Dialogue On What Ails India Fundamentally

[Guest]

My impression on my current visit to desh has been pretty good. We just need time it seems, at the moment atleast. 10 years like this and there is nothing that can stop us.

Recent floods in Guj are a case in point. Recovery has been pretty good. The only thing that still lags behind the rest of the country is the babudom, but i guess that will be the last to arrive.

One thing that does worry me a little bit is the lack of understanding on what needs to be preserved, but again i am sure that too will be addressed in due course.

[Guest]

While u were discussing, I got this email :
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY IN ALL ASIAN GROUPS, AND AMONG ALL ASIAN FRIENDS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING AN ASIAN UNION.

This is the manifesto of the Progress And Development Party (GOOD PEOPLES PARTY) or Pragati Nirmaan Dal (Acche Logon Ki Party) we are going to float in India.
VERSION - 7/30/2005 6:52:57 PM.

Please feel free to suggest changes or additions, for any major idea. Kindly post the minor idea on the message board and see the discussion on other topics too.

I need your participation, ideas, financial help if you can, and most importantly your VOTE, without that we will never be able to serve you. Kindly give us an opportunity to serve you, please.

Latest version of this manifesto can be seen at any time, in the
FILES SECTION of
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AU-PDP/

Your only JOB at this time is to BRING MORE GOOD MEMBER HERE. If you have any suggestions or email of a good person, please send it to me at Rajiv101@gmail.com. DATE AND ORDER OF JOINING will make seniority in the Party.

We will NOT form the government, if we do not get absolute majority. Cleaning up and making India prosperous is the first step in making an Asian Union.

I will not go into the details of how we will accomplish the following things as various people like Soniaji of congress are stealing our ideas. So you will have to give us an opportunity to see whether we can do it or not, or how much we can do. This is the reason we are giving this dynamic manifesto in writing to you.

MANIFESTO TABLE OF CONTENTS
WITH IN 5 YEARS OF WINNING ELECTION 2
POLITICAL TURMOIL AND DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY 2
LAW AND ORDER 2
FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 2
DOMESTIC PEACE 3
BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE & INDUSTRY 3
EMPLOYMENT 3
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL SIMPLIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT AND LAWS
3
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 4
ENVIRONMENT 4
EDUCATION 4
INFORMATION ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY FOR AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION
4
ELECTIONS 4
WITH IN 10 YEARS OF WINNING ELECTION 4
EDUCATION 4
LAW AND ORDER 5
JUDICIARY 5

WITH IN 5 YEARS OF WINNING ELECTION WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY WE WILL-

1. POLITICAL TURMOIL AND DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY-
a. We will complete the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

2. LAW AND ORDER-
a. We will get Sonia Gandhi prosecuted for smuggling statues (Murti) to Italy and selling in her family shop, being an LIC agent and taking bribes under the guise of doing insurance, giving false information about her education to Parliament and the public, etc.

b. We will investigate and expose Sonia as a street walking prostitute she was from Italy, and as a plant of KGB, that she became later when Lecher Rajiv Gandhi was ogling at her and this weakness of his was exploited by KGB.

c. We will get Rahul Gandhi prosecuted for having connections with Columbian Cartel and Drug Dealers, getting $2Billion Bribe from KGB in his name, using drug money and being involved in money laundering, etc.

d. We will remove all CORRUPTION in India and will have ZERO TOLERANCE for corruption, religious violence, destructive activities, exploitation of WOMEN AND CHILDREN, TERRORISM, etc.

e. We will restore the dignity of the individual and establish Law and Order in the country. If required new laws will be made for this, e.g. Anyone who molests a Child under 14 will be castrated, any one who rapes a lady with physical violence will have one testicle removed, anyone who forces anyone in sexual slavery / prostitution or indulges in trafficking of women or children for sexual exploitation will be castrated, etc.
(Hopefully we will not have to do this to many people and people will understand the consequences and change their behavior)

3. FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-
a. We will clean up India and neutralize all the enemy agents or spies on the payroll of foreigners, who are in India to destabilize the country or with specific agenda,

b. We will make sure that Kashmir is an integral part of India and is not treated as a special case.

c. Zero tolerance to Terrorism, insurgency, illegal aliens, etc.

