Roads to Ruins - JNU: Ultra Leftism, Congress opportunism and Intellectual Cowardice

“The agents of Pakistan have become vigorously assertive on the issue of Kashmir” - Wrote Badal Ghana Chakravorty on Feb 7, 1996 in a missive to the JNU Registrar….so things were coming!!

In contemporary setting for everyone – individual, a society and a nation – there are many roads those lead to ruins. Drink and Drugs is certainly one of them. The other one would be Blind Faith in Ultra-Communism fashion and the growing trends of  Intellectual Cowardice of middle class. As a Bengali, I can vouch that.

In JNU fracas, we have the third option and that assuming ominous dimension. This route is significantly a miserable way to a wretched end!

The stories coming out of JNU, labeled a premier university and a communist bastion, have all the classic marks – professionally trained anti-India slogan shouters, a large army of Narendra Modi-haters, an ambitious student politics of ultra Left wings and righter wingers ABVP, political opportunism of Rahul Gandhi and the ability to link a hanged terror mastermind to his religion (Muslim) identification.

Curiously enough one prominent student leader’s father has been a former member of SIMI too.

The two-page letter from Badal Ghana Chakravorty’s missive in 1996 (see snap) had clearly cautioned: “Once again the campus is awash with poster campaign by PDSU (financed by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan) asking for withdrawal of army from Kashmir so that Kashmir can fully become an Islamic state outside the territorial jurisdiction of  India”.  

On this backdrop we have a different regime in New Delhi. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi by inclination is not a coward and perhaps hates playing safe.

This is the sole reason that that a die-hard Congressman and anti-BJP Manishanker Aiyar today (in circa 2016) finds merits in Atal Behari Vajpayee, someone who would always try to inherit the Nehruvian legacy legacy despite his RSS background.

The successful marketing had also often ensured him a title: “a good leader in a wrong party”.

It is altogether a different matter Atal Behari Vajpayee himself hardly cherished such description. Therefore in 1996, he had asked the united ‘gang of opposition parties – Left, Congress and socialists’ --- “Toh aap log bhale Vajpayee ka kya karogey (Let me see, what we all do with a gentleman Vajpayee)”. Within an hour, Vajpayee was forced to announce his resignation as the Prime Minister ending his term for 13 days!

In the previous blog, I tried to argue about political opportunism of Congress party’s leadership and the power-politics ploy of the communists.

Now let us pitch into the cowardice-opportunism of Indian journalism. There is a sustained and well thought of formulae to present a group of journos-celebrities as anti-hero of the JNU episode. This is why someone called himself ‘anti-national’ and the other plunges into darkness – but in both the cases the hope is they will succeed.

What should be a case of anti-national rhetoric has been camouflaged into a debate about freedom of expression !! 

Azaadi is no more ‘freedom’ or sought after liberation – it’s all put in a capsule of anti-Moditva phenomenon. 

The average New Delhi journalist is a ‘joogadu’ (can manage things for himself/herself by hook or crook) ! I am always below average --- at least this is what my wife is convinced and so we still stay in a rented house in Delhi. And most celebrity journos are above average!

By the call of the profession itself, we journalists tend to be alarmists. But whatever we say or write – media – both TV and newspapers – is a mirror even if a defective one! The by and large deterioration in quality journalism is ultimately our making.

This brand of journalism has thrived in self-glorification. This brand has survived in self-justification of their theory that anything pro-Hindu is ‘bad’ and if they are ‘bad’ and rustic they have to be ‘pro-Hindu’. In effect they go a step beyond ‘minority appeasement’ – they thrive in customized selling of minority appeasement. It pushes their agenda – they are upheld as liberals and professional weaknesses are covered under that façade. Under the grab of upholding Indian secularism (sickularism), they also conceal intellectual dishonesty. 

So Parliament attack convict and a hanged terrorist is a martyr and goondaism against journos is bigger offence than sedition.

The same group of intellectuals worked overtime to discredit post-2002 Narendra Modi. The Lok Sabha polls of 2014 not only frustrated them, it left them humiliated like a dozen of eggs on their face. 

This school knows it pretty well that a single-minded man like Narendra Modi will try to PERFORM and DELIVER as he promised to Indian electorate. All these hangama are certainly tools in the hands of immature opposition parties like Congress and the communists.

