Deccan Chargers Clinches DLF-IPL-2

In a surcharged finale before a packed stadium, Deccan Chargers soared to the summit of the DLF-Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 zenith by overcoming Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (South Africa) on May 24, 2009.. The best bowling of the match by Anil Kumble, who claimed four for 16, thus, went in vain, as Challengers choked in their run chase.

In retrospect, South African Hershelle Gibbs carrying his bat through the Chargers’ innings for an unbeaten 53 in 48 balls – painstaking in T20 realm – proved invaluable, coupled with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha’s decisive return of three for 28, not to mention purple cap winner for most wickets in the competition, R P Singh’s steady showing of one for 16.

End of Mega Event
A glittering closing ceremony, with dash of glitz and glamour, drew curtains on the second edition of the IPL razzmatazz. Soon after the Adam Gilchrist-led Deccan Chargers pipped Anil Kumble's Royal Challengers Bangalore in the see-saw final, cricket paved way to entertainment. The South African President Jacob Zuma declared the tournament closed.

The second edition of the IPL-2 was bigger and better than the inaugural one. New heroes emerged, while some of the old guard left lasting images.

Highlights of IPL-2
Former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden gave a lesson in T20 batting to all his peers. Hayden was destructive in notching up 546 runs at an astounding average of 54.60 and a strike-rate of 145. He will fittingly take the ‘Orange Cap’ from another Australian — Shaun Marsh, who won it in the inaugural edition.

Former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist stood out with his batting and captaincy skills. It was Hayden’s long-time ODI opening partner Adam Gilchrist, who finally tallied 495 runs at a strike-rate of 153. He saved his best for the high-flying Delhi Daredevils, plummelling them for a magnificent 35-ball 85 in the semifinals. His captaincy was also inspirational throughout leading his side to a historic win in the IPL-2 final.

The left-arm Deccan Chargers seam bowler RP Singh was a player on a mission. His scintillating display with the ball for the Deccan Chargers has given him the ‘Purple Cap’ in the tournament. R.P. has so far picked up 23 wickets and has earned a recall into Team India for the World T20 Tournament to be held in England.

The Deccan Chargers batsman Rohit Sharma was declared the Citi ‘Under-23 success of the tournament’ by the IPL. And for good reason too. By the end, the Mumbai batsman had tallied 386 runs and also picked up 11 wickets in IPL-2, including a hat-trick.

The great Indian leg spin wizard, Anil Kumble put up a titanic display. The former India captain turned around a struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore brilliantly and guided them to the IPL-2 final. When Kumble took over, RCB were at the bottom of the table but the team was a rejuvenated unit under him. He has also snared 21 wickets in IPL-2 — the second highest in the tournament — including the best-ever T20 figures so far of 5/5 against Rajasthan Royals.

US Enhanced Aid to Pakistan

A powerful Congressional panel has given its nod to a controversial act tripling US non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion annually for five years, but imposed tough conditions that include prevention of "cross border attacks into neighbouring countries" by Islamabad.

PEACE Act
Approving for passage, the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement (PEACE) Act 2009, the House Foreign Affairs Committee also sought to bar Pakistan military or its intelligence agency from supporting any extremists and terrorist group. It also wants Islamabad to provide "direct access to Pakistani nationals" connected with proliferation networks. The bill will now go to the floor of the House of Representatives for passage.

The original bill, introduced on April 2 by Committee Chairman Howard L Berman, imposed conditions that Pakistan would not let its territory be used for launching terror attacks against India and would not support any group that indulges in terror activities against India. The version of the Berman Bill, which was approved by voice vote, replaced “India” with “neighbouring countries,” apparently at the suggestion of the Obama Administration because Pakistan, in particular its Army and the ISI, had raised strong objections to it.

Interestingly, while the original bill had insisted that Pakistan must undertake not to let its territory be used for launching terrorist attacks against India, the direct reference to India was replaced by ‘neighbouring countries’ keeping in mind Pakistani sensitivities. Indeed, it was the Obama administration which told the lawmakers that mentioning India by name could be counter-productive to their overall objective given that the Pakistan establishment was allergic to it.

In other tough clauses, the law seeks to bar the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency from supporting any extremist and terrorist group.

Disappointment for India
India is disappointed over the decision of a US Congressional committee approving a law tripling non-military aid to Pakistan and is expected to take up the matter with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is expected to visit New Delhi soon.

The US was extending aid to Pakistan, obviously to keep it in a good humour though it was fully aware of the ground situation in this region.

