“

Health activists have welcomed the withdrawal of approval the market of fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs that affect patient safety and undermine public health. These are FDCs that the Indian industry has developed to either circumvent price control and/or push their individual brands as better that their competitors, a statement issued by Leena Menghaney, a lawyer who has been working on access to medicines and public health since 2002.

“”Since the issuance of Gazette Notification, more than 20 pharmaceutical companies (including Pfizer, Abbott, Macleods) have approached the Delhi High Court to grant stay on the order. But the Indian judiciary should be cautious in its approach in granting interim injunctions. It could undo years of technical work that a number of expert committees did – despite the pressure from industry – to move the Central drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to a more scientific and evidence based approach to approving and regulating FDCs for the Indian market,”” she said in her  statement.

The legal resolution of the dispute over the Gazette notification that withdraws approval for a number of irrational FDCs should be based on technical evidence, which is now well highlighted in medical journal articles and expert committee reports and not on the objections of the pharmaceutical industry, she added. 

Fixed Dose Combinations (FDC) are particularly useful in the management of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis, which are considered to be the foremost infectious disease threats in the world today. They are part of WHO and national treatment guidelines playing a role in reducing pill burden, simplifying treatment in resource poor settings, improving adherence and reducing the cost of procurement. But this is not what the Indian Ministry of Health and FDA (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is seeking to remove from the Indian market through its gazette notification issued on 10th March 2016 Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It is clear from the list of FDCs in the Gazette Notification that the CDSCO is taking action against those that compromise patient safety and public health, Ms Menghaney said.

Fixed Dose Medicines (pain and fever) that expose patients to increased risk of adverse reactions, for instance, formulations of nimesulide and paracetamol (increased hepatotoxic effects) which is basically combination of paracetamol with other analgesics.

Similarly, FDCs of quinolones and nitroimidazoles (Norfloxacin and metronidazole, ofloxacin and ornidazole) which have not been recommended in any standard treatment guidelines, but continue to be heavily prescribed drugs for many infections. This kind of indiscriminate use contributes to antimicrobial resistance or drug resistance – a global public health challenge. In fact, the antibiotic drug linezolid that is usually preserved for serious infections like MRSA and Drug Resistant TB by many countries is available as a FDC (Cefixime + Linezolid) in India. Linezolid has been called a “”reserve antibiotic”” – one that should be used sparingly so that it will remain effective as a drug of last resort.

The third category are FDCs containing the anti diabetic drug metformin. According to a prominent article in the Lancet (2015) given the constant monitoring and rapid adjustment of treatment regimens required to maintain adequate glycemic control, metformin FDCs are not recommended by international or national treatment guidelines for the management of type2  diabetes (T2DM). However, Ms Menghaney says patient and their families should not panic if they are using a particular FDC. The medicines are available as a single ingredient formulation (like metformin) and should approach their treatment provider on how to adjust their prescription.”

“

heic1605a_625Astronomers have identified nine monster stars which are over 100 times the mass of the Sun using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery of the star cluster named R136 is the largest sample of very massive stars identified to date and has raised many new questions about the formation of massive stars. The international team of scientists, led by researchers from the University of Sheffield, combined images taken with the Wide Field Camera 3 with the unprecedented ultraviolet spatial resolution of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to successfully dissect the young star cluster in the ultraviolet for the first time.

R136 is only a few light-years across and is located in the Tarantula Nebula within the Large Magellanic Cloud about 170,000 light-years away. The young cluster hosts many extremely massive, hot and luminous stars whose energy is mostly radiated in the ultra violet – which is why the scientists probed the ultraviolet emission of the cluster. As well as finding a total of nine very massive stars, over 100 times more massive than the sun, the new study also revealed dozens of stars exceeding 50 solar masses. The detected stars are not only extremely massive, but also exceptionally bright and together the nine massive stars outshine the Sun by a factor of 30 million.

