THE TRIBUNE

CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 21 FEBRUARY 2019 OPED 09

India bridging the Gulf with oil diplomacy

and social files of the UAE, promoting try comprising transportation, refin- up the agreement, a deadline was set.
the UAE’s strategic relations with a ing and storage for its petroleum prod- The deal would become final during
number of countries.” Such responsi- ucts. The idea was that its core eco- the visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin
bility now includes India. nomic base should be free from Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of
Some of Al Jaber’s whistle-stops in vulnerabilities such as another for- Abu Dhabi, as chief guest during
New Delhi or Mumbai have lasted no eign invasion or domestic tumult. Republic Day 2017.
more than a few hours. Add to that, in After PV Narasimha Rao’s visit to The audacity of the petroleum bureau-
the past year, Al Jaber has had about a Teheran in 1993, Iran unfurled a char- cracy was such that even two days
KP NAYAR
dozen meetings in Abu Dhabi with ter of energy cooperation that envis- before Republic Day, it tried to delay the
STRATEGIC ANALYST members of the Narendra Modi govern- aged not only oil supplies, but also signing of a memorandum of under-
ment who now make frequent stops in downstream petrochemical industries standing between ADNOC and the

F
OR the first time since the glob- the UAE as their bilateral engagement and use by India of Iran’s geographic ISPRL. At this stage, Al Jaber stepped
al oil shock of 1973, India’s fal- grows by leaps and bounds. proximity to gas-rich Central Asia. in, and working directly with Pradhan,
tering steps towards energy What has India gained so far from Oman followed with a proposal to build made the deal possible. That the two
security have given way to a such hands-on, fast-paced, face-to- a sub-sea pipeline to India and a refin- men enjoy good chemistry has made
holistic oil diplomacy that lays stress on face diplomacy by Al Jaber, whose ery that would guarantee a big part of subsequent energy cooperation
personal chemistry, combining it with style has been to abjure the easier India’s energy needs by a country that between India and Abu Dhabi possible.
trade-offs and a strategic vision. At the option of videoconferencing with his is at its best in the region at making Al Jaber is no novice: earlier, he handled
centre of such diplomacy is Abu Dhabi, Indian counterparts or to do business friends of all ideological or religious the UAE’s development programme in
which has graduated in the past four by telephone? For starters, there is the persuasions and influencing them. Egypt, where the bureaucratic prob-
years from a buyer-seller relationship in Rs 3 lakh-crore Ratnagiri refinery and But all these plans by the Gulf coun- lems are similar to India’s.
oil with India into an important guaran- petrochemicals project, which has RECOGNITION: PM Narendra Modi honoured UAE’s Minister of State and ADNOC tries fell by the wayside because By cutting through the red tape and
tor of this country’s energy security. become the most visible showcase for CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber at Petrotech-2019 in Greater Noida on February 11. India’s petroleum bureaucracy con- going directly to the political leader-
Here is a poser. Which minister of tripartite investment by the UAE, sidered it its mandate and holy mis- ship, Al Jaber succeeded where other
any foreign country has visited New Saudi Arabia and India. al Gas, agreed last November to coop- sion to raise relevant, irrelevant and countries failed for decades in tapping
Delhi the most number of times in the But there are several, more endur-
The ~3 lakh-crore Ratnagiri erate on expanding India’s strategic irrational objections to all such pro- the potential of India’s energy market
past year? The natural temptation is ing, long-range ventures with the UAE refinery and petrochemicals petroleum reserve to 22 days. The posals at the implementation stage. to mutual advantage. Much has been
to name a minister from Bangladesh, that guarantee India’s vital energy ISPRL is building two more under- As a reporter who covered all prime achieved in bilateral cooperation since
Bhutan or Mauritius, nations with security. One such is an ongoing pro- project has become the ground storage reserves to facilitate ministerial visits that generated such then. But for India, the crown jewel is
which India’s engagement goes gramme of filling up India’s strategic this: one at Chandikhol in Odisha and proposals and followed up on them in a 10 per cent oil concession in Abu
beyond foreign affairs and spills over petroleum reserve with crude oil from
most visible showcase for another at Padur in Karnataka. subsequent years, I was often witness Dhabi’s offshore Lower Zakum facili-
into development support or cultural the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tripartite investment by the The oil-producing Gulf countries to the sheer frustration of Gulf leaders ty which Al Jaber successfully steered
synthesis. Some people may name (ADNOC), of which Al Jaber is the have always wanted to cooperate in and decision-makers due to the in February 2018 for a consortium of
Myanmar or Afghanistan because of CEO. The Indian Strategic Petroleum UAE, Saudi Arabia and India. similar ways with India, recognising extreme negativity of Indian babudom ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil Company
layers of bilateral security overlaps. Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) has built three as far back as the 1980s that India to any overseas proposal to improve and Bharat Petro Resources Ltd.
The correct answer is Sultan bin underground storage reserves which
There are several ventures would emerge in the 21st century as India’s energy security. In recognition of the success of the
Ahmad Al Jaber, a member of the UAE together guarantee critical oil supply with the UAE that guarantee the biggest or the second biggest In February 2016, ADNOC and first holistic effort in India’s oil diplo-
Cabinet headed by Prime Minister for the country for 10 days in the event importer of their primary natural ISPRL agreed on establishing their macy with the Gulf and for his numer-
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, of war or global disruption in the India’s vital energy security. resource, namely oil. In the aftermath strategic petroleum reserve in Kar- ous contributions to the global energy
who is also the ruler of Dubai. He is movement of fuel. of Saddam Hussein’s invasion of nataka. Almost a year passed in tardy sector, PM Narendra Modi last week
officially designated to be “responsible Al Jaber and Dharmendra Pradhan, Kuwait, the emirate looked at India to negotiations with the Indian bureau- honoured Al Jaber with an ‘Interna-
for economic, political, development the Minister for Petroleum and Natur- build an overseas base for its oil indus- cracy playing its old game. To speed tional Lifetime Achievement Award’.

