The legacy of UPA Government…

UPA Government came to power with lots of expectations. This blogger is not a political analyst nor has the competence to be an expert but yes I would say running a huge country like India in relative peace and progress is a great achievement. There was also a sincere attempt on NREGA. There were also positive steps taken in socio-economic front. But I would say the path breaking policy decision was on Right for Information, the RTI Act. There are many problems but this was a valiant effort towards democracy. Like 73^rd and 74^th Amendments that strengthened PRI, with unprecedented and farsighted provisions that helped in strengthening the grassroot democracy, RTI was a tremendous step towards transparency. Although one would have expected a more Ombudsman like power. RTI has awakened people to their rights. In rural and urban India the impact is quite significant. That was strong policy decision by Manmohan Singh government (the pic above is taken from a small village in north India).

This blogger is peeved by the fact that political leaders make allegations and counter allegation on events that has happened years back but has done nothing to create system for prosecution. That is what policy makers are expected to do, I guess. They could have easily taken steps on police reforms; atleast CBI could have been depoliticized. They did create Investigating agency after Mumbai attacks, but is it an independent agency and what is it power?. This blogger has become a cynic of executive orders, a strong agency has to be through legislative mandate. This blogger thinks this step is seriously overdue otherwise every crime gets politicized and therefore looses credibility. Thus becomes ambiguous and reduced to conjecturing, hence milked for gains by vested interests. Why are politicians involved in all the rioting and massive corruption around the country in last many decades not punished? Why does justice on these matters take years and years?. What has UPA government done on these matters that has serious implications on security and integrity of the nation?. Well if they haven’t done anything then it is a matter of shame. That surely is sign of weak union government whether UPA or NDA.

The case of Varun Gandhi is a classic example, the counter allegation here is CDs were doctored. Why is this not investigated and established beyond doubt within a day or two?. But then who places trust on the investigation. They will make the report also subjective saying this is politically motivated. There is nothing like fact it seems. So again this will go on, and everyone around will try to milk the issue (those who are communalizing and those who are positioning as non communalizing, both profitable venture but the latter looks sexier option!!). Varun Gandhi despite serious allegation of communalizing society comes out as a gainer-“smart move” (the boy is from London School of Economics is it not?. I am here assuming that tapes are true). It’s a win-win for both sides. The reason why they are not keen on reform of archaic law and order machinery, and depoliticizing the system. It’s a nudge and wink relation they share at the expense of lives of common people. The CM of Kerala puts it this way “the allegation against Madani cannot be denied or accepted”!!. Why?. What is the law and order machinery doing?. It is so politicized that they will keep it hanging for many years. In the meantime get some airtime making allegations and counter allegation, and try maximizing from the situation. Then not only the reality is lost but replaced. In the meantime lives and livelihood of common people are put at serious risk. The government that ruled the country for last five years will have to take the blame, the Parliament the highest law making body has failed the people. I don’t think it is business as usual. As far Madani is concerned this blogger feels Muslim League a powerful party could be very well working to bring Madani down, it is quite likely. There is a possibility of Madani being made scapegoat, now this too a matter of conjecture. But then what is law and order machinery doing?. They are politicised to have any credibility. What has UPA in last few years on these matters?.

Further there was also urgent need for huge policy rehaul on matter dealing with environment. I guess most people around the world are looking for international level actions, since national governments are too weak to make such strong policy decision as they face influential pressure group. I guess the non trade issues (read environment concerns here) should be an important element of WTO.

A day may not be too far when these leaders will have to take the responsibility, earlier the better. Like the discussions they had before adopting the Constitution in the Constituent assembly (this blogger had the opportunity to read most of it, it was an amazing experience). I am cynical about it though because those were the leaders who had sacrificed immensely for freedom, and understood values. What we have now is manipulators and backroom fixers. In the market driven world sacrifice doesn’t have any space (so why am I bothered about future, there is no profit) and values are increasingly made subjective -as they say “who am I too judge” or “live and let live”. But then there is something called right that may not be market friendly. Market spin can make it subjective (as they often say “I am not judging here”- that non committal talk. They did that during Bush administration to scuttle the climate issue), and confuse us but it doesn’t confuse earth/nature. If this system we live in is so very right then why is earth not into “live and let live”? That is because these are all posturing, manipulating, avoiding reality, self gain and short term benefits. Nature doesn’t understand these. Truth maybe uncomfortable but is rarely subjective. And yes earth has started to judge.

Few months from now UN climate meet will be held in Copenhagen, with the change in USA it is hoped there is progress. Also this blogger prays for an enlightened and open minded discussion. This blogger feels that better site for climate discussion would have been Maldives. People in here are facing the brunt of climate change; global attention would have made it urgent. Incidentally Maldives recently pledged to shift to carbon free country in ten years. This bold step has to be acknowledged by the world.

Post Script: this blogger has created a blog on birds few months back (plz go to link birds blog) dedicated to Salim Ali, amazing guy he was. I will be only including pics of birds I shoot (only those pics that has come out properly, you got to respect birds!!), and write as much on bird as is known. My intention in next few years is to take photographs and write about 100 different species of birds. Trying to hit a century!!