An insight on what is at stake for secular India

As we, Indians, welcomed the beginning of a new era 2020 (the era which was supposed to bring the promised 'acha din'), it would be interesting to investigate the contemporary political discourse that pervades the country. Any impartial political observant committed to the democratic secular ethos of the Constitution of India would be alarmed at the way all the ideals that make up our country such as democracy, secularism, etc are under threat and all the political establishments that were built by Nehruvian era have been irrecoverably destroyed. Judiciary, Rule of Law, and every such institutions are being on the verge of complete annihilation.

This, coupled with the continuous electoral victories of the ruling party, would prompt us to ask this crucial question: Is India turned out to be a completely hopeless theocratic state with hundred per cent disregard for civil rights?

The answer is not so simple as one may imagine. Just look at the way AAP has managed to win the election. We would be able to appreciate the fact that our voters were not mesmerised by the fundamentalist bombardment of propaganda that pervaded the media. When Kejriwal brought out the "good governance"(acha din) as promised by him, people chose him.

So, is it so easy to convince the voters and bring back the secular forces to power? Before proceeding to answer either a 'yes' or a 'no', we need to know what were/are the problems of the dominant democratic secular political party of India, INC (Indian National Congress): dynasty, corruption, incompetency, identity politics? It invites a detailed analysis. 

(Will continue...)

The Political One-Man Show and Diplomatic Successes

If one tries to judge just a few months old government, it would be erroneous. In the same way, glorifying someone in such a short time also can be considered immature. These two are the observations one can find in newspapers and TV channels regarding the Modi India. However, one thing alone can be said of Modi’s approach: he is doing things in an unprecedented way, beyond the conventional logic and thinking. He has rewritten the concepts concerning foreign policy and administrative method. The way he interacted with students in Japan, the public gathering he organized at New York. We have seen presidents or heads of the states visiting schools and places of popular praises. And they used to meet important business groups, pressure groups and so on. However, it is not so common to meet the common man, a public gathering in a foreign land. It is all good and just OK. There is no denying that the common man was impressed, they got a new deity, a new role model. With his ‘swatch bharath abhiyan’, he again received loud applause.

The one and only difference of opinion I have with both Modi fans and critics is that when we analyze a policy, we should judge not based on popular impressions and media coverage, rather it should be based on the results. Of course, we have got a good response from Japan. But the question is, was that an unprecedented gesture from Japanese side. Didn’t we receive good response and business investments? When a head of a state with a good majority in the parliament visits other countries, they will get a warm welcome. Other than this usual help, can we say Modi’s visit to Japan met all its purposes? Similar is the case with his visit to US. Nothing more happened other than some false promises and some meaningless gestures. In the case with Pakistan, it remains where it started, a deadlock.

The Modi era, if we can call the period in such a way, can do great things to the country if only if we stop the blabbermouth, and concentrate more on action.

(Image courtesy: google.com)

India- The Queen of Arabian Ocean and of Asia

It is time to congratulate our own defense experts and scientists who worked behind the launching of INS Vikrant.

Once again India stood with great pride among the world by launching its first indigenous aircraft carrier as only very few nations presently have been able to launch this sort of an aircraft such as the USA, the UK, Russia and France. Experts in foreign policy look with great interest this recent development in the sub-continent as the neighboring countries like China and Pakistan. It will make Pakistan in comparatively weak position, as already in the naval field India stand with confidence. However, the event has more meaning when we assess the other side, which is China’s stand in the development. China, it is said that, already seems to be worried about it. In many respects, China has an advantage over India, often playing the BIG BROTHER by crossing the border in the Indian side.
The upper hand India got in this will disturb many. Already, it has been assumed that the USA is trying to build a power bloc including Japan, Australia, and India along with. However, India would not be able to engage with the US as it will create another power bloc in the region, i.e., China and Pakistan. In other words, we are going to see much competition in the arms sector.

Watch the video here.

It is heard that Defense Minister A.K. Antony’s wife launched the aircraft carrier as the custom demands women to launch the aircraft carriers, which it is believed would bring good results. There will definitely be Ganapati Puja and other similar things before the launch. This is what we call Secularism.

India and Italy- A Clash of Civilizations?

I am here trying to see the issue between India and Italy over the death of two fishermen in the Arabian Coast.

Both countries have a lot to share, culturally and politically. Both countries are the cradles of two great civilizations, ancient Roman civilization and The Sanatana Dharama of India. The Roman culture and religion has been forgotten a long while ago in Italy whereas the greater truths of Sanatana Dharma still exist in India.

Italian nationalist struggle and leader like Giuseppe Garibaldi greatly influenced Indian struggle for independence, especially a leader like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Along with that, the present president of Indian National Congress is an Italian by birth.

Though the two countries have a lot to share, some recent developments resulted in a rupture in the mutual love and respect. The clash originated after two fishermen got killed by the Italians in Indian Ocean in February 2012. I will here discuss the arguments of Italians and try to answer from my point of view.

India has Unlawfully Detained Two Italian Sailors- Italy

India didn't detain anyone illegally, but very legally only. If the Govt of Italy just ask those two mariners, how they were being treated here, they will get answers. They were spending their time in a govt guest houses, near the Italian embassy, unlike other prisoners. We won't give any Indian prisoners special privileges during X'mas, but we gave that to the Italians. Even then you guys are criticizing Indian court proceedings. India is not Mussolini's Italy, and the place of cruel Sicilian mafia guys. Here, "separation of powers" still exists, means, the legislator or the executive will not interfere in the proceedings of the court! The Italian citizens should feel shame the way they behaved in India, without any honour. Their representative in India gave the word that the mariners will return to India, but once they reached Italy, you forget your word.

