bjp-l-digest Friday, October 17 1997 Volume 01 : Number 402
***************************************************************************
News, Opinion, Analysis and Publications Digest
Today's Topics
-------------
Mulayam want's Pakistan to be declared a terrorist state
Syed Ahmed Khan
Prince says Jallianwala figures wrong. Source: Dyer's son!
TN Dalits convert to Islam
Left hold on its wane in Bengal: RSS study
When people hijack the system
'Jains don't need minority status'-Interview-Arvind Parekh
Lending legitimacy to corruption
Advani flays CPM and multinationals
BJP to stake claim if UP Govt falls
Advani won't seek the third term
***************************************************************************
Title: Mulayam want's Pakistan to be declared a terrorist state
Author:
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: October 16, 1997
The Union defence minister,
Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, said on Wednesday that Pakistan should be declared
a 'terrorist state' if it does not desist from resorting to unprovoked
firing at the Kashmir border. Mr Yadav also warned the neighbouring
country that if it imposes war, India is capable of giving a fitting reply.
It may be recalled that the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mr Farroq
Abdullah had also placed similar demand few days ago.
Addressing a meet-the-press at the Calcutta Press Club here on Wednesday,
the defence minister was initially reluctant to make any comment on Mr
Abdullah's demand, saying that he does not want to say anything that might
affect the Indo-Pak peace talks. However, responding to a volley of
questions in this regard, he said, "If they do not stop what they are doing
now at the border, it should be declared a terrorist state".
The US government had also made it clear that Pakistan should be declared a
terrorist state, Mr Yadav mentioned.
The defence minister said in no uncertain terms that the occupied Kashmir
is an integral part of India and there would be no compromise on this
issue. Asked why India was not occupying the 'Pak-occupied Kashmir', Mr
Yadav said, "wait and watch what we will do".
Referring to the recent unprovoked firing by the Pakistani troop at the
Oori border in Kashmir, Mr Yadav said, "whenever the Indian soldiers
retaliated the Pakistani counterpart had to wave white flag". "India does
not want war with its neighbours. But if any neighbour imposes war, Indian
army knows how to teach them a good lesson", he remarked.
While advocating for cut in defence budget, Mr Yadav said, "extra budgetary
allocations are always made for defence purposes whenever needed. So it is
no point to keep a large defence budget". In this connection, he pointed
out that when India had decided on buying Su-30 from Russia, defence
ministry was provided with extra-budgetary funds.
Asked why India is always going for the Russian defence equipment and
aircraft, the defence minister said that Russia had been a been a 'true
friend' of India all along.
In reply to a question on the possibility of Samajwadi Party's electoral
alliance with the Congress, the SP president said, "it's too hypothetical
now. The question of electoral alliance comes only on the eve of the polls
and there is no possibility of a snap poll now as the United Front is
certain to complete its full tenure".
The Congress leadership had already ruled out the possibility of any
electoral alliance, Mr Yadav said.
------------------------------
Title: Gandhi: Pan Islamism, Imperialism, and Nationalism in
Author: B. R. Nanda
Publication: Oxford Univ. Press
Date: October 12, 1997.
- -------------------
On education:
He [SAK] insisted that Muslim children must be educated separately
from the children of other communities. He considered that Muslim
children be educated separatel ... from... schools and colleges run
by others, wholly unsuitable becuase "the presence of nonMuslims
curbs the national feeling of the Muslims." "We shall not build our
nation by educating our youngmen in those colleges, but in the
colleges of our own nation" [i.e. Pakistan!!]. It was essential to
"collect
Muslim students in one place, to teach them Persian and Arabic besides
secular subjects, so that they stay together, eat together, study
together
and grow up into good Muslims."
On the role of British and their historical neccessity:
"At the time when the British Rule established itself, India was ...
left a
poor
widow, and she stood in need of another husband, which she HERSELF CHOSE
IN THE ENGLISH NATION IN ORDER TO FULFIL THE COMMANDMENT OF THE
GOSPEL that the TWAIN SHALL BE ONE FLESH." [What an insult!!]
On democracy, the need of swarajya (Tilak's birthright] and the division
of
power.
"Can you tell me of any case in the world's history, in which any
foreign
nation, after conquering another and establishing its empire over it,
has
given representative govt. to the conquered people. The Congress
agitators,
the 'Bengalis', had never at any period held sway over an inch of the
Indian
soil. But the Muslims, whose ancestors had ruled India for centuries,
could
understand the predicament of an imperial power. Oh my brother Muslims!
