CONCEPT OF WELFARE STATE DURING MAURYAN EMPIRE VIS-A-VIS NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC POLICY IN THE PRESENT DEMOCRACY!

The rule of the 'New state"-that was  Bharat- during 321 BC  was more democratic and people-oriented than the present 'Parliamentary democrarcy' in the present-day India! That 'Bharat' of Mauryan period covered far the greater part of India, right up to Kabul in the north. In today's context, our parliamentary democratic system. has deteriorated to such extend that over 80 percent of people continue to be in the grip of poverty and in dire need of proper health and education facilities! But history of the past depicts altogether different facts where people were happy although there was 'autocracy and dictatorship' at the top echelon of the governance. But at the local level, there was much 'autonomy'  in the towns and villages units where elected representatives looked after these affairs.. On the other hand, today's parliamentary democracy, existing right from panchayat to Parliament level in  India, there are least concern over peoples' welfare. In the name of the so called majority, the successive ruling dispensations in India are initiating measures, detrimental to the people of the country. Present day political classes are more interested in amassing huge wealth as well as conniving with 'nations and groups ' to further their enlightened self-interest The .Mauryan empire reminds one of the most successful 'state' on the scores of peoples' welfare.

Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru in his book-Discovery of India-,who  has deliberated in length about successful rules of the 'Mauryan empire', has said, " There could have been then, in a purely agricultural age, nothing like the control of the individual by the state which we see today. But , in spite of limitations an effort was made to control and regulate life. The state was very far from being just a police state, interested in keeping external and internal peace and collective revenue. There was a widespread and rigid bureaucracy and there were frequent references\ to espionage. Agriculture was regulated in many ways, so were rate of interest. Regulation and periodical inspections took place of food markets, manufacturers, slaughter houses, cattle raising, water rights, sports, courtesans and drinking saloons. Weight and measures were standardised. The cornering and adulteration of foodstuffs were rigorously punished. Trade was taxed, and, so also in some respects, the practice of religion. When there was a breach of  regulations or some other misdemeanour, the temple monies were confiscated. If rich people were found guilty of embezzlement or of profiting from national calamity, their property was \also confiscated..........The state give relief to widow, orphans, the sicks and the infirm.Famine relief was\ special care of the state, half the stores in all the state warehouses were always kept in reserve for time of scarcity and relief........."

The village communities  were  autonomous during Mauryan period. When we look the present-day India, apparently every things are there but of practically no use and people are suffering! Like our 'Magnacarta -like Indian Constitution' there was Chanakya's Arthashastra, which provided a variety of subjects and covered almost every aspects of the theory and practice of the government. Like our 'Indian Constitution', the Arthashastra had defined the duties of the King, of his ministers and councillors, of council meetings of departments of government, of diplomacy of war and peace. Chnakaya had stressed the enforcement of strict discipline. More over , we have the Constitution, mentioned 'all good' but it seldom comes to surface. The Constitution, laws, rules , conventions etc are manipulated and mutilated by present-day ruling and opposition classes! Interestingly, there are huge arguments against subsidies on welfare measures to poor during the current neo-liberal economic policy but during the Mauryan regime, there were wide-scale relief to widows, orphans, the sick and the infirm.

There were references that at the time of the coronation of the King, he had o take the oath of service to the people------' May I be deprived of heavens, of life and off springs if I oppress you'. 'In the happiness of his subjects, lies his happiness, in their welfare what ever pleases himself he shall consider as not good but whatever pleases his subjects, he shall consider as good..............'.And if the King misbehaved, his people have right to remove him and put another in his place. But misdeeds of present day 'democratic' rulers in India appear rule of law do not exist  in India as the entire governance machinery including executive , legislature and judiciary are suffering from policy-paralysis.

Before I end up describing 'golden period' of India during Maurayan empire, I must mention that there were many wonderful cities in that vast empire.But the capital of the Mauryan empire-Pataliputra (the present day Patna and capital of Bihar state under Indian union)  was magnificent. The city , even today, is spread out along the banks of Ganga river, where the Sone river meets in the modern Patna. Magasthens, the Greek ambassador describes Pataliputra as thus:" At the junction of the of this river (Ganga) with another is situated Palibothra, a city of eighty stadia (9.2 miles) in length and fifteen stadia (1.7 miles) in breadth. It is of shape of a parallelogram and is grided with a wooden wall., pierced with loopholes for the discharge of arrows. It has a ditch in front for defence and for receiving the sewage of the city. This ditch, which encompassed it all round, is 600 feet in breadths and thirty cubits in depth, and the wall is crowned with 557 towers and has four and sixty gates."

