Tarun Vijay

अदालत में सेनापति

2012-01-22T23:18:00.000-08:00

22/January/2012

जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

लोकतंत्र के लिए धोखा है घाटी में हिन्दुओं की गैर मौजूदगी: भाजपा

2012-01-20T00:17:00.000-08:00

20 January, 2012

Press : Shri Tarun Vijay on Kashmiri Hindu exile's 22 years today

2012-01-19T22:40:00.000-08:00

BJP.org

19 January, 2012

Press Statement Issued by Shri Tarun Vijay, MP, BJP National Spokesperson on Kashmiri Hindu exile's 22 years today

22 years before, on 19th January 1990, an entire segment of Indians was forced to leave their home and hearth in Kashmir valley by barbaric Islamic terrorists and secessionists. The only reason for the forced exile of the Kashmiri Hindus was their love and devotion for India, Tricolour and their Dharma. This is one of the most atrocious and barbaric ethnic cleansing occurred in the world, against Hindus, for the “crime” of being just what they were.

Pandit Tikka Lal Taploo, prominent advocate and senior functionary of the BJP became the very first victim when he was shot dead near Lalchowk in Srinagar on 14th September 1989.

Several Kashmiri Hindus community members continue to languish in temporary settlements across the Jammu city and adjoining areas. Till date the J&K Government has been inefficient in prosecution of any terrorist responsible for the killings of Hindus or destruction of temples across the Kashmir valley.

While the J&K Chief Minister has often spoken on twitter and in media about ‘rehabilitation’ of Hindus in Kashmir; not much is visible on ground. Hindus forced to stay in one-room camp settlements for all these two decades outside Jammu have been further sent to a little known place called Jagati after creation of a secluded township for them. The community has been forced into another state government backed migration in turn making their return to Kashmir impossible in the coming days.

Since the tenure of the current coalition Government in J&K began, it has been screaming about return of the ‘exiled’ Hindus on the pretext of a job package which forces them to stay in the valley under unsafe circumstances risking their the security of their family members. Contrary to the claims of the Chief Minister, the Home Ministry while responding to a question towards the end of 2011 informed the Rajya Sabha that there has been no return of Kashmiri Hindus back to Kashmir.

The honour of Tricolour and the Indian citizen in Kashmir is threatened because of the divisive government policies reflected in Article 370 of the Constitution. We are committed to remove article 370 when we BJP comes to power .

We would like to ask Congress, what are its plans to rehabilitate Kashmiri Hindus and why there is a deafening silence by Congress leadership on their plight and agony?

BJP demands the Government of India to come clear on the ‘rehabilitation’ policy adopted towards Kashmiri Hindus with free flow of Indian constitution and a sense of security. It also demands action against perpetrators of horrific killings of Hindus.

(O.P. KOHLI)
Headquarter Incharge

Tarun Vijay hits Uttarakhand roads with ‘Vichar Yatra’

2012-01-19T22:09:00.000-08:00

19 January, 2012

Article in Punjab Kesri

The 'Cyclonic Hindoo monk' who changed our times

2012-01-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
12 January 2012

Tarun Vijay

Since morning I have been trying to browse newspapers and magazines and intermittently glancing the channel talk shows to find out if any one, yes, any one, tried to put Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary too on a corner of their attention-radar. In vain, sorry to say, the search proved to be.

It's Batla house, some fatwa, UP and the election commission. Or in a corner, small insignificantly blurred lines on Mamata didi declaring Vivekananda's birthday as a holiday. Yes, he was a sannyasi, who belonged to Bengal, he was a Bengali, hence let it be a Bangla affair.

How do we define an India and the Indians where intellectual bankruptcy overwhelms the pan-national architecture with caste and regional affiliations ?

Vivekananda defined India. The quintessential Indian spirit, the soul and the fabric that makes us all together identified as one people, one nation, and one culture, called Bharatvarsh, which is also called India.

He defied the scheming theories of a sham secularism describing us some kind of conglomeration of mixed people and hit hard at those who tried to put in an element of shame and ostrich like hesitation to give a clarion call in the name of Hindu Take pride in being a Hindu and announce from the rooftops, that yes, we are Hindus, the inheritors of the world's greatest reservoir of wisdom, truth and a way of life that guarantees pluralism and protection of the nature without hurting the other people with a different viewpoint or faith.

He was a Hindu monk, a great Sannyasi, ochre robed and with a smile on his face and a Lion's heart. He faced the most powerful resistance of his times in the form of Christian missionaries Like the foreign correspondents made use of the Jarawa video to show how naked are the Indians who dance naked for food, same ugly machinations were used by the proselytizers who sought dollars showing Hindus in the most ridiculously backward image. Women throwing their babies to the crocodile, a nation of snake charmers and headhunters, the illiterate and uncivilized pagans and heathens, being brought to the shelter of the shepherd, for the good of all, hence please give us your precious dollars.

Vivekananda revolted against their lies and utterly shameful falsehoods. You are not Christians, 'he shouted at them, go back to Christ'.

There is a conscious attempt to secularize Vivekananda in its most nauseating way. An attempt to present him like he never was. Well-planned methodically charted academic plot to de-Vivekanandise the real Sannyasi. To de-Hindu-ise a young warrior, who was called by the West - The Cyclonic Hindoo Monk of India.

The western missionaries tried to character assassinate him, even attempted to poison him. The blindly ritualistic opponents opposed him at his home turf. But the Master, the Thakur, Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa's blessings saved him and he remained unscathed.

It is important to know why he thought that unless Hindus are reformed, taken out of the shadow of fossilized ritualistic Brahmins, who would never allow the real souls, the 'untouchables' and the disadvantaged sections, keep them shackled while announcing great schemes for them, Hindus would not rise to unshackle the other societies of the world.

Be a proud Hindu. he said, at the same time he was his harshest best on the ill conceived practices we followed, the way we behaved with our own blood, our own Hindu fraternity, whom we considered, illogically, as low caste and hence 'untouchables'. He wanted the Hindu-ness to be protected and enlivened with the lofty and universal ideas of the Upanishads and Vedas. His Swadesh Mantra is an electrifying message for the rejuvenation of the nation. It must find place at the entrance of not only Parliament, but at the entrance of every assembly in India and in every school. It says, "O India! With this mere echoing of others, with this base imitation of others, with this dependence on others, this slavish weakness, this vile detestable cruelty -- wouldst thou, with these provisions only, scale the highest pinnacle of civilisation and greatness? Wouldst thou attain, by means of thy disgraceful cowardice that freedom deserved only by the brave and the heroic?"

Further it exhorts all Indians: "Forget not that the lower classes, the ignorant, the poor, the illiterate, the cobbler, the sweeper, are thy flesh and blood, thy brothers.

"Thou brave one, be bold, take courage, be proud that thou art an Indian, and proudly proclaim, 'I am an Indian, every Indian is my brother.' Say, 'The ignorant Indian, the poor and destitute Indian, the Brahmin Indian, the Pariah Indian, is my brother.'

"Thou, too, clad with but a rag round thy loins proudly proclaim at the top of thy voice: 'The Indian is my brother, the Indian is my life, India's gods and goddesses are my God. India's society is the cradle of my infancy, the pleasure-garden of my youth, the sacred heaven, the Varanasi of my old age.'

"Say, brother; 'The soil of India is my highest heaven, the good of India is my good,' and repeat and pray day and night, 'O Thou Lord of Gauri, O Thou Mother of the Universe, vouchsafe manliness unto me! O Thou Mother of Strength, take away my weakness, take away my unmanliness, and make me a Man!'

Please do read it in full, it's too mesmerizing an exhortation, as powerful as Lincoln's Gettysburg speech.

He believed that religion is the main theme of India:

"Each nation, like each individual, has one theme in life, which is its centre, the principal note round which every note comes to form harmony....if one nation attempts to throw off its vitality, the direction which has become its own through the transmission of centuries, the nation dies....if one nation's political power is its vitality, as in England, artistic life is another and so on. In India religious life forms the centre, the keynote of the whole music of life."

(source: Glimpses of Indian Culture - By Dr. Giriraj Shah p. 27).

India was his greatest God. He said: "India alone was to be, of all lands, the land of toleration and of spirituality…in that distant time the sage arose and declared, ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti (He who exists is one; the sages call him variously). This is one of the most memorable sentences that was ever uttered, one of the grandest truths that was ever discovered. And for us Hindus, this truth has been the very backbone of our national existence…our country has become the glorious land of religious toleration…The world is waiting for this grand idea of universal toleration..."

(source: Vivekanada's Complete Works III, 186ff).

And his unflinching faith in Hindu dharma was like Mount Kailas. He said: "To my mind, our religion is truer than any other religion, because it never conquered. Because it never shed blood, because its mouth always shed on all, words of blessing, of peace, words of love and sympathy. It is here and here alone that the ideals of toleration were first preached. And it is here and here alone that toleration and sympathy become practical; it is theoretical in every other country; it is here and here alone, that the Hindu builds mosques for the Mohammedans and churches for the Christians."

(Source: Secularization of India… By S. Balasundar - Hindu voice)

He never allowed or sanctioned the conversion of Hindus by Christian proselytizers. He used as strong words as he could to oppose the conversion of Hindus in these famous words: "We shall otherwise decrease in numbers. When the Mohammedans first came, we are said -- I think on the authority of Ferishta, the oldest Mohammedan historian -- to have been six hundred millions of Hindus. Now we are about two hundred millions. And then every man getting out of the Hindu pale is not only a man less, but an enemy the more. " Vivekananda

(Complete Works V, p233, interview given in "Prabuddha Bharat", April, 1899)

He put the ideal of Guru Govind Singh before every Indian to follow. He said: "Men can never be united unless there is a bond of common interest. You can never unite people merely by getting up meetings, societies, and lectures if their interests be not one and the same. Guru Govind made it understood everywhere that the men of his age, be they Hindus or Mussulmans, were living under a regime of profound injustice and oppression. He did not create any common interest; he only pointed it out to the masses. And so both Hindus and Mussulmans followed him. He was a great worshipper of Shakti. Yet, in Indian history, such an example is indeed very rare."

(Source: Volume 6 Page 513 of Complete Works chapter Conversations & Dialogues)

And pray, in these times when no two Hindus can stand each other, and every Hindu organization loves to work to mitigate the other, while the biggest challenge to the Hindu cause comes from the Hindu leaders themselves, he exhorted the Hindu in these words: "Mark me, then and then alone you are a Hindu when the very name sends through you a galvanic shock of strength. Then and then alone you are a Hindu when every man who bears the name, from any country, speaking our language or any other language, becomes at once the nearest and the dearest to you. Then and then alone you are a Hindu when the distress of anyone bearing that name comes to your heart and makes you feel as if your own son were in distress. Then and then alone you are a Hindu when you will be ready to bear everything for them, like the great example I have quoted at the beginning of this lecture, of your great Guru Govind Singh. Driven out from this country, fighting against its oppressors, after having shed his own blood for the defence of the Hindu religion, after having seen his children killed on the battlefield- ay, this example of the great Guru, left even by those for whose sake he was shedding his blood and the blood of his own nearest and dearest-he, the wounded lion, retired from the field calmly to die in the South, but not a word of curse escaped his lips against those who had ungratefully forsaken him! Mark me, every one of you will have to be a Govind Singh, if you want to do good to your country. You may see thousands of defects in your countrymen, but mark their Hindu blood. They are the first Gods you will have to worship even if they do everything to hurt you, even if everyone of them send out a curse to you, you send out to them words of love. If they drive you out, retire to die in silence like that mighty lion, Govind Singh. Such a man is worthy of the name of Hindu; such an ideal ought to be before us always. All our hatchets let us bury; send out this grand current of love all around".

He wanted a great, strong, happy and wealthy nation. And he stood for revolt than the meek submission before un-understandable murmurs of the outdated ideas.

That was Vivekananda. Immortal in his thoughts and inspiring in his wisdom.

Military team to China without Arunachal officer wrong: BJP

2012-01-10T01:14:00.000-08:00

The Economic Times
9 JAN, 2012

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tarun Vijay Monday met Defence Minister A.K. Antony to convey his party's "concern and opposition" over the government sending a military delegation to China after "dropping" an officer from Arunachal Pradesh.

In a statement, Vijay said that Antony conveyed that he shares the concern of BJP on the issue, but the decision to send a smaller delegation was taken after discussing the matter with all stake holders.

Vijay, who is also BJP spokesperson, told Antony that the government had not sent the right message by sending a delegation to China without an officer from Arunachal Pradesh.

He said Beijing can cite it as a precedent and the move will have a negative impact on the youth of Arunachal keen to join defence forces.
The statement said the defence minister conveyed to the BJP that it was felt that a smaller delegation should be sent to continue talks with the neighbouring country while rejecting Chinese claims on Arunachal Pradesh.

Antony said the government was working towards manifold increase in India's military capabilities in Arunachal Pradesh and a fair share of the defence budget was being spent for the purpose.

The minister assured that the government will not allow any weakness in the country's defence preparedness in the eastern sector.

मंत्र विप्लव

2012-01-10T01:06:00.000-08:00

08/January/2012

जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

PM should scrap military delegation's visit to China: BJP

2012-01-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

Press : BJP National Spokesperson and MP, Shri Tarun Vijay
Sunday, 08 January 2012

Press Release

Chinese denial of visa to Indian officer and govt sending delegation dropping officer from Arunachal insulting to the nation and armed forces - Tarun Vijay

Its shocking to know that the govt is sending a military delegation to China after dropping an officer who hails from Arunachal Pradesh. This is conceding Chinese claim on Arunachal through backdoor and demoralizing the Indian armed forces, whose delegation is forced to leave for China without their brother soldier Group Captain M Panging, because China doesn't want' him as an Indian. Group Captain M. Panging is being humiliated and insulted for belonging to India and hailing from India's patriotic Jai Hind state Arunachal Pradesh. We condemn this attitude of the govt and demand that the delegation's China trip be cancelled immediately protesting the Chinese refusal to give visa to our military officer.

I have spoken to the Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony in this regard, and he seems to be collecting information about the delegation's visit and said, 'he can't tell me details off hand, and would meet me tomorrow about it.' While I am thankful to him and would meet him tomorrow, I tried to contact External Affairs Minister but he was in Dubai, on his way to Israel and his officers put me in contact with his OSD in Delhi. He informed that because govt of India doesn't accept stapled visas to Indians, hence the said officer is not being sent to China. The govt wants the talks with China to continue therefore the military delegation is being sent without the officer who belongs to Arunachal Pradesh and was denied a proper visa by Chinese govt.

This is an outrageous position of the govt. Suppose we have a Prime Minister who belongs to Arunachal Pradesh, should the govt drop him from a China bound delegation because of Chinese objection and continue to send the rest of the delegation members? How the prestige of an Indian soldier is less than the honour of a Prime Minister?

Previously when the Chinese denied a visa to another army officer, who was posted in J&K, we had cancelled the delegation trip to China. One delegation less won't make a sea change in our relations, and we must be strongly protesting the Chinese arrogance, safeguarding the honour of Indian citizens belonging to all provinces.

We demand Prime Minister should intervene and call back the military delegation immediately till the Chinese rectify their undiplomatic and unfriendly act.

(O.P.KOHLI)
Headquarter Incharge

PM should scrap military delegation's visit to China: BJP
PTI | 03:01 PM,Jan 08,2012

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Demanding Prime Minister's intervention to cancel military delegation's visit to China, BJP today alleged that the decision to go ahead with it after Beijing denied visa to a senior IAF officer from Arunachal Pradesh was an "insult" to Indian soldiers. Terming the government's decision as "shocking", party spokesperson Tarun Vijay wondered if "China will now decide India's foreign policy. "Will China now influence our policy towards our armed forces?...It is humiliating for Indian soldiers from Arunachal Pradesh. It will be demoralising for other officers from the region," he said. The BJP spokesperson also chose to attack the government over the age row involving the Army chief V K Singh. "Government insults and humiliates not only the army chief but army soldiers. Indian soldiers are being humiliated under this government. We want that the Prime Minister should rectify it. "Why should we send the delegation to China, when that country does not allow visa to an officer from Arunachal Pradesh? Tomorrow if our Prime Minister is from Arunachal Pradesh and China refuses to give a visa to him, will we send a delegation to that country minus the Prime Minister. A soldier's honour is not less than that of the PM," he said. The BJP leader said that he spoke to Defence Minister AK Antony this morning who told him to meet him tomorrow. "Possibly, the Defence Minister does not have full information about it," he said. Vijay said the officers on Special Duty of Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna explained to him that the officer was dropped because China issues stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, which India does not accept.

Chinese ambassador assures to provide adequate safety to Indians in China, traders may get back home soon

2012-01-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

Picture caption-Mr Tarun Vijay with the Chinese ambassador Mr Zhang Yan

Chinese ambassador assures to provide adequate safety to Indians in China, traders may get back home soon

4th Jan 2012-Ne Delhi—The Chinese ambassador in India Mr Zhang Yan has assured that incidents like Yiwu will not be allowed to influence age old friendly ties between China and India and he will try his best to send back traders home soon. Shri Tarun Vijay, MP and National Spokesperson, BJP, met the Chinese ambassador Mr. Zhang Yan today and conveyed party’s concern about the safety of Indian citizens and diplomats in China. Requesting to send back two Indian traders as soon as possible.

Mr Tarun Vijay, while thanking the ambassador for acting swiftly to have the Indian traders released and sent to Shanghai in safety, said that such incidents vitiate the atmosphere and discourage Indians to visit China. The ambassador conveyed his thanks to BJP President Mr Nitin Gadkari for working to strengthen bilateral relations and assured that the Chinese govt is very keen not to let such incidents happen again.

‘We are working to improve relations. India and China are engines to the world economy and our horizons of cooperation are too big. We will not allow such incidents to influence our age-old civilisational ties’, said the ambassador. He also expressed hope that more and more Indians will continue visiting China. Mr Vijay suggested that the Chinese govt should think to have special India China Friendship Help Centers in major Chinese cities to facilitate Indian in distress in China, where they can get information and help in English or Hindi. To this suggestion the ambassador said this is a very constructive suggestion and he will send it to the govt for consideration. Mr Vijay conveyed that the BJP hopes the Chinese will be more cautious on such sensitive issues encouraging more people to people contact and hoped that India China friendship will further strengthened.

2012-01-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

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BJP welcomes quick government action on traders trapped in China

2012-01-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

Government should ensure their return to India immediately

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday welcomed the government's action in ensuring the release of two Indian traders trapped in China.

Welcoming the government action, BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay said the government should provide legal assistance to the traders and ensure their return to India immediately.

'We welcome that MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has managed to sort out the crisis around the Indian traders,' Vijay told IANS.

Two Indian traders, who were being held hostage in the Chinese trading hub of Yiwu, were Wednesday shifted to a safe place by a team of Indian officials. The traders, Shyamsunder Agrawal and Deek Raheja, were being held captive by local Chinese traders, who asserted that their company owed them millions of Yuan.

'I spoke to Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai about the incident and conveyed the concern of Bharatiya Janata Party. We have requested MEA to provide legal assistance to the Indian traders and arrange to have them sent back home to India immediately,' Vijay said. The BJP leader also expressed satisfaction at the Chinese government's response to the issue.

'We also express satisfaction at the Chinese response to the incident in initiating action against culprits who manhandled Indian traders,' he said.

Vijay added that more presence of Indian media was needed in China to keep a watch on any such situation that may arise.

'The situation demands that there should be more Indian media presence in China so that such incidents are reported to India through Indian eyes and unnecessary misunderstandings are not allowed to disturb bilateral relations,' he said.

©Indo-Asian News Service

BJP asks China to probe incident involving Indian diplomat S Balachandran

2012-01-04T00:10:00.000-08:00

The Economic Times

4 January, 2012

NEW DELHI: The BJP today condemned the treatment meted out to Indian diplomat S Balachandran in China and demanded that authorities there conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident and ensure that it is not repeated as several Indian businessmen visit the neighbouring country.

"The Chinese Government must conduct a detailed enquiry into the deplorable incident and take appropriate action against those responsible for ensuring that the Indian diplomat was provided adequate security and other facilities while he was on duty," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said.

He pointed out that though it was known that Balachandran is diabetic, he was not provided any food for six hours. Moreover, he was reportedly heckled while he was leaving.

"A lot of Chinese goods come to India and our traders go there often. They are provided documents only in Chinese without any interpreters, and not given appropriate legal assistance or food. In some instances family members were also reportedly harassed," Vijay alleged, demanding that such grievances be addressed.

He said 30 Indians are in Chinese jails and government should make efforts to free them.

"Such incidents do not contribute to the stated Chinese intention to strengthen bilateral ties particularly people-to-people ties and are completely contrary to the declared desire for friendship," Vijay said.

The BJP also demanded that India should increase its consulates in China from three to ten, insisting that even smaller countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have eight and six missions respectively.

Presence of Indian media in China should also be enhanced, he said.

