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3 befitting replies of Narendra Modi

The term befitting reply has been abused too much by bolly brigade, to the extent of degrading the essence of the word befitting; it has become a meme material more so, than a genuine usage of the word!

Today we’ll actually scroll through (in no particular order), 3 instances where Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has given befitting replies, and how! No, these are not the conventional ones where we see the roar/sarcasm/facts he scares the opposition ‘leaders’ with. These are a few unconventional befitting replies which might have gone unnoticed by many.

  1. India’s star coach Pullela Gopichand

Yes, a little known TV group (you’d only know them if you were a 22 year old Man living in a mega city watching them precisely on weekdays at 8 PM sharp for 1 minute) insulted Gopichand condescendingly as ‘little known’. The Prime minister made sure to introduce this little known man and his achievements summed up as a befitting reply in a tweet!

  1. Foreign policy

Many opposition ‘leaders’ have umpteen times mocked PM’s hugplomacy as if it is an embarrasment to the nation. What they have missed, is the sassy relationship India enjoys with major countries of the world. Take the example of US Iran conflict at the start of 2020. Growing tensions between US and Iran were a risky scenario for many. The diplomatic brilliance of Team Modi pulled off an exemption for Chabahar from the US Sanctions. Be it a Democratic POTUS Obama, or a Republican POTUS Trump, Modi has never shown reluctance to build and maintain relationships that are fruitful for India. One can only imagine India in the league of being friends with Iran, Israel, United States, Saudi Arabia all at the same time!
Before 2014 happened, the critics of PM Modi had asked one question. “How will this man manage India’s foreign policy?” A befitting reply, for sure!

  1. Silencing Dissenters

Arun Shourie had been very dissatisfied with PM Modi’s working style. From a stature of being a renowned intellectual, journalist, economist and a politician; Arun Shourie had reduced himself to a troll, attacking PM Modi, criticizing him at various platforms and events. Mostly any individual would have become a sworn enemy of such a troll. When Shourie was not keeping well and in a hospital in Pune, he got a surprise visitor! PM Modi embraced Shourie, shared 15 minutes with the former BJP Leader and enquired about his health. In a world where drawing cartoons leads to vandalism, PM Modi shows that respect and friendship despite disagreements is a part and parcel of his life. A befitting reply, to the intolerance gang.

What strength, is PM Modi made up of, we will never be able to know. But we know one thing for sure. The man is class, India’s pride. Even his detractors and critics wish for a Modi at their side!

“वैचारिक अधिनायकवाद”

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सभ्य समाज और असभ्य समाज में क्या अंतर होता है? असभ्य समाज में जो बुराइयां होती है उसको दूर करने के लिए कोई कार्रवाई नहीं होती अपितु कुत्सित रूप से उसे किसी ना किसी मत द्वारा उचित बताया जाता है इसके विपरित यदि सभ्य समाज में कोई बुराई होती है तो उस पे कार्रवाई की जाती उसकी सामूहिक निंदा होती तथा ऐसे प्रायोजन किए जाते है कि इस प्रकार की घटना की पुरावृत्ती ना हो.

उपर्युक्त को अगर आवलंब मान अमेरिका में जो पुलिस द्वारा असंवेदनशील और बर्बर कृत्य हुआ उसका हम जब अवलोकन करते है तो पाते है कि इस घटना की निंदा और विरोध का जो आंदोलन है वो अपने उद्देश्य से दूर कहीं वैचारिक उन्मादी और हिंसक पशु समान लोगो के हाथों में पहुंच गया है जिनको एक चिंगारी की आवयश्कता थी अपनी कुंठा बाहर निकालने के लिए और यहां इनकी पूरी अराजकता सरकार के प्रति नफ़रत में बदल गई है ये कथित आंदोलनकारी भूल गए है कि ये भी इसी समाज का हिस्सा है न्याय के नाम पे इनका उपद्रव ठीक उसी प्रकार है जिस प्रकार सच्चे इस्लाम के नाम पे आईएसआईएस वाले सीरिया और इराक़ में करते है.

इस समय आंदोलन के नाम पे दुकानें लूटी जा रही हैं सार्वजनिक प्रतिष्ठानों को आग के हवाले किया जा रहा है अमेरिका के इतिहास में ऐसा पहली बार हुआ है कि राष्ट्रपति की प्राथमिक सुरक्षा घेरा तोड़ मुख्य भवन के अहाते तक ये कथित इंसाफ के सिपाही पहुंच गए है कुछ उपद्रवी तो विरोध में इस कदर उग्र हो गए है कि पुलिस वाहन पे सार्वजनिक रूप से मल त्याग रहे है! विरोध का जाने कैसा ये स्वरूप है जो समझ से परे है.

मै क्यों लिख रहा हूं मेरी चिंता का कारण क्या है? मैं विगत दो दिनों से देख रहा हूं की भारत की कथित मेन स्ट्रीम मीडिया के बहुचर्चित नाम अमेरिका के इस आंदोलन से उत्पन्न उपद्रव का भारत में पर्दापण क्यों नहीं हो रहे ये लोग इसी चिंता से दुःखी हुए जा रहे है।

ये कथित क्रांतिकारी पत्रकार अपने ट्वीट और लेखों से अमेरिका में उत्पन्न इस तत्कालिक विद्रोह को शाहीनबाग के आंदोलन से जोड़ कर ये बताने कि कोशिश कर रहे है भारत में भी अब लोगो को इसी प्रकार से सड़क पे उतर जाना चाहिए और इसके लिए ये लोग बकायदा एक गिरोह की भांति ट्विटर पे तरह – तरह के शब्द जाल से सरकार को घेरने की कोशिश कर रहे है,

