Opinion Jamia’s betrayal

“As a Central university it has been offering the constitutionally guaranteed 22.5 per cent reservations to SC and ST Hindus in educational seats and employment; and,steps to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBC Hindus were in the process. But Hindus were robbed of these reservations without having been given any hearing,” the article argues,saying that,following the principles of natural justice and fair play,it is the law of the land that a statutory body must invite objections from all those parties which are likely to be adversely affected by its orders.

The NCMEI,it says,was originally not empowered to take such a decision; its definition of a minority educational institution was a college or institution (other than a university) established or maintained by a person or group of persons from among the minorities. But,“subsequently,Kapil Sibal as human resources development minister in the Manmohan Singh government brought out an amendment in May 2010 to the NCMEI Act,allowing the statutory body to award minority status to universities too,” it says.

The SC must see

An article in Organiser,anxious to keep the cash-for-votes issue alive,demands a inquiry by an independent agency monitored by the Supreme Court. “A hugely corrupt government shouldn’t be allowed to sweep the scandal under the carpet,” it says,while rejecting Prime Minister’s Manmohan Singh’s statement on the matter. “Lame excuses and half-lies traded by the PM to obfuscate the cash-for-vote scandal have severely undermined his credibility,or whatever is left of it,” it claims; “Even the USA,which is deeply upset over the leaks,has not challenged the veracity of the cables. It is only the Indian PM who says he can’t confirm the veracity,contents and even the existence of such communications.”

“The government can,if it has the will,find out the identity of the person in the US embassy who claimed he was shown money kept around the house to buy MPs and,if necessary,can request the United States to withdraw immunity of the diplomat,if he is indeed a diplomat,to help the country find out the truth behind this grave fraud on democracy and the Constitution,” it adds.

US and UPA

In Panchjanya,an article by former deputy NSA Satish Chandra cites the latest WikiLeaks revelations to claim that the US establishment routinely interferes in the day-to-day functioning of the Indian government. Chandra says India has acted at the behest of the United States not just in voting against Iran at the IAEA or replacing Mani Shanker Aiyar with Murli Deora in the petroleum ministry,but also in softening its stand against Pakistan,which he says regularly exports terrorism into India.

“We have had excellent relations with Iran. In many respects,this relationship was special. First,Iran is a very important regional power. Second,it is an important source of oil. Third,it is India’s gateway to the Middle East. But because of American influence,our relationship with Iran has been adversely affected. This is a big mistake on the part of India,” Chandra writes.

Chandra says no strategic expert would argue against a good and healthy relationship between India and the United States but this should not come at the cost of India’s traditional friends and allies. “If we gain in strength and become a major power ourselves,the United States will have no option but to come to us. The United States doesn’t befriend anyone just like that. It is only looking for markets and India has the market,” he writes.

Compiled by Manoj C.G.