Policy Security Technology

India’s battle in the Skies: The Fight Against Pakistan’s Terror Drones

RahulPAWA | @imrahulpawa Recently, skies over India have become a battleground for an insidious new threat – terror drones. The severity of this menace was laid bare once again yesterday when Indian security forces detected a drone that had violated Indian airspace and was flying in from Pakistan near the international border in Gurdaspur district of the north Indian state of Punjab. In a swift retaliatory response, the Indian security forces fired upon the drone, causing it to retreat towards Pakistan. This incident follows a similar pattern from the previous month, where Indian security forces discovered a high-end Chinese-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK quadcopter in Gurdaspur that had infiltrated from Pakistan. The discovery of this sophisticated drone, valued at a staggering USD $13,700, is a sobering reminder of the growing use of advanced aerial technology by malevolent actors across borders. Moreover, not only Punjab has seen Pakistan-operated terror drones in violation of Indian airspace. Earlier this year, a drone was shot down in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar sector. Indian security forces recovered five packages of narcotics from the wreckage of that drone. In another incident of illegal cross-border drone droppings from November last year in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Samba district. The police recovered two unassembled improvised explosive devices with detonators, two Chinese-made pistols, four magazines loaded with 60 rounds, and half a million Indian rupees that were dropped by a terror drone controlled from Pakistan. With this recent uptick in Pakistan’s unmanned aerial vehicle activity, it is becoming incessantly clear that the incidents involving their terror drones in India are not isolated occurrences; rather, they represent a calculated and deliberate escalation of modern-day asymmetrical warfare aimed at undermining India’s security. The usage of such drones by Pakistan for activities like hostile reconnaissance, drug and weapon trafficking, and transporting explosives and ammunition into India has increased four times in Punjab alone since the beginning of this year. As a countermeasure, Indian security forces stationed along the international border states have ramped up their vigilance and intercepted more than a dozen terror drones from Pakistan in the past few weeks alone. It is no secret that Pakistan is deeply involved in the insidious practice of narco-terrorism. This is not mere hearsay but a widely acknowledged fact, confirmed by international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL), and prominent forums such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+). The FATF’s demand last year for Pakistan to demonstrate concrete action against terrorism was a reminder of its precarious position on the FATF grey list. Recent scrutiny of Pakistan’s government-sponsored terrorism has also been directed towards its bid to revive a 2019 bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). There were serious concerns over using bailout funds, given Pakistan’s history of fostering secessionism and terrorism in India. Pakistan’s tumultuous past has been characterised by widespread criticism of its army’s rampant corruption, the government’s lack of developmental policies, and a blatant disregard for its citizen’s welfare. The country has been notorious for its efforts to cultivate jihadist extremism and sponsor terrorism against India, which has ultimately resulted in its downfall. Subsequently, a classic case study for the world to see as an example of how states that harbour and endorse extremism, sponsor terrorism, and lack coherent plans for their people’s growth and development are bound to fail. Concerningly, the increasing and escalating use of terror drones launched from Pakistan against India epitomises the mindset of the country’s deep state and army. Alarmingly, Pakistan seems to have decided to persist in diverting its valuable resources towards supporting terror, thereby continuing to nurture the monster of terrorism that it created, even though it has already bankrupted the country. By resorting to narco-terrorism, small arms smuggling and financing of terrorism by the use of terror drones with an aspiration to destabilise India, especially its youth. Pakistan is exposing itself to further repercussions at the hands of an able Indian national security apparatus and extreme scrutiny from its financial backers, organisations, unions and nations that greatly benefit it. Pakistan has active loans from international lending agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), among others. It is also a partner in the Paris Pact Initiative, which seeks to combat opiate trafficking, consumption and related issues along the Afghan trafficking routes. Pakistan benefits from Europe’s preferential tariff programmes, including the GSP+. However, Pakistan’s blatant support for organised crime, extremism and terrorism has seriously undermined its credibility. As a result, these agencies and entities have imposed new stringent rectification requirements on Pakistan’s support for terrorism and extremism to maintain their support. The country’s unwavering commitment to pursuing this treacherous path endangers regional stability and poses a significant threat to global peace and security. At this crucial juncture, the international community must recognise the gravity and implications of Pakistan’s “terror drones” deployment against India. Moreover, global leaders must take note of the nations that endorse and enable Pakistan’s actions. Pakistan’s long-standing ally, the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) led China, which boasts an unbreakable friendship with Pakistan, has become a source of concern. Recent findings of Pakistan-operated terror drones and weaponry recovered in Indian territory offer tangible evidence of Chinese technology, equipment, and weaponry being used for narco-terror and related terrorist activities in India. A considerable proportion of the drones used by Pakistan in cross-border operations in India are supplied by the Chinese firm SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. In December 2020, the US government listed DJI on a trade-restricted list due to concerns about its connections to the CPC government. Notably, some of the batteries that power these drones are manufactured by a company based in Karachi, Pakistan. Despite the CPC’s repeated claims of a firm commitment to combat international terrorism, doubts have arisen due to its continued support for Pakistan’s backed

