WWF in Parliament

 You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!    Cromwell, Oliver 

15^th August, 1947 is a golden day when India, that is Bharat, became independent from the clutches of foreign rule. It was a day of aspirations of millions of Indian. They saw a hope to have their own rule. They hoped a society where all shall be treated equal. They saw an opportunity when their efforts will benefit their own mother land. That day was people of India rose as independent citizen.

26^th January, 1950 is second most important day in history of independent India. It is a day when India adopted democracy based on firm basic principles of republic & democratic form of government, secular character of constitution by maintaining federal character of the constitution. The constituent assembly worked over night to bring a written constitution inheriting the best principles of democracy from capitalist and socialist systems, which was mixed together into a democratic, federal Constitution and given to the Nation.

Hardly anyone will disagree that we failed to realize value of democracy, as we only worded for that & not earned through struggle. Other Nations & people died for them. That is why we show contempt for them by devaluing every sacred principle of democracy to serve vested ends. Perhaps that is why there has been no social evolution in democratic obligations and duties. "Duty" is a word has been forgotten not only by all public servants but by we all, the people of India.

Through this constitution parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) at centre & legislative assembles were created where elected representatives were expected to work for India not for themselves. They are expected to discuss, make bills & policies through which aspiration of Indian public is taken care off. Now see what we have done with democratic, secular constitution. Our Temple of democracy, Parliament, has become hostage to an opportunistic section of society. Certainly few may not agree with me when I blame Congress Party who rules India most of the time in last 66 years. But fact remains the same that it cannot escape from its part in devaluing democratic duties.  In fact it has the distinction of having converted every process, practice and institution of democracy into legitimized subversion. It has encouraged tugs, criminal, mafias, traitors, plunders, specializing in the loot of our natural resources. Friendly Bureaucratic setup has helped them in siphon off plan budgets meant for public works or development programmes, including food and medicine for poor women and children and funds for the physically challenged.  

Can opposite parties escape the blame? “NO” is the only answer. Ruling & opposition parties have learnt a naval way to high jack democratic value of parliament by stall house during session & not let it function so that important issues, which are against to their vested interests, are not discussed, important bills remain pending & welfare schemes of Mango Man are hijacked. 

If you look at last few sessions, both houses hardly functioned as normally they are expected to function. The houses were thwarted time and again over different issues.  Do you remember that Jan Lokpal Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 31^st Dec, the last day of session, knowing well that it is very important bill & it will require time to discuss. The opening remarks of opposition leader Sh. Arun Jaitley were something like that “The people of India expecting us to pass this bill today. So even if we have to sit late or by tomorrow too, let us sit & pass the bill with amendments, if any”. Well said. I am great admirer of Arun Jaitley for his wisdom, oratory & knowledge of law. I don’t doubt his or other representative’s intention of passing that particular bill. But before discussion started the whole nation knew the “fate of bill”. They glued on TV sets, watching debates going on in the house hoping some good judgement or miracle to let this bill passed. What happened is known to whole India. The debate went on by mid night. Heaps of amendments were proposed. Minister concerned showed governments inability to go through procedure in proposed amendment & debated for want of time to do so. Hence Government proposed to sin-die house so that amendments are processed, bill is taken in next session. Arun Jaitley & other opposition leaders opposed & proposed to extend the session for next day which was not accepted by the Chairperson & house sine-die at mid-night.

“Once India got its freedom at mid-night but  India lost its freedom to catch corrupts at that mid-night.”

Everything, happened in the house, is quite lawful, as for as law is concerned. But what about sense of the house, over & above what about “sense of the Nation”? It was a clear cut conspiracy to delay the Lokpal bill, as much as possible, hatched by ruling party with blessings of opposition.

The only conclusion I can draw, as common man from the Lokpal Bill episode, is that most of our representatives & custodian of democracy are not sincere to the task they willing took up and also most of them are in conspiracy to subvert subjects most important public matters, which they find or think, may jeopardize their own vested interest.

Why I think so? It is because I see a conspiracy in the time table fixed for this bill. As for as I know, a time table is fixed by Business Advisory Committee for all matters to be raised in both houses. And also this time table is fixed by concurrence of all leaders of different parties. If that is the case, I raise question that:-

• Why Lokpal Bill was presented in Upper House on the last date of session, knowing well that many amendments may be suggested by MPs?
• Why members of Business Advisory Committee did not allotted sufficient  time for this very important of bill?
• Why session was not extended to have discussion on amendments presented?
• Why opposition did not demanded to pre-pone the time of presentation of this bill in the Upper house?
• Why, as Leader Opposition suggestion & demand was not discussed for extending session time?

The concerned Minister sited tradition for sine-die of on last date of year. But this tradition could have been broken in this case? After all many times session had been extended to finish work in parliament.