Professor Paul Crowther, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and lead author of the study, said: “Once again, our work demonstrates that, despite being in orbit for over 25 years, there are some areas of science for which Hubble is still uniquely capable. “The ability to distinguish ultraviolet light from such an exceptionally crowded region into its component parts, resolving the signatures of individual stars, was only made possible with the instruments aboard Hubble.“Together with my colleagues, I would like to acknowledge the invaluable work done by astronauts during Hubble’s last servicing mission: they restored STIS and put their own lives at risk for the sake of future science.”

In 2010 Professor Crowther and international team of collaborators showed the existence of four stars within R136, each with over 150 times the mass of the sun. At that time the extreme properties of these stars came as a surprise as they exceeded the upper-mass limit for stars that was generally accepted at the time. Now, this census, published in the monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,  has shown that there are five more stars with more than 100 solar masses in R136 raising many new questions about the formation of massive stars as the origin of these huge creations remains unclear.

Saida Caballero-Nieves, also from the University of Sheffield and co-author of the study, said: “There have been suggestions that these monsters result from the merger of less extreme stars in close binary systems. From what we know about the frequency of massive mergers, this scenario can’t account for all the really massive stars that we see in R136, so it would appear that such stars can originate from the star formation process.”

In order to find answers about the origin of these stars the team will continue to analyse the datasets gathered. An analysis of new optical STIS observations will also allow them to search for close binary systems in R136, which could produce massive black hole binaries which would ultimately merge, producing gravitational waves. Despite the new discovery the current record holder R136a1 does keep its place as the most massive star known in the Universe at over 250 solar masses. The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

The results were published in the paper “The R136 star cluster dissected with Hubble Space Telescope/STIS. I. Far-ultraviolet spectroscopic census and the origin of Heii λ1640 in young star clusters” in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.”

“

Things to know about India Aviation Exhibition & Conference 2016 at Hyderabad:

• Indian civil aviation sector grew at14 per cent over the past decade.
• Indian set to emerge as the third largest aviation market by 2020
• By 2020, the total air passenger traffic likely to touch 421 million.
• It is estimated that India will need 800 aircraft to meet this increase in passenger traffic.
• Draft civil aviation policy is likely to be approved and made operational in April 2016
• Of a 350 million strong middle class population only 70 million fly to their destinations, potential for growth is phenomenal.
• Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju says the government is committed to make flights affordable and boost regional connectivity that will be a game changer.
• There are 350 airstrips lying unused which will be turned into no frills small airports in next few years.
• Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to be given big boost to get the domestic business as well as from South East Asian countries, total potential of business in MRO may touch two billion dollars.
• Government will make MRO attractive by giving concessions in taxes and spares.
• Both Airbus and Boeing have predicted tremendous growth for the Indian civil aviation sector over the next 15 years.
• The five-day show was inaugurated by the President Pranab Mukherjee on March 16.
• This is the fifth edition of India Aviation and Exhibition Conference which is held every alternate year.
• More than 200 exhibitors and leading airlines are participating in the mega show.
• On static display are: Super jumbo A 380 of Emirates, A 350 of Qatar Airways and a number of business jets by companies like Embraer, Gulfstream and Bombardier

“

“

The two-day Women’s International Networking or WIN Conference that concluded here on Friday pledged to make extra efforts to push for women’s rights in the country and ensure their participation in decision-making process across sectors, be it government, non-government or corporate. Leaders from corporate and social sectors highlighted the role of such conferences in promoting women’s role in the society. Kicking off the prestigious event, Kristin Engvig, CEO and Founder of WIN, highlighted how business and politics alike need to understand that the key to a thriving future lies in having women in decision-making roles and work creation.

It is evident that the empowerment of women and partnership with the men has never been more important. Speaking at the conference, which brought together a host of women leaders from corporations, NGOs and politics from India and across the globe, Rekha Mody, Founder of ‘Streeshakti, The Parallel Force’ stated that women and men are on this exciting journey together towards a larger cause of creating a thriving future for women in India. She said certain legislation in recent years like the Inheritance Law has empowered women and added that India would see rapid progress in overall empowerment and development of women. She also noted how political parties have woken up to women’s issues and were now giving importance to women’s issues in their election manifestos and policy-making process.

