tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171794143495454222024-03-12T20:06:39.706-04:00Resurgent IndiaOptimizing our Response to India's Geopolitical
and Internal ChallengesBrig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-2324248528277980622019-06-06T19:35:00.001-04:002019-06-06T19:40:49.618-04:00“Bhookhe Bhajan Na Hoye Gopala”<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Bhookhe
Bhajan Na Hoye Gopala”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The Balakot-fuelled <i>ultra-Nationalist</i> pitch,
along with the utopian <i>Hindu Rashtra </i>dream acted as steroids to mask BJP’s
lack-lustre performance, and won it a thumping majority. While the BJP Top Brass’s
euphoria has waned now, many fawning TV anchors are still experiencing orgasmic
raptures as they rave about their<i> dead accurate </i>forecasts of the electorate’s
mood. Perhaps, for the next elections, the EC could consider declaring results
based on prophecies of <i>oracles </i>from Republic, Times Now, Zee News, Aaj
Tak, CNN News 18 and India Today news channels, and save the Nation crores in
election expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The mood of the top hierarchy of Modi 2.0 is
appropriately more sombre, as it gets down to business. It is aware that this
time there may not even be the usual <i>honeymoon period </i>when the people patiently
give time to the new regime to settle down. For Modi 1.0 that period ran much
longer until the demonetization <i>hara-kiri.</i> People’s expectations now are
very high and their patience is running low. GDP growth has slowed down;
investments have dried up; Banks’ NPAs have risen to record heights; NBFCs are
in crises, and industrial growth is virtually negligible. Adding to the Govt’s
worries is the late and likely-to-be deficient monsoon, with 42% of India’s
land area already reeling under drought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The alacrity with which the new Govt released the ACTUAL
unemployment figures, which it had been obfuscating all through the
pre-election period, clearly shows its great anxiety on this account. It has thus
admitted to the true situation, and in the process set the Base level very low,
so that even marginal increases in employment generation in future could be
touted as <i>great progress.</i> However, it is well aware that this time
gimmickry and fudging of economic data and performance figures will not work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I believe Bhakt Sur Das is credited with the words <i>“Bhookhe
Bhajan Na Hoye Gopala”. </i>This should be a clear reminder and a warning to the
NDA Govt that no amount of<i> </i>artificially generated<i> Narratives </i>on
Nationalism, <i>Hindu Rashtra, </i>real or concocted internal and external
security threats, populist schemes and seductive promises will assuage people’s
hunger, wants, and expectations. <i>Ram Mandir</i> will not be a substitute for
real and substantive progress on all fronts, and a marked amelioration of the
peoples lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I am inclined to believe the Prime Minister’s exhortation
to carry along all communities and sections of society, as a <i>course-correction.
</i>Lack of communal and social harmony will be very detrimental for economic
recovery and hence the <i>signal</i> to tone down the communal rhetoric, which
has already served its electoral purpose. But, has the signal emanated from
Nagpur, from where strident voices are already clamouring for early
construction of <i>Ram Mandir? </i>Will not the militant <i>Hindutva</i>
outfits queer the pitch for the Govt? Even if the PM is earnest, will he be
able to take firmer steps against the hotheaded cadres, even at the risk of
alienating his base? Doubtful. Once you have mounted the communal tiger, it is
difficult to dismount. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">As for the Opposition, BJP’s thumping victory ought to
be a <i>blessing in disguise.</i> Even if it had somehow formed a Govt, how
long would it have lasted after inheriting such enormous economic and social problems?
With their disparate agendas, bloated egos, unrealistic ambitions, and in the
absence of even a common minimum programme, they would have ended up as the
Janata Party, and sent into oblivion. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. It is
the NDA Govt, which has to deliver, not only by rectifying the several <i>faux
pas</i> of its previous tenure, but also by meeting the heightened expectations
of the people. Having been given an overwhelming mandate, it cannot have any
excuse for non-delivery. <i>It will have to perform or perish.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-69112391396075134092019-05-09T20:16:00.002-04:002019-05-09T20:16:08.369-04:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">IT
IS TIME TO RECLAIM OUR DEMOCRACY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With
two rounds of polls remaining, it is almost certain that we are headed for a hung
Parliament. Whichever be the constituents of the new coalition, it is also
certain that we will not have to suffer another arrogant, reckless, and capricious
Government, which bulldozed all democratic norms and subverted all the
institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
is mind-boggling how the PM’s <i>larger-than-life</i> image, albeit publicity-driven,
has been so severely dented in just 2-3 years that he is being lampooned
publicly. This should be a chastening lesson, not just for the BJP, but to all
political parties that people cannot be fooled by false promises, communal polarization,
diversionary jingoistic rhetoric or deceitful media manipulation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Regardless
of which coalition comes to power, the new Government will inherit staggering
problems. Massive unemployment, agrarian distress, a slowing economy with low
gross capital formation and loss of faith in democratic institutions are just
a few of them, which will need to be addressed on top priority. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In
this post, however, I am not seeking to address specific problems or discuss
various options. That will have to wait till the final elections results are
in, and a new Government is installed. This post is intended to highlight some generic,
vital issues that the new dispensation will have to tackle up front.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">White Paper on State of the Economy.
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That the economy is not in a sound shape is quite well
known. However, what is the actual state of health of various sectors of the
economy is not clear, primarily because the BJP government has been obfuscating
and concealing those details. The NSSO, which used to publish data periodically
had been rendered ineffective and hence there are no reliable statistics
available on various economic parameters. This has even hurt the credibility of
our data in multilateral institutions, which used to rely on such primary data.
Even the RBI, which ought to function autonomously, has often been arm-twisted
by the FM to be less forthcoming, especially post-demonetization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Restoring Credibility of
Institutions. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The credibility of various Constitutional and other important
institutions has taken quite a beating under the current dispensation. This will
need to be reversed on an urgent basis to restore the people’s faith in them
and in the Rule of Law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Transparent Investigation of all Deals
and Wrong-doings. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A large number of alleged scams, arbitrarily awarded <i>sweetheart
</i>deals, shoddy investigation and suppression of serious crimes etc have
taken place, which the Government ham-handedly abetted or concealed. All these
must be probed and the guilty brought to book. This must be done in a totally
transparent manner, without it appearing to be out of political vendetta. This is
vital to restore the people’s faith and to send the message that no one is
above the law, regardless of financial or political clout. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Appointments to Constitutional
Positions.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Despite the Founding fathers clearly laying down
norms for appointments to critical Constitutional positions to ensure
separation of powers, most Governments have tried to fill them with cronies.
This must stop, as many such appointees have been brazenly partisan towards the
ruling dispensation. Parliament must enact a law to prohibit the appointment of
SC and HC judges and senior bureaucrats to such positions within three years of
their retirement to prevent their currying favours with the Government while in
service when discharging their duties. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rectifying the Ideological Tilt.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
A large number of appointees were placed in various official and quasi-official
institutions, educational bodies, and even government offices who had an
ideological background, which militated against the secular ethos enshrined in
our Constitution. This is dangerous for the unity, integrity and communal
harmony of the country and such elements need to be weeded out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Politicisation of the Armed
Forces.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> This extremely dangerous trend has been seen recently.
It will leave a devastating impact not just on the fighting potential, camaraderie
and morale of the Armed Forces, but on the security of the Nation itself. This
has to be ruthlessly curbed and reversed. Political and bureaucratic
interference in the appointment to senior ranks too must end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Norms for Media.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
Never before in the Nation’s history, has our Media been so outrageously partisan
as in the recent past. It is a crying shame for an institution, which is
supposed to be a vital pillar of our democracy. This is a critical challenge
since a balance has to be struck between genuine <i>freedom of the press</i>
and some form of regulation. Ideally, it should be self-regulation and media
should be judged for its independence in the <i>court of public opinion</i>.
