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Orthodox love in progressive city: A case study of a Muslim-Hindu relationship

Dr. Dilip Amin
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Orthodox love in progressive city: A case study of a Muslim-Hindu relationship

As appeared earlier in the New York Times, Myra Farooqi, a Pakistani Muslim girl fell in love with an Indian Hindu (let’s call him Raj) from San Francisco. They had a romantic relationship for 9 months that included drinking, dancing, kissing, and more.

Farooqi writes with pride, “the rules about marriage (in Islam) are stubborn, and the onus of sacrifice lies with the non-Muslim whose family is presumably more open (meaning willing to convert) to the possibility of interfaith relationships.” Apparently, she believes it is a privilege for a non-Muslim to marry a Muslim. Farooqi may have assessed that Raj is vulnerable enough to sacrifice his Hindu heritage.

On the fifth date, the naive Hindu man was told, “you need to understand that the only way forward is for you to convert.” Apparently, Muslims are expecting all Hindu lovers to understand Islamic fundamental expectations for marriage: 

Koran 2:221: You shall not wed pagan women unless they embrace the faith. A believing slave-girl is better than an idolatress, though she may please you
Koran 60:11: Do not maintain your marriage with unbelieving women (no zina)

Above verses are for Muslim men, however the Koran is silent on marriages of Muslim women to Jewish and Christian men, but the principal schools of Islamic jurisprudence all agree that under no circumstances may a Muslim woman marry a non-Muslim man (ref).

Under the influence of white wine and out of ignorance about Islam, Raj agreed to the (fake)conversion. Probably the Hindu was taught “Isvar Allah Tero Nam” (One God, different names). Further, Raj may have thought he has so many Gods, what is the harm in adding one more?

Even though there was no match for the nation (Pakistan vs. India), culture or language, Farooqi’s Karachi-born mother accepted the relationship when she learned that the Hindu had pledged to convert for her daughter. Farooqi was happy to learn that her mother is progressive-minded and adds, “I saw that her strict framework was ultimately less important than my happiness.” Her mother’s approval was entirely predicated on him converting, however.

Unfortunately for Farooqi, Raj’s Hindu parents requested him not to change his identity for the girl. Later he told her, “I will never convert to Islam. Not nominally, not religiously.” Farooqi ended the love relationship in a heartbeat.

Most would agree to her statement, “Many will say it’s selfish and incongruous that a non-Muslim must convert for a Muslim.” She added at the end, “I have since watched Muslim friends marry converts.” Will Farooqi try her luck again with someone who, in her words, “share a love so endless that it can overcome these obstacles”? 

My survey found 45.2% of Muslim girls marry outside their faith in the USA. I am wondering if most of these non-Muslim male partners were able to “share a love so endless” (meaning willing to convert) that Farooqi is looking for? How will Farooqi feel when someone asks her to convert out of Islam for marriage? Why can’t true love be more important than conversion? Why not let a rose be a rose and a carnation be a carnation?

Unlike Farooqi’s mother, why did Raj’s mother not think of converting (Muslim to Hindu) her future daughter-in-law before the marriage?

Farooqi claimed to clearly understand Islamic expectations about interfaith relationships. If so, she must know that Islam forbids a Muslim girl to date interfaith, even with People of Book. Why then did she date multiple Muslims and non-Muslims in the past, drink, dance and enjoy romantic times with boys? Why did she ignore Koran 24:30-31?

  • Koran 24:30: Lower your gaze. Enjoin believing men to turn their eyes away from temptation and to restrain their carnal desires
  • Koran 24:31: Enjoin believing women to turn their eyes away from temptation and to preserve their chastity; not to display their adornments; to draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their finery except to their husbands, their fathers, …

Apparently, Farooqi knowingly ignored Allah’s messages, especially Koran 24:30-31, but still wanted the Hindu man to convert to fulfil the requirements of Koran 2:221 and 60:11. Ignoring Koran “as is” shows that she is not a true Muslim. 

Because Farooqi did not disclosed the expectation of religious conversion for several months into their romantic relationship and instead waited for the right time when Raj was blindly-in-love, one has a right to question—is she a Love-Jihadi? To ask for religious conversion after months of the romantic relationship is an ugly form of love-proselytism.

It is unfortunate that this 1400-years old orthodox practice of “religious conversion for marriage” is still alive and well today in the most progressive city like San Francisco. It is sad that for some Muslims, humanity and true love by a Hindu are secondary criteria, conversion the ultimate goal. 

Here, practically thinking, it is not people like Farooqi to be blamed, but the Hindu parents who failed to educate their children. Muslims are conditioned from the past 1000 years of relationship outcomes where the Hindu intended-spouse(s) easily converted for the marriage. Further, probably most Christians and Jewish contemporary adults in a similar situation may have converted or agreed to raise children in Islam only. These have to be the main reasons this practice is alive and well today.

Such articles and practices could potentially create Islamophobia when it comes to Muslim-non-Muslim relationships. Progressive Muslim parents and leaders should speak out against such orthodox practices to minimize Islamophobia.

It is time to end the practice of religious conversion for marriage and learn to respect others. 

Feedbacks: The author is available to discuss and answer any counter-views or concerns shared at https://youtu.be/LX3q88-Extc and below.

Maharashtra political crisis: What does the law say and what powers does Speaker have?

Sameer Jena
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Maharashtra political crisis: What does the law say and what powers does Speaker have?

Maha Political Crisis: Can the dissident Shiv Sena legislators face proceedings under the anti-defection law, or do they have the numbers to evade this? Let’s look at what the law says in such political crisis.

The recent turmoil in Maharashtra politics has once again kindled the issue of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, that is, Anti-Defection Law. As things stand, three more Shiv Sena MLAs left Mumbai on Thursday, June 23, to join Eknath Shinde camp in Guwahati, taking the number of members supporting him to 39 out of the 55 that the party has in the House. The party has now warned the rebellion MLAs that it would take action against them under the anti-defection law.

Newly appointed party leader Ajay Chaudhari submitted a petition to the deputy speaker of the state assembly (Maharashtra Assembly doesn’t have a Speaker at present) demanding the disqualification of 16 MLAs for not attending the legislative party’s meeting convened by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on June 22. After this move, all eyes are on Deputy Speaker now. Can the dissident Shiv Sena legislators face proceedings under the anti-defection law, or do they have the numbers to evade this? Let’s look at what the law says in such political crisis.

As per Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, there is a provision called merger that protects an elected representative from disqualification on ground of defection. According to it an elected representative shall not be disqualified if their parent political party merges with another political party or they have not accepted the merger and opted to function as a separate group and two-thirds of the members of the legislature party concerned have agreed to such merger. In this case Shinde would need just 36 legislators to go along with him to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. As per the rules, if Shinde and his supporting MLAs want to merge with BJP, at least 37 members (two-thirds of Shiv Sena’s 55) have to come together to make sure they do not face disqualification.

What does the Tenth Schedule say?

The Tenth Schedule was added by the Constitution (Fifty-Second Amendment) Act, 1985, popularly known as the “anti-defection law,” provides for the disqualification of Members of Parliament and state legislatures who defect. The amendment was envisioned to bring stability to the edifice of political parties and strengthen parliamentary democracy by prohibiting floor-crossing.

Paragraph 2 of the Schedule says that “a member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of the House—if he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or if he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the political party. . . .”

What is the Speaker’s power?

Paragraph 6(1) of the Tenth Schedule describes the Speaker’s sweeping discretionary powers: “If any question arises as to whether a member of a House has become subject to disqualification under this Schedule, the question shall be referred for the decision of the Chairman or, as the case may be, the Speaker of such House and his decision shall be final.”

