This madness was halted by the belligerence of Pakistan FS. I would like to thank him for this. It’s quite clear we have a bellicose and intransigent neighbor. Nobody has any incentive there to stop terrorist attacks in India. The outlook of Pakistani politicians does not extend beyond tomorrow. That day is not far off when the army will get frustrated with these jokers and pull the plug. All these politicians will be hiding in some foreign locations including India to make some quick bucks by giving lectures and media interviews sharing some tit-bits on India-Pak relations. Everybody will claim we were close to resolution of all issues with India. Some who decide to stay back will keep their mouth shut, lest they would get arrested and put behind bars. All these noise about independent judiciary will vanish. Every dictator there proclaims his own constitution and nobody knows what constitution is being followed currently. Such a country is making tall claims of how law of land is being followed in giving a fair trial to Mumbai attackers. How in such a banana republic country, they need concrete evidence to prosecute Hafeez Sayeed. During dictatorial rule, innumerable people where put behind bars and must be in jails without trials. Quite sure, that such people in large numbers are still in jails. Such country is lecturing their inability to arrest the Mumbai attack conspirators. There are many more like him and India does a good job of preparing their CVs and giving it to Pakistan.

So the fundamental question is why are we talking? It does not stop attacks on us? What do we gain? Only US gains because Pakistan cleans the shit in their backyard. Pakistan shamelessly gets paid in green bucks for this and their corrupt politicians are getting wealthier. Given the short sightedness I described above, I hope India stops pursuing this statesman like approach in inviting Pakistan for talks. Mr Bashir has become a hero in Pakistan and that is their limited expectation. Its like scoring a victory against India in a cricket match. I would strongly urge the Indian government to pursue strong counter-terrorism initiatives and stop this circus – Srini

In any mature country, home, foreign affairs, defence and finance ministries represent the power of the government where they can make high impact decisions that can turn upside anything for the good of their people. Above all the PM is a symbol of that power in a democratic country. Look at the way the jokers are treating these ministries. Defence ministry long back was ceded to Army, so the Defence Minister there is the biggest joker who enjoys his salaries and perks and is powerless and toothless. In a war-torn country, when every visiting foreign dignitary would have ideally met him, they don’t meet him even for courtesy sake. Their home minister himself is facing embezzlement charges and an arm of his own ministry is filing charges cases against him. This is the most bizarre situation any country could face. Mr. Interior Minister making loud and rhetoric statements is not going to bring peace in your country.

Above all, the PM says he cannot protect his countrymen, forget about India. While the candid admission is welcome, why be called PM. I would not like to comment on the Finance Ministry, as he is busy shopping for cheap loans to pay off past loans. Here also, he is dependent on the Army to keep the terror pot boiling, so that they can milk the West in the name of Ally in War on terror.

The biggest joker in that pack is the foreign minister. We all know he is powerless and meets Army Chief to issue any statement. The best statement was in China, where he said he gives blank cheque to China to negotiate with India. Mr foreign minister, the only foreign policy work you have is making statements against India. With all other countries they make foreign policy statements about Pakistan and you are a mute spectator. In any other country worth its salt, if a joint statement of heads of state, had mentioned that 75% of attacks in their country emanates from Pakistan then it would have resulted in a diplomatic row. In your country, the President smiles at this foreign policy statement. So the only one work you had of abusing India, you have appropriated that to China. Then why should you be the foreign minister of that country.

This is the state of affairs in Pakistan. India invites a dialogue with such a country. I am questioning the worth of Politicians to be called for a dialogue and we invite their bureaucrats. If SM Krishana has lot of time in his hands, then I don’t mind he spending his time in renovating his house to his liking. Why are we wasting time inviting jokers from across the border and wasting their time. I am more worried with the psycho analysis that will ensue in the media once the foreign secretaries get closer. Lot of people have suggested India should talk to their Army. These people are out of their minds. My question is what is the need for talks? When everybody knows nothing material is going to come out of such talks.

May better sense prevail in this country.

Jai Hind

- Srini

IPL Snub –Justified

The Pakistani politicians should apologize to India and Indian people for the huge brouhaha created in Pakistan over non-selection of Pakistani Players in IPL 3. When their PM has gone on record that he cannot guarantee lives of his own people, why should private entrepreneurs in India risk their money and Indian government undertake the security of Pakistani players.  In no democratically elected government would any  duly elected PM of a country publicly state that I cannot protect your lives. Democratic norms would dictate that this government should immediately resign. But in a country which is more worried about the respect of their sportsman, a fragile democracy this is no                    big deal. Most Pakistani’s would say he has stated the obvious. The government would spin this entire statement as targeted at external constituency and obviously for internal constituency they are the ultimate saviors. Where is the so called vibrant opposition of Pakistan? I think every Pakistani should be ashamed with this statement of PM, even if it is targeted at India. If this is how that country wants to run its democracy, it is your problem. We have every right to then run our country and sports differently. You cannot guarantee your lives in Pakistan and we will guarantee security and payment to your players, while we are big-hearted but not such sentimental fools. This in itself justifies the IPL snub.