That, regrettably, is not happening. The government must evolve a consensus to
have some sort of legislative or normative curbs on media ownership so that
Media is not manipulated by convergent corporate and political interests. The public
too must very emphatically call out and lampoon Media channels and anchors that
try to fool the people with their partisan coverage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Regrettably,
in the past few years, our democracy has come close to being characterized as a
<i>banana republic, </i>primarily due to the egregious trampling of all
democratic norms by the current dispensation. It will be a challenge for the
next Government that it does not succumb to the same temptation of unbridled
abuse of power for electoral gains or personal profit. It will be an even
greater challenge for <i>we the people </i>not to get carried away by
politicians’ promises. We have to remain ever vigilant and must boldly question
the wrong-doings of the <i>high and mighty,</i> whether in the Government or
outside it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">IT
IS TIME TO RECLAIM OUR DEMOCRACY. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-75109118539182507052019-04-19T19:13:00.003-04:002019-04-19T19:13:41.078-04:00The Idea of Indian Nationhood is under Threat<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
trigger for this</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN-GB">BlogSpot</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
is a close friend’s disagreement with my apprehension that the very idea of
Indian Nationhood is under threat. He argues that it is a canard being spread
by those opposed to Modi Ji, and he buttresses his argument by asking whether I
saw lynchings or <i>mayhem in the streets</i> during my stay in India last
year. No, I didn’t see that. However, an undercurrent of polarization and intolerance
was certainly palpable compared with my previous visits, as were intimidation by
Right-wing trolls and brazen muscle-power by its cadres and supporters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Undoubtedly,
there was also a sharp divide in all sections, even among the so-called
intelligentsia, on the sharp pro or anti-Modi binary - nothing in between. More
glaring was the wily masking of the forceful <i>Hindutva</i> rhetoric with the
subtle, yet potent <i>Nationalism </i>label. Of course, the ploy was to define Nationalism
<i>ad lib</i> and exploit it for everything, as and when required to shore up
the original goals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was also clearly discernible how the original shrill <i>‘persecuted Hindus’</i>
Narrative was toned down by embracing other emotive issues. One would recall
how almost two years before the 2014 polls, social media was deluged with tales
of atrocities against Hindus over the centuries, about the demographic invasion
through prolific procreation by Muslims and Christians, <i>love jihad,</i>
questions as to why terrorists worldwide are only from a particular religion, while
ignoring the fact none was from the 172 million Muslims in India, and charges
of Muslim appeasement. PM Manmohan Singh was denigrated in the vilest of terms,
but the most abusive posts were directed against the Nehru-Gandhi family, with even
attempts to trace their Muslim origins several generations back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
the strategy worked and Modi was elected with a sweeping majority, much to the
dismay of the Right-wing ideologues, BJP polled only 31% of the popular vote. Clearly,
most Indians rejected the aggressive Hindutva stance, and hence a course correction
was warranted. Then started a concerted image-building campaign by highlighting
the softer nation-building agenda of the RSS (it even tried to snare Pranab
Mukherjee). Hordes of <i>‘motivational speakers’ </i>including many Veterans were
hired to influence impressionable minds in schools and colleges. Numerous <i>‘right’-minded</i>
<i>experts on economy etc and military experts</i> filled TV panels on friendly
channels to sing praises of the regime’s measures – even demonetization. Opposing
views were shouted down, trolled or labeled <i>anti-National.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How
can I assert all this so definitively, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">you would ask? Contrary
to popular belief that Right-wing strategy is formulated in Nagpur, a substantive
role is played by the Hindutva organizations and ideologues among expatriates,
especially those based in USA. More importantly, the financing of IT companies
that control the trolls, the legions of motivational speakers, opinion makers
and experts, and all other components of the campaign is taken care of by the
deep pockets here. And tongues loosen up when single malts go down. Let us
leave it at that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let
us get back to the question as to why I feel the very idea of Indian Nationhood
is under threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notwithstanding all the
tactical flip-flops of the BJP (<i>Mandir, go-raksha,</i> NRC, polarization, and
now Nationalism, soft <i>rashtrawad </i>etc) due to the electoral dynamic, the
core agenda remains the same. It is no secret that the RSS has always been
unhappy with the secular basis of our Nation, as enshrined in the Constitution.
The ultimate goal remains the same – <i>Hindu Rashtra</i> – attained either <i>de
jure </i>through Constitutional amendment or <i>de facto</i> through muscular
intimidation, <i>ghar wapsi,</i> or <i>Goebellsian</i> indoctrination till the
remaining Hindus fall in line. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Religious
polarization is dangerous. Once the genie is released, there is no turning back
from the hell it creates. Recall how our parents used to say that when the
Hindu Mahasabha and RSS on one side and the Muslim League on the other, first
introduced their communal rhetoric in the 1930s, most people dismissed it as
mere jockeying for positions by the politicians. How it turned into the
communal holocaust of Partition was quite unexpected. Who suffered? Not the
politicians on either side, who got plum positions. It was millions of innocent
people caught in the communal frenzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I,
as an infant, was one of those millions. My mother and I caught near fatal
diseases during that ordeal. My father, the scion of one of the richest families
in the entire district, started as a railway coolie carting coal in wheel-barrows
at eight annas a day. He rebuilt his life and retired as a very senior Govt
official. Same is the story of millions of others affected by the Partition.
And yet, not once did my parents teach us to hate Muslims. All they said that
it was a tragedy triggered by politicians, but foolishly gulped by gullible ordinary
people who ended up paying the price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who
paid the price for the communal polarization in Punjab in the 1980s, or in the
Babri Masjid riots and the Gujarat carnage of 2002? Surely, in the 21<sup>st</sup>
Century India, we the people cannot fall prey to the games politicians play for
their own selfish ends. Let me ask another question. Why is it that you would
find hardly any religious bigot among all those actually suffered during
Partition or other upheavals? Why most of the Hindutva zealots are from those
States, which were not directly affected? For them whipping communal frenzy is
more a chauvinistic bravado than any genuine religiosity. They seem to seek an
adrenalin rush from a communal riot as <i>tamashbeen</i>, as if it were a WWF
fight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally,
as to the question why I should not be unduly apprehensive since <i>I did not
see mayhem on the streets.</i> Such a complacent attitude can be disastrous.
The British realized it in 1857 when the bubble burst, or the entire Indian subcontinent
when it was overtaken by communal frenzy in 1947, and which madness culminated
in Gandhi Ji’s assassination. Early in 1984, did we foresee the traumatic
events that would follow later that year? It was ultimately the exceptional
maturity and wisdom of the Sikh community that brought back Punjab from the
brink, and saved our Nation from unraveling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let
us not, therefore, forget the lessons from History. Communal and caste
polarization is a clear and present danger, which is recklessly being fanned by
politicians. There is immense pent up anger and frustration not just because of
the hate-mongering environment, but also from real problems of unemployment and
farm distress. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like a tinder box,
which even a small spark can set off. <i>Mayhem on the streets</i> will surely
follow. It is imperative that we citizens emphatically defeat the selfish
politicians’ divisive agenda. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-46694373500469515452019-04-06T17:44:00.002-04:002019-04-06T18:03:14.840-04:00Why Modi Ji’s Deflection to External Security is Disingenuous<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BJP
claims that the result of this election is a foregone conclusion, and it will
beat its 2014 record. It argues that Modi Ji has performed exceptionally well
on all fronts – be it economy, job creation, agricultural and industrial
growth, social welfare schemes, communal harmony, foreign policy or security.
