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Here is a better solution than not taking salaries when parliament doesn’t function

anonBrook
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Here is a better solution than not taking salaries when parliament doesn’t function

On 4th April, Wednesday, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mr Ananth Kumar told ANI that BJP & NDA MPs will not draw the salary and allowance for the 23 days during which the Parliament has not been able to function.

Recently, the politicians from both opposition and ruling party have come under heavy criticism for wasting taxpayers’ money by disrupting the Parliament.

And although this is a welcome move I don’t not see it anything more than being virtue signal to the opposition. Why? Because this is a one time move to claim the moral high-ground from the opposition and also to turn the tables on the critics in the media who have been coming down hard on the Parliamentarians.

The issue of wastage of funds is not a recent one and neither is it limited to stalling of the Parliament. In fact, it is quite amusing, and a pleasant surprise, that BJP is the party that came up with this move when it has maintained both while in Opposition & while in power that stalling the Parliament is part of democracy.

Personally, I do AGREE with this. Stalling the Parliament can be the opposition’s last move to prevent a legislation they feel should not pass. It prevents any Government with absolute majority from using their strength to bulldoze in laws. However, I also think that the taxpayers’ money must not be wasted.

Coming back to the current discussion, bigger concern than stalling of Parliament is wastage of money. And a major aspect of that is absenteeism. Recently, Sachin Tendulkar gave up his salary and received some praise for that. However, his attendance is about measly 8%. What exactly did he get the salary for? What if he didn’t give up his salary?

Many other MPs have abysmal attendance records. Actor Rekha has even worse attendance than Sachin. Did she give up her salary? Forget nominated celebrities, President of “Grand Old Party” of India Mr. Rahul Gandhi has merely 46% attendance in Budget session 2018. An average attendance of only 53% since 2014.

In most schools, students with less than 65% attendance are disallowed (or at least threatened to be disallowed) from appearing in examinations. Surely, our law makers must be held to a similar, if not higher, standard as school going kids!

Low attendance is the real menace. Disruptions of Parliament are not that common as they seem due to news reports since any session that is not stalled doesn’t get similar attention and disruptions happen out of desperation of a weak opposition.

How to solve this? Obviously the student analogy doesn’t hold very well as MPs need to visit their constituencies and have to be involved in many other aspects of social work and public life. But there have to be some standards.

Therefore, I propose introduction of salary rules whereby the payment of salary to MPs should be linked to the following two things:

  1. Attendance.
  2. Number of days Parliament is in session but doesn’t function.

Rules for Attendance:

  • a. Any MP with attendance less than 15% doesn’t get any salary or allowance.
  • b. Any MP with more than 15% but less than 20% attendance gets only his allowance but no salary.
  • c. Any MP with less than 60% attendance should get salary and allowance in proportion to their attendance, i.e. their salary & allowance should be deducted for the number of days they are absent.
  • d. Any MP with attendance higher than 60% gets full salary and allowance.

Salary Rules in case of Stalling of Parliament:

  • a. All MPs of the House that is stalled shall bear a salary & allowance cut for each day the respective House is in session but doesn’t function, regardless of their attendance records.
  • b. In case the Parliament or one of the Houses is stalled for 50% or more time of the duration of any session, salary & allowance for all MPs for the duration of the session will be cut regardless of their attendance records.

I believe these are fairly reasonable rule and simple to understand as well as implement. Hopefully my suggestions reach our Parliamentarians and they spark a positive debate on this topic, even if they aren’t adopted.

In the past too, many MPs have refused to draw their salaries or donated the entirety of it. I genuinely believe most MPs just want to do their part in the ways they think is right. And although giving up their salaries is a magnanimous and heart-warming gesture, there is a need to link salaries to objectively calculable measures so as to bring professionalism to politics. Now, attendance is just one measures but there can be others such as number of bills introduced or number of questions asked or may be some combination of these. However, the current scenario has to change. To conclude I will borrow a line from Kavi Dushyant Kumar-

“सारी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।”

दलितों के मुद्दे पे मोदी वही गलती कर रहे हैं जो ‘सेक्युलरिज्म’ के मुद्दे पे अटल-आडवाणी ने की थी

Saurabh Bhaarat
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दलितों के मुद्दे पे मोदी वही गलती कर रहे हैं जो ‘सेक्युलरिज्म’ के मुद्दे पे अटल-आडवाणी ने की थी

राजनीति और समाज के बदलते समय के साथ दलित नेतृत्व का विकेंद्रीकरण हो रहा है। यूपी में मायावती के पराभव के बाद इसमें और तेजी आई। मेरा स्पष्ट विचार है कि ऊना, भीमा-कोरेगांव और अब एससी/एसटी एक्ट के बहाने ‘भारत बन्द’ की अराजकता और कुछ नहीं बल्कि दलितवाद की आड़ में अखिल भारतीय स्तर पर दलित नेतृत्व का ‘बौद्ध केंद्रीकरण’ कर उसे फिर से हथियाने की छटपटाहट है। यह दलितवाद नहीं वस्तुतः ‘नवबौद्ध जाटववाद’ है।

हिंदुत्व और राष्ट्रवाद की बढ़ती राजनीतिक चेतना और यूपी में तथाकथित दलित नेतृत्व को कई बार आजमाकर देख लेने के बाद अब लगता नहीं कि हिन्दू अनुसूचित जातियाँ किसी अराजक झांसे में आकर अपना नेतृत्व वेटिकन के इशारे पर नाचने वाले नवबौद्धों को सौंपने वाली हैं।

वर्षों से अम्बेडकर और दलित के नाम पर मायावती का केवल टिकट व्यापार और फिर मोदी के जनधन, उज्ज्वला, 12 रुपए का बीमा, डीबीटी के जरिए मनरेगा और कई सब्सिडियों का पैसा सीधे गरीबों के बैंक खाते में जाना जैसी योजनाएं वो बड़े कारण हैं जिनसे उत्तर भारत में पासी, खट्टीक, वाल्मीकि, धोबी, बेलदार, कोली, मुसहर इत्यादि अनुसूचित जातियाँ मजबूती से भाजपा के साथ जुड़ी हैं।

सिर्फ ‘अम्बेडकरवादी नवबौद्ध जाटव’ राजनीति के जरिए मायावती इन जातियों को हथिया नहीं सकती क्योंकि एक तो ये जातियाँ बौद्ध नहीं, हिन्दू हैं। दूसरे, दलित चेतना के आधार अकेले अम्बेडकर नहीं हैं। कबीरपंथ, संत रविदास, घासीदास, महिमा स्वामी, महाराजा सुहेलदेव (जिन्हें राजभर और पासी दोनों मानते हैं), महाराजा बिजली पासी, पंजाब-हरियाणा में तमाम डेरे और उनसे जुड़े संत भी दलितों की कई जातियों और बड़ी आबादी की ऐतिहासिक, सामाजिक और आध्यात्मिक चेतना के निर्माता रहे हैं।

