NAGPUR
TheHitavada
TheOPINIONPAGE
FRIDAY
7 10 2016
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ENERGY RELATIONSHIP
By NITYA
CHAKRABORTY
They are slaves who dare not be
In the right with two or three
Lowell
Nakshatra Jeshtha 14H 22M
Moon Vrischika upto 14H 22 M (Rajandekar Panchang),
Paksha Ashwin Shukla Tithi Shashthi 19H 38M
Muslim Muharram 5th Hijree 1437
TRUE AGENDA
T
HAT discussing terror and sorting it out should
be the principal agenda of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),
is a perfectly fitting tune for the regional combine, suggested rightly by Sri Lankan Prime
Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. Even as
SAARC is threatened to be a moribund organisation if the present stalemate continues, Mr.Wickremesinghe
has stressed that war could never be an option for India and
Pakistan and terrorism needs to be tackled through international common action, and not mutual confrontation.
Though there can never be any contest with the Sri Lankan
Prime Minister on this issue -- of war being no option -- for
any two countries, it is absolutely necessary to understand
why and how evils and devils have often pushed the world
into the throes of conflict, endangering peace and harmony
that are so essential to collective well being of the human
community. It is necessary to understand that in favour of
peace, no nation can keep making unholy compromises with
its self-respect and sense of sovereignty. The latest issue that
has brought SAARC to grief has originated from Pakistan’s
obstinacy, which every other member-nation has recognised.
The isolation of Pakistan in the regional forum has come only
because everybody felt compelled to join hands and hoped
that Pakistan would learn a right lesson.
There is an important historical comprehension about the
concept of war. One of the earliest and worst wars the world
has seen was the Mahabharat War where millions of people
were killed and countless kingdoms dissolved. Even in those
terribly troubled times, as history shows, Lord Shrikrishna
realised the importance of conciliation more than the compulsion of war. As part of his effort to avoid war, he bent backwards urging the Kauravas to agree to the principle of peaceful coexistence. When all those efforts failed, when the evils
and devils were hell bent upon pushing the world into the
hell of war, then war was resorted to.
So, even as everybody realises even now that war is no
option for any country -- let alone India and Pakistan -- there
are serious apprehensions that Pakistan may act as a rogue
state and indulge in war-mongering. Thus, war may prove
to be an unavoidable condition which India might have to
face most reluctantly.
But, on the ground of reality, India would agree with Mr.
Wickremesinghe in totality that war could never be an option
and that regional forum like SAARC must discuss the terror
issue and sort it out immediately. The ball, however, is in
Pakistan’s court. In the past few days, particularly following
India’s surgical strike across the Line of Control, Pakistan
went into a denial mode, but made a fool of itself in the international arena. If this is any indication of the shape of things
to come, then it may become inevitable for India to give the
toughest possible response to the Pakistani overtures.
If that point becomes unavoidable, then there is little doubt
that the world would side with India because it has seen the
Indian restraint for decades. The world knows that only a
responsible state can maintain such a tight restraint over its
emotions. The truest agenda for SAARC or any other similar
forum should be to ensure peace as a collective responsibility. If SAARC is falling apart, then it is obvious that somebody
is making it happen. In this case, it is Pakistan, beyond any
shade of doubt, beyond any question. The onus of avoiding
any international conflict, thus, is on Pakistan.
Inspiration
A
10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite
the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with
an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing
well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three
months of training the master had taught him only one
move. “Sensei,”(Teacher in Japanese) the boy finally said,
“Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”“This is the only move
you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,”
the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the
boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the
boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his matches and was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more
experienced. But the boy still won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy
asked sensei, “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with
only one move?” “You won for two reasons,” the
sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the
most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only
known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab
your left arm.” The boy’s biggest weakness had become his
biggest strength.
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
A pint of sweat, saves a
❝gallon
of blood.
❞
- - G E O R G E S PAT T O N
■
The ambitious gas
pipeline project
from Russia to
India is being
persued with
urgency in view of
the energy
security of both
the countries.