Disinformation Media Misinformation Uncategorized World

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Truth behind lies!

NYT breaks bread with terror supporters, spreads mischievous, malicious & fictitious propaganda on press freedom in Kashmir Zero tolerance to violence, subversion or terrorism has been the steadfast policy of Indian Government across her provinces including Union Territory of Kashmir which is non-negotiable. Past governments to an extent and the Narendra Modi-led regime in particular have implemented this policy in letter and spirit. Ignoring the sovereign right of a lawfully elected Government’s right to frame its policies towards terror, its handlers and supporters, The New York Times has provided its space to Anuradha Bhasin, executive editor of The Kashmir Times that worked in geometrically opposite ways. “Modi’s final assault on press freedom has begun” published as guest essay in opinion pages of The New York Times edition of March 8, 2023 is proof of this new found sweet heart ties between terror supporters and the American media establishment against India and her government. Bhasin, notorious for having peddled misinformation in the Kashmir valley lending support to subversives that were part of Pakistan’s K2 – Khalistan & Kashmir project – has the gumption to question Narendra Modi government and India’s commitment to press freedom. The New York Times seems to have fallen into the trap of anti-India forces campaigning globally to derail its famed growth and development story that’s beyond blemish. The Kashmir Times founder editor Ved Bhasin’s proclivity with terrorists supported, abetted and financed by Pakistan’s dirty tricks department, Security Establishment and ISI are known beyond doubt. Having supported terrorism and anti-India forces, today Anuradha Bhasin seems to be crying wolf on suppression of press freedom. If that was true, her write up that’s a figment of fertile imagination would not have been read, seen or viewed in India or elsewhere. Hence, her arguments are either flawed, erroneous or driving a pre-set agenda based narrative in the international media networks. The New York Times seems to have become a willing partner in this ‘fake-narrative’ push. In later part of her write up, Anuradha Bhasin admits to proliferation of media outlets in Kashmir. If repression were to be true, how do media flourish or expand in any part of the globe? Citing tax surveys on BBC to derive support to her argument again is laughable. Neither BBC’s operations have been restricted nor their reporting teams restricted. All that India stated was asking the British Broadcaster set up through an act of British Parliament to adhere to Indian rules and regulations. If press freedom was a threat, then how’s it that more than 300 active foreign and Indian scribes work for global media organizations? India has well established judicial system, policing and independent media apart from the executive as well as the democratic institutions that have defined the country’s governance structure in a federal format. First fallacy peddled by Anuradha Bhasin – who in person, family and her media empire benefited from the previous governments’ largesse – that Article 370 was abruptly withdrawn. Modi’s party, BJP election manifesto clearly outlined its policy of zero tolerance towards foreign funded terror groups of all hues and shades, their handlers and supporters. The elected government in 2014 went about to implement its agenda as people’s mandate that include abrogation of article 370. Intermittent internet shut downs is a common grouse of a few people in the Kashmir valley so much so the terror groups, their handlers and financing hands. Most of stone pelting, violence incidents have happened via the messaging apps generously used by Pakistani establishment. None can dispute the fact that internet connectivity improved and grassroots democratic process has begun to take shape ignoring violence, bids to subvert Kashmir and disintegrate the Kashmiri society. Making charges that Indian government forced judiciary to bend backwards or supressed press freedom has any basis or true.

