GOVERNMENT: MINING POLICY

Extracting India! Not for sale
Mining sector reform on the anvil!

Remember your class 7th Geography text books & all that effort to learn by rote about Zinc, Copper & Bauxite deposits in various parts of the country. As kids, we often complained & questioned the practicality of learning the boring details about those metals. Little did we realise then, that it is the abundance of these metals which make a country of teeming poverty, look rich (India produces 89 minerals, of which, 4 are fuel minerals, 11 metallic, 52 non-mettalic & 22 minor minerals).

To help India realise its full mineral exploitation potential, Union Government's Group of Ministers has prepared a Draft National Mineral Policy 2007, which is to be placed before Union Cabinet & later in Parliament. The policy envisages "attractive domestic & foreign direct investments to the tune of Rs.1,000 billion in the mineral sector & generating direct & indirect employment for about 500,000 skilled & unskilled labour force by 2011." If approved, it would allow 100% FDI in mining of all minerals, barring Coal, Lignite & atomic minerals. Furthermore, state-run agencies will be treated at par with private entities for the purpose of award of concessions. There will be no mandatory joint venture with local or state-owned companies for mining. The Secretary General of Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, R. K. Sharma, told B&E, "On the whole, it is a good step forward, but the auction of mineral deposists & provision of captive mines needs to be opposed." He further added, "Tatas are sitting over 3,000 million tonnes of iron ore deposists & produces only about 5 million tonnes of steel; while SAIL, which has control over 5,000 million tonnes of iron ore, produces over 13.33 million tonnes of steel."

Development needs to be promoted, but selling the assets of the nation at run-away price would be abominable & a breach of people's trust in the state.

India's resources in million tonnes
Minerals Resources Coal (including Lignite) 247,847

Iron ore 25,000

Bauxite 1,400

Manganese ore 160

Chromite 57

B&E edit bureau: Rajeev Kumar Singh

9.8.2007

RIZWAN’S DEATH: WEST BENGAL

The death of love

Fight narrow-mindedness!

The evidence coming to the fore is clearly pointing towards the fact that Rizwanur Rehman, (found dead on railway tracks on the morning of September 21 in Kolkata) was anything but a suicide. If it was not a suicide, then surely somebody has killed Rizawan, because the young man was not suffering from any disease. Ironically, the only alleged mistake which Rizwan had committed was to marry his lady love Priyanka (daughter of an influential Hindu businessman, Ashok Todi). It is well established that Todi was opposed to the inter-religious marriage of his daughter, he had even threatened Rizwan with dire consequences. But little had Rizwan & his family realised that Ashok Todi, using his connections with the cops would resort to getting his own son-in-law murdered. It was sponsoring of cricket & police programmes, which brought Ashok Todi close to higher-ups in Kolkata Police. State’s human rights bodies are alleging that Police had been hand in glove in trying to separate the husband & wife, which is now, permanent. It was jaw-dropping to hear Prasoon Mukherjee, Kolkata Police Commissioner, professing the disapproval to be ‘natural’ owing to difference in classes in the alliance. It manifests that class & religion, is still a wall, not allowed to be bridged, in the state, where the Left profess to be dead against after class & religion gaps. The state apparatus’ complicity in the crime, proves that power has corrupted Left ideology & the state still has miles to go to beat communalism.

B&E edit bureau: Rajeev Kumar Singh

1.11.2007

PROFILE: PRAKASH KARAT
Suave, Spartan & non-saleable

A product of the student movement, Karat is a leading light in Indian political thought process