Supreme Court on the issue of anti-defection

Several decisions of the SC on the issue of anti-defection clarify the legal status of this law and the legal position of a defection member of the House. A constitutional challenge to the Tenth Schedule was settled by the apex court in Kihoto Hollohan vs. Zachillhu and Others (1992). In this case, the petitioners had argued whether it was fair that the Speaker should have such broad powers, given that there is always a reasonable likelihood of bias. The majority judgment answered this question in the affirmative: “The Speakers/Chairmen hold a pivotal position in the scheme of Parliamentary democracy and are guardians of the rights and privileges of the House. They are expected to and do take far reaching decisions in the functioning of Parliamentary democracy. Vestiture of power to adjudicate questions under the Tenth Schedule in such a constitutional functionaries should not be considered exceptionable.”

In this case, the SC has stated that judicial review may not be available at a stage prior to the making of a decision by the Speakers/Chairmen. The Constitutional Court cannot judicially review disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule, that is, the anti-defection law of the Constitution, unless the Speaker/Chairman of the House makes or renders a final decision on merit.

The SC further held that the scope of judicial review in respect of an order passed by the Speaker/Chairman of the House in anti-defection proceedings would be confined to jurisdictional errors only, that is to say, infirmities based on violation of constitutional mandate, mala fides, non-compliance with rules of natural justice and perversity. The court has further clarified that the only exception for any interlocutory interference being cases of interlocutory disqualifications or suspensions which may have grave, immediate and irreversible repercussions and consequence.

How Indian Politics has become Muslim-centric

Dr Jadabeswar Bhattacharjee
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How Indian Politics has become Muslim-centric

In British India, Muslims were about 24 percent of total population in 1941 census. Islamic political revival in British India was officially launched in 1906 by establishment of Indian Muslim League in Decca (Dhaka of present day Bangladesh). From then onwards, about 90 percent of British Indian Muslims started to dissociate them from majority Hindus politically and socially.

The political events and communal riots between 1906 and August 1947 were directed by the British Indian Muslims to prove their religion-sanctified demand for separate identity, entity and then a separate nation. In retrospect, Gandhi looks like an imbecile who was stupidly and unilaterally obsessed with ‘Hindu-Muslim unity’ that Islam did not permit. Gandhi understood Islam and its political implications in a grossly wishful manner. From Moplah riot to Great Calcutta Killings, Gandhi saw those happened around him, but behaved like an ostrich.

Nehru was worse than Gandhi. He never wanted to learn Islam as a religio-political doctrine to write “Discovery of Islam”. On the contrary, he wrote and published “Discovery of India” in 1946. He was successful to discover India through his English eyes. Nehru was instrumental in messing-up Kashmir problem, as he had an extra soft corner for that Muslim majority state. His secular megalomania was also pushing him to make another Kashmir-like situation in Hyderabad, which was neutralized by Sardar Patel.

After independence, about two-thirds of British Indian Muslims fell (including migration from independent India) in Pakistan. Rest one-third stayed back in newly independent India. They were about 8 percent of independent India’s population with about 90 percent of them having staunch Muslim League background. Nehru objected to complete transfer of population between India and Pakistan. He made Hindus in Pakistan (and Bangladesh after 1971) as sitting ducks before Islamic onslaught under Nehru-Liaquat Pact of 1950, and started pampering Indian Muslims.

The disaster struck for Indian politics with independence. Gandhi made Nehru the Prime Minister undemocratically. Nehru and Gandhi’s love for Muslim leaguers, who stayed back in India out of some compulsion or other, started overflowing. The Muslim Leaguers of newly independent India, who called Indian National Congress a ‘Hindu Party’ before 14-15 August 1947, suddenly started rubbing shoulders with Nehru and Congress. These Muslim Leaguers were inducted into Congress over the next few years after 1947 and Indian Muslim vote block was guaranteed for Congress.

The Indian secularism under Nehru during post 1947 was absurdly linear. Nehru was convinced that by neglecting Hinduism and Hindu sentiment, he could achieve secularism. This linear approach of Nehru encouraged the Muslim Leaguers (who stayed back in India) towards Congress. For Indian Muslim Leaguers, it was a lifetime opportunity to enter inside Hindu majority independent India’s politics; and for Nehru, it was ego satisfaction. The shifting of loyalty of Indian Muslim leaguers to Congress was as weird as shifting of loyalty of a hard-core Hindu BJP member to Indian Union Muslim League. Thus Muslims of British India got both Pakistan and India, but Hindus got none.

These turn of events gave Indian Muslims a deep penetration into Congress Party and they started Islamizing government policies from within. Rest is history. Indian Muslims were allowed their own Personal Laws. Madrasa were made government funded. Further, allowing Muslims to manage their shrines, according Hajj subsidy, creating Central Waqf Council, AIMPLB, Minority Commission, and Ministry of Minority Affairs and awarding AMU-Jamia universities the status of Minority Institutions etc. could allow Indian Muslims to extract Islamic pounds of flesh from India in a continuous and sustained manner.

After some decades of independence, a number of so-called Regional Secular Political Parties grew-up in India at the cost of Congress. Most of those were nakedly Muslim dependent to the extent that Hindu supremos of those parties pampered the Muslims and their leaders and started dancing in their tune. These so-called Regional Parties gave extra sense of entitlement to the Indian Muslims from behind the façade of secularism. RJD, SP, NCP, BSP, JDU, TMC, TRS, YSRCP and AAP have been such Muslim dependent Regional Political Parties. Congress still clung to its Muslim leaning secularism. Thus Indian secularism became completely Muslim-centric and prompted former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad to say that Indian secularism was 50 percent Islamist and 50 percent Pakistani. This Islam leaning secularism gradually spread to all aspects of Indian politics.

The evil and disruptive Communists of India, who supported the Pakistan demand of Muslim League, got a good chance to create social disturbance in independent India by supporting its Muslim-centric secularism. They openly started opposing anything related to Hinduism and Hindu cause. Their gang in academia Islamized Indian history and its narrative. The Communists could never bring any revolution to India and switched over to Parliamentary Democracy like power hungry wolves. Later they became brokers of Congress and afterward aligned with so-called Regional Secular Parties to sustain their evil existence.

All the above mentioned developments coupled with high growth rate among India Muslims (now they are about 18 percent of  total population of India), their trans-national allegiance to Muslim Ummah and exponential growth of Islamic terrorism in India, have brought the country  back to 1940s situation. Congress after 1947 carefully resisted the integration of Indian Muslims with India for its narrow vote bank politics and misplaced idea of secularism. Subsequently the so-called Regional Secular Political Parties have made Indian Muslims arrogant, exclusive, demanding and violent. The final nail in the coffin of politically stable India has been driven by its evil Communist-Liberal-Secular gang.

Desecration of Hindu places of worship, destruction of Hindu idols and abduction with force conversion of Hindu girls have been commonplace in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The absolute silence of Ummah-following Indian Muslims in the continuous persecution of Hindus and abuse of Hindu religious sentiments in Pakistan and Bangladesh could not attract the attention of Congress-Communist-Liberal-Secular gang of India. If this gang is so Muslim-centric, then why can’t it demand merger of Western and Eastern halves of India with Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively? What is the fun in having India at all? Even this could have been done in 1947.

Today India has reached to such a situation that consolidation of Muslim votes is regarded as highly secular and consolidation of Hindu votes is looked down upon as highly communal by the Congress-Islamist-Communist-Liberal-Secular gang. Indian Muslims dictate the politics of the country in a big way now. Ninety percent of them remained ‘Muslims’ and never became ‘Indians’. Recently they have started showing their Islamic fangs in a big way through anti-CAA protests, Delhi riots, Media Jihad (by Rana Ayyub, Muhammed Zubair, Saba Naqvi and Arfa Sherwani et al) and in Nupur Sharma issue. Antonia Maino with her imbecile son Raul Vinci, elderly Bong GF of Umar Khalid and Prannoy James Roy of NDTV are busy in looking for ‘Hindu Terror’ through telescope and microscope.

