Terrorism - How to meet the challenge.

 

Terrrism - How to meet the challenge.

Experts have made many good suggestions - law empower the police to nab the culprits whoever they are without any interference from the politicians; the police force has to have all euqipments to do their job and enough incentives to do their job efficiently. As Winston Churchill said, ' Give us the tools and we would finish the job." People have to be alert and co-operate with the police. Whether it is Naxalites or terrorits, they usually have some sympathisers who help them. We also require fast-track courts to award exemplary punishment to the perpetrators. There should be mohalla committees to keep a watch on strangers. Hotels are supposed to keep records of their guests and report to the police. All housing societies are supposed to inform the police about lease holders. If all these are implemented, terrorism could be controlled.

However, to root out terrorism, we have to  change mind-set of people and it should start with our young people who study in schools and colleges. India is a multi-religious society and it is imperative that we have to not merely tolerate but accept all religious faiths - sarva dharma samabhava. That is called secularism which is now one of the values which we cherish along with liberty,equality and fraternity. This should be a part of the curriculam of all schools and colleges. In this we have failed in all these years. We neither know our own religion, nor the religions of our neighbours. We only know the religious festivals, not their significence. All religions have some basic values - truth,non-violence, fraternity. These values have been upheld in all religious texts in different words and at different contexts. This has to be impressed on all youngsters. As the preamble of UNESCO declares, " since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defense of peace must be constructed." This is the foundation of peace and prosperity. 

 

July 31, 2008

 

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Nuclear Deal - Ends & Means.

 Nuclear Deal – Means & Ends..

Mahatma Gandhi, who led us to freedom and to whom we pay tribute on his birthday every year on October 2, had always said that the means and ends are related to each other like the seed and the fruit. He not merely preached it but practiced it. He withdrew his non-cooperation movement in 1922 after some of the satyagrahis killed 22 policemen in Chouri Chaura. For him, certain values like purity means and ends, truth and non-violence were not negotiable. Something contrary to all these values happened on July 22,2008. Currency notes were thrown on the table of the Lok Sabha - the price paid to change a minority government into a majority. The Speaker did not see the CD of the 'sting operation' conducted by a TV channel to verify whether there has been any breach of privilege or breach of ethics of the House as some members had claimed that they were enticed to vote for the trust motion tabled by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The government won the motion with almost the same number as those killed in 1922 !

'Aya-rams and gaya-rams' have stalked the state governments in India for a long time but this has been brought to the hallowed hall of the parliament for the second time, the first time by P.V.Narasimha Rao. Rao saved the party government but Singh saved the nuclear deal which many believe may not ensure security or energy security. Indira Gandhi sullied the fair name of the country and its democracy with the emergency. She was followed by Rao who had no compunction to bribe JMM and now, by Singh who has become a true politician. Is it the same Congress that is ruling now which was led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel ? What a fall,my countrymen !

July 30,2008

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'Teach India' Movement.

'Teach India' Movement

 

The Times has to be complimented for iniating the " Teach India' movement with the co-operation of UN Vounteer Programme, 60 NGOs, corporates and social organisations (TOI,July 6). This is indeed Bharat Nirman. No country has progressed without literacy and education. The figures mentioned by your report make dismal reading - literacy is 66% ( 2006),380 million illiterate and 3.6 % of GDP expenditure on education.Our state and society have neglected our most valued resource - our people. Our huge population is not a huge problem if we educate them. With health and education, it would be a huge asset.  

 

Your programme involves volunteers offering their time for teaching children who have been left out by the official and private educational institutions. It is not clear where these children would be gathered and taught. Some of the municipal shools are being closed. They could be used for these classes. It would be a good idea to persuade all the existing municipal and private schools to have two shifts - one for he regular students and one for those who have been left out or drop outs. These  students should be provided with all necessary facilities - books, black-boards, benches, uniforms etc. These childen need extra care and extra effort. 

 

Adult literacy too requires attention..Manual workers especially in the informal sector such as house-maids are illiterate. Every housing society can undertake to educate house-maids working in their society as many housewives are well-educated and can spare some time for this purpose without going out the society premises. Every society could raise funds to help the house-maids to send their children to school.   

 

July 27,2008

Euphoria on N-deal is misplaced.

Euphoria on N-Deal is misplaced

 

China invaded India in 1962 and it carried out an atomic test in 1964 in Lop Nor.India awakened to nuclear threat in 1974 when it tested a 'peaceful' or 'technology demonstration' atomic test by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the sanctions by USA and other western countries followed. The threat perception became certainty during the time of Rajiv Gandhi who continued the research in atomic weapons as Pakistan was given this technology by China and P.V.Narasimha Rao was to test an atomic weapon in 1995 but was pressurised by USA to stop it. The test was conducted by Atal Bihari Bajpayee in 1998. More sanctions followed. However,suddenly India was recognised as an emerging Asian and World Power. Some sanctions were slowly removed but dual-use technologies were still continued.

