Bharat Bundh evoked mixed
response – ‘customary way of life (maamool vazhkkai] was not affected’ and
similar clichés would be heard… the fact remains that the Bundh called by the
opposition on 20th Sept 2012 has not served the purpose – whether you
term it a success or a failure, depending on whom you support or oppose. It did
make strange bed partners but Govt was unfazed
In fact, the otherwise
toddling Cong Govt boldly announced their decision to go ahead with FDI. The boldness is significant also because it
seems to underline the irrelevance of Mamata and naysayers. Congress circles are already agog with the
expectation that improved coffers may help Chidambaram unwrap a mega-populist
package in the budget. Speculation is focused on the food security law.
There have been very many
occasions when the Centre had succumbed to Trinamool, DMK and some other fringe
parties even. This time on, it is a
different story; one that is defined by decisiveness. No roll back on diesel and FDI on multi-brand retail segment and overseas airlines
into the aviation sector, already notified.
The FDI notifications formally clearing the way for the entry of global
supermarket chains come along with the likely decision not to curb FDI in pharmaceuticals,
although it was not clear whether the government was ready to dust off the
long-pending proposal to raise the cap on FDI in insurance and open up the
pension business.
The notification came on the
day of a countrywide shutdown jointly organized by Congress's own allies, BJP,
Left and regional parties and on the eve of Trinamool's formal pullout from the
UPA. But what the political parties
failed to deliver to Manmohan was perhaps dealt by the Army Chief. That was
bigger perhaps. Any hope Pakistan may
have nurtured that a visit by Prime MinisterManmohan Singh could open the door
for a "deal" on Siachen has been dashed, with Army chief Gen Bikram
Singh being as opposed to the idea as all his predecessors before him.
In his maiden interaction
with the press, Gen Singh clearly stated the ground rules on a border
agreement. And they don't include any troop withdrawal from the Siachen
heights. "There is no change in our view at all. We must continue to hold
that area...We have lost lot of lives and shed a lot of blood there. The
positions are of strategic importance to us. We have conveyed our concerns to
the government,'' he said. It will be difficult for the Indian government to
accept anything less.
Pakistan is hopeful of
Singh's visit before it goes to the polls. Singh himself is keen to visit
Pakistan, and has not shied away from making his interest known. With this in
mind, Islamabad has pushed New Delhi hard this year to do a deal on Siachen.
Pakistan has even delayed talks on the Sir Creek issue in order to mount
pressure on India for a Siachen pact.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
visited Pak twice in his 5 years despite Kargil and Parliament attack but
Manmohan could not…… it is not only that
the terrorism has changed but the drifting is more than ever before. Officials said India's position on Siachen
had neither hardened nor softened for years. But Pakistani Army chief Gen
Ashfaq Kayani had said twice in a month (May) that Pakistan wants the Siachen
issue to be solved and India had "toughened" its stand asking for a
demarcation, which was seen here as a pressure tactic. Ideally, a Siachen
agreement should be part of a broad agreement of the border, but Pakistan is
yet to agree to that.
The core of the difference
between the two sides is this: India wants Pakistan to authenticate positions
on the Actual Ground Position Line [AGPL] before any talk of demilitarization
or withdrawal. Pakistan is pushing a four-point plan that includes
demilitarization, withdrawal of troops, delineation and authentication. India
is unwilling to do this.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
Largely reproduced from Times of India today. 21st
Sept. 2012
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