1. FESTIVAL: ‘BAHUBALI IS AN ICON OF NON-VIOLENCE’ - MOHAN BHAGWAT Bahubali is an icon of non-violence, represents
national integrity. Bahubali brought the religion in practice in life. He is a
Mahapurush” said RSS Sarasabghachalak Mohan ji Bhagwat while participating in the
Maha-Mastakaabhisheka celebrations of Sri Bahubali at Venoor Jain Shrine on
January 31st. Udupi Pejawar Seer Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, Jain
Seer Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Shravanabelagola, Seetarama
Kedilaya, Akhila Bharatheeya Seva Pramukh of RSS and other RSS top
functionaries were present during the ceremony.
Dr D
Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala temple, felicitated RSS
Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat.
Bahubali,
also called Gomateshwara is the second of the hundred sons of the first
Tirthankara, Rishabha, and king of Podanpur. An esteemed figure in Jain
hagiography; his story exemplifies the inner strength of Bharatiya culture. He
won everything from his brother and could have become an emperor, but he
returned everything to the brother. Bahubali is considered the ideal of the man
who conquers selfishness, jealousy, pride and anger.
(Maha-Mastakaabhisheka*
is a festival held once in 12 years,
when the image of Gommateshvara is bathed in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and
gold coins.)
2. MAMMOTH GATHERING OF SWAYAMSEVAKS IN
KANYAKUMARI: RSS Sarsanghachalak
Shri Mohan Bhagwat addressed a huge gathering of swayamsevaks at Nagerkoil in
Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu on February 12. The event was organised as
part of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. A total of 15,906
swayamsevaks in complete uniform participated in the function from 2542
villages. More than 51,699 people from
the general public including a large number of women also witnessed the event. Addressing
the swayamsevaks, Shri Bhagwat said mere celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s
birth anniversary is not sufficient, real remembrance of him would be through
implementing the values he propagated.
In
his presidential address, Sri A R Ramalingam, Retd Justice of Chennai High
Court remarked, “I have heard of Sangh. Today I am seeing in front of me. I can
feel the qualities of Discipline, Patriotism, Service, and Sacrifice in you.”
A
book “Thirai” translated from Kannada novel “Aavarana” was released by Sri Mohan
Bhagawat. Several mathadhipatis, dharmacharyas and senior sangh adhikaaris
participated in the gathering.
3. PIL AGAINST BHAGAVAD GEETA IN SCHOOLS
REJECTED: The petition
filed by Catholic Bishop’s Council against introduction of ‘Geeta Sar’ or
Essence of Bhagavad Geeta in school curriculum, has been dismissed by the
Madhya Pradesh High Court on 27th January. The petition was filed in
August 2011. The petition was filed by the Council spokesman Fr Anand
Muttungal.
The
court upheld the fact that Bhagavad Geeta contained no religious teachings, but
contained only the philosophy of life. Earlier, the court had given the
petitioner’s counsel a time limit of 2 months to study the holy text in
entirety and then come to any decision.
According
to Additional Advocate General Prashant Singh, the Division Bench comprising of
Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Sanjay Yadav asked the petitioner a few
questions. Not satisfied with the answers given, the court declared that the
Bhagavad Geeta was Bharatiya Philosophy
and not a religious text. The petition was dismissed thereafter.
4. MOBILE
DISPENSARY FOR NAXAL-HIT VANAVASIS: Gadchiroli district that lies along the edge of
Maharashtra is regarded as one of the most undeveloped and backward tribal
region of the country. This district is gripped by various development-related
problems such as health, education and employment. Also, the naxal menace and
malnutrition are at their peaks. Government initiated a number of schemes for
the up-liftment of the region but whether those schemes reached up to the
common people is really a matter of concern.
Deriving
inspiration from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Dr Hegewar Janmshatabdi Seva
Samiti, since several years, is striving to reach healthcare and educational
facilities up to the vanavasi brethren residing in the remote regions of the
country. With an objective of providing healthcare and creating health
awareness among the people of Aheri, Etapalli, Bhamragarh and Mulchera regions
of Gadchiroli District through mobile dispensary, the samiti initiated this
work in 1988 to mark the centenary year of RSS founder Dr Keshav Balirampant
Hedgewar.
