Saturday, December 29, 2012

India lost her daughter

The brave girl lost her battle of 13 days for life. The entire nation is shocked, rattled and aggrieved at the death of the 23-year-old victim of the brutal gang rape and assault in Delhi. She was shifted to a prestigious hospital of Asia in Singapore to save her life but all endeavours went in vain. She was a brave girl who fought for her life valiantly but lost. With her death, a message must go out to the government that now enough is enough and there must not be recurrence of this kind of crime against women. Undoubtedly, it is the failure of police machinery that this kind of horrendous crime against the girl in national capital Delhi but at the same time the society can also not evade from its responsibility. Several records show that in 95 percent rape case, rapists are known to the victims in one way or other. Women are victimized everywhere. They are victimized in their home, on streets, buses,metro,trains, work places, schools and colleges. Untill the idea that women in the form of goddess Durga, Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped by us on one hand and the same women in flesh and blood are raped and assaulted on the other is revived in the minds of the people, atrocities against women can not go from our society. This sad and tragic incident of Delhi gang rape had triggered an outrage across India. The death of the girl in Singapore hospital has shocked and dejected all Indians. We all feel as if we have lost our own daughter. Now, the brave girl has succumbed to her injury inflicted on her by the rapists. The Government of India must take into serious account the seething of entire India in anger over the horrendous crime and the massive protests of young girls and boys at India Gate for the harshest punishment i.e. death sentence to rapists. There must be immediate promulgation of law that could award swift and deterrent punishment in any offence against the women. The legal procedure of cases of atrocity against women must be speeded up by forming fast track court. The police machinery of not only Delhi but the entire nation must be overhauled and sensitized to the crime against women. The lack of interaction between the police and the people in society must also be brought to end. Police should be made more accountable to the people. They must not display their Lathi as sign of their power. They must think that they are meant for serving the people. Their business is to strike fear among criminals on one hand and friendly with law abiding society on the other. But contrary to this happens. Police strikes fear among law abiding people and they dare not deal with criminal elements with heavy hand.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Pacify students' anger with prompt action against rapists

The anger of the students and their demand is justified and they need to be pacified by the Government of India with prompt and appropriate action against rapists. The entire nation is shocked, shaken and outraged over the gang rape of 23 year old girl. She is paramedic student. She was gang raped and brutally beaten along with her boy friend and thrown on the side of the street from in moving bus in South Delhi area. Whoever has heard about the horrendous rape is extremely angry. The scene of scuffle between the hundreds of protesting students, who had arrived at India Gate and on Raisina Hills to express their anger over the horrendous incident of rape and brutal beating of the girl, and the Delhi police is itself by no measure appreciating. Delhi police has used excess of force against the peaceful protesters of young students and women. The gathering of angry and protesting boys and girls against the horrific rape incident was lathicharged, tear gassed and firing of water canon by the police to disperse them is their excesses. Some lumpen elements got mixed up with the students protest to sabotage the government establishment. All the rape accused have been caught. All government assistance is provided to the victim of horrendous rape who is battling for life at Safdarganj hospital. No one in the country will tolerate any excuse from the Delhi police and the Government in not taking strictest action possible against the rapists. Government must know that young boys and girls are on boil and their fire against the rape incident can not be easily extinguished. Delhi police and the Government of India need to be judicious in dealing with the issue related to the young and growing students of the nation. Some lumpen elements might have entered the students’ protests at India Gate and Raisina Hills with some ulterior motive against the government but that does not mean that the police should resort to indiscriminate lath charge, fire of tear gas and water cannons on the peaceful protesters. At least 150 people, including 78 policemen, were injured and a constable suffered cardiac arrest and was battling for life in hospital as street protests over the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on board a bus a week ago turned violent in the heart of New Delhi on Sunday. There is no sense in sealing all the roads leading to Rajpath and India Gate. The sealing of roads has caused enormous inconvenience to general public. The normal life has been thrown out of gear on Monday in national capital Delhi. Delhi Metro closed its nine stations on Monday without taking into account the difficulty its decision caused to office goers and general Delhiites. The need of the hour for the government to restore normalcy without any delay.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Nation seethes in anger over Delhi gang rape

The anger of the entire nation over the Delhi gang rape has spilled on the streets. It is not only in Delhi but also in Patna, Lucknow, Kanpur and other cities the students have come out on the streets to protest Delhi Gang rape and demand capital punishment for the rapists. The rape victim 23 year old girl, a paramedic student, has been battling for life since last Sunday. Parliament, students and the general public have demanded capital punishment for rapists and the trial of the rape case by fast track court on daily basis. The Government is also demanding fast track court for the trial of rape cases. The worsening condition of the gang rape victim instantly angers not only Delhiites but all human beings over the inaction of Delhi police. It is correct that the Delhi police reached to rapists and took him into custody in shortest possible time but if the security arrangement by them in the area within which the crime was committed had been tightened, this unfortunate thing would not have occurred and the innocent girl would not have under gone the ordeal for no fault of hers. This heinous crime against the 23 year old paramedic girl has taken place in Delhi due to both systemic failures of governance, insensitivity in society and Delhi police. The rapists deserve to be hanged publicly without any wastage of time. It would have deterrent impact on other criminals in society and they would dare not commit rape out fear. It is surprising no action has yet been taken against any police officials under whose jurisdiction the gang rape has taken place. The anger of Delhiites over gang rape is genuine and justified. They have come out on the streets and even reached to the gate of Rashtrapati Bhavan to make the President aware of what is going on against the women on the streets in national capital Delhi. When the women are not safe in Delhi, what to talk of their condition in other cities and towns of the country? It is shameful that Delhi has become the most unsafe place for women. This is Bharat where women are considered as goddesses. We Indian worship Maa Durga, Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati as goddesses. They are women. How in the given tradition rapes are committed against women and they are beaten brutally. It appears that the rapists are not human beings. They are animals. So, they must be treated as such. The way 23 year old girl was raped, brutally beaten and thrown out of the moving bus along with her boy friend naked by the roadside is a telling commentary on the degradation that has set in our society. How deep the degradation has set in our society can be felt in the ordeal of rape victim and her boy friend that were wreathing in pain in this wintry night by the roadside of Delhi but nobody cared to stop to help them and ask what happened to them. This has crossed all sense of sensitivity. Our society has also become insensitive. The need of the hour is to overhaul Delhi police and get all Police Stations cleared of all corrupt SHOs, Beat officers and constables. Had there been better policing by the police station in the area, this hair raising incident of gang rape would not have happened. There must be social awakening about crime against women, stricter laws, trial by fast track court, better policing with accountability. Delhi police needs to be made sensitive to the protection of women.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

SC/STs Quota uproar for politics

Whether the Bill for SC/ST reservation in government job promotion is passed in LS or not after its approval by the Rajya Sabha, it matters little for the majority among SC/STs who have so far been deprived of the benefit of any type from reservation. This is the ground reality. Reservation must not be a life long gift for a section of society when some among them are far more solvent than the section of the people who are financially weak but not in reserved category. Reservation for SC and ST was granted since our Constitution came into effect to bring them on equity with the other developed section of the people in society. After the reservation for SC/ST, our Constitution was amended to provide reservation for OBCs for purely political reasons. First of all, there should be no reservation on the basis of caste, creed and community and its benefit should only reach to the financially weaker section of society. They must be given all economic incentives in pursuing their studies to compete in competitive examinations for government jobs with other financially well off section of society. The Upper House has already passed the Bill for SC/ST reservation in promotion in govt. jobs. Now, it is the turn of the Lok Sabha to pass it. But the way one Samajwadi Party MP behaved, snatched the Bill from the hands of Minister and stormed in the well of the House is nothing but shocking. SP is the arch rival of Mayawati’s BSP. Mayawati has the strongest grip on SC/ST vote bank. SP opposed the Bill only because the largest beneficiary from it would be BSP in terms of vote. BSP has established its image as the champion of SC/ST. So it goes all out to get the bill passed. Reservation for SC/ST and OBCs is purely a politics. Congress and BJP are arch rivals but on this issue there is unanimity between the two because of its being an important for them in terms of vote bank politics. Neither the Congress nor the BJP are concerned with the reality of reservation. Reservation is the greatest political issue for pursuing caste-based politics and thereby dividing the society for political benefit. Lok Sabha has witnessed repeated uproar before the quota in promotion bill was to be taken up for consideration, with the Samajwadi Party members storming the Well in protest against the measure. As soon as Speaker Meira Kumar called for the Question Hour, SP members trooped into the Well raising slogans against the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill.To counter the SP onslaught, Congress members were in the aisles raising slogans in favour of the Bill and urging the Speaker to evict the SP members.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Nation shamed, Delhi Police failure exposed

