Tea with The Tribune
‘Govt cannot provide jobs to all’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Devender Singh Rana, political adviser to the Chief Minister, shares his thoughts on various issues confronting the terror-hit state
Devender Singh Rana, political adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, did not rise to this post overnight. Behind it were years of labour and ups and downs. He was the first person in his family to adopt a political career.
Members of The Tribune team and school students in conversation with Devender Singh Rana at Jammu. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
A graduate in engineering, he took a profession in 1987 that was considered lowly at that time. He opened a Maruti service station and washed a car himself to have a feel of the job.
The Tribune team talked with him on various issues and phases of his professional and personal life over a cup of tea.
Two students of class XI from Saint Mary’s Presentation Convent School also asked him a number of questions confronting the youngsters in particular and the state in general.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh: You have largely risen on your own in the political and business circles. What is your success mantra?
Devender Singh Rana (DSR): I have learnt three lessons in life and I follow those. They are: If you want to run towards your goal, then just run; if you don’t run, others will run and they will run better than you; if you stop running, others will run over you. This is my life’s motto.
Devender Singh Rana caught in different moods in conversation with The Tribune in Jammu
Devender Singh Rana caught in different moods in conversation with The Tribune in Jammu. A Tribune photograph
I did my civil engineering in 1986 and on July 22, 1987, I opened a Maruti service station, but at that time it was not considered a good profession, I even used to wash cars myself. I used to work 19-20 hours a day. Later, I opened a restaurant but it was quite a failure.
JJS: Any regrets like missing quality time with your family.
DSR: My children know that their father is not wasting his time. My family understands that life is about working and you need to work and work very hard.
Sunaina Kaul: How do you de-stress yourself?
DSR: I don’t take stress. In fact, I think I de-stress everyone around me (chuckles). I keep on cracking jokes on myself. I de-cluster my life so there is no burden on my conscious, the conscious needs to be clean, you can lie to the entire world, but not to yourself. Yes, before going to bed, I read some book. That probably helps.
Tejinder Singh Sodhi: The Omar government has completed one year in office, how do you look back at the period?
DSR: We have seen the best years of governance. One has to understand the situation when Omar came to power. It was the aftermath of the Amarnath land row agitation and regional tension had build up. Today, you find a calmer state. He never made a statement that would de-stabilise the situation. He has taken everybody along. He took a holistic view of issues, took all people along, he was not a politician who is self-centered.
For the first time in the state, a government has addressed the issue of unemployment by coming out with a package. The CM has said it was not a final document and changes are welcome. A matriculate can get a loan of Rs 3 lakh for business, a graduate can get Rs 5 lakh and a postgraduate can get Rs 7 lakh. We are tying up with the J& K Bank for the purpose.
Dinesh Manhotra: How did you weather the political and personal storm faced by the CM after Shopian and alleged sex scandal? What was your advice to him?
DSR: The sex scandal issue was very unfortunate, and Omar Abdullah is one of the clean politicians in the country. So he did not bother about his job and resigned from the position. He stood tall and took the decision himself.
Regarding the Shopian case, the matter is sub-judice, so I cannot comment and the CBI report is with the court and let the court decide on it.
Vibhuti Narania (student): Sir, you talked about loans to the unemployed. You were also the director of the J&K Bank. Please tell, why do students have to deposit Rs 2 lakh for availing a bank loan?
DSR: I will ask the chairman of the bank to look into this. I am hopeful if there is an anomaly, it will be sorted out.
Nirupama Jamwal (student): Sir, But why do we always have to ask the Centre for money?
DSR: All states are largely dependent on the Centre government for funds. It is here that the local or cottage industry has to chip in. We had a booming copper utensil industry once. We consume 1,500 crore of meat and chicken every year. Most of it is imported. We can produce all that here. The government can offer schemes. It is up to the public to do it. We are providing a congenial atmosphere for it.
