EDITORIAL
Friends,
At the outset, this is wishing all our patrons, readers, friends and well wishers a great 2010. Hope and pray that it brings peace to terrorists' troubled India in particular and world in general.
The month of December began with the nation getting worked up by the report of Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan on the demolition of Babri Masjid. It is true that it took 17 long years. There can be no justification for this excruciatingly inordinate delay in reporting to the nation what really went wrong on 6th Dec. 1992.
It had a mind bogling 48 extentions. Different people dubbed it differently, from being a joke to waste of time and money. But lets face it, a report is a report. You simply cannot dismiss it because it took time. We have to take it in its face value. But what is sad is, in India everything is politicised. Some even suggested that the senior partner in UPA, the Congress, wanted an escape route with the Congress supported former Jharkhand CM: Koda, having been arrested for huge financial scams during his Chief Ministership, and the report was mischievously circulated, even before it was tabled in the parliament. It could be true, since the report indicted all BJP/RSS functionaries and none from Congress stable. There has to be 2 hands to clap. Going back to the post Rajeev Gandhi era history of Babri, it is clear that both Rajeev Gandhi and P.V.Narasimha Rao, who were former Congress Prime Ministers played their cards as it suited them. Rajeev Gandhi opened the gates of Masjid to appease one section to the displeasure of the other section. Then P(re) V(ericating) Narasimha Rao failed to prevent the demolition despite its full knowledge. Perhaps for him, inaction itself was action. Not withstanding what former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti had reportedly stated that "demolition had Rao’s blessings", it is patently impossible to accept that as the Prime Minister, Rao couldn’t have prevented the demolition of this Babri structure, despite being decrepit and Masjid hardly used for prayer. Thus by hind sight, for Justice Liberhan to exonerate both Rajeev Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao and to accuse only BJP bigwigs among others was to make a blatant political statement for the sole benefit of Congress party. He was perhaps paying back to the Congress party the debt of having looked after him for 17 long years. He had a golden opportunity, as somebody had mentioned elsewhere in the regional media, of soothing the frayed tempers in the context of a pluralistic India. Do we remember the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" constituted by Nelson Mandela with the sole purpose of uniting a mentally and physically broken nation? Indeed, as a nation, we are poor learners.
In the wake of the revelation of the Transparency Internationals Survey ranking India 84th in the Corruption Perception Index of 180 countries, the arrest of Madhu Koda, the former CM of Jharkhand has, perforce, to be taken with a pinch of salt.
In India corruption has, in a way, stopped being news. It has, a kind of, become a way of life. But for Shriman Madhu Koda, the honourable former Chief Minister of Jharkhand to be a state guest in judicial custody is a news certainly out of the ordinary. You don’t normally get a Chief Minister being arrested by the police. The two reasons possibly are, he belongs to no recognised political party-and therefore there were not many who could save him. Not being a Congressman, the party distanced itself from him quickly, for the law to take its course. It had supported him to become the Chief Minister. Perhaps independent India’s only independent MLA to have become a Chief Minister of a state. Its true that he was with BJP as mining minister in an earlier government of Arjun Munda and left to form his own party. Being mining minister he had the knowledge of the immense potential of the loot of national resources. He wanted to be the CM, and hence deserted BJP. Thus his whole ambition of wanting to be a Chief Minister was helped by Congress, although from outside. It is no wonder that in a matter of less than two years he managed to plunder the national wealth and amassed a personal worth of over Rs.3000 crores. He had only sold the mining rights and made so much money. So one can imagine the worth of mining rights, how national resources are cornered by some at the cost of national development. The proposal to have smaller states was only for better governance but this marauding politicians are short circuiting development efforts by unbridled hunger for money and more money. When shall mother India see her deliverance?
The objection by the Chinese army on the construction of road link in Ladakh is the usual Chinese stuff, browbeating. We need not take it seriously. But the stoppage by the engineers of Indian army because of this objection is a serious matter. Without responding to their objections we could have continued our construction on a low key. As they say, ‘play by the ear.’ After all, we have withstood the Chinese ‘unhappyness’ over Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. But the statement of SM Krishna, the MEA, that ‘Centre had no role in either starting or halting the project. It was entirely the J&K governments decision’, flies on its face. It was a ridiculous and callous statement from a responsible minister. Indeed our MEA needs to be overhauled. They need to be cool but tough. SM Krishna is ‘cool as cucumber’ and it ends there. His junior Mr Twitter is more American and less Indian. Probably Pranab Mukherjee is certainly more suited within the sub-continental scenario. Would somebody in New Delhi listen?
