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bioauthors.pngProviding access to sexual and reproductive health education is critical to the health and well being of an entire society, particularly its girls and women. Yes, there are text books that have volumes of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, but these lifesaving lessons are not reaching the people that need it most – young people. Young people in Pakistan and India are often shockingly uninformed and lack the tools necessary to prevent risky behavior. Teachers and parents do not address these issues,leaving adolescents without the critical knowledge they need to protect their health.As well, what material is available is often found in text books,which do not resonate with a generation accustomed to accessing information online.

For India and Pakistan,itis essential to educate and provide all young people with accurate, comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health – as well as rights.We are faced with these challenges across the regionand around the world. For such an important issue, we often have far too little data to inform smart policy making. The most recent statistics available on knowledge of sexual and reproductive health in India are a decade old and show that that only 20% of 15–24-year-old women have comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. This gap in knowledge makes it clear that we need to invest more in the health, rights and well being of girls and women both inthe region and throughout the world.

If we filled these global gaps in sexual and reproductive health servives, education and rights — and provided women with the full range of pregnancy care they are entitled to — we could reduce unintended pregnancy by 70% and unsafe abortions by 74% according to UNFPA and Guttmacher Institute. We also know that when girls and women can choose when and where to have children, they are more likely to reach their full potential – and so are their families, communities and economies. For these reasons, we owe it to our mothers, sisters and daughters, as well as our families and communities, to do more and do better — and young people are leading the change. In India, a youth-led development agency called “Restless Development” is working to educate rural youth in Bihar on comprehensive sexuality education. Volunteer teachers, all young people, workin primary and secondary schools and use creative techniques, including drama, dance, and games to share accurate sexual and reproductive health care information with students.

Bringing this education directly to young people is imperative if we want to improve the sexual and reductive health of girls and women, and it’s not just happening in schools. A mobile app currently in development called “M-Sathi” provides comprehensive sexual education information to young people in both English and Hindi. With smartphone use booming throughout the region, the potential for impact from digital education is enormous.

We must approach health and development through a gender lens. And, we must look for solutions from every region, sector and generation – from a comprehensive mobile app that gamifies sexual and reproductive health education, to youth-led trainings that fill gaps in traditional school curriculum. These solutions and many more will be explored at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference taking place in Copenhagen in May. Global and local leaders, including Hina Jilani, Muhammad Yunus and Farhan Akhtar will stand alongside 5,000 world influencers and advocates—from the highest-levels of government to grassroots change-makers—to discuss how to deliver on promises to girls and women.

Crucially, a good 20% of attendees will be young people – and for good reason: young people aren’t just our tomorrow. They are the leaders of today, and must be given opportunities to drive change in their communities. With the endorsement of the recently launched Sustainable Development Goals Ã¢Â€Â“ a set of UN goals adopted by 193 countries that aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030 – we can and must ensure that the global push to end poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change starts with every girl and woman, no matter where she lives, no matter her age. As they say, it is time to translate the “talk into walk”” and turn speech lines into budget lines.

This International Women’s Day, let’s recognize the powerful solutions every young person and every generation has to offer. Let’s work smarter for girls and women everywhere.

Views expressed are personal

By Katja Iversen, Women Deliver CEO and Franklin Gnanamuthu, Women Deliver Young Leader & Restless Development Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator

About the authors

Katja Iversen, Women Deliver CEO

Katja Iversen joined Women Deliver as chief executive officer in March 2014. Iversen, an internationally recognized expert on development and communications, has more than 20 years of experience working in NGOs, corporates and U.N. agencies. Previously, she held the position of chief of strategic communication and public advocacy with UNICEF.

Franklin Paul Anand Gnanamuthu, Women Deliver Young Leader

Franklin works as Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at Restless Development, a youth-led development agency. Franklin joined the organization in 2011, and was instrumental in starting and leading the Comprehensive Sexuality Education program in the two districts of state of Bihar reaching more than 8,000 youths through 8 volunteers. He now works to ensure program quality through developing effective monitoring systems, trainings, and evaluations. He is a skilled and experienced trainer, and serves as regular representative of the Voices of Youth in India.”

