Importing Disasters and playing with National Security?

From Russia with Love

MG Devasahayam

The Russian roulette is a ‘lethal game of chance’ in which a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against someone’s head, and pulls the trigger. This was the game that ‘dacoit’ Gabbar Singh played in the blockbuster Sholay. Once the trigger is pulled, life or death of the person is entirely a matter of chance.

The Russians have been playing out this game in India for over four decades. First was the introduction of the unsafe Russian MiG-21 fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force. These aircraft numbering around 900 are indeed lethal because half of them have been involved in fatal crashes. The IAF is still sticking to these ‘wings of death’ due to deliberate delays in the induction of the indigenous light combat aircraft.

Things have come to such a pass that a senior IAF officer, Wing Commander Sanjeet Singh Kaila, has filed a petition in Delhi High Court, contending that flying a MiG-21 amounted to “violation of his fundamental right to life” under Article 21 of the Constitution. He has done this because a flight exercise in 2005 went awry; he has been rendered unfit for flying and even day-to-day tasks due to debilitating neck and back pain. For all airmen flying MiG-21 and the soldiers they support, it would continuously be a ‘lethal game of chance’.

Admiral Gorshkov, an unsafe Russian second-hand aircraft carrier was renamed INS

Vikramaditya in 2004 and contracted for around Rs. 4600 crore for refurbishing and retrofitting, to be delivered in 2008. It was still invisible in 2012, by which time the price had gone up to Rs 12,000 crore. By the middle of that year, when the aircraft carrier was put on sea trial, ‘it spectacularly failed’ with eight of the nine boilers breaking down, with their firebrick insulations evaporating due to the high temperature generated. The ship had to be cut open to replace the boilers and other major repairs. This meant additional cost and the final delivery price (if at all delivered) could be a staggering Rs 16,000 crore! On 4 July, an announcement was made that final trials of the carrier were set to begin in Russia on 10 July. Media reports quoting sources say that if all goes according to plan it could be delivered in another five months. Even then it would be no more than a floating junk masquerading as modern-day aircraft carrier. For the sailors who would man this carrier it could be a continuous ‘lethal game of chance’.

Almost to the day, a game far more lethal was played out on the southern tip of India when India’s nuclear establishment did the sriganesham for the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) – making it go critical – on 12/13 July. This is the first of the two 1000 MWe VVER nuclear reactors supplied by the Russian atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, through its subsidiary, Atomstroyexport. Crucial materials and reactor parts including safety subsystems, equipment and components have been sourced from the ZiO-Podolsk, another Rosatom subsidiary.

The reactor and other core equipment had arrived at the site by mid-2005 and KKNPP was originally scheduled to start commercial operation in 2007. Active protest against the plant was shortlived and there has been no restraint order from the courts. Yet, despite announcing several deadlines by the Prime Minister, Minister of State in PMO and nuclear bigwigs, there was no sign of commissioning the plant for six long years. Repeated tests had failed and everything was kept under wraps.

Despite thick layers of secrecy, the truth started surfacing when there were specific complaints on the quality of the components, systems and parts installed in KKNPP. In June 2012, there were reports of welding in the core region of the pressure vessel which was against the original design specifications. At the beginning of this year, there were reports of Russian Federal prosecutors charging and arresting the procurement officers of Zio-Podolsk for corruption in connection with the supply of substandard systems and components to nuclear power plants, including KKNPP. This included use of low quality steel in the fabrication of the reactor.

What is worse, the control and instrumentation system of the plant is suffering from serious flaws and has been tripped during tests after emanating spurious signal/noise. This has led to panic in neighbouring villages. According to World Nuclear Association, an international body that promotes nuclear business around the world, the control system documentation for KKNPP was delivered late, and when reviewed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) it showed up the need for significant refining and even reworking some aspects.

Therefore, containment structures of the reactor pressure vessel were cut open and instrumentation /control cables laid in the same tray making the system unreliable. Experts are of the view that “if the reactor is under operation and if the control and instrumentation systems are not reliable, then it would lead to a catastrophic release of energy in a short-time interval. Or the fission process can become uncontrollable and the nuclear reactor will turn into a nuclear bomb.”

Yet, the Russians and India’s nuclear establishment have brazenly played the ‘lethal game of chance’ to get this substandard and risky nuclear power plant commissioned at any cost. They have commenced the First Approach to Criticality (FAC), which is the beginning of a fission chain reaction that could make the process irreversible. This is in serious violation of the Supreme Court’s May 6 order wherein it had directed the NPCIL and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to ‘oversee and ensure quality of various components and systems in the plant and submit a report to the Court before commissioning of the plant.’ Implicit in the order, was not just the formal filing of such a report, but its perusal and approval by the Supreme Court.

However, the agencies concerned merely submitted the report secretly in a sealed envelope to the court registry and completed the FAC even before the envelope was opened by the judges. Simultaneously, the contract has been negotiated to supply two more Russian reactors (1000 MW each) at the mind-boggling price of Rs 40,000 crore which is 2.5 to 3 times of that of coal fired and wind/solar energy plants.  The quantum of kickbacks can only be imagined.

These worthies have also willingly defied the International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines which are candid and clear: “Despite all the precautions that are taken in the handling and use of fissile material there remains a possibility, while very small, that a failure (i.e. instrumentation and controls, electrical, mechanical or operational errors) or an incident may give rise to a criticality accident. In some cases, this may give rise to exposure or the release of radioactive materials within the facility and/or into the environment, which may necessitate emergency response actions. Adequate preparations should be established and maintained at local and national levels and, where agreed between States, at the international level to respond to nuclear or radiological emergencies”.

First the Air Force, then the Navy and now the mass of people themselves are the victims on whom the ‘Russian roulette’ is being played. Potential victims are soldiers, sailors, airmen and millions of farmers and fisher-folk living in the vicinity of KKNPP. The sectors involved are the most sensitive of all ~ defence and nuclear. The questions that arise are: who is spinning the cylinder, who is placing the muzzle and who is looting the exchequer even at the risk of national security and human lives?

THE WRITER IS A RETIRED IAS OFFICER

Indian Politicians: Pakistan's Proxy Soldiers

 

RSN Singh

Col. Purohit of the Military Intelligence was implicated for his association with ‘Abhinav Bharat’, an organization labelled by the authorities as progenitor of so-called ‘Hindu Terror’. It is another matter that more than 50 officers of the Army in the Court of Inquiry have vouched for the fact that he had kept all the relevant authorities in loop regarding his infiltration into the said organization. The officer also had very successfully infiltrated the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and was regularly invited by the Maharashtra ATS to conduct lectures on IM and LeT.

