True colours of some aged ministers

The stiff resistance from some aged Union ministers, who happen to head the sports organisation especially Cricket under BCCI, that faced the National Sports Bill in Union Cabinet and ultimately rejected shows the true colours of some senior cabinet ministers. It clearly reflects that despite whipping up of politicians in general and ministers in particular during the Anna campaign against corruption, they have learnt nothing. Their deceptive action is sure to invite more public wrath in recent days.
Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken had no intention to put Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under the Government control. The Bill only intends the accounting of the BCCI to be made public under RTI as it avails facility provided by the Government of India.
The Union Sports Minister has rightly hit out at the BCCI that the People have every right to know how it uses Cricket ground as the venue of the match in different cities of India and how it get the players to play at home or abroad as the Cricket Team of India. That is why BCCI must be accountable to the nation.
The question here does not ariseof putting BCCI under Government control that some ministers associated with BCCI and other state cricket organisations and other sports organisations need to fear of stripping off their privilege and perks that they continue to enjoy and get their political interests served. The Bill only intends to make BCCI accountable to the nation. And this is nothing wrong.
As far as the Bill puts an age bar of 70, what wrong is there with it? When every public servant except the politicians have age limit to retire, what is the problems with politicians associated with sports bodies. The Bill envisages 25 percent seats for former players in the administration of sports bodies. There is no wrong with it as it make the administration amenable to the players.
Senior ministers like Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, C P Joshi, Vilarao Deshmukh, Praful Patel and others were reportedly seen very vocal against Bill in the Cabinet that led to its failure to clear National Sports Bill. Its primary aim is to regulate the functioning of BCCI, which has so far been unbridled with the blessings of some powerful politicians.

Good move to bring BCCI under RTI

Why is Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) opposed to the introduction of National Sports (Development) BIll 2011? It is only because if all its functioning and all other national sports federations are brought under one umbrella, it would make them transparent. That at least BCCI does not like. It feels that it is government in itself on accounts of its unaccounted money flowing into its coffers constantly.
The BCCI is an opaque body of sport. It is also the richest of all sports bodies. The question here arises why is it opposed to be brought under Right to Information? When it has enormous income, why can its income not be audited by the agency of Government of India? why the audited account be not uploaded on internet to make it transparent and information of all sorts reachable to the general public under RTI.
BCCI is also the richest of all the international bodies of the game of cricket in the world. It has unaccounted money and is governed by influencial politicians and business houses. They have made it their grazing ground. Any interference by the government in its functioning is seen by it as encroachment on their self-made fundamental right to control it as according to its likening, blatantly ignoring national interest and prestige involved with it.
Presently, Union Agriculture Minister and NCP boss is the Chief of International Cricket Council (ICC) and before assuming this coveted post, he was Chairman of BCCI. Barring BCCI, all the sports bodies of the country are more or less transparent in their functioning. As other sports bodies in our country are not affluent enough, even then the politicians get attracted towards them, though completely not keeping themselves aloof. Some of the sports bodies other than cricket are still under the control of politicians and to know about them in a better way, we will not have to go very far if we look at the CWG mess under the leadership of a politician, who is presently in Tihar jail.This is the sorry state of affairs of all our bodies. All, including BCCI need to be overhauled under the competent government agencies.
So far the veteran ex-cricketers have been kept out from the decision making body and those vital positions have always been taken by politicians and corporate houses in BCCI. They have made it a money miniting machine and paid little attention on the welfare of players and promotion of the game of cricket with an eye on future. The disastrous performance of Team India in England has awakened the government of India and rightly decided to tighten screw,nuts and volts of BCCI to make it transparent and get the body freed from the hands of Czars. Government must introduce National Sports (Development) Bill 2011and cleanse the mess in BCCI as soon as possible.

Victory of democracy

The nation has rightly celebrated the victory of democracy after the Parliament finally resolved to incorporate 3 vital points- lower bureaucracy withing the ambit of Lokpal, Citizens Charter of Demand, Lokayuktas in state- of Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare and his team to weed out rampant corruption in Government departments from top to bottom, and eventually it led to the end of Anna’s 13 day-old fast unto death protest, which has galvanised the entire nation against corruption.
The way democracy has come out victorious and the supremacy of Parliament and Constitution remained intact would go in history of all democratic countries of the world as the most important moment. The main characteristic of Anna’s protest was its non-violent nature and principle. It is exemplary.
Though some speakers on the Podium of the protest at Ramlila Maidan were carried away with emotion before the mammoth crowd and uttered unparliamentary languages against the parliamentarians in general, They must not have lost sense common courtesy and civility. On the whole the protesters maintained civility.
Film personality Om Puri and retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Core Group member of Anna Hazare’s protest, crossed the line of civility and courtesy while attacking the parliamentarians and politicians from the dais. Their diatribes must be condemned and members of Parliament have rightly moved the motion of privilege against these two persons in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively, which has been sent to Privilege Committee of the House for its perusal.
As far as the Government is concerned, it has shown complete lack of foresightedness in judging the anger among the people all over the nation against the growing corruption of colossal magnitude. That is why it completely failed in properly handling the situation and calming down the public anger. When it realised its inherent weakness, the imbroglio was resolved amicably and the nation felt relieved.
Now, the government must expedite the procedures of Standing Committee to show its sincerity by passing a strong Lokpal Bill as early as possible to weed out corruption.

