With divergent views emerging on the Land Acquisition Act, political parties ought to iron out differences
The National Advisory Council wants that the Government should acquire 100 per cent of the land for public purpose by offering very good compensation to landowners.
The thought is noble and comforting that the highest opinion making body under the leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi is thinking about the plight of the farmers.
NAC on 'public purpose'.
The most important aspect of the suggestion of the NAC is the most controversial. The NAC talks about the public purpose which has been the bone of contention ever since farmers and landowners have realised that they were being duped by successive governments by citing this very clause. A through debate is needed on what constitutes public purpose and when do the governments have the last word on acquiring lands from the farmers.
A three-month old agitation in Noida grabbed the national attention only after four people were killed and a district official shot in the leg by agitating farmers. Bhatta Pasaul is now synonym with land acquisition and the various problems and issues associated with the boiling developmental issue.
The farmers in Uttar Pradesh have been left with very little option but seek justice as their lands were taken by the Mayawati regime at low prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800 per square meter in the name of building Yamuna Expressway. Not going into the logic of developing the superfast highway when the existing highway is in a bad shape - bad roads, two-three toll points, inadequate emergency services, etc - the Uttar Pradesh government virtually gave a large tract of land to the Jaypee group to enable it construct a mall along the Expressway and also a part to construct residential quarters along the way.
When the farmers realised this, there was bound to be wide-spread resentment. The farmers have not only lost their source of livelihood, foodgrain production will also take a hit in the coming years. By the end of it all, the constructing company would be a couple of thousands of crore rupee richer.
Nevertheless, the public purpose in this case is a road connecting Noida to Agra. But what about the malls and residential quarters and also commercial complexes that would be built alongway the way, questioned the farmers.
This raises important questions. What will be the compensation for the land acquired? What will be the definition of ‘public purpose’? Will public purpose take into account alternate development routes and ensure best practices for current projects are being followed?
If the public purpose is being served by a private industry, then government will acquire land for them as well, the NAC opines.
This is certainly a loophole which the NAC is leaving which would enable governments to acquire lands for big industries and corporate houses who have the mullah to rake in mega projects. The farmers' precious land would open to be taken over by the corporates at throwaway prices. And even if prices match the market rate this is not going to serve the purpose in the larger context.
If public purpose is well defined, the governments should acquire 10-15 percent of land for the entire project and leave the rest to the private builders to purchase direct from the farmers. This too should come into vogue if the constructor faces any hurdle in a private project, the government should acquire that land to overcome that hurdle.
However, a higher percentage can create undesired interests of politicians heading the governments. The percentage should be clearly spelt out in the Land Acquisition Bill (LAB).
In addition, most important the amount of compensation the landowners or farmer should get for giving up their lands. In the present structure, the compensation is grossly inadequate. The UP government gave Rs 300-800 per square meter of land whereas the market rate in Greater Noida was to the tune of Rs 25,000-50,000 per square meter. The Haryana Government has offered even less compensation where as the Punjab Government fares much better on this score. This itself brings to the lack of uniformity in acquisition rules.
The NAC is recommending that landowners be given six times the price of plot purchases registered in that area. This sounds an attractive proposition for the farmers. If the registered rate in an area is say Rs 50,000 per sq meter, the private party acquiring the land would end up paying Rs 3 lakh per square meter. There are chances that it could make the project unviable.
There are other issues which need to be thought over. NAC wants participatory and full consultation with affected families on acquisition and at least 75 per cent should consent. An inter-linked issue to acquisition is whether some study has been undertaken to use barren, less fertile or wasteland before focusing on agriculture land.
The NAC and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congresss leader Mamta Banerjee, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh have divergent views on the LAB. If the Bill is to be passed in the Monsoon session of the Parliament as has been agreed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urgent steps need to be initiated at the earliest. There is hardly any time to kill today and all parties should iron out important issues.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Big racket - MHA permits ULFA 'fund raising'
October 27, 2006
The United Liberation Front of Asom shot a Tinsukia businessman for his failure to meet the group’s extortion demand.
Businessman Jayanta Dey was shot at point blank range as he was entering his home at Nahorsapori.
The rebels had earlier served an extortion demand notice to Dey but he had failed to pay, resulting in two terrorists shooting the businessman on Thursday night.
This is the strategy of the ULFA – issue extortion receipts in advance and collect the money later. ULFA is the only terrorist organization in the world that extorts money from businessmen and issue proper receipts.
After the ceasefire agreement with the Centre, the ULFA issued hundreds of receipts to businessmen including tea estates to make the payments as mentioned in the receipts.
Though the ULFA used very mild language in the 'receipts', it actually means that the businessmen has to deposit the money with the couriers. After issuing
the fund-raising receipt, ULFA operatives subsequently communicate the time and
date when the couriers would collect the mentioned amount. The profile of ULFA courier has undergone a sea change to include known local politicians, union
leaders and even journalists, to reduce the risk of getting caught.
Some operatives, including journalists, are working in New Delhi also, according to sources. Few businessmen were asked to transfer funds
electronically to places as far as Hisar in Haryana and Anand in Gujarat, the IB reported.
ULFA operatives under fake identities collected the money in Haryana and Gujarat.
Signed by 28th Battalion commander Capt M Hazarika, the receipts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 lakh were sent to many business houses, politicians, tea garden owners, contractors, government employees and shopkeepers in various places in Assam. Some receipts have also been signed by the 'finance officer' of the battalion, responsible for raising and managing the funds, like any cooperate house.
According to the Intelligence Bureau note in the Home Ministry, "Since the commencement of ceasefire, the group is now issuing receipts in place of demand
notes as voluntary donations were permitted under the ceasefire ground rules."
The security and intelligence agencies were flooded with fund-raising demand notes issued by the ULFA.
However, security agencies were issuing warning to businessmen in Assam not to fall prey to fake extortion by youth and petty criminals for person financial benefits. Nevertheless, sources admit extortion in the state had gone up to unprecedented levels.
Though all terrorists organization in the North-East extort money, the ULFA is heading the list due to their cadre strength and reach throughout the Assam, according to sources.
Though the ULFA has six battalions on paper, only three battalions, 7th, 28th and 709 are fully functional. The remaining have depleted strength.
Ironically, for small amounts, the ULFA does not issue receipts. The ULFA is also collecting toll tax on selected routes from all commercial vehicles.
The most amazing part is that state government employees in Assam and other north-eastern states, have been paying two percent of their salary to the
terrorist organization with the Central government fully aware of the situation.
The Central government has been wooing ULFA middlemen to come forward for talks, much to the charging of the Indian army and security agencies.
