What a year it’s been

The editorial in the latest issue of Organiser, titled “The Year That Was” says: “In more ways 2008 will be remembered for the changes that wrought on our lives. The global recession following the crisis in the capitalist world makes 2008 a historic year like the collapse of Soviet Union. The depth of recession afflicting world economy will take longer to evaluate. The world is not yet clear how deeply it will affect our lives and how long it will take for recovery. It is also not clear who will share the blame for the bust and who will finally present the ultimate rescue package. One thing is however clear. The American hegemony has suffered a debilitating blow. No longer can America lecture to the world how to manage their economy and democracy. The days of cowboy capitalism are over. America also made history by electing its first Black President… For India in the threshold of a great economic breakthrough it is a time for consolidation and recasting… It needs courage to break from outdated ideas. Every idea has its context. However, great an idea, without context it loses value.”

The editorial adds: “The year 2008 has left us gasping in angst. It saw inflation at its 13-year peak. Prices of essential commodities was highest ever in history. For the first time in a decade we faced scarcity for food and vegetables despite a bumper crop and bountiful monsoon…The country faced as many as a dozen major terror attacks. The Mumbai attack on November 26 stunned and stirred the entire world and brought India almost into a war with Pakistan. UPA for the first time in many years accepted the need for a special law to confront terror and passed a Bill in Parliament. The BJP made big gains in state elections in Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Congress had to wait almost till the end of the year for a major win in Rajasthan and Delhi. Manmohan and his economic whiz kids have no major achievement to show except that they squandered away all the positives inherited from the Vajpayee era. In that sense 2008 will be remembered as a wasted year. Welcome 2009.”

The Antulay lesson

In a story titled “UPA hypocrisy exposed by Antulay duplicity” Aditya Pradhan writes: “Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay’s statement that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare’s death has been caused by Hindu radical groups is not surprising… After all, Mr Antulay has only taken a leaf out of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s book on how to pander to minority communities.”

He adds: “In this whole episode post-26/11, the BJP should be credited for showing its true nationalist colour. Advani’s unconditional support to the government in its war on terrorism was a true reflection of the national mood… Antulay’s reaction in the Parliament is a classic case of how the war on terror is compromised in this country. Every earnest effort made by the security agencies has been questioned and investigated by the secular governments.”

Compiled by Suman K. Jha