Salman Khursheed Opposes Reservations For Muslims

There is only one door left open for alleviating the backwardness of Muslims. That is to grant reservation to them. There is no field of human endeavour where the pitiable condition of Muslims is not visible. That is why all commissions constituted by the Government to study poverty and backwardness rampant among Muslims maintain that unless reservation is granted, improving the lot of Muslims is not possible. By granting reservations to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the Government has helped them to cross all roadblocks and achieved great progress. People belonging to SCs and STs are progressing day by day. Yet, in independent India, the condition of Muslims is worse and they continue to remain backward.

Even Muslim organizations formulate strategies and programmes for improvement of the lot of the community, but because of lack of cooperation by the Government, all their efforts fail. All commissions that the Government constitutes to study the cause of backwardness of the community only suggest that the condition of the Muslim community is going from bad to worse. They are even worse than Dalits and at some places, have fallen Below the Poverty Line (BPL). They lack both in education and skills. Incidence of diseases among Muslims is higher than other communities. This is because they are deprived of basic facilities of life. The level of deprivation has brought them in that condition where they have no choice except to adopt low-profile professions.

There is no Muslim leader who could suggest to them how they can progress in life. Therefore, there is no door open to them for their development and progress, except reservation. After analyzing the condition of Muslims, the Rajinder Sachar Committee has recommended to the Government that the very same privileges and special rights given to other backward sections of society should be extended to Muslims also. They should be supported to stand on their own so that such a huge population in the country does not become a burden on society, and the country derives benefit from their capabilities. Still, Muslims are denied reservation on the basis of religion. A Hindu washer man or a Hindu barber comes under reservation, but Muslims could not get it so far because they do not profess the faith of the majority population.

Sachar Committee Report
The Sachar Committee Report entitled, ‘Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community in India’, has initiated a new debate on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India. Though the debate has been going on for several decades, quite a few Governments have initiated studies on the community and evolved administrative measures on their basis. The findings are indeed shocking and revealing. What should be our response to this pathetic state of India’s largest minority? On account of a variety of factors, the work of the Sachar Committee and its report has greater significance and relevance than earlier initiatives. The seven-member high-level committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, constituted by the UPA Government, has done a great service to the Muslim community and entire country by identifying issues of equity as central to Muslim backwardness. The report states that the minority community in a society may remain deprived of the benefits of opportunities that become available through economic development. The sense of inequity, states the Report, is perpetual or a result of discrimination that the minority may face due to difference in identity.

The main findings of the Sachar Committee report are the following : (i) Only four per cent of all Muslim students are enrolled in Madrasas; (ii) Muslim parents are not averse to modern or mainstream education and prefer to send their children to regular school education that is open to any other child in India; (iii) In social indices such as infant mortality rate and sex such as infant mortality rate and sex ratio, the community fares better than the rest of the population; (iv) Among the Muslim social groups, the Arzals, whose traditional occupation is similar to that of SCs, might be designated as Most Backward Community and provided reservation; (v) The Ashraf and Ajlaf groups should be treated on apart with OBCs and covered under the OBC quota; (vi) To ameliorate the condition of “acute deprivation” of Muslims, they should be given reservation in employment and educational institutions (backward among the Muslims); (vii) To increase the political participation of the community, the panel recommended nomination to Muslims to public bodies, including local bodies; and (viii) Those constituencies that have a high percentage of Muslims should not be reserved for SCs.

UPA Government’s Promise
The Union Government had made a promise to Muslims that if it returns to power, it would introduce reservations for Muslims and adopt all means to improve their condition. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has reiterated at several gatherings that he soon would initiate measures to change the condition of Muslims. They would progress in the field of education, and would get employment. But unfortunately, there are many a black sheep in the community who strongly oppose grant of reservations to Muslims. Minister of State for Corporate and Minority Affairs Salman Khursheed tops the list of such people.

When he assumed power, he gave a statement against reservations to Muslims. It appears that it has become his duty to oppose reservation for Muslims with all strength at his command. During the 2009 general elections campaign, he continued to make tall promises that after forming the Government, he would do his best to improve the lot of Muslims, but no such thing appeared on the scene. Instead, political observers are of the view that Khursheed would give wrong suggestions to the Government in respect of reservation for Muslims. Though Dr. Singh has fully assessed the situation and is now completely aware of the problems being faced by the community, Muslims also expect of him that the Government will initiate some measures for their welfare, but Khursheed wants to keep himself aloof from advocating the cause for reservation for Muslims. That is why he has described reservation as non-profitable for the community. This makes it clear that he is a Muslim by name, but has no love lost for the community.

He argues that with the granting of reservation, efficiency among Muslims would come down and their capability to compete will reduce. Yet, if Muslims had the capacity and strength to compete, they would not have remained backward and would not have suffered humiliation. Despite their best efforts, they failed to come out of the pit of humiliation and helplessness. That is why grant of reservation to them is being talked about. It can empirically be said that other backward classes have profited from reservation granted to them. Today, they have the capacity to compete. Why then can the experiment not succeed for Muslims? It appears that Khursheed wants to present himself more secular than actually needed, so that even Hindu communalists remain beholden to him and the Hindu corridors remain open for him too. It is crystal clear that Muslims have suffered more at hands of Muslims.

Syed Shahbuddin’s Remarks
Noted former bureaucrat and Muslim leader Syed Shahbuddin has written a letter to Khursheed with regard to Muslims reservation. He has asked many pricking questions to Khursheed. He has queried that what harm would Khursheed have if Muslims get reservation? There are some States in the country that have given certain privileges to minorities, but heavens have not fallen, which has made Khursheed so dementiated. Why would the Muslim community lose its capabilities and efficiency? Shahbuddin has clarified that India is a democratic and secular State where all people should equally be benefited by facilities available here. This is the right of every citizen. The Constitution of India envisages that if the Government of India finds that a section of the population remains deprived, it is the duty of the Government to redress the situation and pay attention to the section deprived of its rights, help them so that they may stand should to shoulder with others.

Shahbuddin has drawn Khursheed's attention to the Sachar Committee report, saying that the report is highly reliable and that even the Supreme Court has lauded it. Legal luminaries in the country feel that it is a good document and if the recommendations were acted upon within a span of 10 years, Muslims would be able to compete with anyone. The Congress has returned to power for a second term, and Muslims have played a historic role in the party's return to power.

The Government is also fully aware of what expectations Muslims have of the Government. The wheel of action has begun to move, but Khursheed is throwing a spanner in that wheel to prevent its movement so that Muslims continue to be resigned to their lot and remain helpless and hapless.

Shahbuddin has called upon Khursheed to give a second thought to his inclination and he should consult others also before whatever he desires to say on Muslims. Anyway, it is a matter of conjecture whether reservation for Muslims gets implemented, or if the issue would continue to be debated for the sake of debate.