Significantly, all the great walls were made of wooden structures. Many houses were of wooden structures. Even today in the old Patna city areas (now called Patna Saheb), many old wooden houses are in existences. Apparently , the wooden houses were preferred at that period , as the entire Pataliputra zone even today is  considered most vulnerable to earthquake. Not only in Patna city areas, in many parts of Bihara (now Bihar), houses were structured with woods. The worse earthquake of 1934 in Bihar reminds us the facts that less houses were damaged because houses were comparatively constructed with wooden structures!

Another revealing aspects of Pataliputra was best-administered local -self government. In the capital of Maurayan empire, Pataliputra had a 'municipality', elected by the people unlike the present -day Patna Municipal Corporation, messing up the present-day capital of Bihar-Patna!. The Maurayan empire  Capital Pataliputra has a 'Municipality'. It had thirty members, divided up into six committees of five members each, dealing with industries and handicrafts, death and births, manufacturers, arrangements for travellers and pilgrims etc.. The entire municipal council looked after finance, sanitation, water supply, public buildings and gardens. Today's Patna Muncipal Corporation has rather worsened the situation in the vast growing up city!

I feel that there were only good during  Maurayan empire and bad after bad have emerged in our present set-up of democracy. Have the systems failed or political leadership failed?

PRACTICE OF POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM AMONG POLITICAL CLASS IN INDIA In IMPOSING NEOLIBERAL POLICIES!

Perhaps, it is not the policy paralysis in India but policy adventurism among Indian political leadership against the public interests while striving for neoliberal economic policies in the name of economic development of the country ! Many things including foreign direct investment ( FDI)  in the multi-brand retail trade are being initiated at the highest -level of governance to liberalise our economic system  right from the time of the minority-ruled  prime minister ship of Narsimha Rao and his union finance minister  Manmohan singh (now prime minister). Country's interest is being compromised not only by the ruling United  Progressive Alliance(UPA) , led by the Congress  but also by the  NDA, led by BJP as well as regional parities like DMK of Karunanidhi , RJD of Laloo Prasad Yadav , BSP of Mayawati,Trinamul Congress of Mamata Bannerjee, BJD of  Navin Patnaik , Janata Dal (U) led by Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar and Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav All these stake-holders on the Indian political scenes are manipulating the things in the practise  of opportunism to serve their enlightened interest..

Happenings of the last six to eight months, particularly in the run of governance and parliamentary proceedings, for carrying the government business in the Parliament and  throughout the country have aggravated the situation-not only deterioration on the economic front of the country but mainly widening the gap of social and economic disparities. Political classes are making "democratisation of corruption".Corruption has become a  symptom of a widening gap between the 'powerful and powerless'.Political classes as a whole are  indulging in anarchy.Pantomime like  situation is prevailing in the country! Thus the country is sitting on subdued volcano. India has been passing through worse phase in the world.Both the houses of Parliament-Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha- have virtually turned into political theatrics, unmindful of meaningful discussions for the upliftment of poor classes in the country!

In this game of manoeuvring politics by both major political players-Congress and BJP -appear conniving each other to divert the attention of people from burning issues like corruption right from high-level to rural panchayat level in the country as well as lack of food to poverty -ridden poor, education and health measures throughout the country.The political players are playing their own games. Congress and its partners are engaged in criticising the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which has  exposed the UPA government over wrong doings in 2-G spectrum, coal block allotment and other financial irregularities. Not only that they rushed through in managing the resolution of FDI in the both the houses of Parliament and also hinting other liberalised economic measures, detrimental to the majority of poor living in India.

Likewise, the main opposition-BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)-led Sangh  Parivar have been trying hard to hush-up corruption charges against the national president of the BJP Nitin Gadakari despite the facts that many senior BJP leaders including Ram Jethamalani, demanding the resignation of Gadkari. Sign of party with a difference-BJP- has also done the same thing in covering up Nitin Gadkari. Such harakari by the BJP and RSS have adversely affected the opposition onslaughts against corrupt practices by the Congress and other UPA ministers. In this way, it appears that BJP and the Congress appear on the same wave-length despite their tall talks in at least recent parliament session on various issues of public interest. With regards to regional outfits, which virtual keep lever of power, have also grown weak. Many of its leaders like Mayawati and Mulayam of Uttar Pradesh, Laloo Prasad Yadav of Bihar and Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu are involved in neck-deep corruption and the ruling UPA led by Congress is controlling them by whipping the 'CBI stick'. Recent drama in the Parliament over passage of FDI resolution have exposed the entire political classes in the country.

