An Era of Change in the US

Obama is President
Democrat Barack Hussein Obarna, the United States Senator from Illinois,is the new occupant of the White House - the first Afro-American to become US President. He beat Republican John McCain, 72, on Nov. 4.Obama, born on Aug. I 4, 1 961, is the first African­American to be nominated . by a major American politi- cal party for president. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he became the first black person to serve as president of the Harvard Law Review, Obarna worked as a community organizer and practised as a civil rights attorney be­fore serving three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. Following an unsuc­cessful bid for a seat in the U.S House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for the U.S. Sen­ate in January 2003. He was elected to the Senate in No­vember 2004 with 70 percent of the vote. Obama announced his presidential campaign in Feb. 2007 and was formally nomi­nated at the 2008 Democratic National Convention with Delaware senator Joe Bigen as his running mate.
The Bradley effect didn't work out at the epochal election. Obama appears to have transcended racial barriers. A new era of Democratic dominance opens up. As history'S most costly cam­paign ended, the entire world waited with excitement to see a transforma­tion in US foreign policy.

R Venkataraman passes away

Whichever way one looks at it, Ramaswami Venkataraman rates among the better presidents that the country has had. His death recently at the age of 98 marks a break with the past. The values that he imbibed during the Gandhi-Nehru era remained with him all his life and he was acknowledged as a stickler for rules. He had been associated in various capacities with ail the country's prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh. But by the time he became the country's eighth president in 1987, there had been considerable erosion in values in public life. The coalition era had also dawned, which he personally disproved of. But it goes to his credit that he gave sage advice to all the prime ministers - Rajiv Gandhi, VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar and PV Narasimha Rao. To that extent he was a copybook President.
During his stint from 1987 to 1992 that coincided with period of political instability that saw him work with four prime ministers, Venkataraman drew upon his deep knowledge of the Constitution and parliamentary procedures and precedents. Not given to presidential overreach, he was a stickler for rules, avoided needless controversies, and gave the presidency a quiet dignity and stateliness. At no time did he stretch the limits of presidential discretion, always taking care not to entertain appeals over the head of the political government.
Indeed, Venkataraman, who saw the British monarch as the model for the Indian president, argued that it was safer to go by the British precedent of accepting the recommendation of the prime minister on dissolution of the House rather than rely on erudite and eminent textbook writers. In 1989, when the general election threw up a hung Lok Sabha, Venkataraman decided to give the first opportunity to form a government to the leader of the single largest party, rather than take up the exercise of assessing the strength of any post­election combination of parties. Again, a rule that would minimise the role of presidential discretion applied.
But the pulls and pressures of coalition politics were taking their toll on the country, and as a remedy he floated the idea of a national government. Since it did not suit the conflicting ambitions of some politicians, it could never get off the ground. During his presidential years, which he later recounted in a book of that name, he had to bring all his administrative acumen and sense offair play into operation while deciding on a tricky situation created by the Sri Lankan crisis, the Bofors gun deal, the assassination ofRajiv Gandhi, the stocks scam, and the Defamation Bill.
He had left his mark on the national scene earlier also, be it in his capacity as the vice-president or while holding important portfolios such as industry, finance and defence. He also had a major role to play in the industrialisation of Tamil Nadu. It is this efficiency which brought him to Delhi and he made his mark as Planning Commission member and president of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. A lawyer by profession, he was an excellent speaker and impressed everyone during his three Lok Sabha terms. Even after demitting office he remained actively associated with various music associations and the institutions of Shankaracharyas. The regulated life that he led helped him remain active right till the ripe age of 98.

Release of Abdul Qadeer Khan in Pakistan

The release of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest has triggered concern in the international community. Hailed in Pakistan as the father of its nuclear programme, Khan was the kingpin in an international nuclear proliferation racket that saw nuclear weapon technology being transferred to Libya, Iran and North Korea. Khan was put under house arrest in 2004. But with a secret agreement reached between Khan and the Pakistani government, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan a tree citizen in Feb. Details of the agreement remain under wraps. His release has evoked concern abroad that he will misuse his freedom to resume his nuclear proliferation activities and reactivate the old proliferation network.
The court order has led to interesting comments by the media, unlike what the government in Islamabad might have expected. Some of the English language dailies have expressed the view that the Pakistan government has only added to its problems by reaching a secret agreement with the irresponsible nuclear scientist. But the government is believed to have taken the step as part of a political gameplan. A~ Daily Times points out, "One can say that today two deposed personalities, Dr Khan and Chief Justice Ifrikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, ride the crest of public acclaim; and the government may have 'freed' Dr Khan to reduce the pressure Justice Chaudhry may bring on it with his Long March."
By releasing Khan, Pakistan has indicated yet again its contempt for the international community's concerns over global security. But this is not an isolated act of defiance by the Pakistani government. Despite international concern over religious extremism and terrorist activity emanating in Pakistan, its government is allowing them to operate openly again. It is likely that the release of Khan, is a fallout of the ongoing power struggle between Pakistan's civilian governmem and the military. Khan was no doubt a key player in the nuclear proliferation network but he carried out his activities with the full knowledge of the military.
Besides, there were hundreds of individuals and entities in Pakistan and abroad who knew of the trade and participated in it. Khan and a few others took the rap while the others got away. Is Khan's release a move by the civilian government to embarrass the military and score points with the Pakistani public, even as it seeks to put pressure on the US and others?
Successive administrations in Washington did look the other way while Pakistan proliferated nuclear technology. The US' concern with Khan's release could have more to do with the possibilityof the scientist revealing its role in his proliferation activities rather than with the threat his release poses to global security, Pakistan could be using the release of Khan to pressure the US at a time when Pakistan-US relations have nosedived. But things might not work according to Islamabad's gameplan. Khan could reveal the role of successive civilian governments in the proliferation racket, including that of former prime minster Benazir Bhutto. And that could sting the civilian government badly.