A green signal to terrorists to attack India

While, IPL snub is more about egos, the PM statement should be worrying for India from a security angle. India’s stand that terror policy of Pakistan is ‘state-owned’ which has been proven time and again, such a statement from Islamabad appears to be more of a signal to terrorists than India or West. In nutshell, the PM is saying we are lifting the embargo we had placed on you since Mumbai attacks. Publicly, we are giving you a go-ahead. For last one year we tried to get advantage of Mumbai attacks but we have not succeeded though we managed to get some green bucks. Now that the bucks have come and we are holding the US by their balls, please attack India. I am surprised that the security establishment in India does not view this statement from that perspective. Sensing this the US Defense secretary gave a carte blanche to India to respond in a manner that is befitting if a India is attacked by terrorists.

So please expect terrorist attacks in India soon. This whole sham after every terrorist attack that we have extracted “guarantee” out of Pakistan should not be repeated. Instead India should prepare a befitting reply. We want guarantee from our government and not a banana republic. On Republic Day, do not display our defense arsenal like jewels of a newly wedded bride that goes into safe lockers once the dust of the marriage settles down.

Jai-Hind

-         Srini

While, I do have a problem with a non-issue being made an issue, I am happy that Pakistani players did not get selected. People have to understand that commercial interests have to be protected. Why should Indian entrepreneurs risk their money in buying these players who eventually might not play due to poor India-Pakistan relations. I saw some foolish arguments in some blogs that this risk exists for all players due to injury etc. This is not an apple to apple comparison. We do not have good relations with Pakistan and the political risk is huge for entrepreneurs to take. So they made a commercial decision not to take that risk which is perfectly valid. I have previously argued that every commercial transaction that might involve Pakistan we have to view that as a political or diplomatic tool. We have a recalcitrant neighbor. How do we make them drop state policy of terror in this inter-linked geo-political world. US which shares no geo-political boundary with Pakistan have interests there, so do many countries. So it’s not possible for India to take steps which it could have if such compulsions did not exist. Therefore, to protect itself it has to resort to proxy economic war. When Pakistan is re-igniting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which can reach our door steps in rest of the country, why should India money be used to feed Pakistani players. Where are these players when attacks happen in India? Why cannot they tell their army, government to abandon their state policy of terrorism. I am quite sure they enjoy lot of clout. More such members of civil society raise their voice, the government will be forced to change course. That is what IPL snub achieves. I am not bothered if this humiliation is used by Jihadis to create 11 more terrorists. They would have anyhow done that, even if this event had not happened.

There are reports that government forced the non-selection of Pakistani players. While, government would deny such reports, I would salute the government if they actually did issue such a whip. Government should use every public or private commercial transaction as potent diplomatic tool to hurt Pakistani interests. Let them bleed to realize pains of terrorism we face.

- Srini

I am extremely happy with the way the Indo-Pak relations are moving right now. No I am not out of my mind. This is exactly what I had suggested in the first few of my blogs. Frustrate them, which is exactly what is happening now. Senior politicians and government functionaries of both countries were available in CHOGM meet and they do not meet. Therefore, I think the relations are moving in the right directions.

Knowing Indian diplomacy, I am sure this is not by design but more due to the heat this government faced after the Sharm-al-Sheikh meet in Egpyt. I am sure our PM to attain “Statesman” like figure in the global corridors of power may suddenly invite the Pak PM for talks. This I am sure he will do sometime closer to the end of his current tenure. Anyhow, he knows that he has to abdicate the throne for the PM –in-waiting. So probably he can retire with the Nuclear Deal and Statesman-like behavior as the two crowning glories of his terms as PM of India

I just hope that the opposition parties create a ruckus and scuttles any such mis-adventure by PM. At least, in the nuclear deal, the long term interests of the country was protected, but invitation of Pak PM for talks may do good to his legacy as PM, but not the long term interest of this country. If you see the recent statements coming out of Pakistan, they are saying that no dialogue is affecting their anti-terror operations. If you remove the diplomatic niceties from this statement, it clearly points to blackmail.

