Excess of Politicking impairs governance in Himachal

Small state of Himachal is ridden with excess politicking that is holding back the development of the state and there is not adequate attention to the projects and execution of on going work. Major issues like Central university, Smart city and health of people are shrouded in controversy. Money provided in projects or proposal requested by centre , as in case of Beas cleaning, are neglected and no one attends to these. No wonder in a survey 70% citizens have voted that governance has deteriorated in the state.

When unemployment is raging in the state delays in such vital areas can seriously impair the development, The result is today Shimla is in the grip of major epidemic of jaundice as water supply to the capital was not properly handled and no one checked or controlled the quality of water supplied to the city.The situation became so serious that almost 4000 citizens or tourists are in the grip of this disease that is direct outcome of neglect and poor governance. It appears that therfe was no regular testing of water by IPH or Pollution board. Affluent are discharged in Khad that supplies water to the city. Treatment plant is out of order for months. Even senior doctors of IGMI the premier hospital of the state and Senior Superintendent of Hospital have suffered this illness. 7 people died and IAS officer Priyanta Maudlal is critically sick finally referred to PGI at Chandigarh. Mayor of the city  says ‘ Why government is sleeping and guilty being protected”. It is such s a serious issue that it will damage the state even in tourist arrival and it is important that not junior officials only but top officials and political masters need to be held responsible for such a fiasco. Is there more serious failure of governance when government remains busy in elections?

 Central University was sanctioned to the state 6years back but till now it is operating in rented premise whereas Uttarkhand that too was allotted Central University along with Himachal has already established campus at Srinagar and is operating from there. There is controversy between the CM Himachal and former CM that location should be at Dharmshala or Dehra. But even CM is not able to answer his own party M.P. Viplov Thakur who has strongly voiced her support to location of the University being at Dehra on the ground that Dehra is a neglected area and no important unit has been set up there. She says ‘ It is absolutely shocking and intriguing that how CM has suddenly changed when it is already approved that major portion is in Dehra” She has definitely logic and facts to support the case but the question is why governments is delaying the start of the campus and not  finalizing this matter for years. It is grave lapse of governance when University could generate a lot of employment.

Now let us see what happened to another important issue of Smart city where the controversy is between Dharamshala and Shimla. A tug of war is going on and the Mayor of Shimla have alleged that figures have been manipulated by Dharamshala. Nevertheless whatever the fight we have lost an opportunity to create employment due to poor governance. It is disgusting to observe that while Railway budget is being drawn and Himachal is abjectly denied access on broad gauge trains there is no effort on the party of the government to fight for the cause of the state and most of the leaders are busy in sorting out the local elections or playing politics against each other.

The connectivity of state is still a moot point that neither air nor rail connections are being organized that  is failure of governence.There are many more curial problems and no one has heard anything happening in the state on start up or skill India projects while lakhs of young men are languishing without jobs.

Bus Stand

First passenger: How Himachal government is approaching Californian experts in America to help us in controlling monkey menace?

Second passenger: May be government people are trying to fix their foreign jaunts soon.

----Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority 

How Subhash Chander Bose was illtreated in his own country

We are all occupied in searching secrets in secret files of Subhash Chander Bose that are being released. So far these have not still solved the riddles that surround his life and death. No conclusive evidence has emerged from the files about the certainty of plane crash or death in Russia. This will continue to be mystery especially when his associate Nizamudin who lives in Azamgarh says he left him near a river in Singapore after the crash. And his testimony that Bose lived thereafter has not been considered.

The papers reveal that Government of India after Bose’s disappearance seemed luke warm to get at the truth and even his ashes in a temple of Japan were left there itself to cover up any further din on the subject. It needs no papers as history has enough evidence of growing distance and hostility between Subhash and Nehru. Subhash Bose was elected twice as the President of the party and this was not to the liking of Nehru and Gandhi. Gandhi has serious differences with his approach that was more radical and infused with modern development ideas relying heavily on industrialization whereas Gandhi was towing a boat laden with Sawraj and pastoral economics. Nehru was too modern but in this fight he remained less vocal to support Gandhi who finally saw to it that Bose felt suffocated and impatient for Full Independence. Gandhi was advocating the soft approach to even reconcile with British as he did in supporting war and Khilafat. Gandhi would have been content with even dominion status given to India by the British Government. His approach was to overthrow the British for complete independence and that led to his house arrest. Finally he escaped the country and reached Germany. This was time of World War II and one can marvel at his escapade that would have entailed a lot of ingenuity and imagination. On reaching Germany he met Adolf Hitler and sought his help to fight the British for getting rid of them to free his country. He raised Indian National Army in Germany to fight with Germans. Was this a small deed or a mere quixotic fight with castles? On the other hand raising donations and an army in a foreign country needed extraordinary skill as well dynamism.  When German went weak in war he managed to reach Japan and raise an army to touch the coast of his motherland fighting his tough and impossible mission. It looks a fairy tale but it was the reality of an Indian hero that we did not acknowledge fully and rather made all possible efforts to assign it a background space. This disregard went to the extent that in Children text books we reduced his mention and even omitted it for higher classes.