A fortnight before 26/11, Col Purohit was arrested. As a consequence the Military Intelligence of India was intimidated and paralyzed. Was it to facilitate the attack on Mumbai by the LeT?

Now there is an attack on the core of internal security, i.e. Intelligence Bureau of India. Its sin being that it provided ‘specific intelligence’ with regard to the plans by an itinerate module comprising four LeT terrorists, two Pakistanis and also an Indian woman Ishrat Jahan to kill the Chief Minister of a state of Union of India.

It is another matter that this Chief Minister happens to be Narendra Modi. The dispensation in Delhi seems to convey ‘death to Modi, long live LeT’. The love or fear of LeT has impelled the quarters to consciously wreck the internal security apparatus of the country.

Even as the embers of the targeting of the IB fly in and outside the country, an Inspector of Punjab Police, Surjit Singh, has claimed that he has carried out 83 fake encounters at the behest of his bosses during the ‘Sikh Freedom Movement’. The timing of the smote on the conscience and the moral churning process of this Inspector clearly indicates the identity of his benefactors. The ISI’s desperate bid to revive militancy in Punjab through its strategic arm LeT has been widely reported in the media. This seems to be yet another attempt by the ISI and LeT to destroy the security apparatus in Punjab so as to make uncontested in-roads.

 The targets have been carefully selected i.e the Military Intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau and the state police forces, which includes the Gujarat Police, where nearly a dozen officers have been hounded and intimidated by the Center.

The only officer who has found favour of the Center  was  the one demanding a Black Berry phone from a political party to settle political scores.

The common enemy of these agencies is the LeT. It is the same LeT (Markaz-e-Taiba), which has received Rs. 61 million from the Punjab government in Pakistan as grant-in-aid in the current fiscal. The tragedy is that it is not only Pakistan establishment which grovels to the head of LeT, Hafiz Saeed, but the Indian establishment as well.

The love or fear of LeT has impelled the quarters to consciously wreck the internal security apparatus of the country.

Ishrat Jahan, a 19 year old girl from Mumbai was killed with LeT terrorists in Ahmedabad in an encounter on 15 June 2004. The family members in hindsight allege that Ishrat was ‘abducted’ by the IB. It is queer that once she went missing her family members did not deem it fit to lodge an FIR with the Mumbai Police. Their inaction and silence on the issue can also be construed that the links with LeT run much deeper and wider.

The dispensation by attacking the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Rajendra Kumar, has attacked the core of India’s internal security intelligence. All for whom, but the LeT!

Mr Rajendra Kumar’s failing has been his being professional and conscientious. In that, he acquired intelligence from ‘sources’, informed the higher-ups in Delhi, which includes his seniors and in-turn the Ministry of Home Affairs. His main failing however was that, in the process, he was not saving a Chief Minister but Narendra Modi. If he had acted in the same manner to save the life of some privileged ‘democratic-monarchs’ of the country, he would have been awarded Padma Vibhushan and in the case of highest monarch a ‘ Bharat Ratna.’ After all the same dispensation rewarded Mr Brajesh Mishra with Padma Vibushan for his Boston rescue operation of the ‘Yuvraj’. Readers with little research can know the truth.

Never before in the history of India, an IB or R&AW official was asked to submit before the CBI for interrogation  on professional matters. Is it a ploy to unravel the entire intelligence framework of the country?

This author who served with R&AW would have preferred to kill himself rather than submit to the CBI for interrogation of sensitive matters that are vital to Indian security interests. If this author were the head of the IB, the Special Director would report to the CBI over his dead body. The CBI has absolutely no competence to interrogate an IB and R&AW official on matters of internal and external security. By sheer level of politicization, the mediocre content of the job of the CBI, it is ill-equipped to deal with IB and R&AW officials.

If the CBI cannot be trusted with Arushi murder case or the Nithari case pertaining to Moninder Singh Pandher, what is its credibility! The whole world knows the truth in these cases sans the CBI. Can the Prime Minister at the current stage of his life cross his heart and vouch that he does not know the truth in these two cases? How has suddenly the CBI become the repository of the national conscience, which includes the IB and the R&AW?

The IB has been pitted against the CBI. In the case of blasts in Malegaon in 2006, the NIA has been pitted against the Maharastra ATS and the CBI. And earlier in Col Purohit’s case the Mahrastra ATS was pitted against the Military Intelligence. The effect of the orchestrated attrition is already beginning to tell.

This systematic destruction of India’s internal security apparatus is not only for vote-bank politics as most commentators are suggesting. Of course the Modi-phobia is a factor but not the sole reason. It has a larger dimension which is evident from the nervousness displayed by the dispensation with regard to ISI, Hafiz Saeed and David Headley.

Do they know too much?

Were they used to stage 26/11 to counter Jehadi terror by creating the spectre of ‘Hindu Terror’? How does David Headley have the gumption to abuse Indian interrogators? Are the services of the ISI and LeT being obtained to influence vote-bank politics? Are the LeT and the ISI asking too much in return? These are questions which readers must ponder upon.

While the readers do so, their benchmark should be the fact that if Ajmal Kasab had not developed cold feet and caught alive, all preparations has been made to label 26/11 as act of ‘Hindu Terror’. Books to this effect were pre-written and the choice of the Chief Guest decided. Till today nobody has questioned as to how an unconstitutional authority was in  indirect communication with the Maharastra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, and eliciting sensitive security details. If this politician cannot explain this he should be treated like any other terrorist.

For matters of national security the relationship between all the intelligence organizations of the States and the Centre is both vertical and horizontal. Flow of intelligence is not only from top to down but in the reverse order too. Moreover, there is lateral sharing as well. The multiplicity of agencies has its benefits in terms of overlap, corroboration and coverage. By targeting the IB, the Military Intelligence, the state security apparatus of Gujarat and the previous Maharastra ATS, the dispensation has intimidated the entire intelligence network of India.  India is now an open and defenseless target. The traitors as of now have prevailed!

