DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:53:35 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/opinion/generational-divisions-impact-policy-and-governance-639237.html The rise of Generation Z in the 2022 elections and the recent events in Nepal have sent a resounding message the youths urge for accountability fairness and sustainability can no longer be overlooked in shaping politics and governance This is not just a fleeting trend it is a signal that leaders can perhaps ignore at their peril Globally and South Asia in particular grasping the intricacies of generational dynamics is essential for anticipating demands securing legitimacy and crafting governance that stands the test of timenbspA generation typically refers to individuals born within a 1520 year span who share pivotal experienceswars revolutions economic upheavals and technological breakthroughsthat shape their worldviews These contexts forge distinct identities that powerfully influence politics governance and public policySociologists William Strauss and Neil Howe popularized the modern classification of generations asserting that shared social cultural and political environments give rise to broadly recognizable cohorts Strauss amp Howe 1991 Their framework though often adapted to national contexts remains a critical global reference pointnbspSilent Generation 19281945 Formed by the flames of war and postcolonial transitions many continue to wield power in politics bureaucracy and businessnbspBaby Boomers 19461964 Shaped by postwar prosperity and industrial expansion their optimism fueled nationbuilding effortsGeneration X 19651980 Grew up amid political turbulence globalization and economic reforms known for resilience and adaptabilityMillennialsGen Y 19811996 Came of age in the era of globalization and the internet revolution now grappling with job precarity and rising costsGeneration Z 19972012 Digital natives globally interconnected and socially conscious they demand transparency equity and climate actionGeneration Alpha 2013 onward Expected to be shaped by artificial intelligence climate disruption and postpandemic realitiesThese classifications are more than academic categoriesthey are governance compasses pointing to where social priorities are shifting and where political legitimacy is tested These emphasize new social contracts and political commitments beyond the traditional quickfixesnbspSouth Asia vividly illustrates this generational transformation Baby Boomers prioritized stability and welfare after independence while Generation X consolidated institutions and enacted reforms MillennialsGenY harnessed globalization to drive Indias IT boom but sought safety nets against precarious conditions of labour and other disadvantaged populations Now Generation Zapproximately 375 million strong in India alone UNFPA 2023is fundamentally reshaping politics They leverage digital platforms to demand accountability equitable policies and urgent climate action In Nepal their 2022 votes disrupted entrenched hierarchies The Kathmandu Post 2022 while in India rising youth discontent with corruption and inequality is fueling social movements and electoral realignmentsAttempts by Gen X and Millennials to coopt Gen Z in India in 2013 however faltered exposing the limits of older cohorts influence and intensifying youth restlessnessGen Zs defining characteristic is their deeprooted engagement with digital technology Smartphones social media and online platforms are central to their learning activism and entrepreneurship Their voices gain additional power through data science which enables realtime tracking of youth behaviors preferences and political engagement OECD 2022This creates both extraordinary opportunities and formidable challenges Policies are no longer enacted in silencethey are dissected debated and challenged instantly in the digital public sphere Youth mobilization through online petitions viral campaigns and global movements like Fridays for Future shows how quickly this generation can reshape political discourse UNEP 2021For governance the imperative is clear policies must be transparent inclusive and technologically agile Governments that fail to adapt risk alienating their youngest citizens and losing legitimacyGenerational activism also transcends borders Gen Z networks connect across continents influencing debates on climate trade and digital rights Their voices resonate in climate negotiations World Bank and IMF consultations IMF 2022 and corporate governance discussions Institutions like the UN WTO and IMF are beginning to integrate youth aspirationson climate finance gender equality and digital inclusioninto their agendas United Nations 2020 Informal actors such as tech giants and NGOs amplify these voices creating global platforms for youth engagementIn this context history resembles a relay race among generations the Silent Generation and Boomers built stability Gen X advanced reforms Millennials expanded globalization and now Gen Z demands fairness and sustainability Generation Alpha will inherit not only these aspirations but also the complex legacies of climate disruption AIdriven economies and shifting geopoliticsFor policymakers generational classification is more than sociological taxonomyit is a governance map illuminating societys trajectory and the conditions for legitimacy Governments must foster intergenerational dialogue inclusive policy frameworks and innovative governance models To adapt effectively they shouldi Institutionalize Youth Participation Create youth parliaments climate councils and digital platforms to embed young voices in policymaking Constant focus on youth engagement and employment is an essential requirement of policymaking and governanceii Tailor Policies by Generation Provide pensions and healthcare for Boomers job security and skills for Millennials and sustainability and equity for Gen Ziii Leverage Technology Responsibly Use AI and data to improve governance while safeguarding privacy and fairnessiv Engage Globally Align national policies with the generational priorities reshaping international cooperationThe rise of Gen Zand the generations to followis recalibrating not only national politics but also the global order Nepals firsttime voters Indias digital entrepreneurs and youth activists worldwide are already rewriting governance frameworks and economic priorities The choices leaders make todaywhether to resist or embrace these shiftswill decide whether the coming decades are marked by progress or polarizationPolicymakers who recognize and respond to these dynamics will be best positioned to guide nations toward stability inclusiveness and visionary leadership The writer is a retired Punjab cadre IAS officer Views expressed are personal Suresh Kumar can be reached at sureshkumarnangiagmailcom https://dailyworld.in/opinion/generational-divisions-impact-policy-and-governance-639237.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/a-journey-into-the-many-dimensions-of-happiness-638083.html Happiness We all seek it talk about it and often measure our lives by it yet it remains elusive for many Sometimes it feels like a sudden burst of joy other times it hides behind the routines and challenges of daily life What makes happiness so intriguing is that it resists a single definition It is not merely the thrill of a pleasant moment nor a permanent state of bliss It is richer layered and deeply personalThrough this column The Middle Path we will explore the many dimensions of happinessnot as a fleeting emotion but as a deeply rooted way of living This journey will unfold across the Psychology of Happiness the Science of Happiness the Art of Happiness the Alchemy of Happiness and the Spirituality of Happiness Each perspective adds to our understanding and together they may contribute to what I hope becomes a shared conversation on living welland perhaps over time a Happiness BibleThe seed for this exploration was planted through decades of interactions with wise friends mentors and spiritual guides I was fortunate to work closely with my exboss and informal happiness coach Mr Subhash Mohindru His deep interest in Buddhism and human wellbeing opened doors for me to meet remarkable thinkers such as Matthieu Ricard often described as the happiest man in the world and His Holiness the Dalai Lama Along with other wise souls I encountered these experiences shaped my understanding of happiness not as an abstract pursuit but as a lived experienceThe Psychology of HappinessLet us begin with psychologythe study of the mind Pleasure joy happiness and bliss form a continuum each with its role in shaping our lives Pleasure is sensory and shortlived arising from a favourite meal a good song or a beautiful view Joy is deeper springing from meaningful connections creativity or acts of kindness Happiness is more sustaineda state of balance that helps us navigate life with steadiness Bliss at the far end of the spectrum is transcendence a state of being untouchable by circumstancesThe Science of HappinessScience brings precision to this exploration Neuroscience shows how brain chemistrydopamine that rewards effort serotonin that stabilises mood and oxytocin that strengthens bondsaffects our wellbeing Positive psychology pioneered by Martin Seligman gives us practical tools practising gratitude nurturing social ties cultivating optimism and engaging in acts of kindness Science does not replace wisdom traditions but it helps validate them in ways modern minds can appreciateThe Art of HappinessIf science explains what fosters happiness art teaches us how to live it The art of happiness lies in daily choices how we respond to setbacks how we nurture relationships and how we create beauty and meaning in small ways Each of us paints a personal happiness canvas For one it may be music for another gardening for yet another mentoring young people There is no fixed formula The art of happiness is deeply personal and endlessly creative reminding us that we are cocreators of our own joyThe Alchemy of HappinessAlchemy historically associated with transforming base metals into gold is about transformation in this context The alchemy of happiness is the ability to turn ordinary experienceseven painful onesinto opportunities for growth It is finding meaning in setbacks resilience in suffering and wholeness in imperfectionThe Spirituality of HappinessBeyond psychology science art and alchemy lies a dimension that transcends them allspirituality Every tradition has spoken of happiness in spiritual terms In Sikhi there is Sehaja natural state of balance and ease In Zen Buddhism Satori points to flashes of awakening Hindu philosophy speaks of Ananda the bliss of union with the self and the divine Christianity describes a peace that surpasses all understanding while Sufism celebrates the ecstasy of divine love Each path though unique reminds us that happiness ultimately flows from a sense of connectionwith ourselves with others and with the divineA Collaborative JourneyThis series is not meant to be a monologue I invite you the readers to share your reflections and experiences Whether you are 20 or 80 whether your happiness springs from family work faith or creativity your voice matters Together we can explore how happiness evolves at different stages of life how technology reshapes our inner world and how timeless wisdom can anchor us in a fastchanging societyUltimately the aim is not just to understand happiness but to live it The true measure of happiness is whether it weaves itself into the fabric of our daily liveshow we treat people how we carry ourselves in challenges and how we share joy with others If we succeed even in small ways we move closer to building not only happier individuals but also a happier society That perhaps is the promise of ThenbspMiddle PathManinder is a seasoned BFSI industry executive strategic consultant and trusted advisor to leading MNCs and innovative FinTech startups He lives in Chandigarhnbsp https://dailyworld.in/opinion/a-journey-into-the-many-dimensions-of-happiness-638083.html Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-ncs-emblem-activism-can-again-take-kashmir-to-the-edge-636967.html New Delhi Sep 7 The barbaric stone attack on Indias national emblem in Kashmirs revered dargah has shocked the nation Does the national emblem have a religion Perhaps this question never seriously contemplated in all the decades since India became a Republic has now surfaced as a disturbing reality in the 79th year of Independence The emblem adopted on January 26 1950 features four lions standing backtoback on a circular abacus with a Dharma Chakra at its centre Sculptures of an elephant horse bull and lion separated by Dharma Chakras adorn the abacus Below it the motto Satyameva Jayate Truth Alone Triumphs is inscribed Where is religion in all this Do not all faiths proclaim that truth alone triumphsWhat happened in Kashmir on September 5 is not merely a religious controversy it is the manifestation of a festering wound that resurfaces from time to time aided by sinister forces backed by Pakistan and abetted by certain local elements in Kashmir Some operate under the garb of religious social or political activism and some are even leadersThe national emblem was engraved on a plaque outside the main prayer hall of the shrine which had been under renovation for several months It was reopened to the public after a ceremonial inauguration by Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi Chairperson of the Jammu amp Kashmir Waqf Board Crowds thronged the renovated shrine marvelling at its refurbished lookAlongside traditional artistry the shrine now boasts a modern digital electrical network central airconditioning and advanced sound and surveillance systems This was the first major interior transformation since 1968 blending modernity with Kashmirs cultural heritageAll seemed well with congratulatory messages pouring in until Friday when a group vandalised the emblem while raising religious slogans many filming the actSoon after NC Chief Spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq posted on social media Im not a religious scholar but in Islam idol worship is strictly forbidden the gravest of sins The foundation of our faith is Tawheed Placing a sculpted figure at the revered Hazratbal Dargah goes against this belief Sacred spaces must reflect only the purity of Tawheed nothing elseSuch an immediate statement one that touched religious sensitivities inevitably stoked emotions The Waqf Board chief condemned the act and blamed the NC MLA calling for an FIR against Sadiq and stating that those responsible should be treated as militantsThe ruling NC also issued a statement reinforcing Sadiqs claims of religious violations It is a matter of grave concern that practices contrary to the fundamental principles of Islam such as the use of pictorial or symbolic depictions of living beings are being introduced inside the sacred Hazratbal shrine the spiritual heart of our people where thousands gather daily for prayers In Islam the principle of Tawheed clearly prohibits such representations For devotees this is not a small matter but a direct affront to their deeply held religious sentimentsThe NC also attacked the Waqf chief The Waqf is not the personal estate of any individual We now witness an unelected individual with no mandate from the people of Jammu and Kashmir crowning herself inside holy shrinesThis clearly signals that the NC seeks to influence the Waqf Boards control while fuelling fear among Muslims in the ValleyIt is not the first time the NC has turned nonissues into political waves to ride on History is full of instances where the party has leveraged IndiaPakistan politics to maintain its grip on power From its founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to Farooq Abdullah and now Omar Abdullah decades of such politics have kept Kashmir on edge never allowing it to stabiliseIn 1947 Sheikh Abdullah sided with India after failing to strike a deal with Jinnah But instead of working for full integration he leaned towards making JampK a quasiindependent state In 1958 he launched the Plebiscite Front led by his aide Mirza Afzal Beg which went from village to village raising passions for an independent JampK planting the seeds of separatismThat seed grew into a tree in the late 1980s when Farooq Abdullah was Chief Minister Under his tenure terrorism took root and Kashmiri Hindus around 7 lakh at the time less than two per cent of the population were driven out after killings and threatsThirtyfive years later and six years after the abrogation of Article 370 the NC seems once again to be playing on religious sentiments Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did not denounce the attack but questioned the use of the emblem on the mosque plankThe valley is still in its sensitive state following the gruesome Pahalgam attack and now the vandalising of the national emblem is another grisly reminder of the truth that there is a lot under wraps in Kashmir Had the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits been investigated many prominent names might have been exposedThe fact remains every country including Muslimmajority ones has its own national emblem yet none gives it a religious spin let alone desecrates it Why then was the emblem vandalised in a Kashmiri shrine Why was it given a religious colour This appears to be a deliberate attempt to disturb Kashmirs fragile peacePakistan faced a massive defeat and shame in Operation Sindoor and now through elements in Kashmir is trying to infuriate the atmosphere again on the basis of religion And NCs politics could give the pass once againDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-ncs-emblem-activism-can-again-take-kashmir-to-the-edge-636967.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/spacetime-and-its-effect-on-prophecies-miracles-636982.html Have you noticed how time behaves in your life When we are joyful hours pass like minutes Yet in sadness or anxiety even minutes feel like eternity Imagine a lover waiting in the park for his belovedeach passing minute seems like an hour But when she finally arrives that same hour dissolves into fleeting seconds Albert Einstein reflected on such experiences while shaping his theory of relativity which changed the classical way of looking at the physical worldWhat does this reveal Time is not constantit bends and shifts with the state of our mind On the physical plane physics confirms that time and space are not fixed absolutes but depend on the observers frame of referenceEvery object in the universe has two dimensions inner and outer The outer is finite bound by time space and energy The inner is limitlessomnipotent ÀfUÊVfdöYff³f timelessomnitemporal ÀfUʽ¹fffe and spacelessomnipresent ÀfUÊUfþÊfZ The outer is the manifestation of the inner When the mind attunes to inner loving energy time seems to accelerate due to its timeless attribute when it focuses outward in anxious expectation time stretches endlesslyjust like a lover waiting for his beloved before reunion and dissolving thereafter Any object when it fully becomes aware of its inner energy dissolves into nothingnessan inner black holejust as Meera vanished through her deep devotion to Krishna That is why when awareness rests in the inner self one experiences love peace and bliss The Vedas describe the outer as Maya illusion and its Jaal entanglement of consequences but still real unless realisedFrom the smallest atom to the largest star everything reflects this duality If even a rock could awaken through some medium it might perceive both realms Human beings through meditation and inquiry strive to realize this truth The mind acts as the bridge capable of dissolving the apparent separation of inner and outer We are not the body not even the mind but pure awareness The mind too is a subtle material object not pure energyEven cosmic bodies reveal this dual nature Their inner essence is unique while their outer influence distorts spacetime through gravity Life on Earth arises from countless variablesthe universe the Milky Way the solar system planetary alignments and social surroundings This is what Krishna revealed to Arjuna the entire universe within himself Astrology too finds its roots in this understandinghow celestial bodies influence ones lifeFor a meditator time and space gradually lose their grip Duration and distance dissolve Mystics in samadhi experience timelessness even astral journeys in an instant Prophecy belongs to this inner realm where past present and future coexist simultaneously due to its timeless property The outcome of prophecy shifts depending on the sum total of all variables acting at the given moment Therefore no prophecy or prediction can be 100 accurateit can only indicate future potential Only the present is real past and future are illusions Hence the wise urge us to live fully in the here and now to access the inner realmMiracles and prophecies are glimpses of this inner faculty Yet when displayed to the masses they often harden into dogma because ordinary minds struggle to comprehend and start worshipping out of fear True religion is not collective but individualistic and experiential There is no god as a person even creation itself is not created by any god Godliness does exist as the creative forcelimitless innocent eternal blissful energyvibrating every moment as fresh and new https://dailyworld.in/opinion/spacetime-and-its-effect-on-prophecies-miracles-636982.html Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-middle-path-understanding-happiness-636627.html When we speak of happiness we often use the term looselysometimes to describe the deep joy of meeting an old friend other times for the simple pleasure of enjoying a good cup of tea But happiness joy pleasure and bliss are not quite the same They exist on a continuumlinked yet distinctPleasure is the most immediate and sensory It arises from external stimulia delicious meal a soothing massage or a beautiful view It is fleeting tied to the moment and often depends on circumstances Joy on the other hand is deeper It springs from connection meaning and engagementlike watching your child perform on stage or helping someone in need Joy can last longer often leaving behind a warm afterglow even after the moment has passedHappiness occupies an interesting middle ground It is less fleeting than pleasure but not as enduring as bliss Psychologists debate whether happiness is a feeling or an emotion Feelings are our conscious awareness of emotionswhat we label in words Emotions are the brains automatic instinctive responses In this sense happiness is bothit is an emotional state triggered by positive experiences and also a conscious feeling when we recognise that stateAnd then there is blissthe most profound state of all Bliss transcends circumstances It is a quiet expansive state of being in harmony with life often described in spiritual traditions as the joy of simply existing Bliss can arise in moments of deep meditation in awe of nature or in surrender to a higher presence Unlike pleasure or happiness it does not require something to happen It isnbspselfsustainingFor me the understanding of these distinctions became clearer through my long association with my exboss and informal happiness coach Mr Subhash Mohindru My relationship with him spanned nearly three decadesfirst as a boss then as a mentor and eventually as a dear friend What set him apart was his natural ability to reframe lifes challenges into sources of humour and wisdomOnce stuck in a rural guesthouse with erratic electricity he cheerfully remarked At least the mosquitoes here are wellfed they wont trouble us much tonight It was his way of showing that while we cant control circumstances we can always choose our inner responsenbspHe believed that happiness is less about chasing highs and more about cultivating steadinessa middle path If you depend on external things too much he would say you will always be bargaining with life But if you can enjoy them without clutching you will stay lighterHis insights echo modern research Positive psychology suggests that pleasure engagement and meaning are all essential for a fulfilling life each playing different roles Pleasures brighten our days joy strengthens our bonds and meaning gives life its long arc of satisfaction Bliss meanwhile may be rare but even a fleeting taste of it can transform how we seenbspthe worldnbspSo perhaps the real question is not How can I be happy but How can I move freely along this continuumfrom pleasure to joy to blisswithout getting stuck in one place The answer lies in awareness Notice the little pleasures without clinging to them Savour joy when it arises and nurture it by giving and connecting And when moments of bliss arrivethose times when life feels perfectly wholerest in them without graspingAs I begin this series I feel grateful for the many teachersformal and informalwho have shaped my understanding of happiness Mr Subhash Mohindru was one such teacher His legacy reminds me that happiness is not a destination but a practice not an object to be possessed but a rhythm to be livednbspThe journey ahead in this column will explore related themespurpose balance belongingand how they interact with our inner and outer worlds For now perhaps the best way to begin is in the spirit Mr Mohindru carried find something to smile about today however small and let it ripple outwardManinder is a seasoned BFSI industry executive strategic consultant and trusted advisor to leading MNCs and innovative FinTech startups He lives in Chandigarh https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-middle-path-understanding-happiness-636627.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/does-god-exist-635652.html Few question like Does God exist have haunted humanity more deeply than anything else Yet before confronting it another must be asked Do we truly exist Not merely as bodies that breathe and move but as conscious beings aware of our essence Unless we first discover ourselves any debate on God remains incompletenbspFor ages people have sought comfort in a higher power The image of God as protectorwatching guiding and caringoffers solace in a world of uncertainty It resembles a child clutching a teddy bear at night The toy cannot chase away the darkness yet it soothes the child in the absence of parents Similarly belief in a personal God cushions us against fears we cannot controlThis longing makes the idea of an external guardian deeply appealing The more uncertain or fearful life feels the stronger becomes our need for such presence With age as awareness of mortality sharpens devotion often intensifies Rituals and prayers then act as anchorsoffering order amid chaosTo truly know God one must dare to set aside borrowed beliefs Real inquiry requires couragethe willingness to face life without crutches In times of ease we drift unconsciously But in painful momentsloss failure or rejectionlife opens a rare window to look within The wise embrace this chance the mediocre avoid it At first we cling to our imagined God Yet when we remain alert and accept life as it unfolds we realize that healing and growth emerge not from an outside force but from our own inner strength Just as we eventually outgrow the teddy bear so too we may outgrow the need to see God as a personnbspAt that point the question itself transforms It is no longer Does God exist but Do we awaken to our true being When consciousness flowers belief dissolves into direct experiencenbspThis view does not deny Godit redefines God God as a person doesnt exist but godliness surely does the living energy of awareness innocence and pure presence withinnbspus all The writer is an IT professional https://dailyworld.in/opinion/does-god-exist-635652.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sankhya-karma-and-bhakti-yoga-635654.html The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters The second chapter is titled Sankhya awareness Yoga the third chapter is Karma action Yoga and the twelfth chapter is Bhakti devotion Yoga Yoga stands for union union with the Self Along with other considerations it is generally accepted that the Gita presents three distinct paths to attain yoga awareness sankhya Yoga action karma Yoga and devotion bhakti Yoga This classification is very useful for a beginner By the time one reaches the end of the Bhagavad Gita their confluence becomes clearIt is also accepted that the mindoriented gets attracted to the path of karma yoga the intellect oriented to sankhya yoga and the heart oriented to bhakti yoga In todays world the majority fall into the category of mind oriented It is based on the belief that we are tied up with chains and need to work hard to break them to free ourselves This implies that it is action oriented Any conversation with them would end with What should I do nowSankhya yoga also known as jnana yoga is about awareness or knowing but not knowledge Its starting point is the belief that we are in a dark room To quell the darkness we must light a lamp as no amount of action or fight can remove that darknessBhakti yoga is about devotion and surrender to the Almighty For easy adoption a ninefold path for bhakti navadha bhakti is described and was even referred to in the Ramayan by Lord Rama during his conversation with his devotee Sabari These are shravanam listening to divine stories kirtanam singing Gods glories smaranam meditating on God padasevanam serving Gods feet archana worshipping God vandanam offering prayerssalutations dasyam servitude to God sakhyam treating God as a friend and atmanivedanam surrendering oneself to GodAnother dilemma in bhakti yoga concerns the mode of worshipwhether Saguna with form or Nirguna formless Krishna advises to worship Him in His saguna Form He makes it clear that the path of the Formless or Unmanifest is also a path to reach Him 122124 He compares both paths and says For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest the path of realisation is full of difficulties Worship of the unmanifest is exceedingly difficult for embodied beings 125 Thats why He recommends the path of saguna or worship through formDestination is the sameKrishna says Some behold the Supreme Soul within themselves through meditation dhyan some through the cultivation of knowledge sankhya yoga others through the path of action karma yoga 1325 Some are unaware of these spiritual paths but they listen to others saints and begin worshipping the Supreme Lord They also attain immortality 1326 Whatever path may be we attain yoga through any of these pathsKrishna further clarifies that only children not the wise speak of sankhya and karma yoga differently He who is truly established in one obtains the fruits of both 54 Krishna further says That state which is reached by the sankhya is also reached by the yogi karma yogi He has truth who beholds as one both sankhya awareness and karma yoga 55 But renunciation is hard to attain without actions a sage well established in yoga quickly attains Brahma 56Karma is commonKrishna says that none can remain without doing karma even for a moment as we are bound to perform karmas as the maintenance of our body would not be possible by inaction 35 38 327 Actions like consumption of food and breathing are essential for the body to surviveKrishna further says The individual who forcefully controls the organs of action but whose mind rotates around thoughts of sense objects is a hypocrite and is deluding himself 36 Krishna immediately gives a solution to engage ones organs of action in karma yoga yoga of action without attachment 37Bhakti is the final stepAfter showing His Vishwaroopam opulent form Krishna says Very hard to see this form of mine and even gods ever long to behold this form 1152 Neither by the study of the Vedas nor by penance charity or fire sacrifices can I be seen like this 1153 But by a single pointed devotion I may be seen like this 1154 This is a clear indication that bhakti is the final step to reach HimKrishna says Whatever you do whatever you eat do it as an offering to Me 927 Those who dedicate all their karmas to Me regarding Me as the Supreme goal worshipping Me and meditating on Me with exclusive devotion O Parth I swiftly free them from the ocean of birth and death sansar for their consciousness is united with Me 126127 This signifies the transformation of karma into bhakti Confluence of YogasVerses 1841 to 1857 of the Bhagavad Gita describe the contours of the confluence of karma yoga jnana yoga and bhakti yoga In the oftendebated verse 1841 Krishna states that He created four varnas social classifications based on gunas springing from their nature He further explained about different types of karmas performed by them in the daytoday life 18421844 He reveals a secret that with devotion to swakarma ones deed one attains siddhi perfection or freedom as this devotion towards karma is nothing but worshipping Him 18441846 This clarifies that it doesnt matter what we do but what matters is the devotion with which we perform our karmas or responsibilities This is the path of attaining the eternal siddhi through devotion to karma which is nothing but the pinnacle of karma yogaKrishna continues to guide those on the path of awareness or jnana yoga and declares that all karmas are marred by blemishes 1848 Hence He advises us not to abandon sahaja karma natural deeds born of ones swadharma own nature 1847 He offers the path of reaching Brahma eternal through freedom from karma which can be attained by the buddhi intellect not being attached everywhere conquering the self and freeing oneself from desires 18491850 When buddhi is purified one is free from ahankaar and free from the notion of me and mine one attains the EternalKrishna indicates that freedom from ahankaar and being free from the notion of me and mine lead to equanimity which is the foundation for bhakti yoga Krishna says that by beholding all beings equally one attains parama bhakti supreme devotion which will enable an entry into That 18541855 Such a devotee while performing any kind of karma dedicates all such karmas to Him 1856 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sankhya-karma-and-bhakti-yoga-635654.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-language-conundrum-635656.html India a linguistically diverse country does not have contrary to popular belief a constitutionally declared national language India has had its share of language controversies but those pale in consequences when compared to what the language issue has done to Pakistan since its creation The birth of Bangladesh lay in the 1952 language riots and police firing on the supporters of the Bengal Language movement In 1948 the Pakistan government had declared Urdu as the sole national language It was suggested that Bengali could be written in the PersoArabic script or in the Roman script but not in the Bengali script and this script was removed from the currency notes and postal stamps A proposal in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan to allow members to speak in Bengali was defeated with opposition from the then Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and the Muslim League who dubbed it as antinational Even Jinnah during a visit to Dhaka in March 1948 called the demand for the Bengali language and script as the action of a fifth column and of enemies of Pakistan but he was heckled during his meetings There were others like Mohammad Shahidullah who pleaded for making Arabic the state language of Pakistan there was even an East Pakistan Arabic Language Association and Shahidullah was its president The aim of such groups was to create a bond between the Muslims of both the wings of Pakistan and those of the Arab world North Africa and Indonesia Malaysia at that time was a Muslimminority countryThe Bengalis in East Pakistan were enraged while the Urdu speaking population pejoratively called Biharis celebrated the move In a 1949 survey among the educated East Pakistanis comprising teachers officers and politicians 301 respondents were asked their opinion about the script to be used for Bengali language 96 wanted the Arabic script 18 favoured the Roman script and 187 were for the Bengali script Liaquat Alis successor too was strongly in favour of using only Urdu pushing the eastern wing towards violence The Communists seizing the opportunity provided by the split in the society and the youth dominance in the Bengali language movement called for a strike on February 21 1952 that resulted in firing and the death of 29 people The Communists brought in the industrial workers the next day and more violence followed After six years of violent protests the Muslim League lost power in the East Bengal Assembly and the new rulers were less rigid on the issue Official status was granted to the Bengali language in the 1956 Constitution but by then the society in East Pakistan had been split between the two language groups and that split ultimately led to the creation of BangladeshPakistans rulers failed to learn any lessons from the 1971 split of the country that primarily stemmed from the language divide In the leftover Western wing they continue to enforce Urdu as the national language Because of East Pakistan being surrounded by India there was a substantial population that spoke in Urdu an indigenously evolved language in India comprising words from Sanskrit Hindi Persian Turkic and Arabic Such influence was absent in parts of Pakistan that were on the West of the Indus River All the classical writers were unanimous that India was to the east of the Indus to its West were other cultures The People of Balochistan and those of the region between Punjab and the Durand line did not have any affinity with Urdu Even the Sindhis and Punjabis though familiar with Urdu because of its use by the later Mughal administrators and then by the British spoke at home only in Sindhi and in Punjabi In the whole of Pakistan there is no area where Urdu is spoken at home and thus it is not the mother tongue of most of the Pakistanis though it is the national as well as the official language of Pakistan Those who have travelled to Pakistan would have noticed that whenever a Pakistani phones home he does not speak in Urdu he uses his mother tongue Punjabi Pashto Baluchi Sindhi etcPakistans newspaper Naya Daur had reported on June 18 2020 that more than 70 languages are spoken in Pakistan but less than 10 percent of Pakistanis speak Urdu as their First Language It also reported that the provinces are unhappy about Urdu having a dominant position in schools Is the question of language once again creating fissiparous tensions in Pakistan There are already some demands for breaking away from the Islamic state In Balochistan the separatist movement has already reached the stage of organised violence and hatred for the dominant Punjabis There have been incidents of selective killings of Punjabi bus passengers The Pakistani army is seen by the Baloch not entirely unjustifiably as dominated by Punjabis and as occupiers of their landThe Pashto language is derided by Urdu speakers as akin to the noise of shaking a tin box full of pebbles and the speakers of Pashto feel a greater affinity with the colinguists in Afghanistan Sindhi language poetry and music have a stamp of the composite HinduMuslim culture in prePartition India but because of that influence Sindhis are not considered Islamic enough by the Punjabis To add to the divide a majority of Sindhis and Baloch are Shia and the Sunni majority of Punjab looks down upon them as heretics Many of the elite families in Sindh like the Bhutto clan are Sunni but it is rare for Shias who constitute 15 percent of the population to be in the top echelons of political power This may be surprising in a country founded by two Shias Jinnah and Aga Khan III If they thought that the idea of Pakistan would unite the Shia and the Sunni they were overoptimistic The divide is so deep that in British India the Shia tended to hide their religion in the census afraid that the Sunni would target them There have been numerous attacks in Pakistan on Shia Ashura processions the most infamous being the Rawalpindi attack in 2013 that soon spread to other cities The Shia were not spared even in Gilgit in POK where they are in a majority In the infamous Gilgit Shia massacre of 1988 where the Sunni marauders were supported by the Pakistan Army under Gen ZiaulHaq 700 were killed women raped and villages burnt downIn Pakistan Islam was said to be a uniting force and its raison detre but it has actually become a divide deep enough to threaten its very existence Jinnah had said that Urdu will be a uniting force but that too has encouraged separatism in this synthesised nation Monolingualism may have been a good idea for the countries of Europe but in South Asia the saying is the language changes every mile the taste of water changes every two miles The dichotomy of a nation fractured by language and religion is poignantly illustrated by Arthur Dudney Fellow Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge in an article published in September 2016 He mentioned that in 1951 the Aga Khan a Shia delivered a speech in favour of making Arabic the national language of Pakistan arguing that Urdu was the mother tongue of only a small minority He did not mention that Arabic was the mother tongue of none of the Pakistanis More importantly he delivered the speechnbspin EnglishnbspnbspnbspR N prasher is a former IAS officer The views expressed are his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-language-conundrum-635656.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-when-kashmir-sang-and-terror-sought-to-still-its-voice-635479.html New Delhi Aug 31 For much of todays Kashmir the name Raj Begum barely rings a bell To millions across India she is a stranger her legacy buried under 35 years of Pakistansponsored terror turmoil Even in the land of her birth where her voice once soared above the valleys meadows and streams time and violence have obscured her memory Yet for those who lived in Kashmir before the dark clouds of terrorism gathered in 1989 Raj Begum was a household name an artist a symbol of a womans courage and an icon of Kashmiri cultural prideThe history of Raj Begum is not buried in some distant ancient past It is a mere 35 years old a history cut short not by the passage of time but by the calculated silencing of an entire cultural tradition by fanatics who unleashed terror in the name of IslamThree decades ago she was not just a singer she was a movement in herself a testament to how art can transcend societal barriers Born into a conservative environment Raj Begum dared to follow her heart in a society where the stage was rarely a place for women especially Muslims She faced personal struggles societal prejudices and cultural scepticism yet her voice broke through all these wallsHer songs were not just performances they were the sounds of Kashmirs soul She sang of love nature the Almighty and the timeless beauty of the valleyIn recognition of her extraordinary contribution to music she was awarded the Padma Shri along with numerous other honours Generations of Kashmiris grew up listening to her mellifluous voice her melodies woven into the rhythm of daily life at weddings on the radio and in cultural gatheringsBut for todays youth particularly those who grew up after 1990 Raj Begum is a name rediscovered rather than remembered They have known a different soundtrack to life one dominated by gunfire explosions the silence of curfews and the cries of grief Music for them has often been a luxury overshadowed by survivalTo learn that Kashmiri Muslim women like Raj Begum Naseem Akhtar and Shamima Dev Azad once commanded respect and popularity in the valley comes as a surprise For some it feels almost unimaginableRaj Begum was not alone in her artistry There were other Muslim female artists Zoon Begum and Shamima Dev Azad who were part of a vibrant community of musicians that gave voice to Kashmirs soulHasina Akhtar another gem was known not just for her singing but for her graceful dance her beauty in performance earning her admiration across the valleyAlongside them were extraordinary female artists from the Kashmiri Pandit community such as Asha Kaul Neerja Pandit Kailash Mehra Sadhu and Naina Saproo Together these women painted the valleys cultural canvas in colours of harmony beauty and shared heritageKashmir has always had its own music each for various occasions very traditional and spiritual Although it was maledominated women like Raj Begum came out to follow their passionSong and dance were woven into the everyday life of its people adding yet another layer of beauty to its snowcapped mountains meandering rivers sparkling springs and lush meadows along with a countless variety of flowers that enhanced the natural essenceBut then the 1990s arrived Terrorism began to seep into every crevice of daily life With it came fear restrictions and the deliberate dismantling of Kashmirs cultural identity The threeandahalf decades that followed did more than claim lives they eroded traditions Music once a shared joy was among the first casualties Public performances dwindled Artists left or fell silent The spaces where songs once echoed became silent replaced by the harsh noise of violenceThis was not an accidental loss The rise of terrorism carried with it an ideology that sought to erase all that Kashmir had been for thousands of years Its 5000yearold history of coexistence its syncretic Sufi traditions its tolerance for religious diversity and its music all were deemed incompatible with the rigid joyless worldview of the fanaticsThe separatist and the religious leaders who took cues from Pakistan curbed the thought process of the common Kashmiri Muslims The result was a cultural amnesia where an entire generation grew up without knowing the artists who once gave Kashmir its voiceMusic song and dance were branded unIslamic cinema halls were bombed women were forced into veils under threat acid attacks enforced obedience and public entertainment was erased from daily lifeThe fear was so pervasive that even in 2013 the allgirl rock band Pragaash was forced to disband after receiving threats and being labelled unIslamicGenerations forgot that for centuries Kashmiri women sang and danced publicly at festivals and weddings Music had once been inseparable from daily lifeFor many like Daanish Nabi and Rahul Khazanchi both born after 1990 when terrorism took root in Kashmir the name Raj Begum only surfaced when Bollywood decided to make a film about herTheir first reaction was disbelief was she real Could a Muslim woman from Kashmir have once been a celebrated singer Their questions mirrored the shock many felt after watching The Kashmir Files truths long suppressed but undeniableRaj Begums story is a reminder of what was lost but also of what still exists beneath the silence Her voice preserved in recordings continues to carry the essence of a Kashmir that many today have never experienced a Kashmir of peace beauty and artistic freedom Her songs are not just music they are archives of an era when melody and meaning shaped the identity of the valleyBorn on March 27 1927 in Srinagar Raj Begum began as a wedding singer before joining Radio Kashmir in 1954 Encouraged by her father she became one of the valleys most recognised voices in the 1950s and beyond She sang until the terror violence that gripped Kashmir silenced much of its musicRaj Begum passed away in 2016 at the age of 89 Nearly a decade later her voice still lingers as in her haunting Kashmiri verse Kya kya vanay ai dost che kam kam sitam mashrav me kus zahre gum kor nosh main kam neze chok vatray main How much will I tell you my friend what all cruelty I have overcome what poisonous sadness I enduredFor some hearing Raj Begums voice for the first time is an awakening a discovery that their land was once home to women who not only sang but did so with dignity acclaim and unapologetic prideTo remember Raj Begum is not simply to celebrate a singer it is to acknowledge a part of Kashmirs history that Pakistansponsored terror mechanisms tried to erase It is to reclaim a heritage that belongs to all Kashmiris regardless of religion or backgroundDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-when-kashmir-sang-and-terror-sought-to-still-its-voice-635479.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/living-whole-bridging-the-personal-and-professional-divide-633901.html Keep personal life away from the professional sphere Easy to advise hard to practice Can anyone truly separate into two beings Life does not work that way It flows as one continuous whole where the personal and professional constantly shape each otherPersonal Sphere At home loved ones provide emotional and physical security Relationships offer acceptance and strength creating a foundation of resilience This stability often gives us the courage to face external challenges Yet personal life rarely compels deep selfreflection as there is no structured feedback or urgent push to introspectProfessional Sphere Work follows a different rhythm Recognition comes through performance contribution and measurable outcomes Studies show over 70 of employees feel recognition drives motivation Evaluations promotions and rewards define value Unlike personal life where affection flows freely professional life demands resultsThis is not negative Workplaces provide structured feedback showing both strengths and shortcomings Professional success builds discipline and confidence while challenges nurture adaptability qualities seldom tested at homeThe Interplay The two spheres complement each other A healthy personal life sparks creativity and fosters confidence at work Emotional security at home becomes the springboard for professional risktaking Conversely professional recognition can uplift our personal mood while strained relationships often echo in workplace behaviorAs the saying goes Real strength isnt handed to us Its discovered within in the choices we dare to make every dayIntegration Over Separation Rather than striving for strict separation balance is key Personal life can energize professional growth while workplace feedback can enrich personal bonds Together they create wholenessnbspA person who is whole cannot live in fragments The personal and professional are not rivals but complementary forces When nurtured together they form a life that is meaningful and completenbspThere is no saviour outside of us no godfather angel or external rescuer True strength arises from within in our resilience our courage and the qualities wenbspnurture inside https://dailyworld.in/opinion/living-whole-bridging-the-personal-and-professional-divide-633901.html Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/calm-defiance-and-diversified-diplomacy-amid-unilateral-tariffs-632823.html US President Donald Trumps decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian imports stands out as one of the most arbitrary disruptions in recent trade policy Initially set at 25 and later doubled to 50 these duties make India one of the most heavily taxed US trading partners exceeding even China Although Trump cited Indias imports of Russian oil as justification the sequence of events points to a policy lacking consistency or strategic clarity At the Alaska summit with President Putin no agreement was reached after which Trump remarked he would not think about Russian oil purchases for some weeks shifting focus instead to President Zelensky and Europes lack of engagement with the conflict These remarks underscore that the tariffs on India were not solely about Russian oil or the Ukraine war but part of a broader more transactional approach aimed at forcing concessions in tradeEconomist Jeffrey Sachs has rightly described such tariffs as stupid and selfdestructive of US foreign policy interests They violate international law and risk undermining Americas partnerships in Asia at a time when Washington has long sought to balance Chinas rise Even US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted that the penalties could escalate further depending on the outcome of the Alaska talks highlighting the erratic basis on which these measures were applied Far from advancing American economic goals these decisions have introduced uncertainty and revealed the absence of a coherent strategyFor India the economic exposure is significant though not catastrophic An assessment by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations ICRIER estimates that 70 of Indias goods exports to the US worth 6085 billion are now at risk The hardesthit sectors textiles gems and jewellery shrimp and auto parts are labourintensive and central to employment facing steep disadvantages compared to competitors such as Bangladesh Vietnam and Pakistan While pharmaceuticals energy products and semiconductors have been spared the tariffs could still shave up to half a percentage point from Indias GDP growth posing challenges to an economy already navigating global headwinds Some analysts argue that these penalties amount to a quasiembargo on bilateral tradeYet New Delhis response has been notably calm Rather than retaliate in kind the Indian government has reiterated its commitment to strategic autonomy refusing to allow its policy to be dictated by external pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that India will not compromise on the wellbeing of its farmers fisherfolk and cattle keepers even at considerable cost thereby insulating vital domestic constituencies from tradeoff politics The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed Washingtons targeting of Indian crude imports as unjustified and unreasonable noting Indias responsibility to secure affordable energy for millions of lowincome households Indian state refiners have continued to purchase Russian oil underscoring the principle that national energy security cannot be subordinated to foreign demandsThis stance is embedded in a broader doctrine of multialignment through which India cultivates diverse partnerships while avoiding entanglement in formal alliances Rather than dilute this policy Trumps actions have only strengthened Indias resolve to pursue it more forcefully The BRICS grouping has emerged as a critical platform in this regard Expanded to include Egypt Ethiopia Iran the UAE and Indonesia BRICS today represents nearly half the global population and a rising share of world GDP and trade For India BRICS is less an ideological counterweight to the West than a practical lever to counter disruptive unilateralism At recent summits member states condemned unilateral tariff measures as inconsistent with WTO rules and as threats to global supply chains PM Modi has used these forums to highlight how the Global South has been handed little more than symbolic gestures on climate finance technology access and sustainable development arguing for a new multipolar and inclusive orderEconomically India has already taken steps to mitigate the impact of US pressure by promoting localcurrency trade The Reserve Bank of India has allowed 100 of bilateral trade with BRICS partners to be settled in rupees via Vostro accounts directly challenging the dominance of the dollar in regional commerce While New Delhi is not as committed as Beijing or Moscow to full dedollarisation this initiative strengthens resilience and reduces exposure to financial coercion Such measures also dovetail with Indias efforts to diversify supply chains by deepening trade with Southeast Asia Africa and Latin America ensuring that any single countrys actions cannot dictate the trajectory of its economy In parallel discussions around the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC have gained traction with the tariffs only sharpening New Delhis resolve to pursue such initiatives Like BRICS IMEC represents a structural effort to derisk and diversify supply chains reducing dependence on unilateral actors and embedding India more deeply in multipolar networks of tradeParadoxically Trumps tariffs may also be reshaping Indias uneasy ties with China For years New Delhi and Washington had strengthened cooperation through platforms such as the Quad to manage Beijings growing influence Yet by targeting India Trump has inadvertently nudged it toward a tentative rapprochement with China After years of frosty exchanges following the 2020 border clashes the two sides have resumed dialogue held formal talks on boundary issues and explored Chinese investment in Indias technology sector Russia has also welcomed these steps within the broader BRICS framework While mistrust and strategic competition remain particularly given Chinas ties to Pakistan India and China now have stronger incentives to manage their rivalry rather than allow it to escalateThese developments raise broader questions about the direction of US policy in Asia Trumps transactionalism risks alienating precisely those partners Washington once saw as crucial to its IndoPacific strategy Sachs has argued that such measures will isolate the United States geopolitically and strengthen the BRICS and other groups The evidence already points in this direction the tariffs have consolidated rather than fractured the Global South reinforced Indias role in multipolar coalitions and highlighted the limits of coercive economic statecraftAs the global order grows increasingly fragmented India faces critical choices in charting its course Should it double down on BRICS and regional currency trade as safeguards against unilateralism How far can it deepen SouthSouth cooperation without undermining ties to the West Can it manage rapprochement with China while defending its Himalayan frontier How should it balance engagement with the G7 and Quad while preserving strategic autonomy And can todays disruption be turned into a moment of structural realignmentTrumps tariffs were conceived as a lever of pressure but have become a catalyst for reflection For India the challenge is not merely to weather this episode but to seize it as an opportunity to redefine its place in a multipolar world The answers to these questions will determine whether India can turn an arbitrary disruption into a moment of strategic renewalThe writer is a researcher interested in topics including climate governance geopolitics history and society Views expressed are her personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/calm-defiance-and-diversified-diplomacy-amid-unilateral-tariffs-632823.html Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/manifested-vyakta-and-un-manifested-a-vyakta-632579.html Krishna starts the Bhagavad Gita by saying that there was no time when I did not exist nor you nor all these rulers of men nor in the future shall any of us cease to be 212 This looks paradoxical The kings standing in the battlefield took birth sometime in the past and are bound to die after some time Many of them are likely to get killed in the battlefield soon But Krishna is saying that we are there all the timeIn a different context Krishna says that I gave this imperishable yoga to the Sun 41 which was handed down in succession to rajarishis royal saints and its sight was lost with time 42 Arjuna questions how Krishna taught this to the Sun as his birth is recent 44 This question of Arjuna appears very natural and logical at the human level Krishna replies that we had many births and you are not aware of them whereas I am 45 In both these instances they are referring to different levels We need to understand these two levels to understand the Bhagavad GitaUnderstanding two different levelsKrishna was referring to the level of unmanifested avyakta while Arjuna was referring to manifested vyakta For an easy understanding we can consider the Big Bang which gave rise to our universe as the beginning of the manifested It continued with the formation of stars In the cores of these stars atoms fused to create heavier chemical elements These elements were scattered when stars exploded Planetary systems then formed from this cosmic material Eventually intelligent life evolved when conditions turned favourable However everything within the manifest realm is subject to change over time and perish in due courseOn the other hand behind the perishable manifested world there exists the imperishable unmanifested which is like an invisible quantum field Life is the combination of a manifested physical body which is perishable and an unmanifested soul which is eternal For example a seed holds the potential to grow into a tree In the seed the tree is present in its unmanifested form It becomes manifested when it starts growing into a treeKrishna explains about the unmanifested and says that know that to be indestructible by which all this body or universe is pervaded No one can cause the destruction of the imperishable 217 The material body is perishable whereas the embodied soul within is indestructible immeasurable and eternal 218 Only the ignorant thinks otherwise 219 The soul is neither born nor does it ever die nor having once existed does it ever cease to be The soul is unborn eternal immortal and ageless It is not killed when the bodynbspis killed 220Krishna further clarifies that how can one who knows the soul to be imperishable eternal unborn and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to kill 221 Just as a person sheds wornout garments and wears new ones likewise at the time of death the soul casts off its wornout body and enters a new one 222 Weapons cannot cleave it nor fire can burn it nor water can wet it nor wind can dry this 223 The soul cannot be cut nor burnt It is everlasting all pervading unalterable immutable and primordial 224A rotating wheel is the best example to understand these intricacies Every wheel rotates around a fixed axis Rotation is impossible without this stationary hub The rate of rotation increases as we move away from the fixed axis The rotating wheel represents the everchanging manifested world and the stationary axis symbolises the unmanifested Similarly every storm has a calm centre without which no storm can sustain its momentum Another characteristic of the storm is that the farther one moves away from the centre the greater the turbulence This centre represents our calm inner self and turbulence reflects the chaotic world around usSat and AsatKrishna explains the same aspect from the angle of sat realitypermanence and asat unrealimpermanence He says sat never ceases to be and asat has no existence A seer of truth is the one who can distinguish between the two 216The rope and snake analogy is often quoted in many cultures to understand the intricacies of sat and asat A man returned home at dusk and found a coiled snake at the entrance to his home But in reality it was a rope left by children that looked like a snake in the semidarkness While the rope signifies sat the snake signifies asat Until he realizes sat ie the rope he is likely to adopt many strategies to handle asat ie the illusory snake He could attack it with a stick fight run away flight or he may try to light a torch to check the reality The best strategies and skills would go in vain when our perception is that of asatA point to be noted is that asat always derives its existence from sat just as the snake doesnt exist without the ropeVarious interactionsFor easy understanding man can be taken as manifested and Paramatma as unmanifested which is beyond the senses The first level of interaction is between man and man which is the result of our identification with the manifested the next level being between man and ParamatmaAt the mantoman level things and resources are scarce like water in a puddle whereas its like the ocean at Paramatmas level The mind constantly compares what we have and what others have in terms of material possessions power or position So interactions at the level of manifested and manifested lead to grabbing as everyone fights for these limited things Krishna terms participants of such interactions as perpetrators of evil misguided fools who follow the path of demons 715The next level of interaction is between man and Paramatma Krishna says there are four types of people in this category 716 The first category is to seek relief from their difficulties the second one seeks success and the third one is curious to obtain knowledge Krishna calls the fourth one as jnani wise and considers jnani to be HimselfHe is bothExplaining about His glimpses of glories Krishna concludes that He is both perishable manifested as well as imperishable unmanifested Krishna calls the former as His lower nature apara prakriti which is eightfold and the latter as His higher nature para prakriti 74 Krishna says that his higher nature is the life element which supports the universe 75 like an invisible string holding gems 77Further Krishna declares that He is both sat as well as asat 919 He concludes that one truly sees who perceives Parameswar supreme Lord present equally in all beings as the imperishable among the perishable 1328It is developing the ability to distinguish both and finally realising that He is both This is nothing but His Leela or Divine play https://dailyworld.in/opinion/manifested-vyakta-and-un-manifested-a-vyakta-632579.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/transcending-the-dualities-dwandwa-of-life-632580.html The fundamental nature of the manifested vyakta is that it is perishable whereas the unmanifested is imperishable Manifested life forms take birth they live for a certain period and eventually perish die with time Another characteristic of the manifested is that it exists in pairs of apperant opposites This is referred to in the Bhagavad Gita as dwandwa the state of polarity or duality For example matter consists of negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons while a magnet has both a north pole and a south poleA flowing river is the best example to understand the intricacies involved A river has two banks and both merge as the riverbed While both banks are needed for the smooth flow their merger as a riverbed is also equally important If these banks dont meet at the riverbed then it would be an infinitely deep valley and a river cant exist Likewise we have the manifested world which is invariably polar river banks and these polarities unite at the unmanifested riverbedA swinging pendulum serves as another metaphor for polarities in action It gradually slows down while travelling to one side from its central position Simultaneously it gains potential energy to travel to another side When it comes to a halt on one side it has accumulated maximum energy to travel to the other side The point to be noted is that river banks or movements of pendulum dont oppose each other rather they complement one anotherDuality of MindWhile describing the manifested Krishna includes the mind as one of its components Just as the physical world is polar the mind too is filled with polarities Krishna explains that when the senses come into contact with sense objects polarities such as heat and cold or pleasure and pain are generated within us These polarities are transient anitya and we should learn to tolerate these transients 214 He further says that sense organs naturally experience raag longing and dwesh aversion for their respective sense objects and one should be aware of this duality 334For example in our daily lives words are used as a means of communication It can be written or spoken Words are essentially sense objects for the ears When they meet ie when words reach the ear polarities are generated in the mind When we call something good it is often implied that something else is bad There are hardly any words that can describe a state beyond polarities Secondly the same word can evoke different feelings in different people depending on their upbringing experiences and circumstances This is why some cultures use silence for spiritual communication to overcome the limitations of multiple interpretationsPain follows pleasureThe common question that intrigues humanity is Why does unpleasantnesspain come to us even when we sincerely strive to attain pleasure Instead of looking deeper within we reconcile ourselves by saying that maybe our efforts arent sufficient However pride coupled with hope motivates us to restart the process of pursuing pleasure and this goes on till the end of our livesIn a polar world the natural principle is that when we chase one of these its polar opposite automatically follows When we are chasing pleasure polarity the pain polarity is bound to follow It could be in a different form or it could arrive after some time It is like lifting the stick from one end the other end is bound to rise Another metaphor is that of a spinning car wheel where one section rises as another descends This continuous movement allows the wheel to turn propelling the car forwardDelusion caused by dwandwaKrishna says All beings are subject to delusive ignorance sammohan by the delusion of the pairs of opposites dwandwamoh springing from longing and aversion icchadwesh 727Ignorance is the first level of delusion and misery is its consequence For example we regularly experience emotions arising from praise and criticism We have a longing for praise and are averse to criticism Praise makes us forget ourselves like the proverbial crow dropping its meat upon hearing praise from the fox about its singing ability Similarly when criticised our response varies from silence to verbal to physical Likewise news and opinions about people or situations that are only loosely related to us can still evoke strong emotional reactions within us This is nothing but the misery we see all around usThe next level of delusion is suppression where one gets trained to put up a pleasing personality to show the outside world that one is free from the polarities of longing and aversion They even look down on others and Krishna earlier termed them as hypocrites 36 But the reality is that these suppressions are hidden inside and come out at a weak momentWitnessing polaritiesA question that arises is how can one transcend these polarities One approach is the path of awareness and another is the path of surrenderIn the first path it involves regular practice with awareness Krishna advises practice abhyasa and dispassion vairagya 635 Raag attachment is the polar opposite of vairagya Life gives moments of both raag and vairagya daily but our mind practices only raag which is chasing desires For example we can get frustrated in a relationship and when it happens we blame our partner and look for a new relationship We often fail to realise that attachment raag itself holds the seed of dispassion vairagya The practice of vairagya is essentially the disciplined control of the senses through determinationWe tend to view polarities as opposing each other We wish to have only one of them namely pleasure but the reality is that the other ie pain is hidden in it Thats why Krishna says that He is both Amrit immortality as well as Mrityu death 919 Both these polarities are part of the same oneness They coexist and we cant choose one and drop the other When we regard them as complementary then we can start witnessing themAs long as we live exposure to polarities is natural All we need is awareness of these polarities and to witness them when we are swinging between them This awareness would help us transcend themThe second path is to surrender to the Almighty Krishna says that one must surrender to the Almighty the Supreme power to overcome the automaticity of indriyas 261 In the context of delusion caused by polarities 727 Krishna says that those established in Brahma absolute having a firm understanding of divine knowledge and not hampered by delusion neither rejoice on getting something pleasant nor grieve on experiencing the unpleasant 520The writer K Siva Prasad is a senior IAS officer in the Punjab Governmentnbsp https://dailyworld.in/opinion/transcending-the-dualities-dwandwa-of-life-632580.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-decline-of-diplomacy-632587.html There are dejected murmurs about the death of diplomacy and there is nothing new about it In the past too its death was often foretold but because of technological advancements resulting in higher speeds of communication and travel In the 1860s Lord Palmerston the then British Foreign Secretary received the first diplomatic telegram and exclaimed My God This is the end of diplomacynbsp Now the feeling of doom stems from several other developments that are making it challenging for diplomats to keep up and to cope withMany Heads of States are rather young and in some cases geriatric and they have a penchant for the funfilled life there are fewer career diplomats Earlier leaders did not travel abroad solely for vacation and their visits were diplomatic forays Justin Trudeau was born and brought up in the Prime Ministers home He took a vacation in the Bahamas in December 2016 January 2017 as a guest at the island of Aga Khan IV after his government had made an endowment for an institution related to the Aga Khan Foundation This was found amiss by the Ethics Commission Then he tanked relations with India by going public with allegations of the Indian states complicity in the murder of a Sikh separatist in Canada Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand at 37 and Emmanuel Macron at 40 have been keeping their nations diplomacy in turmoil The latter called the NATO allies cowards and the former found the work too taxing and quit saying she no longer had enough in the tank Earlier a leader moved up the ladder from being what P G Wodehouse called a Nodder to being a Yesman before being allowed to speak at important parleys There is a flip side too Biden believed in his ability to lead the US till the age of 86 but was cut short by Trumps victory Xi Jinping wants to be there forever and Mugabe facing an impeachment resigned when he was 93 The geriatric committed to clinging on while becoming less lucid by the day keep creating nightmares for the diplomatsnbspThe weapons of war are becoming smaller fighter planes and hypersonic missiles are giving way to drones which may yield to electromagnetic waves with powerful laser beams being developed as weapons The US China Israel the UK and Turkey have already developed prototypes of such laser weapons while Germany Russia and India are also on the job With laser weapons planes missiles and drones will substantially lose their efficacy When lasers become capable of destroying satellites a balance of terror somewhat like that created by nuclear weapons may fall in place reducing the likelihood of war Carl von Clausewitz had said War is a continuation of politics by other means As smaller nations also acquire the capability to hit back and hurt both wars and diplomacy become less effective and frustrated leaders make civilian infrastructure and population their targets⁰ as is happening in Ukraine and GazanbspRival political parties used to exhibit bipartisanship when contending with a rival nation The loss of this bipartisanship has become a serious issue for diplomats foreign nations now gleefully quote an opposition leader of a rival country to counter the arguments of the diplomats of that country The Vietnam war had seen Eisenhower Republican Kennedy Democrat and Johnson Democrat in the White House with Nixon Republican beginning the withdrawal and on his resignation Gerald Ford seeing the fall of Saigon Yet the Congress acted in a broad bipartisan manner granting to the President wide authority to use force and approving funding even after the war had become a quagmire Contrast this with the sharp divide in the US today between the Democrats and the Republicans on the issue of PalestineToday in North America Europe and India the major arenas of democracy bipartisanship is sinking in the everdeepening chasm between the farright and the farleft Its place has been taken by echo chambers where any expression or appreciation of a counter viewpoint is akin to treason Foreign policy a subject that was usually discussed in bipartisan committees behind closed doors is now a slug fest in the public space When elections result in a change in the ruling party foreign policy is now more likely to be marked with sharper twists and turnsnbspThat brings us to the next disruptor of traditional diplomacy the phenomenon of mass illegal migration that has become the prime agenda for the voices in the echo chambers and for the ideological divide in domestic politics 2015 was a watershed moment for largescale illegal migration when countries in Europe particularly Germany under the leadership of Angela Merkel appeared to open their doors to undocumented migrants In 20152016 more than 2 million asylum seekers arrived in Europe over a million in Germany alone In Canada Trudeau used to be at the airport to personally welcome illegal migrants Since 2018 170000 people have entered the UK illegally using small boats to cross the English Channel and the flow continues Mass migration is making a huge impact on the stability of foreign policies in countries like the UK and France with the governments making notsosubtle shifts on issues like Palestine Earlier too people of foreign origin exercised influence but it was limited to the elite class today it is the migrant on the street who has a loud voicenbspMass migration of undocumented individuals has sharpened the farleft farright divide in European countries particularly in the two countries with the largest populations Germany and France In both these countries farright parties are surging forward If they come to power at some stage the policies of the EU which comprises the most liberal order anywhere in the developed world will undergo a metamorphosis Farright leaders like Victor Orban are already heavily tilted towards Russia If France and Germany drift in that direction pleading the cause of a farright Germany or France in foreign capitals will be a challenging swing for the diplomats of these countries Counting Trump in whose election migration was a major issue in his favour in the farright league some commentators are already talking of a farright takeover of the EU NATO is already facing a farright push from Trump and the mightiest wall in Europe against farright policies Germany is seeing a surgenbsp in the extreme farright If NATO and the EU fail to escape the swing how many diplomats will be equipped for the EU or NATO going to bed with RussianbspCyberattacks with the aim of election interference attacks on critical infrastructure and disinformation are new challenges for diplomacy Cyberattacks are akin to disembodied terrorism and when it is statesponsored the victim nation is loath to engage in parleys with the perpetrator as the latter is invariably in denial Even a powerful nation like the US has often felt helpless against cyberattacks and the only recourse seems to be retaliation In response to these developments cyber diplomacy is evolving to navigate this new world of stealth penetration of state secrets cyberwar the dark web and cybercrime that is sheltered behind the sovereignty of some totalitarian states like Russia China North Korea and IrannbspThese developments have made the conventional diplomatic parleys increasingly ineffective in recent years We hope that the world will not watch with indifference even as war the diplomacy by other means whether in trade or on the battlefields more frequently replaces the fake smiles and innuendos of diplomats R N prasher is a former IAS officer The views expressed are his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-decline-of-diplomacy-632587.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/emotional-intelligence-trusting-the-heart-again-631507.html In todays hyperrational world we are conditioned to prioritize the mind over the heart Logic analysis and efficiency dominate workplaces where productivity becomes the primary measure of successwhile our inner life quietly suffers Emotions are often dismissed as distractions or signs of weaknessnbspBut this imbalance carries a cost As we focus mainly on sharpening intellect in the process we neglect emotional depththe true source of wisdom intuition joy and foresight Many believe the mind alone can resolve lifes complexities but life is neither fully rational nor irrational Only the intelligence of heart dissolves this duality and restores inner balanceA sharp mind may solve immediate problems and feels like eliminating it yet it often creates new ones in the process The heart with its intuitive insight offers creative compassionate and lasting solutions The atom bomb may be a triumph of logic yet it embodies immense destruction A calm heartnurtured through healing meditation and awarenessbecomes a genuine deterrent to conflict both within and withoutnbspModern psychology affirms that emotional intelligence EQ is often more vital than IQ in both personal and professional life Empathy resilience collaboration and leadership stem not from the analytical mind but from the heart The mind strategizes the heart heals connects and inspiresEmotions shape our most profound experienceslove grief fear joy What burdens us is rarely the feeling itself but the overactive mind that resists and suppresses it We often push emotions aside not because they are mundane but because they force us feel vulnerable to encounter flaws within ashamed or uncertain In doing so we detach from the very parts of ourselves that make life meaningful We may keep functioning rationally but lose our sense of aliveness depth and connectionThe heart is not a flaw It is the seat of creativity compassion and connection Across cultures we preach loveyet the very faculty meant to feel it remains shut downnbspWe may not change the world overnight but we can begin within When emotions arisepause Feel Heal Witness This is emotional intelligence not suppression but awareness honed through presence and compassionnbspTrue strength lies not in controlling emotion but in the courage to feel When we trust the heart again we return to the essence of beingwhere silence touches aliveness and joy flows without reasonThe writer is a IT professional https://dailyworld.in/opinion/emotional-intelligence-trusting-the-heart-again-631507.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pradhan-mantri-jan-dhan-yojana-11-years-of-common-mans-financial-inclusion-630901.html Its now common for anyone in India to have a bank account But till about a decade back access to banking was a distant dream for almost half of households in the country even after 65 years of IndependencenbspAs poor and marginalized particularly in rural areas were excluded from formal banking system they had no option but to risk keeping their savings at home and seek credit from predatory lenders who charged exorbitant interest rates This absence of financial security meant they had no chance to dream of a better futurenbspEven more as a former PM had said out of 100 paise of benefits meant for poor for only 15 paise reached the true beneficiary and the remaining 85 paise was gobbled up by middlemenJan Dhan Yojana a Game ChangerIn this context the rollout of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana PMJDY in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved a gamechanger by boosting financial inclusionnbspAs this scheme completes its 11th anniversary on 28th August 2025 there is no denying of the fact that it has given a life of dignity to crores of people especially women youth and the marginalized communities in the country by integrating them into the nations economic mainstreamnbspFinancial InclusionBy laying the foundation stone for peoplecentric economic initiatives like direct benefit transfers PMKISAN increased wages under MGNREGA life and health insurance cover through bank accounts PMJDY has proved one of the biggest financial inclusion initiatives in the worldThe success of PMJDY which ensures access to financial services including banking credit insurance and pension in an affordable manner can be gauged from the fast that over 5590 crore Jan Dhan Accounts which stood at just 1472 crore in March 2015 have been opened till now About 67 of these Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in rural or semiurban areasAs Jan Dhan accounts encourage saving and digital financial habits these bank accounts have garnered a deposit balance of over Rs 263 lakh crore compared to Rs 15670 crore in March 2015Empowerment of Weaker SectionsWith features like zero balance account free of cost RuPay Card accidental insurance of Rs 2 lakhs on RuPay Debit Card to cover loss of life disabilities and income due to account holders accident along with overdraft facility of Rs 10 thousand to eligible account holders providing them with emergency access to funds PMJDY has truly empowered weaker sections and lowincome groups over the past 11 yearsNo surprise Atal Pension Yojana APY has seen a surge in enrolments reaching 733 crore by January 2025 The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana PMJJBY has enrolled 2252 crore individuals with Rs 17600 crore disbursed for 88 lakh claims The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana PMSBY has covered 4912 Crore people processing Rs 299475 crore against accident claimsElimination of MiddlemenJan Dhan also became a vital pillar of the JAM Trinity Jan Dhan Aadhaar and Mobile to eliminate the scourge of middlemen and touts who for decades thrived in public loot through Direct Benefit Transfer DBTJan Dhan bank accounts are now used for DBT in 321 government schemes compared to 28 in 201314 including Ayushman Bharat PMKisan for farmers PM SVANidhi for street vendors Fasal Bima Yojana Garib Kalyan Yojana PM Awas Yojana Ujjwala Yojana or Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaThe total funds transferred have also increased from around Rs 7400 crores in 201314 to nearly Rs 25 lakh crores This has been estimated to have cumulatively saved the government exchequer around Rs 431 lakh crore and helped around 25 crore people escape multidimensional poverty in the last nine yearsEasier Access to CreditJan Dhan Yojana has taken out of poor from the clutches of the usurious money lenders as such account holders are now eligible for loans from banks and financial institutions For instance loans sanctions under Mudra scheme rose at a compounded annual rate of 98 per cent in five years from 201819 to 202324 This access to credit has empowered individuals to grow their incomes with formal sector lendingWomen EmpowermentPMJDY has emerged as a powerful tool for empowerment of women especially those working in unorganized sectors who lacked access to formal oldage income security schemes Their financial vulnerability was exacerbated by inconsistent incomes and limited access to social securityPMJDY has brought women under the ambit of financial inclusion which is evident from the fact that over 3037 crore 557 of total Jan Dhan accounts belong to women Besides ensuring equal opportunities to participate in the formal financial system PMJDY has facilitated the coverage of women with various social security and credit linked Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension YojanaAs of November 2023 out of the 4446 crore loans sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana PMMY 3064 crore 69 were granted to women with the average credit amount increasing from Rs 39000 in 201516 to Rs 1 lakh in 202324 As of 27 January 2025 the StandUp India Scheme has benefited 194804 women entrepreneurs with banks sanctioning Rs 6242652 crore for promoting entrepreneurship among women and SCs amp STsDigital SuccessPMJDY has facilitated the issuance of over 38 crore freeofcost RuPay cards and installation of 7961 lakh PoSmPoS machines The introduction of mobilebased payment systems like UPI with Indias digital infrastructure for doorstep delivery of banking services UPI transactions through RuPay cards increased from Rs 92 crore in FY 201718 to Rs 8371 crore in FY 202223 Similarly the total number of RuPay card transactions at PoS and Ecommerce has increased from Rs 2828 crore in FY 201617 to Rs 126 crore in FY 202223India is today a global leader in realtime payments with a 485 share of the total volume with PMJDY playing a key role by bringing crores of unserved people into the formal banking systemGlobal RecognitionPMJDY has received international recognition for its role in financial inclusion India has achieved nearuniversal financial account ownership with 89 of adults now holding an account as compared 35 in 2011 according to the World Banks Global Findex 2025 reportA G20 report by the World Bank revealed India achieved its financial inclusion goals in just 6 years which otherwise would have taken 47 years India made Guinness World Records by opening over 180 Crore bank accounts as part of the Financial Inclusion Campaign under Jan Dhan Yojana India has surpassed China in financial inclusion metrics says the SBI report of 2021SuggestionsAwareness Campaign An awareness campaign should be launched in rural and semiurban areas to educate adult population about the benefits of bank accountsExpansion of Bank Network Network of Bank branches should be further expanded in rural and semiurban areas for providing easier access to banking servicesStrengthening of Cooperative Banks Cooperative Banks should be strengthened to modernize operations and adopt financial technology in order to meet credit needs of rural IndiaFinancial Literacy Digital and financial literacy programs should be launched to enable beneficiaries to leverage benefits of Jan Dhan YojanaSpecial Financial Product Design Innovative financial products should be tailored for PMJDY account holders in order to foster deeper financial inclusion By empowering millions of individuals especially from marginalized communities PMJDY has laid a strong foundation for inclusive economic growth for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 Every citizen should now fully participate in and contribute to Indias economic successProf Himani Sood is Pro Chancellor of Chandigarh University Views expressed are her personal She can be contacted at himanisoodcumailin https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pradhan-mantri-jan-dhan-yojana-11-years-of-common-mans-financial-inclusion-630901.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tariffs-tensions-and-transformation-navigating-indias-strategies-630902.html The imposition of 25 tariffs by the United States on Indian goods reflects a complex intersection of trade protectionism geopolitical realignments and strategic coercion At the forefront is Washingtons concern over its growing trade deficit with India reported at 274 billion in 2024 which former President Donald Trump attributes to Indias strenuous and obnoxious nonmonetary trade barriers and some of the highest tariffs globally These grievances form the basis of Trumps reciprocal tariff policy which aims to counter what the US perceives as structural unfairness Accompanying these demands are deeper expectations for India to revise economic policies especially around agricultural and dairy imports and expand purchases of US energy and defence products despite Indias protection of its rural economy and strategic autonomyThese tariffs must also be viewed in the broader geopolitical context particularly Indias continued ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict Washington is frustrated with Indias sustained purchase of Russian crude oil claiming it fuels Russias wartime economy and is pressuring India to align more closely with Western sanctions Trumps erratic negotiation tactics and personal political calculations have further strained bilateral ties His pivot toward Pakistan and derogatory remarks about Indias economy and leadership represent a departure from past US administrations balancing strategies in South Asia These developments reveal a volatile phase in USIndia relations where tariffs act as instruments of geopolitical leverage and diplomatic signallingTrumps broader trade policy manoeuvres reflect a farreaching ambition that transcends conventional economic disputes At their core lies a systemic challenge to the postWWII global economic order viewed as outdated and detrimental to American interests Referred to by aides as the Trump Round this strategy seeks to dismantle multilateral frameworks and reconstruct them to prioritise US dominance Central to this approach is calibrated disruption a deliberate blend of unpredictability threats and reversals designed less to resolve disputes than to destabilise norms and force concessions from allies and adversariesTrumps trade policy rests on three pillars narrowing trade and fiscal deficits through punitive tariffs reindustrialising the American economy and compelling partners to increase imports of US goods His method exploits the global reliance on US markets and security guarantees to extract strategic and economic concessions Notably tariff threats against India are also used to influence its energy ties with Russia targeting Moscows war economy without direct military involvement This marks a shift from his earlier presidency where friendliness toward Russia failed to yield results Beyond trade Trumps agenda includes reinforcing dollar supremacy through selective adoption of cryptocurrencies deregulating AI to secure technological dominance over China and promoting nationalist industrial policy centred on reshoring and advanced manufacturing These moves reflect an attempt to reshape American capitalism and global economic structures toward a more unilateral transactiondriven US hegemonyFor India US tariffs represent a pivotal moment with wideranging implications While the overall macroeconomic impact may appear limited GDP reduction projected at 02 to 04 percentage points the sectoral effects are more acute Labourintensive industries such as textiles gems and jewellery auto components and seafood face immediate disruption While sectors like pharmaceuticals and IT services may be less affected the loss of 33 billion in export value threatens employment and earnings US consumers may also feel the impact especially in sectors like mobile handsets and generic pharmaceuticals where Indian imports remain indispensable to supply chains India has responded with a calibrated blend of resilience strategic defiance and diplomatic engagement Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed the commitment to economic selfreliance using the situation to advance the Make in India initiative and boost domestic consumption His rhetoric emphasises sovereignty and the protection of farmers small industries and youth employment The government has retained restrictions on sensitive sectors such as dairy and agriculture citing food security and cultural valuesOn the foreign policy front India has resisted US pressure to cut ties with Russia continuing discounted crude oil imports as an economic necessity Officials have asserted that energy and defence relations with Russia are not subject to external influence Indias foreign policy is framed as independent and guided by national interest not coercion Simultaneously India is diversifying trade partnerships with the EU ASEAN the Middle East and the UK to reduce dependency on the US While quietly considering reciprocal actions like reintroducing a digital tax on US tech giants India maintains its image as a stable trade partner New Delhis response seeks to safeguard longterm strategic interests without capitulating to shortterm pressure tacticsAt the policy level Indias leadership blends economic nationalism with strategic noncompliance PM Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal have underscored the nonnegotiability of sovereignty in areas like food security digital trade and defence procurement The refusal to open sensitive domestic markets reflects both political pragmatism and electoral calculus While exploring countermeasures like digital service taxes and adjusted customs duties India aims to avoid escalation preferring dialogue over confrontation This approach demonstrates a mature foreign policy calculus that seeks to preserve longterm bilateral relations while protecting core national interestsGeopolitically the tariffs illuminate a fundamental shift in US foreign policy where trade disputes are now linked to broader strategic goals The willingness to compromise longstanding strategic engagement with India to gain leverage over Moscow marks a departure from previous US administrations Indias firm stance in defending its ties with Russia including its use of alternative payment systems like the rupeeruble mechanism signals a commitment to multipolarity and a sanctionsresistant economic architecture However this positioning also invites sustained external pressure especially as the global order becomes increasingly polarised and transactional Indias ability to maintain strategic autonomy in such a landscape will depend on the resilience of its economy and the diversification of its trade partnershipsTo mitigate future vulnerabilities and reposition itself within an evolving global trade and technology order India must accelerate internal reforms These tariffs expose not only the fragility of dependence on specific export markets but also the urgency of enhancing domestic value addition industrial competitiveness and technological capabilities A status quo approach will leave India exposed to external shocks in a world of rising protectionism Policymakers must enhance productivity streamline regulatory frameworks invest in digital and physical infrastructure and foster innovation Such efforts can transform external pressure into a catalyst for overdue economic transformation positioning India as a more selfreliant globally competitive powerThe USIndia tariff conflict is not merely a bilateral dispute but a strategic inflection point It forces India to confront difficult questions Can it rely on historical diplomatic goodwill in an increasingly transactional world How can it safeguard its strategic autonomy while remaining integrated with global markets And is its economy agile and competitive enough to withstand future coercion While Indias measured response has created space for diplomacy the longterm imperative is structural transformation that enhances global bargaining power through deeper reforms diversified alliances and resilient supply chains The current standoff may well be a catalystIndia must decide whether it will merely react to global shifts or strategically shape its rolenbspwithin themThe writer is a researcher interested in topics including climate governance geopolitics history and society Views expressed are her personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tariffs-tensions-and-transformation-navigating-indias-strategies-630902.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/indias-china-policy-needs-a-reset-before-its-too-late-630904.html As the 21st century unmistakably shifts toward Asia India stands at a crucial crossroads While many Asian powers recalibrate for multipolar engagement India remains tethered to an outdated model of strategic resistance balancing China through alignment with the United States and the Quad However recent developments highlight the growing fragility of this approach and underscore the need for a pragmatic autonomous recalibrationThe Erosion of the Balancing StrategyFor over a decade India has sought to hedge Chinas rise by investing in partnerships with Western democracies particularly the United States and by joining multilateral forums like the Quad Yet this balancing act is falteringnbspThe Quad lacks strategic coherence While it presents a shared vision of a free and open IndoPacific its membersJapan Australia the US and Indiahave divergent threat perceptions and strategic priorities The Quad has failed to evolve into a collective security mechanism especially one that could deter China in the Himalayan theatre where Indias primary vulnerability liesMeanwhile the United States has signalled a return to transnationalism Indias greater alignment with the West and specifically USA no longer offers meaningful security or economic insulation President Trumps recent tirade against India about ongoing tariff negotiations and purchase of Russian oil and arms is bound to reflect in US policy towards India going forward Further the United States has resumed its tactical embrace of Pakistan for Afghan and Central Asian access renewing engagement with Pakistan for overflight rights and counterterrorism cooperation If it can disengage from longstanding transatlantic commitments and the Asian security architecture it is unlikely to be a reliable longterm anchor for IndiaIndia must now ask can we afford to put our strategic future in the hands of an increasingly unpredictable partner whose interests will never fully align with oursThe Regional Reality South Asia Slipping AwayThe security situation in South Asia is increasingly adverse The China hand during the recent Operation Sindoor was most evident as are talks about a reinforced front between China and Pakistan In Bangladesh the era of close alignment with India under the Awami League is over and Dhaka is tilting toward Pakistan and Beijing through infrastructure dependency and growing defence ties A return to the Indiafriendly Sheikh Hasina era is unlikely China has outpaced India not only in global influence but within Indias immediate neighborhood It has entrenched itself economically and militarily in Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal Myanmar Sri Lanka and even the Maldives This underscores the risk of alienating China further through military or political posturing India is increasingly encircled by a ring of states economically beholden to China and politically cautious about offending it A confrontational posture by New Delhi only accelerates this driftThe Power Gap An Inconvenient TruthChina today holds a commanding lead over India across almost every strategic metric Its economy is over five times larger It dominates global manufacturing supply chains rare earth processing and is setting standards in advanced technologies like AI 5G and green energy Its military modernization program outpaces Indias by decades in both scale and sophistication Diplomatically Beijing enjoys unparalleled influence in multilateral institutions regional blocs and bilateral ties across the Global SouthIn the Indian Ocean Region IOR Chinas strategic foothold is now undeniable India must confront an uncomfortable reality we may never catch up Continuing to antagonize such a powerful neighbor to appease a distant and unreliable superpower is a gamble with no strategic upsideThe Dalai Lama Succession A Strategic OpeningOne of the few avenues for diplomatic engagement lies in the impending succession of the 14th Dalai Lama who turns 90 this year China is expected to install a stateapproved reincarnation while the Tibetan community in exile hosted by India will likely name its own If mishandled this could ignite another major flashpoint in IndiaChina ties But it also presents a rare opening for quiet diplomacy By signalling a measured nonprovocative approach India can reaffirm its humanitarian support for the Tibetan people while avoiding overt politicization In return China could be encouraged to lower border tensions dial back Pakistan sponsored terrorism and avoid escalatory responsesHandled deftly the succession could serve as a backchannel to reset relationsbalancing spiritual responsibility with geopolitical restraint It could also demonstrate Indias ability to lead with maturity resisting foreign pressure while safeguarding internal stabilityThis moment is particularly ripe as Xi Jinping despite internal pressures still maintains control over the PLA A postXi China could bring a fragmented leadership with a more autonomous and assertive military That would be far harder to manage diplomaticallyThe Russia Factor A Quiet FacilitatorRussia long a cornerstone of Indias defence policy can emerge as a potential strategic facilitator Its recent recognition of the Taliban underscores its pivot towards Asiacentric diplomacy More importantly Moscow maintains stable ties with both India and China and has a vested interest in preventing further polarization in Asia India should explore TrackII mechanisms via Moscow with China to manage issues like the US tariff wars Dalai Lama succession and border deescalation Russia facing Western hostility and isolation is well positioned to act as a discreet mediator among Asias three great powersReframing the Strategic DoctrineIndia must shift from a doctrine of balancing to one of selective engagement This is not appeasement but realism A strategic reset could includeA border stability framework with renewed communication protocols and confidencebuilding measuresA tacit understanding on nonpoliticization of the Dalai Lama successionSelective reengagement with China in sectors like green technology rare earths and climate cooperationQuiet consensus on regional noninterference in each others traditional spheres of influenceLeveraging Russia as a balancing vector to facilitate stable IndiaChina tiesConclusion Indias Maturity Test in the Asian CenturyIndia stands at the heart of the Asian century but risks becoming a peripheral actor if it clings to rigid postures and outdated alliances The time has come for strategic maturity Instead of defining its interests through permanent opposition to China and dependency on a distant and selfinterested West India must embrace realism restraint and regionalism With the Dalai Lamas 90th birthday Xi Jinpings waning but present authority and Russias emerging mediation role the conditions for a recalibration existbut they will not lastnbspIndia must seize this opportunity to reset its China policy on its own termsbefore the strategic map of Asia is redrawn without us https://dailyworld.in/opinion/indias-china-policy-needs-a-reset-before-its-too-late-630904.html Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-article-370-end-pakistans-terror-tactics-fail-to-unnerve-kashmiris-630121.html New Delhi Aug 5 Six years ago when the Modi government abrogated Article 370 and 35A it completed the Constitutional process that had been deliberately left incomplete decades ago And six years later the government took another step that has proven to the world that terror violence can no longer go unpunished Operation Sindoor which happened a few months ahead of the sixth anniversary of the 370 abrogation stands as the fitting response to Pakistan and its terroristsupporting deep stateSince August 5 2019 the security landscape in Kashmir has undergone a dramatic transformation Stonepelting incidents street protests bomb blasts and targeted firings have stopped The number of attacks on security forces has also reducedThe improved security was the reason that since the 370 abrogation the number of tourists every year has been on the rise Each year crores of tourists from the country and outside visit the union territory This steady inflow has boosted local industries such as handicrafts and horticulture contributing significantly to the regions economic revivalThe enhanced sense of security has also resulted in a manifold increase in youth participation in education sports competitive exams and entrepreneurshipAlthough sporadic terror attacks still occur the overall environment especially in the Kashmir Valley has become far more welcoming for visitors Much of the population is now focused on rebuilding and moving forward from the fear and trauma of the pre2019 eraHowever Pakistan after failing to reinstil fear in the people through concentrated terror attacks unleashed the brutal April 22 terror attack on innocent tourists killing 25 after identifying them as Hindus One local ponywalla was also murdered The ploy was sinister meant to break the back of the Kashmiris who had started believing in the peace efforts It was also dangerous as it was meant to stop the people visiting the valley and create communal strife all over the countryBut Kashmiris proved Pakistan wrong and after initial shock the tourists have returned to the valley A significant moment came with the celebration of ZaethAshtami by Kashmiri Hindus at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Ganderbal This was soon followed by the Amarnath Yatra which has seen participation from over four lakh pilgrims This resilience and unity have sent the strongest message yet to Pakistan and its proxiesGone are the days when terrorists roamed freely in the valley even in Srinagar city Earlier they found shelter not only near the Line of Control but also deep within civilian areas There were hundreds of instances where locals harboured militants or helped them escape That landscape has changed significantly post2019 Today most encounters take place in remote forests where militants hide in foliage or cavesAfter 2019 the Modi government banned dozens of organisations that nurtured terrorists in Kashmir This has helped in curbing the local recruitment into terror ranks A majority of the terror operatives are being sent from across the border in PakistanThat said security challenges still exist Elements vulnerable to religious propaganda can still be swayed by Pakistanbacked terror groups which continue to equate terrorism with jihadRecently National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has not ended and never will Such statements highlight where the real challenge lies the doublespeak of certain political leaders who prefer to keep tensions alive for personal or political gainBut the people of Kashmir have spoken They want peace They want progress And they want more tourists to visit the valley to build on the momentum set in motion after August 5 2019Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-article-370-end-pakistans-terror-tactics-fail-to-unnerve-kashmiris-630121.html Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-truth-lost-in-sinister-plot-2006-has-no-killers-2008-has-a-painted-narrative-629790.html New Delhi Aug 3 Two cases of justice have jolted the nation Justice it is said is delivered on the basis of evidence and when the same is either botched up or fabricated we get the 2006 Mumbai train blasts verdict by the High Court and the 2008 Malegaon blasts judgement Both verdicts have been mindboggling and exposed how a motivated system can ruin the fate of peopleThough the Supreme Court has stayed the 2008 Mumbai blasts case verdict by the High Court and victims in the 2006 Malegaon blasts are preparing for more legal fights the cases have a numbing effectWhat appears to be true on the surface may in fact be far more complex beneath We have heard about stories of schemes and plots but this time the same has been exposed through the court verdicts The verdicts do not say this but the inferences can be drawn The judgements through their reasoning and findings point to systemic failuresThe 2006 Mumbai train blasts killed 187 people and injured more than 800 people On July 21 the Bombay High Court acquitted 12 men who were previously convicted in the case The court ruled that the prosecution had utterly failed to establish guilt and set aside the 2015 judgement of a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act MCOCA court which had sentenced five to death and the rest to life imprisonmentBut this raises critical questions If the evidence was so weak how did the MCOCA court issue such harsh sentences in 2015 If these 12 men were not involved then who carried out the deadly blasts If they were not involved why were they arrested Questions like these are being raised but the answers are not thereThese are not just rhetorical questions they demand accountability Shouldnt the investigators and officials who prepared the case be held responsible There are more questions and doubts Almost two decades after the blasts wrecked the economic capital of the country will there be any relevant followup or factfinding or will it also end up one among those unsolved cases and ultimately become like No one killed the 187 people and they just died in blasts which were caused by invisible peopleIf the evidence in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings was botched up in the 2008 Malegaon case the opposite seems to have happened The police were accused of planting evidence torturing witnesses and becoming a tool in a wider political game allegedly directed by influential politicians of the timeThe plot was exposed by no other than Mehboob Mujawar a former policeman who had worked in the Maharashtra ATSHe said that he was given orders by former IPS officer Parambir Singh and higher officials to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and was given confidential orders regarding a few RSS menMujawar has said that he was given 10 people to work with got money from the Service Secret Fund and there was pressure on him to follow the arrest orders which he did not But I didnt act on it They talked about saffron terror How could I have done something completely wrong he saidHe told the media that he received the orders within 15 to 20 days of the Malegaon blasts and Mohan Bhagwat was going to be included in the case to make it appear like a saffron terror caseAfter he defied the exATS officer said that false cases were registered against him in this case but his name was cleared later The NIA court however did not consider Mujawars statement in its verdict because it was not recorded before this courtBut the court in its over 1000page judgment has mentioned a witness Milind Joshi Raos testification that he was pressured by the Maharashtra ATS officials to falsely name Yogi Adityanath RSS member Indresh Kumar former Bharatiya Janata Party BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur Hindu seer and former RSS member Swami Aseemanand and Professor Deodhar in the case Rao also said the ATS illegally kept him in custody for a week and told him he would be freed only if he named the above five peopleThese details from the judgement give a chilling view of how far the system can be misused to build a predecided narrative regardless of its truth or consequencesOne of the accused in the case Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit spent nearly nine years in jail before being granted bail in 2017 He was arrested for allegedly masterminding the blasts sourcing RDX from Jammu and Kashmir and assembling it at his home The Lieutenant Colonel had claimed that ATS had tortured him and forced him to take the name of senior BJP and RSS leaders including Yogi AdityanathThe Malegaon verdict reveals the frightening possibility of political plots being masked as terror investigations Greedy politicians driven by votebank politics and a hunger for power may have manipulated the justice system to push false narratives risking innocent lives in the processThe 12 men in the 2008 Mumbai train blasts if proven innocent in the Supreme Court and the seven people acquitted in the Malegaon blast case are the test cases of the nefarious politicianpolice nexusWhile some political parties may use the Malegaon verdict to their advantage the issue goes far beyond politics The nation deserves to know Who were the real perpetrators Who crafted the bhagwa aatankwaad theoryAnd most importantly will those responsible be unmasked and punished to set an exampleDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-truth-lost-in-sinister-plot-2006-has-no-killers-2008-has-a-painted-narrative-629790.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/healing-the-inner-stored-emotion-practical-paths-to-inner-freedom-629807.html We often think of healing as something externalmedications therapies or simply time But much of our inner suffering isnt just mental or physical Its emotional energy trapped in the body silenced by the ego True healing begins not with suppression but with deep listeningModern medicine can manage symptoms but it rarely heals the root of psychological distress Medications may suppress the chemicals triggered by emotional imbalance but they seldom address why those biochemicals arise When the cause remains unknown the cure remains incompleteAt its root emotion is energy in motion When this energy is blockedby denial fear or repressionit doesnt vanish It stores itself in the muscles fascia and nervous system Over time it may manifest as anxiety depression chronic fatigue or even physical illnessSo how do we release what weve held for yearseven decades1 Conscious Breathwork Breath mirrors emotion Practices like Sudarshan Kriya or conscious breathwork restore deep breathing regulate the nervous system and unlock emotional tension Breath is not just survivalits a portal to healing2 Somatic Awareness Rather than analyzing emotions somatic practices ask us to feel them Gentle breath and attention to a tight chest or clenched jaw can begin the release The body holds both memory and medicine3 Movement amp ExpressionStuck energy must move Vigorous dance shaking yoga or primal sound help release blocked emotion Like animals shaking off trauma we too can reset through embodied motion4 Safe Emotional ReleaseTears are natures way to transmute pain When we allow them without shameby visiting old woundsemotional heaviness can transform into prana or lifeforce Social conditioning especially for men often suppresses this healing mechanism5 Journaling amp StillnessJournaling expressive arts and meditation surface buried emotions Vipassana and Oshos methods encourage nonjudgmental awareness where presence itself becomes the medicineUncovering stuffed emotions through these paths may take time even several yearsbut it is worth it With time it reconnects us with the very reason we are in body with mindHealing isnt fixing ourselvesits freeing what weve trappedWhen we feel we release And when we release we return to wholenessand to our natural joyfulnbspcreative essence https://dailyworld.in/opinion/healing-the-inner-stored-emotion-practical-paths-to-inner-freedom-629807.html Sun, 03 Aug 2025 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/hard-power-in-the-present-world-629002.html Hard power has returned with a vengeance to centre stage in geopolitics Not that its importance ever diminished That will not happen Military force will remain a key power resource in international affairs But there was hope that wars would be abjured as a means to settle interstate differences and the use of force would be an option of last resortDialogue and diplomacy rather than military or economic coercion would become the preferred policy choice for states And soft power the power of persuasion would be utilised much more to pursue foreign policy goals and build a countrys global influenceNot so today Powerful countries and regional powers are using hard power to try to bend other states to their will The threat or the use of force has become an option of first and not last resort for them and the main way of resolving disagreements and imposing their will Israels war on Gaza its attacks on Iran Syria Lebanon and Yemen the Russian invasion of Ukraine US bombardment of Iran and Indias justified hay plausible military action against terrorist in Pakistan all testify to the increasing use of force Global norms that deemphasise the coercive use of hard power have been wilfully ignored by nation states in pursuit of their goals This modern version of gunboat diplomacy has seen the greater use or the threat of force to secure political and economic objectives This is pushing the world towards a Hard Power solution syndromeThe rising salience of hard power in international affairs is reflected in how countries especially big powers have been augmenting their hard power resources The spike in global defence spending is evidence of this It has reached a new high as countries big and small deem increasing their hard power assets to be essential to promoting their goals and secure themselves in an unstable international environmentWith use of military force and economic coercion dominating geopolitics does soft power still countThe way economic coercion is being used by the Trump administration also testifies to the current surge in the exercise of hard power President Donald Trump has imposed a trade war by slapping higher tariffs on almost every country in the world to extract concessions in negotiations conducted under the pressure of threats and punitive actions The use of coercive economic power to browbeat countries has involved no distinction between allies and adversaries All are being compelled to renegotiate trade deals with tariffs used as a punitive hard power tool for economic gain The signal sent by this approach is that noncompliance with US demands will entail a heavy cost The consequence of this form of hyperunilateralism is to upend not just the global trade order but also established norms of engagement between countries with unknowns outpacing the knownsDoes all this mean soft power has become less important or relevant Is diplomacy devalued by the increased use of hard power Is the practice of coopting others rather than coercing them being discarded Has the concept of soft power become dated as some analysts claim The short answer is no as it remains an important component of international politics a key tool in the arsenal of countries to build influence and shape perceptions Therefore despite the prevailing dominance of hard power it would be a mistake to conclude that soft power which is the ability to shape the preferences of others and achieve outcomes through attraction no longer counts on the global stageIn fact while the US and other states are exercising hard power China has increasingly been pursuing both a hard and soft power strategy to complement the increase in its economic and military strength This has helped it expand its global influence build trust and secure greater cooperation from countries It Supported Pakistan through Hard Power in its recent conflict with India But not surprisingly it has shot to number two position among 193 countries in the latest global soft power index compiled by Brand Finance the Londonbased consultancy firm This is the result of its multifaceted economic diplomatic and cultural strategy to boost its global imageChinas Belt and Road Initiative with 150 participating countries technological advances especially in AI development assistance investments in green technology and cultural diplomacy are all aspects of its vigorous and diverse soft power efforts So is its active role in multilateral institutions as well as speaking for the Global South Its proactive diplomacy for example in mediating the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran has also enhanced its soft power appeal All this has enabled China to increase its global influence and shape international perceptions to its advantageJoseph Nye who introduced the notion of soft power decades ago considered the question of whether soft power was still significant in todays world An insightful piece in the current issue of Foreign Affairs coauthored with Robert Keohane written just before Nye passed away argued that Trump inordinately committed to coercion did not understand soft power or its role in foreign policy and relied only on deploying hard power This was a losing strategy in the long run This is because if a country is attractive it wont need to rely as much on incentives and penalties to shape the behaviour of othersMoreover If allies see it as benign and trustworthy they are more persuadable and likely to follow that countrys lead But if they see their trading partner as a bully they are more likely to be reluctant partners and seek to reduce their longterm dependence The authors also posit that in a world characterised by growing interdependence securing cooperation is essential which soft power strategies are very effective at doingWhile the exercise of hard power seems to be the dominant global trend today soft power continues to have its own place and value in international politics This means that countries can advance their interests not just through military and economic strength but also by persuasion and attraction which encourages other states to cooperate and align with them Soft assets cannot replace hard resources but can help states earn respect and trust so essential for the successful promotion of national goalsThe Writer has been a Senior IAS officer of the Punjab Cadre amp can be contacted on Kaushikiaspunjabgmailcom https://dailyworld.in/opinion/hard-power-in-the-present-world-629002.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/social-media-privacy-expectations-and-the-role-of-policymakers-628636.html In the rapidly evolving digital era social media platforms have profoundly transformed the landscape of personal privacy blurring the boundaries between public and private spheres This paradigm shift has led to a redefinition of privacy expectations among users challenging existing legal frameworks and urging policymakers globally including in India to adapt and innovate their regulatory approaches The interplay between social media privacy perceptions and the role of policymakers with a particular focus on the Indian context underpins the discussion with global trends and localizednbspdevelopmentsThe rise of social media platforms such as Facebook Instagram Twitter and TikTok has revolutionized personal communication and content sharing Users now frequently upload images videos opinions and other personal information into digital spaces that are often perceived as benign and accessible However this digital behaviour has resulted in a citizenry gradually renegotiating the boundaries of privacy Unlike traditional notions where privacy was associated with physical space or tangible information todays privacy is fluid contextdependent and heavily influenced by the digital environment Research indicates that despite users increasing awareness of privacy concerns they continue to share personal details motivated by the desire for social connection and digital engagement This paradox exemplifies the shifting expectations users expect a certain level of privacy but are willing to compromise it for convenience or social acceptance For instance surveys reveal that while users express distress over data misuse they often fail to rigorously control their digital footprints assuming that privacy settings offer complete securityIn India the situation mirrors this global trend Indians are among the highest users of social media worldwide with platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp deeply embedded in daily life Yet before recent policy interventions the Indian digital landscape largely lacked comprehensive privacy legislation leaving users vulnerable to data misuse and security breaches The landmark judgment in Justice KS Puttaswamy v Union of India 2017 was a pivotal moment as the Supreme Court declared the right to privacy a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution This judgment not only recognized privacy as a constitutional right but also set the stage for legislative reforms emphasizing that any infringement must satisfy constitutional standards of legality necessity and proportionality The Court in Shreya Singhal v Union of India 2015 reinforced privacy rights by ordering law enforcement agencies to adhere to strict procedures before infringing on personal privacy echoing the constitutional safeguardGlobally privacy laws such as the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation GDPR and Californias Privacy Rights Act CPRA have established benchmark standards that emphasize user rights data transparency and accountability The GDPR enacted in 2018 mandates explicit consent data minimization and grants users the right to erasure influencing privacy laws across the world Similarly the CPRA emphasizes consumer control over personal data and imposes stricter compliance obligations on businessesIndias regulatory landscape has traditionally been fragmented concerning privacy The Justice KS Puttaswamy judgment catalysed efforts to develop a comprehensive legal framework culminating in the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 PDP Bill Although it was lauded as a major step towards data governance the Supreme Courts observations in Justice KS Puttaswamy v Union of India underscored that laws must balance privacy with legitimate state interests including national security as emphasized in the Courts warning that any law infringing privacy must be under constitutional safeguards The PDP Bill sought to uphold principles of informed consent data localization and individual rights aligning with global norms However the Bill faced criticism for overreach and stringent compliance requirements which led to its replacement by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 DPDP This new legislation emphasizes accountability transparency and user rights like the GDPR reinforcing Indias commitment to protecting digital privacy amid broad social media engagement Indias journey illustrates the complex dichotomy between rapid digital adoption and lagging regulatory oversight The widespread dissemination of personal information via platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp raised concerns over misuse data breaches and surveillance Notably the Shreya Singhal case 2015 underscored the importance of due process before infringing on personal privacy rights reinforcing the constitutional mandate that privacy protections must be upheld even in security contextsA significant flashpoint in the global privacy debate was the Cambridge Analytica scandal Founded in 2013 as a subsidiary of the private intelligence firm SCL Group which claims to provide data analytics and strategy to governments and military organizations worldwide Cambridge Analytica exposed how the unauthorized harvesting of personal data from social media could influence electoral processes and undermine democratic institutions This revelation sparked widespread public outcry and intensified calls for stronger data protection laws and accountability mechanisms underscoring the societal risks posed by privacy violations The enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act DPDP in 2023 marked a decisive step towards reinforcing data ethics emphasizing the crucial role of data fiduciaries in safeguarding user information and ensuring accountabilityIn conclusion the intersection of social media evolving privacy expectations and the role of policymakers presents a complex and dynamic challenge in the digital age Globally laws like the GDPR and CPRA have set important standards for data protection but the rapid proliferation of social media platforms continually tests the adequacy of existing frameworks In the Indian context the journey from fragmented rules to the comprehensive DPDP Act highlights the nations recognition of privacy as a fundamental right and the need for robust regulation tailored to local realities Despite heightened awareness of privacy concerns users often navigate a paradoxical terrain sharing personal information willingly while remaining vulnerable to misuse This underscores the importance of integrating privacybydesign principles empowering users with greater control over their data and fostering transparency from social media platformsPolicymakers therefore have a crucial role in crafting legislation that not only aligns with international standards but also addresses unique societal and technological nuances such as those witnessed in Indias diverse digital landscape Moving forward the balance between innovation and privacy protection must remain central requiring continuous adaptation and enforcement of laws enhanced user awareness and technological safeguards Only through collective effort where policymakers craft clear enforceable regulations platforms prioritize user rights The ongoing evolution of social media and privacy expectations thus calls for a proactive inclusive and responsive approach to ensure that the digital age upholds fundamental rights while fosteringnbspinnovationProf Nehaluddin Ahmad LLD Professor of Law Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University UNISSA Brunei Email ahmadnehalyahoocom https://dailyworld.in/opinion/social-media-privacy-expectations-and-the-role-of-policymakers-628636.html Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/spirituality-isnt-escapeits-facing-life-with-awareness-628404.html Desire is often misunderstood Ancient traditions warn its a trap modern culture markets it as freedom But real liberation lies in neither repression nor indulgenceit lies in awarenessWhen met with awareness desire becomes a mirror not a master We begin to observe how it arises attaches and fades In that seeing intelligence awakens Craving dissolves Letting go no longer feels like lossit feels naturalBehind every desire stands the egoour constructed sense of me that wants fears and compares It isnt evilits a survival mechanism an early evolutionary tool of consciousness But it distorts reality by clinging to control identity and continuityTo maintain its dominance the ego suppresses uncomfortable emotionsgrief anger shame fear Instead of feeling them we bury them in the body But repression doesnt erase it stores These unfelt emotions become psychic residues manifesting as fatigue anxiety restlessness or chronic tension Today over 80 of health issues are believed to be linked to stored emotional energyEmotion after all is energy in motion When blocked it stagnates like water behind a dam Just as Einsteins equation E mc² shows that mass is stored energy repressed emotion becomes condensed life forceheavy invisible yet deeply reactiveThe irony We easily spot ego in others but remain blind to our own Why Because looking within demands courageto confront discomfort and face the shadows we hide The ego resists this fiercely It is often lifes friction that humbles us and awakens the quiet witness within Seeing clearly depends on the intelligence of that dimmed awarenessHealing begins when we stop avoiding and start listening When the self is allowed to express what the ego has silenced stuck energy begins to move This is not weaknessits strength born from inner clarityThis is the path the Buddha walkednot denial but deep seeing Its the heart of Oshos visionnot repression but conscious experience Freud and Jung echoed this in psychological terms Truth may wear many robesbut its essence is oneSpirituality then isnt escapeits meeting life with open eyes and a clear heart https://dailyworld.in/opinion/spirituality-isnt-escapeits-facing-life-with-awareness-628404.