AMERICA post Obama !!!

"God bless America!", is an old phrase uttered on stages, both small and big in the context of modern day America. The phrase could never have been more relevant than today`s Trump led America.The victory of Republicans is touted as a landslide of sorts. But in reality, it follows the global trend of rising popularity of Far -Right groups amongst common populace. The reason is the growing terror quotient of the planet ,thanks to our brothers with arms- ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram etc. Terrorism exported to Europe and America has made people vary of immigrants and refugees. This has led to the rise of political parties and leaders propagating protectionism and anti-immigration ideas.

In that context, experts miscalculated the people of America to be more liberal, secular and Cosmopolitan. But I`ve felt that people everywhere are the same. When pushed against the wall, own survival becomes paramount. The recent attacks on migrants is a testimony of deep insecurities of the American people.The executive order banning immigrants from 7 muslim countries was part of a poll promise rightfully turned down by the courts. A toned down immigration policy came in next. It promised action against illegal immigrants only. An immigrant became an enforcement priority if he is charged with an offence. He will be summarily deported. Such a step gives sweeping powers to law enforcement authorities which is prone to abuse,

Immigrants from Mexico will bear the brunt of this policy. As far as Indians are concerned,this crackdown doesnt effect them a bit. Most of them are H1B visa holders and I.T companies of India have ensured that they are on the right side of tha law.However, the Silicon Valley is in a state of panic due to uncertainity clouding the current administration.There are talks of increasing the minimum wages for H1B visas making hiring outside the U.S costly and also decrease in the number of visas.

Another conciliatory message that came out recently was moving to a merit based immigration system and moving away from low unskilled labour from abroad. This is a more President like announcement which is better articulated and looks practical.What does "merit " mean?? It is still open to interpretations. Doubling of minimum wages for H1B visa holders, limiting the number of visas ,auctioning of visas , reduction of visas for family members are all possible solutions.

The road ahead is a bumpy one for approximately 300,000 Indians holding H1B visas in the U.S. A policy change will definitely be regressive and at best the rhetoric will always keep an air of uncertainity around. A common misconception  that the balance of trade and investment is positive for India must be cleared promptly. We provide IT/ITES services which is more than balanced by U.S companies providing consultancy and financial solutions. This would create a balance in perception .

It goes without saying that America is a land of migrants and it cannot do without them. Just as Superman -"With greater power, comes greater responsibility". The leader of the free world has its rewards and paybacks. America must shoulder this burden in the near future as its moral responsibility.

Freedom Of Expression Vs Nationalism.

This debate is the basic crux of all the infighting going on in our country since the current government came to power. A discussion was long due `coz of the degeneration of public discourse in recent times when everyone has to take sides without getting the holistic picture of any damn issue. The extant blog is against the backdrop of the protest in Ramjas College and the violence that ensued following clashes b/w ABVP and AISA. There is hardly any novelty as such clashes have become the order of the day. Clashes between co-students can be traced back to the JNU fiasco almost a year back. The recent FIR against teachers for staging a play by MahaDevi Verma in Haryana University or an FIR against teachers in Udaipur University are fresh cases.

The ABVP`s version of events :- "Terrorists like Umar Khalid"should not be allowed to speak in the D.U Campus. Further there was no permission for the events from the administration. The virus of Anti- Nationalism which started in J.N.U. has spread to many campuses in the nation. Unity and Integrity of the Country cannot be compromised at any cost. Inciting the mob to "break the nation into many parts" or "singing songs for a convicted terrorist as if he was a martyr "cannot be protected under the garb of Freedom Of Expression. The violence that ensued in Ramjas was a result of provocation and stone pelting by AISA.

The AISA says;- Umar Khalid is a scholar on Kashmir Issues and he has not yet been chargesheeted by the Police. Inviting him was not anti-national. The violence was started by ABVP and the police was a mute spectator. Normally in any protest of this kind, video recording of the place is made by the police. The same was not being done to shield the attackers. This is a violation of Freedom of Expression and is forceful imposition of  the "RSS form of Nationalism". They further allege that the government is vitiating the university campus to suit its political ends.

