tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49089931627475498502024-03-05T15:00:28.450+05:30ThoughtsThis blog functions like an exhaust valve to bring out my cluttered and sometimes confused thoughts. Please give your comments so that we can make this more useful, with wider perspectives. You may find my micro-blogs on Twitter @jay_ambadi.Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-8580549568175916192019-12-05T10:26:00.001+05:302019-12-05T10:34:30.518+05:30Citizenship Amendment Bill and National Register of Citizens – The deadly mixture!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Union Cabinet has once again approved the Citizenship
Amendment Bill (CAB). Sangh bhakts are defending it blindly. Some ‘neutrals’ are
supporting it out of their concern for the 'persecuted religious minority' from
neighboring countries, even as they actively contribute to the persecution of minority
in India, through their voice or silence!<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the face of it, it may appear that providing asylum to persecuted
minorities is a noble objective. However, I am convinced that the real motives
of the CAB is simply sinister. The point I am making in this post is that the
CAB has nothing to do with saving the persecuted religious minorities (It will not even protect the Tamilians who had to infiltrate into India, to escape persecution by Sri Lanka during the civil war days). Its only
aim is to persecute India's largest religious minority- Muslims. Let me
elaborate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The CAB, as reported, is granting citizenship rights to all
those Non-Muslim 'illegal migrants' from neighboring countries of Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Afghanistan who infiltrated into Indian before December 2014.
They just have to show that they were in India for five years- no matter how
they entered India. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Will anyone verify whether these illegal migrants
were really subjected to any persecution, before granting them citizenship?
No. All proceedings against them will stand abated with the passing of CAB and
they become Indian citizens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please note, the Bill is not prospective. It is not to grant
asylum to people from religious persecution in the future. It is only for
granting citizenship to those who had already migrated to India before December
2014- the cutoff date. No matter what their objective or motive was while
illegally entering India. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, what is the point?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The point is in reading the CAB with the proposed National
Register of Citizens (NRC). <o:p></o:p></div>
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By virtue of CAB, every person in India who can prove their
presence in India before December 2014 can get automatic entry into NRC. Not
so, for Indian Muslims. Muslims in India will be required to prove their
continuous citizenship and residence from 1955 or whatever cutoff date is
adopted for entry into NRC. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We all know how difficult and challenging it is to produce documents to the satisfaction of NRC officials, from the horror stories we get to hear from Assam NRC experience! </span>At the same
time, all other religious people will be protected by virtue of CAB. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now you appreciate the danger?<o:p></o:p></div>
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With the passing of CAB and adoption of NRC, India's Muslims
who cannot 'satisfy' the NRC officials will lose their citizenship, while all
illegal migrants from neighboring countries will get admission into NRC if they
belong to any of the other major religions of India!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Denial or discrimination in granting citizenship (or any
other rights), based on one's religion is totally against the basic features of
the Indian Constitution. Supreme Court has made it clear that Secular character
is one of the basic features of our Constitution, which cannot even be amended
by the Parliament!<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the intention is to grant protection to those who are
persecuted on religious grounds why exclude Muslims alone? If Muslims are not subject
to any persecution (as some claim), they don't have to be given any asylum on
that ground. Citizenship should not be automatic on religious grounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Criminalizing abandonment of wives by Muslims alone (through
a null & void triple talaq) was another example of such acts of discrimination
by this Govt. If the intention was good, they could have made abandonment of
wives by anyone (including for the lofty objectives like becoming the PM) a
criminal offense!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, the proposed CAB and NRC together will destroy the very
idea of India, as we know it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now the question is, who all will allow it to be passed in
the Parliament? <o:p></o:p></div>
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And if the Parliament cannot prevent this unconstitutional
law from being passed, how soon and how effectively Indian Supreme Court will
stand up to protect the very essence of the Constitution?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Keeping my fingers crossed on the future of India!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-21096865416924239292019-11-24T10:50:00.000+05:302019-11-24T10:51:45.295+05:30“We the Idiots” from “We the People”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Telegraph said it openly and bluntly, “We the Idiots!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNikMKDaHxib_BopzOLRjU-FGi-SaXeVIFnQA9hIH5u11tX2RgUw_7cG3iRw1oMyMfcrwDm45b2X6RCIx93lhMT-vSXGv1oC-D4femQkBIRTBS9Galg1ptnm5nM5wYJcDK_QSRvReNIYea/s1600/72677914_10215865856019509_385685937171988480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="622" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNikMKDaHxib_BopzOLRjU-FGi-SaXeVIFnQA9hIH5u11tX2RgUw_7cG3iRw1oMyMfcrwDm45b2X6RCIx93lhMT-vSXGv1oC-D4femQkBIRTBS9Galg1ptnm5nM5wYJcDK_QSRvReNIYea/s320/72677914_10215865856019509_385685937171988480_n.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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The framers of the Indian Constitution drafted the document from
the perspective of ‘We the People.’ However, when our constitutional
institutions and worthy people occupying those positions acted in a late-night
drama to install Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, they
did everything on the basis of perspective that we are just a bunch of idiots
and not a people!<o:p></o:p></div>
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A government which is installed secretly, taking advantage
of the darkness of late night, cannot but be termed as an immoral child of
darkness!<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I say this, I do not mean to claim that Indian politics
was full of pristine virtues until the night of 22-23 November 2019. Throughout
independent India’s history, politicians and political parties have acted in
the worst manner whenever it suited them for capturing power. However, all such
acts had the benefit of some or other loophole in the constitutional scheme of
things. For example, look at the latest Supreme Court verdict that allowed Karnataka’s
defector MLAs to contest the bye-elections despite being disqualified from the
same assembly. Though the decision may not appeal to the sense of what is
right, one cannot fault the Supreme Court because of the legal position or
loophole existing as of today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The same is the case with most government formations in the
recent past. Nitish Kumar broke a pre-poll alliance that was running the
government in Bihar only to join their opponent BJP to form another government.
In Karnataka, MLAs from the ruling alliance were induced to resign from their posts
to cause the fall of the existing government, and then inducted and given tickets
for contesting the bye-elections by BJP. Most recently, in Haryana, BJP joined
hands with their arch-rivals in the just concluded elections to form a
coalition government. I am not even going to list all the other governments
formed by BJP since Narendra Modi assumed power at Centre, from Kashmir to Goa
to Manipur, using not so honourable tactics like threatening or purchasing of
MLAs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Howsoever it may be desirable, honour is not a mandatory
requirement in politics and all these government formations (and scores of
others by other ruling parties in the past) can be defended as (much abused) Chanakya’s
strategy that took advantage of the existing loopholes in the system. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Let us be practical. In a multiparty representational
democracy when no single party or alliance manages to get a simple majority to form
the government, the parties that contested elections against each other may
have to come together to form post-poll alliances and assume the power.
Otherwise, we will end up with perennial reelections until one party or
alliance manages to get the majority. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Since post-poll alliances cannot be wished away, there is
nothing wrong (legally, even if not ideologically or morally) if BJP and NCP
decide to come together and form a government. So is the case when ideological
opponents like Congress and Shivsena decide to form a coalition government.<br />
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There is nothing wrong in such attempts per se, at least from the
constitutional perspective.<br />
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In all such attempts at government formations, the ruling
party at the Centre is likely to have some advantage over the opposition,
mainly owing to the role of Centre’s nominee, the Governor acting as a biased
arbitrator. There is no point denying these political realities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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However, when such attempts are made to form governments by
creating a majority, it is the solemn duty of the Governors and other constitutional
authorities to ensure that things are kept within the limits of the
Constitution. As they say, at least the pretense of constitutional propriety must
be maintained in everything that is done by these authorities. No matter, who
got them appointed to the posts, these authorities have a duty to the people
and the Constitution since they and their families are eating out of the salary
received by them from the taxes paid by the people! <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the case of Maharashtra, it is now apparent that the Governor,
the Prime Minister, and the President have all acted in an unconstitutional
manner to install and illegal government. Ajit Pawar switched sides and took
oath as part of this illegal government, without even the mandatory support of
one-third of the MLAs. And to facilitate such an illegal act, the President
agreed to withdraw the Governor’s rule in the dead of the night, without even
insisting on the mandatory recommendation from the Cabinet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There can be no two opinions that this act of
the President was nowhere near the dignity of his office. If this presidential
order can be compared with anything, it is only with the infamous order of
declaring the Emergency in 1975. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Only a regime that treats the people as a mere bunch of
idiots can undertake such gross violations of their duties and constitutional
norms. It is in this context that the Main Heading of The Telegraph becomes apt
and assumes critical importance for India’s polity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now we can only wait to see how the Supreme Court deals with
its paramount duty of upholding the Indian Constitution. Will the Court act
promptly in restoring the people’s confidence in our systems, or will it procrastinate
and thereby provide adequate time and opportunity to BJP to indulge in horse-trading
and cobbling up an immoral majority? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Until then ‘We the Idiots’ can only feel sorry of the Indian
Constitution!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-63051472120087322972018-02-08T13:40:00.000+05:302018-02-08T13:40:05.071+05:30My Thoughts on the Patel-Nehru Controversy by Narendra Modi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Prime Minister Modi is entitled to his opinion that Sardar Patel would have made a better Prime Minister than Pundit Nehru. There is also nothing wrong in he expressing it in a speech, in the Parliament. </div>
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Who knows? Perhaps India might have taken a different course with Sardar Patel as the PM. </div>
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However, India or Congress Party cannot go back in time travel and change the history. It is too late to replace Nehru with Patel and test Modi's hypothesis!</div>
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I too have a similar opinion. </div>
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Had BJP opted for any decent human being, to be the PM instead of Narendra Modi, it would have been beneficial to India!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
A human being.......</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not display his or her lack of decency in every speech, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not abandon his or her spouse, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not use one's own mother as a prop in public relation photo shoots,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not lie about his/her educational qualification, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not lie on matters of his/her life even in sworn affidavits, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not use blaming his/her illustrious predecessors as the only answer to any Parliamentary criticism, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not maintain strategic silence when his/her foot soldiers are indulging in riots or lynchings, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not conduct diplomacy in a way to benefit only his/her cronies, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not favour his/her industrialist friends over a time tested organization like HAL,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not take ugly U-turns on all the policy matters that he or she used for getting votes, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not use the sacrifices or dead bodies of soldiers to getting a few votes, </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
who will not destroy time tested institutions and conventions without thinking through the consequences and alternates..............</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
This list can go on, but, I guess, is sufficient for any responsible political party to consider replacing it's nominee for the top job before it is not too late for that party and the Nation!</div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-55308234218038797292018-01-20T19:40:00.000+05:302018-01-20T19:42:39.946+05:30Delhi office of profit controversy: Why blame the ECI?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am reading a lot of opinions, blaming Election Commission for recommending disqualification of AAP MLAs for holding office of profit. In my humble opinion, it is unfair to blame ECI for this just order. They are bound to adjudicate as per the laws, currently in force. The law is very clear. Even Sonia Gandhi had to resign from Parliament, under the same laws.</div>
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Yes, I agree that there are other states where the system of appointing MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries or holders of such other posts is prevalent. However, those states have managed to create specific exclusions to the Office of profit laws, for those posts.</div>
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It s not that the Delhi Govt was not aware of the issue. On the contrary, the Delhi Legislative Assembly, had passed the Delhi Member of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) (Amendment Bill), 2015, to exclude Parliamentary Secretaries from office of profit, with retrospective effect. If the contention of Kejriwal Govt is that the Parliamentary Secretary post does not fall under the category of office of profit, then why pass such an Bill?</div>
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In the case of Delhi, the infamous tussle between the Govt and Lt Governor has ensured that the Amendment Bill was not allowed to become the law. Hence, unlike other states, no such exemptions could be created for Delhi Assembly. I am not going into the merits of that tussle as the same is now before the Supreme Court for final decision. The fact of the matter is, the post held by those disqualified MLAs is not exempted under the existing laws.</div>
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Blame Lt Governor or Central Govt for not allowing the amendment. One may even call it discriminatory or against the principles of federalism. My limited point here is that ECI is right in disqualifying those MLAs. We should not be rushing to blame the constitutional authorities where they are acting within the scope of the letter and spirit of existing laws.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Before I end, let me state a general principle. MLAs are supposed to hold the Ministers (executive) to account in the Assembly. If these MLAs are holding any office under the same Ministers, they may not be able to discharge their constitutional responsibility in a free and fair manner. Some people are arguing that the Delhi Parliamentary Secretary posts did not involve any monetary benefits and, therefore, do not fall under the office of profit. My response is, the office of profit provisions are not there to prevent MLAs from getting some monetary benefits, but to ensure their independence from the will and command of the Executive.Can we expect a Secretary to question the Minister in the Assembly? Can we allow such a free run to the Executive, when there is virtually no opposition as in the case of Delhi?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
So, I believe all unessential posts should be brought under the office of profit rule, rather than diluting the law by creating more exemptions. We have no dearth of efficient and qualified people that our MLAs and MPs have to be made secretaries to Ministers!</div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-6162094189773790572017-10-29T20:56:00.003+05:302017-10-29T20:56:53.470+05:30Kashmir: Freedom Vs Autonomy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “<i>My interactions in the state led me to
conclude that when people ask for ‘Azadi’ most of them actually seek autonomy.