No intelligence official now will provide or share information with the same degree of sincerity and patriotism. The  Indian intelligence community is now a scared community. Nationalism and patriotism have become criminal attributes. Things have gone so anti-national that the most sensitive information was being leaked by the CBI pertaining details of Ishrat Jahan case and there were media houses, flaunting documents, which should have been only for the consumption of Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The Pakistan or the ISI connection of some of these news channels  and journalists is too well known.

Ishrat Jahan and her associates were nothing but tools of proxy war by Pakistan. Anybody with a modicum of understanding of terrorism will understand that the role of Ishrat was to act as suicide-bomber, as revealed by David Headley. There are any number of such modules waiting to strike. Rajiv Gandhi too was eliminated by eliciting the services of one such suicide bomber through the aegis of LTTE. This could not have happened without unsuspecting facilitators within.

India should realize that this is an era of proxy wars. A civilized country to retain its civility has to fight with uncivilized ‘proxy soldiers’, the kind of Ishrat Jahan. In this proxy war, which is also referred to as ‘intelligence wars’, the role of intelligence agencies is predominant. In dealing with such adversaries, there are methods, which have been used in the past to bring back civility, whose peace dividends people of India including the politicians, the civil activists and the vocal media continue to enjoy. One such region is the Punjab province of India. The dispensation at the behest and blackmail of external enemies has by design destroyed the entire internal security apparatus assiduously built over the years for the LeT and vote-bank politics.

India now stands exposed. Whenever there is the next blast or terrorist attack don’t expect too much from Indian intelligence framework. It stands intimidated and unravelled. It will be extremely difficult for the Indian security apparatus to recover from this wreck.

The ISI and LeT have won!

______________________________________

RSN Singh is a former military intelligence officer who later served in the Research and Analysis Wing, or R&AW. He is the author of two books: 'Asian Strategic and Military Perspective' and 'Military Factor in Pakistan'.

Disasters Come Disasters Go – Part 2

Lt Gen (Retd) Prakash Katoch.

Chief Secretay, Uttrakhand has eventually been permitted by his boss to make a statement that the death toll in the disaster may raise to 3000. This is still far from the truth and full eight days after Al Jazeera announced that the death toll is likely to be 6000 or more. Vijay Bahugana and Co conveniently discounted that, obviously scared of more brickbats for this mammoth avoidable loss of lives. The coterie would have continued to do so were in not for the pro-active media, reporting live from the disaster area that there are “thousands of bodies lying along the riverside”. Then, persons interviewed live said that the government list was falsely showing their relatives alive who were missing ever since disaster struck. Bahugana would have loved to stick to the figures of bodies actually cremated, which was perhaps the briefing to Shinde on orders of high command. The usual game being; release the figures slowly, playing time till other events overtake the issue.  The actual numbers may well exceed beyond 6000 but do numbers really matter? It does not affect fund collection and less the official deaths, less the need of disbursing relief. Part of the collection can go towards party fund / elections with no questions asked. Can someone investigate what funds were collected and what relief was distributed when 10,000 people perished in Latur during 1993?

The ping-pong about no advance warning about this disaster is reminiscent of the Sheila-Shinde ping-pong tournament during the Nirbhaya rape case, only difference being then it was about safety of women and law and order in Delhi and now it is about advance warning for this horrendous disaster. In the previous case, all promises of quick justice are forgotten despite other states having accorded speedy death sentences to rapists for crimes committed later then Nirbhaya. Perhaps it may happen in conjunction announcing general elections for better effect or even delayed further if some of these fellows have political links. Meanwhile, rapes are continuing in Delhi with same periodicity as before though date for the next Sheila-Shinde Ping Pong Tournament is undecided. As per media, not one single pie has been used from the much publicized Rupees 1 Crore Nirbhaya Fund to-date. Obviously, if it remains unutilized, it can be merged into the party fund or perhaps be made prize money for the Sheila-Shinde type of tournaments.

But coming back to the disaster in UK (Uttrakhandis refer to their states as UK), look at the ridiculousness of the ping-pong blame game between the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Indian Metrological Department (IMD) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). One wonders if these numerous blame-game reports are not the handiwork of the government spin doctors to divert attention and fool the public. To start with, all three are government organizations but the issue not being discussed at all is that going by all media reports, the tragedy occurred because of two cloud bursts. Now, Chinese can make artificial rain and perhaps temporarily stop rain, as was purportedly done during Beijing Olympics, but even China cannot predict cloud bursts. So why is the public being fooled with the nonsensical arguments like no advance warning having been given about formation of ice atop some lake dome? How is this connected with cloud bursts? Locals are clearly berating the authorities live on TV that this is an avoidable environmental disaster purely because of the callousness of the authorities, but neither Manmohan nor Bahugana have the guts to admit. The finger clearly points to the complete lack of Environment Safety and preparation for Disaster Response. What the Congress fails to realize is that admitting the lapse closely followed announcing short, medium and long-term measures coupled with focused implementation would actually get them more votes rather than beating about the bushes, hoping the dust will blur population vision. The CAG warning earlier this year of Uttrakahnd being unprepared for disaster is no secret. Manmohan chairing NDMA must take the blame. While organizing and equipping the NDRF is one issue, more importantly, prevention of such natural disasters has to be planned and implemented upon by NDMA in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment – both under the Prime Minister. There is no doubt that consecutive state governments are also to blame but the major share for this disaster lies fairly and squarely with the Central Government.    

It is time the Congress, for a change, starts inducting professionals into niche areas like NDMA where lives of citizens are involved irrespective of the fact that mango people (read aam aadmi) lives don’t matter to the political hierarchy. The Mail Today in its edition of 26 Jun 2013 reports that the NDMA has reappointed four of its members with the status of Minister of State. The NDMA Vice Chairman, an MLA from Andhra Pradesh has been continuing in his post since 2005 with the status of a Cabinet Minister. How long will this you scratch mine, I scratch yours collective looting and passing the buck game carry on? It is time for the public to start asking questions and take the government to task. And, by ‘professionals’, one does not imply Kanimozhi type of experience picked up in Tihar Jail.  

Now let us take this business of civilian helicopters hired by the government and civilian operators fleecing lakhs of rupees per individual for getting them out of the area. This is what the media reports. Now it is also being circulated that government has ‘taken to task such operators’. So who is fooling whom? Surely, these private companies had not opened ticketing counters in the disaster area pick up points. Neither would the pilots know in advance who they are picking up. The hapless victims could not have had such cash in the disaster area. So, the only explanation is that the officials / personnel who were prioritizing the airlift through civilian helicopters were in league, collected whatever cash they could and took undertakings of paying balance at the other end while according priority. Such a brutality could not be possible without the police-private operator nexus, and maybe politicians at whatever levels. 