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2-inter-services-intelligencePrime Minister Nawaz Sharif led civilian government in Pakistan and the Modi government have shown desire to have cordial relations as both of them won elections on the premise of growth and development. Both the Prime Ministers – Mr. Modi and Mr Nawaz Sharif know that the neighbouring  countries can progress if the animosity between them ends as they are spending their huge resources on defence and purchase of armaments. However, the overriding Pakistan army which avails several privileges in the country on the imaginary threat of annihilation of Pakistan by India does not allow civilian government to have friendly relations with its eastern neighbour. Pakistani Army chief General Raheel Sharif also wants to keep the civilian government under control, hence, whenever the leaders of India and Pakistan try to minimize the differences, military controlled Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) sabotages peace process by sponsoring terrorist activities in India.

ISI funded Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) attacked Dina Nagar Police Station in Gurdaspur in Punjab last July 27 and killed a Superintendent of Police and six  innocent persons just after the meeting between Modi and Sharif at Ufa. The ISI equipped the terrorists with sophisticated weapons, strategic information and training. Same way ISI sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and United Jihad Council (UJC) attacked Pathankot Airbase this January  2 within a few days of the stopover of PM Modi at Lahore where both the prime ministers had cordial  meetings. ISI was so desperate to carry out attack on Pathankot airbase that it utilized its contacts used in drug smuggling. Here it will not be out of point to mention that ISI seldom uses routes and contacts of drug smuggling in carrying out terrorist activities as drug smuggling contacts are far more precious than low level agents who carry out terrorist activities.

Pathankot airbase which is the first line of defence against Pakistan is situated near the border and at the time of attack Mig-21fighter planes and Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters were in the base. The terrorists were instructed to destroy planes especially Mi-25 helicopters as India promised to give 4 helicopters to Afghanistan.  Although Pakistan trained terrorists could not damage the high value assets but seven valiant security personnel including a Lieutenant Colonel lost their lives. ISI backed terrorist outfits are continuing with the attacks and the latest attack was in Pampore near Srinagar on February 23. The security forces rescued more than 100 persons including son of Syed Salahuddin, who is the head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and mastermind of several terrorist activities in India especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Six persons including two Army Captains lost their lives while all three terrorists were also killed. However, a wind of change is blowing and the terrorists killed in encounter with security forces at Pampore were not treated as martyrs and residents of village Bonyar refused the burial of the slain terrorists in their village.

Besides sponsoring terrorist attacks the nefarious ISI is also involved in smuggling of more than Rs.7500 Crores of drugs and large quantity of Indian Fake Currency Notes (IFCN) in India. The money generated through smuggling of drugs and IFCN is utilized by ISI in financing several terrorist outfits and activating Khalistan secessionist movement. All powerful Pakistan army would not allow feeble civilian government to have friendly relations with India hence the Modi government should chalk out a long term plan to counter cross border terrorism. Firstly, it should continue its sincere efforts to have negotiations with Pakistan. Secondly, it must modernize the security forces so that the terrorists cannot infiltrate and if at all they penetrate they must be eliminated expeditiously.

The intelligence organisations should be strengthened so that they produce actionable intelligence and that too in advance. Ministry of External Affairs must disseminate information in diplomatic circles about ISI sponsored terrorism in India. The important installations including Air Force Bases and Naval installations should be safeguarded by trained security agencies as Air Force and Naval personnel may not be fully trained to secure their bases. Security agencies should also involve public in countering terrorism. Village and local Mohalla Committees should be made and they should inform the security agencies if they observe any undesirable person or article. Beat constables should be more vigilant and should have cordial relations with the residents of their areas.

Pakistan must realize that it has more problems than India. All the nationalities in Pakistan are against the domination of Punjabis. Baluchis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Muhajirs and a few more nationalities want to separate from Pakistan. It would be in the interest of Pakistan that state actors there  discontinue sponsoring cross border terrorism as it is also realizing of late that terror incidents are wreaking havoc there also.

Jai Kumar Verma is a Delhi-based security analyst. Views are personal.“

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JFKForgottenrisis.pngThe help rendered to India in 1962 by then U S President John Fitzgerald Kennedy brings to the fore the key role played by him against the expansionist designs of Communist China. Kennedy’s role cannot be undermined in his handling of the India-China conflict as well as the Cuban crisis which had the portends of escalating into a full fledged war.