BRIC Meeting

The 2009 meeting of the heads-of-state of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) in the Russia’s third largest city, located in the picturesque Ural mountains, that was held recently after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The meeting was attended by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The meeting focused mainly on the meeting between Dr. Singh and the Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Formation of BRIC
The formation of BRIC is post-Cold War developments, dictated by circumstances brought about by that signal event. The BRIC countries have 25.9 percent of land in the world. Their population is about 40 percent of that of the world. Their contribution to the world's Gross National Product (GNP) is about 40 percent. The focus of the BRIC meeting was mainly on global economic recession and on environment. It will be difficult for the world to ignore their joint demand. Before his departure, the prime minister had said India was prepared to play its role in overcoming recession. As a matter of fact, there can never be a way out of this problem without the participation of countries accountable for 40 percent of the world's population and its GNP.

However, the ongoing international recession has adversely impacted Russia and Brazil far more than China and India, particularly on account of the fall in commodity prices, especially the prices of oil, gas and metals. China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is greater than the combined GDPs of the three other BRIC countries while its exports as well as its foreign currency reserves are more than twice those of Brazil, Russia and India put together.

The BRIC states are also members of G-20, which met not long ago to discuss the issue of coping with the global economic slowdown. In that setting, the focus was on strategies to get the economic and financial wheels moving in the major economies with the aid of countries like China and Saudi Arabia that have surplus investible resources. The BRIC format would allow the leading developing countries — which are a subset of G-20 — to better concentrate on strategies of trade, development and energy transfers among themselves in a way that would maximise gains for each of them. This is an important objective which does not diverge from the wider G-20 objectives.

At the G-20 Summit in London in April 2009, these countries had in fact referred to their own separate obligations. But they also want their presence to be felt in international organizations. India and Brazil, in particular, have been demanding permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Since China's role in India's context is not clear, unanimity is practically impossible on this issue. Nevertheless, they can agree on economic issues.

Joint Statement
The joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders committed to advance the reform of international financial institutions, so as to reflect changes in the global economy. The leaders believed that the emerging and developing economies must have greater voice and representation in international financial institutions, whose heads and executives should be appointed through an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process. They also believe that there is a strong need for a stable, predictable and more diversified international monetary system".

Much of the rest of the joint statement contained platitudes about support for a "just multi-polar world order" and the imperatives of energy-efficient development strategies. It pointed out that the "poorest countries have been hit hardest by the financial crisis" and called on the "international community… to step up efforts to provide liquid financial resources for these countries". Developed countries were urged to remember their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of their national incomes as aid.

Russia and China have for long been expressing their dissatisfaction at the pre-eminence of the US dollar as a "reserve" currency. The BRIC statement did not specifically mention the dollar but the message was clear. The BRIC countries are among many others who, faced with terrible recessionary conditions, are frustrated at their powerlessness in influencing the exchange rate of the dollar while remaining vulnerable to the fluctuations in the value of the American greenback.

Before the summit, Medvedev remarked: "There can be no successful global currency system if the financial instruments that are used are denominated in only one currency…" BRIC member states do have a common understanding of the causes and consequences of the current world economic crisis— something they do not necessarily share with the US, Japan, and Europe — and a joint interest in the reshaping of the global financial architecture.

Need of the Hour
It is believed that for making the BRIC successful, the organisation needs to proceed on three separate fronts. The most important of these is global. The Yekaterinburg statement speaks about making the institutions of global economic governance more open, transparent, and representative.

The four-nation organization, BRIC also speaks of moving towards a more stable and diversified international monetary system, and pushing for a balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Round at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) through, among other things, ending the multi-billion dollar western agricultural subsidies that distort global food markets.

The second issue is internal: BRIC will be stronger and more unified if there are greater internal linkages between its economies, especially on the business front.

The last but not least front is that the BRIC has a political agenda: using its collective strength as a lever for creating what President Medvedev called a “fairer world.”

Sarabjit's Death Sentence Case

Pakistan's Supreme Court has dismissed three review petitions filed by Indian national Sarabjit Singh and upheld the death sentence awarded to him for involvement in bomb attacks in 1990 that killed 14 persons. The upholding of Sarabjit's death sentence by Pakistan's Supreme Court is a great shock for all those who were hoping for his release. However, the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court had rejected Sarabjit's appeal earlier, and, therefore, the recent verdict should not come as a surprise.
In fact, Sarabjit has been suffering all these years because of being a case of mistaken identity. He is an innocent person, who deserves to be set free, as well-known Pakistani human rights activist and former minister Ansar Burney has been saying.
Sarabjit, who is languishing in a Pakistani jail for the last 18 years, has got a new lawyer, days after the Supreme Court in Islamabad dismissed his appeal against capital punishment.
Charges Against Sarabjit
Sarabjit was sentenced to death by a special anti-terrorist court in 1991 on charge of spying and killing 14 persons in two bomb blasts, one in Lahore and one in Faisalabad a year earlier. In January 2003, the Lahore High Court rejected his appeal against his sentence and later, in August 2005, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence. On March 3, 2008, the then President, Pervez Musharraf, also rejected his mercy plea.
Sarabjit was to be hung on April 1, 2008, but on March 18 he was granted a 30-day extension that was later stayed indefinitely by Musharraf.
Although the facts that emerged with regard to Sarabjit in the past three years and the discussion that had been going on in media and at diplomatic level had given some hope, this latest decision has created a situation of hopelessness.
The absence of Sarabjit's counsel in the court is a mystery that may become clear in the coming days, but such a big decision cannot be made just because of the lawyer's absence. Obviously, the court has considered the police investigation, testimonies of witnesses, and earlier court verdicts weightier than the argument of false identification. However, it is an irony that the police there have recorded the name of the killer of 14 persons, who were killed in four explosions in 1990, as Manjit Singh, and the punishment is also being given to Manjit Singh, who is, in fact, Sarabjit Singh.
Hanging Postponed
This could now be finally decided at two levels. One way is of general pardon to Sarabjit by the President. There had been some hope of it during the term of Musharraf, but after that the Government took only two initiatives in this matter. On 1 April 2008, Sarabjit's hanging was postponed by the order of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. After that, in October 2008, the Law Minister there had issued a statement about reviewing the case after meeting with Sarabjit in Kot Lakhpat prison. The President could decide about granting or not granting general pardon only after the Government's recommendation, and the Law Ministry's opinion is essential for it. Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney is going to file an appeal with the President.
India’s Initiative
India has talked about taking an initiative. The matter is related to terrorism and Sarabjit is an Indian, therefore, the Pakistani Government is hesitating to make the decision about amnesty, but it will be very unfortunate if an innocent person is hanged. This can only be settled at the diplomatic level. A way out could be found through talks between the governments.
External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna’s appeal to Pakistan to “take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case” is unexceptionable. After all, Sarabjit has suffered imprisonment for 18 years, which is more than life sentence, even when there is no solid proof to substantiate the charge levelled against him.
The Pakistani Government might recommend offering general pardon to Sarabjit considering all facts, but then Sarabjit would have to be considered as innocent and the police investigation as false. After that, all decisions will automatically be proved as wrong. This will be a reflection on the credibility of the police and the security agencies. The other way out is that the Government asks the investigation agency for a fresh probe with new facts, and its officers come to India and confirm the facts.

King of Pop Passes Away

Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop', who 'Moon walked' to the hearts of millions with his mesmerizing music and signature break dance in the 80s, died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles on June 26. Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him.