Disinformation Economy Hindus Media Misinformation Policy

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‘Holier than thou’ approach may not work

Attributing purported growth slowdown in one quarter to ‘Hindus’ is crass, intellectually debasing one’s self, Dr Raghuram Rajan! K.A.Badarinath Social media handles went on a rampage with Nehruvian socialist misnomer of ‘Hindu rate of growth’ was picked up from dustbin and hurled by RBI’s former governor Raghuram Rajan. Why attribute it to ‘Hindus’ or Sanatan Dharmic followers when the economic expansion in India or elsewhere slowed down to 3 – 3.5 per cent? On both counts, lower growth rate attribution to ‘Hindus’ and Rajan’s growth estimates have gone off the mark with no plausible or logical explanation. S.Gurumurthy succinctly put the coinage of term ‘Hindu Rate of Growth’ during 1950s and 1980s to Raj Krishna, a self-styled thinker in socialist – Nehruvian moulds. And, slow growth attribution to ‘Hindus’ was not only an affront to practicing dharmic people but purely an illusion and economic figment of imagination that found favour with former World Bank chief Robert McNamara. For long this term vanished like the now jinxed socialist order or Nehruvian development model that collapsed like it never existed before. Derailing the genuine economic growth story of which Raghuram Rajan and his boss Rahul Gandhi may have been the objective. But, intellectually, it’s rather crass to make such attributions to ‘Hindus’. Rajan’s narcissist traits may have forced him to debunk the genuine ‘Hindu’ and ‘India’ growth story that’s been feted globally at a time when there’s talk of economic recession in Europe and even China’ National People’s Congress under President Xi Jingping lowered the dragon’s growth estimate to 5 per cent. Is Raghuram Rajan making desperate attempts to hog headlines when most international fraternity has been in India by attributing growth moderation in fourth quarter of this fiscal ending March 2023 to ‘Hindus’. Or has Prof Rajan gone full throttle into ‘hindu-phobic’ or ‘Hindu-hatred camps, is the question? Why is Dr Rajan not convinced of possible seven per cent plus growth in 2022-23 that would be highest in a large economy globally? Or, has he lost it out on economic fundamentals and macro-economic indicators that serious economists use as tools to extrapolate growth estimates? Or, has his increasing tilt towards Congress and its ‘pappu’ that undertook ‘jodo, todo’ yatra triggered this derogatory ‘Hindu rate of growth’ pronouncement? If Narendra Modi as Prime Minister always bracketed with Hindus and RSS in most analyses, why not dub the government’s clean track record of nine years on economic front to be ‘Hindu led’? It’s only logical to deduce that such below the belt comments from a former RBI governor belittles the great institution he governed beginning September 2013 and continued till 2016 even after Prime Minister Modi took reins at centre. Or, was Raghuram Rajan’s comments designed to scare away the investment community from committing huge foreign funds in India to capitalize on her growth story? Of all, should Rajan come up with this off the cuff remarks on a day when National Statistical Office announced doubling of per capita income during Narendra Modi regime to Rs 172,000 in 2022-23 from Rs 86, 647 in 2014-15, the year he took charge as Prime Minister? Worst phase of banking sector besieged with ‘sweet heart deals’ and fuelled by phone calls from crony leaders was reported during Raghuram Rajan’s tenure as RBI’s governor and then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. As admitted by Dr Rajan in an interview, ‘cleaning operation’ in banks began after Modi government took charge in 2014. (Author is Director & Chief Executive at New Delhi based think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)

Disinformation Fact Sheet Human Rights Media Misinformation

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NCCM & WSO Exposed: Unmasking their biased and misleading RSS Report