Probably, Pakistan is the only country in the world where Heads of State stand next to the Pak PM or President in press conferences in Islamabad and state in unequivocal terms that Pakistan is epicenter of terrorism for the world. This is a very unique situation. The fact that such public retribution is needed to prod Pakistan in acting against terrorists, is a testimony to the status Pakistan enjoys in the global community. In most instances, this is not refuted by Pakistan. I was so struck by the inner voice of Hillary Clinton in her recent visit to that country. She spoke her heart within 2 days of her being in that soil of what was dubbed as a visit to win the hearts and minds of Pakistani people. So there is no need for India to accommodate Pakistan by having talks with them as they are not fighting our war of terrorism. In fact, the tokenism that they are doing in fight against their terrorism, and the mindless way in which global powers, in particular, USA are putting money in that country is being used to wage proxy war against India. In fact, a direct war against India as it is clear that Pakistan government and army are directly involved in such attacks, which we in India knew for a long time.

My hypothesis is that Pakistan plans major attacks in India when India engages them in talks.  Right from Kargil to Mumbai attacks have happened when we were engaging them. So there is no basis to support that if we engage them in talks, terror attacks in India will stop. To the contrary, whenever we do the usual diplomatic tantrums after every attack, there is a lull in attacks. The fact that in last one year we have not engaged with Pakistan also ensured that there are no major terrorist attacks in India. This is not a coincidence by any stretch of imagination. This is not with big brother approach I am suggesting that we make them kneel and ensure a major correction towards a state policy before we begin our talks. But understand that it this language that they understand. Its not difficult to understand why? In every country be it a dictator or democracy at some point government’s are answerable to people for which they need to grow economy. In every country, roti-kapada-makan are important agenda items. Pakistan through years of mis-rule has not developed the local economy, so is run on external funding. The only way successive governments received such external funding is by fighting somebody else’s war or the more fashionable war on terrorism. Pakistan has to ensure that this cycle continues to get the external funding. Musharraf perfected this cycle of fighting terror using PR, tough speaking and India proxy war. By talking to Pakistan, we are helping Pakistan to perpetuate this war on terrorism.

What is worst case scenario? More terror attacks in India? Are we facing any less?  It does not serve our strategic interest to talk to them. Lets grow our economy and sit in high tables of committee of nations to discuss climate change, financial reforms etc. Let’s strengthen our leverage with rest of world. Let Pakistan disintegrate and collapse and we can watch that tamasha. All pundits are arguing that an unstable Pakistan is not good for India. Friends, when was Pakistan stable in the last 6 decades, they were always unstable.

So relations with India-Pakistan are going in right direction and let’s focus on developing/growing our economy and gain our rightful seat in the committee of nations. Pakistan would be in shambles and one of the global powers will be cleaning the shit as they are currently doing in Iraq and Afghanistan

-Srini

Everybody wants economic development and a legitimate demand from State to provide this development. If citizens of this country decide that I have not got adequate development that I anticipated, initially we would make peaceful protests and still if it is not provided, we would resort to violence. This violence is legitimate and we would not budge until we teach State a lesson. What kind of argument is this? Do all of us want to become a banana republic? Do we want to a Jungle Raj? These people sitting in air conditioned TV studios making statements sympathetic to such groups are unacceptable. Suddenly, democracy in this country is flawed and therefore violence is justified. They forget that it is this very democracy and not dictatorship that allows them to speak in this country.

Let us be clear if as a State we have to make choice between providing development and protecting democracy, without blinking I would say crush violence. This is not a Hobson’s choice. The choice is clear; lack of development is not reason for violence. Staying in one of the metros paying such huge taxes, I am also unhappy with the development in the metros. For the level of development I would expect, the State has abysmally failed. Would that mean I can resort to violence. I will stop trains, bomb schools, attack policemen etc.

My argument is not to support government at all. In lot of places, basic norm of democracy is not in place. There are police and State excesses. Despite this, we can never justify violence. If a citizen in this country starts taking such extreme views, we will be in a wose situation than Pakistan Each one of understand that Politicians are no better than prostitutes (my apologies to prostitutes for comparing them with politicians). They can sleep with anybody and justify everything. Politicians are using this violence to their advantage and the price is paid by common citizens. Its time, we realize this game and make our choices provided by great democracy of this country