जाने माने दलित चिंतक प्रोफेसर बद्रीनारायण ने भी अपने एक लेख में बताया था कि उन्होंने इलाहाबाद के गोविंद बल्लभ पंत सामाजिक विज्ञान संस्थान की एक बड़ी शोध टीम के साथ मिलकर उत्तर प्रदेश, बिहार, मध्य प्रदेश, उड़ीसा जैसे राज्यों में दलित लोकप्रिय धार्मिक एवं सांस्कृतिक पंथों का अध्ययन किया था। इनमें दलितों के मध्य कबीर पंथ, रविदासपंथ, सतनामी पंथ, महिमा धर्म के अध्ययन में यह देखकर आश्चर्य हुआ कि किस प्रकार इन लोकप्रिय पंथों के प्रभाव में प्राय: दलितों की दैनंदिन संस्कृति, उनका व्यवहार, उनकी बुद्धिमता और उनका लोक विवेक विकसित हुआ है।

गांवों में दलित समूह के लोगों से जब वे साक्षात्कार कर रहे थे और इस क्रम में उनके गीत और उनकी कथाएं रिकार्ड कर रहे थे तो आश्चर्यजनक रूप से उनकी वाणी में कबीर, रैदास, गुरु घासीदास, महिमा स्वामी की वाणियां सुनाई पड़ रही थीं। यूपी में उनकी चेतना में स्वामी अछूतानंद के आदि हिंदू पंथ की चेतना का असर भी दिखाई पड़ता है। उनके जन्म से मृत्यु तक के संस्कार, उनके आध्यात्मिक चिंतन इन परिवर्तनकारी संतों एवं पंथों की परंपराओं से बनते दिखे।

हालांकि संतों की जाति नहीं होती, किंतु भक्ति काल में दलित एवं पिछड़ी जातियों में अनेक संत पैदा हुए। रविदास जी, धाना, पीपा जैसे महान संत दलित एवं पिछड़ी जातियों के बीच से ही उभरे। दलितों की संस्कृति पर भक्तिकालीन संतों का प्रभाव आज भी है, जिन्होंने उनमें आत्मसम्मान और मानवीय गरिमा का भाव का पैदा किया। कहने की अवश्यकता नहीं कि इन सभी सन्तों, गुरुओं, पन्थों की नींव मूल रूप से आस्तिक हिंदुत्व में ही है, न कि नास्तिक बौद्धवाद या रेडिकल अम्बेडकरवाद में।

स्पष्ट है कि बौद्ध बन चुके या बौद्ध धर्म की ओर झुकाव रखने वाले महार या जाटव समाज के एक बड़े हिस्से में राजनीतिक चेतना के आधार भीमराव रामजी अम्बेडकर अवश्य हैं लेकिन बाकि हिन्दू अनुसूचित जातियों की चेतना किसी न किसी आस्तिक हिन्दू सन्त, गुरु या पन्थ द्वारा निर्मित है। मैं ये नहीं कह रहा है कि इन जातियों में अम्बेडकर का सम्मान नहीं है परन्तु इनकी पूरी जातीय अस्मिता पर तथाकथित दलित चिंतकों द्वारा एकमेव अम्बेडकरवाद का ही आरोपण करना अनुपात से ज्यादा ही माना जाएगा।

दुर्भाग्य से दलितों को सम्बोधित करते वक्त केवल और केवल अम्बेडकर की ही बात कर भाजपा भी जाने-अनजाने अब उसी नैरेटिव को आगे बढ़ा रही है जो बौद्ध बुद्धिजीवियों द्वारा गढ़ा गया है। यह एक तरह से हिन्दू अनुसूचित जातियों को जबरन नास्तिक बौद्धवाद की ओर धकेलना हो गया। इससे बचने की जरूरत है। दलित चेतना विकेंद्रीकृत है, इस विविधता का सम्मान होना चाहिए।

बसपा का डर 

वर्तमान समय में बसपा जिस डर से गुजर रही है उसका कारण ऊपर वर्णित दलित चेतना का विकेंद्रीकरण ही है। मायावती यह जानती हैं कि चेतना विकेंद्रीकृत हो तो भविष्य में नेतृत्व का विकेंद्रीकरण भी हो सकता है। फ़िलहाल तो दलितों के बड़े हिस्से को भाजपा ले उड़ी है लेकिन अगर भाजपा का पराभव भी हो जाए तो यह डर यथावत रहेगा कि ओबीसी जातियों की तरह दलितों में भी अलग-अलग नेतृत्व उभर सकता है और नवबौद्ध जाटव नेतृत्व का एकाधिकार समाप्त हो सकता है।

वैसे भी कांशीराम का बहुजन मूवमेंट अनुसूचित जाति, अनुसूचित जनजाति, अन्य पिछड़ा वर्ग यानी ओबीसी और मजहबी अल्पसंख्यकों को एक मंच पर लाने का था। लेकिन अल्पसंख्यक तो कभी जुड़े नहीं, मजबूत ओबीसी जातियाँ भी समाजवादियों के साथ चली गईं। अति-पिछड़ी जातियाँ कुछ समय बसपा के साथ रहीं लेकिन अपनी अलग जातीय चेतना को पहचानने के बाद इन जातियों के नेता भी बसपा से अलग लाइन पकड़ते रहे।

बसपा से अलग होकर सोनेलाल पटेल (अब अनुप्रिया पटेल के नेतृत्व में) ने अपना दल, ओमप्रकाश राजभर ने सुहेलदेव भारतीय समाज पार्टी, संजय निषाद ने निषाद पार्टी बनाई वहीं प्रमुख कोइरी (मौर्य, कुशवाहा) नेताओं ने भाजपा का दामन थाम लिया। ये सभी नेता और इनकी पार्टियां किसी न किसी जाति की राजनीतिक चेतना का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, और इन सबने यूपी की राजनीति में अपना उल्लेखनीय स्थान भी बना लिया है।

जाहिर है इनकी जाति की राजनीतिक चेतना बसपा के जाटव नेतृत्व की मोहताज नहीं। अब बसपा को यही डर है कि जिस प्रकार इन अति-पिछड़ी जातियों ने बसपा से अलग होकर भी राजनीतिक सफलता प्राप्त कर ली उसी प्रकार अनुसूचित जातियाँ भी ऐसा कर सकती हैं। ध्यान रहे, अलग राजनीतिक चेतना तो उनमें मौजूद है ही, बस नेतृत्व की दरकार है जो कभी भी उभर सकता है, फ़िलहाल तो भाजपा इनका प्रतिनिधित्व कर ही रही है।