The joint report by the NCCM and WSO titled “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Network in Canada” is a poorly executed attempt to push a malicious agenda of misinformation and opinion-based claims. The report appears to be driven by individuals and entities with an anti-India, anti-Hindu, and anti-RSS agenda in Canada. It is clear that the report’s objective is to further public opinion-building exercises that promote anti-Hindu and anti-India rhetoric, rather than providing facts and credible evidence in front of the average Canadian.By making baseless accusations against the Hindus and RSS, the report puts the security and well-being of thousands of people of Indian origin at risk in Canada. It also attempts to silence the voices of Hindu-centric organisations that do not share the views of the NCCM and WSO. This report only serves to promote Hinduphobia and could lead to the normalisation of the persecution of Hindus in Canada. It is essential to demand answers from NCCM and WSO as reports that are based on bias, misinformation, and opinion can cause real harm by promoting harmful stereotypes and dividing communities. Only by seeking facts and objectivity can we create a more equitable and just society for all.

Business Economy Media

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Ajay Banga, right man for the moment

Climate finance, funding private entrepreneurship, rebuilding war-torn Ukraine apart from democratizing World Bank should be priority K.A.Badarinath Ajaypal Singh Banga, nominee of US President Joe Biden to head the multi-lateral World Bank, has his task cut out. Banga may not turn out to be a traditional banker in the sense like many of his predecessors. Nor does he have experience of the US treasury like the present incumbent David Robert Malpass who would complete his term by June end. But Ajay Banga, 63 and son of a former Indian Army officer has all the credentials to flaunt and take charge of the World Bank at a very crucial juncture on geo-political front and the world of finance, banking and markets. God willing and other stakeholders support, Banga will head the bank beginning July 1 this year. Banga does not mince words to say that he’s ‘made in India’ referring to his modest Indian origins. He’s for long been poster boy of the Wall Street and a brilliant mind who as a naturalized US citizen is considered ‘compassionate banker par excellence’ by the democratic White House. His eventful innings at Master Card, Citibank, KFC, Pizza Hut and Nestle provider the requisite experience to lead the World Bank that’s considered ‘a big boys club’ which is either inaccessible or provides limited linkages to the least developed or developing small economies. Democratizing leviathan World Bank may be a daunting task for even Banga who admits to making ‘easy friends’ all over. Biggest challenge may come from the most powerful industrial countries that are unwilling to let go of their strangle hold on this Bretton Woods institution of 1944 vintage which came into being as post-world war workhorse. Turning the World Bank relevant and expanding its footprint in today’s world of development finance sans apprehensions by humanity is a challenge which Banga may have to face once he occupies the corner room. Providing ‘humane development face’ to the institution largely regarded rudderless and seen as one that pushes the countries it engages into unsustainable indebtedness is yet another challenge. Reforms at World Bank that progressed at sluggish pace or rather not taken off must be hastened. These reforms and World Bank’s governance must get aligned to current realities where large developing countries like India emerged with formidable economic strength and on way to achieve $5 trillion size. Both voting rights and actual shareholding in World Bank institutions like IBRD, IDA, MIGA and IFC must reflect the change agent that the organization aspires to achieve lifting itself over narrow powerful coteries. India may not be the only country that would look for better foothold and say in World Bank’s governance. Countries like South Africa and Brazil have periodically aired their grievances. Toughest nut to crack for Banga would be to deny US the veto vote on World Bank board thereby delinking shareholding from vote share. Reformed World Bank should kick off restructuring in the other multilateral organization, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Yet another vintage institution that’s incorrigible and invokes more of fear and scare for countries seeking restructuring support rather than turning a helping hand without hassles. Litmus test for Ajay Banga will be when the war torn Ukraine seeks the support of World Bank and IMF to rebuild itself after having engaged in a conflict with Russia. Non-NATO forces are bound to resist World Bank support to Ukraine that may try and pick up pieces to build a new country. In case Russian side continues to veto proposals for ending the conflict, then rebuilding Ukraine may turn that much difficult as well. Committing World Bank to climate finance for countries that seek to go full throttle in energy transition and address climate change issues is something that Ajay Banga can take lead in. Financing technology development, transfers and providing cost-effective funds to facilitate this transition is something Banga can push big time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the issue with finance ministers and central bank governors from G-20 group that met in Bengaluru recently. Countries like India will alone need a whopping $2.5 trillion in green finance to achieve national development goals and another $ 10 trillion by 2070 to achieve net zero emissions. Climate finance is huge business that cannot be foregone by World Bank under Ajay Banga. And, he has to gear up to meet the opportunity and challenges to finance greening of economies. Given his inroads into corporate world and private equity markets, evolving IFC as the largest financing avenue for both private sector debt and equity can be enlisted as a priority. (author is Director & Chief Executive at New Delhi based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)

