म्यानमार भारता करता दक्षिणपूर्व आशियाचे प्रवेशद्वार

म्यानमार भारता करता दक्षिणपूर्व आशियाचे प्रवेशद्वार सध्या ‘जी – 20’ समूहाच्या ऑस्ट्रेलियातील बैठकीत व्यस्त असलेल्या पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी यांच्या तीन देशांच्या दौऱयाचा पहिला टप्पा म्यानमारमध्ये सुरु झाला ."भारत व ‘आसियान’ शिखर परिषद" व "पूर्व आशियाई देशांची परिषद" यांच्या निमित्तानं मोदीना म्यानमारला पण भेट द्यायची संधी मिळाली. भारत‘आसियान’ आणी पूर्व आशियाई शिखर परिषद मोदींनी पूर्व आशियाई देशांच्या शिखर परिषदेत १८ जागतिक नेत्यांसमोर धर्म व दहशतवाद यांची सांगड न घालण्याचं आवाहन केले. त्यांनी चीनचे नाव न घेता दक्षिण चीन समुद्रात शांतता अन् स्थिरतेसाठी आंतरराष्ट्रीय कायद्याचं पालन करणं गरजेचं असल्याचं सांगितले. त्यांनी ‘सायबर’ व ‘अवकाश’ यांना युद्धभूमी न बनविण्याची भूमिका स्पष्टरीत्या मांडली . भारत ‘आसियान’ शिखर परिषदेत भारतीय पंतप्रधानांनी ‘मेक इन इंडिया’चे आवाहन ‘ केलं . भारत व समूहातील देश विकासाचा वेग जास्त असल्यानं ते एकमेकांचे चांगले भागीदार होऊ शकतात. येणार्या दिवसांत भारताच्या व्यापारविषयक व पर्यावरणसंबंधी धोरणात आमूलाग्र बदल होणार आहे. सध्या साऱया विश्वाचं लक्ष केंद्रीत झालंय ते आशिया खंडावर आणि त्यामागचं खरे कारण आहे आक्रमक चीन.विश्लेषकांच्या मते, मोदी सरकारने ‘ऍपेक’ (एशिया – पॅसिफिक इकोनॉमिक को – ऑपरेशन) परिषदेला महत्त्व न दिल्यानं आपले आर्थिक नुकसान झा्ले. आम्ही त्या क्षेत्रातील राष्ट्रांशी स्नेहपूर्ण संबंध प्रस्थापित करण्याची, त्यांच्या डावपेचांत सामील होण्याची संधी गमावली.आता भारताला ‘ऍपेक’चं सदस्यत्व प्राप्त करण्यासाठी आणि, आशिया – पॅसिफिक देशांच्या मुक्त व्यापार (रिजनल कॉम्प्रेहेन्सिव्ह इकोनॉमिक पार्टनरशीप) संबंधीच्या निर्णयात स्थान मिळविण्यासाठी प्रयत्न करावे लागतील. नाममात्र भारत म्यानमार संबंध भारताच्या दृष्टीनं म्यानमार दक्षिणपूर्व आशियाचे प्रवेशद्वार आहे. परंतु दुर्दैवाने विविध कारणांमुळं दोन्ही देशांना इतकी वर्षे संधींचा लाभ उठविणं शक्य झाले नाही. पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदींच्या शपथविधीच्या वेळी सुद्धा राष्ट्राध्यक्ष यू थेन सेन यांना आमंत्रण देण्यात आले नव्हते. भारत व म्यानमार यांच्यातील संबंधांचा आढावा घेतल्यास दोनी देशांनी १९४८ मध्ये अधिकृतरीत्या संबंध प्रस्थापित केलेले असले, तरी त्याला फारसा अर्थ नव्हता. २०१२ साली, तत्कालीन पंतप्रधान मनमोहन सिंग यांच्या भेटीनंतर भारत – म्यानमार यांनी अनेक महत्त्वपूर्ण करारांवर सहय़ा केल्या.पण त्यावर अम्मल बजावणी झाली नाही.म्यानमारमधे मार्च, २०११ मध्ये लोकशाही पद्धतीनं सरकारची निवड करण्यात आली.याचा फ़ायदा आता मोदींना घेता आला. वाया गेलेली ६० वर्षे ब्रिटीश काळामध्ये नागरिकांची आणि व्यापाराची मुक्त आवक-जावक असलेले हे दोन देश, स्वातंत्रोत्तर काळात परिस्थितीवश, तसेच राजकीय इच्छाशक्ती अभावी दुरावले गेले होते. ब्रिटीश काळात मोठ्या संख्येने भारतीय व्यापारी आणि मजूर 'ब्रह्मदेशात' स्थायिक आणि संपन्न झाले होते. त्यांचा भारत ब्रह्मदेशाच्या निर्णय-प्रक्रियेत बऱ्यापैकी प्रभाव होता. मात्र, १९६० च्या दशकात तिथल्या लष्करी राजवटीने अनेक भारतीय वंशाच्या कुटुंबांची हकालपट्टी केल्यानंतर दोन देशांतील संबंध खालावले होते. पुढे, लष्करशाहीशी संबंध ठेवायचे की लोकशाहीवादी आंदोलनाचे समर्थन करायचे या द्विधा मनस्थितीतून मार्ग काढता न आल्याने भारताने संबंध वृद्धिंगत करण्यात विशेष रस घेतला नाही. भारतीय नेतृत्वाने कल्पनाशक्ती दाखवली असती तर सुवर्ण-मध्य साधता आला असता आणि द्वि-पक्षीय संबंध सुधारण्यासह म्यानमारची लोकशाहीच्या दिशेने वाटचाल सुकर करता आली असती. ईशान्येतील अतिरेकी गटांचे, म्यानमारच्या सीमावर्ती भागातील तळ नष्ट करण्यासाठी, भारताने म्यानमारी लष्कराचे सहकार्य घेतले. मात्र, या बाबत कमालीची गुप्तता बाळगत म्यानमारच्या लोकशाहीवादी नेत्यांना विश्वासात घेण्याचे टाळले. म्यानमार सरकारची मदत घेतांना लोकशाहीवादी आंदोलनाला असलेला पाठींबा कमी करण्याची गरज नव्हती, कारण म्यानमार सरकारला सुद्धा त्यांच्या उत्तरेकडील अशांत प्रदेशातील फुटीर गटांवर नियंत्रण ठेवण्यासाठी भारताच्या सहकार्याची आवश्यकता होती.मात्र, भारतीय नेतृत्वाच्या लघु-दृष्टीच्या धोरणांमुळे ना लष्करी राजवटीशी पूर्णपणे जुळते घेण्यात आले, ना लोकशाहीवादी नेत्यांचा विश्वास कायम राखता आला. चीनची १५ वर्षांमध्ये म्यानमारमध्ये प्रचंड गुंतवणूक दरम्यानच्या कालावधीचा फायदा चीनने घेतला.चीनने म्यानमारला पायाभूत सुविधा, रस्त्यांची निर्मिती, लष्कराचं आधुनिकीकरण, वायू व तेलवाहिनी आदी क्षेत्रांमध्ये अगदी भरभरून मदत केली.चीनने मागील १५ वर्षांमध्ये म्यानमारमध्ये $२७ बिलियन एवढी प्रचंड गुंतवणूक केली आहे. म्यानमारच्या तेल, वायू आणि खनिज उद्योगावर आज चीनचे एक-हस्ती वर्चस्व निर्माण झाले आहे. चीनकडून मिळणाऱ्या पाठींब्यामुळे म्यानमार सरकारवरील भारताचा प्रभाव पूर्णपणे कमी झाला. भारताच्या सुदैवाने, म्यानमारच्या लष्करी, आणि अलीकडे, निवडणुकीद्वारे सत्तेत आलेल्या लष्कर-पुरस्कृत राज्यकर्त्यांना आर्थिक मदत आणि विकासाच्या बाबतीत फक्त चीनवर अवलंबून असणे देश-हिताचे नाही याची जाणीव झाली.याचा फ़ायदा आपल्याला घेता आला पाहिजे. आपला निष्क्रिय गुप्तचर विभाग व परराष्ट्र मंत्रालय म्यानमारमध्ये घडत असलेल्या बदलांबद्दल भारत सरकारला आपल्या निष्क्रिय गुप्तचर विभाग व परराष्ट्र मंत्रालयामुळे सखोल माहिती नव्हती. परिणामी, अमेरिका, जपान आणि इतर आशियाई देशांनी म्यानमारशी संबंध पुर्नस्थापित करण्यासाठी दाखवलेली तत्परता भारतीय नेतृत्वाला दाखवता आलेली नाही. या पूर्वी भारतामध्ये म्यानमारसंबंधी संशोधनाला, तसेच बर्मीज भाषा शिकण्याला प्रोत्साहन देण्यात न आल्याने, आणि गुप्तचर खात्याने या देशात विशेष लक्ष न घातल्याने, बदलत्या म्यानमारची नस परराष्ट्र खात्याला पकडता आलेली नाही. ५.५ कोटी लोकसंख्येचा म्यानमार हा १०-देशांच्या 'आशियान' गटातील सर्वात गरीब, पण नैसर्गिक साधनांनी अत्यंत संपन्न देश आहे. येत्या काही वर्षांमध्ये थायलंड, मलेशिया आदी 'आशियान' देशांप्रमाणे म्यानमार सुद्धा निर्यात-भिमुख अर्थ-व्यवस्था होऊ शकतो. 'आशियान' देशांतील आर्थिक समृद्धीच्या पहिल्या लाटेचा फायदा उठवण्यात भारताला फारसे यश आले नव्हते. मात्र, तशी संधी पुन्हा हातची जाऊ नये हा भारतीय उद्योगांचा प्रयत्न असायला हवा. म्यानमारमध्ये अद्याप ३० लाख भारतीय वंशाचे लोक वास्तव्यास आहेत. त्यांच्या माध्यमातून म्यानमार आणि इतर 'आशिआन' देशांशी व्यापार वृद्धिंगत करण्याचा भारताने प्रयत्न केला पाहिजे. भारताच्या ईशान्येकडील ४ राज्यांच्या सीमा म्यानमारला भिडलेल्या आहेत. या सीमांचे रुपांतर व्यापारी देवाण-घेवाणीमध्ये झाल्यास भारताचे अनेक फायदे आहेत.यामुळे ईशान्येकडील राज्यांच्या आर्थिक विकासात हातभार लागेल . म्यानमारसह संपूर्ण दक्षिण-पूर्व आशियाचे दालन भारतासाठी खुले होईल. इम्फाल-मंडाले मार्ग एकदा तयार झाल्यावर तो पुढे विएतनाम पर्यंत जाऊ शकतो. 'भारत ते विएतनाम जमीन-मार्ग' या महत्वाकांक्षी संकल्पनेतील मोठ्या भागातील रस्ते हे आधीच अस्तित्वात आहेत. त्यामुळे, कमी गुंतवणूकीमध्ये लांब पल्याची व्यापारी आणि प्रवासी वाहतूक सुरु करणे सहज-शक्य आहे. याशिवाय, भारत आणि म्यानमार दरम्यान रेल्वे सेवा सुरु करण्याच्या शक्यतेची पडताळणी करण्यासाठी संयुक्त कार्य-दलाचे गठन करण्याच्या कराराला दोन्ही देशांनी मान्यता दिली आहे. मैत्री म्यानमारमधील सगळ्या घटकांशी संबंध प्रस्थापित करताना केवळ म्यानमारमधील सध्याच्या सरकारशी मैत्री करून चालणार नाही; तर म्यानमारमधील इतर पक्ष आणि संस्था यांच्याशीही संबंध वाढवणे आवश्यक आहे. विशेषतः, म्यानमारमधील लोकशाहीसाठी गेली अनेक वर्षे लढा देणार्या नोबेल विजेत्या आंग स्यू की यांच्याशी भारताने संबंध प्रस्थापित करणे आवश्यक आहे. लोकशाहीवादी म्यानमार हा चीनपेक्षा भारताच्या बाजूने नक्कीच जास्त झुकलेला असेल. मात्र, त्यासाठी भारताला म्यानमारच्या लोकशाहीवादी नेत्यांचा नव्याने विश्वास संपादन करणे निकडीचे आहे, जे व्यापक चर्चेच्या माध्यमातून शक्य आहे. दोन्ही देशांतील नागरी समाजांना एकमेकांशी संवाद साधण्याच्या जास्तीत जास्त संधी उपलब्ध करून देत, परस्पर विश्वासाचे वातावरण निर्माण करणे हे पुढील धेय्य असायला हवे. चिनी सरकारनं भारताला घेरण्यासाठी म्यानमारपुढे बांगलादेश – चीन – भारत – म्यानमार अशा आर्थिक कॉरिडॉरचा प्रस्ताव ठेवला. तो पुढं पाकिस्तानातील ग्वादार बंदरापर्यंत खेचण्याचा त्यांचा बेत आहे.या पार्श्वभूमीवर भारतापुढं फार मोठं आव्हान आहे चीनचे म्यानमार मधील महत्व कमी करण्याचे. म्यानमारशी प्रस्थापित करावयाच्या संबंधांची पायाभरणी नरेंद्र मोदी यांनी आपल्या दौर्यामध्ये केली आहे. त्यामुळे आपल्या देशाचे झालेले प्रचंड आर्थिक, संरक्षण आणि सामरिक नुकसान भरुन काढायला मदत होईल.

