Was there any need for President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to fly aboard the SU30MKI? Was it a cheap attempt at overshadowing the real people's President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's feat a couple of years ago?
No the flight didn't serve any cause. The flight of the 74-year-old woman didn't serve any purpose than to waste the time and money of Indian Air Force. The sortie aboard the supersonic jet was meaninigless as it flew on sub-sonic speeds and didn't show our supreme commander any offensive manouvres of the jet fighters. Moreover, the point here is that she might be the nominal supreme commander of the Indian armed forces but her defence forces are not yet ready to deploy women combatants on mainstream duties. So it is better that she persuades her commanders to opt for a better treatment of the women in the armed forces. When world over women have been absorbed in active combat duty what are the Indian armed forces waiting for?
PS: And what is with the middle name? Devisingh......
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Arundhati Roy
Went to a discussion on Arundhati Roy's new book today. And it really felt good to see another one of my tribe, "Frustrated Indian" for the uninitiated.
The author, who has come under severe criticism over the past for her anti-establishment political views, is indeed a fellow Indian who is frustrated by the way this country has been picking itself from where the Britishers left. The way it treats its own. The tribals, minorities and people who have been marginalised by any cause. The frustration was also evident as she has gone on to ask time and again why the establishment has been trying hard to cover up on the corporate mess.
She is trying to make her point strongly and she has been taken by the Indian middle class with some respect. Which is the reason that the establishment is so afraid of taking her on. The questions raised by her are noteworthy and do require an answer. Maybe the government will take note and start treating such questions from the members of civil society with some respect.
The author, who has come under severe criticism over the past for her anti-establishment political views, is indeed a fellow Indian who is frustrated by the way this country has been picking itself from where the Britishers left. The way it treats its own. The tribals, minorities and people who have been marginalised by any cause. The frustration was also evident as she has gone on to ask time and again why the establishment has been trying hard to cover up on the corporate mess.
She is trying to make her point strongly and she has been taken by the Indian middle class with some respect. Which is the reason that the establishment is so afraid of taking her on. The questions raised by her are noteworthy and do require an answer. Maybe the government will take note and start treating such questions from the members of civil society with some respect.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Unprofessional media
Instead of hearing the empty barks of a retired judge the media should have retaliated properly.
Justice Liberhan may have retorted to the media by saying
"Don't challenge my character...Get lost. I am not a person who is accessible to you (media)...I don't want to talk about it," he said. "I am not that characterless a person that I will hand over the report to the media before being placed in Parliament," he stated.
However, why didn't even a single mediperson have the courage to ask the retired judge to shut up instead. The judge owes an apology to the nation as he has taken 17 years to finish a job which was supposed to take just three months. Isn't he accountable to the taxpayers of this country whose money has funded his extension after extension of post-retirement benefits.
But I suppose asking this would be too much for the media as they continue to focus on the frivolous and forget the substance behind a story.
Justice Liberhan may have retorted to the media by saying
"Don't challenge my character...Get lost. I am not a person who is accessible to you (media)...I don't want to talk about it," he said. "I am not that characterless a person that I will hand over the report to the media before being placed in Parliament," he stated.
However, why didn't even a single mediperson have the courage to ask the retired judge to shut up instead. The judge owes an apology to the nation as he has taken 17 years to finish a job which was supposed to take just three months. Isn't he accountable to the taxpayers of this country whose money has funded his extension after extension of post-retirement benefits.
But I suppose asking this would be too much for the media as they continue to focus on the frivolous and forget the substance behind a story.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar
Thanks for playing for our country. Though I am not a big cricket fan, ever since I got to know about the dirt that is match fixing, I still hold you in high esteem. You are undoubtedly the best batsman that has ever played the game. Even better than the Don.
And I loathe political leaders who are casting aspersions on you. You have been the one force that has often united this country in a time of crisis. A person who is seen as one that belongs to every Indian and not just a community, a region or a race.
For a deeply pluralistic society like ours you are one symbol of hope. The bad political leadership which has been thrust upon our country to ruin, divide and demean it has also tried to put you into dock. I hope that you are able to serve our country for a few more years and say good bye to the game in a graceful manner. Thanks Sachin, for bringing me out of my frustration by your playing abilities.
And I loathe political leaders who are casting aspersions on you. You have been the one force that has often united this country in a time of crisis. A person who is seen as one that belongs to every Indian and not just a community, a region or a race.
For a deeply pluralistic society like ours you are one symbol of hope. The bad political leadership which has been thrust upon our country to ruin, divide and demean it has also tried to put you into dock. I hope that you are able to serve our country for a few more years and say good bye to the game in a graceful manner. Thanks Sachin, for bringing me out of my frustration by your playing abilities.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Finally Indian intelligence agencies wake up
After days of chatter about the involvement of David Headley and Tahawwar
Hussain Rana and their arrest by the FBI the Indian intelligence agencies have finally woken up. The National Investigation Agency has claimed to have former several teams here as well as in other states and started questioning several people to trace the footsteps of David Headley and
Hussain Rana in India.
