Flying the Tri-Colour in Jammu & Kashmir

Flying the Tri-Colour in Jammu & Kashmir

There has been a huge furore about the BJP's plans to fly our National Flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day.

On the one hand, BJP honchos say that "We have a right to fly the National Flag in any part of India. Lal Chowk, located well within Jammu & Kashmir, is very much a part of India. Hence, we have every right to fly the National Flag at Lal Chowk".

Other political parties in general, and National Conference (led by Omar Abdullah) in particular, maintain that "This is nothing but a political stunt by the BJP. They very well know and are aware of the sensitive situation prevailing in Jammu & Kashmir, and particularly at Lal Chowk. Flying the National Flag at Lal Chowk at this juncture will be a highly provocative act. The situation is explosive. Many anti-social elements and the separatists will use the provocation as an excuse to increase their own brand of violent provocations. This would, in turn, scuttle the ongoing peace process".

Both the views are entirely valid. It is precisely at such points in time that we need to rise to the occasion and be reminded of the words of wisdom attributed (wrongly, according to many) to Voltaire: "I disagree with every word of what you say, but will fight to the very end supporting your right to say those words".

It is entirely true that if I were to be in the position of the BJP, I would have kept in mind the sentiments of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, as presented by the State Governement, and would have made a declaration on the following lines:

• "We strongly believe that Lal Chowk, being an integral part of India, should celebrate the Republic Day, just like any other part of India. We ought to ensure that the Indian citizens living in the area must, voluntarily, with pride and joy, hoist the National Flag on the Republic Day, just as all citizens elswhere in the country do.
• However, in response to the request from the State Government, keeping in mind the larger interest of the safety and security of our own citizens, and to avoid playing into the hands of the militant separatists, we have decided to refrain from insisting on our natural right to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk on this occasion.
• Nevertheless, we also desire to move towards creating an atmosphere that will be conducive to enable ALL of us to hoist the National Flag with joy and pride by the next Republic Day.
• In order to achieve the same, with immediate effect, we will take the following steps:
• Launch a mass movement at the grassroots level in every town and village of Jammu & Kashmir emphasising the importance of National Symbols like our Flag.
• Start a plethora of people-oriented welfare schemes in every nook and corner of Jammu & Kashmir that will be funded by BJP leaders and party workers from across the length and breadth of the country, with a special focus on:
• Primary and secondary Education for children below the age of 14
• Primary Health Centres to ensure free / subsidised medical care for all
• Employment Generation - by motivating rich Indians from around the world to invest in Jammu & Kashmir.
• We believe that the above steps that we will take in the weeks and months ahead will ensure that the people of Jammu & Kashmir actually invite all of us to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk on January 26, 2012."

However, I am not running the BJP.

Further, I don't agree with the present thought processes of the BJP leaders on this particular issue. The BJP has no business to be playing with fire by indulging in such activities against the judgement of the local leaders of Jammu & Kashmir.

Nevertheless, I would still insist that Lal Chowk is an integral part of India. If the BJP, in its wisdom, chooses to hoist the National Flag on January 26, 2011, I strongly believe that it must simply go ahead. As must be obvious, it is their right to do so. So I would not like to even use words to suggest that "They must be allowed to do so".

After all, if I already have a right to do something, who else has any business to affirm that I have a right to do the very same thing?

If any subversive element tries to prevent the BJP from hoisting the National Flag, those elements should be taken to task and prevented from indulging in such illegal activities. It is the responsibility of the State Government to ensure that full security is provided to the BJP leaders and workers who wish to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk.

If the State Government refuses to do so, the Centre should intervene and ensure that nobody is prevented from Hoisting the National Flag at Lal Chowk or anywhere else in the country.

Any government which does not have the ability or willingness to enforce the rule of law (which includes the right to hoist the National Flag) should simply resign and give way to others who can.

To repeat myself for emphasis:

I don't agree with the present thought processes of the BJP leaders on this particular issue. The BJP has no business to be playing with fire by indulging in such activities against the judgement of the local leaders of Jammu & Kashmir. But my opinion is of no relevance - The BJP leaders and workers have a right to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk and this right must not be denied to them.

Regards,

N

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Conviction & Sentencing of Dara Singh

Conviction & Sentencing of Dara Singh

The prime accused in the Staines murder case, Dara Singh, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court, confirming the original sentence imposed by the High Court.

Being a high profile case, there has been a huge hullabaloo about not imposing a death penalty on him.

I'm fully conscious of the current trend of media trials. I ought not to be surprised by the media reactions.

However, being as naive as I am, I'm baffled by the furore that the life sentence has not been converted into a death penalty by the Supreme Court.

I do not for a moment wish to go into the merits of the case. Neither you nor I have enough information about the facts of the case to pass judgement on merits.

At the same time,

• when the trial has gone through to its logical conclusion through multiple levels of appeal,
• when eminent lawyers on both sides have argued the case at length,
• when all kinds of investigation has been completed with adequate inputs from various witnesses,

I fail to comprehend the basis on which the media is finding fault with the judgement.

After all, we must understand that the Death Penalty, as per our law, is meant to be imposed only in the "Rarest of Rare" cases. Needless to say, the terminology "Rarest of Rare", by its very nature, is subjective. Of course, it is but obvious, that different judges in different courts at different points of time will come to different interpretations of what constitutes "Rarest of Rare".

If only we care to count the number of death penalties executed since Independence, we'll know for sure about the true import of the term "Rarest of Rare".

The parties directly involved in the instant case:

• the prosecution & the investigative agencies
• the representatives of the victims and, of course
• the represntatives of the accused / convicted

are the only ones who have any business to appeal in accordance to the provisions of the law, if at all.