Small amount donations from various groups
Wood cutters and smugglers - Rs 1,000 per trip
Commercial vehicles Rs 150 per vehicle
Government employee Rs 500 or two percent which ever is higher
Petrol pump owners Rs 5,000 per month
Musharraf's true lies
October 27, 2006
The book written by Gen Pervez Musharraf should have been titled 'A Bundle Of Lies' instead of 'In the Line of Fire'. It just presents a concocted image of Pakistan, deceit and treachery in his so-called memoir.
The lies from the serving president are so evenly spread out and logically explained that it just appears too convincing.
Lies
1 - It starts with the first page itself. The map of India and Pakistan is blotched with Kashmir being depicted as ‘disputed territory’. The commando wanted to hurt India sensibilities, which he did blatantly. Even according to the United Nations, Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and all international maps show valley as a part of India, including Northern Areas occupied by Pakistan. Diplomatically, the book tried to show Indian ‘occupation’ in poor light, something which has not gone down well with the Indian government.
2 - He blames the Indian army of fabricating encounters at Siachen glacier that none would believe.
He mentions that the Indian Army occupied Siachen without the clearance of the Indian government. How would Prevez Musharraf have known whether the Indian army occupied it without the consent of the government, questions an army official. Surely, Musharraf knows more about India than Indian establishment knows itself.
He writes that skirmish in Siachen on October 16-18, 1998 was fake. Naturally, Musharraf is taking a fig from the reported fake encounters last year which embarrassed the Indian army.
3 - The biggest lie is perhaps reason of the Kargil war and how the general tries to blame Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sherif. Citing threats of a possible attack by the Indian army in Northern Areas, Shaqma sector (near Kargil), frequent visits of then defence minister George Fernandes to the region, India buying snow equipment, Musharraf defends the occupation of Kargil heights.
After losing three wars to India, the Pakistan Army is desperate to take revenge against India at any cost. It has been a long dream project of the Pak army to take over Kargil. The Pakistani army has given proposal for occupying Kargil to Zia ul Haq and Benazir Bhutto in the 80s and early 90s.
But Musharraf got his say when he took over in October 1998 as chief of the army. The ambitious general for his nefarious designs gave a go ahead for operation Badr, as it was named in GHQ in Rawalpindi.
Musharraf says the troops had instructions not to cross the Line of Control, which is a true lie. The troops did cross over and occupied Indian territory.
The mendacious president writes that mujaheedin elements occupied the Kargil heights vacated by the army. It is a known fact that regular Pakistani troops also took part in the operation, in which SSG commandos also took part. It is widely known that Pakistani troops in the guise of mujahideen, were trained and deployed along the Kargil in the winter of 1999.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disclosure that he was unaware of the plans, hugely embarrassed the general. In his book, he even carries a photograph of Sharif in which he is being briefed by army officials. By carrying the photographs of February 5, 1999 in which Sharif is seen Khel sector, Musharraf mischievously tries to convince the readers that Sharif was told about the Kargil war.
To mislead the readers, he edits Pakistani causalities in the Kargil episode in the English version of the book, while the Hindi edition mentions 357 casualties.
While Musharraf claims Kargil war as victory, Pakistani Lt Gen Ali Quli Khan Khattak. Said, "It was a disaster bigger than the East Pakistan tragedy".
More lies -
Rape victim Mukhtaran Mai was not allowed to travel to the US, even as Musharraf tires to paint a picture of women emancipation in Pakistan.
According to a report, Musharraf had told the editorial board of Washington Post last year that rape had become "a money-making concern" in Pakistan. "A lot of people say that if you want to go abroad and get a visa from Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped."
The kidnapping of Daniel Pearl
Musharraf neglects to mention that Omar Saeed Sheikh, the mastermind behind Pearl's kidnapping, turned himself in to Brigadier Ijaz Shah, the home secretary of the Punjab, a former spook of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and a bosom buddy of Gen Musharraf - a whole week before Sheikh's "arrest" was announced by the police.
Did Richard Armitage, the US deputy secretary of state, told ISI chief after 9/11 that the US would bomb Pakistan back into the "Stone Age" if it did not collaborate in the quest for Osama bin Laden. Sources say this is a pure work of fiction on the part of the general.
Famous omissions
How Pakistan ordered the attack on the Indian Parliament and details of Operation Parakram
Khandhar hijacking and release of Ghazi baba and his presence in Pakistan.
Activities and presence of Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorists organizations.
The presence of training camps in Pakistan and its role in fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.
Musharraf fails to explain how Zia ul Haq was killed as he would have access to any file in Pakistan and could easily have found out what happened to that fateful flight.
Whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar: Obliviously, he reiterates that he does not know where Osama is hiding even as ISI is in control of the terrorist situation in Afghanistan.
Weapon and drug trade in Pakistan
Army operations in Baluchistan and other tribal areas.
In Urdu version, the book mention that the CIA was paying money to the Government of Pakistan in exchange for the capture of Al-Qaeda suspects. "We have earned bounties totaling millions of dollars," by handing over 369 Al Qaeda members to the US.
True lies
The Urdu translation of Musharraf's book "In the Line of Fire" has dropped the part about the CIA paying bounty money to the Government of Pakistan in exchange for the capture of Al-Qaeda suspects.
The Dawn reported that while the Urdu version keeps the part about capturing the suspects in the chapter called Taaqub or Manhunt, the bit about earning "millions of dollars" and the CIA prize money had been dropped.
When confronted with this controversial line from his autobiography by journalists in New York two days after launching his book, Gen Musharraf said he had made a mistake, that the money did not go to the Government and that he would rectify it in the next version.
No one in the Indian Army is taking the book seriously.
The book written by Gen Pervez Musharraf should have been titled 'A Bundle Of Lies' instead of 'In the Line of Fire'. It just presents a concocted image of Pakistan, deceit and treachery in his so-called memoir.
The lies from the serving president are so evenly spread out and logically explained that it just appears too convincing.
Lies
1 - It starts with the first page itself. The map of India and Pakistan is blotched with Kashmir being depicted as ‘disputed territory’. The commando wanted to hurt India sensibilities, which he did blatantly. Even according to the United Nations, Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and all international maps show valley as a part of India, including Northern Areas occupied by Pakistan. Diplomatically, the book tried to show Indian ‘occupation’ in poor light, something which has not gone down well with the Indian government.
2 - He blames the Indian army of fabricating encounters at Siachen glacier that none would believe.
He mentions that the Indian Army occupied Siachen without the clearance of the Indian government. How would Prevez Musharraf have known whether the Indian army occupied it without the consent of the government, questions an army official. Surely, Musharraf knows more about India than Indian establishment knows itself.
He writes that skirmish in Siachen on October 16-18, 1998 was fake. Naturally, Musharraf is taking a fig from the reported fake encounters last year which embarrassed the Indian army.