Super power in 2020 and throwing small babies of less than two years from a height of 25 feet at a temple to seek blessings makes it a bizarre comparison. But it’s a fact. We will certainly not become a super power in 2020. But this shocking practice of throwing tiny tots, belongs truly to dark stone ages. This practice may be prevalent in different parts of India, but is found to have been practiced in Northern Karnataka areas like Bijapur, Mudhol and others. Of course these babies are protected from falling on the ground and hence physical hurt is not there. But what is the guarantee of mental and psychological damage this free fall will not cause? Authorities of the area must wake up to this inhuman practice. But then this is Yeh Mera India. We always wake up to when its late.
Close on the heels of Koda arrest for mega mining scam, his cousins in thuggery the BMB (Bellary Money Bags) Reddys are running for cover from the avalanche of accusations. "Chandrababu Naidu demands Reddy’s ouster from cabinet". "Big Blow to Reddy’s deep pockets" "All party meet to fight Reddy’s" "CBI gets nod to probe OMC activities" "Pranab assures action against OMC" "CBI raids OMC offices in Bellary for illegal mining" These were all the news headlines that have hit the print media during the first fortnight of December. To cap it all, now Supreme Court has asked "OMC to Stop Mining" despite HC respite in quashing the AP government's order prohibiting mining activity by the company. Thus, events do catch up with people who forget that money is not everything. Satya Meva Jayathe. Sow mein ninyaanve be-iman, phir bhi Mera Bharath Mahan.
2009 will go down as a watershed year for Chief Justice Dinakaran of Karnataka High Court. Although in every photo-ops, he gives his usual photogenic smile, surely within him there should be turmoil. No Chief Justice of any High Court must have faced so much scrutiny as C.J. Dinakaran, especially prior to his elevation to the Supreme Court. Of course there are any number of justices who have faced questions of probity. But the way C.J. Dinakaran was haggled by Advocates in Karnataka, is really unprecedented. There have been quite a bit of ambivalence with respect to his elevation. But the recent admission of impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha has put paid to any uncertainty. And Supreme Court Chief Justice Balakrishnan has gone on record saying that "elevation to supreme Court has been kept in abeyance in view of the impeachment proceedings in the Rajya Sabha".
However, Mayavathi has entered the scene to fish in the troubled water by writing to the PM that Justice Dinakaran be given a hearing. As the champion of Dalits, Mayavathi is only doing her job towards another dalit. But surely C.J. Dinakaran can fight his own battle, and impeachment shall only bring the whole truth, nothing but the truth. But how do we make politicians and ministers accountable for all the unaccounted wealth they have amassed? Hope Justice Dinakaran shall make our job easier. Here it is important to recollect the words of Justice Hosbet Suresh, a former judge of Bombay High Court. "Judicial independence is not only independence from the executive, but also independence from such human frailties as succumbing to acts of corruption and immorality". Very well said.
The fasting by Telangana leader Chandrashekar and the announcement of the Telangana creation by the Congress party is a development that had to happen. While love of language led to the first reorganisation of states on emotional lines, the subsequent demands and present demands are based on hard reality of governance failure. There have been too many reactions to the announcement by the Congress leadership on the creation of Telengana, mostly opportunistic. Its true that Congress leadership, as usual, took unilateral decision without consulting other political parties, after all it is an issue of national ramifications. But political parties in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere looked at the problem only as a vote bank issue, rather than a development issue. It was a blatant case of playing politics with development. Why our politicians are so thick headed is beyond comprehension. A Smaller state has many socio-economic advantage, which a large state cannot offer due to its very size. Without going into the details, the examples of Goa and Kerala, as the best in Human Development Index in whole of India should explain the advantages of a smaller state. Its purely a governance issue, which does not enter the thick heads of these politicians. There’s a whole lot of materials to be written about smaller states and its merits. Hope our politicians see the reason and logic behind the issue.
Lapse on the part of Air India on the Haj flight returning from Saudi Arabia, allowing the stowaway Habib Hussain is a typical Indian mind set. We take far too many things for granted. We only act after the disaster strikes, otherwise its always God is Great or Allah Kareem. As a nation, we have always been crazy for our rights and duty comes much later in the list of priorities. Look at the central bus station in Bangalore’s Majestic area just outside the Bangalore railway station. There’s a gate with electronic doors to pass thru’, it makes noise every time a person crosses it. It also has two security men posted, who only ensures that people go thru’ the IN and OUT openings only, and do not carry out any checking. Of course alertness is seriously lacking. The bus station has lakhs of passengers using it during the day and night with thousands of tourists coming from across the country. We are told, Bangalore is on the high alert radar. But where lakhs of people converge day in and day out for all the 365 days of the year security is so lax, and may be when something serious happens, the authorities shall wake up. Yes, with our great Chief Minister of Karnataka, Yediyurappa, remaining ever busy praying for divine intervention to save his first probable 5 year term chief ministership, there is no time for him to think about the security at vulnerable places like this Kempe Gowda Bus Station.
