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New Delhi’s firm and righteous policy has led to sustainable improvements in Kashmir

Jaibans Singh
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New Delhi’s firm and righteous policy has led to sustainable improvements in Kashmir

It is heartening to see New Delhi exhibit a rare confidence in dealing with the situation in trouble torn Kashmir. Undoubtedly, there is political and social pressure accentuated by a shrill media but it has not deterred the government from pursuing a well laid out policy. It has adopted a consistent posture and is working on it with a transparent approach. One gets an impression that the government is quite sure of getting the desired result of ushering peace and development in the trouble torn region sooner rather than later.

While the government has given an open-ended sanction to the security forces to eliminate terrorism while tackling violence and disruption with a firm hand, it is pursuing its development agenda aggressively. There are many voices in favour of Governor’s rule since it is providing the social and economic stability that the people aspire for. The panchayat and local urban body elections held last year are reaping excellent results with the development effort flowing directly to the grass roots level. This may well emerge as a game-changer in the state, especially the Kashmir Valley.

However, in a democracy, Governor’s rule cannot and should not remain beyond a stipulated period, hence there is a need to install democratic government at the soonest possible date. It now remains to be seen whether the elected government will take a leaf out of the well liked Governor’s rule and provide a neat, pro-active government or will it regress back to corruption, cronyism and inefficiency as earlier.

Pakistan is in the throes of a massive financial crisis that, it knows, cannot be overcome without tackling Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism that breed on its soil. The government of Pakistan has arrested the internationally wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed and has removed the well known Khalistani, Gopal Chawla, from the Kartarpur Corridor Committee. Sadly, these are no more than cosmetic steps; Hafiz Saeed has been arrested eight times earlier but never charged, Chawla has been replaced by yet another puppet of the Pakistan Army. In any case, no member of the minority in Pakistan can go openly against their all-powerful army, so, if the army wants to support the Khalistan movement all Sikhs residing in the country will have to play ball, like it or not. Hence, removal of Chawla is no more that a diplomatic sleight of hand.

India is very right in sticking to the position of holding no talks with Pakistan till such time that all terror structures operating in the country are eradicated. This would include disbanding terror organisation like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad in totality. If Pakistan feels that it can take a few steps and prevail upon the international community to pressurise the Indian government into opening dialogue then it is living in a fool’s paradise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is made of much sterner stuff as the whole world knows. On the diplomatic front, PM Modi has successfully convinced world leaders to come together in the fight against terrorism and Pakistan has been universally identified as the chief global sponsor of terror. Pakistan, as such, is becoming quite isolated worldwide as its perfidy gets exposed more and more. Also, the military, political and diplomatic misadventures that Pakistan has a proclivity to indulge in, are receiving great punishment along the line of control.

In the realm of dialogue with Kashmir Valley’s separatists the government has, despite pressure from many quarters, maintained a righteous stand of not opening talks on their terms. Of course, the door has been kept open for reasonable dialogue but only if there is a doable agenda on the table.

Meanwhile, counter-terrorist operations in the hinterland in Kashmir spearheaded by the Indian Army and conducted with complete support of Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP) and paramilitary forces have witnessed astounding results. Reports suggest that more than 100 terrorists, including senior commanders of the LeT and Hizbul Mujahedeen, have been eliminated this year itself of which a major number have been killed in the last month and a half.

When terrorists of local origin come in the dragnet of security forces, people gather into a crowd, pelt stones and interfere in the operation in a desperate bid to save them. The security forces have complete sanction from the government to carry on with their work regardless of this interference. Pressure from media and other political avenues is not being allowed to play on the minds of the security forces in pursuance of their duties.  Of course, standard operating procedures are in place to keep the locals at bay while ensuring their safety. Quite clearly, the government has the will and determination to take the battle into the enemy’s turf.

A segment of media is trying its level best to somehow mute down the pressure with a “cry wolf” approach and terming the policy as tough and inflexible. If seen outside the prism of self-serving politics and with application of a deeper understanding, the modus operandi comes across as firm, unambiguous and righteous. Most importantly, it is producing the desired results. Thankfully the government is steadfast and resolute in following the chosen path, criticism by media and other elements notwithstanding.

Gone are the days when the separatists, the terrorist and Pakistan had their space; now they stand exposed and are clearly running for cover, Pakistan does not wish to loosen its grip on the lumpen elements that it nurtures in Kashmir but is too hard pressed to do anything tangible. The government today has charted a path that meets the aspirations of the people by providing to them what they need the most — peace and development. An ability to sustain its confidence is bound to reap good results.

Shri Amarnath Yatra: Implicit adherence to security protocols is a must

Jaibans Singh
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Shri Amarnath Yatra: Implicit adherence to security protocols is a must

The holy Amarnath Yatra for the year 2019 officially commenced on Monday, July 1st, with first batch of pilgrims making their way towards the holy cave from their respective base camps in Baltal and Pahalgam and Governor Satya Pal Malik participating in the ‘Pratham Pooja’ (first prayer) in the cave shrine. It was reported that he prayed for peace in the state.

Over the last 20 days, the Yatra witnessed a record footfall that has crossed two lakh mark on the 16th day itself, which is the highest number recorded over the last four years. It is notable here that barely half the period of the Yatra has been covered so far since it is scheduled to culminate on August 15th, the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan.

Elaborate security arrangements, of a degree much higher than what was seen during previous pilgrimages, have been put in place this year. These include state of the art technology like bar-coding, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, satellite monitoring, live CCTV of national highway showing real-time footage and use of drones etc. Due to the bar-coding each Yatri and each vehicle is accounted for all the time. The boots on ground have also witnessed an increase with more companies of the CRPF being inducted.

Special Quick Action Teams of the Army and the CRPF have been earmarked to guard the highway. A three-tier security of Army, JK Police and CRPF is in place to secure the routes of the Yatra right up to the holy cave.