Entire nation is shocked and outraged over the most shameful act - the rape of 23 year old paramedic- in national capital Delhi. It hangs our head in shame. A Para medical student was raped in moving bus in South Delhi on Sunday evening. She was raped, brutally tortured and thrown naked along with her friend out of the moving bus. It is most horrible and the rapists deserve to be hanged till death. They even do not deserve any legal recourse. Their act is so outrageous that they must be bound by a poll in the open and whipped up till death in full public view. The 23-tear old Para-medic and her friend took a bus to return to home after watching a movie. Just after she and her friend stepped into the bus, the crew members started taunting and molesting her and when her friend objected, he was beaten and locked in the cabin of the bus. All the crew members numbering about four to five took the girl by turn to rape and after that they were thrown out of the moving bus by the roadside. The girl was so sexually and physically tortured that even the doctor attending on her at Safdarjang hospital has reportedly said that he had not seen such a grievous rape victim so far. The rape incident is so horrible that the body hair stands on end in fear. It shows that Delhi is the most unsafe place for women despite its being the national capital. They can not move out of their residence after the dusk. The raping incident in the bus reportedly continued for 90 minutes and during the period it reportedly passed by three PCRs, but no notice was taken by Delhi police. Undoubtedly, there is no fear of Delhi police among the goondas, criminals, rapists and anti-social elements. They are only tough with law abiding Delhiites. This is not the first time that Delhi has been shamed with rape. It was in the year 2005 that Delhi earned the dubious tag of ‘rape capital’ when the number of rape cases reached a record high — 660 in a year. The police took a number of measures and as a result the cases came down to 452 in 2009. But rape cases are again on the rise and for the first time in six years the number has crossed the 600-mark this year. Till December 15 this year, 635 cases of rape were registered across the city and despite the fact that there are still 15 days left for the month, the number of rape cases are highest in six years. Cases of molestation have also seen a rise as 653 cases were reported in 2011 against 601 cases in 2010. Quick deterrent punishment must be awarded to rapist so that it could have impact in society against the heinous and barbaric act of rape. Parliament was in unison in amending law to award capital punishment for rape. Leader of the opposition Sushama Swaraj made demand of capital punishment to rapist. The ruling as well as opposition in both Houses of Parliament has spoken in one voice in awarding punishment to rapists. When the woman is not safe in national capital Delhi where the Chief Minister is a woman, Lok Sabha Speaker is woman, leader of the ruling Congress Party and opposition BJP is woman, how can we expect them to be safe in other cities and small towns of the nation? Sunday night rape of para-medic in South Delhi is a telling commentary on the failure of Delhi police. Delhi police strike fear into common innocent Delhiites. Its slogan is farce. They are always away from help and that goes in favour of criminals and anti-social. Some head's must roll and being the head, it is total failure of Delhi Police Commissioner. The Sunday night rape incident reflects callous negligence of Delhi police in providing safety to women.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Pak showed its colour

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s visit to India has been unproductive and in no way different from the previous visits of other Pakistani dignitaries. India’s Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has failed to make any impression about his side on Malik. He did not present his side strongly to punish the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Sayeed, who is roaming freely in Pakistan. Rehman Malik visited India, interacted with his Indian counterpart and several other top officials, including leader of the opposition Sushama Swaraj and had talks but with no positive sign. His description of 26/11 accused Abu Jindal as an Indian and agent of elite intelligence is nothing but ridiculous. Abu Jindal is a Pakistani citizen and he was working with LeT. He had choreographed all the terrorists involved in 26/11. He kept constant supervision on executing the terror attack on Mumbai. Abu Jindal was deported to India from Saudi Arabia where Pakistani diplomat claimed about him as Pakistani citizen. Rehman Malik says that the dossiers submitted by India to Pakistan are not evidences about LeT founder Hafiz Sayeed’s prime role and others involvement in 26/11 but only information. He says that they will not stand in the law courts of Pakistan. How could they would stand in the law court in Pakistan when its all powerful military backs Hafiz Sayeed strongly and patronize him to bleed and disintegrate India. So long as this perception of Pakistan persists, there would be no improvement in relations. All talks with Pakistan is fruitless unless and until it realizes its deliberate weakness to reign in terror elements from acting against India from its soil. Pakistan military is so dominant that their influence on judiciary and executive can not be ignored. The weak democratic government can not run its writ large. And the same is with Pakistan. Military has always overreaching influence on the duly elected democratic government. To be in power, Pak President Asif Ali Zardari has to keep military establish in good humour. Mumbai attack was conceived, plotted directed and instructed from there under Pak military observation. Malik’s version that non state -actors from both sides were involved in the attack is not correct but his attempt to cover Pak clear involvement in 26/11. Terrorism has been an instrument of state policy since the military regime of Zia-Ul-Haq in Pakistan. Malik’s belief that it was because of the absence of interaction between the two countries on intelligence and government levels the Mumbai terror strike could not be foiled is his attempt to impress upon India to continue talking despite terror. But Talks and terror acts from Pak soil can not go side by side. Rehman Malik’s logic does not hold any water. His way of comparison between Mumbai attack and the demolition of Babri-Masjid is non-sensical. He wanted to raise India’s internal issue deliberately. He had visited India only to put Pakistan’s view of Mumbai attack just opposite to India and nothing else.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Narendra Modi is ahead of others

Gujarat goes to poll today. Bhatiya Janata Party (BJP) and particularly Chief Minister Narendra Modi have more at stake than that of the opposition Congress in Gujarat. Gujarat victory would increase BJP’s popularity graph. Modi is fighting not only for retaining power in Gujarat for the third consecutive time but also achieving it with greater margin to back his claim of being the BJP prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections strongly. He is charged with espousing the Hindu cause and pursuing anti-minority policy. There is also the charge against him of orchestrating the worst-ever Gujarat riot. There may be charge against him for giving state patronage to the alleged rioters but on the development front he has kept its tempo. Gujarat has been a developed state for a long time but Modi has carried forward the development measures to their logical end. It is also correct that Narendra Modi is not only the most influential, seasoned and dominant leader of Gujarat but also of BJP at national level. But there are lacunae in his political attitude that goes against him. He is alleged to be dictatorial and authoritarian. He has sidetracked all his rivals within Gujarat BJP during his regime and even compelled some of the veteran state BJP leaders to leave the party and form their own political outfit. Breaking away from the BJP, former Gujarat Chief Minister and towering leader of dominant Patel community Keshu Bhai Patel and alonwith some other senior members has formed Gujarat Parivartan Party that throws challenge to Modi. Keshu Bhai’s unwavering influence on Patel community is a cause for big concern for Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In the absence of any leader of CM Narendra Modi stature in Gujarat Congress who could stand up to him, the chances of party's victory is not only slim but also impossible. Congress Party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Party President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi campaigned strongly in the last leg of the first phase of Gujarat poll. They may have charishma but no organizational backup in the state to translate it into votes. They can pull crowd but it is the responsibility of the workers to turn it into votes. Congress Party has no state leader who could command respect among the workers and raise their morale. Successive defeats have demoralized them. So, in absence of any formidable opponent, the third consecutive victory for BJP in Gujarat under Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a foregone conclusion.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Need for immediate overhauling of Team India

Team India appears to be in its worst shape in recent days. Earlier England have already badly defeated Team India in an away series in England and its position in home series against the same team is pathetic. England are going up 2-1 over Team India in the ongoing test series of 4 matches. Only Nagpur Test is to be played from Dec 13 in the ongoing series between India and England. Neither any Indian batsman nor has bowler shown consistency and performance in the last two matches. Team India is known all over the world for its gigantic batting strength. But its third class batting has become the cause of sheer humiliation of the team in cricket world. England have outplayed Team India every department of the game very convincingly. Even its world renowned fast and spin bowlers were easily outplayed by their English counterparts. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who is called the God of Cricket and has world record of making highest number of runs and century to his name, has been a total failure on the field for more than a year. He appears to be past his prime and now the age is also not on his side. The movement of his feet does not reflect any sparkle as they used to do when he was in his prime. Undoubtedly, he is the most experienced player of Team India and one of the greatest batsman of the world but that should not be the criteria for being in the team in the role of a non-performer. The team needs his experience. But the question here arises how long he will be in team to face humiliation even against the mediocre bowlers of the opposite team. The BCCI must pave the way for his honourable exit and engage him life-long for invaluable suggestion for the Indian cricket. It is totally unfair to block the way for new, young and talented player to play for the nation. All senior players, including the Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, should be asked by the selectors to make their way for the new comers in the interest of the team. Almost all are past their prime. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni neither shows his captaining skill nor performs with his bat to leave any impression on the team. Loosening grip on the team by the captain due to his own pathetic performance on the field makes it directionless and disoriented. Not only Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan but also few more seniors should have been shown the door for the fourth and the last Test against England. The BCCI and Selection Committee must apply perform or perish principle while selecting the team for Test, One-Day and T-20 matches. Players' seniority and their service to the nation must not be ignored but the interest of the team and nation always be kept uppermost. Captain Dhoni has undoubtedly brought laurels for the nation many times but if his performance as a captain or player is counted in the last 18 months on the field, he proves to be total failure and deserves no place in the team. It is not one test or one series; he has been a total failure in almost all matches held in the last 18 months. Nagpur Test must be his last test as captain if India again face defeat. The impression of 'Chalta hai' culture must be removed and no player howsoever senior and great he must be removed forthwith.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Now, FDI a reality

