tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75853107208792820982024-03-19T04:35:44.278-07:00Indian Opinion No Fear, No Favor Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-73951877216993184832023-02-25T01:18:00.002-08:002023-02-25T02:37:57.660-08:00 Dawn’s discourses on perpetual Indo-Pakistan enmity <p><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px;">Mukesh Devrari </b></p><p><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px;">Abstract<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This study is a thematic analysis of columns and editorials published in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn </i>during India’s general elections 2019 to find out how Pakistan’s elite media represents India as a perpetual adversary. It finds out that <i>Dawn’s </i>op-ed pages characterize India as a permanent security threat, destabilizing force, propagandist state, and dominating power conspiring with the United States to harm the interests of Pakistan and China. It also reveals that news columns and editorials consistently claim that Indian media indulges in warmongering, rising Hindu nationalism, and non-state actors contribute to the hostility in both nations. Finally, it notes that <i>Dawn’s</i> Op-ed pages describe India with the state lens in geopolitics and global power structure, mostly magnifying the state’s perspective instituted mainly by the security establishment.</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(Keywords –Indo-Pakistan enmity, <i>Dawn</i>, media representation, media & conflict, thematic analysis)</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Introduction<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">The troubled relations between India and Pakistan are deeply rooted in the turbulent history of British India. Based on the two-nation theory, the Muslim League demanded the creation of Pakistan by dividing India (Bipan, Mridula, Aditya, Panikar, & Sucheta, 1989; Guha, 2007). Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, claimed that Hindus and Muslims could not co-exist and live together in one nation. He argued,</p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 18.9px;">it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality. Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs and literary traditions. They neither intermarry nor eat together, and indeed they belong to two different civilisations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. (Kermani, 2017)</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">“The two-nation theory—that Muslims and Hindus in pre-Partition India had separate customs and traditions and therefore could not live together, necessitating the creation of Pakistan—is taken as fact and widely accepted” (Afzal, 2015, p. 13) in Pakistan.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Due to the rising tide of support among the Muslim community for a separate nation, the leaders of the Indian National Congress accepted the demand for the division of India (Dalrymple, 2015) and a plebiscite, with a limited franchise, was conducted in all Muslim majority provinces. But, without exception, all of them chose to go with Pakistan (Haqqani, 2010).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">There is a widespread belief that if plebiscite had been conducted in the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, its overwhelming Muslim population, particularly in Kashmir valley, would have ensured its inclusion in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the chagrin of its non-Muslim population. Due to this Pakistan’s ruling elite argues that Jammu and Kashmir is an unresolved issue of partition and the primary reasons for animosities towards India in Pakistan, as reflected in its foreign policy (Ahmed, 2010). As per the Pakistani narrative, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is the leading cause of conflict, and as a Muslim majority region, it belongs to Pakistan. On the other hand, India rejects all Pakistani claims and describes Jammu & Kashmir as an inalienable part of India. </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Schofield (2015) argues that “the prospect of the whole state becoming either part of Pakistan or part of India is now an illusion” (p.32) and provides five reasons to resolve it. First, both countries are wasting many resources fighting each other and preparing for eventual armed conflict by compromising on their more urgent developmental needs. Second, the human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir will come to an end. Thirdly, hatred for each other will reduce in both countries and terror attacks on India will stop. Fourth, possibilities of nuclear war will reduce as Pakistan has not declared ‘no first use policy’, and lastly, the Kashmir dispute will be resolved as it is an unsettled issue of partition of British India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">Pakistan supports the asymmetric warfare with India and continues to support Islamic terror groups attacking India without the fear of reprisals as nuclear tests by both countries in 1998 have stunted India’s ability to respond militarily. So the Islamic terrorist groups can continue to target India under a Pakistani nuclear umbrella (Riedel, 2008). “Pakistan continues to use force, as well as jihadi terrorism, to achieve its strategic objectives of weakening India and securing political concessions (A. J. Tellis, 2017). It rejects all of India’s objections as propaganda and supports globally proscribed Islamic terror groups (Fair, 2011, 2018).</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">The ruling parties in India generally favour mending fences with Pakistan, but no political party can afford to cater to the territorial ambitions of Pakistan’s ruling elite. As per the Pakistani narrative, the normalisation of bilateral relations is not possible until the resolution of Jammu & Kashmir by applying the same principles applied to the division of India in 1947. Pakistan is not ready to blink on its stated positions despite its limited economic & military capabilities. India is also not prepared to provide any territorial concessions. </p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">It is generally believed that Pakistani security forces are hostile to the civilian overtures towards the normalisation of relationship with India. And in Pakistan, “the army, for all practical purposes, has been and remains in charge. It has steadily increased its power since the first military coup in 1958. The military has a veto over most critical decisions affecting both foreign and security policies” (Ashley J. Tellis et al., 2009). It defines itself as the protector of Pakistan’s ideology. The ideology of Pakistan is Islam (Shuja, 2007). “The Pakistan Army’s conflict with India preserves its domestic political and economic predominance, and its efforts at protecting the “ideology of Pakistan” end up sustaining the perilous notion of a permanent Muslim resistance toward a “Hindu India”(A. J. Tellis, 2017). On the other hand, the security institutions are under the firm control of the elected civilian government.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">After the election of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2013, both countries favourably engaged with each other, but the Pakistani military restricted the ability of Pakistani PM to move ahead in improvising relations with India. He was compelled to take a hard line on bilateral disputes (Ahmad & Ebert, 2015). The security establishment in Pakistan constantly harps on its fear of India. The fear of India shaped Pakistan's foreign policy since 1947 (Yasmeen, 1994).</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>Research Question</b></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">1.<span class="s1" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>How <i>Dawn’s </i>op-ed pages represent perpetual Indo-Pakistan enmity?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>Hypothesis<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">1.<span class="s1" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Dominant print media, including <i>Dawn</i> in Pakistan, views India with the state lens in the context of regional geopolitics and global power structure.</p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">2.<span class="s1" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>The perspective of the ruling (military and intelligence) regime is reflected in the opinion of the elite English language press in Pakistan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>Literature review</b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Media in Pakistan can be broadly divided into two categories: English-language media and vernacular media. There are hundreds of Urdu newspapers and eight major English newspapers in Pakistan (Rais, 2016). About ten per cent of the population in Pakistan can read English-language newspapers, giving the Urdu-language press a far wider reach. Urdu press is considered more radical and continues to push hawkish perspectives on India, likely shaping the views of a large portion of the population (Shah, 2010).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Media in South Asia are not different from their western counterparts on foreign policy issues, as United States media have exaggerated or sometimes marginalised the coverage of various issues to support the government’s point of view or helped organise public opinion in favour of the government’s policies (Saleem, 2007, p. 153). Similarly, mainstream media in India and Pakistan rarely question the state's foreign policy priorities. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The Pakistani newspapers <i>The Dawn</i>, <i>Express Tribune</i>, <i>News International</i> and others questioned India’s narrative on the Pulwama suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir by outlining the official Pakistani position. They argued that the ruling political party in India tried to exploit the situation for political benefits during the elections (Kumar Singh & Amin, 2019). The Pakistani newspaper <i>The Nation </i>also takes a strongly critical position on India while discussing the issues in Jammu & Kashmir (Adnan, Islam, & Khan, 2019). Previous studies have suggested that media in Pakistan tend to focus on the Kashmir dispute and the emergence of right-wing political outfits in India. However, they also cover electoral processes and the nature of democracy in India (Rais, 2016).</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Another content analysis of <i>Dawn</i> and India’s largest selling English newspaper <i>Times of India</i> suggested that both the newspapers had supported peace efforts. And <i>Dawn</i> gave more coverage to reports promoting peace initiatives. However, it also claimed that state’s approach towards bilateral relations had directly impacted the orientation of newspapers in both countries towards each other (Batool, Yasin, & Khurshid, 2015).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The governments do not directly control media in India and Pakistan. The media can take an adversarial position on certain issues. However, overall they tend to show an ideological symmetry with their respective governments, particularly in foreign policy matters. Nationalism and religious identity play a crucial role in shaping the world view of Pakistani journalists (Pintak & Nazir, 2013). Traditionally Pakistan’s military and political elite emphasises Islam above all else and positions Pakistan as completely di<span class="s2" style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">ff</span>erent from India. Even the school textbooks in Pakistan preach hatred for India and Hindus, intolerance of minorities while sympathising with militant groups (Afzal, 2015, p. 2).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study focuses on how English-language newspaper <i>Dawn </i>depicts India as<i> </i>an adversary, partly because it offers an insight into understanding the moderate sections of the Pakistani ruling elite’s views about India. In Pakistan, <i>The News</i> and <i>Dawn</i> are the two largest circulating newspapers. <i>The News</i> ranks first in English newspapers and fifth nationally, with 120,000 papers in circulation. <i>Dawn</i> is second in the English-language category and sixth in the nation, with a circulation of 109,000 (Shah, 2010). However, <i>Dawn</i> has a better online presence. As per Alexa records on 20 June 2019, <i>Dawn</i> has 4.36 million monthly unique visitors, 2.11 million daily and 56.8 million monthly page views. It has a global rank of 1058 as per the global internet traffic and engagement over the past 90 days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><i>Dawn</i> is considered a liberal newspaper and is “known for its progressive content” (Fair & Hamza, 2016, p. 582). It has been targeted many times for advocating modernisation and democratic ideals and for advocating civilian rule (Bearak, 2000). It has faced intimidation, harassment of its journalists, a ban on hawkers distributing the newspaper in military cantonments in every city in the country, cable operators told to take its News channel off-air (Rashid, 2018) by the military establishment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Paradoxically, it can also be considered a powerful voice of the Pakistani ruling elite as most of the contributors of its columns are public intellectuals, former high-ranking bureaucrats, foreign office officials, and well-connected journalists.</p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 18.9px;">Dawn begun as a weekly newspaper in 1941 and transformed into a daily in 1942 was the main avenue through which Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876–1948) and the All-India Muslim League, advocated the creation of Pakistan. It was also used to establish the figure of Jinnah as the charismatic leader of the Muslims of South Asia. (Long, 2009, p. 407)<b> </b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study investigates and analyses articles published in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i> between 10 March 2019 to 23 May 2019, including columns and editorials, but not letters to the editor and news from the past section. <i>Dawn</i> publishes two opinion pages in its middle. Generally, the first opinion page carries two columns and three editorial pieces. The following opinion page carries letters to the editor, news from past editions of <i>Dawn</i> and two small columns on current issues.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Methodology<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This study uses a thematic analysis approach to study the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i> and outlines the dominant discourses about the Indo-Pakistan enmity. Thematic Analysis is considered a method for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within data. It involves searching across a data set to find repeated patterns of meaning (Braun & Clarke, 2006). This study has conducted the paragraph-wise coding of editorial and columns carrying the word ‘India’ in the NVivo software. It is a part of a larger study about the representation of India in <i>Dawn</i> during India’s general elections in 2019. The word discourse has been used in the findings section repeatedly in the literal sense. The coded texts unravel the weaved discourse by <span class="s3" style="color: #141414;">carefully examining the texts. </span><span class="s4" style="color: #18191b;">The word coded texts, narrative and discourse in the analysis section refer to the same. Therefore, these terms have been used interchangeably as well. </span> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Findings<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">‘India and Pakistan are perpetual adversaries’ emerged as one of the major themes in <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion pages during India’s general elections. Total 96 paragraphs from 44 articles have been coded in this theme. Its subthemes are 1) India wants to destabilise Pakistan, 2) Non-state actors obstruct peace, 3) Pakistani military opposes normalisations of relations with India, 4) Symmetry in the policy of the Congress and the BJP against Pakistan, 5) Rise of the Hindutva threat, 6) India poses a direct military threat to Pakistan, 7) Hostilities with India affect Pakistan’s developmental goals, 8) India indulges in propaganda, 9) Media is jingoistic in India, 10) India and Pakistan are geopolitical adversaries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">Two of the subthemes have been configured by including smaller ideas in them. The subthemes of ‘media in India is jingoistic’ are 1) Media in India indulges in warmongering 2) Modi regime has stifled media freedom in India 3) Media spin-doctors the debate to suit nationalist narratives in both countries. Whereas the geopolitical adversaries consist of 1) India-US alliance against Pakistan and China, 2) The threat of nuclear or full-fledged war, 3) The global community is favourable to India and 4) India wants to dominate Pakistan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px;"><i>Figure 1 Word cloud of coded paragraphs</i></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The word cloud has been created by using all paragraphs coded under this theme. The words that appeared more frequently in the coded text are visible in figure 1 includes nuclear, military, Modi, BJP, Congress, strikes, war, conflict, election, China, America, crisis, confrontation, peace, escalation, Afghanistan and Kashmir, among others. The display emphasises the frequency of words, not necessarily their importance, as word clouds do not provide the context. However, they can be an adjunct tool to support the thematic analysis, providing richer and penetrating analysis.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The coded texts build a narrative painting India as an eternal threat, and as having launched a generational war against Pakistan – that it plans to further divide the country by supporting separatist groups, that it is preparing to intervene militarily to dismember Pakistan and is involved in fermenting violence, militancy and espionage. The narrative further claims that India’s strategic perspective on Pakistan has remained the same irrespective of the political party in power. It views India as wanting to undo Pakistan as it played a crucial role in the separation of Bangladesh in 1971. It now encourages Baloch separatism in Baluchistan and Pashtun separatism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The latter was formerly known as North-West Frontier Agency (NWFP). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The texts coded under the ‘Indian media is fiercely jingoistic’ subtheme described the role of the Indian media as highly problematic and built a narrative that media in India indulge in warmongering and propagates the hawkish line on Pakistan by fully supporting the ruling nationalist party BJP. It further argues that Indian media unquestionably accept the government’s narrative on the Balakot bombings while underlining that governments in both countries can spin-doctor any incident to push their propaganda. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In <i>Dawn’s </i>op-ed page narrative, the role of China, the United States and the international community was placed within the dynamics of the Indo-Pakistan tussle, with China viewed highly positively and the United States viewed with deep scepticism and distrust. The United States and China were judged by the parameters of Pakistan’s policy priorities, and the interests of China and Pakistan were seen to be perfectly aligned.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">While discussing ways of dealing with India, the overall narrative argued that nuclear deterrence would ensure that hostilities would not cross beyond a certain threshold, as the international community would intervene to de-escalate tensions in the region. It further avers that if India escalated conflict, Pakistan would use nuclear weapons.</p><p class="p9" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">India may feel more emboldened after the Pulwama strikes to respond aggressively to any future militant attacks that it perceives to have originated in Pakistan, complacent that Pakistan will not deploy its nuclear arsenal. The focus on countering Pakistan also raises broader questions about India’s security priorities, and casts doubt on its position that it can accept a status quo with Pakistan or that it is more concerned about Chinese threats. – 06 May 2019, Modi’s threat, Huma Yusuf.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Indian attempts to describe Pakistani postures as a nuclear bluff were described as a dangerous miscalculation. Atomic weapons are mentions repeatedly and casually in op-ed page analysis. </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">During India’s general elections, the suicide bombing in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir led to the escalation in bilateral tensions. India claimed to have attacked the terrorist training camp in Balakot, deep inside the Pakistani territory. However, India’s claims were dismissed unanimously. Moreover, Pakistan’s release of the captured Indian Mig21-Bison pilot within 48 hours was described as a peace gesture, with one author stressing that Pakistan did India favour by not asking it to “rub its nose” on the ground before releasing the pilot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The coded texts claimed that India had deployed all tools to destabilise Pakistan. As different authors write the columns and editorials in Dawn, they express multiple perspectives. Though, overall coded texts displayed hawkish and conservative leanings. Few also expressed more accommodative and conciliatory viewpoints about India. While discussing the troubles faced by Pakistan, Indian efforts to mobilise the international community and the UN actions against terrorism were described as an attempt to isolate, destabilise and harm Pakistan. The actions which are likely to read elsewhere as humanitarian efforts are read through a strategic lens of impact on Pakistan.</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The narrative that emerges in <i>Dawn</i>’s opinion pages portrays both the countries as regional and geopolitical rivals with contrary interests. The tone and tenor of PM Narendra Modi’s political campaign during the general elections was also termed anti-Pakistan and contributing factor to the increasing animosities between both countries. The coded texts manifest the bilateral rivalry and enmity at multiple levels, and always with one’s loss represented as the other’s gain and vice versa. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The coded texts also reflect insecurities in Pakistan: that India is a direct military threat, that foments trouble in the restive regions and uses Afghanistan as its base, that it indulges in warmongering and has a highly nationalistic media. The overall narrative holds India responsible for troubles in bilateral relations and suggest that India is also working in tandem with global powers to undermine the core interests of Pakistan. Thus, It represents Pakistan as a nation in danger and India as an existential threat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The repeated reference of the nuclear weapons was made as deterrence against aggressive Indian designs to undo Pakistan. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 18.9px;">The unfortunate reality is that Pakistan has been categorised as an adversary by the US‘ establishment’, due to: America’s ‘strategic partnership’ with India against China and ‘radical Islamic terrorism’; the blame assigned to Pakistan for the US military failure in Afghanistan; Pakistan’s nuclear weapons capability and the considerable influence in Washington of the Indian-American expatriate community, the Israeli lobby and Christian ‘fundamentalists’ – Peace is difficult, 14 April 2019, Munir Akram</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The paragraph above cites Pakistan’s nuclear capability as one of the reasons why the United States treats Pakistan as an adversary. It suggests, too, that an Israeli lobby, along with Indian ex-pats and Christian fundamentalists in the United States, is working to ensure that Pakistan is viewed as an adversary of the United States. India was generally positioned as a geopolitical adversary and a United States ally working against the interests of Pakistan and China.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The coded texts also suggest that India wants to dominate Pakistan. One article specifically argued that even if a dialogue starts between the countries, India is unlikely to compromise on its stated position on Kashmir, and until it happens, the bilateral disputes cannot be resolved. It further interprets the continued territorial status quo in Jammu and Kashmir as the continued dominance of India in the region. It argues that Pakistan rejects India’s dominance in South Asia and considers this development against its core interests.</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">The overall narrative emphasises that India’s position on bilateral disputes is responsible for perpetual bilateral animosities, not the other way around. It discussed the world by keeping Pakistan at the centre while ignoring that there are far more enormous geopolitical and economic stakes that drive the decision of India, the United States and China in the region.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">The coded texts also suggested that China’s rise and domination are more suitable for peace in the region. It praises the global initiatives launched by the Chinese government and advises India to accept the Belt and Road Initiative, rather than imagining itself as a rival to China, while claiming that the rise of PM Narendra Modi and the nationalist forces in India are likely to intensify geopolitical competition involving India, China and Pakistan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The coded texts also link the hostility between India and Pakistan with the ideology of the ruling political party in India. The narrative follows a circular loop. It starts with describing PM Modi and the BJP as communal. Then it claims that Modi has failed to deliver on his promise of economic progress during his first tenure 2014-19, and now to hide his failures, he is using nationalistic rhetoric to succeed in general elections.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rising Hindu nationalism was described as hostile to Pakistan and to Muslim minorities in India in the coded texts. The uncompromising stand of India over bilateral disputes was seen as the source of hostilities and problems in the region while arguing that the ill-treatment of Muslims in Kashmir is likely to worsen under the rule of the Hindu nationalist party and will further harm bilateral relations with Pakistan. This argument was made to lay a moral claim on the territory and its majority Muslim community. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The coded texts also claim that countries in South Asia are using non-state actors to hurt each other due to geopolitical and geo-economic reasons. The terrorist attacks and insurgency affect the economic prosperity and potential growth of the targeted country. It is interesting to note that Pakistan has only four neighbours: Afghanistan, India, Iran and China. Except for China, all other neighbours blame Pakistan for supporting and exporting Jihadi groups (Ganguly & Howenstein, 2009; Rehman, 2014; Stern, 2000).</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The articles in op-ed pages of <i>Dawn</i> also dealt with India’s role in Afghanistan. They underlined the Pakistani establishment’s desire to provide the Taliban with a legitimate role in governing Afghanistan after the departure of US troops. They dismissed the US-backed Afghan government as a puppet that is unlikely to survive the Taliban offensive without US security cover.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The overall narrative questioned the Indian presence in Afghanistan as it could use its presence in Afghanistan to destabilise troubled regions of Pakistan, mostly by supporting an insurgency in Baluchistan and Pashtun dominated areas. One of the articles also highlights that India opposes US withdrawal and providing a political role to Taliban in governing Afghanistan.</p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 18.9px;">Equally little needs to be said about India’s dislike for the shape of the current peace bid in Afghanistan. Any viable peace deal will legitimise the Taliban’s role in Afghanistan. To add to India’s worries, if the sun begins to set on US troop presence as part of the deal, India would lose the hard security umbrella that enabled it to successfully expand its development footprint in Afghanistan post-9/11. It makes little sense for India to support either. - Moeed Yusuf, Afghan Peace, 07 May 2019<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">In other words, Indians in Afghanistan would be targeted by the Taliban after the departure of the US forces, and no one would be able to protect them. India and Pakistan are perceived as adversaries in Afghanistan, and their perceived interests are considered poles apart in <i>Dawn’s </i>narrative.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">In an example that demonstrates the centrality of India in the Pakistani imagination, one of the articles argues that Pakistan can have good relations with Iran despite the objections of Saudi Arabia, which has a cordial relationship with India. It is a distant link but illustrates how even minor points are made in relation to India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><i>Dawn’s </i>writers also claim that the Indian media are aggravating the situation by indulging in warmongering and supporting the policies of the right-wing government.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">armchair ‘generals’ on prime-time talk shows egged on their respective establishments towards war; the Indian media was particularly vitriolic in its shrill anti-Pakistan pronouncements. – Editorial, Fake news and war hysteria, 11 March 2019</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">It is important to note that one of the columnists questioned Pakistan’s continued support for Islamic terrorist groups operating in Kashmir while arguing that rather than serving any strategic depth to Pakistan, the country was being isolated internationally due to the cross-border attacks on India by Islamic terror organisations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">A conciliatory perspective toward India is rare, whereas the hawkish perspective dominates the coded text. When there is a more conciliatory approach, it follows a pattern where the larger narrative first states and emphasises Pakistan’s stated position on Kashmir and its legitimacy, and then it mentions curbing support to Islamic militant groups attacking India, as the existing practice involves many risks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The possibility of nuclear war was underlined in coded texts if India decided to retaliate militarily against militant organisations based in Pakistan. One article went to the extent of claiming that the Kashmir dispute posed an existential threat to the life on the planet as tens of millions of people would likely to perish directly in a nuclear war. And nuclear winter would hit the earth, also resulting in global economic collapse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p9" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">As Pakistan is compelled to extend material support to the Kashmiri freedom movement, war with India will become almost inevitable. Every war game of a Pakistan-India conflict indicates the high probability of its escalation to the nuclear level. Recent studies have concluded that a nuclear exchange in South Asia will kill over 100 million people, devastate the entire region and trigger a ‘small nuclear winter’ and global economic collapse. – <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1470123/genocide-war-or-peace"><span class="s5" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)">Genocide, war or peace?</span></a> - Munir Akram, 17 March, 2019</p><p class="p9" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Two further elements were also present in this theme. First, “no new normal” should be established regarding the Indian reaction to the Pulwama suicide attack. And it must not become a routine for India to target militant groups inside Pakistan’s territory after every terror attack. Secondly, India must not believe that its Balakot strike succeeded, as it would erode the stability of mutual deterrence. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">One article specifically commented on the struggle between the security establishment and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue of dealing with India. It suggested that the security establishment targeted politicians who were willing to normalise bilateral relations with India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">Pakistan’s real hidden rulers can and have often removed assertive civilian rulers covertly via dubious cases. That Nawaz had disputes with these forces on ties with India and jihadists is known, fans say. - Political prisoner, Dr Niaz Murtaza, 09 April 2019</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As the above paragraph suggests, the followers of former PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif believe that he was targeted by the military establishment because he was opposed to supporting militant outfits against India and preferred the normalisation of relations. The use of the words ‘fans say’ is also notable. The author distanced himself from the stated position, although he was arguing against the treatment meted out to former PM Nawaz Sharif by the nexus of judiciary and military establishment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The narrative in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn </i>represents India and Pakistan as geopolitical adversaries, who belong to two different camps led by China and the United States. Afghanistan was also described as Pakistan’s backyard and theatre of conflict for both nations. At the same time, India is represented as a threat that is fomenting troubles in restive regions of Pakistan. India’s mainstream media, the ruling party, Prime Minister Modi, previous ruling governments, even Indians settled in the United States were described as antagonistic to the interests of Pakistan in the coded text. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Conclusion<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study contributes to the ongoing debates about the complexity of bilateral disputes and specifically examines the discourses in <i>Dawn. </i>The approach in <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion pages could be described as a collaborative facilitative frame (Hanitzsch & Vos, 2018), meaning <i>Dawn</i> works as a mouthpiece, collaborator and facilitator of the ruling establishment’s views at least in relation to its commentary on India. The op-ed page narrative describes India as a fascist state oppressing its Muslim population. India’s ideological and geopolitical positioning substantiates two existing concerns about the nature of the discourses that emerge in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i>. First, the discourse functions within the overall ideological framework of the state for dealing with perceived external challenges. Second, the conciliatory approaches also exist within the precincts set up by the dominant discourse. The narrative sparsely argues for changing the means and mainly focuses on the same objectives. In other words, few of the articles underline the dangers of using proxy warfare against India while magnifying the overall state rhetoric.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study suggests that the primary focus of <i>Dawn’s</i> op-ed pages during India’s general elections was Jammu and Kashmir and the ruling party's ideology in India. It would be fair to conclude that the issues directly concerned with Pakistan’s long-term national goals or identity issues were discussed with alacrity, and all the other aspects of Indian society concerning general elections were neglected. The overall narrative is mainly concerned with dissimilarities and disagreements. Overall, it represented India as a geopolitical adversary working against the interests of Pakistan even in its relationships with other countries, which are understood in terms of their impact on Pakistan. India was described as a western ally conspiring against Pakistan and China. The narrative in <i>Dawn </i>also viewed cooperation between India and Afghanistan as detrimental to the interests of Pakistan and favoured legitimising Taliban leadership in Afghanistan, which has close links to the security establishment in Pakistan, after the departure of United States security forces (Riedel, 2008). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>Disclosure statement<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>References<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -48px;">Adnan, M., Islam, S., & Khan, A. W. (2019). Media and Foreign Policy Relationships: The Case Study of Pakistan-India Relations in The Nation and The Hindu. <i>Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS), 39</i>(1).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -48px;">Afzal, M. (2015). <i>Education and Attitudes in Pakistan</i>. 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(2017). <i>Are India-Pakistan Peace Talks Worth a Damn?</i> Retrieved from <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/2017/09/20/are-india-pakistan-peace-talks-worth-damn-pub-73145"><span class="s6" style="color: blue;">https://carnegieendowment.org/2017/09/20/are-india-pakistan-peace-talks-worth-damn-pub-73145</span></a></span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -48px;">Tellis, A. J., Cohen, S., Fair, C., Ganguly, S., Gregory, S., & Shah, A. (2009). What’s The Problem With Pakistan. <i>Foreign Affairs</i>, 9-24.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p14" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 48px; text-indent: -48px;">Yasmeen, S. (1994). Pakistan's cautious foreign policy. <i>Survival, 36</i>(2), 115-133. