Drawdown of U.S Troops from Afghan

The United States President, Barack Obama's recent announcement of withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan explains the stand of U.S in the current scenario. This decision is in alignment with the wishes of the citizen of U.S to bring back their solders. He recognized his priority of mending U.S economy than waging war in foreign lands. After around 10 years of warfare in Afghan, the death of Bin Laden offered a defining moment for U.S for taking this step.
The implications of this decision has far-reaching. It shows the U.S's acceptance of Taliban as being part of Afghan nation and accepting that Taliban doesn't threaten America's homeland security anymore. Obama expressed optimism about the peace process and expects the Afghan government assumes the responsibility of security by 2014. The timeline for drawdown of forces - 10000 troops by end of 2011, 33,000 by mid 2012 and the remaining 70,000 troops at a steady pace through 2013-2014.
Mr. Obama completely avoided mentioning the pledge of former U.S President George W.Bush, that they would consider a Marshall plan for Afghan and instead pleaded that "this is time of rising debt and hard economic times at home and we should be concentrating on rebuilding America". The Afghans fear that the western aid and project would dry up because of this shift in perspective. If that happens, Afghanistan will revert to the late 1990s when Taliban regime first accepted the financial help offered by Laden. All hope now hinges on the next international conference that Mr. Obama will be hosting in May next year.

    However, there is no need to panic as there is only a remote possibility of a civil war situation of 1990s.
In this current scenario India should establish communication lines with the Taliban and clarify its stand on Afghan to Pakistan to avoid the situation of Afghan becoming a field for India-Pakistan rivalry. India should also adopt the technique of Chinese diplomacy of normalizing relations with neighboring countries.

-Vish


Excerpts : http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2139551.ece

Never Give Up !

Its madness -

To hate all roses, because you got scratched by one thorn.

To give up all your dreams, because one did not come true.

To lose faith in prayers, because one was not answered.

To give up on your efforts, because one of them failed.

To condemn all your friends, because one of them betrayed.

Not to believe anyone, because someone was unfaithful.

Remember that, another chance may come up.

Never give up!



--
Courtesy:
Friends of Lord Krishna (FOLK)
Hare Krishna Movement, Chennai

Containing the Inflation

There is a strong correlation between inflation and cost of consumer goods and as inflation increases these goods become dearer. Keeping the food inflation to a lower number is a daunting task which RBI and government often grapple with.To control the inflation the government has to bring in strong macro economic and monetory  policies. Secondly, the Central bank of the state, i.e., the RBI has to adjust some of its instruments to lessen the adverse effects of inflation. Finally, the RBI and government has to work in tandem to reduce the ill effects of inflation.
The recent measures taken by RBI include 0.75 percent points increase in the repo rate over six, making the repo rate the sole policy rate and the creation of the new Marginla standing Facility from which banks can borrow at 1 % point above the repo rate are all significant measures.


Food for Thought: Inflation is good for a growing economy. It suggest that the various industries are growing and is vital for a devoloping country like India, but too much inflation brings instability in food and consumer goods and deprive the poor people from their basic needs.

-Vish

Excerpts from : http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2132338.ece

Re-inventing Democracy in Bangladesh

The Awami league lead coalition  government in Bangladesh is taking steps to correct the distortions of the original constitution which are done by the earlier military led governments. The ruling alliance led by prime minister Sheikh Hasina has more than three-fourth of the majority and therefore has the necessary strength to carry the amendments in the parliament.
The two recent landmark verdicts on fifth and eight amendments declaring them void and unconstitutional by the supreme court has brighten the hopes for bringing in the original constitution back and restoring the four basic pillars - democracy, nationalism, socialism and secularism.
The Awami league led alliance as bound by its promise, has appointed a special parliamentary committee to suggest the suitable amendments to the constitution to bring back the original Bangladeshi state.These recommendations will be placed in upcoming session of parliament.
Opposition to these recommendation is expected from the beneficiaries of the fifth and eight amendments but surprisingly this is also seen from some of the members of the ruling party fearing the defeat of party falling into this trap.
Indiscriminate amendments were made to the constitution by the military rulers, followed by the assassination of Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. These amendments changed the fundamental principles of constitution and turned itself into a religious based state from a secular state.
The ruling government maintained the pro-religion nature of the constitution fearing the islamic forces and the ground reality but suggested some of the useful recommendations to bring democracy.The sympathizers-turned critics see this as obvious contradiction though welcomed other amends restoring the original constitution.There are also apprehensions about the pro-islamic parties turn the state into the state similar to Pakistan in the desperation as the religion based politics are still unchecked.
For the first time Bangladesh is set to give constitutional recognition to Mujibur Rahman and incorporate the historical facts of its independence.
There are few important amendments suggested by the special committee which includes a new Article. According to this article any kind of takeover of power by military or other means would be considered as a treason.The other amendments include the recognition of ethical minorities, withholding the war criminals, who are still under trial, from participating in general elections.Besides, the committee also suggested women empowerment and protection of bio-diversity and environment.
The secularists and other optimists hope that the parliament will do the necessary action in preserving the Constitution that represent the heroic struggle for the state's independence.

-Vish

Excerpts from : http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2132333.ece

Attacks on The Fourth Estate in INDIA

                     The attacks and threats on the media personal have seen a steep increase in recent days.The Mid-day reporter J.Dey’s murder is just an example showing the extent to which the attacks on the media has increased. This was a third murder of a journalist within the span of six months . The other two were the reporters of hindi newspaper - Dainik Bhaskar and Nai Dunia. Apart from murders, there are many other instances where the reporters and photographers are being physically attacked. In almost seven out of ten cases, the reporters were beaten up by police officials while either taking pictures of a strike or the dead militants. The Fourth estate has become the fair game for all the perpetrators who have no qualms in taking law into their hands. In some of the states of India, the complaint lodge by the scribes wasn’t accepted as an FIR but taken as non-cognizable complaint.

        The other incidents of harassments on media personal include the Karnataka police charging a Tehelka reporter with a criminal case under sec.506 for undertaking the systematic investigation of a case against a political leader.

                 If these kind of harassment and attacks persist, will the media able to perform its duty fairly in our democracy? If media stops concentrating on the social/ criminal issues and look after their preservation, then the citizens and constitution of India will be at loss.

-Vish

Excerpts from The Hindu : http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Sevanti_Ninan/article2109230.ece