3 - The biggest lie is perhaps reason of the Kargil war and how the general tries to blame Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sherif. Citing threats of a possible attack by the Indian army in Northern Areas, Shaqma sector (near Kargil), frequent visits of then defence minister George Fernandes to the region, India buying snow equipment, Musharraf defends the occupation of Kargil heights.
After losing three wars to India, the Pakistan Army is desperate to take revenge against India at any cost. It has been a long dream project of the Pak army to take over Kargil. The Pakistani army has given proposal for occupying Kargil to Zia ul Haq and Benazir Bhutto in the 80s and early 90s.
But Musharraf got his say when he took over in October 1998 as chief of the army. The ambitious general for his nefarious designs gave a go ahead for operation Badr, as it was named in GHQ in Rawalpindi.
Musharraf says the troops had instructions not to cross the Line of Control, which is a true lie. The troops did cross over and occupied Indian territory.
The mendacious president writes that mujaheedin elements occupied the Kargil heights vacated by the army. It is a known fact that regular Pakistani troops also took part in the operation, in which SSG commandos also took part. It is widely known that Pakistani troops in the guise of mujahideen, were trained and deployed along the Kargil in the winter of 1999.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disclosure that he was unaware of the plans, hugely embarrassed the general. In his book, he even carries a photograph of Sharif in which he is being briefed by army officials. By carrying the photographs of February 5, 1999 in which Sharif is seen Khel sector, Musharraf mischievously tries to convince the readers that Sharif was told about the Kargil war.
To mislead the readers, he edits Pakistani causalities in the Kargil episode in the English version of the book, while the Hindi edition mentions 357 casualties.
While Musharraf claims Kargil war as victory, Pakistani Lt Gen Ali Quli Khan Khattak. Said, "It was a disaster bigger than the East Pakistan tragedy".
More lies -
Rape victim Mukhtaran Mai was not allowed to travel to the US, even as Musharraf tires to paint a picture of women emancipation in Pakistan.
According to a report, Musharraf had told the editorial board of Washington Post last year that rape had become "a money-making concern" in Pakistan. "A lot of people say that if you want to go abroad and get a visa from Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped."
The kidnapping of Daniel Pearl
Musharraf neglects to mention that Omar Saeed Sheikh, the mastermind behind Pearl's kidnapping, turned himself in to Brigadier Ijaz Shah, the home secretary of the Punjab, a former spook of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and a bosom buddy of Gen Musharraf - a whole week before Sheikh's "arrest" was announced by the police.
Did Richard Armitage, the US deputy secretary of state, told ISI chief after 9/11 that the US would bomb Pakistan back into the "Stone Age" if it did not collaborate in the quest for Osama bin Laden. Sources say this is a pure work of fiction on the part of the general.
Famous omissions
How Pakistan ordered the attack on the Indian Parliament and details of Operation Parakram
Khandhar hijacking and release of Ghazi baba and his presence in Pakistan.
Activities and presence of Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorists organizations.
The presence of training camps in Pakistan and its role in fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.
Musharraf fails to explain how Zia ul Haq was killed as he would have access to any file in Pakistan and could easily have found out what happened to that fateful flight.
Whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar: Obliviously, he reiterates that he does not know where Osama is hiding even as ISI is in control of the terrorist situation in Afghanistan.
Weapon and drug trade in Pakistan
Army operations in Baluchistan and other tribal areas.
In Urdu version, the book mention that the CIA was paying money to the Government of Pakistan in exchange for the capture of Al-Qaeda suspects. "We have earned bounties totaling millions of dollars," by handing over 369 Al Qaeda members to the US.
True lies
The Urdu translation of Musharraf's book "In the Line of Fire" has dropped the part about the CIA paying bounty money to the Government of Pakistan in exchange for the capture of Al-Qaeda suspects.
The Dawn reported that while the Urdu version keeps the part about capturing the suspects in the chapter called Taaqub or Manhunt, the bit about earning "millions of dollars" and the CIA prize money had been dropped.
When confronted with this controversial line from his autobiography by journalists in New York two days after launching his book, Gen Musharraf said he had made a mistake, that the money did not go to the Government and that he would rectify it in the next version.
No one in the Indian Army is taking the book seriously.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Grace marks for UPA
With a weak Opposition, the Congress party is having a field day
The United Progressive Alliance Government headed by Manmohan Singh is said be moving ‘progressively’, though the ‘alliance’ is a matter of opportunity and ‘united’ as long as it serves the purpose of each constituent. In the same vein even ‘progressive’ is subjective, given the shape the Congress-led Government has acquired over the last seven years of its existence post-Atal Bihari Vajpayee era.
The text of the report card of the Government reads pass marks but the subnotes are a little worrisome. What goes to the overall credit of the UPA is the passing of the Right to Information Act and Right to Education Act. But that was in the first term.
The transition from first term to the second dose of the UPA Government was relatively smooth despite the fact that 2G scam had happened and was already in the public domain.
The present-day Government is embroiled in scams – Commonwealth, Adarsh and 2G. The three have seen top officials and netas taking a hit, and some powerful MPs like Suresh Kalmadi landing in jail besides DMK MPs – A Raja and Kanimozhi. Ashok Chavan lost the chief ministership of Maharashtra.
The UPA has for the time being able to pacify the mass anger over corruption. Nevertheless after six months or a year, when these politicians would eventually move out of their prestigious quarters in Tihar by seeking bail from the courts, cynicism of the people would hardly subside as the UPA would by then not have tackled the core issue of corruption.
Besides corruption, what has affected the people the most is inflation. While the Government is spending a lot of its quality energy on reducing the figure of inflation, the cost of the items in the grocery shop are still the same or rather continue to go higher and higher.
On the alliance front, there is talk of DMK reportedly being unhappy with the Congress and is staying in the coalition as its options are limited. The Samajwadi Party is ready to move in just in case DMK walks out. At the fag-end of the second year of the second term of the UPA, the Home Minister and his team of officials including the Central Bureau of Investigation put the last nail in its performance before the anniversary dinner could start at 7 Race Course Road. The list of 50 most wanted incurred unwarranted cynicism of the people.
The health of a democracy is judged by its Opposition it has. The relative smooth sailing of the UPA Government is not only because of its crisis managers in proactive mode but also because of the lack of ‘Opposition’.
The seven years of UPA in power are also seven years of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s defeated journey. After tasting the ‘treasured’ juices, the party is still unable to come to terms with its rout.
The BJP presented over 800 candidates in the recent Assembly elections and won only five. The UPA got a taste of the 2G scam in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry too, there were no takers of the Congress party. In Assam where the BJP was pinning some hopes, they got a blank note from the people. The party mandarins argue that West Bengal, Kerala and even Assam are not its core concentration area.