Only in
September this
year, as a part of
the preparation
for the bilateral
summit, India
and Russia
launched an
industry level
working group
with the
participation of
both Russian and
Indian
companies.
T
W
ITH less than a week
left for the holding of
the
India-Russia
bilateral summit in
Goa, on October 15,
coinciding with the BRICS meeting,
hectic negotiations are on to open up
a new chapter in energy relationship
between India and Russia taking into
account the potential of both the
economies. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is understood to have given
green signal to the long pending
Russian proposal for an energy bridge
between two countries comprising,
among others, the setting up of a gas
supply pipeline.
The October summit has assumed
special importance for its emphasis
on energy cooperation as the Russian
oil companies and the Russian
Government are keen to seek extensive cooperation of the Indian public
sector and the private sector companies for participation in the Russian
oil fields as also in equity participation in the Russian oil companies.
Russia needs the support of both
China and India in the present geo
political situation in view of western
sanctions over Ukraine and the steep
fall in the prices of oil and other commodities to the great discomfort of
the Russian economy.
While in the recent months, there
are signs of pick up in the Russian economy, the situation is still grim and the
Russian Government is determined
to take the expansion of the country’s
oil and gas fields development in association with other countries which
have resources as also expertise.
Indian oil companies are cash rich and
the ONGC has been dealing with the
Russian oil fields for more than a
decade.The Indian private sector companies like Reliance and Essar are also
highly rated by the Russian companies for collaboration.
Russian
Government
has
announced its privatisation pro-
gramme and this offers a big opportunity to the Indian public and private sector firms to collaborate with
the Russian companies by purchasing equity stakes in the giant companies. Both the Indian Government
and the big private sector companies
have been assessing the potential and
taking follow-up action. In view of
Russian experience in dealing with the
Indian companies and the problems
with the European and US
companies because of sanctions,
President Putin has given big focus
on Indian participation and investments in the Russian oil industry as
a major component of his bilateral
summit strategy.
The ambitious gas pipeline project
from Russia to India is being persued
with urgency in view of the energy
security of both the countries. Only
in September this year, as a part of
the preparation for the bilateral summit, India and Russia launched an
industry level working group with the
participation of both Russian and
Indian companies. The details are
being made ready and the concrete
programme for investments by the
Indian companies in the Russian companies are a part of that. Indian oil
companies are looking at investment
options in Russian oil fields in Baltic
and Arctic regions which are being
opened for foreign participation.
Already, the Indian Cabinet has
granted approval to a consortium of
Indian energy companies to buy stakes
in two Russian oilfields for more than
US $3 billion as a part of India’s bid
to expand its oil assets abroad.
Indian Petroleum Ministry has been
most active in pursuing the course of
Indian collaboration with the Russian
companies in the energy sector.
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan has been in continuous touch
with his Russian counterpart and after
clearance by the Prime Minister,
ONGC last month agreed to buy an
additional 11 per cent stake in
Vankorneft, owner of the Vankor oil
and gas fields in Siberia, Rosneft’s second largest by output. Once the transaction is completed, ONGC Videsh,
the overseas arm of ONGC, will have
a 26 per cent stake in JSC Vankorneft.
Russian Government wants to make
a big success of its oil industry privatisation programme but there are
some restrictions also. Foreign
investors are allowed to participate
on condition that they register their
subsidiaries in Russia and control over
the strategic enterprises will remain
with the Russian state. At present,
Russia is having an expanding relationship with China in the energy sector and India is coming next for collaboration. The Russian expectation
is that this privatisation programme
will bring one trillion roubles US $ 12.5
billion) in the state coffers within a
period of two years . Much will depend
on China and India’s participation.
For India, strengthening its energy
security is of great significance and it
has been an important constituent of
India’s bilateral relationship with
Russia. Accordingly, India is keen to
secure long term supplies of hydrocarbons and diversification of imports
from Russia through LNG supplies.
