People's Party

Mr Kejriwal has very ambitiously named his political party as AAM ADMI PARTY. I feel this is a big misnomer. Mr AK has right from the early  beginnings with Anna Hazare as his "leader:" has mainly promoted himself using the Gandhian as his footstool. The campaign started as one against corruption and therefore  got instant widespread support. His main support came from the middle class educated class from urban areas while he used Anna Hazare to cover the rural population. His campaign claimed a support of 2 million people who has sent sms-s of support. Certainly these couldnt have  been from the rural class who are a very large majority of our population who alone are considered  as the "AAM ADMI".

Secondly, it is not going to be easy to form local centres of his party all over the country of the aam admi without the financial means to support such an organisation.

Thirdly, his initial announcements makes the main plank of his party on a negative approach of attacking selected politicians of large political parties on corruption. His endeavors will be to punish them for their 'misdeeds'. No party can succeed on such a limited and negative stand. What the people will want to know is what the party do will ensure that corruption is eradicated.. What will be there strategies and actions  for systemic changes to prevent corrupt practices.. For this the party must have sufficient numbers in the Parliament to bring about such changes.

Fourthly, the party must have clear policy initiatives on several urgent measures such as electoral reforms, role of panchayat bodies and elections to such bodies. Besides, India being part of the world economy, the party must have clear economic polices and not just opposition to anything done by the Govt. The problem we now face is of a main opposition party with no policy on economic, foreign and such related policies except to oppose the Govt .

The party should try and put up candidates with clear credentials on such important policy matters relating to financial planning, defence and technical m issues relating to industrial growth, and infrastructural growth.

For the party to play such a important and effective role, we need someone with national interests and not mere personal goals. Mr Kejriwal was a senior Income Tax official and he could have  tried to put into practice his principles of honesty in the I.T dept by making systemic changes to make every Income Tax Officer honest and free from corrupt practices. Instead he sought to get out to achieve his own personal goals. How can such a person with a strong ego, manage an All India party? Merely making  allegations without adequate proof  to take the matter to a Court but on persons chosen by him as the ultimate judges without any  Constitutional backing by law, is only attracting the media who like such sensational news! But has this had any effect? NO.

The next elections are not around the corner and it is imperative that the convenor and the think tank of the party do some serious thinking and planning including raising funds to get the support of  the right thinking people from all sections of the population. The task ahead is arduous but has to be done to succeed in their endeavours. I wish them luck and hope I can join such a party!

The role of newsmakers!

Today  the newsmakers both on TV and print media have created  despondency and cynicism about our country..They believe that 'bad' news makes good news. One is made to believe that there is nothing- not even a iota of good or anything right in  the country. It is true that they assume it is their duty and freedom of expression that they must dish out what the listeners and readers want to see.,bout  hear and read. Perhaps they are making a serious error of judgment.

 The main news is something sensational like some scandal or "scoop" about some big politician and what a whistleblower  says or  on some sting operation. Quite often these news  require further investigation or to balance, the other side of the story.  The main aim is to be "first with the news" especially on the TV news channels with sometime incomplete information or half truths. The inner pages on local news are usually devoted to local failures of the local bodies or stories of rape and murders and suicides! If it is proved that the story was a wrong or only half true, the damage has been done and no editors seldo0m accept their mistake but will reply " We stand by our story".

The editorials are seldom balanced studied reports on any issue that is in the main news. One sided reports on many key issues is dished out as news. For example, corruption is no doubt a big problem. Big fishes are targeted as that creates better news than how one should tackle the day to day corrupt practices that face the common man. There is no attempt at trying to suggest how systemic changes and clear guideline can help the common man to get his permissions without a bribe. Sometimes, even honest people who have no time will resort to pay a  bribe to get their job done. Law breaking on the roads is perfected as an art  and bribing to escape punishment and to save time is seen as a a easy way out.