- Srini

I write this letter to you not because I am your fan or your well wisher. I write this letter as a well wisher of democracy and a true nationalist. You hold an important constitutional position as Leader of Opposition in the important lower house of parliament. To me this is the next important position after the Prime Minister of this country. One of the key qualifications required to hold such positions is ability to judge. Your Judgment as Leader of Opposition is detrimental to democracy in this country. What is stark apart from the lack of judgment is your silence and making statements to position yourself as a moderate. If holding constitutional positions, you prevaricate and your statements reflect opportunism, its dangerous for this country. This I believe is due to your lack of judgment and clearly you are under the influence of others

I am listing below various instances in the recent past, where you have shown total lack of judgment

• Your advise to MPs to take cash inside the parliament during the important No-Confidence Vote last year

• Your attempt to wriggle out of Kandhar by blaming others

• Your lack of authority during Gujarat riots is better forgotten

• Meekly surrendering on Jinnah episode

• More recently, after a month, saying you were not in favor of Jaswant Singh removal

 These are important events in your political career and in all of these events you have shown that you lack of judgment. All these events provided excellent opportunities to raise your image as a Statesman, a man who can stand to his principles. In contrast, you have frittered away these opportunities and reduced yourself to a very sorry figure. A young politician like CM of Goa calls you a rancid pickle and is determining your retirement date. This is what you get reduced where even your age is not respected and rather is being compared to an ageing pickle.

 Lastly, look at the way Sonia Gandhi (I am neither a fan of her) has used every politician opportunity to her tremendous advantage. In fact your campaign against her that she is not Indian has been proven wrong in every way. She has understood the true ideals of Indianism like sacrifice, standing by your friends, showing magnanimity etc far better than you. She has used her judgment far better than you have.

My final request is please step down as Leader of Opposition, it does not matter what position you get within BJP, that’s your private affair. If you want to use your judgment, don’t bargain for some face saving exit. Just Step Down -

  – Srini

One of the reasons, why BPJ lost and Congress doing everything to lose is this lack of understanding of Aam Aadmi. Most political parties look at Aam Aadmi from his economic standpoint. That is the reason why the India Shining campaign failed so miserably, because it thought its appealing to growing sense of economic power it had created fro Aam Aadmi in just 5 years will be enough to get it back in power. The real reason, why it lost is misjudging the political understanding of Aam Aadmi. Dear Ploiticians, you are dealing with 21^st century Aam Aadmi and not the impoverished Aam Aadmi of the 50-60s, which found political sense in Indira Gandhi’s call for Garibi Hatao. If any political party launches any such campaign hoping to get electoral mileage, the opposition party can sit at home without campaigning. The moment you start designing policies and making political statements that appreciates that an Aam Aadmi, through years of political failures by politicians, has become extremely politically savy, you will get the electoral politics right. This lack of insight into the political acumen of Aam Aadmi has cost BJP twice and Congress is doing everything to lose the power (read my previous blogs on this)

Meet any Aam Aadmi today right from servant maid, driver, barber, laborer, blue collar, while collar workers and engage them on their views on politicians. The last thing they will agree is that Politicians are doing social service and therefore, if they are not austere they will affect the sensibilities of an Aam Aadmi. In fact, the Aam Aadmi has begin to hate this moral high ground that politicians take (Hope Advani would have learnt his lessons). He is clear that take whatever you want, but please do 2 good things. He has provided carte blanche approval through his vote to exploit the public resources as much as he wants and in return expects some 2-3 great polcies. Most of these policies he expects is their policy of non-interference in the future affairs of their life. License Raj was one such non-interference policy, where the middle class people are ever grateful to the government. So if every successive government launches 1-2 policies that guarantees that politicians in the future will not interfere with their lives, he is willing to forsake the entire public resources for that. So politicians please do no indulge in such juvenile acts that make Aam Aadmi puking at you. Learn from your mistakes and try and see what serious policy measure you can take, that would make an Aam Aadmi’s life better. We are least interested whether you lead an Austere or an Opulent life, we are too pre-occupied with our lives to worry about you. You can ridicule everything about us, but not our political understanding, where you have taught us what we should believe about you and what not. Please in order to get my carte blanche vote every 5 years, do not indulge in such a sham

 I cannot but conclude this blog commenting on the prime time coverage provided by the so called national news channels to these political stunts. If you do not have anything worthwhile to debate, please play Vande Mataram in your channels, please do not subject us those multiple and so called balanced views to us. The Aam Aadmi understands Politicians much better than you can bring through your balanced debates. If you want to contribute to this debate, please run panel discussions on how majority of politicians across political lines are disclosing assets which an Aam Aadmi can never dream in his life time. Politicians who can today stay in 5 star hotels by paying themselves, the government is trying to impose austerity measure, even if its tokenism. Common, lets debate and spend our time on better things in life.

