8 mp editorial
EDITORIAL
SC makes it clear
A
fter a month of carefully examining the particulars
of the highly contentious Rafale deal, the Supreme
Court announced its verdict in favour of the Union
government yesterday, citing how it didn’t have
good reason to doubt the decision-making process in the
multi-billion dollar deal. BJP’s elation at the decision was inevi-
table. The verdict follows the reserved judgement of November
14, which preceded a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored
probe into the deal. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Jus-
tice Ranjan Gogoi, read out the judgement which emphasises
that it is not the job of the court to deal with the comparative
details of pricing and, further, no substantial evidence has
been found to interfere with the issues of procurement, pric-
ing and offset partnership. The court was convinced with the
clarification that was given by both the sides involved over all
aspects of procurement. It elaborated that whether the number
of jets was 36 or 126 was a subject matter of the government
and cannot be compelled upon by the court. The apex court
had requested two senior IAF officials to answer questions
regarding the jets, stressing on how the government’s decision
to procure them was supported by the fact that India needs
induction of 4th and 5th generation fighter jets, such as Rafale,
since no new jets have been inducted in the IAF since 1985.
It is acceptable that the induction was mandatory to keep up
with the quality requirements of our country’s defence. “We
are satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process. A
country cannot afford to be underprepared. It is not correct
for the court to sit as an appellant authority and scrutinise all
aspects,” Gogoi said, emphasising the government’s autonomy
over aspects of national interest. Somehow, the convincing
tale of corruption by the BJP government has found a new
climax. Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, accusing the Narendra
Modi government of crony capitalism, had cited irregularities
in the 36-jet deal with Dassault Aviation of France. Highlight-
ing the procurement price and the choice of offset partner as
Anil Ambani’s inexperienced Reliance defence, allegations
were further strengthened by the government’s refusal to
make the details of the deal public. However, in a sealed let-
ter, the details were provided to the court which helped in its
examination of the deal.
“We don’t find any material to show that it’s commer-
cial favouritism” the apex court pronounced, dismissing the
criticism regarding Reliance Defence’s acquisition of the deal
through government aid. Anil Ambani was quick to welcome
the judgement which clears his and his company’s name in the
controversial matter. He stressed how his company remained
committed to India’s national security and established com-
plete falsity in this “baseless and politically motivated allega-
tion”. More responses on the judgement hailed the decision
and condemned Rahul Gandhi and Congress for its petty
politics. Home minister Rajnath Singh said, “Congress Presi-
dent Rahul Gandhi tried to mislead people on Rafale deal for
political benefit and maligned India’s image globally. He should
apologise to the people of the country”. Amit Shah addressed
a conference at BJP HQ where he opined that, “Rahul Gan-
dhi should come clean on his source of information, based
on which he and his party levelled such baseless allegations”
– targetting Rahul Gandhi head-on for his alleged theatrics in
the run-up to the elections to mislead people. On the defen-
sive front, Shashi Tharoor elaborated that his party is looking
for inspection on financial intricacy saying, “We are looking
at inspection of accounts and negotiations conducted in the
Rafale deal. The Supreme Court didn’t consider that their busi-
ness to do it” and, therefore, “We will continue to push for the
joint parliamentary committee. The BJP also asked for JPC
despite verdict on 2G”. The court’s order changes nothing for
the Congress, who remain confident that this contentious issue
is worth chasing. From a general perspective, the court’s order
to protect the details of the deal is justified. However, it is not
every day that demands are made to disclose details of a sac-
rosanct deal and the court could’ve done more to satiate public
curiosity. The Supreme Court, however, cannot be criticised
for its judgement since there was no evidence for the court to
entertain the levelled allegations and, hence, it has been dis-
missed. Moving on, Congress’s push for a Joint Parliamentary
Committee (JPC) should reap evidence to support the bold
allegation, otherwise, it will subject itself to extensive criticism,
that too in the face of general elections. Despite this momen-
tary clarity, the Rafale chapter is far from over. Its ghost will
continue to haunt the ruling party, particularly in light of the
joint parliamentary committee coming into aggressive picture.
Science fiction
to reality!