A Soldier Reviews ‘Haider’ Movie-MUST READ

A Soldier Reviews ‘Haider’ Movie October 19, 2014 By Agniveer I am an ex-armyman. I was stationed in Kashmir in mid-nineties. This was the same period when hordes of militants from across the border infiltrated in Kashmir to spread terror. Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and scores of other terrorist groups were having a free-for-all rampage in Kashmir. They would infiltrate from Pakistan, recruit cadre, take them to Pakistan for training, bring them back and perform heinous acts of terror. This was the same period when half a million Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs were massacred and forced to flee the valley. This was the same period when Kashmir burnt under fundamentalism. It was next to impossible to differentiate between a peaceful nationalist and a killing-machine. Whenever a cricket match would happen between India and Pakistan, Pakistani flags would wave across the valley as if we were sitting in heart of Pakistan. Any minority voice who dared to wave the Indian flag would be silenced immediately by militants. It was during such a reign of terror, that Indian Army had to douse the fire in Kashmir with their own blood. If someone suffered most severe human-rights violation in history of mankind, it was the Indian Army in Kashmir. We left our families in different parts of India and survived under harshest of conditions. For days we would sleep over guns in harsh climate and remotest locations just to keep tab on infiltrating militants. Anyone of us could be bombed away in a sudden attack of fundamentalism. Innumerable among us lost our lives. I lost my hand like so many others who lost their limbs or eyes. To die in a bomb blast was considered lucky. Because if you chanced to be captured by the militants, you would be slowly and mercilessly tortured to death. Militants and their supporters took pride in this gruesome ‘halal’ ritual. Remember Saurabh Kalia? He is definitely not as popular as Vishal Bharadwaj or Shahid Kapoor. Because he was not a film star who made money by exploiting national interests. He was a humble Indian soldier who gave his life for motherland. He was captured by fundamentalists along with 5 more soldiers. They were taken across Line of Control and tortured as a religious ritual. Pakistan army tortured their prisoners by burning their bodies with cigarettes, piercing ear-drums with hot rods, puncturing eyes before removing them, breaking most of the teeth and bones, fracturing the skull, cutting the lips, chipping the nose, chopping off limbs and private organs of these soldiers besides inflicting all sorts of physical and mental tortures and finally shooting them dead after twenty-two days, as evidenced by the bullet wound to the temple. This made the killers “Ghazi” – who as per these fundamentalists gets highest number of most beautiful virgins in Heaven. All you need to do to be a Ghazi is to celebrate killing of a non-believer. These five soldiers were after all the worst of creatures in world in eyes of jihadis. They were Indians, soldiers and idol-worshippers. What could be greater sin! I was lucky because I could have been in Saurav’s place. Had I not lost my hand, instead of Saurav Kalia, I would have been ‘halal’ed to make someone Ghazi. This was the same period when Indian Army made greatest sacrifice to save India and humanity from reign of death and blood. And it is the same period around which the film “Haider” by Vishal Bharadwaj, Shahid Kapoor and anti-India jihadi writer Basharat Peer has been made and adored by “critics”. No struggle for liberation in Kashmir Everyone on ground knows that there is no struggle for liberation of Kashmiris in Kashmir. If that had been so, why native Kashmiri Pandits would have been massacred? You need to spend just a few days in the valley to understand the true nature of struggle that lies hidden under this garb of Kashmiriyat. It is simply a ploy to extend the reaches of Islamic fundamentalism. The same fundamentalism of Al-Qaeda and ISIS that is shaking the entire world. Kashmiri militants are brainwashed to believe that they will go to Paradise only after India is conquered by an army of Jihadis. Listen to speeches of Masood Azhar, founder of Jaish-e-Muhammad. He talks of Ghazwa-e-Hind prophecy where Prophet made conquest of India a precondition for opening doors of Heaven. In name of religion, the same poison is spread in minds of Kashmiri youth to make them militants. Enemy within and outside Yet Indian Army continues to face bullets from enemies and abuses from family. Today, on one side Pakistan is targeting Indian Army and minority locations in Kashmir with bullets. And around the same time, our own country-men create a film like “Haider” that paints Indian Army a villain. On one hand, flags of ISIS are waved in Kashmir, and at same time, “critics” laud anti-nationalism of Haider as marvel of art. Such co-incidences give ample evidence that somehow our enemies and certain elements from within our country consistently orchestrate great timing and coordination among each other that it is hard to believe that it was just a mere coincidence. In Army, we are trained to observe such remarkable coincidences, understand what goes behind, and yet silently sacrifice ourselves for the mission of nation. Haider shook me to core. I have myself faced irrepairable loss in saving motherland from anti-national militants. And my fellow armymen have made much larger sacrifices for the same cause. Thus the film Haider shook me to core. It made me question for the first time – Whom are we fighting for? Whom are we defending? The same people who could make this film because of Army’s protection collude with an anti-national Jihadi writer to make a villain of Indian Army? Is this the reward of our sacrifices that we continue to make? Are commercial gains and so-called artistic expression more important than motherland and humanity? What if we had not fought terrorism by tooth and nail in nineties? What if we had not arrested the spread of terror to other parts of country through our own lives? With friends like this, who needs enemies? This is not a film-critics review. This is a review from perspective of an armyman, a lover of humanity and a son of India. A true secular who refuses to believe that God hates idol-worshippers so much that they will go to Hell. And aspires to fight against ideology that directly or indirectly nurtures such fundamentalist elements. This is not rhetoric in jingoism. Unlike Haider, which is an experiment in fundamentalism, don’t consider the article to be a rhetoric in jingoism. Yes, I love my country. I love my country more than I love anything else in life. I love my country not because I was born here or I am a native of this nation. It is not because I love the design of the map of India. It is because its timeless cultural and philosophical heritage that is built on core foundations of tolerance, acceptance and justice. So jingoism has no place for a nationalist and son of soil. My nationalism does not make me aspire to conquer the whole world. It inspires me to enlighten the whole world. It inspires me to promote brotherhood across the globe and strive for “One World, One Family.” It inspires me to make India lighthouse of the world. I joined Indian Army not to conquer the world, but nurture and protect Peace that defines foundation of India. I am not a movie-watcher. My mission never allowed me the luxury to fit movies or serials in my priority-list. But I made an exception for Haider. Summary Review of Haider While I will provide details later, let me state upfront – I find “Haider” to be a shameless commercialization of anti-nationalism. No its not a rhetoric. This is the most “polite” way in which I can summarize the review of this film. The more “practical” review summary is already being demonstrated by my Indian Army by appropriate retaliation to Pakistani misadventure of cross-border firing. Salutes to my Army for this. Am proud to lose my arm for you. And regret that I could not gift my life for you

WHY AM I A HINDU

WHY I AM A HINDU ??? I was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA. An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours. I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from India Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question. 'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?' 'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'. Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, I said. She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about. A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what? I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth. 'Who is your prophet?' she asked. 'We don't have a prophet,' I replied. 'What's your Holy Book?' 'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied. 'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?' 'What do you mean by that?' 'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?' I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief. According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God. I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.' This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces. 'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?' What can I tell to this American girl? I said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'. 'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?' 'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.' She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?' 'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority.. 'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white. 'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.' 'Why can't you believe in one personal God?' 'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions. 'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?' 'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,' 'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?' 'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.' 'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed. 'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in theVedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.' 'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?' 'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.' I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru to the next. For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life. Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you. Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity. Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion. I said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception' I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system. A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life. Hinduism was the first religion originated. Om Namah Shivay.

THREAT OF ISLAMIC TERROR IN ASSAM

Threat of Islamic terror looms large over Assam Rupak Bhattacharjee November 12, 2014 India’s sensitive North Eastern region, especially Assam, is fast emerging as an epicentre of international jihadi networks. The state is increasingly becoming vulnerable to Islamic terrorist outfits largely because of the unabated influx from Bangladesh and presence of several fundamentalist organisations. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently informed the state assembly that a few Islamic terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based Harhat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), had been active in some parts of Assam and that a number of persons affiliated to such outfits were lodged in different jails of the state. The latest reports indicate that the radical Islamic forces are trying to make inroads into the Muslim-dominated areas of the state. In a major development on October 9, Assam Police arrested six persons from Barpeta district for their alleged links with the October 2 Burdwan blast. Police said they were key members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) module operating in the state. The arrested persons admitted during interrogation that they were instructed to remain as sleeper cell and search for potential Muslim youth keen to join jihad. Some of them had also undergone training in handling explosives and ideological indoctrination at various Madrassas in Bengal’s Burdwan and Murshidabad districts. Subsequently, on October 11, three more persons were arrested from Dhubri district’s Mankachar area bordering Bangladesh, in connection with the blast. Recently, police also seized a huge cache of explosives from a bus bound for Goalpara, in Guwahati and arrested two persons. In another incident on October 21, an arms dealer and suspected linkman of Islamic terror groups was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kokrajhar district. All these developments demonstrate a growing trend of Islamic radicalisation in Assam. In the eyes of police, four districts having considerable Muslim population—Dhubri, Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Karimganj, are vulnerable to Islamic terrorism. The presence of Bangladesh-based jihadi outfit JMB has been reported for the first time in Assam. Interrogation of the arrested persons has unearthed that Shakil Ahmed, a JMB activist who died in the Burdwan blast, had visited Barpeta on several occasions in his bid to motivate local youth for jihad. Police suspect that several Muslim youths of lower Assam have been trained to make IEDs with locally available materials and there may be more terror sleeper cells in the state. The existence of jihadi elements in Assam was traced earlier too, but security officials say they had “never made their presence visible”. Meanwhile, state’s civil society has been alarmed by the sudden rise of Islamic militancy. Several organisations, including AASU, have blamed the state government’s inaction in curbing the activities of radical Islamic groups. They maintain that at least 14 Islamist groups having links with international terror outfits are operating in the state. Some of them include Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA), Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam, Islamic Liberation Army of Assam, United Reformation Protest of Assam and People’s United Liberation Front. The security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations had already communicated to the state government about ISI links of these outfits and heightened activities of MULTA in lower Assam. Moreover, the alleged links between SIMI and Assam’s MULTA and Muslim United Student Association, has been brought to notice. The Union Home Ministry sent directives to the state government in the wake of ethnic violence in BTAD and the resultant polarisation of voters along religious lines during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls that Assam has been figuring in the Islamic terror map. Reports suggest that repeated violence in four districts of BTAD—Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, directed against Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers, a section of Muslim youths. This is particularly so after the 2012 riots. In the opinion of senior security officials, Assam has been featuring in “discourses of pan-Islamic jihadi forces” since then. They say the districts bordering Bangladesh might have been intruded by radical Islamic ideologues and jihadi elements. The forces inimical to India are making concerted efforts to motivate the Muslim youths to participate in jihad by raising issues like “ethnic conflict, unemployment and Islamic identity”. Besides, numerous NGOs, religious and political leaders who had been involved in providing relief, perhaps facilitated the radicalisation process. Under such circumstances, the major concerns remains—al Qaida gaining foothold in Assam, particularly after Ayman al-Zawahiri’s announcement of launching a new jihadi front, Qaedat al-Jihad, in the Indian sub-continent to establish a caliphate in the region. In an online video released on September 4, the al Qaida chief specifically mentioned ethnic violence and communal riots in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The following day, Assam chief minister said his government had intelligence inputs that al Qaida was trying to set up base in the state. It was also suggested that the dreaded terrorist outfit had reached a tacit understanding with the ULFA(I) led by Paresh Baruah. The possibility of ULFA(I)’s tie up with the al Qaida can not be ruled out completely as in the past also, it had established working relations with the religious extremist forces of Bangladesh. Furthermore, the ongoing conflict between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine in neighbouring Myanmar has contributed to growing resentment among Muslims in the state. The security officials have already cautioned that persistent radicalisation of Rohingyas pose a threat to peace and stability of North East. Intelligence agencies have found evidences of Rohingyas taking shelter in some parts of the region. The backlash of ethnic violence in Rakhine province assumes significance since al Qaida chief’s focus of jihad also includes Myanmar and JMB leaders’ earlier revelation that they had recruited and trained several Rohingyas. The Gogoi government has followed policy of appesementagainst the menace of Islamic terror in Assam. A high alert has been sounded across the state and vigilance stepped up along India-Bangladesh and inter-state borders following intelligence inputs indicating JMB’s plan to spread tentacles in the state. Assam DGP says several Muslim youths of the state have joined JMB after being trained in the terror outfit’s camps in Bangladesh. He has noted that “some youths from Assam are traveling to Bangladesh frequently” and in touch with their handlers based in the neighbouring country. The porous India-Bangladesh borders in certain segments are being used by the jihadi outfits to foment trouble in restive Assam. Some cadres of HuM and other terror groups who were arrested earlier revealed that they had traveled from Pakistan to Bangladesh and subsequently to India through Assam. Intelligence sources say Karimganj in southern Assam and Garo Hills in Meghalaya—both the regions bordering Bangladesh, are key entry points for jihadi elements. Unlike other North Eastern militant outfits, the Islamic terrorist groups consider the two routes “safe corridor for travel”. It is imperative that the Centre takes appropriate measures to ratify the Land Boundary Agreement signed with Bangladesh in September 2011 and completely seal the international borders to stop cross-border terrorism.