The last but most important question is why a special session was not called to discuss this bill or why it was not reintroduced in next session as government mulled for "Food Security Bill"?

This clearly shows the apathy of Government plus opposition for this bill because if Lokpal Bill was passed; many representatives & their favorite bureaucrats may find a place in Jail with complete food security for years to come. 

This is not an isolated incident. Many important bills are pending in parliament since long. For example “Women Reservation Bill”, “Land Accusation Bill”, “Direct Tax Code Bill” including "Lokpal Bill" are few such bills which are eating dust. It is duty of government to take them in such a way & manner that they all discussed and passed in a suitable manner. Opposition should also cooperate in discussing bill. But it does not happen. On small pretext houses are disturbed. 

It is opposition’s fundamental right to oppose government in every rightful manner. But going to well of the house, disturbing house, not to let it function are not right manners. At the same time, it is government holistic duty to listen opposition & meet their just demands. But both are utterly failing in it.

In the last session, house was disrupted by determined opposition on the demand of Law Minister & Rail Minister’s resignation. Result, the house again ended without discussing "Food Security Bill" for which government, especially UPA Chair-Person Ms. Sonia Gandhi, is keen in getting this bill passed eyeing coming assembly & general election. They think this “Food Security Bill” is “Vote Security Bill”. Opposition too does not want this bill to be passed by giving credit to UPA Government. Crucial 4-5 days are lost in “Resignation Drama”. Ultimately both the ministers had to resign but only after session ended.

After mulling for calling a special session to get “Food Security Bill” passed, the Government brought ordinance for “Food Security Bill” as opposition was not ready for special session & also as monsoon session was very near. If government was so keen to get “Food Security Bill” is “Vote Security Bill” passed, why it did not accepted opposition demand for resignation of those ministers who had to resign after ward.

Now see, when any business pertaining to members benefit, all members concur without any opposition, if it related to their salary & parks, or subverting RTI for Political Parties or amending Public Representation Act to keep alleged criminals in politic. All such bills are passed by voice votes.

All the discussion indicates “WWF” or “Nura-Kushti” is arranged in parliament. Today Monsoon session has started & same "WWF" would start soon. 

We can only pray & wish that political parties come to senses & behave in the manner they are expected.

Long Live democracy. Let it live in letter & spirit of democracy our forefathers have chosen. 

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Disclaimer:- This blog has been written to show common man anguish over functioning of our elected/chosen representatives. It does not mean to dishonor democracy or parliament as whole. Surely we have many honest & sprited democratice representable whose voices are lost in the din.   

Pradeep Shanker

(NGO Reporter)

Kashmir::A Permanent Thorn In Nation’s Flash

Sher-e-Kashmir Shaikh Mujammad Abdullah (1905-82) burst in prominence during popular insurrection against oppressive rule of Maharaja Hari Singh, the Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir, in July 1931 and soon the dominant leader major, local political party, the Muslim Conference. If in those days protest needed courage in British India, it needed heroism in the tyrant dictatorships. As Gandhiji right observed in The Harijan of October 1939: 

"Every Indian prince is a Hitler in his own State. He can shoot his people without coming under any law. Hitlar enjoys no greater powers."

Shaikh  Abdullah 's achievement as & on a nationalist platform, impressed Nehru & he introduced him to different national leaders including Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore. While doing so Nehru never imagined that one day this man would help him to solve(??) Kashmir problem & also put him duress with his antics. 

While granting Independence, British made is sure that India stand divided. At least 4 big states namely: Bhopal, Junagarh, Hydrabad & Kashmir nurtured ambition to be independent. They did their best to remain independent but thanks to Sardar Patel iron hands which brought them into senses to join Indian Union except Jammu & Kashmir which was adopted by Nehruji. 

During discussion in Simla in May, Nehru insisted & made sure that whatever be the eventual nature of the post-partition boundaries, road link to Kashmir valley through Gurdaspur remained under Delhi Control. Gurdaspur was a district with an evenly divided population & could have been awarded to any nations without any hitch. But Nehru's foresight saved day for India as if Gurdaspur would have been awarded to Pakistan, India would never had road link to Kashmir. 

Nehru was worried that Maharaja might make some pre-emptive announcement and declare independence. He was in touch with Abdullah and knew that he would declare for India if given necessary concession. Though we can always ask why he treated Kashmir as a special state? Why he never allowed Patel to let it handle in the same way as he did with other states? 