इस परिस्थिति में ये सोच के ही डर लगता है कि किसी चौराहे पे दो लोगो के बीच किसी कारण क्लेश हो जाए और उसमे से जो पीड़ित है उसका नाम ले के कुछ वैचारिक अधिनायकवादी पूरे शहर में आग लगा दे १२ साल की बच्ची से लेकर और ८० साल के बूढ़े को भी अपनी हिंसा का शिकार बनाए तो भय का भयानक माहौल तैयार होता समझ में नहीं आता है कि न्याय मांगने का इनका ये कौन सा विधान है!
अमेरिका की पुलिस ने जो किया वो घृणित और बर्बर है इसमें कोई दो राय नहीं पर जब कुछ लोग इस हत्या को राज्य द्वारा प्रायोजित हत्या बता पूरी देश को दंगे में झोंक देते है और फिर इसे न्याय का नाम देने का ढोंग करते है वास्तव में ये न्याय के नाम पे विशुद्ध वैचारिक दिवालियापन है।

शोषितों के लिए न्याय और उत्थान का कार्य करना हर दृष्टिकोण से उचित है पर उनका नाम लेकर वैचारिक विषवमन करना उतना ही अनुचित, भारत में परमतत्व को प्राप्त एक प्रकार के विशिष्ट लोग जिन्हें हर एक घटना में कथित क्रांति की आस दिखती है ये हर उस चीज को विकृत कर एजेंडा परोसने की कोशिश करते है जो इन्हें आत्मश्लाघा से हरा-भरा रखे!

भारत में इसी प्रकार के उपद्रवी मानसिकता रखने वाले कुछ पत्रकार, कवि,कवयित्री और समाजिक कार्यकर्ता न्याय और समानता की बातें बोल कर आराजकता को न्याय पाने का एक अस्त्र बताते है ये लोग अक्सर सहजता और सहभागिता की बड़ी-बड़ी बातें करते है जो कि इनकी वाणी में होता है पर व्यवहार से कोसो दूर!

घटना गार्गी कालेज की हो या गोपाल या शारूख के कट्टा लहराने या एक चुनी हुई सरकार के खिलाफ शस्त्र विद्रोह के लिए आरोपित प्रोफेसरों से संबंधित, खबरों के चुनाव और उसके प्रस्तुतिकरण का तरीका इनका ऐसा होता है कि इसमें इनकी वैचारिक क्षुद्रता स्पष्ट प्रतीत होती है, इनके लिए मध्यवर्ग मूर्खो का एक बहुत बड़ा झुंड है जिसके पास चेतना के नाम का कोई तत्व नहीं है क्यों की सामाजिक न्याय और आदर्श का सारा ठेका इन्हीं कुछ पत्रकारिता के आखिरी देवदूतों के पास है जिनके आडंबर से आम आदमी हमेशा दिग्भ्रमित रहता है ये बात – बात पर कॉर्पोरेट – पूंजीवाद, का गलाला हर पल करते रहते है भारत में ये स्वघोषित विशिष्ठजन (विषाणु-जन) इतने असहिष्णु होते है कि जो भी इनके वैचारिक आभासी प्रतिबिंब में नहीं आता उसे ये पूर्णतः ख़ारिज कर देते है इनके लिए चुनी हुई सरकार और जनता का कोई मतलब।

Migrant worker crisis and lessons for future

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It is well known that Corona pandemic is something which the world has not seen in last 100 years. The transmission rate of the virus coupled with mismanagement by WHO on which the world is dependent, probably brought the biggest challenge to country like India which is yet to eradicate poverty. Indian Prime Minister Modi known for taking bold decisions on the back of huge popularity across India took the approach of Nationwide Lockdown. With lockdown came the plight of interstate migrants stranded away from home as trains across India completely stopped first time in history.

The home states did not want migrants to return initially as they were under prepared to tackle sudden spike corona cases, The states in which migrants worked did not want to take the responsibility of migrants.

Neither of the governments at state or center had any data about number of Migrants, their location or their earnings. Moreover, migrants did not know whom to contact. With all modes of communication stopped, these problems on ground level that forced migrants to move helplessly on foot. The images of which pained every Indian, but very few of them could come forward amidst lockdown to help migrants. Sonu Sood is one such personality who came forward and actively tracked migrants and sent them home.

From May onwards Railways started carrying migrants home. States are able to test Migrants as well as quarantine them as states have got time to prepare themselves in 2 months. By the end of May, Indian railways has carried more than 52 lakh migrants home and India is doing 1.5 Lakh tests per day, but in march the test number was few thousands per day. We can imagine what would have happened if corona cases had reached villages in March.

Thanks to Aadhaar and Jan dhan bank Accounts, 8 crore families or 40 crore people got free ration, LPG, and money in bank accounts per month since April. Government was able to directly reach the last man standing without bothering about middleman. Digital India and use of technology really came to rescue amidst pandemic which was unforeseen.

But migrants could not avail them away from native state. We need to think ‘how does govt reach the migrants directly’?

Solution.

  1. Register all interstate Migrant workers to know who they are, where they are, so that they can be contacted. This is must along with National Register of Citizens. People will question the move just like they did when 40 crore bank accounts were opened in 2014 whose impact is being understood now.
  2. One nation one ration card which is already being rolled out. So that a Native of Bihar can pick up his quota of Rice or Wheat or Dal in from a fair price shop in Maharashtra.

When we fought with just hope: A heart touching tale of 1962 India China war

A very cofident Chinese army under the expansionist Mao took Tibet, our dear Chacha was busy with Panchsheel and peace. The first home minister of Union of India, Iron Man Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was clear in his thoughts that we cannot trust China.

Known to be a visionary prime minister, with a vision of peace, paid no heeds to his requests, nor to the requests of the army which in 1947 had demanded modernization. The reply will shock you.

“We are a peace loving country, we don’t wage wars, we have batons, that’s enough”.

Well as an Indian in 2020 I still feel the slap on my face that had its impact in 1962. But this is not what we discuss today. Has anyone ever thought that how come china stop at LAC and not take all of Ladakh?