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/senses-and-sense-objects-628469.html Our senses indriyas are the gateways between the outer world of sense objects and our inner world They play an important role in our understanding of natural principles of existence That is why Krishna repeatedly referred to the senses in the Bhagavad Gita His first principle regarding the senses is that when the senses come into contact with sense objects polarities such as heat and cold or pleasure and pain are generated within us These polarities are transient anitya and we should learn to tolerate these transients 214 He further says that sense organs naturally experience raag fondness and dwesh aversion for their respective sense objects one should be aware of this duality 334 The fondness as well as aversion generate pleasure and pain polarities For example we feel happy when someone we are fond of comes to us and we feel sad when they go awayAs far as the sense of touch is concerned when we insert our hand into water whose temperature is higher than our body temperature we experience the sensation of heat If the temperature of water is less than our body temperature we experience a cold sensation Similarly we experience happiness from a soft touch pleasant temperatures and similar sensations This motivates us to have soft clothing and air conditioningWe feel happy when we have tasty food or drink and get disgusted when food offered to us is not to our taste Sometimes two senses operate together such as the eye and ear When we watch a movie we enjoy the picture along with the soundSimilarly when we receive praise from another person we feel happy which is a pleasurable sensation On the other hand when we receive criticism we feel sad which reflects the pain polarity Scientifically it is the process of sound waves striking the eardrum which can trigger a wide range of emotions such as anger happiness disturbance or even conditional loveThe sense objects which are not directly related to us can also generate pleasure and pain polarities The best examples are the emotions we go through when we watch a news channel or read the newspaper This is the result of the conditioning we undergo during our formative years when belief systems are imprinted upon us These systems are rooted in the fundamental division between ours and theirs Any input or sense object that confirms our belief system brings pleasure If it is the opposite of our belief system it brings unhappiness A simple example is a sporting event where the victory of our team brings joy while the success of theirs causes disappointmentEach one of us moves among the sense objects in everyday life How we treat these sense objects sets the direction of our journey Krishna outlines a detailed mechanism and says A person musing on sense objects develops an attachment to them from attachment arises desire from nonfulfilment of desire arises anger from anger arises delusion from delusion confusion of memory from confusion of memory loss of intellect and from loss of intellect the individual perishes 262263 On the other hand Krishna says that when one is free of raag fondness dwesh hatred and has their senses under control one attains peace even while moving among sense objects 264The deepest human desire is to be appreciated for what we do and what we achieve We seek praise and tend to avoid criticism Thats why Krishna chooses hearing as the metaphor as we are frequently influenced by the words of others both praise and criticismMoha delusion is our inability to distinguish between what is ours and what is not In this regard Krishna says that when we overcome mohakalilam darkness of delusion using intellect we become indifferent to what is being heard or will be heard 252 This implies that when we overcome moha the inputs brought by our senses will lose the power to influence us at willIn the normal course of our lives we get perplexed when we hear conflicting opinions on the same subject be it news philosophy others experiences and beliefs Krishna says that we will attain yoga union with self when the intellect remains nischal nonoscillating and steady in samadhi established in self despite hearing various opinions 253Krishna cautions Arjuna that senses are capable of forcibly carrying away the mind of even an aspiring wise person 260 The mind which follows roving senses carries away ones intellect as the wind carries away the boat on the water 267 Krishna gives a solution and says that one should surrender to the Almighty which is the highest form of existence and supreme power to overcome the automaticity of indriyas 261 The key is not to fight but to surrender which is the source of the required strengthKrishna offers two paths to come out of the cycle of fondness and aversion experienced by the senses to their respective sense objects Firstly it is the path of awareness Krishna says these pleasure and pain polarities are transient anitya and learn to ignore them It is just being aware that it is a natural phenomenon and we should be aware of it when we are swinging between these polarities One way is to analyse and reflect on our past situations where we experienced an onslaught of such polarities and eventually overcame them in due course This analysis helps us to have awareness in the present moment and attain peace even while moving among sense objectsThe second path is the path of surrender It is the realisation that senses are powerful and we need support from a higher source of strength Krishna says that one should surrender to the Almighty which is the highest form of existence and supreme power to overcome the automaticity of indriyasKrishna says Wisdom is established when all senses are restrained from sense objects 268 One lives in vain if one rejoices in the senses and doesnt follow the wheel in motion 316 The man who rejoices in the self atmarathi is satisfied with self atmatript and is content with self alone for him no duty exists 317 This is a life of contentment with oneself One is independent of senses having no desires separate from those ofnbspexistence itselfThe writer K Siva Prasad is a senior IAS officer in the Punjab Government https://dailyworld.in/opinion/senses-and-sense-objects-628469.html Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/reimagine-your-second-innings-with-the-ikigai-framework-627982.html As we transition into retirement the question many of us ask is not just What next but How do I continue to live a meaningful and engaged life Retirement today is not an end but a new beginning With increasing longevity better health and more opportunities than ever before our second innings can be as rich and fulfilling as our firstif not moreThe Japanese concept of Ikigai offers a powerful framework to reimagine this phase Ikigai lies at the intersection of four circles what you love what you are good at what the world needs and what you can be paid for It helps uncover that sweet spot of purpose passion and peaceBefore applying the Ikigai lens its useful to understand the different types of retirees we encounter today based on two key dimensionsage at retirement and financial independence1 The Early Explorers Professionals who retire in their 40s or early 50s after reaching financial milestones Often from corporate entrepreneurial or tech backgrounds they now seek deeper meaning and creative freedom2 The Seasoned Professionals Those retiring at the conventional age of 60 after long careers in government defence or corporate life They carry a wealth of experience and are often inclined toward structured roles3 The Financially Free This group spans all ages but shares a common traitfreedom from the need to earntheir focus shifts to lifestyle pursuits travel or social impact4 The Purposeful Hustlers Retirees who continue to work to support their lifestyle or dependents Driven and resourceful they actively repurpose their skills to stay productiveEach path offers its opportunities The key is to align your time skills and energy with what resonates most deeply now Here are a few curated possibilitiesFinancial Engagement Opportunities1 Consulting and Advisory Roles Organisations value experienced professionals as advisors and consultants If your domain knowledge is sharp and you bring a collaborative spirit this can be deeply rewarding2 Board and Governance Positions With rising emphasis on independent oversight demand for independent directors is growing especially for women professionals These roles allow you to stay strategic without operational entanglements3 Professors of Practice Academic institutions now invite industry veterans to teach through lived experience either as visiting faculty or fulltime4 Coaching and Mentoring Executive coaching spiritual mentoring and career guidance are now wellestablished fields While certifications help its lived wisdom that creates impact5 Content Creation and Thought Leadership Writing podcasting public speaking or online teachingyour decades of experience hold immense value in the digital economy6 Freelancing and Digital Platforms From analytics to writing training to product reviews the gig economy offers paid flexible opportunities across domainsNonFinancial Opportunities1NGO and Impact Work Many retirees are choosing to lead or support nonprofits in education health or the environment Your strategic and managerial experience can fill critical gaps in these spaces2 Religious and Community Engagement You may find meaning in supporting Gurudwaras temples and community work through RWAs3 Mentoring Youth and Giving Back Whether teaching underprivileged students guiding startups or mentoring jobseekers this is one of the most fulfilling ways to remain relevant and give backMy Personal TransitionAfter 32 years in the corporate world I opted for early retirement in 2023 at age 54 But it didnt feel like stepping backit felt like stepping into something new I established a consulting practice that leverages my experience in financial services and technologyled transformation I began strategic consulting with BFSI firms mentoring young entrepreneurs writing on wellbeing and collaborating with policy think tanksSoon I noticed a pattern my most fulfilling work came from engaging with young minds shaping purposedriven ideas and building collaborative projects These became the pillars of my IkigaiInterestingly most early opportunities postretirement came from past employers colleagues and friends It reaffirmed a powerful truth your best retirement plan begins while you are still workingby adding value nurturing relationships and building goodwill Your reputation is your strongest assetThe Road AheadDesigning your second innings isnt about replicating your pastits about reimagining your future Whether your compass points to wealth creation social impact spiritual depth or creative expression align with what truly energises you now Frameworks like Ikigai bring clarity Physical and digital platforms offer reach And your story so far builds your credibilityAs Viktor Frankl wrote in Mans Search for MeaningLife is never made unbearable by circumstances but only by lack of meaning and purposeYour second innings can be your most inspired chaptercrafted not by compulsion but by conscious choiceWhether you choose to consult create coach or contribute let it reflect your values and bring you alive each morning Build on what you already know Stay open to learning And shape your next chapter with both head andnbspheartManinder is a seasoned BFSI industry executive strategic consultant and trusted advisor to leading MNCs and innovative FinTech startups He lives in Chandigarh https://dailyworld.in/opinion/reimagine-your-second-innings-with-the-ikigai-framework-627982.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/before-signing-off-leaves-laughter-and-letting-go-627989.html As the curtain began to fall on the year 2022and my professional innings spanning over three and a half decadesI found myself navigating an office caught in the throes of a fullblown LTC syndromeIt was December the final stretch of my service and with just days to go before the calendar year flippedand with it the LTC block closedmy office resembled a bustling travel desk Almost every staff member from senior officers to Group D employees seemed gripped by an urgency to avail their Leave Travel Concession for destinations far and wide The buzz was unmistakable earn ten days basic pay as LTC bonus and gift your family a yearend getaway Who wouldnt biteThe syndrome though understandable did leave a markroutine functioning took a hit with attendance dipping sharply This at a time when the state government had ramped up its expectations urging the PR machinery to go full throttle in publicising welfare policies ahead of the model code of conduct Assembly elections were around the corner and the push to showcase development and propeople initiatives was intense But thanks to the meticulous coordination among my colleagues we managed to ensure a steady media presenceboth in print and on electronic platformswithout compromising the core workTruth be told I harboured no resentment After all the long relentless spell of COVID19 had kept people indoors for two painful years Families had been starved of outings and children cooped up inside four walls Denying someone their welldeserved travel break felt almost cruel Thats why in the true spirit of leadership and empathy I chose to liberally sanction LTCs ensuring that everyone could reconnect with life beyond office files and meeting schedulesIronically I became the goto person for lastminute LTC approvals On December 30 just a day before retirement my everpolite peon approached me hesitantly Sir may I go to Haridwar on LTC I smiled signed his leave and saw his face light up Barely had he left when my driver came in with a similar plea He too was promptly allowed They both walked out glowing and Isomewhat emotionalwatched them reminded of the small joys that matterThat evening I returned home a little late My wife was irkedthe maid had neither turned up nor informed To calm the waters I ordered dinner online turning her frown into a halfsmileThe next morning brought another round of surprises Our Nepali car washer was missing and I found myself hosing down the vehicles on my own The mali too didnt show up despite my reminder to plant the flower saplings I had carefully selected the previous day My mother mentioned that the dhobi hadnt been seen since last Monday As if on cue my father descended the stairs and remarked Beta even the chowkidar has been missing for a week nowExasperated but amused I quipped Dont worry theyll all be back after New Year Perhaps they too have gone on LTC And just like that the house erupted in laughtera fitting endnote to the final chapter of my professional lifenbspDr Opinder Singh Lamba is a retired Punjab Govt officer who served as the Press Secretary to Chief MinisterPunjab https://dailyworld.in/opinion/before-signing-off-leaves-laughter-and-letting-go-627989.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/power-of-optimisim-627160.html In the face of exhaustion and dysfunction optimism isnt escapismits resistanceTheres a quiet kind of strain that many people feel todaynot just in moments of crisis but in the rhythm of daily life Systems are stretched expectations are high and progress can feel frustratingly slow Whether in city offices or rural health centers people often find themselves navigating obstacles that werent part of the plan Yet amid these pressures something remarkable endures the instinct to continue To try adjust and keep things moving That persistent effortoften unnoticed often uncelebratedis rooted in something deeper than routine Its optimism not as emotion but as a choiceAnd nowhere is that choice more visible than in the work of publicfacing institutions like policing Often viewed with a mix of scrutiny and expectation policing is a space where optimism survives not through speeches but through sustained action When an officer reopens a file after years of silence or follows a lead that others dismissed its not because of obligation alone Its because of a beliefquiet but enduringthat outcomes can still change that justice can still be served even if the path is unclearThis form of belief isnt loud or performative It doesnt declare itself It works late follows up revisits old ground In that sense its not really a feelingits a posture A kind of inner alignment that says I still think this mattersnbspThis same belief shows up outside of uniforms too In offices where someone fixes a faulty process rather than ignoring it In classrooms where teachers stay back for the one student who needs more time In clinics in kitchens in countless corners of the country people act not because the system is perfect but because they havent given up on what it could still beThats optimismnot as denial but as resistance A refusal to disengage A form of quiet defiance against indifferencenbspAnd yes pessimism is easier Its more fashionable even It lets us step back detach criticize And sometimes the criticism is fair But disengagement has its own cost It leaves problems to deepen unchallenged It makes dysfunction feel inevitable Optimism by contrast insists on participation It asks more of usnot in noise but in effortnbspImportantly this kind of optimism isnt about guaranteed outcomes Not every lead pans out Not every case is solved But what it offers is a reason to persist And that persistence over time shifts the story It keeps the door openThis isnt just a comforting ideaits backed by research Optimistic people studies show tend to recover faster from setbacks collaborate more effectively and adapt better under pressure In highstress fields like public service optimism improves problemsolving and reduces burnout It may not change circumstances overnight but it changes how people engage with themand thats often what makes the differencenbspBetter still optimism can be learned Its not a personality trait reserved for a lucky few Its a skill and like any skill it can be built through practice Through reframing setbacks as data not defeat Through noticing progress however minor Through staying connected to others who still care In Indian households this is often modeled from childhoodthrough rituals of resilience shared meals during lean times neighbors stepping in when systems fall short These are not just cultural habits They are expressions of lived optimismIn collective settings optimism scales In teams it creates psychological safetypeople take initiative not because theyre told to but because they feel its worth trying In institutions it turns delay into persistence In communities it turns frustration into energy Optimism doesnt erase conflict but it keeps people engaged long enough to resolve itnbspAnd it doesnt have to be grand Often its in the unremarkable act of following through Showing up when it would be easier not to Making the call Correcting the mistake Checking back one more time These gestures may not feel like resistance but in a climate of fatigue and retreat they areThis is especially vital in Indias current moment where scale often collides with complexity Our challengeswhether in education health justice or governancerequire sustained engagement not just momentary outrage What keeps these systems from collapse isnt always reform at the top Sometimes its belief at the ground level Belief that the work still matters That people still matternbspSo optimism in this light becomes civic Not soft but strategic Not blind but insistent Its what makes a nurse stay late What makes a clerk fix an error rather than pass it on What makes an officer dig again through a cold filenot because anyones watching but because someones waitingOf course optimism doesnt guarantee success Many efforts fall short But the point isnt perfection Its participation Its what ensures that the system despite its flaws doesnt become hollow That people despite fatigue remain connected to the idea of betternbspIn the end optimism is not an escape from realityits a way of responding to it It doesnt ask us to look away from whats broken It asks us to stay To care To actnbspSo no the system hasnt broken us Not while we still try Not while we still show up Not while optimism however quiet continues to guidenbspour choices https://dailyworld.in/opinion/power-of-optimisim-627160.html Sun, 20 Jul 2025 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/true-spirituality-inner-transformation-not-outer-display-627161.html In todays world of spiritual branding and instant enlightenment its essential to ask what is true spiritual growthTrue spirituality goes beyond robes rituals and miraculous claims It reveals itself in everyday lifethrough nurturing relationships honest work and rising above egodriven impulses Many seek spirituality to escape suffering but the authentic path draws us deeper into life embracing both its joys and hardshipsnbspSpirituality is not a magic wand to remove suffering instantly It is a slow inner journeyrealising primordial Nothingness before creation evolving through lifes challenges recognising the roots of suffering within seeing through worldly illusions and ultimately returning to inner emptiness with awareness This journey restores compassion innocence courage and natural joythe effortless expression of pure aware energyScience and spirituality are not in conflict Science studies the outer world spirituality explores the inner world Both value direct experience but spirituality reaches dimensions beyond material understandingnbspSpiritual maturity never appears as superiority It upholds justice with clarity and compassion Even if certain powers emerge they must not fuel the ego History shows even enlightened mastersBuddha Mahavira Jesus Mohammedcould not end suffering in the world because real spirituality focuses on transforming the self not fixing the world through miraclesMany fall into premature preaching after early glimpses of bliss leading to rigid beliefs Unless one deeply realises Nothingness teaching can mislead rather than upliftnbspTrue maturity means inner evolution while actively participating in society Despite its flaws society offers space for coexistence As more people awaken to their essence social harmony increases Real spiritual growth shows in calmness fairness and efficiencyCreation manifests through two fundamental energiesmasculine and feminine iqk and Lh vkZukjhoj They are not opposites but complementary expressions of one existence The highest spiritual maturity reflects in a natural unbiased harmony when men and women interactfree from inner bias superiority or tensionnbspReal spirituality blossoms quietlythrough simple conscious livingwhere peace and joy arise from the silentnbspdepths within https://dailyworld.in/opinion/true-spirituality-inner-transformation-not-outer-display-627161.html Sun, 20 Jul 2025 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/understanding-senses-mind-and-intellect-627166.html There are many perspectives to understand the Bhagavad Gita Once one perspective is understood all other perspectives are understood as they are interconnected Understanding the senses is one such perspective The first few verses 211230 of the Bhagavad Gita introduce three fundamental concepts These are senses indriya and sense objects manifested vyakta and unmanifested avyakta and polarities dwandwa Subsequent verses dwell on various aspects of these issues in depthWhile explaining the kshetra field and kshetrajna knower of the field Krishna refers to the physical body shariram as kshetra field He says Succinctly described the kshetra and its modifications are composed of the fundamental elements fire air water earth and space ahankaar intellect buddhi unmanifested avyakta ten indiya senses mind and the five objects of the senses 136 and desire hatred pleasure pain assemblage material body consciousness chetana and persistence 137 The ten senses are five organs of perception jnanaindriya eyes ears nose tongue and skin and five organs of action karmaindriya hands legs speech generative organ and organ of defecationJnanaindriya receives external stimuli and feeds the brain on a momenttomoment basis Whereas karmaindriya are responsible for actions karma performed by us In another context Krishna refers to karmaindriya as the instrument of action which is one of the three constituents of action the others being the act itself and the doer 1818 The context of the Gita suggests that whenever senses are described the reference is to jnanaindriyaEach sense has a corresponding sense object The eye responds to light the ear to sound the skin to touch the nose to smell and the tongue to taste Gita refers to sense objects or indriyavishay on many occasions These include issues such as the consequences of the interaction between the senses and sense objects and how awareness helps us to maintain a distinction between themEach sense has two parts One is the external and the other is the internal part of the brain For example the eyeball represents the external part and that part of the brain which processes the inputs brought by the external part can be called the controller part of the senseThe outer part automatically responds to the respective sense object For example the earlobes respond to sounds but have no control over which sounds to respond to or ignore Similarly the eyeball absorbs all the visible light in front of it The nose automatically smellsThe external organs of the senses are subject to physical limitations The eyeball can process certain frequencies of light which are called visible light which is a small portion of the entire spectrum of light Thats why we need Xray machines infrared cameras to help us perceive the world from a different perspective Similarly the eyeball requires some minimum amount of light to function This indicates that each sense needs a minimum intensity of its respective sense object to respondComing to the internal part it is the controller part in the brain that processes the inputs brought by the respective physical part of the sense While the outer part functions fairly automatically the controller part is equipped with intelligence It is capable of separating and choosing the inputs brought by the external parts This is called cognitive bias in modern science Krishna beautifully explains this controller part and says Sense objects fall away from the abstinent person but not ras longing and longing ceases only when one realises the supreme 259 This longing or attachment is the hallmark of the controller partAll the combination of controller parts of the senses is nothing but what is known as the mind While the mind is responsible for immediate decisions like fight or flight a more refined version of the mind is called intellect buddhi which is responsible for thoughtful actions The mind is quick intuitive responds automatically to sensory inputs and is usually unconscious Intellect is slow effortful analytical aware and conscious Thats why Krishna asks to use intellect where the mind is unable to handle as intellect is superior to the mind 342Physiologically the mind and intellect reside in the brain The brain is an organ which has about 100 billion neurons It is said that neurons that fire together wire together These neurons are hardwired regularly during our lifetime This slow process of hardwiring makes the brain efficient and reduces the energy requirements In this sense the brain regularly changes itself which is called neuroplasticityFor example we find driving difficult on the first day and slowly get used to it This is because of the hardwiring of the neurons which takes care of the automatic functions involved in driving Similarly when we are learning a language or learning to walk as babies the same hardwiring makes these complex tasks easier for us Skills acquired through hardwiring stay with us till the end of lifeOn the other hand hardwiring makes things difficult for us During our childhood we were hardwired about various aspects of life Our families and society carry belief systems that they inherited They get imprinted on us when we are in formative years where our ability to distinguish what is right and wrong is at its lowest This makes us divisive where we find it difficult to accept others points of viewIt is nearly impossible to break the hardwiring As the brain can change itself we can form new connections and new hardwiring This process will help us to override previous connections or bypass them to wean away their divisive qualities some of which are responsible for our misery Thats why Krishna encourages us to begin a journey and assures that small efforts bring big gains 240 A small effort can help to break old patterns using the brains remarkable abilitynbspto change itselfThe writer K Siva Prasad is a senior IAS officer in the Punjab Government https://dailyworld.in/opinion/understanding-senses-mind-and-intellect-627166.html Sun, 20 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-phenomenon-named-jagannath-626977.html Puri is not a place Jagannath is not a name It has never been a destination for me Puri is one among the holy pilgrimages for HindusnbspI dont exactly remember since when I have been witnessing the Lord on wheels Also no idea when and with whom I went to Sri Khetra Puri for the first time But its divine Though I have stopped pulling the chariots for long now but I never miss the opportunity to be one among the millions to witness it live on the Bada Danda Grand Road as it is calledWitnessing the Rath Yatra Car Festival is neither an expedition nor a salvation Its beyond words When the Lord moves on the chariot the vibrations make my body and soul resonate Was it safe passage to heaven to see Lord on the roadnbspEmotions are varied Sometimes I drown in the deluge of tear In the next moment erupts a wave of joy seeing Jagannath moving before my eyes Someone rightly said we are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars I only look at Jagannath Hes anything and everything for me In fact to many like me Jagannath is the epitome of immortalityJagannath is a possession for me a possession for eternity A friend asked me why do you visit Puri I told him Jagannath gives me strength teaches me resilience and brings joy to me For me Jagannath Temple is a place which I would love to go over and over again In fact its a mystery why I come rushing to Puri to witness Rath Yatra every year I dont know anything about God or his existence But I know one thing There is JagannathJagannath is a serious seduction and his devotees like me enjoy their existence in his divine web Jagannath is not a mild flirtation but an obsession He has not only influenced me but also moulded me into a liberalnbsphuman beingnbspRath Yatra is not just mass involvement but an emotional movement The spirituality colour the drama exotic mysticism and exalted devotion all combine to make Jagannath the Lord he is As Jagannath comes out from the Sanctum Sanctorum in pahandi procession to the chariot me like millions feel like the long separation is now over What I cherish the most is to see the people on the street standing for a glimpse of their beloved LordnbspNow I have left Puri Am back to the place where I work the hub of my daily chores back to the routine life But Jagannath is there with me bynbspmy sideThe author works with Doordarshan Views expressed are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-phenomenon-named-jagannath-626977.html Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/balanced-use-of-fertiliser-for-sustainable-agriculture-626545.html Punjab is a frontline state for agriculture production and productivity Soil health is most important for sustainable agriculture Soil needs to be tested after two year gap to check its health and supplement with fertilisers as required However deviation from the ideal fertiliser requirement has direct impact on quality and quantity of produce and profit margins of farmers The excess of fertiliser usage will increase input cost thus adversely affecting profitability environment and consequently health of living beingsA variety of nitrogen based fertilisers are used in Punjab like urea DAP diammonium phosphate MOP muriate of potash and NPK nitrogen phosphorus potassium blends The state has the highest per acre consumption of fertilisers especially urea and DAP for crops like wheat and paddy The average nitrogen phosphorus and potassium fertiliser consumption in India during the year 202324 was 13981 kg per hectare whereas Punjabs average fertiliser consumption was significantly higher at 24761 kg per hectare The factors responsible for this difference are intensive crop pattern reliance on wheat paddy rotation soil condition and past habit in fertiliser usage Punjab soils are rich in potash The ideal NPK NitrogenPhosphorusPotassium ratio for Punjab is 421 however the actual usage ratio of NPK is significantly skewed typically around 3181 This imbalance leads to issues like soil health problems reduced fertiliser efficiency and potentially lower crop yields Majority of Punjab farmers are advised to use urea as recommended by the agricultural universities However majority of farmers use double the amount of urea inviting trouble because more than recommended dose of urea increases weeds attract insect pest attack depleting the available micronutrients Facilitated by low price excess use of urea may make plant prone to lodging and crop becoming succulent While fertilisers are essential for boosting crop yields their excessive or improper use can reduce soil fertility soil biodiversity release greenhouse gases and can cause soil and water pollution having harmful effect on environment human health and soil quality Some fertilisers contain heavy metals like cadmium and chromium Cadmium poisoning which comes from its excessive intake can lead to kidney bone and pulmonary damage WHO 1992Therefore soil testing of agriculture lands after a gap of two years and balanced use of fertilisers is a vital and this practice must be adopted strictly by all farmers Balanced use of NPK fertilizers based on soil test reports farm yard manure vermicompost incorporating crop residues into soil mulching green manuring crop rotation use of biofertilizers biopesticides etc as per recommended application rates are the tools by which soil health should be maintained and crop yields can be increasedThere are fifty seven soil testing laboratories in Punjab Out of these four are ICP laboratories that are capable of analysing sixteen minor elements in soil In addition there are twelve atomic absorption spectrometers in Punjab Rest of laboratories mainly concentrate on analysing NPK by titration method which is time consuming However the total soil spectrometers can offer a faster more costeffective and ecofriendly alternative to traditional wet chemistry methods for soil analysis potentially improving accuracy especially when combined with advanced techniques like chemometrics and machine learning While spectrometers may not always replace traditional lab analysis they can be a valuable tool for rapid and efficient soil testing particularly for largescale or remote areas The total soil sample testing target in Punjab this year is approximately 25 lakh samples There is a dire need to increase soil testing capacity of Punjab with the help of total soil spectrometer to ensure analysis of all 16 elements of soil if farmers are to be convinced to stop using chemical fertilizer indiscriminatelyIncreasing soil testing facility is less challenging as compared to convincing farmers to use fertiliser as per requirement based on results of soil testing It has been observed by agriculture experts that despite knowing soil health farmers still use higher quantities of fertiliser as per past practice Resistance to change based on past practice or relying on the advice of peer group is hard to tackle During winter months when sun cannot be seen for days due to foggy weather wheat leaves turn yellow Use of urea helps in giving instant result by making green leaves grow Agriculture department officials need to concentrate their extension activities on breaking past habits At present there are demonstration farms in seven districts All the blocks in Punjab should have at least one demonstration farm where farmers can themselves see the efficacy of using fertilizer as per soil quality result Through these demonstration farms farmers acceptance of the use of need based chemical fertilisers or alternatively biofertilizers can be improved by using experimental fields These farms can be used to conduct field comparisons between traditional and other biomass fertilisers and noting the difference in production between the two methods The farmers can learn to use fertilisers efficiently thus ensuring sustainable agriculture Policy changes in fertiliser subsidy can be of some help In place of indirect subsidy on fertiliser direct subsidy in bank accounts of farmers can be thought of which can be linked to farm size agricultural university recommendation of fertiliser requirement in the block and additional requirement of fertiliser to soil health The fertiliser quota of agriculture cooperative societies may be capped on the basis of total land holding of all the members of the society This will help in checking hoarding of fertiliser as well as indiscriminate use of fertilisers The author is an IAS officer of the Punjab cadre and exspecial secretary Agriculture Punjab https://dailyworld.in/opinion/balanced-use-of-fertiliser-for-sustainable-agriculture-626545.html Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/approaching-bhagavad-gita-625934.html Bhagavad Gita song of the Lord is a seven hundred verse conversation between Lord Krishna and warrior Arjuna at the time of the Kurukshetra battleKnowing the background will help us understand the context Kauravas and Pandavas were cousins Circumstances so evolved that they had to fight each other Almost all the known warriors of that time had joined one side or another in this epic battle Arjuna an undefeated warrior known for his mastery in archery was fighting from Pandavas side He was bestowed with many weapons during sixty years of his lifeUpon entering the battle Arjuna realised that all his friends relatives teachers and elders were standing on one side or another Having seen the consequences of such war before he quickly realised that this war would kill almost all of them This led to his despondency He dropped his bow and arrow in the chariot and sat downKrishna tried to nudge him saying that this type of attitude is not appropriate for a warrior like him But that simple nudge didnt move Arjuna Thus starts the Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna explains in detail various principles of this existence not only to help Arjuna at that moment but also the entire humanityBhagavad Gita was born in the battle field and the battle field can be taken as a metaphor for the serious problems faced by us during our lives There is another conversation called the Uddhav Gita which is the eleventh chapter of the Srimad Bhagavatam This conversation is between Lord Krishna and his childhood friend Uddhav who was also in despondency when the latter realised that Krishna is leaving him While the Bhagavad Gita can be taken as war time advice the Uddhav Gita can be taken as peace time advice These two conversations complement each other Together they form a basis to understand the principles of this existence By aligning ourselves with these principles we can lead friction free and a joyful lifeWe need to keep some basic facts in mind to understand these principles Firstly this conversation is contextual while the principles are eternal Krishnas explanation reflects the state of mind of Arjuna as well as the practices and belief systems followed at that time As a result it appears that there is no clear cut demarcation of issues or concepts which we usually find in text booksSecondly the conversation happens at various levels of awareness Sometimes Krishna comes as a human being and at that level understanding is easier for us At that level He gives easy examples such as a tortoise in the context of withdrawing senses from sense objects a river and ocean in the context of desires disappearing in the mind of a yogi like rivers loose their existence when they enter ocean a lotus leaf and water in the context of nonattachment etc Some times as He presents himself as Paramatma and at that level things become difficult to understand as we are completely unaware of themThirdly Bhagavad Gita is a text book from kindergarten to postgraduation In one text of seven hundred verses simple principles to complex ones are explained It is not that we should master all the principles If even one of them is realised it would lead to mastering of all of them automaticallyIf we take examples of mathematics one starts with simple addition multiplication etc Subsequently one moves to algebra and finally to calculus Interestingly all of them represent awareness relative to the capacity of the student Calculus is needed to solve complex problems and algebra might not be useful for these problems Similarly in biology one learns about different human organs and their functions As one moves higher classes one would understand the interdependence of these organsIn the first reading of the Bhagavad Gita it is advisable to grasp the principles which can be easily understood and then go for subsequent readings When our own understanding and awareness improve through subsequent readings as well as life experiences clarity comes even in the case of complex principlesFor example karma action is explained in the beginning which is easy to understand but when niyat karma prescribed actions are introduced it presents a lot of difficulties to comprehend what is prescribed action and what is not When Krishna says all karma are blemised difficulty reaches next kevelSimilarly life presents simple to complex problems and dilemmas A simple issue doesnt require much of expertise to handle but a complex issue needs understanding awareness skills and attitude at a higher levelFourthly the existence or universe never gives us any preachings It puts us into different situations and from the experiences we gain out of these situations it makes us learn about natural principles that govern this universe like the natural law of gravity Bhagavad Gita is a rare dialogue where the very existence came as Krishna and explained these principles himself to help us understand them easilyThe fifth difficulty is our divisive mind which prevents us from seeing the whole truth If we have to embrace existence or be one with it we should embrace the whole of it This includes what we believe as well as what we dont believe in It includes both the praise and criticism we receive It includes all people and situations that are described as good or badFor example Krishna says He is creation as well as destruction birth as well as death and sat reality as well as asat illusion Krishna is not here to support our belief systems nor Gita is a conversation to justify our belief systems He simply presents the principles that govern this existence This is the bravest approach whether we are able to inculcate it or notFinally the Bhagavad Gita is not about participating in the war Gita about renouncing our hatred while performing karma as we are just an instrument in the hand of the almighty nimittamatra It is a matter of fact that after explaining the Gita Krishna gave a choice to Arjuna to do what he wished to do The Bhagavad Gita is about doing the job at hand to the best of our abilities without hatred and attachmentWe need to keep in mind all these difficulties while approaching the Bhagavad GitaThe writer K Siva Prasad is a senior IAS officer in the Punjab Government https://dailyworld.in/opinion/approaching-bhagavad-gita-625934.html Sun, 13 Jul 2025 19:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-terror-playbook-exposed-global-south-calls-out-its-double-standards-625679.html New Delhi July 11 When 26 civilians were massacred in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22 2025 it sent shockwaves across the country But what has followed since then may mark a turning point in how the world particularly the Global South responds to terrorism particularly when it comes to statesponsored acts of it For decades India has sounded the alarm about Pakistans use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy especially in Jammu and Kashmir And quite often its warnings were met with scepticism diluted in diplomatic language or lost in the geopolitical noise of the broader South Asian region But the brutality of the Pahalgam attack and the growing evidence linking the perpetrators to Pakistanbased groups along with shifting geopolitical dynamics seems to have brought a considerable change in that conversationMore significantly Indias response this time was also swift and multipronged Under Operation Sindoor on May 67 it launched a precise and calibrated military retaliation targeting terror infrastructure across the Line of Control LoC in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir POJK and mainland Pakistan The military operation was accompanied by its diplomatic offensive which has been very methodical and effective as the changing discourse about terrorism reflects The culmination of these efforts was on full display at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro Brazil where the Global South bloc issued an unambiguous condemnation of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir naming both the incident and its nature which is remarkableThe BRICS declaration stated it condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 2025 during which 26 people were killed and many more injured and reaffirmed a collective commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the crossborder movement of terrorists terrorism financing and safe havensThis was not just a diplomatic cliche and marks a quiet but significant pivot in the emerging world order where the Global South bloc is finally calling out double standards on terrorism and doing so with rare unanimityA shift in global normsThe Global South has long been a theatre of conflicting narratives when it comes to terrorism While Western powers often dominate the discourse around extremism violence in the Global South whether in South Asia West Asia Southeast Asia or the African continent has received a more selective treatment However that seems to be now changingIndias diplomatic campaign strengthened by realtime evidence and growing solidarity among peer economies is spotlighting how selective empathy and geopolitical hedging allow statebacked terror proxies to thrive The BRICS statement endorsed even by countries like China which shares a close strategic partnership with Pakistan signals that this silence may no longer be tenable in the long runIndeed the real headline from Rio wasnt just that the Pahalgam attack was condemned It was that China did not block the language of the declarationThis is significant given the depth of ChinaPakistan strategic cooperation especially under the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC framework and Beijings longstanding practice of shielding Pakistani entities and terrorists like Masood Azhar from censure at global forums such as the UN Security Council UNSC Moreover as per multiple independent assessments Pakistan is heavily dependent on Chineseorigin military equipment whose share has grown to over 80 per cent of its conventional arsenal Therefore for China to allow a declaration that highlights crossborder terrorism which may be a veiled but yet has an unmistakable reference to Pakistan is nothing short of a diplomatic milestone for IndiaThe growing evidence of Pakistans terror sponsorshipIndias case against Pakistan is no longer just about moral outrage It is now substantiated by tangible corroborated evidence that paints a picture of systemic complicity According to Indian intelligence reports shared with international partners including with the UNSCs 1267 Sanctions Committee in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre the attackers belonged to a faction of The Resistance Front TRF which is a proxy outfit widely recognized as a rebranded arm of Pakistan sponsored terrorist group LashkareTaiba LeT Both LeT and its affiliate networks have long enjoyed safe havens in Pakistan with little meaningful action taken against their leadership despite international pressure and FATF conditionsFor years Pakistan has relied on plausible deniability labelling these groups as nonstate actors beyond its control But that narrative is wearing thin particularly when attacks like Pahalgam are followed by the same telltale signs trained cadres sophisticated arms and ideological alignment with Pakistans strategic calculus on KashmirThe BRICS momentThe BRICS platform which was originally established by Brazil Russia India China and then South Africa and has now expanded to include key economies such as Egypt Ethiopia Iran and the UAE is increasingly seen as the voice of the Global South It provides a forum for new powers to voice their concerns free from the historical constraints of Cold War dichotomies or Western alliancesThe Rio summits declaration on terrorism suggests that member states are no longer willing to overlook threats that destabilise their regions in favour of transactional diplomacy For countries like Brazil and South Africa which have dealt with their own homegrown security challenges there is a growing realisation that impunity for terrorism anywhere poses risks everywhereIndias persistent framing of Pakistans terror infrastructure not as a bilateral grievance but as a global security issue seems to be gaining traction New Delhis argument is simple if terrorism financed trained and directed from across borders is tolerated in Kashmir it sets a precedent that could embolden similar actors in Africa Latin America and Southeast AsiaReframing the Global SouthThe BRICS condemnation also highlights a deeper shift in the Global Souths readiness to define its own red lines rather than outsourcing them to the geopolitical West For decades countries like India have been expected to toe the line of major powers when it comes to defining security threats be it in West Asia Central Asia or elsewhere But now the Global South is building a consensus that its security interests are not derivative rather they are primary This is especially true when those interests are undermined by statesponsored extremism operating under the guise of ideology liberation or regional grievanceIn this context the silence or equivocation of certain powers on acts of terrorism particularly those with clear crossborder linkages can no longer be justified The BRICS condemnation of the Pahalgam attack represents a break from the era of wilful ambiguity It sets a bar of accountability for all states regardless of their strategic alignmentsThe way aheadFor Pakistan this emerging scrutiny from fellow members of the Global South should lead to prompt introspection Its longstanding strategy of cultivating asymmetric warfare through nonstate actors has not only destabilised its neighbourhood but it has become its Achilles heel with several of its patronised terrorist groups redirecting their violence against PakistanThe evolving alignments and realignments at the global level signify that the world is no longer willing to excuse terrorism when it arrives wearing different uniforms Nor is it buying the notion that development partnerships can offset or obscure the costs of crossborder violenceIndias diplomatic pivot wherein it complements force with diplomatic forums is reshaping how terrorism should be debated and condemned in global settings In this light the BRICS statement in Rio is not just a victory for Indian diplomacy but it also signals that the worlds emerging powers are ready to call terrorism by its name without considering who sponsors it IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-terror-playbook-exposed-global-south-calls-out-its-double-standards-625679.html Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/journalism-on-sale-a-crisis-of-credibility-and-conscience-624815.html A vibrant democracy cannot thrive without a free press Powersthatbe must stop treating journalists as tools At the same time media organisations must clean their houses rid themselves of illiterates extortionists and sycophants masquerading as journalistsThere was a time when the Indian media was revered considered the watchdog of democracy and the consciencekeeper of the nation That stature unfortunately has been erodedIn recent years the decline of Indian media has become a topic of debate across newsrooms boardrooms and drawing rooms alike Conversations with seasoned journalists from prominent media houses reveal a grim truth the profession has lost its sheen and its practitioners their respect Journalists are no longer regarded with the same seriousness they commanded 15 or 20 years ago The perception has changed and the medias credibility is at stake And for this situation journalists and media houses have only themselves to blame They have failed to uphold the dignity of journalismWhile a few media houses have stayed the course despite facing serious challenges and threats the majority today are behaving like a party a partner It is widely known that a significant section of those entering the media field never intended to become journalists Journalism for them was a default option after other avenues closed Many lack the rigour depth and grounding necessary for the profession They dont even know why they have become journalists or what the essence of journalism is These reporters can ask questions but prefer to run away or are unable to sustain meaningful conversations when questioned in return If we introspect honestly it is the media that has allowed itself to fall into the trap of convenience and compromiseJournalism is all about saying the obvious without committing yourself You write what you see Seeing is believing is the concept and the backbone of journalism As journalists we dont just deal with information we also deal with misinformation and disinformation Not only truth but halftruths and quartertruths It all depends on which part of the truth a reporter chooses to present to the readers There lies the real test of his professional experience and intentThe pressure on media houses and journalists today is unprecedented With shrinking revenues and changing business models many media organisations are largely dependent on government advertisements corporate sponsorships and support and political patronage The fallout of this is visible editors are often asked to support marketing initiatives correspondents are expected to generate revenue and stringers are used as local enforcers to extract or extort money in the name of advertisements and news coverageJournalism is no longer a pure and pious profession it has become more of a transactional activity The lines between editorial integrity and commercial survival are dangerously blurredThe COVID19 pandemic only hastened this decline Many newspapers shut down offices were vacated and operations shrank Journalists were laid off by the thousands The media that once held politicians accountable began kowtowing to them Newsrooms became echo chambers Many journalists have started behaving like spokespersons speaking only what the powersthatbe want to hear Today media is being categorised Godi media on one end and a handful of independent voices struggling to survive on the other And amid all this the viewer the reader the citizen the ultimate stakeholder has started switching offLike governments most media houses too carry a lot of baggage and are willing to do anything for survival Governments both at the Centre and in the states have realised the medias vulnerabilities and are now exploiting them Instead of fearing media scrutiny politicians and bureaucrats today view journalists with disdain Governments feel they can pay media houses back in the same coin if they dare to criticise them by stopping advertisements little realising that once they are out of power the next dispensations would use the same tactics to discredit themThe tragedy is not just that the media is under pressure but that it has begun to crack under it Many outlets have become propaganda tools not just for political parties but also for industrialists and there is hardly any difference between them and a pamphletIn the runup to elections we see paid news passed off as editorials in newspapers and on TV channels Political coverage is planted narratives are sold and credibility is mortgaged What was once the occasional unethical practice has now become the new normalThat said not all is lost There still exists a segment of journalists perhaps 20 per cent who are clear about their roles and responsibilities They are trying to uphold the principles of sober restrained and graceful journalism These are the reporters and editors who do their homework avoid adjectives have a nose for news and dont indulge in theatrics They have the ability to critically analyse the functioning of governments yet many of them believe in journalism of hopeAll sections of our system and society especially governments must remember that a vibrant democracy cannot thrive without a free press Politicians must stop treating journalists as tools in their hands At the same time media organisations must clean their houses rid themselves of illiterates extortionists and sycophants masquerading as journalists The responsibility lies squarely on media houses to stop allowing their staff to indulge in the prostitution of journalismIt is high time the media considered the fourth pillar of democracy introspected reclaimed its soul and past glory before it is too late Because if the media fails democracy will stumble https://dailyworld.in/opinion/journalism-on-sale-a-crisis-of-credibility-and-conscience-624815.html Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-congress-sees-weakness-but-indias-diplomacy-stands-strong-in-chaotic-world-622375.html New Delhi June 22 As the world moves from one local war to another it now seems so right that India stopped the battle with Pakistan at the perfect time Even though the decision came as a shock to Indians as each wanted the neighbour to suffer moreHowever two months after the April 22 terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor the understanding for effecting a ceasefire was the perfect move towards the yettocome climaxThe ceasefire understanding is not an end as India has stated firmly that Operation Sindoor has not ended and any act of terror emanating from Pakistan will be treated as an act of war The end is open and all depends upon Pakistans conductGiven the situation created by the wars happening in other places the pause is complementaryRussia attacked Ukraine on February 24 2022 and after three years the two are still fighting Several countries have tried to broker peace between the two but every time the murmur happens the two enter a virulent phaseNobody knows what the actual number of dead is in both countries and nobody knows the extent of destruction Wars are only about death and destruction and the two have been facing bothIf Russia and Ukraine are hiding their pain the war between Israel and Hamas is well televised and covered with information flowing instantly The conflict started on October 7 2023 when Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel The barbarity of the attack shocked the world and Israel rightly launched a counteroffensive The counterattack has devastated Gaza and continues unabated even as countries want Israel to stopHowever the conflict has now added a new dimension which is an attack on Iran Israel launched the airstrikes on Iran on June 13 and each passing day is witnessing an increase in intensity and now the US has also entered the sceneThe Israeli attack on Iran came unexpectedly as IranUS talks were ongoing Israels midnight attack shocked the Iranians and the casualties were significant and striking After the initial shock Iran has been fighting back causing huge losses to IsraelWith the US bombing three nuclear sites in Iran and threatening to attack more the war scenario in the Middle East has completely changed It can worsen or Iran can just stop which seems unlikely now After US strikes Iran again launched fresh missile attacks on Israel and the latter also pounded backProspects for an immediate end to the IsraelIranUS conflict appear dim with all sides in a belligerent attitude Though European countries and some Muslimmajority countries are trying to get Iran and Israel to stop things now seem to be difficultThousands of people have been displaced hundreds have died and infrastructure in places has been badly affected in both Iran and IsraelThe war continues and even if it is halted it will be a long way from peace and difficult terrain for rehabilitation for those directly affected Besides the loss in the economy for Israel Russia Ukraine Iran and all those involved in wars and battles is hugeThe lessons are stark and India did right to halt Operation Sindoor Wars are no longer about guns and powder They have gone beyond and involve narrative setting and diplomacy dominance with the former involving social media vibrancyIndia launched Operation Sindoor against terror targets on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and struck deep in Pakistan on May 10 after it tried to terrorise with a barrage of drone and missile attacksAlong with this another fight was initiated and this was of narrative and diplomacy India did well in both but on the internal front the narrative was getting punctured as the Congressled opposition has been consistently trying to demean the operations success and the political decisionThe statements of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders were lapped up by Pakistan which has been using these to counter New Delhis claimsThe Congress party has also questioned Indias decision to halt Operation Sindoor and has attacked every action taken by the Centre including diplomatic moves It has even launched a social media campaign Narendra Surrender and is discrediting the Modi government for agreeing to a ceasefire understanding with PakistanThe Congress leaders have also slammed the Centre for its diplomatic stance or perceived silence on international crises particularly the humanitarian fallout in Gaza and now in IranSonia Gandhi former Congress president penned an article criticising New Delhis silence as a disturbing departure from Indias moral and diplomatic traditions urging stronger and more vocal leadership in West AsiaHowever such rhetoric especially when echoed by adversaries like Pakistan risks undermining Indias strategic credibility In global diplomacy every public statement is a signal not just to the domestic electorate but to allies adversaries and neutral observers Foreign policy should be navigated with caution and consensus not caught in the crossfire of electoral combatIndias diplomatic posture has traditionally been subtle working behind the scenes avoiding kneejerk reactions and projecting calm strength New Delhis diplomatic approach is often likened to the duck policy calm on the surface but paddling hard underneathIn a world ablaze with conflict Indias choice to pause its military campaign was not an act of surrender it was a reaffirmation of control Operation Sindoor remains active in intent and Indias military remains on alert But wisdom lies not just in launching a war but in knowing when to stopThe larger message is clear restraint is not a sign of weakness it is a sign of strategyDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-congress-sees-weakness-but-indias-diplomacy-stands-strong-in-chaotic-world-622375.html Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/why-indias-education-system-must-shift-focus-from-marks-to-skills-621997.html New Delhi June 19 For decades Indias education system has been driven by an obsession with marks and standardised examinations From board exams to competitive entrance tests academic performance is measured almost exclusively through a numerical lens While this has produced a large population of degreeholders it has not necessarily translated into a skilled and employable workforce As India strides into an era of technological disruption economic transformation and global competition the time has come to shift our national focus from mere academic scores to practical skills and realworld capabilitiesThe Problem with MarksDriven LearningIn most Indian schools and colleges student performance is measured by how well they can reproduce textbook knowledge in a written exam This system rewards rote memorization over conceptual understanding speed over depth and shortterm cramming over longterm learning The consequences are farreaching Limited Creativity and Critical Thinking The pressure to score high often curtails creativity Students are discouraged from questioning debating or exploring alternative solutions In a markscentric system there is little room for curiosity or divergent thinking Mental Health Concerns The high stakes attached to board exams entrance tests and university cutoffs have made academic performance a source of stress and anxiety for millions of students Depression burnout and even suicides linked to exam results are tragically common Employability Crisis A 2023 report by the Confederation of Indian Industry CII found that nearly 50 per cent of Indian graduates are not employable in industry due to lack of skills Despite high academic scores many students fail to meet basic requirements in communication problemsolving or digital literacy Inequity in Opportunity A rigid exambased system tends to favor those with access to coaching centers private tuitions and supportive environments Students from under privileged backgrounds often fall behind not due to a lack of intelligence or ambition but because of structural disadvantagesGlobal Trends Skills Over ScoresMany leading economies have already begun reorienting their education systems to focus on skills Finland consistently ranked among the top in global education indices emphasizes student wellbeing creativity and collaboration rather than standardized testing In Germany the dual education system integrates classroom learning with handson vocational training making graduates highly employableEven in India the National Education Policy NEP 2020 has acknowledged the need to transition towards holistic skillsbased education The policy emphasizes critical thinking experiential learning and flexibility in subject choices However implementation at a scale remains a challengeWhat Skills Should Indian Education PrioritizeTo align with the future of work the Indian education system must prioritize a diverse set of cognitive technical and socioemotional skills Digital and Technological Literacy Foundational knowledge in computing coding and digital tools is essential Communication and Collaboration The ability to express ideas clearly work in teams and resolve conflicts Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Analyze information think independently and devise practical solutions Creativity and Innovation Encourage experimentation and original thinking across disciplines Emotional Intelligence Empathy resilience and adaptability are key to navigating the modern world Vocational and Entrepreneurial Skills Practical training in trades and entrepreneurship can open up alternative career pathsHow to Make the Shift Concrete Steps Curriculum Reform Boards must reduce content overload and include modules on skillbuilding coding and design thinking Assessment Redesign Move towards applicationbased assessments openbook exams and portfolio evaluations Teacher Training Equip teachers to deliver experiential projectbased and interdisciplinary education IndustryAcademia Partnerships Offer students internships workshops and realworld exposure through collaborations Technology Integration Use EdTech platforms to provide accessible skillfocused education at scale Recognition of Diverse Talents Broaden entrance and scholarship criteria to reward innovation and creativityThe Role of Parents and SocietyEducation reforms can only succeed if there is a collective change in mindset Indian society has traditionally equated marks with success and failure This attitude needs to evolve Parents must recognise that a child scoring 70 per cent but excelling in communication and creativity may have greater potential than a 95 per cent scorer with no practical skillsSchools should celebrate diverse talents and redefine what constitutes successMedia and public discourse can also play a role by highlighting role models who succeeded not because of marks but because of skills entrepreneurs artists coders athletes and social changemakersIndia stands at a crucial juncture With the worlds largest youth population and a rapidly digitizing economy the opportunity to become a global knowledge leader is within reach But this vision cannot be achieved through mark sheets aloneIt requires an education system that nurtures thinkers builders creators and leaders By shifting from a marksdriven to skillsdriven paradigm India can unlock the full potential of its young minds building not just careers but a stronger more resilient and more inclusive nationThe writer is a PhD graduate from IIT Kharagpur Views expressed above are his own IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/why-indias-education-system-must-shift-focus-from-marks-to-skills-621997.html Thu, 19 Jun 2025 23:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/from-missiles-to-meaning-what-the-israel-iran-conflict-tells-us-about-strategic-clarity-621601.html When war breaks out it often seems sudden But most conflicts dont start with the first missile They build over timethrough years of quiet tension shifting doctrines and unspoken red lines The current fighting between Israel and Iran is not an isolated exchange It is the culmination of longstanding rivalry now out in the open with deadly precision on both sidesnbspIsraels recent aerial campaign involving over 200 aircraft struck deep into Irantargeting nuclear facilities military assets and highranking commanders Iran retaliated within hours launching over 150 missiles and waves of drones at Israeli cities The impact has been both military and symbolic a shift from the shadows of proxy conflict into the spotlight of direct stateled warfareWhile this war may feel distant from India its deeper patterns resonate It shows how modern states prepare for pressure manage escalation and make strategic choicesnot just through force but through the timing and clarity of that forcenbspPreparation in both cases was not loud It was deliberate Israels ability to launch such a coordinated strike didnt appear overnight It followed years of intelligencegathering cyber disruptions and military readiness Irans swift counterstrike too reflected advance planning not emotional reaction Theres a message in this the most effective deterrents are often the least visible until theyre usedIndias own security posture has followed a similar logic The doctrine of strategic restraint is sometimes misunderstood as inaction But time and again India has shown that when the situation demands it responses are calibrated prepared and purposeful The absence of constant retaliation does not mean the absence of readinessnbspDeterrence in todays world has evolved far beyond conventional firepower The IsraelIran conflict is a reminder that modern deterrence is layered Israels missile defence systems particularly the Iron Dome intercepted much of what Iran sent But equally important were its alliances particularly with the US and its cyber and surveillance capabilities Irans strategy combined its missile range with psychological and political messaging showing it too could operate openlyIndias deterrence approach while different in geography and scale carries its own complexitiesranging from a credible nuclear posture to advances in cyber readiness surveillance infrastructure and diplomatic reach Deterrence ultimately is about shaping the choices of adversaries And shaping choices requires both capacity and claritynbspTechnology in this conflict has not only influenced outcomesit has controlled the pace Precisionguided systems satellite surveillance drone swarms and cyber tools have allowed both sides to act decisively without losing control This is not warfare as it once was It is calibrated algorithmic and often invisible until it landsnbspIndia too is moving toward this space The expansion of spacebased ISR systems indigenous missile defence and unmanned systems isnt just about modernizationits about creating options And options in moments of crisis mean leverageWhat also stands out in this war is how both sides have adjusted their doctrines without abandoning their principles Iran known for proxy warfare responded directly Israel known for targeted covert actions chose overwhelming visibility Neither lost control Instead both adapted their strategies to the momentnbspIndia is no stranger to doctrinal evolution The shift from passive posture to proactive strikeswhether surgical or airbasedshows a growing willingness to blend predictability with flexibility Strategic thinking today cannot afford to be rigid It must be resilient responsive and built on a foundation that permits creative responses under pressurePerhaps most instructive is what hasnt been said Despite the severity of their attacks neither Israel nor Iran has indulged in exaggerated threats or dramatic announcements The messaging has been deliberate often through action more than rhetoric This kind of strategic communicationmeasured disciplined but unmistakableis becoming more vital than evernbspIndias strategic voice has often mirrored this quiet strength In moments of crisis the focus has generally been on calibrated response rather than theatrical display This builds credibility over timeamong allies adversaries and ones own public In a world of fast reactions and viral narratives deliberate silence can be its own form of powerThe IsraelIran war is still playing out It may yet spill into wider regional or global consequences But even in its current form it offers something valuable not instructions but insights It reminds us that conflict in the modern age is shaped not only by weapons but by decisions made long before the trigger is pullednbspFor India watching this conflict is not about imitationits about awareness The clearest way to avoid chaos is to be so prepared so measured and so strategically clear that escalation becomes unnecessary Readiness isnt just a military virtueits anbspnational one https://dailyworld.in/opinion/from-missiles-to-meaning-what-the-israel-iran-conflict-tells-us-about-strategic-clarity-621601.html Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-why-are-neighbours-always-so-terrible-pakistan-israel-palestine-ukraine-russia-621319.html New Delhi June 15 Theres a question that haunts not just citizens of conflictridden regions but every concerned global citizen Why are the neighbours always so terrible Across the world relationships between many bordering nations are marked more by mistrust and enmity than cooperation and peace From Russias ongoing war with Ukraine to the complex everflammable Middle East crisis involving Israel Palestine Iran Yemen etc and back to the subcontinent where India and Pakistan remain locked in a hot and cold conflict tension is always simmeringWhy is it so hard for countries to be civilised neighboursThe answer of course isnt simple Global diplomacy is layered and politically charged History identity borders drawn in haste and the scars of colonialism have left deep wounds The role of religion and ideology often worsens these divides But somewhere in this maze a disturbing truth exists some nations choose confrontation not just as a reaction but as a core part of their identityTake for instance Pakistan Since its inception on August 14 1947 it has fashioned its national identity in opposition to India From the very moment it emerged as a separate country born of the violent partition of the subcontinent it has behaved not like a neighbour wanting peaceful coexistence but like a rival consumed by bitterness Its obsession with the twonation theory and religious identity has driven its politics into a perpetual state of hostilityThe pattern of aggression was set early From sending tribal raiders to annexe Kashmir immediately after Independence to initiating multiple wars in 1947 1965 1971 and 1999 and finally crossborder terrorism in the 1990s Pakistan has ticked every box on the how to be a bad neighbour checklist And while its political leaders often pronounce the rhetorical words of peace the control lies firmly with its military establishment which believes that hostility with India is a means of staying in powerWhen the Pakistani Army Chief made a communal statement targeting Hindus and Muslims and the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack quickly followed it it became clear how deep this rot goes The attack wasnt just another episode of terrorism it was a loud signal that the facade of deniability was being dropped Pakistan which had long pretended not to shelter terrorist elements is now owning them openlyThe pictures and video clips of its armys top ranks attending the funerals of the terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor and being given state honours exposed Pakistans duality It has made known to the world that terrorists are its other wings The political class and the armyled establishment only want to build nurseries for terrorists and they are least bothered about fighting povertyAccording to World Bank data nearly 45 per cent of Pakistans population lives in poverty with 165 per cent classified as living in extreme povertyThe economy is on life support seeking bailouts from the IMF every few years But despite all this the country continues to funnel money and manpower into terror factories rather than schools and hospitalsFor over three decades Pakistan has cultivated a shadow war strategy against India arming funding and sheltering terrorist networks while maintaining deniability on international platformsThe 2611 Mumbai attacks perhaps the darkest chapter in modern Indian history still havent seen justice delivered because of Pakistans consistent stonewalling and dishonestyBut the rules are changing now The April 22 attack in Pahalgam seems to have been the final straw India has made it clear that this isnt going to be tolerated anymore Operation Sindoor the military and strategic response to this latest provocation signals a turning point No longer will India allow proxywar tactics to go unanswered The gloves are offIn a broader context this isnt just about India and Pakistan Its about how nations perceive power identity and survival in a polarised worldRussia sees Ukraines alignment with the West as a threat Israel locked in an existential struggle responds with overwhelming force while its adversaries dig deeper into the cycle of extremismIn each of these relationships grievance and retaliation feed off each other leaving little room for dialogueFor Pakistan the opportunity to reset relations with India has come and gone several times But so long as its army runs its foreign policy and its politics remain trapped in identity warfare things are unlikely to changeAnd currently no one knows what will happen further in UkraineRussia IsraelHamas and now it is IsraelIran or maybe more hot spots will join in tomorrowIndia did well by halting its Operation Sindoor and keeping Pakistan in a perpetual state of nervousness The neighbour is silent for now but its covert efforts to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir continue The army has been thwarting infiltration efforts along the Line of Control in Jammu and KashmirDespite being on notice the sad reality persists some neighbours seem determined to remain terribleDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-why-are-neighbours-always-so-terrible-pakistan-israel-palestine-ukraine-russia-621319.html Sun, 15 Jun 2025 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/time-for-kashmiris-to-say-a-decisive-no-to-pakistans-agenda-619019.html New Delhi June 1 The April 22 Pahalgam massacre wasnt just an act of terrorism it was a calculated punishment Pakistan struck back at Kashmiris for choosing peace prosperity and stability after the abrogation of Article 370 Pakistan believes that it has avenged Kashmiris for making a conscious choice after the abrogation of Article 370 choosing the path of prosperity and stabilityThe April 22 Pahalgam massacre was not only an attempt to stoke religious tensions in the country but also a punishment for Kashmiris who have rejected the path Pakistan tried to chart for them in furthering the twonation theoryFor over three decades Pakistan has played a deadly game in the Valley Initially it succeeded The wave of terrorism unleashed a reign of tyranny Kashmiri society once known for its secular harmonious and conservative values with Sufism at its core was torn apart and divided into Hindus and Muslims pro and antiIndia hardline and religiously radicalisedCloaked in religious rhetoric the assertion of a unique Kashmiri identity was converted into a socalled movement for Azadi The real plot was clear the radicalisation of the Valley was designed to align Kashmir with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which has always regarded it as its jugular veinPakistans agents in this mission were the Hurriyat Conference and various terrorist outfits At one point nearly a dozen terrorist groups were operating in the Valley with Pakistan encouraging competition among them to be the most extremeOver the years thousands of Kashmiris have lost their lives to terror most killed by terrorists Hundreds of schools and educational institutions were burned downThe Hurriyat working under Pakistans directives ran a parallel system They issued calendars for protests enforced diktats and maintained a vast network of stone pelters ready to act on commandTourism the backbone of Kashmirs economy collapsed Even during periods of elected government the situation remained unstable Elections were boycotted and most political leaders refrained from criticising the Hurriyat or the terrorist outfits Massacres and killings continued unabatedMeanwhile Pakistanbacked groups ensured that fear reigned in the Valley Another weapon in its arsenal was narcoterrorism pushing drugs into Kashmir and ruining thousands of young livesThen came August 5 2019 The Modiled government at the Centre abrogated Article 370 dividing the state into two Union Territories Jammu amp Kashmir and Ladakh Pakistan was shaken It had expected chaos It had hoped its proxies would light fires across the Valley But nothing happenedStrong action followed Hurriyat leaders were jailed Terrorists were neutralised Ordinary Kashmiris long subjugated by the fear of guns began to believe that peace was possible Diktats stopped Protest calendars vanished Stone pelting ceased Youth turned to education sports and employment Tourism flourished again Filmmakers returnedOver the past few years the Valley has welcomed more than a crore of tourists including foreigners Locals have opened businesses and taken loans to expand in response to the tourism boom and growing handicraft demandEducation is flourishing Many Kashmiris are now cracking the countrys toughest exams Sports culture is taking root A new sense of opportunity has emergedBut as Kashmiris embrace peace and progress Pakistan is desperately trying to reignite its failed agenda Trained terrorists still infiltrate through treacherous terrain and find support among a small group of overground and underground workersHowever the widespread support for Azadi that existed in the 1980s and 1990s has largely evaporated People now understand Pakistans real motive to destabilise Kashmir through terror and drugsThis growing awareness has unnerved Pakistan In April Pakistans Army Chief Asim Munir now elevated to Field Marshal delivered a frustrated speech at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber PakhtunkhwaHe emphasised the twonation theory claiming that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations not one and that Muslims differ in religion customs traditions thinking and aspirationsA few days later the Pahalgam massacre took placeIndia has retaliated diplomatically and militarily But in Kashmir the damage was immediate Tourists disappeared and the tourism season which had the potential to generate hundreds of crores in revenue collapsed This was exactly what Pakistan wanted to snatch away the livelihoods of ordinary KashmirisThe Pakistani establishment perhaps jealous of Kashmirs booming tourism industry and rapid infrastructure growth decided to strike at the heart of its progressPakistan may feel it has derailed Kashmirs momentum But this disruption can be overcome by Kashmiris themselves The people have experienced the horrors of terrorism They have also tasted the fruits of peace Now is the time to make a firm decisionPakistan is a failed state Its Army is more interested in profiting from chaos than serving its people Every region under its control is in turmoilIt is high time for Kashmiris to rise and say two powerful words No means noLet the Pakistani establishment feel the wrath of the Kashmiris who have chosen peaceDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/time-for-kashmiris-to-say-a-decisive-no-to-pakistans-agenda-619019.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-time-for-kashmiris-to-say-a-decisive-no-to-pakistans-agenda-619021.html New Delhi June 1 The April 22 Pahalgam massacre wasnt just an act of terrorism it was a calculated punishment Pakistan struck back at Kashmiris for choosing peace prosperity and stability after the abrogation of Article 370 Pakistan believes that it has avenged Kashmiris for making a conscious choice after the abrogation of Article 370 choosing the path of prosperity and stabilityThe April 22 Pahalgam massacre was not only an attempt to stoke religious tensions in the country but also a punishment for Kashmiris who have rejected the path Pakistan tried to chart for them in furthering the twonation theoryFor over three decades Pakistan has played a deadly game in the Valley Initially it succeeded The wave of terrorism unleashed a reign of tyranny Kashmiri society once known for its secular harmonious and conservative values with Sufism at its core was torn apart and divided into Hindus and Muslims pro and antiIndia hardline and religiously radicalisedCloaked in religious rhetoric the assertion of a unique Kashmiri identity was converted into a socalled movement for Azadi The real plot was clear the radicalisation of the Valley was designed to align Kashmir with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which has always regarded it as its jugular veinPakistans agents in this mission were the Hurriyat Conference and various terrorist outfits At one point nearly a dozen terrorist groups were operating in the Valley with Pakistan encouraging competition among them to be the most extremeOver the years thousands of Kashmiris have lost their lives to terror most killed by terrorists Hundreds of schools and educational institutions were burned downThe Hurriyat working under Pakistans directives ran a parallel system They issued calendars for protests enforced diktats and maintained a vast network of stone pelters ready to act on commandTourism the backbone of Kashmirs economy collapsed Even during periods of elected government the situation remained unstable Elections were boycotted and most political leaders refrained from criticising the Hurriyat or the terrorist outfits Massacres and killings continued unabatedMeanwhile Pakistanbacked groups ensured that fear reigned in the Valley Another weapon in its arsenal was narcoterrorism pushing drugs into Kashmir and ruining thousands of young livesThen came August 5 2019 The Modiled government at the Centre abrogated Article 370 dividing the state into two Union Territories Jammu amp Kashmir and Ladakh Pakistan was shaken It had expected chaos It had hoped its proxies would light fires across the Valley But nothing happenedStrong action followed Hurriyat leaders were jailed Terrorists were neutralised Ordinary Kashmiris long subjugated by the fear of guns began to believe that peace was possible Diktats stopped Protest calendars vanished Stone pelting ceased Youth turned to education sports and employment Tourism flourished again Filmmakers returnedOver the past few years the Valley has welcomed more than a crore of tourists including foreigners Locals have opened businesses and taken loans to expand in response to the tourism boom and growing handicraft demandEducation is flourishing Many Kashmiris are now cracking the countrys toughest exams Sports culture is taking root A new sense of opportunity has emergedBut as Kashmiris embrace peace and progress Pakistan is desperately trying to reignite its failed agenda Trained terrorists still infiltrate through treacherous terrain and find support among a small group of overground and underground workersHowever the widespread support for Azadi that existed in the 1980s and 1990s has largely evaporated People now understand Pakistans real motive to destabilise Kashmir through terror and drugsThis growing awareness has unnerved Pakistan In April Pakistans Army Chief Asim Munir now elevated to Field Marshal delivered a frustrated speech at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber PakhtunkhwaHe emphasised the twonation theory claiming that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations not one and that Muslims differ in religion customs traditions thinking and aspirationsA few days later the Pahalgam massacre took placeIndia has retaliated diplomatically and militarily But in Kashmir the damage was immediate Tourists disappeared and the tourism season which had the potential to generate hundreds of crores in revenue collapsed This was exactly what Pakistan wanted to snatch away the livelihoods of ordinary KashmirisThe Pakistani establishment perhaps jealous of Kashmirs booming tourism industry and rapid infrastructure growth decided to strike at the heart of its progressPakistan may feel it has derailed Kashmirs momentum But this disruption can be overcome by Kashmiris themselves The people have experienced the horrors of terrorism They have also tasted the fruits of peace Now is the time to make a firm decisionPakistan is a failed state Its Army is more interested in profiting from chaos than serving its people Every region under its control is in turmoilIt is high time for Kashmiris to rise and say two powerful words No means noLet the Pakistani establishment feel the wrath of the Kashmiris who have chosen peaceDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-time-for-kashmiris-to-say-a-decisive-no-to-pakistans-agenda-619021.html Sun, 01 Jun 2025 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/punjab-must-resolve-to-rise-again-618543.html Punjab once celebrated for its dynamism and prosperity is now ensnared in a web of systemic distress The alarming depletion of water tables stagnant agriculture surging youth unemployment and a drug abuse epidemic have transformed what was once a distant threat into a stark painful reality The plight of the state transcends mere economic or ecological concerns it is a profound structural crisis rooted in a chronic leadership vacuum policy paralysis and institutional decay These issues are not mere historical footnotesthey have been analyzed debated fervently and repeatedly featured in political manifestos laden with empty promises of reform Yet they remain largely unresolved WhyThe ecological crisis in Punjab is dire and demands urgent attention For years groundwater extraction has dangerously outpaced natural replenishment with the Central Groundwater Board 2022 classifying over 117 of our 150 administrative blocks as overexploited Our dependence on the waterintensive paddywheat cycle a relic of the Green Revolution persists due to misguided subsidies and political inertia Our canal systems are outdated and our urban water bodies lie polluted and neglectedFarmers today face stagnant productivity soaring input costs and diminishing returns The promises surrounding crop diversification ring hollow sustained only by the absence of assured procurement or viable market avenuesnbspAdding to this grim picture Punjab is gripped by a demographic crisis with youth unemployment escalating to a staggering 243well above the national average Frustrated and desperate many young Punjabis are seeking opportunities abroad while others grapple with the devastating realities of substance abuseOur public education system is failing the next generation Recent reports indicate that fewer than half of Class V students in government schools can read a basic Class IIlevel text Private education has devolved into a commercial enterprise while public education and healthcare languish in neglect underfunded understaffed and incapable of meeting even the most fundamental needs of our populacenbspSocial inclusion is in a state of disarray Despite making up 32 of the population Scheduled Castes continue to face skewed land ownership and political representation Female workforce participation stagnates at a mere 115 among the lowest in the country Issues like gender inequality castebased exclusion and the urbanrural divide remain glaring blind spots in our social narrativeThe persistence of these crises is not rooted in ignorance but in inertia Punjab suffers from a chronic leadership vacuum both political and bureaucratic Successive governments have favored populist handoutsfree electricity loan waivers and cash grantsover the vital structural reforms that our state desperately needs As of 2023 the debttoGDP ratio has soared past 48 marking a fiscal system buckling under the weight of unsustainable entitlementsnbspBureaucratic inefficiency only exacerbates political shortsightedness Frequent transfers political meddling and disjointed departmental coordination have reduced policymaking to a patchwork of halfmeasures In stark contrast to states such as Tamil Nadu or Kerala Punjab lacks a tradition of evidencebased planning and executionMoreover Punjabs strategic location along the Pakistan border has influenced its governance model often prioritizing security over development Consequently border regions remain underresourced with central initiatives frequently arriving late or poorly executednbspThis dismal state of affairs has bred profound public disillusionment Young people are increasingly skeptical of the systems capacity to provide meaningful futures Farmers approach new policies with doubt Women and marginalized communities remain largely sidelined from local leadership roles This rising discontent could give way to deeper alienation and extremist ideologies if left uncheckedWhat we endure in Punjab is not true peace but a fragile façade of tranquilitya deceptive calm concealing simmering social tensions just below the surface Beneath this veneer lies a deep reservoir of anger fatigue and hopelessness When our youth confront a murky future drugs become a tempting refuge When farmers perceive no viable alternatives protests become inevitable When institutions fail to deliver rights or services trust erodes taking with it the states very legitimacynbspThe roots of radicalism in Punjabwhether criminal ideological or religiousare not merely imposed from outside they often flourish in this vacuum of opportunity and dignity Unless we confront this foundational decay and resolve to rise again cycles of unrest will resurface in new and troubling formsPunjab does not need a miracle it requires a meticulously crafted plan What is essential is not a sweeping reform but a coordinated crosssectoral effort to recommit to a robust development compactnbspThe agricultural sector must transition to waterefficient marketlinked models Supporting directseeded rice pulses millets and oilseeds with Minimum Support Price MSP assurances improved agrilogistics and processing units is paramount The current system of free electricity must transform metering and targeted subsidies Communityled groundwater management and upgrades to canal efficiency can safeguard our vital aquifers Establishing an empowered SutlejBeas Basin Authority could harmonize water policy across departments and districtsStates industrial policy should prioritize nurturing Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs rather than merely catering to megaprojects It must harness the immense potential in agroprocessing renewable energy textiles and digital services to create meaningful employment opportunities Establishing districtlevel Skill Hubs will strategically align vocational training with industry needs Engaging with the Punjabi diasporathrough investment platforms mentorship programs and innovation challengescan unlock financial resources and transformative ideasThe education and healthcare systems require a comprehensive overhaul Curricula must align with contemporary demands critical thinking digital literacy and vocational readiness should be at the forefront of our priorities An extensive reform of teacher training learning assessments and public school infrastructure is essential The healthcare services must focus on primary care preventive measures and training community health workers especially in rural and border areasnbspGender equity and social security must be foundational aspects of our shared vision for the future Employment schemes for women political reservations at the panchayat level and safer public spaces are nonnegotiable A unified digital welfare system can eliminate inefficiencies and greatly enhance access for marginalized communitiesFinally governance must evolve into a professionalized and decentralized model A nonpartisan and statutorily empowered Punjab Development Commission could provide consistent policy support and ensure continuity in planning Local governments must be empowered with genuine resources responsibilities and personnel Transparency mechanismssocial audits performance dashboards and public consultationsshould become the standard practicenbspPunjabs crisis is not an inescapable fate It is a reflection of fractured systems shortsighted politics and eroded trust But transformation lies within the states systems Punjab still possesses the social capital global connections and institutional foundations to reimagine and reclaim its destiny What we need now is the courage to act decisively Even issues concerning interstate water sharing and territorial rights over Chandigarh and other Punjabispeaking areas necessitate resolution through political sagacity and statesmanshipThe state does not require yet another committee or a fleeting slogan it needs to renew our civic contract grounded in dignity sustainability and shared responsibility A new generation of leadersfrom government industry civil society and citizen groupsmust rise to meet this challenge headon The road ahead will undoubtedly be arduous but the cost of inaction is far more to suffer https://dailyworld.in/opinion/punjab-must-resolve-to-rise-again-618543.html Thu, 29 May 2025 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-habit-holds-and-everything-else-wavers-618032.html In the world of policing no two days look the same An uneventful morning can turn into a crisis by noon A routine patrol can spiral into confrontation The rhythm of the job is shaped not by predictability but by unpredictability And yet the best officersthose who stay grounded in the heat of the momentdo not rise to chaos with sudden brilliance They fall back on habitnbspThere is something deeply instructive in thatnbspPolicing by its nature demands constant interaction with the uncertain But the lessons learned in uniform are not confined to law enforcement They are life lessons transferable to anyone who must navigate pressure lead others or make difficult decisions when the path forward is unclearHabit in this context is not mindless repetition It is lived discipline A set of internal tools honed through daily practicetools that reduce noise sharpen focus and allow for movement when fear or fatigue might otherwise paralyse actionnbspConsider the habit of showing up prepared For a police officer the uniform isnt just clothingits a state of mind How one shows up for duty often sets the tone for how one responds to duty In any profession whether corporate or civil the same applies Start sharp and you signal intent Not just to othersbut to yourselfnbspThen there is presence In moments of unrest or confusion physical presence matters In the field it reassures citizens and holds teams steady In boardrooms or classrooms it earns trust Real leadership doesnt hide when tension risesit walks toward itPolicing also teaches the habit of paying attention to the periphery Not just to whats loud but to whats quiet The unspoken tension in a room the hesitant voice in a meeting the one person who says less but watches morethese signals often missed reveal the real story This habit honed on the street works just as well in policy negotiation or everyday relationshipsnbspWriting is another essential habit In law enforcement a wellwritten report is more than a recordits protection against forgetfulness confusion or misjudgment But writing in any context also serves another purpose it forces clarity It slows down thought It holds the writer accountable to their own reasoningnbspAnd when it comes to speaking theres a simple rule the calmest voice in the room often carries the most influence In a confrontation or a crisis volume escalates Clarity deescalates Policing demands a tone that commands attention without provoking it The same principle applies across professionsespecially when stakes are highPreparationtrue hard deliberate trainingis another transferable habit In the force drills are not rituals they are life insurance In civilian life too success rarely comes from inspiration It comes from rehearsal Whether preparing for a presentation or planning a districtwide intervention the same rule holds you dont improvise under pressureyou execute what youve preparednbspTrust within teams is perhaps the most overlooked habit Great police work isnt done alone Its done in units that rely on one another completely The same is true of reformers innovators educators or entrepreneurs Good systems dont just need ideas They need people who believe in each otherBut none of these habits endure unless they are rooted in values In law enforcement integrity isnt a slogan Its a habit A line that once drawn isnt crossed And when something goes wrongas it always doesits the habit of accountability that makes all the difference The willingness to own the result To write the final line in the report and stand by itThese habitsformed in khakhi tested in heat and refined over timeare not just for police officers They are for anyone who must carry responsibility through complexity They work quietly They rarely make headlines But they are what hold steady when everything else begins to shakenbspIn a world of noise speed and unpredictability they remain the most underrated form of strength consistent clear and earned https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-habit-holds-and-everything-else-wavers-618032.html Mon, 26 May 2025 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/10-habits-and-3-principles-to-stay-steady-617525.html Im still in uniform Still serving Still showing up every morning to uncer tainty to pressure to the knowledge that every call every conversation every quiet decision might mat ter more than it first seemsAfter more than thirty years in the Indian Police Service I no longer wait for clarity before I move I rely on habits that holdpatterns that help me stay calm think straight and lead better especially when the ground beneath feels un certainThe job has taken me from riot zones to cybercrime cells from disaster sites to policy meetings The people prob lems and pace are always shifting But some principles remain steady What I offer here isnt a manual Its not doctrine These are fieldtested habits that help me stay effective in a world that is volatile and uncertainThey fall under three principles Ive come to live byday after day case after case meeting after meeting Stand tall Stay sharp Stick togetherStand TallThe first habit is simple to say hard to sustain begin with who you are not what surrounds youIn uniform youll often be expected to bend It may not come as a direct orderit might be a silence youre meant to maintain a shortcut youre meant to take But the strength of any institution lies in the abil ity of its people to quietly hold the line That doesnt mean shouting or showing defiance Most of the time it just means quietly refusing to drift from what you know is rightIve seen how calm especial ly in tension resets the room Its not passivity Its practiced intent When everyone is rush ing the officer who slows the momentwith voice gaze or gesturebecomes the anchor That kind of steadiness I be lieve can be learnedYou will fail Youll follow every rule and still see thingsfall apart Youll be blamed for what wasnt yours and praised for what wasnt entirely your doing But if youre still willing to show up the next morning and do your damndest youre in the fightAnd when the regular tools no longer work think side ways Many of the hardest cases Ive seen didnt crack through procedure but through per spective A small inconsistency A voice that didnt match the narrative A juniors passing comment Lateral thinking isnt clevernessits essential when conventional paths closeStay SharpIn this job you rarely have perfect information But you still have to decideYou learn to size up quickly Not by rushing but by training your eye and ear to pick up patterns energy hesitation tension What someone isnt saying often matters as much as what they areThis kind of intuitive assess ment improves with experi ence But it only sharpens if you expose yourself to a variety of roles Ive served in chief minister office cybercrime counterterror and sports promotion Each assignmentexpanded the way I understand pressure teamwork risk and timing The broader the experi ence the better your instincts And one thing that surprises people when I say it kindness helps More than you think In a system where people expect delay or disinterest a timely reply a fair decision or an act of quiet empathy goes a long way It earns trust builds reputation and smooths the path for everything elseStick Together No meaningful outcome in policing happens alonenbspBehind every success Ive had is a teamoften quiet of ten unnoticed The constable who stayed overtime The clerk who caught the discrepancy The inspector who nudged me to look again These are the people who make policing work If you lead you must honour themLeadership is not always loud Its sometimes just pres ence Ive sat beside victims colleagues even adversaries and said nothing And in that silence something important happened Just being there with attention not agendais a form of serviceshow up before the crisis If the only time people see you is when trouble arrives they wont trust you Presence in calm builds trust for chaos Walk the lane before the raid Visit the court before the hear ing Meet the people before the protestI wont claim Ive mastered these habits But Ive leaned on them And theyve helped me stay steadyon days when nothing else wasThese arent rules Theyre reminders And they may be useful to anyone who faces complexity uncertainty or responsibility You dont need a badge to live them You just need to show up with intent stand firm when its easier to waver and keep the people around you strongStand tall Stay sharp Stick togetherThese habits help me serve They might help you too Thats The Good Cop Manifesto DAILY WORLD https://dailyworld.in/opinion/10-habits-and-3-principles-to-stay-steady-617525.html Fri, 23 May 2025 08:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-usa-italy-trilateral-in-the-making-612333.html New Delhi April 21 It would seem all roads lead to Rome with US Vice President JD Vance along with his family visiting Rome the day after Italian PM Georgia Meloni visited Washington to spend Good Friday in the eternal city Vances visit to Rome and onwards to New Delhi indicates the new importance Rome and New Delhi have in the geopolitical calculus of the White HouseVance a catholic spent Good Friday at the Vatican as well as met with important members of Melonis administration including the Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo SalviniThe US and Italy will work together to develop the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century connecting partners by ports railways and undersea cables and stimulating economic development and integration from India to the Gulf to Israel to Italy and onward to the United States according to the US and Italy joint leaders declaration after the first bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Italian PM MeloniThis Easter weekend was very important as well due to the second round of the USIran talks in Rome The Trump administration has engaged directly with various belligerent state and nonstate players with the objective of achieving an acceptable peace deal While the first round of talks was held in Muscat given the Sultanate of Omans role as the honest broker the second was held in Rome also a nod to Melonis efforts to bring Italy back to the centre of international affairsThe head of Italys secret service AISE Giovanni Caravelli had also assisted the Prime Minister in solving a particularly complicated case of the arrest of Italian blogger Cecilia Sala during the last days of the Biden administrationMeloni had made a special unusual trip to the US to meet with Presidentelect Trump and the actual Biden administration to solve Salas incarceration which was seen as retribution for Italys arrest of two nationals of Iranian origin on a US arrest warrant Caravelli and Italy have maintained a strong line of trust and communication with the regime in TehranIsraels Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad head David Barnea met with US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Friday in Paris before the second round of USIran conversations Dermer is said to have spent Shabbat in Rome presumably to consult with the US Special envoy after the second round of consultations which have reported to be successfulAny agreement between the US and Iran will have direct consequences on Israels security as well as its war with Hamas which is widely supported by IranMelonis efforts at pivoting Italy to the center of global geopolitics started immediately after her victory two and a half years ago Italy had spent decades losing its centrality not only as a G7 economy but also as a centre of power in Europe Her government withdrew from the Belt and Road Initiative BRI Memorandum of Understanding but managed to maintain a balanced relationship with ChinaEarly to recognise Indias growing importance in the world New Delhi was Melonis first bilateral visit to Asia She was also one of the founding signatories of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC MoU at the G20 in New Delhi in 2023 on her second visit to Delhi in one yearSince she has met often with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Melodi relationship between the leaders has translated into a strategic partnership between both countriesHer early foreign policy choices have now started paying rich dividends UAEs President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Italy in early 2025 a testament to the reset of the UAEItaly relationship which was strained when Meloni was sworn in During his visit both countries signed over 40 agreements and the UAE announced 40 billion of investment in ItalyRecently during his visit to India Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani was accompanied by a large business delegation and an IndiaItaly science and innovation summit with over 400 companies was held in DelhiDeclaring Italys full commitment to the IndoMediterranean IndiaItaly partnership Tajani announced an IMEC summit in Trieste in 2025 after having recently named an Italian Special Envoy for IMEC veteran diplomat Francesco Maria TaloWhile critics would point out that Melonis visit to the US did not have tangible results the most tangible result was President Trumps acceptance of Melonis invitation to Rome to discuss and conclude an agreement on tariffs with the European UnionRome has slowly become the centre of transatlantic Mediterranean and IndoPacific dialogues with its Prime Ministers ambitions of probably restoring its glory as Caput MundiVas Shenoy is the Chief Representative for Italy of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and an Italian entrepreneur Views are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-usa-italy-trilateral-in-the-making-612333.html Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-will-tahawwur-rana-reveal-the-untold-2611-story-of-local-support-611144.html New Delhi April 13 Tahawwur Rana is currently being interrogated by the NIA and the entire nation even Pakistan is waiting to hear what he reveals or confesses His links to Pakistan and the involvement of its state actors are wellknown but the 2611 conspiracy is not just about that country It is equally important to uncover who within India enabled these acts Who were the traitors Even if it comes 16 years later those who aided this horrific attack must be identified and exposedRanas interrogation is expected to add crucial details to the investigation and potentially identify the names and agencies behind the 2611 Mumbai terror attacks This could significantly strengthen Indias case against PakistanHowever what is most eagerly awaited is information about the support Rana and his team may have received within India It is difficult to accept the theory as claimed by the state and central governments in 2008 that the attackers had no local assistance Is it possible for individuals who have never been to a country to execute such precise and coordinated attacks without any local helpInvestigations so far suggest that Rana and his associate Daood Gilani alias David Coleman Headley conducted reconnaissance and prepared detailed plans which were followed meticulously by the ten Pakistani attackers These terrorists hijacked the fishing boat Kuber killed four of its crew members and forced its captain Amar Singh Solanki to steer the vessel carrying ten LashkareTaiba operatives to the shores of MumbaiAfter reaching the coast Solanki was killed and the terrorists entered Mumbai launching an unprecedented assault on Indias financial capitalOn the night of November 26 2008 ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists struck simultaneously at five key locations in Mumbai killing around 140 Indians and 25 foreign nationals Their targets included two luxury hotels a Jewish cultural centre a popular cafe frequented by Western tourists and Mumbais main railway station CST where the highest number of casualties occurredIs it possible to carry out such an attack without any local support This question was raised even back then but clear answers are still lackingMumbai Police had maintained that the role of local elements in the attack was limited to two alleged Indian LashkareTaiba operatives Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed However both were acquitted by a special court on May 3 2010 and the Bombay High Court upheld their acquittal on February 21 2011If they were not the local collaborators then who were Why did the Mumbai Police fail to uncover themIn February 2009 BJP leader LK Advani while speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address criticised the investigation as incomplete He called it shameful that the Mumbai Police gave a clean chit regarding any local involvement and demanded a judicial probe into the attacksThe then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also criticised the UPA government accusing it of making a halfhearted attempt to uncover the full conspiracy behind the Mumbai terror attacks Modi argued that Pakistan could not have executed the attacks without local support but the government failed to identify these collaboratorsIn response the Centre dismissed calls for a judicial commission to probe the local angle Then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram even mocked Modis remarks suggesting sarcastically that since both Pakistan and Modi were raising the same point about local involvement someone should check if they were in touch with each otherSuch a response was seen by many as an attempt to deflect a serious question one that continues to perplex the nationWhy the thengovernment did not thoroughly investigate the local angle remains baffling and raises several questions It is difficult to believe that such a meticulously planned attack could have been executed without any support from within IndiaMoreover there were intelligence inputs about a possible attack via the sea route a fact that was raised in Parliament by the Opposition in 2009Interestingly in testimony before the US House Homeland Security Committee on June 12 2013 RAND Corporation a leading US thinktank stated that the 2611 attackers relied upon crucial domestic assistance despite being of Pakistani originThe international community is well aware of the key Pakistani perpetrators Hafiz Saeed founder of LeT ZakiurRehman Lakhvi LeTs operational commander Sajid Majid Illyas Kashmiri Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed aka Major Abdur Rehman or Pasha Major Iqbal alias Major Ali and Major Sameer Ali alias Major Samir all believed to have been involved in planning funding and executing the attack And then there are the names of Tahawwur Rana and David HeadleyRanas interrogation may lead to more revelations possibly names from Pakistan Canada or the US but the 2611 conspiracy is beyond Pakistan The conspiracy is also about the traitors in India who helped the perpetrators unleash terror and kill innocent peopleIt is time that those faces be unmasked and brought to justiceDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-will-tahawwur-rana-reveal-the-untold-2611-story-of-local-support-611144.html Sun, 13 Apr 2025 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-from-pinpricks-to-laughter-trips-parliaments-waqf-debate-610005.html New Delhi April 6 It takes two to play a game and it certainly did in Parliament where the wholesome Opposition and the powerful Treasury slugged it out in one of the longest sessions of debate in the Parliaments history The marathon debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill which seeks to put an end to the rampant trend of landgrabbing had its share of highs and lows laughter and chuckles glee and embarrassment anger and good humour emotion and politics Sparks flew thick and fast with allegations accusations and even personal attacks exchangedThe debate was filled with intense arguments and conflicting opinionsDespite all this the debate conclusively handed a clear win to the ruling coalition They presented facts and figures many of which were both shocking and alarming The statistics gave them an edge and overshadowed the Oppositions arguments which focused largely on politicking and votebank appeasement If data gave the NDA an upper hand several of its speakers especially Home Minister Amit Shah and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emerged as starsThe bill debate showcased the ruling partys preparedness The Opposition on the other hand failed to counter the narrative effectively In fact its prominent leaders remained silent or absent for most of the debate None of the Gandhis spoke on the bill leaving the fight to leaders from Assam Telangana Kerala West Bengal and Bihar states with a significant number of Muslim votersPerhaps the Gandhis intended to put the partys Muslim faces on the front foot whose speeches seemed more about defending their religion and the landcontrolling Waqf Board But the move seems to have backfired as several Muslim organisations and leaders are now criticising their silenceWhile the Gandhis face backlash speakers from the ruling party are being applauded for their witty remarks and factheavy presentationsDuring a fiery Lok Sabha debate Samajwadi Party SP chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jab at the ruling BJP questioning why the countrys largest political party was unable to elect its president Home Minister Amit Shah swiftly responded saying that the BJP is not a dynastic party and takes its time to decide leadershipIn some parties only five members of a family have to choose the president he quippedIn the Rajya Sabha BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi delivered a fiery speech in Hindi lamenting the changing image of Muslims from being represented by artists and intellectuals to now being linked with names like Ishrat Jahan Yakub Memon Mukhtar Ansari Atiq Ahmed and Dawood IbrahimAt this point MDMK MP Vaiko and a few Congress members interrupted him However HM Amit Shah intervened and in jest remarked Vaikoji understands Hindi which drew laughter across the House and in turn exposed the DMKs duplicity on the alleged Hindi imposition issueIn another moment Union Minister Ramdas Athawale took a poetic jab at the Opposition while supporting the Waqf Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha leaving the House in splits He particularly targeted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urging him to acknowledge Prime Minister Narendra Modis initiativesBut perhaps the most talkedabout moment was the washroom clash A heated exchange erupted over Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh leaving during voting The Opposition questioned how the two were allowed to exit while the lobby had been sealed As the leaders shouted Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi and later Congress MP Imran Masood entered from outside causing an embarrassment to the OppositionFinally Speaker Om Birla clarified that no rules had been broken explaining that the new Parliament buildings extended layout includes the corridors and washrooms beyond the chamberAnother heated moment occurred in the Rajya Sabha between HM Amit Shah and Congress MP Digvijay Singh During the Waqf debate Singh questioned HM Shah about his role during the 2002 Gujarat riots to which Shah said that he was not the Home Minister of Gujarat at that time In his turn HM Shah challenged Digvijay Singh to deny his earlier comments that linked the RSS to the 2611 Mumbai terror attacks Shah repeatedly challenged Singh on this and finally a visibly irritated and cornered Singh said he never said soUndoubtedly the bill witnessed a bitter and fierce debate with both sides using every tool at their disposal The Opposition also had its share of embarrassment especially when some MPs who opposed the bill attacked CongressHanuman Beniwal Lok Sabha MP and chief of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party remarked that there had been no real improvement in the socioeconomic status of Muslims in the past 70 yearsIndependent MP from Kashmir Engineer Rashid went further saying that Congress dips its dagger in the sweet syrup of secularism and then drives it into the backs of MuslimsWhile the debate on the Waqf Bill has concluded and President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval the politics around it is far from over Several Opposition parties and prominent Muslim organisations have vowed to continue the fight In the meantime a video has gone viral showing Waqf Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal Congress MP Naseer Hussain and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi laughing and joking in the Parliament canteen leaving the public both amused and perplexedDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-from-pinpricks-to-laughter-trips-parliaments-waqf-debate-610005.html Sun, 06 Apr 2025 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-the-fire-that-lit-up-the-judiciarys-hidden-secrets--607972.html New Delhi March 23 See you in court a phrase often used as the final note of caution in disputes captures the essence of the judiciarys role as the ultimate arbiter of justice Judges vested with the power to alter the course of peoples lives and shape critical legal precedents are among the most respected figures in societyTrust and belief that is how the judiciary is looked up to However when the name of a sitting High Court judge gets linked to allegations of large sums of money shock inevitably follows Even more distressing is the aura of intrigue surrounding the incident which has triggered intense debates and calls for transparency and accountabilityWhether the allegations are true or not is for the Apex Court to determine but this controversy has brought the judiciary facetoface with a deeply uncomfortable moment It arises at a time when other pillars of democracy and key institutions are under scrutiny challenged both by opposition parties and civil society groups It is this very moment that demands the judiciarys serious attentionThere have been murmurs about various issues related to the judiciary But the fear of contempt has forced silence There may be black sheep in the system as are in other places But the stories never come out here There is a wall beyond which only the judicial system has space and no one else can speak or comment or discuss The lords have their own worldLittle could the personnel of the Delhi Fire Brigade have imagined that responding to a fire at a judges residence would lead to the discovery of crores in cashOn March 14 at around 1130 pm a fire broke out at the residential premises of Justice Yashwant Varma the sitting judge of the Delhi High Court It is being reported that it was a call regarding a fire in the storeroom and two fire tenders doused the flames quicklyDuring the process reportedly fire brigade personnel and the police stumbled upon jute sacks full of cash Whether this is true or false the authorities need to answer the media was full of news even carrying the name and picture of the sitting judgeAfter much rumourmongering about the incident the top court in an unprecedented move in the interest of transparency made public the report submitted by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya It released the video shared by the citys Commissioner of Police with the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court HC showing the burnt cash piles purportedly at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma The report also includes Justice Varmas response to the allegation and documents linked to the matterThe incident is now under top courts scrutiny after Chief Justice of India CJI Sanjiv Khanna constituted a threemember committee to conduct an inquiry against Justice VarmaBig legal luminaries are speaking up not just about the incident but seeking a mechanism for transparency and accountability in the whole judicial systemSenior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal said the issue of corruption within the judiciary was a very serious one and that this has been articulated by senior counsels and lawyers several timesFormer Attorney General of India and senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi has talked about the urgent need to overhaul the judiciarys systems particularly in appointments disciplinary actions and removal proceduresSenior Supreme Court advocate and BJP leader Nalin Kohli said this was a very serious matter and questions will be raisedThis is not the first time that the judiciary has come into focus because of an unpleasant situation Its undue activism at times has also been criticisedIn July 2015 the Supreme Court was opened for judges to hear at 3 am the final plea against the execution of Yakub Memon for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case It was an unprecedented move as never before was the Supreme Court opened at 3 am for a hearing After about 90 minutes the judges rejected Memons appeal to stop his execution and he was hanged in Nagpur jail a little before 7 am on July 30 2015If the court acknowledged the case situation in the Memon plea case the displaced Kashmiri Pandits have failed to get sensitivity from the judiciary Their pleas for a probe into the terroristperpetrated genocide of Pandit community members in Kashmir in 198990 was dismissed by the top court by saying no case is made outIronically a senior Supreme Court judge now retired acknowledged in the Article 370 verdict of 2023 that little had been said about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits possibly because they did not constitute a significant electoral group to attract political interventionWhile judicial activism may or may not always be praiseworthy corruption is a serious issueA small fire in a judges home has set out a raging inferno within the judicial system that needs to be dealt with carefully It is time for serious introspection and decisive action Ignoring the situation would be akin to burying ones head in the sand The judiciary must be only about see you in court feeling the ultimate justice giver And most people have faithDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-the-fire-that-lit-up-the-judiciarys-hidden-secrets--607972.html Sun, 23 Mar 2025 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bridging-the-gulf-with-ai-how-india-and-gcc-countries-can-leverage-ai-for-mutual-growth-and-innovation-605741.html New Delhi March 10 Recently a few months back the External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar paid his visit to Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the firstever IndiaGCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue During the meeting EAM highlighted with great emphasis that the Gulf Cooperation Council as an entity has a vital significance for India and constitutes the extended neighbourhood for India The key milestone of the meeting was the adoption of a Joint Action Plan 20242028 for cooperating in various sectors such as healthcare security transportation agriculture energy and food security It was also decided that other areas of cooperation will also be included in the Joint Action Plan at later stages with mutually agreedupon consensusIn this regard technology can be something very decisive in making this cooperation stronger and more equitable Technologies especially emerging technologies like AI have the potential to contribute immensely to different sectors and drive inclusive growth and development Interestingly it is important to recognise that AI is the new frontier in the global technology landscape where every country and group is vying to establish a stronghold AI is no longer a buzzword in international politics as it is transforming every aspect of modern society with farreaching implications for the future As India and the Gulf countries seek to enhance their strategic partnership AI can play a pivotal role in fostering greater cooperation and driving mutual prosperity The Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates Qatar Kuwait Bahrain and Oman has emerged as a key economic and strategic partner for India Beyond the robust trade and investment flows it is evident that there is a growing convergence of interests between India and the GCC on issues of regional security and counterterrorism due to several geopolitical obligations In this regard building on the growing strategic convergence AI can further deepen the IndiaGCC partnershipOne area where AI can significantly enhance IndiaGCC cooperation is in the field of supply chain management and logistics Emerging AIpowered technologies like predictive analytics autonomous vehicles and robotics can optimise and streamline supply chain operations leading to greater cost efficiencies and improved responsiveness In the GCC region countries like Oman are already exploring the adoption of AI in their logistics sector to drive future growth Similarly the UAE Saudi Arabia and Qatar have made significant strides in embracing AI across various sectors All GCC countries have come up with their own AI strategies and action plans to transform their economies and societiesSaudi Arabia established the Saudi Data and AI Authority in 2019 to develop and implement the nations AI strategy and the UAE set up the Ministry of AI in 2017 and launched the National Strategy for AI 2031 to integrate AI into various sectors Qatar also launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in 2017 to integrate AI across sectors such as healthcare education and transportation Similarly Bahrain introduced guidelines in 2019 to promote responsible and ethical adoption of AI solutions across government agencies Other countries in the GCC such as Kuwait partnered with Microsoft in 2019 to upskill government officials in leveraging AI and digital technologies while Oman collaborated on AI projects for a Smart City Platform in 2020 to enhance traffic management water efficiency and waste managementIt is also important to note that India on the other hand has made significant strides in establishing itself as a global AI powerhouse Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership India has outlined an ambitious National AI Strategy which aims to leverage Indias robust IT infrastructure and talented pool of engineers to position the country as a global leader in AI innovation This signifies that India has tremendous potential to cooperate with GCC countries and help them accelerate their AI adoption and applicationTherefore both India and the GCC countries can work together to harness the power of AI to address shared socioeconomic challenges and unlock new areas of growth India can share its expertise in developing costeffective AI solutions tailored to local needs while the GCC can leverage its financial resources and infrastructure to scale up AI projects Gulf countries have the financial resources and the willingness to invest heavily in advanced technologies to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbon dependence By leveraging complementary strengths India and the GCC can create a powerful AI alliance that drives innovation solves regional challenges and positions both as global leaders in the AI revolutionThe recently adopted IndiaGCC Joint Action Plan 20242028 provides a framework to deepen cooperation in AI and other emerging technologies Indias foreign minister S Jaishankar in his speech during the ministerial meeting said that the demands of AI of electric mobility and of green growth highlight the importance of sharing human resources In this regard collaborative projects can lead to innovative AI solutions tailored to the specific needs of both regions particularly in sectors like healthcare smart cities and agriculture For instance Indias expertise in software development and data analytics can complement the GCCs focus on infrastructure and urban planning GCC countries can invest in Indian startups and research initiatives fostering a vibrant ecosystem for AI innovation This investment can create jobs in both regions particularly in the technology and research sectorsAt the same time as AI becomes more pervasive it is crucial that India and the GCC countries address the associated risks and challenges According to a survey conducted by a think tank named Oliver Wyman Forum while the GCC region demonstrates leadership in the adoption of generative AI with 74 per cent of workers in the UAE and 68 per cent in Saudi Arabia utilising it weekly there are several challenges that require attention Notably 61 per cent of UAE workers and 57 per cent in Saudi Arabia reported that their companies provide inadequate training on the safe and responsible use of AI tools Furthermore 92 per cent of UAE workers have inadvertently exposed company data through the use of generative AI applications Additionally 82 per cent of UAE workers harbour concerns that the proliferation of AI may ultimately lead to the obsolescence of their current rolesIndia on the other hand faces its own unique set of challenges in AI development and deployment These include inadequate infrastructure lack of public funding information asymmetries and the absence of clear regulatory frameworks Therefore by pooling resources and knowledge both regions can speed up the development of new AI applications enhancing competitiveness in the global market as generative AI technologies can be utilised to innovate faster in product development cycles Furthermore AI can enhance crossborder cooperation in critical areas such as cybersecurity counterterrorism and disaster management Robust AIpowered systems can analyse realtime data detect threats and coordinate response mechanisms across borders strengthening regional security and resilience Thus knowledge sharing on AI regulation data privacy and cybersecurity best practices can help both regions develop robust AI ecosystemsHowever according to different experts on AI technology the unregulated deployment of AI technologies also raises ethical questions particularly concerning bias accountability and transparency Thus both regions must work together to establish ethical guidelines that govern the use of AI The potential societal implications of AI such as job displacement and inequality need to be addressed collaboratively to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed equitably across both regions By collaborating on establishing ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment and ensuring that both regions prioritise transparency accountability and fairness in their AI initiatives India and the GCC can position themselves as responsible global leaders in the AI landscape In order to address the challenges associated with AI adoption companies in GCC countries and India should follow these methods provide clear guidelines and highquality training to safeguard sensitive data address worker concerns about AIs impact on employment through transparent communication and retraining initiatives and implement a robust change management programme to make AI adoption a shared goal among the workforceThus in conclusion it would be important to acknowledge that the strategic partnership between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the adoption and application of artificial intelligence for mutual benefit By combining Indias technological expertise with the GCCs financial resources and infrastructure the two regions can drive innovation address shared challenges and strengthen regional security and resilience However it is crucial that both regions work together to mitigate the risks and ethical concerns associated with AI ensuring that the development and deployment of these technologies are guided by principles of transparency accountability and social responsibility Thus through a collaborative approach India and the GCC can harness the transformative power of AI to enhance cooperation and secure a prosperous and sustainable future for both regionsSudhanshu Kumar is a tech analyst and a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityRashi Randev is a geopolitical analyst and a doctoral candidate at the Centre of Canadian US and Latin American Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bridging-the-gulf-with-ai-how-india-and-gcc-countries-can-leverage-ai-for-mutual-growth-and-innovation-605741.