In the hydrocarbon sector, Indian
chamber Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) has assessed that, apart
from existing investments in the oil
and gas sectors, there is considerable
scope for corporate investments in
Russia. The Indian private sector,
according to CII, considers Russia a
country of great opportunity and is
keen to work with the two
Governments to develop sector partnerships which will benefit both
economies. That way, the Goa summit’s prime agenda of energy collaboration has the full support of both
Indian public sector and the private
companies.
(IPA)
Under the weather
HE rains have let on and the serene
autumn skies, with the intermittent
play of glorious blue and candy fluff
clouds, infuse us with joy and even
energise and invigorate us.
Conversations all around have also mellowed
down, seeped as we are in the romance of the
weather. Oh yes, the weather. Perhaps the most
common topic of conversation the world over
is the weather. Cutting across boundaries and
continents, discussing the weather takes centre stage in most common human interactions.
Be it a chance meeting, a new acquaintance,
friends meeting over coffee or a random social
do, bringing up the weather acts as a wonderful ice-breaker and conversation generator.
Again, our reactions to the weather are varied
and manifold. It weaves into our exchanges in
many avatars. From fretful, frenzied rants, chiding the ceaseless downpours and that woeful
pile of damp laundry to sublime invocations
about the balmy breeze or the exhilarating petrichor, that smell of wet earth which never fails
to delight our senses, it’s all there.
Weather is seamlessly woven into our daily
lives and we find manifest ways to show our
sense of proprietorship, so to speak, through
our varied responses. Indeed, the weather has
played muse to many a poet, artist and musician. Our cultural and literary history is replete
with instances of weather manifesting itself
through multiple art forms. Time and again we
also invoke the weather gods and attempt propitiation in order to facilitate the smooth passage of the tasks at hand. Suffice to say that
days of our lives unfold as responses to the weather of the time.
MIDDLE SPACE
By DOLANCHAPA DEY
But amidst all this there is a small point to
consider. Do we, consciously or otherwise,
realise that our responses to the weather are
most often reactionary in nature? It is a response
to an ongoing situation as such and most times
we prod, push, cajole and even curse the weather willing it to play out the way we wish it to,
in our favour. But how often, or for that matter, how many of us realise that we all have a
role to play in how it behaves. It is not an isolated phenomenon divest of our involvement.
We are, directly or indirectly, responsible for
how it acts. Even if to a certain extent, human
action and activity does bear an impact on the
weather. Atmospheric conditions at a given
time and the larger climate scenario, though
natural phenomena, are not bereft of human
influence.
Every other day we come to know about natural disasters and catastrophic climate changes
through various information media. We are
alarmed, saddened and even emphatic towards
the sufferings of the people who have had to
bear the brunt of these conditions. But, in all
truthfulness, we don’t feel as involved because
at the back of our minds we are comforted by
the feeling that it hasn’t or can’t happen to us.
What triggers this reaction is a rather disturbing aspect of the human mind. Nonchalance
and even apathy are sadly the ruling states of
mind. This needs to change and sooner than
later. An informed awareness has to be followed by taking responsibility for our actions.
The shining sun, the soothing breeze and
cooling showers are all ours to enjoy and experience, provided we exhibit restrained,
responsible behaviour towards our natural
surroundings.
Every Man in his Humour Letters to the EditorEvery Man i
Boycott of SAARC
summit is best tool
Sir,
This refers to your article “Time to split SAARC”.
India’s boycott of the SAARC summit is the best diplomatic tool to nudge our neighbour to do some serious soul-searching. Not participating in the meeting is an important signal but much better would
be to work out a strategy to end economic dealings
with Pakistan, a complete ban on trade with Pakistan
by SAARC members will be more painful for Pakistan.
By keeping Pakistan out of the body, the other
nations can concentrate more and more effectively on the aims and ideals of the body.
SAARC cannot work in such an environment. It
is a necessary step on the part of India to expose
Pakistan on its complicity in trans-border terrorism
and to an extent it signaled a success.