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00396339408442740"><span class="s6" style="color: blue;">https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00396339408442740</span></a></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-88007387143021458052023-02-25T01:15:00.000-08:002023-02-25T01:15:19.335-08:00Thematic analysis of the representation of Kashmir conflict in Dawn <p>Mukesh Devrari <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px;"> </b><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px;"><i> </i></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Abstract<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Indo-Pakistan relations are troubled primarily due to their conflict over the region of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) since the partition of British India in 1947. The Kashmir conflict is considered one of the world’s most intractable and complicated bilateral disputes, where both countries are reluctant to change their historical positions. This study aims to find out how Kashmir conflict with India has been discussed, debated & represented in one of Pakistan’s most prominent English language newspaper <i>Dawn. </i>It uses thematic analysis approach and relies on paragraph-based coding in the NVivo software to examine the various aspects of representation of Kashmir conflict in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i> during India’s general elections in 2019. This study underlines that <i>Dawn</i> firmly aligns with the Pakistani ruling establishment’s stated position on Kashmir dispute and holds India responsible for all the troubles in the region. </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">(Keywords: - Kashmir dispute, Indo-Pakistan conflict, thematic analysis, <i>Dawn</i>, media representation)</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Background <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">Pakistan was created in 1947 by dividing British India on the basis of religion (Ahmed, 2002; Bipan, Mridula, Aditya, Panikar, & Sucheta, 1989; Dhulipala, 2015; Dixit, 2002; G. Pandey, 2001). The process of drawing new political boundaries between two independent nation-states was accompanied by the world’s largest and prolonged forced displacement, migration and sectarian violence of the 20<span class="s1" style="font-size: 8.9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><sup>th</sup></span> century. More than 14 million people were displaced and as many as one million killed (Hajari & Malhotra, 2015).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">In the immediate aftermath of the partition, India and Pakistan started fighting over the region of J&K (Marlow, 2019b; Mohan, 1992). The J&K no longer exists as one unit as it existed before 1947 as a princely state. At that time the total area of the state was 2,22,236 sq km. Now <span class="s2" style="color: #1a1a1a;">Pakistan and China together hold 55 per cent of J&K</span> and the rest is controlled by India (Chellaney, 2019). Around 5180 sq km territory Pakistan ceded to China as part of a border agreement between the two countries in 1963 (Jacob, 2020, p. 19).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;"> </p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">The Muslim majority region of J&K is a key source of conflict between India and Pakistan. “Since 1947 the general domestic narrative in both countries has been hostile to the other – generations have been brought up to mistrust, dislike, hate their neighbour, mainly because of the repercussions over the unresolved dispute over J&K” (Schofield, 2015, p. 22). Pakistan considers the territorial status-quo unacceptable (Kasuri, 2015) and India rejects further partition of the country on the basis of religion. The need to resolve the Kashmir dispute is described as a core interest of Pakistan, which demands that all the principles which led to the partition of India in 1947 should be applied to J&K (Cohen, 2004; S. Ganguly, 2019) as it is also a Muslim majority region.</p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;"> </p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">The popular discourse against India in Pakistan perpetuates a notion of victimhood. Pakistani citizens have been taught to believe that during the partition of India on communal lines in 1947, “India deprived Pakistan of territories that were rightfully its. So, there are “unfinished tasks of partition”. Secondly, at the deepest level, India has not accepted Partition. Third, the Hindu majority of civil society in India wants to diminish and dominate the Muslims” (Dixit, 2002, p. 7).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This feeling is still persistent and causes conflicts in the region. Due to this, both nations are fighting over the region of J&K, which is roughly the size of the UK, and it remains the main cause of Indo-Pakistan conflict (R. Ganguly, 2001; Schofield, 2010, 2015; Wirsing, 2003), although ideological opposition to India goes beyond Kashmir conflict, which is a symptom, not necessarily cause of all bilateral disputes (Dixit, 2002; Fair, 2014; Haqqani, 2010).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">India and Pakistan both claim J&K in full. Cohen (1995) suggests that, if it remains unresolved, confrontation over Kashmir could escalate to nuclear war. However, Schofield (2015) argued that the prospects of whole state becoming either part of Pakistan or India is now an illusion.<b> </b>The perceptions of identity are also central to the conflict in Kashmir (Anant, 2009).</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The data set of columns and editorials used for this research repeatedly mentions Pulwama suicide bombing and its aftermath, and BJP’s election promise to revoke the special status of J&K among other issues. On 14 February 2019, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into the convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama district of J&K. More than 40 troops were killed in the suicide-bombing (Ashiq, 2019), for which the Pakistan-based terror organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) took responsibility (Safi & Farooq, 2019). Pulwama suicide bombing was the largest terror attack after the Mumbai carnage of 2008 in terms of the number of deaths.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">While India mourned its dead and photographs of fallen soldiers spread across the country on social media, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government decided to retaliate (R. Roy & Shah, 2019) by targeting an alleged terrorist training camp in Balakot (S. Singh, 2019). The United States also gave tacit approval to India to retaliate (Miglani & Bukhari, 2019; S. Roy, 2019).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On February 26, 2019, 12 Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage-2000 jets bombed an alleged JeM terrorist training camp outside Balakot, a small town in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, about 70 kilometres from the Line of Control and 40 kilometres north from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Haidar & Peri, 2019). The target was allegedly a Madrasah run by JeM (Rej, 2019) which had taken responsibility for the attack, though the suicide bomber was a local Kashmiri.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pakistan dismissed the India’s retaliation as propaganda and claimed that only trees were destroyed, nonetheless, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hailed as a strong leader for deciding to punish the Pulwama attackers. The next day Pakistan symbolically fired at four targets including the northern headquarters of Indian Army command and their supply depot by using F-16 aircraft. In the process, Pakistan also shot down a Soviet-era Mig21- Bison fighter aircraft of the IAF. Pakistan also captured its pilot who fell inside Pakistan controlled territory. In the confusion that followed, the IAF also shot down its own Mi-17 helicopter killing all 7 soldiers onboard (Ridler, 2019).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">India claimed that it had shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft and Pakistan insisted that it had shot down two Indian fighter jets (Safi & Zahra-Malik, 2019). Independent open-source intelligence analysis has failed to verify Indian claims at Balakot. Even the Indian claim to have shot down an F-16 (Lalwani & Tallo, 2019 ) was denied by the US sources (Marlow, 2019a; Seligman, 2019) as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The issue of article 370 and 35 A was also intensely discussed in <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion pages (Kuchay, 2019) as BJP’s election manifesto promised revocation of both the articles. Article 370 and 35 A provided partial autonomy to the state of J&K to make its laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. The state had a separate constitution and a flag, and Indians from other states were not allowed to acquire property in the region.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The <i>Dawn </i>described any attempts to revoke the special status of J&K as an attempt to forcibly integrate the state into India. Article 370 & 35A also allowed the legislative assembly of the state to define its permanent residents. It also prevented outsiders from permanently settling, buying land (Noorani, 2014), holding local government jobs or winning education scholarships. The articles also denied property rights to female residents of J&K if they married a person from outside the state (Santha, 2019). </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Although after its electoral victory, the ruling BJP removed both articles on 5 August 2019. It divided the state of J&K into two, the Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of J&K. It also released a new political map of newly created Union Territories. Pakistan protested against the scrapping of article 370 & 35 A as an attempt to change the status quo (Gupta, 2019). In the backdrop of this adversarial relationship that has stretched into all ensuing decades after the political partition of India, this study examines the representation of Kashmir dispute with India in <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion pages during India’s general elections in 2019. </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The <i>Dawn </i>has been chosen for this study as English-language newspapers provide a glimpse into the concerns and world view of the ruling elite in both India and Pakistan. In Pakistan, <i>The News</i> and <i>Dawn</i> are the two largest circulating newspapers. <i>The News</i> ranks first in English newspapers and fifth nationally, with 120,000 papers in circulation. <i>Dawn</i> is second in the English-language category and sixth in the nation with a circulation of 109,000 (H. Shah, 2010). However, <i>Dawn</i> has a better online presence. As per Alexa records on June 20, 2019, <i>Dawn</i> has 4.36 million monthly unique visitors, 2.11 million daily and 56.8 million monthly page views. It has a global rank of 1058 as per the global internet traffic and engagement over the past 90 days. Traffic on <i>Dawn’s</i> website also highlights a unique trend. Only 43.24% of total traffic comes from Pakistan. 15.78% traffic comes from India and around 14 per cent traffic comes from the United States and the rest from other parts of the globe, whereas ‘<i>The News’</i> stands at 1617 in global rankings and it attracts 71.4% of traffic from Pakistan, 5.9% from India and 4.6% from the United States.</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">These online trends are changing daily but offer a glimpse of <i>Dawn’s</i> wider reach globally, probably among the overseas Pakistanis settled in huge numbers in the UK, US and Middle East. Three of its online readers out of 20 come from India in comparison to one in 20 in the case of <i>The News, </i>which also reflects on the reach, credibility and influence of the news and analysis published in <i>Dawn</i>. It's wide following outside of the country is also visible in comment sections under most of the articles published on its website.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><i>Dawn </i>is considered a moderate newspaper as it caters to the information needs of the external as well as the domestic audience, which makes it a useful object of study. It is also considered a liberal newspaper and is “known for its progressive content” (Fair & Hamza, 2016, p. 582). It has been targeted many times in the past for advocating its pro-civilian-rule orientation (Bearak, 2000).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 48px;">Dawn has faced intimidation, harassment of its journalists, a ban on hawkers distributing the newspaper in military cantonments in every city in the country, cable operators told to take its TV channel off air, and massive cuts in revenue as advertisers are warned not to promote their goods in <i>Dawn</i>. (Rashid, 2018, para. 11)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">But it can also be considered a powerful voice of the Pakistani elite as most of its contributors are public intellectuals, former high-ranking bureaucrats, foreign office officials and well-connected journalists.</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Aims & Research Question<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">1.<span class="s3" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>How Kashmir conflict is discussed & debated in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn </i>(Pakistani newspaper) during India’s general elections 2019?</p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px;"><b>Hypothesis<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">1.<span class="s3" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>The perspective of the ruling (military and intelligence) regime is reflected in the media coverage about the Kashmir dispute with India.</p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px 48px; text-indent: -24px;">2.<span class="s3" style="font-size: 9.3px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>India is framed as a religious state, without any secular credentials, completely controlled and dominated by Hindutva forces to lay moral claim on Muslim majority region of J&K.</p><p class="p9" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.3px 48px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Methodology<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: #fbfbfb;">This study examines the representation of Kashmir conflict in <i>Dawn </i>during India’s general elections in 2019. </span>The dates for general elections were announced on 10 March 2019.<span class="s4" style="background-color: #fbfbfb;"> </span>The result was announced on 23 May 2019. During this period of 74 days, a total of 106 columns and editorials were published in <i>Dawn</i>’s opinion pages carrying the word ‘India’, out of these only 23 articles discussed, debated or mentioned the Kashmir conflict with India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study uses the thematic analysis approach to analyse the narratives on Kashmir conflict with India in <i>Dawn. </i>Thematic Analysis (TA) is a method for identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns within data. It involves searching across a data set to find repeated patterns of meaning. “The exact form and product of thematic analysis vary” (Braun & Clarke, 2006, p. 15), <span class="s4" style="background-color: #fbfbfb;">though effective use of TA should involve explaining, describing and summarizing not only key patterns in data but also interpreting important elements, features and traits (Braun & Clarke, 2016).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">TA has six phases as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006): familiarisation of data, coding, generating initial themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes and writing up. The process of coding involves creating appropriate coding categories to identify the features of data that might be relevant to answering the research question (Braun, Clarke, Hayfield, & Terry, 2019). The last stage defined as writing up involves binding together analytic narrative and data extracts. It also involves contextualizing the findings with the existing literature on the subject (Braun & Clarke, 2006).</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">All articles for the research have been retrieved from the official website of <i>Dawn</i>. The ‘find’ tool of the MS Word software was used to check whether the article carried the word ‘India’ and refers to Kashmir conflict. Total of 23 selected articles referring to Kashmir dispute with India were selected in the data set for this study and coded in the NVivo software. This study carefully identifies narrative and lists suitable analytical categories by using a TA approach.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">After initial readings of the dataset, the 23 articles were coded in NVivo software under various subthemes. Each subtheme has been described in the node properties box of the NVivo software to bring the consistency and uniformity to the coding process. Each subtheme also represents a constituent of the broader theme on Kashmir dispute with India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><i>Dawn</i> publishes incisive articles on its opinion pages to articulate Pakistan’s national perspectives against India on Kashmir issue. They provide a starting point for discussion about the Kashmir dispute as positions taken by the authors are not personal opinions, but manifestations of more complex, socially shared and dominant ideological frameworks that embody institutional relationships and power (Van Dijk, 1989, p. 232).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This study will identify and reveal the trends, patterns, orientation, traits, characteristics and nature of the representation Kashmir conflict with India in<i> Dawn’s </i>opinion pages.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>Literature Review</b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The plenty of literature has been published on various aspects of Kashmir dispute in international journals by scholars, but it has not been examined by keeping media at the centre of the dominant discourse. The opinion on J&K and its association with India has been described differently by different authors. </p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px 48px;">Historically, India has repeatedly been credited with a distinguished record which combines the anti-colonial roots of its political system, and sets it favourably against its geographical neighbours, such as Pakistan, which are beset with problematic and violent transfers of political power, or China with its Communist one-party state. (Kaul, 2018, p. 127)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Though India’s approach to deal with militancy and separatism in J&K has been criticized by many scholars (Bhat, 2019; Bhatt, 2003; Geelani, 2014; Kaul, 2018; Mathur, 2014; Rakisits, 2020; Schofield, 2015). Zia (2019) describes “India’s control over Kashmir valley as a de facto military occupation (p.73)”, while Osuri (2017) describes India’s control as “imperialism and colonization’. Many other scholars describe violence in Kashmir as an armed conflict with religious militants (Behera, 2016; Fair, 2018) who are waging jihad to create a theocratic state (Tavares, 2008, p. 276).</p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">Ray (2004) conducted the framing analysis of coverage of Kashmir issue in US print media during 1989 to 2003 and highlighted the change in the narrative over a period. His study reveals that <i>T</i></span><i>he New York Times</i><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span><i>The Washington Post</i><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> and the </span><i>Los Angeles Times </i>at first<i> </i>described Kashmir conflict as a violent separatist movement, later it was described as a violent conflict between India and Pakistan. Initially, Kashmiris were identified as armed militants fighting for secession and India was represented as country suppressing rebellion through violence, later the frames shifted to argue that India is using military force to fight Pakistani troops and non-Kashmiri Islamic militants in Kashmir valley.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Analysis of Pakistan’s largest Urdu and English language newspapers conducted by Rais (2016) highlighted that the Kashmir dispute, democracy in India, electoral processes, the rise of the BJP (the ruling right-wing political party in India), India’s regional ambitions and search for dominance were widely reported in the press, and the Pakistani press published all competing perspectives on most of the issues. However, there was a strong tendency to blame India for all disputes and conflicts.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Saffee (2016) in the content analysis of <i>Times of India</i> and <i>Dawn,</i> claimed, “Indian mindset is more communally charged and views Pakistan with a specific security lens. Whereas, Pakistani print media reflected a conciliatory policy, which was rejected by India. Recently, it has begun to counter Indian propaganda in the print media” (p.92), while Rawan and ur Rahman (2020) argue that Pakistan views Kashmir more of religious than territorial dispute and media in both the countries also support the ruling establishment’s narrative and pursue war journalism rather than peace journalism.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Also, there is some evidence that Pakistani media provides more coverage to India. A content analysis of <i>The Hindu</i> and <i>Dawn</i> in the ‘<i>The Hoot’ </i>website<i> </i>suggested that <i>Dawn</i> gave far more coverage to India during the period of 1 May to 31 May 2016. During this period more than half of the coverage in <i>Dawn</i> was about issues other than defence and foreign policy (A. Pandey, 2016). Zaheer (2017) also highlighted that Urdu newspapers in Pakistan give far more coverage to Kashmir conflict, but the war journalism and war frames dominated the coverage on Kashmir conflict in four Pakistani newspapers including <i>Dawn</i> and <i>The News</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">A study of four Indian newspapers <i>The Tribune, The Hindu, The Telegraph</i>, and <i>The Times of India</i> also highlighted that all four newspapers pinned all responsibility on Pakistan for conflicts between both the nations (G. P. Singh, 2015). Other studies claim that rather than having a stance of their own, the media reflect the wider trends in their countries’ bilateral relationships; analysis of <i>Dawn’s</i> coverage of trade relations certainly reflected this trend (Saleem, Jabeen, Omer, & Hanan, 2014).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Commuri (2009) suggests that when the political elite in Pakistan identified more with religious and cultural identity than with secular conception, that has increased the prospects of confrontation rather than cooperation. Pakistan’s desire to differentiate itself by "relinquishing its obvious historical links to United India” (Tripathi, 2018, p. 99) and by drawing on its political leaders’ ideologies to interpret its national self (Das, 2010, p. 146) has helped to<b> </b>predispose it towards conflict, especially in the region of J&K (S. Ganguly, 2002). The violent conflict emerging after 1990 was not a historical discontinuity, rather it was an extension of the collision over the Kashmir dispute in 1948 (Swami, 2006). <b> </b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>Results</b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">‘India is reluctant to resolve the Kashmir dispute’ has been identified as the dominant narrative in this study. The total of 63 paragraphs from 23 articles have been coded under this theme. Its 11 subthemes are 1) India wants to change the demography of J&K, 2) India is deepening its control over J&K, 3) India indulges in human rights violations in J&K, 4) India has illegal control over J&K, 5) Pakistani PM wants peace and Indian PM wants war, 6) J&K and Palestinian conflict are similar issues, 7) Militancy in J&K is a legitimate struggle, 8) India wants to maintain the territorial status quo in the region, 9) India has a hawkish approach to Pakistan, 10) J&K is a disputed territory & 11) Kashmiris are fighting for separation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Mostly the texts in <i>Dawn</i> argue that J&K is an occupied territory, that India is indulging in human rights violations, people are fighting for freedom, India is an aggressor and Kashmiri Muslims are victims, militancy is indigenous and represents legitimate struggle, the United Nations should intervene, a plebiscite should be immediately conducted, and that the international community should condemn India and support the separatist movement. These narratives are repeated throughout the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">A word frequency chart has also been created by using all the coded paragraphs under this theme in the NVivo simply as an illustrative tool to tease out recurring or dominant ideas. It captured the following words such as occupied, torture, struggle, freedom, dispute, war, resolution, international, police and article 370 among others.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The narrative on J&K in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn</i> aligns with Pakistan’s long-standing foreign policy position, that J&K belongs to Pakistan as the unfinished business of partition. The entire narrative is highly critical of India for its approach to Kashmir dispute. It also questions the legitimacy of the circumstances which led to the merger of J&K with India and vigorously rejects the territorial status quo.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">Many of the articles coded under this theme argue that India avoids any bilateral dialogue with Pakistan and rejects peace efforts and prioritizes the issue of cross-border terrorism in all negotiations. It was a unanimous perspective in the coded texts that Kashmir is a disputed territory, that Indian-administered Kashmir is “occupied territory” and that Indian control over Kashmir is illegal whereas Pakistan-administered Kashmir is a legitimate part of Pakistani territory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The coded texts further insist that J&K is an unfinished business of partition and Pakistan has a rightful claim on it as India indulges in human rights violations of Kashmiri Muslims. It argues that the international community must intervene to take note of custodial deaths, extra-judicial killings, torture and excessive use of force and pellet guns on protestors. The issue of human rights violations was repeatedly raised in all articles referring to Kashmir and its association with India, building a narrative linking India with human rights violations to lay a moral claim over the territory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Unrest in Kashmir is represented in terms of Hindu atrocities on Muslims. India is represented as a fundamentalist Hindu state and Kashmiris as Muslim and victims of the Hindu state. The political ideology of the current ruling political party in India is used to substantiate the argument; as the BJP is a right-wing political outfit and opposes the idea of secular India (S. Ganguly, 2003; Harriss, 2015; Hasan, 2010; Jaffrelot, 2009).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A highly critical editorial written about the Indian cricket team’s effort to collect funds for the families of the CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama suicide bombing, describes the CRPF personnel as Indian-occupying troops,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">To claim that this was merely a “fundraising drive and in memory of” the Indian-occupying troops killed in Pulwama, as Indian skipper Virat Kohli and the ICC have stated, is a rather clumsy smokescreen, and extremely irresponsible given the silly season of war-mongering hysteria in India against Pakistan at this time. But no matter the extent of national fervour, a cricket field is not a battlefield. – Editorial, Cricket or combat? - 13 March 2019, <i>Dawn</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This editorial also suggested that the Indian cricket team’s fundraising effort for the martyred CRPF personnel was tantamount to the politicization of the game of cricket. It reflected the jingoistic and ultranationalist approach of <i>Dawn</i> towards India.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The narrative in <i>Dawn</i>’s opinion pages represents Kashmir as a Muslim majority province and describes it in opposition to India in terms of religion. It<i> </i>also suggests that India is a Hindu state and minorities are second-class citizens in it. The coded texts refer to the J&K as occupied territory, Indian security forces as occupying forces and counter-terrorism operations as state terrorism. They refer to Indian-administered Kashmir as “Indian occupied Kashmir”, while Pakistan administered Kashmir is referred as “Azad (free) Kashmir”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The texts in <i>Dawn</i> stake a claim on J&K based on religion while ignoring the region’s considerable minority population of Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains among others. They mostly frame the unrest in Kashmir valley as Muslim aspirations to join the Muslim majority Pakistan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The <i>Dawn</i> creates a frame of victimhood. Muslims are represented as victims, while their religion and distinct culture rooted in Islam is depicted as threatened by the majority Hindu community. India is represented as the embodiment of Hindu majority and as victimizing innocent Muslims. It also fits into a two-nation theory that Hindus and Muslims represent separate nations and cannot remain in one country (Majid, Hamid, & Habib, 2014; Mehrotra, 1981). </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The texts also describe the government’s action against Kashmiri separatists as irresponsible tactics to garner votes in the general elections. After the BJP government came to power it decided to curtail the activities of prominent separatists and their grouping known as Hurriyat leaders (Ashiq & Singh, 2017) which was criticized in <i>Dawn.</i> The texts also argue that separatists are true representatives of the Kashmiris while showing disdain for unionists who regularly contest elections.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Few of the articles specifically highlighted the ban against Hurriyat leaders, the umbrella organisation of parties fighting for creating an independent state or its merger with Pakistan (Jaleel, 2015). One of the editorials described the actions against separatist leaders an extension of Modi’s tactics to “intimidate and scare off opponents”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The narrative in some of the articles in <i>Dawn </i>represented<i> </i>PM Modi as fascist and compared India to Second World War Germany. Some columnists also compared Prime Minister Modi with Adolf Hitler. One of the articles specifically compared Kashmir with Sudetenland.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is to Modi what Sudetenland was to the elected German chancellor Adolf Hitler – Scrap of paper, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/authors/1314/f-s-aijazuddin"><span class="s6">F.S. Aijazuddin</span></a>, 18 April 2019, <i>Dawn</i></p><p class="p11" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Pakistani PM’s repeated rhetoric to invite India to discuss the future of J&K was described as akin to PM Chamberlain’s efforts to reach peace with Germany, in another article. The author claims that as Hitler perceived the British PM’s peace overtures as a sign of weakness, PM Modi also sees Pakistan’s calls for dialogue as a weakness. This frame demonizes India and creates a hero versus villain, aggressor versus victim binary where India represents the tyrant and Pakistan a peace-loving Islamic nation fighting for human rights and justice for Muslims. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">All articles coded under this theme strongly reject the territorial status quo and any suggestions regarding converting the line of control into an international border. Few even compared the Indo-Pakistan conflict with the Israel-Palestine conflict. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">What India desires is that Pakistan accept India’s rule in India-occupied Kashmir, much as Israel’s Arab neighbours are being asked to accept the ‘reality’ of Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem, the Golan and most of the West Bank. But, unlike Israel’s neighbours, Pakistan has not been militarily defeated by India. Even if Pakistan were to set aside its strategic stakes in Kashmir (territory, affiliated people, water, China access), it will continue to be drawn into supporting the resilient 70-year struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination and freedom (azadi) from India. – Peace is difficult, Munir Akram, 14 April 2019, <i>Dawn</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">There is one more interesting element to note, that the texts did not associate any negative connotations with the Pulwama suicide bombing. In fact, words like “Pulwama episode”, “Pulwama crisis” or just “Pulwama” were used to refer to the terror attack and its aftermath.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">One of the articles also claims that India is under tremendous pressure to discuss political future of J&K with Pakistan as the present position has become untenable given Islamic terrorists and their activities are widely supported by the local population.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">The fact is that no matter how much India tries to blame Pakistan for the situation in IHK (Indian Held Kashmir), discontent in the region is at alarming levels and the movement against India is a largely indigenous one. The reason for this is not hard to fathom; India has treated Kashmir like a colony, using brutal military force against its civilian population. – Editorial, IHK poll delay, 15 March 2019, <i>Dawn</i></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Attempts by India to raise the issue of open support to Islamic terror organizations in Pakistan are described as an Indian ploy to embarrass Pakistan rather than India’s efforts to protect itself from terrorist attacks. In one editorial, which highlighted India’s efforts to ban Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohmmad, through the UN Security Council, <i>Dawn</i> argued that India was trying to project unrest, protest and militancy in Kashmir as a terrorist insurgency.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The texts in <i>Dawn</i> frequently raise the spectre of nuclear conflict: that it would be suicide for India to escalate the conflict due to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and the international community would not allow it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">The Indian airstrikes at Balakot on Feb 26 and Pakistan’s retaliation the next day brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear war like never before. It is the first time in history that two nuclear-armed states carried out airstrikes against each other in a situation so volatile that it could have conceivably got out of hand and led to a nuclear apocalypse. – Nuclear apocalypse, Rabel Z. Akhund, 17 March 2019, <i>Dawn</i> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Some of the articles in <i>Dawn</i> described the arrest of prominent separatists and counter-insurgency operations by security forces as state terrorism and portrayed the fight against terrorism as a war against Muslims in J&K. The coded texts also alleged that the cover of counterterrorism was being used by India to suppress the legitimate rights of Kashmiris, while India attempting to link Kashmir with global terrorism.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">One of the articles also argues that at a global level the war against terrorism is essentially a war against Islamic terrorism, with acts of violence by Muslims referred to as terror acts, while similar violence by non-Muslims is not labelled as terror acts. In many of the articles, the writers imagine future escalations and argue that Kashmir may face war if Hindu fundamentalists persist with their aggressive plans to integrate J&K to India.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Another article argues that the use of violence must not be compromised if people are fighting for self-determination. It refers to India’s opposition to the use of violence as a method for resolving conflicts and dismisses it as a ploy to delegitimize unrest in Kashmir. Basically, through this narrative, India is described as an occupying force in J&K, and armed militants represented as freedom fighters. The article dismisses the view that all violence should be rejected irrespective of its purported objectives.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">As per this narrative, India is not facing any terrorism and Kashmiri Muslims have legitimate reasons to fight for self-determination. It consistently uses words like occupied territory, state terrorism, Hindu terrorists, Hindu fundamentalists, Hindu religious supremacy to describe and define the nature and character of the Indian state, particularly in relation to Kashmir. It implicitly suggests that Kashmiri militants active under the banner of various banned Pakistan based Islamic terror organizations are freedom fighters. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Notably, there is no concern for or expression of sympathy with the victims of the Pulwama attack, and questions about how militants in Kashmir get sophisticated weapons and military-grade training to launch their attacks are avoided. India’s reactions to the Pulwama suicide bombing are routinely described as warmongering, fascism, Hindu fundamentalism, ultra-nationalism and dismissal of gestures of peace.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The overall narrative about Kashmir is one of Indian brutality and ultra-nationalism.