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Explainer: Ulterior Equality Labs, a controversial council member and Seattle City’s absurd anti-caste discrimination law

The Seattle City Council enacted an amendment on February 22, 2023, which added “caste” to its anti-discrimination statutes. This makes Seattle the first city outside of South Asia to pass anti-caste discrimination legislation. According to the ordinance (now the legislation), caste is a system of social stratification that has been prescribed by law, traditions, and religion. In contrast, the passage of this Act is predicated on the discrimination of Hindus under the guise of an effort to abolish discrimination. In the West, motivated and agenda-driven organisations like the Equality Labs and contentious council members have used the opportunity to rally support to malign Hindus and Hindu practises, furthering falsehoods about Hindus and fueling hatred towards Hindus. The legislation derives its rationale from a 2016 report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues, which asserts that caste is a global issue and cites Equality Labs which provides a local context and sees it as a human rights issue. However, the hasty ordinance rests its reasoning on the phenomenon, but fails to give statistical or scientific data to support its reasoning. As a result, the ordinance promotes institutionalise prejudice against a specific Hindu minority group. In this explainer, we analyse the anti-caste discrimination ordinance, its backers, and their possible reasoning for supporting an anti-Hindu and anti-Indian legislature.

Disinformation Fact Sheet Hindus Human Rights Leadership Media Misinformation

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NYT, BBC fall into the pattern

Anti-Hindu, India propaganda unleashed with intent, based on agenda. Their journalistic pursuits come under scrutiny It is not India’s proud tradition of a free press that is at stake. It’s anti-India and anti-Hindu propaganda unleashed with impunity by certain media houses that has taken centre stage. First, it was the BBC that went whole hog against Hindus and India. Now, The New York Times has joined the bandwagon of some international media outlets that have been on campaign mode against India, Hindus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as their whipping boy. If the NYT editorial board claims of ‘shrill Hindu nationalism’ being the culprit for anything purportedly to have happened to press freedom in India, it’s grossly wrong. The New York Times editorial board comment in its edition of February 12, 2023 on the issue of press freedom in India is completely flawed seeking to set a particular narrative. Sweeping remarks on purported ‘Intimidation, Censorship, Silence or Punishing independent news media in India’ is not factually correct, untrue and a figment of Imagination. India toeing an independent alternative line on issues different from left leaning self-proclaimed liberalists cannot be dubbed as anti-press freedom. Hindus worldwide and in India believe, profess and push for an open, transparent and clean diverse society governed sans corruption, nepotism and exclusivity. India celebrates oneness in its diverse amalgamation of cultures, religious faiths under the Sanatan Dharmic umbrella. Thousands of years of classical civilizational heritage is testimony to Hindus ‘all embracing’ nature and spirit. Not understanding Hindus from their perspective leads to a false notion of ‘shrill nationalism’ kind of narratives that are superficial and erroneous. Neither France based Reporters without Borders (RSF) has the means, bandwidth, methodology or credible data to prove that press freedom was at stake in India. NYT justifying its editorial comment on the questionable World Press Freedom Index report of this organization seems to be fuelled by anti-India and anti-Hindu agenda nursed carefully to meet its objective. If hitting at the famed growth story is the objective, then The New York Times should definitely know that India is invincible and the fake narratives may not work. Leave alone the downgrading India on Press Freedom Index, even the Indian map has been displayed wrongly by the Reporters Without Borders. NYT’s editorial comment is based on reports that depict Kashmir without acknowledging the illegal occupation by Pakistan and China’s occupation of Aksai Chin areas of the North Eastern Indian region. The New York Times editorial backed a BBC documentary that was aggressively anti-Hindu and anti-India in nature. This was called out by British Member of Parliament Bob Blackman who described the BBC documentary as ‘poor journalism, badly researched’. Leave alone The New York Times, even the BBC cannot deny its left wing bias and accept an alternative, independent philosophy of Hindus based on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, world as one big family. BBC’s left wing bias is known to Britishers. In Margaret Thatcher’s government of ‘80s, several members of the British Parliament brought home this point. Conservative MP Tebbit had aptly described the BBC as ‘stateless person’s broadcasting corporation’. Another conservative MP Peter Bruinvels termed the BBC as ‘Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation’ pointing to Leftists control over the news coverage. To say that press freedom came under attack after 2014 following Narendra Modi’s ascent to be Prime Minister and Hindu nationalist shrillness is again grossly misguided and propagandist owing to a colonial mind-set of extreme nature. Late Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi had banned BBC from India coverage on two occasions owing to its ‘biases’ in its earlier documentaries also. Perhaps, NYT may not have a plausible explanation for such a ban in late ‘70s. The BBC was in trouble in India in the early 1970s. Even at that time, the Indian diaspora was outraged by BBC documentaries named Calcutta and Phantom India. Louis Malle directed French documentary mini-series Phantom India painted a biased picture of India by emphasising the underdeveloped regions as opposed to the developing ones. If Press freedom was under attack as propagated by BBC and NYT, how’s it that the editorial in The New York Times was not taken down? Thousands of stories filed by a strong network of foreign media professionals based in India that are critical of the government have hit the wires, newspapers and TV outlets freely each day. So, the charge that India, Hindus and by extension Narendra Modi have suppressed ‘free media’ is only agenda peddling by some media houses.