“”JFK’S FORGOTTEN CRISIS : TIBET, THE CIA, And Sino-Indian War”” authored by Bruce Reidel with a thirty year career in the Central Intelligence Agency looks at the charismatic leadership of Kennedy. Handling of the Sino-Indian conflict and the Cuban crisis was the tour de force of policy making at the highest level. Presently a senior fellow and Director of the Brookings Intelligence Project, he analysis Kennedy’s role in the Sino-Indian war which has been largely ignored. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy played no small part in bolstering diplomatic relations with India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Reidel’s analysis of declassified CIA documents and top secret letters between Nehru and Kennedy provides valuable insight on the war, diplomacy and covert operations.

The 1965 the CIA concluded that the Tibet uprising had gravely compromised Nehru’s ability to keep India’s relations with China friendly. The crisis between the two countries was now in the open. The Dalai Lama’s presence in India was another major point of friction between India and China. The temporal head of the Tibetans was granted political asylum in March 1959 when he fled the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Nehru sought to navigate a difficult balance — providing help to the Tibetan leader by allowing him to set up an informal government in exile in India without alienating China. However, China saw the Dalai Lama as a mortal enemy trying to subvert its control over Tibet.

Then IB Director Mullik saw China as India’s main threat, along with Pakistan. Starting from scratch with no intelligence capability in 1948, India had greatly increased its intelligence infrastructure along the northern border in response to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Kennedy handpicked John Kenneth Galbraith, who spent half a century at Harvard teaching economics, to be the ambassador to India. He was the central American player in the 1962 Sino-Indian crisis. Vice-President Richard Nixon, as Kennedy’s opponent was an outspoken supporter of Pakistan and a sharp critic of Nehru and India. After a visit to South Asia Nixon said that “”Pakistan is a country I would do anything for. They have less complexes than the Indians.”” Kennedy felt the Nixon approach was out of step with the changes sweeping the world, particularly the independence granted to countries.

The US intelligence agencies judged India’s “”major foreign policy problem centred on the threat of Communist China.”” Nehru and his advisors gradually implemented what became known as the “”Forward Policy”” of sending Indian military forces into contested and disputed territory with China. In the early 1960s, India began to build military outposts behind the Chinese troops in the disputed land so as to cut off their supplies and force their return to China. This led to some scholars and in particular Australian journalist and author Neville Maxwell to argue “”it was Nehru and not the Chinese who declared war.”” Mullik reported two important insights to Nehru. First the Chinese consulate in Calcutta was secretly telling the Indian Communist party leadership that “”forced by the adamant attitude of the Indian government about the border, the Chinese government was going to adopt a new line of action towards India.””

The new action will be implemented in the fall (September to November) and China wanted its sympathizers in India to be ready to back the Chinese claims. Mullik’s assessment of “”possible military collusion between Pakistan and China”” was a bombshell for the Indian leadership. The prospect of a two front war as Mullik later wrote “”remained imprinted in the minds of our leaders and the Army headquarters. The bulk of the Indian army was deployed on the Pakistan front leaving only the weaker units to face China and the PLA.”” In May 1962 China began a major buildup of forces facing the weak Indian position in North Eastern Frontier Area (NEFA). Brigadier John P Dalvi who was captured in the fighting in October 1962 concluded after talking to senior Chinese army commanders “”it is ludicrous to suggest that India had provoked the Chinese, forcing the Chinese to launch self defense counter attacks. The war was coldly and calculatingly planned by the Chinese.”” Later he wrote that the Chinese withdrawal was the “”direct result of President Kennedy’s direct action.””

At one point Nehru and his intelligence chief were fully expecting to lose control of all of Northeastern India to China east of the Siliguri neck. At the peak of the crisis on November 19, 1962, Nehru wrote two letters to Kennedy. Realizing the desperate situation at one point of time, Nehru wrote to Kennedy asking the US to join the war against China. It was a momentous request. Assuring JFK that the equipment will not be used against Pakistan, Nehru observed “”the stakes were not merely the survival of India but the survival of free and independent governments in the whole of this subcontinent and Asia. India is ready to spare no effort until the threat posed by Chinese expansionist and aggressive militarism to freedom and independence is completely eliminated.”” In his second letter Nehru asked Kennedy for 350 combat aircraft and crew. At least 10,000 persons will be needed to staff and operate the jets, provide radar support and conduct logistical support for the operation.