जम्मू-कश्मीर: लक्षित हत्याओं व हिन्दुओं के पलायन को रोकना सरकार के सामने बड़ी चुनौती

दीपक कुमार त्यागी / हस्तक्षेप
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जम्मू-कश्मीर: लक्षित हत्याओं व हिन्दुओं के पलायन को रोकना सरकार के सामने बड़ी चुनौती

कश्मीर घाटी में आतंकी संगठन एक बार फिर से तेज़ी से अपने पांव पसारने का दुस्साहस करने लगें हैं। राज्य में आतंकियों के निशाने पर फिर से कश्मीरी हिन्दू विशेषकर कश्मीरी पंडित आ गये हैं। हालांकि 5 अगस्त 2019 को जब राज्य से आर्टिकल 370 व 35ए को केन्द्र की मोदी सरकार के द्वारा हटाया गया था, तो उस वक्त संसद में चर्चा के दौरान सत्ता पक्ष के राजनेताओं के द्वारा राज्य से जल्द ही पूर्ण रूप से आतंक व आतंकवादियों के खात्मे के बहुत बड़े-बड़े दावे किये जा रहे थे, हालांकि सरकार के द्वारा जनता को दिखाए गये इन सपनों पर अभी कार्य जारी है। लेकिन 370 हटने के बाद से ही आतंकवादियों ने अपनी आकाओं की जबरदस्त बौखलाहट, छटपटाहट, हताशा व निराशा में राज्य में निरंतर माहौल खराब करने के प्रयास शुरू कर रखें हैं।

वैसे तो आतंकियों की हर कायराना हरकत का मूंह तोड़ जवाब देकर के भारत की जांबाज सेना आतंकियों के नापाक इरादों को कामयाब नहीं होने दे रही है। हर ऑपरेशन में सेना आतंकियों का चुन-चुन कर सफाया करने में व्यस्त है। जिसकी बौखलाहट के चलते पाक परस्त आतंकियों के द्वारा राज्य में निरंतर हिन्दुओं व गैर-कश्मीरियों की लक्षित हत्याएं करने का कायराना कृत्य एक बार फिर से किया जा रहा है। 

फिलहाल जम्मू-कश्मीर राज्य के हालात देखकर ऐसा लगता है कि आतंकवादियों की कायराना हरकत व नापाक मंसूबों में कुछ माह से एकाएक तेजी आ गयी है। पिछले वर्ष 2021 में हिन्दुओं की लक्षित हत्याओं की घटनाओं में तेजी आने के बाद से, अब फिर कुछ माह की शांति के पश्चात वर्ष 2022 में घाटी में एक बार फिर से आतंकियों के द्वारा हिन्दुओं की लक्षित हत्याओं का कायराना दौर शुरू करके घाटी को निर्दोषों के लहू से रक्तरंजित करने का कृत्य किया जा रहा है। पिछले माह 12 मई की शाम को बडगाम जिले के चदूरा में स्थित तहसील कार्यालय में घुसकर के आतंकवादियों ने नाम पूछकर 36 साल के राजस्व विभाग के अधिकारी राहुल भट्ट की गोलियां बरसा कर हत्या कर दी थी। राज्य में एक बार फिर से कश्मीरी पंडित व एक सरकारी कर्मचारी की लक्षित हत्या होने के चलते, कश्मीरी पंडितों व हिन्दुओं की चिंताओं को बढ़ाने का कार्य कर दिया है।

हालांकि इस घटना के बाद से ही राज्य के हिन्दुओं में एक बार फिर से सरकार व सिस्टम के खिलाफ जबरदस्त आक्रोश व्याप्त है, इस घटना के बाद राज्य की सरकारी सेवा में लगे हुए हिन्दुओं ने बड़े पैमाने पर अपने इस्तीफे देकर के सरकार के सामने एक बड़ी चुनौती उत्पन्न कर दी थी। अभी यह मामला पूरी तरह से शांत भी नहीं हुआ था कि कुलगाम में एक हिंदू टीचर रजनी बाला की लक्षित हत्या आतंकियों ने करके सरकार व सिस्टम को चुनौती दे डाली। वहीं आतंकियों ने गुरुवार सुबह कुलगाम में बैंक मैनेजर विजय कुमार की गोली मार हत्या कर दी और शाम को एक मजदूर की हत्या करके राज्य के सुरक्षा तंत्र की जिम्मेदारी निभाने वाले सिस्टम को चुनौती देने का कार्य कर दिया है। राज्य में पिछले 26 दिनों में आतंकियों ने 10 आम नागरिकों की हत्या करके जनता को वर्ष 1990 की याद दिलाने का कार्य किया है। राज्य में जिस तरह से लगातार हिन्दुओं की लक्षित हत्याएं हो रही है, कुछ लोग उससे हमारी खूफिया एजेंसी, सिस्टम व सरकार की विफलता मान रहे हैं। आतंकियों के खौफ से घाटी से आज फिर हिन्दू परिवार सामूहिक रूप से पलायन करने के लिए एक बार फिर मज़बूर हैं।

लेकिन अब वह समय आ गया है जब देश व राज्य में शासन कर रही सरकारों की जिम्मेदारी है कि वह राज्य मे़ं हिन्दुओं की सुरक्षा पर विशेष ध्यान देने का कार्य करें, जिससे की हाल में हिन्दुओं के खिलाफ घटित किसी भी आतंकी घटना पर भविष्य में फिर कभी किसी भी फिल्म निर्माता को “द कश्मीर फाइल्स-2” बनाने का अवसर ही नहीं मिल पाये। आज जम्मू-कश्मीर के हालात देखकर समय की मांग है कि केन्द्र व राज्य सरकार को तत्काल ही कश्मीरी हिन्दूओं की सुरक्षा व बड़े पैमाने पर राज्य में पुनर्वास के लिए धरातल पर सख्त कदम उठाने होंगे। सरकार व सिस्टम को यह समझना होगा कि जम्मू कश्मीर में घटित कश्मीरी हिन्दुओं के खिलाफ घटनाओं से देश के आम जन का भी मन बहुत आहत है, अब देश का आम जनमानस नहीं चाहता है कि जम्मू-कश्मीर में घटित हर आतंकी घटनाक्रम के बाद मोदी, शाह, डोभाल, सिन्हा व सेना आदि शीर्षस्थ की बैठकें दिल्ली में होती रहे, अब देश की शांति प्रिय जनता को आतंकियों के सफाए के रूप में धरातल पर जल्द से जल्द सकारात्मक परिणाम चाहिए, कश्मीरी हिन्दुओं का सुरक्षित पुनर्वास चाहिए, उनका खोया हुआ मान सम्मान वापस चाहिए, संपत्तियों पर कब्जा वापस चाहिए।

सरकार व सिस्टम में बैठे हुए लोगों को कम से कम अब तो यह समझना होगा कि जम्मू-कश्मीर राज्य में लक्षित हत्याओं को ‘पाक की नापाक हरकत’ या पाक परस्त आतंकियों की बौखलाहट कह देने मात्र से देश की जन अदालत में अब का नहीं चलने वाला है। उन्हें समझना होगा कि अब भी अगर वह जनता के बीच जाकर ‘किसी को बख्शेंगे नहीं’ या एक-एक आतंकी को धरती पाताल से खोज-खोज करके एक-एक को चुन-चुन के मारेंगे और हत्याकांड की कड़ी निंदा करके काम चलाते रहेंगे, तो वह देश व समाज के हित में नहीं है। उन्हें समय रहते यह समझना होगा कि अगर आतंकियों के द्वारा इसी प्रकार लक्षित हत्याओं को अंजाम दिया जाता रहा, तो वह दिन दूर नहीं है जब एक बार फिर से राज्य में “द कश्मीर फाइल्स- 2” फिल्म की स्क्रिप्ट तैयार करने के लिए फिल्म निर्माताओं के लिए भरपूर मसाला उपलब्ध होगा।