Jackson is survived by three children—Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

The ‘king of pop’ was born on August 29, 1958, and debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of ‘The Jackson 5’, and began a solo career in 1971.

Spotlights and Flashbulbs
jackson to understand a world that he saw mostly while staring into spotlights and flashbulbs. Standing ovations greeted him on stage; parental slaps awaited him in the dressing room. Like his mother, he became a Jehovah's Witness, forswearing alcohol, cigarettes and foul language. He fasted on Saturdays and went door to door, wearing a disguise, to spread the faith. (He ended his association with the religion in the late 1980s.)

In a Motown TV special in 1983, Jackson, then 24, electrified the nation with his moonwalk, a dance step that created the illusion of levitation. He took the stage in a black sequined jacket, silver shirt, black fedora and black trousers that skimmed the tops of his white socks. The final touch was a single white glove, studded with rhinestones. The "Thriller" success enabled Jackson to negotiate what were believed to be the highest royalty rates ever earned by a recording artist. But it also put him in a cage of his own anxieties and obsession.

Jackson bonded with past pop-music royalty by marrying Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 and grabbing a major interest in the Beatles catalog, an asset worth $500 million. The marriage was short-lived, however, and his wealth was imperiled by an extravagant lifestyle that included the 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, where he lived with a menagerie of exotic pets.

Entertainment Career
Jackson's entertainment career hit high-water marks with the release of ‘Thriller,’ from 1982, which has been certified 28 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and with the ‘Victory’ world tour that reunited him with his brothers in 1984.

But soon afterward, his career started a bizarre disintegration. His darkest moment undoubtedly came in 2003, when he was indicted on child molesting charges. A young cancer patient claimed the singer had befriended him and then groped him at his Neverland estate near Santa Barbara, California, but Jackson was acquitted on all charges.

The singer was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 but he could not be charged due to lack of evidence. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.

Major Achievements
When related by number, his achievements are unparalleled: an estimated 750 million albums sold worldwide; 13 Grammy Awards; another 13 number one singles; two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In assessing his place in the history of pop, it is important to remember that Jackson was not just a musician. He was a spectacular act. Viewed in isolation, his music was not path-breaking; he did not invent or even heavily influence a musical genre as Chuck Berry or Led Zeppelin or Bob Dylan did.

In recent years, he inspired fascination for reasons that had nothing to do with music. Years of plastic surgery had made his face a bizarre landscape. He was deeply in debt and had lost his way as a musician. He had not toured since 1997 or released new songs since 2001. Instead of music videos, Jackson images became tabloid reports about his strange behavior, including allegations of child molestation, or the latest failed relaunch of his career.

The 50-year-old icon of pop, Jackson was rehearsing for a huge musical comeback when he collapsed. The 50 shows scheduled at the O2 arena in London, which were to start next month, had sold out within hours. A frail-looking Jackson had spent his last weeks in rehearsal for an ambitious comeback attempt and 50 sold-out shows in London. A major motivation was the $300 million in debt run up by a star who lived like royalty even though his self-declared title of "King of Pop" was more about the past than the present.

Uttarakhand Imbroglio

At long last, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chand Khanduri had to resign because Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not win even a single seat in the recent general elections in the State. Journalist-turned-politician Ramesh Pokhriyal has been named as the new Chief Minister of the State. Since the BJP secured much less seats than expected, there is a process of allegations and counter allegations within the party and that process continues unabated.

Faced with mounting rebellion against Khanduri, spearheaded by former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, the BJP high command asked the 75-year-old Khanduri to put in his papers. Khanduri, who as the Chief Minister of the hill State faced rebellion from the initial days of his Government, was under intense pressure to quit following the party’s rout in the Lok Sabha elections.

Fundamentalist Hindutva Policy
A section of the BJP is blaming the fundamentalist Hindutva policy for the unexpected party's defeat. This section is also accusing the party of attaching undue importance to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader Varun Gandhi, for which the party had to face the consequences.

At the two-day meeting of the BJP's national executive in New Delhi, almost all leaders were unanimous that ignoring minorities, particularly Muslims, would be perilous for the party. Although senior BJP leader L.K. Advani clarified that the BJP would take both Hindutva and Muslims along, the clarification in itself is manifestation of the BJP's desire to attract Muslim votes despite falling back on the Hindutva.

Differing and Contrary Issues
The party's affirmation to adopt two differing and contrary issues is evidence of its internal dissension and the war within. This internal bickering was witnessed at the meeting. Prior to it, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha created a furor by resigning from all posts of the party, which also added to the problem of the top leadership. How issues of the Hindutva and Muslims came up under discussions manifested that all was not well within the party. A few days ago, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and a BJP Rajya Sabha member, Bhagar Singh Koshiyari, resigned his seat in the Rajya Sabha, although the party leadership could later make him agree to withdraw his resignation.

Moreover, six members of the assembly visited Delhi and warned the BJP top leadership that if Khanduri were not removed from chief ministership, they would cause the fall of his government in the State. It is clear that the party had no option, but to make Khanduri to resign on his own and, thereby, to keep the crisis at bay for some time.

Interestingly, despite having tendered his resignation, Khanduri clearly denied of being responsible for the rout of the party at the hustings. The continuing situation in Uttarakhand indicates that despite Khanduri's resignation, bringing an end to the continuing tug-of-war in the State leadership is not an easy task. Koshiyari was very eager to become the Chief Minister in the State. He is lobbying for that with the BJP members of the Assembly. On the other hand, the federal leadership has made it clear that he would be given organizational responsibilities. In short, the BJP is trying its best to prevent groupism in Uttarakhand; yet, its success appears to be a far cry. In fact, the party has been avoiding to analyze the causes of its rout, ever since the results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared. Even those leaders, who have been asking for an analysis of the causes of the defeat and for introspection, have been directed to hold their peace.

Trouble for Party Leadership
The attitude that the party had adopted on the resignation of Yashwant Sinha is no secret. Immediately after the party's failure in the Lok Sabha elections, Khanduri too had offered to resign, but, on expediency, the offer was rejected. Perhaps, the party leaders feared that if a Chief Minister resigned in the wake of the party's defeat, many other heads would have to roll and those holding high offices would no longer be safe at their cozy seats. They may have to resign accepting moral responsibility.

Keeping oneself blindfolded against the reality is not in any party's interest. Such an attitude cannot help in anyway to prevent the revolt simmering within. This is why even after a month since the general elections results were declared; there appears no lessening of trouble for the party leadership. Instead, it is on the rise. The rebellion against Khanduri and the increase in groupism in Uttarakhand goes to prove it. It also makes one realize that the future path of the party is strewn with thorns.

Crisis in BJP

The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) who have lived in their own world like Messrs L. K. Advani and Rajnath Singh, who is also the President of the party, are at sea now, struggling to tackle the crisis caused by the party’s defeat in the 2009 general elections. They are nowhere near success in the venture because they do not own their responsibility for the defeat, least of all accounting for it. It has become clear from the speeches of key leaders in the national executive meeting that the party is unable to recover from the blow of defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

Self-Introspection and Direction for Future
Since this was the first BJP national executive meeting after the Lok Sabha elections results, most discussion concentrating on this subject is expected. However, absence of honest self-introspection and direction for the future in any leader's speech, including that of the party president, is a matter of concern. Not a single decision came out from this national executive meet on the basis of which it can be said that the party leadership had made prior preparations for the meet and there are possibilities of it emerging stronger in the future.