According to Mao, Tibet is the palm, with Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal as its five fingers and this hand belongs to China. So why did he stop?

International pressure- sure, but something happened way before it that broke the confidence of forward marching expansionist army.

We know what happened that led to invasion of India. The hunger and poverty and rise of a revolt in China was eminent, but Mao invaded India to protect his government. The forward posts were easy and Indian soldiers were easy to push back. Many advance land were vacant as we neither had the infrastructure, nor the clothing to have our presence felt in advance posts.

Although Indian army was taken by surprise and was not only underequiped and clueless, it was also unaware of movements of both reinforcement and enemy.

In all these circumstances, there was a spot called Rezang la, where a man of steel was stationed. With nearly 120 men with a few support staff a devil for the Chinese was waiting either for vijay (victory) or Veergati (supreme sacrifice).

Coincidentally his name was Major Shaitan Singh Bhati. His company consisted of 120 Ahir (Yadavs) of 13 Kumaon Regiment. Whatever happened that day gave you the lines of “ek ek ne 10 ko maara” (one Indian soldier killed 10 Chinese).

The company had been advised to vacate as they had only 600 rounds of ammunition, which was replied with a no from the commanding officer along with all his soldiers. They were ready to face anything, any unknown enemy, any invisible enemy as well. The bravehearts met action soon and foiled three attacks after which there was an artillery round of extensive firing. The position of Indian troops was blocked by mountains which led to no artillery support to the Indian side. Artillery, considered to be the God of war was against us, sealing the fate?

No.

When Chinese launched the attack they met with a resistance never seen before. The men fought with bare hands against well equipped Chinese, holding three men at once and smashing them into the rocks!

Yes, Indian soldiers literally held three Chinese soldiers and smashed them into the rocks. The sky had the cries of “Jay Dada Kishan “(Glory to forefather lord Krishna) echoing before every single braveheart fell. No resupply assured, no reinforcement and the men still willing to stay and fight for the motherland, seems this is bravest that can happen?

No.

Not a bullet to the back, all in the chest. The medic died with a syringe in his hand, a soldier died while reloading a RPG. Not a single man ran until the fight was on. 113 fell and nine were made war prisoners.

When one man fled their captivity, before which the telecom operator was ordered by Major Bhati to leave and relay the position to the enemies, who went on to tell the tale to the seniors, not even the army officers believed the bravery. When second person reached the post after fleeing, army, even the collection of the bravest was shocked!

The story was not believed until after winter a tour was made to the site by a delegation which found themselves in tears to the sacrifice made by our bravehearts. This is the place where you still have the Ahir Dham in memory of the Yadavas that sacrificed themselves that day.

This was the battle which made the Chinese put their helmets on inverted guns to mark respect. This was the Saragarhi of modern India, a battle which broke Chinese morale, as 1300 Chinese fell in order to capture 120 Indians.

When we had nothing we fought with hope, bare hands and love for motherland. And today, we have some sell-pens (mordern day sellswords) teach us that we won’t match the Chinese. I guess, they are right.

We wont match them, we will slaughter them.

Jai hind.

श्रमिकों का पलायन: अवधारणा

जाॅन स्टुअर्ट मिल ने ‘द सब्जेक्शन ऑफ वूमेन’ में लिखा है, “शक्तिशाली व्यक्ति मृदु भाषा का उपयोग करता है, और जिस पर वह अत्याचार करता है, वह हमेशा अपनी स्वयं की भलाई के लिए ऐसा करने का नाटक करता है.”ये कथन वर्तमान में प्रवासी श्रमिक बनाम गंतव्य राज्यों के संदर्भ में सटीक बैठता है. यत्र तत्र आ रही खबरों में कोरोना काल की विभीषिका झेल रहे श्रमिकों का पलायन दिन रात सुर्खियां बटोर रहा है.

आज हम प्रवासी श्रमिकों से जुड़ी आधारभूत अवधारणा को समझने का प्रयास करेंगे, और उनकी समस्या और संभावित समाधान भी जानने की कोशिश करेंगे. जनगणना के हिसाब से एक प्रवासी श्रमिक ऐसा व्यक्ति है, जो अपने जन्मस्थान से भिन्न स्थान पर निवास करे अथवा जो अपने यूज़वल प्लेस ऑफ रेसिडेंस को त्यागकर अन्य जगह अधिवासित हो. यदि भारत में प्रवासी मज़दूरों की कुल संख्या के बारें में बात की जाए तो, 2017 के आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण में यह अनुमान लगाया गया कि देश में मौसमी अथवा चक्रीय प्रवासियों की  कुल संख्या करीब 139 मिलियन है.

यह ये आंकड़ें सुझाने का एक ध्येय यही है कि आगामी बातों के संग ये तथ्य आपके और मेरे साथ रहे.

जब पूरा विश्व चीन सृजित या कम से कम चीन संबंधित कोरोना वायरस से जूझ रहा है, भारत भी इस अघोषित युद्ध से पूरी शक्ति से लड़ने में प्रयासरत है. भारत में पहले कोरोना केस और देशव्यापी लाॅकडाउन के मध्य बहुत अधिक समय का फांसला नहीं है. कम से कम अमेरिका जैसे बड़ी महाशक्तियों से तुलना करने पर भारत की स्थिति नियंत्रित सदृश है.

लाॅकडाउन के दौरान भारत के प्रधानमंत्री जी का एक निवेदन यह था कि जो जहां है, वही रहें. यह लाॅकडाउन के सफल संचालन हेतु ज़रूरी भी था. इतना बड़ा संकल्प मात्र प्रधानमंत्री जी के निवेदन से ही पूर्ण नहीं हो सकता था जबतक जनचेतना का पूर्ण समर्थन, और राज्य सरकारों का अग्रगामी सहयोग ना मिले.

