Regional issues should not precede over National interest: Dr Subramanian Swamy

 Subject: Sri Lanka symposium

 

 

Regional issues should not precede over National interest: Dr Subramanian Swamy 

   

New Delhi: India Foundation on Wednesday, May 09, 2012, organised a symposium on “Bharat Sri Lanka Relations and New Challenges” at the Indian International Centre at Delhi. The conference was attended by a galaxy of intellectuals and the list of speakers included Dr Subramanian Swamy, President of Janta Party, Shri Balbir Punj, Rajya Sabha MP and D Raja from the CPI. Shri Balbir Punj was the Chairman of a delegation of Indian MPs that had recently visited Sri Lanka.

Dr Subramanian Swamy said relations between India and Sri Lanka is both cultural and historical. Lord Ram anointed Vibhishan Ji as the King of Sri Lanka after defeating Ravan. In fact, scientific reports have proved that the DNA of people from India and Sri Lanka are the same. Dr Swamy said that in the wake of these facts the government of India should focus its attention on the plight of ordinary Tamils and not on the LTTE. He added that if India spoils its relations with Sri Lanka then yet another neighbouring country would become our enemy and would then be exploited by China and Pakistan. Dr Swamy further said that the issues of Tamil people are regional and regional issues should not be given precedence over national interest. Due to myopic policies of the present UPA government at the Centre, all neighbouring countries are turning hostile towards India which marks a big diplomatic failure of the government, he said.

Shri Balbir Punj said that Sri Lankan Parliament has a statue of Vibhishan Ji, who is revered and acknowledged by Sri Lankans as their first King. Shri Punj added that though Sri Lankan people do not understand much of Hindi yet they love and watch Hindi movies and like listening to Hindi songs. He further said that Lankans are followers of Buddhism and have a deep regard towards India. Yet, Tamil and Sinhalese live in complete separation in Sri Lanka. Sri Punj, further explained that Lankan Army has been imposed in all Tamil dominated areas and the situation is so grim that if any individual from the Tamil community wants to organize a function or a party, he/she needs to first inform the Army. No decision can be taken without Army’s permission, he added. Shri Punj said various associations of Sri Lankan Tamils have told him that they all want and favour an undivided Sri Lanka.

CPI’s D. Raja said that he was the first person who spoke for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. Detailing on the ground realities, Shri Raja said Tamils can live in Sri Lanka but cannot be a part of the ruling set up. Preference to Sinhalese language is given across government jobs and other places. The Sri Lankan Army and Police have almost zero percentage of Tamils. He further explained that after independence, India and Sri Lanka had entered into an agreement under which Sri Lanka sent back a few Tamils to India. This was unfortunate. After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination Tamil movement in Sri Lanka turned into a terrorist movement. Shri Raja further pointed out that today all Tamil monuments are being destroyed in Sri Lanka. Though I am a Communist yet I have to say that Buddhist idols are being put up at the Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. At several places it becomes difficult to distinguish whether the temple is Hindu or a Buddhist. In fact, now the movement has graduated from terror opposition to being a Tamil opposition, said Shri Raja.

The symposium was convened by BJP’s National Spokesperson Smt Nirmala Sitaraman. Shri Chandan Mitra, Shri Tarun Vijay, Smt Jaya Jaitley, Shri R Balashankar, Shri Ram Madhav, Shri NN Jha and several other intellectuals of the society participated in the symposium.

Vagish Issar (Ivsk Delhi)   09810068474

 

 (sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramaya;
sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kashchit dukkh bhagbhavet}

Welcome the New Year by celebrating Samvatsararambh: Chaitra Shukla Pratipada on 22.03.2012

Welcome the New Year by celebrating Samvatsararambh: Chaitra Shukla Pratipada

Celebrations on the eve of the Western New Year, that is 1st January, is accepted by Hindus as a day of celebration for them as well. They make big plans for this day, with regards to shopping, eating at a restaurant, taking a vacation, etc. And mind you this is not only in big cities, it is also happening in villages, which do not even have the basic amenities of regular electricity and water supply ! By aping the West you are not only destroying your own tradition but are also impressing materialistic values upon the future generation. Hindus are completely in the dark about this fact. This article is therefore meant to highlight these facts.

‘Conversion’ for a day!

