Poster Boys Suffer In Silence

The high octane ‘Beating retreat’ ceremony at the Joint Check post, Wagha-Attari border gives one an adrenaline rush that is experienced nowhere else. The carefully choreographed ceremony is conducted each day  at sunset, in which men of the Border Security Force and rangers from Pakistan match one another’s aggression by exchanging stares, thumping their chests, flexing muscles and, best known of all, stamping their feet bringing them from above their shoulders.  

While everyday spectators in excess of ten thousand cheer these  jawans as they go about doing the perfectly synchronized parade that lasts nearly 30 minutes, these men silently suffer searing pain in their joints caused by the high impact strike of foot on the hard bitumen-gravel surface  when it is brought down from nearly eight feet. Most of those who participate in the parade are suffering from pain in their knees, in some cases,  it is very acute.  “I am on pain-killers”, says a jawan who has been doing the parade for nearly two years.  “70 per cent of those who do parade suffer from pain in their joints”, he adds. I have pain in my knees, I cant place my heel on the ground for the first ten minutes after I wake up”, says another jawan.

From a pool of forty men, each jawan gets to participate in the parade thrice each week. At times, they have to do it even four times. But participating in the parade doesn’t mean just the parade. They do seven hours of duty that is broken into day and night duty. And then there is the parade that is three to four hours’ job for men participating in it. “We know it is important to do it and we take pride in it. But the doctor says you shouldn’t stomp your foot so hard.”.

There have been numerous proposals including one to lay a rubber surface to reduce the impact on joints. But those did not materialise

Two months back, the jawans have been provided with new shoes with a thicker, softer sole, with an aim to reduce the impact on knee joint and the back.  The jawans say it is certainly better with the new shoes, but not good enough to prevent the injuries that the parade causes. “The shoes are good only if we hold ourselves back. But how can we do that when we are doing the parade in our full flow with gusto!, It won’t look good.”, says  a jawan.

A 24 year old jawan who has been doing the parade for over two years now says that he began experiencing pain in his knee joints a few months ago. “At times, it is so severe that I have to take painkillers “  He has never been taken to a specialist.  A 32 year old jawan said he feels acute pain in his knees when he climbs stairs. “I don’t feel it during the parade as my body is warm, but if I do some movement of knee now, I feel pain.” Some of these men even suspect that the high impact striking of feet causes infertility. “There are three-four men who can’t have kids.”

Deputy Commandant JS Kang who is the parade commander of the Beating the Retreat ceremony says that the pain occurs because jawans at times do not warm up properly before the parade. He adds it’s important to land the entire foot all at the same time and not just the heel first. Kang also says that the BSF has also introduced the drum beats that synchronise with the stamping of the foot during the parade so that the jawans can land their feet relatively softly, without losing on firmness and aggression of the drill.

The jawans generally do a six year tenure at the Wagha border before they are shifted elsewhere. But there is no relaxation given to these jawans during their next posting. When I spoke to these jawans, the one request they made to me was to get their demand to the authorities that those who suffer from joint pain due to the parade, should be posted in positions where they don’t have to do patrolling duty. “There are no set guidelines as such, if an officer is kind hearted, he would exempt, otherwise one is expected to the patrolling duty. Many who did parade before us are now doing patrolling duty despite the pain”, say the jawans. 

The PunjAAP Upsurge

As the BJP and its allies get ready to form the next government at the centre after sitting in the opposition for ten years in Parliament, Shiromani Akali Dal isn’t celebrating this mammoth victory. The party, jointly with the BJP, has bettered its previous performance bagging six seats our of 13 in Punjab. In 2009, Akali Dal-BJP combine had secured five seats.  The mood in the Shiromani Akali Dal is somber, in spite of a very poor performance by its arch rival, Congress that has managed to win only three seats. It’s actually the surge of the Aam Admi Party in Punjab that has caused this unnerving of the ruling alliance in the border state. AAP has won four Lok sabha seats in Punjab with close to 25% vote share, just 2% less than that of the SAD. AAP also won 33 assembly segments of 117 in the state. 