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-wheres-kejriwal-as-atishi-struggles-on-delhi-roads-604226.html New Delhi March 2 Sometimes it is useful to stay home and reflect on situations to find solutions to issues Perhaps this is what AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal appears to be doing Its been days since he was last seen or heard He has largely remained absent from public view after his partys crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections Kejriwal who lost to BJPs Parvesh Verma in the New Delhi Assembly seat was last seen on February 23 at AAPs legislative party meeting where Atishi was named the Leader of Opposition in the House He has also not posted much politically significant on his social media handles including the XInterestingly he has neither reacted nor posted on the happenings of the Delhi Assembly where his lieutenant Atishi the former Delhi CM seems to be waging a lone leaders fight He has not said a word over the suspension of 21 AAP MLAs from the Delhi AssemblyThe only significant post made by Kejriwal was on the photo controversy which Atishi tried to rake and make into a big issue Reposting Atishis post on X on February 24 Kejriwal wrote in Hindi loosely translated The new BJP government of Delhi removed Baba Sahebs photo and put up the photo of Prime Minister Modi This is not right This has hurt millions of followers of BabasahebI have a request for the BJP You can put the photo of the Prime Minister but do not remove the photo of Baba Saheb Let his photo remain thereAAPs efforts to make it a big issue have come to a cropper as the photo matter has not created any support for AAP Atishi has been trying badly to hit the road on the issue but except for her 20 coMLAS not a single extra AAP worker or leader can be seen joining her protest in the streetsShe has even written a letter to the Speaker objecting to the suspension of 21 MLAs and has tried to make the Assembly ruckus as AAPs fight for AmbedkarOn 25 February 2025 during the address of the Lieutenant Governor MLAs of the ruling party raised slogans of ModiModi while the opposition MLAs raised slogans of Jai Bheem respecting the views of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar It is very unfortunate that no action was taken against any MLA of the ruling party but 21 MLAs of the opposition were suspended from the House for three days for raising the slogan Jai Bheem she wroteWhile Atishi has been trying to keep AAP activism active in Delhi Kejriwal has gone silent It is not that Kejriwal has no involvement in whatever Atishi is doing but the AAP chief seems to prefer to stay low and do jobs from the backroomCurrently in the national capital only Atishi and Gopal Rai seem to be handling the Delhi affairs and the rest all seem to have just vanished after massive electoral defeats Most of the rest of the AAP leaders seem to be busy with varied activitiesFormer Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also not been visible in the capital or on social media Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh has been busy with the Haryana municipal polls Former Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj is active mostly on XKejriwal is said to be busy keeping his flock together in Punjab where internal rifts are being reported It is also said that he is seeking entry to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route in order to keep his political scales up despite crushing defeat in DelhiWhile he may or may not gain entry to the Upper House his deeds of previous years are getting exposed in the Delhi AssemblyIt was quite expected for the ruling BJP to go aggressive with the 14 CAG reports that the previous AAP government in Delhi had hidden for fear of exposure Some of them were presented to the LG four years ago but the thenKejriwal government kept them under the carpet The reports are now being tabled one by one exposing the AAP underbelly It was known that things were not right on the ground under the Kejriwalled government but the extent is now being exposedAs per the CAG reports everything seems to be wrong with the AAP dispensation in Delhi These reports including performance audits on several issues such as the cost of renovating former CM Arvind Kejriwals residence liquor supply in Delhi prevention and mitigation of air pollution functioning of the Delhi Transport Corporation healthcare and Mohalla Clinics gravely reflect the then Kejriwal governments workingThe coming days may not be good for Kejriwal and his party as action may ensue on the CAG reports He was in jail for five months last year for his alleged role in the excise policy After the CAG expose his legal troubles may mount Equally distressing for him could be his political troublesDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-wheres-kejriwal-as-atishi-struggles-on-delhi-roads-604226.html Sun, 02 Mar 2025 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/usaid-india-voter-row-ngos-did-the-work-for-whom-questions-arise-601796.html New Delhi Feb 17 Several questions are cropping up over the USAID funds made available to several NGOs in the country The newly created US Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE which has been auditing several government agencies in the US and cutting wasteful expenditure posted on February 16 that they identified and cut 486M to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening including 21M for voter turnout in IndiaThe money was given to the NGO Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening CEPPS for a programme Voter Turnout in India Curiously the CEPPS website is offline nowThe DOGE revelations have led to a major controversy in India with the BJP terming the nowcancelled funding external interference in Indias electoral process21M for voter turnout This definitely is external interference in Indias electoral process Who gains from this Not the ruling party for sure said BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya in a statement on SundayMalviya also flagged the controversial 2012 Memorandum of Understanding MoU signed between the Election Commission of India and The International Foundation for Electoral Systems an organisation linked to Soros Open Society Foundation which is primarily funded by USAID the American federal body that oversees foreign aid and is facing massive budget cuts under Donald Trumps presidencyThe USAID programme Elections and Political Processes was to Promote legitimate contestation for ideas and political power through democratic political processes that reflect the will of the peopleThe action has raised several questions including whether this was going on for several years to destabilise the country or influence the voters minds Since the timing of the funding corresponds with that of the Congressled UPA rule at the Centre the fingers are being pointed at the grand old partyIn 2013 USAID pledged half a million dollars for India under the same category and its implementing partner was CEPPS The funds were disbursed monthly in and around the general election in India 2014 Postelection the funding faded though CEPPS continued to fund various projects in India under different headsMedia reports have said that in the Annual Finance Reports of CEPPS for at least 2016 2017 2018 and 2019 the disbursed amount every year is around 320000 This CEPPS is part of the larger umbrella of IFES International Foundation of Electoral System which is fundedpartnered with USAID the US State Department Open Society Soros etcIn 2012 the ECI under Dr SY Quraishi as the Chief Election Commissioner signed an MoU with IFES for joint initiatives for exchanging information experiences and research All this involves the sharing of a lot of data which in todays era is considered worth a gold mineQuraishi has however denied any wrongdoing but admitted that there was an MoU with IFES Yes there was an MoU with IFES in 2012 when I was CEC like we had with many other agencies and Election Management Bodies to facilitate training for desirous countries at ECIs training and resource centre IIIDEM which was very new at that stageHe said in a post on X There was no financing or even promise of finance involved in MoU forget X or Y amount The MoU in fact made it clear in black and white that there would be no financial and legal obligation of any kind on either sideHe also added that this stipulation was made at two different places to leave no scope for any ambiguity Any mention of any funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and maliciousInterestingly Quraishi in March 2020 had reposted a tweet that indirectly wished that Prime Minister Modi test positive for Covid19 after he met Brazilian President Bolsonaro during the Republic Day celebrations Quraishi also posted a picture of a handshake between the twoThe IFES in May 2023 published a report on Dalits role in the election in India This report comprises an analysis of survey data of Dalits across South Asia with questions on electionsrelated issues The page has gone defunct nowThe white papers keywords resembled Rahul Gandhis speeches of jiski jitni aabadi representation participation and influence in ParliamentThe money trail involved movement from the USAID to CEPPS a consortium of three large NGOs which in turn partnered with other NGOs and organisations across the world and further funnelled money into these countriesThere is a web of NGOs which have been involved in a series of projects linked to USAID And questions arise about the money pumped into the country where they mainly aimed at influencing voters to get a likeable government at the Centre who was to get the benefits in India and the US and what could have been the benefits like IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/usaid-india-voter-row-ngos-did-the-work-for-whom-questions-arise-601796.html Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-president-trump-starts-his-second-tenure-on-expected-lines-597565.html New Delhi Jan 26 The series of directives issued by President Donald Trump within hours of his swearingin was as expected unambiguous assertive and geopolitically important They seemingly confirmed that the new US President was determined to take complete control of the governance bring the America First call into play and give priority to building the economic strength of the US to fulfil that mandate The first of the ten executive orders signed by him even before moving to the Oval Office suspended 78 notifications issued by the Biden Presidency His directives included a freeze on the hiring of Federal employees except for the military immigration control national security and public safety stoppage of issue of any further notifications by Federal officials and restoration of complete freedom of speech ending the weaponisation of the instruments of governance in the previous regimeThere was also the declaration of withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty to save American aid of 3 billion given annually to the climate fund This and the pullout from the WHO that would deprive the UN agency of the annual US contribution of 130 million will have international repercussions Trumps longheld antipathy towards WHO is rooted in his perception that the UN agency was influenced by China which was responsible for Covid 19 virus and that WHO had mishandled the pandemicTrumps announced mission of Making America Great Again seems to be the prompt behind many of these early declarations in the spheres of foreign policy domestic handling of inflation and unemployment as well as of economy and trade President Trump in his second innings is driven by a desire to transform the US and leave behind a legacy of decisionmaking that no other President could measure up toThe first directives signed by Trump covered matters ranging from the security of borders to the thrust on bringing the governance totally under the Presidents control He terminated all arrangements of remote functioning for federal employees and ordered their return to InPerson work He asked for a plan for downsizing the Federal governments workforce through improvement of efficiency and attritionAt the same time he directed executive departments and agencies to implement emergency price relief measures to lower the cost of housing health care food and fuel and also create employment opportunitiesIn an extraordinary executive order President Trump renamed the US Digital Service as the Department of Government EfficiencyDOGE and proposed to place it under Elon Musk for maximising the governments efficiency and productivity Trump has directed his Secretary of State Marco Rubio to implement the America First foreign policy in which the US and US citizens will be the sole priorityHe ordered the rechristening of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and the return of the name of Denali the highest peak in North America to the former Mount McKinleynamed after the 25th President of the US in the 19th century At home the new President has called for tightening immigration laws interestingly the concerned directive captioned Protecting the American people against Invasion introduces a slew of policies aimed at curbing immigrationTrump in fact declared a national emergency for checking immigration and directed military personnel to help secure the southern border through the use of additional physical barriers as well as drones The Homeland Security Secretary has been asked by Trump to establish Homeland Security Task Forces in all states to assist in the faithful execution of immigration lawsIn another directive Trump has ended birthright citizenship for children born in the US to immigrant parents who were in the country illegally as well as those born to parents who were there on a temporary basis He has threatened mass deportations of illegal migrants including those whose birthright citizenship was revokedPresident Trump has designated some of the Drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations on the grounds that they had engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the hemisphere and flooded the US with crime thus posing a security risk to the country Designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organisations could facilitate military action against targets in Mexico and other countries Trumps focus on the challenge of countering terrorism will be appreciated by IndiaIn an executive order the new President has put curbs on visa seekers from certain countries to protect the US from potential foreign terrorists Vetting and screening will be intensified in regard to visa applicants from regions and nations with identified security risksTrump has restored the death penalty in the interest of public safety and asked the Attorney General to pursue cases of the death penalty for all capital crimes Moreover Trump has termed the Diversity Equity and InclusivityDEI programmes of the Biden Administration as radical and wasteful and emphasised that there should be prioritisation of merit and skill in hiring He rescinded a Biden executive order that enabled the Presidency to hire and fire federal civil servants with an eye on loyalty and ordained that the employees should faithfully implement the administrations policies to the best of their ability consistent with their Constitutional oathTrump is not taken in by the rhetoric of liberal values and he has firmly rejected gender identity politics and the diversity regulations earlier mentioned and has shown no flair for promoting human rights globally The policy of the Trump Administration is to recognise two sexes male and female and consequently the Federal government will henceforth use the word sex not genderIn line with the America First doctrine Trump has declared a National energy emergency that calls for a review of all obstacles to the creation of domestic energy infrastructure resulting from legal impediments such as the Endangered Species Act He has paused all federal Wind Energy projects rejected the concept of renewable energy and endorsed the revival of the oil and natural gas industry Significantly Trump has talked of the America First Trade Policy calling for immediate examination of the unfair and unbalanced trade with all countries including ChinaSome of the orders issued by President Trump are clearly beneficial for him at the personal level In what was clearly anticipated Trump granted pardons and commutation of sentences for offences relating to the events at or near the US Capitol on January 6 2021 He also ordered the dismissal of all pending indictments related to January 6 The sweeping clemency directive covered more than 1500 defendantsTrump alleging that there was political vendetta behind these casesTrump ordered flags to be flown at full mast on Presidential inauguration days annulling the Biden Administrations directive for a monthlong mourning for Jimmy Carter former US President that would have covered President Trumps swearingin eventThe Trump directive to keep the popular Chinaowned TikTok operational temporarily was meant to delay the execution of a law that had shut down the social media platform on national security grounds unless it was sold to an American and fixed Sunday January 19 as the deadline for this Trump has declared that he was open to Elon Musk Tesla CEO buying TikTok this will be a good business venture for Musk and a great source of political support for the new PresidentTargeting the DeepState Trump signed an order ending the weaponisation of government against political opponents and directed the Attorney General to investigate the Biden regimes misuse of the Department of Justice Securities and Exchange Commission SEC as well as the Federal Trade Commission FTC US Supreme Court is said to have a preponderance of conservative justices presently and it had recently ruled that Presidents are broadly immune from prosecution for any official actions taken during their term This should be a comforting situation for TrumpThe policy framework of President Donald Trump is still unfolding but their invoking of America First by him had already found an expression in foreign policy trade tariff and national security perspectives defined by him He is being very vocal about his intention of transforming the countrys systems to Make America Great AgainIndia would find itself on the same side of the fence as President Trump on the issue of global terror and its faithbased origins which had led the new President to call for special watch on the visa applicants from certain nations and regionsTrump is circumspect about projecting American political strength or its military might as a Superpower and his thrust on growth through economic advancement was clearly in evidence However the President did make mention of China more than once on an adversarial note Apart from the fact that he made a specific reference only to China in the context of a review of trade imbalances with all countries the new President forthrightly blamed China for dominating WHO and causing the COVID19 pandemic and in his inaugural speech justified the decision of US to take back Panama Canal because China was deriving an unfair strategic advantage through its useApart from Trumps stand against global terror his policy towards China would facilitate IndoUS friendship Trump seems to discount Human Rights campaigns on social media while favouring a peaceful world order His past record of friendship with President Putin of Russia and a lack of enthusiasm for the European Union as such and his full support to Israel against the violence of Hamas might have a moderating effect on the UkraineRussia war on one hand and help the process of release of hostages by both Hamas and Israel on the otherIndia should have a cautious approach to the America First call and Trumps handling of tariffs immigration and security of borders particularly after his declaration that we will forge a society that is colour blind and meritbased India is a major power in a multipolar world order and is a votary of global peace fairness in international trade and bilateral relations based on mutual security and economic interests It can deal with Trumps Presidency on merit tooThe writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-president-trump-starts-his-second-tenure-on-expected-lines-597565.html Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-76th-year-of-constitution-test-case-for-indian-secularists-597581.html New Delhi Jan 26 There comes a moment in life when one must introspect and move forward with renewed vigour The same goes for a nation India is celebrating 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution and it is the right moment to reflect especially on the concept of secularism Is the country really secular today That is the question that comes to mind when one sees pockets areas or regions witnessing either a total wipeout or a drastic decline in the number of Hindus It may appear to be unbelievable that a country with 80 per cent Hindu population has areas where they do not exist anymoreBefore Partition Hindus were present in large numbers in Pakistan and Bangladesh Seventyseven years later their numbers have declined dangerously in both countries This was expected as they are declared Islamic Republics where space for minorities Hindus in particular hardly existsBut what about Independent India which has a Constitution that professes secularism and equality If so then why have some areas witnessed the ouster of Hindus One of the worst examples is Kashmir where minorities especially Hindus were forced outIs Kashmir not a failure of the secularriddled ethos of the flagbearers whether political or social Havent they failed the Constitution or has the Constitution fallen short of protecting the Hindus It is a question that will be trashed by the secular brigade but should tingle the minds of the majorityKashmir is the test case of Islamic dominance perpetrated in the garb of azadi freedom that saw the gradual annihilation of the Hindus From being cent per cent Hindus the decline started with the advent of Islam in the Valley in the 14th century After continued and often brutal persecution by Muslim rulers the divided Valley was left with about six per cent Kashmiri Pandits in 1948 when JampK acceded to IndiaOver the decades this percentage further decreased Pandits moved to other parts of India due to discriminatory policies and attitudes of the Muslimmajority governments state administration and political class which was shielded by Article 370 Till the late 1980s the population had come down to almost two per cent In the late 1980s terrorism erupted in the Valley primarily targeting the Kashmiri Hindu communityIt was during the tenure of Farooq Abdullah November 7 1986 January 18 1990 that Kashmir witnessed organised attacks on Kashmiri Pandits The persecution led to genocide and exodus of the minorities especially the Kashmiri HindusToday Farooq Abdullah is the secular leader of the secular and socialist INDIA bloc The two words secular and socialist are the pet words for a majority of the political entities in the country whose total electoral politics is based on religion and caste mathematics For them 20 per cent of the countrys population is the major gateway to the Assembly or Parliament Hence fluttering the secular flag is the utmost vital strategy to be sure about the path to the electoral victoryIn this 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution let these secular entities introspect on what they have done to save the minorities in Kashmir None of them have stood for the rights of minorities and no one has demanded a probe or justice for the displaced Kashmiri HindusCrying foul in the name of secularism the Congress Samajwadi Party Trinamool Congress AAP or DMK or any other political party have failed to find secularism in the tragedy of the Kashmiri Pandits as the community lacks electoral strength and money powerThe parties are vigorously sentimental about the two words that never existed in the original Constitution The words socialist and secular were inserted into the Preamble under the 42nd Constitutional Amendment moved by the Indira Gandhi government in 1976 The amendment changed the description of the country in the Preamble from a sovereign democratic republic to a sovereign socialist secular democratic republicThe words perhaps were inserted to engrave the concept that the only country in the world with a Hindu majority can never assert its largeness and the secular addition to the Constitution can pin its strength Has this concept weighed on the majority which is gradually seeing its presence dwindle or even be wiped out in certain areas regions or statesBesides Kashmir there are several other examples like Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh where the Yogi government is trying to set wrongs right there are places in Kerala Bihar Jharkhand West Bengal etcLast year a working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister EACPM said the share of the Hindu population decreased by 782 per cent between 1950 and 2015 in India while that of Muslims increased by 4315 per cent The paper also mentioned that within Indias neighbourhood Bangladesh Pakistan Sri Lanka Bhutan and Afghanistan the share of the majority religious denomination has increased and minority populations have shrunk alarminglyFor secular parties the decline of Hindus means nothing as appeasing their vote bank furthers their electoral goals But in this 76th year of Constitution adoption when they debate vehemently for secularism and socialism let Kashmir be their test case to prove that secularism does exist in actuality and not just in their rhetoricDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-76th-year-of-constitution-test-case-for-indian-secularists-597581.html Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/january-19-the-day-to-remember-how-hindus-were-persecuted-in-kashmir-596244.html New Delhi Jan 19 Every year the Kashmiri Pandit community observes January 19 as the Holocaust Remembrance DayExodus Day to mourn the loss of lives homes livelihoods language culture Kashmir and Kashmiriyat For the community the day is also to remember the failure of the administration political leaders civil society and the loss of humanityIt is not that on January 19 the whole of the Kashmiri Hindu community fled Kashmir many stayed back in the hope that harm wouldnt come to them However massacres continued targeted killings kept on happening kidnappings rapes assaults loot and arson and harassment continuedAccording to an estimate by a local organisation Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti KPSS which surveyed in 2008 and 2009 a total of 399 Kashmiri Hindus were killed by insurgents from 1990 to 2011 with 75 per cent of them being killed during the first year of the advent of terrorismAn RTI filed last year said that 89 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in attacks since the inception of militancy in 1990 The numbers are disputed because many Kashmiri Pandits could not get FIRs filed and have no police recordOn March 23 2010 the then JampK Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla told the Assembly in Jammu that 219 Pandits were killed in Kashmir from 1989 to 2004The numbers may be disputed but what happened 35 years ago cannot be disputedThe entire Muslim majority population kept its eyes and ears shut as the minuscule Kashmiri Pandits were singularly targeted As fanatics danced on the Valley streets loudspeakers atop mosques roared with hate slogans threatening to rape and kill the kafirs if they failed to leave Kashmir Raliv galiv chaliv convert die flee were the options given to the HindusThere was no one to stop the radicalised mobs that had taken over everything in the valley and there was no one to put an end to the venomous speeches In the name of Azadi freedom there was something else happening It was the purging of the Hindus so that their places could be taken and their properties usurped The whole socalled freedom moment was for total Islamisation of the valley so that the merger with Islamic Pakistan could be done easilyThe then administration had totally withered away the police had become nonfunctional with some deeply involved with the terrorists There was no one the minority community could turn to The Pandit parents were ready to kill their women and girls as the frenzied crowds on the roads meant only violence Many women were kidnapped and brutally violatedNone of the leaders Farooq Abdullah the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saifuddin Soz Ghulam Nabi Azad and others who claim to be votaries of secularism were there to come to help the minorities in the valleyFarooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister of JampK from 19861990 Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Union Home Minister 19891990 It was under their watch that terrorism crept in and then flourished in KashmirThe maximum number of targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits Sikhs and all those who were seen as proIndia brutal gangrapes and killing of Pandit women desecration of temples kidnappings attacks and harassment of the valleys minority were happening when the two were at the helmWarnings were pasted on the doors and walls of Kashmiri Pandit homes open threats were published in local newspapers and messages were conveyed to targeted people to leave or dieThere was no political leader or anyone from the majority Muslim community no civil society member either in the erstwhile state or in New Delhi to stand up and try to stop the persecutionJanuary 19 also exposes the hollowness of the countrys top constitutional institutions which failed to take note of the atrocities and investigate and prosecute all those involved in the persecution and exodus of their fellow citizensThree decades after the mass exodus none of the successive governments at the Centre or in the state set up a commission or formed an SIT to probe the exodusJanuary 19 is the day to remember the failure of the Kashmiriyat and also the failure of the democratic pillars legislature executive and judiciaryDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/january-19-the-day-to-remember-how-hindus-were-persecuted-in-kashmir-596244.html Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-overlooked-atrocities-and-eus-failure-to-act-594019.html New Delhi Jan 6 On 31 October 2024 the EUBangladesh Subgroup on Good Governance and Human Rights met in Dhaka to discuss cooperation in strengthening human rights good governance and ongoing reforms under Bangladeshs interim government Both parties acknowledged the opportunity for progress amidst the countrys political transition particularly following the JulyAugust uprising The EU welcomed Bangladeshs commitment to reforms including ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and creating a Commission on enforced disappearances They also discussed the importance of transitional justice and accountability for past human rights violations emphasizing womens and minority rights electoral reforms and labor rights Bangladesh reaffirmed its dedication to democracy and human rights and shared its collaboration with the UN to address violations during the studentled movement Both sides agreed on the need for continued cooperation in multilateral human rights foraHowever the ongoing violence against Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh particularly after the government fell in August 2024 did not even find mention in the discussions While the EU has previously called for addressing earlier atrocities it failed to question or seek accountability for the recent surge of targeted violenceSince the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 Bangladesh has been engulfed in intense political and social turmoil with devastating consequences for its religious minorities particularly Hindus The violence against communities including attacks on homes businesses temples and community leaders has escalated to levels unseen since the 1971 genocide Despite the grave human rights violations occurring the European Union EU a significant global actor and one of Bangladeshs largest aid donors has failed to take substantial action or effectively address the situationHindus who now make up only 795 of Bangladeshs population have been disproportionately targeted in this ongoing violence Over 200 documented attacks on minorities have taken place across 52 districts since August Community leaders of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCON have been arrested on dubious charges of seditionThe situation has been further exacerbated by the actions of the interim government which has overseen the release of radical Islamist elements convicted of terrorism including members of Ansarullah Bangla Team ABT and JamaateIslami leaders has stirred fears of a resurgence of Islamic extremism These actions contradict the secular foundations of Bangladesh and signal a disturbing drift toward authoritarianism Yunus has delayed the holding of general elections and created a constitutionamending committee without democratic mandate raising alarm about the countrys direction towards an undemocratic and potentially Talibanlike regimeThe EU despite being Bangladeshs largest export partner and a major aid donor has largely remained silent While the EU has engaged in a few bilateral meetings with the interim government it has refrained from issuing any strong statements condemning the escalating violence and human rights abuses This silence is deeply troubling especially in contrast to the EUs usual approach of addressing crises and human rights violations in other regionsThe European Parliament has failed to adopt a resolution condemning the systemic persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh including attacks on Hindus This silence on growing authoritarianism and the lack of action to restore democratic processes raises serious concerns about the EUs commitment to human rights and democracyThe EUs inaction in the face of escalating religious persecution and political instability undermines its credibility as a defender of democratic values and risks destabilizing the region It must act decisively leveraging its influence to demand an end to the persecution of Hindus and other minorities call for free and fair elections and push for the restoration of democracy in BangladeshIf the EU continues to ignore these atrocities it risks losing its position as a global leader in promoting human rights and democracy Such inaction could embolden extremist forces further entrench authoritarianism and destabilize the region jeopardizing EU interests in Asia Immediate action is essential to prevent Bangladesh from descending into chaos similar to Talibancontrolled AfghanistanThe writer is an author columnist and holds a PhD in Sociology IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-overlooked-atrocities-and-eus-failure-to-act-594019.html Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-welfare-schemes-or-ponzi-tactics-red-flag-on-kejriwals-election-game-plan-592563.html New Delhi Dec 29 It is indeed a bizarre situation where a Chief Minister announces schemes and the government terms them fraud This probably must be unprecedented in Independent Indias history but that is how it has been happening in the national capital Delhis politics has never been normal witnessing twists and turns right from the day Arvind Kejriwal became the Aam Aadmi Party chief and formed the government From sleeping on the road threatening to disrupt the Republic Day function in 2014 to parking himself overnight on LGs sofa in 2018 former Chief Minister Kejriwal has attempted all novel ideas to endear himself to the public even trying to make his arrest jail period and release on bail something like political martyrdomHis unusual activism has no doubt given him a majority in the Delhi Assembly thrice becoming the Chief Minister from 2013 to 2014 2015 to 2020 and then again for the third time The tenure of the seventh Delhi Assembly is scheduled to end on February 15 2025 and before that the election process has to end So with the elections near Kejriwal and his party are moving heaven and earth to rekindle peoples faith which was badly shaken when they elected BJP candidates to all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capitalHis plot in the 2024 Lok Sabha election was an utter disaster after he made it a kind of a peoples referendum on his arrest which he had termed illegal But the electorate rejected his candidates somehow proving that his victim card had no takers The arrest was in connection with corruption allegations relating to the Delhi governments 2022 policies over the sale of alcohol Later the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for three weeks to campaign for the parliamentary elections on the condition that he would abstain from his official duties as Chief Minister Finally the Apex Court on September 13 2024 gave him regular bail Four days later he resigned from his post and made Atishi the CMDenying all allegations against him Kejriwal said that he would take up the post only if people reelected his AAP in the upcoming Assembly elections With this vow Kejriwal stepped down and has been attempting to win peoples favourFollowing the rejection of his victimhood referendum tactic in the 2024 general election the only best strategy for him is to announce and promise dolesThere is nothing wrong with making promises to the electorate before the election Every party does that and Kejriwal who is the AAP convenor did the same Kejriwal announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana ahead of the upcoming elections Registration for both schemes began on December 23The Delhi government in its 202425 Budget had announced Mahila Samman scheme to provide Rs 1000 per month to all women aged above 18 However Kejriwal on December 22 announced that the amount would be raised to Rs 2100 if his party returned to power in the Assembly elections He also said that the AAP volunteers would go to the peoples homes and complete the registration The beneficiaries were required to show their voter identity cards he added He also made the announcement for the Sanjeevani Yojana saying the elderly people will be registered at their homes by AAP volunteersAs Kejriwal CM Atishi his ministers MLAs and AAP volunteers started visiting homes and collecting data about the likely beneficiaries senior officers in the Delhi government released public notices and disowned the registration process started by CM Atishi and her predecessor Arvind KejriwalIt was an unprecedented move two Delhi departments releasing public notices saying the welfare schemes launched by AAP have not been notified by the government and are nonexistentThe Department of Women and Child Development WCD said the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana does not exist and has not been approved by the Delhi government It urged citizens to refrain from sharing personal information with individuals or groups claiming association with the fake scheme as doing so could result in identity theft or financial fraudThe Health and Family Welfare Department also said that the Sanjeevani Yojana was nonexistent The notice advised the public to exercise caution and not be misled by fraudulent claims about free medical servicesThe public notices have made the AAPs exercise appear like a Ponzi scheme in which people get looted A Ponzi scheme is an investment scam that pays early investors the money taken from later investors to create an illusion of big profits The AAPs two unapproved schemes seem to be luring people as investors in the AAPs electoral win to make Kejriwal Chief Minister for the fourth timeBecoming the Delhi CM again is the ultimate answer to the cases of corruption filed against him that is what Kejriwal has been saying The win in the Assembly elections is crucial for Kejriwals political existence and AAPs growth Hence the promises for welfare schemes The success of the Ladli Behna Scheme in contributing to the BJPs win in Maharashtra has given Kejriwal a proven strategy to pursue his ambitious goal of winning all 70 seats in DelhiDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-welfare-schemes-or-ponzi-tactics-red-flag-on-kejriwals-election-game-plan-592563.html Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/remembering-aps-attack-2014-and-pakistans-continued-struggle-against-terrorism--590152.html Islamabad Dec 16 The morning of December 16 2014 is etched in Pakistans history as one of the goriest and gloomiest A terrorist attack on Army Public School APS in Peshawar butchered about 150 students and teachers While the incident became a breaking point for Pakistan families of students and teachers and people at large still ask questions to the leaders of the time But justice has been elusive December 16 2024 marks a decade after the traumatising and shocking memories of the APS attack The incident not only shook the whole of Pakistan but also left everyone in the world shellshocked Unfortunately even today the questions and demands for justice outnumber actions taken to put an end to the menace of terrorism from the countryAfter the APS attack Pakistan decided to end the segregation of good and bad Taliban and announced a clear allout policy to crush terrorist groups like the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP the militant group that claimed responsibility of the attack and other groups through a National Action Plan NAP But ten years after the incident and the introduction of NAP a pertinent question remains where do we standPakistan today is mourning in remembrance of the victims of the APS attack All educational institutions nationwide have been closed while rallies and special prayers are to be held to observe the occasion But the primary question continues to haunt the country as even after a decade Pakistan is still struggling to root out terror from its soil as attacks continue to claim lives in the country every dayThese terrorist groups enjoyed a renewed boost since 2021 when Afghan Taliban took over neighbouring Afghanistan Since then TTP and its affiliate groups have enjoyed extended support in every possible way to carry out their attacks in Pakistan said strategic analyst Kamran YousafEven though civilian casualties and attacks have come down TTP and other of its affiliates have certainly been able to penetrate into Pakistan and have carried out multiple attacks on police and security forces TTP poses a direct threat to Pakistans security as it tries to become the arm of AlQaeda in the region Kamran Yousaf addedWhile Pakistan government claims that the Afghan Taliban are arming facilitating harbouring and supporting TTP and its ongoing terrorist attacks it is also a fact that the country has fallen short and has failed to root out TTP footprints from its territory The fact also remains that other extremist groups which operate under the umbrella of sectarianism and target other sects with violence also continue to function openlyTerrorism should not have a selective identification Be it the TTP AlQaeda ISKP or other groups spreading sectarian violence arming sectarian groups to kill others or using the excuse of blasphemy to extend their antistate agendas unless all of these groups are neutralised the battle will be impossible to win said Azaz Syed senior analystToday as the country remembers the massacre in APS in 2014 family members of the departed children and teachers are still carrying demands and questions to the state calling for the implementation of NAP without delay and providing justice to the families of those who fell victim to the brutalityThe state must fully commit itself to end the menace of terrorism Sadly the state seems more focused on indulging itself in politics manoeuvring and dictating the political parties and their opposition leaving counterterrorism far down in the list of priorities said senior political analyst Javed SiddiqueIf we do not want to see repeats of the tragic APS attack in the present and the future the attitude of the state will have to change he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/remembering-aps-attack-2014-and-pakistans-continued-struggle-against-terrorism--590152.html Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-congress-under-fire-as-allies-push-for-new-leadership-in-india-bloc-588346.html New Delhi Dec 8 The question is it the right time for the oppositionminus Congress to assert its identity today no longer seems overstated The churn has begun and loud voices are seeking a change in the INDIA blocs leadership Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav the blocs two major performers have started targeting Congress at its most vulnerable points Their party leaders are directly and indirectly pointing fingers at the grand old party and its leader Rahul GandhiTheir contentions are not unfounded The Congress has lost its sheen over the past few decades and has witnessed more downslides even as the Gandhi familys electoral fortunes have excelled It has failed to build on issues and corner the Modiled government and is rather obsessed with businessmen and the Prime MinisterDespite having Mallikarjun Kharge as its president the Congress is largely perceived as a Gandhi familydominated party The family has done itself well with Rahul Gandhi winning two Lok Sabha seats Wayanad and Rae Bareli Priyanka Gandhi Vadra registering a huge victory in Wayanad after her brother chose to retain Rae Bareli mother Sonia Gandhi successfully shifted to the Rajya Sabha later giving up Rae Bareli Lok Sabha for her son Family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma wrested the Amethi Lok Sabha seat from Smriti Irani The family has secured its fortunes but the party has floundered Except for Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh the Congress has performed badly in the rest of the statesThe partys better performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is being credited to the regional allies For instance in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh it was chiefly Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party SP that did the best in the INDIA bloc and helped the Congress to gain also The Samajwadi Party raised its tally to 37 seats from five and its vote share jumped from 1811 per cent to 3359 per cent Congress increased its vote share by over three per cent to 946 per cent with six seats against one earlierWhile SP helped Congress in Uttar Pradesh in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections the grand old party refused to accommodate Akhilesh Yadavs partyIn the recently held bypolls also Congress fared poorly in comparison to its INDIA bloc allies The Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party did much better The only consolation for the Congress party was winning all three seats in Karnataka and retaining one in Madhya Pradesh However its performance in Rajasthan Assam Punjab and Gujarat was poorIn the Jharkhand Assembly polls which the INDIA bloc has been celebrating the truth is that the Hemant Sorenled JMMs strong performance secured the victory It certainly was not Congress win In the South the DMK has been going strong and has elbowed out all including Congress though it is an INDIA bloc ally The only place where the grand old party has been able to maintain its lead is KarnatakaThe Opposition minus Congress has started expressing itself openly Raising the bugle this time is none other than Mamata BanerjeeIn Bengal she has maintained her supremacy in the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly polls and the various bypolls She remains unvanquished She has stopped the BJP from growing in the state and has pinned the rest including the Left and the CongressThe Trinamools dominance in West Bengal has bolstered its position within the INDIA bloc especially after the recent bypoll victories in the state The backtoback wins have reinforced Mamata Banerjees stature as a formidable antiBJP force in the opposition blocHer party leaders have been calling on the Congress and other INDIA bloc allies to set aside their egos and recognise Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the alliance They have also said that the Congress should take the backseatThe Maharashtra Assembly election results seem to be the last straw for the Opposition minus Congress Days after a few of her party Trinamool Congress MPs said that she should be in the INDIA blocs drivers seat Mamata Banerjee expressed her wish She said that she was ready to take up the leadership of the INDIA blocQuickly lending her support was the Samajwadi Party which urged the INDIA bloc to discuss Mamata Banerjees suggestion and extended 100 per cent support and cooperation to her The party also wants Congress to take responsibility for the losses be it in Haryana or Maharashtra where it was the main party The CPI has also been equally scathing of the Congress for not accommodating its allies especially in the Haryana and Maharashtra pollsNationalist Congress Party SP MP Supriya Sule has also positively reacted to Mamata Banerjees statement Sule has said that they will be happy if the Trinamool Congress chief takes on more responsibility within the allianceThe Congress which is still reeling from the Maharashtra loss may find it difficult to resist INDIA allies contentions this time The party may or may not go for introspection but the Opposition minus Congress needs to find its footing and this is the right timeDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-congress-under-fire-as-allies-push-for-new-leadership-in-india-bloc-588346.html Sun, 08 Dec 2024 20:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/understanding-the-shia-genocide-in-pakistan-a-crisis-in-kurram-district-586974.html New Delhi Dec 1 The systematic targeting of Shia Muslims in Pakistan particularly in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has grown into a humanitarian crisis The escalating violence against the Shia community underscores a complex interplay of historical geopolitical and sociopolitical factors that demand urgent attention and resolution The plight of Shia Muslims in Kurram especially in Parachinar a Shiamajority town is emblematic of the broader sectarian divide within PakistanSectarian tensions in Pakistan have historical roots The ShiaSunni divide which originated centuries ago deepened in Pakistan during the 1980s influenced by the Iranian Revolution the Afghan Jihad and policies under General ZiaulHaq These events catalysed the growth of extremist groups that weaponised religious identities In Kurram this divide has been particularly pronounced due to the regions demographics and geopolitical significanceLocated near the Afghan border Kurram has seen repeated outbreaks of violence with Parachinar becoming a flashpoint From 2007 to 2012 armed extremists besieged Parachinar cutting off essential supplies like food and medicine leading to the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of thousands This siege was a precursor to the ongoing violence that continues to plague the regionRecent attacks and escalating violenceRecent incidents highlight the severity of the situation On November 21 2024 gunmen ambushed a convoy travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar killing 42 Shia Muslims including women and children Survivors recounted the attackers exiting their vehicles and opening fire on the convoy leaving a trail of death and destructionWithin days fresh attacks claimed the lives of 20 more individuals further destabilising the region Markets were set ablaze and gunfire echoed through the night as the residents of Parachinar grappled with fear and loss The Pakistani government including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks vowing justice for the victims However such assurances have done little to quell public outrage or restore a sense of security Protests erupted across major cities with Shia groups declaring a threeday mourning period to honour the victimsThe statistical trends of sectarian violence in Pakistan reveal a disturbing trajectory Over the past decade major incidents targeting Shia Muslims have claimed thousands of lives In 2013 over 120 Shia Muslims were killed in bombings in Quetta an attack attributed to LashkareJhangvi In 2016 a bombing in Parachinar killed 23 and in 2018 the Mastung attack carried out by ISISK claimed 149 lives The Hazara community a Shia minority has also faced targeted killings such as the 2020 massacre of 11 miners in Balochistan The year 2024 has already seen over 60 Shia Muslims killed in Kurram with the violence showing no signs of abating The following table provides a snapshot of this grim realityCauses and consequences of sectarian violenceThe root causes of this violence are multifaceted Geopolitically Kurrams proximity to Afghanistan makes it vulnerable to militant infiltration and arms smuggling The porous border allows extremist groups like the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and ISISK to operate with impunity Regional proxy wars particularly the SaudiIran rivalry have further exacerbated sectarian tensions with both sides allegedly funding competing religious groups Locally Kurrams unique ethnic and religious composition has made it a hotspot for sectarian strife The economic marginalisation of the region compounds these issues with poverty and underdevelopment fostering resentment and unrestState inaction and alleged complicity have also contributed to the crisis Human rights organisations and local leaders have repeatedly criticised the government for failing to protect Shia Muslims Despite initiatives like the National Action Plan which aimed to combat extremism inconsistent implementation and lack of political will have hindered progress The judiciarys inability to hold perpetrators accountable has further emboldened extremist groupsThe human toll of this violence is staggering Families have lost breadwinners children have been orphaned and entire communities have been displaced The psychological impact on survivors is profound with many struggling to cope with the trauma of losing loved ones and witnessing violence firsthand The social fabric of Kurram has been torn apart with sectarianism fostering mistrust and animosity among communitiesPathways to peace and justiceDespite these challenges there are pathways to resolution Strengthening security in Kurram is paramount This includes deploying additional forces improving border controls and dismantling militant networks Judicial reforms are also essential to ensure accountability for sectarian violence Socioeconomic development is another crucial component Investing in infrastructure education and healthcare can alleviate poverty and create opportunities for marginalised communities Promoting interfaith dialogue and community reconciliation programmes can help bridge divides and foster unity International support both technical and financial is also vital Collaborative efforts with global agencies can bolster counterterrorism initiatives and support community rebuilding effortsThe ongoing violence against Shia Muslims in Kurram is not just a tragedy for the region but a stain on Pakistans commitment to protecting its diverse population Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort from the government civil society and international stakeholders Justice for the victims and their families is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for peace and stability in Pakistan Ensuring the safety and dignity of Shia Muslims in Kurram is not merely a regional concern but a test of Pakistans resolve to uphold the principles of humanity and justiceHowever it has become evident that Pakistan has failed to protect its Shia minority The repeated massacres lack of accountability and the continued presence of extremist groups targeting this community highlight the states inability to secure the lives of its citizens This consistent failure to protect vulnerable groups like the Shia Muslims coupled with the governments lack of will to decisively confront sectarian violence paints a grim picture of a state unable to provide security and justice to all its people This persistent inaction and disregard for the safety of a significant portion of its population signifies that Pakistan is in many ways a failed state The situation demands urgent intervention at all levels to restore basic rights security and justice for the Shia Muslims in Pakistan The time for action is long overdue IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/understanding-the-shia-genocide-in-pakistan-a-crisis-in-kurram-district-586974.html Sun, 01 Dec 2024 21:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pali-declared-as-a-classical-language-is-celebration-of-bharats-ancient-cultural-heritage-577525.html New Delhi Oct 4 In a historic decision the Narendra Modiled NDA government has officially recognised Pali along with Prakrit Bengali Marathi and Assamese as one of the classical languages of India This recognition long awaited by scholars and cultural historians affirms the deep and enduring significance of Pali not only to India but also to vast regions of Asia Known as the language of the Buddhas teachings Buddhavacana Pali has had a profound impact on the religious philosophical and linguistic landscapes of many countries since the third century BCE The decision underscores Palis historical and cultural importance aligning it with other ancient Indian languages including Sanskrit Tamil and Kannada that have shaped civilisationsPali is an ancient language of India that played a central role in preserving and disseminating the teachings of the Lord Buddha Although the precise origins of Pali remain a subject of academic debate it is widely accepted that Pali is closely related to the Prakrit language spoken across large parts of northern India during the time of the Buddha Unlike Sanskrit which was primarily used by Brahminical scholars and priests Pali was more accessible emerging as a popular medium to convey the ethical philosophical and spiritual teachings of the Buddha to the massesThe most famous and enduring use of Pali is as the language of the Tipiṭaka the Theravda Buddhist canon The Tipiṭaka literally meaning three baskets contains the Buddhas teachings on ethics psychology and the nature of reality These texts were passed down orally for centuries and later written in Pali in Sri Lanka in the first century BCE Palis role as the liturgical language of Theravda Buddhism has ensured its continued study and use in countries such as Sri Lanka Myanmar Thailand Cambodia and LaosPali Impacted the languages of Asia since the third Century BCEThe influence of Pali extends far beyond the borders of ancient India Beginning with emperor Ashokas promotion of Buddhism in the third century BCE Pali became a powerful vehicle for the spread of Buddhist philosophy ritual and culture throughout Asia Ashoka a great patron of Buddhism dispatched missionaries to various parts of the known world including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia where Pali soon became the language of religious discourseIn Sri Lanka in the third century BCE Ashokas son Mahinda travelled to Sri Lanka to introduce the Buddhas teachings Pali quickly became the liturgical language of Sri Lankan Buddhism and has remained so for over two millennia The Tipiṭaka was committed to writing in Pali in Sri Lanka ensuring its preservation Even today Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka study and chant in Pali using it as a medium to explore and teach the spiritual pathFrom Sri Lanka Pali spread to Southeast Asia where it became the language of Theravada Buddhism In Myanmar Thailand Laos and Cambodia Pali has played a central role in shaping religious practices and cultural traditions Even though local languages replaced Pali as the vernacular Pali remains the sacred language of religious ceremonies monastic education and meditation practices Its texts are still studied by Buddhist scholars throughout the regionIn East Asia although Mahayana Buddhism which uses Sanskrit and Chinese is more prevalent in China Japan and Korea the influence of Pali has been felt there as well Many early Mahayana Buddhist texts and ideas have their roots in Pali literature and crosscultural exchanges between Mahayana and Theravada traditions helped spread Buddhist philosophy more widely In particular concepts from Pali literature shaped foundational Buddhist ideas in both traditions influencing interpretations of ethics the mind and enlightenmentUnderstanding classical languageIn India a language is officially recognised as classical based on several key criteria set by the government It was started in 2004 These criteria emphasise the antiquity of the language its rich heritage and its significant impact on culture literature and philosophy To qualify as a classical language a language must meet the criteriaThe language must have ancient origins with a history that spans at least 15002000 years Texts and literature in the language should date back to this period Another is that the language must have a vast and enduring literary tradition showcasing significant works of literature that have impacted culture and thought over centuries The language must have influenced the culture religion and social structures of the regions where it was spoken It must also be distinct from modern linguistic developments maintaining an independent trajectory in its literature and cultural expressionsThe decision to declare Pali as a classical language honours its place as an ancient language that has met these criteria through its role in shaping not only Indias spiritual and intellectual heritage but also the culture of Asia at largeImportance of Pali being declared a classical languageThe recognition of Pali as a classical language of Bharat carries with it several important implications both practical and symbolic This designation is not only a mark of honour for the language itself but also a way to revitalise its study and preserve its literary treasures for future generationsBy recognising Pali as a classical language India acknowledges its rich linguistic and cultural history Pali has been integral to the development of Buddhism which is one of Indias greatest spiritual contributions to the world This recognition is a source of pride for Buddhists in India and around the world strengthening Indias role as the birthplace of a major world religionAlso the classical language status encourages the preservation and study of the language The government academic institutions and cultural organisations are likely to invest more in Pali studies providing resources for scholars to explore its texts translations and interpretations This includes the potential establishment of dedicated research centres grants for the translation and digital preservation of Pali manuscripts and the promotion of Pali as a subject in educational institutionsPalis influence extends far beyond Indias borders connecting India with the cultural and religious heritage of many Asian countries As a classical language Pali will attract global interest particularly from scholars in countries like Sri Lanka Myanmar Thailand and Cambodia where Pali continues to be an important part of Buddhist practice This can strengthen cultural ties between India and these countries fostering greater collaboration in the study of Buddhism and ancient literatureThe declaration of Pali as a classical language of Bharat is a momentous occasion that honours one of the most significant languages in Indias spiritual and cultural history As the language of the Buddhas teachings Pali has had a lasting impact not only in India but across much of Asia shaping the philosophical religious and linguistic development of entire civilisationsBy recognising Palis classical status the Government of India is ensuring that this ancient language receives the recognition resources and reverence it deservesThe author is an Assistant Professor at University of Delhi IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pali-declared-as-a-classical-language-is-celebration-of-bharats-ancient-cultural-heritage-577525.html Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-exclusive-the-rise-of-narendra-modi-573784.html New Delhi Sep 16 Born on September 17 1950 a few years after India gained independence and just before it became a Republic Narendra Modi was the third of six children of Damodardas and Hiraba Modi As a child Narendra Modi occasionally assisted at his fathers tea stall at Vadnagar railway station He finished his schooling in Vadnagar in 1967 where he was seen as an average student but a talented debater and actor with a passion for theatre At the age of eight Narendra Modi joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS and was mentored by Lakshmanrao InamdarNarendra Modis first significant political action came in 1971 when he joined a Jana Sangh protest in support of the Bangladesh Liberation War which led to a brief detention After the 1971 IndoPak war he became a fulltime RSS pracharak campaignerIn 1978 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Delhi University followed by a Master of Arts degree from Gujarat University in 1983 His rise in the RSS and subsequent involvement with the BJP laid the foundation for his political ascentIn June 1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India that lasted until 1977 During this time many of her political rivals were imprisoned and opposition groups were outlawedNarendra Modi was named General Secretary of the Gujarat Lok Sangharsh Samiti an RSS committee that coordinated resistance to the Emergency in GujaratAfter the RSS was banned Narendra Modi went underground in Gujarat often travelling in disguise to avoid arrest once posing as a monk and another time as a Sikh He was active in distributing antigovernment pamphlets organizing protests and creating a network of safe houses for those wanted by the governmentNarendra Modi also helped raise funds for political activists and refugees During this period he authored a Gujarati book Sangharsh Ma Gujarat Gujarat in Struggles detailing the events of the EmergencyNarendra Modi met prominent political figures like trade unionist George Fernandes during this timeIn 1978 he was appointed as an RSS sambhagpracharak regional organizer overseeing activities in Surat and Vadodara In 1979 he moved to Delhi to research and write about the RSSs role during the EmergencyHe returned to Gujarat and was assigned to the BJP in 1985In 1987 he played a key role in organizing the BJPs campaign in the Ahmedabad municipal election which resulted in a decisive victory His efforts during this time led to his appointment as organizing secretary of the BJPs Gujarat unitNarendra Modi continued to rise within the party playing significant roles in organizing key political events such as LK Advanis Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 and Murli Manohar Joshis Ekta Yatra in 199192He briefly stepped away from politics in 1992 to establish a school in Ahmedabad due to tensions with Shankersinh Vaghela a BJP leader from Gujarat However at the insistence of BJP leader LK Advani he returned to politics in 1994 and contributed to the BJPs victory in the 1995 state assembly electionsIn 1995 he was appointed BJP national secretary and moved to Delhi where he managed party activities in Haryana and Himachal PradeshIn 1998 Narendra Modis strategy for the Gujarat Legislative Assembly election helped the BJP secure a majority which led to his promotion to BJP general secretary organization later that yearOn October 7 2001 Narendra Modi took on his first official role as Gujarats Chief Minister From that point on he has led an elected government He is now the longestserving nonCongress Prime Minister and has had the longest tenure leading an elected government including his 12 years as Gujarats Chief MinisterIn 2014 under Narendra Modis leadership the BJP won a landslide victory becoming the first party in over three decades to secure a majority on its ownBefore taking office in New Delhi Narendra Modi served as Gujarats Chief Minister for 13 years beginning in 2001In 2014 the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi secured a decisive victory in the general elections marking the beginning of a new chapter in Indian politicsNarendra Modis rise to power was seen as a shift towards strong leadership with a focus on development and economic reforms His message of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Together with all Development for all resonated with the masses leading to a historic mandate that ended the decadelong rule of the Indian National CongressIn 2019 the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a second consecutive term with an even larger majority The 2019 elections solidified Narendra Modis position as a transformative leader with his government being credited for initiatives like the Goods and Services Tax GST demonetization and schemes aimed at the welfare of the poorNarendra Modis appeal to the people coupled with his decisive leadership on national security and development helped the BJP cross the 300seat mark in the Lok Sabha reaffirming his dominance in Indian politicsIn 2024 Narendra Modi and the BJP once again clinched a resounding victory in the general elections securing a third consecutive term This unprecedented win cemented Narendra Modis place as one of Indias most dominant political figures in modern historyRiding on the wave of national pride economic growth and social welfare schemes Narendra Modis leadership continued to resonate deeply with voters across the country His vision of a New India and focus on development infrastructure and international diplomacy proved pivotal in securing yet another historic mandate With this victory Narendra Modis legacy as a transformative and enduring leader was further solidified steering India into a new phase of governance and global prominencePrime Minister Narendra Modi has spent his entire life in service to the nation and dedicated himself to the goal of building a stronger and more united IndiaFrom his early days as a young boy helping his father sell tea to his rise as the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modis journey has been one of tireless dedication and hard work His commitment to the nation is evident in every step he has taken whether it was working as an RSS Pracharak in his youth or later as a leader guiding India through economic social and global challengesNarendra Modis vision for India has always been about nationbuilding He believes that a strong and selfreliant India can only be built through unity development and progress Throughout his leadership he has implemented numerous initiatives aimed at improving the lives of ordinary people from better infrastructure to digital connectivity and welfare programs His focus on making India a global leader in various fields including technology economy and diplomacy showcases his commitment to shaping a bright future for the countryWhat sets Narendra Modi apart is his unwavering dedication to the nations development He has shown an ability to inspire people across the country to dream big and work together for a better tomorrow His leadership has helped ignite a sense of pride and responsibility among citizens encouraging everyone to contribute to the nations progressWhether its through the Make in India campaign the push for Atmanirbhar Bharat selfreliant India or other key initiatives Narendra Modis dedication to building a prosperous and strong India remains at the heart of his missionOn September 17 2024 Narendra Modi will turn 74 marking another milestone in a life dedicated to serving the nation Throughout his journey he has sacrificed many personal comforts and desires to focus solely on the wellbeing and progress of IndiaFrom his early days in politics to becoming the Prime Minister he has always put the country first His leadership has been defined by his relentless efforts to build a stronger and more united India Whether it was improving the economy focusing on infrastructure or creating opportunities for the youth every decision he made was aimed at uplifting the nation He gave up a regular family life and personal ambitions and devoted all his energy to the dream of a prosperous India His sacrifices inspire millions showing that true leadership comes from a deep commitment to the people and the nationBharat has never seen a leader like him one who has consistently remained close to the underprivileged and the common man even after reaching the highest office in the land Unlike many leaders who become distant from the people once in power Narendra Modi has always ensured his policies are rooted in the real needs of the poorest and most marginalizedFrom launching welfare schemes aimed at providing basic necessities like housing electricity and sanitation to focusing on skill development and employment opportunities for the youth Narendra Modis governance has been inclusive His dedication to improve the lives of those who often remain unheard has set him apart as a leader who not only listens to the underprivileged but actively works to uplift themBharat has never witnessed a Prime Minister so deeply involved with the grassroots consistently prioritizing the nations development over personal interests His leadership has reshaped how governance is perceived in Bharat placing the welfare of the people at the heart of every decisionThe author is an actress and Lok Sabha MP IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-exclusive-the-rise-of-narendra-modi-573784.html Mon, 16 Sep 2024 20:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/festival-mood-in-markets-with-liquidity-driving-uptrend-573562.html New Delhi Sep 15 In the last three to four weeks one finds that a single days movement whether upward or downward makes the trend or direction of the whole week In the previous week it was the movement on Thursday Sep 12 while in the week prior to that it was on Friday Sep 6 While Thursday was a sharp up day Friday was the opposite and was a down day In a week where markets gained on three of the five trading sessions one saw the BSESENSEX gain 170701 points or 210 per cent to close at 8289094 points while NIFTY gained 50435 points or 203 per cent to close at 2535680 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 188 per cent 196 per cent and 190 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP was up 152 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 205 per cent Gains made on Thursday were 1439 points on BSESENSEX and 470 points on NIFTYThe Indian Rupee gained 6 paise or 007 per cent to close at Rs 8389 to the US Dollar Dow Jones had another terrific week gaining 104837 points or 260 per cent to close at 4139378 points This comes ahead of the week in which the FED meets to decide on interest rates where it is believed that there would be a cut of between 2550 basis points The meeting is slated for TuesdayWednesday and the impact of the same on the Indian markets would be felt on Thursday The ECB had cut rates by 25 basis points earlier this week While a cut in the US is a certainty the impact on markets post the cut is causing confusion amongst traders It is therefore best to leave it at that and allow markets to react post the cut based on what markets actually doIn primary markets we had four issues opening and closing during the week gone by One of them Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd has created a new record in terms of subscription and number of applications The issue was for a size of Rs 6560 crore and raised a whopping Rs 324022 crore through 9073 lakh applications No previous issue has received so much money or so many applications ever before This shows the liquidity in the markets euphoria towards IPOs and the craze that people have for making a quick buck through an IPOThe issue is priced at Rs 70 and if the grey market is any indicator the share should list at a premium of over 100 per cent At this price the company would have a market capitalisation of over Rs one lakh crore on listing The price to book the company would be a steep six times and over and would become a reason for the entire housing finance sector to be rerated as the difference between the peer and the others try to catch up Expect the rest of the sector to move up on the back of its strong showingThe AUM of the mutual fund industry continues to receive excellent responses from investors across categories The AUM of the industry has risen by Rs 107 lakh crore in the month of August to Rs 6604 lakh crore Part of this is the retail segment and they seem to be a very big driving force of liquidity that the domestic institutions are flooded withMarkets hit new fresh intraday and closing highs on Thursday September 12 The levels were 8311619 points on an intraday basis and 8296271 points on closing basis on BSESENSEX and 2543335 points and 2538890 points on NIFTY These levels would become important as markets continue to build on them in their journey forwardThe week ahead would see a couple of issues open and close during the week Besides this there would be five issues being listed during the week with three of them including Bajaj Housing Finance happening on Monday Monday would include the listing of Bajaj Housing Finance which would be very keenly watched as wellComing to the markets in the week ahead it would be driven by events and news flow Monday would see three listings and the performance of the same would have a bearing on the housing finance sector as a whole and the market as well as a new one lakh crore market cap company getting listed The market cap at the issue price was roughly Rs 58000 crore Tuesday and Wednesday in the US would see the FED deciding on interest rates The way markets in the US take the rate cut quantum and the commentary thereafter would have a direct bearing on our markets on ThursdayKey supports for the markets are the psychological levels of 25000 on NIFTY and 81800 on BSESENSEX If these are violated support exists at the previous low made at around 24850 and 81500 points respectively On the upside the highs made on an intraday basis on Thursday would act as minor resistances If these are broken upwards with momentum we could see up to a three percent up move over the coming 57 days from the levels of 83100 and 25430 pointsThe strategy for the week would be to keep positions light on Wednesday prior to the US Fed announcement as that could be a very volatile and irrational day Trade for the first three days with longs and strict losses but reducing overnight exposure on Wednesday Post FED event fresh positions may be initiatedWhile momentum is in favour of bulls one should be cautious as we are in uncharted territory and the same should be backed by strict stop lossesArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/festival-mood-in-markets-with-liquidity-driving-uptrend-573562.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-takht-i-sulaiman-amp-koh-e-maran-farooq-abdullahs-nc-renames-iconic-temples-571416.html New Delhi Sep 8 Studying the manifestoes of National Conference Peoples Democratic Party PDP or Peoples Conference PC one wonders what more could be separatist divisive and communal The only difference is that separatism and communalism are given an ideological and dignified status by these parties who make a show of secularism but hidden inside is an agenda that reeks of mala fides These Kashmircentric parties have not made any effort to be covert about their intentions but have overtly made their manifestations this timeThe manifestoes of these parties seek restoration of Article 370 pre1953 status when JampK had a Prime Minister IndiaPakistan talks reinstating those in government jobs terminated for terror links repealing action against stone pelters etc The manifestoes of these parties promise everything that can come in the category of support to separatism or inclination towards the Pakistan agendaThe JampK National Conference headed by Farooq Abdullah one of the patrons of the INDIA bloc has gone a step further It has decided to change the names of some iconic places where ancient Kashmiri Hindu temples are locatedOn the 21st page of its 42page Manifesto titled Dignity Identity and Development under the heading Comprehensive Expansion of Srinagar and Jammu cities NC has made a slew of promises to tackle pressing urban issues like congestion and environmental sustainability and says that a more proactive strategy is essential So far so good nothing wrong about these promises But one among the ninepoint promises is something that has triggered concerns among the minorities the Hindus in particularThe sixth point says We will assess the feasibility of connecting TakhtiSulaiman Shankaracharya Hill with KoheMaran Hari Parbat Fort through a gondola system enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism in the areaThere seems to be nothing wrong with this as connecting two hills could be good for tourism But the alarming thing is the changing of names of the two hills which are known by the names of the temples located atopThe ancient temples have a history and story of thousands of years And they have always been known as Shankaracharya Hill and Hari ParbatThe Hari Parbat hill is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits due to the presence of the temple of Goddess Jagadamba Sharika Bhagwati She resides here in the form of Suyambu SriChakra selfengraved on the Holy Shila a vertical rock smeared in Sindoor and is known as ChakeshwariThere is an ancient story associated with this temple Kashyapa Rishi had drained off the water from Satisar but a lake remained in a part of Kashmir where a demon by the name of Jalodbhava had taken shelter He unleashed a reign of terror on the inhabitants Desperate people prayed to Goddess Durga for help until the day Mother heard their prayers According to the ancient history of Kashmir the Rajatarangni Mother Durga took the form of a bird Maina She carried a pebble in her beak and dropped it over the lake The pebble grew in size and transformed into a hill thereby crushing the evil The hill thus got the name of Hari Parbat or Sharika Parvat and with this Kashmir came into beingThe Shankaracharya Hill is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the temple atop is among the oldest in KashmirThe temple was built in 200 BC by the Mauryan Prince Jaluka Since then several rulers like Lalitaditya Gopaditya and various Sikh rulers have reconstructed the temple after it was attacked by the invaders several timesThe temple got its name from the visit of the 8th century philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya The Shankaracharya Hill and the temple have references by Kalhana a 12th century scholar who called it Gopadri or Gopa Hill Kalhanas Rajatarangini is an epic poem in Sanskrit running into nearly 8000 verses composed in 114850 in KashmirWith this recorded history then why should the Abdullah familys NC change the names Is it a deliberate attempt to change the Hindu names to Muslim ones as part of the complete Islamisation of Kashmir which began in 1988 with the advent of Pakistansponsored terrorism And Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister then He let terrorism and separatist feelings flourish The major targets of terrorism were the Hindus and the ArmyFrom over seven lakh Hindus in 1990 the community has only a few thousand left in the valley with a majority of them being government employees living in protected areasA whole community which is the original native of the land and has a rich heritage of over 5000 years was uprooted thrown in the hot plains of the country and forced to live in tattered tents and camps Once the Kashmiri Pandits were forced out the next on the agenda of the terrorbackers and their supporting political ecosystem has been to usurp the properties encroach abandoned lands houses and templesAnd the last step seems to be changing the Hindu names The Abdullahs NC has officially begun with the two great and highly revered temples for Hindus Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya HillDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-takht-i-sulaiman-amp-koh-e-maran-farooq-abdullahs-nc-renames-iconic-temples-571416.html Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nurturing-the-snake-pakistans-persistent-use-of-terrorism-and-its-consequences-568675.html New Delhi Aug 23 Pakistan has long cried hoarse and portrayed itself as a victim of extremism and terrorism As recently as June 2024 its federal government approved a reinvigorated and reenergised national counterterrorism campaign to eradicate terrorism through coordinated multifaceted efforts While it is true that terrorism has surged exponentially in Pakistan in recent years the blame lies squarely with its own rulers and military establishment After nurturing various terrorist groups for over four decades Pakistan is now entangled in the selfcreated chaos it hoped would only afflict its neighboursPakistans relationship with terrorism is long and complex While scholars and analysts generally agree that Pakistan first began employing Islamist militants as tools of its regional policy during the antiSoviet jihad in Afghanistan however this is factually inaccuratePakistans association with and use of nonstate actors dates back to its very emergence as a nationstate in 1947Within two months of its existence the newly created Pakistan pushed thousands of tribal lashkars militias to invade and seize Kashmir in what was construed as a holy war jihad to reclaim the Muslim majority regionIt followed up this duplicitous use of terrorism in 1965 when Pakistan Army pushed hundreds of armed insurgents mostly its soldiers under the socalled Operation Gibraltar into Kashmir to incite the locals against the state something that could serve as casus belli for Pakistan against India internationallyFurthermore during its genocidal campaign in then East Pakistan Bangladesh Pakistani Army used Islamist groups labelled as rezakars to fight against the Bangla nationalists in 1971For the credit of General ZiaulHaq Pakistans military ruler he institutionalised and incentivised the use of nonstate actors in the countrys foreign policyThe 1980s were a period of global significance with the Cold War between the USled capitalist bloc and Soviet Russias communist bloc unfolding in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan ultimately tilting towards the Wests victory by the decades endFor Islamabad Kabul had become a major bete noire due to its refusal to recognise the contested Durand Line the Britishdrawn border dividing the Pashtun heartland and its support for Pashtun nationalists advocating for an independent Pashtunistan since Pakistans creation in 1947When Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979 General ZiaulHaq backed by the US and Gulf Arab allies like Saudi Arabia positioned Pakistan as the frontline state in the socalled anticommunist jihadThe Pakistan Army established an extensive network of training centres often disguised as madrassas Islamic schools along its border with Afghanistan in NorthWest Frontier Province now KhyberPakhtunkhwa province led by Darul Uloom Haqqania of Akora Khattak to produce mujahideen Islamist insurgents who would fight the Soviets in AfghanistanThus began Pakistans enduring association with Islamist militant groups whom it continued to use strategically for is regional interests particularly against India after Russians withdrew from AfghanistanThis strategy was bolstered by Zias Islamisation of state institutions and the armed forces embedding Islamist ideology within Pakistans establishmentThis institutionalisation of Islamist forces has persisted with Pakistans military struggling to purge their influence from its ranks particularly under General Pervez Musharraf post the 911 era and USled War on terror Pakistans intelligence agency the ISI played a pivotal role in the creation of the Afghan Taliban in 1994 and supported their rise to power in 1996 prior to their ouster by the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001Interestingly after 2001 while publicly backing the US Pakistan covertly provided safe passage to Afghan Taliban and other insurgents into North WaziristanAfter recognising the effectiveness of using Islamist militants in Afghanistan Pakistan shifted its focus to Kashmir where it had made earlier attempts to incite local unrestAs such Pakistan military redeployed the battlehardened Afghan returned mujahideen to fight in Kashmir from 1989 onwards in an attempt to replicate their success against India Pakistan Army organised these foreign fighters under dozens of militant insurgent groups known as askari tanzeems including JaisheMuhammad JeM HarkatulAnsarHarkatulMujahideen HuAHuM LashkareToiba LeT along with Hizbu1 Mujahideen HM and AlBadr among others These groups have been responsible for numerous acts of terrorism in Kashmir resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and significant destruction of public propertyHowever as the saying goes one cannot nurture a snake in ones house and expect it to bite only the neighboursPakistans policy of using terrorism as a state tool has long backfired with many of the groups it once supported turning their guns on the Pakistani state from the mid2000s onwardsMost notably Deobandi Pashtun groups who coalesced under the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP in 2007 have fiercely opposed the state especially after Pakistans decision to join the Americanled War on Terror in 2001A prime example of an asset gone rogue is the Hafiz Gul Bahadur groupFor years Pakistan tried to differentiate between good and bad Taliban with Hafiz Gul Bahadur being classified as a good Taliban leader due to his focus on assisting Afghan Taliban fight the American forces in Afghanistan rather than targeting the Pakistani Army or civiliansInterestingly in 2006 after a peace accord the Pakistani establishment allowed Bahadur to establish a Shura council in North Waziristan one of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas FATA granting him the authority to enforce taxes and penalties This effectively made him the leader of the local Taliban in the regionThe Pakistan Army allowed him to maintain ties with the Afghan Taliban particularly the Haqqani network to ensure a degree of influence over the Afghan group and demonstrate support against the American forcesDespite granting Hafiz Gul Bahadur considerable autonomy due to his groups utility in Afghanistan Pakistan ultimately faced the consequences of nurturing militant factionsHundreds of suicide attacks resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and soldiers and caused extensive destruction of public infrastructure especially between 2011 and 2014Under Guls watch North Waziristan became a haven for Afghan Taliban foreign insurgents and TTP affiliates as the Pakistan Army refrained from conducting military operations in the region for over eight yearsThe situation changed dramatically after the devastating Army Public School APS attack in Peshawar in December 2014 in which TTP militants based in North Waziristan killed over 140 people most of them childrenThis tragedy forced the Pakistan Army to launch Operation ZarbeAzb in the region driving Hafiz Gul Bahadur into Afghanistan and ultimately transforming him into a bad Taliban in the eyes of the Pakistani stateAnother failure of Pakistans terrorism as a state policy is symbolised by the overall failure of Afghan policyWhile it facilitated Afghan Talibans return to Kabul in August 2021 and overthrow the Afghanistan Republican political system with the hope of gaining strategic depth in the country and undoing the gains of countries like India whom it presumes adversarial nemesis the policy went haywire within merely a yearIts once nurtured militant groups and current nemesis have only been bolstered to continue targeting the Pakistani state institutionsDespite frequent militant attacks which has left Pakistans internally security highly vulnerable Islamabad refuses to learn from its mistakes and continues to employ terrorism as a policy against its neighbours particularly India in KashmirThe recent surge in terrorist activities in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir carried out by Pakistanbased and sponsored militants reflects the persistence of this approachAs such while Pakistan may launch numerous internal antiterrorism campaigns as long as it maintains this duplicity and continues to support externally focussed terrorist groups like those targeting India it will struggle to achieve internal stability and will remain synonymous with terrorism The sooner it learns this hard reality the better it will for Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nurturing-the-snake-pakistans-persistent-use-of-terrorism-and-its-consequences-568675.html Sun, 25 Aug 2024 21:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/examining-feasibility-of-online-voting-in-india-567442.html New Delhi 20 Aug India the worlds largest democracy faces an intricate challenge in conducting elections at an unparalleled scale The traditional voting process characterised by extensive logistical arrangements significant costs and substantial length of time needs transformation As India rapidly embraces digital advancements across various sectors implementing online voting emerges as a timely and essential reform This need for change is underscored by a 2024 article in The Economist which citing the Centre for Media Studies CMS reveals that the cost of the election has ballooned to 135 lakh crore rupees making it the most expensive in the world This staggering figure places India ahead of the most advanced nations like the US where the total poll expenditure touched 12 lakh crore With an astonishing Rs 700 spent per vote Indias 2024 election spending is set to break records raising questions about democracy and economic implicationsOnline voting represents a transformative shift in the electoral process leveraging digital technology to streamline and enhance citizens participation in democracy Compared to traditional voting methods online voting offers numerous advantages including increased accessibility enhanced security and greater convenience It will eliminate geographical barriers allowing voters to cast their ballots from any location which is particularly beneficial for individuals with mobility issues and youth with educational or work commitments away from home Security features such as encryption biometric verification and facial recognition will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of each vote significantly reducing the risk of fraud Furthermore online voting can lower costs by reducing the need for physical polling infrastructure and materials while promoting environmental sustainability by eliminating paper ballots Given these advantages India with its vast and diverse electorate stands to gain immensely from adopting online voting making the electoral process more inclusive efficient and resilient in the face of logistical challengesThe feasibility of online voting in India is underscored by the nations advancements in digital technology The robust infrastructure supporting millions of secure online transactions daily in the banking sector is a testament to Indias ability to handle online voting securely For instance the cost of making a secure online transaction of a value greater than Rs 2 lakh is approximately Rs 25 Typical cost of NEFT transaction Therefore it is evident that banks already have mechanisms in place for ensuring the verification and safety of transactions of high monetary value It is therefore possible to have similar verification and safety systems for voting at a cost much lower than Rs 700 per vote Thereby a financial savings case can be madeModern encryption techniques multifactor authentication and continuous cybersecurity measures can safeguard voter data ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the electoral process Traditional voting methods incur substantial expenses related to setting up polling stations deploying security personnel and managing logistics Online voting can drastically reduce these costs by eliminating the need for physical infrastructure thereby allowing resources to be redirected toward enhancing digital infrastructure and ensuring widespread internet accessAccessibility is a fundamental aspect of a democratic electoral process and online voting can significantly enhance it One persistent challenge in Indian elections is ensuring that every eligible voter especially those in remote or hardtoreach areas can participate With the 2024 general election reaching unprecedented scale as highlighted by a BBC article in June 2024 the challenge of ensuring every eligible votertotalling 969 millioncan participate has become increasingly urgent Online voting offers a practical solution to effectively bridge this gap With increasing smartphone penetration and expanding internet access even voters in the most isolated regions can participate in the electoral process without the burden of travelling long distances to polling stations This digital approach also promotes inclusive participation by accommodating marginalised groups including older people differentlyabled people and those with mobility issues who often face difficulties reaching traditional polling stations By allowing these individuals to vote from the comfort of their homes online voting ensures their voices are heard fostering a more inclusive democracyTransparency and security are paramount in maintaining public trust in the electoral process Traditional voting systems are vulnerable to various forms of electoral fraud such as booth capturing and ballot tampering Fortified with advanced security measures like encryption facial recognition and biometric verification online voting can substantially mitigate these risks Each vote can be traced and verified enhancing the transparency and integrity of the electoral process Furthermore online voting will allow for realtime monitoring promptly detecting and resolving any irregularities Digital records of votes can be securely maintained facilitating accurate and efficient recounts if necessary and thereby reinforcing the reliability of the electoral outcomeFacial recognition technology widely used in smartphones can be a robust method for voter authentication ensuring that only the legitimate voter can access the voting system This technology combined with biometric verification methods such as fingerprint scanning adds an additional layer of security Incorporating Know Your Customer KYC protocols similar to those employed in the banking sector can further enhance voter verification ensuring that the person casting the vote is registered This multifactor authentication framework not only secures the voting process but also instils confidence among voters regarding the authenticity and accuracy of their participationThe convenience offered by online voting can lead to a significant increase in voter turnout Voters can cast their votes from any location and anytime within the voting period providing unparalleled flexibility This convenience is particularly beneficial for individuals with demanding schedules or those unable to visit polling stations physically Immediate confirmation of the vote akin to transaction alerts in online banking will reassure voters that their vote has been successfully recorded enhancing their confidence in the electoral process This seamless and userfriendly experience can motivate citizens to participate in elections strengthening the democratic processOnline voting holds significant benefits for the youth of India particularly for students and young professionals who are often geographically dispersed due to their academic and career commitments Many young voters study in colleges in different states from their home constituencies or have work locations far from where they are registered to vote Traditional voting methods require these individuals to return to their home areas to cast their ballots which can be timeconsuming and financially burdensome Online voting eliminates this need by allowing them to vote from wherever they are be it their college campus or workplace in another city This convenience ensures their voices are heard without disrupting their educational or professional responsibilities Furthermore online voting can engage techsavvy young voters more effectively encouraging greater political participation among the youth Gen Z who are familiar with digital interfaces and accustomed to online transactions will likely find an online voting system intuitive and easy to use fostering a more engaged and politically active younger generationDespite its numerous advantages implementing online voting in India is challenging The digital divide characterised by the disparity in access to digital technology remains a significant hurdle To address this the government can initiate programs to provide affordable smartphones and internet access ensuring that all voters can utilise the online voting system Cybersecurity concerns while valid can be mitigated through robust encryption regular security audits and continuous monitoring Collaborating with cybersecurity experts and learning from countries with successful online voting implementations such as Estonia can further bolster the systems security Additionally extensive training programmes and awareness campaigns are essential to familiarise voters with the technology ensuring they can navigate the system confidently Providing support through helplines and local assistance centres can further aid voters ensuring a smooth transition to online votingThe transition to online voting in India holds immense potential to enhance the electoral process making it more accessible transparent secure and efficient By leveraging existing technological advancements and learning from global examples India can address the challenges and implement a robust online voting system This shift is a step towards modernisation and a fundamental commitment to strengthening democracy by ensuring every citizens voice is heard As India continues to innovate and digitise various sectors integrating online voting into its electoral process is a logical and necessary progression At the outline providing an option to vote online through a proper verification process can be the beginning of a new era in the democratic system The Election Commission of India ECI is already recognised as a role model by several other countries due to its ability to conduct large complex and challenging elections ECI must ensure that the electoral process in India evolves with new technological advancements and societal needs Several politicians contend for paperbased elections by questioning the reliability of electronic voting machines and they may extend their concerns to online voting systems as well Nevertheless it may be useful not to take regressive steps embrace technological advancements and adopt progressive solutionsProfessor Dheeraj Sharma serves as the Director of IIM Rohtak IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/examining-feasibility-of-online-voting-in-india-567442.html Tue, 20 Aug 2024 17:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/breaking-free-from-digital-dominance-of-the-west-the-case-for-an-indian-owned-messaging-platform-567007.html New DelhiRohtak Aug 19 In an article written by Rebecca Kern published in Politico in 2024 it was alleged that WhatsApp had been operating for over eight months worldwide without explicit electiondisinformation policies While Meta has implemented stringent guidelines against voter interference threats of violence and election misinformation on platforms like Facebook Instagram and Threads it has not applied these same rules to WhatsApp Channels Instead the company relies on broader community guidelines which poses significant risks to the integrity of democratic processes globally This situation is very important as independence extends beyond traditional political freedoms to include control over digital communication Messaging applications typify digital communication Messaging applications have transformed global connectivity enabling seamless interactions across vast distances with just a few taps However the concentration of power within a few technology giants raises critical concerns about national security data privacy and cultural sovereigntyThe dominance of WhatsApp in Indias communication landscape is a case in point With user projections expected to reach 79567 million in India by 2025 WhatsApp has become an integral part of the countrys communication infrastructureHowever this convenience comes at the cost of a monopolistic entity which raises significant concerns The heavy reliance on a foreign platform exposes the country to vulnerabilities that a single external entity could exploit This situation raises critical concerns regarding national security data privacy and cultural sovereignty making it imperative for India to recognise the necessity of developing its own messaging platform Alternatively encourage utilisation of other messaging services such as Signal or Telegram to encourage competition that will likely benefit usersOne of the most significant concerns with this concentration of power is the unchecked spread of misinformation especially during politically sensitive periods like elections For instance one political party might disseminate false information to discredit its opponents Without alternative messaging platforms any rebuttal must rely on the same medium However if the owner of that medium were to show bias toward a particular political party it could manipulate the platform by blocking or slowing the distribution of countermessages This manipulation would create an uneven playing field giving one side an unfair advantage in the political arena and undermining the integrity of democratic discourseFurther when a countrys communication infrastructure is heavily dependent on a single foreign platform it becomes vulnerable to exploitation by external forces The revelations of global surveillance programs have made it clear that no data is truly private when stored on foreign servers In Indias complex geopolitical landscape the risks associated with these vulnerabilities are too substantial to ignore While WhatsApp offers endtoend encryption for the content of its messages the metadata generated by user interactionsdetails such as who is communicating with whom when and for how longremains accessible to the platforms parent company MetaRecent AI tools added to WhatsApp further accentuate the point that encrypted data can possibly be harvested for commercial gains This metadata which can be as revealing as the content of the messages themselves is subject to analysis and potential misuse For instance in 2018 the Cambridge Analytica scandal demonstrated how user data including metadata could be harvested and exploited for political manipulation Although the incident did not directly involve WhatsApp it illustrates the broader risks associated with allowing foreign entities to control critical communication platformsMoreover the concentration of control over sensitive communications in the hands of a foreign entity raises serious concerns about data privacy and sovereignty In todays digital age data has become one of the most valuable commodities often referred to as the new oil The data generated by Indian users on foreign messaging platforms is frequently stored on servers located outside the country placing it beyond the reach of Indian laws and regulationsThis situation undermines Indias data sovereignty as it effectively cedes control over its citizens personal information to foreign corporations The recent push by the Indian government for data localisationmandating that data generated within India be stored on local serversis a step towards reclaiming this sovereigntyHowever without the widespread use of alternatives to platforms like WhatsApp true data sovereignty remains elusive An indigenous messaging app would ensure that Indian data is not only stored within the countrys borders but also governed by Indian laws providing greater protection against unauthorised access by foreign entitiesOngoing legal challenges further intensify the debate over Indias digital sovereignty The Indian governments 2021 Information Technology IT rules require social media intermediaries to trace chats and identify the first originator of information This move is aimed at curbing misinformation and enhancing accountability but it has faced resistance from entities like WhatsApp who argue that it compromises user privacyBeyond the immediate concerns of national security and data privacy the dominance of foreign messaging platforms in India also threatens the countrys cultural integrity These platforms designed within specific cultural contexts may not fully honour or understand Indian values leading to the spread of misinformation and the polarisation of communities This form of digital dominance can erode social cohesion and cultural identityDeveloping an indigenous messaging app offers India a chance to protect its cultural narratives while fostering economic independence and innovation within its tech sector By investing in homegrown solutions India can reduce its reliance on foreign platforms aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and positioning itself as a global leader in digital innovationIt is interesting to note that mobile service providers such as Jio Airtel BSNL and IdeaVodafone have not even attempted to offer an attractive messaging alternative despite market attractiveness Why do these mobile service providers offer no such messaging application that is attractive easy to use and usefulTherefore developing an indigenous messaging app is not just about technological innovation it is about securing Indias digital sovereignty and ensuring that its communication infrastructure is aligned with national interests Initially the alternative messaging app could be mandated in the armed forces Central Armed Police Forces CAPF and police after ensuring its robustness and safety in sensitive environments Once proven effective the app can be gradually rolled out to government and quasigovernment bodies allowing for a controlled and strategic deploymentAfter these phases the app can be made available to the general public ensuring that Indias communication infrastructure is secure selfreliant and aligned with national interests This approach not only addresses national security concerns but also fosters a culture of digital independence within the countryDheeraj Sharma is the Director of IIM Rohtak IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/breaking-free-from-digital-dominance-of-the-west-the-case-for-an-indian-owned-messaging-platform-567007.html Mon, 19 Aug 2024 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-sharp-friday-rally-expect-markets-to-ponder-on-trend-going-forward-566873.html New Delhi Aug 18 The week gone by had a mere four trading sessions but had plenty of action At the end of the week in which we celebrated our 78th Independence Day markets staged a smart recovery on Friday and changed the sentiment completely BSESENSEX gained on two of the four trading sessions and lost on two BSESENSEX gained 73093 points or 092 per cent to close at 8043684 points while NIFTY gained 17365 points or 071 per cent to close at 2454115 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 065 per cent 066 per cent and 057 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP gained 043 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 045 per centThe Indian Rupee remained unchanged at Rs 8396 to the US Dollar Dow Jones had a great showing and was up 116222 points or 294 per cent at 4065976 points Data from the US now gives plenty of comfort that the US FED in its meeting in September would cut interest rates How much the same would be cut is still debatable but the cut is imminent One must also remember that the Presidential elections are due in November in the US and the FED would like to be cautious in whatever they doThe week saw plenty of action and one needs to understand the importance of Friday In the last four weeks Friday has played a very significant role The first was Friday July 26 the first day of the August series On this day BSESENSEX gained 1293 points whilst NIFTY was up 428 points The next was Friday August 2 when BSESENSEX lost 886 points while NIFTY lost 293 points This was after markets made a new high on the previous day at 82129 points and 25078 points respectivelyIncidentally this was followed by what could be termed Black Monday when markets fell very sharply The third such day was Friday August 16 postIndependence Day when BSESENSEX gained 1321 points while NIFTY gained 398 points With three out of four Fridays having a big movement it sure becomes imperative to track future Fridays as charts are all about patterns and historyIn primary market news the week saw two listings during the week and one issue opening and closing for subscription The week ahead will see one listing and two issues open and closed for subscriptionThe first issue to list was Brainbees Solutions Limited better known as Firstcry which had issued shares at Rs 465 The listing happened on Tuesday August 13 The share debuted at Rs 625 and closed on day one at Rs 67825 a gain of Rs 21325 or 4586 per cent During the course of the week the share slipped marginally to close at Rs 66905 a gain of Rs 20405 or 4388 per centThe second share to list was Unicommerce Esolutions Limited which had issued shares at Rs 108 This share too was listed on Tuesday August 13 The discovered price was Rs 230 The share closed day one at Rs 21005 a gain of Rs 10205 or 9449 per cent By the end of the week the share witnessed profittaking and closed at Rs 18960 a gain of Rs 8160 or 7556 per centThe issue from Saraswati Saree Depot Limited which had a price band of Rs 152160 received an excellent response The issue overall was subscribed 10752 times with the QIB portion subscribed 6412 times the HNI portion subscribed 35865 times and the Retail portion subscribed 6188 times There were 2180 lakh applications in all This issue will be listed on Tuesday August 20The first issue to open would be from Interarch Building Products Limited The issue would open on Monday August 19 and close on Wednesday August 21 The price band is Rs 850900 The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 200 crore and an offer for sale of 4447630 sharesThe company is in the business of turnkey preengineered steel construction solution providers in India It reported revenues of Rs 129330 crore for the year ended March 2024 It had an EBITDA margin of 874 per cent and a PAT margin of 667 per cent The company reported an EPS of Rs 5868 The PE for the company is 14491534 which is attractive at current levels of the markets and when compared with its listed peersThe second issue to tap the capital markets is Orient Technologies Limited which is opening its issue on Wednesday August 21 and closing on Friday August 23 The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 120 crore and an offer for sale of 46 lakh shares in a price band of Rs 195206The company is an information technology IT solutions provider headquartered in Mumbai The company reported revenues of Rs 60289 crore for the year ended March 24 with an EBITDA margin of 939 per cent and a PAT margin of 687 per cent The EPS for the year was 1180 and the PE band was 16531746 The company has entered the promising and lucrative business of cyber security which is a crucial and fastgrowing area and also enjoying higher marginsOla Electric Mobility Limited which had issued shares at Rs 76 and listed on August 9 is on a roll Shares closed higher by 7468 per cent at Rs 13276 They seem to have further momentum in them as at their annual event Sankalp the company has launched four motorcycles in a range of Rs 75000 to Rs 250000These motorcycle bookings have opened and they will be delivered from Diwali Day 2025 The motorcycle market is the largest market with 7072 per cent market share amongst 2wheelers in the country However in the EV space this share of motorcycles is a mere 1 per cent and this gives an opportunity for the company to penetrate Expect the share to gain momentum after this eventPost the correction markets have recovered very sharply and smartly over the last couple of days We are now near the resistance zone and markets need to decide where they are headed For the immediate short term we seem to be in a broad trading zone with levels of 2385023900 on NIFTY Acting as supportIn case the market has strength we need to quickly move past 24550 and head towards 24900 or thereabouts In case markets struggle at current levels we could see them slipping againIn terms of FPI action they continue to be net sellers in the markets One did see a large short covering on Friday but with their present mindset they are capable of again shorting the markets in the coming week The trading strategy would be to avoid large exposures in either direction and play by the ear At best it appears we will test the upper limits and then head down Effectively trade in a broad range from hereonTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-sharp-friday-rally-expect-markets-to-ponder-on-trend-going-forward-566873.html Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-100-gm-politics-for-the-power-of-90-in-haryana-565196.html New Delhi Aug 11 No one could have ever anticipated what a mere 100 gm can do It can break hearts generate conspiracy theories and create potential impacts on political calculations This 100 gm has shown and proven its significance Though only 01 part of a kilogram it has become unbearable causing more than a tonne of pain to every Indian especially sportspersons and politiciansBut what is 100 grams Ask any Indian or for that matter anyone in the entire subcontinent where haggling for that extra bit with a shopkeeper or a roadside vendor is deemed normal A little bit more chicken or cheese or tomatoes or any other edible product its okay to ask the seller to be extra generous So for normal Indians getting away with that extra few gm is permissible and acceptable Therefore it was a huge shock when 100 gm suddenly became the villain wiping out the possibility of bagging that elusive goldFor the first time perhaps this 100gm shock has been conveyed in loudly dont take the message casually or for granted Rules are rules meant to be followed and nothing comes for free So when Vinesh Phogat was found 100 gm overweight in her 50 kg category she was promptly disqualified Weight matters in wrestling and the wrestlers have to be alert and cautious about itIt will be known later what exactly went wrong between her semifinal win when she was within the prescribed weight limit during her bouts and the examination ahead of the final match Phogat her trainers and others knew the rule So how did she accumulate 100 gm in a few days A mystery for now but the whole country is waiting for the answerThe Opposition parties however have already given their verdict They have alleged a conspiracy A mindboggling conclusion indeed How can the government make an athlete gain 100 grams even as it spends lakhs on training It may be hard to accept the Oppositions view but they are finding an opportunity for more politics in this Parliament saw the Opposition raising the issue vigorously even protesting on the premises and boycotting sessions There is a strategic reason for them to be aggressive about itVinesh Phogat hails from Haryana where Assembly polls are going to be held in a few months Sports particularly wrestling and the Phogat sisters do matter in state politics And her disqualification has therefore created ripples in Haryana politics with blame games and promises being made by both the ruling party and the OppositionWhile the INDIA bloc has blamed the BJP for the injustice to Phogat the ruling party has alleged that the Opposition is commenting only to gain political mileage Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced that Phogat will be honoured at par with the Olympic medallist and accorded a grand welcome upon her returnThe Congress party wants Phogat to be given a Rajya Sabha seat Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said the government should honour her at par with a gold medallist He also said that if he had adequate numbers in the Assembly he would have ensured Phogats election to the Upper House as a Congress nominee The party has also questioned why Phogat was made to compete in the 50 kg category and not the 53 kg categoryThe Aam Aadmi Party AAP which is trying to create a foothold in the state held a protest in Gurugram in support of Phogat and alleged that the ruling BJP in the Centre and state were responsible for the injustice to the athlete They want her to join the party The AAP has decided to contest all 90 Assembly seats in the state Sunita Kejriwal the wife of incarcerated CM Arvind Kejriwal has already started the campaign in the stateIndian National Lok Dal INLD MLA Abhay Chautala said that his party would honour Phogat once it comes to power later this year with Rs 7crore prize money and a plot to run her wrestling academy The INLD has formed an alliance with the BSP for the Assembly pollsHaryana politics saw an impact when Phogat Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik led a protest against the then Wrestler Federation of India WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh in 2023 She was also manhandled by the Delhi Police for trying to forcibly march towards Parliament then This is said to be one of the reasons for the notsogood performance of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha electionsWith the Assembly polls near the Opposition INDIA bloc has found an opportunity in Phogats disqualificationThe 100 grams is no longer a weighty issue it is now more about politics But politicians forget that this was not the first time Phogat has faced disqualification due to being overweight She was disqualified in 2016 from the World Rio Olympic Qualifying event where she weighed 400 gm more in the 48 kg category competitionAfter the 100gm shock Phogat decided to retire and wrote emotional lines on her X handle She may or may not join politics as she has been given open invitations by various political parties The 100gram saga will remain in the news at least until Haryana gets a new AssemblyBut out in the world the haggling for that extra bit maybe 1 or 10 or 100 gm will continue between the buyer and the sellerDeepika Bhan ca be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-100-gm-politics-for-the-power-of-90-in-haryana-565196.html Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/mondays-sharp-correction-makes-markets-move-uncertain-565197.html New Delhi Aug 11 Markets were topsyturvy in the week gone by The correction which had set in on Friday of the previous week 2nd August continued and we saw a sharp selloff on Monday Probably this was a fall which postcovid market participants had never seen before One must ignore of course the fall witnessed on June 4 when results were declared for the general elections which were lower than what the exit polls had said This saw a sharp reaction from the markets in India and also globallyThere has been recovery from the lower levels but whether we are out of the woods is still an issue which is debatable To add to the worries of the Indian markets is the fact that with results season coming to the last reporting week the comfort one looked for in numbers showing growth in revenues and profits seems to be missing This makes markets that much more expensive at a time when the one big factor against them is valuationsThe BSESENSEX lost on three of the five trading sessions and gained on two BSESENSEX was down 127504 points or 158 per cent to close at 7970591 points while NIFTY lost 35020 points or 142 per cent to close at 2436750 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 lose 124 per cent 138 per cent and 146 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP lost 101 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was down 186 per centThe Indian Rupee was under pressure and lost 21 paisa or 025 per cent to close at 8396 Dow Jones was choppy and lost on two of the five trading sessions It lost 23972 points or 060 per cent to close at 3949754 pointsThe lows made in our markets on Monday during the sharp fall were at 7829586 points on BSESENSEX and at 2389370 points on NIFTY These will become not only significant support levels for any downturn but also a pivot to decide any trends in the medium term on the market On the upside previous tops are a longer resistance but levels of 24500 on NIFTY and at 80500 points on BSESENSEX become important levels which have to be surpassed and maintained for any uptick to continue in the markets Until then we can say that the broad trading zone for the markets would be in the range of 2390024500 on NIFTY and at 7830080500 on BSESENSEXPrimary markets have been very active and we saw three issues listed during the week The first of them was the listing of Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited listed on Tuesday the 6th of August The company had issued shares at Rs 679 The discovered price was Rs 725 on both the stock exchanges The share hit the upper circuit at Rs 79745 on BSE and Rs 79750 on NSE It closed a tad lower at Rs 79625 a gain of Rs 11725 or 1726 per cent By Friday the share traded higher and closed at Rs 80370 a gain of Rs 12470 or 1837 per centThe second share to list was that of Ceigall India Limited which had issued shares at Rs 401 The share made its debut on Tuesday with the discovered price being Rs 413 and closing day at Rs 38605 a loss of Rs 1495 or 372 per cent On Friday the share gained some ground and closed at Rs 39695 a reduced loss of Rs 405 or 101The third share to list was that of Ola Electric Mobility Limited who had issued shares at Rs 76 Shares debuted on Friday August 9 and the discovered price was Rs 76 Shares then closed at the upper circuit of Rs 9118 on BSE a gain of Rs 1518 or 1997 per cent On NSE the closing price was factionally higher at Rs 9120Besides this we had two issues which opened and closed for subscription The issue from Unicommerce Esolutions Limited opened on Tuesday August 6 and closed on Thursday August 8 The issue at close was subscribed 16839 times overall The QIB portion was subscribed 13875 times HNI portion 25248 times and Retail portion was subscribed 13115 timesThe issue from Brainbees Solutions Limited had opened on Tuesday August 6 and closed on Thursday August 8 The company is an online and offline retailer of accessories clothes and everything that mothers need new born babies and kids wear up to 12 years of age They have a popular website firstcrycom The price band of the issue is between Rs 440465 The company is currently making loss and is yet to make profits Its a oneofakind company and has a head start in business The issue was subscribed 1222 times overall with QIB portion subscribed 193 times HNI portion subscribed 468 times and Retail portion subscribed 231 timesBoth the issues which closed for subscription last week would list on Tuesday the 13th of AugustThe week ahead also sees the issue from Saraswati Saree Depot Limited which would open on Monday the 12th of August and close on Wednesday the 14th of August The price band is Rs 152160 The company is into the wholesale business of selling sarees and its predominant markets are Maharashtra The company reported sales of Rs 610 crores for the year ended March 24 and an EPS of Rs 892 The PE band for the issue is 17041794 which is competitive with that of Sai Silk which is a retail brand based in South India The wholesale and retail businesses are quite different in nature The issue looks decently pricedThe week ahead has a trading holiday on Thursday the 15th of August when we celebrate our Independence day This would cause a mild disruption and see markets seeing a break in momentum On the positive side indications from the FED suggest that there would be an interest rate cut in the US in the September meeting Closer home RBI in its bimonthly meeting kept interest rates unchanged on expected lines RBI believes that it is getting closer to its target of inflation rates and is monitoring the progress of inflationIn a continuation of the Hindenburg saga there is a spate of allegations now being made by Hindenburg against the present Chairperson of SEBI There has been a denial put out from her explaining matters This has now become a serious matter as the tone of accusations is against the regulator and implies what can a regulator who has an issue herself do against Hindenburg Expect fast developments on this issue over the next 48 hours I believe there may not be much action in the marketplace on this news in general This now becomes a matter for the government and the regulator to act upon as their authority has been effectively challengedMarkets in the coming shortened fourday week will have a tough time to keep things under control We were hit last week by a selloff and the mood of FPIs is still not clear They appear to be sellers on many more days than they are buyers The biggest pocket of support is from Domestic institutions who seem to have compelling reasons to invest the sea of money that they are being flooded with In such a scenario with no immediate news flow to significantly alter market direction we should remain in a broad trading zone as mentioned above The strategy would be to flow with the trend and use any meaningful rally to sell and book profitsTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/mondays-sharp-correction-makes-markets-move-uncertain-565197.html Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-to-correct-throwing-up-select-buying-opportunities-563847.html New Delhi Aug 4 Things were rolling along fine for the markets until the FED meeting Thursday saw US markets fall as thoughts of an impending recession hit the markets overseas Our markets too got worried and we had a sharp