WHY MODI MATTERS -MODIS TIME INTERVIEW

Why Modi Matters: TIME interviews the PMSource : Last Updated: Fri, May 08, 2015 02:52 hrs1 CommentWashington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India and the US were natural allies and instead of asking what one can do for the other, they should look at what they can do together for the world. "If I have to describe the India-US relationship in a single word, I will say we are natural allies," he said in an exclusive interview with Time magazine for next week's cover feature titled "Why Modi Matters". With a picture of the prime minister in a light saffron kurta and white churidar on the cover, the magazine says "The world needs India to step up as a global power" as it asks: "One year in can Prime Minister Narendra Modi deliver?" "I think the relationship between India and US, and the two countries in themselves, have played an enormously important role and continue to play an important role in strengthening democratic values all over the world," Modi said. "What should the India-US relationship be, what India can do for the US, what the US can do for India, I think that is a rather limited point of view to take," he said. "The way we should look at it is what India and the US can together do for the world ... strengthening democratic values all over," Modi said. "That is the perspective in which we approach our relationship with the United States." Speaking mostly in Hindi, Modi talked about everything from his ambitions for India to the global war on terrorism to what personally moves him. Asked who else would he say were India's other natural allies, Modi, who has visited 16 countries already this year, said: "Each country has its own importance and each relationship has to be viewed in its own perspective... that is different from each other." "If you look at the India-US relationship for example, the role that the Indian diaspora has played in the relationship is extremely crucial," he said. "Also our worldview... in addition to our shared democratic values, there are convergences in our worldview on different situations in the world," he said. Asked about India's sometimes tense relations with China, Modi said: "For nearly three decades there has been, by and large, peace and tranquillity on the India-China border. "Not a single bullet has been fired for over a quarter-century. Both countries are showing great maturity and a commitment to economic cooperation." On tackling the threat of terrorism, Modi said one "should not look at terrorism from the nameplates -- which group they belong to, what is their geographical location, who are the victims. "These individual groups or names will keep changing, he said calling for the passage of the UN's Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. "We need to delink terrorism from religion -- to isolate terrorists who use this interchange of arguments between terrorism and religion." "Several countries used to see terrorism as a law-and-order situation of individual countries. We should see it as something that is a fight for human values," Modi said. On the possibility of the Taliban's returning to power in Afghanistan, Modi said the drawdown of US troops was an independent US decision, but it was "important to hold consultations with the Afghan government" in the interest of a stable government in Kabul. Modi said his biggest challenge on becoming the prime minister "was that I was new to the federal government structures" and each department seemed to be working in independent "silos". "My effort has been to break these silos down, (so that) everybody... looks at a problem in a collective manner. I see the federal government not as an assembled entity but as an organic entity," he said. On whether economic reforms have gone far and fast enough, the prime minister said when he came to power last year, nothing seemed to be happening in the government. There seemed to be a complete policy paralysis. "The whole world is, once again, excited and enthusiastic about India and the opportunities that India represents. "Whether it is the IMF, the World Bank, Moody's or other credit agencies, they are all saying in one voice that India has a great economic future," Modi said. Asked whether he would like to have the kind of authoritarian power that China's leader has, Modi said: "India is a democracy; it is in our DNA." "If you were to ask me to choose between democratic values and wealth, power, prosperity and fame, I will very easily and without any doubt choose democratic values

CENSUS 2011 VANISHING HINDUS FROM BANGLADESH

Census 2011 Bangladesh : The vanishing Hindus! Source: News Bharati English04 May 2015 10:27:33 The Hindus are slowly but irreversibly moving towards extinction in Bangladesh. That is the inevitable conclusion of Bangladesh Census 2011. It is a slow and silent death of a community which has no strong global forum to raise voice against the threat to their very existence. Whatever may be the reasons, the fact remains, highlighted by hard figures that there is no strong voice for Bangladesh Hindus on any forum including UN. That is why the census 2011 religion data available on Bangladesh government’s website since 2013 has gone almost unnoticed. The revelations of Census 2011: Writing on the wall for Hindus Hindus now remain just over 8.6 percent in Bangladesh. In every decade since 1951 the percentage of Hindus has declined. This decline is without exception in all districts of Bangladesh. More over in 9 districts the Hindus have registered a negative growth as compared to 2001 Census which indicates a drastic reduction in Hindu population in this near-contiguous cluster. In terms of absolute numbers, the ‘Vanishing Hindu’ phenomenon becomes clearer. In 1951, the first Census after Bangladesh came in to existence [as East Pakistan at that time], Muslim population was 3 Crore 22 lakh [32 million] while Hindu population was 92 lakh 39000 [9 million]. After 60 years Muslim population is now 12 Crore 62 lakh [120 million] while Hindu population stands at just 1 Crore 20 lakh [12 million] people. Since 1981, in 7 districts there has been more than 6 percentage point reduction in Hindu population. Considering the statistical parameters like population growth rate and fertility rate etc, many social scientists have predicted that in last half century at least 40 to 80 lakh [4 to 8 million] Hindus have ‘vanished’ from Bangladesh. Dipen Bhattacharya, originally from Bangladesh and now a scientist in USA, predicts in his article ‘The Statistical Future of Bangladeshi Hindus’ that “By the end of this Century, Bangladesh Hindus will remain a dismal 1.5%. The average Hindu population growth rate during 2011-2051 would be -0.64% and in 2051 its number will match those of 1974.” Along with Hindus, Buddhist population is also reducing in alarming manner. Buddhist people are concentrated in the Chitgong hill tract comprising of three districts Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati. In last three decades a large number of tribal Buddhist people have been displaced from the belt. Some people have tried to attribute this ‘vanishing Hindu’ phenomenon to willing and voluntary migration of Hindus in search of better opportunities. However considering the fact that the Muslims have also migrated in greater numbers and in almost equal proportion to Hindus this reduction in Hindu percentage cannot be explained. Census 2011 gives a vital indication in this regard. In 2011 Census the sex ratio has fallen by almost 6% as compared to 2001. This indicates a difference of about 40 lakh people [4 million] (fewer male than 2001 - or more female which is unlikely). Since this difference is across the religions it is a logical conclusion that Muslims are migrating in equal proportion to Hindus. It is obvious that there should be more reasons for the ‘Vanishing Hindus’ phenomenon. Various studies and news report indicate that atrocities, conversions and land grabbing are the main reasons behind the phenomenon. Atrocities on Hindus: After all the words are spent, what remains behind is the shame. In multiple incidents repeated over the years Hindus have been attacked, Hindu properties have been looted; houses burnt to ashes, temples were desecrated and set on fire. The causes have been flimsy. In 2013, the international crime tribunal sentenced Delwar Hussain, the vice president of Jamaat -e islami, to death for war crimes of 1971. As a reaction, cadre of Jamaat – e - islami made wide spread loot and arson of Hindu people and properties. In 2012, at Ramu in cox’s bazaar district, the fanatics destroyed 22 Buddhist temples and destroyed many houses as a reaction to some facebook post. To quote Afsan Chowdhury, a noted intellectual of Bangladesh “It was something far more than shameful as several hundred mullahs, probably supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami attacked Buddhist shrines and homes and vandalised those because of an alleged anti-Islamic photo in the facebook. It is at these moments that it becomes clear why Muslims are so unpopular in so many parts of the world. Few have taken collective and social barbarism to such heights even as they claim to be mistreated.” In 2013 elections and post election frenzy, Hindus were targeted and brutally pressurized by various political parties. The reports of abduction of minor Hindu girls and their forced conversions are numerous. For example The Dhaka Tribune reported in 2013 a story titled “Forced conversion of religion after abduction” which lists many instances where “Men kidnap and marry 10 to 16-year-old girls from minority communities by forcing them to sign declarations that they are adults and wish to convert to Islam.” Thus a vicious cycle has been set where Hindus migrate to avoid persecution, leaving the rest of the Hindus in reduced numbers and more vulnerable to attacks. Ali Riaz, a political scientist and professor from Bangladesh who is now in USA has concluded in his book ‘God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh’ that in last 25 years about 53 lakh [5.3 million] Hindus have migrated from Bangladesh. Growth of Communal politics: Hindus! Get lost! The political atmosphere of Bangladesh is taking more and more communal turn over the years. The word secularism was deleted from the constitution in 1977. Islam was declared as state religion in 1988. The rise of communal political parties in last decade like Jamaat- e- Islami has further vitiated the atmosphere. As a result there are only 15 Hindu members of parliament today out of 350. Generally Awami league was considered as a party accommodative of minorities. Even today out of 15 Hindu members of parliament, 13 are from Awami league and two are independent. All other parties together have zero representation of Hindu members. It should be noted that in the cluster of 9 districts where Hindus have been reduced drastically, in 2001 elections the rabid Anti Hindu Jammat –e - islami and BNP alliance won all seats except in Gopalganj district. The enemy property act: When Government becomes the robber Another reason which is not so apparent is that in last so many decades the Hindus have lost their properties due to the unfair provisions and biased implementation of the so called Enemy property act or vested property act. Abul Barkat, an economist and professor of Dhaka University, through his in-depth studies ‘Political Economy of Vested Property Act in Rural Bangladesh’ and ‘An Inquiry into Causes and Consequences of Deprivation of Hindu Minorities in Bangladesh through the Vested Property Act’ has exposed the devastating effect this act and its many versions over the period has on Hindus in Bangladesh. According to his study “43% of Hindu households which comes to about 12 lakh [1.2 million] families have been affected by the EPA or VPA. Total land acquired under this act is about 20 lakh Acres [2 million] which is 5% of total Bangladesh land but it is almost 45% of land owned by Hindu community.” The study has also documented the land grabbing techniques. Death of one family member or migration of one family member is used as an excuse to enlist and grab the entire property of the family. There are many instances where Influential parties have grabbed the land by using violence, local thugs, and forged documents. For example an investigation by ‘Jugantor’ in 2009 revealed that of the 30000 Acres of land appropriated by Chitgong administration as ‘vested property’ only 5000 Acres is in Government control. The rest is in possession of ‘unknown elements’. As a specific example ‘The daily star’ news report amply illustrates the reality. To quote from the news report “The unyielding use of violence and power by local elites and land administrators feature frequently in case stories of vested law. When Shamaresh Nath from Shirajdikha, Munshiganj challenged the declaration of 134 decimal of his homestead property as vested, the Union Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of the area physically harassed him, violently beating his family members with goons and the police. Even though High Court ruled in Nath's favour in 2009, the UNO continues to deny him access to his land, threatening to harm Nath and his family if they don't back off. Nath has not been able to return home even today. He says, “My father was the District Commissioner of Bangladesh. If he can't get justice, where will ordinary people go?”” Followers of Buddhism have faced a similar fate. The study of Abul Barkat highlights that In Chitgong Hill tracts which includes three districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, 22 % Buddhist people have been driven out of their households. Their traditional social ownership of land has come down from 83 % in 1978 to 41 % in 2009 thus essentially making them landless. Looking at this stupendous land grab it is not at all surprising that when almost half the Hindu population is deprived of their property, they are forced to migrate out of Bangladesh. Not all Bangladeshi are happy about it. To quote Afsan Chowdhury again “After all the words are spent, what remains behind is the shame. We have allowed this to happen again and again…We didn’t need a new version of old Pakistan. Bangladesh was to be the exact opposite but thanks to inefficiency, corruption, bigotry and religious excess, we have failed to build a state we could be proud of. For us there is only disgust. On behalf of all who accept what we have said, our sincerest and humblest apology to the people who have suffered in particular and to all minorities in general.” It is a ray of hope that there are some Bangladeshi citizens who are genuinely concerned. Whether it is sufficient to change the fate of Hindus is another matter. The world has seen how Jews acting as a strong lobby in international politics have achieved the security of Jewish community worldwide and garnered support for Israel on various global platforms. Christians are less than 3% in India according to Census. But in last few months they have been able to mobilize the support of USA and other world powers against the perceived and imagined threat to them even in the absence of concrete instances. Hindus on the other hand, even counting the RSS VHP global network of Hindus, are nowhere near to mobilize a global opinion and pressure in support of Bangladesh Hindus. India, which should be the natural support base for Hindus anywhere in the world, prefers to remain mute on such subjects. Perhaps the Indian politicians fear to lose their precious secular tag if they talk about Hindus. On this background the question looms large and real, are Bangladesh Hindus on the way to slow but sure annihilation?