A
rtificial intelligence becoming effective and robots
strutting about is no longer part of science fiction.
Indeed, air travellers would be eating 3D-printed
meals prepared and served by robots if one restau-
rant boss gets his way. Hong Kong restaurant group Maxim’s
wants to open a smart restaurant at the city’s international
airport to make the facility even more efficient. The proposal,
which was floated earlier this year, will “improve travellers’
culinary experience,” says George Mew, Maxim’s director.
“Raw materials will be freshly prepared in the smart kitchen
by robotic arms and automatic machines.” It might not be
as strange as it sounds. Robots are staffing airports around
the world. At Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South
Korea, for example, robots escort late or lost travellers to
their departure gates. At New York City’s LaGuardia Airport,
robots are equipped with cameras and act as “another set of
eyes to supplement existing security.” At Singapore’s Changi
Airport robots clean the floors for 10 hours a day. Nearly
half of the world’s airlines and 32 per cent of its airports are
seeking a partner to further investigate robotics and auto-
mated vehicles in the next three years. By 2030, robots are
expected to have replaced check-in processes, according to
a report published this year in the UK. In 2016, Geneva Air-
port tested a robot called Leo, developed by SITA and robot-
ics company BlueBotics. Passengers checked in by scanning
their boarding pass on Leo, then dropping their bag inside the
robot’s secure area. Leo then delivered it to security personnel.
Airport operators are experimenting with robots or intelli-
gent machines to help check-in baggage or assist passengers
to find their way through busy airports. Other robots exist
simply for pleasure. Two years ago, Glasgow International
Airport, in Scotland had a robot that guided passengers and
also sang and danced to Christmas tunes. So could robots
take over from humans in airports completely? Not really.
There is some way to go before robotics become part of the
mainstream. Maxim’s proposed Hong Kong airport restau-
rant staffed by robots, for example, would have human tal-
ent working backstage to ensure quality control. Some tasks
simply require human input. Research has shown that trav-
ellers prefer to use automated services rather than human
interaction when completing simple steps in the journey, be
it check-in, bag drop or boarding. But if there is, say, a prob-
lem with the journey or documentation, travellers would pre-
fer to speak to a human. This would allow them to focus on
complex, service-oriented tasks — where the personal touch
is preferred. There was a time, not too long ago, when science
fiction fans would carry Bradbury, Asimov or Clarke paper-
backs with them. Now the world visualised by these amazing
authors is all but here.
Governance comes first
With governance and development under the spotlight, recent state
polls indicate a new narrative for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
T
he political scenario of India
MRIGANKA M. BHOWMICK is taking a new direction. The
recently held elections of five
states show that the electorates
are taking decisions in such a matured
fashion that it has taken many election
pundits by surprise. Surely, accountabil-
ity is sought from the political parties
on governance and delivery. In the elec-
tion battle of India, political narrative
is always based on GDP: Governance,
Dynasty & Polarisation. Every polit-
ical party derives strength from this
GDP. But maintaining the order of this
Electorates have GDP is very important. If you change
this order of narrative to impress vot-
shown a clear ers, it can backfire. The recent election
inclination that result is a reflection of that only. Once
again voters have reminded the politi-
they want to cal bosses that governance comes first,
hear more on rest follows after that.
The last important election mandates
development before the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elec-
and governance tion are of high importance for all the
political parties to get a sense of elector-
in political ate’s mind and psyche, especially when it
discourses, unlike has covered the large chunk of politically
formidable Hindi Belt. Though many
many previous have opined that the local issues have
instances where dominated the outcome of these elec-
tions, but it is noteworthy to mention
cast, creed, that electorates have shown a clear incli-
dynasty and nation that they want to hear more on
development and governance in polit-
polarisation ical discourses, unlike many previous
along the instances where cast, creed, dynasty and
polarisation along the religious fault line
religious fault decided the election outcomes.
line decided Not to forget, Narendra Modi-led
BJP won the huge mandate of people in
election 2014 based on promises of good gover-
outcomes nance and development. The discourses
on dynastic politics and religious polari-
sation were still there but those were only
of minuscule importance. No doubt how
these factors had contributed to the win-
ning side to consolidate its own constit-
uency of voters, but a promise of good
governance was the key. Surprisingly the
preference of voters remains the same
even after four and half years. Misad-
venture to bring religious polarisation
in the forefront and personal attacks in
the veil of dynasty-politics have become
up-the-ante for BJP.
