Challenges for new government : Foreign Policy

India is euphoric about thumping victory of UPA for its clean sweep. Most of people are happy as Left is left out and government will functioning without any hindrance. Even bulls returned in stock market with a bang. But as the dawn settle before PM swearing, there are few immediate challenges which India government have to take care according to my understanding.
Over the years our relations with neighboring country have been sour. Each neighbour is facing problem in its turf.
a) Pakistan: Most unstable country in the region is a new democracy, where is fight going on in order to save democracy. US has dropped Indian concern while giving billion dollar annual aid. It will be tough for Indian diplomats to keep a good rapport with Obama administration. We are not able to exert pressure on Pakistan regarding 26/11 attacks.
b) Nepal: Only Hindu country in the past and a new democracy. Only good things happened there that maoist has renounced the violence and now they are in main stream. But problem is the increasing relation with China and Nepal. Recent removal of Nepal Army Chief controversy has done a damage to indian foreign diplomacy. At least we should have the best relation with this tiny Himalayan country.
c) Sri Lanka: Aftermath of LTTE fall, onus is on India to take care of ethnic Tamil issues. India should look that these srilankan tamilians get honorable citizenship, equal rights and resources. These people should become the part of main stream as divide between singhalies and Tamilians are mammoth.
d) Bangladesh: The country which was created by us is creating problem. The terror camp, support to ULFA, the refugees problem, water sharing are the important area of concern.
e) Afghanistan: Though India have strong relation with this country. As taliban is emerging again, we should continue cooperate with Mr Hamid Karzai government. Its an important nation for our foreign policy.

Other than that relation with USA, China, EU and Russia will be interesting to watch.

Road ahead is full of thorn. It will be interesting to see How Indian government reacts to these issues in next 100 days.

All the best to new government.

Democracy Won

2009 Parliamentary election results are unexpected beating all exit polls regarding fractured mandate. Most positive aspect of these results is that we will have a stable government at centre which will work for full five year with less pressure from its allies compare to last term. Congress has gained seats in J&K, Kerala, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh (All four corners of countries). This year’s parliamentary and 3 assembly elections have turned down the anti-incumbency factor.

But I still feel that local issues have driven the results. In case of left ruled state, due to their internal fight, non-performance; they have lost the plot. In AP, YSR’s populist schemes have worked. At the same time in Bihar, People have given vote to JD(U) led front due to its development policies. Gujarat also has given verdict on state development issues. Delhi is again another strong example of development. In Karnataka, people have retained their faith in BJP; probably they will wait how this new government lead by Mr. Yedurappa performs. As they have seen the poor rule by JD(S). Chattisgarh also Mr Raman Singh performed based on expectation. There was little anti incumbency in Madhya Pradesh but Mr Shivraj Singh has not lost his ground. Punjab the Singh factor worked and also at certain extent state government has not worked well. Tamilnadu the populist measures by DMK (1 Rs Kg Rice, free power etc.) has tremendously helped them to retain their last time figures.

Only puzzle for me are Rajasthan, UP and Uttranchal. First let’s talk about Uttarakhand which is ruled by Mr Khanduri. Who was Road & transport minister in Vajpayee government. His records were impeccable. Despite his clean image, BJP lost all seats.

Rajasthan has always seen the anti government in centre compare to state government but this time both state and centre government will be ruled by same party. So hope to see some development in my state. But here development card didn’t work. Despite the hard work put by Vasundhara government they lost assembly polls some time back and now a shameful defeat in loksabha.

UP the largest state in terms of seats have voted against current mismanaged state government, but they have not given a clear cut verdict to a party.

Point I am trying to make is that there was no national issues in these elections. The verdict shows that who have won the election, has won based on local/state issues. And there the NDA missed the trick. I am not a political analyst but from my understanding I could figure out it.

Though this is one part of story there may be other reasons as well.

I am hoping that due to stable government, Market will surge, there will be revival of economy and upsurge in employment. But Democracy ki Jai Ho !

Waiting for D-Day

Elections are going to over today evening, real game starts now. Everybody is claiming to make their government. Who will be able to make will be known only on 16th may. As indications and media reports suggests (it may change also) that no group will be able to make government on their own. So there will be lot of poaching of small player/parties. Politics has touched its rock bottom where parties are willing to welcome any party to form the government without synchronous in their philosophy. But one more thing there are few parties who works on ideology otherwise most of the parties are opportunistic. They will support the side which they feel to have power to form government.

So this time each small tiny player will have power to run the government. When such kind of government forms it is called in our local language ‘jugaad’. The so called coalition dharma will act as hindrance to development because government can’t take hard bold decision as they have to save their government. In order to appease the small player and other coalition member, they forget the path of development and wellbeing of aam aadmi.

The problem which I see is the regionalism; we forget the larger issue of country. While giving vote for MPs we forget that these votes are about country. We entangled in local issues rather than focussing on national issues. State and municipal elections are for local issues but parliamentary elections are national election. In my opinion we should vote for a government which can make a strong and stable government at center based on national and international issues.

I hope over the years people will raise above the caste and regional issues; they will vote for development. Ummeed per duniyaa kaayam hai.

Does education make a difference

From my childhood, I am listening these words ‘padhne likhne se aadmi samajhdaar banta hai’ But after so many years I am not sure about this line. Let me tell you my own experience which i have encountered over the years. I am talking about education as a general word not related to professional or higher education.

I have a mindset that education teaches us behaving with manner; education can distinguishes yourself with uneducated people. Though it’s true that education brings a lot of change in terms of earning, social status, thinking. But when I walk across the road, I have realised that in our normal daily routine life, education is not a distinguishing factor.

Those who have travelled by air (domestic), they will probably appreciate my observation. The moment aircraft lends at the air strip, passenger loosens their seat belts, open the cabin box to take out their luggage and stand in the queue (including me). They will stand in the queue for next 10 minutes because it will take some time to park the plane in parking bay and then stairs will come in next few minutes. And the scene inside the aircraft become so chaotic, you can’t say these people are highly educated and professional persons. In my opinion it will take same time if you keep sitting in your seats and disembark one by one. But one passenger will start initially and soon everybody will follow it.

I am from Rajasthan and so I know how precious water is. During my engineering days and now in B-school, people are not different. I have seen many people wasting water while brushing and shaving. Despite advertising on TV and other medium regarding efficient use of water, people show irresponsibility. Same can be seen in terms of usage of electricity. In offices because one doesn’t need to pay the electricity charges so they don’t take care of electricity that when they are not in the room switch off some lights. College hostels, Government accommodation (where light charges are fixed) have same kind of problem. If same set of people including me live in some private apartments where they have to pay the bill they will use electricity as precious commodity. Why such kind of differences in their approaches is out of my understanding.

I have also seen people travelling in big car, throw waste out of car’s window and many more examples we can find in daily routine which you will not expect from educated person.

Your comments will be appreciated, please tell me whether I am right or wrong.