After getting Lok Sabha approval on FDI in retail, the Government is set get also its approval in Rajya Sabha also. When the BSP supremo Mayawati announced in the Upper House that her party would support the government, it became crystal clear that FDI is going to become a reality. FDI issue is purely related to the economy of our nation. The ruling UPA being the exponent of FDI in multi-brand retail enumerates only the benefit from it whereas almost all the opposition parties describe it as anti-poor and nation as well. The UPA government advocates that FDI in multi-retail will immensely benefit the farmers as it would close all doors of middlemen between the farmers and purchasers of their products. The bigger share of the price of products is generally gulped by the middlemen as there is no direct contact between farmers and purchasers of their products. Opposition parties -BJP and Left- say that the multi-national giant like Walmart, Tesco, Carrefore and others will make purchasing in bulk from outside and nominal percentage of purchasing from the domestic market. They also advocate that with their entry in multi-brand retail, they will devour our small retailers and thereby creating a huge problem of unemployment. While the UPA government claims that with the coming of FDI, crores of jobs will be created. The reality on the ground tells contrary to what the opposition parties say. Big Shopping Malls have come up in almost all big cities of the nation. But no news in any dailies of the nation has ever appeared that the particular small shops had to be closed because the malls came up in their vicinity. So, the clear picture has not emerged before the general public about the advantage from FDI. The people are confused whether to accept ruling or opposition version on FDI. One thing is also tested that whenever a new economic policy and programme is introduced, a lot of hue and cry by the opposition takes place over it. But when it starts giving huge benefit to the general public all over the nation, it is accepted across the party lines. The UPA government has already shaken off the Opposition challenge on the FDI in retail issue by getting approval of the Lok Sabha as BSP and SP bailed it out by not participating in voting. The Congress-led UPA scored 253 against 218 votes after two days of heated debate and came out victorious.BSP and SP, key outside supporters with a total of 43 members in the Lower House, which were against the FDI in multi-brand retail, staged a tactical walkout.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

FDI is need of the hour

In the period of weakening economy, the nation urgently needs foreign investment to strengthen it. FDI in multi-brand will not only make our market competitive but also offer the consumers with many options to make their purchasing of daily needs. They will get competitive market and price. FDI will also bring down prices and do away with middlemen to benefit farmers as they will have direct interaction with the shopping malls. There are a number of big shopping malls in every big city already running before the FDI in multi-brand retails. There is also no example in the nation that a small shopkeeper had to close down his shop because of coming up of big malls. So, the opposition explanation against FDI that it will destroy business of small shopkeeper is baseless and politically motivated. The motion for debate on FDI in multi-brand retail has been moved by the leader of the opposition Sushama Swaraj in Lok Sabha and it has also the support of CPI (M). So, the BJP and the Left are on the same page against the government's decision to bring FDI in multi-brand retail. The motion of debate has been moved under the article 184 in Lok Sabha and 168 in Rajya Sabha and both entail voting. UPA Government is confident of the numbers in Lok Sabha and they will sail through Lok Sabha comfortably. Their main difficulty is in Rajya Sabha to get through as they are short of numbers there. Both Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party support the UPA Government from outside but both are opposed to FDI. Both the ruling SP and the Opposition BSP in Uttar Pradesh are arch rivals. They support the UPA government in the name of secularism avowedly but have their interest in keeping it running. They also want to keep the Hindu-leaning party the BJP out of power at the Centre. Internally, no political party wants untimely Lok Sabha elections. But as the political graph of the ruling Congress-led UPA has gone down because of several corruption charges against them and their failure to rein in price rise, BJP wants Lok Sabha elections in near future before schedule to encash the people’s disillusionment with the ruling coalition. Though both the SP and the BSP have not shown their intention whether to vote with the Govt or not, they will decidedly go with it and will certainly come to its rescue. Both SP and BSP support the UPA to save their skins of secularism. SP being the ruling party in UP, it needs to have a friendly UPA government at the Centre. BSP has also got assurance from UPA to support the Bill for reservation in promotion for Dalits and tribals. Congress party has never tasted defeat on the floor of the House. So if history repeats itself, the Congress-led UPA will come out victorious in Rajya Sabha also on the issue of FDI.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Economist’s figment of imagination

Foreign media have started conjecturing over the prospective prime ministerial candidates from Congress and BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It is not the business of Economist to speculate in air about who could be prime ministerial candidates from Congress and BJP in Lok Sabha elections. The Economist may be the most prestigious British magazine but its story that finance minister P Chidambaram could be the PM candidate; especially if it comes to a face off against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi does not appear to be well researched one. As Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh would be well past 80 by the time Lok Sabha elections take place in 2014, his third term to adorn PM’s office appears impossible. As far as projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate by the BJP is concerned, the party is itself vertically divided and in addition to that most of the major allies like JD(U) and Shiv Sena have already expressed their opposition to him on the issue. As far as the candidature of Finance Minister P Chidambram as prime ministerial candidate of the ruling Congress Party in Lok Sabha elections 2014 is concerned, the Economist should know that even a leaf can not budge without the consent of Sonia-Rahul duo as they are acknowledged leaders of the party. Rahul Gandhi may not have made any spectacular performance in his more than eight years of parliamentary experience but one thing is certain that the day he entered politics it became the foregone conclusion that as and when the Congress got majority on its own, he would be elected Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi may not have shown any remarkable achievement in politics nor would have made the nation aware of his views on the burning issues of the day; he is still one of the biggest crowd pullers at the national level. Narendra Modi may have edge over others in the state of Gujarat but at national level he is far behind Rahul Gandhi. Finance minister P Chidambram may have growth-oriented outlook and extra-cautious approach in reading the mind of Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi on matters of economy but his political standing on the ground is still dependent. He has not even once been able to win his Lok Sabha seat on his own. He has either been supported by AIADMK or DMK. Neither Narendra Modi nor P Chidambram has nationwide acceptability among all sections of people to become the Prime Minister of India. Projecting Narendra Modi and P Chidambram as prospective prime ministerial candidates by BJP and Congress respectively is nothing but the Economist's figment of imagination.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Thwart any attack on freedom of expression

Social sites like Face book, Twitter and others are the only platforms from where anybody can express. Freedom of expression is the only right that in a democratic country is enjoyed by the common people through these social sites. So, this freedom of expression of the people must be protected at all costs by the state in a democratic country. Supreme Court has rightly taken cognizance of the PIL filed by a Delhi girl against the abuse of Cyber Act 66A by the police and might of the state, reflecting in arresting the two Maharashtra girls because one had questioned through her post on Face book the shutting down of Mumbai for Balashaheb Thackeray's funeral and the other for liking it. The police lodged the complaint under Cyber Act section 66A and swung into action for the arrest of the two girls only because they had expressed their opinion on the situation prevailing in the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai . The arrest of two girls is the direct attack on freedom of expression by the police at the backing of state power. In the incident of same kind of incident where a Jadavpur University professor had expressed himself through carton and putting it online against Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Bannerjee, and subsequently he was arrested by the police at the behest of state power. These incidents, apart from others, amply reflect that our police and might of the state is blatantly misused the moment any free speech which goes against them or any powerful politician. Cyber Act gives unlimited power to police and it is also ambiguous that the police interpret it to their convenience and to establish their highhandedness. The sections of Cyber Act which give enough to scope to police to interpret in their own way need to be immediately reviewed. The Supreme Court of India is the only hope of the common people for keeping their fundamental right of expression intact in democracy. In view of Supreme Court’s observation, the Centre has also rightly issued new guidelines for arrests under a controversial provision of the IT Act that say approval from a police officer of IGP rank in metros and DCP rank in other areas will have to be sought before registering complaints under section 66A of the Act. Section 66A provides for a jail term of up to three years, and a case under it can be registered by a police station in-charge or an inspector-rank officer. The revised guidelines say the concerned police officer or police station may not register any complaints unless he or it has obtained prior approval at the level of an officer not below DCP rank in urban and rural areas and IG level in metros. Neither there should be the abuse of Cyber act against the freedom of expression nor should any expression be threatening, menacing and causing communal discord through social sites under the cover of right expression.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Media must maintain sanctity

The arrest of two Zee News Editors has cast doubt on the role of Media. This is the first time in recent history of Indian media that two editors have been arrested in course of alleged business dealings with the Corporate. Zee News says that Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. have brought disrepute to its credibility by slapping a case of extortion against its two editors. Media is not above the law and it must maintain its sanctity. The editors of Zee News and Zee Business respectively, have been arrested on charges of extortion. Whether the arrest of Zee editors is a case of police high-handedness or a case of extortion is to be decided by the court of law but one thing is certain that moral devaluation has set in both media persons and politicians. When the Zee news was playing one news after another about the irregularities in coal block allotment, why did its editors go hotel for a meeting with the representative of JSPL to strike alleged business deals? The arrests have been made more than a month after Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. (JSPL) filed a complaint with the police alleging that Rs. 100 crore was demanded in the form of advertisements to dilute the campaign launched by the news channel against the business group in connection with the alleged coal block allocation scam. First of all, the media persons of the ranks of editors must not contact the clients themselves and cut business agreements with them. The editors are only entrusted with the task of maintaining the sanctity of their news organization and credibility of the news stories published in their news papers only. Their business is only to ensure the credibility of the news contents in news papers. They must not allow anyone to get the news story planted in the news paper for some vested or business interests of the management. Editors' first and foremost duty is also to maintain the independence of the news paper and they have also to ensure that the news stories published in the newspaper do not favour certain individual or organization. News papers Editors must also maintain their apolitical character. The editor of the news paper, TV news channel and news agency must only see the contents and decide which news occupy what place and priority in news papers and TV news channels. Editors of the news papers are treated with respect by the general public because of their intellectual integrity and probity in public life. They have also to withstand the pressure of the management of the news paper or TV news channel to dilute the importance of the news to safeguard its business interest. General public has no concern for the financial position of the news papers. JSPL chairman Naveen Jindal released video recordings allegedly showing the Zee editors trying to extort Rs. 100 crore in return for the channel not airing damaging stories on coal block allocations involving JSPL. These video recordings must be put to test in forensic laboratory to know its authenticity about the allegation of extortion against the two Zee news editors.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Poll centric move