परंतु देश में लाॅकडाउन के दौरान ही जगह जगह श्रमिकों के बाहर निकलने, सड़कों पर पैदल चलने और कुछ के प्रदर्शन करने की खबरें आईं. ये तस्वीरें डराने वाली थीं. जहां तक मुझे याद है श्रमिकों की पहली भीड़ दिल्ली में दिखी.

यूं तो जनमाध्यमों पर मीठे संवाद और बस स्टाॅप को  बैनरों से लाद देने वाली दिल्ली सरकार का दावा यह रहा कि दिल्ली में प्रतिदिन लाखों गरीबों को मुफ्त भोजन दिया जा रहा, मकान मालिक किरायेदारों के साथ अपना माधुर्य बनाए रखेंगे. पर लगता है ये सब कथनी ही बन कर रह गई.

फिर एक तस्वीर महाराष्ट्र से आई जहां श्रमिकों का जत्था पैदल ही घर निकल पड़ा. कारण क्या रहे होंगे, उसकी मुझे बिल्कुल भी जानकारी नहीं है. पर ये सवाल उपजता है कि ‘भैया’, ‘बिहारी’, ‘गंवार’, ‘देहाती’ सदृश उपाधियां झेलने के बाद भी पेट पालने पहुंचा मजदूर किस विश्वास घाटे का शिकार हो गया, कि पैदल ही निकल पड़ा.

आप सवाल केंद्र सरकार पर  भी उठा सकते हैं पर राज्यों की यहां क्या भूमिका वांछित थी और है, आप ये नकार नहीं सकते.

अब ये प्रश्न भी वाजिब है कि इतने अधिक प्रवासन के क्या कारण रहे? और क्या पिछली सरकारों ने इसे दूर करने की रणनीति अपनाई?

2011 की जनगणना के अनुसार देश में 450 मिलियन कुल प्रवासी हैं, जो अन्य राज्यों में कामगार हैं. पृष्ठ प्रदेशों में बेरोजगारी, शहरों की ओर आकर्षण इसके कुछ कारण रहे. 1947 से 1991 और फिर 1991 से 201 तक इसमें लगातार वृद्धि हुई. भारत के कुछ राज्य जैसे उत्तर प्रदेश, बिहार, झारखंड, उड़ीसा भले हई श्रमपूर्ति और दिल्ली के सिंहासन तक सीधा रास्ता बनाने में अव्वल रहे हों.  पर इन राज्यों का अपना आर्थिक विकास वंचना ग्रस्त रहा. राजनीतिक दलों द्वारा शिक्षा, अवसंरचना, रोजगार, कौशल विकास आदि पर कम बल्कि जाति, धर्म पर भरपूर बल दिया गया.

खैर वर्तमान सरकारों से लोगों में उम्मीदें हैं, विशेषकर उत्तर प्रदेश में योगी शासन ने श्रमिक संकट पर जिस सक्रियता का परिचय दिया है, वह सबका ध्यान खींच रहा है. चाहे कोटा से छात्रों को लाने का मामला हो प्रयागराज से. अब भारत में आंतरिक प्रवासन से सम्बंधित अन्य मुद्दों पर ध्यान देते हैं :

यह सर्वविदित है कि प्रवासी मज़दूर जब दूसरे राज्य में जाता है. तो सामाजिक स्तर पर दोयम दर्जे का व्यवहार पाता है. वह विभिन्न सामाजिक कल्याण योजनाओं से वंचित होता है, साथ ही घर से दूर रहने पर मनोवैज्ञानिक रूप से भी दबाव ग्रस्त रहता है.

यह भी एक तथ्य है कि भारत में अधिकांश प्रवासन हाशिये पर स्थित सुभेद्य वर्गों में ही होता है. जिनकी आर्थिक, शैक्षिक और सामाजिक स्थित दयनीय होती है. एक बार घर से बाहर मज़दूरी करने गए युवक का ना केवल स्वयं का जीवन झौंस जाता है, बल्कि आगामी पीढ़ियों तक गरीबी का दुष्चक्र चढ़ जाता है.

सामाजिक रूप से प्रवासन का उम्रवार प्रभाव क्या है, इन बिंदुओं में समझने का प्रयास करें:

1. प्रवासी का आरंभिक प्रवेश, 14 से 20 वर्ष के मध्य होता है.
वह युवा मैन्युवल लेबर की भांति कार्य करता है. और द्वितीयक पारिश्रमिक से आर्थोपार्जन करता है.

2. शिखर श्रम गहन आयु: 21 से 30 वर्ष
इस दौरान वह कठिन परिश्रमी श्रमिक के रूप में 12 से 14 घंटे कार्य कर रहा  होता है.
और यहां मिलने वाला वेतन या लाभ प्राथमिक कहा जा सकता है. इसी दौरान उसका विवाह होता है, जिससे परिवार का भी प्रवासन होता है.

3. तीसरा पड़ाव ; मध्य स्तर मान लें तो 30  से 40 वर्ष तक  , पुन: मैन्युवल लेबर की भांति कार्य करता है.
हालांकि इस दौरान बार बार अस्वस्थता से गांव की ओर लौटना भी पड़ता है.  अत: आय पर प्रभाव पड़ता है.

4. अंतिम पड़ाव ; 40 वर्ष से अधिक
इस बीच श्रमिक की घर वापसी और बच्चों का पलायन होता है.

इन सभी पड़ावों का उद्देश्य महज ये बताना है कि श्रमिक द्वारा अर्जित आय महज रोटी तक ही सीमित है.  और आगे यह क्रम बच्चों तक भी जाता है. और एक श्रमिक का बच्चा स्वयं गरीबी के दुष्चक्र में फंस जाता है. इन सभी समस्याओं का समाधान करना है तो हमें नीतिगत रूप से पहल करनी होगी. (उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा माइग्रेंट्स कमीशन बेहतर कदम है)

कुछ अन्य सुझाव हो सकते हैं: 1.सार्वभौमिक खाद्यान्न वितरण (केंद्र सरकार की वन नेशन, वन कार्ड मददगार साबित हो सकती है)

2. प्रत्यक्ष लाभ हस्तान्तरण (उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा 1000 रुपये, केंद्र सरकार द्वारा PM किसान स्कीम के तहत 2000 की तीन किस्त, जनधन खातों में 500 रू की राशि पहुंचाई गई. दिल्ली सरकार ने भी रेहड़ी पटरी वालों को 5000 देने का वादा किया है, यद्यपि ज्यादातर अपने घर लौट चुके हैं).