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: VASANT VYAKHYAN MALA PUNE-Talk by Brig Hemant Maha...

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: VASANT VYAKHYAN MALA PUNE-Talk by Brig Hemant Maha...: व्याख्यान- वसंत व्याख्यान माला 2015- ०९ मे २०१५ वक्ते-ब्रिगेडियर हेमंत महाजन ,डी५/७,सांळुंके विहार जागा : टिळक स्मारक मंदिर टिळक रोड वेळ: ...

VASANT VYAKHYAN MALA PUNE-Talk by Brig Hemant Mahajan -"India's Internal Security Present Status and way ahead" 6:30 P.M - 8 P.M Tilak Smarak Mandir, Tilak Road

व्याख्यान- वसंत व्याख्यान माला 2015- ०९ मे २०१५ वक्ते-ब्रिगेडियर हेमंत महाजन ,डी५/७,सांळुंके विहार जागा : टिळक स्मारक मंदिर टिळक रोड वेळ: संध्याकाळी ६:३० - ८ वाजता विषय : भारताची अंतरगत सुरक्षा,सद्य परिस्थीती आणि ऊपाययोजना सगळ्यांना आगत्याने आमंत्रण VASANT VYAKHYAN MALA Talk by Brig Hemant Mahajan 09 May (Saturday) 2015 (IN MARATHI) Subject "India's Internal Security Present Status and way ahead" Time: 6:30 P.M - 8 P.M Place: Tilak Smarak Mandir, Tilak Road All are cordially invited.

Nepal earthquake: China's PLA faces flak over swift evacuation by Indian military

Nepal earthquake: China's PLA faces flak over swift evacuation by Indian military Last Updated: PTI, Thursday, April 30, 2015 - 23:45 Beijing: The Indian military's swift evacuation of thousands of Indians from quake-hit Nepal has put China's PLA on the defensive with questions raised as to why its efforts to rescue stranded Chinese nationals did not match that of India. The media here has questioned why air force planes were not deployed to airlift over 8,000 Chinese many of whom are still stranded in Nepal. In a rare comparison of India's military with the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's largest, Chinese defence spokesman Geng Yansheng was today confronted with the question at a briefing as to why the military did not use planes to airlift stranded Chinese when India had done so to ferry its nationals. There is considerable annoyance in China over the slow process of airlifting of Chinese tourists as well as workers employed in various Beijing-funded projects in Nepal as the task was given to a number of civilian airlines. There were also reports of some of the airline companies demanding heavy fare which was subsequently denied. Besides airlifting thousands of its citizens, the Indian Air Force also transported about 170 foreign nationals from 15 countries to India. Several others were also transported through special buses from across the border to Bihar. Defending the move to use civilian aircraft, Geng said "Whether to use military aircraft to transport people from a disaster area this is to be decided by various factors". He said after the earthquake, the Chinese government had organised a number of civilian commercial flights to evacuate Chinese citizens stranded in Nepal. He said soon after the quake, three helicopters from Tibet flew food and water to a number of Chinese employees working on a hydro project and some of them were even airlifted. India's quick response to send search and rescue teams besides relief supplies has been reported by sections of the Chinese media while China too dispatched rescue teams and planes with supplies by which time the Indian presence on the ground had swelled. Earlier, the Chinese foreign ministry played down reports of competition with India to assist quake-hit Nepal and offered to work with New Delhi "positively" in the relief efforts to help the Himalayan nation overcome the crisis. "China and India are neighbours to Nepal. We would like to work together and coordinate positively with India in our assistance efforts in Nepal to help it to overcome the difficulties and rebuild its homeland," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Tuesday.