Why China has a soft spot for Masood Azhar

S
INCE March 2016, China has of Pakistan has been leased to China against Chinese aggression. However,
consistently refused to allow the for 40 years. China has also upgraded that capability is not adequate to deter
1267 Committee of the UN Secu- ports in Chittagong (Bangladesh) and aggression. India must upgrade its mili-
rity Council to designate Masood Lamu (Kenya). These ports can be con- tary strategy against China from dissua-
Azhar, the chief of the internationally verted to naval bases in due course. sion to deterrence. Only the capability to
banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e- China’s support to the military- take the war into Chinese territory will
Mohammed (JeM), as a global terrorist. backed regime in Myanmar; efforts at deter the adversary from initiating
Soon after the Pulwama attack on Febru- making inroads into Nepal; increasing another border war. Such capability is
BRIG GURMEET KANWAL (RETD)
ary 14, a Chinese spokesman con- activities in the Bay of Bengal; its relent- provided only by strike formations of the
FORMER DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR LAND demned the attack but refused to relent less efforts to increase its influence in Army, combined with the ability of the
WARFARE STUDIES, NEW DELHI
on the issue despite the JeM having Bhutan and Bangladesh; its attempts to Indian Air Force to dominate the skies
accepted responsibility for the strike. isolate India in the ASEAN Regional over Tibet to give Army commanders a
The so-called ‘reset’ in the China- Forum (ARF) and keep India’s partici- free hand and to inflict punitive damage,
Without massive Chinese India relationship after the Wuhan pation in the Shanghai Cooperation and the ability of the Indian Navy to
summit meeting held in April 2018 Organisation at a low ebb are all indica- dominate the Indian Ocean. India needs
support, Pakistan would be does not seem to have affected Chi- tors of its intention to bog India down in at least two Strike Corps to take the war
na’s stubborn support for the chief of an unstable neighbourhood. into Chinese territory — one each for
in no position to wage a a banned terror outfit. Why is China so Territorial and boundary disputes Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
proxy war against India. much in favour of Masood Azhar? To GAME PLAN: China has consistently refused to allow the UN Security Council to that are carried over from history and With Pakistan as its foremost ally in
answer this question, it is necessary to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. left unresolved carry within them the the region, China poses a long-term
It is China’s proxy war as take stock of the larger China-India seeds of future conflict. India’s unre- strategic challenge to India as a compet-
well. Pakistan is a key relationship and China’s quest to
dominate Asia’s geostrategic land-
the strategic encirclement of India. Pak-
istan is a key tool in China’s plans to
na’s proxy war as well. China is Pak-
istan’s second largest trading partner.
solved territorial and boundary dis-
pute with China and an un-demarcat-
ing regional power in Asia. It will remain
a major military threat till the territorial
tool in their plans to scape while simultaneously pursuing destabilise India and, hence, it is to be As part of his ‘belt and road’ initiative ed Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the dispute is resolved. India needs to take
its ambition to replace the US as the supported and saved from embarrass- (BRI), President Xi Jinping has Indo-Tibetan border do not augur well this reality into account and distinguish
destabilise India. Hence, world’s pre-eminent power. ment as a state sponsor of terrorism. announced plans for massive invest- for long-term peace and stability between what China professes — peace-
it is to be supported and China’s military assertiveness in the