The attention being paid to security was also noticeable from the many reviews carried out at the highest level. On June, 26, the Northern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh visited units deployed for security of Amarnath Yatra on the axis of Baltal and Pahalgam for a last minute check. This was followed with a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who also went through a detailed security brief. “We have made adequate security arrangements. Whatever has to be done for the security of the Yatris will be done whether they are in the camps or moving in convoys. We are using technology to best effect,” said Dilbagh Singh, DGP JK Police on commencement of the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage has been moving smoothly since then; it was suspended only for one day on Monday, July 8th, as a precautionary measure following a strike called by separatists in the Kashmir valley to mark the third death anniversary of former Hizbul Mujahedeen terrorist Burhan Wani.

Under the circumstances, a statement by Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of the state alleging “inconvenience to the common people” comes as a surprise. “Amarnath Yatra is taking place since years. But unfortunately, the arrangements done this year are against the people of Kashmir. It’s causing a lot of trouble in the day-to-day lives of local people. I would like to request the governor to intervene in this,” she is reported to have said. She was probably referring to a restriction on the use of Jammu-Srinagar highway by civilians during Amarnath Yatra.

It would be prudent here to remind Mehbooba Mufti that on July 10th, 2017, when she was the chief minister of state, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra on the road and killed eight of them, while eighteen were injured.

There should be no doubt that the only reason why terrorists, especially the foreign variety, are not striking is because they are not getting an opportunity to do so. In order to make the pilgrimage incident free the people would be expected to adopt laid down security protocols willingly and proactively in the larger interest. The slight inconvenience is for their own good and for the good of the pilgrims. The people should also keep in mind the extreme inconvenience and great stress being faced by the security forces in ensuring day and night vigil over such a vast area from Jammu to the cave shrine 24×7 and should cooperate wholeheartedly with them. By so doing they would show their appreciation for the challenging task that is being undertaken and keep the morale of the forces high.

None other than Mehbooba Mufti has raised any issue of inconvenience. The civilian officials, in fact, are quite satisfied with the manner in which the Amarnath Yatra is progressing even as they pray fervently that it remains peaceful and incident free till the very end.

Junaid Mattoo, the Mayor of Srinagar has made a reference to the steps being taken at the civilian level to ensure security and comfort of the Yatris. “Security forces apparatus and police grid are taking all precautions. They are on their toes. As far as the city is concerned we are reviewing all hotels, public facility and conveniences to ensure that Yatris are comfortable and secure. Temples and Dharamshalas are being taken care of in the city as several visitors visit them during Yatra,” he has said while speaking of the arrangements.

Despite the turmoil of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, importance of the Amarnath Yatra has never diluted. Lakhs of pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the shrine every year regardless of the security threat. Even during the peak of terrorism, the number of pilgrims was always more than what the government could allow due to security reasons and time constraints; it continues to be so and this year is surpassing all records.

Notwithstanding the religious sentiments of the people, politicians of all shades and hues do not relent from politicising the Shri Amarnath Yatra as and when an opportunity presents itself. Year after year, the conduct of the Yatra is subject to avoidable political rhetoric with security taking centre stage. It cannot be overemphasised that implicit adherence to security protocols is imperative. It would be best to ignore such political utterance that can jeopardise the smooth conduct of the Yatra and follow laid down security protocols to ensure safety and security of all concerned.

Dharmendra Pradhan: Narendra Modi’s Man of Action

News Intervention Bureau
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Dharmendra Pradhan: Narendra Modi’s Man of Action

When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha elections in May 2019, it was quite expected that Dharmendra Pradhan will be a part of Narendra Modi’s new team. His relentless work, in the previous government that ensured energy access to crores of poor people had made him Modi’s man of action. In Team Modi 2.0, Dharmendra Pradhan has been given a major responsibility to oversee India’s energy security needs amidst severe uncertainty in the global energy markets. A long-time party worker and known for his go-getter outlook towards work, Dharmendra Pradhan took challenges head-on during his previous stint with ministries of petroleum, and skill development and entrepreneurship. Pradhan proved to be an effective administrator and key achievements to his credit include the Ujjwala scheme, policy decisions like natural gas pricing, new round of oil and gas auctions and increased cooking gas penetration from 56 % to 95 %.

Reforms to revitalize the energy sector

Under Pradhan’s leadership the ministry of petroleum and natural gas ushered in a slew of reforms including diesel de-regulation, new market-linked gas pricing guidelines, daily revision of fuel prices, new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), PAHAL-Direct benefit transfer for LPG consumers, breaking the deadlock between Odisha government and Indian Oil Corporation over Paradip refinery and success of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY), among others.

Schemes like Ujjwala—to provide access to LPG connections to women from below-poverty-line households— and expansion of city gas distribution (CGD) networks proved to be game-changer in drastically ramping up access to clean cooking fuel to millions of common people. Such initiatives are not only leading to energy justice, as envisaged by PM Modi, but also creating business opportunities and addressing climate change as well as local pollution concerns. Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, also lauded the commendable efforts made under Ujjwala and has said, “This has been the world’s largest poverty alleviation programme. There has been no comparable achievement by recent governments. LPG coverage stood at 50% of the country in 2014 when the scheme started. It has now grown to 90% in December 2018.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over the LPG connection papers to a rural woman under the Ujjwala scheme.

But this was not an overnight achievement. Infact, this was made possible by his sheer commitment and involvement in the planning and execution of the scheme, since its inception. From 2014 onwards, when Pradhan was inducted into the Modi government as minister of state for the petroleum and oil ministry, he focussed his energies on making Modi’s flagship programme, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a success. Similar achievement was scripted under the PAHAL scheme. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Record as the world’s largest cash benefit transfer scheme, the PAHAL scheme was an initiative by the oil ministry aimed at directly transferring subsidy of LPG cylinders directly into the bank accounts of the consumers. It not only helped the government save more than Rs. 20,000 crore by cutting out ghost beneficiaries but also helped propel the oil ministry’s image as a pro-poor and consumer-friendly ministry. In September 2017, in a cabinet reshuffle, Modi elevated Dharmendra Pradhan to the rank of union minister for the same ministry, with an additional charge of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship. This promotion was reportedly a reward for his work on the PMUY.

