Didi vs Didi, running for long next door- Even court is compelled to wonder why Hasina and Khaleda won't meet and talk | |
| ASHIS CHAKRABARTI | |
Dhaka, March 31: Everything looks so familiar to someone from Calcutta. Hartals, burning of buses and cars on the streets, kidnapping and killing of rival political activists, deaths in police firing, endless political processions and road blockades. And now, while Calcutta is astir with the battle between some intrepid didis and Bengal's original Didi, the other Bengal across the border is burning, thanks to the bitter rivalry between its two leading ladies. Of course, the battle of the ladies in Bangladesh is much older. The "Apa" (elder sister) of Bangladesh, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is known to her followers in the ruling Awami League, has never had any love lost for her rival Begum Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who is simply "Madam" to her supporters. Few among the common people here remember when the two ladies last met. Fewer still can recall how long Khaleda's party and its allies have been boycotting parliament. There have been attempts by some members of the diplomatic corps here to bring the two together for some kind of a dialogue. Nothing came out of these moves. Such is the anxiety among some sections of the people over the complete collapse of political dialogue between the two top leaders of the country that the intervention of the high court was sought to break the ice. In an unprecedented ruling last week, the court issued a notice to both sides asking them to show cause why the two leaders would not meet and talk about the political crisis that has gripped the country. Nobody believes, however, that the court ruling is going to make any difference. If anything, the Shahbag movement demanding "death by hanging" for the "war criminals" of the nation's 1971 liberation war and a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and the BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violence against the war crimes trials have hardened hearts and positions on both sides. A rare opportunity for the two leaders meeting and breaking the stalemate came with the death of the country's President, Mohammed Zillur Rahman. Both Hasina and Khaleda were at the President's official residence at the same time when Rahman's body was kept there. They stood in the same hall, only a few feet from each other, but kept the distance and the silence. "Hasina would have gained huge political points if she had made the first move and walked up to Khaleda to exchange simple greetings," a veteran political analyst commented soon after. To most leaders in the Awami League, such a move by Hasina was simply out of the question. "How can she ever exchange greetings with someone whose husband was her (Hasina's) father's killer," snapped an Awami League parliamentarian during a conversation. The reference was to the old allegation that Khaleda's husband and army chief-turned-President Ziaur Rahman was involved in the plan to kill Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father and the leader of the country's struggle for liberation from Pakistan. Let alone talk, the two ladies now want each other out of the country. "Go back to your beloved Pakistan. Do not trouble the people of Bangladesh," Hasina advised Khaleda during a ceremony to mark the country's 42nd independence day here. Only a few days earlier, Khaleda had a warning for Hasina. She told a BNP rally that Hasina would not be allowed to "flee" the country after the next elections, which she hoped to win. "Even if she fled the country, we would capture her and bring her to justice." To this, Hasina replied: "She has talked of my escape. I will stay here. This is my homeland." But what added a different dimension to the public spat was Khaleda's open invitation to the army "not to stay quiet" if the current political turmoil in the country continued. Hasina rebuffed her rival, saying: "This isn't 1975 (the year Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and many others of his family were killed by some army officers at his residence here). This is 2013. The world has changed." To Hasina, Khaleda's call for an army intervention was yet another proof that she had no faith in democracy. The rhetoric apart, both sides face fresh challenges in the run-up to the general election due at the year-end. The war crimes trials and the Shahbag uprising have further sharpened