South China Sea (it has occupied some
In the words of the leaders of the two
countries, the China-Pakistan friend-
ment in the development of infrastruc-
ture for the China-Pakistan Economic
between these two Asian giants.
China is steadily enhancing its mili-
ful co-existence — and what it actually
does, and plan accordingly.
saved from embarrassment of the disputed Spratly islands and has ship is ‘strategic’ and is “higher than Corridor (CPEC), a distance of 3,000 km. tary capabilities. The military gap In the near future, a situation of tenu-
reclaimed land from the sea to build a the mountains, deeper than the The total investment in the proposed between China and India is growing as ous peace and tranquillity is likely to
as a state sponsor of military airstrip) and its belligerence oceans and sweeter than honey.” Chi- corridor is expected to be about $62 bil- the latter’s military modernisation is continue to prevail along India’s
terrorism. With Pakistan on the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the
East China Sea are indicators of its
na has “guaranteed Pakistan’s territo-
rial integrity”. China continues to
lion. Pakistan, of course, has failed to
realise that the CPEC is a debt trap that
constrained by its low defence expendi-
ture, which is now about 1.5 per cent of
Himalayan frontier. It will be punctuat-
ed increasingly by patrol face-offs, Chi-
as its foremost ally in growing proclivity to settle territorial oppose India’s nuclear weapons pro- will eventually make it the 23rd the GDP, while China’s defence budget nese transgressions like those at Chu-
and boundary disputes by force rather gramme and refuses to discuss province of China. has maintained a steady rate of growth mar (2014) and Doklam (2017) and new
the region, China poses than through diplomatic negotiations. nuclear CBMs (confidence-building China is gradually extending its mar- for over a decade. At present, there is a claims on Indian territory such as the
a long-term strategic China still suffers from the Middle
Kingdom syndrome and finds it diffi-
measures) with India. China has a
clandestine nuclear warheads-ballis-
itime outreach to the Indian Ocean. In
the northern Indian Ocean, China is
quantitative gap between the PLA and
the Indian armed forces. If Indian mili-
Tawang Tract in Arunachal Pradesh.
Not relenting on the issue of desig-
challenge to India as cult to accept India as a co-equal power tic missiles-military hardware tech- engaged in acquiring port facilities tary modernisation continues to stag- nating Masood Azhar as a global ter-
in Asia. China would like to see India nology transfer relationship with Pak- through its ‘string of pearls’ strategy nate, this will soon become a qualitative rorist by the UNSC is part of China’s
a competing regional reduced to the level of a subaltern state. istan that has led to the undermining to enable the PLA (People’s Liberation gap as well. With the rapid modernisa- game plan to embarrass India in its
power in Asia. In order to maintain its assumed
supremacy as the tiger on the Asian
of strategic stability in South Asia.
Without massive Chinese support,
Army) Navy to operate in the seas
around India. It has built ports in Sri
tion of the PLA, China will soon be in a
position to dictate terms to India on the
quest for strategic dominance. India
must continue to develop its com-
mountain, China is engaged in execut- Pakistan would be in no position to Lanka, off Myanmar, in Qatar and Pak- settlement of the territorial dispute. prehensive national power and keep
ing a carefully formulated plan aimed at wage a proxy war against India. It is Chi- istan. Gwadar port on the Makran coast India is poised to defend its territory its powder dry.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS FEBRUARY 21, 2019 THURSDAY SUNSET: THURSDAY 18:14 HRS
1 Entertainment
industry (7) 4 9 1 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2075
SUNRISE: FRIDAY 06:57 HRS