At the helm of energy diplomacy

India imports more than 80% of its oil requirements and around 18% of the natural gas it needs. Global oil dynamics has major impact on the economic growth of the country. Dharmendra Pradhan resumed office against the backdrop of tightening US sanctions against Iran, and production curbs by the OPEC, which have driven up oil prices. Higher oil prices stoke inflation and hurt economic growth in India, whose energy needs are primarily met through imports.

Pradhan who is a well-known figure in the energy capitals of the world, is the perfect man to protect India’s energy interest amidst global oil diplomatic slugfest. He has been in close contact with Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Khalid Al-Falih to help meet India’s energy requirements.

“India’s voice as a large, reliable energy consuming nation is heard with respect. We have been able to convince the oil suppliers about India’s as well as all consuming nations justified stand for a responsible and reasonable pricing. We have been able to simplify and reform our oil and gas sector policies and guidelines to attract new investors and inject new technologies.”

Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas at the PetroTech-2019

The 49-year old, soft spoken leader is among few young politicians who continue to play a dominant role in the party at the center as well as in his home state. Pradhan started his political career through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidayarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1983 and in 2004, won the Lok Sabha election from the Deogarh constituency. During the next one decade, his influence in the BJP’s central leadership continued to grow, as he served the party’s state in charge and election in charge in Bihar, Jharkhand and Karnataka. In 2010, the party appointed Pradhan as one of its general secretaries. He was also the organiser of party activities in Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Odisha. Two years later, he was given a Rajya Sabha membership by the BJP, from Bihar. At the end of his term, in 2018, the party sent him to the Rajya Sabha again, this time from Madhya Pradesh.

In a relatively short span of time, Pradhan has carved a crucial identity for himself in the national politics. He is now a close confidant of Narendra Modi and was one of the chief architects for the victory of BJP in Bihar in the 2014 General Elections. He delivered a good show in Odisha in 2019 as well, where the BJP won eight Lok Sabha seats as compared to one in 2014.

Odisha’s change maker

Dharmendra Pradhan is seen as a charismatic young leader in Odisha, who is always available for his people. During the cyclone Fani, he ensured his presence on the ground, advising, directing and ensuring that relief is provided to the people at the earliest. He was seen advising the officials involved in relief and rescue operations to increase the relief operations under the CSR schemes by the companies associated with Petroleum Ministry. Many times Dharmendra Pradhan was seen personally monitoring the schemes of relief and rescue operations. He had crucial meetings with Railways and Bank officials to restore services in the minimum possible time. People recall, the Khurda Railway Board was hit the most by Fani storm and it had affected the movement of trains on Khordha Road-Cuttack-Puri-Bhubaneswar road. Pradhan quickly organized meetings with railway officials and asked them to complete the repair work of Fani storm affected railway track before organizing ‘Rathayatra’. Also, packed drinking water, charging facilities at railway stations and food arrangements at very affordable rates were also organized at the railway stations. Similarly, the Union Minister, accompanied by representatives of RBI and SBI, and representatives of other government and private banks and officials, increased the pace of restoration of banking services in the affected areas.

Odisha is a key state for BJP, for its rising east strategy. Through his dedication and ground work Pradhan has helped the party significantly bolster its ground-level cadre over the last five years in the state, and the result was quite visible in the recent elections. This year BJP won eight Lok Sabha seats compared to one in 2014, and 23 seats in Odisha assembly elections, as compared to 10 seats in the 2014 assembly elections.

With Dharmendra Pradhan, once again, at the helm of the crucial petroleum and natural gas ministry, efforts towards delivering energy justice to the poorest of the poor by adopting the four pillars visualized by Prime Minister Modi – Energy access, Energy efficiency, Energy sustainability and Energy security, will definitely see a major momentum. This will re-write the growth trajectory of the country in the coming years.

Vidya Balan to act, produce socially relevant short film ‘Natkhat’

News Intervention Bureau
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Vidya Balan to act, produce socially relevant short film ‘Natkhat’

Vidya Balan is all set to turn producer with a socially relevant short film titled “Natkhat”, in which she will also act.

The actor has collaborated with producer Ronnie Screwvala to back this film, a statement issued on behalf of the actor read. “Natkhat” addresses several issues such as patriarchy, gender inequality, rape, domestic abuse, compartmentalisation by men in different relationships with women; and in doing so surpasses all possible barriers, be it age, gender, urban-rural divide and nationality.

Written by Annukampa Harsh and Shaan Vyas and developed with RSVP associate producer Sanaya Irani, “Natkhat” is directed by Vyas. “It’s a beautiful and powerful story that called out to me in a way that made me want to act in it and also turn producer. And who better than RSVP to do it with,” Vidya said in a statement.

“When I first heard the script of ‘Natkhat’, I immediately knew this film had to be made. The film addresses so many issues and gives out a powerful message too,” Screwvala said.

Humanist activist and family threatened by Government of Pakistan: Government Canada urged to intervene in the human rights campaigner’s case

Scott Douglas Jacobsen
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By: Humanist Canada

TORONTO – July 18, 2019 – PRLog — Humanist Canada continues to join a growing chorus of denunciation of the Government of Pakistan in its treatment of human rights campaignerGulalai Ismail, including Humanists International and other human rights groups. Denunciation followed by calls to drop the sedition charge against Ismail.