The problem with our government is that we still do not understand the power of both media and social media, though China too learnt it the hard way. Whatever little vestige of sincerity to help the Congress wanted to show was washed away with the televised scuffle between Congress MP Hanumantha Rao and two TDP MPs at Dehradun airport over taking out the flood victims by air. As per the reporter on the spot, air tickets of some of the hapless passengers were even torn by Hanumantha Rao’s goons. Then was the Congress-BJP war of words over the visits to disaster area by Modi and Rahul, and Digvijay Singh repeating Rahul had gone on foot while media clips showed him travelling by helicopter. Worst was a man shouting live at Rahul (perhaps at Gaucher) that here we have not had anything to eat for days and why this man is accompanied by 50 people. This clip was repeated twice before being blacked out. What Congress should realize is that it is not possible to fool the population anymore with the vibrant media in action, no matter how much pressure you put on media houses. This lesson should have been learnt when the so called trip by Rahul to the poor and staying the night in a village was orchestrated during the last UP elections. The arrangements that were made for his travel and night stay are well known. As for the recent trip to the disaster area, the DG ITBP has already disclosed that the entire ITBP camp was vacated just for a 10 minute halt of Rahul.  

Congress may also do well to overhaul its media managers. Despite the terrible disaster, the prime time on TV channels has nothing but Modi and Modi. Even Arnab Goswami appears rattled with the type of pressure on media houses. Aside from one or two BJP participants, he chooses all others who will pounce on the BJP and gives hardly any time for BJP participants to respond. Some of the Congress and allies participants are proving their foolishness for all to see, one fellow even saying Modi has ‘demoralized’ the army by visiting the disaster area. Some prior briefing could perhaps help prevent them putting their foot into own mouth. Because if this continues, the Americans may shut down their Bigfoot Field Research Organization founded in 1995 and drag these fellows into their zoos. Talk to the man on the nukkad and they laugh. One even said that just the mention of Modi is like a cat entering the poultry, with the Congress running for cover like chicken! So, get over the Modi paranoia and stand on your own feet.

 

 

Brazenness Glorified

Karan Kharb

 

In the recent history, Mahatma Gandhi was undoubtedly the true representative of India’s culture of high ethics and morality in public life.  He practised and preached virtuous conduct by leaders and set personal example by leading a frugal life wholly dedicated to national-social Cause. He personified virtues like Truth, Ahimsa, Satyagraha, Abstinence and Self-sacrifice to such a degree that if you removed these from his persona, there would be no Gandhi. Always more concerned about the masses, he never distinguished his kith and kin from them. He bequeathed to them no real estate, no coalmines nor any succession decrees to perpetuate his dynastic hold. All they could inherit was his legacy of simplicity, truth, dedication to serve the lowest and willingness to sacrifice. In material terms, he lived like a hermit and died a pauper.

Is Bapu really dead and gone? The reality is he never died and continues to live forever – but only at Rajgaht and in the hearts of the poor and the exploited Indians. Only those who proclaim to be his followers and encash him every five years raising slogans in his name hack him daily. There is none in our political spectrum today who practises even a fraction of Bapu’s teachings.  Nevertheless, sunk in luxury and allegations, they all shamelessly swear by Gandhi’s name and invoke it from time to time for personal safety and gain.  

Politically, we have come a full circle since 15 August 1947. The clan of politicians he thought would be ‘servants of the people’ have evolved into a gang of self-serving masters. Since their tryst with Destiny on that day, they have systematically decimated value systems and assumed absolute control of our destinies and fortunes. Khadi, then a symbol of simplicity, now symbolises power and arrogance. Bapu fought to demolish the age-old walls of untouchability and communal divide. They now fight to raise walls and dig trenches to divide India along caste and communal lines to own assured territories where they grow votes irrigated by blood and fertilised by mutual animosity.  The principle of ‘Divide and Rule’ was never practised better. The British need to take lessons from modern India! Ministers then accepted ‘moral responsibility’ for failures or misdeeds of their subordinates and submitted themselves before law voluntarily.  Today, they laugh away morals and seek shelter of law. Some are so brazen that they defend their misconduct by advancing arguments like, ‘….forget about morals and ethics, tell me how it is illegal!’

Writing in ‘The Hindu’ AG Noorani once said, “We have moved far from the early days of independence when Rajaji described the tribe (politicians) as gentlemen without any ostensible means of livelihood who can be rounded up by any magistrate on a charge of vagrancy.” Those were the days when politics was not a ‘career’ but ‘a challenge, a mission, a resolve to renounce and serve.’ Today, the politicians are already a majestic class to make magistrates jump from their seats and salute them instead. Politics is undoubtedly the most lucrative career in India today.

The data compiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on 1370 re-elected MLAs and 200 re-elected MPs shows that “the average income and assets of India’s 100 richest legislators grew by 745% between two consecutive elections or five years. The hike in personal wealth for legislators in this category ranges from two to 25 times.” (Aon Hewitt’s annual salary increase survey says the salary of CEOs of India’s top 87 multi-national companies increased by about 20% in 2012). While public welfare and reform bills linger in the Parliament from session to session, bills concerning MPs’ own welfare like salary and benefits are enacted without debate within three days doling out more than three-fold enhancements to themselves even as soldiers fighting treacherous climate and enemy wait for their legitimate dues.

Is this what ‘WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA’ had resolved to constitute India into? The question is real and craves for an answer. Sixty-seven years since FREEDOM, independence has not yet crossed over eastern bank of the Yamuna where in the wake of the river’s raging fury an uncomplaining Raju and his neighbours just wrap up whatever is left of their jhuggi and rags and shift to a higher garbage mound.  Nor has the 21^st Century touched ground in Dandakaranya in Chhatisgarh,  Gunupur in Odisha, Pulpur in J&K or Gunnur in Andhra Pradesh.