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p12" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 48px;">When the Indian military machine has no qualms about killing, raping and humiliating Kashmiris, it is understandable that the local people will drape their fallen in the Pakistani flag. However, the Indian establishment refuses to soften its tone and shun the path of violence. – Editorial, IHK poll delay, 15 March 2019, <i>Dawn</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">In this respect, <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion page narrative appears to closely follow the stated position of the Pakistani state on the Kashmir conflict, which can be summarized in four points. First, the State of J&K is a disputed territory. Second, UN Security Council resolutions remain operative and cannot be unilaterally disregarded by either party. Third, India must talk to Pakistan over the future status of J&K and conduct a plebiscite. Fourth, the plebiscite should offer the people of J&K the choice of permanent accession to either Pakistan or India (Hussain, 2007; Shah, 1995). </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">To explain the cultural closeness with Pakistan, one of the authors claims that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p13" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 18.9px;">Kashmiri Muslims have traditionally been deeply religious and conservative — perhaps far more than Muslims in any other part of the subcontinent. For reasons of its own, the government of India decided to strike terror in Kashmir by launching prosecutions against separatist leaders. – Custodial deaths, 30 March 2019, A.G Noorani, <i>Dawn</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The narrative in <i>Dawn</i> also suggests that militancy cannot be ended in Kashmir by launching anti-terror operations, as it represents the people’s voice. A few of the articles claim that India wants to change the demography of J&K. Even the resettlement of Kashmiri pandits in the valley, who were forced to leave their homes by Islamic militants in the 1990s (Evans, 2002; Pandita, 2013), was described as an attempt to change demography.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p13" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px 18.9px;">In the last few years, the BJP government has attempted to change the demographics of the occupied territory using targeting measures such as through the setting up of Israeli-style settlements or townships for Kashmiri Pandits or via the establishment of Sainik colonies to permanently settle Indian soldiers displacing local Kashmiri residents. Repealing Articles 35-A and 370 is, however, a more serious and insidious attempt to destroy the culture and identity of the Kashmiri people - A new strategy, 20 April 2019, Sikander Shah, <i>Dawn</i></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The texts claim that India wants to create Israeli-style settlements and make Kashmiri Muslims foreigners in their land. They also suggest that Modi escalated tensions by conducting Balakot strikes not to avenge the Pulwama suicide bombing by JeM militant but to divert attention from the deteriorating situation in Kashmir valley, and argue that Modi’s re-election is not good for Kashmiris and Muslims in general in India. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">Overall, India is blamed for all troubles in J&K in the coded texts under this theme. The issue of cross border terrorism and rising militancy is dismissed as India’s indigenous problem. The overall narrative builds a case for Pakistan to stake a claim in the territory of J&K and its majority Muslim population.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>Conclusion<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The opinion pages of <i>Dawn </i>primarily<i> </i>view Kashmir conflict with India through the ruling regime’s perspective and narratives about India are also shaped by it and other ongoing developments in the region throughout the sampled data. Thematic coding shows that the general elections in India mostly gained attention in the opinion pages of <i>Dawn </i>only with reference to conflicts over the Kashmir issue.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The narrative in <i>Dawn</i> is in complete symmetry with Pakistan’s official position on Kashmir conflict. It emphasizes that the territorial status quo in J&K is unacceptable, and the Kashmir dispute should be resolved as it is an unfinished agenda of partition of British India in 1947. It demands plebiscite in J&K to offer choice to Kashmiris to become part of Pakistan or remain in India. The third option of complete independence conspicuously remains missing in the narrative.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">The narrative in <i>Dawn </i>also claims that the J&K is being targeted by the Hindu nationalist government in India because it is a Muslim majority region. It alleges that Muslims are being treated as unequal citizens in India due to the rising influence of Hindu nationalists and tries to connect the rising Hindu nationalism with the rising unrest in Kashmir. This creates a view that in a Hindu majority state Muslims cannot live as equal citizens. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">This representation has several effects. First, it reiterates and reinforces the validity of the two-nation theory in Pakistan. Second, it suggests that demand for partition of India on religious lines in 1947 was a human rights struggle (Jalal, 1994) rather than a communal demand by Islamists in northern India (Dhulipala, 2015). Thirdly, it builds an argument emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP’s policies are guided by a deep-rooted ideological hatred for Muslims internally as well as externally, that is, the Indian government led by BJP targets Muslim minorities inside the country and is hostile to Pakistan as it is an Islamic nation. And fourth, India is not a secular state, but a Hindu state, so it does not have any legitimate right over the state of J&K as it is Muslim majority territory. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;">It would be fair to conclude that even during India’s general elections <i>Dawn’s</i> opinion pages were essentially focused on over the status of Kashmir region, while emphatically arguing that India refuses to negotiate the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan and prioritizes discussion on terrorism rejecting the demand for the plebiscite and any third-party mediation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><i>Dawn</i> also intensely argued that bilateral relations could not be normalized without resolving J&K dispute and India is reluctant to resolve it through negotiations with Pakistan. Contrary to the popular perception <i>Dawn </i>displayed<i> </i>rigid and nationalist tendencies against India on Kashmir dispute and perfectly aligned its narrative with the officially stated Pakistani position on the issue. </p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"><b>References<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p14" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -48px;">Ahmed, I. (2002). 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Blinding Kashmiris: The Right to Maim and the Indian Military Occupation in Kashmir. <i>Interventions, 21</i>(6), 773-786.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.7px;"> </p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-7453047726284488132022-01-30T05:55:00.010-08:002022-01-30T05:56:28.179-08:00 Significance of Media in Strengthening Democracy<p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mukesh Devrari & </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harsh Dobhal </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abstract</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Known
as the fourth estate following the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislative,
media play a very crucial role in nurturing, preserving and deepening democracy
and its various institutions and processes. The media also play a tremendous
role in negotiating and democratizing the public sphere and expanding it to a
wider segment of society. It is in the complex set of dynamics a democracy
offers that the role of media assumes utmost significance and media and
democracy enter a symbiotic relationship. Without a free media that is
accessible to and representative of all, there can be no democracy, and without
democracy, media can never get adequate space for proper functioning. This
paper deals with four interrelated themes. Building on the assumption that free media and democracy are inseparable, <b>the first part discusses the
linkages between and the role of media in deepening democracy. The second part
deals with the freedom of the press, increasing attempts by the State to curb
this freedom and the need to further democratize media. The third segment deals
with the concept of public sphere and media as a critical constituent in the
process of creating and furthering this public sphere </b>for ensuring
representation and voices to citizens towards shaping political power in a
democracy. An attempt is made to construct an argument in favor of an expansion
of freedom and the role of media in a democracy. Rather than perceiving the
expansion and freedom of media with a sense of ‘skepticism‘, this paper argues
that the media should be treated as a powerful tool towards furthering a
vibrant participatory democratic process.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Keywords:
media and democracy, communication rights, public sphere, digital media)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Media and Democracy <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
power of the media in a democracy comes from it being the 'watchdog' of
society, the 'fourth estate', supplementing the other three pillars of
democracy - the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary - by providing
the necessary checks and balances on issues that concern the masses. (Saeed,
2009, p. 67)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is how the idea of democracy
and the free press as an integral part of this process has been conceptualized
and articulated by political scientists and the founding fathers of modern
democracies. According to Thomas Jefferson, “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">If it were left to
me to decide whether we should have a government without a free press or a free
press without a government, I would prefer the latter” (Choi & James, 2007,
p. 23). F</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">reedom of expression in India is
guaranteed by the constitution and it is reasonably reflected in the
functioning of national and international media. One of the founders of modern
India and the first Prime Minister of the country who shaped a number of
democratic institutions in the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also said that
he would prefer to face chaos and other related problems arising out of
functioning of free and independent press than having a peace and discipline at
the cost of enslaved press. In India, the movement for freedom from British
rule injected certain values for democratic institutions and political
leadership of the time was cautious enough not to leave any scope for
authoritarian tendencies to spring up. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, things
are slowly changing in India.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
noble idea of the independent free press is withering away. Mainstream media
outlets are becoming town criers, cheerleaders, abettors, apologists and an
advance guard of newshounds clearing the way, preparing the ground for
totalizing ideology and agenda of the right-wing forces. (Kumar, 2017, p. 76)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ideally, democracy is a structure
where an individual's dignity is fully respected and maintained; at the same time, the collective interests of the community are also protected. The greatest part of
modern democracy is the creation of an acceptable structure where though the
ruling elite has the legitimacy to govern the masses, it provides a platform,
although in a limited sense, to every citizen to argue for and attempt to
realize her/his interests. It allows individuals to shape the nation-state in
unique ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">India
as a nation-state may have the most modern model of political governance, but
the idea of a full-blown democratic society can’t be realized without respect
for concepts like equality, liberty and social justice. These needs are natural
to human beings. They must be inculcated among the masses. This need to infuse
value systems among the masses makes the role of media significant in democracy.
There are many other tools to do it. Apart from this, there are several reasons
why the equality provisions in the Indian Constitution appear stronger and more
extensive than in America (Beteiile, 1999, p. 193). An eminent political
scientist Achin Vanaik argues, India has had an overdeveloped State in an
underdeveloped civil society and historically the country faced a unique
problem of implanting a liberal democracy in a predominantly illiberal </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">society (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vanaik, 2007, p.
1079).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The emergence of this unique
structure ensures competing versions of the truth, each claiming its validity
by aligning itself with the larger public interest in a democratic setup.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">‘Public interest' and ‘public
consent' are sources of validation in a democratic setup. Ironically, it is
this ‘public interest' that is generally referred to overcome any opposition to
proposed policy or scheme by any government in modern times. It is in this
context of the complex set of dynamics a democracy offers that the role of
media assumes utmost significance. Media and democracy are therefore essential
to each other’s existence having a symbiotic relationship. Without a free media
that is accessible to and representative of all, there can be no democracy, and
without democracy, media can never get adequate space for proper functioning.
Historically, the State has had the tendency to see newer developments – social
and political -- with a lot of skepticism. Particularly in nascent democracies,
nationalist ideologues feel that unbounded and unlimited space to media can
pose an existential threat to the nation-state.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The ultimate objective of all human
institutions is to create a better society where individuals are allowed to
pursue and excel in activities of their choice. Media also has the same
objective. Democracy also has such exalted status as it creates a semblance
of such a desirable place. However, the greatest, as well as the most complex
thing about democracy, is that it works on behalf of its citizens and executes
their collective will, if not exactly the same, then at least it claims to work
on behalf of its citizenry and executes decision taken for the collective
interests of society. Media of all shades makes a similar claim. It claims to
represent the wishes of the masses and most often if not a popular will, then
surely general will. Free press and humane democracy are compatible with each
other.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">But the representative democracy has
its own limits. In the 21<sup>st</sup> century, world powers from the global north
claim to be operating on behalf of their citizens while their actions many
times adversely impact other countries. However, the modern democratic system
gives them the space that they have the consent of and therefore they act on
behalf of their people. In this complex interplay between various dynamics of
democracy, the role of media assumes further critical significance. In
democratic states, governments are expected to act in accordance with the
socially accepted norms and customs which could be national or international.
The democratic governments need justification to act aggressively or harm
others. Because of this media and its role again becomes very critical in
balancing various directions that democracy can be manipulated into.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> Media has to assist democratic processes, at
the same it has to ensure that democracy does not turn into a tyranny of the
majority. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Freedom
of Press and Democracy</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freedom
of expression constitutes a basic building block for an open and free society.
It is necessary for the empowerment of citizens. It is necessary for the state,
civil society and the international community to work for its protection. Though
the freedom of the press has not been expressly provided in the Constitution of
India, it is implicit in the Fundamental Right pertaining to the Freedom of
Speech and Expression guaranteed to the citizens under article 19 (1) (a) of
the Constitution of India. And arguably, the vibrant press has played a crucial
role of frequently criticizing governments, mighty and powerful. Freedom of
expression means freedom to express not only one's own views but also the views
of others and, by any means, including printing (Basu, 2001, p.103). In recent
times, a number of media outlets expose and sting operations provided the
public with the information which would otherwise have remained hidden from
public sphere but for the press. And undoubtedly this had a powerful impact on
checking corruption, restricting politicians and officials from misusing
official power and contributing to the strengthening of the ongoing democratic
process. As compared to other countries of South Asia, the media in India
continue to play this role of deepening and defending democracy. However, it is
important to note that this freedom of speech and expression is increasingly
coming under gradual attacks in a variety of ways. This attack is coming from
both within and outside the media trajectory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If we
look at the media landscape from within, what unfolds is a phenomenon of
unabashed corporatization of the media. Increasingly newspapers, magazines,
television channels and news websites are designed as pure business enterprises
with the sole aim of the media tilting towards profit-making at the cost of
public interest. As the corporatization of media increases every passing day,
instead of providing a forum for public good and voicing public concerns, a
large section of Indian media today represent the interest, aspirations and
concerns of rich people. Though an integral part of democratic process, the
Indian media is evolving in a corporatized and anti-democratic direction, in
turn, deeply compromising it’s functioning for public interest, betraying its
own rationale and undermining its credibility (Bidwai, 2011).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But the assault on media freedom and
journalists is also inflicted by the State and non-state actors. The right to
freedom of speech and expression implicit in the Constitution of India is subject
to restrictions under subclause (2) whereby this freedom can be restricted for
reasons of "sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
friendly relations with foreign States, public order, preserving decency, <sub></sub>preserving
morality, in relation to contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an
offense.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
the legal system has quite often been used by powerful vested interests to curb
freedom of speech and expression. More and more journalists have come under
attack for pursuing their stories against government, powerful section of
society or political parties, resulting in severe restrictions on their
functioning with freedom. While uncompromisingly pursuing their stories, many
journalists investigating reports against the powers-that-be have been killed,
media offices have been attacked, ransacked and journalists have been assaulted
with criminal defamation cases filed against many of them. Many journalists are
facing trial, others have had contempt of courts cases slapped against them,
Parliament and state assemblies have issued breach of privilege motions against
many others, while cases are also filed using Official Secrets Act, sedition
and outdated notions of obscenity (Sharma, Tomlinson & Finn, 2009).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The freedom of media in India's conflict zone
appears to be further compromised, particularly in areas like Kashmir, part of
northeast Manipur and part of central Indian states of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand
and others where journalists are routinely caught in the crossfire between
state security forces and militants or extremists of different hues and other
non-state actors (Shutler, Chapman & Dobhal, 2011).Thus the attack on the
freedom of speech is under assault both from within and outside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Media,
Public Opinion and Public Sphere</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a
democracy, the most important voice belongs to the citizenry. The role of the
individual citizen is extremely insignificant, but collectively their opinion
is extraordinarily significant. Democracy has been conceptualized in such a
manner across the world that governments should reflect the interests of the
larger population and work for the betterment of all. Public welfare essential
is at the centre of all of this. A government can pursue draconian policies
against other nations and against a section of its own population if public
opinion demands it or expects this undemocratic behaviour from its leadership or
permits it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the
struggle for power individuals and political institutions, means political
parties, remain more than eager to pursue any agenda which might fetch votes
for them. That is why the role of human discretion will never end, irrespective of
the progress human societies make. Democracy cannot be automata. It cannot be
by default position in any society. This constant challenge to exist as a
democratic state and pursue policies in the best interests of people has always
been understated. The government should act according to the public onion, but
at the same time democracy also needs checks and balances. Independent
judiciary and media have a responsibility to act as a watchdog. Shape and
evolution of public opinion are essential for the evolution of a democratic
society.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .1in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Habermas argues that during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the emergent Western European middle classes
created a public sphere. It is a communicative space where rational-critical
debate could take place. For Habermas the creation of such a sphere where real
debate could take place led to something unique in human history – namely
for a brief period, political action was driven by authentic public opinion. (</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Habermas, 1989, p. 160)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .1in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
emergence of new media gave a hope that the same public sphere will emerge again
due to the technological advancements, but it could not happen yet. Western societies
are facing newer challenges of post-truth, post-fact, fake news and fabricated
news through the new media platforms. Hopes of free, independent, impenetrable
public sphere are no longer visible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mass communication spreads manufactured,
steered and manipulated public opinion. Effectively, Habermas suggests that,
for a brief period, a type of ‘ideal communication' emerged – in the form of a
perfect dialogue wherein status did not determine the outcome of the debate.
Instead, this bourgeois public sphere allowed the best argument to win, based
solely on the merits of the argument. (</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Louw, 2010, p. 45</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The role of propaganda is increasing as statecraft. It
is able to able to mobilize a consensus among the elite, frame public debate
within elitist perspectives and at the same time, provide an appearance of
democratic consent (Thakurta, 2012, P. 43).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
role of manufactured public opinion has double implications, one at the level
of a nation-state and other is at a transnational level. In the 21<sup>st</sup>
century, the hard power possessed by Western world might have been declined as
many Asian countries particularly China has filled the gap between the economic
might of west and east, but the situation has not changed much when it comes to
soft power. American power is not totally dependent on the state machinery in
the United States. Its soft power and cultural influence on the world community
is more evident and powerful. American soft power means its ability to persuade
others for co-option rather than command. It rests on intangible resources:
culture, ideology, the ability to use international institutions to determine
the framework of debate (</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Nye,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
1990). For manufacturing consent and public opinion in any society hard power
as well as soft is essential. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There
are two origins of public opinion. In totalitarian regimes, the consensus is
built from the top. Multiple stakeholders with divergent views do not get an
opportunity to participate and influence the formation of public opinion. The totalitarian
regime keeps strict control over all forms of mass media. They have to keep
firm control over new media.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
democracies, exactly the opposite happens. Media plays a crucial role in the
formation of public discourse. If it does not happen, then it seriously
undermines the democratic culture and structure. Generally, it has been
believed in Eastern societies that truth prevails and untruth loses in the face
of free and fair debate. It is important to scrutinize the role of media here.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Changing
nature of mass media has yet to replace the traditional role assigned to media
in democracies. New media have not reached a significant portion of the
population in the developing world in a meaningful way. Traditional mass mediums
like newspapers and television are central to the Indian media ecosystem also. It
has also been noted that messages and perspectives making rounds in new media
platforms are generated in the traditional media outlets. People can have broader perceptions, but the common citizenry has no time to pursue and research the
reality behind the western and national propaganda by the powerful forces
working for objectives other than the larger public interest. India as a democratic
nation needs to learn from western societies, but at the same time also ensure
that we must not import the terrible falsehood and hypocritical practices and
weaknesses of western media ecology.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
free and fair marketplace of ideas yet to emerge in India as has been by the</span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Supreme Court
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes who </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/the-most-powerful-dissent-in-american-history/278503/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">wrote</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> in
his dissent in <i>Abrams v. United States</i> in 1919, "the best test
of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition
of the market." In the digital world, this is even truer — the internet is
amplifying the free exchange of and competition between ideas and opinions. (<b>Pitruzzella,</b>
2017)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Humanity
is not following a predestined and pre-described path. It is a collective
responsibility of human society that right values, right principles and a
genuine sense of moral right and wrong must be inserted into our collective
consciousness. Otherwise, life will be torturous and dehumanizing for the weaker
among us. The world has seen enough injustice and brutality over the centuries
by one set of homogeneous individuals over the other set of individuals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Communication
is the only weapon mankind possess to defeat the regressive forces. Free and independent
media gives an opportunity to each individual to attack the extremes preached
by society. A certain section of society might feel a sense of loss in
dismantling their long-held beliefs on certain aspects of human life, but that
sense of loss is misplaced. Societies have done it in the past. It is a
continuous process.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As James Mill has said, “Ages are no more
infallible than individuals, and every age having held many opinions which
subsequent ages have deemed not only false but absurd; and it is as certain
that many opinions, now general, will be rejected by future ages, as it is that
many, once general, are rejected by the present. (Mill, 1859, p.45)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media
and democracies are interlinked with each other in many complex ways. Without
democracy, independent, impartial and objective media outlets cannot be
imagined. At the heart of democracy lies the liberty and welfare of citizens.
All branches of government are geared to achieve this single objective. How to
make the life of citizens bigger and better? How to make it more meaningful and
fulfilling?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
developing nations, societies are walking on multiple paths at a single point
in time. On the one hand, citizens are struggling for the right to pursue
interests arising out of sexual orientation in a free and fair manner without
any interference from the state. On the other hand, large masses are struggling
for basic needs of life like food, shelter and clothing. In Europe, the economic
needs of citizens have already been fulfilled. Citizens in developed states are
demanding a different set of rights, which represents their evolved social
realities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In an
ideal situation, media should present varied opinions. It cannot afford to
function as a campaigner. If it continues to do it, it may lose its legitimacy
as an impartial observer of contemporary history. Things have come to such a
low as media, particularly mainstream, is trained to function in campaigning
mode. Not necessarily for democratic goals or to make sure that truth prevails.
It has historically acted as a propaganda tool in the western world. It already
has no credibility in the East, but in the absence of choices and platforms to
point at its follies, people in the developing world continue to tolerate the
force-feeding of western perspectives. However, in India, mainstream media is
neither liberal nor left-oriented. It is totally subservient to the larger
corporate interests and power brokers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Democracy
can be strengthened only by encouraging media to remain free. It must not only
necessarily pursue the narrow interests of the liberal elite, or narrow
interests of the majority working-class or poor, but become the true and impartial
career of multiple thoughts and perspectives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Referencing</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Basu, D. D., (2001). <i>Introduction to
the Constitution of India</i>, New Delhi: Wadhwa and Company. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beteiile, A., (1999) <i>Society and Politics in India:
Essays in Comparative Perspective, </i>New Delhi: Oxford University Press.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bidwai, P.,
(2011). Corporatization of Media and Loss of Credibility. <i>Combat Law</i>,
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Choi,
S. W., & James, P. (2007). Media Openness, Democracy and Militarized
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23-46<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Deane, J. (2003). ‘Media,
Democracy and Public Sphere,’ Retrieved from </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/edicion/media/16Chapter10.pdf"><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/edicion/media/16Chapter10.pdf</span></i></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Habermas, J. (1989). ‘</span><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The structural
transformation of public sphere: An inquiry into a category of Bourgeois
Society’</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.</span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kumar, S. (2017, September 1). Escape from freedom, <i>Frontline</i>,
p. 76</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Louw, E. (2010). </span><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Media and Political Processes</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, New Delhi: Sage
Publication. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nye, J. S. Jr. (1990, October 3). </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">No, the US isn’t in decline,
</span><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The New
York Times, p. A-33.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pitruzzella, G. (2017, September 15). Italy’s
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from </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fake-news-regulation_us_59b97327e4b0edff97189fdf"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fake-news-regulation_us_59b97327e4b0edff97189fdf</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saeed, S. (2009) Negotiating Power: Community Media,
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466-478. Retrieved from </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/27752087"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.jstor.org/stable/27752087</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sharma, K.,
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<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shutler, N.,
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Delhi: HRNL. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thakurta, P. G.,
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Oxford University Press. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vanaik,
A., (2007). ‘The Paradoxes of Indian Politics’, <i>History Compass, </i>5(4),
Pp. 1078-1090. Retrieved from </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00442.x/pdf"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00442.x/pdf</span></a></span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-27832044801894563412022-01-08T15:19:00.004-08:002022-01-30T05:56:59.809-08:00Analysis of media narratives on the Sino-India conflict in Global Times <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH4I2Jtdifmvmw3CvkPrXsbB4Fnl-LYdd0GEO4sqYhKrC1NN5hMi3M79hk5rlruYMecyw_WSOUl9yLQecRsicSufYYDm3uekHRklvbWKpiJ1nU6RAqBaXZrjJM9nviu_0fR09a9xFu49YPIL6PXR2_rZHlYtaSURgzwpFQnK3HkGPa54uFG6ZkKNiwCg=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="1200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH4I2Jtdifmvmw3CvkPrXsbB4Fnl-LYdd0GEO4sqYhKrC1NN5hMi3M79hk5rlruYMecyw_WSOUl9yLQecRsicSufYYDm3uekHRklvbWKpiJ1nU6RAqBaXZrjJM9nviu_0fR09a9xFu49YPIL6PXR2_rZHlYtaSURgzwpFQnK3HkGPa54uFG6ZkKNiwCg=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Mukesh Devrari, Harsh Dobhal, Devam Thapa</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">This exploratory study attempts to analyse
the Sino-India hostilities in the backdrop of the military clashes at the Line
of Actual Control (LAC) in the Union Territory of Ladakh in 2020. It identifies
four patterns in the Chinese narrative about the border confrontations in the
coverage of <i>Global Times. </i>First, it stakes a claim on the territories
controlled by India in the Western and Eastern sector boundaries. Secondly, it contends
that any attempts to stop Chinese nibbling at the LAC will lead to military confrontation.
Thirdly, it argues that China is determined to take control of the territory it
lays claim on, and geopolitical concerns are not shaping its policies towards
India. Fourth, it also argues that Beijing can continue to access India’s vast
market despite border clashes as Indian consumers benefit from cheap imports
from China. </span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Keywords</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">: Media analysis, Sino-India clashes, Chinese
Media, Line of Actual Control, territorial conflict, <i>Global Times</i> </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Background </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">India and China share a long
border across the western, middle and eastern sectors. The boundary at the
western sector is controversial due to two differing perceptions. India
considers Johnson Line as a legitimate boundary, whereas China considers
McDonald Line. As per the former, Aksai Chin falls under Union Territory of
Ladakh, and as per the latter, it falls under Xinxiang province. China built a
national highway passing through this region in the 1950s. India could know about
this highway only after the news of its inauguration was published in the Chinese
press.<sup>(1)</sup> </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">The borderlines along the eastern
sector are also highly contested. During the 1962 war, China could easily cut
off all the Indian north-eastern states from the rest of the country. Still, it
declared a unilateral ceasefire as India could not even put up a big fight in
Arunachal Pradesh. India was caught unprepared to face the Chinese onslaught on
the border. In desperation, India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to the
United States President John F. Kennedy for help, and before the support could
materialise, the war had ended.<sup>(2)</sup>
</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">The 1962 experience had a
devastating effect and dented Nehru’s stature as a statesman along with his
cherished idealism.</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> China seized the Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh in the
1962 war. However, the Chinese handed Arunachal Pradesh back and retreated
behind the McMahon Line, which they continued to describe as illegal<sup>(3)</sup> till this day.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Sino-Indian conflict is relatively new,
given historical and cultural ties between the two neighbours. Except for the
boundary issue, both countries share a long history of prolonged peace and
cultural exchanges.</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">In fact,
Buddhism travelled from India to China in 67 <span class="bodysmallcaps">AD</span> along
the Silk Road. In those days, the relationship between China and India was one
of mutual respect and admiration. The monk Fa-hsien (337 to 422 <span class="bodysmallcaps">AD</span>), who travelled from China to India to study
Buddhism, referred to the latter as <em>Madhyadesa</em> (Sanskrit for “Middle Kingdom”), which
is similar in meaning to <em>Zhongguo</em>, the word the Chinese used to describe China.
