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By:

C.S. Krishnamurthy

21 June 2025 at 7:45:51 pm

A Spade Has No Party

There is something reassuring about a spade. It does not ask who is holding it before doing its job. It digs where it is told to dig. A hole made by a government worker is no different from one made by an opposition worker. The earth, fortunately, has no political affiliation. That simple image offers a useful way of looking at the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, a youth-led movement that has emerged around concerns over education, employment and accountability. Its significance may...

A Spade Has No Party

There is something reassuring about a spade. It does not ask who is holding it before doing its job. It digs where it is told to dig. A hole made by a government worker is no different from one made by an opposition worker. The earth, fortunately, has no political affiliation. That simple image offers a useful way of looking at the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, a youth-led movement that has emerged around concerns over education, employment and accountability. Its significance may ultimately lie less in whether it becomes a political force and more in what its emergence says about the changing relationship between young citizens and traditional politics. The CJP story reportedly began almost as a joke. But jokes sometimes possess an inconvenient habit of revealing truths that solemn speeches avoid. What began as satire attracted digital attention and developed into youth mobilisation. Beneath the humour lies something more serious: a generation that may not want another political flag, but wants existing flags to pay attention. A New Language Established political parties appear increasingly uncertain about how to speak to Gen Z. The problem may not be a lack of communication, but its direction. Traditional politics has often spent too much time speaking at the young and too little time speaking with them. Gen Z’s concerns are hardly confined to the digital world. Education, employment, security, dignity and accountability remain real-life concerns. Social media may provide the vocabulary, but the grievances are not virtual. Digital platforms have simply provided a meeting ground where concerns that conventional political structures may have failed to accommodate can find expression. This does not automatically make CJP a political party, nor does every participant necessarily subscribe to a common ideology. Its significance may instead lie in its ability to provide a forum for a generation-based articulation of concerns. We use the word “political” rather carelessly. Anything involving public affairs, government or collective decision-making is political in the broadest sense. But political does not necessarily mean partisan. A citizen demanding better examinations, employment opportunities or accountability from a minister is participating in democracy. He need not be preparing an election manifesto. This is where CJP becomes interesting. Its real test is whether it can remain an independent voice without eventually becoming another conventional political formation. Imagine a movement saying: we will criticise the government when it is wrong, the opposition when it is wrong, and ourselves when we are wrong. That would be an unusual political creature. It would also be a useful one. The real test of non-partisanship is not what a movement says about neutrality. It is whether it applies the same yardstick to everyone. If a government mishandles education, question it. If another government does the same, question it again. If a political party demands accountability in opposition but forgets the principle in power, call that out too. A spade should remain a spade even when somebody paints it in party colours. The Cricket Test The temptation to choose sides is understandable. Political discourse increasingly resembles cricket played by spectators who have forgotten that the scoreboard exists. A batsman from our team can edge the ball and we call it bad luck. The same edge by the other team becomes evidence of cheating. The problem is not cricket. It is our loyalty to the shirt. Democracy suffers from the same habit. We become so invested in who said something that we forget to ask whether it is true. An independent political voice must therefore be prepared to disappoint its own supporters. That is easier said than done. Digital technology has made mobilisation remarkably easy. But digital reach is not democratic depth. Followers are not necessarily volunteers, and viral outrage is not sustained civic engagement. The CJP’s challenge, therefore, is to convert attention into participation and measurable accountability. Every movement born outside established politics eventually encounters the gravitational pull of politics. Remaining independent is considerably harder in practice than in principle. CJP’s credibility will depend upon whether it can resist becoming what it criticises. Yet there is another, more interesting measure of success. If, a year from now, political parties begin placing education, employment and youth concerns more prominently at the centre of their agendas because they fear ignoring younger citizens, the CJP may have achieved its purpose without becoming a conventional party. Perhaps that is the deeper relevance of CJP that it may remind political forces that citizens are not permanent spectators in the democratic arena. (The writer is a retired banker and author. He can be reached at krs1957@hotmail.com. Views personal.)

Centre’s ethanol push under scrutiny

AI generated image
AI generated image

Mumbai: The Union government’s push for ethanol-blended petrol is increasingly facing scrutiny from environmental experts, economists and consumer groups.


One of the biggest concerns is the diversion of agricultural resources towards fuel production. Critics argue that using food crops such as maize, rice and sugarcane for ethanol could affect food availability and influence prices over time. As demand for ethanol rises, farmers may be encouraged to prioritise crops linked to fuel production rather than food cultivation.


Water usage is another major issue. Sugarcane, which remains the primary feedstock for ethanol in India, is among the most water-intensive crops. Environmentalists warn that expanding cultivation in drought-prone regions could worsen groundwater depletion and place additional pressure on already stressed water resources.


B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, believes sustainability must remain central to the programme. He argues that reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels is important, but environmental gains should not come at the cost of food security, biodiversity or groundwater reserves. According to him, greater emphasis should be placed on agricultural waste and non-food feedstocks.


Consumers have also raised practical concerns. Ethanol contains less energy than petrol, which can result in slightly lower fuel efficiency. While newer vehicles are increasingly designed to handle higher ethanol blends, owners of older vehicles worry about compatibility issues, maintenance costs and reduced mileage.


Questions have also been raised about the overall environmental impact of ethanol. Although it burns cleaner than petrol, its true carbon footprint depends on how feedstocks are cultivated and processed. 


Excessive irrigation, fertiliser use or expansion of water-intensive crops can reduce the environmental benefits that ethanol is expected to deliver.


Balanced Approach

Despite the criticism, few experts suggest abandoning ethanol blending altogether. Instead, many advocate a more balanced approach focused on second-generation ethanol produced from agricultural residues, crop waste and non-food biomass. Such alternatives can reduce pressure on farmland and water resources while retaining the advantages of domestic biofuel production.


The government sees it as a way to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, cut emissions and create additional income opportunities for farmers. With India importing more than 85 per cent of its crude oil needs, ethanol is being promoted as a domestic alternative.


The push towards 20 per cent ethanol blending has delivered visible benefits. Ethanol production has created a new market for crops such as sugarcane and maize, helping sugar mills manage surplus stocks and improving payments to farmers. Supporters also argue that ethanol-blended fuel burns cleaner than conventional petrol and contributes to lower vehicular emissions.


Industry leaders believe the programme should be viewed from a long-term national perspective. Adithya Jayakar, Joint Managing Director of UCAL Ltd, the pioneers in auto components manufacturing, said ethanol blending supports energy security, reduces crude oil imports and contributes to cleaner mobility. According to him, the initiative also generates economic benefits through foreign exchange savings and additional agricultural income.


The debate highlights a broader challenge for India: balancing energy security, environmental sustainability and agricultural growth. Ethanol blending may remain an important part of the country’s fuel strategy, but its long-term success will depend on ensuring that economic and environmental goals move forward together rather than at each other’s expense.

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