For the poor, justice delivery was faster in pre-independence India.  For the rich, justice delivery – slower the better – is now more responsive to money. The callous, corrupt and inefficient government officials had tough time in the olden days.  Now, it is the honest and efficient who have a tough time facing wrath of their Indian lords. People then died of starvation only in times of famine or epidemic.  Today, they still die of starvation even as mountains food grain rots in gross neglect under rains. New-born babies and patients today die not for want of facility but because of criminal neglect like malfunctioning equipment, unhygienic wards and, more horrifically, sweepers officiating for doctors in Government hospitals. Even in Somalia, we don’t find such examples of neglect and impunity. Free India has strayed in a strange morass where the exploiters have a free run while the law-abiding, sincere and efficient have to wade through heavy odds. Institutions and systems of governance have become utterly dysfunctional.  How far will we allow this to go on?

Numerous CAG reports made headlines in the recent years in exposing corruption and inefficiency that are proliferating unabated in all government departments. But the crescendo soon dies and the delinquent system resumes. The CAG report on the State Disaster Management Authority of Uttarakhand submitted in April this year exposed the criminal neglect of the Authority and the Administration that has only added to the loss of life and material in the recent Uttarakhand calamity. Agreed we cannot prevent natural calamities but the human toll and misery could have been greatly reduced by responding to the disaster in a professional way. That the authorities were caught napping is unpardonable particularly when the past history of floods, cloudbursts and landslides in the region suggested anticipation and preparedness. But who cares?

From the days of Fodder scam to Raja, Kalmadi, Coalgate and now the Uttarakhand Floodgate, we should have seen many heads rolling. What we have witnessed instead are only suspensions and transfers – a method that has come to be known as a protective arrangement for the brazenness of official delinquency rather than anything punitive in it. Fast track courts, commissions, oversight departments and institutions have only added yet another layer to the already unwieldy bureaucracy. Most such creations have already become lucrative sinecures for the retiring bureaucrats, judges and politicians.  There is neither action nor speed in the right direction.

There is a need – stronger and more urgent that ever – for sensitising everyone within our reach to abhor considerations like caste, community, quota, reservation and all parochial narrow consideration.  India must hunt for a new leadership with proven credentials: sincerity, honesty, vision and resolve to cure the malaise by ruthless action.

(Note: I must admit that I have an ambivalent view about Gandhi. Undoubtedly the most selfless of all Congressmen, he would be hard put to answer many serious questions, were he alive today! India's biggest loss in the final stages of Freedom Struggle was the sudden disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose from the scene. - Karan Kharb)

Why AFSPA May Go from J&K

Lt Gen (Retd) Prakash Katoch

That Omar Abdullah is afflicted by chronic Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) viral is no secret. The last major attack he had was in 2011 when one fine morning, he announced that the security situation in J&K was most peaceful and serene and that he would lift the AFSPA, which in turn meant the army too. Perhaps the fellow was holidaying in Iceland, Denmark or New Zealand because these countries in descending order are assessed the most peaceful in the world according to the Global Peace Index (GPI). Frequent foreign jaunts are vital for our hardworking politicians but if Omar did go, such rest and recoup was definitely warranted considering his delirious state. That India ranks 141 out of 162 countries in GPI really does not matter because J&K is so serene sine state elections were rigged in 1987, bringing papa to power. And, our neighbours across the border were so thrilled they run 40 nurseries with 24x7 flower supplies across the border. Why some stupid guys term these nurseries and flowers as terrorist camps and terrorists is beyond comprehension.

Unfortunately, three days after Omar’s enlightenment in 2011, there was this terrorist attack in Srinagar in which two policemen were killed.  But lo and behold, a rat from Omar’s poultry appeared on national TV squeaking that army was behind this attack. The sole aim of this rodent (claiming to be an MLA) was probably to sweep the party office, akin to Charandas Mahant who is ready to sweep the State Congress office on Sonia’s orders. But then Zail Singh too said if Indira Gandhi wants me sweep the floors, he would do so, and note he didn’t even clarify which floors! Well that apart, these two must be motivated witnessing domestic helps in India get elevated to such exalted positions that Hitler would turn in his grave, should someone tell him. Interestingly, Omar’s plan was to lift AFSPA and army from the five most terrorist infested areas like Kupwara. As per media reports, his fever only came down when the army told him that if he removed AFSPA and army from these areas, they would cede to Pakistan within next five years.

About a month ago, signs of Omar’s chronic viral started aggravating, with ranting of removing AFSPA getting louder. He announced on TV that he is working on Shinde, as if latter needs any working upon! When intelligence reports came of threat to Amarnath Yatra, he guffawed it away. Then Mirwaiz proclaims there is no threat to Amarnath Yatra. Does it matter if this fellow has no clue about security? With his bum-chumming in Pakistan, perhaps Hafiz Saeed appointed him Honorary Director of Terrorist Operations for Let-JuD.  In that capacity, he would know that Amarnath pilgrims would not be attacked this season. But then he can hardly vouch for Hijbul Mujahedeen (HM) also because they have better links with PDP. The most amusing part was the statement by CPI that there is no threat to Amarnath Yatra. Now where on earth would they have such briefing from – honeymooning in Beijing or conveyed with pay packets coming from China? But no one has asked Omar, why on earth is the army being used for protection of Amarnath Yatra year after year if the security situation is so peaceful?

The politician-mafia-terrorist nexus in J&K and elsewhere in India is well known. Is Omar Abdullah or Sonia-Manmohan-Salman-Shinde even bothered about the leeches in the Hurriyat who, flush with ISI money, are openly sucking up to terrorists inside Pakistan, visas facilitated by the Centre. Can Omar answer if anyone of the terrorist in J&K jails has been tried and sentenced? Recent death sentence to 10 terrorists in Bangladesh should make our politicians at the Centre and Omar hang their heads in shame. Then look at the PDP. Whenever and wherever, Mehbooba Mufti is canvassing; her inner visible circle is always known HM honchos.  Her sister Rubaiya was kidnapped within five days of her father (Mufti Mohammed Saeed) becoming Home Minister of India, with kidnappers demanding release of five hardcore terrorists. Incidentally, the kidnappers included Yasin Malik who even now travels to Pakistan to clean Hafiz Saeed’s you know what. Demands of the terrorists were met but there were pointed allegations the Mufti had orchestrated the abduction of his own daughter to facilitate release of these terrorists. Wikipedia also says that before he moved as Home Minister to Delhi, Mufti had been making many fake claims of terrorist attacks on himself.