The officials are looking at leads they had visited Kerala and are for an estate agent in Khar Mumbai. Interestingly, the Indian intelligence agency had all this while maintained that there was no other link of 26/11 suspe3cts. They had claimed that there were no recee missions and that everything was done through VOiP by their masters in Pakistan. And according to out intelligence agencies these terrorists had landed and started their mission through the sea route.
What a bag full of lies.....
I just hope that the NIA sleuths are able to understand the case and uncover what the other agencies have tried to cover up with their shoddy investigation.
Hussain Rana and their arrest by the FBI the Indian intelligence agencies have finally woken up. The National Investigation Agency has claimed to have former several teams here as well as in other states and started questioning several people to trace the footsteps of David Headley and
Hussain Rana in India.
The officials are looking at leads they had visited Kerala and are for an estate agent in Khar Mumbai. Interestingly, the Indian intelligence agency had all this while maintained that there was no other link of 26/11 suspe3cts. They had claimed that there were no recee missions and that everything was done through VOiP by their masters in Pakistan. And according to out intelligence agencies these terrorists had landed and started their mission through the sea route.
What a bag full of lies.....
I just hope that the NIA sleuths are able to understand the case and uncover what the other agencies have tried to cover up with their shoddy investigation.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Ban MNS
Nothing short of a ban should do on this issue. The political party of Raj Thackrey should be banned and he, along with all his goondas should be disenfranchised.
This is nothing short of an attack on the democratic norms of the country and the very heart of its constitution. Our constitution allows us the freedoms to anything in the democratic framework that we want. This rowdy behaviour of a street-side goonda is an attack on the institutions of this country. Such behaviour needs to be checked immediately.
Though a few political parties had propped up MNS for their ulterior motives of dividing the vote bank in Maharashtra, it may end up dividing and damaging the country beyong heal. There is not word of condemnation that is enough for this attack. It is not an ar\ttack on a lone SP MLA Abu Azmi but on the democracy that is called India.
Please stop these fools from harming the country.
This is nothing short of an attack on the democratic norms of the country and the very heart of its constitution. Our constitution allows us the freedoms to anything in the democratic framework that we want. This rowdy behaviour of a street-side goonda is an attack on the institutions of this country. Such behaviour needs to be checked immediately.
Though a few political parties had propped up MNS for their ulterior motives of dividing the vote bank in Maharashtra, it may end up dividing and damaging the country beyong heal. There is not word of condemnation that is enough for this attack. It is not an ar\ttack on a lone SP MLA Abu Azmi but on the democracy that is called India.
Please stop these fools from harming the country.
Might is right
The Sheila Dik-shit government has proved it again that might is right. A convict, Manu Sharma,
who is serving a life sentence for murdering Jessica Lal, has been granted parole on the recommendation of, who else, but our beloved Dik-shit herself.
The scion of a influential Congress family from Haryana, who are also the owners of Piccadilly group of hotels, has apparently been released on parole for a month, which has been extended by another month, on the ground of his mother's illness. He has, however, reportedly been spotted in a nightclub in a hotel in Delhi. While his mother was seen addressing a press conference in their family hotel in Chandigarh.
Do politicians have any shame left? Using the pretext of his mother's illness a murderer is moving amongst law abiding common people and the CM comes out and defends this decision. 't the authorities verify whether there was no one to attend to the ailing mother of the convict and that his presence was required.
Even someone with a bit of common sense would know that the primary thing that has to be done is if a person is asking for parole for a particular ground, they have to find out and verify whether that ground exists.
However, Dik-shit has shamelessly defended her government's decision that there was nothing "illegal or unusual" about it as "parole is something that every prisoner wants and it is nothing illegal that he asks for."
"Whatever has been done is within the legal purview. It (recommending parole) has been done after taking suggestions from everybody (concerned agencies)," Dik-shit told reporters at her Players' Building office.
She said the recommendation for Manu's parole was made on the basis of reports from jail and police authorities certifying that "yes this person can avail parole because his behaviour has been good". Really????
ends
who is serving a life sentence for murdering Jessica Lal, has been granted parole on the recommendation of, who else, but our beloved Dik-shit herself.
The scion of a influential Congress family from Haryana, who are also the owners of Piccadilly group of hotels, has apparently been released on parole for a month, which has been extended by another month, on the ground of his mother's illness. He has, however, reportedly been spotted in a nightclub in a hotel in Delhi. While his mother was seen addressing a press conference in their family hotel in Chandigarh.