Once more, we call on the Government of Canada to request and urge the Government of Pakistan to drop the charges of sedition against Ismail, as she worked, in a peaceful protest, to bring attention to the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl, Farishta. Now, Humanist Canada extends the call to stop the (alleged) harassment of Ismail’s family.

“If the reports about Ismail and her family stand as sufficiently factual and accurate, the charge of sedition against Ismail remains suspicious, even potentially contrived, and the harassment, or state discrimination, of the family remains unjust and unfair with the appearance of the conscious punishment of Ismail’s family in the light of a possible spurious sedition charge against Ismail,” Humanist Canada Board Member and Young Humanists International Secretary-General, Scott Jacobsen, explained. “For example, according to reportage, the family of Ismail continues to suffer threats and harassment, a raid of the family home, with Ismail’s parents, recently, booked under First Information Reports (FIRs) with accusations of involvement in and monetary support of anti-state and terrorist organizations.”

Martin Frith, President of Humanist Canada, echoed the sentiments, saying, “The intransigence of the Pakistani authorities means that Gulalai’s only hope is public pressure from the international community. The Canadian government voiced support for human rights in the past. We urge the Government of Canada to act on the principles of support for human rights defenders and protection of human rights by publicly intervening in the case of Gulalai with the appropriate Pakistani officials.”

“They are under serious threat of arrest and in-custody torture. These are extremely serious allegations, [and] can cause their immediate arrest and long term [imprisonment]. It is [meant] to [torture] Gulalai Ismail and her family for being Human Rights Defenders and peace activists… Gulalai Ismail’s mother is a house-wife and has been dragged [into] the matter to torture Gulalai Ismail and her family,” Saba Ismail, Gulalai’s younger sister, said.

We urge members of the Canadian public and the international freethought community to email support to the Pakistani embassy in Ottawa at parepottawa@rogers.com. Human rights defenders and campaigners fight for the rights of others. Often, this comes with risks to themselves. Sometimes, they need defenders and campaigners, too.

“Ismail represents one of those rare and rarefied individuals known as human rights campaigners and defenders with the resilience, persistence, and moral courage to speak out on instances of unfairness and injustice with the full knowledge of the difficult circumstances in which this happens and the probable legal, penal, and livelihood consequences of voicing unpopular and uncomfortable truths on fundamental issues of human rights important for the protection of the weak, often voiceless, and vulnerable,” Jacobsen stated.

For more information from Humanists International, please see here:

https://humanists.international/2019/07/humanists-international-takes-gulalai-ismail-case-to-human-rights-council/

About Humanist Canada

Humanist Canada is a national not-for-profit charitable organization promoting the separation of religion from public policy and fostering the development of reason, compassion and critical thinking for all Canadians through secular education and community support.

Contact Information

Scott Jacobsen

Board Member, Humanist Canada; Secretary-General, Young Humanists International

Info@HumanistCanada.Com; Sec-Gen.Young@Humanists.International

1-877-486-2671

Martin Frith

President, Humanist Canada

President@HumanistCanada.Ca

1-877-486-2671

Terrorist incidents down by 86 per cent in J&K

News Intervention Bureau
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Terrorist incidents down by 86 per cent in J&K

Terror incidents in the hinterland have reduced by 70 per cent and in Jammu and Kashmir by 86 per cent in the last decade as compared to previous decade, Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday.

Reddy also said the number of terrorist incidents has substantially reduced between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2019 as compared to the previous decade.

“The number of terrorist incidents in the hinterland during the last decade as compared to the previous decade has reduced by 70 per cent from 71 to 21 and the number of terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced by 86 per cent i.e. 23,290 to 3,187,” he said, replying to a written question.

Further, the minister said, as compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the first half of this year has witnessed a reduction of 28 per cent in terrorists initiated incidents and an increase of 59 per cent in actions initiated by the security forces against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

I will be reborn in India: Dalai Lama tells Vijay Kranti

Vijay Kranti
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I will be reborn in India: Dalai Lama tells Vijay Kranti

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama celebrated his 84th birthday. Three months ago he completed his 60 years of exile in India. A lot of water has flown through Brahmaputra, locally known as Tsangpo in Tibet, since this monk ruler escaped from his China occupied country in March 1959 to save his life from the Peoples Liberation Army that crushed the Tibetan uprising at a cost of over 80 thousand Tibetan lives (as per UN documents). In the meanwhile China has emerged as a military and economic super power and has successfully converted its newest colony into a fortress with a huge network of cantonments, airbases and nuclear stations in addition to a flood of Han settlers who have already outnumbered the ethnic Tibetan population.

Even if Dalai Lama’s ‘government in exile’ at Dharamshala has yet to get its first recognition from any world government, yet Chinese rulers expose their helpless vulnerability on the faintest mention of word ‘Dalai Lama’ or ‘Tibet’ in any world forum or capital. In their over enthusiasm to stamp their final control over Tibet by installing the next incarnation of current Dalai Lama, Beijing’s two religious search committees, each headed by a senior communist leader, have already completed two dry runs by identifying the new reincarnations of Panchen Lama and the Karma Pa over past two decades. They have made innumerable attempts to woo the Dalai Lama to return and settle in Beijing to give the moral and political legitimacy to China’s rule over Tibet that Beijing misses miserably.

Vijay Kranti, a senior journalist, Tibetologist and photographer, has been frequently meeting and interviewing Dalai Lama over past 47 years since 1972 to write about his opinion on various issues related to Tibet, religion, philosophy and Dalai Lama himself. On the Tibetan leader’s 84th birthday he presents an assortment of his questions and answers on some issues which present the Dalai Lama’s thinking about himself and his experience as a refugee over past six decades. For obvious reasons, a few answers reflect his opinion that has evolved differently over this long period.

Vijay Kranti :  How your life as a refugee has affected you personally?