The statements of the main leaders of the national executive were full of insult and mistrust toward each other. The thing of concern for the country is that, after all, how these leaders can join hands to work together. If there is unity among them, they can face the biggest defeat together.

Finger-pointing is becoming more and more vehement and has fully replaced serious introspection and the fixing of responsibility for the poll debacle. Cut up ostensibly over this failure, Yashwant Sinha has resigned as vice-president and also from the party’s national executive council. The functioning of the party was being criticised by others like Jaswant Singh and Arun Shourie also, but Sinha, who had raised a banner of revolt against Advani in 2005 also when the latter praised Pakistan founder M A Jinnah for his “secularism”, has dropped a full-fledged “letter bomb”.

Lack of Unity
When there is lack of unity, it is difficult to hope that the BJP will really recover from the shock of defeat and will start working again wholeheartedly for its success. While talking about collective responsibility for the defeat, the emotional ploy by the party president to take personal responsibility for it did not have any effect. Talking about remaining firm on the Hindutva along with traditional issues, he, perhaps, tried to give direction to future debate, but nobody was in a mood to discuss it.

This must be the first BJP executive meeting in which so many aggressive voices of dissent and basic differences have come to the fore. This shows the condition of perplexity at the leadership level. This is neither good for the BJP or for the country. Advani himself has often from inside Parliament and outside cried hoarse in favour of the principle of accountability. But when it comes to himself he forgets about it. He perhaps still does not realise that he has reached the end of his political career and his continuing as leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party, and hence as Leader of the Opposition, stands in the way of resolving the crisis of a political party lying demoralised by defeat.

Future of Parliamentary Democracy
The healthy future of the parliamentary democracy rests on the balance between the ruling party and the opposition. Being the main opposition party, it is necessary that the BJP remain on the political scene as a well-organized and dynamic party. It is possible only when the party leadership comes out of the shock of defeat, accepts the reasons for defeat that are clearly visible, and resolves to remove them, sidelining internal differences and bitterness. There is no sign of it at all.

If the BJP leaders are getting ready to cause harm to themselves, no one can stop them from doing so. If we were to read the voice of this national executive, the political future of the BJP looks bleak. Had the leaders talked about working together forgetting everything despite saying what they had to, there could have been some hope. There was not any concrete decision and the resolve to work together. How then could one have any hope?

Indian Government Declares CPI-Maoist Terror Outfit

The Union Government has decided rather belatedly to ban the Maoist organization, Communist Party of India --Maoist [CPI (Maoist)] as a terrorist organization. It invoked Section 41 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the extremist outfit.

The CPI (Maoist) came into existence following the merger of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), the People’s War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC).
The ban came two days after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the backdrop of violent incidents in Lalgarh and the ongoing operation by the police and the security forces to reclaim the area. Therefore, it cannot be described as sound.

Although the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is applicable all over India, every state must issue its own notification banning the organisation. Orissa, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu have already declared the CPI (Maoist) an unlawful association. Bihar has declared the MCC and the CPI-ML (PWG) unlawful associations. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have declared the CPI (Maoist) an unlawful association.

Threat to Internal Security
India is badly surrounded by dangers -- internal as well as external. Although the Government has declared the CPI (Maoist) as a terrorist organization to deal with the Maoists, but one more dangerous announcement has been made across the border. Al-Qaida's Afghanistan Chief Mustafa Abu al-Yazid says that if they can, they will use Pakistan's nuclear weapons in the war against the US. In spite of it, if they have to flee from Afghanistan, under joint military pressure from the US and Pakistan, it is difficult to say where they will set up their camp.

An organization that has become a threat to the internal security must be banned. However, it can never be justified if it has no effect on groups spreading anarchy and violence. It is doubtful if they will be at all disturbed if the CPI (Maoist) is included in the list of banned terrorist organizations.

When this organization has joined hands with others to challenge the Central security forces directly, it ill behooves the Central Government to perform its duty by imposing a ban on the organization. It is difficult to understand why the Government took five long years to remember that the CPI (ML) and the Maoist Communist Centre had merged in 2004 to form the CPI (Maoist). Was it not necessary to ban the organization at that time? Had this step been taken at the right time, it would perhaps never been so powerful! Anyway, this unnecessary action taken on the Maoist organization once again confirms the Central Government's negligence about the forces threatening the country's security.

Leftists Change Colour
How fast the Leftists change colour was seen during the Lalgarh operation. The Left Front Government has been in power in West Bengal for the past three decades. First, it demanded security forces from the Central Government and accused the opposition Trinamool Congress of a nexus with Maoist insurgents.

Besides this, just two days ago, the State Chief Minister said that they could think of imposing a ban on the Maoists. As the moment the Central Government took action, he came out in support of the Maoists. Wrapping his support in the ideological garb he said that the Maoists should be dealt with at the administrative and ideological level. However, there is no place for shame in politics, when it is his Government in power, which has stopped him from doing so?
Future Prospects

The time will only tell how far this ban will be able to weaken the Maoists. However, the West Bengal Government's decision to analyze the legal implications of accepting the ban as compulsory is rather worrying. The West Bengal Home Secretary confirmed that the legal experts were being consulted on this matter. This gives the impression that the West Bengal Government and the Union Government do not see eye to eye on this issue.
The Left Front is right in arguing that such organizations cannot be wiped out by imposing a ban. Yet, it is not in the fitness of things for the state Government to seem to be indifferent to the Central Government's decision. The present developments so far show how the two Governments are reluctant to unite and to agree on this matter. It cannot thus, be said with confidence, in this situation, that the reasons, which have helped the Maoists to strengthen their position, can be removed. It is a fact that poverty and backwardness of the rural and far-flung areas have helped the Maoists a great deal to strengthen their position. If the Government really wants to confront Maoist insurgents, it has to pay attention to the development of these backward regions besides using force.
Let us all take a resolution that no matter what the colour of the threat facing the nation; we will all face it together. It should not make any difference what our ideology is, because until today, no ideology has moved forward taking support of terrorism.

Government Returns Gujarat’s Anti-Terror Bill

The Union Government has returned the controversial Anti-Terror Bill passed by the Gujarat Assembly with the recommendation that without three key amendments it cannot be sent for the presidential approval. The decision to return the bill has been taken to bring it in conformity with the Unlawful Activities Prevention (UAP) Act which was amended by Parliament in 2008. The bill has three provisions which are not in accordance with the UAP Act.

Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act
The Union Government has approved the proposal to recommend to the President that the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOCA) Bill may be returned to the State to make three changes before it can be sent to the President for assent. Until about a decade-and-a-half ago, terrorism was confined to the country’s border states, namely Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and in the Northeast, with occasional strikes by terrorists from Punjab in other parts of the country. But during the last few years, the menace of terrorism has gradually spread across the country, leaving hardly any state unaffected.