They are part of a sustained tactic to keep Modi-led dispensation generally off-balance. The challenge for Narendra Modi is to brave through these hurdles.

He will do well to keep himself and government away from the JNU tamasha. Modi is still popular and has goodwill of  the people despite electoral setbacks in Delhi and in Bihar.

It will be erroneous – especially for Narendra Modi himself – to believe that he can govern India and also PERFORM for the rest of the term more peacefully than he has been in last 18 months. 

Anti-Modi tirade will only gain momentum in the months to come. When the time will come for reckoning 2019 – Modi might again be without friends. From 2002, Modi had refused to be a defeated man – either pitied or forgotten. He will have the same challenges yet again.   

(ends)  

JNU fracas: Instinctive Resistance and Tyranny of Power-Politics

‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’ is one of the best known novels that portrayed brilliantly the scathing indictment of Communist tyranny and an eloquent affirmation of the human spirit.

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Written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, first published in November 1962, the book talks about the protagonist Ivan – who in the story goes to bed to sleep happy “one day” – as he did not suffer brutality. The brilliance in writing lay in the fact that delightfully Ivan forgets that every minute of his life was a reflection of brutality.

This brutality is what is considered ‘normal’ and this is what communists are capable of doing with millions of Ivans. The repression than becomes part of your life. 

That’s normal. That’s obvious. 

Film maestro Satyajit Ray portrayed that in his satire-children film ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ where he shows Magaz-Dholai (brain wash) of commoners by the king.

Such magical is the spell of the machine-room that oneliners come in:

“Janar Kono shesh nai, janar chesta bretha tae (There’s no end of knowing….and so there’s no need to know more than what has been passed onto you)”. That’s better understood today as Left Intellectualism.

Jawaharlal Nehru had mastered that and used it selfishly to foster his party’s and his political growth. Have not we heard, Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a communal – who went away with Pakistan?

In circa 2016, we are face-to-face with the fallout of that communist intellectualism. The twist to a simple case of anti-national exercise – slogan shouting in favour of a convict terror mastermind - is unique but not unprecedented for those who know Leftists and their culture. This is better given out as Left liberalism. Something turned Radicalism and for historical reasons suited Congress party and even so called socialists. In December 2011, an article in ‘gfiles – Inside the Government’ ---- summed up the irony in MASTERLY MANNER:

“The rest of India did not know, and hardly cared, when during the three-and-a-half decades of communist rule, the people of West Bengal bled without realizing they were bleeding” – wrote Diptendra Raychaudhuri.

It is reflection of this finesse that made students scream “Manipur maange Azaadi”….at Jadavpur University campus --- who till the other day would have dismissed people of northeast India as “ora toh chinki…noodles khae” (Oh, they are chinky and eat noodles) description.

What can frustration do?

The hoopla or ruckus thus created after pro-Afzal shouting over a discredited student leader Kanahiya Kumar’s arrest is no surprising as for long a group of ‘intellectuals’ have made it fashionable to slam Indian system, Indian religion and Indian culture.

Power is what defines the thrust of politics. And in our parliamentary democracy, communists have mastered the art of exercising the same power even staying aloof from the corridors of power – on the face value. 

Late Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet epitomized this game pretty well. Surjeet was the power behind the throne behind Prime Ministers like H D Deve Gowda! He would merely pick up the phone and dial the Prime Minister and dole out advice. People called him king maker. Marxist doyen knew that’s power!

This ‘power factor’ had weighed significantly when India got independence. People like M N Roy, a true picture of radical humanist believed that neither he nor Mahatma Gandhi or even Rabindranath Tagore could later influence the course of development of post-independence India.

In fact, instead of phrases like ‘welfare of the common people’, it was power-game that decided the course of Indian history from 1946 onward. Partition was just one feature of the theatre. Irrespective of ideological affiliations since then ‘power game’ is dominant force in Indian politics. 

The recent happenings with regard Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is essentially linked to this paradox of Indian politics. 

The fear of Narendra Modi is not mere fear of unleashing of Hindu fundamentalism. It is the fear of loss of power game both by Marxist Sitaram Yechury and ‘sickular India’s’ permanent crown price – so called Rahul Gandhi.