The gloom is also on account of a crushing defeat of BJP stalwart, Arun Jaitley at the hands of former chief minister, Captain Amrinder Singh, and a pyrrhic victory of Harsimrat Kaur Badal over her husband's cousin, Manpreet Badal in Bathinda.  Captain Amrinder Singh. defeated Jaitley by a big margin of over one lakh votes. The local BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, who were desperate to get rid of BJP MP Navjot Sidhu, had assured Jaitley that the election would be a walk in the park for him, and that his victory margin would be over 1.5 lakh. The embarrassing defeat Jaitley suffered has already begun to result into rolling of heads with cabinet minister Anil Joshi having to resign from chief minister Prakash Singh Badal's cabinet.   

The Badals are apparently most shocked at the tough challenge Harsimrat had to face in Bathinda. During several rounds of counting of votes, her margin over Manpreet kept fluctuating between a few hundred to a couple of thousand. And in the end a victory by 19000 votes came as a huge relief that saved the Badals from a total loss of face. When the chief minister and the deputy chief minister had claimed to sweep their family stronghold by a margin of over 2 lakh votes, this narrow victory couldn’t have brought any cheer to them. On the result day, the Badals remained within the confines of their sprawling castle-like mansion in Badal village, disappointing the media persons who returned without any sound bytes and quotes.  

That the Akali Dal- BJP combine couldn’t even win even half of the seats in Punjab was no surprise to anyone. There was no Modi wave anywhere in Punjab and the anti-incumbency against the centre was too feeble to be felt amid the anger against the state government that was all pervasive in almost all sections of the society.

The performance of the ruling combine has been largely on the expected lines. However, the Aam Admi Party, that was expected to play against the Congress, cutting into its votes, has sprung a total surprise by having outperformed the Congress. While the Congress could win only three, AAP has won four seats,  trouncing heavyweights like Preneet Kaur, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Paramjit Kaur Gulshan. . Its vote share is just two per cent less than that of the Akali Dal.  AAP nominee from Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann defeated Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa by over 2.10 Lakh votes and the victory margin of Prof Sadhu Singh over Paramjit K Gulshan of SAD is 1.70 Lakh in Faridkot. On some seats where AAP could not win, the party still secured huge number of votes. In Anandpur Sahib, Himmat Singh Shergill got over three lakh votes.

An Akali Dal insider had told me just a couple of days before the results that the AAP was good for the Akali Dal if it won one or two seats and ate into the urban votes that are largely anti Akali. But with the impressive show in Punjab, not only has AAP wrested the space of the primary opposition party, it has sounded warning bells for both the Congress and Akali Dal, as Punjab is, for the first time, having a tryst with a credible non-Congress, non- Akali political outfit.

Even Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed surprise over the party’s performance in Punjab. He said the party had not expected to win these many seats in Punjab.

It’s basically the anger against the ruling government in the state and the mistrust towards the Congress  that manifested in the form of support to AAP in Punjab. Lack of a strong party structure and absence of top leaders in the run up to the polling day notwithstanding, the party made significant gains in Punjab, while having been annihilated everywhere else in the country. People of Punjab have responded to issues of drugs, law and order, scarcity of sand and gravel due to alleged monopolization of mining business, high-handedness of the AKali Dal and perceived arrogance of top akali dal leaders, including Sukhbir Badal and his very influential brother-in-law, Bikram Majithia. Several SAD leaders admit that imposition of property tax in urban areas, advance tax on traders, e-filing etc turned the tide against the ruling combine. 

Many believe the overconfidence of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in his election management skills and his grandiloquence did him in. He is believed to have lost touch with the ground reality while regaling in his previous consecutive electoral successes. Not realising that selling dreams doesn’t always work, especially if you have been in power for over seven years, some of those have to be delivered too.