The scheme of direct cash transfer of subsidy amount into the bank accounts of those poor who deserve it on the basis of Adhaar Card identification to be introduced from January 1, 2013 is an election-centric move. The cash subsidy would be given to the beneficiaries having Aadhaar-enabled account number through the bank branches or banking correspondents. This may be described as politically motivated poll centric move to influence the people by Congress-led ruling UPA government but it will certainly do away with the middlemen. The total subsidy amount will go into the hands of the poor who deserve it. There would also be no chance of either falsification or duplication. The system of direct subsidy cash amount payment to the people may be the flagship programme of UPA at nearing the end of its second term to mobilize the people for votes to come to power for the third consecutive term but one thing needs to taken into consideration that when there will be cash payment, what will be about PDS system? PDS will become redundant and the government will have no need to store the grains to give to the poor through it. Government will also not make any purchase of grains from the farmers. All grain productions will be sold in open market and their price will be determined there. It is feared by a section of economists that the prices of food grains in the market will go up. The beneficiaries of direct cash payment will have no problem in purchasing the food items from the market at even at high rate with subsidy amount but the middle class people will have to bear the brunt as they purchase food items out of their own pocket sans any relief from the government. The entire population needs food grains. It is not only the poor but also the rich need food grains equally. That is why the Government needs to think how to keep the prices of food items in check. According to Finance minister P Chidambram, the benefits under 29 welfare schemes being operated by different ministries would be transferred through Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts in 51 districts spread over 16 states from 1st Jan next year. He says that the scheme of cash transfer into bank accounts would enable the government to extend benefits to the needy at the click of a button without any fear of misuse or duplication. At present, government operates about 42 schemes, of which 29 would be covered by the cash transfer scheme that is to be launched from 1st January 2013 in 51 districts. The schemes which would come under the purview of the cash transfer scheme would include those of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Human Resources Development (HRD) Minority Welfare, Women and Child Development, Health and Family and Labour and Employment. The government is so serious about introducing its poll centric cash transfer subsidy amount that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed all the ministries concerned to work in close coordination to ensure success of the scheme.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Un-called for controversy of CBI Director appointment

The BJP being the main opposition party should act with responsibility and positivity at least on some issues with the government. Being in opposition does not mean that it should oppose all government act without any rhyme and reason. Rather, it should play the role of a constructive opposition and present before the nation how it would improve the governance if it was given mandate in the coming Lok Sabha elections. BJP’s programme and policy must not be centred on only saying that the ruling UPA coalition is going worse and worse. As far as the issue of appointing CBI Director is concerned, the UPA Government has not violated any established norms in the appointment of the new CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, a Bihar Cadre IPS and ITBP Director. The post of CBI Director can not lie vacant even for a single day. In the given situation how it could be kept in abeyance pending Select Committee Report on Lokpal in Rajya Sabha. Select Committee reccomends the appointment of CBI Director by a Colegium consisting of Prime Minister, Chief Justice and leader of the Opposition. It is a good idea and it would also bring transparancy in the appointment of CBI Director. Select Committee reccomendation will take a considerable amount of time in going through all parliamentary proceedings and taking the shape of law.That is why the appointment of such an important functionary can not be kept in abeyance for a long time. PM Manmohan Singh has rightly rejected BJP’s demand to hold in abeyance the appointment of new CBI Dir Ranjit Sinha and termed as unwarranted insinuation the charge that the decision was to preempt the procedure recommended by the Select Committee on Lokpal.The Prime Minister has also rightly said that the premier investigating agency could not be kept without a head pending the enactment of the Lokpal and the question of keeping the new appointment in abeyance does not arise. BJP is itself divided over the appointment issue of CBI Dir. Senior BJP leader and veteran criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani has lambasted the party over its demand to keep the appointment of CBI Director in abeyance and praised the government and the Congress Party on the issue. Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj had written letters to the Prime Minister saying that appointment of the new CBI Director should not have been done when the Rajya Sabha Select Committee had recommended that such appointments should be done through a collegium.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Expand bilateral economic relations in ASEAN and East Asian regions

It is good that India and China have agreed to make bilateral ties stronger, wider and deeper. The idea has been strengthened in the meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of ASEAN and East Asia Summit. The Chinese leader would be demitting office in March. Prime Minister Dr Singh has specifically referred to Wen's two visits to India in 2005 and 2010, saying these helped make the ties stronger. During Wen's first visit in 2005, the two countries established Strategic and Cooperative Partnership while in the second visit in 2010 marked 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Keeping in view the ongoing economic recession in the entire western world, it is necessary for the emerging economy like India to expand its economic activities through establishing bilateral economic ties in the entire region of ASEAN and East Asia. China is the second largest economy of the world and first of Asia. India is behind China in economy. India has vast market potential that needs to be exploited to the hilt. It requires having its wing spread in the entire Asian region. There is no dearth of economic resources in ASEAN and East Asian region. All we need is to exploit the economic potential for the development of the region. As China and India are the biggest economies of the region, they need to play the lead role for the equitable development of the region. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh being the world’s renowned economist, his say at ASEAN and East Asian summit in the Phnom Penh on the expansion of economic relations among the nations of the region will certainly make lasting impact. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has held separate meetings with the President of Philippines. It assumes significance because the issue of terrorism and menace of piracy figured prominently in the discussions. Discussions are aimed at intensifying economic engagement with the ASEAN and concluding comprehensive economic partnership agreement that hogged the lime light. On the side lines of the summit some more bilateral meetings are expected to take place. With an agenda to push for greater trade relations in the South East Asian region, PM arrived in the Cambodian capital to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. The Summit meets are going to provide an opportunity for India to enhance its economic cooperation in the region amid lingering financial crisis in the western world.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Take the charges of corruption seriously

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh must not take the charges of corruption in his government by Arvind Kejriwal, social-turned political activist and IAC Chief, lightly. To keep at least personal integrity and honesty intact, he must order immediately the probe into the charges. In contrary to that, the habit of his party leaders and ministers to starting making allegations and accusation against Arvind Kejriwal and the opposition BJP in their defence. It only strengthens the message about corruption among the people. And ultimate looser in the game of allegation and counter allegation will be the UPA government. Arvind Kejriwal makes allegations against politicians and business men at regular intervals. The fresh allegation that he has made against multinational HSBC Bank of indulging in money laundering and claimed that Ambani brothers, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal and Congress MP Anu Tandon had parked their black money in its Geneva branch. Kejriwal and his associate lawyer Prashant Bhushan have alleged that around Rs 6,000 crore of black money is lying in 700 accounts of the Geneva branch of the bank. It is no longer secret that huge black money is stashed in foreign banks to escape from the penalty of Indian laws. UPA government is alleged to have not worked sincerely for bringing back thousands of crores of black money from foreign banks. The entire nation knows that if all the black money is recovered and brought back into our country, it will be of great help in removing our poverty. But this huge amount of black money will be brought back by following rules and regulations put in place at international level. Government is only required to expedite the process of recovery of black money from. On this front, it is lacking in. UPA Government needs to be serious and imposing in prevailing on the Swiss bank to disclose the name of all the Indian account holders with it. Every charge of corruption leveled by Arvind Kejriwal is not without proof and unfounded. By merely sending a letter of denials by the persons against whom the charges of money laundering and stashing huge of money in banks abroad have been leveled, they can not be absolved of accusations. The UPA government also must not consider those charges as closed case. UPA Government needs to be serious to bring transparency in all financial activities and for that, all the charges leveled by Kejriwal must be thoroughly probed. The reaction that the UPA government expresses to allegations of corruption and inefficiency amply makes it clear from its defence that something is suspect. UPA is unable to read the writing on the wall.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Congress must cast off its inertia

Congress must think why the people are distancing from it. What is the cause behind it? Whether it is corruption, price rise, weakening organizational set ups in Hindi heartland or blind pursuit after economic reforms that alienate the people from it. Samvaad Baithak must dwell on these issues with priority. It is clear that there is disconnection between the people and the ruling Congress Party.Congress leaders and workers need urgently to caste off inertia and be ready to explain to the people why the worsening economic situation of 1991 is lurking before the nation. It means that the UPA has managed the economic affairs very badly. When the UPA has been in power for the last eight years, why the situation demanded to take hard economic measures that has brought more economic burden on the people. Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has asked the party workers to explain to the people about the tough economic decisions taken by the government at Samvaad Baithak in Surajkund of Haryana. It is good to hold Samvaad Baithak but at the same time it is pre-requisite to be always have Samvaad always with the people of the nation to come to power. The people are really disillusioned with UPA over rising corruption, food inflation and going all out for economic reforms. They are angry at economic measures and UPA govt's total failure to check price rise. UPA has been in power for the last eight years. Why did it not anticipate that if it did not work hard in the beginning, the situation might go from bad to worse? As far as Sonia Gandhi’s call up on its workers to explain before the people is concerned, does she not know what is the position of Congress organization from Panchayat to state capital level in two most politically important states - Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is almost dead. The Congress workers are demoralized and not in a position to speak before the opposition party with any moral standing. There is no leader in these two states who could stand up to the opposition party CMs. So, first and foremost task before the Congress Samvaad Baithak is to think in detail how to bring the party on its own feet before the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Obama's grand victory in US presidential polls for another 4 years