“Nationalism is in my blood” – assertion is in effect a test case of the established norms of secular political class to divided the world into “us” and “them”. If a group of journalists – failed print journos-turned-celebrities in Idiot Box – and the groups of former editors and (Nira Radia famed celebrities) fall in one category and the rest of India into another.

Ironically, the same Divisive yardstick suits the flamboyant Narendra Modi and his ilks too. Hence the lawyers’ drama at Patiala Court. But in all probability the ‘sickularists’ are fighting a lost battle – at least this is what country’s best known pragmatic politician Ram Vilas Paswan believes.

In other words – comparison between Nationalism and Afzal Guru, who led the Jehadi game and its ugliest violence face, is certainly a difficult proposition.

But importantly what has happened in the name of ‘freedom of speech’ debate vis-à-vis JNU and protecting journalists from lawyers in Delhi is that none is realizing what actually the confrontation all about is.

It is not merely singing glories to a hanged Afzal or opposing Modi. Probably it is linked to an attempt for establishing a hegemony of Islamic fundamentalism. But do Indian communists and power-thirsty Congress party realize what they are into?

Islamic Fundamentalism that is being propagated today is not simply against Narendra Modi or his Hindutva politics. On the global sphere Islamic Fundamentalism is essentially seen as an ‘instinctive’ resistance to the American dominion. 

Notwithstanding whether Modi and his government can bring in ‘acchey din (Good Days!!)’ or not; Islamic Fundamentalism is in effect an insane hostility happening world over. That’s a face of aggressive intolerance.

Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury are unknowingly turning mere pawns. Hundreds of those who dislike Narendra Modi are also falling into this trap. That’s the bigger tragedy.

Ends 

An era of Revolutionary Terrorism: Sub-text - Narendra Modi-bashing?

What are the Left Radicals afraid of?

All fictions need not be Falsehood!

In the era of social networking variety of journalism – if we may say so – there’s no dearth of information and opinionated information. The plate is full with videos. Twitter postings etc. There are ample talks about ‘secularism’, Narenda Modi’s Hitlerism, Smriti Irani’s jingoism and nationalism of Sitaram Yechurys, Mamata Banerjee’s perfectionism and Rahul Gandhi’s life of sacrifice at the altar of nationhood! Not forgetting Manmohan Singh’s silence and statements when it suits the family !

And the neo-perfectionism of Desk operators in newspapers in Kolkata.

                             

Moreover, there’s dose of FB/tweeter postings from patriots of Ahmedabad!

There’s hardly hunger left for any intellectual guidance. All are ready-made intellectuals and also patriots with their DEDICATION for AFZALs. ‘Guru’ surname given to an established terrorist was actually prophetic!

But India is always a different variety of civilization. Its modern-civilization roots, however concocted, are based on ‘hate-Hindutva’ and discredit-Indian nationhood platforms. Thus all insurgents and terrorists are human and need human rights protection! Saint Sonia’s tears washed off the sins of Batla House.

Let’s bring the clock back to circa 2016. Saint Sonia and her virtuous son now need power! A bunch of secularists – and mind you pretty good numbers in the country – think February 9 should be dedicated to Afzal Gurus. Hyderabad pro-terrorist slogans and politics are still fresh in people’s memory. 

Photo credit: Indian Express 

 What’s new about Jawaharlal Nehru University episode? First and foremost – the SICKULARS have walked into a well of their own making! Many pro-left Radical thinkers and non-thinkers (I mean blind followers) feel it was enough. And so a mistake. Hence - belated attempts to give some twists and blame ABVP for the entire game! This is old game leftists are experts and Congress specializes on these for decades now! Remember Somnath Chatterjee’s pro-MMS tilt in turning the cash-for-vote into a virtue for Dr Singh!

The Government and Delhi police should be firm in their decision on upholding the spirit of nationalism – a mandate they have from the people of the country. The broad hints that JNU protests were master minded by Lashqar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Sayeed is worrisome.

The JNU episode is thus appearing a mix of ultra-leftism, Congress opportunism and terror sponsorship from across the border at its best. Should there be non-NDA national (and possibly) international conference in JNU campus with the likes of Mamata Banerjees and Nitish Kumar (btw Ishrat Jahan’s neo-uncle) will not be surprising!!  

 Are we in an era of Revolutionary Terrorism – just the sub-text being Narendra Modi-bashing?

It’s said – there’s also a kind of fiction which need not be Falsehood.