Business Leadership Policy

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Make the best with change in mind-set

Cooperatives can deliver $ one trillion economic expansion; provide work opportunities to millions and fuel boom in grassroots firms K.A.Badarinath Fourth pillar of Indian economy is on the resurrection mode. From state-owned public undertakings, private and foreign companies, cooperative enterprises considered as fourth engine of economic growth are in for a big makeover. Taking cooperatives seriously as grassroots enterprises to spur rural economy, create jobs and add rural wealth to India’s growth heft was something long overdue. And, this government seems to have got its heart and soul at the right place to revive the cooperative enterprises and help achieving double digit growth and take Indian rural people global. A year-long drive to rejuvenate these enterprises with huge potential across a dozen sectors in the spirit of ‘antyodaya’ as envisaged by Maharshi Arbindo and Vinoba bhave of ‘Godan’ fame is timely. Narendra Modi government’s two decisions in cooperatives sector last one year stand out especially the the rural enterprises that are mostly agricultural primary credit societies. As per government’s own data, over 36,000 such societies have turned dysfunctional with many of these enterprises unviable. Its decision to shut down cooperatives that are untenable is a good beginning to reform the sector that can boast of only half a dozen large multi-state enterprises that are really successful. But, 13-crore members’ network across 99,000 primary credit societies has every chance to add economic muscle to the Indian growth and bring about fundamental change in rural hamlets across the country. Revival of the primary credit societies also will have cumulative effect with balance sheets of 352 district central cooperative banks improving and 34 state cooperative banks getting healthier. These banks have had refinanced or recapitalized thousands of primary credit societies with Nabard’s funding support. Many of these banks were also in doldrums owing to losses or unrealized funds lent to the societies. Integration of these credit societies with focus on core agricultural lending with dairy cooperatives with 1.5 crore membership in two lakh cooperative enterprises would help diversify the risk and open up new business opportunities. Bringing in over 25,000 fisheries cooperatives with 38 lakh members would culminate into the grass roots enterprises taking up multi-modal business activities. This week’s decision to set up two lakh such multi-modal primary credit societies in agriculture, fisheries and dairy sectors over next five years would be an ice-breaker given that they can be carved out into sustainable companies and help reach out to last man standing. These new enterprises would help spread the cooperatives to 1.6 lakh panchayats without primary agriculture credit societies and two lakh villages or clusters without dairy linkages. Multi-ministerial coordination, phasing out overlap of infrastructure and judicious utilization of meagre resources making the new age cooperatives as enterprises for different products and services marks shift in economic pendulum. Harvard bred economists like Dr Manmohan Singh, Montek Singh Ahluwalia or Palaniappan Chidambaram had never believed that cooperatives and rural economic activity could be a game changer. These market and corporate protagonists may actually be irked by the policy shift relating to cooperatives. But, there’s no point in making them believe that cooperatives can deliver big time at grassroots. In fact these ‘highly respected western educated minds’ made fun of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Antyodaya’ anna yojana to feed the perpetually hungry poor people in India’s hinterlands. Their tribe had scoffed at the very thought of taking economic activity to villages in the spirit of anthyodaya as propagated by philosophers – thinkers, Dattopanth Thengdi and Deendayal Upadhyaya. Most significant in the entire strategy to revitalize cooperatives was to rope in successful companies like National Dairy Development Board and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in bringing about sustainable change in the way cooperatives operate on ground