Kerala floods, a man-made disaster

In late July 2018, severe flooding affected Kerala due to unusually high rainfall during the monsoon season. Kerala's worst floods in nearly a century affected all 14 districts placed on high alert. Report as on 21 Aug 2018 ... No. of Villages Affected:776 | Population Affected:54,11,712 | Lives lost: 373 | Missing: 32 | Evacuated:2,80,679 (7,500 in last 24 Hrs) | Relief Camps:5,645 | Inmates in Relief Camps: 12,47,496. The flooding has affected hundreds of villages, destroyed about 10,000 km of roads and thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed. The total loss is estimated at about ₹20,000 crores.

• The rainfall on Aug 8, 2018 was 310 mm. Kerala has 41 rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea, and 80 of its dams are now said to be open after being overwhelmed.
• The overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened after a gap of 26 years. For the first time in history all five overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened. For the first time in the state's history, 35 of its 42 dams have been opened, flooding local low-lying areas.
• Around 42 teams from the Indian Army and the Navy, along with over 20 helicopters and hundreds of boats, were involved in rescue operations across the state. The Coast Guard is working in 28 locations and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 39 teams so far. The NDRF has rescued over 4,000 people, while the Navy has rescued 550. 
• As all the districts in the state have been affected by flood, there have been demands to declare it a "national calamity" but the centre has declared the floods a “calamity of severe nature.”
• Heavy rains have caused severe landslides and have left the hilly districts isolated. Between June 1, 2018 and August 17, 2018, Kerala received 2226 mm rain fall against normal of 1620 mm i.e. 41% excess.
• Kerala state government has sought a special package of ₹2,600 crore for relief and rehabilitation. While HM Rajnath Singh has announced immediate relief of ₹100 crores during his aerial survey, PM Modi in his aerial survey has announced additional ₹500 crores. Very meager by any standards.

  

• UAE, where thousands of expatriates from Kerala work, has promised assistance to ₹700 crore, which is rejected by centre citing UPA policy of 2004. The Thailand’s offer of assistance and aid was also rejected. This international disaster relief policy is only limited to foreign governments with conditional aids. Since 2004, India has refused relief aid from Russia, United States and Japan for disasters across Uttarakhand and Kashmir.
• On August 15, Cochin International Airport, India's fourth busiest airport suspended all operations until 26 August, following runway flooding.
• Over 80% of the state has been cut off from power supply. Schools in all 14 districts of Kerala have been closed and some districts have banned tourists, citing safety concerns.
• More than 300 boats are also involved in rescue operations.
• Life and general insurance companies expect deluge of claims of about ₹500 crores, it is less than 3% of the total loss.
• Insurers are also expect big claim for Kochi airport, which has an insurance cover of ₹2,500 crore. (Claims from the 2015 Chennai floods were over ₹5,000 crore, followed by the Mumbai floods of 2005 over ₹4,000 crore and the J&K and Uttarakhand floods, at about ₹2,000 crore each).
• The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Committee, headed by Madhav Gadgil, had suggested that 140,000 kilometres of the Western Ghats be classified in three zones and recommended strong restrictions on mining, quarrying, use of land for non forest purposes, construction of high rises etc. The report submitted in 2011 was rejected by the Kerala government and none of its recommendations were adopted. Madhav Gadgil says that the recent floods and landslides in Kerala was a "man-made calamity" and irresponsible environmental policy is to be blamed for. 
• There were allegations that the shutters of 34 dams were opened in one go. The unplanned opening of sluice gates of the several dams caused most submergence. CM Vijayan stated that Idamalayar and Idukki dams were opened after proper inspection and deliberation with officials. Vijayan said “Nobody could’ve foreseen this but still warnings were given and evacuations were done, but torrential rains were beyond any control."
• Kesari, a weekly affiliated with RSS published an editorial on its website criticising the central government appeared to be acting vengefully towards Kerala and was not responding with the political decency shown by Vijayan. Later it was taken off claiming its website was hacked.
• Kerala's flood relief fund drive is getting overwhelming response from all kind hearts across the world and donations have crossed ₹309 Crore on Aug 22, 2018.
• As people left camps, many found mud and slush up to six feet level in front of their houses. All possessions have been lost, and people have to start afresh in obtaining their books, certificates, Aadhaar card, ration card etc. More important is the drinking water, electricity supply, managing contagious diseases etc.

There is no question that Kerala floods was a man-made disaster and is a result of ecological destruction and lack of protocols and weather forecasting algorithms to manage this type of calamities. While its occurrence could not have been avoided, its impact on life & properties could have been contained. Modi government rejecting unconditional cash aid of ₹700 crores from UAE & significant aid from Thailand willingness and granting meager amounts for relief operations has sent a very wrong message to the people of opposition ruled states. Modi has violated most of the UPA policies and why he preferred to follow this particular policy remains unexplained. For Visakhapatnam 2014 Hudhud cyclone damages, Modi announced ₹1000 crores aid but paid only ₹750 crores. During 2017 Bihar floods, against a request for ₹7,600 crore, the Centre had given ₹1700 crore, including the ₹500 crore initial relief given to the state. Keeping aside Centre-State politics, the government should gracefully accept the assistance for Kerala and junk the 2004 policy or precedent.