इसी डर के कारण नवबौद्ध नेता अब एससी/एसटी एक्ट, आरक्षण और अन्य दलित मुद्दों पर तमाम भ्रम और अफवाहें फैलाकर अराजकता और भय का माहौल बना रहे हैं ताकि सारी हिन्दू अनुसूचित जातियाँ इनके झूठ से प्रभावित होकर भाजपा का साथ छोड़ नवबौद्ध जाटव (और महाराष्ट्र में महार) नेतृत्व को स्वीकार कर लें।

भाजपा का असमंजस

एक उदाहरण लीजिए। जब कनाडा के प्रधानमन्त्री जस्टिन ट्रुडोउ भारत दौरे पर आए तो न जाने किस होशियार ने उन्हें सलाह दे दी कि भारतीय दिखने के लिए 24 घण्टे शेरवानी पहनना जरूरी है। बस, ट्रुडोउ ने सपरिवार शेरवानी धारण कर ली और चार दिन तक भारत में ऐसे ही बाराती जोकरों की तरह घूमते रहे।

कहावत है कि नया मुल्ला प्याज ज्यादा खाता है, नया रंगरूट सलामी ज्यादा ठोंकता है और नया ड्राईवर भोंपू यानी हॉर्न ज्यादा बजाता है। दलितों और अम्बेडकर प्रतिकात्मकता को लेकर मोदी सरकार का रवैया भी कुछ कुछ ऐसा ही मालूम पड़ता है।

जाने किसने भाजपा को यह यकीन दिला दिया है कि दलितों को खुश करने के लिए हमेशा अम्बेडकरवाद की माला जपना जरूरी है। अनुसूचित जातियों का बड़ा वोट भाजपा को मिलने के बावजूद भी दलित मुद्दे पर हर बार बैकफुट पर रहने की मोदी सरकार की हरकतें दलितों के प्रति कम और तथाकथित दलित चिंतकों के प्रति ज्यादा तुष्टिकारक दिखती हैं।

2014 की प्रचण्ड जीत स्पष्ट रूप से बदलाव की लहर थी। लेकिन 2017 की यूपी विधानसभा की ऐतिहासिक जीत में बड़ी भूमिका निभाने वाले दलितों के वोट के पीछे मोदी सरकार की गरीबोन्मुख नीतियाँ, यथा जनधन योजना, निःशुल्क गैस कनेक्शन की उज्ज्वला योजना, 12 रूपये का बीमा, डीबीटी के जरिए मनरेगा और गैस सब्सिडी समेत कई योजनाओं की रकम सीधे गरीबों के खाते में जाना इत्यादि बड़े कारण थे।

इन नीतियों ने बसपा के बंधुआ माने जाने वाले दलित वोटरों को भाजपा की ओर मोड़ दिया था। फिर भी भाजपा को लगता है कि ये नीतियाँ दलितों को खुश करने के लिए पर्याप्त नहीं हैं और दलित हितैषी दिखने के लिए तथाकथित दलित बुद्धिजीवियों का भावनात्मक तुष्टिकरण जरूरी है। कथित दलित मुद्दों पर देश में जो भी बेचैनी और अराजकता का माहौल दिखता है वह आम दलितों द्वारा नहीं बल्कि नवबौद्धों, ईसाई मिशनरियों, संदिग्ध NGOs और कुछ गुंडे एक्टिविस्टों द्वारा निर्मित किया जाता है।

भाजपा का डर वस्तुतः दलितों का नहीं बल्कि इन्हीं तथाकथित दलित बुद्धिजीवियों का तुष्टिकरण है जो मीडिया और एनजीओ द्वारा खड़े किए गए हैं और जिन्हें आम दलित जानता तक नहीं।

भाजपा के इस तुष्टिकरण के पीछे विरोधियों से प्रशंसा पाने की वही सनातन भाजपाई मानसिकता जिम्मेदार है जो अरसे से चली आ रही है। अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी भी पाकिस्तान या मुस्लिम मुद्दों को डील करते वक्त अपने समर्थकों के बजाय इस बात की ज्यादा परवाह करते थे कि कुलदीप नैयर जैसे सेकुलर पत्रकार, बुद्धिजीवी इसे कैसे देखेंगे। कालांतर में आडवाणी जी भी सुधीन्द्र कुलकर्णी जैसे फ्रॉड सेकुलरों की नजर में अपनी स्टेट्समैन की छवि बनाने के चक्कर में जिन्ना की तारीफ कर अपने सियासी जीवन का सबसे बड़ा आत्मघात कर बैठे।

तुष्टिकरण किसी का भी हो, अब तक का राजनीतिक अनुभव तुष्टिकरण करने वालों के लिए बुरा ही रहा है। बात सिर्फ अटल -आडवाणी की नहीं। आजादी से पहले गांधी-नेहरू भी मुसलमानों को खुश करने के लिए आजीवन चप्पल घिसते रहे लेकिन जब देश के विभाजन के रूप में निर्णय की घड़ी आई तो मुसलमान गांधी-नेहरू के बजाय जिन्ना के साथ चले गए।

वीपी सिंह ने भी मण्डल कमीशन की रिपोर्ट लागू कर जातिगत तुष्टिकरण का बड़ा दांव खेला था लेकिन उसके बावजूद भी उनका सियासी कैरियर यहीं से खत्म हो गया। ध्यान रहे, मैं यहाँ दलितों-पिछड़ों की तुलना मुसलमानों से नहीं कर रहा हूँ। बल्कि, इन तथाकथित दलित बुद्धिजीवियों की तुलना मुसलमानों से कर रहा हूँ। मुसलमानों की तरह ये भी कभी सन्तुष्ट नहीं होंगे क्योंकि कांग्रेसी इकोसिस्टम ने इन्हें पैदा ही हिन्दुत्व को हाशिए पर धकेलने के लिए किया है।

दुर्भाग्य से वर्तमान भाजपा नेतृत्व भी इन्हीं तथाकथित दलित चिंतकों की नजर में खुद को सामाजिक न्यायवादी और अम्बेडकरभक्त साबित करने के लिए छटपटा रहा है, जो केवल मीडिया और संदिग्ध एनजीओ गिरोहों द्वारा एक खास एजेंडे को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए खड़े किए गए हैं। टीवी चैनलों पर बैठकर दलित चिंतक के रूप में डिबेट करने वाले किसी एक भी बकैत को आम हिन्दू दलित जानता भी नहीं होगा।

बेहतर होगा भाजपा अपनी विचारधारा पर दृढ़ रहते हुए केंद्र सरकार की योजनाओं द्वारा दलितों को हुए लाभ को ही चर्चा में बनाए रखे और मीडिया की पिच पर खेलना बन्द करे। उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा सरकारी योजनाओं में दलितों के बीच ‘महादलित’ वर्ग को चिन्हित कर आरक्षण के अंदर आरक्षण देने की नीति प्रस्तावित है। इस शानदार योजना को जितनी जल्दी हो सके लागू करना चाहिए ताकि अनुसूचित जाति के आरक्षण का बड़ा हिस्सा खा जा रहे हाथीछाप बौद्धों के मुकाबले छोटी हिन्दू अनुसूचित जातियों को भी आरक्षण का समानुपातिक लाभ मिल सके।

तथाकथित दलित चिंतकों की परवाह छोड़कर ऐसे ही और कार्यक्रम लागू करते हुए भाजपा फ्रंटफुट पर आए। बैकफुट पर रहकर तुष्टिकरण का अनुभव बुरा रहा है, इससे किसी का भला नहीं होने वाला।

Cambridge Analytica scandal – is Data Privacy a mirage?