Situation in the country is  heading towards the one that existed in 1989 when the Rajiv Gandhi , who was allegedly involved in Bofor scandal and HDW submarine scam, was humbled in the Lok Sabha elections by the Jan Morcha led by Vishwanath Pratap Singh. Corruption is becoming the issue second to only price rise. Lamentably, there is no leader of V P singh stature on the Indian political scene. Singh had vision and organisational statures to unite the people of the country for a change  and biggest issue of that Lok Sabha election was corruption. Apart from vacuum in almost all political parties because of lack of strong and efficient leadership, there are general perceptions that all political leaders are corrupt.. The  recently formed Aam Aadami Party by Arwind Kejariwal, has , however, evoked mixed response and the party is attracting attention, mainly from urban middle  classes. A ray of hope has also arisen some significant performances of Jan Sambad by a group of civil society activists led by Aruna Roy and P V Rajagopal The Jan Samwad is holding fruitful discussions and peoples' participation in the proposed movement. In this endeavour , the recent Ekata Parishad-led padyatra of P V Rajagopal  on land reforms has also noticed political awareness among masses , who are fighting for "jal, jungle and zameen",Apart from that gatherings and agitations, launched by left parties and its trade union movement, farmers and agriculture organisations have also shown a significant development during the critical hour in hte country because of failure of entire system.But for all these changes in the prevailing rotten system, there is need of charismatic leadership, which the country is lacking in  today's context.

A Patna -based eminent columnist Surendra Kishore has said '  "present situation could be compared with 'art of the possible' regime of Narsimha Rao. There are several similarities between  that regime and the present one. Both are minority governments in formal sense, but both have survived on the basis of a value-neutral pursuit of power using questionable means. During Narsimha Rao's regime, one saw the blatant cash votes scam, where in members of of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a regional party of tribal state now Jharkhand, were literally bought with money  transferred to their accounts to ensure survival of the government. Now we see other carrot-and-stick ploy being used to bring regional parties in line. On the one side, you have the bait of special packages for states in which regional parties have roots. Then there is ploy that broadly term as CBI consent, which involves beating down leadership of regional parties by periodically showing them the stick of various investigate and punitive agencies."

Prakash Karat, general secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), who also shown concern over prevailing political scenario in the country, has told the Frontline in a recent interview  , " To cope with the present situation, the challenge is how to build an alternative politics which is not influenced by big capital and money and to build an alternative platform, which can rally all sections of the working people. As far as the left parties is concerned, we cannot rely on some of the non-congress alternative policies. The vote in the Lok Sabha, disapproving FDI in retail is an example of the opportunism of some of these parties. We do not think a third alternative is possible with such parties as there cannot be a common platform of alternative policies. The only way an alternative to the present set-up will emerge is through developing movements and struggles and building a left and democratic alliance in the process."

Now before I further discuss other aspects of the present situation, I think it better to highlight about neoliberal measures.  Prabhat Patnaik, a prominent social scientist, has said, " Neoliberal measures include, above all, an opening of the economy to free cross border movements of capital, including in particular, finance capital. In a country like that is open to such free movements of finance capital, if the state pursued measures that are disliked by finance,  then finance would pull out of the country and more else where: and since such movements can be quite large, the economy would find in itself in and an acute crisis. In a neoliberal economy,  the state is forever caught in the attempt to retain the confidence of the investors in the economy (a euphemism for keeping finance capital happy).For this it has to bow to the caprices of  globalised finance capital (with domestic big capital is closely integrated) and adopt only such measures as finances likes, that is , measures that promotes its interest. This fact itself constitutes a negation of democracy. In a democracy, the state is supposed to pursue policies that benefit the people, who are sovereign and on the basis of whose electoral verdict the government is formed. But if the government elected by the people must follow policies that are not in the interests of the people but in the interests of finance capital, then we have negation of democracy."

Corruption is bane of neoliberal economic policy. One must be watching that since the implementation of neoliberal economic policy from Narsimha Rao regime, corruption started touching a new height in India. New policy compels the dictum of globalised country to put persons on the helm of  economic affairs not traditional politicians but technocrats from the world finance, former employee of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or other international financial institutions. All of them implement the policies of neoliberal to the hilt where globalisation of economy has taken place. In the case of Narsimha Rao, he had appointed Manmohan Singh, well-known World Bank employee  as finance minister and since then such technocrats weere appointed on key position by the respective union governments. Currently Montek Singh Ahluwalia, World Bank and IMF person, has been appointed deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and his views on economy in the context of India is well known and some times his statements become matter of joke. Many other top ranking posts in the economic affairs  wing are filled up with such technocrats during Manmohan Singh regime. To substantiate the facts; one example must be cited for prevalent corruption among political classes. There becomes conflict between traditional politicians as ministers and liberalised trained officials. And for solving the situation, and to win over traditional political- ministers , a price is tagged and that price is 'corruption' in that price. One must have observed that only political rulers like ministers are involved in corrupt practices not the persons of international finance bodies, who had brought political-ministers  under the trap of corrupt practices!