There is this report coming from Associated Press datelined Dublin "ROMAN CATHOLIC NUNS OFFER COMPENSATION FOR CHILD ABUSE". The report talks about an offer of Euros 128 million as compensation by the Irish Order of Sisters of Mercy for the decades of abuse in its schools and orphanages. It mentions about the 9 year state investigation that found, that all the orders permitted and covered up endemic rape, molestation, beatings and mental cruelty in their children’s institution, by Catholic priests, brothers and nuns. The investigation found them guilty of chronic child abuse. Report further informs that Irish Sisters of Mercy said in a statement that it "wholeheartedly regrets the suffering experienced by the children in their care" and hoped the latest offer would show that its nuns were being "faithful to the values of reparation, reconciliation healing and responsibility". There are few issues this whole episode throws up. There is a crime committed with brazen wantonness and criminals are all educated and, prima facie, morally oriented adults. Victims are hapless and helpless minor children. Surely there are laws for civil society under similar circumstances. They would have been routinely hauled up by law enforcing agencies and punished accordingly with monetary compensation to the victims thrown in. But here it appears rather clearly that no such thing had happened. But these priests, brothers & nuns were being "faithful to the values of reparation, reconciliation, healing and responsibility" by making hung monetary compensation. So how do you explain their exemption of their being legally tried for the crime these religious men and women have so knowingly committed for their pleasure? Sometime truth can be stranger than fiction.
As we complete the year 2009, it is not flattering that a ‘Super power in making’, India, heads the list of countries with the highest number of malnourished children under the age of five, informs a UNICEF report. It's indeed a matter of deep concern and anguish that despite 11 developmental plans of the last 62 years, the redistributive exercise by all successive governments, both federal and state, failed miserably to address the issue of hunger especially among growing children. This has been the case every year, but no government has seriously and honestly tried to address this scourge. There has got to be serious debate in the media on a continuous basis, reflecting on the failure and deficiency in the system. Hope the civil society wakes up to this stark reality to do its bit rather than leave it to the political class and their partners, the bureaucracy, in this abominable state of economic mismanagement of the country.
2009 would probably go down as the worst year for Pakistan with continuous violence, taking deadly toll every other day, killing dozens of people every time. There does not appear any end to the daily hostility all over Pakistan. While it is true that sometime chicken do come home to roost, Pakistani administrators, politicians and all those, who had a state policy of treating India as its enemy only because of its Hindu majority, are now coming to terms that policy neither paid dividend then nor it shall pay any dividend in the future. They are becoming painfully aware that their India centric foreign policy of encouraging violent outfits against India has not only failed but also becoming an internal security risk for Pakistan itself. Yes, situation within Pakistan is extremely fragile and its future very uncertain. The truth is, while a stable Pakistan is no guarantee of a good neighbour, an unstable Pakistan can be dangerous. Either way India has to remain watchful of its western neighbour.
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (CCCC) came with a roar and ended as a whimper. Not surprising, rich and powerful tried to arm-twist not so rich and therefore powerless. CCCC abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding treaty that the world had, on emission reduction. Instead they have an Agreement which is only inshaa allah! God willing. Until then 192 countries attending the conference again in Dec 2010 in Mexico, may have to wait for the deliverance of good intentions of countries which promised to cut the emission.The biggest polluters, the US and China are without any leash. It is sad but true, that the rich and powerful would always make the poor feel their powerlessness. That’s how it is everywhere, same old story. Obama may be an honest man, wanting to do his bit for the world at large, but he is also answerable to his own countrymen who elected him. It will be too much to expect China to be fair and just. So until Dec 2010, lets just keep smiling. We have taken up the issue of Copenhagen anti-climax in the Focus, for the importance it deserved. Hope readers will find it worth their time.
While we are about it, a theory to weed out Co2, by a Karnataka University PG Centre scientist, is a welcome development. The theory of Dr. Ullas Naik that this simple algae if scientifically developed and grown may well become an answer to the earth's climate problem, needs to be explored in all seriousness. Mr Jairam Ramesh, are you listening?
"My government is rock solid", reiterated Yediyurappa, the Karnataka CM, but soon thereafter, succumbed to dissent within the party to appoint another minister, the chief speaker for another set of dissidents after the Reddy imbroglio. Then he admitted that he has committed mistakes, and went around invoking divine intervention to save his government. It is becoming increasingly clear that the actions, inactions and reactions of himself and his ministers has not earned any goodwill. There is this sinking feeling that all that he is doing is to survive and to complete his term. But would this government survive, if he goes about appeasing everybody who raises a banner of revolt, especially when there are good ones who are helpless watching the passing show? Would this be the first and the last BJP government in Karnataka? They are asking with anguish.