India- European Union Summit Concludes

The ninth India- European Union Summit concluded on September 29, 2008 in Marseille, France, with the European Union (EU) welcoming India’s emergence out of the nuclear denial regime.
The summit re-affirmed the strategic partnership , based on “shared value of democracy and human rights, fundamental freedoms (including religious), pluralism, rule of law and multilateralism”.
The European side was represented by French President. Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy (France now holds rotating presidency of the European Union) , European Commisshon Preshdent Mr. Jore M`nuel Barrosn, French Foreign Ministdr Mr. Bernard Kouchner and others . The Indian delegation included, besides the Prime Minister, Union Commerce Minister Mr. Kamal Nath and National Security Adviser Mr. M.K. Narayanan.
Mr. Sarkozy , at the end of the summit, said, “ How can we talk of the problem of climate change and yet deny India access to nuclear energy, the cleanest form of energy? We trust India, and we trust the Prime Minister”. Dr. Singh declared himself “extremely satisfied” with the talks.
The joint press communiqués issued after the India- EU meeting stressed the growing convergence between the two sides on Iran. “They expressed their concern over the Indian nuclear issue and called upon Iran to take steps to re-establish confidence in the nature of nuclear programme, as required by the IAEA Board of Governors:, the communiqué said.
The India –EU joint communiqué also touched upon the issue of cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy, saying the two sides “noted that joint cnoperatinn in thd fr`mewnrk nf the Internatinnal Thermonuclear Experimental Reactors remains a priority”.
In their review of the regional and international issues, the leaders were in agreement on the need to work towards “national reconciliation” in Myanmar and urged “an inclusive dialogue” with the dissident leaders like Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. The French President termed the Myanmar army leadership’s attitude “intolerant” but stopped short of advising India on what to do .
In the summit, Both sides- India and the European Union – also reached an agreement on combating terrorism . The two sides were in favour of an early conclusion of the “Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations”.

Cabinet Approves Higher Ceiling For Creamy Layer

The Union Government , on October 3, 2008, approved raising the income criterion for the “Creamy layer” among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from Rs. 2.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh a year. The decision was taken at a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The higher ceiling for “Creamy layer” will help in bringing more people under the reservation category. In fact, it will also help students seeking admission under the Central Educational Institutions Act, 2006 which provides!27 percent reservation for the OBCs. However , the decision will not impact admissions in the current academic year as the Supreme Court has already said vacant OBC seats are to be filled by general category students Hence, it will benefit those applying under quota in 2009.
The proposal had been mooted by the Ministsy of Social Justice and Empowerment on the recommendatinns nf the N`tional Bommhssinn fnr B`ckw`rd Blasres. It vas discussed at an inter-governmental level, involving the Ministries of Tribal Affairs, Home, Law , the Departments of Personnel and Training, and Human Resource Development , besides Social Justice and Empowerment.
The National Commission for Backward Classes submitted its report on July 1, 2008. It took into account the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission besides the all- India Consumer Prices Index , price rise, inflation rate, the monthly per capita expenditure of the OBCs , their economic conditions , and per capita national product before arriving at the new ceiling .
Moreover ,most of the States had demanded that the new ceiling be fixed between Rs. 4 lakh and 6 lakh . However some States like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh had demanded much higher ceilings .Karnataka sought the ceiling of Rs. 25 lakh while Madhya’ Pradesh , of Rs. 10 lakh.
The annual income ceiling for OBC reservation was fixed at Rs. 1 lakh first in 1993 and it was increased to Rs. 2.5 lakh in 2004. Now , it has been raised to Rs. 4.5 lakh.

Smoking Ban Across Indian Comes Into Force

The notification issued on May 30, 2008 by the Union Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss , for the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 came into force on Gandhi Jayanti i.e. October 2, 2008. Smoking is banned at public place all over the country. Any violation of the ban is a punishable offence with a fine up to Rs. 200.Union Health Minister Dr. Ramadoss welcomed the Supreme Court order declining to stay the Centre’s notification prohibiting smoking . The Supreme Court , on September 29, 2008. had refused to stay ban on smoking in public places. A Bench consisting of Justice B. Agrawal and Justice G.S. Singhvi rejected the contention that enforcement of the notification would result in inspector raj and needless harassment , thus paving the way for implementation of the Centre’s notification dated May 30, 2008.Dr Ramadoss described the ban as a major step towards providing a smoke-free atmosphere and protecting non- smokers from passive smoking . He said he had personally written to Governors. Chief Ministers , Health Ministers and Members of Parliament to ensure effective implementation of the ban. According to him , Delhi , Jharkhand and Chandigarh are some States which have already begun implementing the ban. In case of Maharashtra and Bihar which expressed their inability to impose it, he said all effortr , hncltdinf litigation , would be lade to presrurise the States to implement the prohibition . Massive publicity and awareness campaigns would also be launched .Smoking will be prohibited at all places to which the public has access, including auditoriums, health institutions, government buildings , stadiums, workplace , shopping malls , restaurants, etc. However in case of large hotels and restaurants having more than 30 rooms or 30 seats , and airports, a provision for a separate smoking area is made . Further , the States might create a separate head of account in which the fine could be deposited . The department could use the money for tobacco control activities.