Have we then genuinely widened the scope of the orchestra?  Otherwise how had it come about that so many men and women of political wisdom and ‘secular’ commitment are willing to devote their best energies to offer martyrdom to Afzal Guru? Sitaram Yechury has found a vocation to outsmart Prakash Karat’s – “no Nuke deal with the US” politics. Rahul Gandhi is desperate for revival. He will go anywhere – to any extent to return to good ‘powerful’ days when bro-in-law can have land in some more states! D Raja is also a communist and a papa! His daughter found screaming on videos. ‘Family centric politics’ is becoming another SICKULAR monopoly!

     

The big debate is about Modi-bashing, anti-Hindutva ranting and the inherent weakness of majority Hindus called, ‘tolerance’.  If Hafiz Sayeed had any influence in sparking off the JNU protest, it is time the nationalist Indians should pull themselves back and take a concrete step, corrective step!

Hindus have always lacked the components – more than the will and strength – to wage a religious war. This was the case in the 13^th century. There was a kind of paralysis and the timing coincided with extinction of Buddhism and VICTORY OF ISLAM.  

  Time, we ought to be careful. All bad parts of history should not be allowed to repeat. The neo-assertion is necessary. This assertion should be linked to nationalism.  

Indians have always marveled at the diversity of cultures and multiple civilizations. This peculiarity is India’s strength.

                           

Hence western political philosophy patterned by partisan influence of Christianity has its limitations. So does the influence of Marxism! The past was buried by forced inimical to Indian civilization – both from within the country and outside. It’s time all virtues are dug up.

JNU protest is actually a test case of testing patience. The cry in the form of a crusade that those who protested in JNU in the name of Afzal were either misguided or actually walked into a trap of ABVP talks about the pressure the left-radicals are facing.

Somewhere on the way, these Left-radicals and beneficiaries of leftist ideology Congress and so called socialists, seem to have today lost the confidence. 

Now there is fear. The fear of Modi’s Hitlerism. In effect, it’s the fear of the nationalistic politics of genuine Indians. Time to call their bluff.   

(ends)

........ If I were Narendra Modi :Indian Economy - Governance Model

If I were Narendra Modi! A Weird idea? 

Well this blog is being written with a peculiar intent. Hence the entire work is imaginative and also sarcastic. Hence it may be out of tune with modern times. This piece may be even called communal, anti-reservation etc. But finally the blog-piece has evolved in the manner it has because of the weight of the material. Some of these materials have to do with the emergence of ‘Moditva phenomenon’ in Indian politics, partly my admiration for a man – who apparently is not a run-of-the-mill variety. Modi is not being sentimental just crying out – playing the game safely as even Atal Behari Vajpayee did trying to fit into Nehruvian legacy.

As noted writer Orhan Pamuk, a Nobel laureate, once spoke about himself, Narendra Modi too does not seem to cry that the streets of his childhood has been destroyed. He probably wants to identify with the new comers. But will Indian politics allow this?

                                                           

                  

Hence the imaginative ‘musings’ on behalf of the Indian Prime Minister, Namo! If I were Narendra Modi ……read on:

“As I sit in my office in South Block in Delhi and ponder about this country, as a practical politician I also realize that my government is all set to complete two years in office. People of India had voted me and my party with an overwhelming mandate and with a bag full of hopes. They want us to deliver and deliver fast. With almost two years over, I have hardly three years left as the last year, 2018-19 would be generally turned more political and poll-centric. By 2019 – we will face an election.

Last two years of Indian politics has shown that all others in the game are too keen to shun all their differences and fight us. I take this as a compliment and tribute to our party’s growth.

A party that takes inspiration from Hindutva ideology. Why should we be apologetic about our own roots?

In running this government, I tried a few things new. Generally there have been abhorrence of these new methods – but mostly for political reasons. And certain things which went down well with the common people did not get highlighted in the media. The mainstream media has been covering me and council of ministers but always there’s a tendency to suggest that BJP can do nothing right.

Many of my party colleagues and ministers have complained about the same. I changed my Information Minister and brought in an expert in handling “Delhi affairs and Delhi elites and media” – Shri Arun Jaitley. That Arunji is a Finance Minister did not stop me from putting him as in-charge of my propaganda bhopu (or machine).