Hedley issue seems to be heading nowhere. With the U.S. refusal to allow Indian sleuths to neither interrogate him nor have him deported to India, India is being made painfully aware, how powerless it is internationally. That David Coleman Headley, the original Dawood Gilani, traveled in and out of India non-challently without any hindrance, is not the issue. But when he neither looked like a white American or an Afro American, for Headley to hop in and hop out, at will, is a monumental commentary on India’s security screening process. Thank god he was caught by Americans themselves, and American media exposed his double agent status. Or else another 26/11 would have been a distinct possibility by now. How inept is our well paid bureaucracy?! Here it is very pertinent to note that Dawood Gilani, converted to christianity and changed his name as David Coleman Headley with a hidden purpose. The authorities the world over, must alert its embassies and other state apparatus that any conversion of a muslim into christian faith and obtains travel documents must be viewed with utmost caution. An aspect, not many, have bothered to worry about. Any neglect shall be at a peril. And then you have this Mr. Twitter, the Junior MEA Shashi Tharoor, who has reportedly stated "India not in a hurry to hang Kasab." On asking ‘why India is not hanging Kasab quickly to set an example for others', Tharoor was reported to have stated "There is democratic judicial process, and we will follow it". For gods sake, this needs to be speeded up. We have far too many cases to sleep over with this democratic process. May be we need to ask the free India’s most efficient Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, this question. He may have a different take on the issue.
With crores of rupees being spent on high security for the lone terrorist caught by real hero Tukaram Ombale by his bare hands, the Indian union must act fast, decisive and lawfully to serve the ends of justice.
The mysterious contamination of drinking water at Kaiga Nuclear Plant (KNP) earlier in the month and now fire having killed two research students at BARC at Trombay, Mumbai in one of its chemical lab is a matter of serious concern. In Kaiga tritium seem to have entered the drinking water system, and authorities were still not sure how it entered after all. Anil Kakodkar, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, had reportedly observed that "contamination is an act of mischief". Despite the incident having been detected over a month ago there has been no intelligence input on the 'theory of mischief' or otherwise. Suspecting something sinister in the KNP, a house wife Ashwini Mule, had aired her thoughts that 'all’s not well' within the plant. Her husband, Ravikumar Mule, a tradesman with the plant for 11 years, was found dead inside the plant premises some 9 months ago, with injury marks and a blood oozing left ear. Police had registered a case of unnatural death. Again in June, a scientific officer went missing and his body was found in the local Kali river few days later. Our police intelligence being what it is, the easy way out was to record the death as suicide and close the case. With this BARC research students' death, the matter deserves serious consideration. With the kind of neighbour that we have in the western border, anything can be suspected where local support may not in difficult with some disgruntled elements with a destructive mindset. Hope, Ministry of Home Affairs puts its head into both these incidents to come up with some plausible theory.
Iran stepping up crackdown on opposition is a disturbing sign of things in the only Shiit regime in the middle east. This Ahmednijad is taking the country backwards with his extreme intolerance of dissent. What difference the liberal Iranians see in this and from the rule of Shah Pehelvi, who was dethroned by the Ayotallah Khomeini some 40 years ago. Shah was intolerant of people who opposed him, so is this Ahmednijad. Both have made life difficult for liberal Iranians. In fact Iran under Ahmednijad is becoming worst than China in crushing open display of public opinion. Hardliner of any kind makes life hard for everybody, sooner or later, because they are rigid and inflexible. Opposition to Ahmednijad probably is growing. If he becomes another Saddam Hussain, he may see similar end, may not be by Americans, but from his own people, like the Romanian ruler Nicolus.
Election of Shibu Soren is an insult to Indian democratic principles. That BJP is party to this diabolic act of propping up this criminal, who is an accused murderer and publicly charged sodomite, is a reflection of the low depth to which politics of opportunism has crept in this country. It is indeed a sad day for Indian politics.
N D Tiwari’s sexapade is not surprising let alone shocking. These octogenarians used to the comforts of high offices, do get used to many things, beyond the prying eyes of media. The spokesman of Raj Bhavan had reportedly dismissed reports of Tiwari being found allegedly in the company of three younger females in compromising position. How compromising and why does the oldster in past mid-eighties need three of them, is a question no-body asked. The question that begs for answer is how does these three have made it into the Raj Bhawan? It is absolutely impossible for some one so late in the day as Tiwari to have organised these belles’ sojourn of the Raj Bhawan, without the active help of his immediate ADCs. Probably somebody has played the spoil sport and a private channel managed to snoop into Tiwari’s private living area. It is not difficult to surmise if it would be a quid pro quo, and somebody who were left out of the scheme of things would have spilled the bean to the channels. Hence, it is easier to postulate that such things do keep happening, only media and therefore the world outside remain outside this murky world of power that corrupts.
Rest of the issues are as usual.