In the 1930s, no less a scholar than Beijing University’s Hu Shih said that the
sixth-century <span class="bodysmallcaps">AD</span> marked the
“Indianisation of China.”<sup>(4)</sup></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; letter-spacing: -0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; letter-spacing: -0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The<strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"> trouble in
the bilateral relations began soon after the CCP annexed Tibet and rejected
Indo-Tibet borders that India inherited from its British rulers; the CCP
started laying claims on bordering areas that were part of British India. As a
result, the Sino-Indian relationship turned hostile. T</span></strong><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">his unresolved </span><strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">boundary
conflict is also a reason for t</span></strong>heir geopolitical rhetoric and
strategic suspicion of each other.<sup>(5)</sup>
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">The CCP strategists have decided to
ignore, partly owing to their ideological animosity towards India, that if the
boundary question could not be resolved promptly, then hostilities and
antagonism would eventually percolate down among the masses. And it might also adversely
impact people to people relations as well. China has been increasingly
perceived as an enemy after the gruesome killings of 20 Indian soldiers by Chinese
forces in June 2020 at Galwan Valley using “</span></strong>a medieval
mix of stones, clubs, and nail-studded rods”.<sup>(6)</sup> India’s national media intensely discussed the violent
clashes. <strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">At the
same time, China did not allow freewheeling discussion on boundary conflict due
to its authoritarian political structure and absolute control of domestic
communications systems.<sup>(7)</sup> Eight
months after the clashes, China accepted the loss of four of its soldiers<sup>(8)</sup>. </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Boundary disputes make
Sino-India relations highly volatile leading to a looming threat over the
region of a military conflict. China insists on managing the boundary dispute
rather than resolving it while keeping India under constant military pressure. </span></strong>India’s
ability to deal with an aggressive and expansionist China having far bigger
military and economic prowess is limited. Strategically, India needs allies to
deal with the threat posed by China. India's only option to deal with China’s
threat is to partner with the United States and use multilateral mechanisms to
stand against rising China in Asia.<sup>(9)</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The intrusions by Chinese forces at
various points at LAC in the Union Territory of Ladakh started in May 2020.<sup>(10)</sup> The media in India intensely
discussed the reasons for <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">CCP’s increasing belligerence. They broadly attributed the
Chinese behaviour to its expansionist tendencies owing to a manifold increase
in China’s economic and military might. As a result, CCP is gradually pushing
territorial claims further towards India. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">China’s widely followed English language newspaper <i>Global
Times</i>, published by <i>People’s Daily</i>, while covering and discussing
the clashes with India in the Ladakh region, primarily focussed on propagating
the Chinese nationalist perspective on the conflict<strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">. It
generally gives voice to the opinion of party members on international issues,
which could not be expressed through the official channels due to their radical
and confrontationist character.<sup>(11)</sup>
The United States also declared it a foreign mission to reveal its </span></strong></span>real
status as a propaganda outlet under the control of the Chinese Communist Party.<sup>(12)</sup><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">This study attempts to analyse the
dominant narratives in <i>Global Times</i> on Sino-India border clashes from 01
June 2020 to 31 October 2020. The articles discussing various aspects of
Sino-India relations have been selected by using the search box inside the website
of <i>Global Times</i>. Fifty articles, including news, editorials and opinion
pieces, have been chosen through purposive sampling. It is important to note
that this study does not deal with the details of China’s intrusion in the Union
Territory of Ladakh. Instead, it is an attempt to critically discuss and
contextualise the broader narratives about the clashes in <i>Global Times</i>.</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Literature review </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">China is a party state. The CCP
controls its authoritarian political system. <strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Chinese media have been widely perceived
as instruments of government propaganda, tightly controlled by the party and
lacking any independence.<sup>(13)</sup> </span></strong>The
media in China works as an extended organ of the party-state and remains
strictly under the official control of the ruling regime.<sup>(14, 15)</sup> “Effective use of the media as a
political tool is always a top CCP priority”.<sup>(16)</sup> <strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">CCP uses media propaganda<sup>(17)</sup>
to outline its hyper-nationalist position on all bilateral disputes with other
nations. </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Information about China’s perception of
India is so far limited.<sup>(18)</sup> </span></strong>Although
in one of the recent studies, Singh<sup>(19)</sup>
(2020) explains unique narratives which
emerge in Chinese language media about the recent clashes and broadly divides
Chinese strategists into three groups. The first group wants an immediate
solution to the boundary dispute by capturing territories China returned to
India after seizing them in the 1962 war. This group regrets China’s decision
to return Arunachal Pradesh to India. It is demanding swift military action
against India to resolve the boundary dispute. The second group considers India
should be choked from all sides by China, particularly in the Indian ocean. And
when the time is right, China must compel India to hand over the territories in
Ladakh and Arunachal. A third group sees no point in over militarisation of the
land border with India as it will lead to India openly posing difficulties for
China by aligning itself with the United States, which is more than willing to
capitalise on the conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The Chinese scholars claim that “China
is a success and India is a failure, that India's democracy leads to its poverty
and religious intolerance, and China's economic reform without political
opening was the only correct path to development and stability”.<sup>(20)</sup> On the other hand, others argue that
China does not perceive India as a serious threat due to the rising gap between
economic and military strength of two countries,<sup>(21)</sup> it merely describes India as the United States pawn in
the larger geopolitical tussle between two superpowers. The different aspects
of the Sino-India conflict have been discussed and analysed in detail by
several scholars, but there are not many studies looking at the media
narratives built around the bilateral conflict. It is in this context that the
current study is looking at the portrayal of the conflict by <i>Global Times.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">China never diluted its stringent
position on boundary disputes while Indian leaders gave inordinate concessions
to China on all fronts.<sup>(22)</sup> It
continues to claim territories controlled by India. Af<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">ter every incursion by China,
scholars in India critically look for the reasons for China’s aggressive
behaviour. Even after the 1962 war, the same questions were asked, which are being
asked after the recent clashes in Ladakh in 2020. Appadorai (1963) tried to answer the possible reasons for the Chinese
invasion in 1962 in his essay titled ‘<i>Chinese aggression and India: An
introductory essay’,</i> which is still relevant to understand the intricacies
of the complex issue. His analysis clearly explains that China had clarity on
the boundary issue, and the CCP policies towards India were consistent and
unravelled in stages. First, after coming to power in 1949, CCP consolidated
its control over Tibet and sought India’s cooperation. Second, It misled Prime
Minister Nehru in 1954 by not openly laying claims on Indian territories. Once
the complete military control over Tibet was established, China informed India
that the McMahon line would have to be renegotiated, terming the boundary
between India and Tibet established by Britishers as unjustified. It argued
that any government which considers imperialism as evil must not insist on
benefitting from the fruits of British colonialism.<sup>(23)</sup></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Analysis </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The articles published in <i>Global Times</i> about Sino-India
clashes at LAC in Ladakh are reflective of the CCP’s hawkish position. The
dominant narrative in the newspaper had four elements dealing with territorial
claims, military conflict, geopolitics and bilateral trading relations. The <i>Global
Times</i> held India entirely responsible for the clashes at the LAC and
described the region as Chinese territory. It repeatedly threatened India with
dire consequences and highlighted China’s far more superior military and naval
strength. It also claimed that Chinese actions on the territory are guided by
its historic position rather than any recent geopolitical reasons. It also
tried to delink the bilateral trading relations and military clashes. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">The unmarked
LAC is the most dangerous aspect of Sino-India relations, which could
potentially ignite a full-scale war.<sup>(24)</sup>
The large sections of LAC are patrolled by both the countries as CCP refuses to
recognise the borders India inherited from its British rulers, neither is it willing
to convert the existing positions as international border while keeping what it
has already seized from India in 1962 war and continuous nibbling at the territory
over the years. China </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">claims that India’s insistence on converting LAC into an international
border is unacceptable, and the boundary should be fixed through negotiations.<sup>(25)</sup> </span><span lang="EN-US">So, the options available to India to deal with CCP’s aggression at the borders
are extremely limited.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">As per various
news reports, India had lost 1000 sq km of territory to China recently<sup>(26, 27)</sup> due to the continuous Chinese
nibbling at LAC. Although India never publicly accepted the scale of China’s
transgression, neither did China give any information about the territory it
seized from India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also claimed that no one
intruded inside India’s territory<sup>(28)</sup>,<span style="color: red;"> </span>but opposition
parties questioned the government’s position.<sup>(29)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">While not
divulging any information about the military skirmishes and intrusion on the
border, the CCP tactically did not react to the Indian government’s
dissemination of contradictory information about the situation on the ground. <i>Global
Times</i>, though, constantly
assumed threatening overtones towards India by stating that military options
are open to resolve the boundary dispute. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; padding: 0in;">According to <i>Global Times</i>,
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the latest rift on the
LAC is also due to the construction of roads in border areas and “</span><span lang="EN-US">India's construction of infrastructure on Chinese
territory must be stopped”.<sup>(30)</sup>
The construction of the 255-km long Daulat Beg Oldie all-weather road by India enraged
China.<sup>(31)</sup> Though China has
created world-class infrastructure on its side of the LAC,<sup>(32)</sup> it does not want India to build
similar infrastructure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">As China’s
economic and strategic power has substantially increased due to its economic
transformation, it is aggressively laying claims on territories held by India,<sup>(33)</sup><span style="color: red;"> </span>openly
threatening that “if India makes more hostile moves, China could respond with countermeasures
- and India will not be able to count on the US for help”.<sup>(34)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">In view of the
Chinese posturing, Indian policymakers should openly discuss, question and address
the following issues. First, is it wise to ignore China’s postures as empty threats?
Second, how much territory controlled by India is claimed by China? Third, how
much territory China has already wrested from India during the CCP rule since
1949? Fourth, why can the LAC not be demarcated and converted into the
international border with minor exchanges of territory here and there? Fifth,
why can the Indian government not heavily invest in matching China’s efforts in
developing border infrastructure? Sixth, what are the apprehensions of India
for avoiding international scrutiny of Chinese actions? And lastly, if India is
willing to convert existing boundaries into international borders, what measure
should it employ to achieve this? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">The attempts
by China to downplay the border clashes suggest that China does not want any
international coverage of the conflict with India, possibly because of two
reasons. First, due to China’s authoritarian system, western nations are
unlikely to trust Chinese narratives as attempts by CCP to hide the emergence
of coronavirus in Wuhan damaged China’s global standing. And its assault on
Hong Kong invited further international condemnation. That’s why the CCP</span><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"> has mysteriously resorted to
censoring the ‘China-India border confrontation’ hashtag on Weibo, which had
garnered 30 million hits.<sup>(35)</sup> </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">Secondly, China is a member of the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC); if it uses force to solve disputes with relatively
weaker neighbours, then it will further lose credibility and encourage all its
adversaries to come together against it under US leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The <i>Global Times</i> published a survey claiming that
89.1 per cent of participants support military retaliation against India at the
LAC while claiming that that Indian troops attacked Chinese soldiers again on 15
June 2020 but paid a heavy price and suffered serious causalities (20 deaths,
76 injured and 10 captured as reported by media).<sup>(36)</sup> This portrayal referred to the assault on Indian
soldiers with medieval weapons by Chinese forces. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">China believes that in any military clash, it will emerge
victorious, as it did in the 1962 war.<sup>(37)</sup>
India lost </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">37,000 sq km of territory in the
conflict. Pakistan also handed over another 5,180 sq km of northern Kashmir in the
1963 pact to China. </span>After the 1962 war, LAC emerged as a de-facto
border but with a common area patrolled by the security forces from both sides.
<span lang="EN-US">Although China never allowed India to put
markings on the LAC. China wants LAC to remain undefined so that it could
occupy the territory with brute military force and change the status quo and
pass it as fait accompli. Due to this reason, China is not interested in
resolving and identifying the LAC.<sup>(38)</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Chinese scholars still claim that </span>the Indian
government was blinded by selfish interests and wanted to force the Chinese to
accept an illegal borderline created by British India. This was boldly rejected
in 1962.<sup>(39)</sup> <span lang="EN-US">While India and China share a long border without a
major military presence in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation, over the years,
China has created infrastructure on its side of LAC by investing billions of
dollars which will help China to mobilise its forces during the potential
military clash.<sup>(40)</sup> <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">To match the
scale and speed of the infrastructure developed by China on its side of the LAC
is beyond India’s capabilities as the country is facing economic distress,
COVID-19 pandemic and communal tensions due to the divisive policies of the ruling
nationalist government, which has sharpened India’s internal fault lines.<sup>(41)</sup> China is in a much stronger economic
position compared to India for any confrontation, so they are strengthening
their positions along the boundary.<sup>(42)</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; padding: 0in;">The CCP’s approach towards the
boundary question has not changed since the inception of the party-state, and
it still applies the same principles and logic it used during the 1962 conflict.<sup>(43)</sup> </span><strong><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Global Times </span></i></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">also rejects all suggestions
claiming China’s increasing belligerence is a result of geopolitical
manoeuvring by India to establish closer links with the United States to
contain China. It insists that India is increasingly becoming hostile to China
due to rising United States influence, but it emphasises that all Chinese
actions at the LAC are guided by China’s effort to protect its territorial
interests. It also repeatedly questioned the role of the United States in
instigating India and other countries to confront China. </span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">In earlier phases of its development since
its opening up in 1978, China became an ally of the United States.<sup>(44)</sup> Now, it is becoming an adversary due
to the rising global ambitions of the CCP under Xi Jinping, who also appointed
himself President for life.<sup>(45)</sup>
It has ruffled quite a few feathers in the United States, and now there is
partisan support for a tougher line on CCP.<sup>(46)</sup>
</span></strong><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State,
outlined the US administration’s new approach by pitching rivalry with China in
ideological terms. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The only way to truly change communist China is to act not on the basis
of what Chinese leaders say, but how they behave. When it comes to the CCP, I
say we must distrust and verify. The truth is that our policies – and those of
other free nations – resurrected China’s failing economy, only to see Beijing
bite the international hands that were feeding it. General Secretary Xi is
not destined to tyrannise inside and outside of China forever, unless we allow
it. <sup>(47)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">White House also published a report titled
<i>United
States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China</i> (2020) outlining the changed approach to deal
with China’s attempt to challenge the United States and its role in maintaining
global order. The report highlights a commitment to counter China’s challenge
to United States security, values and global economic leadership and compel
Beijing to cease or reduce actions harmful to the United States’ vital national
interests and those of her allies and partners.<sup>(48)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The United States still has
considerable influence to ensure that it is not displaced as the world’s most
prominent economic and military power soon. It has deep political, cultural and
military linkages with the other western countries. On the other hand, China
has disputes with many Asian countries, including India and Japan. It also has a
troubled relationship with many countries in the South China Sea region. The
new developments in Sino-US relations are likely to encourage countries
threatened by China’s rising military prowess to coordinate with the United
States to confront belligerent CCP. <strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">As India is not a match to China in terms of its
economic and military capacities, it needs global partnerships to balance
rising China. However, all its efforts to remain subtle, not offend China by
appearing to get closer to powers trying to check China did not deliver any
results so far. China views India with deep scepticism and believes that India
is afraid of China, so it tries to masquerade its efforts.<sup>(9)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">While the Indian
government indulges in appeasement of China,<sup>(49)</sup> Beijing disregards India’s core concerns by fully
supporting Pakistan’s claims on Jammu & Kashmir. China has constantly
worked with Pakistan at the United Nations and vetoed all proposals to ban
Islamic terrorist groups and their leaders. Chinese leadership particularly
protected the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar from UN sanctions for a long
time.<sup>(50)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">“</span>Chinese pugnacity toward India along the LAC
represents deliberate intimidation through the use of military force”.<sup>(51)</sup> <span lang="EN-US">The current round of skirmishes is more dangerous as China is now
seeking the territories it earlier did not lay a claim on.<sup>(52)</sup><span style="color: red;"> </span>Its
attempts to change the status quo unilaterally by using military force have
sent shock waves in India. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The <i>Global Times</i> also argued that India and
China are likely to have normal trading relations despite violent military
clashes at LAC. It claimed that India’s economic growth and progress is
dependent on cheap imports and investment from China. It described rising
nationalism and protectionist policies as the reasons for banning Chinese
information technology companies by India rather than the border clashes which
has been used as a pretext. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">Over the last few years, Chinese companies have been
immensely successful in India. Many have captured a considerable market share,
but it did not change the CCP’s belligerence towards India at LAC. While
showing utter disregard for India’s sensitivities and national interests, CCP
still wants unbridled access to India’s vast market. It will not be possible
for the ruling regime in India to separate economic and strategic policies
towards China.<sup>(53)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">Although the Chinese companies that have already
invested in India’s manufacturing sector are likely to function freely,
unrestricted access to China to increase its footprint in India is unlikely to
happen after the CCP decided to corner India militarily. Due to the CCP’s
aggressive policies, the spontaneous citizen-led </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">boycott China movement has emerged in India.<sup>(54)</sup> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">China attained
a remarkable economic transformation in the last few decades. Now it envisages
itself as the centre of global economic activities and trade. It introduced
Belt and Road Initiative to attain its objectives.<sup>(55)</sup><span style="color: red;"> </span>At the same time, CCP
also heavily invested in spreading China’s political and social influence in
other countries to challenge the western social, cultural and political model.<sup>(56)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The CCP strategists believe that India has remained
far behind. Now it has no choice but to accept China’s hegemony and surrender
to its demands as China’s economy is five times bigger than India.<sup>(57)</sup> It also has a strong trading
relationship with all major industrialised nations, whereas India is still
struggling to achieve a similar economic transformation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">While commenting on the CCP’s approach towards India, Deepak<sup>(52)</sup>argues that resolving
boundary disputes is not a priority for China. Instead, its emphasis is to
ensure peace and stability in the region necessary for its progress. He further
claims that China can seize the disputed territory from India through military
action as it has created superior infrastructure on its side of the LAC, and
India has not done enough to catch up with it.
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">Discussion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The media
narrative on issues in China cannot be dismissed as inconsequential bluster. “Chinese
media helps shape the agenda for foreign policymakers, narrow down the set of
policy options, change the pace of policymaking and implementation, and
influence the direction of the final decision”.<sup>(58)</sup> In <i>Global Times</i> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the state-led nationalism remains a central
narrative.<sup>(59)</sup> It holds a
contemptuous view of other nations and outrightly rejects the complaints
against China’s rising belligerence while overestimating the importance of
China. It displays remarkable self-assurance in describing objections raised by
other nations against China’s aggressive policies as hysteria. It mainly focuses
on comparing China with the United States. </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">India does not
pose any challenge to the United States-led global order, while China is
perceived as a direct threat to its influence and interests globally.
Therefore, United States is mobilising support from “open societies and
democracies” to contain CCP’s expansionist designs <sup>(60)</sup><span style="color: red;"> </span>and India could very well
be a beneficiary of this situation if drawn into the United States led formal
or informal alliance, which might not help India directly at the LAC in the
short run but can be critical in the long term to confront aggressive China. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">Despite having
modern aspirations and appearing to keep pace with the rapidly changing world,
China is subscribing to notions of territorial expansion, international
hegemony, and inherent superiority.<sup>(61)</sup>
It is in this context, and not without reason, that the CCP decided to flare up
the border tensions with India. “</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Chinese state does not take such steps in a fit of absent-mindedness
or as a knee-jerk reaction to some provocation. This must fit into a long-term
design”.<sup>(62)</sup> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">India needs a robust strategic regime to deal with rising
China, which is attempting to replace the influence of the United States in
Asia, which India considers against its long-term interests.<sup>(63)</sup> Prime Minister Narendra Modi
expressed willingness to establish a cordial and mutually viable relationship
with China, but despite his efforts, China did not respond positively to his
appeasement. In the last six years, both countries have had many border
clashes, each resulting in China substantiating its territorial claims. A
policy of appeasement also failed in the past. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The <i>New York Times</i> wrote after PLA killed Indian soldiers at the
border in 1959 that Chinese communists have repeatedly brushed aside Indian
protests in an attitude little short of contemptuous. It further added a policy
of restraint by Nehru is praiseworthy in principle but appears to be
aggravating the situation rather than easing tensions. It questioned how China
could gain anything by repeatedly antagonising an influential neighbour that
has been a respectable apologist for Communist China.<sup>(64)</sup> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Now the strategists are questioning Prime Minister Modi’s
approach towards handling international affairs. “With his excessive personalisation
of policy and stubborn strategic naivete, he has shown himself not as the
diplomatically deft strongman he purports to be”.<sup>(49)</sup> Though there is the larger belief that India is willing
to convert LAC into an international border,<sup>(65)</sup> but China rejects any such possibilities and insists on
changing the ground realities. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">China’s claim over the territory controlled by India is not
only confrontational but untenable. Boundaries of the modern nation-state have
changed over the centuries due to many reasons. It is pointless whether a
geographical area was in India or China a century ago or beyond. That cannot be
a determining factor to redraw the boundaries as CCP is insisting. It is unfair
for any nation to seek territories based on its historical perceptions as it
will lead to bloodshed, war and mutual destruction. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The belligerence of CCP has already derailed the peaceful
bilateral Sino-India relationship. It </span>consistently employs
deception, concealment and surprise in peacetime.<sup>(49)</sup> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">At the beginning of the
21<sup>st</sup> century, the two sides had agreed not to let the border dispute
affect bilateral engagements <sup>(66)</sup>
though it is likely to change due to rising hostilities over the boundary. As
CCP works behind closed doors, </span><span lang="EN-US">it is
impossible to figure out the exact reasons for recent aggression, but these
developments point towards the shape of the global order in the coming decades.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">The rise of
China has threatened the regional peace and the rule-based world order the
United States has championed after the Second World War.<sup>(67)</sup> “</span>The size and rapid growth of China,
together with its increasing assertiveness, represent a challenge to the
established global order”.<sup>(68)</sup>
Due to the Xi regimes aggressive policies, the United States, Japan, Australia
and India are likely to strengthen their alliance to ensure stability and peace
in the Asia Pacific region.<sup>(69)</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">“The current Sino-Indian border crisis
has revealed that China has little respect for India’s long-standing efforts to
freeze the status quo along the two countries’ disputed frontiers or for New
Delhi’s cautious efforts to avoid the appearance of balancing against Beijing”.<sup>(51)</sup> <span lang="EN-US">India and China boundary dispute is a straightforward affair. India is
fighting to keep the territory under its control which it inherited from the
British government or whatever is left of it after the Indo-China war in 1962
and subsequent Chinese nibbling. Similarly, China normalises its military
transgressions by citing differences in the perceptions over the LAC and blames
India for border clashes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">The <i>Global
Times </i>expressed China’s ultra-nationalist perspective on Sino-India
conflicts. It fully supported China’s brazen attempts to change the status quo
at LAC through military force and severely downplayed the brutal killing of 20
Indian soldiers by the People’s Liberation Army. It </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">openly issued threats and warnings
that India should be mindful of the consequences of confronting China at LAC as
PLA might resort to full-scale military retaliation to push back Indian
soldiers present in the region. It claimed that PLA is better prepared for
military conflict, citing India’s over-reliance on imported weapons to maintain
military strength.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">It portrayed a
skewed picture of only India being affected by military confrontations while
arguing that as the world’s second-largest economy, China can easily overwhelm
India’s attempt to confront it. There was a palpable sense of military,
economic and geopolitical superiority in the <i>Global Times </i>narrative. At
the same time, India is dismissed as a struggling economy used by the United
States as a pawn against China. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Global Times</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> repeatedly
proclaimed that China would not compromise on its territorial integrity. It argued
that India seeks concessions and compromises on the territorial dispute by
entering into alliances with the United States and its global allies. It also suggested
that India’s all efforts would go in vain and China would never give any
concessions on boundary dispute to India.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">The propaganda
in the <i>Global Times</i> was also evident as it ignored the setbacks China
faced and described the global retaliation as an opportunity for China’s
companies to adapt themselves to the emerging challenges. Although its hawkish
approach is not unique towards India, it disparaged Japan, Australia and all
other countries that attempted to confront China on a range of issues involving
the territorial waters, demanding an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus in
Wuhan and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Global Times</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> particularly
disparaged India and the United States for their inability to control the corona
pandemic and highly exalted China’s stupendous success in controlling the
pandemic, which also, according to the daily, reflects on the effective Chinese
political system and CCP leadership. The newspaper also twisted facts, spread
lies, magnified half-truths, exaggerated China’s achievements and limitations
of its rivals & pushed hyper-nationalism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Global Times </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">also peddled the view that clashes would not affect the
normal bilateral trading relations as any attempts to reduce the imports from
China will only harm the consumer interests in India and further stymie economic
growth. It also insisted that the ban on Chinese apps were the result of rising
nationalism and had no link with the killing of Indian soldiers in Ladakh. The
paper attempted to delink the trading relations with boundary conflict. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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Expansionist China a dangerous cocktail of past and present. Sunday Guardian
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Vajpayee-Nehru episode? That is why Congress must let Modi off the hook on
China. The Print. 2020 3 June.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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Nehru. New York Times 1959 26 October.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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Unresolved Sino–Indian Border Dispute: An Interpretation. China Report.
2011;47(2):99-113.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">(Mukesh Devrari is a New Zealand based media researcher. Harsh Dobhal is Visiting Professor at School of Media and Communication Studies, Doon University, Dehradun. Devam Thapa is Ph D Scholar at Centre for Media Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) </span></span></strong></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-42760227302772445252022-01-05T04:17:00.008-08:002022-01-08T16:32:52.282-08:00 Is Talbros Automotive the next multi-bagger stock?<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjhs8bjuEMUA2Xg_Owu8V99RCWWAevvcDytofgaW2AjXaynp9uRcg3AQ_GrSenZXITUHis-jfau0k3hn8AW7LSHSNofpGDIuwJlA1OSQxRKKlEjCM0NYslU0q64GOeEOwUWs2Z5Uu29Sp812Cm4nQpg-Exc-nbWP6LepLcJdviN2UkStv2NdM314tKtQ=s1238" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjhs8bjuEMUA2Xg_Owu8V99RCWWAevvcDytofgaW2AjXaynp9uRcg3AQ_GrSenZXITUHis-jfau0k3hn8AW7LSHSNofpGDIuwJlA1OSQxRKKlEjCM0NYslU0q64GOeEOwUWs2Z5Uu29Sp812Cm4nQpg-Exc-nbWP6LepLcJdviN2UkStv2NdM314tKtQ=w349-h400" width="349" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Mukesh Devrari <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The share price of Talbros Automotive Components Ltd. has jumped 50 per
cent in the last three trading sessions after the news that celebrated investors Vijay Kedia
and Dolly Khanna have bought more than one per cent stake in the company. The
news generated an extraordinary interest of small investors in the stock. In any
case, who would not like to make easy money by investing in a stock that will
probably skyrocket in the next few years? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">All the information about companies is in the public domain these days, so
small investors can also look at the technical and fundamentals of the stock. I
checked the basic facts about the company. Technicals appear all fine. It is a
small company, P/E ratio is around 10. It has almost nil debt, the market cap
is around 500 crores, and it is a profitable venture with three factories,
including the one in Kicha, Uttarakhand, that’s my home state. It has around
546 employees and an impressive website. Small companies generally have poorly
designed websites. To be fair, I don’t understand the technicals properly, but
I understand the yearly changes in turnover growth and profit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">And that’s exactly what could be the problem with Talbros Automotive. The
company’s turnover has merely grown by 50 per cent from 300 to 457 crore in last ten years (2011-21). If the company repeats the same performance in the next ten
years, its turnover will be around 700 crores. That cannot be the performance
of the next multi-bagger stock. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The companies need ambitious and visionary leaders at the top to grow spectacularly.