In his diary Galbraith notes that on the morning of November 21, 1962, “”like a thief in the night peace arrived.”” Just before midnight on November 20 the Chinese government declared a unilateral ceasefire along the entire Sino-Indian border that would begin within 24 hours. In addition, on December 01 Chinese forces will withdraw to positions 20 Km behind the Line of Actual Control (LOAC) which existed between India and China since November 07, 1959. China would keep the strategic but uninhabited land in the west, and in the east retain its claim to NEFA, but adhere to the de facto border situation that existed before the 1962 war. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai warned Nehru that refusal to cooperate will jeopardise the ceasefire.

The question is how would Kennedy have answered Nehru’s desperate appeal for American pilots to start flying combat missions to fight the Chinese and defend India, Reidel believes “”almost certainly the President would have reacted positively to India’s request. Kennedy believed that the rivalry between India and China was an existential issue for the United States.”” When Pakistan complained and asked for compensation, Kennedy refused to be blackmailed. “”The 1962 war was over on Chinese terms. India had lost,”” observed the author.

Salient Points

• President John F Kennedy’s key role against the expansionist designs of China against India in the 1962 war cannot be undermined.
• Charismatic Kennedy managed to ensure the Cuban crisis did not escalate into a full fledged war.
• Tibet uprising in 1965 had affected Nehru’s ability to maintain friendly Sino-Indian ties.
• Nehru had made a momentous request for U S help in flying combat missions against China.
• Author Bruce Reidel believes almost certainly Kennedy would have a reacted positively to India’s request.
• “”The 1962 war was over on Chinese terms. India had lost,”” emphasised the author

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To promote a nationwide initiative that aims to build a social movement for sanitation and toilet use to end open-defecation in India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket for Good and UNICEF in partnership with BCCI has launched the ‘Team Swachh Clinics’ during the ICC WT20 tournament. To mark the occasion, the ICC WT20 Men’s and Women’s trophies traveled on the Nissan Trophy Tour float through the streets of Mumbai. Exhilarated fans got the opportunity to photograph themselves with the ICC WT20 Trophies. A specially designed double-decker bus carried the children from a local NGOs and Indian cricket teamplayer Sameer Dighe and Diana Edulji.

The Indian cricket players interacted with fans as the cavalcade made its way to photograph themselves with the ICC Trophies. Playing cricket-based games with the children along with advocating the use of toilets, Sameer Dighe and Diana Edulji engaged with the children when sharing cricketing tips and discussing the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the specially designed Team Swachh WASH clinic set up inside the Wankhede Stadium. Calling the initiative a ‘social movement for sanitation’, Ms. Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India said: “The idea of team and team play is at the core of the Team Swachh initiative and it leverages the vast passion of the sport in the country to advocate toilet use and save lives of children.”

The ICC WT20 Host City Tour visited each of the venues in Dharamshala, Mohali, Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai that will host the ICC WT20 matches. Present and former Indian cricket players from women and men team advocated for open defecation free india during the ICC world T20 trophy tour that travelled across 8 cities in India. The players are Rishi Dhawan in Dharamshala, Gurtheerath Singh in Mohali, Yuvraj Singh and Pawan Negi in Delhi, Umesh Yadav in Nagpur, Manoj Tiwary and Mythali in Kolkata, Dinesh Karthik in Chennai, Venkatesh Prasad and Jhulan Goswami in Bengaluru and Sameer Dighe and Diana Edulji in Mumbai. Earlier in October 2015, the ICC Cricket For Good and UNICEF launched a five-year global partnership in New York. They decided to engage the broader cricketing community to empower children and adolescents. In particular, during the many ICC events over the next five years, they will develop and implement various community outreach programmes and initiatives in collaboration with coaches, cricketers and cricketing personalities.”

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IWD.pngToday is March 8 – International Women’s Day. While the focus remains largely on achievers so that they become role models to inspire others, the contribution of a silent majority goes unsung. These lakhs of foot-soldiers brave difficult conditions to save women and newborns across the country. TheIndiaSaga.com brings to its readers a story from Fakirpuri the last Indian village along the international border in Uttar Pradesh. Nepal border, which is just 500 metres away from here, is perhaps its closest neighbourhood.

