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Opinion

THE TRIBUNE, CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012

The Tribune
Established in 1881

Palestine's victory at UN
Israeli intransigence persists
by Inder Malhotra
AST week, after Israel's brazen occupation of it for 45 years, Palestine won a victory at the United Nations General Assembly that was not just famous but spectacular. No fewer than 138 countries voted for upgrading its status to non-member state as against a measly nine, led by the United States, which voted against. The New York Times' headline said it all when it declared: UN Assembly snubs US and Israel; Palestine gets non-member status. It was a triumph for Palestinian diplomacy and a sharp rebuke to the US and Israel, the paper added. No less importantly, except for Canada, no major country sided with America, its supporters being such nations as Palau, Panama and Micronesia. Even Britain that obediently follows the US could not do so this time around and abstained, as did Germany because of its abominable sin of the Holocaust in the days of the Third Reich. For the rest large European countries France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland voted in support of the much-suppressed and oppressed Palestine. This split between the US and its European allies over the Palestine issue is a welcome sign. Moreover, it was not lost on anyone that the world body conferred statehood on Palestine on the 65th anniversary of the day on which the UNGA had voted for the partition of the former British mandate of Palestine into two states one Jewish and the other Arab. Israel had celebrated the earlier decision as its birth certificate. No wonder, addressing the assembly's member-nations, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestine Authority said: The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the

Enough of drama
Parliament must get back to work
OW that the government has secured the vote in favour of its decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, the BJP must do a rethink on what purpose it has achieved by indulging in politicking and wasting the two Houses time on an executive decision which did not require any parliamentary approval in the first place. The party definitely needs a more mature leadership which upholds the nations interest above that of the party. It did not allow Parliament to conduct its business last December and then crippled its functioning in the monsoon session over Coalgate, which it has just forgotten to spend its entire energy now on a policy issue the party itself had pushed when in power. By insisting on a debate with a vote, the BJP had hoped to embarrass the UPA government. Now the egg is on its face. The debate did not throw any fresh light on the merits or demerits of allowing foreign supermarkets in the country. Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj alleged that foreign food giants used imported potatoes, a charge that was immediately rebutted. Left leaders carry a dated ideological baggage and refuse to learn anything from their misplaced opposition to reforms, India joining the WTO and the signing of the nuclear treaty with the US. The Trinamool Congress was snubbed on day one after its no-confidence move found no takers. It is trying to appease the leftovers of the Left. The UPA has been bailed out of a possible embarrassing situation by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati. Both will extract their pound of flesh. The Centre has already cleared a plot of prime land in Mumbai for a memorial to Ambedkar. Mayawati wants reservations for Dalits in promotions and Mulayam Singh demands more funds for Uttar Pradesh as quid pro quo. The political drama has left a feeling of disgust at the way politics is played at the highest level. Now that it is all over, here is a chance for parliamentarians to redeem themselves: Get down to lawmaking. Too many important Bills have been pending for long.

Indo-Pak visa regime

Anxious wait for operationalisation

NDIA and Pakistan put their seal of approval on a new and liberalised visa regime on September 8, but its benefits could not reach the people due to the delay in its operationalisation. The anxious wait for the implementation of the much-appreciated visa policy may come to an end in the coming few days. Pakistans Interior Minister Rehman Malik is expected to be in India on December 14 when the two sides may finally implement the new visa agreement. The earlier this is done, the better. People, especially businessmen, want it to be brought into effect as soon as possible. Those associated with trade and industry found the old visa regime regressive in nature. It was a major hindrance in promoting trade between the two countries. The most attractive feature of the new visa policy is a provision for issuing a business visa. The business visa will be of two categories, one allowing multiple entries and the other for four entries to five places. This may make it easier to double, as targeted, the Indo-Pak bilateral trade to over $5 billion in a year from the present $2.56 billion. The second biggest beneficiaries will be those above 65 years of age. In fact, they are the people more interested in visiting each others country as frequently as possible because of historical, religious and other reasons. The new regime allows senior citizens to be issued visas for two years with the facility of multiple entries. Visitors in the 65-plus category will also have the advantage of getting visas on arrival at the Wagah-Attari border. India and Pakistan, the two key members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), should now concentrate on the next step: for a SAARC visa, on the lines of the Schengen visa issued by members of the European Union. A SAARC visa holder can be allowed to visit any SAARC country. Such a visa regime, besides boosting trade in the region, may create conditions for economic integration of the SAARC countries, leading to people having a greater stake in economic growth. This can work as a weapon to eliminate terrorism root and branch.

