KISAAN RALLY AMIDST SUICIDES BY FARMERS (18/04/2015)

After the jan-sansad on Jantar Mantar by farmers and a two day dharna by Anna Hazare in protest of the proposed Land Acquisition Bill in the third week of March, Congress too has jumped in, albeit quite late, to shed its crocodile tears for the Indian farmers. This week huge hoardings of Sonia and Rahul came up at every nook and corner of the NCR, appealing farmers to assemble at the Ramlila Ground tomorrow (19^th April)- “Kisanon kee aawaaz na dabee hai aur na ise hum dabane denge” (Voice of farmers have never been muzzled nor will we let anyone muzzle it)- resolves the party. However, the resolve carries no weight among people, far less among the farmers, for whom it is meant, as I could judge from the mood and reaction of general public. The show is destined to be a damp squib. People are not interested in this rally as they know that it more of a re-launch event for Rahul (version 2) post his 58 days hibernation, rather than show of solidarity for the farmer’s issues. That the “rajkumar” has returned from a well spent holiday on foreign shores in the garb of self introspection is also well known to public. Congress is completely cut off from ground realities. It’s a pity that it refuses to come out of its safe cocoon and has turned a blind eye to the fact that today they are on a different turf and in a different time. You can fool some people for some time but not all the people for all the time. How can they still take people for granted is what amazes me. Do they really consider people so stupid?

Farmers and issues related to farm automatically becomes the favourite political tool of the party in opposition- this is understood by even the most innocent of farmer. In the Hindi-heartland farming is pursued only by them who don’t have a better option. No wonder there is large scale exodus of farmers from Hindi heartland to metropolitan in search of jobs, since farming no longer remains a profitable and sustainable career. This is a serious poser for our policy makers, who need to look into the issue that is marring the Indian Agriculture and forcing farmers towards suicide. Neither the previous regime nor the present regime has been able to tackle one single issue of farmers’ suicides, let alone addressing other grave issues that the Indian agriculture faces today. The Ministry, institutions like ICAR and State Agricultural Universities and the NGOs associated with agriculture and agricultural research have not been able to come up with one single techniques of sustainable agriculture that makes agriculture a sustainable career so as to check farmers’ migration to metropolitan in search of a livelihood or that addresses the issue of farmers’ suicide.  The nation’s image is built up internationally not on what our leaders have to say on international forums, but on how they succeed in tackling issues back home. And the failure of successive Governments in controlling and stopping farmers from committing suicide puts the caliber of our leaders and the pride of our nation in the dock, internationally and makes them a butt of ridicule. It only reveals the extent of our poverty- poverty of the nation in economic terms as well as poverty of leaders in terms of vision to tackle national problems. A slogan such as “Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan” no longer infuses any positivity in farmers. We need to do something substantial for their welfare.

MAKE IN INDIA VERSUS MADE IN CHINA (11/04/2015)

Two neon sign-boards on shops on the Naiwala Road in Karol Bag drew my attention. Karol bag is a big market of imitation products. One of the boards declared: “Hamare yahan China se bhee saste daam par saamaan milate hain” (We sell stuff at a cost lower than China). The claim appeared quite amusing. Chinese have been able to price their product at a cost lesser than the Indian product, thereby giving Indian entrepreneurs a run for their money. Hence the fact that Indian industry was able to finally sell its product, in their own domestic market, at a cost lower than the China’s, was an achievement that this sign board claimed! Isn’t it black comedy? The second neon sign-board was even more amusing. “Hamare yahan china se bhee achche quality ke saamaan milte hain” (We sell stuff of a better quality than Chinese stuff). It is a widely accepted fact that Chinese products are never acknowledged for their quality or workmanship. The fact that off late Chinese products have come to pose a challenge to Indian products, even in terms of quality and sturdiness, leave aside the price, was news to me, as this board appeared to convey. At a time when the present regime aims to usher in a second “Industrial Revolution”, after the failure of the “socialistic economy based “First Industrial Revolution” of the fifties and sixties, through its “Make in India” campaign, which has been launched with much fanfare, the threat from the dragon economy just across the border is quite real and imposing. It has the gall to challenge the Indian industry on its domestic turf without making a noise, unlike the present regime which makes much noise of its projects and schemes that have remained high on publicity and low in actual content. It’s wake up time for the Indian policy makers.

DELHI ON A HEAP OF DUNG-HILL (04/04/2015)

The week witnessed animated discussion among regular commuters of the chartered belonging to the two leading political parties of Delhi- the AAP and the BJP. The issue of discussion was the on-going strike (hartal) of the safaai karamchaaries (sanitation workers) of the three municipal corporations of Delhi and the resultant mess that the city finds itself. Delhi today sits on a dung hill of garbage. It is unbelievable that it is the same Delhi which presented a picture perfect just a year back. ‘Chamchamaati dilli aaj gandhaati dilli ban gayi hai’- commented a commuter. As things stand today every chowk, chaubara, nook and corner of the city has become a dumping ground of garbage both biodegradable and other wise causing immense stink and foul smell wherever you go. The scenario gives a hands down to the BJP initiated government funded “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan”. Is it the picture of the “smart city” that Mr. Modi dreams of and thinks of showcasing internationally as part of his “Make in India” campaign? Friends, welcome to the 21^st century India. Just a couple of weeks back every VIP worth his pinstripe suit, wielding the broom, were busy in photo shoots to project their ‘concern’ for a clean Delhi. I wonder what happened to that ‘resolve’.  Now when the sanitation workers have gone off the streets on an indefinite strike, none of these VIPs are available to clean the city. As the strike enters second week Delhi has come to resemble Patna with dung-hill of garbage heaped at every chowk, making a mockery of both the BJP and the AAP, who considered they to be better ruler than the previous regime. Today both these dispensation are unable to even run a city properly. Such amateurish attitude wasn’t expected of them. Now that the executive have proved a complete in providing basic civic amenities to its citizen, shouldn’t the Court intervene to set matters right? Should that happen, can the Government claim to wield the same authority to question judicial intervention in matters where the executive has failed in its duty?