संसद में हार गया देश

2012-01-03T01:28:00.000-08:00

2/January/2012

डेली न्यूज़

तरुण विजय

राष्ट्रीय हितों के मामले में चट्टान की तरह डटे रहे वाजपेयी

2011-12-26T22:49:00.000-08:00

26/December/2011
पंजाब केसरी

तरुण विजय

क्रिसमस के जीसस

2011-12-25T22:07:00.001-08:00

25/December/2011

जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

World Sanskrit Conference at New Delhi, Jan 5-10, 2012

2011-12-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

News about 15th World Sanskrit Conference at New Delhi, Jan 5-10, 2012

The 15th World Sanskrit Conference (WSC), organized by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi in association with International Association of Sanskrit Studies, will be inaugurated by Honorable Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 5th January 2012 at 10 a.m. Honorable Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Kapil Sibal will be the Guest of Honour in the Inaugural Session. Soon after the inaugural session, Dr. Ashok Aklujkar and Dr. Lokesh Chandra will deliver special lectures, which will be chaired by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan will release the catalogue of approximately 57000 manuscripts belonging to its Ganganatha Jha Campus. The catalogue in ten volumes in hard copies will be released in the inaugural session of the Conference and it will also be uploaded on the website of the Sansthan. Some other publications of Sansthan will also be released on this occasion. Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi will be the venue for the inaugural and valedictory sessions as well as for all academic sessions of the 15th WSC. All exhibitions, the section on manuscriptology and book stalls will be arranged at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).

In collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), National Manuscript Mission (NMM) and other institutions, a series of exhibitions entitled Viśvavārā is being planned at IGNCA. A Sanskrit Book Fair is being arranged in the premises of IGNCA which will remain open from 5th January 2012 to 10th January 2012. The exhibitions and around 105 book-stalls in the Book Fair will remain open during conference days from 10.00 AM to 8.00 PM for scholars, students, delegates and Sanskrit lovers. The book exhibits will offer a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the recent publications. Viśvavārā will have the following sections – Revitalization of knowledge systems through manuscript wealth with focus on scientific traditions of India, Sanskrit and Sanskritic inscriptions in South East Asia, Historical traditions of India through manuscripts, Exhibition on Information Technology and computer tools related to Sanskrit.

On the 4th January 2012, pūrvaraṅga, a programme to mark the beginnings of the 15th World Sanskrit Conference will be organized. Dr. Ramakanta Goswami, Minister for Industries, Labour and Election will inaugurate the Sanskrit Book Fair, and Shri Chinmay R. Garekhan, Chairman, IGNCA will inaugurate the series of exhibitions in the premises of IGNCA.

A five-day festival of Sanskrit theatre will be organized by the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan during the Conference at IGNCA daily from 7.30 p. m to 9.00 p.m. (open for all – invitation on website). Sanskrit plays as performed in traditional theatres of Kūṭiyāṭṭam, Katha-kali, Nāṅgiyār Kuttu, Yakṣagānam, Ankiyā Nāt and Manipuri Rāsa will be staged as under:

· Kūṭiyāṭṭam by Margi Madhu: Abhiṣekanāṭakam

· Nāngiārkūttu and Kathakalī: Kathakalī: Duśāsanavadham by E.N. Narayanan & P.M. Damodaran, Department of Sahitya Sree Sree Sankaracharya University, Kalady Nāngiārkūttu by Usha Nangiar

· Yakṣagānam: Gajanan Hegde and his troupe

· Ankiyā Nāta: Shrimanta Shankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati

· Gītagovindam in Maṇipurī Rāsa: Radha Madhav Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Manipur

Technical sessions on various themes of the conference will commence from the afternoon of the 5th Jan.2012 and will continue till the 10th Jan.2012 at Vigyan Bhavan. The Conference will operate in twenty sections. About eight sessions will be running concurrently in four cakras (slots) on most of the days. The conference will run in the following sections - Veda; Linguistics; Epics and Purāṇas; Tantra and Āgamas; Vyākaraṇa; Poetry, Drama and Aesthetics; Sanskrit and Asian Languages and Literatures; Sanskrit and Science; Buddhist Studies; Jain Studies; Philosophies; Religious Studies; Ritual Studies; Epigraphy; Sanskrit in Technological World; Modern Sanskrit Literature; Pandit-parishad; Kavisamvayaḥ; Law and Society; and Manuscriptology. Apart from these sections, the twelve special panels will also be organized.

In a special panel Mr. Rajiv Malhotra will discuss the book BEING DIFFERENT focusing on non-translatables of Sanskrit and the strategic importance of Sanskriti in the global kurukshetra.

The valedictory function of the conference will be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the 10th Jan. 2012 at 4.30 p.m. Dr. Karna Singh, Honourable Member of Parliament, and Chairperson of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, will be the Guest of Honour in the valedictory function. Mrs. Sheila Dixit, Honorable Chief Minister of Delhi will preside over this session. After the valedictory session, a dinner at the residence of Mrs. Sheila Dixit, Chief Minister of Delhi will be arranged by Delhi Sanskrit Academy. The 15th World Sanskrit Conference is going to be an important meet of Sanskrit scholars of various Universities and Institutions of the world who are working in different disciplines of Sanskrit Studies. Likely two hundred foreign delegates and one thousand Indian delegates will participate in the conference. They will interact and deliberate upon important issues of Sanskrit learning and research in the global scenario and present the essence of wisdom as well as the treasures from the Sanskrit-based knowledge systems. Visit Website for more details: www.sanskrit.nic.in

Media Clippings- Shri Tarun Vijay in Jhansi & Kanpur

2011-12-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

Date :18/Dec/2011

Can you ban Sun or Himalaya? Tarun Vijay in Parliament on Gita ban by Russian Court.

2011-12-22T01:55:00.000-08:00

Gita unites India - a historic day for us

2011-12-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
20 December 2011

Tarun Vijay

When I congratulated Laluji, Mulayam Singhji, Sharad Yadavji, Mahtabji along with the Congress leaders Arun Kumarji and Pawan Bansal ji with our stalwarts like Joshiji and Hukum Dev Narayanji, in a media briefing in Parliament yesterday, mediapersons were surprised. They all spoke in one voice against the ban on the Gita in Russia and I said that such national issues should not be a matter of concern for any single party or organization. It involves us all Indians and it’s a great day for us that the Gita issue was taken up so vigorously by all, cutting across party lines with the sole exception of the Left.

It was not just a Hindu issue. The honour of the nation and its people, the civilizational heritage of India and the cultural ethos that gave the world its best gift in the form of the Gita, the ultimate message of karma, pluralism and universal values for a noble society, was at stake. And hence it was a day when India rose in one voice, as one people and one culture.

Let the chroniclers write this day as a golden day in our history when all differences were deleted to express solidarity for the Gita, the book of India.

The anguish and the angst of the people of India on the move to ban the Gita in Russia was best expressed by Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav, Mulayam Singh and Arun Kumar Vundavalli in the Lok Sabha on December 19.

It was such a historic occasion that the entire house immediately took up the issue raised by a senior BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab. He said through a special mention: “The religious rights of the Hindus in Russia should be protected. Curiously, the State Prosecutor had referred the scripture to Tomsk State University for an expert examination. This university is not qualified as it lacks Indologists who study history, culture, language and literature of the Indian subcontinent. As this case is inspired by religious bias and intolerance from a majority religious group in Russia, I would like to urge upon the government to impress upon their Russian counterpart so that their right to practise their religion and belief is upheld. The Gita does not preach hatred. Indian embassy in Moscow should intervene through diplomatic channels immediately.”

Lalu Yadav demanded a discussion and stern action against the Russian authorities. Murli Manohar Joshi and Harin Pathak supported and voiced serious concern. The uproarious scenes followed when members demanded a discussion and the Speaker had to adjourn the house till 2pm with a promise to allow the discussion. Mulayam Singh was first to rise to the occasion brilliantly and he said: “The Gita is a universal book accepted by the world which guides to be a better human being and work for the good of the society. It’s a classic that teaches honesty and how to lead a sacred life. Gandhiji used to read the Gita daily and most of his speeches were based on the teachings of the Gita. He wanted to build our nation on the message of the Gita. But the government has not taken the Gita seriously and all parties will accept this fact. The government has not taken any step to propagate the Gita among the people of the nation. I request the parliamentary affairs minister to make this government take steps to so that teaching the Gita from the primary classes to the university level in this country becomes a possibility. Chairperson madam, please do something so that he students of our country begin studying the Gita. Once this happens, the dream of Gandhiji would be realized and the people would understand the core message of the Gita making a better nation. All should condemn whatever the attorney in Siberia has said about the Gita. I appeal that the entire house must condemn that statement (against the Gita)."

The inimitable Lalu Prasad said: “Insulting the Gita is insulting Krishna. A big conspiracy is being hatched against Lord Krishna. Politicians base their life inspired with the message of the Gita. The Parliament is on and still no word has come from the government on the issue of banning the Gita in Russia. Government is keeping a silence. We wouldn’t tolerate this. We condemn this incident on behalf of the whole House. We will not tolerate this (ban on the Gita). We will take revenge of this insult and punish (the government) too if they don’t take any action. Recently, the Prime Minister had gone on a Russia tour. Did he speak to them about this matter? All that we want to say is that we won’t tolerate the insults to Lord Krishna. Bol Shri Krishna Bhagwan ki jai.”

The entire House cheered him. (I am quoting them as I heard them or got uncorrected copies, hence I will stand corrected if anyone brings any discrepancies to my notice)

Sharad Yadav eloquently said: “The issue affects millions of people. The government must take some immediate action to change the illogical decision (of banning the Gita). This is the wish of the people of this nation.”

Arun Kumar Vundavalli (Congress, Andhra) gave a scholarly speech on the importance and the universal message of the Gita for the good of entire mankind. He quoted many shlokas of the Gita in chaste Sanskrit to the delight of all. Shri Satpal Maharaj (Congress, Uttarakhand) was chairing the proceedings and he also, from his chair, quoted many Gita shlokas to drive home the message of humanity as described in the Gita. Hukum Dev Narayan (BJP) in his impressive presentation demanded that the house must pass a unanimous resolution condemning the Russian decision to ban the Gita.

The stunned and speechless Talibanised seculars saw this unity with awe and would like to see some politics in it. Some even floated the idea that it’s the Yadav unity taking over Hindu solidarity. I beg to differ strongly. It’s the quintessential Hindu spirit, the Indian core values that cannot be submerged under any tsunami. Why should any single organization or ideology be allowed to speak and act singlehandedly on such issues? Let us differ on thousands of issues, on policies, programmes and actions, but there must remain some issue that binds us all as Indians and that factor would be the defining one for our tricolour and the Constitution.

If any classic can be truly termed as the best gift of India to the world, it’s the Gita. Vinoba Bhave wrote a wonderful book on the Gita in Marathi, called Geetai meaning Mother Gita, and it’s as popular in every Maharashtrian household as Tulasi’s Ramcharitmanas is in the Hindi world. It’s ironical that when the controversy was making headlines all over, our Prime minister was in Moscow and he didn’t broach the subject with the highest authorities there. Millions across the globe, all religionists and races, have read the Gita. The greatest minds ever born on this planet were inspired by its contents.

Build a grand Victory Arch- Bharat Vijay Dwar- to commemorate 1971 victory-Tarun Vijay in Rajya Sabha

2011-12-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

SPECIAL MENTION in Rajya Sabha by Tarun Vijay-21st December 2011

16th December is a day of great glory and victory for Indian Arm forces when nine month long Bangladesh liberation war was won in 1971 and General A.A. K. Niazi, the Commanding Officer of the Pakistan Armed Forces surrendered his forces to Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora the Allied Forces Commander with 90,000 troops. This victory led to the formation of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. This was also India's finest hour under the Prime Ministership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and the wonderful military leadership provided by Field Marshal S.H.F.J.Manekshaw, Lt. General Jacob, Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora, Vice Admiral Krishnan and scores of other patriotic officers and jawans. The whole nation stood as one people solidly supporting the political and military leadership and the parliament had reverberated with great emotions of solidarity so eloquently represented by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Ironically, the nation has failed to erect a single memorial to the victorious Indian Forces in the National Capital. The sacrifices and incredible saga of valour, courage, grit and supreme dedication to the motherland remain unsung and gradually - Bharat Vijay Diwas, is relegated to small observances. I demand the Govt. of India should erect a Bharat Vijay Dwar in New Delhi, more impressive in its grandeur and splendour than any existing memorials built by the British, Govt. must also declare 16th December as an official victory day to be observed in all schools, colleges, and govt. offices, with an armed forces parade in the National Capital.

Tarun Vijay
Div. No. 243

अमर गीता पर रूस में प्रतिबंध लगाने की साजिश-Tarun Vijay's statement during zero hour in Rajya Sabha

2011-12-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

Subject raised by Shri Tarun Vijay in Rajya Sabha
during zero hour session
20/ 12/ 2011

RE DEMAND TO LIFT BAN IMPOSED ON
SHRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA BY RUSSIA

श्री तरुण विजय (उत्तराखंड): महोदय, ‘कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन’ का संदेश देने वाली अमर गीता पर रूस में प्रतिबंध लगाने की साजिश की जा रही है। क्या आप सूरज पर प्रतिबंध लगा सकते हैं, क्या आप हिमालय को प्रतिबंधित कर सकते हैं और क्या आप पृथ्वी की गति को प्रतिबंधित कर सकते हैं? ऐसे मूर्खर्तापूर्ण कार्य की पूरे सदन द्वारा सवर्सम्मति से निन्दा और भत्सर्ना की जानी चाहिए। यह खुशी की बात है कि गीता पर प्रतिबंध के विरोध ने पूरे हिन्दुस्तान को तथा पूरे हिन्दुस्तान की राजनीतिक पार्टियां और विचारधाराओं से ऊपर उठते हुए सभी राजनीतिक नेताओं को एकजुट कर दिया है। गीता ने भारत को एकजुट कर दिया है। लोक सभा में लालू जी, मुलायम जी, शरद यादव जी, जोशी जी, आदि सब लोगों ने पार्टियों से परे उठते हुए इसका विरोध किया है। ..

श्री उपसभापित: आप उनके नाम मत लीजिए।

श्री तरुण विजय : महोदय, जिस गीता ने ‘धर्म की जय’ का संदेश दिया और सुप्रीम कोर्ट का उदघोष है- ‘यतो धर्म: ततो जय’; उस गीता पर प्रतिबंध का पूरे देश को विरोध करना चाहिए। इस बारे में भारत सरकार को रूस सरकार से बात करनी चाहिए।

श्री तरुण विजय (कर्मागत) : महात्मा गाँधी ने कहा कि, “गीता हमारी माता है”, वे प्रतिदिन गीता का पाठ करते थे। विनोबा भावे ने गीता पर एक विश्वविख्यात टीका लिखी, जिसे उन्होंने गीताई कहा, जो घर-घर में पढ़ी जाती है। अल्बर्ट आइंस्टीन ने कहा, “When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe, everything else seems so superfluous”. गीता के बारे में पूरे हिन्दुस्तान के लोग मजहब, जाति, प्रांत, भाषा, पंत से ऊपर उठते हुए एक हैं और उन्होंने मांग की है कि जिस गीता ने संदेश दिया, “परित्रानायसाधुनाम विनाशायचदुश्कृताम, धर्म संस्थापनायथाय सम्भवामि युगे-युगे”, ऐसी गीता के बारे में प्रतिबंध की कोई बात सहन नहीं की जानी चाहिए। महोदय, अभी हाल ही में हमारे प्रधानमंत्री रूस के दौरे पर गए थे। उसी समय यह मुद्दा भी उठा था। हम जानना चाहते हैं कि क्या प्रधानमंत्री जी ने रूस के साथ इस महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे का प्रश्न उठाया है और अगर उठाया है तो उनको क्या उत्तर मिला? महोदय, यह गीता वह ग्रंथ है, जिसको पढ़कर हमारे क्रांतिकारी अंग्रेजों के खिलाफ़ संघर्ष लड़ते हुए फांसी के फंदे पर झूल गए थे।

जेल में, भगत सिंह की कोठरी में गीता का ग्रंथ मिला था। गीता ने देश को प्राण दिए, गीता देश की पहचान है, गीता देश की पिरभाषा है, गीता देश की एक अटूट संगिठत शक्ति है। महोदय, “गीता नहीं सिखाती आपस में बैर रखना, हिन्दी हैं हम वतन हैं हिन्दोस्तां हमारा”। गीता के बारे में सबको एकजुट होना चाहिए।

Can sun be banned? Tarun Vijay in Rajya Sabha on Gita ban in Russia-House supports the cause unanimously-

2011-12-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

20 DEC, 2011, 02.52PM IST, IANS

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/rajya-sabha-condemns-russian-move-to-ban-gita/articleshow/11179576.cms
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha Tuesday condemned the move in a Russian court to ban the Bhagavad Gita as an extremist text, and the government assured the members that it was taking up the issue with Russia and appropriate action will be taken soon.
Raising the issue of likely ban on the Bhagavad Gita, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Tarun Vijay said during the zero hour that seeking ban on the Hindu sacred text was like seeking a ban on the sun.
"Can sun be banned, Himalayas be banned...," he asked.
He said the entire country should protest the move and the government should take up the issue with Russia.
Vijay said eminent men, including Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Albert Einstein, had drawn inspiration from the Gita.
"If anybody talks of banning the Gita, it is not acceptable. The matter came up during the prime minister's visit to Russia. Did the prime minister raise the issue? What reply was given?" Vijay said.
Several members cutting across party lines conveyed their support on the issue raised by Vijay.
Congress member P.J. Kurein said the move to ban Bhagavad Gita was a "very serious matter".
Rajya Sabha Deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan said "the entire house agrees with this and joins in condemning this".
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government agreed with the feelings of the members.
"We are apprising the Russian government...appropriate steps will be taken," he said.
The case in a Siberian court, which has been going on since June, seeks a ban on the "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).

Shri Tarun Vijay attended the annual function of 100 year old DAV College

2011-12-19T03:30:00.000-08:00

Dehradun on 17th December 2011
A photo gallery of the programme:-

Tarun Vijay hits hard on ideological apartheid in Prasar Bharati in Parliament-full speech

2011-12-15T04:37:00.000-08:00

Issue of Hindu plight in Pakistan raised in Parliament. Talk to Pakistan, grant work permits to Pakistani Hindus

2011-12-14T06:24:00.000-08:00

In Parliament--Tarun Vijay raised issue of Hindu killings in Pakistan . Government must talk to Pakistan about safety of Hindus.

Difficult to cremate their dead and educate kids , Hindus leave Pakistan in large number.

New Delhi, 14th December - Raising the issue of Hindus being tortured and killed in Pakistan in the wake of another killing of a Hindu trader near Multan, yesterday, Shri Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and National Spokesperson of BJP demanded in Rajya Sabha today that Government of India must talk to Pakistan Govt. immediately showing concern on the killings of Hindus and provide adequate security to Hindus.

He also asked the Govt. to give immediately work permits to the Pakistani Hindus who have taken refuge in Delhi and other cities to protect their lives and honour.

In a Special Mention in Rajya Sabha today Shri Tarun Vijay said that 4 Hindu Doctors were slaughtered on Eid Day this year in Shikarpur City of Pakistan. After that 28 Hindu families comprising of 151 men, women and children somehow escaped from Pakistan and have taken refuge in Delhi. Before that Member of Sindh Assembly Shri Ram Singh Sodha had left Pakistan with his family. Shri Tarun Vijay said that Hindus who have come from Pakistan informed him that they are often not allowed to cremate their dead and the local Muslims put hurdles at the time of last rites complaining that 'burning a dead body spreads stink that is unbearable to them'. The Leader of the Hindu group Shri Arjun Das said that most of their temples can not have stone images and they have to perform puja inside the temple with paper calendars of Hindu Gods and Goddess hung on a wall. He also said that no Hindu organisation is allowed to open minority schools for Hindus to facilitate education as per their values but instead Hindu children are forced to learn and study Islamiyat.

The Hindus from Pakistan told Shri Tarun Vijay that their children are often made targets of mocking at their religion and gods in the schools. Shri Tarun Vijay demanded that Pakistan Govt. should be immediately conveyed about India's concern on the serious human rights violations of Hindus and other minorities including Christians.

Govt under Opp fire for ‘curbing DD autonomy’

2011-12-09T02:20:00.001-08:00

FRIDAY, 09 DECEMBER 2011

The BJP and Left parties on Thursday attacked the Government for curbing the autonomy of Doordarshan and making it an ideological tool of the Government by granting more power in appointment of Chief Executive Officer of the Prasar Bharati.

Participating in the debate on the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, BJP leader Tarun Vijay demanded that appointment of CEO should be on lines of Election Commissioner to ensure autonomy of the public broadcaster. He also accused the Prasar Bharati of having wide spread corruption, ideological untouchability and ignoring the development stories and instead focusing on “irrelevant” programmes. He said that IAS lobby was dictating the programme content instead of the talented artists working with Doordarshan.