It is time for the countries in Pakistan’s immediate neighbourhood to stand up and say enough is
enough. India should take lead to promote peace
and stability of the region.
Vinod C Dixit, Ahmedabad
Stop supporting Pak artists
Sir,
Salman Khan’s statement in support of Pakistani artists has gone viral in Pakistani
media. He will surely earn some extra bucks when his next movie releases there.Yesterday,
I scrolled deep down to Salman’s twitter account to find a single tweet of condemnation on the URI attack, and was disgusted to find none. Nineteen soldiers lost their
lives in Uri. I bet if people like Karan Johar, Salman Khan, Mahesh Bhatt know even
the name of a single martyr among the 19.
In India some so-called intellectuals are saying,“No one has the right to force Pakistani
artists working here, to condemn a terrorist attack.” Well, agreed they shouldn’t be
forced. But these are the same actors who never hesitate to condemn the Orlando
attack or the Paris attack on their twitter handle.
Going back to actor Fawad Khan from Pakistan, who straightway said,“We all Pakistanis
are together as a nation against India.”
Not only Fawad but Wasim Akram, Ali Jafar too gave similar statements. These people earn their livelihood here. And they pay 10 pc of their earnings as tax to Government
of Pakistan, and their Government uses the same money to fund terrorists like Hafiz
Sayyed. It is like we are indirectly digging our own graves.
Will sending Pakistani artists back and stopping cricket with their team end terror?
No, it won’t. But there is an emotion called solidarity. You cannot make films and play
cricket as if everything is fine, because it is not. It makes the soldier wonder aloud,
“Why should I alone bear the weight of conflict?”
Prabodh Naik, Amravati
Bharateeya
Sour Shak 1938
Shalivahan Shak 1938
Sour Ashwin 15th
Vikram Samvat 2072
TIME
k
TIDE
CENTRAL MEDIATION
W
ITH the
Suprem
e Court
asking
t h e
Central Government to
sort out the Cauvery
water dispute between
Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu, it is time the
Central Government
took serious interest in
resolving the long standing row between the two
states. Sharing of water
has become a contentious issue between
the two southern states
and despite numerous
mechanisms and court
interventions from time
to time solution eludes
the dispute. On the contrary each time the issue
of sharing the river water
crops up, much public
frenzy is aroused in both
states, the issue being
politically exploited and
often the dispute degenerating into mob violence with people from
both sides targeting each
other’s properties. A
strange spectacle was on
view when the Supreme
Court ordered the
Karnataka Government
to release water forTamil
Nadu; rallies and marches were organised in
Karnataka in protest
against the court’s order,
giving the Government
an excuse for not releasing the water. Therefore,
it is necessary for the
Centre to intervene to
end hostile stance.
RIO FLOP SHOW
G
OOD that
ace shooter
Abhinav
Bi n d ra - l ed
review committee has unsparingly
come down heavily on
Indian shooting contingent’sflop show at the Rio
Olympic Games. Apart
from the Olympic qualifiers, the committee has
also put the blame for the
unprecedented poor
show by Indian shooters
in the Olympic Games at
the doors of the Shooting
Federation and the
coaches as well. The
committee has quite justifiably concluded that
the Indian “chalta hai”
attitude dealt a big blow
to the performance of
the shooters. Shooting
was one of India’s biggest
medal prospects in the
Olympic Games. At least
that has been the position in the last Games
where, on the basis of
the performance of the
shooters, India’s medals
tally used to swell, apart
from the contribution of
wrestlers, weightlifters
and boxing etc. However,
From the Rio the Indian
shooting contingent
returned home emptied
handed. This was quite
unexpected and shocking.
The
Bindra
Committee has concluded that the Rio performance calls for a total
revamp so as to nurture
the booming talent pool.
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ATTENTION also by e-mail at: [email protected]; [email protected]. The editors may rephrase letters for clarity of thought and constraints of space.