The setback the Congress faced because of the AAP was perhaps foreseen by everyone except the Congress. Though, congress' vote is still higher than the SAD at over 33%, with the extremely strong anti-incumbency against the SAD-BJP government, it could be much higher. Though, AAP has dented both the SAD-BJP and Congress, but it makes sense to believe that AAP's gain is Congress' loss. In the absence of AAP, Congress would have been the beneficiary of the anger against the state government. Captain Amrinder Singh said in Amritsar “It was PPP in 2012, and it's AAP that has tormented us”. This clearly shows the Congress’ inability to learn from its past mistakes. Even if it did attempt a course correction by stitching an alliance with Manpreet Badal, it miserably failed to fathom the AAP phenomenon. 

Following the lok sabha results, established parties have begun seeing AAP as a potent threat in 2017 when Punjab goes to polls. But, in order to emerge as a credible and viable alternative, the party will have to work to earn the votes on its merit rather than look to getting just the angry votes. Angry voters are the ones that have propelled four party candidates to lok sabha this time. If it doesn't capitalise on this valuable opportunity to end the decades old two party paradigm, AAP would lose trust of the people and that would be hard to regain. 

Nuff said : Robert

The world famous Gandhi son-in-law, Robert Vadra decided he had had enough when someone questioned his most valuable acquisition, his wife-Priyanka Gandhi. The firstpost.com article dated October 9,2012 termed the desi pink panther ‘dumb’ and someone who looks like ‘Priyanka’s chauffeur’, demanding to know the secret behind the mystery of Priyanka falling for a ‘brass trader from Moradabad’. (The article had triggered protests from chauffeurs across Delhi who took offence at the comparison)

                                                               Courtesy Google Images

Vadra, though reacting a little late, felt his blood boiling at the innuendo. “The mango people are now questioning even the only thing that I ever achieved on my own without using the position of my mother in law”.

“Believe me, this was different.. a lot different from getting a CLU done.. for that, I don’t even have to go personally, I just call up Hooda ji or Ashok..” Said Robert winking his left eye.

Suddenly breaking from his sombre self, he quipped angrily “do most people even know that CLU means Change of Land Use? Dirty, difficult work, that takes years..  I make it easy and they say I use my wife’s name and clout”.

“Rather she uses mine… doesn’t she use ‘Vadra’ surname..Priyanka Vadra.. She is Gandhi.. like her brother and Mother.. don’t call her Vadra”, Robert said in a stupor.

Is everything OK between the two of you?     

Getting nostalgic, the Gandhi son-in-law recalled his days of courtship and how he had to risk his life to win over Priyanka. “Mangoes only see the money I pocket, but they never appreciate the sacrifices I made.”

What sacrifices, Mr. Vadra?

“You see, I could easily get a role in bollywood movies. Many friends today are tripping over each other to invest on me.. I have got a good body after losing 20 kg. They offered me the lead role but Priyanka and Rahul made me refuse it”.

But why?

“The movie was to be my real story. Isn’t it a tragedy? Who wouldn’t want a movie to be made on his life.  The one made by the BJP is already a blockbuster.. it is being shown to the people for free.. this, when I haven't even acted in it myself. We could sell the rights and receive hefty royalty on it.. I would have been a star, not that I am not one already.. But here I am. No one sees my pain. No one can understand.”

  

My ordinary dream

Not much I ask for.
I seek to live
The life that He gave.
But it seems not ordinary
Here for proletariat
To dream to live. To seek more
Than the lords think
You are fit for.

I have no grand dreams
All I dream for
Is that the dreams
Of those who can't dream
May see the light
That's the core.

To live, to love, to laugh
To to run, to fly
The wings that He gave
Aren't slashed by
The unscrupulous lords who rule us
Their skulduggery, chicanery, deceit,
And every wily ruse
Are purged in the furnace
To deliver from the muse.