With such bending of rules and laws in India, the country is slowly moving towards fascism. There was a time when Hindutva forces, used to be of adopting fascist style of functioning. Now, such fascism has developed every where in the union and state governments . University professors in West Bengal are arrested for circulating a cartoon of the chief minister Mamta Bannerjee,; a man is arrested for posing a problem to Mamta Bannerjee at a public meeting; at many places leaders of political parties tortures dalits openly; two innocent girls were arrested for making comments on the Facebook, entire city is closed down on the death of a  local politician, known for arms-twisting methods; a man who had presided over and possibly winked at a communal carnage being openly touted as the next prime ministerial candidate; a prolonged communal carnage inflicted upon a minority border state; the widespread glee surrounding the hanging of a young man who had indulged in ,no doubt ,in horrendous acts of terrorism but who  was a mere minion of little consequences. Are not these incidents are symptoms  of creeping fascism in the country? The haste in pushing up "reforms" by the Manmohan Singh government is bound to bring  further miseries for poor, particularly tribal, dalits and other weaker sections of society as the capitals will be accumulated under the hand of a few detriments to the general people of the country.

It is high time for progressive Indians to unite for a long-drawn agitation to resist the policies against the  general  masses as well as erosion in democratic values in the country!

RAMPANT CORRUPTION IN INDIA SIGNALLING CIVIL WAR!

EVERY where there are corrupt practises in India ! Common masses are worst affected because of pervading corruption every where. Unrest, anger and frustration writ large among the masses. Evil of corruption is not only confined to political classes only it has deeply entrenched in government businesses. Situation has gone down to such extend  that entire government machinery is afflicted by this evil. Even in small matter in remote rural areas, none could carry their government business without paying  underhand payment in the entire country. Poor like adivasis, dalits, minority community etc are the worst sufferers ! They cannot taste  the   fruits of welfare measures without paying bribes to government officials. On the other hand brokers, neo-rich classes, contractors, corporates, multinational companies,   industrialists , capitalists, bureaucrats, political classes except a few are amassing huge wealth through corrupt practices. Deprived lot of margins continue to suffer!

There have been strange perceptions of corruption being floated by vested interest. Some say it is international phenomena; some say bribery is  not new things; but no body come with any concrete measures to eliminate the corruption menace. In India ,  political corruption has started deeply entrenching just after the independence of the country over 65 years earlier. And now such menace has taken bigger dimension. India has been ranked 94th out of 176 counties  of the world in Transparency International's 2012 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).  The Transparency International's CPI has, in a recent report, says that India earned a very low score of 36 points on a scale from 0 (most corrupt) to 1000 least corrupt. The Transparency International India  has attributed the low scores to the recent scams and incidents of corruption in the public sector involving government officials, private officials and private companies. As per Transparency report, two-thirds of the 176 countries recorded a CPI score below 50. Denmark, Finland and Switzerland topped the index with a score of 90 followed by Sweden with a score of 88. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were perceived as the most corrupt countries scoring, just 8 out of 100. However, India has been ranked below neighbouring Sri Lanka and China, while it feared better than Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. From this year, the CPI methodology has been updated allowing for year-over-year comparisons from 2012 on onwards. India was ranked 72 among 180 countries in 2007 and since  the country's ranking fell to 87 in 2010 and 95 in 2011. (www.kksingh1.blogspot.com  LOOT OF PUBLIC MONEY BY POLITICIANS,, MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE, JUDICIARY AND POWER BROKERS IN INDIA, written on August 10, 2012)

The  Transparency International further says that the data from 10 independent sources specialising in governance and business climate analysis including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum were used to arrive at India's CPI score.India head of the Transparency International P S Bawa  has said, " Corruption is hydra-headed monster and governments have to make efforts to tackle it from all sides. This  can only happen if all stakeholders work together."

Because of rapid erosion in the self-less dedication of leaders has led to increase in corruption in India. National interest has become no body's concern. Even during Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru's prime minister ship, a number of corruption cases had come to the surface! These corruption cases were geep scandal (1948) of Rs 36.52 crore; the Mndra scandal (1958- Rs 1.20 crore and Rs 47.73 corore); Dharma Teja loans of of Rs 22 crore. Total indexed  value in 2011 would be Rs 869.57 crore.

 During Indira Gandhi prime minister ship- there were Nagarwal scandal (1971-Rs 60 lakh ,indexed value Rs 11.10 crore; the Kuo oil scandal (1976- Rs 2.2 crore- indexed value Rs 24.80 crore); the cement scam: Donations for the Indira Pratishthan Trust collected by A R Antulay-Rs 30 crore -indexed value  Rs 208.80 crore;-thus During Indira tenure scandals indexed value would be Rs 244.70 crore.

 Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as prime minister ship witnessed the much-maligned Bofor scandal of Rs 64 crore in 1987 (Rs 313.72 crore indexed value).

The prime minister ship of Narsimhaha Rao saw many scandals:- the Lakhubhai Pathak pickles scam  (1984- $ 1,30,000 equivalent at the then conversion rate to Rs 22.75 lakh(Rs 7.79 crore); the sugar import scam-(1994-Rs 650 crore-indexed value Rs 1627.99 crore; Sukhram telecom scandal (1996-Rs 3.6 crore-indexed value Rs 12.33 crore); CR Bhansali scam (1998-Rs 1100 crore-indexed value Rs 4,381.60 crore and Fertiliser scam-(1996- Rs 133 crore-indexed value Rs294.85 crore). Index value of these scam during Rao's regime comes to Rs 4381.56 crore.

Atal Behari Vajpayee's prime minister ship also did not lag behind in corrupt practices. During his regime,the Kargil coffin scandal (1995-$ 1.87 lakh equivalent to at the then conversion rate to Rs 80.64 lakh-Rs 1.87 crore indexed value and Barak missile scandal $ 80.64 lakh equivalent at the then conversion rate to Rs 36.29 crore-indexed value Rs 66.13 crore-thus total indexed value would be nearly Rs 68 crore. Vajpayee period's scams does not include telecommunication scandals in which "fist come-first serve basis" for granting licences includes, which have been deprecated by Supreme Court as well as adoption of such system by Manmohan Singh government, which entailed loss to the exchequer to the tune of over Rs 1.85 lakh crore as audited by Comptroller and Auditor General of India..

During Manmohan Singh's prime  minister ship, corruption in government deals has touched a new height:-the Scorpene submarine deal (2006-Rs 500 crore-indexed value Rs 685.80 crore; the cash for vote scandal Rs 50 crore-indexed value Rs 59.95 crore;  2G spectrum -2010-Rs 1,76,000 crore-indexed value-Rs 1,89,200 crore and the Commonwealth Games scam -Rs 8000 crore -indexed value Rs 8,599.99 crore)-thus total indexed value during Manmohan Singh's regime comes to Rs Rs 1,98, 546 crore.

Moreover all these scams and scandals involved ministers and prime ministers as well as bureaucrats! Black money stacked in foreign banks has different story. The white paper  of government of India says that black money stacked in Switzerland stood Rs 9,295 crore during 2010. FICCI version is different and says black money figure stacked in foreign banks stodd to Rs 45 lakh crore. on the other hand the then Director of the CBI A P Singh has said that such amount stood to rs $ 500 billion. Singh has given such statement to the Supreme Court.

Apart from that over Rs 1000 lakh crore, meant for welfare measures and other development schemes are being pocketed by greedy politicians, bureaucrats, middle men, contractors, neo-rich classes every year. And the helpless poor people of the country are watching such naked dramas helplessly!

Anna Hazare hammering the issue of corruption but he has become helpless. Now on the same plank, Arwind Kejariwal has launched a new party, " AAm AAdami Dal" and entered the politics in big way. In my opinion, there are anarchy in the country on the corruption front. In the last two years, as many as 10 anti-corruption bills have been introduced in the Parliament including Lok Pal Bill, the forfeiture of benami property, foreign bribery, money laundering and whistle-blowing bills plus five more-all aimed at deterring specific acts of corruption or purporting to give corruption-free public service as a right.. Apart from that Bihar Odisha, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand have enacted laws, which could result in attachment of ill-gotten property of public servants. But nothing  tangible is appearing on the surface  to eliminate the corruption menace.

 I share the views of Arundhati Roy, who in an interview to the Outlook weekly magazine has said, " What our economists like to call a level playing field is actually a machine spinning with a centrifugal force that funnels the poor out like disposable residue and concentrates wealth in fewer and fewer hands, which is why 100 people have wealth equivalent to 25 percent of the GDP and hundreds of millions live on less than 2Rs 20 a day. It is why most of our children suffer from malnutrition, why two lakh h farmers have killed themselves and why India is home to majority of the world's poor................it is  absurd situation for a  country to be in. Unless mega corporations are reined in and limited by legislation, unless the levers of such untrammelled power (which includes the power to buy politics and policy -making, justice, elections and the news) is taken away from them, unless the cross-ownership of businesses is regulated, unless the media is freed from absolute control of big business, we are headed for a shipwreck. No amount of  noise, no amount of anti-corruption campaigns, no amount of elections can stop them. Unrest anger anf frustration that is building up in the country. Some times the noisiness of it makes it hard to see clearly. But unless we look tings in the eye-instead of heading off in strange quixotic direction------ we can look forward in the civil war, which had already begun, reaching out our doorsteps very soon."