Must consider areas to give autonomy to J&K. It’ll remain part of India but
will have larger powers as promised under Article 370</i>." - This is the
exact reply made by Mr. Chidambaram on a question related to Kashmir unrest
(Source: Indian Express). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some
leaders who think the nation is not its people but only some real estate and
some others who don't understand the difference between freedom and autonomy, along with their followers have attacked Chidambaram for his opinion on this issue. Congress
Party has also distanced from his statement, perhaps to limit the political
damage from its misinterpretation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In my
opinion, every state and region has a legitimate right to seek more autonomy in
matters that affect the day to day life of its people. So long as they are
willing to recognize the sovereignty of India, there should be no problem with
demands for autonomy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
fact that the policy of 'only pellets and bullets' has already failed in
solving the Kashmir issue is evident from Central Govt's decision to appoint an
interlocutor, to commence negotiations with various stakeholders in Kashmir. If
people of Kashmir are seeking more autonomy and NOT freedom from India, that is
a good starting point for negotiations to solve the unrest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If
anyone has any issue with giving autonomy to people of Kashmir should try and
delete the Article 370 from the Constitution, instead of taking the high moral
ground of pseudo-nationalism! So long Article 370 is a part of the
Constitution, people of Kashmir has the right to seek more autonomy within the Indian
Republic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S:
Many people are of the mistaken belief that Article 370 is the only provision
within the Indian Constitution that provide special rights to people of a
region!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-59574734548687640052017-09-27T10:34:00.000+05:302017-09-27T10:59:04.050+05:30When Journalism turns to mere PR: The story of ADB projecting 7% growth for Indian Economy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">For me, the
day began with reading two conflicting reports on Indian economy. The first one
was a scathing indictment of the Finance Minister, by Yashwant Sinha a BJP
member and former finance minister. He said, not speaking out anymore on the
condition of Indian economy will amount to failing in his duty towards the
nation. A notable point in his article was that the 5.7% of GDP growth rate achieved
so far by Indian economy is equal to or less than 3.7% if we use the formula of
Manmohan Singh’s period. That means, on an apple to apple comparison, Modi Govt
has caused so much harm to the Indian economy and the result of an unbelievably
low growth rate of 3.7% for the first half of this financial year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The second
was a news report on ADB's publication titled Asian Development Outlook 2017.
As per the report, the ADB has reduced to the growth rate for Indian economy
from an earlier projection of 7.4 % to 7%. Even though ADB is talking about a
reduction of 0.4% in its projections, the news was presented as a great
positive story. A 7% growth rate as against much lower rates suggested by many ‘anti-nationals’
including former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and 'frustrated BJP leaders' like Swamy
and Sinha! Here is ADB (with much more credibility) substantiating the greatness
of Modi ji by saying India will grow at 7% in this financial year. What a slap
on the face of all those who criticized Modi ji’s great financial initiatives
like demonetization and half-baked GST! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Knowing the
kind of journalism we have to live with in these days, I decided to check why
ADB is giving out a projection that is so removed from the ground realities. According to Govt’s own admission the first
half of the financial year saw only a growth of 5.7%. If the growth for the
whole year has to reach an average of 7%, Indian economy has to grow at a
minimum of 8.3% for the second half! Given the admissions from Chief Economic
Advisor and Finance Minister (forget all others, including SBI’s and various
other doomsday reports) there is no way Indian economy can attain a growth of
8.3% in the remaining year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">So what is that
the reports on ADB’s <a href="https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/237761/ado-2017.pdf">Asian
Development Outlook 2017</a> was hiding from readers? Well, it was easy to find
out. I just went to ADB site and downloaded the publication and looked at the
basis for making such a projection. And there it was…The publication has
clearly made a disclosure that the projections were made on the basis of data
available up to <b>03 March 2017</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Now we all
know, in the month of March, Modi and his followers were still in hope of the
demonetization miracle. Since then, the reality has stuck even those who were
pretending to be asleep. Adding to the problems was the introduction of GST.
When lot of well-meaning people were cautioning about a hasty implementation,
the daring Modi ji went ahead and implemented it without even an iota of worry
as to how it will impact an economy which was already reeling under the impact
of demonetization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Anyone who
comes across a prediction that says India will continue to grow at a decent 7%
in this year, despite all these setbacks, should have immediately looked at the
basis for such a prediction. If only they had looked, the reporters would have
found that the prediction is based on such outdated data. Perhaps, the
reporters merely wanted to gratify the Government and do their PR, rather than
informing their readers? More so since reports after reports that speak anything
against those in power are being taken down by the media houses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-14631337682891145132017-08-17T10:06:00.003+05:302017-08-17T10:06:49.066+05:30Accidents of Birth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
It was George Bernard Shaw who said:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it.” </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
What a profound observation!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In fact, similar unfounded convictions of superiority relating to each group (linguistics, racist, regional, religious, caste....), based on the single most fact of one's being born in a particular group, is the cause behind most conflicts among humanity!</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
I wish we humans begin to value the accidents of our birth, a little less! </div>
</div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-1859430630762254532017-05-31T11:30:00.001+05:302017-06-01T09:33:59.985+05:30Problems with Human Shields and Collective Punishment <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(Initially published on <a href="http://news4masses.com/problems-with-human-shield-and-collective-punishment/">News4Masses.com</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One day, my daughter who was then studying in fourth
or fifth standard was very upset when she came back from her school. When I
probed the reason, she said her physical education teacher had beaten her along
with all other children of her class. I tried to defend the teacher by saying
that the children must have done something very mischievous to make the teacher
punish all students. But she was not convinced. She said only a couple of boys
had made noise in the class for which the teacher punished the entire class.
She also told me that this particular teacher was in the habit of handing over
mass punishment, irrespective of who was at fault. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I then pacified my daughter by promising to
intervene if the teacher repeated such an act, any time in the future. It had taken only a couple of days before I
was forced to act on my promise. The
same teacher repeated the mass punishment, this time for something done at the
playground by one or two children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I then wrote a letter, addressed to the Principal of
the school explaining why it is not right to punish innocent children for the
mistake of one or two of them. It is for the teacher to find out who is at
fault before handing out the corporal punishment. If that is not done, the
children will lose track of any differentiation between a right behavior and
wrong behavior and get confused between rewards and punishments. If you have to
undergo the punishment, irrespective of your innocence, you are likely to end
up taking up those mistakes. I warned the school that if the concerned teacher
repeats the act and subject my daughter to such physical punishment, I would be
constrained to initiate legal proceedings against the teacher and school. Needless to say, the teacher concerned was
duly warned by the management and the habit of mass punishment came to an end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was reminded of this incident when I got to read
some comments by the Chief of the Army (CAS), defending the use of a human
shield by an Army team, in the state of Kashmir. The incidence in which a
Kashmiri man was tied to the bonnet of an Army Jeep, to avoid the agitators
from throwing stones at the Army team that was on its way to save the polling
staff from any potential attack, was commended by the CAS as an innovative way
to counter the dirty war. The CAS did not stop at merely defending such an act
but awarded the officer involved with a commendation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are a lot of people who support the act of the
officer concerned and the CAS defending and awarding the officer. There is also
an equally strong view that the practice of using a human shield is against all
the principles of an honourable fighting force like Indian Army and only goes
to show the military of the country in a poor light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The purpose of this article is not to judge the act
of the officer concerned. A commander has to take instant decisions in the face
of hostility. While there are certain basic principles that the officer should
ideally keep in mind, at times s/he may be forced to use out of the box
thinking to overcome a difficult situation. Therefore, it will not be right for
a person sitting far away from the theatre to say an act was needed or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this article, I would like to look at the
desirability of such a public defending or awarding the officer concerned. Some
people say that the CAS did the right thing as he has to keep up the morale of
his men. However, there are many issues with that line of thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Any act, which is a war crime under the
international laws, or a crime under the national laws, does not cease to be so
even if it was resorted to under exceptional circumstances. When such circumstances itself is a matter of
inquiry, it is not right for the authorities to defend or condone such an
illegal act. That will amount to
prejudging, or trying to influence the inquiry process. The exceptional
circumstances may reduce the gravity of a crime, but the crime remains one.