4. DOMESTIC PEACE-
a. We will increase productivity in the government, give government servants better pay, better working atmosphere, more peace of mind, better status as civil servant who are representing the People of India, and better training to do their job.

b. We will simplify all the systems in India and make dealing with government very efficient, so that the people are given good, polite and timely service without any red tape, runaround or bribes.

c. We will make sure that government officials treat all citizens in India with honor and respect, and their dealing with government officials is calm, respectful and productive.

5. BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE & INDUSTRY-
a. We will make sure that the atmosphere of doing business in India is improved; there is a system of doing business that is simple, easy to understand.

b. Anyone with Citizen Multipurpose Card, will be given TEMPORARY business license within one hour.

6. EMPLOYMENT-
a. Jobs- we will make a database of all the citizens and make sure that they are employed in some productive work in India or outside India.

b. Those who do not have an employment will be given
unemployment insurance payment and

c. Some job training so they can become employable.

7. SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL SIMPLIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT
AND LAWS-
a. Total overhauling of the constitution to make it brief, remove special cases, and make sure that even the legislatures are NOT able to violate the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS of Indian Citizens.

b. Making sure that Basic elements of democracy are restored in India.

c. This includes equal treatment of all citizens and uniform laws for all citizens, e.g. Our Muslim sisters will NOT be treated as second-class citizens; women and children will have status as human beings.

d. All aid and governmental assistance will be given on the basis of economic status. Data about race, religion, caste, region, state, Sex, etc. that differentiates on citizen from another will not be made public. It will be only for research purposed, so any section lagging behind can be focused upon.

e. After the Database is completed we will implement the database of citizens;

f. We will link the property ownership with this database so that there is no confusion and delay in finding out the owner of property, for buying or selling of the property.

8. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM-
a. We will work on reducing the the delays in Criminal Justice system, make courts Internet friendly and minimize the need to go to court personally, by the use of internet.
b. We will bring back the simplification in Criminal Justice System, revise all laws, and bring back the strict adherence and respect for RULE OF LAW.

9. ENVIRONMENT-
a. We will ensure proper environmental protection and solid waste disposal so the country is beautiful and clean, giving healthy atmosphere to citizens.

10. EDUCATION-
a. We will start the Educational Networking of the country, so online education is available to all the citizens for free.

11. INFORMATION ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY FOR AWARENESS AND
PARTICIPATION-
a. We will network every village, so that the village has at least one internet connection for use by the citizens and administrators.

b. We will ensure that all projects going on at all level, except the defense projects are accessible to all the citizens living in India, and to NRIs.

12. ELECTIONS-
a. Cleaning up the electoral process, so any one can stand for elections, even Non Resident Indian Citizen, who is willing to work full time in India.

b. All NRIs who are Dual Citizens will be allowed to vote.

c. Equal time and space will be given to all contenders in their local government websites and media.

WITH IN 10 YEARS OF WINNING ELECTION WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY WE WILL-

1. EDUCATION-
a. Have compulsory education till intermediate or +2, for all citizens of India, residing in India. This education might consist of vocational education in +2 stage.

b. Will make sure that teachers are serious, schools are operated efficiently, and teachers are given all the teaching resources and do not waste time in useless things.

2. LAW AND ORDER-
a. Complete the enforcement mechanism of Law and Order.

3. JUDICIARY-
a. Bring Judiciary up to date, in the disposal of pending cases.

TO be continued….

Kindly give us an opportunity to serve you, please.

Your Friend, Philosopher, Guide and Humble Servant

Dr. Rajiv Kumar Singh
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AU-PDP/

[Guest]

<b>'India terminated 10 mn daughters in 20 years'</b>

Worst tragedy. I blame greedy parents and especially women who selectively go for female foetus.
Punjab is one of the most prosperous state and worst in human value.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"Spend Rs 500, save Rs 500,000", read a writing on the rail-side wall somewhere in Punjab, harping on the expense of aborting a female foetus vis-à-vis the cost of dowry at the time of marriage of a daughter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>C'garh residents dedicate this Lohri to girl child </b>
10 Jan 06
Sunil Kumar/ Chandigarh
Actions, they say, speak louder than words. While politicians and NGOs are ever-audible advocating women's rights and empowerment and campaigning against female foeticide, it was left to a few enlightened families of Chandigarh to take some proactive steps in this regard.