The
samiti adopts one major village situated in the remote region where government
aid cannot reach and provides healthcare to the people in the surrounding
region. Petha village in Etapalli taluka, Kishtapur in Mulchera, Nagulwahi,
Kolpalli, Guddigudam in Aheri taluka, and a number of villages in Bhamragarh
taluka have been benefitted by this project.
Initially,
through people’s contribution, a jeep was used for the project. After the
expiry period, Member of Parliament Hansraj Ahir arranged for an ambulance that
regularly visits the health centres and serves the need of the people. Along
with this ambulance service, seva samiti’s mobile clinic is also being run by
Dr Suresh Dambole from Aheri. The medicines required for the mobile dispensary
is arranged free of cost by seva samiti karyakartas. They collect these
medicines from the doctors and medical stores located in the city. Inspired by
this project, people from the region constructed a building for running this clinic
regularly at Petha through shramdaan (self labour). This clinic has given a
great relief to the patients in the surrounding region.
About
1500 patients are examined and treated per month through this mobile clinic.
Patients affected by chronic ailments need to be shifted to the hospital in
case of casualty. Such needy patients are shifted to the hospitals at Nagpur
and Chandrapur by the samiti. After shifting them, the samiti also takes a
regular account of their health progress. Check-up camps are conducted from
time to time regarding contagious diseases, eye ailments, cardiac diseases, etc
by a team of experts. Till now, a number of camps have been conducted by the
samiti in the remote villages such as Binagunda, Thodewara, Gobnar,
Midadhapalli and Laheri located in Bhamragarh taluka on the border of
Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
A
woman needs complete healthcare during pregnancy. However, this fact is ignored
by elderly people due to illiteracy and lack of awareness. This proves fatal
for woman many a times. To create awareness among villagers regarding this
aspect, a team of Arogya Rakshikas was constituted by Dr Hedgewar Janmashatabdi
Samiti. Meena Mattami, Sheetal Weladi, Munni Atram from the village has been
given Arogya Rakshika training. Pregnant women in the village are regularly
examined and are given necessary healthcare by these Arogya Rakshikas.
Due
to all these aspects, the sapling that was planted by Dr Hedgewar has now
turned into a banyan tree. A number of seva activities are being run in the
entire country; this mobile clinic is one of them that served as an angel for
the vanavasi brethren residing in the remote regions of the country. (www.newsbharati.com)
5. SIT GIVES CLEAN CHIT TO NARENDRA MODI
IN ZAKIA CASE: The Supreme
Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the 2002
Gujarat riots case has submitted its report on a petition filed by the widow of
slain Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
over his alleged involvement in the Gulbarg Society massacre case. The report
gave a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over allegations of
his involvement in the 2002 riots.
Zakia
Jafri, widow of slain Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri, and Citizens for Justice and
Peace, the non-governmental organisation led by Teesta Setalvad, have filed a
petition in the court alleging that the SIT report on the Gulbarg Society
massacre in the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat was not complete.
In
March 2010, the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team had
questioned Modi in connection with a petition by the widow of Congress leader
Ehsaan Jafri, who was among 70 people killed by rioters in Ahmedabad's Gulbarg
Society on February 28, 2002.
In
February 2011, the SIT that probed the 2002 Godhra riots has indicted Gujarat
chief minister Narendra Modi on many counts, but said there was not enough
substantiation to prosecute him.
6. 7 BHARATIYA
-AMERICANS FIGURE IN INTEL SCIENCE FINALIST IN US : Seven Bharatiya -Americans have figured among the 40
finalists for the Intel Science Talent Search; which is the most prestigious
Science and Maths competition for high school students in the United States.
The
Intel Science Talent Search finalists, who represent America's most promising
high school seniors with the greatest potential to solve pressing challenges in
the world, will gather in Washington, in March to compete for USD 630,000 in
awards with the top winner receiving USD 100,000 from the Intel Foundation.
"The
US needs these talented innovators to go as far and as fast as they can,
solving the world's most critical challenges, imagining and creating - a new
and better future for us all," said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of
the Intel Foundation.
