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| Challnges: Amarnath conundrum, Orissa and WB | | | Arun Nehru
The crisis that followed the Amarnath land issue in Kashmir has been resolved satisfactorily. And the separatists’ efforts to create a pressure point and support in the Valley have been thwarted by a firm resolve shown by the government and backed by quick deployment of the security forces to prevent any "mischief" by anti-national elements. It is encouraging to see both the Congress and the BJP in agreement.
Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference also showed maturity and a national perspective by supporting the decision. But it is sad that many in the Valley oppose the decision which is based on "secular considerations".
This dispute should never have happened. The loss of life is tragic on both sides and there are few winners in these situations. A few months ago, Kashmir was thriving with a tourist boom and now look at the economic mess generated by a poor political decision (bad communication and lack of follow up). And sadly, separatists and hard-liners on both sides took full advantage of this to create "fissures" between Jammu and the Valley.
We can still expect some trouble but people in the Valley and Jammu have suffered enough and the voting public can distinguish between electoral stances (elections are around the corner) and common sense decisions. I feel sad that the PDP is isolating its cadres and there is little logic in their objections. Clearly, they must fulfil their responsibility towards "minority interests" in the state and realise that communal politics is not conducive to a peaceful coexistence.
The situation in Pakistan is still fluid and at this stage I don’t see excessive support for those advocating "separatism" in the Valley. The war against terror will gain momentum as there is increased activity on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Leaders who matter often have to swim against the tide of public opinion and Farooq Abdullah has shown a great deal of courage and commitment to national interest. We are a democracy and in any situation the political aspirations of political parties cannot be ignored. In the current situation, the government must have elections on time and let the ballot determine the winners and losers in the Valley. Violence and tension affects both, the majority and the minority in economic terms, except a handful of leaders on both sides who have vested interests and benefit from this confusion.
Political credibility of a leader and a party often reflects on the public understanding and opinion on "key" issues. We see two classic examples in West Bengal where the CPI(M) is under pressure and even its correct decisions carry little public conviction. And I think that Mamata Banerjee and the TMC is taking the issue of Singur to a point where it can be counter-productive. The farmer issue is relevant and is a lesson to all state governments. And clearly, the CPI(M) should actively consider additional compensation and settle the issue in favour of the state and its people. West Bengal cannot survive without industrial growth and the House of Tata have a very high degree of integrity. They have shown great patience and resolve and it would be a tragic error, both for the Centre and the state, if they were to withdraw from West Bengal.
The CPI(M) suffers from anti-incumbency syndrome. And a similar political situation exists in Orissa where chief minister Navin Patnaik needs more than just integrity to sustain public support after winning two terms for his party. Communal disturbances in the state took an ugly turn and I don’t think a judicial inquiry (takes excessive time) will yield political dividends. The killers of the VHP leaders have to be identified quickly and, if necessary, the case should be handed over to the CBI as few will gain from this senseless violence.
The Olympic games in China went beyond the opening and closing ceremony (from another planet!) or the number of gold medals won. I was happy that many decision-makers from India were present at the games. They would have realised that what makes China a success story is national effort and a will backed by the belief that they can achieve levels of excellence which propel them ahead of almost everyone else in the global community. Comparisons are, perhaps, unfair. But reality should not be clouded by prejudice and doubts. We have done well but we could have done better and now, with a new breed of talented leaders, free of the prejudices of the past and exposed to a new global reality, it is time to concentrate on the positives, both in the government and in the private sector.
I believe in the present and the future, but sometimes there are lessons in the past. I recall, with some regret, how we were ridiculed in 1985 for being the "computer boys". And it was not only the political fraternity which acted out of ignorance and fear of change, but also the media who ridiculed the technology and usage of the computer. Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister, however, stuck to his belief and provided computers to all decision-makers. But few were willing to look beyond conventional thinking. The great reform process that was planned never really took off and suffered till 1991 when Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, along with Manmohan Singh, started pursuing the process initiated by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.
I think we are making the same mistake with the nuclear agreement which means far more than mere power generation. It is sad that many, including China, opposed India at the NSG meeting. The reality of the future is that few can stop our march towards attaining "superpower status" if we believe in our own ability, are free of the prejudices of the past, have faith in the reform process and a belief in a global society. |
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