GOVT SHOULD ACT TOUGH

The series of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia are appalling to say the least. The students have been attacked without any provocation. It is indication of growing frustration and non-tolerant attitude of Australians against India which is emerging as a powerful economy. This sort of racial discrimination deserves severest condemnation by all countries. Our government should put extreme pressure on the Australian government to arrest the culprits and take quick action as per the law. The Indian government should warn the Australian government that if such incidents are repeated the country will be declared an unsafe destination. The BCCI and IPL should also issue an advisory, that cricketers from that country shall be disqualified from playing future matches if the racial attacks against Indians are not stopped.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS THE MOST

This is with reference to the article by Shri R. Jagannathan, executive editor with DNA,-’Why UPA-2 May Bomb’. His observation that the stronger the government, the weaker the performance is not correct. The performance of government depends on who is at the helm of affairs. In 1991 we had Narasimha Rao's cabinet,Vajpayee's 1998 team and Man Mohan Singh in 2004. In spite of them having weak numbers in LS they all performed very well because their vast experience and understanding of the problems at gross root level. Though in 1984 Rajiv Gandhi had massive majority in LS, he did not have the administrative experience when he became the PM of the country. There fore his performance has nothing to do with the LS numbers. He was a visionary and dynamic PM is a different matter, but he was lacking in experience. He became the PM, even without the experience of a minister of state. He was around 40 years of age at that time. The other three referred PMs age were almost double of that of Rajiv Gandhi when they became prime ministers. They all had tons and tons of experience in public life. The UPA led government will provide better governance and there will be economic performance and reforms. And there fore UPA-2 will not bomb as long as Dr. Singh is at the helm of affairs.

PUBLISHED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 28-05-09.

MAMATA IS SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT

Ms Mamata Banerjee should re-examine her decision to run the Railway ministry from Kolkata.The Railway ministry, for various strategic reasons has been head quartered in New Delhi . Her decision of opening of a ‘camp office’ in Kolkata, apart from increasing the burden on the exchequer, is also a bad precedent. Like her, if other regional party’s powerful ministers also set up their camp offices in their respective state capitals, there will be chaos at New Delhi with regard to administration of those ministries. If she is so interested in building her party she should take cue from Mr. Rahul Gandhi and stay away from power and concentrate on party work.

APPEARED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 28-05-09.

MANMOHAN HAS NO EXCUSES NOW

The support of LEFT, maverick supremo of AIDMK, irresistible Lalu’s RJD, the opportunistic SP, JDS, JMM and the LJP, the fence sitters - TRS and the regional parties of Tamil nadu other than the DMK, has become irrelevant in the formation of UPA government at the center. This is a great opporunity for the UPA.Manmohan Singh is now free of interference from these rejected parties.During his last term,he had the Herculean task of convincing allies of every move he made. Most of his time was spent on keeping the flock together. Now he is free of that burden. The condition could not have been better. The time has come for him to deliver the promises made without offering any excuses.

APPEARED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 26-05-09.

HDK SHOULD FOCUS ON STATE POLITICS

After having failed to get the ministerial berth in the UPA government Mr. Kumara swamy is in a dilemma to retain or not retain his LS seat. There is nothing for small regional parties to do at the center after the Congress party got more than 200seats in the recently held elections to the parliament. Now the Congress is in a position to dictate terms on its chosen partners. JDS has failed in its election strategy in Karnataka when it missed a golden opportunity offered by the Congress for pre-poll alliance. Had both the parties fought the LS election toghter, things would have been different and the Congress would have happily offered him the ministry of his choice. JDS is non-existent in rest of the country and there is no possibility of revival at national level because of lack credible leadership at state level. Hence, it is desirable that he retains his assembly seat and strengthens the party in the state, since he enjoys the goodwill of people of the state for the developmental work done during his tenure as Chief Minister. He has the capacity to build the JDS, as an alternative to two national parties in the state of Karnataka.