Shazia Ilmi, Spokesperson for BJP & Brand Ambassador for Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, said said women in India and around the world were now breaking shackles and leading the way in various industries and fields. However, there is a lot more work that needs to be done. Women represent only 12 per cent of the Indian Parliament, a huge gender disparity and such dialogues like the WINConference need to take place frequently that would help in women’s empowerment. Women are endlessly fighting conditioning and they need to have a conversation with themselves and also support and develop other classes in India. True leadership is about creating more leaders, she added. The conference also featured a WIN documentary film – ‘In the Right Light’ – that showcased how people are interconnected and as they connect to evolve, they need to remember to see each other ‘In the Right Light’. The documentary explores stories and the WIN journey through the integrated feminine, authentic contribution, global leadership and by creating together.”

“

This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their ‘Personally identifiable information’ (PII) is being used online. PII, as used in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with our website.

What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our blog, website or app?

We do not collect information from visitors of our site. or other details to help you with your experience.

When do we collect information?

We collect information from you when you register on our site, subscribe to a newsletter or enter information on our site.

How do we use your information?

We may use the information we collect from you when you register, make a purchase, sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other site features in the following ways:

To improve our website in order to better serve you.

To send periodic emails regarding your order or other products and services.

How do we protect visitor information?

Our website is scanned on a regular basis for security holes and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible.

We use regular Malware Scanning.

We do not use an SSL certificate

We only provide articles and information. We never ask for personal or private information like email addresses, or credit card numbers.

Do we use ‘cookies’

We do not use cookies for tracking purposes

You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser’s Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.

If you disable cookies off, some features will be disabled that make your site experience more efficient and some of our services will not function properly.

Third-party disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information.

Third-party links

We do not include or offer third-party products or services on our website.

How does our site handle do not track signals?

We honor do not track signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.

Does our site allow third-party behavioral tracking?

It’s also important to note that we do not allow third-party behavioral tracking

COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)

When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under 13, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children’s privacy and safety online.

We do not specifically market to children under 13.

Fair Information Practices

The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information.

In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur:

We will notify the users via email

Within 7 business days

We also agree to the Individual Redress Principle, which requires that individuals have a right to pursue legally enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.

CAN SPAM Act

The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

We collect your email address in order to:

To be in accordance with CANSPAM we agree to the following:

If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can email us at and we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.

Article Content

The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of theindiasaga.com. Theindiasaga.com does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity.

Content Authenticity

The information contained in this website is for general purposes only. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, in connection with the use of this website. Every effort is made to keep the website running smoothly. However, theindiasaga.com takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated and reasonably verified, no guarantee is given that the information provided herein is absolutely correct, complete, and up-to-date.

Contacting Us

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.

www.theindiasaga.com

B-69 Gulmohar Park

New Delhi, Delhi 110049 India

rsainir2014@gmail.com

Last Edited on 2016-03-19“

“

There is no doubt that the rising tide of illiberalism and intolerance is assuming alarming proportions. As the ideologue of the BJP, the RSS and the fringe elements of the Sangh Parivar are testing the waters in various forms. It is preposterous on the part of the Shiv Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP in Maharashtra, to demand revocation of the citizenship of those who refuse to chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai””. These are all manifestations of the Hindutva ideology which has been described in certain quarters as highly reactionary even though the RSS has been variously described as a cultural organization.

Open Society – Diversity, Plurality

 Moral majoritarians fail to see the futility of their words and deeds. They are undermining the fundamental principles of an open and free society: diversity, plurality and choice. BJP president Amit Shah taking questions at the India Today conclave barely two days back  on Thursday  (March 17) emphasized that not chanting “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” is being anti-national. This matter should be explained to those who don’t understand it. It started with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat declaring that all Indians are Hindus. A nationalist is one who spontaneously chants “”Bharat Mata ki Jai.”” The matter flared up in the Maharashtra assembly leading to the unanimous suspension of Waris Pathan, an MLA of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), for the rest of this budget session. His party supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, a Lok Sabha member, had refused to chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” in the first instance.