Do politicians have any shame left? Using the pretext of his mother's illness a murderer is moving amongst law abiding common people and the CM comes out and defends this decision. 't the authorities verify whether there was no one to attend to the ailing mother of the convict and that his presence was required.
Even someone with a bit of common sense would know that the primary thing that has to be done is if a person is asking for parole for a particular ground, they have to find out and verify whether that ground exists.
However, Dik-shit has shamelessly defended her government's decision that there was nothing "illegal or unusual" about it as "parole is something that every prisoner wants and it is nothing illegal that he asks for."
"Whatever has been done is within the legal purview. It (recommending parole) has been done after taking suggestions from everybody (concerned agencies)," Dik-shit told reporters at her Players' Building office.
She said the recommendation for Manu's parole was made on the basis of reports from jail and police authorities certifying that "yes this person can avail parole because his behaviour has been good". Really????
ends
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Vande Mataram
Do I need to add anything more................. And it happened when the Union Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram was at the session.......
A top Muslim body today asked members of the community not to recite Vande Mataram and supported seminary Darul Uloom's edict which opposes any prayer involving the song.
"The fatwa of Darul Uloom (opposing recitation of Vande Mataram) is correct," said one of the 25 resolutions passed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind today at its 30th general session here in presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Darul Uloom's fatwa department had issued the edict in 2006 describing recitation of Vande Mataram as anti-Islamic.
"The judgement of the Supreme Court also clearly states that nobody can be compelled to sing Vande Mataram," said the resolution, which was adopted by over 10,000 clerics from across the country. It also expressed deep concern over the communal hatred and violence exploiting the issue.
"We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her...The house demands that the issue of Vande Mataram should not be deliberately raised for causing communal discord and threat to law and order," said the resolution, which sparked a sharp reaction from other groups
which burnt the effigy of Darul Deoband at some places.
The resolution also condemned the exploitation of Vande Mataram for targetting Muslims. "Patriotism does not require singing of Vande Mataram. We love our country and have proved this several times, but Vande Mataram violates our faith in monotheism that is the foundation of Islam," the resolution said.
The Jamiat also attacked the UPA government and asked it to stop making "lucrative promises" to minorities and immediately implement the recommendations of the Sachar committee report.
The body also adopted a series of resolutions asking the UPA government to stop interfering in minorities affairs, including tampering with madrasa education system.
"We demand from the UPA government to implement the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Commission recommendations so that maximum number of people are benefited," a resolution said.
Jamiat opposed the government's plan to set up a Central Madrasa Board, saying it was yet "another attempt by the government to interfere in the madrasa education system. "The government must avoid setting up Madrasa Board," it warned. It also demanded government to make a law against communal riots and to secure Waqf properties.
The resolutions opposed amendment in article 377 and 33 per cent reservation for women, calling it "unnecessary" as well as "unacceptable". The Jamiat further condemned suicide bombings saying it take lives of innocent people.
A top Muslim body today asked members of the community not to recite Vande Mataram and supported seminary Darul Uloom's edict which opposes any prayer involving the song.
"The fatwa of Darul Uloom (opposing recitation of Vande Mataram) is correct," said one of the 25 resolutions passed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind today at its 30th general session here in presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Darul Uloom's fatwa department had issued the edict in 2006 describing recitation of Vande Mataram as anti-Islamic.
"The judgement of the Supreme Court also clearly states that nobody can be compelled to sing Vande Mataram," said the resolution, which was adopted by over 10,000 clerics from across the country. It also expressed deep concern over the communal hatred and violence exploiting the issue.
"We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her...The house demands that the issue of Vande Mataram should not be deliberately raised for causing communal discord and threat to law and order," said the resolution, which sparked a sharp reaction from other groups
which burnt the effigy of Darul Deoband at some places.
The resolution also condemned the exploitation of Vande Mataram for targetting Muslims. "Patriotism does not require singing of Vande Mataram. We love our country and have proved this several times, but Vande Mataram violates our faith in monotheism that is the foundation of Islam," the resolution said.
The Jamiat also attacked the UPA government and asked it to stop making "lucrative promises" to minorities and immediately implement the recommendations of the Sachar committee report.
The body also adopted a series of resolutions asking the UPA government to stop interfering in minorities affairs, including tampering with madrasa education system.
"We demand from the UPA government to implement the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Commission recommendations so that maximum number of people are benefited," a resolution said.
Jamiat opposed the government's plan to set up a Central Madrasa Board, saying it was yet "another attempt by the government to interfere in the madrasa education system. "The government must avoid setting up Madrasa Board," it warned. It also demanded government to make a law against communal riots and to secure Waqf properties.
The resolutions opposed amendment in article 377 and 33 per cent reservation for women, calling it "unnecessary" as well as "unacceptable". The Jamiat further condemned suicide bombings saying it take lives of innocent people.
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