At the heart of the problem of corruption and law breaking for the average man as well as the big politician is self interest and  selfishness. The need to break the rules of the road to get ahead of others is a simple example.of how one breaks the law as he doesnt get caught!  Does this sound too simplistic? Yes. But it is true. Otherwise why should a politician or bureaucrat  feel using his power and position to make money or gain for himself  as being more important than be a responsible servant of the people whom he is supposed to serve. This seems to be the general attitude but there are certainly exceptions to this rule. But who writes or hears about these honest instances. It doesnt come to be defined as news to be written about.

We need a complete change in the dissemination of news. We first need truthful and correct news and a balanced views both for and against. Just creating or publishing hysterical, sensational news or pictures does not help one to know what was the right thing to be done.  Mr Kejriwal has unfortnately converted his movement no longer as a  fight against corruption but only against corrupt people of selected persons to get maximum coverage of the media. In most cases he is the complainant, judge and jury all put together. He definitely has shown a bias in making charges only against select people.. Instead,as a politician with a difference, he should demonstrate how he can be  independent and strategise on measures to be taken to stop corruption.. This will involve some detailed studies on our present procedures and a complete systemic change where the law and guidelines  are clear to enable one to get a just treatment of one's application. Corruption is not just with the high and mighty but even  small officers. clerks peons or policemen take bribes on a daily basis.This is far more prevalent and serious where a small person has to pay a cut of 10% to get his pension.  It is so deeply entrenched in our systems that with discretionary powers or by taking a bribe  sanctions can be obtained against the rules and laws. But this doesnt make news. There could be small minority %age of officers who are honest and do not take bribes but we never hear about them.

The biggest source of black money is within India. To avoid high local taxes, people prefer not to take a bill for payments made. Or donations are made in cash to spurious or even established religious centres without any receipt. And curiously big noise made by such institutions gets maximum attention from the media. I dare any newspaper to expose such activities.

To solve such ills is not easy or quickly remedial but unless any political party makes a beginning, nothing can be achieved, We do have parties who claim to be honest and talk of the interests of the "poor" but such regional parties do not have any clear or studied strategy but are trying cheap tactics which will get exposed if the very same poor do not see and improvement in their lot. But the purpose of this blog is to highlight the role of the media to serve the cause of justice in their dissemination of news correctly and truthfully.

CRISIS IN KARNATAKA

Since coming to power, the whole record of the party has been a continuous battle within their own party. After the elections, to strengthen your position in numbers, they resorted to "Operation Lotus", mainly to win over independents and members of other parties and Mr Janardhan Reddy was responsible fror this operation. Media reports speak of crores of money being exchanged as well offers to Ministerial posts to win them over. After a few months, some dissidents within the party and curiously led by Janardhan Reddy and a few others sought a change in leadership and Mr Shettar was projected as a Chief Minster and the dismissal of some Ministers in the cabinet. A patch up job, prevented a collapse of the Govt. The allegations of corruption against several Ministers and then even against Mr Yeddyurappa then tarnished the image of the Govt. A few legislators including some independents who had joined the party in the recent past, revolted against Mr Yeddyurappa. Mr Yedyurappa's continuance became doubtful after the Lok Ayukth's report on illegal mining besides cases of denotification to give plots to some of his coteries and family. He was to be replaced but Mr Yeddyurappa arrogated to himself the position that he was the sole leader of the BJP in ther State and dictated on his successor and other posts both in the Govt and in the party. For some unknown reason, Mr Gadkari decided to concede his demands. Mr Sadananda Gowda rather than Mr Shettar was preferred by My Yeddyurappa as the next CM and the party acceded to his request. Mr yedyurappa thought that he would be able to get out his court allegations soon and return as the CM. But he faiuled as the SC ordered an investigation against him. But he didnt rest quiet and his cronies in the Govt did not cooperate with the CM and Mr Yeddyurappa continued his strategy of seeking a change in the leadership of the Govt. and projected Mr Shettar whom he had rejected earlier as the next CM. Mr Yeddyurappa and his followers for several months carried on their opposition to Mr Gowda and sought a change again.