ARTICLE 370 WHAT EVERY INDIAN MUST KNOW

What is section 370? Every Indian must know.. ---------------------- ● Jammu - Kashmir's citizens have dual citizenship. ---------------------- ● Jammu - Kashmir's national flag is different. ---------------------- Jammu - Kashmir' Legislative Assembly's term is 6 years Whereas its 5 years for the States of Bharat ---------------------- ● In Jammu - Kashmir it’s not a crime to insult Bharat's national flag or the national Symbols! ---------------------- ● The order of the Supreme Court of Bharat are not valid in Jammu - Kashmir. ---------------------- ● Parliament of Bharat may make laws in extremely limited areas in terms of Jammu - Kashmir. ---------------------- ● In Jammu-Kashmir, If a woman marries a person of any other states of Bharat, citizenship to the female ends! In contrast if a woman marries a person from Pakistan even that person will get citizenship of Jammu - Kashmir. ---------------------- ● Because of Section 370 RTI does not apply in Kashmir. RTE is not implemented Comptroller & Auditor General does not apply... Bharatiya laws are not applicable ---------------------- ● Sharia law is applicable to women’s in Kashmir. There are no rights to panchayats in Kashmir A peon only gets Rs 2500 in Kashmir Minorities in Kashmir [Hindu - Sikh] do not get 16% reservation. ---------------------- ● Due to Section 370 Outsiders cannot own land in Kashmir. ---------------------- ● Because of Section 370 Pakistanis gets Bharatiya citizenship, for which they only need to marry girl from Kashmir ---------------------- ● It’s a good start to remove section370 At least one step has been taken further. The new government has already raised this issue.!! Now if someone wants to say something about these secular facts then they are welcome.! Section 370 has to be removed If you agree, please forward this message and spread awareness of the need for scrapping Sec 370