The Speaker of the assembly refused to cite any rule as none existed in this regard but observed the suspension was ordered because of the sentiment in the House. Legal experts questioned the suspension saying it is patently illegal. The Congress supporting the resolution is a pointer to the party falling prey to the far right nationalistic ideology. Reacting to his suspension, Pathan stressed: “”I love my country. I was born here and I will die here. I can never dream of insulting my country. Don’t judge anyone’s love for the country by just one slogan. Jai Hindi, Jai Bharat, Jai Maharashtra.“” This has created an element of unease among the minorities. Owaisi whipped up a storm by saying he will not chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” even if a knife is put to his throat evoking political reaction flowing thick and fast. NCP spokesperson observed everyone might not agree with the views of the RSS and the BJP. Al-Nasser Zakaria of the Congress alleged that the Shiv Sena is only indulging in politics of hypocrisy.

All this raises a serious question if liberal values are being subverted. There was also the attack on four Kashmiri students in Mewar University in Rajasthan for allegedly eating beef in their hostel room but it was later confirmed that it was not beef but mutton. This is reminiscent of what happened in Dadri in September last year with one unfortunate twist that Mohmmad Akhlaque was lynched to death by the fringe elements of the saffron brigade for allegedly consuming beef which was not the case. Though nobody should be asked to chant the slogan it is regrettably being projected as a test of one’s patriotism. This has the portends of leading to a dangerous religious polarization. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher tweeted that the only definition of nationalism for ‘Bharatwasis’ should be the slogan “”Bharat Mata ki Jai””.

Such moral policing is against the very grain of democracies. At the same time Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a telling point that “”respecting the Flag means respecting the opinion of every Indian…you cannot destroy the Indian flag  by destroying the relationship between our people.”” Simultaneously, the role of his Congress party in the suspension of Pathan cannot be summarily dismissed. They must accept the blame.

Our Constitution – The Guiding Force

The Constitution remains the guiding force. In such a large and diverse country as India, autonomy of opinion is being increasingly questioned. It is time that the political leadership which has inexorably maintained a stoic silence reins in the rhetoric before it gets out of hand. The hallmark of nationalism is accommodating various points of view rather than forcing down one’s throat a single definition of nationalism.

(T R Ramachandran is a senior journalist and commentator. The views are personal.) “

“

IMG_0867The world may not have changed in the past five years for thousands of widows who have made Vrindavan their home, but one thing certainly has – they are now accepted as part of the neighborhood they live in. No more shunned and no more apologetic about themselves. Three years ago when these women were asked to participate in the Holi celebrations, almost all of them had said `no’. The following year, some came forward to celebrate the festival of colors with flowers. However, this year was different. Amid blowing of conch shells and sprinkling of color, hundreds of widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi played Holi – first time inside any temple in Vrindavan in a marked departure from age old tradition.

It was for the first time that celebration was organized inside the ancient Gopinath Temple of Lord Krishna marking their further social assimilation. This time a number of Sanskrit students and Pandits also took part in the Holi celebration with ostracized widows living in the temple town for several decades, said Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International who waged campaign against widowhood in the country. In the light of Supreme Court’s observation, Sulabh started taking care of around 1500 widows in Vrindavan and Varanasi since 2012. In an effort to bring them into the main stream of the society, Sulabh stated organizing Holi for them about three years ago in widow ashrams. But, in an attempt to make it open to the society, this time Holi for them was organized at a famous temple to give a kind of social acceptance. Holi was celebrated in the presence of Hindu Pandits and Sanskrit scholars.