Unlike Telangana where the election
was fought on the developmental plank
by KCR, it was a bitter fight between BJP
Quote martial ANTICIPATED CLARIFICATION
Do not dwell in It is a pleasure to see that the apex court came out, after a thorough examination, with its reserved
judgement to clarify that there are no irregularities regarding the controversial Rafale deal. Rafale
the past, do not
dream of the was the subject of a row between the government and the opposition had seen the government
under a bad light with floating allegations of corruption and crony capitalism. This is a sigh of
future, concentrate
the mind on the relief for BJP, however, Congress does not seem satisfied with the outcome of the fiasco stating how
they are going to pursue a joint parliamentary committee to get to the root of it. Keeping aside the
present moment
political commotion, I am glad that SC produced a clarified outcome of the row that had grabbed
BUDDHA headlines before the nation.
The people have spoken
The recently concluded state elections prove that the voice of the
common man cannot be taken for granted
SHUTAPA PAUL
Real
accountability
is not in the
virtual world of
Twitter or in the
raucous sounds
of television
primetime
debates, true
accountability
lies with the
people. It is to us
that the politician Victory belongs to the common man who has desisted the ruling party’s ignorance
T
comes begging he BJP has lost power in Chhat-
for votes, tisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya
pleading for trust Pradesh – the Hindi heartland;
and the people have spoken.
and support Everyone seems caught up in the age-
old fight of political one-upmanship –
Congress’ progress, BJP’s debacle. To all
of this, I say, that there has been a more
serious outcome of these state polls. The
biggest takeaway from these recent elec-
tions is that the mandate of the ‘aam
aadmi’ cannot be taken for granted.
In the last four years, there has been a
one-way communication from the gov-
ernment — it has spoken and we have
listened. And, while we have listened
and changed our notes, stood in long
Voters have reminded the politicos that religious polarisation cannot sway their mandate
and Congress in Hindi heart belt of MP,
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the
political discourse did not even spare
deceased father, mother, grandfather,
grandmother of the opponents. Realis-
ing an anti-incumbency factor of BJP-
ruled states, the state election had been
metamorphosed to a fight of personality
cult between Narendra Modi and Rahul
Gandhi, a supposedly clever move by
BJP. Jibe against Rahul’s Gotra or Modi’s
cast and issues like soft and hard Hin-
dutva hijacked the political discourse in
these elections. Fringe elements having
the patronage of political parties did
their job dutifully by creating noise
of religious polarisation. Delhi media
houses covered and discussed those non-
issues at length like a personality cult,
Hindu polarisation or Ram Mandir and
a perception was crafted that the elec-
tions were fought based on these triv-
ial issues. All were discussed except the
state wise future plan on development,
governance, farmer distress, Water, jobs
and new industry.
People in good numbers thronged
in the election rallies of Modi and Yogi
which created a superficial euphoria
amongst the BJP and media that the
election would result in an intended
outcome. People listened to all of them
patiently, but alas they had something
else in their mind. Post-election there
queues to withdraw petty cash, digitised
our transactions and lives, agreed to pay
a consolidated tax (GST), and even given
permission to the government to peek
into all aspects of our lives (Aadhaar),
the government has not listened.
Even when the anti-people demon-
etisation dealt a crushing blow to the
economy and the common man, the
government did not listen. Even as farm-
ers walked thousands of miles to get
their voice heard, their hopes were met
with a heartbreaking silence. When
several incidents of lynching and cow-
related deaths surfaced, the powers that
be still maintained a stoic ‘no com-
ments’ stance. The people of India were
MILLENNIUM POST | New Delhi | Saturday, 15 December, 2018
was analysis where it was revealed that
BJP lost 65 per cent of the seats where
Yogi had rallies, although the effect of
Modi’s rallies is a bit decent. A high
pitch campaign around development
issues was missing, so were the voices
of local state-level leaders. It appears
that the grass root level party workers of
Congress had created traction in booth
level which resulted in a high turnout of
voters in polling day, which is always a
sure sign of anti-incumbency.
