Blog | Page 134 of 889

A tainted record in welfare jurisdiction

Opinions

-

28 January 2022

A tainted record in welfare jurisdiction

Tamil Nadu always prides itself as the cultural icon and hub, as a civilisational construct. Rightly so. Tamil is an ancient and classical language. Azhwars, Nayanmars led the way. Sangam literature followed by Kamban, Thiruvalluvar and Ilango put Tamil and Tamil Nadu in the stratosphere. Not to be left behind, other poets picked up the gauntlet and Vallalar, Thayumanavar and the inimitable Chinnaswamy Subramania Bharathi. Yes, Tamil and Tamil Nadu can feel genuinely ‘proud’ of its ‘moral, ethical and beneficent’ precept and practice of a ‘Tamilian’, in his day to day life.

We can be said to have ‘proudly’ (why not?) added another feather. We have morphed and mutated the welfare or beneficial legislation for compulsory motor insurance, into a viral hotbed of corruption, scams and scamsters. We have minutely micromanaged our acumen to lend ‘social justice’, of a tainted hue, as an unique hegemony in motor accidents claims jurisdiction.

Delhi and Tamil Nadu lead the nation in burgeoning numbers of motor accidents and keep the flag flying with a ‘death every six hours on the road’ when last heard, from the National Crime Records Bureau.

We are not a poor State. By no means. Crores of rupees move around, among the practitioners, brokers of several strands, with the innocent accident victims getting at least their crumbs from the generated moolah. At one stage, on 01.03.2006, Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan paid left handed compliment to the ‘skill and ingenuity of the Tamilian and their concern for the poor and underprivileged in this portfolio’.

They said, “We are deeply moved and touched. While Bihar and Orissa report a conversion rate of 25% to 30% of motor accidents into motor accidents claims, Tamil Nadu has trumped them big, with its proud conversion rate. For every reported 100 accidents there were 110 claims. (Yes, true). That is why we are ordering CBI investigation into 1061 such complaints”. It was noted that claims worth Rs.160 crores were withdrawn in the wake of reference to CBI. One felt proud and ashamed, at the same time.

It all began in 2003 from Namakkal. CB-CID came on the scene. But it overwhelmed them. Or rather ‘consumed’ them, as the Judges noted. CBI ‘came down from heaven’ as a late chief minister taunted, at embracing the premier investigating agency, for all things corruption. Practitioners, police, claimants, vehicle owners and drivers were convicted. There was a lull in the ‘conversion rate’. Only for a while,? as the genius of the Tamilian, cannot be bottled up for long. He has ‘business’ to perform, you see.

Come 2018, Justice K Chandru (Retd) sat as a One Man Commission and reported Rs.54 crores claims were ‘duplicate’. Got them withdrawn. And the multiple ways in which miracles were performed by tricksters in this ‘welfare jurisdiction to usher in social justice’ were laid out in facts, figures, anecdotes and more. Justice P N Prakash continued and noted 56 claim petitions were ‘stolen’, in cut throat competitive commercialism, from Small Causes Court’ premises, inside the hallowed Madras High Court heritage compound and referred the FIR to CB-CID, Well, it is in hibernation, as we have more important things to attend to.

What do you think we are? If practitioners can revel along with ‘others’, the court staff cannot sit back and fiddle their thumbs. They too put their fingers into the cookie jar; it is alleged that a Court Nazir had misappropriated Rs.1.51 crores, in a Pattukottai, Thanjavur District, claims tribunal. Not to be left behind ‘others’ in Virudhunagar, Pudukottai etc have also revealed their skill set.

After a briefer lull than its earlier avatar after 2006, all this happened post 2018. Now, Justice N Anand Venkatesh was persuaded to order constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with Economic Offences Wing, Chennai, to go into now the new technological beast ‘cyber crimes’ and ‘digital frauds’ in manufacture of fake insurance claims, in 2021.

What did you think we were? Brilliant in ancient, heritage, culture and technology too, when it came to money. It is not only us please. It is Pan India, but Tamil Nadu appears to have experienced past masters. Thanks to a whiplash from the Supreme Court, 28 practising brethren in Uttar Pradesh, were suspended from practice in this beneficial jurisdiction, in late 2021.

Now another variant has raised its ugly head. Hospital records are forged. Medical bills manufactured or padded up. 108 Ambulances ruthlessly and mindlessly move victims to private hospitals for their successful commerce, than government hospitals which now host over 65 Trauma Care Centres with high end facilities to provide emergency care in the ‘golden hour’.

Down but not out, the State of Tamil Nadu has now announced a novel scheme under which accident victims will be provided with free emergency treatment for 48 hours at government and private hospitals located on or near the highways. The scheme will also cover people from other states and other countries, in Nov,2021. “Nammai Kakkum 48’- “That Which Protects us 48’. Excellent initiative, but the scamsters should first approve it.

When the Madras High Court ordered Direct Bank Transfer of Just compensation to victims, in 2016, we opened ‘dedicated’ bank accounts in select bank branches to keep ‘control’, for practice of champerty’. To illustrate, two branches generously opened 965 saving bank accounts and 650 respectively. KYC? you ask. You can keep asking. We have ‘friends’ everywhere.

And now Justice Anand Venkatesh has ordered restoration of 84 motor accidents claims ‘dismissed as not pressed’, in the wake of a complaint that hospital records/bills may have been fabricated. In its constitutional majesty, the High Court, by a stroke of the pen, on 24th Jan,2022, High Court has restored them all (worth Rs.11.70 crores) , while ordering a probe by SIT. And requested the motor insurance companies to be ‘liberal not niggardly’ in compromise of claims, as Justice V R Krishna Iyer.

While a larger probe is on by SIT, this one is uniquely ours. We protect our turf well. Very dear to us. We are ancient. Have a heritage to guard. We have the benefit and welfare of the masses in mind. That is why we not only use the beneficial and welfare jurisdiction of compulsory motor insurance, but also ‘misuse’ it fully, with all our ancient intelligent facilities which Tamil Thaai has generously bestowed in us.

Just to give you a number- there are close to 3 lakh motor accident claims pending before 328 claims tribunals in Tamil Nadu. And thousands of Fixed Deposit Receipts worth Rs.3,560 crores handled by them. Then imagine the outgo. Mind boggling. No wonder Greed is Good.

Nanabhoy Ardeshir Palkhivala ridiculously urged us to be rid of ‘ethical, moral illiteracy’ in ‘legal education’. We know better. What does he know that he knows not and knew not? Can we read the Constitution and interpret it? Why waste time? We have easier paths to the financial top. We have lovelier routes to be successful, on the ‘revenue’ front’. Or rather MORE than him!

Senthamizh naadenum podhinilae Inba thaen vandhu paayudhu kaadhinilae Engal thandhaiyar naadendra podhinilae Oru sakthi pirakkudhu moochinilae

sang by Subramania Bharathi.

Meaning: Talk of Tamil Nadu, honey flows into your ears. In our fatherland, we are inspired with energy in our breath. True.

And milk and honey doth flow in the lives of practitioners’ and scamsters, while the all sacrificing innocent accident victims pay with their lives, limbs, blood, sweat and tears.

Tamil Nadu has made this jurisdiction all its own. And with many an innovation (some other day we shall allude to it) including this basic and foundational tainted Precept and Practice.

(Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan – practising advocate in the Madras High Court)

Netaji statue, a well-deserved, belated recognition

Opinions

Krishna Kumar

-

27 January 2022

0

Netaji statue, a well-deserved, belated recognition

Putting up a granite statue in place of where George V once stood (unbelievably till 1968) is a considerable step in recognition of the role of Netaji Subash Bose in the fight for freedom of India. Thank you, Modiji.

Naming an airport after him, naming an island after him, and ensuring that Republic Day celebrations now start from his birthday are all fitting tributes to the memory of the man who made ‘Jai Hind’ popular and used the call to ‘Chalo Delhi’. The tricolor on Lal Quila is a culmination of his vision.

Next Step: His image on currency notes.

Last year a mention by PM Modi finally acknowledging him in parliament as the first PM of India of Azad Hind Government had not gone unnoticed, but we await a formal recognition.

The British Empire was a coercive commercial enterprise for wealth extraction. ‘The greatest tyranny that was ever exercised.’[i]

‘Like Rome’s empire, Britain’s Raj was based on the force of arms. As Lord Bryce said, its administration bore a ‘permanent military character.’ Its atmosphere was permeated by gunpowder. The tiny white community was a garrison, all too aware that what had been won by the sword might be lost by the sword.’[ii]

INA did liberate parts of India from the British. They were in Assam and used Tezpur as a base. Much before 1947, or shall we say 1950, as till 1950 India had a British Governor-General as head of Government.

Netaji scared the British more than congress. The correspondence of British Governors and Viceroy is a testimony to that. An oppressive state cannot be run without an army, which had rebelled post-INA prosecution. A naval Revolt, an imminent Police strike, and a postal strike gave the British nightmares. They had no choice but to run.

Let us not forget that while fighting a war, Netaji created a Cabinet, An Army, A bank, Own Currency notes, Postage stamps, A flag, and a national anthem, amongst other things. But unfortunately, his unique vision has never received its fair share in Independent India.

His Government did not owe its allegiance to a foreign King. It was not given Oath by a representative of the Crown. It was a genuine Indian, nationalist Government for the Indian people, by the Indian people, and of the Indian people.

To the apologists, let me add two things. First, the Azad Hind Fauz represented all communities from Parsee to Muslims.

Second to those critical of his association and taking help from Hitler, let me remind you of the old adage ‘ Enemy of my Enemy is my friend.’ If USSR and USA, with two diverse ideologies as different as chalk and cheese, could combine against Germany and Japan, so could Netaji seek help from Germany and Japan.

Will wait for the day when the true history of Indian Independence is widely recognized with him as first Prime Minister, and his face appears on currency notes, his statue in every city.

[i] Page 12 Piers Brandon, The decline and fall of the British [email protected] by Alfred a Knopf

[ii] Page 32 IBID

Netaji #125

Opinions

gaurav30

-

27 January 2022

0

It does not matter who amongst us will live to see India free, we are confident that India shall be free, and we shall give our all to make her free” were the words echoed by the Indian icon before he mysteriously died/disappeared. A few days back a foreign news media reporter Lauren Frayer looked at a dirty American train station and said how it reminisced her of India. Indeed today India is still seen by the world as a poor, third world feudal society by many in the west. So what did we lack post independence? In my opinion we lacked fearless leadership. Someone who won’t be afraid to take the route of ruthless determination and sacrifice for the country.

Maybe we need a Netaji. The man who was bold enough to shake that evil monsters Hitlers hand for liberation of India. Someone who was willing to join forces with the cruel Imperial Japanese Army to spark a revolution in South Asia. So which political party can claim his legacy. Answer is none. His fallout with the Congress Party is well known. His deep criticism of the Hindu mahasabha still annoys folks in the BJP. He was disowned by the Muslim league and referred to as Tojo’s dog by the communists. So can the fascists claim him then.

The answer is a no here as well. They can’t claim him either. He was a fervent critic of Adolf Hitler and the Japanese imperialists and had many Jewish friends in Germany. His life tells us that putting nation above self is the ultimate, right from the day of quitting the ICS to quitting Congress Presidentship. He could have led a lavish life in his luxurious Elgin road home, hobnobbed with the Congress leaders to become the first PM of India. But no? He chose to forge his own path and do whatever it takes to liberate his motherland.

He engaged with all the foreign powers from the British, the Soviets, the Germans and the Japanese on his own terms. Perhaps that’s why his death would forever mysterious to his countrymen because nothing else would symbolise a more cathartic end to the life he led.

Jai Hind!

Terrorism will remain a serious threat and global issue

Opinions

Sachindra Vikram Singh

-

27 January 2022

0

Terrorism will remain a serious threat and global issue

Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face. It is the tactic of demanding the impossible and demanding it at gunpoint. Terrorism has been declared a global threat and a serious issue across the globe by many intellectuals, leaders, human rights activists, liberals, and many other scholars. In recent human history, terrorism has been widely recognized as the world’s biggest threat. It turns neighbors into enemies and has made our societies and the whole world unsafe for living. If we talk only in India’s context, there are over 42 terrorist organizations listed in the first schedule of the UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT, 1967.

Terrorism aims to overthrow a legitimate government using violence to create a climate of fear and uncertainty. It is driven by political objectives despite exploitation of regional, national and religious sentiments to achieve its goal.

Terrorism by no means is a modern phenomenon. Its early example includes ‘Sicari’ usually seen as an extreme splinter wing of Jewish zealots who in the first century killed and kidnapped Romans, Thugs in India, etc.

Terrorism is derived from the French reign of terror under Robespierre in the French revolution when around 40000 alleged enemies of the revolution were sent to their deaths in 1793-94.

Terrorism has taken various orientations with change in time. Earlier, terrorism was anarchist in nature where violence was carried out by the clandestine anarchist group (in the late nineteenth century) in western societies.

Examples of Catastrophe!!

Some examples of anarchist terrorism include an attack on Tsar Alexander (1881), assault on Cafe Terminus in Paris, violence by Baader- Meinhof group in West Germany, the Italian Red Brigade, and the Japanese Red Army, etc in 1960-70s.

After 1945, period terrorism got nationalist orientation. Its examples include anti-colonial struggles in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, groups like Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), etc.

But it was the 9/11 attack on the twin towers in New York and Washington when terrorism got limelight and many were convinced that a new and more dangerous form of terrorism called “Global Terrorism” has taken birth.

Now terrorism is broadly categorized into two types: State Terrorism and State-Sponsored Terrorism. State Terrorism is one where the state uses its power against its people eg., Saddam Hussain, Stalin in Russia. State-Sponsored Terrorism is one where one state uses non-state actors against another state eg. Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud-Dawa ISI of Pakistan, etc.

Terrorism is a deeply controversial term. Different scholars have perceived terrorism differently. Let’s see what are their takes regarding terrorism

Views of Realists

Realists tend to put a strong emphasis on state and non-state dichotomy. They view terrorism as a violent challenge by non-state actors to the established order to get political power.

Realists draw their tradition from Machiavellian thinking which is reflected in their beliefs when they tend to be relatively unconcerned about whether counter-terrorism actions violate civil liberties.

Views of Liberals

Liberals also believe, terrorism is an act done mainly by non-state actors but they have different views regarding motivation to do terrorism. They also include the role of ideology, religion rather than just to gain political power. They also emphasize that counter-terrorism strategies should not violate human rights and civil liberties.

Critical Views

Critical views believe that the killing of unarmed civilians is done by both state and non-state actors. The term state terrorism is whole-scale terrorism. According to them because the state has far more economic and military resources, state terrorism is much more coercive than non-state terrorism.