Dalai Lama : Generally speaking, these years have been a sad period.  For the Tibetan nation as a whole this is the darkest period in history. But then difficulties and problems also help you come closer to reality.  They also increase your inner strength. If China had not occupied Tibet then I might have been living in comfort. In that case I may have been a superficial Dalai Lama.

You see, Tibetans never had as many photographs of previous Dalai Lamas as they have of this Dalai Lama. And none of the previous Dalai lamas were ever interviewed by the B.B.C. or  the international  press.  Who did it for me?  The Chinese government! So don’t you think I should be thankful to them (laughs)…. That is why the present Dalai Lama has  become the  most needed, most pivotal personality. But also the  saddest Dalai Lama ever.

Vijay Kranti :  And for Tibet?

Dalai Lama : In early sixties some of our sincere friends expressed fears that the Tibetan issue was dead and that Tibet would disappear forever. But we steadfastly maintained our determination. As a result, Tibet is still alive. The issue is far from dead. Some credit goes to the Chinese themselves.  They were ruthless. That strengthened the Tibetan determination. Tibetans should be thankful to the Chinese for at least this contribution.

Vijay Kranti : Did your Nobel prize help the Tibetan cause?

Dalai Lama : Sure. Tibetans and their cause are now better understood by people who did not know much about Tibet. Everyone now wants to know about Tibet and the  Dalai  Lama. It  strengthened our people’s determination.

Vijay Kranti : But if the Tibetan issue remains unresolved for long,  don’t you think it will frustrate Tibetan youth and they may adopt the path of violence ?

Dalai Lama : My answer is quite simple. If the situation goes out of my hands, or if the Tibetan freedom movement takes a violent turn, the only thing I can do is to quit.  Non violence is the only way.

Vijay Kranti : As 14th Dalai Lama which of the previous Dalai Lamas impressed you most?

Dalai Lama : If I look at the overall personality of each Dalai Lama, the fifth impresses me the most. The most impressive thing about  him was that he was not at  all sectarian. He  was very domineering though. That way I represent a sharp contract. I think I am too soft. I always feel myself a part of the crowd and not someone  who  is the head of a nation, or a  big  man.  That feeling is always there. However, on spiritual ground I especially like the first and the second Dalai Lamas.

Vijay Kranti : Now that Tibet is occupied by China, what will happen  to your reincarnation? China can manipulate the entire affair after your death.

Dalai Lama : I think this is not a big  problem. First, history shows that all Dalai Lamas have not necessarily been from Tibet.  For example the fourth Dalai Lama  was  from Mongolia. The most important thing is that the world is  always  changing. Tibetan  customs, Tibetan institutions, the way  of  living  and thinking  would keep on changing. Presently the institution of the Dalai Lama is like  a symbol  of Tibet. Therefore, some friends of Tibet start  fearing that  without a Dalai Lama the Tibetan nation may not exist.  But the  truth is that any institution, including that of  the  Dalai Lama, may or may not exist, the Tibetan nation is going to  stay. Yes, it will.

Vijay Kranti :  A few years ago you had stated that your may be  the  last Dalai Lama….

Dalai Lama : Yes, I did say that if  the institution  of  the Dalai Lama does not serve the  interests  of Tibet,  then there is no need of maintaining it. I had also said  that whether  this institution should continue will completely  depend upon the wishes of the Tibetan people.

However, current circumstances show that it is necessary that there should be another Dalai Lama after me. And here I want to make it very clear that the reincarnation, or rebirth of the present Dalai Lama will never fall into Chinese hands because the Dalai Lama – I mean the present Dalai Lama – deliberately left his country because of pressing circumstances.  This fact makes one thing very clear that if the present Dalai Lama takes rebirth, his reincarnation will be for a very specific purpose.

Because his predecessor left his own country Tibet deliberately, and for a specific purpose, to live in India, then his reincarnation will also definitely reappear in that area and not in Chinese  hands.  That is definite, otherwise there is no logic behind my coming into exile and working for Tibetan freedom.

Vijay Kranti :  But what prompted you to say that you could  be  the  last Dalai Lama?

Dalai Lama : There were political reasons behind that. At that time, and even now, the Chinese government has been trying desperately to show  as  if the entire Tibetan problem is limited  only  to  the Dalai  Lama  as a person, or the institution of the  Dalai  Lama. This was a very clever attempt to divert the world’s attention from the real Tibetan issue. That is why I always say that the actual issue is not Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama,  or  for that  matter,  the  next Dalai Lama. The real issue is the six million Tibetans, their future, their identity, their welfare and happiness.

Whether the institution remains or not, my own rebirth will continue. It is a different matter whether people designate him  the  next  Dalai Lama.  In one of my daily prayers I always  say  that as long as space remains, and as  long  as  the living beings’ sufferings remain, I shall be there to serve  them and to dispel their misery.

Vijay Kranti :  And  now I ask you just the opposite  question.  If Tibet becomes free in your life-time what role have your thought of for yourself in the new Tibetan government?

Dalai Lama :   In  1963  our government-in-exile  adopted  a  draft constitution  for Tibet. In this constitution I had made it very clear that the powers of the Dalai Lama can be abolished by  a two-third majority vote among the Tibetan people’s deputies.  Our idea has been quite clear that the future Tibet should be a genuine democracy.

I would then live peacefully like an old monk. Wearing thick glasses and walking with the help of my stick (laughs)…. And if my friends provide me a helicopter, I would love to move around in my country meeting people (laughs again)…. The main thing is that I should remain outside of power. Like Mahatma Gandhi,  I too should not hold any public office. He remained  there as  long as he was needed in the national independence  movement. Once it was achieved, he moved away. That is a great thing.

Vijay Kranti : How long do you intend to fight for freedom for your  country?

