HOT AND COLD
   Date :19-Jul-2019

 
DAYS after American President Mr. Donald Trump threw a fit over India’s imposition of retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products, his administration has exuded confidence of resolving the issues between the “two friends” through proper dialogue. The US State Department sees “enormous potential” for growth in India-US relationship, something that Mr. Trump also talks of but changes tack when it comes to commercial considerations. In fact, Mr. Trump has always adopted dollar-driven diplomacy to advance the US interests in various sectors. This blow hot, blow cold approach will harm the long-term interests of both the countries. Foreign policy cannot sustain on a short-term approach based on economic value. The US is seeking an enduring strategic partnership with India supported by strong defence cooperation. As rightly put by US Defence Secy nominee Mr. Mark Esper, both countries have “shared interests”, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. All these factors must form the core of future trade talks between the two for a healthy and of course enduring relationship.
 
LIVING ON THE EDGE
 
AGAINST the backdrop of the collapse of a dilapidated building in the congested Dongri area of Mumbai, the Maharashtra Government has decided to come out with a new law to facilitate cluster-based development of decrepit buildings. While the new law is welcome, the root-cause still remains unattended to. Despite calling for a list of dilapidated structures, officials sit on the notice for years and hardly initiate action to demolish such structures or evacuate the inmates. The residential structure that came down in Mumbai resulted in death of 13 people but no authority has been held responsible. This exposes the basic flaw in the construction rules that are blatantly flouted by builders and conveniently ignored by municipal and planning authorities. The problem of illegal and dangerous residential structures is not limited to Maharashtra only. It is the same all over the country where authorities indulge in buck-passing and tragedies like in Dongri are customarily dealt with just a perfunctory probe.