state of Palestine. The international community, having decided to confer the new status on Palestine, has a duty to start the process of gradually promoting the two-state formula of which an internal part is foolproof security for Israel along the 1967 borders. But, alas, this is easier said than can be done. Israel's most arrogant and intransigent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already acted to make any kind of agreement with Palestine virtually impossible. He has, of course, rejected the General Assembly resolution. He has also announced a plan to build 3,000 Jewish settlement homes in the West Bank, and, viciously, in East Jerusalem that, according to the template of the two-state formula, is to be a joint capital of both Israel and Palestine. The plan is to build Jewish settlements in this sensitive and controversial area called El. This would almost certainly sound the death knell for the two-state solution. For, it would disrupt all connections between the Palestinian cities like Ramallah and Bethlehem with Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem. Hagit Orfan, an Israeli who runs Settlement Watch project of Peace Now, has called the El housing scheme a deal breaker. Yet the US President is making no effort to restrain Israel; in sharp contrast, Britain and France have reacted so strongly as to threaten to withdraw their embassies from Tel Aviv. India should also speak up; it need not be mealy-mouthed. Mr Netanyahu's reprehensible policies are no surprise because everyone knows his nature that enables him also to override sane voices in his own country and government, and perhaps win the election due next month. What is star-

tling, however, is President Barack Obama's submissive endorsement of anything the Israeli Prime Minister wishes to do. This becomes all the more puzzling because before his re-election last month Mr Netanyahu did all he could to ensure Mr Obama's defeat. In the words of former National Security Adviser Brezezinski, Netanyahu humiliated the US President on American soil and yet was applauded by both Houses of the Congress. To be sure, the Jewish lobby in the US is very

A big worry of both Israel and the US is that Palestine may use its new status to try to join the International Court of Justice and thus press it to investigate the illegalities of Israeli occupation.
strong. But Mr Obama got no less than 72 per cent Jewish votes and, in any case, he has no re-election to seek. Surprisingly, he seems not to be paying any attention to his once crucial objective of reaching out to the Muslim world. The Arab upheaval during the last two years may have obscured the Palestinian issue, but it is likely to be up front again. Of course, the Arab countries have to accept their share of blame for the present plight of Palestine. They pay it only lip-service and seldom keep their promise to help it financially. But now that Israel has withheld the $ 120,

000 a month taxes it collects on behalf of Palestine, the Arab responsibility has become all the greater. Let them put their money where their mouth is. A big worry of both Israel and the US is that Palestine may use its new status to try to join the International Court of Justice and thus press it to investigate the illegalities of Israeli occupation, building of settlements on Palestinian land and other activities. Sadly, America has threatened the UN with the stoppage of American funds to it, just as it stopped funding the UNESCO when it admitted Palestine as a member. This is strange championing of peace, justice and democracy. Mr Abbas and other leaders of the Palestinians also have their task cut out for them. To end the long and bitter division between Fateh in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza has got to be their top priority. Ironically, it was Israel that, by its savage eight-day invasion of Gaza resulting in 166 deaths, including of women and children, as against only six killed in Israel gave the Palestinians an opportunity to reunify. This needs to be done at the earliest. Delay would be disastrous. The other thing the Palestinians have got to accept is that there can be no two states without Israel's secure existence side by side. It is pointless, therefore, to talk about wiping Israel off the map or throwing the Israelis into the sea. For their part, Israeli leaders, other than Mr Netanyahu, would do well to heed his predecessor, Yehud Olmert, who told CNN's Christina Amanpour only the other day that he was very close to an agreement with Mr Abbas on the two-nation settlement, that this is the only solution for the vexed dispute, and that the time is on Palestine's side, not Israel's.