देश व समाज हित में सरकार में बैठे लोगों को समझना होगा कि देश की शांति प्रिय जनता ने आपको चुनावों में विजयी बनाकर के जम्मू-कश्मीर से आतंकियों के सफाये की बेहद महत्वपूर्ण जिम्मेदारी देने का कार्य किया था, अब देश व समाज हित में उस जिम्मेदारी को सख्ती के साथ धरातल पर निर्वहन करने का समय आ गया है और देश के दुश्मन आतंकियों को चुन-चुन का सजा देने का समय आ गया है, लेकिन अगर इस जिम्मेदारी का निर्वहन करने में अभी भी केवल शब्द बाणों से ही यूं ही काम चलता रहा, तो वह दिन दूर नहीं है जब जिम्मेदारी देने वाली जनता सरकार की जवाबदेही भी तय कर सकती है।

जय हिन्द जय भारत।

मेरा भारत मेरी शान मेरी पहचान।

Agneepath Yojana: अग्निपथ योजना क्या है और क्यों हो रहा है इस योजना का विरोध

rahultaak
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Agneepath Yojana: अग्निपथ योजना क्या है और क्यों हो रहा है इस योजना का विरोध

Agneepath Yojana Controversy: केंद्रीय गृह मंत्रालय के द्वारा 14 जून 2022 को एक नई योजना को शुरू किया गया जिसका नाम Agneepath Yojana है. देश के युवाओ को सेना में भर्ती करने के लिए इस योजना को शुरू कियाग गया है. इस आर्टिकल में हम आपको विस्तार से बताएँगे की अग्निपथ योजना क्या है और देश के युवा इस योजना का जमकर विरोध क्यों कर रहे है.

अग्निपथ योजना क्या है?

देश की तीनो सेनाओ थल सेना, वायु सेना और जल सेना में देश के युवाओं को भर्ती करने के उद्देश्य से सरकार ने इस योजना को शुरू किया है. देश के तीनो सेनाओ के प्रमुख और रक्षा मंत्री (Defense Minister) राजनाथ सिंह जी के द्वारा इस योजना को लौंच किया गया है. अग्निपथ योजना के तहत युवाओं को 4 साल तक के कार्यकाल के लिए सेना में भर्ती किया जायेगा. 4 साल का कार्यकाल पूरा होने के बाद उनको कार्यमुक्त कर दिया जायेगा. 4 साल के बाद जिन युवाओ का सिलेक्शन हुआ है उनमे से 25% को स्थाई कर दिया जायेगा. जिन युवाओ का इस योजना में सिलेक्शन होगा उनको अग्निवीर कहा जायेगा. Agneepath Yojana में लड़के और लड़कियां दोनों भाग ले सकती है. सरकार का कहना है की आने वाले 90 दिनों में इस योजना में आवेदन प्रक्रिया को शुरू कर दिया जायेगा.

अग्निपथ योजना के तहत दी जाने वाली सेलरी

अग्निवीरों को प्रथम वर्ष में लगभग 4.76 लाख रूपये का पैकेज दिया जायेगा. चोथे वर्ष में लगभग 6.92 लाख रूपये की बढ़ोतरी की जाएगी. इनमे से भी PF काट लिया जायेगा. 4 साल का कार्यकाल पूरा होने के बाद उसे 11 लाख रुपए की राशी सेवा निधि पैकेज के रूप में दी जाएगी.

अग्निपथ योजना में आयु सीमा

इस योजना के तहत पहले यह नोटीफीकेशन निकाला गया था की जिन युवाओ की आयु 17.5 से 21 वर्ष है केवल वे युवा इस योजना का लाभ ले सकते है. लेकिन युवाओ के भारी विरोध के कारण आयु सीमा को 2 साल और बढ़ाकर के 23 साल कर दिया गया है.

Agneepath Yojana Features

  • सरकार इस योजना के तहत तीनो सेनाओ में युवाओ को भर्ती करेगी.
  • जिन युवाओ की आयु 17.5 से 23 वर्ष है केवल वे इस योजना का लाभ ले सकते है.
  • सरकार का कहना है की जब अग्निवीर का कार्यकाल पूरा हो जायेगा उसके बाद अगर वह अग्निवीर कोई अपना खुद का बिजनेस करता है तो सरकार उसे Loan उपलब्ध करवाने में मदद करेगी.
  • सरकार का कहना है की अग्निवीरों को प्रमाण पत्र दिया जायेगा जिससे उनको प्राइवेट सेक्टर में जॉब मिलने में प्राथमिकता मिलेगी.
  • अगर कोई अग्निवीर शहीद हो जाता है तो उसके परिवार वालो को 1 करोड़ रूपये की वित्तीय मदद दी जाएगी.
  • अग्निपथ योजना (Agneepath Yojana) के तहत अग्निवीरों को 48 लाख रुपए का जीवन बिमा कवर दिया जायेगा.
  • अग्निवीरों को मोजुदा प्रशिक्षण केन्द्रों में कठोर सेन्य प्रशिक्षण प्रदान किया जायेगा.
  • पुरे देश में मेरिट के आधार पर भर्ती की जाएगी.
  • 10 वीं या 12 वीं पास कोई भी युवा अग्निपथ योजना का लाभ ले सकता है.

क्यों कर रहे है युवा विरोध (Agneepath Yojana Controversy)

जब से अग्निपथ योजना की घोषणा की गई है तब से राजस्थान, बिहार, उत्तर प्रदेश, मध्य प्रदेश, हरियाणा और राज्य के अलग अलग राज्यों में युवा जमकर इस योजना का विरोध कर रहे है. युवाओ का मानना है की यह योजना उनका कैरियर छीन लेगी. अग्निपथ योजना को लेकर जी युवा विरोध कर रहे है उनका कहना है:

  • कोई भी सेनिक सिर्फ 4 साल में कैसे सक्षम होगा जब की एक सक्षम सैनिक बनने के लिए 7-8 वर्ष लग जाते है.
  • सिर्फ 4 साल की ही नौकरी क्यों. 4 साल पूरा होने के बाद हम क्या करेंगे.
  • अगर 25% लोगो को स्थाई किया जायेगा तो वो किस आधार पर होगा.
  • क्या पेंशन मिलेगी जो एक स्थाई सैनिक को मिलती है.
  • सरकार कह रही है की 6 महीने की ट्रेनिंग दी जाएगी जभी भारी हतियार चलाने के लिए क्या 6 महीने की ट्रेनिंग काफी है.
  • युवाओ का कहना है की अगर अग्निपथ योजना लागू हो जाती है तो पुराना वाला सिस्टम खत्म हो जायेगा.

आपकी अग्निपथ योजना 2022 को लेकर क्या राय है दोस्तों आप हमे कमेंट में लिखकर बता सकते है.

