Round The World

New Delhi, 29 December 2023

India & The World

REFLECTING ON 2023

By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri

(Secretary General, Assn for Democratic Socialism) 

Another year is passing. We await the New Year with hope as well as anxiety, as the world is going through turbulent times. Philosophical speaking, it is the order of the life, full of ups and downs, happiness and sorrow, peace and war. The last cycle of international life (peace and war) is under interrogation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi profoundly said while mildly chiding the Russian President Vladimir Putin last year during Shanghai Cooperation Summit at Samarkand, that “it is no time for war”. The United Nations was created after the Second World War to prevent further wars. 

However, the world community has failed in preventing full-scale wars in addition to several armed skirmishes and clashes. The horrifying war in Ukraine continues unabated causing horrendous loss of lives, properties and resources. The war that started last year lingers on defying diplomacy and the political acuity of world leaders. Apparently, the Ukrainian war at present is stalemated as Russia seems to tire out and Ukraine running out of support from the West. Until there is some kind of truce, the war can intensify at any stage as the resources or resolve on either side are reinforced. 

If Ukrainian war was not enough for the world community to address the disruptions in economy and politics, another violent war erupted in the Middle-East between Israel and Hamas. This was quite unexpected. Israel and Palestine were living in peace and some kind of co-existence since the conflict began over seven decades ago. However, terrorism as a method of conflict resolution is still lurking around. This is completely illegitimate and unacceptable. India, as a victim of cross-border terrorism has been raising the issue of eliminating the scourge of terrorism from world politics. But, because of dubious policies of quite a few countries terrorism persists. 

Israel became a victim of cruel and sadistic attacks by Palestinian terrorist groups namely Hamas on 7 October this year suffering hundreds of deaths and hostages. Shocked and surprised, Israel vowed to retaliate with all its might with two war objectives – to eliminate the military capacity of Hamas so that they are incapable of repeating such attacks on Israel, second, to free all the hostages taken by Hamas. Consequently, from October, Israel and Hamas are engaged in a deadly combat with heavy casualties. According to the reports available, over 20 thousand civilians in Palestine have been killed and over hundred soldiers from Israeli side. Israel is facing assaults from Hezbollahs in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen. According to the Israel military, the war is likely to continue for months. 

Again, the world leaders have miserably failed in bringing about a lasting ceasefire, let alone the end of the war. In dealing with the current war, the commentators are going back to the origin of conflict and are caught in victim-aggressor-victim cycle. In this war, both Israel and Hamas have become aggressors as well as victims. If the focus would have been on 7^th October and the consequent reactions, it could be easier to resolve. While calling out Israel on the massive retaliation causing heavy casualties amounting to genocide, the commentators go back in time instead of stressing on the terrorist attack by Hamas which gave the ground for Israel for ‘self-defence’. 

Recalling the brighter side of India and its interactions with the world, we had an amazingly successful G-20 Summit in Delhi. It came up roses inasmuch as there was a consensus statement by the world leaders despite a divided opinion on Ukrainian war. However, it happened, Indian leadership was credited with successful negotiation across the countries. The entire canvass of India’s politics and economy in all sectors – local governments, social sector, art and heritage, small-scale innovations were all exposed with the world community in the run-up to the Summit spanning over the year. 

This year, India became the fifth largest economy in the world. That is some achievement to shout about as India’s growth has been constantly low in the 70s and 80s at 3 per cent which was queerly called ‘Hindu rate of growth’ by an eminent economist, Prof. Raj Krishna. The economic planners resolved to expedite the economic growth which is promised to be over 5 trillion by the end of this decade to be the third largest in the world. However, the prosperity of the country is measured by per capita GDP not the country’s GDP alone. In that sense, disappointingly, India has the lowest per capital GDP among all G-20 members. 

At the same time, India became the most populous country in the world surpassing China. This is again a distinction India could claim provided it uses the demographic dividend intelligently and strategically. Prime Minister Modi, in an article, articulated the strength of India in terms of four Ds – democracy, demography, development and diversity. So, India’s population, mainly its large segment of youth population, could be harnessed in India and abroad. India’s foreign policy could strategise on population redistribution, facilitating the migration of skilled manpower to various countries. The European countries, namely Italy, Portugal and Germany are open to receiving India’s work force. 