The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Gujarat has been demanding early assent to the bill, which is pending with the Centre for more than four years. It is seeking to bring in the anti-terror law on the lines of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) passed by the State Assembly.

The Provisions
Under the proposed Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act, a confession before a police officer is admissible in a court. This should be made inadmissible. The act also contains a clause stating that a court cannot grant bail if the public prosecutor opposes it. The court should have the power to grant bail even if the public prosecutor opposes it. The third amendment is related to Section 20 (2) of the act that the home minister did not specify.

The principles are that we will be able to recommend for the assent of the President of this only after the three provisions are amended to bring in conformity with what the Parliament has passed recently, mainly UAPA, that is as far as Union Cabinet is concerned. Following the outbreak of terrorism in Punjab, the Union Government promulgated the Terrorist and Disruptive ` Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in 1985. But this led to considerable misuse, the worst by Gujarat where a staggering 19,000 persons were booked even though there had been no incident of terrorist violence until 1995, the year when the law was allowed to lapse. In Punjab, a total 14,557 were booked under TADA.

Yet, the conviction rate was a dismal 0.37 per cent. In all, 77,000 persons were detained nationwide under TADA of which only 8,000 were finally tried and a mere 725 indicted. The short-lived Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), too, was misused and civil liberties groups are making similar allegations against the current UAPA. The Bill, passed in 2004, has been pending with the Centre since four years. During this period, the Home and Law Ministries examined it but the UAPA amendments, relating to the anti-terror provisions, were approved by Parliament recently.

The Union Government proposed deletion of a provision relating to confessions to a police officer, which are admissible; allowing the court discretionary power to give bail after hearing the public prosecutor; and the third relates to powers of a special court to extend the period of detention from 90 to 180 days. It should be amended in such a way as not to vest discretion entirely with the special court.

India Enters Into Deflation Mode

The rate of inflation turned negative for the first time in 30 years at minus 1.61 per cent, causing a flutter among industry and economists, but the common man continues to pay more for pulses, cereals and vegetables than in 2008.

Inflation at week-ended June 6 came in at -1.6 per cent, heralding the wholesale price index (WPI) heading into negative territory for the first time since 1977-78. The annual rate of inflation, calculated on a point-to-point basis, stood at -1.61 per cent for the week ended June 6 as compared to 0.13 per cent for the previous week ended 30 May and 11.66 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year. The WPI for all commodities was up 0.04 per cent at 232.7 WoW.

Negative Trend of Inflation
The negative trend of inflation is likely to continue till August 2009 after which the impact of the high base effect is likely to wear off. The decline in inflation should pave the way for further interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that in turn would help to revive industry, which is impacted by shortfall in credit, and infuse liquidity in the market.

According to Government figures, the prices of food articles were up 8.7 per cent: those of pulses, the only cheap source of protein for vegetarians, is up by 17 per cent; cereals by 13.5 per cent and fruits and vegetables by 10 per cent. Sugar prices have gone through the roof. There are two factors that have brought in this "negative inflation". The prices of commodities and crude oil have come down compared to the prices a year ago, when both these items were at their peak. The wholesale price index, on which the inflation index is calculated against the prevailing price in the corresponding week a year ago and not a week ago.

Now that prices are falling, this is a good time to do away with administered oil prices and link them to the market. Even if they lead to some rise in other prices as well, through linkages with the rest of the economy, it will hardly be painful if it brings price rise from a negative to a zero per cent increase.

Concerned industry wanted immediate action like cuts in interest rates to boost demand even as bankers opined that interest rates could be cut by up to one percentage point.

After the inflation data were released, the stock market rose 200 points from the opening level but closed the day lower at 257 points at 14,265 points even as some economists said that the situation warranted Government action.

Impact of Food Prices
Cheaper food prices dragged the index down but the fuel prices remain an area of concern. The prices of oil are kept stable even though the international crude oil price is rising, once the domestic prices are revised then inflation will start zooming up again.

However, the negative rate of inflation number of 1.6 per cent showing that the WPI dropped compared to 2008 reinforces the trend that has been seen since November 2008. In fact, had the statistical office been putting out the correct number that is the seasonally adjusted month-on-month figure, as do all countries with even a modicum of a well-run statistical system, we would have clearly seen the fall in prices that has been taking place since the crisis in the last quarter of 2008. Price deflation since November 2008 has been quite sharp.

The Government needs to intervene to rationalise the negative zone inflation as it reflects slowdown in production activities with the piling up of inventories due to lack of demand. The government has hinted at the possibility of hiking the retail prices of petrol and diesel, a move that is sure to fuel inflation. The rather contradictory signals from the inflation data — negative inflation as measured by the WPI, with a strong possibility of a spike a few months hence — pose a new challenge to monetary authorities. The build-up of huge fiscal deficits over the last two years and the difficulties in effecting fiscal consolidation are major concerns, though the existence of excess capacity in many sectors should provide some cushion.

Revival of Economy
Recently the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that India will grow only at 4.5 per cent while the RBI’s prediction is 6 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Obviously, there is confusion because a slower growth rate would mean a slower revival of the economy and more problems for the unemployed. All economic indicators point to the continuation of a slowdown but the mood is somewhat upbeat among official circles which keep insisting on a high rate of growth of about 7 per cent in the next one year, and the Prime Minister himself has said that the country will be on its way to recovery soon.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows might pick up as people realise that India and China are still somewhat better sheltered from the global crisis. A revival of the stock market will bring back confidence of foreign institutional investors. But there will be tough competition in attracting Foreign Institutional Investers (FIIs) among the emerging economies.

Negative inflation rate indicates that there is room for further rationalisation of the interest rate structure in order to boost demand in the economy.However, there was no fear of deflation and this was just a temporary phenomenon.

Pakistan WinsTwenty20 World Cup 2009; England Lifts Women’s Trophy

A glorious chapter in the history of cricket was scripted as the runners-up of the inaugural edition, Pakistan became the World Twenty20 Champion of the 2009 event at Lord’s, the home of cricket, on June 21, 2009. With Sri Lanka and Pakistan, besieged by violence back home and competing for the trophy, it will only be fitting that the winner came back from the brink to the top of the cricketing world.
The last time around, they had missed the World Cup by a whisker. This time, Pakistan left nothing to chance as they packed a punch to thump Sri Lanka and emerge as the World Twenty20 champions. The meagre target of 139 was never a hassle as the Greens rode on Shahid Afridi’s half-century to canter home by eight wickets.
Afridi Proves Mettle
Man-of-the-Match Shahid Afridi made an unbeaten 54 as Pakistan made 139-2 to overhaul Sri Lanka's total. Kamran Akmal added 37 as he put on 48 for the first wicket with Shahzaib Hasan. Sri Lanka's failure to take early wickets proved crucial as Afridi and Shoaib Malik (24) clinched victory with eight balls to spare.Earlier, Sri Lanka, led by captain Kumar Sangakkara had recovered to reach 138-6 after Abdul Razzaq had ripped through its top order to take 3-20.Sangakkara anchored the innings, top-scoring with an unbeaten 64 as a succession of batting partners came and went until Angelo Mathews (35 not out) arrived at the crease and helped steer the pre-match favorite to a defendable, but ultimately inadequate total. Pakistan made a sluggish start to the run chase and nearly lost Hasan in the fourth over when Mathews was inches away from taking a spectacular diving catch.It was 39-0 after the powerplay and Akmal accelerated the innings in the next over, hitting Mathews for six over square leg. Sri Lanka had to wait until the eighth over to take its first wicket when Sangakkara stumped Akmal off Sanath Jayasuriya's first ball. Hasan was then caught by Jayasuriya off Muttiah Muralitharan at the start of the tenth, leaving Pakistan on 63-2 at the halfway point of the innings.
Sri Lanka were never in the game as Pakistan tightened the screw right from the start to restrict them to a modest total. The champions got off to a flyer too, courtesy Akmal, who swatted Ajanta Mendis for a flat six over mid-wicket in his first over, the sixth of the innings. One more six, off Angelo Mathews followed and the game began to slip out of Sri Lanka’s hands.