Naagesh Padmanaban
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Cambridge Analytica scandal – is Data Privacy a mirage?

The unauthorized “harvesting” of personal data of over eighty million Facebook users by Cambridge Analytica is the latest in a continuing saga of data related scandals. Breaking his long silence, Zuckerberg apologized to his billion plus users worldwide and called it a “breach of trust” and vowed to take steps to protect user data. But the damage has been done.

As many averred, Zuckerberg’s apology inherently assumes Facebook users will continue to trust it and that all will be forgiven and it will be business as usual. That may well turn out to be true. But given the seriousness of this “breach of trust”, this may have serious consequences on its fortunes. One immediate fallout is the #DeleteFacebook campaign that quickly went viral. Also Facebook stock lost almost 9% in value.

Facebook’s supreme success rests on a business model built on profiting from customer data and its priceless derivative – customer insights. Notwithstanding Zuckerberg’s apology and promises to clean up, it is anybody guess if he will really follow up or implement only cosmetic changes.

This brings into focus the importance of consumer data in today’s data driven economy. It is common knowledge that vast amounts of data are being generated every day, particularly by social media users. Using sophisticated analytics, this data can be mined to yield powerful insights about users. In fact, it is a common practice for marketing companies to use these insights to create a full behavioral personality profile or characteristics of an individual.

Products and service or even a political ideology could then be effectively tailored or custom fitted for that profile in what is called micro targeting. This data driven super customization has wide applications – in retail marketing, business espionage, political campaigns etc. It is for this reason that today data is seen as the most important resource and companies would do anything to get their hands on it.

Given the multiple use of this cutting edge knowledge resource born out of the confluence of technology and high end quantitative skills, it is indeed awing and worrisome at once. It is like a knife that can be used in the kitchen as well as to kill. The exploits of companies like Cambridge Analytica have justifiably caused disquiet among large sections of society.

Cambridge Analytica, like many other companies, are way ahead of the curve in using these precious insights in seeking to “change audience behavior”, or to generate a favorable outcomes in the targeted populations in a general election. Hence their popularity with political parties worldwide, including India.

As can be seen, there is nothing illegal per se in Cambridge Analytica’s business model. In fact all major corporations worldwide are engaged in exploiting data in one form or other for their bread and butter. But the illegal gathering of profile information of millions of users without their express consent is what is under scrutiny.

But what has been a rude wake up call for many is the fact that companies like Cambridge Analytica can potentially disrupt a democratic process like an election. Undercover videos shared by Britain’s Channel 4 News show how the company actively planted news – typically fake news in the “bloodstream of the internet and let it grow” to achieve desired social and electoral outcomes.

This it very much akin to what the Soviet Union was doing decades ago to brainwash its people. The distinctions between legal and illegal is often blurry and Cambridge Analytica and its ilk appear to have exploited it to the hilt. To confound the issue, in many countries, regulators have still not woken up to combat this malefic use of data.

The problem is indeed acute in countries like India where political parties have shrewdly worked off radar to use the services of Cambridge Analytica and its subsidiaries to “influence social behavior” in the election process. How far the election processes have been subverted is anybody’s guess. But it is equally futile to point fingers at the Congress party or the BJP since all of them have at some point in time used these services.  It is like the Democrats in the US blaming the Republicans because the Trump campaign used them in 2016. But it came back on the Democrats when it was revealed that they too – the Obama campaign in 2012 – had extensively used such services.

The scary part here is that the users whose data is being fought over, have practically no say in the matter because they have already shared their private information on the internet. It has left their hands and there is no way they can get it back. How this will be used and shared or who will use this is being decided by companies like Facebook who are primarily motivated by profits and not overly concerned about user privacy. That such breaches and data hacks occur regularly speak volumes of the gap between current laws and their rigorous enforcement.

And this will definitely not be the last of data breaches or breaches of trust. But the real problem is that we are confronted by an insurmountable issue here that threatens individual liberty and the inalienable right to lead a private, yet social life.

In the end, these social engineers who stole personal information of millions of unsuspecting users in reality turned out to be deadly data terrorists who deployed their stolen assets to disrupt cherished democratic processes and skewed election outcomes in so many countries at the bidding of their paymasters.

The bitter truth is that we live in a world where nothing is private. Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and any number of known and lesser known companies already know more about us than we can imagine. We have to reconcile ourselves to the fact that, however unpalatable it may be, data privacy is just a mirage.

The need for agile, yet draconian laws on data usage together with forensic monitoring of disposal of data has been repeatedly pointed out by experts in the field. Hopefully, the wait may not be long. Social media companies have long taken the naïve user for a ride. It is time they stepped off the roller coaster.

Did Gandhari do the right thing by blindfolding herself in Mahabharata?

Nidhi Mishra
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Did Gandhari do the right thing by blindfolding herself in Mahabharata?

Gandhari has been portrayed in Mahabharata as a lady of immense wisdom, dedication, virtue and courage. Gandhari’s character has always been depicted as the one who is thoroughly devoted to her husband. The proof of this devotion and dutifulness can be seen when after getting married, as she becomes aware of the fact that her husband is blind, she also embraces darkness by blindfolding her eyes.

This aspect of Gandhari’s personality has been highlighted since times immemorial in our mythological history to raise her stature as a sacrificing woman in order to prove her intense love towards her husband.

But here, a new perspective needs to be given to this exemplary step of Gandhari, as blindfolding herself could be considered as the paramount cause of the brutal warfare Bharatvarsha witnessed at Kurukshetra.

Had she been not blindfolded, she could have been the sight of her husband and would have played a crucial role in the matters of Statecraft in Hastinapur. Hence imparting the new turn of events to the history of Bharatvarsha. Thus, should she have restrained herself from going on the same path as of her husband?

It was Dhritarashtra’s blindness and Gandhari’s choice of blindfolding herself which became the foremost reason behind Duryodhana’s stubbornness and ego. In the absence of proper attention of his parents, Suyodhana (his original name) became Duryodhana. Thus the influence of his maternal uncle Shakuni over him augmented, who was a devious man  resulting into turning Duryodhana the most negative character in Mahabharata.

