge clas- relations with Beijing, especially in Bangladesh has trimmed its projects development projects with immediate though India has put all its eggs in
ka Tribune that due to a threat per- sification is either threat or capability the defence sector. Almost 80 per with China — cancelled the high- spinoff like the recent Padma Bridge. Hasina’s basket. These need to be
ception from India, defence coopera- based. Both approaches are being cent of Bangladesh’s arms are speed Dhaka Chittagong railway line, To prevent economic crisis like in Sri redistributed. A deeper military-to-
tion was affected and delayed despite redefined due to great power competi- sourced from China, including two but it won projects to construct the Lanka and Pakistan, it has sought $4.5 military relationship is imperative to
the fact that Gen Hussain Muham- tion, including the Ukraine war. Ming-class submarines. Sylhet airport and the Padma Bridge. billion from the International Mone- prevent India from being caught on
mad Ershad (later President) was the In Bangladesh, the Armed Forces China is also its biggest trade part- Bangladesh, once a basket case, is now tary Fund. A strong economy the back foot.

Neighbourhood outreach critical for India


T
ALKS with Russia and the US is that India has extended credit for con- in the Regional Comprehensive Eco-
and its presence at the recent nectivity. For instance, Sri Lanka has nomic Partnership. By staying out and
meeting of the China-led received credit and investments from alleging that the partnership would be
Shanghai Cooperation Organi- India as part of India’s maritime strate- dominated by China, India advertised
sation may reflect India’s aspiration to gy in the Indian Ocean. India has cer- its economic weakness.
play a wider international role, but ties tainly offered Nepal important projects. Like India, China asserts the impor-
with neighbours, especially Bangladesh, In August, Nepal handed over two hydro- tance of historical ties with South Asia.
Nepal and Sri Lanka, are among the most electric projects, quit by China, to India. For instance, on August 7, Bangladeshi
ANITA INDER SINGH
important components of India’s foreign As much as 98 per cent of Nepal’s PM Sheikh Hasina met China’s Foreign
FOUNDING PROFESSOR, CENTRE FOR PEACE policy and can offer clues about its transit trade takes place through India Minister Wang Yi in Dhaka. Wang lost
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, NEW DELHI
chances of leading its South Asian neigh- and 65 per cent of Nepal’s total trade is no time in highlighting the “profound
bourhood and the Indo-Pacific region. with India. However, India’s new mili- historical and social foundation and sol-
That is not the same as dominating its tary recruitment plan — Agnipath — id public support”, underlying the rela-
India hopes to be fully neighbourhood. So India, an aspiring could adversely impact India’s ties tionship and stressing that the two
power, should bear in mind the differ- with its Himalayan neighbour. That countries had “always” trusted and
developed by 2047 to ence between domination — which military relationship has had its great respected each other.
mark its centenary of smaller or weaker neighbouring coun-
tries dislike — and leadership, which
moments. Field Marshal Sam Manek-
shaw, who led India to victory against
In fact, the question, which frequently
arises, is why the cultural and civilisa-
Independence, but that they may be prepared to accept, if they Pakistan in the war which resulted in tional ties that New Delhi so often lauds
think the ‘leader’ will play fair and offer the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, had have not led to stronger economic ties
goal may be unachievable them more than its rivals. MILITARY RECRUITMENT: Agnipath can adversely impact India’s ties with Nepal. ANI served with the 8th Gorkha Rifles. with its neighbours? Some answers may
without the spread of Weaker neighbours will also note that
the great power requires progress, tech- World Bank, as one of the world’s largest independence just over 50 years ago.
China has also cultivated its rela-
tionship with Nepal and has invested
be found in India’s inability to establish
itself as their friend of first or last resort.
education. Domestic peace nological innovation and education for lenders. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have Significantly, a humiliating economic in a railway to connect Kathmandu Realising that they can never be domi-
progress to be sustainable. China has approached all three for loans to help blockade by India in 2015 pushed Nepal with Tibet. Additionally, China has nant South Asian powers, India’s weak-
is essential to counter learnt that lesson. On that basis, it aims stabilise their diminishing foreign to join the BRI in 2016. Sri Lanka and granted landlocked Nepal access to er neighbours fear China, but it gives
China in South Asia. to advance development and create
world-class armed forces by 2049.
exchange reserves. At another level, the
term “Indo-Pacific” suggests India’s
Bangladesh followed suit, all wanting
to reduce dependence on India and
some of its seaports.
New Delhi cannot win over its neigh-
them more than New Delhi.
Meanwhile, India’s domestic religious
So, India must establish Great Britain, the US, South Korea outstanding presence in the region, but diversifying their economic options. bours merely by asserting civilisation- polarisation has sparked concern in
and Japan are also examples of coun- China is a strong contestant for influ- South Asian neighbours wish to al links. The big question is how much friendly South Asian states. A politically
that it can create and tries that educated their citizens with a ence and power even in its immediate expand their rail, road and maritime importance India has given to friendly and socially harmonious India could set
consolidate economic, view to forging progress and enhancing
their regional and global status. In con-
South Asian neighbourhood. Economics
provides part of the answer. China’s Belt
connectivity and enhance their securi-
ty. They do not perceive India as being
South Asian countries. According to
the World Bank, South Asia is one of
an example to its neighbours; a divided
and high-handed one raises concerns
human and strategic trast, economist Amartya Sen has noted and Road Initiative (BRI), inaugurated less dominating than China. And China the least economically integrated about their own security.
that India is the exception in that; it in 2013, has enabled it to strengthen its offers them more investment. regions in the world and intra-regional That is a reason why India’s friends
security, maintain social wants to become a global economic pow- economic and strategic ties with the On another plane, India has offended trade is well below 5 per cent of the play their China card against New Del-
harmony and bestow more er without educating all its people. India
hopes to be fully developed by 2047 to
South Asian countries. Except for
Bhutan and India, all South Asian coun-
Dhaka by labelling immigrants from
Bangladesh as “termites”, or accused
area’s international trade.