So, where is the doubt?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
that were so, then why BJP and Modi Ji himself are in panic mode? Why the
anxiety to deflect the focus from actual performance to Nehruvian era follies
and National security? Why the repeated brazen and disgraceful violations of
the Model Code (NaMo channel, NaMo movie, Modi’s Army etc), which a pusillanimous
EC is unwilling to stop?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
their focus on National security is deceitful because security is not confined
only to the external dimension. In fact, the INTERNAL DIMENSION of security is
far more important, since only </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">internal stability
and cohesion can provide the strong foundation to boost National strength in
the external dimension.</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
a cursory analysis of the <i>internal dimension</i> will show that Modi Ji’s performance
has been dismal. Thus, <i>Jumlebaji</i> becomes essential to divert attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am pasting below a graphic showing various elements in the <i>Internal
Dimension </i>of the comprehensive <i>National Security Paradigm</i> presented
in my book <i>“Citizens and Soldiers Keeping India’s Tryst with Destiny”. </i>There
is ample statistical and anecdotal evidence in my book on each of those
elements, which substantiates my contention that the performance of the NDA
Govt in the past five years has been poor. Even a layperson will come to the
same conclusion by assessing Modi Ji’s performance on all those elements shown
in the graphic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ALL
PATRIOTIC AND ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS MUST THEREFORE ANALYZE INDEPENDENTLY AND
VOTE ACCORDINGLY<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "rockwell"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">HOLISTIC FRAMEWORK
OF NATIONAL SECURITY </span></span></h4>
<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "rockwell"; font-weight: bold;">THE INTERNAL DIMENSION
OF CORE STRENGTH & COHESIVENESS</span><span style="font-family: "rockwell"; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs964dh3WH8Zd_qHMZUnAkripYNFtxnbLE4C7Pb18J00xgEuNQ34jHFn55JPDoo6ga09uLNmVBaICc__bZ0Dqh6hDfK96sIjBlSBl2p7aMgbq7Lq6Cb2RVB7qSMwenFynl6ZOXxqZrOXsO/s1600/Internal+dimension+of+National+Security+Paradigm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1452" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs964dh3WH8Zd_qHMZUnAkripYNFtxnbLE4C7Pb18J00xgEuNQ34jHFn55JPDoo6ga09uLNmVBaICc__bZ0Dqh6hDfK96sIjBlSBl2p7aMgbq7Lq6Cb2RVB7qSMwenFynl6ZOXxqZrOXsO/s640/Internal+dimension+of+National+Security+Paradigm.png" width="640" /></a></h4>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]--></span>Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-43730117236780315922019-04-02T19:58:00.000-04:002019-04-02T19:58:00.284-04:00The Silence of the Lambs<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Silence of the Lambs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am NOT as shocked by
Yogi Adityanath’s outrageous dubbing of the Indian Army as <i>“Modi Ji ki Sena”,
</i>as I am by the amoral and inexcusable silence of <i>Modi-Bhakts</i> within
the Veterans community over this abomination. Are they so indoctrinated and
steeped in his <i>Bhakti</i> that they have betrayed their allegiance to the
Armed Forces, and indeed to the Constitution itself? Or, are they so fearful of
Modi Ji that they have chosen to condone yet another among numerous blows to
the honour and dignity of Faujis inflicted by him, his Raksha Mantri, and
several other Chowkidars in the BJP hierarchy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is perfectly legitimate
for Veterans to have personal views either in favour of Modi Ji and the BJP, or
against them, after carrying out an objective analysis of their policies and
performance. However, what is galling and betrays a lack of moral courage, is when
they remain silent about their various misdeeds, especially against the Armed
Forces, while at the same pouring scorn and ridiculing the Opposition at every
opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sadly, it is not just
the Indian polity, but even a glorious, apolitical and secular institution such
as the Armed Forces that have been polarized </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">sharply</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in this highly vitiated
electoral battle. This is dangerous. It will leave a lasting impact on this
institution, which will be highly detrimental for the Nation’s security.
Regrettably, the BJP, in its electoral desperation, is being very reckless in
this regard. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-42328437424097526012019-03-28T18:49:00.000-04:002019-03-28T18:54:46.926-04:00The Choice in 2019 Elections<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A feeling of desperation and panic is clearly palpable
in the BJP. One can sense it in the shrill outbursts of their spokespersons on
TV, the angry rants from their trolls and Bhakts on social media, and the
repeated resort to “what about…” of the Congress era dating back to Nehru, when
they are asked about failures of the Modi regime. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">It also manifests in the increasing resort to
gimmickry (e.g. main bhi chowkidar), abusive name-calling of the disgusting sadak-chhap
variety, high-decibel pseudo-Nationalism, and dubbing all who question Modi as anti-National
and Pakistani agents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Chowkidar Modiji himself is leading this muscular
response, fully aware that constant harping on National security, Balakot, ASAT
etc alone can divert attention of the voters from the acute farm distress and unemployment
problems, as well as the uncomfortable questions about various scams, including
Rafale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">BJP has cleverly intimidated the visual and print
media into brazenly toeing its line. So, Nationalism is stoked and people’s
problems are sidetracked. Likewise, the RSS and BJP have succeeded in dousing
the </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">clamour</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"> for
the unfulfilled Ram Mandir promise, on which emotive issue it rose to power. It
has thus been able to control the narrative substantially. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">But, do TV debates and social media interactions
really sway voters significantly in this age of 24/7 media bombardment? People’s
minds are already made up, and the shouting bouts on TV serve only as
amusement. Social media interactions on the other hand have become too toxic
even between family and friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">Elections are decided not by the urban middle class,
but by millions of poor and under-privileged people, for whom everyday
existence is a struggle. So, will the poor farmers overburdened with unpaid
loans, or millions of unemployed youth really feel ecstatic and enthused when
Modiji talks about his great achievements in Balakot and the ASAT launch? It
might stir up their patriotic </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">fervour for a few moments</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">, but soon their hopeless situation in the ‘real world’
would engulf them again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">The Nation also carries deep scars on its psyche due
to polarizing hate-mongering by the rioting, lynching and moral-policing cadres
of various outfits under RSS tutelage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Countless
victims as well as millions of passive, but outraged observers too will now
have an opportunity to give their verdict as to what sort of a Nation and
society they want. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I therefore feel this is going to be a landmark watershed
election. Do we want a pluralist, secular and equitable society that our
Constitution guarantees, or do we want a rabid </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">majoritarian</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">polity, an ever-increasing
gap between the rich and poor, where the rich and the powerful subvert the rule
of law and all institutions that are supposed to protect individual rights and
dignity? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">I BELIEVE THE CHOICE IS CLEAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-70130466555134157142019-03-28T14:22:00.002-04:002019-03-28T14:48:29.009-04:00State of Defence Preparedness<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ASAT is indeed a technological milestone. Geopolitically too, it sends a signal worldwide.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was inevitable that Chowkidar Modiji, with his penchant for usurping credit, would unabashedly grab Media Headlines, the EC's Model Code of Conduct notwithstanding.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But, despite all the hoopla and boasts about Modiji's so-called "muscular" approach to National security, almost all Strategic thinkers and experts point out the following serious failures or deficiencies on his watch.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. Modiji ceded strategic space to Xi at Wuhan and gave too many concessions, without any matching response. China's intransigence on Masood Azhar, opposing our entry into NSG, and its continuing inflexibility on the border issue, especially on Arunachal go to show that Xi outsmarted him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Pakistan continued to sponsor terrorism in J&K despite Modiji's overtures to Nawaz Sharif. Pathankot, Uri, Amarnath Yatra, Srinagar etc showed that we were caught napping and reacted quite haphazardly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. Despite the surgical strikes of 2016, Pakistan's terror sponsorship in J&K only increased and culminated in the Pulwama carnage. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. If Balakot was meant to send a signal, Pak signalled back with greater alacrity by sending its fighters across the LoC. We lost a MiG unfortunately, and even the episode of Pak returning our pilot let Pak derive great mileage in the eyes of the world. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. To the world, this exchange also showed the gaps and limitations of our so-called conventional edge over Pak, in air power at least. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6. Conventional wisdom dictates that one should never boast if one has no intention or capability of following through. So, why thunder to a cheering electoral audience, "Ghar main ghus kar marenge", when a single message from Trump (which any strategy expert would tell you was bound to come) leads you to simmer down and back off like a "bheegi billi". </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">7. There have been very serious Intelligence lapses over past four years, including the recent smuggled RDX used for Pulwama carnage. Yet, NO accountability has been fixed. It seems Doval is indispensable for Modiji, not for his primary Intelligence and National security duties, but for other 'political' purposes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">8. Modiji's policy on Defence is oriented more for Global consumption, and image-building abroad, than upon strengthening our Defence forces at home, which have very critical gaps in modernization and capacity-building.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">9. These gaps have actually INCREASED on his watch with the Defence budget being reduced progressively in real terms over past four years. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">10. The much-delayed restructuring and reforms recommended by a host of committees like K Subhramanian's KRC, the GoM, and Naresh Chandra Committee have been put on the back-burner. Another very dangerous trend is the politicization of the Armed Forces, especially in hand-picking pliable officers for senior positions who will not question the Netas and Babus. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">11. It has been the misfortune of our Defence Forces that they have invariably gone into battle ill-clad (1962) and ill-equipped as compared to our adversaries. Yet, they have always carried the day with their valour, though at a terrible cost to lives and limbs. It is acknowledged worldwide, "it is the man behind the gun that matters". And yet, Modiji's RM, Chowkidar Seetharaman seems hell-bent on wrecking the morale and self-esteem of our soldiers in her numerous policies - all of which have gone against Faujis vis a vis civilian Babus and CAPFs. It is widely believed among the Defence personnel that she has the tacit approval of Modiji and Jaitley, both of whom are not favourably disposed to Faujis for various reasons. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">12. With all of the above, the damage to the Armed Forces in terms of HDM, defence modernization, infrastructure and morale is far too serious to ignore. The public, which is very empathetic and supportive, is unfortunately not aware of all this. Since all citizens are stakeholders in National security, they MUST RAISE THEIR VOICE, and call upon the Govt to arrest, and reverse this dangerous slide. Surely, the Nation cannot afford another 1962 like debacle.</span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-83921726713769969502019-03-09T17:05:00.000-05:002019-03-27T20:25:34.704-04:00 AG Recovers the “Stolen” Rafale File Overnight<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">If it
were not a very serious matter of National security, all citizens would have <i>laughed
out loud </i>at the farce being enacted in the Supreme Court since last week. The
Attorney General argued before the SC that the Petitioners could not cite the Rafale
documents published in The Hindu article, as those were from the Secret file that
had been stolen from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). When questioned, he nonchalantly
stated that an internal investigation was on, but no FIR had been lodged. Quite
aghast, the Chief Justice directed him to file details of the loss and the actions
taken at the next hearing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Print
and visual media, in obsequiousness to the Govt’s sensitivities, reported this in
an uncharacteristically toned down <i>matter of fact</i> manner even though it
was a <i>bombshell, </i>given that the Secret file pertained to the scam-tainted
Rafale deal. Social media however went berserk, with alarmed citizens
questioning how an ultra-sensitive Secret file could go missing from the MoD. Coming
soon after the massive intelligence failure that led to the Pulwama carnage,
people questioned the cavalier manner in which the Govt was treating National
security. Irate citizens called for action against the Defence Secretary as the
head of MoD, and the resignation of the RM. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Obviously,
there was consternation in the Govt and Party circles. But, <i>lo and behold,</i>
the very next day the AG discovered that the file was NOT STOLEN after all. It
had merely been photocopied and leaked to The Hindu. As if photocopying of a
Secret MoD document was any less serious or alarming a crime. It seemed as if
the AG was mocking the SC Bench, and belittling the intelligence of the learned
Judges. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Notwithstanding
his advanced age, it is unlikely that a seasoned <i>legal eagle</i> like the AG
would have committed a <i>faux pas.</i> Apparently, bumbling bureaucrats in the
MoD have <i>led him up the gum tree</i> with their shoddy efforts to cover the
tracks, primarily to save their Master, Modi Ji from the burgeoning Rafale scandal.