7. A
DREAM REALISED: GURU GRANTH SAHIB IN BRAILLE: He could have been like any other 'raagi' after his
retirement in 1998 from the Golden Temple, where he worked for 30 years. But
Bhai Gurmej Singh had a wish: Being blind, he wanted many like him to read the
holy Gurbani.
He
was 12 years away from his dream project. Today, Bhai Gurmej Singh is proud of
having transliterated Guru Granth Sahib into Braille. Talking to The Tribune,
he said the Braille copy has 2,153 pages in 18 volumes. It has a page size of
11 x 12 inches. "It isn't possible to get the entire work in a single
volume due to technical difficulties," he said.
It
took him almost two-and-a-half years to get the first copy. "I received
volumes of the holy book for proof reading from Mumbai one by one. It consumed
a lot of time. Moreover, those involved in the printing work could not decipher
corrections made by me. Later, my nephew Jagjit Singh came to my rescue. He
joined a Sikh institution in Ropar to learn Gurmukhi especially to help me out.
We both then went to Mumbai where we finished proof reading during our
stay," he said.
8. DRDO
COCHLEAR IMPLANT TO COST ONLY RS1 LAKH: The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL),
based at Visakhapatnam, a unit of DRDO - Defence Research and Development
Organisation has developed an affordable cochlear implant, which will cost
around Rs1 lakh. This is much cheaper than similar imported device which costs
about Rs 8 lakhs. Bharat is now the fifth country besides US, Austria,
Australia and France in the world to produce such a complex device.
Cochlear
implant which is also known as bionic ear is surgically implanted electronic
device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or
severely hard of hearing due to loss of sensory hair cells in their cochlea.
In Bharat,
there are nearly one million people who need cochlear implants and every year
nearly 10,000 children are born with this impairment. The indigenously
developed device will bring great relief as it is much cheaper as compared to
the imported device and the DRDO device will go for clinical trials within next
four months, Dr V Bhujanga Rao, Chief Controller(Research and Development) DRDO
said on Feb 13.
9. INDUS VALLEY
ERA SEAL DISCOVERED IN PAKISTAN :
Pakistani
archaeologists have discovered a rare Indus
Valley civilization era seal in
steatite dating back to 2,500-2,000 BC at Wattoowala, located near Derawar Fort
- Cholistan area of Punjab
province. The seal features the carved figure of an ibex with two pictographs. It
was found by a team of archaeologists led by Punjab University Archaeology
Department chairman Farzand Masih. The team also conducted excavations at
Sui-Vihar, which was the only existing example of Sankhya doctrines in
Pakistan.
Masih
said the excavation revealed a circular platform at Sui-Vihar built with sun-dried
bricks and a number of supporting walls to hold the platform and the
cylindrical structure.
The
remnants of a votive stupa suggested that the place might had been converted to
a Buddhist establishment when Kanishka-I embraced Buddhism, he said.
10. FRI
HELPING TO CONSERVE TREES AT CAMBODIA TEMPLE COMPLEX: The Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, has
been doing considerable work for the conservation of trees at the Ta Prohm
temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a world heritage site. Earlier this month, Dr VK
Bahuguna, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research &
Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, visited the site and inspected the work being done
by the FRI along with members of the team. Dr Bahuguna appreciated the work
done and gave useful suggestions for future work. Dr Bahuguna also inaugurated
a two-day workshop for Cambodian stakeholders under the capacity-building
programme for monitoring and treatment of trees at the Ta Prohm temple complex.
11.
BHARATIYA WOMAN AS FIRST TEACHER FOR US SPACE PROGRAM: Vandana Suryawanshi, a Bharatiya middle school
teacher, is selected as the first international teacher for a prestigious US
space education program.
Vandana,
who teaches at the Vidya Valley School in Pune, Maharashtra, is teaching biology, earth science and general
science for 20 years and would join the 19 other outstanding American educators
who were selected for their active promotion of space and science education by
the Space Foundation. The new flight of Teacher Liaisons will serve as
advocates for space-themed education across the curriculum and will use Space
Foundation-provided training and resources to further integrate space
principles into the classroom.
12.