In contrast, the ASEAN member states
hi. Domestic peace and progress are
essential to counter China in South
largesse on neighbours mark its centenary of Independence, tries are on board the BRI. them of pushing their way into India carry out more than half of their trade Asia. So, India must establish that it can
but that goal may be unachievable with- In 2021, China’s GDP per capita was because they are poverty-stricken. with each other. Most of them are eco- create and consolidate economic,
compared to China. out the spread of education. around $12,400 and India’s is $2,277. That’s rich, coming from New Delhi, giv- nomically ahead of India. They are not human and strategic security, maintain
China’s economic clout is also evident That leaves it behind Bangladesh (GDP en that Bangladesh has a higher per afraid to trade with their aggressive social harmony and bestow more
from its role, together with the IMF and per capita is $2,503), which achieved capita GDP than India. The better news neighbour — China — and have joined it largesse on them than China.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast


ACROSS
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022, THURSDAY SUNSET: THURSDAY 18:11 HRS
1 The status of celebrity (7)
5 Dried grain stalks (5) 3 8 6 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2079
SUNRISE: FRIDAY 06:15 HRS
8 Without precedent (7-2) ■ Shaka Samvat 1944
9 Signal for action (3)
10 Neat (4)
12 Logically thought-out (8)
9 4 7 5 ■ Ashwin Shaka

■ Ashwin Parvishte
7
13
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

14 Extract essence of (6) ■ Hijari 1444 Chandigarh 32 22


15 Inducement (6)
17 Speed (8)
2 5 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 4, up to 12:09 am New Delhi 36 24
18 Natural aptitude (4) ■ Vishkumbha Yoga up to 12:55 am Amritsar 33 23

7 6 1
21 Possess (3) ■ Vishakha Nakshatra up to 5:13 am Bathinda 34 22
22 Writer of malicious
letters (6,3) ■ Moon enters Scorpio sign 11:24 pm Jalandhar 32 22
24 Austere (5) Ludhiana 32 23
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
25 Deteriorate (2,2,3)
6 8 Bhiwani 34 24
DOWN 2 7 4 9 6 3 8 5 1 Hisar 33 23