The village is about 120 km from the District Headquarters at Bahraich. One has to drive through 53 kilometers of dense forest and lush green fields from Mihinpurwa block to reach Fakirpuri which is a small Tharu tribe dominated village with a population of just about 1,440.  Tharu community is an ethnic group indigenous to Terai region (Himalayan foothills) in India and Nepal. The inaccessibility and proximity to the international border make this Tribes village difficult-to-reach with extremely poor mobile and internet connectivity. Other than the deployment of security forces, an anganwadi centre and a primary school show the government’s token presence here.

The entire healthcare system in this village from a sub-centre situated about 8 kms away. The Aamba sub-centre is run by an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) Sumitra Devi, and she is assisted by an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Prem Kumari, who is the first port of call on health-related issues. If Sumitra Devi has been instrumental in ensuring the safety of young mothers and children since 1989, Prem Kumari has been promoting ante-natal care, institutional deliveries, post partum care, immunization and even family planning. The closest tertiary care facility is the District Hospital at Bahraich.

Of and on, the community also contributes its bit in running the show. Just last year in October, the region witnessed massive floods and the village was totally cut-off from the mainland resulting in an acute shortage of drinking water, vaccines and medicine at the sub-centre with the threat of water-borne diseases looming large. The ANM started functioning from a nearby sub-centre where her mobile was partially functional and the sub-centre was not totally submerged in water.  One of the ASHAs coordinated with the Community Resource Person (CRP) – posted by the Technical Support Unit which is helping the UP government implement a comprehensive programme to improve the maternal and child health care — coordinated with the ANM to alert the staff at the one of the larger facilities in the block regarding the urgent need for medicines, vaccines and clean water.

The staff from the Motipur Primary Health Centre brought supplies to the sub-centre where the ANM was stationed at that time. To transfer the medicines and vaccines to the flooded area of the block, local villagers packed the medicines in a series of polythene bags which they tied on their bodies. The villagers used rubber tyre tubes to swim across the flooded area to ferry supplies to Aamba sub-centre and then to Fakirpuri village. Even during normal times, the ANM Sumitra Devi has to fetch medicines and vaccines from the Bicchiya raiway station which is approximately 15 kms away from the Fakirpuri and the last rail head to the region, on her scooty. Alternately, when she goes for the weekly cluster meetings, she picks up the required stock.

Prem Kumari has been running the show efficiently. She has all details on the fingertips and tells without hesitation that there should to be 39 pregnant women registered with her as per the population norms. Her Village and Health Index Register (VHIR) was updated and she was proficient in discussing the 5 key indicators of mother and child care including registration, ANC, Institutional Delivery, PNC and use of contraceptives. However, despite all the initiatives, some deliveries were still happening at home. This was primarily because of lack of mobile connectivity. “”The BSNL connectivity here is not very good and sometimes it is not possible to call of ambulance. Therefore, we have to plan birth well in advance. I tell the families that they should make alternative arrangements for deliveries just in case the ambulance could not arrive,”” she says. But, there are times when deliveries are done at home due to logistical issues, she explains while adding that she was trained in Home Based Neonatal Care as well.

“”ASHA batayin raha kewal apna doodh pilana pani bhi nahi dena,”” says Sumitra a lactating mother when asked what all had she learnt from ASHA. The ASHA is a highly respected individual in the village with people taking her seriously. The umbilical cord of Sumitra’s new born child was dry and nothing was applied on that which normally is the practice in the communities. Her husband said he would have the second child only after at least 4 years, and her wife would opt for IUCD. A large number of eligible couples have opted for modern methods of contraception. But this change did not come overnight. According to Prem Kumari, whenever she used to ask women to adopt family planning methods, women used to tell her that she also have two children, so why had she not opted for sterilization. “”Then I decided to set an example and opted for sterilization,”” she said.