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गो होम इंडियन मीडिया...नेपाळी जनतेचा 'ट्विटर' संताप May 4, 2015, 04.06PM IST नेपाळमध्ये २५ एप्रिलला झालेल्या भूकंपाच्या जखमा भळभळत असताना आणि या तीव्र दुःखातून तेथील जनता सावरण्याच्या प्रयत्नात असताना भारतीय प्रसारमाध्यमांनी मात्र भूकंपाचे कव्हरेज करताना असंवेदनशीलतेचा कळस गाठला, असा संताप नेपाळी जनतेने ट्विटरवर व्यक्त केला. काल दिवसभर #GoHomeIndianMedia हे ट्रेंडिंग ट्विटरवर होते. रविवारी दिवसभरात सुमारे १ लाख ४४ हजार ट्विट पडले होते. भूकंपात कुणाचा संसार उद्ध्वस्त झालाय तर कुणाचे संपूर्ण कुटुंबच काळाने हिरावून नेलंय. अनेकांना बेघर व्हाव लागलंय तर अनेकांचा अद्याप शोधच लागलेला नाही. अशा या विनाशकारी भूकंपाच्या खोलवर झालेल्या जखमा अंगावर झेलत जगण्यासाठी धडपडणाऱ्या नेपाळमधील नागरिकांना मदत करण्याऐवजी भारतीय प्रसारमाध्यमांचे प्रतिनिधी 'कव्हरेज'मध्येच गुंतले होते. त्यांच्यातील संवेदनशीलता हरवली होती. भूकंपपीडितांच्या समोर 'बूम' धरण्यातच त्यांनी धन्यता मानली होती. हा सर्व प्रकार सुरक्षा दलाच्या जवानांसमोरच चालला होता. असंवेदनशीलतेचा कळस म्हणजे पीडितांना ते 'तुम्हाला कसे वाटते?' असे प्रश्न विचारत होते. या सर्व प्रकारावर नेपाळवासियांनी ट्विटरवर संताप व्यक्त केला आहे. भारतीय लष्कराचे जवान आणि राष्ट्रीय आपत्ती निवारण पथकाचे जवान कशा प्रकारे बचाव आणि मदतकार्य करण्यात आघाडीवर आहेत, याचेच वृत्त प्रसारित करून भारताची पाठ थोपटण्याचे काम भारतातील इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया आणि प्रिंट मिडियाने केले, असा आरोप नेपाळमधील नेटकऱ्यांनी ट्विटरवर केला. अनेकांनी भारतीय प्रसारमाध्यमे कमालीची असंवेदनशील आहेत, अशी टीका ट्विटरवरून करत ही सर्वात मोठी शोकांतिका आहे, असे म्हटले आहे. अशा प्रकारच्या नैतिकता गमावलेल्या वृत्तांकनातून प्रसारमाध्यमांनी नेपाळ आणि भारतातील संबंधांचा चुराडा केला, अशी प्रखर टीका करतानाच 'भारतीय प्रसारमाध्यमांनो, आता तुमची गरज वाटत नाही, तुम्ही परत जा' असे टि्वट केले. भूकंप झाला त्यानंतर काही तासातच भारतीय वृत्तवाहिन्यांचे प्रतिनिधी नेपाळमध्ये पोहोचले. त्यांनी दाखवलेल्या बातम्यांमधून नेपाळमधील उद्ध्वस्त चित्रण सर्व जगाने पाहिले. त्यामुळे तातडीने सर्व स्तरांतून मदतीचा ओघ सुरू झाला, अशी सकारात्मक प्रतिक्रिया काहींची होती. आम्ही आधीच भूकंपाने खचलोय, त्यात तुमच्यामुळे त्रासलो आहोत, तुमचा प्रसारमाध्यमांचा 'भूकंप' आता थांबवा!, असे एकाने ट्विट केले आहे. माध्यमांचा उतावळेपणा नेपाळमध्ये सध्या सुरू असलेल्या बचावकार्याबाबत एक गोष्ट प्रकर्षाने नमूद करावीशी वाटते. ती म्हणजे, अशा आपत्तींच्या काळात माध्यमांकडून दाखवला जाणारा उतावळेपणा. काठमांडूमधील आपत्तीनंतर तेथे वाहिन्यांच्या प्रतिनिधींनी भाऊगर्दी केली आहे. या प्रतिनिधींकडून जखमी झालेल्या, मृत पावलेल्या व्यक्तींवर अधिक फोकस केला जात आहे. तसेच पूर्ण कुटुंंब उद्ध्वस्त झालेल्या नागरिकांच्या मुलाखती घेऊन तुम्हाला आता काय वाटते? भारत सरकारकडून तुम्हाला मदत मिळते आहे का, असे प्रश्न विचारून त्यांना भंडावून सोडण्यात येत आहे. अर्थात, हा प्रकार काही नवीन नाही. मध्यंतरी काश्मीरमध्ये आलेल्या पुरामध्ये भारतीय सैन्याच्या हेलिकॉप्टरमध्ये बसलेले काही कॅमेरामन पाण्यातून बाहेर काढलेल्या अर्धमेल्या माणसांना तुम्हाला कसे वाटते आहे, असा प्रश्न विचारत होते. एखाद्या बाईटसाठी, टीआरपीसाठी अशा प्रकारे मरणाच्या दारातून परतलेल्या अथवा संकटात सापडलेल्या व्यक्तींवर प्रश्नांचा भडीमार करणे हे असंवेदनशीलतेचे आणि असभ्यतेचे दर्शन आहे. अशा परिस्थितीचे अवलोकन हे अतिशय काळजीपूर्वक होणे महत्त्वाचे आहे. भारतातील वृत्तवाहिन्यांनी सरकार किंवा सैन्यावर आरोप करण्यावर लक्ष केंद्रित करू नये, जसे येमेनमधे झाले. सगळे जग सैन्यदलाने येमेनमधे केलेल्या कामाचे कौतुक करत होते, पण काही वाहिन्यांचे प्रतिनिधी जनरल व्हीके सिंग यांच्याशी वादविवाद करण्यात गुंतले होते. देशाबाहेरचे आपले शत्रू अशा बातम्यांचा गैरवापर करतात. भारताची प्रतिमा सांभाळा भौगोलिक किंवा राजकीयदृष्ट्या नेपाळ हा केवळ आपला शेजारील देश आहे. या देशाशी आपले प्राचीन काळापासून मैत्रीचे, व्यापाराचे, सांस्कृतिक संबंध आहेत. म्हणून नेपाळ प्रलयंकारी भूकंपाने हादरला आणि या देशाचे उद्ध्वस्तपण प्रसारमाध्यमांतून जगापुढे आले, तेव्हा सामान्य भारतीयही मनापासून हादरला. भारतीयांचे क्लेश, वेदना मातीच्या हजारो टन ढिगार्यांखाली अडकलेल्या हजारो नेपाळी नागरिकांसाठी होत्या हे महत्त्वाचे. नेपाळ आणि भारताचे ऐतिहासिक संबंध आहेत. आज लाखो नेपाळी भारतामध्ये रोजी-रोटीसाठी येतात. सगळ्या परिस्थितीमध्ये ते भारताचे मित्र राहतात. आज अशा गंभीर परिस्थितीमुळे इतर अनेक देश भारताप्रमाणेच नेपाळला मदत करायला तयार आहेत. यामुळे प्रत्येक देश आम्ही किती अधिक मदत केली हे दाखवण्याचा प्रयत्न करण्याची शक्यता आहे. खास करून चीनकडून हा प्रयत्न होण्याची दाट शक्यता आहे. पण एक गोष्ट लक्षात घेतली पाहिजे की, भारताएवढी मदत भौगोलिक परिस्थितीमुळे कधीही चीन देऊ शकणार नाही. भारतामधून अनेक रस्ते नेपाळमध्ये जातात. असे रस्ते चीनमधून नेपाळला जात नाहीत. नेपाळमध्ये असलेल्या एकमेव विमानतळावर झालेल्या प्रचंड गर्दीमुळे तेथे विमानाने मदत पाठवणे अशक्य झाले आहे. भौगोलिक परिस्थितीमुळे भारतीय सैन्याच्या अनेक तुकड्या यांत्रिक सामग्री घेऊन रस्तामार्गे गोरखपूरकडून नेपाळमध्ये अनेक ठिकाणी पोहोचलेले आहेत. प्रसारमाध्यमांनी येमेनसारखी चूक या वेळेस करू नये. नेपाळी लोकांना भारताविषयी अतिशय प्रेम असले तरी तेथील काही माध्यमे, काही संस्था आणि काही चीनप्रेमी नागरिक या कार्यादरम्यान अनावधानाने राहिलेल्या चुकांचा अधिक गवगवा करून, आपल्याला दोष देण्याचा प्रयत्न करण्याची शक्यता आहे. त्यामुळे आपण सर्वांनीच या घटनेचे गांभीर्य ओळखून त्याचे अवलोकन सुयोग्यरीत्या करण्याचा आणि त्याचा भारताच्या प्रतिमेवर विपरीत परिणाम होणार नाही याची दक्षता घेण्याचा प्रयत्न करणे गरजेचे आहे. परदेशी बचावपथकांनीही माघारी जावे! नेपाळची राजधानी असलेल्या काठमांडूत कार्यरत असलेल्या परदेशी बचावपथकांनी आता परत जावे, अशी विनंती नेपाळ सरकारने केली आहे. काठमांडू आणि परिसरातील बहुतांश मदत आणि बचावकार्य पूर्ण झालेले आहे. आता उर्वरित काम येथील स्थानिक करू शकतात, असे माहिती मंत्री मिनेंद्र रिजल यांनी सांगितले प्रसार माध्यमे पण आती करतात.. एखाद्या गोष्टीचे किती कवरेज करणार.. मान्य आहे तुमच्या कवरेज मुळे बचावकार्यात मदत झाली पण ब्रेकिंग न्यूज़साठी कळस गाठतात.. नेपाळवर संकट कोसळलय ते अख्य्या जगाला कळले आणि जग सुद्धा मदतीला धावून आले.. पण तुम्ही त्या भूकंपाचे भांडवल करू पाहत आहात.. हळूहळू त्यांच्या खाजगी आयुष्यात ढवळाढवळ करू पाहत आहात तर साहजिकच त्यांच्या उद्रेकाला सामोरे जावे लागेल.. आती करू नका.. भारतातील प्रसारमाध्यमांमध्ये काही ठराविक लोकांचा जास्त भरणा आहे. पिढ्यानपिढ्या याच लोकांच्या हातात माध्यमे अडकलेली आहेत. या लोकांना जिथे भारतातील सर्वसामान्य, गोरगरीब, शेतकऱ्यांचे दुःख समजले नाही. तर तेच लोक नेपाळमध्ये जाऊन कसं काय भूकंपपीडितांची दुःख समजून घेतील. या लोकांना संतुलित पत्रकारिता करण्याची क्षमता नाही. नरेंद्र मोदीने यांना वापरून घेतलं. आणि फेकून दिले. हे लोक सुधारणा र नाही. बरं झालं नेपाळी लोकांनी त्यांना चांगलं हाणलं नाही. आता तर इंग्रजांप्रमाणे या लोकांना भारत छोडो म्हणायची वेळ आलेली आहे. मीडियाची चुक असेल नाही आहेच पण नेपळींची ही वृत्ती म्हणजे गरज सरो वैद्य मरो सारखीच की नाही गरज सरो वैद्य मरो म्हणतात त्याप्रमाणे नेपाळ सरकारने आता परदेशातून आलेल्या मदत कार्य करणाऱ्या लोकांना मायदेशी परतण्यास सांगितले आहे. काठमांडू व आजूबाजूच्या भागात मदत कार्य पूर्ण झाले असून, परदेशातून आलेल्या मदत पथकांनी परत जावे. उरलेले काम आम्ही करू, असे माहिती मंत्री मिनेंद्र रिजाल यांनी सांगितले. आज बुद्ध पौर्णिमा असल्याने नेपाळमधील बौद्ध धर्मस्थळांना व धर्मशाळांना हजारो लोकांनी भेट दिली. खरेतर नेपाळची या गंभीर संकटाला सामोरे जाण्याची क्षमताच नव्हती. बाहेरील मदतीवरच शक्य तेवढे काम भागले तरीही नेपाळने ही भूमिका घेतली आहे. ढिगाऱ्यांखाली कुणी जिवंत असण्याची शक्यता नाही त्यामुळे शोधकार्य थांबवण्यात येत असल्याचे नेपाळने यापूर्वीच जाहीर करून हात वर केले आहेत. नेपाळमधील अनेक खेडय़ात अजून मदत पोहोचली नाही व भूकंप होऊन आठवडा झाला असताना आता तिथे कुणी जिवंत असण्याची शक्यता नाही असेही विधान नेपाळच्या मंत्र्यांनी केले होते व त्यानंतर तेथे तीनजणांना जिवंत बाहेर काढण्यात आल्याने त्यांचे हे वक्तव्य नियतीनेच खोटे ठरवले होते. तेथील अनेक भागात परदेशी स्वयंसेवक पोलिसांना मदत करीत आहेत व लष्करही मदत कार्यात आघाडीवर आहे. २५ एप्रिलच्या भूकंपानंतर तेथे ३४ देशांचे ४०५० मदत कार्यकर्ते काम करीत आहेत. तेथे औषधे व इतर सामग्री जगभरातून पाठवण्यात आली आहे. भूकंपातील मृतांची संख्या सात हजारावर गेली असून, ती ७२७६ झाली आहे