A CPI(M) member criticised the withdrawal of recognition of unions and demanded that it should be immediately restored.

The power of words- pl dont miss it. It may bring a change in you.

2011-12-08T05:50:00.000-08:00

http://shortfilmsin.com/video/996/The-Power-of-Words

Can India Overtake China? How FDI is not exactly helping China in the long run and how an FDI resistant India has helped its companies grow

2011-12-08T05:33:00.000-08:00

Author: Yasheng Huang and Tarun Khanna
Publication: Foreign Policy
Date: July-August 2003
URL: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/story.php?storyID=13774

What's the fastest route to economic development? Welcome foreign direct investment (FDI), says China, and most policy experts agree. But a comparison with long-time laggard India suggests that FDI is not the only path to prosperity. Indeed, India's homegrown entrepreneurs may give it a long-term advantage over a China hamstrung by inefficient banks and capital markets.

Walk into any Wal-Mart and you won't be surprised to see the shelves sagging with Chinese-made goods-everything from shoes and garments to toys and electronics. But the ubiquitous "Made in China" label obscures an important point: Few of these products are made by indigenous Chinese companies. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a single homegrown Chinese firm that operates on a global scale and markets its own products abroad.

That is because China's export-led manufacturing boom is largely a creation of foreign direct investment (FDI), which effectively serves as a substitute for domestic entrepreneurship. During the last 20 years, the Chinese economy has taken off, but few local firms have followed, leaving the country's private sector with no world-class companies to rival the big multinationals.

India has not attracted anywhere near the amount of FDI that China has. In part, this disparity reflects the confidence international investors have in China's prospects and their skepticism about India's commitment to free-market reforms. But the FDI gap is also a tale of two diasporas. China has a large and wealthy diaspora that has long been eager to help the motherland, and its money has been warmly received. By contrast, the Indian diaspora was, at least until recently, resented for its success and much less willing to invest back home. New Delhi took a dim view of Indians who had gone abroad, and of foreign investment generally, and instead provided a more nurturing environment for domestic entrepreneurs.

In the process, India has managed to spawn a number of companies that now compete internationally with the best that Europe and the United States have to offer. Moreover, many of these firms are in the most cutting-edge, knowledge-based industries-software giants Infosys and Wipro and pharmaceutical and biotechnology powerhouses Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's Labs, to name just a few. Last year, the Forbes 200, an annual ranking of the world's best small companies, included 13 Indian firms but just four from mainland China.

India has also developed much stronger infrastructure to support private enterprise. Its capital markets operate with greater efficiency and transparency than do China's. Its legal system, while not without substantial flaws, is considerably more advanced.

China and India are the world's next major powers. They also offer competing models of development. It has long been an article of faith that China is on the faster track, and the economic data bear this out. The "Hindu rate of growth"-a pejorative phrase referring to India's inability to match its economic growth with its population growth-may be a thing of the past, but when it comes to gross domestic product (GDP) figures and other headline numbers, India is still no match for China.

However, the statistics tell only part of the story-the macroeconomic story. At the micro level, things look quite different. There, India displays every bit as much dynamism as China. Indeed, by relying primarily on organic growth, India is making fuller use of its resources and has chosen a path that may well deliver more sustainable progress than China's FDI-driven approach. "Can India surpass China?" is no longer a silly question, and, if it turns out that India has indeed made the wiser bet, the implications-for China's future growth and for how policy experts think about economic development generally-could be enormous.

THE STIFLING STATE
The fact that India is increasingly building from the ground up while China is still pursuing a top-down approach reflects their contrasting political systems: India is a democracy, and China is not. But the different strategies are also a function of history. China's Communist Party came to power in 1949 intent on eradicating private ownership, which it quickly did. Although the country is now in its third decade of free-market reforms, it continues to struggle with the legacy of that period-witness the controversy surrounding the recent decision to officially allow capitalists to join the Communist Party.

India, on the other hand, developed a softer brand of socialism, Fabian socialism, which aimed not to destroy capitalism but merely to mitigate the social ills it caused. It was considered essential that the public sector occupy the economy's "commanding heights," to use a phrase coined by Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin but popularized by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. However, that did not prevent entrepreneurship from flourishing where the long arm of the state could not reach.

COMPETING GIANTS
Population (2002): China 1.28 billion; India 1.05 billion
Population Growth Rate percent (2002): China 0.87; India 1.51
Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births (2002): China 27; India 61
Average Annual Real GDP Growth Rate percent (1990-2000): China 9.6 : India 5.5
Foreign Direct Investment (2001): China $44.2 billion; India $3.4 billion
Population in Poverty (2002): China 10 percent; India 25 percent
Labor Force (1999): China 706 million; India 406 million
Fixed Lines and Mobile Phones per 1,000 people (2001): China 247.7; India 43.8
Size of Diaspora: China 55 million; India 20 million

Sources: CIA World Factbook 2002; The Economist Pocket World in Figures; World Development Indicators CD-ROM; Financial Times
Developments at the microeconomic level in China reflect these historical and ideological differences. China has been far bolder with external reforms but has imposed substantial legal and regulatory constraints on indigenous, private firms. In fact, only four years ago, domestic companies were finally granted the same constitutional protections that foreign businesses have enjoyed since the early 1980s. As of the late 1990s, according to the International Finance Corporation, more than two dozen industries, including some of the most important and lucrative sectors of the economy-banking, telecommunications, highways, and railroads-were still off-limits to private local companies.

These restrictions were designed not to keep Chinese entrepreneurs from competing with foreigners but to prevent private domestic businesses from challenging China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Some progress has been made in reforming the bloated, inefficient SOEs during the last 20 years, but Beijing is still not willing to relinquish its control over the largest ones, such as China Telecom.

Instead, the government has ferociously protected them from competition. In the 1990s, numerous Chinese entrepreneurs tried, and failed, to circumvent the restrictions placed on their activities. Some registered their firms as nominal SOEs (all the capital came from private sources, and the companies were privately managed), only to find themselves ensnared in title disputes when financially strapped government agencies sought to seize their assets. More than a few promising businesses have been destroyed this way.

This bias against homegrown firms is widely acknowledged. A report issued in 2000 by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences concluded that, "Because of long-standing prejudices and mistaken beliefs, private and individual enterprises have a lower political status and are discriminated against in numerous policies and regulations. The legal, policy, and market environment is unfair and inconsistent."

Foreign investors have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the constraints placed on local private businesses. One indication of the large payoff they have reaped on the back of China's phenomenal growth: In 1992, the income accruing to foreign investors with equity stakes in Chinese firms was only $5.3 billion; today it totals more than $22 billion. (This money does not necessarily leave the country; it is often reinvested in China.)
THE MOGUL IS HERO

For democratic, postcolonial India, allowing foreign investors huge profits at the expense of indigenous firms is simply unfeasible. Recall, for instance, the controversy that erupted a decade ago when the Enron Corporation made a deal with the state of Maharashtra to build a $2.9 billion power plant there. The project proceeded, but only after several years of acrimonious debate over foreign investment and its role in India's development.

While China has created obstacles for its entrepreneurs, India has been making life easier for local businesses. During the last decade, New Delhi has backed away from micromanaging the economy. True, privatization is proceeding at a glacial pace, but the government has ceded its monopoly over long-distance phone service; some tariffs have been cut; bureaucracy has been trimmed a bit; and a number of industries have been opened to private investment, including investment from abroad.

As a consequence, entrepreneurship and free enterprise are flourishing. A measure of the progress: In a recent survey of leading Asian companies by the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), India registered a higher average score than any other country in the region, including China (the survey polled over 2,500 executives and professionals in a dozen countries; respondents were asked to rate companies on a scale of one to seven for overall leadership performance). Indeed, only two Chinese firms had scores high enough to qualify for India's top 10 list. Tellingly, all of the Indian firms were wholly private initiatives, while most of the Chinese companies had significant state involvement.

Some of the leading Indian firms are true start-ups, notably Infosys, which topped FEER's survey. Others are offshoots of old-line companies. Sundaram Motors, for instance, a leading manufacturer of automotive components and a principal supplier to General Motors, is part of the T.V. Sundaram group, a century-old south Indian business group.

Not only is entrepreneurship thriving in India; entrepreneurs there have become folk heroes. Nehru would surely be appalled at the adulation the Indian public now showers on captains of industry. For instance, Narayana Murthy, the 56-year-old founder of Infosys, is often compared to Microsoft's Bill Gates and has become a revered figure.

These success stories never would have happened if India lacked the infrastructure needed to support Murthy and other would-be moguls. But democracy, a tradition of entrepreneurship, and a decent legal system have given India the underpinnings necessary for free enterprise to flourish. Although India's courts are notoriously inefficient, they at least comprise a functioning independent judiciary. Property rights are not fully secure, but the protection of private ownership is certainly far stronger than in China. The rule of law, a legacy of British rule, generally prevails.

These traditions and institutions have proved an excellent springboard for the emergence and evolution of India's capital markets. Distortions are still commonplace, but the stock and bond markets generally allow firms with solid prospects and reputations to obtain the capital they need to grow. In a World Bank study published last year, only 52 percent of the Indian firms surveyed reported problems obtaining capital, versus 80 percent of the Chinese companies polled. As a result, the Indian firms relied much less on internally generated finances: Only 27 percent of their funding came through operating profits, versus 57 percent for the Chinese firms.

Corporate governance has improved dramatically, thanks in no small part to Murthy, who has made Infosys a paragon of honest accounting and an example for other firms. In a survey of 25 emerging market economies conducted in 2000 by Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia, India ranked sixth in corporate governance, China 19th. The advent of an investor class, coupled with the fact that capital providers, such as development banks, are themselves increasingly subject to market forces, has only bolstered the efficiency and credibility of India's markets. Apart from providing the regulatory framework, the Indian government has taken a back seat to the private sector.

In China, by contrast, bureaucrats remain the gatekeepers, tightly controlling capital allocation and severely restricting the ability of private companies to obtain stock market listings and access the money they need to grow. Indeed, Beijing has used the financial markets mainly as a way of keeping the soes afloat. These policies have produced enormous distortions while preventing China's markets from gaining depth and maturity. (It is widely claimed that China's stock markets have a total capitalization in excess of $400 billion, but factoring out non-tradeable shares owned by the government or by government-owned companies reduces the valuation to just around $150 billion.) Compounding the problem are poor corporate governance and the absence of an independent judiciary.

DOLLARS AND DIASPORAS
If India has so clearly surpassed China at the grass-roots level, why isn't India's superiority reflected in the numbers? Why is the gap in GDP and other benchmarks still so wide? It is worth recalling that India's economic reforms only began in earnest in 1991, more than a decade after China began liberalizing. In addition to the late start, India has had to make do with a national savings rate half that of China's and 90 percent less FDI. Moreover, India is a sprawling, messy democracy riven by ethnic and religious tensions, and it has also had a longstanding, volatile dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. China, on the other hand, has enjoyed two decades of relative tranquility; apart from Tiananmen Square, it has been able to focus almost exclusively on economic development.

That India's annual growth rate is only around 20 percent lower than China's is, then, a remarkable achievement. And, of course, whether the data for China are accurate is an open question. The speed with which India is catching up is due to its own efficient deployment of capital and China's inefficiency, symbolized by all the money that has been frittered away on SOEs. And China's misallocation of resources is likely to become a big drag on the economy in the years ahead.

In the early 1990s, when China was registering double-digit growth rates, Beijing invested massively in the state sector. Most of the investments were not commercially viable, leaving the banking sector with a huge number of nonperforming loans-possibly totaling as much as 50 percent of bank assets. At some point, the capitalization costs of these loans will have to be absorbed, either through write-downs (which means depositors bear the cost) or recapitalization of the banks by the government, which diverts money from other, more productive uses. This could well limit China's future growth trajectory.

India's banks may not be models of financial probity, but they have not made mistakes on nearly the same scale. According to a recent study by the management consulting firm Ernst & Young, about 15 percent of banking assets in India were nonperforming as of 2001. India's economy is thus anchored on more solid footing.

The real issue, of course, isn't where China and India are today but where they will be tomorrow. The answer will be determined in large measure by how well both countries utilize their resources, and on this score, India is doing a superior job. Is it pursuing a better road to development than China? We won't know the answer for many years. However, some evidence indicates that India's ground-up approach may indeed be wiser-and the evidence, ironically, comes from within China itself.

Consider the contrasting strategies of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, two coastal provinces that were at similar levels of economic development when China's reforms began. Jiangsu has relied largely on FDI to fuel its growth. Zhejiang, by contrast, has placed heavier emphasis on indigenous entrepreneurs and organic development. During the last two decades, Zhejiang's economy has grown at an annual rate of about 1 percent faster than Jiangsu's. Twenty years ago, Zhejiang was the poorer of the two provinces; now it is unquestionably more prosperous. India may soon have the best of both worlds: It looks poised to reap significantly more FDI in the coming years than it has attracted to date. After decades of keeping the Indian diaspora at arm's length, New Delhi is now embracing it. In some circles, it used to be jokingly said that nri, an acronym applied to members of the diaspora, stood for "not required Indians." Now, the term is back to meaning just "nonresident Indian." The change in attitude was officially signaled earlier this year when the government held a conference on the diaspora that a number of prominent nris attended.

China's success in attracting FDI is partly a historical accident-it has a wealthy diaspora. During the 1990s, more than half of China's FDI came from overseas Chinese sources. The money appears to have had at least one unintended consequence: The billions of dollars that came from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan may have inadvertently helped Beijing postpone politically difficult internal reforms. For instance, because foreign investors were acquiring assets from loss-making soes, the government was able to drag its feet on privatization.

Until now, the Indian diaspora has accounted for less than 10 percent of the foreign money flowing to India. With the welcome mat now laid out, direct investment from nonresident Indians is likely to increase. And while the Indian diaspora may not be able to match the Chinese diaspora as "hard" capital goes, Indians abroad have substantially more intellectual capital to contribute, which could prove even more valuable.

The Indian diaspora has famously distinguished itself in knowledge-based industries, nowhere more so than in Silicon Valley. Now, India's brightening prospects, as well as the changing attitude vis-à-vis those who have gone abroad, are luring many nonresident Indian engineers and scientists home and are enticing many expatriate business people to open their wallets. With the help of its diaspora, China has won the race to be the world's factory. With the help of its diaspora, India could become the world's technology lab.

China and India have pursued radically different development strategies. India is not outperforming China overall, but it is doing better in certain key areas. That success may enable it to catch up with and perhaps even overtake China. Should that prove to be the case, it will not only demonstrate the importance of homegrown entrepreneurship to long-term economic development; it will also show the limits of the FDI-dependent approach China is pursuing.

Yasheng Huang is an associate professor at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tarun Khanna is a professor at Harvard Business School.

Dev Anand, The Star who became the Sun

2011-12-06T23:40:00.000-08:00

rediffNEWS.com

December 05, 2011

Dev Anand kept the flame of hope alive.

Tarun Vijay salutes the Hero for All Times and a great Indian who united people across faith and boundaries.

Please post Your Tributes to Devsaab here.

In a world where money reigns through facades, Dev Anand was the original warmth that won hearts. He was a favourite of people across borders, those who belonged to the Indus, on this side of the Line of Control and on the other side. He dazzled both with entertainment enveloped in love.

His biggest contribution was to keep the flame of hope alive. You stay young till your dreams are young.

He was my all time favourite, like he was to millions across the globe, crossing all boundaries of faith and differences. He had a great number of fans -- from Mumbai to Karachi, from Lahore to Kathmandu.

I would watch his movies -- any movie -- with a blind faith and often bunked classes to meet the challenge of 'watching the first day first show.'

Whether the story was good or bad, whether the supporting actors and actresses lived their role well or not, it hardly mattered. Devsaab's movie had to be watched, at any cost. He was our hero for all times.

We never celebrated his birthday. He was omnipresent. He was always celebrated. There was no special day marked for it. Every day, whenever we could, we could discuss him, his movies, his songs, his music, the immortalGuide, the inimitable S D Burman's magical contribution and his endless new ideas.

He embodied an era and mesmerised his fans. Always searching for new talents, new faces, new stories and a new generation of fans. His style became iconic. Millions would like to speak, dress and walk like him.

He boarded the bus for peace to Lahore, Pakistan (in February 1999). Atal Bihari Vajpayee was his great admirer. Atalji wanted Devsaab to accompany him to Lahore, to which he readily agreed. He was a Lahorian in a sense that he studied there and did his post graduation in English literature from the famous Government College.

Rajesh Shah, my friend and steel magnate who accompanied him, told me Devsaab kept everyone on the bus engaged with his endless anecdotes about Lahore and Pakistan.

At Wagah, while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief met Atalji with an affectionate hug, a special request was reserved for Devsaab. Nawaz Sharief requested a picture with Devsaab, and posed to look 'alright' with Dev Anand.

Later, in Lahore, when Atalji was accorded a welcome, it was there that Devsaab murmured in my ear, 'Who is that man in military uniform? He didn't salute Atalji.' We were busy watching the historic event and missed what caught his eye.

Later it was revealed that Pervez Musharraf had refused to salute Prime Minister Vajpayee. Something that was avenged by our Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis when Musharraf came to India as president and the chief of the joint services refused to salute him.

Devsaab was accorded a hero's welcome at the Government College, Lahore. Young boys and girls mingled with Devsaab's old fans with the entire college staff standing in line to see and greet their alumnus.

Dev Anand, with moist eyes, thanked them all, moved by the emotional welcome.

'Where is the boundary?' he asked. 'Where is the animosity?' And the crowd went mad with 'We love you Devsaab' chants.

He always spoke to his young fans with utmost respect and elevated them with his profound love. In Lahore, he said to me, 'Tarunsaab, we are just one people and one land, but we are one heart that throbs across the lines. The Jhelum, the Indus unites us all. It's the bloody army that doesn't want the Pakistani people to be friendly with us. Beware of those men in uniform in 'Pindi.'

History proved that he was right.

He was a Braveheart. He didn't care for the government's revengeful attitude and fought the Emergency, formed filmmakers and actors fronts against the draconian regime and the gagging of the press. He was warned about the negative consequence on his profession for actively participating in a 'political movement' to which he retorted, 'What politics? This is to save India.'

His autobiography, Romancing with Life, released by Dr Manmohan Singh shows him as a person who was romancing life. He lived a full, satisfying and bindaas life. He didn't complain, never used strong words against his worst adversaries or critics.

As a great Indian, he showed the Indian heart that unites all, binds all, and warms up humane chords with limitless love across boundaries.

He was essentially a Star, in every sense of the term, who rose so high and dazzled the people of Indus that he became a Sun of the celluloid world.

Tarun Vijay is a Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party .

Please post Your Tributes to Devsaab here.

Tarun Vijay

Press invitation- a unique Pedal Yatri event of the cyclists to promote cycling at Vice Presidents' House, 5th December, 11 am.

2011-12-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

Press Invitation

Mr. Tarun Vijay, MP and Pedal Yatris, a cyclists' group, Gurgaon, (led by Mr Rajesh Kalra, Editor in Chief, The Times Internet ) invites you to Vice President's House, on 5th December, Monday, at 11 am, to kindly cover a unique event to promote cycling, as it has now become an urgent need to meet the key challenges faced by people living in Urban India- Hon'ble Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari, supports the idea. We shall also request the Vice President, who is also the Chairman, Rajya Sabha to kindly consider having a cycle stand for the MPs who would like to arrive in Parliament on cycles, the vehicle of the aam aadmi..

For passes we would need the names of the media persons covering the programme

immediately on email please.

While the Urban India has seen tremendous growth and development over last decade, the development has also brought 4 significant challenges namely Traffic Congestion, Life Style Diseases, Pollution and Daily Commuting Challenges for the majority of population living in Urban India. These challenges are only expected to multiply with time unless proper steps taken on an urgent basis.

Developed world has seen these challenges and many cities like New York, Amsterdam, London have now taken steps to promote Non-Motorized transportation (NMT) with special emphasis to promote Cycling as a mean to overcome these issues. The steps include creating cycle parking, cycle lanes, removing car infrastructure and making way for cycle infrastructure, promoting cycle sharing programs, integrating cycle sharing programs as a part of multi-modal transportation system etc. These efforts have resulted into measurable impact and as a testimony of success Hangzhou, China now boasts of 60,000 cycles cycle sharing program while Barclays Bank has sponsored cycle sharing program for the city of London at an investment of GBP $25 MM. In fact planning for cycle infrastructure is now an essential part of city planning in these developed countries.

In India, few social entrepreneurs have tried promoting cycling through creating cyclists groups like “Pedal Yatri”, through cycling advocacy organizations like “India Cycle Service” and through launching cycle sharing services in cities like Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Mumbai over last few years. However, in absence of political willingness at the local governing bodies level, these efforts have seen very limited success so far. We have also found out, through focus groups and market research, that big majority of daily commuters are willing to shift to cycling provided there is cycle infrastructure. Therefore, we appeal to The Vice President of India to encourage cycling in Urban India and one way is to set up city level NMT cells with specific targets to promote cycling.