Likewise, Prof K C Mehata, former vice-chancellor and Professor of Finance, MS University of Baroda has written in an article, recently published in The Hindu, has said, " Unless people rise in revolt this demon and punish the corrupt by refusing to vote for them, a time will come (if it has already) when we get used to the debased public life."

ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURING AND ACQUISITION AT THE TOP AMONG GLOBE NATIONS: US AND CHINA HEADING FOR MANUFACTURING LETHAL WEAPONS IN THE WORLD!

Perhaps, the world nations have forgotten the consequences of use of lethal weapons used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki , killing lakhs of people and destruction of the unprecedented scale. Not only that, recent wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East countries etc , spearheaded by imperialist America, have killed thousands of people and destroyed the economic structures of the affected countries. Moreover escalation of tensions on the borders of many countries are giving ominous signals of further loss of human beings.  Manufacturing of sophisticated weapons like Drone and targeted missiles  have become very common for world countries apart from having nuclear bombs, chemical bombs like hydrogen  etc.Will the manufacturing , acquiring  and of all exporting of destructive weapons by various nations, particularly U S , China, Russia, France and others to various developing and developed countries put the entire globe under perpetual threat of destruction throughout the world?

China's military spending has been rapidly spiralling and the growing amounts are unnerving the Beijing's  Asian neighbours and policy planners in the Pentagon.And they are wary about the China's long-term 'intention'. On the other hand, the United States of America have significantly increased the manufacturing and sales of arms in the 'world arms bazzars'. In both the cases, such heinous tendencies of these two big powers have been exposed in various newspapers, periodicals of the world including Washington Post, New York Times and various periodicals of India! (My three blogs in the last one years-Scar of Sino -Indian War!, October 22, 2012; US; World's biggest arms manufacturers and India , globe's biggest arms importers- September 08, 2012 and Fight for expanding territorial boundaries in Sea, Island and Islets in Asia- August 13, 2012, have dwelt about weapons race globally)

According to a report of the annual survey of the U S Congressional Research Survey (CRS); a policy research arm of the U S Congress; quoted by eminent columnist John Cherian in tte Frotntline; American arms manufacturers sold a staggering $ 66.3 billion worth of weaponry in 2011. Most of sold arms went into the disturbed countries in the West Asia region. The CRS survey has put the "U S far ahead of other major arms exporters such as China, Russia and France."

To assess the massive manufacturing and exporting weapons by the China is difficult because much  of  it is "the opaque and off the books", such as "the People's Liberation Army 's spending on research and space exploration", say reports of the Washington Post and New York Times. Although the United States still spends four times as much on its military. But if one looks by same account, China is on course to surpass the United States in total military spending by 2035! China's military programme spending increased as allowed by the PLA and it has embarked on a sweeping modernisation programme that in cluded new long-range cruise missiles, a new fleet of J-10 and S-11 fighter jets, an experimental stealth J-20 plane, a refurbished Soviet-era aircraft  carrier and a growing space programme, which includes China's own satellite navigation network. The PLA has also launched on a long-term campaign to improve the inter-operability of its various ground, naval and air forces-long a weak point for the Chinese military power.

Significantly, Washington has signed 77 percent of arms agreements globally last year. US weapons sales have registered phenomenal growth  in 2011 compared with $ 21.4 billion  in 2010. Russia  , has globally, imported 5.6 percent arms sales last year.. Quoting Russian President Valadimir Putin, John Cherian has said that his country's arms sales in the first half of 2012 had crossed the $ 6.5 million mark.. This is 14 percent more than the sales in the corresponding period last year.

More over, India, which was until recently imported most of the defence requirements from Russia, has interestingly turned towards the U S and Western Europe. In 2011 alone, Russia used to fulfil the defence requirements of India for  more than 50 percent India's arms imports.. Such figure was around 80 percent in the previous decades. Russia has now found new 'arms bazzar' in Latin America and also other parts of the world. Iraq has issued new orders of weapons supply and military hard wares. Russia has inked  a deal of worth $ 4.2 billion with Iraq in October 2012.. In this way Russia will be counted as second biggest arms supplier to Iraq after U S. During Saddam Hussein region, Russia was the biggest arms supplier to Iraq. Not only that Russia is also supplying arms to beleaguered Syria., Algeria and Iran. They buy significant of weapons from Russia. After the ouster of Muammar Qaddafi, the lucrative Libyan arms market is being monopolised by U S .