3 . अंतर्राज्यीय समन्वय समिति

4. वेतन, रोजगार की सुरक्षा हेतु केन्द्र राज्य स्तर पर विधिक प्रकोष्ठ

अंत में जब कोविड 19 के दौर में श्रमिक संकट ने कुछ दबी वास्तविकताओं से दो चार किया है. तो क्यों ना इस संकट को अवसर में बदल दिया जाए.

अंत में अपने देश के कल्याण की अथक कामना करता हूं.
धन्यवाद.
#बड़का_लेखक

Federalism: A case sui generis

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There can be no centre without states.

federalism, but in India quasi- federal nature of polity, preventing various state governments to secede from the union. True federations empowers state to come out of Union as independent sovereign units. Foundations of our federal democracy rests upon centre state collaboration, with peaceful coexistence and interdependence parallely transcending, thus making federal balance. Indian constitutional structure with federal principles, has over the time sustained the constitutionally divided  sovereignty and ensured its integrity with diverse customs and traditions. Manifestation of it being laws enforced uniformly country wide, exemption to certain personal laws being the only exception to it.

KC where has termed Indian federalism as “quasi federal” in nature and purpose. Add to this, we have success model of USA, the oldest federation in the world. There the federal hallmark lies in distribution of powers both legislative and executive  between the constituent units. The 10th amendment in US constitution is a significant milestone in this regard. It provides that the remaining powers not reserved for the federal government, were now, reserved to the state governments with immediate effect. This push forward the states for joining the federal union, thus the United states of america was born. The distribution of powers is based on economic theory of laissez faire.  

Cooperative federalism:  evolution of pragmatism

System where centre and states share horizontal relationship in a larger public interest. It connotes the notion of pragmatic federalism based on needs and interests of various stakeholders.

Source of  quasi-federalism

Article 1 of the Constitutio , here constitution does not explicitly mention the term federalism, rather an inference can be drawn regarding a governance structure primarily federal in nature.

1) Territorial jurisdictions governed by centre and state governments (schedule 1)

2) Distinguishes powers and functions of the two governments

3) Legislative, administrative and financial relations between the union and states, division of powers vide art 246, subjects given in (schedule 7)

Supreme court views

In the landmark case of state of west bengal V. Union of India. The main issue in the case was the exercise of sovereign powers by Indian states. The legislative competence of parliament to enact a law for compulsory acquisition by the Union of land and other properties owned by the state. The apex court categorizes Indian form of federalism as distinct from others and thus held-

1) Indian Constitution did not propound principle of absolute federalism.

2) Constitution of India is a supreme document which governs all states and there is no provision of separate constitutions for each state as required in a federal state.

3) States has no power to alter the constitution , only centre has.

4) Indian Constitution renders supreme powers upon the courts to invalidate any action which violates the constitution.

5) Distribution of powers facilitates national policies matter by central government and local governance by the state governments.

The supreme court further held that central government is the final authority for any issue. The political power distributed between the union and the state government with greater weight to the union government. Another thing which is against the pure form federalism is the concept of single citizenship in India.   

Relevance in changing times: COVID crisis

Modern challenges to governance and corresponding structure gives birth to cooperative federalism. It is under severe test of its validity with the evolving issues like levying of taxes (post GST), policy autonomy to states and other concerning law and order and regulatory issues in corona times.

To advance the solemn purpose of federalism, federations and its constituents, here the States, a time and tested policy of broad and fair consultations to seek administrative cooperations of various state governments is to be formulated. This requires the Centre to view states as equals and strenghtening their fiscal measures, because states are the first respondents to any crisis. To further this objective, the leadership of President (at centre) and Governors (in states), to be mandated to provide a gateway and necessary assistive intent between the Union executive and state executive.

It is equally important for state governments to initiate planning with centre, if fails, to make necessary room for back room consultations and conciliations. Institutions like NITI Aayog and finance commision are the place where centre and state can work together as equal partners in policy making to strengthen democracy.

Fundemental directives on right to livelihood

Explicit constitutional obligation vide art 39(a) and 39(e), with ever weakening assertion of right vide art 21, has compelled the centre and state to ensure livelihood. This will be achieved through synchronised efforts  of centre and state and not in isolated ecosystem. Federal governance must reflect the expression of constitutional propriety  as directed and supervised by constitutional prescriptions.

Aberrations

The obsession of unilateral directives of a brute majority at centre, impacts the federal intent, that is also a hallmark of constitutional morality. Experience shows, only the minority governments has complied with the federal principles in letter and spirit. A unitary federal bias is always evident in legislative majority and assertion of its numerical strength, often seen in parliamentary compliance procedures.

Our constitution is a meticulously and magnificiently drafted vision document, which furthers the pluralist ideals with social solidarity, ensures pace of economic development with protection of downtrodden. It restricts the power of executive whilst providing essential safeguards to civil liberties. Devices like basic structure, constitutional morality and federal polity, make further inroads in maintaining constitutional supremacy, for achieving the unhindered objective of equality for all and equal opportunity for all. 

The far-left elements in Minneapolis and the anti-CAA fiascoes

The extant fiasco in the United States hardly needs accentuation. The manner in which George Floyd was murdered was manifestly abominable and unforgivable. I would not be surprised at, and would not outright disagree with, the assertion that the riots stem from the pent-up detestation towards racism in the United States. It is equally true, however, that this form of violence does little to help the cause of those passionately fighting against racism using constitutional means.