Nitin Gadkari speaks out

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, Mr.Nitin Gadkari, talks about a wide range of issues from the state of the economy to the mood of the nation, the Kashmir crisis, the prime minister’s role in the cabinet, the much-anticipated 2019 elections, and his chances at being prime minister.

• Looking back at the BJP’s ‘acche din’ pitch before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Gadkari said that what was considered “good times” may vary from person to person. The expectation of people is always increasing.
• When asked about the general impression that the PM Modi dominating the Cabinet, Gadkari labelled them rumours, with “no proof, relevance or ground realities.” PM Modi allows everyone to speak. Modi has courage. He listens to everyone. 
• On his government achieving almost the same or less than the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh, Gadkari pointed to a few parameters on which India could perform better. He added that the expectation from his government in terms of industrial sector was more. 
• PM Modi promised the creation of 10 million jobs every year, before he assumed office. However, over the last four years, the hunger for jobs has only increased. While some government bodies like the NITI Aayog claim that jobs have been created, pink papers say otherwise. Gadkari stressed that job creation was important for his government, he also said that the growing population increased the demand for jobs.
• When asked if he will accept that Kashmir was one of the BJP government’s most worrying problems, Gadkari said that their fight was against the Pakistanis and not Kashmiris. It is a proxy war with Pakistan. I am not making Kashmiris responsible for that. It is the import of terrorism, terrorists and terrorist organisations that are constantly creating problems. And it is a fight with Pakistan, not with Kashmiris.
• When asked why the PM did not speak out in support of Sushma Swaraj, or when Gauri Lankesh was murdered, Gadkari backed Modi, saying that he did not want to “play politics.” Home Minister Rajnath Singh supports Sushma ji. Ex-president Nitin Gadkari supports Sushma Swaraj. The Prime Minister is equally in support of Sushma Ji. When we speak we are representatives of the Prime Minister.
• When asked about the possibility of Gadkari himself becoming the prime ministerial candidate if the BJP does not get a majority, as he is “more acceptable to the allies”, Gadkari said: I have got way more than I deserved. I do not belong to any race. I follow the party’s ideology. I am happy as a minister. I do not wish to be a candidate. I am fully confident that BJP will get majority. Narendra Modi will be prime minister. 

Read the source article

As things stand today, only mismanagement by opposition parties could make NDA win 2019 general elections. As such BJP's defeat is a foregone conclusion, but there is a meek possibility of NDA winning with BJP falling short of majority which may cause embarrassment to Modi in holding the seat of PM. In order to ensure continued support of NDA allies, Modi stepping down and Nitin Gadkari becoming PM is also widely debated as a possibility. The simple reason is that his ministry is the best performing ministry in NDA government consistently.

Rohingyas deportation: How?

• Rohingyas are disowned by Myanmar. They were not even listed in the 135 ethnic groups.
• In his recent visit on Sept 5, 2017, Modi expressed concern over “extremist violence” in Rakhine, but didn’t mention the alleged persecution of the minority Rohingya Muslim community, which the United Nations says could turn into a humanitarian catastrophe.
• Modi and Suu Kyi's joint statement talks about range of issues and back patting each other but conspicously silent of Rohingyas persecution and fleeing away from Myanmar.
• Aung San Suu Kyi's strategic silence on Rohingyas persecution matters indicate that she has no control over Military and majority Buddhist population is anti-Rohingyas. 
• There is very little chance of Myanmar accepting Rohingyas back into Myanmar and in the absence of any citizenship of Rohingyas, deporting them back to Myanmar wouldn't be easy and is impossible in near future.
• While Rohingyas revolt groups in Myanmar do have links with Al-Qaeda and ISIS etc, there is no evidence of any link between Rohingya Muslim refugees in India numbering about 40,000. No case was registered on Rohingyas living in India so far.
• In the past India had opened its doors to Tibetan refugees, Hindus migrating from Muslim-dominated Pakistan, and Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka during armed conflict between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil separatists. But all those are Hindus but Rohingyas are Muslims.
• This deportation statement of Rajnath Singh only indicates their (BJP) antipathy towards Muslims.

Humanitarian action should be about saving lives and alleviating suffering 

and must be placed above politics and political interests.

If only UNO steps in to solve the Myanmar crisis, Rohingyas  will be able to return to their homes in Myanmar. But no one in the world seems to be interested in Rohingyas. Bangladesh and India are worried about managing over half million refugees in Bangladesh and about 40,000 in India. For Rohingya refugees they may have to live with the problem indefinitely. Modi by declaring Rohingyas as 'terrorists', just because they are Muslims and without any evidence as a sufficient reason for deciding to deport them, has not only abdicated from his moral duty of providing shelter to refugees and taking care of them but also supported inhuman acts of state sponsored genocide in Myanmar has instantly shot in his foot degrading India as a nation. Unfit to be leader of this great country.