Another perspective shaped by constructivists and poststructuralists tends to believe that terrorism is a social and political construct. According to the terrorism is used to define certain groups and their political and social causes as unjust by associating their image with violence.

Terrorists often target governments and organizations but innocent civilians pay the price for it. Terrorism differs from conventional warfare in that, as a “weapon of weak”, it is most often embraced by those who have no realistic possibility of prevailing against their opponent in a conventional armed war (Crenshaw).

Terrorist uses extreme violence, assassination, kidnappings, extortion to defy state and rule of law to pose an asymmetrical threat to the nations.

Terrorist mainly uses urban centers as their target due to the high and dense population. They get an easy chance to camouflage. Apart from this, they get hypermedia attention by targeting busy urban centers.

Terrorism and Technology

Terrorism is an expensive business but technology has made it easier. Money laundering is the center of all terrorist activity because it is the common denominator for all acts whether the aim is to make a profit or use them for other purposes like the donation to religious foundations, human trafficking, and drug-related crimes.

The exponential growth of cybercrime has become another tool for a terrorist to spread terrorism. Through the use of technology, terrorists are publicizing their terrorist ideologies, raising funds for carrying out further terrorist activities, recruiting new members, obtaining operational information targeting coordinating, planning, and discussing terrorist actions.

Further designing explosive, chemical biological components, launching threat campaigns, and communicating among members using encryption.

How to Counter Terrorism for Safer Future?

Strengthening State Security

States like India, Sri Lanka, U.K need to revisit, revise and strengthen their security arrangements. In the globalized world, states need control over global financial flows and doubtful immigration apart from rigorous surveillance mechanisms.

Military Repression

Force-based or repressive counter-terrorism has grown in recent years which needs more intensity. Increased aerial strike on terrorist targets.

Political Deals

Finally, political deals can be found for terrorist problems because most terrorist activities have political objectives. In fact, in the past various terrorist organization had abandoned the path of violence and joined the mainstream. Although this idea has attracted various criticism as sometimes it is seen as appeasement or moral retreat in face of violence but still, governments should encourage the terrorist organization to leave the path of violence and come to negotiating table.

Closing Keynote

We don’t create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them. Like slavery and piracy, terrorism has no place in the modern world. Terrorism not only endangers the physical security of citizens but also erodes the economic security of any country. Because poor countries who wish to spend a substantial portion of their GDP on social and economic issues, unfortunately, allocate a significant portion of their budget to keep their borders safe.

Terrorism is a global problem that needs global participation for its elimination. Although it is not an easy task for countries all over the world to adopt a global view, countries need to come together and work harder to achieve the goal of world peace. Considering a fact, the desire to stay safe and protected is one of the most basic instincts of man and the terror-free world will be one step in this direction.

Thoughts of Global Leaders on Terrorism

“The war we fight today is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation — the right of all people to speak, worship, and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by the values of tyranny and extremism — the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. As veterans, you have seen this kind of enemy before. They’re successors to Fascists, to Nazis, to Communists, and other totalitarians of the 20th century. And history shows what the outcome will be: This war will be difficult; this war will be long, and this war will end in the defeat of the terrorists and totalitarians, and a victory for the cause of freedom and liberty”. ~GEORGE W. BUSH

“Terrorism is the biggest problem facing the world today. We must ensure that the countries that support and assist the terrorists are held accountable, and this problem is dealt with in an organized manner. ~NARENDRA MODI

“When I say that terrorism is a war against civilization, I may be met by the objection that terrorists are often idealists pursuing worthy ultimate aims — national or regional independence, and so forth. I do not accept this argument. I cannot agree that a terrorist can ever be an idealist, or that the objects sought can ever justify terrorism. The impact of terrorism, not merely on individual nations, but on humanity as a whole, is intrinsically evil, necessarily evil and wholly evil”. ~BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

“We live in a time of terror, and contrary to what we see on television and allow ourselves to believe, the real goal of terror is not to kill people but to kill thought; to so demoralizing a society that it implodes from within”. ~JOHN LAHR

“Terrorism, like viruses, is everywhere. There is global perfusion of terrorism, which accompanies any system of domination as though it were its shadow, ready to activate itself anywhere, like a double agent”. ~JEAN BAUDRILLARD

“It’s much, much harder to terrorize a population into submission than official and unofficial purveyors of mass violence always think it is. Normality isn’t a fixed state but a spectrum with a remarkably wide range. Terrorists are contemptible for many reasons, but one of them is the stupidity of not knowing this. They try to magnify themselves with epic acts of cruelty. At the upshot, they are diminished and defeated by the strange ability of human beings to step around the pools of blood, keep going and forget”. ~FINTAN O’TOOLE

“Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint”. ~CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS

“Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face”. ~JACQUES CHIRAC

What’s next for Sidhu in Punjab?

Politics

The Analyzer

-

26 January 2022

0

Congress leadership had decided to contest the elections in Punjab under “Collective Leadership”. Despite this, state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu was continuously pressurizing Congress leadership through Social Media to declare him as the CM Face in Punjab. Due to this, There was a long tussle between Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu. But, this tussle seems to be ending now. Congress, which talked about “Collective Leadership” in the 2022 Punjab elections, has released a video on its official Twitter account telling, how a CM should be. It is visible in this video that the Congress leadership has finalized the name of Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM face in the 2022 Punjab elections. However, an official announcement is yet to be made. So, if Channi is announced as the CM candidate, what will Sidhu do now?

What’s in the Video?

बोल रहा पंजाब, अब पंजे के साथ- मजबूत करेंगे हर हाथ। pic.twitter.com/qQOZpnKItd
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 17, 2022

In the video shared by Congress on Twitter, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood is seen saying: “Real Chief Minister is the one who is forcibly brought to the chair. He should not have to fight for the Chair. He shouldn’t be saying I am the Chief Minister Candidate. He should be the one who is a backbencher brought from behind and told that you would be the Chief Minister”. After this, video footage of different programs of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi plays in this video. After watching this video, one can easily guess that Congress leadership has decided that instead of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi will be made the CM after party’s win.

What are the options for Sidhu?

These days, Navjot Singh Sidhu is roaming everywhere promoting his ‘Punjab Model’. In fact, through this Punjab model, Sidhu wants to pressure Congress leadership that the Punjab Model should be given a place in the manifesto of Punjab Congress. But, in this case, he has already got a setback from Congress because Navjot Singh Sidhu has not been kept in the Manifesto Committee of Congress. By the way, it was clear since this decision that Sidhu does not hold much importance for Congress leadership.

In a series of Tweets, Navjot Singh Sidhu has written that ‘complete control of the Government on sand mining is the only solution’. In Sidhu’s Punjab Model, there is the promise of ending the contract system and selling sand at a fixed price. As long as the contracting practice continues, it is difficult for people to get cheap sand. This tweet is being seen as directly targeting Charanjit Singh Channi because Navjot Singh Sidhu has been attacking Charanjit Singh Channi through Twitter in the past. By the way, before the 2022 Punjab Elections, if Congress leadership sidelines Channi on these allegations, then it may cause a loss of “Dalit Votes” in the state. This decision will directly harm Congress in Punjab. So, Congress taking such a step is Highly Unlikely.

