Tuesday 10 December 2019

Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir: Getting back through war or pressure games?

So many talks going around now a days about PoJK, especially after remarks from current Home minister. He mentioned PoJK twice in parliament one time during debate on abrogation of Article 370 and 35A and second time yesterday referring how we share 106 Km long border with Afghanistan through PoJK. Any reference made in Parliament by ruling HM is definitely carries a message. I am putting my opinion about how we should take back PoJK!
While many of us think about war we see it as just few shots fired across and that's it but war is fought through many channels, involves many layers and costs more than we can imagine tangibly and intangibly. For a developing nation like us war should always come last on cards. Many will ask that then how we claim to take back our territory illegally occupied by Pakistan? Answer is simple for those who understand the dynamics of global politics, diplomacy and war games. So which are the options we have on cards? I am just putting few which I think will clarify our position as nation and which are most suitable and which options are not so good for us.
1. All out war: Many in general always thinks about all out war with Pakistan can only be the option to end the menace on our western border. Well this option was good till 1984 when Pak was not having nuclear arsenal. Even post Balakot strikes Pak remained silent as India declared that it was non military operation meaning that it was just on terror camps and has nothing to do with Pak as a nation, this was the reason behind silence from Pak and just little sortie on second day we have seen. In situation of all out war this nation can go to any extent if they find themselves in losing situation (Which is inevitable). Also to note that China after seeing losing grip may open eastern front which is not good at all for our strategic interests. This war may wipe out Pak completely but the cost we have to pay is very huge indeed far far huge than we can even imagine. Loss of millions of lives and economical backwardness will put us 2-3 decade behind other nations. Also to add to this is that even if we get back PoJK it might be still infected with radical jihadists, this will only add to our problems. So war as of now is not a good option to go with.
2. Economic pressure, trade sanctions: In current scenario no nation can hold too long with weaker economy, especially when country is made upon utopian dreams and got nothing even after 7 decades. Nightmare of Pakistan is same. They also know that they survived this long only because of heavy loans they got to create hurdles for India, as big section of world wants to keep India as developing nation and busy in fights. This is not conspiracy theory, this is proven fact. Even Brits had same vision when they had given more air to the idea of Pakistan. So back to current scenario, growing power and lucrative market tags for India going into our favor and at the same time this is the scenario which Pak never wants to see. If we are successful in squeezing our enemy economically it will simply go back to original idea of Pakistan which is hardcore islamic state and that would be the moment we can start playing our diplomatic games.
3. Diplomatic channels and strategic pressure: This is the way forward in current scenario. Abrogation of 370 and 35A, Citizenship amendment bill and fresh elections in UT of J&K will give some tough times to Pak army as their real character will come out in front of common Pakistani, this will give boost to freedom movement based on racial identity e.g. Balochs, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Muhajirs, etc. All of them asking for their own separate state which is big plus for us. Along with few strikes from us to the terror infrastructure will open up all fissures in Paki state which will lead to complete disintegration. This will create domino effect and with lesser fight we can easily get back PoJK. Another advantage in this process is that there will be no direct aggression with any other state, this will create more pressure on Pakistan psychologically as they have habit to rely on someone so when they find themselves into such condition their top brass will rub like headless chickens and that will be the best time for India to give a surgical blow.  This is slow process but results achieved through this are sustainable and we have lesser loss in this.
In conclusion I would like to tell that war games are not just visible through number of soldiers/terrorists we kill, war is multi dimensional aspect of governance and it requires lot of patience and lot of dedication. What as citizen we can do is that to support governments (be it any party) on any positive step taken to weaken the enemy state and when called for to contribute for nation do it without hesitation. I am pretty confident if current course of diplomacy continues we can get back our land with lesser bloodshed and minimal effect on our economy. Also note that few things are unpredictable so if anything else happens suddenly don't be surprised!!!

Tuesday 11 June 2019

Farming: Time for big change not Freebies and loan waivers

To speak or write anything about farming is considered very sensitive in our country. Nearly 70 percent of population is connected with farming, while it contributes 18 percent of GDP but farming is more than just earning money, for many it's way of living and they are attached emotionally with it. Now a days so much of media and political outrage about farmers but no one talks about how to improve farming as a sector or as an industry. Most of the times issue of low income comes out and that too being diluted by loan waivers, have we ever thought what farmers do with this much amount of loan? Being part of farming family I know what are the core issues and I am pretty sure that the loan waiver works more like a drug addiction than a relief to farmer. They use these loans for personal expenses only in most of the case so a loan waiver is giving free money for personal expenses at the cost of hard working people who do routine job to make their living. I do believe that as do we have income tax slab for all other earning methods we must introduce taxation on farming too. This will wipe out many issues e.g. there are many people who hide their actual income under the title of farming income to evade tax, such people will find it difficult to hide their income and hence that will improve tax collection for sure. As there will be income slab no small farmer will be effected by that decision. Secondary thing is that the revenue generated by taxes on farming should be used to develop innovation centers for farming at all districts to guide farmers about new techniques and better productivity. Along with this there is need of Amul like revolution to bring food processing connectivity at each farm, as Amul collects milk from each village from their collection center why can't we go with same model for food processing industries? All these steps will enhance the income and will reduce the burden from common man too as he pays the taxes and pays the EMI of loans. Farmers are big part of our society but instead of painting farmers as poor and weak forever it's time to make them self reliant, tech savvy and getting good returns for their crops. Biggest hurdle to change the scenario is our media and politics which like to keep farmers poor so that they can exploit their votes by giving them dose of loan waivers or freebies. Let's accept the truth that earning can not come out of such steps of temporary gains. We must educate our farmers first, we have to tell them that they are starting blocks of our economy but at the same time they have to focus on earning instead of freebies. Let's build a strong self dependent nation. Share your views on it.