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Editorial

Bread and Budget THERE are certainly some bright spots in the third budget presented by the Congress lead United Progressive Alliance on February 28. Railway budget had presented a rosy picture after many years. Growth rate now is pegged at 8.1 per cent. Financial prudence is working as government borrowing to meet the budgetary deficits is placed at 3.8 per cent from 4.1 per cent of gross domestic product.

Comment

How Not to Fight Terrorism Terrorism or whatever name one might give it is a scourge for any civilized society. While political steps and measures to end disparities and exploitation have an important role to play, the state cannot and should not shirk its responsibility to fight this menace and protect people. Former Nagaland Governor, O.P.Sharma was intelligence chief and later headed the Punjab police during its crucial phase of fight against terrorism  argues for an appraisal of our thinking and approach to this serious  national problem. "The enemy has a well-conceived strategy. We never had an effective counter-strategy. If one were to list out the attitude and approach at governmental levels, it would read like a manual on How not to Fight Terrorism.”

Analysis

World Trade Organisation: Where should the Poor go? Gobind Thukral IT was indeed an illusion to which the trade ministers from the developing countries fell when they agreed at the World Trade Organisation [WTO] in Hong Kong in December last that the poor, particularly the farmers would benefit. Now as America and the European Union press hard for a final agreement, developing countries are feeling the hard pinch.

Balochistan Threatens to Tear Apart Pakistan Jyotika J. Thukral AFTER a troubled peace for some 30 years, Balochistan is once again in the throes of a full-fledged insurgency. Yet the reality has failed to find space in Pakistan’s mainstream political discourse?  The violent and bloody crescendo has failed to get an adequate response from Pakistani establishment.

Mirage of Nuclear Power Gobind Thukral INDIA and America are strategic partners not only in nuclear technology, but also in the spread of democracy all across the world. The omniscient President of the most powerful country has been kind to half embrace the Prime Minister of the largest democracy and the most ancient civilization.  As one mainline English newspaper in a bold banner headline shouted, it was a meeting of civilizations.

Focus

Canada Supreme Court Rules in favour of Kirpan Gurpreet Singh writes from Vancouver THE Supreme Court of Canada has allowed a Sikh student to carry Kirpan (dagger) prompting other minority groups to seek similar rights for their children. The orthodox Muslims are now asking that their girls be allowed to wear hijabs (headscarves) in schools. They are also asking the Quebec Universities to set aside separate prayer rooms for their wards.

Imperial Hegemony and Corporates Threaten Internet Whether it’s a job opportunity you are looking for or an ideal life partner or even availability of tickets to travel or surfing for a nice resort to plan your holiday. Things have never been so easy and merely a click away until the advent of the internet. And over the years the dependence on this medium has grown exponentially. So much so that it has become a critical communications tool for millions of consumers offering them easy access to information, low cost services and innovative products. Assistant Editor Jyotika J. Thukral urges for an independent and free Internet of healthy communication.

Indian Born Controversial Diplomat Recalled Gurpreet Singh reports from Vancouver THERE seems to be no end to the troubles of Bhupinder Singh Liddar. Currently serving as Canadian diplomat in Nairobi, Liddar is now facing the axe of the new Conservative government. The Conservatives have asked five Canadian diplomats including Liddar to give up their positions and come back home.

Major setback to the Indo Canadian Gangs Gurpreet Singh reports from Vancouver THE conviction of Jethinder Singh Narwal, a Sikh boy involved into criminal activities has brought a sense of victory to the police, which have been grappling with the Indo Canadian gang violence for sometime. His conviction is being seen as a major setback to the Indo Canadian gangs, which have been active in BC for the past one-decade.

Law and Justice

Criminal Law Reforms: Will the Government Wake up Joginder Singh Toor Everybody shivered to the spine to hear that all the nine accused in Jessica Lal murder case are acquitted despite prosecution having furnished a list of 100 witnesses. The already dwindling faith in justice delivery system is shaken. A sense of insecurity prevails. A process of rethinking starts.

Features

Where do the Rich Hide their Illicit Cash? Gobind Thukral Remember the suitcases of Harshad Mehta, our former minister Sukh Ram or Telgi and others of their ilk. Small states like Punjab is slush with black money. There are published or not so published stories about the corrupt or the neo rich whose premises when raided only currency notes tumble down like the reeking of a poor man’s hut during rains.

Pesticide Lobby Attempts to Shut Public Opinion THE Pesticide Industry has now gone on an all out war cry, not against the Pests, as is their mandate but against public science.  The growing concern for health and the ensuing public opinion against the use of chemicals to fight pests has frightened the industry. It has gone into over drive to attack civil right groups, public health experts and even farmers, whom the pesticide industry has seemingly been serving for more than half a century!  Umendra Dutt Executive Director of Kheti Virasat Mission warns about the impending battle between the industry and the public health institutions.

Newsbag

Sikh Drivers Refuse Montreal Port’s Order to Wear Hard Hats A dispute has sprung up at Montreal Port between managers who want all truck drivers to wear hard hats and Sikhs who assert that their religion doesn't let them remove their turbans. Since the summer of 2005, managers at the Port of Montreal have been enforcing a rule requiring employees to wear safety gear, including hard hats.

Canada treats it Women as Bad as India does WOMEN are losing the battle of the sexes in terms of earning power, despite being better educated than ever and more literate than men in Canada. The report by Statistics Canada paints a sometimes grim picture of the lives of Canadian women, an increasingly educated group that it says experiences higher rates of poverty and disability and lower rates of pay than its male counterpart.

Day Care suffers Setback in Ontario ESSEX County council is asking Windsor to go slow with its plans for hundreds of new child care spaces in the region. The Conservative government has said it will tear up agreements made by the former Liberal government to spend billions for long-term day care funding, preferring to give a $1,200 annual credit to parents.

Racism and Pollution Issues for the Voters Racism, roadways and the state of the province's natural environment are some of the issues on the minds of Saskatchewan residents. According to a national poll conducted for CanWest by Ipsos-Reid that asked broad questions about respondents' communities, found 21 per cent of people polled in a region comprising of Saskatchewan and Manitoba agreed with the statement: "Racial and ethnic intolerance is a serious problem in the community."

Harper’s Relations with Media Sour Prime Minister Stephen Harper's relationship with the national news media is heading downhill - or at least downstairs. The parliamentary press corps heckled the new Conservative prime minister last fortnight after instituting a new policy designed to restrict access to the leader and his executive following weekly cabinet meetings.

Shortage of Skilled People hits Mining in Canada Michael McPhie, president of the British Columbia Mining Association has warned the industry that unless something can be done to solve the growing labour shortage, companies would find themselves unable to reap the full benefit of what is widely regarded as the biggest boom in the industry in three decades.

Alberta to Invest in Foreign Doctors Alberta will invest $3 million to increase the number of residency seats for foreign-trained doctors to 42 from 28, beginning this year. The two-year residency seats are for physicians trained outside Canada but not yet licensed in Alberta. The new funding will increase the number of seats by 14.

Art & Films

Progressive Films add Meaning Jyotika J. Thukral SINGING and dancing around trees, victory of good over evil, and they lived happily ever after, costume drama, violence, romance …emotions galore. These more or less sum up Bollywood, as we have known it for decades. Until recently when things began to change as the needs of the cinegoers changed. These cinema buffs were looking for something novel and more meaningful and not movies, which were predictable to the climax.

Poetry

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