The object of this post, however, is not the examination of the history of racism in the United States. The object of this post is to accentuate the similarities in both the fiascoes; the extant rioting in Minneapolis and the anti-CAA fiasco in India not too long ago.

I am given to understand that protesters have looted an entire Apple store in DC. It took seven minutes before cops arrived. There have also been visuals of the protesters dealing damage to the CNN office. The critics, of course, did not hesitate to point out, “Hey CNN! Peaceful protesters at your door!”

I further have been given to understand that it was the “white nationalist right wing” that actually aggravated the protests and turned them violent. It is manifest that they must also appropriately prosecuted if indeed guilty. For it was not until the peaceful protests commenced that action was taken against the offending police officer. But if so, the protests ought to have subsided. That certainly has not happened.

This is an indubitable state of anarchy, something which we all witnessed in India during the unwarranted protests and riots against a harmless piece of legislation that was the CAA. The contention was that the government had included religion as grounds of providing citizenship which goes against constitutional principles of secularism, and the express ban on discrimination by the Constitution. They, however, failed to understand that it was not just in one, but in numerous verdicts by the Supreme Court, that exceptions to these constitutional provisions were enumerated.

For if Articles 14 and 15 were followed in spirit, even affirmative action would have to be struck down as unconstitutional (interested readers may read Samaraditya Pal’s books on the Constitution). No protester and vested interest, however, bothered to examine such nuances. They went about blocking roads with unadulterated shamelessness, without any regard whatsoever for public order. As if that did not suffice, two mothers brought their two-month old infants at the protest site and engaged themselves in symbolic protests, leaving the infants to die! And then they had the temerity to say that it was Allah’s will.

I see the same materializing in the United States today. It is interesting to note that Americans do not possess much knowledge of the state of affairs of foreign countries. There is an age-old and exasperating propensity in the U.S. to dismiss everything as silly third-world bickering. The Minneapolis incidents may well bust this bubble of imagined civil superiority. As renowned author Hindol Sengupta says, “Had this happened in our part of the world, the American Press would have been the first to describe it as ‘civil war’.”

It may be said that the outburst of sentiments are legitimate. No matter what, however, one cannot condone such anarchy. The issues, of course, are widely different in India and in the U.S. But those who have provided the anarchists with an intellectual shield are those claiming to fight for ideals; against racism in the U.S. and against imagined majoritarianism in India.

These principles are very much cherished by those with leftist inclinations in both countries. I am, therefore, compelled to agree with the United States Attorney General William Barr that it appears as if the violence is planned, organized and driven by anarchic left extremist groups. Far-left extremist groups, using Antifa-like tactics.

Author and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri coined a very apposite term for these eminent personalities in the media, entertainment industry, bureaucracy, universities etc. who provide intellectual cover for such anarchists whose actions reek of the revolution as must have been imagined by Marx. The term coined by him is, “Urban Naxals”. They, unlike the gun-toting Naxals, do not directly take up arms, but use the intellectual medium to indoctrinate the youth and have it sympathize with the far-Left ideology. I suppose many Americans would find eerie similarities between SJWs in the U.S. and such youth in India.

I use, in an almost verbatim manner, the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who is celebrated as the Father of the Indian Constitution, when I say:

Urban Naxals form a close corporation, and the distinction that this corporation makes between self-proclaimed intellectuals and dissidents is a very real, very positive and very alienating distinction. There is a fraternity, but the benefit is confined to those within that corporation. For those who are outside the corporation, there is nothing but contempt and enmity.

Dr. Ambedkar had used these words in the context of the Islamic society in India as it existed in the days of India’s independence movement. Whether or not it applies to the Islamic society in today’s India is beyond the purview of this post. What is important is that his description is very apt for today’s Urban Naxals.

A noteworthy feature of this corporation is that it transcends geographical, ethnic and religious boundaries. The only purpose of its existence is the devolution of the state of affairs across nations to total anarchy. It hides its lack of intellect with impassioned public eloquence, and brazen cunning that is employed in order to misguide the infertile young minds who, at such ages, are bustling with hormonal peaks.

The members of this corporation wax eloquent about freedom of speech and expression, but they possess an intrinsic lack of acceptance towards criticism. Criticism, even in civilized and respectful language, forthwith invites the most abominable linguistic barrage from them.

They do not let it known, but they follow Antonio Gramsci even more than they follow Karl Marx. What Marx conceptualized was purely based on economics. It failed because it was evident that labour problems are not the same across the world. The class divisions were also not as rigid; they certainly are not so today. Gramsci’s idea pertained to attacking the cultural institutions in countries for Marxism to thrive. So long as indigenous culture thrived, Marxism would appear esoteric and make little sense to the local population.

I have not much of an idea as to the tactics employed by Gramsci’s adherents to demean cultural institutions in the U.S. but I guess the burning of the Star Spangled Banner could be construed as such. It would not be an overstatement to say that the situation in India is exponentially worse. We in India are aware as to the contortion of our history books, and the monopoly established by the Left-oriented elite over the intelligentsia and academia. It is ironic that Marxist thought, which would ideally have opposed colonialism for its bourgeoisie character, ended up colonizing the minds of India’s youth.

I understand that much of my post does not directly pertain to the extant situation in the U.S. However, it is important to note that Minneapolis is not a one-off incident. It is but a statistic which is part of a pernicious game being played by the global cabal of Urban Naxals. It is not a conspiracy theory that these people have deep pockets; why else is George Soros saying something to the effect of pledging $1 billion to fight fascism in India?

The patterns are eerily the same. It is “Free Palestine” in the United States and “Free Kashmir” in India. Americans would do well to understand that the Free Kashmir slogans are propounded not by “oppressed citizens demanding freedom” but the Left cabal that is actively shielding terrorists. This is upheld even by the radical Left in the U.S. To endorse this slogan, therefore, is to conform to their propaganda and fall prey to them.