म्यानमार’च्या दरवाजातुन आसियान मध्ये

प्रभु तरुण भारत सध्या ‘जी – 20’ समूहाच्या ऑस्ट्रेलियातील बैठकीत व्यस्त असलेल्या पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी यांच्या तीन देशांच्या दौऱयाचा गुरुवारी पहिला टप्पा संपला तो म्यानमारमध्ये…भारत व ‘आसियान’ (असोसिएशन ऑफ साऊथईस्ट एशियन नेशन्स) राष्ट्रं यांच्यातील शिखर परिषद नि पूर्व आशियाई देशांची परिषद यांच्या निमित्तानं आपल्याला संधी मिळाली ती जागतिक मंचावर पुन्हा एकदा सक्षमपणे बाजू मांडण्याची. परंतु दौऱयाच्या अंतिम क्षणी मोदींचा सर्वांत मोठा विजय नोंदविला गेला तो अन्न सुरक्षेबाबत अमेरिकेशी झालेल्या एकमतातून. या मुद्यावर ‘अंकल सॅम’नं माघार घेऊन भारतीय शेतकऱयांचं हित जपण्यास अन् अन्नधान्याचा साठा करण्याच्या प्रस्तावाला हिरवा कंदील दाखविल्यानं येऊ घातलेल्या दिवसांत अनेक प्रश्नांची उत्तरं जागतिक व्यापार संघटनेच्या व्यासपीठावर मिळू शकतील…अमेरिकन राष्ट्राध्यक्ष बराक ओबामा यांना ‘यू आर ए मॅन ऑफ ऍक्शन’ असं म्हणण्यास भाग पाडणाऱया नरेंद्र मोदींनी आपल्या इतर दौऱयांप्रमाणं म्यानमारमध्ये देखील एकही ‘स्ट्रोक’ वाया जाणार नाही याची पुरेपूर काळजी घेतली… मोदींनी पूर्व आशियाई देशांच्या शिखर परिषदेत 18 जागतिक नेत्यांसमोर खणखणीत आवाहन केलं ते धर्म व दहशतवाद यांची सांगड न घालण्याचं, तर चीनला चिमटा काढला तो दक्षिण चीन समुद्रात शांतता अन् स्थिरतेसाठी आंतरराष्ट्रीय कायद्याचं पालन करणं गरजेचं असल्याचं सांगून. खेरीज त्यांनी ‘सायबर’ नि ‘अवकाश’ यांना युद्धभूमी न बनविण्याची भूमिका स्पष्टरीत्या मांडून बाजी मारली. ते ‘इबोला’ला देखील विसरले नाहीत आणि भारतानं याकामी दिलेल्या 1.2 कोटी डॉलर्सच्या निधीचाही अभिमानानं उल्लेख केला…त्यापूर्वी बाराव्या भारत – ‘आसियान’ शिखर परिषदेत भारतीय पंतप्रधानांनी अपेक्षेप्रमाणं बुलंद नारा दिला तो ‘मेक इन इंडिया’चा…मोदींनी या आग्नेय आशियाई राष्ट्रांना आवाहन केलं ते देशाच्या नव्या आर्थिक प्रवासात सहभागी होण्याचं, गुंतवणूक करण्याचं…त्यांच्या मते, भारत नि या समूहातील देशांच्या विकासाचा वेग जास्त असल्यानं ते एकमेकांचे चांगले भागीदार होऊ शकतात…मोदींच्या आश्वासनानुसार, येऊ घातलेल्या दिवसांत भारताच्या व्यापारविषयक व पर्यावरणसंबंधी धोरणात आमूलाग्र बदल होणार नि त्यांचं प्रशासन गतीनं पुढं जाण्याचा प्रयत्न करेल…नरेंद्र मोदींची आक्रमकता व देशाच्या आर्थिक हितावर डोळा यांचं बेमालूम मिश्रण साधलेली ही दोन भाषणं… भारताच्या दृष्टीनं विचार केल्यास एकेकाळच्या ब्रह्मदेशाचं अन् सध्याच्या म्यानमारचं वर्णन दक्षिणपूर्व आशियाचं प्रवेशद्वार असं करता येईल, तर आपली तुलना करावी लागेल ती एखाद्या खिडकीशी. म्यानमारला तिच्या साहाय्यानं लक्ष ठेवणं शक्य आहे ते भारतीय उपखंडावर…परंतु दुर्दैवाची बाब म्हणजे विविध कारणांमुळं दोन्ही देशांना संधींचा लाभ उठविणं शक्य झालेलं नाहीये. त्यांच्यासमोर अडथळे उभे करण्याचं काम केलंय ते तीव्र राजकीय मतभेद नि इतर अनेक प्रश्नांनी. पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदींच्या शपथविधीच्या वेळी सुद्धा राष्ट्राध्यक्ष यू थेन सेन यांना आमंत्रण देण्यात आलं नव्हतं…पण आता पसरलेलं धुकं अदृश्य होण्याची फार मोठी शक्यता निर्माण झालीय ती ‘आसियान’ समूहाशी वार्तालाप व पूर्व आशियाई देशांची शिखर परिषद यांच्या निमित्तानं. मोदींचा दौरा ते कार्य पूर्ण करेल असं मानण्यास भरपूर जागा आहे… भारत व म्यानमार यांच्यातील संबंधांचा आढावा घेतल्यास जावं लागेल ते पार स्वातंत्र्यपूर्व काळात…ब्रिटिश राज्यकर्त्यांनी त्या देशाला भारताचा एक प्रांत बनविल्यानंतर पुन्हा एकदा दोन्ही प्रदेश विभक्त झाले ते 1937 साली. मग त्यांनी 1948 मध्ये अधिकृतरीत्या संबंध प्रस्थापित केलेले असले, तरी त्याला फारसा अर्थ नव्हता. कारण त्यानंतरच्या 62 वर्षांत गाडी किती इंच पुढं गेली हा निश्चितच संशोधनाचा विषय ठरावा…परिस्थिती बरीचशी बदलली ती 2012 साली, तत्कालीन पंतप्रधान मनमोहन सिंग यांच्या भेटीनंतर. त्यावेळी भारत – म्यानमार यांनी अनेक महत्त्वपूर्ण करारांवर सहय़ा केल्या. खेरीज आपल्या कंपन्यांच्या दमदार गुंतवणुकीमुळं विश्वासाचं वातावरण देखील निर्माण झालं. त्यानंतर महत्त्वपूर्ण ठरला तो जनरल विक्रम सिंगांचा दौरा. त्यापूर्वी तिथं मार्च, 2011 मध्ये लोकशाही पद्धतीनं सरकारची निवड करण्यात आली होती…दरम्यानच्या कालावधीचा छान फायदा मिळाला तो ‘ड्रगन’ला. बहुतेक देशांनी तेथील राजकीय परिस्थितीमुळं म्यानमारशी संबंध प्रस्थापित न करण्याचा निर्णय घेतलेला असताना हुशार चीननं एक सेकंदही न गमावता पुढं पाऊल टाकलं नि त्या राष्ट्राला पायाभूत सुविधा, रस्त्यांची निर्मिती, लष्कराचं आधुनिकीकरण, वायू व तेलवाहिनी आदी क्षेत्रांमध्ये अगदी भरभरून मदत केली…चिनी सरकारनं आडवाटेनं आपल्याला घेरण्यासाठी म्यानमारपुढं बांगलादेश – चीन – भारत – म्यानमार अशा आर्थिक कॉरिडॉरचा प्रस्ताव देखील ठेवलाय. तो पुढं पाकिस्तानातील ग्वादार बंदरापर्यंत खेचण्याचा त्यांचा बेत आहे…या पार्श्वभूमीवर भारतापुढं फार मोठं आव्हान उभं ठाकलंय ते येऊ घातलेल्या दिवसांत चीनला पकडण्याचं, किमान अंतर कमी करण्याचं… सध्या साऱया विश्वाचं लक्ष केंद्रीत झालंय ते आशिया खंडावर आणि त्यामागचं खरंखुरं कारण लपलंय ते चीनच्या अक्षरशः जबरदस्त झेपेत. जपानातल्या शिंझो ऍबेंच्या राजवटीनंही नमुना पेश केलाय तो दृढ निश्चयाचा. खेरीज मुख्य सूत्रधाराच्या भूमिकेत वावरतेय ती खुद्द महासत्ता अमेरिका…या पार्श्वभूमीवर बहुतेक विश्लेषकांच्या मते, मोदी प्रशासनानं ‘ऍपेक’ (एशिया – पॅसिफिक इकोनॉमिक को – ऑपरेशन) परिषदेला फारसं महत्त्व न दिल्यानं आपलं बरंचसं नुकसान झालंय. आम्ही त्या क्षेत्रातील राष्ट्रांशी स्नेहपूर्ण संबंध प्रस्थापित करण्याची, त्यांच्या डावपेचांत सामील होण्याची अप्रतिम संधी गमावलीय…भारताला मोदी सरकारच्या नव्या ‘ऍक्ट ईस्ट’च्या अंतर्गत निश्चयानं प्रयत्न करावे लागतील ते ‘ऍपेक’चं सदस्यत्व प्राप्त करण्यासाठी, आशिया – पॅसिफिक देशांच्या भविष्यात येऊ घातलेल्या मुक्त व्यापार (रिजनल कॉम्प्रेहेन्सिव्ह इकोनॉमिक पार्टनरशीप) संबंधीच्या निर्णयात स्थान मिळविण्यासाठी. शिवाय अमेरिकेच्या ‘ट्रान्स – पॅसिफिक पार्टनरशीप’ला विसरून कसं चालेल ?… सध्या गरज आहे ती ‘वर्ल्ड ट्रेड ऑर्गनायझेशन’मध्ये चर्चेच्या वेळी दर्शन घडविलेल्या कौतुकास्पद अशा खंबीर भूमिकेला पुन्हा एकदा जागृत करण्याची अन् नरेंद्र मोदींना त्याची आठवण ठेवावी लागेल ती ऑस्ट्रेलियात सध्या चालू असलेल्या ‘जी – 20’ परिषदेच्या वेळी…खेरीज 28 वर्षांच्या दीर्घ कालावधीनंतर ऑस्ट्रेलियन भूमीला स्पर्श केलेल्या भारतीय पंतप्रधानांना कांगारूंच्या देशातील संसदेच्या दोन्ही सभागृहांच्या संयुक्त अधिवेशनात बोलण्याची संधी मिळालीय. यापूर्वी असं भाग्य अन्य एखाद्या भारतीय नेत्याच्या वाटय़ाला आलं नव्हतं. दोन्ही राष्ट्रांच्या दिवसेंदिवस वाढत चाललेल्या सहकार्याचं हे आणखी एक सर्वोत्तम उदाहरण !

Budgam KILLING POLITICS PREVAIL OVER MILITARY SENSE

Politics prevails over military sense Mandeep Singh Bajwa, Hindustan Times Chandigarh, November 16, 2014 The tragic snuffing out of two innocent lives in Budgam has saddened everyone. Relative absence of unrest in the wake of the deaths has not escaped observers’ attention, pointing towards the improvement in the security situation brought about by the untiring efforts of the military and police. In this case the troops of 53 Rashtriya Rifles appear to have committed an error of judgement. However they seem to have already been presumed guilty of a violation of the rules of engagement. The ball was set rolling by the then defence minister’s hasty tweet on the subject. Others down the chain of command followed. Maybe they should all have waited for the report of the court of inquiry before pronouncing the patrolling party culpable. Attempts to link this case with the Machil killings should be resisted. In this case the troops seem to have acted in good faith. The incident portrays vividly the strong potential for human tragedy inherent in insurgencies and operations set in motion to counter them. While respect for human life must be paramount always and there must be zero tolerance for excesses, our Jawans serving under tough conditions must not be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. The gains of the hard-won peace in the Valley brought about by a successful counter-insurgency campaign must not be frittered away for doubtful political benefits. Is it too much to expect an understanding of our soldiers’ position?