>>Any information/clarification, pl feel free to contact Mr Tarun Vijay at 9711254888<<

Tarun Vijay
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs
National Spokesperson, BJP
Hon. Director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation
(A centre for civilisational values and policy research)
11, Ashok Road,New Delhi
Telefax-011-23382569,23005714.email-tarunvijay2@yahoo.com. tarun.vijay@sansad.nic.in
website-tarunvijay.org, blog-tarun-vijay.blogspot.com

Hindus in Pakistan: The nowhere people

2011-11-29T01:59:00.000-08:00

rediffNEWS.com

November 29, 2011

Tarun Vijay visits a tent camp in New Delhi where Hindu refugees from Pakistan try and start a new life.

Pakistan doesn't send just terrorists like Ajmal Kasab. They send Hindus too -- forcing them to flee if they want to save their honour and their lives.

The common Hindu is a mute spectator to the changing times and the Abbotabad, Haqqani and ISI phenomenon.

He cannot comment on the political situation of his country. He cannot vote as freely as a common Muslim Pakistani. He is constitutionally directed to vote only for the Hindu candidates in their designated constituencies.

A country that might have taken birth in 1947, but the land belonged to his ancestors for centuries. He is as much the owner of the land of the 'pure' as any other religionist. But while the 'other' religionist is free to vote and shout for his rights and participate in the mainstream activities, he for just being a Hindu is asked to live in a cocoon.

Hindu women do not display the bindi or mangalsutra out of fear. Most of the Hindu temples (except a few I saw in Karachi) have posters and calendars in place of stone images of gods and goddesses. Their kids have to learn, compulsorily Islamiyat in schools.

Even in areas like Sindh and Hyderabad, where Hindu concentration is comparatively larger, no school is allowed for minorities to teach their children their religious books and cultural values. They have to do it silently in their homes.

Hindu priests too wear half skullcaps to look like everybody else around. Identity shouldn't be disclosed, is the first step to survive.

One evening my friend and renowned human rights activist Rajesh Gogna took me to meet some of the Pakistanis who had to leave the land of their ancestors in search of dignity and freedom.

They were in tents and their kids were playing in the dirt. But their faces looked glowing with confidence and assured safety. They were smiling.

Freedom makes even the refugee souls happy.

They are all from Sindh Hyderabad, Pakistan -- 28 families, 151 persons, including women, kids and the old men.

Arjun Das, their more vocal leader says, "We tried for seven years to get visas from the Indian embassy. Every year we returned with denials. It had become an annual ritual for us to travel to Islamabad, as India has no consulate in Karachi. We would wait for hours and days outside the Indian High Commission for our turn to come. And then they would say -- visa nahin milega (you won't get a visa)."

"This year, fortunately we got the visa and silently came out of Sindh, Hyderabad. We too the train to Lahore and then to the Attari border by bus. We had visa permission to visit Delhi and Hardwar, so reached here in the ashram of our Guru Baba Ghunni Das Maharaj."

Lacchmi is in her early seventies. She was playing with her grandson and said, when I asked why she chose to come to India, she said: "We have had a life full of misery and ghulami. I didn't want that for my grandchildren. They must get a chance to live as Hindus and study. It's nothing but Islamiyat teachings in schools and the entire atmosphere pushed our kids either to convert to Islam or live a rotten life worse than animals."

I met Jeevan, a 14-year-old boy. He says, "I was stopped from wearing a hanuman locket by my teachers in school. They taught Islamiyat and teased me for having a tuft. They would always use sarcastic words to belittle me before my friends, for no reason."

Abusing and cracking jokes on Hindus is a common practice. Even in their movies and plays, often Hindus are shown as lecherous, ready to do any dirty thing for money, and as spineless banias.

Sobha Ram, 65, says, "If you have money, you may survive by giving donations to Islamic organisations. But what do we have? Our honour is always at stake. We can't go to the higher authorities. We don't have any resources. We work in the farms of Muslim landlords and make a small living. But our daughters and sisters are always victims of the lust of landlords. They are forcibly converted, nikahs are solemnised without our consent and then there is nothing but darkness for us."

"Even in death they humiliate us," says Sobha Ram, "often they don't allow us to cremate our dead. Our cremation grounds are encroached upon and they tell us to bury our dead as the cremations leave a 'bad odour' that they dislike."

So far Gogna's Human Rights Defence India organisation has helped these hapless refugees from Pakistan.

Some other organisations are also chipping in.

They too are trying to make a living by selling mobile phone covers and small toys in the Old Delhi area.

They want citizenship, a place to live and start a new life.

Do we have time and a political will to hear their woes and help? Certainly there are well meaning Pakistanis, columnists and human rights activists in Islamabad and Karachi, who feel for them, write for their rights and take up their cause in Islamabad, braving the Talibnanised atmosphere.

Hats off to their efforts.

But they can just write and have such incidents mentioned. The help at ground level demands state government's intervention and a political will in Islamabad.

Tarun Vijay is a Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Times of India--- Malaysian MPs seek BJP's help against discrimination

2011-11-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

IANS | Nov 28, 2011, 10.03PM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10909170.cms

Picture shows (above) Shri Shri Shrigopal Vyas, Hon'ble MP, Rajya Sabha and Shri Tarun Vijay welcoming the distinguished MPS from Malaysia Hon'ble M Manogaran and S Ramakrishnan.

NEW DELHI: MPs from Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party Monday urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to raise issues of "discrimination" against Malayasian Hindus in their bilateral meetings with the authorities of their country.
MPs M Manogaran and S Ramakrishnan said they had a cultural and civilisational bond with India and want it to provide "leadership on issues concerning human rights".

Talking to reporters at the residence of BJP MP Tarun Vijay, the two MPs said there had been incidents of attacks on Hindu groups but their complaints had not been addressed.

The MPs, who have met BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, are also intending to meet senior party leader L.K. Advani.
They said they did not want India to interfere in their country's domestic affairs and were not seeking any physical help.

Vijay said the MPs wanted to make people in India "aware about the discriminatory policies against the Malaysian Hindus".
He said BJP hoped the government will take up their concerns as India is a signatory to universal declaration on human rights.

अधिनियम का आधार

2011-11-28T02:01:00.000-08:00

27/November/2011

जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

The Wal-Mart You Don't Know

2011-11-25T10:30:00.001-08:00

BY: CHARLES FISHMAN

The giant retailer's low prices often come with a high cost. Wal-Mart's relentless pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line?

A gallon-sized jar of whole pickles is something to behold. The jar is the size of a small aquarium. The fat green pickles, floating in swampy juice, look reptilian, their shapes exaggerated by the glass. It weighs 12 pounds, too big to carry with one hand. The gallon jar of pickles is a display of abundance and excess; it is entrancing, and also vaguely unsettling. This is the product that Wal-Mart fell in love with: Vlasic's gallon jar of pickles.

Wal-Mart priced it at $2.97--a year's supply of pickles for less than $3! "They were using it as a 'statement' item," says Pat Hunn, who calls himself the "mad scientist" of Vlasic's gallon jar. "Wal-Mart was putting it before consumers, saying, This represents what Wal-Mart's about. You can buy a stinkin' gallon of pickles for $2.97. And it's the nation's number-one brand."

Therein lies the basic conundrum of doing business with the world's largest retailer. By selling a gallon of kosher dills for less than most grocers sell a quart, Wal-Mart may have provided a ser-vice for its customers. But what did it do for Vlasic? The pickle maker had spent decades convincing customers that they should pay a premium for its brand. Now Wal-Mart was practically giving them away. And the fevered buying spree that resulted distorted every aspect of Vlasic's operations, from farm field to factory to financial statement.

Indeed, as Vlasic discovered, the real story of Wal-Mart, the story that never gets told, is the story of the pressure the biggest retailer relentlessly applies to its suppliers in the name of bringing us "every day low prices." It's the story of what that pressure does to the companies Wal-Mart does business with, to U.S. manufacturing, and to the economy as a whole. That story can be found floating in a gallon jar of pickles at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is not just the world's largest retailer. It's the world's largest company--bigger than ExxonMobil, General Motors, and General Electric. The scale can be hard to absorb. Wal-Mart sold $244.5 billion worth of goods last year. It sells in three months what

number-two retailer Home Depot sells in a year. And in its own category of general merchandise and groceries, Wal-Mart no longer has any real rivals. It does more business than Target, Sears, Kmart, J.C. Penney, Safeway, and Kroger combined. "Clearly," says Edward Fox, head of Southern Methodist University's J.C. Penney Center for Retailing Excellence, "Wal-Mart is more powerful than any retailer has ever been." It is, in fact, so big and so furtively powerful as to have become an entirely different order of corporate being.

Wal-Mart wields its power for just one purpose: to bring the lowest possible prices to its customers. At Wal-Mart, that goal is never reached. The retailer has a clear policy for suppliers: On basic products that don't change, the price Wal-Mart will pay, and will charge shoppers, must drop year after year. But what almost no one outside the world of Wal-Mart and its 21,000 suppliers knows is the high cost of those low prices. Wal-Mart has the power to squeeze profit-killing concessions from vendors. To survive in the face of its pricing demands, makers of everything from bras to bicycles to blue jeans have had to lay off employees and close U.S. plants in favor of outsourcing products from overseas.

Of course, U.S. companies have been moving jobs offshore for decades, long before Wal-Mart was a retailing power. But there is no question that the chain is helping accelerate the loss of American jobs to low-wage countries such as China. Wal-Mart, which in the late 1980s and early 1990s trumpeted its claim to "Buy American," has doubled its imports from China in the past five years alone, buying some $12 billion in merchandise in 2002. That's nearly 10% of all Chinese exports to the United States.

One way to think of Wal-Mart is as a vast pipeline that gives non-U.S. companies direct access to the American market. "One of the things that limits or slows the growth of imports is the cost of establishing connections and networks," says Paul Krugman, the Princeton University economist. "Wal-Mart is so big and so centralized that it can all at once hook Chinese and other suppliers into its digital system. So--wham!--you have a large switch to overseas sourcing in a period quicker than under the old rules of retailing."

Steve Dobbins has been bearing the brunt of that switch. He's president and CEO of Carolina Mills, a 75-year-old North Carolina company that supplies thread, yarn, and textile finishing to apparel makers--half of which supply Wal-Mart. Carolina Mills grew steadily until 2000. But in the past three years, as its customers have gone either overseas or out of business, it has shrunk from 17 factories to 7, and from 2,600 employees to 1,200. Dobbins's customers have begun to face imported clothing sold so cheaply to Wal-Mart that they could not compete even if they paid their workers nothing.

"People ask, 'How can it be bad for things to come into the U.S. cheaply? How can it be bad to have a bargain at Wal-Mart?' Sure, it's held inflation down, and it's great to have bargains," says Dobbins. "But you can't buy anything if you're not employed. We are shopping ourselves out of jobs."

Hazards of FDI in retail by Pankaj Gupta

2011-11-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

The much-awaited go-ahead for FDI in multi-brand retail has raised fears not only of unemployment -- as Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi observed -- but of creation of monopolies in the food sector.

The government has sought to sweeten the deal by restricting the entry of Walmart, Carrefour et al to 37 urban centres with a population of one million or more -- but this is no hardship for the multinationals, as it is unlikely that smaller centres figure in their initial rollout plan in any case.

The rationale for the decision is ostensibly to control food prices, as suggested by the Inter-Ministerial Group, IMG, on inflation. Permitting farm-to-fork retail is seen as a means of containing food inflation. India being apparently too resource-poor to achieve this, the retail sector had to be opened to FDI.

FDI enthusiasts say the entry of Wal-Mart and its ilk will ensure that the producer gets a better price, the consumer gets cheaper products (as the company purchases directly from the farmgate, there is no middleman) and jobs and infrastructure are created.

This rosy picture must be taken with a pinch of salt. To begin with, the FDI proposal was initiated long before food inflation became an issue, so clearly it has been pushed through because of considerations other than rising prices.

Essentially, a vertical integration of the food supply chain is proposed on the assumption that it will have a positive impact on all the stakeholders. The caveat that 50 per cent of investment must be in the rural sector is meaningless; building a supply chain from farmgate to shelf would naturally entail investment in storage and transportation infrastructure in rural areas wherever the supply bases are located.

The primary producers are expected to get better prices. But nowhere in the world have the farmers who supply goods to big retail chains benefitted. It is difficult to understand how they would benefit, when players like Wal-Mart look for the cheapest possible suppliers. To sell cheap, they buy even cheaper. To begin with, they might offer better remuneration, but that would be only until traditional channels like ahratiyas are eliminated and the farmers have no choice but to sell to Big Retail -- at any price. In his book Stuffed & Starved,.

The contention that FDI will create jobs is also open to question, as it is more likely to create large-scale unemployment. The unorganised retail trade in India accounts for over 40 million jobs and 98 per cent of the total trade. This includes pansaaris, kirana shops, hardware stores, convenience stores, weekly haats, paan and tobacco shops, as well as a whole range of teh-bazaari (pavement vendors). It is informal, with credit traditionally extended on trust and based on an intricate web of relationships.

The majority of consumers, who buy essentials from their neighbourhood stores on credit and pay bills on a monthly basis, will also suffer with the disruption of the traditional system.

Hundreds of thousands of people who earn their livelihood from the 12 million existing retail outlets may be put out of business by Big Retail. Some may find employment with Big Retail although this is doubtful given their lack of language skills or education -- the minimum requirement for staff at any sizeable store is a command of English. Even if they did, there would not be enough jobs to go around.

Global retail giants are highly capital intensive and create fewer jobs. A single Wal-Mart store could put tens of thousands of mom and pop stores out of business -- as it did in the US -- while generating perhaps 3,000 jobs.

Traditional retail will struggle with the likes of Wal-Mart and lose, because Big Retail with its deep pockets, would resort to predatory pricing. Nor should we expect ethical practices from multinational players.

In a highly publicised case, the Punjab excise and taxation department raided 'Best Price,' a joint venture between Bharti and Wal-Mart. The company was only licensed for wholesale cash-and-carry trading, in which 100 per cent FDI is allowed. According to press reports, it was found to be carrying out retail trade through the issue of membership cards to those who did not have a valid VAT number.

Drawbacks to allowing FDI in retail were pointed out by the Standing Committee of Parliament in June 2009. In the absence of a level playing field between Indian retail and the MNCs, it suggested comprehensive steps to strengthen the former before opening the gates to FDI. Otherwise, it said, the economy would suffer and widespread unemployment would lead to social unrest.

The third great myth about FDI in retail is that it will improve infrastructure by attracting investment in storage and transportation. Why Indian companies in the retail sector have not invested in the back-end along with the front-end is yet to be explained.

Indian economy was dominated by the services sector, accounting for 58 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and it was not ready for FDI in the retail sector.

1. There will be monopoly of big retails houses and small shops will be squeezed.

2. Farmer will have to supply at the price these retails so demand as a small farmers will have no bargaining power.

3. Threat to food security of the nation.

4. Will kill more than 40 crore jobs.

5. Craving of luxury and unnecessary items will increase causing less inclination for savings.

6. Lower of savings will lead to problems such as faced by west.

7. Chinese model is not best suited to india because they are manufacturing economy while we are a service base economy.

8. No guarantee that best practices will be followed by large retail houses.

9. Lots of dotcoms will have to close shop since Amazon and others will kill such marginal players.

10. Small states will suffer the most in the long run(states such as Uttrakhand).

11. Lead to greater corruption and other unethical practices. as larger players know how to bend the rules in their favor.

12. Well increase social disparity and the middle class which has been the motor of our growth will be substantially hit.

The disadvantages of Big Brand retail shops

2011-11-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

http://expresthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/11/disadvantages-of-big-brand-retail-shops.html

No, I do not intend to make a socialist case here, which is best left to political parties and activists. Here, I intend to spell the disadvantages that big brand retail shops have for me as a consumer. This is in the back-drop of the Indian government approving 51% foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail or hypermarts, as they are known in the west. This will bring in the big guys like Wal-Mart, Carrefour, etc. The benefits are being touted as big for consumers. They will bring in money, their expertise with supply chain management, etc. to sell goods to consumers at the lowest prices.

But for this, they need infrastructure, which the government would have to provide. Large warehouses would necessitate a smooth supply of electricity, well connected roadways to connect the warehouses to manufacturing centres and the stores, etc. This is woefully missing in India, where outside big cities, a minimum 6-8 hours of load-shedding is considered normal. The success of such retail firms relies big time on the availability of such first class infrastructure. But, whether they succeed or not, they have many disadvantages for consumers.

We may not realise this, but in the quest for selling things at cheaper rates to us, these retail outlets rely more on volumes of business, compared to per unit margins. So, the brand that sells most is the one they will stock. Of course, there are a number of subtle tricks they use to entice us into buying certain brands or products, but then, that is a completely different topic. So, if you like a particular brand and fragrance of incense sticks, you might not find it in the supermarket, because they do not get good volumes on it. And you are stuck to buying from the ones available in the store. So, you tend to lose your favourite brands, if they do not fit in the strategy of the supermarket. The small shopkeeper, though, will keep a fairly diverse number of products. Smaller quantities of the less popular ones may be stocked, but nevertheless, you have a fairly high chance of finding your choice there, than the supermarket.

If a certain product is out-of-stock in the supermarket, you have no way of knowing when it will arrive. The mom-and-pop shopkeeper around the corner, will not only give you an idea of when the product will arrive but also keep it aside for you, once it is in. This personalisation of service is out of question for supermarkets! Their business model just does not have this feature.

Thirdly, the supermarkets stock only big sized products. E.g. shampoos in large bottles, toothpastes are available only in 400 gm. size or detergents in min. 1 kg stocks or buy-3-get-4th-free soaps and many more such things. A very huge number of India's people live on frugal income. For them, to spend Rs. 100 (for a shampoo) in one go is extremely difficult. That is why most of India's FMCG manufacturers have come up with small sized packs (sachets for shampoos, detergents, 50 gm. toothpastes, etc.) which cost very less and are affordable to that population. Such small sizes are not stocked by the supermarkets, as the margin is too low and their rate of sale unpredictable to justify the efforts required to stock them. So, (even if you have a high salaried job but) if you live alone, you won't be able to purchase these things. If staying alone, I wouldn't want to buy a pack of 4 soaps and be stuck with them for 6 odd months. I would rather buy a single cake of soap, which would last for well over a month and be free to choose a different soap every time. Plus, I would be left with liquid cash, free to spend it as I like, instead of being tied up in three soap cakes, which would be useful only after a month.

Such mass stocking of products also hampers the variety available and this is especially visible in the clothing sections. They will not stock premium products. E.g., here in Edmonton, people advise to get winter jackets from special shops, not from Walmart, as it doesn't stock those. These supermarkets won't stock out-of-season stuff too. E.g. no chappals or floaters are available in the supermarkets during winter. For that, you have to look out in the footwear shops only.

This is a very simplistic analysis of what would happen to us as consumers, if big supermarkets are allowed to dominate the retail business scene. Most of it is my personal experience. In India, there is a certain social aspect associated with shopping, which will not be available in supermarkets. The shopkeeper and the shop is where the local news is exchanged. Moreover, the personal relation developed with the shopkeeper help us in many other ways. His/her network helps us access various other services. E.g., some of his relative or acquaintance might be running a travel agency, from where we would be able to rent a car. Or contract a plumber's services at discounted rates. These informal channels will not be available with supermarkets. Economic and social analyses tend to indicate contrary views, but as a consumer, will we get all that we want? I have my doubts. We might end up getting what the supermarket wants to sell to us and when they want to sell it. As consumers, if we would like to have wider choices, I think supermarkets should not have a free run in the Indian economy.

FDI in multi-brand retail in India - A blunt body blow

2011-11-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

By Shekar Swamy,

Group CEO, R K SWAMY HANSA and Visiting Faculty, Northwestern University, USA.

The views are personal.

The big boys of global retail must be readying the champagne. The Indian corporate sector with investments in retail is rejoicing at the prospect of the deals they can be doing shortly to shore up their balance sheets. At the time of this writing, the government which has been talking about an ‘inclusive’ agenda for growth is about to deal a body blow to the small traders and the entire retail and distribution chain, by allowing 51% foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail. This will be a huge mistake that the country will pay for over time. For the present, the government can claim that it is on track with its “reforms” agenda and that is all they seemed to be concerned with for now. The manner in which the policy is outlined is itself a dead giveaway that the policy makers are well aware of the pitfalls. They are declaring that this is a policy designed to support big capital and the predatory multinationals in retail. The policy states in action that the government is not concerned about the interests of the small and medium businesses in the millions that will be adversely affected. Let’s look at what has been outlined and what it means.

1. Foreign retailers will have 51% equity interest. This means they can control the Indian operations and consolidate the financials with the parent company. All kinds of transfer pricing will be possible which will not be transparent in India. Investments can be made without accounting for losses in the parents’ books, in the year incurred (it can be classified as investment in the books for a period of time). This opacity is what big companies seek all over the world. They can lose money for years and decades, and call them “investments”.