 -Srini

What’s interesting is that by standards of politics they were very young. At the same time, were highly respected within Congress circles. Starting with Sanjay Gandhi and now YSR, the party has lost a number of such leaders. A number of these leaders, who died with the exception of Sanjay Gandhi enjoyed a great mass support, which is a rarity in today’s politics. With the country having a Rajya Sabha elected PM, people with a large mass support is not imperative to aspire for highest position in this country. This would be highly unthinkable in any other country. Our democracy is therefore functional, even if its imperfect. Co-existing with such imperfections is a true hallmark of a democracy though correcting such imperfections over a period of time through effective debates makes it functional.

In Congress Party, it is expected that people leading the party should have such mass appeal and they get the seats for the party. Rest of the party men executes then the instructions of such leaders. Rahul, the legal heir in waiting, is being groomed for that. It does not matter to the party if there are more such crowd pullers. In a way, it’s perceived as a threat to these leaders of the party. One, therefore, wonders whether there is a conspiracy to eliminate these emerging leaders with a fair bit of mass appeal. It is also typical to raise such conspiracy theories, whenever anything happens with a Politician, more so whenever they are dead. While, one can give benefit of doubt to Congress Party that seemingly there is no pattern in their deaths and have died well before they seriously threatened any of the heirs of their position.

It is important that Congress Party introspects these aspects and provides a greater security cover to such emerging leaders. With two consecutive victories the position of Sonia and Rahul are safe in Congress with no inner revolt. Therefore, it will serve them well to protect such emerging leaders as it would serve their own interest. If they are in power they need good ministers to execute ideas. Ideas executed by shrewd politicians will be successful, while ideas expected to be executed by novice or technocrats need not be always successful.

We just expect that Congress Party pays true tribute to these leaders by protecting other emerging leaders as a learning from the departed leaders. This would be a real truthful tribute rather than renaming some districts, roads, bridges in the name of these leaders. Be strategic rather than being tactical

- Srini

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for such a huge growth and recognition at a global level has been the rise of Indian IT industry. Besides, the huge population offers itself as a market for products and services. The economic progress providing the much needed money power to be designated as a market. Can a poor country with no purchasing power ever serve as a market for products and services. One can argue the contribution of private sector and government policies towards such a growth.

What is of importance, though, is such a growth sustainable and what will be the drivers. Clearly, our huge population, age of our population, English speaking and above all a cheap cost are the current drivers of the economy. Or in other words our competitive advantage. Clearly innovation is not driving this growth and progress. So are the current cost drivers sustainable. The answer is a clear no, though one can argue how long these factors can be our competitive advantage is a moot point.

What worries me is that no effort is being made to build such a long term competitive advantage. In my opinion, considering our great civilization, I believe a strong value system of our society can be our biggest competitive advantage. Our civilization stands testimony to this fact, that once India was a leading economy due to its great value system. In fact, some of the greatest organizations claim their sustained success is due to their culture and value systems. Let’s not forget that in these organizations, such a value system or culture was artificially seeded. Most of the people working in these organizations adhered to that ecosystem of values when they are in the four walls of the company and not necessarily when they are outside and hence artificial.

Imagine the power of such a value system when an entire society and country lives such a system in their day to day life. Such people working in organizations will automatically that company to greater heights. I, therefore, strongly believe that value systems can become our greatest competitive advantage. Our educational system needs to build and nurture that rather than creating engineers and MBAs out of our system.

Why today this discussion? I am pained to see around us such value systems vanishing at an astonishing rate. The decay rate is so high, sometimes you wonder, whether you are part of the system. I today for a minute imagined myself in the shoes of Jaswant Singh and wondered that if I have been associated with a movement for 30 years and then suddenly I realize that I am standing alone. Is this a value system that we all would encounter one day? How many of us have experienced this in personal and professional lives? How many of us live in that fear this companies, friends and dear ones, may not stand by you? How many of us are sure that the so called your universe will stand by you? Most of us are not sure and therefore this greed and aggrandizement that is driving lot of us. What we pride and see as our greatest successes, the next generations will struggle unless this growth and progress is based on sound value systems. Clearly, in every facet of life and more visibly in Indian politics value systems is becoming a rare commodity that will soon become extinct. Indian politics had displayed in the early part of our post independence a dignity and character that one can feel proud. Whether, we like it or not Indian politics and Bollywood are the great influencers on our generation through the jaundiced lenses of media. In all of these value systems are lacking.

Build value systems today to remain competitive in a globalized economy and will be our greatest treasure that we can forfeit to the coming generations.

– Srini