Meantime, China's critics, specially its neighbours, are definitely alarmed over huge expenditures of China on weapons, which, the critics, describe, China's more assertive stance over long-disputed, unhindered islands in the South China and East China Sea. Specially Japan,and Vietnam are more disturbed over such weaponry tactics of China because, they, call, unauthorised interferences of China in Japan's sea territory. Some of them also say China's growing military might shift the balance with American armed Taiwan, which Chinese leaders consider a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland! Apart from that , India also seems disturbed over growing military strength of China! The scar of 1962 war of China against India is still haunting India because the China has been persistently claiming more and more territories like Arunachal and NEFA region. Of late some visa action of China to Arunachal Pradesh, a state of Indian Republic, has also been giving agonising moments to India. Chinese map shows major parts of Himalayan areas , particularly Arunchal Pradesh of India as their territory! The Chinese buildup has caused Japan and some South-East Asian countries to seek assurance from the United States that they would not be abandoned, although Chinese diplomats, have  accused the U S of meddling in what are essentially regional disputes.

Major-General Luo of the China Military Science Society has said outsiders need not be concerned. China's military spending  only "reflects the newly booming economy". He further added that the country's "is simply playing catch-up after years of neglect."Actually, our rapid spending increase in recent years  is more like compensation for the past", Luo said and added, " second the huge increase  our budget is because China faces a lot of threats, traditional and non-traditional. We have a lot of land occupied by other countries. We are also one of the countries in the world with the most neighbours." Luo also said " while other sectors are enjoying the fruits of reforms, the armed forces should not be neglected. It is important that a person not only grow his bones, but also his muscles and the military is the muscles."

Both the China and United States are criticising each others for military build-ups. India , which is the biggest weapons importers in the world, has pacted a deal with United States worth over $ 6.9 billion for weapon supply  and more such deals are under pipelines.Beijing  has criticised a deal of  U S  with Taiwan for purchasing Patriot anti-missiles batteries for over $ 2 billion, China has signalled that such deals will escalate tension in the region. China is entangled in territorial disputes over marine boundaries with many of its neighbour. Military tension is increasing in South-East Asian countries because of  abnormal increase in the sales of weapons in  Indonesia, The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. China has been wishing the reunification of Taiwan with China since 1949.

Andrew Shapiro, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military affairs, told U S media in August  2012 that 2012 "is already a record-breaking year for foreign military sales. We have already surpassed $ 50 billion in sales in fiscal year 2012."( The fiscal year of America is from October 01 to  September 30). Such bulk of weapon shipments have gone to developing countries. Shapiro, however, said that the earnings from the sale of military hardware are estimated to be only around one-eleventh of the total American expenditure, totalling around $ 766 billion  Major buyers of American weapons are Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, .

According to a latest report of Globalisation Militarisation INdex (GMI), released by the Bonn International Centre for Conversations (BICC), Israel is the top most militarised nation. Israel is attacking blatantly hapless people of Gaza. The second place in militarisation is of Singapore, a close ally of the West. Six of the nations in the GMI list of ten top militarised nations are Syria, (3); Jordan (5), Kuwait (7), Bahrain (9) and Saudi Arabia (10) in the West Asia.. Militarisation is gradually spreading to the central Asian countries also..

India, which is also militarising itself, has been at the rank of 71 while China is ranked 82. The US is ranked 29. Thus rapid militarisation by the countries of the world is giving sleepless nights to peace loving people of the earth.

RAM KA NAM BADNAM NA KARO--BABARI MASJID DEMOLITION IN AYODHAY 20 years back biggest shame for India: JUDICIARY FAILED IN ITS DUTY!!

It is not that I am not a believer and exactly remember the fanatic crowds, belonging to Hindu organisations, led by former union home minister and Bharatiya Janata Party Leader, Lal Krishna Advani , demolishing the Babari Masjid in Ayodhaya ,20 years back on the noon of December 06,1992 . Top Hindu leaders including Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma  Bharati, Ritambhara, Ashok Singhal, Vinay Katiyar, inciting the huge crowds to demolish the Babari Masjid, adjacent to Lord Ram temple. And they succeeded in demolishing the structures of Babari Masjd! Had these Hindu leaders taken inspiration from the Lord Ram to demolish Babari structures? or they were ought to ruin the secular fabric of India in the name of 'politic'? As far as , the epic- Ramcharitmanas ( RAMAYAN)- written By Tulsi Das on the direct 'inspiration' of Lord RAM and SHANKAR- is concerned , the MAHAKABYA , praising the character of Lord RAM had no where differentiated between religions of the world; it only teaches us 'adarsh grahsath jeevan, adarsh bhratprem, supreme bhakati, knowledge, sacrifice, vairag and sadachar'. But today in the name of Lord, they (Hindu) leaders ruined the masjid and striving hard to consolidate Hindus against the MUSLIMS-my humble submission to them,"RAM KA NAN BADNAM NA KARO".