AN OPEN LETTER FROM A SOLDIER-MUST READ

My name is Sep (Sipahi) Bhoop Singh. I am a soldier in the Indian Army. I'm from somewhere in India - it really doesn't matter where exactly, because that's not relevant. My identity is now that of an Indian soldier rather than a resident of some state. Let me share a secret with you. I joined the Army not because of any patriotic feelings but only because most of my family and relatives do so as a tradition, and also since it gives me decent earning. Of course, Not as good as joining the police or some other government job. But my father couldn't afford the bribes required to pay ther to see my way through. And I was always very fit. So when the faujis came to our district to recruit, I signed up. And despite the rumours I had heard, we didn't have to pay a penny! My life, and the way I look at life, has changed a lot in the past four years. I told you that I didn't join the Army out of any great sense of partiotism. Yet now I do feel proud of being an Indian Army Sepahi.. During my four years in the Army, I have developed a strong pride in being a soldier, being a part of the Army, and I am specially proud of my 'paltan'. I have forged a special bond with my fellow soldiers, and today they are as much my family as my own brothers back in the village. . What actually motivates us is the thought of upholding the 'izzat' of the paltan, and of not being seen as wanting in the eyes of our comrades. I don't know much about politics, nor am I interested. I do read the newspaper and watch TV, but have never got chance to vote in any election. Frankly, it doesn't matter to me which party gets elected or who forms the government. Life in Army is so simple. Just do what you have been trained for. Discipline is the bedrock of the Army - this is what is drilled into us right from the time we get our first haircut as recruits in the Regimental Centres. We used to have an 'ustaad' (instructor) at the centre who told us that in the 'fauj', there is a laid down way of doing everything, and we can't go wrong if we follow it. So whether it is the way I have to fold my blanket, to the way I hold my rifle, everything is laid down. It's good, because that way you don't have to tax your brain too much about what to do and what not to. This is why I have been very puzzled for the last few days. I saw on the TV that in Kashmir soldiers like me who were on duty at a check point are in trouble because they opened fire on a car which refused to stop at three successive barriers. I saw lots of people arguing about it on news - about how the soldiers were wrong in opening fire on innocent boys - apparently they were very young, and two of them died. I know it's sad, loss of life always is. I sympathize with their parents - it must be terrible to lose a child like that. I also heard the defence minister saying that strict action will be taken against the soldiers. This has left me a little disturbed, highly confused and quite uneasy. Weren't the soldiers deployed there on the governent's orders? Weren't they deployed there because there is a terrorism problem in that state? And weren't they just following the laid down procedures when they opened fire on a vehicle which crossed three successive barriers and didn't stop? I tried to imagine what I would have done had I been in their place. How would I know whether such a vehicle is being driven by innocent but mischevious boys or by dangerous terrorists? What if I let it go, and the car is laden with explosives, and it goes and blows up at a crowded place, killing hundreds of innocent people? How much time would I have to weigh these factors and take a decision ? -- May be just a fraction of a Second ? I came to the conclusion that under similar circumstances, I would have also done what these 'poor' soldiers did. I was discussing this with some of my friends in the langar. They all felt the same. Someone said, "the soldiers are not going there on their own, for a holiday. They have been sent there by the government because it feels things are not normal there and the local authorities are helpless. The Army's job is to simply obey the Orders. Army is basically to fight wars. So by deploying the Army the government believes there is a war-like situation there. Otherwise, wouldn't the police and para-military forces be enough to deal with the situation? And if there is a war-like situation, how can it be tackled only by the peacetime laws ? Isn't that the reason why the area has been declared as 'disturbed' , and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) imposed to give the necessary powers to Army when the Police and other civil machinery have failed ? One informed comrade told us that the AFSPA is meant to allow us to operate in the disturbed areas where we need to react quickly to deal with terrorists. If you are chasing a terrorist, and he goes and hides in a building, you can't go looking for a warrant to search that building. Nor can you wait for an order from a magistrate to open fire on him, like we need to in when dealing with riots etc where AFSPA is not in force. Any delay in such situations would result in the terrorists escaping, or worse, killing civilians and our own comrades. "Then why is the Chief Minister of the state asking for removal of AFSPA?" someone asked. "He should just ask for the army to be removed and he will take care of the law and order with his state police." Nattha Singh, the wizened old havildar gave the final word. " I think those Army Jawans were foolish." "Saala I don't care about AFSPA shafspa. After this one thing is clear to me. When the paltan goes to the valley, I am not going to stick my neck out for anything. Let bloody terrorists kill as many people and escape. No one is going to hang me for that. At least that way there won't be any risk - either of getting killed or killing someone, getting court martialled and going to jail. At least then the Human Rights groups will not debate my " excesses " on the TV. At least they will not call the people on duty as " murderers ". If " innocent " boys want to zoom past Army check-posts , let them do it, how does it matter to me ? After all, this is their problem let them deal with it - I will spend my two years there doing nothing and retire peacefully to my village, and not in jail " There were nods of agreement all around. But I wasn't so sure I agreed. "What about the paltan's izzat?" I asked. "That won't be at risk too", Nattha said. " Paltan ki badnaami to tab hoyegi naa jab tum apna kaam karoge aur khuda naa khaasta kaam karte aisee bhayaanak ghatna ho jaaye. Kam se kam kaam karo, kam se kam pange lo, to galati kaise hogi ? . That way we will make no mistakes like those chaps did, and so Army ki Izzat bachi rahegi." I'm confused...... maybe Nattha is right.