2. The minimum amount fixed for foreign investment is $100 mn … over Rs 500 crs at today’s exchange rates. By definition, the policy is designed in favour of the big guys. In reality, the big foreign retailers will invest billions to take over a ready market, as they have done in other countries. With global sales in the hundreds of billions of dollars, and with unlimited access to capital, even the sky is not the limit for what they can invest. The small Indian retailer and wholesaler and trader will simply be swept aside by their money power. Just consider this. As they build scale, the foreign retailer can go into any mandi or market and buy up the entire supply of whatever is available there. All those dependent for a living as participants in the supply chain will be rendered jobless. Money power will enable the big foreign retailer to set the price at which they will buy. It will enable them to hold and sell at any price they want. This will be the exact opposite of what is in place today.

3. The foreign retailer can purchase locally all agricultural produce, including fruits and vegetables, pulses, fresh poultry, fishery and meat products, and sell them unbranded in their stores. They can virtually corner the market and trade in these products. If in a local region in India this trade is served by tens of thousands of small people, they will be replaced by giant retailers with money power. What the small trader will do when his livelihood is taken away appears not to be a concern of the government.

4. The policy says that at least 50% of the investment must be in “back-end infrastructure”. What constitutes “back-end infrastructure” is not defined (not seen in the media so far). Perfect, says the foreign retailer. They will have to invest in infrastructure in any case. They will set up their own warehouses. They will have their own fleet of trucks. In India, lakhs of small truckers and owners of LCVs make a living moving agricultural produce. To the extent the big retailers take this over, this avenue of making a living will be closed.

5. The policy recommendation stipulates at least 30% of the procurement of manufactured and processed products should be sourced from “small industry”. Such a concession is made precisely because policymakers are aware that small industry is under threat. What is lost in this is the fact that Indian retail trade sources far more than 30% currently from small industry. So this is no concession. Small industries will suffer a massive loss of access to the consumer and market.

Further such a stipulation cannot be implemented. The game of the big foreign retailer is one of building scale and fixing large sources of supply. How will the small supplier cater to them? How will the government ensure this happens? There is no clarity on this.

6. All compliance is supposed to be through self certification of the foreign retailers. They are supposed to maintain all records. In reality, what is the method to monitor them? So this process of self certification is touchingly naïve. The Indian government that views all Indian businessmen, companies and traders with a huge dose of distrust is quite happy to repose its trust with a bunch of big foreign retailers who are involved in hundreds of litigation issues all over the world. Why this faith in companies whose track record the world over is hardly clean?

7. The policy states that retail locations should be restricted to cities with one million plus population. This is to protect the smaller cities and rural areas from the predatory practices of the foreign retailers. This shows that the policy makers know and understand the implications. They are sacrificing the small retailers in the cities with full knowledge of the consequences.

8. The government is retaining the first right to procure agricultural produce. This is hardly a policy. Such a right exists with or without stating it. It is an admission that things can go wrong, if foreign retailers end up controlling the nation’s food supply chain. This misses the point to a large extent. Even if the government keeps the right to procurement, but if the distribution channels are controlled by foreign entities over time, the nation’s interest is still in jeopardy.

The government is playing with the lives of millions of small people. It is remarkable that a government that talks the language of “inclusive growth” is sacrificing the aam aadmi to support big foreign capital. As the old observation goes, it is not what they say but what they do that reveals the true colours.

Parliamentarians pay floral tributes to Indira

2011-11-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, November 19, 2011

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, opposition leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi today led Parliamentarians in paying floral tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at Parliament House. Besides Mukherjee, Swaraj and Sonia, several Union Ministers and MPs, including Jitin Prasada, RPN Singh and Karan Singh, and BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay paid their tributes.

Vijay said, "We may have differences with Mrs Gandhi but we want to emphasise that we would not bring any party considerations in paying tributes to country's great leaders." A booklet containing the profile of Gandhi brought out in Hindi and English by Lok Sabha Secretariat was also presented to the dignitaries who attended the function.

अलगाव बढाती उपेक्षा

2011-11-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

17/November/2011

डेली न्यूज़
तरुण विजय

It's like Clinton frisked at IGI by CISF. Try doing it once

2011-11-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
14 November 2011

Tarun Vijay

After the Trident Valley humiliation of seeing Indians radio-tracked by the US authorities and a Chinese ‘shut up’ to an Indian journalist on our soil, we see the news about how our most revered icon of scholarship and a hope of new India, former President Abdul Kalam, was frisked at a US airport and even after he had settled down in Air India’s aircraft, his shoes and jacket were taken away by US Transport Security Agency (TSA) agents to be checked.

Air India officials, meek as they are on a gora land, promptly asked Kalam to give his shoes and the jacket.

It's not just a question of a law abiding Kalam, who, perhaps this time too, will issue a statement that nothing insulting has happened and its OK to be following the law of the aliens when on an alien land.

No sir, this should not be accepted as a polite response to a rowdy behaviuor of a state. And the ‘regrets’ of the US transport police too mean nothing.

US knew who Mr Kalam was.

They track everyone who enters their territory and leaves.

And Kalam is not a an ordinary human being. He is greatness personified and a source of inspiration to many millions and besides he represents the state power and the authority bestowed on him by the billion-plus people's democratic government as a former President.

He is a former president of a democracy, which is greater and bigger than the bullying US.

It's not just a lame excuse but an unpardonable lapse, it at all this comes under that category, that the US showed a carelessness to behave properly and give due respect to our former President.

It's like Bill Clinton visiting us and our CISF jawans frisking him, of course, ‘privately’ and then after he has settled down in his Washington bound aircraft, a sub-inspector of the force climbing up the aircraft and asking him to remove his shoes and the jacket, as the CISF jawan at the private frisking cabin forgot to have these valuables checked as per the required procedure.

Try doing this, at least once.

Because we don’t do it, they don’t understand what it means when they cross the limits of decency and a required protocol to those whom they declare as ‘friends and allies’.

The protests by our government, though it must go to their credit that this time they were prompt and got the US apologies too, but sorry, this is not just enough.

Last time too, when the Trident Valley’s Indian students were radio-tracked, our minister issued this statement: "The Union Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna condemns the act of the US government by issuing students with radio trackers as an unacceptable act and it should be removed. The Indian authorities also conveyed to the US authorities that the students among most of which are victims must be treated fairly and reasonably, and the use of the radio trackers should be removed."

But nothing significant change it brought in the US attitude.

We can understand and appreciate its security concerns and often in Indian media and Parliament, the strictness US authorities show to prevent any other repeat of 9/11 is much praised. But that alacrity and alertness is required to be shown to the strangers and common people.

Will they search Nelson Mandela, another former president, like they searched Kalam, if the US wants us to ‘understand’ their security obligations?

No sir, the issue is not of a Kalam or a Mandela. Have power, get honours, is the mantra for a life with your head held high. Have lollypop governance, get your heroes insulted and frisked, is the harsh reality.

मणिपुर से आया मोशांगरुंग

2011-11-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

13/November/2011
जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

Even Google can err-a glaring proof mistake in its headline

2011-11-21T07:48:00.000-08:00

See all 59 sources »

http://news.google.co.in/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn

IBNLive.com

BJP claims flood coordination with Left parties

The Hindu - ‎40 minutes ago‎

The BJP on Monday claimed that there will be floor coordination between the NDA and the Left during the winter session of Parliament, including support to each other's motions on issues like price rise and black money.

मुशर्रफ को युद्ध अपराधी घोषित किया जाए

2011-11-19T05:57:00.000-08:00

Northeast India Conclave 2011 held in Delhi.

2011-11-14T03:12:00.000-08:00

Shri Tarun Vijay chaired a session of the North East Conclave recently . Here are some pictures of that event with its news published in Assam Tribune, Guwahati.

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 – For the first time, a conclave exclusively focusing on the Northeastern region was organised in the National Capital. The conclave was named as Northeast India Conclave 2011, a Press release said.

The conclave was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Water Resource Development Vincent H Pala along with former Director of Intelligence Bureau Ajit Doval.

The conclave started with a condolence prayer for the departed soul of the maestro and balladeer from the North East – Dr Bhupen Hazarika.

The event started with its first interactive session on “Problems of Students Studying in Delhi & Other Cities” which was chaired by Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma along with Commissioner of Delhi Police Brijesh Kumar Gupta, Sr Advocate, Supreme Court Meenakshi Lekhi and TV Media personality of CNN-IBN, Karma Paljor.

The second session on “North East: Policy, Their Efficacy and Need for Reforms was chaired by MP from Sikkim, Prem Das Rai along with former MP of Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju, former MP of Nagaland Asungba Sangtam and Prof (Dr) A Bimol Akoijam, from School of Social Sciences, JNU.

The final session on “North East Tourism & Its Impact on Cultural Heritage was chaired by MP and BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay along with former Tourism Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Tsona Rinpoche and others.

The event was planned by Northeast India Foundation – a non-profit organisation.

Shri Tarun Vijay at the Vichar Manch ( intellectual forum) of Gayatri Pariwar's centenary celebrations.

2011-11-14T02:52:00.000-08:00

Shri Tarun Vijay was the main speaker at the Vichar Manch ( intellectual forum) of Gayatri Pariwar's Centenary celebrations on 7th November 2011.Here are some pics of that event along with a report sent to us by Gayatri Pariwar Organisation. On the left side, seated on the dias are (l to r) renowned writer Shri Rajiv Malhotra, environmentalist Padmashri Anil Joshi and Swami ji

तरूण विजय ने की आचार्यश्री की किताबों का विमोचन

हरिद्वार, 7 नवंबर। राज्य सभा सांसद व जाने-माने पत्रकार तरूण विजय ने आज गायत्री महाकंुभ में चार भाषाओं में अनुवाद की गई श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य की 28 किताबों का विमोचन किया। वे यहां विचार मंच पर आयोजित एक कार्यक्रम में शिरकत करने आए थे। उन्होंने इस मौके पर कहा कि विचार क्रांति के जरिये ही भारत के महान गौरव को दोबारा स्थापित किया जा सकता है।

उन्होंने आगे कहा कि भारत पिछले सौ वर्षों में क्षेत्रफल में आधा रहा गया है जबकि चीन अपने आकार का दोगुना हेा गया है। भारत बिडंबनाओं के दौर से गुजर रहा है, जब यहां भारतीयता और संस्कृति की बात की जाती है तो सेक्यूलरवाद का राग अलापा जाने लगता है। विचारों में सैकड़ों बमों के बराबर ताकत होती है।

आतंकवाद के प्रति चिंता वक्त करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि अंहिसा के सिद्धांत का प्रतिपादन करने वाले देश के पूर्वोत्तर भाग अलगवाद से झुलस रहा है। इन सब चीजों से जूझने के लिए मजूबत राजनैतिक इच्छाशक्ति की आवश्यकता है। आचार्यश्रीे के प्रति श्रद्धांजलि प्रकट करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि आचार्यश्री एक विचार थे, जो पूरे विश्व की सामाजिक व आर्थिक परिस्थितियों को बदलने की शक्ति रखते हैं। गायत्री परिवार विश्व भर में भारतीय संस्कृति को स्थापित करने के लिए अद्वितीय काम कर रहा है। कार्यक्रम में विभिन्न संस्थाओं से आए मनीषीयों ने भी अपने विचार रखते हुए आचार्यश्री को श्रद्धांजलि दी। इस अवसर पर वीरेश्वर उपाध्याय, पर्यावरणविद अनिल जोशी, स्वामी निसर्ग, डाॅ चंद्रशेखर प्राण, आइवी वासावारेड्डी, डाॅ एनएन खन्ना, सांईश्री मोहनलाल, डाॅ एसपी सिंह मौजूद रहे।

Murder of four Hindu doctors- a well presented Pakistani view-BAAGHI: Pakistan fights back in Shikarpur —Marvi Sirmed

2011-11-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

Shikarpur was to the old Sindh what Karachi is today to Pakistan. Having trade links with Central Asia, from Qandahar to Uzbekistan to Moscow, Shikarpur was the gateway of Sindh to the world

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan saw yet another moment of national shame right on the day of Eid-ul-Azha when four Hindus, including three doctors, were brutally killed in broad daylight. Conflicting media messages and false claims about the motive are but an ugly attempt to justify the crime. According to the story given out to the media, the murders took place after a boy from the Hindu community sexually assaulted a girl from the Muslim Bhayo tribe. Bhayo is the third most influential tribes of Shikarpur after the Jatois and Mahars in Chak town of Shikarpur. Hindus make around 6,000 out of the total 40,000 people in Chak town and are the predominant contributors to Sindh’s economy through trade and other professions. In the local politics of the area, the Hindu community has never been as muted as it is now, after the advent of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), working openly through their unmarked offices and representatives since at least a decade.

One was appalled listening to the people of the town about the immunity with which the SSP operates in Shikarpur in cahoots with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F) and with the support of local tribal chiefs and state machinery, especially the police. The accused Bhayo tribe has its members in not only the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (the main accused Babul Khan Bhayo is district head of the PPP), but also in pro-Taliban JUI-F and proscribed militant extremist organisation, the SSP.

According to the details gathered from the local communities, a young girl from Bhayo community went to see her Hindu friend on Diwali night. The girl was seen entering the autaq (sitting area used by males), which was unusual in the local culture. Discovering the boy and the girl together, community elders (Hindus) reportedly beat the boy and sent the girl back to her home. The event triggered the ‘honour’ of the Bhayo tribe. What made things worse was the boy’s religion. The Bhayos felt doubly humiliated.

The Bhayo members of the SSP and the JUI-F started threatening the entire Hindu community since that day. The community requested the police for security after which the police established a small picket near the Hindu neighbourhood. But two hours before the incident, policemen vanished from the scene only to come back half an hour after the ambush. Just when the police pretended to start searching for the culprits, SSP and JUI-F workers gathered around the police station and amid the slogans of Allah-o-Akbar (God is Great) and Jihad Fi Sabilillah (war in the cause of God), they intimidated the police staff and asked to close the case. Resultantly, the FIR could only be registered around 36 hours after the crime. The victims’ family does not agree with the facts described in the state-registered complaint.

Noteworthy is the fact that the victims were not even remotely related to the Hindu boy accused by the Bhayo tribes of being ‘karo’ (accused boy). According to a much-criticised tradition, when an unmarried couple is caught together, they are murdered after the Panchayat is informed. The accused girl (kari) is usually murdered before or with the accused boy (karo). According to the tribal code, karo can only be the one directly involved in the ‘illicit’ relations with the kari. In this case, even the principles of this tradition (unapproved by educated Sindhis), karo-kari (honour killing), were not followed. It is a case of simple and direct targeting of the Hindu community, which remains an endangered one after the religious extremists were installed in the area for running the madrassas.

Madrassa tradition in Shikarpur is almost 40 years old, which is the age of the oldest madrassa here. According to the locals, Pashto speaking Niazis from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjabis from south Punjab were brought in over a decade ago. Totally alien to the local culture and traditions, they tried to impose strict Islamic code, which initially did not work. But after more than a decade, an entire generation has been out of these madrassas in the social life of Shikarpur. When I spoke to over a dozen people from the local Muslim community, I found them extremely opposed to and fearful of the Islamisation being brought to Sindh, which they saw as a part of the larger design of ruining the Sindhi culture.

The fact that the common people still value local pluralistic culture is evident from the fact that over the last few days, people — mainly Muslims — are coming out in the streets every day in almost 500-600 villages and towns of rural Sindh against this incident. It was heartening to know that not only thousands (6,000 according to a conservative estimate by a member of the local Press Club) of Muslims participated in the funeral of their four fellow citizens; hundreds of them have taken upon themselves to ensure the security of the frightened Hindu community. They stay day and night at the entrance of the Hindu neighbourhood. These common people, one Hindu resident of the area said, are not only from the influential Mahar and Jatoi communities but also some Bhayos are seen among them.

When asked how the SSP and JUI-F guys got such an influence in an otherwise sufi and secular culture of this city, the people proudly said that the fact that these extremists need political backing, support of the tribal influentials and police machinery, is enough evidence of their weakness. Had they had a popular support, they would not have needed any of these tactics. A local rights’ activist (Muslim), who is a key organiser of a protest rally today (Monday) at 12 noon in Hyderabad, wanted me to tell the world that Pakistanis would fight extremism till the last drop of their blood.

This is Pakistan! Those in the charge of things must realise that the people of Pakistan are committed to their pluralistic values ingrained in their sufi culture. Any effort to dismantle plural and secular social base would be met with fierce resistance. The ones who believe that we, the ‘liberal fascists’, are few in number and are irrelevant, should see how this battle is being fought by a common citizen in Sindh, original home to a wonderful Hindu community who made Shikarpur mercantile hub of Sindh before the Talpurs came in. Shikarpur was to the old Sindh what Karachi is today to Pakistan. Having trade links with Central Asia, from Qandahar to Uzbekistan to Moscow, Shikarpur was the gateway of Sindh to the world. And in Shikarpur, it was our Hindu trader community that started the system of payments through cheques. Home to poets like Sheikh Ayaz, this city has produced seers and litterateurs alongside professionals of the highest quality. Today Shikarpur is determined to fight extremism more than ever.

It is encouraging to know that Sherry Rehman moved an Adjournment Motion in the National Assembly on this issue that called for immediate action on the case and reactivation of the Commission on Minorities. However, there is something simpler that can be immediately done. Babul Khan Bhayo, the main accused and PPP district president, should be immediately suspended from the party and arrested. An independent inquiry should be commissioned along with completely removing the presence of proscribed organisations working in the area under whatever name. This is the bare minimum that even the most ardent supporters of the PPP would expect from the party and especially from Sherry Rehman to pursue it.

The writer is an Islamabad-based commentator on counterterrorism, social and political issues. She can be reached at marvisirmed@me.com and tweets at http://twitter.com/marvisirmed

Kalam's shoes and jacket were searched even after he had settled in the air craft-MEA protests to US over Kalam frisking-official statement

2011-11-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Security screening of former President Kalam at New York airport

In response to a question on a report in a national daily the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said,

“ Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who is a regular visitor to USA, was to return home on September 29 by an Air India flight from New York. US authorities have explained to us that under existing US regulation, former President Abdul Kalam does not fall into the category of persons exempt from security screening. However, US authorities extended usual courtesies to him at the airport, including escort and private screening.

After former President Kalam had entered the aircraft, US Transport Security Agency (TSA) agents requested Air India staff for President Kalam's jacket and shoes, reportedly as these had not been checked according to the prescribed procedure during the private screening. Air India staff then sought former the consent of former President Kalam, who had by then removed his jacket and shoes and settled in his seat, to hand over the jacket and the shoes to TSA authorities. These personal belongings of former President Kalam were returned shortly thereafter.

MEA had immediately lodged a protest over this incident with the US side. The US Government has promptly written to former President Kalam express its deep regret over the incident and has assured us that it is taking corrective steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future. The two governments are also planning to hold discussions to explore appropriate mechanisms for facilitating airport procedures for dignitaries, in accordance with national regulations."

New Delhi

13 November 2011

Biting the hands that protect Omar and India

2011-11-12T00:42:00.000-08:00

rediffNEWS.com

November 11, 2011

The proposal to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in some parts Kashmir is a ploy by anti-India forces to show that they are still relevant. It is also an insult to the Indian soldier, says Tarun Vijay.

Having kept silent till now, the Indian Army has strongly opposed any dilution in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on these counts. The situation was still fragile and the gains made in the summer of 2011 needed to be built upon.

Unless a similar situation prevailed over the next two summers, it cannot be said that normalcy has returned to the Valley. Lifting the AFSPA from some selected pockets will result in terrorists seeking shelter in such areas and rebuilding their bases. Tactical space once conceded to terrorists, will be extremely difficult to regain.

All lines of communication pass through population centres and have to be kept open at all cost, and therefore the army needs to operate under the AFSPA in these areas.The army garrison/strategic assets are spread over in population centres and de-notification will render them vulnerable to terrorist action and hence require separate security arrangements.The army carries out seamless operations across districts of J&K. Partial revocation of the AFSPA will hinder such seamless operations and hence, was impractical. Even if the situation worsens in areas where the AFSPA has been revoked, politically it is unlikely that the decision can be reversed, or at best it will take months. The experience of Manipur is a pointer in this regard

Hence its clear that the real purpose of Omar Abdullah's demand to remove AFSPA from J&K is to show 'they' can bend Indian the government in New Delhi . The 'remove AFSPA' rhetoric is just an excuse, an alibi to tease and challenge India's state power whom they want to cut to size and tell pro-separatist elements, 'look we have shown who is powerful'.