When a person converts to a new religion he begins to follow the customs and celebrates festivals of that religion. In the same way, in neglecting our own customs if we Hindus start celebrating Christmas or New Year as per the Christian calendar, then even if it be for a day we too are like converts to Christianity ! Hindus are completely oblivious to the fact that they will have to face the demerits of neglecting their own rituals and of being anti-Hindu, for following the materialistic 'Western days of celebration'. Today, to create respect for their religion and Dharma amongst Hindus, religious education is an absolute necessity.

Hindus endow more importance to 31^st December !

Nowadays, from the young to the old, all wish each other a 'Happy New Year' or send greeting cards, on the night of 31^st December; but Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is the New Year as per our Hindu culture. They consider this as a prestige point. In fact you will find only a handful of Hindus greeting each other on the occasion of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.

Parents of the materialistic new generation are in hibernation !

As per the Hindu religion every auspicious event begins with ritualistic worship at the auspicious time (Brahma muhurta), which is on awakening at dawn, after a bath, wearing clean attire and ornaments. As a result, the sattva component in the atmosphere creates good impressions on the doer.

On the eve of the Western New Year people drink and make merry, in other words spend the night enjoying the pleasures of life. Thus automatically impressions of materialism are created on their subconscious minds. Besides, since at night the atmosphere is tama predominant the tama component in them grows. People are unaware of this because of the lack of religious education; the young generation falls prey to this materialism, fun and frolic. Their parents too are completely oblivious about what is happening to their children.

Destroy the invasion of foreign culture in the form of the demon Ravan

Today the Hindu religion is being attacked on all fronts, influence by Western culture being the most invasive. It is the duty of each and every Hindu to combat this attack. Just as on the day of Gudhi Padva Lord Rama killed the demon Ravan and returned to Ayodhya to hoist the flag of victory, so also Hindus must now combat Ravan who has assumed the form of Western cultural invasion and raise the Gudhi this year !

Hindus! Live as a true Hindu at least for a day !

On this day one can take note of the 'do's' and don'ts' given below -
1. Do not wish a fellow Hindu 'Happy New Year' either on 31^st December or 1st January.
2. If a fellow Hindu greets you that way, take time to explain to him how this is wrong and impress upon him that Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is actually our new year.
3. Instead of sending New Year greetings to relatives and friends for 1st January, do it on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.
4. Ensure that you pass on this valuable information to your near and dear ones, thus preventing them from sinning by celebrating New Year on a day other than our real New Year.
5. Remember that ushering in the New Year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada will help you develop pride in your religion, nation and language.

RSS RESOLUTIONS AT ABPS NAGPUR


RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH
AKHIL BHARATIYA PRATINIDHI SABHA
16-18 MARCH, 2012 NAGPUR

RESOLUTION -1


Uphold Unity and Integrity of Our Society as Paramount


Bharat is witnessing upsurge of popular movements in different parts of the country over various issues like land rights, political rights, dams and river water sharing, movement of people from one state to the other, conflicts between different groups based on tribe, caste, religion etc. The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha expresses concern over the growing ill will among various sections of our society due to the actions of certain vested interests of these movements.

The ABPS exhorts that mature polity should handle such movements with utmost care and sensitivity. It should accord greater priority to unity and integrity of the society while handling these issues. Unfortunately what we experience today is exploitation of public sentiments for political expediency resulting in harm to our social cohesion.

Media plays an important role in public education and awakening. Sensationalism of sections of media in such matters will not only cause harm to the interest of the movement but also adversely impact the social fabric. Leaders of voluntary and Non-Government Organisations, who take active part in several such movements, have an onerous responsibility of ensuring that fissiparous tendencies don’t creep in and vested and foreign interests don’t take advantage of the movements to vitiate the atmosphere of social harmony and national unity. The ABPS calls upon the media and the NGO leadership to play a constructive role in providing right direction to such movements.

There are bound to be genuine grievances and complaints from each side in most of the issues that give rise to such movements. However the ABPS appeals to the leaders and participant people of these movements to never lose sight of the greater unity and integrity of our society. Nothing should be said or done in the course of pursuing demands that would create fissures in our social fabric and weaken our national bonds.

It is a matter of grave concern for the ABPS that the actions of the Government in issues like Communal and Targeted Violence Bill and Minority Reservations are potential triggers for creating disunity and discord among various sections of the society. Anti-Constitutional decision of the Union and certain State governments to carve out 4.5% as Minority Quota from the OBC Quota of 27% reservations calls for rejection by the entire nation. The ABPS exhorts that the national policy should be guided not by short-term political gains but by the principle of One Nation – One People.