CONGRESS SHOLUD CHANGE FOCUS IN KARNATAKA

The lackluster performance by the Congress in the state compared to superlative performance by the party at all India level needs severe introspection by the state as well as Central leadership.The Congress in other parts of the country was able to convince the voters to a large extent various policies implemented by the UPA alliance in the last five years.The state leadership as miserably failed in this respect. Although the Congress was in power in the state for most of the time since independence,the agenda of development was at snail pace. We have seen accelerated development when non Congress government is in power. Some of the most underdeveloped district in the state are Gulbarga,Bidar,Bellary and other parts of Hyderabad Karnataka which were the bastions of the grand old party for many decades but there was no development in those region.The leadership should change its focus if it wants to gain more seats.

APPEARED IN TIMES OF INDIA ON 23-0509

THE CENTER SHOULD BE HEAD STRONG

The DMK is putting unreasonable demand on the Congress leadership in respect of quantum of ministers and for the port folios for them. The situation in 2004 was different when Congress had only 140 plus MPs and LEFT parties consisting of more than 60 MPs extended outside support and hence the Congress had enough cushion and the freedom to allot as many ministries to its allies. The Congress,now, has emerged very strongly with 206 seats. There are experienced and capable candidates within the party who could not be accommodated in the previous ministry are to be accommodated now . More over, the performance of some of the ministers of DMK, in the previous tenure was below average and the Congress is justified in refusing to have them in the cabinet. The Congress should not buckle under pressure and stick its formula in the ministry formation.

The PM should factor in the unreasonable demand of DMK, when trying to find a solution to vexed cauvery dispute and the newly erupted Hogenkkal controversial power generation issue.


APPEARED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 25-05-09

CONGRESS SHOULD ACCOMMODATE LALU

The Congress has sidelined the RJD supremo after the drubbing of RJD in he LS polls. The RJD could get only 4 seats as compared to 20 plus seats it had in the previous parliament. Some section of Bihar Congress leadership is against to have RJD in the new UPA alliance. Mr. Lalu’s track record as Railway minister for the past five years was excellent. The RJD chief has defended the UPA alliance many a time when it was facing difficult situation including the nuclear deal. He has regretted the decision of his party not forging a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. Mr.Lalu is a quick learner and he will re-establish his roots with voters of Bihar in the coming days and emerge stronger. Keeping in mind the of long term association he had with the Congress, the Congress should accommodate in the ministry.

APPEARED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 22-05-09.

'LEFT' DAYS ARE OVER

The voters of West Bengal and Kerala deserve special congratulations from every Indian for rejecting the 'hammer and sickle' party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Prakash Karat after assuming the post of general secretary of the CPM, started behaving in dictatorial manner without taking the senior leaders into confidence either in the matters of national importance or in the internal matters of the party. The first one being the opposition to the nuclear deal with US and withdrawal of support to the UPA government at the Center. When Mr. Somanath Chaterji refused to resign from the post of speaker for the same issue, he unceremoniously ousted the highly respected parliamentarian from the party. The voters of these two states have observed his tyrant style and rightly rejected the party.

While addressing an election meeting, some time back, Mr.pranab Mukerji had said that basing on the LS seats he Left had in 1952 (15) and the seat they had in 2004 (64) it will take 250 years for them to form government at the Center. If one takes the number seats they have in LS now ,it will take more than 600 years to form government at the Center. That is very good news for young India.If the LEFT is not going to change their thinking.attitude and idealogy, they are rest asssured that their days are over.

APPEARED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 20-05-09

PEACE HAS RETURNED TO ISLAND

The reports of the death of the 'Tiger and its 'cub' is good news for all peace loving people.Peace has returned to the Island, almost after three decades. The Lankan government, now, has more responsibility and challenging work in rehabilitating the dis-placed tamilians. It has to create an atomsphere of trust and win their confidence. They should do this with all the earnestness it deserves.

The lankan government should not hesitate to take the assistance from countries including India and the UNO to re-build the shattred JAFNA and other Tamil dominated regions. The moderate Tamil leaders should join the main stream politics and fight for the welfare of the people of Sri lanka including the Tamil population for long lasting peace in the Island.

