This Callous, Impervious Government!

This Callous, Impervious Government!

Written by

DR. S. Ausaf Saied Vasfi

Published on

August 13, 2022

DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI comments on the callous, impervious and insensate attitude of the UPA dispensation towards the sufferings of aam admi whether it is the back-breaking rising prices of commodities or excesses shown by the trigger-free paramilitary forces in Jammu & Kashmir.

Is the Cong-led UPA dispensation at the Centre callous, impervious and insensate to people’s pain?

We are not referring to the periodic manslaughter of young boys and girls, triggered by cool and calculated provocation of the village panchayats, known as Khaps.

We are also not referring to the studied unconcern shown to the Muslims of the country in the redrafting of the revised Communal Violence (Prevention Control and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2010, likely to be introduced in the oncoming Parliament’s monsoon session.

BRAZEN REFUSAL

We are referring to the brazen refusal of the government to listen to the combined Opposition’s genuine demand to roll back the back-breaking fuel prices and the repeated excesses shown by the paramilitary forces against the stone-pelting boys of Jammu & Kashmir.

The first thing first: Would you believe that the official data itself holds mirror to the insensate government on the question of price rise amidst inflation. According to the Times Insight Group: Food prices, in particular, have skyrocketed even going by the government’s own data, and it is the poor who are being pinched the worst. The wholesale Price Index (WPI) for May 2010, the latest month for which data is available, shows a 10.2% increase over May 2009. More worryingly food price, inflation continues to outstrip general inflation. The price of primary food articles increased by 16.5% over May last year. Pulses grew by 32.4%, eggs, meat and fish by 35%, milk by 21.1%, sugar by 26%, flour by 16%, cereals by 6%, and vegetables and fruit by 7.6%.

More relevant to the aam admi is what is happening to the retail prices more correctly reflected in the Consumer Price Indexes (CPIs) which have witnessed significantly higher increases than WPI. Since food is given a much larger weightage in the calculation of CPIs than WPI, this is hardly surprising given the exponential increase in food prices.

The common man is not interested in the usury-oriented philosophy of economics taught at the London School of Economics. He wants food, shelter, clothing and medical facilities within his meagre reach. The current price level has forced him to cut his expenditure on food items. The cynics ask here: what sort of a Welfare State we are?

The July 5 all-India strike crippled the country. The shutdown was a protest of first magnitude. The bandh was total in the NDA and Left-ruled states. Though the Cong-ruled states too were suffering, their rulers gave an impression which was contrary to the ground-zero reality. In the meantime, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and various spokespersons of the government wanted the nation to believe that the petrol hike was not going to affect other items’ prices and the Opposition was unnecessarily making a mountain of a molehill.

The national loss due to the strike is noteworthy: Maharashtra losses were to the tune of 1,000 crore; Karnataka Rs 725 crore; West Bengal Rs 250 crore; Madhya Pradesh Rs 150 crore; Kerala Rs 150 crore; Orissa Rs 150 crore; Bihar Rs 150 crore; Chhattisgarh Rs 100 crore; and Rajasthan 60 crore (source CJI).

TRIGGER HAPPY SECURITY FORCES

Curfew is now a month old in Srinagar. Army’s flag marches, heavy patrolling and strict vigil is bringing normalcy slowly. But those who lost their children in the avoidable firings are inconsolable. The oldest casualty was 25 while the youngest was 9 only. At the top is an incompetent novice, planted by his friend Mr Rahul Gandhi. Mr Omer Abdullah is vexing eloquent upon the weaknesses of his opponents. But on one thing all, both the ruling party and the Opposition are of the unanimous opinion: the dialogue with Pakistan must be restarted sooner the better.

The Centre is completely silent on the key question with regard to the ‘status of Kashmir’. The general opinion in the valley is that New Delhi should engage the intellectuals of the State in a constructive, not strategic dialogue.

The other irritants are: the continued postponement of the village councils elections.  Equally disquieting is the fact that the MLAs and MPs do not visit their constituencies after their elections. With regard to the absence of democracy one has to point out that students union is conspicuous by absence in the university. The ever-increasing unemployment and total absence of development are other ground realities that stare right across the face of the state. What goes without saying is there is no office to listen to the aggrieved for the redress of their grievances.

New Delhi claims to have evidence of instructions from across the border. The alleged intercepts have obviously weakened the locals’ case. The Army has only added to the unpopularity of Mr Omer. It has sent wrong signals overseas and in the country. To be noted is the point that the people in the valley are not in rebellion. Whatever one sees there is the logical consequences of the excesses caused by trigger happy security personnel who have killed 15 young men without sufficient moral or legal justification.

To the entire country minus the well known separatists of Jammu & Kashmir is a part of India. Its accession is irrevocable. It is an inalienable part of plural Bharat. But, we are afraid, the opinion of some sections of our paramilitary forces is different. Otherwise how would you explain, how would you rationalise and how would you philosophise shooting down the stone-pelting boys?