Our Constitution has guaranteed us the right to "ptotest peacefully". The ABVP or for that matter AISA had the right to protest peacefully against each other. The police had to do its job in checking violence of any kind and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book. Umar Khalid is not a convicted criminal and thats a fact. His presence on any stage is not anti-national. However the choice of Umar Khalid over many towering personalities and experts on Kashmir can throw some light on the intention of the organisers. But they were within their rights nonetheless. Creating ruckus over a person even though he hasn`t spoken a word is idiocy of the worst kind. Its like mking a mediocre guy famous for no reason, But again the ABVP was within its rights in doing so.

Lets broaden the scope of this discussion. Why every such issue is made out to be a Nationalism Vs Freedom of Speech debate and we are compelled to take sides.Our Civilisation boasts of its "Shastrarth Parampara".  Academic questions must be discussed academically. Dont end the discussion because you dont like it. Put your arguments and try to persuade the audience. Trust their judgement. It is the academic duty of teachers to give a platform to their students to explore multiple worldviews. Teachers have complained of shrinking of academic space due to threat of violence. The recent cases of F.I.R`s exemplify it.

The final argument that I want to put is-"Nobody has the right to act on behalf of the state unless authorised by the same". Private citizens can articulate their form of Nationalism but fighting anyone doing anything less that that and branding them as Anti-National is not correct. Similarly acts of Bajrang Dal on Valentine`s Day and so on are actually Anti-National and must be dealt accordingly.I would like to close the argument by cautioning the "liberals"about the restriction to Freedom of Expression enshrined in Article 19(2) of Our Constitution. Criticism of the government is allowed but inciting a mob to an uprising against the country by breaking it into smaller parts is NOT COOL . It must be dealt as per law of the land and let the judiciary have the final word

JALLIKATTU --Culture vs Animal Rights..

Jallikattu is a traditional spectacle in which a Bos Indicus bull is released into a crowd of people who attempt to tame it as the bull tries to escape. It is a part of the Pongal celebrations in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court imposed a permanent ban on the sport in 2014 after its 12 guidelines formulated in 2006 to let the sport go on was not followed in letter. The recent protests in Marina and the knee jerk reaction of the State government by first using police force and then hushing with an ordinance sends mixed signals.  Further, such a belated upsurge after almost 2 years of the ban, points to larger issues in the Tamil politics.

The protests are an indicator of larger discontent of the masses against the political establishment. The spate of droughts is commonly associated with the step motherly treatment by the Centre in the sharing of Cauvery waters. The problem got majorly aggravated by the sad demise of Jayalalitha aka Amma. Political vacuum in the state and persistent neglect of the people was expressed through these protests showcasing Tamil pride and local culture. The ordinance and the full fledged bill to nullify the ban and soothe local tempers needs close examination.

 Legislative action to counter judicial pronouncements is not a new phenomenon for India , notably the Shah Bano case. The bill exempting Jallikattu from the ambit of Prevention of Cruelty against animals Act,1960 creates 3 changes- separate definition for Jallikattu ,specific exemption in sec 11(3) and blanket cover from the ambit of PCA,1960. The specific grounds stated in the bill are a) promotion of culture and tradition and b) protection of native breed of bulls. So, constitutionally there doesn't seem to be a problem. It depends on the approach of the judiciary and the executive as to how the issue plays out.

The animal right perspective is in order. Worldwide, such sports are prevalent and popular even in the U.S.A. The animal right groups have done little to the cause. The scrutiny was initiated by the Madras High Court and has been followed up by the executive later on. However cruelty like use of chilli powder to incite the bull and ways to create fear in the mind  of the bull is a concern. In the same breath, the argument of Animal rights activists that religion and culture can be no grounds for exemption  as far as PCA act is considered doesn't have merit. The act under section 28 specifies that the manner in which an animal is killed shall not be questioned if it has religious justification. So clearly the law of the land recognises religious and cultural exceptions. The question remains the extent till which animal rights and culture can be balanced.