The India and world are standing at an interesting juncture of history where
human beings on this planet will move from combustion engines to
battery-powered automobiles in the next few decades. This change will make and
break the fortunes of many existing and new automobile and auto ancillary manufacturers.
Remaining present at the right time and location is not enough. Having the
right motivation and imagination is also important. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Talbros Automotive has been run by the same promoters for decades. The
patriarch of the family </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Naresh Talwar, 80 is a non-executive chairman of the
company. His brother Umesh Talwar, 70, is a Vice Chairman and Managing
Director. And then the next generation of the Talwar family holds other key
positions. Varun Talwar, 51, is a Joint Managing Director. He has experience in
the IT sector and Health Care, apart from the automotive industry. Then his
brother or cousin Vidur Talwar, 50, is a director in the company. Both Varun
and Vidhur have studied business administration at Drexel University in the US.
Then comes Anuj Talwar, 40, a Joint Managing Director who has done courses like
BBA and MBA in the US. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In other words,
none of them has formal education in science, technology, engineering or maths,
though that the</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> gap can be filled with
outside expertise. But it would be difficult for an outside expert to advise so
many family members in one boardroom in key meetings concerning the company's
future. It is a big handicap. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Can you imagine working in such an environment
where family members of promoters </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">siege you in day-to-day meetings and board deliberations</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Talwars’ have been
running the company for decades. The new generation of Talwars also has been
associated with the company for the last two decades. Despite being in the
business for such a long period of time,</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> the company could not make it
into the big league. But it does not mean it can’t do it now, provided
promoters are interested in the business as investors are today after Vijay
Kedia decided to buy more than one per cent stake in the company. But we have
nothing to conclude that so far.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Vijay Kedia has bought the stake in the company, so it is quite possible
that the company will give 2x, 3x or 100x returns in the next few years. Maybe
he has seen something which mere mortals like us can’t spot. Still, the question
is why this company could not do well despite being present in the industry
for such a long period of time?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I noticed Talwar’s also sell Mercedes cars in India. Meaning Talwars are
not focused on making big in automotive parts manufacturing, instead, they are
into the fancy business of selling imported Mercedes as well.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f3f3f3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: rgb(243, 243, 243); color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I am a big fan of Vijay Kedia. He is like a god of investing. And it is
quite possible the Talbros is the next multi-bagger stock, but proprietors and
their track record do not enthuse any confidence. These are my personal notes,
not investment advice. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Last but not least, so I might buy this share in the next dip when it falls at least by 25
per cent, though I see nothing inspiring in Talbros track record.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">End. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-14773607622958335432021-10-16T18:50:00.006-07:002021-10-18T04:41:56.978-07:00Not so subtle racism in New Zealand universities <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG7rmEHu4R7vGwJOfaUTXZUN8kwvD8PJ25b5CPy-v2fMxaKl9YEhxHk62C8JU9phgHLYEuk3NRiyKTP40XCYoSdxjJOqv1iiW_PI40oRRqc1KXRNNZTWKc5d6idZ2w39rdj6ncEYX0l0a/s250/UC+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="250" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG7rmEHu4R7vGwJOfaUTXZUN8kwvD8PJ25b5CPy-v2fMxaKl9YEhxHk62C8JU9phgHLYEuk3NRiyKTP40XCYoSdxjJOqv1iiW_PI40oRRqc1KXRNNZTWKc5d6idZ2w39rdj6ncEYX0l0a/s0/UC+logo.png" width="250" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mukesh Devrari</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I came across four Indian students living together in a
student accommodation provided by the University of Canterbury (UC). All four were
living in one flat. It was extraordinary as thousands of students came to
Christchurch to study at the University of Canterbury. And hundreds of them
lived in the UC provided accommodation. How come four Indian students were put
together in one flat. It is intriguing, not a big puzzle. Everyone who has
lived in New Zealand and tried their hands in few odd jobs to make a living perfectly
understands it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still, I posed this question to one of the students
living in the university accommodation with fellow Indian students. Why do you
think you all ended together? “One can end up with anyone in the allotments.
But then Caucasian students approach the student accommodation office and make a
request for changing their flats. They use various excuses. Something as simple
as the sunlight is not proper in the room or comes from the direction they
would not prefer,” he responded. And both the person in the accommodation office
and the student wanting to change their rooms understand it and knows the next
step. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other words, the Caucasian students stay together, while
the rest of the international students share the flats. It is a natural behaviour
of young New Zealanders as their society has taught them racist ideologies throughout
their lives. They believe Asians, Africans and other dark-skinned students are horrible
in so many ways. They have are creepy towards women, possess the lesser
intellect, abnormal cultural habits of eating, praying, etc. They also
have unclean toilet habits, strange body odour and peculiar traits. New Zealanders
have reserved their most hate for Maoris, who are described as former cannibals
wanting to live only on state freebies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is the thing. The University cannot force
students to talk to each other, respect each other’s culture, learn from each
other, maybe teach each other in that process. And in this highly globalised world
where money is a new god, they might be better prepared to handle international
assignments once they progress in life. Contrary to that, the level of
intolerance is very high in Kiwi society. On many issues, it would be fair to say that students from Asia and Africa are not as independent as their western
counterparts are. They lack social sophistication and have never learned the scepticism
and Xenophobia of western minds. It is also true they might be academically
less bright as our education system, with some exceptional universities, have
no match for the academic facilities provided in the western universities to train
their students. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other words, it was not a coincidence? It was
neither a well-thought-out decision by the university administration to categorise
and accommodate students based on their race, culture or any other identity. Instead,
it is a natural result of the social reality of New Zealand. So international
students must not fall for the propaganda and know what is waiting for them in
advance. Otherwise, young unsuspecting boys and girls travelling for the first
time outside their home countries would be shocked, disturbed and restless
after landing in New Zealand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If it looks like an issue to you, then read about
another interesting incident in Wellington or Massey University where Kiwi
students refused to work in group assignments with Asian students. They complained
that their time is wasted explaining the tasks and requirements to
Asian students, who possess limited English language abilities. And they do not want to do that as they are not paid for it. Is not it astonishing? Think about it,
whose fault is this? If students with limited English language abilities end up
in NZ universities. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span>In another incident, the hair modelling event in the University of Canterbury specifically wanting only caucasian students, but few shameless non-caucasian/dark-skinned students turned up in the event, so the student body could not send them back, but the advertisement and mindset of student organisers were symptomatic of normal racist Kiwi behaviour. Neither media nor the UC administration pursued the issue. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span>Finally, my dear international students, </span>be prepared for it. Don't be over-excited; lower your expectations; otherwise, you will feel too bad. You might be excited to meet them, but I wish I could say the same thing about them. Here 'them' included only caucasian Kiwis. Though, you will be happy to meet people from other parts of the world and maybe become a great votary of South to South cooperation, which we have not pursued with enough rigour so far. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Continue.) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-51683168151646383022021-10-04T06:02:00.003-07:002021-10-04T06:06:12.420-07:00Time for BJP to take a step back on farm laws<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAicVZcUO8uxwGx37rHx1WfuS98x8_B1BOetfXty0Xn1IskG2TpbLwNO2W3oVaQCSzWDY-N7t5qbWBABI6ahhfsFoyyoldsHk7iCWKrPHTVmzakLxvQxIZ49ULkJ0XdMBg7Ir1Y9bPlhi/s1220/tweet+pic+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="1071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAicVZcUO8uxwGx37rHx1WfuS98x8_B1BOetfXty0Xn1IskG2TpbLwNO2W3oVaQCSzWDY-N7t5qbWBABI6ahhfsFoyyoldsHk7iCWKrPHTVmzakLxvQxIZ49ULkJ0XdMBg7Ir1Y9bPlhi/s320/tweet+pic+1.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mukesh Devrari</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Democracy means
the opposition will be allowed to express dissent against the ruling regime. Unfortunately,
during the tenure of the ruling BJP government, the space is constantly
shrinking for opposition parties to launch a concerted movement to highlight
the failures of the ruling regime, including police atrocities on farmer groups.
First, BJP leaders need to understand now that the debate is not always about right
and wrong. Having a majority in parliament does not mean the laws can be pushed
down the throats of the masses. Secondly, the debate is also not about the
merit of farm laws now. It is quite possible that the corporate world would
welcome all economic reforms. Still, however appropriate they might appear,
their argument cannot be the sole basis of creating the farm laws. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prime Minister
Modi’s tendency to push the laws despite widespread opposition by farmer groups
shows his authoritarian tendencies. After killing eight farmers, it would be
sensible for BJP to withdraw the farm laws until all farmer groups are ready to
accept the reforms. While the negotiations with farmers groups are on, govt can
make efforts to address the legitimate concerns of farmers. BJP can also use
that period to convince farmers about the merit of law and how it will benefit
them in the long run. If farm laws are in the interest of farmers, as government
ministers and the national and international media claim, then there is no
reason to believe that farmers will not accept the laws. In any case, BJP has put
the farm laws on hold for two years. After killing eight people and increasing
violence in Uttar Pradesh,</span> PM Modi should do away with his stubbornness.
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The government would be better
off focusing on economic recovery in the post-pandemic phase rather than creating
a civil war-like situation in India’s politically most significant state. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have learned the hard lesson in the last
seven years. They cannot govern India using the same tactics they used to run
Gujarat's state government for more than a decade. The BJP is on the warpath
with farmers who earlier supported it in throwing the Congress led UPA government
out of power in 2014. BJP is hell-bent on turning their friends into their enemies.
It is a misconception in BJP that police can suppress all protesters. BJP
succeeded in stopping the movement against Citizenship Amendment Act by using
the Covid lockdown restrictions. The world came out to support Muslims and
other liberal groups who questioned the CAA on moral and ethical grounds. Perhaps
the BJP govt learned the hard way that 220 million Muslims living in India could
not be forced into submission by using the police force. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India will
face civil war, and riots will start all over the county if BJP tries to bully
the religious minorities and other groups fighting to protect their legitimate
interests. BJP is trying to reap electoral benefits by increasing communal polarization
in the country and displaying Hindu majoritarian tendencies at the cost of our
democratic credentials. That might fulfil the interests of the BJP, but it
would harm the country's well-being in the longer run. It is not too late yet.
The BJP could not gather the courage to implement the farm laws yet and
postponed it for two years. The govt can put the implementation of laws in
abeyance till farmers agree to it. There is a precedent for it as well. Congress
govt also withdrew the laws related to land acquisition after farmers all over
the country but particularly in the north protested against it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BJP should
focus on improving the economy and avoid taking up the controversial, communal
and divisive issue as it would undermine the ability of India to prosper by
lifting millions of people out of poverty. But, unfortunately, due to the policies
of BJP, the country’s political atmosphere has become so poisonous that even
the police officers are acting as cohorts of apologists of Hindu majoritarianism.
As a result, conducting routine political activities in India has become
difficult. Even police are stopping top Congress leaders from visiting the
victims of the farmers crushed by the BJP leaders. And BJP, with the help of its
key corporate backers, has also taken complete control of national and regional
media in India. It was unimaginable in the past in India that police would restraint
the movement of mainstream opposition leaders like Priyanka Gandhi, who might
become Prime Minister of India in coming years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(End.)</span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-79336060222081090132021-08-31T19:08:00.006-07:002021-08-31T19:13:29.059-07:00The Taliban rule in Afghanistan and its implications for India<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm047mZfTh60BFvZzNzULiB6-a8p7dlrat5X9XMFJwBUVHHQ3IUzmtuDu4_NF9Vi648QKPokSbFEcYzwi-21gOIAaPa5vCXFpqYOLf1D_KqOiDQBuBXvILqD3jpnKDJ6n8bpGSz93mPJdR/s1280/tweet+image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm047mZfTh60BFvZzNzULiB6-a8p7dlrat5X9XMFJwBUVHHQ3IUzmtuDu4_NF9Vi648QKPokSbFEcYzwi-21gOIAaPa5vCXFpqYOLf1D_KqOiDQBuBXvILqD3jpnKDJ6n8bpGSz93mPJdR/s320/tweet+image.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://twitter.com/calxandr/status/1432612313547354112">https://twitter.com/calxandr/status/1432612313547354112</a><br /></p><p>Mukesh
Devrari</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It is not good
news for India that the Taliban has captured power in Afghanistan, and it might
become a vassal state of Pakistan. Lot has been written about how India has
been screwed in Afghanistan. How Pakistan once again defeated India in
Afghanistan by ensuring that the Taliban captures the power and will eventually
provide Islamic militants to attack Indian security forces in Kashmir and
beyond. There is nothing wrong with this assessment. The Islamic terrorists will
now have sanctuary in lawless Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban by showing
utmost barbarity to anyone opposing its rule. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It is also important
to remember the United States did not invade Afghanistan to secure and protect
India’s interest. It invaded Afghanistan to target militants attacking
Americans. The strategic benefits accrued to India were byproducts of US policy
to contain Islamic terrorism flowing from Afghanistan. The biggest loser in the
Afghan imbroglio is the United States. They spent two decades, spent billions
of dollars, hundreds of soldiers, only to see that Taliban captured the power even
before US security forces could leave. The US also spent billions of dollars supporting
Pakistan in return for help to fight Taliban forces but was not served by its client
state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Instead, Pakistan
trained Taliban fighters, weaponized Islam to motivate Pashtuns to mobilize
against the US-backed Afghan government, provided weapons to eighty thousand Taliban
fighters, perhaps planted their military officers inside Taliban to coordinate their
offensive apart from regular Pashtun troops, guided the Taliban representatives
on how to seek concessions from the US in Doha talks, while also maintaining
that Pakistanis are US allies. It is a remarkable success of Pakistani military
strategists. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Former
Direct General of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI Hamid Gul’s words was
prophetic. He said after the departure of US forces from Afghanistan, the world
would realize that Pakistan defeated the United States with the help of the
United States. Though, Americans might not share this view. They are not
totally wrong as well. They did not invade Afghanistan to build a democratic
state where most of the population accepts western modernity and civilization. Its
aim was not the modernization and counter-insurgency but neutralizing the
terrorist safe havens used for targeting the mainland. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Partially, the
United States might have succeeded. Still, in the long run, the same elements associated
with terrorist groups known for targeting western countries might find a safe haven
in Afghanistan again. Indians are particularly about Afghanistan becoming a haven
for Islamic terrorist groups focused on India. Western countries generally
prefer to ignore the Islamic groups targeting India and push it under the basket
of the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir. Departure of American security
forces from Afghanistan will have far more dangerous consequences for India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">First, the Pakistani
military would not like to be seen overtly supporting the Islamic terrorists
planning to attack US interests, as it might have serious repercussions for the
Pakistani economy and military capacity, but in the case of India, there are no
such inhibitions. Pakistani state openly boasts Islamic militants as freedom
fighters and justifies their violence as a result of India’s presence in
Kashmir. No matter how much India rejects the Pakistani argument, it is a harsh
reality that the international community is likely to ignore terror attacks on
India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">India must
remember Pakistani terrorists hijacked the Indian passenger plane IC-814 in 1999,
attacked the Indian parliament, attacked Mumbai and conducted numerous terror
attacks on India in the last two decades. India was forced to release Masood Azhar
and three other terrorists in return for the passengers of the hijacked plane
in 1999. BBC journalists in Pakistan attended the press conference held by
released terrorists. Even today, they roam around freely running organizations
collecting funds to launch jihad against India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Secondly, India
lacks the military capacity to respond properly to Pakistani provocations, as
were evident in the Balakot strikes and their aftermath. Jingoistic claims are alright,
but in reality, the Indian political establishment lacks the will. The military
and air force lack weapons and capacity to punish Pakistan for launching a proxy
war against India. Pakistan believes that it can continuously use Islamic
militants to attack India without any dangers of military retaliation due to its
nuclear weapons. Proxies war under the Pakistani nuclear umbrella and bleeding
enemy by thousand cuts will continue to be a Pakistani strategy to weaken India
and ensure that it could never find its true place among the comity of nations.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A lot
depends on how the Modi government reacts after the next terrorist attack by
Pakistani terror groups on India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">(End..) <o:p></o:p></span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-73682508975529793382021-06-09T22:53:00.002-07:002021-06-09T22:53:20.426-07:00Uttarakhand Politics: A Tale of Twists and Turns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIgsjsyDYZOK3gipjpVmGVctnPS4-WFGsZmJkRwDX_WKDYHphZwUNz5PSzj3FJkIJkMjENqWea22JZThpErfQxAqlSPgcNbdHt-QWZPMXMiDh_di-YoP5SL6nPzM7odU-S7LaGaJecfIQ/s2048/Kishore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIgsjsyDYZOK3gipjpVmGVctnPS4-WFGsZmJkRwDX_WKDYHphZwUNz5PSzj3FJkIJkMjENqWea22JZThpErfQxAqlSPgcNbdHt-QWZPMXMiDh_di-YoP5SL6nPzM7odU-S7LaGaJecfIQ/w400-h267/Kishore.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Ever
since the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the situation of the state has been
marked by disputes between the two prominent political parties. At that time, Nityananda
Swami Ji left Congress for the power-struggling BJP and had the good fortune of
being made the interim chief minister. However, this did not reduce the
inter-party conflicts and Bhagat Singh Koshyari was made the Chief Minister.
The situation was such that the BJP badly lost the elections in 2002 - the
first interim Chief Minister Swami also lost the election.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in;">In
2007, after defeating the Congress, BJP formed a paralyzed government – it
side-lined Bhagat Singh Koshyari under whose leadership the party had won and
made Bhuvan Chand Khanduri the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. However, given
the continued conflicts, the controversy-ridden Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was crowned
Chief Minister by the BJP. But because of allegations of corruption, Khanduri
was again made the Chief Minister; and he lost the Assembly election.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">In
2017, the BJP made a strong comeback. They won 57 out of 70 seats to form the
government. But again, the party ignored Koshyari. Trivendra Rawat, an unknown
face who was close to the BJP national president was given the Chief Minister’s
chair. Koshyari, Khanduri and Nishank were left stunned. Despite being
surrounded with many controversies and internal opposition - over 30 MLAs
encamped in Delhi in protest - Trivendra has remained unscathed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Congress’s
situation is also like BJP. After the formation of the state in 2000, the big
question was - who will be the Congress president in Uttaranchal (now
Uttarakhand)? While Indira Hridayesh appeared on all banners and posters, it
was Harish Rawat who ultimately became the President – possibly only Harish
Rawat himself can shed light on how this happened. Being solid supporters of
the party, the duo of Dhirendra Pratap and Kishore Upadhyay prepared the state
of Uttaranchal for Harish Rawat and for the Congress. People like ND Tiwari,
Satpal Maharaj, Vijay Bahuguna and Indira Hridayesh mounted enormous challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">In
2002, the Congress touched a majority figure in the state, but because of
opposition from Satpal Maharaj, Harish Rawat despite having the majority with
him fell behind in the CM race and Sonia Gandhi made ND Tiwari the Chief
Minister. The Congress’s politics in Uttarakhand started faltering from here.
But Upadhyay-led Rawat faction stood strong and Harish Rawat retained the post
of state president. Of course, Rawat's closeness with Jitendra Prasad and
Rajesh Pilot continued to be an eyesore for the Congress high command.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The
Congress lost the 2007 assembly elections under the Tiwari-Rawat leadership.