You
have ruled over nations, and have for centuries held different
countries
into
grasp. For 700 yrs in India, you have had the imperial sway. You know
what
it is to rule."
Since Muslims were approx 25% of Indian pop., SAK writes that democracy
is a "game of dice in which one man had four dice and the other only
one."
But then SAK was even opposed to equal power sharing arrangement since
he
feared that Muslims would be no match for the Hindu.
He writes on Congress over the issue of democracy and power: "The
Congress
is in reality a civil war without arms, WE LIKE IT WITH ARMS." If it
were a
bid for power to be surrendered by the Brits, the "open competition" for
it
should not be the kind held for the ICS, but one in which Muslims were
"allowed
to user the pen of our ancestors, WHO USED NOT BLACK BUT RED, RED,
INK which flows in the bodies of brave men. The brave Patham and the
brave Rajput had not forgotten the swords of their ancestors and whould
not
agree to be ruled by a Bengali who at the sight of a table knife would
crawl
under the chair."
[pp 45-46]
------------------------------
Title : Prince says Jallianwala figures wrong. Source: Dyer's son!
Author : Nirupama Dutt
Publication : Indian Express
Date : Oct 15, 1997
AMRITSAR, Oct 14: As Queen Elizabeth II silently walked by the
Jallianwala Bagh Memorial today, Prince Philip expressed his doubts
over the number of people killed in the massacre. He said the figures
could be wrong, when he stopped at a board featuring the number of
casualties. ``I was told so by General Dyer's son who was with me in
the Canadian navy,'' the Prince told P S Mukherjee, a trustee of the
memorial.
An uncomfortable silence greeted the statement with many calling it
insensitive. This isn't the first time that the Prince has been caught
on
the wrong foot. Earlier on a visit to the Great Wall of China, he had
told accompanying British media persons that they would get ``slant
eyes'' if they kept looking at the wall. The remark with racist
undertones had created a furore then.
The Queen, on the other hand, maintained a discreet silence
throughout the visit. Elizabeth R October 14, 1997 was all that she
wrote in the visitor's book at the memorial. Prince Philip followed her
example turning down the request of a trustee for a comment saying
that since he had lived with the Queen for 50 years he would do as she
did.
The royal couple also laid down a wreath of lilies at the ``Flame of
Liberty,'' a monument to the martyrs who were killed there on April 1,
1919, when General Dyer opened fire on unarmed men, women and
children. They had gathered here for a public meeting to oppose the
martial law imposed by the British rulers.
The refusal to write comments by the royal couple in the visitor's book
belied the hopes of a section of the people who were expecting that a
word of regret if not an apology would be penned down. They were
there outside protesting against the Queen's visit without an apology.
The long controversy that preceded the Queen's visit with demands
made that the British monarch should render an apology for the
Jallianwala massacre had its repercussions today and the police at
Lawrence Road twice resorted to lathi charge to disperse members of
the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). A section of the
crowd with black flags shouted slogans of ``Queen Go Back''. Two
cameramen of Hindustan Times and Asian News International, were
manhandled by the police as they tried to take pictures of the lathi
charge. A large number of the demonstrators were rounded up as
members of the Association for Democratic Rights, led by Jagmohan
Singh, nephew of Bhagat Singh, protested against the Queen's visit
here without an apologising for the massacre. They also demanded
that the Queen should carry forward the message of the martyrs. The
area was cordoned off by the police and the demonstrators were
stopped from reaching the `Flame of Liberty'.
Dr Darshanpal, who was leading the demonstrators, said that they
were driven beyond Taran Taran, 30 km from the city and let off.
Yesterday, seven Marxist-Leninist groups in a joint public meeting at
Jalandhar had staged a protest against the Queen's visit in the 50th
year of the country's Independence.
Meanwhile the Jallianwala Bagh Shaheed Parivar Samitee here
expressed its satisfaction at the Queen's remarks on the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre made by her in Delhi, yesterday. Bhushan Behl,
president of the samiti said, ``Her description of the massacre as a
distressing episode and her silent homage to the martyrs was nothing
short of atoning for the wrongs done by the British in India. The samiti
called off the protest it was to hold at the memorial following these
developments.
Later, the Queen paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, thus
becoming the first head of any foreign country to step into the Golden
Temple. The royals were presented siropas and a gold painting of the
temple. They, however, did not take the customary parsad.