It will be interesting to see if the Bench takes serious umbrage at this <i>volte
face.</i> This is even more necessary since the Bench is already adjudicating
the far more serious issue of the Govt misleading the Court with an unsigned
affidavit that had several false and inaccurate statements. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">Even to
the most ardent BJP supporters it will be clear that there is <i>much more to
it than meets the eye. </i>With its shoddy handling of the Rafale issue, the
Govt has indeed strengthened the suspicions of even unbiased observers. It is an
acknowledged axiom that the numerous attempts to cover up an original crime end
up being far more lethal. Perhaps, the Modi Govt could have learnt a lesson
from <i>Dirty Dick’s</i> fate in the infamous Watergate scandal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-67847990669388643192019-03-07T20:26:00.001-05:002019-03-09T15:33:08.554-05:00NSA Overseeing Military Operations<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">It is outright bizarre that the NSA is overseeing
active military operations and the Service Chiefs report to him. True,entrust
that he has the status of MoS but the PM's decision to trust him rather than
Service Chiefs during operations is absurd.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He has no expertise in military warfare, in which the
Service Chiefs have 40 years of intense training, combat experience, and
professional handling of such a large force. For a person who is not adept at
his own job, and on whose watch so many intelligence failures and terror
strikes (even as recently as Pulwama), it is inexplicable why would the PM put
him in overall charge during such a critical time.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-1042070733781011902018-03-14T13:30:00.000-04:002019-02-27T20:30:18.756-05:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE
TIDE IS TURNING<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am both, happy as
well as sad at the UP and Bihar bye-poll results. Close on the heels of
Rajasthan and MP bye-polls; it is a clear signal that the tide is beginning to
turn. I am happy because these results hopefully would dissipate BJP’s hubris, deflate
its arrogance, and drive it towards introspection and course-correction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Its rant that this
was due to an unholy alliance between SP and BSP is ludicrous; given that it
itself is allied with the brazenly anti-national PDP in J&K, and with
regional parties in Nagaland and Tripura, which have had a track-record of separatist
demands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the same time I am sad too because
BJP has been a terrible let-down, given that it was given a massive mandate. With
its absolute majority it was not encumbered with coalition constraints as the UPA
was. It boasted of being a <i>‘party with a difference’ </i>and was expected to
deliver. Not only has it failed miserably to meet peoples’ expectations, it even
shot itself in the foot with its hare-brained demonetization fiasco and shoddy implementation
of GST. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Its biggest mistake
has been its Hindutva agenda. Most people are alarmed at its divisive politics
and hyper-Nationalism, due to which the Nation was let aghast with <i>crisis-a-day
</i>headlines<i>; </i>such as lynching, moral-policing, love-jihad, Padmavat
drama, polarizing and shameful utterances (e.g. against Jawans) as well as
uncouth and arrogant behavior of its leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brazen contravention
of democratic norms and weakening of institutions too have shocked people. Spate
of recent scandals and signs of <i>palace intrigues</i> have been marring its
credibility. The sense of optimism among the people after its victory has
given way to despondency, despair and foreboding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am
also unhappy because the alternative too does not seem promising, given the
lack of a strong, credible opposition. BJP takes refuge behind the TINA (<i>there
is no alternative</i>) factor, but that only leads to arrogance and
complacency, as has been the Nation’s experience in the past. If it unequivocally sheds
the Hindutva plank, and focuses only on an inclusive, pluralist and
developmental agenda, it might retrieve some lost ground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-65415514738863338172017-11-08T18:17:00.001-05:002017-11-08T18:21:07.765-05:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">“The Last Straw….”</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The shameful and shocking brutal
action of the police against aged veterans and Veer Naris at Jantar Mantar is
virtually “the last straw” in the series of humiliating and grossly unjust
actions of the Govt against the entire veterans’ fraternity, which has left it
anguished and incensed. Serving Armed Forces personnel too are bristling at the
treatment meted out to their revered elders, and dismayed at the prospect of
facing similar humiliation upon their own retirement. Armed Forces personnel,
serving as well as retired, had overwhelmingly voted for the Ruling party,
enthused by the promises made by the PM at Rewari. Sadly, the disillusionment
is complete due to not just the charade of a truncated OROP, but also due to
the long list of injustices, such as diminution in status vis a vis other
services, cadre review, Pay Commission anomalies, NFU, and disparities in
allowances etc. Tasks thrust upon soldiers, such as laying yoga mats on Rajpath,
constructing pontoon bridge and stage for a quasi-religious organization,
cleaning up high altitude tourism spots, and constructing railway footbridges,
too have been causing heartburn and murmurs why the military leadership does
not insulate them from such demeaning orders. The entire gamut of issues seems
to be a concerted assault on our ‘izzat’ and ‘iqbal’, orchestrated by an
ill-willed bureaucracy, and egged on by an uncaring political class. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The ‘last straw’ perhaps
represents our ‘last chance’ to proactively defend our honour. If we do not do
so now and allow our struggle to be squashed by the Govt’s coercive, strong-arm
tactics, then it will be impossible to mobilize again. We can then bid good-bye
to all our aspirations. Moreover, the Neta-Babu combine would then be
emboldened to further escalate our denigration. I had anticipated precisely the
same scenario in my book, “Operation Jantar Mantar” that peaceful, disciplined
protests would eventually be disrupted with insensitive and brutish force. With
our collective wisdom we have to find new innovative means of fighting for our
cause, over and above the ongoing legal avenues and negotiations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We need to meet this challenge by
setting aside personal egos and respective political persuasions and close
ranks. It is true that our ethos is to remain apolitical; but it does not mean
passive neutrality. If the current dispensation has belied the promises made,
in letter and spirit, then it must be opposed. Its votaries might cite 50 years
of inaction by the opposing party, but it has been punished in the last
election. This plea cannot be allowed as an alibi for the Ruling combine’s
breach of faith. I also do not subscribe to the TINA (there is no alternative)
argument. The Congress Govts thrived for over 50 years using the same ploy, but
now our enlightened polity must not allow the Ruling dispensation to exploit
it. I have full faith that this country of 130 billion people will throw up new
leaders who can be better trusted to deliver. By training and ethos we have
always kept the Nation’s interest ahead of our own. But now the question is of
our own ‘izzat’ and ‘iqbal’. If we cannot defend our own honour, how can we be
expected to defend that of the Nation? </div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-49306813038280803062016-11-20T12:10:00.003-05:002016-11-21T13:28:04.452-05:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Righteous War - Flawed Strategy - Shoddy Execution</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Civility in public discourse</b> <b>has become a rarity and even eminent people have been trading profanities </b></span><b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">unabashedly</b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>, as seen in the recent US elections. I</b></span><b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">n </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">today's</b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> sharply polarized environment t</b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">his piece on demonetization too would elicit very contrasting reactions from </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>Modi-bhakts </i>and <i>Modi-baiters, </i>who are more likely to </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">view it through their subjective, ideological prisms<i>.</i> Due to our set ideas most of us tend to see everything in absolute terms - as purely <i>white </i>or <i>black</i> (pun unintended), while in the real world there are only varying shades of grey. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Corruption is a worldwide scourge and no country is immune from it. While in developing countries the common folk face it in everyday life, in developed economies it has been finessed, and institutionalized at the highest political and corporate levels. One major difference however is that when scandals erupt in developed countries the culprits, howsoever high and mighty, are not spared, whereas in Third World countries the <i>big fish</i> always get away scot-free. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That the war against </span><i style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">corruption</i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and its</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> byproduct </span></b><b><i style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">black money </i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is 'righteous' is beyond dispute. All governments regardless of party affiliations </span><i style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">claim</i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to wage it, presumably sincerely, but with little or no success. The overarching 'intent' of the Govt's demonetization move </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>per se</i> </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is laudable. H</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">owever t</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he apparent <i>aim-plus</i> - that of reaping political dividends, has confounded the timing and seriously flawed its execution. To determine whether </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">demonetization would indeed solve the problem of <i>black money</i> and reduce corruption, we </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">need to view these terms in the correct perspective. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Black money </i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is <i>unaccounted</i> <i>money</i> that ought to have been taxed. It is generated by evading taxes on income acquired through legitimate means, as well as through blatantly criminal activities and bribes. Thus, one could characterize the former as being less <i>black</i> than the latter. But is it <i>cash</i> alone? If it were to be hoarded in the form of real estate, </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gold, </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pricey </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">antiques, </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> luxury cars,</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">yachts etc, it would still be </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">out of the tax net </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">illegally, and thus </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>unaccounted</i></span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another misnomer is about cash within and outside the banking system. If one keeps large amounts of cash at home, for whatever reason, but has accounted for it and paid taxes, it does not amount to <i>black money</i>. Likewise, all money in bank accounts does not </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">automatically </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">qualify as <i>white money, </i>if it is not accounted for in tax returns. Further, if one were to avoid paying taxes through devious or ingenious means, would such cash holdings be strictly <i>white</i>? Donald Trump has not paid any Federal Income Tax for many years. It is a moot point if all of his billions are legit. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nowhere in the world has a direct </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">co-relation been </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">empirically</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">established </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">between <i>cash</i>, both inside or outside the banking system, and <i>tax evasion</i>. With such a plethora of </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sources that generate </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>black money</i></span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, there could not have been a single, <i>one size fits all</i> solution. It would require a series of measures, launched in lock-step fashion </span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as part of a coherent and coordinated campaign</span></b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. But was demonetization the ideal weapon, given its enormous cost and overwhelming logistics? Would it provide optimal results against all the different sources of <i>black money</i>? Let us analyze briefly.</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Evasion of corporate taxes by big business houses and multinational firms is done through mechanisms such as <i>transfer pricing,</i> intra-firm transfers to shell companies in tax havens, <i>round-tripping etc. </i>Demonetization would not affect such practices. </b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>It would also not affect <b>personal income taxes of </b>corporate honchos; they do not receive salary and bonuses in cash. Most would have stashed their unaccounted wealth in foreign tax havens. In any case those in the ilk of Vijay Mallya have easier ways of living in luxury, by defaulting on the astronomical loans given by public sector banks without due diligence. </b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Likewise most politicians, bureaucrats, and professionals too would have stashed away their ill-gotten wealth abroad, away from the reach of the tax-man. </b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A substantial percentage of black-money lies converted into real-estate, gold and other assets, which demonetization cannot address, and would require separate detection and punitive measures.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>It would certainly affect cash <b>transactions</b> in <i>satta, </i><b><i>hawala,</i> drugs, weapons, counterfeiting <b><b>and other illicit activities. However, it is not beyond the devious capabilities of <i>the corrupt</i> to convert substantial portion of their <i>black money</i> via millions of <i>Jan Dhan</i> accounts and similar third party transactions, by keeping them below the announced <b><b><b><b>threshold. Govt has warned that such transactions would be monitored and prosecuted. But it begs the question that if our IT and other vigilance agencies were indeed so capable, and sincere, about monitoring millions of such accounts, then how has <i>black money</i> risen to such monstrous proportions in the first place? There would be some token prosecutions, but the<i> police/raid raj</i> would would generate new <i>black money</i> of its own. As an aside, millions of poor <i>Jan Dhan</i> account holders, who have been eagerly waiting for their promised 15 lacs, could hardly be blamed for becoming the conduit, to earn few hundreds in commissions. </b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></li>
<li><b><b><b><b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><b><b><i>Black money</i> is the biggest contributor to the p</b></b></b></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oll financing of </span><u style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">ALL</u><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> political parties. The ill-prepared, </span><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><b><b>hasty </b></b></b></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and untimely (sowing season) launch is strongly indicative of the political </span><i style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">aim-plus</i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of this move. Opposition parties have been upstaged ahead of three vital assembly polls. Not only their poll financing has been put out of gear, the propaganda value of dubbing their protests as <i>"pro-black money,"</i> can be enormous. </span></b></b></b></b><b><b><b><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b></b></b></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am sure the <i>powers-that-be </i>must have done an in-depth cost-benefit analysis before launching this measure. Even if we ignore its legal implication (each currency note carries </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">RBI </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Governor's solemn <i>promise to pay the bearer</i>), it involved the sudden withdrawal of almost 85% of the total value of the currency in circulation. It was also imperative to provide the shortest possible window for note replacement, or else the <i>black-money</i> holders would render the exercise futile. </b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They would have, I presume, taken into account the enormous costs of printing new notes, costs and logistics of transporting them to the remotest corners of our huge country and the monumental task of actual replacement, manually as well as through ATMs - the latter only after re-calibration. And during all this time our economy - so preponderantly dependent upon cash transactions - was supposed to carry on <i>business as usual</i>.</b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And for all these costs, what benefits are likely to accrue? While some <i>black money</i> would go out of the parallel economy, a substantial amount of unaccounted wealth would still be out-of-reach as discussed above. Separate measures would need to be taken to monitor, </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">detect and recover unaccounted wealth from those sources. Hence, may one ask, why could not those measures be taken first, rather than <i>carpet-bombing</i> the entire economy with demonetization?</b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> It would be evident to everyone that it has resulted in widespread collateral damage, and achieved only sub-optimal gains. It makes as little sense as Bush's advisers resorting to the monstrous 15000 lb <i>daisy-cutter</i> bombs in Tora Bora mountains to get Osama and his hordes, who merrily escaped to safe havens in Pakistan. </b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">This measure was also intended to counter terror-funding since enormous amounts of counterfeit currency is being injected from Pakistan. That is indeed a major benefit, at least in the near-term, till such time ISI is able to replicate the safety features in the new notes. In this case too, would it not have been more cost-effective for our <i>much-vaunted,</i> intelligence agencies to undertake more effective steps for physical interception of such currency, as well as electronic monitoring and disruption of the <i>hawala</i> conduits? </b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The chaotic scenes witnessed in the past few days, and the Govt's piecemeal, band-aid responses indicate that neither this mammoth exercise had been thought through in depth, nor any contingency planning was done. In the face of growing public resentment Govt is taking knee-jerk actions. All such relaxations are increasing the window of opportunity for the corrupt and thus reducing the efficacy of this ultra-expensive and disruptive measure. The Govt is clearly caught between a rock and a hard place. </b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">It is obvious that the PM's advisers have let him down by presenting an ill-conceived plan without due analysis, and even more so by shoddy execution. </b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">A frantic fire-fighting operation is now on to somehow muddle through the chaos with instant <i>fixes.</i> On the political front, <i>patriotism </i>of the hapless citizens is being invoked, and voices of protest are being drowned by dubbing them <i>anti-national </i>and <i>pro-</i></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>corrupt</i></b><b style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>. </i> </b></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-63960308535994277872016-02-15T19:22:00.000-05:002016-02-15T19:26:36.598-05:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can’t
Convince? – Then Confound the Issue</span></span></b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ugly fracas at JNU has
opened up a Pandora’s Box, and given all political parties an opportunity to
play, what they excel at – dirty politics. Much to the disappointment of Armed
Forces personnel, the fracas has pushed the emotive issue of the tragic demise of L/Nk
Hanamanthappa and his nine comrades into the background. But, it didn’t stop
the self-anointed arbiters of “patriotism” from brazenly exploiting his heroic
struggle against death, to decry the “lack of patriotism” of rival political
parties. Even that insufferable loudmouth, Arnab Goswami outdid himself by
shamelessly using his name to shout down panelists on his “Noise-Hour”
programme. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anti-national slogans by the
demonstrators have to be condemned unequivocally. The actual perpetrators must
be identified, their antecedents made public and appropriate action taken
against them; no question about it. All political parties have in fact demanded
the same, quite unambiguously. But, the
blatant attempt of the Ruling party and its ideological fraternity to deliberately
confound the issue, is most disturbing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is reprehensible that they
have used the highly objectionable slogans of a small group as a pretext to question
the patriotism of all students and faculty, and tar the entire institution. Foisting
sedition charges on Kanhaiya Kumar, despite his not shouting even a single
anti-national slogan in the videos, merely because he was decrying the HRD
Minister and the Govt on various issues, is bound to boomerang. Its cadres are
using abusive language and violence against those protesting ham-handed actions
of the Mighty State, which smacks of unbridled authoritarianism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ploy of “giving the dog a
bad name and shooting it” is not new. It has been used all through the ages to neutralize
those deemed inimical by the Ruling Elite. It is not confined to absolute