The victory of President Barack Obama in the US elections for the second consecutive term may be fascinating in all respects but the challenges and problems on the issue of unemployment, recession, Gay and Lesbian await him eagerly to get back to his business in Oval Office. His victory margin this time is lesser than what he had recorded in his first victory in presidential elections. But one thing is clear that President Obama has certainly created a vote bank for his Democratic Party of Youths, Women, Hispanics, minority, poor and marginal sections of society. As far as India's relation with the US under president Obama is concerned, it has been good except his protectionist policy which hurts India economically. But he will have to balance his protectionist attitude towards outsourcing so far as India is concerned because the US also eyes on India's vast market potential to exploit economically, and that might help him overcome economic recession. President Obama in his second stint will have to clarify US view on Pakistan in the given situation of danger to peace not only in Asian region but also all over the world due to unchecked growth of terrorism there. His plan for US military pull-out from Afghanistan to begin in 2014 also needs to have a re-look. And the exercise of military pull-out should only begin after the peace is ensured there. India and America are the champions of democracy. The former is the largest and the later is the oldest. So, they can be natural allies. The campaigning during presidential elections in the US must be emulated by the political leaders and parties of our country. The relation between the ruling and the opposition should also be a lesson to be learnt by the Indian ruling and opposition leaders from the US. The way the losing presidential Republican Party candidate Mitt Romney has congratulated the winning incumbent President and Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama is exemplary. Both the US ruling and opposition parties have shown that the nation is above all their political interests. Barack Obama has won a historic election to get a second term as US President, overcoming a stiff challenge from Republican Mitt Romney defying concerns over his handling of economy and anxiety over the future. 51-year-old Obama is a votary of strong ties with India. He is the first black American to occupy the White House, scored what turned out to be a comfortable victory over Romney after a bitter and costly campaign running over months with his rivals attacking him on issues of unemployment and recession. Disproving predictions of a narrow victory in a very tight race, the incumbent won the election in crucial battleground states after a neck-and-neck race in the initial stages, getting 303 electoral votes against 206 of Romney in a college of 535 votes.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Ridiculous defence

Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh is the doting parent of the BJP. It has been reflected in the defence of BJP president Nitin Gadkari in the wake of the demand of his resignation from within after the media expose about the dubious funding of his company. The rebellion within the BJP over continuance of Nitin Gadkari as party president in the wake alleged dubious funding of his company was successfully quelled for now by RSS lieutenant Gurumurthy. RSS sent its think tank and so-called noted Chartered Accountant and financial analyst Gurumurthy to make a presentation of Nitin Gadkari company’s accounts before the BJP Core Committee to defend him in the wake of the demand of his resignation. He convinced the BJP that Nitin Gadkari’s records are clean and he has been politically implicated. BJP had to accept the order from Nagpur and gave clean chit to its party prersident Nidin Gadkari. BJP issued the joint statement of its leaders in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely that gave clean chit to Nitin Gadkari and reposed faith in him. And if the RSS continued to support Nitin Gadkari in this fashion, Gadkari would certainly get second term no matter how much it would harm the. The Congress-led UPA government is facing the charges of corruption and the BJP had got an opportunity to win favour of the people by acting against its own president Nitin Gadkari and sending a message that the party is intolerable on the issue of corruption. It was also an opportunity for the BJP to take high moral ground and win people's favour. But it has frittered all opportunities and the way it has acted on the issue of corruption against its president amply reflects that it is in no way better than the Congress, though both are the two sides of the same coin. BJP says that because Gurumurthy gives Gadkari a clean chit, he is innocent. BJP also says that Nitin Gadkari is prepared to face any probe. First of all, is Gurumurthy has been appointed a commission of enquiry to look into irregularities committed by Nitin Gadkari? Who is Grumurthy to pass judgement. If the same parameter is adopted in regard to all charges of corruption against politicians of different political parties, all will get reprieve. Can it be possible that if he showed unprepared ness, there would be no probe against Gadkari? Is it possible that because he is not prepared, no case of corruption will be filed against him in the court of law? BJP must know that it does not matter whether the accused is prepared or not, he would have to face the judiciary trial and the probe instituted against him. Can there be more ridiculous defence of the political party's president when it happens to be the main opposition party of the nation? It means that BJP is no different from the Congress on the issue of corruption. Nitin Gadkari episode also reflects BJP has no control of its own political agenda and it is remote controlled by RSS.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Nitin Gadkari's continuance harmful

Now, the continuance of Nitin Gadkari any longer as BJP president when the demand of his resignation is being raised within the party would prove to be suicidal for it. BJP is the main opposition party of the nation. The ruling Congress-led UPA is already beset with the charges of corruption. In the given situation, the people could look towards the BJP, but when its party president Nitin Gadkari is himself facing a number of corruption charges, what the people can expect from it. Not only the present party president faces charges of corruption, a former president of BJP had already undergone imprisonment for a few months on the charge of taking money, which was caught on camera. BJP MP and the leading lawyer of the nation Ram Jethmalani had already demanded the resignation of Nitin Gadkari from the post of Party president. Now, Mahesh Jethmalani, an eminent lawyer and son of Ram Jethmalani, has resigned from the BJP National Executive Committee and said that he would not associate with the party as long as Nitin Gadkari remains its president. In the meanwhile, again Ram Jethmalani has made a fresh demand of Gadkari's resignation and said that three BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha, Jashwant Singh and Satrughan Sinha are in touch with him and support his demand, though BJP parliamentary party leader Sushma Swaraj has tweeted, favouring Nitin Gadkari to continue as party president. Apart from charges of corruption, Nitin Gadkari’s sense of comparison has thrown the party into great embarrassment. He has compared Swami Vivekanand with the proclaimed criminal and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim because the former used his IQ for the benefit of the people and the later for wrongdoing. It reflects that Nitin Gadkari's own IQ required to be measured immediately. When Nitin Gadkari was made BJP president on the recommendation of BJP's doting father Rashriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, it not only startled the top brass and workers of the party but also its supporters all over the nation. First of all, he is very much junior in politics and age to most of the leaders. He was also alien to the national politics before being made party president. He was a state leader of Maharashtra and in good book of the RSS. His only plus point is that he is running Business Empire in Nagpur and protégé of RSS. His meteoric rise in business and politics itself reflects some sort of underhand dealing being allegedly practised by him. In the charged atmosphere of corruption against political class in toto, any further continuance of Nitin Gadkari will cause irreparable loss for the BJP. Sooner the BJP get relieved of Nitin Gadkari, the better would be for the party.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Bihar deserves special status

Presently, Bihar may be recording growth rate in double digit but still far short of national average. It is also one of the most backward states of the nation. Bihar has everything except financial resources to catch up with national development. It has no dearth of meritorious students, labourious youngmen and the people. Biharis are known for their merit, hard labour, exemplary courage, honesty and integrity. They have contributed much more than anyone else in the development achieved so far in any part of the nation. In the absence of any industry, there is no employment generating avenues in the state. Biharis migrate in large numbers to Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the nation in search of livelihood. They put in hard labour outside the state to earn and leave behind all others. Bihar has glorious history and set examples to be followed all over the nation. It has been first on many occasions. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has certainly brought turn around in the development of the state but his hands are bound in absence of financial resources. He has rightly given clarion call to the people of Bihar to take the fight to Delhi in March if their demand for the special status is not conceded. The historic Gandhi Maidan was packed to the full with the people to make demand on the Centre to give special status to Bihar. This is also the first time that the rally of the political party has been held on issue of development of the state. Biharis are not beginning but making the rightful demand of the state. More than One crore signatures of Biharis for special status have already been handed over to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. PM also ordered to a Committee to look into the demand. The Committee has already submitted its report and reportedly rejected the demand of special status on the ground that it is only provided to the hilly states. Bihar is not hilly state but it is landlocked and underdeveloped for which even world parameter suggests special package. Since the state of Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar, all mineral resources went with it and the state was only left with only flood and draught. Without the adequate development of Bihar, the national development can not be complete. It has been the record of Bihar and Biharis to lead the campaign of the development of the nation from the front. It only needs to set-up infrastructure for industries. The industry will only come up in the state when there will be investment from outside. Investors like tax relief and it is possible only when the state would avail the facility of special status. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has mobilized the entire state that was evident in Gandhi Maidan. Kumar has also shown through this mammoth rally his political clout in the state to both his alliance partner BJP and the UPA Government at the Centre. It is correct to say that CM Nitish Kumar was minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee -led NDA government for six years and did not raise any voice for the special status of Bihar. But it does not mean that he should not demand the special status for the state at this point of time. He is mobilizing the support and all Biharis are behind him on this issue. National Development Council (NDC) must consider seriously on the rightful demand of special status to Bihar.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