The greater responsibility is with the Lankan government to handle the situation carefully keeping in mind the sufferings the civilian Tamils have under gone in the last six months. Any ill-treatment and treating them as second class citizens will give scope for further rebellion and many more Prabhakarans will emerge from the shadow and disturb the Islands's peace and its economy. The ball is in Sri Lankan court now.

Pakistan government must take a cue from Sri Lankan couterpart and do the same thing to Taliban.

PUBLISHED IN DNA NEWS PAPER ON 20-05-09

RIGHT COMBNATION

The Left decision not allow the formation of either a Congress or BJP led government at the center is laughable, to say the least. The two leading national parties are certain to get more than 300 seats. That leaves around 240 seats to rest of the political parties and independents.
How are they going to form a non BJP and non Congress government? What kind of common minimum program they can have with likes of parties like JDS,DMK,PMK, LJP,NCP,PDP,NC,PRP,BJD,AGP,SHIV SENA,AIDMK,TDP,BSP,SP and other small parties and independents. Can such combination deliver goods? Such combination will take the country one hundred years back wards.

Now, the time is ripe for the two national parties to come together and form a very strong, stable and development focused progressive government at the Center. The only hitch is the so called non secular credentials of BJP.In the larger interest of the country, the BJP should change its mind set and attitude. This is the right combination to govern the country in the changed circumstances. There are galaxy of leaders in both the parties capable of providing good administration The Left and all other parties, which are talking through their hat will get to know their the real place. Possibility of impossible is the art of politics.

BICKERINGS IN THIRD FRONT

The Third front which was boasting of forming a very strong government at the Center with like and unlike minded parties started to crumble even before the results are out. First, it was TRS of Andhra Pradesh, having associated with Third front from the beginning, identified itself with NDA. Now, one of the state president of the party, which initiated the Third front movement, held discussions with the chair person of UPA. The above swift political moves clearly indicate that Third front is not likely to get more than 100 seats including that of our ‘Behenji’. Instead of admitting that he held discussions on post poll scenario with the ‘madam’, Mr. Kumara Swamy says that he discussed matter relating to Karnataka politics and not the ministry formation, as if, Sonia Gandhi is the president of their party. People are not that fools to take that story at face value. Even the stock market got the clue yesterday, that either it will be a UPA or NDA led government,(more probably UPA) and the index went up by more than 400 points.

BANK FAILURES IN US: SHOULD TAKE CUE FROM RBI

The total number of banks that collapsed in the US during the current year till date is 33, and this is as against 25 during the year 2008.These include the so called once biggest and mightiest banks of the world. It has become the order of the day to blame the economic slow down and recession for bank failures. However a deeper analysis indicate that the economic slow down, depression, recession, inflation, growth, stagnation and deflation are all part of the business cycle that occurs at irregular intervals depending upon a multitude of factors including the various policies pursed by the governments and the world economy. This kind of situation had happened earlier and will happen in future also.

The present situation of a global economic crisis is itself triggered by the bank failures which are man made as a result of indiscretions of the US banking system and the lack of supervisory controls by the regulator, namely, Federal Reserve. Stringent regulatory measures and proactive supervisory review process, especially when the banks were following the economic capital model of BASEL II guidelines for maintaining capital adequacy has resulted in the crisis. It looks like the US has lot to learn from the Indian regulators, the Reserve Bank of India, who didn’t buckle down at any point of time, be it the dictates of the IMF or the developed economies. This is seen clearly by how India has at all times controlled its economy by avoiding such disaster, as compared to other Asian countries who had opened up their economies by allowing capital account convertibility , thus becoming sitting ducks to the vagaries and whims of the capitalists from developed economies. The cautious approach of the RBI and the watch dog attitude of this strong supervisor have kept Indian banks out of such disasters and the Fed has a lot to learn from its counter part in India how to supervise the banks in the changed circumstances.