After exit of Bose from India Nehru took the command of the party and all the ideas of Gandhi were either ignored or given a marginal place. For example: partition too was accepted against Gandhi’s wishes. we accepted two nation theory which was greatest mistake resulting in millions holocaust. Dr Ambedkar thought it was absurd to bring swaraj or Panchayat in our Constitution and threw it out. Even he gave in to Nehru’s views and finally a document was adopted inspite of reservations of  many tall leaders like Prasad and Patel and others. Everything became Jawahar lal’s show. It must be acknowledged that he was astute politician and a capable leader who commanded high literary and holistic grasp of world view. But there was another jewel in the crown of nation that was squandered by out disregard and manipulative politics that eased out Bose.

There would be a lot of mudslinging on Nehru for his manipulation and disregard of Bose . Three commissions of enquiry did not bring out anything substantial to reveal some light on death of the martyar.On the other hand Nehru’s letter to Atlee informing about Bose called  a war criminal is hogging lime light. It is true that is not the letter signed by Nehru but as taken down by a stenographer who produced it before Khosla Commission that did not give any credence to it. Nehru did what a politician would do to remain sole inheritor of Gandhi and fight for freedom of India. Obviously he did not want to share the lime light with another competitor as a politician would do. It should be remembered that even Atlee the then PM of Britain acknowledged that Bose could unnerve British that army could revolt as many in army had sympathy for him. Gandhi was held high esteem by all leader and I find a lot of fault on the part of Gandhi who not only made him leave party and country but gave him no support. Gandhi could have molded this genius for furtherance of the cause of the country but he did not and preferred to lean on shoulders of Nehru. Gandhi could put up with radicals like Ram Manohar Lohia but why he did not likewise give a hand and blessed a brave and duly elected leader of the party?

The controversy is now hot and will not die. BJP will claim credit for bringing documents first time in public domain whereas earlier governments refused it. Instead of beating the drums it should restore the honor and memory of the great son of India in fittest manner.

---Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority

After terror attack at Pathankot India should reinvent strategy

Pathankot terror attack is major watershed in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy especially the transforming the relations with Pakistan that were on low ebb right from the day one after his magnificent first to invite all SARC members to his searing in. Pakistan continued to shell the border and terror strikes did not halt. Modi took a historic and daredevil step to enter Pakistan and greet Nawaz Shrif on marriage function in his family on his return from Afghanistan where he had inaugurated their Parliament building constructed by India. For a week it was jubilation in peace lobby and international press and governments acclaimed his initiative. But this peace ovation did not last long. There was attack on Indian embassy in Afghanistan as a sting in the tail tradition. And on 31^st night Pakistan based terrorists breached the border between two countries and started worst ever attack that failed in its mission but caused damage and embarrassments to peace efforts that were on between two countries.

Pakistan has many outfits which train terrorists and some of the known terror promoters like Saiyad Hafiz and others are openly operating. They are powerful in carrying out terror activities in different location although some of them locate in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. It is their interest that peace between two countries does not last as they will lose their constituency and impact. It is uniform practice of these agencies to unleash terror after any effort to mend fences between two countries. Mod’s initiative had already shocked Hafiz and these outfits. But their patten of operation can be studies from the facts that last year talks between Afghanistan and Taliban were preceded by terror attack. Asia Summit attended by Sushma Swraj was followed by attack on Kandhar airport. No wonder Modi’s universally appreciated peace effort had to be foiled and there came Pathankot.

But how they operate and why Pakistan Government is not controlling them? The reason is simple that Pakistan is getting its dole from US and others only for keeping an eye on them and giving access to US agencies to carry out their mission as they did for Osma Bin Laden. Their economy is heavily depended on such doles and drug trade. This attack itself is result of combinations of drug-terror nexus.

The result was that within a week of Modi‘s spectacular Pakistan visit the terrorist wanted equally spectacular attack to derail the process of peace.  No doubt Pakistan has not acted strongly against earlier complaints of India, even 26/11 for years, continue to be questionable as they don’t find substantial evidence even when India gives them proof of alive Kasab who confessed to his act. They even refused to take the bodies of such confessed Pakistani’s. Some experts think it is deliberate design of Pak policy to proclaim peace but promote terror to keep its economics of doles and drugs alive. It is therefore difficult to trust any move by Pak to stop these activities and nab the terror promoters and sources in their own country.