the political polarisation in the country. Hasina faces a challenge of living and acting up to the aspirations of the younger generation that formed the core of the Shahbag movement. "If she can't do it now, she will never have another opportunity to crush not only the Jamaat and its leaders accused of war crimes but also all anti-liberation forces," Nazmul Bhuina Joy, a business administration graduate from the American University of Bangladesh, said as he, along with eight others, sat on an indefinite fast at Shahbag, trying to force Hasina's hand. Khaleda's challenge is to face the fresh surge of pro-liberation forces which have closed ranks. No wonder the BNP has made common cause with the Jamaat in organising strikes, indulging in violence and even attacking homes and places of worship of people belonging to the minority communities. Her other challenge is to revive the demand for a caretaker government before the next election. In the post-Shahbag turmoil in the country, the demand for a caretaker government and the BNP's agitation for it have clearly taken a back seat. As the two sides step up their actions, Bangladesh has little hope of a respite from the current turmoil. Two programmes next week will probably set the course of the coming weeks and months. On April 4, the Gano Jagaran Mancha, which sprang up from the Shahbag movement, takes out a procession to the Prime Minister's office to press its demand for a ban on the Jamaat. Two days later, a "long march" from across the country, to be organised by an Islamic group, is to converge on Dhaka, demanding punishment for the "atheists" of Shahbag. "It's going to be a long and bloody battle," Muntasir Mamoon said at his home at upmarket Dhanmondi, not far from the house where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed. Mamoon is a professor of history at Dhaka University, but he is better known as one of the main organisers of the first movement in Bangladesh in 1993 demanding death sentences for the "war criminals" of 1971. He is one of a dozen civil rights activists who have been accused of being "murtad" (atheists) by some fundamentalists in the wake of the Shahbag movement and live under a fatwa of death. "This isn't the first time people like us are living under the shadow of death. But there's no escaping this battle in Bangladesh," Mamoon said, almost to himself. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130401/jsp/frontpage/story_16733204.jsp#.UVmMZxeBlA0 |
Monday, April 1, 2013
Didi vs Didi, running for long next door - Even court is compelled to wonder why Hasina and Khaleda won’t meet and talk
Looms fall silent in silk town UMANAND JAISWAL
Looms fall silent in silk town | |
| UMANAND JAISWAL | |
Sualkuchi, March 31: The sound of wood striking wood was missing, as was the sight of intricate and colourful patterns on silk taking shape on the loom. This silk town, around 35km from Guwahati and on the North Bank of the Brahmaputa, seemed to have lost its raison d'etre — producing silk products of fame — after the invasion of similar products bearing the name of another town on the bank of another famed river, Varanasi. If 26-year-old Mithun Barman's hands still worked on the loom at Hiralal Kalita's weaving unit at Kalitapara this morning, it was more to rid himself of the boredom of sitting idle for the past three days than anything meaningful. The "simple and peaceful" townsfolk didn't know what curfew was like till yesterday afternoon, when it was imposed to restore order. Khanikar Das, a young trader, said the curfew was such a stranger to the residents that yesterday, some of his acquaintances had even requested him to go out with them to "see" the curfew, which had evoked curiosity and fear in equal measure. The district administration had imposed the curfew after protesters and security personnel were engaged in a running battle that led to injuries to several on both sides. Three persons are still undergoing treatment in Guwahati. The cause of trouble was the simmering tension sparked off by traders selling Benarasi silk products in the name of Sualkuchi silk — the more expensive pat and muga. Benarasi silk is mainly churned out of mulberry and costs less. The anger has been there for quite some time. "The two had co-existed in our shops from time immemorial, but of late, some traders had been passing off Benarasi silk products as those made from Assam silk. Besides, over some time, these products were being designed