At the outset, this is wishing all our patrons, readers, friends and well wishers a great 2010. Hope and pray that it brings peace to terrorists' troubled India in particular and world in general.
The month of December began with the nation getting worked up by the report of Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan on the demolition of Babri Masjid. It is true that it took 17 long years. There can be no justification for this excruciatingly inordinate delay in reporting to the nation what really went wrong on 6th Dec. 1992.
It had a mind bogling 48 extentions. Different people dubbed it differently, from being a joke to waste of time and money. But lets face it, a report is a report. You simply cannot dismiss it because it took time. We have to take it in its face value. But what is sad is, in India everything is politicised. Some even suggested that the senior partner in UPA, the Congress, wanted an escape route with the Congress supported former Jharkhand CM: Koda, having been arrested for huge financial scams during his Chief Ministership, and the report was mischievously circulated, even before it was tabled in the parliament. It could be true, since the report indicted all BJP/RSS functionaries and none from Congress stable. There has to be 2 hands to clap. Going back to the post Rajeev Gandhi era history of Babri, it is clear that both Rajeev Gandhi and P.V.Narasimha Rao, who were former Congress Prime Ministers played their cards as it suited them. Rajeev Gandhi opened the gates of Masjid to appease one section to the displeasure of the other section. Then P(re) V(ericating) Narasimha Rao failed to prevent the demolition despite its full knowledge. Perhaps for him, inaction itself was action. Not withstanding what former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti had reportedly stated that "demolition had Rao’s blessings", it is patently impossible to accept that as the Prime Minister, Rao couldn’t have prevented the demolition of this Babri structure, despite being decrepit and Masjid hardly used for prayer. Thus by hind sight, for Justice Liberhan to exonerate both Rajeev Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao and to accuse only BJP bigwigs among others was to make a blatant political statement for the sole benefit of Congress party. He was perhaps paying back to the Congress party the debt of having looked after him for 17 long years. He had a golden opportunity, as somebody had mentioned elsewhere in the regional media, of soothing the frayed tempers in the context of a pluralistic India. Do we remember the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" constituted by Nelson Mandela with the sole purpose of uniting a mentally and physically broken nation? Indeed, as a nation, we are poor learners.
In the wake of the revelation of the Transparency Internationals Survey ranking India 84th in the Corruption Perception Index of 180 countries, the arrest of Madhu Koda, the former CM of Jharkhand has, perforce, to be taken with a pinch of salt.
In India corruption has, in a way, stopped being news. It has, a kind of, become a way of life. But for Shriman Madhu Koda, the honourable former Chief Minister of Jharkhand to be a state guest in judicial custody is a news certainly out of the ordinary. You don’t normally get a Chief Minister being arrested by the police. The two reasons possibly are, he belongs to no recognised political party-and therefore there were not many who could save him. Not being a Congressman, the party distanced itself from him quickly, for the law to take its course. It had supported him to become the Chief Minister. Perhaps independent India’s only independent MLA to have become a Chief Minister of a state. Its true that he was with BJP as mining minister in an earlier government of Arjun Munda and left to form his own party. Being mining minister he had the knowledge of the immense potential of the loot of national resources. He wanted to be the CM, and hence deserted BJP. Thus his whole ambition of wanting to be a Chief Minister was helped by Congress, although from outside. It is no wonder that in a matter of less than two years he managed to plunder the national wealth and amassed a personal worth of over Rs.3000 crores. He had only sold the mining rights and made so much money. So one can imagine the worth of mining rights, how national resources are cornered by some at the cost of national development. The proposal to have smaller states was only for better governance but this marauding politicians are short circuiting development efforts by unbridled hunger for money and more money. When shall mother India see her deliverance?
The objection by the Chinese army on the construction of road link in Ladakh is the usual Chinese stuff, browbeating. We need not take it seriously. But the stoppage by the engineers of Indian army because of this objection is a serious matter. Without responding to their objections we could have continued our construction on a low key. As they say, ‘play by the ear.’ After all, we have withstood the Chinese ‘unhappyness’ over Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. But the statement of SM Krishna, the MEA, that ‘Centre had no role in either starting or halting the project. It was entirely the J&K governments decision’, flies on its face. It was a ridiculous and callous statement from a responsible minister. Indeed our MEA needs to be overhauled. They need to be cool but tough. SM Krishna is ‘cool as cucumber’ and it ends there. His junior Mr Twitter is more American and less Indian. Probably Pranab Mukherjee is certainly more suited within the sub-continental scenario. Would somebody in New Delhi listen?