There were two unsavoury incidents involving India and Canada and India and the USA. In both the cases, two Sikhs of Indian origin having accepted the citizenship of Canada and USA, were plotting violent attacks on Indian agencies. One of them, Hardeep Singh Nijjar with dual citizenship of India and Canada, was murdered in Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister accused Indian agencies being behind his death. An avoidable diplomatic row erupted. Similarly, the US citizen Gurpatwant Pannu, who called for boycott and violence against Air India, was targeted causing the US to point a finger at Indian intelligence agencies. The sharing of evidence etc. is on between relevant authorities in India and the US. 

On the side of caution, it is to be noted that once again the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has asked for 17 countries, including India, to be put as ‘countries of particular concern’. This is about lack of religious freedom in those countries. In case of India, it is the minorities which are being harassed and hounded by the religious vigilantes from the majority religion. This is certainly a matter of concern for a country like India, which has been famous across the world for religious tolerance and accommodation. Remember, Prime Minister Modi spoke in Israel with a great sense of pride that no Jew suffered from anti-Semitism in India. India is one of the few countries in the world with a secular Constitution. 

Likewise, India ranked low in the ranking of three democracy watchdogs – Freedom House, V-Dem and Economist Intelligence Unit. One may quarrel with their process of measurement of democracies, but should we be completely dismissive of such concerns! When India is aspiring, may be rightly so, to be a Vishwa Guru because of its unique spirituality and culture, any blemish on India’s politics and society should be addressed. The World Happiness Report 2023 shows India on 126^th position out of 137 countries despite it being the fifth largest economy. Is this not something to address in 2024 and beyond?---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

REWIND

New Delhi, 28 December 2023

Home Front Cries For Attention

By Inder Jit

(Released on 27 December 1983) 

Thoughts in New Delhi as elsewhere are increasingly turning to the New Year, now round the corner. What will 1984 bring? Will Orwell be proved prophetic and his nightmare come true? Will the new year be better than 1983? Expectedly, not a few have drawn up annual balance sheets for the state of the nation. Many among New Delhi’s ruling elite are busy back-slapping each other. They see the year that has rolled by as a year of triumph and glory. Everything appears great. “Look at NAM. And, look at CHOGM”, they say. “We have proved we are as good as the best in the West. Both the summits were undoubtedly a great success. Both have proved once again that we Indians can do it -- as in the case of the splendid Asiad. India’s reputation has shot up in the world and Mrs Gandhi is today acknowledged as one of the world’s most outstanding personalities. Nothing proves this more than the praise showered on her by the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr Jorge Illueca, on the concluding day of the 38^th session. 

But there the kudos must end. Success in holding summits -- in New Delhi and in New York -- is no doubt something of which any country can be proud. But it does not add up to very much in the total national canvas when all is said and done. New Delhi today is undoubtedly beautiful and resplendent as never before. It compares with the best world capitals. It brought Mrs Gandhi many compliments from visiting heads of Government both during NAM and more recently during CHOGM. However, it would be folly to get carried away by polite compliments from visiting guests. New Delhi, as every visiting VIP knows, is not India. What is more, it is not even Delhi. The world is impressed not by outward show but basic strength. In fact, not a few diplomats are intrigued by our astonishing capacity to be influenced by mere floss. They are right. We seem to be living from one summit to another. It's time our leaders took a holiday from foreign affairs and devoted thought to the home front which cries out for attention. 

There is much that Mrs Gandhi can do in the months available to her between now and the poll. Image building and public relations are undoubtedly important and have yielded Mrs Gandhi fantastic dividends. Ultimately, however, people are concerned with their day to day lives, which have not received adequate priority either from Mrs Gandhi or her planners. To mention a few things. We have spent thousands of crores of rupees in importing foodgrains and building up buffer stocks. Yet we could have saved ourselves all this money if only the Government and, more particularly, the Prime Minister had devoted adequate attention to irrigation, as spotlighted by the Public Accounts Committee during the Chairmanship of Mr Satish Agarwal, formerly a Janata Minister. India, according to the 1982-83 PAC report, had planned an additional irrigation potential of 30 million hectares for major and medium projects. But irrigation created after years planning totals only about 20 million hectares. Had the full potential been created, we could have produced 25 million tonnes of grains additionally and been in a better position to hold prices. 