In 2009, ‘iron man’ LK Advani threw the gauntlet. Where is the BJP today? The party has still not go the message. It didn’t wake up to the 2G scam when it happened and during the general elections it was not an issue. Only when corruption became too glaring to ignore in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games did the BJP saw an opportunity to target the UPA Government. The party stalled Parliament proceedings after the CWG in October 2010 which then ultimately had been taken up by the judiciary. So Kalamdi, Raja and Kanimozhi in jail are not because of the UPA or its defunct constituent and country cousin sitting in the Opposition, the NDA.
The BJP has lost steam as the Games saw a BJP as a meek protester and so did Adarsh. When it wanted a JPC on 2G scam, MM Joshi was scoring brownie points by leaking the PAC report. What was the point in stalling Parliament for a JPC too late in the day? Why has the BJP not seen an opportunity in the Devas-Antrix deal to strike at the Congress party?
Power struggle between the BJP leaders is telling a different tale. When the BJP was hitting out at Rahul Gandhi for going to Bhatta Parsaul on a bike, Advani came out in support of the ‘Prince-in-waiting’.
The party is unsure if will ever pick up the issue of Ram Mandir again though hardliners still swear by its ideology. Advani has gone on record praising Jinnah, which became a sore point within the Sangh parivar.
Seniors in the party are senior to the party president and a succession war is simmering though no one likes to admit it upfront. Unlike the Congress party where the command structure is fairly defined and has no element of uncertainty, the BJP leaders see a vacuum after Advani. Vajpayee is reportedly unwell and is relegated from the party memory. The second rung leaders are vying for a pie which many may never get to see. Arun Jaitley sees himself as prime minister material and so do a host of other leaders. Are they spoiling the party?
The recent elections were a pan India test which failed the BJP. For a vibrant democracy, it is important that the Opposition should keep a check on the Government but the BJP miserably failed to fit the bill. In the absence of a strong Opposition, the UPA report card carries little weight.
The United Progressive Alliance Government headed by Manmohan Singh is said be moving ‘progressively’, though the ‘alliance’ is a matter of opportunity and ‘united’ as long as it serves the purpose of each constituent. In the same vein even ‘progressive’ is subjective, given the shape the Congress-led Government has acquired over the last seven years of its existence post-Atal Bihari Vajpayee era.
The text of the report card of the Government reads pass marks but the subnotes are a little worrisome. What goes to the overall credit of the UPA is the passing of the Right to Information Act and Right to Education Act. But that was in the first term.
The transition from first term to the second dose of the UPA Government was relatively smooth despite the fact that 2G scam had happened and was already in the public domain.
The present-day Government is embroiled in scams – Commonwealth, Adarsh and 2G. The three have seen top officials and netas taking a hit, and some powerful MPs like Suresh Kalmadi landing in jail besides DMK MPs – A Raja and Kanimozhi. Ashok Chavan lost the chief ministership of Maharashtra.
The UPA has for the time being able to pacify the mass anger over corruption. Nevertheless after six months or a year, when these politicians would eventually move out of their prestigious quarters in Tihar by seeking bail from the courts, cynicism of the people would hardly subside as the UPA would by then not have tackled the core issue of corruption.
Besides corruption, what has affected the people the most is inflation. While the Government is spending a lot of its quality energy on reducing the figure of inflation, the cost of the items in the grocery shop are still the same or rather continue to go higher and higher.
On the alliance front, there is talk of DMK reportedly being unhappy with the Congress and is staying in the coalition as its options are limited. The Samajwadi Party is ready to move in just in case DMK walks out. At the fag-end of the second year of the second term of the UPA, the Home Minister and his team of officials including the Central Bureau of Investigation put the last nail in its performance before the anniversary dinner could start at 7 Race Course Road. The list of 50 most wanted incurred unwarranted cynicism of the people.
The health of a democracy is judged by its Opposition it has. The relative smooth sailing of the UPA Government is not only because of its crisis managers in proactive mode but also because of the lack of ‘Opposition’.
The seven years of UPA in power are also seven years of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s defeated journey. After tasting the ‘treasured’ juices, the party is still unable to come to terms with its rout.
The BJP presented over 800 candidates in the recent Assembly elections and won only five. The UPA got a taste of the 2G scam in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry too, there were no takers of the Congress party. In Assam where the BJP was pinning some hopes, they got a blank note from the people. The party mandarins argue that West Bengal, Kerala and even Assam are not its core concentration area.
In 2009, ‘iron man’ LK Advani threw the gauntlet. Where is the BJP today? The party has still not go the message. It didn’t wake up to the 2G scam when it happened and during the general elections it was not an issue. Only when corruption became too glaring to ignore in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games did the BJP saw an opportunity to target the UPA Government. The party stalled Parliament proceedings after the CWG in October 2010 which then ultimately had been taken up by the judiciary. So Kalamdi, Raja and Kanimozhi in jail are not because of the UPA or its defunct constituent and country cousin sitting in the Opposition, the NDA.
The BJP has lost steam as the Games saw a BJP as a meek protester and so did Adarsh. When it wanted a JPC on 2G scam, MM Joshi was scoring brownie points by leaking the PAC report. What was the point in stalling Parliament for a JPC too late in the day? Why has the BJP not seen an opportunity in the Devas-Antrix deal to strike at the Congress party?
Power struggle between the BJP leaders is telling a different tale. When the BJP was hitting out at Rahul Gandhi for going to Bhatta Parsaul on a bike, Advani came out in support of the ‘Prince-in-waiting’.
The party is unsure if will ever pick up the issue of Ram Mandir again though hardliners still swear by its ideology. Advani has gone on record praising Jinnah, which became a sore point within the Sangh parivar.
Seniors in the party are senior to the party president and a succession war is simmering though no one likes to admit it upfront. Unlike the Congress party where the command structure is fairly defined and has no element of uncertainty, the BJP leaders see a vacuum after Advani. Vajpayee is reportedly unwell and is relegated from the party memory. The second rung leaders are vying for a pie which many may never get to see. Arun Jaitley sees himself as prime minister material and so do a host of other leaders. Are they spoiling the party?
The recent elections were a pan India test which failed the BJP. For a vibrant democracy, it is important that the Opposition should keep a check on the Government but the BJP miserably failed to fit the bill. In the absence of a strong Opposition, the UPA report card carries little weight.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Is development lopsided?
Government machinery is commissioning new projects without improving or expanding the present infrastructure, incurring unwarranted expenditure
One thing that is permanent is 'change'. There is no denying that infrastructure is vital for progress of the country and the people. But it appears that the planners are establishing a parallel infrastructure rather than using or modifying the existing network.
There are many projects nation-wide that are being implemented without developing parallel infrastructure. Two new mega road projects are in the pipeline – one connecting Delhi to Jaipur and another Yamuna Expressway connecting Noida to Agra.
The argument is that both the proposed projects would be world-class as the present Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Jaipur National Highways are clogged due to heavy traffic movement on these sectors.