When the establishment decides to commend or award the perpetrators of such
acts, it is like legitimizing an illegal or improper act. We have just witnessed when the Indian Army
as an institution decided to go against the Indian Constitution, Indian criminal
laws, the Army Act, and its own standard operating procedures! When such
disregard for the written rules is allowed, the consequences can be disastrous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Secondly, in this particular instance, the victim
has claimed that he was an innocent man who was out to cast his vote in the
bye-election that was being held on that fateful day. The polling percentage in that bye-election
was only 7%. It is very easy to counter check the veracity of the man’s claim
of being a voter, by merely looking at the votes polled. Despite that
possibility, I have not heard anybody claiming that the victim had lied about
casting his vote. When a man defied the threats and chose to cast his vote, the
Indian state should have provided him all the support. Instead, an arm of the
state stands accused of abducting him and using him as a human shield. Is that
the way we are going to ensure the allegiance of more and more Kashmiris to the
cause of Indian state?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thirdly, what if the stone pelters were more
hardliners and out of the box thinkers than our Army? What if they decided that
their cause was more important than any one individual and pelted stones at the
man and killed him? Would the Commander concerned or the CAS have assumed
accountability for such an event? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fourthly, if the victim himself was a stone pelter
(as claimed by the officer concerned and a section of the media) why was he not
arrested and prosecuted for that offense? Why was he let off after being used
as a human shield? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fifthly, what is the difference between a terrorist
force and an armed force? Can the armed forces resort to any method in the name
of innovation and dirty war? Can the Army forget that its objective is to keep
the Kashmir and Kashmiris on the side of India and not to eliminate or
subjugate them? Should Army seek fear from the citizens (as alluded by the CAS)
or should it seek goodwill from the people? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many people are supporting the act of the Army
because it happened in Kashmir and the victim is a Kashmiri. Consider the
outrage if a human shield was used by the Police forces in, say Kolkata,
Bangalore, or Delhi. Even better, consider the victim tied to the bonnet of
Army Jeep is any 'one of us' or 'one of our own'? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Kashmir is a troubled area. A lot of Kashmiris are
agitating against the Indian state and indulging in stone pelting. Does that
make it right for the security forces to treat all Kashmiris as enemies of
India (note that even enemies have rights under Geneva Convention) and treat
them with no respect for their rights? Is it a policy of the current government
to treat all Kashmiris as hostile and subject them to punishments like using
them as human shields? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whether an innocent child in the school or an
innocent citizen in Kashmir, we cannot subject them to collective punishments
for the crimes done by others. Can we hold the entire people of states in which
the recent lynching of human beings took place (the number of such states is
increasing), and punish them all for the murders? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What differentiates good from the bad (and teachers
from bullies or soldiers from mercenaries) is adherence to the rules of the
game. Deviations may happen at times, but the deviations are to be treated as
such and discouraged, and not given any exalted status. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Self-respect is a basic requirement for any human
being. The victim, in this case, was subjected to unreasonable dangers and
extreme humiliation. Can we reasonably expect this victim (or his near and
dear) to love or respect our Army or the state, anymore? Fear, I am afraid, is
not a long-term weapon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-55558022935988712682017-05-28T09:24:00.001+05:302017-05-28T09:24:02.959+05:30Why Do They Keep Shouting ‘Go to Pakistan’?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>(First published in <a href="http://news4masses.com/why-do-they-keep-shouting-go-to-pakistan/">News4Masses.com</a>) </b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Until three years ago, when a
self-confessed Hindu nationalist Mr. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of
this country, the favorite insult of right wingers on social media was
pseudo-seculars. Anyone who questioned their viewpoint or supported anything
done by the then government were labeled as pseudo-seculars and accused of
minority appeasement. Then it all changed, and the term pseudo-secular is
hardly found in the mentions and comments. It appears that the term
‘anti-national’ has replaced pseudo-secular.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When a ‘hostile’ government was in
power, these people could hardly use the term anti-national because most of
their campaigns went against the state and the nation as it existed then. There was no hesitance to go after the
government, judiciary, police or even armed forces. They wanted everyone to be anti-government,
and it is not so easy to distinguish between anti-national and anti-government.
When Mr. Modi assumed the power, the whole narrative had to be changed, and the
acts and deeds of the state supported at any cost!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we follow the current pattern, we
see an eagerness among the right wingers to label everyone voicing a different
view as anti-national and ask them to go to Pakistan or at least to leave
India. On the face of it, such labelling, or commands to leave the country, is
blatantly wrong. The nation is not anyone’s family property that one can keep
asking other citizens to go away. Then, why do they keep doing that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To understand this phenomenon, we
need to go back and look at the nature of the right wing in India. The
continuing support to the type of policies being followed by Modi government
clearly indicates that the so called right wing in India has nothing to do with
rightist economic policies. This Govt does not subscribe to the liberal
principles of ownership of one’s assets, or even one’s body and privacy. Look
at its stand in the demonetization or Aadhaar issue and it becomes quite
obvious. At times, Modi Govt’s policies are more leftist than the communists!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What we term as right wing in India
is less of economic right, and more of religious right. It was no accident or
slip of tongue that Mr. Modi chose to describe himself as a ‘Hindu nationalist’
during the electioneering. The allegiance is not to an India envisaged by the
Constitution, but a Hindu Rashtra envisaged by the parent body, RSS. That is
why the term ‘Bhakts’ is more accurate to describe the supporters of this
government than the term ‘right wing,’ which has some universally accepted
characteristics grounded mainly in economics.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The primary binding factor for the
Bhakts is the religion. However, in India religion alone cannot divide people
into a clean Us vs They. There are a
large number of Hindus who do not subscribe to the RSS’s Hindutva. It is not
easy to make every Hindu to follow the ideals of Sangh in the short or medium
term. Bhakts and Sangh believe that the minds of these people were corrupted by
the liberal or colonial education system and brainwashing by the evangelists
and Islamists. The political power.
However, helps them to make a clean division between nationals and
anti-nationals. Never mind how much they had opposed the previous governments,
but now with a RSS backed government in power only anti-nationals can question
its policies or acts. It is not surprise that the Sangh draws inspiration form
the practices of religions to make the division!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Religions usually demand strict and
unquestioning adherence to its precepts. Religions create a lot of rules for
the followers to obey. Any violation of these rules are termed sins, which are
supposed to bring heavy consequences in this life or the forthcoming lives. The
strategies may differ from religion to religion. One religion may demand
confessions, another may demand penance, or confer rewards and punishments in
the form of the fruits of one’s acts and deeds. All of them, however, demands
complete obedience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The obedience sought by the
religious forces is absolute. Stories of Abraham who readied himself to murder his
young son on the command of his God, and Ekalavya who cut his thumb on the
command of his Guru Dronacharya are the examples that readily comes to mind,
while we can find any number of such examples from the religious myths. The instrument of precepts, sins, and
punishments is the effective tool that religious use to command absolute
subservience from the followers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that the political power has
been captured, Bhakts would love to ensure similar unquestioning, absolute
obedience to their government from all Indians. It is, therefore, their duty to
keep reminding anyone who raises voice of dissent that it is a mortal sin to do
so. Every voice against their regime is anti-national and fit to be punishment
with a one way ticket to the ‘antithesis of their nation.’ Pakistan that came
into existence as a Muslim nation is symbolic as an antithesis of the Hindu Rashtra.
If the sins continue, then they will not hesitate to use more persuasive
methods like physical attacks and lynching. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Religions have perfected the art of
creating a number of hard to avoid sins so that the followers remain guilty and
apologetic all the time. The neo-nationalist Bhakts are also importing this
strategy of sins, to make citizens defensive all the time, by creating too many
anti-national acts! They will shout
anti-national at even small deviations in behavior so that the citizens will
not dare to do of voice anything which is even slightly inconvenient to the
government. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A citizen is not expected to support
anything and everything that the government, public servants, or armed forces
of the country do. It is the duty of a citizen to be on constant vigil and
ensure every wrong is called out and corrected. The demands like ‘go to
Pakistan’ or abuses like ‘anti-national’ are inevitable when you point out the
mistakes of a government that is founded on the religious nationalism. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not easy to go against an
organized religion or cult. It is also not easy to go against nationalist
government of any religious persuasion. But then, who said democracy and
liberty are easy to get or easy to maintain?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S: When it really mattered, they did not take part in the
Quit India movement. Today, they keep shouting ‘Quit India’!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-36431706274949232672017-05-16T21:49:00.000+05:302017-05-16T22:10:42.624+05:30The Life under Modi Govt as per the Economic Times Poll<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Look </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">at the results of a poll conducted by one of the leading business newspapers, </span><a href="https://epaperlive.timesofindia.com/ETE/BOM#display_area" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">The Economic Times</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, on the life under </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Modi Govt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStSSS0CONGNNgfsPBy0A5vfhQDxNOiScAq2divtfOWMyO0mi3gzB8PIXOQ8qgIcTm1qEa9GLo19FYwoBSiD2s7BaAhOzkaUdVTxq5HdPxSics1AYDLznaUX04Ga9IdJ0o_Psm2GJlP8lB/s1600/C_9XYj3UAAA_6cv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStSSS0CONGNNgfsPBy0A5vfhQDxNOiScAq2divtfOWMyO0mi3gzB8PIXOQ8qgIcTm1qEa9GLo19FYwoBSiD2s7BaAhOzkaUdVTxq5HdPxSics1AYDLznaUX04Ga9IdJ0o_Psm2GJlP8lB/s320/C_9XYj3UAAA_6cv.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Q. 5 shows 66% of those who </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">responded think that the prices and cost of living has not reduced under this </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Govt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Q. 4 shows that 57% feels </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Swachh Bharat has failed to make their cities any cleaner!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Q 3 says 60% of the people </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">feel that crimes against women and children has not reduced, as promised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Q 2 says 58% of the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">responses believe healthcare facilities and other services have not improved!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now look at the first </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">question. 69% of the respondents feel optimistic about their family's future in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">India (presumably under the same Govt). Does it look like a paradox? Of course, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">unless the responses are influenced by any of the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The responses are from cows or Gau Rakshaks who are not bothered about the impact of Q 2 to Q 5 on families.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The responses are based on the optimism </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that the electorate will change this Govt in just another two years and, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">therefore, the situation relating to Q 2 to Q 5 is only a short term issue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The poll and the accompanying report are </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">designed to serve the same Govt's public relation objectives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, can there be any other logic which can possibly explain the optimistic feelings of 69% of the people who took part in this poll, towards their family's future life under this Govt, given their own view on each of the parameters?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">
</span></div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-41026335549784916962017-04-12T18:10:00.002+05:302017-04-12T18:10:29.308+05:30Development: Narendra Modi Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The impact of Narendra Modi’s
demonetization and other master stroke actions/ inactions as reflected on the
economic growth data:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">April-Feb IIP at 0.4% vs 2.6% YoY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Feb IIP at -1.2% vs 2.7% in Jan</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb mining output at 3.3% vs 5.3% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb manufacturing output at -2% vs 2.3% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb electricity output at 0.3% vs 3.9% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb capital goods output at -3.4% vs 10.7% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb consumer goods output at -5.6% vs -1% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb basic goods output at 2.4% vs 5.3% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Feb intermediate goods output at -0.2% vs -2.3% in Jan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But we have nothing to worry! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We don't hear about policy paralysis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We don't need a Lokpal or CVC or RTI anymore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are having Congress Mukt Bharat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">Cows are having AchheDin!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Source for the statistics: @ETNowLive<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-90445221157493545212017-03-20T20:06:00.000+05:302017-03-20T20:07:19.122+05:30Adityanath and Democracy: Some Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Yogi
Adityanath is the 21st Chief Minister of India’s most populous state (both in
terms of voters and members of the Parliament), Uttar Pradesh. Having won 312
seats out of a total of 403 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party was in a position
to elect anyone as the next chief minister of UP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It took over a week and two deputy chief minister posts for
the BJP and/ or its newly elected MLAs, to arrive at a consensus candidate in
Yogi Adityanath. Because BJP had not announced any CM candidates before
elections, the time taken for selecting one is not anything abnormal. However,
if we juxtapose with what happened in Manipur and Goa where the single largest
party (in both cases, Congress) lost the opportunity to present its legitimate
claims to form governments as they could not elect their respective leaders in
less than 24 hours from the announcement of the results, the delay of a week
might itself have an underlying story of intra-party power struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The focus of this post is not how Adityanath won the chair,
but on the reactions to his election. So many articles and social media posts
have appeared on why BJP selected a highly controversial man to become the
chief minister despite the favorable results. For a party that professes ‘Sab
ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas,’ there could not have been a worse choice. Some
commentators blamed the RSS for forcing the hands of Narendra Modi. Some others
saw this appointment as BJP shedding its pro-development agenda and embracing
Hindutva (though I prefer the term Sangithva to indicate RSS ideology). Some
others saw it as an indication of the failure of democracy that such a divisive
personality has reached where he is today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> All these commentators seem to have forgotten an important
point. BJP is a tool in the hands of RSS. The ultimate objective of RSS is not
development or Sab ka Saath, but the creation of a Hindu Rashtra. Development
and such other slogans are mere steps on the ladder towards their main
objective. Therefore, it is only natural that whenever and wherever they can do
so, RSS will proceed with implementing the Sanghitva agenda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> What about democracy? Can Adityanath’s ascension be
considered as a failure of democracy? To answer this question, we need to
understand the basic nature of our democratic system. Democracy has never made any claims to be a
perfect system for electing the ideal rulers. Winston Churchill had said,
“Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have
been tried.” In the words of H. L.