Not only that. Equally scandalous is the lackadaisical implementation of eight major irrigation projects such as the Rajasthan Canal, Nagarjunasagar and Kosi-Gandak. All these projects continue to lag way behind their targets for the past 20 years or so, resulting in an astronomical cost run, apart from the loss caused on account of delay in reaping the benefits. The Rajasthan Canal was originally to cost Rs 55 crores. It is now estimated to cost Rs 100 crores. Had the project been completed speedily and on time, it could have yielded anywhere from 2.5 million to 3 million tonnes annually! Not many today remember the wise advice tendered to the Government of India by Mr Robert McNamara when he visited this country in November 1968 as the President of the World Bank. He was firmly of the opinion that India should give top priority to the Canal and complete it speedily. “I would do this if I were you”, he said in so many words, and added: “It will transform not only the face of Rajasthan but of India.” Alas, his advice was not heeded. 

Time and again, Mrs Gandhi has claimed that the common man today is doing much better. True, he has now the Maruti, priced at Rs 47,500, dedicated to him! The Government also claims that 57 million people have been raised above the poverty line in the past three years. (The number is stated to have been brought down from 339 million in 1980 to 282 million at the end of 1982. Person’s earnings Rs 65 per month or more are said to be above the poverty line.) Is this really so? Claim is strongly contested not only by the Opposition leaders but also by Dr Malcolm Adiseshiah, a well-known economist and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Dr Adiseshiah holds the view that the Government figures are based on the erroneous assumption that real incomes have increased uniformly in 1980-81 and 1981-82 in all expenditure classes, including the poor. Of interest in the context of the common man is the fact that the per capita availability of foodgrains has fallen from 175 kg per annum in 1964 and again in 1978 to 155 kg in 1982-83. 

That the poor majority continues to be subjected to deprivation is also borne out by the price trend. The wholesale price index was 185 in March 1977 when the Janata Government came into office. It went up to 212 by July 1979 when the Morarji Desai Government fell -- an average increase of 1 pt per month. It rose thereafter from 212 to 225 under Mr Charan Singh -- an average increase of 2 pts per month from July to December 1979. After almost four years of rule by Mrs Gandhi, the index now stands at about 320 -- a rise of 95 pts over 48 months or an average increase of 2 pts per month. There has been a steady rise in both wholesale and consumer prices in the first five months of 1983-84. The average works out to 6.9 per cent for the wholesale price index. Dr Adiseshiah estimates that the wholesale prices will rise by around 7 to 8 per cent and consumer prices by 10 to 11 per cent during 1983-84. What, however, is most disturbing is the sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities -- a rise of 13 per cent in wholesale prices of primary food articles alone! 

Little has been done to ensure adequate return from the public sector, which adds up to a staggering investment of some Rs 30,000 crores. Mrs Gandhi has been issuing directives again and again. Most of these have got headlines on the front pages of newspapers. These may please Mrs Gandhi and her penchant for public relations. But they have so far not yielded the long-promised results. Regrettably, the public sector continues to be treated as a milch cow. No one, not even the Prime Minister, regards the investment as a national trust. No one insists on a minimum return. A commercial return of 20 per cent should net the country Rs 6,000 crores per annum which would in one stroke obviate the need for additional taxation and deficit financing. (Why commercial return? Many public sector undertakings are today seeking deposits at 15 per cent.) The total investment should yield a return of Rs 4,000 crores at 15 per cent and a little less at 12 per cent, offered by the Post Office. 

Few have given any thought to the increasing tendency among Government leaders to distribute patronage and help friends (and financiers) through exemptions from customs and excise duties -- something that has prompted the demand for a Committee on Taxation Expenditure as in the US. (“We have a Committee on papers laid on the table of the House,” says Mr Satish Agarwal. “Why can't we have a Committee to go into tax exemptions by executive orders? Some 300 to 400 notifications are issued annually. These add up to a “relief of some Rs 2,500 crores.”) A case in point is the latest exemption of customs and excise duties for big cars. The exemption was intimated to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Pattabhi Rama Rao. Mr Agarwal sought information on two points: the extent of revenue loss and whether blanket exemption had been given for all fuel cars exceeding 1000 ccs. Mr Rama Rao replied that he would send the details to the member -- and left. The exemptions are estimated to benefit the big car manufactures by some Rs 400 crores! 

