NEWS & COMMENTS
1. Sonia’s faux paux
Addressing a meeting of Tribals in Rjasthan Sonia Gandhi has attacked the recent memoirs written by Advani, especially about the Kandahar hijacking event. Note that the audience was essentially Tribals. How naïve Sonia could be or those who prompted her to talk on this subject. Few Tribals may know that there is a worthy in the political field by the name of Advani and still less number of Tribals may have heard of Kandahar incident. Even those who have some knowledge on both matters would wonder why the worthy Madam is making the allegation that Advani, who was then Home Minister, was unaware of what was happening. But, yes, press reported the allegation. If Sonia’s intention was to create dissention within BJP, then the least she should have done is to chose a more appropriate occasion or settings rather than a meeting with Tribals.
A few decades back I had seen a Cartoon by the inimitable R.K. Laxman wherein a visiting neta was addressing school children, emphasising the importance of patriotism, nationalism, etc., The School children were from the fifth standard and they were looking
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bewildered. The cartoon has been given life by Sonia.
Have the politicians have become so naïve. Congress is making Advani’s book an election issue. Now how many have read the same. A few. And they would be from the educated class, who hardly vote. It is a hot issue in the TV programmes of debates. That is all. Advani may think that his book is a memorable one. But hardly the public. Yes, those who adore him may go through the book or those who want to pierce holes in his ‘self-adulation process’ will go through the book with that motive. What else. Zero.
2. Dilemma of cine stars
A dispute has arisen between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on Tamil Nadu’s Hogenakkal water project. Cine stars of both States have come to the forefront of the agitation and with that media focus has been shifted from the subject matter to the antics of cine stars. Media knows that public are more interested in the film star fight rather than water dispute.
Most of the Cine stars are aware that their taking sides would result in audiences of the other disputing state in boycotting their films. Yet they cannot also resist politicians of the state when the services of the stars are ‘sought’ which is an euphemistic term for ‘ being commandered.’ Furtunately this is largely confined so far as a South Indian phenomenon.
Earlier related to Raj Thackeray’s antics some of the film stars beautifully got mud on their faces. In a way that happening was good for the cine stars, because in future they will be reluctant to jump into such melting pots which should be left to spineless wonders in this country ( read ‘ politicians’).
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3. Panchayat elections
According to law related to Panchayats enacted by Rajasthan Government a person having more than two children is debarred from contesting in Panchayat elections. Earlier Supreme Court had upheld this proviso in the Panchayat election criteria. A Member of Parliament belonging to the Muslim community has moved a writ before the Supreme Court aginst this stipulation on the ground that it violated Islamic dictat that no Muslim would restrict birth of children. “ Profess and practice of religion includes following the essential and integral dictats of the Holy Book of Quaran, which is the only soul of Islam and Islamic law………….Not to kill any unborn child or resrict its birth either before or post conceiving is the essential and integral part of Islam..” I am unable to fathom the grounds on which Supreme Court had approved the condition of no more than two children for contesting Panchayat elections. Yes the country requires Family Planning. But it cannot be thrust on the throat of people. It cannot be a condition for, say, job in Government or for getting Radion Card or Driving License.
1. Pay Commission – More dissentions
Army top brass made a presentation before the Defence Minister asking for hiking further the increases proposed in the Pay Commission for members of Defence personnel. Not to be outdone, top cops have made a presentation before Sonia Gandhi for similar treatment to their folk. Other services had expressed their grievances. In all such maters, where babus make sugestions, they are clever enough to see that they get a better deal than others. Each of the Services had sought a better deal on the plank of the good and arduous services their members ‘ for the benefit of the public.’ These statements are received with derision
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by the public. An Army Colonel in a TV debate has said ‘ our soldiers are 24 hours on Duty! They have fought six wars after Independence. They have to work in difficult climates. They have made enormous sacrifices in defending the country. They are often called to quell civil disturbances.” Balony. 24 hours Duty? I have not heard a more laughable tongue in cheek statement. Yes, people join Armed Forces knowing fully well that they have to fight wars. So what. It is like a night keeper making a special claim because he cannot sleep in the night. The wars were of short duration. The casualities were not high. Participation level was also not high. In fact a large percentage of Army personnel retire without participating in any war. Army is called only in exceptional cituations to assist civil authorities.
In one of the TV Channel debate on the subject, to the query about corruption in the Civil Service, a retired Cabinet Secretary came up with a convoluted explanation. It was due to the non accountability of politicians that corruption in bureaucracy is increasing! So far as the demands of Services other than IAS is concerned, it is more directed at questioning the primacy of IAS. Otherwise, the difference in the pay hikes recommended is not significant.