BHARAT AMONG WORLD'S HAPPIEST PEOPLE: Despite economic woes, wars, conflicts and natural
disasters the world is a happier place today than it was four years ago. Indonesians,
Bharatiyas and Mexicans seem to be the most contented people on the planet.
"The
world is a happier place today and we can actually measure it because we have
been tracking it," said John Wright, senior vice president of Ipsos
Global, which has surveyed the happiness of more than 18,000 people in 24
countries since 2007. "It is not just about the economy and their well
being. It is about a whole series of other factors that make them who they are
today."
Perhaps
proving that money can't buy happiness, residents of some of the world biggest
economic powers, including the United States, Canada and Britain, fell in the
middle of the happiness scale.
"Relationships
remain the No. 1 reason around the world where people say they have invested
happiness and maybe in those cultures family has a much greater degree of
impact."
13.
BHARAT SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES MISSILE INTERCEPTOR: Bharat on February 10 tested a ballistic missile interceptor
from a defence base in Odisha to create a shield against incoming enemy
missiles, a senior defence official said.
The
indigenous Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile was fired from
Wheeler Island off the state coast near Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 170
km from here.
It
successfully destroyed an incoming ballistic missile - a modified variant of
the Prithvi fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on sea in
Balasore district, about 70 km away from Wheeler Island.
"The
interceptor directly hit the target and destroyed it," SP Dash, director
of the test range, said. The interceptor was fired a few minutes after the
target missile was fired.
14. 33RD
HERAKA CONFERENCE- NORTH-EAST’S CULTURAL AFFINITY WITH HEARTLAND: The 33 Conference of Zeliangrong Heraka Association
North-East was held on January 3 to 5 at Kepeujung village near Peren town, 80
km from Dimapur. A total of 800 delegates including 200 from Assam and 100 from
Manipur attended the conference wherein 400 women delegates joined the
function. The function started with hoisting of Zeliangrong Heraka Flag by the
Chief Guest – Shri Som Kamei, Director, North East Zone Culture Council
(NEZCC), Dimapur. Dr Krishna Gopalji, RSS incharge of North-East zone and
others were also present in the function. While delivering welcome address
President of Nagaland unit of Heraka Association, Dr Wilubo said that
Zeliangrong Heraka Association has been tirelessly working for preservation of
indigenous faith and culture of Zeliangrong Nagas living in all the three
adjoining states.
The
function was marked by dance and flute competitions. A colorful procession was
taken in Peren town in the evening of January 5, led by Heraka leaders.
15. WORKSHOP
ON ETERNAL CULTURE OF NORTH EAST JANJATIS: It was for the first time that a unique workshop was
organised on the topic ‘Philosophy and Spirituality in Eternal Religions
(Sanatan Dharma) and Eternal Culture (Sanatan Sanskriti) of janjati communities
of Karbi Anglong’ under the aegis of Janjati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch
from January 27 to 29 at Diphu in Assam. Total 153 delegates from nine janjati
communities hailing from Karbi Anglong participated in the workshop. Among them
29 were women.
The
participant communities included Karbi, Dimasa, Mantai, Boro, Tiwa, Khasi, Rengma, Adivasi and Thengal Kachari. There were some other
community representatives also hailing from other states. They were Chakma,
Reang, Mizo, Nepali, Hajong and Oriya.
After
prolonged discussion among various scholars it was found that though different
janjati groups seem to be different in language, tradition, attire, food
habbits and mode of worship etc but philosophically and conceptually every
janjati community is one and the same. It was revealed that in every janjati
community, the concept of atma and
parmatma , paap and punya hell and heven, birth and death, rebirth or
salvation, festivals, rites and rituals, etc were same with no variation.
Those
who addressed the gathering include Shri Lunse Timung, president of Reception
Committee and Shri BB Jamatia, president of the Forum. The workshop adopted three resolutions to stop
conversion, work for promotion of sanatan dharma and sanatan sanskriti and to
codify customary laws.
16. ONE
FOR GIRL CHILD: MP PRIESTS ADD 8TH PHERA: In a country where marriage vows mostly remain just
that, there is a community in Bundelkhand that has introduced an eighth ‘phera’
to save the girl child. The extra solemn round of the sacred fire would signify
a pledge to save the girl child.