“”It is an effort to break the age old tradition prevalent in Hindu society where widows were not allowed to play with colors,”” said Dr Pathak adding that much had changed over the years and these women now wanted to live life to the fullest. Last year it was a riot of colours when around thousand  widows living as recluse in ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi celebrated a special four-day Holi in Vrindavan. This time at least 1200 kg ‘gulal’ (coloured powder) and 1500 kilograms of rose and merrygold petals were arranged for the event.””I have never celebrated such grand Holi ever in my life.”” Savita Mandal told Theindiasaga.com. The widows who wear only white sarees wished to splash colors on each other to celebrate the festival, breaking away from years of social stigma attached to women who have lost their husbands.

In many parts of India, widows are not permitted to play Holi or participate in any other festival and auspicious function. Vrindavan is known as the ‘City of Widows’ for the sheer number of women who find shelter there after being shunned by their families. Most of them hail from West Bengal. Sulabh has taken up their cause on humanitarian grounds and made various arrangements for their health care, food and other necessities. Adopting hundreds of widows of Varanasi, Sulabh International has launched a campaign against “”widowhood”” in the country. On the encouragement by the Supreme Court through the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Sulabh took up the programme for improving the living conditions of the widows of Vrindavan. The programme has now been going on for more than 9 months and as of today we are giving Rs. 2000/- per month per widow for their food.

Further, adequate arrangements have been made to give them education in three languages – Hindi, Bengali and English – for which teachers have been appointed. They are also being provided vocational education for making garlands, preparing incense sticks, doing sewing and embroidery.”

“

Recent acquittal of Abdul Kareem Tunda, a known and dreaded terrorist charge-sheeted by the Delhi Police Special Cell in four cases, on the ground of insufficient evidence against him made news headlines. It was not the first case where “terrorist” operatives, caught by Special Cell of Delhi Police have been set free. Not only pointing to falling standards of investigation, such instances should serve as a wake-up call for the police leadership. Last week, the Bombay High Court commuted, to life imprisonment, the death sentence of IM operative Mirza Himayat Baig after acquitting him of any involvement in the February 13, 2010 German Bakery blast and only upholding his conviction for possessing explosives and forged documents.

A large number of cases of similar individuals, arrested and paraded before the TV cameras with senior police officers reeling off details of their sinister plans to attack various places in Delhi or elsewhere have ended in acquittals and the courts have often passed strictures on the investigation standards. In number of cases, even Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has faced tough questions from the court both at the level of trial courts and at the hands of Constitutional Courts.

Decline in standards of investigation

The State Police and specialized agencies like CBI and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have seen a steep decline in the standards of investigation in the past few years. The courts have often questioned even the veracity of evidence presented by the probe agencies. These instances should set the alarm bells ringing among the senior police leadership and they need to examine the reasons for falling standards in investigation and take urgent remedial steps.

As one entrusted with the responsibility of supervising investigation for a long time, I can say that one of the main reasons for the present shoddy state of affairs is that during the basic training in Police Training Colleges or Academies, the emphasis on the crucial task of policing is taking a back seat. Of late, the thrust in training even in SVP National Police Academy has been on operational policing i.e. field tactics, anti-insurgency operations, law and order management etc. There are more number of refresher courses offered in these areas than on investigation.

And once the officers are out of training institutions, they are generally posted in the areas facing problems of extremism, insurgency and communal clashes. These and law and order jobs have become more glamorous as these allow the officers to be in the limelight and get media glare. There are a number of rewards and incentives instituted by the governments- including out of turn promotion if a police officer can catch a known extremist/ terrorist or able to “eliminate” such elements in an encounter. All this has made the investigation job not much sought after. Consequently, the bright ones stay away from the core area of police functioning and do not pick up traits of scientific investigation. Later in the career, they find it difficult to learn the essentials of the investigation which not only requires a particular bend of mind but also an in-depth knowledge of law and procedures. The class room training helps only to an extent in learning the basics of the investigation but to be a successful investigator one requires the field experience coupled with understanding of the importance of gathering hard core admissible evidence to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt in the court.

Criminals without borders

Over the years, the crime has not only become global but has also acquired new dimensions. The cross-border terrorism, economic and cyber-crime have emerged as the new age crime where the boundaries of the nations have lost their relevance. The criminals easily commit crime sitting in a foreign land which may have laws which help them in frustrating the collection of evidence by the investigation agencies. The traditional methods of gathering evidence may not work in many of these cases.