Sidhuism Under Siege

For someone who has observed Navjot Singh Sidhu from close, not in the television studios where the setting is formal, but out on the streets during his public discourse, and also when he is within the four walls of his home on the Mall road in Amritsar, I got to know he was a much different person, quite unlike what the popular perception about him had been. Whether or not l liked him is not important here.   

His unnecessary facetious quips on television comedy shows where he sits as a judge, and his one liners oozing with pearls of wisdom as a cricket commentator notwithstanding, Sidhu can drill holes in a concrete wall with the rustic and acerbic Punjabi at his command, a facet not known to most people who just watch him on TV. But this is just one of many facets of his personality.    

 

 

 

Sihdu, when forayed into politics on a ticket from the Bhartiya Janata Party in 2004 to contest from Amtisar, didn’t know much about the ways of politics, many would argue, he still doesn’t, because of the way he has earned more foes than friends, both within and outside his party. But he certainly didn’t lack enthusiasm and determination. And this is his dogged determination and commitment for Amritsar that he has even locked horns with the all powerful top leadership of the ruling Shiromani AKali Dal, he once got along so well with.

The three time member parliament has been locked in a prickly back and forth with Punjab CM and deputy CM, over the issue of development of Amritsar, ever since his return to the city after an absence of over ten months. Sidhu claims that the Punjab government has deliberately scuttled his pet projects, like the solid waste management plant, sports complex, CCTV cameras in the walled city etc. Though, the MP and his wife had let some of their grouse out on the social media when Sidhu’s wife, Dr. Navjot in a facebook post had stated that the MP was feeling suffocated in the prevailing political set up where he wasn’t being allowed to function with honesty.  She had even mentioned the possibility of Sidhu quitting politics altogether. But of late, the war of words has been fiercer. Sidhu demanded from the CM a judicial probe into this diversion of funds. But the chief minister did not respond to the demand.

*A fight for credit

Many believe, Sidhu’s grouse is genuine. While the projects he initiated before the assembly elections in Punjab were gasping for money, funds were diverted from Amritsar to some other towns. And, amid the pyrogenic exchanges, Sukhbir Badal announced works worth Rs. 2000 crore in the city, without inviting the local MP to take part in the foundation laying.

Once very thick with Akali Dal, the reason for falling out is friction between Sidhu and Bikram Majithia, Akali dal MLA from Majitha and a minister in the Badal cabinet. Bikram is brother of Sukhbir Badal’s wife, Harsimrat. With keen participation in the party’s affairs, he has emerged as the strongest leader of the party in the Majha region. Amritsar being the most important city in Majha, Bikram’s interests began to clash with those of Sidhu. Grapevine has it that Akali Dal is eyeing the Amritsar parliamentary seat. Hence, the fight for credit over development, which is largely confined only to laying foundation stones. Apart from an elevated highway, which is NHAI’s project, and beautification and widening of approach to the Golden Temple, Amritsar hasn’t seen much in terms of development.

Sidhu’s reputation as an honest politician has never been in question. He believes people of Amritsar can understand his long and protracted absence from the constituency. He needs to earn his living and TV gets him that.  He is raising his voice about his projects being scuttled, because he wants to get the message to the voters. Despite a gag order by the party, Sidhu isn’t the one to be cowed down.  He is firing salvos at the Badals and they are also returning the fire. Instead of giving clear answers to questions raised by Sidhu, Badals too have turned combative. During a recent interaction with media, Badal senior quipped, “Even his own party has failed to understand what’s wrong with Sidhu. I just hope there is no match-fixing (with Congress) going on”.

*Emasculated BJP

 

 

While Sidhu is going through the worst crisis of his nine year long political career, his party doesn’t seem to be standing behind him. Shiromani Akali Dal is the senior partner in the Punjab government with 57 seats in the house of 117. It also has support of 2 independent MLAs, taking its tally to 59- the majority mark. Though, the BJP did better than what was expected in the Punjab election, but despite its 12 seats, it’s an emasculated side with no bargaining power left with it. Even the party’s central unit won’t want to risk relations with its strongest ally just ahead of the crucial parliamentary election.