Rampant
foeticide in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh has brought the child sex
ratio here to alarmingly low levels. This prompted the Gahoi-Vaish Samaj, a
trading community of Chhattarpur district, about 350 km north-east of Bhopal,
to formally pass a resolution adding an additional ‘phera and vachan (vow)’ to
the existing seven.
The
first of the marriages to see this additional solemn round would take place on
February 12. Radheshyam Bilaiya, a professor at the government college,
Maharajpur, has voluntarily agreed to the addition in the rituals of his
daughter’s marriage. The bride, Harsha, who is an assistant manager at a
private company in Mumbai, and the groom, Sameer, an assistant manager with a
mobile phone company, are happy to lead the community in the unique initiative.
Samaj
president Prem Narayan Rusia told that the unique initiative to raise awareness
on the social issue was discussed. It was then decided to make it a part of the
marriages solemnised by the samaj.
“In
the next meeting, I put the formal proposal of the eighth ‘phera’, which was
unanimously endorsed. Initially, we were apprehensive that the priest may not
approve of the change in marriage rituals, but he applauded the initiative.” Rusia
added chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s ongoing ‘Save girl child campaign’
was the inspiration for the 650-family strong samaj.
17. LK ADVANI UNVEILS DR HEDGEWAR’S STATUE IN DELHI: Senior
BJP leader Shri LK Advani on February 5 unveiled a statue of RSS founder Dr
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at a MCD park in Keshav Puram. Speaking on the occasion
Shri Advani said Dr Hedgewar played a key role in cultural awakening of the
country by establishing the RSS as an institution. He said as Swami Vivekananda
formed Ramakrishna Mission and Dayananda Saraswati formed Arya Samaj, Dr
Hedgewar by forming the RSS developed a generation of patriots and dedicated
people.
Besides
Shri Advani, veteran BJP leader Shri Kidarnath Sahni, Mayor of Delhi Prof Rajni
Abbi, RSS Sahprant Sanghachalak Dr Shyam
Sunder Agrawal, former Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Ramesh Prakash Sharma, and
many other senior functionaries from RSS, BJP and other organizations also attended
the function.
18. ABVP’S
‘THINK INDIA
RSS
National Executive Member Shri Ram Madhav spoke on threat from China. IIM
Professor, Shri Awasthi, BJP MP Shri Balasaheb
Apte, Shri Anand Kumar of Super 30, Shri
Shraddhalu Ranade, scientist and Dr YB Ramakrishnan renowned educationist also
spoke.
19.
SIKHS GET FIRST OFFICIAL GURDWARA IN UAE: – The UAE’s first official Sikh
Gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar, has been opened in Jebel Ali area, ending years
of demand from the Sikh community for a place of worship. The Gurudwara is
believed to be the first of its kind in the entire region.
Spread
over an area of 25,000 square feet near the Jebel Ali Hospital, the Gurudwara
has a dedicated floor for community feasts (langar) and a huge hall for
devotional songs (kirtan). Arrangements can be made for langar for about 5,000
people at a time, those associated with the project said. There are an
estimated 50,000 Sikhs in the UAE, hailing from both Bharat and Pakistan.
20. $500BN
STASHED IN TAX HAVENS, SAYS CBI CHIEF: Putting an official estimate on unaccounted wealth
stashed in foreign havens for the first time, the Central Bureau of
Investigation chief A P Singh said around $500 billion (around Rs 24 lakh
crore) is deposited in foreign accounts. He was speaking at the maiden Interpol
global programme on anti-corruption and asset recovery, "It is estimated
that around $500 billion of illegal money belonging to Indians is deposited in
tax havens abroad. Largest depositors in Swiss Banks are also reported to be
Indians," Singh said. There have been various estimates of Bharatiya black money - ranging from $500 billion to
$1,500 billion.
Singh
said there is a lack of political will in leading tax haven states to part with
the information because they are aware of the extent to which their economies
have become "geared to this flow of illegal capitals from the poorer
countries".
21. KANNADA PARICHAY VARG – UNIQUE
INITIATIVE OF TECHIES OF RSS: Bangalore,
like other major cities of Bharat, attracts lakhs of people from different
parts of the country, every year. This huge influx people who do not know
Kannda form a significant percentage of city’s population.