Criticism helps in politics. I have shared this theory with Shri S C Jamir, now Odisha Governor, and who had also been my Governor for a while in Gujarat. Veteran Naga leader Jamirji has worked with the likes of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Naga doyen A Zapu Phizo. Once he told me public leaders “should not be afraid” of public opinion, a trait I have tried to live with. Since 2002, actually my indifferent to meaningless criticism has allowed to survive in Indian politics. 

Rajnath Singhji once said these have actually “gone” in my favour! But politics is never an easy game. Politics is also quite personal at times and we cannot do away with it. Within minutes Smriti Irani was made Minister for Human Resource Development on May 26, 2014; she has been subjected to all kinds of criticism. I wanted a senior leader like Su-shri Sushma Swarajji to be HRD Minister – but she declined. The Congress and the system sustained over the years have made only 4 ministers vital – Defence, Home, Foreign Affairs and Finance. Sushmaji wanted to be in one of them. I required a trusted lieutenant in the HRD ministry and hence trusted Smriti Irani.

Smriti : Woman for Amethi ?

Moreover, politically my calculation is if she can perform well and change the left-and-western mindset from our academics, Smriti Irani can be our candidate in Amethi even in 2019. Shri Rahul Gandhi is reportedly looking for an alternative seat already in Rajasthan or southern India. On another plane see what’s going on in universities and educational institutions. I leave it to my countrymen to ponder whether any ceremony to glorify the likes of Afzal Guru is justified.

Terrorism knows no religion. It’s a global menace and my friend Barack Obama also agreed! 

My challenge at this juncture is to bring out the economy out of a mess even as in 2014 and 2015 – Indian economy has shown resilience power. We were able to do well in many sectors. Our TV studios and columnists are working overtime to discredit my government for everything we do. Nevertheless, we recorded 7.3% growth rate in 2014-15 and likely to touch 7.6 in 2015-16, a five year high. At a time when the world is desperate about ‘emerging markets’, India has turned a favourite destination for foreign investment. 

Our country has second largest mobile users (900 million) and is third largest internet user – as a result India is ripe for major leap. But what’s being dished out in Indian media and discussed in intellectual and political circle? It’s either confrontation with Arvind Kejriwal or beef debate. The tolerance debate sparked with political motives has only embarrassed my country and your country. Should I list incidents of intolerance of high order in non-BJP and non-NDA states like West Bengal, Karnataka and elsewhere?

When media was unable to find cases of corruption in defence deals, they are trying to attack why film stars are joining armed forces in certain ceremonies.

I have read about Greek philosopher Plato and his thesis about the cycle of Aristocracy, Timocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy and Tyranny. I feel ‘Distorted Democracy’ is also mobocracy and we need to gaze in our own hearts on which stage are we in. And more importantly, how long and what course we may take next. Our country has been reduced to a country of quotas, perks and special beneficiaries. As if merits have no place. Should we not stay back for a correction?

Left to me – alone – I do often wonder whether my slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is being misconstrued. A debate was let loose that I want to do away with reservation for SC-STs and OBCs. It also aimed to derail my government from working on development agenda and a government of all. Those select groups who have exploited Muslims, OBCs and SC-STs over the years – in the pretext and lip service of their cause – are disturbed today because we are trying to bring in qualitative changes in the common people’s life. Then these ‘select few’ would have their self-seeking shops closed!

There’s a sustain campaign of hatred against me. But it’s others who are crying foul play.

Blogger, Daughter Tanvi and Modi to Moditva

 This is an enigma we all are in; perhaps my straightforwardness with which I try to deal with certain things is responsible for this.

Often I believe – a section of people and leaders particularly from – Left, socialists background and even Congress (notwithstanding its dynastic glorification and corruption) are not in favour of promoting merits and hard work. People in my country often cannot bear when deep-rooted old customs are suddenly attacked. I understand this is a long pending issue. But some of my critics pass judgement against our government with hostility. They are putting me into problems at times, but in the process they are actually on the road to deceive themselves.

Thus you common people need to be doubly cautious. The army of gazette officers is not happy with me – I suppose – for doing away with the system of attestation to certificates by common people. But this was a legacy of colonial rule and one day my officers brothers will appreciate my stand.