VN: It is a lesser known fact that the students were the worst suffers of the SRTC strike. For over 100 days, students had to travel in mini-buses. Why did it take so long for the government to resolve the crisis?
DSR: The SRTC problem was complex. The government had agreed to give them a package of Rs 13 crore a year and rest they had to generate the money for their salaries, but the corporation exhausted the package in three months. The employees wanted the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission, but it could not be given to a loss-making PSU. There are eight employees against each bus in the SRTC. The government wanted a long-term solution to the problem and it took some time.
NJ: But why are there so many agitations in the state? Every day employees are protesting…
DSR: See, we have to understand that the government cannot provide jobs to all. The government is encouraging the private sector in this regard. The problem is that everyone wants government jobs only. Now, when an employee is required for a Rs 500-job, he insists that his services should be regularised. What can the government do?
It was beyond my comprehension how a civil engineer can be without work when the last decade saw boom in the real estate sector and the next decade may see more infrastructural growth. Then, there was a youth who on the recommendation of Omar Abdullah got a private job worth Rs 12,000. After few days, he lands up in our office, seeking a government job even if it was worth Rs 500.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria: Justice Sagir Ahmed in his report endorsed autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Do you think the state will ever get it in the backdrop of allegations of discrimination with the regions of Jammu and Ladakh?
DSR: The National Conference as a party feels that autonomy is a lasting solution to Kashmir imbroglio, but having said that the NC is also clear that if there is another widely acceptable formula that the people of the state can think of, we can discuss that as well.
JJS: Is there any point in the report that the NC does not agree with?
DSR: The report is with the law department and they are studying it. I can’t comment on it at this point. However, Justice Sagir does strongly feel that autonomy is the main solution to the problem.
Archit Watts: Can an autonomous J&K sustain itself?
DSR: See, the defence, foreign affairs, currency and communication would be with the Centre. We would continue getting grants. And we have ample resources to sustain ourselves with the growth in the private sector…
JJS: But outsiders cannot invest in the state. ..
DSR: Article 370 is not an impediment in attracting investments. The issue had been taken care of long back. There is a provision for 99 years of lease in the article.
We do not want fly-by-night investors. We want investors, who stay here for long and contribute to the growth of the state.
DM: You are considered as trouble shooter for Omar Abdullah. How do you manage political crisis as political adviser of the Chief Minister?
DSR: Omar is himself competent enough to manage crisis situation. During the alleged sex scandal episode, he proved himself as a man of integrity.
DM: The Congress and the National Conference have ideological differences on many issues, especially on greater autonomy. The Congress insists on India-Sheikh record and the NC on autonomy. How do you strike the balance?
DSR: Although we have some ideological differences with the Congress, we are running the government on several common issues. As far as the centre-state relation is concerned, demand for greater autonomy and Indira-Sheikh Accord is almost same.
TJS: There are reports that the Chief Minister is not satisfied with the performance of some senior ministers and he wants to replace them with young energetic people like you.
DSR: First, I want to make it clear that these reports are not true. Omar has nice blend of young as well as experienced leaders. There is no need for any replacement. Secondly, I am satisfied with my present job.
Ashutosh Sharma: Your brother was the face of Amarnath land row agitation in Jammu. Do you have ideological differences?
DSR: Every one of us, means my family, has been a thinker. Both of us evolved in a secular atmosphere at home and we are free to follow our own ideologies. Only time will tell the consequences.
AW: Would you like your children to take political career?
DSR: I did not inherit politics and business. I would like my children to do what they want to do best. I wanted to be a lawyer but became a businessman and a politician. I once asked my daughter what she wants to become and she said she would become what she wants to. We cannot force our decision on them.
AW: In your busy schedule, do you manage to do some exercise?
DSR: No. Actually, I do not have the intent. The reason behind my “healthy frame” is that I eat a lot of chocolates. Even now I have a piece of chocolate gifted by Omar’s son (takes out the chocolate and eats).
No comments:
Post a Comment