Coming to power by promulgating
good governance and development is
an age-old practice in politics where
the incumbent government faces anti-
incumbency. All the political parties do
that. BJP also did that in 2014 but Modi
became just a bit over-enthusiastic on
promising. Those promises were cap-
tured in bold in the electorates’ mind.
This becomes a trap for BJP as these nar-
ratives supersede all other narratives of
BJP whether at the state level or at the
Central level. It is evident from the fact
that all the BJP-ruled states always dis-
play achievements of all public welfare
schemes by promulgating it as Prime
Minister’s vision and mission of New
India, even the local government’s ini-
tiatives fail to miss the all-encompassing
Modi flavours as if everything is derived
from Prime Minister only.
These have blurred the distinction
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speaking but the establishment was in
no mood to pay heed. But now it will.
It will have to.
The strongest weapon in the hands
of the public is the vote. It is our dem-
ocratically-given right to exercise our
franchise, which is our most effective
tool to make the government account-
able. The real accountability is not in the
virtual world of Twitter or in the raucous
sounds of television primetime debates,
true accountability lies with the peo-
ple. It is to us that the politician comes
begging for votes and it is to us that
he pleads for trust and support. When
those promises are broken along with
the lives of an entire trading class, when
between the Centre and state govern-
ment’s work and governance. It may be
the directive of the party and its leader-
ship but then why blame local leaders
after the poll debacle? Deriving a distinct
between Modi factor and Local factor
becomes insignificant. So aligning every-
thing Central government schemes and
using Modi’s popularity as a tool to win
elections have started giving diminish-
ing returns. Needless to say, if BJP con-
tinues to so, it will create further fatigue
in the mind of the voters.
They need to further innovate the
strategy to win the election. The issue of
governance may now look like a trap to
seek support from voters. But still, there
are many good initiatives taken by state
and Central governments which now
need to be executed with strong hands
in a short span of time. Honest narra-
tives around those initiatives will work
and people of India may be willing to
give more time to Prime Minister Modi,
who knows. Any other clever move by
pushing Polarisation through religious
or Dynasty issues in the forefront will
not yield any positive poll dividend.
The situation has changed and 2019 Lok
Sabha election is not far away. Let’s walk
the talk on the execution of government
initiatives as governance comes first. IPA
(The views expressed
are strictly personal)
millenniumpost.in
Millennium Post,
the economy is forced to shed a couple
of percentages of growth because of a
draconian policy like demonetisation,
the political party seated in the cushion
of power, must answer.
And when that answer is not forth-
coming, when the common man starts
losing hope, when businesses down their
shutters, when farmers strip naked and
protest – that is when the voter decides
that enough is enough. Since the pow-
ers that be won’t listen, since they won’t
answer, they, therefore, must pay. And,
as we saw in the recent elections, the
BJP paid for its faulty economic poli-
cies with electoral losses. The party’s
disregard for farmers helped diminish
their wins and even their vote share. Its
neglect of the traders sowed deep seeds
of resentment. So much was the disillu-
sionment and sorrow of the voter that
even able state administrations were
ousted; the anger towards the central
government ensured it.
The recently concluded state elec-
tions may not definitively chart the
political wave of the 2019 Lok Sabha
elections (and frankly, no one dares haz-
ard a guess), but I feel that these elec-
tions show the trend. The early trends
were seen in the by-poll results in the
last year where BJP lost most seats. This
early trend is stronger now as the people
seem frustrated with the central govern-
ment. Heading towards 2019 Lok Sabha,
political parties must be aware that the
extensively squeezed middle class, the
unhappy women voters, the margin-
alised farmers, the scared minorities
and the larger Indian vote base that is
Hindu, tolerant, and all-Indian in its
approach to homogeneity, diversity and,
most importantly, communal harmony,
will take its pound of flesh. The BJP must
be prepared.
(The writer is a journalist and
media entrepreneur. The views
expressed are strictly personal)