5 East African country (5) ■ Shaka Samvat 1940

8 With all factors
considered (2,7)
9 Obtain (3)
9 ■ Phalgun Shaka

■ Phalgun Parvishte
2
9
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

10 Firmly fixed (4) ■ Hijari 1440 Chandigarh 22 14

12 Basically (2,6)
14 Purpose (6)
7 5 8 ■ Krishan Paksh Tithi 2, up to 2:02 pm
New Delhi
PUNJAB
25 15
15 Meal (6) ■ Dhriti Yoga up to 11:11 pm
Amritsar 19 12
17 Liable to error (8)
18 Network (4) 4 5 6 3 8 ■ Uttraphalguni Nakshatra up to 2:26 am

■ Moon enters Virgo sign at 10.22 am.

Bathinda
Jalandhar
20
20
14
13
21 Follow closely (3)
22 Public clamour (3,3,3) Ludhiana 22 14
24 Subsequent (5)
25 Make taut (7)
2 3 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION HARYANA
Bhiwani 22 15
4 6 3 7 9 1 8 5 2 Hisar 21 15
DOWN
1 Hoax (5) 6 4 1 7 2 9 2 5 6 8 4 3 1 7 Sirsa
HIMACHAL PRADESH
20 15
2 Sphere (3)
3 Mass (4) 1 8 7 2 3 5 9 4 6 Dharamsala 14 04
4 Greatest height (6)
5 Fall in a faint (4,4)
6 1 9 2 1 8 5 4 6 7 3 9 Manali
Shimla
08
07
--03
--01
6 Get through successfully (9) 3 9 4 8 1 7 6 2 5 JAMMU & KASHMIR
7 Endeavour (7)
11 Ignite (3,6) 9 5 7 6 9 2 3 4 8 1
Jammu
Leh
14
03
11
--08
13 Put into code (8)
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 14 Unbeliever (7) 6 5 1 3 7 8 2 9 4 Srinagar 04 01
Across: 1 Untoward, 5 Hail, 9 Glint, 10 Compact, 11 Out of the blue, 13 Uneven, 14 Pencil, 17
Beat a retreat, 20 Regimen, 21 Brace, 22 Tire, 23 Remedial.
16 Spoken easily and well (6)
19 Austrian composer (5)
9 8 1 7 3 9 4 5 2 1 6 8
UTTARAKHAND
Dehradun 17 10
Down: 1 Urge, 2 Tribute, 3 With open arms, 4 Recite, 6 Avail, 7 Latterly, 8 Impenetrable, 12 20 Hidden drawback (4) 8 4 2 1 6 9 5 7 3 Mussoorie 05 0
Outburst, 15 Chapati, 16 Seance, 18 Augur, 19 Deal. 23 Incision (3) HARD TEMPERATURE IN OC
08 OPINION THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 21 FEBRUARY 2019

Keep an eye on Afghanistan

THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
Uncertainties loom as American forces in retreat mode
talks with the Taliban, as both the US
and Russia have done, is a recipe for
continuing internal conflict.