2 3 7
1 Retard growth of (5) Sirsa 34 23
2 A forest tree (3) 8 3 5 1 7 4 6 9 2
3 Elicit (4) Dharamsala 27 17
4 Irritate intensely (6) 6 1 9 2 8 5 4 7 3
Manali 21 14
5 A sentimental weakness
(4,4) 7 9 9 6 7 4 1 2 5 3 8 Shimla 22 14
6 Restore to friendship (9) 4 8 1 5 3 7 2 6 9 Srinagar 29 13
7 Coax by flattery (7)
11 Without speaking (2,7)
13 Vital component part (8)
5 9 2 8 3 5 2 8 9 6 7 1 4
Jammu
Kargil
34
24
23
06
YESTERDAY’S sOLUTION 14 Underhand (7) 7 4 8 3 5 9 1 2 6 Leh 19 05
Across: 1 Massacre, 5 Show, 9 Swamp, 10 Dialect, 11 Life-and-death, 13 Remain,
14 Normal, 17 Heart of stone, 20 Bespoke, 21 Hoard, 22 Tang, 23 Adherent.
16 Series (6)
19 Firmly held belief (5) 1 8 5 5 2 3 6 4 1 9 8 7 Dehradun 33 20 1
Down: 1 Muse, 2 Stadium, 3 Appreciation, 4 Rodent, 6 Hyena, 7 Withhold, 8 Hard 20 Dash away suddenly (4) Mussoorie 23 15
1 9 6 7 2 8 3 4 5
row to hoe, 12 Prohibit, 15 Mundane, 16 Offend, 18 Arson, 19 Edit. 23 Seed of apple etc. (3) MEDIUM TEMPERATURE IN OC
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against the ostensible behaviour
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patronising tone following the
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laad bhi karte hai, khyal bhi
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love and take care of, and here
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LQFOXGLQJSHUVXDVLRQ7KHKLMDEGULYHLVSDUWRIWKLV this is not acceptable yaar." That
UDGLFDOLVDWLRQZHDULQJKLMDELVPRUHUDPSDQWQRZ Shoaib's view was selectively dreaded Taliban, puritanical Minister Imran Khan who is safety. The pent-up frustration
WKDQLWZDVDJHQHUDWLRQDJR7KH&),·VUROHLQLQVWLJDWLQJJLUOVWRLQVLVWRQZHDULQJ berating, condescending and Haqqani faction, brutal the poster boy of Pakistani against the Pakistanis was a lot
mocking is one thing - but it was Hekmatyar faction, etc., to misadventures, but even the more than what can be attrib-
,VODPLFDWWLUHLQHGXFDWLRQLQVWLWXWLRQVLQ.DUQDWDNDLVZHOONQRZQ,QIDFWUDGLFDO0XVOLPV also layered by unsubtle societal suppress and undercut coalition of PPP and PML-N uted to a simple case of win-
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wake zaleel kiya, aur rote hui gayi on the street who justifiably remember Nawaz Sharif 's the Pathans, 'Every family
SOHRYHUDGHFDGHDJRWKH\FKRSSHGRIIWKHKDQGRIDSURIHVVRULQ.HUDODIRUDOOHJHG Afghanistan team (That is why blame Pakistan for decades of electoral bluster to then rivals cultivates it's vendetta; every
O\ KDYLQJ VDLG VRPHWKLQJ LQDSSURSULDWH DERXW 3URSKHW 0XKDPPDG 7KH .HUDOD the almighty punished you, where bloodshed and violence. PPP in 1993, 'You gave up clan, its feud. Today the proud
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*RYHUQPHQWFDQQRWEHVDLGWREHFDOOHGDQWL0XVOLPMXVWEHFDXVHLWDFWHGDJDLQVW (Pakistani player) hit a six against backyard or 'Strategic Depth' with dismay and hate. Across ity of Afghanistan) are reeling
you, and you were humiliated and is an institutionalised aspira- the political canvass of under unprecedented misery
WKH3),$FRXSOHRILVVXHVQHHGWREHUDLVHGKHUH)LUVWWKH*RYHUQPHQWLVZLGHO\ Afghanistan team went out cry- tion in Pakistan and even the B>F78;4C74 Pakistani democracy and and there is no doubt as to
DFFXVHGRIXVLQJWKHDJHQFLHVOLNHWKH(QIRUFHPHQW'LUHFWRUDWHDQGWKH&HQWUDO%XUHDX ing!). The subtext of a Pakistani revisionist Taliban regime Military rules, the Pakistanis which direction their ire is
RI,QYHVWLJDWLRQIRUSROLWLFDOSXUSRVHVVRHYHQZKHQWKH\JHQXLQHO\GRZKDWWKH\ Pathan versus Afghan Pathan finds itself uncomfortable F0AC>A= have sought indebtedness of pointed. Official politics may
DUHPDQGDWHGWRTXHVWLRQVFDQEHUDLVHGDERXWWKHDFWLRQ6HFRQGZKLOH,VODPLF was loaded, as it militates against
the sense of Pashtunistan or
defending Pakistani interfer-
ences, beyond a point. A few
05670=8BC0= the Afghans for the harbour-
ing of Pashtun refugees - only
not be on the side of the aver-
age Afghan belief, as its
RUJDQLVDWLRQVLQYROYHGLQFULPLQDODFWLYLWLHVPXVWEHGHDOWZLWKILUPO\WKHRXWILWVFODLP common homeland/identity of months back, the Taliban 2A82:4CC40< the Afghans have found that incumbent government is still
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and Afghanistan.
The visibilised animosity
in Kabul to condemn airstrikes
on Afghan soil. Taliban
345H8=6C74 scending. So, while the war-
torn Afghanistan Cricket
macy, but it is a groundswell
of angst that this filling up fast
?82D1<; besetting the Pakistan-
Afghanistan realm is palpable and
spokesperson had warned,
'not to test that patience of
>33BF8C7 Team has kept defying the
odds with individual perfor-
and may tip over the Talibani
patience, too. It was ultimate-
deep, and the cricket pitch only Afghans' and that, 'same mis- 8=38E83D0; mances and heroics of ly left to the former Afghan
reflects the same. It is starker and
more intense as compared to the
takes again….will have bad
consequences! Even with its
?4A5>A<0=24B resilience, and heroics, it has
sadly lost more matches than
captain, Shafiq Stanikzai, to
have the last word when he
outpourings in India-Pakistan own propped Taliban regime 0=374A>82B>5 it has won. This Asia Cup was coldly warned Shoaib, 'baat ko
matches, today. The historically in Kabul, the Pakistanis are no different (win against the nation pe Mat lena' (do not
wounded sentiment along the getting the rough end of the A4B8;84=240=3 much higher-ranked extrapolate your comments to
2670-kilometer-long border
dividing Afghanistan-Pakistan
stick, as the blame for the larg-
er Afghan socio-economic
74A>82B8C Bangladesh notwithstanding),
except that when it came to
the nation) — implicit in the
Stanikzai's warning was the
or the Durand Line (vehement- misery is attributed squarely of 70BB03;H;>BC the Afghanistan-Pakistan larger sentiment and augury
ly unrecognised by Afghanistan), the Pakistanis, and especially match, a lot more was at of the future.
has metastasized over the years to its shadowy agency, ISI. No <>A4<0C274B stake and Afghan emotions (The writer, a military
with the perception of constant
Pakistani patronage of terror and
amount of rote Pakistani spiel
of 'co-religiosity cuts ice in
C70=8C70BF>= were raw. Beyond the on-field
fracas amongst players, after
veteran, is a former
Lt Governor of Andaman
mayhem in Afghanistan. Afghanistan. the match, the Afghan fans let & Nicobar Islands and
Islamabad has pandered to Pan- It's not just 'Taliban Khan' their fury on Pakistani fans Puducherry. The views
Islamic terror groups like the or the former Pakistani Prime and had them scurrying for expressed are personal.)