Dalai Lama : Like any other nation, Tibet and Tibetans are also  entitled to  human  rights, including the right to preservation  of  their separate  identity  and way of life. To achieve this goal they would  continue to struggle as long as they remain under  foreign military  occupation. Free will is the only real basis of determining the destiny of our six million people. Until this right is restored to my people, there shall be no peace in their hearts and minds. Tibetans have endless faith in themselves as well as in the righteousness of their struggle. We won’t stop till the goal is achieved.

Vijay Kranti : Do you think there could have been a better way of  handling the situation during the 1950s in Tibet?

Dalai Lama : No, no. I think whatever we should have done between  1951, when  the  Chinese forced the 17-point agreement on us,  and  the uprising of 1959, was done. That was the best that could have been done in the given conditions. But it seems that things had gone wrong much before that. I always feel sad about that.

Vijay Kranti : Would you please elaborate?

Dalai Lama : I will give you a simple example. When India got Independence, our Tibetan government should have acted properly. In view of our centuries-old ties and for being the most friendly neighbour, rather a brother country, we should have sent the biggest delegation to participate in the Independence celebrations of India.  If they thought I was too young, a 12-year-old boy, then the Tibetan  delegation should have been headed by  the  Tibetan Regent.  They should have also met Mahatma Gandhi, Pundit Nehru, other  India  leaders and freedom fighters. This would have, at least, registered our independent status as a nation.

Vijay Kranti : Do you still think that leaving Tibet in 1959 and going into exile was the right decision ?

Dalai Lama : Yes. Because that was the only way left. I still believe so. Some of my own friends, including a member of my cabinet, the ‘Kashag’, had doubts about the wisdom of this decision. It was only when the Cultural Revolution started that he admitted in one  of our meetings that till that day he had some doubts whether it was really necessary for the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet. I have never had any doubts about it.

Vijay Kranti : The Chinese government has been inviting you to return  and stay in Beijing. What is your reaction?

Dalai Lama :  They believe that once I return on their terms the entire Tibetan problem would be solved. That is why they have been insisting that I should return and settle down in Beijing. But as any  other  self-respecting human  being I also regard the freedom of thinking, movement  and speech  as  more important than any personal  comfort.  Here  in India I have these freedoms. Therefore, I would prefer to live as a poor refugee with these freedoms than live in luxury in Beijing as a puppet without freedom. I am very clear about it.

Vijay Kranti : Some Tibetans believe that India has not done much for  the cause of Tibet. Do you agree with that?

Dalai Lama : No. I don’t agree with that. If any Tibetan think so, it  is not out of anger but because of his affinity with India, sense of belonging,  and greater expectations. When you live in a  family, you  can  expect  something  more than  what  you  can  get.  You sometimes complain without bothering about the other problems  of the family.  India  has really done a lot for us. The government of India has done everything that could have been done within its limitations.

Must read in News Intervention:
China’s conspiracy to instal its puppet as Tibet’s next Dalai Lama

Lawyers to boycott High Court Judge in Kolkata

News Intervention Bureau
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Lawyers to boycott High Court Judge in Kolkata

In a rare move, government-empanelled lawyers at the Calcutta High Court Monday told Justice Samapti Chattopadhyay that they will henceforth not attend her court.

Additional Government Pleader Bhaskar Baishya told Justice Chattopadhyay, soon after she entered the courtroom for holding hearing of cases, that government-empanelled lawyers have resolved not to attend her court.

“The way the judge is heckling government lawyers during hearing of various cases, it is not possible for us to attend her court,” Baishya, also the chairman of Trinamool Congress Lawyers’ Cell, told media outside the courtroom.

Justice Chattopadhyay had made some caustic comments against the West Bengal government last week over conducting of confidence votes in some civic bodies in the state.

Baishya said that the government-empanelled lawyers have written to Advocate General Kishore Dutta for forwarding the letter about their resolution not to attend Justice Chattopadhyay’s court to the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.

China’s conspiracy to instal its puppet as Tibet’s next Dalai Lama

Vijay Kranti
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China’s conspiracy to instal its puppet as Tibet’s next Dalai Lama

Communist games can be sometimes funnier than what Karl Marx or his dialectical materialism theories could have ever imagined. China’s communist leaders’ latest craze is to appoint a team of Buddhist monks under the leadership of a senior communist leader to discover the next incarnation of Tibet’s exiled Dalai Lama soon after he is dead. Their main purpose is to install a puppet Dalai Lama in order to put a stamp of legitimacy over their colonial control on Tibet.

The story started in 1949 when Chairman Mao’s People Liberation Army (PLA) conquered a major chunk of Eastern parts of Tibet. Following this he had no problem in coercing the 15-year old Dalai Lama’s theocratic government in Lhasa to sign on the dotted lines of what it called the “17 Point Agreement”. This agreement celebrated the ‘peaceful liberation’ of Tibet and its amalgamation into the ‘Motherland’ as an ‘Autonomous Region’ of China in 1951. 

Mao openly professed that religion was the enemy and opium of the masses. Still, this agreement promised that China would not interfere in the religious and cultural affairs of Tibet. But in their overenthusiasm to integrate Tibet and Tibetans into the new communist China the communist-military bosses of Tibet started working on the premise that a Tibetan minus his faith in Buddhism will make a perfect Chinese patriot.

However, direct interference in religious matters and challenging the monastic system of Tibet, which formed the basis of Tibetan social structure, led to an upheaval that culminated in the public uprising of March 1959 which ended with killing of over 80 thousand Tibetan people (as per UN documents) at the hands of PLA and the daring escape of Dalai Lama and a hundred thousand Tibetans to India.

China’s policy of annihilation of Tibet’s religion and religious institutions continued with religious zeal until late 1980s when two successive Tibetan uprisings against the occupying China made the Beijing bosses to sit up and take a fresh look at their religious policies on Tibet. Until then all administrative and Party dispatches from Lhasa were oozing with reports about Tibetan masses’ thankfulness to the Party and the government for bringing ‘prosperity’ and ‘liberation from the ‘serfdom’ of the ‘Dalai Clique’. They were shocked to observe that despite Dalai Lama’s absence for over three decades and enormous Marxist brainwashing of the existing three generations of Tibetans, the longing for Dalai Lama and religion played the main binding force among the young Tibetan demonstrators.