Shakuni had due to various reasons an anger against Hastinapur and thus wanted to take revenge. Therefore, he made Duryodhana his pawn in the pernicious goal of ruining the ruling clan. For this, he mentored Duryodhana who participated in all of his malicious plots against Pandavas very boisterously forgetting even that they too are his brothers.

Had Gandhari not blindfolded herself, she could have subdued the influence of Shakuni over her son. Every child’s first teacher is his/her mother. Mother plays a significant role in molding child’s character. This too could have proved true in the case of Gandhari and Duryodhana.

Gandhari is portrayed in Mahabharata a very pious, just, intelligent female who epitomizes all virtues of character. In Mahabharata, several times we see that she never favoured the deeds of her son Duryodhana and exhorted him to follow the path of justice and make peace with Pandavas. But Duryodhana never paid heed to her advises because she failed to hold a considerable influence over him. Had Gandhari been the ideal for Duryodhana, he would never have gone for playing the game of dice with the Pandavas.

As we see in the Sabha Parva, she advises her husband to stop the game of dice and even reprimands Dushashan for treating Draupadi in the most demeaning manner. Thus we see her always in a dilemma and repenting over her fortune because now she has nothing left in her hands to control the course of events in the manner they were taking place. The fact that she was stuck to righteousness is highlighted when she gives blessings to her son Duryodhana that may the victory be with those who are righteous! Despite being a pious lady she sometimes feel sorry for her sons.

Gandhari chances upon in Mahabharata as a distinctive person bestowed upon an innate sense of justice and righteousness.  She is assertive and a woman of indomitable will and passion. But the irony is that she being not able to transfer the aforementioned qualities of hers to her sons. She was particularly unhappy about Duryodhana’s association with Shakuni. She in fact urges Shakuni to stop interfering in her son’s life and stop making crooked designs against the Pandavas but all this is in vain.

In stark contrast to Gandhari, we see Kunti spending her whole life devoted thoroughly to her children. Always trying to make her children walk on the path of righteousness. As a result, Pandavas in the epic stand as the symbol of dharma who always follow their mother’s advice. They stand as the apostle of dutifulness which Kunti nurtured in them.

Many a times in Mahabharata it can be seen how Gandhari regrets, not being able to inculcate these superior qualities in her sons. Gandhari sometimes even criticizes Dhritarashtra for his unjust fondness towards his sons.  She in fact asked him, firmly, not to support Duryodhana who was completely under the influence of her brother Shakuni.

One can argue that by self imposing blindfoldedness, she became the reason behind her sons’ misconduct. Thus while she became a devout wife, she failed to become a dedicated mother, which in turn inflicted horrendous sufferings on Bharatvarsha in the form of the most brutal war of Mahabharata.

How Modi Government increased its share in global cell phone manufacturing

nitish
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How Modi Government increased its share in global cell phone manufacturing

In the midst of the rising accusations by the opposition parties on how India’s “Make in India” initiative has failed to take off, in just a span of 3 years, the Modi government came out strong by increasing its share in cell manufacturing which was as low as 3 million units to an astonishing 11 million units, surpassing Vietnam and next only to China.

India is now the second largest mobile phone producer in the world after China, as per information shared by Indian Cellular Association with Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“We are happy to inform you that with the strenuous and calibrated efforts of government of India, ICA and FTTF, India has now emerged as the second largest producer of mobile handset by volume,” ICA National President Pankaj Mohindroo said in a letter to both the union ministers on March 28.

According to the data shared by ICA, annual production of mobile phones in India increased from 3 million units in 2014 to 11 million units in 2017.

This not only silences the opposition claims of ‘no jobs being created in the manufacturing sector’, but also questions the integrity of the dolt economists who were complaining about the recent step by the Finance Ministry to increase import duty from 15% to 20% in the recently announced budget. Hopefully this step would further help in increasing the amount of cell phone units being manufactured in the country.

The fast track task Force, a body under Ministry of Electronics and IT, has set target to achieve around 500 million mobile phone production in India by 2019, with value estimated to be around USD 46 billion.

The FTTF, which has members from industry and government, has set target to create USD 8 billion component manufacturing as result of growth in mobile phone production and create 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs by 2019.

The body has set the target to export 120 million mobile phone units with an estimated value of USD 1.5 million by the end of next year.

“As long as we bring the right focus on exports, we will be able to achieve these numbers,” Mohindroo said.

दलित तो बस बहाना है, 2019 का चुनाव निशाना है

Chetan Prinja
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दलित तो बस बहाना है, 2019 का चुनाव निशाना है

2 अप्रैल 2018 का दिन भारतीय राजनीति के लिए काला दिन था। राजनीति का स्तर लगातार नीचे गिर रहा है। वोट पाने के लिए ये लोग देश की अखण्डता को भी तोड़ने से पीछे नहीं हट रहे।

सबसे पहले मैं आपको बताता हूं कि मामला क्या है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ऑफ़ इंडिया ने फैसला दिया कि SC/ST एक्ट की कुछ धाराओं का कुछ लोग अपने सवार्थ हेतु गलत प्रयोग करते है। कुछ लोग अपनी दुश्मनी निकलने के लिए इन धाराओं में विरोधियों पर केस करते है ताकि सामने वाले को बेल न मिले।

सुप्रीम कोर्ट को क्यूं ऐक्ट में बदलाव की बात कहनी पड़ी थी

यकीनन सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने यह फैसला कुछ सोच समझ कर ही लिया होगा। इस के कुछ गलत उपयोग के उद्धरण उसके सामने आए होंगे। लेकिन इस फैसले से सियासी रोटिया सेकने के लिए इस पूरे मामले को अलग तरह से आम लोगों के बीच प्रस्तुत किया गया। अब आते है इस लेख के सिरलेख की तरफ। क़ि क्यों इस मामले में राजनीती की बदबू आ रही है।

असल में हाशिए पर पहुँच चुकी सियासी पार्टियाँ इस मामले में अपनी राजनीति चमकाने में लगी है। सबसे पहले इस मामले का आरक्षण से कुछ लेना देना नहीं था। लेकिन सोशल मीडिया पर इसे ऐसे प्रस्तुत किया गया कि इस से आपके आरक्षण को खत्म किया जा रहा है। और ये काम मोदी सरकार कर रही है, यद्द्पि यह फैसला कोर्ट के द्वारा आया था। सरकार इस मामले में पार्टी नहीं थी। और आरक्षण खत्म होने के डर की वजह से लोग हिंसक हो गए।