Despite this changed situation, Making Navjot Singh Sidhu the CM Face isn’t easy. The relationship between Sidhu and Congress leadership is no longer the same. We can gauge this because Navjot Singh Sidhu had attended only the first two meetings out of four meetings held with Rahul Gandhi after Channi was made the CM. A few days later, Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the post of State Congress President. However, On the persuasion of Congress leadership, he agreed. But, to withdraw the resignation, Sidhu had put a condition to change the AG & DGP, which was accepted. At the same time, if Navjot Singh Sidhu again resigns, then it will cause harm to him only. Because, in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party has also declared Bhagwant Mann as its CM candidate.

Now, Navjot Singh Sidhu has only one option left to wait for the results of Punjab Election 2022 and mobilize the MLAs in his favor. But, for this, he will have to get tickets for his close aids. However, there is little hope for this too. After all, anything can happen in politics and Sidhu would try his best to outshine Channi in Punjab elections.

पूर्ण स्वराज दिवस की जयन्ती- गणतन्त्र दिवस

gdbinani

-

26 January 2022

0

पूर्ण स्वराज दिवस की जयन्ती- गणतन्त्र दिवस

जैसा हम सभी जानते हैं कि स्वतंत्रता दिवस के दिन भारत को अंग्रेजों की लंबी गुलामी से आजादी मिली थी जबकि गणतंत्र दिवस के दिन भारत गणतंत्र देश बना क्योंकि उसी दिन से “भारत सरकार अधिनियम 1935” की जगह भारत का लिखा हुआ संविधान लागू हुआ अर्थात पूर्ण स्वराज दिवस (26 जनवरी 1930) को ध्यान में रखते हुए 26 जनवरी 1950 को सुबह 10.18 मिनट पर भारत का संविधान लागू कर देने के पश्चात हम पूर्ण रूप से स्वाधीन हो गए और उसी दिन से भारत में जनता के द्वारा, जनता के लिए शासन पद्धति लागू कर दी गयी। इसी कारण से हम सभी 26 जनवरी को गणतन्त्र दिवस के रूप में मनाते हैं।इस बार भी हम 26 जनवरी को हमारा 73वां गणतन्त्र दिवस मना रहे हैं।

हमें गर्व है की हम सभी इस गणतांत्रिक देश के निवासी हैं, जिसे सरल शब्दों में प्रजातंत्र, लोकतंत्र या जनतंत्र भी कहा जाता है अर्थात भारत देश में शासन की बागडोर केवल उसी के हाथो में सौंपी जाती है जिसे चुनने का सम्पूर्ण रूप में अधिकार केवल प्रजा के पास होता है। प्रजा का कर्त्तव्य है की संविधान में दिए कर्तव्यों का पालन करते हुए और अपने अधिकारों की रक्षा हेतु वह एक ऐसे प्रतिनिधि का चुनाव करे जो सदैव देश की सेवा को सर्वोपरि रख प्रजाहित में निर्णय ले और आवश्यकतानुसार समय समय पर संविधान में जरुरी संशोधन कर उसे वर्तमान समय के अनुरूप बनाये।इसी तथ्यानुसार इस बार के गणतन्त्र दिवस समारोह में निम्न बदलाव आपको देखने मिलेंगे –

१] सरकार ने निर्णय किया है कि इसी साल से, २३ जनवरी १८९७ को जन्मे नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस की १२५वीं जयन्ती वर्ष से, अब तक गणतन्त्र दिवस समारोह का औपचारिक आयोजन जो 24 जनवरी से शुरू होता था वह अब हर साल २३ जनवरी से शुरू हो जायेगा।

२] इसके अलावा इस बार रक्षा मंत्रालय ने गणतन्त्र दिवस समारोह [परेड] देखने का मौका देने के लिए दर्शक दीर्घा में कुछ सीटें मजदूरों, सफाईकर्मियों और रिक्शा / ऑटो चालकों के लिए भी आरक्षित रखी है।

३] साथ ही साथ इस बार गणतन्त्र दिवस समारोह [परेड] देखने के लिए जारी होने वाले निमंत्रण पत्र के साथ अश्वगंधा, घृत कुमारी / ग्वारपाठा [एलोवेरा] और आंवले जैसे औषधीय पौंधों के बीज दिये जायेंगे ताकि लोग अपने घरों में गमलों में उगा इन पौधों के औषधीय गुणों का लाभ उठा सकें।

४] कोरोना महामारी की तीसरी लहर के चलते इस बार गणतंत्र दिवस समारोह में दर्शकों की संख्या को और सीमित करते हुये 5 से 8 हजार की जा रही है लेकिन गत बार की तरह इस बार भी राजपथ के दोनों ओर पांच-पांच विशाल चित्रपट [एलईडी स्क्रीन ] लगाई जायेंगी, ताकि सामाजिक दूरी के नियमों के तहत समारोह स्थल से दूरी पर बैठे लोग भी आयोजन को देख सकें।

५] इस बार समारोह स्थल पर दो खुराक ले चुके वयस्कों को ही अनुमति दी जायेगी जबकि 15 साल से कम उम्र के बच्चों को अनुमति नहीं होगी।इसके साथ दर्शकों के शरीर का तापमान भी देखा जाएगा और मुखौटा पहनना अनिवार्य रहेगा । साथ ही जगह जगह हाथों को स्वच्छ करने हेतु रसायन [सैनिटाइजर] की व्यवस्था भी उपलब्ध रहेगी।

६] 75 साल में पहली बार इस बार सलामी उड़ान [फ्लाईपास्ट] की दृश्यता के मद्देनजर गणतन्त्र दिवस समारोह [परेड] १0 बजे की बजाय १0.३0 बजे यानि आधा घंटा देरी से शुरू होगा।

७] इस बार झाँकियों को लाल किले तक ही ले जाकर सार्वजनिक प्रदर्शन के लिए खड़ा कर दिया जायेगा।

८] इस बार गणतंत्र दिवस के औपचारिक समापन समारोह में करीब दस मिनट तक चलने वाले एक अनूठे कार्यक्रम में लगभग एक हजार चालकहीन वायुयान के प्रदर्शन [ड्रोन शो ] का भी आयोजन, एक अभिनव व्यापार संगठन [स्टार्टअप कंपनी ] के सहयोग से होगा।

९] गणतंत्र दिवस आयोजन के औपचारिक समापन पर तीनों सेनाओं द्वारा एक साथ मिलकर जो सामूहिक बैंड वादन वाला कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया जाता है उसमें से इस बार पारम्परिक ईसाई गान ‘अबाइड विद मी’ की धुन को हटा कर इसके बदले में आध्यात्मिक गुरू विद्या नरसिम्हा भारती द्वारा ‘स्वर मौली’ की उपाधि से सम्मानित स्वर साम्राज्ञी लता मंगेशकर का देशभक्ति से सराबोर गाया गया हिन्दी गीत ‘ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगों’ की धुन को शामिल किया गया है।

१०] गणतंत्र दिवस के औपचारिक समापन समारोह के समय पर ही आजादी की 75वीं वर्षगांठ के उपलक्ष्य में राष्ट्रपति भवन के दोनों ओर स्थित खूबसूरत इमारतों की प्राचीरों पर पहली बार एक प्रकाशपुंज प्रदर्शित [लेजर शो] किया जाएगा।