Copyright 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------
Title : TN Dalits convert to Islam for better social status
Author : P S SURESH KUMAR
Publication : Indian Express
Date : Oct 15, 1997
THANJAVUR, OCT 14: Around 300 Dalit families have embraced
Islam in different parts of the district, including Thirupananthal,
Chikkal Nayakkan Pettai, Thathuvanchery, Pattam villages, Avaniyal
Puram near Aduthurai, Kovil Sannapuram in Thiruvidaimaruthur and
Nachiyar Kovil all near Kumbakonam. The conversion has slowly
taken place over past eight years.
Such largescale conversion seem to be first of its kind in Tamil Nadu
after the Meenakshipuram conversions that rocked the nation 15
years ago. At that time in Meenakshipuarm, all the Harijan families in
the tiny hamlet embraced Islam.
The conversions in Thanjavur district seems to be a well-planned
affair, master-minded by Muslim fundamentalist groups. As the
conversions were done discreetly and at a slow pace they a have
escaped the attention of the government as well as other political
parties. Besides hopes of getting a social status and economic
betterment the Dalits have also been lured monetarily to get
converted.
When the social status, equality, security for their life and livelihood
were being offered for conversion ``no wonder it is a boon for us to
embrace the Islam'', confided a cross section of Dalits to whom this
correspondent spoke.
T M Mani, founder of the Ambedkar Manavar Illaingyar Peravai
defended the conversion and held the government responsible. Dalits
have been denied social status and economic betterment even after
Independence and governments have failed to check atrocities on
Dalits by anti-socials.The Peravai was first started in 1982 for the
cause of the uplift of Dalits and now claims a membership of over
80,000. The Peravai has 50 branches in Nagapattinam, 300 in
Thanjavur, 46 in Perambalur and 30 branches in Tiruchi, said Mani.
Quoting Ambedkar, ``As long as you (Dalits) are with Hindu society
you won't get social status'' he said, owing to the lack of proper
guidance, mass conversions did not take place much in the past. But
now there will be more conversions unless government takes drastic
steps to eliminate the practice of untouchability, Mani averred. He said
even now the `two glass system' (one for Dalits and other for caste
Hindus in tea shops and such places) was followed in Puthur village
near Cholapuram under Thirupanathal police limits.
------------------------------
Title : Left hold on its wane in Bengal: RSS study
Author : A Staff Reporter
Publication : The Times of India
Date : Oct. 9th, 1997
MUMBAI: ``The Janus-faced use of the nationalist card by the Left
Front in West Bengal could hasten its imminent undoing.'' This bleak
prognosis has been put forward in a 68-page study conducted by the
city-based Centre for Leadership Studies.
Titled ``Left Front rule in West Bengal: Genesis, Growth and
Decay,'' the study claims to be the ``first objective enquiry'' into the
reasons for the resilience of Jyoti Basu's over two-decade reign in
the state.
Describing Basu as ``a marvel of Indian politics'' the report attributes
the sustenance of the Left Front's rule in the state to a well-knit
party organisation, frequent use of ``terrorist tactics,'' scientific
rigging at election-time, playing on the Bengali sentiment and ``the
total absence of formidable opposition.''
With a view to concealing its failures as a Parliamentary,
social-democratic movement, the Left Front in general and the CPM
in particular, the researchers say, have embraced nationalist rhetoric.
The study is published by the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, which is a
member of the Sangh Parivar.
According to the study, the Left Front's tested technique of winning
elections and conducting government bereft of its inherent strength,
is now losing its efficiency.
------------------------------
Title: When people hijack the system
Author: Dina Nath Mishra
Publication: The Observer
Date: October 16, 1997
The problem lies in our failure to produce enough people to look after the
interest of India.
We often hear the frightening alarm bells ringing all around. Terrorism and
secessionism are challenging the authority of the state in a big way. They
extort money from the rich and intimidate the poor youth to join the rank
and file in order to achieve their objectives. The very integrity of the
country seems to be in danger. The growing feeling of political
instability at the Centre and in a few states is yet another sphere which
is causing serious concern to the thinking people. At least for the last
one decade, the institutions in India have emanated signals of exhaustion.
People's confidence has been eroded to a great extent by corrupt
politicians and bureaucrats. Institutions have failed to fulfil their
obligations and in the process lost a large part of their credibility.