Is division and bloodbath evident in Bengal?: A brief note on the demand for a separate Koch Kamatapur state in North Bengal

nirbn22
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Is division and bloodbath evident in Bengal?: A brief note on the demand for a separate Koch Kamatapur state in North Bengal

On June 7th, the Chief of the banned armed outfit Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) warned Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee before her visit to North Bengal that- “Mamata Banerjee should not come to Koch-Kamatapur. She cannot interfere or oppose the formation of Koch-Kamatapur state. The situation will be horrible if force is applied. I will sacrifice the lives of millions of people. There will be bloodbath,”   

Ironically, the BJP backed the banned outfit’s demand, saying the party has no problem in carving out a new state of north Bengal districts. To counter, Mamata Banerjee on the other hand made it clear that she is not going to allow a division of Bengal by saying that “I will not allow Bengal to be divided till I have blood in my body.”

But, putting aside the politics being played by both the BJP and the TMC, what is this talk of a separate Koch-Kamatapur state all about? Even in the video message where the KLO Chief warns Mamata Banerjee of bloodbath, he does not forget to mention that the Koch-Kamatapur, also known as Cooch Behar, was a C-class state as per the India Accession Treaty. But, there is more to it and here I will briefly talk about the Koch-Kamatapur state and its historical significance- which is rapidly changing the political chemistry of Bengal.

The geographical location where the ancient Kamata-Koch kingdom emerged was the Teesta-Brahmaputra valley which was bordered by the natural boundaries. Two rivers, the Teesta and the Karatoya, formed the western boundary while the Baranadi and the Brahmaputra rivers determined the eastern boundary. Bhutan Duars is the northern limit and the confluence of the Brahmaputra and the Karatoya in Rangpur is the southern boundary of the valley. In the present political map it comprises of Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and southern part of Darjeeling districts of West Bengal, part of Dinajpur and Rangpur districts of Bangladesh, and Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Bijni, Darrang and Kamrup districts of Assam.   

This region was also known as Kamata during the Muslim period or during the Bengal Sultanate. Kamata was the western part of Kamarupa where the Khenas had established a kingdom in the 15th century. Later, the Koch kingdom emerged in the ruins of the Kamata kingdom and the territorial boundary was almost identical with Kamata. The kingdom of Visva Singha (founder ruler of the Koch kingdom) was extended from the Baranadi in the east to the Karatoya in the west and from Bhutan Duars to Ghoraghat (Rangpur) in the south.

Under the leadership of King Nara Narayana, the kingdom got its highest territorial expansion comprising the Teesta and Lower Brahmaputra valley and began to be known as ‘Koch’ or ‘Behar’. However, the kingdom was divided into two parts in 1581 due to the internal conflicts between King Nara Narayana and Raghudeva Narayana, nephew of the king. After the partition of the kingdom, eastern part had been counted as Koch-Hajo and the main branch came to be known as Koch Bihar or Cooch Behar. In the last days of independent status of the Koch-Kamata kingdom, it was extended from the Bhutan frontier in the north to Rangpur in the south and from the Teesta in the west to the Sankosh in the east.

Emergence of the Koches as a political entity and their successful warfare had alarmed the neighboring states i.e. Bengal, Ahom and Bhutan. The Ahoms, an emerging tribal state of upper Assam, integrated under the kingship of Dihingia Suhimgmung Raja (1497 – 1539 A.D.) after defeating certain tribal powers of upper Assam, were looking towards Lower Assam. Hence conflict between the Koches and Ahoms was inevitable. Similarly, the Afghans and the Mughals of Bengal did not tolerate the emergence of a tribal power under the Koches just in the immediate proximity of Bengal. Sulaiman Karrani, the Afghan Sultan of Bengal (1565-72 A.D.), after conquering Orissa (1567-68) marched towards the Koch kingdom and reached as far as Koch capital but got back to his own capital at Tanda without permanent political result.

Finally, division, segmentation and intra-Koch conflict eventually resulted into the loss of eastern Koch kingdom to the Mughals and the Ahoms .On the other hand, the Koches of the main branch were demoted to the vassalage of the Mughals for few years particularly up to 1632 A.D., having political autonomy and certain other requisites of an independent state. The Mughals, however, failed to subdue the Koch kingdom into a permanent feudatory state. Shaistha Khan was busy with the Mughal state affairs and there was no Mughal pressure on the Koches at least for two decades (1665-85 A.D.).

However, the Kamata-Koch state became a segmentary state towards the end of 17th century and after a long negotiation with the East India Company, the Anglo-Cooch Behar Treaty was concluded in 1773 A.D. by which Cooch Behar accepted the feudatory status of the Britishers and later became a princely state, named Cooch Behar, to the end of the British rule in India. The princely state of Cooch Behar joined the Indian domain in 1948, a year after India got independence from the Britishers  and after the creation of Pakistan through partition by means of an agreement made on 28th August 1949 between the Governor General of India and the last princely King of Cooch Behar.

Finally, in 1949, Cooch Behar, which was categorised as type-C state, was silently annexed as a district of Bengal, with the population and territory  of the erstwhile Koch-Kamata state being divided between Bengal and Assam. Since then there have been various segregated movements both in Bengal and Assam for creation of a separate state of Kamatapur. Various organizations such as Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, Kamatapur Progressive Party, Kamatapur People’s Association, All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union etc. have been putting forward their displeasure regarding discrimination, under-development and exploitation of the Koch-Rajbongshi people living in the peripheral regions of both Bengal and Assam through demonstrations, protests and petitions. However, the demand for a separate state was first strongly raised in 1995 after the formation of KLO.

Recently in December 2021, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that procedures are being formed between the Centre and KLO for a possible peace talk. Therefore, it becomes evident that the chemistry of political equations may rapidly change in Bengal as this demand for a separate Koch-Kamatapur state is seemingly progressing to take a centre stage, while both the BJP and the TMC clinging into two completely opposite poles.

Who owns most of India?

Suman Shekhar Rajhans
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Who owns most of India?

Land is an important source of status symbols and identity and often carries significant emotional attachment. In the Constitution of India, “Land” is included in the “State” list and “Forests” under the concurrent list (both State and Centre lists). Land and land reforms are under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the federal States while both the union and the states have jurisdiction over “forests”. Originally, the right to property was a fundamental right under the Constitution of India till the year 1977. After the 44th Constitution amendment in 1978, the right to property no longer remained a fundamental right but instead became a constitutional right protected under the authority of law.

India is the world’s 7th largest county in terms of land area after Russia, Canada, the US, China, Brazil and Australia. India which is home to the world’s 18% population surprisingly has only 2.4% of the total land area estimated at 3,287,263 square kilometres (1,269,219 sq mi).

Government Landholdings

As is widely known, the Government of India is the largest owner of land in India. According to the Government Land Information System (GLIS) website, the Indian Government owns at least 15,531 square km of land as per the information provided by 51 Union Ministries and 116 of over 300 public sector enterprises (February 11, 2021).

The GLIS, a centralised database system created by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and under direct monitoring of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) facilitates the record of the geo-positioning maps, total area and land ownership rights details.

According to the GLIS portal, among Union ministries, Indian Railways is the biggest landowner (real estates) followed by Coal, Power, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise, Shipping, Steel, Agriculture and so on (in that order). According to an RTI filed in the year 2018, Indian Railways revealed in reply that it owns approximately 4.77 lakh hectares of land (as of March 3, 2018). The RTI also revealed that 844.38 hectares of land in under illegal/unauthorised possession (as of March 30, 2018). Railway however maintained that there is some discrepancy in the handling of land and state-wise data and the actual land can be more.

The Indian Defence Forces require a large area of Land for its Depots, Camping, Training, Offices, Airfields, Residences etc. So, according to the records published (in February 2022) on the website of Directorate General Defence Estates, the Ministry of Defence owns a large tract of land approx 17.95 lakh acres. Interestingly, out of these only 1.60 lakh acres are situated within the 62 notified Cantonment. The Ministry of Defence has not fully released information owing to the security concern. But despite that, the land currently available to them makes them the biggest land owner of the country among all the government institutions.