Poll-time opportunism The Taliban have never formally

recognised the Durand Line as the
international border with Pakistan.
Political parties go all out to mend fences The situation along the border is fur-

C
ther complicated by the emergence
LIMBDOWN, about-turn, volte-face — no matter what you call G PARTHASARATHY
of a strong sense of Pashtun resent-
it, political parties are doing it all rather briskly in the count- FORMER DIPLOMAT ment and sub-nationalism across
down to the Lok Sabha elections. After years of animosity and the line. This alienation arises from

N
bitterness, the Shiv Sena has stitched a pre-poll alliance with the BJP ATIONAL attention is now the brutal operations in tribal areas
for the parliamentary and Assembly battles in Maharashtra. Sena on the forthcoming elec- under Pakistan army’s Zarb-e-Azb
chief Uddhav Thackeray, who had announced last year that his party tions. This is accompanied operations. These sentiments are
would have no truck with the saffron party, is now singing paeans to by national determination to symbolised by the emergence of the
Narendra Modi’s leadership. He claims that the BJP has changed its respond strongly to the Pulwama out- Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement
way of dealing with its allies. In any case, this stop-gap arrangement rage. A related foreign policy issue that (PTM). Complicating matters fur-
hardly gives the impression that the bickering partners have man- requires careful monitoring is the ther for Pakistan, an estimated 4,000
aged to sort out their differences over the Ram temple and other upcoming US withdrawal from NEXT IN LINE: Iran and Russia are eager to fill the vacuum created by the US pullout. armed members of the Tehriq-e-Tal-
issues. The new-found bonhomie may not last long as Uddhav is bent Afghanistan. This will inevitably lead to iban Pakistan, once ISI protegees,
increasing Taliban control of are now spread across Afghanistan.
on having the next Chief Minister from his party.
Afghanistan, especially in Pashtun-
Pakistan appears insistent on promoting terrorism and Their desire for revenge against the
The Shiv Sena is no longer the second biggest constituent of the
BJP-led NDA. The spot has now been claimed by Tamil Nadu’s ruling
dominated areas, bordering Pakistan. provoking its neighbours — Iran, Afghanistan and India. brutalities of the Pakistan army can-
Pakistani terrorist groups like Harkat- not be underestimated.
party AIADMK, which has tied up with the BJP and the PMK. The ul-Mujahideen (renamed later as Jaish- India will have to monitor these
three parties had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections separately, e-Mohammed) established training involvement enjoys widespread sup- these groups known as the Northern developments. The Taliban have
with the AIADMK, led by then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, clinch- camps in southern Afghanistan, when port domestically. The unseemly hur- Alliance, when last in power. The given indications that they under-
ing 37 of the 39 seats and the others winning one each. After her death, the ISI-backed Taliban ruled ry with which Trump’s chief negotia- conference on Afghan peace in stand the importance of India’s
the party finds itself on a weak wicket due to strong anti-incumbency Afghanistan till November 2001. The tor Zalmay Khalilzad is seeking to Moscow was attended by prominent role, especially in building the
sentiments. That largely explains why it is back on the BJP’s side. Taliban colluded with the ISI during the carry forward talks with the Taliban, Afghan leaders, former President Chahbahar Port and its economic
The PMK, which has been shuttling between the NDA and the UPA hijacking of IC-814 to secure the release facilitating an early withdrawal, is evi- Hamid Karzai (no great friend of the assistance to Afghanistan. There
over the past two decades, seems to have conveniently forgotten the of three terrorists, including Jaish dent. Gulf countries like the UAE, US), Hanif Atmar, set to contest the are, however, several challenges
fact that it was denied a ministerial berth in the Modi government. leader Masood Azhar, from Indian jails. Saudi Arabia and their rival Qatar are next presidential elections, and for India, including the possibility
Ironically, the BJP, which has been ridiculing opposition parties The proposed withdrawal will be helping the US endeavour to execute Tajik strongman Atta Mohammed of the Taliban returning to their
seen as the failure of yet another US a face-saving withdrawal from Noor, together with members of the medieval practices. But these
for forging opportunistic alliances — dubbing these as ‘mahami-
misadventure abroad. These serious Afghanistan. The Gulf states are Taliban. With Mullah Baradar, who issues can be handled with astute
lawat’ and ‘mahathugbandhan’ — is taking the same route. This
misadventures in the past included a using a carrot-and-stick approach to was jailed for years by Pakistan, now diplomacy and readiness to con-
desperation suggests that the party is jittery about its electoral debacle in Vietnam, Lebanon, Soma- compel Pakistan to back the Ameri- playing a leading role in the Taliban, tinue with economic assistance,
prospects and is not regarding another five-year term at the Centre lia and Iraq. After 17 years of fighting can effort. With Pakistani foreign Pakistan cannot expect that a Tal- which has won us many friends in
as a foregone conclusion. With the 2014 Modi wave a thing of the in Afghanistan, the US-backed gov- exchange reserves reaching a new iban-backed government will yield Afghanistan.
past, Amit Shah and Co are busy clutching at straws. Whether the ernment today controls just over half low of $6 billion, the UAE and Saudi to diktats from Rawalpindi Amidst these developments, Iran
gamble will help them or their rivals is anybody’s guess. the country, with the remaining areas Arabia are providing Pakistan $12 bil- and Islamabad. announced on February 12 that 28 of
either contested, or controlled by the lion to keep its economy afloat. Russia and Iran appear to be outma- its soldiers were killed in a blast
Taliban. Roughly, 40 security person- While Pakistan may appear elated noeuvring the US in engaging the near the Iran-Pakistan border. The
nel are killed every day, with over at the prospect of US withdrawal, Taliban. There is, paradoxically, a Iranians vowed retribution. The