Karat, with his “cultivated polished exterior”, “is a king-maker whose kings turn out to be clowns…”, stated an open letter addressed to Karat by a group of party comrades. But despite such innuendoes, he is a respected man because he is not an ordinary politician. He is neither a stylist nor an opportunist. His Spartan lifestyle & his educational background distinguish him from the run-of-the-mill politicians. Certain sections of the media say that he is a hard nut to crack, especially when it comes to the issue of India getting closer to America, either economically or militarily. Drawing conclusions from the tough stance Prakash has adopted on the 123 civilian nuclear agreement with the US, his detractors say things like, “His mind (is) the last repository of ideological fossil,” or “He can’t be bullied into moderation.” Beyond doubt, Prakash is a die-hard Marxist, who draws his inspiration from strong leaders of small nation states like Hugo Chavez & Castro, but ideologies often have to take a backseat in the prevailing political scenario in India. He fully realises that the only chance for the Left in India is to cooperate with the mainstream centrist political parties, lest the communists remain confined as regional actors. Prakash, as the ideologically driven 56-year-old General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is said to be devoid of any personal ambitions. But his rather strong affiliations to the party and its objectives make him ferociously ambitious to see to it that the hammer & sickle gets painted on the pan-Indian wall. The soft spoken comrade was born in Myanmar in 1948. His initial Marxist training began at the Madras Christian College, from where he entered the Communist movement in the 1960s. From there, he went on to do his Masters’ in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh. At Edinburgh, Prakash was rusticated for participating in the anti-apartheid protests. His leadership skills came to fore at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, where he became instrumental in forming the Student’s Federation of India – the youth wing of the CPI(M). Having joined the Marxist party in 1970, Karat’s intellectual capabilities endeared him to E. M. S. Namboodiripad. Prakash also got the opportunity to work as an aide to another CPM stalwart, A. K. Gopalan. During the 1975 emergency declared by Indira Gandhi, Prakash remained underground for around one-and-a-half-years. He was arrested twice during the period. After joining the party’s Polit Bureau in 1992, Karat rose to become the most powerful communist in the country in 2005. He, along with his wife, Brinda Karat, formed the ‘Red Power Couple’. Their commitment to Marxism has led to them to sacrifice having any progeny. Besides being a politician, Karat is also known for his writing skills as an editor cum author. And while people may not agree with his ideologies, they would hardly question his commitment to them!

FOOTSTEPS

• 1948: Birth at Myanmarl
• 1970: Joined CPI(M)
• 1974-79: First President of SFI
• 1985: Elected Secretary Delhi CPI(M)
• 1985: Elected to the Central Committee of CPI(M)
• Since 1992: On editorial board of CPI(M)’s academic journal, The Marxist
• 1992: Became member of the Polit Bureaul
• 2005: Became General Secretary of CPI(M)
  

B&E edit bureau: Rajeev Kumar Singh

20.9.2007

PROFILE: Dr. J. JAYALATITHAA
Regional peg of national politics

A bold & beautiful personality, which just refuses to fade away into political oblivion

A consummate actor; an astute politician & a glamorous spinster, the maverick leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party, Dr. J. Jayalalitha continues to remain a force to reckon with, both on the regional as well the national political scene. If her fair skin had endeared her to Tamil moviegoers, her rather enlarged persona is hardly an impediment in her political career. Her bouncing back to power in 2001 in the state, when almost all political pundits had written her off, showed her power of resilience. A matriculate, she has numerous honorary doctorates in her name. But those can't make her a lawyer, which was once her dream. She started her film career with Vennira Aadai in 1965, & went on to rule the hearts of millions of movie-goers in southern India, & also of her lover, mentor... M.G. Ramchandran. Born in Mysore on February 24, 1948, to Jeyaram & actress mother Sandya, she confesses, “One-third of my life was dominated by my mother, the other part - a major one - was dominated by MGR. Two-third of my life is thus over. One third remains & this part of my life remains for myself....”So much of 'myself' that on MGR's death, when his wife should have been his natural heir, Jayalalitha split the party, managed to push his wife into oblivion & became the undisputed numero uno of AIADMK. So strong is her positioning that the lady has arguably taken dictatorship to newer heights. Though, she's affectionately referred to as ‘Amma’ & 'Puratchi Thalaivi', even the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly stands up when she enters the hallowed Assembly precincts; the apex court was forced to transfer her trial (in the disproportionate assests cases) away from Tamil Nadu, fearing absence of a fair trial, with her at the helm of the state's affairs. She even refused to reduce reservation quota from 68% to 50%, despite a Supreme Court ruling calling for the same.