Golden Moment for Pakistan’s Cricket History
Undoubtedly it was only fitting that a team that had undergone innumerous trials and tribulations, had won the World championship. The World Twenty20 has taught us anything it is that there is no such thing as firm favourites. The pre-competition bookmakers’ choice, India departed in the Super Eights; the critics’ nominee, South Africa exited in the semifinals.
If Pakistan has the passion and the unpredictability in the name of an advanced weapons system, Lankan style and intent pretty much define its excellence in secret warfare. If Pakistan is an unguided missile, Lanka is the button with powers to mould the trajectory; if Pakistan is openly brittle, Lanka has done well to camouflage its Achilles heel. If Pakistan was here to win this one to give life to a nation at war with itself, Lanka has just emerged from a 25-year-old strife and is under explicit instructions to bring only good things home.So, the occasion was momentous, though an India-Pakistan clash at this level would have paled even this big one in comparison. Pakistan has just shown how it can asphyxiate the mightiest team in the competition. Lanka has done the same only to make the obvious more clear - they were here for the Cup and at the end of the day Pakistan returned to their island nation with the trophy.
Sri Lanka’s performance in the tournament was excellent this is why it was supposed to be the contenders for the title. They were unscathed at every stage, having disposed of Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies (twice) as well as Pakistan en route to the final. And they have won their matches quite conclusively.
Sri Lanka’s strength was in its first four batsmen—Player of the TournamentTilakaratne Dilshan, the most impressive of all in the tourney, who scored 317 runs; Sanath Jayasuriya, who will soon be 40, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. They have collectively held firm; yet Pakistan’s chance would centre round removing this quartet cheaply.
Good Team Work
Younus Khan employed his most incisive quicker bowler, Umar Gul, who was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 wickets, with the older ball. In other words, the ones entrusted with the new ball lack the same experience or penetration. To contain the cream of the Sri Lankan batting, Pakistan ideally need to captured six wickets in the 13 over. The return of Abdul Razzaq has lent not just the much-needed balance to the team but also provided the skipper with relief and belief of finally being viable for victory. Razzaq took three crucial wickets, including the dangerous Jayasuriya.Afridi and Saeed Ajmal have undoubtedly troubled opposition. The Sri Lankans, accustomed to spin, could not play them better; at the same time, the pressure of having to go for shots resulted in mistakes.

Road to Final
Sri Lanka
vs Aus (won by 6 wkts);vs WI (won by 15 runs);vs Pak (won by 19 runs); vs Ireland (won by 9 runs);vs NZ (won by 48 runs);vs WI (won by 57 runs).
Pakistan
vs England (lost by 48runs); vs Netherlands (won by 82 runs); vs Sri Lanka (lost by 19 runs); vs New Zealand (won by 6 wkts); vs Ireland (won by 39 runs); vs SA (won by 7 runs).


England Lifts Women’s World Twenty20 Trophy

England women scripted history by winning a World Cup double after their comprehensive six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup final on June 21, 2009. England, which had won the ODI World Cup in Australia in March, produced a clinical bowling and batting performance against the Kiwis at the historic Lord's to hold world titles of the two shorter formats of the game.
The home team first skittled New Zealand out for a paltry 85, thanks mainly to right-arm fast bowler Katherine Hunt's three for six from four overs, and then chased down the target in 17 overs, reaching 86 for four.
England's in-form batter Claire Taylor top-scored with a 32-ball unbeaten 39 while wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor chipped in with 23.
For New Zealand, Sophie Devine, Sian Ruck, Kate Pulford and Nicola Browne took a wicket.

Growing Climate Change

The climate change is often described and used interchangeably with the term Global Warming. However, the National Academy of Science has defined ‘climate change’ as “growing in preferred use to `global warming’ because it helps convey that there are (other) changes in addition to rising tem­peratures.”
Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). The following factors are responsible for climate change:
(i) natural factors, such as changes in the suns’s intensity or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun;
(ii) natural processes within the climate system (such as changes in ocean circulation);
(iii) human activities that change the atmosphere’s composition (such as burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (deforestation, reforestation, urbanisation, desertification).
Ever since the earth came into being there has been a climate system. The climate of a place is the average weather that it experiences over a period of time. The factors that determine the cli­mate at a location are the rainfall, sunshine, wind, humidity, and temperature.
While changes in the weather may occur suddenly, and noticeably, changes in the climate take a long time to settle in and are therefore less obvious. Throughout the earth’s history there have been changes in the climate. There have been well-marked cold and hot periods and all life forms adapted naturally to this change.
Over the last 150-200 years climate change has been taking place too rapidly and certain plant and animal species have found it hard to adapt. Human activities are said to be responsible for the speed at which this change has occurred and it is now a cause of worry to scientists.
The atmosphere surrounding the earth is made up of nitrogen (78 per cent), oxygen (21 per cent) and the remainder, 1 per cent, is made up of trace gases (called so because they are present in very small quanti­ties) that include the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapour, and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases act as a blanket and protect it from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Fresh research by Danish Space Research Centre can possibly give a new twist to the controversy whether green house gas emissions is the major contributor for Global Warming. The Centre’s research based on climate date to 150 years shows that varying activity of the Sun is the most systematic contributor to natural climate variations. The green house emissions is just one of the many factors for Global Warming.
They can also be regarded as natural controllers of the earth’s temperature system. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century saw the large-scale use of fossil fuels for indus­trial activities. These industries created jobs and over the years, people moved from rural areas to the cities. This trend is continuing even today. More and more land that was covered with vegeta­tion has been cleared to make way for houses. This is why natural resources are being used extensively for construction, industries, transport, and consumption. Consumerism (our increasing want for mate­rial things) has increased by leaps and bounds, creating mountains of waste. Also, our population has increased to an incredible extent.
All this has contributed to a rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas supply most of the energy needed to run vehicles, generate electricity for indus­tries, households, etc. The energy sector is responsible for about three-fourths of the carbon dioxide emissions, one-third of the methane emissions and a large quantity of nitrous oxide. It also produces nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) which are not greenhouse gases but do have an influence on the chemical cycles in the atmosphere that produce or destroy greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Gases and their Sources
Undoubtedly carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Changes in land use pattern, deforestation, land clearing, agriculture, and other activities have all led to a rise in the emission of carbon dioxide.
Methane is another important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. About one-fourth of all methane emis­sions are said to come from domesticated animals such as dairy cows, goats, pigs, buffaloes, camels, horses, and sheep.
Migration Challenge
The plausible spectre of large numbers of people migrating from coastal regions, and of entire populations abandoning small island countries due to rising sea levels makes it vitally important for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to come up with a strong adaptation strategy at its Copenhagen conference later 2009. The scale of the climate migration challenge is staggering. Experts estimate that by mid-century nearly 250 million people may come under pressure to move out because of intensifying monsoon flooding, desertification, and reduced food production.
The threat of mass migration is of acute concern to India because, for a start, Bangladesh, where millions of people live close to the sea, is extremely vulnerable. Another neighbour, the Maldives, fears it will almost entirely go under water with a not-impossible one-metre rise in sea level. So gloomy is the view from the beautiful, atoll nation that its recently elected government announced a move to create a sovereign fund to resettle its population of about 300,000 abroad.
Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change is a threat to mankind! Since the end of the 19th century the earth’s average surface temperature has increased by 0.3-0.6 °C. Over the last 40 years, the rise has been 0.2-0.3 °C. Recent years have been the warmest since 1860, the year when regular instrumental records became available.
Some important aspects of our lives can be affected through changes in weather patterns and some of these are discussed here.