fall on Friday followed by another fall in the US Probably we could see the week beginning on Monday the 5th of August opening with a downward biasMarkets saw yet again a series of new highs being made on the BSE Sensex and Nifty The new intraday high on BSE Sensex was 8212949 points while the closing high was at 8186755 points Similar levels on the Nifty were at 2507830 points and 2501090 pointsFriday was a sea of blood and markets fell across the board The week ended with BSE Sensex losing 35077 points or 043 per cent to close at 8098195 points while Nifty lost 11665 points or 047 per cent to close at 2471770 pointsThe broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 lose 037 per cent 017 per cent and 013 per cent respectively BSE midcap lost 007 per cent but BSE smallcap was up 062 per centMarkets gained on the first four days of the week and lost on Friday This incidentally also brought to an end the weekly gains which the markets achieved for the previous eight weeks in a row Incidentally 8 is a Fibonacci number and has great relevance in technical analysisThe Indian rupee lost 2 paise or 002 per cent to close at Rs 8375 to the US dollar Dow Jones gained on two of the five trading sessions and lost on threeThe last two days of the week were brutal and markets lost significant ground Dow ended the week with losses of 85208 points or 210 to close at 3973726 points The US FED had its policy review meeting on Wednesday At the end of the same it appears that at the next meeting to be held in September there is every possibility of a rate cut though the quantum is not yet sure The markets did not like the fact that the rate cut did not happen as yet or the fact that the US could slip into recession going forward Strange are the ways of the markets and we are all yet learningPrimary markets saw a lot of action There was one issue which opened and closed during the previous week for subscriptions while another two have opened and will close in the coming week Yet another two issues would open and close in the coming weekThe issue from Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited which had launched its IPO in a price band of Rs 646 679 received excellent response and was oversubscribed 6356 times The QIB portion was subscribed 9009 times the HNI portion was subscribed 4221 times and the Retail portion was subscribed 213 times There were 2395 lakh applications in allThe issue from Ceigall India Limited opened on Thursday the 1st of August and would close on Monday the 5th of August The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 68425 crore and an offer for sale of 14174840 shares in a price band of Rs 380 401 At the end of day 2 of the application the issue is subscribed 129 times overall One must remember that in IPOs the largest part of the subscription comes on the third afternoon with QIB and HNI bids getting bunched at that time The company is a road developer and had revenues of Rs 306619 crore and a net profit of Rs 30491 crore for the year ended March 24 The PE multiple for the share is 1962 2057 The share has decent prospects going forwardThe second issue is from Ola Electric Mobility Limited which opened on Friday the 2nd of August and would close on Tuesday the 6th of August The price band of the issue is Rs 72 76 The size of the fresh issue is Rs 5500 crore and the offer for sale is for 808626207 equity shares Currently the company is lossmaking as the battery is yet to be commercialised In terms of EV sales it is the market leader with roughly a 4245 per cent market share Investment with a mediumterm view is warrantedThe third issue slated to open on Tuesday the 6th of August and close on Thursday the 8th of August is from the makers of Firstcrycom The company Brainbees Solutions Limited is tapping the markets with its fresh issue for Rs 1666 core and an offer for sale of 54359733 equity shares in a price band of Rs 440 465 The company is in the business of motherstobe newborns and kids in the 012 range A first of its kind with online and offline stores which are companyowned and operated and also franchiseeoperated Currently the company reported negative earnings The issue is meant for longterm investorsThe week ahead would see markets open with a negative bias The first major support for markets would be the July lows of 24200 on the Nifty and 79500 on the BSE Sensex There would be support at these levels or even earlier but the real danger is that from investors who have never seen markets fall sharply This could lead to a cascading effect and forceful liquidation While the markets fall they would also throw up some good buying opportunities which could be useful to add positionsThe strategy for the week would be to allow markets to find their levels and look for buying opportunities Trade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-to-correct-throwing-up-select-buying-opportunities-563847.html Sun, 04 Aug 2024 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-pakistans-press-freedom-paradox-assessing-the-duality-of-journalism-watchdogs-562536.html New Delhi July 28 The state of press freedom serves as a key indicator of a societys democratic health Journalists capacity to report without restraint on pertinent issues viz governance national concerns plight of the marginalised integrity and transparency of the social structure promoting accountability and progress etc These ideals are particularly relevant in wellestablished democracies unlike in authoritarian states such as China militarydominated hybrid regimes like Pakistan or few monarchiesIn Pakistans militarydominated hybrid political system the environment for journalists remains hazardous and filled with countless challenges Pakistani journalists navigate a precarious landscape of daily uncertainty contending not only with threats from nonstate actors but also with persistent suppression by state forces particularly the Pakistan Army and its clandestine intelligence agencies like the ISIDespite these dire conditions international press watchdogs frequently understate the gravity of the situationDespite the ongoing killings of numerous journalists due to their workPakistans press index ratings from organisations such as Freedom House and Reporters Sans Frontieres RSF surprisingly rank the country ahead of some established democracies like India which boasts strong press freedom credentialsIn recent months Pakistan has seen the murder of over half a dozen journalists across its four provincesThese politically motivated killings highlight a precarious situation where the state is either complicit or failing to protect vulnerable reporters particularly in the countrys rural areasOn July 14 journalist Malik Hassan Zaib associated with the local Urdu newspaper Daily Aaj was killed in his car by unidentified armed assailants in Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinceThis incident prompted the New Yorkbased Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ to accuse the Pakistani government of maintaining continued impunity for those who attack journalistsThe journalism watchdog demanded that Pakistani authorities immediately end this horrifying wave of violence and hold the perpetrators to accountPertinently this was the third journalist killing within three months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincePreviously unidentified armed assailants had killed Khalil Jibran of Khyber News TV channel on 18 June in Landi Kotal and Kamran Dawar on 21 May at his home in Tappi village Miramshah districtDawar an independent journalist who also ran a popular social media news channel called Waziristan TV with hundreds of thousands of subscribers was a vocal critic of the Pakistan Armys oppression in the tribal regionsHe frequently exposed issues such as custodial killings and enforced disappearances disguised as antimilitancy campaignsHis murder raised direct suspicions of Army involvement particularly given the highly fortified nature of Tappi village as reported by News InterventionIt is worth noting that Pakistans intelligence agency ISI has a history of targeted killings of military critics lending credibility to accusations by the victims familiesAccording to the 2024 report by Reporters Sans Frontieres Pakistan ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in the global press indexRSF also known as Reporters Without Borders described Pakistan as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalistsThe report further indicates that any journalist who dares to breach the boundaries set by the Pakistan Army risks becoming the target of intense surveillance potentially leading to abduction and detention in either state prisons or unofficial jailsMoreover the countrys notorious ISI is always prepared to permanently silence any criticInterestingly while Pakistan adopted the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act in 2021 ostensibly to create a safe environment for journalists the legislation conditions journalists safety on adhering to a specific conduct Consequently both military and civilian authorities have exploited this ambiguity to enforce their own restrictions and penalize those who defy them For example Pakistani authorities arrested independent journalist Asad Ali Toor earlier this year for demanding accountability from state institutions particularly judicial authorities following the controversial 8 February elections Additionally 45 other journalists received notices from authorities for criticising the government and were warned to amend their conductThe sole offence of these journalists was reporting on court proceedings during the hearings of election irregularities casesSimilarly Freedom Houses 2024 report underscores that journalists perceived as antistate or antimilitary continue to face enforced disappearances and other abusesAhmad Farhad a Kashmiri poet from PakistanOccupied Jammu and Kashmir POJK was recently abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies for criticising the government and military establishment through his poetry following the Armys killing of POJK civilian protestorsFarhad poignantly captures this sentiment Ye puchta hai amneaamah ka masla kyun Ye amneaamah ka masla hai isse uthalo He is asking why there is public disorder He is a public disorder pick him upPakistans military establishment has essentially adopted this modus operandi to abduct and arrest anyone who questions their control over the countrys political and governance affairs with media professionals being the first casualtiesGiven the hazardous working conditions for journalists in Pakistan it is perplexing that the country often ranks higher than a democracy like India in press freedom indices published by Western organisationsAlthough Pakistans ranking is still not commendable it remains surprising One must question what prompts these organisations to obscure the reality Is there not a stark duality in their assessments of the two countriesFor example RSFs Global Press Index ranks India at 159th while Pakistan despite over a dozen journalist killings in 2023 is positioned at 152nd Additionally Pakistani authorities recorded 248 cases against journalists during 202223 to silence them as reported by the Freedom Network in 2023Similarly Freedom Houses annual Global Freedom Score awarded India and Pakistan scores of 66 and 35 out of 100 respectively yet surprisingly describes both countries as partly freeThis categorisation appears to undermine the democratic credentials of the worlds largest democracy IndiaIt is quite perplexing that India with its strong traditions of press freedom enshrined in its constitution Article 19 and supported by RTI is often criticised by these organisationsThis perceived duality does not truly reflect the countrys press freedoms but rather reveals the biases inherent in these institutions which are often leveraged by their sponsors and host countries for geopolitical purposesWhile Pakistani journalists continue to face severe threats and state oppression the nuanced challenges in Indias media landscape seem to be disproportionately amplified raising questions about the fairness and objectivity of these international evaluationsWhile journalists in India freely report on government activities and all state institutions without fear of persecution the situation in Pakistan is starkly differentThere even laws meant to protect journalists impose conditions that effectively require the press to stop criticising the state particularly the military This clear disparity further highlights the inconsistencies and potential biases in the global press freedom rankingsRegardless of the extent to which international journalism watchdogs spotlight the perilous conditions for journalists in Pakistan the stark reality persistsThe media remains under severe duress from both the government and the military frequently being compelled to comply while journalists suffer for challenging authorityRights organisations may ignore their struggles but the few voices of truth persist articulating the silence of the populace IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-pakistans-press-freedom-paradox-assessing-the-duality-of-journalism-watchdogs-562536.html Sun, 28 Jul 2024 21:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-at-uncomfortable-levels-book-profits-558960.html New Delhi July 14 It was an actionpacked week with markets volatile but rangebound for the first four days On Friday it appeared that markets had taken steroids and gained sharply making new highs on an intraday basis as well as a closing basis The sector rotation continues unabated and there is just a single point agenda that markets must be up and up and upFridays postTCS results were the turn of the IT sector and during the week it was helped by sharp moves in the FMCG sector as well At the end of the week with markets gaining on two of the five trading sessions and losing on three BSESENSEX was up 52274 points or 065 per cent to close at 8051934 pointsNIFTY gained 17830 points or 073 per cent to close at 2450215 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 065 per cent 058 per cent and 047 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP gained 015 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was down 026 per centThe gains made on Friday were 624 points on BSESENSEX and 187 points on NIFTY indicating that without Fridays gains markets were actually in the negative The intraday highs on BSESENSEX were at 8089351 points while the closing high was at 8051934 points On NIFTY these levels were at 2459220 points on an intraday basis and at 2450215 points on a closing basisThe Indian Rupee lost 6 paise or 007 per cent to close at Rs 8354 to the US Dollar Dow Jones gained on three of the five trading sessions and lost on two It was up 62503 points or 159 per cent to close at 4000090 pointsIn primary market news there were two listings which happened in the week gone by The first share to list was Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited which had issued shares at Rs 1008 The discovered price was Rs 1325 a gain of Rs 317 or 3145 per cent By the end of the day the share gained some ground and closed at Rs 135885 a gain of Rs 35085 or 3480 per cent At the end of the week the share gained some more and closed at Rs 136195 a gain of Rs 36395 or 3511 per cent Emcure shares were listed on Wednesday July 10The second share to list also on Wednesday was Bansal Wires Limited The company had issued shares at Rs 256 The discovered price was Rs 35205 a gain of Rs 9605 or 3751 per cent By the end of the day the share lost some ground and closed lower at Rs 35030 a gain of Rs 9430 or 3683 per cent By the weekend the share gained further ground and closed at Rs 35640 a gain of Rs 10040 or 3922 per centTCS declared results on Thursday July 11 The company reported revenues of Rs 62613 crore for the quarter against Rs 59381 crore in the previous year Profit after tax was at Rs 12105 crore versus Rs 11120 crore The EPS was at Rs 3328 versus Rs 3026 The results could be termed as decent but certainly not inspiringThe share gained Rs 26220 or 668 per cent on Friday post the results TCS was instrumental in pushing benchmark indices up to a great extent No other IT company has as yet declared results and on the back of TCS the IT sector gained a whopping 35 per cent for the weekThe budget is a mere six trading sessions away with there being a trading holiday on Wednesday July 17 and the budget to be presented on Tuesday July 23 Markets have not built up a big wish list as yet however markets have gained substantially This is a cause for worry The last 10500 points on BSESENSEX and 3400 points on NIFTY have come in double quick time and have happened in just about five weeks time This is too much in too short a time To make markets healthy and sustainable we need a correction and we need it now Whether they will oblige or not only time will tellThe strategy for the fourday week ahead would be to continue to take money off the table and move out of momentum stocks Allow the budget to be presented as there could be some populist measures with some hard decisions also being takenWhile in terms of overall the budget would be growthoriented and conducive to development the fine print could always have areas of concern It therefore makes sense to lie low over the next six sessions and allow the budget to be presented and sink inPost the same it would be a good time to have a relook at markets and make a better choice and selection for the long term Targets at such elevated and new levels are not necessary and suffice it to say that we have plenty of support at various levels which would act as comfort if markets were to correctTrade cautiously and avoid the temptation of buying in a redhot marketArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-at-uncomfortable-levels-book-profits-558960.html Sun, 14 Jul 2024 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-china-under-xi-jinping-worse-than-ever-558821.html New Delhi July 14 Xi Jinping assumed the presidency of China in March 2013 succeeding Hu Jintao as the primary leader of both the Communist Party of China CPC and the Peoples Republic of China Over the subsequent 12 years Xi has navigated China through a tumultuous period significantly altering the global perception of the nationAlthough China is an authoritarian state it had established mechanisms to prevent the concentration of unchecked power in a single individual a response to the challenges encountered under Mao Zedongs leadership These mechanisms included a maximum twoterm limit for presidents and a system of checks and balances within the Partys upper echelonsPresidents would typically begin grooming their successors as their terms concludedHowever these practices have been consistently ignored in Xi Jinpings case He amended the partys constitution to extend his tenure beyond two terms appointed loyalists to key positions and emerged as the most powerful leader in Communist Chinese history even Mao faced resistance from civil warera military generals Reflecting on these developments it is crucial to consider how Xi Jinpings decadelong rule has impacted ChinaThe starting of failuresWhen Xi Jinping assumed the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the country it was during the period of Chinas peaceful rise that the nation was thriving economically and emerging as a global manufacturing hubLiberal internationalists believed that as market forces penetrated China democracy would inevitably follow However a realist perspective of international relations ultimately prevailedThe China that Xi Jinping inherited was flourishing and becoming a constructive global forceUpon taking office he began to use this development and the rise of China as instruments for asserting dominanceThe Belt and Road Initiative BRI serves as a prime example it was Chinas first major international infrastructural project launched in 2013 to establish a multimodal network of infrastructure projects across various countriesA decade later the BRI has not evolved into a cohesive concrete initiative The worlds largest economies have opted out of participating in the BRILow and middleincome countries that initially joined the initiative began complaining about the debt trap where high interest rates imposed by Chinese banks forced many countries to cede control of projects to ChinaThe Hambantota port project in Sri Lanka is the most prominent example of this debt trapAdditionally the BRI did not materialise into a multimodal network but rather remained a means for China to establish influence over individual countriesThe failures of the BRI also affected Chinas domestic political landscapeThe BRI was closely tied to Xi Jinpings paramount Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation project This initiative aimed to revitalise the Chinese economy which had been decelerating since the global financial crisis Under Xis leadership the Chinese economic miracle that began during Deng Xiaopings era began to slow down Xs domestic and foreign policies are primarily responsible for this downturnSeries of policy mishapsXi Jinping and his loyalists who secured positions within the inner circles of the CPC following Xis anticorruption purge of numerous party officials are held responsible for several policy failuresAmong the most notable are the rising tensions with neighbouring countries such as India Vietnam and the Philippines with China being accused of aggressive actions along their bordersAdditionally China engaged in direct confrontations and diplomatic coercion with various states including Australia and smaller European nations where its wolf warrior diplomacy harmed its carefully cultivated longterm relationshipsIt is widely known that China has unresolved disputes with annexed peripheral regions including Tibet Xinjiang and Hong KongOver the past decade following Xi Jinpings unprecedented security crackdowns these borders have been tightly controlled As a result an estimated one million minority Muslim Uyghurs were detained in camps in Xinjiang and in Hong Kong Beijing enacted a sweeping national security law in response to significant antigovernment protests in 2019Xi has also significantly increased the public security budget for Tibet from nearly 160 million Yuan to more than 300 million Yuan over the last 10 yearsTaiwan an independent democratic island with security ties to the US has long been a target for Chinas reunification ambitionsRecently China has become more aggressive along Taiwans borderAccording to a report by Taiwans Ministry of National Defence Chinese air incursions have surged with the number of Peoples Liberation Army PLA aircraft entering Taiwans air defence zone daily increasing from around 15 in 2021 to around 70 in April 2023On the economic front Chinas economy has continually slowed since Xi Jinping assumed office Since his tenure began there has been an increasing crackdown on the private sectorChinese capitalism is predominantly staterun raising security concerns in many countriesThe purge of prominent industrialists such as Jack Ma has created significant challenges for Chinese entrepreneurs and wealth creatorsChina remains one of the most unequal countries in the worldThe economic slowdown since the Covid19 lockdown has also led to increased unemployment alongside a persistent decline in private sector investment and consumer confidence in the Chinese economy during Xis reignIn conclusion contemporary China under Xi Jinping faces numerous domestic and international challenges The lack of solutions to these issues has led Xi to adopt a hawkish approach towards neighbouring countries hoping to stir nationalist sentiments among Chinese citizensWhile this strategy may be effective in the short term in the long run more than one billion people will demand answers from Xi Jinping Ultimately history is likely to judge him with a degree of scepticism IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-china-under-xi-jinping-worse-than-ever-558821.html Sun, 14 Jul 2024 07:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/momentum-with-bulls-but-bears-are-on-the-prowl-557230.html New Delhi July 7 Markets continued their upward trajectory and added to their gains At one point in time BSE SENSEX had crossed 80000 and registered gains of 10000 points since the low made on June 4 when results for the elections were announced Ten Thousand points or 1428 per cent is a spectacular gain by all standards and should be taken as a big positive Markets are witnessing huge inflows where FPIs were caught napping with their bearish mindset and on the other hand domestic funds are flush with SIP funds which have now begun crossing Rs 25000 crore monthlyAt the end of the week BSE SENSEX gained 96387 points or 122 per cent to close at 7999660 points while NIFTY gained 31325 points or 130 per cent to close at 2432385 pointsThe broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 157 per cent 171 per cent and 191 per cent respectively BSE MIDCAP gained 277 per cent while BSE SMALLCAP was up 388 per cent BSE SENSEX gained on three of the five sessions and lost on two while NIFTY gained on four sessions and lost on oneBenchmark indices made new lifetime highs and the intraday high on BSE SENSEX was at 8039264 points and the closing high at 8004967 points both of which were made on Thursday July 4 The NIFTY intraday high was at 24401 points while the closing high was at 2432385 points The intraday high was made on Thursday while the closing high was made on FridayThe Indian Rupee lost 10 paise or 012 per cent to close at Rs 8348 to the US Dollar Dow Jones gained on three of the four sessions and lost on one It was up 25701 points or 066 per cent to close at 3937587 pointsThere is sector rotation happening and this week it was the turn of IT stocksThe BSE IT sector was the top sectoral gainer at 415 per cent Besides the IT stocks initial momentum was given by HDFC Bank as the FPI limit dropped below 55 per cent and fresh FPI buying emerged This propped up the share which rose from Rs 1684 to a high of Rs 1792 before profittaking saw the share close at Rs 1648 a weekly loss of Rs 36 or 214 per centThe date for the Union Budget has been announced as Tuesday July 23 on expected lines This week would also see July futures expire on Thursday July 25 making that an extra volatile week Keeping this in mind the flow of IPOs on the main board seems to have taken a pause for the time beingIn primary market news we had two listings and two issues opening and closing for subscriptions The first share to list was Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited which was listed on Tuesday July 2 The company had issued shares at Rs 281 On the listing day the closing price was Rs 31785 a gain of Rs 3685 or 1311 per cent By the end of the week the price had moved up to Rs 34390 a gain of Rs 6290 or 2238 per centThe second share to list was Vraj Iron and Steel Limited which had issued shares at Rs 207 The share was listed on Wednesday July 3 The share closed at Rs 25195 a gain of Rs 4495 or 2171 per cent Over the remaining two days the price moved up to close at Rs 26095 a gain of Rs 5395 or 2606 per centThe first issue to open and close for subscription was from Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited The issue consisted of a fresh issue of Rs 800 crore and an offer for sale of 11428839 shares in a price band of Rs 9601008 The issue was subscribed overall 684 times with the QIB portion subscribed 19124 times the HNI portion subscribed 4932 times and the Retail portion subscribed 736 times There were 2870 lakh applications in allThe second issue was from Bansal Wire Industries Limited which was subscribed 6276 times overall The price band was Rs 243256 The issue consisted of a fresh issue of Rs 745 crore The QIB portion was subscribed 1538 times the HNI portion was subscribed 5421 times and the Retail portion was subscribed 1437 times There were 2165 lakh applicationsMarkets need a correction to make them healthy The timing is one that people are unable to guess Whether there would be one before the budget or postbudget is a milliondollar question and has been speculated over the last couple of weeks IT results will begin this week with TCS announcing them on Thursday July 11 This would be a crucial result as IT stocks have run up quite sharply on the expectation that the turnaround in IT stocks as far as results are concerned is here Only results would clarify the sameFPI activity in the markets is still confusing as they are alternating between buying and selling Over the last three days they were buyers in the cash market whereas on the previous three days they were sellers Their short positions around the election results time have been reduced significantlyComing to the markets in the week ahead expect sector rotation to continue As a result there would be volatility and sharp twosided moves In such a situation taking a call is always difficult and would require swift action to be takenThe market has momentum and plenty of participation with newer stocks participating What it lacks is depth as on a number of days we saw the market declines overshadowing gains indicating that a few stocks prop up the markets In such a situation one needs to take some money off the table to invest if compelling opportunities present themselvesWith new highs once again being made the mood and market optimism favour the bulls However the bears are waiting to put that one foot in the door and pounce on the bulls who seem to have used up almost all their resources In the coming week I would expect the bears to make a comeback and gain control for the time beingIn conclusion trade cautiously and as mentioned earlier expect sudden swings and change of mood in the marketsArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/momentum-with-bulls-but-bears-are-on-the-prowl-557230.html Sun, 07 Jul 2024 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/to-vote-for-or-vote-at-all-stark-choice-for-iranians-in-presidential-race-run-off-556325.html New Delhi July 4 He may have finished last in Irans Presidential race but cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadis subsequent message to voters encapsulated the underlying issue the regime is grappling with and not very successfully as reformist Masoud Pezeshkian gears up to hold his lead over ultraconservative Saeed Jalili in the runoff on Friday The fact that Pourmohammadi who was deemed a conservative but surprised people in the runup to the June 28 election with his rather progressive view on key issues is evident in his messages tone and tenor hailing the voters but also expressing respect to all those who did not believe us and did not comeTurnout in the polls was just 40 per cent the lowest since 1979Your presence and absence are full of messages that I hope will be heard Your message is clear and unambiguous the cleric said on social mediaAs both Pezeshkian and Jalili wrapped up both their television debates on Monday and Tuesday in which they presented their courses of action and clashed on approaches and mindsets the overriding issue in Fridays elections is not limited to whether the reformist or the hardliner will prevail but does this question even concern the great mass of the absent votersIn more general terms will the 60 per cent who were absent from polling booths on last Friday shed their apathy to their participation in elections restricted or imperfect as they may be and keep faith in the exercise as a means of political and social changeTurnout in elections both presidential and parliamentary has long been deemed as a sign of legitimacy in the Iranian system However these hopes have been belied in the present snap elections as well as the parliamentary elections earlier this year 41 per cent and the previous presidential elections 2021 won by Ebrahim Raisi at 488 per centEven an impassioned appeal by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei before these elections seeking a maximum voter turnout as a message to the countrys enemies and to make the Islamic Republic proud failed to sway the votersThis is a legacy issue that the establishment will have to face up to and it figured prominently in the debates between Pezeshkian and JaliliJalili who called for examining why there is a decrease in peoples participation in elections agreed it was a concern with Pezeshkian who dwelled on the issue in more detail terming it unacceptable that 60 per cent of the people did not come to the pollsThe reformist candidate also linked it to wider social and political issues like the internet curbs and the hijab issue saying it also is due to women or some ethnic groups that are not engaged by usWhen we ignore peoples rights and do not want to listen to their voices expecting them to come to the polls is not a reasonable expectation When 60 per cent of the people do not come to vote we should feel that there is something wrong There is a shortcoming he asserted as per transcripts of the debates on Iranian mediaThe statements by Pezeshkian were also addressed to the large section of the disillusioned reformseeking yet nonvoting electorate as he faces a clear loss if they again sit at home on FridayIn the first round on June 28 Pezeshkian got 1041 million votes while Jalili was not far behind with 947 million out of the 245 million votes cast or just about 40 per cent of the 61 millionodd electorateMajles Speaker and former Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf whom some polls had tipped as a prime contender over both Pezeshkian and Jalili was the distant third with 338 million votes while Pourmohammadi had to be content with 206397 votesThe other two allowed candidates Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and Vice President AmirHossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi both conservatives had quit days before Fridays electionIn the wake of the result which led to a runoff as neither Pezeshkian nor Jalili secured the victory margin of 50 per cent plus one Qalibaf Zakani and Hashemi appealed to their supporters to back Jalili now Pourmohammadi expressed no preferenceThe combined vote count of the conservative camp is enough to propel Jalili to victory but there is a caveatDespite appearances and chiefly Western perceptions Iranian politics is fluid and not just two opposing distinct and united reformist or conservative camps as there are a lot of different subgroups with their own agendas and aspirations Then there is an overlap in policy approaches too whether of the conservative hardliners or the progressive reformistsBut political participation or rather the lack of it remains an abiding challenge and it remains to be seen if Pourmohammadis hopes are realisedVikas Datta can be contacted at vikasdiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/to-vote-for-or-vote-at-all-stark-choice-for-iranians-in-presidential-race-run-off-556325.html Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/vote-for-or-to-vote-at-all-iran-presidential-run-off-presents-stark-choices-beyond-reformist-vs-hardliner-556484.html New Delhi July 4 He may have finished last in Irans Presidential race but cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi made waves as the deemed conservative candidate not only displayed a rather progressive view but identified the underlying issue the regime is grappling with and not very successfully as reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili clash in the runoff on Friday Pourmohammadi in a public message after his firstround exit hailed those who had cast their ballot but also expressed respect to all those who did not believe us and did not comeTurnout in the polls was just 40 per cent the lowest since 1979Your presence and absence are full of messages that I hope will be heard Your message is clear and unambiguous the cleric said on social mediaAs both Pezeshkian and Jalili wrapped up their television debates on Monday and Tuesday in which they presented their courses of action and clashed vigorously on approaches and mindsets on social economic and diplomatic matters the overriding issue in Fridays elections is not just whether the reformist or the hardliner will prevailIt actually is whether this question even concerns the great mass of the absent votersIn more general terms will the 60 per cent who stayed away from polling booths on last Friday shed their apathy to their participation in elections restricted or imperfect as they may be and keep faith in the exercise as a means of political and social changeTurnout in elections both presidential and parliamentary has long been deemed as a sign of legitimacy of the Iranian system However these hopes have been belied in the present snap elections as well as the parliamentary elections earlier this year 41 per cent and the previous presidential elections 2021 won by Ebrahim Raisi at 488 per centAn impassioned appeal by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei before the June 28 elections seeking a maximum voter turnout as a message to the countrys enemies seemed to have failed to sway the voters It is to be seen what effect his fresh appeal ahead of the runoff will have and the establishment will have to face up to the legacy issue sooner or laterThe turnout figured prominently in the debates between Pezeshkian and JaliliWhile Jalili called for examining why there is a decrease in peoples participation in elections Pezeshkian was more strident terming it unacceptable that 60 per cent of the people did not come to the pollsThe reformist candidate also linked it to wider social and political issues like the internet curbs and the hijab issue saying it also is due to women or some ethnic groups that are not engaged by usWhen we ignore peoples rights and do not want to listen to their voices expecting them to come to the polls is not a reasonable expectation When 60 per cent of the people do not come to vote we should feel that there is something wrong There is a shortcoming he asserted as per transcripts of the debates on Iranian mediaThe statements by Pezeshkian who is promising looser social curbs and negotiations to relieve sanctions pressure were also addressed to the large section of the disillusioned reformseeking yet nonvoting electorate as he faces a clear loss if they again sit at home on FridayIn the first round on June 28 Pezeshkian got 1041 million votes while Jalili was not far behind with 947 million out of the 245 million votes cast or just about 40 per cent of the 61 millionodd electoratePrepoll favourite Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was the distant third with 338 million votes while Pourmohammadi got 206397 votes onlyThe other two allowed candidates Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and Vice President AmirHossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi both conservatives had quit days before Fridays electionAs the election headed into a runoff as neither Pezeshkian nor Jalili secured the victory margin of 50 per cent plus one Qalibaf Zakani and Hashemi appealed to their supporters to back Jalili Pourmohammadi did not explicitly endorse anyone but his indirect attack on Jalili for attracting wider sanctions by blocking FATF recommendations is tellingWhile the combined vote count of the conservative camp seems enough to propel Jalili to victory there is a caveatAs Pourmohammadi shows despite appearances and chiefly Western perceptions Iranian politics is not just two opposing distinct and united reformist or conservative camps but a more fluid system due to many different subgroups with their own agendas and aspirations There is an overlap in policy too whether of the conservative hardliners or the progressive reformistsBut political participation or rather the lack of it remains an abiding challenge and it remains to be seen if Pourmohammadis hopes are realisedVikas Datta can be contacted at vikasdiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/vote-for-or-to-vote-at-all-iran-presidential-run-off-presents-stark-choices-beyond-reformist-vs-hardliner-556484.html Thu, 04 Jul 2024 18:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/irans-presidential-polls-run-off-what-it-reveals-about-the-mood-of-establishment-and-people-555252.html New Delhi June 30 Snap polls to elect the new Iranian President saw a new low in turnout and went into a runoff as widely predicted However the position of the two candidates for the runoff the first since 2005 is revealing about public sentiments the limitations of political labelling and more significantly the divergent mood in the establishment Masoud Pezeshkian the sole reformist candidate allowed in the race after being debarred in 2021 secured first place with 1041 million votes ahead of his ultraconservative rival and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili with 947 million out of the 245 million votes cast or just about 40 per cent of the 61 millionodd electorateSurprisingly Majles Speaker and former Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf whom some polls had tipped as a prime contender over both Pezeshkian and Jalili was the distant third with 338 million votes while the only cleric in the contest Mostafa Pourmohammadi had to be content with 206397 votesTehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and Vice President AmirHossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi both conservatives had quit days before Fridays electionThe vote count suggests that the combined votes of the conservatives in the runoff next Friday will be enough to propel Jalili to victory unless more voters from the widely disenchanted abstaining majority jettison their apathy and head to the polling booths to support PezeshkianIn the present instance appeals for support to him by former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hasan Rouhani and former Foreign Minister Javed Zarif did not seem to have been enough to galvanise the reformistleaning voteWhile Qalibaf Zakani and Ghazizadeh have now asked their supporters to vote for Jalili in the runoff in order to ensure victory for the revolution front Pourmohammadis response was more meaningful and nuancedGreetings to all of you who came to vote on June 29 and respect to all of you who did not believe us and did not come Your presence and absence are full of messages that I hope will be heard Your message is clear and unambiguous he said in a social media messageIn fact Pourmohammadi who though deemed a conservative and targetted for his role in extrajudicial executions in the 1980s along with late President Ebrahim Raisi whose death in a helicopter crash last month caused the election surprised people with his disapproval of internet bans He also batted for more womens participation in the MajlesHis stand may be seen as unexpected not unprecedented since the 1979 Islamic Revolution Iran had eight Presidents out of which five were clerics spanning from hardline conservatives current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Raisi to moderative conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to reformists Mohammad Khatami and Hasan RouhaniOn the other hand the relative performances of Jalili an acknowledged hardliner and Qalibaf who sought to portray himself as a more pragmatic conservative or the fact that both remained in the contest raises some interesting questionsJalili who had contested the 2013 poll but lost to Rouhani and filed nominations in 2021 where he withdrew in favour of Raisi and Qalibaf who was also a rather perennial Presidential candidate 2005 2013 2017 like former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee 2005 2009 2013 2021 have many similaritiesBoth are close to Supreme Leader Khamenei and the IRGC and have extensive security credentials with Jalili being a nuclear deal negotiator and currently the Supreme Leaders representative to the Supreme National Security Council while Qalibaf was a former commander of the IRGC air force and then the countrys chief of policeHowever Qalibaf who secured the endorsement of prominent security establishment figures like Major General Rezaee retd and former Defence Minister and navy chief Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani among others ended up securing nearly onethird of the votes that Jalili got indicating the establishment does not think or operate in a monolith manner However the more doctrinaire element seems to be maintaining its predominance over the realistic partWith Jalili favourite to win in the runoff as the conservative votes coalesce it is tempting to view his Presidency as a continuation of the Raisi era as he was a key influence on the late President but the situation is not so clearcutWhile foreign or nuclear policy may not see many changes under Jalili or for that matter under Pezeshkian for all his rhetoric given the limitations of the Presidents role both have a policy overlap in several domestic issues particularly on economic development welfare and employment creation However Pezeshkian is more upfront on social issues especially the role of the morality police which he opposesHowever it remains to be seen if more reformists enthused by the prospect of a Pezeshkian win will turn outVikas Datta can be contacted at vikasdiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/irans-presidential-polls-run-off-what-it-reveals-about-the-mood-of-establishment-and-people-555252.html Sun, 30 Jun 2024 20:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-cpec-a-bane-for-china-553726.html New Delhi June 24 The ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC announced in 2015 subsequent to Pakistans engagement with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative BRI in 2013 represents a considerable collaborative venture Originally valued at 46 billion the project focuses on sectors such as energy transportation and industry aiming to connect Chinas Kashgar in northeastern Xinjiang with Gwadar port in Pakistans Balochistan province across approximately 3000 kilometers Subsequently CPEC often referred to as a flagship project escalated into a 62 billion initiative projected for completion by 2030At the time of its announcement Pakistan was grappling with a precarious economic condition characterised by a shortage of Foreign Direct Investment significant electricity deficits macroeconomic instability and a severe internal security crisis due to terrorist activitiesConsequently CPEC was perceived as a transformative element for Islamabads economic frameworkFor China the successful completion of CPEC promises enhanced access to the Indian Ocean and beyondSome experts believe that the project was also anticipated to mitigate separatist tensions in Xinjiang through increased infrastructural development and connectivity with Pakistan Nonetheless nearly nine years postlaunch the progress of projects under CPEC has fallen significantly short of its objectives raising severe concerns regarding its actual benefit to ChinaTo date Chinese investment in the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor has reached approximately 25 billionOf the 122 projects initially announced under CPEC only 36 have been completed Although CPEC was envisioned as a transformative force for Pakistans economy it has not succeeded in alleviating Islamabads economic troublesFurthermore the projects have been marred by allegations of corruption within Pakistan including reports that Chinese investors were assured significant annual returns on their investmentsAdditionally the suspension of several CPEC projects in 2018 during Imran Khans administration contributed to Beijings frustrationConcurrently Pakistans total debt to China has escalated to 30 billion exacerbating its economic challenges which remain unaddressed despite the initiation of numerous CPEC projectsThe primary endeavor of the CPEC the development of Gwadar port has been embroiled in controversy due to Pakistans apparent neglect of the interests of local Gwadar residents and Baloch nationalist groupsThis oversight has precipitated increasing resentment within the province exemplified by the emergence of the Gwadar Haq Do Tehreek Gwadar Rights MovementDespite being declared fully operational in 2021 Gwadar port has attracted minimal traffic and has underperformed compared to smaller ports failing to secure any regularly scheduled deepsea lines thereby generating no significant cargo revenue for Pakistan or ChinaIn addition to its lackluster performance political and economic instability in Balochistan one of Pakistans most impoverished regions has severely impeded the ports potential as CPECs game changerThis situation has intensified major unrest among natives and separatist groups in Balochistan who demand a greater share in CPECs benefits Chinese officials have repeatedly voiced concerns to Pakistan emphasizing that the success of CPEC hinges on improving the conditions in Gwadar and alleviating poverty in BalochistanThe frequent attacks on Chinese nationals involved in CPEC projects by insurgents have further decelerated progress leading to significant investment losses and heightened security concerns for ChinaWhether dealing with isolated terrorist incidents or orchestrated attacks targeting Chinese interests Beijing is confronting diminishing returns from CPEC amid escalating security risks to its nationals in PakistanThis growing concern has compelled China to press Pakistan to prioritise addressing Beijings security apprehensions highlighting a primary challenge in advancing CPEC initiativesThe ambitious vision of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor in a country grappling with economic and political challenges such as Pakistan has proven costly for BeijingIn response to security concerns for its investments near the Wakhan Corridor compromised by Pakistans inability to secure the safety of Chinese nationals China had resolved to expand CPEC into Afghanistan in May of the previous year thereby incorporating the Talibanled government into this flagship initiativeThis decision to seek alternatives particularly with the Taliban regime arises from Pakistans consistent failure to safeguard Chinese personnel and its ongoing issue with crossborder terrorismNonetheless this strategic shift appears to counteract Beijings initial intentions as China now faces security issues in Talibancontrolled Afghanistan notably concerning attacks by Pakistani militant groups like TehreekiTaliban Pakistan TTP and other factions such as Islamic StateKhorasan ISISK which is a staunch adversary of the Taliban threatening Chinese interests in the regionPakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif undertook a fiveday visit to Beijing in early June 2024 with the objective of soliciting foreign investment to alleviate Pakistans financial distress was perceived as an attempt to rejuvenate the CPECDuring this visit both nations agreed to progress CPEC to its second phase despite the incomplete status of the majority of Phase I projectsHowever it is widely believed that Sharifs commitments to enhance security for these projects did not sufficiently reassure China considering previous experiencesNotably despite the declaration of upgrading CPEC Sharif was unable to secure any new investments or debt restructuring arrangements from Beijing as anticipatedJust days prior to the visit Islamabads plea for an additional 17 billion to support nine infrastructure and energy projects along with a 15 billion debt restructuring proposal received a tepid response from BeijingThis reflects Chinas definite scepticism regarding Pakistans management of economic and security issuesFurthermore reports suggest that Pakistan plans to reallocate CPEC funds towards military activities along the Indian border indicating a blatant disregard for both Chinas security concerns and its own economic predicamentsEvidently the ambitious CPEC has become a strategic liability for China presenting a complex challenge that it struggles to resolveNot surprising an article in The Diplomat claims that China had been upset with Pakistan and has subsequently downgraded Pakistans status from Highest Priority to just PriorityRegardless of the veracity of the claims made in The Diplomat article Pakistan has seen its relations with China and Afghanistan turn cold recently owing to its turbulent internal security dynamics IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-cpec-a-bane-for-china-553726.html Mon, 24 Jun 2024 20:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-need-correction-but-current-momentum-indicates-otherwise-551694.html New Delhi June 16 After the sharp gains witnessed in the previous week markets were circumspect this time around but continued to post gains Markets are at lifetime highs and in the previous week one saw the market breadth gaining substantially One reason for the above could be the fact that key portfolios of the Cabinet have been retained by the ruling party and there is no significant change in ministers This implies continuity Probably that explains why the markets rallied and why one saw such huge momentum The market believes that the policies and thinking of the government in Modi 30 would be on similar lines as in the previous stint even though this is a coalition governmentSensex gained on three of the five trading sessions and lost on two while NIFTY gained on four sessions and lost on one session BSESENSEX gained 29941 points or 039 per cent to close at 7699277 points while NIFTY gained 17545 points or 075 per cent to close at 2346560 points The broader indices like BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gained 129 per cent 168 per cent and 202 per cent BSEMIDCAP gained 441 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 507 per centIn the benchmark indices one is seeing a churning of heavyweight stocks In the previous week the top gainers were FMCG and IT stocks This week they were under pressure and we saw cement shares rallying I believe this rotation will continue till the announcement of the budget and the onset of Quarter One results for the April to June QuarterIf there is one serious concern in the market its the fact that valuations have run up quite sharply and we have not seen any meaningful improvement in results which indicates a solid improvement in earnings growthThe Indian Rupee lost some ground and was down 19 paise or 023 per cent to close at Rs 8356 to the US Dollar There appears to be clarity in the US markets that there would be no immediate rate cut and that in the current calendar year there would be just one rate cut Dow Jones lost 20983 points or 054 per cent to close at 3858916 points Dow gained on just one of the five sessions and lost on fourIn primary market news we had one issue which opened and closed for subscription last week The issue from Le Travenues Technologies Limited was subscribed 981 times overall The QIB portion was subscribed 10673 times the HNI portion was subscribed 11025 times and the Retail portion was subscribed 5395 times There were 2675 lakh applications overallIn the week ahead we begin the week with a trading holiday on Monday This will shorten the week and increase volatility to some extent There are three issues which are opening in the coming week The first of the lot is the issue from DEE Development Engineers Limited which is tapping the capital markets with its fresh issue of Rs 325 crore and an offer for sale of 4582 lakh shares in a price band of Rs 193203The company is in the business of piping solutions for the oil and gas sector chemical sector and supercritical and power sector It also makes structural towers for the wind energy space It began operations in Haryana and has now expanded operations into Kutch in Gujarat This place is strategically located with two ports Kandla and Mundra in the vicinity customers for wind energy having their sites in the vicinity and major steel suppliers being in a 25kilometre radius The location helps in reducing costs on account of inward transportation significantlyThe expansion happening at Kutch will take about 68 months to fructify I believe the company has a great future and it will do well after the commissioning of the new plant The numbers of the company would reflect improved scale and efficiency for the year ended March 26 Only if you have an investment horizon of 18 months or more should you invest now There may always be listing gains looking at the market mood but otherwise investment is for the medium to long termThe second issue is from a NBFC based out of Rajasthan Akme Fintrade India Limited The company is raising through a fresh issue of 11 crore shares in a price band of Rs 114120 The issue opens on Wednesday June 19 and closes on Friday June 21The NBFC space is crowded and recent issues in this space have not done well The company and its merchant banker have chosen not to have a roadshow in Mumbai for this issue This speaks volumes for their confidence in marketing the issue One wishes them luckThe third issue is from Stanley Lifestyles Limited which is tapping the capital markets with its fresh issue of Rs 200 crore and an offer for sale of 9133454 shares in a price band of Rs 351369 The issue opens on Friday June 21 and closes on Tuesday June 25The company is a bespoke manufacturer of superpremium and luxury furniture brands in India Its a homegrown brand and a little over half its revenues come from sofas and recliners The company crafts its products as per the requirements of its customers and everythings made to orderThe business has been growing and with funds being raised to open more stores benefits of the same would be available as time passes The company is in a niche segment where luxury defines markets Take a measured call as growth in revenues will not be a factor of perpendicular growthComing to the markets in the week ahead as mentioned earlier it would be a fourday week Momentum and market breadth are in favour of the bulls and there seems to be no letting go of them as of now However the runup has been fast and other than the sharp oneday correction on June 4 no meaningful corrections as of nowMarket corrections come suddenly and without warning Will it happen this week or the next Not sure Keep one ear to the ground and prepare for the same because that could be sharp and meaningful Until that happens ride the wave as long as the going is goodA simple strategy for the period ahead would be to ensure that you have no overnight exposure as markets could open gapup or gapdown This could be dangerous Trading opportunities would exist galore and provide plenty of trades to be facilitated Use the opportunities to trade and await the correction when it comesTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/markets-need-correction-but-current-momentum-indicates-otherwise-551694.html Sun, 16 Jun 2024 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-unravelling-the-impact-of-china-imposed-national-security-law-in-hong-kong-550741.html New Delhi June 12 In 2019 Hong Kong witnessed significant protests following Chinese efforts to undermine the regions autonomy Subsequently a National Security Law was enacted profoundly affecting the residents of Hong Kong who earlier enjoyed relative autonomy while formulating and enacting laws for its citizens This law which aimed to outlaw terrorism subversion secession and collusion with foreign entities has notably diminished Hong Kongs autonomy civil liberties and its role as a major global financial hub These developments have triggered debates and raised concerns both within Hong Kong and internationallyHong Kong A Brief Historical OutlineHong Kong was under the rule of Chinas Qing dynasty until it was ceded to the British Empire in 1842 after the First Opium War During the Second World War Japan occupied Hong Kong for four years however the territory was liberated in 1945 through joint British and Chinese military effortsDespite the Communist victory in mainland China the British maintained sovereignty over the island Hong Kong became a refuge for numerous individuals fleeing the repercussions of the Korean War and Mao Zedongs atrocious policies such as the Great Leap Forward Following the emergence of the Asian Tigers viz Hong Kong South Korea Taiwan and Singapore the territory leveraged its strategic location to become one of Asias largest financial centres It developed a vibrant independent culture shaped by generations of refugees In 1984 then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed an agreement that enabled substantial emigration from Hong Kong to Britain In 1997 Britain transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to China under an arrangement that included the adoption of the Basic Law This law effective until 2020 was pivotal in maintaining Hong Kongs open society and democratic ethos encompassing the rights to protest and freedom of expressionWhat is the National Security LawOn June 30 2020 the Chinese government implemented the controversial National Security Law also referred to as Article 23 in Hong Kong This law was enacted in response to extensive protests in Hong Kong against an extradition bill that would have allowed for the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China for trial Beijing perceived these protests as a threat to the countrys stability and security and took immediate actions to cull it once and for allUnder the National Security Law there are four primary offences viz Secession Any action that separates Hong Kong from China is deemed unlawful under this statuteSubversion The law prohibits activities that undermine the authority of the central government or hinder its policymaking capabilities Terrorism as defined by the statute includes acts of arson vandalism and other forms of violence intended to intimidate the public or coerce the government Collusion with foreign entities This offense targets individuals or groups that solicit assistance from foreign governments or organizations to compromise national securityThe legislation also established a National Security Committee in Hong Kong which is supervised by a central government body based in Beijing and chaired by the Chief Executive This committee is endowed with broad powers to oversee and implement the law including the authority to address issues deemed pertinent to national security and when necessary to bypass Hong Kongs legal framework Critics argue that the National Security Law erodes the autonomy and freedom guaranteed to Hong Kong under the One Country Two Systems principle intended to persist until 2047 They express concerns that the law has undermined civil liberties in Hong Kong such as the rights to free speech assembly and press and that it is being employed to suppress political adversaries and quash dissentWhat is the Impact of National Security Law on the Lives of Hong Kongs CitizensFollowing the prodemocracy movement China conducted a series of arrests that led to the incarceration of prominent opposition leaders in Hong Kong including the former media mogul Jimmy Lai a British citizenNumerous news outlets have been closed down The special police established under the National Security Law have detained over 180 individuals ranging in age from 15 to 79 Approximately 30 individuals have been arrested for disseminating seditious texts or materials Prominent figures like Cardinal Joseph Zen aged 90 have also been apprehended by the authorities Many activists and members of the opposition have relocated to the United Kingdom and Taiwan to escape arrest and persecution These laws have had a discernible impact on local council elections voter turnout in 2019 was around 70 per cent but it plummeted to a record low of approximately 27 per cent in 2023 This is not the first instance of China attempting to enact such legislation In 2003 a less severe version was proposed but subsequently withdrawn by China following extensive protests Despite this Xi Jinping perceived these protests as a challenge to his prestige and responded by diminishing Hong Kongs autonomy an action that starkly violated the 1997 Handover AgreementIn a recent development the Hong Kong Police on May 28 2024 detained six individuals for allegedly disseminating seditious content on social media Among those arrested was Chow Hangtung known for organizing memorial vigils for the Tiananmen Square Massacre These detentions represent the initial known enforcement actions under Hong Kongs National Security Law Consequently the residents of Hong Kong now live under the pervasive threat posed by these laws Additionally civil society and human rights organizations are operating with increased caution on the island As noted earlier Hong Kong had evolved into a financial centre in the latter half of the 20th century It boasts a GDP of approximately 360 billion and ranks 43rd among major global economies However as regulatory controls tighten investors have grown increasingly apprehensive about investing in the region This development threatens to undermine the citys longstanding reputation as a financial hub of the EastThrough the enactment of the National Security Law Xi Jinping has sought to obscure the potential vision of a liberated China Hong Kong a melting pot of major Southeast Asian cultures once epitomized the democratic aspirations of China Nevertheless the arrests under the National Security Law threaten to erode the citys core identity The severe suppression of the 2019 protests and the global apathy towards Hong Kongs situation are facilitating Chinas objectives The future will reveal the extent of the National Security Laws impact on Hong Kong IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ians-analysis-unravelling-the-impact-of-china-imposed-national-security-law-in-hong-kong-550741.html Wed, 12 Jun 2024 21:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-a-super-volatile-week-all-eyes-on-new-cabinet-549746.html New Delhi June 9 It was an eventful and extremely volatile week for the stock market where one saw wild gyrations in both directions At the end of it it left the weakhearted gasping for breath waiting to recover their composure The net price movement does not reflect the extent of wild swings that one saw The Exit Polls on Saturday indicated a sweeping majority for the BJPled NDA but final results showed that the BJP fell short of the absolute majority by a good 32 seats With the allies they were able to go past the number of 272 and the Prime Minister along with his Cabinet will be sworn in on Sunday June 9 for a third termThe BSESENSEX gained 273205 points or 369 per cent to close at 7669336 points while NIFTY gained 75945 points or 337 per cent to close at 2329015 points The broader indices saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 350 per cent 312 per cent and 317 per cent respectivelyBSEMIDCAP was up 294 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 311 per cent Let us look at the intraweek movements on the benchmark indices Post exit polls BSESENSEX gained 2487 points while NIFTY gained 808 points On Tuesday post results markets saw BSESENSEX lose 6234 points intraday while NIFTY lost 2057 points Over the next three days markets saw BSESENSEX gain 6561 points while NIFTY gained 2039 pointsAt the end of it all the BSESENSEX saw a movement of intraweek 15282 points while in the case of NIFTY it was 4904 points Markets gained on four of the five trading sessions and lost on oneComing to retail investors and what they did in the markets contrary to their perception they were net sellers when markets rose on Monday and big buyers when markets fell on Tuesday They bought small on Wednesday when markets recoveredThe data from the exchanges shows that retail investors bought directly To this one must add what retail investors put in through SIPs in mutual funds which have now crossed Rs 25000 crore monthlyThe rally on Friday postRBI meeting saw auto stocks FMCG and IT companies stage a super rally The top sectoral gainers for the week were BSEIT 817 per cent BSEFMCG 693 per cent and BSEAUTO 678 per cent The biggest loser was BSEPSU which was down 184 per centIn its bimonthly review meeting RBI kept interest rates unchanged on expected lines They expect GDP to grow at 72 per cent in the year 2025The Indian Rupee gained nine paise or 011 per cent to close at Rs 8337 to the US DollarDow Jones gained on three of the five sessions and lost on two At the end of the week the Dow gained 11267 points or 029 per cent to close at 3779899 pointsIn primary market news Le Travenues Technology Limited the owners of the online travel company IXIGO tap the capital markets The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 120 crore and an offer for sale of 66677674 shares in a price band of Rs 8893 The issue would open on Monday June 10 and close on Wednesday June 12The company is present in all three verticals such as airline tickets rail tickets and bus tickets The company reported an EPS of Rs 057 for the year ended March 23 The same has improved significantly to Rs 175 for the nine months ended December 23Revenues for the year ended March 23 which were at Rs 5175 crore are now in the nine months at Rs 3787 crore Based on the EPS for the full year the PE multiple comes at an exorbitant 1543916316 timesConsidering the nine months earnings this is more comparable with its peer set Looking at the current market mood investors may apply for the above shareComing to the markets in the week ahead expect them to remain volatile and witness twosided moves While FPIs have not turned bullish on India as yet they seem to be confused more than bearish as they were till the end of the last monthThey bought on Monday and Friday and sold on the remaining three days With a new high on the intraday basis made on BSESENSEX on Friday and a closing basis on both BSESENSEX and NIFTY on Friday expect markets to rally further in the early part of the weekAs government formation and the ensuing budget is likely to be presented in the first fortnight of July the composition of the cabinet and how the government settles down will be the focus of attention Post new highs in the earlier part of the week expect markets to witness profit taking and settling down from the new levels it has attainedIn terms of support the levels witnessed on Tuesday at the lower levels of 70234 and 21281 points will act as strong support while we could see levels of 2400024200 on NIFTY and 7880079400 on BSESENSEX as ultimate targets in the near termThe strategy for the week would be to allow markets to run their course and resort to profittaking only when the fall starts Its not necessary that the upside targets have to be made this week itself They could happen when the budget is announced as there would be various expectations from them this time around The key mantra to making money would be to trade as volatility and trading opportunities galore would existTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-a-super-volatile-week-all-eyes-on-new-cabinet-549746.html Sun, 09 Jun 2024 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/time-for-us-to-take-extradition-of-terrorists-rana-and-headley-to-india-seriously-548809.html New Delhi June 5 While both Washington and Ottawa take an aggressive stance on alleged Indian clandestine operations are they equally committed to extraditing American and Canadian terrorists like David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana Or is there a deeper disregard for Indias legitimate national security and criminal justice concerns India has recently become the focus of intense Western scrutiny facing allegations from the United States and Canada along with routine rhetorical accusations from Pakistani military officials regarding its supposed involvement in eliminating terrorists in North America and PakistanRaising a critical question While both Washington and Ottawa take an aggressive stance on alleged Indian clandestine operations are they equally committed to extraditing American and Canadian terrorists like David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur RanaOr is there a deeper disregard for Indias legitimate national security and criminal justice concernsFifteen years have passed since the devastating 2611 Mumbai attacks a series of coordinated terrorist assaults that shocked the world Meticulously orchestrated by Pakistan ten terrorists from the Pakistanbased group LashkareTaiba LeT crossed the Arabian Sea to unleash terror on MumbaiThe 60hour siege that followed claimed 166 lives and injured over 300 civilians and security personnel leaving an indelible mark on the citys historyCentral to the reconnaissance efforts leading to these vicious terrorist attacks were David Coleman Headley aka Daood Sayed Gilani an American citizen of Pakistani origin and Tahawwur Rana a former Pakistan Army Captain and Canadian citizenHeadley who conducted extensive surveillance and gathered crucial information on the targets played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the attacks He made multiple trips to Mumbai and provided detailed videos and sketches of the locations to the attackers Rana an old friend of Headley from their days in a Pakistani military school who also visited Mumbai facilitated these reconnaissance missions by providing Headley cover through his Chicago based immigration businessFollowing the devastating attacks Headley and Rana were both apprehended and prosecuted for their roles in planning and executing these terrorist activities as well as for conducting reconnaissance of a Danish daily in DenmarkAmerican terrorist Headley was arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigations FBI in Chicago on October 3 2009 In March 2010 he pleaded guilty to being terror trained in Pakistan 12 terrorismrelated charges including aiding and abetting the 2611 attacks which included six American victimsHeadley cooperated with US authorities providing intelligence and testimony that significantly advanced the investigation including key tip offs regarding RanaIn January 2013 he was sentenced to 35 years in prison Around the same time Canadian terrorist Rana was arrested on October 18 2009He was charged with providing material support to terrorist plots including the Mumbai terrorist attacks and a planned terror attack on JyllandsPosten in DenmarkIn June 2011 Rana was convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to LashkareTaiba the terrorist group responsible for the Mumbai attacks and for supporting the plot against the Danish newspaper However strikingly he was acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks Rana was sentenced to 14 years in prison in January 2013For over 11 years India has been diligently pursuing the extradition of David Headley and Tahawwur Rana from the United States under the IndiaUS Extradition Treaty of 1997 seeking justice for their roles in the 2611 Mumbai terrorist attacksThe extradition request for Headley was sent on December 7 2012Headleys cooperation with US authorities and his plea agreement which precluded his extradition to India Pakistan or Denmark India remains steadfast in its efforts to hold him accountable under Indian lawThe plea agreement which spared Headley from the death penalty and barred his extradition has been a point of contention with Indian authorities further feeling that the US has not fully cooperated in providing access to HeadleyAlthough officials from Indias National Intelligence Agency NIA were able to interrogate Headley in Chicago in June 2010 they could do so only in the presence of FBI agents leading to concerns that the information obtained was restricted Importantly while the plea agreement limits Headleys extradition for the crimes he confessed to the US Secretary of State holds the authority to potentially extradite Headley for offenses other than those related to the 2611 attacks or if he violates the plea agreementThe Secretary of States cooperation is crucial in this matterSimilarly India has been pursuing the extradition of Tahawwur RanaFollowing his conviction in the US India requested his extradition submitting a formal request with accompanying evidence on August 13 2020On May 16 2023 a US court concluded that Rana was extraditable for the offenses related to the Mumbai attacks and certified this finding to the US Secretary of StateIn May Rana had filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging the court order that agreed with the US governments request for his extradition to IndiaOn August 2 2023 Judge Dale S Fischer of the United States District Court Central District of California denied Ranas petition for a writ of habeas corpus paving the way for US Secretary of State to issue a certification for his extradition to IndiaHowever Rana has filed an appeal against the order and sought a stay on his extradition to India until his appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court is heard leading to his extradition being stayed on August 18 2023 His extradition remains pendingMoreover terrorists like Hardeep Singh Nijjar trained by Pakistans notorious InterServices Intelligence ISI and funded to carry out terrorist activities in India pose significant threatsSimilarly Gurpatwant Singh Pannun the face of the proscribed entity Sikhs for Justice SFJ is another exampleThe SFJ has been declared an unlawful association under SubSection 1 and 3 of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967Numerous scholars of terrorism and international relations as well as the Indian government recognise both Nijjar and Pannun as terroristsThey frequently expose the socalled Khalistani Movement as a front for Pakistan recently furthered by Communist Party of China CPC to engage in antiIndia activities in the West Despite this such entities along with dozens of other ISI and CPC fronts operate with impunity in Canada and the United StatesWhile India steadfastly adheres to legal methods and has made monumental strides in a zerotolerance approach to terrorism the United States and Canada share an equal moral responsibilityFailure to act against these socalled separatists risks facing terrorism similar to the Kanishka bombings and the 911 attacks executed by Pakistantrained terrorists in the WestDespite the legal and diplomatic challenges India continues to press for accountability emphasizing the importance of global solidarity in addressing the scourge of terrorismThe US handling of the Headley and Rana cases raises significant concerns about its commitment to justice and human rightsIf the US Secretary of State so chooses the administration can extradite 2611 accused and David Headley accomplice Tahawwur Rana to India demonstrating a strong stance against Westbased terrorist groups However persistent delays in extraditing these key figures involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks coupled with a soft approach toward Indias security challenges suggest a dismissive attitude toward Indias concernsSuch oversight hampers a relationship that should be rooted in equality respect and a reciprocal commitment to eradicating global terrorism Canada is widely believed to need significant improvements in shaping its societyThis includes addressing issues such as the controversial acceptance of Pakistani war criminals as immigrants navigating polarising local politics or taking a strong stand to uphold its professed values of freedom justice and libertyMeanwhile the US must start taking the extradition of Rana and Headley seriously The delay in their extradition not only impedes justice for the victims but also disregards Indias national security concernsSuch neglect is not conducive to a friendship that has stood the test of time and is preparing for future challengesIt risks undermining the mutual trust and cooperation that form the bedrock of USIndia and CanadaIndia relationsThe author is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhibased thinktank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies CIHS IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/time-for-us-to-take-extradition-of-terrorists-rana-and-headley-to-india-seriously-548809.html Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-the-euphoria-the-disaster-548459.html New Delhi June 4 Monday June 3 saw markets record their best performance in recent times with NIFTY gaining 73320 points on the back of Exit Polls for the general elections 2024 where the pollsters in a poll of polls gave the ruling NDA around 370 seats The high on NIFTY was at 2333870 points NIFTY closed at 2326390 points On BSESENSEX the gain was at 250747 points to close at 7673889 points The high for the day was at 7646878 points These incidentally were new lifetime highs at closing and intraday levelsToday Tuesday June 4 was a reversal a terrifying and scary one The lows made on BSESENSEX were at 7023443 points and 2128145 points on NIFTY The intraday point fall on BSESENSEX was roughly 6200 points and 2000 points on NIFTYWhat caused it Simply the fact that the NDA fell short at below 300 seats or about 293 seats The final closing today was BSESENSEX down 438973 points to close at 7207905 points while NIFTY lost 133570 points at 2192820 pointsWhat from hereon is the key question The BJP along with its allies has managed to become the largest faction and is ahead of the opposition by about 60 seats The NDA should be able to form the government and things would be as usual as far as current economic policies are concerned This will not impact the current policiesWhat would change is the reform agenda of the party where they wanted to bring about a common civil code and other such measures which would need a much bigger majority The euphoria and the disaster are both behind us and they have happened within a mere 24 hours of each otherGoing forward the highs made on Monday at 76738 and 23338 on NIFTY would act as mediumterm resistances while lows made on Tuesday at 70234 and 21281 would act as strong supports The range is a massive 6500 points on BSESENSEX and 2150 points on NIFTY This is a huge range and looks like holding till big news flow happens over the next four to six monthsWith the market range specified the next question is about the direction of the market There would be political stability in the time to come as the mandate is not small and fairly clear The government would be able to run its regular policies without any hindrances but would not have the majority that it had over the last two termsWith such a mandate it would be business as usual for all regular business and tough times for structural changes For investors at the markets its more or less business as usual and FPIs who were sellers are likely to remain negative to neutral on the markets in the short to medium termIn conclusion markets would remain volatile and choppy in the immediate short term Expect stability once government formation and getting back to normalcy is achievedTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-the-euphoria-the-disaster-548459.html Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/as-exit-polls-indicate-big-victory-for-nda-markets-to-see-new-highs-this-week-547621.html New Delhi June 2 It was a volatile week and a complete reversal of the previous week Markets lost on four of the five trading sessions and kept their prestige by gaining on the fifth day Friday which happened to be the first day of a new June series and was the shining star during the week BSESENSEX lost 144908 points or 192 per cent to close at 7396131 points while NIFTY lost 42640 points or 186 per cent to close at 2253070 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 lose 109 per cent 183 per cent and 173 per cent respectivelyBSEMIDCAP was down 153 per cent and so was BSESMALLCAP a similar 153 per cent It may be mentioned here that in the previous week from May 20 to May 24 BSESENSEX had gained 140445 points or 190 per cent while NIFTY gained 45510 points or 202 per cent Effectively the two weeks scored outThe Indian Rupee was under pressure and lost 36 paise or 043 per cent to close at Rs 8346 to the US Dollar Dow Jones gained on Friday after a continuous losing streak For this week it lost 38327 points or 098 per cent to close at 3868632 points Dow lost on three of the four trading sessions and gained on oneThe week saw May futures expire on Thursday At the end of the previous week the series was up 38675 points or 171 per cent NIFTY surrendered all of this and closed with losses of 8170 points or 036 per cent to close at 2248865 pointsIn economic data released over the weekend there was great news from the GDP front economic front and GST tax collection front GDP for the fourth quarter was at 78 per cent which brings FY24 GDP to 82 per cent The fiscal deficit at 56 per cent of GDP has bettered the governments estimate GST collection for May 24 is Rs 171 lakh crore and continues the strong showingThe week ahead has RBI meet for its first policy meeting of FY2425 It is widely expected that there would be no change in stance or interest rates as inflation is easing offShares of Awfis Space Solutions which had issued shares at Rs 383 listed on the bourses on Thursday May 30 Shares closed day one at Rs 41910 a gain of Rs 3610 or 942 per cent On Friday the share corrected sharply and closed at Rs 40250 a reduced gain of Rs 1950 or 509 per centThe seventh and final phase of voting concluded on Saturday June 1 The exit polls at the end of the same indicate a strong performance of the ruling BJP and NDAled alliance across the country While numbers suggest that they would have a more than comfortable majority on their own and may touch the magical number of 400 if the exit polls are to be believedWell Tuesday would be another day and things would become clear As of now it appears that things favour the incumbent and they should get through comfortablyComing to the markets in the week ahead while exit polls are in favour of NDA one would like to be cautious for that one more day before celebrating wholeheartedly By Tuesday midday results would be clear which way the wind is blowing What should be the strategy for the week aheadLooking at exit polls a rally on Monday is almost certain What may also happen is that post this rally there could be some profittaking and volatility Tuesday would see volatility as the election trend in the morning is sketchy and skewed Post this initial hiccup if exit polls hold good markets should see a blastFPIs have been aggressive sellers and a bout of short covering could give the needed ammunition to bulls to charge the market It makes sense therefore to hold out your bets till markets stabilise postTuesday results and allow the euphoria as exit polls indicate to kick inNew highs on NIFTY and BSESENSEX are on the cards and one should not be surprised if we see levels of about 79000 on BSESENSEX and 23800 on NIFTY in the coming week All of this is subject to the fact that exit polls or even better the poll of polls are taken as a benchmarkThe strategy would be to ride the rally and allow markets to savour the victory Allow the euphoria to kick in and do not be in a hurry to book profits Exercise caution in buying stocks where one is not comfortable with fundamentals In conclusion be cautious and allow exit polls to convert to resultsTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/as-exit-polls-indicate-big-victory-for-nda-markets-to-see-new-highs-this-week-547621.html Sun, 02 Jun 2024 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-last-phase-of-voting-left-market-volatility-would-increase-545767.html New Delhi May 26 Markets were on a roll and they had plenty of action and drama as well in the week gone by The previously announced holiday on Thursday on account of Buddha Purnima was cancelled by the exchanges on Monday considering the fact that two holidays in a week would break the momentum As events turned out Thursday was the key pivot for the markets as they gained a massive 1197 points on BSESENSEX and 370 points on NIFTY on Thursday In the process they made new lifetime highs as well The RBI declaring a dividend of Rs 21 lakh crore for the financial year ended March 2024 was a great help as well as it ensured that the fiscal deficit the government is targeting is well under controlAt the end of the fourday week BSESENSEX gained two and lost two sessions while NIFTY gained three and lost one BSESENSEX gained 140445 points or 190 per cent to close at 7541039 points while NIFTY gained 45510 points or 202 per cent to close at 2295710 pointsThe broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 187 per cent 187 per cent and 165 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP gained 110 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 008 per cent The new intraday highs made on Friday were 7549991 points and 2302640 pointsThe Indian Rupee had a strong showing during the week and gained 24 paise or 029 per cent to close at Rs 8310 to the US Dollar Dow Jones saw selling pressure and lost in three of the five trading sessions It was down 934 points or 233 per cent to close at 3906959 pointsThe week gone by saw one new mainboard listingshares of Go Digit General Insurance Limited which were issued at Rs 272 listed on Thursday May 23 The opening price was Rs 28110 on BSE Shares closed day one at Rs 30575 a gain of Rs 3375 or 1240 per cent On Friday the share lost some ground and closed at Rs 30015 a reduced gain since the listing of Rs 2815 or 1035 per centThe issue from Awfis Space Solutions Limited is currently on The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 128 crore and an offer for sale of 12295699 equity shares in a price band of Rs 364383 The company as the name suggests is in the business of providing common workspaces on a daily or longerterm contracted basisCurrently the company is on a net loss based on its restated accounts which are showing a declining trend Looking at the leverage opportunity that the company has and the fact that 75 per cent of the space is rented out it could be expected that the company should report positive numbers for the year ended March 25The issue opened on Wednesday May 22 and would close on Monday May 27 At the end of the second day of the issue opening it received decent support with the issue being subscribed an overall 114 timesThe QIB portion was subscribed 339 times the HNI portion 2098 times and the Retail portion 2108 times Investors looking for listing pop and having a mediumterm holding period would be rewarded if their application for the share is successfulThe week ahead sees May futures expire on Thursday May 30 The current value of NIFTY at 2295710 points is higher by 38675 points or 171 per cent compared to the May series opening of 2257035 points It would be interesting to note that all the gains have been made in the previous week as prior to this the series was negative While currently the momentum is with the bulls one needs to be cautious as to the way markets may move on election results eveThe sixth phase of voting has concluded and now just the seventh and final phase of voting on Saturday June 1 remains With the sharp rally over the last two weeks since markets made a bottom on Monday May 13 they have rallied quite sharply They have also made new lifetime highs Very clearly the markets are convinced that the ruling BJPled NDA would form the next government Exit poll assessment would begin Saturday evening and carry on till results are announced on Tuesday morningWith expiry happening during the coming week volatility on expiry day could get substantially elevated as people decide to lighten positions and adopt a waitandwatch attitude FPIs have been big sellers in the month of May and barring a couple of days sold every day This excess of liquidity while it was absorbed by domestic institutions could see a mismatch on expiry dayComing to the week ahead expect sharp volatility as expiry day approaches The election results getting closer could cause volatility to rise postfutures expiry as positions would in all probability get liquidated to a large extent With limited positions open in the market from Monday to Wednesday in the week June 3 to June 6 could see really sharp volatility The strategy for the week ahead would be to reduce positions as the week progressesRefrain from any overweight positions in either direction as sharp volatility is expected Analyse exit polls for all they are worth look at the results and then take a callTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-last-phase-of-voting-left-market-volatility-would-increase-545767.html Sun, 26 May 2024 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/president-xis-purging-of-communist-officials-stunning-similarities-with-stalin-544604.html New Delhi May 22 After ascending to power in 2012 President Xi Jinping of China embarked on a journey to strengthen his grip on the countrys already authoritarian regime Having grown up in a political environment Xi is wellversed in the workings of the Communist Party his father being a highranking official of the Communist Party of China Purges have long been a tool used by leaders in Communist states to eliminate any form of dissent Mao Zedong and his Gang of Four famously purged top Communist officials in China including Deng Xiaoping the architect of Market ChinaHowever it was Joseph Stalin the leader of Soviet Russia who established the early standards for purges setting a benchmark against which other totalitarian leaders are measuredXi Jinping is one such leader whose paranoia and relentless efforts to maintain supremacy in the communist hierarchy have led to a series of purges targeting both lowlevel officials flies and highranking ones tigers Xis infamous anticorruption campaign is central to these purgesCritics argue that this campaign is a systematic strategy by Xi to completely seize control of Chinas Communist Party and state machineryXis consolidation of powerXi Jinping belongs to the second generation of the Communist political elite In China descendants of the Communist political elites who participated in the Revolutionary War are known as Princelings or Red Heirs and Xi is one of themHis father Xi Zhongxun was one of the founding fathers of the Communist Party of China and served as a former vicepremier of the nation As noted earlier the elder Xi experienced multiple purges during Maos rule due to suspicions about his activities Xi Zhongxun was arrested in 1962 and again in 1966 during the Cultural RevolutionDespite initial privileges and support from his father Xi Jinping had to start from the bottom and was admitted into the Communist Party of China in 1974Xi came to the attention of officials during the 1989 prodemocracy Tiananmen Square protests At the time he was the party chief of Ningde in the southern Fujian province Even though he was far from the capital Beijing localised protests erupted which Xi effectively suppressedDue to these significant human rights abuses China failed to secure the bid to host the 2000 Olympics Ironically this situation benefited Xi as he was later put in charge of the 2008 Beijing OlympicsHis effective management eventually paid off and he joined the Communist Partys top decisionmaking body the Politburo Standing Committee In 2012 he rose to power as Chinas PresidentXi and Stalin A tale of stunning similaritiesJoseph Stalin became the leader of the Soviet Union not because he exhibited classic leadership qualities but because members of the Politburo thought he could be easily manipulated However he had different plansOnce he secured the position of General Secretary he centralised all power within himself effectively disregarding any notion of internal communist party democracy He utilised state mechanisms to purge and execute his political rivalsNotably he orchestrated the assassination of Leon Trotsky who was living in Mexico a Central American country at the time Stalin exiled many of his political adversaries to Gulags situated in the most severe environments of RussiaTo cultivate a cult of personality around himself he authored a book titled A Short Course on the History of the Bolsheviks which was published in 1938 and quickly became one of the most widely distributed books selling over 42 million copiesHowever the book contained little historical substance and could more accurately be described as a manual for dictatorship Scholars and experts specialising in Chinese political elites and Xi Jinping have noted his great admiration for Stalins bookIn a similar vein to Stalin Xi Jinping also produced The Political Thought of Xi Jinping This book represents a significant departure from Deng Xiaopings vision of China who aimed to transform the nation from a rural backward economy into a modern stateled economyThe recent purges within the PLA military by Xi Jinping echo the extensive purges carried out by Stalin where in the late 1930s numerous prominent Old Bolsheviks were accused of treason and either executed or imprisoned All the evidence presented in court stemmed from the defendants initial admissions and interrogationsLater it was revealed that the accused were innocent the NKVD Soviet Secret Police had fabricated the cases and the confessions had been extracted under severe coercion and tortureWho Xi purged and what is to be deduced from itIn the initial series of purges beginning in 201213 the foundation of Xis power consolidation began to take shape He first targeted Zhou Yongkang a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee and national security chief who was charged with corruptionSubsequently Xi targeted the prominent Four Big Tigers who were closely associated with the Peoples Liberation Army In the mysterious disappearances last year Chinas Defence and Foreign Ministers vanished from public view One of the most notable incidents in this sequence was the suspicious death of Li Keqiang He had recently retired as Chinas Prime Minister and allegedly died of a heart attack in a swimming poolIt is crucial to acknowledge that in the initial stage of purges Xi targeted individuals who could potentially challenge his authority within the party in the future Many of the tigers purged by Xi were from the second generation of communist elites who came from privileged backgroundsThis strategy cleared the path for Xi to promote his loyalists However Xis regime is not without its troubles This is evident as he has started purging individuals previously considered close to himAn example is Qin Gang who ascended to prominence under Xis leadership and became the foreign minister Remarkably after meetings with the foreign ministers of Sri Lanka and Vietnam in June last year he mysteriously disappeared Alongside Qin Xi also purged top officials from Chinas Rocket Force which manages the countrys nuclear arsenalXis actions and the purges closely resemble Stalins tactics of consolidating power An authoritarian framework was firmly in place both in Stalins Soviet Russia and Xis China The distinct impact of figures like Stalin and Xi is their monopolisation of power leading to cycles of poor decisions attributed to subordinatesChina is currently struggling with sluggish economic growth an ageing population and sanctions from the United States which exacerbate its challenges Many of Xis policies have contributed to Chinas current predicament potentially inciting unrest among the populace and threatening his hold on power He is determined to maintain control using purges as one of several strategiesUnlike Stalins era when information flow was limited Xi faces the modern challenge of widespread and rapid information dissemination which increases scrutiny and fuels his paranoia IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/president-xis-purging-of-communist-officials-stunning-similarities-with-stalin-544604.html Wed, 22 May 2024 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-swati-maliwals-downcast-eyes-amp-painful-walk-to-haunt-kejriwal-543654.html New Delhi 19 May The latest scandal to hit the Aam Aadmi Party evokes shock and disgust A woman MP is assaulted at the Chief Ministers house and the perpetrator is later arrested from the CMs residence The Swati Maliwal episode represents a new low in politics exposing the depths to which Indias newest national party has fallenThe flipflop by the AAP on the incident raises suspicions about the partys leadership itself Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh met Maliwal a day after the incident He admitted that something wrong had happened and the party would take appropriate actionThe next day onwards the party made a volteface and started putting all the blame on MaliwalInstead of shunning the alleged assaulter Bibhav Kumar the Personal Secretary of CM Arvind Kejriwal the party has chosen to stand by him Kumar accompanied CM Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh to various events in the days preceding his arrest on May 18 Swati Maliwal on the other hand was labelled a liarThe party has put up its female Minister Atishi to defend the AAPs honourDespite being a woman Atishi did not hesitate to resort to victimshaming and even called Maliwal a pawn in BJPs conspiracy Atishi has claimed that Maliwal was facing arrest in an illegal recruitment case and was blackmailed by BJP to become part of the conspiracy against the CMAtishi also made references to the selective videos which have been released by AAP to justify the pointSelective video clips each a few seconds long were released to support AAPs claim that Maliwal is lying and to suggest that CM Kejriwal is being targeted just days before the Lok Sabha election phase in DelhiThe selective videos released by AAP did help create confusion regarding the kind of chilling details about the assault in the FIR lodged by Maliwal However the medical report revealed bruises on her body As per the report Maliwal sustained injuries to four parts of her body including her left leg and below her right eye This is something Atishi has not reacted to so farBy fielding Atishi to counter Maliwals charges CM Kejriwal has sought to play smartly by making it a kind of woman vs woman matter and attempting to debilitate the case before the publicSince the day of the assault on Maliwal CM Kejriwal has avoided speaking to the media on the issue Whether it was the joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow his campaigns in Punjab or the INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai Kejriwal has maintained silence on the episode When reporters asked him the tough questions his angry emotion was too stark to be ignoredThe only time he spoke related to the issue was his televised address wherein he sought to deflect the scandal towards BJP An episode happened at his official residence and all the involved characters are AAP people and yet Kejriwal instead of cleaning his act is trying to give a spin to save himself and his partySwati Maliwal is no ordinary person She is AAPs chosen Rajya Sabha member held the post of Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women for years and has been associated with Kejriwal for around two decades much before the AAP came into existence She had direct access to CM Kejriwals residence till May 13 the day she was suddenly stoppedWhat went wrong suddenly There are several theories including rumours that she was being asked to resign from Rajya Sabha so that the seat could be given to a senior lawyer who is fighting Kejriwals casesWhatever the reason behind the May 13 happenings at CM Kejriwals residence the fact is that AAP is now imploding under the enormous and rapid success it has achieved in a short timeRight from the day Kejriwal formed AAP controversies have been erupting Several AAP leaders have been accused of financial misconduct and have landed in jail CM Arvind Kejriwal calls himself and AAP Kattar Imandar but is currently on interim bail in a corruption case after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in FebruaryIn August 2022 during a hectic election campaign in Gujarat CM Kejriwal had said that Manish Sisodia who was Deputy CM then deserves Bharat Ratna for improving education standards in Delhi schools Six months later Sisodia was arrested in the liquor scam case and has been in jail with courts refusing to give him bailWith the Swati Maliwal episode the AAP seems to be hurtling down the hill it climbed in 2012The images of Maliwal with downcast eyes and a painful slow walk will only haunt CM Kejriwal for a long timePower tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely Arvind Kejriwal who started as an anticorruption crusader should perhaps reflect on thisDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-swati-maliwals-downcast-eyes-amp-painful-walk-to-haunt-kejriwal-543654.html Sun, 19 May 2024 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-a-three-day-week-expect-momentum-to-break-543668.html New Delhi May 19 Markets were on a roll during the last week and the volatility seems to have reduced The visible change was the fact that they just rose and were moving towards a nice setup where they could go in either direction With last weeks moves they are within striking distance of new lifetime highs The broad markets more than regained the previous weeks losses BSESENSEX gained 134147 points or 185 per cent to close at 7400594 points while NIFTY gained 44680 points or 203 per cent to close at 2250200 pointsThe broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 240 per cent 291 per cent and 323 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP was up 492 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 565 per cent Markets gained on five of the six trading sessions during the week They were open on Saturday as well with a view to testing the disaster recovery site that the exchanges haveThe Indian Rupee gained 16 paise or 019 per cent to close at Rs 8334 to the US Dollar Dow Jones continued its strong showing and crossed the 40000 mark It gained on three of the five trading sessions and lost on twoIt was up 49095 points or 124 per cent to close at 4000359 pointsThere were three listings during the week The first was Indegene Limited which had issued shares at Rs 452 The share made its debut on Monday at BSE at Rs 65970 a gain of Rs 20770 or 4595 per centIt then made a low of Rs 52780 and closed at Rs 57065 On NSE it debuted at Rs 655 on debut day made a low of Rs 52710 and closed at Rs 57090 a gain of Rs 11890 or 2630 per cent By Saturday the share lost further ground and closed at Rs 55605 a gain of Rs 10405 or 2302 per centThe second share to list was TBO TEK Limited which had issued shares at Rs 920 The share debuted at Rs 1380 on BSE and Rs 1426 on NSE It closed on Wednesday debut day at Rs 140485 a gain of Rs 48485 or 5270 per cent On NSE the close was at Rs 140630 The share gained further ground and closed at Rs 146390 a gain of Rs 54390 or 5912 per cent on SaturdayThe third share to list was Aadhar Housing Finance Limited which had issued shares at Rs 315 The debut price was 31430 on BSE and Rs 315 on NSE The low the share made was Rs 29335 on BSE and Rs 292 on NSEThe high was Rs 34320 on BSE and Rs 34370 on NSE The share closed on Wednesday at Rs 32955 a gain of 1455 or 461 per cent By Saturday the share gained marginally and closed at Rs 34860 a gain of Rs 3360 or 1067 per centThe issue from Go Digit General Insurance Limited which had tapped the markets during the week saw the issue get overall subscribed 96 times The price band was Rs 258272 The QIB portion was subscribed 1256 times the HNI portion was subscribed 724 times and the Retail portion was subscribed 427 times There were 585 lakh applications in allThe week ahead has two trading holidays and therefore will have just three trading sessions The week begins with a holiday on account of voting for the fifth round of elections to be held on Monday amongst other places in Mumbai This would be followed by a holiday on Thursday as well breaking the momentum which one saw being built up during the previous weekPost the week we would have entered the business end of the general elections with just the sixth and seventh rounds left The final round is on June 1 which is a Saturday That evening we would be bombarded by exit polls of all colours and hues and markets would get a fair sense of what results would be like on Tuesday when they are finally declaredAs of the time of writing the markets very firmly believe that the ruling dispensation would win the elections and have a consecutive third term The ruling party which won 303 seats in the 2019 elections is expected to win around 330 seats and the allies another 4550 seats This is what the markets believe and that gives the strength and momentum being witnessed This would get finetuned as the week ahead progressesComing to the markets in the short threeday period ahead expect markets to remain volatile and choppy We have immediate support at the lows made over the last month at 2180021900 on NIFTY While they look far away currently a week ago they were almost there On the resistance side with just a threeday week alltime highs of 22800 points would act as strong resistancesThe strategy for the week would be to enter select midcap and smallcap stocks which have had good results for the quarter and year ended March 2024 Markets are on a strong wicket and with institutional players either long or short there would have to be some sort of reversal of roles from FPIs sooner or later The domestic institutions because of very strong domestic flows would have to continue to invest in the near termIn conclusion the climb upwards will be slow but certain This bull run is unlikely to end very shortly even though there would be profittaking at every levelTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-a-three-day-week-expect-momentum-to-break-543668.html Sun, 19 May 2024 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-last-weeks-fall-expect-markets-to-remain-range-bound-541533.html New Delhi May 15 Markets had a crazy week and were under pressure throughout They fell on expected lines and this time we could not blame the US markets as they gained on all five trading sessions What happened is a blessing in disguise as it has cooled of the markets even though Mumbai is having sweltering heat currentlyBSESENSEX lost 121368 points or 164 per cent to close at 7266447 points while NIFTY lost 42065 points or 187 per cent to close at 2205520 points The broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 lose 183 per cent 204 per cent and 225 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP lost 327 per cent while BSESMALLCAP lost 380 per cent In what could best be described as an unusual situation markets lost on two trading sessions but were flat on the remaining three sessions Just an instance to point out the flatness was NIFTY closing at unchanged levels down to two decimal points on Wednesday at 2230250 points compared to Tuesday I do not remember any other instance in recent times when the levels have remained identical like thisThe Indian Rupee lost 8 paisa or 010 per cent to close at Rs 8350 to the US Dollar Dow Jones had a stellar week and gained on all five trading sessions of the week It was up 83696 points or 216 per cent to close at 3951264 pointsThe week gone by saw three IPOs open and close for subscription The first was Indegene Limited which had issued shares in a price band of Rs 430452 The issue was open from Monday the 6th of May to Wednesday the 10th of May The issue was subscribed an overall 7026 times with QIB portion subscribed 19272 times HNI portion subscribed 5584 times and Retail portion subscribed 78 times There were 2780 lakh applications in allThe second issue was from Aadhar Housing Finance Limited which was open from Wednesday the 8th of May to Friday the 10th of May The price band was Rs 300315 The issue was subscribed 2676 times overall with QIB portion subscribed 7642 times HNI portion subscribed 1733 times and Retail portion subscribed 258 times There were 1638 lakh applicationsThe third issue was from TBO TEK Limited which was open from Wednesday 8th May to Friday 10th of May The price band was Rs 875920 The issue was subscribed 8668 times overall with QIB portion subscribed 12551 times HNI subscribed 5051 times and Retail portion subscribed 2565 times There were 2375 lakh applicationsThe week ahead sees one IPO from general insurer Go Digit General Insurance Limited The issue opens on Wednesday the 13th of May and closes on Friday the 15th of May The issue consists of a fresh issue of Rs 1125 crores and an offer for sale of 54766392 equity shares in a price band of Rs 258272 The company is promoted by Prom Watsa of FairfaxThe company helps in customising products as required in the general insurance space It became profitable in FY2223 and has built on the same in the current nine months ended December 23 The valuations based on current nine months are attractive and offer scope for appreciation on listing as well as for people with a minimum medium term holding periodMarkets on Thursday made the intraweek lows at 7233418 points on BSESENSEX and at 2193248 points on NIFTY These were higher than the lows made on April 19 at 7181646 points and 2177765 pointsThe fourth round of voting out of seven phases would be held on May 13 followed by the fifth round the following Monday Volatility has increased in line with the significance of the event and is further borne out by the fact that FPIs have sold close to Rs 30000 crores in the current month which has been counterbalanced by domestic institutions who have spent their entire kitty of record SIP inflows for the monthComing to the markets in the week ahead while support exists at the lows made on Thursday and the previous lows made on 19th April even if they are broken support exists around 21500 on NIFTY and at 71650 points on BSESENSEX On the upside hurdles exist around 22450500 and at 73900 points on BSESENSEX These levels need to be broken and sustained for any further up move Expect markets to trade in a narrow range till thenThe trading strategy for the coming week would be simple Sell on rallies and expect markets to trade in a broad range Volatility would increase if the levels on either side whether lower or higher are likely to be breached Trading opportunities will exist and allow the disciplined trader to make moneyTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-last-weeks-fall-expect-markets-to-remain-range-bound-541533.html Sun, 12 May 2024 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/may-9-a-watershed-moment-in-pakistans-history-540505.html New Delhi May 8 Since its inception in 1947 the Pakistani Army has been a dominant force in the nations affairs Over the course of nearly eight decades it has wielded power directly or indirectly morphing into the most formidable economic and political entity in Pakistan The Pakistani military has built an expansive economic empire leveraging its deepseated political influence Despite its engagement in significant wars and its role in the partition of the country in 1971 the Army has largely been insulated from overt criticism shielded by its profound political cloutHowever the events of May 9 2023 mark a pivotal chapter in Pakistans historyFor the first time the Pakistani populace boldly confronted the armys political meddlingIn response the military resorted to severe measures to quell opposition detaining hundreds of civilians and political activists under draconian legislationsWhat was once perceived as impregnable military sanctity was breached on that day highlighting growing antimilitary sentiment across the nationIn the past seven decades of its existence Pakistan has been under direct martial law for more than three decades Even the Pakistani political leadership have in general ruled the country in connivance with the military often placing their personal gains above Pakistans national interestsPakistani politicians due to their own vulnerabilities have frequently ceded their authority allowing the military to overstep institutional boundariesEven the Pakistani intelligentsia who critique the militarys ongoing political interference have consistently faced harsh suppression by the military resulting in a domestic media that predominantly promotes promilitary narrativesIn the past decade the Pakistani militarys overt meddling in the nations affairs has often been masked by ostensibly civilian governance however its covert political influence persisted relentlesslyThis interference is largely driven by the need to maintain its vast extraconstitutional business empire As Pakistani writer Ayesha Siddiqa outlines in her book Military Inc Inside Pakistans Military Economy the Pakistan Army has built a comprehensive commercial network spanning from manufacturing to real estate becoming Pakistans largest business conglomerateShe details how the army has commandeered national resources detrimentally impacting the state economy Particularly alarming is the robustness of this military economy known as milbus which thrives independently of Pakistans economic crises and operates outside the states accountability structuresThis system has been manipulated for the personal gain of military officers exacerbating the economic challenges being faced by PakistanThe militarys encroachment into Pakistans political realm has been widely acknowledged yet its extensive security apparatus has stifled public dissent against its constitutional manipulations and violationsSince the late 1970s following the execution of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by General ZiaulHaq Pakistani political leaders had conceded the political arena to the Army effectively adopting a secondary role in the governance of the countryHowever Imran Khans ascent had shaken this longstanding arrangementIronically Imran Khans rise in 2018 Pakistan elections was aided by Pakistani military however the relationship between Khan and the military establishment quickly deteriorated in first two yearsUnlike his more accommodating predecessors Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari Khan presented a formidable challenge for the military leadership to control marking a shift from the usual dynamics of political compliance Imran Khans tenure had marked a distinctive chapter in Pakistans political history when Pakistani militarys political meddling came in forefront of public debateHe has been openly blaming key military figures including former Army Chief Qamar Bajwa current Army Chief Asim Munir ISI Chief Nadeem Anjum and Major General Faisal Naseer for not only orchestrating his removal from the PM office but also for undermining Pakistans civilian institutionsSignificantly this accusation was validated by none other than Qamar Javed Bajwa himself who in his November 2022 farewell address had confessed to the Pak Armys constant meddling in politics over the past 70 years which is unconstitutionalIn such circumstances the events of May 9 2023 assume profound significance in Pakistans history especially for Military EstablishmentThe arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by the military on May 9 2023 catalysed a remarkable shift in Pakistans sociopolitical landscapeImran Khan was taken into custody by Pak military forces under the charges for sedition an action that sparked a nationwide uproarFor the first time in Pakistans history the unrest did not just manifest in widespread protests it escalated dramatically as hundreds of demonstrators targeted military installations from Lahore to Quetta to Peshawar This unprecedented response severely dented Pakistan Militarys longheld image as an inviolable and sacrosanct institutionHistorically the Military has been revered as the protector of Pakistans ideological foundation and as a pivotal unifying force in a country rife with ethnic divisionsPak Military establishments had effectively elevated their status to one beyond ordinary scrutiny where any criticism of the military was often seen as tantamount to criticising the essence of Pakistan itselfThe events of May 9 therefore signify a critical juncture indicating a possible shift in public perception and the beginning of a new chapter where Pak militarys actions and its role in governance might face increasing scrutiny from the public it vows to protectWhile Pak Military might have temporarily managed to quell dissent using its typical suppressive tactics such as imprisoning hundreds of civilians and political activists affiliated with Imran Khan the fact that ordinary Pakistanis have become aware of the military establishments schemes indicates that the public can no longer be easily subdued or deceivedThis sentiment became particularly evident during Pakistans general elections on February 8 where the military establishment deployed every tool at its disposal to manipulate the outcomeDespite these manoeuvres the strong electoral support for Imran Khan deeply unsettled the Military leadership Although the Military Establishment eventually managed to orchestrate the installation of a government led by Shehbaz Sharif this act only served to further tarnish its image among the Pakistani populaceConsequently the events of May 9 seem to have inspired a renewed push towards the democratic aspiration of extricating the Pak Military Establishment from the countrys political sphere IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/may-9-a-watershed-moment-in-pakistans-history-540505.html Wed, 08 May 2024 22:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sharp-movements-ahead-trade-cautiously-539495.html New Delhi May 5 The week went by and had four trading days with a midweek holiday on May 1 thereby making it two periods of two days each The volatility witnessed was several notches higher than usual Surprises one to note that just about 10 days ago India VIX which is the volatility index crashed to a new low Maybe it was the lull before the storm On Tuesday and Friday NIFTY made new highs and then fell sharply closing in the red Not sure how one should read it but the scene is not comfortable At the end of the week BSESENSEX gained 14799 points or 020 per cent to close at 7387815 points while NIFTY gained 5590 points or 025 per cent to close at 2247585 pointsThe broader indices saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 055 per cent 070 per cent and 061 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP was up 199 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was down 010 per cent Plenty of mixed signals in the marketplace Markets gained on two sessions and lost on two Incidentally gains and losses alternated with Monday and Thursday gaining while Tuesday and Friday were losing daysThe Indian Rupee lost eight paise or 010 per cent to close at Rs 8342 to the US Dollar Dow Jones was on a roller coaster ride with gains on four days and losses on one day Wednesday saw the FED meet for its policy review meeting where they decided on expected lines to keep interest rates unchangedAfter the meeting the commentary spelt out very clearly that inflation higher than 2 per cent will not see any rate cuts This saw markets rallying sharply on Thursday and Friday One wonders why markets in the US are hellbent on just a rate cut One needs to see that economic data is red hot and points to a booming economy Things could not be better Why bother about a rate cut at allComing to our markets and the crazy movement we witnessed last week Tuesday April 30 saw NIFTY make a new lifetime high at 22783 points The previous days close was 22643 pointsAfter the high markets fell sharply and closed at 22604 points and closed in the red losing 39 points BSESENSEX made a high at 75111 points but did not make a new high The previous days close was 74671 points From there the market fell to 74488 points losing 183 pointsFriday May 3 was even more volatileNIFTY made a new lifetime high yet again at 22794 points against the previous days close of 22648 points It fell very sharply to close at 22475 points a loss of 319 points from the high and 173 points from the previous days closeBSESENSEX made a high at 75095 points against the previous days close of 74611 points From there it fell very sharply to lose 1217 points from the high and 610 points from the previous days close Indeed very volatile and a bit scaryThe week ahead has three primary issues tapping the capital markets Indegene Limited is tapping the markets with Indegene Limited tapping the capital markets with its fresh issue for Rs 760 crore and an offer for sale of 23932732 shares in a price band of Rs 430452The issue would open on Monday May 6 and close on Wednesday May 8 The fresh issue and offer for sale would raise Rs 1841 crore at the top end of the price bandThe company provides digitalled commercialisation services for the life sciences industry including biopharmaceutical emerging biotech and medical devices companies that assist them with drug development and clinical trials regulatory submissions pharmacovigilance and complaints management and the sales and marketing of their productsIndigene is an integrated solutions provider and almost 85 per cent of its revenues come from its US subsidiaryThe company reported revenues of Rs 2306 crore for the year ended March 23 an EBITDA of 1969 per cent and a Profit aftertax margin of 1154 per cent In absolute terms the profit after tax was Rs 26609 crore The EPS on a fully diluted basis was Rs 1197 At this EPS the PE band for the issue is 35923778There is no comparable company or peer set in the Indian space while there are some comparable foreign companies globally The share offers an opportunity for investors with a medium to longterm outlook There could be listing pop as well as available considering that markets are at lifetime highs or thereaboutsThe second issue is from Aadhar Housing Finance Limited The issue is entirely an offer for the sale of Rs 2800 crore The price band is Rs 300315 The selling shareholder is the promoter This company was acquired from the DHFL group when they fell on bad times around 201617The company acquired was clean and had no issues while the group was struggling with various issues The issue will open on Wednesday May 8 and close on Friday May 10 The company is a housing Finance company focused on the lowincome housing segment with a cap on ticket size at Rs 15 lakhIn terms of performance the company reported a gross AUM of just under Rs 20000 crore at the end of the ninemonth period ended December 2023 A mix of the clients they serve is 60 per cent salaried and 40 per cent selfemployed The average ticket size is between Rs 9 lakh to 10 ten lakhThe company reported an EPS of Rs 138 for the year ended March 2023 which on a fully diluted basis was Rs 134 The PE band for the issue of diluted earnings is 224235 NAV for the company at the end of December 23 is Rs 1076 The price to book at this NAV is 292 at the top end of the bandBased on the postissue the NAV would improve to Rs 12307 at the top end of the band and the same ratio would be at 256 times the price to book This compared more than favourably with the peer set There is money to be made in the issue in the medium to long term There would be some listing pop as wellThe third issue is from TBO TEK Limited It consists of a fresh issue of Rs 400 crore and an offer for sale of 12506797 equity shares The price band is Rs 875920 The issue would open on Wednesday May 8 and close on Friday May 10The company operates an online B2B travel portal distribution platform that connects buyers and sellers It is present in the airline and hotel business currently It earns a commission from the airlines whose tickets are sold on the platform while it charges a markup on the rooms sold on the platformThe company is in a negative working capital cycle as it pays after receiving the money It is adding new offerings on the platform and has recently added the Eurail on its platform recentlyThe company reported an EPS of Rs 1407 on a fully diluted basis for the year ended March 2023 and the PE band would be 62196539 on this EPS There is no comparable peer in India in this space and the listed players are basically online travel players like Make My Trip Easy Trip and Yatra Online who would be using the platform provided by TBO TEL LimitedThe issue offers scope on listing and in the medium to long term as wellComing to the markets we are at a crossroads once again On the upside I would go long only if 22800 on the NIFTY and 75200 on the BSESENSEX are crossed and sustained On the downside immediate support exists at 22100 points on NIFTY and 72800 points on BSESENSEX It is time to be cautious as the wild gyrations last week are not giving comfort The strategy would be to sell on any rallies and buy on sharp dipsTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sharp-movements-ahead-trade-cautiously-539495.html Sun, 05 May 2024 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-april-series-having-expired-expect-markets-to-turn-volatile-537315.html New Delhi April 28 Markets have a mind of their own and the five trading sessions last week were of a different kind How markets change colour almost every day just beats me On Monday and Tuesday markets opened with an upside gap and closed upwards but the difference between the opening and the closing was very smallEffectively volatility saw intraday movement drop many notches Wednesday was a quiet day Thursday was April futures expiry day It began like any other day of the previous week on a quiet day and then saw very sharp upward movement in the last hour of the day NIFTY on Thursday gained 168 points on a net basis and 265 points from the low of the dayFriday was the complete opposite where markets lost through the day and were down 151 points on a net basis and were down 235 points from the high of the day to the closeAt the end of five different days of the week BSESENSEX gained on four of the five trading sessions and lost on one BSESENSEX was up 64183 points or 088 per cent to close at 7379016 points while NIFTY gained 27295 points or 123 per cent to close at 2241995 pointsThe broader markets saw BSE100 BSE200 and BSE500 gain 153 per cent 185 per cent and 210 per cent respectively BSEMIDCAP was up 396 per cent while BSESMALLCAP was up 397 per centThe India Rupee gained 13 paise or 0016 per cent to close at 8334 to the US Dollar Dow Jones gained on three of the five sessions and lost on two At the end of the week Dow was up 25326 points or 067 per cent to close at 3923966 pointsThe 18000 crore followon offer from Vodafone Idea Limited was well received by investors and was oversubscribed The QIB portion was subscribed 1931 times the HNI portion was subscribed 454 times and the Retail portion was subscribed 101 timesOverall the issue was subscribed 656 times Shares issued through the FPO listed on Thursday April 25 The previous days close Wednesday was Rs 1309 The discovered price was Rs 12 and the closing price was Rs 1389 on listing day The share gained Rs 289 from the issue price or 2627 per cent The share gained a tad on Friday and closed at Rs 1401 up 301 or 2736 per centThere is a roadshow of Indegene Limited which will tap the capital markets with its fresh issue for Rs 760 crore and an offer for sale of 36291497 shares as per DRHP The price band date of issue opening and closing and the size of the OFS would be announced through a newspaper advertisement The roadshow will be held in Mumbai on Monday April 29Results season is on and we have not had spectacular results from the few that have declared results so far One is waiting for it to happen so that leads can be taken and investors look at opportunities that exist in the marketplaceTwo of the seven rounds of voting for the general elections have been completed The third round will be held on May 7 Results will be declared on June 4April futures expired on Thursday April 25 on a very buoyant and positive note The NIFTY April series gained 24345 points or 109 per cent to close at 2157035 pointsTo put things in perspective the gains on Thursday which was expiry day were at 167 points The first day of the new series of May saw NIFTY lose 151 points on the very first day Call it by any name the Bulls won the war and the series on Thursday and lost it on FridayComing to the markets in the week ahead we have a trading holiday on Wednesday May 1 There would be a holiday in most of the global markets as well However the week would be divided into two equal halves of two days duration each making markets that much more volatileLevels of 75124 points which was the previous tops and 22775 would be very strong resistances On the support side lows made last week at 71816 points and 21777 points would act as strong supports If these are violated then one could see markets slipping to 71100 and 21550 points respectivelyThe trading strategy for the week ahead would be to trade on the long side with extreme caution on account of the midweek holiday Buy on strong dip and sell on any strong rallies would be the order of the day Markets are yet trying to establish a comfortable trading zone for themselvesTrade cautiouslyArun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/with-april-series-having-expired-expect-markets-to-turn-volatile-537315.html Sun, 28 Apr 2024 15:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/former-president-kovind-launches-8th-edition-of-gita-acharan-a-beginners-perspective-537115.html DW Bureaunbsp nbsp ChandigarhnbspThe eighth edition of the widely acclaimed book Gita Acharan A Beginners Perspective authored by senior IAS officer Shri K Siva Prasad was ceremoniously launched by the esteemed former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday evening at Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence ofnbsp Shri Banwari Lal Purohit Governor of Punjab and the Administrator of UT Chandigarh Shri Bandaru Dattatreya Governor of Haryana and Additional Solicitor General of India Shri Satya Pal JainThis edition marks a significant milestone in the journey of Gita Acharan as it is now available in eight Indian languages including English Hindi Punjabi Odia Bengali Marathi Telugu and Gujarati Plans are underway for its publication in Urdu further expanding its accessibility and reach Shri Kovind commended the efforts behind making the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita accessible to a broader audience through translations into multiple languages He highlighted the importance of initiatives like Gita Acharan in fostering a deeper understanding of the timeless wisdom encapsulated in the GitaAuthored by Shri K Siva Prasad Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab Gita Acharan A Beginners Perspective presents complex philosophical concepts in a simplified manner through short essays Drawing from over three decades of experience and interdisciplinary studies in western thinking processes and behavioral sciences Prasads work aims to resonate with beginners especially the youth enabling them to navigate lifes challenges with joy and resilienceThe books unique approach blending spirituality with modern scientific