The Marxists in India have overlooked the problems of casteism. Parties like CPI-M promoted mainly people from upper castes Hindus and yet they lecture the rest of India. Congress leaders are images of faultlines in everything but populism is their trump card. They believe this will again help them revive their party. They are experts in failure who chose to sell volumes on wisdom of success!

(This piece is written out of imagination by Nirendra Dev and has nothing to do with Narendra Modi…..There’s nothing official about it.)

Blogger Nirendra adds:

In THE FINAL QUESTION (Shesh Prashna by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay) published in 1931.........female protagonist Kamal had tendency to ask uncomfortable questions. She even questions whether Taj Mahal was really a monument of love or just an emperor's display of power: "Mumtaj was only the accidental cause for building Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan could have built such an edifice around any other occasion".

This illustration is applicable to army of Modi bashers! Who says, Modi-bashing is not an art of the sickular?

Apropos Military in North East and Quality Journalism

The people are the creatures of habit and lovers of comfort. Who else can hold the mirror other than the media? But media in the northeast needs to walk the talk vis-à-vis the role of the military and security forces.

Two Army officers who served in the east and North-east hit the headlines recently. Former Chief of Army Staff and ex-governor of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura, General KV Krishna Rao passed away on 30 January 2016. He took part in the 1965 war against Pakistan, in Jammu and Kashmir, in 1947-48 and from 1970-72 commanded a mountain division in Nagaland and Manipur. He also fought in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

On 13 January 2016, Lt- Gen (retd) JFR Jacob passed away in Delhi at the age of 92. The Kolkata-born Jacob was best known for his role as Army Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, during India's victory over Pakistan in the war of 1971.

                                               

Prior to him, on January 13, 2016, another olive green hero Lt Gen (Retd) JFR Jacob breathed his last at Army Research and Referral Hospital. He was 92. Kolkata-born Jacob is best known for his role as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command during India's victory in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Liberation of Bangladesh.

I am referring to these two military officers in this column with a purpose as recent weeks also saw wide range of public debate on the role of Governors, powers of military and the prospects of peace talks with the ultras in the northeast. Both the former army officials served as Governors – and Gen Rao as Governor of Nagaland also was in some sort of controversy when he had recommended dissolution of the state assembly when Hokishe Sema government was reduced to minority in 1988.

But to me always more important has been the debate about the role of the army in these insurgency-hit states. In this public discourse is certainly always the media coverage of the army role vis-à-vis the common people of this region. 

Generals: Jacob, Krishna Rao

This would naturally lead us to discussions on the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).  This law is also in debate over a supposed confession by a Manipur police constable on fake encounters.

I am a frightfully placid nature journo. But there’s hardly a debate that the media coverage of AFSPA and related events in the northeast – especially by the local press - is generally followed by the spirit of 'popular will'.

This sounds bitter but unfortunately is true. But this happens not without good reasons. We can see such media reports more than often because the local readership wants anti-military stories. And there's some 'safety cushions’ as the retaliation from the state/central governments would not be as harsh or drastic as by ultra groups.

This in no way is an attempt to justify the numerous cases of human rights violations by the security forces.  On the other hand, study on the issue of human rights violations both in the northeast and elsewhere including in few neighbourig countries reveal some interesting findings.

One likes it or not, media needs to point out clearly that the Indian military prowess or the Government of India itself has not yet lost a serious counter insurgency campaign within the country. 

Blogger: Field Duty

Former Indian diplomats and military officials deployed in Sri Lanka have told me that we can perhaps safely conclude  that only unsuccessful campaign has been against the LTTE in that island country.

Now, why the success rate against insurgency in India is so good? I am not touching at the instances of human rights violations or unfortunate killings of a number of innocent civilians. But the success in counter insurgency campaigns owes a lot to government of India's "political approach" to counter insurgency. 

We ought to admit that in this context, even the Indian army has generally played second fiddle and cooperated with the civil administration and political leadership and endorsed the numerous processes of peace talks.

Even army leadership has appreciated that the insurgency problem -- barring the Mizoram handling in 1960s - is political by nature and the solution lay in political landscape only. And even for Aizawl bombing, the decision came from higher ups and not from military officials unilaterally. But it’s the army alone who get the blame.  

Now what difference does it make if media does not mention or does not cover this aspect of military role vis-a-vis the peace process?

Not covering well this crucial aspect of insurgency warfare is actually depriving the readers and not informing the common people that the peace talks have been successful and can be successful only with the cooperation of military.

