ELECTIONS ARE AROUND the corner in the politically important Uttar Pradesh and there is much at stake for the political parties. The stakes are even higher this time with the presidential election due this year and the value of the UP votes in that.
This has left an imprint on different political parties who hold divergent views. As a result, the Opposition has demanded for President rule to lead the state through with free and fair elections. The Congress Party, which has withdrawn support from the state government, is eyeing at least 50 seats in the Assembly. This will aid the party in its role of the king or queenmaker. And the period will mark Congress’ revival.
After victories in the urban elections, it is believed that vote-bank masses of the BJP have begun to look at it with fresh eyes. Also, the party stands a good chance of forming next government in the states of Uttarakhand and Punjab with its allies. And, if the BJP forms the next government in UP with outside support, it will leave no stone unturned to make sure the victory of its candidate for the country’s top job.
These developments will have an invincible impact on the presidential election due later this year. Here the scenario will only change in favour of the Congress if they come to power. Only then will they be able to put forward their own candidate for presidentship.
So at this juncture there is a need to go for consensus for the presidential candidate, irrespective of which party forms the next government in the state. The state has held the key to national politics. Realizing this political parties should be cautious and in a position to face the elections with due responsibility and fairness. They should avoid indulging into amateurish activities because stakes are even higher this time.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
UP polls have a message for India
THE MUCH anticipated poll results of politically sensitive Uttar Pradesh have come and Maya is once again the Mem Saheb of state’s helm of affairs. Popularly known as Behenji, Mayawati this time has emerged victorious with a thumping majority of her own, breaking the last 14 years record. Away from Media limelight, the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo along with her people has been successful in introducing a social engineering where the first caste of the Varna system has come on an equal platform with the fourth one. This in itself is a departure from history.
At this time, saying that only social engineering has helped BSP emerge victorious is wrong. Some political analysts have even gone on to compare BSP with the Congress, which had combined the Brahmin- Muslim- Dalit combination in its favour. But, it’s not exactly the same. It’s now a time to think beyond caste-based and vote bank-based politics, especially, at this time when people have voted for security, and law and order, which had completely deteriorated during the Samajwadi Party regime.
The BJP, not winning a good vote share, even though it went back to it’s original winning card of hardcore Hindutva, is a proof of the changing scenario. A section of Muslims concerned about their security and with an intent to keep the BJP away from power, voted for Mayawati. But still, by getting around 25 percent of vote share as compared to BSP’s 30 percent, the Samajwadi Party has made it clear that its Muslim-Yadav combination is still intact.
The 2007 UP elections have clearly shown that hardcore Hindutva even with covert media support is not going to help the BJP to win a majority. Also, for the fourth estate, the UP Election 2007 has given a clear message that the media should try to reach the ground level reality. Exit polls should be taken with a pinch of salt, news should be preverified and analysis should be backed by proper research.
Now, when we talk of the national parties like the Congress and the BJP, it is evident that a thorough re- look at the party structure is needed to make it more mass based. The parties should be looking at democracy within before they set out to manage the affairs of the nation. Appeasement of the particular sections of society and communalization of the politics should be done away with.
Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy that the government is of the people, for the people and by the people has to be referred to. Sadly now it has become a case of government off the people, far (from) the people and (to) buy the people.
This way UP elections clearly shows what people of the country feel. The mandate should be an eye-opener to the national parties especially to the BJP and the Congress that still security and law and order are the primary needs of the people apart from development. This is the beginning, a forward step in getting the society rid of caste- based and vote- based politics.
At this time, saying that only social engineering has helped BSP emerge victorious is wrong. Some political analysts have even gone on to compare BSP with the Congress, which had combined the Brahmin- Muslim- Dalit combination in its favour. But, it’s not exactly the same. It’s now a time to think beyond caste-based and vote bank-based politics, especially, at this time when people have voted for security, and law and order, which had completely deteriorated during the Samajwadi Party regime.
The BJP, not winning a good vote share, even though it went back to it’s original winning card of hardcore Hindutva, is a proof of the changing scenario. A section of Muslims concerned about their security and with an intent to keep the BJP away from power, voted for Mayawati. But still, by getting around 25 percent of vote share as compared to BSP’s 30 percent, the Samajwadi Party has made it clear that its Muslim-Yadav combination is still intact.
The 2007 UP elections have clearly shown that hardcore Hindutva even with covert media support is not going to help the BJP to win a majority. Also, for the fourth estate, the UP Election 2007 has given a clear message that the media should try to reach the ground level reality. Exit polls should be taken with a pinch of salt, news should be preverified and analysis should be backed by proper research.
Now, when we talk of the national parties like the Congress and the BJP, it is evident that a thorough re- look at the party structure is needed to make it more mass based. The parties should be looking at democracy within before they set out to manage the affairs of the nation. Appeasement of the particular sections of society and communalization of the politics should be done away with.
Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy that the government is of the people, for the people and by the people has to be referred to. Sadly now it has become a case of government off the people, far (from) the people and (to) buy the people.
This way UP elections clearly shows what people of the country feel. The mandate should be an eye-opener to the national parties especially to the BJP and the Congress that still security and law and order are the primary needs of the people apart from development. This is the beginning, a forward step in getting the society rid of caste- based and vote- based politics.
Good days in waiting for China
AT A TIME when the world is absorbed in turmoil in Iran and Iraq, and when relations are being made among affluent states, China is eyeing the African continent. The continent, known for its poverty, genocide, diseases, and foreign aids, has now much to offer to China. China has been the country with stellar economic performances for the past 25 years. Despite that it always kept itself away from playing the kind of active role in international affairs that would seem commensurate with its economic weight. However, the year 2006 brought significant departure from the earlier traditional stand. It signified that Beijing was no longer willing to watch the developments from outside and was ready to accept its role in the international system. This is evident from the fact that Chinese President has developed a theory of international relations, the concept of a “harmonious world”.