On Nehruji & Gandhiji insistence, on 9th June 1947,  Mountbatten instructed British Resident in Kashmir to ensure that Hari Sigh did not say/do anything unless Mountbatten had met him. Mountbatten reach Kashmir on 18th June 1947 & remained there till 23rd June. During this period he ensured that Hari Singh do not say any thing, sign a standstill agreement with both India & Pakistan & then join one of them at least for the purpose of Communication, External affairs & Defense, basing the final choice upon will of the people, Nehruji was keen at the last step as he was sure Abdullah & with him Kashmir would opt for India. However Abdullah was in Kashmir jail which was Nehru's main worry. Nehru wanted Abdullah immediate release so that he may become a party in negotiation. In the mean time hari Singh kept his words and signed standstill agreements with both country - and when India & Pakistan gained freedom, Kashmir also became free.
Weeks passed, Abdullah still in jail, question of kashmir accession lingered on. Nehru sensed that in these conditions created by Hari Singh stalemete only Pakistan would gain. Hari Singh had no clue of the dangerous path he was trading. Nehru expressed his fear and apprehension in his latter to Patel on 27th
September, 1947. he writes:

      "It is obvious to me from different reports I have received that situation there is dangerous and deteriorating one. The Muslim League in the Punjab and NWFP are making preparations to enter Kashmir in considerable numbers. The approch of winter is going to cut off Kashmir from rest of India. The only normal route then is via Jhelum Valley. ...... Therefore it is important that something should be done before these winter conditions set in. .....          I understand that the Pakistan strategy is to infiltrate into Kashmir now and to take some big action as soon as Kashmir is more or less isolated because of coming winter.           .....         I hope you will be able to take some action in this matter tp force the pace and to turn events in the right direction. ..... Sheikh Abdullah has repeatedly given assurance of wishing to co-operate and of being opposed to Pakistan; also to abide by my advice. I would again add that time is the essence of the business and things must be done in a way so as to bring about the accession of Kashmir to Indian Union as rapidly as possible with the co-operation of Sheikh Abdullah."

Nehru was right. Patel managed to pressure hari Singh to release Abdullah but refused to sign accession treaty with India. Had he done so, just after release of Abdullah, the whole of Kashmir would have remained in India, since then Nehru would have posted Indian Army on its boarders. But then If & But have no meaning in History except weeping over missed chances.
However there was no doubt about Abdullah's intention. In his first speech after his release on 4th October, 1947 he said:

"I never believed in the Pakistan solgan. It has been my firm conviction that this slogan will bring misery......what have four & half crore Muslims in India gained through it?......Kashmir wanted people's government, of Muslims, Hindus & Sikhs."

While Abdullah was enjoying hospitality of Prime Minister of India, Pakistan, on on 21st October, 1947 sent 6000 well armed, well trained army which they call infiltrators into Kashmir through Jhelum Valley. Srinagar was only 140 miles away & could have been accessed through well laid road. There was nothing which could have stopped them except 1) Their own mistake, 2) Nehru & Patel's alertness. Patel got news first and while he was going to convey it to Nehru, Nehru got the news. Had they trembled upon for few more hours, Srinagar would have fallen. Though often both differed each other to agree again, but this time their unison & one mindedness saved Kashmir. Now they worked in such unison that everyone praised their friendship.
While Hari Singh was enjoying Mahesasura festival on 24th October, power of the palace went off suddenly.  The brave Maharaja instantly to flee from Kashmir leaving his Janta helpless, defenseless.
British officers working in Pakistan army passed this information to their counterparts in Indian army as British officers of both side still feeling faithful to the crown but not to respective nations. Pakistan official position was that it came to know once tribes crossed boarder and as they crossed boarder, they were unable to do any thing. Their lie was exposed even before they uttered it.  As later it was confirmed by British Officers working in Pakistan that go ahead was given in a meeting held in Lahore between Jinnah, Liaquat Ali & Quaiyum Khan.
Nehru rushed to Mountbatten who was hosting a dinner to head of Thailand & informed him. It was 24th October, 1947 after 4 days Pakistan army entered in Kashmir. The route which was only 140 miles that too without any resistance could not be crossed by Pakistan army because of their own mistake. The indulged in looting & raping Kashmir women and lost precious time. Maharaja army was nothing before them who had mortars, guns, mines, grenades & anti tank rifles. Maharaja army fleed before even a gun was fired.
Nehru-Patel teams took decision 1) To call all aircraft, be it civilian or army, & be in prepared condition to air lift army to Kashmir valley. 2) To ask Hari Singh to sign accession agreement & keep Abdullah in loop. Mountbatten suggested an immediate temporary accession to India to legalize presence of Indian army in Kashmir. Team Nehru-Patel was firm to send army into Kashmir whether Hari Singh sign the agreement or not. Patel asked his trusted person VP Menon to fly Kashmir immediately. VP reached Srinagar on 25th morning. The airport was deserted but worthy enough to land aeroplane. Few Abdullah supporters were maintaining a motley presence. The raiders were only less than a day away from airport. By the time Menon reached palace Hari Singh  was ready to sign any thing. On 26th he signed Instrument of Accession with provision that the "WILL" of the people be ascertained when conditions become normal. In evening Defence  Committee accepted The Instrument of Accession with Plebiscite. This Plebiscite was going to set fire on tail later on. However minor concession was that

"This plebiscite would be held only when (1) The law & order situations allows free & fair election (2) When raiders & foreign troops had left Kashmir." 