The balance of opinion suggests that the sport must continue only after the 12 specific guidelines framed by the Supreme Court must be followed in letter and spirit. Strict monitoring of such events and broad consultations among stakeholders in future legislations regarding animals needs mention. Animal rights is a dynamic concept having spatial and temporal variations. Hence continuous debate is essential for a policy addressing contemporary demands. Eliminating dissection in schools after consultation with animal husbandry board and civil society is a noteworthy example. The future of Jallikattu must also be addressed by a multi stakeholder approach of Consensus building peacefully.

Politics of Caste and Religion!!!

The recent Supreme Court judgement on use of religion ,caste etc during elections has drawn comments from a plethora of actors, with very few having real understanding of the locus and focus of the decision. The Court was examining the question whether religion, caste can be used as tools in election campaigns? A split verdict concluded that any appeal for votes on grounds of religion/caste/race/community/language amounts to a corrupt practice under RPA, 1951. This in no way has superseded the " Hindutva" judgement of '95. In reality, the 7 judge bench categorically distanced itself from reviewing the same. So , constitutionally Hinduism /Hindutva is still not a religion, but a way of life😂😂

The next question is the novelty associated with the judgement. The answer is a NO. RPA was amended in 1961 to include asking of votes in the name of caste, religion etc as a corrupt practice . So , it is established that the decision is not a Judicial Overreach. Secondly, the provision has failed to produce any visible results because an election can be challenged only through a petition in a competent court. But the time in which the judgments arrive , usually the candidates have completed their terms. Hence , it has little deterrence value. Hardly anyone knew that the crux of the judgment already had a statutory backing. The main Issue remains the implementation of this pipe dream. The Election Commission doesn't have powers to cancel the candidates nomination on these grounds. Any  action is possible only post facto through the cumbersome judicial process.

The dangers of this judgment can be to Free Speech. It has ignored the ground realities of our society which is clearly divided on many lines and egalitarian framework is an utopia. Many political parties and their leaders owe their existence to religion , language , caste etc. Upliftment of their Vote-banks is always paramount in their manifesto. Further, the view of a Candidate may not be known to the voters on crucial issues like Talaaq, inheritance , Ram Mandir etc. It may also challenge the free Media and their free speech.

However the positives must not be lost in the noise.The judgment has caught public imagination by reaffirming the statute and giving it a judicial backing. Fast track courts to dispose of election petitions in a time bound way is the way forward. This would create a deterrence in the campaigners against using religion ,caste etc during elections. Empowering the Election Commission to take swift action against the culprits is also imperative. It is high time that people and politicians move away from parochial interests  to a development centric model.

Demonetisation- aims and outcomes!!

The "D" word has  been synonymous with something notorious in the Indian parlance. The dusk of 8/11 marked an announcement on the same lines. Demonetisation - it stamped an expiry date of 50 days on 86% of the currency by value. The stated goals were- 1) Wiping out the scourge of black money from the face of the earth .2) Ending the menace of counterfeit currency which was mainly used by our sweet neighbour for terror financing and 3) Moving towards a transparent and cashless economy. The propaganda machinery was run full throttle showing how the corrupt were brought to their knees and the panic amongst the politicians and the rich. The common man standing in long queues and his pain was compared to that of the Jawan in Siachen and questioning the diktat was termed as immoral and Seditious.