This concept has a set of objectives but the theory lacks the details regarding the means through which these objectives are to be achieved. The significant departure in the traditional foreign policy can be said an amalgam of certain factors. Almost 25 years of constant double-digit economic growth saw China becoming the world’s fourth largest economy. So, in a move to become world’s largest economy, China not only needs sustainability in its economic growth but also actively participating internationally. Hence, good relations with the African countries will serve them a source for raw materials and a potential market for Chinese goods. This benefit, together with bilateral trades and interest-free grants and loans, will also help them consolidate African nations’ economic well being.
Also, China, the fastest growing economy, needs large amount of natural resources and oil, which are imported. Hence, wooing aggressively the energy and resources rich countries of Africa, Latin America and Central Asian countries is the need of the hour. Politically also, the new relationship will be a viable option for China as 53 constituent nations’ Africa with 27.6 per cent share of votes in the United Nations will not only work with it but will also extend support when needed at other multinational forums. That period, apart from projecting China as an economically vibrant nation, will mark Chinese ‘heyday’ in the international affairs as it has also got the support of most of the Asian and Latin American countries with it.
But, what concerns the most is the Chinese apathy towards poor African human rights records, disregarding labour rights and environmental standards. And here, timely intervention is needed. That should either come from western countries or developing countries like India. India in particular has got to play a major role from the sidelines of forums like Non-Aligned Movement and Commonwealth. It is because India has a good record of human rights, being a democracy, than China. So, if India does, then the African Continent will serve as an acid taste for it to project itself as a power at the international forums.
This concept has a set of objectives but the theory lacks the details regarding the means through which these objectives are to be achieved. The significant departure in the traditional foreign policy can be said an amalgam of certain factors. Almost 25 years of constant double-digit economic growth saw China becoming the world’s fourth largest economy. So, in a move to become world’s largest economy, China not only needs sustainability in its economic growth but also actively participating internationally. Hence, good relations with the African countries will serve them a source for raw materials and a potential market for Chinese goods. This benefit, together with bilateral trades and interest-free grants and loans, will also help them consolidate African nations’ economic well being.
Also, China, the fastest growing economy, needs large amount of natural resources and oil, which are imported. Hence, wooing aggressively the energy and resources rich countries of Africa, Latin America and Central Asian countries is the need of the hour. Politically also, the new relationship will be a viable option for China as 53 constituent nations’ Africa with 27.6 per cent share of votes in the United Nations will not only work with it but will also extend support when needed at other multinational forums. That period, apart from projecting China as an economically vibrant nation, will mark Chinese ‘heyday’ in the international affairs as it has also got the support of most of the Asian and Latin American countries with it.
But, what concerns the most is the Chinese apathy towards poor African human rights records, disregarding labour rights and environmental standards. And here, timely intervention is needed. That should either come from western countries or developing countries like India. India in particular has got to play a major role from the sidelines of forums like Non-Aligned Movement and Commonwealth. It is because India has a good record of human rights, being a democracy, than China. So, if India does, then the African Continent will serve as an acid taste for it to project itself as a power at the international forums.
Bangladesh goes the Pak way
POLITICAL CRISIS IN Bangladesh seems to be deepening with the affluence fluctuating from one party to the other. After favouring Khalida Zia and Sheikh Hasina, fortune is scampering for the military. Earlier, five days after the declaration of emergency, elections due for January 22, got cancelled by the then President Iajuddin Ahmed. Repudiated by the opposition for his biasness towards Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Fakhruddin Ahmed, with his resignation, made way for military involvement in the preparation of the country for elections acceptable to Bangladeshis and the international community.
A new, though temporary, arrangement for Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former World Bank official, was found. This administrator is committed to an unwritten five- point agenda drawn up by the military. The agenda includes cleaning up of the various systems like the judiciary and the bureaucracy that will help provide military a smooth transition.
Yet, behind the deployment of troops to establish order, basic rights have been recalled. For example, political and trade union activities have been banned, and media censorship has been imposed. For time being it cannot be predicted as how long it will last.. It is this reason that some observers feel that Army Generals are behind the present brittle peace in Bangladesh. This leaves a question whether the Army will sideline both Khalida Zia and Sheikh Hasina, like General Musharraf did eight years ago with Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto after the Coup.
In its history of about 36 years, Bangladesh has seen genocide, famine, flood, endless poverty and military dictatorship, which continued until 1991. So, military rule seems to be a possible way out of this impasse where two of the major parties are still confused about their future course of action. The12,000 soldiers that the Bangladesh Army has on UN peacekeeping missions under profitable UN contracts can however limit the powers exercised by Bangladesh’s army.
A new, though temporary, arrangement for Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former World Bank official, was found. This administrator is committed to an unwritten five- point agenda drawn up by the military. The agenda includes cleaning up of the various systems like the judiciary and the bureaucracy that will help provide military a smooth transition.
Yet, behind the deployment of troops to establish order, basic rights have been recalled. For example, political and trade union activities have been banned, and media censorship has been imposed. For time being it cannot be predicted as how long it will last.. It is this reason that some observers feel that Army Generals are behind the present brittle peace in Bangladesh. This leaves a question whether the Army will sideline both Khalida Zia and Sheikh Hasina, like General Musharraf did eight years ago with Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto after the Coup.
In its history of about 36 years, Bangladesh has seen genocide, famine, flood, endless poverty and military dictatorship, which continued until 1991. So, military rule seems to be a possible way out of this impasse where two of the major parties are still confused about their future course of action. The12,000 soldiers that the Bangladesh Army has on UN peacekeeping missions under profitable UN contracts can however limit the powers exercised by Bangladesh’s army.
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