Unabated criminalisation and its growing nexus with politics and
bureaucracy have further unnerved society at large. It is getting support
from social institutions like caste and co-religionists. At times, it looks
as though they are invincible. With the advent of hi-tech communication
technology, cultural onslaught by the western media has enhanced the speed
of denationalisation of the youth in cities and cosmopolitan India. The
growing population of post-nationalists and uprooted Indians leave
defenceless grounds for anti-Indian operators in the field of politics,
economy and society. The institutions like Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and
Vidhan Sabha generate no hope with their degenerating work culture devoid
of accountability.
The Election Commission and judiciary did generate some hope for a short
period by their activism, but they too seem to be dithering sometimes. The
growing crisis of educational institutions too is keeping pace with the
backward march of the other sectors. Explosion of consumerism, coupled with
a near stagnant economy, is causing disturbing anti-social trends. It is
not very easy to grasp the depth of erosion of norms and rules in our
society. What is happening to us as a nation? These symptoms are seriously
being debated. Some people conclude that it is a case of the system's
failure. It is very easy to blame the system and indulge in self-deception.
Serious leaders of political parties have been talking of systemic change.
Many see cure in adopting the presidential form of government.
It would be appropriate if we go through the prophetic warning given by Dr
Rajendra Prasad on the day of adoption of our Constitution on November 26,
1949, which provides the pillars to our system. "If the people who are
elected are capable, and men of character and integrity, they would be able
to make the best even of a defective Constitution. If they are lacking in
these, the Constitution cannot help the country. After all, the
Constitution, like a machine, is a lifeless thing. It acquired life
because of the men who control and operate it, and India needs today
nothing more than a set of honest men who will have the interest of the
country before them."
The Constitution may have certain flaws. It may also be realistic to
assess that after half a century of its practice it is time to review the
Constitution in. the light of experience. But the central point is that
there is a serious crisis of character in the leadership.
What would the constitution do if the leaders at the helm of affairs are
not up to mark or lack in moral character and are incapable of discerning
the national interest. If a Prime Minister can indulge in corruption, so
can a President. Rather, chances are, being more powerful a President may
indulge in it with impunity.
Emergency is yet another example which proves the failure of a person and
not of the system. Indira Gandhi clamped the emergency and suspended the
fundamental rights of citizens in 1975. It was done only to perpetuate
herself in power. She misused and twisted the Constitution. It may be
recalled that various high courts pronounced the judgements against the
suspension of fundamental rights of life and liberty. The case ultimately
came to the Supreme Court. A five-judge bench heard the case.
People hoped that at least three out of five judges would not succumb to
the pressure. They pinned their hopes on Justice Chandrachud, Justice
Bhagwati and Justice Khanna. But ultimately only Justice H R Khanna could
not be cowed down. Much later, Justice Chandrachud confessed that he had
committed a blunder in that case and felt sorry. The Constitution had the
system of checks and balances intact.
It was not a weakness of the Constitution, but it was clearly the failure
of persons who were controlling and operating the system of checks from the
height of the supreme level of the judiciary. It can be recalled that
Niren De was the Attorney General and was pleading for the government in
that case. Prom the bench, a question was posed to him about the
suspension of fundamental rights of life, and whether under the emergency
provision one did not have the judicial remedy even if life was under
threat. Niren De's response was: "My lord, I am sad, but unfortunately the
legal position under Emergency is like that."
That was not the failure of the Constitution or of the system. It was the
failure of persons operating it. Take for example the institution of the
governor. This institution was created as a unitary thread in the federal
structure of our system. This institution has been misutilised by
governments for political purposes of serving a party or a front ruling at
the Centre. There are numerous examples where the governor sabotaged the
constitutional provisions. A number of governors acted as agents of rulers
at the Centre. It is only because many governors were not men of character.
The centre could use them. Most of the time the Centre picked up pliable
persons for the post. The most recent examples are those of Romesh
Bhandari of UP and Krishna Pal Singh of Gujarat. Under no circumstances
does the Constitution provide extension of President's rule beyond a year
unless a Constitutional amendment is made in Parliament. But we have seen
extension of President's rule beyond one year without Constitutional
amendment in UP. In Gujarat the BJP government was dismissed within 24
hours of proving the majority on the floor of the House. Here also the
Constitution has nothing to do with the failure. It is the men who were
found wanting. The CBI has the obligation of dealing with the economic
crimes, but it has been thoroughly misused by political bosses for narrow
political purposes.
Higher courts have repeatedly castigated the CBI for its misdeeds.
Everywhere it is the failure of the person and not the system.