जैसा सर्वविदित है कि हर बार हम हमारे गणतंत्र दिवस समारोह के मौके पर किसी न किसी विदेशी राष्ट्राध्यक्ष या शासनाध्यक्षको मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में अपने रणनीतिक, राजनयिक, व्यावसायिक हित और भू-राजनीति आदि में अपने रणनीतिक, राजनयिक, व्यावसायिक हित और भू-राजनीति आदि कारकों का ध्यान रख, आमन्त्रित करते हैं। भारत के गणतंत्र दिवस पर मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में आने का निमंत्रण विदेशी गणमान्यों के लिए एक विशेष सम्मान है लेकिन लगातार दूसरी बार कोविड-19 के बढ़ते मामलों के मद्देनज़र, इस बार भी विदेशी मेहमान मुख्‍य अतिथि के रूप में इस समारोह में शामिल नहीं होंगे।
वैसे तो आप सभी गणतन्त्र दिवस के बारे में बहुत कुछ जानते ही हैं फिर भी निम्न चार महत्वपूर्ण तथ्य आप सभी प्रबुद्ध पाठकों के ध्याननार्थ प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूँ –

1] स्वतन्त्रता दिवस के अलावा गणतंत्र दिवस के मौके पर भी परमवीर चक्र, अशोक चक्र, महावीर चक्र, कीर्ति चक्र, वीर चक्र और शौर्य चक्र जैसे महत्वपूर्ण सम्मान दिए जाते हैं।

2] 1957 में सरकार ने बच्चों के लिए राष्ट्रीय बहादुरी / वीरता पुरस्कार शुरू किया था। आज के समय में यह पुरस्कार 6 से 18 वर्ष तक की आयु के बच्चों को अलग-अलग क्षेत्र में बहादुरी के लिए गणतंत्र दिवस की पूर्व संध्या पर प्रदान किया जाता है।

3] सर्वश्रेष्ठ सैनिकों के पथ संचलन का पारितोषिक (ट्रॉफी) देने के लिए पूरे रास्ते में कई जगहों पर जजों को बिठाया जाता है। ये जज प्रत्येक दल को 200 मापदंडों पर अंक देते हैं। इसके आधार पर सर्वश्रेष्ठ दस्ते का चुनाव होता है। किसी भी दल के लिए इस पारितोषिक (ट्रॉफी) को जीतना बड़े गौरव की बात होती है।
4] गणतंत्र दिवस आयोजन की जिम्मेदारी रक्षा मंत्रालय की होती है। आयोजन में लगभग 70 अन्य विभाग व संगठन रक्षा मंत्रालय की मदद करते हैं। परेड के सुचारू संचालन के लिए सेना के हजारों जवान समेत अलग-अलग विभागों के भी काफी संख्या में लोग लगाए जाते हैं।

उपरोक्त सभी तथ्यों से यह स्पष्ट है कि 26 जनवरी वाला दिन हमें हमारे संविधान का महत्व तो समझाता ही है साथ ही साथ यह पर्व न केवल हमें पूर्ण स्वतंत्रता की अनुभूति कराता है बल्कि हमारे अंदर आत्मगौरव भी भरता है। इन्हीं सब कारणों से इस दिन को सम्पूर्ण देश भर में हर स्तर पर पूरे धूम-धाम तथा हर्षोल्लास के साथ मनाया जाता है।

The downfall of Samajwadi Party and the end of Akhilesh Yadav’s political career

Anant Chetan

-

25 January 2022

0

The downfall of Samajwadi Party and the end of Akhilesh Yadav’s political career

Samajwadi Party officials have been claiming these days that the popular MY alliance stands for Mahila plus Youth and not Muslim plus Yadav. How nice! Not only this, they also claim that BJP has successfully created a perception that SP is only about Yadavs and Muslims. Lets check the stats from the last election in UP i.e. the Loksabha Elections in 2019. I found a very interesting depiction of caste-religion based election results:

What do you see?

Samajwadi Party has MPs only from two categories, 40% of the MPs from the Yadav community and the rest 60% from the Muslim community. It is not that this only happens during Loksabha Elections, or it was one off instances. Its pretty much the same in UP Assembly election as well. Lets look an interesting depiction from the 2017 election results:

What do we see here?

70% of the Muslims voted for Samajwadi Party along with 80% of the Yadavs voted for Samajwadi Party. These are facts and not perception. Do I need to provide any further evidence to prove that Samjawadi Party is a party that feeds on vote bank politics and only vote bank politics? There would never be a 100%, if somebody is expecting that. Anurag Bhadoria can shout on television as much as he wants and claim that Y is Youth and M is Mahila. But we know the truth.

Also read: Remembering some of the iconic work by Akhilesh Yadav during his days

Having said that, I did not write this article to refute Anurag Bhadoria’s MY references. That would just be a massive waste of my time. I am writing this article to show how Samajwadi Party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav is not only going to lose any chance to form government but also get defunct pretty soon.

Vote bank politics especially the caste based politics has its own pros and cons for the political parties. While it is easy for the politicians to win by mere boosting egos of a particular caste and not doing any kind of work, but it also tightly couples the success of the party with the size of its vote bank. Let me ask you a few questions before going further:

Why couldn’t Samajwadi Party (SP) form government in any state other than Uttar Pradesh, even when the party was at it’s peak during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s leadership? Forget about Akhilesh Yadav, he is not even close to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s political acumen.
Why couldn’t Rastriya Janta Dal (RJD) form government in any state other than Bihar, even when the party was at it’s peak during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s leadership? Forget about Tejashwi Yadav, he is not even close to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s political acumen.
Why couldn’t Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) form government in any state other than Uttar Pradesh, even when the party was at it’s peak?

All of them had national political ambitions but still could not make a mark outside their very restricted spaces. Why? If they were winning on their development work, they would have easily expanded outside their core vote banks. Wouldn’t they? Why didn’t it happen then? Answer: Their political expansion is very tightly coupled with their castes. If the population of Yadav community or Dalit community was substantial in other states, they would have expanded.

मनमोहन सिंह का एक और पाप जो राष्ट्र के साथ धोखा था

Nagendra Pratap Singh

-

25 January 2022

0

मनमोहन सिंह का एक और पाप जो राष्ट्र के साथ धोखा था

जी हाँ मित्रों पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री श्री मनमोहन सिंह के १० वर्षो के कार्यकाल में जितने घोटाले और भ्रष्टाचार हुए उतने तो पूरी कांग्रेस ने मिलकर उससे पहले के ४५ वर्षो में भी नहीं किये थे और एक तरह से घोटालेबाजी और भ्रष्टाचार के साथ साथ मनमोहन सिंह के नेतृत्व में राष्ट्र के साथ सबसे बड़ा धोखा किया गया था जिसे हम एंट्रीक्स-देवास डील के नाम से जानते हैं। आइये सर्वप्रथम हम देखते हैं कि इस डील के मुख्य किरदार कौन कौन हैं।

१:-UPA सरकार जिसके मुखिया श्री मनमोहन सिंह और सुप्रीम मुखिया श्रीमती सोनिया गाँधी थी।

२:- एंट्रीक्स :-इसरो(ISRO) की व्यावसायिक इकाई के रूप में एंट्रिक्स कार्पोरेशन का वर्ष १९९२ में गठन किया गया था। इसके पीछे मुख्य उद्देश्य यही था कि इसरो (ISRO) के शोध और विकास कार्यों का व्यावसायिक इस्तेमाल किया जा सके। खास तौर पर एंट्रिक्स कार्पोरेशन का मुख्य कार्य निजी क्षेत्र में संभावनाएं तलाशनी थीं।

३:-देवास मल्टीमीडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड की वेबसाइट पर दी गई जानकारी के मुताबिक ‘उपग्रह कारोबार से जुड़े कामयाब लोगों की टीम ने वर्ष २००४ में एक भारतीय कंपनी के तौर पर उसका गठन किया था जिसका बेंगलूरु में मुख्यालय है।’ वर्ष २००४ में देवास के दो शेयरधारक थे जबकि उसकी चुकता पूंजी 1 लाख रुपये थी। इसमें से ९० हजार रुपये तो इसरो के एक मध्यम स्तर के अधिकारी ने दिए थे। बाकी १० हजार रुपये का योगदान देने वाला शख्स चतुर्थ श्रेणी का एक कर्मचारी था। वह इसरो में १९८८ से लेकर १९९७ तक काम करने वाले एमजी चंद्रशेखर का निजी सहायक रह चुका था। बाद में यही एम जी चंद्रशेखर देवास मल्टीमीडिया के चेयरमैन बन गए थे।

अब आइये समझते हैं ये पूरी डील क्या थी?