The ABPS calls upon the countrymen in general and Swayamsevaks in particular to play a proactive role in ensuring that the attempts by some sections of our society to destroy our social unity for narrow selfish ends never succeed.

RESOLUTION -2

Draft National Water Policy-2012 Needs to be Reconsidered

Natural wealth of the nation is sacred heritage of all the living beings. Hence the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha is of the considered opinion that our water resources, soil, air, minerals, cattle wealth, biodiversity and other such natural resources should not be treated as means of commercial profit. Our approach, policy and practices towards utilization and conservation of these resources should be based on the principle of our long sustained reciprocal coexistence of entire living universe, rather than being based on short term motive of private profits. We constitute 17 percent of the world population and are dependent upon 2.5 percent of the earth’s land mass and 4 percent of fresh water. In view of the above facts, Government’s initiative towards private monopoly and commercial profiteering in water which is one of the sacred elements among the “Panch-Mahabhootas”, is a matter of grave concern.
In the recently circulated draft National Water Policy – 2012 of the Central Government while describing water as the basis of life, has very cleverly incorporated the formulations and models of the World Bank and MNCs. This clearly manifests the evil designs of the Central Government. The proposals in the new draft on water policy regarding increase in water and electricity tariffs in the name of rationalizing consumption of water and also making it cost based, will only make water scarce for ordinary people and will pave the way for earning massive profits by the corporate engaged in water trade. As suggested by the World Bank, attempts at handing over the control of water distribution in the hands of private monopoly in the name of public-private partnership, indicates the intentions of handing over this vital basic necessity of life totally in the control of private ownership and to a large extent foreign multi-national corporations. Experiences of private monopoly of water across the world have not been satisfactory with respect to the quantity and quality of water supply, regularity of supplies and tariffs. By accepting water as a tradable commodity or as an economic good in the water policy, the Government is in fact supporting the logic of those international business consultants who view privatization of water as booming trade opportunity worth billions of dollars in Bharat and other developing countries.
ABPS is of the opinion that water is life line for our entire living world. Therefore, rational water resource management ensuring availability of pure water to each and every citizen, appropriate water supply to agriculture and different meaningful economic activities at proper rates are administrative imperatives for the Government. Serious debate and deliberations from village panchayats to top level regarding the National Water Policy, changes in land utilization and other basic issues concerning management of natural wealth, should form the first priority of the Government while formulating the policies.
In such a scenario, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha calls upon all the countrymen to desist themselves from misuse, wastage and all those activities which pollute this divine gift of nature. They should leave no stone unturned in the conservation of water. The Pratinidhi Sabha also expects from the Government that instead of handing over natural wealth like water in private monopoly, it should adopt all appropriate measures to ensure water conservation, harvesting and proper management. In view of the growing demand, effective steps like reprocessing, desalination and optimum utilization of river water should be taken for easy availability of water. For conservation and augmentation of major sources of water it is necessary to curb pollution in sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. It is also equally important to take effective steps for revival of the ancient river Saraswati. The Government should also call upon the society, social organizations and Dharmacharyas to co-operate in this endeavour. With respect to the National Water Policy draft, the Pratinidhi Sabha also cautions the Government that if it accepts the recommendations of the new water policy document in toto and makes the water tariff cost based to ensure private profit out of it, then it would have to face public wrath.

Vagish Issar (Ivsk Delhi) 09810068474

(sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramaya;
sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kashchit dukkh bhagbhavet}