Mencken, “Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual
ignorance." In my view, democracy has demonstrated both collective wisdom
and collective folly, at different points in time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Democracy as a system functions at two levels. The first
level involves electing a government. The method adopted for electing the
government is the majority approval. This majority takes different forms such
as absolute majority, proportional representation, and first past the post. We
have chosen the method of first past the post in which whoever manages to get
the maximum number of votes is declared the winner, irrespective of the share
in the total votes. As a result, a person garnering even 20 or 25% of the total
votes can win in a multi-cornered election. Each method has its merits and
demerits, and any change in the system cannot achieve any substantial
difference in the quality of the elected.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> When political, linguistic, religious, caste or such other
lines divide society, the elections will always be affected by such divisions.
Uttar Pradesh was not known, at least recently, for purely political choices.
The caste and religion have played a critical role in deciding the fortunes of
candidates in Uttar Pradesh elections. This affliction is not limited to Uttar
Pradesh. In the upcoming bye-election for Malappuram constituency in Kerala
(caused by the demise of Mr. E Ahmed), the Indian Union Muslim League candidate
Mr. Kunhalikkutty will be elected for sure, and the voting will be on religious
grounds. I have seen such tendencies even in local body polls in Kerala, which
is supposed to be more of a politically conscious society. When the religion or
caste comes into play, the political differences takes a back seat! Same for
the recent increase in the electoral successes of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen party. So, there is no point in singling out BJP or Hindu voters in
electing who they consider are their representatives. Democracy cannot prevent
such divisive voting, but provides protection against the consequences of whims and fancies of the elected leaders, through
its second level of functioning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Democracy’s second level functioning is through the rule of
law. In the absence of the rule of law, the brute majority in a society can be
misused to subjugate any minority. The winners, irrespective of their numbers
or vote share, are expected to play within established rules of governance. In
India, we have the Constitution including the fundamental rights and basic
features that would protect us from the shenanigans of any elected leader. A
divisive leader like Yogi Adityanath can speak anything in his party forums. As
a chief minister or any other constitutional authority, every leader is
expected to behave within the boundaries of the established norms and laws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> What follows is that the focus should not be in protesting
the appointment of controversial leaders like Modi or Adityanath, or to
dislodge any duly elected government, but to ensure that such governments
function within our constitutional and legal framework. We have to accept the weaknesses of the
democracy, simply for want of any better system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Authoritative governments might be more successful in
influencing the bureaucracy and judiciary, and subverting institutions of
governance. There will be attempts to push their divisive agenda and to
subjugate their perceived enemies. Such governments might even try to sabotage
electoral processes and seek elimination of their ideological opponents from
electoral politics (Congress Mukt Bharat is a slogan that indicates the
undemocratic mindset of BJP and RSS. Same mindset can be seen in BJP’s
shameless acts of capturing power in Goa, Manipur, and elsewhere, through
questionable methods, despite electoral losses. I am not saying BJP should not
have formed Govts with the support of outsiders, but the hurry and crudeness of
it all could have been avoided).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In the event of a weak opposition, pliant bureaucracy, and
committed judiciary, the rule of law might suffer. Damage to the rule of law is
the danger we need to guard against, and not the election of Yogi Adityanaths
and Narendra Modis. If the rule of law remains intact, the people have the
option to kick out the same leaders and ideology, in just five years. If the
rule of law is affected, then the very existence of democracy could be in
danger. Even the allegations against EVMs should be looked at from this
perspective. Whatever is left of the opposition (thankfully, this mass is still
a majority in India) and civil society has to be on guard, at all times,
against any attempt to weaken the rule of law. The fundamental rights of each
and every citizen has to be protected from any highhandedness of any government.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The Media is in a powerful position to report, and mobilize
public opinion against any undesirable steps from any government.
Unfortunately, Indian Media appears not up to this challenge, unlike
the US Media which is standing up against each and every wrong policy of their
President. Indian Media appears to be in
a state where they are willing to prostrate even before they are asked merely
to bend! The Media is busy whitewashing the excesses and normalizing the
aberrant behaviors of the so called fringe, which is taking control of the main
stage! That, in my opinion, is the main challenge before India. The public
vigilance and public opinion should force our Media to follow their fundamental
duties. If they fail to heed, the civil society must raise their voice through
social media and other available means. More and more people should be made
aware of the dangers from majoritarianism and authoritarian rulers. The Hindus must be educated about the difference
between Hinduism and Sanghitva, and why it makes sense to prevent the ascension
of the latter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Political parties currently occupying the opposition space
should play a leading role in creating awareness. In democracy, the role of the
opposition is as critical as that of the ruling party. This role does not end
with a loss in the elections. Guard the
rule of law and public interests (there will be enough opportunities with
mercurial leaders like Adityanath in power) with utmost seriousness so that
whenever the next elections comes, people will know whom to vote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Danger to democracy will not be from Adityanath, but our
collective failure, if any, in guarding the rule of law and fundamental rights
of each and every Indian citizen! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-56010226816315766082017-03-15T10:41:00.002+05:302017-03-15T13:54:30.564+05:30Are We Doing the Parenting Right?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> During
this week, I have come across many unrelated incidences on the social media
that made me wonder as to what kind of parenting are we doing! We keep hearing about
the bad behavior of the new generation, but can we the parents absolve
ourselves from the blame? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The
incidences are not in any order. They are presented just as they are coming to my
mind. The first one involved a former Editor of The Hindu, Ms. Malini
Parthasarathy. When a well-meaning tweet of her was met with an abusive response,
she chose to ask the person whether he was son of a particular lady and whether
she would approve such a language. Ms.
Malini was trolled on Twitter for asking such a question. What surprised me was
the response from the mother, Ms. VS Chandralekha a well-known Ex IAS officer
and President of the (now defunct?) Janata Party. Ms. Chandralekha’s reply to Malini was “<b><i>I
am a democrat and support my son Abhijit's freedom of expression however
annoying it may be to others</i></b><i>.”</i> A democrat upholding the freedom of
expression is fine, but a mother upholding the abusive language of her son?
That too against a senior lady? I also found many people on Twitter celebrating
the reply as a great thing! At least we should be sensitizing our children that
the right to freedom of expression does not include a right to use abusive
language against anyone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The
second incident involved a CEO of a startup company who is now facing allegations
of sexual harassment at workplace. I am not here to judge the veracity of
allegations. What surprised me was the most insensitive responses to the
allegations. Instead of being apologetic about failing to institute legally
required measures to investigate and redress the grievances of the employee, I
saw a lot tweets to justify the alleged acts of the CEO. It appears that for
many people staring at a female colleague at workplace or telling her how tight
or sexy her dress is, was all a part of the normal work routine! As per the reports the CEO has stated, "<i>I am a heterosexual, single man and when I find a woman sexy, I tell her she is sexy</i>." Apparently, he is not even aware of the problem with his behavior. Who is to be blamed? What happened to
our parental duties to teach the children about the need to respect others,
especially the ladies? Can someone who is brought up with the right values
justify staring at or otherwise harassing a lady colleague? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Third
incident involved the anchor of a prime time news show on India Today Television.
Its anchor, Mr. Zakka Jacob announced his debate with a hashtag
#PappuCantWinSaala. The trolls on social media use the term Pappu for
denigrating Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Can an
anchor of a news channel use such derogatory terms against national politicians?
It did not end there. Zakka Jacob came with another tweet, announcing the ‘taking
down’ of the derogatory tweet. Looks at the language he used for the taking
down: “<b><i>In light of universal distaste at my last tweet, i am taking it
down. please pardon my not-up-to-the mark Hindi</i></b>.” Now the pardon is
sought not for the use of a derogatory hashtag, but ‘not-up-to-the-mark Hindi’!
One may not agree with Rahul Gandhi on
anything, but should people like Zakka Jacob misuse their platforms to insult Rahul
and millions of Congress workers? Obviously, there was nothing ‘not up to the
mark’ in his Hindi, but can we say the same about his upbringing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> A few
days back Kochi saw a protest from Shiv Sena (which does not even qualify to be
termed a fringe party in Kerala) workers, wherein a handful of goons went
around Marine Drive and caned young boys and girls who were sitting there. The
objective of the drive was to protect the honour of young girls! And how they
sought to do it? By caning them in public, that too in front of police
officers! Back to the social media, I saw perfect gentlemen and ladies
justifying these goons by saying that such interactions between boys and girls
lead to Aids! They are convinced that every boy and girl sitting together in a
public place are about to indulge in unprotected sex and catch Aids! The
reaction to the moral policing was through another extreme act of Kiss of Love.
People kissing each other in public as a form of protest! Is this the two
extremes that we are teaching our children? Can’t a man and woman or a boy and
girl share healthy friendship or even love, and spend some time together
talking to each other? Even if they are indulging in any immoral acts, what
gives the right to individuals to go around and beat them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In my
view, all these seemingly unrelated incidences have a common thread. The lack
of right values in our younger generation. The values get imbibed in a child
not from hearing the parents, but from watching the parents and society.
Somewhere in our busy schedules, we have forgotten our primary duty of parenting!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-8775088113828341062016-12-09T21:34:00.000+05:302016-12-09T21:34:22.907+05:30Is Demonetization an attack on Secularism?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I believe it is a curse on
Economics that it does not have an independent existence in the real world.
Whatever theory or however strong a model it may be, if and when brought to the
real world it gets corrupted by various political and ideological pulls and
pushes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> When I
was listening to a speech on the demonetization, the above thoughts came to my
mind. The speech delivery was excellent, the audience was receptive, and it was
happening in a public place, right in the middle of an evening crowd in a busy
market. It was a great opportunity to educate common people across the
political divide about the severe repercussions of the demonetization decision-
both what is happening and what is likely to happen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Since
the talk was organized by a left leaning cultural group and the speaker was a
leftist, I did expect some political colour. The speaker was eloquent on how the
demonetization affected the equality and dignity of Indians. He painted it as
an attack on the rights guaranteed under, and the basic features of, the Constitution.
He explained how the decision should be viewed
as a step towards fascism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Despite my anticipation of politics
in the talk, I was a bit disappointed when it got concluded. Two reasons caused my disappointment. First
reason is that the speaker did not make use of the occasion to educate people
about many potential consequences of the decision, both for themselves and the
economy. He did not touch upon the
importance of choice in a democracy. He did not cover the possible role of new
payment banks and digital money companies in forcing the cashless India
concept. He touched upon neither the implications of digital payments on the
privacy of individuals, nor the assaults on the independence of institutions
like the Parliament and RBI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Second reason is what made my jaws
drop. It was his interpretation of the
demonetization decision as an attack on secularism! When the speaker argued
that the decision is a part of the RSS agenda against minorities, it came as a
surprise. The only fact that he used to substantiate the charge was the Union
minister Giriraj Singh’s statement about the need to introduce compulsory sterilization
to control the population. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I believe demonetization is perhaps
the most secular decision implemented by Narendra Modi Govt. This decision has
affected, adversely, every Indian irrespective of his caste and religion (perhaps
the reason why even some of the Hindu religious organizations have chosen to criticize
the step). The decision can be faulted for being tougher on the poorer sections
of the society. But to say, it is a part of the agenda against minorities is
beyond all my imagination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Such an interpretation hardly made any
sense to me, even politically. When you are addressing a public audience, and
not any party followers, why not try and bring every sections of that audience
to your side by sticking to logical and factual arguments (which are available
in abundance)? Why divide the audience into secular and communal groups, even
on a decision that has affected every one equally? Why preach to the already
converted ones? Why not try and convince even those who are supporting Modi on communal
lines about the damages that he is causing to the entire economy and people? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Perhaps, there may be hidden
political motives for peddling such conspiracy theories, which may be attractive
to a captive audience. I will never understand those ground level political
motives. I can only wish, an economic disaster of this scale could be approached
without seeking to further narrow political agendas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-35993365936295605152016-11-12T16:39:00.001+05:302016-11-12T16:39:39.353+05:30How Does the Fascism Look? - A Tribute to Mr. Leonard Cohen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We keep
hearing about the advent of fascism, and the need to fight it tooth and nail.
