Friday, December 07, 2007

Maoists are battling on behalf of private property owners

INI About Why Pragati? Subscribe Ironies on the road Date: Monday, December 03, 2007 Time: 9:22 pm Category: Perspective Discussion: 0 Comments Raj Cherubal
Ironically, while Liberals, the only people who have the principled right to protest Nandigram or similar land grabs are no where to be seen (except in some rarefied newspaper columns) it is the Maoists who are battling on behalf of private property owners against abuse of eminent domain by fellow Communists. Orwell must be grinning in his grave!
One can sense the Liberal’s dilemma and glee coexisting within the same skull. While it is fun to watch Communists squirm, it is difficult to criticise a business friendly, reformist Communist chief minister. Here’s the rub: chief ministers come and go, parties come and go and being pro-capitalist is not necessarily being pro-capitalism. Liberals would do well to stick to their principles.
The time is fast approaching when pro-poor activists have to reconsider their socialist leanings. Take abolition of private property rights. This is usually done in the name of the poor and as a way of redistributing “ill-gotten” wealth of the propertied class. But bizarre as it may sound, it is the poor who need property rights protected by rule of law, and not the rich. De facto, all over the world, the rich and the powerful already enjoy these privileges and defend them with might. More on Raj Cherubal’s blog» This is an excerpt. Download the issue to read the entire article « The killing fields of Bengal
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India imports about 70 percent of its current oil needs. It can barely afford that, to say nothing of what it will be like when oil prices continue to hit higher peaks and its needs increase in pace with its growing economy. It lacks nuclear fuels, and has to debase itself begging to be given access to them.
India cannot continue to ignore reality: its continued economic growth and development is predicated on it developing the technology to exploit solar energy, and base its industrial, transportation, commercial, and household energy needs to be met through the derived electrical energy. Every bit of modern technology India uses has been developed elsewhere. It would be a welcome change if it developed the technology that would be its lifeblood. Developing technology is a matter of will, vision, and sometimes dire necessity. The Manhattan project and manned missions to the moon are examples of what can be achieved within a short time if the will exists.
India cannot afford not to develop solar energy technology for a number of reasons. More on Atanu Dey’s blog» This is an excerpt. Download the issue to read the entire article December 03, 2007 Editor (0)

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