The second condition is saving India's face as Pakistan army never left Kashmir.
Army commanders were worried that army may have to pay heavy price if local Muslims turn against them. But Nehru banked upon Abdullah & he proved right. Mountbatten  was in two mind but seeing resolve & determination written on the faces of Team Nehru-Patel he has to decide to send army.
On 27th October, more than hundred planes, both from civilian & army, lifted army having 6 days ration & arms. The first Battalion of Sikh Regiment reached there with 329 men. under commands of Lt. Col. Ranjit Rai. When army reached airport Srinagar, the raiders were less than 2 hrs from Airport. Lt. Col. Ranjit Singh  along with only two companies rushed to Baramullah to hold them. He established bridgehead about seventeen miles from city which eventually saved city. In the process the brave commanding officer lost his life. Another force rushed to cross Ravi in remarkable time. By the end of month more troops landed in Kashmir. In spite of raiders being trained & had mixer of Pakistan army personnel could not match Indian army & stated falling back.

Jinnah maintained, as same thing told at Kargil war too, that Pakistan had nothing to do with fighting but there was no satisfactory explanation of their action or say inaction in this context. He further maintained that India should have informed Pakistan instead of taking action ex-parte.
Patel always observed that Jinnah had habit of rejecting any thing put forward. True to his nature Jinnah was first to reject Plebiscite. When Mountbatten put idea of immediate plebiscite before Jinnah, he immediately rejected it as he saw no chance to getting favorable plebiscite with Indian troops inside & Kashmir Muslims mood against Pakistan. When Mountbatten forwarded idea of plebiscite under UNO, he rejected it too. He wanted plebiscite Indo-Pak control.
So those who fault Nehru or Patel for reference to UNO are at wrong end in light of above information.
Indian people were very angry over the stories of loots & rape by Pakistani army. Tension was mounting on Nehru. Mountbatten was convinced that the only way to stop full fledged war was to refer the matter to UNO or make UNO arbitrator. He started mounting pressure on Nehru & he scrambled under pressure. It is not army which let down India but Nehru under pressure from Mountbatten let down India. On 2oth December 1947 Cabinet decided to appeal to UNO to force Pakistan to withdraw. Patel opposed the resolution up to the end. Nheru showed draft to Gandhiji who deleted one clause stating "India was willing to consider Independence to Kashmir" That was extremely logical thing to do. When matter reached UNO, Pakistan position being Muslim country became stronger. By reffering this matter to UNO, Nehru allowed a domestic problem to become international problem. It was most serious mistake Nehru made in Kashmir case.
Not only this Sheikh Abdullah took shelter under Instrument of Accession signed by Hari Singh. He did not wanted Supreme Court jurisdiction over Kashmir, Nehru reacted sharply. After death of Maharaja, Abdullah cooked Hindu right wing influence over Nehru. Instead of cooperating Nehru, he nurtured his deeply buried ambition of Kashmir's Independence. Nehru was uncomfortable from Abdullah and Right Wing side as well. On 5th March 1948, Article 370 was imposed.
After 1952 election in which Hindu Right Wing was crushed, they started a popular movement demanding the security of Kashmir, rehabilitation of Bengali refugees & ban on cow slaughter under Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee(that is how it was spelled at that time). Master Tara Chand was raising different points in Punjab. Nehru tried to take help of Kripalani & J.P. but they remained at side line. Patel was no more so he was short of able advisers. Hence Nehru started making err of judgments. Not only this the Home Minister Kailash Nath Katju was a weak & ineffective minister. Nehru got arrested Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee who was released on SC orders. He decided to walk in Kashmir without any permit. On 11th May 1953 he crossed Kashmir boarder & Abdullah promptly arrested him & added salt over injury by demanding "Full Autonomy" to Kashmir. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, an ill person, died in Kashmir Jail on 23rd June 1953. When all this happened Nehru was away to Cario.
Situation from both side was bad. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee supporter Jan Sangh wanted Abdullah to be arrested & Nehru resign while satiation in Kashmir was turning against India. For the first time slogans were raised against Indian Army. Azad tried to help Nehru by trying to convincing Abdullah who was in no mood to listen and started to seek "other options" for Kashmir.
Now Nehru played political game by splitting Muslim Conference(now being called national Conference). On 9th August 1953 Sheikh Abdullah Government was dismissed. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, a Delhi approved, was appointed as Premier. He got arrested Abdullah immediately.
Since then India is facing Kashmir problem which cloud have been solved by Patel as he solved many states problem but he could not because Nehru's love for Kashmir.