Yashpal Arya replaced Harish Rawat as the State Congress President and Harak
was made CLP. At that time also people were surprised at this combination, but Kishore
Upadhyay became a saviour for Harak and the Harak-Kishore duo did not let the
BJP government sit peacefully. As new episodes of corruption were unearthed,
BJP had to change its Chief Minister thrice and finally in 2012, the BJP had to
face defeat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">People
were astonished when the Congress made Vijay Bahuguna the Chief Minister - he
had nothing to do with Uttarakhand, he had a controversial tenure as a judge,
and he was digging Congress’s grave by pitching rebel candidates against
Kishore Upadhyay and others. Harish Rawat once again made a mistake and raised a
revolt. There were even talks that Harish Rawat had met Gadkari and was going
to take the CM’s oath with support from BJP, but Pritam Singh got Harish this
time and his planning collapsed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Pritam
was rewarded with the Home Ministry and rich department of PMGSY and now as the
State Congress President; otherwise making the party president on 2%
population, is nothing short of committing suicide for any political party - Pritam
has also spent some time with BJP previously and belongs to a Scheduled Tribe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Bahuguna's
countdown started when he ignored Kishore Upadhyay’s candidature and promoted his
son Saket for contesting the Lok Sabha by-election; and his son lost the
election. After Bahuguna was removed, Harish Rawat was made the CM, and the
party started breaking up, Satpal Maharaj joined BJP the following day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Kishore
Upadhyay was made the Congress State President, the pair of Rawat and Upadhyay
won the Assembly by-elections and local body elections. Such was the strength
of the government under this pair that it survived even when 10 Congress MLAs
tricked the Party and joined the BJP. Indeed, the Congress government would not
have survived if Kishore Upadhyay had not run the 'Save Democracy' movement and
brought people on the road. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">But
the damage had been done. Pradeep Tamta’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha weighed
heavy on Congress. The Congress workers sat at home because of insult by its
President. Congress was reduced to 11 – Harish Rawat lost the election from
both the places; Kishore Upadhyay also lost the election because of the rebel
candidate of the Congress. Upadhyay was removed from the post of party president
– the Party has not answer as to why he was removed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Since
then, the Congress has been on a gradual slope, losing every election – the Lok
Sabha elections were even worse, Pritam Singh and Harish Rawat lost badly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Today,
the Chief Minister and the entire government are steeped in corruption, but the
Congress leaders are doing nothing, banking only on anti-incumbency. Till the
time the Congress does not coordinate efforts between its four leaders and
regions, victory in the 2022 elections will be like a mirage for the Congress
party. They need to understand that they are fighting against the Modi-Shah
pair and not against Trivendra Rawat. If Harish Rawat and Kishore Upadhyay can
revive their chemistry and work together, the Congress can come back into power
– every common Congressman understands this. It is time for those in power to
understand and act on this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">(The
author is a former journalist and former University lecturer.)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-18764290944315394372021-06-08T09:24:00.012-07:002021-06-09T01:41:21.668-07:00Can BJP govt. tame the beast (Twitter)?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShZs7oFtpfrEVBess4VcOXOdH5jdu5eqsnLhF3NNGPw0evtNr_0sIuiwj8jSP4oxa5UkdWUhIujTt8Hn5AgH1AV_lMLsEeC8CnxwDcFHVASxo8T3n8va-DHCK5s1gnqiWyK5yF8kXshE2/s2560/twitter+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShZs7oFtpfrEVBess4VcOXOdH5jdu5eqsnLhF3NNGPw0evtNr_0sIuiwj8jSP4oxa5UkdWUhIujTt8Hn5AgH1AV_lMLsEeC8CnxwDcFHVASxo8T3n8va-DHCK5s1gnqiWyK5yF8kXshE2/s320/twitter+logo.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mukesh Devrari</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7512af9-7fff-b0f8-576b-0b5bab2fd641" style="font-family: times;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter’s outright refusal to accept India’s domestic laws is remarkable. It refused to accept the Information Technology Act 2000 and ignored the govt. order regarding the removal of certain accounts and hashtags. It has also refused to appoint the officials to coordinate with the government and instead provided an address of a private law firm to file any grievances against the company. Rather Twitter is trying to pressurize the BJP govt. by launching an international campaign with the help of western media outlets. It would not be unjustified to argue that BJP is over-cautious despite the contempt Twitter has shown for India's parliament and its domestic laws.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The legal position regarding the freedom of speech and expression is settled in India. The constitution allows reasonable restrictions on all fundamental rights enshrined in part III of our constitution. In fact, the Parliament can make any law in India, if it encroaches on fundamental rights, the appeal can be made directly to High Courts and Supreme Court of India for remedial measures. The courts can decide whether the restrictions imposed on individuals by the said law are reasonable or not. In other words, courts test the constitutionality of the laws and only the higher judiciary can arbitrate the dispute between Indian citizens and the state, not any private company.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter’s refusal to obey domestic laws in India raises many questions. Can the state regulate the content on social networking sites? Can the state force social networking sites to remove the content as per IT act 2000? Is it possible for Twitter to reject India’s internet sovereignty and continue its business activities as usual in India? Is it appropriate on the part of Twitter to argue that its internal rules will prevail over the laws made by India’s parliament? Is it possible for Twitter to show similar contempt for the laws created by European Union or US legislature?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This issue also raises some questions related to the BJP government. Why BJP government is keen to initiate the regulatory process to ensure social networking companies follow domestic laws? Why has the BJP government taken no action against Twitter even after it refused to obey India’s domestic laws? Does the BJP government’s declining legitimacy is the reason behind its proselytizing before Twitter and the meek response of the Information and Broadcasting minister? Can the BJP government initiate a process to control the social networking sites operating in India due to their global influence? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, The question of regulating social media emerged again after Twitter refused to obey the orders of the govt. of India regarding blocking of 250 users and hashtags to maintain public order. The US monopoly insisted on judging the content on the basis of its own understanding of what is within and what is outside the purview of section 69 of IT act 2000. The US-based Twitter officials appointed themselves self-styled judges to adjudicate whether maintaining public order requires blocking certain users and hashtags under the IT act or not. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the farmers protest on 26 January 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ordered Twitter to remove more than 250 accounts and hashtags as they are violative of section 69 A of the IT act. Twitter removed the content but restored many of the blocked accounts a few hours later. The US company questioned the govt. of India’s order and argued that “stock phrases and exaggerations / crude emotional appeals did not constitute inflammatory speech”, so they do not violate the community standards of Twitter and it declined to abide by the government order.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The govt. Insisted that Twitter’s argument is meritless. The govt. is under no obligation to plead in front of a private US company to prove the legality and constitutionality of its orders and laws. Twitter cannot assume the role of the courts to adjudicate the legality and constitutionality of govt. orders and laws. If the rules have not been applied as per the provisions of the act or violative of the fundamental rights of the citizens, even then only courts can provide relief. Twitter cannot have any say in it. If it is willing to help citizens in safeguarding it can provide legal assistance to the affected individuals in courts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter is a political platform and its confrontation with govt. of India raises many questions. First, can twitter refuse to obey domestic laws? Can it act as an appellate authority to decide how to regulate freedom of speech in India? Can it force govt. of India to plead in front of its management as the government pleads in courts in front of judges to prove its case? Will it be possible for Twitter to function in India if it refuses to accept the IT Act? Does BJP govt. capable to deal with US companies with deep political connections in the US administration? Can India survive the onslaught of US companies and western propaganda machine in the long run?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can Twitter refuse to obey India’s domestic laws and claim immunity from India's internet sovereignty while continuing to provide services in the country?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The answer is a little complicated. IT Act empowers govt. to restrict the narratives on social media for maintaining public order. It is difficult to describe exactly at what appoint public order is threatened by words, gestures, messages, texts and other postings on social media. This ambiguity has a purpose, it empowers the state to use its discretion to maintain law and order. In any case, there cannot be any mathematical answer to the subjective phrase ‘maintaining law and order’. The govt has to decide the time of its intervention by taking all factors into consideration. Though the courts have a final say in the matter. If govt’s accusations were found exaggerated against the protestors, then they are unlikely to survive the scrutiny in the courts. It would be fair to assume that a private US company cannot claim that it will not abide by India’s domestic laws, but will continue to function in the country. It is not a tenable position. No Indian company can dream about belittling the people of the United States and its govt. by refusing to obey their domestic laws while insisting on its right to do business in the country. What makes Twitter a highly dangerous platform is that it has no sympathy with the unity and integrity of India, while it can provide various separatist groups and their sympathizers to launch their propaganda against India.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can Twitter act as an appellate authority to adjudicate the dispute between citizen/s and the government regarding the limitations on freedom of speech in India?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every law made by the parliament is valid if it is not violative of part III of India’s constitution. The courts in India can declare all the laws or govt orders encroaching on the fundamental rights as null and void. The right to freedom of speech and expression is also not an absolute right in India. The constitution allows imposition of various reasonable restrictions on many grounds including the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency and morality, contempt of court, defamation, incitement to an offence and sovereignty and integrity of India. No private individuals or group of individuals or private companies operating in India refuse to obey the laws made by India’s parliament. As far as the application of the law is concerned, only the court of law is an appropriate forum to decide any dispute including the high-handedness on the state. The law enforcement agencies cannot be expected to plead in front of employees of Twitter before requesting the removal of content once it is found violative of the sections of any existing law in their view, irrespective of whether they are right or wrong in using their discretion. It would be inappropriate for Twitter to claim the supremacy of its internal rules over India’s laws and show complete disdain for India’s internet sovereignty. The US internet companies are welcome to make as much money as they want in India but their attempts to manipulate domestic disputes and disagreements and question the authority of our elected government must be tackled with utmost urgency. Regulating Twitter is essential as it runs the largest online political public sphere in India and has too much power to manipulate the political debates in India by citing its internal rules. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Will it be possible for Twitter to function in India if it refuses to accept the IT Act passed by our parliament?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-993fa25a-7fff-9c2b-1a6a-8a124ee4ca63" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is difficult to answer this question. The BJP govt. has already been demonized by various protesting groups outside India. It has no credibility or trust of an international community, although they don’t have any direct say in the governance of India still as the world’s largest democracy governments’ are prone to the pressure of national and international public opinion. The large US social media companies are disturbed by the fact that the nationalist forces in India are not in favour of the monopoly of US companies while the country has the talent and potential to generate their regional rivals easily as China has done in the past two decades. It would be difficult for the ruling government in India to fix Twitter in the short run, but if Twitter continued to reject govt. orders on various spurious grounds then the bureaucratic machinery might make it difficult for Twitter to survive in India. In other words, in the short term, Twitter might get away with rejecting govt. of India and its request to cooperate in maintaining the public order, but in the long run, Twitter will have to submit before the law or pack its bag in India altogether. Though it is also important to understand that Twitter is a propaganda tool in the hands of the US establishment. Recently it played, along with Google, a crucial role in ousting President Donald Trump from office. It has deep connections with the Biden administration, which can pressurize the Modi government to proselytize before Twitter. Again it is difficult to gauge to what extent the pressure on the BJP government will work.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Can India survive the onslaught of US companies and western propaganda machine in the long run?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India is a diverse country with multiple faultlines. There are many pressure groups. People have lots of genuine reasons to be dissatisfied and angry. The extreme poverty, lack of resources, huge population, illiteracy, religious differences, violence, linguistic and ethnic diversity make matters worse. Many of its states have seen secessionist movements. The govt. of India already deployed a disproportionate amount of military and paramilitary forces to control the Islamic militancy in Kashmir. The Muslim intelligentsia due to the continuous efforts of Pakistan and partially due to the horrible image of BJP leaders started seeing Kashmir as a contest between Muslims and the Hindu majority in India. The entire North East has gone through violent phases. The secessionist movement in Punjab led to the killing of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no magical power to keep India united in the face of increasing adversities. It is important to constantly inculcate the feeling of brotherhood among its population and mutual respect for its diversity among the people. Twitter is doing just the opposite. It is magnifying the differences. Right now, only 16 million Indians use it, but it is only a matter of time before it becomes 160 million and 320 million and so on. Then it will be very difficult for the BJP government to bring it under the existing or new regulatory mechanism. It would be wrong to assume that the propaganda on Twitter by vested interests can disintegrate India but it can definitely exacerbate the differences. If India and the energy of its people and government will be focused on managing the dissent, then the economic progress of the country likely to suffer and scarce resources will be diverted to maintain the public order. If this happens the future of India will suffer as the ability to attain economic progress and development will be compromised. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter is a dangerous political platform. It is an American company that has created a global political public sphere for political discussions. It has a monopoly except for China. It is a powerful tool in the hands of western countries to launch propaganda campaigns. China is the only country in the world that anticipated the power of the internet and regulated it properly to safeguard its overall interests at the very outset. While India did not insist on internet sovereignty and ignored its long-term interests. India ignored its vulnerability while overestimating the strength of its democratic ethos and its ability to keep the country united in the face of challenging domestic circumstances.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is a well-crafted misconception that Twitter is merely a platform. Rather it is a party to the debate. It has formulated its own guidelines about the views, opinions and perspective expressed by the users. As it is an American company it has no sensitivity towards the concerns of other countries. It played a crucial role in destabilizing Muslim nations of the Middle East. The power of Twitter can be understood by the fact that it openly targeted the President of the United States Donald Trump at the end of its tenure as he was losing elections and promoted the rival candidate Joe Biden, while Google also removed emerging rival of Twitter ‘Parler’ from its Google play store ensuring its monopoly. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Our government must weigh the long-term consequences of allowing India to be completely controlled by US internet companies. It must not be difficult to understand that if private companies or individuals refuse to obey laws, then it will soon lead to the anarchy and collapse of the state itself. As a liberal market economy, India cannot stop international companies to make money in India. In fact, we should encourage it, but if these companies want to do business in India without submitting themselves to our laws. Then they must be reigned in.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">(End..)</span></p></span></div></span>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-47447885221467364672021-05-18T07:56:00.008-07:002021-05-22T08:55:46.884-07:00Unethical world – Covid pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of Asia and Africa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkgXwZ39eJRHMp7EomJWWhyxJ0vFk_a-PYWYYH8E2-7zq2FjbGiYKxUCOxMJ9pKf1Xq0gxFv_3OAcfs4_0eYLSsHzSurR05FpwEZ1paXmPbXxgdAXhHD3H-Nijv55J4Ag_lLI7PRK63ZF/s651/12345.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkgXwZ39eJRHMp7EomJWWhyxJ0vFk_a-PYWYYH8E2-7zq2FjbGiYKxUCOxMJ9pKf1Xq0gxFv_3OAcfs4_0eYLSsHzSurR05FpwEZ1paXmPbXxgdAXhHD3H-Nijv55J4Ag_lLI7PRK63ZF/s320/12345.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Mukesh Devrari</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Are we living in the most unethical era of human history? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is in the affirmative. The Covid has again reminded us how ‘selfish’ human beings are. Perhaps the states in the modern world have jettisoned their cruelty in dealing with their own citizens, but much has not changed beyond that. In the late 20th century the western society argued that the emergence of globalization and liberalization will bring freedom, liberty and prosperity across the globe. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>The west swore by the virtues of globalization and its imminent advantages. Paeans have been written about the benefits and inherent efficiency of the interconnected and globalized world. As li</span><span>fe on this planet is controlled by western nations. The ideas pushed by the west followed in other continents as well. They decide the ethics, contours of
conscience, morality and preach that we are living in a rule-based order. It
looks appropriate that there should be a rules-based world order, but those rules
must not be backed by the ruthless economic and military strength of the United States and other western powers. It must be powered by ethics.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Though it is still a utopia. It cannot happen because the education introduces globally trained people to work as intellectual militia. These intellectual mercenaries mostly created by western educational institutions and think tanks use their skills to protect the empire and advance its interests. The Asian counterparts of these western tools are almost as unscrupulous as their western ones. Otherwise, the world is a simple place where we all are born perhaps with some sense of moral right and wrong. That is the reason the minimal voices pertaining to justice and ethics are still alive.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>During my two
years in New Zealand, I learned a lot about the collective nature of western
societies by observing people around. Earlier I believed in the myth propelled by the westernized Indians and
international think tanks that India and western nations are
natural partners and allies as they are tied by the modern man’s commitment to
rights, democracy and rule-based world order. </span><span>The purpose of the narrative around natural allies is
to subjugate India’s collective consciousness. Nothing can be further from the truth. </span><span>Maybe the nation-states have some similarities, but that cannot be extended to people. </span><span>India and western societies have nothing in common. Both might have elections to choose their government but similarities end at the point. There is nothing common beyond that, which is not common between Chinese, North Koreans with westerners, meaning people living in democracies and non-democracies </span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">This popular narrative also flies on the face of the lived experience of Indians
abroad. It is essential to outline that Indian communities cannot attain any
dignity globally unless India is counted as one of the poorest countries on the planet. Western societies are highly materialistic. How much various communities are valued in the west could be directly proportionate to their economic status in the comity of nations. India's first Prime Minister Nehru perhaps understood the natural alliance between populations of the East as achieved by westerners among themselves later on through the conceptualization of the European Union and
other forms of cooperation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Currently, e</span><span>ntire Africa
and Asia are suffering immensely due to Covid-19, but the United States refused to waive patents on vaccines or
supply vaccines to poor nations until the entire west is vaccinated. The United States kept the price of vaccines at such a
level that poor countries can barely afford it. The vaccine developed by
Oxford-AstraZeneca, which is less effective, was used as a cover to indulge in
profiteering by the western countries and their pharmaceutical companies. While
China offered help to all countries to manufacture their Covid vaccines to
generate goodwill for itself. Not only that, the United States stopped the supply of raw material to India to halt the manufacturing of Covid vaccines in the country as Modi govt. was using the contract manufacturing of Oxford-AstraZaneca vaccine by Serum Institute, the largest manufacturer of vaccines globally, to promote itself globally. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">But all of this did not even initiate a proper debate about the role of the United States in stretching the impact of the Covid pandemic globally. Why public intellectuals, journalists, authors, government officials, politicians in the global south are simply incapable of underlining the western contempt and disdain for the lives of people in third world countries. The vaccine for Covid has been developed in the US, but countries like India, China, Brazil, Nigeria can reverse engineer it in months if not in weeks. But the United States insisted that western pharmaceutical companies have the right to profit from the pandemic. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">We did not see any
discussion on this issue in our national media? The international media is
obviously controlled by western powers, but did you see the raging debate in
your national media, forget about the outrage against the US for patent terror. What
happened to our self-respect and dignity? While our parents, grandparents,
friends, relatives, acquaintances, and family members facing life threats due
to the resurgence of the Covid pandemic, the US-led by Joe Biden, not racist
Donald Trump, refused to make vaccines accessible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">The most disappointing aspect of this crisis is the failure of India to express the global outrage towards western behaviour. The Indian public intellectuals and political class behaved like pliable domesticated canine of the west. What is more troubling was the ruling regime calls itself nationalist. Like the slaves of the past, the master will throw the leftover food from his plate in the rubbish bin, then the slaves survive by eating it. It has come down to this level. The behaviour of the United States must open our eyes in the East. It has brought the role of naked power in full public display in fixing the rules for governing human society. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">The west used its brutal power to shape the world and camouflaged it as a system run by ethics. The nationalists in India should carefully observe the world and must understand that our long term well-being lies in the strength of our country. Modi government appeared clueless, helpless, confused, uninformed, inefficient and incapable amidst Covid crises. It indulged more in rhetoric and propaganda than in any substantial efforts to confront the challenge. India must learn a lesson from the pandemic and ensure in coming years that we must remain dependent on the West for essentials. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">(End.)</span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-57503511944952685422021-02-06T07:05:00.004-08:002021-02-06T07:14:38.138-08:00Can we have parks & playgrounds for kids and the elderly in Dehradun?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6HsvlKCpsrZQRHDH_Rm_k0WGVLYYC98fdyGjsk7qMs3cwoE4dYx8i8MtsMMJT_AIdmWDKqSFCVoWl3tDEIw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mukesh Devrari</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If the children have some inherent, inalienable natural
rights then right to access to playground should be among the top. Although Uttarakhand
has a decent proportion of green cover, still most of our children in
large cities like Dehradun do not have access to any greenery. What makes the
situation more ironic is, most of the small private schools also do not have
any playground. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Most parents also do not look for the playground in
schools. The aspirational lower-middle-class families send their children to
private English medium schools, their focus is on English medium, they are
least bothered about outdoor sports amenities. Only the renowned private schools
have proper indoor and outdoor sports facilities but only the children of highly
rich, powerful, influential and people having connections with high and mighty
can find a place there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The result is millions of kids are growing up in our
cities and they have no access to parks and playgrounds. They all are fond of
cricket or will be fond of it, but none of them has played it in a proper playground.
It is difficult to gauge the long-term health implications on the human body, physiological
as well as psychological, due to the absence of physical activities while
growing up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is needless to point out that the quality of life
in India is extremely low, Uttarakhand is no exception. The Dehradun is,
particularly in a terrible shape. Since, the creation of the separate state in
1999, people from all over the state flocked to Doon Valley to build a house partly
because it emerged as the centre of power and partly because of its mesmerizing
weather and lush green surrounding mountains. Nature had blessed it with beauty.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Although everything has been depleted in the last two
decades as the population of the Dehradun has been increased many folds. All
Lichi orchards, Basmati rice fields and vacant lands in the nearby villages
have been converted into plots for the newly arrived population from various districts
of Uttarakhand and other parts of the country. It is almost a dream for every
middle-class family in Garhwal region to have a house in Dehradun. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This led to the emergence of unplanned colonies with
narrow roads (12 to 20 feet wide). Millions of people are living in these
colonies. Gradually the single-story buildings are being doubled, rural areas
are being brought under the municipality, shops are emerging all around. There
is hardly any space on road. The people walking on the streets, vegetable
vendors pushing their carts, two-wheelers, cars, buses and autos are jostling for
a space in narrow roads and honking on each other for no reason. So, far there
intense hawking could hardly wake up our decision-makers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is a hell on earth. You do not need to do bad things
before you die to reach there, just settle down in any large north Indian city.
Particularly during the peak hours, it generally takes more than one hour to
cover the distance of five kilometres in the main city. Unfortunately, no
government has done anything to solve the problem, partially because the people
with vested interests are extremely powerful and commoners are probably infirm
and irresolute. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In all major roads, the footpaths are completely
encroached by the shopkeepers and all of them come together against the
administration if it tries to remove the encroachment. Similarly, people also accept
the current situation as normal as most of them have never seen anything
different in their lives. The situation is getting worse as day by day as more
and more new vehicles are plying on the roads, high rise buildings are emerging,
and population density is increasing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The civil society groups must sensitize the
bureaucracy and the political class about the need to build parks and playgrounds
in the city. It will add quality to the life of people. It is also important to
note that bureaucrats and politicians who run our city and the state are also
the product of the same society, they also have no referent to imagine and
think properly. Most of them have knowingly closed their eyes and try to cope up
with this deficiency by using their clout and money to ensure that their
children and locality get access to parks, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor
sports amenities, while others suffer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully, a day will come when parents in Uttarakhand
will demand the playground and park for their children, even though a small one
is sufficient so that children can run, laugh, chase each other, ride on their cycle
and a toy car, while their parents and grandparent watch them while sitting
under a tree on the wooden bench. Hopefully, it is not too much to ask for to
our insensitive bureaucracy and elected representatives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">(End.)</span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-88143425628723614132021-01-03T08:32:00.012-08:002021-01-03T09:35:48.879-08:00Myth of Vajpayee <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaax-GrHObV3jt2DdJBRFpG5YZKopQTiMXOyhrBhorbK7PSX8JtWG6n2IRbKu7wgQtYf4Cf-4xPmXR-jpVXCUt-iBvX9NhdAjzZ7Sgsk9TKGW8DppWHFodMz11HbLPzEOMqeVV3ZJl1mt/s2048/Vajpayee+book+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaax-GrHObV3jt2DdJBRFpG5YZKopQTiMXOyhrBhorbK7PSX8JtWG6n2IRbKu7wgQtYf4Cf-4xPmXR-jpVXCUt-iBvX9NhdAjzZ7Sgsk9TKGW8DppWHFodMz11HbLPzEOMqeVV3ZJl1mt/s320/Vajpayee+book+cover.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif">Mukesh Chandra Devrari <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Book Review: Title - Vajpayee:
The Years that changed India, Author - Shakti Sinha, Publisher - Penguin Random
House India Private Limited, Kindle price – 387 Rupees</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee enjoys a mythical status in the history of non-Congress
politicians who could reach the zenith of political power in India despite his
humble origins. His mesmerizing poetry,
powerful speeches, commitment to constitutional morality and devotion to the centre
to right ideology was remarkably down to earth. He was a diamond in a coal
mine. Due to his humility and demeanour, he was described a</span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">s</span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> the right man in the wrong party by liberals in India. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Former private secretary
of Prime Minister Vajpayee Shakti Sinha recently published a book titled, ‘Vajpayee:
The Years that Changed India’. It is difficult to say what was his purpose of
writing the book. If the purpose of the author was to establish his illustrious former boss
as larger than life figure than he achieved just opposite of what he intended
to do. The book is a story of limitations of Vajpayee as a human being, the
chaos in the coalition, his inability to successfully manage exacting coalition
partners amidst his desperation to save his government. </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">The book provides no new
information or perspective. It carries marginal errors as well. It mentions that
the state of Uttarakhand was created in 2003. The state was created in 1999. The
struggle of the PM Vajpayee to maintain the coalition government against all
odds have been well recorded in the mainstream media during his tenure. The
book attempts to establish Vajpayee as foreign policy stalwart but surprisingly fails
in doing it as well, neither it succeeded in telling the tale of Vajpayee years
with any refreshing standpoint.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Even during his heydays
also the opposition parties dismissed Vajpayee as a communal politician. Although,
PM Vajpayee was reluctant to stand by the controversies and was sensitive to
the international criticism of his government unlike the current PM Narendra
Modi and his acolytes. It is well known that during the demolition of Babri
Mosque Vajpayee decided to stay away from Ayodhya in 1992. The book makes no
attempt to vindicate Vajpayee of the charges of communalism levelled against him
in any meaningful manner. </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Liberal media argued that
during the Vajpayee’s term also BJP promoted cultural domination of Hindus and demonized
minorities. The radical Hindu outfits felt emboldened to indulge in violence. The
nature of problems erupted during the Modi’s tenure are similar to the problems
surfaced significantly during Vajpayee’s tenure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">The author established
Vajpayee as a mere mortal who while in office as PM was way behind his prime.
He was forgetting things, lacked the confidence to deliver extempore speeches
and concerned about the content of important speeches on most of the occasions.
As per the book, Vajpayee was so much stressed with the tantrums of coalition
partners that he could barely focus on governance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">The book mentions in
great detail his tendency to forget things like one shoe in the car before interacting
with media, hearing aids and other things due to excessive stress and increasing
age. This book is definitely not a hagiography of Vajpayee if the author attempted
to write an exalted account of one of independent India's greatest politicians,
then he has miserably failed in it, in fact, the book has achieved the exact opposite.
</span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">There was a belief in the vast population that Vajpayee was never a power-hungry and he spent most of his
life in opposition, it did not personally matter to him whether he is in power
or not, whether he is PM or not. His commitment to ideology and national
interest (the way he sees it) is above any government office, and not having an
office could not compromise his ability, neither could ever compromise in the
past, to work to serve the country.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">Anyone started a
political career in the 1950s with RSS affiliate Jan Sangh could not have
joined the party for the lust of power, those men and women could be only
driven by the commitment to the cause and ideology, as no would have imagined
in the wild dreams that one day RSS's affiliate organization will dethrone the
extraordinary hold of Indian National Congress on people.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">In this context, it is
remarkable to read that Vajpayee’s eyes were full of tears after losing the
majority in the lower house as his coalition partners decided not to support the
BJP-led NDA government any longer and ensure its fall in 1998. Readers will be
simply shocked by the revelation, after all, it can’t be Vajpayee, no other
politician in India can care less about power. </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif">(End.)</span></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-67517954573596058852020-11-14T07:44:00.006-08:002020-11-16T08:01:34.192-08:00Bacha Khan: One of pre-1947 India’s greatest leaders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2FlkoP3ewTin6jDufBs5qca5PGUsl1BCiwtHr3fVzbcFWuUtH6-n0SWNBKfB1HsmUJuoEqoF2l3Pm8ipVEEJVe_QzjDeV6gouA3Nlt-xZL9coCKxVqgkmOfGv9m-o4WShFSt6ioU8UdZ/s1024/Gandhi+%2526+Bacha+Khan+at+Peshwar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2FlkoP3ewTin6jDufBs5qca5PGUsl1BCiwtHr3fVzbcFWuUtH6-n0SWNBKfB1HsmUJuoEqoF2l3Pm8ipVEEJVe_QzjDeV6gouA3Nlt-xZL9coCKxVqgkmOfGv9m-o4WShFSt6ioU8UdZ/s320/Gandhi+%2526+Bacha+Khan+at+Peshwar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mukesh Devrari</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The tallest Pashtun
leader before the independence was Abdul Gaffar Khan, also known as Frontier
Gandhi. He was one of the most fascinating and towering figures of Indian
National Movement who preached truth and non-violence to his people who are
mostly known for their tribal culture of revenge. He was the pre-eminent figure
of Indian National Congress. “The British just about knew how to contend with
vegetarian Hindus who raised slogans rather than guns, but Bacha Khan’s
“unarmed army” of Pashtuns, which turned the martial race stereotype on its
head, left them completely bewildered” </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:
field-begin'></span><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ADDIN EN.CITE
<EndNote><Cite><Author>Shamsie</Author><Year>2016</Year><RecNum>404</RecNum><DisplayText>(Shamsie,
2016)</DisplayText><record><rec-number>404</rec-number><foreign-keys><key
app="EN" db-id="9ev9vr05pfd02le29tm55ta1ts552wwwptaa"
timestamp="1576028855">404</key></foreign-keys><ref-type
name="Newspaper
Article">23</ref-type><contributors><authors><author>Kamila
Shamsie</author></authors></contributors><titles><title>Why
Pakistan must never forget Bacha Khan, its great unsung
hero</title><secondary-title>The Guardian</secondary-title></titles><dates><year>2016</year><pub-dates><date>20
January</date></pub-dates></dates><urls><related-urls><url>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/20/bacha-khan-pakistan-terror-attacks-education-institutions</url></related-urls></urls></record></Cite></EndNote><span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Shamsie, 2016)</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">After Congress accepted
the partition plan, he famously said, “You have thrown us in front of the
wolves” </span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Calibri'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ADDIN EN.CITE <EndNote><Cite><Author>Tempest</Author><Year>1988</Year><RecNum>403</RecNum><DisplayText>(Tempest,
1988)</DisplayText><record><rec-number>403</rec-number><foreign-keys><key
app="EN" db-id="9ev9vr05pfd02le29tm55ta1ts552wwwptaa"
timestamp="1576024550">403</key></foreign-keys><ref-type
name="Newspaper
Article">23</ref-type><contributors><authors><author>Rone
Tempest</author></authors></contributors><titles><title>Ghaffar
Khan; ‘Frontier Gandhi’ of India</title><secondary-title>Los
Angeles Times</secondary-title></titles><dates><year>1988</year><pub-dates><date>21
January
</date></pub-dates></dates><urls><related-urls><url>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-21-mn-37192-story.html</url></related-urls></urls></record></Cite></EndNote><span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Tempest, 1988)</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">. “He rejected a separate Muslim homeland and sought instead to join
India to avoid Punjabi domination” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Schofield, 2011, p. 38)</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">. Due to his influence, many Muslims from the region migrated to India
at the time of partition </span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ADDIN EN.CITE
<EndNote><Cite><Author>Shukla</Author><Year>2016</Year><RecNum>402</RecNum><DisplayText>(Shukla,
2016)</DisplayText><record><rec-number>402</rec-number><foreign-keys><key
app="EN" db-id="9ev9vr05pfd02le29tm55ta1ts552wwwptaa"
timestamp="1576024061">402</key></foreign-keys><ref-type
name="Newspaper Article">23</ref-type><contributors><authors><author>Vivek
Shukla</author></authors></contributors><titles><title>The
idea of India</title><secondary-title>The
Hindu</secondary-title></titles><periodical><full-title>The
Hindu</full-title></periodical><dates><year>2016</year><pub-dates><date>August
14</date></pub-dates></dates><urls><related-urls><url>https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-idea-of-india/article7541445.ece</url></related-urls></urls></record></Cite></EndNote><span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Shukla, 2016)</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">. Although after Pakistan
was created and he also accepted and shared his vision of peaceful and
prosperous Pakistan, but he was never trusted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He was jailed by the
Pakistan establishment in 1956 to 1964. Then again, he was jailed in 1966 to
1974 without any charges. He spent a total of 47 years in jail or exile in his
life. He visited India in 1969 and admonished India as he was deeply disturbed
by the communal violence in the state of Gujarat, “You are forgetting the
teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the way you forgot Buddha.” He died almost at the
age of 98. Such was his stature in India that PM Indira Gandhi and his government
could not even respond to his </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">reprimand
and acted with urgency to stop the violence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He died at the age of 98
in 1988. As his last revolt against the injustices against his people, he
mentioned in his will a desire to be buried in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. That was
his revolt against the two-nation theory and peddlers of hate in the name of
religion. His life negates the two-nation theory and still inspires India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He ruled the hearts of his people (Pashtuns). His followers were known as ‘red shirts’. When Muslims across
the country were blinded by the Muslim League’s hate campaign against Congress
party and Hindus, the Pashtuns decided to vote for secular India under the
Congress party and rejected Jinnah’s communal politics. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Pashtuns have much more
in common with Afghans in terms of ethnicity and culture than the Punjab and
rest of India. After the partition of India on religious lines, the Pashtuns were
relegated on the sidelines by predominantly Punjabi military and politicians as
more than half of the population in Pakistan comes from Punjab. Pakistani politicians and
its military leaders even discontinued the census to avoid the delimitation of
seats in Pakistan’s self-styled legislature, also known as senate, to maintain
the status quo and avoid reconfiguring seats as per the changes in population in
different areas. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Pakistani rulers over the
years also forced Urdu down the throats of Pashtuns and tried their best to use
Islam to unite the country. The Pakistani military continues to suppress the
indigenous independence movement in the Pashtun territory who are struggling
either to merge with Afghanistan or to attain full independence from Pakistan. Afghanistan
also refuses to recognize the Durand Line, which divides Afghanistan and Pakistan
as it is an unresolved left-over issue of the region’s colonial past. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">References <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ADDIN EN.REFLIST <span style='mso-element:
field-separator'></span></span><![endif]-->Schofield, J. (2011). Diversionary
wars: Pashtun unrest and the sources of the Pakistan-Afghan confrontation. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, 17</i>(1),
38-49. doi:10.1080/11926422.2011.557283<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Shamsie, K.