understanding has garnered widespread acclaim Prasads weekly column is published in Daily World newspaper besides some other publications The column interprets the Gita in a contemporary scientific context has been published in leading newspapers across India further enriching the discourse on spiritual wisdom Gita Acharan A Practitioners Perspective serves as a comprehensive guide for those seeking to integrate the profound insights of the Gita into their daily lives Its availability in multiple languages reflects a commitment to making this timeless wisdom accessible to diverse audiences worldwideAbout K Siva PrasadK Siva Prasad is an Indian Administrative Service IAS officer of Punjab Cadre currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab With a background in engineering and behavioral economics Prasads work bridges the gap between spirituality and modern science offering valuable insights into the practical application of ancient wisdom in contemporary lifeAbout Gita AcharanGita Acharan is a series of writings by K Siva Prasad offering a beginners perspective on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita Through simplified essays and interpretations the series aims to make the profound wisdom of the Gita accessible to individuals from all walks of life The book is available in multiple languages catering to diverse readerships across India and beyond https://dailyworld.in/opinion/former-president-kovind-launches-8th-edition-of-gita-acharan-a-beginners-perspective-537115.html Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-rahul-gandhis-khatakhat-genie-wont-snap-votes-534145.html New Delhi April 14 The pressure of staying relevant in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls seems to be forcing Congress to promise the moon and the sun to the people A manifestation of this is the slew of promises made by Rahul Gandhi just ahead of the polls During his election speech in Rajasthan last week he had said The Congress government will transfer Rs one lakh to the bank account of a woman from every poor family in the country khatakhat khatakhat aata rahega aur ek jhatke se hum Hindustan se gareebi ko mita denge it will come instantly and we will remove poverty from HindustanThe best jiffy moment has always been Aladdins magic lamp but Rahul Gandhis khatakhat khatakhat claim could well be the new one The closest translation of Khatakhat a Hindi word could be jiffy or in one stroke or instant And instant for most of the presentday generation is always noodles a Chineseorigin food itemAs all political parties are making promises to woo the electorate the perpetual youth leader of his party offered the ultimate Khatakhat solution to address poverty in the nick of 2024 Lok Sabha elections The solution is a sharp contrast to the statement that Rahul Gandhi made 11 years ago in Uttar Pradesh when he said that poverty is a state of mindIn August 2013 the Congress leader was participating in a discussion in Uttar Pradesh when he said Poverty is just a state of mind It does not mean the scarcity of food money or material things If one possesses selfconfidence then one can overcome poverty To prove his point he even cited the example of a poor woman from Amethi who got hold of her life by taking help from Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas PariyojanaIf in 2013 Rahul believed that providing the right atmosphere to earn and sustain can help tackle poverty then why the Uturn in 2024 A decade of sitting in the opposition has made the Congress scion believe that promising doles is the only way to impress people And the khatakhat system of transferring money in accounts is the easiest way to the hearts of people Had it been so easy then Karnataka and Telangana economies would not have been struggling with fulfilling the preelection promises on guarantees Various development activities have almost stopped and legislators even from the Congress are unhappy as fund flow is slowOverlooking the ground realities Rahul also made another equally startling promise which is to do a wealth survey very much a Communist idea that actually originates from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Communist Manifesto Rahul Gandhi said that if voted to power his government would conduct a caste census to know the exact population and status of backward communities SCs STs and minorities After that the financial and institutional survey will be done and finally the historic assignment to distribute the wealth of India jobs and other welfare schemes to these sections based on their population will be doneHistory has examples of several countries under the influence of Communism going for this concept but after suffering the ill effects decided to change again China tried the same in the 1960s but failed and finally reworked its policies Today Chinas economy is huge with a rise in wealth private properties and income gaps But in India the Congress scion is seeking the 1848 idea for developing the country where youths constitute 66 per cent of the populationBy talking about wealth distribution he also appears to be taking an aboutturn from the liberal economic model of 1991 It was Manmohan Singh the then Finance Minister in P V Narasimha Raos government who presented a landmark budget ushering in a new dawn for the countrys economy Since then India has not looked backRahul Gandhi with such withered and weird ideas is seeking to impress the youth of the country who want to move ahead and not get entangled in caste and religion wars It is an aspirational India in 2024 which is seeking new opportunities to grow prosper and leadWith less than a week to go for the first phase of elections on April 19 what has the Congress shaped itself into Inner contradictions are galore and its leaders at all levels are just running away with a majority of them picking the lotus merrily Those abandoning the grand old partys ship do not hesitate to blame Rahul Gandhi for suffocating them and the party for being directionlessWhile the BJP has built a strong narrative of developmental politics the Congress has been unable to come up as a challenger In fact it is today seen as a party standing with the corrupt and openly giving impetus to caste politicsAs surveys predict Congress may find it difficult to even retain the 52 seats that it secured in 2019 The blame squarely rests on the top leadership There is no Khatakhat genie that can help Rahul Gandhi get even near 100 seatsHis Aunt Maneka Gandhi has the best advice for him He should take a break she said and perhaps this could work for himDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fairpoint-rahul-gandhis-khatakhat-genie-wont-snap-votes-534145.html Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-security-is-no-more-a-stand-alone-function-531328.html New Delhi March 31 The security of a democratic state includes the security of its citizens and today both are contingent on the wider security of the world at large Similarly at the level of an organisation its wellbeing is linked to the security situation within the country In the prevailing unsafe environment enterprise security could no more be relegated to a set of hired guards and security supervisors since it has become a mainstream function taking care of the organisation as a whole including its membersRise of terrorism as an instrument of proxy war targeting of economic lifelines of the country by the enemy and the advent of natural or manmade disasters on the national security agenda have all impacted on the security and safety of organisations big or small and put a new focus on the security management of corporate entitiesTerrorism basically is resort to covert violence for a perceived political cause and since a cause was driven by motivation it was no surprise that faithbased driving force rooted in radicalisation in the Islamic world with its advocacy of Jihad had become the new terror threat globallyArising out of certain geopolitical developments traceable to 911 and the resultant war on terror launched by the US this danger faced nations across the worldIndia and its strategic establishments were particularly affected because of crossborder terrorism instigated by Pakistan against the countryIn the postCold war era of proxy wars there is also the added threat of enemy taking recourse to economically damaging the opponent in order to weaken the latterThe need for economic security has in the process added to the mainstreaming of security function Alsothe importance of proactive measures required by organisations and individuals to deal with disasters has further sharpened the role of the security setup of the enterpriseA deeper understanding of security of a business enterprise today calls for a conscious adoption of many practices that added upto the mainstreaming of security functionFirst it should be understood that security is basically protection of the three assets of the organisation physical assets manpower and protected information against covert attacks of the enemyIt clearly runs through the length and breadth of the enterprise correspondingly requiring physical personnel and information security to prevent sabotage subversion and espionage respectively This makes security a mainstream function by the very nature of its mandate In sensitive establishments of strategic importance personnel security is of overriding importanceApart from antecedent checks at the time of recruitment there has to be an internal vigilance set up in place integrated with the security function to detect signs of vulnerability in an employee a member given to addiction living beyond means or developing an unnatural and intimate friendship with an outsider of opposite gender may have to be taken note of for reasons of securityAs regards security of information it has to be protected first through classification by way of giving the information a marking like restricted confidential or secret and then determining the need to know ambit within the organisation Since most information is now on internet a cyber security administrator under the IT Act is to be appointed and the security head would be a key functionary working with the latter All of this makes security a very special functionSecurity is an integral or complete looking concept requiring all its dimensions physical personnel and information security related to be perfected Further security being a protection against the hidden attack of the unseen adversary it is clearly anchored on information about the likely sources of threat that would have to be collated and analysedMost business corporates therefore had a central setup for studying the market evaluating the competitors and pooling together all reliable information relating to the three kinds of risks already mentioned It produces what is called Business Intelligence incorporating the risk assessment for the enterprise This means that the setup has to be headed by a competent leader who had the skills of assessing what lay ahead in terms of both opportunity as well as the potential risks This functionary has to be swift in handling information capable of making assessments and confident about extending the outreach all the timePersonal security of the leadership of an enterprise that made a substantial contribution to national economy is an important responsibility of this setup in view of the recognised concept that a countrys economic power strengthened its national security as wellThe second most important aspect of security is that it has to work on the authority of the top man of the enterprise The chief of security has a matching knowledge of how various wings of the organisation were working He should have the locus standi to take note of any flagrant violation of security even by a senior member of the organisation and for that reason alone should have a direct line of communication with the head of the enterpriseIn fact it is said that the top man should also consider himself as the head of security Further since security embraces all resources and members of the organisation it needs to be incorporated at the level of policy and should be one of the determinants of organisational ethics and in fact of the system of management of the enterprise itself Also since security does not come cheap it requires planned fundingOn his part the security chief should have the ability to realise that cost effective security was the best security even when the organisation was liberal with funding If two persons can do a job where three were deployed earlier or when the number of steps for completing an operation could be reduced from four to three this makes the functioning more efficient and cuts delaysFinally the ultimate mainstreaming of security is reflected in the dictum now well established that the security of an organisation required contribution of all members high or low in the hierarchy It flows from the thought that if the enterprise ensured every members security then the latter also owed it to oneself to do whatever was possible to strengthen the security of the organisationThe importance of the security setup being able to run awareness programmes for the organisation as a whole suggests itself This is best done through periodical informal briefings that would also help to facilitate flow of information relevant to security from members to the security chiefThe security setup has to be manned by people who were information savvy and professionally upskilled Such people can distinguish essentials from nonessentials in the context of security know that you have to reach information information will not reach you have curiosity which creates the spirit of inquiry show an interest in human nature and behaviour and have an analytical mindThe era of proxy wars and the advent of cyber warfare have compelled the world to take note of the convergence of economic security externally instigated attacks on systems on which the governance of the country rested and resort to misinformation and deepfakes even to influence the outcome of elections in a targeted countryArtificial Intelligence is getting into security domain both in analysing the threats and finding solutions for dealing with them Today people handling enterprise security have to be familiar with various dimensions of knowledge economy and intricacies of misuse of cyber space by the adversarySecurity has become a demanding function linked to the mainstream of the organisation that was sought to be protected and dependent on people who had special skills deserving of a higher level of recognition and compensation than what ever was existing earlierThe writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Views are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-security-is-no-more-a-stand-alone-function-531328.html Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-artificial-intelligence-in-aid-of-knowledge-economy-529045.html New Delhi March 17 The advent of Artificial Intelligence AI has boosted the cause of business in many ways It has speeded up the process of strategy formulation that derived new strength from a rapid analysis of comprehensive and relevant data relating to the past and the present It has also enabled businesses to deal with the new level of competitiveness that exists in todays world on the basis of an indepth study of other players in the field as well as of the intricacies of the business environmentFinally AI is setting new benchmarks in human resource management in the matter of reconstituting teams to focus on creating new products and services and ensuring timelines of deliveryIn the Age of Information brought in by Information Technology knowledgebased decisionmaking became the first priority of all business enterprises and towards that objective arrangements were made to collate and analyse a given set of parameters for defining the future vision of the business entity to be achieved within a timeframeThe scope of Business Intelligence has been infinitely enlarged by AI which is a tool for quickly examining an unprecedented amount of raw data and collated facts analysing all risk factors and opportunities and producing a set of reliablelooking predictions The AIassisted analytics covers a volume of data that was humanly impossible to handle in one go This has pushed decisionmaking to a level of near perfection in a competitive environmentThe potential of AI in strategic decisionmaking however yields the best results when it is used for augmenting human Intelligence with datadriven insights and operational efficiencyAI puts the process of decisionmaking on a stronger footing by making it an evidencebased determination Further AI introduces an element of neutrality and objectivity and minimises the scope of biases creeping into that processAI has opened up the world of startups and helped to provide a level playing field to those who can read the future better and while pursuing a line of business find an opportunity that had gone undetected earlierApplication of AIaided examination of information available in the public domain leads to a good assessment of the competitors behaviour as well as the industry dynamicsAnalysis of vast datasets through the application of AI can unearth patterns and trends that throw light on the modus operandi of a rival that was not visible to the human eye and which could be put to good use in a competitive settingEven while leveraging historical data AI can read areas of success of a competitor and determine the scope for improvement there far more accurately thus creating a competitive advantageThe more comprehensive the data the better the outcome of the AI applicationIt is possible to roll out new GenAIbased products and services to bring more value to investors and customers AIaided skills are extensively used now for profile writing creating engaging headlines and understanding natural language for putting across the work being done by the business enterpriseThe use of AI in critical thinking problemsolving and effective communication is now well establishedAutomated tasks are another developing area of corporate activity that is being put to good useAs already mentioned AI is proving indispensable for predictive analytics Simulating market conditions and their probable outcomes accrued through advance scenario planning and risk assessment is becoming a trendsetterIn the arena of human resource development work starts with the use of AI to improve the recruitment process itself AI skills are needed in jobs requiring communication analysis and sales promotionIn content creation it is found that more important than the time spent on writing is the time utilised for interactions and networking for the purpose of enhancing outreach and accessing new knowledgeUpskilling is required since nearly half of the jobs in India are going to be affected by AI fortunately professionals in India are already using AI skills more than what was the case anywhere else globallyAI offers a new level of personalisation of customer needs helps the process of development of new products and facilitates the adoption of entirely new ways of sales promotion Business enterprises need manpower that is attuned to working with others finding solutions to the problem at hand and using critical thinkingThe new skills are also put to good use in evolving worklife balance that AIbased tasks could demand One of the top challenges is to prepare a GenAIready workforce One impediment to this is the shortage of expertise in the emerging tech streams such as cloud computingThere are limited programmes for GenAI skills in the university curricula Business corporates have to think of building the capabilities of their workforce in terms of technical skills through a tailored training programme on GenAI This programme has to be based on enterprisespecific or even teamspecific goalsProfessionals across operations marketing finance etc require basic familiarisation with GenAI to decide how to effectively leverage GenAI tools to improve productivityAI developers need to be nurtured to understand the science behind deep learning and make the choice to pick the right models Advanced teams may be needed to develop niche expertise in product engineeringEven at the leadership level specific GenAI programmes have to be devised to enhance the trickledown effect in creating motivation and ambition across the hierarchies These are also needed for strategy formulation and possible policy amendments that could be required for better implementationToday an understanding of Learning amp Development LampD and Large Language Models LLMs and their importance in business is needed at the leadership level itselfThe main point of understanding and acceptance by the leadership is that AIs first impact on business was to enable the enterprise to reduce cost and increase the efficiency of its operations so that there was better ROI resulting from the valueadd created by AIIn a nutshell AI primarily works through data and analytics to help companies to build new products and services and to enhance their customer baseMachine learning automation is assisting human resource management in screening resumes and scheduling interviews Screening enables the management to match applicants for positions requiring knowledge experience and special skills for the jobTargeted and personalised promotion campaigns are also helped by AI A simple illustration is machine learning that notes the difference between a customer who scans information for highend eating places and then searches for clothes online and a customer who is only searching for clothes In the first case AI lays out fashion garments while in the other case it would offer a range covering different categoriesDecisionmaking is one of the most important areas depending a great deal on AI because the latter can scrutinise large databases on customer preferences text images and videos that are made for knowledgebased decisions considered so important for standing against the competition Supply chain management security enhancement and customer experience data are among the basic advantages that AIaided programs could provideAbove all India is quite aware of the promises and perils of AI and that is why it has asked tech firms to seek government approval before releasing under trial or unreliable AI tools and to caution the customers that the programme may not be able to answer every query of the userAI tools should be used with the basic understanding that they are governed by the inputoutput principle and that any predictive analytics provided by them rested on the detection of patterns and keywords in an unusually large database Best results therefore are achieved when human intelligence works in conjunction with datadriven insightsThe writer is former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Views are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-third-eye-artificial-intelligence-in-aid-of-knowledge-economy-529045.html Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/munich-tests-indias-foreign-policy-526886.html BynbspDC PathakIn the background of Indias clear stand on the HamasIsrael conflict denouncing the terror attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7 last year and endorsing the support of the US for the initial Israeli response to the same and the countrys independent line on the much older UkraineRussia military confrontation which led India to even abstain from voting on the antiSoviet resolution moved early on by the US in the UNGA it was no surprise that at the Munich Security Conference held from February 16 to 18 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar faced some searching questions on Indias foreign policy in one of the interactive sessionsThe EAM did extremely well in detailing Indias policy approach in clear convincing terms which is a tribute to his grip on Indias international relations as much as it is a confirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis successful stand that Indias foreign policy essentially rested on bilateral and even multilateral bonds meant to serve mutual security and economic interests without prejudicing the cause of world peace and global advancement of human developmentS Jaishankar chose the words smart policies to describe Indias handling of international relations in this light and in reply to a reference to nonalignment made by the convener of the session explaining that the global security environment is not static and that ideologically fixed positions could only come in the way of evolving a pathway of progress towards solutionfinding for complex geopolitical and geoeconomic problems of todayHe indicated that being smart is being positive about serving the countrys national interests without hurting anybody elses and embracing transparency in policy formulationMunich Security Conference is the worlds largest gathering of its kind debating pressing security concerns of the times under its mission of Peace through Dialogue This time it brought together heads of state and government of a large number of countries foreign and defence ministers security experts military leaders besides defence industry captains and provided a venue for important diplomatic initiatives and interactions Its membership cuts across BRICS and G7 and includes representatives of NATO and EU countriesS Jaishankar in a brilliant exposition explained that India was not antiWest but nonWest and affirmed that Indias relationship with the US and Europe was getting strengthened constantlyHe highlighted the positive role of India in BRICS and the countrys contribution towards the expansion of G7 into G20 all through the process of discussions and meetings and succeeded in presenting India as a major independent power helping the cause of world peace and economic development He interacted with the Chinese Foreign Minister on the sidelines and had a separate extensive discussion with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to review the situation in West Asia Ukraine and the IndoPacificThe Munich Security Conference confirmed that Indias participation was acknowledged by the world as being of crucial importance and that it helped to evolve shared perspectives for leveraging the collaborative effort of India and the US to address common challenges and harness mutual benefits In todays unsafe world environment and an uneven trajectory of the global economy India is registering rapid growth moving towards selfreliance in various spheres including defence and security and pushing up a sense of nationalism among Indians based on Indias civilisational strength that unites rather than divides the peopleIndia and the US the two largest tested democracies of the world recognise the importance of working together to save the rulesbased order at a time when forces of Marxist dictatorship and fundamentalist dispensations were joining hands to destabilise the worldThe strategic alliance between China and Pakistan now developed to the point where these two adversaries are collaborating in conducting covert operations against India particularly in the border states of JampK and Punjab which is a prime security threat for India and validates Indias policy of strengthening IndoUS relations generally and stepping up its association with the Quad Terrorism resulting from the spread of radicalisation in the Islamic world is another common concern that binds India and the US together in leading the democratic world against this new global threatAn important task before India is to get policymakers of the US to see Pakistan without tinted glasses and overcome the legacy of the Pentagons commitment to the Pak generalsIt would do them good to recall that Pakistan was a reluctant partner of the US in the war on terror and that it managed to keep an equation with Al Qaeda Taliban and ISISPakistan helped the installation of the Taliban Emirate at Kabul in 1996 and ensured the subsequent return of Taliban rule to Afghanistan in 2021 on the conclusion of Doha peace talks that were held to facilitate the withdrawal of American troops from the messy Afghan territory Pakistan had pretended to be a mediator in these talks but was in fact advancing its duplicitous policy of remaining on the right side of the US without giving up on its faithbased commitment to sustaining Islamic radical outfitsThe US is hopefully coming out of the flawed old policy of trying to create a balancing interface between IndoUS and USPakistan relationshipsPakistan has made the PakAfghan belt a home ground for Islamic radical forces and supported Chinas ingress into Afghanistan through the latters Beltamp Road Initiative BRIIt had already allowed the ChinaPak Economic Corridor CPEC to pass through the Northern Areas of POK against strong protestation by IndiaThe SinoPak axis is influencing the current geopolitics in a major way and the American administration must take a call on this as a shared concern of India and the US In the recent election in Pakistan the Army came in the way of Imran Khan who had consistently condemned the US and who was compelled to fight the election from prison without availing of any party symbolThis however should bring no comfort to America because in the uncertain political scene in Pakistan that prevailed through the polls radicalism in the Khyber PakhtunkhwaAfghanistan region did become strongerBoth the US and India realise that the IsraelHamas conflict sparked off by the planned attack of radicalised Hamas on Israel on October 7 2023 drew attention to a worrying new factor in the Middle East the constant advance made by Islamic radical forces wedded to faithbased terror in the Muslim worldThe old political dispute between Israel and Palestine is now overtaken by a confrontation driven by religion and Jehad this should cause serious concern to the world at largeIndia under Prime Minister Modi has been exceptionally successful in countering this trend by pushing up economic development in West Asia to the top of the regional agenda and pitching on the connectivity of the Middle East with the rest of the world as a means of furthering that projectAgain Indias initiatives in this regard rest on the fundamental policy of forging bilateral bonds for mutual security and economic benefitsAs a consequence of this there is now a dividing line between close US friends like Saudi Arabia and UAE with their approach of moderation towards Israel and the radical states like Yemen Syria and Qatar who supported Hamas stand of refusing to recognise the very existence of the Israel stateThere is also a new level of ShiaSunni conflict in West Asia because the fundamentalist regime of Ayatollahs in Iran with its total antipathy towards the US and Israel was actively encouraging its proxies in the region to fight for Hamas and against IsraelIndia has done the right thing in denouncing the terror attack of Hamas on Israel and calling for caution on the part of Israel so that in its pursuit of Hamas civilian casualties of the Palestinian population did not throw up a human crisisnbsp IANS The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Views are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/munich-tests-indias-foreign-policy-526886.html Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/astro-zindagi-weekly-horoscope-523458.html New Delhi Feb 25 Here is a guide to the week ahead for you This is your forecast for February 26 to March 3 AriesThis is the time to network and meet the people of influence who can help you move forward in your profession The superiors would notice your efforts and dedicationIt is time to assess your relationships and connections and ensure they serve you Shift the focus on creating and nurturing strong significant relationships with others and you will discover that they are the greatest tools to help you succeedIn your love life you might face the dilemma of challenging assumptions and seeking clarity Take advantage of the fact that youre single by being open to new connections and hearing what others have to sayTip of the week Assess your relationshipsTaurusThis is the time to be disciplined and focused as effort and endurance will eventually lead to longterm achievements You may encounter some bumps or barriers on your way to your career but with persistence and patience you can manage them Focus on becoming a person of integrity and dont seek shortcuts or do things halfway When it comes to love this week encourages you to take a downtoearth and realistic approach to your relationships This is the moment to solidify a strong basis of trust and stability with your partner If you are a student dont procrastinate nor give in to distractions as they will only slow you downTip of the week Dont seek shortcutsGeminiThis week the focus of your career will shift to a more serious tone You may be tempted to return to college for more education or training to advance your career Now is the right time to ask for advice from your mentors or experts related to your field Dont hurry up with the decisions about your career calmly explore your choicesThe week may bring a more serious tone to family matters It is a good opportunity to talk seriously with your family members especially about old issues that have never been resolvedNow is the perfect opportunity to register for those courses that align with your longterm interestsTip of the week Seek advice from mentorsCancerThis is the time to introspect on your career and ambitions Ponder over your longterm plans and how they align with your aspirations Adapting to change and being flexible in transforming your career is vital This may require letting go of the old mindsets that do not work for you and welcoming new things that come your way Trust and believe in your ability to survive all the challenges that lie ahead and youll be more resilient and successfulDig into the core of your feelings and relationships You might discover yourself facing your longdenied fears or insecurities which kept you from being successful in romantic relationshipsTip of the week Be adaptive to changeLeoThis week you may face difficulties in partnerships or collaborations The planetary effect may cause delays or complications in the partnership tasks You must talktransparently and be patient with your coworkers Focus on creating deep and sustainable trustbased partnerships rooted in mutual respect This is the week when you have to be careful in new relationships Dont rush getting to know someone before making a full commitmentRegarding family affairs Leos will have to deal with some unpleasant issues The influence of planets can result in problems among the family that require patience and empathyTip of the week Talk transparentlyVirgoThis is the time to display your persistence and commitment Keep your eyes on the goals be persistent and dont be impatient Ultimately your efforts will be rewarded and you can move to the next stage in your careerThe planets might create some tension or difficulties regarding your relationships You might feel more serious or formal than usualmaking your partner think something is wrong You may be forced to undertake extra tasks or tackle health or welfare problems affecting your relatives Selfcare is necessary and setting boundaries is crucial to avoid overloadingTip of the week Set boundariesLibraHave the courage to think out of the box and explore new approaches to your work You may be attracted to creative activities or new ideas among others This is a time to take risks and try out new things as long as you remain rooted and pragmatic in your approach Your superiors will see your strenuous effort and devotion to a task In your personal life you could feel a lack of stability and security in your relationship as a result of which you might have conflicts with your partner Singles do not jump headlong into a new relationship instead slow down discover more about yourself and decide what you want in a partnerTip of the week Try out new thingsScorpioThis week you may explore the hidden force influencing your career You could decide to make longterm plans and stick to the schedule It is an opportune moment to reevaluate your goals to make appropriate modifications to fit your genuine aspirations Although this may require you to have some level of patience you should be ready for such challenges In relationships you may experience depth and intensity You might experience a sharp craving for closer ties and a greater intensity of your relationship with your partnerThere is a high chance that you will enjoy acquiring new knowledge and receiving fresh points of viewTip of the week Stick to the scheduleSagittariusThis is the perfect time for you to practice your interpersonal skills Be clear and concise in the messagesincreasing the chances of people understanding your ideas You might also notice that the duties of your job become more extensivewhich could open up new ways of developing yourself or moving up in the company It is good to take this opportunity to enhance communication with your family members Spend time listening to their ideas and opinions and be ready to compromise if necessaryFor singles this week could open new chances through simple things like social events or short travelsTip of the week Practice your interpersonal skillsCapricornThis week you may find that you are emphasising your finances and career security more than usual This is when you need to take a pragmatic stand regarding your professional objectives and duties Instead work on a solid base for your future success If you have been thinking about making investments or taking on more tasks at work now is the time to carefully analyse the pros and cons before moving on If single dont be in a hurry to get to know someone new but rather concentrate on building a solid emotional link before it gets too seriousYou might have a strong urge to build a pattern of order and structure in your householdTip of the week Work on a solid baseAquariusThis week you could have a feeling of being restricted or limited in your relationships that can end up in conflicts or disagreements It is crucial to communicate openly with your partner and be ready to make concessions and find ways out together In your career think about your professional purpose and ambitions in detail You might experience a great desire to do something new or to be different Be careful and patient in your decisionmaking process because rushed decisions can create difficulties Focus on developing a strong platform that will support future growth and success This is also an opportunity to solicit advice from mentors or colleagues who could give you invaluable insightsTip of the week Avoid impulsive decisionsPiscesThis week you may experience feelings of loneliness and separation from your family members It is crucial to keep the communication open and grasp the viewpoints from different angles You can use this time to work on your inner healing process and reinforce your family tiesAs regards career this week may seem stressful You can experience a lack of inspiration Its necessary to stay focused and disciplined even when feeling discouraged Take this opportunity to reconsider your career goals and make any changes that may be needed If you are single consider your past relationships and what partner you would likeTip of the week Work on your inner healingNeeraj Dhankher is an Astrologer with proficiency in Vedic KP and Nadi Astrology He is the Founder and CEO of Astro Zindagi The observations are made by the writer based on his analysis IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/astro-zindagi-weekly-horoscope-523458.html Sun, 25 Feb 2024 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/black-fridays-in-store-521309.html Mumbai Feb 18 A Friday is the day when a new film releases in India The exhibition trade plans its calendar of 52 weeks according to Fridays Box Office is the term that gets bandied around The entire film industry awaits positive boxoffice returns starting every Friday That is where the wealth is created the wealth that refuels the industry and keeps it goingA cinema is the vehicle that carries your films to the people Earlier the word was masses but because of the kind of exhibition trade that exists now the word masses can no longer be used Masses included people from all strata of society and gave a film the initial fillip Watching a film was affordable and these masses made provision to watch a new film every Friday or during the weekendThe multiplex culture has put paid to the aspirations of the masses yet the kind of films that are made these days are more likely to attract masses they come loaded with action and computergenerated special effects that also help make heroes look much younger than their 55 years or soTalking of 50plus actors they were never a deterrent for the people to watch a film Stars such as Raj Kapoor Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar continued to work into their 50s With much younger heroines at that There were no computers to make them look younger and they did not need them eitherBut then thanks to special effects even the romantic heroes have taken to action films The fact is an action hero is readily accepted in a romantic film but it doesnt work when a romantic hero switches characterDharmendra who was dubbed the He Man carried the image of an action hero but gave his most successful films with romantic or social themes The same was true of Vinod Khanna and Amitabh BachchanIn more recent times Salman Khans career was launched as a romantic hero he did some social films the Rajshri Pictures kind and even played a second fiddle to Jackie Shroff in Bandhan He was equally at ease with a comedy like Judwa but when he came up with an action film Wanted he was readily accepted The film went on to become a major hit and Salman was slotted as an action heroNow all in all the scene in the production of films is quite muddled If Shah Rukh Khan thinks action films will further his career Hrithik Roshan does a Super 30 a real life story To add to the irony during the promotion of the film the real life character of the story is also brought in along with a 6foot tall fair and handsome Hrithik who plays the lead Why darken his face and give him a beard and spoil his looks That was not necessary really And Punjabi lyrics and tunes for the theme and background of the filmThis amounts to taking your audience for granted If you want to take such liberties you have to create a convincing situation for that Like Manmohan Desai did in film after film Besides the makers dont only lift sequences especially action from Hollywood films but they even write their script and dialogues in EnglishAs a Bihar exhibitor puts it we are just trying to ape Hollywood and distanced the masses from movie going Our makers have become angrez he adds He believes the makers need to revisit the 1990s and not only make films like they made in those days but also recall the directors of that eraHe cites the example of Gadar 2 and Anil Sharma who could come out with a super hit even now He questions why Hrithik and Shahid Kapoors films dont get initial footfalls while a virtually unknown Teja Sajjas HanuMan does well What good are the multicrore charging Hindi starsSome makers think it is chic to have the film peppered with English dialogues And they are the same as when you are watching a Hollywood film When not a lot is lost in the translation Where are those claptrap oneliners that the dialogue writers penned in the pastThis overdose of computergenerated action films lifted from Hollywood dont seem to excite our viewers anymoreThe other day I happened to watch Ajay Devgns film Runway 34 I have watched hundreds of films for professional reasons but this one lacked story sense logic and therefore any appeal it could have had A passenger plane pilot boasts of his experience of flying hours to a comparatively new copilot and defies all advice and odds to land his flight in a stormstruck cityMuch of what you see in this film was already done and dusted in the 1970 Hollywood film Airport and many other such films not to forget popular TV shows based on air disasters that have been running on various channels since 2003 The concept and execution was poor at bestCan someone explain to me this craze to produce Hollywood films and also try to do better than themWhat then is the situation at present People are rejecting just about every aspect of the film trade from admission rates to the kind of films being madeThe cinemas are the place where it shows There is no audience and hence no collections Unless the maker or the star of the film concerned has the capacity or the knack to show the crores of business the film never didThere are multiplex properties and there are privately owned single screens The latter are not built on public funding The multiplex properties are rented spaces single screens are notThe most worried lot are the single screen owners Here are the laments of some There is this theatre owner from Muzaffarnagar Uttar Pradesh He invested Rs 4 crore to build a new cinema in 2020 He recounts how poorly films are faring adding that he built the cinema with his own money but had he depended on bank loans he would have been finished by nowThe show tax that the local government levies used to be Rs 20 but it has now been raised to Rs 500 per show Now Ravi Tejas film Eagle collected just Rs 400 which was not enough to cover even the show tax let alone electricity staff and projection costsAs for ad revenue who gets it In the good old days there were agencies that booked ads for cinemas I remember Blaze was the pioneer in the field The understanding was practical The agency got its commission while the rest went to the cinema Now the cinemas pay for power bills and the rest while the entire ad revenue is gobbled up by the distributorThe 3D films they make like Fighter need the updation of bulbs that costs almost Rs 2 lakh more than what is required for 2D projectionThen theres this former filmmaker from Mumbai who is the cinema controller of two theatres in Hyderabad and one in Aurangabad He should be happy because he does not depend on Hindi films alone Sadly for him even the recent South Indian films have proved to be letdownsTwo major films Ravi Tejas Eagle and Mahesh Babus Guntur Kaaram have failed to sustain One would think that these booking agents working on behalf of cinemas had nothing to lose if a film did not work But they do They lose both prestige and the contractThe advent of multiplexes coupled with cockeyed policies of the various state governments sounded the death knell for single screens which actually drew and catered to the massesNow the impractical admission rates and poor cinema content are bound to tell on the survival of both the single screens as well as the multiplexes So get back to Indian themes like in the good old daysThese computer heroes are failing even in Hollywood There was a generation that was brought up on the American culture of comic books and Marvel spun the best superhero fantasies at that timeFinally what about release strategies Last Friday we had just one film out in the theatres But on March 1 as many as seven films have been lined up for release This at a time when even one film is not capable of drawing crowdsSoon there will be many obstacles for films Exam season IPL24 general elections and Ramzan These spells many black Fridays in the offing IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/black-fridays-in-store-521309.html Sun, 18 Feb 2024 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/film-did-not-fly-because-people-do-not-fly-518995.html New Delhi Feb 11 I noticed something curious Director Siddharth Anand of the film Fighter says that his film flopped because 90 per cent of Indian moviegoers have never sat in an airplane I was amazed amused but most of all I was worried Worried because this is how the maker of a Rs 400crore film thinks My mind instantly went back to Shakti Samantas An Evening In Paris 1967 where a bikiniclad Sharmila Tagore is sea skiing as Shammi Kapoor courts her hanging from a helicopter After learning what Malhotra had said to explain why his film had failed I wondered how many people hang from a helicopter to court a woman I dont know anybody who has done such a thing and still An Evening In Paris was a major hit I can cite hundreds of such examplesOf course the audience must first identify with the subject of a film The other factor is fantasy its content must make a viewer fantasise what the actor is doing on the screen For instance Rajesh Khanna driving parallel to a mini train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in Aradhana another Shakti Samanta film and on noticing Sharmila Tagore on the train sings a song Mere sapnon ki rani That gives wings to the viewers fantasy He would imagine his own self in that sceneSimilarly when Amitabh Bachchan played his angry young man out to set the world right it reflected the prevailing mood of the people of that time borne out of a rather authoritarian regimeThe prevailing national mood and the political dispensation usually have an undefined impact on the kind of films that work PostIndependence there was a brief period of time when films and songs were imbued with the spirit of nationalism The period that followed was the celebration of independence There was no media like the one that exists now and people lived believing that all was fineAll genres be it a family social romance musical historical or mythological found an audience Action was accepted only as a part of the narrative horror and extraterrestrial movies held little appeal People went to a cinema to be entertained and did not like to be burdened with ghost storiesThe second Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastry who fought a successful war and won it brought nationalism back in his short tenure Manoj Kumars Shaheed as well as Gulshan Behls Sikandar E Azam besides IS Johars comic take on Goas liberation Johar Mehmood In Goa managed to do wellIt was post the Shastri era that Manoj Kumar picked up the threads and cashed in on the national mood with his classic Upkar Jeetendras spy movie Farz struck a responsive chord in the audience because the film portrayed the Chinese as the antagonistsManoj Kumar continued driving home his theme of nationalism with Purab Aur Paschim Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Kranti all successful thought the returns compared with Upkar kept receding Only Upkar is considered a classicThen again just about every genre was working with a new superstar Rajesh Khanna dominating the screen Just as suddenly antiestablishment films took over and became the norm Films such as Zanjeer Deewaar Trishul Shahenshah Inquilab and Andhaa Kanoon ruled all spun around the narrative of a oneman army taking on all that was wrong in the societyAfter the Amitabh Bachchan angry young man era however no definite trend could be established that filmmakers could follow There was only one formula for success and that was the musical love story The new big stars Aamir Khan Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan thrived on love stories Even some onefilm wonders such as Rahul Roy Aashiqui and Vivek Mushran Saudagar came up with hitsSo Mr Director of Fighter true nationalism and patriotism are the formulae that are in the air currently Earlier they hardly worked Do you know that most war films dont work in India unless they have human angles in valour shown by personnel and not machines notably aircraftOne of the earliest war films was Chetan Anands Haqeeqat A perfectly blended film formula with family emotions romance and most of all one of the greatest musical scores a war movie could have The film still got limited appreciation despite its taxfree tag in many parts of the countryIn your film the family angle was corny I cant detail it because not many people have seen your film to understand it You expect them to catch it on OTT so I wont spoil the fun for them I suppose being privileged enough to fly is not a prerequisite when it comes to watching the film on an OTT platformThere is a list of war films that did not work and these include Prem Pujari Hindustan Ki Kasam Vijeta Aakraman Mission Kashmir Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo The Ghazi Attack and LOC Uri The Surgical Strike was the notable exceptionIs it surprising that Fighter failed to get a decent opening collection There are people who grew up playing video games flying and downing fighter planesThe choice of making a Rs 400plus crore film was wrong on all counts In which box office would a film with this kind of a budget recover the investment and make a profit The collection would need to be be more than Rs 1000 crore Does the Indian boxoffice business have that kind of a potentialEven if you believe in the Rs 700 crore and Rs 500 crore business as claimed by the makers of some recent films what do you think is the take home from these figures It is less than 50 per cent for the multiplex chains demand 525 per cent in the first week 485 in the second week and so onFinally when you say Fighter will be called a classic by OTT viewers it is just solace you are offering to yourself if you check what has worked on OTT platformsSocial media is a boon as well as a curse Boon because it is many minutes ahead in the business of propagating news before traditional media catches up with it And it is a curse because that is where people end up being fools and vengefulAnands other excuse is that they made a mistake by releasing the film on January 25 a working day before the Republic Day holiday He seems to have forgotten that his earlier film Jawan was released on January 25 in 2023 also a working day The film is reported to have collected Rs 55 crore on January 25 Fighter could fetch only Rs 20 croreFilmmakers over the years have come up with many excuses on why their films failed But this one qualifies for Ripleys Believe It Or Not In that sense the southern filmmakers have a more businesslike approach If a film fails to work they accept it and move on to the next projectWhen a plane flies overhead not only children but also grownups look up instinctively I have known people who are scared to travel in an airplane but never heard of those who would not welcome the experience of travelling in one or watching a film showing planesThe fact is people have had enough of this patriotism and war against Pakistan narrative Indians dont hate Pakistan anymore considering how poorly the country is placed People pity and have sympathies for our neighbour So no use fighting a meek distressed enemyAnd dont lose heart Our airlines have ordered some 1000 new planes and the government is constructing many more airports More people will fly IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/film-did-not-fly-because-people-do-not-fly-518995.html Sun, 11 Feb 2024 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-stars-dont-sell-star-ratings-do-513353.html Mumbai Jan 28 I am not sure if film critics qualify to be called journalists Maybe they did very very long agoBecause reviewing films was a part of their multiple other duties One of the journalists on the roster was assigned the task because he was either a movie buff and threw around his gyan about movies or just because he was the editors favouriteThe reviewers job was somewhat of a recreational break because it involved watching a movie for free and gorging on decent snacks during the interval Press screenings or press shows were organised a couple of days before a films theatrical release and that was the privilege a film critic enjoyed and boasted of Everybody wanted to know from the critics how good or bad the film wasThere was no system of outsourcing film reviews as one of the staffers of a newspaper or magazine was assigned the role This was the era of only the print media Critics from reputed publications were expected to be honest and they did not let us downBut then how many people read English publications in those days So the influence of the reviewers was really felt in Brung publications and also the vernacular mediaThis influence though came from the headline of the review being grabbed by either the male or female lead of the film the PROs or public relations men of both approaching the reviewer with sealed envelopes The weight of the envelope decided who grabbed the headlineThis was so because no one expected people to read a complete film review That has not changed even today Only the first and last paragraph of a film review was readThe press screenings were held in what in those days were known as the Preview Theatres with a seating capacity for not more than 50 people It was a funny system because the vernacular media occupied front rows while the English and other reputed media houses used be assigned the rows behind This system was not designed or imposed by anybody It just so happened that those who occupied the front row were the first to reach the refreshment area during intervalHow did this grabbing of the headline in a fourfive column film review help an actor Really speaking it did not There were two kinds of audiences which I think still holds true There were these firstdayfirstshow types and those who took in a film within its opening weekend A film with a reasonable star cast got that benefit The rest did not matter The second kind was the one that went by the word of mouth Reviews Who caredA film was worth watching only if the opinions were favourable for it used to be a family outing Paisa vasool was the operative phrase in those daysThe opinions expressed in the reviews and the actors who grabbed the headlines were of interest only to the stars and the criticsIf no one cared for reviews and what the critics had to say about a movie when the money was scarce and movie outings were an occasion for most families to cherish together what was the purpose of courting film reviewers The film stars lived in their own world nursed massive egos and the reviews were just an ego boosterIf the stars of yore loved to see themselves being praised in film reviews it was simply that and did not mean they were trying to fool or deceive anybody for personal profit Because finally the box office figures spoke louder than the reviewersI keep using the word reviewer because they were not critics and possessed no specialised knowledge of filmmaking such as the number of frames that rolled in a second They took in a film and liked or disliked it like any other laymanA critic is one who does the critical analyses of a work of creativity Instead what the reviewers did was to start with a brief paragraph on the film and filled the rest of the column with a synopsis of films storyThe scene today is pathetic Let alone critics the reviewers also come with riders The review has to be favourable Conditions apply Otherwise no invite The production house and its PR machinery decide what you are expected to writeAs a result you will see that the vocabulary is limited and the same phrases are repeated when extracts of the reviews are published to attract more viewersTake for instance the advertisement for Fighter The film was released on January 25 but and on 26th its ad carried 12 media comments The word Brilliant is used in three and word Cinematic blah blah twiceOther excerpts carry equally eloquent words of praise You will not find this language when you read the review These are quotations especially drafted for use in advertisementsThe press screenings are no longer small preview theatre affairs They need a multiplex auditorium seating 150 people at the leastAnybody and everybody has turned into a film reviewer After all how much does it cost to register a portal Say Rs 150 And how much for a blue tick on X Barely Rs 600 That investment I am sure is recovered after one reviewThe price of each reviewer is fixed and the old hands the socalled trade analysts cost a bit more But you are required to praise just about everything in the movie and give it three to five stars nothing less is acceptable In most cases the number of stars is dictated by PR companiesBesides the money what does the reviewer get It is like this For starters a free movie outing along with samosa popcorn and cola Besides the stars given to a film accompanied by the name of the reviewer and of the media house he or she represents is published in the newspaper ads and social media inserts by the PR companiesThis their names being in print they believe is an endorsement of their being qualified film reviewers critics experts It is a kickWhen did this business of reviews start becoming so blatant From smalltime film reviewers pocketing envelopes the system has moved to media house managements which also have got into the business of selling star ratings along with film reviews The fourorfivestars ratings though came with much bigger price tagsWith the onset of the digital media it has become everybodys business The erstwhile gate crashers at press screenings spent a few hundred to become owners of websites Getting listed on the invitees lists of PR companies was easy and then they were ready to review filmsNow what this shameless soliciting has done is that when the PR machinery approaches the one or two remaining veteran journalists who review films they are approached with offers to talk businessHow does this false notion of great reviews and highly inflated boxoffice figures help a filmmaker After all he is the one paying everybody from the PR company to the reviewersIt does not help him in any way except in wasting some more money For the people dont buy these reviews and the cinemas continue to remain emptyYes it does help the stars It helps them because the outside world mainly the advertising world believes in the reviews and figures and the stars get multiple more assignments That is how they mint moneyTake for example Shah Rukh Khan who was said to be on his last legs but now has ten more endorsements post the social media blitz about the money his films Pathaan and Jawan madeAs things stand the production houses have more faith in the stars they buy from film reviewers than the stars in their films IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-stars-dont-sell-star-ratings-do-513353.html Sun, 28 Jan 2024 17:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/2024-global-election-fest-503086.html New Delhi Jan 1 2024 will be a historic election year when democracy will undergo a major test with elections in approximately 70 countries including the US India Mexico and South Africa More than 37 billion voters will head to the polls and their results may have global impact and ramifications The current year will be the greatest year for democracy and democratic institutions worldwide The greatest power in the world the US the mostpopulous country India the biggest trading bloc the European Union the largest Muslim country Indonesia the largest Spanishspeaking country Mexico and the territory that is the most contentious one between the two superpowers of this century Taiwan all will hold elections in 2024 A total of more than 37 billion inhabitants around 70 countries or almost half of the global population will head to cast their votes in either presidential or legislative elections in the coming year The verdict of these polls may have profound consequences on the lives of people and on a world that is going through a turbulent time with ongoing brutal wars in Ukraine and Gaza as the West seems falling into decline with no clear alternative On a geopolitical level this electoral jamboree might have a major impact Major disruptive results include the return of Donald Trump to the White House a third consecutive victory in Taiwan by candidates that Beijing considers hostile or a consolidation of the extreme right in the European Union all of which could lead to farreaching consequences In addition to these other elections to watch out for include the potential presidential elections in Venezuela to those in Ukraine from Indonesia to South Africa and Mexico besides the UK where a substantial change of course would not be expected regardless of the outcome Test for Democracy However what might be the worrisome aspect of these elections is the litmus test which democracy will undergo Surveys by different international think tanks and institutes indicate dissatisfaction with the presentday working of democratic institutions a sentiment common throughout the nations of the west meaning the US and Europe even though they see themselves as democracys home ground A recent Ipsos opinion poll in western countries found a widespread belief that current democratic systems favour the rich and powerful and ignore everyone else Freedom House the independent USbased watchdog concluded in its 2023 report that the Global Freedom Index declined for the 17th consecutive year The principle of free speech essential to a fully functioning democracy is also under attack Paradoxically this unprecedented votefest comes at a moment when classic forms of liberal democracy are under existential attack from authoritarians and dictators such as Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin farright nationalistpopulist parties such as in Austria Hungary and Scandinavia and military coup plotters and Islamists from Venezuela to Chad Yet the report said while 35 countries experienced declines in political rights and civil liberties 34 saw overall gains Autocrats were neither infallible nor unbeatable The geopolitical and economic impacts of so many ballot box battles occurring more or less at once may combine to further destabilise an unstable world for good or bad Rise of the Far Right The European continent will see elections in Austria Belgium Croatia and Finland as well as for the European Parliament in June The pervasive fear is that they may accelerate advances by nationalistpopulist antimigrant xenophobic parties of the far right matching those seen recently in Italy the Netherlands and Slovakia The results will shape the new chamber with possible new legislative majorities that will influence the leadership of the EU One wonders how high the farright wave may rise The average of polls compiled by Politico magazine indicates a rise of the two farright blocs and a decline in support of the traditional European conservatives social democrats liberals and greens Even so the latter groups might retain a comfortable majority The crux of the question is to see if an eventual coalition between populist and farright groups could form an alternative majority At the beginning of December in the seat projection put out by Politico the distance between extremists and moderates was only about 20 seats out of a total of 720 India and Its Neighbours For India which itself will be holding the general elections in which the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to score a hat trick will watch closely elections in its neighbourhood ie in Pakistan and Bangladesh which may have a major regional and strategic impact Pakistan is plagued by a serious economic crisis and high political tensions including arrests and attempted assassinations of political leaders Following the dissolution of Parliament back in August elections should have been held within 90 days but have been postponed twice They are now scheduled for February The country with some 240 million inhabitants has enormous strategic depth not only due to its nuclear arsenal but also due to its close relationship with China The BeijingIslamabad axis is New Delhis biggest concern The first election of 2024 could be one of the most contentious Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League have dominated Bangladeshi politics for the past fifteen years Over that time they have increasingly eroded Bangladeshs democracy As Freedom House puts it the AL has consolidated political power through sustained harassment of the opposition and those perceived to be allied with it as well as of critical media and voices in civil society The US has been pressing Sheikh Hasina for months to hold freeandfair elections that pressure has yet to pay off Major Elections At the global level the US elections and those of the EU may have a major bearing on Indias foreign and defence policies with some overlap on its internal politics too The US presidential elections next November have immense disruptive potential The possibility that Trump will be the Republican candidate and return to the White House is still not ruled out A Trumpreturn to the White House would represent a major shakeup with associated risks It would be a step towards American isolationism at a time when rival powers are questioning the world order that Washington has created Trump would embody a break with America for the world scenario his America first doctrine means limiting efforts and expenses in distant horizons Its doubtful whether he would commit to supporting Taiwan if it comes under attack or whether he would maintain financing and security guarantees made to Ukraine and NATO New trade wars would be likely as would a withdrawal of commitments against climate change In addition the elections in 2024 will further highlight the manner in which our lives have become slaves to the social media and this will have an impact on the election processes too As Kay Spencer program director of elections at the Washingtonbased National Democratic Institute NDI puts it the year 2024 is a big year for social media platforms and it will be important to monitor how they will manage all the elections that are coming up Indeed 2024 might prove to be a year which consolidates the liberal democratic principles and institutions or lead to their further erosion Asad Mirza is a Delhibased senior political and international affairs commentator IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/2024-global-election-fest-503086.html Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/south-african-solidarity-with-palestinians-487457.html New Delhi Nov 20 IANS After October 7 following Hamass unprecedented surprise attack on Israel much of the international community rushed to voice its concern about the escalation in tensions but few took a moment to condemn Israels aggression against the PalestiniansHowever as Israel continues to bomb Gaza and attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank several governments have started to turn critical of Israels actions some more directly than others Surprisingly even the number of nations condemning Israels brutal military oppression in Gaza doesnt exceed a twodigit listIn contrast there are some nations like South Africa which have vociferously condemned the Israeli brutalities in Gaza on unarmed Palestinian children youth and agedOn November 17 the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ICC said he had received a joint request from five countries to investigate the situation in the Palestinian territoriesProsecutor Karim Kahn said the referral had come from South Africa Bangladesh Bolivia Comoros and Djibouti South Africa said the request was made to ensure that the ICC pays urgent attention to the grave situation in PalestineThough Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction the ICC can investigate nationals of nonmember states in certain circumstances including when crimes are alleged to have been committed in the territories of member statesThe Palestinian territories have been listed among the ICCs members since 2015Perhaps the emotional connect between S Africa and Palestine exists because of the two prominent leaders of the nonaligned movement ie Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat from these two countries respectively and recalling the experience of apartheid themselves the South African leaders could better understand the plight of the Palestinians and raise their voice in their supportThe South African government has made its position clear expressing support for the Palestinians amid the on going attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip though also condemning resistance group Hamas for attacking and kidnapping Israeli civiliansWe who enjoy the freedom from Apartheid can never ever be the ones who agree to an apartheid form of oppression This cannot be tolerated This brutality should not be accepted Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said in parliament on November 14 while delivering a ministerial statement on the raging conflictThese actions remind us of our experiences as Black South Africans living under Apartheid This is one of the key reasons South Africans like people in cities all overthe world have taken to the streets to express their anger and concern at what is taking place in Gaza and the West Bank she saidTaking a proactive action last week South Africa withdrew all its diplomats from Tel Aviv for consultation over Israels assault in GazaThe South African government also instructed the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary diplomatic measures to deal with the conduct of the Israel ambassador to South Africa Eliav Belotserkovsky whose conduct they said is becoming very untenableBelotserkovsky is accused of disparaging comments against people raising their voices against attacks on PalestiniansSouth Africa is among a handful of African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine Yet it has strongly advocated for Palestinian freedom and has called for a twostate solutionLesiba Teffo a political scientist at the University of South Africa commenting on the South African governments response told Anadolu news agency that South Africa and Palestine have had historic relations for decades and that it is important for them to support the Palestinian cause for freedomPalestine was with South Africa during the struggle against apartheid while Britain and America never supported us but they were ever supporting Israel This context is important he told AnadoluTeffo also said South Africa has been consistent in supporting Palestine over the yearsDirk Kotze another professor of politics at the same university told Anadolu that South Africas ruling African National Congress ANC has had historical links with the Palestine Liberation Organisation PLO since the time of late anti apartheid hero and first Black South African President Nelson MandelaSiyabulela Mandela the greatgrandson of Nelson Mandela in an interview said that despite South Africa being liberated from the senseless violence and oppression he Nelson Mandela was able to recognise the fact that our freedom is not complete until the people of Palestine are freeSiyabulela an independent consultant on human rights peace and conflict resolution spoke with Global Nationals Farah Nasser while in Toronto where he was interviewed on stage at the Journalists for Human Rights annual galaHe said that his greatgrandfather the first Black president of South Africa was considered idealistic for thinking that there was a solution to apartheid in his country and people would consider it a miracle if it happened and then it didLast week President Cyril Ramaphosa joined a growing chorus of international voices against what many has termed the genocidal operation of the IDF in GazaThe South African Parliament also last week debated whether to cut diplomatic ties with the Jewish stateLeading parties in parliament notably the ruling ANC and the third largest party Economic Freedom Fighters EFF favour cutting diplomatic ties with IsraelIn recent years human rights organisations and legal experts have increasingly described Israels policies toward Palestinians as apartheid adding to a longstanding debate about whether this is an accurate way to categorise the countrys practicesHuman rights groups have argued that the Israeli governments policies on land access restrictions on movement and limitations on the right to vote meet the ICCs standard and that it has institutionalised racism against Palestinians in order to ensure Israeli Jews remain the dominant group across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories OPT which includes the West Bank and GazaIsrael and its allies including the US and the European Commission have rejected this assessmentOverall it makes one wonder what is holding back the socalled Islamic states from taking any firm step against the Israeli aggression like South AfricaTheir own selfish interests and their lust for power as most of them are monarchies and in no way are obligated to uphold the wish of their people which recent demonstrations in some Arab states have shownIt would not be wrong to surmise that the current conflict has shown the leopards true spotsAsad Mirza is a Delhibased senior political and international affairs commentator IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/south-african-solidarity-with-palestinians-487457.html Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/shift-in-savings-curve-macro-and-bond-implications-480943.html New Delhi Nov 2 Asset management company Bandhan AMC Head Fixed Income Suyash Choudhary has said that probably the most noteworthy feature of Indias recent macroeconomic dynamics has been the increase in the trend rate of our services trade surplus The monthly services trade surplus has been steadily rising from about 6 7 billion in the 2018 20 period to 10 14 billion over the last one and a half year The narrative on why this is happening seems circling around the further proliferation of global capability centres in India In other words we are expanding our footprint in the share of the international service industry that is now getting outsourced to India If the rise in services trade surplus was getting offset by a similar expansion in our goods trade deficit then this would not be of much macro economic significanceHowever that isnt the case as the chart below shows Thus the level of offset that services trade surplus is providing to the goods deficit has been steadily rising the 2020 Covid period should be ignored for the analysis owing to a short period dramatic collapse in trade deficit This bodes well for the overall monthly trade deficit and more generally the current account deficit as shown below In absence of commodity price shocks Indias current account deficit trajectory now seems closer to circa 15 per cent of GDP as opposed to 2 25 per cent of GDP before Admittedly there are other sources of volatility here as well However the underlying trend of steady compression led by expansion in services trade surplus now seems durable enough to take note of The Macro Economic Implication The current account is ultimately the difference between investments I and savings S at an economy wide level In turn the relative balance of S versus I is a key determinant of interest rates ceteris paribus Thus when I is much in excess of S think 2013 then interest rates need to rise to reduce I and increase S On the other hand when the two are in better balance one can look forward to stabler interest rates The services trade surplus trends discussed above can be essentially visualised as a shift rightward in the savings curve Thus savings have gone up at same levels of domestic interest rates owing to additional income earned from abroad creating those savings This is shown in the chart below Ceteris paribus this argues for stabler interest rates And that is precisely what we have been seeing Despite elevated levels of government borrowings and a relatively hostile external environment local bond demand has surprised in its resilience especially that for long term bonds However that for the current account trend to continue it is essential for the government deficit to be somewhat complimentary to what the private sector is doing So far there is reason to believe that this is the case Thus the expansion in government deficit over the past few years was on account of private sector savings having been increased The proof of the hypothesis is in the fact that despite higher central government fiscal deficit the current account has broadly remained well behaved If sustained this development also has significant takeaways for bond investors It will imply a relatively stable to possibly downward trending interest rate scenario over time assuming no further large global shocks Investors will have to seriously start to consider reinvestment risks on maturing investments This is especially true as a lot of very short term investments have been made over the past year or so considering heightened market volatility and elevated front end rates One way to hedge some of this risk could be to elongate maturity on new investments being made now Suyash Choudhary is Head Fixed Income Bandhan AMC an asset management company IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/shift-in-savings-curve-macro-and-bond-implications-480943.html Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/as-europeans-stand-solidly-with-ukraine-putin-hopes-to-wear-them-down-471001.html New York Oct 7 To overcome any intimations of fraying support for Ukraine nearly 20 months into Russias invasion Foreign Ministers of the European Union EU countries made a bold show of solidarity by meeting in Kiev on October 2 Josep Borrell the foreign affairs head of the EU said This meeting should be understood as a clear commitment of the European Union to Ukraine and its continuous support in all dimensions Waiting in the wings Russias President Vladimir Putin appears to be betting that a prolonged war a checkmated one will wear down the West and erode support for Ukraine giving his country the final victory The muchvaunted Ukraines renewed counteroffensive starting in spring did not meet the expectations of the West and the stalemate continues giving Russia hope And in the meanwhile Putin also uses threats of a larger conflagration including the prospects of a nuclear conflict Just the day before the EU meeting national elections tallies announced in bloc member Slovakia had given the top spot to a party that ran on a platform opposing Ukraines NATO membership sending weapons to it and sanctions on Russia Although SMER the party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico collected only 229 per cent of the votes and has yet to find a coalition partner to form a government Slovakia promptly stopped weapon supplies to Ukraine The proUkraine Progressive Slovakia party was only about 5 per cent behind blunting what the headlines projected What sets Slovakia and Hungary apart is what is described as their authoritarian leadership that may have a natural inclination toward Putinand goaded on by criticism from the rest of the West Fico quit as Prime Minister in 2018 following massive protests following the killing of a journalist and the EU froze funds for Hungary citing President Viktor Orbans rule of law violations He in turn is now using unfreezing his countrys funds as a bargaining chip for approving some EU aid to Ukraine and considering its membership in the group While these two countries are outliers and there are degrees of proKyiv sentiments with some like the small Baltic states registering high on the scale the three top European economic powerhouses Germany Britain and France along with the US would finally determine the fate of support for Ukraine The three countries are united in their support for Ukraine and there is no sign of a credible opposition to Ukraine But there is divergence among the three Germany being the most risk averse Berlin split with the other two on giving Ukraine longrange missiles Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the reason for refusing Ukraine its Taurus missiles was to ensure that there is no escalation of the war and that Germany does not become part of the conflict When a war lasts so long these considerations cant stop at once he said France is sending Kiev its equivalent Scalp missile and Britain the Storm Shadow missile Despite such differences Germany was earlier skittish about sending tanks and France about fighter jets they adhere to baseline assistance military and civilian They and the other larger economic nations like Italy the Netherlands and Spain are what will matter for Ukraine and there is no serious challenge in those countries A potential weak point is the economy A serious economic downturn with inflation attributable to the war could impact public opinion Arul Louis can be contacted atarulliansinand followed at arulouis IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/as-europeans-stand-solidly-with-ukraine-putin-hopes-to-wear-them-down-471001.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/emboldened-putin-predicts-gradual-collapse-of-dollar-based-financial-system-471003.html New Delhi Oct 6 The dollarbased global financial system is not balanced as it does not meet the interests of all countries Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club According to Putin the dominance of the American currency has to end which is already happening while the US authorities are shooting themselves in the foot RT reported The Bretton Woods system it was once created on the basis of the dollar but all this is gradually collapsing Currency is a derivative of the power of the countrys economy which issues this currency the Russian leader pointed out In addition the share of the US economy in global GDP is declining as evidenced by statistical data Putin emphasized According to the President Washington is used to printing money in order to cover its budget deficit and will continue this policy as long as needed RT reported They will print more They printed well more than 9 trillion during the Covid and postCovid period Therefore it costs them nothing to print something else and scatter it all over the world thus increasing food inflation They will do it for sure Putin predicted IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/emboldened-putin-predicts-gradual-collapse-of-dollar-based-financial-system-471003.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/us-backing-for-ukraine-wanes-but-biden-many-republicans-still-behind-it-471017.html Washington Oct 7 Republican Kevin McCarthy former Speaker of the US House of Representatives became the first American to lose his job over the countrys continued funding for Ukraine in the wake of Russias ongoing war The security aid which stands cumulatively 439 billion since the start of the war in February 2022 is in danger A temporary measure passed recently to keep the US government running till midNovember in the absence of an annual budget made no appropriation for Ukraine The US military has 54 billion left from previously committed funds but that is likely to run out soon President Joe Biden has vowed to stand with Ukraine for as long as it take He has argued that the defense of Ukraine is in the larger security interest of the US Its overwhelmingly in our interest he said earlier this week Ive spent two and a half years putting together coalitions that no one thought could be put togetherAnd theyve strengthened us across the board not just as it relates to Ukraine whether its Japan and South Korea He might try to find ways to keep funding the war but without budgetary support the money may not be sufficient Some members of the Republican party which control the House of Representatives and the governments pursestrings are opposing continued allocation of money to Ukraine And they led by Representative Matt Gaetz toppled McCarthy accusing him of striking a secret deal with the Democrats to keep the money flowing to Ukraine He denied it but couldnt save his job becoming the first Speaker in US history to be voted out of office also the one with the shortest tenure McCarthys ouster had other reasons as well but growing fatigue in US congress especially among his Republican colleagues reflects narrowing of popular support for the war Although six out of 10 Americans still favour economic and military assistance in a poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Its down slightly from last November About half of Republicans agree A slim narrow majority of those polled said the 43 billion in weapons equipment and training that the US has provided to Ukraine has been worth the cost 53 per cent again 45 per cent not worth the cost Six in 10 Republicans say it has not been worth it Jim Jordan a Republican lawmaker who leads the race to replace McCarthy as speaker has been a longtime opponent to military assistance and has voted against all bills that support it And he told reporters this week The most pressing issue on Americans minds is not Ukraine It is the border situation and crime on the streets But the Republicans are divided Steve Scalise the other leading contender for McCarthys chair is a strong backer of Ukraine funding as are the Republicans heading the powerful armed services and foreign affairs committees of the House They want the administration to do more Two senior Republicans called upon the president to elucidate a strategy in a letter saying A pledge to support Ukraine for as long as it takes is not a strategy The data show that flagging desire to support Ukraine could be influenced by several factors including decreased interest in news about the war a reduced sense of threat from Russia a desire for Europeans to take a larger role a decline in the popularity of Ukrainian President Zelensky and a growing sense that Ukraine has not been able to gain advantage in the conflict the council said IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/us-backing-for-ukraine-wanes-but-biden-many-republicans-still-behind-it-471017.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/washingtons-turmoil-over-ukraine-funding-plays-right-into-putins-hands-471023.html New Delhi Oct 7 A Russian victory would not only empower President Vladimir Putin who has repeatedly telegraphed his wishes to reconstitute the former Soviet Union and even larger Russian Empire it would also embolden other autocracies like China to expand their borders by force However poorly the Ukraine war has gone for Russia which expected a swift victory the new turn of events is playing right into Putins plans CNN reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskovdescribed the scenario asfatigue over this conflict will grow in various countries including the US Fatigue will lead to the fragmentation of the political establishment he added Putin is counting on a divided US with former President Donald Trump whodeclared the Russian leader a geniusas hemovedto annex pieces of Ukraine andnever uttered a negative wordabout the Russian autocratwhile in officeto stoke antipathy toward Ukraine fueling it with questions about the cost of supporting it The European Union EU is trying to calm Kievs fears EU foreign ministers traveled to Kiev this week holding theirfirst ever meeting in a third countryas a sign of enduring support The EUs top foreign policy official Josep Borrell saidLets see what will happen in the US but from our side we will continue supporting and increasing our support President Joe Biden has alsooffered reassurance but without question theres reason for concern CNN reported What happens in Washington in the days weeks and months ahead will go a long way in determining the fate of Ukraine and the outcome of the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/washingtons-turmoil-over-ukraine-funding-plays-right-into-putins-hands-471023.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/chris-hemsworth-shows-off-incredible-muscles-during-shirtless-workout-454690.html Los Angeles Aug 27 Australian actor Chris Hemsworth delighted fans on Instagram as he posted a video showing exactly how he has built and maintained the body of a mythological Norse God He captioned it Doing a lot less heavy weight sessions lately and incorporating sprint work and more functional movements A solid full body workout routine Feeling good He added that he couldnt reveal if he or the friend he was seen sprinting with at the start of the video adventurer Ross Edgley had won the race He joked In case youre wondering yes I left rossedgley in the dustum well maybe unfortunately the camera ran outta film so well never know for certain As per Mirrorcouk Ross commented The only person I know whos muscle fibres are becoming MORE fast twitch and powerful with each slice of birthday cake In the video Chris begins by sprinting up a hill with Ross before the camera cuts to him focusing on bodyweight exercises He squats throws and twists with a medicine ball gets his arms working with some battle ropes and makes some tricky forwards and backwards mountain climbers look easy Unsurprisingly his 577million followers lapped it up Fellow Aussie Rebel Wilson left some appreciative fire emojis and Serena Williams commented Yassss body weight is best Many others were more enamoured with Chris sausage dog who was seen trailing behind them in their race They begged for more videos of the little pup and expressed that had they been racing with Chris and Ross they too would have trailed behind Chris celebrated his 40th birthday on August 11 with a trip to the beach for a surf with pals and his brother Miley Cyrus exhusband Liam IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/chris-hemsworth-shows-off-incredible-muscles-during-shirtless-workout-454690.html Sun, 27 Aug 2023 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pm-modi-in-japan-papua-new-guinea-an-assessment-430509.html EDS IMAGE VIA PIB New Delhi Union Minister for Women Child Development and Minority Affairs Smriti Irani in a bilateral meeting with the World Economic Forum President Borge Brende in New Delhi Wednesday May 24 2023 PTI New Delhi May 24 There is merit in viewing the world order today as being in a state of flux Amidst the global uncertainty caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine India remains a powerful voice of reason and sanity This geopolitical backdrop offers an overview of the rationale for Prime Minister Narendra Modis threenation tour to Japan Papua New Guinea and Australia The central message of these visits is that India has arrived at the global stage Modi has done well by connecting the dots in all three countries on issues of bilateral and international concern ensuring that Indias voice resonates globally Additionally the Prime Ministers meeting with the Indian diaspora everywhere is a sure sign that his message is carried forward by those who meet him in their country of residence It is this connect which often gets missed out but plays a very important part in the process of strategic communications The G7 Summit held in Hiroshima was attended by Modi his third such appearance as an invitee The clarion call for dialogue and diplomacy on Ukraine though not directly mentioned indicated Indias continuing concern over the conflict and its global fallout on energy food and national economies The sanctity of respecting the territorial integrity of nations was emphasized in the context of recent incursions by China across the Line of Actual Control and Russias invasion of Ukraine Significantly this is also the consistent line that India has taken since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine Ukraine took centre stage at the G7 Summit what with President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting most world leaders on the sidelines of the event including Prime Minister Modi In fact the Prime Minister went a step further to say Today we heard from President Zelenskk I also met him yesterday I do not consider the current situation as an issue of politics or economy I believe it is an issue of humanity an issue of human values This remark needs to be contextualized as Modi had told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand last year that this is not the era for war Pertinently while other nations look at Ukraine as a zerosum game India has taken the lead in propagating a truly global perspective That President Zelenskk appeared at Hiroshima as he did earlier at the Arab League summit in Riyadh displayed the G7s eagerness to drum up support for Ukraine The scene then shifted to Papua New Guinea where Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Notably Indias presence at the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation meeting at Port Moresby signaled New Delhis renewed interest in the Pacific region traditionally known for the presence of people of Indian origin Chinese political ingress and influence in the Pacific island countries in the last several years has created a challenge not only for neighbouring Australia whose national security is most impacted but also for other countries in SouthEast Asia and the Quad Modis oblique reference to China while speaking at the Forum that even though those considered trustworthy were not standing by our sides in times of need will now have to matched by India and ensure that it becomes a reliable development partner India has a lot to offer both in terms of technology and manpower Lest we forget India can also ensure affordability The only thing required is connectivity with the Pacific Islands region It is here that Australia and the Quad come in The former is undoubtedly perturbed by Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands However the collective efforts of India Australia and Quad partners could provide a very effective platform to intervene in the region Diaspora in this region is one prime mover of course this is restricted mainly to Fiji but the broader canvas can be handled by considering the requirements of each of the island nations Issues pertaining to development climate change coastal security and many other aspects of small island living can be discussed and debated The starting point for this endeavour comes from Modis historic visit James Marape the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea speaking at the Third Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC Summit hailed Modi as the leader of the Global South and said all island nations will rally behind India at all international forums He sought Modis good offices to bring their narrative to the attention of platforms like G7 and G20 There is thus an opening for India both bilaterally and multilaterally to engage with the Pacific Islands Modis latest diplomatic outreach has two interesting anecdotes which highlight his personal charisma and popularity The first was US President Joe Biden hugging him at the G7 summit and reportedly asking the latter the reasons for his popularity Modi is scheduled to visit the US in July and apparently requests for attending his public meetings are already overflowing The other anecdote is from Papua New Guinea where the Marape touched Modis feet when he arrived at Port Moresby Marape is younger than Modi and may have been told that in India it is a tradition to touch an elders feet to seek blessings But the spontaneity of the act suggests something beyond mere formality As the Modi juggernaut rolls on abroad several things become clear India has arrived on the world stage It always was today it is present with a bigger stake and seeks recognition Signalling the new normal with assertive diplomacy and connect to the Indian diaspora have led to some degree of resistance within nations Countries like the UK and Australia occasionally demonstrate antiIndia sentiments by permitting activities which are inimical to New Delhis interests At the end of the day the Prime Ministers visits also strongly signal that engagement is not merely for the sake of it but requires a genuine recognition of each others security concerns This is the key takeaway from the latest tour of Japan and Papua New Guinea IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pm-modi-in-japan-papua-new-guinea-an-assessment-430509.html Wed, 24 May 2023 22:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nitish-reprises-role-played-by-george-fernandes-in-forming-nda-419260.html By Ajay Kumar Patna April 16 After the successful meeting with opposition leaders in Delhi Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is turning out to be the biggest challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha election However Nitish Kumar clarified that he is not a Prime Ministerial candidate of the opposition parties but he might play the role of UPA convener by following in the footsteps of his senior leader late George Fernandes George Fernandes played a major role in the National Democratic Alliance NDA formation in 1998 At that time the Congress was ruling at the Centre and the opposition parties were scattered After the Mandal Commission report a large number of regional parties emerged in the country The BJP had then asked George Fernandes who was the chief of the Samata Party and Nitish Kumar was a member of it to play the role of convener of the NDA and he had managed to unite 24 parties against the Congress Due to that unity George Fernandes became instrumental in the formation of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999 The NDA government completed its tenure of 5 years Now the way that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Mallikarjun Kharge Arvind Kejriwal and Sitaram Yechuri said that Nitish Kumar is doing great work in uniting the opposition parties and they are with him there is a hint of Kumar following in the footsteps of George Fernandes Nitish Kumar has made it clear he wants to unite more and more opposition parties of the country and he is achieving success Congress leader Rahul Gandhis tweet Ham Desh Ke Liye Sath Me Ladege is the most important thing in the current political situation of the country Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also said publicly that whatever Nitish Kumar is doing in the country he is with him Left parties leaders also gave support to him I dont know whether Nitish Kumar is following George Fernandes or not but he is heading in the right direction to unite the opposition parties said Neeraj Kumar JDU MLC and chief spokesperson of the party Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the BJP has only two leaders who are acting like totalitarians They have captured all constitutional institutions and are targeting their political opponents They have done nothing in the interest of common people Hence you vote for them you will destroy yourselves and if you vote against them you will develop yourselves state and the country So Nitish Kumar is clear in his mind to unite a large number of opposition parties of the country against the BJP Kumar said The efforts of Nitish Kumar were appreciated by the leaders who met him recently but there is so much work to do Bringing leaders like Mamata Banerjee and K Chandrashekar Rao on one platform with the Congress party will be a big achievement but it will take time Once they sit together and finalize every aspect followed by declaring the role of Nitish Kumar as convener then we would say that all opposition parties agreed on one seat one candidate formula said Shivanand Tiwari vice president of the RJD When we talk about West Bengal having 42 Lok Sabha seats the Congress party is no way near to the TMC In Telangana there are 17 Lok Sabha seats and the Congress has won three seats while the TRS won nine seats So the Congress has to drop some ego to minimize the division of votes The same thing applies to the TRS and it will have to compromise with the Congress where the latter has sitting MPs The key here is the opposition parties who would agree on one seat one candidate formula This is the only way to defeat the BJP Tiwari said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is a desperate man and in a hurry Nitish ji is daydreaming to become the Prime Minister but at the same time he should remember that his support base in Bihar has slipped The political credibility of Nitish ji is based on the support and mercy of his grand alliance partners especially the RJD While Nitish is aspiring to realize his daydream the RJD wants to use this opportunity to promote Tejashwi as the CM of Bihar said Nikhil Anand national general secretary of the BJP OBC wing There is no consensus in favour of Nitish ji and there are dozens of PM aspirants from different states The opportunistic intention and motive of grand alliance parties they will let down each other in course of time Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the undisputed leader of India and there is no one who can challenge him in 2024 The NDA will come back to power with more than 400 seats Anand said IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nitish-reprises-role-played-by-george-fernandes-in-forming-nda-419260.html Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bengal-governor-ananda-bose-to-learn-bengali-390185.html Kolkata Jan 19 ACV Ananda Bose the new governor of West Bengal will soon take Bengali lessons sources said here on Thursday A ceremonial beginning as per Hindu rituals will start on January 26 which besides being the Republic Day is also the occasion of Saraswati Goddess of learning Puja they added Hate Khori which is the ceremonial beginning of the process of learning as per Hindu rituals will be organised on January 26 afternoon at the East Lawn of the complex the Governors house informed Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been specially invited to attend the function Incidentally soon after taking charge as the governor Bose attended a literary meet on December 25 last year and expressed the desire of writing a book on his experiences of working as a constitutional head of West Bengal I feel proud to come to this state as its Governor The literary and cultural heritage of West Bengal with icons like Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore is so rich The Bengali language is like the Pacific Ocean Bengal in itself is Indias pride I consider myself as an adopted son of this state In the long run I have a dream to write a book about my experiences as the governor of the state Bose had said then The new governer often recalls his association with West Bengal as he started his professional career as probationary officer with State Bank of India SBI in Kolkata He recalls his memories of working as a bank officer with different branches with SBI in the city then He also expresses delight of having the surname of Bose associated with his family name considering that the same surname was associated with the great Indian revolutionary freedom fighter Netaji Subhash IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bengal-governor-ananda-bose-to-learn-bengali-390185.html Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/veteran-malayalam-star-explains-what-south-can-teach-bollywood-385265.html By Jagadish Thiruvananthapuram Dec 30 The film industry in the country has undergone a sea change and the situation today is that the audience are no longer students and for the larger interests of the industry the masters should now turn students Another change that has taken the industry in a big way is the role of writers and the best example of that can be seen on how the South Indian film industry especially the Malayalam and Tamil industries has fared in 2022 as compared to the iconic Bollywood Another reason why the South Indian film industry has done better than Bollywood is on account of the making content and there has been a huge variety in subjects Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is one example how all the above ingredients of content making and the subject gelled well and it has become one of the biggest hits in Malayalam Take a look at what happened in Bollywood in 2022 it has had more flops which included the ones superstars acted in the sole exception being Drishyam 2 In one sentence if I am asked what happened to Bollywood I would say that Bollywood is a bit confused on what to make I am of the personal opinion that Bollywood should not copy blindly and entertainment has to be there centering more on content and thats where I will point out 2023 for Malayalam holds a lot of promise and for Tamil also I will say the same It is here I will state very strongly that the audience are no longer students and once the masters turn students it could be easy sailing for them and the industry as a whole On a personal note 2022 will end for me as the year I lost my loving wife to a rare disease as she was my biggest supporter and critic and am sad that she is not there to see my hugely successful films such as Rorschah Mukundan Unni Associates and Kaapa all of which are running well Maybe she is watching everything from above Jagdish is a popular Malayalam actor who has starred in over 400 films IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/veteran-malayalam-star-explains-what-south-can-teach-bollywood-385265.html Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-2-year-of-pandemic-break-south-asias-oldest-queer-pride-walk-returns-with-added-shades-and-bigger-issues-382508.html After 2year of pandemic break South Asias oldest Queer pride walk returns to Kolk Kolkata Dec 18 After two years of COVID19 pandemic break Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk the oldest LGBTQ annual pride walk in India as well as in South Asia returned on Sunday afternoon on the streets of Kolkata with added colours of gaiety as well as addressing wider issues According to reputed fashion designer and one of the principal organizers of the walk Navonil Das this year they are celebrating the 4th anniversary of the event of Supreme Court partially striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code decriminalizing samesex relationship between consenting adults Again this year the walk is so special as it is being conducted after two years of pandemic break So this year our message is freedom from any authoritative principle that goes against personal liberty choice and freedom Das said For Rituparna Antia an NRI based out of Canada for long and a proud mother of a transwoman this was her first participation in the walk and the experience was overwhelming for her When my son opened up about his sexual orientations I felt so lucky that I was in Canada considering that the legal barriers against same sex relationship continued to exist at that point of time Gradually my son got transformed into a transwoman and I saw how the Canadian society accepted her in the way she is Now after attending the pride walk here I can feel that Indian society is gradually opening up against the social taboo And having done my schooling and graduation from Kolkata I feel so proud that this City of Joy has been the pioneer on this count she said The striking feature of this years walk was that the parents of several Queer children preferred to walk a mile along with their kids as if to send a message to the society not to equate the Queer individuals with antisocial elements Celebrity chef Shaun Kenworthy and his wife Pinky Kenworthy a celebrity ramp model of the yesteryear added enthusiasm to the participants by walking with them as an expression of solidarity to the cause they had been struggling all along Tracy Shivangee Sardar a popular face of the LGBTQ right movement in the city said that for the last two year because of the pandemic break she missed the event badly So naturally the enthusiasm was more this year It is a great moment for us again since this is the day when we celebrate our rights with so much colour she said Jayita Sarkar a teacher by profession said that this is the day when she can meet her students with alternative sexual orientations out of the serious ambit of classroom and express her solidarity towards them courtesy this event This is the day when my students find their mam in a different mood she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-2-year-of-pandemic-break-south-asias-oldest-queer-pride-walk-returns-with-added-shades-and-bigger-issues-382508.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/an-eulogy-for-sardar-patel-381319.html By P S Ramamohan Rao In the context of the Amrit Mahotsav of Indias Independence nothing can be more appropriate than a homage to the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the architect of Independent India as it exists today Of the close lieutenants of the Mahatma during the independence struggle Patel came from the humblest of circumstances As his life would progressively reveal he was a natural leader who combined in him a born rebel an astute agitator an organizer par excellence a tough but shrewd negotiator an outstanding administrator and above all a memorable statesman As a human being suffice it to say he hid behind his rough exterior seeming taciturnity and stern countenance a tender and caring heart a stoical temperamentwhich bore pain and tragedy alike a keen sense of humour and a ready and unhesitating willingness for sacrifice Even as a student Patel displayed glimpses of his future leadership Never to suffer an insult or injustice he brought three of his class teachers to account for their delinquencies On another occasion he accepted the challenge of a fellow patidar contesting for a seat on the Nadiad Municipal Committee that he would shave his head if anyone could defeat himby successfully fielding a teacher against him from his school Slow rises worth by poverty depressed wrote Samuel Johnson Because of his family circumstances Patel could complete his matriculation only when he was 22 years old For the same reason he had to be content with becoming a district pleader by passing the prescribed examination through self study To fulfill his ambition of becoming a barrister he chose to practise in criminal law which offered quick returns and made his mark in no time at Godhra and later at Borsad Part of his interest in going to London was also due to his curiosity to know how a small Nation could rule such a large country as India from 7000 miles away Having earned enough to fulfil his ambition he secured admission to the courts of Inn in London in 1905 Howeverhis older brother Vithalbhai Patel wished to go in his place by availing the coincidence that both of them were known by the name VJ Patel Vallabhbhai not only stood down in favour of his elder brother but supported the brothers family in his own house for the duration of the brothers stay in London Five years later he sailed to England and emulated his brother by finishing the course six months ahead and standing first in the examination On his return home Vallabhbhai moved to Ahmedabad and took no time to rise to the top of the Bar Living like a western aristocrat he made his presence felt at the club by his extraordinary skills at the game of bridge and dominated the social discourse When Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa Patel was at the peak of his profession and evinced little interest in politics He poohpoohed the credentials of Gandhiji to lead India to self rule with sarcastic remarks about his political and other precepts But Gandhijis address to the political conference of the Bombay Presidency held at Godhra in October1916 and his success in Champaran Bihar against the indigo planters made a deep impression on Patel Also a barb at him by a friend that the public could not be served from the club stirred his conscience Therefore when Gandhiji was elected in 1917 as the president of Gujarat Sabha he was able to persuade Patel to become the Secretary of the Sabha At the turn of 19201921 the Saba was converted into Gujarat Provincial Congress Committee and Patel was elected as its first President to continue in that position till 1946 Because of his fearless willingness to look the Englishman in the eye he was prevailed upon to get elected to the Municipal Board of Ahmedabad in 1917 Functioning as the chairman of the sanitary committee he forced the exit of two British I C S officers as Municipal Commissioner and a white Municipal Engineer for various acts of commission and omission Later during the various agitations he conducted against the colonial government his frequent and successful confrontations with Frederick Pratt a top British I C S Officer would have warmed the cockles of every patriotic Indians heart In 1924 he was elected as a Congress nominee to the office of Chairman of the Municipal Board During his two stints in the Municipality Patel displayed rare administrative acumen and outstanding leadership in crisis by the way he twice tackled unprecedented floods in Sabarmati River as also two outbreaks each of famine and plague In recognition of his good work in vastly improving the civic amenities and services as also finances the Bombay Government gave a special grant of Rs 125 crore to the Municipality notwithstanding his discontinuance of water supply at concessional rates to the Cantonment and the Civil Lines where the white population lived Jawahar Lal Nehru became the Municipal Chairman of Allahabad at around the same time but threw his hands up after one year with the lament that it was impossible to deal with a recalcitrant provincial government Patels organizational excellence was also on full display during the two annual sessions of the Congress held in Gujarat The first one held in 1921on the banks of Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad was draped all over in khadi thereby benefiting khadi spinners and weavers For the second annual session in 1938 held on the banks of Tapti River in Haripura village Patel built a temporary village with every amenity possible in 500 acres of land to accommodate over 75000 delegates and visitors It was a testimony to his imagination and planning Between 1917 and 1929 Patel conducted with conspicuous success as many as six historic mass agitations satyagrahas against the colonial government with or without the guidance of Gandhiji These related to demands for a discontinuance of the practice of Veth ie free services from villagers to visiting officials b postponement of collection of land revenue from farmers in Kheda district of Gujarat on account of the distress caused by failure of the monsoon in the years 191516 and excessive rainfall in 1917 c freeing municipal schools from government control as a corollary to boycotting government schools which was one of the five planks of the Non Cooperation movement launched by Gandhiji in 192021 d right to carry the national flag through the Civil Lines of Nagpur 1923 e withdrawal of punitive tax imposed on the people of Borsad Taluq in Kheda district for their alleged failure to cooperate with the authorities in controlling heinous crime like murders and dacoities 1924 and lastly f withdrawal of the increase in land revenue in Bardoli Taluq of Surat district in Gujarat 192728 All these campaigns particularly Bardoli in their details provide a classic and comprehensive lesson in planning preparation organization communication morale building and negotiating tactics all ingredients of outstanding leadership No other compatriot of Patel in the Congress hierarchy could claim to have toured as much as Patel did in his home turf of Gujarat He did so mostly by foot and ate what and where he could and slept where he could In the process he collected and developed a large band of intrepid and tireless colleagueswho stood by him in whichever task he would undertake within Gujarat and outside Out of Bardoli Mr Patel emerged as Sardar Patel and a popular candidate for the presidency of the Congress party at the Calcutta session in December 1928 Motilal Nehru who had earlier conveyed to Gandhiji his desire to see his son Jawaharlal as the Congress President before he passed away wrote a letter to the Mahatma in July 1928 endorsing Patels preponderant claim but with a proviso that failing him his son Jawaharlal would be the best choice Despite such compelling credentials Gandhiji would choose Motilal Nehru for the presidency in 1928 and his son Jawaharlal Nehru in 1929 As a result Patel had to wait for the next chance in March 1931 at Karachi A month earlier Motilal would pass away At Lahore full Independence and not Dominion Status was declared as the goal of the Congress In the Salt Satyagraha launched on 6 April 1930 after Gandhijis famous Dandimarch Gujarat led by Patel was again in the forefront and extended the defiance to payment of land revenue and picketing of liquor shops as well as those selling foreign cloth Their example spread to other parts of the Country Patel was imprisoned thrice To secure the participation of the Congress party in the Second Round Table Conference held in late 1931 the First Conference in 1930 having been boycotted by the Party Irwin the Governor General made a climbdown to release all the prisoners and negotiated the GandhiIrwin Pact under which he agreed to restoration of status quo ante The Second Round Table was a failure too In the meantime Willingdon a high Tory and rank imperialistsucceeded Irwin and virtually repudiated the Pact leading to a threat by Gandhiji to revive the agitation The Congress leadership was again put behind the bars Gandhiji and Patel were sent to Yeravda Jail near Pune on February 2 1932 While Gandhiji was released in August 1933 on a threat to go on an indefinite fast the third one by him while in prison Patel was released only in August 1934 The Congress suspended civil disobedience in May 1934 following the issue of a White Paper by the British Government Based on the White Paper the Government of India Act was enacted in 1935 After passing the baton as Congress President to Rajendra Prasad in October1934 Patel plunged into election management In 1935 he took over from an ailing Ansari the position of Chairman of the Congress Parliamentary Board responsible for management of the Partys affairs in the Provincial and Central Legislatures Patel ran the electoral machine as effectively as he conducted the agitational movements In the general election to Central and Provincial Assemblies conducted in 193537 he looked after the selection of candidates raised funds guided the selection of legislature party leaders and tendered advice to them as Premiers as and when it was sought In spite of the controversies which surrounded him over the denial of premiership to K F Nariman in Bombay and the ouster of N B Khare as the Premier in Central Province his actions were finally vindicated Keeping in view the propaganda needs of the general election to provincial assemblies under the new Act Gandhiji would for a second time nominate Nehru in 1936 to succeed Prasad as PresidentIn 1937 Nehru wished to continue as Congress President for yet another term The Party however favoured Patel for the office Once again Gandhiji would ask Patel to stand down in favour of Nehru despite the constant friction between the working committee led by Patel and Nehru over his leanings towards socialism and his opposition to acceptance of power in the Provinces Nevertheless it was made clear to Nehru in a statement issued by Patel but drafted by Gandhiji himself that the Congress President had no dictatorial powers and was bound by the decisions of the majority Patel and Gandhiji were rarely in disagreement on the strategy and tactics of the Congress in its fight for Independence Patel implicitly trusted Gandhijis instinct It was said in jest that Patel had locked his mind and handed over the key to his master This was not true as Patel had a mind of his own and did differ with Gandhiji in the years before independence Any occasional difference in point of view would be discussed frankly with Gandhiji in private and sorted out Nehru howeverhad fundamental differences with Gandhiji as their correspondence would reveal Much against the thinking of Gandhiji Nehru pushed the Congress into jettisoning Dominion Status in favour of full Independence during the years 192729 Patel was in favour of Congress contesting the General Election to Provincial Assembliesheld in 193637 under the 1935 Act ashe was keen on capturing power in the provinces in preparation for ultimate independence Nehru opposed him but was overruled by the working committee When Governor General Linlithgow dragged India without consulting Indian opinion into the Second World War in September 1939 Gandhiji and Patel were in favour of conditional support to Britain But Nehru vehemently opposed the idea In rebound his proposal for immediate mass action against the government was rejected by Gandhiji though on his insistence Congress pulled out its provincial governments from office much against the thinking of Patel This turned out to be a grave mistake In early 1942 though Gandhiji supported by Patel and others rejected Cripps offer regarding constitutional advance as a postdated cheque on a crumbling bank Nehru advocated further negotiation Later when Patel fully backed Gandhiji on the Quit India movement Nehru fell in line most reluctantly Inspite of such basic differences in out look and thinking Gandhijihaving already declared Nehru as his political heir more than once would help him to become Congress President for a third time in 1946 though 15 out of 18 Congress Committees favoured Patel This stepipso facto made him the head of the Interim Government in August 1946 and thereafter the first Prime Minister of Independent India At different times Gandhiji had explained his preference for Nehru over Patel as his political heir for the following reasons Nehru had a greater appeal to youth than Patel Notwithstanding their differences since they became fellow workers Nehru would speak Gandhijis language after he was gone He would rein in the socialists in the Congress He would be more acceptable to Muslims He might split the Party if denied the leadership Better known abroad he would carve out a role for India in the international arena Most importantly as a Harrow boy a Cambridge graduate and a barrister he was best suited to negotiate with the British on transfer of power Not one of these assumptions had been vindicated by subsequent events The crucial agreement for immediate transfer of power based on partition and dominion status was the achievement of Patel advised and aided by V P Menon who was Reforms Commissioner They were both convinced that the Cabinet Mission Plan for a Federal United India consisting of three groupings of autonomous States on religious lines would leave India weak and exposed to constant communal clashes without ruling out the emergence of Pakistan at a future date They did not want to lose time to build a resurgent India Though Patel was not very conversant with international affairs unlike Nehruhe read the Chinese tea leaves on Tibet and its border with India with greater foresight than Nehru Patel might have lacked the charisma superior education and flowery English of Nehru but he had a stronger record of struggle service and success Considering the difference in age between them Nehru could still have become the Prime Minister after Patel even if the first chance had been given to the latter As events turned out he would not have had to wait for long If Patel had chosen to contest he would have won decisively But he refrained from a showdown because of his unswerving loyalty to Gandhiji and his patriotic disinclination to create a division in the Party at a crucial juncture of negotiations with the British for Independence It was a testimony to the magnanimity and patriotism of Patel that he bore the same loyalty to Nehru as Prime Minister as he swore to Gandhiji as his supreme leader He did have serious differences with Nehru in outlook and on policy which he articulated with his characteristic candour and bluntness but had never let him down To cite two important instances NehruLiaquat Pact on the communal situation in the then East Pakistan and Article 370 according special status to Kashmirwere vehemently opposed by the Congress party rank and file The former led to a public outcry in Calcutta In both these matters it was the intervention and help of Patel that saved the day for Nehru as Prime Minister Though Nehru was not equally generous towards Patel forcing the latter to contemplate leaving the government Gandhijis death averted that step and he carried on relentlessly till his death helping Nehru wherever he could Patels success in integrating 562 Princely States with the rest of India in less than 15 months was an unprecedented achievement of monumental proportions in the annals of history He employed every arrow in his quiverpersuasion armtwisting allurement generosity intrigue and force to achieve his objective It was a demonstration of great statesmanship and consummate display of strategic foresight and tactical wisdom in equal measure In accomplishing this humongous task Patel showed great sagacity in leaning on Mountbattenthe Governor General as much as he did on VP Menon without at anytime surrendering his own judgment to that of the former The credit for framing the Indian Constitution is given to Ambedkar by the laity What is not known is that apart from the signal contributions of such legal luminaries like Alladi Krishna Swamy Iyer K M MunshiTej Bahadur Supru B N Rao and M R Jayakar the brunt of the responsibility to push through the Constituent Assembly important provisions like minority rights and reservations for SCST communities was borne by Patel who had chaired over half a dozen Sub Committees Also not many are aware that it was at the instance of Patel that non congressmen like Ambedkar and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were inducted into the Government It is also little known that he was the progenitor of Amul the brand name which symbolizes the taste of India Patel chose his aides wisely gave them trust and space and valued their advice In every endeavor he undertook he displayed prescience perspicacity and pragmatism in measures not matched by any of his compatriots He was candid and impartial in his dealings with colleagues A vivid example of this was the continued intimacy between him and Rajaji even though he backed Rajendra Prasad and not Rajaji to become the first President of India He died without the slightest blemish or whisper on his character He left no property behind He was a God fearing person who never failed to invoke Gods will and grace in his speeches conversations and correspondence There was not a single Indian nor a foreigner who had dealt with Patel and not acknowledged his preeminence as a leader administrator and statesman Even his worst critics like socialists had to admit after his death that they judged him wrongly Patels intense dislike of cant double speak and opportunism as also his natural instinct to call a spade a spade did expose him to the criticism of being proHindu Even if it was valid he was not antiMuslim From times immemorial the Indian subcontinent was united only culturally and not administratively Even under the British rule there was a British India and a congeries called Princely India Today these two Indias are one thanks to Sardar Patel This makes him perhaps the greatest Indian after the Mahatma in modern times Patel was the best Prime Minister that India never had For whatever reason his role and contributions in the Independence struggle and his unique achievement in unifying India as we know it today had not been sufficiently celebrated nor even acknowledged The Statue of Unity erected in his memoryapart from making amends for past neglect will ever remind Indians of Vallabhbhai Patel as the builder of United India But the real homage to him lies in the undeniable reality that whenever India is in crisis every informed Indian wishes that Sardar Patel has been alive to solve it The writer is a former Governor of Tamil Nadu Views expressed are his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/an-eulogy-for-sardar-patel-381319.