Super power in 2020 and throwing small babies of less than two years from a height of 25 feet at a temple to seek blessings makes it a bizarre comparison. But it’s a fact. We will certainly not become a super power in 2020. But this shocking practice of throwing tiny tots, belongs truly to dark stone ages. This practice may be prevalent in different parts of India, but is found to have been practiced in Northern Karnataka areas like Bijapur, Mudhol and others. Of course these babies are protected from falling on the ground and hence physical hurt is not there. But what is the guarantee of mental and psychological damage this free fall will not cause? Authorities of the area must wake up to this inhuman practice. But then this is Yeh Mera India. We always wake up to when its late.
Close on the heels of Koda arrest for mega mining scam, his cousins in thuggery the BMB (Bellary Money Bags) Reddys are running for cover from the avalanche of accusations. "Chandrababu Naidu demands Reddy’s ouster from cabinet". "Big Blow to Reddy’s deep pockets" "All party meet to fight Reddy’s" "CBI gets nod to probe OMC activities" "Pranab assures action against OMC" "CBI raids OMC offices in Bellary for illegal mining" These were all the news headlines that have hit the print media during the first fortnight of December. To cap it all, now Supreme Court has asked "OMC to Stop Mining" despite HC respite in quashing the AP government's order prohibiting mining activity by the company. Thus, events do catch up with people who forget that money is not everything. Satya Meva Jayathe. Sow mein ninyaanve be-iman, phir bhi Mera Bharath Mahan.
2009 will go down as a watershed year for Chief Justice Dinakaran of Karnataka High Court. Although in every photo-ops, he gives his usual photogenic smile, surely within him there should be turmoil. No Chief Justice of any High Court must have faced so much scrutiny as C.J. Dinakaran, especially prior to his elevation to the Supreme Court. Of course there are any number of justices who have faced questions of probity. But the way C.J. Dinakaran was haggled by Advocates in Karnataka, is really unprecedented. There have been quite a bit of ambivalence with respect to his elevation. But the recent admission of impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha has put paid to any uncertainty. And Supreme Court Chief Justice Balakrishnan has gone on record saying that "elevation to supreme Court has been kept in abeyance in view of the impeachment proceedings in the Rajya Sabha".
However, Mayavathi has entered the scene to fish in the troubled water by writing to the PM that Justice Dinakaran be given a hearing. As the champion of Dalits, Mayavathi is only doing her job towards another dalit. But surely C.J. Dinakaran can fight his own battle, and impeachment shall only bring the whole truth, nothing but the truth. But how do we make politicians and ministers accountable for all the unaccounted wealth they have amassed? Hope Justice Dinakaran shall make our job easier. Here it is important to recollect the words of Justice Hosbet Suresh, a former judge of Bombay High Court. "Judicial independence is not only independence from the executive, but also independence from such human frailties as succumbing to acts of corruption and immorality". Very well said.
The fasting by Telangana leader Chandrashekar and the announcement of the Telangana creation by the Congress party is a development that had to happen. While love of language led to the first reorganisation of states on emotional lines, the subsequent demands and present demands are based on hard reality of governance failure. There have been too many reactions to the announcement by the Congress leadership on the creation of Telengana, mostly opportunistic. Its true that Congress leadership, as usual, took unilateral decision without consulting other political parties, after all it is an issue of national ramifications. But political parties in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere looked at the problem only as a vote bank issue, rather than a development issue. It was a blatant case of playing politics with development. Why our politicians are so thick headed is beyond comprehension. A Smaller state has many socio-economic advantage, which a large state cannot offer due to its very size. Without going into the details, the examples of Goa and Kerala, as the best in Human Development Index in whole of India should explain the advantages of a smaller state. Its purely a governance issue, which does not enter the thick heads of these politicians. There’s a whole lot of materials to be written about smaller states and its merits. Hope our politicians see the reason and logic behind the issue.
Lapse on the part of Air India on the Haj flight returning from Saudi Arabia, allowing the stowaway Habib Hussain is a typical Indian mind set. We take far too many things for granted. We only act after the disaster strikes, otherwise its always God is Great or Allah Kareem. As a nation, we have always been crazy for our rights and duty comes much later in the list of priorities. Look at the central bus station in Bangalore’s Majestic area just outside the Bangalore railway station. There’s a gate with electronic doors to pass thru’, it makes noise every time a person crosses it. It also has two security men posted, who only ensures that people go thru’ the IN and OUT openings only, and do not carry out any checking. Of course alertness is seriously lacking. The bus station has lakhs of passengers using it during the day and night with thousands of tourists coming from across the country. We are told, Bangalore is on the high alert radar. But where lakhs of people converge day in and day out for all the 365 days of the year security is so lax, and may be when something serious happens, the authorities shall wake up. Yes, with our great Chief Minister of Karnataka, Yediyurappa, remaining ever busy praying for divine intervention to save his first probable 5 year term chief ministership, there is no time for him to think about the security at vulnerable places like this Kempe Gowda Bus Station.