Smoked salmon and brown bread

by Harish Dhillon
OME and have dinner tonight Ive got a treat for you. Ive been able to lay my hands on some smoked salmon, he said in his typical peppy manner. I dont think I really enjoyed it, but I could not possibly tell him that and as a result I had to eat smoked salmon and toasted brown bread at least once a week and soon acquired a taste for it. He taught me this and he taught me much else. I learnt that red wine must be drunk at room temperature. He thanked everyone who did something for him waiters in restaurants,

porters at railway stations, clerks at booking offices, domestic help, etc. I learnt to say Thank you. When a driver delivered a parcel from a friend he not only tipped him but also gave him some of the contents. When visiting, he took a gift, no matter how small. After our weekends in Dharampur he always made me stop at Timber Trail and treated me to a very delicious (and very expensive!) meal. Whenever someone gave him a gift, he looked for an opportunity to give something back. Within my limited means, I learnt a measure of generosity.

He paid for the school education of two children; he contributed to established charities like CRY and HELPAGE. Nearer home he helped people who could not afford medical aid for their afflictions. From him I learnt the warmth that charity brings. He bought a bottle of wine with a German name and asked if it had been manufactured in Germany. He was told that yes, it was made in Germany. But when he got home he found, written in microscopic letters on the edge of the label, the legend: Manufactured in India under licence from... He

went back to the store but they refused to entertain his complaint. He wrote to the German manufacturers and got not only a note of apology but also a crate of wine. They would ensure that the Indian manufacturers carried the legend more prominently. If service in a restaurant was tardy he would rap continuously on his glass with his spoon till the manager hurried over to our table. If anyone around him behaved rudely or in a way that showed a lack of concern for others he did not hesitate to pull them up. He taught me not to permit myself to be treated

like a doormat. Above everything, he taught me to laugh to laugh at myself, at the imperfections of the world and at the vicissitudes of life. People who knew me said that they had never before heard me laugh so much and so whole-heartedly. With his notorious temper and with my notorious inability to hold onto friends the inevitable happened, we fell apart. I miss Norman very much. Even with him gone from my life I try to live by all that he taught me and yes, I still greatly enjoy smoked salmon with toasted brown bread.

Letters to the Editor

Economy in a mess, FDI wont help
for the Indian domestic market. It could prove to be a big blow to domestic industries. Retail trade is among the single largest component in the service sector in terms of contribution to GDP. Lately, the SMEs seems to have grown over the years by becoming organised. However, FDI in retail would definitely hamper the small and medium entrepreneurs. By allowing the entry of big retail, we run the risk of having monopoly of the West. In the US, a handful of companies are seen controlling everything right from the food to seed and the shelf. This format is definitely going to fail in the Indian market owing to the highly decentralised context which has the attribute of multi-tiered marketing system. FDI in retail in Indian market will neither help farmers, it will only hinder small traders and industries. MOHD ZIYAULLAH KHAN, Nagpur nation that when they cannot decide to vote against or in favour of an issue, what right they have to be members of the worlds biggest democracy. The majority of 120 million cannot be taken for a ride by a minority of 543 members. RANJIT S HEYER, Hoshiarpur

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor, neatly handwritten or typed in double space, should not exceed the 150-word limit. These can be sent by post to the Letters Editor, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030. Letters can also be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribuneindia.com Editor-in-Chief Battle, December 5). The colossal rise of Narendra Modi, an Indian leader who has the capability to change the destiny of the nation, is because of his hard work and selfless service to his state. He is a man who has raised the bar of winning elections. He is definitely set to storm the citadel in Delhi. Congress stands no chance to this maverick from Gujarat. The Congress party should explain to the nation as to how more than 4,000 innocent Sikhs were massacred for three days in the national capital when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. How these people now shamelessly blame and castigate Modi for Gujarat riots. RAJESH KHAJURIA, Jammu