जनवरी २००५: एंट्रिक्स कॉर्पोरेशन और देवास मल्टीमीडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड के मध्य एक सौदेबाजी कि घटना घटी और एक समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर हुए। इस समझौते के अनुसार:- — एंट्रिक्स कार्पोरेशन ने दो उपग्रहों के निर्माण करने,उनका प्रक्षेपण और संचालन करने के लिए सहमति व्यक्त की और उपग्रह ट्रांसपोंडर क्षमता का ९०% देवास को १२ साल के लिए लीज पर अर्थात पट्टे पर देने कि बात स्वीकार कि गई जिसकी कुल कीमत रु.१६७ करोड़ तय कि गई जिसकी सहायता से देवास ने पूरे भारत में हाइब्रिड उपग्रह और स्थलीय संचार सेवाएं प्रदान करने कि रूप रेखा खींची और यही नहीं इस समझौते के तहत देवास को ७० मेगाहर्ट्ज एस-बैंड स्पेक्ट्रम तक पहुंच प्रदान की गई।

जी हाँ मित्रों इस समझौते का जो सबसे खतरनाक और धोखा देने वाला पहलू था वो यही था कि जिस स्पेक्ट्रम को केवल सुरक्षा संबंधी सेवाओं हेतु हमारी सेना और अन्य सुरक्षा एजेंसियां या फिर बीएसएनएल हि उपयोग में ला सकते थे और जो देश कि सुरक्षा से जुड़ा था उस स्पेक्ट्रम को देवास जैसी प्राइवेट कंपनी के हाथो में सौपा जा रहा था और ये सब हो रहा था मनमोहन सिंह के विश्वासपात्र मंत्री जो बाद में गिरफ्तार भी किये गए थे , उनकी देख रेख में। जो S-Band स्पेक्ट्रम दी जा रही थी उसकी कीमत रू. १,000 करोड़ रुपए थी।

मित्रों जैसा कि आप इस तथ्य से भलीभांति अवगत होंगे कि वर्ष २०११ में २जी घोटाला सामने आने के बाद, एंट्रिक्‍स-देवास सौदे पर सीएजी(CAG) की ड्राफ्ट रिपोर्ट लीक हो गई थी। उसमें कहा गया था कि देवास को सैटेलाइट्स का इस्‍तेमाल करने देने के लिए जरूरी अनुमतियां नहीं ली गई थीं। सीएजी (CAG) कि रिपोर्ट सामने आने के बाद पहले से ही कई घोटालो और भ्रष्टाचार से घिरी यूपीए सरकार ने शर्म के मारे में बड़े बेमन से यह सौदा रद्द कर दिया था। अब आइये देखते हैं कि सौदा रद्द होने के पश्चात क्या क्य महत्वपूर्ण घटनाये घटी:-

श्री जी माधवन नायर इसरो के तत्कालीन अध्यक्ष हुआ करते थे। अगस्त २०१६ में तत्कालीन इसरो प्रमुख जी माधवन नायर और अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों पर देवास को ५७८ करोड़ रुपए का “गलत” लाभ दिलाने का आरोप लगाया गया और सीबीआई ने इस मामले में अपने आरोप पत्र दाखिल किए। इसके पश्चात श्री जी माधवन नायर सहित कई महत्वपूर्ण लोगों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया और बाद में दिल्ली की एक अदालत ने जी माधवन नायर की जमानत याचिका मंजूर कर ली। सरकारी खजाने को कथिततौर पर करीब ५७८ करोड़ रुपये का नुकसान पहुंचाने वाले इस मामले में अदालत ने ५० हजार रुपये के निजी मुचलके और इतनी ही राशि के दो जमानत बॉन्ड पर जी माधवन नायर को जमानत पर रिहा कर दीया। गौरतलब है कि सीबीआई ने जमानत याचिका का विरोध करते हुए कहा था कि ये लोग हाई प्रोफाइल हैं और जमानत पर रिहा होने के बाद फरार हो सकते हैं, हालांकि अदालत ने समन के बाद भी पेश नहीं हुए तीन आरोपितों को छोड़कर अन्य सभी आरोपितों की जमानत मंजूर कर ली और इनमें नायर के साथ-साथ इसरो के तत्कालीन निदेशक ए भास्कर नारायण राव तथा एंट्रिक्स के तत्कालीन कार्यकारी निदेशक आरके श्रीधरमूर्ति भी शामिल थे।

देवास में धीरे धीरे विदेशी निवेशकों का वर्चस्व स्थापित हो चुका था अत: उन्होंने अंतराष्ट्रीय न्यायालय के छत्रछाया में आर्बिट्रेशन कार्यवाही आरम्भ कर दी। परन्तु यंहा अपने हाथो से मोटी कमीशन कि रकम के हाथ से निकल जाने के कारण एनरॉन कम्पनी कि तरह हि UPA सरकार ने आँखों और कानों पर पट्टी बाँध ली और देवास को खुली छूट दे दी, जिसका परिणाम ये निकला की:-

वर्ष २०१२ में चंद्रशेखर देवास कंपनी के बोर्ड चेयरमैन पद से हटा दिए गए। उनकी जगह पर वेराइजन के पूर्व उपाध्यक्ष और प्रेसिडेंट लॉरेंस टी बैबियो को देवास का चेयरमैन बनाया गया। नए प्रमुख की अगुआई में देवास ने इस मामले को अंतरराष्ट्रीय मध्यस्थता पंचाट में ले जाने का फैसला किया। देवास का कहना था कि भारत सरकार ने गैरकानूनी तरीके से सौदे को रद्द किया है। यह मामला पंचाट के समक्ष दो बार ले जाया गया और दोनों ही बार भारत को हार का सामना करना पड़ा। जी माधवन नायर का कहना था कि असल में तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह को बचाने और देवास की मदद करने के लिए उस सौदे को रद्द किया गया था।

१:-सितंबर २०१७ में इंटरनेशनल चैंबर ऑफ कॉमर्स (आईसीसी) ने देवास में विदेशी निवेशकों की अपील पर भारत सरकार को देवास को 1.3 अरब डॉलर का मुआवजा देने का आदेश दिया।

२:- जून २०१९ मेंअंतर्राष्ट्रीय व्यापार कानून पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र आयोग (UNCITRAL) न्यायाधिकरण ने पाया कि भारत ने देवास के विदेशी शेयरधारक डॉयचे टेलीकॉम एजी द्वारा शुरू की गई मध्यस्थता में जर्मनी की द्विपक्षीय निवेश संधि का उल्लंघन किया है अत: इन्होने भी जुर्माना थोप दिया।