There is this report coming from Associated Press datelined Dublin "ROMAN CATHOLIC NUNS OFFER COMPENSATION FOR CHILD ABUSE". The report talks about an offer of Euros 128 million as compensation by the Irish Order of Sisters of Mercy for the decades of abuse in its schools and orphanages. It mentions about the 9 year state investigation that found, that all the orders permitted and covered up endemic rape, molestation, beatings and mental cruelty in their children’s institution, by Catholic priests, brothers and nuns. The investigation found them guilty of chronic child abuse. Report further informs that Irish Sisters of Mercy said in a statement that it "wholeheartedly regrets the suffering experienced by the children in their care" and hoped the latest offer would show that its nuns were being "faithful to the values of reparation, reconciliation healing and responsibility". There are few issues this whole episode throws up. There is a crime committed with brazen wantonness and criminals are all educated and, prima facie, morally oriented adults. Victims are hapless and helpless minor children. Surely there are laws for civil society under similar circumstances. They would have been routinely hauled up by law enforcing agencies and punished accordingly with monetary compensation to the victims thrown in. But here it appears rather clearly that no such thing had happened. But these priests, brothers & nuns were being "faithful to the values of reparation, reconciliation, healing and responsibility" by making hung monetary compensation. So how do you explain their exemption of their being legally tried for the crime these religious men and women have so knowingly committed for their pleasure? Sometime truth can be stranger than fiction.
As we complete the year 2009, it is not flattering that a ‘Super power in making’, India, heads the list of countries with the highest number of malnourished children under the age of five, informs a UNICEF report. It's indeed a matter of deep concern and anguish that despite 11 developmental plans of the last 62 years, the redistributive exercise by all successive governments, both federal and state, failed miserably to address the issue of hunger especially among growing children. This has been the case every year, but no government has seriously and honestly tried to address this scourge. There has got to be serious debate in the media on a continuous basis, reflecting on the failure and deficiency in the system. Hope the civil society wakes up to this stark reality to do its bit rather than leave it to the political class and their partners, the bureaucracy, in this abominable state of economic mismanagement of the country.
2009 would probably go down as the worst year for Pakistan with continuous violence, taking deadly toll every other day, killing dozens of people every time. There does not appear any end to the daily hostility all over Pakistan. While it is true that sometime chicken do come home to roost, Pakistani administrators, politicians and all those, who had a state policy of treating India as its enemy only because of its Hindu majority, are now coming to terms that policy neither paid dividend then nor it shall pay any dividend in the future. They are becoming painfully aware that their India centric foreign policy of encouraging violent outfits against India has not only failed but also becoming an internal security risk for Pakistan itself. Yes, situation within Pakistan is extremely fragile and its future very uncertain. The truth is, while a stable Pakistan is no guarantee of a good neighbour, an unstable Pakistan can be dangerous. Either way India has to remain watchful of its western neighbour.
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (CCCC) came with a roar and ended as a whimper. Not surprising, rich and powerful tried to arm-twist not so rich and therefore powerless. CCCC abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding treaty that the world had, on emission reduction. Instead they have an Agreement which is only inshaa allah! God willing. Until then 192 countries attending the conference again in Dec 2010 in Mexico, may have to wait for the deliverance of good intentions of countries which promised to cut the emission.The biggest polluters, the US and China are without any leash. It is sad but true, that the rich and powerful would always make the poor feel their powerlessness. That’s how it is everywhere, same old story. Obama may be an honest man, wanting to do his bit for the world at large, but he is also answerable to his own countrymen who elected him. It will be too much to expect China to be fair and just. So until Dec 2010, lets just keep smiling. We have taken up the issue of Copenhagen anti-climax in the Focus, for the importance it deserved. Hope readers will find it worth their time.
While we are about it, a theory to weed out Co2, by a Karnataka University PG Centre scientist, is a welcome development. The theory of Dr. Ullas Naik that this simple algae if scientifically developed and grown may well become an answer to the earth's climate problem, needs to be explored in all seriousness. Mr Jairam Ramesh, are you listening?
"My government is rock solid", reiterated Yediyurappa, the Karnataka CM, but soon thereafter, succumbed to dissent within the party to appoint another minister, the chief speaker for another set of dissidents after the Reddy imbroglio. Then he admitted that he has committed mistakes, and went around invoking divine intervention to save his government. It is becoming increasingly clear that the actions, inactions and reactions of himself and his ministers has not earned any goodwill. There is this sinking feeling that all that he is doing is to survive and to complete his term. But would this government survive, if he goes about appeasing everybody who raises a banner of revolt, especially when there are good ones who are helpless watching the passing show? Would this be the first and the last BJP government in Karnataka? They are asking with anguish.