monarchies, dictators and fascist regimes alone. Even democracies have used
it, though with more finesse. J Edgar Hoover’s crusade against commies, or the suppression
of anti-VietNam war groups in USA, and our own excesses during the Emergency
are some examples.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, history also shows
that none of those regimes survived for long and people, howsoever weak they
might have been, have prevailed ultimately. Just as the trite saying “nothing
succeeds like success,” it can also be said, “nothing backfires like excess.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
are several signs that the Ruling party is treading dangerously in that
direction. It has brazenly foisted own people in FTII, Censor Board, Think-tanks,
universities and bodies that decide on curricula and textbooks. It has not
reined in its leaders from making highly inflammatory statements, and it has drowned
out voices that sought to protest intolerance. It has stubbornly refused action
against senior leaders facing serious corruption charges and has misused the office
of Governors. In fact it is doing all those things that it had accused the
Congress regimes of, and for which they were punished by the people. It would
be a pity if the Ruling party were to meet the same fate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-46212674927319228362016-02-11T19:15:00.001-05:002016-02-11T19:15:54.706-05:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Farewell
– My Countrymen</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Farewell my countrymen, may you ever prosper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Am so grateful for your prayers, though in vain; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But do not despair;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Am much better off in my new domain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Better to go in a blaze of glory, serving the Motherland;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Than end up a vegetable; a burden on all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nor did I fancy retiring, with struggles galore,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Seeing the woeful plight of veterans, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Agitating valiantly for our rights and honour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grateful too for the PM’s gracious visit,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite his onerous chores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Regret couldn’t stand up and salute, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And apologize for the blushes caused,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In surviving his tributes to us - the fallen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who told him, ‘there is no hope’,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Should have known better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Comrades would dig even with bare hands <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Till the last remains are found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I humbly urge the powers that be, follow the Global norm,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t sound “the last post” till one is actually gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soldiers yearn for decorations and gallantry awards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fills them and their ‘paltan’ with pride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And if one has to go, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What better way than draped in Tricolour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having received immense love and adulation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s nothing more I can ask for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My only regret is, had I known what awaits me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Would’ve bid my family a more befitting farewell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where I am, I’m beyond needs or pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But not so with the dear ones I leave behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I request that their dues be promptly paid,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whatever little our poor country can afford. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My wife is a simple, uneducated village lady, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who knows not the intricacies of Babudom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My daughter, too young to comprehend what’s happened,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will cry out when with hunger she’s overcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please be aware their pain will torment me, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Regardless, wherever I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I urge you therefore, my dear countrymen,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do not let an insensitive and uncaring system <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Compound the miseries of the kin of martyrs,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That regularly turn up in flag-draped coffins.</span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-76953558597535924972016-01-18T19:03:00.001-05:002016-01-18T19:04:36.165-05:00<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Enough is enough” </span></span></b></h4>
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<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been so painful to watch visuals of Veterans and <i>Veer Naris </i>sitting on a <i>dharna </i>outside the residence of FM Jaitley,
the whole day and late into the cold winter night. It smacks of utter indecency,
insensitivity and arrogance that he did not bother to meet them, even though a
fortnight earlier he had promised to revert to them within a week. It is even
more shameful and despicable that Delhi Police did not permit other veterans to
bring them food and blankets, obviously at his bidding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our hearts go out to all those aged, infirm, and yet so indomitable
veterans and ladies who have been carrying on with our struggle for justice on
behalf of the entire veterans family. Even though many of us are unable to join
them, being located outside Delhi, we fully share their anguish, anger and
sense of humiliation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our struggle has gone on for over 200 days, but the Govt. has
brazenly ignored it. Instead it has planted misinformation, clamped down upon
media coverage, and quite shortsightedly even sowed divisions within our ranks,
disregarding the irreparable harm that would cause to the very fabric of the
Armed Forces. It is hardly a secret that Jaitley, goaded on by <i>Babudom,</i> is cussedly thwarting a just
resolution, as retribution for his electoral defeat. His arrogance and myopia
are driving veterans into a corner, and there is clear and present danger of an
imminent showdown. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is high time that PM intervenes and brings us back from the
precipice. He had received overwhelming support from the Defence Forces
fraternity during the Lok Sabha polls, and he should not let that goodwill be
eroded further. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Name me one country in the world where Veterans have had to come
out on the streets to demand justice. In the Indian context, it is
unprecedented for a struggle to go on for over 200 days in an absolutely disciplined
and peaceful manner, despite provocations. But, time has now come to say – <i>“enough is enough”.</i> We cannot let elderly veterans and <i>veer-naris</i> suffer any more indignities,
hardship and neglect at the hands of a callous Govt. There is no need to
explain anything further to the Govt., media or public. Issues are crystal
clear and our contention has been approved by two Lok Sabhas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The selfless patriotism of the Armed Forces has never been in
doubt – we have demonstrated it time and again during wars, counter-insurgency operations,
riots and civil disturbances and natural calamities. Republic Day is an
occasion when the entire Nation watches with immense pride the Armed Forces in
their full ceremonial regalia. The <i>Beating
of the Retreat, </i>which<i> </i>marks the
end of Republic Day celebrations, should also mark the end of our self-imposed
restraint if the Govt. continues to be unyielding. Martyrs Day the following morning would be an
appropriate occasion for us to launch the next phase of our struggle from the <i>Amar Jawan Jyoti.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-82765590181482535382016-01-09T20:11:00.000-05:002016-01-09T20:16:02.670-05:00<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Outrageous and Irresponsible Media Coverage</span></span></b></h4>
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<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">What passes as <i>Media debate</i> on many TV channels is nothing but a farce, a <i>tamasha. </i>Participants shout and hurl insults at each other and the anchors goad them on, since such <i>media circus</i> apparently boosts TRPs. Many anchors behave like all-knowing experts and ram their own opinions and agenda. They seem to be a law unto themselves, smug in the mistaken belief that they can make or break reputations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Outrageous coverage of the Pathankot attack has again highlighted that media has learnt nothing from its ineptness during the 26/11 terror strike. A case in point is Arnab Goswami of Times Now, unarguably the most infuriating among anchors, whose boastful rants and verbal diarrhea are insufferable. Day after day he sought to badger Pakistani experts on his program to admit that the terrorists were from Pakistan. What for? If Musharraf and the Pakistani Govt could brazenly deny Osama bin Laden’s presence, did Arnab believe his verbal volleys will spook them into admitting the same? Instead, his cocky taunts provoked the Pakistanis to repeatedly ridicule our tardy response on ground, and the loss of seven precious lives in neutralizing the terrorists. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Why should anchors such as Arnab Goswami provide a platform to Pakistanis to pour scorn on our Armed Forces? How demoralizing and painful it is for the Forces to be spoken of so humiliatingly by Pakistanis on Indian TV, much to the glee of their compatriots back home! The valiant soldiers, who paid with their lives and limb for the bungling by the HM-NSA duo, and the Indian Armed Forces as a whole, were undeservedly exposed to ridicule by the stupidity of such conceited anchors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">It is high time that TV news channels are directed to rein in their errant anchors and news reporters. Many of them behave like armchair specialists, rather than just reporting. Often reporters interfere with the ongoing operation or the subsequent search and rescue, by aggressively pestering the personnel with their pesky questions. As everywhere else in the world, reporters should be strictly kept at a distance along with the general public. They must not be allowed to come in the way, or contaminate the spots where forensic evidence is yet to be gathered. </span></div>
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</div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-34047838219056054532016-01-05T20:14:00.000-05:002016-01-05T20:14:50.078-05:00<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<h3 style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bungling and NOT Bad Luck</span></span></b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The entire Nation mourns the martyrdom of seven valiant soldiers