In an attempt to highlight the unfavourable sex ratio and its impact on the female population in the State, residents of Sector 71 here got together on Monday to celebrate the first Lohri for five girl children born in the locality in the past year. The idea was to welcome the children into the colony, thank the almighty for these precious gifts and spread the message that girls are as welcome as boys.

Organised by members of the Park View Enclave Residents Welfare Society, the idea was put forth by the newborn children's grandparents. "We have a very close knit group of 100 families living here and we noticed that in the past one year most couples in the colony have been blessed with daughters. This gave us an idea that this year we will celebrate a special Lohri to welcome these girls," says Jagdish Kalra. Kalra's son Harpal and daughter-in-law Preeti have been blessed with a daughter, Gursakhi.

For Wing Commander Bakshish Singh, it was a day of double celebrations. His daughter and son have been blessed with daughters, Aiza and Manik. "Normally the first Lohri celebrations are organised for son. But we decided that it is high time daughters got their due. As far as we are concerned daughters are no less than sons," Singh said.

Manmeet, daughter of Perneet and Major HPS Sidhu, and Mehak, daughter of Sumit and Gitesh Malhotra, were the other two girls at the centre of attention at the big bonfire lit up for the celebrations Monday evening.

Women residents of the colony had another reason to cheer. "On this momentous day we have also decided to hand over the working of the Residents Welfare Society to women. Our association is managed by defence officers but from today all powers have been transferred to women. If the country can be run by a woman then why not a welfare society?" said Kalra.

As starters therefore, Sangeeta Aggarwal was unanimously chosen as the head of the society; she will choose her own team to carry the good work forward.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Finally, Punjab is doing something, small step but good begining.

[ramana]

I dont want this lost in the noise. In 1985 I witnessed a tribal dance in Utnuru, Adilabad district, Andhra Prdesh. The tribals dance I recognised as the story of Shiva & Parvati however thee names they used were tribal names. I pointed it out to the Tribal Welfare officer who was astounded. The Tribal welfare officer was schooled in the reserach of Helmandorf and others who held a separate view.

From Pioneer, 16 Feb., 2006
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Secularists left speechless

<b>The ancient rituals of tribals at the Shabri-Kumbh Magh Mela proves they are Hindu, says Tarun Vijay </b>

<b>Something unbelievable is happening in the forested tribal areas of south Gujarat, the Dangs. I see miles after miles of people coming down the hills and village roads making it almost impossible to drive up to the venue where Shabri Kumbh - commemorating the legend of Shabri - is being held.

Till Saturday afternoon, more than 3.5 lakh tribals from every nook and corner - from the far Northeastern States to Port Blair and Uttaranchal to Kerala - had arrived. At midnight, they were still reaching from places as far away as Itanagar in Arunachal. It's a unique event in the tribal history post-independence India, and its magnitude is difficult to measure for a reporter who is able to see only a part of the whole even after a hectic day-long tour around the five sq km stretch of the venue on the full moon day of the month of Magh.</b>

Why should tribals feel threatened in a nation whose Constitution provides protection to their cultural and religious identity? It is so "because the constitutional provisions have not been used effectively so far", says <b>Mr Jagdeo Ram Oraon, a tribal leader from Chhattisgarh and president of the largest NGO working among tribals, the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram. Mr Oraon who is also chairing the Shabri Kumbh Committee. </b>"We are not against any religion or institution, but are trying to put our own house in order. What's the fuss about?" he asks.

Later in the evening, I meet the lady pastor of the local CNI church. Her grandfather was the first pastor of the same church established in 1932. She says they have nothing to fear from such gatherings as the tribals are always non-violent though there are bad memories of a few incidents that occurred in 1998 in this region. This time the administration has given them full protection. "It's the media reports that make us anxious," she said. And she was right. In spite of everything remaining peaceful, a section of the media tried to create fear amongst the Christians.