लोकतांत्रिक देश में हिंसा के लिए कोई स्थान नहीं है। लेकिन 2019 के लोकसभा चुनाव और राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश विधान सभा चुनाव में दलित और पिछड़ी जातियों के वोट बटोरने के लिए इसे सियासी रंग दिया गया। इसकी एक तस्वीर तब देखने को मिली जब एक लड़के की तस्वीर सोशल मीडिया पर पहुंची पहले यह लड़का राजपूत बनकर दंगा भड़काने की कोशिश कर रहा था, फिर उसी लड़के ने भगवा कपड़ा बदल कर नीला कपड़ा पहन कर दलित टोली में जाकर वहां लोगों को भड़काने लगा।

देश में हर जगह आज यह हाल है। मोदी खुद में इतना बड़ा भय बन चूका है कि उसे हराने और सत्ता से दूर रखने के लिए यह लोग किसी भी हद तक जाने को तैयार हो गए हैं। मैं यहाँ किसी का पक्ष नहीं ले रहा लेकिन सच यही है। कर्नाटक में लिंग्यात को हिन्दू धर्म से अलग करना, उसके बाद में क्या नतीजे निकालेंगे इसकी किसी को चिंता नहीं है। कांग्रेस बस वहां इस बार का चुनाव जीतना चाहती है। अगली बार किसी और जाति को निशाना बना लेंगे।

आज यही फिर से दलित समाज को सामने रख कर वोट पाने के लिए हो रहा है। इस से चाहे दूसरी जातियों और दलित समाज के रिश्ते और खराब हो जाए। दरअसल बहुगिन्ती समाज और जनरल कास्ट के लोगों को लगता है क़ि आरक्षण से उनके हित्तों को नुकसान पहुँच रहा है। असल में आरक्षण को संविधान में सिर्फ दस साल के लिए अस्थायी तौर पर शामिल किया गया था। लेकिन बाद में वोट की राजनीति से प्रेरित होकर उस समय की कांग्रेस सरकार ने इसे खत्म ही नहीं किया।

यह एक अलग डिबेट का मुद्दा है कि आरक्षण से देश को फायदा पहुंचा है या नुकसान। लेकिन आज का मुद्दा ये है कि कौन यह आग भड़का रहा है। तो इसका सरल सा उत्तर है जिसको इसका सबसे अधिक फायदा पहुंचेगा। और इसका फायदा विपक्ष को होगा। ये कोई राकेट साइंस नहीं है।

पूरा विपक्ष इस मामले को वोट में कैश करने की कोशिश में है। इस मामले में जवाबदेही सरकार की भी बनती है। उसे मालूम था कि यह मामला कितना संवेदनशील है, और उसे मालूम होना चाहिए था कि विपक्ष इस मामले को उठा सकता है। लेकिन फिर भी उसने बीस मार्च को फैसला आने के बाद दो अप्रैल तक आग को भड़कने दिया और जब फैसला आया तो दबाव में आके रिव्यु पेटिशन दायर की।

यकीनन आप विपक्ष से इस मामले में यह उम्मीद नहीं कर सकते कि वो अपनी राजनीति को भूल कर देश के बारे में सोचेंगे, भारत देश में तो बिलकुल भी नहीं, तो इसका क्या हल है?

सबसे पहले वोटर को समझदारी से काम लेना होगा। अपनी जाति से ऊपर उठ कर देश के बारे में सोचना होगा। यह देश सबका है।अगर हम इस देश की प्रॉपर्टी को नुक्सान पहुंचा रहे है।तो यह देश की प्रॉपर्टी भी हमारी है हमारे टैक्स के पैसे से ही यह सब कुछ बना है। सब लोगों को थोड़ी समझदारी से काम लेना होगा ताकि वो किसी की राजनीति का मोहरा न बने।

Narendra Modi will form the government in 2019 irrespective of the results, here’s how

karanpatki
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Narendra Modi will form the government in 2019 irrespective of the results, here’s how

2019 general elections are just an year or so away and the ruthless political arithmetic for seats has already begun. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee seems pumped up to form and lead a united opposition front which she says could potentially end the dominion of Modi and Shah. By-poll losses, troubles with NDA allies and rising caste dynamics have caused even the most optimistic BJP supporters to worry about the party not being able to secure a simple majority on its own in next year’s elections. However, does falling short of 272 mean the end of the Modi government or can the Modi-Shah duo still find a way to sneak into South Block? Here are the possible scenarios and how things may play out:

BJP gets 250 seats: This is considered to be one of the most likely scenarios to play out in 2019 where BJP loses its simple majority yet is within easy reach of the mark. It would probably require the support of 1 or 2 of its allies. Even if the Shiv Sena and the now departed TDP do not offer support, the BJP may be able to rely on JD (U) (which has already changed its allegiance twice in last 4 years and is unlikely to switch again), SAD, LJP or even a neutral regional party such as the AIADMK, TRS or YSR Congress. All that the BJP may lose in such a scenario is one or two key cabinet positions

BJP gets 220-230 seats: Although this seems like a challenging scenario, we have to keep in mind that BJP has one of the greatest political strategists this country has seen in a long time – Amit Shah. In this scenario, BJP’s lacklustre performance might not have rubbed much on the NDA allies as it is very likely that this scenario emerges due to low voting percentage / better alliance strategies of the regional parties. Shah, who is the master of forming governments in such scenarios, would hold all the aces in his hands including but not limited to plum positions, monetary rewards or even arm twisting through threat of CBI cases. Narendra Modi would still be able to form the government, however his ability to go ahead with demonetization like unilateral moves may be reduced

BJP gets 200 seats: This is where things start becoming really tricky. BJP’s poor performance would have probably affected its allies as well since this would appear to be a vote against the government. Even though the NDA may be able to form a government with the support of a few neutral parties, Narendra Modi would find it hard to convince the NDA allies to consider him as the Prime Minister. This is where he would have to use the loyalty of his 2 main assets- President of India and President of BJP. Since BJP would still be the single largest party, President Kovind would still be within his rights to invite Narendra Modi to form the government. Once Modi takes charge again, he would have 10-15 days to gather support of around 70 MPs. In this scenario that the structure of NDA could change significantly. The allies would probably continue to oppose Modi as the PM and would seek support from other BJP leaders to choose a consensus candidate. It is here where Amit Shah’s whip would be useful to ensure that BJP votes for Narendra Modi as the leader of the house and prevent a mutiny from within. The other parties which would most probably come to the rescue here are those which have often seemed to be on the edge (perhaps due to fear of CBI) – AIADMK, NCP, BSP, TRS and the likes. This would be the new NDA.