The core of the problem lies in our failure to produce enough "honest
persons who will have the interest of the country before them".
------------------------------
Title: 'Jains don't need minority status' - Tuesday Interview - Arvind Parekh
Author: Shila Nair
Publication: The Afternoon Despatch and Courier
Date: October 14, 1997
The Viniyog Parivar was founded by Jains sympathetic to the cause of animal
welfare. Today, the Parivar has taken up cudgels on behalf of the Jain
community which faces the 'threat' of being listed as 'minority community'.
The ball was set rolling when members of the community petitioned the union
government for granting of minority status. But the Jain acharyas and the
Viniyog Parivar intends to oppose it tooth and nail. Excerpts from an
exclusive interview:
Why are you opposing the move to club the Jain community under the approved
list of minorities in India? Will this proposal, if brought into effect by
the union government, amount to religious interference by the state?
The senior dharmacharyas of the Jain community have propounded that various
sections of the population following different religions in India are
basically Hindus as people / 'praja'. Since the days of the British rule,
the word 'Hindu' has become a much-abused word. 'Hindu' was made an
adjective, a description of a religion whereas in fact, the word 'Hindu'
denotes the 'praja' of this country. The phrase 'Hindu Dharma' was then
coined.
In reality, what is today described as 'Hindu Dharma' is either 'Vedic
Dharma' or 'Sanatana Dharma'. The word 'Hindu' described the identity of
the people (praja) of India. For instance, we have 'Vedic Dharma' / 'Hindu
Praja' following 'Jain Dharma' or 'Hindu Praja' following 'Bauddha Dharma'
etc. On that basis we Jains are Hindus only.
It may also be noted that the Jain Munis are predominant in the Jain
Sangha, which consists of four segments. Only these Munis have the
authority to take decisions about the issues concerning the entire Sangha.
Hence, if the government interferes in the administration of our religious,
it is an unmindful act on their part and an irritant to us.
The Indian government is continuing where in British left off. The British
had the policy of 'divide and rule' and the Indian government follows the
policy of 'divide and destroy'. We have classified Hindus and Muslims as
different races and communalism has become the order of the day. We don't
want to be classified as a different race and have clashes against other
religious sects or communities. Besides, we do not want to lose our own
identity by being clubbed with the minorities.
A section of the Jain community has made a representation to the Indian
government to recognise Jains as 'minority community'? How does the
majority of the Jain community view the benefits offered under the Minority
Communities Act?
The Jains, who constitute one per cent of the Indian population, is a very
wealthy community. We run the major industrial houses in the country and
rank among the highest payers of Income Tax. the Jains are also
philanthropic and have built many social and educational institutions. We
Jains do not wish to avail of any benefits of reservation or government
jobs by opting for minority status. We are contended and happy the way we are.
Do you think it is time to restrict the focus of the National Minority
Communities Act to the economically marginalised alone, rather than
classifying the minorities on the basis of religion/ language?
The mention of the word 'minorities' occurs only once in the entire
Constitution. Except for one mention in Article 30, 'minorities' are not
mentioned anywhere and there is no mention of any special rights for them
in the Indian Constitution. Driven by the politics of the vote banks, the
ruling and other parties have been using the minorities for their benefit.
After creating a lobby of minorities, they got the Parliament to enact the
National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, for protecting the rights of
minorities and the National Commission for Minorities was entrusted with
this job. Thereafter, vide notification No. 633 dated October 22, 1993, the
Welfare Ministry of the Central Government published a list of minorities
wherein Muslim, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis were included.
Please note that the government has so far not declared what the criteria
is for including any community in the list of minorities. No procedure has
been prescribed for such an inclusion. It is not clear whether the
government on its own or on the application of any minority community can
include or delete such minority communities from the list of minorities.
The situation is quite ambiguous and has many unanswered questions.
Yes, I am in favour of having economic status as the only criteria for
deciding the minority status for people. Why is that the SC/ST/OBCs are not
listed in the National Minorities Act of 1992?
What do you plan to do if the resolution to bring the Jains under the
Minorities Act is passed by the union cabinet?
Since our Dharma Gurus have also opposed this move, we shall fight out case
out. The Jains are a very proud community and they will never go around
with a begging bowl, howsoever short of money. We have never asked anyone
for beard an on the contrary we have fed many. We have even funded many
government projects. The Jains gave the government money at the time of
Indo-China war. We took care of the cattle in Kutch when the region was hit
by famine. The Indian government should not break our spirit by clubbing us
under the minorities against the will of the Jain majority.