It is noteworthy that the tribals have fought more than hundred recorded battles against the British led by heroes like Alluri Sitaram Raju, Birsa Munda, Sidho, Kanho Chand and Bhairon, Pazhsi Raja and Rani Gaidinliu. Without exception, all of them had to resist the onslaught of Christian missionaries, too, as the battle against the British also meant battling to safeguard their religion.

Take the example of Rani Gaidinliu of Nagaland. She had led a heroic guerrilla war against the British and when defeated by the mightier army, was rewarded life imprisonment by means of a "fair trial" -- all this when she was just 16. Nehru met her in Kohima jail and wrote poetically about her heroism calling her "fit to be a Rani", hence the title of Rani.

After independence, it took Nehru more than a year to see her out of jail. Indira Gandhi awarded her the Padma Bhushan and also a tamra patra in the silver jubilee year of independence. But Kohima church and the Christian leaders of the NSCN opposed vehemently when there was a proposal to have her statue installed in Kohima after her death because she had declared her Heraka and Zeliangrong movements Hindu and had refused to convert to Christianity.

In order to convert a tribal, his beliefs, customs and deities are condemned, pronounced "incapable of providing salvation"; his entire worldview is sought to be replaced with Romanised concepts and ways of worship. It was the fear of this aggression that made Congress leader and current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh create a Dony Polo mission. He also began motivating tribal public educational institutions so that his people were saved from conversion.

<b>Shabri, who waited a lifetime to welcome Ram, is believed to have treated the Lord with her part-eaten wild berries in the Dangs (derived from Dandakaranya) according to the beliefs of the local tribal population. Surely, she has emerged as the most powerful icon of tribal-nontribal harmony, the legend thus helping the evolution of a unique cultural chemistry.</b>

The same place is today witnessing a powerful assertion of tribal rights to protect their identity and culture. They have given an unambiguous call to their converted brethren to return to their original fold. "We are not giving a call to the citizens of Vatican to convert to Hinduism, but calling our own people back," asserts <b>Morari Bapu, </b>world-renowned preacher. In <b>the village of Shabri, it was an unprecedented sight: Revered Shankaracharyas, sannyasins and Brahmins were embracing the tribals and seeking forgiveness if they had been wronged in the past.</b>

<i>This is only right for they fell for Macauylite education and treated them as different by agreeing to the category of Scheduled Tribes</i>

But the secular Taliban-like voices refuse to see anything good happening to Hindus. They tried their best to ban Shabri Kumbh, some media persons surveyed the venue in advance and the prophets of doom declared the programme a threat to environment.

Those who merrily lauded the fraud of Benny Hinn, went hammer and tongs against a great Hindu event. But all of them have been silenced by the grandeur and peaceful conclusion of the biggest expression of tribal assertion in our history. This is also the beginning of a new order, which declares: Come what may, obstructionist politics of hate cannot stop the march of the indigenous people.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


How many of us know the geography of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata? How many knew that Shabri's village was in modern south Gujarat? I.e. is close to Dnadakaranya?

[Guest]

Here is Christian version of Kumbh

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->HINDU EXTREMISTS IN INDIA CALL FOR NATIONWIDE ANTI-CONVERSION LAW

Speakers at the Shabri Kumbh, a "reawakening" event organized by Hindu extremists in the Dangs district of western India's Gujarat state last weekend encouraged tribal Christians to "reconvert" and passed a resolution calling on the Indian government to enact a nationwide anti-conversion law. At press time, however, there were no reported attacks or attempts to reconvert tribal Christians as a result of the event --
in part due to a heavy police and military presence in the area. Organizers and local sources estimated that <b>300,000 Hindus converged </b>on the Dangs region for the three-day rally that began on Saturday, Feb. 11, although the official <b>government figure stands at 160,000</b>. A Gujarati police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the local people of Dangs were not happy about the event. "<b>Most residents stayed in their homes and did not take part," he said. "Most of the Dangs people who did go to the rally were from the poorest tribes -- paid off by the organizers who offered free food and transport."</b>
(Compass/Assist News Service)
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ramana,
What ails India is false reporting by Christian/Commie fundamentalist?