NEPAL -DISASTOR MANAGEMENT ARMED FORCES

Disaster Management by Armed Forces and Others. Things don't just happen automatically. Leaders understand a situation and make it happen. It is pleasing to see the response of the Central Government and its multiple agencies to the disaster in Nepal. There can be no better way to convey India’s concern and sensitivity towards its neighbors than these very actions which have drawn national approval and applause. No doubt, the recent experiences gained in the Uttarkhand and Kashmir floods, Orissa cyclone and the mass evacuation from Yemen’s war zone have added richly to our institutional expertise in handling unpredictable situations. However, it is the leadership at the Centre which has obviously made a major difference; officials are learning to function and take decisions in situations of limited but progressively building information. While electronic news channels have been busy with visuals of the disaster and the relief build up ,unfortunately they tend to highlight only the tragedy and the sufferings - not to mention each channel loudly proclaiming "" we are the first and only channel on Ground Zero (!), Breaking News , etc "". But unfortunately the real heroism is neither adequately recorded nor projected ! Hence, it is best to recount what exactly is involved in such contingencies when disasters strike. Let us give credits and dues to these unsung heroes too. We do have ten specialist units for disaster relief manned by personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force. These personnel are crucial to the initial response required at the spot of disaster where in the case of this earthquake they are busy rendering rescue from the collapsed buildings along with specialist locating equipment and sniffer dogs. However, organizationally the relief efforts start from rear to forward in a ‘push’ system with available resources at the point of disaster and those in the vicinity making the first push. It involves, human resources, both specialist and muscle power, machinery, vehicles, earth moving plant and breaking equipment, including drills, generators, communications, water purification plants with dispensers, medical equipment and drugs besides resources for disposal of the dead and control of epidemics. The importance of each individual item in the chain cannot be over emphasized and a single crucial item can render a whole effort void. For example, if there are no stretchers or no water dispensers nowhere can they be obtained from once the team is in-situ. Hence, necessity to carefully register inventories, on basis of progressive experience. The Army does this as a Standard Operating Procedure and tests its drills and battle procedures (everything in the Army is related to battle) through frequent mobilization exercises, where inventories and personnel are checked along with the loads, and queries are directed at personnel to ascertain they understand their duties and responsibilities. The first and foremost action at the operational level is to earmark the command and control so that a single commander is responsible and becomes the point of contact. Major General JS Sandhu, in the instant case, an officer from 5 Gorkha Rifles is a good choice for being the overall in charge at the Nepal end along with Brig Gamlin also of the Gurkhas. Both are fluent Nepali speaking, which explains it. All commanders have adequate staff and they swing into action to gather maximum information even as basic drills are put into gear. Up and down the chain initial short coordination meetings are held but before that it is necessary to send out Warning Orders on the basis of available information. The result of these coordination meetings is the issue of directions to subordinates and earmarking of resources. Taking the disaster in Nepal as an example, it can be seen that the NDRF was ready with its emergency loads and recce teams which flew out within a few hours -- quite a commendable alacrity. Along with the initial flight it is essential to earmark space for communication personnel of the Air Force and Corps of Signals along with basic equipment without compromising excessively on the life saving equipment of the NDRF. A communication hub will then build up progressively at the airfield and inwards towards the city. Without communications nothing can move. It may be essential in some cases to send technicians of the lead civil communication service provider to ascertain the state of mobile communications. In modern times this is essential so that civil mobile communications are established early to overcome the trauma of relatives. It also helps in tracing missing personnel. As of now the Internet seems to have been restored in Kathmandu and this is a major achievement. As an add on from personal experience it is prudent to also cater for small charging sets with multiple charging facilities as the availability of mobile communications in the hands of people will help in coordination of relief efforts. The IAF remains a key player because it has to earmark and move adequate transport aircraft to the mounting bases which are spread out. Its personnel have to be involved with technical aspects of loading and that too very quickly. Progressively the rotary aircraft join in when the relief moves out into the countryside, away from the urban centres in this case. The Army’s aviation arm joins in. On 27th itself an aviation hub is being established at Pokhra. The principle which has to be followed is that of ‘simultaneity’ and not of ‘sequencing’. Almost everything is of importance and in the case of the IAF this becomes the biggest challenge, ascertaining priority. Human survivability requirements have necessarily to be at very high priority. In this, medical equipment, doctors and para-medics, plus medicines take precedence. A composite packet of medical needs has to move early, for which emergency supplies have to be in state of readiness. The Army’s medical system has this well taped up and usually needs no directions for emergency release. Many more such packets will continue to move as the level of casualties is ascertained. In the instant case six field hospitals has been moved replete with power generation equipment and surgical teams; functioning with 18 medical teams. Six ambulance vehicles have also been inducted by road. The location of Army cantonments in North India is a boon because many of the formations having medical resources are located close to airfields. Medical teams from these cantonments are the first to move. As far as food, water and shelter is concerned, initial dependence is on food packets which are made up of ready to eat dry items hurriedly put together by the Army Service Corps (ASC) and volunteers. An important element here is the existing supply chain facilitated by the stocks which are held by the Army at different levels; these are mostly dry items and cannot be converted to ready to eat in the desirable timeframe. This is where the Army’s logisticians depend very largely on the contractors who supply fresh items and can be mustered to provide readily consumable items on deferred payment systems. The system works on trust, the best mantra for disaster management. Civil agencies subsequently step in and the local administration has an uncanny knack of ensuring supplies as the demand increases. It is important to remember that initially all affected people will need immediately consumable food and not dry rations; baby food being one of the highest priorities. During the Kashmir Flood, need for Insulin was high and the agencies were busy procuring that for the first few days. One of the heaviest loads and fast consumed is fuel. It is needed for the power generation equipment for the medical facilities and for the vehicles plying at the airfield of the disaster area. This necessitates early dispatch of engineer teams by road so that road communications are opened. The Army’s Corps of Engineers has a man sized job to perform. Units function as composite engineer task forces (ETFs) with technical manpower, plant equipment, water supply and purification facilities, explosives to blast buildings and collapsed hillsides, power generation equipment and many other items required to restore mobility, power and water; their expertise in handling boats, building bridges and pumping water proves invaluable in flood based disasters. Lifting their equipment is the most difficult as it is bulky and if being airlifted will take up much of the air effort. Hence always good to send recce elements and a few initial equipment based teams by air with bulk following by road; they can be relied upon to open the road for themselves if blocked. The arrival of ETFs lends great weight to the disaster relief efforts because of the innate expertise that Army engineers carry with them. This is already happening with six plant equipment, generators, electricity survey team etc having reached and established themselves outside Kathmandu. They are in communication with the Nepal Army personnel with whom operations are being coordinated. It is important to mention that no disaster relief efforts belong to any one organization. Besides, the Army, Air Force and NDRF, Police organizations play a most important role. Local police provides the liaison for all missions as others are unfamiliar with ground layout. The police too have tremendous manpower but there could be contingencies where many of them being locals cannot immediately function. Their own resources would be badly jeopardized in such a calamity. Social organizations are known to provide much backup to the armed forces. The Gurdwara Committees and in particular the efforts of the Golden Temple towards providing meal packets made by volunteers is one of the finest examples of cooperation and support. Disaster relief may be calibrated to lower levels over a period of time but societal support is needed exactly when this happens. Medicines, blankets, clothing, tents etc will remain in short supply. NGOs take over this effort and carry out yeoman service in setting up collection and distribution centres. Certain airlines too have played a stellar role in providing free lift of logistic loads for various organizations and their efforts need to be lauded. The essential aspect is the distribution and not the collection; mismanagement is this can lead to much misery. The survey of damage in the countryside has only just begun in Nepal, both on foot and by helicopter. This is a task by itself and casualty management, communications, food and medicine supply, shelter are all problems which will progressively face the relief providers. Human endurance too has limits and stamina starts sapping after some time as the logistics for the relief workers themselves cause a challenge. Many other countries too are pitching in with efforts and domain expertise. It is essential to have a central information hub for the embassies at New Delhi to remain in touch with. The lesson which must be clear is that no one can predict a disaster but institutional knowledge can overcome much of the effects with readiness and cooperation. Disaster management is a subject by itself and needs continuous buildup of expertise through training and exchange of experience. However, as said in the beginning, if the direction from the top leadership is effective, as seen in this case, there is increased professionalism at all levels to give that extra something in the face of such human suffering. KUDOS TO THE WHOLE SYSTEM ~ The Leadership, the Armed Forces, the NDRF, the Police, all the voluntary organisations & individuals, and of course the survival instinct itself of a sturdy race of people !! 3 Cheers to the Great Human Spirit !