Religious Minorities enjoying Fruit of Indian Secularism

Church Properties: When it comes to the non-government entity, the most non-agricultural land after the government of India, is owned by the Catholic Church of India. The Catholic Church works as a conglomerate of various trusts and charitable societies to spread Christianity in India. The church has 126 bishops, 9.3K Diocesan priests, 6.7K religious priests, 2.5K religious brothers, and more than 50K religious sisters working for them which also makes the church’s largest non-governmental employer in India. As per an estimate, the catholic church has 14,429 Colleges and Schools, 1,086 Training Institutes and 1,826 Hospitals and dispensaries throughout India.

©Suman Shekhar Rajhans (St Paul’s Cathedral, Kolkata)

The Catholic church of India managed to amass all these lands through the Indian Churches Act of 1927, passed by Britishers where they transferred the land to the church for spreading Christianity. The total value of land is estimated to be between 50K to 100K crore rupees.

Waqf Properties: Muslims constitute the largest group of religious minorities in the country at roughly 20% of the population. Waqf boards are statutory autonomous bodies formed under Waqf Act, 1954, through gazette notification to manage the Islamic religious places. The “Waqf boards” are completely free from state interference. Waqf board properties include a mosque, madrasa, graveyard or a tomb. These properties were mostly donated or constructed by Muslim rulers.

©Suman Shekhar Rajhans (Taj-ul-Masjid, Bhopal)

Similar to the Catholic church, the Waqf property too has no interference from the state in its management. According to the Waqf Validating Act of 1913, a private Wakf can be created for one’s descendants, provided the ultimate benefits are reserved for charity.

As per a report published in the Times of India, there are more than 610K immovable properties under the Waqf board in various states across India. According to the data by the National Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) project, the Waqf Board own a total of 6,16,732 properties (as of January 31, 2020) under various State Waqf Boards (SWBs).

Pic: ToI
Data: WAMSI/Ministry of Minority Affairs

Fun fact, neither the government nor the waqf board has an estimate of the monetary value of these properties but it is said to be worth Lakhs of crores of rupees. A P.I.L was filed in the year 2020 in the Supreme Court where the petitioner claimed gross misuse of property by the board, this prompted the court to seek a report on the said matter from the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

As per a joint parliamentary committee report headed by K Rehman Khan in 2009, properties owned by waqf (around 6 lakh acres) are the 3rd largest owner of land in India after the Defence Department and the Indian Railways.

Future and Conclusion

According to the Land governance assessment: national synthesis report published by The World Bank, by the year 2030, India would need 4 to 8 million hectares of land for residential use alone. And experts suggest the burden would be put on the Agricultural Land leading to social dislocation, food insecurity, inequality, environmental problems and ultimately conflict.

P.S: Tried to find data for Hindu Temples as well but due to the Central Government and various State Government’s control over them, the data is unavailable.

India’s stand on Ukraine explained

Bipin Shah
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India’s stand on Ukraine explained

Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director working at the center for new American Security called “CNAS” and viewed by many including this author as a friend of India. Her views should be “weighed in” as an input for future policy formulation for Indian and US policymakers. Having worked for NSC, CIA, State Department, Indo-Pacific, and South Asia, she brings considerable experience to bear into her deliberations and thoughts as to what is important to American and Indian interests and future policy formulation towards South Asia.

She has a particular focus on US-India Strategic Relations, Quad, and counter-terrorism. She does provide a fresh and long-term view that state department mandarins often miss. She has a good understanding of China’s impulses and ambitions. She wrote in a recent article that was featured in the Foreign Affairs publication “India’s Last best chance”.

She wrote: “India’s neutrality over the war in Ukraine has exposed its vulnerability. New Delhi depends on Russia for military supplies, and so, even though Russia is blatantly violating Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty in an attempt to re-create its erstwhile empire, India has opted to stay silent. It has done so even though India, as a former colony, knows all too well what it’s like to be the victim of imperialism. It has done so even though its territorial integrity is threatened by another authoritarian power—namely, China.

India, it seems, feels caught in a vise grip by Moscow.” Just over a month ago, Wendy Sherman, assistant secretary of State after India’s visit testified in U.S. Congress that “we got to help India to wean away from her dependencies on soviet military hardware”. In her coordinating effort, the USA encouraged all EU diplomats to pay proper attention to India’s concerns and needs and several of them came to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Modi.

Ms. Curtis added “To some extent, New Delhi’s concerns are understandable. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been shy about cutting trade with states that condemn his invasion. But viewed more broadly, New Delhi’s approach is shortsighted and risky. It ignores the dangerous precedent that Russia’s reckless behavior is set in other parts of the world. It provides diplomatic cover to China—Moscow’s most conspicuous international backer—to also ignore Russia’s bad behavior.”

India’s views on the democracies and shared values are identical to the USA as both share a multiethnic, multilanguage society bound by the same values of freedom of Press, free speech, and fundamental human rights to name just a few. Both countries believe that the democracies around the world should be promoted. There are many areas where both countries have a shared vision such as terrorism, public health safety, bioweapons, and nuclear weapons. Then why do both countries have differing perceptions of the Ukrainian conflict? One obvious answer is India’s geographical location. India does not have a choice to pick her neighbors, but they are given to her. Other Part of the answer lies in the fact that Ukraine which was once part of the Soviet Union has a complicated history between herself and Russia. Sharing a border with a powerful neighbor is a challenge that India also experiences.

What led Russia to take such a step that is regarded as “abnormal” in the post-cold war era? What happened between XI and Putin at the Olympic meeting? These questions still need answers and remain unanalyzed among policy analysts? Did Putin count on XI to follow suit by launching a similar move against Taiwan? The big power anxieties arising out of Geopolitical competition are also an element adding to this complexity.

Since India is facing dual military challenges at both borders, that is Pakistan and China, India will require a cautious and measured response to the Ukrainian crisis that occurred suddenly without warning during the raging Pandemic. At the very least, India fears that the complete isolation of either Ukraine or Russia will produce unintended consequences such as a stronger alliance with China as Russian Ambassador put it “There is no upper limit with Russia-China” alliance. India cannot afford to ignore this aspect. Even this angle cannot be ignored by NATO and USA.

In the past, when Russia claimed and annexed Crimea, the world remained silent and assumed that Crimea was historically part of Czarists Russia as claimed by Russia. However, Ukrainians remained concerned, despite Ukrainian Born Nikita Khrushchev and his predecessors reorganized the Soviet union’s provinces by gifting Crimea back to Ukraine. Further demand by Russia to implement the Minsk agreement regarding the two eastern provinces of Ukraine was kept in abeyance. 2014 Maidan uprising that resulted in the overthrow of the legally elected government of Ukraine may have made the situation more complicated and raised security concern of Russians that was previously absent during preceding years when Ukraine was an independent democratic neutral country.

These events including a recent “clarion call” to unite the world’s democracies against Russia met rising skeptics within the USA and Europe. These contradictions undoubtedly weigh on many countries’ minds. No country wants to see the emergence or enlargement of worldwide conflict and escalation that can plunge the world’s economy into an economic meltdown leading to a humanitarian disaster. The timing for the conflict during the ravaging Pandemic is most unfortunate.

India has unequivocally condemned the use of force as a method to change the geographical boundaries of the post-cold war or World War -2. This was the sole motivating factor to join the American-led Indo-Pacific Quad as India recognized that the emerging Power like the Republic of China is circumventing the international rule-based order. China was unintentionally empowered and enabled during the cold war era to douse the fire created by Vietnam War. Same China is now positioned to threaten the rules-based world order, peace, and security in the Indo-pacific region that India is now focused on. Being a small power, India has no ability or influence to project power beyond the Indian ocean. This is the reality that Indian policymakers have to contend with and cannot afford any retaliatory measures employed by anyone either (USA or Russia) due to her neutrality in a remote conflict.