The problem is that we cannot recognize the fascism when we experience it. It
is often clocked in various themes like patriotism, nationalism, racism,
religious superiority, or charity. Even worse, at times, it is just the plain ‘normal’.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The legendary
writer of rock music, Mr. Leonard Cohen, who passed away a few hours ago, had
written a poem that demonstrates the challenges of recognizing fascism. As a
tribute to the great writer, and as an all-time reminder on what fascism doesn’t
look like, let me quote Mr. Cohen’s poem on the infamous Nazi-SS commander,
Adolf Eichmann, who was among those responsible for organizing the Holocaust:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="background: #CCCCCC; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 255.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 255.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 248.3pt;" valign="top" width="331">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>All there is to Know About <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Adolph Eichmann</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
EYES: ………………………………… Medium</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
HAIR: ………………………………… Medium</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
WEIGHT: ………………..…………… Medium</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
HEIGHT: ………………….………….. Medium</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: ….... None</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
NUMBER OF FINGERS: ……………. Ten</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
NUMBER OF TOES: ……………….... Ten</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
INTELLIGENCE: …………………….. Medium</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What did you expect?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Talons?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oversize Incisors?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Green Saliva?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Madness?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
-<b><i>Leonard Cohen</i></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
(<i>Source: http://apoemaday.tumblr.com/post/46510952657/all-there-is-to-know-about-adolf-eichmann</i>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The fascism, Nazism, and other
inhuman ideologies are not practiced by somebody with talons, oversize
incisors, or green saliva, but ordinary looking people like you and me. It
makes it all the more difficult to recognize such dangers to humanity, until it
is too late. The only way we can save humanity from such evilness is to be on guard,
at all times. Our complacency today could land us in concentrations camps, tomorrow!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-78888659397337282432016-11-05T10:05:00.001+05:302016-11-05T10:05:59.523+05:30NDTV India Ban, and We the People of India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Previous posts on this blog has
made it amply clear that I am not a votary of absolute freedom of expression. I
believe in reasonable restrictions on the freedom of expression when those restrictions
can be linked rationally, to the larger interests of the society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let me also confess that I have not
seen the programme aired by the NDTV India, on the Pathankot airbase, which
earned the one day ban for itself. This posts is not about the merits of the NDTV
programme or the decision of the Government. This post is about the procedural
justice or lack of it in arriving at the decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Temporary ban on broadcasting is nothing
new to Indian television. Many channels
have faced such temporary bans, usually on the grounds of obscenity and disrespect
to women. However, those channels like
Fashion TV are not mainstream and the issue involved are not of much concern to
the general public. Therefore, the public were not even aware of the ban in
most cases and even when aware were not concerned about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">NDTV India ban is perhaps the first,
in relation to a news report. Power to ban TV channels or newspapers, vested in
the hands of the executive is surely problematic, for various reasons. Firstly,
concepts like public interest and national security are highly subjective and
prone to misuse. Secondly, criticism of the government can easily be
interpreted as one against national security. Thirdly, since the government is
likely to be at the receiving end of such news reports any decision by the
Government itself would amount to judging own affairs. Fourthly, the principles
of natural justice demand that the accused party be given a proper opportunity
to defend its case before a punitive action is taken. IN this case, NDTV India
is not given an opportunity to state its case. Lastly, objective exercise of a
power demands equal treatment of all complaints. There are allegations that the
Information and Broadcasting Ministry is very selective in dealing with complaints
against news reports. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There may be situations when a
channel reports in a manner, which compromises an operation or national
security. There is also no doubt that actions must be taken against such channels.
However, the issue remains as to who should decide whether a report is against
national security. If the Government of the day and its officers can decide and
ban a Channel, then the media freedom is surely at peril. We have seen central
ministers pontificating on the need to refrain from raising any questions even
when all the available evidences indicate blatant murder by policemen in a
staged fake encounter! Can a government act against news reports on such issues,
by holding them as against national security?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The need for an independent
authority to judge the appropriateness of a report cannot be overemphasized. A free
and fair independent media is one of the cornerstones of the democracy. Brow
beating by the executive, or undeclared bans like the one being witnessed in the
courts of Kerala, can damage the democracy itself. Therefore, the NDTV India
ban is not a trivial issue to be ignored by the society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am sure NDTV India will seek
legal remedies against the ban. I hope the judiciary will stand up and protect
the freedom of expression of the media, against the arbitrary onslaught by the executive.
I am also worried that my hope in the judiciary may be misplaced, considering
what is going on in the courts across Kerala. Judiciary, right up to the Supreme Court has
not, so far, shown any inclination to protect the people’s right to know and
the media’s right to report what is happening in the courts. When the Judiciary
is unable to deal with the hooliganism of a few lawyers, will it be able to
stand up to the might of Union Government and protect the guaranteed freedoms?
I would love to remain optimistic, at least for the sake of democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I am not as sure about the media as a whole
standing up in solidarity with NDTV India, in this critical hour. Ideally, I
would like to see the entire news media going off the air on November 9<sup>th</sup>
in solidarity with NDTV India. Jointly going off the air is the best way to
inform the Executive that any attack on the freedom of media will be resisted,
jointly. However, the compromised corporate
ownership and selfie-journalism may prevent the media, to take such a
principled stand on November 9<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If the judiciary and media are not
able to live up to the expectations, we the people of India will have to intervene
and play an important role. After all, when the freedom to report is curtailed it
is our right to know what is going on, is affected. If the media’s powers are
curtailed today, it will not be too long before our civil rights are also
attacked. The ‘Emergency’ is merely a term that indicates certain situation.
Even without the use of the term ‘emergency’ we might end up in an emergency
like situation, if we do not strive safeguard our own constitutional rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let us, the people of India, stand
in solidarity with the right to report, right to fair trial, and right to
justice, and boycott all Television News Channels for a day on November 9<sup>th</sup>.
Let this boycott be a message to both the
executive and the media that 2016 is not 1976 and emergency like measures will
not be tolerated, anymore. Let us think above our political differences and affiliations,
and take a united stand against arbitrary decisions that affect our fundamental
rights.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-81180689584088584042016-10-10T11:09:00.000+05:302016-10-10T11:31:21.652+05:30Soldiers Are Great; We Too Must Get our Share of Votes/TRP/Patriotism!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A classic Malayalam story about a
great writer Kunchan Nambiar, who created the satirical art form of Ottamthullal
goes like this. One day, Kunchan Nambiar accompanied the King, along with other
courtiers, to see a newly installed lamppost at a temple. The King asked
everyone to comment on the beauty of the lamppost. Everyone tried their creative
best, and managed to get prizes from the King. Nambiar remained silent.
Finally, the King asked Nambiar why he is not saying anything despite him being
one of the best poets around. Nambiar is
said to have replied poetically, “Deepasthambam Mahaascharyam, Namukkum
Kittanam Panam.” My crude translation would be, “The lamppost is wonderful; I
too must get some money” (effectively lampooning his fellow courtiers). The
story says, Nambiar managed to get the best prize from the King!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> When I read the scores of messages appearing
on Whatsup, Twitter, and Facebook, extolling the virtues of Indian soldiers, I
am always reminded of the famous retort of Nambiar. Praising soldiers has
become an easy way to get one’s patriotism displayed in public, get more votes,
get more TRPs, and get more sales in today’s India. Another convenience is that
it puts all other Indians, psychologically, under a lot of stress to share/
agree/ like/ desist from questioning those posts and comments. Anyone daring to
raise a finger against, can be easily put down as anti-nationals!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I understand the behavior of common
people, as the cheapest and easiest way for them to exhibit their patriotism is
to praise soldiers. One doesn’t have to suffer any cost or pain but can effectively
feel happy that one is a patriotic Indian. I can also understand the behavior
of the TV channels that demonized the veterans who were at Jantar Mantar, asking
for their promised dues under One Rank One Pension (OROP) and then brand all those
who question soldiers as anti-national. For those TV channels, the morality is
defined by the political affiliations of their owners and the TRP hunting
instincts! But, how about the Government? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> How does a Government headed by a
party that was too quick to begin felicitations of their leaders and putting up
of larger than life Flux Boards, to take credit for an operation conducted by
the soldiers behave otherwise, towards the soldiers? I must say the double
standards are only too obvious!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The same Govt that now seeks to bask
in the glory of our soldiers were the ones that sent police forces to
physically attack the veterans who were agitating against the cheating in the
name of OROP. The supporters of the Govt did not spare any effort to blacken
the faces of the veterans, throughout the social media!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Look at the implementation of the 7th
Central Pay Commission recommendations. All other employees of the Central
Government have received their enhanced salaries and arrears under the 7th CPC.
Not so for our poor soldiers, who are still waiting! The reasons is that the Chiefs
of the armed forces are unwilling or unable to accept the anti-soldier
recommendations of the 7th CPC!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> What irony that it was on the very
next day of the now famous surgical strikes that the Central Government issued
notification for reducing the disability pension benefits enjoyed by the
soldiers who lost their health due to extreme service conditions! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Perhaps such an attitude of the
Government can be understood in the light of certain comments from the top
leaders. The Prime Minister of the country is only record that the traders in
this country have to bear more risks than our soldiers! The Defense Minister openly stated (in the
aftermath of the surgical strikes) that Indian Army did not know its strengths until
he came and made them realize! The Defense
Minister compared Indian Army with Hanuman, to drive home the point. Can anyone
be more insulting to an Army that had conducted many a glorious operations,
including winning wars and creating a new country? With such attitudes from the
PM and DM, the treatment of the soldiers is, perhaps, not so surprising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Why spent money on soldiers, when we
can do a better PR by a loud salute and a couple of Whatsup messages! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“<b>Deepasthambam
Mahaascharyam, Namukkum Kittanam Panam</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
P.S: This writer is a pensioner who has put in two decades of service in the Indian Air Force and, hence, has pecuniary interest in the subject matter. </div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-64832699458886071372016-06-30T09:38:00.000+05:302016-06-30T09:38:49.889+05:30GST Bill and the Level of Misinformation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Based on
what transpired in the so-called exclusive interview of the Prime Minister of
India by the Editor of Times Now channel, Mr. Arnab Goswamy, the @PMOIndia
tweeted as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/747422314980073473">Not passing GST
is injustice to the poor and some states in particular. Those in the Rajya
Sabha should understand this: PM to</a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TimesNow"><span lang="EN" style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@TimesNow</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 1.0pt; mso-bidi-language: ML; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With 2,928 Likes and 1,327 retweets the message about the
PM’s concern for the poor reached a large audience. Obviously, the readers of
this tweet would also blame ‘those in the Rajya sabha’ (read the opposition,
especially the Congress party) for their lack of concern for the poor and the
GST. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I was taken
aback by this hypocrisy from a man, who is holding the highest office in the
Government. I wanted to respond and highlight the hypocrisy. So, I decided to
confront both @PMOIndia and the @TimesNow, which had failed to ask any relevant
follow up questions on such an assertion by the interviewee. I devised two Twitter Polls, using direct
quotes from Mr. Narendra Modi. Anyone who kept a tag on the developments of GST
legislation would know that the quotes are attributable to Mr. Modi. My aim
was, therefore, not a poll, but merely highlighting the complete U-turn from
the Prime Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The first
poll asked the question:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/jay_ambadi/status/747642153078226944"><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">"</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aap ki</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#GST</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ka sapna sakaar nahi ho sakta"-
Who said this?</span></a><span lang="HI" style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@PMOIndia</span></a><span lang="HI" style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TimesNow"><span style="color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@TimesNow</span></a><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">170 people were kind enough to respond, to this poll. Out of
the170 responses 80% were correct in saying that it was Mr. Narendra Modi who
had said the words, “<i>Aap ki GST sapna sakaar nahi ho sakta</i>.”