Nation needs Anna’s service

The famous Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare has been sitting on fast unto death at Ramlila Ground in Delhi for the last twelve days for Jan Lokpal Bill to root out all pervasive corruption from the government departments, prevailing from top to bottom. Keeping his deteriorating condition of health as his fast enters 13th day today, the entire nation requests him to give up his fast unto death so that the nation could avail his invaluable service for many more years.
The spontaneous support of the people from all corners of the nation against corruption at the call of Anna Hazare made the UPA Government at the Centre nervous.Lakhs of people assembled at the Ramlila to support his nation’s cherished cause against corruption.
Initially, the Government failed to read the writing on the wall but later on when the number of people continued to increase at Ramlila against corruption to support his Gandhian and peaceful protest, the good sense prevailed on it and started the process of dialogue with Anna representative. Team Anna represents a civil society and it is also a fact that there are a number of civil societies in our country. But the civil society that Anna has formed enjoys unprecedented support of the masses. The three key demands of Anna Hazare are -- appointment of Lokayukta in states, bringing lower bureaucracy in the ambit of the proposed Lokpal Bill and citizens’charter in all offices to make officials work in a time-bound manner.
Many other civil societies such as of Aruna Roy and Jai Prakash also claim to have drafted Lokpal Bill of their own versions as has done team Anna to root out corruption form the entire government department.
We are a largest democracy of the world and Parliament is its biggest temple. It is supreme and before it no civil or any other societies can challenge its supremacy. At this point, Anna and his team drifts away and try to dictate the Parliament, which stands unchallenged from the outside and inside, though the three points that Team Anna has raised are uncompromising and is really the backbone of any anti-corruption mechanism to make it a success.
But the parliamentary process can not be bypassed and these three points of Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal Bill will have to go through it. Giving the utmost importance to Anna Hazare and people's sentiment against corruption under his leadership, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in his statement in the Parliament saluted him for his honesty, integrity and credibility in public life. He along with entire House appealed Anna Hazare to give up his fast. The discretion demands that Anna Hazare should have reciprocated the Parliament's gesture and given up his fast. He has missed that opportunity. If he had reciprocated and given up his fast, It would have added one more feather to his cap.
Anna’s fast is the serious concern of Parliament about his health and the government has already initiated the three points of Jan Lokpal demands for discussion is underway and the Parliament is likely to adopt the Lokpal Bill containing these three points from Jan Lokpal of Anna and send it to Standing Committee for further debate and discussion in order to complete the formality of parliamentary procedures. After this, the Govt would send a letter of resolution by the Parliament to Anna Hazare so that he could break his fast as the nation needs his invaluable for many more years.We again salute Anna Hazare and request him to give up his fast.