If you approach the projects with a little objectivity, you can effectively see that the proposed expenditure seems superfluous and create many problems rather than solve them.
Both these projects that aim at establishing parallel infrastructure are in the Rs 10,000 crore bracket are vibrant examples of government’s myopic development.
They are being implemented before giving a serious thought to utilising the existing infrastructure to the optimum level. Yamuna Expressway has landed in problem due to farmer’s agitation in Greater Noida which has claimed four lives.
Should not the government think of removing encroachments, making small under passes at clogging points on the existing highways, and also undertake a host of cost cutting activities rather than going in for constructing the expressways.
Have our babus realised that if they need to stay in 'business', they need to bring in the required 'change'? It appears the bureaucrat-contractor-politician nexus stands to gain from the commissioning new projects rather than improving and enhancing the present infrastructure.
With infrastructure drawing the big bucks, it is bound that a lot of money will exchange hands. If you break up hundred rupees of government expenditure, it is said that 15 per cent is genuine commission, which the contractors or builders pay to the babus-mantris. Presuming that an engineer/official is dead honest, the contractor carrying forward a project is obliged to offer 15 percent cut. However, there are the ones who are slightly more 'ambitious'. Fifteen percent could not be enough as the mantri may have to pass the buck to his boss in Delhi or if the chain of middlemen and traders is long, the percentage cut can get fatter.
Nevertheless, a normal contracting company would like to keep a profit of 15-20 percent. If all the variables are dead static, the project will get 70 percent of the government expenditure. But reality is different. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said hardly 20 paise of government expenditure out of a rupee reaches the intended target. So in the real world scenario, everyone involved will get a cut. The banker who gives loan or issues a guarantee, and so will those who will inspect the work, or accounting department who will clear the project… so on and so forth. Without a lengthy debate, you can safely assume on the conservative side, a 50-60 percent figure.
This is unpardonable and unacceptable. But given the rot in the system that has set in, it is unimaginable if the situation can be reversed under normal circumstances.
Minister or official wants to make a fast buck and thus come up schemes and projects that would change the lives of the citizens. Most often many of these projects are not required yet they are implemented with utmost gusto.
Take for instance Ghazipur flyover in Delhi, which is not on the same scale as Yamuna Expressway but has similar contours. There are no intersections on the stretch and there was no clogging of traffic when the project was initiated and when it was completed. The government then had plans to take Delhi chicken and fish market to one side of the road, which was done. It also took the MCD abattoir to the area and so also garbage dump. Another side of the National Highway 24, the government had planned to shift grain market. This has still not been done. Yet a flyover over has been build on a normal road. Why was the projected undertaken in the first place?
Similarly, during the Commonwealth Games, the costing and expenditure of the government was exposed, resulting in the Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi landing in jail. But even to this day, there are several projects that are being implemented or were completed only after sucking the national exchequer.
The Ring Road connecting Nizammuddin to Pragati Maidan in New Delhi is a good example. Government agencies would expand the road, construct footpath and then do the beautification drive by planting trees. In six months, they would be uprooting the whole construction and starting afresh. This they did thrice before the Games.
The most glaring example is that of flyover that was constructed on National Highway 24 to facilitate the players who would stay at the CWG village. It was imperative that the players got uninterrupted movement to various venues. A flyover was sanctioned and built. Now the CWG village is itself mired in a controversy. If those who bought (or will buy) the flats at the village move in, they will have a flyover exclusively to their advantage.
Now having transformed Delhi from three-lane to four-lane city, government agencies are making two huge arches on the same stretch, totally unwanted and out of sync with the rest of the Capital. Similarly, government agencies constructed many footover bridges and still are making many where the footfall per day is less than what a flop movie would get after a year of release.
But with tenures of ministers and babus shrinking along with pubic memory, lopsided development will continue to change the landscape.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Abbottabad, a long way from New Delhi
India, considered a soft State, has yet to evolve US-like hard hitting policy
The Americans have shown to the world that they are the leaders, who can avenge any wrong done on their soil or to them.
A small platoon of SEAL commandos barged into terror-infested military-controlled Pakistan, kill Osama bin Laden and coolly fly off. The 40-minute raid will be recorded in world history as an operation that changed the world’s power dynamics.
Apart from displaying US supremacy to the world, the Abbottabad operation exposed the true face of Pakistan led by bigots and fanatics.
It is not only shameful for the Pakistani military but also criminal on the part of Generals who call the shots in that part of the land where Kalashnikovs are as common as cell phones when they were just getting introduced ten years ago in India. Everybody who has an AK-47 flashes it, and those who don’t go to Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta to buy rifles and pistols off the shelf, just like they buy an aspirin in Islamabad.
Osama bin Laden was staying in luxury in the backyard of the military district with all the facilities at his command. He was reportedly suffering from kidney problems. He needed medical care. The Pakistani Army was unquestionably supporting, protecting and looking after Osama like it does with hundreds and thousands of Osamas who dot the landscape.
Terrorism is the mainstay of Pakistan, widely considered the most dangerous place on earth. Writer Salman Rushdie has called for it to be declared as a terrorist state. Former cricketer Imran Khan acknowledges that the situation in Pakistan has gone out of control.
Pakistan today is not a country that can to be trusted by the comity of nations. Governance is negligible. Pak-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit are two separate entities. Balochistan, FATA, NWFP and Punjab (Pak side) are infested with guns. The Americans have been using drones to kill terrorists but bombs don’t know the difference between a jihadi and a peaceful citizen.
Sooner or later, some warlord, tribal chief or even army general is going to announce running away with a part of Pakistan to form his own country.
It is no wonder that Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani warns India not to even think of “any misadventure” as he said it would lead to a catastrophe. Gen Kayani is like a weakling, who gets slapped by a strong, muscled dada on the street, and looks at the non-intrusive watcher saying man you don’t mess with me. The tough dada is still standing there ready to slap!
Undoubtedly a neighbour who is on the path of destruction, has nothing to lose, or is controlled by terrorists who maintain a military-clad façade, is a very dangerous neighbourhood to live in. It is time to beware of men of Rawalpindi!
Anyway, the point is Gen Kayani need not spend sleepless nights over a possible American-like Abbottabad attack by Indian forces. His useless bravado is aimed at addressing a humiliated audience rather than scaring Generals in New Delhi.
General Saab, India is also not considered a soft state for nothing. She will not require Pakistan’s bombs and guns like in Kargil and repeated terror-strike. On the contrary, the more you, or ISI or LeT or JeM strike, the stronger India becomes. It brings people together, it unites regions and castes and religions.
Ironically, the problem is more of political nature in India juxtaposed by a consortium of intelligence babus mired by a rotten executive structure that is unable to deliver. The politico-intelligence-babus nexus is making the country a weak and soft nation.