The main point in this narration is to highlight the meglomaniacal qualities of Mr Yeddyurppa who would not allow anyone else to run the GOvt except someone who would act at his bidding. With strong support from Mr Gadkari, he continued to play his game of unsettling the Govt to get a CM who would be pliable and suit his personal agenda. If Mr Shettar who has a reputation of being a clean politician succeeds in being effective, then it wont be long before he seeks a change of leadership to get his own nominee as CM who would act according to his bidding..He has single handedly destroyed the crediblity of the BJP Govt and the fight of the party against corruption. He has managed to inject caste politics in Karnataka by assuming that the electorate are blind and foolish to  vote the party  back to power at the next elections. With his party also playing the caste card, the only way is to vote for a clean and efficient Govt and reject every MLA who has be charged with corruption and not be behind a Govt that is internally unstable and corrupt..

Bankruptcy in Leadership

The frank truth expressed by Mr Advani and Jaswant Singh should be taken positively as a constructive criticism of  the BJP party. leadership. With the RSS taking the role of playing a positive role in the party, they foisted Mr Nitin Gadkari as the party President. With the possible tussle for leadership among the younger lot and the advancing age of Mr Advani, the RSS decided to take charge. But in doing so, they possibly confused the ability to manage based on his business acumen  as against leading the party. He has proved to make several poor judgments of people and the State parties have assumed very strong positions which he has not been able to control with a heavy hand.and some BJP ruled States have not brought any credit to the party. In fact, the ground realities in these States does not auger well for the next elections in 2014. By foisting Gadkari for a second term matters have become worse. It is unfair to attribute Mr Advani's criticisms as coming from one who has taken it as personal affront. He has readily assumed a role of being a mentor rather than a candidate for PMship. Mr Jaswant Singh who is normally more reticent  was expelled and taken back for his speaking the truth.bluntly.

Let us analyse what ails the party. Maybe Mr Advani has accepted the roles of Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Jaitley as good orators who made their presence felt in both the Houses. Winning a point in a debate is not enough as an opposition leader. But  to participate in a discussion/debate and make their points relevant to bring about an effective change in any Bill has been totally absent. Some seeming contradictions in the positions of their parties on major issues has made it apparent that more often than not, they have no positive inputs and only lead the other members of the party to obstruct  and not allow the Houses to function. In an attempt to win some regional parties to the NDA at the next elections, they have taken stands to appease some of them and abandon their own stated policies on several issues that affect national interest. They have resorted to take on some personal attacks more seriously instead of trying to rectify the mistakes, if any. The party is therefore seen as one which has no clear policy on economic matters or defence or foreign matters which are key issues to evolve a national consensus. Their obstructive policy has caused a loss of confidence by the world at large on whether our country can face the serious situation in the world economy. The difficulties faced by the present Govt due to the pressures of a coalition, can equally affect them if they come back to power with the help of these regional parties some of whom have no clear policy other than building their own personal cult.

To give a few examples, the introduction of GST was very much a NDA proposal . Maybe there are differences of perception on some issues, but they need to be settled by consensus in national interest and not opposed for the sake of doing so. The Bill to allow petroleum prices to be based on market forces and not on Govt administered prices was the NDA's Bill. But they oppose every increase related to increase in world crude prices. The States governed by their own party  have the highest local taxes with mismanagement of their own finances. The NDA also had stated policies on FDI on retail, insurance etc but instead of arriving at a consensual Bill, to please one State Govt leader, they have given up their stated policy.

The warnings that Shri Advani and Mr Jaswant Singhis have made should be taken seriously and the party has to been seen as one that doesnt only score brownie points in debate by mere opposition to any thing that the Govt proposes and avoid discussion and debate but evolve a bipartisan solution in matters that affect the nation's economic destiny. If they fail to do this, they will be stuck with a very bad economic disastrous position and they will be unable if they come into power and solve these problems with some logical solutions. At the present, the party's position is weakened in Karnataka, maybe even in Gujarat and they have lost Uttarakand and Chattisgarh may follow. They cannot run a NDA Govt  purposefully with the support of the AIDMK in T.N and TMC in West Bengal alone.