Not a little thought requires to be devoted to the mounting problem of debt repayment. Plans have been drawn up for pushing up exports to Rs 30,121 crores by 1990-91 as against imports totalling Rs 30,010, leaving a favourable balance of Rs 111 crores. (Imports during 1983- 84 are expected to total Rs 15,000 and exports Rs 10,467 crores leaving an adverse balance of Rs 4,933 crores.) But experience does not encourage such optimism. In fact, if the current propensity (and recklessness) is any indication, we should be lucky if the present adverse balance does not grow. A leading MP said: “You should not be surprised if we start importing even sugar of which we have a glut.” The need for tightening imports and plugging loopholes has become all the greater following Washington’s decision to refuse to agree to a level of $12 billion for IDA-7 (the seventh replenishment of the International Development Association.) President Reagan’s decision to stick to $9 billion will mean less for India, now that China has become a member. India has been a major IDA beneficiary so far. 

All in all, the year that has rolled by has been rather barren in terms of achievements. (Yes, we had a record production of foodgrains. But the credit must go essentially to the weather gods. Thirtyfive years after freedom, our agriculture and budget continue to be a gamble in monsoons!) The problems we inherited in 1983 are still with us and, if anything, have become worse as in the case of Punjab and Assam. Regional tensions have grown and so also confrontation between the States and the Centre. Law and order has worsened and more and more people in rural areas are being forced to fend for themselves. Corruption continues to grow by leaps and bounds and the country today is witnessing the biggest ever loot in its history, notwithstanding Mrs Gandhi’s repeated promises to stamp it out. Parliament, administration and other institutions have suffered further erosion. Truth is at a greater discount than ever before. Summits and conferences have their use in today’s increasingly interdependent world. But we need to come down to terra firma, pull the economy out of the rut and tackle the country’s many problems clamouring for solution. The world respects only those who are strong. -- INFA.

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

Open Forum

New Delhi, 27 December 2023

Electoral Politics

GIMMICKS OR REALITY CHECK?

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

INDIA bloc’s decision to give top priority to seat-sharing for 2024 general elections is in the right direction, but it would do well to have partners share assessment of the electorate’s outlook to plug loopholes and engage with it through a combined strategy. Moreso, as understanding electoral politics is difficult given that calculations go awry as witnessed recently.   

The gimmicks in Indian politics are intriguing. Moreover, as majority of the electorate is uneducated, or half educated and fails to comprehend the real motives of politic parties. Corruption charges against leaders of the ruling dispensation in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, for example did not quite bother the masses. Charisma instead held sway and issues that mattered got relegated to the background.    

Another important factor that needs attention is the propagation of aggressive Hindutva that swayed the masses in favour of the BJP. This despite such an approach being harmful to the social integration and alienation of minorities in the socio-political development. As the CPM editorial in its party organ, People’s Democracy aptly pointed out: “The basic failure of the Congress has been its inability to confront this reality (Hindutva consolidation that has created an ‘over-arching pan-Hindu identity’)”. But it shouldn’t apply to the grand old party alone, bloc partners need to counter it with as much conviction, as lack of education and awareness among the poor, is making them believe in the so-called misrule of Muslim rulers of yesteryears. 

The inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, will again impact those who are enamoured with the Hindu ethos. But it can’t be considered as true Hindu religion, in the backdrop of reading the philosophical propositions of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and even later interpreters such as Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Swami Rangathananda etc. The INDIA bloc would need to work around it and reach out to voters.     

At the same time, parties and their leaders would need to stress on grass-root development and not get caught in populist tendencies to attract and win voters’ sentiments. The freebies announced by Congress, had rival BJP doing the same, be it free bus rides or cheaper gas cylinders. There was hardly any promise about reviving the economy and deterioration in conditions of living of the rural poor and the surge in unemployment rates over the years. 

Recall, Congress leader and former Finance Minister Chidambaram recently quoted the PLFS to say that the Workers Population Ratio (WPR), the share of working people in the population, was 46%, including 69% for men and 22% for women. It is estimated that less than 50% of them actually work. The unemployment rates for graduates below 25 years of age are 42% while among the employed, 57% are self-employed, which means that their earnings are low. He also said that rising prices of essential commodities combined with unemployment had affected the purchasing power of the people. As a result, the net financial savings of households reached a historic low of 5.1% in 2022-23. But the message didn’t get to the voters or was unfortunately ignored in the din of freebies coming their way. 