Surprisingly, there were another 14% who thought it was Mr. Rahul Gandhi who
had said these words. Another 6% attributed the statement to Mr. Manmohan Singh
or Mr. Chidambaram who were the architects of GST legislation, in the first
place!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The second
poll asked:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/jay_ambadi/status/747641789062971397"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">"GST Kabhi safal nahi ho sakta"
- Who said these words?</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;"> cc </span><a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia"><span style="background: white; color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">@PMOIndia</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/TimesNow">@TimesNow</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This poll received only 56 responses. 75% of those who
responded rightly said, it was Mr. Narendra Modi who had resorted to such a
negative stand on the GST, even though now he claims not passing of it is such
an injustice to the poor of this country! Once again, 21% of the responses
attributed the statement to Mr. Rahul Gandhi (remaining 4% saying it was Mr.
Chidambaram who said it). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The poll
results made it obvious that there is still a lot of misinformation and
misunderstanding on the respective roles played by the Congress and BJP, on the
GST issue. The 14% and 21% of the responses claiming it was Mr. Rahul Gandhi
who expressed such a negative attitude towards the GST legislation has not
cared to look at his and his party’s stand on the issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Mr. Rahul
Gandhi is on record that they are ready to cooperate with the government to get
the GST Bill passed. He said, ‘<i>Hum yeh nahi chahte hai ki ghareeb log ka
upar tax na lage. Our, hum uske upar ek chhath si lagaana chahte hai,</i>”
referring to the Congress party’s demand for mentioning a cap on the rates at which
tax can be imposed on goods and services. He continued, “<i>Tho yeh faraq hai,
magar hum GST lanaa chahte hai, our pass karana chahte hai</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Congress
party has also made its reservations on the proposed GST BIll clear in their Dissent
Note </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">given to the Rajya
Sabha’s Select Committee on the GST Bill</span>. They have cited eight specific
objections to the latest version of the GST draft Bill (<a href="http://confused-ambadi.blogspot.in/2015/08/why-congress-party-if-opposing-gst-bill.html">You
may refer this post for more details on the objections</a>). These have come
down to just three contentious issues, which a responsive government can
address in no time. The three remaining issues are a cap on the rate that can
be imposed in future, mechanism for dispute resolution between states or states
and the Centre, and additional 1% levy by manufacturing states. Modi Govt has
not chosen to be responsive to the demands. Instead, the Govt has decided to
continue the attitude of confrontation with the opposition and refuse to even
introduce the GST Bill in the Rajyasabha. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I am not
sure, when blaming the members of the Rajyasabha, Mr. Modi also meant Mr.
Subramanian Swamy, whom he had recently got inducted into the Rajyasabha! Mr.
Swamy had tweeted, “As an economist I say GST not worth the time spent to get
it passed in RS.” Just because he is an economist, would Mr. Swamy want to
continue ‘the injustice to the poor’ forever?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The
Government and Prime Minister can be a bit more sincere and truthful in
presenting the facts and views on important matters like Constitutional
amendments and tax reforms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Congress Party should also introspect
on their communication strategy and see why a significant portion of the
population (going by the results of these limited polls) continue to believe
that it is Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, who are the stumbling blocks to the introduction of
GST! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Note: All the quotes used in this
post can be seen and heard in a <a href="https://twitter.com/GauravPandhi/status/747452584764399616">short video
on the subject</a>. I express my thanks to Mr. Gaurav Pandhi, for sharing this
video. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-84678324385134121852016-06-08T19:38:00.000+05:302016-06-09T10:33:24.377+05:30Time to Revisit the Aided Schools of Kerala?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The new LDF Government in Kerala
has an immediate challenge in finding a politically and legally tenable
solution in the raging controversy regarding the closing of aided schools that
are classified as not viable. The managers of certain schools have approached
the High Court, seeking permission to close down their schools. The immediate
motive for these managers is alleged to be freeing their valuable real estate
so that it can be utilized for more profitable ventures than non-viable
schools. The High Court has ordered the closure of some of those schools. An
appeal to Supreme Court, by the state Government, did not succeed for technical
reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some schools have already been
closed down. More schools are in line for the closure. The situation offers an
opportunity for revisiting the aided schools system prevailing in the state of
Kerala. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the distant past, the so-called
private schools were established by individuals who were interested in serving
the people through promoting education. Their successors inherited those
schools, but not necessarily the same noble motives. The multiple divisions of
the family properties have also left many of those managers, not anywhere near
as rich as their illustrious ancestors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As long as sufficient students were
being enrolled in those schools, the managers could keep appointing teachers
from time to time. It is an open secret that the teachers are appointed in
aided schools by taking a lot of black money (often running into multiple
millions). The teachers are paid by the government so that there is no burden
on the management. The government also pays (negligible) grants for maintenance
of these schools. However, the main attraction remains the black money received
against the appointment of new teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When a school is classified as
non-viable, for want of students, the ability of the managers to appoint new
teachers comes to an end. The grant from government also reduces as per the
fall in the number of students, forcing the managers to spend money from their
pockets for the upkeep and maintenance of the schools. Not many individual
managers have the resources or willingness to fund such schools. Not spending
money on maintenance leads to poor infrastructure at these schools. With the
advent of so many CBSE and English medium schools around, any possibility of
these aided schools turning viable is also feeble. Under the circumstances, it
is only natural that the management will seek an exit from such unviable
schools. It is also against the principles of natural justice and logic to
compel someone, to continue a venture (howsoever noble it might be), forever,
despite incurring financial losses. Any economic activity calls for an exit if
the objectives are not met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The objections to the closure of
such schools are manifold. Some are emotional, with people not liking the
closing down of the so-called temples of knowledge. Many people are nostalgic
about these schools where many of their generations have received the basic
education. However, we cannot force
someone else to bear the costs for the benefit of our nostalgia and emotions,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another argument relates to the
right to education and future of the students who are currently studying in
those schools. This argument is also illogical since the right to education
does not extend to be educated in any particular school. Perhaps it might do
wonders to the students, to shift from one school to another, at least once. It
is better for the personality development of those children, to move to schools
where there are at least 20-25 students in a class. Having to interact only
with 4 or 5 students throughout their schooling will not do any good for the
children, socially.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Third reason is nothing but
jealousy that the management will benefit from the closure of schools. There is
nothing wrong if the individual managers get benefitted from freeing of real
estate, which is their property in the first place. The political leaders and local trouble
makers also try to fish in the troubled waters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fourth argument is that the
education is not a for-profit business.
Fine, but can we ignore the fact that these managements are not
charitable trusts, either? Even if not profitable, shouldn’t these institutions
be at least self-sufficient? Can we force charity upon individual owners,
unlike not-for profit organizations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are attempts at the
government level to amend the laws and empower themselves to take over such
schools. I am not sure if such a step will be a prudent one. Many
government-owned schools are similarly not viable, and facing the threat of
closure. There is nothing to suggest that a mere takeover by the government
will turn unviable schools into viable ones. The viability of a school depends
on many factors including availability of other schools, perceived, rightly or
wrongly, as better ones. We have to note that the enthusiastic support that
protests against the closure of schools receive does not turn into more
admissions to those schools. Most
likely, even those agitating for the continuance of the schools are not sending
their children to those schools!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To conclude, let me state my
recommendations for dealing with the situation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1. The responsibility to impart education for
all should be on the government and not individuals, even if they happen to be
managers of aided schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">2. The right to exit must be fundamental to
any ventures including schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">3. The government should contemplate taking
over only those schools that have the potential to be turned around. Taking
over schools for emotional or political reasons will only increase the
financial burden on the government, with no corresponding benefit to anybody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">4. The government must ensure that the
students are protected from the ill effects of any closure of schools by
ensuring their timely transfer to other schools in the vicinity. Even financial
assistance and scholarship can be considered for the help of these students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">5. The government should pay salaries to only those
teachers who are appointed by the Public Service Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">6. The management may continue to appoint
teachers provided they are willing to pay the salary to those appointed by
them. Those who are not willing to abide by these conditions of appointment
should be allowed to exit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">7. The education is currently a for- profit
business for many communal and profit-minded organizations and individuals. The
schools should be converted into genuine not-for-profit activity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">8. The government must ensure that schools
with less than a stipulated number of students for a stipulated number of years
should be merged with nearest schools. Unless there are sound and compelling
reasons, classes should not be allowed to run with less than 10 -15 students.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let the law and reason prevail in
public education!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Post Script: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Government has taken the decision to acquire four such schools. According to the news reports there are over 3500 such schools. If a large number of those schools demand similar acquisition, the financial burden on the government is going to be enormous. See the picture below. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q3Jg0T2D9HhBv-vxcyE8JaVn39SIUK6FI8yPF1837l5JPu0k6e5eZc49LoeWfX6e6qZW1NPegOAnZWeiP6B-2GV4VHHXn3Ea2QrAm29UJ2J4w2TaLFJUPhtjN5-nxAoL5FHqEn-4LrZl/s1600/WP_20160609_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q3Jg0T2D9HhBv-vxcyE8JaVn39SIUK6FI8yPF1837l5JPu0k6e5eZc49LoeWfX6e6qZW1NPegOAnZWeiP6B-2GV4VHHXn3Ea2QrAm29UJ2J4w2TaLFJUPhtjN5-nxAoL5FHqEn-4LrZl/s320/WP_20160609_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">This is a report (Mathrubhumi, 09.06.2016) about 16 students of a school celebrating the news of their school's take over by the government. For 16 students in a UP school (average 5 students in a division) will the government incur the expenses of acquiring and maintaining a school? Why not bear the expenses of sending these 16 students to some other schools as compensation for the closure? Acquiring the land and buildings, and continuing a school is more like protecting the interest of the teachers rather than the students!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-59440423321907488642016-05-04T10:30:00.001+05:302016-05-05T09:12:23.789+05:30One Kerala, Two Tragic Deaths…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today’s newspaper brought the news of two tragic deaths;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jisha of Perumbavoor, Lineesh of Narippatta near Nadapuram<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jisha…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another Soumya, Nirbhaya; yet another female victim of <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The male chauvinism, sexual perversion, caste system, and what else!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Social conscience of Kerala is awaken<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Postmortem is going in the media debates, as to who all are responsible!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Must find out, must punish, but would that suffice?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why did we leave Jisha to live in a single room house that offered no
protection from the predators? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Until her tragic end, nah, until she became a news, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Where were we, all the cultural talking heads, and the powers that be?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why couldn’t we find the most deserving family of Jisha and offer help,
while she was still alive?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Civil servants, politicians, organizations, innumerous social workers…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
No one saw the tragic life? A solution?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Outraging in death is much easier than seeking a living solution<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jishas and Nirbhayas will continue to be attacked in this imperfect world;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Society can ensure a good night’s sleep by, at least, ensuring ‘justice’
to the victims!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
No life will come back, but at least a semblance of vengeance!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While at it, we can also try and seek a few extra votes and some TRP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lineesh….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Had a house, not a women, not a dalit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yet, killed in his thirty-forth year!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Was making bombs with his comrades in arms!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The bomb blasted a little too early, taking the maker’s own life!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why the bombs, while in elections?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For what? For whom? Shouldn’t we know?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shouldn’t we find the responsible persons? Punish them?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Or should we merely etch Lineesh as yet another martyr, on a tombstone? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I see no postmortem, no outrage….Only a deafening silence, all across!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don’t we need a living solution, here too? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shouldn’t we end this political violence and bomb culture?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sexual perverts and psychotic killers will always be there<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We can at least build a house and try to protect Jishas from them<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What about those political leaders- lusting for power, willing to kill?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shouldn’t we save Lineeshs, democracy, and our society from them?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let each life live its full course!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
P.S: Subsequently, got to read the news reports that Kerala Government has already given Jisha's family financial assistance of Rs 3.75 lakhs to buy a plot of 5 cents land and Rs 3 lakhs to construct a house therein. Notwithstanding the unfortunate end of Jisha, how many state governments in India would be able to claim such a noble deed?!</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-5190104475368422842016-02-27T11:04:00.001+05:302016-02-27T16:02:51.948+05:30Ishrat Jahan – What is the Real Issue?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Ishrat Jahan
refuses to rest in peace! For one or other reason, she keeps coming back to
haunt the Indian judicial system and the ruling establishment. The latest round stems from the so called
revelations by a convicted terrorist, David Headly that Ishrat was a terrorist belonging
to the Laskar e Taiba group, and the revelations by former Home Secretary and reportedly
a current Director of Adani Group, Mr. GK Pillai that the affidavit on Ishrat
Jahan was changed as per a decisions taken at the political level. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"> I am not competent to assert whether Ishrat was indeed a
terrorist or not, in the absence of any evidence on either side. Nor is it the subject
of this post. In this post, I would like to discuss what I consider as the real
issue in the controversy relating to the killing of Ishrat Jahan by the Gujarat
Police. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"> The real issue is, even if Ishrat Jahan was a terrorist, out on a mission
to kill the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, would her killing be justified?