Its a repeat of the Jawaharlal Nehru-Sheikh Abdullah syndrome of early fifties. Hence the different streams have come together . The separatist mafia led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, National Conference's spokesperson Mustafa Kamal and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and also the Congress, its partner in the state, are speaking in unison, using one language: 'AFSPA must go'

It's like hitting at the Indian Army through a glass door -- using the sham concern for 'peoples' anguish' and wrongly stating the the reduction in terrorist activities justify removal of AFSPA. It's never mentioned that the army already is not manning the day-to-day affairs of the internal security in the state and that they hardly invoke ASFSPA locally.

The J&K Police and Central Reserve Police Force do the internal security job, and in every single instance they too get orders from state government apparatus. Bulk of the army personnel in the valley are deployed on the Line of Control to check infiltration and keep an eye on Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence-trained groups. The armed forces in J&K are doing an excellent job to control Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities, for which policemen are not groomed.

The ground realities in Kashmir valley need a constant vigil and a smooth methodology to get information's on the enemy activities. The AFSPA helps the army take action without taking recourse to a lengthy and lethargic local administrative set up, which is ill equipped and often too afraid to facilitate urgent army action against traitors.

Kashmir is not normal. Having witnessed a brutal ethnic cleansing of the Hindus, the valley is now a virtual Islamic hub of extreme ideologies. There are no cinemas, no theatres, no freedom of expression, and every area of administration is seeing a shrinking of Indian authority with hardly an IAS or IPS officer given charge of a district.

The ultra-Islamisation of the Kashmir valley feeds separatism in every sphere of life. None, not a single politician in the valley ever protests the burning of the tricolour. They never blame Geelani for instigating youngsters to become stone peltors and shout anti-India slogans. Their universities and schools refuse to sing the national anthem. They never appreciate, even remotely, the sacrifices of the armed forces personnel to protect them and in fact ask and get heavy security protection from the same stone peltors they publicly sympathise with.

Still it's a fashionable secularism of the jihadi variety in the valley to blame armed forces at slightest hint for every ill they face. Valley leaders and the administration discriminates against the rest of the two important parts of the state, Jammu and Ladakh.

In this situation, Omar's diatribe against Indian Army is unpardonable. He and his ilk are alive and enjoying the throne because the soldier of Indian Army stands guard on his duty to protect every patriotic Indian. His life is full of harsh challenges and he remains the best symbol of India's pluralistic secular traditions. Politicians in Delhi and Srinagar might have dinner with anti-Indian cowards, taking advantage of India's misused and often abused democracy, yet it is the soldier's toughness that protects the Republic. Whether he wears khaki or olive green, the one that holds the tricolour and does his duty faithfully as Mother India's son and daughter, is publicly humiliated and insulted by corrupt assassins, who take oath holding the Indian Constitution in their hands.

For voters and assertive citizens, the Constitution remains the supreme sacred source of living and enjoying the benefits of a pluralistic democracy that ensures freedom of speech and action as well as defining their duties to the nation. That's what we call Naagrik Dharma -- a citizen's charter of being an Indian.

Omar, by speaking against the hands that protect him and the Indian Kashmiri, has violated the oath for protecting the sovereignty of the nation and to safeguard the honour of the men in uniform.

I have never, and I may repeat, never heard a Kashmiri politician or the faithful secular elite in Delhi uttering a word against the tricolour burners in Srinagar, Kupwara or Baramulla. October 26 was the day often observed by Indian patriotic groups as Accession Day, when the Maharaja Hari Singh had signed a document finally merging Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. The instrument of accession must be read again and again and the day observed in a sacrosanct way by every Indian who still feels the pain of having a separate law and a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir.

But neither in Srinagar nor in Delhi does the vote-blind politician have time to hold a demonstration, meeting or simple small discussion on the future of a real Indian Kashmir in the light of the accession that was effected 64 years ago.

Sometimes it seems India is not so much bruised and ditched by foreigners and unfaithful marauders as by those who form the very core of the so called, patriotic and tricolour-holding stream. They rule. They resolve to take back parts of Kashmir snatched from us by Pakistan. And then they decide all that has to be forgotten and buried in the backyard of the vote bank politics.

They are the faces of a corrupt Delhi sultanate that have backstabbed the cause of Mother India. They are more interested in fighting their own kith and kin than forging a united front against the common foe. For them the first target to be downed is the next-door blood brother and not the tricolour burner in the valley.

They survive on durbar machinations and manipulations, a precipitated hate for the political rival, exhibit the revenge instinct of insects and then just for the sake of a registered obligation, speak of the Indian cause in Kashmir happily making news for the Delhi media.

We tend to forget that Kashmir is not just the land comprising of lakes, rivers and mountains. Kashmir is people also. Those who inhabit it, those who gave the valley a very distinguished and special identity and form an inseparable part of the wholesome idea of India. They are Muslims and Hindus both. Muslims too paid a price for being patriotic Indians as did those proud Kashmiri Hindus who were killed and maimed and raped and forced to flee from Kashmir for the 'crime' of adhering their loyalties to India and her Constitution.

Delhi's patriots and tricolour holders gave a free reign to anti-India propagandists, made special provision to give Kashmir a separate flag and a separate constitutional provision, separate laws and then wished separatism would end there.

Those who died for the complete unity of J&K with the rest of India, like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and the soldiers, were put in a category of xenophobic war mongers, anti-peace, anti-people, hence no one can even dare to put up a proposal to get a grand memorial at Lal Chowk for Indian soldiers who served and laid their lives there.

Try to say this in Srinagar or in New Delhi, and be ready to 'enjoy' the reaction from 'well meaning, reasonable, peace-loving intellectuals, having the full support from the ruling elite'.

When State power adds a glamour and respectability to those who are soft on the separatists demanding either full independence from India or supporting fissiparous tendencies, can we expect the young generation in the valley fed on such anti-India poison to live for the Indian ideal?

Tarun Vijay is a Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party .

APHCC threaten to launch 2nd phase of agitation, Tarun Vijay supported their cause

2011-11-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

Jammu, Nov 9 (PTI) All Party Hindu Coordination Committee (APHCC) today threatened to launch its second phase of agitation if the Jammu and Kashmir government failed to fulfill the six-point charter of demands before November 16. "APHCC held a meet with all of its constituent parties and deliberated upon the next phase of agitation as the government is yet to come out with a proposal of talks," a Committee member and All Party Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandit said here. "We have reminded the government that the deadline of one month is about to expire. If the government fails to honour its commitment made by senior Cabinet Minister R S Chib, the second phase of agitation will be will be resumed after November 16," he said. The six demands include passing of Temples and Shrines Bill in J-K Legislative Assembly, establishment of Shardha Peeth University, initiating dialogue with Pakistan for facilitating pilgrimage to Shardha Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Support was coming in from various quarters, Pandit said, adding that recently BJP MP and party spokesperson Tarun Vijay had supported their cause.

Media Clippings- Shri Tarun Vijay in Haridwar, Dehradun, 09 Nov, 2011

2011-11-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

China's manufacturers' index lowest since Feb 2009, exports to suffer

2011-11-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

Last month's China purchasing managers index (PMI), a barometer of manufacturing activity, hit its lowest point since February 2009, a result blamed on the impact of European austerity moves and slackening consumer demand.
Although October is traditionally a month of slowdown to prepare for post-holiday slump, the PMI hit 50.4 following 49.9 in September, anything above 50 indicates expansion, said a report from London's International Freighting Weekly.
The government's aim to cool an overheating economy are factors contributing to slowdown, resulting in September exports declining to US$169.67 billion from $175.13 billion in July, weak demand, particularly in Europe cut into shipping volumes.
According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index rates US west coast to Europe dropped from $1,381 per TEU at the beginning of the year to $649 per TEU and from $2,031 per FEU to $1,494 end of October.
The forecast for shipping volumes is for continued deterioration following slowdown in global demand, said the Norwegian investment bank RS Platou Markets.

A book on India China relations presented to Advani ji by Tarun Vijay on his Birth Day

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

On the occasion of Shri L.K.Advani ji's 85th birth day, Shri Tarun Vijay presented him a book on India China relations at his residence. He was amongst the firsts to offer his pranams and have a big peace of cake offered by Advani ji.

हरिद्वार में गायत्री परिवार कार्यक्रम के दौरान मारे गये लोगों के प्रति गहरी संवदेना

2011-11-08T06:41:00.001-08:00

हरिद्वार में गायत्री परिवार कार्यक्रम के दौरान मारे गये लोगों के प्रति गहरी संवदेना

नई दिल्ली-08 नवम्बर, 2011
आज दिनांक 08 नवम्बर, 2011 को हरिद्वार में गायत्री परिवार का धार्मिक भव्य कार्यक्रम चल रहा था। देशभर से लाखों लोग इस कार्यक्रम में सहभागी हो रहे थे, उस दौरान मची भगदड़ में हताहत हुए श्रद्धालुओं, विशेषकर महिलाओ की मृत्यु हो गई है। हताहत हुए श्रद्धालुओं के परिवारजनों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करते हुए परमपिता परमात्मा से मैं प्रार्थना करता हूं कि दिवंगत आत्मा को शान्ति मिले ओर स्वजनों को यह आघात सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करे।
दुःख की इस घड़ी में हम गायत्री परिवार के प्रमुख डॉ0 प्रणव पण्डया सहित उनके सभी भक्तजनों के साथ है।
Tarun Vijay

Chinese envoy's behaviour undiplomatic: BJP

2011-11-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 04, 2011

First Published: 20:12 IST(4/11/2011)

In the wake of a spat between the Chinese envoy to India and a journalist, BJP on Friday said the government should take cognisance of such "brazen acts of undiplomatic behaviour" and warn the ambassador officially not to indulge in unfriendly acts in future. BJP insisted that such behaviour was totally unacceptable and insulting to Indian democracy and demanded an "unqualified apology" from the ambassador to the people.

"It would be living in a self-deception if the increasing level of Chinese arrogance is not taken note of and appropriately responded to.... The Chinese should not be allowed to walk away with such brazen acts of undiplomatic behaviour," BJP spokesperson and MP Tarun Vijay said.
The Chinese ambassador to India Zhang Yan had asked an Indian journalist to "shut up" when the latter sought to know how a map of India distributed by a state-owned company was showing Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir as part of China.
"We hope this government will take note of the ambassador's foul mouthing yesterday and warn him officially not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future," Vijay said.
BJP charged that this use of "undiplomatic and undemocratic language" shows Chinese arrogance and intransigence.
"Obviously the Chinese ambassador forgot that he is posted in a vibrant democracy where Tianenmen episodes are not allowed and media is free and not a state-run apparatus taking orders from party bosses who can 'shut up' a journalist," Vijay said.

Comments on the post by readers

Arbinder Singh 17 hours ago
China is certianly asking for trouble with the rest of the world with Pakistan as the only nation on its side. US, Russia, Uk, France and India should get together and put full diplomatic pressure on China to stop deploying nuclear capable missiles against anyone. Most developed nations owe money to Chinese Banks, most of them use Chinese goods for affordability and China has a history of being irresponsible against its own citizens leave alone Citizens of other countries. One approach should be to boycott travelling to China and not allow them to dump their goods at a low cost in the rest of the World - that may jolt its economy and discourage them from producing more nuclear weapons.
Like Reply
Monalisa 17 hours ago
Chinese are basically uncivilized creed. So their ambassador cannot be different. This silly ambassador forgot he was in democratically elected country not in a communist N Korea.
Like Reply
Vvgoalkeeper 18 hours ago
Show Tibet and Pak map as part of India, and tell Chinky ambassador to SHUT UP !!
Like Reply
DGR 18 hours ago
I don't think the Chinese care what BJP says. For that matter it does not matter what the Italian lady and her offsprings say. After todays G20 meeting (China is there) i Cannes France the Chinese President is being honoured, dined and wined as a very important ally of the EU countries. Sarcosy the French President has had private lunch with the Chinese President at France's inviation. China has promised to lend Italy money to tie over their debt burden. With all these facts India is a small animal compared to the big animal called China. Digi knows this as his master the Italian woman has informed him that is why he is not saying a word against China. So India please get over the Chinese complex as it will take you years and years to get to where China is today. Recognise the fact China is rich, big, powerful, united and techncally savy - remember yesterday the Chinese have docked two space stations and this within ten years of their space programme. China behaves like a bully because it knows it can get away with it. India can also become rich, powerful and inovative like China very quickly, but to do this India as to meet the follwoing requirements: unite the country and give a sense of pride to the Indian people not dividing the country by creating new states on ethnic, religious and language basis every 5 years, introduce proper accountable democracy and not a family dynasty as today. Introduce new dynamic young politicians with modern day thinking (NOT RAHUL GANDHI), reduce or eliminate corruptions and briberies in the society with severe punishments to deter all to take and give bribes,improve your infrastructure, introduce marketing economy (not half hearted combined socialist mumbojumbo). Alas all this is wishfull thinking on my part as this will not happen in India.
Like Reply
Anwar Mahmood 19 hours ago
China is going to the very top
The fact now yes no one can stop
Half the world's steel, most the cars
Most electric power, no wars

Energy use in oil and gas
China gains momentum, mass
China's energy use be number one
China will see the brightest sun

Paks say peace to China and all
Stay with China peace, won't fall
China love we all can sing
Paks do that with love as thing

China Pak walk hand in hand
And with that Asia is grand
Asia be in Pak- China sleeves
Each the wise man so believes

It's obvious 18 hours ago in reply to Anwar Mahmood
After US now its China's turn to get its @SS licked by Pak !

Fochandigarh55 20 hours ago
We must relook our stand on Tibet. Let us mobilize support for freedom of Tibet by creating awareness all over the world.
1 person liked this. Like Reply
Omkalia 20 hours ago
I see no comments from Digvijay Singh. Perhaps he has no time from licking boots of Rahul Gandhi.
6 people liked this. Like Reply
RajeevS 21 hours ago
It is time for India to use TIBET bamboo...
1 person liked this. Like Reply

Karthikesan 22 hours ago
WE WANT INDIAN RECOGNITION TO TIBET AND TAIWAN AS AN INDEPENDENT NATIONS.

WE WANT COMPLETE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM TO CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE.
2 people liked this. Like Reply

Guest 22 hours ago
UN report yesterday ashowed Pakistan is more developed than india

First India should co r to level of Pakistan then you can make threats against us

If democracy is so great why do so many Indians cone looking for work in china ????????

Chinese media may be state run but we still have respect not immature journalist shame on such a so called free media

Who owns the Indian media ? The public or the upper class ?
Flag
Like Reply
New_guest 19 hours ago in reply to Guest
Indians looking for work in China? Where in the world are you? I guess you must be in a remote village in paki and the only source of news must be what your mullah says in masjid I suppose....please shut up others wise every one will recognize your stupidity
1 person liked this. Like Reply
Sangos123 23 hours ago
Change the ambassador right now!

BJP wants apology from Chinese ambassador

2011-11-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

By IANS,

New Delhi: Stating that his behaviour was "insulting and unacceptable", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday asked Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan to apologise over wrong map of India and for using "bad street language" against a member of the Indian media fraternity.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said in a statement that the Chinese envoy used "undiplomatic and undemocratic language at a public function, trying to 'shut up' an Indian media person who was raising a very legitimate and valid query" about the brochure of a Chinese company that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said the government should also warn the ambassador "not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future".
"Obviously, Chinese ambassador forgot that he is posted in a vibrant democracy where Tin En Mein (Tiananmen) episodes are not allowed and media is free and not a state run apparatus taking orders from party bosses who can 'shut up' a journalist," Vijay said.
He said while the BJP welcomes friendship and growing bilateral trade with China, it would be living in self deception if "increasing level of Chinese arrogance" is not taken note of and appropriately responded to.
"The Chinese arrogance and intransigence showed its another low yesterday," Vijay said and pointed to incidents of China calling then envoy in Beijing Nirupama Rao in the early hours of the morning to lodge a protest, its statements concerning Arunachal Pradesh, and its stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vijay said behaviour of the Chinese ambassador was totally "unacceptable and insulting" to the democracy of India.
"We demand an unqualified apology from the ambassador to the people of India for presenting a wrong map of India while trying to get trade and economic benefits from us, and (for) using undemocratic and bad street language against a respectable member of Indian media fraternity."
"They want our market but not the heart, it's quite obvious, but they shouldn't be allowed to walk away with such brazen acts of undiplomatic behaviour. We hope this government will take note of the ambassador's foul mouthing yesterday and warn him officially not to indulge in such unfriendly acts in future," he said.
A Chinese company Thursday signed an accord for investing $400 million in Gujarat, but a row erupted when Zhang asked an Indian journalist to "shut up" when questioned about the company's brochure that showed a map of India minus Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
India was prompt to take up the issue, and the Chinese envoy assured that the mistake would be looked into.

A small school for the underprivileged, has nursed big dreams

2011-10-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

On 17th October, I was invited to Diksha school's annual function in Hardwar. Its situated in an area which has a dense populated scheduled caste population, poor and almost on the margins of the so called mainstream of progress. The school has about six hundred students from class one to tenth. The fee is quite low, English is taught specially and the annual result is above average. Moreover, the owners of the school do not run it as a family business, as many of the so called top graded schools do. They are middle class family, and have projects to help poor and underprivileged in the vicinity. More than a quarter of students are unable to give fees and they are exempted from paying any amount. And remember its a private school. The enthusiasm of the little kids, who had gathered in quite a large number with their parents was refreshing and made me too happy to be with them. The parents belonged to middle income and low income strata, and were looking very happy to be seated honourably in a function that connected them with their ward's happiness and progress. I saw a distinct urge on their faces to learn more, earn more and move ahead . The plays, songs and skits that children presented showed their hidden aspirations . Shri Swadesh Pal Kumar, a veteran VHP leader and a dedicated swayamsewak was the guest of honour and a Swami ji , from a local Ashram, who is serving these 'Dalits' selflessly presided over the function. The Chauhans, who run the school were embodiments of simplicity and humility. More than attending a big function with huge gathering, this programme satisfied my soul and brought a sense of real happiness.

Scrap second flag for J&K. Form a Hindu Shrine Board in Valley J&K Accession day observed in New Delhi

2011-10-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

29th October 2011- J&;K Accession day (26th Oct, 1947, when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession merging the J&K state with India ) was observed in the Kushabhau Thakre auditorium in the BJP Central office, New Delhi today. Shri Kidar Nath Sahani, former Governor, Sikkim who had worked relentlessly in J&K and specially in Mirpur area during the traumatic times of Pakistani attack in September 1947 , presided over the function. Shri Tarun Vijay, MP and National Spokesperson, BJP was the Chief guest . Shri O.P.Kohli , former MP and In-charge, BJP Central Office, and Shri Mahendra Pandey, All India In-charge of all BJP Morchas and Cells, were the distinguished guests of honour. A good number of Kashmiri Hindus, residing in New Delhi attended the function. The programme was organised by J&K Sampark Cell, BJP . Shri T.N.Razdan veteran Advocate , Supreme Court and the Convenor of the Sampark Prakoshth, convened the meeting and Shri Rashneek Kher, conducted the programme. Smt Sarala Taploo, wife of the veteran RSS worker in Kashmir Late Shri Tika Lal Taploo, who was murdered by Jihadis, also graced the function.
Shri Tarun Vijay demanded rejection of the second flag for Kashmir , discontinuing the practice of its display along with the national flag Tricolour. He also demanded the formation of a Hindu Shrine Board in the valley to protect the remaining Hindu temples and reconstruct/repair the destroyed temples, which number more than seven hundred. He said that recently Kashmiri pandits under the leadership of Shri Vinod Pandita had sat on hunger strike in Jammu to demand a shrine board for temples. Thousands of acre land belonging to Hindu temples has been encroached upon by dubious people but the state government has not taken any action against the encroachers. Shri K.N. Sahani gave vivid details of the accession and the traumatic incidents following the Pakistani atatck in 1947. Shri OP Kohli raised the questions whether the so called Hindu Muslim unity in the state has been a reality ever and why there were no voices in support of the Hindus by valley Muslims. Shri Mahendra Pande also expressed the anguish of the persecuted minority of the state. Shri TK Razdan praised the grit and principled stand of Maharaja Hari Singh and lamented that history has not done justice to his memory. Maharaja was exiled from the state by Pt Nehru govt. to Bombay, from where he never returned to Kashmir, for the 'crime' of merging J&K with India , he said. He accused Pt Nehru to have played in the hands of Sheikh Abdullah and Lord Mountbatten and thus jeopardizing the J&K state's complete merger with rest of india. Here are some pictures of the occasion.

Indefatigable . Inspiration to keep moving.

2011-10-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

Partying in a land of hunger and terror

2011-10-29T02:23:00.000-07:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
29 October 2011

Tarun Vijay

The affluent people, private entrepreneurs and political looters of the people's wealth who do not have priorities set for their "matribhumi" definitely deserve to be condemned. The day the F1 race inauguration news appeared, P Sainath's report on a quarter million suicides by farmers in this land of great culture, civiliasation and God’s very own areas of divine bliss also got space on front page, thanks to some sensitive editor. The same morning we saw arguments in public domain to keep the Armed Forces Special Powers Act alive in Kashmir to protect the land we belong to -- from terror and enemy’s infiltration.