Murder most foul

When killers run amuck
FATHER who protested his daughters harassment was murdered. He was attacked twice. First he received a bullet injury. Subsequently, as reports tell us, when the assailant ran out of ammunition, he got some more, came back to the scene of the crime, and fired again, this time fatally killing a uniformed, serving assistant sub-inspector of the Punjab Police. The incident happened during broad daylight. A young girl saw her father being killed right before her eyes, bystanders saw the firing and its tragic result. But the police failed to respond in time, even though there was a police station nearby. Knee-jerk reactions have followed. The Amritsar district unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal expelled the prime accused, its general secretary, from the party. The Station House Officer of Chheharta was suspended. The assailants were eventually arrested. All this, however, is not enough. This incident is one of a series where the lawless behaviour on the part of the privileged people has been seen all too often. There have been a number of incidents in which members of the ruling party as well as their supporters have taken the law into their own hands. Weapons have been used in this incident, as also in the past. While it is not clear if they are licensed or unlicensed this time, questions about the process through which gun licences are granted are already being raised, especially following a shootout in Delhi in which guns with licences issued in Punjab were used. The effectiveness of policing in Punjab is also under a cloud and such incidents reinforce the perception that those with political or financial clout enjoy impunity, at the cost of law-abiding citizens of the state. The Deputy Chief Minister of the state, who also holds the charge of the Home Department, will have to take effective steps to restore the confidence of the people of the state, which has been severely shaken by incidents like the latest one.

Thought for the day

Life is 10 per cent what you make it, and 90 per cent how you take it. Irving Berlin

HE economy of the country, at present, is in a complete mess. Economic growth has dipped to 5.3% with little chances of recovery (news report Q2 growth dips to 5.3%, headed for decade low, December 1). Fiscal deficit soared to 71.6% of the budget target during the first six months of the year. The current account deficit also continues to rise. The combined effect of these parameters is continuously causing inflation and unemployment. Two consternating factors are that the growth rate may further dip to 4.5% next year and that the government has no clue how to reverse the growth trend. The advisers to the Prime Minister like Kaushik Basu, Rangarajan and Montek Singh speak in non-specific terms. FDI in retail will not produce groundbreaking results. The basic causes of decelerating growth are poor governance (corruption + inefficiency), high import bill of oil and gas, rising population, financial indiscipline, misuse of natural resources, deficient growth in hydropower and low investment in infrastructure projects due to inordinate delays in getting various clearances. For example, clearance of Renuka Dam project is hanging fire for the past many years. Economy will never grow to the desired level till the government makes massive investment in infrastructure particularly in the field of solar energy, hydropower development and mines. RAM NIWAS MALIK, Gurgaon

IV
After a long time one had some glimpses of a healthy and lively debate on a national issue. The divergent groups of political interests seemed to highlight their concern for small shopkeepers, job-seekers, house-wives, consumers and farmers while the ruling party emphasised the contribution of multinational corporations in infrastructure and reducing farm wastage. But at the bottom of all this, the common man has known all the way that the SP, BSP and TMC have been looking for their pound of flesh. They knew that their vote, either way or even the abstention, is going to make all the difference to the ruling alliance. VED GULIANI, Hisar

III
The Lok Sabha debate on FDI was eagerly followed by the Indian electorate for two days. At the time of voting, democracy was hijacked in a preplanned manner by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party members by preferring to abstain. It is time for the abstaining members to answer to the

Gujarat calling
Elections in no other state had been so focused upon by the national and international media as the current Gujarat elections (editorial Gujarat

Morality vs intellect

Modi vs Chidambaram
Some BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj have proposed Narendra Modi for the Prime Ministers post. A British magazine has proposed Finance Minister PC Chidambaram as a probable Congress candidate for the same coveted post. Sushma Swaraj has not singled out Modi as the PM candidate of the BJP. She has said that among others, he too has the ability and capability to become the next Prime Minister. And how come a UK based newspaper has felt the pulse of the Indian masses? Economy is not the only issue in Indian elections. Prof MK SHARMA, Amritsar

II
Allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail trade can be a risky affair

ILLIAM RALPH INGES bold and unfettered declaration that The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values is indictment of our educational institutions, which are driven by intellectual horses and not by moral elephants. Integrity is the hallmark of a teacher whereas in practice it is merely treated as an ornamental showpiece. Dr S Radhakrishnans birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers Day on September 5 but never has any grand moral aspect

of this celebrated teacher even casually been referred to by teachers. Most teachers would not be even aware of Dr Radhakrishnans intensely poverty-ridden long phase of life which he braved with quiet dignity. No wonder, followers of Radhakrishnan, the moralist, are hardly listened to while those drawn by Radhakrishnan, the intellectual, are feted in interviews and official functions of schools. Disorientation of education could not be greater than this. AKHILESH, Hoshiarpur