It was first time when Beijing leadership realized their failure in judging the importance of Buddha Dharma and the exiled Dalai Lama in the hearts of their colonized Tibetan subjects. A new resolve to exploit the power of religion was adopted to tame Tibet and to take on the Dalai Lama’s international influence. A major highlight of this resolve was to take charge of Tibet’s religious system, especially to bring the system of reincarnation under CPP’s control. The first experiment in this direction was appointment of a religious committee under a senior Communist leader for searching the new incarnation of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the previous (16th) Karma Pa, who was a senior and internationally popular incarnate lama who had died in exile in 1981.

Shunning away their anti-religion practices, the newly discovered boy Orgyen Thinley Dorje was enthroned in Karma Pa’s traditional monastery in Tsurphu in Tibet. The ceremony was televised live on China’s national TV amidst a large gathering of followers of the deceased 16th Karma Pa who were especially flown in from Europe. This process was repeated for the enthronement of the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995. The 10th Panchen Lama had lived as an ally of Beijing for three decades before he died under suspicious circumstances a day after a public meeting in Tibet in 1989 which witnessed his sudden outburst against Chairman Mao and Chinese control over Tibet.

For Beijing government these two events were like full dress rehearsals for the day when exiled Dalai Lama dies and it’s time to replace him with its own puppet reincarnation. It’s a different matter that the Karma Pa suddenly escaped to India on the eve of new millennium in December 1999. To make it worse for Beijing leaders, the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama has never been acceptable to the Tibetan people following the arrest and disappearance of 6 year old Gedhun Choeky Nyima whom Dalai Lama had recognized as the real incarnation of the previous Panchen Lama. Despite an unending international campaign going on since 1995, Beijing has yet to disclose the whereabouts of the boy and his parents.

Beijing government’s revised policy on Tibetan religion took a formal shape at the Third Tibet Work Forum, the highest strategy conclave of CPP and the government which was held from July 20 to 23rd in 1994 in Beijing. The Work Forum resolved to ‘cut the serpent’s head’, a euphemism for controlling Dalai Lama’s influence in Tibet; to increase punishment for public expression of anti-China and pro-Dalai Lama demonstrators and; to take official control of religious institutions and practices.

In line with this strategy, Beijing’s assertions about its monopoly over the selection of all Tibetan incarnate lamas, especially the Dalai Lama have become more frequent and high-decibel over the years. The most significant event in this chain came on Aug 3, 2007 when China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs issued its “State Religious Affairs Bureau Order no-5” as a statutory decree which made it compulsory for each new reincarnate lama to seek formal certification of the validity of his rebirth from four arms of the government, all controlled by the CPP directly or indirectly. This practically means that no reincarnation can take birth without approval of the Communist Party. Otherwise he, or for that matter, any future Dalai Lama will be declared “illegal and invalid” if his incarnation selection process is not certified by the CPP.

This Chinese stands is in sharp contrast to the Tibetan tradition of reincarnation which is based on the premise that each enlightened soul, which include the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama and all Tulkus (‘Living Buddhas’ in Chinese terminology) are capable of deciding the time, place and family for their next birth as a new baby. While Dalai Lama is the supreme among them and is the titular as well as spiritual head of Tibet, all other Tulkus hold only spiritual powers. Each reincarnate baby is searched and identified through a specific set of rituals by other monks following the death of a Tulku. Tenzin Gyatso, the present (14th) Dalai Lama was found and identified in the Taktser village of Eastern Tibetan province of Amdo, now renamed by China as Qinghai in 1939 in a similar way.

The latest Chinese official assertion on Dalai Lama’s reincarnation came on 19th March this year when Geng Shuang, the spokesperson of China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned the Tibetan claims by saying that selection of next Dalai Lama is China’s exclusive prerogative as part of its “policy of freedom of religious belief”. In a press briefing he declared that “reincarnation of living Buddhas including the Dalai Lama, must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and follow religious rituals and historical conventions of China.”

Sensing China’s designs about appointment of his successor, the Dalai Lama took a historic step in 2011 when he officially separated the spiritual and political powers of the institution of Dalai Lama and handed over his political powers to a ‘Sikyong’ (President) and the Parliament, to be elected through universal and confidential franchise among Tibetan community every five years. On the one hand this master stroke of Dalai Lama has pre-empted Chinese plans of installing a puppet baby as the next titular head of colonized Tibet and on the other hand gave an infinite shelf life to the Dalai Lama as a political institution free from Chinese intervention. No surprise, Beijing has rejected it and is asserting its authority over selection and installation of next Dalai Lama when the present one passes away.

Pakistan’s Financial Crisis: Who’s Responsible?

Nilesh Kunwar
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Pakistan’s Financial Crisis: Who’s Responsible?

Closing down airspace may debar entry of commercial aircrafts but it doesn’t prevent hostile fighter aircrafts from entering these spaces and carrying out aggressive actions. Therefore, it’s obvious that Islamabad’s decision to close down it’s airspace for Indian flights consequent to the Balakot airstrike was more of a punitive action rather than a security related decision. This was a populist decision by the Pakistani ruling elite that was aimed at hurting India. On the face of it, this wasn’t a bad idea since it forced the Indian aviation industry to take alternate routes, which being much longer led to massive pecuniary losses. As per available estimates, from the time Pakistan closed its air space until July 2, while India’s national carrier Air India lost Rs 491 crores, the combined loss of private airlines was estimated at nearly Rs 56 crores.