CENTER SHOULD ACT TOUGH

The plight of Sikhs in troubled Pak-Afghan tribal belt is worse than the plight of civilian Tamils in no fire zone in Srilanka.The hapless Sikhs are taking shelters in Gurudwara.They are undergoing sufferings for no mistake of theirs. Earlier the minority Sikh community of Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal areas in Pakistan has been coerced to pay Rs.20 million as Jizia(religious tax) in return for protection.The establishment in Pakistan has failed completely in providing protection to its citizens, particularly for minorities.Pakistan as nation has failed miserably on many counts since it is pre-occupied with unwanted hatred-ism towards India.What is going on in Pakistan is neither good for them nor for the rest of theworld.It is time that the leadership realizes this and moves forward. The Center should act tough and take harsh measures to mitigate the problems of the Sikh community in troubled Pak-Afghan border.

MORE POLITICAL MATURITY IS REQUIRED

The RJD and LJP leaders, by not attending the recent cabinet meeting have shown their real faces to the public. There is nothing wrong in Mr. Rahul Gandhi praising Mr.Nitish Kumar for his developmental work in Bihar. A mature politician should appreciate the good work done by any one, including his dreaded opponent. The Bihar leaders should appreciate the large-heartedness of the young and dynamic Congress leader when he acknowledged the good things done by a non-Congress government. Likewise, earlier the CPM suspended its parliament member from Kerala from for lauding the Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for the all-around growth of the state of Gujarat.

Our politicians should exhibit more maturity when it comes to acknowledging the good work done by their opponents. Because, the truth shall remain the truth,irrespective of some one acknowledging the same or otherwise.

MISGUIDED CONCEPTION

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce move to change the movie timings is based on the misguided conception. The move is aimed at retaining the peoples’ interest in films. People are attracted to movies not because the movie timings suit their timings, but because of the quality of the movies. If the movies are not good and even if the tickets are offered free, people will not throng the theatres, because it is waste of their precious time. The Chamber should encourage producers on producing good quality movies and people will visit the theatres in large numbers irrespective of movie timings. Change in timings will also create law and order problems as rightly pointed out by the City police commissioner.

APPEARED IN TIMES OF INDIA NEWS PAPER ON 11-05-09.

ICFAI –INSTITUTE OF FRAUD

The above Institute, without valid approvals from the appropriate authorities, which is the basic requirement to start any college, has admitted more than 300 students by collecting huge donations and fees. This Hyderabad head quartered Institute’s fraud is as serious as that of Satyam. The students’ of the Institute expressed their ire by destroying some of the properties of the Institute. The police instead of arresting the students should have arrested the director who has illegally collected crores of rupees from the gullible students and putting their future at great risk. A high level CBI enquiry is required into the entire episode and the culprits should be brought to books at the earliest. In the meanwhile the Government should rehabilitate the affected students by shifting them to other colleges with minimum expenditure since the students have already spent a fortune earlier. Stringent action should be taken against all those involved in this fraud.

OPPORTUNISM OF HIGHEST ORDER

The Samajawadi Party’s decision to support any group which assures sacking of the democratically elected Mayawati government deserves condemnation by one and all. This is politics of opportunism of the highest order and lowest level of politics. The people of the state who decide which party or combination parties should rule them and not the ruling party at the center. Mr. Mulayam Singh is desperate and wants topple the U P government by using unconstitutional measures. The UPA, NDA and the Third/Fourth Front should disassociate themselves if such a pre condition is imposed on them by Samaja Wadi party at the time of forming the government. Let us have some values in politics. Election will come and go and one should not compromise on ones ideology and values.