A
proverb says ‘an idea moves the world’. Pravatchandra of RSS IT Milan who is
originally from Orissa, says it all started with an idea of teaching Kannada
during a conversation with friends and all of them agreed without much
deliberation. Without delay, whole of IT Milan team was involved in preparing for
the event.
The
initiative that they took resulted in the ‘Kannada Parichay Varg’ which
fructified on Feb 11th and 12th, 2012. The event that took place in over 200
apartment complexes from 2PM to 6PM on both these days, witnessed more than
3000 non-Kannadigas being introduced to Kannada. Close to 330 enthusiastic
software professionals, not only Swayamsevaks of IT Milans, were involved in
teaching Kannada on these two days.
The
impression that non-Kannadigas are not interested to learn Kannada was a myth.
‘While about 5 centres had more than 40 pupils, most of the centres are receiving
requests from the participants to continue it during the coming weekends is a
proof of this’, says Supradeep Subrahmanya, who is a software engineer and
volunteered to teach Kannada.
22. LORD
BALAJI’S MAIDEN TRIP TO NEPAL: Leaving
his Tirumala abode in Andhra Pradesh, Lord Venkateswara, popular as Balaji,
will travel nearly 3,000 km northwards to Nepal this month to meet devotees. Malayappa
Swami, the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara Temple, along with his two
consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, will be kept at the Tundikhel ground in
Kathmandu on February 24 for public viewing.
Kathmanduites
will also get a chance to witness the wedding ceremony of the deity with his
consorts. Known as sriniwas kalyanam, the ceremony is likely to be viewed by
35,000 devotees.
"Nepali
people will have the opportunity to see the same idol that is worshipped at
Tirumala," said non-resident Nepali businessman Upendra Mahato, organizer
of the event. "This is the first time idols of Malayappa Swami and his
consorts are being taken to Nepal. Earlier they were taken to Dubai, Kuwait, UK
and the US," said Ravi Thalari, PRO at TTD.
23. SENIOR BJP LEADER V S ACHARYA PASSED
AWAY: Senior BJP
leader and Karnataka higher education minister VS Acharya (71) passed away in
Banglore on 14th Feb. Acharya who was attending a function in the
city collapsed on the dais and was rushed to the hospital where he was declared
dead. He is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.
A
medical practitioner by profession, Dr Acharya was a rare politician known for
his integrity and public probity. He started his political carreer as President
of Udupi Municipality at the age of 28 in 1968, playing a key role in bringing
the erstwhile Jana Sangh to power. In later years, he became the Udupi district
and State BJP President.
24. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Saumitra Gokhale, samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will
visit Sri Lanka from Feb 21-28. Visitors:
Ramesh Mathur – Japan, Chamanlal Gohil, Sudhir Gupta, Bharat Vadukul, Balbir
Raslhan, Damjibhai Tank and family – UK, Shridhar Damle, Vandana Jhingan, Dr. Radheshyam
Dwiwedi, Dr.Ashok Gupta – USA.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “India is not
only the heir of her own religious traditions; she is also the residuary
legatee of the Ancient Mediterranean World's religious traditions."
"Religion cuts far deeper, and, at the religious level, India has not been
a recipient; she has been a giver. About half the total number of the living
higher religions are of Indian origin.” – One World and India - By Arnold
Toynbee.
JAI SHREE RAM
UPA FACES A CRISIS OF OWNERSHIP
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
The
way the UPA is being run, the way almost with unmistakable regularity blunders
are being committed one after the other and the way persons at the helm of
affairs continue to give a false impression of business as usual, one wonders
as to who is the maai-baap of this Government. Is there a single soul around
who would own up the acts of omission an
Serial
blunderers at the helm of affairs of this Government have not only added to the
overall cynicism but also severely damaged popular confidence in their ability
to lead. No Government in the past had reduced itself into a virtual lame duck
regime due to its own non-performance. In the 1980s, Mrs Indira Gandhi had at
least promised a Government that works. Her daughter-in-law seems to be happy
presiding over a Government that shirks.