On the eve of the Sonia-Manmohan visit to J&K, terrorists killed eight soldiers and left 14 others wounded at Hyderpora. Later, the fleeing terrorists injured a CRPF sub Inspector in another attack near Barzulla. The HM claimed responsibility for both. Whether this was an independent HM action to welcome Sonia-Manmohan or it also had the support of PDP to do down Omar’s government is anyone’s guess. During the two day Sonia-Manmohan visit there were no incidents in their proximity, as always. The politician-terrorist mafia has its own rules and guidelines. Whenever Faroukh Abdullah had occasion to unfurl the flag, the blasts were conveniently afar. SC Jamir, during his 17 year rule in Nagaland was best placed with all Naga insurgents based in Manipur, who could be summoned underhand to keep the insurgency live and kicking.

Sonia-Manmohan did inaugurate the much publicized new rail tunnel, which some TV channels aptly described as “Train to No Where”. That apart, the public should know that the security forces will never ride this train to Kashmir Valley and tourists will do so at risk to their lives. Terrorism will not die down because the military holding the reins in Pakistan will not let it happen especially with Beijing’s support and Americans looking the other way, our politicians do not want terrorism to abate, and the army cannot protect the railway line because it was not laid along the road, as it should have been, so that the road opening parties of the army also protect movement of the trains. So, the Congress might as well announce free travel to the Kashmiris in the Valley as part of ‘political largesse’ before another feather of gross inefficiency is pinned on their cap. Imagine the cost of construction of the rail bridge to Baramulla from Jammu and how many people will travel to Baramulla directly and not through Srinagar:

Let us examine, why Omar and Co get this AFSPA viral relapses? He knows full well the army will not let Pakistan annex J&K, implying backsides are secure. So, why not keep insurgencies going? After all papa’s election rigging in 1987 initiated it, he must follow dynastic legacy like other dynasties in India, it helps divert attention from misgovernance, gets more moolah from the Centre and  never has been the hassles of accountability anyway. Besides, Pakistani Military-ISI is happy and why refuse their drug bonanza whether in cash or kind. Note Omar never said a word against the Centre’s (or should we say PMO) exercise to morph perceptions for vacating Siachen. Then, visits by Americans like John Carry help are extra help, who say India and Pakistan must invest more in each other, without elaborating. So Pakistan invests more in terrorism and our PMO wants to invest in more concessions, territory included.

Apparently, Omar seems to have passed on the AFSPA viral to Sonia-Manmohan too. Sonia-Omar talked of the terrific peace in J&K citing successful Panchayat elections. But there was no one to question why these Panchayats have not been given ‘any power’ even in the smallest measure. This was the main grouse of all J&K MPs / MLAs at the round table organized by the Delhi Policy Group last year and they unanimously accused Omar Abdullah for this. So what success of Panchayat elections are we talking about? Is the chest thumping because these politicians feel they have fooled the population? Isn’t this why Omar is not bothered about Sarpanchs and Panchayat members getting killed. If Panchayats are empowered and there is development, insurgency may vanish, which is contrary to the political desire. Don’t Sonia-Manmohan-Rahul know this? Have they ever asked Omar why he is not empowering Pnachayats. But then this is state subject – how convenient!

In his book ‘The Dark Side of Foreign Policy’ Riaz Mohammed Khan, former Pakistani Foreign Secretary has reveals how Pakistani Military (Musharraf included) was and is raping Pakistan’s foreign policy, taking the country down the hell hole. What should be of serious concern to Indians is that something similar is happening in our country also. Both our serving and former diplomats admit in private that the PMO (and who else – Congress high command?) have a different agenda which is not disseminated and this mafia (Salman Khurshid included) has not heeded advice of MEA officials on many occasions. The recent Chinese intrusion in Despang Plains is a case in point. The mafia claims they ‘forced’ the Chinese to remove tents but the fact is the Chinese stayed put 19 kilometers (actually 30 kilometers measured from KK Pass) deep inside our territory for full 25 days, displayed a 30 feet banner (televised globally) saying this is Chinese territory, and in connivance with the mafia made India demolish army constructions at Chumar, which they will claim tomorrow as their territory.  Then was the plan to vacate Siachen – orchestrated by the PMO-mafia. Despite the ignominy of the Chinese intrusion and furore, orders have still not been issued for placing the ITBP under command the army. Is it to facilitate Shinde fly overhead with his police hat and giggle, “We have no jurisdiction in the area?”

Now is the concentrated effort to morph perceptions that Pakistan has turned Buddhist, J&K is totally peaceful and army and AFSPA should be removed. Look at the ‘paid media’ professing that Pakistan has turned benign, J&K is likely to gain first place in GPI and the like. The pattern is the same when public opinion was being built as prelude to vacating Siachen. Look at the variety of people that have been roped in. But the fact is that even an article like ‘Revoke AFSPA Gradually’ fails to read the ground situation and ignores the strategic reality that while both China and Pakistan have developed advanced sub-conventional capabilities, we are lacking poorly in this domain. It also fails to recognize why Kargil took place. Besides, the shuttlecock suggestion that army on the border be ‘readjusted’ for counter-insurgency “should indeed such a contingency come to pass” could not be more absurd. There are no quick switches in such situations. An article to rectify the mis-governance in J&K would have been more appropriate. All this despite terrorism, infiltration, cease-fire violations continuing and Al Qaeda, Taliban, Mujahideen, Pakistan and Islamist radicals declaring “India remains their unfinished business.” Hasn’t Nawaz Sharif submitted to radicals already with finances officially doled out to JuD? Has Pakistan shut the terrorist camps? What about the warnings by General Parnaik? Are you so very shameless that you want to play down violence despite two policemen killed in the heart of Srinagar on 22 June, and eight army personnel killed and 14 injured on 25^th June?

As to our foreign policy, less said the better. Soon we will have Bhutan in the Chinese camp with India as always ‘worried’. One wonders if the long-term mafia plan isn’t to ‘lease’ out J&K to Pakistan (by extension to Chinese sitting in Gilgit-Baltistan) for 50 years and Arunachal directly to China similarly. Is this the brief given to the NSA for talks in Beijing today? No wonder, Salman Khurshid says he would like to settle down in Beijing! Soon Xi Jingping should be gifting him a polar bear. So, if the PMO-mafia has made up their mind to remove AFSPA and the Army from J&K, the declaration may well come in the run up to the 2014 elections for peace is damned, only votes matter. What should the military do with such a dispensation – take a cue from the US? US media says that Obama has sacked many Generals but his favourite is General Dempsey heading the Joint Staff because Dempsey perpetually whimpers like a kitten. That is the reason the US is in a mess though the administration would not admit it. A combination of Indian Dempsey’s and the political mafia can be suicidal for the country. Statements like we have given our views and it is up to the government now cannot suffice anymore where integrity and sovereignty of the country is involved. We don’t need Dempsey’s in India. All we need is the likes of Parnaik who tell the mafia implications of their plans. The media would do the rest.