Interestingly, the community does not have a quest for male child and, hence, there is no discrimination among girls and boys. Girls are in fact called as “”babu””, something often used for boys. The use of “”babu”” explains the position of girls in this community. “”The induction of CRPs has brought about a massive change in the healthcare systems in far-off areas. She coordinated very well with the frontline workers and services are being delivered, and little wonder then that healthcare indicators are improving at all levels,”” Jairam Pathak, Zonal Community Specialist (ZCS) said.”

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FC3FccOI.pngNASSCOM Foundation has announced the launch of the Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM), an effort to revitalise and transform public libraries into inclusive knowledge and information centres catering to the information needs of communities across India. Indian public libraries can make the benefits of technology accessible to millions of Indians who do not currently have access to computers and the Internet, and provide training on how to use technology to access information that improves lives, a statement issued by NASSCOM said.  Speaking at the launch, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “”The Indian Public Library Movement will draw strength from the presence of a strong public library network in India, the committed leadership demonstrated by partners, and the ongoing support for public access to technology through the Government’s Digital India initiative.””

The IPLM seeks to change the landscape of public libraries and the services they provide to the country’s billion-plus citizens. The movement will start by reaching out to a million library users at 300 district-level libraries and proving them with community driven services such as computer training classes to build digital skills, access to online information about agriculture and health, a safe place for students to study, and learning opportunities for people of all ages.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided support for a pilot project for modernization of 7 government public libraries in the State of UP.  Based on the positive outcomes of the pilot project, the state government will now participate in the Scale Up Program, to be implemented by the Indian Public Library Movement/ NASSCOM Foundation. 16 Government Public Libraries of the state will be covered under the Scale Up Program including 7 Libraries covered under Pilot Phase. State Government has signed an MOU with IPLM for the smooth implementation of the Scale Up Program. We hope that this association will definitely benefit the Public library services of the state, the statement said. With a grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation IPLM implementation, NASSCOM Foundation will have an independent team of professionals, the IPLM Secretariat, to manage all programmatic activities. The Secretariat will work to strengthen the library sector in India through increased collaborative work and support from the government (national, state and local level) as well as non-government stakeholders (NGOs and corporations through their CSR initiatives), among other like-minded organizations.

The IPLM team has partnered with DELNET to host the The India Public Libraries Conference. DELNET, with the prime objective of promoting resource sharing among the libraries through the development of a network of libraries, aims to collect, store, and disseminate information besides offering computerised services to users, to coordinate efforts for suitable collection development and also to reduce unnecessary duplication wherever possible.”

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535ab0c9d0d3437.pngIndia Post and the United Nations Postal Administration have jointly issued “”He For She”” postage stamps to commemorate the International Women’s Day. The stamp promotes gender equality and showcases UN Women’s campaign to engage men and boys as agents of change for women’s rights. In India, the stamps was issued by India Post and depicts side-by-side pairs, with half of a man’s face on a 5-rupee stamp and half of a woman’s face on a 25-rupee stamp.

The images portray girls and women as fully half of humanity and exactly equal to the other – male – half. Together, they make a whole world. The stamps were designed by Mirko Illic (USA, born in Bosnia and Herzegovina). He For She is an incredible youth movement and these stamps reflect that creativity and vitality,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.

Since its launch on 20 September 2014, at the United Nations by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, hundreds of thousands of men from around the world including Heads of State, CEOs and global luminaries, from all walks of life have committed to gender equality. HeForShe has been the subject of more than two billion conversations on social media, with off-line activities reaching every corner of the globe.”

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RUVAbgOoHarish Chandra Singh Rawat who took over as the seventh Chief Minister of the hill state of Uttarakhand on February one, 2014  is a prominent leader from the state having risen from the grassroots. The 68 year old Rawat had served as Union Minister at the Centre and brings his experience which the Congress expects would help it in the coming Assembly elections in the state. Rawat spoke to Sri Krishna on various issues ranging from the ongoing JNU to centre-state relations.

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Q: How do you view Centre-State relations in today’s scenario ?

In fact, the Centre maybe very friendly towards BJP ruled states or NDA ruled states.  But as far as Congress-ruled States are concerned or states which are ruled by opposition parties, that is opposition to BJP,  they are not taking care of our financial or any other problems and in fact the NITI Ayog which has come in place of Planning Commission  has become very ineffective and the government  is not even listening to the recommendation made by the NITI Ayog which is happening for the first time. Earlier, when there was  Planning Commission, they  used to discuss various matters with the States and once they used to get settled there and than, subsequently the Planning Commission used to get the concurrence from Finance Ministry. However, all that has changed and now everything is decided by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). It is but natural that the Centre is not friendly to the States but at least they should acknowledge that the States growth too matter and is indeed important. For the development of the country, there should be development of the states too.