The police officers are required to understand the complexities of financial transactions carried across countries and domestic criminal laws applicable in these countries to unravel the intricacies of such cases. The anonymity of criminals coupled with technologies available which may help hide the origin of particular communication makes the job of investigator all the more difficult. A police investigator, therefore, needs to understand not only the complexities of how computers and internet works but also the legal requirements of gathering and transmitting evidence from outside the country, where the information may reside in servers. Unfortunately, these are not taught in the police training institutions and there are very few police officers in the country who can claim to have expertise in investigation abroad.

Since the trial proceedings, which are often intervened and followed by appeals in higher courts, consume a long time the police officers especially the senior police officers who take the final decision whether to charge-sheet or not to charge-sheet a case more so in specialized investigation agencies do not feel accountable for their actions. By the time the courts pronounce their judgements the officers have either moved on or have retired thereby escaping any questioning for their actions.

Importance and glory of an investigator

Thus, there is an urgent need to restore the importance and glory of an investigator. The police training schools/ academies need to put due emphasis on teaching the art of investigation both during the initial induction training and refresher courses. The officers must be exposed to investigation of crime in the field and their performance watched so that those with flair and aptitude are identified and posted to Crime Investigation Department or to be deputed to specialized investigation agencies. Needless to say, the officers excelling in the field of investigation must enjoy same kind of facilities, respect and importance as their counterparts in other areas of police functioning. It must not be forgotten that any battle against insurgents, terrorists, economic offenders, cyber criminals can be decisively won only by getting them convicting without any delay.

On the other hand, the specialized investigation agencies like CBI, NIA, Enforcement Directorate continue to have a large number of vacancies as officers are not willing to join from state police and they continue to be manned by officers from Central armed police forces who are neither recruited nor otherwise equipped to handle investigation. In spite of the directions of the Supreme Court to fill the posts and incentives like additional remuneration have failed to attract officers on deputation. This gives rise to demand and recommendation from various quarters to have a captive recruitment of officers. It must be emphasized that this would not be a solution as this may lead to a situation where these agencies are staffed with in-bred officers who would have very less experience as these agencies investigate very few cases. This unfortunate situation must not be allowed to persist. I have been an advocate of a system wherein certain posts in the investigation wings of the states are financed by the Central Government and states are obliged to depute a fixed number of officers to these agencies. These officers could revert back to the states, after an interval of five or six years carrying with them valuable investigation experience.

(The writer, an IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, recently retired as D-G of Bureau of Police Research and Development and served for long years in CBI and NIA. The views expressed are personal)”

“

theturbulentyears.png President Pranab Mukherjee steers clear of whipping up a controversy. He was shell shocked when Rajiv Gandhi dropped him from his cabinet in 1984. Reminiscent of 1977 Pranabda went on a holiday with his family. “”I let my frustration overtake my patience.”” Pranabda was sent packing from the Congress in 1986. He floated Rashtriya Samajwadi party which disappeared after failing in the West Bengal elections. Pranabda returns to Congress in 1988 even though his expulsion was not on record. The 1989 Congress defeat brought Pranab and Rajiv Gandhi closer. President Mukherjee says country remained true to the idea of India as envisaged in the Constitution.

For someone with a razor sharp memory having been associated with decision making during the most turbulent years in the post Independence era, President Pranab Mukherjee has deliberately underplayed certain key aspects affecting him politically. The second volume of his autobiography — THE TURBULENT YEARS : 1980-1996 — is rather disappointing. It is apparent the First Citizen has preferred to steer clear rather than whip up an unseemly controversy. He has about 18 months remaining in Rashtrapati Bhawan having assumed the high office of Head of State on 25 July 2012. On the political crisis that he faced including his expulsion from the Congress, Pranabda has assiduously avoided taking any names who had tried sending him to the political dog house. Mukherjee draws attention to “”rumours”” that he wanted to elbow out Rajiv Gandhi for the top post as the possible reason for his ouster from the cabinet and eventually the Congress party. “”All I can say is that he (Rajiv Gandhi) made mistakes and so did I. He let others influence him and listened to their calumnies against me. I let my frustration overtake my patience.”” The Congress swept the December 1984 general elections with 404 out of 514 seats in the Lok Sabha while the BJP got only two seats. Pranabda was summarily dropped from the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet which was not even peripherally in his mind. “”I heard no rumours nor had anybody in the party ever vaguely hinted at it.