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Sir — The republic of Iran is in turmoil \X[XcPahT`dX_\T]c
over the recent tragic custodial death of Xb]^cP]TfXbbdT
the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa XU WT QTR^\Tb ?aTbXST]c 2^a]TaX]V 7XVW ^aRWP]VTSSdTc^
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Amini at the altar of police brutality. She
7KH6&KDVUHVHUYHGLWVGHFLVLRQWKHHPRWLYH preferred to sacrifice her life rather than cWX]VXbbTaX^db[hfa^]VfXcWcWT2^]VaTbb RWP]VTbFTTgTa
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8b cWTaT P QXVVTa VP\T QTWX]S cWT bRaTT]
LVVXHPXVWEHDPLFDEO\VROYHG succumbing to police atrocities to
enforce harsh hijab rules and curb their 6TW[^c Xb _[PhX]V c^ SX[dcT cWT 1WPaPc 9^S^
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KHUHVHUYDWLRQLVDVHPRWLYHDQLVVXHDVLWLVHFRQRPLF1HYHUWKHOHVVLWUHPDLQV rights in the name of faith and religion. HPcaP P]S bRdcc[T TeT] cWT [Xcc[T TUU^ac cWPc
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_Pach. 8cP[hWPbRW^bT]db
of dissent have surfaced in Iran on a
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grand scale. It is the women folk, be it
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ZDUGFDVWHVDQG6FKHGXOH&DVWHV 7ULEHV7KHSHWLWLRQZDVILOHGDJDLQVWWKHUG Islam curtailing their freedom, dreams, 0bW^Z 6TW[^c bc^^_X]V b^ [^f c^ _[Ph f^aZX]VU^a2^]VaTbbcWTfPhXcfP]cbcWX]Vb _T^_[T
DPHQGPHQWWRWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQZKLFKLQWURGXFHGFKDQJHVWR$UWLFOHVDQGWKDW and aspirations. _^[XcXRbPSXach^]TX]STTS_PacXRd[Pa[hfWT] c^QT>][hcWTSXTWPaSbd__^acTab^UcWT_Pach
GHDOZLWKWKHULJKWWRHTXDOLW\DQGSURYLGHWKHEDVLVIRUUHVHUYDWLRQV7KHDUJXPHQWDJDLQVW Hundreds of women across 80 cities WTXbQTX]V_a^\^cTSc^QTR^\T?aTbXST]c^U RP] bP[ePVT Xc Ua^\ cWXb ^cWTafXbT bcd_XS
in Iran have taken to the streets to cWT8=2>aXbWTaTP[[hQTX]VRWTPcTSQhWXb bXcdPcX^] CWT 2^]VaTbb [TPSTabWX_ c^SPh 8cP[h´b?<T[TRc
WKHDPHQGPHQWLVWKDWWKHSHUFHQWOLPLWRQUHVHUYDWLRQFDQQRWEHFURVVHGDVLWZRXOG oppose this oppressive practice of slav- ¯6X^aVXP<T[^]X
RPQX]Tc \X]XbcTab. 8c f^d[S WPeT QTT] VaP bTT\bc^QTad]]X]V^dc^UXSTPbP]SWPb[PRZTS
WDQWDPRXQWWRYLRODWHWKHEDVLFSUHPLVHRI&RQVWLWXWLRQZKLFKLVHTXDOLW\7KH&HQWUH ery inflicted on women for centuries. RX^dbU^aWX\c^[TPeTbcPcT_^[XcXRbP]SX]bcTPS cWT\Tcc[Tc^WP]S[TcWTbXcdPcX^]bfWXRWPaT
CWThbPhXUh^d
KDGHDUOLHUWROGWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWWKDWWKH(:6TXRWDGRHVQRWHURGHWKHULJKWVRI They are not just removing their Head WT[TPeTbQTWX]SPS^dQcPbc^W^fWTfX[[ cWaTPcT]X]VXcbTgXbcT]RT
ZTT_VTccX]VcWT
6FKHGXOHG&DVWHDQG6FKHGXOHG7ULEHFRPPXQLWLHV scarves, cutting their hair in public, QTPQ[Tc^WP]S[T_^[XcXRbPccWT]PcX^]P[[TeT[ 3=PVPaYd]Pk7hSTaPQPS bP\Ta^[TbXc
DVWKH\DOUHDG\HQMR\PDQ\RWKHUEHQHILWV burning hijabs in public but also burn- \TP]bh^dPaT
ing posters of the founder of the Islamic not make his presence felt by blocking communal disturbances. Many pan eTah[dRZhcWPc
7KH*RYHUQPHQWFRQWHQWLRQWKDWWKH6FKHGXOHG Republic, Ayatullah Khomeini in 1979. the decision of the Council of Ministers India raids were conducted recently to _T^_[TfP]cc^
&DVWHVDQG6FKHGXOHG7ULEHVKDYHEHHQJLYHQVHY This assumes significance as this is the that too call for convening the session. identify the network of PFI and many ZTT_fPcRWX]Vh^d
