Editor,
The war of narratives has begun as tension between India and Bangladesh rises even as relations are at their lowest ebb. Sharing a 4,096 kilometre border with North East India it has always remained a porous one. On this side of the fence, we troubleshoot the problems of illegality in entering a foreign space coupled with cattle smuggling to human trafficking. This time the ballgame has changed for Sheikh Hasina, who has taken shelter in India since the coup rattled the leadership which she and her father dreamt of. We must survive with our neighbours, considering the world is divided and Donald Trump is tightening visa rules, which according to his understanding can strengthen Homeland Security.
Sinister elements are ruling the roost in Bangladesh and anti-India remarks from National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah is adding fuel to the fire thus paving the way for a new intelligence war which could shape geopolitics in the region. Bangladesh’s importance as a vital trade route through the Chittagong port and Chinese investments in two ports namely Chattogram and Mongla and Saint Martin’s Island are key assets which India’s laser pointer should be aiming at. Other factors that can break the region is the rise of religious fundamentalism which is slowly sinking into young minds.
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, should not be allowed to influence political parties in Bangladesh through strategic and tactical destabilization in Northeast India. Authors Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar and Sahidul Khokon have woven strong points for policymakers if they would pay heed in their book ‘Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution’.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Cautious approach needed for both bills passed by Parliament
Editor,
Amidst pandemonium in both Houses of Parliament, two important bills – one related to nationalisation of insurance and second seeking to allow private companies to set up nuclear power plants were passed.
In the modern world, where the social security offered by joint families has almost eroded, insurance plays a crucial role in the well-being of a family. As such, insurance companies must command an exceptional level of public confidence because the insured person needs to trust the insurance company to fulfil its financial obligation if they are no longer alive. India had nationalised life insurance, and the Life Insurance Corporation of India was formed only after several private insurance companies shut shop. Events of a similar pattern happened in the general insurance business. However, people gained confidence in insurance companies after the nationalisation and insurance penetration, though slow, picked up pace. Though the government allowed private insurers in 2000, it insisted on local partners having a major stake to ensure stability
With the passage of the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, the government lifted the safety valve that was in place for 25 years, allowing 100 per cent foreign investment in the insurance sector. This will attract global insurers to either set up new business or take over the existing business, resuming the much-needed dollar flow in the country and creating new jobs. However, the government must ensure that the fight for market share among the insurers does not end up eroding people’s trust in insurance
Similarly, the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which allows private companies to run small modular nuclear reactors to produce power and reduce the liability of equipment makers, will also have a long-term effect. On the positive side, it will increase power production in the country exponentially. When data centres for artificial intelligence — which is set to herald a new wave of industrialisation in the world — have become power guzzlers, India cannot remain a power-deficient nation and squander the opportunity to benefit from the new technological change. The reform will bring in capital and initiative to the nuclear power industry, bringing in dollars as well as jobs..
It suggests other measures meant to spur private sector investment in the industry. It sets a Rs 3,000 crore liability cap on private operators, with the government bearing responsibility for any liability from accidents beyond that limit. This gives government authorities major influence over the functioning of the regulatory body and it sets different insurance requirements for public and private sector entities. These steps might have the right intent behind them to excite private sector players about making major investments in the sector. But they risk setting up an unbalanced structure where the government bears the bulk of the responsibility for security, safety and economic liabilities while the private sector benefits from incentives with relatively less accountability. Moreover, it also compromises the autonomy of the regulator. Ultimately, what the private sector needs is the assurance of reliable returns because of large enough consumption. That will need public trust, which, in turn, requires laws that are the same for all players: is the SHANTI bill such a neutral adjudicator? The bill must pass this crucial test to succeed
The advantages of a safe and stable nuclear energy ecosystem should be abundantly clear by now. France, which gets two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, is much less vulnerable to volatile oil and gas pric-es than any other major nation. That enables it to both lead the global transition to clean fuels and stay insulated from some of the effects of global conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and instability. The French example, with its tough regulatory framework and dominance of State-owned enterprises, also offers valuable lessons on what India must do as it seeks a similar expansion of its nuclear-generation capacities.
On the flip side, however, nuclear power in the hands of private companies, whose sole motive is profit maximisation, raises concern over potential nuclear hazards in the world’s most populated country. The recent IndiGo crisis is an example of the profit-driven pursuit of private companies. If something similar occurred in the nuclear industry, lakhs of people would pay for the mistake with their lives. The government must tread with caution on the implementation aspect as these two bills will decide how it will be remembered by posterity.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email