The looming agricultural crisis, acute job scarcity, poor education and health services, lack of rural infrastructure development, dysfunctional cities, broken judicial system and rampant environmental damage to the ecosystem were not areas of concern for the ruling party. No plan was given to address these development deficiencies and widening disparity in the incomes of the rich and the poor, of the urban and rural sectors, of the formal and informal, sectors did not find elaborate mentions in the campaigns of the BJP though the Congress tried to highlight these issues and was obviously unsuccessful. The crux of the matter is that the voters are not able to judge and understand the manipulative techniques of the political parties. 

While religious fundamentalism has been used to brainwash the half-educated and uneducated sections, the clamour that India is set to become the third largest economy, banking on the wealth accumulation of the corporate groups is being highlighted. The ‘excellent’ performance of the country’s economy has been used to win hearts of the educated/elite who are oblivious of India’s backward regions. Various global agencies are painting fantastic pictures of the country’s economic development without considering the incomes of the lowest 25 per cent of the population. Even if the GDP grows at around 6.5% this fiscal, will it lead to perceptible income growth of the lowest 25% of the population?  

India is currently said to be the fifth largest economy with a GDP of $3.7 trillion and the leaders are talking of becoming the third largest economic power by 2030. A vision document prepared by Niti Aayog has shown that India will be a $30 trillion developed economy by 2047 but the document has failed to reveal the income growth of the poor and the economically weaker sections during the last decade or so. This is because there’s been no growth in their incomes. 

A professor at a national conference expressed concern that the rich drive to big hotels passing through slums and shanty settlements but are least bothered to reflect on it. Even the undersigned, who has lectured in many institutes, including government’s, finds that the bureaucracy is least perturbed over the poverty and squalor existing in rural and backward areas and fails to define true development, unless directed to. For it, development is something that benefits the middle-income sections, normally residing in cities and towns. 

Thus, ruling dispensations, aided by the bureaucracy, have not paid the attention that the rural sector or the backward areas deserve. Electoral politics is increasingly getting carved out on gimmicks and false promises which voters hardly remember or fail to question later. Even a major part of the media fails to highlight the challenges and question the government about providing shelter to displaced cyclone victims or potable water in every tribal village.  

Tragically, politic leadership is not all that sincere in its approach towards ensuring welfare and well-being of the silent minority who have to struggle for a living or bereft of the benefits of schemes and programmes announced. If India is really to become a developed country as is being aired time and again, there must be a change in strategy. More attention is needed for rural sector and an action plan formulated for upliftment of the poor or the less privileged in the coming term of office of the new government. INDIA bloc needs to do its homework right. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Political Diary

New Delhi, 26 December 2023

Wrestling With Power

TIME FOR RADICAL MAKEOVER

By Poonam I Kaushish 

If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us, said Francis Bacon. This comes to mind over our wrestlers grappling with power. Indeed, it was a sad day for wrestling when Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik announced that she was quitting the sport last week and another medalist Bajrang Punia gave up his Padma Shri award until justice was given to his “sisters and daughters” fighting against sexual harassment and their perpetrators.

The cause célèbre? Five-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh accused of sexually harassing and exploiting female wrestlers and against whom pugilists have been agitating for nearly a year, acolyte Sanjay Singh winning elections to the Wrestling Federation President’s post.

True, a politician or his aide winning an election to an administrative post in a sports body is par for the cours given sport is riddled with proliferation of netagan seeking to soak in the popularity of sport and sportswomen. Of course, the hold of leaders on the electoral processes of sports federations cannot be legally challenged. Example: Bhushan was running WFI from his official residence.

Also true, if Bhushan had not been a bahubali with a huge following among Rajputs and who holds the key in reportedly, 10 seats in Gonda UP, he may have been counting bars as a Pocso case is registered against him. However, such is his political clout that any action against him could affect BJP’s prospects in the State.

Consequently, he remains not only free while courts take their time over cases registered against him, but also is much feted as a leader with an outsize influence on wrestling till he became ineligible. So what if he is not a saint having around 40 cases against him? The UP bahubali has admitted to committing a murder and gone to jail.