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/govt-must-not-forget-why-ambedkar-let-art-124-378675.html By Kumar Mihir New Delhi Dec 4 Article 1242 of the Constitution lays down that Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty five years Provided that in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the chief Justice the chief Justice of India shall always be consulted When this Article was being debated in the Constituent Assembly the phrase shall always be consulted was discussed extensively and Dr BR Ambedkar had stated There can be no difference of opinion in the house that our Judiciary must both be independent of the Executive and must also be competent in itself The draft article steers middle course It does not make the President the supreme and absolute authority in the matter of making appointments It does not also import the influence of the Legislature The provision in the Article is that there should be consultation of persons who are exhypothesi wellqualified to give proper advice in matters of this sort and my judgment is that this sort of provision may be regarded as sufficient for the moment In the early years of our republic there were hardly any controversy regarding the appointment process Between 1970 and 1980 however questions regarding independence of our judiciary started to be raised especially in view of regular tussle between the central government and Supreme Court and the flash point came in 1980 on the issue of transfer of judges from one high court to the other when the Supreme Court in S P Gupta vs Union of India known as the First Judges case recognised the primacy of the president and also held that the word consultation in Article 124 does not mean concurrence Justice PN Bhagwati however expressed his dissatisfaction with the then existing mode of appointment of judges in India in which the authority to select judges has exclusively been vested in a single individual the President whose choice may be incorrect or inadequate and may also sometimes be imperceptibly influenced by extraneous or irrelevant considerations Therefore he proposed that there must be a collegium to make recommendation to the President in regard to appointment of a Supreme Court or high court judge The recommending authority should be more broadbased and there should be consultation with wider interests In 1993 a ninejudge bench of the Supreme Court in Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association vs Union of India Second Judges Case revisited the constitutional scheme of appointment of judges and overruled the majority view in the First Judges Case giving primacy to President in the matter of appointment of Judges to superior courts It was held that the opinion given by the Chief Justice in the consultative process had to be formed taking into account the views of the two senior most judges of the Supreme Court This would ensure that the opinion of the Chief Justice of India was not merely his individual opinion but an opinion formed collectively by a body of men at the apex level in the judiciary It was also added that the Chief Justice of India is expected to take into account the views of his colleagues in the Supreme Court who are likely to be conversant with the affairs of the concerned high court The Chief Justice of India may also ascertain the views of one or more senior judges of that high court whose opinion according to the Chief Justice of India is likely to be significant in the formation of his opinion This was followed by a presidential reference in 1998 Third Judges case wherein the procedural requirement of the collegium system were laid down and the number of seniormost judges of the Supreme Court as the member of the Collegium was increased from two to four In 2014 the Constitution was amended by the Constitution 99th Amendment Act 2014 and a National Judicial Appointments Commission and consequently the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2014 was enacted The validity of both the constitutional amendment and the Act were challenged by the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association and the Supreme Court with a 41 majority declared the Constitution 99th Amendment Act 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2014 unconstitutional and void and held that the system of appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Court through the Collegium system will be operative In view of all this the phrase shall always be consulted has been judicially held to mean that the consultation shall be as per the recommendations of the Collegium and in terms of Article 141 of the Constitution the said position remains the law unless the parliament exercises its authority and changes the position The constant criticism of the collegium system by higher functionaries in the Government and repeated attempts to somehow throttle the recommendations of the Collegium by delaying the appointments therefore is uncalled for especially when the collegium system is what the existing law prescribes One of the major grounds on which collegium system is criticised is that the constitution does not provide for collegium at all and it is basically a system of judges appointing judges which cannot be countenanced at all The critics however forget that a number of doctrines and concepts have crept in our constitution subsequently through the judgments of the Supreme Court which was made the final arbiter of the constitution by our founding fathers Thus when the Supreme Court interprets and holds that Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted will mean that instead of one person a collegium of the Chief Justice and 4 senior most judges shall be consulted and their recommendations shall be given primacy there is nothing wrong with the same Further the Constituent Assembly itself had debated different modes of appointment in higher judiciary prevalent in different countries and chose to adopt the existing mode being the most suitable as per the conditions prevalent in our country in order to ensure complete separation of power and independence of judiciary Any attempt therefore to roll back the system adopted by our founding fathers will have a direct impact on the independence of the judiciary Instead of criticising and adopting an adversarial approach the executive and judiciary will have to work together to ensure adequate and diverse class representation in the collegium system and at the same time make sure that most meritorious and competent advocates are appointed in the higher judiciary on a timely basis Both sides will have to understand that this constant tug of war and unrestrained and uncalledfor criticism of the collegium system in this age of social media is only hampering and scandalising the judiciary which is the cornerstone of Rule of Law The author is an advocateonrecord at the Supreme Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/govt-must-not-forget-why-ambedkar-let-art-124-378675.html Sun, 04 Dec 2022 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/trolls-must-watch-films-before-letting-conclusions-jump-on-them-352187.html By Sourish Bhattacharyya New Delhi Aug 11 It is a sad commentary on the divisive times we live in that films get trolled and the patriotism of their makers questioned even before they are released There used to be an adage Dont let conclusions jump on you and nowhere has it been more appropriate than in the troll armys response to Laal Singh Chaddha People have gone ahead and delivered their own judgments on the film weeks before its release causing the voices of sanity such as the IANS columnist Vinod Mirani and then model and actor Milind Soman who has urged the trolls in an interview with IANS to first watch the film and then jump on to conclusions to speak up It is too early to say how Laal Singh Chaddha will be hurt by or benefit from the negativism surrounding it its advance booking figures according to trade analysts have been more than double of its opposition Akshay Kumars Raksha Bandhan But without doubt it is a love letter to India And the supporters of the present political dispensation should be pleased by the occasions in contemporary history and the imagery the film chooses to play up It start with a celebration of the end of the Emergency it shows without airbrushing reality the destruction of the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star it portrays with heartfelt sincerity the tragedy that befell the ordinary Sikhs because of the riots unleashed by the goon brigade of the Congress in the aftermath of Indira Gandhis assassination The pathos of the scene where Mona Singh who plays Aamirs onscreen mother cuts off his hair so that the antiSikh rioteers do not target him will make even the eyes of hardened trolls well up with tears The film even harks back to LK Advanis Ram Rath Yatra without rushing into a political judgment Theres in fact a lighter moment in this scene where the Kareena Kapoor character who turns into a Monica Beditype gangsters moll later tells Aamirs Laal Singh Chaddha jokingly Iska naam bhi Lal hai His name is also Lal They both had gone to see the Yatra come to Delhi from their alma mater Hindu College Aamir also celebrates the Swachh Bharat Campaign And the backdrop of the scene where Laal Singh runs across Varanasi is dominated by an image of the holy citys representative in Parliament Prime Minister Narendra Modi As Laal Singh Chaddha draws to an end images of the beauty of India from the glory of the Ganges as seen from Varanasi to Jaisalmers night sky with diamonds not of course in the way The Beatles meant it How better can India be celebrated without anyone breaking into patriotic speeches The trolls have now picked on the segment where during the Kargil War Laal Singh Chaddha saves a Pakistani soldier Mohammad Paaji played by Manav Vij last seen as Mohammad Ghori in Samrat Prithviraj How can an Indian soldier save his Pakistani enemy The trolls obviously have not idea of the codes of honour at play even on the battlefield And then horror of horrors the same soldier advises Laal Singh and his wartime comrade Bala played by Naga Chaitanya about how to make their chaddibaniyan company into a successful business But then the same Pakistani makes the point and it should gladden any deshbhakt that he had been fed lies by his superiors about how bad the kaffirs were While on the subject of the imagery on display on Laal Singh Chaddha on a lighter note dont miss out a CGIenabled cameo of Shah Rukh Khan learning his trademark dance steps from Laal Singh a throwback to the Forrest Gump scene where Elvis Presley masters his iconic pelvic thrusts by watching the Tom Hanks character Theres also a cameo of Dawood Ibrahim played by Vijay Maurya now in the news for his Lalu Prasad Yadavinspired onscreen character in Rangbaaz 3 asking for a drink from Rupa Kareenas character at a party thrown by her gangster lover No number of trolls will be able to erase memorable vignettes such as these from a movie they have wronged IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/trolls-must-watch-films-before-letting-conclusions-jump-on-them-352187.html Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ed-to-conduct-parallel-probe-to-track-money-trail-in-wbssc-scam-334761.html Kolkata May 27 The CBI has now roped in Enforcement Directorate ED to track the money trail in the West Bengal School Service Commission WBSSC recruitment scam CBI sources told IANS that since the sleuths of ED the investigative arm of the Union ministry of finance have better expertise in tracking the money trail in any scam that involves financial offence an official request was made by the CBI to ED for starting a parallel inquiry on money trail line Now sources said an official communique has come to CBI from ED with the latter accepting the proposal to start a parallel line of probe in this connection It is learnt that the ED officials have sought details relating to the case from CBI like all the FIRs filed by the latter in this connection statements of people recorded bank accounts and asset details of the suspects and most importantly the report of the Calcutta High Court appointed judicial committees report in this connection Meanwhile CBI sources said that they have come across some exchanges of mobile communications between some erstwhile WBSSC officials and some candidates who got employment without qualifying in the written examination and even not appearing for personality tests A CBI official who did not wish to be named said that one of the principal routes of the irregularities was opaque system of marks publication on the website of the WBSSC where instead of publishing the entire merit list of written examination a system was introduced where a candidate concerned could know only his or her marks and not his or her competitors Now we want to know who was the mastermind behind the introduction of this opaque system of result publication We have asked this question to each and everyone we have integrated including the former state education minister Partha Chatterjee While the minister has claimed total ignorance in this matter the others who were questioned were in a total passing the buck mode the CBI official said CBI officers are also trying to find out under whose instructions the scanned signature of regional chairpersons was saved in the server of WBSSC to be used while issuing recommendation letters at a later stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ed-to-conduct-parallel-probe-to-track-money-trail-in-wbssc-scam-334761.html Sat, 28 May 2022 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/how-much-and-how-often-should-courts-adjudicate-matters-of-religous-fervour-333381.html By Adeel Ahmed New Delhi May 22 In the old city of Jerusalem there lies a 187foot long Western Wall built by Herod on the western flank of the Temple Mount Whilst the wall was considered Muslim property as an integral part of the Haram eshSharif and waqf property the right of Jews to prayer and pilgrimage coexisted The Western Wall has been fraught with severe skirmishes between communities and though the Western Wall is carved in stone the fate of its worshippers is not and is writ with an unease that has come to be seen largely in religiously zealous places such as in India The present dispute pertains to the land where Gyanvapi mosque is situated in Varanasi and has been witness to several proceedings in courts since 1991 In 1991 a suit was filed by devotees of the Kashi Vishwanath temple near which the Gyanvapi mosque is situated alleging that the mosque was built after a Lord Vishweshwars temple was destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb The proceedings in the 1991 suit have been stayed by the Allahabad High Court An opinion to this would be will this order not operate as res over the ending litigation meaning that when a litigation has been decided and kept in abeyance all consequential suits arising out of the same cause of action should be brought to a halt and decided in accordance with the earlier pending litigation in order to avoid multiplicity of proceedings However recently another suit was filed in 2021 by female devotees and worshippers of Lord Shiva practicing the vedic sanatan hindu dharma before Civil Senior Judge Varanasi seeking restoration of performance of rituals at principal seat of an ancient temple at the Gyanvapi mosque area The dispute has now reached the apex court after multiple orders having been passed by both the civil court in Varanasi and the Allahabad High Court since 1991 on pleas by both the Hindi devotees and Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi the Masjid Committee and others The Varanasi court had ordered an inspection of the premises on petitions moved by five Hindu women asking for yearlong access to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi which is currently open for prayers once a year Be that as it may the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi has sought leave of the Supreme Court that its application under Order 7 Rule 11 should be heard first by the civil judge and then only should the case be proceeded with including the unfolding of the commissions findings To countenance the same the plaintiffs have stated that to address the very cause of action in the case it is imperative that the commissions reports be attended to at first This has indeed led to a legal quagmire and more in particular encompassing the civil body of law in the instant case But the Supreme Court on May 20 2022 has put it to rest and has ordered that the application filed by the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC for rejection of the suit as being barred in law shall be decided on priority by the district judge So the question therefore is whether the Gyanvapi mosque does conceal in its premises a shiv ling as alleged by the plaintiffs or for that matter can the civil court in view of the estoppel envisaged by the Places of Worship Act 1991 view the matter at all The significance of the Places of Worship Act 1991 cannot be undermined A legislature that has been in the fore in preserving the secular fabric of our nation has been the Places of Worship Act 1991 which only accommodates the Babri masjid case as an exception to its covenant The Act itself which is under challenge before the apex court is the torch bearer of the secular ethos of our Constitution The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in the Babri masjid title suit while observing on the importance of the Places of Worship Act 1991 stated that The Places of Worship Act imposes a nonderogable obligation towards enforcing our commitment to secularism under the Indian Constitution The recent dismissal of the plea by the Allahabad High Court seeking the constitution of a factfinding committee to research on the real history behind Taj Mahal is again a crusade in point The petitioner had also sought a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India ASI to open the sealed doors of over 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal premises so that the alleged controversy pertaining to the history of Taj Mahal can be put to rest However the plea couldnt see the light of the day unlike the Gyanvapi or the timetested Babri masjid case The difference between them being that the Taj case was a writ petition and the suitability of using the same to elicit facts is less of a draw in law than using a suit in arriving at facts and being the traditional device of Indian courts in drawing evidence So if tombs are to be unearthed then it better be by way of a suit as laid down by precedence in Indian courts not that it essentially draws out skeletons from a closet even if there are none but at least because it stirs the imagination of the larger rhetoric of the prevailing public opinion What is worrisome is that matters of religious fervour are being adjudicated liberally in courts of law where forensics ought to have been the rational way forward The question therefore that is now posed for our understanding is whether the plaintiffs prayer for the restoration of the performance of rituals at the principal seat of an ancient temple in the Gyanvapi mosque holds any water and whether the courts are competent to tread these holy waters keeping in mind that only recently have they come out of the troubled waters of the Babri MasjidRam Janmabhoomi case Adeel Ahmed is an advocateonrecord in the Supreme Court of India The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/how-much-and-how-often-should-courts-adjudicate-matters-of-religous-fervour-333381.html Mon, 23 May 2022 08:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pit-stop-in-dc-330702.html By Yashwant Raj Washington May 1 Afghanistans former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country last August as the Taliban continued their swift sweep of the country and were poised to attack Kabul He allowed the Taliban to retake power after two decades and resume their barbaric reign What if he had stayed and led a fight back Like Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky The former comedian has stayed put at grave personal danger changed into military fatigues and rallied or harangued world leaders and parliaments rebuffing evacuation offers from both the US and UK With support pouring in from around the world he has led the country to push back a much larger and better equipped military of Russian President Vladimir Putin Ghani handed US President Joe Biden his worst foreign policy showing yet and Zelensky might give the American leader his most notable foreign policy achievement yet Ghanis flight from Afghanistan became Bidens failure In fact his missteps there can be traced back to his decision to pull out of Afghanistan without leaving behind a residual force disregarding advice from his top military people That failure was compounded by the chaos that followed archived for history in images of Afghans chasing a US military plane as it taxied to take off Dismay and anger were felt and voiced in capitals around the world including in New Delhi which has slammed the pullout as a political expediency The verdict was clear Biden had screwed up once again Robert Gates a former Defense Secretary to two American Presidents and fellow member of the Barack Obama administration wrote in his memoir that Biden has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades The messy Afghan withdrawal was chalked up to the same account Would the outcomes have been different had Ghani stayed and led the country against the Taliban Would he have been able to pull together the many disparate factions of the ruling coalition We will never know What we do know however is that Zelensky is still there and has foiled Russias plan to take over the country capture Kyiv and overthrow the government and replace it with a puppet regime In fact Russia has taken a surprisingly high number of casualties in both men and materiel including the Black Sea fleet flagship Moskva The mighty Russian war machine stands exposed as a pitiable version of itself The economy has been hit by an unprecedented level of sanctions that threaten to contract its economy by doubledigit figures Globally Putin stands isolated 141 countries voted in favour of a UN resolution in March to condemn the invasion of Ukraine four countries voted against and 35 including India abstained while the world body also suspended Moscow from the Human Rights Council The Russian president has united the NATO military alliance that had been showing cracks under unrelenting assault from former US President Donald Trump and in fact its membership might grow from current 30 to 32 with Finland and Sweden reportedly ready to file their applications in May Biden the man whose mental acuity is routinely questioned by critics in India is now credited with having pushed Putin whose barechest pictures adorn the office walls of those same critics into a corner Biden has rallied allies and partners to launch the most severe economic sanctions against Russia and Putins oligarchs and sending military hardware to enable Ukrainians to send Russians back to Russia It will be fair to give credit to Biden for Ukraines survival under Zelensky just as he was blamed for Afghanistan slideback into chaos after Ghanis flight from the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pit-stop-in-dc-330702.html Sun, 01 May 2022 22:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-confirms-largest-comet-nucleus-ever-seen-304721.html Los Angeles April 13 NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has confirmed the largest comet nucleus ever seen by astronomers the agency has said The estimated diameter of the largest icy comet nucleus is approximately 80 miles 128 km making it larger than the state of Rhode Island NASA said on Tuesday Xinhua news agency reported The nucleus is about 50 times larger than that found at the heart of most known comets Its mass is estimated to be a staggering 500 trillion tons a hundred thousand times greater than the mass of a typical comet found much closer to the sun said NASA The comet is barreling at 22000 miles per hour 35200 km per hour from the edge of the solar system but it will never get closer than 1 billion miles away from the sun according to NASA IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-confirms-largest-comet-nucleus-ever-seen-304721.html Thu, 14 Apr 2022 01:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/moditva-hard-work-pays-more-so-in-war-time-diplomacy-214715.html In this image taken from video footage run by Chinas CCTV on Wednesday March 30 2022 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi waves as he pose for photos next to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at left and Talibanappointed Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at right during a meeting held in Tunxi district in eastern Chinas Anhui province Chinas ambitions to have a major hand in Afghanistans stability and development under the Taliban while boosting its own stature will be on display at a pair of multinational meetings it is hosting starting Wednesday PTI By Nirendra Dev New Delhi March 30 India is the only country among the Quad which has not condemned Russia But the geopolitical standing is such that none can easily condemn India in media or in public Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says all countries have different levels of engagement with Russia other countries in our own region and so I am respectful of that The US has called India shaky but soon it tried a damage control and described India as an essential partner US State Department spokesman Ned Price has said we have invested in that relationship with India in terms of our defence and security So historical relationships notwithstanding we are a partner of choice for India now as are many of our partners and allies around the world Is this New India Till date Narendra Modi was known as a shrewd politician who knew how to handle facts campaigning and elections But one month of war at the global stage after Russian invasion of Ukraine there may be many admirers of his who would hail Narendra Damodardas Modis skills as a smart and crafty diplomatic operative Needless to say he has been well advised by suave External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar a former career diplomat and NSA Ajit Doval a former intelligence wing chief and a spy Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla is a dutiful lieutenant who was even deputed for a crucial engagement at the UNSC History is rightly described as the most accommodating affair Its pages are full of mortal men and women anointed with immortality These spaces are not always given as accolades Our good old journalism describes these characters better newsmakers Modi was a newsmaker in 2002 he became a newsmaker in 2014 and even in 2022 perhaps he is a newsmaker Well he is at least among the best of newsmakers To be Prime Minister of India that is the ship captain of the foreign policy engine room during a war between US and Russia is no joke Rather it is a thankless job But even the worst critic of Modi and his government would admit privately perhaps that much to its credit India has attained a unique and quite an unprecedented diplomatic platform for itself The usual Modibashing even in relation to surgical strikes etc against Pakistan is missing The obsession of a section of stakeholders to find fault with Narendra Modi and his government for everything has stopped In the process both Russia and the US and its allies appreciate Indias balancing tightrope walk All these have been achieved so far without really displeasing either side Ukraine may be complaining but a tiny nation which was almost turned into a pawn can always wait for another day to get sympathy Between them Prime Minister Modi and his handpicked diplomatturnedEAM Jaishankar they have shared at least 25 high profile international tele calls with global leaders and astute foreign ministers like mercurial Sergei Lavrov from Russia or even occasional troublemaker Wang Yi In fact Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made an unscheduled visit to Delhi within 48 hours of his statement on Kashmir at an Islamic stage in Islamabad Dr Jaishankar has had half a dozen meetings with counterparts visiting New Delhi and Prime Minister Modi has had at least two major meetings with world leaders including the Quad besides numerous tele calls If all these were not enough top ministers and leaders from the UK Nepal Germany European Union and some eastern European countries would be visiting New Delhi sooner than later British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will visit Delhi on March 31 So far a tendency has been pushed and promoted that the US and its western allies will decide for the world what is right Modi has stalled that theory The west pushed the line that they are for Globalisation that unites people and economic interests together Nationalism on the other hand was rustic and backward It connotes religious fanaticism and ethnic chauvinism The Americans even pursued their holier than thou policy that from attack on Iraq Afghanistan and NATO expansion it was all unilateral In the process western nations and analysts preferred to explain worlds most complex issue onto a binary choice China thus could be a friend or a foe India has to decide between guns from Russia or friendship with the US and something else Indias neoneutral and equi distance stance visavis RussiaUkraine conflict has irked the US and as much it has exposed the hollowness in western smartness It may not be wrong to suggest that during the last one month India has made the world realise that in the contemporary setting simple binary choices of black and white actually fail to come to grips with realities that are more complex Dr Jaishankar and his team have made it possible to appreciate globally that despite not approving NATO expansion Delhi did not back the Russian line that Moscow faces existential threats India abstained from UNSC and UNGA voting and made it clear that Kremlins concerns ought to be understood and addressed It has made a big difference globally and many global players hitherto underestimating New Delhis position has started showing a new variety of respect Referring to the six principles on which Indias position on the situation in Ukraine is based Dr Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha that these include immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy and the global order being anchored on international law He said the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states are also vital Dr Jaishankar said these principles further included the call for humanitarian access in a complex situation and being in touch with the leadership of both Russia and Ukraine PM Modi has spoken to Ukraine President Vlodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin thrice since the war began The RIC axis is making sense to Putin also and between China and India of course Americans have more faith in democratic India paradoxically today denoted by someone whom Washington denied visa in 2005 Well if they got shocked the US policies and Americans superiority complex too are responsible It is time Americans understand that it is not only Modis foreign policy that has changed the game for New Delhi For some reasons it has always come as a surprise to Americans according to Paul Bracken that people who prefer Kentucky Fried Chicken and love MTV would not share American perception of war and perhaps even the western values on a different plane Nirendra Dev is a New Delhibased journalist and author of The Talking Guns North East India and Modi to Moditva An Uncensored Truth The views are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/moditva-hard-work-pays-more-so-in-war-time-diplomacy-214715.html Wed, 30 Mar 2022 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-kashmir-files-reveals-tip-of-the-iceberg-202840.html By Amjad Ayub Mirza New Delhi March 19 The movie released in India called The Kashmir Files is a brave attempt to reveal the atrocities committed by the Pakistan sponsored Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and other Jihadi proxies and with conformity of a significant number of local Islamists in the Valley of Kashmir The atrocities were executed against the indigenous Hindu minority living in Kashmir during the 1990 and led to the genocide and forced exodus of nearly 500000 Kashmiri Hindu Pandits from the Valley However what the movie reveals is like peeling the first lay of the onion The genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus in modern day and age did not begin in 1990 in the valley It goes way back to when Pakistan army attacked the independent state of Jammu and Kashmir on October 22 1947 At the time of partition of India Jammu and Kashmir territories occupied by Pakistan today PoJK had a thriving Hindu and Sikh population The table below gives a breakdown of the Hindu and Sikh demography in several districts in PoJK in 1941 See table attached A survey conducted by Snedden and published in 2012 mentions that there are no estimates of Hindus or Sikhs left today in the region and the entire population is assumed to have either been expelled or killed The report widely quoted by research scholars conforms that they were not able to find a single Hindu or Sikh in the entire region of PoJK It is estimated that around 122500 Hindus and Sikhs went missing from PoJK during and after 1947 invasion of PoJK Let us not forget that thousands of Hindus and Sikhs had fled the communal riots in Punjab and had seek sanctuary in todays PoJK towns bordering Punjab This resulted in the number of Hindus and Sikhs in PoJK in 1947 to swell For instance Bhimber received at least 2000 Mirpur 15000 Rajouri 5000 and Kotli an unaccounted number of Hindu and Sikh refugees The Hindu population in Bhimber tehsil was 35 per cent None have survived the 1947 Pakistan sponsored HinduSikh genocide But the worst atrocity to my knowledge was committed in my hometown of Mirpur where 25000 Hindus and Sikhs were rounded up mutilated shot and beheaded and our women raped by Allah O Akbar chanting Pakistan army and religious fanatic members of Lashkar To this day November 25 is observed as Mirpur Massacre Day by the family members of those who were lucky to reach Jammu On that illfated day in 1947 Pakistan army and the mercenary tribal Lashkar entered Mirpur setting on fire several parts of the city burning down shops and houses of Kafir A couple of days before the fall of Mirpur a convoy of 2500 Hindu and Sikh had managed to make their escape along with the state troops of Jammu Kashmir and reach Jammu safely Those who were left behind were rounded up and marched to Ali Baig where the invaders said that a Gurdwara had been converted into a refugee camp What was thought to be a march to safety soon turned into a death march as the Pakistan army and members of the mercenary Lashkar killed over 10000 Hindu and Sikh along the way They abducted a further 5000 of our women most of who were the sold in the bazars of Rawalpindi Jhelum and Peshawar Out of 25000 Hindu and Sikh captives only 5000 made it to Ali Baig However the killing and rape of the captive men and women continued unabated by their prison guards Only 1600 were later rescued by the International Committee of Red Cross who brought the survivors to Rawalpindi and transferred to Jammu By 1951 only 790 nonMuslims were alive out of a total population of 114000 Hindu and Sikh in PoJK Today there are none The Mirpur massacre death toll is put over 20000 Many women committed suicide by consuming poison or by jumping over a cliff Similarly numerous men also committed suicide The genocide of Hindus was repeated in Rajouri Baramulla Muzaffarabad Bhimber just to mention a few and continues to this day in Kashmir The movie The Kashmir Files has just revealed the tip of the iceberg The horror of the Hindu genocide is far more deeprooted and horrific than it might seem on a silver screen Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and a human rights activist from Mirpur in PoJK He currently lives in exile in the UK IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-kashmir-files-reveals-tip-of-the-iceberg-202840.html Sun, 20 Mar 2022 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tn-to-develop-integrated-weather-development-system-202644.html Chennai March 19 Tamil Nadu is all set to develop an independent weather forecasting system specific to the state to bridge the gap in the India Meteorological Departments IMD forecasting State Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan in the state budget on Friday allocated an amount of Rs 10 crore for developing the independent weather forecasting system According to the Tamil Nadu disaster management department as of Friday out of the four Doppler weather radars in Chennai region only one at Karaikkal is working without any glitches The Sband radar at Chennai port is defunct for want of important spare parts that need to be imported Other than this the radar at the National Ocean Technology NIOT is not fully calibrated The Sriharikota radar has not been updated also sources said Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority officials said that they havent got any alert on the possibility of extreme weather conditions during the record rainfall that was received in Chennai between November 6 and 7 in 2021 The state capital received a record rainfall of 21 cm in 24 hours in just two days A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority TNSDMA told IANS that a statespecific and sophisticated Integrated Weather Forecasting system will be developed using supercomputers radars automatic weather stations and automatic rain gauges He said that the state agency will be installing 1400 automatic weather stations and that the Rs 10 crore allocated in the state budget was only a seed fund The senior official said that more funds would be sourced from other avenues The official also said that the Tamil Nadu government is only to complement what IMD was doing and will bridge the gaps Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority official also said that the changing weather patterns have made it necessary for such a highend weather forecasting technology in the state and said that the state will not be able to take any chances in further weather fluctuations IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tn-to-develop-integrated-weather-development-system-202644.html Sat, 19 Mar 2022 18:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/now-kerala-cpi-m-more-firmly-under-pinarayi-vijayans-control-199249.html By Sanu V George Thiruvananthapuram March 5 As the curtains on the 23rd state CPIM party conference came down on Friday with the partys resolve to create a new Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has once again stamped his unquestioned leadership in the state The Party Congress is scheduled to be held at his home turf Kannur next month With the CPIM presently having a presence only in Kerala Vijayan knows that this is the best time to consolidate his position and after doing it in Kochi by getting all his closest aides in key posts he has literally stamped his authority When the fourday conference ended he handpicked his loyalists for the 17member State Secretariat which included his soninlaw PAMohammed Riyas his political secretary Puthelethu Dineshan former Lok Sabha member PKBiju State Ministers VNVasavan and Saji Cherian besides three other leaders MSwaraj KKJayachandran both former legislatorsand Anavoor Nagappan With 75 being the maximum age for those holding party posts the exemption was given only to Vijayan and through this he managed to leave out a few seniors and bring in his men In the bargain he ensured that two of the veterans Elamaram Kareem and senior cabinet colleague MVGovindan were left out from the state secretariat but they by virtue of being in the central committee of the national unit of the party can take part in state meetings but if decisions have to be put to vote these two will not have the right to vote A media critic on condition of anonymity said its Vijayan all the way and he has ensured that there will be none to thwart his plans and the way forward With the state unit of the party and not to mention the government also firmly under his belt the Party Congress at Kannur will be a cakewalk for him So with the new committee in place for three years he will ensure that everything goes his way till then said the critic Speculations have already begun that Vijayan in due course will move out to accomodate present State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as the chief minister When it happens Riyas will take over as the new secretary and along with Swaraj will run the Kerala unit of the party in the years to come as both are only in their 40s IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/now-kerala-cpi-m-more-firmly-under-pinarayi-vijayans-control-199249.html Sun, 06 Mar 2022 03:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/zelensky-putin-can-the-world-make-a-narrow-escape-199178.html Mediterranean Sea A rescued Syrian man holds the Quran inside an Open Arms rescue boat which has rescued 28 refugees from Africa and Magreb 45 nautical miles far away from the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea Saturday March 5 2022 Due to conflicts and poverty thousands of migrants and refugees are trying to reach Europe from Libya but most of them are captured by human trafficking mafias and trowed to the sea in very weak boats and with any chance to survive without a rescue PTI By Nirendra Dev New Delhi March 5 It takes two to tango The proverb is seemingly a failed dictum today The ongoing UkraineRussia conflict is at best due to the whim of one For Russian President Vladimir Putin who has triggered a major military conflict in Europe with the potential to kick off a world war there have been some surreal ideas that he has an appointment with history with fate In 2022 Putin is the architect of the globes most infamous catastrophe He has single handedly created the worst crisis for Europe and the world in recent times But how does the man work Some say he set aside the everyday calculus of political risks and benefits Others say he has always thrived with a mindset of diminished sense of danger This means what is dangerous to the common people you and me and even other public and military leaders may not appear dangerous to Putin a former KGB spy It is also argued that Putins authoritarian inclination actually came from his former idol and boss Anatoly Sobchak Once seen as a possible president of Russia Sobchak has been a central figure in Russias revolution of the 1990s Sobchak and Putin worked together when both were mayor and deputy mayor of St Petersburg Well the conventional wisdom suggests if one has to understand the war in Ukraine in 2022 it is pertinent for the world today to understand and analyse the man called Putin One simple reference can be Putins grandfather was a cook with illustrious Stalin Experts and scholars who have devoted time and energy into Russian affairs and working on the life and careers of Putin Boris Yelstin and Sobchak say the incumbent President had the diminished sense of danger even in his childhood Nothing about this war was inevitable says The Economist adding cleverly that it is a conflict entirely of his own making A few can dispute this Its like the making of his career When boys of his age wanted in the Soviet Union to be a fighter pilot or something glamorous he wanted to be a spy Posted to East Germany as a KGB sleuth he had mastered smoke and mirrors that is intended to make one believe that something is being done or is true when it is not He grew up virtually believing that one spy could decide the fate of thousands of people And thus comes the conviction he is not only a spy he is Moscow the centrifugal point of power And Moscow cannot be silent Lets face the truth Putin attacked Ukraine in 2022 In the past he annexed Crimea in 2014 and Putin also had invaded Georgia in 2008 Thats the man for you The metamorphosis of the man is not sudden In contrast presumably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky represents the pulse of his country they all want to fight the Russian aggression Putin on the other hand wants to revive Russian imperialism A survey says about 34 per cent of Ukrainians are ready to pick up arms against Putins forces There are a few historical tidbits During the Soviet era Russia was the most powerful province of the USSR and Ukraine was the second most powerful Once upon a time of course it is said Ukraine was considered a chief competitor to the US and it was even perhaps more powerful than Russia The two men are now changing the course of history One trying to invade and the other resisting the same Putin had presumed that Ukrainians and their nontext book variety President would crumble under intense pressure The US officials have been impressed with the fighting prowess of the Ukrainians says The New York Times Zelensky on the morning of February 26 posted a video of himself on Twitter as Russians had started claiming that he had fled the warravaged country But Ukraines President emerged from his office unshaven looked redeyed and declared Good morning to all Ukrainians There are a lot of fakes out there but I am here One video among billions of social media postings and a mere half a sentence I am here perhaps stalled the course of human history at least for the time being Snap elections were held not long ago in his country and Zelensky himself characterized the contest as maybe more important than the presidential election His Servant of the People party won an absolute majority capturing 254 of 450 seats 26 seats representing Crimea a Ukrainian autonomous republic that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 and the war zone in the east were not contested The result marked the first time in Ukraines postSoviet history that a single party could command absolute control over the legislative agenda says a report in wwwbritannicacom Did it mark a new beginning in the history of Europe Russia and the world Yes of course he has made life tense and competitive if not miserable for Putin Now the worst fear from the RussiaUkraine conflict is if Putin falters and fails on ground in the face of stiff fight by Ukraine people and forces he could actually take the road to unrestricted war and use of nuclear powers But what matters most for Zelensky is that the capital Kiev has not fallen There is strong resistance in eastern Ukraine and the President is happy to play the role of a national leader That was not the role he had chosen but the one that was thrust upon him Well he has carried it off with dignity and strength says The Economist Many of Ukraines veterans fought in battles with Russia in the recent past so there is a subset of the population that is trained and knows how to fight Russians notes The New York Times Nevertheless the world has to find a way to escape the bigger conflict Nirendra Dev is a senior journalist and author of books The Talking Guns North East India and Godhra Journey of a Prime Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/zelensky-putin-can-the-world-make-a-narrow-escape-199178.html Sat, 05 Mar 2022 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/will-pinarayi-be-able-to-stamp-his-continued-authority-at-cpi-m-state-party-conference-197263.html By Sanu V George Thiruvananthapuram Feb 25 With the CPIM state party conference set to kickoff from March 1 in Kochi the political circles are abuzz with conversations whether Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan be able to stamp his continued authority in the party As things stand there appears no doubt about it as he always has the last word not just in governance but also in the party contrary to his predecessors who played second fiddle to the partys state secretary A media critic on condition of anonymity said the only reason why Vijayan ever since he took over as chief minister in 2016 has the last and final word is because of the way he ran the party as its state secretary from 1998 to 2014 and holds the record of having sat on the chair for the longest period It was his 16year tenure as state secretary which gave him the absolute confidence he displays now that his is not just the final word in Kerala but also at the national level During the period he kept a close watch on all the leaders and handpicked leaders of his choice He showed it again when the party prevented stalwarts like Thomas Isaac GSudhakaran AKBalan from contesting in the 2021 Assembly polls The biggest surprise came when he decided not to give a second term to popular Health Minister KKShailaja There was not even a slightest of noise from any quarters said the critic When Vijayan decided to move out as state secretary in 2014 he made sure that the wings of the Achuthanandan faction in the party was clipped forever In the runup to the 2016 Assembly polls there were more posters of Achuthanandan than Vijayan portraying the former as the team leader But it ended the day votes was counted and when the CPIMled Left had an easy victory in came Vijayan and then as they say there was no looking back for him added the critic One big advantage that Vijayan has is the partys secondincommand Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who was the Home Minister in the Achuthanandan cabinet 200611 but does not appear to be in a mood to move up the ladder In all likelihood he will be getting his third and final term as the state secretary he said Unlike the factional feud between Achuthanandan and Vijayan when the former was active there are none at the moment who dare to oppose him and hence the fourday event at Kochi would go to the way he wants With aging leaders like Vaikom Viswan Anathalavattom Anandan and KPKarunakaran in the state secretariat it remains to be seen if they will be replaced Hence the only thing that will be of any significance is whether there be new faces in the 21member state secretariat the 88member state committee and not to mention to decide the partys Kerala contingent to the Party Congress to be held at Vijayans home turf Kannur in April IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/will-pinarayi-be-able-to-stamp-his-continued-authority-at-cpi-m-state-party-conference-197263.html Sat, 26 Feb 2022 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/daily-world-exclusive-punjab-dgp-took-instructions-from-bhola-drug-case-po-on-police-transfers-shifting-favourite-jail-inmates-189050.html POLICEDRUG MAFIA NEXUS Tape surfaces Punjab DGP Chattopadhyay heard giving orders to Inspector to create âœillegal detention centreâ a day before posting him as CIA Incharge telling PO Sarabjit not to name officers who allegedly took Rs 425 crore in a drug case Manish Tiwari Chandigarh Close on the heels of courting a major controversy over the âœbreachâ of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs security the functioning and conduct of the outgoing Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyay has come under a cloud after a tape surfacing in which the DGP is heard âœtaking directionsâ from a Proclaimed Offender PO in the infamous Bhola Drug Case Sarabjit Singh on transfers and postings of police officers shifting of notorious criminals from one jail to another and creating an âœillegal detention centreâ near Mohali for interrogating the prospective accused A copy of the recording in possession of Daily World which purportedly has the voice of DGP Chattopadhyay PO Sarabjit and a Punjab police Inspector Satwant Singh appears to be made by one of the four persons who attended the meeting that took place on December 27 late night at his Nayagaon residence between the then State DGP Sarabjit and Inspector Satwant As âœdirectedâ by the proclaimed offender Sarabjit the very next day â on December 28 Inspector Satwant Singh was posted by the DGP as CIA Incharge Kharar along with several of his âfavouriteâ police officials Sarabjit and Inspector Satwant are the same persons who were recently arrested by the Chandigarh police in connection with an FIR registered by Punjab DGP Office alleging faking of signatures of DGP Chattopadhyay on promotion list of cops before he demitted office During his 22day stint as the State DGP the Punjab police had registered a drug case against former Cabinet minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia and brotherinlaw of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal They could also be heard discussing Majithiaâs issue at length While the veracity of the recording and the claims made therein can be ascertained by the law enforcement agencies what transpired in the meeting was somewhat startling In his discussion with the DGP the PO Sarabjit claims that he is in constant touch with several terrorists as well as Jagdish Bhola the convict of the 700crore Bhola Drug case presently lodged in Patiala jail and which criminals and mafia should be placed in a particular jail to carry out the police operations as planned by him Sarabjit also informs the DGP that how some drug smugglers known to him procured a Drug consignment in Punjab and got it parked at a particular place Later a drug smuggler Gurdeep Singh Rano of village Rano Payal area âœposing and impersonatingâ as Narcotics Control Bureau NCB officials âœrecoveredâ the Drug consignment that was later sold in the market for about Rs 1570 crore Sarabjit further claims that after the arrest of Rano he was made to share Rs 425 crore with some Punjab police officers The PO asserted that if the recoveries are made and police operations carried out according to his advice nobody could be able to remove DGP Chattopadhyay from the post of the State Police Chief However the DGP is heard instructing Sarabjit not to visit the CIA unit at Kharar or be seen in public Talking to Daily World a senior Punjab police officer observed âœIf the recording is correct it would open a Pandoraâs box and once again highlight the policecriminal nexus at the highest level and how an officer holding the position as high as the DGP of a State has been âœpatronising and harbouringâ a proclaimed offender wanted in the Bhola Drug case Chattopadhyay a 1986 batch IPS officer was recently posted by the Charanjit Singh Channi government as DGP of Punjab but on January 8 he had to be replaced since his name was not recommended by the Union Public Service Commission UPSC in the panel sent to the State Government for posting as the State Police Chief Hours before the Election Commission of India ECI announced the elections in Punjab the State Government appointed VK Bhawra a 1987batch IPS Officer as the State Police Chief replacing Chattopadhyay who is presently posted as DGP Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd PSPCL and due for retirement on March 31 2022 The role of the outgoing state DGP Chattopadhyay is already under scanner after the âœbreach of securityâ of Prime Minister Modi when his cavalcade had to be stranded on a flyover for about 20 minutes as protestors blocked the route while he was on his way to Ferozepur Punjab to address an election rally and lay the foundation of developmental projects including the DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway After this incident the Prime Minister had to cancel his programme and return to Delhi A Supreme Court appointed Committee headed by former SC Judge Indu Malhotra is probing the role of the Punjab Police and security agencies in the alleged security lapse On the one hand DGP Chattopadhyay is heard taking notes on booking and arresting a former CIA inspector at Kharar Sukhbir Singh allegedly patronised by some police officers including a former DGP of Punjab while on the other hand he is heard instructing the proclaimed offender Sarabjit not to name or talk about police officers who as claimed by Sarabjit took a bribe of Rs 425 crore from the drug mafia âœThe recording if true clearly shows drug mafiapolice nexus that has led to smugglers supplying narcotics in this border state of Punjab with impunity Itâs high time central agencies such as the NCB or the NIA launched a thorough investigation to unearth the deeprooted nexus that is responsible for destroying the future of Punjab especially the youthâ the police officer said With inputs from DW Team https://dailyworld.in/opinion/daily-world-exclusive-punjab-dgp-took-instructions-from-bhola-drug-case-po-on-police-transfers-shifting-favourite-jail-inmates-189050.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 22:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/strained-indo-maldives-relations-185027.html By Asad Mirza New Delhi Jan 3 A lot has happened in the bilateral relations between India and Maldives during the last 10 years The relations which were once described as one of the most vibrant and dynamic have turned into one in which India has been painted as a villain Though the genesis started 10 years back yet it gathered further momentum during the last three years particularly resulting in India Out campaign on the social media The movement got a boost when the Maldives Supreme Court overruled former President Abdulla Yameens conviction in a moneylaundering and embezzlement case in November 2021 The development allowed him to make a return to politics A political campaign Ties between India and the Maldives had hit a low during the tenure of Yameen who was considered to be proChina rather than proIndia Yameens halfbrother former president and currently Maldives Reform Movement party leader MRM Mamoon Abdul Ghayum is among those who have opposed the campaign even in 2013 when Yameen became the President IndiaMaldives bilateral relations deteriorated during the Peoples Party of Maldives PPM fiveyear rule beginning in 2013 then led by Yameen and the antiIndia sentiment was apparent even back then observers say Paradoxically though the Yameen government and its predecessor the Waheed government were considered antiIndia and though the Yameen governments tilt in favour of China was clear yet it had also openly discussed an IndiaFirst policy for the Maldives Other political parties in the Maldives too have opposed the antiIndia campaign saying the former president is irresponsibly inciting hatred among the people towards India The PPM brushing aside the charges against it in its defence says that the current Ibrahim Solih government has opted at times to keep the relationship particularly that under the defence sector under wraps from where the criticism basically stems from The Adhaalath Party a coalition partner of President Solih in a statement condemned efforts to incite hatred in the peoples hearts towards neighbouring and global partners and expressed concern at the reckless acts led by former president Yameen to incite hatred towards neighbouring India amongst the civilians The Jumhooree Party another coalition partner of the Solih government also said in a statement that it doesnt support any activities which compromise the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives and the Jumhooree Party does not believe that there is any legal ground to decide the existence of any Indian military presence in the country OutIndia campaign There are specific issues which have fuelled the antiIndia sentiments and rhetoric on the social media during the last three years The first is the longstanding controversy over the two Advanced Light Helicopters ALF that were given by India to the Maldives in 2010 and in 2015 both of which were used for ocean searchandrescue operations maritime weather surveillance and for airlifting patients between islands These helicopters were meant to be deployed for humanitarian purposes only but some in the antiIndia constituency particularly Yameens party PPM tried to portray that by gifting these helicopters India was creating military presence in the country because they were military choppers Secondly the two countries signed bilateral agreements according to which Indian officers were to train the Maldives National Defence Force under whose command these helicopters operate Thirdly after the Solih government came to power in 2019 local Maldivian media speculated that the UTF Harbour Project agreement signed between India and the Maldives in 2016 during the Yameen government would be turned into an Indian naval base Under the project India was to develop and maintain a coastguard harbour and dockyard at Uthuru Thilafalhu a strategically located atoll near the capital Malà and develop road connectivity to Male and decongest the Male harbour Back then Maldivian chief of defence forces MajorGeneral Abdulla Shamaal had said that while the Indian government had indicated that it would provide grant assistance for this project there were no plans of any Indian naval base in the country Fourthly in 2016 an Action Plan between India and the Maldives was signed for defence cooperation to enhance shared strategic and security interests of the two countries in the Indian Ocean region In 2016 when antiIndia sentiments were at their peak and the bilateral relations were at their worst against the perceived military presence of Indian forces in Maldives the Yameen government had asked India to take back these helicopters and refused to extend the term of the agreement that would extend their stay and use in the country Observers say that one of the main reasons behind the India Out campaign was rooted in this controversy surrounding the ALF choppers and Indias reported refusal to take them back During the Yameenera India had looked on in concern as the Maldives began to develop stronger ties with China and its Belt and Road Initiative By 2018 when Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assumed office he immediately renegotiated these agreements extending the stay and use of these choppers in the country The Solih governments visibly warm relations with India have only served to fuel antiIndia sentiment in the country However among the many grievances in social media posts by prominent members of India Out campaign a recurring complaint is the lack of transparency in agreements being signed between the Solih government and India It is a fact that that much of the criticism levelled by the Maldivian opposition and the India Out campaign wouldnt have arisen had these bilateral agreements been publicly discussed in the Maldivian Parliament But the ruling government and the defence ministry describing these agreements as confidential has led to agitation in political circles that percolated down to ordinary Maldivian nationals and has taken the form of a wave of criticism inflammatory rhetoric and unverified allegations especially on social media platforms Fundamentally the issue is not so complex though it involves bilateral relations geopolitical and economic interests for both countries However both the governments have acted in a mature manner in this regard Both of them are aware of the increasing defence importance of Maldives in the Indian Ocean due to the increased US interest in the IndoPacific and Maldives strategic position In addition to the Maldivian need to have India on its side to guard its defence and commercial interests Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/strained-indo-maldives-relations-185027.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 02:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-dragons-long-shadow-on-sri-lanka-184743.html By Sumit Kumar Singh New Delhi Jan 2 For some South Asian countries like Sri Lanka Myanmar and Bangladesh the China Nightmare is no longer just a bad dream It is a living reality which continues to threaten the countries national interests and eat away at their very sovereignty Sri Lankas fall into the dragons trap was triggered when China taking advantage of the souring relations between Colombo and the Washington started its aggressive courting of the Mahenda Rajapaksa government from the time he assumed office in 2005 By 2007 the war against the LTTE was raging and the island nation was facing increasing international criticism over human rights issues The US significantly reduced its foreign assistance package and neighbour Indias assistance was constrained by the Tamil sentiments back home The dragon which was closely watching swooped in with a 37 million deal for Chinese ammunition and ordnance This was followed in 2008 by the gift of six F7 fighters JY11 radar and antiaircraft guns By the time the war with the LTTE ended in 2009 relations with China were upgraded to a strategic cooperative partnership However the deadliest move made by China in its strategic game was made in 2007 itself when it got Rajapaksa to lease land at Hambantota for construction of a port at a cost of 1 billion By 2014 Chinese aid and loans to Sri Lanka had exceeded a staggering 6 billion which included the Colombo Port City Project CPCP the South Container Terminal at Colombo Port an Exclusive Investment Zone 35 miles from Colombo port and a railway project The net had been cast It now remained for China to commence reeling it in President Xi Jinping in his September 2014 visit to Sri Lanka did just that and an agreement for Chinese companies to operate the by now bleeding Hambantota port was signed Having snared its prey under a debt trap Beijing then commenced leveraging its might into armtwisting Colombo to get CCP Navy submarines to dock at Sri Lankan ports during their deployment to the Indian Ocean These submarines which are accompanied by submarine rescue ships have been entering the region more frequently in the recent past and find Sri Lanka to be a convenient port of call What is interesting to note here is that Sri Lanka is the only country in the Indian Ocean besides Pakistan where these submarines have entered during their deployment over the last seven years Chinas shadow has also loomed large over Sri Lankas politics and elections After 2011 China had also been influencing Sri Lankas foreign policy decisions having established a firm grip over the government through the bourgeoning debt traps With Sri Lankan debts to China in excess of 8 billion the room for manoeuvre for the government of the day was already quite limited And of course Chinese diplomacy has always been very nimble to adjust its front to changing dynamics In the aftermath of the 2015 elections China commenced courting not only the political parties but also prominent Buddhist clergy in the island nation This development was through the realisation of the influence of these religious figures in Sri Lankan domestic politics Certain other factors threaten to push Sri Lanka deeper into the dragons trap Last year the IMF prematurely ended the 15 billion loan programme to the island nation This was accompanied with the Covid pandemic which delivered a terrible blow to Sri Lankas tourism industry This double whammy ended any thoughts that Sri Lanka may have been nurturing of salvaging its situation against China In March this year Sri Lanka announced a 15 billion currency swap with the Chinese Central Bank It also declared its partnership with China in developing two irrigation reservoirs in the Sinharaja Reserve Forest which is a UNESCOprotected heritage site In June 21 China Harbor Engineering Company CHEC bagged a project for construction of a 17km elevated highway in Colombo the terms of which provide full ownership to the company for revenue and profits for 18 years This is the same CHEC which is a subsidiary of the China Communications Construction Company CCCC that is leading the Hambantota Port Project Mattala International Airport and the 11 billion Colombo Port City For the 2015 elections payments totalling to 11 million were linked from CHEC to Rajapaksas election campaign supporters Today the situation is grim to the extent that the Chinese squeeze is resulting in Sri Lanka backing off from deals with other countries In December 2020 Sri Lanka cancelled a 480 million compact with the US Millennium Challenge Corporation In the same month Sri Lanka also cancelled the Colombo East Container Terminal Agreement in which both India and Japan were signatories There have been some attempts made by Sri Lanka this year to showcase nonalignment in strategic projects but the Chinese influence in Sri Lanka makes these efforts appear extremely feeble as of now The Chinese strategy is a cancerous trap that lures its victims at a time when they are at their weakest The bait however remains constant money and apparent soft loans thereby trapping the Government of the day in frivolous infrastructure projects at rates which are too good to be true The modus operandi of engagement has been similar in Africa Asia and Latin America where countries have been indebted with Chinese loans of billions of dollars Sri Lanka was baited when it was facing international criticism on human rights issues and its strategic allies and neighbours such as the US and India were not available to help The decisions made by the Sri Lankan leadership at that time led to the dragon wrapping itself around its prey and today the island nation is finding its strategic decision making increasingly constricted by this tight grip of Beijing Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumitkiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/the-dragons-long-shadow-on-sri-lanka-184743.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 19:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/mon-violence-bjp-exploring-replacing-home-minister-patton-in-nagaland-179339.html By Nirendra Dev New Delhi Dec 11 Left redfaced by the gory episode in Nagaland wherein native Konyak tribesmen and poor mine workers were killed indiscriminately by the forces the Centre is exploring certain kneejerk actions politically The BJP could ask for replacement of state Home Minister Y Patton who is also the Deputy Chief Minister in the Neiphiu Rioled government It will also send a positive signal to the people of Mon district who are grievously hurt following the killing of locals on December 4 and 5 a source explained Patton is the BJP legislature party leader and is known for his flamboyant political styles A senior party legislator among Konyaks is being considered as of now sources said Rio is heading the oppositionless NDPPBJPNPF regime wherein all 60 MLAs are backing his government Outside the Assembly of course there is Congress and other smaller parties like JDU and NPP of Conrad Sangma The Congress party has lost political steam in Nagaland over the years and it stayed away from contest in many constituencies in the 2018 polls for what was said to be fund crunch Despite its organisational weaknesses the Congress has a support base in the state where it was in power for most years since 1963 when statehood was granted However ever since the SC Jamir government was voted out in 2003 and the present Chief Minister Rio quit Congress the grand old party has been left weak and often directionless If things go by set rules Nagaland would go for next round of Assembly elections by February 2023 along with two other northeastern states Meghalaya and Tripura Though the BJP made deep inroads and captured power in Tripura in 2018 its performance was dismal in Meghalaya The saffron party won 12 out of 20 seats it contested in Nagaland in alliance with the NDPP of Rio who fielded candidates in the remaining 40 Assembly segments BJPs strike rate was better than NDPP which won only 18 seats But since then the NDPPBJP alliance has seen ups and downs Now pressure is being mounted on Chief Minister Rio to do a minor reshuffle The move is not opposed by Rio in principle but he wants the BJP high command to take the call for replacement of Deputy Chief Minister Patton With the peace process in advanced stage we are in a season of consensus building the Chief Minister Rio told a few party confidants So NDPP sources suggest replacing or dropping Patton should be BJP central leaderships decision There is a demand that senior legislator from the recent violenthit Mon district and existing Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Paiwang Konyak be given the job The BJP sources say for state level politics Rio is generally given freehand Konyaks share ethnicity with Hemi Nagas and other smaller native groups in Myanmar and hence there are possibilities now of a revenge reciprocation to the December 45 massacre of Konyaks by the security forces At one time rebel NSCN leader SS Khaplang was also a Hemi Naga and he had admirers in the Indian side of the border Sources in Delhi are however not happy that after the December 4 tragic incident the violent protest was allowed on December 5 wherein the Assam Rifles camp was vandalised This protest led to the death of one civilian and also an Assam Rifles personnel in Mon town Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Parliament that six out of eight persons travelling in the illfated pickup vehicle were killed initially On the first day total civilian casualties were 13 But the casualty figures later jumped to 15 Naga civilians and one security personnel These reflect law and order failure on December 5 and this has left both Nagaland Chief Minister Rio and Deputy CM Patton embarrassed a source maintained The Centre is also not happy that a government run by the BJP as a key component is making continuous attack on the central forces in insurgencyhit state Nagaland Governor Jagdish Mukhi could be submitting his report to the Home Ministry soon The central agencies have given inputs that Patton was camping in Mon district town since December 4 evening but yet the attack on Assam Rifles camp in Mon took place on December 5 The Oting village where the December 4 firing took place is quite a distance from Mon Both Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in the meantime keen for faster progress to the pending Naga peace talks despite major hurdles thrown by the NSCN IsakMuivah faction visavis Flag and Constitution These two demands cannot be met by any Indian government worth its salt and especially the one led by Narendra Modi which took unprecedented and tough stand in Kashmir The alliance politics has only added further complexity to the Nagaland peace process and hence the Christmas gift could still be alluding the Godfearing Nagas Nirendra Dev is a New Delhibased journalist He is also the author of books The Talking Guns North East India and Modi to Moditva An Uncensored Truth The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/mon-violence-bjp-exploring-replacing-home-minister-patton-in-nagaland-179339.html Sat, 11 Dec 2021 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nothing-is-permanent-except-tears-and-fears-178357.html Guwahati Members of Centre of Indian Trade Unions CITU hold placards as they stage a protest against the killing of 13 civilians allegedly by the Assam Rifles personnel and demanding the central government to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA from the NorthEastern states in Guwahati Tuesday December 7 2021 PTI By Nirendra Dev New Delhi Dec 7 Things have come a full circle yet again What has changed between 1995 and 2021 Over 26 years This columnist was 25 then and a bachelor and today I am a father of a doting daughter and on the wrong side of 50 The Nagas were waiting for a Christmas gift and peace and solution to the decade old insurgency issue The Home Ministry mandarins said the peace talks initiated in 1997 during the tenure of IK Gujral as the Prime Minister has reached advanced stage Instead on December 4 three weeks before the Prince of Peace Jesus birthday is celebrated so many innocent Naga lives were lost It may not be wrong to argue that insurgency and military operations more often work like a vicious cycle Only on November 13 2021 in Churachandpur areas of Manipur Colonel Viplav Tripathi his wife and their nineyearold boy were killed in an ambush In less than a months time now violence visited Mon district in Nagaland Four of those killed belonged to two families Two brothers each Thapwang and Langwang were sons of one Leiwang while Yeihwang and Shomwang belonged to the family of another villager Chemwang Why guns tend to have say In the words of veteran Naga leader SC Jamir The state of Nagaland was born out of tears and blood and through much pain and travails Things have not changed after decades of arson and killing December 4 2021 would go down as a Black Day when mistaken identity has cost 15 Naga lives It is worse the victims were innocuous native Konyak tribe coal miners The merciless killing took place at the hands of security forces For decades now the Naga people have been demanding withdrawal of AFSPA but it continues I fail to understand why it has continued even even after peace negotiations between the Naga groups and the Government of India was initiated in 1997 says YZ Ovung of the Lotha Baptist Church in Dimapur Standing in Lok Sabha appearing pensive and embarrassed Home Minister Amit Shah said that it was a case of mistaken identity His plea was army had intelligence inputs of the movement of a militant group based out of Myanmar NSCNYK and when the pick up vehicle did not after it was signaled to do so the security personnel opened fire killing six of the eight people on the spot Others lost their lives later In both the Houses of Parliament Shah expressed regrets and extended condolences to the bereaved families It is not for the first time such a bungled operation took place in the northeast In Nagaland itself another such Black Day was March 5 1995 Paradoxically SC Jamir was the Chief Minister and the incumbent state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was then a dutiful Congressman and a trusted lieutenant of Jamir The incident had claimed eight lives including few youngsters when Rashtriya Rifles returning from election duty in the neighbouring state of Manipur went berserk in the southern part of Kohima mistaking a tyre burst to an ambush This journalist was inside AIR Kohima newsroom that fateful day and made a miraculous escape We were four in that room when bombs flew over the small tinned building we were in I was accompanied by a Lotha Naga news reader one Keralite AIR staffer and two Kuki gentlemen We had taken shelter under a table The fear of death had united four people from different sociopolitical and linguistic background Needless to add we were shivering Did you get it right Dar sab ko lagta hain as that popular commercial ad goes My aging parents had summoned me back home in West Bengal but native Nagas remained clueless for days not knowing what was stored in their fate in the name of combing operation and retaliatory violence Two journalists nonNagas belonging to the PTI and UNI later had to leaveflee state capital Kohima permanently and the then Deputy Commissioner Kohima LV Reddy was killed few days later The journalists had to flee because they had reported that it was reciprocation action by the Rashtriya Rifles and Reddys fault line was he was quoted in the agency dispatches One of the journalists later went missing mysteriously either from Sikkim or Kolkata In my book The Talking Guns North East India published in 2008 I had written The tension was palpable as reports suggested that Nagas would avenge this Indian insult from nonNagas and conflicting media reports only added fuel to fire Come to circa 2021 my point is this gory episode should have been avoided In todays socialmedia hyped world how did forces and the personnel believe that their actions and misadventure would go unrecorded The government is stating the obvious that a Military Court of Inquiry has been ordered and also an SIT probe would be conducted The wrong doers ought to be punished in these cases Did the Rashtriya Rifles officers and soldiers were punished one does not know The episode has brought the debate on Armed Forces Special Power Act AFSPA back in the public fore The draconian law AFSPA legitimises killing on mere suspicion It has once again prematurely ended so many precious lives This incident is a reminder of what our older folk have faced in yesteryears laments Baptist Naga leader Rev V Atsi Dolie In July 2021 opposition leaders had penned a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind to take actions to withdraw some of the draconian and black laws These include the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA section 124A on sedition of the Indian Penal Code a colonialera legislation the National Security Act NSA and the Public Safety Act PSA and Disturbed Area and the AFSPA The letter was written on the background of the death of Father Stan Swamy However those of us who have been tracking northeast has a different experience In Manipur during the stint of Atal Bihari Vajpayee one Chief Minister had insisted that the Disturbed Areas Act and the AFSPA should be withdrawn However when a top general met him in Delhi and said we are withdrawing from Manipur as you desire the said politician had shot back What will happen to the law and order situation then The moral of the lesson is nobody really has a short cut to the solution to some of these complex questions The military treatment of the malady has been that the only language the ultras understand is hardcore counterterrorism The other side also plays havoc Otherwise what do they gain by planting bombs in a public cinema hall at Kohima That explosion had left my senior journalist friend Lelie Legisie maimed The state capital Kohima had no public cinema hall since then Nirendra Dev is a New Delhibased journalist He is also author of books The Talking Guns North East India and Modi to Moditva An Uncensored Truth IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/nothing-is-permanent-except-tears-and-fears-178357.html Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ls-adjourned-for-the-day-amid-continuous-protests-by-oppn-176825.html New Delhi Nov 30 The proceedings of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday were adjourned for the day amid continuous protests by opposition members This was the third adjournment on the second day of the winter session Soon after the house reassembled after the second adjournment at 3 pm Speaker Om Birla requested the members to let the house function in a positive environment and allowed the laying of papers while opposition members came into the well protesting against the government on various issues including suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha opposition members Responding to the Speakers appeal the floor leader of the Congress Party Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that opposition members also come here to discuss and participate in the proceedings but the government was not listening to their voice We also come here to participate in the proceedings want discussion on important issues It is the government who was not listening to the oppositions voice We wanted to discuss the Minimum Support Price MSP issue but the government did not hold any discussion on this and three farm laws repeal bill was passed without discussion on Monday Chowdhury said However the Speaker allowed Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to introduce the amendment bills to High Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Act 1954 and the Supreme Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Act 1958 Meanwhile several Opposition members continued their protest and shouted slogans in the house chanting We want justice Birla tried to intervene and said that if the house will be in order he would allow discussion but the opposition bench continued with sloganeering and shouting slogans Amid the continuing protests by opposition members Speaker Om Birla adjourned the house till 11 am on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ls-adjourned-for-the-day-amid-continuous-protests-by-oppn-176825.html Wed, 01 Dec 2021 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-someone-has-a-stroke-every-second-delayed-is-critical-163916.html New Delhi Lieutenant General Preet Mohinder Singh Director General of the Territorial Army and other Army jawans pose for group photographs during the inauguration of a cycle rally from War Memorial India Gate to Red Fort on the occasion of the foundation day of the Territorial Army in New Delhi Saturday Oct 9 2021 PTI By Dr Praveen Aggarwal Dr Manorama Bakshi New Delhi Oct 9 Where does the Indian government stand on its statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015 To quote him Much of Indias development agenda is mirrored in the Sustainable Development Goals SDG Our national plans are ambitious and purposeful sustainable development of onesixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the world and our beautiful planet India along with many other countries is tumbling behind on global commitments to tackle premature deaths from chronic diseases such as strokes diabetes lung cancer and heart disease The NCD Countdown to 2030 report states that the pace of change is too slow to achieve SDG 34 in most countries It may be noted that noncommunicable diseases NCDs kill 41 million people each year equivalent to 71 per cent of all deaths globally Each year more than 15 million people die from NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years 85 per cent of these premature deaths occur in low and middleincome countries Out of all the NCDs neurological disorders and neurological injuries contribution to the total disease burden has more than doubled between 1990 and 2019 as published in The Lancet Global Health by the India StateLevel Disease Burden Initiative Some of the noncommunicable neurological disorders include stroke headache disorders epilepsy cerebral palsy Alzheimers disease and other dementias brain and central nervous system cancer Parkinsons disease multiple sclerosis motor neuron diseases and other neurological disorders and injuryrelated neurological disorders traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries Within SDG3 are specific targets related to tackling noncommunicable diseases including stroke which pose a major challenge to sustainable development in all countries of the world This year 145 million people will have a stroke 55 million people will die as a result and 80 million people have survived stroke worldwide The world stroke Organization has declared stroke a public health emergency in 2010 According to the Global Burden of Disease study there is an increase of 30 per cent of stroke patients in India since 2014 The number of stroke patients annually in India is over 17 lakh the third largest cause of death and disability in India The economic burden to the country is estimated at 234 lakh crores nearly 34 times the total annual health budget of India can be substantially brought down The most common type of stroke is Ischemic Stroke accounting for almost 87 per cent of all strokes in India and is caused by a clot or other blockage within an artery in the brain Rest 13 per cent of strokes are Hemorrhagic Strokes which are caused by bleeding of an aneurysm in the brain artery In India Stroke only caused 699000 deaths in India in 2019 which was 74 of the total deaths in the country which has onefifth of the worlds population Understanding the gravity of this public health challenge our former health Minister said on World Stroke Day on October 29 2020 Stroke or Brain attack is the leading cause of disability worldwide Globally one in four adults can have a stroke in their lifetime Department of Health and Family Welfares Website Institute for Health Metrics and evaluation for Global Burden of Diseases Global Burden of Diseases study 2019 India Compare data Dr Rajinder Dhar Professor at NIMS Medical College and Hospital said When somebody has a stroke every second that goes by is critical As brain tissue and millions of neurons begin to fade away time could not be more precious As the old adage said A stitch in time saves nine the immediate need is to raise awareness of stroke signs and the benefits of timely access to emergency medical care Some of the challenging factors for providing treatment to Stroke patients are Geographic and Transportation Barriers to Healthcare Access The average time taken by the patient to reach the hospital in urban areas is 76 hours and that in rural areas is 34 hours then we have only a Paucity of healthcare professionals to address stroke mere 300 healthcare professionals for 1 Crore patient Also the absence of standard treatment protocols and the lack of affordable treatment adds to the burden Delay in seeking the right treatment leads to the loss of about 20 lakh brain cells per minute This is where advanced technologies and medical procedures such as Mechanical Thrombectomy have displayed proven results and higher success rates by increasing the treatment window to up to 24 hours Niti Aayog has claimed that Indias healthcare industry is ripe for innovations and investment yet the challenge is acceptance of new technologies in case of treating stroke with respect to mechanical thrombectomy This increase in strokes can be attributed to many lifestyle factors such as High BP stress sedentary lifestyle smoking high cholesterol etc which is contributing to strokes However medically there are two main causes of stroke the first is a blocked artery the second is a ruptured blood vessel A blocked artery causes ischemic stroke it is the most common form of stroke It usually happens when fat deposit in a blood vessel A haemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel burst to result in a brain haemorrhage There are various reasons for the bursting of an artery such as stress uncontrolled BP using blood thinners in excess deposition of protein on blood vessel walls A severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke is called a hypertensive crisis Extremely high BP can damage blood vessels and weaken arteries in the brain increasing the risk of stroke Economic evidence commissioned by India Consensus a collaboration between Tata Trusts and the Copenhagen Consensus quantified the BenefitCost Ration BCR of hypertension screening and treatment intervention to be exceedingly high and 31 and 23 in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan respectively Seshadri and Hebbare 2017A Seshadri and Hebbare 2017b As per PubMed study Hypertension prevalence in India is high but the proportion of adults with hypertension who are aware of their diagnosis are treated and achieve control is low Stroke survivors face significant challenges that include physical disability communication disabilities changes in how they think and feel loss of work and income as well as caregiver burden Not only does disease impact the wellbeing of an individual but it also burdens family and public resources weakens societies and dissipates potential Despite being the second biggest killer globally public awareness of stroke risks and how to manage them is still low The need is to highlight stroke risk and prevention call for commitment to continued national campaigns that raise awareness of how to reduce and manage individual stroke risks Support NGOs and policymakers supporting public awareness campaigns that have the potential to deliver significant gains in stroke prevention India can develop a public healthcare framework for Stroke Management and achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 SDG 34 The authors Dr Praveen Aggarwal is cofounder and Director of Consocia Advisor while Dr Manorama Bakshi is Public Health Expert Head Health care and Advocacy of Consocia Advisory IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/when-someone-has-a-stroke-every-second-delayed-is-critical-163916.html Sat, 09 Oct 2021 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-anti-us-tirade-scales-new-heights-161025.html New Delhi Sep 27 It is difficult to discern whether Pakistan is angry more with its biggest aidgiver America or arch rival India It is also confusing while trying to comprehend its sense of loss and being ignored by the superpower whether to target Joe Biden or Indias Narendra Modi It is very easy to whip up antiAmerican sentiment in Pakistan But the current phase has touched new heights or depths in the mood But the Imran Khan Government is unable to transfer to the general public The Islamist bodies that thrive on this have in any case have their own agenda They are more likely to add to their list Khans widely perceived failure at securing recognition representation and thus respectability for the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan As for the IndiaPakistanUS angle Modi met Biden last week while Imran has yet to get a phone call And Afghanistan is only the latest straw in the wind He hadnt got the muchawaited phone call for six months after Biden took office The Biden administration has not even attempted to establish contact that goes beyond the official This contrasts even in the world of diplomacy where rhetoric is played down but atmospherics matter and things are said and done in correct calibrated manner This is visible in the BidenModi meeting Their personal and easy rapport at the very first facetoface began with Biden referring to his possible ancestors who live in Mumbai Are we related he asked Modi This indicates mutual respect and credibility The US also cemented this occasion in Modis presence by returning India 153 artefacts and rare objects By contrast through his daily diatribe Imran Khan is keen to display his anger at the US clearly and openly His peeve is undiplomatic to say the least He also wants to wear his China connect on his sleeves Many credit Pakistan for the switchover to China as a brilliant masterstroke considering that everyone expects history to repeat The US is likely to lose interest in Pakistan now that it has quit Afghanistan This had happened in the 1990s after the Russians had quit and the Moscowbacked regime in Kabul was overrun by the Mujahideen However China was not a factor then Today it is confronting the US as the main global adversary Precisely for this reason the US will want to retain presence in the region with or without help from Pakistan Pakistan has teamed up with China in Afghanistan against Americas two other adversaries Russia and Iran Seen from the American standpoint this is the worst time for Pakistan to line up with the opposite camp That too after cocking the snook at the Americans in Afghanistan by nurturing the Taliban for two decades A sustained hostile cryptic and loud campaign at home and through interviews given to global media outlets has not likened Imran Khan and his country to the US and now that they are out of Afghanistan the European allies For four decades Pakistan promoted militancy in the name of religion If it had the tacit support of the West for the first two decades in the fast two after the 911 horror it has been opposed Pakistan gained first by hoodwinking the West and second because the latter was not effective Both paid their respective price the USNato had to leave Afghanistan and Pakistan is very rightly a victim of terrorism as it claims Only it will not admit that it is also its creator and promoter With Modi at the UN Pakistan could not but bristle because while there are no takers not even the OIC for his Kashmir diatribe against India the latter going over the UN and Biden touched the American sentiment by reminding everyone of the presence in Pakistan of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden the mastermind of the 911 massacre IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pakistans-anti-us-tirade-scales-new-heights-161025.html Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/geelanis-death-pansies-to-happily-bloom-in-kashmir-155195.html By Deepika Bhan New Delhi Sep 7 It was in spring many years ago when pansies bloom in Kashmir and the end of the cold season begins that I met Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his residence in Srinagars Hyderpora for an interview While entering the cavelike entrance it was a pleasant sight to see a small garden with blooming pansies Each of them swayed in the cold breeze but the patterns on them were such that each one of them seemed to be angry I jokingly mentioned this to Geelani and his answer just ended my laugh They are angry because they are subjugated Syed Ali Shah Geelani 19292021 a hawk shrewd Saheb for some and a monster for many very well knew how to manipulate sentiments and situations A teacherturnedpoliticianturnedseparatist who kept both India and Pakistan on tenterhooks and swayed to one side or the other depending on his need and greed He used India Pakistan and the sentiments of ordinary Kashmiris to earn name and money Pakistanis can claim that Geelanis heart beat for them but he was fed by Indian governments He was pocketing the Government of Indias pension benefits since he had been an MLA Most of the time his medical bills travel and hotel stays were paid for by government agencies and most of his family members have government jobs and many of his relatives are well settled within and outside the country Geelani had the ability to draw in the youth and they easily became his tools Their education and employment did not matter to him but their stonepelting skills did He never condemned the burning down of schools but ordered closure of all educational institutions to protest He motivated the youth to pick up guns pelt stones and die Geelani presided over a threedecade separatist movement and terrorism in the Valley His was an era that saw people dying ethnic cleansing of minorities thousands getting orphaned and Kashmir losing its happiness peace and harmony He was instrumental in founding the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993 which was formed at the behest of Pakistan and some proPak elements in the US Most of the Hurriyat leaders have been involved in money laundering cases and some of them are in jail currently For decades Geelani delivered for Pakistan His Kashmir banega Pakistan Kashmir will become Pakistan agenda based on the reasoning that Kashmir as a Muslim majority region should go to Pakistan lured thousands He shrewdly used religious sentiments to further his convoluted dream and supported an armed struggle against India For him the terrorists were Mujahideen who were just boys taking up arms because India was not holding a plebiscite He along with his coterie formed the stonepelting gang and created a network of paid stonepelters who would quickly emerge at encounter spots to attack the security forces and secure the terrorists He was instrumental in leading the agitation in Kashmir in 2008 against the state governments decision to transfer 100 acres of land near Amarnath cave to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board for setting up temporary shelters for pilgrims In fact Geelani openly opposed the Amarnath Yatra and wanted a restriction on the number of visitors And when terrorist Burhan Wani was killed he spearheaded a proPak movement Geelani was an Islamist who believed that Muslim Kashmir had no place in Hindu majority India and perhaps he was one of those behindthescenes who worked for the antiKashmiri Pandit sentiment in the Valley resulting in their exodus He never condemned the killing of innocent Kashmiri Pandits or the violence against the minority women After the abrogation of Article 370 Geelani resigned from the Hurriyat Some say the resignation was his last effort to express anger at Pakistan and his own leaders failure to respond to the ending of special status to JK and some others say he perhaps realized that all that he had been doing in Kashmir was no longer worth it Whatever the reason Geelani once a mass leader in Kashmir died in isolation and with him died the anger too The pansies will continue to bloom and may be happy from now on Deepika Bhan can be reached at deepikab iansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/geelanis-death-pansies-to-happily-bloom-in-kashmir-155195.html Tue, 07 Sep 2021 08:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-strikes-discordant-note-at-unsc-maritime-session-drops-courtesy-148207.html By Arul Louis United Nations Aug 10 China struck a discordant note at the Security Council highlevel meeting on maritime security attacking the IndoPacific initiative in which India is active as well as the United States and Japan while dispensing with normal diplomatic courtesies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who chaired the session Amid the heads of state and government a deputy Prime Minister and ministers at the Council meeting on Monday Beijing was represented by only a deputy permanent representative Dai Bing who was the sole speaker to fail to follow the diplomatic tradition of acknowledging Modi chairing the session or Indias role in bringing attention to maritime security US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Modi for Indias leadership on maritime security issues especially in championing a free and open IndoPacific In an attack on India that encompassed the Quad Dai said that some countries were intensifying maritime conflicts in the Asia Pacific region He did not name India or the Quad  the group that is made up also of the US Japan and Australia  but his target was obvious At present a few countries are pursuing exclusive regional strategies in the Asia Pacific region and attempt to create an intensifying maritime conflicts undermine the sovereignty and security interests of relevant countries and weaken regional peace and stability he said This runs counter to the aspirations of most countries in the region to seek peace cooperation and development he added India and the Quad have made clear that their grouping did not target any country and Indias Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti made clear at a news conference last week that the maritime security meeting that India was convening as the Council president was not aimed at any nation Although none of the speakers especially US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned China Dai launched a broadside against the US accusing it of becoming the biggest threat in the region Turning on Japan  which wasnt even at the meeting  Dai accused it of releasing wastewater from the Fukishima nuclear plant into the ocean asserting that it endangered the health of the people in the coastal regions Permanent Member Russia was represented at the meeting by President Vadimir Putin who made a rare appearance at the Council Kenyas President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Vinh Chin were on the distinguished roster of speakers from the Council that included Nigers Deputy Prime Minister Hassoumi Massoudou and eight ministers Tunisia was represented by its Permanent Representative Tarek Ladeb SecretaryGeneral Antnonio Guterres was represented by his Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti In addition FelixAntoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo which is not a member of the Security Council was represnted in his capacity as the president of the African Union by his Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula They all praised India effusively for convening the meeting as Council president and for the first time highlighting maritime security as a pressing global issue and acknowledging Modis leadership In his criticism of the US Dai said This country itself has become the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea He said The US has been stirring up trouble out of nothing arbitrarily sending advanced military vessels and aircraft into the South China Sea as provocations and publicly trying to drive a wedge into regional countries especially countries concerned While China has been involved in disputes with countries in the region like South Korea and ASEAN members the Philippines and Malaysia Dai tried to make it seem that Beijing was working with the ASEAN He said With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable Dai took the unsual leap of linking the Fukushima reactor which suffered a disaster precipitated by an earthquake and a tsunami in 2011 Japans unilateral decision to release Fukushimas wastewater into the ocean is irresponsible he said China strongly urges Japan to earnestly fulfill its international obligations by revoking its wrong decision and prudently handle the issue of Fukushima wastewater so as to avoid harming the health of the people of coastal countries and the global marine ecology he said He also crticised the US for not joining the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS that seeks to provide a framework for the sharing of ocean resources The US itself does not join UNCLOS but consider itself a judge of the Convention pointing fingers at other countries and interfere arbitrarily Dai said The US has refused sign the UNCLOS under successive administrations since it was adopted in 1982 claiming it would infringe on its sovereignty However Washingtons ally Britain also criticised those not joining or upholding the UNCLOS without naming anyone Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said We have to be clear that a legally enshrined international treaty bearing the signature of 168 parties cant simply be junked on a whim UNCLOS applies to all the oceans and all the seas It is not an a la carte option for some states to pick and choose as they wish Wallace spoke of the importance of IndoPacific region that he said was the worlds growth engine Like India the UK United Kingdom has a vision for a free open and secure IndoPacific he said adding That is why youll find the UK more persistently engaged and increasingly proactive in the region Without naming China Blinken said In the South China Sea we have seen dangerous encounters between vessels at sea and provocative actions to advance unlawful maritime claims The US has made clear its concerns regarding actions that intimidate and bully other states from lawfully accessing their maritime resources Dai took exception to Blinken mentioning the situation in the South China Sea saying China firmly opposes this act The US itself is not qualified to make irresponsible remarks on the issue of South China Sea he said Blinken said Some may assert that resolving the dispute in the South China Sea is not the business of the US or any other country that is not a claimant to the islands and waters But it is the business and even more the responsibility of every memberstate to defend the rules that weve all agreed to follow and peacefully resolve maritime disputes Arul Louis can be reached at arulliansin and followed on Twitter at arulouis IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-strikes-discordant-note-at-unsc-maritime-session-drops-courtesy-148207.html Tue, 10 Aug 2021 08:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/man-animal-conflict-getting-too-close-for-comfort-148076.html By Narendra Puppala Hyderabad Aug 8 Dogs and monkeys the first mans oldest friend from the animal world and the other mans closest relation from the animal world loved and revered as an epitome of faith in the Hindu lore But no less than 300 stray dogs are estimated to have been killed by poisoning in a small village in Andhra Pradesh around a fortnight ago And around the same time in neighbouring Karnataka at least 60 monkeys were found in gunny bags strewn along a country road one fine morning Found dead or dazed the simians are believed to have been drugged before their capture Predictably the grisly incidents provoked a hue and cry in several quarters Animal rights activists took up the matter in Andhra Pradesh and local police reluctantly filed a case in the matter finally In Karnataka the High Court taking suo motu cognisance ordered an enquiry into the killings of the monkey While a few persons belonging to traditional animaltrapper communities have been arrested in Karnataka for the monkey murders in Andhra Pradesh the perpetrators have been identified as tribals who are animal hunters Both cases show certain disturbing similarities In Andhra Pradesh the animal rights activists have pointed their fingers at the village panchayat officials for ordering the disposal of the stray dogs which were overrunning the village In Karnataka the monkeys were trapped and being transported away allegedly at the behest of villagers fed up with the monkey menace to their crops While instances of cruelty meted out to animals regularly make their way to news headlines these have generally been isolated cases involving individuals or small groups In contrast the recent incidents in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are a commissioned crime The one by concerned village officials and the other by irate villagers The scale and planning involved in these organised pogroms raises concerns and questions The mananimal conflict over dwindling habitats is no longer about wild animals like leopards tigers and elephants alone but has expanded to include domesticated species and species that have acclimatised to urban surroundings which are home to humans So how big a problem is the issue of cruelty to animals Is it a problem in the making While the Central government does not maintain records of crimes against animals the Animal Welfare Board of India compiles data on complaints on reported cruelty to animals Compared to 155 cases that were reported in 201415 the numbers grew to 228 256 and 225 respectively in the next three years Following a comparative lull in 201819 when 144 cases were reported the numbers grew to 300 in 201920 383 in 202021 and stood at 210 in the first seven months of 202122 The above figures may just be the proverbial volcanos tip and not exactly reflect the ground realities because it is a given that every case of animal cruelty is not recorded Secondly these are just a number of cases filed and do not detail the numbers of animals subjected to cruelty Take for instance the case of the 300 dogs killed in Andhra Pradesh or that of the 60 monkeys in Karnataka A sharp rise in such incidents can be noticed over the last two years which incidentally corresponds to the emergence of the covid pandemic Of late a number of animal cruelty cases have been initiated on the basis of videos trending on social media It raises the question of whether remaining cooped up indefinitely in homes is taking a silent toll on human sensitivities leading to acts of cruelty on innocent animals While it certainly does not justify such inhumane acts the Covid fallout is definitely not to be ignored The abysmally low penalties and punishments laid out in the law are also a factor fuelling acts of cruelty against animals For instance a Rs 50 fine is the highest penalty for a first offence under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 Dogs are poisoned cows have been burned with acid and countless other animals across India are abused every day and the current penalties are often not enough to deter people who want to harm them states PETA India in its online campaign that demands a relook at the outdated deterrents for cruelty against animals A population explosion caused by lack of systematic birth control mechanisms for these species is cited as the major factor behind this emerging problem In India kill rather than birth control is the convenient mantra for civic officials tasked with maintaining hygiene in our villages towns and cities For them the costs of finishing off the problem works out cheaper than sterilisation the dumb animals Animal rights activists on the other hand call for sterilisation programmes for these creatures as the solution in the long run For now even as the ball keeps getting lobbed from one quarter to the other theres no doubt that the problem has to be resolved sooner rather than later For all the problems that semidomestic stray animals like dogs cats and even monkeys cause they do come with some benefits For instance stray dogs and cats play an important role as natural scavengers that keep rodents and disease at bay Eliminating them totally means inviting new problems apart from the ethical issues involved in such flagrant vigilante responses The mananimal conflict certainly seems to have come closer home possibly a bit too close for comfort IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/man-animal-conflict-getting-too-close-for-comfort-148076.html Mon, 09 Aug 2021 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/rs-chairman-allows-discussion-on-farm-laws-but-stalemate-continues-146739.html New Delhi Aug 4 Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday allowed discussion on farm laws but not under the rules as demanded by the opposition Not satisfied with the decision of the chair the opposition MPs continued sloganeering The chairman said The MPs who are in the well and holding placards are named and should leave the house But the pandemonium continued and the House was adjourned till 2 pm The opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the Pegasus issue but the Chairman rejected the demand The opposition has alleged that the government was undermining Parliament The Chairman said that following the decisions in the Business Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday the slot for debate on Bills has been allotted The government has lined up five Bills in the House on Wednesday The Bills for consideration and passing are The Limited Liability Partnership Amendment Bill 2021 The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Amendment Bill 2021 Constitution Scheduled Tribes Order Amendment Bill 2021 The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Amendment Bill 2021 The General Insurance Business Nationalisation Amendment Bill 2021 Three Bills are related to the finance ministry which will be moved by Nirmala Sitharaman The RS bulletin states that the Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda will move a Bill for consideration to amend the Constitution Scheduled Tribes Order 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Arunachal Pradesh be taken into consideration While Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is to move the Bill further to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act 2008 as passed by the Lok Sabha IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/rs-chairman-allows-discussion-on-farm-laws-but-stalemate-continues-146739.html Thu, 05 Aug 2021 01:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tunisian-president-sacks-2-ministers-146499.html Tunis Aug 3 Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed two ministers in the government of Hichem Mechichi who was removed from the post of Prime Minister on July 25 According to a presidency statement on Monday Saied has removed Ali Kooli Minister of Economy Finance and Investment Support and appointed Sihem Boughdiri Nemissa to run the affairs of this ministry reports Xinhua news agency The President also sacked Mohamed Fadhel Kraiem Minister of Communications Technology and Acting Minister of agriculture water resources and fisheries and appointed Nizar Ben Neji to run the affairs of the ministry of Communications Technology On July 25 Saied removed Mechichi from the post of Prime Minister and suspended all activities of the Assembly of Peoples Representatives the countrys Parliament The following day he removed Minister of Defence Ibrahim Bartaji and Minister to the Head of Government in charge of the civil service and acting Minister of Justice Hasna Ben Slimane The secretaries general or those in charge of administrative and financial affairs at the presidency and within the ministries have been charged with ensuring the interim until the appointment of a new head of government and the formation of a new government IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/tunisian-president-sacks-2-ministers-146499.html Wed, 04 Aug 2021 08:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/up-shia-clerics-up-in-arms-over-muhurram-guidelines-145950.html Lucknow Aug 2 Shia clerics are up in arms over the Muharram guidelines issued by the UP police Shia clerics will be holding a series of meetings on Monday to decide their future course of action The All India Shia Personal Law Board had convened a meeting on Monday evening to discuss the issue Shia clerics claim that the UP Police have used objectionable language in the guidelines issued for Muharram Terming an internal letter issued by the DGP office to police commissioners and police chiefs for maintaining peace during Muharram as a charge sheet against the Shia community the clerics demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the guidelines Maulana Kalbe Noorie said The guidelines are unacceptable as it shows the peaceloving Shias in poor light General Secretary of MajliseUlamaeHind Maulana Kalbe Jawad said that communication with the DGP would be possible only when the document is withdrawn The language is condemnable We have asked Muharram committees to boycott meetings convened by the police and administration he said President of the Shia Markazi Chand Committee Maulana Saif Abbas said that the person who had drafted the document is apparently conspiring to disrupt peace The main objection of the cleric to the guidelines is that Muharram has been repeatedly referred to as a festival in the circular The DGP should know that Muharram is certainly not a festival but a period of mourning The guidelines show the insensitivity of the state government towards the Muslim community Maulana Yasoob Abbas told IANS He further said The guidelines say that Tabarra is read on behalf of the Shia community It said that some antisocial elements write this on the backs of animals and fly kites by writing such things which are objectionable to the Sunni community This is a deliberate attempt to create a divide between Shia and Sunni communities The Shia clerics have appealed to all the Ulama and organisations to boycott the peace meetings at the district and city level if the guidelines are not withdrawn The UP Directorate General of Police DGP Mukul Goel in the guidelines issued on Sunday night ordered that Muharram should be celebrated in the state alongside adherence to Covidappropriate behaviour and by keeping in the mind the restrictions that are in place to tackle the pandemic The DGP said that display of any kind of weapon will be disallowed He has instructed police officials to take preventive action against antisocial elements and keep a watchful eye on social media for fake and provoking content The UP DGP also urged his officers to communicate with religious leaders for spreading awareness about Covid19 and the need to celebrate Muharram indoors All the programs to be held on Muharram should be decided in the meeting of the peace committee he said He also ordered the deployment of adequate amount of police force in sensitive areas The DGP instructed Adequate number of police PAC force reserves should be kept in every district Uttar Pradeshs decision to not allow religious processions during Muharram comes after the Yogi Adityanath government had banned the Kanwar Yatra earlier this month due to the raging Covid19 pandemic IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/up-shia-clerics-up-in-arms-over-muhurram-guidelines-145950.html Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fully-prepared-to-continue-negotiation-with-iran-us-145162.html Kuwait City July 30 Washington is fully prepared to continue negotiation with Iran to return to the Iranian nuclear agreement visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said here on Thursday Blinken made the remarks after he met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser AlMohammad AlSabah to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues the Xinhua news agency reported Blinken said that the US is willing to reach an agreement with Iran urging Iran to make the decision adding that the ball is in Irans court The Iranian side has been criticising the United States for violating their promises and commitments to the agreement formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA The US government under former President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran In response Iran gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal from May 2019 Between April 6 and June 20 the JCPOA Joint Commission attended by a US delegation indirectly held talks in Vienna to discuss a possible return of the United States to the JCPOA and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the deal The parties recently said serious differences remain between Iran and the United States over the revitalisation of the deal after six rounds of talks Meanwhile on the US relations with Kuwait the US top diplomat said that his country is committed to strengthening the partnership and cooperation with Kuwait Blinken praised Kuwaits role and efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis saying that Kuwait showed good leadership in resolving regional crises For his part the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said that they talked about the importance of strategic dialogue in matters of concern to the two countries and the development of bilateral relations while stressing the importance of the ties between the two countries in all fields Earlier in the day the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad AlJaber AlSabah also held talks with Blinken IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/fully-prepared-to-continue-negotiation-with-iran-us-145162.html Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/end-of-inclusiveness-in-tn-politics-144096.html By Arun Lakshman Chennai July 25 When the Directorate of Vigilance and AntiCorruption DVAC sleuths raided 21 premises including the residence of AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar on July 22 it sent out a clear message the politics of vendetta which is a common phenomenon in Dravidian politics of the state is back with a bang AIADMK leaders and former Chief Ministers O Pannerselvam and K Palaniswami stated that the raids on Vijayabhaskar were acts of vendetta and the party would challenge them in a court of law Both the leaders said that the AIADMK would not be cowed down by the raids When MK Stalin assumed office as Chief Minister on May 7 it marked the DMKs return to power in the state after 10 years Stalin stated that his government would practise the politics of inclusiveness In a 13member committee constituted by him to fight Covid19 the Chief Minister had included C Vijayabhaskar of the AIADMK the former Health Minister of Tamil Nadu Political analysts and observers saw this as a good sign in Dravidian politics that Stalin was for a change in outlook and this could reflect in governance as well The vigilance raids carried out at the home of Vijayabhaskar on Thursday has shattered the tall claims of the DMK that it was practising the politics of inclusiveness On March 25 1989 the then opposition leader of Tamil Nadu Assembly and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa was assaulted in the House after the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi himself began calling her names A fuming Jayalalithaa came out of the assembly and vowed that she would return to the House as Chief Minister Twelve years later it was the turn of Jayalalithaa to get her revenge In the wee hours of June 30 2001 the Tamil Nadu police barged into Karunanidhis home he was no longer Chief Minister and arrested him The visuals on various television channels showed the then 78yearold leader being pushed shoved and beaten before being taken to the police station Union Minister Murasoli Maran who tried to resist the arrest was also arrested Another Union minister TR Baalu and hundreds of DMK cadres including Stalin were arrested This was politics of vengeance at its height and Jayalalithaa practised it to the full S Sivasankaran a political commentator said Those who were following Tamil Nadu politics closely were glad that Stalin had started off on a good note of inclusive politics and his including C Vijayabhaskar minister in AIADMK government as a member of the 13member committee to combat Covid was viewed by many as a good beginning However the DVAC raids on MR Vijayabhaskar clearly nullifies the good things that the Chief Minister had done after coming to power It is now clear that the politics of combativeness would be on view in the days to come IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/end-of-inclusiveness-in-tn-politics-144096.