UPA must explain Reliance episode

India Against Corruption (IAC) boss and social turned political activist Arbind Kejriwal, who is going to announce the name of his party at the end of this month itself, may be leveling one charge of corruption or the other on daily basis against both BJP and Congress but the charges that he leveled against the country's biggest Corporate House Reliance and its boss Mukesh Ambani of making huge profit from the KG basin by dictating terms to increase gas price to Manmohan Singh government must be clarified by it. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's action in regard to Reliance makes clear that he favoured it under an unseen pressure. The shifting of portfolio of Petroleum minister also is alleged to have been done under the pressure of Reliance on PM to suit its business interests. The recent shifting of the portfolio of Petroleum from Jaipal Reddy is also alleged to have been done under the pressure of Reliance. Jaipal Reddy was shifted to ministry of Science and Technology only because he vehemently opposed Reliance move to increase the prices of Gas to reap huge profit. As Reddy is an honest minister and of unquestioned integrity, he did not bend under its pressure and because of that petroleum portfolio was taken away from him. Though it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to appoint ministers and allot portfolio, the way Petroleum portfolio was taken away from Manishankar Ayyer to Jaipal Reddy amply reflects that there works some unseen power on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to oblige Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani. In the given situation, Arvind Kejriwal has rightly leveled charges against the Government of India that it is not run by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but by the Reliance boss Mr. Mukesh Ambani and both Congress and BJP are in his pocket. Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations that the contract of exploring Gas in KG Basin was signed during the BJP-led NDA regime and implemented in letter and spirit by the Congress-led UPA regime must be cleared by the government. That is why Mukesh Ambani used to say that the ruling Congress Party is his shop. Arvind Kejriwal's allegations against the ruling and opposition parties may have been sans solid evidences but it is responsibility of the UPA government to rebut charges one by one on the basis of solid document so that the people of the nation could know what the truth is. In democracy, IAC boss Arvind Kejriwal has every right to raise the issue of corruption against government, political parties and corporate, and it is the responsibility of each accused to explain its position before the nation.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Nature's fury- A wake-up call for America

Sandy is a wake-up call for the entire world. It gives warning to the US to be serious and honest at the meeting on Climate Change at international arena. America is the super power of the world. So, it has greater responsibility to establish the order of the nature and if any country violates the norms set by the international gathering on Climate to protect the nature, it must be punished immediately and no bias either in favour or against should be exercised at any cost. To keep the climate clean and the atmosphere free from any pollutant substances is the responsibility of every human being to keep all living being protected from the fury of the nature. Under the leadership of the US, the industrialized and developed countries of the world emit highest amount of Carbon dioxide and thereby pollute the atmosphere beyond imagination. US must act without any loss of time to protect the climate. It is not the terrorist act or attack by an inimical country on America but by the forces of nature. The forces of nature were so ferocious that the US bowed before them despite being super power of the world. The Mega storm Sandy has battered the US East Coast with fierce winds and heavy rains, killing at least 13 people and causing a power plant explosion, besides uprooting trees, power lines and plunging much of Manhattan in darkness. Life has been thrown out of gear. No show of power made any impact on the ferocity of the forces of nature. The US has been crippled by the mega storm Sandy and it is a clear warning for the super power of the world to work for Climate Change with sincerity, impartiality and without any self-interest to save Mother Earth on the one hand and all the living beings on the other. Otherwise, the days are not far off when not only the US but also the entire world will become the prey to storm more powerful than the Sandy or any other natural calamity of more destructive magnitude. The experienced felt by Sandy amply reflects that the fury of nature can not be stopped. Sandy, one of the biggest storms ever to hit the US, battered the coastline of New Jersey, where a large number of Indian families reside, with 80 mph winds, pushing seawater up by an unprecedented 13-feet in New York City. According to the eyewitness, Floods have inundated large number of areas in New York and New Jersey and an explosion at a sub-station on the east side of Manhattan's Midtown left 500,000 people without power. If eyewitnesses are to be believed a huge ball of blue light exploded over Manhattan last night believed to be a powerful blast at Consolidated Edison station. This is the most ferocious form of nature and no power on earth can lessen its impact ferocity. According to initial estimates, the devastation has resulted in a loss of USD 10-20 billion. Sandy is no longer a hurricane because it's drawing energy from temperature differences and not the ocean, making the transition to a super storm that may push a wall of water ashore in the Northeast and lash the East with wind and rain.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

All in a fix over Madhubani

The civil and police administration of Madhubani, Government and opposition parties have been found to be in a fix over the eruption of violence and the torching of government properties and loss of lives in the district. It was virtually shortsightedness of the government and total failure of the administration in handling the developing situation arising from the recovery of a decapitated body. The three days of total lawlessness, police firing, loss of two innocent lives and torching of government properties in Madhubani district of Bihar over the recovery of beheaded body presumed to be of a teen-aged school boy of class 10th who had been missing since September 7, which turned out to be a case elopement with the appearance of the boy with the girl in Delhi in the evening of Oct 15 as claimed by Delhi police. With the recovery of a decapitated body, violence on large-scale gripped the whole of Madhubani district of Bihar. Students went on rampage to protest the high-handedness of Madhubani police in the case. The entire opposition called Bihar Bandh yesterday to lodge their protest against police firing in which two innocent lives were reportedly lost. It was a total bandh. While the teenager was traced to New Delhi along with a girl with whom he had eloped. This is the glaring example of district police and civil administration failure. Had they handled the case judiciously and felt the sensitivity of the situation,Madhubani would not have burnt for three days. The district administration of Madhubani has totally failed in keeping the situation under control. The day the beheaded body was recovered, the tension prevailed in Madhubani. The body was disfigured and because of that the teen aged boy's family members including his mother mistook it to be of her son's dead body. Now the question arises why the dead body was kept in the morgue for more than 72 hours. Why the administration did not cremate it after 72 hours the day it was recovered. What were the police doing all these days? The police should have immediately made intensive investigation to make identification of the dead body. The graph of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is going down and down since he embarked on Adhikar Yatra to demand the Special Status for Bihar. During his Adhikar Yatra, the black flags and the slippers were thrown at him by contractual teachers. It clearly reflects that the discontentment among the people of Bihar has started setting in against his Government. Nitish Kumar came to power to restore normalcy, rule of law and bring the state on development track. He initiated rightly in the beginning but lost the way in his second term and developed arrogance. The people harboured high aspiration and expectation of his government. Though there has been development in all spheres in the state and on the front of electricity and investment from outside, the situation has gone down and down and consequently disillusionment descended on the people. They have now started thinking that their dreams and hopes have been dashed to the ground. And if the crowd thronged at RJD supremo Lalu Yadav public meeting in the state these days is anything to go by, the warning bells have started ringing for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to cast off his dictatorial style of functioning with giving priority to bureaucrat over public representatives.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Need for immediate probe

The trust run by Union Law Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife for providing help and relief to differently-abled persons is alleged to have committed financial irregularities. The report on financial irregularities was carried by a leading Media Group of the nation. India Against Corruption (IAC) activist turned politician Arvind Kejriwal has also launched protest against the minister and demanded his resignation from the Union Cabinet. Salman Khurshid on return from his London visit held one and half-hour long press conference and rubbished all charges one by one against his trust and expressed willingness for any probe into the alleged financial irregularities it, though Kejriwal has rejected all his versions to prove the allegation to be unfounded and baseless. The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of UP police has started investigation into financial irregularities in trust in all the districts of the state where it has been running. The charges of corruption must be probed impartially and there must not be any defence in their favour. If these-days of corruption laden atmosphere among political class the precedent is set for ministers, MPs and MLAs to resign the moment charge against them is slapped, no government irrespective of political party would survive even for a day. No government can provide corruption free rule in this age of materialism. During Salman Khurshid’s press conference, it was clearly visible that he was feeling disturbed and his conscience was biting somewhere his inner chord of heart. That is why he burst into anger with the reporter of that media group and warned him that he would see him in the court. Whatever may be the findings of the investigating team, but one thing is clear from his appearance, behaviour and way of responding and giving explanation that he is on week-wicket on the charges of financial irregularities allegedly committed by his trust. He had brought a differently-abled old man to say the nation through his press conference that the Trust had provided him hearing aid but he needed more. The experience says that the record of almost all the NGOs have been under question because of financial irregularities and it has also been mostly seen that NGOs are either run by the persons closely associated with powerful persons or under their direct control. The concept of running NGOs by the government is to provide opportunity to the social activists to serve the society in different ways through an organization for which it provides them some financial grants. But the reality is that mostly the NGOs and Trusts are run for gulping the government money in the name of social service. As far as the allegation of financial irregularities by Salman Khurshid's trust is concerned, the greater responsibility rests with him to get them investigated and come himself clean instead of showing arrogance and loosing temper under the glare of national and international media in New Delhi. It reflects that all is not well with his trust.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Stop behaving like ruffian

When the elected member of our Parliament takes the law into his own hand and threatens by banging his gun at the Toll Tax plaza only because he was asked to pay tax of Rs. 80, Why should we can expect from the road tough to respect the rule of law. Congress MP from Porbandar Vitthal Radadiya was booked for rioting and criminal intimidation and under the Arms Act after he allegedly threatened the staff at a toll plaza at Karjan in Vadodara district with a gun. A CCTV camera caught him in the act. The CCTV camera captured his action which had been displayed on every news TV channel that clearly reflected how outrageous and fearsome he was looking with the gun swinging in the air to show his clout in power. It is the most shameful act displayed the member of Lok Sabha. Congress party needs to take stringent action against him and let the law to take its own course against the Lok Sabha member Radadiya. Irrespective of the political party, the majority of people’s representatives exerts their influence openly to take undue advantage. People's representatives in state assemblies and in Parliament are expected to set role model for the people whom they represent. Their curtsey, disciplined lifestyle and respect for the rule of law should leave emulating influence in society. It is not only some Congress party MPs and MLAs who resort to goondaism in public life but all irrespective of political affiliations break law and order whenever they consider to have been let down in public. They fail to understand that they have been sent by the people to Parliament and assembly to serve them. The people are their masters. Unruly, unsocial and illegal behaviour of MPs and MLAs reflect that the degeneration has definitely set in our political culture. Most of the elected representatives of all political parties seem to have forgotten that they are law makers. When law makers become law breakers, only God can save us. As Vitthal Radadiya is a Congress party MP, he must be asked by the party leadership to explain his conduct. If he was surrounded by about 15 men at the Toll tax centre and the toll tax staff considered his identity card of MP as bogus, why did he not call the police to provide him security? Today it is Congress party, tomorrow it will be some other party MP and MLA who can behave as the hoodlums. No political party claims to be clean of MPs and MLAs having criminal antecedent or they do not have direct nexus with criminals. So, untill and unless the nexus between criminal and politicians are broken and the political parties deny tickets to fight elections to those who have criminal antecedents, there will be no halt of crime shows by some of our MPs and MLAs.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Delhi police have done a commendable job