HUDO EHQHILWV XQGHU WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ world's first political revolution totally The Governor is only an appointed arrests were made with a lot of informa- 7^fTeTa8UTT[XcbcWTSTPcW^U
$UWLFOH  D  VSHFLDOSURYLVLRQIRUSURPRWLRQ DQG led by women. In fact, it sends strong authority by the Union Government. He P]PRc^a
tion on their activities and other asso-
0Rc^a
$UWLFOH UHVHUYDWLRQLQ6WDWH$VVHPEOLHV PD\ signals that every dictatorial regime falls is not representing the will of the ciated groups. ¯0aRWP]P?daP]BX]VW
when Mahsa Amini stands up or a Rosa
EHWUXHEXWXQIRUWXQDWHO\GHVSLWHDOOWKHVHEHQHILWV Parks refuses to succumb to a white
People. Once a highly dignified post, the It is most gratifying that some
governorship now has been reduced to AXVWcUa^\0bXP
WKH\VWLOOUHPDLQRQWKHORZHVWUXQJRIVRFLDOKLHU man. It would be a moral victory of the a coercive tool to hinder the smooth
Islamic organisations welcomed the
2d_TeTah\PcRW
DUFK\DQGODJEHKLQGRQWKHHFRQRPLFIURQWDVZHOO democratic ethos, and dignity of the working of every non-lotus state govern-
ban as they feel country first and faith
fWTaTWTEXaPc
%XWKDYLQJVDLGWKDWWKHHFRQRPLFFULWHULRQPXVW human being if every nation across the next. The way pro-Pakisthan slogans V^cad]bcWTaT
ment. It is good that the face-off has
were raised during the arrest of the PFI
EHDWOHDVWDIDFWRUZKLOHJLYLQJUHVHUYDWLRQWRDQ\ globe stood by them and support their ended. Otherwise, the bickering between fPbb^\TX\_a^
rightful cause. cadre shows how they are anti-nation- eT\T]cR^\X]V8
VHFWLRQRIVRFLHW\7KH*RYHUQPHQWLQWURGXFHGWKH the government and the governor would
cWX]ZcWT_^fTa
Vijay Singh Adhikari | Nainital have led to an ugly situation . Better al. All Muslim political organisations
(:6TXRWDIRUWKRVHZKRGRQRWIDOOLQWKHFDWHJRU\RI6&67DQG2%&VEXWKDYH should condemn the terrorist mindset VP\TXbQPRZ
sense has prevailed.
DQDQQXDOIDPLO\LQFRPHRIOHVVWKDQCODNKSHUDQQXP7KHLQWHQWZDVULJKWEXW 25DD5BC5>C5@B5F19<C9>@E>:12 CK Subramaniam | Mumbai of PFI and while welcoming the ban

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WKHPHWKRGZDVQRW$QGWKLVLVZKDWLVEHLQJFRQWHVWHGE\WKHSHWLWLRQHUV7KHFUL Sir — Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar should advise all its members to keep ¯BP]YPh<P]YaTZPa
WHULRQLVDUELWUDU\DQGLPSUDFWLFDOWRVD\WKHOHDVW7REHIDLUWRWKH*RYHUQPHQWLW Singh Sandhwan said that the Governor D857?FD9CB978D9>21>>9>7@69 their distance from PFI and its asso-
FDQQRWWRXFKWKHUHVHUYDWLRQWR6&67DQG2%&VDQGVRLWKDVQRFKRLFH/DVW\HDU has acceded to the government's request Sir — Union Home Ministry has done ciate organisations for the peaceful 0bPVa^d_fTfX[[
for holding the Assembly session. The the right thing by banning the Popular X]eTbc^eTa 
WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWKDGVDLGWKDWWKHFULWHULDVHHPHGDUELWUDU\6LQFHWKHLQFRPH ongoing face-off between Punjab coexistence of all with unity in diver-
Front of India (PFI) and its associates, QX[[X^]^URP_XcP[X]
FULWHULDRICODNKSHUDQQXPZDVXVHGWRH[FOXGHWKH¶FUHDP\OD\HU·IURPWKH2%& Governor Banwarilal Purohit and the sity and should not fall prey to such cWT]TgcSTRPST
numbering eight for five years, as they
TXRWDWKHFRXUWVDLGLWZDV¶PHFKDQLFDO·DQGLQFOXGHGWRGLVWLQJXLVK(:6DVZHOO ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has are terrorist-based fronts in the coun-
organisations.