Lastly, one wonders if snoop dogs of PMO have shown Manmohan the compliments he is receiving globally for inaugurating the “Mughal Road Project”, playing with national sentiments and contempt to the murderous history of  Mughal conquerors whose genocide against Indians included putting Guru Nanak Dev Ji in jail; arresting, torturing and beheading Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji; killing two grand children of Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji (sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji); stabbing to death the 10^th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Guru Tegh Bahadur’s son); torturing, dehumanizing and ultimately killing the 5^th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, which are only few examples. The questions being asked is whether Manmohan is actually a Sikh or a Mughal descendent masquerading as Sikh, also because he chose to serve a party that butchered 3000 Sikhs in Delhi. If he is masquerading, motivation may be because of others thriving in politics with fake surnames. Then if he is a Mughal in disguise he might as well go pray at Babur’s grave in Kabul, as Indira Gandhi did in the dead of night for whatever reason. On the other hand if is not a Mughal, perhaps Manmohan could actually apologies to the nation and make amends by renaming the Mughal Road as Guru Teg Bahadur Highway (GTB Highway), as many are demanding. No one is asking him to rename India as Bharat or Bharatvarsh because that may cause him, his colleagues and bosses commit suicide. No matter that Burma and Ceylon shed their British names!

 

Prakash Katoch is a veteran Special Forces officer.

 

            

Disasters Come – Disasters Go !

 

Lt Gen (Retd) Prakash Katoch.

The horrific disaster that has struck Uttrakhand has been assessed as a mix of natural and man-made. In fact, the various media analyses indicate we were asking for it and there were enough warnings and indications that this would. The previous similar smaller calamities in Uttrakhand over the years should have made us sit up, but we did not. Media reports indicate the CAG had also recently warned that Uttrakhand is poorly geared for disaster relief and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is inadequately organized and equipped in this state. The million dollar question now are we going to learn anything at all or will we treat this as ‘another’ disaster with opportunities for disaster tourism and good excuse for donation collection by politicians of the Centre and the concerned State?

 

What is surprising is that the Vijay Bahugana, Sushil Shinde and harish Rawat, all camping at Dehradun are apparently doing little beyond concentrating in asking donations - witness the massive adds with Vijay Bahugana's Photo atop asking for donations. Where most of the money donated will go is anybody's guess. But when reporters inside the disaster area are repeatedly showing visuals of people not had anything to eat for six days and beyond, the least this bigwig politician trio could have thought of is collect pre-cooked food packets in Dehradun and other cities and air dropped / air landed them at all the cut off places. The army helicopters were seen carrying some packets but then look at the number stranded and what is the responsibility of the State Administration to feed the stranded? The population and NGOs would have happily prepared thousands of pre-cooked packets readily on a 24x7 basis.

Shinde admitted lapses in coordination but coordination can hardly be done sans common sense, which appears in short supply. Then of course Shinde was fooling when admitting lapses for there were none as per Manish Tiwari - smells like Kapil Sibbal's quote of "only notional loss" in the 2G Scam. Congress has trained all guns on Modi to divert attention from own infirmities and shoddy approach in both averting this disaster and coping with it, once it struck. The Congress gearing entire media against Modi is nothing new but it is comical to see the criticism by Karan Thapar whose gains by lapping up to Congress are well known. Remember his efforts to rate Gen VK Singh as the 'Worst Army Chief' in a bid to tide over the ghosts of his childhood when papa was Army Chief in 1962. Of course the interview with an inebriated former NSA was both dramatic and humorous. Now imagine the insinuation that when Modi is so concerned then why is Gujarat is donating just Rupees 2 crores. But then surprisingly, Times of India has let the cat out of the bag with the front page news today that Modi has managed to take out some 15,000 Gujaratis out of the disaster area chartering 80 Toyota Innovas and two Boeing aircraft. But then the government cannot count that as Gujarat's contribution to the Uttrakhand disaster because these 15,000 people evacuated can hardly be classified Indian since they were rescued by Modi. Besides the reason Modi helped them must have been because these Gujaratis are 'un-secular'. As to the Times of India news of Modi’s feat today, Vinod Mehta heading the Times Group must be receiving calls why such a massive slip involving national security and endangering secular face of India has been allowed in the first place.

Notwithstanding the above, Shinde, Bahugana and Rawat could, in between sipping their scotch, could send some pre-cooked food, plastic sheets and blankets to the stranded. Despite fudging figures, it is easy to visualize that complete evacuation is going to take days especially with the weather deteriorating and forecast of more rain. Despite the known politician-police nexus, should one expect Bahugana to instruct his police to ensure the stranded are not ravaged further by the merchants of greed - Rupees 500 hundred for a rice bowl and Rupees 180 for a roti. There are families that may have run out or lost their cash. All the more reason, to supply them pre-cooked food free of cost. It is heart rending to read a Nepalese mother eating grass to ensure she can feed her baby.

As to the responsibility of the Centre, can you tell the nation what is the National Plan for Environmental Security - do you have one at all? Can your Minister for Environment address the nation rather than making point at international forums and visiting the beauty parlour prior to photo ops and TV debates? Why is the Minister hiding under the table and not being questioned? If you have one, what was the road map for it and what about its implementation? How about releasing a white paper on it? If you don't have one, how about making one and make it known to the public? The world is bothered about the horrific rate at which forest cover is denuding in India but our government obviously is not. Before the Maoists come questioning with a gun poking you in the face, it would do well for the Centre to review its policy of dumping all blame on the States. Look at the millions of tons of grain rotting in the open in FCI godowns across the country that are controlled by the Centre, and then you talk of “Food Security’. Of course the rotting grain is not wasted but gets siphoned off to distilleries; perhaps that is the surprise package with food security  – free beer cans with free food ! 