who died fighting with utmost courage and fortitude. They ended up paying with
their lives, NOT BECAUSE OF <i>“THEIR BAD
LUCK,”</i> but for lapses and self-serving egotism right up the hierarchy. The
HM-NSA duo, driven by hubris and turf considerations, (mis)applied distantly-located
NSG, rather than utilizing battle-hardened troops right next door, which as per
extant SOPs are always earmarked and undertake frequent rehearsals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Will those responsible
for this national embarrassment be held accountable? <i>Oh No!</i> In the prevailing
culture of scant public morality that is too much to ask. It’s true, heads did
roll in the aftermath of 26/11, but they did not leave on their own volition; they
were forced out <i>kicking and screaming.</i>
Will that happen this time? Not likely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Were it not for the tragic loss of valuable lives, one could
have dubbed the overall response at the top echelons, bumbling and comical. The
irony of Rajnath Singh and even the FM, Jaitley waxing eloquent on the airbase
attack, with Parrikkar and Sushma Swaraj almost silent, despite the military
and diplomatic implications being their domain, is not lost to observers at
home and abroad. There are several troubling questions and signs, which have been
extensively highlighted. The nefarious politician-smuggler-police nexus in
Punjab has rendered the border porous. ISI is exploiting the growing
disaffection among veterans and serving soldiers on a host of issues such as
pay, pensions, working conditions, and the plight of Veer Naris and disabled
soldiers. Soldiers are being increasingly deployed for sundry tasks (now reportedly
for cleaning up the Ganges) for which the Civil Administration is
well-equipped. This is at the expense of their training and well-earned respite
after field area deployments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone knows where the problems lie, and what the solutions
are. There is no dearth of expert committee reports. For instance, the Subrahmanyam and the Naresh Chandra committees
among others had made very sound recommendations on the National Security
apparatus, and the entire gamut of issues relating to multiagency coordination
of intelligence and operations. But again the bureaucracy succeeded in stalling
them, and let their parochial interests triumph over National Security. What’s
the point of wasting so much time, effort and expense on such committees if
they are ultimately to be consigned to cold storage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is time for the Nation to say, <i>“Enough is enough.”</i> Let this terror strike be a wake-up call. It is
high time the PM shows firmness and resolve to bring some tangible coherence in
policies and actions at the top. He has expended a lot of political capital on
his overture to Nawaz Sharif, which this terror attack has eroded substantially.
He can retrieve it somewhat by being visibly decisive and strong in putting the
house in order, and not appear to be dithering as his predecessor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-32103724319041271002016-01-03T21:37:00.001-05:002016-01-03T21:39:51.877-05:00<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pathankot Attack – Some Troubling Questions</span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even as I write
this, the operation to neutralize Pakistani terrorists and to sanitize Pathankot
Airbase is still on, although ironically the Home Minister had announced its <i>“success”</i> over 12 hours back. His
singing the all-too-familiar paeans to the “brave jawans” and promising a <i>“muh tor jawab,”</i> were not-so-subtle,
self-laudatory signals to the Nation that a catastrophe had been averted under
his watch, since both the PM and RM were away. In distant Bengaluru, the PM too
briefly acknowledged their valour and then resumed extolling the virtues of
Yoga. However, the RM was silent, perhaps
self-effacingly, despite most forces involved being his responsibility. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I sound cynical
and angry? You bet; I am. To any soldier, serving or retired loss of lives cuts
too close. It is personal. Why? Because all of us have seen at very close
quarters what it really means for the grieving family and to the unit.
Perfunctory lip-service by Netas on such occasions actually infuriates, rather
than provide solace. Because, by now we all know how little the soldiers’ sacrifices
and hardships mean to the Netas and Babus alike. Haven’t we all seen how the
DESW actually <i>torments</i> the NOK and
ESM, rather than work for their welfare? Is there a more glaring spectacle for
the Nation’s conscience to behold, than the Govt ignoring the ESM’s protest at
Jantar Mantar for the past 200 days? <i>(Continued…..
For the complete post, click the link
below to my Blog). <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Except for raising
some glaring inconsistencies, I will not cover any operational aspects for
obvious reasons. Those would certainly be examined and analyzed in depth by the
units and formations concerned once the dust settles down. Nonetheless, the
following points will seem odd even to any casual observer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> If indeed there was an
intelligence alert, how did heavily armed terrorists sneak in through the same
route of ingress as in the recent Dina Nagar attack?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">How did they manage to sneak in,
when this sector is supposed to be closely monitored, given that it is a known route
of drug smugglers?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">To what extent the politician-police-drug
smuggler nexus leave this sector vulnerable to their ingress?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">How was the SSP travelling in an
expensive SUV reportedly with a jeweller, without his usual escort paraphernalia,
in a remote area in the dead of night?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> The terrorists reportedly homed on to the
drain, which was a known vulnerable point, to enter the Airbase. Why was it not
under greater surveillance, given that there was already an intelligence alert? </span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to focus more
upon the apparent <i>ad-hoc</i>ism in the
Govt’s policy towards Pakistan and the terrorism that emanates from it. This <i>on-now </i>and<i> off-now </i>policy is quite perplexing, especially to the soldiers at
the fore-front of this fight. Politicians on both sides of the political divide
are squarely to blame. Their rhetoric, whether as the Ruling party or Opposition,
is utterly irresponsible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, if Sushma
Swaraj whilst in Opposition taunts that Jawans should bring 10 heads for every
soldier decapitated, as the EAM she has to sing a different tune when the PM
decides to launch his charm offensive. Likewise, <i>Sharm-el-Sheik</i>
was an inexcusable blunder by Manmohan Singh, but PM Modi’s sudden detour to Lahore
and that too within just weeks of thundering that <i>“terrorism and talks can’t go together” </i>is supposed to be an <i>“innovative out-of-the-box”</i> diplomatic
coup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Politicians’ pre-election
rhetoric is even more irresponsible. Whether it were the Lok Sabha polls or the
recent elections in Bihar, there were outrageous statements by Netas, which
were very polarizing and inflammatory and caused immense harm to our social fabric.
The biggest problem with rhetoric is that while it is easy to scale up, it is
very difficult to tone it down, and it invariably leaves permanent scars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most strategic
experts and even the general populace agree that problems between India and
Pakistan cannot be resolved through war and ultimately those have to be
resolved through talks. It is also well appreciated that elements in Pakistan
would go all out to sabotage any reconciliation, and that contingency has to be
factored into the talks process. But, any astute strategist would also assert
that talks should not be from a position of weakness. Furthermore, any terrorist
strike should not bring the talks process back to Square One, and that there
should be a Plan B. But, does the NDA Govt have a Plan B? Its track record of
flip-flops and alternately blowing hot and cold does not indicate so. <i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-76592177282366143782016-01-02T19:45:00.000-05:002016-01-02T20:19:59.807-05:00<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us Restore Civility to Our Public Discourse</span></span></b></h4>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why has our <i>Public Discourse</i> become so intemperate,
offensive, and abusive? TV debates have been reduced to slanging bouts, wherein
even s0-called<i> mature </i>adults try to
outshout others and unabashedly hurl insults at them. Shockingly, even women
are no exception and many of them frequently resort to heckling to drown out opponents’
voices. Hardly anyone can endure, for instance, the daily <i>tamasha </i>that Arnab Goswami presides over. His verbosity, pretentious
rants, and self-laudatory boasts can leave any sane person infuriated. I often wonder,
what is Vineet Jain’s compulsion to retain him, despite his antics. Regrettably,
even other channels are catching the same bug, and rational, level-headed
discussions are becoming a rarity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Social media
interactions fare even worse. One cannot but cringe at the extent of abuse and insults
hurled at each other, when people run out of logical counter-arguments. Either
one must have a foolish sense of bravado or the hide of a rhino to venture into
the filthy quagmire of the current public discourse. No wonder most people
desist from joining any discussion, whether on social media or even in personal
interactions – such is the prevailing level of intolerance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unarguably,
politicians and their recklessly polarizing electoral politics lie at the root
of this malaise. While the steady decline has been evident for several years,
the 2-3 years preceding the landmark 2014 Lok Sabha poll virtually marked its
nadir. The troll brigades, initially deployed by the ultra-right and later countered
by other parties, vitiated the atmosphere irreparably. While their condemnation
of various acts of omission and commission by UPA 2 was politically legitimate,
the spate of communally-surcharged articles, posts, and commentaries were
irresponsible and reprehensible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The <i>gullible</i> public was sought to be <i>enlightened</i> about the ‘Grand Design’ of
Islam to tilt the demographic balance in India and elsewhere by citing dubious,
purportedly academic studies. Likewise, a plethora of posts sought to educate
us about the Muslim ancestry of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty; even going to the
extent of asserting that Sanjay Gandhi was not fathered by Feroze Gandhi. Not
to be outdone, the rival troll brigade played up the Gujarat riots, and the consequent
visa denial by USA and other western nations to embarrass the BJP’s prime-ministerial
candidate, Modi. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even some top
politicians on both sides of the political divide, who should have been more
circumspect and statesmen-like, set highly reproachable examples. Thus, while
Sonia Gandhi was repeatedly called derogatory names such as <i>‘Italian waitress’, </i>Modi was called <i>‘maut ka saudager’.</i> It is unlikely that
such rhetoric actually influenced people to change their voting preferences.