7KH6&REVHUYDWLRQKROGVZDWHUDVJURXQGUHDOLWLHVPD\EHYHU\GLIIHUHQW7KHGHFL ended with the Governor agreeing to JP Reddy | Nalgonda
try with active cooperation, coordina-
VLRQRI6XSUHPH&RXUWLQWKLVUHJDUGZRXOGEHDODQGPDUNLQWKHGHEDWHIRUUHVHU summon the State Assembly session on tion, and financial transactions with BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^) 1dbX]Tbb\P]
September 27.The Governor should
YDWLRQVDQGFRXOGVWLUDKRUQHW
VQHVW many terrorist organisations to create [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\ ¯6PdcP\0SP]X
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T India with six-decades-old
Income Tax Act, 1961, with too
many amendments in the form
of a lot of confusing patch-
works is in force. Likewise, ever since a
reformative step of introducing the Goods
& Service Tax (GST) Act has been taken
EHQFKPDUNVDUHPLVVLQJ
with effect from July 1, 2017, there has
:HSRVVHVVIUHHZLOOZKLFKLVGHILQHGDVWKHSRZHURIGHVLULQJDQG been a regular practice of changing tax-
GHFLGLQJZLWKRXWWKHUHVWUDLQWRIQHFHVVLW\RUIDWH,WLVWKHDELOLW\WRGHVLUH structure in an ever-confusing GST regime
XQOLPLWHGO\DQGGHFLGHDVZHFKRRVH%XWZHDUHQRWVRLQGHSHQGHQW with too many confusing and complicat-
EHFDXVHEHLQJLQGHSHQGHQWZLOOPHDQWKDWZHFDQDFKLHYHZKDWZHGHVLUH ed provisions incorporated in the system.
EXWZHDUHERXQGE\WKHFRQVWUDLQWVRIWKHZRUOG)RUH[DPSOHZHFDQ An altogether new tax-regime should
GHVLUHWREHYHU\ULFK%XWFDQZHPDQDJHLWZLWKRXWIROORZLQJWKHUXOHV be introduced without patches of useless
and largely misused exemptions.
RIEHFRPLQJULFKOLNHKDYLQJWKHQHFHVVDU\DELOLWLHVRSSRUWXQLWLHVVXS Implementation of Raja Chelliah
SRUWRIWKHV\VWHPHWF"1RZHDUHQRWUHDOO\LQGHSHQGHQW Committee recommendations to fix the
+RZHYHURXUIUHHZLOOGRHVJLYHWKLVIDOVHLPSUHVVLRQWKDWZHDUH highest tax-slab at 30 per cent to be in tune
LQGHSHQGHQW5DWKHUWKHUHLVDQRWKHUVHULRXVGUDZEDFNLQGRLQJVRLI with most countries in the world had
ZH JHW DWWDFKHG ZLWK ZKDW ZH GHVLUH /RUG .ULVKQD KDV UHSHDWHGO\ largely abolished the practice of convert-
ZDUQHGDJDLQVWVXFKDWWDFKPHQWVLQWKH%KDJDYDG*HHWD,QYHUVH ing black money into white money. illiterate persons, all sale-purchas- claims of excessive Input-Tax-Credit petroleum products under GST
WKH/RUGVWDWHV´)URPDWWDFKPHQWOXVWPDQLIHVWVDQGIURPOXVW Gradually increasing this highest slab also
through imposing cess and surcharges has C74 '?4A es above Rs 10000 may be compul-
sorily through bank transactions.
in these sectors. Rather study should
be made if with abolition of an
regime to ensure uniform pricing
of petrol and diesel in all states.
DQJHUUHVXOWVµ/RUG.ULVKQDJRHVRQLQWKHQH[WYHUVH´)URPDQJHU
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Highest tax slab of 30 per cent should
be restored so that people may find it C74B4AE824 credit-cards should be slashed
down to just half a per cent (GST-
slab, Input-Tax-Credit can be alto-
gether abolished from manufactur-
and five per cent into single six per
cent slabs will be more than com-
SHUVRQLVGRRPHGµ  advantageous to bring complete income to B42C>A8B exempted) that too to be borne by ing/producing sectors, retaining it pensated by abolishing slabs of 18
books. Rather a permanent Voluntary central government with all incen- only on tradable commodities. per cent. Input-Tax-Credit (ITC)
Disclosure Scheme should be introduced 4G24BB8E4;H tives on purchases made through But such reform in Input- system should not be applicable on
whereby provision may be there in tax-
return to declare at highest suggested tax-
78674A credit-cards abolished.
Presently, high 2 per cent trans-
Tax-Credit system can be practi-
cally possible with drastic reform
non-tradable commodities and
services like has been done, and
rate of 30 per cent, any income without dis- F74A45>A action charges on credit cards in GST tax-structure wherein ini- rightly too, in case of car expens-
closing source of income. This will make
cash transactions in property deals
4G0<?;4 make traders charge it separately
from customers specially where
tially only three tax slabs of 6, 12
and 30 per cent may be there abol-
es for non-commercial use.
With GST slab of 18 per cent
accounted for if registration fees on them C7>B4 trade margins are low. Such a sys- ishing all presently existing GST- abolished and service sector
are also reduced to just three per cent.
Names of all those disclosing incomes C0:8=6?0AC tem will fetch higher tax-revenue
for the government, than through
rates. India is the only country
which has so many GST-rates.
attracting just 12 per cent GST,
those with income of rupees ten
under the suggested highest 30 per cent slab 8=CE?0=4;B half-percent transaction charges Gradually even slabs of 6 and 12 lakhs or more (instead of present
should be on the website according to to be borne by Government. per cent may also be replaced by rupees 20 lakhs) can be brought
income disclosed so that status conscious 70E4C> Banks issuing credit cards will a new 10-per cent tax structure. under GST-regime like was the
persons may race to disclose more incomes.