on the lines of the local products, thus threatening the latter's existence. This should be stopped and I am with the public on this issue. But I am not indulging in any unfair practices," said Kushal Medhi, whose family has been in the business of both manufacturing and trading for the past 75 years. His stock of Benarasi silk products was also torched yesterday outside his residence, where the police had to fire at protesters. The number of looms in the town has come down from 25,000 to 12,000, as labour shortage and mounting cost of production has dealt a body blow to brand Sualkuchi, which, in turn, also encouraged traders to bring in more Benarasi products. "Most of the weavers have gone out looking for greener pastures in the past five-six years," Das said. "If this trend continues, we may have to shut shop soon for malpractice by a few and the administration's indifference. An integral part of the Assamese way of life will come to an end because silk mekhela and sador are part of the community's identity. Around 10,000 people from neighbouring districts who work with us have been directly affected. Almost 100 per cent of the households here are involved in making silk products," Hiralal Kalita said. Officials said silk weaving provides direct as well as indirect employment to more than 25,000 people throughout the year. More than 12,000 women weavers are also involved. While 70 per cent of the products comprise mekhela and sador, 20 per cent are silk sarees and 10 per cent miscellaneous products. Sualkuchi produces 31,000 lakh linear metres of silk fabrics worth Rs 9,000 lakh, with an approximate annual export of Rs 1,200 lakh. It is clear from the observations of the weavers and traders that it is more a fight to protect a way of life than an attempt to check Benarasi silk "masquerading" as Sualkuchi silk. "The sooner the administration understands, the better it will be for everyone," Das said. The administration seems to have got the message. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi called up Kamrup deputy commissioner S.K. Roy to ensure that innocents were not harassed and the situation returned to normal soon. Local MLA and minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is being accused of not doing enough to resolve the problem, too, held a stocktaking meeting. Roy told The Telegraph that the situation was under control. "We relaxed curfew from 1pm to 4pm and then extended it by an hour. Tomorrow, we will relax it from 7 am to 5 pm. We understand the sentiments of the people," he said. He said shops would be checked from tomorrow to root out this menace. "I will also move Dispur to conduct such raids all over the state." Government spokesperson Bhupen Kumar Borah told this correspondent: "The government will do everything to protect this great Assamese fabric, which is also our unique identity." Local residents today met the deputy commissioner during the curfew relaxation period and sought the unconditional release of the five arrested persons and immediate lifting of curfew. Prahlad Das, a local youth, said the outburst was collective and spontaneous. "It's a people movement and we will not allow anybody to politicise this identity and livelihood issue. We want solution, not politics." http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130401/jsp/frontpage/story_16732922.jsp#.UVmMDReBlA0 |
Bengal poll panel moves court against state’s dates for panchayat battle
Bengal poll panel moves court against state's dates for panchayat battle |
| Calcutta, Apr 1 (PTI): The West Bengal State Election Commission on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court appealing that the Panchayat election date notified by the state government be rejected. The Commission's counsel, L C Bihani, brought the matter before the court of Justice Biswanath Somadder and prayed for the rejection. The judge, however, directed the counsel to get the matter listed before he could take it up. It is likely to be considered by the court, following listing, either on Tuesday or any day after that. The Trinamul-led government and the Commission have been at loggerheads over the schedule of the Panchayat polls, with the government announcing that these will be held in two phases and that too under the supervision of the state police. The Commission had earlier proposed that the Panchayat polls be held in three phases and central forces be deployed for the sake of free and fair elections. |
मॉरीशस मार्ग की माया