(2016, 20 January). Why Pakistan must never forget Bacha Khan, its great unsung
hero.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Guardian</i>. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/20/bacha-khan-pakistan-terror-attacks-education-institutions">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/20/bacha-khan-pakistan-terror-attacks-education-institutions</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Shukla, V. (2016,
August 14). The idea of India.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Hindu</i>.
Retrieved from <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-idea-of-india/article7541445.ece">https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-idea-of-india/article7541445.ece</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Tempest,
R. (1988, 21 January ). Ghaffar Khan; ‘Frontier Gandhi’ of India.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Los Angeles Times</i>. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-21-mn-37192-story.html">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-21-mn-37192-story.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:107%'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-18164074068792424592020-08-16T05:16:00.003-07:002020-08-16T05:20:52.497-07:00 AILING HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN UTTARAKHAND, STILL SUFFERS FROM GOVT’S APATHY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4EihXL6nOQbIiGVw0z7hrzvDtRPDGxyKEshjNHJtH1CyaUdNGmfIassAqWLBDPWIMeHrJ5AxFaZwszTRgoi4cmS7dAE32flJH_Wx9T_xdb2H40b6TmLC2CmMdaJYh6UQ98eEqaI-9BR_/s325/screenshot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="263" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4EihXL6nOQbIiGVw0z7hrzvDtRPDGxyKEshjNHJtH1CyaUdNGmfIassAqWLBDPWIMeHrJ5AxFaZwszTRgoi4cmS7dAE32flJH_Wx9T_xdb2H40b6TmLC2CmMdaJYh6UQ98eEqaI-9BR_/w168-h208/screenshot.png" width="168" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mukesh
Devrari <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">India is
facing a severe health crisis, not due to coronavirus, but in general due to
the neglect of the healthcare sector for generations by the various union and
state government since independence in 1947. Over the years, governments’ have
given de facto acceptance to the idea that universal healthcare is not possible
in India. So, those who cannot afford healthcare should die as human society is
also akin to a jungle where only fit has a right to survive. This narrative
only shows the medieval mindset prevalent in India. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">BJP and
Congress are equally responsible for the terrible situation of the healthcare
sector in the state of Uttarakhand. Over the years, neither central nor state
governments have allocated adequate funds to the health sector. Not enough
hospitals, nursing colleges, pharmaceutical institutions were created in the
state. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Health and
education are the two most crucial sectors to ensure opportunities for upward
mobility. People expect that the government will ensure universal access to
healthcare and education, but nothing has been done to achieve these cherished
goals. Rather than investing in building new hospitals, the Uttarakhand
government preferred to provide healthcare insurance to the people as a panacea
for all troubles in the healthcare sector. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Uttarakhand
has seen a large-scale corruption due to the public-private partnership model to
run hospitals and health clinics. It is one of the great examples of how
bureaucrats and politicians abuse the PPP model. They make money by allotting
many government hospitals to private companies. Under the PPP model, government
hospitals were given to private companies or bids were invited from private
companies to run government hospitals in Uttarakhand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After
winning the bids, the private entities paid money to the bureaucrats and
politicians to ensure that there will be no scrutiny or audit of their
functioning. In some cases, instead of the physicians, these companies
appointed dentists in the hospitals to fulfil formalities on paper, most of the
patients were turned away on the grounds that there are no medicine and
facilities at the hospital, most patients were referred to other hospitals,
particularly the large ones still run by the government, who are catering to
lot more people than they are capable of, the result to they operate horribly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
decision-makers (bureaucrats and politicians) have no qualms in playing with
the lives of people as no one in government has any sense of care for fellow
citizens. Politicians, albeit a few, will prefer such a system as it helps them
in approaching the people during the elections, but nothing has been done so
far. Due to ruthlessness, rigidity and cruelty of policymakers, people living
in remote areas face most of the problems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Health
insurance fraud <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The govt.
of Uttarakhand decided to provide insurance to all citizens. The panel of
private hospitals was created. People were encouraged to access healthcare and
government was supposed to pay directly to the hospitals. The system worked
perfectly for some time. More than the patients, private hospitals were happy. Ordinary
people also responded positively as they could choose the hospitals based on
the level of service it provides. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Soon, these
private hospitals started inflating bills and the govt. officials involved in clearing
the bills took the bribe and started clearing those inflated bills. Due to extreme
corruption, the system collapsed earlier than expected. Govt. of Uttarakhand had
no money to clear the hospital bills. The hospitals also refused to provide
healthcare to people on the basis of government-provided health insurance as
their pending bills were not cleared on time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As private
hospitals in India are for-profit businesses, they are not doing any charity.
So, the entire plan by govt. not to invest in building hospitals and appointing
staff in the existing hospitals but to encourage private healthcare operators
to benefit from the universal healthcare scheme collapsed. Although it looks
promising on paper to provide healthcare to all citizens. If implemented
properly it could have immensely helped the private healthcare service
providers as well as people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So far, there
are countless stories of women giving birth to a child on their way to the hospital
and dying on roadside or narrow waking lanes which connect villages to motor
road. In fact, hospitals are a dream. But pain and the sorrow of economically
weaker sections of society never bother our bureaucrats and policymakers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Way
forward <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
government must create one hospital in every district with basic facilities.
There cannot be any excuse for this. Access to healthcare cannot be ensured by
piecemeal measures. There cannot be any short cut for it. The places like
Dehradun have five medical colleges in fifty kilometres, but people in Chamoli,
Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Champawat and other remote districts do not even have
the one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you will
allow me to compare our healthcare system with New Zealand. Kiwis don’t have
any concept of paying for health and medicine. If you are ill, old and sick,
you will get the best healthcare nation can offer. It does not matter whether you
were an engineer or bureaucrat or a labourer all your life. Healthcare
facilities are the same for every citizen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">End.</span></span></b></p><p></p>Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-18929856113537646632020-07-18T21:53:00.002-07:002020-08-22T07:42:05.849-07:00HARISH RAWAT: THE GREATEST ‘UTTARAKHANDI’ POLITICIAN OF OUR TIMES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3kcLJeEA4lIpnmvq0lmU2QNYy5rQWJrEXKN9qBRJwxl3Wf-bexvGgras10_icWV0gAn6IDjiv5CWtRJf4izRNA8uNPLMkVtFDMkpEIkNHh_IQSk_P2mbJ-I4HW75eTUYArr5Ilii9qps/s1600/harish+rawat+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3kcLJeEA4lIpnmvq0lmU2QNYy5rQWJrEXKN9qBRJwxl3Wf-bexvGgras10_icWV0gAn6IDjiv5CWtRJf4izRNA8uNPLMkVtFDMkpEIkNHh_IQSk_P2mbJ-I4HW75eTUYArr5Ilii9qps/s320/harish+rawat+.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Mukesh Devrari</span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The tiny state of Uttarakhand has produced many great
politicians in the past who have played an important role in the politics of
Congress Party. The legacy of great Uttarakhandi leaders starts with Govind
Ballabh Pant, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, Murli Manohar Joshi, Narayan Dutt Tiwari
and Yogi Adityanath and perhaps ends with Harish Rawat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harish Rawat is the only politician who satisfies masses intellectually while remaining extraordinarily connected to the people, culture and their customs. He is the one who can debate on a national
television channel on contentious issues and can also patiently hear villagers
who visit his house for seeking help almost every day in large number. Even his
opponents suggest that no one understands the state of Uttarakhand better than Harish Rawat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He is perhaps the most suitable candidate to rule the
state. He is our public intellectual who understands the pitfalls of national
politics and fully aware of Uttarakhand’s geographical challenges and aspirations of people
living in remote parts of the state. He is also one of the most hardworking politicians who work day and night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Many of his admirers claim that BJP’s Trivendra Singh
Rawat could remain as CM so far because Harish Rawat chose not to shake his
chair too much. He prefers TSR over other leaders who might not be as subdued
and grounded as the current Chief Minister is. Except some of the shameful incidents
of personal arrogance on the public platform on petty issues, BJP Chief Minister is almost
invisible in the state. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Recently TSR has taken a symbolic decision to declare
Gairsain as the summer capital, apart from this there is nothing to recall about
his legacy of three and a half years. In the first half of 2021, assembly
elections will be held. It is highly likely that government in Uttarakhand will
change due to the mishandling of Corona pandemic, economic downturn and invisible
state government. Although people are fiercely expressing their loyalty to
Prime Minister Modi, who has escaped untarnished even after failing miserably
in tackling the economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In Uttarakhand, no other politician can match Harish
Rawat’s stature and simplicity. He is single-handedly trying to keep Congress
alive in the state. Although he is working on his own plank and there is hardly
any coordination with the PCC President Pritam Singh, who is also powerful and
hardly dependent on anyone to win elections in his constituency. Pritam Singh has
been elected consistently to the legislative assembly which his father also
represented for the long period of time. Now he is grooming his son to replace
him. Although he is not as active as previous PCC President Kishore Upadhyay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The short tenure as Chief Minister, which was given to
Harish Rawat by removing Vijay Bahuguna, is also becoming his curse. His party colleagues
opposed him tooth and nail & finally revolted against him. They joined BJP
and went on to win the assembly elections. The liquor scam also badly hit Harda's image, as he is popularly called in the media. Despite all these limiting factors his name evinces interest, respect
and sense of amazement due to his political perseverance. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Recent examples of his sharp observations and
narratives. Recently a journalist posed a question to him, “is it an achievement
that people of Uttarakhand produced a great leader like you or it is their
greatest failure”. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There are no doubt people in Uttarakhand sow trees
but as those trees grow and spread their roots, the people also continuously
shake them. What to say about people here”, he complained. “The history of the region
has been replete with the stories of people turning their back on their leaders
at the most crucial moment of political life. You can stand in shade only if
you will allow the trees to grow after planting them”, he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Author: Mukesh Devrari) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-63609457968440634372020-07-14T06:45:00.000-07:002020-07-14T07:12:37.732-07:00CPC MUST ACCEPT LAC AS THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER FOR PEACE <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3gM98yo3JPcNk4-pfFdPeBcXhjdLuDC2x_H9mqM6hgazr4E3gYHQiJDGz4TDtmyajEY0lY5i5Tr40G4pJw6kq2DvPjvFXC8ZmF5qz8sbmcPzyuUV2mOM1V-fhFTP-8bMb7n55hsih0L3/s1600/wikipedia+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="1579" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3gM98yo3JPcNk4-pfFdPeBcXhjdLuDC2x_H9mqM6hgazr4E3gYHQiJDGz4TDtmyajEY0lY5i5Tr40G4pJw6kq2DvPjvFXC8ZmF5qz8sbmcPzyuUV2mOM1V-fhFTP-8bMb7n55hsih0L3/s320/wikipedia+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Mukesh Devrari</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In my opinion, it is futile to seek confrontation for
few kilometres of land in this day and age on the grounds that hundreds of years
ago or thousands of years ago it belonged to us, now it belongs to our neighbours,
but we don’t accept it. China’s military may succeed in intruding at certain
places, but it would not be possible for China to substantially alter the 3488-kilometre
long boundary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If CPC thinks it can change the LAC as per its
imaginary borders with India military force, then it must be looking at the full-fledged
attack on India which might result in the killing of hundreds of thousands of
soldiers and civilians on both sides. If the human lives are important than it
is immaterial whether the widow lives in Shanghai or Mumbai. After much bloodshed,
even if China succeeds in capturing Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh and parts
of Union Territory of Ladakh. Will it be worth it? Although CPC can go to any extent to achieve its objectives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">China has built enormous infrastructure on its side of
LAC and India have no match for it either in terms of scale, investment and speed.
But India is trying moderately to create border infrastructure means roads,
bridges, helipads, airports for defence and civilian flights. The purpose of
all this infrastructure is to put a physical mark on the territory that it
belongs to India. And this infrastructure can also be used during the conflict
across the de facto border. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far CPC has refused to accept the ground realities.
It is not ready to accept LAC as an international border which India might
accept in the current circumstances. In an ideal situation, the LAC should be
converted into the international border with the exchange of minor enclaves
here and there. Without going into unnecessary details India and China can
treat each-others minor claims on LAC with the sense of sympathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India and Bangladesh solved their border dispute through
such minor exchange, it means India can no longer be demonized in Bangladesh
and the biggest obstacle in the absolute peace is over. India and China can do the same. But China wants the territory controlled by India and are not ready to compromise on its aggressive position on territorial disputes. </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">But if the boundary dispute resolves, China will be a bigger
beneficiary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">First, CCP ideologues also must understand India, beyond rhetoric,
will not participate in military adventuring against China’s legitimate interests.
But it reserves its right to establish good relations with the west and get the
best deal for India, not out of any sense of fear of China, but out of the Gandhian
ethos which has been reflected in the functioning of our democracy. Second,
China’s companies will get unbridled access to expand in India’s vast market.
It will convert many of China’s companies into truly global institutions.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India and China are different. India is not a multinational company run by a few for-profit, unlike China. It is at best a collective committed to the principles of global peace
and harmony, at the same time committed to protecting its existing boundaries however
others might perceive it. India is unlikely to hand over any territory to
anyone, neither to Islamic zealots of Pakistan nor to the ideologues of CPC to assuage
their thirst for territorial expansion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BJP’s emergence and few of its policies might be a minor
setback to this legacy but no individual or political party can change the
basis of harmony, peace, fraternity and other democratic values which are at
the core of the idea of India. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(the end..)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-44242780793929327112020-07-14T06:26:00.000-07:002020-07-14T06:26:09.157-07:00BANNING TIKTOK SENDS RIGHT MESSAGE TO CHINA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Mukesh Devrari </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Banning Tiktok in India is without a doubt a great
decision by BJP government after the killing of 20 Indian soldiers at the Line
of Actual Control at Union Territory of Ladakh. Globally the Tiktok has been
downloaded by more than 2 billion smartphone users and 30 per cent of its
customers are in India. If the Tiktok will be replaced by an Indian company, only
then this ban is worth it, other it is immaterial from India’s point of view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Otherwise, it makes no difference to our national
interest whether the parent company is from the United States or China or Congo.
Indian companies must intervene and capture the vacated market. They must offer
similar apps to users. The Communist Party of China’s (CPC) aggression at the border
gave this once in a lifetime opportunity for India’s businesses to capture the vacated
spaces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The CPC is responsible for the global downfall of Tiktok
& Huawei. First of all, China should use the opportunity of BJP having the power
to accept the Line of Control as an international border, otherwise, once the
BJP loses power, other parties might not even succeed in accepting the commonsensical
solution of the boundary dispute between the two nations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The columnists in Global Times are accusing BJP &
Prime Minister Modi of spreading hatred against China, but their accusations
cannot be far from the truth. Since 2014, BJP allowed trade deficit with China
doubled without ever questioning it. He met Chinese President and boasted about
his rapport with China’s leadership. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi is smart enough politician
to seek peace with greater power. It was reflected in his actions as well. China’s
multinational corporations were welcomed in India, even if many of them merely
assembled their products here and manufactured non-essential parts like
packaging boxes and so on. In return, CCP led by Xi Jinping decided to push for
territorial claim militarily irrespective of the costs, the result was killing
of 20 Indian soldiers who were trying to establish decades of status quo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is no point in discussing how relevant is the theory
of describing Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet or how valid are the claims of
China over Aksai Chin and vice versa. China attacked India in 1962 war and
seize the territory it considered its own. Then it returned the territory it
did not want desperately by unilaterally withdrawing its forces. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">China’s mentioned media with disdain, which is
reflective of views held by the Communist Party of China (CPC). China’s
scholars beyond the rhetoric of diplomats claim that India was not even a nation.
It was made one by Britishers. The scale of the diversity of ethnicity, religions,
languages and cultures is beyond the imagination of CCP imperialists who have
launched a concerted campaign to abolish people and cultures of Tibet and
Sinkiang region. The Chinese believe that the loose thread of Hinduism connects
India as a nation, otherwise there is nothing to keep it united. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is important to note that if China wants unbridled
access to India’s vast market, it cannot afford to appear belligerent on territorial
disputes. If CCP wants confrontation, hostility and enmity with India, then
China has already achieved it. It is extremely important for India’s leadership
and its bureaucrats, that China cannot cherry-pick the different aspects of bilateral
relationship as per its perceived national interest. It will not be acceptable to
anyone that on the boundary dispute China bullies India, but it wants normal
trading relations even after killing 20 Indian soldiers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is a fact that Indians are no saints, but their behaviour
with China is realistic. India is a status quo power, whether it is Pakistan or
China. It does not want any territory from anyone. If Pakistan and China are serious
about resolving border disputes, then there cannot be a more ripe time for resolving
it. China needs to think seriously that without having full access to India’s
market, none of its multinational companies can become global. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Imagine the 600 million customers and value this success
could generate for Tiktok in the long run. BJP CCP’s arrogance resulted in the collapse
of their great future. Still, it is not too late, rather than providing a self-serving
and foolish argument that there is no replacement of products India imports
from China. It is true in the short run, it will be difficult but in the long
run, if China persisted with its unilateral instigations and intrusions at the
border, that is exactly going to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(the end.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
</div>
Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-1008106635468135822020-04-21T20:03:00.003-07:002020-04-21T23:28:58.239-07:00BJP PUTS ECONOMY IN DANGER BY EXTENDING TOTAL LOCK-DOWN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1347" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNF2Vczz9fn0OmUrMhzTWbY9DZ6uj1ZRvfnoXfn1I47H8OJKbLEx9ggnz-v1ujjf3AsMcTwwL6vMimLObP2lKP1Hd6AumvTiBN6wzwoVbRr8nC9a1S-waS2qKfFk9CyU25-QJSO2wahR8/s400/WHO.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHO website marked the spread of coronavirus around the globe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNF2Vczz9fn0OmUrMhzTWbY9DZ6uj1ZRvfnoXfn1I47H8OJKbLEx9ggnz-v1ujjf3AsMcTwwL6vMimLObP2lKP1Hd6AumvTiBN6wzwoVbRr8nC9a1S-waS2qKfFk9CyU25-QJSO2wahR8/s1600/WHO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coronavirus has come as a danger not only to the life
chances of people but also to the livelihood of the people who work every day
and dependent on that money for survival. Apart from the government employees,
pensioners, people belonging to the upper-middle class, all others are facing questions
of survival. Large private companies are still paying to their employees, but small-scale
business cannot afford it.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The government should also think about the direct cash
transfer to ordinary people who are directly affected by the lockdown. Although
the US, China, Germany and a few other countries are likely to develop a vaccine
in coming months, it is very unfortunate that India could not develop anything
significant to deal with the virus. Once the vaccine hit the market India will
end up paying billions of dollars for the vaccine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a tragic reality that if COVID-19 lockdown
expanded further, India is simply unprepared for dealing with the coming health
crisis, neither for its economic fallout. Millions of people likely to lose their
life. Although the lethality of coronavirus is exaggerated in the media
reports. In any case, India simply does not have healthcare facilities to deal
with any serious pandemic, let along highly contagious coronavirus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thousands of Indians lose their lives even due to
fully treatable diseases including Malaria, Dengue, encephalitis, swine flu among
others. Due to extreme poverty hunger and malnutrition is also rampant in India.
Millions of children do not attain and develop their full cognitive capabilities
due to non-availability of nutritious food to the children and their mothers. Most
of us feel offended when other countries raise questions about the prevalence
of extreme poverty in India, but it’s a harsh truth. Closing our eyes and
avoiding discussion on it will not make the problem go away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a harsh reality this situation cannot continue
for too long. PM Narendra Modi, promised in 2014 general elections that better
days will come under his leadership. The country was facing tremendous challenges
of widespread corruption, indecisiveness and policy paralysis. Congress leaders
were minting money with impunity. Corruption was rampant. Reports of gobbling
of millions of dollars and black money became a major issue in the country. CAG
reports helped in generating the narrative. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Riding on the failures of UPA, Modi became Prime
Minister. His triumph was also the hope that things will be better. India will
become another China. It will emerge as another factory for the world. Reforms
will be started, corruption will be eradicated, the government will not
hesitate in taking hard decision to propel the growth. The government will spend
more infrastructure and supporting companies which have immense potential. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But unfortunately, PM Narendra Modi wasted his first
term. He relied on Congress style social welfare schemes to garner votes. His
flagship bullet train project could not even start. Export-led growth remained
a dream. His investments in constructing the world’s tallest building unlikely
to change anything in Gujarat either. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He should open the lockdown in stages. First work
should start with government departments. Then large industrial complexes and
then others. People should be allowed to travel in their vehicle. Public
transport can be remained closed for some more time. Construction activities should
start immediately. An opportunity should be given to daily labourers to return
to their hometown. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Without any job, labourers would not be able to survive
in cities as all construction has been suspended. The government must open the construction
industry, large mobile and car factories, software companies, retail outlets, pharmaceutical
companies. Essentials are already open. E-commerce should remain banned. Otherwise,
American companies will profit on the bleeding small traders as markets are
closed all over the country. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once Corona crisis is over, India must consider that
current stagnation due to political indecisiveness cannot continue for long. India
is so far a story of how opportunities are being lost. Apart from the democracy
and timely elections, we must prove that India is more than that. For a better
future, India needs new leadership who could concentrate on economic growth and
less interested in indecisive politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not easy to speak against Modi government. Corporate houses are afraid of retaliation by the government. Only Rajiv Bajaj has questioned the utility of continuous lockdown. It is just impossible to keep India locked until the vaccine hits the market. Businesses will go bankrupt and people will die of hunger. It is very unfortunate that India started with Gandhi,
Nehru and Ambedkar and almost 75 years down the line ended up with Narendra
Modi, Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The end.</span></div>
</div>
Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-33420100707513547602020-04-21T14:55:00.001-07:002020-04-21T18:12:50.103-07:00ARAB BACKLASH AGAINST HINDUS, TWITTER HATE ANGERS PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd49Sxzc8FJlYWmQ6OPO6F-yU4b57nF4I3F11ICr5zeqTjPSh1ngicgtr0PRoMj2eTJjyPOorfjuE5ttdrqn2E1w0aaLY_GmGSoXiFMjMWjwlCH5-wrvN2Szx7OpTjhivLEQA5Hyilv6NG/s1600/tweet+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="621" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd49Sxzc8FJlYWmQ6OPO6F-yU4b57nF4I3F11ICr5zeqTjPSh1ngicgtr0PRoMj2eTJjyPOorfjuE5ttdrqn2E1w0aaLY_GmGSoXiFMjMWjwlCH5-wrvN2Szx7OpTjhivLEQA5Hyilv6NG/s400/tweet+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mukesh Devrari</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Arab backlash cannot be ignored as Pakistani or Muslim
propaganda against India. It can be described as a genuine reaction against the
rising hatred in India. First of all, unlike Pakistanis, Arabs are not
negatively disposed towards India or Hindus. They have no reason to hate India.
Neither Indians know much about Arabs, except the ones who have travelled to the Middle East for work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">PM Narendra Modi and his party failed in governing the country. Rather than focusing on economic development in the last six years, BJP made the country hotbed for religious unrest and chaos. BJP leaders focused more on divisive issues than on development.
It was one of their ploy to hide their failures, critics argue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">In the latest development, Arabs public intellectuals have started
outlining how Indians are criticizing Islam and Muslims while living in Arab countries. Although there is
nothing wrong in criticizing the religion and religious practices but intent
must not be to spread violence and hate against the entire community. Twitter
is a place where people can stoop low to any extent. It’s full of threats, abuses,
fake pictures, videos, quotes, out of context references and so on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It is a very dangerous trend. It will have long term repercussions for India. Once it is established in Middle-Eastern countries that India is a
Hindu majority state and Muslims are being exploited by Hindus. India will become another Israel. It will be perceived as an enemy. Then, it will reflect
on other places as well. Till now, Pakistan has tried to create a parallel between Palestine
conflict and Kashmir dispute, but could not succeed in creating a rift between the Muslim world and
India beyond routine OIC statements. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Next time, Pakistani PM Minister Imran Khan or their citizens
settled abroad will make any allegations of human violations on India while raising
the Kashmir issue, Arab Muslims will be more receptive and inclined towards believing their lies. It means more money and support to Kashmiri separatists and Indian civil
society groups who are least bothered whether India stays as one unit or splits into
many countries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Pakistan has launched a concerted effort all over the
globe to demonize Hindus and India. It openly describes PM Narendra Modi as
fascist and Hitler. Indian Muslims also tried to attract the attention of President
Donald Trump by indulging in riots in New Delhi during his trip to India. In
this toxic atmosphere which is created by BJP leaders, Indians are losing their
respect and prestige all over the globe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Indians who have never travelled outside India must understand that if you keep aside India & China, most people on this planet either follow Islam or Christian. It does not make any sense to confuse Pakistan with
Islam. At the time of partition, the Muslim population in India was around 10 per cent.
Now it is around 14 per cent. As the population of Muslims are more than 200
million. Each one of them is a soldier and will fight back against the Hindu
extremists. If BJP persisted with its divisive policies, India will soon face a
civil war. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">All Muslim public intellectuals in the non-Muslim countries
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">stood up against the PM Modi. The entire western media
have written critical articles about Narendra Modi and India. Still, it is not
too late. This perception will be corrected in no time, but there is another
danger of Arab backlash on twitter. Most members of the royal family, who are
likely to rule the country in the coming decades in various capacities will
carry hate for India. They will start looking at India as a place which hates their religion. That
will be an extremely unfair view of the nation which allowed almost all religions of the
world to thrive within its boundaries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAL73yjCCCUg3R5mn08EopH6_7Oit3egHRzr4KZOXG6Dgt7lfCQnjJHQhtjZC_axhRpPX1MZjUUnGawsLNB4k45qGOZwZWNC1uXOQiy1fgoZiVpFHS4ztvZkGkvekpfcwngXN7ZJpdkAS/s1600/tweet+one.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="591" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAL73yjCCCUg3R5mn08EopH6_7Oit3egHRzr4KZOXG6Dgt7lfCQnjJHQhtjZC_axhRpPX1MZjUUnGawsLNB4k45qGOZwZWNC1uXOQiy1fgoZiVpFHS4ztvZkGkvekpfcwngXN7ZJpdkAS/s400/tweet+one.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Second, it can have long term impact on the well being
of millions of Indians living in the Arab Countries. First, many of the Indians
are misinformed and arrogant. They fail to recognize that moving to Arab
Countries and asking for a job is not their birthright. Countries like Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, UAE and others are not the United States or Europe. They cannot be compared to western democracies. Indians can
work in the Middle East, only if the government allows. If they decided to
throw all Hindus out, no one will be able to stop it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">If the entire Arab population will develop a notion
that Hindus abuse their religion and god, it will affect their judgement and decision
about recruiting people, meaning Hindus, from India. It will be a grave injustice
to the aspiration of thousands of people who are looking for a livelihood in
the Arab countries, as India is facing a recession due to the failures of the Modi government. Coronavirus will give them an excuse though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">So far, Arab countries never bothered to look at the
religion of people seeking a job. There is no doubt there are many cases of
exploitation and harassment by employers like the confiscation of passports,
bullying and exploitation, but employers in India in the private sector are
also not angels. Then can be worse than Arabs employers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only way to solve this problem in the short is by bringing Twitter under regulatory laws. Make people accountable to their posts and compel twitter to delete twits spreading hate and anger. India must not underestimate the ability of social media sites to destabilize immature and developing nations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">(End.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-13078805741723869642020-01-26T09:11:00.001-08:002020-01-26T22:07:12.305-08:00WHY SUCH A HOOPLA OVER A POORLY WRITTEN ARTICLE IN ‘THE ECONOMIST’?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99uzNBdU4AFS9a8zA1AmHBiV9WiJs_246rRAT8VJcHYB92ljYtS2JGFdvdN_iIufz6ZRgSGhDtqB9SCpmCbaF1J8Y6_Vvfss7M1CIuqM_4-vmiCMlDqqeeBABh5VQtiNNwa2cwEP4j4Qs/s1600/pic1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="390" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99uzNBdU4AFS9a8zA1AmHBiV9WiJs_246rRAT8VJcHYB92ljYtS2JGFdvdN_iIufz6ZRgSGhDtqB9SCpmCbaF1J8Y6_Vvfss7M1CIuqM_4-vmiCMlDqqeeBABh5VQtiNNwa2cwEP4j4Qs/s200/pic1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mukesh
Devrari </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On January
23, 2020 The Economist ran a story titled ‘Narendra Modi stokes division in the
world’s biggest democracy’. First, it must be remembered that ‘The Economist’
is a British magazine. It has no role to play in the making of India. There is no reason for Indians to be overjoyed when it praises their country, neither they should feel despair at criticism. </span>It is
basically a white man’s take on world affairs. Secondly, it is also important to note that the whole world watches India with keen interest. Almost 20 per cent of the world’s
population live in South Asia. The world has a stake in the economic progress of the region if India will be focusing more on the issues other than the economy, the world community is likely to question the country. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Unfortunately,
over the last six years, India is in news for wrong reasons. IMF has forecasted that the growth rate this year likely to remain less than five per cent. Just a decade earlier India was poised to
grow at the rate of double digits, but that could never materialize due to large
scale corruption and policy paralysis during the second tenure of UPA government.