But revenge is a double-edged sword and so, while Islamabad’s decision was financially bleeding India, it was simultaneously hemorrhaging Pakistan’s fragile economy, resulting in a whopping loss of about $100 million (Rs 690 crore) to it. At a time when Pakistan’s financial condition is so precarious that it’s literally at the mercy of foreign donor nations and the IMF, the decision to prolong closure of its airspace for nearly six months is rather surprising since it makes bad economic sense. But, if whispers emanating from the Block Q corridors of Pak Secretariat in Islamabad are to be believed, then it appears that while the Finance Ministry was keen to reopen Pakistan’s airspace much earlier since in this war of ‘economic attrition’, Islamabad was turning out to be the bigger loser. But the Pakistan Army, which oversees the country’s India policy, refused to relent.

It goes without saying that inept economic polices coupled with poor fiscal discipline of successive governments have brought Pakistan to the brink of an economic disaster and former army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf has openly blamed politicians by saying that while civil governments derailed Pakistan, it was the army that put it back on tracks. Pakistan Army’s current chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa too appears to share this viewpoint as is evident from his recent statement that while Pakistan was going through difficult economic situation due to fiscal mismanagement, the armed forces were playing their part in addressing this problem by voluntarily foregoing annual increase in defence budget. But the question is, when Pakistan’s army has ruled the country for three out of the seven decades of its existence and continues to manipulate government functioning even when not in power, how can one believe that the military is in no way blameworthy for Pakistan’s financial crisis?

The pro-army lobby points out that history bears testimony to the fact that Pakistan never faced any financial crisis when it was under military rule, which is a fact. But the flip side is that Pakistan was economically well-off under military rule only because its dictators ensured regular fund inflows through Faustian deals. During the cold war era, Gen Ayub Khan entered into the SEATO and CENTO defence agreements in order to get monetary and material aid from America, even though by doing so he turned Pakistan into a pawn of the US. By focussing only on matters military, the much-needed infrastructural development to create a self-sustaining economy was completely neglected.

The Paki Generals had got so used to massive aid grants that in 1979, Gen Zia ul Haq refused a $400 million (Rs 2,760 crore) US economic and military aid package, calling it “peanuts.” When the US launched its proxy war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, Pakistan Army became its main recruiter, trainer and supplier of mujahideen for which Islamabad was rewarded with massive doles in the guise of aid. But by allowing Pakistani soil to be used as a breeding ground for mujahideen, Zia ended up ushering terrorism into the country- a blunder that has economically ruined the country and the people of Pakistan continue to pay dearly for this humungous folly with their blood.

Gen Pervez Musharraf ended up selling the country’s sovereignty by allowing the US to conduct drone strikes within Pakistani territory in exchange for military and economic aid. He pushed Pakistan into the Kargil war that caused immense strain on the national exchequer without achieving any territorial or diplomatic gains. Also, during his rule clandestine delivery of nuclear technology to North Korea in exchange of an undisclosed sum of money took place and due to this irresponsible action, even today the international community looks down upon Pakistan as an undependable nuclear power.  

The ‘trigger’ for present economic crisis in Pakistan, is the army’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups that it considers to be its ‘strategic assets.’ Readers would recollect that in October 2016, Dawn newspaper created ripples in Pakistan by publishing a report written by Cyril Almeida that mentioned of how “…In a blunt, orchestrated and unprecedented warning, the civilian government has informed the military leadership of a growing international isolation of Pakistan and sought consensus on several key actions by the state.” Writing in Economic Times, Dharminder Kumar aptly summed up Almeida’s scoop by stating that “The report had revealed something that had rarely happened in Pakistan: the mouse of the government was roaring back at the lion of the military.”  He was right because it soon became clear that Pakistan’s powerful military wouldn’t take this affront lightly.

When Dawn stood by its journalist and refused to retract its report (that subsequently came to be known as the ‘Dawn Leak’), the army reacted like a spoilt brat with an inflated ego, it rejected findings of the inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister’s office, expressing its scorn for the legislature through DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor via a curt tweet that read, “Notification on Dawn Leak is incomplete and not in line with recommendations by the Inquiry Board. Notification is rejected.” But things didn’t end here — the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was arm-twisted into sacking Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, later on Sharif lost elections to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which, (as everyone knows) was propped up by the military. Almeida became the only journalist in the Interior Ministry’s ‘exit control list’, an extraordinary action to prevent hardened criminals and high-profile economic offenders to evade the law by fleeing country.

No one can deny that the Trump administration gave Pakistan more than adequate time for clearing its stable of terrorists. But the government’s attempts to apprise Rawalpindi regarding the serious repercussions of duplicity in its war against terror, these apprehensions were rebuffed by the ‘high-on-ego’ military leadership. It was amusing to read the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement that Gen Bajwa “reiterated that Pakistan will not seek resumption of (US) aid but expects honourable recognition of our contributions, sacrifices and unwavering resolve in (the) fight against terrorism for peace and stability in the region.” An army General taking a national decision on financial matters maybe something unheard in modern democracies, but then Pakistan has always stood out as an exception in this regard.

So, how can the Pakistan Army disassociate itself from being equally responsible for the financial mess that Pakistan is in today?

Tailpiece: While announcing that Pakistan’s armed forces were playing their part to help in overcoming the nation’s financial crisis by voluntarily foregoing annual increase in defence budget, Gen Bajwa had also mentioned that “this isn’t the only step we are taking for improvement of the economy.” Though he didn’t reveal what other measures the Pakistan Army is contemplating, but if Gen Bajwa is genuinely as concerned about the country’s faltering economy as sounds, then he can really help Pakistan in a substantial way. All he needs to do is to hand over control of the more than 50 highly profitable commercial enterprises (valued at $20 billion by the Senate in 2016 that the Pakistani armed forces are presently running) to the civilian government.

But will Gen Bajwa walk his talk?

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