Our exemplary track record underlines that our national interest is just kept outside the purview of South Block. Safety, security and welfare of the citizens are of virtually of less importance.
Indian politicians arm its revolt groups by getting guns dropped in Purulia. The Lativan crew were pardoned and released. Peter Bleach too was released by a presidential pardon, allegedly due to persistent British pressure.
Anti-India and Khalistan protagonist Jagjit Singh Chauhan has been living as a free Indian citizen in Punjab, after almost dividing the people into Hindus and Sikhs and breaking up the country.
After hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, India let off three top terrorists one of whom went on to head the JeM. Attacking Kandhar was not even a viable option discussed by security mandarins on Race Course Road when the political leadership was discussing exchanging civilians with terrorists and ransom money.
Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir or North-East, who kill Army soldiers, are allowed to surrender and become respectable citizens, given Government jobs or even join the security forces. The Indian Government is in peace talks with NSCN and Ulfa, the two outfits that created havoc in the N-E. Chinese successfully ‘adventure’ into India and threaten Ladkahi farmers.
If India had to react, the military should have done after 7/11 Mumbai train blasts or after 26/11 strike by Kasab and his team. Or for that matter, India could have gone for hot pursuit and got Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi or hundreds of terror camps along the Line of Control.
But why Pakistan, India even failed to act against Paresh Baruah of Ulfa who was reported to be in Bangladesh for nearly two decades. India shares open borders with Bangladesh, who has been intermittingly treading Pakistan’s hostile path. What did the Indian military do?
Historically, India has never taken a tough stand except in Sri Lanka and that too when the Tamil Eelem leaders, trained by Indian military crossed the official brief.
Sadly, administratively, the country is on a sticky wicket also. So General Saab, fret not over India’s design, for it has not any.
The political will of a strong nation has yet to evolve. We are the land of Gandhi and not Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, who do not even get a national holiday on the respective Jayantis’. Till we celebrate January 23 or September 28 as national holidays, Pakistan be assured of no surgical strikes on the part of India. And if it happens, when it happens, God save Pakistan!
The Americans have shown to the world that they are the leaders, who can avenge any wrong done on their soil or to them.
A small platoon of SEAL commandos barged into terror-infested military-controlled Pakistan, kill Osama bin Laden and coolly fly off. The 40-minute raid will be recorded in world history as an operation that changed the world’s power dynamics.
Apart from displaying US supremacy to the world, the Abbottabad operation exposed the true face of Pakistan led by bigots and fanatics.
It is not only shameful for the Pakistani military but also criminal on the part of Generals who call the shots in that part of the land where Kalashnikovs are as common as cell phones when they were just getting introduced ten years ago in India. Everybody who has an AK-47 flashes it, and those who don’t go to Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta to buy rifles and pistols off the shelf, just like they buy an aspirin in Islamabad.
Osama bin Laden was staying in luxury in the backyard of the military district with all the facilities at his command. He was reportedly suffering from kidney problems. He needed medical care. The Pakistani Army was unquestionably supporting, protecting and looking after Osama like it does with hundreds and thousands of Osamas who dot the landscape.
Terrorism is the mainstay of Pakistan, widely considered the most dangerous place on earth. Writer Salman Rushdie has called for it to be declared as a terrorist state. Former cricketer Imran Khan acknowledges that the situation in Pakistan has gone out of control.
Pakistan today is not a country that can to be trusted by the comity of nations. Governance is negligible. Pak-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit are two separate entities. Balochistan, FATA, NWFP and Punjab (Pak side) are infested with guns. The Americans have been using drones to kill terrorists but bombs don’t know the difference between a jihadi and a peaceful citizen.
Sooner or later, some warlord, tribal chief or even army general is going to announce running away with a part of Pakistan to form his own country.
It is no wonder that Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani warns India not to even think of “any misadventure” as he said it would lead to a catastrophe. Gen Kayani is like a weakling, who gets slapped by a strong, muscled dada on the street, and looks at the non-intrusive watcher saying man you don’t mess with me. The tough dada is still standing there ready to slap!
Undoubtedly a neighbour who is on the path of destruction, has nothing to lose, or is controlled by terrorists who maintain a military-clad façade, is a very dangerous neighbourhood to live in. It is time to beware of men of Rawalpindi!
Anyway, the point is Gen Kayani need not spend sleepless nights over a possible American-like Abbottabad attack by Indian forces. His useless bravado is aimed at addressing a humiliated audience rather than scaring Generals in New Delhi.
General Saab, India is also not considered a soft state for nothing. She will not require Pakistan’s bombs and guns like in Kargil and repeated terror-strike. On the contrary, the more you, or ISI or LeT or JeM strike, the stronger India becomes. It brings people together, it unites regions and castes and religions.
Ironically, the problem is more of political nature in India juxtaposed by a consortium of intelligence babus mired by a rotten executive structure that is unable to deliver. The politico-intelligence-babus nexus is making the country a weak and soft nation.
Our exemplary track record underlines that our national interest is just kept outside the purview of South Block. Safety, security and welfare of the citizens are of virtually of less importance.
Indian politicians arm its revolt groups by getting guns dropped in Purulia. The Lativan crew were pardoned and released. Peter Bleach too was released by a presidential pardon, allegedly due to persistent British pressure.
Anti-India and Khalistan protagonist Jagjit Singh Chauhan has been living as a free Indian citizen in Punjab, after almost dividing the people into Hindus and Sikhs and breaking up the country.
After hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, India let off three top terrorists one of whom went on to head the JeM. Attacking Kandhar was not even a viable option discussed by security mandarins on Race Course Road when the political leadership was discussing exchanging civilians with terrorists and ransom money.
Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir or North-East, who kill Army soldiers, are allowed to surrender and become respectable citizens, given Government jobs or even join the security forces. The Indian Government is in peace talks with NSCN and Ulfa, the two outfits that created havoc in the N-E. Chinese successfully ‘adventure’ into India and threaten Ladkahi farmers.
If India had to react, the military should have done after 7/11 Mumbai train blasts or after 26/11 strike by Kasab and his team. Or for that matter, India could have gone for hot pursuit and got Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi or hundreds of terror camps along the Line of Control.
But why Pakistan, India even failed to act against Paresh Baruah of Ulfa who was reported to be in Bangladesh for nearly two decades. India shares open borders with Bangladesh, who has been intermittingly treading Pakistan’s hostile path. What did the Indian military do?
Historically, India has never taken a tough stand except in Sri Lanka and that too when the Tamil Eelem leaders, trained by Indian military crossed the official brief.
Sadly, administratively, the country is on a sticky wicket also. So General Saab, fret not over India’s design, for it has not any.
The political will of a strong nation has yet to evolve. We are the land of Gandhi and not Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, who do not even get a national holiday on the respective Jayantis’. Till we celebrate January 23 or September 28 as national holidays, Pakistan be assured of no surgical strikes on the part of India. And if it happens, when it happens, God save Pakistan!