CONGRESS NOW FACES VENGEANCE OF HISTORY

CONGRESS NOW FACES VENGEANCE OF HISTORY Tuesday, 21 April 2015 | Sandhya Jain | in Edit It was not about the Muslims, but his own illegitimate rise to the top of the political pole, that Jawaharlal Nehru refused to integrate the Azad Hind Fauj with the Army, and distrusted and disrespected the ArmyAs it is almost certain that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose lived in Siberia at the mercy of Josef Stalin and his heirs (most likely died/killed in 1956), it seems apt to recall Osip Mandelstam’s musing, if a man would ever find the courage to look into the eyes of the epoch and glue together the vertebrae of two centuries with his blood (poem The Age, 1922, in Hope Against Hope, Nadezhda Mandelstam, 1970). Now, the blood of the man who demanded blood in exchange for freedom has returned to heal the torment of an amputated history whose wounds span two centuries.The circumstances of Netaji’s incarceration in Russia, with the knowledge of London, Viceroy Louis Mountbatten, and the British Raj’s preferred prime ministerial candidate Jawaharlal Nehru, must now be revealed in full, regardless of which national icons are tainted by the exposé and political parties or families inconvenienced.The critical aspect of Netaji Bose’s legacy that needs historical articulation is his Kshatriya-hood — his intuitive understanding of the civilisational ethos that a leader must wield arms to lead his people to victory (freedom). The outbursts of 1857, individual heroism of Bhagat Singh et al, and the passionate conspiracies of the revolutionaries were awesome, but were episodic, emotional and incoherent. Bose (a Marxist under the prevailing intellectual fashion) alone understood that the political unity wrought by the Raj required an organised Army under a charismatic commander, something even the perceptive Aurobindo failed to discern. Bose realised there is no such thing as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ colonialism, and that it was legitimate to seek help from Germany and Japan to train an Army to overthrow the British yoke.Bose’s restitution of the Kshatriya character in Indian polity took Bengal’s revolutionary zeal to an all-India plane, embracing all castes and communities under the banner of the Azad Hind Fauj. This is why he struck such a powerful chord in the hearts of the people, why the naval ratings mutinied, and why the Raj dispatched Mountbatten to manipulate an early retreat and a messy partition. This is why the quest for the truth about Netaji survived seven decades of suppression.Former British Prime Minister Clement Attlee reputedly told the then Governor of Bengal, BP Chakravarti, that Britain quit because Netaji’s activities had “weakened the foundation of the attachment of Indian land and naval forces to the British Government”.Nehruvian apologists have gone into a tizzy since the revelation that the Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indira Gandhi regimes spied on Netaji’s close kin for 20 years (1948-68) to learn his whereabouts. It is important to understand why the spying was done and the findings shared with Britain’s MI5. As the Soviet Union was with the allies in World War II, Stalin had Netaji arrested when he landed in Manchuria to defang a potential revolutionary who might empower Japan and Germany in Asia. But fissures in the allied camp were already showing; the Cold War made London unsure about what Stalin would do with his prize catch — Netaji.Nehru was even more nervous. The Constitution was still being written; Sardar Patel was still alive, and the possibility of Netaji making a triumphant return to India was too terrible to contemplate. The decision to send his sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, as the envoy to Moscow makes sense as part of an effort to discreetly contact the Soviet dictator. It failed because Stalin refused to meet her! The next envoy, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, managed to see Netaji in a Siberian Gulag and reported the same to Nehru; he was rewarded with the vice presidentship and presidentship of India; his son, S Gopal, became one of the leading Nehruvian historians of India.We do not know why Stalin kept Netaji in custody after the war ended. Perhaps he couldn’t forgive Bose’s dalliance with Germany because of Hitler’s betrayal in attacking Russia. Stalin could not believe Richard Sorge’s warning; the Nazi Army came within 13 miles of Moscow before Stalin led the fight back to victory. During the Cold War, however, London and New Delhi needed to develop their own sources regarding Netaji.The British archives have a letter intercepted by the Intelligence Bureau, written in 1947 by AC Nambiar, Netaji’s aide, who was then based in Switzerland, to Amiya Bose (Sarat Bose’s son) in Kolkata. The letter was forwarded to MI5’s security officer for comments. It is now obvious why Nehru needed an MI5 officer in Delhi. In November 1957, Nehru wrote to Foreign Secretary Subimal Dutt informing him that Amiya Bose was in Tokyo and that the Indian envoy (CS Jha) should find out what he did there. Jha reported that Amiya Bose had not “indulged in any undesirable activities”.The book, Judgement: No Aircrash, No Death (2010), says Nehru received information that Netaji left Japan for Manchuria via Saigon in August 1945, fearing arrest by the British after Japan’s defeat, and moved towards Russian territory. Nehru wrote to British Prime Minister Attlee that “Subhas Chandra Bose, your war criminal, has been allowed to enter Russian territory by Stalin … a clear treachery by the Russians”. The Mukherjee Commission has established that reports of an air crash in Taiwan (August 18, 1945) were false. Another lingering mystery concerns the treasure Netaji was allegedly carrying when he disappeared.Former Congress MP, SN Sinha, testified before the Khosla Commission that Narodnyi Kommissariat Vnutrennikh Del (People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs) agent Kozlov told him that Netaji was imprisoned in Siberia. This was reiterated by former Abwehr spy Karl Leonhard who served time in Siberia after Germany lost the war in Russia. Sinha’s convincing evidence was ignored. When Sinha mentioned Netaji to S Radhakrishnan, the latter warned him that continuing to probe the matter would ruin his (Sinha’s) career. Sinha had accessed classified Soviet documents from Berlin regarding Netaji, but was stopped by the Government. Similarly, Jadavpur University scholar Purabi Roy, who gave the Mukherjee Commission, Soviet-era documents proving Netaji was in a Siberian prison, had her Asiatic Society grant cut by the PV Narasimha Rao Government.As Prime Minister Narendra Modi moves to rehabilitate the truth, he must ask President Vladimir Putin to return Netaji’s remains and give the freedom-fighter a fitting military funeral. It would now be obvious why Nehru refused to integrate the Azad Hind Fauj with the Army, why he distrusted and disrespected the Army, and why he used the mask of secularism to negate and efface India’s civilisational ethos. It was not about the Muslims, but his own illegitimate rise to the top of the political pole. History is set to extract a terrible vengeance