Agriculture: The steadily-increasing human population has led to a rise in the demand for food. As more land comes under agricultural cultivation there will be more pressure on natural ecosystems. Climate change will affect agricultural yield directly because of alterations in temperature and rainfall, and indirectly through changes in soil quality, pests, and diseases. In particular, the yield of cereals is expected to decline in India, Africa, and the Middle East.

As the temperature rises conditions will become more favourable for pests such as grasshoppers to complete a number of reproduction cycles thereby increasing their population. In the higher latitudes (in the northern countries) agriculture will benefit with the rise in temperature as the winter season will be shorter and the growing seasons longer. This will also mean that pests that will move towards the higher latitudes as the temperatures rise. Extreme weather conditions such as high temperature, heavy rainfall, floods, droughts, etc. will also affect crop production.

Weather: A warmer climate will change rainfall and snowfall patterns, lead to increased droughts and floods, cause melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets, and result in accelerated sea- level rise. Rising warmth will lead to an increase in the level of evaporation of surface water; the air will also expand and this will increase its capacity to hold moisture. This, in turn, will affect water resources, forests, and other natural ecological systems, agriculture, power generation, infrastructure, tourism, and human health. An increase in the number of cyclones and hurricanes over the last few years has been attributed to changes in temperature.
Sea Level Rise: Coastal areas and small islands are among the most densely-populated parts of the world. They are also the most threatened because of rises in sea level that global warming may cause. The heating of oceans, and melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets, is predicted to raise the average sea level by about half a metre over the next century. Sea-level rise could have a number of physical impacts on coastal areas, including loss of land due to inundation and erosion, increased flooding, and salt­water intrusion. These could adversely affect coastal agriculture, tourism, freshwater resources, fisheries and aquaculture, human settlements, and health. Rising sea levels threaten the survival of many low-lying island nations, such as the Maldives and Marshall Islands.
Health: The weather has a direct impact on our health. If the overall climate becomes warmer, there will be an increase in health problems. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of deaths due to greater frequency and severity of heat waves and other extreme weather events. The elderly, the very young and those suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular disorders will prob­ably be affected by such weather extremes as they have lesser coping capacity. An extreme rise in the temperature will affect people living in the urban areas more than those in the rural areas.
Forests and Wildlife: Ecosystems sustain the earth’s entire storehouse of species and genetic diversity. Plants and ani­mals in the natural environment are very sensitive to changes in climate. The ecosystems that are most likely to be affected by this change are the ones in the higher latitudes, the Tundra forests. Polar regions will feel the impact of warming more than others. Interiors of continents will experi­ence more warming than the coastal regions.
National parks are supposed to provide a sanctuary to wildlife from the ravages of humankind on nature. But no park boundary or conservation law can protect an ecosystem from climate change. A recent report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) states that this invisible killer has entered the most cherished natural areas. The giant pandas of Wolong in China, the grizzly bears of America’s Yellowstone National Park, and the tigers in Kanha National Park in India are some of the animals at risk from Global Warming.
Food Security: Climate change could adversely affect food security and exacerabate malnutrition at low latitudes, especially in seasonally dry and tropical regions, where crop productivity is projected to decrease for even small local temperature increases (1 to 2°C). By 2020, in some African countries, yields from rainfed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 per cent. Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries is projected to be severely compromised.
Threat to Amazon Forest
Global warming will wreck attempts to save the Amazon rainforest, according to a devastating new study which predicts that one-third of its trees will be killed by even modest temperature rises. The research, by British climate change specialists, shows even severe cuts in deforestation and carbon emissions will fail to save the rainforest, the destruction of which has become a powerful symbol of human impact on the planet.
Up to 85 per cent of the forest could be lost if greenhouse gas emissions are not brought under control, the experts said. Even under the most optimistic climate change scenarios, the destruction of large parts of the forest is “irreversible.”
According to the study, the impacts of climate change on the Amazon are much worse than we thought. As temperatures rise quickly over the coming century the damage to the forest would not be obvious straight away, but the researchers could be storing up trouble for the future.
The new study used computer models to investigate how the Amazon would respond to future temperature rises. It found that a 2{+0}C rise above pre-industrial levels, widely considered the best-case global warming scenario and the target for ambitious international plans to curb emissions, would still see 20 per cent -40 per cent of the Amazon die off within 100 years.
A 3{+0}C rise would see 75 per cent of the forest destroyed by drought over the following century, while a 4{+0}C rise would kill 85 per cent.
Effects on India
A new report released recently by India’s scientists has revealed that India has almost consistently experienced more than normal annual mean temperatures for the past 14 years, with 2006 being the warmest recorded so far. The statistics contained in the “Annual Climate Summary 2006”, a report produced by the National Climate Centre Office of the Additional Director General of Meteorology (Research) Meteorological Department, Pune revealed warming at the rate of 0.48 degrees Celsius over 100 years. The report clearly demonstrated that since 1993, there had not been a single year when annual mean temperature was less than the normal, remaining towards the higher side for all the years.
Records show that prior to 1991, the annual mean temperatures were more than the normal in some years while in others, these were less than normal. Between 1901 and 1941, annual aver­age temperatures were below normal for many years while since then, years with annual average temperature anomalies towards the higher side of the normal became more frequent. The year 2006 was the warmest year on record since 1901, according to the report. It was characterized by annual mean temperature over the country as a whole being 0.59 degrees celsius above the average calculated during 1961-1990. Minimum temperatures were more than two degrees Celsius above normal over northern parts of the country.
The report states that during 2006, a number of cyclonic storms and depressions formed over the In­dian seas. Severe cold wave conditions over northern and eastern parts of the country claimed more than 80 lives. Heat wave events over northern and some western parts of the country claimed close to 100 lives and as many as 1500 persons were killed in floods during the monsoon season.
The 10 warmest years ever since the Met Department started keeping a record of temperatures since 1901 are 2006 (0.595), 2002 (0.59), 1998 (0.50), 2004&2001 (0.47), 2003 (0.45), 1958 (0.43), 1941 (0.41), 2005(0.,40), 1999 (0.39), 1953 & 2000 (0.36) and 1980 (0.34).
An anomaly was that whereas traditionally dry areas like Saurashtra and Kutch and West Rajasthan, besides Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra and Orissa, received excess rainfall, Himachal Pradesh, east and west Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam and Meghalaya remained deficient. But overall the country received 100 per cent normal rainfall. During February, northern hilly regions, Uttrakhand, Himachal and parts of Jammu and Kashmir were abnormally warmer with maximum temperatures six to eight degrees above normal.
India’s Action Plan
The National Action Plan on Climate Change was finalised and released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in June 2008. The Plan finally weds India’s international negotiating stance with a domestic agenda on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Plan contains a canvas for eight missions on climate mitigation and adaptation. According to the plan, the relevant ministries was asked to draw up detailed plans and presented them before the PM’s Climate Change Council. The Plan, though a roadmap for action on the domestic front, is bound to back up the India position.