India did abstain and adopted neutrality due to its dependence on the large inventory of foreign imported arms that includes arms from Russia as well as the west as pointed out by Ms. Curtis. Due to difficulty in securing spares from Russia on a timely basis, India is diversifying her sources that include various east European countries such as Ukraine, Poland, France, Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and domestic sources. The mix of arms imports has changed significantly and India is far away from the dedicated single source as it was in the 1970s. Still, the modernization of arms requires huge investment and resources and India lacks the speed and financial resources to complete this task in a short duration without additional help. It took China 40 years to advance herself to emerge as a leading technological and military powerhouse, while India had to focus on food independence, infrastructure, health sectors, and containing terrorism coming from across the border in a noisy democratic setup.

The potential adverse fallout due to the Ukraine war is the order placed with Ukraine worth approximately one billion dollars for the upgrading of the turbine engines for the Indian air force’s Twin-engine AN-32. The 60 IAF twin-engine An-32s are needed to ferry material, cargo, and personnel to Ladakh where Indian armed forces are standing eyeball to eyeball with China’s armed forces. It appears that as of this date, this vital center of the aerospace complex is spared but the longer this war goes on, this creates additional risk as Russia itself will be busy replacing her lost arms. The need of the hour is to bring both sides to negotiating table. Perhaps, behind the scene effort by India may have spared this facility from Russian missiles but we don’t have any precise information that why this facility was spared but not the facility like the Azov steel plant. However, the Indian Airforce’s ability will be hampered if India did not find alternate sources because without workers the Ukrainian plants cannot manufacture upgraded spares. What India is conveying to the world is that if the Ukrainian economy hurts then everyone is the loser.

The thoughts must have run through Indian policy makers’ minds that what actions India should take based on current reality and not the past relationship that will bring a cessation of hostility and direct negotiation between two parties. India concluded that she has no influence either with Russia or Ukraine to cease hostilities at this time in the current environment. Other countries also tried but the outcome was the same. The huge differences that exist between the two sides cannot be bridged yet.

Does the total isolation of Russia will either benefit the west or India in the Indo-Pacific theater? The answer is less clear. This may bring China and Russia closer adding a new security dimension averse to the interest of the west and India. Henry Kissinger recently weighed in and ask western policymakers not to inflame the fire. It appears that Indian policymakers had the same line of thinking. Henry Kissinger warned that the isolation of Russia will create more instability in Europe and that is not a desirable outcome. Therefore, a way should be found to defuse the crisis. This describes the perceptions difference among statesmen, columnists, and policymakers.

In addition to this war, the world’s longest and most difficult pandemic that started at Wuhan lab has not been brought under control, and supply chain disruptions are everywhere with the shortage of food, commodities, Baby diapers, and soaring inflation. These factors have affected the entire world and recession risk is rising. Jamie Dimon of J. P. Morgan says ‘brace yourself for an economic hurricane caused by the Fed and Ukraine war.

The major portion of Hydrocarbon fuel in India is allocated for cooking food to reduce pollution and the next consumption sector is transportation for India’s developing economy. India when compared to Europe only buys 1 to 2 percent of her fuel requirement from Russia. India has complied with Iran sanctions at the risk of angering traditional supplier Iran who is India’s friendly neighbor.

India needs time and foreign domestic investment equal to half the size of the Ukraine Package to develop domestic capabilities and innovations similar to the investment made in the state of Israel that will firm up our alliance of the democracies. This way India with its increased military capabilities can handle various regional challenges of instabilities and threats posed by China and spare the west the time, cost, and lives of their soldiers. India can do that herself. In recognizing that our long-range “values” reside with the democracies of the world, India canceled plans to upgrade Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft due to the Ukraine war and India also shelved plans to acquire 10 Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters, assuming that Russia will be too busy in meeting her requirement for lost arms.

France is an ally of the United States that disagreed with the United States on the Iraq War. To say to India that “either you are with us or against us” when we have different perceptions in a remote theater but identical views on the “Indo-pacific realm”, we are dealing with misplaced understanding. India cannot get involved in complicated issues between Ukraine and Russia due to India’s 50 years of close history with Russia and Ukraine, who were part of the Soviet Union sharing common nationality but are now at odds. Similarly, India has no business in getting involved in BREXIT disputes involving UK and EU. Ukraine is not and should not be the test case for defining the Indo-US relationship that was developed over a decade with hard work on both sides. Consistency in foreign policy is an important cornerstone of the United States’ foreign policies and its relations with the rest of the world. United states’ foreign policy on Ukraine has either changed or evolved abruptly in a short duration between Trump and Biden administrations. Former President Trump echoed that sentiment.

Among friends and allies, the security perception differs from time to time. India stood fast and invested heavily in Afghanistan to help defeat the terrorism responsible for 9-11 and Indian airline hijacking, however, India’s security concerns were not accommodated during the final phase of the Afghanistan withdrawal and India felt that the withdrawal vacuum was allowed to be filled up by other regional powers that are adverse to the interest of “democratic World”. Such hasty changes and the lack of consistency creates confusion among allies.

A country that is known to the world as the epicenter of terrorism for the last two decades and had tried to destabilize the neighboring states should be sanctioned and not accommodated. Similarly, the rising power of Asia which openly breaches the signed agreement that demarcated the “Line of Actual Control” with India needs an equal or more robust response from members of “Indo-Pacific security members” and the world at large. The inclusion of India as a permanent member of the security council and other multilateral bodies like the G7 and Nuclear Supply Group will enhance the mutual understanding and give India a voice and incentives to participate in a broader world stage of nations.

In that respect Ms. Curtis’s articulation of the two countries bypassing some regional differences is well articulated:
“All western democracies should signal to India that She is welcome as a partner to the West. if the United States wants to move New Delhi further into its camp and away from Moscow’s, it should take additional measures. Washington could give New Delhi even more access to sensitive U.S. technologies that would enhance Indian defense capabilities. It could also provide incentives to U.S. private companies to co-develop and co-produce additional high-tech military equipment in India. It might make its military gear more affordable for India. Recent media reports indicate Washington may be getting ready to take a step in this direction by providing a $500 million Foreign Military Financing package to incentivize India to purchase U.S. weapons. (Given India’s robust defense requirements, however, this is still a small amount.)”
“What Washington should not do is pressure India to criticize Russia. New Delhi strongly values having an independent foreign policy, and so it would bristle at being told how to act. But U.S. officials can be clear that they will offer India more help, more quickly, if the country reduces its reliance on Russian military systems.”

This is welcome advice from Ms. Curtis who understands India’s Geographic compulsions and security challenges. She suggests that the expenditures involving a large Military aid such as that provided to Ukraine can be avoided by building a stronger alliance but that also means empowering rising power like India with more help that is needed to develop internal capabilities. If this approach is proven successful with an oversight, you have created a strong champion of democracy in Asia that ultimately will save lives and treasure and keep Asia free. India has demonstrated that she can stand up to China. Therefore, it is wrong to equate the relationship as “first or last chance” because there has been a vacuum for some time in the formation of bipartisan foreign policy in Washington. The United States is always guided by its national interest like any other country regardless of the method of governance of a foreign country.