Then is the capacity building in the NDRF. An organization presided over by the  Prime Minister himself should have no problem in following a road map to meet national requirements. But then presiding over so many scams is so time consuming, there is little time left for anything else. As to those who are engaged in changing the face of India for the good - Aam Aadmi (Mango People for some) Party, RTI activists, NGO's et all.. It may be worthwhile to inquire into what funds were collected and what actually reached those for whom it was meant in respect of disasters that have struck over the years in various parts of India. This survey should also cover the official figures for relief provided during the various communal riots and killings like the Mumbai riots, Gujarat riots, massacre of over 3000 Sikhs in Delhi, Maliana and Meerut riots in UP, Bhagalpur / Jamshdpur in riots, killings and blinding, Bihar and the like. Of course the government's response to such RTI's could well be ordering yet another CBI inquiry in case of Gujarat and say balance cannot be disclosed, being 'confidential'. But yet it may be worth the try ! 

As for the military, they as always can be counted upon to deliver the goods – any place and any time. However, the government needs to examine one issue it has conveniently avoided all these years. The Military’s air effort, particularly helicopters used for various tasks like movement of civilians in difficult areas, disaster relief, operations against the Maoists and movement of politicians has eaten into the training requirements of the military, to the extent that in the last 15 years it has not been possible to have one single airborne or heliborne exercise at one full battalion group basis. This requires to be taken serious note of although China and Pakistan would clap their hands in glee.

The author is a veteran Lieutenant General from Special Forces.

 

Lowly Morals, Lofty Positions - Can we change it?

Karan Kharb
   

               India has come a long way from 1956 to 2013. There was a railway accident at Mehbubnagar in Sep 1956.  Nobody blamed the Railways Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. Nobody doubted his credentials as an honest and efficient Minister. Nobody, not even the Opposition, demanded his resignation.  Yet, he resigned.  Nehru refused to accept it – a decision that was welcomed not only by the treasury benches but also, barring a few dissenters, by the Opposition benches. Later, when another rail accident took place, Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned again. This time, too angry with himself, he stood his ground and forced acceptance of his resignation by the Prime Minister. Addressing the Parliament on the issue, Nehru stated that he was ‘accepting the resignation because it would set an example in constitutional propriety and not because Shastri was in any way responsible for the accident.’ But those were the men of substance, leaders with morals.  

               Within a period of 57 years, we have experienced a total paradigm shift in our attitudes and sensibilities. Perched in Lal Bahadur Shastri’s heritage chair we have Pawan Kumar Bansal as India’s railway minister today. Unlike Shastri, Bansal is surrounded by strong evidence of bribery and malfeasance. Allegations against Bansal are not from private parties or individuals; these are reports and facts based on which his family members, relatives and close associates have already been arrested by the CBI. Entire Opposition in the Parliament and popular mood of the nation want him to either resign or be removed forthwith. But, he arrogantly dares, “who cares?” Nehru sobs in Shanti Van; Shastri wails in Vijay Ghat with none to take note.

Then there is the case of the country’s Law Minister meddling with the CBI investigations into another scandalous scam now known as Coalgate. The honourable Supreme Court has severely condemned the role of the Law Minister and the PMO for ‘interfering/influencing the CBI and altering’ the Status Report despite the apex Court’s directions that no Government department would be privy to CBI investigations in this case. But virtually trashing such judicial directions, Law Minister Ashwini Kumar orders CBI to not only discuss the Report but also virtually kill it because, as the apex Court has observed, ‘soul of the Report’ has been removed. And yet he does not resign, and nobody has the courage or desire to remove him! What is happening? What kind of Government is this in 21^st Century India? Even backward societies in North Africa/West Asia have woken up and refused to endure corruption and tyranny any further. Winston Churchill had ominously warned the British Government in 1946 against entrusting India to “…….inefficient, self-serving, corrupt, immoral men of straw…….” No Indian Jyotishi has ever made such a thorough and precise prophesy.   

Tomorrow, unable to defend the morally and legally indefensible ministers any further in the face of mounting public outcry, even if the Government drops them from the cabinet, it would hardly undo its betrayal.  

It often occurs to me that India has been systematically sedated. Come elections and we are given booster dose of the same sedation packaged more attractively than last time. The immediate effect of this freshly administered sedation is that we suddenly climb down from the high pedestal of vital national issues like corruption, security, good governance, development, poverty eradication, health, education, agriculture and rural development and so on. We quickly align with Parties and candidates dishing out freebies, quickies, caste-based quotas/reservation – the best strategy to lure and render people powerless and dependent. Communal passions are whipped up; local rivalries are ignited and passions heightened; community strongholds are created and muscle power deployed. They have learnt how to divide us and rule; we have learnt to be easily tamed and led in divisions. Our national psyche is already so conditioned by now that no one today expects Bansal or Ashwini Kumar to tender resignations on their own volition in a morally upright righteous way. A man of high moral virtues would renounce politics and public life forever, if not commit suicide, rather than cling to chair and let sludge pour from all sides.

The performance record of the 15^th Lok Sabha is dismal. To begin with there were about 160 MPs facing charged in various courts.  Today, nearly half the Lok Sabha MPs are tainted. The UPA Government is a minority Government threatened, maintained and exploited by small parties like Mulayam Singh’s SP and Mayawati’s BSP. Interestingly, in such a regime nobody feels accountable. What is more worrisome is that even the Supreme Court strictures are failing to have effect. Public outcry, rallies, fasts – all democratic efforts have failed.

General elections are due next year - may be even earlier. People are fed-up and tired of the corrupt callous dispensation. Popular anger is a force that can be harnessed and utilised to achieve far-reaching changes. There being no selfless nationalist visionary leader as yet in sight, it would be useful in many ways for all right thinking citizens to take it upon themselves to inform and sensitise as many people as possible in their sphere of contact. Prof Jagdeep Chhokar and his team [see Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch (http://adrindia.org/)] have made significant contribution in making available significant information – all authentic – about each contestant before, during and immediately after the election. Such campaigns could be very effective tools to inform the electorate and bring about a tilt in the public mood against the corrupt candidates who consequently stand exposed. This information campaign needs a more aggressive propagation by all of us on all types of media, say, Mobile, Internet, Cable TV, RWAs, Community organs et al. At the same time, rumour campaigns from the vested quarters will have to be exposed and fought against vehemently and immediately. Likewise, every effort to divide and polarise the electorate along caste, communal lines and mass bribing through freebies, cash, feasts must be betrayed and fiercely decried.