BJP - Dera Baba rape conviction - Haryana Mayhem

• Large-scale violence has struck Haryana for the third time in three years ever since ML Khattar was sworn in as chief minister on Oct 26, 2014. 
• Massive violence followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Fri Aug 25, 2017 by a special CBI court, holding the Dera Sacha Sauda leader guilty of rape. In about 300 incidents across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi 31 people died and 250 have been injured after the court verdict.
• There were intelligence reports too fearing violence. But the Khattar government did not take adequate measures to ensure that violence did not erupt. The state government should not have allowed Baba Ram Rahim to travel from Sirsa to Panchkula as a hero in a convoy of 700 cars. It could have restricted to 5/6 cars. 
  BJP and its leaders were Ram Rahim's bhakts and won elections with his help.
• Khattar defendng himself saying that the Haryana government had made complete arrangements but "the mob was really huge" as people entered the state on foot several days ahead is only a cosmic theory and rubbish. He only appealed to people on TV to remain clam and quiet. Ditto by PM & HM from Delhi. This is no way of maintaining law & order.
  Security forces were doing nothing when mob rampage is going on, as seen on TV.
• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh defending "State governments did take precautions. You can't blame them" and expressing inability to avoid congregation of Dera supporters in Panchkula saying “In a democracy, how can you stop movement of people all together” is totally irresponsible.
  He should quit if he can't do his job properly.
• BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj today stroked controversy when he openly came out in defence of controversial godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh even after he was convicted by a special CBI court in a rape case. He said the court has listened to the complainant and not millions of devotees who consider him god. His remarks came after 31 people were killed in violence in Haryana after a CBI court convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
  BJP leadership is unhappy with his surrealist remarks.
• Sakshi Maharaj also said Dera supporters shouldn't be held responsible for mayhem damage. 
  Then who is responsible?
• BJP leader Subramanian Swamy tweeted "A new threat to Sadhus. Politicians and ashramites wanting to grab Ashram wealth by sending the Swamijis to jail. Sadhus must groom successors."
  What a cosmic theory?
• Controversies of Dera Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh includes death of child controversy, rape of sadhvis, murder of journalist, charges of blasphemy, posession of illegal weapons etc.
• He is one of the 36 people in the country who enjoys the VVIP Status and Z+ security cover due to threats from Punjab militants since 2008. This is because he is well-known for wielding influence amongst politicians in Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Chief Ministers of these states even bow before him in respect.
  He was a criminal facing trial since 2007 and with Z+ security! 
• Punjab and Haryana High Court castigated ML Khattar led BJP government, saying “This was a political surrender to allure vote bank. CM is the Home Minister. Why has he allowed people to assemble for seven days. CM is protecting them.” 
  Punjab & Haryana Courts have inspired public confidence in judiciary.
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that all losses caused to property be recovered from Dera Sacha Sauda. The state was also directed to issue orders to the Dera not to alienate any of its properties till further directions of the court.
• The Haryana government said it will compensate for the losses of media personnel and the properties of others.
  Why & how, with whose authorization? 
• BJP chief Amit Shah has categorically said that Khattar will neither be replaced nor even called to explain only indicates several BJP leaders heads will roll for involvement with Dera Baba, if Khattar is not saved.
  If 30 lives are not enough to consider easing out Khattar, then how many more are needed?

Punjab & Haryana High Court full bench admonishing
Haryana government and passing nasty remarks on Modi

In days ahead, several more scandals involving Dera Baba and political personalities will surface and government and its agencies will work hard to save the culprits against public interest. The way convicted Bajrang Dal leaders got bail on health grounds as soon as Modi became PM, Dera Baba coming out of jail soon will surprise none.

Modi's stoic silence on this burning issue is quite surprising. Khattar, a first-time MLA, was chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah to lead the party government in Haryana. Khattar is a RSS Pracharak and BJP replacing him is out of question. BJP's shameless people don't resign for their failures but will justify their inefficiency & inaction and stick to seat. Suresh Prabhu & Nitish Kumar are not a BJP/RSS men. BJP is showing themselves as a glorified Mutt. Modi & BJP have mastered the art of campaigning failures as successes and bombard in high pitch ad-campaigns and make gullible people believe it. But what they don't know is that honesty is the best policy and truth eventually trumps. An ardent admirer of Modi is so much disappointed and remarked that - "Modi is just wearing a development mask but supports medieval thoughts and BJP is losing credibility very fast. This might be the beginning of the end of BJP. This arrogance is just unacceptable. May God show someone fresh and good to lead India." Dera Sacha Sauda must be liquidated all its properties auctioned off, victims fully compensated and all damages paid off.