Twitter giggles as Pakistan, China launch RANDI think tank

Twitter giggles as Pakistan, China launch RANDI think tank Social media users, includ­ing many from India, have latche­d on to name as a form of commen­tary on Sino-Pak relati­ons By AFP Published: April 21, 2015737 SHARESShare Tweet Email PHOTO: AFP ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Pakistan has been replete with flowery rhetoric extolling mutual love between both countries, but the name chosen for a new joint think tank has left some social media users in titters. Dedicated to research on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a $46 billion dollar plan linking China’s restive west to the Arabian Sea, the newly inaugurated Research and Development International (RANDI) organisation has been widely pilloried because its acronym sounds like “whore” in Urdu and Hindi. Read: Trade corridor tops Chinese investment bonanza Social media users, including many from India — Islamabad and Beijing’s historic rival — have latched on to name as a form of commentary on Sino-Pak relations, saying the South Asian country has now been ‘bought’ by China. “Well, that’s an unfortunate name for a think tank…” tweeted Fatima Bhutto, a writer and political activist, in one of the more understated responses. Read: Baloch ire prompts security fears for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor According to a press release, the think tank will be co-headed by Madame Zhao Baige, a member of China’s parliament, and Mushahid Hussain, a Pakistani opposition senator. “The new think tank is the first joint initiative of China and Pakistan which will be dedicated to research on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” said Mushahid, who added it was associated with the prestigious Tsinghua University. The economic corridor will create a network of roads, railways and pipelines linking China’s restive west to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan as part of Beijing’s plans to expand its trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia. The project dwarfs previous efforts to assist Pakistan’s underperforming economy, but analysts have cautioned that the lion’s share of the returns would likely go to China. Some of the tweets mocking the name can be viewed here: It took joint Pak-Chinese imagination to produce this marvellous 5-letter disaster of ACRONYMOLOGICAL proportions http://t.co/6CnBtSncj8 — Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) April 20, 2015 The #RANDI think tank is indeed making everyone think as deep as they possibly could — Haroon Hayat (@Rjharoon) April 21, 2015 Can anyone plz tell me #RANDI stands for….??? — Maheen (@MaheenAsif1) April 21, 2015 Hilarious, they even can't think of better abbreviations.. LMAO #RANDI — Rajiv Gujral (@rajivgujral) April 21, 2015 That LOL moment when you read China and Pakistan's collaborative think tank is called #RANDI! Late to the party but did have a good laugh — ŕέđ đένίĻ (@Cantonaesque_) April 21, 2015 Pakistan-China think-tank initiative leads to awkard-sounding Twitter trend – and verbal duels between Indians and Pakistanis — omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 21, 2015 It's highly offensive think tank. #RANDI — Nazrana Yousufzai (@NazranaYusufzai) April 20, 2015