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Hindu fair ignites fear among Christians </b>
Daily Times - Feb 12 4:09 PM
SUBIR: Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of western India on Sunday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism. The three-day ‘Shabari Kumbh Mela’ which began on Saturday in Dangs district in

<b>Indian Hindus head west to "reconvert" tribals </b>
AlertNet - Feb 12 3:10 AM
SUBIR, India, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of western India on Sunday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism.

<b>Gujarat event sparks fears of re-conversions </b>
Gulf Times - Feb 13 12:45 AM
SUBIR, Gujarat: Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of Gujarat yesterday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism.

<b>GFA Founder: 'Pray & Fast for Persecuted Believers in India'</b>
Crosswalk.com - Feb 09 12:10 AM
The founder of Gospel for Asia is asking Christians worldwide to pray and fast for believers in India who are facing increased persecution. Tensions between Christians and Hindus in the Indian State of Gujarat have increased in the past few weeks, as a major gathering of Hindu extremist groups is imminent.

<b>Call for prayer and fasting for believers in India </b>
Reformatorisch Dagblad - Feb 10 4:20 AM
CARROLLTON - The founder of Gospel for Asia is asking Christians worldwide to pray and fast for believers in India who are facing increased persecution

<b>United Methodist Church Takes Stand Against Forced Conversions in India
Christian</b> Today - Feb 10 1:17 AM
The mission wing of the the United Methodist Church has taken a stand with tribal Christians in India against

<b>'Another Gujarat waiting to happen' </b>
rediff.com - Feb 09 1:29 AM
The book launch of Dionne Bunsha's 'Scarred: Experiments with Violence in Gujarat'

<b>Centre urged to ban Shabri Kumbh Mela</b>
India Daily - Jan 21 7:13 AM
The All India Christian Council (AICC) and All India Confederation of SC/ST organisations today alleged that the VHP, RSS, Sangh Parivar and Bajrang Dal sponsored ''Shabri Kumbh Mela'' to be held at Dang in Gujarat from February 11 to 13 was only a ploy to indulge in large-scale conversions.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Above are headlines before event. After evet, check Christian version. Who is spreading hatred?
Nothing had happened but soon we will hear all nonsense from every front.
Agenda is clear.

[acharya]

Will India's Government
Survive November?
by Rajinder Puri
November 16, 2005

By this day next week the full Supreme Court judgment on the Bihar assembly dissolution should be out. It matters little what detailed arguments the judgment will rely on. By waiting for the full judgment before responding the Government merely bought time. The details of the judgment – whether it is unanimous or divided – will make no substantive difference. Under President’s rule the Union Government passed an unconstitutional order that was signed for implementation by the President. Sacking Buta Singh will not suffice. The decision rested with the union government. So whose head will roll?

India is facing its moment of truth. It is not a crisis of government. It is a crisis of system. The system must change for the Constitution to survive.

The Prime Minister could resign. The President could resign. Both could resign. Neither may resign. This columnist’s views on the subject may be known to readers. Before the verdict an article stated the columnist’s position regarding the President’s role and responsibility. After the verdict, it was written the PM must first resign or be dismissed by the President. After that the President himself must resign. Next, the Vice-President as acting President must explore options of finding a successor. If unsuccessful he must dissolve the House. If constitutional propriety remains the criterion, nothing that happened subsequently persuades a change of opinion.

The question now is: what could in fact happen?

Immediately after the first brief judgment the President and PM met. Next day in Chandigarh after the Congress Working Committee meeting the PM accompanied by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi addressed the press. He acknowledged that the Union cabinet had to accept its responsibility for passing the unconstitutional order. This indicated that the PM had decided to resign. The Congress party spokesmen stated that the response by the government to the verdict would be given after the full judgment became available. The Bihar elections were under way. The government’s decision to buy time made tactical sense. The full judgment is expected after the Bihar polling ends. Will the PM stick to his initial response or backtrack?