Friday, May 6, 2011
PM should also be held responsible for 2G scam
Though the report of the Public Accounts Committee on 2G scam was subdued in the ruckus created by the parliamentarians on accepting the clear cut findings because they indict clean-image Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the message has been delivered.
Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party member MM Joshi, who was on the receiving end by the Congress MPs assisted by its allies and foes-turned-allies like the BSP and SP, appeared to have had the last laugh.
Joshi was perhaps aware that the PAC report would be short-lived. The Congress party would in any case have turned it down had it been fully accepted. The party had been raising the questions of continuing with the PAC after the JPC had been constituted. But Joshi went ahead with his probe.
The PAC gained a lot of brownie points by summoning the likes of Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani. The PAC members went along with Joshi for sometime, only protesting in murmurs but as he become bold and daring enough to reach, what the Congress wants to protect - the Prime Minister, they had enough. As PMO officials were about to be called for giving their statements, Soz and his team of eight went on the rampage, forcing Joshi to shelve his plans of calling the PM for examination, which Singh himself had offered earlier.
And before the PAC term could end on April 30, the (draft) report hit the headlines.
The report is unlikely to be accepted. But the damage has been done.
The veteran leader was more or less successful in hinting who are the protagonists of the Rs 1.76 crore scam besides those already in jail, including former Telecom Minister A Raja. The name of PM had been dragged in the 2G scam.
The most vital question is what has been Manmohan Singh’s contribution in perpetuating the scam? How did he benefit from the mega scam?
Caesar wife should be above suspicion. So if there are fingers being pointed out, should it not be proper for the highest executive officer holder to come out clean, if he so desires to remain spotlessly taint-free.
Leaving aside the fact that Raja mislead the PM on more than a few occasions, the PMO too showed files to Singh after the scam had taken place. The PM with the RAW, IB at his command and so also all the senior babus who are supposed to keep him informed on important matters of the state, should have briefed Singh at some point about the scam taking place.
Given that the scam managers were able to hoodwink the PM, PMO, IB, ED… and Raja was able to “deliberately and dismindly mislead the PM in order to fulfill his nefarious design leading to a staggering loss of revenue which also tarnished the image of the country”, was the PM so self-contained or occupied or powerless that he could not spare time and stop what was happening right in front of his face. A newspaper was regularly writing about the scam since 2008, much before the 2009 general elections. Should not the PM have taken cognizance?
The questions being raised are:
Why did the Prime Minister give “indirect green signal” to former Telecom Minister A Raja?
“The PM’s “desire to keep the PMO at arm’s length indirectly helped the Communications Minister to go ahead and execute his unfair, arbitrary and dubious designs.” Why did the PM keep the PMO at arm’s length? How long was the arm?
Manmohan has recently said that revenue generation has never been a primary consideration. This contradicts his India Telecom 2007 statement that revenue generation must not be lost sight of. Why is the PM flip flopping on such important matters?
The PMO is “required to reconcile the two divergent views of the PM”.
Will Singh present himself to the Central Bureau of Investigation, like he offered to the PAC?
The onus is on the PM and not on the agency to come forward. The fact of the matter is CBI cannot move against the PM. Can a sleuth, no matter how gutsy or fool-hardy, question the man who inaugurates their swanky building? Can any file noting be ever made against the PM?
In any case, the CBI and other investigating agencies have to seek permission from the sanctioning authority, which sounds a very difficult proposition.
The CBI after filing the second chargesheet in the court indicated that it was as far as it could go, barring a supplementary. In fact the role of the premier agency has been that of a passive one, acting at the behest of the Supreme Court.
But Singh should take the lead and come forward and present what circumstances led to the scam, was he never aware of the scam taking place, why no officer briefed him and plethora of other questions. The chair of the PM has to be above board. Singh is King, and it should show.
Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party member MM Joshi, who was on the receiving end by the Congress MPs assisted by its allies and foes-turned-allies like the BSP and SP, appeared to have had the last laugh.
Joshi was perhaps aware that the PAC report would be short-lived. The Congress party would in any case have turned it down had it been fully accepted. The party had been raising the questions of continuing with the PAC after the JPC had been constituted. But Joshi went ahead with his probe.
The PAC gained a lot of brownie points by summoning the likes of Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani. The PAC members went along with Joshi for sometime, only protesting in murmurs but as he become bold and daring enough to reach, what the Congress wants to protect - the Prime Minister, they had enough. As PMO officials were about to be called for giving their statements, Soz and his team of eight went on the rampage, forcing Joshi to shelve his plans of calling the PM for examination, which Singh himself had offered earlier.
And before the PAC term could end on April 30, the (draft) report hit the headlines.
The report is unlikely to be accepted. But the damage has been done.
The veteran leader was more or less successful in hinting who are the protagonists of the Rs 1.76 crore scam besides those already in jail, including former Telecom Minister A Raja. The name of PM had been dragged in the 2G scam.
The most vital question is what has been Manmohan Singh’s contribution in perpetuating the scam? How did he benefit from the mega scam?
Caesar wife should be above suspicion. So if there are fingers being pointed out, should it not be proper for the highest executive officer holder to come out clean, if he so desires to remain spotlessly taint-free.
Leaving aside the fact that Raja mislead the PM on more than a few occasions, the PMO too showed files to Singh after the scam had taken place. The PM with the RAW, IB at his command and so also all the senior babus who are supposed to keep him informed on important matters of the state, should have briefed Singh at some point about the scam taking place.
Given that the scam managers were able to hoodwink the PM, PMO, IB, ED… and Raja was able to “deliberately and dismindly mislead the PM in order to fulfill his nefarious design leading to a staggering loss of revenue which also tarnished the image of the country”, was the PM so self-contained or occupied or powerless that he could not spare time and stop what was happening right in front of his face. A newspaper was regularly writing about the scam since 2008, much before the 2009 general elections. Should not the PM have taken cognizance?
The questions being raised are:
Why did the Prime Minister give “indirect green signal” to former Telecom Minister A Raja?
“The PM’s “desire to keep the PMO at arm’s length indirectly helped the Communications Minister to go ahead and execute his unfair, arbitrary and dubious designs.” Why did the PM keep the PMO at arm’s length? How long was the arm?
Manmohan has recently said that revenue generation has never been a primary consideration. This contradicts his India Telecom 2007 statement that revenue generation must not be lost sight of. Why is the PM flip flopping on such important matters?
The PMO is “required to reconcile the two divergent views of the PM”.
Will Singh present himself to the Central Bureau of Investigation, like he offered to the PAC?
The onus is on the PM and not on the agency to come forward. The fact of the matter is CBI cannot move against the PM. Can a sleuth, no matter how gutsy or fool-hardy, question the man who inaugurates their swanky building? Can any file noting be ever made against the PM?