Q: What is your view on the ongoing JNU issue?

For political reasons, Delhi Police and the Central Government have blown this issue out of proportion and if there was any thing or any sloganeering which was prejudicial to the Indian state, it should take action against those who have made these kind of statements. But, unnecessarily they have registered case against JNU students union President Kanhaiya Kumar even when there is no evidence.  In fact, even the so called CD they found turned out to be doctored and this is wrong. Now it is upto the Central Government to find out why Delhi Police has acted like this. It is for the central government to decide.

Q: What is your view of the repeated attacks on Congress leaders and vice president Rahul Gandhi by the BJP ?

We are happy. The Prime Minister is now again and again attacking our leader Rahul Gandhi and thus he is acknowledging his emerging power and emerging stature. As opposition, I feel happy that my leader is now giving some sleepless nights to the Prime Minister and now he is explaining the behaviour and conduct of the government. The prime minister had said that when he comes to power he would unearth everything that is black but now they have developed a scheme where everything is black.

Q: How is you party’s preparation for the assembly elections which are due in about ten to eleven months from now?

We are in a good position and I am confident that we would do well. We have another 10 to 12  months to go for elections and the way we are moving people are happy.

Q: What is your view on this ongoing debate about tolerance and intolerance?

Tolerance is part of Sanathan Dharma and  Hindu culture is known for its tolerance but some people feel they can impose their views on others. However, the moment you think you can impose your thinking on others than it means you are no longer tolerant and in parliamentary democracy intolerance has no place and everything should be tolerated. But now in this country, these people  think they are  only right and that they are the only persons who have any place in society.

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India-pakistan-flagThe passing of intelligence by Pakistan NSA Lt. Gen. Nasir Khan Janjua that certain LeT or Huzi operatives, which could include suicide bombers, have entered India has resulted in intense debate among the security experts whether this is just a ploy by Pakistan to score marks or is a genuine change of heart. The discussion has occupied the major prime time on TV channels has seen more sceptics then otherwise. Their belief and perception must be seen in light of the past chequered history of India Pakistan relationship. It is also not known as to what details have been shared and whether these are enough to trace the intruders. There is no official version available for either of the countries and the news of intelligence sharing has trickled down through sources.

The central issue, whether there is a rethinking in the political and military establishment in Pakistan in their approach to the terrorism which has been nurtured in the back yard as an instrument of causing social and economic destabilization in India, does not beget a simple and straight forward answer. It is no doubt that Pakistan has been a victim of home grown terrorism and has seen large devastation in terms of losing number of young innocent children and citizens. The public of Pakistan, which has borne the brunt of different hues of terrorism in its backyard, is no longer in sync with the anti-India policies as it has started hurting them. There is large section of right minded thinkers and army officers who have started questioning the purpose and role played by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in actively supporting the terrorist operations across the border. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sarif has also to deliver the positive results of his overtures to India to the local constituents and world community at large indicating that it is he who is at the command of thing in Pakistan. On the other hand, Mr Narendra Modi Indian Prime Minister also faces a similar dilemma especially after his sudden halt at Lahore to wish Nawaz Sarif a happy birthday which was followed by Pathankot incident. The hawkish security experts in India continue to believe that these gestures provide only photo opportunities rather than anything in substance. They question the Modi’s policy towards Pakistan and often term it as confused and an example of flip flop.

One must remember that the two neighbors, who share the common heritage and many more things, have to live together and continuous bickering between the two, sporadic clashes at border, crossing of terrorist across border and LoC from Pakistan side would work as hurdles in their economic development with large amount of GDP being spend on defense and security expenditure. While it can be said that the change in conduct of Pakistan in passing this intelligence and registration of an FIR in Pathankot case and showing eagerness to investigate it may be due to pressure of American administration to do more on anti-terrorism front. But there is no harm in taking careful steps in continuing the dialogue and explore every possible diplomatic step in the fervent hope of better friendly relationship in spite of past setbacks. After all it is not a single initiative but a huge effort and vision on part of the political leadership of the two countries that will turn the dark page of history of bilateral relationship filled with bitter memories.