The answer depends on whether the encounter itself is genuine or fake. The only
judicial scrutiny of the encounter, so far, was conducted by the Metropolitan
Magistrate of Ahmedabad, way back in the year 2009. A 243 pages report by the Metropolitan
Magistrate had clearly established that the encounter was a fake one. According
to the news reports, the magisterial report stated, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ishrat-is-innocent-magisterial-report-401018">"Ishrat
was innocent and was killed only because she was a Muslim and fitted the
Gujarat Police's idea of a terrorist."</a> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> Pardon this slight digression, but it is not out of place
to mention that the Gujarat Police’s “idea of a terrorist” and the style of
terror investigations could not stand the test of judicial scrutiny by the
Supreme Court, in the infamous Akshardham temple terror case, as well. In a
significant judgment that was ignored by the media (which was in love with the
then sensation Narendra Modi and his Gujarat Model), the apex court concluded
that the case “</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">would go to show clear non-application of
mind by the Home Minister in granting sanction</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">.” The then Home Minister in question was
none other than Mr. Narendra Modi and his ‘non-application of mind’ (or was it
a clever application of criminal mind?) and the ensuing fake inquiry led to the
concurrent judgments of the POTA Court and Gujarat High Court, awarding, inter
alia, <b>death penalty</b> to three persons and life imprisonment / rigorous
imprisonment to the remaining three! All six accused persons were acquitted by
the Supreme Court, and that included one accused who did not appeal as he has
already completed the sentence while others have spent more than ten years in
jail. But for the apex court’s intervention, those three innocents would have
been executed in what some Indian would surely consider as judicial killings
(For a more detailed analysis of the judgement, you may read my posts <a href="http://confused-ambadi.blogspot.in/2014/05/counter-terrorism-pota-style.html">Counter-Terrorism
- POTA Style</a> and <a href="http://confused-ambadi.blogspot.in/2014/05/supreme-court-verdict-in-akshardham.html">Supreme
Court Verdict in Akshardham Terror Case- Some Thoughts</a>). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"> From the Akshardham judgement, it is clear what
Gujarat Police and the then Home Minister were capable of doing, to project an effective
and successful anti-terror image! Be that as it may, if the Ishrat and her companions
were indeed Lashkar terrorists, what should a responsible police do? Shouldn’t
they catch them alive, interrogate, and find out the larger network of terror?
Why should they eliminate the terrorists and lose possible critical intelligence?
If the police chose to eliminate the suspected persons in a fake encounter, as
evident from the Magisterial report and subsequent CBI charge sheet, there is
no doubt the action was not in the national interest, though it might be in the
interest of a Chief Minster with ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"> The larger point pertains to the fairness of the system.
No court has ever declared Ishrat Jahan, a terrorist, or even an absconder.
Even if she had indulged in terrorist activities, as being suggested now by
David Headly and Mr. Pillai (howsoever suspected their motives in making those
statements might be), the Indian Constitution guarantees a fair trial before a
court of law. Under no circumstances can the police or political leadership be allowed
to accuse and eliminate a person, without a fair trial. If we draw a parallel to the present times, we
can easily observe that the Narendra Modi regime has not learned any lessons.
Look at the manner in which the President of the students union of JNU was
accused of sedition, arrested, and then allowed to be physically beaten up by
the criminal elements wearing the robe of lawyers! The judicial system must
protect the citizens from the highhandedness of the police and the rulers.
Ishrat Jahan was also a victim of such highhandedness. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;">It is
disheartening to note that some of the responsible elements of our society are
projecting a line of argument that justifies Ishrat’s killing on the ground
that she was a suspected terrorist! As
if suspected terrorists can be murdered at will! Same as in, suspected
seditionists can be lynched by any group in robes of lawyers or lawless patriots!
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I clarify, I
am not denying the instances where it might be necessary to eliminate
terrorists while engaged in gun battles or other operations. However, based on
the information available as of now Ishrat case does not fall into such genuine
operations. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> To conclude, in my opinion, the only pertinent
issue is whether Ishrat Jahan was murdered in a fake encounter or not. In
answering that issue, whether she was a terror suspect or not is immaterial. If
it indeed was a fake encounter, as suggested by both the magisterial inquiry
and CBI charge sheet, the killers must be punished according to the law of the
land! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-74132747087444927792016-01-10T13:54:00.000+05:302016-01-10T13:58:37.856+05:30To Talk, or Not to Talk? That is the Question!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The diplomacy between India and Pakistan
stands reduced to a simple question. To talk, or not to talk? There are any
number of talks, just to decide whether to talk or not. Perhaps, no other
subject has consumed so much debating time of the so called national news
channels of Indian television?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The issue is really complicated.
Talking with Pakistan can be perceived as a sign of the weakness of an Indian Prime
Minister. The entire media could be at your throats, accusing you of selling
out nation’s pride and interests. Ask Dr. Manmohan Singh! Trying to talk with
Pakistan can also become a sign of strength for a Prime Minister, at least in
the eyes of the committed bhakts. When I say Bhakts that include the modified
media. Ask Mr. Modi! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Even the supporters of talk, or the
‘Aman ki Asha’ can become heroes or traitors, depending on the climate in Delhi
durbars. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The current Prime Minister is well
aware of the situation as he was an expert on how to deal with Pakistan, until
he became the Prime Minister. Mr. Modi had thrilled his support base by his ‘Pakistan
ko uni ke basha mein samjhayein’ (Make Pakistan understand in its own language)
type dialogues. How his tweets that highlighted the weakness of his predecessor
had induced many a virat dream of a defeated Pakistan, among his bhakts! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
That leads to the question why Mr.
Modi suddenly became very fond of visits and talks. I am not privy to which
language Mr. Modi uses during his interactions with Pakistan, be it talking to its
Prime Minister, gifting sarees, or touching the feet of the family members of Nawas
Sheriff. Whether it is ‘uni ki basha’ or ‘khud ki bhasha’ I am all for the
talks and such niceties between the immediate neighbors. His bhakts who used to object any attempt by
his predecessors would surely close their eyes when he is the one making the
attempt- be it fuel price increase, GST, or even talk with Pakistan. Let us not
even count those jholawallahs who suggest promotion of some of the crony
businesses with Pakistan as the real reason for the sudden change! That means,
only those who are scared of the possibility of Mr. Modi getting a Nobel Prize
for Peace are left, to object to his visit and talks. What if a Nobel Prize for
Peace finally manages, perhaps, to clean his image from the stains of 2002? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My apologies for drifting away from
the subject of this post. Yes, the question is to talk, or not to talk! The question
is not as simple as it might look. It is complicated by many factors. Firstly,
whenever you want to talk to Pakistan, you need to live with the fact that
Pakistan had not acted on Mumbai terror attack or on harboring India’s most
wanted terrorists and underworld dons. Unlike in the past, a Modi cannot even be
expected to write ‘love letters’ on these issues, to Pakistan. Secondly, you also
know that Pakistan is either not willing, or not capable of acting on the
demands related to Mumbai attack or Indian fugitives, for various reasons.
Thirdly, you never know who will ultimately call the shots in Pakistan. So long
as it was under the Military rule, matters were relatively simple. With the
democratic governments in Pakistan, one never knows where the real power is located.
Last but not the least, you also know any attempt to talk will coincide with
renewed attacks across the border, either in the form of ceasefire violations
at the Line of Control or terror attacks inside the Indian territories. All
these factors make it much safer for any Prime Minister, just to procrastinate and
refuse to answer the question. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
All the factors that usually affect
the Indo-Pak talks remained the same. Only Mr. Modi’s willingness to take the
initiative changed. Modi even dared to do an unscheduled stopover at Lahore in
a show of exemplary neighborly relations. Apparently, the newfound friendship
among neighbors changed nothing on the ground. Even as Modi was walking at Lahore,
holding hands with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pakistan based terrorists
were crossing the border to carry out another attack in India. Everyone, except
the incorrigible optimists, had expected some terror or ceasefire violation as
a result of the renewed attempt at talks. In fact, if anyone had gone ahead
with the attempts to talk, without considering such possibilities then the only
conclusion is that they are grossly ill-suited for the job!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Pathankot airbase attack happened. This
time it was not on the hapless civilians of an unsuspecting Mumbai, but one of
the critical establishments of the armed forces of India that the terrorists
chose to attack. The advanced information received (an act of providence or
stupidity of terrorists) and the bungling that followed (with some ‘unfortunate’
deaths) are well known. To stick to the subject, as predictable as it can get,
the clamor to discontinue the proposed talks with Pakistan became shrill. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
There are indications that the
proposed talks at the level of Foreign Secretaries might be affected by the Pathankot
attack. Even the official statements from
the Indian side gives such an impression. This situation is despite the fact that
everyone knew all along that the terrorists and their handlers would try to
stall the talks by carrying out more terror attacks. So, where does that leave our question, to
talk or not to talk? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
To my mind, there are only two ways
to go ahead with any talks with Pakistan. The first is to ensure that no
cross-border terror attempt succeeds in India, but that would require a much
better response than what we saw in Pathankot. The second way is to continue
with the talks, irrespective of any terror attack. Not sure how palatable that
will be, politically, but refusing to discontinue the talks will remove the motivation
for carrying out more terror attacks. If
the terror attacks are carried out to stall the peace talks, then the logic
suggests that we do not oblige the terrorists by discontinuing the talks! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Will Mr. Modi continue talking to
Pakistan, despite Pathankot? Will he wait for the terrorists in Pakistan to stop
targeting India, before initiating any further talks? Will he ensure measures to prevent any repeat
of Pathankot type attacks in future, despite any or no progress in the talks
with Pakistan? Will someone from the Indian Government let the nation know what
is in its (or more importantly, in his) mind? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Only one thing is clear…..it is futile
to initiate talks, only to stall them as soon as the terrorists demand it ‘uni
ki basha mein.’<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S.: I have deliberately ignored the question, whether we can stop the cross-border terror by merely agreeing not to talk any more!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-83892865398194255912016-01-04T22:39:00.000+05:302016-01-04T22:58:57.068+05:30Social media’s love for dead soldiers!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever a soldier gets killed in action, it is action time for
the social media, with tweets and Facebook posts flying all around. Everyone salutes the dead, and displays the
tearful pictures of their near and dear ones. Some people are explicit about
their motive- they demand RTs and likes! If you don't do it, you are not a patriot!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some others take it as an opportunity, to showcase their
patriotism. After all, they will not go and serve the armed forces. Nor will
they send their children to serve in the armed forces. It is always for someone
else’s children to go and die, protecting the mother land. Wasn’t it a soldier
who coined the saying about firing from another person’s shoulders? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why bother about such thoughts that perhaps a soldier’s
pride is not in getting killed for his country, but in eliminating the country’s
enemies without getting killed. A military leader had apparently shouted at his
men- “I don’t want anyone willing to die for the country. I want only those who
are willing to kill for the country.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">None of the patriots are as kind, to the survivors of
actions and wars. The survivors are mostly a nuisance. They call themselves
veterans. They demand higher pay and allowances. They demand respect from civilians.