CHINESE PM VISIT TO PAKISTAN

चिनी अध्यक्षांच्या पाक-भेटीत झालेले करार आणि पाकिस्तानातून जाणारा चीनचा महामार्ग, हे भारतीय हितसंबंधांना बाधा आणणारे आहेतच. रशिया आणि चीन हे दोन देश अमेरिकेच्या गटात नसूनही पाकिस्तान या दोन्ही देशांची मर्जी राखून आहे आणि त्याच वेळी तो अमेरिकेलाही हवाहवासा आहे. पाकिस्तानचे हे वाढते आंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंधही आपल्यासाठी धोक्याची घंटा वाजवणारेच आहेत. पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी आंतरराष्ट्रीय राजकारणात नवनवे 'मित्र' जोडण्यात मग्न असताना त्यांच्या शपथविधीचे साक्षीदार, शेजारील पाकिस्तानचे पंतप्रधान नवाझ शरीफ यांनी एकाच वेळी चीन आणि अमेरिकेकडून मिळवलेली भरघोस मदत भारताची चिंता वाढवणारी आहे. चीनचे अध्यक्ष क्षी जिनिपग पाकिस्तानच्या दौऱ्यावर आहेत. जिनिपग यांचे पाकिस्तानात येणे मोठय़ा भावाने घरी येण्यासारखे आहे, अशी प्रतिक्रिया पाक पंतप्रधान नवाझ शरीफ यांनी व्यक्त केली. पाकिस्तानात पोहोचण्याच्या मुहूर्तावर जिनिपग यांनी डेली टाइम्स या पाकिस्तानी दैनिकात स्वत:च्या नावाने एक लेख लिहून आपले पाकिस्तानात येणे हे कसे भावाच्या घरी येण्यासारखे आहे असे म्हणत पाक चीन भाईभाईची नांदी गायिली. त्या लेखाचे 'पाक चीन दोस्ती िझदाबाद' हे शीर्षकच या दोन देशांत काय सुरू आहे, त्याची साक्ष देण्यास पुरेसे ठरेल. त्यांचा हा दौरा पाकिस्तानला काय आणि किती मिळाले याच्या बरोबरीने या चिनी दानशूरतेचा भारतावर काय परिणाम होणार या दृष्टिकोनातून अत्यंत महत्त्वाचा आहे. त्यांच्या या पाक दौऱ्याच्या निमित्ताने भारताच्या तुलनेत पाकिस्तानची एक उल्लेखनीय बाब अधोरेखित झाली. तिचीही दखल घ्यायला हवी. ही बाब म्हणजे परस्परविरोधी आंतरराष्ट्रीय ताकदींना आपल्या हितासाठी वापरून घेण्याची पाक क्षमता. इतिहासात ती अनेकदा दिसून आली. परंतु वर्तमानातही ती तितक्याच क्षमतेने टिकून आहे. तेव्हा आधी ती समजून घ्यायला हवी. पाक हा सौदी अरेबियाच्या आíथक मदतीवर मोठय़ा प्रमाणावर अवलंबून आहे. परंतु तरीही नवाझ शरीफ यांनी गेल्या आठवडय़ात सौदीच्या मदतीसाठी येमेनमध्ये पाक फौजा पाठवायला सपशेल नकार दिला. त्याआधी सौदीने पाकला सहज गंमत म्हणून, कोणत्याही परतफेडीच्या अटींशिवाय १०० कोटी डॉलर दिले. त्यानंतर अमेरिकेचे अध्यक्ष बराक ओबामा यांनी तितक्याच रकमेचे साह्य़ पाकिस्तानला मंजूर केले. हे साह्य़ साधेसुधे नाही. तर ते अत्याधुनिक शस्त्रास्त्र नियंत्रण प्रणालीच्या रूपात आहे. महत्त्वाचे म्हणजे शरीफ यांना त्यासाठी अमेरिकेचा अध्यक्ष बराक हा आपला कसा मित्र आहे हे दाखवावे लागले नाही की त्यांना चहा पाजावा लागला नाही. वास्तविक अमेरिका आणि चीन यांचे संबंध तसे तणावपूर्णच आहेत. तरीही पाकिस्तानने मात्र या दोन्ही देशांची मर्जी उत्तमपणे सांभाळलेली आहे. जिनिपग यांच्या ताज्या दौऱ्यात हे दिसून आले. दहशतवादाविरोधात लढण्यासाठी पाकिस्तान कशी प्रयत्नांची शर्थ करीत आहे, असा निर्वाळा जिनिपग यांनी दिलाच. पण त्याच वेळी आतापर्यंतची विक्रमी गुंतवणूक पाकिस्तानसाठी जाहीर केली. म्हणूनच या दौऱ्याचे फलित भारतीय हितसंबंधांच्या परिप्रेक्ष्यातून पाहायला हवे. ४६०० कोटी डॉलर्सची गुंतवणूक ही चीनची आतापर्यंतची सर्वात मोठी परदेशी गुंतवणूक आहे. एवढी रक्कम म्हणून तर ती महत्त्वाची आहेच. परंतु त्याच बरोबरीने या पशातून पाकिस्तानात काय केले जाणार आहे, ते देखील महत्त्वाचे आहे. या पशातून उभा राहणार आहे तब्बल ३ हजार किलोमीटरचा महामार्ग. पश्चिम चीनपासून थेट ग्वादर या बंदराला जोडणारा. चीन-पाकिस्तान आíथक मार्ग असे त्याचे नामकरण करण्यात आले आहे आणि चीनला तो केवळ तीन वर्षांत पूर्ण करायचा आहे. या असल्या प्रकल्प उभारणीतील चीनचा लौकिक लक्षात घेता इतके भव्य काम तीन वर्षांत कसे पूर्ण होईल असा भारतीय किंतु मनातदेखील येऊन चालणार नाही. हा रस्ता चीन तीन वर्षांत उभारेलच. तो पूर्ण झाल्यावर पश्चिम आशियातील तेल वा नसíगक वायू वाहून नेण्यासाठी चीनचे तब्बल १२ हजार किमी वाचणार आहेत, हेदेखील आपण लक्षात घ्यावयास हवे. यास अनेक परिमाणे आहेत. त्यातील सर्वात महत्त्वाचे म्हणजे आंतरराष्ट्रीय ऊर्जा बाजाराची फेररचना. आणखी फार फार तर चार-पाच वर्षांत अमेरिका ऊर्जा क्षेत्रात स्वयंपूर्ण होईल. तूर्त तो देश पश्चिम आशियातील तेलाचा सर्वात मोठा खरेदीदार देश आहे. अमेरिकेची या तेल वापराबाबत स्पर्धा आहे ती फक्त चीनशी. अमेरिका तेलाच्या उपलब्धतेबाबत स्वयंपूर्ण झाल्यावर त्यास या वाळवंटातील गुंतवणुकीची इतकी गरज लागणार नाही. तेव्हा अमेरिकेच्या अनुपस्थितीने निर्माण होणारी पोकळी भरून काढेल तो चीन. तेव्हा या पाक महामार्गास त्या अर्थाने महत्त्व आहे. त्याच वेळी हा महामार्ग तयार झाल्यावर चीनचा या परिसरातील एकूणच दबदबा वाढेल. अगदी आपल्यासाठी भळभळती जखम असलेल्या पाकव्याप्त काश्मीरमधेही चीनची सरळ उपस्थिती असेल. तूर्त िहदी महासागरात चीन सक्रिय नाही. पण या नव्या पाक महामार्गामुळे तसे करणे चीनसाठी सहजसाध्य होणार आहे. पाकिस्तानचे ग्वादर बंदर उभे आहे ते मुळात चिनी अर्थसाह्य़ावर. नव्या महामार्गाने ते अधिकच चिनी होईल. या आधीही चीन आणि पाकिस्तान यांच्यातील संबंध ही आपल्यासाठी मोठीच डोकेदुखी आहे. आता ती अधिकच होईल. पाकिस्तानचा अणुबाँब तयार झाला केवळ चोरटय़ा चिनी साह्य़ामुळे. या पाश्र्वभूमीवर पाकिस्तानातील ही थेट चिनी गुंतवणूक आपली झोप उडवणारी ठरेल हे निश्चित. जिनिपग यांच्या या एकाच दौऱ्यात आपल्यासाठी डोकेदुखी असणाऱ्या या दोन देशांत तब्बल ५१ विविध करार झालेत यावरून या उभयतांमधील मधुर संबंधांचा अंदाज बांधता येईल. चीनचे हे पाक औदार्य अमेरिकेच्या दानशूरतेपेक्षा अधिक आहे, ही बाबदेखील महत्त्वाची ठरते. यास आणखी एक कोन आहे. पाकिस्तान आणि रशिया या दोन देशांतील सुधारत चाललेल्या संबंधांचा. रशियाशी चांगले संबंध ही इतके दिवस आपली मक्तेदारी होती. पण आपले आणि अमेरिकेचे संबंध सुधारत असल्यामुळे रशियाने या प्रदेशात पाकिस्तानला चुचकारायला सुरुवात केली. आता हे संबंध भारत आणि रशिया या समीकरणाइतके नाही, तरी पूर्वीपेक्षा बरेच सुधारले आहेत. तेव्हा एकाच वेळी चीन आणि रशिया या दोन देशांशी पाक उत्तम समीकरण राखत आहे. या दोन्ही देशांतील समान धागा म्हणजे त्यांचा अमेरिका विरोध. रशिया आणि चीन हे दोघेही अमेरिकेच्या गटात नाहीत. पण तरी पाकिस्तान या दोन्ही देशांची मर्जी राखून आहे आणि त्याच वेळी तो अमेरिकेलाही हवाहवासा आहे. इतके दिवस चीनला विगुर मुस्लीम बंडखोरांनी सतावले होते. मूळचे तुर्की असलेले हे बंडखोर संपवण्यासाठी त्या देशाला आता पाकिस्तानची मदत अधिकृतपणे घेता येईल. ही सर्व लक्षणे आपल्यासाठी काही निश्चितच चांगली नाहीत. उलट धोक्याची घंटा वाजवणारीच आहेत. तेव्हा यास तोंड देण्याचा एक सोपा मार्ग दिसतो. तो म्हणजे अधिक अमेरिकाधार्जणिे बनण्याचा. पण त्यातही पुन्हा धोका आहे. एका देशाच्या इतके कच्छपि लागणे आपणास परवडणारे नाही. पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी पुढील महिन्यात चीन दौऱ्यावर जातील तेव्हा त्यास ही सर्व पाश्र्वभूमी असेल. त्या दौऱ्यात जिनिपग हे मोदी यांना आपल्या गावी नेऊन झोपाळ्यावर बसवून त्यांचे आदरातिथ्य करणार आहेत किंवा काय, हे अद्याप कळावयास मार्ग नाही. परंतु आंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंधांचा हा झुला त्यांनी आपल्यापासून दूर नेला आहे हे निश्चित. आंतरराष्ट्रीय व्यवहारांत कोणीच कोणाचा मित्र नसतो. मात्र मित्र भासणाऱ्याच्या शत्रूशी आपली मत्री हवी हेच यातून दिसून येते चीनचे राष्ट्राध्यक्ष शी जिनपिंग यांनी अखेर पाकिस्तानचा दौरा केलाच. चीनची पाकिस्तानशी होत असलेली जवळीक ही भारताच्या दृष्टीने तशी धोकादायकच मानली पाहिजे. जी शिनपिंग हे गेल्या वर्षी सप्टेंबरमध्येच पाकिस्तानचा