We must not dismiss it as an incident of anarchy. The destabilization of the state apparatus is the singular aim of such people. I do not know what they seek to achieve thereafter, but whatever it is, it manifestly cannot be a welcome proposition.

Ram Janmabhoomi- A political and legal history

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Bhagwan Shree Ram is one of the most revered deities of Hinduism. He was born in Ayodhya and ruled his kingdom from there after returning from exile. His rule is also termed as Ram-Rajya and is considered as an ideal state of rule. Ayodhya is situated on the banks of Sarayu river in Uttar Pradesh.

The Beginning of the Ram Mandir issue- As per the ASI findings accepted in the honourable HC of Allahabad (Prayagraj), a temple was built in the medieval age to commemorate his birth place, The Ram Janmabhoomi. Baqi Tashqandi alias Mir Baqi destroyed the temple site in 1528 and built a mosque on the same site which is known as the Babri Masjid or Masjid e Janmabhoomi. Mir Baqi was the general of Babur and in order to please his religiously fanatic ruler, he went on destroying various sacred temples of Hinduism after 1528.

Since 1528 till the early 19th century Muslims prayed inside mosque. A Chabutara (raised platform) was built little outside of the mosque and Hindus prayed over there. In 1853, local riots happened in Ayodhya on a vast scale for the first time. The then British govt raised a fence between the Chabutara and the Mosque on either side and both the communities continued to offer prayers amidst tensions.
In 1885 Mahant Raghuwar Das pleaded in Faizabad court to built a temple over Ram Chabutara. The court denied the plea stating that the Muslims are praying in from 350 years near that site which further intensified the situation. The British judiciary fueled the tensions in both communities by having a bias view.

Rekindling of the dispute- On 22/23rd December 1949, idols of Ramlala were seen inside the mosque. The fence dividing both the sites was broken. The then DM, K.K Nair took control of the premises after local Muslims complained that a few people have allegedly place the idols inside mosque. In January 1950, Mahant Ramchandra Das again filed a plea to allow prayers inside structure. The court decree stated that prayers from both the communities will be done outside and banned entry inside the Mosque. The administration took over the control and Gopal Singh Visharad also filed a plea on the same grounds.

In 1959, The Nirmohi Akhara filed another case asking control over the disputed site and thus the term विवादित ढांचा was coined. Soon the Sunni Waqf board filed a case for removing the idols inside mosque and claimed their control over the site. For next 20-25 years the cases were pending and no action was taken.

The Beginning of Tensions- Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a Dharma Sansad in 1984 which again fueled tensions. In an unconstitutional move, Rajiv Gandhi govt overturned Supreme Courts order in the Shahbano case which was criticized heavily. The Supreme Court said that the protection for women is for every Indian women irrespective of her religion under article 44 of the Indian Constitution and then government brought an ordinance under the pressure of Muslim fundamentalist orgs. In order to control the damage done by the appeasement policy, something dramatic happened. Faizabad court ordered opening of the structure and within an hour the order was implemented by Rajiv Gandhi govt. They went a step further by broadcasting the ceremony on national television which made the Hindu society happy.

In protest, the fundamentalist Muslim organization formed the Babri Masjid Action Committee, whose objective was to fight for the masjid on all platforms. The era of Hindutva politics started and BJP brought this issue on political platform. Meanwhile Bajrang Dal started the Shila Poojan that is collection of the bricks for temple construction. Religious riots broke out in various parts.

The Demolition- Congress lost 1989 General elections and V.P. Singh became the PM with the help of BJP which had 84 seats. The VP govt had support from the left and right parties! L.K Advani started the Rath Yatra on 25th September 1990 which was expected to reach Ayodhya by crossing a 10,000 km distance. He was arrested in Samastipur, Bihar by the Lalu Prasad Administration and the BJP withdraw support from the central govt. On October 30,1990 Karsevaks gathered in Ayodhya and the then Mulayam Singh govt opened fire on the Karsevaks. Hundreds were killed and thrown away in Sharayu river. After Chandrashekar govt collapsed, Rajiv Gandhi was killed in 1991 election campaign and PVN Rao became PM. The BJP won the UP assembly elections with 221 seats and Kalyan Singh became the CM. The BJP acquired the disputed land stating tourism purpose and leased it to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.

The HC banned any permanent construction on the site. Yet a failed attempt was done by Karsevaks to built a small temple in July 1992. Tensions were rising between the Central and UP government on the issue. PVN Rao tried to mediate and for the first time talks happened between BMAC and VHP. The VHP announced 6th December as Karseva diwas. Many people suggested PVN Rao to declare emergency but he declined saying that the UP govt has ensured that law and order will be maintained. At the same time Kalyan Singh publicly said that no bullets will be fired whatsoever.

Around 2 lac people gathered in Ayodhya on 6th December. The BJP and VHP leaders made fierce and provocative speeches few meters away from the site which fueled the situation. After 11 AM the karsevaks climbed the disputed structure and brought it down using hand tools. As an immediate result, Kalyan Singh resigned as CM.

Aftermaths- Soon religious riots broke out in the whole sub continent. Anti Hindu riots were seen in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Around 2000 people from both the sides died in India after riots. Mumbai saw the bomb blasts of 1993 done by Tiger Memom as an revenge of these riots. Liberhan commission was appointed to submit a report which is the longest commission till the date. The report which was leaked accused 68 people including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and more critically Kalyan Singh.

ASI excavation- In 2003 HC orderd excavation orders to ASI. The report clearly stated that pillars showing Hindu motifs were found. Paintings sighting towards a Hindu temple in the 12th Century were found. Both the sites argued over religious sentiments. The HC clubbed all cases together and on 30th September 2010 HC, in it’s judgement accepted that the disputed site is the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram of Valmiki’s Ramayan. The stated that AIMPLB has no locus standi in this issue and divided the land in 3 parts, 1/3 to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, 1/3 to Nirmohi Akhara and 1/3 to Sunni Waqf board which was later challenged by all parties in SC.