ARAKAVATHI LAY-OUT: COMPENSATE THE FARMERS ADEQUATELY

The farmers/erstwhile marginal land owners of the above lay-out are agitating for better compensation. The Metropolitan Housing Cooperative Society was allotted the land in question by BDA two years ago, for constructing housing complexes for the IAS and IPS officers. The compensation received by farmers was meager compared to the prevailing market price. Hence, their demand for additional compensation is justified. The chair person of the above society says that the society cannot award compensation to the land owners since it is the responsibility of the BDA. It is true that BDA is the nodal agency and the dispute is between BDA and farmers, but nothing prohibits the society in paying the compensation to poor farmers on humanitarian grounds. One should have heart to tackle this kind of problems. The society and the government should view the matter realistically and pay the additional compensation without any delay.

UN WARRANTED PROTECTIONISM

The decision of OBAMA administration to withdraw tax concession to American companies that have subsidiaries out side their home land, could prove counter productive in the long run. The business of out sourcing is flourishing in India and in other emerging economies is not because of tax breaks offered by the U S administration but on the sound business principles. The cost of out sourcing, is some times are one tenth of the cost, if it were to be done in the U S. Ultimately it is the economics that matters in business. The economics are in favour of Countries like ours. It is an irony that champions of free trade economy are advocating the opposite of it. All these years America took advantages of free trade and now because of some economic slow down it has taken a ‘U’ turn of its own principles and ideology. Compared to the un employment problem, the problem providing quality education and health care and other problems faced by rest of the world, the ‘big brother’ problem is nothing. If other countries also follow the same selective protectionism to wards the goods manufactured by American MNCs, that will hurt U S more. In India, among others, we should say good bye to COCA-COLA and PEPSI, the most prominent and money spinning brands.

NATIONALAISE EDUCATION

It is very disgusting to hear the news how parents of school bound children are undergoing the trauma because of irrational increase in school fees. The Bombay High Court on the plea made by the state government has rightly deferred the issue by eight weeks.

Education has become a very lucrative business right from pre-nursery to professional courses. Private educational institution are taking advantages of the situation – that is, less number of government schools compared to the growing population, poor infrastructure facilities and lack of well qualified and experienced teachers in these schools. There are schools, which collects donation in lakhs. Some of the schools and educational institutions are run by powerful politicians, whose only aim is to amass wealth. People who have mind set of amassing wealth by exploiting the helpless students/parents are no less a enemies of the country. The state governments have no control over the ICSE, CBSE and other International schools.

The only solution to all the chronic problems faced by the students, parents, teaching staff and non teaching staff is to nationalaise the entire education services in the country. Make education free and compulsory for all children irrespective caste, creed and religion. Provide infrastructure of international standard to all schools. It does not matter how much funds are required. There are philanthropists who are ready to donate in crores for a right cause. Expenditure on education is not expenditure. It is a very wise and sound investment which will bear fruits, for benefits of all in the future.

DLF HOMES –UNETHICAL BUSINESS HOUSE

The country’s biggest real estate developer, without obtaining any approval or sanction from BBMP has made extensive advertisement about their new project in BTM lay out, in BENGALURU is perplexing. This raises many doubts about their track record. What kind of corporate governance they have? They were un able to implement the much hyped ‘knowledge city’ project near Bidadi. It is intriguing to know such a big advertisement has been released, without obtaining the basic statutory permission from a developer who is in business for so long. This suggests that they are out to take the gullible public for a ride, to cover up their own short coming in cash flow management.

More intriguing is that the DLF's advertisement was released on 26-04-09 and the clarification from the BBMP is coming on 07-05-09. In these twelve days many innocent buyers have booked their ‘dream homes’ are in a state of shock now. Had BBMP cleared the matter in a day or two, from the date of advertisement, the damage to gullible public would have been very minimum.

Does DLF stand for Deceive, Loot and Fraud?