संरक्षण सिद्धतेच्या दिशेने एक महत्वाचे पाऊल

संरक्षण सिद्धतेच्या दिशेने एक महत्वाचे पाऊल लाहोरमध्ये ०२/११/२०१४ला झालेल्या स्फोटात ६१ जण ठार,१०० जण जखमी झाले . वाघा सीमेपासून ५०० मीटर अंतरावर हा स्फोट झाला.लडाखच्या पॅँगाँग लेक परिसरात चीनने केलेली घुसखोरी ०२/११/२०१४ला समोर आली.भारताच्या तीव्र आक्षेपास न जुमानता चीनच्या आणखी एका पाणबुडीसाठी कोलंबो येथील बंदराची जागा देण्याचा निर्णय श्रीलंकेने घेतला आहे. व्हिएतनामचे पंतप्रधान ग्युएन तान दंग यांच्या भारत भेटीनंतर हा निर्णय जाहीर झाला. सुरक्षेची आव्हाने वाढत आहेत ,परंतु मागच्या सरकारच्या हलगर्जीपणाने देशाची युद्धसज्जता एक चिंतेचा विषय बनला होता. केंद्र सरकारने आता एक चांगला निर्णय घेतला आहे.यापुढे परदेशातिल विनाकारण आयात थांबवून सगळ्या वस्तू आपण भारतामध्ये तयार करणार आहोत. अशाच प्रकारे संरक्षणाच्या क्षेत्रातही गेल्या आठवड्यात स्वागतार्ह पावले केंद्राकडून टाकण्यात आली आहेत. भारत नेव्हीगेशन सिस्टीममध्ये एक वर्षामध्ये स्वावलंबी सध्या आपल्या देशातील गाड्या, विमाने, बोटी यांना परदेशी जीपीएसची मदत घ्यावी लागते; मात्र आता ही जीपीएस प्रणाली आपण देशात बनवत आहोत. त्याकरिता "इंडियन रिजीनल नॅव्हिगेशन सॅटेलाईट सिस्टीम"(आयआरएनएसएस) हा तिसरा सॅटेलाईट आपण अंतराळात पाठवलेला आहे. अजून चार सॅटेलाईट अंतराळात पाठवण्याची आपली योजना आहे. पुढील एक वर्षामध्ये ही योजना पूर्णत्वास जाण्याची शक्यता आहे. या सॅटेलाईटस्मुळे आपल्या देशातल्या सर्व वाहनांना भारतीय नेव्हीगेशन सिस्टीम वापरता येईल. आपण अमेरिकेची नेव्हीगेशन सिस्टीम वापरत असल्यामुळे ऐन लढाईच्या धुमचक्री मध्ये अमेरिका ही सिस्टीम बंद करुन आपली लढाऊ विमाने आणि जहाजे बंद पाडु शकते.आपल्या देशाच्या नेव्हीगेशन सिस्टीममुळे हा धोका कायमचा थांबवता येईल. व्हिएतनामशी सामरिक आणि संरक्षण सहकार्य व्हिएतनामचे पंतप्रधान ग्युएन तान दंग हे नुकतेच भारत दौर्यावर आले होते. त्यांच्या दौर्यामध्ये व्हिएतनाम आणि भारत यांच्यामध्ये सामरिक आणि संरक्षण सहकार्य वाढवण्यासाठी अनेक महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय घेतले.भारताकडून व्हिएतनामला काही शस्रास्रांची निर्यात केली जाणार आहे. याचा फायदा आपल्या देशातील शस्रनिर्मिती करणार्या कारखान्यांना होणार आहे. व्हिएतनाम आपल्याप्रमाणे रशियन बनावटीची मिग, सुखोई विमाने आणि रणगाडे यांचा वापर करतो. त्यांच्या वैमानिकांना आता भारतामध्ये प्रशिक्षण दिले जाणार आहे. याशिवाय व्हिएतनाम सध्या एक पाणबुडी विकसित करत आहे. त्याकरता त्यांना भारत प्रशिक्षण देणार आहे.थोडक्यात व्हिएतनामच्या सैन्याशी, नौदलाशी आणि हवाईदलाशी आपले संरक्षण सहकार्य वाढणार आहे. यामुळे हा एक मजबूत देश भविष्यकाळात जर चीनशी युद्ध झाल्यास आपल्या मदतीला येऊ शकतो. च्यॉबाहार बंदर विकसित करण्या करता इराणला मदत भारत सरकारने आणखी एक महत्त्वाचे पाऊल उचलले आहे. इराणमधील च्यॉबाहार बंदर भारत सरकार विकसित करत आहे. हे बंदर भारताच्या सामरिक दृष्ट्या अत्यंत महत्त्वाचे आहे. भारतात आयात केले जाणारे ५० ते ६० टक्के तेल आणि नैसर्गिक वायू अरबी खाडीमधून येतो. त्यामुळे या भागात जर भारताचे बंदर असेल तर भारतीय बोटींना तिथे थांबण्यासाठीही एक चांगली जागा उपलब्ध होणार आहे. अधिक महत्त्वाची गोष्ट ,हे बंदर पाकिस्तानच्या ग्वॉडार बंदरापासून फक्त ७० किलोमीटर दूर आहे. त्यामुळे या बंदराच्या माध्यमातून आपल्या पाकिस्तानच्या ग्वॉडार बंदरावर व समुद्र किनार्यावर नजर ठेवता येइल.तसेच आपले इराणशी आर्थिक सहकार्य वाढणार आहे. भारत अफगाणिस्तानला कोट्यवधी रुपयांचे मदत कार्य करत आहे. त्यासाठी लागणारे साहित्य आजवर आपण पाकिस्तानमार्गे पाठवत होतो; परंतु आता हे साहित्य आपण इराणमार्गे अफगाणिस्तानला पाठवू शकतो. त्यामुळे इराणशी आपल्याला सामरिक आणि आर्थिक सहकार्य वाढवता येईल. या बंदराचा आराखडा अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी यांच्या सरकारच्या काळातच तयार करण्यात आला होता; परंतु मागील सरकारकडे भांडवलच नसल्यामुळे त्यांनी याकडे लक्ष दिले नाही. आता मोदी सरकारने हे बंदर लवकर पूर्ण करण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे. सामरिक दृष्ट्या आणि देशाच्या संरक्षणाच्या दृष्टीने हे अतिशय महत्त्वाचे धाड्सी पाऊल सरकारने उचलले आहे. श्रीलंका मालदीवशी लष्करी सहकार्य श्रीलंकेला दोन नौदलाच्या बोटी, रडार आणि काही गाड्या विकत देण्याचा निर्णय भारत सरकारने घेतला आहे. यामुळे श्रीलंकेचे सैन्य आणि भारताचे सैन्य एकमेकाला मदत करण्याचे प्रमाण वाढेल. ही बाब सामरिक दृष्ट्या महत्त्वाची आहे. कारण, मागच्याच महिन्यामध्ये चीनचे पंतप्रधान भारतभेटीवर आले होते त्यावेळी चीनची एक पाणबुडी श्रीलंकेमध्ये येऊन पोहचली होती.