The party should develop a strong think tank on such matters and take credit by having their opinions taken by the Govt in any Bill and establish their credibility to govern on their own at the next elections. They should aim to have a strong position in numbers and get a common policy statement for the Govt to be accepted by every party of the coalition. The party has two years to build its position to that of strength. Can they do it?

President of India

The Indian Constitution has provided for the election of a President of the Country. In the past we have had several eminent and respected persons holding this post with distinction and giving our Country great respect. Without taking names, the selection of candidates for the high post of President has over the years been reduced to a political appointment thanks to Mrs Gandhi's idea of having a pliable person with favourable political leanings. This has become a unfortunate trend and India is no longer respected for its President. The present incumbent is perhaps the best proof of having some one solely because she is a woman but with no other attribute other  than being favoured due to her political leanings.

Rightly, the debate on who should be our next President has become a serious topic for discussion. The move to evolve a consensus candidate is also very noteworthy.  It would be ideal if one can have an apolitical person of eminence without attaching meaningless attributes. The country should also establish a tradition of rising above considerations of North, South, East or West or the caste etc. Nor should we base our selection on success in business or scientific achievements. But the person should enjoy the respect not just in the country  but who can contribute to world thinking by his or her views representing the culture of our country. Ideally the person should also have some legal background or experience or some recognition abroad.

Someone who is apolitical with a respected lineage and who has had experience in foreign postings and also been associated as an adviser to a past President like Sri Gopal Krishna Gandhi comes to my mind. His role as  a Governor of a State where he maintained good relations with all political parties was also commendable.
However, we could anyone else with such similar attributes rather than a political animal!

Media and Freedom of speech

The Supreme Court is hearing  this important question on reporting by the media, and this  has invited many diverse reactions. While one extreme position is that the media should be free to write what they want, there is a strong feeling that some kind of self regulation or self censorship should be exercised by those responsible for the media in particular. The problem seems more applicable to the electronic media who are constantly  claiming to be the "first with the news" and are on for 24 hours!. What is important is not being first but being correct and right. Sensationalizing news on the basis of having got some inside information is not always what one wants to hear. The listener wants to hear the truth.and not a version or a partial truth. We have had a news channel claiming to have a copies of  reports which are yet confidential and in some cases the information has been only partly true. And these anchors do not believe in admitting if they were wrong except giving a weak apology when taken to the Court!

The other issue is the reporting of cases as they are being argued or presented in Courts as well as remarks made by Judges while hearing such arguments. Quite often it is premature to report matters that are yet to be heard in full and till the Court passes its  orders. We have some political parties with a direct line to these channels and within minutes of the news the spokesman is ready to give his reaction. The recent sensational news by one paper though sketchy and full of holes has had the editor justify their action by saying as is the usual song- "we stand by our correspondent ". Such news may give  temporary attention but if the news item is proved to be unsupported by solid evidence, then that channel or newspaper will lose their creditability.

The other important issue  is publication of news which can affect the security of the country like in defence matters or an interpretation on foreign affairs that can affect our diplomatic relations. Henry Denker in his book "Judge Spencer Dissents" makes this point about news channels who behave as though they can determine the foreign policy of the country. Most debates on such matters turn out to be of no consequence as the participants are chosen who have diametrically opposite views and the debate becomes  a shouting match and it is impossible to get a balanced view on any issue. On defence matters, one has to be careful not to create a panic situation but rather evolve a positive solution to the issue under discussion.

The question therefore is how can our media exercise some restraint and avoid sensationalizing any news. External censorship or control can be avoided if the media themselves frame guidelines. The Editors Guild had sent a team of five eminent journalists to Gujarat after the 2002 riots and had made several positive suggestions in their report. However, no one has taken serious note of these suggestions though the Guild now has a Chairman from the electronic media and there is also a body to monitor broadcast contents. Perhaps this question has been raised in the Supreme Court. to try and evolve guidelines which will be respected though not enforceable.

There is a very thin line between exercising one's freedom of speech but in the process affecting the freedom which is the right of others for their privacy or honour!