Respect PM’s grand gesture

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh alongwith the entire House has urged the fasting Gandhian and social activist for introduction of his version of Jan Lokpal Bill to break his fast unto death, which is entering 11th day today. Prime Minister has saluted his resolve, determination and indomitable courage to fight corruption. He has also assured him full consideration of his version of the bill, Aruna Roy's, a renowned social activist and member of NCPRI, version of bill and alongwith Govt’s Lokpal Bill in Parliament.
Prime Minster has created a history by showing a grand gesture to a Gandhian of high morality ,integrity and honesty to break his fast immediately. Because nation needs his service for many more years, he must keep his health robust and healthy. The Gandhian in true spirit must consider the concern of PM,Parliament and the nation about his health. He must end his fast immediately in national interest.PM's appeal amply reflects that the government is seeking a credible solution to the Lok Pal logjam. There is need to collectively find credible solutions to corruption. The Govt is committed to a strong and effective Lok Pal Bill and is open to suggestion from all sections. Dr Singh said the Standing Committee will give its full consideration to all drafts on Lok Pal Bill including that by Team Anna.
Dr Manmohan Singh also appealed to Anna Hazare to end his fast. Speaker and other members of the Lok Sabha also joined Prime Minister in his appeal to Anna.
Team Anna must also know that in whichever country of the world Lokpal or Ombudsman has been appointed to check graft, the supremacy of the Parliament has nowhere been challenged. The the importance of the greatest institution of democracy, that is Parliament,must be kept intact. Its consent any bill of national importance has always been of paramount importance. So, keeping in view the concern of the nation about his deteriorating health, he must immediately break his fast and guide the nation for many more years.
Whether it is Sweden, Finland, UK, Hong Kong or Indonesia, everywhere parliamentary democracy has been kept above everything else. The office of the Chief Executive of the nation has been kept unchallenged. The importance of Parliament in democracy is amply reflected in the speech given by Sharad Yadav,JD(U) boss,inside it, has been eloquent so far. He has dwelt enormously on the utility of Parliament and its vital role in representing the wishes and aspirations of all sections of the people of India.
Anna Hazare must adopt rational approach and break his fast. The situation demands that he must listen to Parliament, the temple of democracy.

People’s euphoria is no panacea

The euphoria of anger and frustration with the government in power created on streets among the people all over the country for the last five days under the leadership of famous Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare, who is sitting on fast unto death at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi against rampant corruption at all levels of government departments and making a Jan Lokpal. Government’s changing colours like chameleon from the morning to evening on the August 16 by first arresting Anna for peaceful protest and then releasing the Gandhian under immense public pressure was witnessed all over the country and abroad, and the UPA government turned out to be a laughing stock. Team Anna is vehemently opposed to Government's Lokpal Bill, which is lying before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice looking into the Lok Pal Bill has invited suggestions from individuals and organisations. The Committee headed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi has decided to invite memoranda containing views, suggestions from the individuals and organisations interested in the subject matter of the Bill and also to hear select oral evidence on the subject matter of the Bill.Those select oral evidence on the subject matter of the Bill. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee have been asked to send letter within fifteen days of publication of the announcement.The Committee has also asked for those, who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence besides submitting the memorandum, to indicate the same. The corruption has taken so deep a root in the successive governments that it can not be removed by agitating a month or more and by bringing the entire country on streets. The first step towards adopting meaningful measure to deal with corruption is to start dialogue by the government with Team Anna and all political parties on one table. The corruption is an issue that touches emotional chords of the people instantly because that vice has deprived the millions of their due life-long. But by holding the nation to ransom, the problem of corruption can not be removed nor the Janlokpal Bill could become a reality. Every issue needs to be talked out in a vibrant democracy like ours.As far as anti-corruption agencies are concerned, there are several in place at the central and state level. But the result we see is that instead checking corruption, it increases very fast. It means untill and unless the degenerating moral value set in every sphere of life is not removed, no measure will prove effective to check corruption.

Need for improving education

The apex court order in regard to minimum eligibility percentage for admission in central universities for OBC category should be at most 10 per cent less than that the general category students is good, but at the same time the standard of education at primary and secondary levels in our country, especially in the rural areas, is worse. School teachers willfully keep themselves absent from duty by greasing the palms of education deparment officers of the areas and victims of their negligence in duty are none other than the students. The building built on weak plinth is bound to fall under pressure. And that happens in the case of weak students at college and university levels. Therefore, the prime necessity is to improve the primary and secondary education in right earnest.

The Supreme Court has held that the minimum eligibility percentage for admission in central universities for OBC category should be at most 10 percent less than that of general category students.

A bench headed by Justice R V Raveendran said that the eligibility criteria for OBC category students should not be decided on the basis of admission given to the last candidate in general category.

The bench, however, clarified that there would be no disturbances in the admissions which have already been done by the universities for this academic session.

The court’s clarification has come a petition filed by a former professor of IIT Madras, seeking its direction in the light of discrepancies in implementation of OBC quota in different educational institutions.

Majority of students irrespective of OBC and general categories do not have access to good education either because of the shortage of good teacher or of lax administration, resulting in absenteeism among them. The administration of education department at lower level needs to be overhauled. Otherwise no reservation would help students any more.

Even if the students get admission in colleges under central universities on the basis of reservation, would they be able to withstand the pressure of standard education if their school education has not been upto mark? So, the prime necessity is to improve the level of primary and secondary education all over the country.

Socially and economically backward students must be given adequate privilege to bring them on equal footing with the rest of the society, but it does not have any meaning if they are not taught well at school level. The root must be strong.

Without improving the standard of education, no reservation for any category of student would be of any help.