zero. Their experience, expertise and reach would only help evolving sustainable grassroots enterprises in cooperatives in the new age. The new policy envisages bringing over 25 business activities under the roof of new age cooperatives. From cooking gas to petroleum products, food grains, fertilizers to seeds, fair price shops to community irrigation have been enlisted as business activities of these cooperatives hitherto segregated under either dairy development or spread of credit. While the new cooperatives policy is yet to take complete shape, setting up a dedicated multi-state enterprise to push grass roots products and services into export markets is yet another milestone in the policy shift heralded by the government. Several countries in Europe like France, Germany; Australia, Canada and Japan have sustainable cooperative models especially catering these countries exports basket. From banking, finance, insurance, pension funds, dairy to agricultural products and services, cooperatives have been the vehicles in these countries exports and domestic consumption. As per World Cooperatives Monitor of 2020, just the top 300 enterprises in this sector account for a whopping US $ 2.146 trillion economic activity. Cooperatives globally provide work opportunities to about 10 per cent of total employed personnel. If one were to go by figures of International Cooperatives Alliance, three million enterprises have over 12 per cent humanity as their stakeholders. A billion members of these cooperatives is what translates to large chunk of economic activity and trade is many countries. In the transformative shift that cooperatives are expected to undergo, a few riders are what matter the most. Hand holding and facilitation by creating conducive environment is what government’s role should be limited to. Allowing them to make most of the opportunities in rural India is what the bureaucracy will have to do. Strangling these new age enterprises with politicians or bureaucrats may not work. Past experiences cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Let’s not ignore what happened to IFFCO. There were several attempts by different governments to effectively make it a state-run enterprise by default. Resistance put up by then Fertilizers minister Ram Vilas Paswan to cut IFFCO’s umbilical cord with the government when the cooperative enterprise made desperate attempt to return the government’s paid up capital cannot be set aside. While IFFCO managed to retain its core cooperative

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Brief: Qaumi Insaaf Morcha Protests

The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been stationed near the Mohali Chandigarh border since January 7, 2023, in order to raise the issue of Sikh political prisoners who have purportedly fulfilled their sentences but are still incarcerated. The majority of detainees are Sikhs who were imprisoned during the 1980s and 1990s when Pakistan backed terrorism in Punjab was at its peak. The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha called for the nationwide release of all Sikh inmates as one of its demands. Other protestors, some armed with swords were also called in gradually by the group including select ed Nihang Sikhs. The protests eventually grew violent and the violent protesters attacked police officers who had been called to the scene for the maintenance of law and order. As per police statements, tractors were used to dismantle the barriers by the protestors.

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Brief: Amazon’s Hindu bigotry challenged!

Anti-Indian and anti-Hindu groups have continually generated systematic and organised campaigns against Sanatan Dharma. Leading technology companies play a prominent part in the same. Amazon, an American multinational technology corporation, routinely builds a negative connotation of Hindutva, a positive and tolerant way of life for millions of Hindus around the world. Amazon’s removal of the book “Modi and Me: A Political Awakening” by Sourav Dutt’s about India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi-related book citing “Hindutva literature” from its platform is a recent example of its Anti-Hindu bigotry that has come to light.

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