३:-जनवरी २०२० मे तीन मॉरीशस-आधारित संस्थाओं CC/Devas (मॉरीशस) लिमिटेड, देवास एम्प्लॉइज मॉरीशस प्राइवेट लिमिटेड और टेलीकॉम देवास मॉरीशस Ld, जिन्होंने देवास मल्टीमिडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड में ३७.५% फीसदी हिस्सेदारी ले रखी थी, उन्होंने US कोलंबिया जिला अदालत में UNCITRAL के आदेश की पुष्टि की मांग की।

४:-अक्टूबर २०२० को अमेरिका के वाशिंगटन के पश्चिमी जिले के अमेरिकी फेडरल कोर्ट ने आईसीसी के अवॉर्ड की पुष्टि की, जिसमें इसरो की एंट्रिक्स को देवास को 1.2 बिलियन डॉलर का भुगतान करने का निर्देश दिया गया था।

५:-मनमोहन सिंह के पापो को धोने के लिए मोदी सरकार ने अमेरिकी अदालत के उस आदेश को भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में चूनौती दी और ये चूनौती रंग लायी क्योंकि नवंबर २०२०को भारत के सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने अमेरिकी अदालत के आदेश पर रोक लगा दी और दिल्ली हाई कोर्ट को आदेश को लागू करने के खिलाफ दलीलें सुनने का निर्देश दिया।

६:- इसके पश्चात जनवरी २०२१मे कॉरपोरेट मामलों के मंत्रालय ने एंट्रिक्स कार्पोरेशन को कंपनी अधिनियम के तहत देवास मल्टीमिडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड के खिलाफ एक समापन याचिका (Liquidation proceeding) नेशनल कंपनी ला ट्रिब्यूनल में शुरू करने का निर्देश दिया। एनएलसीटी (NCLT) ने देवास के खिलाफ एंट्रिक्स की याचिका स्वीकार कर लिया और प्रोविजनल लिक्‍वि‍डेटर की नियुक्त कर दी।(एंट्रिक्स ने NCLT का रुख़ करते हुए आरोप लगाया था कि साल २००५ में तत्कालीन चैयरमेन जी. माधवन नायर समेत कंपनी के वरिष्ठ अफ़सरों ने देवास को ग़ैर-क़ानूनी तरीक़ों से कॉन्ट्रैक्ट दिया था।)

७:-देवास मल्टीमिडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड ने NCLT के इस आदेश को NCLAT अर्थात नेशनल कंपनी ला अपीलेट ट्रिब्यूनल में अपील दायर करके चूनौती दी परन्तु सितंबर २०२१ में मोदी सरकार कि जबरदस्त पैरवी के कारण एनसीएलएटी ने देवास मल्टीमीडिया को बंद करने के एनसीएलटी के आदेश को बरकरार रखा।

८:- पर इसी बीच नवंबर-दिसंबर २०२१ मे क्यूबेक में एक कनाडाई अदालत ने देवास निवेशकों द्वारा भारत सरकार के खिलाफ मामला दर्ज करने के बाद दो अलग अलग आदेश पारित करते हुए वैश्विक एयरलाइंस निकाय आईएटीए को भारतीय हवाईअड्डा प्राधिकरण (एएआई) और एयर इंडिया (एआई) से संबंधित कनाडा में स्थित सभी असेट्स की जब्ती कि कार्यवाही को पूर्ण करने के लिए अधिकृत किया।

९:- फिर मोदी सरकार के अथक प्रयासों के पश्चात दिनांक ८ जनवरी, २०२२ को कनाडा की अदालत ने अपने आदेश को रद्द कर दिया और आईएटीए के पास पड़ी एएआई संपत्तियों को फ्रीज करने पर रोक हटा दी। दूसरे आदेश में, अदालत ने अपने फैसले में संशोधन किया और आईएटीए के पास पड़ी एआई (एअर इण्डिया) की संपत्तियों का केवल ५० फीसदी हिस्सा ही अधिग्रहण करने की देवास के निवेशकों को अनुमति दी।

१०:- दिनांक १७ जनवरी, २०२२ को देवास मल्टी मिडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड द्वारा NCLAT के आदेश को चूनौती देने वाली याचिका पर सुनवाई करते हुए भारत में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने ट्रिब्यूनल के खिलाफ कंपनी की अपील को खारिज करके देवास को बंद करने के एनसीएलएटी के फैसले को बरकरार रखा।और यही नहीं दोस्तों इस एन्त्रिक्स्-देवास समझौते को एक “राष्ट्रीय फ्राड” कि संज्ञा दी।

मित्रों UPA अर्थात मनमोहन सिंह के सरकार कि देश के प्रति भरी हुई गंदगी तब भी सामने आई जब २०११ में जब पूरी डील रद्द हो गई तो देवास अंतरराष्ट्रीय न्यायकर्त्ता के पास गया था और यूपीए सरकार को २१ दिनों के अंदर आर्बिट्रेटर नियुक्त करने के लिए कहा गया था लेकिन सरकार ने उसे नियुक्त नहीं किया था, जानबूझकर जिस प्रकार एनरॉन के मामले में भारत को जबरदस्ती हारने के लिए इन भ्रष्टाचारीयो ने हारने के लिए मजबूर कर दिया था पाकिस्तानी वकील रखकर।

सुप्रीम कोर्ट का ये फ़ैसला दिखाता है कि यूपीए सरकार ग़लत कामों में ना केवल शामिल थी अपितु सारा प्रोजेक्ट हि उनका होता था। यह पूरा समझौता भारत की राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा से खिलवाड़ करते हुए किया गया था और अब कांग्रेस पार्टी को बताना है कि इस तरह का धोखा देश की जनता के साथ कैसे किया गया।

विशेष:-
इसरो द्वारा गठित विशेष समिति ने भी एंट्रिक्स-देवास समझौते में देश के तीन शीर्ष वैज्ञानिकों पर संदेह जताते हुए कहा कि इस तरह के सौदों में जितनी पारदर्शिता अपनाई जानी चाहिए वह नहीं अपनाई गयी और कई स्थानों पर खुले तौर पर नियमों की अनदेखी की गयी। इस पूरे प्रकरण में देवास के द्वारा गलत जानकारियां दी गयी पर उनके बारे में कोई जांच नहीं की गयी और सरकार और अन्तरिक्ष विभाग के साथ बड़े सौदों के बारे में कोई सामान्य विचार विमर्श तक नहीं किया गया और न ही इसके बारे में पूरे वर्ष कोई सूचना ही दी गयी।

अब आप समझ गए होंगे कि रक्षा मंत्रालय के लिए प्रयोग किए जाने वाले टेलीकॉम बैंड को प्राइवेट कंपनियों के हाथ बेचा गया, यूपीए सरकार की लालच के कारण आज मोदी सरकार को कई अंतरराष्ट्रीय केस लड़ने पड़ रहे हैं। यूपीए सरकार के इस फैसले की जानकारी उस वक्त कैबिनेट तक को नहीं दी गई। उससे भी बुरी बात यह है कि देवास ने एस-बैंड स्पेक्ट्रम पर मोबाइल सेवाएं शुरू करने का लाइसेंस हासिल करने के लिए आवेदन तक नहीं किया था।