Undeniably, wrestling is not the first sport to witness allegations of sexual exploitation of young athletes of both sexes. Look at Haryana Sports Minister and ex-hockey captain Sandeep Singh who too has been accused of sexual abuse by a junior coach. He remains a Minister. However, the allegation against Bhushan is an extreme case that athletes ran into a political brick wall despite top wrestlers throwing their all into opposing him since January. 

Happily, amid huge outcry over Singh’s election, the Sports Ministry suspended WFI for its “hasty announcement” of organising U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations. Asking Indian Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc panel to manage and execute WFI’s roles and function.

In sync, Bhushan announced his resignation from wrestling after meeting BJP President Nadda. Even as aide Singh states he will talk to Prime Minister Modi, Centre and Ministry to prove no rules were violated. Sic.

Nevertheless, the Government’s action is only quick fix. The malaise in WFI runs deep and the sight of elite wrestlers hitting streets, sparring with authorities, being evicted from Delhi’s  Jantar Mantar, quitting the sport and returning national honours does not do justice to the country’s aspiration of becoming a sporting power. Given the United World Wrestling not only expressed its unhappiness with the sordid saga but also suspended WFI.

Besides, with seven medals, wrestling is India’s most successful individual sport at Olympics and for many girls specially in Haryana it is an aspirational game which provides social acceptance.

Privately, a senior sports administrator avers, Government’s action was a face-saver without openly acknowledging a mistake in handling la affair Bhushan.

Alas, over the years power structures in sports federations often overlap political power whereby politicians have usurped positions of control and operate them as their private fiefdom. Thereby, creating conditions that enable abuse of authority.

A sad commentary on society that our rulers should hold such sway and have their way even in sports administration. Perhaps it has something to do with our patriarchal lineage and misogynistic culture. Whereby, we show utter disregard and disrespect for women.... rape, marital rapes, sexual assault and systemic harassment et al.

Clearly, in a society which lives with the regressive mindset that freedom and equality for women tantamount to promiscuity, we swing between two extremes. One where a girl child is bad news and nurtured on “conform” paranoia: Not to rock the boat, be fearful of what lies around the corner and subjecting them to countless restrictions in the name of women’s protection. Whereby fathers make the rules, husbands enforce them and male bosses reiterate them, speaking out against someone’s wrong doing is tough.

Notwithstanding the #Me Too campaign, in a culture where the national narrative conditions people to think that sexual harassment has no consequences; where sex crimes are dismissed as result of an imbalanced sex ratio; and where women have little or no cultural respect, it is going to be a steep uphill to change what is just ‘normal’.

Where does one go from here? Given that this oppressive atrocity against sportswomen will get worse, not better. All eyes are on what happens in this case. Clearly our leaders need to pay heed and address this seriously. Undeniable it is a wake-up call for change. Change our approach to sexual harassment. One option is radical feminism to make a social impact and safety of women an important article of faith with people, society and Government.

Our leaders need to pay heed and address this seriously. Underscoring, the urgent need to create a safe space for athletes, especially women. Laws should be tightened which would deter men to think thousand times before they commit crime, along-with transparency, accountability and good governance. Only then can India truly become a sporting powerhouse and fulfil the aspirations of its talented athletes.

One hopes the Government’s latest action is more than just image management and it uses the opportunity to clean-up WFI governance, carry structural changes, addresses wrestlers concerns and creates a sport and a federation worthy of sports. Alongside quickly finish investigation and prosecution of Bhushan which was set in motion by wrestlers charges of sexual harassment against him and a chargesheet filed by Delhi police over six months back if justice is to be done and WFI run in spirit of rules established.

Towards that end, the National Sports Development Code 2011, a legally binding framework to ensure that sports federations which have a monopoly and receive public funding are made accountable should ensure wrestlers kushtee with power get justice. As merely mouthing platitudes of impartiality and fairness will no longer work.

However either which way, our pugilists have identified their predators and they will determine what happens next. Surely lies have no legs but truth is the best defense. We need cry a halt to women being playthings of voyeuristic men. Will we break new ground and unshackle women?  One hopes this will have a knock-out effect on other federations and trigger greater accountability. What gives? ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)