The issues will figure prominently during discussions between the Indian side and Hillary Clinton, who is likely to visit New Delhi in July. This would be the first top-level visit to India from Washington since the Obama administration assumed office in January.
There are also indications that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could meet President Obama on the margins of the G-8 summit in Italy in July. The two leaders had met for the first time in London on the sidelines of the G-20 meet in early April.

Tax Proposals
Obama has also come up with tax proposals that are intended to plug loopholes in taxing American multinational companies (MNCs) operating in India. The proposed measures are likely to hit not only the Indian subsidiaries of US firms because they may not be able to claim benefits under the Indo-US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, but also Indian companies engaged in business outsourcing from the US.
However, American policy should appreciate that Pakistan’s claim on Jammu and Kashmir suffered a serious blow after 1971 when Bangladesh emerged as a larger Muslim nation in the subcontinent. Pakistan has no claim to be the "godfather" of Muslims in this subcontinent when the number of Indian Muslims is double the number of Muslims in Pakistan. On Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), former US President George W. Bush tried to bypass the entire controversy by formulating the Indo-US nuclear deal. There is no way by which President Obama can bring back the Jammu and Kashmir issue or the CTBT issue.

It is the height of naivety for the US to overlook Pakistan’s track record that such assistance to it has always been used against India.

UPA Begins Second Innings

The 76-year-old mild-mannered Manmohan Singh, who won the hearts and minds of the people along with Sonia Gandhi, led the UPA to a handsome win in the Lok Sabha elections was sworn in as Prime Minister for a second term at the head of a 20-member Congress-led UPA Ministry on May 22, 2009.

Economist-turned-politician Manmohan Singh, the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to get a second opportunity after a full-term, was sworn-in by President Pratibha Patil exactly five years to date after the UPA government assumed office in 2004.

Free Hand of Leadership
A close look at the new cabinet clearly suggests that Manmohan virtually got a free hand from the Congress leadership to choose his team. Stability being the ‘mantra’ of the new government in these times of deepening economic crisis, the PM has carefully selected each and ever new minister, giving due weightage to performance, experience and loyalty to the party. The team comprises several stalwarts as also a few first timers.

The new cabinet ministers are: Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar, AK Antony, P Chidambaram, Mamata Banerjee, SM Krishna, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sushil Kumar Shinde, M Veerappa Moily, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Vayalar Ravi, Mrs Meira Kumar, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, Ambika Soni, B K Handique, Anand Sharma and CP Joshi.

After the 2004 elections, the first UPA cabinet reflected those who had helped the party survive the lean years in opposition, and those who remembered and possessed experience from when it had last been the party of government. There may have been sound reasons for this at the time. Persisting with those ministers is less explicable. But certainly, given the sense of relief and renewal sweeping India following this election, the cabinet should be one that unmistakably looks forward, and not back. The right people in the key, forward-looking ministries can help this feeling keep going.

Combination Experience and Competence
The new team combines political and administrative experience and it happens to be a selection made by the Prime Minister and Mrs Sonia Gandhi and not by heads of regional parties as was the case in 2004. And the way Manmohan Singh decided not to bow down to the wishes of the DMK leadership in the allotment of portfolios shows that he has upheld the Prime Minister’s prerogative to choose his team.

When he had come in in 2004 after Ms Sonia Gandhi had opted out, few had given him more than a couple of years at the head of an unwieldy alliance, with the Left supporting it from outside. But he not only creditably completed his term but also got back in the saddle again, after winning the elections against heavy odds. The ride is going to be easier this time, hopefully, because he has returned with a stronger mandate, and chastened allies.

Unequivocal Mandate to Govern
The UPA Government will naturally frame its policies in the light of these and equally important considerations for the people of India that is Bharat. In that context, the sudden shooting up of Sensex is inconsequential — it only results in reducing the book accounting loss of the Mittals, Ambanis, Tatas, etc, but does not add a trickle of water to the one-third of the people who do not get safe drinking water.

The rise in Sensex also does not add a yard of space to 25 per cent of population of this country who have no homes and 77 per cent of the people (more than 2½ times the total population of pre-1947 India) who are forced to eke out a living on Rs 20 a day. The immediate concern would hopefully be to prevent the pilferage of 90 per cent of the funds allocated under the NREG scheme reaching the needy persons instead of being pocketed by dishonest officials and their political associates.All these important aspects will certainly take time. But there are some fundamental pieces of legislation and programmes which need to be effected.

Undoubtedly, the Congress has been given an unequivocal mandate to govern. And make no mistake: this is a fresh mandate. It isn’t, in any way, a continuation or an extension of the 2004 result. The Congress, in its post-victory enthusiasm, should not lose sight of that. And, even given that the UPA ran on its record in government, the Congress must have sensed that this is a mandate for freshness.