Hedley issue seems to be heading nowhere. With the U.S. refusal to allow Indian sleuths to neither interrogate him nor have him deported to India, India is being made painfully aware, how powerless it is internationally. That David Coleman Headley, the original Dawood Gilani, traveled in and out of India non-challently without any hindrance, is not the issue. But when he neither looked like a white American or an Afro American, for Headley to hop in and hop out, at will, is a monumental commentary on India’s security screening process. Thank god he was caught by Americans themselves, and American media exposed his double agent status. Or else another 26/11 would have been a distinct possibility by now. How inept is our well paid bureaucracy?! Here it is very pertinent to note that Dawood Gilani, converted to christianity and changed his name as David Coleman Headley with a hidden purpose. The authorities the world over, must alert its embassies and other state apparatus that any conversion of a muslim into christian faith and obtains travel documents must be viewed with utmost caution. An aspect, not many, have bothered to worry about. Any neglect shall be at a peril. And then you have this Mr. Twitter, the Junior MEA Shashi Tharoor, who has reportedly stated "India not in a hurry to hang Kasab." On asking ‘why India is not hanging Kasab quickly to set an example for others', Tharoor was reported to have stated "There is democratic judicial process, and we will follow it". For gods sake, this needs to be speeded up. We have far too many cases to sleep over with this democratic process. May be we need to ask the free India’s most efficient Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, this question. He may have a different take on the issue.
With crores of rupees being spent on high security for the lone terrorist caught by real hero Tukaram Ombale by his bare hands, the Indian union must act fast, decisive and lawfully to serve the ends of justice.
The mysterious contamination of drinking water at Kaiga Nuclear Plant (KNP) earlier in the month and now fire having killed two research students at BARC at Trombay, Mumbai in one of its chemical lab is a matter of serious concern. In Kaiga tritium seem to have entered the drinking water system, and authorities were still not sure how it entered after all. Anil Kakodkar, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, had reportedly observed that "contamination is an act of mischief". Despite the incident having been detected over a month ago there has been no intelligence input on the 'theory of mischief' or otherwise. Suspecting something sinister in the KNP, a house wife Ashwini Mule, had aired her thoughts that 'all’s not well' within the plant. Her husband, Ravikumar Mule, a tradesman with the plant for 11 years, was found dead inside the plant premises some 9 months ago, with injury marks and a blood oozing left ear. Police had registered a case of unnatural death. Again in June, a scientific officer went missing and his body was found in the local Kali river few days later. Our police intelligence being what it is, the easy way out was to record the death as suicide and close the case. With this BARC research students' death, the matter deserves serious consideration. With the kind of neighbour that we have in the western border, anything can be suspected where local support may not in difficult with some disgruntled elements with a destructive mindset. Hope, Ministry of Home Affairs puts its head into both these incidents to come up with some plausible theory.
Iran stepping up crackdown on opposition is a disturbing sign of things in the only Shiit regime in the middle east. This Ahmednijad is taking the country backwards with his extreme intolerance of dissent. What difference the liberal Iranians see in this and from the rule of Shah Pehelvi, who was dethroned by the Ayotallah Khomeini some 40 years ago. Shah was intolerant of people who opposed him, so is this Ahmednijad. Both have made life difficult for liberal Iranians. In fact Iran under Ahmednijad is becoming worst than China in crushing open display of public opinion. Hardliner of any kind makes life hard for everybody, sooner or later, because they are rigid and inflexible. Opposition to Ahmednijad probably is growing. If he becomes another Saddam Hussain, he may see similar end, may not be by Americans, but from his own people, like the Romanian ruler Nicolus.
Election of Shibu Soren is an insult to Indian democratic principles. That BJP is party to this diabolic act of propping up this criminal, who is an accused murderer and publicly charged sodomite, is a reflection of the low depth to which politics of opportunism has crept in this country. It is indeed a sad day for Indian politics.
N D Tiwari’s sexapade is not surprising let alone shocking. These octogenarians used to the comforts of high offices, do get used to many things, beyond the prying eyes of media. The spokesman of Raj Bhavan had reportedly dismissed reports of Tiwari being found allegedly in the company of three younger females in compromising position. How compromising and why does the oldster in past mid-eighties need three of them, is a question no-body asked. The question that begs for answer is how does these three have made it into the Raj Bhawan? It is absolutely impossible for some one so late in the day as Tiwari to have organised these belles’ sojourn of the Raj Bhawan, without the active help of his immediate ADCs. Probably somebody has played the spoil sport and a private channel managed to snoop into Tiwari’s private living area. It is not difficult to surmise if it would be a quid pro quo, and somebody who were left out of the scheme of things would have spilled the bean to the channels. Hence, it is easier to postulate that such things do keep happening, only media and therefore the world outside remain outside this murky world of power that corrupts.
Rest of the issues are as usual.
Comments