‘Paid security’ must go 10,000 civilian casualties in 2018. The

Taliban have attacked major urban
centres. In these circumstances, the
expecting a Taliban takeover there-
after, there are now several impon-
derables, with Iran and Russia
measure of complementarity in the
aims of the US and Russia, when it
comes to disregarding or marginalis-
Iran ambassador in Islamabad was
summoned the next day for a
‘strong protest’ from Pakistan,
Police provision spawning culture of pvt gunmen Ashraf Ghani-led government is fear- appearing set to force developments ing the role of the Ghani government claiming that six Pakistani soldiers
ful of being ditched by the Trump in a somewhat different direction. in fashioning a new architecture for were killed along the border. All this

T
HAT a 19-year-old Indian-British citizen, in the first flush of administration, with whom differ- The Iranians appear to have per- governing Afghanistan. Moves in this happened even as hectic prepara-
youth, careening on New Delhi’s posh Chanakyapuri area in ences have developed on American suaded the Taliban that Teheran can direction could, however, lead to a tions were underway in Pakistan to
a posh-er Bentley, unmindful of the traffic, crashes into an insistence to postpone the next pres- play a crucial role in making peace split in the Taliban, especially if the welcome the Saudi Arabia Crown
autorickshaw, killing a foreign tourist and injuring two others, does- idential elections. between the Taliban and Tajik, largely Pakistan-based Haqqani net- Prince. Pakistan appears insistent
n’t kindle any shock. It has the ring of ordinariness on Indian roads, While President Trump is not popu- Uzbek, Turkmen and Shia Hazara work remains a predominantly ISI on promoting terrorism and provok-
routinely witnessing reckless driving and fatalities. What is aston- lar in any major world capital, his groups, across the Iran-Afghanistan proxy. Equally, excluding representa- ing three of its neighbours — Iran,
ishing is that the accused, nephew of the late liquor baron Ponty desire to avoid any foreign military border. The Taliban were at war with tives of the Ghani government from Afghanistan and India.
Chadha, had been enjoying ‘paid’ police security for the past three
years. Reports claim that he was being escorted by gunmen at the
time of the accident, raising a pertinent question: Why should a pro-
fessional state police force offer its services in lieu of money to the
immensely privileged, who can, indubitably, hire private guards?
His father, chairman of Wave Group, had sought six gunmen from
Ready to be a mouse for that house!
the Punjab Police, at a price of Rs 8 lakh per guard per annum. For a MR Anand ly love to look at the traveller’s tree gates for the proud peacock to another area, when the colony
family that rides a Bentley Bentayga, costing an upward of Rs 3.5 crore, that stood spreading out its lush- shake open his tail feathers into a where we lived for decades was