Basix tax exemption should be fixed
?A02C820;;H get much more earning even with
half per cent transaction charge
Zero per cent GST may only be
retained on totally unbranded raw
system before GST-regime. It is
totally illogical to keep lawyers out
at rupees five lakhs paving way for abol- ?0H because of manifold use of credit materials which cannot be con- of purview of the GST-regime.
ishing most tax exemptions, including on
charity, donation, contribution to politi-
A>D67;H cards. Two sets of credit card swip-
ing machines should be compulso-
sumed without giving a finishing
touch like agricultural-products,
The 18 per cent GST in the ser-
vice sector is excessively higher
<HVLWLVWKDWVHULRXV'RQ·WZHNQRZWKDWGHVLULQJLVHDV\EXWWR cal parties and even agricultural income, 70;5>5C74 ry for every GST-registered dealer fish, meat, cotton-yarn, etc. All where for example those partici-
IXOILOOLVVRPHWKLQJHOVH$WWDFKPHQWVFDXVHVXIIHULQJ7KDWLVZK\RQH
which are largely misused. For instance,
an ordinary farmer does not earn more 7>=>A0A8D< dealing also in cash so as to avoid
payment receipt through credit
items of long term use like cars, air-
conditioners, TV sets, refrigerators,
pating in TV panels have to prac-
tically pay roughly half of honorar-
LVVWURQJO\DGYLVHGWREHGHWDFKHGEHFDXVHDEVHQFHRIDWWDFKPHQWGHOLY than Rs five lakhs, and the provision is 8=C0G cards with the usual excuse that etc., may attract 30 per cent GST, ium in tax, including GST and
HUVRQHIURPVXIIHULQJ  %XWLIZHGRGHVLUHDVZHDUHOLNHO\WR
GRZHVKRXOGWDNHVKHOWHURI*RGZKRFDQIXOILOODOORXUOHJLWLPDWHGHVLUHV
grossly misused by ultra-rich persons,
including known celebrities, to declare 8=2;D38=6 swapping-machine is out of order.
The input tax credit system in
while their parts may uniformly
attract 12 per cent GST.
income tax. Useless system of
Tax-Deducted-At-Source for GST,
6DQMD\RIWKH0DKDEKDUDWDIDPHJRHVWRWKHH[WHQWRIVWDWLQJWKDWOLQNHG their unaccounted income as agricultur- 6BC0=3 GST-regime in manufacturing- Unmindful policy framers which is hardly used in practice,
ZLWK*RGWKHUHZLOOEHRSXOHQFHYLFWRU\ZHDOWKDQGPRUDOLW\  al income through some village land pur- sector is biggest corrupt practice of brought clutch plate and clutch should be altogether abolished. Or
$VPHQWLRQHGHDUOLHUZHFDQGHVLUHEXWIXOILOOLQJWKHPLVQRWWKDW chased only for the purpose without prac- 8=2><4C0G tax-evasion where left-out GST- bearing under different GST slabs otherwise, any such deducted tax
tically having any agricultural produce. invoices by ordinary customers are of 18 and 28 per cent. Likewise should be auto-reflected in GST-
VLPSOH%HFDXVHDVVWDWHGE\/RUG.ULVKQD´:HKDYHDULJKWRQO\LQ Income Tax slabs should be 10 and 20 sold by traders to consuming man- similar items sold by confection- accounts of affected ones, abolish-
DFWLRQQRWHYHULQSUHGHWHUPLQLQJLWVIUXLWVµ  7KH/RUGZDUQVWKDW per cent for incomes between 5-10 lakhs ufacturers or producers to avail ers like sweets, biscuits, napkins, ing cumbersome and additional
ZHVKRXOGQRWWU\WRGRVREHFDXVHWKRVHZKRWU\DUHSLWLDEOH  and 10-15 lakhs respectively and thereafter false Input-Tax-Credit where cash etc., attract different GST-slabs practice of filing a new monthly
,WPDNHVVHQVHGRHVLWQRW",IZHZHUHJLYHQWKHULJKWWRGHFLGHWKH 30 per cent for rest. LK Jha committee rec- is paid back by traders to those pur- with luxury sweets causing dia- return to get credit for deducted
IUXLWVRIDFWLRQWKHUHZLOOEHQROLPLWVRQZKDWZHZLOODOOGHVLUH ommendations to make calendar-year as chasing left-out GST-invoices of betes attracts just 5 per cent GST. tax. Complete GST structure
7KLVULJKWRIGHFLGLQJWKHIUXLWRIDFWLRQLVZLWK*RGRQO\DVLWPXVW financial-year should be implemented in actual consumers bringing more To remove confusion and should be so simplified that small
line with most countries of the world, thus currency in circulation. This is the abnormality, invoices for items like traders/manufacturers/profession-
EH,PDJLQHDZRUOGLQZKLFKHYHU\RQHLVGHVLULQJXQOLPLWHGO\DQGVXUH abolishing another British legacy of follow- reason for the basic motive of cur- gold-jewellery can be drawn in two als may be able to file their tax-
O\WKHUHZLOOEHFRQIOLFWLQJGHVLUHV)RUH[DPSOHWKHUHLVRQHSULPHPLQ ing April-March presently as Fiscal Year. rency-demonetisation being failed parts, one for metal and embod- returns by themselves without any
LVWHUDQGPXOWLSOHQXPEHUVGHVLUHWREHFRPHRQH:KDWKDSSHQVWKHQ" It is ridiculous to have different where currency in circulation ied items and the other for mak- need of GST-consultants.