                                     

The moment the locals understand the importance of 'political talks' to resolve these insurgency problems, we can guarantee that any insurgency outfit would be compelled to come forward for talks. This has been the case with ULFA and also the Naga militants. This pragmatism of Mizos was actually a great booster in leading the late rebel leader Laldenga come forward for talks and finally end the Mizo insurgency.

The media in the region needs to introspect on its role in highlighting or not doing so on these finer points. Such media reportage can influence Indian army strategists deployed in the region too. So the moot point I have tried to argue is effective and detailed coverage on these issues can force both the military and insurgency outfits stay away from violence and warfare and accept the reality that talks is the only answer. And to add to it - Peace is a must for development.

Importantly, however, in all these games the role of politicians is an important facet. Those who have followed affairs of northeast are well aware of the ‘damaging power’ of this neta class.

All the way through every single thing done is essentially and purely aimed to help politicians improve their own position and harm or spoil the position of other players – including the security forces and even the police force.  I know of politicians in northeast who remain tight-lipped when enjoying the loaves of ministerial power and open up mouths against army and AFSPA when they are not in power. 

This blogger has made a case on the need for a rightful balance between maintenance of law and order and protecting the civil rights of citizens. But what the politics of double standards have turn things into a mess. You cannot administer a state or a country if one person in the office has the power and tendency to veto and undo the good works of military and security forces.

(ends)

Thanks to Congress, a 'failed AGP' : We have Troubled Assam

What has hampered developments in Assam?

-Corruption, lack of plans, greater roles for middlemen, adhocism in administration, land disputes, submerged roads, delay in payment for NREGA workers, lack of agro market industry, absence of cold storage, lack of fish market and costly fertilizers.

Over six decades of the Congress and regional outfit Asom Gana Parishad’s failure with increasing corruption, greater roles for middlemen, adhocism in administration and many more are the stepping stones to ‘Troubled Assam’

Photo: India Today

The test of governance in Congress-ruled Assam and more so the absence of it could be found in the sheer and perhaps candid admission by the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. When violence erupted in 2012 in Bodo stronghold pockets spread over 400 villages, a beleaguered Gogoi had said almost in a tongue-in-cheek fashion: “Assam is sitting on a volcano. Assam is just like a volcano. You don’t know what happens where”.

He had further said, “Clashes keep occurring in the state, whether in Kokrajhar, Karbi Anglong or Dima Hasao” – reflecting indifference and administrative inability. Ironically these golden words came from Gogoi in circa 2012 – the 12^th year of his rule in the state. So looking back from 2001 to 2015-16 (long 15 years stint), what has Gogoi offered to his state?

On the same platitude will it be relevant to ponder, what did he offer to the Congress leadership or the AICC leadership all these years? Today he is the undisputed Congress ruler – so much so that even Himanta Biswa Sarma, reportedly the chief architect of Congress 2011 victory – has been now pushed out of the Congress party. In New Delhi, a confidant Gogoi on January 22, 2016 asserted, "Everyone's face will be there. But I will be the captain. I am the General of the party ….” and virtually anointed himself as the chief ministerial candidate for the fourth straight term.

                                 

This certainly displays a neo-confidence of a Congress leader --- something of a rarity! 

But Gogoi during his days in power seldom displayed confidence in people about his governance. In fact, the biggest folly of Gogoi the posterity will judge is his inability to work in tandem with Dr Manmohan Singh when the latter was the Prime Minister for a decade and also an elected MP from Assam. The northeastern region never had this opportunity nor people hope to get an elected member as Prime Minister in the next decade or so! Ironically both Gogoi and Dr Singh belonged to Congress!

The Assam government under Gogoi was more than once caught napping in terms of preparedness to deal with the violence situations and ethnic tensions. It also proved ineffective in terms of carrying out developmental works or creating jobs for the new generation Assamese and other local inhabitants. The Gogoi administration frequently also was proved ineffective each time after the violence broke in the state.

Tarun Gogoi: In Rabha Dance
While infiltration from Bangladesh and number of Muslim population has increased manifold in border as well as interiors of the state, there are allegations that many infiltrators are occupying the vast land especially of tribals in connivance of the state government officials. Visit to hubs like Dhubri or other pockets like Chirang and Baksa suggest often immigrants come from Bangladesh as labourers and rickshaw pullers but can manage to get hold of land ‘pattas (titles)’ quite easily.  