The Murder Happened In International Waters

There is, of course, a dispute between whether the act mentioned is in the international jurisdiction or in the Indian coastal side. And I accept my ignorance in the issue. But the present issue has nothing to do with this dispute. The issue is that the Supreme Court of India has been hearing the case on the present issue and the Italians were under custody. First, they requested that they need to visit their homeland for celebrating X'mas. Somehow, the Hon'ble Supreme Court agreed to let them go, which is unprecedented in the judicial history of India. They came back and had been under custody again. In the last time, they again requested the Court that they need to go back to the country for casting the vote. As India respects democratic principles a lot, the Court has agreed on this too. The Court got a ‘Word’ from the Italian Ambassador that they will come back to the country for the future proceedings and the Court asked the govt to set up a special court for the smooth proceedings. In between, the Italian govt declared that they will send the mariners back. So, it is a question of word, the honour of word, for the first case. The Wikipedia quotes on the issue, "India cited extra-territorial provisions of its own law[40] stating that irrespective of the location of the ship (whether in international or territorial waters), a crime had been committed against Indian citizens on an Indian ship and hence India had the jurisdiction to prosecute and try the case. Furthermore, India has pointed to the absence of any international treaty regarding immunity from prosecution for Vessel Protection Detachments (VPD) on board privately owned commercial ships. India has also highlighted that there exists limitations to functional sovereign immunity such as when commercial activity is involved and drew attention to the fact that the Italian Navy marines were working on a contract basis for the protection of the private interests of the ship owner and therefore could in no way be treated as a discharge of sovereign functions.[41] India has signed but not ratified the yet unimplemented United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, 2004.[42][43][44]". See this argument also, "Enrica Lexie was under its flag. Hence, in accordance with the U.N. Convention of Law of Seas (UNCLOS), Italy should try the two marines. India’s position is that St. Anthony, the fishing vessel aboard which the two fishermen were killed, was an Indian vessel; and under Indian law and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention), India has jurisdiction. India and Italy are signatories to both these conventions. But while Italy needs to show exclusive jurisdiction, India only needs to show that it also has jurisdiction."

The Word

The Italian govt and their representatives are not discussing anything about the word given by the Italian ambassador. Do they think it is diplomatically or in any other way correct for him to give a false promise, and what is the impact of that? Do we Indians then consider Italians as worthy of any good qualities? As for the case, I think Italians got the best advocate and counsel in India. Harish Salve is not just a normal person to take up this issue. Now, he says, Italians insulted him. And should we think that an eminent advocate like him propagating lies. They cheated India as well as their own counsel here. It is not because of his personal merit, the court has granted his request, but because he is a representative of a Nation. By discarding the very word, Italy insulted India, for that they need to answer.

No evidence to prove that it is the Italians who killed the fishermen

They argue that there were other ships at the same time there, and the Kerala Police, without any investigation, simply went and arrested the Italians through cheating. This is one of the best jokes I have ever heard. The thing is that, the Italians don't respect India and its judicial system, a typical arrogance of the White Man. You guys still think you are the masters of the world. What about the investigations of the most celebrated Scotland Yard? I remember reading about their investigation on Bob Wolmer’s murder. The Kerala Police is much better for sure. First of all, we don't have to frame anything against anyone, but even your mariners won't say they did not fire at Indian fishermen. If we have to frame a case against Italy, there should be a reason, any enmity against them. The Italians don't know the value of human lives and thinks that you can do any atrocities against anyone. In the mean time, I have read some superb stories of the judicial system in Italy, into which they are trying those mariners. Now, I know whether we get justice!!

The whole prosecution's case will be thrown out from ANY western court as there are no strong evidences against them

It is correct, but not any court who considers the case in an independent manner. The two facts that the Italians gloriously put before are nothing but fabricated by them to hide their heinous acts. First, you argued that there is no evidence to prove that the mariners of the Italians are the ones who fired. The two affidavit submitted by the mariners in the Kerala High Court admitted that a military action was done. So, I would say the arguments mentioned are childish including the distorting of evidence. The police conducted post-mortem in the proper way. Then, they are criticizing the incineration of the bodies of the fishermen; which is part of the religious belief of the Hindus, that after death, we will incinerate the bodies. In this case, the act was done only after the proper procedures. The thing is that they won't respect Indian laws and our traditions, which will have serious repercussions, if not now, later.

Let us wait and see what will happen to the issue amidst Indian Prime Minister's warning.

Reference:

Wikipedia-

Rahul: The King in Waiting

There are agreements and disagreements among political commentators on considering Gandhi’s role in India’s political struggle against the British. Some passionately argues that the contribution of Gandhi is unequivocal, his is the most. Whereas some others even criticize calling him ‘Father of the Nation’. In my opinion, Gandhi did some really great work for the nation, but the only thing he did wrong to the nation is selecting Nehru as the leader of the nation. It is because of his sole support, Nehru turned out to be an unquestionable leader in the modern India. The problem of Gandhi is not in supporting Nehru, but his lack of farsightedness, he failed to see that instead of democracy, we would get Nehru Dynasty in India. See the decision of CWC( Congress Working Committee) to select Rahul Gandhi as the next leader of Congress and therefore, the nation.

The leaders representing the nation should not have any other interest other than national interest. If we check this decision based on this criteria, what argument do they have in support of Rahul. How he can lead the country in the most difficult days? Does he prove himself in any way in the past? Does he have any leadership quality? Is he an able orator, or an efficient administrator? We can’t give any positive answers to these questions without a shadow of doubt. The problem is that Indian National Congress is not a democratic party. If the party is democratic, the leaders will have some kind of national interests instead of vested interest. If that was the case, even the name of Rahul won’t be there in the Congress.
We need a change. The real challenge that lies in front of India is not Pakistan, not terrorism, not economic issues, but making India a democratic secular nation.