कैसे पता चला:-
सबसे पहले वर्ष २००९ में इसरो के एक असंतुष्ट वैज्ञानिक ने एंट्रिक्स और देवास के इस सौदे के बारे में आवाज उठाई थी। इसके एक साल बाद अंतरिक्ष आयोग ने देवास के साथ हुए करार को रद्द करने की सिफारिश कर दी। उसके बाद ही नायर को इसरो प्रमुख के पद से हटने के लिए कह दिया गया था। फिर के. राधाकृष्णन ने इसरो की कमान संभाली जो इस मामले को सुरक्षा मामलों पर गठित कैबिनेट कमेटी के समक्ष भी ले गए। कैबिनेट कमेटी ने देवास-एंट्रिक्स सौदे को रद्द कर दिया और अग्रिम भुगतान के तौर पर दी गई रकम देवास को वापस कर दी। बहरहाल भारत को इस पूरे गड़बड़झाले की भारी कीमत चुकानी पड़ी है। उस दौरान एक मीडिया के द्वारा किये गए खुलासे में दावा किया गया कि इस सौदे से नेशनल ट्रेजरी को 2 लाख करोड़ रुपए से अधिक का नुकसान हो सकता था।

“यह कांग्रेस का फ़्रॉड है जो कांग्रेस के लिए था और कांग्रेस के द्वारा था।”
नागेंद्र प्रताप सिंह (अधिवक्ता)
[email protected]

Expat Industry – An unsung economic force of India

Opinions

Sandesh populwad

-

25 January 2022

0

Expat Industry – An unsung economic force of India

India, with 1.4 billion population faces dual challenge on economic front-low consumer demand and high unemployment among youth. To tackle this problem, Government needs to explore different avenues, apart from conventional approaches that have been tried and tested in past by many countries. High government spending comes with risk of inflation surge and debt problem, As can be seen with United states where inflation and debt has reached a record high. On the other hand, not spending more will result in low demand-low growth cycle. Investors would shy away from investing, and businesses won’t produce more as there is not enough demand. Banks will have to sit with large capital at their disposal, and no one to lend to. This scenario is akin a double-edged sword for India.

Should we increase government spending by giving more freebies and direct benefit transfer and face the wrath of inflation or should we let market pick up pace on its own? The latter has to be taken with a pinch of salt as an artificial economic push, in the form of increased government spending will be needed to gain confidence of investors and make Adam Smith’s invisible hand effective, which will again come up with issue inflation and debt. However, there is a beacon of hope that cut through this dilemma – foreign remittances.

With $87 Billion, India is the largest recipient of remittances in the world in 2021. To give some perspective, IT industry contributed roughly 8% to India’s GDP in 2020, which is around $240 billion (India’s GDP as $3 trillion) and employs 4.5 million people. Agricultural share in India’s GDP is 20% for FYR 2020 which roughly makes around $600 billion (India as $3 trillion economy), but more than 50% of Indian population is still dependent on agricultural sector. According to Ministry of External Affairs report, there are 32 million NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) living abroad. So the per capita output from them is far more than other sectors in economy which is getting far more attention of Government.

The expatriate community of India is spread over different parts of the world, from United States to Middle east to Canada to UK to Australia. These expats send money to their family members, who spends it here in India that drives consumer demand to a certain extent. Indian government, apart from focusing on Make in India initiative and Atmanirbhar policies, should focus on sending more skilled labor abroad. Although, it would be considered as brain drain by few, but with huge young population, it would be more like taking away a bucket of water from ocean.

Apart from this, Modi government should work to end the mental roadblock our society collectively holds about hierarchy in jobs. Some jobs hold more social status than others, but no job is inferior. India needs to instill it in our collective mindset before we go ahead in our endeavor to be a superpower. Ensuring access to employability skills to rural and semi urban youth of India and less hoops to jump through for the technical support to go abroad should be a priority. Some states, like Kerala and Punjab, have beginners’ advantage as many people from Kerala move to gulf countries to do a blue collar job mostly, while people from Punjab move to Canada to either study or work, while some move to settle permanently. Indians move to America and European countries to do both white as well as blue collar jobs. India, with its second largest English speaking population in the world, has an edge over other countries.

The expat community also help increase soft power of India. Japan has used anime to increase its soft power globally. US uses its entertainment industry to establish cultural hegemony over the world. China uses its pandas to help improve diplomatic ties. Its famously called as “Panda Diplomacy”. Different countries use different resources to project their soft power. India can use her people for the same.

India has, for long, focused on exporting goods and services to other countries in order to increase its GDP, but too many bottlenecks have hampered that prospect. Signing Free Trade Agreements comes with its own merits and demerits, which makes it harder for India to increase exports. So, instead of focusing on complicated and multivariate solutions for Indian economy, Modi government should keep it simple and focus on sending more people abroad. As the law of Parsimony goes, the correct explanation is usually the simplest one.

Why it’s time Team India move on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane

Opinions

charbelc93

-

25 January 2022

0

Why it’s time Team India move on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane

The fallout from India’s Test series defeat in South Africa was quite significant, with Virat Kohli, arguably India’s greatest ever Test captain, resigning from the role as skipper.

It was certainly not the ending that India fans hoped for, with the recent series against South Africa their best chance in years to register their first ever triumph in the nation. After superb performances in Australia and England since the backend of 2018, most backed India to produce the goods against a South Africa side in transition.

Instead, India’s quest to be mentioned alongside some of Test cricket’s greatest teams will have to wait a little longer.

A key reason for the series loss was the batting. Both at Johannesburg and Cape Town did India have the chance to grab the game by the scruff of the neck in the third innings, but poor batting kept the door well and truly open for South Africa, who obliged with consecutive seven-wicket victories.

After all, what can you expect with two experienced players so out of form in a short batting lineup consisting of just six batsman and a keeper-batsman? Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, two players who have served India so well, struggled yet again. South Africa’s Keegan Petersen, who only has a handful of Tests under his belt, showed up two of India’s stalwarts courtesy of a measured, confident and clear approach to his batting.

Despite India’s much-improved pace bowling over the past seven years, Pujara and Rahane’s lack of form, coupled with Virat Kohli’s century drought, often keeps the door open for the opposition.

And the numbers back that argument up. Since 2020, both Pujara and Rahane are averaging just above 20. Go back to 2018, and the averages are a little over 30. In one way, India can be commended for persisting with two stalwarts, giving them a longer rope courtesy of their contributions over the years. However, such returns over an extended period of time are to the detriment of the team.

So, where do India go from here regarding those two? Should they drop them both? The fact that Pujara faces over 40 balls more per innings than Rahane since 2020 suggests that the latter’s spot is at greater risk, despite both on the verge of missing out on a central contact.

And rightly so. India are blessed with batting talent, with Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari two immediate contenders for that number five position. Vihari has fought hard in his Test career so far, with his century on a tricky pitch in West Indies and wonderful reguard action whilst injured at ths SCG clear evidence of this. Iyer himself has a Test century already, boasting a First Class average of 52.10.

The selectors need to consider that even if Pujara and Rahane turn their fortunes around, does that really benefit India in the long term? Both are 33, and probably have a year or two of good form in them at the very most.

To reclaim that number one Test ranking and get their World Test Championship back on track, the Indian selectors will need to make some big calls. With a home series against Sri Lanka coming up in February, it is the perfect opportunity for the selectors to introduce fresh talent in the side to give them a taste of Test cricket.

India should win that series comfortably, so it is a good chance to begin building for the future and become a more complete Test unit.