BJP gets < 200 seats: A result where BJP would fall short by around 90-100 seats would probably only happen if another party, mostly Congress, would win around 150 seats or so and putting the UPA coalition firmly above the BJP. This seems like a really far-fetched scenario as of now but nevertheless it is possible and the BJP would face a daunting task to clinch on to power here. Just like the previous scenario, BJP would need a white knight to help them and this time it would be CJI Dipak Misra’s successor. It is no coincidence that in January 2018, 4 SC judges openly criticized the CJI in a press conference in an unprecedented move in the Indian Judiciary. These 4 (likely loyalists of the Congress establishment) have probably noticed that CJI Dipak Misra is no stooge of the ‘family’ and has shown intent in going ahead with decisions which may be seen as against their interests. The CJI is bound to retire in October 2018, however he will have the right to name his successor. The 4 judges probably know that Ranjan Gogoi (who is next in line to be CJI) may be overlooked to select a CJI whose ideology would be similar to that of Chief Justice Misra. This CJI would then hold the key in this scenario because if President Kovind decides to invite Modi to form the government, it is most likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court and since there is really no specific instruction in the constitution for such a situation, the decision would be completely dependent on CJI’s interpretation and rationale which would probably be in favour of the BJP. And once Modi takes over, Amit Shah knows all too well how to arm twist his opponents into submission.

Make no mistake, Narendra Modi is forming the government in 2019 regardless of the result. However, a simple majority would still be the best and hence it would be the duty of the supporters to come out in record numbers to vote for a strong and stable Modi government – 2.0

पाकिस्तानी प्रधानमंत्री के साथ साथ इनके भी कपड़े उतर गए हैं

RAJEEV GUPTA
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पाकिस्तानी प्रधानमंत्री के साथ साथ इनके भी कपड़े उतर गए हैं

पाकिस्तान के प्रधान मंत्री की  अमेरिका के हवाई अड्डे पर सारे कपड़े उतारकर तलाशी ली गयी है. इस खबर की तस्वीरें सोशल मीडिया में वायरल हो चुकी हैं. देखा जाए तो यह कपडे सिर्फ पाकिस्तानी पीएम के ही नहीं, बल्कि पाकिस्तान के उतारे गए हैं और अमेरिका ने एक बार पूरी दुनिया को “आतंकवाद का मजहब” बताते हुए पाकिस्तान को सभी के सामने निर्वस्त्र  कर दिया है.

भारतीय मीडिया और टीवी चैनलों के साथ साथ खुद पाकिस्तानी मीडिया और टीवी चैनल इस खबर को काफी रोचकता के साथ पेश कर रहे हैं. दरअसल  यह मामला इतना सीधा नहीं है, जितना लग रहा है. कपड़े सिर्फ पाकिस्तानी पीएम या पाकिस्तान के ही नहीं उतरे हैं. हमारे अपने ही देश में ऐसे हज़ारों लोग हैं तो खाते तो हिन्दुस्तान का हैं लेकिन गाते पाकिस्तान का हैं. उन सब के भी यकायक सभी कपड़े उतर गए हैं.

आइये देखते हैं, ऐसे कौन कौन से लोग हैं, जिनके कपड़े इस घटना के बाद से उतर गए हैं :

१. वे सभी लोग जो भाजपा की हार पर “पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद-भारत तेरे टुकड़े होंगे” के नारे लगाते हैं, उनके सभी कपड़े इस घटना के बाद से उतर गए हैं.

२. वे सभी लोग जो जेएनयू जैसे तथाकथित शिक्षा संस्थानों में “पाकिस्तान जिंदाबाद” और “भारत तेरे टुकड़े होंगे” के नारे लगाते हैं, वे सब तो निर्वस्त्र हो ही गए हैं, उनके साथ उन तथाकथित नेताओं के भी कपड़े उतर गए हैं, जो इन देशद्रोहियों का समर्थन करने के लिए जेएनयू में जाकर भाषणबाज़ी करते हैं.

३. कपड़े तो कांग्रेस पार्टी के उन नेताओं के भी उतर गए हैं तो पाकिस्तान जाकर वहां की सरकार से “मोदी को हटाने” की मांग करते आये हैं. सवाल यह है कि जो देश अपने प्रधान मंत्री के कपड़े उतरने से भी नहीं बचा सकता, वह मोदी का भला क्या बिगाड़ लेगा ?

४. कपड़े तो उन “अवार्ड वापसी गैंग” के सभी सदस्यों के भी उतर गए हैं जो पाकिस्तानी आतंकवादी याकूब मेमन को फांसी दिए जाने के विरोध में अपने “अवार्ड” वापस कर चुके हैं.

५. याकूब मेमन को फांसी पर चढ़ने से रोकने के लिए जिन लोगों ने राष्ट्रपति महोदय से माफी की गुहार लगाई थी और उनमे से कुछ लोग तो रात के दो बजे सुप्रीम कोर्ट तक उसकी फांसी की सज़ा को रुकवाने के लिए पहुँच गए थे. जाहिर है कि इन सभी पाकिस्तान प्रेमियों के भी कपड़े पूरी तरह उतर गए हैं.

६. भारत में बैठे जिन पाक-प्रेमियों के कपड़े इस घटना के बाद से यकायक उतर गए हैं, वे सभी मिलकर मोदी को २०१९ के चुनावों में टक्कर देने के लिए एक “महाठगबंधन” बनाने जा रहे हैं. अब इस तरह का “ठगबंधन” मोदी के लिए कितनी बड़ी चुनौती खड़ी कर पायेगा, इसका अंदाज़ा लगाना मुश्किल काम नहीं है.

BSP opportunism let-down Late Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, the man who saved Mayawati

Adhish Kumar Sinha
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BSP opportunism let-down Late Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, the man who saved Mayawati

Politics is notoriously recognised for making “impossible possible” and turn a foe into an ally. Such essence may be the possible rationale for BSP supremo letting slip from memory the “Lucknow Guest House Kand”.

On June 2, 1995, Mayawati with other colleagues locked themselves for hours from inside at Lucknow Guest house. They were surrounded by terror and intimation lead by SP (Samajwadi Party) hooligans who marched with the vow of teaching rising the Dalit leader a lesson. Ferocious mob sloganeering abuse, promising to strip and kill her. Many of her colleagues were dragged, physically assaulted and made to sign the petition to render the support to Mulayam Singh Yadav. This horror went on for hours.

Reason for assault

This backlash occurred, when few hours before she pulled out support from Mulayam Singh Yadav government, which subsequently lead to the collapse of ministry. She took a decision after meeting her mentor and then BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) founder Kanshi Ram, who was suffering from brain clot in hospital. In his absence, Mayawati took responsibility of the party and presiding role of junior partner in Mulayam Singh Yadav government. Kanshi Ram on other hand was holding a surprise for her, he asked: “How would you like to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh?”. He urged and persuaded her on the arrangement he shaped with the support of BJP (Bhartiya Janta Party). Following “Guest House Kand” Mayawati’s was sworn in as “Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh”. Then Prime Minister of India termed this as “a miracle of democracy.”