“The situation is worsening by the day. Problems plaguing the Bodo stronghold region are land grabbing spree of migrants, negligence of administration and developmental works by Assam government, joblessness and lack of opportunities are suffocating the natives,” says Pramod Bodo, president of influential All Bodo Students Union leader.  

Such situations also create grounds for lawlessness and other criminal and anti-national activities. 

In August-September 2012 the Army launched a major search operation in six districts of lower Assam and could seize illegal arms and explosives that have repeatedly been used to spread terror. Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) is a hyper active Islamist extremist organization. There have been breakthroughs in nabbing of individuals and groups involved in ferrying arms and ammunitions to the state through Dhubri and other vulnerable points. In fact not long ago, a key ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika also feared that Bangladeshis were active in Dhubri belt with the possible help of Bangladeshi and Pakistani intelligence agencies. But administration wise there was hardly any improvement on the ground.

Failed Governance!

In August-September 2012 the Army launched a major search operation in six districts of lower Assam and could seize illegal arms and explosives that have repeatedly been used to spread terror. Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) is a hyper active Islamist extremist organization. There have been breakthroughs in nabbing of individuals and groups involved in ferrying arms and ammunition to the state through Dhubri and other vulnerable points. In fact not long ago, a key ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika also feared that Bangladeshis were active in Dhubri belt with the possible help of Bangladeshi and Pakistani intelligence agencies. But administration wise there was hardly any improvement on the ground.

“The continuing tragedy of Kokrajhar also reflects the deficiencies in the government’s go-to response to ethnic demands — setting up autonomous territorial councils. Unless the developmental needs of the region that largely motivated such demands are addressed, its story may remain trapped in the old cycles of violence and mistrust,” commented Indian Express editorially.

Not many disagree. 

“The land of the Bodos and other tribals in Assam is much more than an economic resource. It represents their origins, their history…But migration has hurt the tribals and indigenous people most. The area of land that Bodos and other tribes now occupy in Assam is only a faction of what their forefathers had. The rest has gone to migrants,” laments BJP leader and Guwahati MP Bijoya Chakraborty.

Neglect of Adivasis:

But the agony of Assam and over six decades of Congress and regional outfit AGP’s failure does not end with the hardships in Bodo areas or the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh. The neglect of ‘Adivasis’ or tea-planters has been another gross failure both at the state and the central level by the Congress party.

To make it worse, a few Congress leaders in the past added insult to the injuries on Adivasis. Not long ago, P R Kyndiah, a controversial Congress leader in Meghalaya, as the union Tribal Affairs Minister under Manmohan Singh had said, “Considering ST status for Adivasis would involve examining the case using the criteria of tribal characteristics including a primitive background and distinctive cultures and traditions”. 

The then Home Minister Shivraj Patil, also considered close to Sonia Gandhi, had said that these Adivasis “had lost their tribal characteristics”.   

Shivraj Patil had pointed out that the then Assam government in 1999 (led by P K Mahanta) had asked the Centre not to include these communities in the ST list as other tribes living in the area would suffer. As a result of these statements, gradually the Adivasis turned more assertive and even endorsed the path of noisy demonstration and violence. On November 24, 2007 in Beltola, there was ‘clash’ between Adivasis demanding ST status and the ‘locals (that is Assamese)’.  

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Not quite surprisingly, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) through its mouthpiece ‘Swadhinta’ had alleged that some politicians were trying to ‘separate’ the Adivasis and tea tribes of Assam from the other Assamese. 

Two militant outfits — the Birsa Commando Force (BCF) and the Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA) – also had joined the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), All India Adivasi Students and Youth Association and Adivasi Mahila Parishad to set an ultimatum to the Centre demanding ST status. Things have been hanging fire since then. 

Vulnerable tea-planting social groups along with few other groups like Kharia and Oraon were mapped in Assam as ‘tea tribes’. Over the decades subsequently they formed a category of their own especially within the plantation areas and began to be called ‘Adivasis’. 

But even after independence, they had remained neglected if not ignored.

Now the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is working to give ST status to at least 6 tribal groups. The issue of ST status for Koch-Rajbongshis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Motoks and Chutiyas has been a priority for ULFA also.