Pathankot no doubt is greatest set back to peace effort although the terrorists did not succeed in causing major damage to airport and its aircrafts or helicopters which would have been very serious. Nevertheless they are responsible for 7 deaths of Indian soldiers and more than 20 injured. The question now is that did we tackle the terror attack properly? No doubt mission of terrorists has been thwarted but major lacuna in the process of entry and operation of the terror still remain. It is well known that entire area from Dina nagar to Gurdaspur area remains porous and smugglers are frequently using this route. How it was known but still a vital installation like airbase remained incompletely insulated to such intrusions. The force which had to bear the brunt of attack with maximum casualties belonged to security which is like chowkidars as they were not trained to deal with such intruders and were retired personnel. Even lights were not operating in area of wall that allowed the entry. The fact that such fatigues, as were worn by intruders, are openly selling in market made things difficult as Indian personnel found it difficult to distinguish between their own men and the terrorists. Second area of mystery is SP of Gurdaspur who has not been able in the middle of night of 31^st, to clearly establish his presence in area when he was abducted and how he was left unscathed without being killed. The investigation will reveal whether they had link with drug smugglers or terrorists.

Altho9ugh Pakistan first time responded by condemning the attack and has started investigation based on clues furnished by India and there is clear US pressure on acting on evidence rather than talking yet it is not believed that there will be elimination of terror bases. Looking to Pak strategy to keep the world dependent on it for terror control and their own interest to continue is bound to result in double speak and schizophrenic approach. India must change its policy and instead of just going on submitting evidence only it must inflict collateral damage in many possible manners. No longer should we wait for Pakistan to solve out problem we have to do it ourselves and reinvent our strategy.

-Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman Int Airports Authority of India

 

Triumphs and turmoil of 2015

On this chilly and foggy dawn of New Year we look back at the year gone by and search for milestones that we crossed and destinations that we missed. In The high light of 2015 was emergence of India and Modi as front runner in the race of development. Narendra Modi flew the flag of the country high to travel to all right destinations in the world and establish the country as investment friendly committed to ideals of freedom and equality and responsible democracy of the world. His championing the national cause with connectivity to the world brotherhood and peace won the hearts of world leaders so much that Barack Obama went to the extent of publically acknowledging his stature and friendship. Time magazine announced him to be one of the top ten leaders and twitter found him the most searched leader of the world.

Diplomatic attainment of last year included our choice of establishing close relations with the world’s largest power United States of America and virtually creating a block of Japan, South Korea and US to develop a shield against China. He has been able to create world opinion against terrorism and isolated Pakistan. Still he managed to keep Russia on his side by reassuring them of friendship. The policy followed by Modi is dynamic foreign reach rather than passive gentlemanliness followed earlier by Manmohan Singh who was hardly noticed abroad. But Modi touched all front from Indian Diaspora to corporate world and international concern on climate change. His successful first visit to US connected him to all and even he addressed UN twice. It is credit to any leader that India got recognition of its ancient health aids like Yoga when UN declared it as international day and most of the countries of world followed it.

From day one when he invited all SARC nations , tried to develop good neighborly relations with all neighbors. Later he carried forward his mission with historic Bangladesh border accord and scour to human suffering by helping Nepal in times of crisis of earth quack. Although later due to Medhavi issue there are misgivings of recent origin but in times to come he is bound to heal the irritants. The biggest problem remains Pakistan.

Recent dive of Modi to Lahore to meet Nawaz Shreef on social occasion raised the hopes of moribund relations with Pakistan due to its inaction in containing terror forces. Nevertheless for world to appreciate India’s peace loving policy Modi made this unscheduled stop over in his risky sojourn in Kabul and Pakistan. It seemed things might turn to better the relations and solve long pending issues between two nations. But as it happened earlier too the terror outfits in Pakistan did not want to lose their élan and roaring business by abandoning the path of violence. Soon Pathankot became a flash point and the attack by handful of professionally trained and heavily armed terrorists led to the lot of bloodshed. The attempt did not succeed in their objective of causing damage to the air base and the fighter MIGS but they succeeded in scuttling the dialogue and consequent repercussions.

On economic front in spite of four droughts the growth rate remained upward when the world was facing depression and ten times increase in FDI as well as measures taken to curb leakages helped the economy. Biggest saving was by opening the mining sector and re-auctioning the telecom spectrum that has become virtually scams in the past. World rating on ease to do business in India went up by many notches and investment friendly message was transmitted to the business. Make in India and skill India projects are going to make difference to the corporate world and economy. Major economic and diplomatic success in securing cheap fuel from Qatar will boost the economy of the country.

The turmoil of the year  related to the functioning of legislation in Parliament where in spite of absolute majority in Lok Sabha the lack of it in upper house of Parliament held up laws that are going to boost the economy and lot of common man. Another major area of operation that remained slow was the speed of taking action against the black money. Modi also failed in reigning in bureaucracy and impediments in administrative red tape significantly. But no one except him can ensure meritocracy and efficiency that needs lot toning up. Modi must appreciate that Nations are not built by promoting the party people to various positions of power but to attract the best talent to man such posts. Half of his problems can be solved if he has such meritorious people at right jobs instead of stuffing the government with party or ideologically rooted people only. That is why people who changed the nation like Napoleon or Jefferson, Washington and others brought the best minds of merit to give their countries best governance.

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India