Delhiites commend the Delhi Police for foiling attacks on marketplaces in the capital and at Bodhgaya and solving the recent Pune serial blasts with the arrest of three alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) militants. Large quantities of explosives were allegedly recovered from them. If the circumstance and modus operandi of Indian Mujahideen militants are anything to go by, the claim made by the Delhi police about the arrest 3 IM militants and seizure of explosives is certainly true. Delhi police have done a commendable job by being keeping themselves vigilant and were on the look-out for the IM militants on the basis of the clues and their planning they got from LeT oprative and 9/11 mastermind Abu Jindal during his interrogation. If the three arrested IM militants had succeeded in their murderous plan in Delhi and Both Gaya during festival seasons, they would have killed many innocent lives by carrying out a series of bomb last in these two places. Delhi police is certainly the leading police organization of the nation. The officers and constables of Delhi police are known for keeping constant vigil on the anti-national activities. Its investigating team is known for thoroughness and precision. They are alert, agile and react against the militant elements without any loss of time. It is also correct that whenever they become complacent, lethargic and fail to co-ordinate with the intelligence agencies and the police of other state, the militants carry out violent acts. Delhiites are feeling relieved at the arrest of three IM militants. No terror or criminal activity can take place in national capital if Delhi police act on time with all sincerity and integrity in co-ordination with all other agencies entrusted with the task of keeping vigil on militants. It is also the responsibility of Delhiites and, especially the landlord to carry out tenant verification before giving flats on rent. The residents of every colony of Delhi must also be watchful of the activities of the new entrant in their colonies. As it is the sole responsibility of Delhi police to keep the city safe, they must be given all intelligence inputs by the agencies to pre-empt any terror act. Delhi being the national capital of India, it must be given special protection. The Delhi police have to be always on their feet to protect the city. Delhi is also on radar of terror outfits based across our border. So, Delhi police must keep themselves always in readiness to meet any eventuality at any point of time.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Usurping the opposition space

With launching of protest against the Delhi Government for its anti-people policies, former Team Anna key member-turned political activist has usurped the political space of opposition parties in democracy. He is doing what main Opposition party like BJP should have done earlier on all issues of public concern. Arvind’s knack for politics reflects itself in his choosing of issues that concern the Delhiites most. They are overwhelmingly supporting him because being enormously troubled and vexed by the exorbitant rate of power tariff and inflated bills. It is Arvind Kejriwal and his team members who have come out on the streets of Delhi against the high-handedness of private power companies. They in agreement with the government of Delhi have gone on burdening the people with increasing power bills. While according DERC report, they are earning considerable profit. This was the duty of the BJP in Delhi to protest forcefully against the arbitrariness of private power companies and the government of Delhi. Has any leader of Delhi BJP restored the disconnected power supply at the residence of a consumer against whom ocular outstanding bill was shown? When Arvind and his colleagues launched agitation against the arbitrarily raised electric charge and inflated bills and announced to sit before the DERC office, the BJP General Secretary and one of the top most leaders of Delhi Vijay Goel too reached there along with some supporters to protest the increase of power tariff and allegation of inflated bills. While Goel attempted to join forces with Kejriwal, the effort boomeranged after the latter leveled accusations against the BJP. It is very ridiculous and cunning of Vijay Goel to extend the hands of friednship to social-cum-political activist Arvind Kejriwal but in return he received an embarrassing question that it is today that the BJP has come to know about increasing power tariff and allegation of inflated bills. Where were they all these months? The matter of the fact is that BJP was well aware of the issue which concerned the Delhiites most. But it was its complacency and lack of sensitivity to protest the power companies’ arbitrary move forcefully to galvanize the support of Delhiites against the policy and programmes of Delhi government. As Delhi will be the first political priority of Arvind Kejriwal, it is no doubt that he is sincerely and with all seriousness raising the issues which hurt the Delhiites most. There is also every possibility that if he continued to open the eyes of political leaders to see the troubles being faced by the people in the national capital Delhi, his party will make its entry with tremendous support of the common men. Congress-led UPA government is beset with charges of corruption and the Opposition BJP callous and complacent. In the given situation, it is certain that Arvind Kejriwal will get overwhelming support of Delhiites because he raises the issues of direct public concerns promptly, sincerely and honestly.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

PM’s assurance

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has rightly spoken to the people of India and told them why big economic reform measures were necessary to be introduced to keep away the worsening economic situation like we had experienced in 1991 when no nation was prepared to give even small amount of money in loan. The credit goes to the PM for introducing economic reforms in India to take the nation out of the grave economic crisis in 1991. The budgetary and current account deficit gap had widened to the extent that the nation had left with the foreign reserve of 7 days to import any goods in 1991. The same situation will have to be faced by us if we did not take preventive economic measures. Presently, the nation has foreign reserve to sustain import for not more than seven months. The worsening economic situation demands earnestly on the government to take hard steps to offset it to take over us. That is why UPA Govt. has taken tough economic decisions to keep nation's future bright. Every time when the government carries economic reforms forward to improve the economic situation, there is stiff opposition from all the opposition parties. The coming of computer and opening up of telecom sectors for private players was fiercely opposed and it was said by the opposition parties that these measures would render crores of people jobless. But what happened is all before us. Our nation emerged as economic power and crores of jobs were created. The disinformation campaign about economic reform measures was proved wrong by none other than the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the capacity of Finance minister in the Narsimharao's Council of Ministers in 1991. Dr. Singh is an acclaimed authority on economics not only in India but all over the world. Deteriorating economic situation started drawing flak from all over the world. The major economies of the world and their newspapers and magazines started taunting our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about his competency in carrying forward economic reforms. He has strengthened the Indian economy that has withstood and warded off any impact of the downturn of the western world. As far as economy of the nation is concerned, no person at least in India claims to have better knowledge of it than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He knows better than anyone else how to improve the economy in the age of economic globalization. By telling the nation why he allowed 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retails, hiked diesel price by Rs 5 per litre and put cap on LPG Cylinder and assuring the people of improving the economy, Prime Minister cautioned them not to be misled by the protests of opposition parties and launching of disinformation campaign.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Avoid mid-term poll

The nation is not in a position to bear the burden of expense of a mid-term Lok Sabha poll two years before its schedule in 2014. Economy is in disarray. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh after being criticized by national and international media for policy inaction, he has mustered courage to again initiate economic reform measures firmly to boost economy. UPA’s most formidable ally TMC’s supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee has reacted very sharply in opposition to UPA Govt.’s decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi- brand retails and made announcement of withdrawal of support. In the given fluid political scenario, the Congress-led UPA must behave responsibly and sincerely and exhaust all options to avoid mid-term Lok Sabha polls in the situation arising out of Trinamool Congress decision to withdraw support from it. Trinamool Congress with 19 MPs has withdrawn support to the UPA government. Party leader Mamata Banerjee declared in Kolkata that she could not support the Centre’s “anti-people decisions” to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, raise the price of diesel, and cap the subsidy on cooking gas. With the declaration of decision to withdraw support and handover the resignation of all ministers from the TMC quota on Friday at 3 PM in protest against the UPA's recent economic decisions, the Congress-led UPA government of Dr. Manmohan Singh has slid into minority, though up till now it has the outside support of SP and BSP that can keep it going firmly. It is every likelihood that UPA-2 will run its full course anyhow but one thing is also certain that with its most vital ally TMC's decision to withdraw support if UP did not retract on all reform issues, it certainly has lost the confidence of the people a little bit. UPA can also not be dependent on SP and BSP as no party would like to be seen with the government sinking day by day. Though it was most urgent for the UPA government to act on economic policies and take reform measures that could be hard enough, it would also be imprudent on it to go back with its decisions of economic reform measure. It will be better for the Government politically and economically both to implement FDI in retails firmly, honestly and sincerely and ensure that its benefit must reach to the last poor man in our society. That is why economic reforms so far have not brought expected benefit and whatever benefit has come from them has centred in the hands of a few. The rich have become richer and the weak have become weaker. If the Congress-led UPA succeeds in doing away with pro rich impression about economic globalization and giving human face to its economic reforms, it will certainly weathered away all opposition in the remaining two years term of its government.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Anti-US sentiment on rise