A nation which is still debating the levels of poverty to be finalized in a sea of people dying of hunger and living a subhuman existence on a twenty to thirty rupees per day diet, where death is cheaper and often welcome in the houses of the hapless, hopeless people, where children die out of negligence and dearth of life-saving medicines in government hospitals, where caste is a deadly weapon in the hands of a minuscule yet powerful "high caste" dominant segment, where stone images are more worshipped and adored than living humans, F1 is enjoyed by an obscenely rich glitterati many of whom justify Maoist violence as a revolutionary method to wipe out the exploiting, anti-poor class and with a confidence betraying a Gaddafi mindset they expect us to enjoy and appreciate F1, Metallica concert and the ultimate bliss of having Lady Gaga descending on our Gurgaon.

I am sure the company and the owners of that money minting group that spent four hundred million American dollars to have the fun of high speed cars zooming past too close to Bhatta Parsaul, will think a hundred times before helping a school of excellence for the poor, land owner farmers of Greater NOIDA or a centre to empower the scheduled caste labourers of Bundelkhand. They must have definitely sent free tickets to the sons and daughters of the ruling elite but at least I won't have the confidence to get an appointment with the visionary spenders of money on F1 to fund the education of tribal children who belong to the areas where fighting Indian armed forces and killing Indians is a matter of daily routine.

That’s us. A nation of rag pickers and rag partygoers.

Not that I am against entertainment or having the honour of organizing big events, specially the high-speed races of the F1 variety. As the reports tell us, the cheapest Grand Stand ticket starts from Rs 6,500, going up to Rs 35,000.

That’s fine till we have people who can afford it. They should not be stopped from spending and having a fun time. Besides Hamilton and Karthikeyan are great sportsmen. Their pictures adorn my son’s room. But do we, as citizens, feel any affinity or a chord running through our lives, that binds us together as one people, one nation? When Deen Dayal Upadhyaya spoke of eradicating poverty and worshipping the poor, he didn’t have hatred for the wealthy but a deep concern for the citizens, who are "our brothers and sisters" and hence we can't party when my blood brother is hungry.

What is this national anthem that we feel proud to sing together, uttering magical words like Jana Gana Mana..? What is this Jana Gana Mana? The inner core of the heart of our people? Most of the affluent class and big bosses of our political system feel equally at ease with any party ruling Delhi. They facilitate their way to the upper echelons of prosperity and good life. That’s their republic. And that defines their worldview.

The craze, artificially being generated through an embedded and enchanted media for F1 and Lady Gaga is a joke on a billion people living under the shadow of a life that still yearns for potable water and dal-roti twice a day under some roof.

Light a diya for soldiers : Tarun Vijay

2011-10-28T21:42:00.001-07:00

Garhwal Post
25th October, 2011

हर घर में सैनिकों के नाम पर जले दीप : तरुण

2011-10-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

हर घर में सैनिकों के नाम पर जले दीप : तरुण

देहरादून (एसएनबी)। उत्तराखंड से राज्य सभा सांसद तथा भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता तरुण विजय ने दीपावली पर उत्तराखंड के सभी लोगों को बधाई देते हुए कहा कि दीवाली पर हर घर में सैनिकों के नाम पर एक दीया जरूर जलाया जाए। उत्तराखंड वीर सैनिकों और वीर माताओं का प्रदेश है। सैनिक सरहद पर रखवाली करते हैं तो हम दीवाली मना पाते हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि वे पिछले दिनों थल सेना अध्यक्ष जनरल वीके सिंह से मिले थे। इनके साथ उन्होंने जन सामान्य में सैनिकों तथा उनके माता-पिता के सम्मान हेतु एक विशेष राष्ट्रीय अभियान पर चर्चा की। जिसमे प्रस्ताव किया गया है कि राज्यों के प्रशासनिक अधिकारी, सैनिकों तथा उनके माता-पिता के मिलने आने पर उन्हें वही सम्मान और प्रोटोकॉल दें, जो वे किसी विधायक या सांसद को देते हैं। इस सुझाव को जनरल वीके सिंह ने बहुत पंसद किया। तरूण विजय ने कहा कि उन्होंने इस बार दीवाली गरीब एवं अनुसूचित जाति और जनजाति के उन बच्चों के साथ मनाने का संकल्प लिया है जो न पटाखे खरीद पाते हैं और न ही मिठाई। उन्होंने उत्तराखण्ड की जनता को दीपावली की बधाई देते हुए उनसे भी अपील की है कि दीवाली के दिन वे अपने आस-पास की गरीब बस्ती में जाकर वहां बच्चों के साथ दो क्षण खुशियां साझा करें तो उनके जीवन में सदैव खुशियों की रोशनी फैली रहेगी।

Tarun Vijay to speak at J&K Accession day Observance programme in BJP Headquarters

2011-10-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

Jammu and Kashmir Sampark Prakoshth, B.J.P

Cordially invites you to a special conference to observe

The Accession Day of Jammu and Kashmir with Bharat

Chief Guest
Shri Tarun Vijay
Hon’ble M.P, Rajya Sabha National Spokesperson, B.J.P and
Hon. Director, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

Veteran distinguished guests of honour

Shri O.P Kohli
Former M.P ,Rajya Sabha and In charge Central Office

Shri Mahendra Pandey
All India Prabhari, B.J.P Morcha & Prakoshth

Presided by
Shri. K.N Sahni
Former Governor, Sikkim

Date and Time—Saturday,29th Oct,2011, 4 p.m.
Venue-Kushabahau Thakrey auditorium
B.J.P Central Office, 11 Ashoka Road,
New Delhi

R.S.V.P
T.N Razdan
National Convener
Jammu and Kashmir Sampark Prakoshth
Contact No- 09891900270

Microsoft's exciting new software is 'named after an inmate in an Indian jail' oh no.

2011-10-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

cid:image001.jpg@01CC94CF.68473520

Putin powers new axis

2011-10-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

Shifting sands and a powered Putin

23 October 2011,
Tarun Vijay

Both Russia and China were cautious in their reaction to Muammar Gaddafi’s humiliating end, yet sounded critical of the US action. Earlier Prime Minister Putin had strongly opposed the UN resolution authorising action in Libya as "flawed", saying it resembles medieval calls for a Crusade. Now, while China showed concern on the growing western interventions in the Arab world, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that Muammar Gaddafi should have been treated as a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Conventions and his life saved.

This was the second instance of near unanimity in their worldview after Russia joined China on October 4 to veto a US-backed United Nations resolution targeted at the crackdown on protests in Syria.

Post Saddam and Osama, what impact Gaddafi’s ‘rat like end’ will have in the Islamic world is yet to be seen but the growing convergence of worldview between Moscow and Beijing is a significant phenomenon India can ill afford to ignore.

Russian Prime Minister Putin’s recent disclosure of his intention to become President next March, having chalked out the longest period in office, created turbulence in the west with media terming it a new beginning of the Stalin era. Interestingly having announced his presidential dreams Prime Minister Putin almost immediately followed it with a China visit, where he was accorded a welcome befitting a head of state. It signified a new global power play disturbing the western perceptions and initiating a fresh review of ties in Indian security echelons.

Putin’s three day China visit, fetched twelve agreements worth $3.5bn icing them with a coveted pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans. "It shows the special relationship with the two countries, as the launches of ballistic missiles are core State secrets rarely disclosed to other countries," Li Daguang, a military expert at China's National Defense University, was quoted as saying by the Global Times' English edition. Putin described the ‘friendship’, as having reached “unprecedented levels of cooperation” in the political sphere and came down heavily on the west, once describing America as ‘parasite’ ( which he later tried to play down with an explanation) and blaming the U.S. and European Union for “political” delays to Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization.

Russian gas export monopoly OAO Gazprom plans to ship Siberian gas from as early as 2015, with total annual deliveries to reach 68 billion cubic meters, more than 60% of China’s 2010 consumption. China surpassed Germany as Russia’s biggest trade partner last year and annual turnover may exceed $70bn in 2011 and reach $200bn in 2020, from $59bn in 2010, Putin declared in Beijing.

The other significant agreement was to establish a commission for their upcoming joint border inspection in a bid to avoid friction on a tricky issue and ordering high-speed Chinese technology that enables a train to run 350 km per hour for Russia's Far East, a line from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk.

Once sworn enemies and almost on the brink of a war, Russia and China began a new chapter in friendship with the signing of ‘good neighbour’ treaty in 2001 heralding unprecedented cooperation in military hardware and trade.

Now Russia is showing keen interest in investing in Pakistan and even supplying some light military equipment. Pakistan President Zardari received a formal invitation to visit Moscow, this May, the first after 1974 to any Pakistani head of state. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had already told his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Dushanbe that Russia was willing to help fund and build the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, to which Moscow was earlier opposed. During Zardari's visit Russia offered technical help and funds for the modernisation and expansion of the Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi, which the Soviet Union built in the 1970s, as well as five other MoUs for the supply of Russian rail tracks, cooperation in the oil and gas sector, power generation, coal mining and agriculture.

It is noteworthy that the Pakistani president had arrived in Russia 10 days after US commandoes killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan where he had enjoyed a safe haven for years. However, Moscow made it clear this fact will not affect relations with Islamabad. “Russia fully recognises and appreciates the substantial contribution made by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the efforts of world community” in countering international terrorism, Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Andrey Budnik said in an article he penned several days after the operation in Abbottabad. “Russia attaches great importance to cooperation with Pakistan in the sphere of Afghan settlement,” Mr. Budnik wrote. He explained that this cooperation was based on a shared understanding that the quest for peace in Afghanistan “must not become the prerogative of solely external players”, an obvious reference to the U.S.

Though India’s official position remains neutral, the spirit of 1971 India Soviet Union Friendship Treaty is fast vapouring off necessitating a new look at it. Many other glitches like inordinate delay in delivering aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, renamed INS Vikramaditya, strategically too important for us, hiccups in getting spare parts and over dependence on Russian military supplies for all the three wings of our forces have already made South Block to diversify defence purchases prudently. Russians have noted it and their diplomats in Delhi don’t hide their uncomfortable feelings through murmurings like-India is fast falling into the US camp.

We must continue to have faith in Russian friendship and welcome Putin’s return as President of the Russian Federation. An old and time tested friendship should not be allowed to wither away under new power equations. Still it will be in our long-term interest not to depend on one country beyond a certain point. Manmohan Singh is serving India’s strategic interests on this front in his own inimitable placid way by encouraging strategic alliances like IBSA, BRICS and focusing more on East Asia.The guiding diplomatic sutra for India-Russian relations should be-respect but diversify.

फिर फिर मिर्चपुर

2011-10-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

16/October/2011
जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

Russia-China Relation Too Strategic to Be Ignored: BJP

2011-10-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

PTI | NEW DELHI | OCT 13, 2011

Cautioning against the Russia-China relationship following President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China, BJP has said it cannot be ignored as it signifies "emerging geopolitical trends".

"It signifies emerging geopolitical trends. In a post-Cold War era, Russia’s increasing cooperation with China and Pakistan is a development that India can’t ignore and its implications on our security must be a matter of concern for us," said BJP spokesman Tarun Vijay.

He said this signifies that new world order sides with powerful nations alone and called for keeping a watch on Russian overtones with India's neighbours while keeping ties with "old and trusted friend" Russia "warm and intact".

"This development is too strategic to be ignored and must make us more cautious and diversify military supply sources," he said.

The guiding principle, he added, should be to "Trust Russia but keep a watch".

He said that "in this background we find UPA government’s attitude completely oblivious of the ground situation. It is in a self-denial mode, paralysed by domestic pressures and survival exercises, failing to strengthen new India-interest-centric positions in foreign affairs."

The BJP leader said from the days of the India-Soviet Friendship Treaty signed in 1971, the global strategic dynamics had changed rapidly and old foes have turned into friends.

Russia and China had recently vetoed a European-drafted UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its bloody crackdown on protesters, he said, adding it was indeed an "extraordinary gesture".

Questioning Anna on RSS is unpatriotic

2011-10-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
13 October 2011

Tarun Vijay

Nehru honoured RSS for its support and Shastri requested for it.

Congress is questioning Anna on RSS as if that’s a sin against the nation.

It seems we are not living in a vibrant democracy but either in a Stalinist regime or in a Saudi despot’s fiefdom. RSS–BJP support to Anna is being projected as the ultimate sin any Indian can commit against the national interest. And misrepresenting RSS Gen. Secy.’s letter to Swayamsewaks-cadres, to work for anti corruption drive and help get back black money stashed in Swiss banks, Anna is sought to be put in a question box-why did you take RSS support? The same secular-Taliban crowd had objected Anna putting up Bharat Mata portraits at Jantar Mantar though they had no shame collaborating with Congress ministers behind the scenes.

Neither does Anna need to have RSS support to survive nor does RSS need to piggyback him for staying afloat in public life. Both are serving the nation in their own way.

But the Congress perhaps has the shortest memory ever diagnosed in a public organization. Just a few decades earlier, their patron guardian belonging to the Gandhi-Nehru family, had honoured the RSS cadre by inviting them to participate in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in full RSS uniform. That was the time when India passed through a 1962 aggression by China and the Nehru government had to arrest more than 250 senior communist leaders on charges of sedition. And the same Nehru government invited RSS cadre to participate in their own uniform in the ’63 Republic Parade as a gesture to honour them for their splendid role in helping the nation and boosting the morale of the soldiers.

Here is an old picture of that occasion- RSS swayamsewaks proudly marching past the Tricolour on Rajpath in their Ganavesh-as the uniform is known in Sangh parlance.

During the 1965 war, the then Congress Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had invited and lauded RSS help in helping maintain public order in Delhi, taking up traffic police assignments and thus relieving policemen to go on war time duties.

Isn’t it too ironical that under the utterly pronounced family rule, the same Congress is trying to question Anna’s wisdom by deliberately asking a wrong question- why did you take RSS support?

Even if, hypothetically assuming, Anna had asked for RSS support to end corruption, would that be construed as a sin and something that Anna shouldn’t have done?

Why?

Is RSS a Pakistan affiliate?

Does it reject the constitution like the Maoists and their anti-national intellectual supporters?

Is RSS against democracy? Or is it a banned Indian terrorist outfit like SIMI or Lashkar or Hizbul or Naxals? Does it work against India and had it designed country’s division in 1947?

The ones who really did it became partners of the government led by Congress.

In 1962-63, Congress under Nehru had put hundreds of Communist leaders behind bars for sedition. Some one needs to use RTI to find out more details on such a historically revealing issue. The same communists became UPA-1’s coalition partners.

In 1947, Indian Union Muslim League, the only party using the word ‘union’, worked to divide the nation.

It became a party discarded by all post Independence obviously for this reason. It was this UPA government led by the Congress that invited Muslim League for the first time in our history to join the council of ministers.

Congress is happy to go soft on Naxals and appoint a convicted pro-Naxal-Maoist person as a key position holder in the Planning Commission. It can also conveniently forget the unanimous and all party resolution on Kashmir passed in 1994 and appoint a group of interlocutors to give divisive suggestions.

But still it has the cheek to question Anna on RSS support.

Why?

Simply because patriotism is a hateful word in Congress lexicon.

Anyone who works against the Indian unity and integrity becomes a natural buddy of the party. Like Arundhati Roy, Batla House gang, Azamgarh Jihadis and Maoist mafia. Have you ever seen a Congress leader sympathizing with Inspector Mohan Lal Sharma, killed in Batla House operation? But they obviously go to the houses of suspected terrorists.

Hence RSS must be an obvious target of the Congress crowd.

A cartel of secular shamanists, love to stand with murderer Jihadis, anti-democracy and constitution burner Naxals, but through a control over media and money, they try to portray a different ideological stream members as sinners and pariahs.

Russia – India: Interests define the policy

2011-10-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

October 12, 2011

Elena Krovvidi

How can Putin’s return to presidency affect Russian-Indian relationship? In anticipation of the results of Russian election Indian analysts debate on the Indian take on a possible political “wind of change” in Russia.

A recent visit of the Indian Defence Minister A.K.Antony to Russia served as a platform for a number of important steps such as the confirmation of the delivery schedule for aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and the lease of the K-152 Nerpa nuclear submarine. These are some of the areas of the long-term plan that envisages military cooperation between Russia and India up to 2020, which is the longest cooperation agreement that India has in this sphere. However, one should see a bigger picture behind the armaments deals. The impending election in Russia and much speculated on Russian current PM Vladimir Putin’s running for President could mean changing the tone of the relationship between the two countries.

Indian journalist and parliamentarian Tarun Vijay suggests that while welcoming the possibility of Putin’s taking the wheel, “building up its independent capabilities” may be beneficial for India. Although there are no grounds to expect the drastic changes in the Russian foreign policy as far as India is concerned still the power balance in the Russia-India-China equation may shift, especially in light of the recent Vladimir Putin’s visit to China and resulting agreements on broadening of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation from traditional industries to high technology industries and signing $7 billion deals.

There have already been changes in Soviet-Indian relationship scenario under Gorbachev when despite remaining committed to friendship the USSR drifted a bit towards China in its foreign policy, and therefore Vijay doesn’t rule out a probability of India’s reconsidering its relationship with Russia and transforming Indian “complete dependence on Moscow” situation into a “healthy strategic partnership”. While there are a sufficient number of factors that bring BRICS countries, and particularly India and Russia, together, for instance Islamist threat or US politics of dominance, still there is motivation to proceed cautiously in this cooperation. The situations such as the Vikramaditya (former Admiral Gorshkov) modernization delay and a resulting increase in costs as well as other situation with spare parts delays from the Russian side may induce the Indians to boost domestic spare parts production for the hardware supplied by the Russians.

But the medal has two sides and despite differences and disagreements, Russia and India still remain all-weather friends especially in view of Russian steady support of India in its conflict with Pakistan and India’s standing by the former USSR and present day Russia in its rivalry with the USA in the space and military industries. But as a popular saying goes, a hedge between keeps friendship green. So may be as it often happens even in the closest relationships there is a need for space and room for development for each of the parties, and it can happily coexist with long-term strategic partnership.

__________________________________________________________________________
rediffNEWS.com

What Putin's return means for India

October 12, 2011

In diplomacy, like in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes. The same principle must be true for India-Russia relations in the coming Putin era, says Tarun Vijay.

Defence Minister A K Antony's significant Russia visit was lost in the domestic political din, yet the message he brought must cheer up India.

It is not just the confirmation of the delivery schedule for the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (formerly, the Admiral Gorshkov). Delhi had been concerned at the delay in its delivery, resulting in the escalation of the cost from $1.5 billion to $2.33 billion.

Antony also discussed the pending lease of the K-152 Nerpa nuclear multi-purpose attack submarine and licensed production and overseas maintenance of Su-30MKI aircraft and T-90S tanks.

India remains the largest buyer of military hardware from Russia.

According to Jyotsna Bakshi at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 'the major weapon systems acquired or contracted from Russia in the last five years include Su-30MKI multi-role fighter aircraft, Il-78 tanker aircraft to be used as platform for Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Mi-17-IV military transport helicopters, R-77 air-to-air missiles, Kilo class/type 877E submarines, frigates, Ka-31 Helix airborne early warning helicopters, aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, MiG-29K, including MiG-29KUB version for use on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, Ka-27PL (Ka-28 version) and Ka-31 helicopters; T-90 tanks, fire control radar, air and sea surveillance radar, combat radar, aircraft radar, anti-tank and anti- ship missiles, etc... The value of projects under the current long-term defence cooperation programme up to 2010 is generally agreed to be around $9 billion to $10 billion.'

The long term defence deals and smoothening the friendship pathway till Vladimir Putin is finally ensconced as Russia's president next year was more important. For us, Putin's return holds greater significance than anything else in bilateral ties.

Putin's ascendancy to the top job might be the longest one, till 2024, if all goes well. It will see at least three Chinese presidents and an equal number of Indian prime ministers. If that occurs, Putin will be the longest-serving ruler at the Kremlin after Josef Stalin.

Antony discussed military and technology cooperation with Russia's Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov as a follow-up to the 10th meeting of the intergovernmental commission held in 2010, which was organised after the 2009 agreement on military cooperation valid till 2020.

Russia is the only country to have such a long-lasting agreement with India on military cooperation.

Remember, 2009 was the first year of the newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev after Putin's eight-year stint. Putin could not continue as president under the then prevailing constitutional provision providing a maximum of two successive presidential terms of four years each.

The 2009 military cooperation agreement was in fact drafted during Putin's regime and signed when Medvedev took over following a mutually agreed arrangement. Medvedev has had the Russian constitution amended, facilitating a six-year period for the president for two successive terms.

The spectre of seeing soon a more forceful Putin, powered with an enhanced two-term mandate of six years each, has terrified the West, which is portraying Russia under Putin-2 becoming more autocratic and militarised.