 

What the IAEA a agreement, 123 agreement and Hyde Act seek to bring India under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)  which India had declined to subscribe because of its discriminatory nature. While providing nuclear power technology, all these agreements seek to prevent India's further atomic tests. The Bajpayee government had declared its intention to stop further tests on its own. In these agreements India is bound from testing forever and would be punished with the withdrawl of all nuclear materials. Whether India should test in future will be decided by USA, not by India. In addition, all our atomic research institutions would be monitored by IAEA and USA. Is it prudent to give up autonomy to decide our own future needs ? Is it prudent to win the world but lose our soul ? The threat from our neighbours is still there and our capacity meet them would be crippled.Euphoria for nuclear deal is mspalced. It reminds 'Hindi-Chini' bhai bhai days.

 

Dr.P.K.Iyengar,former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, has analysed these agreements and has raised many issues which would impinge on our strategic autonomy.He has also mentioned that the price of uranium has tripled in the past three years, from $20 to $85. Nuclear power would be expensive in future. Uranium cartel is bad as crude oil cartel. India has to depend on ts our resources for energy security - hydal power,thermal power ( coal gasification reduces pollution) and non-conventional power - solar, wind, bio-mass, bio-gas etc. We have unexplored uranium mines in Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra. We have unexplored gas and crude oil. Reliance and Cairn India have found oil and gas in Andhra cosat and in Rajashtan. We can have future in our own hands.              

 

( A letter sent to the Indian Express, July 16,2008)

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Nuclaer Deal for Energy ?

N-Deal for energy ?

 

The report, Naural gas to fill India's energy needs, by Shankar Raghuraman (TOI,12/7) makes it clear India has to deped on natural gas rather than nuclear power for its energy needs. The Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the US Department of Energy projects the total installed power to go up from 1,38,000 MW in 2005 to 3,98,000 MW by 2030. It projects about 20,000 MW of nuclear power in 2030 which is hardly 5% of India's needs. Planning Commission's Working Group on Power expects to reach 20,000 MW in 2017 which would be about 6.7%. EIA's projected trend for global nuclear energy is lower at 7.1% in 2030 from the 9.6% in 2005. If this is the case, why UPA is asking us to support its N-deal for energy security ? Indian people deserve a proper reply.

 

Atomic experts such as Dr. P.K.Iyengar have raised many questions on restrictive clauses in the deal and he has pointed out that the price of uranium has gone up from $20 to $85 a pound in the last three years. The uranium cartel is as bad as the crude cartel. It is like flying from frying pan into th fire. Let us not take any hasty decision to repent at leisure. 

 

( A letter sent to TOI on July 13,2008

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Nuclaer deal would not guarantee energy security.

Nuclear deal would not guarantee energy security.

 

Our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru started the atomic age in India under the programme" Atom for peace" with the cooperation of USA, Canada and other countries. After China carried out an atomic test in 1964 in Lop Nor, some of the Indian scientists like Dr.Homi Bhabha were keen to develop atomic weapons for India as well. Later,India was awakened to nuclear threat in 1974 when it tested a 'peaceful' or 'technology demonstration' atomic test by the Prime Minister Mrs.Indira Gandhi and immediately the sanctions by USA and other western countries followed. The threat perception became certainty during the time of Rajiv Gandhi who continued the research in atomic weapons as Pakistan was given this technology by China and the Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao was to test an atomic weapon in 1995 but was pressurised by USA to stop it. The test was conducted by the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee in 1998. More sanctions followed. However,suddenly India was recognised as an emerging Asian and World Power. Some sanctions were slowly removed but dual-use technologies were still denied to India..

 

The IAEA a agreement, 123 agreement and Hyde Act seek to bring India under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)  which India had declined to subscribe to because of its discriminatory nature. While providing nuclear power technology, all these agreements seek to prevent India's further atomic tests. The Bajpayee government had declared its intention to stop further tests on its own. In these agreements India is bound from testing forever and would be punished with the withdrawl of all nuclear materials unless USA considers it necessary for India. Whether India should test in future will be decided by USA, not by India. In addition, all our atomic research institutions would be monitored by IAEA and USA. Is it prudent to give up the autonomy to decide our own future needs ? Is it prudent to win the whole world but lose our soul ? The threat from our neighbours is still there and our capacity meet them would be crippled. Euphoria for nuclear deal is mspalced. It reminds one the 'Hindi-Chini' bhai bhai days.

 

Dr.P.K.Iyengar,former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, has analysed these agreements and has raised many issues which would impinge on our strategic autonomy.He has also mentioned that the price of uranium has tripled in the past three years, from $20 to $85. Nuclear power would be expensive in future. Uranium cartel is as bad as the crude oil cartel. India has to depend on ts our resources for energy security - hydal power,thermal power ( coal gasification reduces pollution) and non-conventional power - solar, wind, bio-mass, bio-gas etc. We have unexplored uranium mines in Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. We have unexplored gas and crude oil in variousparts of the country. Already, Reliance and Cairn India have found oil and gas in Andhra coast and in Rajashtan. We should have the future of our country in our own hands. We should not out-source it.              

 

A letter to the Times of India ( July 17, 2008).