They demand One Rank One Pension. They even go on Dharna at Jantar Mantar
against ‘our Government.’ They bore us by recounting their action stories, for
years to come! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Above all, what a shame, they even failed to die for the
country!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-15202530565598356872015-08-12T11:14:00.004+05:302015-08-12T11:15:48.617+05:30Why Congress Party is Opposing the GST Bill in its Present Form?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Many people are curious to know why
Congress Party is opposing the GST Bill after pushing it for many years. It is
natural for the people to think that it is merely to pay back in kind the
obstruction of the Bill caused by BJP and its Chief Ministers like Narendra
Modi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan when UPA was trying to bring this much needed
reform. However, going through their dissent note given to the Rajya Sabha’s
Select Committee on the GST Bill makes one realize that the objections being
raised by the Congress Party are in the national interest, and not merely to
get even with the hypocrisy of BJP. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I have tweeted the eight reasons
cited by the Congress Party in its Dissent Note. Let me collate those tweets,
with minor elaborations where necessary, in this post:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
1: Congress wants the ceiling on highest rate at 18% instead of 27%. Would you
prefer paying 27% tax?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, the highest rate will not be 27% but could go up to
30% under the present proposals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
2: Congress finds additional 1% tax by manufacturing states as market
distorting. Even more so, since there is a provision for 100% compensation</span>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole purpose of the GST is to unify entire India as a
single tax regime. Therefore, introducing any special taxes to cater to the
greed of certain states is not in the spirit of a GST. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
3: The term supply/ies is not defined. It will make even intra company
transfers taxable</span><span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will cause levying of tax even on transfer of raw materials
and semi-finished goods between different branches of a company, situated in
different states. Is it not obvious that such a situation is not in the
interest of what is proposed by the GST system?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
4: Present GST is diluted by excluding tobacco products, alcohol &
electricity from its purview</span><span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These excluded items for a substantial portion of the tax
collections. If a substantial portion of taxes are left out of the GST, what is
the use of introducing the same?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
5: Proposed GST council is unduly weighed in favour of the Union Govt. Goes
against federalism</span><span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since, disputes between the Centre and one or more states
are likely to arise in matters relating to collection and/or sharing of GST,
the federal systems requires no single party holds undue influence in the GST
council. Therefore, it is only reasonable for demanding a GST Council which
consists of more members representing the states.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
6: There is no independent dispute settling mechanism. GST Council consists of
parties to dispute</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As stated under reason 5, disputes are likely to arise
between states and/ or between state and centre. It is necessary to have independent
dispute settlement mechanism to ensure integrity of the country. Instead of an independent
mechanism, current form of GST Bill entrusts the task to the same GST Council,
which consists of the representatives of the disputing parties. Read this with
the Reason 5 which talks about undue weightage for the Union Government in appointment
of the GST Council and we get a clear picture of the danger.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
7: There is no provision to protect the share of local self-Govt bodies in the
taxes collected</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Constitution of India has guaranteed certain share in
the revenues to our local self-government bodies like Panchayats and
Municipalities. The present Bill does
not have provisions to protect such shares. It is necessary to incorporate
clear provisions so that our scheme of political decentralization does not
suffer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; letter-spacing: .2pt; line-height: 107%;">Reason
8: Failure of the RS Select Committee to include detailed rationale for various
amendments moved</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, the Congress party is objecting to the refusal of
Rajya Sabha Select Committee to include the detailed reasons given by the party
for seeking each amendment. Non-inclusion of such reasons will prevent the Parliament
members and the public from knowing the rationale behind each proposal for
amendment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my
mind, these are valid objections from the opposition, which require to be addressed
by the Government. If the Select Committee refused to even include the
rationale for seeking amendments, one can only speculate what the Loksabha
where the Govt is in clear majority will do with those objections!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Source: For the full text of the Dissent Note, you may refer
<a href="http://www.scroll.in/article/742671/its-official-the-congress-puts-down-its-objections-to-the-gst-bill-in-writing">this
article, on Scroll.in</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908993162747549850.post-9841999072986524902015-07-31T18:34:00.000+05:302015-07-31T18:34:51.911+05:30More on the Death Penalty and Subjective Administration of Justice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In my <a href="http://confused-ambadi.blogspot.in/2015/07/death-penalty-forget-memon-and-think.html">previous
post</a>, I mentioned about the dangers from a judiciary that awards death
penalty, based on subjective considerations, and not on objective criteria. Such selective death penalties will surely lead
to alienation among different groups.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Just to emphasize my point, let me
quote from the judgment in the infamous Naroda Patya massacre, which was a part
of the 2002 Gujarat riots. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.cjponline.org/gujaratTrials/narodapatiya/NP%20Full%20Judgmnt/Naroda%20Patiya%20-%20Common%20Judgment.pdf">Quote</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Para 8 (j):</b> Even though this can be considered <b>as
rarest of the rare case on the face of it</b>, considering the fact of 96
murders and 125 serious hurt to attempt to murders, but while considering the
fact that <b>long time has elapsed to the communal riot of 28/02/2002</b>
during which period they have also to face the trial, the accused have also <b>undergone
the agonies of the trial for 3 years</b> in which, on about 400 days, this case
was conducted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Noticing the fact that <b>the sword
has been kept hanging for ten long years on the accused</b> who were implicated
in the crime, the <b>purpose of deterrence has already been partly served</b>
in this duration hence, <b>death sentence should not be awarded eventhough it
is held that it is rarest of rare massacre</b>. Principally, death sentence
should be imposed only when life imprisonment appears to be an altogether
inadequate punishment having regard to the relevant circumstances of the crime.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>(k)</b> A fact cannot miss the
site that, it is <b>no doubt a gruesome offence and the biggest massacre</b> of
post Godhra riot case, but the <b>interest of justice would be served</b> if it
is kept in mind that the accused had <b>undergone agony and the hanging sword
for about 10½ long years</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The object of punishment is to
deter the accused and since the crime committed by the accused is more serious
and grave in nature, it should be appropriately handled so as to set an example
in the society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>(l)</b> The punishment imposed
should be fit to the crime committed and that it is the duty of the Court to
impose proper punishment depending on the degree of criminality. Improper and
insufficient punishment can seriously undermine respect for law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
…..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>(o)</b> In the facts of the case,
when alternative to death penalty is available, it is better to embrace the
same. There are ways to address this violent crime in a more constructive way
in which precious lives were lost in a barbarous attack launched by the
assailants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>(p)</b> It is true that communal
mind set is unfortunate and unhappy situation. Unfortunate deep rooted
religious bias is the misfortune for any democratic country. On account of the
lapse of time of ten and half years the agony of impending trial to the accused
and suffering of their families, the case just falls short for death sentence
but, <b>it is undoubtedly rarest of the rare case</b>. <b>On account of the
agonies of the accused</b>, <b>this Court feels some what reluctant in imposing
the death sentence</b> by holding the case to be rarest of the rare case.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unquote (All emphasis supplied by me)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t
find fault with the above judgment. In fact, I salute the judge who had withstood
all the pressures and even threats to her life, during and after the trail. The
judgment is currently under appeal before the Gujarat High Court. Reports have
appeared that the Gujarat government is nudging the prosecution not to press
for death penalty for the convicted persons. Therefore, any views on this
judgment might be a bit premature. With that caveat, it is necessary to point out certain
factors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look at
the order. The court is convinced that the cases falls under the rarest of rare
cases. Anyone who has any idea about what was done in this case to the victims
that included women and children cannot hold otherwise. It was indeed a rarest
of rare case. Yet the court was so lenient and considerate towards the
interests of the convicted persons that court felt reluctant to impose the
death sentence “on account of the agonies” that the convicted murderers had
undergone!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talking
about the agonies of the murderers involved, one was a Minister for the most
part, in the Narendra Modi Ministry, in Gujarat. I do not know how much agony
is it to work with Modi, but surely not sufficient to escape death penalty in a
rarest of rare case?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now
consider this. Yakub Memon was also found guilty by courts, again in a rarest of
rare case. His trial also took a lot of time. Unlike Madam Kodanani, Memon was
not enjoying the powers of a minister, but locked up in a jail, throughout the
trial. But all the courts and the President had no reluctance in ensuring that
he was hanged on time. Nobody thought the “interest of justice would be served”
by anything less than his execution. Nobody thought it necessary to consider the
“agonies of the trial” for so many years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me disclose that I am
against death penalty for various reasons. But I respect the law of the land,
as it stands today, which includes the death penalty. However, as a concerned
citizen, I want the administration of law to be fair and equal, as envisaged in
our Constitution. I have no complaints about the hanging of Yakub Memon who was found
guilty in a rarest of rare crime, by our judiciary. I want all others who are
found guilty in other rarest of rare cases also to be hanged, until we eventually
decide to do away with death penalty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
reason is simple. Can the courts find a case rarest of rare, and then decide to
proceed with a punishment, which is less than the death penalty? I agree that for any civilized society, “when
alternative to death penalty is available, it is better to embrace the same.” But does it suit a civilized society or an
objective judiciary, to award different punishments for similar (rarest of
rare) crimes? Can grounds like agony of trial be different for different
accused? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add to
the above questions, the fact that two of the kingpins identified by the court (A-18
Babu Bajrangi and A-37 Dr. Mayaben Kodnani) were easily sent out on bail,
pending appeal, by the higher courts. Also, consider the fact that some of the
high profile terrorists, for whom the state legislatures had passed resolutions, were let off from the gallows on account of delay in deciding mercy petitions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Now, can you blame if some sections
felt aggrieved about the absence of real justice in the system? Is it sufficient to put intelligence agencies
to eavesdrop on what is being said on the social media? Or is it necessary to
address these concerns by undertaking systemic reforms in our judicial
functioning? Should a democratic country ignore the perceptions of injustice
among sections of the society? No doubt, punishments have deterrence value in
our system, but its administration cannot be allowed to cause further
alienation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hope, better sense will prevail.</div>
</div>
Ambadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12126135202327179403noreply@blogger.com0