I was shell shocked and could not believe it. But I composed myself as my wife watched the swearing-in ceremony on television. I had ceased to be a minister and as I had done in 1977 went off on a holiday with my family who had long suffered my neglect.”” He was sent packing from the Congress two years later in April 1986. Mukherjee decided to float his own party — the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress (RSC) bringing together disenchanted Congress leaders from different parts of the country. The RSC contested the West Bengal assembly elections in March 1987 and a large number of his candidates lost their deposit. He acknowledges after this resounding defeat, the newly created RSC simply disappeared. “”I was thoroughly disenchanted with politics and chose instead to concentrate on writing my memoirs.”” His homecoming to the Congress finally took place when he campaigned for the Tripura assembly elections on second February 1988. He learnt later that two individuals Santosh Mohan Deb and Sheila Dikshit lobbied with Rajiv to bring Mukherjee back into the party. He was surprised by Dikshit’s support as he had not known her personally at that time. There is no doubt that Pranabda was willing to return to the party with the least fuss.

When a scribe asked if his expulsion had been revoked, the Congress spokesman’s skillful response was “”only Congress persons are campaigning for the party in Tripura.”” Nobody said that the expulsion had been withdrawn as there was nothing on record. A large number of Congressmen in West Bengal and Tripura felt only by bringing these two states under President’s rule could their party ever hope to win an electoral battle against the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front. They rejected Mukherjee’s explanation that President’s rule could not arbitrarily be imposed under the Constitution. They believed that it was his advice to the central Congress leadership which was preventing the imposition of central rule in the two states. A silent and vicious campaign started against him that he had a secret understanding with the Left Front leaders of Bengal who in turn had supported his election to the Rajya Sabha. In turn it was claimed he had helped the Left Front by ensuring that President’s rule was not imposed in the state. Much later in a heart to heart conversation in 1991, P V Narasimha Rao told Pranabda that if he had not formed another party after his expulsion, perhaps his return to the Congress might have been much faster. Rajiv would have brought him back especially after Arun Nehru, V P Singh and others had deserted him. “”Looking back, I feel that PV was correct. I could have avoided the RSC fiasco.

I should have had the wisdom to realize that I was (and am) not a mass leader. Those who left the Congress rarely succeeded.”” He observes “”I could have been some help to the Congress party and the government during those crucial years of 1986 and 1987 when everything seemed to go wrong for Rajiv. I returned to the party in 1988 — too late to make any significant difference to the Congress performance in the Lok Sabha elections of 1989. Rajiv Gandhi’s defeat in 1989 “”brought us close together and he (Rajiv) entrusted me with a lot of work.”” When P V Narasimha Rao was recalled and went on to become the Prime Minister in 1991, Mukherjee was conspicuous by his absence in his council of ministers. He was extremely upset. PV specially summoned Mukherjee and told him there were compulsions and could not reveal the name of that person. May be at some later date. But that never happened. Nevertheless, Mukherjee was offered the Deputy Chairmanship of the Planning Commission. When Mukherjee said he will think it over, PV told him curtly “”you can think for as long as you want but I want you to join on Monday.”” Sadly PV never got round to telling Mukherjee “”why he could not induct me into the cabinet. It remains a mystery to me till date.”” The Congress had emerged as the single largest entity in 1991 with 132 seats and was able to form the government. The period between 1988 and 1991 was one of significant social and political turmoil in this country. Communal and caste politics came to the forefront. He felt it is difficult for him to make an assessment of V P Singh as he had only limited interaction with him.