| Monday, 01 April 2013 11:43 |
सुनील भारत सरकार एक विचित्र स्थिति में पहुंच गई है। वह बजट घाटे को कम रखने के लिए एड़ी-चोटी का जोर लगा रही है ताकि रेटिंग एजेंसियों द्वारा उसकी रेटिंग ठीक रहे और उसके मुताबिक विदेशी पूंजी निवेशक भारत की ओर रुख करते रहें। बजट घाटे को कम करने के लिए सरकार जनकल्याण पर जरूरी खर्च में कटौती कर रही है, सरकारी संपत्ति को बेच रही है और जनसाधारण पर डीजल, बिजली, पानी आदि की बढ़ती हुई दरों का बोझ डाल रही है। लेकिन दूसरी तरफ वह बड़ी-बड़ी कंपनियों पर टैक्स कम कर रही है, उन्हें करों से बचने की इजाजत दे रही है। उन्हें अनुदान भी दे रही है। यह खुला खेल सरकार क्यों खेल रही है? क्या उसकी कोई मजबूरी है? कहा जा सकता है कि एक मायने में सरकार मजबूर है। अर्थव्यवस्था की हालत खराब है। राष्ट्रीय आय की वृद्धि दर कम होती जा रही है और विदेशी मुद्रा का भुगतान संतुलन लगातार बिगड़ रहा है। विदेश व्यापार हमेशा से घाटे में था, लेकिन अब इस घाटे ने विकराल रूप धारण कर लिया है। बाहर से जो अन्य चालू प्राप्तियां (जैसे विदेशों में बसे भारतीयों द्वारा भेजा जाने वाला पैसा) मिलती थीं, उनका प्रवाह भी सूखने लगा है। ऐसी हालत में भुगतान संतुलन के चालू खाते का घाटा 7500 करोड़ डॉलर का विकराल रूप धारण कर चुका है। भारत का विदेशी मुद्रा भंडार पहले लगातार बढ़ रहा था, पर अब वह भी छीजने लगा है। अगर हालात नहीं सुधरे तो हम 1991 जैसीसंकटपूर्ण स्थिति में पहुंच सकते हैं, जब भारत को अपना सोना लंदन में गिरवी रखना पड़ा था और अंतरराष्ट्रीय मुद्राकोष से काफी अनुचित शर्तों पर कर्ज लेना पड़ा था। इस संकट से उबरने का एक ही उपाय सरकार को दिखाई देता है, वह यह कि किसी भी कीमत पर विदेशी पूंजी को बुलाए और पूंजीगत खाते के अधिशेष से चालू खाते के घाटे को पूरा करे। यह अलग बात है कि ऐसा करने से देश की देनदारियां और बढेÞंगी, और आने वाले सालों में भुगतान संतुलन का संकट और गंभीर होगा। दरअसल, पिछले दो दशक में सरकार लगातार विदेशी लेन-देन में चालू खाते के घाटे को विदेशी कर्जों और विदेशी पूंजी से पूरा करने का प्रयास करती रही है और इसको उपलब्धि बता कर खुद की पीठ ठोंकती रही है। आज विदेशी पूंजी के प्रवाह पर सरकार इतना ज्यादा निर्भर हो गई है कि विदेशी पूंजीपतियों के थोड़ी भी नाराजगी दिखाने या धमकी देने से सरकार घबरा जाती है, उनकी नाजायज मांगें भी मानने को मजबूर हो जाती है। गौरतलब है कि भारत में आ रही विदेशी पूंजी में लगभग आधा हिस्सा प्रत्यक्ष विदेशी निवेश है तो आधा केवल शेयर बाजार में लगने वाला पोर्टफोलियो निवेश है और खासतौर पर यही सट््टात्मक वित्तीय पूंजी भारत सरकार को जिस तरह चाहे नचा रही है। विडंबना यह है कि इसकी तमाम मांगें पूरी करने के बावजूद कभी भी मुसीबत के समय में इसे भागते देर नहीं लगेगी। दस साल में आए विदेशी पोर्टफोलियो निवेश को वापस जाने में दस दिन भी नहीं लगेंगे। मैक्सिको और दक्षिण-पूर्व एशिया के अनुभव इस बात के उदाहरण हैं कि यह वित्तीय पूंजी पहले तो तेजी का गुब्बारा फुलाती है और उसके फूटते वक्त सबसे पहले साथ छोड़ कर भागती है। यह चंचल, उड़नछू पूंजी कभी भी बड़ी-बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्थाओं को अस्थिर कर सकती है। विदेश व्यापार का बढ़ता घाटा बता रहा है कि निर्यात आधारित विकास का मॉडल बुरी तरह विफल हुआ है। राष्ट्रीय आय की ऊंची वृद्धि दर एक बुलबुला साबित हुई है। दरअसल, इस गरीब देश के करोड़ों लोगों के हितों और मुनाफाखोर बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनियों के हितों में बुनियादी विरोध है। एक की कीमत पर ही दूसरे को साधा जा सकता है, इसे लातिन अमेरिका के नव-समाजवादी शासकों ने अच्छी तरह समझा है। http://www.jansatta.com/index.php/component/content/article/20-2009-09-11-07-46-16/41621-2013-04-01-06-14-40 |
उच्चतम न्यायालय में कैंसर की दवा के पेटेंट की लड़ाई हारी नोवार्तिस
| Monday, 01 April 2013 13:18 |
नयी दि आज के निर्णय से भारत में कैंसर के मरीजों के लिए ग्लीवेक के जेनेरिक :सामान्य: संस्करणों के विनिर्माण का रास्ता खुल जाएगा। जेनेरिक दवाएं पेंटेटशुदा दवाओं से दाम में कम पर काम में वैसी ही होती हैं। नोवार्तिस की ग्लीवेक की दवा की एक महीने की खुराक लगभग 1.2 लाख रुपये बैठती है। वहीं भारतीय कंपनियों द्वारा इसके सामान्य संस्करण पर खर्च 8,000 रुपये में पड़ेगा। |
ल्ली। उच्चतम न्यायालय ने ग्लीवेक पर पेटेंट के अधिकार का दावा तथा भारतीय कंपनियों को इसके सामान्य संस्करण के विनिर्माण और कारोबार से रोकने की अपील वाली नोवार्तिस की याचिका आज खारिज कर दी। 
जलविद्युत कंपनियों की अवैध गतिविधियों को केंद्र और उत्तराखंड की राज्य सरकार का समर्थन मिल रहा है। इसमें अंतर्निहित यह समझ है कि इन परियोजनाओं से होनेवाले लाभ इतने ज्यादा हैं कि पर्यावरण का विनाश न्यायोचित है। मैं श्रीनगर जल विद्युत परियोजना का उदाहरण दे रहा हूं जिसका निर्माण उत्तराखंड में गंगा में हो रहा है। यह परियोजना गंगा नदी को 30 किलो मीटर लंबे संड़ाध भरे जलाशय में बदल देगी। इसके कई गंभीर पर्यावरणीय असर होंगे। वह तलौंछ (सेडिमेंट) जो कि मछलियों के लिए भोजन है और जो हमारे तटीय क्षेत्र को पुन:पोषित करती है, वह वहीं थम जाएगी।
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