व आता पण एक अजुन पाणबुडी तेथे येत आहे. चीनच्या पाणबुड्या आपल्याजवळ येणे ही बाब सुरक्षेच्या दृष्टीने चांगली नाही. श्रीलंका यांबरोबरच मालदीव या छोट्या देशालाही आपल्या बाजूने आणण्याचा प्रयत्न सध्या सुरू आहे. मालदीवमध्ये अनेक बेटे आहेत. त्यांच्या संरक्षणासाठी अनेक वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारच्या बोटी भारताकडून त्यांना देण्यात येणार आहेत. त्यामुळे मालदीव स्वत:चे रक्षण चांगल्या प्रकारे करू शकणार आहे. याशिवाय आपली टेहाळणी करणारी विमानेही मालदीवमध्ये टेहाळणीसाठी पाठवली जाणार आहेत. यामुळे मालदीववर कोणी हल्ला करणार असेल तर त्याबाबतची पूर्वसूचना आपण त्यांना देऊ शकणार आहोत. "कम्बाइनड् आर्मड् फोर्सेस कॉनफरन्स" मध्ये महत्वाचे निर्णय आपल्या सैन्य दलाची दरवर्षी एक सर्वात महत्वाची कॉन्फरन्स होते. त्यामध्ये देशापुढील सुरक्षा आव्हानांचा कशा प्रकारे सामना केला पाहिजे, यावर विचारमंथन केले जाते. या कॉनफरन्सला "कम्बाइनड् आर्मड् फोर्सेस कॉनफरन्स" म्हणतात. यामध्ये देशाचे पंतप्रधान, संरक्षण मंत्री आणि लष्कर प्रमुख यांच्यात चर्चा होऊन त्यानंतर महत्त्वाचे निर्णय घेतले जातात. यंदाच्या या कॉन्फरन्समध्ये सैन्यअधिकार्यांशी बोलताना मोदींनी दोन महत्त्वाचे मुद्दे उपस्थित केले आहेत. शांततेच्या काळात व लढाईमध्ये सायबर स्पेस अतिशय महत्त्वाचे बनले आहे. या माध्यमातून भारतावर अनेक हल्ले होत आहेत आणि आगामी काळात ते वाढण्याची शक्यता आहे. सर्व राष्ट्रांशी चांगले संबंध असतानाही अशा प्रकारचे हल्ले होत आहेत. त्यामुळेच आपल्या सायबर स्पेसच्या रक्षणाकडे लक्ष ठेवणे आवश्यक आहे. यासाठी काही महत्त्वाची पाउले उचलली जात आहेत. आपण इस्त्राईलशी व अमेरिकेशीही सायबर स्पेस सहकार्य करार करणार आहोत.हे दोन्ही देश सायबर स्पेसच्या क्षेत्रामध्ये जगात सर्वात प्रगत आहेत.त्याच्या सहकार्याने आपल्याला आपली सायबर स्पेस जास्त सुरक्षित होईल. शस्त्रे भारतामध्ये बनवणार गेल्या काही वर्षांत आपल्या सैन्याला लागणार्या शस्रांचे आधुनिकीकरण मागे पडले होते.पंतप्रधानांनी एक महत्त्वाची घोषणा केली.आता सैन्याला लागणारी जास्तीत जास्त शस्त्रे भारतामध्ये बनवण्याचा प्रयत्न केला जाणार आहे. या निर्णयाचे तीन प्रमुख फायदे भारताला होणार आहेत. पहिले, आपल्याकडील खासगी/ सार्वजनिक क्षेत्रातील कंपन्यांना चांगले काम मिळेल.त्यातून देशामध्ये मोठ्या प्रमाणात रोजगार उपलब्ध होईल. तसेच आपण शस्रास्रनिर्मिती देशामध्ये तयार करण्यास सुरुवात केली तर त्याचे संशोधनही आपल्याला देशातच करता येईल. विमाने, पाणबुड्यासारख्या महत्वाच्या शस्त्रांचा ठराविक वेळेनंतर मेंटेनन्स करावे लागते. हे मेंटेनन्स आपल्याला यापुढे देशातच करता येईल. इतकेच नाही तर अशा प्रकारची युद्धसामुग्री वापरणार्या व्हिएतनाम, इस्त्राईल, कजाकिस्तान किरगीकिस्तान या देशांनाही या शस्त्रांच्या मेंटेनन्सबाबत भारत मदत करु शकणार आहे.या धोरणामुळे आपली संरक्षणसिद्धता वाढण्यास मदत मिळेल. संरक्षण मंत्रालयाने या धोरणावर अंमलबजावणी सुरु केलेली आहे, याशिवाय, आजवर आपण सुखोई विमानांचा मेंटेनन्स रशिसयाकडून करून घेत होतो; आता हिंदुस्थान एरोनॉटिक, नाशिक ही कंपनी हे मेंटेनन्स भारतातच करणार आहे.त्यामुळे भारताच्या परकीय चलनाची मोठी बचत होईल. अशाच प्रकारे नौदलासाठी लागणारे बरॅक नामक मिसाईल आपण आजवर इस्त्राईलकडून घेत होतो. तेही आता भारतामध्ये बनवण्यात येणार आहे. ८० हजार कोटींची शस्त्रे भारतात बनणार संरक्षण क्षेत्राबाबत सर्वांत महत्त्वाची जी घोषणा झाली ती म्हणजे भारतीय सैन्याला आवश्यक असणारी ८० हजार कोटींची शस्त्रे पूर्णपणे भारतामध्ये बनवली जाणार आहेत. यामध्ये ५० हजार कोटी रुपये खर्च करुन आपण दहा पाणबुड्या भारतामध्ये बनवणार आहोत. मागील सरकारने ही शस्रास्रे, पाणबुड्या, युद्धसामग्री परदेशातून विकत घेण्याची योजना आखली होती; परंतु मोदी सरकारने ती भारतातच बनवण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे. या पाणबुड्यांमधुन क्षेपणास्त्रे डागली जातात. या पाणबुड्यांच्या निर्मितीमध्ये भारतातील खासगी कंपन्या सहभागी घेतील.नौदलाकडील पाणबुड्या, बोटी कालबाह्य झाल्या होत्या. वारंवार अपघातांना तोंड द्यावे लागत होते.संरक्षण साहित्याची मागणी केली जात होती; परंतु ती दुर्लक्षित राहिली. ३२०० कोटी रुपये खर्च करून आपण स्पाईक नावाचे अॅीन्टी टँक गाईडेड मिसाइल भारतामध्ये बनवणार आहोत. हे मिसाई्ल शत्रू देशांच्या रणगाड्यांवर हल्ले करण्याकरिता उपयोगी ठरते. याशिवाय समुद्रामध्ये शत्रुवर कंमान्डो रेड(छापे) मारण्याकरिता एक चारियट नावाची छोटी पाणबुडी बनवली जाणार आहे. मोठ्या पाणबुडीमध्ये ८०-९० माणसे काम करतात. पण चारियट पाणबुडीत २-३ अधिकारीच काम करु शकतात. २००० हजार कोटी रुपये खर्च करुन आपण ही पाणबुडी भारतात बनवणार आहोत. याशिवाय आकाशातून आपल्या बेटांची टेहाळणी करण्यासाठी १८५० कोटी रुपये खर्च करून १२ डॊरनियल पेट्रोल एअरक्राफ्ट भारतामध्ये बनवण्यात येणार आहेत. यासाठी जपानची मदत घेतली जाणार आहे. अंदमान-निकोबार बेटांचा समूह आणि ७६०० किलोमीटरचा आपला समुद्र किनारा यांवर लक्ष ठेवण्यासाठी याचा उपयोग होणार आहे. तसेच १८०० कोटी रुपये खर्च करुन ३६३ बिएमपी वाहनांची निर्मिती भारतातच करण्यात येणार आहे. बिएमपी हे चिलखती वाहन असून यामध्ये बसून पायदलाचे सैन्य लढाई करते. वाळंवटात लढाईसाठी या वाहनाचा मोठा फायदा होणार आहे. तसेच १५०० कोटी रुपये खर्च करुन रशियन क्षेपणास्रांची निर्मितीही केली जाणार आहे. साडेसात टनी रेडिओ कंटेनर, १७६८ रोलिंग स्टॉक आणि लष्करी साहित्याच्या वाहतुकीसाठी बंद वॅगन खरेदी करण्याचा निर्णयही घेतला आहे. जैविक शस्त्रास्त्रे खरेदी करण्याबाबतही विचार चालू आहे. अम्मलबजावणी जास्त महत्वाची आतापर्यंत संरक्षणासाठी लागणारे सत्तर टक्के साहित्य बाहेरून खरेदी केले जात होते. आता ते देशात बनवण्याच्या कामाला गती देण्यात येणार आहे. खासगी क्षेत्राशी मैत्रीपूर्ण धोरण असलेली खरेदी प्रक्रिया आणण्यासाठी उद्योग आणि वेगवेगळी मंत्रालयं यात समन्वय साधण्याची आवश्य्कता आहे. या सर्वांबाबत सकारात्मक पावले टाकण्यास सरकारने सुरूवात केली आहे. सध्या असलेली इच्छाशक्ती पुढील काळातही दाखवली तर भारताची संरक्षणसिद्धता नक्कीच एका वेगळ्या उंचीवर जाऊन पोहोचेल. केवळ निर्णय घेतल्यामुळेच संरक्षण सिद्धता वाढ्त नाही ,अम्मलबजावणी त्यापेक्षा जास्त महत्वाची असते. - ब्रिगेडियर हेमंत महाजन-