Whatever may be the cause behind the reported killing of US Ambassador to Libya and three embassy staff, one thing is certain that the anti-US sentiment is gaining ground and spreading fast in Arab world. On the surface, it is apparently clear that the US anti-Islam instance is the main reason behind attacking the ambassador in Libya. The US is loosing clout among Arab world dictators and much of the ground in Middle-East has shifted away from it. It was seen earlier that whenever any anti-US protest was launched in Arab world, it was muzzled by the dictators there. The US clout was so strong that it could count on Arab world dictators to silence the voice of dissent against it. Now come to the subject of the reported killing of US Ambassador in Libya. The US anti-Islam film which denigrates the position of the Prophet Mohammad has outraged the religious sentiment of Muslims all over the world in general and in Arab world in particular, and their anger is manifest in the killing of US Ambassador to Libya. The protesters deemed US film blasphemous to the Prophet Mohammad. In the given situation, it is natural that it would cause outrage among the followers of Islam all over the world. Every religion of the world must be given due respect and the film makers all over the world must be instructed clearly that while making film on religious theme, they must take all precautions not to hurt sentiment of any community of the world. The lives of US ambassador and three other staff were taken away for no fault of their own. It is the film that has caused so much anger among the protesters not only in Libya but also in Egypt, Yemen, Cairo and other places in Muslim world. US President has immediately reacted to the killing that he would bring the perpetrators to justice in the same vein and tone as his predecessor George W Bush had announced just after the 9/11 attack and invaded Afghanistan. The consequence of his revengeful action is here before the world. So, it is advisable for US President Barack Obama to act for reconciliation to establish peace and order in the world instead. The assault has followed a protest in neighbouring Egypt where demonstrators scaled the walls of the US embassy, tore down the American flag and burned it during a protest over the same film which they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Narendra Modi makes his intention clear

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Vivekananda Yuva Vikash Yatra is seen as the beginning of the campaign of Gujarat Assembly elections, which is to be held anytime in December this year, and an attempt to politicize one of the greatest Indians for his party’s political gains. He has also made his intention clear through this yatra that he is ahead of all others in his party in reckoning for Prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Two senior BJP leaders-former party president Rajnath Singh and leader in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley- flanked his Yatra. It is a month-long Yatra. But on the first day itself, he has made it clear that his eyes are set on the Centre. Vivekananda is a world renowned personality and any Youngman can emulate him. He has set example before the youth of the world. By accepting Swamy Vivekananda as his role model, Narendra Modi tries to polarize the youth of not only Gujarat but also of the whole nation in his favour. As the youth population of the age from 25 to 35 years constitutes 60 percent, their role certainly matters most in any coming elections in India. He has launched Vivekananda to counteract the appeal among the youth population of Congress Party youthful leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Modi should also know that his party has no patent right on Swamy Vivekananda that he is politicizing his name to win the favour of the youth. Vivekananda believed in universal brotherhood. He respected every religion of the world. To depict him as Hindu icon is the handiwork of BJP. Modi has targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and called him to follow the development of Gujarat Model. He says the Gujarat is 'Shining' while the nation is being taken to dark ages referring to the northern grid failure a few months back. But it appears that he has forgotten that his party Prime Minister Atal Behari-led NDA government was thrown out of power in 2004 Lok Sabha elections by the people despite its slogan of 'India Shining'. As history repeats itself, his boastful claim of development of Gujarat might meet the same fate as his NDA met in 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Modi says that the Time Magazine called Prime Minister 'Underachiever' while it carried the story about the development of Gujarat prominently. Again he suffered from amnesia. The story of 2002 Gujarat riots, which took place under his Chief ministership, was also carried by almost all national and international dailies, weeklies and fortnightlies prominently and painted him as an accomplice in them. His month-long Vivekananda Yuva Vikash yatra is nothing but to make his Prime ministerial candidature in 2014 Lok Sabha elections stronger and unquestioned in the party at the national level.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Drop sedition charge against Cartoonist

Freedom of expression can not attract charge of sedition against the person who expresses freely and in a non-violent way. The expression which does not incite violence can not attract sedition charge. What fault is of Freelance cartoonist Aseem Trivedi that he has been arrested by Mumbai police on the charge of sedition? He drew a cartoon that parodied national symbols and emblems not with the intention of degrading national honour but to show the instrumentality of the honourable members of Parliament that has resulted in such a worsening state of affairs. He has only expressed the anger of the people with them through his cartoon. All freedom loving people appreciate the creativity. Creativity of the artist is the mirror of society. Artists, writers and cartoonists present the true picture of society through their creativity as well as the nation. Freedom of expression is the fundamental of democracy. Without this, any growth of democracy is impossible. National symbols and Emblems must be respected, but the members of Parliament must also uphold the prestige and honour of the nation. With day in and day out, scandal after scandal is surfacing but no act of sedition has ever been imposed on those high-ups in the government accused of involvement in it. Freedom of expression must not be curtailed and censorship from back door must not be imposed. In democracy, everyone has right to express freely. If the freedom of expression is throttled in this way, an atmosphere of fear will prevail throughout the country. And in the given situation, all voices of dissent may attract charge of sedition. So, the Government of Maharashtra must withdraw the charge of sedition against the cartoonist Aseem Trivedi without any delay. As voices of protest against his arrest has grown, Maharashtra’s Congress-NCP government too seems to be distancing itself from the police action.Trivedi has been arrested in a December 2011 case against him for his cartoons parodying national symbols. The case was registered at the Bandra-Kurla Complex police station following a complaint.Trivedi has been accused of putting up “seditious” banners mocking the constitution during Anna Hazare’s campaign in Mumbai last year and posting the same on his website.He has been arrested under IPC Section 124 (sedition), Section 66 A of Information Technology Act and Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to Nation Honour Act. Assem Trivedi’s arrest smacks of intolerance. It signals a very dangerous move to curtail the freedom of expression. Drop sedition charge against him and protect the freedom of expression.

Friday, September 7, 2012

UPA Govt’s suicidal move

Any further hike in the prices of fuels by the UPA government would only take it near to its doomsday. Rumours are rife that the UPA government is going to further hike the fuel prices to lighten the burden on the oil companies. People are already facing backbreaking price rise. The price of all the essential commodities, including food has been going higher and higher for the last two months and the government so far has miserably failed to check it. If the UPA government dared to hike price of fuels, it will be opposed fiercely not only by the opposition parties but the people also. The poor are already under immense pressure because unbridled price rise. UPA must know that GDP growth can not fill the stomach of the hungry people. Because of rising food inflation, more than half of the population is unable to manage both ends meet. Any hike in petroleum products will have cascading effect on all commodities. In the name of bring back economy on the track, UPA government must not allow the oil companies to raise prices of fuels. Though the price of fuels is decided by international market and on the basis of that oil companies put pressure on the government to allow them to increase price, the ultimate power lies with the Government. The main business of the government should be to keep the price of all essential commodities within limits so that the poorest of the poor could afford to buy them and live on minimum subsistence. If the government is really concerned about the worsening economy of the nation, it must provide clean administration. It is because of rampant corruption at levels of government departments and surfacing of a galore of scandals prices of all commodities are going up and up. The price of petroleum products is hiked at frequent intervals to minimize the loss of oil companies by transferring the burden on the poor people. Nation is unable to understand with what logic the UPA government is running. Though the Govt. has ruled out hike in price of fuels in immediate future, it has expressed concern over the plight of oil companies. It amply reflects that Govt. is more interested in protecting their interest than relieving the poor people of price rise. Govt. may take some difficult, painful decisions as oil companies are facing severe constraints owing to under recoveries. Govt. says that oil companies are selling fuel at highly subsidised rates and losing 550 crore rupees everyday on under recoveries as a result of higher crude oil prices. Govt. always speaks as spokesperson of oil companies and it is bent on sucking the blood of people.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Western media's deliberate move

It is western media’s deliberate attempt under the pressure of their government lobby to tarnish the image of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at international level. People know that this is the same media which had profusely praised him when he got the Indo-US Nuclear Bill passed in Parliament. So, their criticism should not be treated seriously. They are poking him to go all out again for economic reforms to their countries’ benefit. The crony capitalism can never be beneficial for the country like India. The benefit of economic reforms so far in India has not filtered down to the lower strata of society and concentrated in the hands of a group of business houses. With the slowing down of the economic reforms process in India and PM's failure to introduce FDI in retail by hook or crook for the benefit of western economy, which sees India as the largest market potential for them, they have started a campaign of running down to build pressure on him to go for economic reforms with doubly force. Before the prestigious Washington Post, US Times Magazine has already called Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as Underachiever, who is unable to stick out his neck. Now, the Washington Post has called him silent and a tragic figure. It is to be seen how deftly the western media had eulogized him as the man who brought India on the path of prosperity, modernity and made it an emerging economic super power when economic reforms were in full swing under him. But at the same time, they now describe him as silent, dithering and tragic figure. Washington Post casts aspersion on him by saying that he is ending as a failure and presiding over a corrupt government. It has also described him as intellectual bureaucrat when he was steering reforms process very speedily, but now when his coalition government failed to maintain the speed, it has described him as ineffectual bureaucrat. No section of western media has ever carried a story that economic downturn in the west has badly affected the Asian economy, especially of India and China. Government has strongly objected to a remark by Washington Post made on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the incumbent Central government. The opposition BJP appears to have no policy and programme except the demand of PM’s resignation every now and then. Instead, it must present before the nation its policy, programme and leader so that the people could think whether it has the ability to replace the ruling Congress Party in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Washington Post in an article has said that Dr. Manmohan Singh who ushered India into a modern and prosperous country may end going down in the history as a failure.The article goes on to say that the image of Prime Minister is slowly changing from a humble and intellectual technocrat to a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government.