RSS member and BJP MLA Brahmdutt Dwivedi risked his life to save her

BSP supremo traumatised by ambush was hiding inside the guest house with torn clothes, while police officials present at the spot were trying hard to contain the mob. News spread immediately and touched the ears of RSS worker and prominent BJP MLA from Farukkabad Brahmdutt Dwivedi. Trained as RSS worker in the art of using “Lathi” he rushed fearlessly to save Mayawati against the aggressive and revengeful mob, who were hundred in numbers. Risking life despite being under attack by the mob, he successfully managed to rescue Mayawati from the live nightmare.

Referring Brahmdutt Dwivedi as “Bhai” she often praised him for his valour on many occasion. Mayawati never introduced any candidate against him, rather rallied for him during the election. On February 10, 1997, Brahmdutt Dwivedi was shot by prime accused, Vijay Singh outside his residence. Vijay Singh was the member of Congress, he later contested and won 2007 and 2012 assembly election as Samajwadi Party candidates.

Major Sunil Dwivedi son of slain BJP cabinet minister Brahmdutt Dwivedi, defeated Vijay Singh in 2017 assembly elections in the Farukkabad constituency on BJP ticket. Speaking to TOI in May 2017 when the High Court upheld the life term to accused Vijay Singh in Brahmdutt Dwivedi, he said, BSP chief Mayawati never realized the favour she got from my father when her life was in danger.

He said :

“My father had saved BSP chief Mayawati when she was attacked by Samajwadi Party goons at the state guest house in Lucknow in 1995. Today, she is trying to shake hands with the same party whose legislator killed my father,” “The prospective coming together of SP and BSP is the biggest example of opportunism in the present political set up,”

Dayashankar Singh in 2016 accused Mayawati of selling Dalit Votes, he expressed“She has given tickets to Vijay Singh, who was responsible for the murder of BJP leader Brahma Dutt Dwivedi, who had helped her when she was attacked by SP leaders at the state guesthouse (in 1995).” Singh claimed he was with Dwivedi when he helped Mayawati at the guesthouse. Mayawati, however, had earlier claimed that BJP was spreading false information that its leaders had helped her during the attack.

Sources:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dayashankar-mayawati-prostitute-remark-bail-challenge-to-contest-against-wife-2960379/

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/my-dad-saved-maya-from-sp-goons-now-she-wants-to-ally-with-them/articleshow/58864311.cms

https://www.patrika.com/lucknow-news/mayawati-cried-at-funeral-of-brahm-dutt-dwivedi-2444380/

The Rise and Life of Mayawati

Jio: Was the risk as risky as being said?

Ajeet Panigrahi
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Jio: Was the risk as risky as being said?

It was 1 September 2016 when Mr Sunil Mittal had a handful of laugh for the last time, as Mr Mukesh Ambani, was gearing up for a big fat announcement. Anticipations were high, and so were the expectations from him, as whenever they (Reliance) did something, they did it too big and always in a way overturned the market. Even that day the markets of their potentials competitors shattered, went down by almost 6-8% on an average, wiping out approximately INR 500 Cr (figure arrived as per average drop in share value and total equity capital) from their equity value in just one day which was not seen earlier, even during 2008 crisis.

On its launch, Mr Ambani made an announcement of investing INR 85,000 Cr into this new telecom branch of Reliance Industries, backed by its deep pockets (2,20,000+ Cr deep) that it has from its Oil business. However as per multiple reports, the investment has already crossed INR 1,50,000 Cr. And still Mr Ambani is pouring in money into Jio and doing some shopping, Saavn was bought recently and merged with Jio Music. With such huge investment, with competitors like Airtel, Idea & Vodafone and without such high potential of revenue per user (INR 120-150 per user) is was junked out by many as analysts as a suicidal investment.

However, in its 15th months of operation, Jio posted its first profit of INR 504 Cr. This shocked many as how is an investment of around 2 Lakh Crores make profit so early, in spite of starting its revenue collection only in 7-8th month of operation as for initial few months they gave away SIM and unlimited data and voice calls, all for free.

When seen preliminary in the beginning, it seems really tough to figure out the strategy. However when the links are studies and connected, all the dots seem to join and opens up the strategy being used and the best part is that, it could have been thought by others too. Simply put, the answer is Optical Fiber cables. Yes, this is their major part of strategy, combined with their ability to take bigger risk, backed by deeper pockets. Now lets see how this charts out their plan.

If one sees deeply, them one can notice that most of the investment done by Reliance Jio is towards laying optical cable fiber only. With initial investment alone it has almost covered all the major parts of the country. As Optical Fibers offer high speed (theoretically the speed of light) and very low maintenance, it explains why Reliance Jio invested big, only in 4G and not in 2G and 3G. Further, the Optical Fibers ensure minimum loss of data, thus there is minimum wastage of energy and maximum efficiency. As a result of this, it has the capacity to transmit heavy traffic at a cheaper cost and maximum efficiency, with a single time investment alone with low maintenance.

The most important question comes to mind is that with all that huge investment and optical fiber technology being used, will Jio be able to compete and make profit? As known, as on date Mr Ambani has invested almost INR 1,50,000 Cr and is still adding investment. With its current database of 15.2 Cr users, assuming a depreciation period of 15 years alone and a maintenance & operation cost of INR 3,300 Cr. per year (Low as optical fibers are low on maintenance and high on operational efficiency needing very less intermittent energy supply), it gives a cost of only INR 73.1 per user per month as the cost (inflation not considered to keep it simple).

However when the same is seen for Airtel, with a user base of 29.2 Cr, whose operational cost was INR 38,583 Cr for year 2016-17 and a depreciation cost of INR 12,203 Cr as per the P&L statement, it come around INR 145.2 per month. Further when the same is analysed for Idea, with a user base of 19.76 Cr, whose operational cost was INR 25,183 Cr for year 2016-17 and a depreciation cost of INR 7,700 Cr as per the P&L statement, it come around INR 138.7 per month. So it is clear that the investment done by JIO is competitive and is definitely going to make profit.

Further if we see the trends in ARPU (Average revenue per user per month) as released by Cellular Operator Association of India for last 8 Quarters, it can be seen that it has been dropping continuously, almost dropping by 50%. This steady drop explains the fierce competition between various operators to offer services at lower charges, and in such competitions, only the one who can sustain long term and ensure profitability can go long. This clearly explains the recent trends of loss by operators in recent past and profitability by Jio too.

Thus, with above analysed and detailed, it can clearly be said that the huge sum of investment that Mr Ambani did in Reliance Jio was a well thought out plan and wasn’t as risky as being thought out to be. Further to add, the revenue of Jio will only increase as the optical fiber network has a higher capacity and can be used for other services too in parallel (like music sharing, movie streaming, etc). Thus its clear that Jio is here to stay and turnaround the market as expected. The only way for others to compete is to improve their own efficiency, lower operational energy demand, diversify services, and may be switch to optical fiber network or a better alternative.

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