What those deplorable statements did instead was to polarize people, and drag
public discourse to the very depths of indecent, hurtful, and damaging acrimony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our penchant for
pronouncing instant subjective judgments on any topic, without due deliberation,
also inhibits sensible and balanced discussion. We tend to paint everything in either
black or white, whereas in the real world there are only varying shades of
grey. For instance, depending upon one’s political persuasion Modi is sought to
be projected either as the long-awaited <i>messiah,</i>
or the <i>devil incarnate.</i> The truth
obviously lies in between. It is fashionable these days to blame Nehru for everything
that afflicts India. True, he did make mistakes as regards J&K and China,
but he also laid the foundation of truly democratic institutions, and a strong
industrial base in sectors where private sector was unwilling or unable to
invest. Several Pakistani academics and professionals have publicly lamented
that Jinnah did not survive long enough and they did not have the type of
leadership that Nehru provided in the early years after Independence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Likewise, while
Indira Gandhi is rightly blameworthy for the Emergency and Op Blue Star, she did
provide astute and strong leadership leading to the creation of Bangladesh. No
less a person than Vajpayee paid her tributes in Parliament by likening her to
Goddess Durga. So why can’t we discuss each issue objectively and
dispassionately, rather than viewing them through tinted glasses and rush to
judgment? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Honest and
balanced debates are the very essence of a democratic polity and a truly free
society. That ideal stands marred today by the prevailing shrill, acrimonious,
polarizing, and abusive discourse. Most people are reluctant to voice their opinions
candidly for fear of being trolled and abused on social media. We need to wrest
that space back and restore its dignity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2b100f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This blog is a
small step in that direction. I therefore encourage you to freely contribute to
discussions on this forum, and to even initiate discussions on any topic of
national, societal or military interest that you deem fit. You can rest assured
that all honest opinions will be welcome and published. At the same time as the
Moderator I will ensure that contributors are not exposed to offensive tirades
and polemical content is filtered out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-70986060287768843882015-12-30T20:06:00.000-05:002015-12-30T20:28:17.418-05:00HAPPY NEW YEAR<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 26;">I wish all my readers, friends, and family A
VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. May you all enjoy the best of health, happiness,
love, success, and fulfillment with your loved ones all through 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-13286982608335807152015-11-30T19:45:00.001-05:002015-12-30T20:23:24.798-05:00Operation Jantar Mantar<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The Paperback version of my book,<i> 'Operation Jantar Mantar', </i>is now also available along with its eBook version at Amazon.in. <i>(Double-click the link below). </i></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=operation+jantar+mantar&sprefix=operation+jantar+%2Caps%2C229"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon.in/Jantar Mantar</span></a></h4>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Synopsis</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_MpVuHko0cL2x6k3cd6N6EkxmjzYbLZQ40XDtJLlr65Ggd-KGyTQSzIBQbtmNvhPo9nt2Aip1L4-w86XNS_zSiXn0eIVVj-7tP9JXfDSt7jFhokGKjrmyPfkOIa6whASM79H4PtYehjY/s1600/Approved+Final+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_MpVuHko0cL2x6k3cd6N6EkxmjzYbLZQ40XDtJLlr65Ggd-KGyTQSzIBQbtmNvhPo9nt2Aip1L4-w86XNS_zSiXn0eIVVj-7tP9JXfDSt7jFhokGKjrmyPfkOIa6whASM79H4PtYehjY/s200/Approved+Final+Cover.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A small group of retired
military officers from the Indian Armed Forces come together to contribute to
the ongoing struggle of Veterans for honour and justice. It is virtually a
rollercoaster ride for them as they respond to a series of sudden and unexpected
developments. By re-strategizing and nimbly executing course-corrections, they
bounce back after each challenging situation right up to a dramatic
climax. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book is entirely a work of
fiction, and should not be extrapolated therefore to the events, or to actual
persons connected with the agitation of veterans at Jantar Mantar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye743RLpseb1zoLLcerie8WoXfHpFVATxza8_vz4ycoGozf5UViEQcN4sVvHwyX5cnoDbWpIIj7RsxlqIaTQwyIrUUqoJKEWS91eE6g-mCDtvRc3e9KO32oyOAOiOIYPaGTcBT4FejpEJ/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye743RLpseb1zoLLcerie8WoXfHpFVATxza8_vz4ycoGozf5UViEQcN4sVvHwyX5cnoDbWpIIj7RsxlqIaTQwyIrUUqoJKEWS91eE6g-mCDtvRc3e9KO32oyOAOiOIYPaGTcBT4FejpEJ/s200/Capture.JPG" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author served in the Indian
Army for 31 years, and took voluntary retirement in 1997 in the rank of
Brigadier General. He completed his PhD in Strategy and International
Management in 2001 from the <i>University of Texas at Dallas.</i> Since
then he has taught at the <i>University of Texas at Dallas, Oakland
University </i>in Michigan, and <i>Old Dominion University </i>in
Norfolk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpwOgKlHzzxEJbdOTcyiuoP8gDC7UKLfksYJCLS6X7XXl_AisW-YbaQ03X2Tbep6p9bI8hr2oGYo-4Flej4gqQGxeMfEoiNIFpAOPPh81LtP8napVdI-8h-akvAdJcqyH9jPnU-l6TjPi/s1600/445476frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpwOgKlHzzxEJbdOTcyiuoP8gDC7UKLfksYJCLS6X7XXl_AisW-YbaQ03X2Tbep6p9bI8hr2oGYo-4Flej4gqQGxeMfEoiNIFpAOPPh81LtP8napVdI-8h-akvAdJcqyH9jPnU-l6TjPi/s200/445476frontcover.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My memoir, '<i>He
Opens another Door' </i>was published in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">
</span></div>
Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517179414349545422.post-81646878651940119582015-11-29T21:00:00.002-05:002015-12-22T20:31:00.517-05:00'Complex Interdependence' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8hUOPtZ2ufJaGUT8xelqZ8FlgOoC2d14FRZrTscyrDxIFHEs_a14vm9xJ4KCWSf-c7bEcAkeRgFGOJ3ewZqamAY4YOdOH_d0ePypshd3AiAKlJ3VINWyMqWZj9ttHwrzC3EhiyTm48GT/s1600/world_pol4952+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8hUOPtZ2ufJaGUT8xelqZ8FlgOoC2d14FRZrTscyrDxIFHEs_a14vm9xJ4KCWSf-c7bEcAkeRgFGOJ3ewZqamAY4YOdOH_d0ePypshd3AiAKlJ3VINWyMqWZj9ttHwrzC3EhiyTm48GT/s320/world_pol4952+%25281%2529.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia";">
<br />
</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #3d1c05; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Complex
interdependence</span></i></b><span style="color: #3d1c05; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> characterizes the 21st
Century world wherein geopolitical, economic and national
security dimensions are more intertwined than ever before in
history. The inordinate increase in terrorist strikes worldwide, and
the establishment of an<b><i> Islamic Caliphate </i></b>that purportedly will
transcend national boundaries, threaten the extant world order. Likewise, the
increasing socio-economic divide and unrest within countries, along with
religious polarization in countries with sizeable Muslim populations, also have
international ramifications in today's interconnected world. Hence, the canvas
of topics under discussion on this blog will be wide, notwithstanding its
India-centric focus. This blog seeks to promote candid and meaningful exchange
of views, but without getting unduly polemical and offensive, which
unfortunately characterizes most public discourse these days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brig Deepak Sethi, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07174289527088940257noreply@blogger.com0