In any case, the CBI and other investigating agencies have to seek permission from the sanctioning authority, which sounds a very difficult proposition.
The CBI after filing the second chargesheet in the court indicated that it was as far as it could go, barring a supplementary. In fact the role of the premier agency has been that of a passive one, acting at the behest of the Supreme Court.
But Singh should take the lead and come forward and present what circumstances led to the scam, was he never aware of the scam taking place, why no officer briefed him and plethora of other questions. The chair of the PM has to be above board. Singh is King, and it should show.
India lacks precision for surgical attack
While the US commando troops swooped down the luxurious bungalow in military hill station Abbottabad in Pakistan, the Indian establishment does not have the wherewithal to lead such a precision attack inside the dangerous neighbourhood.
Though Army chief General V K Singh and Air Chief Marshal P V Naik say armed forces are "competent" to carry out an operation similar to the one conducted by the US in Pakistan against al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, Indian intelligence inputs required for such precision operation would be wanting, according to sources.
Though the elite commando troops of Army’s parachute units are highly trained and are armed with latest weaponry and communication gadgetry, the intelligence paraphernalia, including the Research and Analysis Wing has never been able to provide the military planners with precision data regarding hi-profile targets.
“Indian army special elite troops can operate in all theatres of war, including striking deep in enemy territory. But we never have high quality, actionable info even after 26/11,” says a senior military officer on condition of anonymity.
Military Intelligence lists over four dozen of mobile launch pads used by terrorists to enter Jammu and Kashmir besides nearly two dozen permanent terror training camps run by the Pakistan establishment including the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Incidentally Abbottabad is listed as a permanent terror base camp run by the ISI but the army never crossed the Line of Control, even in Kargil war.
According to highly reliable sources, the Indian intelligence agencies have rarely given pinpointed inputs to security forces, due to which causality figure of specialised forces in anti-terror operations have been high.
At the launch of Operation Pawan, the codename assigned for Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987, was a disaster primarily due to lack of intelligence available to the elite commando troops that swooped down Jaffna University, the then headquarters of Prabhakaran.
According to officials, three platoons of elite 10 Para Commandos were to spread in the the football field of Jaffna University, give covering fire for the subsequent group of commandos, barge the hostel and link up to main troops. The intel inputs given was that there could some minor resistance as LTTE cadre could be armed with a few assault rifles.
However, after the first helicopter had landed on ground, the commandos came under heavy semi-automatic and automatic fire from the hostel. The troops in the second helicopter barely managed to slither down. LTTE was armed with even rocket launchers and motors, which wasn’t part of the intelligence brief, which resulted in killing of nearly two dozen commandos and army officials.
The commandos were caught unaware inside enemy territory with heavy firing. They were fighting with limited ammunition for nearly 36 hours till an armoured regiment was ordered to blow and link up with the commandos. The Oct 12, 1987 operation had gone totally wrong due to poor intelligence inputs by the RAW and other agencies, according to sources.
Similarly intelligence inputs for even routine operations in Jammu and Kashmir are sketchy often endangering the lives of security forces.
The files maintained by the Intelligence Bureau, RAW and MI are generally of routine nature. Though each formation and branches maintain their own records, most intelligence is non-actionable.
An intelligence unit had a secret file on former President Pravez Musharraf, the intel was of routine nature include what liquor he drank or how he liked to socialise. The vital points including how he operated the Pakistan army or controlled the ISI were not listed, according to sources.
Interestingly, while India never has had the policy of hot pursuit, though it has actively been debated in war rooms South and North Block and intelligence headquarters in New Delhi, the troops are ready if ordered to conduct any operation in all war theatres.
However, post 26/11 after which a lot of emphasis has been stressed on rejuvenating the intelligence agencies are yet to bear fruits.
Though Army chief General V K Singh and Air Chief Marshal P V Naik say armed forces are "competent" to carry out an operation similar to the one conducted by the US in Pakistan against al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, Indian intelligence inputs required for such precision operation would be wanting, according to sources.
Though the elite commando troops of Army’s parachute units are highly trained and are armed with latest weaponry and communication gadgetry, the intelligence paraphernalia, including the Research and Analysis Wing has never been able to provide the military planners with precision data regarding hi-profile targets.
“Indian army special elite troops can operate in all theatres of war, including striking deep in enemy territory. But we never have high quality, actionable info even after 26/11,” says a senior military officer on condition of anonymity.
Military Intelligence lists over four dozen of mobile launch pads used by terrorists to enter Jammu and Kashmir besides nearly two dozen permanent terror training camps run by the Pakistan establishment including the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Incidentally Abbottabad is listed as a permanent terror base camp run by the ISI but the army never crossed the Line of Control, even in Kargil war.
According to highly reliable sources, the Indian intelligence agencies have rarely given pinpointed inputs to security forces, due to which causality figure of specialised forces in anti-terror operations have been high.
At the launch of Operation Pawan, the codename assigned for Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987, was a disaster primarily due to lack of intelligence available to the elite commando troops that swooped down Jaffna University, the then headquarters of Prabhakaran.
According to officials, three platoons of elite 10 Para Commandos were to spread in the the football field of Jaffna University, give covering fire for the subsequent group of commandos, barge the hostel and link up to main troops. The intel inputs given was that there could some minor resistance as LTTE cadre could be armed with a few assault rifles.
However, after the first helicopter had landed on ground, the commandos came under heavy semi-automatic and automatic fire from the hostel. The troops in the second helicopter barely managed to slither down. LTTE was armed with even rocket launchers and motors, which wasn’t part of the intelligence brief, which resulted in killing of nearly two dozen commandos and army officials.
The commandos were caught unaware inside enemy territory with heavy firing. They were fighting with limited ammunition for nearly 36 hours till an armoured regiment was ordered to blow and link up with the commandos. The Oct 12, 1987 operation had gone totally wrong due to poor intelligence inputs by the RAW and other agencies, according to sources.
Similarly intelligence inputs for even routine operations in Jammu and Kashmir are sketchy often endangering the lives of security forces.
The files maintained by the Intelligence Bureau, RAW and MI are generally of routine nature. Though each formation and branches maintain their own records, most intelligence is non-actionable.
An intelligence unit had a secret file on former President Pravez Musharraf, the intel was of routine nature include what liquor he drank or how he liked to socialise. The vital points including how he operated the Pakistan army or controlled the ISI were not listed, according to sources.
Interestingly, while India never has had the policy of hot pursuit, though it has actively been debated in war rooms South and North Block and intelligence headquarters in New Delhi, the troops are ready if ordered to conduct any operation in all war theatres.
However, post 26/11 after which a lot of emphasis has been stressed on rejuvenating the intelligence agencies are yet to bear fruits.
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