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 03:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-must-start-competing-and-not-participating-in-olympics-honestly-140275.html By Qaiser Mohammad Ali New Delhi July 11 When the Indian athletes seeking to improve upon the sixmedal haul bagged at the 2012 London Olympic Games managed only two at the 2016 Rio Olympics the National Institution for Transforming India NITI Aayog came up with a plan for India to win 50 medals at the 2024 Olympics If that happens three years from now all those involved in the making and implementing that scheme besides the athletes who would win those 50 medals in Paris would deserve the highest accolade of the country They would thoroughly deserve all the prizes for what would probably be the biggest jump in terms of sudden improvement in the history of the worlds biggest sports extravaganza Olympics rather in the history of mankind Whether or not that happens is another question altogether Let us first check the ground reality India has won a grand total of 28 medals nine of them being gold in the 121 years of Olympic participation On the other hand American swimming juggernaut Michael Phelps has won 28 medals 23 of them gold in just four Olympics 20042016 These figures tell a thousand tales of Americas and Indias sporting systemhistory All arguments end there Period And just by the way India is currently the second most densely populated country in the world with almost 130 billion people while the US is a distant third with a little over 300 million inhabitants The difference is humoungous stark and telling If the US and Phelps in those 12 years has dominated the global sports scene it is because of one major factor honesty which is missing in India They recognised the talent in Phelps and persisted with him honestly and without taking his transgressions off the field The result is before us Honesty is an infinite allencompassing term considering its importance in everything we do in all walks of life India immediately needs to turn honest in selection of athletes and teams in providing quality infrastructure and diet to athletes in providing unstinted official and unofficial support to athletes in offering monetary incentives to them and in giving them due recognition without vindictiveness and bias and in several other areas Instead we in India indulge in gimmickry Our sports administrators must realise that medals particularly at the Olympic Games are not won by making best of luck messages trend on Twitter or by producing catchy anthems before every Olympics or by organising webinars or making unrealisticbombastic predictions on medal count Nor will avoiding straight answers and hiding behind hopetowin and italldependsonthedraw do any good to Indian sports Nor gimmickryevents like 100 days to go or 50 days countdown begins for the Olympics would either be of any help to athletes At best these things can take the general gullible public away from the reality Truth is that very often athletes are pulled out of their training schedule and forced to attend such functions so that sports administrators could bask in borrowed glory while athletes rhythm is broken Also no sporting excellence can be achieved by changing names and logos of sports bodies either The sooner the Indian sports system from administrators to athletes accept these facts the better it would be for our beloved India Unfortunately everything listed above has either happened or is continuing to happen On Saturday for example the Board of Control for Cricket in India tweeted a 40second video in which the likes of Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Singh are heard saying cheer for India and dekhiye hamare athletes ko Tokyo Olympics mein watch our athletes at the Tokyo Olympics No harm at all in producing such feelgood audiovideo messages from our best cricketers just before an important sports event Still one may at the same time ask this how much will these oneliners help Indian athletes beat the opposition and win medals at the Olympics Everyone knows the answer Just before the 2016 Olympics as well hype was built around the Indian athletes who were going to compete in Rio Again everyone knows what happened there Just to refresh your memory a 117athlete contingent returned with a solitary silver and a solitary bronze and India finished at the 67th position In 2012 an 83strong group had won six medals and the country ended up at the 56th spot Indias best show in 112 years of Olympic participation Indias basic sporting problem emanates also from the choice of words Even in the 21st century we are unfortunately still participating in sporting extravaganzas and not competing When the term competition will be drilled deep in the minds and hearts of our athletesadministrators and participation would be completely banned from everywhere from official correspondence to oral speeches to social media a change in the mindset would surely come in Medals are also not won by Olympic analysts based on statistical data a recent trend Medals are won by good performance on the field To put it in other words this statistical data is a type of prediction which is again a feelgood aspect Since this data is culled from various global sporting events going back a certain number of years it can be misleading too in the current scenario For example I have a simple question Is the athletics track on which the legendary Milkha Singh ran that historic 400m race at the 1960 Rome Olympics and missed a medal by a whisker and the one on which our athletes are going to compete in Tokyo are of the same quality Of course they are not Then how can statistical data assuming the quality of infrastructure is part of such analytical data be used as the basis of predictions Last month a firm predicted 17 medals including four gold for India in Tokyo If India indeed go on to win 17 or even more medals I would be most happy But the harsh reality is different the analysts are not going to run jump throw and play on behalf of our athletes in Tokyo That is the job of athletes and only their performance on the day would count nothing less or more Making populist statements on social media wont help one bit believe it We want to make this Olympics very very memorable and it is the athletes who will ensure that the Tokyo Olympics becomes one of the most cherished Olympics for India former Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said in April India has a long history of Olympics and as a large nation India must play a much more important and greater role in the Olympic movement and we can do this by winning more medals I have a question How many times has the NITI Aayog plan for India to win 50 medals at the 2024 Olympics been discussed since the action plan for revitalising sports in India was launched in September 2016 after the Rio debacle What steps have been taken towards that end One hardly read or heard any followup or update on the grand plan If the sports ministry the Indian Olympic Association and the national sports federations have indeed taken the NITI Aayog blueprint though there is no novelty in it seriously they should inform sports fans about the progress made if any Also in 30 years I have seen a number of MoUs being signed between the Indian Olympic Association and Confederation of Indian Industries and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry Can someone let Indian sports fans and followers know what has been the gain from those MoUs IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-must-start-competing-and-not-participating-in-olympics-honestly-140275.html Sun, 11 Jul 2021 21:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ysr-lifetime-achievement-awards-recognise-63-diverse-winners-139515.html Amaravati July 8 On the eve of the birth anniversary of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh the state government on Wednesday announced YSR Lifetime Achievement Awards and YSR Achievement Awards to individuals and institutions for excellence in diverse realms As many 63 awards were announced mainly recognizing the works which reflected the ideals of Rajasekhar Reddy and the philosophy of Jagan Mohan Reddy including amplifying Telugu culture and social service Aspects of rural background and down to earth nature prominently featured in picking up the winners It was a difficult task to select the names in tune with the ideals of Rajasekhar Reddy and the philosophy of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy picking the common man for the uncommon talent and exemplary contribution in their respective fields of work ranging from agriculture to literature social work and medicare noted GVD Krishna Mohan government advisor communications Notable winners included MSN Charitable Trust Pall Venkanna folk singer Vangapandu Prasada Rao Pondur Cotton Rajasekhar Reddy favourite attire Kalipatnam Rama Rao Kethu Viswanatha Reddy and others A bunch of farmers artistes authors journalists and Covid warriors were also awarded YSR Lifetime Achievement Award carrying a purse of Rs 10 lakh and a memento winning journalists include Palagummi Sainath ABK Prasad Surendra Telakapalli Ravi and Imam Winning journalists under the posthumous category include Pothuri Venkateswara Rao Sheikh Khaza Hussain Devipriya and K Amarnath Lifetime achievement award came with a cash incentive of Rs 5 lakh and a memento These wards will be presented in the second week of August Henceforth these awards will be an annual affair IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ysr-lifetime-achievement-awards-recognise-63-diverse-winners-139515.html Fri, 09 Jul 2021 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/south-india-to-remain-indifferent-to-national-parties-136717.html By Narendra Puppala Hyderabad June xx If the outcomes of various elections over the past few decades till the recent Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and Kerala are any indication south of the Vindhyas the electoral arena remains a minefield for mainstream national parties read the BJP and Congress Of the five states that comprise south India three are ruled by regional parties one has a Leftcoalition dispensation with only Karnataka having a fragile BJP government uneasily in place While the Congress continues to lose prominence across the country its situation has been particularly precarious down south long considered its citadel The slow slide to inconsequence began in Tamil Nadu with the party succumbing to the antiHindi stance that continues to this day Thereafter in the eighties fuelled by filmstarturnedpolitician NT Rama Raos Telugu Pride the then state of Andhra Pradesh showed the door to the Congress Postbifurcation the party has made way for regional parties in Andhra Pradesh as well as the fledgling state of Telangana For a change the Congress has managed to be on the winning side in Tamil Nadu but it lost the Kerala polls for the second time in a row The story is not very different for the BJP ruling the roost at the Centre and a host of states in the north west and eastern parts of the country With negligible presence for decades the south remains a tough nut to crack for the BJP Although the saffron party did make inroads with successes in Karnataka it has lost steam and continues to steer a leaking ship through the choppy waters of an unconvincing majority in the Assembly Compared to states like Tripura and Assam in the East the BJP has had a lacklustre performance in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana While it drew a blank in Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls in 2019 the BJPs graph in neighbouring Telangana has been a bit of a rollercoaster Bolstered by its wins in Dubbaka Assembly poll and Hyderabad municipal polls the BJP is preparing to squarely take on the ruling TRS in the next Assembly election While Telangana is its most promising arena in the south the reverses it suffered in Bengal polls should give the BJP some food for thought Despite high expectations the party ended up losing even the sole Assembly seat it had won in the previous Kerala election To its credit the BJP has won four seats making a comeback in the newlyconstituted Tamil Nadu Assembly after 20 years But with a distinctly Dravidian party at the helm there is little that the BJP can expect to achieve here in the foreseeable future So what really are the reasons for the national parties lack of traction in the South For starters the southern states have had a strong tradition of throwing up homegrown leaders From Karunanidhi MGR Jayalalithaa NTR KCR and Jagan Mohan Reddy all have built up their votebanks assiduously All of them are accessible in the vicinity rather than faraway Delhi In fact the BJPs success story in Karnataka wouldnt have been possible without Chief Minister BS Yediurappa another homegrown leader In the Congress a culture of subservience to the family has effectively killed local leadership For the BJP it is a case of not having sufficiently large mass base Unfortunately for the BJP the process of building up local leadership is a slow and labourious process that cannot be substituted by wholesale imports from other parties It needs to plan for a longterm future rather than the immediate future The second factor that is a stumbling block in the BJPs expansion plans in the south has to do with demographics Compared to the other three parts the communal composition is not so pronounced in the south Therefore sharp polarisation on religious or cultural lines is not easy The Congress has seemingly hit a wall apparently not a favourite with youngsters who make up the major share of the electorate According to social scientists rising urbanisation and education levels have also majorly affected the partys fortunes at the hustings Most importantly it is the presence of a strong local sentiment in each of these states wary of being swept away by a north Indian wave This is precisely why regional parties thrive and pose challenges for the national parties A trend that is likely to sustain for at least the next few election cycles IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/south-india-to-remain-indifferent-to-national-parties-136717.html Sun, 27 Jun 2021 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/v-george-a-man-who-can-work-as-intermediary-in-congress-136689.html By Saiyed Moziz Imam Zaidi New Delhi June 27 After the demise of seasoned partyman Ahmed Patel last year the Congress first family the Gandhis is finding it hard to find a suitable replacement for the man who provided heft to the party in everything from political manoeuvring to mustering support from alliance partners In a crisis Patels was deemed to be the final word on party affairs But since Rahul Gandhi started calling the shots again he was marginalised In his last days he was made Congress treasurer The much talked of AICC reshuffle could happen soon with a new team taking over the functioning of party affairs and many anticipate an enhanced roll for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra outside Uttar Pradesh Nevertheless partymen are waiting to see who would be the new pointsman to reach out to the Gandhis At one time V George was one such pointsman He worked with Rajiv Gandhi as private secretary and later with Sonia Gandhi but was sidelined after the emergence of Patel George along with Arjun Singh ML Fotedar Sheila Dikshit and Natwar Singh was instrumental in persuading Sonia Gandhi to become party president in place of Sitaram Kesri who was party chief at the time Insiders in the party say current dissent in the party is due to lack of communication and consultation process on important issues Of late Sonia Gandhi has revived the mechanism and recently chaired the meeting on Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders say that Georges return could be beneficial for the party and the Gandhis as he knows all about innerparty intrigue and could be the catalyst for running party affairs He also knows the partys senior leadership since the days of Rajiv Gandhi and specially people who are unhappy with the functioning of the party He can help reach out those and keep the Gandhis informed about the latest developments in the party and outside matters that are not in the public domain From Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi who had Yashpal Kapoor and RK Dhawan to Rajiv Gandhi who had V George and later Sonia Gandhi Congress presidents have had a history of working through personal staff but those were the days when the party was a strong force It is a changed situation now People working for Rahul Gandhi often show an ability to adopt a nuanced approach in public dealings and work like bureaucrats It is important to take the middle path In the current political scenario Congressmen feel they have been left out of the partys plans The issues raised by the socalled G23 now reduced to 22 are relevant and have the silent approval of many This is the weakness of Team Rahul which needs to sort out matters amicably and give timely advice to the leadership Rahul Gandhi has been active on the Covid front and cornering and advising the government but politically the results were in vain as the recent election results were not encouraging for the party Rahul has been active on the Punjab front as well and has been meeting people But avoiding a meeting with the Chief Minister was considered bad optics and strategy It is true that engaging with Punjab leaders was a good initiative but leaving out Rajasthan has not gone down well with the supporters of Sachin Pilot say insiders The return of V George if it happens could end some of the problems related to communication gap in the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/v-george-a-man-who-can-work-as-intermediary-in-congress-136689.html Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/kerala-womens-commission-chairperson-quits-after-widespread-protests-136287.html Thiruvananthapuram June 25 A day after protests spilled on to the streets following a curt remark by MC Josephine the chairperson of the Kerala Womens Commission on Friday decided to quit from her post She is a senior CPIM central committee member The decision that she will put in her papers came at a party meeting in which she also took part at the state CPIM state headquarters on Friday In a TV channel organised phonein programme Josephine responding to a woman who had called to complain about the harassment that she has been facing at her husbands home but added that she had not given a police complaint said If you have not done that then you continue to suffer In the one to one talk between Josephine and the hapless woman Josephine behaved in a very rude and curt manner where she was seen expressing her displeasure all through the talk and at the end the caller disconnected The entire opposition both the Congress and the BJP criticised Josephine and even took to the streets demanding her removal The women activists from the Congress staged a protest outside the CPIM headquarters where the meeting was scheduled but were taken into custody by the police The women wing of the BJP too staged their protests before the Commission office and the CPIM office Finding no support for her in the party and the growing protests Josephine was asked to put in her papers Her fiveyear term was to end next year For the past few days the state has witnessed a spate of suicides by young women upset by the grooms demand for more dowry In the midst of all these cases came Jospehines statement which did not find favour with the people IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/kerala-womens-commission-chairperson-quits-after-widespread-protests-136287.html Fri, 25 Jun 2021 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bjp-in-wait-and-watch-mode-in-aiadmk-fight-134752.html By Arun Lakshman Chennai June 20 Even as the AIADMK is training its guns on estranged former interim general secretary of the party VK Sasikala its alliance partner BJP is adopting a wait and watch approach in this battle Sasikala reached Chennai in a cavalcade of 1000 cars from Bengaluru following her release from the Bangalore Central prison after serving a fouryear jail term in the disproportionate assets case She was in the process of extensively campaigning in the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly elections for the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam AMMK a political outfit floated by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran and mainly focusing on her caste the Thevar community which has a strong presence in south Tamil Nadu Political observers are of the opinion that by pitching in with the AMMK and winning a few seats she was planning to barge into the AIADMK to take control of the party However with both Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS and O Panneerselvam OPS strongly opposing any patchup with Sasikala and the AMMK she announced that she was quitting active politics and would pray for the return of the Golden Rule of Amma Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu That statement was taken with a pinch of salt by political leaders analysts and journalists MK Manoj a former journalist with a leading Tamil daily in Chennai said Sasikala was in the process of coming back to the centrestage of Tamil Nadu politics an arena which she dominated for several years during the Jaya regime Unfortunately she failed to read the writing on the wall that she was persona non grata for the AIADMK and didnt have a place in the party He said that both EPS and OPS had made good inroads among the party cadres and middle level functionaries while she was in jail With the party in power many of the small demands of the cadres were met by these two leaders and their party colleagues effectively creating a new support base in the party Sasikala announced her retirement from politics after a message from the BJP central leadership and hence she had kept quiet said Manoj The central BJP leadership did not want her to spoil the party for the AIADMK by splitting votes in the Thevar strongholds However the AIADMK and BJP combine lost the assembly elections After several days of campaigning the AMMK had eaten into the vote bank of the AIADMK in several constituencies Sasikala according to people close to her was made certain promises by the BJP in return for maintaining a low profile so that there were no hiccups in the AIADMKBJP election plans But with the AMMK in the fray Thevar votes were divided Days after the DMK government assumed office and reports of differences of opinion between EPS and OPS became frequent Sasikala began renewing her old AIADMK contacts across the state She allegedly commenced selective leaks of her phone calls to certain AIADMK leaders in the middle and lower level as well as party cadres She said that she would return to the AIADMK and control the partybut the AIADMK state leadership was prepared with party district committees passing resolutions against her entry into the party Almost all the party district committees have passed resolutions against Sasikalas return to the party and many leaders said that the joint leadership of EPS and OPS was successfully handling the tough situations Meanwhile the BJP has kept a studied silence through all these developments BJP leaders are of the opinion that the party must not take any stand in haste and maintain a very low profile for the time being As the faceoff between Sasikala and the present AIADMK leadership continues the BJP leadership according to party insiders is adopting a policy of wait and watch perhaps to strike at the opportune moment IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bjp-in-wait-and-watch-mode-in-aiadmk-fight-134752.html Sun, 20 Jun 2021 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/all-india-services-the-slip-is-showing-133294.html By SARVESH KAUSHAL Hierarchical protocol is the bedrock of governance and its absence is a horrendous anarchy Respect is a voluntary feeling but adherence to official protocol is not Protocol is not a private subject like individualâs own choice of quantum of dignity that he has to assign to his family elders and others but is the basic minimum dignity and respect that is officially prescribed as a hierarchical mandate upon every civil servant The recent controversy involving the West Bengal Chief Secretary who is the custodian as well as the chief watchdog of protocol adherence in his state shows that whatever may be the political environment highly adversarial and acrimonious by any standards there was no need for a Chief Secretary to take sides on the considerations of personal expediency but it would have been appropriate to go by the rulebook and rulebook alone No one having even an elementary grounding as an IAS officer can imagine a Chief secretary and the DGP of the state not receiving the Prime Minister during his official visits in their respective States except perhaps in case of being off duty for example with a crippling physical disability or a personal tragedy back home in which case the officiating Chief Secretary or the officiating DGP has to take over as such with proper prior intimation Is it very well in the knowledge of any seasoned bureaucrat of the rank of Chief Secretary that for him the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister when it comes to adherence to protocol are well established institutions and not individuals A Chief Secretary is the Chief Secretary to the Government of a State and not the Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister much less a chief political secretary of the Chief Minister A different level of maturity as well of a detached and uncoloured appreciation of every catch22 situation is called upon from a career civil servant who rises to the post of Chief Secretary In such situations despite the proclaimed acrimony between the political bosses at the state and that at the Centre the Chief Secretary has to play a crucial role in rendering the right advice to the state Chief Minister about protocol and propriety rather than facilitating a breach in the reverse of it The proximity of the Chief Secretary in day to day working with the Chief Minister should play a positive role bringing in the right amount of correction in prevailing thought process rather than fuelling acrimonious protocol breaches Chief Secretary is supposed to possess a different level of knowledge maturity and understanding altogether What to talk of Chief Secretaryâs level even junior and middle level field officers are very well aware of the fact that as per SPG security drill air traffic is always curtailed within a certain radius of airspace for anyone else when the Prime Minister is airborne to his destination which is why usually all the relevant functionaries who have to reach at the same venue by air must essentially land almost one hour before the landing time of the Prime Minister When the Prime Minister moves he naturally has the precedence and the Chief Secretary and the DGP always plan the minute to minute movement of the state level VIPs in such a way that they donât infringe upon the security restrictions meant for the safety of the Prime Minister Such excuses like delay caused due to air restrictions do not hold good in knowledgeable administrative circles It is quite clear that either the Chief Secretary of West Bengal did not plan as he should have or he successfully planned a breach of protocol for whatever considerations he may have had in his mind Politics in India has unfortunately come to theatrics tantrums rewards and retribution But these mantras are not for the civil servants to practise No Chief Secretary would ever have thought of skipping an official meeting presided over by the Prime Minister of India while in his own State because there is nothing more important than that for the Chief Secretary and if there is something more important than that surely the Prime Minister knows that and very surely would prioritise accordingly It is just as no Deputy Commissioner Collector District Magistrate in a district would even think of missing a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister of a state while travelling to his district No one can imagine that when the Chief Justice of India visits the State and presides over an official review meeting of judicial officers the Chief Justice of the High Court of that State decides to abstain or when the Chief of Indian Defence Forces visits the Command Headquarters for a review the Army Commander decides to walk out and abstain Such serious aberrations bordering on delinquency would render wellestablished hierarchical governance into the worst degree of anarchy The West Bengal imbroglio is indeed a case study material for Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration Mussoorie The protocol breach that the West Bengal Chief Secretary has indulged in is perhaps the first and the worst of its type by a civil servant heading the Civil Services in the State The issue of invoking punitive provisions of the Disaster Management Act against a State Chief Secretary will most probably land up in the Courts of law being the first of its type and will have to justify its tenability Politically motivated commentary for or against is also likely to shroud the transfer of West Bengal Chief Secretary to the Union Government which seems to have been rendered redundant after the retirement of the officer But the scars of prima facie professional misconduct may remain for posterity to dwell upon Sardar Patel envisaged the All India Services as the steel frame and it will remain a steel frame only as long as itâs members adhere to the basics of propriety While the civil servants must go all out to carry out the policies lawfully framed by their political bosses in public interest without being egotist obstructionists pulled back by negative energy it is extremely essential to draw a line and not to fall below the fundamental denominator of an impersonal neutrality in observance of the basic minimum professional standards of All India Services officers of Sardar Patelâs dreams If the steel frame itself becomes kinked on account of misplaced personal political alignments or lure of rewards resulting into pliability in issues requiring righteous firmness expected from wellgroomed All India Service officers the resultant rot cannot be attributed to other stakeholders who are too eager to exploit the civil services as tools in their political chess games About the author Sarvesh Kaushal is a former IAS officer He was Chief Secretary Government of Punjab India during 20142017 The views expressed are his personal He can be reached at sarveshkaushalgmailcom https://dailyworld.in/opinion/all-india-services-the-slip-is-showing-133294.html Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/why-is-congress-high-command-silent-on-rising-signs-of-discord-in-rajasthan-132058.html By Archana Sharma Jaipur June 8 The Congress high commands stoic silence over the growing signs of discord within the Gehlot government has raised many questions is this silence deliberate or else the high command is quiet aiming at certain goals Whatever the truth the reality is that it has not led to a resolution of differences between different factions simmering in the Congress camp and the fortunes of the party as well as the party workers hang in the balance Sixtime MLA Hemaram Choudhary resigned from the Congress government on May 22 and he seems reluctant to withdraw his resignation Another MLA Ved Prakash Solanki has threatened to resign Both are aligned to former state Congress chief and ex deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilots group Meanwhile the Gehlot camp is seen to be busy poaching MLAs from his archrival Pilots camp Inderaj Gujar and PR Meena are two such MLAs from the Pilot camp who recently praised Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots work at a time when other Pilot followers were questioning the governments work The story of discord doesnt end here as two ministers considered to be very close to Gehlot had also reportedly had an altercation during a recent cabinet meeting In a sense differences are no longer between Gehlot and his former deputy This is an internecine war a fight among the Gehlot camp followers who look like competitors not colleagues The state unit of the Congress the Pradesh Congress Committee appears weak on the ground working with a 39member team since July last year as all local Congress committees were dissolved following Pilots open rebellion against the state leadership Partymen anxious on the phone tapping front are aggrieved that they did not get their share as award for victory while what were deemed to be political appointments were going to retired former top bureaucrats There are questions partymen are asking Why has Kumar Vishwass wife been given a political appointment in Rajasthan considering Vishwas had contested against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi Why had he been rewarded Why were retired bureaucrats being appointed to key political posts while party workers who had worked hard for the party were yet to be rewarded A minister explained that political appointments are being delayed for fear of another rebellion If we give 10 workers a position the remaining 90 will throw tantrums and there can be another rebellion which we cant handle now amid the pandemic he said The rival camp in the Congress does not agree Post the rebellion in the party we were asked to compromise on the leadership issue and we followed all rules of the game We did not say anything against the party But now it has been 11 months since a committee was formed to look into our issues and this committee has failed to bring in results Dont you think the committee should be dissolved Why isnt the high command looking into the issue said a Pilot camp follower In July last year a threemember committee was formed with veteran leaders Ahmed Patel KC Venugopal and Ajay Maken to look into the grievances of the Pilot camp Patel passed away but the other two members of the committee have not been proactive in resolving workers grievances said another worker If any committee is formed with the aim of fulfilling certain exceptions and commitments and if nothing comes out of it even after 11 months and no one is ready to look into it it is clear that you are asking for trouble said the party worker Meanwhile state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara told IANS that the party is committed to giving political appointments once matters settle down post the second wave of Covid Rajasthan incharge Ajay Maken had confirmed announcing political appointments earlier in December last year and then in March but it could not be implemented Pilot says there is no reason for delay in appointments and cabinet expansion as of now Meanwhile all eyes are set ito see f the High Command pitches in to address these issues or else new factions appearing in the party each year are ringing alarm bells for the Congress which is facing testing times in other states like Punjab too IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/why-is-congress-high-command-silent-on-rising-signs-of-discord-in-rajasthan-132058.html Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/can-rajender-pose-a-challenge-to-kcrs-leadership-131319.html Taipei Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu fourth from right waves with US senators to his right Democratic Sen Christopher Coons of Delaware a member of the Foreign Relations Committee Democratic Sen Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Republican Sen Dan Sullivan of Alaska members of the Armed Services Committee on their arrival at the Songshan Airport in Taipei Taiwan on Sunday June 6 2021 The bipartisan group of three US senators arrived in Taiwan to meet with senior government officials and discuss USTaiwan relations and other issues in a trip that is likely to anger China which claims Taiwan as its territory and objects to Taiwan being called a country PTI By Mohammed Shafeeq Hyderabad June 6 The exit of former minister Eatala Rajender from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi TRS marked the end of a cold war between him and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and sparked a debate on the impact the former would have on the ruling party with his joining the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP A month after being dropped from the state Cabinet following allegations of land encroachment Rajender on Friday announced his decision to quit the party and also resign as a member of the Legislative Assembly Though Rajenders announcement to end his nearly twodecadelong association with the TRS and decision to join the saffron camp may not have any immediate impact on the ruling party the development may encourage others unhappy with the leadership of Chandrasekhar Rao aka KCR to raise their voice The development came at a time when Telangana entered the eighth year of its formation under KCR whose leadership so far remains unchallenged Exit of Eatala Rajender reiterated the fact that TRS is synonymous to KCR and he is the sole proprietor of the party The claims of multiple owners to the pink brigade can be put to rest This development will reestablish supremacy of KCR and this is an answer to all future dissidents in the party said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy While KCR and his party will defend the action against Rajender by citing his alleged acts of omission and commission the bitter allegations by the former minister are likely to embarrass the TRS leadership and provide ammunition to the otherwise weakened opposition KCR who revived the Telangana movement in 2001 by floating the TRS continues to have a vicelike grip over both the party and the government In fact the action against Rajender who has been his confidante since the formation of the party is believed to be a well calculated move to nip in the bud any possible rebellion or challenge to his authority While there had been reports of a fissure between KCR and Rajender for more than three years the TRS chief took everyone by surprise by ordering a probe against him after a group of farmers from Medak district complained that Rajender grabbed their lands for a poultry unit owned by his family The action came when the state was in the grip of a Covid surge and Rajender as the health minister was busy holding meetings with officials to review the pandemic situation The chief minister himself was recovering from Covid at his farmhouse As the officials went on record that 66 acres of land was encroached KCR stripped Rajender of his health portfolio on May 1 and the next day dropped him from the cabinet Rajender a member of the Assembly from Huzurabad constituency in Karimnagar district hit back at KCR and alleged that there is a conspiracy to defame him The former minister faced another probe as KCR formed a committee comprising four IAS officers to investigate encroachments and illegal transactions of Sri Sita Rama Swamy temple land at Devarayamjal village in Shamirpet near Hyderabad Rajender and his supporters had allegedly encroached 1521 acres in the village Eatala one of the founding members of the TRS and a sixtime MLA had entered KCRs bad books a couple of years ago when he took potshots at him on a few occasions The ministers post is not anybodys pittance We are the owners of TRS who have carried the party flag Rajender had said at one party meeting On another occasion he remarked that he reached his position not because of his caste but by his sheer hard work I am not here because I am somebodys son Eatala had remarked in what was believed to be an attack on KCRs son and minister KT Rama Rao Rajender said he quit the TRS because he did not want to continue as a slave Alleging there is no freedom for ministers and MLAs to function he said they are treated like slaves In the past I resigned several times from the Assembly for the sake of selfrespect of Telangana I am resigning again but this time for my selfrespect as I cant continue as a slave he said Interestingly Rajender also claimed that Finance Minister T Harish Rao too faced humiliation Harish Rao is KCRs nephew and there have been reports of a chasm between the two ever since the TRS started projecting his son Rama Rao as his political successor The TRS was born from the movement and is not run like a family party like Lalu Prasads or Mayawatis parties Telangana state was achieved with sacrifices of thousands of people and not with a handful of people Rajender said while targeting KCR for promoting his son and daughter Political analysts say by raising the issue of selfrespect and KCR promoting his family Rajender may be encouraging other TRS leaders unhappy with the leadership to speak out The counterattack by TRS on Rajender has been on expected lines He is talking of selfrespect after being dropped from the cabinet following allegations of land encroachment How can he acquire assigned land of the poor which is illegal He has more respect for his properties than the law of the land said TRS legislator P Rajeshwar Reddy Now that Rajender has decided to quit his Assembly seat and sail with the BJP all eyes will be on Rajenders stronghold Huzurabad By joining BJP Eatala indicated that he needs a safe haven and support of the party in power in New Delhi He did not show the might to start a party of his own or fight as an Independent to win the seat he currently represents said political analyst Raghavendra Reddy The byelection in Huzurabad will be the fourth in the state in three years and will provide the BJP another chance to prove itself as an alternative to the TRS After wresting the Dubbak Assembly seat from the TRS and posting an impressive performance in the elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation GHMC late last year the BJP suffered humiliation in recent elections to two graduates constituencies of the Legislative Council and byelection to Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly seat Analysts say the BJP may gain in the narrative by projecting itself as the real alternative to the TRS With Eatala joining its ranks the BJP will be hoping to garner more votes The TRS which appears to have bounced back after the shock defeat in Dubbak is likely to go the whole hog in Huzurabad to check both the BJP and Rajender IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/can-rajender-pose-a-challenge-to-kcrs-leadership-131319.html Sun, 06 Jun 2021 10:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/to-my-young-colleagues-130470.html By OP Singh Police in India needs to set its quality human resources after desperate criminals The controversial brokenwindow strategy will not work here given countryâs undermanned enforcement agencies and poor standard of voluntary compliance to law To identify those posing maximum threat to peopleâs sense of security it needs to map previous property offenders and ascribe them scores on variables like age affiliation to gangs propensity for violence number of offence committed and dependence on crime proceeds It needs to commit ten to twenty percent of its posted strength to take on those scoring high on this demerit list People expect you to control crime so that they can breathe easy and sleep well Interestingly they want you to be fearless like tiger quick like lightening selfless like Mother Teresa and submissive like slaves all at the same time So the challenge is humongous Crimecontrol is essentially elimination ofdeception and violence in individual and group transactions Sense of security as felt by the people is subjective and fleeting It is as fickle as peopleâs current belief about your score on the board in your everraging bouts with offenders Peopleis a transient and heterogeneous entity Your approach to them depends on which side of law they happen to be at a given point of time and whether they have the heft to hoodwink you For operational convenience you may safely assume that ninety percent of people donât want to do anything with you They just wish that when in need you wonât add further to their woes You need to soothe them with strategic police presence prompt service delivery and effective communication Seven to eight percent are situationally driven to crime most of the time not knowing that it would only further aggravate and perpetuate their miseries Better find a way to reclaim them It is not an act of charity It is an operational necessity to keep the number of offenders manageable No law enforcement agency can succeed in a majority offender situation Twothree percent of people choose consciously to be outlaw To them itâs a highriskquickmoney venture Just get after them Map violent property offenders of ten years on variables like age affiliation to gangs propensity for violence number of offence committed and dependence on crime proceeds Commit ten to twenty percent of your posted strength to heighten their operational difficulties Checkmating them is important for your career They are the ones who can strike at will and erode your credibility as an effective police officer They not you become role models and talkofthetown Delivering sense of security is not limited to effective crime control A big thorn in the flesh is the entertainment sector Even you are not immune to it It unabashedly glorifies violence Hypercritical mass media and unbridled messagesharing platforms have further added fuel to the fire Together they have created an echochamber where even wellmeaning people cry for instant brutal reprisals for acts of violence Resist being encounterspecialist It is a medieval tactics that has been discarded long back for being ineffective It would make your unit hostage to the elements who may turn out to be even worse than the malcontents they pose to fight It is only a matter of time You donât have unlimited resource to meet peopleâs romanticised and often exaggerated expectations With multiple entry levels your unit has a split organisational personality Educated and articulate at the top it gets increasingly ethnic and foulmouthed as you reach the other end Teach them to be like you not the other way round You have uncertain tenures Hit the deck running work through volatility marshal meagre resources and take control of the situation in no time And do resist being clones of fictitious movie characters They are not real Nor helpful Forget that you will get additional budget or manpower Or your men will master new skills Your best chance is your ability to devise revenue and retrainingneutral problemsolving models You will have complete project ownership and zero gestation period For example visible police presence is key to sense of security that people feel at any point of time Instead of doing it all by yourself host listening sessions with community leaders and vulnerable sections inviting their opinion on how best to deploy available police resources that would give them maximum sense of security Along with crime hotspot analysis work out a more assuring preventive police deployment plan This collaborative decisionmaking can be extended to other areas of police work too giving people a sense of participation in how their place is being policed Disgruntled complainants going around with their tale of woes hurt your standing a great deal Anyone who reaches out to you with complaint of police inaction tell your station house officer to call them and take either of three action in a weekâs time frame register a case if it is about a cognisable offence reroute if itconcerns other departments and file it if it is false Failing tell them to appear before you with the complainant Believe me it works like magic reversal of power equation at the cutting edge saving a disgruntled soul from a humiliating downward journey People have a vast appetite for police stories They are curious about what you are doing to keep them safe The ongoing narrative mimics Tom Jerry cartoon show nimble criminals giving tardy policemen torrid times Reinvent your communication strategy Tell the people how hard and successfully your unit is working you are doing it because you care so much for them and how tough the criminals are having it Economic offences and cyber crimes have gone through the roof in recent years You need to commit a good number of your posted strength to catch up with this new breed of criminals looting people at will from remote and most often untraceable locations Rebrand your beat officers as family police officers Very much like family lawyers and doctors Tell them to visit families of their beats with prior appointments and advise them on safety matters Task them to homedeliver challans copies of FIRs and verification reports It would endear them to communities like nothing else Above all think what is your signature contribution now and what is going to be your enduring legacy when you will one day hang your boots As they say journey of a thousand mile starts with the first step Which one is yours DAILY WORLD OP Singh is the Commissioner of Police Faridabad Views expressed are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/to-my-young-colleagues-130470.html Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/adieu-haryanvi-intellectual-of-recent-times--130471.html DRChaudhary 11 June 1935 â1 June 2021 By Rajbir Deswal âœA gun jeep and a bottle of liquorâ said the headline of a national daily kept on my office table then The headline attracted my attention and reading further it revealed the grandiose but condemnable style of the youth of Haryana in the semiarid zones of the state bordering Punjab and Rajasthan to be found involved in a culture of possessing guns jeeps and given to consuming liquor I wondered who had left the newspaper on my table A few minutes later I saw a man walking from the drive way after locking his car to my office He was of medium height having very fair complex and dressed in a green blazer who parked his Fiat car at 4 Lodhi Estate New Delhi office of Real India Asli Bharat Weeklies for which I then worked as SubEditor He introduced himself as Daulat Ram Chaudhary and handed over five typed sheets to me which was an article meant for my weekly âReal Indiaâ a venture of The Kisan Trust of which the President was the then Prime Minister Ch Charan Singh ✠I want to help this paperâ he said and suggested some hometruths about the state of Haryana which ✠needed to be projected in the right spiritâ When he left us I asked a colleague of mind who was then the Circulation Manager of the Weeklies and who later became an IAS officer Yudhbir Khayalia about the person He knew him well and informed me that the man was popularly known as âDee Aarâ He was picked up as a member of the prestigious Haryana Public Service Commission by Devi Lal who recognised his intellect and honesty since he too came from the village Chautala Chaudhary had a humble beginning and had seen hardships being the son of a tenant Devi Lal wanted the Commission to function fairly hence he roped in DR Chaudhary Another intellectual to be picked up by Devi Lal besides Chaudhary was Dr Raja Ram Chaudhary taught at the Dayal Singh College New Delhi In Haryana among the Jats after Dr Sarup Singh and Hardwari Lal there were counted three names in the list of educated Haryanvis in DR Chaudhary Dr OP Grewal and Dr Bhim Singh Dahiya All the three had almost the same ideology to follow but while Dr Grewal and Dr Dahiya stayed on the academic side DR Chaudhary took to being a commentator and an activist His wellresearched articles were immensely readable and even the editors looked forward to receiving his pieces for publication On a couple of occasions even the Punjab Haryana High Court referred to D Râs articles on some thorny issues of culture and practices in the state Author of books on Haryana Education and Khap Panchayats Chaudhary brought to light certain unknown and uncommented upon facts regarding Haryana He often lamented that no cultural renaissance had ever visited the tradition bound state Chaudhary gave credit to the spread of Arya Samaj in Haryana which to an extent stemmed the rot in education and societal cohabitation Still films artists theatre literature folk documentation still eluded Haryana in comparison to Punjab which had excelled in all these spheres all these years Initially DR Chaudhary did not meddle in routine political affairs of the state but he did watch from a distance and was more focussed on taking up the issue based plunges here and there be it the cause of Dalitsâ torture and tormenting or honour killing of boys and girls His thought process was modern and he remained associated with the Progressive Movement Some even called him Comrade Chaudhary He was a great friend of Comrade Raghbir Singh Hooda of Rohtak However when he started a weekly called ✠Peengâ from Rohtak the Rohtakwalas did not lap him up for he was a Bagri Jat and not a Deswali Jatâsomething of a fuxture the Rohtaki Jats stay metamorphosed in On a personal note I call myself a protÃgà of DR Chaudhary who was not only in the Haryana Public Service Commission when I was selected alongwith two of my other bathcmates but who remained a beau model for me to follow in many ways The Tribune of 25 July 1983 carried a news item titled âœHPSC resists VIP pressureâ when the same day having been offered membership of the UPSC in case he accommodated the recommended candidates DRChaudhary tore off the envelope containing results of my selection at number one in the merit and made them public through the press He could guide me chide me and snub me even for my professional things I remember him actively siding with the labourers and opposing the police move of lathicharging them Mr Chaudhary often visited me His habits were very simple Though he joined politics too but it wasnât his cup of tea to be a sycophant at all On issues he resigned from the Commission He was also made member of an Administrative Reforms Commission but finding that his suggestions were thrown to winds he again resigned He was a stickler to merit and did not hesitate in selecting even his PA as an HCS officer DR Chaudhry had taken up cudgels to unravel the real truth about the Khaps too He exposed a system prevalent since the medieval times which though did serve the purpose then of being a force to take on the might of the questionable diktats of the rulers in Delhi but with the passage of time had been reduced to an entity with questionable demeanor and dictatorial undemocratic style He took to travelling in the Himalayas later in life and stayed in Mcleodganj Monastery studying Buddhism He was the one who introduced me to reading âexistential literatureâ and suggested me authors like Kafka One may not believe it but he as a father stood by his son in marrying a girl of his choice despite retaliation and risk Mr Chaudhary was a family man His wife was an epitome of sacrifice who stood by him always His daughter Kamla and son Bhoop are lecturers and another son Ashwani Chaudhary is a wellknown film director They donât make men like âDee Aarâ anymore https://dailyworld.in/opinion/adieu-haryanvi-intellectual-of-recent-times--130471.html Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/2-years-as-andhra-cm-see-jagan-deftly-balance-sops-with-realpolitik-129407.html Amaravati May 30 Sunday marks the second anniversary of YS Jagan Mohan Reddys ascent to power as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Despite taking over a state tottering from financial resources crunch he has been aggressively pursuing a path of providing social welfare Reddy rode to power in the 2019 Assembly polls on the back of a populist agenda that reached out to the poorest and most backward sections of the society But even before he could take stock of the situation as the residuary states second Chief Minister the Covid pandemic struck Ever since he has been busy fighting the pandemic on the one hand and ensuring the delivery of his pet welfare schemes to the people on the other The ruling YSRCPs victories in the local bodies elections and in the Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll have been credited to the welfare schemes under which the state government has directly credited Rs 9552850 crore in to the beneficiaries accounts besides indirectly spending over Rs 3619705 crore on Sampoorna Poshana free power to farmers Goru Muddha and many more schemes aggregating to Rs 131 lakh crore Ushering the concept of village and ward volunteers he ensured that pensions and other welfare services are door delivered on the first of every month The last two years have also seen him locking horns with the opposition TDP and farmers who gave their lands for the capital city of Amaravati By proposing three capitals legislative capital at Amaravati executive capital at Visakhpatnam and Kurnool as the location for the high court Reddy literally set the cat among the pigeons On the other side of the political spectrum Reddy has had to contend with the BJP which regularly brings up his Christian background Knowing that he has to stay in the good books of the Union government Reddy has so far largely ignored them One of the bigger challenges he faced this year was the series of desecrations or thefts in several Hindu temples of the state the most highprofile example being that of the unexplained fire which destroyed the temple chariot at the Antarvedi temple On the whole Reddy has adroitly managed to hold his own against seasoned political adversaries like TDP leader and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu maintaining cordial relations with the Central government led by the BJP and handling the challenges thrown by the pandemic even as he remains committed to social welfare schemes minus the financial resources IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/2-years-as-andhra-cm-see-jagan-deftly-balance-sops-with-realpolitik-129407.html Sun, 30 May 2021 08:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/208-dead-in-israeli-palestinian-hostilities-un-126232.html Gaza City CORRECTS THE DATE AND BUILDING INFORMATION An Israeli air strike hits a building in Gaza City Monday May 17 2021 The Israeli military unleashed a wave of heavy airstrikes Monday on the Gaza Strip saying it destroyed 15 kilometers 9 miles of militant tunnels and the homes of nine Hamas commanders as international diplomats worked to end the weeklong war that has killed hundreds of people PTI United Nations May 18 At least 208 people have been killed and some 1500 others injured in a week of the ongoing airstrikes and rocket shellings between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA The Gaza Ministry of Health reported on Monday that 198 people died including 58 children and 1300 injured in seven days of bombardments by Israel Xinhua news agency quoted the OCHA as saying Meanwhile Israel reported 10 fatalities and hundreds more injured by Palestinian rocket attacks launched from Gaza Concentrating its report on the toll to Palestinians the OCHA said more than 42000 displaced people are seeking protection in 50 schools across Gaza operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA Citing the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing OCHA reported 94 buildings destroyed and 285 housing units severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable The humanitarian partner Shelter Cluster reported more than 2500 people homeless Damaged structures include 41 education facilities schools kindergartens a UNRWA vocational training centre the Ministry of Education directorate and a higher education facility the world organisation said Additionally four Ministry of Health hospitals two nongovernmental hospitals two clinics a health centre and a Palestine Red Crescent Society also were damaged Electricity across Gaza is down to six to eight hours a day on average with some feeder lines not functioning disrupting the provision of health care and other essential services including water hygiene and sanitation OCHA said Food and cash support needs are increasing The UN and humanitarian partners provide food and nonfood items to displaced families in Gaza and immediate cash assistance to more than 52000 people They also provide remote psychosocial counselling sessions for the traumatized increase awareness about the heightened risk of explosive remnants of war and assess property damage The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that some recent Israeli airstrikes particularly on highrise buildings are raising concerns of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks under international humanitarian law Likewise the launching of rockets and mortars from highly populated civilian neighbourhoods in Gaza into civilian population centers in Israel also may be unlawful In the West Bank including East Jerusalem widespread demonstrations and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces broke out in multiple locations in commemoration of Nakba Day on May 15 OCHA said Two Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces Another boy died after having been shot four days previously in Hebron by Israeli forces IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/208-dead-in-israeli-palestinian-hostilities-un-126232.html Tue, 18 May 2021 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/5g-is-our-only-chance-to-grow-123376.html By Pradeep Baijal New Delhi May 6 Everyone talks of China overtaking the USA in GDP and 5G in a digital world with multiplying 5G usages Indians have always been ahead in the digital and mobile technologies till of course regulations and crony capitalism blocked growth What is so special about 5G Is it just a communication technology 5G is the new global wireless standard after 1G to 4G networks much faster and having lower latency packing density etc 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines objects and devices both static and moving and like everything in new technologies evolving and changing fast 4G Broadband earlier delivered deep web functionality to our latest technology Smartphones 5G also requires new kind of regulation internalizing content and pricing regulation The US and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space This is a national emergency The US needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out we may have already lost that one thats how dire the situation is Schmidt told CNN recently If these technologies are built in China for example they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle Schmidt said pointing to the Chinese governments plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030 Indians have proved that they can move ahead very fast as they did both for liberalised 2G and 4G networks Chinas 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world unless India is enabled to challenge them like the US did that to China post 1980 According to CCS Insights China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022 China is also expected to dominate through 2025 at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections according to the GSMA Mainland China is already the worlds largest Smartphone market and it also boasts the largest 4G market with 8437 million 4G subscribers Based on a 5G study published by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology Chinas aggressive investments in 5G infrastructures will be key to the countrys status as the worlds largest 5G market soon unless India challenges like it did for 2G and 4G We must also remember that seven Presidents after Nixon helped China for political reasons They might now help India and Japan in the peculiar politicalgeographical environment in Asia where China can never collaborate with India or Japan China earlier grew with the help of stolen technologies from the US and the rest of the world The US collaborated It can no longer do so and hence China has invested hugely in RD and commercial use of new technologies David G Goldman The US India and some other countries flourished when they started operating on far better and fully digital 2G to 4G standardstechnology and regulation converged network and regulation But there was a problem in some countries like India where we could not migrate to a converged networkregulation due to the opposition of incumbent telecom operators and tried to inefficiently operate on Unified Access License in 2004 and later moving to case to case regulations for 4G networks The US and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space This is a national emergency The US needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out we may have already lost that one thats how dire the situation is Schmidt told CNN recently If these technologies are built in China for example they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle Schmidt said pointing to the Chinese governments plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030 Chinas 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world According to CCS Insights China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022 China is also expected to dominate through 2025 at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections according to the GSMA Late late 5G in India GOI is looking at issues around high prices of spectrum and its limited availabilityusage We faced similar problems for 2G3G in 2004 but were carefully dealt with in new unified access regulations license fee and connectivity charges In its report titled Making India 5G Ready in August 2018 InterMinisterial High Level Forum for 5G Paulraj Committee India anticipated the start of 5G in 2020 Based on the Report the Government is creating an enabling framework for development of 5G services in India Progress is slow as many new developments have taken place and the 5G services are expected to be introduced gradually and advance to a full range of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows Indian IT technologists are far ahead of those in the world 5G can unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits giving it the potential for being a transformational force for Indian society It can help the country leapfrog the traditional barriers to development as well as advance the Digital India Mission The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India can reach 1 trillion by 2035 But the progress in development in new servicesusages is slow in India and does not match with the high anticipated fee There are thus apprehensions that India is set to miss the 5G bus due to lack of preparedness spectrum issues inadequate usecase development uncertainty around sale of radio waves for 5G etc Inadequate availability of spectrum high spectrum prices poor development of use cases low status of fiberization nonuniform RoW issues deficient backhaul capacity etc are some of the factors coming in the way of rolling out of 5G services in India missing the target dates in the Report Globally 118 operators in 59 countries have deployed 5G network though only China and S Korea has progressed to significant commercial operation China has already developed more than 5 lakh 5G base stations covering around 78 per cent of their population Regarding status of deployment of 5G in India 5G High Level Forum has given its report titled Making India 5G Readyto the Government in August 2018 5G Hackathon had been organized and the Department have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development Thirty out of 100 use cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges The current reserve price of spectrum is one of the highest in the world which needs to be rationalized taking into account per capita income extremely low usage and reserve price benchmarks of other countries 5G trial applications have been submitted by the TSPs in the month of January 2020 however till date the guidelines for trials have not been made clear and there is no set date for commencement of these trials Specrum allocation is also posing to be a big problem We have four times more people and four times less spectrum which means that spectrum available to one person is 116th of the global average Availability of 175 MHz only in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz band will mean that approximately 50 MHz or so spectrum per operator could be allocated which is far below the global average TRAI had recommended Rs492 crore per MHz as reserved price for spectrum in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz for 5G which is far higher than the auctioned spectrum price in other countries Comparison of unit pricing of 5G spectrum with other countries indicates that it is 07 times costlier than UK 14 times costlier than Australia 35 times costlier than Spain and 70 times costlier than Austria Price recommended by TRAI is exorbitantly high and ranges from 370 times of the market determined price of the spectrum in other countries in absolute terms and is 16 times of the price in relative terms They are of the view that there is a need to strike a balance between the Governments expectation to generate revenue from the auction and growth of the sector and the overarching impact of 5G across the sectors Fear of 5G deployments in China Many reports overstate the extent of Chinese 5G deployment for several reasons Chinese governments push to accelerate user migration to 5G through measures such as package upgrade offer and credit purchases etc Service providers then start encouraging customers to upgrade to 5G subscriptions regardless of their actual need use or device Some companies reduce 5G subscription prices so much they are even cheaper than staying on a 4G plan ITIF report suggests that by counting anyone on a 5G plan even if they only have a 4G device connecting to 4G infrastructure as a 5G subscriber and measuring individual base stations instead of cell sites Chinas 5G stats paint a misleading picture Consider that China Telecom and China Mobile the two largest operators in China reported 150 million 5G package customers as of September 2020 But according to Chinas Academy for Information and Communications Technology only 94 million 5G devices had been shipped for all of China during the same time frame indicating a sizable gap between the number of subscribers and actual 5G users The number of 5Gcapable devices alone is impressive and the competitive threat from China justifies a thoughtful policy response but no one should be worked into a panic by goosed stats Slow and steady may win the race India won the race in 2G growth after 2010 Comparison with Chinese growth ever Whereas the United States is pursuing a gradual economical deployment of 5G the problems with Chinas rushed 5G deployments are already starting to show One of Huaweis own executives went so far as to call Chinas 5G fake dumb and poor mostly due to poor integration with the 4G network Another former official warned in a recent speech that Chinas 5G push could become a failed investment While China is no doubt investing substantially in the expansion of its 5G network including by pressuring its stateowned carriers to invest faster than the market demands Chinese figures must be properly scrutinized when using them to make USother country policy decisions National Strategy of 5G  5G will be a key driver of our Nations prosperity and security in the new age economy towards which we are progressing fast It will provide consumers businesses and governments with remarkably fast network connections that will enable tens of billions of new devices to harness the power of the Internet transforming the way we live work learn and communicate Whole of government and industry led approach should be launched for faster rollout with demonstrable use cases Spectrum cost should be rationalized to remove the artificial cost barrier  Indigenous and demonstrable use cases are the backbone of 5G because that will create the new economy  Indian government has to finalise the list of industries where it needs to achieve indigenous technological innovations and handhold them for a profitable start Pradip Baijal is former Chairman TRAI and has authored many books on Indian reforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/5g-is-our-only-chance-to-grow-123376.html Fri, 07 May 2021 00:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ahead-in-the-gdp-race-usa-or-china-123274.html New Delhi Construction work underway as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project at Rajpath in New Delhi Thursday May 6 2021 The project envisages a new triangular Parliament building a Common Central Secretariat and the revamping of the threekmlong Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate and new residences for the prime minister and the vice president PTI By Pradip Baijal New Delhi May 6 Everyone talks of China overtaking the USA in GDP and 5G We now live in a globalised and digital world where productivity and technologies decide GDP growth I have extensively written on both subjects and find the subjects of immense interest to India What is so special about 5G Is it just a communication technology We must remember that these technologies IR30 technologies and later changed the direction of GDP growths from the West to Asia after 1970 particularly China in this globalised connected world IR 10 and 20 technologies had helped most Western nations take over all nations in GDP growth when they increased their GDP 5 to 10 times and most Asian nations went down 10 times between 1830 to 1970 Everything changed post 1970 In his 2000 book The Coming Collapse of China Gordon G Chang predicted the end of China in 5 to 10 years based on perceived inefficiencies of state industries failure to build an open democratic society and nonperforming loans of big four state banks In his 2012 book with the same title he regretted noncollapse by 2011 and predicted this would happen in 2012 due to Chinas premature entry into WTO in 2001 Julia Lowell also said so would lead to a nation of contradictions with ruling class divided leading to economic collapse But thanks to the strong leader Xi Jinping and interminable term given to him by Politburo China grew fast because the international community was tolerant towards China and USA encouraged China to grow despite China not following WTO rules China also committed thefts of technologies from the USA and West and started its own units breaking all WTO rules And though everyone knew of the events leading to this growth the American MNCs having immense control over the State supported this growth as it profited them not the nationthrough the carefully designed and almost irreversible supply chain structured by the Chinese industry China prospered earlier because Deng the President till 1987 and later very influential till mid90s was very progressive and despite contradictions enforced market based rules Tiananmen Square massacre and USAs indirect support also helped Chinese growth Despite visible opposition he wrote a letter of support According to the third book by Chang published in 2020 The Great USChina Tech War he and other authors said that today both countries are engaged in a tech war and winner will decide who dominates 21st century Beijing was not even a contender a decade back America is now already behind in critical areas The new technologies now operate on multiple national and international regulations They also have to simultaneously operate on telecom broadcasting competition security privacy AI and investment etc regulations making the operation difficult for small and emerging companies Today US and China are engaged in a cold war similar to USRussian cold war which was won by USA in 198090s with disintegration of Russia without a bullet being fired And all Presidents from Nixon to Obama supported Chinese growth because it helped them destroy the coldwar rival Russia China being a much bigger intriguer and a deceptive nation grew enormously with the help of seven Presidents after Nixon and now challenges US China earlier grew with the help of stolen technologies also It is no longer so and has invested hugely in RD and commercial use of new technologies David G Goldman US India and some other countries flourished when they started operating on far better and fully digital 2G to 4G standardstechnology and regulation converged network and regulation But there was a problem in some countries like India where we could not migrate to a converged network due to the opposition of incumbent telecom operators and tried to inefficiently operate on Unified Access License in 2004 and later moving to case to case regulations for 4G networks 5G is the new global wireless standard after 1G to 4G networks much faster and having lower latency packing density etc 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines objects and devices both static and moving and like everything in new technologies evolving and changing fast 4G Broadband earlier delivered deep web functionality to our latest technology smartphones 5G is still evolving and changing to more efficient solutions United States and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space This is a national emergency The United States needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out we may have already lost that one thats how dire the situation is Schmidt told CNN recently If these technologies are built in China for example they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle Schmidt said pointing to the Chinese governments plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030 Chinas 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world According to CCS Insights China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022 China is also expected to dominate through 2025 at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections according to the GSMA Mainland China is already the worlds largest smartphone market and it also boasts the largest 4G market with 8437 million 4G subscribers Based on a 5G study published by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology the research arm of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology MIIT Chinas aggressive investments in 5G infrastructure will be key to the countrys status as the worlds largest 5G market soon Another strength of Chinese networks is their international cooperation They had even collaborated with fast growing Indian networksregulation in 2005 China Mobiles cooperation with Ericsson reaches back to late 2015 when the companies began testing 5G radio technology evolving network architecture toward 5G the Internet of Things IoT and global knowledge and experiencesharing In June 2017 tests on Huaweis 5G radio technology were completed adopting 5G New Radio NR massive multipleinput multipleoutput MIMO and other technologies to achieve over 6 Gbs of singleuser downlink throughput and over 18Gbs of cell peak rate Huawei partnered with multiple vendors in the spirit of industry collaboration The countrys 5G market is heading toward a significant financial boom According to Business Insider the impact could account for 32 per cent of Chinas entire GDP in 2025 generate 8 million jobs and add 29 trillion yuan in economic value by 2030 As hungry consumers demand more and more 5G services the country expects a huge increase in the number of new companies employment opportunities and equipment sales Late late 5G in India Indias history with wireless services began early The first experimental wireless telegraphy links were demonstrated as early as 1902 However widespread use of wireless technology had to wait for 90 more years The first mobile phone service was launched in 1985 on a noncommercial basis but it was only in 1995 that commercialprivate services were started The initial subscriber growth was modest however new policy initiatives beginning 2004 spurred rapid growth with the subscriber base reaching 560 million in 2009 and well over a billion by 2017 from 10 million in 2002 The growth rate also rose to 3 times of the Chinese growth ever in a few intervening years Early deployment of mobile networks was based on 2G technology with 3G technology entering service in 2010 and 4G in 2016 All mobile services from 2G to 4G offered services based on increasingly advanced phones with smart phones arriving about a decade ago 2G and the early 3G networks primarily offered voice services but beginning with later 3G and now 4G technologies the networks provided internetbased services like video email and social media 4G technology has been a major inflexion in mobile technology with packetswitched data transmission and highspeed connectivity The 5G technologys main benefits such as high speed low latency high connection density greater reliability and high energy savings are all conducive to enable Digital India use cases such as smart cities smart manufacturing smart agriculture smart healthcare to name a few The Fifth Generation 5G mobile communication technology is a paradigm shift in the field of communications as it not only enables human to human communications but machine to machine communications in a digitally connected world with a variety of use cases There are three key use cases of 5G One of them of course is mobile broadband with very high throughput up to 20 Gbps also called enhanced Mobile Broadband eMBB This will provide substantial increase in broadband throughput over that of 4G The other two important use cases of 5G are Ultrahigh Reliable Low Latency URLLC and Massive Machine Type Communications MMTC These additional use cases result in a huge diversity of applications which cannot be supported by previous generations of the mobile technology such as 4G Significantly enhanced capabilities than those of 4G are possible in 5G These are in terms of spectral efficiency which can be as high as 30 bpsHz very low latency of less than a couple of milliseconds and very highspeed mobility support of up to 500 kmhour But the problem today is very limited market for 5G usage but very high prices for spectrum etc GOI is looking at issues around high prices of spectrum and its limited availability We faced the similar problems in 2004 but were carefully dealt with in new unified access regulations license fee and connectivity charges 5G would unleash massive machine to machine communication by connecting a large number of devices transforming many sectors such as Transport Agriculture Healthcare Power grid etc The ultralow latency and reliable communication URLLC is another capability offered by 5G enabling newer applications such as vehicle to vehicle communication remote robot assisted surgery mission critical communication augmented reality AR virtual reality VR etc Some of these for example vehicle to vehicle communication also called the V2X communication may not require high speed data access but needs extremely low latency or response time Similarly applications such as robotic surgeries require very low latency coupled with high reliability of communication Some other applications like AR or VR may not only need high speed data access but low latency communication as well In its Report titled Making India 5G Ready in August 2018 InterMinisterial High Level Forum for 5G India anticipated the start of 5G in 2020 Based on the Report the Government is creating an enabling framework for development of 5G services in India Progress is slow as many new developments have taken place and the 5G services are expected to be introduced gradually and advance to a full range of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows Indian IT technologists are far ahead of those in the world 5G can unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits giving it the potential for being a transformational force for Indian society It can help the country leapfrog the traditional barriers to development as well as advance the Digital India Mission The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India can reach one trillion USD by 2035 But the progress in development in new servicesusages is slow in India and does not match with the high anticipated fee There are apprehensions that India is set to miss the 5G bus due to lack of preparedness spectrum issues inadequate usecase development uncertainty around sale of radio waves for 5G etc Inadequate availability of spectrum high spectrum prices poor development of use cases low status of fiberization nonuniform RoW issues deficient backhaul capacity etc are some of the factors coming in the way of rolling out of 5G services in India missing the target dates in the Report Globally 118 operators in 59 countries have deployed 5G network though only China and Korea has progressed to significant commercial operation Currently the 5G network covers around 7 per cent of the world population It is expected that 20 per cent of the world population will be covered by the year 2025 Major countries where 5G technology have been launched are USA Canada UK and European Union Asia pacific countries like China Japan South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand and Philippine etc In Middle East UAE Oman Saudi Arabia Qatar Kuwait Bahrain have also launched 5G In Africa 5G has been launched in South Africa Mostly 5G has been launched partially in these countries Countries in Asia Pacific like South Korea Japan and China have witnessed sizeable growth in 5G developments and possibly they are ahead of the curve China has already developed more than 5 lakh 5G base stations covering around 78 per cent of their population Regarding status of deployment of 5G in India 5G High Level Forum has given its report titled Making India 5G Readyto the Government in August 2018 5G Hackathon had been organized and the Department have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development 30 out of 100 use cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges Even though the report of the 5G HLF has been released by the Department of Telecommunications in August 2018 minimal implementation instructions have been issued so far Spectrum issues which are at the heart of 5G are yet to be resolved The TSPs have submitted that spectrum bands for 5G are yet to be identified and made available to them The current reserve price of spectrum is one of the highest in the world which needs to be rationalized taking into account per capita income extremely low usage and reserve price benchmarks of other countries 5G trial applications have been submitted by the TSPs in the month of January 2020 however till date the guidelines for trials have not been made clear and there is no set date for commencement of these trials In the initial years the core will be 4G and the radio access network will be 5G First it will not be rolled out pan India but in selected areas where the demand would justify the Capex Sufficient preparatory work has not been undertaken for launching of 5G services in India As such India has not moved beyond the modest beginning stage as compared to other countries in the world Important point to ponder about India is while 2G was deployed globally in 1991 it was deployed in India only in 1995 3G was deployed globally in 1998 but deployed in India ten years later ie in 2008 Similarly 4G services were launched in India 7 years after their global launching in 2008 This reflects poorly on our planning and execution Now when many countries are swiftly moving towards 5G technology India is likely to witness its deployment only by early 2022 that too partially So it is very likely that after missing the 2G 3G and 4G bus India is going to miss on 5G opportunities unless timebound action is taken in core areas where Governmental intervention is required It is disappointing that the Government have hardly learnt from the past delays as the vision for 5G which was reflected in the constitution of the HLF and Expert Committees has not been transformed into action on the ground is not reflected in the policies formulated by the Government The Government are yet to take action on many of the recommendations of TRAIITU and High Powered Paulraj committee on issues which have direct bearing on 5G deployment International Telecommunication Union ITU has identified two broad spectrum ranges for 5G the frequency rangeI and frequency rangeII Frequency rangeI extends from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz and multiple frequency bands have been identified for 5G in this large range Frequency rangeII is the millimeter wave band lying between 2425 GHz and 526 GHz Around 40 countries in the world have completed allocation of 5G spectrum So far as allocation of spectrum for 5G in India is concerned TRAI on 01082018 had given their recommendation for the auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz 800 MHz 900 MHz 1800 MHz 2100 MHz 2300 MHz 2500 MHz 33003400 MHz and 34003600 MHz bands for providing mobile services Even after the lapse of more than 2 years since TRAI gave their recommendations for auctioning of spectrum the auction of 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz in the prime band for 5G is yet to be done by the Department Main problem is the reserve price which is being looked at again 5G ecosystem is currently available in three bands lower band Mid Band 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz and millimeter wave band 26 GHz and 28 GHz for 5G deployment Globally seven operators have deployed 5G in lower band 82 operators have deployed in mid band and more than 8 operators have deployed in mmWave band However India at present does not have sufficient spectrum earmarked for 5G in any of these bands Department of Space and Defence are seeking spectrum in the bands identified for 5G To make India 5G ready at the earliest the Government need to allocate at least 100 MHz per operator in 35 GHz at least 400 MHz per operator in mmWave 262837 GHz and at least 2x10 MHz per operator in each of these bands in SubGHz 600 MHz 700 MHz This is without taking into consideration the requirement of the operators in EV band In 35 GHz which is basically the mainstream spectrum for 5G almost every operator across the globe has 100 MHz However in case of India out of 300 MHz 25 MHz are required for satellite uses About 100 MHz between 33 and 34 GHz has been demanded by Defense If this is deducted only 175 MHz is available DOT is deliberating with Department of Space DoS and the Ministry of Defense MoD for making sufficient spectrum available for 5G IMT services The Department have stated that they have received very positive response and expressed the hope that the issue will be resolved With regard to mmWave spectrum the same is yet to be earmarked in India The average 4G spectrum per operator in India is around onefourth of the global average We have four times more people and four times less spectrum which means that spectrum available to one person is 116th of the global average Availability of 175 MHz only in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz band will mean that approximately 50 MHz or so spectrum per operator could be allocated which is far below the global average TRAI had recommended Rs492 crore per MHz as reserved price for spectrum in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz for 5G which is far higher than the auctioned spectrum price in other countries Comparison of unit pricing of 5G spectrum with other countries indicates that it is 07 times costlier than UK 14 times costlier than Australia 35 times costlier than Spain and 70 times costlier than Austria Price recommended by TRAI is exorbitantly high and ranges from 370 times of the market determined price of the spectrum in other countries in absolute terms and is 16 times of the price in relative terms They are of the view that there is a need to strike a balance between the Governments expectation to generate revenue from the auction and growth of the sector and the overarching impact of 5G across the sectors Department of Telecommunications had approved financial grant for multiinstitute collaborative project to set up Indigenous 5G Test Bed for building endtoend 5G Test Bed in India in March 2018 with total cost of Rs 22401 crore The Test Bed was expected to be ready by October 2020 However due to the Covid19 pandemic the work of hardware design fabrication and testing was adversely affected The test bed is likely to be set up by October 2021 The indigenous test bed is completely homegrown and it is first of its kind wherein eight leading academic and research institutes have come together to build the test bed with Government support The eight collaborative institutions are IIT Indian Institute of Technology Madras IIT Delhi IIT Hyderabad IIT Bombay IIT Kanpur IISc Bangalore Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering Research SAMEER and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology CEWiT Indias effort is unique with special focus on setting up a Test Bed that will be utilized by academic industry telecom operators and startups to develop solutions and use cases which can be India specific The Test Bed is going to raise Indias visibility in the global forums and standardization bodies 5G Test Bed project is focused on developing IPRs in the country in 5G technology Some of the IPRs generated by this project can also be utilized for product development for the Defence sector of the country It is expected that technology spinoffs from this Test Bed will enable Indian industry and startups to enter the Indian and global markets for 5G telecom equipment thus addressing a critical gap in our economic and security prospects China has been working on use case labs for last two years and claim to have more than 100 use cases for 5G which have been built through initiatives from Government academia operators and industry verticals On the contrary India does not have any applications or Use Cases which are ready to promote business case and capex investment by operators Coordinated Government actions are required for enabling digital transformation across sectors DoT is working with different MinistriesDepartments for setting up of India specific Use Case in education healthcare agriculture public safety fintech etc So far Institute of Development and Research in Banking Technology IDRT an institute under RBI in collaboration of Department of Financial Services has come forward for setting up of 5G use case lab in Banking and Financial Services and Insurance BFSI The Department are also presently working with Food Safety and Standard Authority of India for setting up of use case lab in food safety certification and Ministry of Health AIIMS Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for setting up of use cases in respective domains To develop more use cases the Department have organized 5G Hackathon and have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development Out of these 30 Use Cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges Government have allowed all applications for 5G trials in limited areas and for a limited time to test potential 5G India specific use cases based on enhanced Mobile Broadband eMBB Massive Machine Type Communications MMTC and Ulrtra Reliable Low Latency Communications URLLC in isolation on noncommercial basis subject to strict safeguards The Department have received 16 applications for 5G trials using imported as well as indigenous technologies 5G trials were likely to be started in 23 months DoT have issued guidelines for assignment of spectrum for trials across all available spectrum bands on a nominal fee of Rs 5000 Guidelines for experimental spectrum has also been issued An InterMinisterial Committee has been constituted under Member Technology in the Department of Telecommunications for monitoring and evaluation of 5G technology trials With regard to Indian entitiesTSPs that have been issued experimental license the Department have informed that so far one experimental radiating license for 5G Test Bed at IIT Delhi has been issued on 20042018 with 3 months validity and 5G field trials have not yet been permitted Enhanced Mobile Broadband EMBB Industry 40 is the main driver for 5G Industry 40 is mooted in the concept of advanced manufacturing also called Smart Manufacturing Industry 40 based solutions enable better interoperability more flexible industrial processes and autonomous and intelligent manufacturing Many countries in the world like USA Germany UK and Australia have allocated 5G spectrum for industrial development For example in Germany Mercedes is setting up a factory entirely based on 5G termed as Factory 56 Many countries are setting aside spectrum and laying out policies for industrial growth using 5G Not only industry captive users of mobile wireless communications are industries police paramilitary fire forest and mining municipal corporations and public utilities as well as critical infrastructure services like Railways Metros Airports Sea Ports Refineries Highways etc Industry 40 will be one of the main drivers of 5G in days to come However the present licensing policy is not conducive to the growth of Industry 40 The manufacturing industrys choice and decision to come to India is heavily dependent on how quickly the Government of India can go ahead and allocate spectrum for 5Gdriven industry The issues relating to licensing and allocation of spectrum for Industry 40 need to be properly streamlined to attract the manufacturing industry to set up their base here and also to reap the full benefits of 5G in industry Fear of 5G deployments in China Many reports overstate the extent of Chinese 5G deployment for several reasons Chinese governments push to accelerate user migration to 5G through measures such as package upgrade offer and credit purchases etc Service providers then start encouraging customers to upgrade to 5G subscriptions regardless of their actual need use or device Some companies reduce 5G subscription prices so much they are even cheaper than staying on a 4G plan With all of Chinas big telcos slashing 5G package prices in the past few months it could well be that customers are being drawn in more by attractive tariffs than by a desire to get their hands on the latest hardware and its related capabilities Chinese telecom providers listed 9 million 5G users in October 2019 a month prior to its actual activation ITIF report suggests that by counting anyone on a 5G planeven if they only have a 4G device connecting to 4G infrastructureas a 5G subscriber and measuring individual base stations instead of cell sites Chinas 5G stats paint a misleading picture Consider that China Telecom and China Mobile the two largest operators in China reported 150 million 5G package customers as of September 2020 But according to Chinas Academy for Information and Communications Technology only 94 million 5G devices had been shipped for all of China during the same time frame indicating a sizable gap between the number of subscribers and actual 5G users The discrepancy may be due largely to terminology 5G package customers is a blanket term often used by Chinese carriers to refer to anyone on a 5G subscription regardless of whether they actually have a 5G device or access to a 5G network China Mobile acknowledges that they count anyone who has subscribed to 5G tariff plans as a 5G customer The number of 5Gcapable devices alone is impressive and the competitive threat from China justifies a thoughtful policy response but no one should be worked into a panic by goosed stats Deployment figures are often further mischaracterized because of the way Chinese operators sometimes count each spectrum band as a separate logical base station instead of actual pieces of equipment Just like how a WiFi router can work on different spectrum generally 24 GHz and 5 GHz a mobile base station can operate on multiple spectrum bands American carriers would generally count a multispectrum base station as at most one piece of equipment But some Chinese reporting apparently treats each individual spectrum band a base station supports as a different logical site A representative from Huawei explained that a China Unicom base station supports GSM 900 GSM 1800 WCDMA 2100 and LTE Most of the equipment is deployed in the same room at one physical site but there are four bands so there are four logical sites As a result Chinese numbers could easily be misrepresented as three to four times higher compared with how other operators tend to count equipment Slow and steady may win the race India won the race in 2G growth after 2010 Comparison with Chinese growth ever Whereas the United States is pursuing a gradual economical deployment of 5G the problems with Chinas rushed 5G deployments are already starting to show One of Huaweis own executives went so far as to call Chinas 5G fake dumb and poor mostly due to poor integration with the 4G network Another former official warned in a recent speech that Chinas 5G push could become a failed investment While China is no doubt investing substantially in the expansion of its 5G network including by pressuring its stateowned carriers to invest faster than the market demands Chinese figures must be properly scrutinized when using them to make USother country policy decisions National Strategy of 5G 5G will be a key driver of our Nations prosperity and security in the new age economy towards which we are progressing fast It will provide consumers businesses and governments with remarkably fast network connections that will enable tens of billions of new devices to harness the power of the Internet transforming the way we live work learn and communicate Whole of government and industry led approach should be launched for faster rollout with demonstrable use cases Spectrum cost should be rationalized to remove the artificial cost barrier Indigenous and demonstrable use cases are the backbone of 5G because that will create the new economy Indian government has to finalise the list of industries where it needs to achieve indigenous technological innovations and handhold them for a profitable start Pradip Baijal is former Chairman TRAI and has authored many books on Indian reforms IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ahead-in-the-gdp-race-usa-or-china-123274.html Thu, 06 May 2021 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/aus-treasurer-encouraged-by-drop-in-welfare-recipients-122284.html Canberra May 3 Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Monday defended the decision to end the governments coronavirus wage subsidy scheme after thousands of people came off welfare in April According to data released by The Australian on Monday 93000 citizens came off welfare in April after the JobKeeper scheme which was introduced to stimulate the economy during coronavirus lockdowns ended in March reports Xinhua news agency The data defies warnings from economists that ending JobKeeper would cause a spike in Australias unemployment rate which was 56 per cent in March compared to Treasury estimates in December that it would be 75 per cent It means the scheme will cost the government about A88 billion compared to the about A101 billion estimated in the federal budget for 202021 Ending JobKeeper was the right decision for the economy for the labour market and the budget Frydenberg told The Australian While this is encouraging there is still much to do Frydenberg will unveil the federal budget for financial year 202122 on May 11 having previously announced it will focus on driving unemployment below 5 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/aus-treasurer-encouraged-by-drop-in-welfare-recipients-122284.html Mon, 03 May 2021 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/kotkapura-incident-hc-quashes-probe-report-directs-punjab-to-reconstitute-sit-119600.html Court comes down heavily on SIT member Kunwar Vijay Pratap says he acted with malafide intention DW BUREAU Chandigarh The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the investigation conducted by SIT member Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh in connection with the police firing in Kotkapura and the consequent chargesheet filed by him observing that the petitioners have amply substantiated that he acted with âœpersonal malice and malafide intention in furtherance of an extraneous agendaâ In a 89page order Justice Rajbir Sehrawat has also directed the Punjab Government to constitute an SIT of three senior IPS officers from Punjab which shall not include Kunwar Vijay Pratap Coming down heavily on the probe conducted by the former IPS officer who took voluntary retirement a day after the HC order came on April 9 the Court said that having considered the material on record of these petitions and arguments of the counsels the court finds that the Respondent No 3 Kunwar Vijay Pratap conducted the investigation in a âœperfunctory mannerâ The report under Section 173 CrPC filed by him is more in the nature of a âœhypothesis proposed by the Respondent No 3 based on his assumptions and fantasies than being based on material or evidenceâ Passing the orders in connection with two petitions filed by Gurdeep Singh and Rashpal Singh versus the State of Punjab and others the Court observed that it also finds substance in the submission made by the petitioners that to make Kunwar Vijay Pratap as sole incharge of the investigation so taht he could bulldoze the entire process of the investigation the composition of the SIT was changed by making him as head of a subteam investigating these FIRs There is nothing on record to show that Prabodh Kumar the earlier SIT chairman ever refused to continue to head the SIT or that the other senior IPS officer made any request to recuse himself from the SIT Moreover an adverse inference has to be drawn on the issue and it has to be taken as correct that the other SIT members were not agreeing with the functioning of Kunwar Vijay Pratap because of his autocratic style and bulldozing manner in functioning There is nothing in the challan or otherwise on record to show that the other members of the SIT had ever approved the said challan before being filed or they had ever authorised the respondent No 3 to file the same on behalf of the SIT The HC further said that the investigation carried out by Kunwar Vijay Pratap was not free from blemish His personal malice and malafide functioning by totally usurping the powers of SIT constituted in the first instance has been duly demonstrated on record The petitioners have also been successful in showing that the respondent No 3 has gone to the extent of âœmanufacturing the statements of witnesses to suit his designs by recording differing statements of same witnesses in these two FIRs with convenient omission in their statementsâ The HC said that the political interest of the current dispensation in the State qua the investigation and the political theatrics of the Respondent No 3 during the instant investigation by going to media and by repeatedly highlighting allegations against the outgoing politicians without filing challan against them intended to create a narrative in favour of one political party and against the other party during the election process has duly been established as per the record âœPublic pressure to get the alleged erring police officials convicted also appears to have been adversely affected the fairness of the investigation As a result the fairness of investigation stands vitiatedâ The HC in its order has observed that the investigation conducted by the Respondent No 3 also suffers from malice irrationality and absurdity âœHence this court is of the considered opinion that this one of the rare cases where the court is under duty to step in to prevent miscarriage of justice instil confidence in the investigation and also to preempt the misuse of the process of the court by quashing the investigation and the consequent report under section 173 CrPC filed in these two cases while leaving the state to fairly investigate the two cases againâ it added In view of the above the Court said that the investigation conducted by the respondent No 3 in FIR No 129 dated 782018 and FIR NO 192 dated 14102015 both of Police Station City Kotkapura and the consequent chargesheet filed by him are liable to be quashed The Court further observed that what could have been a simple investigation of a crime committed either by the protestors or by the police or by both have been made to fester and convert itself to a quagmire wherein every concerned person finds himself entrapped This has resulted from a dangerous mixing of religion politics and the police administration because of which the aggrieved persons whether it be the police persons or the injured from the protestors must be finding themselves to be cheated and endlessly waiting for real justice To ensure fairness and impartiality the Court said that the investigation deserves to be conducted by an independent team of senior police officers by being totally free from all kinds of internal and external extraneous pressures and interference Accordingly it ordered that âœthe investigation of the cases involved in the present petitions is ordered to be conducted by an SIT of senior police officers which is hereby conferred a status of senior most rank for the purpose of section 36 of CrPC and which is ordered to be constituted by the State with the following directionsâ The Court ordered that the State Government shall constitute an SIT of three senior IPS officers from the state of Punjab which shall not include the respondent No 3 and which shall include at lease one officer senior to the respondent No 3 in rank and designation to conduct the investigation in the FIR involved in the present petitions â FIR No 192 and FIR No 129 The HC Judge had directed that there shall be no interference from any quarter internal or external with this SIT qua the investigation âœThe SIT shall not report to any State executive or police authority qua the investigation in question It shall report only to the concerned magistrate in accordance with lawâ âœThe SIT so constituted shall work jointly All the members of the SIT shall put their signatures on all the proceedings of the investigation as a mark of the fact that they have agreed to the said investigation Once constituted that SIT shall not be changed by the State Government except in case of retirement incapacity or death of the officer concernedâ the court ordered The Court further directed that the final report of the investigation shall be filed jointly as a team under signatures of all the members of the SIT who shall also be cited as witness in the list as the investigating officers âœThe investigation of these FIRs shall be concluded as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of six months from the date of constitution of the new SITâ the HC observed DAILY WORLD https://dailyworld.in/opinion/kotkapura-incident-hc-quashes-probe-report-directs-punjab-to-reconstitute-sit-119600.html Fri, 23 Apr 2021 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/who-funds-paks-purchase-of-western-military-equipment-116708.html Hong Kong Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam center poses with other officials before a press conference in Hong Kong Tuesday April 13 2021 Lam said Tuesday that Hong Kongs legislative elections would take place in December more than a year after they were postponed last year with authorities citing public health risks from the coronavirus pandemic PTI By Binay Kumar Singh New Delhi April 13 A third world country that is on the brink of economic implosion living on IMF loans and unable to guarantee the necessities of life to its people is still procuring military equipment from some of the most advanced nations in the world A country which has been kept on the FATF grey list yet again and regularly signs dubious deals with proscribed organisations and faces strictures by the UK High Court with millions being debited from the bankrupt nations accounts due to the aforementioned shady deals A country whose foreign exchange reserves stand as on date at only 13 billion barely adequate for two months imports No prizes to guess the right answer its a state where the Army has a nation Pakistan The situation has been further exacerbated by the Covid19 pandemic Ayesha Siddiqa a noted Pakistani author and defence expert states before the pandemic Pakistan was already burdened by an external debt of about 112 billion Today it is facing the additional challenge of feeding some 25 million poor families that can no longer make a living due to Covid19 Moreover the country saw a 30 per cent reduction in tax revenue due to the governments incompetence and decreased spending caused by the coronavirus lockdown Or as Tara Kartha a former Indian National Security Council member blithely states An Army that drives its posh SUVs oiled by Chinese money is bad news whether in Mandarin Punjabi or English In such a situation the leaders of Pakistan should have focussed on the economy and growth However Ayesha Siddiqa brings out in comparison with the spending on the pandemic caused by the pandemic the Government did not focus on the economy Islamabad allocated 785 billion for defence and merely 151 million for health in the budget for the financial year 20202021 This represents a 12 per cent rise in Pakistans defence spending compared with the last financial year Should we be surprised Actually no Adm Zafar Mahmood Abassi Pakistans Chief of Naval Staff till October 2020 had painted his vision to transform the Pakistan Navy Ina televised address to the nation on October 7 2020 he spoke about three pillars of his approach a enhancing combat readiness b jumpstarting the maritime economy and c reinvigorating the ideological domain Whilst the third facet of his address should worry the friends of Pakistan and the new Biden administration the recent steps to procure stateoftheart military hardware indicates the operationalisation of Admiral Abassis plan So buy highend military equipment it does The Pakistan Navy buys passenger aircraft from Brazil through a third party deal and then gets them modified for military purposes in another EU country it is attempting to procure German engines for its new Chinese submarines as it finds the Chinese engines too noisy it is procuring ten lowlevel air search radars from Italy it is also buying Italian torpedoes once again for its Chinese built submarines Obviously it finds the Chinese torpedoes unreliable According to a report by the Italian Government Pakistan has become the second largest arms importer from Italy This by itself is quite normal as the Pakistan Armed Forces have always looked at key procurements especially of force multipliers to retain their edge over the vastly superior Indian forces The list is quite endless and begets the question how does a country which is mired in debt and whose friends including the UAE are seeking a return of their loan buying such equipment Another important facet is that  as the larger comity of nations is now coming together against a Revisionist China the Chinese are using their rentier state  Pakistan to procure highend technology from across the world in order to reverse engineer the same and induct it for the PLA forces Otherwise there is no way to explain these costly procurements in foreign exchange from Western sources without any financial aid Tara Kartha alludes all of this is being powered by Chinese money Which means that Beijing has just bought itself an army with a State attached It is also within the realm of possibility that the Chinese soft loans amounting to over 5 billion given ostensibly to fund the four Type054A and eight submarines purchased from Chinese shipyards also includes a covert tranche for foreign purchases Was this also a part of the MoU that was signed in December 2020 by the Chinese and the Pakistanis amidst tensions with India To convince the diehard fans of Pakistan let me provide some more examples of the Pakistani dedication for sharing sensitive Western technology and intellectual property with the Chinese The recent report by HI Sutton in Forbes based on satellite imagery of an Agosta90B berthed between two CCP Navy ships during their visit to Karachi in January 2020 and he states sic This berth of Agosta90B was not in the Pakistani Navys usual berths but in a cordonedoff part of the commercial docks The placement of the Pakistani Navy submarine cannot be viewed as coincidental Readers may also recall the admission by the former PM Nawaz Sharif who in Oct 2020 stated that the Pakistanis had shared a Tomahawk missile found in Balochistan with their ironbrother China in 1990s which in turn assisted Pakistan to develop the Babur cruise missile Thus the Biden administration and other governments in the EU should remember that a hand of friendship extended to the Pakistanis along with Aid and an assurance to take Pakistan of the FATF grey List in June 2021 may lead to key defence technologies being delivered on a platter to the Xi Jingping and the CCP Armed Forces Binay Kumar Singh is an author and columnist He can be reached at Twitter BinayBharat The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/who-funds-paks-purchase-of-western-military-equipment-116708.html Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/who-came-first-the-wet-market-or-the-virus-lab-114043.html By Kal K Korff Geneva Switzerland As far as WHO is concerned all hypotheses re SARSCoV2âs origins remain on the table This report is a very important beginning but it is not the end We have not yet found the source of the virus and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we doâ said WHO DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in both written and spoken remarks to the global press after his agency released their first Origins of the SARSCoV2 Virus report Citing not only the essential need for but also openly pushing for further studies Dr Ghebreyesus emphasized âœFinding the origin of a virus takes time and we owe it to the world to find the source so we can collectively take steps to reduce the risk of this happening again No single research trip can provide all the answersâ Obviously whenever any pandemic occurs understanding its origins is vital not only for containing and defeating it but most important to prevent future outbreaks While one can never know what one cannot possibly know where it concerns definitively determining the origins of the SARSCoV2 virus the WHOâs report makes it clear that a more indepth investigation is not only urgent it is crucial if the world is to learn the relevant lessons that it should executing actions that it must Red Shadows Historically speaking pandemics have never been free nor very far from politics During World WarI the Spanish Influenza or âSpanish Fluâ erupted it is estimated to have killed 50100 million people It was nicknamed the Spanish Flu only because the media in Spain were not restricted by wartime censors and finally started reporting on the true scale and lethality of this crisis instead of helping continue to hide this deadly secret from the public In China politics are first and paramount for there is only one political party the Chinese Communist Party CCP Daily life in China is politicized for all citizens The CCP has absolute authority its dictatorforlife literally Xi Jinping is not only guilty of some of the worldâs worst human rights abuses when he isnât busy destroying Christian churches organ harvesting and locking up millions of Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps Xi Jinping has purged andor imprisoned millions of his opponents countless Chinese citizens and even fellow members of his own Communist Party â all to create his emerging worldâs greatest super utopia replete with its own âœSocial Creditâ system As previously reported in Daily World Xi Jinpingâs regime has openly declared its goals of becoming the worldâs only eventual superpower displacing the United States How it is busy gleefully achieving his goals of literal world dominance which includes conquering Taiwan and Hong Kong his Silk Road initiative to which Iran is now its latest signatory partner becoming selfsufficient and the most powerful socialeconomic power they are all part of his formally declared 2020 2025 and 2050 Plans These and other problems and issues inherent in any dictatorship let alone the peculiar hybrid one that China implements today which is really TotalitarianCapitalism rather than pure Communism these considerations are relevant because they determined how China âhandledâ the pandemic by literally covering it up and downplaying its severity The CCPâs continuing âœcoverupâ remains a problem for scientists from around the world Not only did the CCP order all early samples of the SARSCoV2 which were collected to be âœdestroyedâ all samples that have survived from the earliest times still have not been shared with WHO investigators There is no moral nor scientific âexcuseâ for this Going forward the CCP remains the chief obstacle impeding genuine progress in the WHOâs investigation Origins Where it concerns determining the real origins of SARSCoV2 the only evidence ever officially offered to the world that the âœGround Zeroâ location where the virus outbreak started was at the Huanan Seafood Market HSM in the city of Wuhan located less than 300 meters 328 yards from the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention comes courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party On January 1 2020 the CCP not only raided the HSM it made a very public showing of shuttering it quickly declaring that this was the origin location since several people tested positive for SARSCoV2 who had been to this market As the world now knows the CCP initially downplayed and outright denied reports of deadly humantohuman transmission The new WHO report provides further evidence that the HSM was not âœthe sourceâ as China claimed but instead was just one of many Put another way the HSM was a contagion spreading point it was not truly Ground Zero as was hyped As the WHO notes âœThe animal and environment working group reviewed existing knowledge on corona viruses that are phylogenetically related to SARSCoV2 identified in different animals including horseshoe bats Rhinolophus spp and pangolins However the presence of SARSCoV2 has not been detected through sampling and testing of bats or of wildlife across China More than 80000 wildlife livestock and poultry samples were collected from 31 provinces in China and no positive result was identified for SARSCoV2 antibody or nucleic acid before and after the SARSCoV2 outbreak in China Through extensive testing of animal products in the Huanan market no evidence of animal infections was foundââ âœMany of the early cases were associated with the Huanan market but a similar number of cases were associated with other markets and some were not associated with any markets Transmission within the wider community in December could account for cases not associated with the Huanan market which together with the presence of early cases not associated with that market could suggest that the Huanan market was not the original source of the outbreak ââœOther milder cases that were not identified however could provide the link between the Huanan Market and early cases without an apparent link to the market No firm conclusion therefore about the role of the Huanan Market can be drawnâ From Market To Lab Since the new official WHO report makes it clear that the Huanan Seafood Market is not the type of culprit that the CCP made a point to persistently claim that it was what about the Lab hypothesis Just what exactly is it and how viable does it remain as a candidate for being the ultimate source of the outbreak in Wuhan The Lab theory exists in different forms One version of it is that the SARSCoV2 was deliberately engineered using what is called Gain of Function GoF research GoF is the systematic or iterative modification of a virus so that over time it âœgains functionalityâ or becomes more adaptive or deadly depending on its composition and oneâs intent GoF is one of the âœHoly Grailsâ of genetic new frontier sciences Along with Gene Editing the Communist Chinese Party has been pushing to be the world leader on these two fronts for years now along with Artificial Intelligence and semiconductor designs and manufacturing Advocates of the GoF theory argue that based on the mutations they are observing of the SARSCoV2 it is becoming increasingly efficient in mastering how it spreads and even in how deadly it can be to its victims instead of becoming less virulent GoF Alarms Gain Of Function alarms went off when scientists realized how easy this process was to do This took place during the Obama administration where a moratorium on it was largely established while a year was allocated to study the ramifications of GoF more carefully then enact policy recommendations to handle this panacea responsibly After further diligence following this comprehensive review this key conclusion was made on January 7 2016 in a presentation by its Chief Investigator For the coronaviruses â Wild type strains are insufficiently transmissible and sufficiently susceptible to public health control measures such that a global pandemic has a minimal chance of occurring Increasing transmissibility can significantly increase risk of a global pandemic Need a modest increase for SARSCoV or a significant increase for MERSCoVâ As the WHO report confirms âœCertain gainoffunction studies with the potential to enhance the pathogenicity or transmissibility of potential pandemic pathogens PPPs have raised biosafety and biosecurity concerns including the potential dual use risks associated with the misuse of the information or products resulting from such research âœOn October 16 2014 the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced the launch of the US Government USG gainoffunction GOF deliberative process to reevaluate the potential risks and benefits associated with certain GOF experiments During this process the USG paused the release of federal funding for GOF studies anticipated to enhance the pathogenicity or transmissibility among mammals by respiratory droplets of influenza MERS or SARS viruses âœThe NSABB served as the official federal advisory body on the GOF issue and was tasked with providing recommendations to the USG on a conceptual approach for evaluating proposed GOF research The NSABB finalized its recommendations on May 24 2016 The US Government considered the NSABBâs findings and recommendations during the development of policy on gainoffunction research In January 2017 the US Government released policy guidance for the review and oversight of research anticipated to create transfer or use enhanced PPPs safety measures There you have it folks Corona viruses are not only easily to manipulate they need only a âœmodestâ increase Arguments for Lab Leak The WHO notes in their report that âœAlthough rare laboratory accidents do happen and different laboratories around the world are working with bat CoVs When working in particular with virus cultures but also with animal inoculations or clinical samples humans could become infected in laboratories with limited biosafety poor laboratory management practice or following negligence The closest known CoV RaTG13 strain 962 to SARSCoV2 detected in bat anal swabs have been sequenced at the Wuhan Institute of Virology The Wuhan CDC laboratory moved on 2nd December 2019 to a new location near the Huanan market Such moves can be disruptive for the operations of any laboratory The WHO reports also posits an argument against a lab leak by saying âœThe closest relatives of SARSCoV2 from bats and pangolin are evolutionarily distant from SARS CoV2 There has been speculation regarding the presence of human ACE2 receptor binding and a furincleavage site in SARSCoV2 but both have been found in animal viruses as well and elements of the furincleavage site are present in RmYN02 and the new Thailand bat SARSrCoV There is no record of viruses closely related to SARSCoV2 in any laboratory before December 2019 or genomes that in combination could provide a SARSCoV2 genome Regarding accidental culture prior to December 2019 there is no evidence of circulation of SARSCoV2 among people globally and the surveillance programme in place was limited regarding the number of samples processed and therefore the risk of accidental culturing SARSCoV2 in the laboratory is extremely low The three laboratories in Wuhan working with either CoVs diagnostics andor CoVs isolation and vaccine development all had high quality biosafety level BSL3 or 4 facilities that were wellmanaged with a staff health monitoring programme with no reporting of COVID19 compatible respiratory illness during the weeksmonths prior to December 2019 and no serological evidence of infection in workers through SARSCoV2specific serologyscreening The Wuhan CDC lab which moved on 2nd December 2019 reported no disruptions or incidents caused by the move They also reported no storage nor laboratory activities on CoVs or other bat viruses preceding the outbreakâ The key word here is âœreportedâ for if no one either knew of any inadvertent leak due to the move or if there was dual use going on or the involvement of the Chinese military there would be no records for WHO investigators to review Not only have all personnel who might have been âœthereâ not been accounted for all of the transparent data required to settle this issue one way or another is not being provided by the CCP as of this reporting The WHO has confirmed this NIH Assessment Another key conclusion in the final Obama era assessment was âœA modified strain of influenza virus that is as transmissible as a pandemic strain AND causes a disease with a case fatality rate of 5 or more would pose more risk of a global pandemic than any wild type strain heretofore identified No experiments likely to be conducted under the rubric of GoF research will drive risk more than this combination of phenotypes All other combinations of traits would lead to a pathogen that has a less total global risk than the wild type 1918 pandemic influenza strain Increasing the transmissibility of the coronaviruses while increasing risk compared to wild type strains of those viruses creates pathogens that pose no more risk of a global pandemic than the 1918 influenza strainâ As the WHO now prepares for the second round of its investigations it will focus on two key areas follow up more leads on possible lab origins whether by design or accident while also exploring food chain sources in other parts of China By genetic studies of mutations the true origins of this global pandemic may very well be found DAILY WORLD https://dailyworld.in/opinion/who-came-first-the-wet-market-or-the-virus-lab-114043.html Sun, 04 Apr 2021 07:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ut-police-bust-gang-involved-in-job-scam-114048.html Isha Upadhyay  ChandigarhThe Chandigarh Police claimed to have busted a fraudster gang which was allegedly involved in cheating innocent persons by alluring them to provide jobs in Chandigarh Haryana and Punjab and had taken money from them by giving fake joining letters ID cards the police said on SaturdayAccording to the complainant he came into contact with the alleged person and they gang allured him to provide the job of Forest Guard Complainant along with his friend has given Rs 2 Lakh to them and they gave a joining letter to the complainant the police saidLater on he verified from the concerned department but there was no vacancy found in the Forest Department Thus he came to know that the alleged have duped them by providing fake joining letter and taking money from them He further stated that alleged persons on Saturday called them at ISBT43 to give ID card of Forest Guard The team succeeded in nabbing 3 accused Balbir Singh 45 Gopal Singh 35 and Manoj 41  from ISBT43 ChandigarhA special team under the supervision of Shruti Arora ASPSouth  led by Inspector Maninder Singh SHO36 was constituted to apprehend the said fake job networkgangDuring interrogation the police said that it was revealed that the accused in connivance with each other are allegedly operating a gang who are duping the innocent people on the false pretext of providing them a job and taking money from them The police claimed that the accused also admitted that they used to scan and prepare the fake documents in a laptop at their stations at Mansa and other places A mobile was also recovered from their possession in which the scanned PDF file of the said joining letter was present which was sent by accused Balbir Singh to his associate Gopal Singh who used to take printout of the same and give to their clients Some fake documents of different departments have also been recovered from them All accused were produced before the Court on Saturday and obtained two days police remand to ascertain their networkassociates and their further activities if any  Daily World    00000000000044c05c05bf1cc33c https://dailyworld.in/opinion/ut-police-bust-gang-involved-in-job-scam-114048.html Sun, 04 Apr 2021 08:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/121-convicts-serving-in-punjab-police-policy-on-anvil-to-send-many-of-them-packing-112680.html Manish Tiwari Chandigarh After the Punjab and Haryana High Court coming down heavily on the Punjab government for allowing convicted police officers to continue in service some at sensitive positions the State police have prepared a list of 121 convicted officers including two AIGSSPrank officers and two DSPs and initiated the process to weed several of them out from their jobs Besides the four gazetted police officers who have been serving in the police department despite being convicted in different cases there are about 88 constables 15 head constables 11 ASIs and four SIs and inspectors Sources told Daily World on Sunday that the policy will soon be finalised with regard to action to be taken in those cases where the police officers have been convicted A committee comprising ACS Home Anurag Aggarwal former CRPF Director General AS Gill DGP Provisioning Modernisation Prabodh Kumar held a meeting last week and is likely to meet again to formulate the policy in view of the directions issued by the HC At present the discussions are at a preliminary stage However the Committee will be finalising the policy so that the competent authority can look at each case on merit by taking into account gravity of the charge against each convicted police officer and take a final call The State police could show many officials the door where they have been convicted on charges of corruption murder involvement in drug cases and escape of accused from police custody the sources added Police records show that as many as 33 police officials stand convicted by various courts in connection with escape from custody cases 7 NDPS cases 4 under Prevention of Corruption Act one murder and one case of firing on a senior officer However there are a large number of police officers who have been convicted in connection with quarrel cases 27 fraud 10 accident case 8 in line of duty 8 illegal detention 6 dowry 3 lost cartridges and incidents happening with service revolver 3 non appearance in court 2 inept investigation case 1 cheating 2 extortion by threat 1 Excise Act 1 case of making obscene gesture 1 abetment to suicide 1 and public servant framing incorrect record 1 A committee member informed Daily World that once the policy is finalized it would help the competent authority to arrive at suitable conclusions in dealing with each case of convicted officials It may be mentioned that while hearing a petition filed by a dismissed Punjab police official Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal in his order dated March 15 had taken a serious view of the convicted officers serving in the department and observed that âœthe government cannot act like an absolute despot at its whims and fancies by patronising certain officers while imparting a stepmotherly treatment to othersâ The HCâs observations came after the dismissed cop in his petition alleged that there were several police officers facing serious charges and some of them had been convicted but they were continuing in service The HC further ordered that till a final report is submitted by the Committee such officers shall not be assigned investigation either as investigating officer or in a supervisory capacity and will not be posted in the vigilance bureau pending a final decision is taken by the committee They shall also not be posted in the district where their criminal case is being tried the order added Following the HC directions the State Government recently shifted a convicted police officer Rajinder Singh Sohal from the post of SSP of Gurdaspur 7 SSP posts as noncadre posts in Punjab Chandigarh While the posting of PPS officers as SSPs of various districts in Punjab has remained a contentious issue for a long time it is learnt that the State Government has notified as many as seven districts as noncadre posts where PPS officers can be posted as district police chiefs Sources said it was not clear yet as to which were the districts where the SSP posts have been notified as noncadre posts It may be mentioned that the Punjab Government will file an affidavit on this issue in view of the directions from the High Court to explain why PPS officers have been posted as SSPs of several districts on IPS cadre posts The court has impleaded the Union Government as a party in the case observing that there were several other PPS officers who have been posted as SSPs of various districts in violation of the IPS cadre rules 1954 DW Bureau email manishdailyworldin https://dailyworld.in/opinion/121-convicts-serving-in-punjab-police-policy-on-anvil-to-send-many-of-them-packing-112680.html Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/miffed-at-graft-allegations-punjab-dgp-puts-a-stop-at-shifting-of-personal-staff-with-senior-cops-112681.html Manish Tiwari Chandigarh Taking a serious view of the mounting allegations of corruption in the Punjab police especially at the district and commissionerate level Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta has directed all Commissioners of Police IGs and DIGs Ranges SSPs and Commandants to put their acts together and ensure that such practices are stopped forthwith Sources informed Daily World that the DGP has been miffed at the increasing corruption charges against police officers and has flagged his concern over the misconduct of some of the personal staff especially Reader staff attached with the senior officers He has told the senior police brass that such allegations lower the image of the government and the State police and will not be tolerated at any cost the sources added It may be mentioned that there has been a spurt in the number of allegations of corruption against police officers and their personal staff largely at the district and commissionerate level at a time when the Capt Amarinder Singh government has been striving to pursue its agenda of âœgood governanceâ Ever since his government was formed the Chief Minister has been very particular to ensure that nobody is allowed to sully the image of the government by such allegations and has given clear instructions to the top brass to ensure that the acts of corruption are firmly dealt with at all levels What has alarmed the Government and made it take the matter so seriously is the intelligence inputs and regular feedback from the ground that some officers are reportedly indulging in acts of corruption and misconduct causing a major dent to the image of the State Government Sources said that the DGP has been rather peeved over the practice of some CPs and SSPs taking their favourite police officers including DSPs SHOs incharge of CIA as well as their personal staff along with them from one district to another and from one place of posting to another A senior government officer said that the allegations of corruption against such staff and police officers have come to the notice of the State DGP and he has maintained that not only the image of the government and the police department is taking a beating but such charges are even tarnishing the image of the senior police officers who have been taking along their personal staff from one place of posting to another Directing the heads of police wings and senior officers in the field including the commissioners of police IGs DIGs SSPs and commandants to ensure that such practices are stopped immediately the DGP has also instructed to the administrationheadquarters wing of the Punjab police not to allow any request made by the senior officers regarding taking personal staff from one place of posting to another Gupta said the sources has told the top police brass that in future any request to take along the personal staff by senior officers would need to have approval at the level of the DGP It may be mentioned that the Punjab police recently drew flak when the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Government that police officers who have been chargesheeted or convicted in a criminal case shall not work at a public dealing post Hearing a petition filed by a dismissed Punjab police official Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal in an order dated March 15 said that the Punjab government cannot act like an absolute despot at its whims and fancies by patronising certain officers while giving a stepmotherly treatment to others The dismissed cop in his petition had alleged that there were several police officers facing serious charges and some of them had been convicted but they were continuing in service A few days ago the State Government had to shift SSP of Gurdaspur Rajinder Singh Sohal who stands convicted in a criminal case after the High Court observed that âœcontinuation of such an officer at the post of SSP who is the district head of the police force would erode the confidence of the people in the police administration apart from being an affront to the rule of law Therefore the competent authority should consider transferring him from the post forthwithâ https://dailyworld.in/opinion/miffed-at-graft-allegations-punjab-dgp-puts-a-stop-at-shifting-of-personal-staff-with-senior-cops-112681.html Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bangladeshs-twitter-fb-war-with-pak-ahead-of-modi-visit-111540.html By Ayesha Zaman Shimu Dhaka March 24 A fierce social media war has erupted between proLiberation Bangladeshis and the Pakistanis resenting Bangladeshs much vaunted progress and growing relations with India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the country Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence on March 26 the day in 1971 when Pakistans brutal army started Operation Searchlight a genocidal campaign to stamp out the Bengali revolt for Independence Islamist radical groups like Hifazat have threatened to block Modis entry into Dhaka city from the airport prompting furious security preparations by Bangladesh security forces Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered tough action against anyone trying to disrupt Modis visit Modis visit is significant because it comes at a time when bilateral relations have peaked despite occasional hiccups There is also promise of mutual growth on the horizon with a latest World Bank report suggesting that India and Bangladesh can augment their national incomes by 8 to 10 per cent in a few years if the two neighbours can ensure seamless transport connectivity The visit also comes at a time when Bangladesh has achieved Developing Nation status up from Least Developed Country LDC category The UN citation announcing that upgrade is a testimony to Bangladeshs success in national building through practice of moderate Islam tolerance of other religions abiding faith in liberal Bengali culture and its syncretic traditions and focus on economic growth and human development This is stark contrast to Pakistans slide in economy and society with analysts across the world suggesting it has all the bearings of a failed state And all because of the Pakistani state and its powerful armys obsession in using terrorism as an instrument of national policy and its lopsided defence spending at the cost of neglect for infrastructure and social sector investments The Twitter war has been sparked by some Bangladeshi radicals backing the HifazateIslams announcement to stop Modi from entering Dhaka Proliberation forces who express gratitude to India for its role in Bangladeshs liberation promptly denounced the Hifazat move as an evil ploy by Pakistani intelligence ISI to disrupt not only Modis visit but also the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladeshs independence They also attacked HifazatKhilafat leaders as powerhungry and traders of religion Some tweets and Facebook posts also showcased Bangladeshs economic and human development achievements cited in top global publications like Diplomat and Wall Street Journal and contrasted this with Pakistans downslide That provoked a strong riposte from Pakistani Twitterati and Facebookers with some presenting absolute cooked up statistics to show Pakistan was ahead of Bangladesh in many respects Bangladeshs net warriors shot back immediately asking uncomfortable questions Ask your PM Imran has he paid up the PMOs electricity bills and 30 rupees for an egg 1000 rupees for a kilo of ginger what do you eat Pakistanis only dry wheat are some of the shootback posts that escalated into direct allegations of Pakistani funding for Bangladeshs Islamist radicals to disrupt the Modi visit and adversely impact IndiaBangladesh relations Citing a Times of India opinion piece a tweet said India and Bangladesh Made for Each Other Destined to Grow Together Bangladesh has a passionate and fiercely secular bloggers community who have never hesitated to attack Islamist radical politics In the aftermath of the 1971 War Crimes Trials that began after PM Hasina assumed power scores of bloggers like Rajiv Haider were hacked to death by the fundamentalists along with secular publishers and intellectuals like Faisal Ahmed Dipon and Abhijit Roy The bloggers were targetted after they demanded death penalty for the Bengali Islamist collaborators of Pakistan army who helped their campaign of massacres and mass rapes mass conversions of nonMuslims under duress all well documented in books compiled by Barrister Tureen Afroz who led the prosecution of the war criminals But the attacks have not deterred Bangladeshs passionate net warriors to uphold their countrys glory and road to recovery after the devastation of the 1971 war and 20 years of debilitating military rule by two Bengali generals Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad who put back Bangladeshs Unfinished revolution by decades through constitutional changes that made the country an Islamic Republic by undermining the secular values of Bengali linguistic nationalism that made possible our Independence over an ocean of blood What has unnerved Pakistan and his active netizens is the obvious lack of ammunition they have to defend their failed state and the matter has been aggravated after PM Hasinas government raised the pitch for UN recognition of the 1971 genocide and demanded a formal apology from Pakistan At a time when Islamabad faces restive ethnic minorities like the Baloch and the Pashtuns Sindhis and Baltistanis the Bangladesh example is an uncomfortable foreboding on the wall for Pakistans rulers No wonder their generals are almost begging India for peace and Imran Khan is confusing Japan as Germanys neighbours With the Damocles Sword of the Financial Action Task Force FATF hanging on Pakistans head their only saving grace appears to be a peace deal in Afghanistan which gives the Taliban a prepoderant position in running the warravaged country Bangladesh has as much strategic advantage as Pakistan but it is poor and a very military approach to pitch national policy just on leveraging strategic advantage neglecting the hard work to develop economic and social infrastructure for stimulating growth in economy and human development Bangladesh is all that Pakistan is not Thankfully our great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led us to independence and abandon the sinking ship called Pakistan at the right time Ayesha Zaman Shimu is a senior leader of Mohila League ruling Awami leagues women wing and a passionate secular blogger The views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/bangladeshs-twitter-fb-war-with-pak-ahead-of-modi-visit-111540.html