T
it is small change. What makes it consequential is the perceived status HERE lived, half a century green leaves like rays of a rising sun. fan of a thousand cobra hoods. vacated to pave the way for a school
symbol of having cops in uniform at their beck and call. The Punjab ago, a Gujarati family in our We, children of the street, used to On Diwali day, the building would building, I often thought of Dwarka
Police did go by the rulebook, there being a provision for such securi- street. Their beautiful house gaze wide-eyed at the tiny park the turn into a celestial mansion, deco- Bhavan with painful nostalgia.
ty after threat evaluation. But should it become a part of this foul image named ‘Dwarka Bhavan’ was the Dwarka Bhavan’s family created rated with hundreds of earthen One Sunday afternoon, in the early
game? In this case, ‘family feud’ and ‘business rivalry’ were cited as only bungalow in the neighbour- within the compound for their chil- lamps with flickering golden eighties, I accidentally met at a cine-
the reasons, simulating frivolity, since prominent businessmen must hood. Other houses were mostly dren. This park had a swing, a slide flames. On Janmashtami, the fami- ma, a school friend of mine who lived
encounter it at some stage. ordinary, single-storeyed or tiled and an artificial waterfall. ly used to spread a fare of sweets opposite Dwarka Bhavan. ‘How is
affairs. We held this Gujarati family Flocks of parrot visited the bha- before their family Radha-Krishna Dwarka Bhavan?’ I asked him. ‘God!
The privilege of ‘paid protectees’ needs to go; it has been twisted
and the palace they lived in, in awe. van for the fruits its guava trees deities. After bhajan and puja, the You still remember it? It is gone.’
enough. The police is not a mercenary force. In a state under the grip
Built in old British style, the house supplied. Cool perches of the neem same would be distributed among Noticing the sadness that spread over
of multiple crime syndicates, from sand mining to drug mafia, the had a convex semi-circle front with a trees provided dais for koels to children of the street. my face, he exclaimed: ‘Why are you
Punjab Police need all hands on deck. Their duty is towards all peo- portico for the family’s topless conduct their music concerts. Things started changing in the so much into Dwarka Bhavan? It was
ple, especially those with no means to hire bouncers or guards, and yet sparkling light-blue Plymouth. On Another very special attraction early seventies. Old houses were not even your house!’
may be under real threat — the family of a rape victim taking on an either side of the wide entrance fit- was a pet peacock. The presence of pulled down, one by one, and in Should we like or love only what
influential accused; an honest officer fighting rogue elements with ted with imposing iron gates stood a peacock that strutted around their place new ones, mostly flats, we possess, I wondered. No.
political patronage. It is here, the police must have their back. mango trees. Behind them lined up added to the regal look and air of sprouted. I believed the wave of Actually, when I was a boy, I was
plants bearing flowers of different the bungalow. On number of occa- change would not touch Dwarka ready to become a mouse to live in
hues and fragrance. I used to special- sions, we used to wait near the Bhavan. Even after we shifted to that house.