The media has no role to play in commenting about whether the punishment is adequate or otherwise. The holy cow of "Media Freedom" should not be misused in this manner.

Such commentry, especially by rabble-rousing politically-influenced media persons in live TV debates can certainly lead to spark off communal violence.

As though we don't have enough problems of our own!

The time has come for some public-spirited citizens and advocates to file a Public Interest Litigation against one or more of the media houses for "Contempt of Court".

Think about it!

Regards,

N

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Recovering Indian Loot @ Swiss Banks

Recovering Indian Loot @ Swiss Banks

We've been bombarded on all kinds of media - newspapers, magazines, websites, TV Channels. All of them. On almost a single topic: Recovering Indian Loot lying idle in Swiss Banks.

At a conceptual plane, it is a nice coffee-table talking topic. We can claim any figure that comes to our mind (as long as the number of digits exceeds a dozen!) to be the funds that "rightfully belongs" to our poor farmers which has found its way to those mysterious numbered accounts in Swiss Banks.

However, in practice, if someone has any realistic hope of bringing back to India some of those funds, perish the thought.

There's no way in which any of those funds are coming back any time soon.

Here are a few reasons:

• The guy with the money makes the rules. Today, the money is with the Swiss Bankers. If they say that "We can't violate the strict Banking Secrecy laws", it simply means: "Sorry buddy, try some other trick. We're not going to sing. Certainly we have no intention of giving the money so easily."
• Might is right. If USA managed to bull-doze UBS to reveal crucial info about account-holders, we must remember the genuine tilt in the power equations between US & Swiss authorities.

If, in spite of the above two points, if folks in Indian media houses, NGOs, Social Activists, RTI Activists, etc. still believe that we stand a chance of seeing all that money in our life-time, I'd like to emphasise a couple of additional points:

• The guy with the money makes the rules. The guys who deposited all those ill-gotten funds are not the typical "Aam Aadmi". They are all sophisticated, rich, well-connected, powerful money bags. They could be businessmen, politicians, movie stars, sportspersons, etc. But they are all VVIPs. Chances are bright that before sending all that money to those famed Swiss Banks, they would have used the able services of a small army of Chartered Accountants, Advocates, etc. Before we give a minor loan to a friend, we ask a thousand questions about the purpose, ability to repay, intention to repay, etc. They would have certainly asked even more questions before sending all that money to Swiss Banks. They are certainly likely to have used all legal loopholes available before sending such funds. And, they are likely to have created even more legally tenable loopholes to transfer money to the Swiss Banks.
• Might is right. Folks who "rightfully" own all those funds are certainly going to do all they can to keep it within their own control. Why would they try to indulge in activities that will result in losing control of the very same funds???

Considering all the above, we can

• Yell all we want
• Have all the panel discussions that we care to
• Write editorials in all newspapers
• To be followed up with letters to the editors
• And blog posts

Result: Lots of entertainment and noise, and little else.

For those of you who think that I'm cynical, I wish to admit that I am, indeed, realistic. If that also implies a healthy dose of cynicism, so be it! That's also why it is being posted on Multiple Shades of Grey!

For those of you who wonder as to why this is posted on the Financial Views of Mr. N in addition to Multiple Shades of Grey, please remember that this will be a good source of volatility in linked share prices once the names start tumbling out eventually. Use it to your advantage.

Regards,

N

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Why Chinese Parents are "Superior"

Why Chinese Parents are "Superior"

Here's an interesting article on how the style of parenting is a cultural thing:

• Why Chinese Parents are "Superior"!

Apparently, the very attitude of the "Western" and the "Asian" cultures ensures that children are trained in certain ways.

An interesting side-effect is that children brought up in the way mentioned in the aforementioned article could possibly end up being "Followers" who are excellent at "Execution", but fail as "Leaders" and stumble when it comes to coming up with their own "Vision".

My own preference is to strike a balance - Encourage independent thinking, but ensure that there is a strong focus on achieving excellence in one's chosen field of passion.

Regards,

N

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Heights of Hypocrisy: The outrage over Binayak Sen's Life Term

Heights of Hypocrisy: The outrage over Binayak Sen's Life Term

There has been a huge furore over the "Life Term" being given to Dr. Binayak Sen.

All types of media, both mainstream and online, print and TV seem to be going gaga over this particular instance of sentencing Dr. Sen.

Here is one such article that appeared in governancenow.com by way of an open letter to the PM:

• Self-proclaimed defendants of Dr. Binayak Sen asking the PM to intervene!

Unfortunately, I do not know either about the "good deeds" that are supposed to have been done by the doctor, nor do I know about the actual acts of alleged sedition that he is supposed to have committed so as to warrant a life-term being imposed on him.

However, I have a simple response to all these bleeding hearts:

There are only two possibilities:

• Either you have faith in our legal system, or
• You believe that the judiciary is but a puppet of the powers-that-be.

For those of you who do happen to have faith in our legal system, all I can say is:

Please listen to the learned judge. If, for any reason, you feel aggrieved, go in for an appeal in accordance to the provisions of law. And, believe me, justice will prevail. Don't expect any special treatment for Dr. Sen, merely because you say so. Or because you and your kind have declared him to be totally innocent and that all allegations made against him are bunkum.

For those of you who believe that we are a banana republic where the laws are different for different people and that the people in power can do what they please, inluding putting dissenters behind bars, all I can say is:

Grin and bear it. Or get the hell out of here and on to some state / nation / planet where you feel that justice will prevail. Or develop the courage and conviction to "fight the system" by trying to become part of the "powers-that-be" and introducing whatever changes you feel are appropriate and desirable.

For heaven's sake, don't go around bashing the Prime Minister for things that are certainly not within the realms of his responsibility or authority. And, to my mind, the judiciary is certainly not under the control of our Prime Minister.

Regards,

N

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