On the other hand Chandra Shekhar began his political career in 1951 and was one of the few members of the ruling Congress to have been imprisoned during the Emergency for revolting against Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian style of functioning. In fact, he was held in high esteem across parties — a tribute to his statesmanship. Given a viable chance, Chandra Shekhar might well have proven himself as one of India’s best Prime Ministers. In 1991 the country confronted a general election and Rajiv Gandhi made Mukherjee the chairman of the campaign committee as well as party spokesperson. His last meeting with Rajiv Gandhi was on the eve of his tragic death on May 21, 1991 when he was assassinated by a woman suicide bomber in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. “”Rajiv’s death shattered me. India had lost one of its most dynamic leaders. In a short political career of eleven years, Rajiv had carved out an important place for himself in India’s contemporary history.”” This period witnessed a shift from one party dominance to multiple — regional as well as national parties. It saw the growth of regional and coalition politics leading to increasing demands for state autonomy. Then, there was the emergence of subnationalism in the form of regional movements in Punjab and the Northeast posing a huge challenge to the nation. And finally caste entered the framework of politics. The Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, the Shah Bano verdict and the Mandal Commission report changed the nature of political mobilisation. Through all these challenges India grew stronger. As the turbulent years drew to a close, the country remained true to the idea of India as envisaged by the makers of the Constitution.

TR

(T R Ramachandran is a senior journalist and commentator.)
”

“

zikaimage.pngIndia is among the five countries that are working on developing vaccine to protect against Zika virus, the World Health Organisation has said. As many 23 projects are being worked on by 14 vaccine developers in the US, France, Brazil, India, and Austria. As the vaccine will be used to protect pregnant women or women of child-bearing age, it must meet an extremely high standard of safety, WHO Director General Margaret Chan said at the United Nations. WHO estimates that at least some of the projects will move into clinical trials before the end of this year, but several years may be needed before a fully tested and licensed vaccine is ready for use. However, several scientists have warned that the first explosive wave of spread may be over before a vaccine is available. But all agreed that development of a vaccine is imperative.

More than half of the world’s population lives in an area where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present. The world was alerted to the first appearance of Zika in the Western Hemisphere on 7 May 2015, when Brazil confirmed that a mysterious outbreak of thousands of cases of mild disease with rash was caused by the Zika virus. The absence of population immunity gives the virus license to spread rapidly and behave in possibly unexpected ways, the WHO statement said. At the time of the May announcement, the disease looked reassuringly mild, with no hospitalizations or deaths reported. In July, Brazil reported an increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, followed by an unusual increase in microcephaly among newborns which were reported to WHO in late October. The possibility that a mosquito bite could be linked to severe fetal malformations alarmed the public and astonished scientists, WHO has said.

The association with Guillain-Barré syndrome and other severe disorders of the central nervous system has expanded the risk group well beyond women of child-bearing age. “”We now know that sexual transmission of the virus occurs. In less than a year, the status of Zika has changed from a mild medical curiosity to a disease with severe public health implications,”” the statement said. A pattern has emerged in which initial detection of virus circulation is followed, within about three weeks, by an unusual increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Detection of microcephaly and other fetal malformations comes later, as pregnancies of infected women come to term. In the current outbreak, Brazil and Panama have reported microcephaly. Colombia is investigating several cases of microcephaly for a possible link to Zika.

In other countries and territories, the virus has not been circulating long enough for pregnancies to come to term. To date, 12 countries and territories have now reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome or laboratory confirmation of Zika infection among GBS cases. Additional effects on the central nervous system have been documented, notably inflammation of the spinal cord and inflammation of the brain and its membranes. The virus is currently circulating in 38 countries and territories. On present knowledge, no one can predict whether the virus will spread to other parts of the world and cause a similar pattern of fetal malformations and neurological disorders. If this pattern is confirmed beyond Latin America and the Caribbean, the world will face a severe public health crisis, the WHO has warned.”