No doubt, the demolition of Babari Masjid 'under planned conspiracy' is the greatest shame for India since its independence!In the after math of of Babari Masjid demolition, hundreds of people had also been killed in communal riots in different parts of the country! In the process, such fanatic action of the Hindu organisations is gradually destroying the democratic and secular fabrics of India. TWENTY years of the heinous crime elapsed and the perpetrators of the crime led by Advani are moving free, thanks to the incompetence and inefficiency of Judiciary and government machinery! Villain of the pieces Advani, a shamelessly shameless politician on the Indian political horizon, is still keeping prime ministerial aspiration as shrewed operator in the BJP! Are we Indian are really shameless? (MY blog-www.kksingh1.blogspot.com)

Advani had hatched conspiracy to demolish Babari Masjid as back as  in October 1990, which culminated in ultimate demolition of the masjid in 1992. Hindu organisations have srange connotation and they say that Babari Masjid was constructed on RAMJANMBHOOMI by Meer Baki about 1500 years agio. In the process of creating hatred towards MUslims in the country, Advani had toured throughout the  country , particularly from Somnath to Ayodhaya to create atmosphere of hatred and ultimately destroying Babari Masjid in Ayodhaya. While touring the country, Advani had asserted before the huge crowds led by Bal Thakare in Dadar areas of Bombay ,now  Mumbai that on Babari Masjid site, they would construct 'RAM TEMPLE'. After touring on his so called "Rathyatra" Advani finally came to Ayodhaya in Uttar Pradesh where Kalyan Singh government of BJP was in power.. On December 05, 1992, Advani held a secret meeting at the residence of his another colleague Vijay Katiyar in Ayodhaya and hatched  conspiracy to demolish the 'masjid'. Moreover Advani announced at the Masjid site that 06, December, 2012 will be the last date of' Karsewa' by Hindu fanatics. Not only that Advani incited the fanatic Hindu crowd to block Faizabad road from where the central para-military forces were moving to stop untoward incidents. Ultimately , they blocked the highway and did not allow the central forces to enter Ayodhaya. Advani , even, called them to become martyr  to construct 'Ram mandir' at Babari Masjid disputed site by demolishing masjid if the central forces advanced towards at masjid site! Such action was openly floated by Advani to make 'secular India" , a Hindu Rashtra! Kalyan Singh government , even after undertaking to the Supreme Court, to save the situation, did not act and left the field scot-free to demolish the masjid!

Ultimately, amid inflammatory speeches by Advani and other Hindu leaders, the 'karsewaks' demolished the masjid in no time on December 06, 1992. Thereafter , legal formalities started and altogether 49 cases were registered by the police. Apart from special cells of Uttar Pradesh CID, the CBI also took up the cases \.Charges sheets were filed February 1993 against Hindu leaders led by Advani under Sections 153A,153B, 105, 147, 149 of IPC and many other Sections of the Cr-.P.C. And from there , all criminal cases under various sections of IPC and Cr.PC entangled in the judicial cobweb right from lower courts in Rai-Barailey and Lucknow to Allahabad High Court and Supreme court. In between, 10 accused persons and over 50 witnesses have died. And now finally, the admission for the  starting of proceedings in all these cases against Hindu leaders led by Advani are pending in the Supreme Court for the last few years. Incidentally, the Supreme court has fixed on December 06, 2012 , the same day of demolition of Babari Masjid in 1992, to hear the appeal of the CBI. All the cases are lingering and culprits are scot -free! This is what our judicial system-Judges , right from lower courts in Uttar Pradesh to Allahabad High court and Supreme Court, are playing games with such serious nature of cases in the annals of the history of the country. From the very beginning, all these cases are shuttling between Lalitpur lower courts to Barailey and Locknow lower courts and subsequent stays after stays by the benches of Allahabad high court and the Supreme court.

Advani and other accused pesons are taking advantage of loop-holes in instituting cases and transferring it one lower court to other courts,. The allahabad High court and Uttar Pradesh successive governments, specially of Mayawati had  faltered in clubbing the cases and start proceedings against the accused persons even after taking cognisance against the culprits. In the continuation, one judge of Allahabad High court had stayed  proceedings against Advani and others on May 20, 2010. One judge , in a separate appeal, on July 06,2005 had remarked that there were prima facie evidences against Advani and others and criminal cases hearing must start at the earliest. Ultimate , the CBI hasd moved Supreme Court on February 09, 2011 for its directive to start proceedings against Advani and others without any further delay.

Are these things not posing million dollar questions on our judicial prudence and efficiency of our government in the country? I strongly feel the judiciary and government are saving the culprits from such heinous crime-but Lord is witnessing the naked drama of Indian politicians and judges in the Babari Masjid demolition cases. And a time will come when-" hohi yohi jo Ram Rachi Rakaha------------"