Mahatma’s currency monopoly; GM Mustard blooms; Xi Jinping: A Pariah
Opinion Watch
Mahatma’s currency monopoly
Mahatma Gandhi by all accounts is India’s consensus undisputed top icon, and this is endorsed by the currency watermark portrait, which is a sign of trust and faith. The Reserve Bank of India in the past had toyed with the idea to bring a few more icons to give Mahatma the company, but allowed the thought to fade away after becoming aware that there are too many competing for a space on the currency notes.
The Economic Times has asked for avoiding the idea put forth by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that currency notes should also have the portraits of Lakshmi and Ganesh. The daily has noted that this could lead to ‘tu-tu, me-me’ discourse, which ends in fisticuffs in the country. The daily also noted that Mahatma Monopoly is good, as its keeps lobbying and counter-lobbying at bay.
While Kejriwal’s idea is principally because of the Gujarat Assembly elections where he wants to appeal to the Hindutva vote base, the Economic Times has struck a status quoist stance, for India has also a great number of icons who have inspired the country to think big and they should be celebrated. Deities on currency notes should be avoided also for the fact the move may hurt the religious sentiments, as people are in the habit of applying saliva on the currencies.
GM mustard blooms
Congress is risk-averse, and so had been ministers in the UPA government, for Jairam Ramesh, holding the Environment portfolio blocked the progress of the adoption of genetically modified mustard in 2009. The Narendra Modi government also fared no better, as its principal think tank, the Niti Aayog, without offering any rational explanation, issued a death warrant to GM Mustard.
But suddenly, GM Mustard has been given a clearance by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which may help commercial cultivation by 2023, with new seeds promising yields of 2.4 to three tonnes per hectare, which has been lauded by The Pioneer, The Indian Express and the Times of India, with all the dailies appealing to the Modi government not again yield to the pressure of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
The Indian Express dwelt on the success story of Bt. Cotton — India becoming the second largest exporter from being an importer; no adverse reports from the consumption of oil and seed cake by animals. The Noida-based daily argued that GM crops are being consumed for 20 years with adverse effect on human or environment, while underlining that India spends $19 billion annually for edible oil imports. The Times of India too stated that Indian are already consuming GM Soybean oil, sources from countries which have permitted the crops. The Pioneer too noted that the naysayers would have even blocked the Green Revolution.
Xi Jinping: A Pariah
Deccan Herald has argued that the humiliation of Hu Jintao by China’s President Xi Jinping was scripted to send out a clear message that he isn’t bothered about niceties. Xi will take the third term in March, 2023, while he has purged even the possible hints of dissents in the Chinese Communist Party, literally following the words of George Orwell, to lay an edifice of a totalitarian state, which could be a rogue nation.
The Bengaluru-based daily argued that Xi with the public humiliation of Hu demonstrated the final denunciation of the Hu era, which has been dismantled over the last 10 years. Hu gave China the fastest economic growth and friendly relations with all, helping technological scaling up. Xi is his opposite.
The daily has warned that the world should be wary of Xi. Indeed, Xi as a ruthless dictator amid sinking Chinse economy could have serious security implications, and the world must prepare fast to stop another episode of the Russian invasion of Ukraine anywhere.
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Good points on portraits on currency notes and political ange /biases.
– Gandhiji has been on our currency notes for years, so this seems logical to use Portraits of other personalities (contributed significantly to the country from different domains ) on currency note.
– GM Mustard clearance by GEAC may be a good move as it seems to have no adverse effect on human /animals.
– World’s worries for XI 3rd term and his approach /hunger for growth is a worry factor for all and specially for India. We need to be prepared for the challenge he would throw towards us, keeping in mind the notorious nabours.