Critics saw it as the last ditch effort to save the states of U.P and Punjab which political pundits had predicted to be out of reach of the BJP. This may or may not be true but undoubtedly it was the biggest gamble of our PM's career. The RBI and the banks were unprepared for an exercise of this scale. Cash crunch for daily expenses, long queues outside banks and ATMs and frequent policy changes became the order of the day. The public became restless and impatient when "Sonam Gupta Bewafa hai" memes started circulation. It would hardly be news that it was actually a 'safety valve'  designed to divert public attention from the crisis. Our Pradhan Sewak urged our country to just suffer for 50 days for the country and then see how Indian growth story gets the escape velocity of Jupiter😂😂

The New Year has arrived and the 50 day window has all but ended. 96.5% of the 14.5 lakh crore in old 500 and 1000 notes have returned to the RBI. The remaining is still being deposited via RBI counters which has witnessed long queues. The 50 day window witnessed fall in commercial activities, slowdown in the industry with large scale layoffs. The biggest victims were the people of rural areas who had little access to banking facilities. Agriculture witnessed distress sale and decreased sowing of the Rabi crop. The recent RBI directive to banks to ensure atleast 40% of new notes to rural areas is a step too little, too late.

The biggest objective of wiping out black money stands defeated. 2016 was the year which brought bumper riches to Bankers, Brokers and Income Tax officials. Their earnings were in the range of 15% to 50% of the currency. Political parties got the money required to contest elections. Counterfeit currency sure got a big jolt and the peace in Kashmir is an indication. The aim for moving to a cashless economy surely got a push.

Cashless economy with less than 75% literacy and predominant informal sector (86%) is a myth. Lack of banking penetration and financial literacy is also a roadblock. Introduction of  Rs 2000 note is retrograde step for a government aiming at checking black money. Overnight outlawing , instead of phased decommissioning entails too much ' collateral damage'. The poor and the most vulnerable suffered the most. A step like this should have been well thought and discussed. Clearly the implementation hurdles were not factored in the announcement. It's high time that the debate on success / failure of demonetisation be laid to rest. It would only increase divides and friction.

Merger of Budgets--Something tangible or just Lip Service!!!

The Annual Fanfare and media glitterati associated to the Rail Budget will be the thing of the past. The Annual Budget of 2017-18 will be presented by the Finance Minister and there would be no separate Rail Budget .It takes an apolitical Railway Minister like Mr. Prabhu to let go of this colonial vestige which has frequently been used by incumbents to achieve political ends. Other major changes proposed are doing away with the PLAN- NON PLAN distinction which had no rationale whatsoever. The advancement of Budget Presentation to the first week of february to ensure passage of the budget early in the Financial Year is also a welcome move.

When talking about Indian Railways-some historical inputs are always in order :-The separation of Railway Budget from the annual budget was done on the recommendation of Acworth Commitee  in 1924. The reasons enumerated were -:

  a) The share of railways in overall finances of GOI was greater than 60%. Any fluctuation in railway finances could potentially disrupt the whole budget.

  b)Railway was a priced entity which invited a lot of private investments and had to show commercial viabily to  guarantee promised returns.

The main rationale for the separation don`t hold good now. Railway`s share is barely 1% of the GDP and is behind defence sector also. Secondly, it operates as a public department through Gross Budgetary Support(GBS). So, logically ,this is a good step by the government. But the main reason for this merger is to stop political populism in terms of new trains, stations, stoppages which was often the annual affair due to coaltion compulsions. Constitutional experts however stress that such an announcement should have been done by passing a resolution in the parliament to provide sanctity to the move.

The key issues that must be stressed are-:

a) Financial autonomy of the railways must be preserved at all costs. It is one of the few entities that has to earn revenue and ensure financial sustainability. Also it works 24*7 running more than 20,000 trains and carrying more than 2.5 Crore people daily, thereby making swift decisionmaking on the ground.

b) Railways must get required help from the exchequer to maintain safety and also its competitiveness. It must be stressed that worldwide , railways run at losses and are supported by the government. It becomes all the more pertinent for a poor country like ours to support its Railway.