INDIA IS CHANGING FAST-CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER

India is changing, and faster than we think Stewart Beck-Published Thursday, Oct. 30 2014, 7:54 AM EDT Stewart Beck is president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Two months after leaving India as Canada’s High Commissioner, I returned two weeks ago as part of British Columbia Premier Christy Clark’s official delegation to the country. Stepping out into the hot and humid Delhi night, everything looked the same but there was certainly a sense of change in the air: everyone from taxi drivers, to business people and politicians seem to feel a new confidence that India can now move forward. In his first 100 days in office, new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have changed the attitude and outlook of the world’s second-most populous nation. Coinciding with the Premier’s visit was a delegation of federal representatives, including Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministers John Baird and Ed Fast, who were there to reinforce Canada’s commitment to strengthening ties with India’s new government. The success of the concurrent delegations was an excellent example of how Canada can capitalize on some of its constitutional similarities with India – in this case, the devolution of power over issues such as education and national-resource management to the provinces – in order to improve relations for Canada as a whole. Our ministers had the opportunity to sit down with the prime minister: Mr. Baird extended an official invitation for Mr. Modi to visit Canada, and Mr. Fast raised the pending Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the negotiations for which have been continuing since 2010. For his part, Mr. Modi noted that he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, scheduled to begin Dec. 1. With the CEPA negotiations now having gone through eight rounds, and an unsigned FIPA, India-watchers in Canada have had little reason to anticipate any formalized deepening of ties. But India is changing, and it is happening faster than we think. Over the last four years in India, I saw little, if any, change. The second UPA government under Manmohan Singh was sclerotic, bumping from one scandal to another starting with the Commonwealth Games in 2010. This left the country, its people and its businesses with little hope and enormously frustrated by a corrupt environment, lagging job growth and a government incapable of providing services for its citizens. Mr. Modi was elected as prime minister with a mandate to make things happen. From my own experience in dealing with Mr. Modi, he is prepared, direct and looking for results and accountability, rare attributes in an Indian politician. His past record as chief minister of Gujarat demonstrates what he is capable of: his policies and approach attracted the most foreign investment of all Indian States, including major Canadian investments by Bombardier and McCain’s. In the past 100 days, Mr. Modi has made some dramatic international maneuvers, including securing sizeable infrastructure funding commitments from Japan and China and building new security arrangements with the United States. Domestically, he moved forward on introducing land and labour reforms, and with the drop in crude oil prices, he has been able to reduce fuel subsidies. This will further improve India’s investment environment, and with a declining current account deficit he will have more room to take bolder reform measures. This change in attitude and level of confidence was clearly evident in the meetings Ms. Clark had with her counterparts. There was a strong commitment to securing long-term gas supplies based on current and future investments in British Columbia and meetings with steel industry executives opened many Canadian eyes to the staggering growth planned in the economy. Steel manufacturing capacity will grow to 300 million tons by 2025, which, alone will mean that India will need to import at least 150 million tons of coking coal to meet the demand. Mr. Modi’s most significant challenge will be providing the necessary skills to employ the one million people entering the work force every month for the next 15 years (more than 50 per cent of India’s population is under the age of 25). The Premier was able to present solutions to this challenge, including how the proper Canadian accreditations delivered through joint programming in India can solve some of the skill shortages facing the province. Opportunities abound in India and even more so now that there is a newfound optimism and energy. Canada is uniquely placed to become a priority country for India. We engaged early with Mr. Modi when other western countries were reticent; we are colonial cousins and share a similar constitutional framework; and we have a vibrant diaspora that cares about India’s future place in world. As Mr. Harper meets with Mr. Modi for the first time later this year in Australia, and we look ahead to a possible official visit next year, the time is ripe for Canada and India to grow in closer partnership together. Stewart Beck was Canada’s High Commissioner to the Republic of India with concurrent accreditation to the Kingdom of Bhutan and Nepal.