As we are all aware, the honorable SC recently delivered a final judgement in favour of Ramlala by alloting the entire land for temple construction.

दिल्ली दंगो के नाम एक कविता “सब याद रखा जाएगा”

जो जो बातें रोज़ घटित होती है।
उससे याद रखना जरूरी न भी हो तब भी
सब याद रखा जाएगा।

जो व्यवहार किये है हम पर काफिर समझ कर,
खुद को मोमिन बता कर, मुझ को मुश्रिकीन बना कर,
काफी बातो को अनसुना कर कर,
मैंने भले ही खुद से कही आखिर में जाकर

क्यों हमेशा हमे ही बनाया जाता है मोहरा
हमारे ही साथ खेला जाता है ये खेल दोहरा

नही भूले है हम कश्मीर हमारा
नही भूलेंगे दिल्ली दुबारा
सबकुछ लोगो को बताया जाएगा
सब याद रखा जाएगा।
सब याद रखा जाएगा।

भूले हो कही बाते अक्सर
भूल नही सकते उनके मकसद

फिर हो कश्मीर या हो गुजरात के दंगे
केरल बंगाल हो या हो मेवात के पंगे

आज भी जब जब आघात होगा हमारे संस्कृति पर
जब जब बाटा जाएगा सनातन को पंथ जातियों पर

तब तब आगे आना होगा इनको माफ नही किया जाएगा
सब याद रखा जाएगा।
सब याद रखा जाएगा।

Kisaan-MGNREGA-Ecosystem

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I would like to recall my high school days and remember some lines of Julius Caesar “The Ides of March”. Yes this is something I concur would justify the march of 2020 to us as Indians. Corona knocked to the doors of most of our cities and stakeholders of our human society.

Across cities we saw atrocities of this virus in different forms, be like migrant crisis, job losses, economic crash etc. But still there was one vertical of this country which held strong like Angad’s foot and added positivity to this notorious aura. Yes, many of you are guessing it right and it is “Agriculture”. Farmers added more grains than last year and started looking forward for their next crop sowing. With some measures of increasing MSP yesterday and some loan payment extension nothing concrete yet came from the government to increase the farmers income by double.

Having said that I would like to take the focus on MGNREGA which all the governments are boasting and thus amplifying the employment opportunities they have generated through this programme. Today most of the expenditure done on this line is on Ponds, roads, canals, drainage etc in the villages. With some positive results coming up there is no concrete evidence of village model which could be shown as an example to entire nation that see how MGNREGA has changed the look of the village. I am talking about more than 12 years of this program running and yet no bright discoveries.

Now let us consider one village as one society wherein all being connected to each other and aiming for common goal- “Prosperity for all”. But how to achieve it, is something which is fueled by lot of initiatives but failed. So something as a farmer I could put in my words to solve this. Now let us accept one fact that not all farmers are owners of land. And not only the land owners are farmers. What if something could be done professionally (like HR in companies) to connect these sections of farmers.

So here I am going to put something on the model connecting to sections of farmers through MGNREGA via Professional entity. This professional entity could be the Block development officer at block level. Today suppose one farmers cultivate 1 acre of land and sow paddy . He will finally cultivate approximately 14 to 15 quintals of rice. Now growing paddy requires log of labours from sowing, transplantation, grass removals,cutting, threshing etc. So this farmer end up paying 4to 6 quintals as labour cost to people (farmers without land) whi did this for him.With water, electricity,manure and other cost it goes up to the cost of 3500 to 4000. Now MSP of rice is approximately 1850 INR. So this farmer keep 2 to 3 quintals for his family to eat. 6 plus 3 I.e total 9 quintals gone out of 15. He sells remaining 6 quintals at 1850 per quintals and generate income of 11,100 INR. Now minus the cost 4000 as mentioned above. Finally he is left with 7100 INR. This is the amount we in cities spend of 2 bottles of Teachers Whiskey and enjoy our evenings. But for him as a farmer it is an income to survive for next 6 months. Now you would have imagined the pain. And trust me majority of the farmers now owns land less than 2 to 3 acres on an average.

Here comes the Model mentioned below:

Now I will take you all through some imagination. Suppose if the non land owner farmers register themselves for MGNREGA at their block. All the land owners also register themselves as employers. Now every season Employers could reach to block and demand for MGNREGA holders as part timers to work on their land on hourly basis.Now the non land owners work on farm land and register his working hours at block . Employer also confirms the hour.

Now the payment for their work is done through MGNREGA. Now please go back to my previous paragraphs to recall that around 6 quintals are given by the land owner as cost to non land owners. But now because of this policy there is good utilisation of people through MGNREGA for farming and parallelly for infrastructure works as used to happen before. Now the 6 quintals left with farmer extra could fetch him another 1850*6 i.e., 11,100 INR. Thus now final income with farmer is 7100 as mentioned before and this 11,100 making it 18,200 INR which is more than the double of 7100 (The previous income).

Now many of you can think that by this non land owners will lose the grains which they were getting before as per their income for labour. But government of India is already providing rations to these people every month through PDS system. So instead of ration now they will get cash through MGNREGA for working on the farmland. Similary Farmers can hire these people for dairy ,fishing etc. Now this farmer who is benefiting from the government and earning more than before could deposit some of his profit for the development of the village. May be 2000 out of 18200. This could create lot of money every year at village level and could be used to develop parks, library,Cyber Cafe etc with some additional fund from Gram Panchayat fund.

So this becomes an unending ecosystem of happy farmers, labourers and bright future of the kids and thus bright future of the country. Now I am reminding all of you that more than 70% population of this country resides in villages and we are going to touch almost 90 cr population. Please give a thought to this and think how this can reach your MLA or MP and this could be discussed in legislative assemblies or Parliament respectively.

Thought of a proud Gaon wala 🙂