------------------------------
Title: Lending legitimacy to corruption
Author: Dina Nath Mishra
Publication: The Observer
Date: October 9, 1997
Congress president Sitaram Kesri has given' some kind of legitimacy to
corruption. While explaining possible alignments, he said that communalism
is more dangerous than corruption. Meaning thereby that he would prefer to
fight communalism by aligning with corrupt leaders and parties. The fact
is that there is nothing to choose between the two evils.
What is the Congress record on communalism? Has it not aligned with Muslim
League in Kerala? Has it not talked of a state based on Christianity in
its state election manifesto of Mizoram? Was it not a party to the
creation of two theocratic states in the neighbourhood? Has it not
continued with the appeasement of Muslims even after the partition of the
country? Communalism is all about fomenting separateness and appeasing the
appetite of a community. The Congress has all along been against uniform
civil code. The Constitution provides directives for it. The Supreme
Court has also directed along these lines. Insistence on Shariat laws of
Muslims is nothing but nourishing communalism.
Was not the stand taken by Rajiv government on Shah Bano case patently
communal, and a testimony to appeasement of Muslims by the Congress? It
was so blatant that even the cabinet minister Arif Mohammad Khan thought it
fit to resign in protest. In fact, the Congress has communalised the
secular state just for the Muslim vote bank. In competitive politics, all
non-BJP parties followed the same path of underlining the separatism of the
Muslims so that they may snatch away the Muslim votes from Congress. They
succeeded in this to a large extent. And in the process they labelled the
nationalism of BJP as communalism. The communalism which Sitaram Kesri
mentioned is just an imaginary label, whereas monumental corruption of
Congress leaders needs now no further proof.
The history of the Congress of the last half a century is a parallel
history of corruption. One can recall the jeep scandal of Krishna Menon.
The then Prime Minister shielded him. He tolerated the corruption of
Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon. Ghulam Mohammad Bakshi ushered in an era of
corruption in Kashmir. The Congress gave the most corrupt chief ministers
in various states. During the Indira Gandhi era, leading lights of
corruption flourished.
The last Prime Minister of Congress P V Narasimha Rao ushered in an era of
mega-scams. During the last six years, mega-scams were yearly events
involving thousands of crores. All important ministers amassed tonnes of
money. A CBI raid at the premises of former cabinet minister Sukh Ram
yielded Rs 4 crore in cash. Dozens of cases of corruption of Congressmen
are there for anybody to see. The corruption attained a height hitherto
unknown during this period. Kesri himself is tainted, to say the least. In
this background if he belittles corruption, it is understandable.
Political corruption has to be fought, for it breeds corruption at lower
levels. At present, the UF government has a top priority of shielding
corrupt Congressmen and various leaders of United Front constituents. Full
brakes have been applied by the Gujral government in all cases including
the fodder scam, Bofors, Sukh Ram, Captain Satish Sharma, Indian Bank and
numerous others. In full view of the public, the Left Front, including the
CPM, is helping the shielding exercise and totally ignoring the
corruption-related agenda of CMP of the UF. Stable political parties must
have an internal mechanism to do away with leaders and workers with corrupt
tendencies. "Power corrupts" is an old saying.
Political parties must develop a system of lowering the level of corruption
within the party and in the system of governance. It should be their agenda
number one, if we want to march towards creation of prosperity.
India is among the ten most corrupt countries. This conclusion has come out
in a number of surveys conducted during last few years. As a country we are
acquiring greater 'efficiency' in institutionalising corruption at all
layers of society. Various departments of government, be they Central,
state or, local, are competing with one another in the art of graft.
Corruption has been present in all societies in varying degrees and variety
of forms. No country call claim to be free from corruption. Therefore, the
level of corruption is important which decides the quality of life of the
people of the country concerned. Minimum acceptable moral standard relating
to corruption defines the level of human decency, which in turn permits a
tolerable quality of social life. India as a country is certainly moving
below the line of honesty. Certain individuals, groups, districts and few
states may be above the line, but that is hardly any consolation. Common
people have to suffer at the hands of corrupt elements. How corruption
degrades, humiliates and effects the whole personality is commonly
experienced and understood in our country.