In Patna on November 8 the PM criticized Governor Buta Singh while speaking to the media. He described the Governor’s recommendation to dissolve the assembly as “unfortunate”. Referring to the Supreme Court judgment he said the Governor should maintain the dignity of his post. “I don’t like this controversy about the Governor’s role,” he said. “It is an unfortunate development.” Unfortunate it was. But equally unfortunate was the cabinet’s decision to accept the Governor’s recommendation, then attach a newspaper clipping dated a day after the recommendation was received to bolster its case, and then, at midnight, fax it to the President in Moscow for his signature. Does not this smack of complicity and conspiracy compounding Mr Buta Singh’s folly? So, do the PM’s remarks on Mr Buta Singh betray a change of mind? We should know next week.

And what about the President? He is a genuine victim of the constitutional confusion created by politicians and legal luminaries alike. It matters little whether he did or did not send the order for reconsideration to the cabinet. Awakened at midnight during a foreign trip he would have been justified in thinking there was an emergency situation. He signed the order. Hypothetically, had he refused to sign the unconstitutional order would not the media and the entire political class have been at his throat, accusing him of staging a constitutional coup? Now the President is in the unhappy situation of having breached his oath to protect the constitution. How will he react? That is anybody’s guess. But judging from what is known of President Kalam’s character and temperament, this scribe believes he will resign. The President’s unhappiness and perplexity become apparent from two unrelated incidents.

First, he recommended to the Home Minister a blanket pardon for several mercy petitioners facing the death penalty. The President also expressed his support for abolishing the death penalty. The latter suggestion met with criticism from several quarters including retired Chief Justice Lahoti. It is reasonable to expect diverse opinions on the subject. It was only a suggestion. For it to become law Parliament must decide. But what about the President’s indication that all the mercy petitioners who approached him should be spared the death penalty? Isn’t the right to pardon among the President’s prerogatives? The matter is still pending before the government. How it is resolved will determine what, if any, power the President can exercise. By raising the issue at this time was President Kalam testing the waters?

The other event was more intriguing. On November 9 the President addressed a seminar in the presence of the Chief Justice and the Lok Sabha Speaker. He expounded on the relationship between the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. His remarks attracted media attention and sparked a minor debate. The President said that while all three pillars of democracy should be independent, the executive was not fully independent but was curbed by constraints created by the legislature and judiciary. The media seized on this remark and concluded that he was obliquely criticizing the judiciary. Legal luminaries jumped into the fray. None of them appeared to grasp the real import of the President’s speech. The President’s remark was unfortunate inasmuch that it caused confusion and diverted attention from the thrust of his speech.

Earlier in the same speech the President said:

“For a democratic system to function in a healthy atmosphere, it is necessary to chalk out specific areas of domain for each of these pillars with least encroachments on it from any other. The basic concept of the separation of powers would mean (a) the same persons should not form part of more than one of the three organs of the Government, (b) that one organ should not control or interrupt with the working of another, and © that one organ of Government should not exercise the functions of another.”

The President reinforced his remarks by quoting 17th century English philosopher John Locke:

“It may be too great a temptation to humane frailty, apt to grasp at power, for the same persons who have the power of making laws, to have also in their hands the power to execute them, whereby they may exempt themselves from obedience to the laws they make, and suit the law, both in its making and execution, to their own private advantage.”

Who are the persons in our present political system forming part of more than one of the three organs of Government? They are the ministers. They legislate, and they execute. This scribe has pointed out in the past the same anomaly – to suggest that accountability of government becomes notional when those who execute also control the legislature through its majority. That makes Parliament unfit as an instrument to check government excess. The President focused on the impediments that the anomaly placed on the executive’s functioning.

What therefore was the President driving at? To understand this it would be helpful to appraise his remarks in the light of our Constitution. Article 53 of the Constitution says: “The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President, and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.” That’s pretty clear, isn’t it? President Kalam doesn’t appear to be confused. This scribe doesn’t feel he is confused. Only legal experts seem confused and confusing.

If the President does decide to resign he should do so in a manner that compels a reappraisal of our system. If both the President and Prime Minister resign they would keep their reputations intact and have a public life after resignation. Alternatively, one or both could cling to office. That would preserve chair but destroy reputation.

India is facing its moment of truth. It is not a crisis of government.
It is a crisis of system. The system must change for the Constitution to survive.