But none of the worthies of these organisations have uttered a single word on how they propose to improve their ‘ service ‘ to the people, who are utterly disenchanted with the ‘service ‘ they get from these worthies.
2. Cinemas on living politicians
Three film projects on the life of Mayawati, curent UP Chief Minister, are registered with the film producers Association. BSP has objected to making films on its chief without the approval of
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BSP. There were protests in Bihar against the picture Gangajal because the rowdy elements in the picture were from Yadav community. Joda Bai picture had to face controversy. Further, if clearance of the concerned organisation or group has to be obtained before going ahead with the film what happens. Consent will be given only if the picture projects God / Goddess type image to the chief of the party which has given the consent. Any number of good themes are available for making cinemas. Then why should the running be after a chimera.
3. Mediocrity to be punished
A US School has barred mediocre students from after hours games, crafts and ice cream because of poor grades and attitudes. They are excluded from all aspects of extracurricular life, including athletic contests, academic clubs, dances and plays, unless they demonstrate improvement in their learning.
This is a stupid way to improve the performance of youngsters. Suppose I have a low IQ. Will not my performance be poor. Suppose I am coming from a family full of strife. Suppose my drunkard father beats me every day. There could be any number of reasons for a boy to perform poorly. To punish him for that would in all likelihood result in the boy continuing to perform poorly or developing some other negative atitudes. Counselling? Yes. There could be other ways to help him. But not an open punishmnent as barring from participation in such events.
8. Supreme Court and PIL
A two member Bench of Supreme Court had some time back expressed the view that the tendency of courts including Supreme Court to entertain all types of PIL is not the right thing to do. The Bench felt that since the Constitution had earmarked the roles of
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Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, it is not proper for Judiciary to encroach on the areas earmarked for the other two wings. The court went on to say that despite clear cut judgement of the Supreme Court in some of the PIL cases, the subsequent actions of Government had not remedied the situation ( clearning up Jamuna river ). The Bench was of the view that Supreme Court and to some extent High Courts should show discretion in taking up PILs. On the other hand very recently a three member Bench of Supreme Court, with Chief Justice presiding, has expressed the view that Supreme Court ( and hence implicitely High Courts ) also should entertain PIL applications.
Apart from the contradiction involved in the stands taken by the two Benches, there are other related areas which need consideration. The area of operation of the three wings of Government is clear. Yet when it comes to the precise space of each wing, there is bound to be vagueness because it is not possible to define precisely the powers or areas of operation of the three wings of Government. Opinions would differ. From this perspective PIL could lead to clear cut enunciation of the boundaries.
People are on the whole fed up with the way bureaucracy and legislatures are functioning, often without direction. Then how could matters affecting the country to be sorted out. Go to courts. On the face of it this line of argument appears to be on the right direction.
But then there are the other aspects. As time goes by the number of PILs filed in courts has been on the increase. Unless this is somewhat resricted, increasingly the time of the High courts and Supreme Court would have to be earmarked for dealing with PILs,

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rather than other weighty issues. Then again many would question whether it is for the Supreme Court to get involved in matters such as demolition of unauthorised construction of houses or cleaning of Yamuna.
But the real danger in courts pursuing ‘welcome path ‘ for PIL is in alianation of legislature and executive from the judicial system. This path of the judiciary may result in legislature and executive starting to take confrontation mode with judiciary. And that is not good. It should be noted that the combined force of legislature and executive is quite strong and these two could try to put shackles on judiciary, and they may succeed. Give the matter to a clever and astute bureaucrat and he will come up with suggestions ( sweetly coated ) to curtail the powers of the judiciary. That is not in the interest of the country.
9. Age factor politicians
According to a newspaper report, after induction some young MPs in the Union Cabinet, the average age of the Council of Ministers of Union Government has come down only by a fraction, i.e., from 60.37 to 59.3. More or less the report laments at old people running the country. There have been other reports in the past expressing disillusion at the position obtaining in India by comparing the ages of India’s Prime Minister to that of President and Prime Minister of US and UK. Since it is the main occupation of the intellegentisa in this courty to ape at US of A and our masters over a century back, there is a collective sigh on their part at the country being ruled by old people. One would think they have mixed up politicians/Ministers with that of athlets because in the latter case age is an important factor. The second point they have missed is that in this globe many countries are having politicians / Ministers in the same age group as that of
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India. But then for the intellegentsia, USA and UK are the Mecca where everything is done corectly. I would like to ask un uncomfortable question to this motly crowd. Are not many among them over seventy. So is the case of businessmen, professionals, doctors, advocates. Then why make an exception in the case of politicians.
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