Political corruption is by far the most dangerous because of its
multidimensional repercussions. It retards or even stops developmental
activities. This retardation we have seen in states like UP and virtual
stopping of all developmental activities is the direct result of political
corruption in Bihar for decades. There is a fancy theory that in developing
economies, corruption accelerates growth. In some states, growth might
have taken place in spite of corruption because of the other thrusts. But
certainly political corruption cannot contribute to the growth of the
economy in any positive way. In certain cases if governmental brakes have
been released through corruption in the culture of licence, quota raj, it
is altogether a different form of negative contribution.
Political corruption degenerates the moral fibre of society. It destroys
the trust which is a basic ingredient of decent satisfying life and growth.
Celebrated writer Francis Fukuyama has written a voluminous book titled
Trust - The Social Virtues And The Creation of Prosperity. In the very
introduction he said, "Thus, economic activity represents a crucial part of
social life and is knit together by a wide variety of norms, rules, moral
obligations, and other habits that together shape the society. As this book
will show, one of the most important lessons we can learn from an
examination of economic life is that a nation's well-being ... is
conditioned by a single, pervasive cultural characteristic: The level of
trust inherent in the society".
What is the impact of corruption on the social scenario in India? Crores of
businessmen, including hawkers, have been suffering it at the hands of a
number of inspectors.
The police department. has mastered the art of extracting money from the
people. Police, postings are sold and purchased. The nexus between police,
criminals and politicians is being increasingly visible.
------------------------------
Title : Advani flays CPI(M), multinationals
Author : Staff Reporter
Publication : The Hindu
Date: October 15, 1997
PALAKKAD, Oct. 14.
The industrial base built up by the country over the last several
decades is being destroyed by the large-scale opening up of the nation's
economy to multinational companies by the Narasimha Rao regime and
others from 1991-92, the BJP leader, Mr. L. K. Advani, alleged here
today.
Addressing a convention of paddy farmers organised by the party, Mr.
Advani said that when the policy of liberalisation was introduced by the
then Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Rao regime had claimed
that this would take the country forward. The Bharatiya Janata Party
then supported it, hoping that this would put an end to the vicious
`licence raj'. However, the BJP immediately backtracked, as it could not
be a party to any step that would undercut the cause of self-reliance
and ``Swadeshi''.
He said there were many political parties and even industrialists who
had then ridiculed the BJP for opposing liberalisation, and accusing the
party of being obscurantist and backward-looking. They were arguing that
the whole world was becoming a global village in the aftermath of
liberalisation. But now, after five years of liberalisation, most of the
political parties and industrialists were realising the dangers of the
entry of multinationals into this country, he said.
The BJP leader said India made a mistake in following the Soviet model
which failed everywhere. Now we were making another mistake by looking
up to the United States as a model for development. Instead, we should
follow the Gandhian theory of promoting the national economy and
encouraging the `Swadeshi' movement to make the country self-reliant and
prosperous, he said.
Mr. Advani said though the BJP and the former Jana Sangh opposed many of
the policies of Mahatma Gandhi, the party stalwart, the late Deen Dayal
Upadhyaya, had fully backed the Swadeshi movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He
was for the Gandhian policy of production by the masses, and not for
mass production by the multinationals.
The BJP leader came down heavily on the Left, particularly the Communist
Party of India (Marxist), for ``becoming the sole agent of a
multinational company, by selling their products through the
Government-owned public distribution outlets, at a time when their
products were boycotted by the traders of Kerala for their failure to
have a fair deal.'' (The reference was to Hindustan Lever).
Mr. Advani said the Soviet experiment was a failure. India followed the
Soviet model much to its own disadvantage. Its rulers from Jawaharlal
Nehru to I. K. Gujral focussed attention on industrial and trade
sectors. The agriculture sector was largely ignored, despite the fact
that farmers formed the backbone of this country. There was no talk yet
on improving the agricultural sector, he said.
Referring to the recent agitation by pro-Marxist agriculture labourers
against conversion of paddy fields for other purposes in some parts of
the State, which saw destruction of crops in some areas, the BJP
President said this only proved once again that the Communist ideology
was basically anti-farmer. ``The farmers have no place in their scheme
of things. They stress only on industrial workers and industrial
production'', Mr. Advani said.
``In no other State except the Communist-ruled Kerala are the crops of
farmers being destroyed by labourers organising themselves as gangs. The
farmers are forced to convert paddy fields because paddy cultivation has
become uneconomical here. There is a law against such conversion in the
State. The government should have strictly implemented it. Instead,
party workers took law into their hands, and attacked farmers. This is
yet another example of the anti-farmer attitude of the Communists'', he
said.