Besides the push in solar energy, the Plan also suggests making it mandatory for power grids to purchase renewable energy from producers and set up progressive targets to do so over the coming years. While the move towards solar and solar derivatives is bound to reduce the dependence of fossil fuels, the Plan also puts as much emphasis on demand side management—reducing consumption levels in both industry and housing sectors. The Government envisages saving 10,000 MW by 2012 through energy efficiency measures.
The Plan will help bolster the country’s argument that it is ready to take an array of ‘no-regret’ actions—steps towards a low carbon economy that do not come at the cost of its poverty alleviation and growth targets.
Preventive Measures
Reduction in the use of non-renewable sources of energy and increased use of renewable sources will undoubtedly decrease the emission of GHGs substantially. This decrease in the GHGs will have a positive affect on the health and well-being of the people.
Furthermore, switching to cleaner fuels and energy-efficient technologies will reduce local pol­lutants and therefore, have an added beneficial impact on health.
The impacts of climate change are global and unequivocal, but ironically are felt most by the poorer sections of society who have contributed least in polluting the environment. The measures adopted for combating climate change would also translate into action against poverty, and organisa­tions like TERI have a responsibility to create a climate for this change.

India needs to take the lead and be a frontrunner in taking steps to tackle climate change. The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change is currently working on a national programme to address various relevant issues. However, the recommendations of this plan would require commit ments of time and resources from all sections of society including governments, businesses, and the civil society. In this context, India’s 11th Five-year Plan (2007-12) articulates strategies in the areas of afforestation, sustainable energy use, flood protection, transportation and financial instruments such as capital debenture funds.

Developing countries need to find a middle path between development and addressing the sustainability challenges with the forward-looking policy interventions. For example, the subsidies on products like kerosene could be shifted to environmentally benign technologies such as solar devices.

Pakistan’s Growing Nuclear Arsenal

Against the backdrop of reports that the US planned to secure Pakistan’s atomic weapons in the event of a Taliban takeover, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has said recently that the country would retain its nuclear deterrence at all cost and “no amount of coercion” will force it to compromise on its security interests. Gilani’s comments came in the wake of a report by Fox News channel that the US has a detailed plan for infiltrating Pakistan and securing its mobile arsenal of nuclear warheads if it appears the country is about to fall under the control of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda.
Gilani’s comments came in the wake of a report by Fox News channel that the US has a detailed plan for infiltrating Pakistan and securing its mobile arsenal of nuclear warheads if it appears the country is about to fall under the control of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda.

And these will be new generation weapons of mass destruction, as Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has confirmed before the US Senate.

US Congressional Report
The recently released US Congressional report has stated that Pakistan with about 60 nuclear warheads; primarily targeted towards India, is continuing production of fissile material for weapons and adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles.

The latest report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) --a research wing of the US Congress which prepares reports for Congressmen--has confirmed the recent statements and media reports that Pakistan was expanding its nuclear arsenal. “Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal consists of approximately 60 nuclear warheads. It continues fissile material production for weapons, and is adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles,” stated the report

The report further stated that Islamabad gained technology from many sources, including uranium enrichment technology from Europe, blueprints for a small nuclear weapon and missile technology from China. Pakistan’s nuclear warheads used an implosion design with a solid core of highly enriched uranium, about 15-20 kg per warhead and “Islamabad continues to produce about 100 kg of highly enriched uranium for weapons every year”, the report stated.

Alarming Development
How the US reacts to this alarming development will be interesting to watch, as Washington has been saying that it has “full faith and confidence” in Pakistan President Asif Zardari, who has assured the world that Islamabad’s nukes remain in safe hands. It is surprising how the Americans take Zardari’s words seriously as he may not be even aware of where Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are kept or what the size of the nuclear arsenal is. The control of nuclear weapons remains in the hands of the Pakistan Army and not with the civilian government in Islamabad.

Basic Idea and Planning
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto wanted the Army to give her complete details about her country’s nuclear assets, but in vain. The Pakistan Army does not trust the civilian rulers and hence its reluctance to share with them full information about the location of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. In fact, it was Gen Zia-ul-Haq’s idea to keep his country’s nuclear programme under the control of the Army, which has never loosened its grip on it.

However, what is more worrying is that many of the Islamist recruits of General Zia in the Army are, at present, occupying senior positions. These children of the former military ruler have developed over a period of time, like the Taliban and other jihadi outfits, a hatred for the US.

Nevertheless, the fact that Islamabad’s arsenal is mounting even as the Government’s writ over its own territory is slipping should set alarm bells ringing all over the world. Worse, the US seems oblivious to the fact that the $10 billion in extended civilian and military assistance it has lined up for Pakistan over the next few years will allow the country’s domestic financial resources to be diverted towards this nuclear build-up. Though the circumstances today are radically different, Indians can be forgiven for seeing in this policy a repeat of the indulgence America displayed towards Pakistani nuclear ambitions throughout the 1980s until the brazenness of Islamabad’s programme led to the Pressler Amendment kicking in in 1990.

Dealing Terrorism and Proliferation
The situation in Pakistan is a clear and present danger to US and its friends and allies, and the US knows that the Pakistani military is in large measure responsible for that situation. At the same time, the US has convinced itself that the only way out of the AfPak morass is to create monetary and even political incentives for the same military establishment to get serious about dealing with the menace of terrorism and proliferation.

With the full support of the military establishment, Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan, the country’s nulear scientist, helped to proliferate nuclear weapon technology to North Korea and Libya. Several years after he was busted, the world still does not have a full measure of what the disgraced nuclear scientist got up to. In order to be effective, conditionality in aid need not be overt. However, the US President Barack Obama has to remain focussed on the need for the military establishment in

Some attempt has been made to build performance metrics in to the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation (PEACE) Act but these are being watered down under pressure from those in the administration and Capitol Hill who take a benign view of Pakistani intentions.