But in reality it is the fear of losing unchallenged Western, nay American supremacy, in a Putin era that may encourage the Russia-China-India equation overwhelming US interests and power play in this region.

Russia has remained a trustworthy ally of India so far. Though Moscow extracted a heavy price for its friendship, it never ditched New Delhi at any critical time.

It is such a rare phenomenon in the contemporary world scenario of shifting friends and changing goalposts that India too gulped some bitter experiences and remain loyal to the all weather friend.

The United States, possibly due to historical reasons and Jawaharlal Nehru's obsession with Socialist regimes, never proved a reliable democratic ally. Washington found autocratic rulers more comfortable and put its strategic eggs in the basket of India's arch enemy, Pakistan.

Indira Gandhi, as a great nationalist leader, knew this. That was the time when the US-Pakistan military nexus was in full play and Pakistan was also strategically collaborating closely with China, thus putting India on the adverse side of the two big powers, the US and China.

The erstwhile Soviet Union too needed India to contain China and Pakistan, continue its comfort levels of operations in Afghanistan and resist US plans in the region while reaching out to the Third World with our help.

India's position as a genuine non-aligned country helped Moscow no end. Having forged contextual convergence of geo-political strategic interests, the historic Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was signed on August 9, 1971 in New Delhi.
The treaty helped us significantly during the war with Pakistan that winter, when the US sent its Seventh Fleet to the Bay of Bengal to intimidate India and help Pakistan. India-Soviet cooperation went much beyond military ties.

Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the Treaty commits both countries 'to abstain from providing any assistance to any third party that engages in armed conflict with the other' and 'in the event of either party being subjected to an attack or threat thereof to immediately enter into mutual consultations.'

In the post-Soviet era, the Russian Federation remained committed to friendship with India, but small hiccups began to surface.

Delayed supplies of military spare parts, frequent MiG crashes, made South Block rethink its huge military hardware orders. India had ordered 16 MiG-29Ks for $650 million in 2004, intended to fly off the Russian-built aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. A repeat order for $1.5 billion was placed in early 2010 for 29 additional MiG-29Ks.

Post the Cold War, a shift in US policy towards Pakistan, coupled with growing Russian-China cooperation, which heralds an era of bitter conflict and distrust for each other, India too is ready to have a relook at its complete dependence on Moscow.

This position is reinforced with new equations in Russia-China-India cooperation expressed through the coming together of the three major powers on economic platforms like BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO, which was intially resisted by India, possibly fearing American annoyance.

With the imminent US withdrawal from Afghanistan and easing of tensions in the region, India has now sought full membership of SCO, which has been accepted.

Besides Islamist terrorism, which threatens India, Russia and China, the US geo-politics of dominance is a factor that make the three giants work together. But this cooperation must be tested at every level. While cooperation is a good word, India must begin reducing its dependence on Russia and opt for producing indigenously spare parts for military hardware supplied by Russia.

The astounding levels of Russia-China military cooperation must make India cautious. Post the US withdrawal of Afghanistan, Russia also seems keen on improving relations with Pakistan.
In this context, India will be advised to welcome Putin wholeheartedly, yet build its independent capabilities. Putin has a tough guy image; his popularity powers him to take on the West and challenge American positions. Let him do that.

India with its fragmented polity cannot hope to do likewise. Hence, India must not burn its boats with the West, which remains ideologically close, as a democratic, plural, multi-religious and multi-cultural bloc.

SCO and BRICS notwithstanding, our Look East policy must also be reinvigorated and trusted democratic friends like Japan and Korea should not be isolated on our radar of foreign relations.
In diplomacy, like in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes. Only interests guide policy. The same principle must be true for India-Russia relations in the coming Putin era.

Tarun Vijay is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and a national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Tarun Vijay

What kind of a politician is he? He has a heart!

2011-10-11T22:26:00.000-07:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
11 October 2011

Tarun Vijay

Shell-shocked he looked. The European diplomat was trying to understand the deliberations with the help of his Indian friend and finding the programme perplexing, he asked me ‘he is the chief of India’s principal opposition party and this was his book launch, yet, why didn’t he utter a single word about Sonia or Manmohan Singh? He could have attacked them and got headlines. In such a surcharged political atmosphere, Gadkari was speaking about poverty, energy, water conservation and how he had helped promote new schools for village girls in remote areas. Phew! What kind of a politician is Mr Nitin Gadkari?'

Politicians are supposed to speak politics. Attack the opponents and try anything to remain in news. But he did just the opposite.

It was a dream show for any leader. Top stalwarts from various walks of life were on stage.

A book in Hindi containing his speeches on development and other topics like Lata Mangeshkar was to be launched. The hall was packed with ambassadors, political workers, authors and the media. Gadkari could have turned it into a high profile political drama and rhetoric. And none would have complained. It would have been expected as the most obvious show.

But he spoke like a person hesitant to wear glory - I am not an author. I never speak from a prepared text; they are impromptu and more like honestly sharing my experiences. This book is also no different. It’s a collection of my experiences. I am not a scholar or an accomplished author. You can take me as a mediocre small worker, who once pasted BJP posters on Nagpur walls and looked up at Atal ji and Advani ji with so much awe that whenever they visited my city I would not even go close to their car. Worked in the RSS and ABVP. Once in Gadh Chiroli, a poverty-stricken region of Maharashtra known for Naxals, we saw an old woman wearing a scanty cloth like a saree. Her daughter was inside their hut. When I asked, if we could speak to her to know more about local problems, she hesitatingly agreed and went inside. A few moments later the daughter came out. She was wearing the same saree that her mother had worn. This was the level of poverty and the life that pierced my heart and I decided to work for the poor and the deprived.

Gadkari’s words.

He spoke from his heart. Didn’t want to envelope himself in some sham glory or unearned scholarship.

I know Bharat Bala has never made a documentary on any individual, much less on any politician.

That he found Gadkari's work worth making one, a 10 minute eye-opener, that describes beautifully how the scorched land of Vidarbha and the deprived tribals and rural folk were helped with Gadkari's vision and financial wizardry strokes tells volumes about the genuineness of the heart that works magic for the people standing last in the line of progress. This he says is social entrepreneurship.

Saving energy, distributing solar powered lamps and solar fencing in tribal villages to guard their harvest from stray wild animals - a new initiative so far unheard, opening new schools and helping encourage girl child education, helping farmers conserve water and create reservoirs to help end suicides of the land tillers in an area where water shortage remains the single biggest reason for seven thousand farmers deaths. Producing lakhs of tones of ethanol to help curb dependence on imported crude oil, and building infrastructure like Poorti Agrotech to train and turn semi-literate women into successful entrepreneurs.

That’s Gadkari.

This is certainly not a job a politician usually does.

They demand the government do all this. That’s their usual karma.

But is this not the area where politicians must work? Making it their usual Dharma?

Criticize him on hundred counts, if you think you have a point to make, please do so. But this certainly is a different story.

Dehra dun BJP workers meet powers election campaign- Gadkari exhorted perty workers to forget differences and ensure victory

2011-10-10T01:35:00.001-07:00

Pictures showing national leaders - a unified command Tarun Vijay is seen on right with Shri Rajnath Singh ji

Yogi Steve Jobs

2011-10-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
08 October 2011

Tarun Vijay

It's good to die when you are at the top of your accomplishment chart and glory rather than inching towards the end amid a smoke of unfulfilled desires.

Steve, the great Steve Jobs, did the right thing to bid adieu to the world when this planet felt pride to have his products that gave us hope and happiness. He rose from nowhere. His life is a great lighthouse for the common people, failed, dejected, born in the most difficult circumstances, with despair and rejection staring at them.

People with such surroundings often end their lives or become violently unsuccessful, crowding jails and getting abused.

Steve became a hero for us all.

This is a cruel world where blood brothers become back stabbers and jealous comrades await impatiently to kick you on the ass once you trip on a hurdle.

Steve taught us: Remember, you have a very limited time. Death might be waiting too close. Concentrate on what you want to do rather than wasting time on others.

Just recently Delhi’s famous Akshardham Temple invited me to deliver a lecture to an impressive gathering of intellectuals and youth in their fabulously created auditorium. Along with Vivekananda and a number of great souls who had inspired our young generation, I presented the life of Steve Jobs as a great contemporary symbol who changed the way we think and work. To me, Steve was always a self-realized yogi, a spiritual achiever, who controlled destiny through sheer faith in him and good karma.

I strongly feel his Stanford speech ( June 12, 2005 ), where he spoke on death and on his life must form part of our school curriculum.

It’s a speech that, to me, is like a small yet powerful sacred book of freedom and mukti. Like an ‘arrived’ yogi, he speaks about death: "Death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."

And when the world traps you in the ugly machinations of the satanic forces, don’t feel low. Steve says, "Your time is limited; so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Steve gave his best dreams to us. He showed dreams Can be realized.

Son of an unwed mother, adopted by a hesitant couple, never had the right atmosphere to graduate, had to buy food by selling empty coke cans, failed in love, kicked out by the company he founded, Steve earned his place to be the hero of our times.

The company, Apple, named partly after the fruits in the valley orchard, he founded with his friend Woz in a garage when he was barely 20, became a whopping $2billion one, with 4,000 employees by the time he was 29.

And at 30, the Apple board of directors ousted him.

Microsoft, Sun, IBM and a whole lot of jealous unscrupulous corporate world with seamless money flow surrounded him.

His transparent resolution and a will to change the world with the best made everyone else to follow him.

Will it make a difference to know how many millions his products sold? I may be having some old statistics, yet they do turn me speechless. Here are a few lines of information taken from a website- “In January, Apple sold its 250 millionth iPod; Jobs’ self-proclaimed “mobile-devices” company now has 284 retail stores that attracted 50 million visitors in just one quarter alone; its “apps” store offers more than 140,000 software applications for its mobile products (more than 3 billion downloaded in the store’s first 18 months of operation); and Apple revenue makes it a more than $50 billion company. The company’s iPod and iTunes store “changed the way we discover, play and purchase music,”. In February, the company announced that its iTunes store recorded its 10 billionth song download.’

Steve changed our lives with hope and happiness. In this atmosphere of trashing social lives and ugly politics, what more could we have had asked from God?

It's good to die when you are at the top of your accomplishment chart and glory rather than inching towards the end amid a smoke of unfulfilled desires.

People with such surroundings often end their lives or become violently unsuccessful, crowding jails and getting abused.

Steve became a hero for us all.

This is a cruel world where blood brothers become back stabbers and jealous comrades await impatiently to kick you on the ass once you trip on a hurdle.

Steve taught us: Remember, you have a very limited time. Death might be waiting too close. Concentrate on what you want to do rather than wasting time on others.

I strongly feel his Stanford speech ( June 12, 2005 ), where he spoke on death and on his life must form part of our school curriculum.

Steve gave his best dreams to us. He showed dreams Can be realized.

And at 30, the Apple board of directors ousted him.

Microsoft, Sun, IBM and a whole lot of jealous unscrupulous corporate world with seamless money flow surrounded him.

His transparent resolution and a will to change the world with the best made everyone else to follow him.

Steve changed our lives with hope and happiness. In this atmosphere of trashing social lives and ugly politics, what more could we have had asked from God?

Advani Yatra will help strengthen organisation-Arun Jaitley

2011-10-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Friday cautioned the party’s state media cell functionaries against issues not related to corruption or governance generating controversies and derailing party patriarch LK Advani’s Rath Yatra. For the first time, the party briefed its state media cells

in the presence of the media, obliquely suggesting that any mention of non-yatra issues should be taken as a sign of deviation and not as a split within party ranks.
“We should not speak on non-Yatra issues as the Yatra proceeds, as they can create controversies,” Jaitley said. “The words uttered by each local leader are important. Avoid unnecessary controversy. Take up the decided issues in a disciplined manner. We should never leave our agenda in any political situation. Issues get diverted when we deviate from the main issues.”

He also said if the yatra went well, “it will help strengthen organisation activity wherever the yatra will go”.

Jaitley’s remarks come at a time when the party has repeatedly countenanced its political position getting sidelined and controversy taking centre stage during its events.

Last year, the Patna national executive got washed out over the much publicised snub Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave to Narendra Modi.

The announcement of Advani’s Rath Yatra on corruption led to an intense debate on the fissures within the party on the future leadership question rather than on “UPA corruption”.

All India BJP media incharge meet concluded in New Delhi.

2011-10-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

07-October-2011

In view of Shri L.K. Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra, a national level preparatory meeting of state convenors of BJP media cells and State Spokespersons was held in the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, party Gen. Secy. MP and chief spokesperson. The meeting was addressed by Shri Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Shri Anant Kumar, yatra incharge and Gen. Secy. BJP, Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, party’s National Spokesperson and M.P., Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Shrikant Sharma, Media Incharge, BJP and Shri Tarun Vijay, M.P., National Spokesperson. Shri Arun Jaitley was the chief guest who delivered the valedictory address in his own inimitable way inspiring the workers .
Pic captions--

1.(L to R) Shri Tarun Vijay, M.P., National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Gen. Secy, BJP, Chief National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha, Shri Anant Kumar, Gen. Secy, BJP, M.P., Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, National Spokesperson, BJP, and Shri Shrikant Sharma, Media Incharge, BJP.

2. (L to R) Shri Tarun Vijay, M.P., National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, M.P., National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Gen. Secy, BJP, Chief National Spokesperson, BJP and M.P., Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, National Spokesperson, BJP, Shri Shrikant Sharma, National Media Convenor, BJP.

3. Shri Tarun Vijay addressing the state media convenors

जिसने वक्त बदला

2011-10-06T23:18:00.001-07:00

07/October/2011
अमर उजाला
तरुण विजय

Yogi Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Tarun Vijay
6th October 2011

Along with Vivekananda and a number of great souls who had inspired our young generation, I presented the life of Steve Jobs to the young audience at Akshardham temple in Delhi recently , as a great contemporary symbol of young ideal who changed the way we used to think and work.

To me Steve was always a self-realized yogi, a spiritual achiever, who controlled destiny through sheer faith in him and good karma.

I strongly feel his Stanford speech ( June 12, 2005 ), where he spoke on death and on his life must form a part of our school curriculums.

It’s a small speech, yet so powerful, that to me it would form a sacred book of freedom and Mukti.

Like an ‘arrived’ yogi, he speaks about death-‘death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life.

Steve gave his best dreams to us. He showed dreams Can be realized.

Steve changed our lives with hope and happiness. In this atmosphere where social lives are trashed and ugly politics forms our timeline, if God gave us Steve Jobs it was so kind of Him.

दगाबाज हमसफर

2011-10-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

03/October/2011
डेली न्यूज़
तरुण विजय

हकीकत से मुठभेड़

2011-10-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

02/October/2011
जनसत्ता
तरुण विजय

American policy helped ISI support killings of Americans

2011-10-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA
30 September, 2011

Tarun Vijay

Finally the truth seems to be dawning on the 'best friends of Islamabad' in Washington. The Mike Mullen testimony before Congress last week showed the delayed milestones factor in US policy towards its most dollar hungry ally. It also exposed the flaw of blatantly self-centerednes in its foreign policy, particularly in its much-hyped 'war against terror'.

Mullen was considered the best friend of Pakistan's military junta and he visited them 27 times since 2008. He turned his face even when Pakistan sent Kasabs to Mumbai and didn't show any concern at Headley exposures.

His anxieties didn't increase seeing Pakistan hand in every act of terror occurring in India and elsewhere. He was fine till Kayani behaved as a serf waiting to take orders from him and the only moment when he felt he should see the truth and 'learn a lot more' about his best friends was the Pakistani hesitation to complete a previously agreed action against Haqqani network.

And its only after that, when the Pakistani 'best friends' bit the hand that fed them, Mullen said to the Congress with a sadness of a self deluded man faced with the truth, '"I am losing people, and I am just not going to stand for that". He added "I have been Pakistan's best friend. What does it say when I am at that point? What does it say about where we are?" Adm. Mullen acknowledges his approach towards Pakistan didn't yield the results he wanted.

"Each time I go ( to Pakistan ) I learn more," Mullen said. "But one of the things I learn is I have a lot more to learn."

After feeding Pakistan with billions of dollars, their outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen had to admit that the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate provided support to have American troops killed.

In other words it was the American money that helped kill the American troops.

And how many American homes were given the inconsolable grief due the the US's flawed Pakistan policy ? See the table reproduced below-

US Fatalities in and around Afghanistan

Details courtesy: US Fatalities In and Around Afghanistan

The irony in US-Pakistan relations has been exposed completely before the US people and there is a justifiable outcry to change their policy towards the 'world's biggest export oriented factory of hate and violence called Jihad'.

These Mullen admissions, delayed though, are going to change the Afghanistan policy of Washington too. Till now Americans were too dependent on Pakistan to sustain their Afghanistan operations and wanting to ensure that Kabu doesn't become a fertile ground for the Talibani terror network once they leve, they overlooked many of the glaring prrofs of Pakistan's involvement with terrorism. The attitude of compromise and yield before the ISI mischief's was so prevalent that US began negotiating with Taliban themselves, in a last ditch bid to buy peace at the cost of honour and deceiving the spirited resistance of the American troops who suffered heavy casualties in the Afghan war. It was like India negotiating with the infiltrator Pakistanis in Kargil after the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations were over.

Neither the American public nor the media accepted this chicanery and now that Mullen testimony has become public, more than Pakistanis, American rulers will have to explain their deceptive Pakistan policy that helped American marines getting eliminated in Afghanistan.

Pakistan hates America. Only the lure of the dollars keep their uniformed generals mum. The Chinese factor, silently getting deeper into the Pakistani soil and soul, was ignored by US.

When India protested 26/11, the second Mumbai attack, theChinese PLA presence in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir claimed by India, US didn't show sympathy with us. When Pakistan's interior minister said that China's enemy is Pakistan's enemy, desk officers of the US State Department took it as a disco fiesta, better to be forgotten. They obfuscated the basic fact of Pakistan's friendship with US and China, both running parallel to each other, that its only a deep rooted animosity towards India that makes Pakistan sail in two boats. Unless democratic India is supported as an equal partner in ensuring peace and power balance in the region, American interests too can't be protected. So far America has shown greater affinity with the dictatorial regimes than the democracies. Its time they change and have a genuine democratic push to eliminate terror and opportunistic power shift that will hamper growth and peace in our region in a devastating manner.

This scenario has another message too. In spite of our political upheavals , India is poised to play a greater role in the region in near future and the diminishing power reservoir of Washington must make us realize that destiny has carved a far more greater role for us than the US.

Pakistan will remain driven by Army and America

2011-09-29T02:30:00.000-07:00

Sep 29, 2011

Both can’t afford any break now

By Tarun Vijay

US-Pakistan relations are a perfect example of need-based opportunism. Neither trusts the other, and there is hardly any societal or civilisational affinity, yet they know they have to live with a love-hate relationship, till finally Pakistan as a country withers away, as some US-based analysts predict.

Currently, though Islamabad-Washington ties look like plunging to a new low following the US straight talk about the ISI encouraging and aiding terror attacks on international forces in Afghanistan, no substantial change will occur in their relationship. Such tides matter between equal partners. Can anyone in Pakistan simply afford to turn his back on the Islamic Republic’s real masters on Capitol Hill? Often described as the 51st state of the US, and its leaders getting insulting references in the US media (remember Washington Post cartoon depicting Pervez Musharraf as a dog of White House during his heyday?), it will be hilarious to take seriously Pakistan’s cosmetic angst against the Obama regime.

Just one brief statement by a US official made Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani call a special meeting of his top commanders on a Sunday and a midway return of their foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar. Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik had the cheek to say that the Haqqani network was a product of the CIA. And perhaps in lighter vein added, “We are cooperating with US. We will cooperate with every country of the world who is fighting against terrorism.” But pray who cares what a minister Rahman or a Prime Minister Gilani speaks in Islamabad? The only factor that matters for Pakistan is either a White House spokesperson or Gen. Kayani’s men. Pakistan is the only country that is a bedfellow to the two powers, the US and China, who are poles apart in every respect.

The way the US treated Pakistan during the Osama killing and the later statements of Hillary Clinton, first placating the angry serfs and then warning them to behave, show the kind of relationship the two have.

The US state department always knew about Pakistan’s role in fomenting terrorism the world over, especially in India, but till their immediate interests were being served they kept silent and never helped India. Now Washington will have to reap what it sowed. Till they realise and recognise that Pakistan is the main source of terrorism globally and come forward as a democratic country to be a partner with India in ending terrorism, the US will continue to deal with the Haqqanis and the Headleys. They will also have to live with Islamabad getting too close to Beijing, thus unbalancing the power equation in the region. Post the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Washington may rethink its Pakistan policy, and there might be a little tightening of the leash, but overall the generals of Islamabad will continue to serve the US with loyalty, proving the efficacy of the Allah, Army and America formulation dominating Islamabad once again.

The writer is Rajya Sabha MP and member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs

नरेंद्र बहादूर

2011-09-23T01:54:00.000-07:00

21/September/2011
तरुण भारत
तरुण विजय