PHANTOM OF BDA SITES: JUDICIOUS USE OF POWERS IS THE ANSWER

The story of how the influential, powerful and rich people getting allotted sites for themselves are interesting. These sites are allotted under the discretionary power, vested with the Chief Minister. Allotment of sites should be made to eminent sports persons, freedom fighters and others who really deserves of because of their contribution to the society and most importantly whose income/resources are insufficient by sites. Under the discretionary quota most of the beneficiaries are powerful people, politicians, our ‘babus’ and rich businessmen, who do not deserve and have more than one roof for living. Allotment to these people deprives allotment of sites to deserving people. The discretionary powers need to be used very judiciously and the category of people referred later should be made ineligible for allotment

FIGHTING BLACK MONEY

Both the Congress and the opposition parties are making a hue and cry about the black money stashed out side India, particularly in tax haven countries and in Switzerland. Stashing of black money out side the country is not a new phenomena and it has been going on for several decades. The successive government at the center, earlier did not pursue the matter seriously. Now also, people are not sure how serious our political parties are about unearthing the black money out side India, since the issue comes into lime light only during election time. One hopes that our political parties are really serious and will do some thing about that in the days to come.

The question that arises is , what about unearthing of black money within the country. The black money stashed out side is likely to be a pittance if compared to the black money in the hands of industrialist, business men, politicians and others within in the country. Government should, first take hard and stringent action to unearth the black money within the country. To do this political will is required. And that, is a million dollar question. Only time tell whether our political parties have that will.

APPEARED IN DECCAN HERALD NEWS PAPER ON 04-05-09.

JUNIOUR DOCTORS STRIKE – GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE IMMIDEATELY.

The members of Karnataka State Junior Doctors’ Association are on strike to press their demand. The demand, among others, includes an increase in stipend, up gradation of basic infrastructure facilities in government hospitals and protection from attacks by the patients’ families. The stipend fixed by the government is abysmally low compared to the cost of living. The stipend paid should be realistic and should be raised periodically keeping the cost of living as the barometer. The infrastructure facilities at the government hospitals are below par and there is urgent need to upgrade to deliver better health care services. The other issue that the Medicare Protection Act to be implemented in true spirit to protect them from un warranted attacks by the patients families. The government should have a dialogue with the representatives of striking doctors and resolve the issue forthwith in larger public interest. The general public has been put lot inconvenience due to the strike.

PM FROM RAJYA SABHA -- DOES IT MATTER?

The debate on whether the PM should be from the Rajya sabha or a directly elected member of parliament is on for some time now. The real issue is, whether the PM is from Rajya sabha or from Loksahba, does it matter as long as the person who occupies the position is capable of handling complex job of primeministership. The PM candidate should have leadership qualities, capacity, commitment, experience, understanding of the country’s economy as well that of world, one who has vision, whose honesty and integrity is beyond doubt.

Instead of debating on whether PM should be from which house, political parties should debate on the real issues.

US INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED IN PAK

Mr. Barack Obama’s views on Pakistan’s misguided obsession with India as its enemy number one will have lasting impact on Indo-Pak relations. The situation in Pak is worsening day by day and the Taliban is trying to take control in the name of religion. Buckling under the pressure from the USA, the Pakistan army is set to move 6000 tropes from the Indian border to the western border with Afghanistan. Earlier, there was no sense of urgency on the part of Islamabad to act tough against the Taliban. The changed power equation at Washington and continued pressure from other major countries of the world, had changed the mind set of people at Islamabad to some extent. The Pak listens only to the USA,since it doles out lot financial freebies and treats Pak as one of the most favored nation. The ‘big boss’ should intervene at the appropriate time and ensure that nuclear weapons do not fall into the militant hands.

UN FAIR VALUATION

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) decision to pay Rs.88, 000.00 per acre of land, acquired from the farmers for BMIC project, inGonipura,near Bidadi, is very un fair.The market price per acre of land when the notification was issued in 1997 was about Rs.one lac.Basing on this government fixed the rate at Rs.88,000.00 per acre. Because of lethargy of officials, there is un due delay in acquiring the land. After twelve years, the KIADB is ready to pay only the amount fixed then. This is un just and exploitation of the helpless farmers. The farmers expressed their angry by beating and locking up the KIADB officials who went there to serve notice. The valuation should be based on the current market price which is around Rs.50.00lacs per acre and the farmers are to be compensated accordingly.