The victory margin for Sihdu has only thinned since his first mega win over Congress’s six time MP RL Bhatia. In 2009, against OP Soni, it came down to barely three thousand, which is razor thin in parliamentary polls. So, ensuring Aakali Dal’s whole hearted support is a must before the BJP can place a bet on Sidhu again.

While we wait for the denouement of this vexatious political sparring, Sidhu seems undeterred by all these odds. He has taken his fight to a crescendo. We will know who delivers the final punch.

 

Reports from the LoC

Reports from the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir

I along with Sr. Video Journalist Yash Rawat spent a night at Nangi Tekri post in the Krishna Ghati sector on the line of control, near Poonch. These days there has been heightened activity at the LoC with both the armies exchanging fire frequently. Pakistan is repeatedly violating cease fire, targeting not just the troops, but civilians as well.  

The incident of Pakistani border action team killing five soldiers of 21 Bihar regiment has caused this escalation on the LC. Since then, the Indian Army too has retaliated very strongly. 

Indian Army paid back in equal measure

Three Pakistani posts- Kaddu, Dakoo and Yellow Bump opposite Nangi Tekri in KG sector were decimated by the Indian Army after Pakistan provoked by bringing coordinated fire on Indian posts. It was on 14th August, the day Pakistan celebrated its independence day that it provoked India. But, as evident from the video, Indian army was unsparing. The spectacular assault, using L70, an anti aircraft gun, recently deployed for ground operations at the LoC, didn't give the Pakis a chance. 

Justice Bludgeoned

Howsoever bizarre and atrocious it may sound, a man in Haryana has been sentenced to life after he and his wife attempted suicide outside a senior police officer’s office in Rohtak. While he was saved, his wife died due to effects of poison. The couple resorted to the extreme step as they were exasperated with the police inaction on the woman’s complaint against four men who had allegedly gang raped her in June 2008. The man was charged with murder of his own wife.

The story is extremely poignant, the one that underscores the callous and criminally negligent attitude of the police in Haryana.  The 28 year old woman died seeking justice and she hasn’t been given justice even years after her death. All she has got is that her two children aged 10 and 12 have been orphaned, as her husband has been jailed for life on the charge of her murder. 

The victim has named several police officers including the then IG, Rohtak and SP of Karnal, holding them responsible for driving her to take the extreme step.

According to their family, police deliberately did not bring on record the victim's original suicide note before the court, in order to prove that her husband had administered her poison. The victim had named the police officials who did not act on her complaint. While the husband has been in jail since July 2009, and now a convict, the biggest irony is that all the rape accused, except one, are still roaming free.

The 28 year old woman, mother of two, was allegedly gang raped in June 2008 by four men. As her repeated visits to the concerned police station for months went futile with the police taking no action against the powerful accused, the couple consumed poison right outside the office of Rohtak Inspector General of Police on May 6, 2009. And now, four years later, a Rohtak court has sentenced the man to life imprisonment for murdering the victim by administering her poison.

But their family alleges that the police framed him. The man’s father says that the police did not place on record the victim's original suicide note before the trial court and it presented a false FSL report to frame his son.

While still no action has been taken against the police officers named by the victim in her suicide note for not acting on her complaint, it took a month long protest by the kids of the victim and their grandparents to force the police to finally arrest an accused. Arrested accused, Jeetendra is facing trial in Panipat court. The family had to move the Punjab and Haryana high court to seek action against rest of the accused as well, which is hearing the case.

Abhishek Chaudhary, the lawyer representing the victim's husband says they will appeal in the high court against the trial court's verdict, as the police had acted with mala fide intention.

The incident has ruined the family with two children orphaned after their mother died seeking justice against her rapists and their father now in jail for life. Their old grandparents believe that it's the police that is to be blamed, first for not acting against the powerful rapists and then in order to save their own skin, they framed their innocent son for his own wife's murder.

  

       * The story first appeared in The Indian Express’s Chandigarh edition.