The move will relieve the railways of some 9000 Crore of dividend it pays to the government .It is basically an interest on the loan taken by railways for its capital needs(Capital at charge) which is in perpetuity. Its high time that the coffers of railways are replenished with funds to buy new assets and replace overaged ones (DRF). Next comes the pension liabilities which ,if calculated on actuarial basis ,comes out to the tune of 45,000 Crore  per year and should be set aside in the Pension Fund(PF). Capital Funds for capacity augmentation and decongestion is the utmost priority in the decades to come.

A financially sound Railways is the only way forward for a country with  such geography, demography, inequality  and size.

DHONI..a legend, no less!!!

Dhoni wasn't India's greatest Test captain. But then who was? After leading India to its first World Cup win in nearly 30 years, he presided over India's worst run in Test cricket overseas, including a 0-8 washout in England and Australia in 2011-12. He didn't seize the moments that mattered, too often he hung back, played the waiting game, took the feet off the pedal, let the game drift, and gave the appearance that he didn't care enough about winning and didn't hurt enough about losing.

He could be judged on his methods of course, but only he could have been privy to his motivation and his desires. And how much could he really be blamed for a serially malfunctioning batting group that consisted of four of India's greatest? Or a group of pace bowlers who simply couldn't construct a few sessions of bowling without losing their lines, lengths and the plot?

That said, though, as borne out by results, a case can be made that he was in his element, in his comfort zone, leading India in one-dayers and Tests at home. He had worked out his limited-overs strategy to perfection. That he was India's best ODI batsman and one of the best finishers in the history of the game allowed him to captain in his own tempo for he knew if everything failed he could back himself to win a game off his own bat. And in home Tests, he had found a way to make optimal use of his limited bowling resources because he could rely on the certainty of the pitches.

But captaining India is only partly about tactics. Increasingly, as Virat Kohli will soon discover, it is about keeping your wits and your sanity. Early in his career Dhoni grasped the futility of adulation, because he was also exposed to the repercussions of failure.

In 2007, in a matter of months, Dhoni had the taste of two extremes: the over-the-top celebrations after he had led India to an unexpected win the World Twenty20 in South Africa, and the depraved vilification in the wake of India's early exit from the World Cup in the West Indies. It convinced Dhoni that in order to stay real, he had to develop a detachment, that he couldn't take either success or failure too seriously. From this emerged a cultivated air of indifference and what he regarded as a healthy cynicism towards the media. 

In India, where the media was often part of the circus, Dhoni, an intelligent man, built his defence around deliberate banality.He was candid and spoke openly about the challenge of managing the older players. That was newsworthy and it made a story with it. It promptly spread across television channels, which gave it their twist. Dhoni was upset, denied the quotes and didn't speak to anyone about it, for the most part of his captaincy.

It is futile to guess what prompted his decision to leave Test cricket at this juncture and whether it was carefully thought out over the past few months, or came about in recent days. After Nasser Hussain watched Michael Vaughan lead the England ODI side with refreshing vigour in 2003 he instinctively knew his time was up. Did Dhoni go through a similar moment of epiphany watching Kohli lead the team in Adelaide?

Whatever the reason, Dhoni's decision is well timed. The series has been lost. He is not abandoning a team in disarray because despite the score line India have fought hard, and there is a captain hungry and waiting.

When he was appointed captain Dhoni was the leader India needed. And at the moment of his departure, if only from Test cricket, it's hard to escape feeling that Indian cricket will know what it has lost after he is gone. Despite everything that can be held against him, he was a uniquely remarkable man. A lot is said about his proximity to N Srinivasan, but Dhoni didn't owe his position in Indian cricket to that. He created it through the force of his personality.

In fact, one of Dhoni's biggest contributions to his team-mates was his ability to create a cocoon around the young team for the intensity of public scrutiny and inquisitions by the media could easily distort impressionable minds. And his ability to stay focused on the present, without the burden of the past and worry about the future, allowed him to conduct the most high-pressure job in cricket with a calm that was nearly surreal.