दौरा करणार होते. परंतु, इमरान खानच्या राजकीय पक्षाने नवाझ शरीफ सरकारविरुद्ध पुकारलेल्या आंदोलनामुळे दौरा स्थगित करावा लागला होता. पाकिस्तानात त्यावेळी मोठ्या राजकीय उलथापालथी होण्याची शक्यता निर्माण झाली होती आणि त्यामुळेच अस्थिरताही निर्माण झाली होती. पाकिस्तानात दाखल होण्यापूर्वीच शी जिनपिंग यांनी पाकिस्तानचे गोडवे गायले. पाकिस्तानात चाललो म्हणजे आपल्या भावाकडे चाललो आहोत, अशी भावना माझ्या मनात असल्याचे सांगत शी जिनपिंग यांनी पाकच्या जिभेला मधाचे बोट चाटवल्यासारखे केले. वास्तविक चीनला पाकिस्तानशी मैत्री करण्याची तशी काहीही गरज नाही. परंतु, आशिया खंडातील मोठा प्रतिस्पर्धी असलेल्या भारतावर कुरघोडी करण्यासाठीच चीनने आपल्या अध्यक्षांचा पाक दौरा आखला, हे न ओळखण्याएवढा भारतही आता दूधखुळा राहिलेला नाही. ‘चीन-पाकिस्तान मैत्री अमर रहे’ या मथळ्याखाली शी जिनपिंग यांनी स्वत: पाकच्या डेली टाईम्स या वृत्तपत्रात लेख लिहिला आहे. तसे पाहिले तर चिनी राष्ट्राध्यक्षांची ही पहिलीच पाकभेट आहे. असे असतानाही पाकमध्ये जाताना आपल्याला अजिबात परके वाटत नाही आणि पाकला आपल्या हृदयात स्थान आहे, असे जे शी जिनपिंग यांनी म्हटले आहे, ते भारताला डिवचण्यासाठीच आहे, हे लक्षात यायला वेळ लागत नाही. माझ्या तरुणपणी मी पाकविषयी बरंच ऐकलं होतं आणि त्यावेळच्या आठवणी आजही माझ्या मनात ताज्या आहेत. जगाचं आकाश चीनसाठी पाकमुळंच मोकळं झालं आणि संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघटनेत पाकच्या पाठिंब्यामुळेच चीनला स्थायी सदस्यत्व मिळालं, हे सांगायलाही शी जिनपिंग विसरले नाहीत. यावरूनच त्यांची भारतविरोधी खोडी लक्षात येते. हिंदी-चिनी भाईभाई करीत भारतावर आक्रमण करणार्या चीनवर अजिबात विश्वास ठेवून चालणार नाही. चीनच्या गोड बोलण्याला भुलणार्या पाकिस्तानलाही एक दिवस ड्रॅगनचे फूत्कार सहन करावे लागतील. आशिया खंडात स्वत:चे निर्विवाद वर्चस्व कायम राखण्यासाठी चीनकडून पाकिस्तानचा वापर केला जाईल आणि नंतर चिनी-पाकिस्तानी भाईभाई करीत एक दिवस ड्रॅगन पाकच्या गळ्याभोवती घट्ट फास आवळेल, हे सांगायला कुणा ज्योतिषाची गरज नाही. चीनला पाकिस्तानची गरज केवळ भारताला शह देण्यासाठी आहे. चीन पाकिस्तानला भरभरून मदत करेल, पाकचे गोडवेही गाईल, जी जी मदत करता येणे शक्य आहे ती सगळी करील. पण, गरज संपली की पाकला नेस्तनाबूत करण्यासही मागपुढे पाहणार नाही, हे पाकिस्तानच्या लाचार राज्यकर्त्यांनी समजून घेतले पाहिजे. ब्रिटिशांना एकसंध भारत नको होता, त्यामुळेच त्यांनी हिंदू-मुसलमानांत फूट पाडून अखंड भारताचे विभाजन केले. धार्मिक आधारावर भारतात भांडणे लावून दिलीत अन् नंतर पद्धतशीर योजना आखून भारताचे तुकडे पाडले. आज पाकिस्तानची जी अवस्था आहे, ती कमालीची वाईट आहे. पाक भारताचा अविभाज्य भाग असता, तर कदाचित तिथे समृद्धी नांदली असती, तिथले जीवनमानही चांगले राहिले असते. पण, ब्रिटिशांच्या कटकारस्थानाला बळी पडलेल्या तेव्हाच्या नेत्यांनी आज पाकिस्तानवर लाचारीची वेळ आणली आहे आणि पाकमधील आजचे नेतेही आंतरराष्ट्रीय समुदायाचा डाव ओळखण्यात अपयशी ठरले आहेत. चीन आपला वापर करून घेत आहे, हे जर पाकने लक्षात घेतले नाही आणि भारताविरुद्ध चीनची साथ दिली, तर त्याचे आणखी वाईट परिणाम हे पाकिस्तानमधील जनतेलाच भोगावे लागणार आहेत. चीनला पाकिस्तानशी तसे काहीच देणेघेणे नाही. चीनच्या मनात पाकिस्तानबद्दल असलेला कळवळा हा संपूर्णपणे कृत्रिम आहे आणि स्वार्थी आहे. विशिष्ट मुद्यांवरच चीन पाकिस्तानला पाठिंबा देतो, हे तिथल्या नेत्यांच्या लक्षात येत नाही असे नाही. पाकिस्तानातल्या नेत्यांचे राजकारणही भारतद्वेषावरच आधारित असल्याने देशातील जनतेला भारताविरुद्ध भडकवणे, भारताविरुद्ध अपप्रचार करीत राहणे हा उद्योग तेथील नेते सातत्याने करीत आले आहेत. म्हणूनच पाकी नेते चीनला साथ देत आहेत. चीनच्या राष्ट्राध्यक्षांचे त्यांनी जे जंगी स्वागत केले, जी अभूतपूर्व सुरक्षा व्यवस्था त्यांना पुरविली, ती भारतद्वेषातूनच. १९५० च्या उत्तरार्धात जेव्हा भारत आणि चीन यांच्या संबंधात दुरावा निर्माण होण्यास सुरुवात झाली, तेव्हापासून चीनने पाकिस्तानशी जवळीक करण्यास प्रारंभ केला. भारताशी प्रतिकूल असल्याने पाकिस्तानच्या भौगोलिक स्थितीचा लाभ उठवण्याची चीनने ठरविले आणि आजतागायत चीनचा तसला उद्योग सुरू आहे. १८ एप्रिल १९५५ रोजी बांडुंग येथे अलिप्त राष्ट्रांची परिषद भरली होती. त्याचवेळी भारताचे पंतप्रधान पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू आणि चीनचे तत्कालीन राष्ट्राध्यक्ष माओ यांच्यात मतभेद निर्माण झाले होते. तेव्हापासून आजतागायत भारत-चीन संबंधात तणावच राहिला आहे. मधल्या काळात १९६२ साली चीनने भारतावर आक्रमणही केले होते. त्यामुळे तर दोन्ही देशांच्या परस्पर संबंधांमध्ये आणखी तणाव वाढला होता. आज बांडुंग येथे जे संमेलन होते आहे, त्याला उपस्थित राहण्यासाठी चीनचे अध्यक्ष शी जिनपिंग पाकिस्तानमार्गे पोहोचले आहेत, हे लक्षात घेतले आणि चीनमध्ये पाकिस्तानबाबत जी भावना आहे ती लक्षात घेतली, तर चीनची भूमिका स्पष्ट होते. ही स्पष्ट भूमिका लक्षात घेऊनच भारतालाही आपले परराष्ट्र धोरण ठरवावे लागेल, त्याचप्रमाणे संरक्षणसिद्धताही करावी लागेल. १९६२ सारखी स्थिती पुन्हा उद्भवणारच नाही आणि चीन पुन्हा आगळीक करणारच नाही, याची कसलीही शाश्वती नाही. संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघटनेत स्थायी सदस्यत्व मिळावे यासाठी पाकिस्तानने चीनला मदत केली होती, असा उल्लेख शी जिनपिंग यांनी त्यांच्या लेखात करणे याचा अर्थ आपण समजून घेतला पाहिजे. वास्तविक, तेव्हाचे आपले पंतप्रधान पंडित नेहरू यांनीही चीनसाठीच वकिली केली होती आणि त्याची आठवण भारतीयांना करवून देत भारतात नेहरूंविरुद्ध असंतोष पसरवायचा हा शी जिनपिंग यांचा हेतू स्पष्ट दिसतो आहे. तोही भारतीय राज्यकर्त्यांनी लक्षात घेतला पाहिजे. देशातील आम जनतेची धारणा तर अशीच आहे की, स्वत:चा दावा मजबूत करण्याऐवजी पंतप्रधान असताना नेहरू यांनी संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघटनेत चीनला स्थायी सदस्यत्व मिळावे यासाठी पाठिंबा दिला होता. त्यामुळे तेव्हाच्या निर्णयावरून भारतीय जनतेत रोष निर्माण करण्याचा आजच्या चिनी राज्यकर्त्यांचा हेतू भारतीय राजकारण्यांनी लक्षात घेतला पाहिजे. जे झाले ते झाले, त्यावरून अंतर्गत राजकारणात कॉंग्रेसला ठोकण्याचे काम विरोधी पक्षांना करता येईल. पण, त्यावरून देशात फूट पडू नये याकडे लक्ष देणे आवश्यक आहे. पाकिस्तानने ५०-६० वर्षांपूर्वी जशी आपली हवाई सीमा चीनसाठी खुली केली होती आणि जगाशी संपर्क करण्याचा चीनचा मार्ग मोकळा केला होता, तसाच तो आजही राहावा, शिवाय पाकिस्तानच्या सामुद्रिक हद्दीचाही वापर जागतिक व्यापार वाढविण्यासाठी आणि आशिया खंडात आपली ताकद वाढविण्यासाठी करावा, हा चीनचा मुख्य हेतू आहे. हा हेतू साध्य करण्यासाठीच चीनने पाकिस्तानला आर्थिक पाठबळ दिले आहे, हे उघड आहे. मे महिन्यात भारताचे पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी चीनचा दौरा करणार आहेत. त्यावेळी देशाला वाटणार्या सर्व चिंता मोदी यांनी चीनपुढे स्पष्टपणे मांडतीलच. चीनसोबत भारताचा भौगोलिक मुद्यांवरही वाद आहे. तो वाद कमी करण्याच्या दृष्टीने आणि भारताचा चीनने बळकावलेला भूभाग पुन्हा परत मिळविण्यासाठीही आगामी काळात प्रयत्न करावे लागणार आहेत. चीनने पाकिस्तानशी केलेली मैत्री ही भारतासाठी कधीही परवडणारी नाही. चिनी ड्रॅगनचे फूत्कार आणि पाकिस्तानकडून दहशतवादाला घातले जाणारे खतपाणी, या दोन्ही बाबी भारताला परवडणार्या नाहीत. या दोन्ही आघाड्यांवर भारत सरकार कशी भूमिका पार पाडते यावरच देशाचे भवितव्य अवलंबून आहे. आशा करू या- मोदी सरकार सर्व आघाड्यांवर यशस्वी शिष्टाई करेल.