RSS-ANNA HAZARE

The first meeting of Anna Hazare took place at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which witnessed in back ground on the dais a big picture of Bharat Mata with a lion. The pro RSS masses took for granted that the presence of the picture in the meeting symbolized full support of RSS to Anna Hazare and there was a mammoth gathering not only at Jantar Mantar but at various other places also. The second meeting of the Anna Hazare campaign took place in Lucknow, at three different places. Anna Hazare was not there. Gatherings were poor. The Bharat Mata picture was also not there at any of the daises in Lucknow. That was a clear indication of the point that the Anna team thought it proper to keep away from RSS. Later on Arvind Kejriwal, the key figure of the Anna Hazare campaign was seen on TV screen telling that RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat should not try to take credit for the success of the Anna campaign.He sarcastically said," Mohan Bhagawat should take credit for what happened in Gujarat". Obviously, Anna team did not like to entertain the RSS resolution to fight corruption , which was passed in it's Pratinidhi Sabha in March 2011. Why Anna team was not there in the 4 Feb 2012 Delhi meeting that was sponsored by none other than RSS through Baba Ramdev, Dr Subramanian Swamy and KN Govindacharya, and various other anti-corruption activists and outfits ? Arvind Kejriwal once said , We are not inviting any one to join our campaign, it is not a marriage occasion." The same logic might stand for RSS, which does not seem to have invited Anna team to attend the 4 Feb Delhi meet. All that raises the following questions :
1. Must the appetite for credit overrule and puncture the mission to have a clean system in India?
2. Must the ego of some fine persons overrule their original determination to fight out corruption and black money ?
3. Must the loyalty for India be forced to accept subordination of loyalty of some persons / parties/ ideologies ?
4. Must RSS / Anna team see that the discouraging message of some ego- born wranglings be allowed to thwart the expected joint effort to fight corruption? Who is responsible for the fissure ?
5. How can any body ignore the genuine desire of the poor villager called Anna Hazare to cleanse India?
6. How can one expect RSS / Baba Ramdev/ Dr Subramanian Swamy/ KN Govindacharya to underestimate efforts of Ana Hazare ?
7. Must Anna Hazare's efforts be left to fade away and / or submit to the bucolic recalcitrance of some persons of his team and other campaigners ?
8. Must India witness repetition of its history that witnessed the success of alien invaders due to mutual fissures in Indian society on the lines of caste, creed, domains, kingdoms etc ?
9. Why all those persons/ organizations who do posses necessary resources and potential to bring change in India fail to break the ego-born barriers and come on one platform to accomplish the common mission?
10. Why the overall organizational strength of RSS is not acknowledged by the Anna team, which is short of the zeal, dedication, and sacrifice that have been helping RSS have a guaranteed all India presence in every section of society in various forms and degrees?
11. Why RSS can not tackle amicably the team Anna that may be seen as vulnerable to the forces that may like to disintegrate India?
There may be hundreds of such questions the coming generations will ask, if efforts to have a better India fail.









Balram Misra

STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT ON FDI IN RETAIL ON 10TH FEBURARY

Raising a united voice against FDI in Retail, the leaders of leading organisations of traders, farmers,hawkers, transport have called upon the Central Government to hold wider discussion on report of Parliamentary Standing Committee instead of finding ways and means to substantiate its decision to allow FDI in Retail which has been hold back in view of stiff opposition from all quarters. It is highly deplorable that Union Commerce Minister is finding time to meet officials of MNC's whereas on the other hand the sectors who are contributing magnificiently to national exchequer have been constantly ignored.
In order to initiate a countrywide movement on FDI in Retail, more than 31 leading organisations of different sectors of retail trade are holding a National Convention on" Impact of FDI in Retail on Indian Economy and Trade" on 10th Feburary at New Delhi.

Several Political leaders including Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Shri Basudeb Acharya, CPM MP, Shri Guru Das Dasgupta, CPI MP and others will be participating in the Convention whereas several leading economists including Shri Mohan Guruswamy, Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Shri Shekar Swamy, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Prof Sukhpal, Prof. Bhagwati Prakash, Prof.Sukhpal and others will also be addressing the Convention. Prominent Farmer Leaders Mr. Rakseh Tikait, Rishipal Ambawata, Atul Kumar Anjan, Krishan Veer Chaudhary,Ram Pal Jat,Sudhir Panwar,Suchha Singh Gill, Subhash Barala, Om Prakash Dhankhar etc shall also be participating the Convention.

Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Mr. Naresh Sirohi, General Secretary of Kisan Morcha, Mr.Shaktiman Ghosh,General Secretary National Hawkers Federation, Mr. Pradeep Singhal,Working President,All India Motor Transport Congress and Mr. Pradeep Sharma of Swadeshi Jagran Manch in a joint statement today the Government needs to re-look at the policy with an open mind as merely assumptions not backed by supportive examples and studies can not make any policy good. They regretted that the recommondations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and responses received by the Government on its discussion paper were never considered though majority of the responses and the recommondations of the Parliamentary panel are against the entry of FDI in Retail quoting substantial evidences.

The leaders jointly called for an open debate on FDI in Retail as various arguments made by the proponents of FDI are based on totally wrong assumptions.The experience of the rest of the World whether USA, Europe or Asian Countries substantiate the fact that global retailers act on predatory pricing policy and control the retail trade in a monopolistic way. The global retailers are willing to come to India to take over an existing market. Certainly, they are not going to increase in consumption which will result into mass displacement of the existing players. In other sectors where FDI has been allowed, new markets and new categories have been created. The FDI in Retail will have terrible consequences for the average Indian.









CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal

Challenges before nationalist India

What constitutes nationalist India? Is it a set of people with distinct ideology, specific mindset and concomitant behavior? Probably so, because in contemporary India, we observe two very distinct and contrasting popular forces---nationalistic forces and opportunistic forces. Our society’s bane has been selfishness and opportunism. These traits are the prime reasons for India’s moral, economic and political decadence for a long period of history.
Nationalist India is conceptualized and viewed as a group of people wedded to the ideals of secularism, tolerance, brotherhood and patriotism. It is very clear in its understanding of the Indian nation as a cultural entity. It views cultural renaissance as the basic underlying current for India’s resurgence as an economic and political superpower.
Let us examine the various challenges being faced by the nationalist India today. The first and the foremost challenge is the much needed reforms to our constitution which we have inherited from our founding fathers as a set of defining and directive principles and a governing policy framework. These principles and framework are replete with provisions which are totally out of tune with our social and cultural ethos. Indeed, our constitution is defective and deficient for our country because it does not match our native pristine culture. It has failed to give truly representative governments through the democratic election process. It has failed to establish justice, equality and true socialism as has been amply proved over the past six decades. Our polity has delivered weak and indecisive coalition governments over the past twenty years. Whether in state or at the centre, the terms of coalition governments have been marked by dillydallying and dithering on important tasks like enactment of Lokpal bill and implementation of judicial reforms. On the contrary, the lawmakers have cleared speedily and unanimously bills on the subject of extending reservation in educational institutions and jobs for SC/ST/OBC citizens, on substantial hikes of salaries and perquisites of MPs and MLAs and other bills dealing with scores of populist measures. Populism has truly become the cornerstone of governmental functioning.
Objective analysis suggests that many amendments and reforms are needed in India’s constitution for providing stable governments and for establishing a system that will bring up governments focused on universal welfare rather than popular appeasement. Over the years, many prudent ideas have been expressed by eminent parliamentarians and political pundits in the nature of such constitutional reforms. Switchover to a two-party democratic system, presidential form of government on the USA model and multiparty national government are some of these. The idea of national government was first mooted by Sh. Vasant Sathe and was endorsed by Sh.L.K.Advani. India badly needs some other amendments in the constitution to restrain, restrict and regulate expenditure of money in elections and to effect larger turnout of voters during election process for achieving truly representative elections. This is the only way to get lawmakers with competence, character and commitment.
The other challenge before nationalist India is perhaps the bigger challenge of shaping the mindset of our citizens. This challenge consists in inculcating nationalistic spirit and patriotic fervor. For this, it needs to be understood that a nation is a cultural entity. India’s pristine, native culture has to be identified correctly and resurrected. Language, customs, traditions, mores and behavioral patterns are the elements of this culture. The moral deficit visible in the Indian society is the result of deviation from the divine ideology enshrined in Vedas, the pillars of material and spiritual progress of ancient India. Let it be made clear that cultural currents which foster universal brotherhood, tolerance and other values drawn from the primordial scriptures – Vedas need to be reestablished. India’s glorious past was due to the divine universalistic culture of Vedas. As long as Vedic ideology and culture was followed by the Indian society, India reigned supreme in the world. It remained leader in economy, defense, trade, agriculture, science, technology, medicine and what not. India’s decline was coterminous with the dilution and distortion of Vedic culture in all facets of life. Vedic ideology, Vedic precepts and Vedic knowledge are divine, rational and truly scientific. Therefore Vedic cultural renaissance is the need of the hour. This culture made India the global economic and political superpower for a long period of history. This culture made India the moral and spiritual torchbearer of the world for thousands of years. The revival of the same culture holds the key to the economic, political and moral resurgence of India.
Nationalistic forces in India are working as separate groups or organizations, some of them wrongly tarred by the communal brush. They need to stand out clearly and effectively to project themselves as selfless, altruistic and committed to the ideal of Indian nationalism. Indian nationalism needs to be defined clearly and elaborately once again to make it comprehensible to the man- in- the- street. Once the true concept of nationalistic India is clear to the common man, meeting the other major challenges to nationalistic India will be rendered that much easier and quick resurgence of India as the sole economic, political as well as moral superpower will become a reality rather than a pipe dream.






(source atul sehgal)