Event
after event, the Government seems to be in competition with itself as to how
further messy can things be made. Anna Hazare and the complete saga of his
Lokpal movement was the height of complicating simple things. The fact that
none of the senior members of the Cabinet has had any brush with a popular
movement became more and more telling when senior UPA functionaries appeared
clueless in dealing with Team Anna. The Government could have easily rectified
its initial mistakes by roping in the Opposition in the consultation process,
thus making it a broad-based negotiating platform. As if the earlier mistakes
were not enough, in the Winter Session the Government’s sheer inability on
every front — from media management to floor management — was on full display.
Expectedly,
the new year dawned with no fresh approach towards a better management of the
multi-dimensional task of running a Government. The near total relationship
breakdown with Ms Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress, the abysmal lack
of tack and dexterity in dealing with the issue of date of birth of the Army
Chief, and the highly disappointing weak-kneed approach in handling the Salman
Rushdie visit are three cases in point.
Ms
Banerjee is known for being unpredictable. After having agreed to play second
fiddle to her,it was not difficult for the Congress to pre-empt some teething
problems. Right at the beginning of the partnership, the Congress could have
played hardball with Ms Banerjee, making her accept an institutional set-up
like that of a coordination committee. Besides, the party would have lost
almost nothing had it chosen to call it a day after her insulting treatment and
reminded her that, like marriage, alliances endure only when both the partners
realise the need for it.
The
unseemly controversy over the date of birth of the Chief of Army Staff speaks
volumes about the lack of the Government’s administrative acumen. The UPA
leadership appeared devoid of foresight, essential for preventing any
institutional damage such incidents cause. Forget preventive measures, even the
semblance of damage control mechanism also seemed to have been in short supply.
Was it inevitable? Were all the available options for avoiding this public
controversy tried?
If
mishandling of the Lokpal issue and the avoidable relationship-breakdown with
the Trinamool Congress betrayed a sheer lack of political management, the
dispute over date of birth of Army Chief brought to the fore the insensitivity
and the lack of politico-administrative decision-making on the part of the
Government. This ineptness by the UPA leadership is also seen as an insult to
the entire community of ex-Army men.
As if
all this was not enough, the Salman Rushdie episode was handled with abject
lack of imagination. Perhaps, it was wrong on the part of the liberal
fraternity to expect the UPA leadership to be taking a truly secular approach
while dealing with this issue. The international literary fraternity realised
that both the liberal establishment as well as the Government here readily
crawl when, in fact, they are just asked to bend a little, when it comes to
caste and community politics. Again, adroit handling of this issue was
certainly not all that difficult.
The
latest is the series of crises emerging out of the multiplicity of approaches
on the part of different arms of the Government is the controversy over Indian
Space Research Organisation scientist Madhavan Nair. Merits of the case apart,
how can the Government move without taking the head of the Prime Minister’s
Scientific Advisory Council on board when the issue is so very sensitive and
involves some leading lights of the nation’s scientific community? Besides, how
can the chief of the Prime Minister’s SAC go public and assail the Government’s
move so very brazenly?
At
the root of this series of failures is a crisis of ownership. Whose Government
is this, after all? Is it a Manmohan Singh Government managed by Sonia Gandhi
from behind the scene or a Sonia Gandhi regime with governance outsourced to Mr
Singh? Who owns this Government? Who is responsible for repeated mistakes? Are
the Government officials and Ministers out to hoodwink us by pointing fingers
at one another? Is there any internal assessment mechanism? In these days of
acute power shortage, do the UPA leaders ever turn the searchlight inward?
Remember,
a division of responsibility on the political and the administrative lines is
not only meaningless but also against the popular interests. In an arrangement
like this, one can hardly expect any accountability and transparency. In a
situation like this, accountability is shrouded in mystery and transparency has
become illusionary, as what is being seen is not what is happening in reality.
India
has witnessed several coalition Governments in the past. UPA1 could easily pass
the burden of its non-performance on the recalcitrant Left parties. But if UPA2
is delivering almost nothing, it is mainly because of the ‘mutually beneficial’
arrangement of ‘coalition of convenience’.
Once and for all, the nation needs to be told as to who is running this
Government? If at all, who owns UPA2?
(The
writer is Director of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai.) Daily Pioneer 6
February 2012.
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