UAE’s hearty gesture; pinchpenny behavior by centre
Any country cannot progress without the strong friendship and good relations with other nations. India has to always bear in mind the gesture of other countries that stretched a hand of friendship and strength when the nation was freed from British rule. If they hadn’t helped India, the country wouldn’t see such good growth today. Similarly, India has also helped other nations during times of their distress. Such exchanges of help and support are not a sign of weakness or inferiority. If the laws of the land do not permit us to accept the form of help, as a nation we need to express gratitude for the gesture by our friend-nation. It is our duty.
The devastating flooding the state of Kerala witnessed, has caught the attention of the world. Many nations have responded to this shocking deluge the tiny state has witnessed. UAE has taken a step further and offered financial help up to Rs 700 cr for Kerala. But UAE spokesperson said the proposal hasn’t been finalized yet. The Arabian nation is so serious in its offer that it has already set up a committee to identify genuinely deserving candidates who need help. And the country has even assured to work with Foreign Affairs ministry to reach the aid to people who need it the most.
Whether India could accept this help is a point apart. When this announcement was made, the least India could do is to express gratitude and thank the UAE for this. India and UAE have been strengthening their ties time and again through many MOUs and bilateral relationships. We should have assumed this aid by UAE was the continued efforts to improve bilateral ties and help each other as nations. But some small minded reasoning has come through even in this difficult time when politicians interpret the acceptance of this aid as an ‘insult’ to India.
The PM surveyed Kerala in person and witnessed the harm caused by the flash floods. Media has been covering this human tragedy round the clock. According to preliminary assessment, the estimated loss is at about Rs 20,000 cr. And this figure is equivalent to the budget of Kerala for 2018-19.
The money that was needed to take the state further, has to be invested to rebuild it from scratch. Central government’s response to Kerala tragedy was not as swift as it was to Gujarat and Uttarakhand. Initially centre gave Rs 100 cr and then added another Rs 500 cr as interim relief. In all, the funds stand at rs 600 cr. Just when Keralites were upset that centre wasn’t offering adequate help, UAE stretched out a helping hand and announced an aid of Rs 700 cr. As per sources, this was an official declaration. But since this announcement ran into rough weather, UAE said this was not an official announcement just to avoid further complications.
Central government has put forth its own reasons to refuse this aid. According to policies, financial aid from other countries cannot be accepted and this came into existence from almost 15 years ago. Foreign aid was refused even during Gujarat earthquake in 2001 and Tsunami in 2004. And even during this distressful occasion, the centre has decided to follow the same example. But to reject aid when a state is completely under water and needs all the help it can get to stand on its feet, is almost like placing it under suspension of progress. The issue here is that UAE aid exceeds the funds extended by the central government itself. This has caused an embarrassing situation. Not only UAE, the country has also refused aid from other nations on this occasion.
The Modi fans are terming this as ‘self-respect’ and other terms. But there is something we need to understand. If a country can raise loan from Japan for a bullet train that’s a luxury serving only a certain section of people, why not during times like this? Fine, let’s say this is a step towards self-reliance. In such case, let’s for a moment understand foreign aid is not needed. But then what stops the government from diverting thousands of crores ear marked for creation of mega monuments like Vallabhbhai Patel and Shivaji Park etc. Let them prove that people matter more than the monuments. The country will welcome this move.
On one hand, organisations like RSS etc are accepting donations from abroad to strengthen their base, the government is keeping mum on this. On another hand, when the whole of Kerala is struggling to stand on its feet after such a massive loss, the government suddenly remembers all the policies that refuse such aid. Moreover, UAE did not offer that aid out of thin air. The nation remembers the contribution Keralites have made towards their nation building and economy. Hence, as a mark of gratitude, UAE offered this help. This would have helped strengthen the ties between two countries. But with refusing this, the central government has proved its narrow minded thinking before the whole wide world.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