❝ ❞
thought for the day letters to the editor
Valour is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage
Dangerous aerobatics strategic location. Already the Sau- Away from reality ties, Pakistan is hell. As regards
and the soul. — Michel de Montaigne Apropos ‘Wg Cdr dies in Surya di Crown Prince has promised to One blast was done by a militant Babri masjid, is it not a fact that
Kiran collision’ (Feb 20), air dis- inject $20 billion investment in in Pulwama and the other by Babar, a cruel invader, killed and
plays by Sarang helicopter aerobat- Pakistan economy. China is also Navjot Singh Sidhu through his looted ‘kafir’ Hindus? What is
ic team are also very popular. But, is standing strong behind it and the words. We all know the childhood wrong, if Modi is renaming and
on this day...100 years ago it worth losing the precious lives of US is taking Pakistan’s help to lesson of ‘thinking before speak- restoring the original names of
our pilots just for the sake of popu- maintain stability in Afghanistan. ing’. Sidhu, who has always been cities? Why is Mehbooba unable to
larity? Do such performances Removal of MFN status for Pak- vocal about certain things, is see the many development works
enhance the combat efficiency of istan will also not affect Pakistan shooting words out of his mouth being done by the government?
the Air Force? Life of a pilot is risky. much due to its low volume of trade without a thought. Elected repre- Lastly, if Muslims are being
The families know this and accept with India. India should put pres- sentatives should ponder over the lynched, why do the Rohingya and
lahore, friday, february 21, 1919
combat casualties. But they are not sure on China to ban the JeM chief, outcome of their shair-o-shayari, Bangladeshi Muslims coming to
ready to lose their dear ones in increase covert operations in Pak- poetry and slogans, which spread our country? Muslim population
The Second Indian Member. avoidable aerobatics. Recently, we istan against terrorists and elimi- like fire on social and internation- has increased from around 9 per
THE question by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ran as follows:—“(a) On what had a fatal air crash during a test nate non-state actors. al media. cent in 1947 to over 14 per cent now.
date was the recommendation of Mr. Montagu and Lord Chelmsford contained flight at HAL. The agonised wife AMANDEEP SINGH DHILLON, BATHINDA SARTHAK BHARDWAJ, CHANDIGARH ANAND PRAKASH, PANCHKULA
in their report “that another Indian Member should be appointed to the raised pertinent questions about
Executive Council of the Government, as soon as may be” submitted? (b) Is it a the airworthiness of the old
fact that no exception has been taken to this recommendation either by the machines that the nation gives to Imran Khan a letdown Mehbooba’s bias shows Mining policy
Government or by His Majesty’s Government? (c) If the anwer to part (b) is in the the pilots to fly. The tragic death of Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s Refer to Mehbooba Mufti’s state- The Punjab Government had
affirmative, why the delay in giving effect to the recommendation? (d) When do another pilot in the Surya Kiran address was full of acerbity. It ment (Feb 11), praising Pakistan’s declared that a new mining policy
the Government intend to appoint a second Indian Member to the Executive crash gives rise to the futility of seems as if Jaish-e-Mohammed PM for pro-minority stance, and will be introduced to control the
Council?” To this question, Sir William Vincent replied:—“The report by His dangerous aerobatics. There may was dictating the speech. When he criticising PM Modi for giving ‘top prices and also rein in the mafia,
Excellency the Viceroy and the Secretary of State on Indian Constitutional also be some near-miss incidents was elected PM, all Indians priority for renaming historic cities within a month of the formation of
Reforms is being considered by the Government of India who hope to be able to which go unreported. The Air Force thought that now the relations and building Ram mandir’. the government. About two years
submit their recommendations thereon to the Secretary of State in the near should do away with such displays. between both countries will Mehbooba has no words of sympa- have passed, but no mining policy
future. It is not possible yet to state when any of the proposals will be given effect WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR improve, but it was a misjudge- thy for Pandits of the Valley who has been introduced. Mining
to. Any increase of the Council would require an amendment of the Statute.” ment. The Pakistan army has con- were liquidated. Muslims of Kash- works are running in a hapzard
tinued to violate ceasefire on the mir have greater responsibility than manner without any control and
Imperial Legislative Council. Non-state actors border. The Indian Army should Pakistan, what to talk of any effort proper direction. People are suffer-
AT a meeting of the Imperial Legislative Council, Sir George Lowndes When the country is talking about try to kill Masood Azhar and other by Mehbooba to rehabilitate the ing as there is no state control on
introduced the Termination of the War Bill. Sir James Meston introduced the avenging the Pulwana attack, we terrorists on the lines of the US Pandits in their homes. Pakistan the prices of bajri, reta etc. To reg-
Excess Profits Bill and gave reasons for raising money by that means. He said the should not think of a full-scale war, army. India has suffered a lot due has ‘reduced’ its Hindu and Sikh ularise mining, Punjab should
tax would be on the basis of 50 per cent. on the excess profits but not in addition which will be disastrous for both to terrorism, and should now give a population from 25 per cent to introduce the new policy without
to the super-tax, and he explained the procedure which would be adopted in nations. Isolating Pakistan interna- strong reply to Pakistan. around 1 per cent. What sort of pro- any loss of time.
fixing the tax for which a specialist would be brought from England. Mr. Hogg tionally is impossible due to its RAJDEEP SINGH, PHAGWARA minority stance is this? For minori- DEEPAK SARAF, RAMPURA PHUL
and Mr. Ironside supported the principles of the Bill, but represented the
objections of the Bombay and the Calcutta mercantile communities. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com