The religious landscape in South Asia reflects dramatic irony of Hindus

Abhishek Mishra
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The religious landscape in South Asia reflects dramatic irony of Hindus

South Asia is similar yet different in many ways. The people of the region speak many languages but Hindi and her forms is widely accepted language in the region. All countries of South Asia have costal boundaries. In terms of food habits, from Myanmar in East to Pakistan in West, from Afghanistan in North to Sri Lanka in South have similarity in food preparation and dishes. Once the people of the region are out of South Asia, many willingly identify themselves as Indians. Beside the demographical similarity, people of the region have brownish skin with facial features different from the West or Africans or S East/ North Asians. In recent case of Russia-Ukraine war, most students of South Asia carried the Indian National Flag. However, the South Asian region is widely divided by the faith and acceptance of religious practices.

The first instance of South Asia moving away from Hinduism happened when home grown new religious practices became popular. It made way for spread of Buddhism and Jainism. However, in essence they remained similar to the Hinduism. In the long run, Hinduism prevailed as the main religion while these comparatively new religions spread to other parts of Asia. In modern times, Sri Lanka remains as the only country with large Buddhist population.

The second wave of change happened when central Asia invaders came to convert and rule South Asia. This led to expansion of Islam with S Asia being a region with one of the largest number of people following this faith today. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives is predominated by people of Islamist faith. British too left footprints of Christianity in South as well as East of South Asia.

Now if we look closely at the religioous tolerance towards other religions in different countries of South Asia, interesting statistics emerge.

Hindus while being the most dominant religion in South Asia has no country recognised as a Hindu country. Nepal, the only Hindu country, declared itself a secular country under pressure from North Asian countries. Pakistan has a declining minority population. At the time of independence, minorities constituted 25% of the population while today account for less than 3%.

Sri Lanka adopts Buddhism as its official religion and there has been a civil war in the nation based on religious and language discrimination.

Bangladesh which owes her independence to Bharat- a Secular State, declared herself as Secular at the time of independence. However, within five years of independence, Bangladesh became a Muslim nation adopting Islam as the official religion.  

Myanmar has 90% of the population as Buddhist and Hinduism is the fourth religion in the country. After British rule, Christianity is the second largest religion while Buddha’s statue is present in many Hindu temples in the country.

India i.e. Bharat a declared secular state after 27 years of independence wherein minority enjoy more rights and privileges than the majority. Sad but true unlike all her neighbours, she is a country wherein “minority” Maulanas are paid employees of most state governments while Hindus priests are chided away. Hindu practices are neither taught in temples nor allowed to be followed in name of modernisation of the country while minorities continue to enjoy access to their age-old custom of triple talaq and multiple marriages.

In short, the irony of Hindus in South Asia is highlighted in the fact that once the bed of Vedic science and knowledge, not one of the 8-10 nations follow Hinduism as the main religion. Barring Hindu dominated Nepal & India; all other nations of S Asia officially follow and promote single religion practice carrying deep routed hatred for Hinduism.

Anyone who says that Hinduism is not in danger is oblivious to historical fact that not very long ago, entire South Asia followed Hinduism. Today no country does. In fact barring two, others have declared themselves to be Buddhist or Islamic nation. The irony of irony is that those two are Hindu dominated where they don’t enjoy the privileges’ of being the majority.

The epitome of this irony is that when M F Hussain made highly objectionable pictures of Hindu Goddess, he was awarded honorary citizenship by Qatar. A secular India did not protest with Qatar! However, when a spokesperson of right-wing party in the heat of moment makes objectionable comment during a debate as her God is laughed upon, she is sacked in Secular India because the same Qatar raises objections.

The plight of Hindus in S Asia which has partially been because of Congress party policies and partially because Hindus never realized their strength and awakened. However, the way Hinduism is rising, it a matter of couple of decades that S Asia will fall back on her original faith and practice. The noise by Muslim nations on a trivial TV debate is the testimony of the rise. Sooner or later, BJP will regret the decision. Jai Hind!  

It is becoming tough to nexus with flying horse

ashukvs
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It is becoming tough to nexus with flying horse

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you will wrong us, shall we not revenge? We live in a world where some so-called oppressed folk has special privileges i.e. to scoff at anyone’s belief but no one can do the same with theirs. And now when they got the taste of their own medicine, it is pricking. Seeking tolerance in a wolf’s mouth is a wild-goose chase.

Don’t you know that Earth is flat?

Don’t say it wrong otherwise, your head will get a spherical stone to operate correctly. When you are walking on thin ice, don’t go for forbearance otherwise you will slip off. Now the sun refuses to set in the western world because they care more for the half-cut moon. Dark knowledge gives birth to the dark ideology which disseminates dark blood.

Comparing apples to oranges( Sanatana Dharma to others) is sterile conversation. There is no comparison between the way of life and the path of landmines. What if I will say there is only one food available to everyone and you have to eat that? Or I will offer you a menu of food items to select and have your favorite food. The latter depicts the essence of Sanatana Dharma where there is no arm-twisting, one is free to worship and propagate his or her beliefs. Whenever someone’s emancipation is jeopardized, the responsible chief architect is an unseen face.

Do you know saffron has become cheaper?

Saffron is no more my favorite color after it got faded by a splash of red. Bhakts feels dejected as the almighty is busy digging history without the consent of the present hurricane. Stop the flood on the brink with force otherwise, it will swing you to doom. Who says if you are a minority you will be a sufferer? Numbers don’t decide your fate, the learning decides the way one functions. An idle man’s brain is a devil’s workshop and therefore spark of genuine knowledge is the key to uprooting the deep-rooted extremism.

A liar has no legs to stand upon and the pretense must slump after walking for a long duration. If you can’t walk judiciously then tell me, who is responsible? Leg or ground. The leg can usher you to the peaceful destination as well as kick someone. Milkha Singh used his legs to make India proud and some use these for a feud. How you use anatomy reflects one’s social nourishment and decides what to give them? A tough lesson or duty of nation.

Gather thistles, and expect pickles:

Love cares for love, hate cares for hate. Apj Abdul kalam is one of my ideals, you know why? Because of his perception, knowledge, and generosity. If I had overlooked the human-centric emotions above social fabrics then I would have spoken of Veer Savarkar. Both are valuable in their contributions. The iconography doesn’t need a name, it implores the idea and contribution of someone to humanity.

Why are you crying in the wilderness?

Authority functions with a broken spine, don’t speak the truth it will cost you an arm and a leg. The best way to respond is to build unity among people of the same ideology because you know when the cat is away, the mice will play. Every wickedness has a deadline and you know time blunts the edge of grief. The hands that should be holding pens are carrying stones, maybe that is how they had written their history without ink.

The world is listening to Shakuni’s advice, not the Krishna’s:

If you had seen Mahabharata before the Mahabharata war began, Shakuni suspect Krishna, to be honest in the war and asked him will if he did not breach in war ( do adharma)? He said if needed I will do adharma to rejuvenate Dharma. His definition of adharma was ‘breaking a set of rules for human welfare’. Quoting his words- “Peace is reserved for the worthy. When you offer peace to evil, it throws it right back. If Adharma wants war, Dharma will give it war”.

We are Tongue-tied, be cautious of your tongue and don’t infer real taste, remember bitter means sweet (source: Unseen dictionary).

When will the land become fertile for forbearance?

Everyone under the special Privilege umbrella doesn’t dare to go outside because that is owned by the non-privileged. Whether it is raining cats and dogs, the umbrella will not stretch further outward.

The govt gave the sword to the monkeys and now they will turn it voluntarily. They should have nipped the evil in the bud but haven’t. Hate should have a limit as tolerance is supposed to have. Fevicol is not for zealots but fevikwik is watchful for patrons.

The world suffers a lot, not because of the violence of bad people but because of the silence of good people. Come on, leave your Ahimsavadi abode or otherwise, be handy for a bomb to explode near your backyard. By leaving ahimsa, I didn’t mean go for hinsa (violence). I suggest standing for your culture, faith, and rights. This is not ahimsa, it is the birthright and Sanatana dharma.

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