It may also be mentioned that given the past history of terrorist striking in parts of India with active support of the neighbor, we cannot let down our guard. The Central Government and law and order machinery of the States must be given full credit for taking all measures to ensure that no untoward incident takes place especially in the spring season of festivals.

The writer, an IPS officer, recently retired as Director General of Bureau of Police Research & Development and has earlier served for long years in CBI & NIA. The views expressed are personal.“

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It has turned out to be yet another case of one who flew over the nest of investigating agencies, bidding good bye to them in the midst of an ongoing probe. Vijay Mallya, who loved to call himself “”The King of Good Times””, liquor baron who headed the UB group and was also a Rajya Sabha member, left the country on March 2 even as a lookout notice against him had been issued. The wilful defaulter owes Rs. 7,000 crore in loans to 17 state-owned banks. In last July, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a suo motu FIR against Mallya, his now defunct airline Kingfisher and its chief financial officer, alleging that the loans were sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits. One such loan of Rs. 900 crore was given to him in 2009 by state-owned IDBI Bank despite a memo, stating that his company had failed to meet compliance. Other public sector banks in line to get their money back include biggies like the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank and Bank of India. The banks wanted his passport and travel frozen but little did they know that Mallya had flown away to safety.

The Supreme Court was told on Wednesday by Attorney-General of India Mukul Rohatgi that Mallya had left the country on March 2. He asked the court to demand his return. As all high-profile economic offenders do, Mallya too followed the script to the dot. A day before, he planned his flight abroad, Mallya was reportedly seen in Parliament House, meeting his friends in political circles. Though his exact whereabouts are not known, it is likely that he is in England where he has good number of assets. Even British liquor giant Diageo had recently cut a sweet heart deal with him worth Rs. 515 crore of which Rs. 269 crore has been paid to him but in a setback to him, the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) has ruled that he cannot withdraw $ 75 million payment which he had received from Diageo. Mallya had stated that he had directly invested Rs. 4000 crore in Kingfisher Airlines which now stands fully impaired, terming it a bad business venture owing to the economic situation then and government decisions in civil aviation sector. The high-profile airline, named after the popular brand of beer which his company makes, shut shop in October 2012, driving thousands of employees in despair and leaving them without jobs.

A cursory glance at recent high-profile offenders would reveal that they were able to turn a blind eye to India’s legal process and had managed to flee – be it Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson, a U.S. national, who was arrested in 1984 only for a few hours after a deadly gas leak from Carbide plant in Bhopal had killed thousands. Using his connections, he was able to fly out of India never to submit him to the legal process in India or be it Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in Bofors payoffs case, who was allowed to slip away in 1993, three years after the CBI had registered FIR in Bofors case. He could never be extradited back to India.

It took two years for the CBI to arrest Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, a little known businessman and chairman of Pearl Group, early this year who launched a ponzi scheme, managed to allegedly con about five crore people in a scam that runs into Rs. 50,000 crore, by far independent India’s biggest financial scam. He gave land guarantee to lure investors who paid a certain amount of money. He also has massive investments in Australia and his land pool runs into lakhs of acres spread across a dozen States and for the last decade legal battle went on to ascertain if any case was made out against him or not! The CBI would need massive resources to probe the scam threadbare with voluminous documents, 1300 bank accounts already frozen. His influence in political class was said to be widespread and his Pearl group was also a co-sponsor of IPL team Kings XI Punjab.

It is only under the Supreme Court scanner that Sahara group chief Subrata Roy has been lodged in Tihar jail in the Capital for the last one and a half years as his group failed to come up with refunds to the regulator SEBI. It would be a test case for the Modi government, the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) which has registered a money laundering case against Mallya to track him down and make him submit to the legal process. The track record of the investigation agencies indicate that they are most likely to falter and a big, influential and powerful accused like Mallya would continue to dodge them on one pretext or the other. Economic offences, termed as serious which affect the nation’s financial health by the Supreme Court, will continue to be treated with kids’ gloves.”