The paddy farmers' convention was inaugurated by the BJP State
president, Mr. Sreedharan Master. The Karshaka Morcha president Mr.
Purushothaman, presided. The BJP parliamentary board member Mr. O.
Rajagopal, and others spoke.
Later, the BJP president addressed a public meeting at Fort Maidan here.
------------------------------
Date: October 17, 1997
Source: Hindustan Times
BJP to stake claim if UP Govt falls
LUCKNOW, Oct. 16 (HT Correspondent)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being the single largest party the BJP would immediately stake claim to form
the Government in case the coalition fails and the Government falls in Uttar
Pradesh. However, the party would never indulge in horse-trading nor cause
defection in any party to mobilise support for gaining majority on the floor
of the House.
Announcing this at a Press conference here today, newly-elected BJP State
president Raj Nath Singh, however, expressed confidence that the coalition
Government would complete its full term and the misunderstanding s, if any,
would be sorted out through discussion and negotiation between senior
leaders of the two coalition partners-the BJP and the BSP.
Mr Singh ruled out the possibility of a co-ordination committee for the
smooth running of the Government since the party did not want to dilute the
authority of the Chief Minister in any manner. Faith and belief in each
other, besides credibility, were the basic requirements for running a
coalition Government, he said adding that so far there had no reason to feel
that the BSP would withdraw support to the BJP.
Replying to a question, the State BJP president said that the BSP had
categorically promised that the Oct. 15 dharnas and demonstrations organised
by it would be aimed at educating people about the provisions of the SC/ST
Act and none of its ministers would participate in the rallies etc. However,
he was not aware that senior BSP Minister R. K Chaudhary had taken part in
the BSP-sponsored demonstration but at the same time clarified that he would
take up the issue with the BSP leaders if it had happened.
Strongly condemning those who were dubbing Mr Kalyan Singh as anti-Dalit, Mr
Singh said that neither the BJP nor the Chief Minister needed anybody's
certificate in this regard. One should not forget that the maximum number of
SC/ST and Dalit MPs, MLAs and MLCs were from the BJP, he added.
Construction of a magnificent Ram temple at Ayodhya was the commitment of
his party and the BJP would not hesitate, if so required, to introduce a
legislation to pave the way for the temple construction.
------------------------------
Date: October 17, 1997
Source: Indian Express
Advani won't seek third term, asserts Mahajan
MUMBAI, OCT 16: Bharatiya Janata Party general
secretary Pramod Mahajan today said L K Advani
would not seek a third term as party president.
Speaking at the felicitation of Kirit Somaiyya,
who was today elected as president of the Bombay
unit of the party for a second term, Mahajan said
his party constitution clearly stated that no
individual would be given a third term in any
given office after two consecutive turns at the
job.
There was tremendous pressure from many workers to
bend the rules for Advani. He had himself
forbidden all such talk and there was no way he
would authorise amending the constitution for an
individual, Mahajan said. The poll process at the
national level had been postponed by a couple of
months for various reasons and his tenure as
general secretary would as well last only until
then, he added.
Speaking in lucid Hindi, the BJP leader forecast a
mid-term election before the next Budget session
of Parliament and predicted a sweeping majority
for his party which he said would form the next
government at the Centre.Setting at rest
speculation that Advani's tenure as party
president was essential to win the next elections,
the BJP general secretary said his was the only
party which had the confidence to hold
organisational elections every two years in the
assurance that the body of the party was strong
enough to push the engine of the individual
appointed as president. The effort everywhere was
to ensure that in the organisational polls,
individuals did not come to clashes and bring the
situation to a need for voting. BJP presidents at
different levels in the Centre, state and
districts were the first among equals he said and
decried the incident in the Thane unit of the BJP
where two contestants brought the situation to
such a state that there was need for an election.
``We do not want democracy. We want unity. If a
person is elected by consensus, party unity is
maintained. If an election is necessitated
democracy prevails but then it weakens the party
which might later splinter into different
groups,'' Mahajan said.
He also indicated that Somaiyya would not get a
repeat third term as the city unit president of
the party. ``The old and the new go hand in hand
in any party. I am in between. But our party has
always believed in giving a chance to the younger
generation while at the same time being humble
before our elders,'' he said and warned Somaiyya
that his second two year tenure would be the most
crucial one in the party as it was on the
threshold of a crucial mid-term poll on which the
BJP rested all its hopes.
------------------------------
End of bjp-l-digest V1 #402
***************************