6LPLODULVWKHSKHQRPHQRQRIIDWHRUOXFNDVZHFDOOLW7KLVLVWKH Depreciation-Rules for Tax and Corporate rapidly increased rather than pro- ing-charges so that suggested 12 All government payments can
IUXLWRIRXU¶NDUPDV· GHHGV DQGLVVWULFWO\DVSHUWKH¶NDUPDSKDODSULQ audits. Rather there should be a single and jected decrease. per cent GST may be payable only be considered to be exempted
unified Tax and Corporate Audit. (The author is Guinness Annual forensic audit may be on making-charges. Cess on extra- from GST to avoid unnecessary
FLSOH·ZKLFKLV´:KDWZHVRZZHUHDSµ7KLVLVDGPLQLVWHUHGE\GLYLQH World Record Holder for
DXWKRULWLHVXQGHUWKHVXSHULQWHQGHQFHRI*RG  Rather than concentrating more on made compulsory on claims made luxurious items should be replaced government-accounting by putting
small cash-transactions like through writing most letters and for Input-Tax-Credit by manufac- by additional GST slabs in multi- tax from one government pocket
7KH\GRVRFRPSOHWHO\LQDIDLUIDVKLRQ$UHZHWKHQVWXFNLIZH BhimApp, etc., which results in fraud for RTI Consultant) turers/producers to avoid false ples of 60 per cent, also bringing to another.
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he National Education oration goals. affirmative, and the acade- Cabinet has recently through Challenge Mode, PM schools for rising India guidance to each student.

T Policy 2020 recognis-


es schools as places for
intellectual development and
Early internship possibil-
ities, job shadowing, build-
ing cultural competencies,
mia is euphoric —signalling
two significant indicators
that the buy-in for the
approved the launch of a
new centrally sponsored
scheme for setting up PM
where schools compete to
become exemplary schools
succeeding through a rigor-
will differentiate themselves
from the rest. The govern-
ment has an ambitious target
PM SHRI schools will
manage teacher talent
through a structured
character building. the spirit of volunteering, change is working. SHRI schools (PM schools for ous three-stage process. for whole-Child education approach, involving teachers
Preparing students to micro-credentials in life Once the policy is in Rising India). These schools The selected schools will through motivation to learn in decision-making and pol-
become responsible citizens skills and school-college place, visualised outcomes will influence, inspire, and undergo intervention, sup- and succeed, while promot- icy implementation. Treating
1C8?;?0=34H
and active participants in partnership will take the recognised, and infrastructur- impact other schools, receive port, and quality assessment ing the relevance of the learn- teachers as valuable assets,
community development is students on a lifelong learn- al requirements identified, performance-based bud- from 2022-23 to 2026-27. ing experience for future intentional investment in
the original mandate of the ing trajectory. we need strong institutions to getary allocation and adhere The entire process will be dri- lives and careers, and instill- their capacity building, career
policy. The policy envisages A policy of the scale of foster learning and culture. In to standard benchmarks. ven by an Online Challenge ing a sense of belonging in management and promotion
a focus on more than acad- NEP 2020 requires enabling the budget speech 2021-22, Of the total project cost of Portal, open once every quar- the school environment, will be hallmarks of these
emics, fostering whole-child legislation, curriculum the Finance Minister Nirmala C27360 Cr spread over five ter for the first two years. The besides adopting a broader schools.
development. framework, inter-ministeri- Sitharaman announced more years, the significant contri- policy stipulates that a max- approach to knowledge and PM SHRI schools will
Para 4.43 of the policy al dialogue, and preparing than 15000 schools will be bution of C18128 Cr will imum of two schools, one ele- skill acquisition. endeavour to invite parents as
elaborates that fostering stu- the ground for implementa- qualitatively strengthened to come from the centre, and the mentar y and one Furthermore, embedding partners in learning. Their
dent agency must begin with tion at multiple levels. The include all components of the States and UTs will raise the secondary/senior secondary, technology must enable per- resources, energy and local
self-regulated learning, self- policy is riding its course National Education Policy. remaining C9232 Cr. UDISE+ would be selected per block. sonalised and mastery-based network can be leveraged to
assessment, peer-tutoring, with the Prime Minister These schools, she added, code having schools managed The Bhaskarachar ya learning. Tracking of data, benefit learners. There is also
and peer-to-peer assessment. leading from the front, ini- will emerge as PM SHRI by the Centre/State/UT National Institute for Space educational outcomes and the need for shifts in interac-
It will help students care tiating discussions, address- schools in their regions, Governments/Local self-gov- Applications and Geo- timely interventions can be tive, participative, experien-
more about communicating ing the nation, theme-based hand-holding and monitor- ernments would be consid- Informatics (BISAG-N) will done more frequently with tial pedagogy and empower-
with each other and the task allocation, and partici- ing other schools to achieve ered for selection under the service the scheme in geo- the intervention of EdTech, ing learners to change their
teacher to reflect on their (The author is a Delhi-based pative implementation strat- the ideals of the Policy. scheme. Selection of PM tagging and other related resulting in course correction, behaviour and act for sustain-
learning and pursue collab- educationist) egy. The nation’s response is Consequently, the Union SHRI schools will be made tasks. The big question is how remediation, and prompt able development goals.

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