Films combined with politics have made Amma''s lifestyle even more opulent. When her residence was raided by the government, she was found to be in possession of a mass of diamond-studded gold jewellery, over 10,000 sarees & 750 pairs of shoes. After losing state assembly elections in 1996, she had to face about 33 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On the other hand, Jayalalitha also initiated the successful ‘Cradle Baby Scheme’, wherein the state government adopts abandoned female babies; & has also gone in for all policewomen police stations, thereby letting the state feel the presence of a woman CM. On MGR''s death, BJP leader L.K. Advani''s condolence message was: “Though, it’s customary to say upon the death of a leader that the political vacuum s/he has created, can’t be filled. But, the demise of MGR really has created a political vacuum, which can’t be filled.” Jayalalitha has proved Advani wrong. Between MGR & his wife, AIADMK rivals & DMK opponents, Sonia Gandhi, BJP & the Third Front, corruption & court cases, being a dictator & beggar of votes, she always emerges, like her various cut-outs on the Tamil skyline, as the nation's undisputed kingmaker.

Footnotes

• 1948: Born at Mysore on February 24
• Education: Matriculation
• 1965: Started film career with Vennira Aadai (Tamil)
• 1981: Joined AIADMK; In January 1983, appointed Propaganda Secretary
• CM tenures: 24-6-1991 to 12-5-1996; 14-5-2001 to 16-9-2001 & 2-3-2002 to 11-5-2006
• Landmark: First woman leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

B&E edit bureau: Rajeev Kumar Singh

9.8.2007

PROFILE: MOHAMMAD HAMID ANSARI
Seasoned professional for Vice-Prez
A diplomat; an apolitical academician, & a humble soul is slated to lead the House of Elders

It is a proud moment for the political entity, named, Republic of India, as head of the state is a lady, Vice-President would be a minority citizen, & head of the government, is also a minority citizen. Lineage of both the candidates of NDA & UPA and Left Front for the race for being the Vice-President of the country, are from freedom fighters. Najma Heptulla, the NDA candidate, is grand niece of independent India’s first Union Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, while UPA and Left Front’s candidate, Mohamamd Hamid Ansari, is grand nephew of former Congress President, Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari. If elected, the ruling coalition’s candidate, Ansari, would be climbing another step in his already illustrious career. He has been a diplomat, Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University & is currently, Chairman of National Commission for Minorities. Ansari is being hailed as the second Dr. Zakir Husain, who served both as India’s Vice-President & subsequently as President. Whether he reaches the Rashtrapati Bhavan or not, only time will tell. It is said that it was because of his Left leanings (especially on issues, like the Iraq war & US West Asia policy) that Left mooted his candidature & for which the Congress would find it cosy to have him as Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Born in Kolkata on April 1, 1937, though his family hails from Gazipur district in UP, Hamid is known to speak his mind, even if it means going against the government of the day. He questioned India voting against Iran at International Atomic Energy Agency on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme. He is known for his role in ensuring compensation to victims of the Gujarat riots & pressing for a complete re-evaluation into relief & rehabilitation for riot victims since 1984. The report of the working group on “Confidence building measures across segments of society in the State,” of which Ansari was the chairman, called for recognising the right of Kashmiri Pandits to return to ‘places of their original residence’ & ‘making it a part of state policy’.

Ansari, joined Indian Foreign Service in 1961, went on to become Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, High Commissioner to Australia & Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran & Saudi Arabia. Ansari is a well-known scholar on West Asia & has written extensively on the Palestinian issue. He was also Visiting Professor at the Centre for West Asian & African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University & the Academy for the Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Oil Diplomacy of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Co-Chairman of the India-UK Round Table & Member of the National Security Advisory Board. His contributions were awarded with the title of Padma Shree in 1984. He said he was humbled over his candidature for Vice-President. The nation would match his humility, if he chairs the House of Elders.

FOOTSTEPS

• Born: April 1, 1937, in Kolkata
• March 6, 2006: Since then, Chairman of National Commission for Minorities
• 1961: Joined Indian Foreign Service
• 1984: The title Padma Shree bestowed on him
• May 2000-March 2002: Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University
• Hailed: Second Dr. Zakir Hussain, who was nation’s Vice-President and went on become President
  
  B&E edit bureau: Rajeev Kumar Singh
  23.8.2007