Modi has also failed in delivering results. He made global headlines for negative reasons including demonization, killings of rationalists and lynching of Muslims for eating cow by Hindutva zealots among other issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BJP
sympathizers must remember that all over the globe, Muslims, Christians as well
as other Asians belong to meat-eating societies. They devour beef, bacon and fish like
most Indians eat Potato and green vegetables. India due to the influence of Hinduism was never a meat-eating society. How a common Indian sees a cow,
western society can never feel it, empathize with it, nor the Muslims will be
able to understand it. As is the case with the caricature of the prophet Mohammad. Muslims don't tolerate the caricature of their prophet Mohammad. Western societies are also afraid of violent reaction from the Muslim community, so
they resist from hurting feelings of Muslims, there is no such compulsion for Hindus, there is no sympathy of expectation of Hindus that cow slaughter should be banned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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It is important to dismantle the false arguments and lies in the report published in 'The Economist'. Any constructive criticism of India should be welcomed but the bias, prejudice, hatred, falsehood and conjectures must not be passed as an objective report which will mislead the global audience. The Economist raised a question why India as a secular nation should shelter
prosecuted Hindus from Afghanistan, Bangladesh & Pakistan? It means if Hindus
are prosecuted due to their faith, India does not have a responsibility towards
them as it is a secular nation. The world must understand that India is a secular Hindu country. It is a secular country because 80 per cent of the population consists of Hindus or indigenous religions. It goes without saying it is a natural
homeland of Hindus.<br />
<br />
It does not mean it has any ill will towards any other religion and prosecuted Muslim minorities are not welcome in India. It's a policy issue. There can be disagreements and parliament can discuss it. Once the government changes. Prosecuted Muslim minorities from non-Muslim countries can also be allowed to take refuge in India. Like it has been done in the past. 1959 Nehru allowed Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers to seek asylum in India, enraged China attacked India in 1962 and captured large portions of Indian territory including the Aksai Chin region of Union Territory of Ladakh. </div>
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It is easy for 'The Economist' magazine and its western journalists to close their eyes and
ignore the plight of Hindus. West has ignored the abduction of young girls, their forced conversion and marriage of Muslims who already have multiple wives in Pakistan. The concerted campaign against Hindus is supported by police, bureaucracy, Islamic seminaries, courts and other state apparatus. India is a natural homeland of Hindus. It is their motherland. BJP introduced
a good law but unfortunately, Home Minister Amit Shah tried to collate it with NRC (National
Register of Citizenship) and due to his arrogance in parliament, he gave an opportunity to his opponent to demonize India globally. </div>
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Home Minister Amit Shah behaves like a bully, due to his misplaced arrogance, Muslims revolted against the law. Now BJP has been forced to backtrack but Muslim community leaders saw an opportunity to further sideline BJP over the issue, so the protests all
the country are still on. It is important to note that Muslims resorted to direct
action by attacking public property to protest against proposed NRC. In Delhi mob of Muslim protestors threw stones
at the school bus carrying small children and burned the vehicles on road. Their rampage was stopped only after panicked Modi soft denied any plans of nationwide NRC. He claimed there is no such proposal, countering the claims of his own home minister. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India is seeing a slow growth and cannot afford civil riots at the national capital. For the first time since 1947 Muslims openly revolted and forced the government to
bend what they described as an existential fight against the combined effect of CAA and NRC. Both laws are interpreted
as an assault on their citizenship rights. The biggest flaw of NRC is that it assumes
no one is a citizen of India unless he or she proves it. Unfortunately, India is not a small
European country. It is a large, highly disorganized, corrupt, illiterate, poor
and over-populated country. No such exercise is viable. Anyone and everyone who has come here is our citizen. Rathe government should award citizenship cards on the basis by linking Adhar card with voter cards, passports, bank accounts and pan cards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Economist
also claimed that Muslims were lynched for sleight to the 'Hinduism' like loving
Hindu women and eating cow. Attack on Hinduism is an attack on pride of India and its extraordinary cultural heritage. Hindutva and Hinduism are two different things. It is a great disrespect to millions of Hindus who created this country, its philosophy, its culture, its religions, its languages. There is no doubt</span> India is still a conservative society. People prefer to establish
family relations within their communities. It is not only about religion, but
it is also about region, caste, dialect and ethnicity. There are hardly any
marriages between the people living in different parts of the country. India is highly heterogeneous and perhaps more diverse than Europe. It is an exaggeration
to claim that Muslims are lynched for having a relationship with Hindu girls, but there is
no doubt there is no social sanctity to inter-religious or inter-caste marriages in India. As there is no widespread acceptance to interracial marriages in modern western societies. In both cases it is not illegal to do it. These things are likely to change in the next few generations, but complete decimation of cultural practices will not be possible even in the next hundreds of years. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Economist report also claimed that BJP stokes anti-Muslims sentiment which led to the massacre of Muslims many times like the one in Gujarat in 2002. This is
another lie. It is wrong to argue that the indiscriminate and brutal killings
of Muslims area common occurrence in India. It is not only factually wrong,
but it is tantamount to abusing the country and attempt to malign the Hindus communities in India. </span>The article also accuses Modi of 'war-like rhetoric about Pakistan'. This is the most
problematic remark. In fact, Modi was extremely enthusiastic to build good relations with
Pakistan. He went to Pakistan uninvited to attend the family event of Pakistani PM Nawaz
Sharif. He allowed ISI, spy agency who kept and protected Osama Bin Laden in Abottabad (military town of Pakistan), officers to visit India to investigate Pathankot terror
attack to appease Pakistan. But in return Pakistani military establishment continued to foment trouble in Kashmir. It continued to support Islamic terrorist groups and pursue its policy of
bleed India by thousand cuts. Pakistan based Islamist outfit JeM openly took the responsibility for Pulwama suicide attack. JeM Chief is freely lives in Pakistan and protected by the Pakistani state. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The magazine also argued that BJP wants to put lower caste Hindus at a disadvantage. Although the article did not cite any example of how BJP has done it, because of the simple reason, there is no such example. No political party
in India can afford to adopt policies which will put lower caste Hindus at a disadvantage. BJP is not politically naïve to do it. This argument also
false flat on its face and merely an imagination of the author. In fact, it is an old way of describing BJP as Brahmin and Baniya party by the left parties, but it simply means the writer is well versed with the transformation of BJP as a political outfit in last few decades. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The article also argued that the speakers of a language other than Hindi are also being put at a disadvantage. It is also unfair to argue. It must be remembered that the mother tongue of PM Narendra Modi is
Gujarati, not Hindi. So, there is no question of any bias towards non-Hindi
speakers. Language is a settled debate in India. Every state has its own language.
Hindi and English are the most common language in India. None is being imposed on anyone. People in Gujarat, which was directly ruled by Modi for three decades, students learn English and Gujarati in Schools. They also learn Hindi. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The reaction in India over such a weak article published in 'The Economist' shows how sensitive Indians are
about any criticism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">End…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-67842034451684852482019-10-22T18:46:00.000-07:002019-11-07T06:16:18.926-08:00‘POLITENESS’ AS CATEGORY OF SOCIAL CONTROL <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8j0ME_kenzwgKaa1V72hCLL9QboF6raKxkoNq5D3ObCxsTeSc4Ss-w_7il7uAfskfQ0eATWaGYTZiTP76LCE99ssPzj1CbQLz9A1wcFIkoglvLoNqRgZ3u2pr_xBMVy-C3d3bcDjGHwY/s1600/creative+commons+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8j0ME_kenzwgKaa1V72hCLL9QboF6raKxkoNq5D3ObCxsTeSc4Ss-w_7il7uAfskfQ0eATWaGYTZiTP76LCE99ssPzj1CbQLz9A1wcFIkoglvLoNqRgZ3u2pr_xBMVy-C3d3bcDjGHwY/s1600/creative+commons+image.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Mukesh Devrari</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Politeness functions as a controlling category in the Western World, it
discourages antagonistic positions and wishes compliance without seeking
any retaliatory or opposing perspective. This is a fundamental cultural
difference between western and eastern societies. Excessive use of politeness as a preferred category limits the opportunities for the culture
of expressing free opinion and dissent to flourish. It stunts the creation of an argumentative society that could contribute immensely in
creating a truly democratic society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Politeness is also essentially a method of manifesting the class
differences. Imagine a work environment where people who belong to different
classes constantly work together in a group, not only in virtual proximity but
also in physical proximity. Let’s take the example of hospitals. How a doctor,
pharmacist, nurse, cleaner and security guard can be different from each other if all of them can speak only one language, eat similar food, belong to the
same Judeo-Christian culture and also belong to the same racial category. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">People generally decide how much respect should be given to an
individual by asking and knowing how one earns his or her living? But apart
from that how people of different classes in western societies reflect and
differentiate their class category from their fellow citizens of other classes.
The answer to this question is ‘Politeness’, which is much better than its
eastern counterpart of ‘arrogance’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">At least in the hospitals ‘politeness’ is a category of human
behavior deployed by doctors to differentiate themselves with others involved in patient care? It does not mean nurses are not polite, they are doing their jobs
perfectly, but doctors have to manifest their classes and in their conversation
with patients it is reflected the most. It is impossible to be more polite than
people you are interacting with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Apart from the institutional tools like physical separation of
staff rooms for doctors and other staff, different pay for their work and
different colour of their dress inside the hospital among other things, politeness
is the powerful behavioural cultural category invented by us. It is remarkably
visible and was deployed to manifest the class differences by doctors while interacting
with patients and others working in close physical proximity with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">It is easier to locate ways of methods of differentiation among
others in the group. If you belong to non-white racial or non-white cultural-linguistic
category, then it is fairly easy to create in-groups and out-groups by
maintaining a social separation within the circle of doctors, within the circle
of nurses, security guards or cleaners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">All this drama is also remotely linked with the notion of political
correctness and can be described as an imposed form of suppressive mental events,
which curb our ability to live with freedom. It insists on abiding by the rules
and cultural codes created by society. In other words, it is a controlled
category and snatches your freedom from you, puts you in chains and enslaves you.
You lose your individuality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">This politeness regime percolates into all sections of society.
It must not be confused with the civic culture. It is just of opposite of what
can be described as a civic. In fact, it is a visible chain. At times it is alright
to argue and ask for changes in the functioning of the official apparatus. Not necessarily
all existing structure is perfect and serves the interest of people in the best
possible manner. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">It becomes more dangerous in troubled times as things are not
in abundance for all. People are struggling with limited available opportunities and resources. Within the hospital, it appears fine, but the implementation of the same high culture regime in all situations is a perfect recipe for disaster. It is
an attempt to create a closed, enslaved and pliable society at the cost of
freedom to express your true opinions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">End. </span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-35007617710904980512019-09-07T04:15:00.000-07:002019-09-07T04:22:31.712-07:00CONTESTING PERSPECTIVES ON JINNAH AFTER HIS DEATH?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #212121;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mukesh Devrari</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #212121;">One can find in Jinnah what one is looking for. If you are looking for the liberal westernized secular politician, you can definitely find one before Jinnah devoted himself to the communal cause of Muslim league or after the creation of Pakistan in his last speech where he sounded more like Congress leader. Cigar, whiskey, pork and aloofness to religion were standard markers of his life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">Mr Jinnah was born in Karachi on December 25, 1876. He was the eldest son of Jinnah Poonja, a well to do Hindu merchant. The son later adopted his father's first name as his own last name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">After attending a school in Karachi, he went to England at the age of 16 to study law at Lincoln's Inn. He returned to India four years later in 1896 as a full-fledged barrister. He had learned to speak English perfectly – at one time he even toured England as a Shakespearean actor – and for the rest of his life he was more at home in English than in Gujarati, his mother tongue or Urdu, the language of most Indian Moslems. A man of bewildering paradoxes, the Quaid-e-Azam or "Great Leader", as millions of Indian Moslems called their hero - was actually a born Hindu and espoused Islam during his youth<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Reuters, 1948)</span>.</span><span style="color: #212121;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">Bengali Congress leader Sarat Chandra Bose’s obituary comment, paying “a tribute to the memory of one who was great as a lawyer, once great as a Congressman, great as a leader of Muslims, great as a world politician and diplomat and, greatest of all, as a man of action.”<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Jalal, 2017)</span></span><b><span style="color: #212121;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #212121;">New York Times provided flashed the news about the death of Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the front page of the Newspaper. News about his death was followed by a long discussion on his life. He was described as a virtual creator of Dominion of Pakistan. The report claimed, “Jinnah brought about, almost single-handed, one of the most sweeping political transformations of the century in Asia. It was due to his single-minded determination and intransigence that the plan, which at first seemed impossible of adoption was finally carried out. Pakistan, which appeared as the extravagant proposal of an extremist, probably made only for bargaining purposes, became a reality”. </span><span style="color: #222222;">(Reuters, 1948)</span><span style="color: #222222;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #212121;">After the creation of Pakistan. </span>Politically it has been called a “one-man show.” Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader), is a Governor-General, leader of the constituted assembly and president of the Muslim League, the only strong political party in Pakistan. Mr Jinnah opposed “western-type democracy” for Indians; Pakistan’s constitution will be based upon Muslim religion and Muslim law as originally set out in the Koran<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">("Two Indias: Two architects of India's freedom," 1947)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">British Journalist George E. Jones in his book ‘Transition from a Colony to Nation: Tumult in India’ described Jinnah as “a Machiavelli in the amoral sense extremely suspicious. His repressed intensity borders on the psychotic some personal frustration stokes the fires of Jinnah’s relentless preoccupation with the craft of politics. the barbarous slaughter which drenched India’s soil with blood until Gandhi assassination were provoked by Jinnah’s realistic strategy. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Fischer, 1948)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">According to Jalal, “Pakistanis are at a loss how to settle matters of national identity and the nature of the state – democratic or authoritarian, secular or Islamic. This is why reassessing the legacy of the man, who is universally held responsible for a partition that he had assiduously tried avoiding, is so necessary”. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Jalal, 2017)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jinnah’s demonization in the Indian nationalist pantheon as the communal monster who divided mother India contrasts with his positive representation in Pakistan as a revered son of Islam, even an esteemed religious leader (maulana), who strove to safeguard Muslim interests in India(Jalal, 2017). After the creation of Pakistan, there is no doubt Muslim interest in Muslim majority areas of British India are more secured. Now Pakistan is free to make laws based on Islam and Sharia. It is free to mould its culture along the line she wishes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although that’s a good or bad thing is hotly contested by liberals. At the same time, the partition made Muslims who are living in other parts of India as minorities vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">References</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer, L. (1948, Mar 28). Transition From Colony to Nation: TUMULT IN INDIA. By George E. Jones. 277 pp. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. $3.<i> New York Times (1923-Current file),</i> p. 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/docview/108418961?accountid=14499<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jalal, A. (2017, December 26). The importance of being Mr Jinnah.<i> Dawn</i>. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1377353<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jinnah sorrows for his Hindu foe. (1948, Jan 31).<i> New York Times (1923-Current file),</i> p. 2. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/docview/108115084?accountid=14499<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reuters. (1948, Sep 12). Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, dies: sub-continent's Moslem chief led nation, against Gandhi, to separation from India Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, dies Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, dies noted Moslem leader.<i> New York Times (1923-Current file),</i> p. 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/docview/108323907?accountid=14499<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="EndNoteBibliography" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two Indias: Two architects of India's freedom. (1947, Aug 17).<i> New York Times (1923-Current file),</i> p. 87. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/docview/107820805?accountid=14499</span></span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-58732178711307465972019-08-24T19:28:00.001-07:002019-09-05T22:09:18.300-07:00SEPARATISM WILL BRING ONLY DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN THE VALLEY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqjwVa9sRarIt9W4ELtugePIKpbs5pKsryx9Lg7bqcDmHe76MGiAmMdwvR-rm0ac9ug_A__uStFlhfVR0ZwWMdEHkDe5FF2KlZXCZAZ8oDQmfzypVqgkBM3alQ8foAzAS3GVwa9WRS_1d/s1600/SNAKE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqjwVa9sRarIt9W4ELtugePIKpbs5pKsryx9Lg7bqcDmHe76MGiAmMdwvR-rm0ac9ug_A__uStFlhfVR0ZwWMdEHkDe5FF2KlZXCZAZ8oDQmfzypVqgkBM3alQ8foAzAS3GVwa9WRS_1d/s320/SNAKE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mukesh Devrari <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pakistanis are obsessed with Kashmir. The madness in Pakistani media is
just spectacular to observe. Media is only taking the cues from the state. It has become difficult for Pakistan to accept that the two-nation theory has no
place in the Modern World. It is impossible for the Islamic separatist movement in
Kashmir to succeed. It is unlikely to succeed in any part of the world in this day and age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">India as an aspiring modern nation determined to fight against
Islamists in Kashmir. The entire world has seen how Kashmir valley was
ethnically cleansed by terrorists and their radicalized supporters aided and abetted by Pakistan. All the Hindu families, otherwise known as Hindu
Pandits were forced to leave their homes. Their vacated properties were seized by their Muslim neighbours with a sense of impunity. Their houses were burned by militants so that they could never return. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Islamic militants gave Kashmiri Hindus two choices. Either to convert to
Islam and leave the Kashmir valley. Kashmiri Hindus decided to leave and became
a refugee in their own motherland. They were forced to live in the camps in
various parts of India and mostly in Jammu, Delhi and Mumbai. They watched with helplessness how their houses and
other properties were either burned by militants or captured by their own Muslim
neighbours. Indian government failed in protecting its own citizens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Things have not changed much. Even now Kashmiri separatists are opposing Kashmiri Hindus to come back
and settle down in specially created colonies in the valley. The Islamists with
the help of their anti-India cahoots are spreading the lies that India wants to
change the demography of the Kashmir valley. It is just a ploy to keep Non-Muslim Kashmiris out of the valley. It is well-known fact that
Kashmiri Hindus cannot go back to their villages thirty years after they were
thrown out of their houses due to security reasons. They will be targeted again
by militants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is the responsibility of the government to do justice with the
victims of Islamic oppression in Kashmir valley and provide safe housing
colonies in the valley to Kashmiri pandits. Muslim separatists can have no
moral basis to oppose the return of Kashmiri Hindus back to the valley. However, radicalized youth shamelessly protesting any attempts by India to protect the religious diversity in the valley by preserving the rights of all citizens irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and sect. It is being alleged that plans
to resettle Kashmiri Hindus in the valley are an attempt by India to change of
the demography of the state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Islamic separatists want to implement Sharia law in the J&K.
They already forced the movie theatres to close in the valley. They described
music and films as anti-Islam. The women are also suppressed continuously,
forced to cover their head after the armed militancy started in 1980s. The
increasing Islamization in the valley poses a great threat to the liberal orientation
of India. Pakistan has played a key role in destabilizing the valley. It has
successfully used the medicine of Islam to indoctrinate youths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">India is constantly projected as a Hindu state. Kashmir was talked as
land of only Muslims, as if religion is the only identity of human beings.
Indian Muslims generally don’t wear their religion on their sleeves. India is
home of all known religions in the world including of the all the sects of
Catholics and Protestants. Its is the only place on earth where Jews were not prosecuted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It has been repeatedly emphasized that more than 200 million Muslims
live in India. Kashmir valley is only a 15 per cent area of Jammu and Kashmir
controlled directly by India. Jammu and Ladakh regions are getting back to
normalcy after the removal of article 370 and 35 A. Only the Muslim majority
areas of Kashmir valley are the hotbeds of separatism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It must be noted that people of J&K denied voting rights to
Pakistani Hindu refugees who came to J&K in 1947 during partition. It is
unimaginable in modern India people are being denied to vote in state
legislative assembly elections after staying there for more than seven decades.
Even the women who married to non-state subjects of J&K were not allowed to acquire the property, neither her children were considered as state subjects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Removal of article 370 and 35 A is the greatest service done by the BJP
to this nation. Temporarily it will lead to a lot of discussions and possible
criticism. Pakistan and its staunch anti-India ally China are finding it
difficult to digest. But all this is temporary. Coming generations will be
greatly benefitted by this move. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It will lead to the unity and integrity of the nation, but India must
remember any turmoil and violence in the valley will provide fuel to Pakistan
and its allies to embarrass India internationally. We must make sure that
restrictions remain in place in Kashmir valley for a long time to come. Life
should be brought back to normalcy in slowly and gradually. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even after most of the restrictions are uplifted, the monitoring of
social networking sites should remain in place, as social media is used by
Islamic separatists to spread lies and fake news. It also helps them in
coordinating wild protests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although it cannot be a good decision to weaken state governments in the federal
country, unfortunately, legislative empowerment of the valley became a
breeding ground for separatist tendencies in the valley. So, it no longer exists.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">End. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7585310720879282098.post-37177756005665330332019-08-18T04:53:00.001-07:002019-08-24T19:30:11.295-07:00RISING CHINA POSES A THREAT TO INDIA <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJLgxUzyEyEE-hSjIURzJjfNeZm5nywfqpCvNNiy4JZuhmGkr6uTy5204H21mJ8qVyDK6O52-tV13J-7ghW2Fpn3LSOrjqw3xYgPfKZWMshd255-_1xeJLbvim-dHZZEKLoTV4e_R1X5Q/s1600/digital+media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJLgxUzyEyEE-hSjIURzJjfNeZm5nywfqpCvNNiy4JZuhmGkr6uTy5204H21mJ8qVyDK6O52-tV13J-7ghW2Fpn3LSOrjqw3xYgPfKZWMshd255-_1xeJLbvim-dHZZEKLoTV4e_R1X5Q/s320/digital+media.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mukesh
Devrari</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is just
amazing how China and Pakistan are openly working against India. It is a time
for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to completely do away with the Nehruvian era
foreign policy of maintaining an independent stance on world affairs and come openly
against China on all major issues including banning Chinese companies on security
grounds. The policy of maintaining equal distance from all existing superpowers
costed India heavily in the past, it is still doing the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">China
decided to attack India in 1962 because of the non-aligned policy. Imagine if Nehru
would have openly joined the US or Soviet camp and signed a security pact as Indira
Gandhi did before the 1971 war, then China would not have imagined attacking India
without risking a war with existing superpowers. Although it appears amazing
that communist dictators of China are calling for a meeting to discuss the
Kashmir issue at United Nations security council.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Communist
regime in China has no respect for human rights. It is well known brutally crushing
all forms of political dissent within and outside the party. It is a successful
dictatorship and present President likely to remain in the office for the rest of
his life. The international community must speak for human rights in China.
</span>People of
China must be allowed to choose their own government.<br />
<br />
The Chinese government
has been systematically torturing the Muslims in Xinxiang region. It has changed the
demography of Tibet. People of Tibet are still struggling for their freedom. The leader
the Tibetan Buddhists Dalai Lama is forced to live in exile all his life. Buddhism
has been systematically crushed in Tibet. Muslims in Xinxiang province are not
allowed to study Arabic and practice their faith. Mosques were raged across the
region to eradicate the influence of Islam. Chinese government opened the internment
camps. Millions of Muslims are being forced to participate in these camps and
feed Chinese communist propaganda. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While this institutional harassment, torture
and oppression of Uighur Muslims in Xinxiang region continue, Pakistan fully
supports the exploitation of Uighur Muslims. </span>China
openly supports terrorists operating against India on behalf of Pakistan in
United Nations. Terrorists responsible for the killing hundreds of innocent
civilians and member of armed forces in India are protected by the Chinese
government at the United Nations. As a permanent member of Security Council China
blocked the Indian requests to declare Islamic terrorists and their organization
operating against India as terror outfits. Masood Azhar could not be declared as a terrorist for a long time as China blocked it.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Indian
government is also afraid of China. It does not want to escalate tension with
China, because BJP knows that it cannot afford to anger the Chinese communist
party. Even Huawei, which poses a security threat to India has not been banned
yet in India. The US and many other nation-states have already banned it. Under an Umbrella of Pakistani Nuclear bombs and Chinese veto at United Nations terror
organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba continued to bleed India
for a long period of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is
important to remember that India has no match for China. Although it has a
large population, the Chinese economy is much larger than India. China decided
to abandon socialism in 1978 and now China is reaping the fruit of its
timely decision. Still, it is not too late for India. US dispensation has woken
up against rising China. The western world clearly knows that China poses a great
threat to the rule-based world order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">International
community start the containment of China. First, the one-China policy should be
rejected. Hong Kong and Taiwan must be encouraged to remain independent. Citizens
of Hong Kong and Taiwan are being gradually enslaved by the Chinese communist
party. Tibetans are also suffocating under the Han cruelties. Tibetans, Uighurs,
Taiwanese and residents of Hong Kong should get their own homeland, where they
could live their lives as per their own principles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a world</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s largest democracy India must fund
international think tanks globally to raise understanding about the need to
expand democracy in Asia and Africa. It is time for us to pick the sides. Once
the Afghanistan adventure of the US will be over, Pakistan will not have any
leverage over the US. India should align itself with the United States to contain China
in the long run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">China is
like a pressure cooker as the one-party system cannot survive of long. The
revolution is already on its way to radically change China and end the terror of
Chinese Communist Party all over the globe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(End.)</span></div>
</div>
Mukesh Devrarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10302959281844003744noreply@blogger.com0