Thu, 25 Mar 2021 00:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/letting-go-of-stale-opinions-and-learning-to-rethink-101707.html New Delhi Feb 13 Discover the critical art of rethinking how questioning your opinions can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn but in a rapidly changing world the most crucial skill may be the ability to rethink and unlearn Recent global and political changes have forced many of us to reevaluate our opinions and decisions Yet we often still favour the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt and prefer opinions that make us feel good instead of ideas that make us think hard Intelligence is no cure and can even be a curse The brighter we are the blinder we can become to our own limitations In Think Again The Power of Knowing What You Dont Know WH Allen Adam Grant Whartons toprated professor and No1 bestselling author offers bold ideas and rigorous evidence to show how we can embrace the joy of being wrong encourage others to rethink topics as wideranging as abortion and climate change and build schools workplaces and communities of lifelong learners Youll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate and how a vaccine whisperer convinces antivaxxers to immunize their children This book is an invitation to let go of stale opinions and prize mental flexibility humility and curiosity over foolish consistency If knowledge is power knowing what you dont know is wisdom Think Again is a mustread for anyone who wants to create a culture of learning and exploration whether at home at work or at school With warmth and humour Adam Grant distils complex research into a compelling case for why each of us should continually question old assumptions and embrace new ideas and perspectives In an increasingly divided world the lessons in this book are more important than ever say Bill and Melinda Gates Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton where he has been the toprated professor for seven straight years A No1 New York Times bestselling author and one of TEDs most popular speakers his books have sold more than two million copies and been translated into 35 languages his talks have been viewed more than 25 million times and his podcast WorkLife has topped the charts His pioneering research has inspired people to rethink their fundamental assumptions about motivation generosity and creativity He has been recognized as one of the worlds 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortunes 40 under 40 and has been honoured with distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/letting-go-of-stale-opinions-and-learning-to-rethink-101707.html Sat, 13 Feb 2021 18:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/over-200-lingayat-seers-seeks-inclusion-of-all-subsects-to-central-obc-list-101761.html Bengaluru Feb 13 Nearly 200 LingayatVeerashiava seers under the aegis of the National Federation of VeerashaivaLingayat Seers held a meeting demanding that Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa recommend all subsects of Lingayats community to the Central Backward Class list This new demand has mainly come from the Lingayat Virakta Mathas in the state These Mathas generally attract devotees from every sect of Lingayat community unlike subsectbased Lingayata Mathas in the state The Lingayat community is one of the most sociopolitical influential communities in the state and has given 13 of the 29 Chief Ministers in the last 60 years in Karnataka Prior to the meeting one of the chief organisers of this event Mahantlinga Shivacharya Swamiji of Vibhutipura Matha told reporters that none of the participating seers are opposed to those who are demanding reservations for their respective subsects It is their Constitutionally guaranteed right who are we to question about their demands or to oppose them Our demand is simple and we have not chosen a confrontational path he explained He claimed that seers from across the country Andhra Pradesh Telangana Maharashtra and other states as well are together on this All of us are demanding that all sects of our community should be included in the Central governments Other Backward Class quota This will benefit the entire community in one go the seer argued According to him there are 102 subsects in Lingayat community and so far only 30 have been included in Central OBC reservation list Our fight is to get justice for all 102 subsects instead of thinking about one or two sects he said Answering to a question he said that issues raised by Panchamsali subsect are entirely different from what Virakta matha seers are demanding here Panchamsali demand is limited to Karnataka and it has to be decided within the state itself Whereas our demand is directly linked to Central government thus we are only handing over memorandum to Chief Minister Yediyurappa or to his representatives he explained IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/over-200-lingayat-seers-seeks-inclusion-of-all-subsects-to-central-obc-list-101761.html Sat, 13 Feb 2021 22:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/world-cancer-day-10-symptoms-people-should-not-ignore-100549.html Feb 4 IANSlife Cancer is an unnatural growth of cells that wrecks the healthy environment of the body The complications associated with it is not because of the disease but due to the delayed diagnosis as the symptoms are mostly unclear at times India has recorded a 333 per cent increase in online consultations with oncologists between January and December 2020 as per Practos latest insights report Of the total online consultations 40 per cent came from nonmetro cities while 60 per cent from metro cities Nonmetros recorded a steep 932 per cent increase in the number of online consultations while the metro cities grew by 410 per cent The findings indicated increased awareness about the disease and improved access to cancer specialists online especially in nonmetro cities from 5 per cent in 2018 and 20 per cent in 2019 to 40 per cent in 2020 Meanwhile a new observation was made in 2020 the top searched queries were different in different parts of the country People in nonmetro cities enquired more about types of cancer such as bladder thyroid ovaries and anal In metro cities on the other hand the majority of queries revolved around more common types of cancer like blood breast cervical and oral On World Cancer Day marked across the globe on February 4 every year Oncologist at Practo shares a list of commonly ignored symptoms which could be warning signs of cancer Cancers are painless when they start and so they get ignored by the patient and doctors alike Anaemia Tiredness in cancer is usually due anaemia lack of blood and deficiency of nutrition The cancer drains most of nutrients from the body in its race to grow rapidly Also there is bleeding from cancer tissue that makes one anaemic Blood while passing stool Very often this is due to piles or similar causes However colon cancer and rectum cancer can also cause this If a person happens to find blood in stool it is wise to do colonoscopy to look inside of the colon Cancer of colon can cause change in bowel habit like alternating constipation and diarrhoea Blood in urine This always requires further tests Cancer of the kidney or urinary bladder or prostate can result in blood in urine The worst part is this bleeding can be irregular This infrequency makes patients ignore this symptom Even one episode of blood in urine needs through examination Bleeding in between periods women Any bleeding that does not follow the usual pattern of menstrual period is a warning sign Cancer of the uterus or cervix can cause these kinds of symptoms Patients with cervical cancer also bleed after sexual intercourse A patch or wound inside mouth Oral or mouth cancers are common in India These cancers start as a patch or wound and progress over months If diagnosed early they can be treated effectively Lump or swelling Cancers of breast and limb begin as painless lumps or swellings and progress over months Any newly appearing lumps or swellings should be thoroughly examined Loss of weight without trying A sudden weight loss when you are not dieting needs investigations As cancer consumes most of the nutrition that you take you tend to lose it Loss of appetite and bloating food This could be because of obstruction to bowel or because of a cancer secreting its toxic substances Thorough examination is needed to reach a diagnosis Lymph node enlargement Lymph nodes are present everywhere in the body and function as filters Most of the time they enlarge due to infections The cancer cells also get filtered in these nodes and are trapped They grow in these nodes and the nodes enlarge because of this growth Trouble swallowing or vomiting after taking food are both warning signs of a cancer in the digestive tract These need to be evaluated with endoscopic tests to identify the cause Some patients have only persistent heartburns which are misdiagnosed as gastritis and treated only for months before correct diagnosis reveals itself Pain is the last feature of cancer Do not wait for it https://dailyworld.in/opinion/world-cancer-day-10-symptoms-people-should-not-ignore-100549.html Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/changes-introduced-by-budget-2020-which-require-clarity-in-budget-2021-98742.html By Vikas Vasal New Delhi Jan 28 Budget 2020 introduced several changes in the Incometax provisions Some of most discussed and debated ones being scrapping of dividend distribution tax DDT regime expansion of tax collection at source TCS provisions on sale of goods and expanding the scope of digital tax provisions Over the past oneyear stakeholders have highlighted few concerns on the interpretational aspects and practical challenges in complying with these new provisions and changes It is expected that in the upcoming Budget 2021 the government will address these concerns Some of the key issues that require clarity include Treaty benefits for dividends Budget 2020 discarded DDT and adopted the classical system of dividend taxation Accordingly dividend which was earlier exempt in the hands of the shareholders now becomes taxable This is a welcome move as nonresident shareholders can now take benefit of the tax withheld on the dividend income in their home country Nonresidents can also claim benefit of lower tax withholding rates given in the applicable tax treaty on meeting specified conditions One such condition in case of dividends is meeting the beneficial ownership test It is pertinent to note that neither the Incometax Act 1961 the Act nor the tax treaties define or clarify as to what constitutes beneficial ownership Though few judicial precedents and the OECD literature provides some guidance on this matter however at times it becomes difficult to apply these with certainty in some cases based on the particular facts and circumstances Particularly in case of fiscally transparent entities multitier structures and ultimate shareholders residing in different jurisdictions taxpayers have experienced some interpretation challenges Also at the tax withholding stage at times payers are in dilemma as to whether a declaration from the recipient that he is beneficial owner should suffice or do they need to go beyond the declaration ie to obtain further documentary evidence Therefore it is desirable that suitable clarifications are issued on this subject to remove ambiguity and avoid any unnecessary potential litigation Credit for intercorporate dividend Post abolition of DDT provisions for credit of intercompany dividend were introduced to avoid double taxation of the same income These provisions permit deduction for intercorporate dividends received by a domestic company in case such company further declares dividends to its shareholders However clarity is required as regards  Amount eligible for deduction ie whether the gross dividend received or the net dividend after considering permissible deductions under the Incometax Act should be considered  In certain cases dividend received by an Indian company from a foreign company is subject to tax at special rates In such cases there may be a difference in the corporate tax rates and special rates This may lead to some challenge with the tax authorities on computation of this deduction  Whether any deduction for dividend received in any earlier year can be claimed in any subsequent year when the company actually distributes dividend TCS on sale of goods As per the changes introduced by Budget 2020 TCS is required to be collected by the seller on consideration received on sale of any goods under specified conditions To address stakeholders concerns relating to these provisions CBDT issued some clarifications last year It interalia clarified that transactions in securities which are traded through recognized stock exchanges will be outside the purview of these provisions Rationale cited was that in these transactions there is no one to one contract between the buyers and the sellers However the issue remains whether unlisted shares offmarket sale of shares particularly which form part of the sellers investment portfolio would get covered As the term goods is not defined under the said provisions reliance is placed on other laws and judicial precedents It would be good to review these provisions and issue necessary clarifications Equalization levy Budget 2020 also expanded the scope of equalization levy EL 20 wef April 1 2020 by covering the nonresident ecommerce operators Many of the key terms used in these provisions which define the scope of this levy are broadly worded and need clarification It was also clarified that in case of a transactions which are covered by this levy there would be no requirement of withholding tax However this exemption was made effective from 1 April 2021 The issue of simultaneous applicability of the EL 20 and the withholding tax provisions in financial year 202021 needs to be addressed Professional services v Technical services In a welcome move the Budget 2020 reduced the Tax Deduction at Source TDS rate for Fees for Technical Services FTS to 2 per cent However TDS rate on Fee for Professional Services FPS continues to be 10 per cent The definition of FTS and FPS under the Act is overlapping in many cases This poses challenges in correct application of these provisions and could result in disputes and litigation Therefore clarity is required on this issue It may be a good idea to reduce the TDS rate on all such cases to 2 per cent to avoid any issues at a later date Further it may also be clarified whether professional services can be carried out by a company as there are conflicting judicial views on this issue Taxability of excess contribution to retiral funds Budget 2020 amended provisions relating to taxation of salary to provide that employers contribution to recognised Provident Fund National Pension Scheme or approved Superannuation Fund which is more than Rs 75 lakhs in aggregate will be taxable in the hands of employees as perquisite Further any annual accretions by way of dividend interest on such taxable contributions will also be taxed However the manner mechanism for working out these details has not been prescribed Suitable clarifications provided at this juncture will eliminate subjectivity and reduce ligation in future To conclude clarity on the above issues would help both taxpayers and tax administration Most of these being revenue neutral measures should be considered on priority to avoid any avoidable disputes and litigation Further with the Finance Minister promising a Budget like never before one hopes that these issues which have troubled the taxpayers for past one year will get addressed in the upcoming Budget Vikas Vasal is the National Managing Partner Tax Grant Thornton Bharat LLP With inputs from Richa Sawhney and Sameer Shah IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/changes-introduced-by-budget-2020-which-require-clarity-in-budget-2021-98742.html Fri, 29 Jan 2021 06:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/biden-putin-speak-over-phone-on-arms-control-ukraine-98262.html Washington Jan 27 US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed arms control and other issues during their first phone conversation said the White House The White House said in a statement that Biden and Putin discussed both countries willingness to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty New START for five years agreeing to have their teams work urgently to complete the extension by February 5 the Xinhua news agency reported The two leaders also agreed to explore strategic stability discussions on a range of arms control and emerging security issues Biden in the phone call reaffirmed US support for Ukraines sovereignty He also raised other matters of concern including the SolarWinds hack reports of Russia placing bounties on United States soldiers in Afghanistan interference in the 2020 United States election and the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny said the statement The White House said last Thursday that the Biden administration proposed a fiveyear extension of the New START which was welcomed by the Kremlin Their common ground on arms control might be a bright spot for the USRussia relations but the overall tensions between Washington and Moscow are unlikely to decrease given their differences on issues of Syria Ukraine cybersecurity as well as their mutual accusation of interference in the domestic politics The New START which limits the numbers of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1550 and delivery systems to 700 for each is the last remaining nuclear arms control pact in force between the two nuclear superpowers The treaty can be extended by a maximum of five years with the consent of the two countries The former Trump administration tried to conclude a shorter extension of the treaty last year after rounds of negotiation with Russia but the two sides failed to finalise a formal agreement IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/biden-putin-speak-over-phone-on-arms-control-ukraine-98262.html Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/governments-can-come-and-go-but-cultural-nationalism-is-here-to-stay-95014.html EDS Wednesday Dec 23 2020 PICTURE New Delhi Construction material seen at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi Wednesday Dec 23 2020 The construction work of the new Parliament building started in New Delhi Friday Jan 15 2021 over a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project under the governments ambitious Central Vista redevelopment plan PTI By Kartikeya Sharma New Delhi Jan 15 On Friday when President Ramnath Kovind donated Rs 5 lakh in personal capacity for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya to the trust life came a full circle for the Indian Republic In 1951 when deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel wanted the Somnath temple to be renovated by the Congress it was opposed tooth and nail by Pandit Nehru who wanted the new state to be at arms length from the renovation of the Somnath temple in Gujarat It led to a terse exchange of letters between Sardar Patel and Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru The context was Somnath temple but the fight was over the idea of India and how the state will deal with religion in future Nehru wanted distance but many in the Congress felt that Hinduism cannot be dealt with the European model of separating the state and the church Today the national consensus based on French secularism has been replaced by cultural nationalism promoted by the RSS The latter has moved to the political fringe and former has become mainstream Nehru did not participate in the renovation of the temple After Sardar Patel passed away the matter was carried forward by another Cabinet Minister KM Munshi Nehru was also opposed to President Rajendra Prasad attending the lingam installation ceremony which he eventually attended in 1951 Though money was raised from nonstate actors by K M Munshi but it was enough to raise temperatures within the Nehru government which had become very sensitive to the issue of religion Despite Nehrus objection Munshi and Rajendra Prasad ensured that they remained attached to the renovation project In fact the first Lok Sabha elections were fought by the Congress on the issue of communalism and interreligious harmony The construction of Ram Temple has become synonymous with national pride Instead of remaining a legal issue about ownership of a piece of land it became a matter of faith in the 1980s Though the meeting between the President and the Trust was personal in nature it is a reflection of how mainstream acceptance of nationalism has changed in India It marks a move from Constitutional Nationalism to Cultural Nationalism where the state does not feel uncomfortable with religious ceremonies In the 1950s for the Hindu Right group Somnath was symbol of a wounded Hindu pride as the temple was desecrated thrice over a period of 500 years The issue did not receive much traction because of Nehrus leadership but all this changed in next 50 years especially after Balasaheb Deoras became the RSS chief He pushed the VHP to make the Ram Temple a political agenda and the BJP ultimately had to adopt it as their political agenda during the Palampur Session in Himachal Pradesh It is for this reason that LK Advani started his Rath Yatra from Somnath temple for the construction of Ram Temple in 1990s The Indian Constitution during the Emergency also saw the word secular added to its preamble but the matter remained contentious even then The difference is that there exists public acceptance to the phrase culturalnationalism and change in mindset towards the relationship of the state with Hindu religion It also reflects the realignment of Hinduism with nationalism Whether India of the future resets the clock or not for now cultural nationalism is here to stay The relationship between state and Hinduism has s been further cemented through the process of through the process of judicial scrutiny and construction of the temple IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/governments-can-come-and-go-but-cultural-nationalism-is-here-to-stay-95014.html Fri, 15 Jan 2021 19:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-calls-for-caution-in-dealing-with-syria-chemical-weapon-issue-92410.html United Nations Jan 6 A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for caution in dealing with the issue of Syrias chemical weapons China notes that Syria has expressed on many occasions its strong willingness to cooperate with the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW and the two parties have through consultation closed three outstanding issues related to the initial declaration said Dai Bing Chinas deputy permanent representative to the United Nations the Xinhua news agency reported Syrias constructiveness and the outcomes of the engagement between the two parties deserve recognition China encourages them to continue to work toward positive progress on other outstanding issues he told the Security Council Syrias UN ambassador has addressed many letters to the President of the Security Council with detailed information on terrorist organisations misinformation campaign attempts with regard to chemical attacks Syrias information deserves full attention China hopes followups to such information will be provided in the monthly reports and Security Council briefings said Dai Given the crucial importance of the chemical weapons dossier the issue of accountability must be placed back within the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention CWC Investigations must be based on respect for facts and science he said We object to taking action with undue haste when conclusive evidence is absent and question marks abound as regards the reports China hopes that the OPCW reports are able to establish a complete chain of evidence with no loose ends failing which the objectivity neutrality and authority of the OPCW would be called into question he said Forcing an action is not the right thing to do at this point The OPCW Technical Secretariat should encourage exhaustive discussions on the question marks regarding the reports in order to convince people with sciencebased analysis and with factual information This is the only way to implement Security Council Resolution 2118 to the letter and preserve the authority of the OPCW he said Right now we are seeing challenges facing the OPCW in its work and sharp division and confrontation among the parties Last month OPCW DirectorGeneral Fernando Arias indicated he was in close engagement with member states We encourage the directorgeneral and the Technical Secretariat to step up efforts to help bring states parties back to the tradition of consensusbased decisionmaking and avoid forced voting We also look forward to DirectorGeneral Arias briefing the council at its open meetings and answering council members questions On the issue of chemical weapons Chinas position has been consistent all along It opposes the use of chemical weapons by any country organization or individual under any circumstances for any purpose Alleged use of chemical weapons must be investigated and dealt with in an impartial and objective manner on the basis of factual evidence and the provisions of the CWC he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-calls-for-caution-in-dealing-with-syria-chemical-weapon-issue-92410.html Wed, 06 Jan 2021 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/russia-criticises-us-as-root-cause-of-iran-uranium-enrichment-92412.html Moscow Jan 6 The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the US is responsible for Irans recent decision of enriching uranium to 20 per cent The Iranian move was a deviation from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal but the root cause of such deviations is the systematic gross violations of international obligations by the US the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday The US contrary to Article 25 of the UN Charter does not comply with the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and deliberately creates obstacles to its implementation for other countries the ministry said According to Moscow enriching uranium to 20 per cent has nothing to do with Irans compliance with the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons NPT the Xinhua news agency reported All material enriched up to 20 per cent is under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency which does not record its switch to the use for undeclared purposes that go against the NPT the statement read The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced late on Monday that the 20per cent enriched uranium had started at its Fordow facility and had reached the stability level In May 2018 US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed harsh sanctions against Iran In response Tehran has gradually dropped some of its JCPOA commitments since May 2019 IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/russia-criticises-us-as-root-cause-of-iran-uranium-enrichment-92412.html Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/gods-other-warriers-in-tattered-clothes-torn-tents--92414.html By Harcharan Bains I have travelled to Delhi thrice to express solidarity with the farmers Each time I undertook the journey without announcing it to the media to avoid unnecessary controversies At least part of the reason for my triple âpilgrimageâ was tribal loyalty and solidarity I belong to a family that had agriculture as its sole source of income until my brothers left for the UK in the late sixties and early seventies It remained a major source even afterwards I have been an active farmer myself for three most critical years of my life I have even worked as a âfarm handâ on fields not my own to fight unsuspected poverty and adversity Midway through my third pilgrimage to Delhi I realised something that continues to disturb me I still think my visits to Delhi were a pilgrimage In fact I am likely to repeat those if the agitation lasts beyond January 4th I still think that acts like mine are needed to support the farmers whose future is seriously endangered by the three Acts in question I still believe I owe it to my tribe to stand by it They are fighting for me and our children too But something else has been disturbing me since my last trip It is this During the third trip I was suddenly made aware of the rickety shabby and unsafe tents under which I we often see migrant labour live In Punjab these days and even in Haryana we have colonies of these makeshift and makebelieve tents of tornpolythene rags that serve as roof These exist in clusters For some reason here we donât call them âslumsâ These slums and the ungainly tents stink of all kinds of filth For me seeing these during my trip to to and fro Delhi was not like beholding something new Like everyone else in my state I have been seeing the spectacle for decades In fact on a few occasions I have chatted the inmates of these tents up and laughed with them It has generally been a warm exchange of words even sentiments A couple of times I had been invited in and offered tea and biscuits which I had gladly and gratefully accepted Some friends may recall some of the pictures of my visits to these slumtents which I had then shared on Facebook It was a joy always being with the dwellers in these slums a joy especially laughing with the kids there Their laughter and the gleam in their eyes always mocked the dance of poverty all around them Only this morning I stopped by a cluster of such âslumsâ on the outskirts of Chandigarh It had rained early in the morning Though the rain had stopped it was still drizzling as I stepped out of my car to be greeted by a little girl of about 7 or 8 She flashed that smile which spells innocence She didnât seem either to be conscious of the abject poverty around her there or more likely she didnât care Nor did she seem conscious in the least of the stark contrast between her environs and how I must have come across to her All that happened between us was that I smiled a hellow at her and she returned the greeting with a wordless and toothless smile that might have challenged Shakespeare to define its stunning beauty and innocence More children joined her seeing a car stop by in front of their âhouseâ But barring her brother who seemed younger by a couple of years the children scampered away shouting to no one in particular Perhaps it was their song to shut destiny up I chatted with the âowner of the houseâ and his mates He is the girlâs father He is Badhaee B DH AEE as in gayee gone O that happened to the name of one of the farm hands who used to work with us when I was an adolescent And the girl She is Radha She had to be There was something so pure yet so comely about her Here in front of me I thought stands the girlhood of my country looking me straight in the eye but refusing to embarrass me with questions I wouldnât have an answer if she asked any about why life is what life is for the likes of her But what existed between her and me and between me and her father was more than love It was instantaneous love plus mutual respect I am often surprised by the refusal of some people to acknowledge that love happens in the most unusual places and in the most unusual ways and that there is no structural process to reach it or for it to reach us I have always found love â sincere and most lifeaffirming love Ââ in places and among people where one would least expect it Itâs one of the great blessings of life that love always laughs loud to catch you by surprise I was aware that moment that love was smiting on both of us this girl and me I went closer and put my arm around her shoulders and gave her mild hug She sort of demurred but then looked up at me and then at her father and then back at me and flashed a most charming toothless smile to announce that life is beautiful For a moment I forgot the questions I was preparing in my mind I made some routine but affectionate queries about the man his family their back ground â where they had come from etc âœAur aap babuâ âœMain bus yoon hi yahan se nikal raha tha bachchon ko baarish main khelte dekhne ko ruk gyaâ He smiled an approval âœAa jao kuchh pee lo Sardee bahut haiâ I donât know why I said âœmay be some other time ✠and it was over and I was back in my car By the time you read this I might already have gone back to have that cup of tea there in the slum But this question has been shadowing me like a spectre since thenâDo I really need to go to Delhi to see how poverty and adversity stalk my country â and how the brave defeat it everyday without mass support without ideologies without political mobilisation and without vocalisation on social media There is dignity that shares space with these children in their torn clothes in slum roofs and with men and women whose bodies smell of hard work men and women who pay poverty and adversity the compliment of confronting it with political mass muscle They fight and defeat poverty single handed and alone And there is sloganeering no singing of martial songs on human courage no breastbeating What you have in these tents in slums is human courage and more importantly human dignity that makes adversity slink away with its tail tucked between its hind legs There is no endless supply of langar or support from organisations worldwide to those battling misery in these slums They battle rain and wind and a lot else not for 20 days or 26 or 30 days or for two months or four The fight is passed on from one generation to another And there are no singers no poets no media no political parties no organisations no unions not even the vociferous and selfadvertising conscience of the social media coming forward to help these half clad warriors They keep no media advisors They have just smiles of courage as their weapon And yet defeat fears them These tattered tents in pools of dirty rain waterhere is where human courage and human dignity reside Here is where I must make a pilgrimage every time I find God and His grace missing from my planet Hail farmers migrant labour and dwellers in tents made of tattered polythene THE AUTHOR Is freelance journalist and Principal Advisor to former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/gods-other-warriers-in-tattered-clothes-torn-tents--92414.html Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/imminent-challenges-for-president-biden-91694.html By Harinder Bali In less than three weeks from now Jo Biden will begin his tenure as the 42nd President of the United States of America He will take over from Mr Donald Trump who leaves behind a complicated and divisive legacy Jo Biden will have his task cut out both at the domestic and the International arena Most of the issues he will have to address within the first hundred days of Presidency will be either the problems either created or left unresolved by the outgoing President Let us look at some of the problems which will demand immediate redressal a First and foremost will be controlling the rampaging pandemic which has caused havoc to both human lives and the economy Although the pandemic has affected the entire world the US has been the worst affected Almost 20 million people have been infected and close to 300000 have lost their lives In the last few months the control mechanisms seem to have fallen apart as President Trumpâs focus shifted from controlling the pandemic towards saving his Presidency Mr Jo Biden would have to put on rails a comprehensive program to combat the pandemic He has already put a Covid Advisory team in place to brace up to face the challenge His Presidency will begin on the right notes has the advantage as two very effective vaccines have already been approved for safe use Getting vaccine rapidly to everyone across the country is a monumental job and the new team will have to put a comprehensive supply chain in place to achieve it He would need to convince the American people many of whom are apprehensive about vaccine efficacy and safety to get vaccinated at the earliest Unlike his predecessor he would have to carry all the state governments along in this nationwide vaccination program Along with vaccination he would have to emphasize the common man on the street to observe social preventive measures like wearing masks and maintaining social distance If he succeeds in controlling the pandemic it will have a positive impact on the American economy as well b President Biden and his team will have to make all efforts heel the wounds of electioneering which have viciously divided the American people along party lines Mr Donald Trump leaves behind a fractured legacy As Mr Trumpâs tenure neared its completion he became more and more President of the Red States than the United States of America Mr Jo Biden has always claimed that if elected he would be the President of the entire USA and not only of the states that vote for it He needs to make good that promise and progressively bring the warring sections together It is going to be a challenging and prolonged process He is expectedly going to face severe opposition from the Republican supporters as well as from Republican lawmakers His job is not likely to be made any easy by the outgoing President who would continue to claim that the Presidency was stolen from him and Jo Biden is not the legitimate President Mr Jo Biden would need all the diplomatic acumen at his command to make American one country again C The economy has taken a battering due to the pandemic Unemployment numbers are at an alltime high and millions have applied for unemployment security He would need to reassure the American public that by controlling the pandemic the economy would come back on the rails and more jobs would be created D The USA has seen major diplomatic confrontation in the last few months with China the second most powerful country globally Mr Trump had blamed China for the origin of the Coronavirus and delayed information about it to the world He derisively repeatedly called the Covid virus the Chinese virus Many countries have held China responsible for the pandemic and for following unethical policies detrimental to other countriesâ interest China is an expansionist bully that has spread its tentacle across the globe to undermine other countriesâ national interests However due to its huge economy and global reach it is impossible to isolate China or have prolonged conflict Mr Jo Biden and his administration would need to engage with China so that constructive cooperation can be done while also combatting its expansionist behaviour The fine balance between aggression and diplomatic engagement would test the incoming administration E The US under Mr Trump had withdrawn from several multilateral and bilateral commitments and engagements This includes the WHO the WTO and NATO Until recently the US was the largest donor to WHO Mr Trump stopped aid to the WHO blaming it for biased and partisan behaviour in the months leading to the pandemic Despite serious lapses during the pandemic the WHO is the only multinational body that looks after health worldwide Mr Jo Biden would certainly like to reclaim USâs preeminent position in the WHO It is expected to join back WHO and introduce checks and balances in the organization to prevent recurrence of lapses in the future F Mr Donald Trump had a serious problem with the climate body and it walked out from the Paris Agreement The new administration will certainly join back the world body for climate change G The NATO alliance countries have been facing difficult times due to Mr Trumpâs policies in the last few years It is expected that Mr Biden would reengage with the NATO alliance countries and allay their fears for long term strategic cooperation H Afganistan would also demand the immediate attention of the new President Mr Donald Trump had committed to pull out of Afghanistan during his 2014 election campaign In the last few months Mr Trump was in undue haste to fulfil his promise to the American electorate At present there is only a limited presence of US soldiers in the strifetorn country Afganistan is likely to fall back into prolonged civil war unless a comprehensive peace plan acceptable to all stakeholders is in place Despite Doha talks between warring factions there is no peace accord on the horizon Mr Biden would have to play a preeminent role and continue to have a military presence in Afghanistan to stabilize the country I Iran has been at the receiving end of outgoing Presidentâs wrath Much against its NATO alliance and the world opinion Mr Trump pulled out of the Nuclear Treaty with Iran and imposed stifling economic sanctions on the Islamic country These sanctions have pushed Iran into the waiting arms of China and Turkey Most experts on this subject believe that Mr Jo Biden will restart engaging with Iran to check its nuclear ambitions while at the same time easing economic sanctions These negotiations may cause more than a little heartburn for its natural allies Israel Saudia Arabia and the UAE But for peace and stability in the region it is absolutely essential to get Iran back on the negotiating table J North Korea and its maverick dictator Mr Kim Un Jong continue to be a potential threat to the park strait region Although Mr Trump had two very wellpublicized interactions with Kim no concrete outcome has come out of those engagements Mr Jo Biden would have to take those negotiations further for a beneficial solution to the Korean problem At home Mr Biden would face severe position from within its own democratic party particularly leftleaning Bernie Sanderâs followers Opposition from a powerful segment of the Democratic Party became obvious even as the PresidentElect was finalizing senior members of his administration He is likely to face severe opposition from the House of Representatives as the majority there is with the Republicans The world would be watching with extreme concern and anticipation about how the USA demonstrates its exemplary democratic power at home and how it reclaims the worldâs leadership which has remained unchallenged since world war II China is emerging as a strong superpower and is expected to overtake the US as the worldâs number one economy by 2028 The coming four years of Biden administration will determine to a considerable extent how the world economic order as well as geopolitics unravel in the coming decades The writer is associated with Paras Hospital Panchkula Views are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/imminent-challenges-for-president-biden-91694.html Sun, 03 Jan 2021 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/punjab-bureaucracy-lets-talk-about-gen-next-90941.html By Manish Tiwari While covering the Punjab government in the past two decades I have come across many IAS officers who I thought brought laurels to their cadre But now itâs time to talk about Gen Next This generation â some of the emerging secretary and principal secretarylevel officers â has not just impressed many with their performance and positive approach towards doing good to the people but has remained focused is wellinformed and most importantly balanced in decisionmaking and their delivery to the system They have in fact kept the hope alive for the Indian bureaucracy and also the publicâs faith in the system Some of the officers include Principal Secretary Excise and Taxation A Venu Prasad 1991 batch Principal Secretary Local Bodies Ajoy K Sinha 1996 Principal Secretary Personnel Vivek Pratap Singh 1996 Secretary Local Government Ajoy Sharma 1999 Secretary Employment Generation Rahul Tiwari 2000 Special Principal Secretary to the CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh 2001 Excise Commissioner Rajat Aggrawal 2003 Chandigarhâs Municipal Commissioner KK Yadav 2003 Director Public Relations Ravi Bhagat 2006 and Director Food and Civil Supplies Anandita Mitra 2007 They are not only known for using their discretion in the public interest but have been disciplined and extremely hardworking For the civil servants though the state of Punjab that has seen turbulent times for several decades has not been easy to handle Today when the State has been battling against the Covid19 outbreak for almost a year bad financial position besides many other issues such as the farmersâ protests some of the top officers including Chief Principal Secretary to Punjab CM Suresh Kumar and the 1987batch IAS officer Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan have been providing leadership to the Punjab bureaucracy by their delivery to governance and more importantly â the people The officers such as Financial Commissioner Revenue Viswajeet Khanna and Financial Commissioner Development Anirudh Tiwari too have shown the poise and balance in handing State affairs Within the bureaucracy there is hardly anyone who appreciates a retired IAS officer holding an important position in the government even after superannuating but the way Suresh Kumar who has long been considered a nononsense bureaucrat and his two other colleagues Principal Secretary to the CM Tejvir Singh and Special Secretary to the CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh have delivered to the system and not allowed any blot to come on the Chief Minister in the past four years has been something the Gen Next must take note of They have worked as a cohesive team not only in the interest of the Chief Minister and his government but for the people at large The CMO has never been as powerful and asserting as it is today and it goes without saying that it enjoys the full confidence of the Chief Minister On the other hand the Chief Secretaryâs Office has also become as important as it would be in the past Ever since Vini Mahajan has taken over as the Chief Secretary the State bureaucracy has been more focused even as several ambitious plans are on the anvil and are likely to unfold in early 2021 I have a personal bias for Vini Mahajan as I have known her for the past 20 years when she was the Special Secretary Expenditure and watched her grow as a successful bureaucrat including her stint in the Prime Ministerâs Office initially as the Director and then as Joint Secretary handling several important departments and states She has been a true leader professionally very sound and imbued with effective decisionmaking and Gen Next has to learn a lot from her in fact from most of what she has done as an officer Critics often talk about what the government has not done and it appears very few know what all it has done in the past four years While corruption is as rampant as in the past one thing that the Capt Amarinder government can take credit for is â that there is governance sans vendetta and malice He can also be credited with identifying good officers for his core team that has the ability to deliver About 20 years back when I interacted with the bureaucrats such as former Chief Secretaries K R Lakhanpal Ramesh Inder Singh and Subodh Agarwal I would always ask myself Will the Next Generation have the sense of balance and maturity as some of these officers Over a period however one has realised that not only officers such as Suresh Kumar and Vini Mahajan had the potential to be in the top slot but almost all the midlevel emerging secretaries and principal secretaries whose names find mention in this article are the future chief secretaries Manishdailyworldin https://dailyworld.in/opinion/punjab-bureaucracy-lets-talk-about-gen-next-90941.html Wed, 30 Dec 2020 22:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/chinas-lucrative-organ-theft-90376.html By RN Prasher On 1 March 2020 The Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China released its 562page final report The six members of the Tribunal were experts of international renown in areas of law transplant surgery international politics Chinese history and businessSir Geoffrey Nice Queenâs Counsel QC from UK headed it Earlier Mr Nice was the lead prosecutor in the trial of Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic at the International Criminal Tribunal The members of the Tribunal the prosecutors and the lawyers worked pro bono without taking any payment for their effort The Tribunal had avowed to forego any emotions on the issue They examined 50 witnesses and their cold legalistic conclusion was âœa Forced organ harvesting has happened in multiple places in the Peopleâs Republic of China PRC and on multiple occasions for a period of at least twenty years and continues to this day b Medical testing of groups including Falun Gong and Uighurs was related in some way to the group concerned because other prisoners were not tested The methods of testing are highly suggestive of methods used to assess organ function The use of ultrasound examinations further suggests testing was focused on the condition of internal organs No explanation has been given by the PRC for this testingâ Based on witness testimonyand documentary evidence the Tribunal concluded that thousands of people had their bodies âœcut open while still alive for their kidneys livers hearts lungs cornea and skin to be removed and turned into commodities for saleâ China performs the largest number of transplant surgeries in the world While in most of the countries the waiting period is two years or more in China it could be as short as two weeksAs the Tribunal found the tests have been done and databases are ready to be matched with the prospective recipient The evil started much before Falun Gong fell foul of the Chinese Communist PartyThe 1979 documentRules Concerning the Dissection of Corpses and the 1984 Provisions for Regulations on the Use of Dead Bodies or Organs from Condemned Criminals give graphic details including the provision that the family of the executed person has to pay for the bullet used to kill if they want the ash urn The rules emphasised close coordination between health personnel and prison and public security officials and the need for confidentiality The âœsupply chainâ is facilitated by the fact that in china 46 offences attract the death penalty of which the most frequently used against dissidents are organising prostitution seriously endangering public safety intentional assault production and sale of hazardous food products and insubordination On 18 June 1996 the US Congress Subcommittee OnInternational Operations And Human Rights was informed that documents of the Chinese Communist Partyâs central Committee requireunmarked ambulances with surgeons not dressed in white medical uniforms to drive directly to execution site and extract the organs as the vehicle rushes towards transplant facility On 27 June 2001 a member of the US Congress described before the same Subcommittee how a person was shot in the heart if corneas were needed and in the head if other organs were to be extracted It was stated that the Chinese as a ruledo not consent to organ donation as both the Buddhist and the Confucian beliefs dictate that the body be kept whole after death This led to the inevitable conclusion that most of the transplanted organs came from persons who and whose families had not consented to organ removal The worst disclosure was that the recipients of these harvested organs included a large number of Americans whowith tourist visasenjoyed this âœmedical tourismâ to get the transplants This resulted in substantial foreign exchange earnings for the communist state the GDP of which in 2000 was less than 10 per cent of what it is now To boost this âœlucrativeâ business attention shifted to Falun Gong a group following spiritual practices physical exercises and moral principles as part of daily life By 1999 its followersâ number had grown to 70 million sending jitters down the communist party ranks On 25 April 1999 Jiang Zemin who like Xi Jinping was Party General Secretary Chairman of the Central Military Commission and President of the country issued orders for defeat of Falun Gong He described the group as a grave threat to the Party Since then mass arrests torture and organ harvesting has been the fate of Falun Gong practitioners An article in Cambridge China Quarterly in 2015 mentioned that Chinese universities are asking prospective students as a precondition for admission to bring a certificate from public security authorities that they have no links to Falun Gong Many of the followers escaped to the West and some of them gave evidence before the Tribunal US Congress has passed four resolutions calling on China to stop the persecution of Falun Gong Yet sufficient evidence has been included in the Tribunalâs report that organ harvesting from even living Falun Gong members is continuing encouraged in part by the Americanâs and Europeansâ demand for quick and cheap availability of organs As the organ business boomed China has found new sources The crackdown on Kazakhs and Uighurs has resulted in more than a million of them being sent to detention camps euphemistically called vocational training centres New York Post reported in June 2019 that upon entry at these centres in addition to blood being drawn for testing the organs are also examined giving clear indication that the detainees are considered potential âœdonorsâ There are indications that many Tibetan prisoners have also met that fate Total absence of due process in China means that once a recipientâs requirement is matched by the data from a detainee the detainee can be chargedwith a capital offencequickly convicted and executed to permit organ extraction Howsoever horrifying this âœfarmingâ method may seem it is a reality and no government in the world has made it a criminal offence for its citizens to travel to China for organ transplant A draft law titled Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act with the objective of preventing China from extracting organs from prisoners of conscience was introduced in the US Congress on 16 December 2020 Chris Smith member of the Congress who cosponsored the Bill said âœtransnational human trafficking gangs terrorist organisations profiteers and even governments â Chinaâs Communist regime in particular â kill innocent people and sell their organs for profitâ The proposed law seeks to empower theSecretary of State to deny passport or revoke it if already issued to an American who is or tries to be recipient of an organ extracted in violation of National Organ Transplantation Act While the bill awaits approval we can only harbour a vain hope that European Union and India will soon follow the American initiative and make it an offence to travel to China to receive a stolen organ The persistent silence on this issue however shows that just below the thin gilt of democracy lies the same indifference to human rights as exists in totalitarian regimes The writer is a retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre The views expressed are strictly his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/chinas-lucrative-organ-theft-90376.html Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-land-grab-worldwide-88578.html By RN Prasher Building artificial islands on reefs in the South China Sea and the creeping encroachment in Ladakh Bhutan Nepal and Mongolia are not the only tricks in the bag for Chinaâs expansionism These are limited to areas adjacent to Chinaâs international borders Simultaneously China is expanding deep inside other nations far away from its borders and sometimes across continents and oceans With the largest foreign reserves of any nation in the world China can afford to buy what it wants There was a time when national power and prestige were more important than wealth and no nation would trade away the former for the latter In recent times however mercantilism is driving foreign policy more than anything else As long as the price is right nations are willing to sell anything even their land From 2008 till 2018 Chinaâs economy grew at an unprecedented pace rising from 45 trillion to almost 14 trillion Its foreign reserves almost doubled in the first six years of that period China with 20 per cent of the worldâs population and only 8 per cent of global cultivable area saw its chance to acquire land in other countries for ensuring its food security However that goal soon became subservient to the desire of the new hegemon to penetrate every aspect of life in other nations ranging from military strategy to educational and cultural penetration Thus while large tracts were bought for agriculture strategically located smaller parcels gave China an opportunity to get an insiderâs view of other countries Meanwhile other nations even the mighty USA counted their coins as the dragon crept in China is the biggest buyer of land in other countries followed by the UK and the US The last two are transparent democracies with frequent changes in the ruling party and hence any longterm covert activity is not feasible In China on the other hand the same communist party has ruled for the last 71 years with no possibility of a change in the near future The recent exposÃs of Chinaâs successful internal subversion in other countries leave no room for doubt about Chinaâs goal of subverting democracies worldwide Let us take the case of a small peaceful democratic country New Zealand NZ A Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin has a 75 percent stake in a company which owns 10000 acres farmland in the NZâs South Island and another 20000 acres in the North Island Then in 2014 this company signed a deal to further buy more than 34000 acres in the North Island This caused a considerable disquiet and a leader of the farmers called it selling the âœfamily silverâ In the face of strident opposition the deal did not fructify The reasons for China focussing on possessing farmlands in this small Pacific nation lie in the highly questionable business ethos of China In 2008 it was found that in China infant formula and other baby foods were adulterated with industrial chemical melamine which is used to make glues laminates and tableware The milk was diluted and the addition of this chemical which contains nitrogen gave it the appearance of proteinrich milk during tests China is not known for speaking the truth about such scandals but it is estimated that 300000 babies were affected some of whom died and others suffered longterm consequences like kidney damage There was a domestic outcry against Chinese brands of baby food Chinese tourists flocked to Australia and NZ to buy loads of baby formula NZ is the largest exporter of dairy products It is thus that China dairy companies tried to buy lands in this country When that did not succeed beyond a point they went for buying controlling stakes in NZ dairy companies In 2019 China dairy company Yili acquired Westland NZâs second biggest dairy producer Then in September 2020 Chinese company Mengniu acquired Bellamyâs Australiaâs leading baby formula maker for 1 billion Again in November this year the same stateowned Chinese company acquired Australiaâs Lion Dairy and Drinks Chinese companies have been on a landbuying spree in Australia to augment food supplies as the rising middle class in China has caused a spurt in demand for high quality food In 2015 and 2016 Chinese companies made repeated bids to acquire the largest ranch in the world the Australian S Kidman Co The government of Australia however did not approve these attempts In spite of this setback by 2017 China had become the largest foreign landowner in AustraliaThe land grab is not limited to farmlands China owns an airport in Western Australia on a lease for 100 years the port of Darwin for 99 years and a whopping 23 million acres of Australiaâs land It owns coalmines wind farms and water supplies As with other aspects of foreign relations Chinaâs acquisitions are not based on reciprocity No foreign entity can buy land in China in fact even Chinese citizens and companies cannot buy land in China All land is stateowned and is held by everyone else on lease that can be terminated at any time Given the present state of the ChinaAustralia relationship perhaps it is time that Australia adopts Chinaâs policy by terminating some of these leases of strategic assets Reports have recently emerged of Chinese companies acquiring large tracts of land near defence installations in the US and in Japan Guanghui Energy Company owned by a retired officer of the Chinese army set up a subsidiary GH America Energy in the US and is in the process of setting up a wind farm next to Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas The facility is used for pilots training turning out 350 pilots every year The idea seems to be to snoop on these defence activities while making inroads into the American electric grid in the bargain Meanwhile across the Pacific Ocean a Chinese company has bought 20 acres of land merely 3 kilometres away from Japanâs Air SelfDefence Forceâs Air Base in Hokkaido These are just examples of the Chinese land acquisition which span over 33 countries that include the US Canada the UK Japan Thailand Malaysia Vietnam and the UAE Even the urban properties are on the Chinese radar with Forbes Magazine putting it dramatically âœReal estate agents with million dollar listings in New York Miami and Los Angeles all have one thing in common Chinese clientsâ What about India Chinese citizens and companies cannot buy land in India without the approval of the Reserve Bank Yet we know that China allows its operatives to have a second passport Once such operatives present themselves as citizens of a country not on the barred list they can buy land without any approval There does not appear to be much information on whether Chinese companies have acquired land in India using such gaps in the law An analysis of such land purchases and their location may be useful in showing whether these are usual commercial transactions or whether strategic issues have played a part in such acquisitions Chinaâs aggressive policies do indicate the need for India and other democracies adopting policies based on reciprocity Chinese companies and individuals should not be allowed to acquire freehold real estate in India because Indians are not allowed to buy properties in China with the same rights The writer is a retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre The views expressed are strictly his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/china-land-grab-worldwide-88578.html Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/-let-every-medical-stream-practice-its-science-88329.html By DR Harinder Bali Government has allowed AYUSH postgraduate doctors to perform many surgeries which come exclusively in the domain of modern medicine Government has justified this move by arguing that these doctors are trained during their MS course to perform these surgeries modern medicine doctors are reluctant to serve in the rural areas and these are relatively simple surgeries This move of the Government can have disastrous consequences for the country and the notification needs to be rescinded immediately Ayurveda inarguably is the oldest science of treating patients it finds mention in great detail in the Vedas as well as in many of our holy scriptures Ayurveda was a state religion for many centuries producing some of the finest Vaids and surgeons whose contribution has been recognized the world over Sushruta is regarded as the father of modern surgery and is revered the world over His statue is proudly displayed prominently in the main lobbies of many hospitals not only in India but also in many hospitals of the world Similarly the contribution of many other physicians and surgeons is not only recognized but also celebrated worldwide The name of great physician Charak the author of Charaka Samhita readily comes to mind Likewise other medical streams like Unani Homeopathy Tibetan medicine Chinese medicine Naturopathy and many others have their own very illustrious histories and heritage All these different medical streams need to be encouraged and promoted so they can progress in their own right and become a viable alternative to modern medicine stream I donât think anyone including the practitioners of modern medicine has an issue with recognizing the contribution of these alternative systems of medicines nor in the state helping them to improve their systems to advance their growth The problem has only arisen when the Government by notification has tried to completely subvert and undermine the system and allow practitioners of these alternative systems of medicine to start performing surgeries which fall exclusively and specifically in the domain of modern medicine Let me make a few points unambiguously clear at the very outset a I have the highest regard for Ayurveda and all other alternative medicines I have done some research on Yoga I have written a comprehensive review in the Indian heart Journal on cardiovascular effects of Yoga I am convinced that Yoga is an excellent science with enormous potential not only to prevent risk factors from developing but also in managing patients with heart disease Beyond that I have no great competence or expertise to comment on any of the alternative streams as I havenât studied any one of them in great detail b I believe with great conviction that AYUSH has a critical role to play in preventive medicine and also in many chronic diseases like allergies skin disorders joint disorders and psychosomatic illnesses c I have no problem in the state promoting AYUSH in a big way by setting up more institutes promoting research and introducing subsubject specialization d I have no issues with any AYUSH doctors Some of my closest and dearest friends are AYUSH doctors I respect their expertise and also value their friendship enormously e Problem is only in them doing surgeries which are in the domain of modern medicine f I have more than thirty years of experience and can say with all the conviction at my command that each one of these surgeries demands intensive knowledge and extreme competence There is so much super specialization within super specialization that it is neither ethical nor moral to do procedures beyond oneâs core competence I for one donât even do paediatric cardiac interventions nor Electrophysiology in my speciality of interventional cardiology I promptly refer these patients to those who are experts in treating them I canât even begin to imagine to venture into such procedures like endoscopy laparoscopy Etc Therefore I believe every patient irrespective of his background education level caste creed or colour deserves the best and should be treated by the most competent doctor in that speciality This notification allowing AYUSH MS doctors to conduct surgeries will be an unmitigated disaster a Ayurveda and other alternative streams stopped growing at least a thousand years ago Successive governments for a variety of reasons stopped patronizing Ayurveda stopped funding it as well as denied jobs to practitioners of this science Consequently once a flourishing medical stream stopped growing with progressively fewer people pursuing it as a career and even fewer seeking treatment from those practising it Same information and knowledge that was described thousand years ago in the Vedas continue to be guiding principle even now To the best of my knowledge no major addition has been made either in the diagnostic or therapeutic fields No one has made any effort to identify the active ingredients in different herbs or to systematically identify long term good or harmful effects of these medicines on various systems of the body These alternative sciences have been lying dormant for centuries with no real progress to make them relevant to the contemporary world Besides there are very few institutes teaching these streams of medicine The existing ones are grossly short of funds to carry out any meaningful teaching or research Diagnosis is limited only to history taking and no modern investigative tool is available for making an accurate diagnosis There is no practice of conducting clinical trials randomization in trials or of systematically analyzing data to see efficacy or lack of it of the prescribed medicines There is no imaging modality available to aid in diagnosis b Modern medicine in the last two hundred years has made astronomical strides to reach to present level It is making continuous progress even as I write this column Right from the very beginning it chose the path of objectivity documentation systematic trials publication in peerreviewed journals periodic and continuous upgradation of textbooks and constant reevaluation of already existing knowledge in the light of newer information Old modalities of treatment were discarded as soon as the more recent and improved techniques of diagnosing and treating patients became available It evolved a system of imparting knowledge to budding doctors both formally and informally and continuously encouraging them to question everything and anything till they were satisfied The Government set up a large number of medical colleges and medical Institutes not only to impart existing knowledge but to carry out research to continuously enhance knowledge Students were encouraged to publish their research and experiences in peerreviewed journals Students learnt to evaluate every new observation and information scientifically before incorporating it in their clinical practice This systematic evaluation and constant endeavour to improve all the time is the hallmark of modern medicine Whereas formal education in a medical college is only a prerequisite to understand the already known facts about the human body and different diseases the education of a doctor continues all his life Every doctor is trained to intuitively observe analyze and imbibe any and every new information and critically analyze it for its significance Modern medicine has been continuously incorporating technological advances in diagnostics and therapeutics In the last thirty years ultrasound CT scans and MRI have revolutionized the way doctors carry out investigations for diagnosis These investigative capabilities and their constant improvement has taken medicine to an entirely new level To become a surgeon not only one has to have thorough knowledge in that specific field but also prolonged practical experience under the close and watchful eyes of an experienced surgeon Every surgeon has vast experience in recognizing and treating all types of complications and the ability to innovate at a split second in case of any unexpected observationoccurrence during surgery It takes at least ten to fifteen years after obtaining a formal postgraduate or speciality degree MCh DM to be able to become an expert surgeon Additionally every surgeon possesses a thorough knowledge of anaesthesia pharmacology and many other sister specialities He gets comprehensive training to recognize and treat the various adverse reaction of medicines critically evaluate and interpret all laboratory investigations and prescribe medication in proper dose and strength Can an AYUSH MS doctor do it c To perform surgery one would need some form of anaesthesia local spinal epidural or general Anaesthesiology is a modern medical speciality Where and how is an AYUSH surgeon going to use it So who would give the anaesthesia d AYUSH doctors are being permitted by the notification to perform surgery for benign tumours Who would decide a particular tumour is benign or malignant In addition to histopathology a pathologist studies immunohistochemistry cell of origin and also receptors on the cell to decide best treatment for a particular patient To the best of my knowledge there is no concept of microscopic evaluation of tumours in AYUSH Who would decide whether a specific tumour is benign or malignant f Surgery involves the use of antibiotics as prophylaxis and for treatment if and when an infection occurs What antibiotics and based on what investigations are the AYUSH doctors going to prescribe these antibiotics To prescribe these medicines would involve optimum training in microbiology and pharmacology g Human anatomy is not the same in every individual There are different types of anomalies aberrancies and abnormal courses and branching pattern of arteries veins nerves which a surgeon knows by training experience and clinical observation What would an AYUSH surgeon do should he come across uncommon anatomy He could end up injuring or cutting one of the structures with disastrous consequences for the patient H Should a complication occur in the hands of an AYUSH surgeon who is going to handle it Another AYUSH doctor or a surgeon practising modern medicine The Government has argued that these AYUSH surgeons would be willing to provide muchneeded healthcare in the rural areas where allopathic doctors are reluctant to go It means that there would be different types of doctors for urban and rural areas Modern medicine doctors with proper qualification serving the urban and elite populationWhile inadequately qualified doctors would be treating the rural population and those living in remote areas This concept raises a fundamental question Are rural people not entitled to quality healthcare just like their urban counterparts Quality healthcare just like the right to life should be a fundamental right of every citizen No state which claims to be a welfare state should deny itâs citizens quality healthcare merely based on residence education level or any other criteria This notification permitting AYUSH MS doctors to conduct surgeries will be disastrous may hurt many people and cause enormous harm to millions The Government should immediately withdraw it Such notification will not improve the condition of AYUSH doctors but will undoubtedly cause massive damage to practitioners of modern medicine and accelerate the process of brain drain It is an extremely retrogressive step and would make doctors of our country a laughing stock in front of the whole world The right course of action to improve AYUSH streams is to improve funding for setting up good institutes and to encourage students to take up those streams Each of these streams must conduct large trials systematically analyze results and publish them in peerreviewed journals to show the safety and efficacy of everymedicine It sure is a long road but a beginning has to be made Short cuts will not do The writer is associated with Paras Hospital Panchkula Views are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/-let-every-medical-stream-practice-its-science-88329.html Sun, 20 Dec 2020 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/there-he-goes-holding-the-lords-finger-adieu-koshy-88086.html By Rajbir Deswal Yesterday only a choked Mr Rabinder Nath Vasudeva a retired IPS officer and a saintly soul called me up to inform about Mr Koshy Koshy another IPS officer of Haryana cadre having been convalescing in a Faridabad Hospital saying that he wasnât too well Mr Vasudeva could hardly speak These two officers were my mentors when I joined the Haryana Police in 1983 Those days young officers stayed in the house of their immediate seniors in a district like a family member till accommodation was made available to him The bonhomie was matchless I had this kind of a relationship with these two mentors of mine who educated me in policing The sad news of Mr Koshy Koshy having breathed his last came as a bolt from the blue for he was 71 only Many in Haryana Police had known him to be an extremely helpful knowledgeable able and upright police officer Having remained with the Bureau of Police Research and Development for a long time he was known all over the country for his contributing to the cause of training not only within the countryâs premiere training institutions but almost all over the world He had studied the US UK Singapore models of policing and was an Internationally acclaimed police trainer Coming from Erankulam District of Kerala he passed his Masters in English literature from Agra University and was a man given to reading and writing Koshyâs diction matched only the maestros He had been allotted to Haryana having cracked the IPS examination He remained posted through out Haryana on important assignment but he loved police training as his pet indulgence A man of incorruptible integrity Koshy was a fearless officer who introduced very many reforms whatever area of policing he commanded He wore many hats and was interested not only in photography and birdwatching but was always keen to be listening ghazals and hold your breath even Haryanvi Ragnis His Facebook wall is infact an enviable gallery of picture of rare varity of birds He would be seen with his camera holidaying sometimes in Harike Lake in Punjab and sometime in Sultanpur Bird Sanctury He patronised many a birdloversâ societies He was invariably invited to very many Ragni coemptions that were held If you tried to tell him the meaning of a particular Haryanvi nuance he would smile and tell you that he already knew it He loved music and had an eye for newer gadgets about which he seemed to know every technical detail He practised astrology and homeopathy too He was fond of wearing sober dresses At home I always found him wearing his lungi I had a very special relationship with Mr Koshy He groomed me on the one hand and on the other pampered me to the extent that his other colleagues told him that he was spoiling me He was such a large hearted man that he would quietly ignore your bonafide mistakes and faults and would always try to correct them He himself was of small frame but he had a special fascination for tall and handsome Haryanvi officers He would fondly introduce me to others sayingâRajbir is our hero Our poster boy His magnanimity and kindness to me cannot be repaid ever He offered me liberty to smoke with him a fact which many people did not like He allowed me to put an extra star an epaulet on my shoulders even during my initial training phase Infact on hindsight I find lot many of my colleagues and senior officers who would proudly claim an association and personal bonding with Mr Koshy He was a very humorous person He was always full of jokes and witticisms He would keep making reference to the witty side of things in the South Koshy was a near encyclopaedia of cultural practices in South India He was fond of rice and coffee Koshyâs contribution to modern day policing in India can never be forgotten He introduced newer reforms as were chartered by the BPRD He was in the policethinktank of his times and interacted freely with other intellectual police giants and iconic figures Having headed the BPRD he retired contributing his bit to the National Disaster Management Force as well He had an inscription put on his working table saying ✠If God be with you who can be against youâ A devout Christian and a noble one he never missed his Lent fasting of 40 days His ancestors came from the Syrian Christian stock belonging to the times when St Francis came to India Perhaps that he was a believer it always helped him to handle difficult situations coolheadedly though at times Koshy was known to be losing temper but he would gather himself the soonest laughing the situation away Many chapters of my second book âœCulture Bright Darkâ came from his advising me whether it was on Christians of Haryana or Ragnis of Haryana or lesser know places of Haryana He knew by journalistic background also before my joining the police and he always encouraged me for writing He was quite popular in my own family as well My father kept asking me about Mr Koshy Our hearts go out to Mrs Susan Koshy his lady wife George and Shalini his kids On his demise I recall the inscription that he kept on his working station and I can see Mr Koshy going away from all of us holding The Lordâs finger Adieu Koshy Sir Rajbir Deswal a retired IPS officer Haryana cadre is advocate Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh https://dailyworld.in/opinion/there-he-goes-holding-the-lords-finger-adieu-koshy-88086.html Sat, 19 Dec 2020 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/uniqueness-and-mimicry-in-china-86552.html By RN Prasher During a visit to Beijing in 1993 the present writer asked many residents how they would like their country to be in the 21st century âœLike Americaâ was their uniform response I understood it at that time to mean the affluence of the Americans and easy access to amenities of life I could not have been more wrong The term âœAmerican Dreamâ has been the driving spirit of the US an expression in which freedom comprises the opportunity for success and wealth with minimal barriers against social mobility Three weeks before Xi Jinping became the leader of the Chinese Communist Party the economist Thomas Friedman wrote in the New York Times âœDoes Xi have a âChinese Dreamâ that is different from the âAmerican Dreamâ Because if Xiâs dream â is just like the American Dream a big car a big house and Big Macs for all then we need another planetâ Friedman was worried that earthly resources could not sustain American consumerism adopted by the burgeoning Chinese middle class Xi did have his Chinese Dream in which economic prosperity was not the goal but only the means to be âœlike Americaâ With the collapse of the USSR in 1991 the USA had become the sole superpower By 2012 with its huge middle class membership of the WTO and consequent easy access to technologyand markets China was already striving to take on that mantle Historical claims were with Xi Since 100 BC China had called itself the âœMiddle Kingdomâ occupying the middle of the earth with barbarians all around it When Mao took power in 1949 he gave China an official name that included the words âœmiddle glorious countryâ This claim of being at the core of the civilized world has lasted for 3000 years China believes thatits decline in the nineteenth century and the emergence of the US as a superpower with the First World War werejust blips in this long history and corrections have become overdue A nation lives in the thoughts comprising its cultureThe physical manifestations are inadequate and mostly transient indicators of that thought The western constitution imposed on Japan by McArthur and the adoption of western dresses including wedding dresses and wedding diamond rings by most of the Japanese has not changed Japanâs culture in a significant way Japan including its domestic and workspace culture remains distinct and markedly different from the west Chinaâseternal idea of barbarians surrounding it resulted in raising the Great Wall by the First Emperor The Iron Curtain raised by Communist USSR created a familiar echo in the Chinese mind and Mao easily fell for it raising the Bamboo Curtain While the USSR remained the quintessential communist state and suffered economic collapse China modified the ideology to âœSocialism with Chinese Characteristicsâ creating the seemingly impossible capitalism without even an iota of democracy After Communism was adopted from the USSR a mimicry of physical manifestations followed soon prominent among them being urbanisation and the design of urban spaces Large cities with highrise residential blocks were the model for communists in the USSR and later for China While foreign ideas are modified to fit into Chinese culturethe adoption of physical designs is not limited to mere inspiration but these are copied faithfully When the First Emperor unified the kingdoms he replicated their palaces outside his own capital city Author Bianca Bosker in her illuminating book Original copies Architectural Mimicry in Contemporary China gives numerous examples where world landmarks have been copied in China brickbybrick with stone imported from the same source which supplied the original But Chinaâs builders did not stop at merely copying the buildings As Bosker describes it âœChengdu the capital of Sichuan Province has constructed a residential complex for nearly two hundred thousand that is the twin of Dorchester England from its Poole Promenade to the cobblestone paving on the streetâ In Hangzhou there isa replica of Paris where the 108meter Eiffel Tower forms the background for the Fountain of the Chariot of Apollo In this city is also a version of Venice with gondolas floating on canals between buildings true to the original down to their paint There is a New Amsterdamin Shenyang complete with the originalâs Central Station andthe windmill Kunshan has gates of Buckingham Palace including the golden coat of arms of the British royalty Chongqingâs New York is complete with the iconic Chrysler building and there is the âœWhite Houseâ in Shenzhen suburb To leave no room for doubt the original names are faithfully retained As the totalitarian party rule of the USSR attracted Mao so has Xi been attracted to an old hegemony doctrine of the US After the US had motivated the colonies on the American Continents to gain independence from the Portuguese and the Spaniards the US President James Monroe enunciatedapolicy in 1823 that later became known as the Monroe Doctrine It stated that any effort by European powers to take control of any country in the Americas would be construed by the US as âœmanifestation of an unfriendly dispositionâ towards the US Simultaneously the US promised not to interfere in the affairs of Europe Mimicking this Doctrine the new âœMiddle Kingdomâ dug out its Ninedash Line claiming most of the South China Sea with additional claims in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea In 2017 Xi suggested to Trump âœWe believe that China and the United States are countries with important influence in the Asia Pacific â the Pacific Ocean is big enough to accommodate both China and the United Statesâ hinting that China would leave the eastern Pacific region for the US if the western Pacific was left for China The suggestion had been discarded when Trump promoted the use of the term IndoPacific in place of Asia Pacific and encouraged the formation of the QUAD China is rarely original but is capable of scaling the physical appropriations to a grand level It adopted Buddhism form India and raised it to a level higher than in India as Imperial religion and for much longer than it had lasted in India In international trade the economy of scale is the key to comparative advantage and market capture and that explains China becoming the âœfactory of the worldâ aided by the ability to copy western designs and technologies state subsidies and prison labour Yet all of this excellence in mimicry remains confined to the physical manifestation of Chinese power In terms of thoughts that comprise its culture Xiâs China is no different from that of the totalitarian ruthless and whimsical First Emperor The writer is a retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre The views expressed are strictly his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/uniqueness-and-mimicry-in-china-86552.html Sun, 13 Dec 2020 21:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/genius-society-and-the-state-86553.html By RN Prasher Srinivasa Ramanujan a child prodigy was born 135 years ago on 22nd December As his birth anniversary approaches let us ponder over the question What is genius Is one born with this trait or is it hard work and focussed efforts that produce a genius Do the society and the state have a role in the flowering of a genius The laymanâs belief is a muddled mixture of all of these factors topped by another that the geniuses tend to die young after all that we have heard of some genius or the other who died at a prime age Jesus Christ was crucified at 33 and Alexander the Great and Eva Peron the charismatic First Lady of Argentina also died at that age Mozart the musical genius left this world at 35 Nearer home both Adi Shankaracharya the greatest sage in living memory and Srinivasa Ramanujan the mathematical genius passed away at 32 Vivekananda whose birthday on 12th January is designated the National Youth Day lived for 39 years Such examples led to the popular belief in the short lifespan of geniuses The truth is quite to the contrary The laymanâs belief is based on a false cause and effect relationship The fact that these notables were geniuses was not a cause of their early demise Research conducted over decades has established a direct correlation between intelligence and life span The prestigious Scientific American published in 2015 a clear finding of studies that higher intelligence on an average means a longer life The University of Edinburgh tested 11year old school children in 1932 for their IQ Then 65 years later in 1997 they tested the survivors of the group The results showed that a person with 115 IQ was 21 more likely to be alive at the age of 76 than a person with an IQ of 100 An IQ of 100 is the average for the general population Contrary to popular belief 20 studies in subsequent years have shown that socioeconomic factors including poverty and deprivation contribute less than one third to early demise as compared to IQ It appears that higher IQ enables a person to take better lifestyle decisions based on the available information An interesting study shows that when health risks of smoking were unknown there was no correlation between IQ and smoking When the risks became known people with higher IQ were found on an average to be more likely to quit smoking Who wants a long but troubled life as has been the fate of geniuses like the famous painter Van Gogh or author Ernest Hemmingway Yet again the common view that high IQ makes one a social misfit or that practice or focussed effort is key to high performance is not borne out by research making examples like Van Gogh or Hemingway exceptions to the rule A huge study of 5000 gifted children titled Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth founded in 1971 at Johns Hopkins is being continued at Vanderbilt University An article in the year 2016 in Nature magazine summed up the findings âœThe kids who test in the top one per cent tend to become our eminent scientists and academics our Fortune 500 CEOs and federal judges senators and billionairesâ The study clearly indicated that while geniuses are born improper handling by the society and the state could prevent their full flowering The genius has to be nurtured and the children have to be enabled to skip classes to remain at their appropriate mental level The study found that such efforts resulted in 60 more likelihood of earning a PhD or a patent Johns Hopkins has a Centre for Talented Youth to smoothen the swift rise of such precocious youth The efficacy of such efforts can be judged from the fact that Facebookâs Mark Zuckerberg and Googleâs cofounder Sergey Brin had passed through this centre Coming nearer home again Ramanujan had a tough time studying in college His sole interest was in Mathematics while he was forced to study English physiology and Sanskrit Without a degree he could not get a job and lived in poverty till he came to the notice of some mathematicians in India who put him in touch with Professor G H Hardy of Cambridge Thus the malnourished genius landed in cold England in 1914 In spite of his poor health he became in 1918 the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge but died two years later Had his genius been recognised when he was churning out theorems at the tender age of 13 the world of mathematics could have been richer The poignant story of Vashishtha Narayan Singh another mathematical genius is similar in its essentials Born in a lower middle class family in Bihar he showed signs of being extraordinary while studying in a school in Ranchi and college in Patna much to the discomfort of his mathematics teachers one of them reported him to the principal for putting on airs That was a Godsent opportunity as the principal himself a mathematics professor moved him immediately from first year of BSc to final year Later the principal put him in contact with Professor John Kelley of Berkeley who took the 19year old to California With a PhD under his arm Singh returned to India had short stints of employment a failed marriage and rapidly deteriorating mental health He spent 11 years in the psychiatry ward and then walked off a train unnoticed in 1989 He was found four years later eating out of garbage bins Ironically this news finally got recognition and help for him but he was beyond repair and died ten years later The society and the state systemically failed to recognise the genius of both Ramanujan and Singh There were no IQ tests no mentoring in schools and an encounter with a mentor only by sheer chance Neither of them got adequate health care and family life stood in their paths There will be a few even today unrecognised mocked by their âœaverageâ peers for their âœunintelligibleâ utterings and writings despised by their defensive teachers who fear exposure of their own mediocrity We speak of our great heritage and have dreams of a great future Yet there seems to be no sign that the Indian society is ready to identify our geniuses when they are still young children Nor is the state or the corporate world enlightened enough to set up as Johns Hopkins did a centre for talented Indians where an Indian Zuckerberg could achieve his full potential without being dragged down to the level of the âœaverageâ The writer is a retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre The views expressed are strictly his personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/genius-society-and-the-state-86553.html Sun, 13 Dec 2020 21:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/lessons-from-the-pandemic-86495.html DR HK BALI As we come to close of 2020 there is finally some good news to celebrate Much awaited vaccine for SARSCoV2 virus which has been causing havoc all around the world is finally going to be available At least in Europe and the US two vaccines manufactured by Pfizer BioNtech and Moderna using novel mRNA technology is going to be available for mass use Both have reported having shown more than 94 per cent efficacy in preventing infection in phase III clinical trials Other vaccines produced by Astra Zeneca Oxford Russian Sputnik V three Indian vaccines and a Chinese vaccine have also shown promising results They are likely to be available for mass use in the next few months Finding an effective and safe vaccine for a viral disease in less than one year is a remarkable achievement for the scientific community Earlier it used to take 56 years to produce an effective vaccine Vaccinating close to seven billion people of the world is going to be next big challenge It may take as much as two years to achieve this target As we celebrate the availability of the vaccine we need to take stock of what we have learnt from this pandemic Although this was the first pandemic of the twentyfirst century it certainly is not the last one This pandemic has brought the world to its knees killed millions seriously sickened tens of millions completely disturbed everyday life and brought economic activity to a standstill across the globe It has also exposed our lack of preparedness to face natural or humanmade disasters Even the most developed countries of the world were not able to cope with the massive health crisis Developing and underdeveloped countries had no clue how to safe lives while keeping their economies running What are the lessons we need to learn from this pandemic so humanity is better prepared to face the next one A International level This pandemic started in Wuhan and the first case was reported in late November 2019 The Chinese Government suppressed that information and continued to deny its severity for almost two months China informed the WHO about possible human to human transmission in late January 2020 If the information had been available to the world as soon as the first cluster of cases were identifiedit is possible pandemic could have been averted So the foremost lesson is that world needs to strengthen WHO so it can do better surveillance and inform different countries if any suspicious cases are reported from anywhere in the world There is a need to have WHO centres in all major cities of the world and trained personnel should have uninhibited access to all healthcare facilities in that city In the current digital age technology it should not be challenging to transmit such information in realtime across the globeWHO should also have the authority to recommend closure of all borders including airports to limit the disease to only a localized area There is also a need to strengthen the UN and other international bodies to impose punitive actions against countries not conforming to surveillance of healthcare facilities by WHO regulators The international community should also declare possessing experimenting with and use of biological warfare agents by any government as a crime against humanity National level In India we need to strengthen our public health system by increasing spending on healthcare to at least 5 per cent of our national GDP Subdistrict hospitals district hospitals should have fully equipped ICUs comprehensive testing laboratories and realtime availability of reports We also need to create a workforce to run these ICUs efficiently Only having medical equipment and beds is not sufficient but trained human resources are even more essential to take care of sick patients The workforce includes trained intensivists anaesthetists nurses respiratory physicists and technicians to run these ICUs The Government needs to encourage and incentivize medical personnel to opt for a career in running and manning ICUs Medical students should be encouraged to choose basic medical sciences like microbiology virology parasitology as career options All hospitals should start using Artificial Intelligence AI for rapid laboratory diagnosis data storage data availability and dissemination of information The Government also needs to create infrastructure for mass production of medical equipment like ventilators monitors infusion pumps and ICU beds should the need arise There should be a statutory obligation for large corporates to commit to mass production of medical equipment PPEs masks in case of a national medical emergency Similarly hospital chains should commit to legally binding conditions to reserve a certain percentage of beds in case of emergency Children in primary school should be taught about personnel protection like the use of masks social distancing and hand hygiene as a compulsory subject There should be regular and periodic health drills to see preparedness for a pandemic Similarly all service providers should have periodic training sessions for their employees about preparedness for a pandemic All employees should have at least 25 per cent of their workforce at all times working virtually from homes C Individual level Most important change should be at the individual level Each one of us must be alive to the possibility of another pandemic at all times Everyone should start giving utmost importance to personnel hygiene New normal will be entirely different from what we have seen before the beginning of the current pandemic We will have to learn to avoid very large gatherings prolonged close contacts and crowded indoor meetings Virtual should become the preferred mode of communication wherever and whenever possible Everyone should be psychologically and logistically prepared for sudden and prolonged lockdown at very short notice We should destigmatize infectious diseases The Government needs to stop the centuriesold practice of pasting posters on doors of affected patients People should be advised and encouraged to get tested at the first signs of disease and not to hide suspicious symptoms We need to develop the capability to ramp up testing at very short notice Laboratories should be equipped to have extensive facilities for testing and shorter return times The most critical lesson to learn is that humans should stop tampering with nature and learn to live in harmony with other animals Killing and eating exotic animals should be made a nonbailable offence Too close contact with animals like bats mongrels should be discouraged This pandemic has brought life to a standstill Still at the end of the day if it is indeed the beginning of the end of a pandemic the current pandemic had low severity high recovery low hospitalization rates and low mortality Next one may not be so forgiving and maybe as bad as the great Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 19 The current pandemic may turn out to be a blessing and a great teacher for humanity We should learn not to tinker with nature and to respect other animals both small and big on this planet We should also learn to share information irrespective of national boundaries religious and cultural divides It may also teach us how to share limited resources for the common good of humanity We have learnt how to develop a vaccine in the shortest possible time Next few months are going to be a huge challenge for governments across the world to make vaccines available to everyone irrespective of oneâs country of origin religious or cultural beliefs Different countries would need to collaborate both at the regional level and also at the international level to achieve this target in the shortest possible time This pandemic may also make all of us value each other and value life more than we ever did This year has been a fight for the survival for humanity We can neither afford to lose this fight nor afford not to learn lessons for the future of humanity The writer is associated with Paras Hospital Panchkula Views are personal https://dailyworld.in/opinion/lessons-from-the-pandemic-86495.html Sun, 13 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/voting-begins-for-goa-zilla-panchayat-polls-86177.html Panaji Dec 12 Voting for the zilla panchayat ZP polls in Goa which has 203 candidates in the fray contesting from 48 constituencies began on Saturday morning The polling process began at 8 am and is scheduled to conclude at 5 pm The ZP poll is the first major polling exercise in the state since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic The BJP has fielded 43 candidates while the Congress fielded 38 candidates followed by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party with 17 each There are also 79 Independent candidates in the fray We are confident of winning these elections I have been touring across Goa and there is a palpable support for the BJP because of the development projects undertaken by our government said state BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat also expressed confidence about the Congress winning the polls Goa is going through a troublesome stage and our economic condition is poor You can see the number of protests in Goa against the decisions of the government This will reflect in the election results Kamat said State Election Commissioner Chokha Ram Garg has urged voters to step out and participate in the elections which were originally scheduled to be held on March 22 The ZP polls were postponed after the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of Covid19 pandemic Goa has 50 Zilla Panchayat seats but one unopposed candidate has already been declared victorious while a candidate contesting from the Navelim seat in South Goa district has died forcing the State Election Commission to countermand polling in the constituency Covid19 patients will be allowed to exercise their franchise only during the last hour of polling provided they wear full PPE kits IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/voting-begins-for-goa-zilla-panchayat-polls-86177.html Sat, 12 Dec 2020 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sena-leader-compares-azaan-with-maha-aarti-sparks-row-83865.html Mumbai Nov 30 Maharashtras ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party were on Monday again in a confrontation this time over Azaan and MahaAarti Shiv Senas South Mumbai Vibhag President Pandurang Sakpal suddenly professed his admiration for the Muslim call of prayer Azaan and even announced that there should be a Azaan Recitation Competition on the lines of the Bhagwat Gita Competitions held frequently He informed media that he had suggested to a Mumbaibased NGO My Foundation to consider such an Azaan competition to encourage Muslim children to recite the Muslim call of prayer which is given out by the muezzins from mosques daily I live next to the Bada Kabrastan at Marine Lines I get to hear the Azaan daily and I find it very amazing and pleasing Whoever hears it once eagerly awaits the next round of Azaan This gave me an idea to organise the competition Sakpal said He said that the Azaan last barely 5 minutes it is as important as a MahaAarti symbolising peace and love and castigated attempts to give it a communal colour Even as the BJP slammed the move he made it clear that its not being organized by the Shiv Sena but by an NGO in south Mumbai BJP leader Atul Bhatkalkar wondered why the Shiv Sena founded by the late Bal Thackeray was so keen on such a thing especially since it had always opposed Muslim namaaz on roads etc in the past The same Shiv Sena in past campaigned for votes saying voting for Congress was akin to voting for terror or Kasab Its not a question of opposing Azaan but of religious politics he alleged However Sakpal found support from the ruling allies Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress who welcomed the move for an Azaan competition for Muslim kids Such competitions are already being organized for Bhagwad Gita in Maharashtra and other parts in which Muslim girls have won top prizes Whats wrong with an Azaan competition NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik said He attacked the BJP for attempting to view arts and culture with its Hindutva brand of spectacles and pointed out how Bollywood actors like Dilip Kumar Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan have portrayed religious roles or temple scenes with remarkable excellence and professionalism Welcoming the initiative Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant rued that those who have hatred in their hearts can never comprehend the beauty of conversation between man and God This is a good start and must be encouraged given the current divisive atmosphere created in the country by the BJP to divide the people on religious lines Sawant said Sakpal said that even Muslim children recite the Azaan with grace and such a competition would provide a platform to bring out the hidden talents among them based on the pronunciation voice modulation recitation and the overall effect of the Azaan rendition The Azaan Recitation Competition maybe the first of its kind in the country and he anticipated a good response for it even promising to bear the cost of the prizes IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sena-leader-compares-azaan-with-maha-aarti-sparks-row-83865.html Wed, 02 Dec 2020 04:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/this-isnt-a-movement-by-farmers-83184.html By Kailash Vijayvargiya New Delhi Nov 28 In the name of opposing the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Promotion and Facilitation Bill 2020 the Farmers Empowerment and Protection Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill 2020 the people who have come to Delhi are saying that Indira ko thok diya tha Modi ko bhi thok denge The only objective of those who are involved or supporting the agitation in the garb of farmers movement is to oppose the central government the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Some of the socalled agitators are also instigating farmers who used to go to Shaheen Bagh to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 Surprisingly despite the proKhalistan slogans about Indira Gandhi the leaders of the Congress and other parties are keeping quiet on the objectionable rants of the socalled farmers Does the Congress have no objection to Indira ko thok diya tha Various media reports indicate that the people agitating in Punjab are being fully backed by the Congress government in the state Ration is being provided to the agitators The Northern Railway had to suffer a revenue loss of Rs 891 crore till last week due to the agitation against agriculture bills Indian Railways has also incurred a loss of Rs 2220 crores The agitation was abolished by farmers organisations after the central governments clarification on the questions raised on the agriculture bills and continuation of MSP Various media reports say there is a big conspiracy behind the agitation Food is being distributed to the people at mosques People like Nazir Mohammad who was involved in Shaheen Bagh are roaming around wearing turbans The elderly lady Momina from Shaheen Bagh is also roaming around as a farmer These are just a few examples Like Shaheen Bagh and the Delhi riots the truth behind such an agitation will also come out before to the public after the conspiracy is exposed The kind of mistake that Indira Gandhi had made by encouraging Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is again being made by the Congress government in Punjab led by Amarinder Singh The activities of Khalistan supporters are increasing during the Amarinder regime It was even being discussed that some people could try to unfurl Khalistani flags in Delhi People are already suffering due to the outbreak of the Corona pandemic All business has been affected The number of people dying from Corona in Delhi is increasing Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself had to hold a meeting about the deteriorating condition of the pandemic outbreak in Delhi Paramilitary forces had to be deployed in light of the shortage of doctors In the guise of opposition to the agriculture bills people who have come to the Capital with intention of camping in Delhi will only aggravate the agony of Coronavirus Why are the agriculture bills facing the maximum opposition in Punjab Because the government is preparing people for the agitation Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the agitation by sitting on a sofa placed on a tractor in Punjab It is worth noting that last year 80 per cent of paddy and 70 per cent of wheat were from Punjab and Haryana were procured by the government The BJP is the only party that thinks about the interests of farmers Other parties have just used farmers for politics The central government is sending money to the farmers accounts Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly said that our goal is to double the income of farmers The agricultural reforms will provide new opportunities to farmers to sell their produce This will increase their profitability Farmers will get the benefit of modern technology and emerge stronger Because of these bills with the role of middlemen being eliminated the socalled farmer leaders who acted as brokers have been the worst hit MSP has nothing to do with these Agriculture Bills Confusion is being spread among the farmers that MSP will be abolished Just as the Citizenship Amendment Act has nothing to do with the citizens of this country MSP has nothing to do with the farm bills The politics of spreading confusion by opposition parties wont last long The writer is National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party Views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/this-isnt-a-movement-by-farmers-83184.html Sun, 29 Nov 2020 08:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/russia-to-reopen-trade-mission-in-syria-79704.html Moscow Nov 12 Russia will reopen its trade mission in the Syrian capital of Damascus by the end of this year according to a decree by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin published Wednesday In the decree Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to approve the organizational structure and recruit staff of the trade office the Xinhua news agency reported Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1 2006 In another decree Mishustin ordered the closure of Russian trade missions in Ukraine and Lithuania without giving a reason IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/russia-to-reopen-trade-mission-in-syria-79704.html Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sudhir-mishra-i-have-lost-a-bit-of-my-swag-after-pandemic-76679.html BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Oct 31 For Sudhir Mishra the pandemic has left an everlasting impact on his life and not everything about it is good The filmmaker says holding his ill father in his arms and running towards the ICU and then watching him die has changed him and he is still figuring out how You know author Manu Joseph once wrote an article about me and said that Im the collector of frail men Now I see myself as much more frail after the pandemic Mishra told IANS when asked about the projects he is working on Id like to relook at things that Ive been working on I am working on a film I am working on a script I am working on a couple of OTT long form things There is a historical series that I am rewriting So there is a lot of work but through these five or six months some other story seems to be emerging and I am trying to get a grasp of it added the filmmaker He continued I dont know this whole experience of the pandemic Ive lost a bit of my swag When I saw myself terrified holding my father in my arms and running towards an ICU and then watching him die that has done something I dont know what exactly It will show in my next project Mishra entered the showbiz as a director with Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin in 1987 He added strokes of diverse stories on the cinematic canvas from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Chameli Inkaar Khoya Khoya Chand Calcutta Mail Inkaar to Hostages His most recent project was Serious Men an adaptation of Manu Josephs book of the same name The Netflix Original film featured Nawazuddin Siddiqui and narrated the story of a father who wants to create a bright future for his son After spending so many years in the industry Mishra says he still gets amazed at how stories often decide their own course and shape The magic of storytelling is that sometimes you write a scene and when you shoot the scene something happens You dont know where it came from You think How did I write this Where did it come from And thats the magic of storytelling and then when it reaches people people have different reactions to it he said The same book means one thing to one person and another thing to another person When people interact with a film or a book they seem to be interacting with different things because they are interacting with it from their own heads backgrounds mysteries of their own It is fascinating to see that he added Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/sudhir-mishra-i-have-lost-a-bit-of-my-swag-after-pandemic-76679.html Sat, 31 Oct 2020 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-must-play-active-role-in-baloch-freedom-struggle-64425.html By Sobdar Baloch New Delhi Sep 11 I am often confronted with a question about how to create global awareness about the Balochistan movement Common answers would be that India Afghanistan United States and friendly countries should initiate a debate and chalk out a longterm policy to work with Balochistan in order to maintain durable peace and prosperity of the region Recognizing Balochistan as an occupied territory will pave the way for it to become a sovereign state India should make a concrete policy for assisting the Baloch people The Indian government should give asylumcitizenship to us so that the Baloch diaspora can carry their movement for independence without being intimidated by anyone If Baloch proindependence parties can have their offices in the UK US and other European countries then why cant they have a political office in India Delhi should take a leading role in exposing the gross human rights violation being perpetrated by the Pakistan Army in occupied Balochistan India should train the Baloch patriots and help them raise an army of about 50000 soldiers who should be sent to defend the borders of Balochistan It would play a vital role in thwarting the Pakistani and Chinese exploitation and also dismantle Chinese military projects including naval bases in Jiwani Ormara and Pasni A strong Baloch army will prevent the loot and plunder of Balochistans rich resources like gold copper natural gas coal and other rare minerals China and Pakistan are trying hard to exploit the region especially like Kohistan Marri New roads are being constructed and there are reports of heavy troop deployment forcing the locals from Bambor Kahan Rakni and the adjoining areas of district Kohlu to migrate Levies a paramilitary force has been deployed to guard the logistics but the drilling sites are secured by the Pakistani army and Frontier Corps controlled directly from Islamabad Last week the ISI and Military Intelligence MI organized a rally in Kohlu city where former senator Mohbat Khan Zindozai Marri Bahar Khan Bijarani a local collaborator of Pakistan Army and Inayaullah Zarkoon head Zarkoon tribe gave speeches and offered full support to the government to start drilling for oil gas coal and other minerals The drilling of oil wells was started by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1973 but due to fierce resistance put up by some Balochs it was not possible to install the machinery in mountainous areas of Kahan and Jhandaran region of Kohlu Leaders like Hyrbyair Marri and his father late Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri led the fight against the exploitation of regions resources The Baloch armed group Baloch Liberation Army BLA had also been targeting Pakistan Army cantonments outposts and staterun exploration companies for a long time BLAs spokesperson Azad Baloch had issued a stern warning to the Army asking them to stay away from the mineralrich region A huge economic crisis in the country has made the Pakistani leaders in Islamabad to accelerate usurpation of Balochistans minerals Meanwhile China is building underground naval bases and military installations in Jewani and Sonmiani region of Gawadar A strong Baloch army can dismantle the Chinese military installations These projects will be used against India and the US in future India should approach EU USA Africa and the gulf countries to build a collective approach against the economic and military terrorism initiated by China in Balochistan Pakistanoccupied Kashmir and other areas India enjoys an overwhelming support of the global powers and can offer its expertise to build a global consensus for the Baloch cause America and Islamic countries should invite Balochistan as a regional stakeholder It is obvious that a weak Balochistan will only strengthen Pakistan and China We are also witnessing turmoil and proxy war against Afghanistan which has been orchestrated and supervised by the ISI Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri president of Free Balochistan Movement had in an interview last year also revealed how Pakistan is creating riots disturbing internal security law and order in India China Pakistan Iran and Turkey have joined hands against India Balochistan will however stand with its reliable and true friends Balochs just like the Kurds deserve global attention and recognition and will always remain a trustworthy allay and friend of India US Afghanistan and Israel Sobdar Baloch is a journalist and a human rights activist who associated with the Free Balochistan Movement This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrativecom IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/india-must-play-active-role-in-baloch-freedom-struggle-64425.html Fri, 11 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/civilians-killing-in-sopore-firing-needs-to-be-impartially-probed-47547.html Ambo In this image taken from OBN video the coffin carrying Ethiopia singer Hachalu Hundessa is lowered into the ground during the funeral in Ambo Ethiopia Thursday July 2 2020 More than 80 people have been killed in unrest in Ethiopia after the popular singer Hachalu Hundessa was shot dead this week He was buried Thursday amid tight security He had been a prominent voice in antigovernment protests that led to a change in leadership in 2018 PTI By Sheikh Qayoom Srinagar July 2 The killing of an innocent 65year old civilian accompanied by his toddler grandson in Sopore town Wednesday during a firing incident has shocked Kashmir with differing versions about what resulted in the brutal murder The police has said the civilian was killed by the militants who fired at the CRPF Naka party when the party was deboarding from the vehicle The CRPF did not fire a shot in retaliation during the incident and we have identified the two militants responsible for the civilians murder Vijay Kumar IGP Kashmir told media persons during a press conference on Wednesday The police version is strongly contested by the family The daughter of the slain civilian has contested the police version by saying that while the family agrees that none of them was there when the incident happened nor was the top policeman there when it happened The daughter has demanded an impartial probe into the murder so that whosoever committed the brutal murder of her father is brought to justice If my father died by the militant fire there should have been a bullet mark on the vehicle he was travelling in This shows that he was brought down from his vehicle and shot at point blank range in cold murder the daughter said There are other loose ends in saying categorically as to who killed the civilian as stated by the police There were no civilian around when the incident took place and still pictures of the man lying dead on the ground with his grandson wailing on the dead body went viral on the social media within minutes of the shocking incident Security forces are not allowed to use mobile phones during operations and if they have shot those pictures we will ensure that they follow the protocol not to use mobiles during operations the IGP told the reporters Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the picture of the toddler being carried by a security man has only exploited the tragedy of the child who lost his grandfather Omar said that the police rescued the child which is part of their duty that everyone appreciates and yet the spirit of duty demands the same should not have been highlighted on the social media Political parties including the NC PDP Congress JK Apni Party and others have demanded an immediate probe to expose the killers Authorities should have no issues with ordering such an impartial probe to help restore the trust and faith of the bereaved family in the fairness of our justice and administrative system After all the security forces are here to protect the lives and properties of the civilians and if there has been a black sheep in the uniform to tarnish the fair image of our security forces he must face the most stringent punishment Security forces in Kashmir are known to have acted against many such personnel who stepped out of their line of duty in the past In all fairness to the good image of our police and the paramilitary forces it is logical to expect that the authorities will order a probe to mitigate the suffering of the bereaved family whose loss cannot be redeemed by anything we do IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/civilians-killing-in-sopore-firing-needs-to-be-impartially-probed-47547.html Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pompeo-reaffirms-us-mission-to-denuke-nkorea-23869.html WashingtonSeoul May 4 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has renewed Washingtons goal of denuclearizing North Korea and creating a bright future for its people after North Korean leader Kim Jonguns return to the public eye following his 20day absence a media report said on Monday Our mission has remained the same to convince the North Koreans to give up their nuclear weapons to verify the same and to then create a brighter future for the North Korean people the Seoulbased Yonhap News Agency quoted Pompeo as saying in an ABC News interview on Sunday Thats been something President Donald Trumps been focused on since the beginning of his time in office and something well continue to work on he added On Saturday the Norths official Korean Central News Agency reported on Kims visit to a fertilizer factory completion ceremony in Sunchon north of Pyongyang on Friday ending rumours of his failing health Kim had disappeared from the public view since he presided over a premier ruling party meeting on April 11 Various rumours emerged afterward including Kim being in a coma after surgery or the ruler simply selfisolating over coronavirus concerns Asked about Kims weekslong absence Pompeo refused to comment in detail said the Yonhap News Agency report Theres not much that I can share with you about what we knew about Chairman Kims activities during that time We dont know why he chose to miss that moment he said referring to his absence from an event marking the April 15 birth anniversary of his late grandfather and national founder Kim Ilsung We know there have been other extended periods of time where Chairman Kims been out of public view as well so its not unprecedented he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/opinion/pompeo-reaffirms-us-mission-to-denuke-nkorea-23869.html Mon, 04 May 2020 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/jio-facebook-deal-lifts-sagging-spirits-brings-hope-in-times-of-despair-12268.html By Manish Tiwari EditorinChief Daily World When the world is passing through a phase of âœgloom and doomâ due to the fallout of the novel Coronavirus pandemic and the economy is contracting as never before the Social media giant Facebookâs decision to buy 99 per cent stake for Rs 43574 crore in Reliance Jio has not only pepped up the countryâs mood but also brought hope to the sagging Indian economy in this gloomy environ The investment of US 57 billion has a greater significance for India It has an inherent message for the country that all is not lost that India has a strong potential to recover from the economic crisis in a short span and that more than the money it is the perception which matters in such hard times For Reliance Industries Ltd RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani the deal will not only help his company cut debt that it has amassed in its endeavour to make Reliance Jio the top digital platform in India but also leverage the Whatsapp messenger to offer digital payment services to small grocerykirana shops all over the country and thus capture a new segment for expanding its businesses Needless to say Reliance Jio has scripted a success story within a span of just a few years after launching its operations and given tough times to all top telecom players despite some political parties taking a dig at the companyâs âgrowth modelâ and the dramatic transformation spurred by it in the digital world While Ambani is set out to dominate the digital market after the JioFacebook deal he has also proved a point that he shares the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs âDigital Indiaâ and would like to realise his dream of giving onestop solutions to the customers through digital network Initially Jio announced âfree of costâ telecom services to build the largest customer base before it started charging money that is still far less than other operators Ambaniâs vision to transform the digital world by providing quality network and services is what has lured the worldâs largest social media company Facebook to invest in Reliance Jio Besides the telecom sector India has vast potential to attract Foreign Direct Investment FDI in several other fields With the world becoming increasingly wary of China and its policies there is a strong change for us to emerge as a big foreign investment destination In the JioFacebook deal there is also an underlying message for the Government of India â it should go whole hog to support the industries and do the handholding at this hour by further announcing big stimulus package Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and this is the time when the government must rev up the economy by supporting industries and corporate even at the cost of the fiscal deficit going up for a while Moreover the falling crude oil prices give the government enough headspace to deal with deficit at the later stage This deal also has bucked the trend that every single corporate house and financial investment firm has been advocating â conserve cashdonât invest They can always take a cue from Chinese companies which are on a buying spree across the world especially after the Coronavirus pandemic and are in the mode of investing and acquiring stakes in critical infrastructure including ports and terminals at a time when Chinaâs economy has contracted 68 per cent in the first three months of 2020 The Government of India has been smart enough to bring about changes in the FDI policy making it mandatory for all countries sharing land border with it to seek its prior permission for all forms of investments in India No doubt China was the only country to openly object to the recent changes in the FDI policy which it thought was made to stop Chinese firms acquiring assets in our country and have a free run to do cheap pickings The lockdown is physical but post Coronavirus it should not become a âœmental lockdownâ If Japan could rebuild its economy after being devastated during the World WarII and become the second largest economy in the world within a span of 25 years there is a lot to be learnt by India Inc Reliance has shown the way forward and itâs time for the Government and other corporates to rise to the occasion https://dailyworld.in/opinion/jio-facebook-deal-lifts-sagging-spirits-brings-hope-in-times-of-despair-12268.html Sun, 12 Apr 2020 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-modi-blunts-covid-storm-will-the-west-choose-india-10162.html By Manish Tiwari EditorinChief Daily World At a time when the US Japan and several European nations have been devastated by the Novel Coronavirus pandemic and feel having been betrayed by China Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs bid to effectively impose lockdown in the largest democracy has sent a clear message to the world that India can govern itself in difficult times The World Health Organisation WHO and heads of several States have also praised Modi for his efforts even as a survey by pollster Morning Consult has ranked him top amongst the world leaders in the fight against the virus The COVID19 is a common enemy spelling havoc across the world without differentiating the boundaries In a situation like this there are only two countries â India and China with a large population base where the number of deaths is still very low as compared to the European countries and the US The West that banked upon China for over three decades and helped it become the largest manufacturing hub feels ditched and has started revisiting its policy towards China Post Coronavirus the world will have to decide whoâs most trustworthy to deal with Xi Jinping or Modi Like China India too has vast skill set and capacity to do quality work And after the effective implementation of the lockdown and the PMâs ability to carry along almost all the States in the countryâs fight against COVID19 weâll talk about West Bengal some other day India despite being a volatile democracy has shown the will and grit to rise to the occasion when the stakes are high There is also a growing realisation that if the industries from the Western world offer employment opportunities by setting shop in India Modi would be in a position to deliver His proactiveness in reaching out to the industries across the world also demonstrates that he is willing to do business Needless to say the world is already wary of inferior quality of Chinese products and in the recent past several countries have been up in arms over the poor quality supplies from China After the deaths and economic devastation in much of the Europe and the US the relations of many of these countries with China are no longer the same as before The fact that countries have been calling Coronavirus as âœChinese virusâ shows the amount of distrust that has spread across the world So for many nations there can no longer be business as usual with China On the contrary the world leaders would like to find in China a âœconvenient scapegoatâ and heap all blame on it for all the ills plaguing their countries It is another matter though that some of these leaders have already failed their nations on many fronts even before the spread of Coronavirus Since the situation is grim the political class would now like to externalise the threat and build pressure on China as time ticks by In the changed scenario India can emerge as a natural choice for the overseas industries and a favoured foreign investment destination with Modi at the helm Modi a leader who has risen from the ground knows full well that there cannot be a perfect decision and that no decision in a democratic set up can be completely âœconsensualâ Given Modiâs decisionmaking qualities one can say that he likes to factor in every point and take a clear decision which he backs up without bothering much for the consequences By doing so in many situations heâs been able to save the country from greater harm Another factor that must be weighing on the minds of the western leaders is that Modi who is leading an open democracy decisively has been consistent on his anticorruption agenda While Opposition parties like to call him âœantiminorityâ for many heâs âœantiappeasementâ From the days of Gujarat where he was the Chief Minister for several years and now the Prime Minister of India Modi has been consistent and led by example Whatâs more in favour of India The country that had earlier been a colony of the Western world is now playing a major role in taking care of the frontier of their economy Its historical commercial ties with the West socioeconomic transaction for over 200300 years and English being the link language make India a natural choice for foreign investment On the other hand China is still using predatory tactics in all its dealings with the world The recent Huawei faceoff between North America and China is prelude to the increasingly decreasing trust deficit Post Coronavirus however the growing antiChina sentiments should not lead to the Third World War or a global economic showdown On the contrary it should lead to relocation of industries from China to India and other nations and thereby result in an economic readjustment in this part of the world though China would be dead set against this Time seems to be favouring India and Modi holds the hope It would now all depend on how our foreign policy plays out and turns this opportunity into a reality https://dailyworld.in/opinion/after-modi-blunts-covid-storm-will-the-west-choose-india-10162.html Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:09:00 +0530